https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-01-04.pdf 5af4df2e09880f5156a5f60d63cecc55 PDF Text Text THE SUN AND r-r-*. OLYMPIC AND STATE MEDALS WON BY AREA ATHLETES IN 2024 NEWS Your Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas f;H i'.rt-' PAGE 9 J ..J*- • J vr .OM NO. 37 b .f. vr I k I f A I r r ** t ii’t w' J** Mfc < VA \ njrt< i • 'J' f .r I SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2025 '« •rf"^ «# /s www.sunandnews.com J 1 2025 promises to be a history-making year in Gaines Township I ot gflsimmq 2S0S lay gnlXani-yiot^n qirtanwoT ganisa J / •zilnafil - TBV' w»f’ atelxtfb- Zi jho'^/ nobanJznoD 1 > 9 .J n aril fwi zid^ nigod l^.noianwJ rr^ot noiUI? lloW I to Jzea jaaitd rl lOf^i ocnoz io azsfkf Jxan arfT Hr*’/ notbuG ni gJoafoiri bxib iiA *nsaY wan adl oi Jlw zc Hw owiBnibTJ gornax lyriEnwoJ aftinsiR anioR gnijlTfin Jjoulfinrt m ynorpjq ysw aft ni zagnBria .gantfir) nt faoqolavab oMb Hw/lUrtnalotf ffoeoTolM wiw .rairwj KlEb vran b nf> Jhriw I flaifwE sniJRixa aril tttiw gnobi 1 -i I rwot ail yijtqma blow T9Jn90 s 5* I aob ^'fiobcn odt zc ailsJa [ KjCfizeizeiM to tzflo dnd ^8^ odjcplerrwo) bapwvai ii JxiA jBfh to He 19VO abizoiq Etea asiynl iMindl nO -xiiEr) ?j-. ni mowH aw ffOeqisT IMIAD I I I I f H 1 & M « L J -aSBRi^iiigi^* ■■- J'. ' :<*x . a ;''.^ • i ► s •) • .Sr’ »• A if I V I IJ j •* ep * I J « > 'rr * ,1 n I 1 •> < W Ifcll :> •V L J K' ■ s » «' 1 I : a>fiM lentisfi llebneX nsonsmA nJoejoK (.oni oteviebeM bne ,Jt9t ^tgoLwYoacn'?’ EOMU cnuoNcu > T eenifiO prit n BUioniivr ICHMt-. 9M««rM«*n ’moO pnu i>0Ba*fD ■c ; I ; ■ jguA ( H pniteom "MUSTEae" llBmmtfO ssmsL yd t6838 O«uAfle‘Wl bVID a s boeivoe biieieic i’ V’ K • «« bJ American Kendall partner Mike Speedy, left, and Nederveld Inc. projectmanager Eric DeYoungflash smiles Noaa uBNOisno at the Gaines Township 'iviiNaaisau ssMuoa KWr IN aBAUNJO Planning Commission owMoaw meeting in August. Photo 8Ce* liuuod 8£e8> m ‘eiiiAuoaiQ aivd aovisod s n ais is»d by James Gemmell I rn 1 «• 'W^.> ' I ^HBI I 4 « / a « - 'f ;; * 1 I- i. w J %V r • r J '.I i <-^S(if * R** -“iflr. * I * I »«. ’•T* L • -*.$* <' Fl .^« •.w^MT * ■Um *. f I n*: J *R- •* q * .A . «» < W”. 2^1 » i V 1I S ’ 2X* •►A,, k < K wV etaT « ’ * f 1 *1*^ _ < __ V Sisc:;-^' 9 t 1 • »> 4.G r’“ * J Demolition crews from Pitsch Companies tore down the former DesignWear building at 118 W. Main St. in Middleville in September. File photos New faces and new digs highlight Middleville’s 2024 Sun and News Staff ■■• & ii ■ '^■ —f •, i O' Vi Ji Groundbreaking changes are in store for Gaines Charter Township in the new year - literally. Construction work is scheduled to begin this spring on the future Prairie Wolf Station town center on 84th Street, east of Kalamazoo Avenue. The next phase of some major housing projects in EHitton will get underway, as well, in the new year. An amended township zoning ordinance will be finalized, marking some significant changes in the way property can be developed in Gaines. Microsoft potentially will also begin work on a new data center, which along with the existing Switch Inc. data center - would amplify the township’s status as the nation’s largest data-storage hub east of the Mississippi River. And, a revamped township board will preside over all of that. On Dec. 9, former trustee Bob Terpstra was sworn in as Gaines’ new See GAINES on 4 r Public LI •*' > .c. If -yif: 83!BflBri--» m oBlKfWO1 *5nBri3 eamD uJl 1 James Gemmell Contributing Writer f iBtnW pnihKJntfwO •s ? This coming year looks to be a significant one for the Village of Middleville, with several projects in development and new leaders settling in. A familiar face is settling into a familiar role at Thomapple Kellogg Schools. Tom Enslen was named interim superintendent for TK Schools last year after outgoing superintendent Craig McCarthy announced his retirement. McCarthy’s last day was Dec. 31, making Enslen the district’s official leader. Enslen, who was TK superin­ tendent from 2012 to 2018, was appointed to the interim role on a 5-0 vote of the school board at a November meeting. Enslen spent 17 years in the TK district, starting as a coach before moving into a series of administra­ tive roles, first as assistant middle school principal, then moving to Lee Elementary School as principal and later assistant superintendent before becoming superintendent in 2012. He lived in the district for more than 30 years and saw all three of his children graduate from Thomapple Kellogg High School. Enslen later served as superin­ tendent of Elk Rapids Schools in northern Lower Michigan from February 2019 to July 2020. Enslen has signed a contract that will run through June 30, 2025, that will pay him $110,000 during the six-month period, according to contract information provided by the district. Middleville is also welcoming a new village president this year, Kevin Smith, who beat incumbent President Mike Cramer 943-768 in November’s general election. Smith, a technology executive who was first elected to the council in 2020, had been president pro tempore of the Village Council for the past year. He becomes the fourth different person to hold the position of Middleville vil­ lage president since the death of longtime Village President Charlie Pullen in November 2020. See MIDDLEVILLE on 3 �1 I I I I ■ t ( I J » r, 1 A I > 7 / « Saturday, January 4, 2025 2 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I t New housing, Dutton School construction underway as new year arrives Sun and News Staff r I i w LIGHT TRUCK PARTS USE! nuns > ntK urs * ue TMS > iMB • sirs > lEffs *«« 8 FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL lY “t 269-381-2300 » 4 <* K 9xi*****iab^. y / Education meeting, the board voted to give Weeldreyer an “effective” rating — the highest rating a superintendent can receive in such evaluations. Weeldreyer took over as Caledonia Schools’ superintendent at the begin­ ning of last year after serving a stint as the district’s interim superintendent in late 2023. He filled in for former Caledonia Schools Superintendent Dr. Dedrick Martin after he took the super­ intendent job at Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency (KRESA). Weeldreyer was no stranger to the Caledonia job when he took the interim role in 2023 — he had already served as Caledonia Schools’ interim superinten­ dent in 2018. Before returning to Caledonia in late 2023, Weeldreyer had been serving as executive director of the School Equity Caucus, a lobbying group that has advocated for more equitable fund­ ing opportunities for public education. Weeldreyer had also served in interim , * V- iVMf * 4. 4* 8 /F • • V Jeff Thornton, who served as Caledonia's village manager until last spring, interviewed for several village manager jobs across the state following his separation from Caledonia. Here, he is seen interviewing in nearby Lake Odessa. Though he made it to the final round of interviews for that job, he was ultimately not selected. USED raRTS f USED HRES V A superintendent roles at Muskegon Pub­ lic Schools and Godfrey-Lee Public Schools in Wyoming. Additionally, the Cal Schools BOE unanimously voted in August to replace the dean of students position with an assistant principal position. The school board also approved the addition of seven new positions to address aca­ demic and security needs as part of its vote to update the district’s 2024-25 budget in response to additional state funding that was approved after the board adopted its original budget in June. The CHS dean of students position, which has been in existence since 2021, was originally slated to be eliminated when the budget was first proposed earlier last spring. However, when the board adopted the budget in June, it voted to hold off on making the cut pending further review. See DUTTON on 3 J < 1' I ! I * I * I .-••r J' ','L ff i A I I I i k I tf' I* r* .It r Li ..'I r** t- 1 h 4r“- t /■ If » t" • i 4 r :.a4^ •»•" * T . ■IS'’ 1 J I 1 al I u r » - I ' -b' t f (* . k V »! * r ■ >1 *9* s y •«f** 1 ♦ jU . « * < •r V jj ; Xi . J^’l***^ '. «I> t • IlT 'jiW* ! I r A•A ’»* 1 r r W A? », I » ; *■ UI*. . A r ! 'Ii V* , i H Gun Lake Winterfest set for Feb. 15 at new location > I .j;;? I > M <r . .'AJk* • I I Karen Turko-Ebright Contributing Writer The Landmans are heading into their second year as the new chairpersons of the event. Planning started in August. After seven years, former Winterfest chairman, Monte Baker, passed the torch to the couple. Deb Timmerman is in her first year as Gun Lake Business Association presi­ dent. She is also the treasurer and attends the planning committee meetings. “We received a lot of feedback asking us to move the event back to Gun Lake County Park, which seemed like a great fit for this year,” Brad Landman said. “This venue has a lower cost, electricity, which eliminates ±e need for generators, and we can have a smaller tent.” That’s why, this year, the event is mov- 44 1811 LAKE SI, KALAMAZOO I 1 % As soon as the Gun Lake Winterfest ended last year, Brad and Stacey Landman started thinking about this year’s Winterfest set for Feb. 15. They decided to move the event from Yankee Springs State Park back to Gun Lake County Park. Theresa Paiz served on the Winterfest committee when the event was held at the county park from 2008 to 2014. She is currently on the festival’s planning committee. There was no event held in 2015 due to lack of volunteers,” Paiz said. “The GLBA took over and 2016 was the first year at the state park.” t z* A t ;* 0 ' 1 I 1 \ r As Caledonia looks forward to 2025, the Sun and News staff took time this week to look back at some of the area’s top stories in 2024. Caledonia saw three individuals helm the village in 2024 after Jeff Thornton resigned from the village manager position in April. It took three votes, but the Caledo­ nia Village Council picked a former Caledonia fire chief to be the village’s newest permanent manager. Brian Bennett, who served for 27 years on the Caledonia Fire Depart­ ment, including 13-and-a-half years as its chief, was picked to succeed interim manager Lisa Segard in July last year. Council Trustee Jeff Niles called Bennett “one of my hometown he­ roes” in stating his support for the new manager. Bennett was selected from among four finalists who also interviewed for the job. Caledonia Community Schools Su­ perintendent Dirk Weeldreyer success­ fully underwent his first evaluation last month as head of the district. After returning from closed session during a December Caledonia Board of ___ •*5?« ing fi-om Yankee Springs State Park to Gun Lake County Park. “We learned a ton last year. While the event is fun and brings a lot of people out to the area, many drove past the local businesses,” Landman added. “Our goal this year is to get people to shop and dine at our awesome businesses.” Gun Lake Winterfest committee mem­ bers each have their own responsibilities. Kim Lynch ofLynch’s Tire and Service is responsible for^e kids’ area. Elizabeth Maxwell handles Gun Lake Idol and the advertising, while Susie Marsh and Eric Redstone take charge of setting up and tearing down. Paiz manages apparel and vendor marketing. Katie Niemchick See WINTERFEST on 14 «1 I 1 ■' t t I* ..jSiT 1 «■' I* I-r «» J*. .'J 1 I ■ u 1 w ik »1 • 0 t 4. Fe , » t C,. . J. I'.* •t A ■» •.B*. I9IP« *% . *f >-T,-«0 • • k t ♦.*, •“ i •.1 •* . 4 •* ♦ 1 •* 1 W :*!• I t f -II T ’'5’* ■It?.'.y • • T’-. I rif/LT/j: t J ”■5 S’.* 1; V^eL, % ; t 9 ) *a * I ■ I 1 1 THE SUN AND NEWS CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 • . . A I PUBLISHED BY » Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihomepaper.com Group I Sports: Brett Bremer Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher - bbremer@mihomepaper.com 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman Copyright 2024 ©2024 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. csilverman@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com Fj rr All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept, 1351 N. M-43 Hwy.. Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. 4 1 I jT- OU I «J » MfCM* I I I < f 4' «>> * iw: < s i i>. ( ’J I I r, ««t 1 ■ ^5 38*«i£ KI ,b 4 I I I. t I. i' K I II fr 2 J7A CO. 9-1 -1 C 4 5 rtT-F” I 5 5 .a •. —J* 91 10 I I I 7 *1.1 DIAL (800) 249-091 iftoN - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at| :awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" iTER 8 I 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 191 201 I I ■R* I lor 11 12 r. OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES A( 211 221 231 24 25| 261 J u 11 Wff I t P >1 > ^7. < J ? L I a • 11 k 271 28| 29| 30d :S 'r ■ * ... * V f » « 1' •, ! M* •j. II I Ir i I h 8' I id I it' II »’ I r • * i <. r c **► �i k * A < 1J 5 I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com r J ! tc MIDDLEVILLE •» I « I I * i I 2ti! I / « 1 ( I t I ' b K^*0 . * : ?> . 1 11 f’ * -o 0 i i Xi t 1 I A •' n 4 I. I» J I >1 < •\ I J 4 V I 9 1 .* " > .1 V - fl -tr-* tr. } s / t S':' L -Yi';.. > w ( 1t 1 V* J I 9 « • i 1 t ft *<4 1 ‘ ■ '1 -4» 7 R * J A </ ft ^9 »i I » Ui t . •■4 i * i Av J r*M •.4 4 i ri I r* . .M I r ? 1 •. ■K , •I f -4 til » X « * I a ij/ ft, • • 1- 1 A < A I* » 'U-, 01!. - ft. t. .r I 4 r 9 K / r> T - '*r k • •'tl : €ftJ- I Mon I. J «< • '< •gi.. <4^ r * * * I I • A 1 •r. r • ** * w % 'h'V I n. n: > ti " ’ Si <r '?r; ^3^ 1 • *• > . *( ( ‘ b?>i» V .9 X» . I*' I ‘ma- I ■‘i' 4- ♦a-.; '***^'*'AJ» s n'^r/rrz. I 1 - a. \ ■* 4 u '> f’ :• ■ t * J 0 0 % •’A ft 9 ' -rrri T ' * »!• 4 I . k I H AJ /. ' a’fia'fe 9 ’ 1 ft 1 ’ Hl n r { . *1 u >»1 I I A J : ) / *«» « I > I► r f i i r>t p » I IBT : I I t » I I 1 < I I 4 I I I r A J I I r r aftWli 4 F 1 > f X s iMitf't r tliiv, - V '>X I I J I : $r)r;n j < J : .1:3 '. • r .nil. Continued from Page 1 « I I t 9 DUTTON •I • Cramer was the longest-serving current member of the Village Council. He served eight years as a trustee before being elected presi­ dent in 2022, defeating Fran French 798-597. Near the end of Cramer’s ten­ ure as president, he proposed dis­ banding the village’s Downtown Development Authority in favor of the Planning Commission function­ ing as the DDA board. This proposal led to several heated debate sessions. While no final decision has been made as to whether Middleville’s Downtown Development Authority board will continue to remain in its current form, DDA members and the Village Council seem to agree on this: there’s a communication prob­ lem affecting both entities. Voters also elected Tracy Gillhespy to a four-year term on the Village Council in November. Gillhespy, who finished fifth among five can­ didates in the 2022 council elec­ tion, was the top vote-getter this November, capturing 904 votes. Also elected to a four-year seat on the council was incumbent Trustee Robert Bishop, who received 859 votes. Bishop had been appointed to the council in April 2023. Incumbent Trustee Steve Baldry, who was appointed to fill a council vacancy in November 2023, finished fourth among the four candidates running for trustee with 780 votes, while John Osterbaan finished third with 797 votes. A tax-increment financing agree­ ment to fuel a major housing devel­ opment in the Village of Middleville cleared its final hurdle in August at the Barry County Board of Commissioners’ meeting. The approved plan was designed to support the Flats at Mid-Villa proj­ ect, a housing development that will see the construction of 144 “work­ force housing” apartment units on a 13.3-acre portion of land. The site at 4611 N. M-37 Highway has been vacant since 2015 when the Middle Villa Inn was demolished. The project also includes a com­ mercial property component and funding generated through the TIF I 1 r < Continued from Page 2 0* A tv T s V * r « *3 A ■< »► 4 4 I ■-1 A *x. * > r' W^’ L > * Ik-K ft An overhead view of the vacant site along M-37 where the Middle Villa Inn once stood and where a 144-unit apartment complex will be built. will not go toward that portion. The TIE agreement will allow the county’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to collect $4.48 million in new tax revenues that are expected to be generated by the development of the apartments at Mid-Villa over the next 15 years. About $1.9 mil­ lion of that would come from the Downtown Development Authority, which operates with its own tax­ increment financing mechanism where it captures a portion of taxes paid by downtown property owners to support public improvements in the downtown. The project has been years in the making and the debate over the TIF agreement had been smoldering for the better part of last year. The Flats as Mid-Villa project TIF was not the only development that took place in Middleville last year. Demolition crews from Pitsch Companies tore down the for­ mer DesignWear building at 118 WISHING EVERYDNE A month later, Weeldreyer pro­ posed replacing the dean with a third assistant principal in response to new state requirements for evaluating teachers. Cal Schools’ new Dutton Elemen­ tary building is well underway, with classes expected to take place there as soon as the 2025-26 school year. Construction will also begin soon on a new housing development just south of the new Dutton Elementary School. The Township Board on Dec. 4 gave final approval to two separate rezoning requests and a site condo minium plan for the Dutton Preserve project, planned for a 30-acre site along Patterson Avenue just south of 76th Street. JTB Homes LLC will build 44 single-family homes on the property it recently acquired from Caledonia Community Schools. In back-to-back 6-0 votes, the board approved changing the zon- W. Main St. in Middleville in September. The DesignWear build­ ing was once attached to the former Baby Bliss building, which was tom down earlier last year. The Barry County Land Bank Authority received funds from the Michigan State Land Bank Blight Elimination fund to pay for the demolition work. The village of Middleville is seek­ ing to have the site redeveloped as a possible mixed-use of residential and commercial. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Saturday, January 4, 2025 3 ing of the property from agricultural to medium-density single-family residential, then passed a subsequent zoning change to make the site a planned unit development. The homes will be clustered in such a way to allow 12.5 acres of the site to be maintained as open space in perpetuity. Each of the lots will have a minimum size of 10,000 square feet and a minimum width of 75 feet, according to township documents. In addition, a 30-foot-wide access easement will be provided on the west side of the property, between two lots, that will connect to the neighboring Dutton School site so it can be used as a walking path for children going to and from the school. An 8-foot-wide shared-use pathway will be also built along the length ofthe development along Pat­ terson and connecting to the school property. The pathway along Pat­ terson was required by the township as a condition of extending sanitary sewer to serve the development, according to township documents. NEWSPAPER DEADLINES Advisor Monday at 4:00 pm Shopper Monday at 5:00 pm Banner Tuesday at Noon Reminder Wednesday at Noon Sun & News Wednesday at Noon MIDDLEVILLE 500 Arlington Street, 269.795.3550 CALEDONIA 9820 Cherry Valley Road, TIRES2000.NET Group �I * I I I k 4 Saturday. January 4, 2025 ^INES Continued from Page 1 township supervisor, following the Nov. 5 general election. He replaced longtime supervisor Rob De Ward, who not only endorsed Terpstra for the position, but also won a seat as a trustee on the township board. Five other township board seats were retained by incumbents. Republican Robin Halsted captured the Kent County Commission District 10 seat. The district includes all of the township, plus Precinct 6 in the City of Kentwood. The Gaines Charter Township Fire Department was set to begin 2025 operations as a single entity, the prod­ uct of a merger between ±e Cutlerville and Dutton fire departments. Gaines officials decided that combining the two departments would be ±e best course of action after Byron Township decided to break off its 74-year partnership in jointly operating the Cutlerville Fire Department. Byron will build its own Cutlerville fire station east of US-131 and north of 68th Street in ±e near future. Gaines officials decided to purchase THE SUN AND NEWS the Cutlerville fire bam on 68th Street west of Division Avenue, even though it is in Byron Township. Gaines is pay­ ing $940,000 over five years to buy out Byron’s equity share in the fire station, making 20-percent payments each year. The building at 11 68th St. in Cutlerville is now called Station 1 and the fire bam in Dutton is Station 2. In August, the Gaines Township Board of Trustees voted 4-0 to direct staff to hire the township’s first deputy fire chief of prevention/fire marshal, Patrick Quick, at $45 per hour. He had been the fire marshal in Kentwood since August 2021 and brings 23 years of experience in that city to Gaines. Earlier in 2024, the township board had authorized changing the fire inspector position to a full-time job. The Dutton Fire Department had gone to a 24/7 staffing model in January 2024 after trustees approved funding for the addition of five fulltime firefighters. The need for a beefed-up fire department reflected a 35-percent increase in calls for service since 2015. Gaines is the fastest-growing town­ ship in Kent County. The 2020 U.S. 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. 4fibi? THANK YOU f6R A QrW HAPPY new: 9- ' *} ■ >* R AND.. 1 vs .4 ^FROM OUR PNT| A Vs AM!. k* K > rgr2?_ -1 d ■A > A fl r •• << "■J'w ai c A _ * , IBBI >> & s u M f t ' .;J8' . :. “ •• ■ I BODY SHOP . • 'A» <1 'Wk- i *SI"V— *b COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR t #* > 110 Johnson Street SE, Caledonia, Mi 49316 Your +rusl"ed Body Shop -for over 52 yeors s 1 www.sunandnews.com Census survey showed the township’s population had grown by 14.6 percent since 2010 to 28,812 residents. With the call voliune skyrocketing for public safety, trustees approved a 15-year special-assessment levy in October 2021 dedicated to supplementally funding police, fire and rescue ser­ vices. The township board can autho­ rize up to 1.5 mills annually with the township-wide special levy. The first year it was implemented, the levy was set at 0.6 mills. But the township board has cited the rising costs of public safety for raising the levy slightly each year since. In 2024, die board voted to increase the rate from 1.0 mills to 1.25 mills, begin­ ning with the winter tax roll. That will cost the average residential property owner about $160 in 2025. The largest change in the Gaines Township landscape will come in ±e form of large housing and mixed-use developments, most of them in the Caledonia and Dutton areas. After a three-year battle to build a massive retail, residential and commercial town center - which involved a $4 million lawsuit against the township — American Kendall Properties finally received approval to build Prairie Wolf Station. The first-phase in the construction of the $120 million development is set to begin in the spring on what used to be farmland. The original site plan called for 499 residential units. The revised site plan envisions 646 total units of housing. Tentatively, it calls for 556 of those spaces for multiple-family residential units and 90 to be reserved for com­ mercial, office and retail space. The numbers may change, but American Kendall said at the time it was plan­ ning to build about 127 single-family homes and 258 apartments, with 34 sitting above retail buildings. There would be 36 condominiums, 44 single­ family townhome units and 110 senior housing units. Some preliminary infi-^tructure work began in 2024, with the exten­ sion of municipal water lines from 92nd Street and Kalamazoo Avenue to the site, and the installation of utility lines. “Yes, I am pleased. This has been in the works for many years here,” American Kendall partner Mike Speedy said after final government approval was received in August. Speedy, an Indiana state representative who hails from West Michigan, had spearheaded the years-long effort to get the Prairie Wolf Station develop­ ment off the ground. “It’s going to be exciting,” Speedy said. “We’re very proud to start on this. It’ll be complementary to the (adjacent Prairie Wolf Park) and complementary to all the different resi­ dents.” The first phase of ±e multi-year project will be built on 23 acres and include multi-family housing units, commercial and mixed-use buildings, and a public square at streetffont. Phase 1 may feature 308 dwelling units, six acres of open space and 18,118 square feet of commercial, office and retail space. “This is probably one of the most walkable developments that Gaines Township has seen recently,” Community Development director Dan Wells said after an August Planning Commission meeting. A crosswalk on Kalamazoo Avenue will be installed to help pedestrians safely get from the Prairie Wolf Station subdivision over to Prairie Wolf Park and back. The Kent County Road Commission was reviewing a traffic-impact study to determine whether a turn lane will be added on southbound Kalamazoo near the roundabout at 84th Street. Meanwhile, a 404-unit mixed-use development, called Alexander Trails, will be built on 149 acres east of Hanna Lake Avenue. This past fall, Signature Land Development Corp, won township board approval for the first two phases of the multi-year, multi-phase project to be built at the 2700 block of 76th Street. Signature Land will sell lots to its partner, Eastbrook Homes, to build the development beginning with Phase 1, covering 29 acres and 25 single­ family lots. That will include a cluster of townhouses and an activity area, among other amenities. Phase 2 will feature 20 additional lots. The long-term project envisages 190 single-family detached homes being built, plus 40 condominium homes with detached garages. There would be some single-story ranch-style homes and condominium two-story attached townhomes. Also, Allen Edwin Homes secured final approval from the township board See GAINES on 6 i t -., :\it *> W*I 3^ II ■' I )■/ . '1' fi* k ■ i •k* « ,I I I I I t 1. » I ( t I I I I k / I J b I I I I I 1 I I J i J . t 4 A .-J I I s^’ '. t «> '■ 4 9 -o t r? 1: t .a r M * TAk • <5''" * ; J J ** - J V . i r ii' *• ia«l V j-'A- 4 ' : I I. I ;r..- • s r A A •: I f , Jnv ' 1^* I st I 4 if •* 1 r* JW'f ''r^ » I 1 ! V f • I V * V" >b 4 ■ T®.' •^M I’ ' ll i^r t<r» .5j^r *• b •'* J I S'*; .^T- !• ■ c <1^4^’ .iio I *.'4* . r J SV’S? ttnn J L T 4»5'^ - •. . ftni-’-fft -'tr \ flR^ ’ tr‘ -J ( . '.,.0^18*’^ J iDddJw. Aiodst •1 9 1 Ju/. ft isflino ‘ Ibt't J -. JOilS J 4 II tfti r^r* I- • . . AM >znf Bl II' H • * 1,5.. •*' ?'' 111* t k t iW?' «-• •* 1,5 a’ttJ' sn:' -J ‘', oijrsft Jt '■nx V - I .-v? r r liOlafr . I - I l^LSfSSfflWIoi lynviv btlfil i. Ife V ^:^^xalalB8 a . X • • B te «tk £ • is "* I- k M I f»'-. ' I r iN»'^ ' •<> .T^ i^T« 1 »C41/ I 1 I ' I 5 131 ? ;w i I j* ft t I 1 I t < I Uw < i fI 1J e. «« s •M ( I I' ' ' I .A I I* I <0^ - sAl I A b 1 I •• I I 1 X J • *1 ■*1 1 i «<« >* JP. 4 ' !■ ' > Mt? fl If*. I' I ■ I. ■ I . 1b’ ■.'rnof I ' I i- JU I' A 1'4. 9 ' .." '•4 I i > I 5*^. w< » L 1 I, II • I . I s i • I' 1 *1 T' 4 5 6 #8 lU •V u 91 10 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 191 201 I 11 10 12 on 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 22| 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 i-^t! 1^ .<M .ski I * R* * <- I f 4 4 r I I t b 1 I i A % I . I I i 1 i I 4 J, u t r r I r . f. . iWTISJ * • Llid •4 J I • I • 1. • r— I I TER t.=- tete t co. 9-1-1 C A i'l ad^'c J I DIAL (800) 249-091 If pON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up atS rtawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" ’ f i in U 1 I I Is ' t •• • d f ,' I ’ 4** �I I - 1 i I rV ’h •a, ..wft*- h A § .1 BUILDING BRANDS f 1 * 4. j 4 (t T, 21. - I A U • 9 I '<r. 4 unday, Jan. 19 is a date to keep in mind if you plan to make a New Year’s Resolution this year. That’s because research has shown that only 18 days after they’ve set their inten­ tion for a new year, the majority of people ditch their New Year’s Resolution by Jan. 19. One fit­ ness app has even named Jan. 19 “Quitter’s Day” according an inc. com article on the topic. That article also points out that of the 41% of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions, only 9% are successful in keeping them. I know, however, that most of the readers of this column make up the elite 9% who keep their New Year’s Resolutions because they set specific goals and pursue them with relentless passion, expanding far beyond Jan. 19. With this optimistic view in mind, each year I ask business professionals throughout the communities we cover to share their New Year’s Business Resolution, knowing that it will inspire anyone who hasn’t set their goal for the new year to do so. Here is what this year’s group of inspir­ ing contributors are vowing to do far beyond Jan. 19 in the new year: 1 I J 4.J 1 1 •ti ' IH ft.1 ■‘ft -ike i •I r I »/< '1 ft I I i 4 at ■ - r .Au' r i 4 w ■■■4h, •'* 4 *» l» •< ft* * ' ■<■ ■ ’a* « - ) i ft I '•■i. ■»* '•>■ '1 . » > 'll ,s > *< ' J 9. *f I H •*.- f »«u 1 •Mi ft X'. I ■ 4 X \S <•(? >< •*€'6 •uS M 1,. Ms K ■m' .. * > l; tI » 4 ir, 'f MJ V X 1 s ri' u 4 ,< * ’ ■ S IJ > ' 4*4 * I • 1 ■‘s • J'’ I ' J •> ( |4u Lb k' «k I I A 4 's n "«r o ■ JJG ■ > V •r ’**r. tai ’ 9 1 ,l A. rI X \9ti^n^ liUh 4 S * I k- 1 Qp □ ri. 'V I i b ** t t I" • u.: 1. Tb y I I « ': V- . ■n- Tim Vargas, President & CEO McLaren Lapeer Region t. e'Aa .u 1 V •'-t r . ntn* V) ft •r » U - n-j < .! .0 : .: Am* *.« - X / < ’ ---.M’ . IV ' ?i5al3* b . * M 1 Ik T ♦ I ) r^’ •X 0 I > '.nreirof /I I * i br ZOi 11 * r is.'iti. «*r SHir- / ( * e'' tftMCL I I - I X r I 1 <w I 1 1 r * .1 J T ,1. h , wii'C’- — I K**' • I* **^M' u I 1/ '.I* J t ft I I 4tfi h • . L ■ -Tlri ? «ri ■l-l * >» 5 ' ll s ■' X Saturday, January 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnewsxom A * 'ppjHr-sii I 4 J M- n I’ wecrfi-' J1’ k I Looking at 2025, our organization is determined to continue to be the pro­ vider of high-quality health care to the community, and, in doing so, a source of calm and compassion to the people of Lapeer. Throughout this past year, McLaren Lapeer Region undertook initiatives that increased our patients’ and the greater community’s access to care. This included hosting free health fairs and achieving re-verification as the county’s only trauma center, though our goal now is to build on that. We aim to venture further into the community, help our providers make a connection with those they care for, and to ensure that patients who require care are able to receive it promptly and efficiently. Bonnie Gettys, President/CEO Barry Community Foundation Our resolution here is the cherish the past, celebrate the present and strat egize our future! WiUi ±is being our * ,i Ml'I (VIES I « I Fl I 1 I ♦ k I it h What’s your New Year’s Business Resolution? 30th year in existence, we have much to be thankful for! Theresa Doan, Director of Social Responsibility Genisys Credit Union way we did something in the past as to not “reinvent the wheel,” in the year ahead I plan to challenge myself and OLir team to see if there is a better, faster, more efficient, easier or simply more fun way to do the task at hand. I’d love to hear your New Year's Business Resolution. Email me at ecaswell@mihomepaper. com. relationships with them are important to me, both profes­ sionally and personally. Pete Clinton, Advertising Director View' Newspaper Group tri j ■XW* A’ As the Social My business resolution Responsibility Director for 2025 is to stay ahead of of Genisys Credit Union, EMILY everything. It is so easy in I resolve to continue our CASWELL life and business to handle commitment to sustainable ecaswell all the things we do on a growth, community empow­ mihomepaper.com daily basis to get by and erment, and ethical practices forget about what it takes that benefit our members. to keep everything out in front of employees, and the communities we you and not get stuck working from serve. behind. To stay ahead, you need to We will expand our financial litera­ take care of all the daily things that cy programs to reach more individuals need to be addressed, but you also in 2025, with a focus on underserved need to take the time to make all the communities, youth, and seniors. extras to happen, which include plan­ We will grow and collaborate with ning, organization, research, thought, local organizations to ensure that our commimication, brainstorming and CSR initiatives address the unique developing more ideas. Focusing on challenges faced by all populations this more will help our team and cli­ within our service areas. ents be better prepared to see success. By driving these initiatives forward, My New Year’s Business Resolution we will create meaningful change, is to be innovative. While there’s align with our credit union’s core always value in looking back at the values, and strengthen our position as a socially responsible leader in the financial services industry. « ■a Emilv Caswell is the brand mand'ger for VIEW Group, the brand­ ing division of Vie\v Neyvspaper Group. She is a 2004 graduate of Michigan State University 's journal­ ism school. She first worked as an editorial intern for The (Lapeer) County Press in 2001 and 2002 and later as a reporter for Lapeer Area View and The County Press from 2008-09. Caswell was a staff report­ er for The Lansing State Journal's NOISE publication and wrote a pop­ ular column for the daily newspaper. She later served as the publications director at a boutique brand and publishing agency in Lansing, before returning to View Newspaper Group in her current role in 2014. Tt Leigh LaForest, Executive Director Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce I vow to be more present. Less tech, more in the moment. As for the Chamber, we are going to continue to work very hard to make sure that our members are feeling valued and supported. i 7/ 4 * 9^ A n « «9 5 .4 1 *> LOW & SLOW, WOOD SMOKED BBQ LIVE MUSIC II PRIVATE EVENT SPACE//CRAFT BEERS// ' QVER175 BOURBONS 4> 9 M iJ • J - I J f Wes Smith, Publisher View Newspaper Group Be a better listener: We all face the challenge of both listening to the per­ son or group with whom we interact and delivering our own message, pitch or proposal. Stephen R. Covey teaches in his The 7 Habits ofHighly Effective People: “Seek first to understand and then to be imderstood.” I know when I do this, better outcomes result. Practice gratitude: The Mayo Clinic says, “Gratitude can decrease depres­ sion, anxiety, difficulties with clu'onic pain and risk of disease.” Those are all good reasons to tell those with whom we work that we appreciate them. I also want my clients and colleagues to know their work has value and my ’r,i * . 9^ •.-'Jit- € t J •‘ rf"..e s 1 . *». k • A ft. V ' -. A IA /',< Viait o^rwi »site for fill 1• 4 4 iinenu optiotis avid more 4 n A T I ft I j « I > t *1 “V i ♦r Mb X L' 2 L k ft •4 1 r r L ■4 r t i^^^wrvir.liutclu^locitsociaLcom f *• s 1 Wt' 1 I 1 't < 4 t t A * t »• « A** ■» rwj I \ yj . lS' A ■y I 1 g- ft 9 IVA«• , J ’A < » » h • < ♦ 7 < •4ft *J . r • t -A “0} .7 Kw., A». r r •r<*. . f I k c THANK you fOK A GKUAT yUMH^^ if I 1' r. I . ■ . . ***•»-• k' ■' *. < '1 .’ ' '•.<• '1*.^ . d �A / 4 X J >• I KI Saturday, January 4, 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS GAINES Continued from Page 4 in October for the first phase of the Dutton Center mixed-use commercial and residential development on 68th Street, at Hanna Lake Avenue. The board approved Allen Edwin’s request to rezone a 29-acre parcel of agricul­ tural land to a planned unit develop­ ment. It is for the remaining northern section of the former J & A Post Family Farm, north of Shadyside Park. This is really a major revisioning of Dutton,” Wells said, speaking about the proposed five-phase, multi-year development. “So, these are homes that are close to the road, porch-prominent, with access to detached garages in the back,” Mike West of Allen Edwin told the township board during an Oct. 14 public hearing. There will be some attached two-, three- and four-unit townhomes with rear-loaded garages in the project’s first phase, which will feature 14 single-family veranda-style homes, as well as 47 two-unit and four-unit attached townhomes. A future, second phase would include 47 single-family detached homes, with Phase 3 slated to consist of 96 multiple family apartment build­ ings. Phase 4 could possibly include two, 2-story commerciaFresidentiaV office buildings facing Hanna Lake Avenue. The project will connect to the Thomapple Farms development that is being built south of the site. Project developer Michiana Land Development LLC intends to design the Dutton Center as a pedestrianfnendly community hub. It will feature four housing types, public spaces and non-motorized pathways. Green Development Ventures and Allen Edwin Homes are involved in the first two phases of the Thomapple Farms development at the 7300 block of Hammond Avenue. If the final four phases of the six-phase subdivision are approved, it could eventually have 170 single-family detached homes built over the next decade. The second phase of construction of another residential development in Dutton, Hoffman Meadows, began in 2024 on the 2400 block of 68th Street, west of Hanna Lake Avenue. Up to 130 single-family lots may be built in four phases. Chris VanderHoff is the WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS * * Residential & Commercial 1 •s'* 2 K X vA • I .I k »•< fI » L- X L I ■Hid t r trrz^S^ 3 11 I *‘’55* 1 t ?> fl ------ ■■rrimU I Fl Li 8 * h' t t 5 ■ DeWeerd (68) I HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM ♦ K« It*’ ^4^ . .A* 269-792-2234 • I x< J «« Since i9SS J A+ 1 , BBS. ACCREDITED BUSINESS lb property owner. Another big announcement came in October, when Microsoft Corp, con firmed that it had purchased 316 acres of industrial land from Steelcase Inc. at the northwest comer of Patterson Avenue and 76th Street. “This 316-acre site was identified in collaboration with The Right Place (economic development organiza­ tion) as part of our ongoing search for development opportunities in the Michigan market,” Microsoft officials stated in a written statement. Microsoft has not divulged its plans for the site, but The Right Place presi dent and CEO, Randy Thelen, said in a statement that it “fits into our lO-year tech strategy to develop the Greater Grand Rapids region into a leading tech hub in the Midwest.” “For the past year, year-and-a-half there’s been talk of maybe a data center-type facility going in on that property,” Township Manager Rod Weersing said. Weersing added that 76th Street could eventually be widened in that area to accommodate a projected increase in traffic in coming years. “With additional growth and devel opment along that corridor, it will -1 believe - lead to rebuilding it,” Weersing said. Township trustees mentioned at their Dec. 9 meeting that Microsoft has recently purchased more property near the site on Patterson Avenue at 76th Street. The Patterson Avenue corridor already is handling hea ( ‘affic most times of the day. The Microsoft site is just south of the 850,000-square-foot Amazon Fulfillment Center at 68th Street and Patterson Avenue. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is about five miles to the north Meanwhile, Byron and Gaines town­ ships have approved plans for a new water-storage tank to be installed on Patterson Avenue, about one-half mile south of 68± Street. The ground mounted tank will be designed with a 2-million-gallon storage capacity. The Byron-Gaines Utility Au±ority is pur suing a state permit for the tank. The two townships would split ±e cost. A start date has not been deter­ mined yet, although Weersing said the project could begin in the spring. With all the developments in Gaines Township, planners have been work­ ing for the past year-and-a-half on an w 4 a 9 Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps -Water Heaters -Humidifiers www.sunandnews.com «• I J I amended zoning ordinance to regulate future land use. It will be based on a new township master plan that was finalized last year. The master plan was the product of a year’s worth of input that included open houses and a township-wide sur vey of residents and other stakeholders about how they want to see Gaines develop over the next 15 years or so. Some properties that are in the gener­ al commercial district will be rezoned into a new neighborhood commercial category to entice more walkable, neighborhood-type services that people can more easily access close to home. Preserving open space and developing parks are also part of the long-range plans. As for outdoor activities in the town­ ship in 2024, one of the highlights was the annual Gaines Fall Heritage Festival organized by Gaines Historical Society president Shirley Bruursema. Steady crowds showed up at the town­ ship hall to listen to live music, and enjoy arts and crafts, a petting zoo, a hayride, food and fire trucks, among other things. The 34th annual Diemer Family of Races featured several hundred partici­ pants competing in various races and walks on June 8. More than $9,000 in prize money was awarded. The KCSO hosted the annual South Kent National Night Out event Aug. 6 outside South Christian High School. The sheriff’s drone unit, K9 unit, mounted patrol, a tactical team vehicle, marine patrol and various equipment were on display. Some area fire depart­ ments and other agencies participated, as well. The annual Movie in the Park on the lawn outside the township hall on Aug. 23 drew a slew of spectators to watch the animated adventure comedy film, Migration.” The Gaines branch of the Kent District Library and the Gaines Chamber of Commerce helped the township organize the fun night out. It featured food trucks, Kent County SherifFs Office and township fire trucks and kids’ games. The Gaines Chamber held an inaugu­ ral luminary walk around Prairie Wolf Park on Dec. 7. Organized by chamber executive director Barb Nauta, it fea tured a festive 1.5-mile stroll through the woods on a path illuminated by 450 bags holding LED candles. 6 I IT IC 11 Jf fl HI , 1’ t IIUJI I 4 1 I I I I f * J lA I ’• * B? tI I r i’ fl B I t If I I V I ^4^4 r J t I I ♦ V' I IS flu sr t Ifl 11 i I '4' I I J • r «il hil I I 1 3 1 1 V • i t 4 IA Lr I i ( I !■ I W1 i iii 10/ I J I r I 111 fl r »1 a. .31 1 J «,..x k. I 1 Iu « a « T • - ‘ I' A 49 « 9 » 4 a < .’111 i II I i ♦**•'♦* JB fl •' •• F A 7 •* . ^8. « li- ybumoot'll ns EdOffi* 4 a = .J J V 1< r•A .* .al . .. f ir FL !r [1 Li. fl :*> I a * •♦.f 9 I- irltiBii J— S? « I M >1 I — IVA CO. 9-1-1 CElTER 4 5 8 9I 10 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 191 201 Im :>Pri* I I . flB0 i a r P' > 11 10 12 19 1 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 271 281 29 30 fl ' JT mid tl I Was 7^: is 31* & ' -V*w I * A wmiB l< I •t > A V’ • I IfI* h 5*’. ? • 4 i 211 22| 231 241 251 26 . ; fl 14 I ■•/P H t3fli ■ I DIAL (800) 249-0911 ^aJON - EMERGENCIES II "Kids Measure up at Q4awa Co. 9-1-1 Center I ‘ / ‘ : ' I t II I 1 r f ‘i Ufl fl la ;r flic- 3 «H 2 •— 4 T* a- I -=• 9R •aw J iB • 87. r ♦ ♦ • •»' "I • ' » * .I ] ■ ( 4 r j (T •r 1 1 '•fi P 1 »M !i ’ 1 i- r. f *rI /■ I < I i 1 i t S‘ □M > jLug �V ■\ 1. A ■'V % \ V. >*■ 112^ I t 1 I I Saturday, January 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 7 I > V ’k >w? 5. I ’ Thank you for supporting us and, in turn, yoiir community! > 2* . I V ^'i.- .d ' . * *«« •1? <^.r • { 5 » * < A J. ■t i k 1 K* ’x^‘ j V We at View Newspaper Group wish you, and all those close to you, a healthy and prosperous New Year! I » t t I *4 « > I « * I .-te I k- I > 4tj 't 5^ k* it } * r r V 1 b ik • s i a*Aa X 5 ■ 5^-' It r ) '■ H * fs ■ '/M- '■tv : . / 1 >A 1^. *1 «*F I V I I 'sL4< “lb. 4 7 \ r 'f 4 t • * X ri >>• aVi &S V J •»v au I d V • •>. Abss: t I •>* E t 4 . •**. 1 . ■■’■: i< *• it: 1 * l:^ / tl >-•- 'f 9, 4> *, '7. > •d .J f»'V'i.‘. « *• 1] ( **»» .f>K I f -J *^S4il I K 'It’ ifTl Jt* Z“ * k • 1' 9^. f'i-- a r► s« i? < # 5 s r f n |b I :2«^; 1 R** J 4>’ i » fl ■r 4 V ■4‘ 3^9< HSfb *A -c. p* ©» wa ' f k I •>k> «— i > -* S < A •'1 I 3b>p OSFaW lj > s K » is* Jl ie s «r> >Z-’ K* w o V 1^1 A xt« f X I * VI w * ! 4 ■z I , J ‘l r » I I i. bk : 9. Sir I •1 *\. V ■'x, * K »A s 11 SA «•« / t I \ > W t It k K2 rw w . J X ' 'I / I • V*-' r-^ 11^1^3 ! , H / > “^b / yW .♦ fr" e 1 > \ ' !■■> ' its *?■ * “%r •» - A JB K * 'll I / f i f? fy 4' ' » .W « . A* ?• \> w# • c I J •S.; e- t ff • * X 1 .. \ « I B'w « I E.’'S * 4 t. : >., I? <1 & da * K ••• .J . .. . J F ♦ B.' t. • •» ' I, n -Ik lb. > { < .-f z. "• k. ,. t; i 4<IL .. 1 £3 •>j <»• r S L rniMiim I r. 9 •. !<► 6 0 4 1 ft 0 r^';- ’ " ' A-’' » iabiji'ii iij r»w <S A v’g IBBS bilte I ■*■ J. 1 e * 4 J I I 4 9 ili4 • i - A The County*Press • « Lapeer Area View Tri-CountyuTimes The Lowell Ledger Dgily News The Hastings Banner Genesee County View Tri-County Citizen Buyer's Guide and News 4 ^r^WitWF Huron County View I '• Oxford Leader 4 Ad-Visor & Chronicle * '4 •» igfMtM > 1 «ui *w a * J h r Sanilac County News } EEtlfM: . *• •> Clarkston News The Sun and News Jeffersonian The Citizen The Reminder 1 4:' •5 ■ k* ■V I mA !.| M( It d r R r a 1 k V • w Battle Creek Shopper l^ews Ypur Buyer’s Guide » I Lake Orion Review �/ I I 8 J i p Saturday, January 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS I 1 www.sunandnews.com T• 1 : •. i /V * • I V* I J I Sporting News » ♦ •h r k •« tf 1 4 •J 9 I I .',113 I < I I, I I XF ■ .49 di f i.«. 1/ TK renames duals in honor of coach Lehman r 5.^ . 4 i-' .' 'i Y*** nr»’ , ( »] 1 ( 1? 'W p Xt l.< .1 ft iiT r I r I* I ir I V* ri i t Brett Bremer Lie <Hr» I Sports Editor The annual December TK duals are now the Tom Lehman Memorial Invitational. Lehman, who led the TK wrestling program from 1972 to 2009 and is 12th on the MHSAA all-time list ofcoaching dual meet wins with an overall record of 710-234-7, passed away in September. “Coach had a way of treating ev­ eryone with respect and dignity,” TK announcer Craig Stolsonburg said in a statement following the day’s first round of duals. “We know that if coach was here he would he would be sit­ ting in that chair or in the first row of All of us at I J E W erengA E L E whR^Uouz jpiVu paOioHo^ in 2024 cuul uu&R jpw d 6(es«ec( <HeW' ty^Wv 'XT*' iekemA \ •.■v WM I 9369 Cherry Valley S.E. Caledonia, MI 49316 otscavar 891-5750 swierengajewelers.com *A/ •» In the Caledonia D&W Village Center *' A ■ r r» r I s r< a ■> k 5 T ■f ► f > I v « A' t •* « >1 ,5 >1 .1* f w •» f 1 J •4' L. rV «. V I I i\ 4' ff. A-. . jiiir ~ ■ **t r*r. kteM ■■ j> r * T' ■«!< r; ■ fc» M >• *r.- ' *-v4W ..C ’•Ai. *** z< L'-- :mh, : J •* F r ** * .4 Thornapple Kellogg’s Griffin Grummet scores nearfall points against Rockford's Ares Porter during their 150-pound match Saturday at the Tom Lehman Memorial Invitational in Middleville. Photo by Brett Bremer ■ i »-' I V '£ 1 b' C'-.',.'- *1 «v> SU L ¥ *t w* ■ 4 *■ I* * 4 “W ^2 r p I p »> e < *T A • I ,* ' 4, b ik: 4. a-T ffi J1 1' t Fs^rm ««K I * z ; 4^ •I ■'4 the bleachers catching up with former wrestlers and students. Coach Lehman’s kindness, caring nature and ability to love everyone made him a true once-in-a-lifetime icon of the TK community. We are honored to name this invitational after coach Tom Lehman.” Lehman’s teams won 19 conference titles, 13 district titles, nine regional championships and the 1996 MHS AA Division 3 State Championship, and he was honored with many coach of the year and hall of fame accolades over the years while also earning the chance to coach national and international squads. The Trojans dis­ played a “Home of Your local agent insures your Tom Lehman” sign for the wrestling room and competed throughout the day of duals Saturday, FARM BUREAU Dec. 28, in Mid­ W8URANCE* dleville. It was a ^ie^^ojte fneuf^oMA tough day of duals. ’P The TK team •31 was downed in its Jason Parks first three duals of (269) 795-8827 121 E. Main Street jparks@fbin5ini.com the day 56-18 by Downtown Middleville FarmBureaulnsurance.com Grand Ledge, 52-28 19 4 9 1 t i C E « I * ? • : •7 v- F I I I b ’ *WB5- I I. . 9 - p i H r J' s Mb*- .^• ' .V “ <H I •X * ■ * .'* 'i"' .-I < f£ *• . v>,’Zv .*• w- • .V. .1 J 4 Thornapple Kellogg’s Blake Bossenberger works on top of Rockford’s Brady Anderson during their 165-pound bout Saturday at the Tom Lehman Memorial Invitational at TKHS Saturday, Dec. 28. 1^.- z ' ""-d . (•*> ' EV r*' ukii^un KA "t *1 •*r •• •w i • -J r- s 1 , J . • X* £V ‘ J Photo by Brett Bremer V >• ’ OP :1 T* against Rockford and Greenville took a 55-21 win over the Trojans. TK closed out its tournament with duals against Springport and Grant. Rockford’s program is ranked seventh in the state in Division 1 and Greenville entered the holiday break ranked sixth in the state in Division 2. In that dual with the Greenville Yellow Jackets, the Trojan team got pins from Christien Miller at 113 pounds, Blake Bossenberger at 165 and Jayce Curtis at 190 pounds. Jackson Smith added a 9-8 win against Greenville’s Jaxson Croy in the 175-pound bout. A pin by Smith was the lone win for TK in the dual with Grand Ledge to start the day other than forfeit wins by Tanner Buxton and Miller. Aiden Foy got TK off to a solid start in the dual with Rockford scoring a 15-0 technical fall in his 138-poimd bout. Griffin Grummet added a 16-0 technical fall in his 150-pound match. Bossenberger had a quick pin in the dual with the Rams. Miller at 113 pounds and Diego Rodas at 126 had first period pins too. I k, r.ir.- • «t ‘‘n 1h tl 1^ I y M E '<1 4 • i J 4 X.- f i a ?i i jr** (hjaj' £ Jrta ■B’jj f 1 )• h c s •«s f «r '^' '. 7> f. k 1 •F *1 J * H I t i fJi m jtv n ui La i ;• k' A I* fl 1^ 5.1 > H . I . rit ' 4 ( ' I I ir r. r I • 1 r 1 illsh >ln( m t I*'; J J 1 « k 1 t K t ,> . •' I * - 4 I ri 4^ '. c. iJ I I I i 9 r 1^4 •T-i ♦ i ■ T % * “f i 4s *> *. *» 1^ rr' wr ■1 • w »mi\i, f '^14^ . r<s A •V / * II > r.Ai h < a. I ■a I*.' T> 1 ./ 2 •, •r v! 1 .'S- 5 * Oi ’:“V: ■> 4 CeItER 91 10 X \i J T ■T 29 A kf/A CO. 9-1-1 4 it ■ ■ J* 4 ,1 5 5 I ' ;.i ■ 1 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES «' a DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Qi,1awa Co. 9-1-1 Center 111 12| 13| 14| 151 161 171 181 II 19 n ' I' 20| 211 22| 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 k •c < :&* �♦ ♦ 9 flnoo www.sunandnews.com ) I i D nsn u < z , *» Saturday, January 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 9 i ♦ ♦ ) I s• Olympic and state medals won by area athletes in 2024 ,4 I 'I Wa e I I I j I Brett Bremer Sports Editor ^8 CW.' fl « I A /:■ < * t 't^l/ zfffF bi7W'< A 1 t « i 4 f; St r isi t tfi ft lAujto-J- . a O T Ik ■ *V '*4 S' £3' at w •*< JE> L>i I >r' ’ujiK £po >•» 1> > V I nv 11^ 4 1 ■'•.gOB ' '3 '*i* t u I I I y 9* J. jni .x i’ Ift< » .-li: fi H V 11J6 ■ 4 3 e t diif .f { ' •w »» ■ £i r. :sd k <at '' f -TT^Blq Shr - > r •" r : J I 1 r :* '’V'Jt ntr (T* ■■' -**bt Viw a . *» . I . I u? ?Ik •• / .•1- t-L’> '•*. ft •.i V. $ t ■ *4>. k « c* * r, I Is oD M enom f “•wo 1 ’ ** it I 4 9 r y. •|» V. • w 1 -F9 * ’T ■ r\ •l r • t^. } t If LU >> « Al fr i'd'4 j I.’ » •*,5 V u«> ' • ft 1 > 1 A ' .* f,, fr .« »* I 9b - •,> (* .r»* Its <2^ • •• a. s.’ai,"4>‘ * 1 I' 1 £ -T>. *•• i>’• * «I •< 1t k . * 4 t t'* * r Xw ‘I c kri.' i..aii0BVfn S*,' •\ 1 4 I 4 4 .4 i I V » 1 1 t r ® -c ’’ £l^ The Caledonia varsity girls’ soccer team celebrates an MHSAA Division 1 District Championship after beating OK Red Conference rival Hudsonville, the top ranked team in the state entering the postseason, in the district final at West Ottawa High School. Photo by Brett Bremer c /»• * « {.<-• .r* ► I I 1^* I . ! 1 ■ 1 1 I I v • i?a I r *• I ‘M ’A 1. I * 4 I 9^ / nu b 1 r I U( ’r s ’■m=" *w»- I: •F* ^J--^ ir • IF I ti Men Antenna Meri - . I / arena and swallowed up by these big MHSAA Individual State Finals at huge teams and whatever. They didn’t Ford Field in downtown Detroit the first weekend in March. She was 11-0 this do that,” TK head coach Madelynn winter while recovering from injury. Lula said after the D2 Finals. “They She pinned all seven of her postseason went out there and they peaked at the foes in the first period. state finals. They went out there and Hayden said this second champion­ did exactly what I asked them to do. ship was a little less nerve-wracking They did exactly what I asked them than her first, mostly due to her own to do. They went out there and got the state of mind. highest scores of the season.” “I feel like I was a little more confi­ TK won’t have Cedar Springs to dent this year,” she said, “and since I contend with during the 2024-25 com­ was out injured for a little while I was petitive cheer season. With a number more excited to wrestle than I was of teams saying farewell to the OK nervous to wrestle. I was just really Conference in 2024 the conference’s excited to go out and see how good I realignment plans saw major changes. would be again, because I have been For the first time, separate conferences off for a couple months.” were created for football. Hayden was one of two Caledonia Thomapple Kellogg joined West girls at the individual state finals last Catholic, Northview, Wyoming, WayMarch, Thomapple Kellogg had hand­ land, Grand Rapids Union and South ful of girls there as well, and beginning Christian in an^iew rendition ofthe OK with this new 2024-25 season the Gold Conference for most sports. The competitors at the state finals will also TK team competed in the OK Black be working to win an MHSAA Girls’ Conference for football along with Team Wrestling Championship for the Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Ot­ first time. tawa Hills, East Grand Rapids, Holland Caledonia’s Halle Stout and Thor­ Christian and Northview. napple Kellogg’s Emma Gibson, Rylee The Caledonia varsity football Alberts and Raini Braska all earned team remained a member of the OK spots in the state wrestling finals too, Red Conference, but for most other while the TK boys’ team was repre­ sports the Fighting Scots moved into sented by Jayce Curtis. the OK Green Conference along with While the wrestlers were doing their Reeths-Puffer, Mona Shores, Jenison, thing at the individual state finals, the Muskegon and Byron Center. Thomapple Kellogg varsity competi­ Caledonia took its first two OK tive cheer team was taking on the top Green Conference Championships in teams in the state at the MHSAA the fall of 2024 as the girls’ golf and Division 2 Competitive Cheer Finals girls’ volleyball teams won titles. For at Central Michigan University’s Mc­ the Caledonia varsity volleyball team, Guirk Arena in Moimt Pleasant. it was the program’s first ever confer­ Thomapple Kellogg was in a battle ence championship. It came in a year in with Cedar Springs all season long, and which the Scots were led by the senior couldn’t quite beat out the Red Hawks See YEAR IN SPORTS on 10 in the postseason. TK was one spot behind Plainwell at districts and then one Yrz»i\Y spot behind the Cedar 9 Springs girls are regionals ------- 3# to finish as the runner-up both times. • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers The TK coach was okay • Cellular Enhancement Systems with her girls saving their best for last though. Give us a call! •ffSursSaS ■^We always peak at 269-967-8241 districts or at regionals Elite) n J www.theantennamen.com and then we come and get antennamen@gmail.com www.cellsignalpros.com swallowed up in this big I A X r «-**** !4T 4 J .1 'wr* I 4 jrtf'* I t e- I 3* I -1 /• I p 1 <• « t i bT w ■. •s / ■ «< < * IT ) -» J I. 'V, * .»Y i» •< y >5 * c « i.4 * /J I » 2 ’.•W' ■I V . >. <- X 4. The athletic successes of local ath­ letes extended beyond the state and beyond the nation in 2024. Caledonia alumnus Alena Olsen (2014) took on the world along with the Team US A Women’s Rugby Sevens Eagles at the 2024 Paris Olympics and knocked off Australia in the end to win the bronze medal. “I just never thought I would get a bronze medal,” Olsen said fighting back tears as she talked to reporters following the Eagles’ finale in Paris. “The doubt that creeps into your head in a competition is so strong. You don’t want to put yourself out there, but we put ourselves out there for heartbreak. But that is the only way you can get joy like this, get the success like this is if you also put your heart out there to be broken.” Olsen was an all-conference soc­ cer player at Caledonia High School, and also a volleyball player, who was encouraged by cousins to give rugby at try while attending the University of Michigan. She fell in love with the sport. She made her first cap to Team USA in 2018 and learned in June that she’s earned a spot on the 2024 Olym­ pic squad. Closer to home, Caledonia sopho­ more Maddie Hayden won her second MHSAA wrestling championship. The Caledonia High School equestrian team won a reserve state championship. The Caledonia varsity girls’ golf team captured a state runner-up finish. There were big victories The Caledonia varsity volleyball team won its first ever conference title; the Thomapple Kellogg teams filled the state medal stand at the track and field finals; TK senior golfer Ailana Leos and cross country runner Ava Crews finally got their state medals; the Trojan varsity competitive cheer team returned to the state finals, and the Scots and Trojans both began to take on new conference competitions last year. Some of the victories were more personal, like Thomapple Kellogg se­ nior volleyball setter Kylee Hoebeke’s combination ofjoy and relief at finally getting a win over Wayland three-sport star Harmony Laker “because Har­ mony Laker has never lost to TK in her whole life. And we wanted to beat her, in anything.” Nobody in the state beat Hayden in wrestling during the 2023-24 season. The Caledonia sophomore made it 2-for-2 in winning state championships and in fact no one scored a point against her during that sophomore campaign. Hayden pinned Holt senior Brynn Campbell less than a minute into their 15 5-pound championship match at the A 2t < Ur /* •• w. * I 9 1 �I /Z Tk• ► & f f! )■ k’ I• i 10 Saturday, January 4. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 4 ?k WWW sunandnews com r»i ■ ;• V •«? V ' i’* . rf ( r Ml YEAR IN SPORTS Continued from Page 9 * *• Irio of all-state outside hitter Cambria Gaien all-state middle Josie Noble and setter Jessica Maier who all have made their college volleyball plans and who all experienced having four different coaches over their four varsity seasons. “Our journey to this point has been one of dedication and growth, and (Wednesday) was the ultimate reward,” CHS volleyball coach Ashley Brown said of clinching the Green title. “The excitement and pride they fell after the final point was priceless - it’s why we play, and it’s an experience they’ll carry with them forever.” A conference title was only the start of things for the Caledonia varsity girls’ golf team this fall. The Fighting Scots returned to the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’Golf Finals for the second year in a row and shot their way to a runner-up finish on the course al Ferris Stale University's Katke Golf Course. Fighting Scots senior Copelin O’Krangley won an individual state ♦ ♦ medal with a 78-74-152 over the course of the two-day finals to place third in the state individually. Northville started the girls' golf season at the top of the state rankings and ended the year with a state cham­ pionship, but the Fighting Scots who placed second at the finals were never mentioned in the state rankings despite the experienced group the program brought back. It was unreal," Caledonia head coach Veronica Von Wagoner said of her team’s celebration at the end of the tournament. “Lots of tears, and I think lots of disbelief. The sense of pride that I have in this team is unmatched to anything that I have felt for a team before.” HS junior Codie O'Krangley shot 85 each day to place 19th individually with an overall score of 85-85-170 at the 36-hole event. Senior Ellie Hudson was 37th with an 87-93-180. Senior Mya Burgess and junior Katie Honhart shaved multiple strokes off their day one scores on day two for the Fighting Scots to place 58th and 64th respectively in the field of over 100 I ..F .± Classifieds «>» r li* Phone; 6l6.89t.()070 Fax: 616.891.0430 CMicmA TOWNSHIP . CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on January 20, 2025 at 7:00 p.m., the Planning Com­ mission of the Charier Township of Caledonia will hold a public hearing at the Caledonia Charter Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue, within the Township, on the application of Craig Hoppen, on behalf of J&amp;H Family Stores, to amend the approved Valley Point South Industrial Park PUD (the "PUD") and to amend the Final Development Plan for the PUD as to Parcel 6 of the PUD. The proposed amendment would add gasoline service stations as a permitted use within the PUD, and would amend the site plan for the PUD to allow for the construction of two proposed new buildings within Parcel 6 of the PUD: a gasoline service station, with drive-through facilities, and a retail build­ ing with drive-through facilities. The lands that are the subject of this request are owned by Broadmoor-84 LLC> and located generally at 8300 Broadmoor Avenue SE, Caledonia, Michigan 49316, and are legally described as follows: Parcel No, 41-23-17-400-063 PART OF SE 1/4 COM 451.75 FT S 88D 24M 20S W ALONG S SEC LINE FROM SE COR OF SEC TH S 88D 24M 20S W ALONG S SEC LINE 42.09 FT TH N 52D 31M 37S W 284,71 FT TO ELY LINE OF BROADMOOR AVE /STL M37 - 120 FT WIDE/ TH N 27D 40M 56S W ALONG SD ELY LINE 433.11 FT TH ELY 104,15 FT ALONG A 150.0 FT RAD CURVE TO RT /LONG CHORD BEARS N 82D I2M 35S E 102.07 FT/ TH S 77D 53M 55S E 355.93 FT TH S 4D 34M 50S E 290.0 FT TH S ID 35M 40S E 223.52 FT TO BEG * SEC 17 T5N RIOW 3.72 A. All interested persons may attend the public hearing and comment on the proposed ordinance to amend the approved PUD and site plan for the described lands. Written comments may be sub­ mitted to the Township at the above-staled address up to the time of and during the public hearing. Interested persons may contact the Township Offices or consult the Township website at https:// w3vw.caledoniatownship.org/ up to the time of the meeting for any updates concerning the manner of holding the hearing. PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA Dated: December 26, 2024 ;r’' w I t > s0' I T 0 T I X’ t J >0^ TREE SERVICE r' w I BUYING ALL HARDWOODS Walnut, Oak, Hard Maple. Cherry. Paying top dollar Call for pricing and Free Estimates. Will buy single walnut trees. Insured, liability & workman’s comp. Fetterley Log­ ging. (269)818-7793. -rf* ■ 4 I r u'*'" . . .. T .aJsiJ' < IV J •?> 4 >• ♦ J I < s s t »■ 'r A 'H r : ;i I aJ .'Vr g J*' J t b.* <ln1> I 1.^ I* r w < - f / k < J! r ( «r golfers. Burgess shot a 101-90-191. Honhart finished her two-day tally at 100-93-193. The top four scores each day contributed to the overall scores. Copelin was a state medalist for the second year in a row after a tenth-place finish at the finals as a junior. While the Scots were on campus in Big Rapids, Thomapple Kellogg senior Ailana Leos was taking on the competi­ tion at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Girls’ Golf Finals at The Meadows on the campus of Grand Valley State University in Allendale. It was also a return trip to the finals for Leos, who was the OK Gold Con­ ference champion this fall and set TK scoring records. At the 2024 Finals she shot a 78-82-160 to earn her sixth-place spot on the finals leaderboard. Leos just missed out on a state finals appearance as a sophomore falling in a three-person playoff at regionals and then qualified for the state finals for the first time as a junior in 2023. It was great. It’s what I worked for for four years now for high school,” Leos said. “The biggest thing was last year to get to states, and this year get <!> < t4 4 .! Caledonia sophomore Maddie Hayden heads out onto the mats at Ford Field during her run to a second straight 155-pound championships at the MHSAA Individual State Finals the first weekend in March. Hayden was undefeated and unscored upon during her sophomore campaign. , ♦ .< r (J I to states and medal. It has always been what we have been working for since I was a freshman. It was amazing, and it was just sort of like a dream come true. This is whal vou worked for, and you deserve it because you worked for it and it paid off.” All the years of work paid off for Thomapple Kellogg senior Ava Crew s. A four-time cross country state qualifier she earned her first state medal for a top 30 finish this fall. Crews and senior teammale Jacob Draaisma from the TK boys' team both won individual conference cross coun­ try championships in the reworked OK Gold Conference in the fall of 2024, and both went on to qualify for the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finals at Michigan Interna; tional Speedway in Brooklyn. Crews placed 26th at the finals. For Draaisma, it was the follow up to a successful first track and field season in the spring and an exciting first and last varsity cross country season as he decided last spring to give distance run­ ning another try after beginning high school focusing mostly on basketballI and tennis. In the Division 1 boys’ race at the cross country finals, Caledonia senior Kort Thompson won his first all-state medal thanks to a 29th-place time of 15 minutes 47.0 seconds. Thompson was a two-time state qualifier in cross country, and ends his high school career as the second fastest guy in the history of Caledonia cross country. The Caledonia program also sent Eli Veiling and senior Hannah Dupuis to the DI Cross Country Finals. Crews and Draaisma were also See YEAR IN SPORTS on 11 r * . 9^' I '.J I Photo by Brett Bremer 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SI t atedonia. Ml 49316 Si M. Ki ia!c“ I F 1 1 : .1 ► I• bl 1 , •• * RjJ 4* .A . ..4». 9* I ‘i t l| rxj; . ; ..J 1 -r ,’ * 4-51: It* 11 r 4 I w •! • »*» » « 4 A .n ; Lo* ► i nr • * K I* 1 I J ** ‘V ? 1 • * $ * i * . iBS* 4* 3 ... • »' H •?!>’ 1 I ' f 1 7^ •7 'i J IP y .Wl «S I I 4 *1^ y/v; ij< >• I r /t : ♦ Ar > T/ i > <«nMJ I V.: .V . T *.• * * I r ir £ —-fl <' ?w- M f 1 J i I T* -■* « jvtd# ■li, r 1 I J.tta’ i^T^ •l,' J t5 X* V-*" tteippri'*® iiti ta ilaiit ' E T > L :»Hs ^^^9 a/. J \A:.. 1 J V 1 :.' I Idrasdifiefe!!’ i' * * ^’1 3 . h I Tr..4.3 » « H I >z !•• ••! Li A I -t • 4 ...J I f -■> k '*4k» , '"1 x • * • Jr OM ■ J UL^il J, ( B ♦ i' . * f1 ■/ i . ’-*• w I ' t dk. a «4 r^' » «« > *•« J (£, .•___ s, ‘ T » !l_' 1i! r> ■ *1 K * r t I' i I V*H •* » ¥ t ^jqi 5. . f/ ' I I 4,:t 11 •t c / r 1 J 1 I I 1 2 I 4 /A co. 9-1-1 CENTER 4 5 6 91 10 2? 5 7 I ^aaiRv 1 DIAL (800) 249-0911?|ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at wa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 15| 16j 17| 18j 19| 20| •-K n 1 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES r. 21| 22| 23| 24| 25j 26| 27| 28| 291 30L 4 4 4^^ I I I < I G I• ( « I « i I ✓ I M G 9 I L h I I • 4 fl C f I I <• r I I t ! •** �b k A • 9. 1 ♦ ♦ t -4.;; 9 5 www.sunandnews.com • s THE SUN AND NEWS Saturday, January 4, 2025 11 i 1 ♦ ♦ YEAR IN SPORTS gr J w T * f .1 :j t Continued from Page 10 ltv” 1 Ii i < I t . ' 't 1' 4I 1 I I .• £ * •* » I 4' - * ■ I 1 ‘4 ' . : p' <- a' h. J I I >' Fiawp' ■ ‘ 7 ' !✓ » 4 I: ’ i i s I'l OK w i ■ I ............................ S bfo, ii- A '■p. i * 4 f •l f I I (Hi A ■ j 1 n V 'H ♦ .1 I - ■M!-,! "'I. 4 1 VI .Fv. F'f «■ '*<1 * uf 4 ’bl*.,' ‘ ■'' 1 V; ’ ( rH’*! ivj ' « r r: f 1 t J ■M . • .» -T>n’. , ft'ii '■ •’ 3 . I: <i 1 I' ' 'M N T *, » 1 1^*4 1 '■ % * ' 4 'ipi^ I <St I « •f. s / b's r1 9^ 4 «x f 4 i'- f jH I ■y' l (;II '>7k rj 't ; TH*. : ■ b : I <4 iin t 4 I p I I ♦t 4U ‘ - ui .rei i'i... J'itl ■ »» f> d 4 ( ’•■’i’Clli, Jv. S'!* » V ?■ 4 *00^ t » ’ » L 5 'I ■«>-' ir-t; h; t •27t -»• ,11 «n« 1^. * 1 ) ( 4 7 feiaSltlHi! i hiTj'IU'/ •• 4 T; I » 'H rt-. f ‘I >• ■ -1 ft 4H>jri t A ,4 •/ k 1 / 1 I f J. -njaMBBli- . » ' « : ■-- '■ jfi V < 'fr < 4*-*- T! i I 1 * J*' ' '' t J f f 1 I / ij I < ♦ i. t' 1 • •' J J I* M (03^1 r. I * 1 d ' u* ’I ■ •* 1» 'i'S' i .1 Tf’ o’ .♦i d". t •4; .. >-c w Sr I 1^'li state qualifiers in track and field at the end of the 2024 spring season. While Draaisma wasn’t chasing many people throughout the fall, he did spend much of the spring chasing senior teammate Lucas Van Meter. Van Meter found his stride on the track as a senior. He set a school record for TK in the 800-meter run in winning the OK Gold Conference champion ship in the race and then improved his time further to 1 minute 55.98 seconds to finish as the state runner-up in the race at the MHSAA Division 2 Lower Peninsula Track and Field Finals in Hamilton in June. The TK girls’ team continued to be a powerhouse in the hurdles with junior Brooklyn Harmon setting her PRs in third-place finishes in both the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter low hurdles. Sophomore teammate Mia Hilton was eighth in the 300 hurdles. Those two also teamed with sophomore Payton Gater and freshman Ellie Har­ mon to place sixth in the 4x400-meter relay at the end of the meet. Both TK 4x400-meter relay teams finished the day on the state medal stand as the boys’ foursome of seniors Jaxan Sias, Ethan Bonnema, Kyle VanHaitsma and Van Meter placed fourth in their finals race. The Caledonia boys’ track and field team had a handful of state qualifiers in Division I last spring. Seniors Ian Fedewa popped off his best throw ever in the discus of 160 feet 10 inches to earn an all-state medal for an eighth­ place finish. Senior Jordan Gutierrez qualified for the state finals in the long jump the high jump and -with teammates Shaden Thomas, Maddox Greenfield and Dharius Walker in the 4x 100-meter relay. While the track and field state finals were dodging rain drops, the Caledo­ nia varsity baseball team was winning its second straight Division 1 District Championship in June. The Fighting Scots followed up their 3-1 district championship win over Lowell at Dav­ enport University by beating Wyoming in the regional semifinals. That win over Wyoming sent the Scots to Central Michigan University for the second season in a row for a regional final, but the Scots were Hi I I 7 r' M ' ri ri H « I I 4 I * A 1 A I I * 4 downed 3-2 by OK Red Conference foe Hudsonville in the regional finals. The Fighting Scots had an outstand­ ing girls’ soccer postseason too last spring as the Caledonia varsity' girls' soccer team shut out East Kentwood and then Byron Center to get into the MHSAA Division 1 District Final against Hudsonville at West Ottawa High School in May, and knocked off the top-ranked Eagles 2-1 in a shoot out to claim their first district title. Freshman Averi Rosted scored for Caledonia midway through the second half to tie the district final at 1-1 on the Scots’ first and only shot of the game. The two teams played through a score­ less overtime to head to a shootout, one the Scots entered confidently with senior goalkeeper Davanee Balczak one of the team’s stars. She had 23 saves through the game’s 100 minutes of soccer. The Scots’ Baylee Devries, Kendall Maynard, Langley Peterson and Rosted buried kicks in the shoot out, with Rosted’s shot clinching the district championship. Peterson was named first team all-state in Division 1, “1 have never felt a victory this rewarding,” Peterson said. “[Beating Byron Center in the district semifinals] was very rewarding, because they have knocked us out the past two years. We have never beaten [Hudsonville] in my four years. My freshman year they knocked us out in the first or second round of districts, and then the past two years it was Byron Center. So, this was personal. I really, really wanted to hold them off and they took 23 shots. “Davanee is incredible. Couldn’t do it without her, for sure. She is the best ever.” It is the Caledonia girls’ first district championship in soccer since 2013. The spring season saw Thomapple Kellogg senior Emma Schut earn all-state honors in Division 2 on the girls’ soccer field, and Hoebeke the TK softball team’s senior shortstop earn honorable mention all-state in Division 2. Throughout the course of the year many others competed and were hon­ ored on a state level. On the soccer field for the boys this fall Caledonia senior Drew Diebolt, a future Michigan Wol­ verine, was selected to the MIHSSCA All-State Dream Team as one of the top 11 players in the state of Michigan. Caledonia had David Potgeter qualify for the MHSAA Division 2 Boys’ Ski Finals where he had a top finish of 49th in the giant slalom. The Caledonia girls’ bowling team sent a pair of competitors to the MHSAA Division 1 Bowling Singles Finals at the end of last year’s winter season, senior Kala Bisterfeldt and Emma Whitmore who were a pair of standouts throughout the season. The Caledonia/Lowell/South Chris­ tian (CLS) girls’ swimming and div­ ing team moved from the OK Red Conference into the OK Rainbow Tier II Conference this fall and captured a conference championship before going on to the program’s best state finals finish ever. The Vikings were eighth as a team at the MHSAA Division 1 Lower Peninsula Girls’ Swimming and Div­ ing Finals in November. Senior Bella Trieb placed fourth in the 100-yard backstroke and fifth in the 100-yard freestyle. Sophomore Sophie Gaylord was sixth in the 50-yard freestyle. The CHS team also had medal winning performances from the 200-yard free­ style relay team that included Treib, < ■e (. * -**<s 4 Thornapple Kellogg senior Lucas Van Meter catches his breath as junior teammate Jacob Draaisma looks on following their 800-meter race at the MHSAA L.P. Division 2 Track and Field Finals at Hamilton High School in June. Van Meter set a TK record while finishing as the state runner-up in the event. Photo by Brett Bremer Amelia McCann, Mya VanderZwaag and Gaylord and the 200-yard med­ ley relay team that included Treib, VanderZwaag, Gaylord and Aliya Van Hofwegen. Teammate Elise Miller just See YEAR IN SPORTS on 12 GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Request to rezone a 40.5-acre parcel from Steelcase PUD-LSP to Light Industrial (1-1). Property Address: 7147 Patterson Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Parcel Numbers; 41-22-12-100-031 Applicant: Chris Sander, Microsoft Corporation Date and Time of Hearing: January 23rd, 2025, at 7;00 pm Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells® gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on January 23rd, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. I �X HI * aiM 4^ 12 Saturday, January 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.Sunandnews nm YEAR IN SPORTS ♦ Continued from Page 11 I missed all-slate honors with a ninth * place finish in the diving competition. Thomapple Kellogg sent two div­ ers to those DI I inals as a part of the (jrand Rapids (jators co-op. Sopho­ more Lydia Slagel earned her first slate medal loo with a fourth place finish in the diving competition al the D2 Finals in Holland where she was joined by senior teammate Abigail Dumond - a three-time state qualifier herself. It all started for Slagel, Dumond in the Community Education and Rec realion Center pool in Hastings with ihe Hastings Community Diving Club where Miller and the D3 diving state champion, Aubrey Yarger, all train. “TTiey ’re both really amazing,” HCDC assistant coach Francesca Pileci said of Slagel and Yarger after a practice in between regionals and the state finals. “They’re two super kids who work really hard. They were doing big dives way before other kids were. They were so tiny that they could hardly bounce the board.” See YEAR IN SPORTS on 16 1 K I V’ I i **' V t 4 u 9 r f 1 bl’ 1 ** 4 4 k . fl# A I i X '*» A »*** ■ w 4 t 1 < ? . 4 5 1 i t I v I. r t « I Caledonia senior Copelin O'Krangley sets up for a tee shot during day one of the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’ Golf Finals at Katke Golf Course on the campus of Ferris State University in Big Rapids. O'Krangley was a top ten state medalist for the second year in a row while leading the CHS team to a runner-up finish. Photo by Brett Bremer I t; * .<4 r •S’•s. . t ?*• •J 1 I } 14 4 i I « t 4 -’vi^ Caledonia/Lowell/South Christian senior Izzy Leason celebrates her team's win in the 400-meter freestyle relay at the OK Rainbow Tier II Conference Championship in Hastings. The victory clinched the Vikings’ 2024 conference championship. Photo by Brett Bremer 11 I* < * r t «. '’W * i K A.. rr*f' ' « *> J i I k J * I iV f\ 1 t A t fa X I I I ;.i ««% 4 ir r 1 . 1 t f'i II* I > ir I V* T >/ «A^. n\ 11 K« r 2S4 N. BRIOOS ROAD- MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN 49339 269-795-9091 Z FAX 269-795-2308 « ...... * 1 A 284 N. BHJOOS ROAD- Mn>Dl.£VILa.B, MlOilUAN 49339 269-795-9091 / FAX 269-795-2388 «• J t. I V i I4 I YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE B w I11 fell* •*'- TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN. AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a special public hearing will be held on January 14,2025, commencing at 6<X) p.m. at the Yankee Springs Township Hall, 284 N. Briggs Rd., MiddleviUe MI, within the Township, as required under the provisions of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act and the Zoning Ordinance for the Township. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE In addition to participation during a public hearing, members of the public may also provide comments for the ZBAs consideration by emailing or mailing those comments to the ZBA for receipt prior to the meeting, in care of the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea (joeshea^Tankeespringstwp.org). Letters and emails are due 3 days before the meeting date, or by leaving a phone message prior to the meeting with the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea al 269-795-9091. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the item(s) to be considered at said public hearing include, in brief, the following: 1. ZBA 24-11-09, Parcel ID; 16-370-005-00 and 370-006-00,2739 Sandon Cirde #6, and 2739 Sandon Cirde #5, Wayland. The property owners, Richard and Starr Adams, appeal the decision of the Zoning Administrator requiring them to obtain a short term rental permit before operating a short term rental unit, pursuant to the Township Zoning Ordi­ nance, Article X. Short Term Rentals. 2. Such other business as may properly come before the Zoning Board of Appeals. Anyone interested in reviewing the application material may do so at the township hall. All interested persons are invited to be present at the aforesaid time and place, or, if an electronic meeting is held, to participate via the electronic meeting. Yankee Springs Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, to individuals with disabilities at the hearing upon four (4) dap’ prior notice to the Township Clerk. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address or telephone number listed below. YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Jake Welch, Chairman Yankee Springs Township Hall 284 N. Briggs Rd. Middleville, .Michigan 49333 (269) 795-9091 YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION By: Shana Bush, Chairperson Yankee Springs Township Hall 284 N. Briggs Rd. Middleville. Michigan 49333 (269) 795-9091 V ■ ,• J'* F TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS. BARRY COUNTY. MICHIGAN. AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held on January 16, 2025, commencing at 7:00 p.m. at the Yankee Springs Township Hall, 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville MI, within the Township, as required under the provisions of the Mich­ igan Zoning Enabling Act and the Zoning Ordinance for the Township. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE In addition to participation during a public hearing, members of the public may also provide comments for the Planning Commission’s consideration by emailing or mailing those comments to the Planning Commission for receipt prior to the meeting, in care of the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea (joesheag>yankeespringstwp.org). letters and emails are due one week before the hearing date; or by leaving a phone message prior to the meeting with the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea at 269-795-9091. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the item(s) to be considered at said public hearing include, in brief, the following: l.SEU 24-12-1 Ij Parcel ID; 16-012-008-00; 7794 Bowens Mill Road, Middleville, Ml 49333. The property owner, Amy Kooyers, requests a Special Exception Use permit to operate a chiropractic business from an outbuilding on her property pursuant to the Yankee Springs Township Zoning Ordinance. Section 4.5.K; Home Occupations, 2. Such other business as may properly come before the Planning Commission. Anyone interested in reviewing the application material may do so at the township hall. All interested persons are invited to be present at the aforesaid time and place, or, if an electronic meeting is held, to participate via the electronic meeting. Yankee Springs Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, to individuals with disabilities at the hearing upon seven (7) days’ prior notice to the Township Clerk. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address or telephone number listed below. ■ ^15 yfi K JjJ ji li jfcAM * r J ;r ' 4 / fl I ' «'T. i’ I ■•X « * i *. I'L Ui’ . 1^* J 1 k I J J.’,. ; 1 f m iili»iSseti^iw A I I e m « ( '-■■'isiaiBiaiirt isi«BfliRian». < I a > 1 1 » • ■'4 ► I * M. / I 1 i ■'l ■ I 'MtllM »■ J ! Yrbf’ I r- ► * ( ■ 1 * » a' C. ; f U.-. \ i; .V I ■;^7’ 1 ■. T I 2 4 m co. 9-1-1 CEATER 4 5 ^8 91 10 ' I *I * I" I ' I 111 121 131 14 Q 151 161 171 181 19 p 1 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES DIAL (800) 249-091IIION - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at wa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 20 211 22| 231 24 -1 f* ■ 251 261 271 281 291 30 I » I �I ♦ ♦ k ac- I 9 * Ik • THE SUN AND NEWS vvww.sunandnews.com eITIT 1’1' 1 A TK ladies place top ten at Mat Cat Invitational 1 Brett Bremer Sports Editor i MF.. u J t ' 0^ •J, ifriJ ft tx n w W « Itroh X t ^4 1 J ( ■ t 'i. ] * Ik - u. t - ' ■ U'l ■ f -1 _____ J* :■ 'W 9 4 •s J . <• 1 t ft , 'lUoH wiflR i ( f fl nt nfq* dnol rioum 4 i r I4 • . r V* J f f- f / > I fen. ? '4 ft f r 4 J k ' rj-v J .H r id KXi in 1 • • t it 1 F*'- lii' I b : 4 1 i > t I I X b -t' i I i I ( J . . f . [ f ft 1 t .J I { Tj.i I { f J r ( • r-x / f I J ’ TK ' r * *-*11 I > ( <,,■1 T X s I --4^ r t > •• , .hrs.Mil ■ ►• 1 4 ** ft k . || « t' 5 h , K ■J • ( • »5 . ft i * h f * >. 7uwinraM'^ < ♦ The Thomapple Kellogg girls’ wres­ tling team placed ninth at the 2024 Montague Lady Mat Cat Invitational Friday, Dec. 27. Raini Braska had the top finish for the Thomapple Kellogg team placing third in the 115-pound weight class. She took a pair ofpins before being bested by White­ hall’s Kassie Sapp in the semifinals. Braska bounced back for a 4-1 win over Whittemore-Prescott’s Gracie Murphy in a sudden victory period in the match for third. The Trojan team had Emma Gibson fourth at 135 pounds, Rylee Alberts fourth at 145 pounds, Peyton Wilkerson sixth at 100 pounds, and Addisyn Bar­ ringer sixth in the 130/135 B division. Gibson moved her record to 11-3 overall this season with a pair of pins to start the day. She was bested by Mat­ tawan’s Elyse morales in the semifinals at 135 pounds and then lost out in a major decision against Avery Lynch from Plainwell in the match for third. Alberts now also had 11 wins on the year after a fourth-place finish at 145. She had a path similar to Gibson’s pinning her first two foes of the day before falling in semifinal and thirdplace matches against Romeo’s Belicia Manuel and Pine River’s Ali Wheaton. TK also had wins on the day from Ava Rausch, Adelaide Holderman and Jaycee Teunessen. The Hastings team took the day’s team championship. The Saxons outscored the secondplace Grand Haven team 159.5 to 126.5 at the top of the standings. Whittemore-Prescott was third with 119 points ahead of Pine River 103, Standish-Sterling 89.5, West Ottawa 89, Romeo 87.5, Plainwell 82, Thor­ napple Kellogg 78 and Olivet 69. There were wrestlers from 58 different schools competing at the meet. Hastings junior Dezarae Mathis ran herrecordto 10-1 with a runner-up finish in the 120-pound weight class. She was one of eight Hastings girls to place in the top six in their weight class Friday. Mathis pinned Hart’s Calyn Eisenlohr and East Kentwood’s Anari Roberts before scoring an 11-1 major decision over Pine River’s Krystin Nelson in the semifinals. Her first loss ofthe season came in the championship match against Grand Haven’s Gracey Barry who pinned her late in the first period. Barry was the state runner-up at 115-pounds a year ago. Jordan Milanowski had a fourth-place finish for Hastings in the 140-pound weight class and teammate Sydney Patterson was sixth at 145 pounds. Hastings had Morgan Casselman and Autumn Miller place second and third respectively in the 110/115 B weight class and Chloe Aicken was the runner-up in the 170-pound B class. Petra Foster was fourth in the 140/145 B weight class and Liliana Fox was fifth in the 120/125 B division. Aicken pinned her first two oppo­ nents before falling to West Ottawa’s Braelyn Sharda in her championship match in the 170 B division. Cassel­ man had three quick pins before falling to Fruitport’s Bailey Gamer in their 110/115 B final. The Thomapple Kellogg girls were scheduled to return to action at a tour­ nament hosted by Three Rivers Friday, Jan. 3. The TK ladies are home Wednesday, Jan. 8, and will head to Northview for a tournament next Saturday, Jan. 11. i 1 I I «•> J .A __ I . T « I m ’’aat' I « Pl £ I J 1 *• 'Wo MV^^***^* V 4 V? « Ths buck stays hero! Date and Time of Hearing: January 23.2025, at 7:00 pm Location of Hearing: Gaines Chaner Township Offices, Board Room, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, MI 49316 The proposed restatement of the Zoning Ordinance includes the following parts and chapters: • PART 1. INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS o CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION o CHAPTER 2 ZONING DISTRICTS AND INTERPRETATIONS o CHAPTER 3 MEASUREMENTS AND DESIGNATIONS • PART II. ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS o CHAPTER 4 RURAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (RR) o CHAPTER 5 SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (SR) o CHAPTER 6 VILLAGE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (VR) o CHAPTER 7 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (MFR) o CHAPTER 8 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (NC) 0 CHAPTER 9 GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (GC) 0 CHAPTER 10 OFFICE SERVICE DISTRICT (0-S) o CHAPTER 11 MIXED BUSINESS (MB) o CHAPTER 12 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (LI) o CHAPTER 13 HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (HI) o CHAPTER 14 PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) OVERLAY DISTRICT o CHAPTER 15 LAND USE • PART 111. BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS 0 CHAPTER 16 BUILDING REQUIREMENTS o CHAPTER 17 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS o CHAPTER 18 USES WITH SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS o CHAPTER 19 LIGHTING o CHAPTER 20 PARKING AND LOADING o CHAPTER 21 MOBILITY, TRAFFIC, AND ACCESS o CHAPTER 22 PRIVATE STREETS &amp; DRIVEWAYS o CHAPTER 23 LANDSCAPING 0 CHAPTER 24 SIGNS • PART IV. REVIEW PROCESSES AND STANDARDS o CHAPTER 25 GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES 0 CHAPTER 26 SITE PLAN REVIEW 0 CHAPTER 27 SPECIAL LAND USE REVIEW o CHAPTER 28 CONDOMINIUM REVIEW o CHAPTER 29 PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT REVIEW o CHAPTER 30 VARIANCE REVIEW o CHAPTER 31 ZONING AMENDMENT REVIEW •PART V. ADMINISTRATION o CHAPTER 32 AUTHORITIES o CHAPTER 33 LAWFUL NONCONFORMITIES 0 CHAPTER 34 ENFORCEMENT o CHAPTER 35 DEFINITIONS o CHAPTER 36 CHECKLISTS Cl Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window lo­ cated in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on January 23, 2025. «* ‘^asa '•<1 5 E ♦1 ' X •• 1 > f K The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a proposed re­ statement of the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance, including an amended official Zoning Map, which is referenced in Chapter 2, Section 2.20 A. The restatement is a complete update and replacement of the existing Zoning Ordinance. ^aai^n t < Invest In Your Community. iVJ® • GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING T Spend It barsL Keep it hora. ru' ■ •r*r I 1 "B 1 t 13 ♦ 1 •i Saturday. January 4, 2025 I j 0 i ! ' ilr‘ Group IbZ .'.'F Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. �.) ' 'O 4 « '< 14 Saturday, Jarujary 4 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS WINTERFEST “Wc arc laser-focused on cutting costs and promoting Gun l.akc as a premier destination wewth supporting." Timmerman added the l^andmans* plan considers the community's best interest. “ I he I ..andmans have done a wcynderful job of growing the Winterfest committee and encouraging people lo be involved in both programming and dccisirm-making." she said. “They’ve thonnjghly analyzed the cost of putting on a huge event like Winterfesl and looking for ways lo reduce those costs while keeping the essence of the spirit of Winlcrfest" Illis year, participants in the Polar Dip Continued from Page 2 heads up the Polar Dip. Kenna (iraham f rom the Sand I iar and Ciri 11 he I ps to dri ve restaurant engagement. As president of the f iun I^e Business AsMK’ialion. I immerman helps guide the committee. Usa Heflin is lending a hand with raffle baskets and sponsorship. “With the state park camping being closed last summer, many of Ihc busi­ nesses here had a down year, which look away the normal cushion to operate in the slower season," Landman said. t will pay $10. unlike last year, wficrc the chaigc was $25. “While Winterfest might look a little different, we hope there will be more proceeds to share w ith our partner charity and more benefits to the Gun l^e area," Timmerman said. livery' year, the U'inlerfesl committee picks a local charity to receive a check. This year, the chosen charity lo receive proceeds from the event is the 1 ederation of Women's CTubs-Gun l^c Chapter. These ladies arc often in Ute background taking care of the area," l.andman said. “Ihcy help residents who LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia United Methodist Church ALASKA BAPTIST cornerstonechurch CHURCH V Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am ifev. Christine Heaiahnn Tlrrwt Join UI. for our traditional yet cawal wonhip Sunday st 9:30 AM a 6:00 PM •er>Kc. in pernm or onliitc. at 9 «) am 250 Vine Sirvcl ^ww.sissksbsptitt.org 7240 6eth Street SE, Csledonia 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 6I6-M9I-K669 CaleduniaUMC .urg LivcRircani I accbtjnkxum CatcdcmiaUniicdMclhiHhftt Sfr\’ing - Strengthening - Connecting FIRST BAPTIST Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville u J 1 1 Sunday Worship I Livestreani facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET- 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:16 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location Pxstor: Rev. Peter Berg http:/Zgoodshepherd]cm$.googlepages.com Church: MIDDLEVILLE Sunday at 9:30am & 11 ;00am 20 State Street Middleville, Ml J .aY4;jluniPj»X*jjU Sunday Womhip: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. 3 f 'if- Fc'llow^hip 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. •4^- Sunday SchrmI to to 16:45 a.m. k^4 @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 8:(X). 9:30. and 11 ;00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, Ml 49333 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia. MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 peacechurch.ee www.itpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church e 8900 Duffy Road Church Middleville, MI 49333 n. 8655 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto "Shining Forth God’s Light 616.891.8661 www.whitneyvillebible.org PastorJonathan DeCou SERVICE TIMES: Considering becoming Catholic? Cail or sec our website for information CHURCH THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH Saturday Evening Mass..................... 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mxsses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. (269) 795-2391 <APEACE «■ 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am 9669 Kraft Avc., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org 9:30 a.m. >• JOURNEY HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH 908 W. Main Street. Middleville (Missouri SyiicxJ) Sunday School .9:30 AM Sunday Worship 10:30 AM i»r 99 Sunday Morning Worship 10:00 a.m. Community Group.......... 11:00 a.m. James L CoUison, Pastor Watch our services from our website (see above) E WWW sunandn«'»ws com www.yankccspringsbiblcchurch.org * need a hale boost. They raise fwxfc and awareness for many projects out there but seldom get recog3iized forthcirwork Wc wanted lo make sure ihc> are recognized and hopefully give them a nice donation so they' can keep up their great work. l^idman said he and Slaccv are excited about the move for a few reasons encompassing three key factors includ­ ing uniting ihc c<nnmunily thnnigh a fun, low-cost event for families, supporting area businesses and raising funds for a local charity'. “The new location offers some fanta.stic advantages. Being in a busier area means more people can see and attend the evCTti," l^dman said, “To further support local businesses, wc'vc added a trolley service connecting the park lo many businesses, and being on Patterson makes this much easier. Gtganizers agree that sw itching kKations makes sense. “The tent rental cost was die biggest factor in changing locations." Timmer­ man said. “The event was held at the new location in previous years, so it seemed like a great way to reduce costs and gel people to engage in and support businesses around the lake. Other changes lo Winterfesl 2025 will help support area businesses. It's been very enjoyable to attend the committee meetings and witness the growth ofinvolvement and ideas flow ing from participants." Timmerman said. Organizers decided not to have a beer tent this year, as it took business away from area restaurants. Instead, partici­ pating restaurants and locations will be selling commemorative beer glasses. “The comhole event has been canceled this year. It was never a big draw. We guess that is a summertime sport," Landman added. “The kids’ area will be bigger than ever. The shopping will likely be different, as there will be a smaller tent, and all the vendors will need their own tents." Timmerman hopes the event will grow this vear to involve more businesses around the lake, family-friendly activi­ ties and events to unite the community. ^4 The committee is looking to expand programming for children to allow f^nilies to participate. Lynch’s Tire and h CO. 9-1-1 C^TER DIAL (800) 249-0911 |>ION - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at C»4awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" •4 4 % 5 8 I J- 9I 10 111 121 131 141 151 161 171 181 191 20 ■M. ' « 4^ > . M f: • 'f .9 nr Bl ’ f f tf >■' V.’ 44 1 J J> 1 I '4 » * rt" f . /.fi L <4 ••l + I . sc ■ •f V 4 . 4 I*''. t I '. .aski i 4 ^0 IS r r r J • i • 4 ?< 4 1k^ ?F ’■' . I *«> .4 ( « rl I I. A I ► nr** , IJ > ’* **5i' t Uh* 4- df' fir .♦r* 1 *^1 *^*4'*.< .44 c .nr- ' I** t if. ' w . rsr J < I I ♦ t >•19 I I s Xb 4. i ' w J I T r? .•.i .gss#** f * o r .** .• '•HI I i4 I '' « tM* MTf- r LV ♦ < •**** I *' I 1 t l1 k ij * « > i 9 i ? * ' 7^ h»* |W*»” I JliW’ !\ I I* » ! I ri MI*''! T /• u » if . f ♦ J > r i w f s * • r 1;:! fs I f -4 . 4 vf ■ ) t w 1 1 f s i> f -1 tiiq I ■r .«?9« ' 'w« < FI ‘;a > I f 1 IT^ r: Ui ■ ,3 «••***» * * p 1 *• • I I 1 J u..; k».. I > » t w 4< HV t 1 AI I Service has stepj 1 up to sponsor the kids’ activities, so that is positive,’’ she said. “Winterfest is also partnering with I;' fmarao.xwviif •< ) I N < s n.... ii^ al I I V * ■ SS Cyril and Methodius for a mystery theatre dining experience. The biggest change is more Winterfest activities over 7 W ‘r. • I ‘X • 1 % *w * fW I* •» * i r **«» t’ t i a longer period.’’ s» ■ I I I •s 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 21I 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 < ..ij I <ai h 5 <4 • l*' I <1 ^61' «s >r;r e r I > 2 3 ':«*■* I «> I t ■’^4 «< I 1^- 4 f I u «y* ir 1 I Ml 4 f < 1 ■ i t •> ' 1 t iLi �I ♦ ♦ r1 I t ♦ A ( A f'J I, v?^ I5 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 15 Saturday, January 4. 2025 X 4 ♦ Obituaries •e * t Herb group meeting on Sunday V i • i A I '’I* ri. Gladys L. (Hooyer) Ploeg •*, -At I r p' I •A I1 I I Gladys L. (Hooyer) Ploeg, age 81, of Middleville. Ml went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. On December 7, Gladys and her husband. Ivan, observed and celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary and were blessed to be surrounded by their family. She had great pride and w joy in her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed spending winters in Florida with Ivan and their friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Margaret Hooyer. Gladys will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband, Ivan; ■* ) ' 4 • I* 9 • % 4h % •w r.' • . Al. X. ( < w4r •< > A > a ■--- * I 1 Am i 4 A r < .« * i ^uhiK flfiv ‘ n, b *1fW.Eb. 1 I. ^Ar-' OBMJaiqj •I r. I y. < * i I 1 s t X Lil -1 V- '■ f «>. - X. X •w. •<l !•! q ’^1® ^’1 ■r * . 111; !IU ‘X. I i?’* S ’ * .*u 1 Local group offers discussions on world affairs l<hk 4 •''-O.'O N ? •w & tirM M t t • r 1 I <• n Xi r 'I > sw^ **•% J J "I T f. *1 *• 9 1 i ■9: i 5 h 1 4' f ,* 'iT. •■*wur 4 V I ' M.irr- { rij *v.‘Uk *4 I « »4a ... ,( i « V..A 1 % > . 3 I V’ *1 1*^ 4• ! v> - i 1 I 1 I f r J I J .... rt; I ! * r • b-* * 1 ' • ij •i « Anyone looking for interesting read­ ing and discussion is invited to join the Great Decisions world affairs discus sion program. Great Decisions is the nation’s largest discussion program on world affairs. The grassroots face-to-face model adopted by Great Decisions more than 50 years ago continues today, with tens of thousands of participants taking part in discussions nationwide annually. The program model involves reading the Great Decisions Briefing Book, watching the informative talks and meeting in a group to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today. The local group is just one of multiple groups in Michigan with hundreds more throughout the United States. This year, the Barry County group will meet on Tuesday afternoons be­ ginning Jan. 21 in the Hastings Public Library’s upstairs community room. The club will meet through March. The first two meetings on Jan. 21 and Jan. 28 will be from 1:45 to 3 p.m. All other meetings will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Regular attendance is encouraged but <* or I I ■-fe.aj4.». ■ - J A daughters, Debra (Mark) Drenten, Carla (Chad) 1 VanHaitsma; grandchildren, Levi VanHaitsma. Kyle VanHaitsma, and Jessie Drenten. The family welcomes visitors on Thursday. Jan. 2, 2025 from 4 - 7 p.m. at Stroo Funeral Home, 1095 68th St. SE, Grand Rapids, 49508. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, at Middleville United Methodist Church, 111 Church St., Middleville. 49333. Pastor Ron Worley and Pastor Tony Schumaker will officiate. Interment will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions in memory of Gladys may be made to Middleville UMC. not required. The group generally has between 15 and 20 participants. Consen­ sus is not an aim of the program; rather, the class is designed to help individuals better understand complex issues. A soft-cover book that provides background, relevant facts, present and fijture policy options and impar­ tial analysis written by independent experts, is available for purchase. At­ tendees read the assigned article prior to each meeting to gain background information and prepare for discussion. Along with taking part in discussions, participants watch a video that provides more information on the week’s topic. Attendees choose how much they want to participate in terms of preparation and in-class dialogue. This year’s topics include: American Foreign Policy at a Crossroads, U. S. Changing Leadership ofthe World Econ­ omy, U.S-China Relations, International Cooperation on Climate Change, The Fu­ ture ofNATO and European Security, AI and American National Security, India: Between China, the West, and the Global South and After Gaza: American Policy in the Middle East. The meetings are free; the only cost is for the soft-bound book. For further information about the local group or to order the book, contact Carole at 616450-3164 or Marge at 269-352-3602 by Thursday, Jan. 9. Locals can discuss health ton­ ics and other herbalist topics at a free herb workshop slated for this Sunday, Jan. 5. Robbin Glass will lead the workshop, discussing the basics of herbalism. The free workshop will run from 3 to 5 p.m. Several natural first aid topics will be discussed this weekend, including herbalist terminology, tonics for health and improved immunity, winter sowing of herbs and native plants, how to orga­ nize herbal information and much more. Those who may have missed earlier meetings can find past hand­ outs at this upcoming meeting. As per usual, prizes and hand­ outs will be provided. The Herbal First Aid Workshop will be held at the Hastings SDA Church Community Hall & Grounds at 888 Terry Lane in Hastings. Free-will offerings are welcome. For more information, contact Glass at 517-652-3056. — MM Blood drive set for Jan. 14 in Caledonia After celebrating Christmas, Cale­ donia residents will have yet another chance to give to others at an upcoming blood drive. Versiti-Blood Center of Michigan will be partnering with Caledonia Community Churches for the blood drive at the Holy Family Catholic Church, located at 9669 Kraft Avenue in Caledonia, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 1 to 6:30 p.m. According to organizers of the blood drive, the goal is to collect at least 61 pints. The drive is open to the public and any individual 17 or older is eligible to donate. Persons who are 16 are eligible to donate with parental permission. If interested in donating blood, in­ dividuals are encouraged to sign up online at bit.ly/Janl4CCC or call the blood drive chairperson, Char Mello, at 616-901-2803. Donating by appointment is pre­ ferred but walk-ins are welcome, as the schedule allows. DM ?V BARRY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OUR LEGACY WALL f 41 * « HONORING THOSE WHO GIVE Each legacy fund provides giving for generations. From 4-H to the arts, from scholarships to nature trails, these donors care deeply for their community with a lasting impact. If you want to learn more on leaving a legacy, please call 269-945-0526, and Bonnie Gettys or Annie Halle can help you ensure that your gifts can support your hopes and dreams. I v A* m f A VCABI O» MnovMO U VII 4 TMf rtAfc'r COMffUNITYrOUNpAtiON 231 8- BROADWAY ST, HAtTINQS Mt WWW.6AftRYCF.ORQ MM J 9 ’)f ?■ J' 0** 4 » r* - <'i*1 I * « ( z t JI ( I r 1 I 0 I I i r* f < M JI ,> l ri i i.i t it 1 I 1 i I I 4 ft b \ I t �16 Saturday, January 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I WWW 1 YEAR IN SPORTS Continued from Page 12 ♦ ♦ “Yeah, we had to Change our ap­ proaches just so we could,” Slagel said. “Exactly, we changed their ap­ proaches, but we are so proud of them. ♦ ♦ ♦ > ♦ * f z They deserve everything,” Pileci said. Pileci coached Slagel and Dumond in Holland at the finals while HCDC head coach Todd Bates was with Yarger at the finals at Oakland. Almost as exciting as who the Trojans and Scots performed at the pool was where they’re getting to perform. The renovations at the Thor­ napple Kellogg High School were finally completed, and - ---- ------ that gave the members of the Thornapple Kellogg, West Michigan Aviation Academy, West Catholic, Hopkins girls’ swimming and diving co-op the chance to practice in the pool in Middleville occasionally and the boys’ are getting the chance to do the same this winter. The CLS boys are hoping to host their first duals in the new pool at the Caledonia YMCA across the street from Duncan Lake Middle School this season. •w ***< ’*r r r* t .J I * w » tr L t 1 I 1 I > -J 1 I Caledonia's Corbin Baffler (1) head off the diamond at Central Michigan University between innings of the team’s MHSAA Division 1 Regional Final against OK Red Conference rival Hudsonville in June Photo by Brett Bremer h.’i'ifnjBfcafWtotiaeng t rrH 'Onwn fisswtect ytiinev. i»ni^ Ifinnpifl r ir.i8w«a AA^HM ni "ilftvnoabuH lisvn'^onavstnoj ifr>R iMnnttinSyd f ? r ''i ft ft f 4 wmKHih/ <s K LLi! I* I <w • Vb I'Lb ? 0 ’ i * 4'. 9 I r 4k e « Thornapple Kellogg senior Ailana Leos celebrates a birdie putt at The Meadows in October during the MHSAA L.P. Division 2 Girls’ Golf Finals. Leos shot her way to an all-state medal over the course of the two-day tournament. Photo by Brett Bremer A« f :• fA c I b< /i I » f 4 •' I ru « ft i I Q 4 9 J •*s K**.? 1 4 ft ' 4 » r\ ( / k’’ f r. r a ) kV’’ I > r I - s •; » ♦ I 4 auiBO finBlv A I 71 A I * >* •t. '9 I 4 J I t ft «♦ > ft • . J I e> * «B ■w < .» r 7 I' > w I » s B f l: « 4 9 • 1 BT '.• . **•51 1^^ ri v« ‘Y v« r • •k ii tl * ' H I ■4 t ♦ —r *1 ft C • •p J » / 0 ts 1 < J . 1 f.’ f I. • aP_ f —I* •l . ■i' 4 - L 4Sas. S r f. ft W’ ■IS 1^ k COMMUNITY BANK *'•1 ‘W" LENDER ft s "*s> A • 4 .T* highpointcommunitybank.com'* k. « / t r k •*« .A. J !k f' •r A> •422^2280 '55 ‘-T’ > 1 J ft* 4 I Ik . •9^ » 4 C*L ri fc < I •• a t k0 ■‘ti < 1 ? * -4 • ft L I L 4 < i » t 9 K-*' M ft ’ 4 1**'* w (Y 4 * .1 * .K if Y 4 A ••Wh’ *• J 1 JTWSI t.. ft I *< •? X 99 I I ft 1^ >* • 4 9 t I highpoint * ft w ■ » Caledonia senior Kort Thompson runs to a 29th-place finish, and an all-state medal at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Boys’ Cross Country Finals at MIS in November. I I • • ft f Li « ii ♦ ^>1 *>l » « A * 1 « A >» 41 A lf< » i r-« « 4 V < ft i «S »> . I i\ 9 • 4 1 V ' ft I » ’ r> H 4 . 4 I T’’ 1 .< r w— 16921 /k * ft I* *4 »• ■ V n 4 Wii es^r ri « «r T/a-JS J ii I ft •«** I iWiM 6C0% r 1 \ j f . <Zn’ 1 k 9 I •w. I '4 .< A, 9 ♦’*ft I -UH» s ft - tn I « iir ♦ » 4 wi ^.‘jflgh a ft 5 c ' a ft 9 4 k ** » « r Cl r •i •s « 9 * 'Y 1 // 1 * a SKk?. w 1 r*. k • , * ‘.V * I b> iBi^fti B r*4ft t I * fuov 'j: 9T B 'JVJ briB >InB (BianBnr ^.noilBJD ft ftr M4' •iYi “ *1 I . ' 91- 7 5*% Xr. 3 j vr ■ II I ft 1 J vl Thank you for choosing to place your • trust in us over the past year. We are proud to be your community bank and took forward to meeting your financial needs and exceeding your expectations g year, war in the coming year. Warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday and a healthy, prosperous, Happy New Year! CaledonisTS'ffice Waylana Office B p J / 'Cij luoY ;In I A X hNniMw^Jtn 1 ii "fo MowiSz... Thank YouF '4 1 UK > 4 4 r / __ I 08SS-SSi^* d'' II: 0'* I'' B u L « 'W I .if' Photo by Brett Bremer tMUI IP I » d <I a t I % J w * ? •-^. •i I '• -aft ' .. • * I k I .*4 a^- * » h 1 f* ft 1 I. I I I ■ 24* f I I I " 4 rk co. 9-1 -1 c iTER T I I 5 DIAL (800) 249-0911 |mON - EMERGENCIES Kids Measure up at ^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center a n 10 11 r OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES t I ft p p »; ilW I2l^r V lEIr ”)l AI 91 10 111 121 131 14 x >1 .•S’ •LI I ri’ ’d Mj 'Fi* iff s. ’ >» 151 161 171 181 191 201 211 221 23| 24| 251 26| 27| 281 291 30 Gt LJ 1111 I I ill I I III I I J III I I I I 1 f r < } : J J I I ■' 1 * ( b I • I . u J I I • I fil I ri I ft ft V > ■ ft » ft . I f a a f' t I i / t• ( i I r 4 >-r. Vxi I 5 OlW 4 •■* I t ‘t i I ;,sh � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-01-25.pdf b9dd63b14d6fc6318f591023947b4e90 PDF Text Text I I > 1 1 'J F I THE SUN AND NEWS r p1 3HT f- /our Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas 01. OH NO. 40 I' t Editor lOlitB A 46-year-old Middleville man is recovering today after being struck by a vehicle while assisting other motorists involved in a crash in Byron Township on Tuesday. The vehicle that struck the Middleville man, who was outside of his car, was driven by a 32-year-old Hastings woman, according to the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. The crash occurred around 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Jan. 21, on the 500 block of 100th Street SW in Byron Township. The Middleville bystander had stopped to assist occupants in a grey Chevrolet Traverse who were involved in an unrelated crash. While outside his vehicle assisting the other motorists, the Middleville pedestrian was struck by a white Honda Pilot driven by the Hastings woman. She lost control due to icy conditions and struck the man. Emergency responders attended to the scene and transported the blo-wry-riT A drrlw atoirtev b -/ri at <18815 B nt byHovni zienowni T .yfifaewn qirienwfjT noT/0 rrtibbif/ aril ianJ-’ abtriav siri to abizato 8«w oriw .lum ¥ 51<»-18v/-IT e yd rwrnh .w It of jpibioiaB .fumow zgnifzaH bmnvi Ixmuaio fkaio srlT ' L jiaL jgnrfnom /fifaasul no .m.B rftOlMo ioold 00? 5riJ no ^iriowoT noT<H ni W8 ( SMjri i^bnEf^yd ^Uiv^lbbiM sfO j; nt KMu>qu33o JzieeJi of boqqoJz wlw izwaiT toloTvwtO yoia .riBBi J bsJBtonBJ ar. ni te /liymi 1 ( I UBtBBB ibirte'r kH ibizam aliriW «>lbfailv! 9riI BiTOiom TMfto aril Kffflw e io^^J^ aw (um&stoq < iJeeH wit yd mviifa Joli*! sbnoH j ot 3ub lottnoo Jeol .nsmovz .HEm srii hoc enoifibnoo 2T9twToq8ai VOTagi'snin ad/ bsnoqRfiBiJ bna fwioo^ ^ril o) 1 j 4 www.sunandneWs.Tofii SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2025 Molly Macleod MtkaM u. PAGE 12 Barry County residents involved in pedestrian*vehicle crash in Byron Twp. fnuoO YIIbS -nGiitesbsq toto 1 j GARS SEE PROGRESS IN LOY NORRIX PERFORMANCE A 46-year-old Middleville man is recovering today after being struck outside his vehicle by a Hastings woman in Byron Township on Tuesday. Photo provided man to a local hospital. He was alert but with serious injuries. The Kent County SherifPs Office Traffic Safety Unit is investigating the accident. “We remind drivers to reduce their speeds, allow extra time for travel, and remain vigilant, especially during haz­ ardous road conditions,” wrote KCSO in a release. “Be mindful of your sur­ roundings and take extra precautions to protect yourself and others. Remember, if one vehicle has slid off the road, it is likely that others could as well.” ( js Freeport man injured in wreck near Zeeland Sun and News Staff A 55-year-old Freeport man is recovering from injuries suffered in a 15-vehicle crash on Interstate 196 in Ottawa County earlier this week. The victim, whose name was not released, was driving a pickup truck in the eastbound lanes of the express­ way at mile marker 59 between Zeeland and Hudsonville shortly after 11:30 a.m. Monday when his vehicle slid underneath a semi-truck, Sgt. Matt Wildfong of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Other vehicles were then caught up in the wreck, which led to a seven­ mile stretch of 1-196 being closed for nearly four hours, Wildfong said. “The crash was caused by blowing snow and whiteout conditions with near-zero visibility,” Wildfong said. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening inju­ ries. Two other people suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene. I c tesH lemiol i Former Hastings-based builder faces criminal charges out west I T f 88800 notyit Contributing Writer isihW gndudn^O 11 goo rjvnedo nirviH snueul aA jTibnij^ kniinno gni writ gmqori ei sria jesrw luo ajirm j a ni emn j nonuj/i8 adaij I' rmol wiioahnft Mk ,wri it iUfmrJ riRtfIt idl gnflooiai'dW lutgniyja ton ai'w .TStou I i biB< .aiari ioow CnUONKU - ' K8I JnabiJ^T ganbafiH 11 iivr 3 ■■ lOMie MMwmwBi bOIWWO (nam buH leaH aril bmms ■nrl beiWK 1339 inrtJDqrrpj osa ,b316 bVlD 1 I ng bozives bBsxexo Jayson Bussa 4 As Justina Hunter observes ongo­ ing criminal proceedings hundreds of miles out west, she is hoping that vic­ tims in a similar situation locally, like her, also find some form ofjustice. “We’re rooting for them because we’re not seeing justice Nooa uawoisno here,” said Hunter, a iviiMaaisaa SSMU33 Hastings resident. tCmiN '•■MMUO OranVOd Hunter, and many like 9£e# «uued 8C80> her around the Hastings 1^ 'eiiiAueojo area, can empathize with aivd what a group of residents in the state of Wyoming are going through. A group of local residents say they were duped by a building company that formerly called Hastings home. That same com­ pany and its owner have now been accused of doing the same thing more recently out west. Earlier this month, Wyoming news organization Cowboy State Daily released a report that drudged up a familiar name here locally as it highlighted criminal charges brought against Jerold Saeman, owner of Bay to Bay Building Concepts LLC, which had its home office in downtown Hastings but has since moved and is now listed as permanently closed. The report states that Saeman is fac­ ing felony charges in Niobrara County District Court after authorities accused him of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from residents without delivering on the promise of service something that dozens of residents here locally have complained about over the last couple of years Bay to Bay was in business. Reports stated that Saeman faces 10 counts of felony theft, each punish­ able by up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 fines. The report outlined the scope of the investigation, which it says took about a year as the Niobrara County SherifFs Office eventually handed it over to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation back in July. The report notes that, over the course of the investigation, a deputy received complaints based out of Michigan See CHARGES on 3 aovisod sn ois isad r 1 1 a •> '*r-: I j I J.* .'gw. eI r ¥ .i » W.4A >b I \ f I 1 5 ' I �I* S k * .1 f .r // 5 ' r f-’*' •> J I 0’ .> ♦ ■I 11 T -i Saturday, January 25, 2025 2 I :S 3 I THE SUN AND NEWS J www.sunandnews.com .w ;4 Former Cal UMC reintroduces itself as Caledonia Vine Street Church ,.5 /‘H?' ..r* I r »• r; «e' r- - -i .1 4^' * A- li One longstanding church in the Caledonia area is starting a new chapter this month. Caledonia Vine Street Church, for­ merly Caledonia United Methodist Church, changed its name and went independent beginning Jan. I. Located in the Village of Caledonia for more than 60 years, the church is beginning a new chapter in its life as parishioners consider remaining independent or joining another denomination based upon the leachings of John Wesley. Caledonia Vine Street Church holds traditional services that include congregational singing of hymns NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES r I AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. accompanied by a choir or organ, scripture readings, a sermon from the pastor, prayers and open communion. On special occasions, members also enjoy music from the bell choir. Church members congregate in the fellowship hall for coffee, snacks and stimulating conversation each Sunday following the 9 a.m. service. Pastor Christine Beaudoin provides the message each Sunday where she shares insights from biblical scholars, demonstrates her knowledge of ancient Hebrew, and mixes in life stories that are said to always amaze the congregation. The sanctuary includes both cush­ ioned pew and chair seating underneath a high-arching wooden ceiling. The church is currently implementing a capital project to install a lift between the two floors and add a restroom adja­ cent to the sanctuary on the upper level. In addition to their church property located at 250 Vine Street in the village, Vine Street Church al so has property near the schools on Kraft Avenue. A portion of this property is currently home to the 9 » ■ • If f* k * X I I iLir : .:V fK J .-F.c' ■ . J' '1 f. 6 .'.•■I V* ..-rv ► »* e £ "•4 f: M' > - r I 4 I I Jr I --5fe I i * <• y; •r f 1/’ L J k I .•rV 1 . Z ) ., .« • k »? < . 9 I fi- !>■ 'Ai' ft ?’ J K • I r f J ill ih lZ ■ i< r { ■ -**» f "i fl f « OK 4 r I '•.HH >< s r 5 M I Caledonia Vine Street Church, formerly Caledonia United Methodist Church, changed its name and went independent beginning Jan. 1. Photo provided . ' I \/ I •I I . < bV’’ J > t I Caledonia Community Garden where Caledonia residents are welcomed to plant and care for a variety of vegetables that are then offered to those in need. Caledonia Vine Street Church is encouraging those seeking a church home to pay them a visit on Sunday by # * A ' attending a service in person or via the I i ve or recorded broadcast on Facebook (CaledoniaVSC). Anyone with questions about the church is encouraged to reach out at 616-891-8669 or by calling office@ vinestreetchurch.org. — MM 'A I r* *» l/i *• 1 *1 1 I .••; \ s IF 1< I < I I, I ■ j>.s. W » 1 t k ■«.' 1-1^* ' I T' ( J fl ( I w * 4 I t I V• j -* 1 I .rn iC . 4 T 1 V' BATTLE CREEK r .* J. I ** * I SHOPPER NEWS I Drivers reminded to stay back from snow plows Monday at 5 p.m. \ THE HASTINGS Dennis Mansfield Staff Writer BANNER Tuesday at Noon The return of winter weather also comes with a reminder to local motor­ ists to watch for snow drifts and other potential dangers while driving - and to stay 200 feet back from snow plows or face a fine. Barry County and much ofsouthwest Michigan was hit by severe weather conditions on Monday, with winter advisories calling for snow and cold temperatures this week, including tem­ peratures dipping below zero. That is a stark contrast to last year, when many residents could still see bare ground THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon the sun and news Wednesday at Noon Group mihomepaper.com even in January and February. The Barry County SherifTs Office responded to 18 accident scenes over a three-day period to start the week, in part due to weather conditions. “Fortunately, nothing of a serious nature,” said Undersheriff Kevin Erb. “We’ll take the good luck when we can get it. The Barry County Road Commission does a phenomenal job of keeping our roads clear,” he added. “Everyone is doing a pretty good job.” According to road commission of­ ficials, areas in the western portion of the county received up to five inches of A snow Monday, while areas in the north­ east still saw snowfall of 2-3 inches. “It kind of cut across the county,” said BCRC managing director J^e Welch. “The bitter cold always causes some problems.” Welch said the freezing temperatures has caused the road commission to use a “heavy sand mix” to help break up ice and provide traction, rather than salt which is less effective at such condi­ tions, on the county’s nearly 1,100 miles of roads. He added that BCRC snowplow driv­ ers were on the job as early as 4 a.m. See SNOW on 5 - Is ICT; V A . iW* •' <1 er > fC I '• *•> M; ill* •••-’ 1'^ t ■! •■ I t k' 9 I I I * i •I. i I / J k fzi. .'M > 4 :£8.nhT*^*'' * f >• *. .f4 t *• 1 • •* c 5^^ I . I 1 -T'?. ■■ / t * I t 1 ri i I .*1 V. • , • •*- HZf f ’3f ■• * • I 1 * 1 1 J • i Aw w* .. « S^nQ."«w i. * « • J y*-. ■f: THE SUN AND NEWS '.« 'V B I f « »hL= CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 PUBLISHED BY Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihomepaper.com MT Group Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher *1* Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper. com All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept., 1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. MI 49058 ( 269-9459564). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser's order. A ■* ; i! I tiU L I ■5 ii .t I .J. Ki- ►s. 1 Sf 1' r E» •S ' < • X,, & <«\* >«» < 4 r .• ’ *: e’ * * - I •ff f". L ;*>i .« »> ■I 5 i l I _»*.w“ k I 4 « < ■■ •'*v - i ' • f< 1 > h 4 I I I 2 I 4 p i/ZA CO. 9-1-1 CENTER 4 5 91 10 t i 5 I I 6 L DIAL (800) 249-0911^ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at“^wa --** Co. " " 9-1-1 Center" " 111 121 131 141 151 161 171 181 191 20 •I' I 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 24 251 26 271 281 291 30 i ■ I f-> 'V �I CHARGES V C 9 { ! -• Bcqmo grit BJodB r il9nno2T9q - '<i«q i 4 k f li r. r 'J Di. * 'll Gt ?-£0S to vt. A lb. r * * Ia ni I 'i •T isriJ rmoJ^ ro'j bne asnrori o) iTKibja'j'i ’ Ie go^xiBvun i hcri ’ -leoflvz .vncqiL - .'J t 1 t I I I . 1 nib^*b^oqaw^ A . j. * f I k -r* •* I ; J. J I I > ( 'V« I I "lb. I Z-W' k TiU « 'K. ► >ai r<4 ( > •'V>i V * 4 .Sc. nr>^ I z « Si 1 iJ f • r. "• 3 A I •> . r. *r '^rit. ij . Hfn ) 'tt » J C I X •»* • > I - I miu. / ■f • ^-r. II Ii I L t iWuA 4• c ) I t I *’rM I A " 4B *» ; I BS. r X I a: 1 < I ‘i’l 'xu- f I 'W • J 'K«» IC « * * ? . r •*•**-. W I . MiA.’ !• 1 *»‘rfET /v . t ^stsae li r I t -Sir E id iijj. « I 3 'IV. Oi.'i I ;• R*» I J AU44 y ■ ■ 1^ 'I f I I ri . ATT I i I as' ♦r Hunter said she had a contract in place with the company and put down over $17,000, or 50 percent of the project, in advance. That’s when the problems began, from lack of communication on behalf of Bay to Bay, shoddy initial work and a constantly shifting timeline which led to a point where the company claimed its policies had changed and it needed 100 percent of the project cost upfront before completing the work. Hunter went back and forth with Bay to Bay into the following year before finally giving up and filing a criminal complaint with the police and with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, where she was grouped in with the initial wave of com plaints the organization would receive. After recouping some money from a settlement between LARA and Bay to Bay, Hunter is still out over $6,000 on a project she and her husband were financing themselves. “People don’t know what to do,” Hunter said of being in that situation. “When I started dealing with this, I am I sup was lost. I didn’t know posed to call the police? Should I con­ tact an attorney? You’re scared, and it’s all your money.” Despite complaints like Hunter’s pil­ ing up, authorities in Michigan have not taken any criminal action against Saeman or Bay to Bay. The Banner reached out to the Attorney General’s office multiple times for comment on the matter but did not receive an answer. Locally, the Barry County Prosecutor’s Office has not been handling the complaints. Prosecuting Attorney Julie Nakfoor Pratt said, that due to the multi-jurisdictional nature of the matter, complaints were brought to the Michigan State Police and then to the AG’s office, which was better equipped to investigate such matters. “I mean, let’s be honest, if they Continued from Page 1 Mino J i| II i I * n 'I THE SUN AND NEWS vvww.sunandnews.com about the company after the com­ pany’s personnel arrived in the county in July of 2023 following a severe hail storm that caused significant damage to homes and commercial buildings. Several residents local to that area had grievances after working with the company, whose building license was suspended in the state of Michigan as of 2023. These residents were provided with a consumer protection form to document those complaints. The report stated that the company took down payments from 11 homeowners total­ ing $151,664.57, a single down pay­ ment as high as $31,284.67. The report goes on to say that, when dissatisfied residents asked for a refund, Saeman would tell them they could cancel their project with a 30 percent fee along with additional costs. The report also stated that a special agent spoke with Sgt. Bryan Fuller of the Michigan State Police back in August to gain information about those who had been victimized in a similar fashion in Michigan. A Wyoming circuit court initially set Saeman’s bond at $10,000 and ordered him to stay in the state, per the report, but near the end of last year, a judge modified the bond to $5,000 cash or surety and allowed him to return to Michigan while he is prosecuted. While these are merely charges against the company, which is pre­ sumed innocent until proven other­ wise, it is more progress than Hunter of Hastings has seen. She faced a similar scenario all the way back in 2022 when she turned to the company, which at the time had glowing reviews and seemed like a good choice in a local contractor, for a full exterior makeover. .1 I WB V * - 9^9 fi s'* k IL r i SIVES CRUISING z lIlM' « ’ V ► z 7 *i* I 4 t t Al I . m jfflR ««< I ■•JI A 9 1 z » i i8liX:l : I fi . nu I • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink installs • Towers Molly Macleod Editor The Caledonia Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved a motion to pay the Kent County Road Commission last week the difference of $94,001 for the completion of a trail along 68th Street between Kraft Avenue and the Panther Woods Apartments. Township Supervisor Bryan Harrison explained that when Davenport University put in the Panther Woods Apartments on 68th Street, the township required the university to put in trails there and connect it to% their field house. While Davenport did as the township asked, the new trails still left a gap between the 68th Street segments of the township’s trail system. “This (project) will at least complete that gap. Kent County Road Commission saw that as an opportunity while they were doing road work in that corridor to do this. They were also able to receive a grant for a portion of that. Construction costs came in over estimates and they’re asking us to pick up (the remainder,” Har­ rison said. The trail connection project was awarded $139,999 from federal grants in 2022, $94,001 less than the project’s cost estimate of $234,000. KCRC requested the remainder of the cost from the See KENT on 9 Experience the beauty and history of the St. Lawrence & Ottawa Rivers on a classic Canadian riverboat. Request our free travel brochure. I 1 I 1 Give us a call! MA.H I ■ 1 -800-267-7868 www.StLawrenceCruiseLines.com I T B,« %« 1?. free Estimates I Cellular Enhancement Systems RIVER CRUISE VACATIONS I I «r* «IW» * E I* /* Antenna Men i 1 269-967-8241 J www.theantennamen.com 1 > antennamen@gmail.com www.cellsignalpros.com • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam ) t [ I I > I ■,a ■ i. Si IRTw II’ »< I 4 I .1.. » I ) I H ; f «« k > t •: i • • ,1 I 1 0 b A <* .I H 11 * I it JI 1 I I 4 'ft I 4 tA 1 J \ a I I I 3 Caledonia Twp. refunding Kent County Road Commission TjW 'tHMlHr t I, ■ f J would have pressed charges, even if it wasn’t all the people, maybe we wouldn’t see customers who ended up signing up for them in April (of 2023) when we had storm damage and no one knew this was going on behind the scenes,” Hunter said. “I don’t know what’s happening at the state level,” she added. “I know it’s frustrating. I’m sitting on a criminal complaint that is coming up on a two year anniversaiy.” Another couple from Caledonia, who asked not to be named in the story, turned to Bay to Bay to repair storm damage, putting down nearly $20,000 initially, which they received from the insurance company as a downpayment for the work, which never came. Communication broke down and the couple started to see more and more negative reviews emerge about the company. They eventually had to get the work done elsewhere, paying that initial down payment out of their own pockets. “I’m fighting for the elderly,” the woman said. “The younger families, I feel terribly for them, but they can work. The elderly don’t have the means and usually can’t work.” Steven Storrs, an attorney with Hastings-based Tripp, Tagg, Storrs Attorneys at Law has worked with several former Bay to Bay clients and, in many cases, has helped them receive judgments in civil cases. He told the Banner that, on average, his clients have been able to recoup 20 to 25 percent of what was taken from them but that he is not optimistic that much more will be collected unless the authorities uncover funds over the course of their investigation. “We remain veiy frustrated that nei­ ther the Michigan Attorney General’s Office nor local prosecutors have charged him in Michigan,” Storrs said in an email. I *' J Saturday, January 25, 2025 �4 * 1 * I / >■ cti i Saturday, January 25, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS .c www.sunandnews.com I'* Ll I Barry County Transit collecting food items for United Way next month Molly Macleod Editor Riders on the Barry County Transit can exchange food donations for a free ride next month as part of a food drive supporting the Barry County United Way. The “Fil I a Bus” food drive supports the Barry County United Way’s food pantry. Riders are asked to bring three cans of non-perishable food items with them for donation. Passengers who donate at least three cans of food will ride for free. The drive runs throughout Febru­ ary. It’s not the only initiative from the Transit that is serving the community. Barry County Transit Director Mary Bassett informed the public at Tuesday’s Barry County Board of Commissioners Committee of the Whole meeting that the Transit is al­ ways willing to help those in need, es- *: r MIDDLEVILLE pecially with the frigid temperatures bearing down on the county this week. “It’s really cold out there. If you know of anybody who doesn’t have a place to stay, have them call and contact Transit. Even if it’s finding a shelter the next county over, we’ll get them there, we’ll give them a ride for free. Nobody should be cold, espe­ cially on days like this,” Bassett said. ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH • Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Ham I* Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM 16.00 PM Join Uk for our InNblmnof >-cl mmI wonhip Mr>k«. m perMo or onhnr. a< 2$nVinrShv«1 WWW alaaliabepttfit org 72t9b 6Bth sveet SE, Celedorua ‘"/A..., am. 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 6I6JI01 MWiQ CsIedonMUMf' 4Wg l.**v«treanK FocHiuoi.conv'f'aledonial. niiedMedKwlMl S^ry-itrg — SirvngthrtuMfg FIRST BAPTIST Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville .4' 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) 4 Sunday Worship.......................... 9:30 a.m. t »‘v Ill I Pastor: Rob Wurst http:/1 goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com i Lri/cUrrom faccbook.com/f.rst bnpti'.t middirvillc Church: FBCMIDDLhVILLE NET • 5215 M37 - 269-Z9S-9726 I ri HOLY FAMILY Jj/CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. AAPEACE H jJ JOURNEY (269) 795-2391 CHURCH CHURCH Caledonia Location - PEACCCHURCH.ee 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool The January 20 meeting opened with roll call. There are no fish in the fishbowl. Maryellen’s program was on habits that helped people lose weight and keep it off. A group of top obesity researchers identified key behaviors that can make a difference. The largest and longest clinical trial called the POUNDS Lost trial found people gained or lost depended on the levels of fat. protein or carbs they ate. Over 800 people were split into tour groups. The first group ate foods that were low in fat and protein. The second group ate high in fat and protein. The third group ate high in fat. low in protein. The last group was low in fat, high in protein. All diets were low in calories and saturated fat. The trial lasted two years. Those that ate more protein lost more weight than those who did not. Those that increased their fiber intake lost more. Those that ate less "ultra­ processed” foods lost more. Those that ate a wider range of nutritious foods lost more weight and more in the waist V and body fat. Everyone in the study had a pedometer and was encouraged to exercise. The more steps they took, the more weight and body fat was lost. Those that had insomnia tripled their chances of failing to lose weight. Any diet can work if you work at it. The difference is eating more protein, fiber, and avoiding "ultra-processed” foods. The meeting closed with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. A Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org CHURCH 9 .S’ 1 MiDOLEViLLE Sunday Morning Worship Community Group........... PaitorJonathan DeCou SERVICE TIMES: Sunday School Sunday at g:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com Watch our services from our website (see above) * 11 '13'' I .. M e* r r- •s -.“T' <»* 8i<^ r/ X2^ i'’? t •> V If r 11 1 ♦ 4 4 J r• a35 5 « .M .k- . .A.»'i 0*^ ■ ( 6. 1 «ete I •sfeS ♦ — A* . 1 f : R •* UN >s i lli .rv 4*^ *1 4** r -f < >>3S laswr*’ 4 ' i. 1 J : s 3 A* -H' ■ W** . ’fff'ff. r 1^ tiff * 1 • V5- ?! « I s •-r « r. : 1: 1, M I J1 isstess » 9 ' I' 1 I k . Ii * ■ « I •« a sirasitiiffilWA ifW’ » I r'** J VC IvLilfi i8l>»rat»SS. f ,4 * Mil* * I iSOTlraitetrE’jj^ I Msuditstndirilib < *1 awratojaiibrif- -rV < <^ r • e '.‘'A. • .m w f. ■ w •V '’"t . I YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. f9 aMsBj'abTEi 5iluh.-e«,6 4 I , You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors., .and our future. 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. I I swfihsjjiije. ® s ri toni Group James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankcespringsbiblcchurch.org ■ JssiWfssoffcMv 9:30 AM Sunday Worship......... 10:30 AM ijK 1 M 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, Ml 49333 "Shining Forth God's Li^t ^3^ fi* h Yankee Springs Bible Church 8655 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto 616.891.8661 www.whitneyvillebible.org • » Anyone with questions may call l^irginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-3183545. The first meeting is free. 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 OTWc’^Churc A i ■B THORNAPPLE VALLEY 1 Ttr •A / «i * ........... ........ cornerstonechurch ffei- ChntttfHr hcmtihMti I . II TOPS 546 LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street c I .< ... 9 X I rt' k> Your Community Connection (tl’Vfc - T 4. ■ '■ I k r> t u 1 I 2 I T. i.M -p I 5 '1^ in.? VA CO. 9-1-1 C^tER 4 5 6 7 8 91 10 I i I I 1 DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES II Kids Measure up at fClawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 «>■ f. 10 11 . Iq 1 . r ..7^ d I 121 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES r e I I* i 1^5 Hd * -I ff 2 If 1 rm fl ’* > •TH fc.’ I I I I 11 I I I I I I I I I h I I I I I I I I h I I I I I A i" 0 •• 1 I •I it! f, r 'J I. 0’ <1 > r /I I '1'1 < i L i: i A i: • r-' £i • I -f- * * it • r i . 1 1; I !?• rt '.'t 151 161 171 181 191 201 21| 221 23| 24| 25| 26| 27| 28| 29| 30| I •T I ------- B N �t‘ «i J I j •L. THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Saturday, January 25, 2025 5 11 t S V S' * 1 1 I1 l. 4 1 4 Barry County Chamber & EDA celebrates community strength at annual awards dinner t > ♦ I , '1 I W I 'ii .1 *^7 r. •» > Molly Macleod Editor Several businesses and individuals around the county are sporting shiny new hardware this week after receiving awards at the Barry County Chamber & Economic Development AllianceAnnual Dinner & Awards Ceremony on Saturday. This year’s dinner, hosted by Bay Pointe Woods on Gun Lake, honored nine businesses and individuals. Awards included: • Chamber Champion Award - Greg Moore • Barry Business Booster of the Year - Pat Doezema • Entrepreneur of the Year — Lynch’s Tire & Service • Member Choice for Customer Ser­ vice Award — Farmers Insurance-Ayers Agency • Community Impact Award - Thor­ napple Credit Union • Brick Award - Yankee Bills • ATHENA Honoree - Katelyn Brown • ROTH Award - David Solmes • Lifetime Achievement Award (post­ humously awarded) - James Wiswell I f c 1 t I I I Tz r' ; I *b I JJ I * •£ *I ll I I I T q c .1 ri i I 1 ■I. •nt" r f- ‘5 • 'j I * J . I 1. ’V r a < I J 4.^ s’- > r'.' t r A« It i I t I r-Ww t I, sJ •n A I •rr* t-a *4* I I 4 Ih •• • - : WfV/o 1 4 r • ? » i -1 I oh A mF; •• In _______ f t llu WMr 4a WJu-V J 4 . ; f >) Vs ' * .r. I ri J 4 3” I I♦ I i- . > I II '■.i' SNOW 7' w r - I nrJtsB^ ■r ■ I t . ra i * w ■. r 'y-?'- - 1- . "z, J. "U’ I « < -'. ) I. .t i ■Mi i *• • •• p r 1 4 t •1^ I ■ ijf, f I 5 I A irr. 1 4 ri.r; irl A*. ■'‘TininiT A f r .J ,'f ■ u T I 1 j I, . ; I I i L !• * I r» > 4 f I I I t r >r' ■4 I I f 4 ■ ( • I I ZXi 4 J • I t *1 I •r 'Jf 1 < r f 41^ 4 4, ri 9 » .b» « r. f 4 : 5 • r LOiE , I ‘J ..i A* I 11 ■ !\aae<-’«)s^w« । I g K Oth'.’JiJ ) i r -1 ; rr') ..1:47” f I s 1 I 9 » c: J I I, , J ' / 9 * The awards served as an opportunity for the community to look back at all it did in 2024, looking to ±e new year. BCCEDA President/CEO Jennifer Heinzman used the opportunity to remind attendees of the chamber’s many achievements in 2024. Some chamber projects highlighted by Heinzman included the demolition of the former Design Wear and Baby Bliss building in Middleville, a $ 100,000 USDAgrantandsubsequentRural Barry County Development Strategy and new housing opportunities. “We have added over 748 houses or homes to our stock since 2020. We currently have 870 units in the pipeline — that’s a total of 1,618. That’s good stuff,” Heinzman said. In addition to adding a workforce development coordinator in 2024, the chamber is in the process of purchasing the old Trumble Insurance building on State Street in Hastings. “We’re moving basically across the street, kind of kitty-comer,” Heinzman said. Trumble is moving to the former Bunker’s building on Jefferson Street. Continued from Page 2 * to clear county roads with the onset of Mother Nature’s wintery wrath. “By and large, we hit everything the first day,” Welch said. “(But) we’re going to have to play the temperature game.” Welch praised not only BCRC drivers for their efforts, but also mechan ics who help keep the snowplows up and running at critical times. “Those guys are our unsung he­ roes,” he added. “Ifthey’re not knock­ ing it out of the park, the other guys aren’t out plowing.” The return of winter also comes with several reminders for local mo­ torists, such as to watch for drifting snow across roadways and that traf­ fic signs might be covered by sticky snow. Drifting snow can be more of an issue in various parts ofthe county due to the number of open fields in the area that often allow snow to blow across roadways, sometimes catching drivers by surprise. “No one is used to winter any­ more,” Welch said, referring to the * ! ■’i f ■ !■' ♦ mild conditions of the past couple of years. “Definitely, the northeast part of the county is more open,” he added. “We’re definitely a huge agricultural county, so there’s fields no matter where you are.” But the winter of2024-25 is bring ing more thanjust snow and cold tem­ peratures. It is also the first winter for the implementation ofa new state law. In July 2024, Gov. Gretchen Whit mer signed legislation into law that makes it illegal for motorists to drive within 200 feet of a moving snow­ plow, including within 20 feet of a snowplow stopped at an intersection. The Michigan measure, which was reportedly inspired by a Wisconsin law, includes a potential $100 fine for violators. “They finally codified that,” Welch said, adding that drivers need to be aware to give snowplows the proper space to operate safely - for both them and the snowplow. “We have the ability legally to maneuver at intersections more than most people,” he said. “If you don’t give us room, we can’t do our jobs.” * “Our plan is to move over there April 1. We are turning our current location into the Barry County Innovation and Coworking Station. So we’re going to create a business development center in the fi'ont, and coworking and business resources in the back.” The chamber is looking to grow even more in 2025, said Heinzman. BCCEDA recently kicked off a sustainability cam­ paign and capital campaign to help sup­ port these expansions. Todd and Christina Porritt, owners of Yankee Bill’s Woodfired Saloon, received a standing ovation when accept­ ing the Brick Award. The award honors entrepreneurs who demonstrate commit­ ment to the community through capital improvements. Yankee Bill’s completed several improvements and renovations recently. Tlie restaurant is in the early stages ofrebuilding after being destroyed in a fire late last year. “I do want to thank everyone in the community that’s been here to support us. It’s been very overwhelming. We’re honored to be even nominated for this award, and then to get the award is awesome. It’s been a very rough month for us,” Christina Porritt said. “We will be back. We’re working closely with a builder in Caledonia rig>dnow, and we’re hoping to be ag by the end of 2025. Thank you all.” Highpoint Community BankPresident/ CEO Maik Kolanowski introduced the Lifetime Achievement Award, posthumously awarded to longtime Barry Coun­ ty Lumber owner Jim Wiswell. Wiswell passed away last year at the age of 87. Wiswell’s children, Tom and Laura, ac­ cepted the award on behalfoftheir father. “Now most of you are familiar with what Jim may have done, but tonight I r r <» * 4. 3' 4 I ’ a This year’s ATHENA Award winner, Katelyn Brown, gives her acceptance speech on Saturday. I want to talk to you about how he did what he did because, to me, that was the differentiator in Jim,” Kolanowski said. “Jim touchedmore lives thanmost. Make no mistake about what I’m about to say — he was a smart and shrewd business­ man. He understood that to lift up his business, he needed to lift up everybody around him. And that is what he did. But for Jim, it was personal. It was innate it was part of who he was.” Kolanowski said the best way to honor Wiswell would be to carry on his life mission lifting othei^ around him and giving back. “I believe the best way that we can honor Jim tonight, and a generation of Jims, that we in this county have been so fortunate to be around^ individuals that knew what you needed to do as leaders — we need to carry that torch tonight and carry that for him. They showed us commitment and dedication and determi­ nation and giving back in a community makes a huge difference. And we owe it to them to carry on,” Kolanowski said. 3O’s Prints by MODA® • PLAN YOUR NEXT QUILT: Grads, Weddings, Showers, Birthdays & More • New Cotton Collections • Flannel Prints & Solids '{}* Jesus loves Me '3* •*<1" « r 4 1^ QUESTIONS: ASK US... 1, V ■I 218 E. State St, Hastings •‘945-9673 OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm Hulst^ Cleaner^ Pickup \ Station < �It i 4 6 Saturday, January 25, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 5 r r www.sunandnews.com Sa*" ’ DNR urges safety on, around the ice 4 » jL Xu h I * r 4 : > * I s 4 » A I T 1 !« 1 ( / / 9 f w '•we- • 1‘ r ’j:. w-w- view Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time STAFF REPORTER ■ View Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time, experienced news and features reporter to join our growing team of Journalism professionals. I I RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: • Coverage of local events, meetings and the community • Interviewing • Writing • Editing • Photography • Networking • Copy Editing Qualified individuals must have a four-year degree in Journalism or related communication field and be: • Proficient in Associated Press Style • Deadline-driven • Positive • Friendly • Outgoing • Have the ability to work some nights and weekends We love what we do and we know you will too! Qualified applicants can send a resume to View Newspaper Group Publisher wsmith@mihomepaper. com ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer's Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder '*Nobody plans to fell through the ice, but you should be prepared1 in case it happens," Hagy said. “If you fell through the ice, the most important thing is to remain calm and return in the direction you came from. Return to the ice where you broke through, and pull yourself out of the water, rolling onto the ice. Don’t try to stand. Instead, crawl to help distribute your weight until you feel you're safely away from the weak spot Seek help immediately to prevent hypcihermia.” Additional ice safety tips include: If there’s ice on the lake but water around the shoreline, use extra caution. Ifyou are visiting a new area, ask locals at bait shops, restaurants or stores about ice conditions, but always check conditions for yourself before going onto the ice. Ifyou’re walking on the ice, wear a pair of ice-cleats to help with traction. Wear bright colors to increase your visibility. White clothing and gear are difficult to see. Use the buddy system and tel 1 someone who is staying on shore where you will be and when you plan to return. If you’re operating a snowmobile or off-road vehicle, ride in a staggered line. This makes it easier to maneuver in case a rider ahead ofyou breaks through the ice. “Ice picks are inexpensive insurance, a great purchase or gift for anyone who ventures onto ice-covered bodies of water,” Hagy added. For more information, visit Michigan gov/IceSafety. For snowmobile safety tips, go to Michigan.gov/RideRight. —Michigan Department ofNatural Resources 4I I . r ». * i I-; 4 'ri • * r e j.1 w <1^ ri imnafcb. » 'Tt*; I • f st. ’ I ' K. (K ■I ** I I .. fl f •• r" if t JlM rf ’irjiVtf f ’'i<f P I r I i T*. sr ■ J TS ixS .B r 'V • J > i I _ • I i * • » « s r • *♦ rSE^j I .J. .t >1 I I 9 I U: 1 : ..v« 'i • I r 1 Area students named to KCC honor lists 1,. I j f lit I It ) Kellogg Community College of­ ficials are proud to present the presi­ dent’s list and dean’s list of all students, full- and part-time, who have earned high or highest honors for the fall 2024 semester. The dean’s list recognizes students who have earned a semester grade point average of 3.50 to 3.99. Local students on the dean’s list include: Hickory Comers - Rosalie Elms. Martin - Caitlyn Altman. Middleville - McKenna Bazan, Wil­ liam Bustance, Lori Gosselin, Taylor Johnson, Jordan Krohn, Logan New­ house, Cassondra Piper. I Plainwell - Berlynn Conley, Han­ nah Maurer, Ryan Robinson, Sophia Saunders. Shelbyville - Evan Bloch, Angela Gillihan, Nicole Loucks. Wayland - Sandie Hall, Kristin Kwiatkowski. r.s9 1 i o. r irr’?' itl ( 'JU DIAL (800) 249-091 IlfON - EMERGENCIES n Kids Measure up at wa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 1 I < I X 't 1 •A . isi ! 1 1 I t r* • i J The president’s list recognizes degree-seeking students who have earned a 4.0 GPA for the semester. Area students who qualified for the president’s list include: Freeport - Shauna Hoffman. Hickory Comers - Joshua Baxter, Apple Esman. See HONOR on 9 I ,} J iK I I ; I * .51 . •JI I A 'fi- «*W I I I 1 I -«lt 10^ J ■ /<•» ........................... " rx aK-: 1 K* A » *< V*5 f <1 1 I I I I. > 10 11 12! OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES & ► J J 211 221 231 24 • I * ♦ F f r i 151 161 171 181 19 20 •• M I 1 President's list 1— a 111 121 131 14 .s- , 1 i ’r> .1. I 9I 10 W. i !«•?/ ’ . i hl 1 6 [ 4 t i 5 * rr .p-< J $• 4 •t T { ! '■ WA CO. 9-1-1 CEIlTER . .4iiiar.vt t; •' ■ ~f r'di'i t 1 r •Sf' 2 fbi li Deanas list Group ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer's Guide ■ Jeffersonian With cold temperatures becoming more consistent throughout the state. more people are enjoying ice fishing, skating, hockey and other outdoor adventures. The Michigan Department ofNatural Resources urges everyone to have fun but always use caution when venturing onto or near ice. “Even during consistent cold stretches, pressure cracks in the ice can develop within hours,’’ said Lt Skip Hagy, DNR law enforcement supervisor in Newberry. “There is no such thing as ‘safe’ ice. Al­ ways check conditions foryourself; don’t rely on what you see others doing or what they tell you.” I^ver mouths and other places where river or lake currents may be located are often places of unstable ice. Reservoirs with changing water levels also require great caution. Frozen bodies of water should be checked very carefully before braving the ice. While tiiere is no perfectly reliable method to determine ifice is safe, you can use a spud, needle bar or auger to test the thickness and quality of ice. “Keep in mind that warm spells as brief as one day may weaken the ice,” Hagy said. “Melting ice during the day only partially refreezes at night, creating a thin layer of unstable ice.” The DNR suggests wearing a buoy­ ant fishing jacket or snowmobile suit. Additionally, wear a U.S. Coast Guardapproved lifejacket as the outermost layer of clothing, and have a pair of ice picks and a whistle clipped to your chest. 1 251 261 271 281 291 30 ill* . I 9 I ! 1I •: I i; o II t! •' I ..I /I f; < 1 * 9 4 M �’SSS 1 ♦ ♦ * ♦ •X • * J 'i i 1 •V Saturday, January 25, 2025 ♦ ♦ 1 I I I I L- « j A Sporting News I i I « * I I 5k 7 4 % I 7 ' M I THE SUN AND NEWS J * ir-f. ■•'fy *Xk www.sunandnews.com 1 ♦ •A* <iiL -Al . < ' r* ’4- T*.’. **1 'T ;“4r 1 "V* Jl c. *4 1 •> >> X • ^4 *k I I I I I 1 I Gielincki and Costa lead Irojan boys SWMSC races I ♦ •tv f K r c '4vi 4 .. 1; r-- J.' I I * ;ZiS Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Plainwell/Thomapple Kellogg boys were sixth and girls seventh to place at Timber Ridge Wednesday, Jan. 15, during the second Southwest Michigan Ski Conference race of the seasons. Mark Gielincki had the top finish for the Trojan Ski co-op racing to an llth-place finish in the boys’ slalom. He had runs of25.99 seconds and 25.79 seconds. Gielincki also led the Trojan team in the giant slalom with an 18thplace finish. Lillian Warnez led the Trojan girls in both events too with an 18th-place finish in the slalom and a 22nd-place finish in the GS. Mattawan/Paw Paw won both the boys’ and girls’ meets. The Mattawan/ Paw Paw boys finished with 55 points followed by Portage 63, Kalamazoo s ;• j I ' X• 1’ •4 ' ‘'a 4k .^3 i - ■ K 1 ♦ .1 «i'.' -'it 'y -• { s 4k»> « 1 * 4l e.»•^g= r I I f i ’<1 ’•I 'll . f 1 a I* ■••I- n M I . ■ t h. ) s a 2 4r I ^»«ll I H; « 5 *wl. •« Ma. .. « K•I '4T« .4 K I > • ^io u « « X . » ■ ^4; 1 I hA Wb* 9 Wt •< er I Uwi <*rni <9 »h I I te» •EH . f-. 91 k I i ■l I A '‘lA « »■- ■■■y t 1 •1*. t ^^^■'iiiJwtiiiiftS ■ «? ■ I* « .. . ** •t .T»*- ’ ' 5 XI .is T yi II rasi,,. h' T'ft -nW^SlW n A I « Ji t I ' > « •' • *<5. % I :'QI ' '' 4 I r - ’1 V. d s -r,' I I i i t ■ I \ - - , I it. ’ Uh’ - ’ / fr- ( I ...-yV w- I I I • WW r I The Trojan Ski team's Robby Jones shoots down the hill during his first run on the course on the Hawthorne Hill at Bittersweet Wednesday. Photo by Brett Bremer High Efficiency I The Trojan Ski team's Lillian Warnez leans into a turn in her second run of the first race of the GS Wednesday on the Hawthorne course at Bittersweet Wednesday. Photo by Brett Bremer fc- « meet with 54 points followed by, Ka­ lamazoo United 97, Portage 87, Hack­ ett/Vicksburg 87, Hudsonville 158, South Haven 238 and Trojan Ski 241. The Trojan girls standings included Lilian Lyon 28th in the slalom, Oriente Chiara 34th and Moline Marta 37th. In the GS Lyon was 24th and Chiara and Marta tied for 39th. Mattawan/Paw Paw’s Addison Bell had the four fastest runs of the day and flew to a more than two second win in the slalom. She had runs of 22.08 and 21.95 in the slalom, and she turned in times of 17.46 and 17.41 in the GS. See RACES on 6 United 87.5, Hackett/Vicksburg 146.5, Hudsonville 174, Trojan Ski 176 and South Haven 203. Mattawan/Paw Paw had four racers finish in the top ten in the boy’s slalom led by Canyon Keller who was third. Sam Oberlee from Kalamazoo United won the boys’ slalom with runs of20.49 and 21.36 and Portage’s Olin Rorhstaff was the runner-up with times of 21.43 and 21.89. With the second-best time in each GS run Bryce Johnson won that event on the boys’ side. He had times of 17.03 and 16.65. Keller was the runner-up and Oberlee third. Kei ler had the fastest time of run two at 16.64. Oberlee had the top time of run one at 16.97. The Trojan Ski team had Claudio Costa 21st overall in the GS, Robby Jones 29th and Loehn Luckett 32nd. In the slalom, the Trojan Ski boys had Costa 16th, Jones 23rd and Luckett 26th. Mattawan/Paw Paw won the girls’ Your local agent insures your ; FURNACE I 8 AIR I I I I, OFF n r J w ..r: • !RUTO I I I I I I I I Must present this coupon. Expires 1- 31-25 1. ii 4 » A /4 1 i J I » I f « l ( i ««w j'r I >■ financing available w monthly interest Ilpaid within 18 mo. "The company built by referrals" fAHMBimAil HEATING a COOLING 210 East Main Street, Caledonia Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-6827 ilMftoaiSmiM>c«wi FwwawMuinMifAoe.ee« 616-891- ▼ J I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I a �4 tw I’ i —f I 1 8 Saturday, January 25, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ewe . No individual champs, but Scot team wins title ♦ ♦ 1 •' f I Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia had four runner-up finish­ es and ten wrestlers among the top five in their weight class while winning the championship at Kalamazoo Central’s Ron Russo Classic Saturday. James Carrow V at 132 pounds, Rob­ ert Restau at 138, Will Sheely at 150 and Koleson Reeder at 157 all reached the championship match at their flight and finished the day in second place. Cayden Nostrant at 165 pounds and Escher Reeder at 106 both placed third for Caledonia, Ben Moss at 144 pounds was fourth and Max Schnurstein at 113, Muhammed Turk at 175 and Xavier Stewart at 215 all placed fifth. The Fighting Scots won with 190.5 points. Mattawan was second with 181.5 points ahead of East Kentwood 179, Brother Rice 176, Gobles 155, Jackson 131.5, Kalamazoo Central 103, Spring Lake 90, Gull Lake 78 and Harper Cree, 70.5 and Paw Paw 70.5 in the top ten at the 20-team tournament. ♦ ♦ 4' ♦ s b '» - i - •* .a. 4 Ii iSSb 1 V The Caledonia varsity wrestling team celebrates an outstanding day at Kalamazoo Central’s Ron Russo Classic Saturday. The Scots took the team championship and had ten guys and two girls place among the top five in their weight class. Photo provided Breakfast Buffet ( Fundraiser 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm Help us support veterans and communityfunctions. Carrow V took a 14-0 win over Daniel White from Hartford in their 132-pound semifinal match for his 20th victory of the season. He was bested by Gull Lake’s Rasler Warner m the championship match at their flight. Restau scored two pins and a tech­ nical fall to reach the 138-pound final where he was bested by Mattawan’s RACES Continued from Page 7 BODY SHOP -------- » BIGGSY. Complete Collision Repair — COFFEE Caledonia Memorial Legion Post 305 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, MI 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 LUNCH M-TH 11 AM-8 PM: FRI 11 AM-2PM: FRI BUILD A BURGER 4-8 PM , 2 it \ L ‘vl Your irus-bed Body 5hop -for over 32 years I • 5 3a I • e« I «e- t.. 1 F 1 '.f • a> « &ir>k iq AZ IV f < fia J i } 1 I t acsft r ,tsdt J •1 : / t . ta (« S’- 4^ i B A L J c R T 1 t f’ r^* I* » V i ' MF t 4 < rx ri 1) 4< b. I • ■■ « ?•» ’r ? . I'J f * r, I n Ab iW lu sr , R ♦ *11 I-* a = :-A ^ss!l4*j^i..er.-" > > Ji- ** ..T I p-‘ ■* 1 T iL r ' I***' (< r n sM* r r • I ■ k •i-irn ) J I ' l» r' u iT* * I i * t A Hjii ■•r » i r . .^a. tr I. i: ' t 1 i- - lit -4 CmAV ■ *' ■ 1 ixjtir ' t' t > 1 f ' J « J* S• • • JlJtrl?’*''"'’’ fl I ♦ 1 11 V >'• > 3-I Bell’s Teammate Ann Hoogerheide was the runner-up in the GS with runs of 17.68 and 17.51. Amelia Todd from Kalamazoo United took the runner-up spot in the girls’ slalom with times of 23.07 and 23.28 with Hoogerheide third. The conference was back together again at Bittersweet Wednesday, Jan. 22, and has another race set for next Wednesday, Jan. 29, back at Bitter­ sweet. The Plainwell/TK boys were fifth overall in the day’s standings at Bitter­ sweet and the Trojan girls’ team placed sixth on the Hawthorne Hill where two I * 1 ■ I » I J GS runs were set up. Costa led the Plainwell/TK boys throughout the course of the night with a 12th-place finish overall he was 12th on the first GS course the boys’ competed on and 1 Sth on the second. Gielincki had 15th and 16th place fin­ ishes. The Trojan team also had Robby Jones 23rd overall with 24th-place and 28th-place performances and Gerrit Taber was 33rd overall with 32nd-place and 37th-place results. The Trojan girls’ team had Wamez lead the way with 22nd-place perfor­ mances in the two events that put her 21 st individually for the day. Lyon had races that put her 31 st and 29th for a 29th-place overall finish. I * • t I < > « ■ • I 2 i t i 1 sia ai[®i V Ja a 1 *1 tinUote r i * kTijii' I ■^. I * r Lsffli 1 ^1 >■1 CirW ’>i w I t _ . I e ( - I ’ '!IIT . bnois:^ •* * * • .W52K. t «* 1,, f T r I. • A ** « f J I I ■ <« I V t* l« tsplfi i * I I n DIAL (800) 249-0911 ’4ON - EMERGENCIES Kids Measure up at Q^^lawa Co. ^1-1 Center WA co. 9-1 -1 CEiTER II II c i1 I I I I 1 sir; ii * J I '.i'5e,'ai . • I b J « I 4 » < m rI DC I <- *A. —t" AnTH ' 4W«* ..k'llJL/' I *r * to •» t * » I s fr L.. t- r "• I IM ’Ss b' h» '/w 4 A ' fi-'B JI ! r TAV; a. «f. I i to w t •jte. .XI <A r ' '■ ** I It * I I fttre / 12| 131 141 151 161 171 181 191 20| 211 22| 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 '^4 '■1^ 1 «e ?• 111 t ri 11 1 12i OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES f 10 A 'I t 91 I I I / r I ii 8 r - f |tA J I I * ** I k f 5 < I 1 ■r ■rlfi —I <.4 f* H 4 i -if: ■: liMJUijV* '<1 / 1 1 4 4-,^ * I r T I * Menu subject to change Adults $13.00 • Children 10 & under $5.00 For more information call the Post at 616-S91-1882 w. ' I •6.' * bacon, sausage links or patties, potatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, milk, OJ, coffee. -J» >’ w < r .f and the First Saturday of each mcmth Serving 8 a.in. to 10:00 a-m. Coffee Donated by I 1 Zack Miller. Restau stuck Brother Rice’s Mateo Pesaros 68 seconds into their semifinal bout. Sheely pulled out a 5-3 win over Mat­ tawan’s Dandinidis in the 150-pound semifinals and then fell to Brother Rice’s Deacon Macneill in the cham­ pionship round. Koleson Reeder had a pair of pins on the day and then beat out Spring Lake’s Chase Seegar 10-4 in the 157-pound semifinals. Brother Rice’s Emmanuel Shango took a 17-9 win in their cham­ pionship round match. Escher Reeder, Moss and Nostrant all reached the semifinal round before bowing out of the championship round of the bracket. East Kentwood was powered by its heavyweights with Matthias Grander­ son taking the 285-pound title and Tyler Meeuwsen winning at 215 pounds. Brother Rice had a tournament high three individual champs including Caleb Steele at 165, Shango at 157 and Macneill at 150. The Scots’ Maddie Hayden did win her weight class in the day’s girls’ competition and teammate Halle Stout was third at btr weight class. Caledonia is slated to be a part of the Lakewood Invitational today, Jan. 25, and then will play host to Jenison for an OK Green Conference dual Wednesday, Jan. 29. Saturday, Feb. 1,2025 —.......... �♦ * > * I THE SUN AND NEWS ’ vvww.sunandnews.com 1 I I Saturday, January 25. 2025 9 ♦ I ? v4» « T>oian cheer near the top at its home invitational J «- i » • I Brett Bremer Sports Editor I f A V < 4 rz T ku f •1 A J A 1. < ;5 J T V. ♦ ;"^ts •A IV f . • <4 »4 f I! I ( A ( I 1 1 i ■ I > J h bl’.' Jr!+ A * * 'S Jl r . I i ■ ^71 ' ^i5((k‘“W ’' J®*-"*" «'.M In rv w . -Ilrr I . .4 I Thornapple Kellogg’s Mia Hilton and her teammates shout out to the crowd during the TK Invitational in Middleville Friday, Jan. 17. Photo Provided r 1 ...I :. •*. The Thomapple Kellogg varsity competitive cheer team finished third overall in a field of 13 varsity teams at its own TK Invitational Friday, Jan. 17. Byron Center was the day's top scoring team with a total of 737.58 points ahead of Plainwell 735.76, Thomapple Kel­ logg 720.26, Mason 717.08 and Forest Hills Northern 709.36 in the top five. The TK girls had a score of 224 points in round one, 210.26 in round two and 286 in round three. Byron Center jumped to the top of the standing with a round three score of 303.5 which was the only round three score over 300 and 12.9 points better than Plainwell’s round three score which was the second best of the night. r 9 I A 41 a a J' ► 4 i a» < ’ » . ■1^' >3 >4 The Thornapple Kellogg varsity competitive cheer team stunt groups perform during round three at the Trojans’ own TK Invitational Friday, Jan, 17. Photo Provided The Bulldogs were in third place behind the Plainwell Tro­ jans and TK Trojans going into that final round. The Bulldogs opened the in- vitewithascoreof224.1 inround one and 209.98 in round two. The Plainwell girls had a score of 226 in round one, 219.16 in round two and 290.6 V r * 4, « h * t 4 tl , Ili *^1 *>! CHS girls improve to 4-0 in the OK Green M** - ■ 4 ' V.. kvLiA 1 MS A J* w lb 1 < *.a > Ik . •>«» 4 l4f I I I ; • I. A 9 I • •9 The Caledonia girls were looking to finish off the first hal fofthe OK Green Conference season jaii, with the league lead Friday at Mona Shores. The Caledonia varsity girls’ basketball team rww t went into its contest with the Sailors with a ' perfect 4-0 conference mark while the Mona Shores team opened conference play with a i 3-1 record. ij g Of o’ •* €• »r tt r r , *11 1 i f I tl «»« n*>F‘ i' i>v I Brett Bremer Sports Editor I N« IrtflX VI I , . The Fighting Scots moved to 3-0 in the conference with a 40-37 win over the visiting Byron Center Bulldogs Jan. 17. That victory moved the Caledonia team to 9-2 overall. The Scots return to action with a non-conference ballgame at Covenant Christian Tuesday, Jan. 28, and then will start the second half of the OK Green Conference season at home against Reeths-Puffer Friday, Jan. 31. iKi b SlfiisSSii...-;..,, M I I•e9 KENT ' «« . ■ Continued from Page 3 (.■ >B ml 1:1^3 f < I J I i 1 ** * Hi? ' I ♦ I J I r... ’ UJCi) > * ■ > A‘ • ^4 U4.111V; •» I .. . It J'' *• I , township to complete the project. “When they bid it out, it i was far more expensive,” said Township Manager Allison Nugent. “They’re doing the ; work, but they’re asking the > township to cover the costs that are left over what the over: bid was, which is $94,000.” I 4 A 1 1 I I -W ■ -I The project fits in with the township’s overall trail plan, Nugent said. “It’s going to be a 10-footwide trail they’re going to do the work for us. And it would be my recommenda­ tion that it is approved. We pay for the remainder, and it’s part of our plan. And it links up eventually, hopefully, to Cherry Valley and connects the system,” Nugent said. HONOR Continued from Page 6 Middleville Eli Gauthier, Tana Jansma. Plainwell - Alicyn Gleesing, Paula Jackson, Harleen Waters. Shelbyville - Kathryn Sipes. Wayland - Tara Cal­ houn, Kennedy Kimmel, Tammy Lemay. GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meeting Minutes The minutes for the December 4. 2024 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on January 15, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave • > and on the website at www, caledoniatownship.org. in round two. Rounding out the team scor­ ing Gull Lake was sixth overall with a score of 689.44 aliead of Sparta 624.5, Harper Creek 613.2, Hopkins 612.6, Por­ tage Northern 599.9, Wayland 596.8, Kelloggsville 497.3 and Delton Kellogg 330.5. Die Trojans were scheduled to host an OK Gold Conference j aniboree Diursday, J an. 2 3, and the conference will get together again at West Catholic Jan. 29. Die Trojans won the first OK Gold Conference jamboree of the season at Northview Jan. 15. PUBLIC NOTICE GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS January 13,2025 The Gaines Charter Township Board held a regular meeting on Mon­ day, January 13, 2025, and took the following actions. 1. Reviewed the Consent Agenda. 2. Approved the Meeting Agenda 3. Heard and discussed a presen­ tation by Community Developrhent Director Dan Wells concerning'the Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF)changes 4. Approved the Consent Agenda 5. Approved the Hoffman Mead­ ows, Water and Sewer Development Contract 6. Approved the Alexander Trails Phase 1 Final Preliminary Plat Review 7 Approved the Alexander Trails Phase 2 Final Preliminary Plat Review 8. Approved the Thornapple Farrris Phase 1 Final Plat 9. Approved the Revision of the Cemetery Ordinance 10. Approved the revised Cemetery Rules 11. Approved the International As­ sociation Fire Aghters Local 4385 Ex­ tension Agreement. 12. Approved the Diemer Run 2025 road closure request. 13. Adjourned the Regular Board Meeting at 7:26 pm A complete copy of the minutes of these meetings and any resolutions or ordinances adopted at the meeting are on file and available for review at the Gaines Charter Township office, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Cale­ donia, Michigan 49316. Ordinances, meeting schedules, meeting minutes, and other Township information are also available at www.gainestownship.org, Michael Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk �if Saturday, January 25, 2025 10 I I /I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com f I • |i Classifieds 4 Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity hockey team moved its record to 14-3-1 with a split over the weekend in non-conference contests. The Fighting Scots were bested for just the third time this season as they were beat out 2-1 by Jenison at GrifTs Georgetown Ice Arena Friday night. The co-op with Caledonia, Thor­ napple Kellogg and Lowell bounced back for a 5-1 win over West Ottawa ♦ ♦ BUSINESS SERVICES Dump Trailer Services, Bobcat Services, tree stump removal,site prep and clearing,dirt driveway installation and land clearing site prep. Fully licensed and insured. 616-389-9496 TREE SERVICE BUYING ALL HARDWOODS: Walnut, Oak, Hard Maple, Cherry. Paying top dollar. Call for pricing and Free Estimates. Will buy single walnut trees. Insured, liability & workman’s comp. Fetterley Log­ ging, (269)818-7793. 1 J 1 I J Scots surge in final two periods to beat W.O. I I . y 1 4 I I ,tf I »i Ji )• ✓ on its home ice at Kentwood Ice Arena Saturday, The Panthers had a 1 -0 lead after one period in the match in Kentwood Saturday, but the Fighting Scots found the back of the net twice in the second period and then ran away with three third-period goals. Ty Lewandowski had two goals and an assist in the win for Caledonia and Tony Kauffman scored twice as well. Landen Moore had one goal. Logan Himes and Gabe Supuk added assists. i Sam Hoag stopped 27 of 28 West Ottawa shots. Will Nagelvoort saw 45 shots on his goal at the other end in net for the Panthers and made 41 saves, Krue Anderson scored the one West Ottawa goal. Rylan Bultema scored the lone goal in the loss to Jenison last Friday for the Scots. Sova and Kauffman had assists. Caledonia is slated to visit ReethsPuffer Saturday afternoon, Jan. 25. * I k * ‘ C’ r H 1 f r 15 ' I Vv I '^1 i . r I jir i J * ‘ J I 4 I f I ; nrvnf 1 f J 1^ X*if, : *. r f ■I' < £.1^'* ;.CP it 7 M I' « 1 i : rc •, fj# » r* • ) t 1. * . T . Il wo, 1 r A V ri tj u A • cT^ X/l KK * TK ladies take tournament championship at K-Central r « iPli I r t*’ 5 (I*.** Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ wrestling team took the cham­ pionship at Kalamazoo Central’s Ron Russo Classic Saturday. Trojans Emma Gibson at 135 pounds KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? We'd love to hear about it! inmacleod@niihomepaper.com THE SUN AND NEWS Group 'J' WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS •* £ Residential & Commercial -Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers ■ -Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers -S 4> '4 •I*, z & ri *1 > f 1 aec 4 4 > 3 r I p• *1 ’frs DeWeerd y I HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.CX>M '•'7 269-792*2234 681 LENNOX .* • A A+ i. AccnewTED BU5*KSS < and Laini Braska at 125 pounds won their weight classes for the and they were two of seven TK grapplers who placed among the top six in their weight class overall. The Trojan team closed the tour­ nament with 122.5 points ahead of Plainwell 106.5, Mattawan 91, Harper Creek 88, Otsego 80, Wayland 65.5, Paw Paw 65, Hartford 54, Watervliet 51.5 and Buchanan 45 in the top ten. Caledonia’s girls were 11th with 44 points at the tournament where 41 teams were represented. Braska pinned her first two oppo­ nents and then outscored St. Joseph’s Sarah Bennett in the 115-pound cham­ pionship match. Gibson’s final was her quickest match of the day as she stuck Otsego’s Samantha Bonoevetz 1:10 into their 135-pound championship. TK’s Adelaide Holderman was the runner-up at 170 pounds as she was pinned by two-time state champion Maddie Hayden from Caledonia in her final match after two pins of her own to start the day. Thomapple Kellogg’s Rylee Alberts was second at 140 pounds, and the TK team had Sines third at 140 pounds, Dykstra fifth at 115, Ava Rausch sixth at 100 pounds. Alberts pinned three opponents before she was stuck herself by Wayland’s Alexis Hozeska midway through the second period of their match in the 140-pound bracket. Sines was 3-1 on the day too in the 140-pound weight class for TK with a pairofpins and a loss to Hozeska. Sines also scored a 9-5 win over GalesburgAugusta’s Alexis Thomas. The Fighting Scots’ Hayden opened her tournament with pins ofPaw Paw’s Mikayla Hess and Mattawan’s Haylee Schoonbeck that took less than 42 seconds of mat time combined. The Caledonia team also got points J from Halle Stout who was third in the 110-pound weight class. She took down East Kentwood’s Maddison Lira in her consolation semifinal bout and then pinned Paw Paw’s Sophia Fonseca 1:35 into the match for third. The TK team also got wins through­ out the day from Jaycee Teunessen and Shaylynn Myers. The Thomapple Kellogg girls are slated to be a part of the Lady Saxons Invite at Hastings High School Satur­ day, Jan. 25. It was also announced this month that with the growth of girls’ wrestling in the state the MHSAA is adding a district round to the girls’ postseason tournament this winter. The Thomap­ ple Kellogg and Caledonia girls will get to participate in the MHSAA Girls’ Wrestling Individual District Tourna­ ment at Hastings High School Feb. 9. The top four in each weight class from the Hastings district will advance to the regional at Portage Northern Feb. 16 - one of four regionals across the state the third weekend in February. A » i i u • !0ai^ 4 V «»• W *’r ■>' ( « •>1 •• (. '.V ,’f' •u • - 4 1 1 I i J I I 1 « ft I .d 5f*. I 'xE f •1 ♦< » iV . I ;4; • • *#*- » f aaJB .A /ft (it •* r > ^£B nd J if-t I I aM?S: K• • 4 I 'I' I J L-.r^v » ♦. t » •r ♦ .•V r; 1 I k • .* * S? I 1 I f ♦ . if I J I CiliJgWSJt I 4*^ i<« > f 14 . L. I ■* 1 Jfl ■ I 1 I 1 i 1 J 4* . t « I V 5 f. I » 4* f >r 0 -eq n:i . 1• <.5 L 1 I a: 11 I ! 41 « r f:V ■ f ?' / I t a’ ..' EA I fl ‘3:r'h. i t J bl • ' * *• u. I tlL I f z '»J I / 4 . 1 1 I 1 f ... “4 I ▼ .T • i / ''f * nr IjAJ/i t ( I 1 I 1 a 4 « U. .«. J r 9 « . 4 •d < 1 I I 21 I '31 I wA CO. 9-1-1 ceIiter 4 8 9I 10 I I I I I 1 I I 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES f ft DIAL (800) 249-0911 '-MON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at ^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" , r. / I I 15| 161 171 181 19 20| 21| 22| 23| 24| 251 261 271 281 291 301 V I ' > ■ '‘i I• ..• s. ■ k. 111 121 13| 141 Bl«U * I .1 I s L 5 «¥ st; f I t: �f 1 k ft ft www.sunandnews.com f THE SUN AND NEWS Saturday, January 25, 2025 11 ♦ ft Vikings have a few great swims at EGR Invite V' I I ■ I I Brett Bremer Sports Editor 1 *» I I 7 f r/ »•. •< J I I 3;. The Caledonia/Lowell/South Chris­ tian varsity boys’ swimming and diving team placed fourth Saturday at the East Grand Rapids Invitational. The top race ofthe day for the Vikings was the 50-yard freestyle where Ethan Snapper placed third in 22.84 seconds and Anders Foerch fourth in 23.03 with teammates Austin Tufts ninth in 24.15 and Noah Miller tenth in 24.89. The Vikings had a few top finishes in the 100-yard breaststroke too with Andrew Barnum fourth in 1:08.03, Noah Miller seventh in 1:13.73 and Ruben Baker eighth in 1:14.44. Byron Center took the day’s team championship with 648 points ahead of East Grand Rapids 481, West Ottawa 473, Caledonia 309 and Okemos 194. Snapper, Doug Gaylord, Sam Jones and Foerch teamed up for the top relay finish of the day for the Vikings in the 200-yard freestyle relay. They finished that race in 1:39.42 in fifth place. Nolan Fitzgerald swam to a fifth­ place time of 1:00.25 in the 100-yard butterfly for the CLS team. Jones was ninth in the 200-yard 4 1 V : 1 .1 <.5 G « 4 , vt. 42. •k 9 t *k 4 > rz • 1 ft 9 V i /t: ■ ^2 S* ,T I 1 Cii. A I J *. Mil 1 * f r 'Wski ■w •4 ' ’i. I- . • '/t ■X, ** K*.' *c 4*h/ f ft *> •n 4 / 1u ft < { I h / > <<! ■X. i4 li. Hi, W*; Vt>* I ’X 1‘hbi f 4 1^ ft. * t 5 -I’ f;:. (* '* 3« v I I*.*' A*. r 4?^ f II I freestyle in 1:58.55 and eighth in the 100-yard freestyle in 52.45. Foerch added an eighth-place time of 6:05.43 in the 500-yard freestyle. CLS foursomes were sixth in the 200-yard medley relay and the 400yard medley relay too. Byron Center won all three of the relay races on the day. West Ottawa’s Luke Catton and By­ ron Center’s Caleb Meginley both won two individual races. Catton took the 200-yard freestyle in 1:46.22 and the 100-yard freestyle in 48.50. Meginley won the 200-yard individual medley in 2:02.08 and the 100-yard backstroke in 56.22, and was also a part of Bulldog wins in the 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard medley relay. The Byron Center team also had Graeden Standorf win the 50-yard freestyle. Jack Oliver the diving competition, Jackson Schmucker the 100-yard butterfly. Carter Nelson the 500-yard freestyle and Ryder Nichols the 100-yard breaststroke. The CLS team is slated to visit Hastings Tuesday, Jan. 28 and then will send its qualifiers to the MISCA Meet at the Hol­ land Aquatic Center Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. ' 4 •‘I . b •k a Fighting Scots can’t keep up with Bulldog boys 1 u I, ! *«*. I I *’ » ”» <1 P’ T 1 • « 1 •< r ^rI ^MS(3(gS fr I nr j I a ir k iicUisr- 4 «liS! ft 'it : 'J O The Caledonia varsity boys’ basket­ ball team was set to close the first half of the OK Green Conference season at Mona Shores Friday. The Scots fell to 1 -3 in the conference with a 79-37 loss at Byron Center last week, Jan. 17. Caledonia head coach Nate Bums rolled through his roster in the tough defeat. Stuart Parker had a team-high seven points for the Scots. Malachai Hanson added six points. A group of 4 ft>. >^ol Brett Bremer Sports Editor Iff If z r • >*<;< «*i ( I k ft k fa> oj: O » I 0’ \'*-Vv (■; ‘ f sLiii&iiBisfe/ ji fik ) G' Us’ri’sW'p)!^^ f —i** I r’ ’11^ •ft ' • ; i. (i ft I I 'il fl • .v -ft * • ’ < ‘•ftM* :4 A ir* * ;? Tis«. 4* 2 9 five guys had four points apiece. The Scots only shot three free throws all evening and combined to go 0-of-13 from behind the three-point line against the 10-4 Bulldogs. Byron Center moved to 3-1 in the OK Green with the win. Caledonia had a ballgame with Grand Haven Tuesday postponed. The Scots are slated to visit Holland Tues­ day, Jan. 28 and then start the second half of the conference season at home against Reeths-Puffer Friday, Jan. 31. r* k- S' n r w «' *Wft ft • JiMiA /* I . P' A t .K< 11 ia-- Taft* •I* AI ft 4^f :k’ Visit us online at www.Sunandnews.com J 1 ___ 1 1 ■ -« > < . i ** ■ *1 I x* p I, I JM >..4. nsnaikir. J mi •♦H I UMU ft* >• 4— I fi *A t* 7^ t I k »»•** 1 r' 4 e «* Z. ***«*. uk * i ] % •, a •'..A 4 r ‘ k J* 4 9*1BI •Z A' « w -u .». 4 r’5 I ,-^4- ft . * ft LJ t in ( e «4A * • a,, r . r 4- > "*1 blip > .’i*' X 1 . a V 'S* »k. fl * ft V', • * si J J ,3 ‘•*zi5 i V Vvv > V • ft *I i- T I s 'A V. Mt Jt liX >» The Caledonia/Lowell/South Christian varsity boys' swimming and diving team gathers on the deck at East Grand Rapids during a run to a fifth-place finish at the Pioneers’ annual invitational. Photo provided Middleville Rotary Spaghetti Dinner 1^ —III IM V ft ♦ ( Date. February 14, 2025 Serving Time: 5:00pm - 7:30pm 1 Location: Thomapple Kellogg HS School Cafeteria (Girls <& Boys Varsity Basketball Games-starts at 6:00pm) | t MENU Spaghetti Garlic Bread Salad Bar Drinks: Coffee, Punch, Milk, Water Optional by donation: Dessert (Cake, Pies) p♦ •♦ 1 ft. J f �Saturday, January 25, 2025 12 THE SUN AND NEWS ------ www-sunarxJnews COTT) Gars see progress in Loy Norrix performance ♦ « Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Gars had a handful of MIS­ CA Meet qualifying performances throughout the day Saturday along with Van’s performance in the 100-yard butterfly. Those included Van in the 200-yard freestyle, Ethan Klopfenstein in that 100-yard butterfly race and the 100-yard backstroke and Hunter Tietz in the 100-yard backstroke. The team also met MITCA marks in the 200yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay. There were two top six finishes for the Gars in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of Nolan Send, Tietz, Ty Denney and Van combined fora time of 1 minute 35.75 seconds. They were just less than a quarter of a second behind the win­ ning team from DeWitt in the race. The Gar *B’ team of Caden Bliek, Dominic Jakubowski, Luke Hemker and Haiden Vruggink placed sixth in 1:50.40. Gar teams were fifth and sixth in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Send, Tietz, Denney and Van were fifth with a time of 3:34.22 in that race. A year and a half into the new co-op program and the Gars notched their first state cut Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Loy Norrix Invitational. Gabriel Van swam to a runner-up time of 54.43 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly at the invitational in Ka­ lamazoo meeting the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division I Swimming and Diving Finals qualifying time. It was a great day all around for the Gars who were fourth in the day’s overall standings. Loy Norrix took the day’s championship with 420 points ahead of DeWitt 354, East Kentwood 230, the Gars 201, Mason 160 and Harper Creek 22. A year ago, the first edition of the Gars co-op finished the Loy Norrix In­ vitational with just 19 points. The Gars team is a co-op between Thomapple Kellogg, Unity Christian, Hopkins, West Catholic and West Michigan Aviation Academy. East Kentwood s Teague Westra won that 100-yard butterfly race in 54.20, a little less than a quarter of a second ahead of Van. Klopfenstein swam to a sixth-place finish in that race with a time of 57.65. In the 100-yard backstroke it was a Falcon in front again as James Langosch won in 57.03. Klopfenstein was the runner-up in 58.49 and Tietz third in that race in 59.31. Tietz also had an outstanding 50-yard freestyle turning in a time of 23.61 that put him in fourth place. Van added a runner-up time of 1:52.78 in the 200-yard freestyle. Last Thursday, J an. 16, the Gars were bested 109.5 to 69.5 in a non-conference dual at Hamilton High School. Van won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:54.25 and the 100-yard freestyle in 51.75, and Klopfenstein won the 100 yard butterfly in 59.11. The Gar team also had the foursome of Send, Tietz, Denney and Van earn the first place points in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:44.63. f 9 ! *>* h b 1 - » *1’ 1 ♦ I t .t I i I v; I 4 / •’•RS*' I I ie 1 f I . I x I s ♦ SI 1 I r. u* 5 I 4 1 I B> * I J, Tf « 41 I J r J r 4 y 5 1 4 • ’C 'J — -■■I Gars backstrokers Ethan Klopfenstein (front) and Hunter Tietz celebrate placing second and third respectively in the 100-yard backstroke race Saturday at the Kalamazoo Loy Norrix Invitational. * fTS" ft )• ’it • . ' 1 ; ■• 'I t J 1 I • I t I : J ■ 11 •• k 5♦ I A I - ? T 1 < r J 1 I I I I ‘ '■trit I I Mi" .. J I'i T r *r 'iV r-.'l J T T *• • 1 I . t « > 'itKjj/i > I > M I Photo by Brett Bremer iwiwBtftiS vtf 010(14 I j FAMILY IS EVERYTHING TO us. k I I 5 1 ^1. r i J 4>«* t, We treat our portents Mce family ond offer comfortable cuitomiiBea deninrry for everyone 1 If Scvn« Ooy Otntatry 8 a 2' > Implants !• • < V- U ► P* 1^-r 4 :_f« A. I 4 MV > r# r I- •1 « Pediotrk DtprrtHlry J • > Cosmetic Dentniry It 1 . 4 9) I » > TH I ; % r r a I I k Y. (269)792-9723 12715WM-179 Hwy " YankeeSpringsDental.com Wayland, Ml 49348 7 * . » Tu □ w Scon to reouest on appointment and learn more R • m 4 O; 'tar . / I •k «■ t 'f < 't -MM > t »' <e r * <1 % I I I w y > i I : -■» 1 ■Vk. T I 4L w FT I < •• V » 6 3 >r I Othoe Hours 4 « I YANKEE SPRINGS 1207. OFF your first visit !jI I I I DENTAL ( i .r 1 in Oento/ exoms or© e^en rrw9 importmt a$wc get ofcfer, preventing problems and reccing the rak ofsetious Illness. I « iL Kl 3” >■ .f ( t I r?' DELTA DENTAL HEALTHY KID.S AND BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HEALTHY KIDS r f'rt < r f Cornpcwec’ rxr hjrai ixt^ tyncie uu <*K»w ofKh of-w lv<r* ttZ. i o ’Ml»vr CokOOTKi wrx) heeoi te: — up r- or — Jhe - •lofees! ** w •• '*v*jhr , cn?, gcrog to b>^ fre Dot<»v$ ijTwTur tven j- # -k 1 «?• J* M i NOW ACCEPTING About Yankee Springs Dental I & z B&: •5* • r> The Gars' Nolan Send (clockwise from left), Hunter Tietz, Ty Denney and Gabriel Van celebrate their runner-up finish and MISCA qualifying time in the 200-yard freestyle relay during the Loy Norrix Invitational in Kalamazoo Saturday. Photo provided ;> -} I 4»: I, n IH n I 3^’. ar fc V > • f * « e • I r « « f I I » « k T r. I 2 I 4 A CO. 9-1-1 CENTER 4 5 6 8 l“l I I 5 DIAL (800) 249-0911 "Kids Measure up at £ ON - EMERGENCIES Sawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" I c> 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES >% ni 121 131 141 151 161 171 18| 19 20| 2 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I L I •^'^1 ?'^l 241 25 261 271 281 291,30 iriT i I 0M3a» 4 S -y1 91 101 Il I I I < h U t — iJ I !• h «? L 4 •l I I I ? ; ti s rai � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-02-01.pdf aca77b90d7c10625179996427a6c244c PDF Text Text » a s' £1*1WMMVWmsr^ NO. 41 w r* .'^ '■ *■•-«► Fl t * -M t • 5 .^.> • s-> «» t i < M. 1 •f ♦ < / r . w» * ^■h.2r "H » Ik « t >• # < w 1 .a> rt « . iK L\ >1 eI 11 w* Wj*1I Mb*. I s /. > *4 .« ’■ <.» Bl ■< . •» « >**<-*«««*FT g'** » * > A r t * 1 X > 4»»**W'"'' t V * T » ' ■>^ f ' s;*' u t e ■!* • >** r-s* •s a <* 1 *< V »■'. t < I"'; - « !■ s A PV ( « I f R 1 J I llemffiid eemsL iBlnW pnitudhJnoO 1 i f^’ IJ «*« i f ? 1 , V I * * . T< X 1 'I t I 1 kf> t « I «fl|B * *.' — 4^ V. * r -k . >z X Gaines planning officials to developer: Go back to drawing board for Dutton site plan James Gemmell Contributing Writer A real estate development compa­ ny based in Menominee Falls, Wis., would like to build what it calls an “attainable” apartment complex in Dutton, citing demographics wi±in the township and a growing need for housing as the reason for the proposed development. But members of ±e Gaines Township Planning Commissioners told the developers at ±eir meet­ ing Wednesday, Jan. 23, ±ey were looking at ±e wrong demographic numbers and will need Moaa to provide a more uawoxsna ivuNaoisae upscale apartment type in a revised site plan, if 8C€# l!iUJ9d ±ey hope to gain proj 8C88^ dliiAueejo ect approval. SSMU33 1 J bVID na bOgiVGB bd21810 w V * • Source: GalnesTownship.org gno.qlrisnwoTMnlsa :Bnuo3 finoa tnttfnqobvab aUJzo kar A W eellfi' l eonimofwM ni hszfid yn 3 eUsa IgHw bliud oJ bluow i xdlqmoa wnihEqs "©idsrufiJlc" UfW ? iqpTgonrab gniJo jioOuQ 1. fane qiriaTM)! srfl boon ) to! noeeai ad) be §maiori W{ Jnamqobvsb boeoq eonffiO arit'to z^irocn luH tfioiafeinimoD ^^nrwlS qirienwoT -Jotint ;3dj IS zigqolwab srit Wot w ysri! ,££ .nfil ,Y£b8ontoW gni uiqBTsornab gnowarit Ie gnbiooi n IS/w ooB zwcknufi EDDM saoni u afafvoiqol CnUONEU BRIDEILUVr t Jrerrneqfi aUaequ (CUMK etMMw wwB Bkj an/, togivai b ni M>8g*»W b«uui( »33e q Busy vt aqori yariJ QiOTUAihe y^r .ifivonqcpiaa *» • w IP An aerial view shows where the proposed Authentix development would be built at M-6 and Hanna Lake Avenue. ©rtt eierlw aworte weiv tsnsB nA nnBlq esnifiO b of Xofid oO ..A A ' * < I* r r i * ,9^ •^■9 «*: “’•l\ # F1*r r r. •i ar V rjii. « ■k •it E '1 ?* ♦ » 4A y" A 1 !<» A. > 4 JB >* 4 * . s V le ' jj ** K' > * * * 1 * a * ■»< €r Ik '“V b t • * V . 1 -I ♦ « 4 4 • '• $ * > I w r* 9t Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer *^8 * > . 1r F-"’ » * > ^:MM, T •» Liti) X * • r”* *s^— I W.4 sI I ts v; <■» « I *w « * ’*>-1 r •fc I •> % 1 1 «■ dk‘ <4'4 « A ’F . .< •* I “.S /• 9* H— . •> r > « < * «* A '» -'^* >. €, : ' - .1 • ♦ * X . .. r.* •• t *v «» f r * ■n » 1 W* 1 ■m ^11 * »* : felL .'-"•’Bl ) 1 •r- * 71^ » i 4 I i if » H Jr- - ' s. -'Tifc ** « V F ■ « >-.*j f <b . 4' ’ 4 { 1 ■•e - 4;t. V «> > • 7^ * t ■I® <* '1** t Village council upgrades new position from parttime to full-time J’ :... *rnc « www.sunandnGWS.com SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2025 1 eC98> in aOWM'S OK voSOd aivd aovisod s n ais isad Jordan Teichen, Continental Properties’ development direc­ tor, gave a presentation for those gadiered at ±e township hall Wednesday. If a new plan is drawn up and approved, the two-stoiy apartments would be built on a 24-acre section of a 40-acre parcel on Hanna Lake Avenue, near M-6 and south of 60th Street. The proposal was for 15, 24-unit apartment buildings ±at would be built in ±e Authentix-style housing brand in the township’s residential (RL-10) and mobile home (R-4) zoning districts. “Gaines Township really is the perfect location for that demo graphic ±at would be living in an Aunthentix community,” Teichen said. “When we look at the demo* graphics here in ±is area, the rents that will be able to be achieved real­ ly call for the more attainable prod­ uct. To build a Springs here, rents would be much higher and we’re not confident that the demand for that product would be here.” Planning commissioners gave pre­ liminary consideration for a planned unit development (PUD) and a site plan review. However, they added the number of units should be capped at 16 and include a more upscale apart­ ment style, such as the Spring Hill brand with higher quality finishes. One commissioner, Ryan Wiersema, also questioned the medi­ an $39,133 per-capita income that Teichen cited for township residents. “Perhaps I need a better (eye glass) See PROJECT on 3 The Middleville Village Council has decided to make a newly-created, part-time government job into a fulltime position. At Tuesday night’s regularly sched­ uled council meeting, council mem­ bers agreed to make the community development coordinator position a full-time job with the village. The village plans to list the job opening soon as it attempts to fill the position. The job description lists the hourly wage at anywhere between $21 and $26 per hour depending on the qualifications of the candidate. Last year, the new position was orig­ inally approved, but as a part-time job. “After kind of looking at it over the Christmas holiday, we thought there was a lot more work there than we originally thought so it warranted it becoming a full-time position,” Village Manager Craig Stolsonburg told the Sun and News. “So, hopeful­ ly, we can get someone in there that is able to do the job for a long time.” The community development coor­ dinator position will support Doug Powers, whose title has also recently changed to Community and Economic Development Director, a position that interfaces with both the planning and zoning department and the Middleville Downtown Development Authority. “Our plan is to assign several gener­ al fund activities to this person for the upcoming year, including working on the master plan update and working with the community and economic development director as his adminis­ trative assistant,” Stolsonburg wrote See UPGRADES on 5 :* ■ ft- • »■ ■‘^i"’I �( ,1 ( Saturday. February 1,2025 2 I THE SUN AND NEWS I I' T Consultant provides update on revisions to Gaines Twp. zoning ordinance V i <-1*^ 4 z k' c r I !' 4'' > James Gemmell . . JOT M ** I I I Contributing Writer I I Gaines Township officials are mov­ ing closer to approving the first com­ prehensive update to the township’s zoning ordinance since 2007. At their Jan. 23 meeting, planning commissioners heard from consultant David Jirousek of Horizon Community Planning, with Jirousek providing a presentation on all the proposed chang­ es the Planning Commission, township board and other stakeholders have rec­ ommended since the process began a year and a half ago. The process for overhauling the township’s chief legal document gov­ erning land development has already led to a new master plan being craft ed for Gaines Township. And, the updated ordinance also would include the findings of a zoning ordinance audit report and the township’s future land use map, which includes some new zoning districts. The importance for a revised and updated zoning ordinance was underscored in 2022 when the town­ ship was sued for rejecting a devel­ oper’s proposed Prairie Wolf Station town center on 84th Street, east of Kalamazoo Avenue. The township w r f I I I I r Your local agent insures your Ask about our annuities and IRAs fMM 0MC4t/ WStftAMX* K 1 •TjP Jason Parks 121 E Main Street Downtown Middleville I i£ I H (269) 795-8627 ipadoMbtismixvfR FariiSurMuintvance ««m t —c * IP J <> I I <> .* . * v» I 41 I I V >• • 'X t % h a i; «N; A *4 J Consultant David Jirousek with Horizon Community Planning gives the Gaines Township Planning Commission a report on the zoning ordinance that is being updated. Photo by James Gemmell r ? I 1 V . ' ! >» h' J I i* -* Wi0.r f'll' ■ f 6 r ^■' .M*'- .I process of revising the zoning ordi­ nance, chapter by chapter. A “Zoning Ordinance Steering Committee” pro­ vided feedback and a legal review of the formal draft of the ordinance was conducted, which is now posted on the township website, gainestownship.org, by the township’s attorney. “We reviewed a number of different drafts of all of our 30-plus chapters, and eventually prepared a formal r ■ JT 1 The Gaines Township Planning Commission discusses changes to an amended zoning ordinance at its Jan. 23 meeting. Photo by James Gemmell ended up allowing American Kendall Properties to go ahead with the proj­ ect after a judge determined develop­ ers had the right under the township ordinance to build. Construction is scheduled to begin this spring. Township staff, largely led by Community Development director Dan Wells, rolled up their sleeves in the summer of 2023 and began the ' I tf ' U draft which was prepared back in the fall,” Jirousek said at the meeting Wednesday. He added the revised zoning regulations are being designed to be userfriendly and easily interpreted. And that the overriding goal of the ordi­ nance is to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare. “We need to make a balance See ZONING on 5 H MS**** J 4k 4- >: w' i •r/ 'i** r.> .V 6 A. * t. 4* I ► ■ 4 II*; • z' * • > r , M I V. < 0 V’’’ J • r I 1u» . I I ■' * k roa*. •»..l 9* • . I " T •I n .•nX •*** 1 #?*r .J* I J I-a; I .'.'J' *?* BPI 1 ■J iEsm<» V..’1* n f Village sign to get overhaul this spring Jayson Bussa Retfirement KS * The sign was originally installed Contributing Writer in 2012 from funds put forth by the The Village of Middleville will soon Middleville Downtown Development Authority. be welcoming visitors to town with a new look. The Middleville Village Council The electronic sign positioned at was tasked Tuesday with determining the intersection of Main Street and how to proceed in repairing, replacing M-37 has remained operable, but as or removing the sign. of September of last year, village Using three estimates from Grand Rapids-based Postema Signs, the administrators have not been able to council opted for a full replacement of update the sign’s content due to its existing radios no longer working and the LED display. the internal components being beyond The quote for such work included their useful life. $17,985 for the materials and com- 4 * .•«a ^ 3 Si * 4- I I 1I 4» ponents and $1,465 for installation, which also includes employee training to use the sign’s software. Village Manager Craig Stolsonburg said that the board intends to ask the DDA to shoulder some, or all, of the cost of the sign display. “It will look a lot different. It will provide a color display graphics and everything else,” Stolsonburg said. Work on the sign is expected to move forward this spring. »• < '.A i. ‘nZ ** iz.- •: ) ** •V ri' ■ r, * • • r« -ii- h W ..^5J I /■' ■mH z.'f' I » •• I '.UjiP . ■ f rs ' ' •.*n. J * ? i M UI** H 0^4 < w w X- w :^sib < \.l A J I Hiin f I•ku • r k j s ■v^rr. ft **ba f < xqumftnu. 4 ' ■ -"B 4* r. “'I I T ■••I I A - The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 > Editor: Molly Macleod 2JJ aC mmacleod@mihomepaper.com 4 Group z Sports: Brett Bremer bbremef@mihomepapef.com 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com I Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher *u> Advertising Manager Chris Silverman csilvermao@mihomepaper.com @ PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Please recycle this newspaper Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com 4^ * fe^iaa ! F t 4 I ""41 Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. ji^«2 All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept.. 1351 N. M-43 Hvk^,, Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser's order. .n a i( rr ■ < I> * v«b I . I T/Jt -3 1 r''. I .1 Y 'I * Mp4 If W4 » J •-i. « *1 * C, I //A CO. 9-1-1 CElTER 4 5 ^8 I 91 10 T';j' DIAL (800) 249-0911 *4ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Cutawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 191 201 I R M; t iQ »' ' I. . . I rW TOT - L 1*1 : t I > 11 10 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 24 Lli * I 5 i K s 2 I I **r7^ • 5^ I *■ r. Wi’ I m_ .V. •-d3 *4 r YI —’ * I >I V 4 I 1 ♦ *1 PUBLISHED BY i 3* • S4T-; - CONTACT US L k THE SUN AND NEWS I llilllll-*" 1*^1 t ;M • •/ ? • y.’. 251 261 271 281 291 30 .K S t i V i 9 �> V x < <* I THE SUN AND NEWS < • .5 i A' PROJECT % L, !> W' I Continued from Page 1 > 1 * *« 9 L '’diet I aai>. A *• V s r L 1 ‘f f '.'t eb ilW. * ] ■I i J \ A 1 ‘ •‘ w J 4 1 :?■ "Sa- ♦> *■ J ( ( * ««> X 1 r> *^’5: • ■ b n’7 -• ^’^ I.' 1I»7' '*wrr- ' 9 I 9 4^ I \ 1 ■' ‘ r o- *♦ » K. A ■ W', k*. «w. ■4. tat, •t ■■ 14 'i 'fe I 4 *> A S’. 1 r r; f ■ 1 I ‘> ‘J d'»- ■ht!?f. I I <4 01 « ,f 4 ii H.wr I f i ’l • ^lU *»f <» frcu h'•r^ ** * 1 4 i » r It. A * . 4- 4 1 15,4 .11 -d'jiSC a ( r s 4 a *1 • M» I 4 I > . ♦ > J vV ♦ .». . .... «< >«>• -A A • a* , . I t i I J "K .litjII T -L C ** »: 4 I > :a4 « r . «• t “ * Ml gw * 1 I »*- > ’A' prescription here,” Wiersema said. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the per-capital income in the towiiship was S4I,252, plus or minus $2,594. But the median household income was $80,029, plus or minus $4,269. Planning commissioners were pleased with the proposed amenities included in the apartment development which would include outdoor gather­ ing spaces, plenty of open space, a fit­ ness center, a clubhouse with pool and a disc golf course. Though, several commissioners added they would prefer an apartment type with better finishes and more variation in the exterior view. “I think this is a lower end of what we’re looking at here, as far as the aesthetics go, which is a concern to me,” Wiersema said. “It’s very much cookie cutter, as far as placement. So, no variation of buildings that are being set back or in altered states. They’re all pretty much the same.” The other thing is the aesthetics,” Planning Commission secretary Lani Thomas added. “Maybe use better materials like stone or brick.” But Teichen said that using higherend masoniy could pose financial chal­ lenges for the developer. “It’s a tremendous amount of added cost,” he said. “What I will say is, if you look at the varying elevations that will sort of disperse these throughout our community. So, it’s not going to be the same building one after the other. Two different building types, then we’ll mix in different colors.” Teichen also said Continental does use different types of siding and differ­ ent orientations of the buildings in the way they are positioned. “I think as you drive through it really does not feel monotonous because there are step backs, different articulations with the building facades,” he said. Commissioner Brad Waayenberg said, however, that township officials were trying to suggest that developers don’t “just make rows and rows” of apartment buildings. “You’ve got to, at least, have the facial variations,” he added. Despite some criticisms of the pro­ posed development, Teichen said more housing is needed, both nationally and in Gaines Township, with one report stating Kent County will need to add a projected 7,591 rental units by 2027. Another issue that was discussed was that the property involved falls within the Anderson Drainage District. According to Teichen, the project would impact about 0.6 acres of wetlands, with a drainage creek crossing required to access the east side of the property. Gaines Community Development director Dan Wells said some sta­ bilization of the soil likely will be required by the Kent County Drain Commission. Also, some form of re­ vegetation would be needed to stem the discharge of sediments into the creek. “It’s basically just a big muddy mess because cattle have been stomp­ ing on it for years,” Wells said. “And so, in order to stabilize the creek banks, you’d have to plant it and maybe re-contour it with mechanical equipment so that it flows more prop­ erly and stops washing a lot of dirt into Plaster Creek.” Municipal water and sanitary sewer are available to the proposed develop­ ment along Hanna Lake Avenue. The developer would have to pay the cost to connect to those utilities. Wells said that the planning staff believes the proposed project does meet the township’s PUD standards and is consistent with its master plan and zoning ordinance. “In terms of aesthetics, I think that this is a fairly modem style, it’s got good textures,” he said. “As I men­ tioned, there’s a lot of back and forth along the building fa(;ade. It’s got good detailing, and good window covering. I figure, overall, it’s a fairly attractive design.” Wells added the density of apartment units per acre is not too high, and there would be a good sidewalk network throughout the development. “And of course, we know Dutton is changing and we’ll probably have more shopping opportunities. It’ll be more attractive to pedestrian traffic in the future,” he said. According to Teichen, the develop­ ment, which falls within the Caledonia School District, would have two access points and children could wait for the school bus in the clubhouse, if the weather is bad. The apartments would mainly be one- and two-bedroom units, with a small percentage of three-story units and some studio apartments. Planning Commission Chairwoman Connie Giarmo told Teichen the town- Saturday. February 1,2025 ship needs more upscale living units. ‘i am not really interested in seeing another attainable housing development. We have Microsoft making a consider­ able investment in this township," she said. “We really don't have very' much upscale housing for multi-family. And I think we need to hold out for that. “Just because you think this is the price point that you can sell in tlie township doesn’t mean that we agree with you. So, I’m not supportive of this at all.” But Teichen said “those nicer fin­ ishes” would increase the cost of the project. Also, he said Authentix-branded apartments attract the type of young professionals that Gaines Township officials are seeking to move into the community. Giarmo again disagreed and insisted on a more upscale project. “To be frank, I don’t think that that’s possible for us,” Teichen said. “This is a challenging site with the Anderson Drain cutting through it. There’s a siz­ able amount of infrastructure that we need to invest in to make it even fea­ sible to build on, to unlock the entire eastern side of the site. •l •< Continental Properties' Jordan Teichen addressed the Gaines Township Planning Commission on Thursday night, Jan. 23, about a proposed apartment development on Hanna Lake Avenue in Dutton. Photo by James Gemmell Couple that with water main and sanitary sewer main and a lot of things that you’re not seeing. To come in and add that would be a pretty substantial cost.” The Planning Commission voted 6-0, with one commissioner absent, to postpone any further discussion until ±e applicant comes back with a revised plan. IVE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOt/NG NEEDS Residential & Commercial -Gas Furnaces -Gas Boiiers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers A 4 Si* ’ ■ ■ ,*■ I > * MS J * A’V. UJ DeWeerd LENNOX /z3:ici HEATING AIR CONOmONlNG* INC. DEW6BRDHTGX0M 269^792*2234 ACCRiD'TfO I A i I > r I ■F* 4 .* '• I i; I I « > t I i I » < * k I I i a' i ? f ‘} I I •l J I *. •> r I i »* I < 1 f >: 3 �J f 7 ,1 > » - J? G3 >♦ X •i 8 ,v 4 I" r • 'uary 1,2025 I S* ’N ►J It I i Vr0-'W SJ5 ■ ••l b ' ;dn<?AS - ' ’ rr r </ -.Mil” Gaines PC recommends approval for annual report 4 i k' b •i rhe Gaines Township Planning and Zoning Department recently provided Planning Commission officials with an annual update on development, code enforcement and other activities within the township during 2024. Commissioners gave their unani­ mous approval on a resolution to approve the report and send it on to the township board for review. T he Michigan Planning Enabling Act of 2008 requires planning com­ missions in municipalities to submit a written report to its legislative body each year concerning its operations and the status of planning activities. Gaines Community Development director Dan Wells touched on some of the highlights of the report during the Planning Commission’s meeting Jan. 23. According to Wells, the total num­ ber of residential building permits for new construction in 2024 was 305. Valentine ' s Day M , D D ining and ancing IN FULL SWING Live music performed by the band TN FULL SWING' Bic Band Group PERFORMING HITS FROM THE 3O'S THROUGH THE 50'S. ITALIAN STYLE t i I J* I / IV rf S' I 4 r? *■ ** t I h- t I tt A: 4 C I I • >♦ t I il I I HZ •«: I « j 9 * # « « Gaines Community Development director Dan Wells (right) talks about the township’s annual planning and zoning report. Photo by James Gemmell That included 244 for apartments and multi-unit condominiums, and 61 for single-family homes, condos and mobile homes. That compares to the 54 total building permits that were NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. BATTLE CREEK THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon Group mihomepaper.com submitted a decade before in 2014. “Our building department is very busy,” Wells said. “Obviously, demand for housing is going up, up, up.” The report notes that the township accepted a bid last year from Ohio­ based EnviroScience to complete a Natural Features Inventory this year so the township can access environ­ mentally sensitive areas. The township is looking to preserve and potentially purchase some open space and park land before it is bought by developers for construction. A lot of the forested lands, agricultural prop­ erty and wetlands have been purchased in recent years for conversion into residential, commercial and industrial developments. So, the township will establish a program for implementing natural buffers and easements. Gaines Township’s 40-year sewer contract with the City of Grand Rapids will expire in 2028 and town­ ship officials could enter discus­ sions on renegotiating the contract later this year. That could include an effort to move the sewer district southward from the current boundary at 76th Street to almost 92nd Street. “So, staff wanted to get ahead of that and look at areas across the township that are appropriate for sewer extensions and which ones are not,” Wells said. “And so, we’re going to do a resource inventory. We’re going to look at soils, for­ est resources, agriculture resources. What are our high-quality values that we want to preserve over time.” Such an effort would help township staff determine which areas are most suitable for development and which should be protected for open space, parks or trails. Wells and Township Manager Rod Weersing also discussed a non­ motorized trail network on Jan. 23. . Wells said it probably will be the focus of the township’s next major study, likely in 2026. It would examine how local officials can put together connections to make the trail networks work better for pedestrians, bicyclists and those on scooters. “I want to start getting some ideas about what are the next big things that we need to do in terms of the long-range planning in the town­ ship,” Wells said. “1 know we’ll be looking at housing more and more.” The report has been posted on the township’s website, gainestownship.org. “I want to say this was very well done,” Planning Commission Vice Chairwoman Ronnie Rober said. “It was easy to read.” Planning Commissioner Ryan Wiersema described the annual report as “amazing,” adding he appreciated the hard work that went into it. Also, during the recent meeting. Wells reported that Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Tom Werkema resigned for personal reasons. The ZBA will be electing a new chair at its next meeting. « aft 1 ft • ■4 >e I I* '•' I ( * I A* I ..ft’ •* A I n B > f 1 .I I f I * t ) I i;**? Mt 1 Ik '^T ’•t" p k I I I I * • .J- 1 1 f H,!®' rt Bl Ifti* I yy ft J- I-** I .C’l* -W t iv* f* . I. •* A* A ir f i7 ,^1. w Ml It < I t ■< ■' •r A1R »• IfK. —...I 'X *■ •" ?’* '.rCM . ft r to*** » i * •r .i .v> *I • • .J-: ■/iJiRlifit- * J f. I ««» I" . - I i ;’t ► t it ft ! •rH r I ifiiir /t*.’ l/.;' » f ill I ! Is w ■■ B j * ,4^ 58#^ ;vIa Xx-ti'tM ' i I . f 4 ‘ jl .1 :'-t n >* > J ft nr X I Ufwetille '"IV 1 f If :?F*. X : ■ ■ 4W , 4 M to* . K; ’•J?«' _ . W'-" s« t .l* ♦ I I Si** 2^ * w Tr Jfl f X K r f- *■ I’r--'^ t*?; I* L’.l hc»r: * > ;3F. ’ <s <■'” i.'i If ft? « £ hl ?. < " • •. hft I Ir 1e } I 5 NKCO. 9-1-1 C 4 5 ^1^ II I iTER 8 91 10 ' n; f I DIAL (800) 249-091 lilON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at wa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 «- k * I Ml I ».* BANNER TheOldTheater.com 315 West Main Street (616) 897-0007 X A* 1 K THE HASTINGS $35 a 1 I I i ft r I #* I I X ■Wb k I 1 •/ * Tuesday at Noon JUST • 4^ A• t served at 6, brief dance Doors c»>en at s-OOm Advance Tickets t I4 c,. ■HL? ft, B* 4k Monday at 5 p.m. Upcoming Dinner, Live Music & Dancing; March 14: West Michigan Homeschool Fine Arts Big Band I & II; April 25: Easy A* >• p^' 4 SALAD AND DESSERT BAR. MUSIC 7-9. I »• V I• SHOPPER NEWS INSTRUCTION AT 6:45 AND LIVE .aS” - t • 1% 'd DINNER WITH CHOICE LASAGNE, Dinner • It* 11 Contributing Writer usic .61*0' ft 1 fine <4 / r,b“'^ j>f' 1 James Gemmell 4 11 12 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES t 151 161 171 181 19 201 211 221 231 24 251 261 271 281 291 30 �m: '<uni. THE SUN AND NEWS p 1 *r? I b * I I r ZONING Continued from Page 2 I J I I f ( . : i " * I 1 •l J I 1 ___ tjftc r f I r ) * CHI e A t r) I J I i . t VJ.. . I : I > «a • I / / w - - bm . t — f • t J • * I 1.: * I j . t « J *« r'h*i F I j. 1 ' I * I k. •» I-1 I <> • t I < b <U.; , ■ ••5 f •* ' H >r 'A ■• iUi' ■ '0- ■ >• *• *V» I * I '•4 *1 . «M' IT' ••’X b h*. • «. 11 «»* ; >w.> f I • I. i 'j e f; u... ft* I ’ I. r I ■’njHT itfr. i,» I I .♦ 1 I 5’ >* i. 1 T ' J a .* * * >> ST* 4 4 ueA* . *Uiv . . t 'iI *A ’ ’•*4k 1 ; I Wi>, • ( J 1 I r I A f" 'UvSir' I V.. I I r ..Ji 4^ I) I between personal property rights and the public’s overall community inter­ ests,” Jirousek said. “We also want to minimize impacts and ensure compatibility between land uses. Jirousek and township planners have said that the current zoning ordinance is not user-friendly and it is disjointed in areas. There is also rep­ etition of regulations in other areas, as well as some of the terminology needing to be updated to more accurately define land uses. And, the new ordinance would reflect significant changes made to federal laws and Michigan’s Zoning Enabling Act in 2023. That includes new restrictions on communities when it comes to adopting or enforc­ ing zoning ordinance provisions that prohibit short-term rentals. There also are changes to the permitting process for utility-scale solar projects. Jirousek said the amended code will include “reasonable flexibility” when it comes to development standards for things like landscaping, lighting and parking. “So that someone wouldn’t have to go to the zoning board of appeals for a few extra parking spaces or lesser park­ ing spaces than the minimum,” he said. In the existing zoning ordinance, there are 11 zoning districts plus four planned unit development (PUD) optioiw In the proposed amended ordinance, there are 10 zoning dis tricts and one PUD option. It’s more of a generalized PUD approach,” Jirousek said. “We didn’t feel like we needed four different pro­ cesses. You really can run any type of PUD through in one process.” Revisions also include two brand new zoning districts: Village 44 4 r' 4 ***a5Cenji’ -.’J * t. > v-’ > ‘ ?•! : f < a- I L ,1 • I UPGRADES Continued from Page 1 i 1 rf« - «- V. ’ 1‘] rlF J i>. > i 1 ,'fA 1 I I ( . A «;• ft <>i ♦--ft> f ff I r 1 k 4.* •* TABLE 2.20 B: ZONING DISTRICTS Catecory District Rural Residential Residential Districts Suburban Residential village Residential ■ —- in a memo to the Village Council. “Further, I am reassigning the current deputy clerk/administrative assistant to the public works office eight hours a week to be more engaged with the public works director and assistant village manager. To add to the shuffling of personnel, decades-long crossing guard Joanne VanPutten has retired from her posi- tion and the village has consulted wi± the Barry County Sheriff’s Office to determine a crossing guard is no longer needed at the area along Main Street due to additional safety mea­ sures that were applied there. After the reduction in wages from the crossing guard position, upgrad­ ing the community development coordinator position to full-time will cost up to $29,500 in total wages for the first year, which will be taken from the village’s general fund. Abbreviation . Chapter f b j Multipie*Fa<nllv Residential Now Residential Districts ! Commercial and ( MixedAJse Districts * n Overlay District > .2^ [ light Industrial _________ I Heavy Industrial [ Planned Unit Development No citizens spoke during the public hearing. “I would like one more month to go over some of these (amended ordinance) highlights,” Planning Commission (Zhairwoman Connie Giarmo said. “I really do like the simplify­ ing of things in a major way,” Commissioner Ryan Wiersema added. “That really is huge. And having the (zoning district) chart more simplified with a quick and easy way to look at it. And having the processes listed -w er ' k Dinner Spaghetti a r Date; ( February 14, 2025 Serving Time: Location: 5:00pm - 7:30pm Thomapple Kellogg HS School Cafeteria (Girls & Boys Varsity Basketball Games-starts at 6:00pm) MENU Spaghetti Garlic Bread Salad Bar Drinks; Coffee, Punch, Milk, Water Optional by donation: Dessert (Cake, Pies) Cost{s) jU J ‘ I w V Adults: $12 Students; $6 Couples; $20 7 Thornapple Township Hall or from any Rotarian^^^^^ » 1 I I I I 1 II nt!' ( i; 11 I 2 Ki ’ - «• *1 i 1 I t I I ft?*. ' - - I I { I k 'n ‘T I 4 4 I 4 I 1 .I ft ft •$ 1 l1 « I I A > I \ 1 * \ < < t PressAe Tickets are available at 4» .1 r. 14 Middleville Rotary I A PUD 5^ I I LI HI 11 12 13 down in a very simple way. This is a much better ordinance. Planning commissioners voted unani­ mously to postpone any final recom­ mendation on the proposed zoning amendment until next month’s meeting Feb. 27. The township board will have the final vote on whether to adopt the amended ordinance as written. In other business, planning commis­ sioners voted 6-0 to keep all of the board’s officers in the same positions they served in during 2024. 1s * iiil MB gainestownship.org 4 : k io A chart shows the newly proposed zoning districts in Gaines Township and what chapter they are covered in in the proposed ordinance revision. Source: I '>ll 6 7 OS ‘ If ‘ taidButa^ VR 5 8 : Office and Service inr y.b' 4 NC GC I Industrial Districts RR SR MFR I I If' n •• -i«i» .J—. 4m Residential (VR) and Mixed Business (MB). The current agriculture/agribusiness (AB) and agriculturaVrural residential (AR) districts would be combined into one rural residential (RR) district in the updated zoning ordinance. That would be reflected on the township's new zoning map. The existing residential (RL-10) and single-family residential (RL14) districts would be combined into the new suburban residential (SR) zoning district. “The difference there is 10,000 square feet versus 14,(XX) square feet for resi­ dential lots,” Jirousek said. “The (steer­ ing) committee ended up recommending just a combined 12,000-square foot (lot minimum), a happy medium between those two districts.” The new Mixed Business district is a hybrid one that allows both for light industrial uses and some general com­ mercial uses, which zire planned for on the future land use map. The new Village Residential district allows for single-family detached housing units and attached housing of up to eight units. There are only a few targeted areas in the township’s future land use map that would qualify for Village Residential rezoning. After Jirousek completed his 40-minute presentation, a public hear­ ing was opened. Before that, though, Wells gave his summary thoughts to the Planning Commission. “Some of the major issues that David discussed there is how we’re going to manage roads going for* ward,” he said. “That has been a sticking point. So, 1 would say in your deliberations on this pay close attention to that. “One of the things that I hear a lot (about) is accessory dwelling units, and where we are going to allow those. Currently, it’s only in the RL-10 (residential) zone.” rr A’ 't 4 .. 5 I I a Saturday. February 1 2025 'ye �6 Saturday, February 1,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 1 I f ( Ui V. If Sporting News 1 . *1 p I L ] ' I I ! £ I I > I I I o» 4( •> Wrfr ►► ► € ^nnuoF -•'5) February Sale 20% off Fabrics * V (excludes sale hems) Ends 2-28-25 1^ » Jesus Loves Zou 'u* QUESTIONS ASK US... I uw .lanii 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm Hulst CUaners Pickup Station •, i • J I f I ^WhW> I I w •> « MIR A*: J - I I * i t I r • -a I < * the home mats last week. “When I look at coach and she is jumping up and down, and being nine months pregnant that is not easy for her to do, it just feels good.” Trojan head coach Madelynn Lula was just as pleased as her senior back spot McKeown though. In that round, yes the performance was fantastic, it was confident, the little things we have been working on like timing of motions and stuff,” Lula said. “When it comes down to it, when you’re scoring over 300, to get from 300 to 312 is really hard. It’s the little tiny things. And it is that much harder when you’re competing with 15 instead of 16 because your maxi­ mum is so much lower. To go out there with 15 and score that high, that is just that much closer to perfect. The fact that we’re getting there already is so exciting. We’re able to make the round more, bigger and better and build off of it because we haver the confidence we can do it already. “I don’t think we’ve gone out there yet and hit that feeling when we came off the mat of like, ‘we did it.’ Up until now there has always been a stunt fall, or a mistake, or something where they » 9 I » Brett Bremer Sports Editor fhere wasn’t a fall. I’here wasn’t a wobble. There wasn’t a doubt. There was only an explosion of joy when the Trojans raced off the mat at the end of round three in the Thomapple Kellogg High School gymnasium in Middleville Thursday. The Trojans fired off a nearly flaw­ less round three performance to earn a score of 312.9 in the round and an overall final score of 748.86 that bested runner-up Northview by more than 21 points at the second OK Gold Conference jamboree of the season. The Trojans won both of the con ference jamborees this winter and finished off an outright conference championship when they won the OK Gold Conference Championship Meet at West Catholic High School Wednesday, Jan. 29, in Grand Rapids. The two jamborees count for the half of the conference overall standings and the other half came from Wednesday’s finale. It felt electric,” Thomapple Kellogg senior Lilly McKeown said of the round three performance on n s f .1 TK cheer finishes off trio of OK Gold victories ii 4: I I (I * £ T * > 4r 'iMn R >> k* ♦ 4* > * s -- 45 k * • t r * 1 I If •• r, t ** 1 > ?>■ t *<* 4] ■ I• 1 V. t I I. 4^ • . * I i i 1 >4^ «« I 1 h 9 ip. . f. 1 F 1 A i M I u «St J The Thornapple Kellogg varsity competitive cheer team celebrates its 2025 OK Gold Conference Championship after winning the conference championship meet at West Catholic High School Wednesday. Photo provided I I r 1 ' w* ( ? » < I I T* came off and were like that could have been better coach. I know that could have been better. There is nothing like that feeling of running off and being like I gave it 150 percent, and I think they finally felt that feeling today. We hadn’t felt it yet.” The Trojans had 15 girls on the mat in round three, because the Trojan senior duo that was honored at the end of the competition is a bit of a MASH unit at the moment. McKeown had a walking boot on dur­ ing the senior night ceremony despite competing in all three rounds. Fellow senior back spot Olivia Bouchard has spent time in a sling with an injured shoulder for the second season in a row, and is hoping to be able to be back healthy in time for districts. “It is really tough,” Bouchard said of being sidelined just getting to watch her team cheer to a conference championship. “It is really tough. But I am just trying to keep the posi­ tive vibes up for my team, because I know I can do it. I show up to prac­ tice every day and I’m the number one hype woman. I make sure that they know that they’re needed and what they do is important. If they need ice, I get them ice. If they need See CHEER on 7 « i I I Ja’ ■* M ■ tfS* ! . 4* TV < « V1 ■ wr .O’ : 4 * r 1^. .•zr* . > J (tie? f» • t• <, £1*116^1® I s * «■ H5 V' ll.l’i t (*' 1 4 I z r fe: .1 l' I • . <5 : f Sa > N I 1 « L' ji«0M .7 I r* siilfitafesfc I ■ siMK^' t I I 1 )«Ke; beisottixORSOi 4 t *r 1 ' 'tH*' jMHii! •< * »5 vWa "Si'.■'■■J* » * •, • V V '“‘ f-!' .4^ tJ *F«N ¥. « 0 • J < I T 4 i ’r • 1** / i ! f e.z 1 4* U1 u /r X "*'^3C ' .44 .J k I } I I ' • .1* I ’S **; 5*^ t'l 1 ■t ,1 • fl '4 -iiKiimBi 71 w. I• K I I w I I '< *1 '<*•’ » » •• fc r laijhig L.IA V i* • • 1.1 I I I a 1 * : 7. ^xu. t 'Cl r * I ♦ 3 ^Ul Y- « :x*.k r-"^' 'sn ? I i Thornapple Kellogg junior flyer Claira Kovich points out to the crowd from high above her stunt group during round three of the OK Gold Conference jamboree hosted by " TKHS Jan. 23. Photo by Brett Bremer * ■ i > AI WM lf( ) ‘ Js H T •I •1 V > • . k • « ■ .. <•v. ♦ 9I*M ... f 1 > n ar. k « U. ». W-* - *' «« ■nnijiL<.^L « ^».A_\'* • J I 1 I I I I f I T r’l NK co. 9-1 -1 4 5 Cl TER ' •* 8 91 10 II Kids Measure up at 04awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 12I 13I 14 151 161 171 181 191 201 . n I 12 I OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 22| 231 241 251 26 1 271 281 291 30 IJ I S : a I I I I J I I iiS: i! ‘ t I I I 4 4 i r t« 4 L • r ! 4 > f J / 4 t .1 z < >f1 �Saturday. February 1,2025 t .' 7 J I *!{> I n r tM 1 4 1 u 1 VJ T p L'- I M- b IS' . J 1 k < -*•. w I t { t, k A % « L- K b 1 4 t a I » *1' I * I K •W? .#-**'• * 1 ► /I ( I ’i f 4 7 * J J 1% .4k- i r- u i -A* •-*Xz Hi LI . d 'J T i < J t V *. • > View Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time < ii 4 4 I IJte t A stunt group comprised (from left) Payton Gater, Kella LeClaire, Kaylee Clarke and Emma Syswerda shouts out during round three of the OK Gold Conference jamboree in Middleville Jan. 23. Photo by Brett Bremer • I * V * *-• 1 ii .• t • I • 4 I V r nv-’ 4* J I /K>* < • f H ' I *l!f > f CHEER Ata. S * I— y >1 water I get them water. Just be there for them, that’s all I can do.” “What they have contributed makes me kind of emotional to think about,” Lula said. “They’re my first group that I have coached all four years. I have that much more of an emotional attachment to them, but they’re more lead by example kids • * • The fact that they still go out there and they want it for their team and they’re working hard and putting in the effort just shows their leadership more than it is vocalized. TK also tallied solid scores of 226.6 in round one and 209.18 in round two last Thursday, finishing with the top score in each of the three rounds. “The parts that we drill in the other rounds are continuing to grow and blossom,” Lula said. “I think we just haven’t gotten that lightning bolt feeling yet, that sparkle feeling in the other two rounds and they’re harder to do because the crowd doesn’t get as excited and doesn’t get as engaged. I think we’re just working on chasing that sparkle at this point. The technique is there. J think the kids, now that they’ve felt it in a different round I am hoping that then h r • * •iMI 4 h- K> • •*• ■ -• ZJ I i 9 HI>1 gn I ’ ‘W . I 4^ Continued from Page 6 f • > M QUA. ' JMI I* \-- 1 • • -fl I .4, *”Mtc ■ H * MW*. " '** F- . <* ***Htb. IM > L I t til ' hii 1 w itxiu etmai cWiMM^ I ♦ mu** Ar:i4iwi *’****T '■ »’ ■fr 1 r’**’ '? V 17 . I W r 1 “I 111 th •? 4 • I* ’ J * > ■ * I ‘jt .c t J i I J **- 1 I ill I A 1 - ;i. 4 1 ■ *« fl" ri* s’ * f» f I ■* 1 M * ii A . * •Vi f I I i r« I * : 1(9 (■? . ; " 1 I’M , » . ♦* ' i• ““'C 1 J >/ <y translates into the other two rounds.” Beyond the senior group, Lula said juniors Kaylee Clarke and Mia Hilton both really had a great performance. “Both of them stood out, both leadership-wise and performancewise, they both are kids that were the mold, the glue that held today’s per­ formances together,” Lula said. Northview was second at the jamboree at TK with a score of 727.22 points ahead of West Catholic 701.12, Wayland 627.4 and Wyoming 540.2, At the conference championship meet at West Catholic Jan. 29, the TK ladies finished off the three-meet sweep of the conference with a score of 731.18 ahead of West Catholic 729.68, Northview 702.62, Wayland 641 and Wyoming 548.9. The TK ladies were tops in the first two rounds there with scores of 224.5 and 213.78, then tallied a score of 292.9 in round three which includ­ ed an eight-point deduction. West Catholic was in the secondplace spot in round three and then capped its conference season on its home mat by flying to a score of 301.9 in round three which was the highest of the competition. TK shared the 2024 OK Gold Conference championship with Cedar Springs. STAFF REPORTER View Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time, experienced news and features reporter to join our growing team of Journalism professionals. RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: • Coverage of local events, meetings and the community • Interviewing • Writing • Editing • Photography • Networking • Copy Editing Qualified individuals must have a four-year degree in journalism or related communication field and be: • Proficient in Associated Press Style • Deadline-driven • Positive • Friendly • Outgoing • Have the ability to work some nights and weekends We love what we do and we know you will too! Qualified applicants can send a resume to View Newspaper Group Publisher wsmith&mihomepaper. com G rou p I The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News B Your Buyer's Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ B Tri-County Times B Daily News ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder I % t I • k v'; J , *1 ■■! H I ► J I a >1 I . I 1 I I I I ill I h t Mi' If I •9 I 2) e 1 FT 1 i,! n I I I t 1.11 4 u I fl 11 3 cl I < •I •r 1 \ f ► I r { I I t �J Saturday. February 1, 2025 8 THE SUN AND NEWS WWW s 11 h a r. d nevv - r 4 I A. Brett Bremer Sports Editor Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ basketball coach Brandi James got freshman guard Taylor Lloyd up off the bench when teammate Tealy Cross was whistled for her fifth foul with 90 seconds to play Friday night, Jan. 24. Lloyd had already knocked down seven three-pointers in a bailgame the Trojans led by more than 20 points, but the Trojan coach told her that if she wanted the school record she should go for it. Lloyd nailed a step-back three from the left wing with 15 seconds left for her eighth of the night, setting a new TK record and putting the final points on the scoreboard in a 63-41 Trojan win over the Grand Rapids Union Red Hawks in Middleville. “She deserves that. She put a lot of work in,” coach James said. “I had no clue until coach said, ‘Tay, get one more, Lloyd said of her awareness of the record. “I didn’t know what was going on.” The Trojan freshman finished the night with 29 points and sophomore forward Reece Ritsema had 14 points in what was really an all around out­ standing team effort offensively. The TK ladies did an excellent job of mov­ ing the basketball and the step-back transition three at the end was probably the toughest one Lloyd knocked down all night. 44 I feel like we all just played really good and had fun. We played as a team,” Lloyd said. “We all tend to play better and happy and stay out of our * >? s 9 * r F LIGHT TRUCK PARTS / ISa PUTS • NU m • MK IMS • URS • sm • m • 4X4S FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT | 1 > 269-381-2300 I 5 4f ,»■ <BSED FARTS < OSED TIRES :nu 0 < * "t*-; > I b *• * I. •I I * . ’V 1 : I t I • ^Ji 9 Iw '4 z. 4‘ 9 3 tI I*. ? > :■ I I V I • f r « i V 4 I I iZ J rl a O; *21 .^le" J ? I <2? r i* I 6 I 41 *« . <• 1' A J I ♦ *< 5 II V ■« I 999 r e - f Freshman Lloyd sets TK girls’ three-point record t Thornapple Kellogg senior Emma Dykhouse (left) pressures Grand Rapids Union’s Zy’Aira Balckmon in the corner during the second half of their OK Gold Conference contest in Middleville Friday. Jan. 24. Photo by Brett Bremer Thornapple Kellogg freshman Taylor Lloyd is left alone to fire up one of her school record eight three-pointers in an OK Gold Conference win over Grand Rapids Union in Middleville Friday. Jan. 24. Photo by Brett Bremer Am* Art. ..*4«< % ' *’71 t 1 3 « *** » r<. ) .M . r*’ I• * V .t < 1 ! ■K' i'-'- ■ <« I V . I I .4 J 1 fc L I M r• k 4 »t >4* heads that way. “Then the ball is moving. We get more passes and we end up with a good shot.” Lloyd said it took her the whole sum­ mer and more to really feel confident as a strong three-point shooter. She trained every single day shooting a lot of shots - up to 1,000 on a couple of days. She said there are times she stays after her team’s practice and shoots up some extra shots with the TK var- sity boys’ team that includes her two brothers the senior Brice and junior Ben Lloyd - also strong outside shoot­ ers. While Taylor has the TK varsity girls’ record, the Lloyd family varsity record only lasted about four days. Ben set a TK boys’ record with nine three-pointers in his team’s contest at Hamilton Tuesday, Jan. 28. Cross chipped in six points in the TK girls’ win over Union last week, and McKenna Hoebeke had five points and Emma Dykhouse four. “Ball movement is what we have been look­ • • ing for,” coach James T?X9 0 * said. “We want more ball movement, and we want to stop catching and drib­ • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers bling immediately, but • Cellular Enhancement Systems taking care of the basket­ ball and taking our time Give us a call! to slow down on offense. ’ffSt^sSst Ci' 269-967-8241 A team win feels good.” n«« J www.theantennamen.com antennamen@gmail.com Grand Rapids Union vvww.cellkignalpros.com was led by 17 points from 1 *< • . MUt) r Antenna Men I ___ ' r> 1 senior guard Tanayah Porter and 12 from sophomore guard Kamdyn Lee. The Union girls are now 0-6 in the OK Gold and 1-9 overall this season as of Tuesday’s action. It was a win the TK ladies needed while starting a tough stretch that had them going on the road to face West Catholic Monday, a home game against Hamilton Tuesday and a trip to Forest Hills Northern on the slate for Thursday, Jan. 30. West Catholic is ranked seventh in the MHSAA Division 2 power rank­ ings and the FHN girls are ranked 18th in DI. TK headed into the match-up with the Huskies with a 6-7 overall record and a 2-6 mark in the OK Gold Con­ ference. West Catholic took a 64-44 win over the TK ladies Monday in the conference to get to 6-0 in OK Gold play and 12-1 overall. The Trojans bounced back Tuesday at home with a 69-67 win over the Hamilton Hawkeyes. .. • .y 7 t / t i«4c:: iBn *1 ■ ra W ■ < • *j4u rr^' * »■•-.* J ^gjjs sgrrr ■ i & J Lt 4 ( J *' A r r I 1 . ( I 4 4 r • r**>t- W I I W I - I R* w 3M i.;. i -» I LC s< « z •.»* n*:"«-> * * r I J nr.’ it *) r* n a*<k f .5^ , I ■ .«' ■ ■■ - 2*r J ¥ • -w 5 J.I ; ’ * 41 Ij I I c: I ) .V* • * A 301; "J » i > V I ft i ** ' ' I’ ih **• r 41 I “ ft A nW 'Ri • h •* w I ? > t : ■ t 1 4 I - > T* ** J . 'V I I' pI >r a . ’ajfck I ' I I I I I 2 T 1 I I 4 CO. 9-1 -1 CElTER 4 5 I I 8 91 10 I 5 I 'T I lO z DIAL (800) 249-091 ifroN - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up atjTH, awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" j T 111 121 131 141 J ♦ Mj 151 161 171 181 191 20 11 12 OR'9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 ■ I. i _ I 1:4 i I ' I 4 ( t I t 1 » I I! I h I I r i» I. A r J ► t i g i 4 « 4 ! I �1 ♦ ♦ ♦ 1 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 9 Saturday, February 1,2025 I ▼ ft«> ■ J ' J 1:^ noao ♦ ♦ Gibson takes title at girls’ invite in Hastings J '•»» I J * I I $ 4• I i ? tbBv! 2goi«l Im 3 5 T5 r? ;■© j51 ^IqqBmGrfT Yt9 I *IP 4t . J r c J a 4 lb 10611 I ■Bt V ;7 » * i r t jofi 2'tii 1 I h St S’ KftjBSfiSBn. foff’ Illg WO ) ii fi V r n ► Ad J r hfis » t. ^aoaioil ignefnijot ©rfJ ifi < li < to h I / ) 5tw18 Sfvibni **nbf 3 ? 1 mTv • * ** :i J ^3 .y ’ ei-us^ "U li .X ajp >d80 estdlitv bfw / fanuoq-0£l -I ’ p v ■;w •-4< ■ 5u k. ■ I f ) ■MtaiAAZHM 'hu Ir -^ 4 'Ke<> 1 It I J .. I A I t • <ir* I. • / -5^ ly '"•'4) h-- '0 'A > «IS I > I J «r fWfik. •4 h> -. ( f y f ’ T uji. <r Ai J r <> i 1 ■ i • <W4i I I r ) - '•Wl U-. ** b ' ■’ rr3.'n’A ^^ne^TV'z ■ ».T7 • ’ .-1 4 . 4 r k “< ' ‘ -Ti. j - A « 11 ..’O’! ' I ■ .I r i r^J ? *** . < i J 4H, W Ljm 1umml* t 4 1 «M I I t I I A ‘7’j 1 Z- . ai /r 5 I » The Hastings Lady Saxon Invi­ tational wasn’t a thing when Saxon junior Dezarae Mathis was a freshman. When Thomapple Kellogg senior Emma Gibson was a freshman there wasn’t an MHSAA tournament dedi­ cated for female wrestlers. Mathis and the Saxons won their home girls’ tournament for the second year in a row Saturday outscoring runner-up Grand Haven 132-119,5 and Gibson and the Trojans were fourth overall at the tournament where 30 schools were represented. Those two were the lone individual champions for their teams on the day. Both girls were state qualifiers a year ago, and Mathis finished fourth in the 120-pound girls’ weight class at the MHSAA Individual State Finals at Ford Field in Detroit. Gibson is a two-time state qualifier. “It is definitely weird, because my fi-eshman year there were not many girls. I was wrestling every other week­ end. There were no girls’ tournaments. All of us were new and it was a whole mess,” Mathis said. “Now, it’s weird seeing our whole gym covered with girls and there are girls who are actu ally really good. My freshman year. not many girls were good. Mathis said her own biggest im­ provements since her freshman year have come in her confidence level. She had never wrestled before joining the Saxon girls’ varsity program - which is one of the biggest in the state year in and year out so far. “I used to just go into it and kind of be scared and just try to throw, but now I’m confident with the stuff that works for me, and I make sure I go through all the motions at practice to have the right technique for it,” Mathis said. Mathis was the 120-pound cham­ pion Saturday in Hastings with three pins that took about a minute and a half each. She stuck Kent City’s Brooklin Armstrong 1 minute 35 seconds into their championship match to improve her record to 17-1 on the season. ‘T just knew that I just had to go out there and do my stuff and go with it, go with the flow,” Mathis said. “I really am trying to rack up my take * *M I ! 1 I I ft * w J J 1 //jiiT Tn*'« or . i ** ▼ I I r r J .. 4 »'j J t - b / \ 1! (it ♦ f ► *r I ; i?X i. I /7i <b u> t ► I Wi ,woft I ; i3B i ol^ ■ .Ui»s *▼* I I I I I I xu-J, Classifieds Brett Bremer Sports Editor J I ♦ f 1 3 } I I’ ” ► BUSINESS SERVICES Dump Trailer Services, Bobcat Services, tree stump removal,site prep and clearing,dirt driveway installation and land clearing site prep. Fully licensed and insured. 616-389-9496 5 -i. t f f * 'i--. Vl TREE SERVICE «r_ s Vs 9T r i BUYING ALL HARDWOODS: Walnut, Oak, Hard Maple, Cherry. Paying top dollar. Call for pricing and Free Estimates. Will buy single walnut trees. Insured, liability & workman’s comp. Fetterley Log­ ging, (269)818-7793. * kA ,* A < t A* .r* JJ A .* A-' 4 •■•T ..'B. I?*-. £ : L2 * k* VA 1^1 « ■3^. * V ... -A * V t 1 1 « Thornapple Kellogg senior Emma Gibson closes in on a pin of Otsego’s Samantha Bonoevetz during the second period of their 135-pound championship match at the Lady Saxon Invitational at Hastings High School Saturday. Photo by Brett Bremer t down count, because I have the [team] record for it from last year. I want to beat that obviously, so I’ve trying to work on that and make sure I’m not always just throwing and I’m getting my take down points.” Gibson pinned Otsego’s Samantha Bonoevetz midway through the second period of their 135-pound champion­ ship match to move her record to 22-4 on the season. Gibson thought she could have wrestled a little bet­ ter than she did. She had to scramble a bit against Bonoevetz and nobody scored in the first period, but Gibson got a reversal in the second period and eventually got Bonoevetz on her back. “I did good. I think I could have worked a little bit harder my last match and actually took a shot and worked my moves instead, but she is tough. It was kind of hard for me to get that,” Gibson said. The gym was packed with the 3 flteam varsity competition and a middle school contest too. The Hastings gym will be full again Sunday, Feb. 9, when Hastings is one of the hosts to one of the first ever girls’ district tournaments. Female four girls in the top four in their re­ spective weight classes Saturday and a *B’ division champion too. Jordan Milanowski at 140 pounds and Naomi Grummet at 155 had runner-up finishw es. Sydney Patterson placed fourth at 145. Autumn Miller won a 110-pound ‘B’ division championship. Pine River was third with 114 points ahead of Thomapple Kellogg 106.5, Olivet 86.5, Otsego 82, Traverse City West 73,5, Forest Hills Eastern 63.5, West Ottawa 63 and Northview 55.5, Harper Creek 50 and Wayland 44.5 in the top 12. Delton Kellogg placed 22nd with 21.5 points and Lakewood 23rd with 19. “I like it a lot. I think a lot of girls have improved so much from when they were freshmen too that kept going. It helps a lot having just the girls, then you get more matches and See GIBSON on 10 wrestlers opened the first two years of the MHSAA girls’ state tournament with a regional round, but the sport has grown enough in such a short time that a district round was added this winter. Hastings, Thomapple Kellogg, the Caledonia girls and many more will all be a part of that upcoming district tournament in Hastings where the top four at each weight class advance to regionals. Mathis is looking forward to the district tournament. There were 20 girls in her weight class at regionals last winter. She is not a fan of having face a couple knock out round matches right at the start of the bigger tour­ nament like last .JM year’s regional. ,.ic:?;sr:ra 1 She is also look­ •a V* Io ing forward to an extra tournament on the schedule. lU*: She has 74 wins as a varsity wrestler so far and would RIVER CRUISE VACATIONS like to push for 100 Experience the beauty and history of the St. Lawrence & Ottawa Rivers wins before this on a classic Canadian riverboat. Request our free travel brochure. season is up. 1 -800-267-7868 www.StLawrenGeCruiseLines.com The Saxons had 4 - u* ,»< 6 A a. T’ RIVER CRUISING '4 - f A .A “S*. �f / *v t 1 F 9 f 10 Saturday. February 1,2025 THE SUN AND f^EWS -I'arvji ttsii % * I CHS boys fall in three straight over on the iakeshore OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY ♦ r ♦ 4 f I e 1 I f X. mI !• 1 former OK Red Conference foe Grand Haven bested the Scots 62-42 on the lakeshore Monday. Parker Little had 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists to lead the Scots in the loss to the Buccaneers Monday. Lincoln Senli chipped in nine points and five rebounds. Bryce Backus had six points, ten rebounds and five assists. Caledonia was downed 53-41 at Mona Shores last Friday, Jan. 24, in See CHS on 11 Lt ni I 1I '! I. I- I S VI’ > I, •;I V t k « I 5 '» i :> I'iV'* "A'' I r "’iX I' < SI ✓ I li i'u' 1 r ♦ * j 1 Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity boys' basket­ ball team was set to start the second half of the OK Green Conference season Friday at home against ReethsPuffer. The Scots were 1-4 in the first trip through the conference and fell to 4-11 overall with a couple non-conference defeats this week. Holland knocked off the Caledonia boys 57-43 in Holland Tuesday after A' h V I r/ A-‘’ •f r »» >1; r I . nV / I rT > • * ! V /■ t* A 1 t , f { i 4 'I* 1' A « •a A* / f I '< » I '■ i ! r w J • <* . 1 J t I Sir" IF * l-« •f * » .v» »# I I < r 11 T' ^3 Tl . w f 4u 4 (■ V irr’ r '•A' ’ > 1 V‘ r '^1 >* \ I R- r* I\ k . ,'U' ♦ ,'»** I . S;' « 4>.' k I 1 5 aU ■ 4k*Mi NOW HIRING I t ni ’ y 1*% ■ r 5^ J i \‘V' 9 n st*** r M .- r »*>* *' View Newspaper Group is seeking a T t. . ,*•. b* r<^. Tk (?SC A MARKETING SPECIALIST 4 i V I I ( k* . < F I ..a r I I f W< 1 I Continued from Page 9 get paired up with different people,” Gibson said. She said her own biggest improve­ ments over the years have come on her feet. She is much better in the neutral position than she was as a freshman, and also getting better at getting off the bottom like she did in her champion­ ship match with Bonoevetz. “I’ve just kept doing the same things over and over again at practice, and really worked on my movement on my feet and my set-ups. I am trying to get good at that, and not let them have my head. I’ve got to clear that so I can get in a shot,” Gibson said. Gibson said she felt like she was really strong on her feet in her semifinal win, a pin ofthe Saxons’ Sara Barker, Saturday. The Trojan team got a runner-up finish from Adelaide Hodlerman and third-place wins from Raini Braska at 110-pounds and a Jaycee Teunessen in a 155-pound ‘B’ bracket. Briella Dykstra added a fourth-place finish for TK at 115 pounds. I I t I, J 1 k • H. DIAL (800) 249-091 ttlON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" I: I 151 161 171 181 191 201 j 3 p I j •/n^/rr: ! ’'• f V ♦ • <^6 r •• CHS t 1v r i I » 1 t / ( 9 “tZ - • s 4 ■ .v I II 1*1 H I* « V J Ss^*0»!sie^. f» -. % X ' 1 j- rVi RV AVk'.- i I A, i" I .*■ t:*! •'*’ p 4 t I *^*: 5 ?• p . .1 * r- I i I •j^ 0 •’•’Wi >» J t ft fft r -4 t Vl-I 251 261 271 281 291 30 J I El ‘ } n sr' » > r a J J • I I »• 4 ?/ J * * 10 11 12 OK 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 22| 231 24 i { I 5 yr . J f I ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer's Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder 111 121 131 14 T 3 T I 9I 10 I r / 5 I f. h 4 1 ?» -^5r ATA CO. 9-1-1 --rite ' j *r • ■I < 3 email wsmith@mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 I~ 1 ii Thornapple Kellogg’s Rain! Braska works to score against Pine River's Madelynne Steriy during the second period of their match for third place in the 110-pound weight class Saturday at the Lady Saxon Invitational at Hastings High School. Braska won the bout by technical fall. Photo by Brett Bremer Group 2 I J>* < GIBSON r J, •r^ Advertising sales Account management Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts Attend networking events ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen list -' * f r i' Responsibilities include: ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian I f IM aliU/ M 1 •5l=S -« '1 I •I r M^ I r . j *■>1 I J I 4Mliir �I Ml ♦ ♦ 1 O- Saturday, February 1,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 11 ♦ ♦ Gars win two relays, a few other races, at Wayland s * *• I II I, la. ' ‘U , 5 -vi K J 4 *> f I I 4 .s f J r: f * A i f ^4 W«if I Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Gars co-op swim team had a handful of wins against a solid Wayland squad in an OK Rainbow Tier II Con­ ference dual at Wayland Union High School Tuesday. The Wildcat team took a 100-81 victory. Nolan Send picked up a pair of indi­ vidual wins for the Thomapple Kellogg, West Michigan Aviation Academy, Unity Christian, Hopkins, West Catholic co-op team. He won the 50-yard free­ style in 25.14 seconds and the 500-yard freestyle in 5 minutes 56.24 seconds. He was also a part of two relay wins for the Gars. Hunter Tietz, Ty Denney, J I 7 1 ' J! X)< K 1 « *<3 t 1 • 1. f f f t » i; *■ I r /v 0 r •• I 1 < 'w I f > I 4^1- /’rrn 4 "iitd ;■ . ,1 s I A ♦ 3/ 'S- . ♦ -* L* i i ) )w7^ i I I 7 H «v4 > M < IU-M*' 'Xi« ’ Ifc. • *»w .1 %Ht hr/j ? BKtHuff .21£f>T^ Wt ► Send and Gabriel Van also teamed up to win the 200-yard freestyle for the Gars in 1:42.17, outracing the Wildcat team by 17 hundredths of a second. Send, Denney, Tietz and Van took the win in the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:49.56. Van also led a 1-2 finish in the 100yard butterfly for the Gars. He took the race in 58.12 and teammate Ethan Klop­ fenstein was the runner-up in 1:01.01. Justin Vandyke and Eddie Oudbier took two individual wins each for the Wildcat team. Vandyke won the 200yard freestyle in 2:02.36 and the 100yard freestyle in 54.09. Oudbier won the 200-yard individual medley in 2:09.34 and the 100-yard backstroke in 59.26. t* I < ’ I fAA • f 1 F ’^■^E'STn r t • r n .ill ' J. A I $ I I 3 I > ► h' I z >1 I «e < I T I*/ H * 1 1 , J A-. t <11 .,rX wv -4 A ' *4 5-V I*. I J i?; ft rr*^**MZ*C ( i' ■ ^<2UXBtri MlfMhW f I t 1 'I w I I I I 1 > w ^noTzz KV Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity wrestling team finished off a 4-1 sea­ son of OK Gold Conference duals with a 66-12 win over visiting Wyo ming Monday in Middleville. TK got pins from Diego Rodas at 126 pounds and Jayce Curtis at 165 took pins for the Trojans in the dual and Abram Dutcher won by medical forfeit. The Trojan team also had forfeit wins for Ava Rausch, Christien Miller, Derek Guerrero-Garriga, Emma Gibson, Aiden Foy, Griffin Grummet, Blake Bossenberger and Tanner Buxton. The Trojans were set to be on their home mats again Friday, Jan. 31, playing host to the OK Gold Confer­ ence Championship Tournament. The Thomapple Kellogg varsity co-ed team will head to Gull Lake Wednesday for its MHSAA Division 2 District Tournament. The Trojans have an opening round bye and will take on either Pennfield or Gull Lake in the district final. Pennfield and Gull Lake are set to open the tournament at about 5:30 p.m. The TK wrestlers head to Harper Creek Saturday, Feb. 8, for their MH­ SAA Division 2 Individual District Tournament. The TK team was fourth last Satur­ day at the 20-team Leslie Blackhawk Invitational. TK got championships from Miller at 113 pounds and Curtis at 175. Miller pinned Leslie’s Carter Hen­ derson early in the second period of their championship match and Curtis outscored Reading’s Lukas Strine 14-8 in their title bout. Bossenberger was third at 165 pounds, and Rodas, Jackson Smith and Dutcher each placed fifth for the Trojans. I V ; Reeths-Puffer scores in last seconds to beat Scots TK grapplers win their final conference dual Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia came out on the wrong end after a flurry of third period goals Saturday on the road against Reeths-Puffer. The Rocket varsity hockey team took a 4-3 win over the Fighting Scots. It was a 1 -1 game going into the third period. Eli Cutis put in the game-winner with four seconds left thanks to assists from Hayden Taylor and Kaeden Banner. Ty Lewandowski put the Scots up 1-0 with the lone first period goal, off* an assist from teammate Henry Simon. Reeths-PuflFer tied the contest with a goal from Tren­ ton Hanks late in the second period. Ayden Hartzell scored twice for the Rockets int eh third period, including a goal less than two min­ utes in that gave his team its first lead. Gabe Supuk and Kauffman scored the two Caledonia goals in the third period as the teams went back and forth. Lewandowski, Himes and Landen Moore had assists in that final period for the Scots. 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. ri' ’ !*■ L»s<a I i.va 3' ► 1 CHS »««* • < *> 4 u Continued from Page 10 i OK Green play. Ben Geerdes has 12 points, four rebounds and two assists in that one. Little added 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Backus J f ^>i Ir « V I 4l f uaaa «M3l« ♦ ' «w * ’ l’ t chipped in eight points and eight re­ bounds. The Scots step back outside the OK Green Tuesday to host West Catholic and then will visit Jenison Friday, Feb. 7. The Scots’ one win in the first half of the conference slate came against the Wildcats at CHS. I T BODY SHOP COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 w « '**. 7 7 n I . • ■ 1• . I..P I .. I 60 ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM •f !|3 i (Wil*' hr •• . : .A »«- f ! t I ( 9 t r0 t 11 • .t ll Your +rus-becl Body Shop -for over 32 years �Saturday, February 1 2025 12 V - »» k * * I J I * V t ^'O « Pair of Scot freshmen win titles at Lakewood Invite MIDDLEVILLE ♦ r .■ t I k V*’ '* « Brett Bremer TOPS 546 1 • iV.I 1 r <* '' ' I . Sports Editor A pair of Fighting Scots freshmen took titles The Jan. 27 meeting opened with and the Caledonia varsity wrestling team placed roll call. There are two new fish in the third Saturday at the eight-team Lakewood fishbowl. Invitational. Virginia's program was titled "Just One Thing; Confessions of a Food Max Schnurstein in the 106-pound weight Addict." from the Jan/ Feb TOPS class and Robert Restau in the 138-pound class magazine. In order to break the food took individual championships for the Scots as addict cycle, you must take a close the team continued its push to be at its peak here look at your behavior and why you are at the end of the season. doing what you are doing. What are the underlying triggers that compel you to Schnurstein beat Loy Norrix Dennis Allen eat? If you can’t understand or address Wormack 10-1 in the semifinals of their weight these causes, you will continue to yo-yo. class and then beat out Wayland ’ s Jody Bitner, Be kind to yourself! a senior with over 30 victories this season, for Food-related changes include turning the flight championship with a 6-0 decision in high calorie recipes into low calorie choices. Same for treats. Include more the finals. Schnurstein was voted the tournament fruits and veggies you like. Swap a MVP by the coaches. veggie or salad in place of French fries. “ Max not only won it there at 106, he beat Eat the correct amount of proteins, that kid from Wayland who was a tough wellcarbs, and fats at each meal and snack. Change your plate to a smaller nine-inch built senior kid,” Caledonia head coach Shawn plate. Learn correct portion size. Veitch said. “That was honestly probably the Lifestyle changes include choosing best match that Max has wrestled all year. He an exercise that will challenge you but just was smart, was controlled, didn’t try to go is doable. Purchase some exercise big-time or anything. He was really solid.” equipment but keep it affordable for you. Knowing your favorite food is always Restau pinned opponents from Armada and available helps to control binge eating. Wayland to reach the 138-pound championship Play the long game. Believe you can lose match and then stuck Lakewood’s Lydon Rog­ weight. Do daily positive affirmations. ers 3 minutes and 20 seconds into their bout. Fund a quiet, dark place every day for five minutes to pay attention to your “I love that kid,” Veitch said. “He doesn’t body. Journal every day. Remember this win on technique, he wins on a will to win. He weight-loss journey is yours. Let friends just hates losing. He just gets out there and gets and family know what you can eat so after it and lets it fly. The future is so bright for they don't push other food you know you can’t eat. You can do this! that kid. He is stating to pick up the technique Linda won the Ha-Ha Box. an e littleW harder.’The meeting closed with marching In all, the Scots brought 12 wrestlers to the in place as the group recited the TOPS tournament and 11 of them finished in the top pledge. 12 in their weight class. TOPS, a weight loss support group, meets eve^ Monday at Lincoln Lakewood took some time to celebrate senior Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is heavyweight Joel Simon’s 150th varsity victory from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed at the tournament, and the host Viking team immediately by the meeting. Press the won the championship scoring 271.5 points. white buzzer for entry. with questions may call Virginia, Wayland was second with 168.5 points ahead 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-318of Caledonia 155.5, Portage Northern 114, Ar3545. The first meeting is free. mada 98.5, Loy Norrix 24.5, Laingsburg 23.5 and Ravenna 22. Lakewood got flight championships from Stephen Aldrich at 113 pounds, Vincent Stamm at 126, Bryson Boucher at 150, Owen Prowdley at 175, Jacob f rpREE Everett at 215 and Simon at 285 pounds. . Estimat®® Josh Grace at 120 pounds, Will Sheely at 150 and Cayden Nostrant at 165 • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation pounds all placed second for the Scots. • Blown-in Attic insulation Coach Veitch was especially pleased with the youngster Nostrant’s perfor­ 517-983-0954 mance especially a big 5-3 win over Start Saving Today -- Use Spray Foam Armada’s Trace Lietz in the semifinals. "- » p«l r. J s 1. hAi » b •,* >1 I# i' 1 * f •VI' n 'k k Caledonia 138-pounder Robert Restau closes in on a pin of Wayland’s Wyatt Nesbit during their semifinal bout at the Lakewood Invitational Saturday. Restau had three pins on the day to win the weight class Photo by Brett Bremer .s 1 • 1 1 a t li,lr • y> I . ) < . M w ) r r* a I r > k' ll 1 ..^rt hg^ J I Ji **• ’ t I 1 t It >1 k*. ; ■, 1141 JI r s t*. I IT r J, I I .z •I I i a 5 ■'i i 9' V L-V> I — » I / r* • I \ r i » •a4 •** •iM $ A 4 sa* 4. • .>• •4 ' V I *t •J 1 ■ c t ( V a >» f” »» ' I I 4 I Cl w I ’ :* »• The Fighting Scots’ James Carrow V holds Lakewood's Kade Boucher on his back during the first period of their 132-pound semifinal bout at the Lakewood Invitational Saturday. Carrow scored a fourth-place finish at their flight after Boucher broke free and went on to a win. Photo by Brett Bremer 1^ SCOf' I H I1 M MH <^1 - •** b !» W **♦ ♦T A, .1^ « • » 4 ' * - i. 4 • l> 4 1 •• 1 $ fl •*** rj Nostrant, a sophomore, got a slim win in that semifinal and then learned a lesson in the championship match against Portage Northern’s CaydenNazarians. Nostrant had a two-point lead late, but got into a bit of a bad position as the two grappled on their feet in the closing mo­ ments, and Nazarians wiped out the lead with a take down that gave him an 8-7 win. Still, coach Veitch likes the way that his relationship with Nostrant has grown since last year and how .talented and coachable he is becoming. Caledonia freshman heavy­ weight Ky Spencer, who has only wrestled a handful of var­ sity matches so far this winter, was third in a tough 285-pounrf weight class with a pin of Ravenna’s Mason Carringer in the match for third. Escher Reeder was third at 113 See SCOT on 13 s I • M«I f^MAeo^adu I li* I 1 H- ZJ** *A * • ■ M >£ * A. 1 Wr r. , r ... k r a *? / TJJ—.. ■ r5 >> * i^B w B—, •«4r I I > -i5 I, ‘ < ‘j \ I bi *WI| SfaiSS".' I ' -**. I 1 I r •».. -b li 4 « >. • •r y t • -•.Jr.' <« «w * 1 J *s. - « ■•-n .. t •'*k/u '« I 11 .> V •••^- 3 I L ; ' CeIbTER I -»f 2 VA CO. 9-1 -1 4 5 I I I I 'X<- & 9I 10 I I I 5 DIAL (800) 249-0911iMON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131I 14 14| 15| 16| 17j 18| 19| 20| I r I 10 11 12 \ Or 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 21| 22| 23| 24| 25| 26 27| 28| 2 281 291 30 ' r' ' �♦ ♦ t< THE SUN AND NEWS . S IT ' 4 Saturday, February 1,2025 13 ♦ Ben Lloyd beats sister’s mark for Trojan threes Al T 9 Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Lloyd family varsity basketball single game three-point record lasted four days. Thomapple Kellogg junior Ben Lloyd made nine three-pointers in the Trojan varsity boys’ basketball team’s 72-48 loss at Hamilton Tuesday night setting a boys’ school record. His sister, freshman Taylor Lloyd, just set the TK varsity girls’ record with eight three-pointers in a Trojan win over Grand Rapids Union in Middleville last Friday, Jan. 24. Those nine threes by Ben accounted for all 27 of his points against the Hawkeyes, and even extending his range a step or two behind the three-point arc didn’t alter his accuracy any. TK head coach Phil Garber said that despite the lopsided loss, the Trojan student section was going crazy with each successful triple, and by the end even the Hamilton students were cheering him on. Ben hit four threes in the first half, and then was held scoreless in the third quarter before exploding for five threes in the fourth. After the contest, Garber sent former TK head coach Kurt Holzhueter searching through the archives to find that the previ OUS TK boys’ record had lasted for 30 years - set at seven by Andy Brewer during the 1994-95 season. The game as a whole got away from the Trojans in the second quarter after they held a 14-13 lead through the first eight minutes. “We just defensively gave up too many open looks,” Garber said, “really in the J z r i'i 1 ' f 1 4 J • ✓ > I ' < 'r.'. /' - » 'V, h = I 9 / I k ' '1'31 r I J 4 I ■ i ■ r I■ H t ■ 4 JI I • -p. 9 T t I i 1 1 r*. » 11 I 1 4A 9 .i * c? »- I V I rJI. ; • sr ♦J ■^1 J' I A .*1 J • toi I • I• *1 4 pf .b *■ • ^ir «*< «/ 1 « 1A* ■> p • l.^ r paint. They got in there, and they had some tough defense, they were physical. Inside they were starting guys 6-2, 6-3 and we’re not that big and it gave us fits on offense.” Outside of Ben’s triples, the Trojan team didn’t shoot very well as a whole. The loss dropped TK’s record to 9-6 overall this season. It came on the heels of two good conference wins. The Trojans beat Grand Rapids Union 61-58 last Friday, Jan. 24, and then Monday took a 49-47 win at West Catholic. TK got off to a good start at Union and then really had to battle as a flurry of ankle sprains ran through the line-up taking Jude Webster, Trey Hilton and Malachai VanEngen off the floor. Webster would eventually be able to return and finished with a teamhigh 14 points. Ben and Brice Lloyd stepped up too. Brice finished with ten points and Ben had 12. Hilton played into the second half and finished with 11 points. At West Catholic Monday, the TK team used its 2-3 zone and 1-3-1 zone to give the Falcons fits. Brice Lloyd had a couple of big threes in the final 80 seconds to help TK seal the two-point win. It wasn’t quite that close as the Falcons banked in a three at the buzzer to cut a five-point TK lead down to two. Webster also converted four free throws late in the win. Those two wins there matched the Trojans’ road win total from all of last season, and Garber is happy to have his team sporing a 6-5 road record this season. 1 ‘3 1 ? * » -I- .’*1 •V'. • ] A fl I jj. , t caz yj * r • 4 SCOT Ti r- I Continued from Page 12 ■3'’hs^ .A,* ««> ' i 1 I d >« •* * •s . ia^._.r! Nosffl te p., L.; ? •» I W2i^lgr,. I '*^0 S®s*2aii4t cojcWilifisku * « 4 < 1 I l>jk\ • ■ 'r. 6 .J wAI)> 1 I aii'ssiit } ' ■ 41? I 7 I > ? > I I M ’ .. .j r r0-*r ’ . r 4 p X Sf ' . - J r V:'« r* 4®^ .'* I I J I J c ► r Mipnewt L I I F; 4 j-f f I I f I J I n r I. L Jf I ’’T&S# Wfc I fl II Ui M.Oi k*? tt 1 (|P^:'B'.s^.Tf=. —1^ • 5s •I I I » « I Caledonia’s Will Sheely works to try and escape the grasp of Armada’s Jackson Malburg during their 150-pound semifinal match Saturday at the Lakewood Invitational. Photo by Brett Bremer pounds for the Scots and teammates James Carrow V, Ben Moss, Koleson Reeder and Thomas Hodgson all placed fourth. The Scots returned to ac­ tion Wednesday taking a big 39-35 win over Jenison on senior night at Caledonia. The win moves the Scots to 2-2 in conference duals this season and the OK Green Conference was set to meet at Reeths-Puffer for the conference tournament Friday night, Jan. 31. All the individual kids are buying in. they’re doing their job for the team. That was our goal,” Veitch said of the victory. Caledonia will be at Por­ tage Northern Wednesday, Feb. 5, for its MHSAADivision 1 District Tournament and will face the Huskies in one district semifinal while Kalamazoo Central and Mattawan face off in the other beginning at 5 p.m. The Scots go to Howell fortheir MHSAADivision 1 Individual District Tourna­ ment Saturday, Feb. 8. Mona Shores gives Scots first Green loss Brett Bremer Sports Editor Mona Shores pulled even with the Caledonia varsity girls’ basketball team with a 42-38 win over the visiting Scots Friday, Jam. 24. Botli teams close the first half of the OK Green Confer­ ence season with 4-1 records. The Sailors’ line conference loss so far came the previous Friday against Muskegon. YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You're our friends, our family, our neighbors...and our future. Group Your Community Connection THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP BOARD 200 E MAIN ST. MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 SYNOPSIS OF MEETING MINUTES Monday, January 13, 2025 The meeting was called to or­ der at 7:00 p.m. with seven mem­ bers present. Items approved: 1. Printed Agenda approved as amended. 2. Consent Agenda approved as presented. 4. Approved motion for a fulltime promotion for Shelby En­ gland. 5. Approved motion for enter­ ing into an agreement with Acrisure LLD to review our current sick time, vacation time, and personal time policies in order to align them with the new Earned Sick Time Act recently passed by the State of Michigan which goes into effect Febru­ ary 25 for an amount not to ex­ ceed $1,500.00. Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Prepared by Deputy Clerk Brenda Hess. Approved by Town­ ship Supervisor, Eric Schaefer. Copies of the meeting minutes are available upon request from the Township Clerk or by visiting https://thornapple-twp.org/meet ing-minutes/ Office hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thurs­ day. Caledonia is now 10-3 over­ all this season. The Scots bounced back with a 39-33 win at Covenant Christian Tuesday. Caledonia was set to start the second rum through the OK Green schedule at home against Reeths-Puffer Jan. 31 and will be on the road in the conference this Friday at Jenison. GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM IRVING TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS January 21,2025 Meeting called to order at 6:32pm at 3425 Wing Rd. Hastings, Michigan 49058 Present; Lydy, Stout, Bue­ hler, Brummel, and Nagel Agenda approved as pre­ sented Barry County Road Com­ mission annual presentation Approved December 2024 Meeting Minutes Approved to pay bills in the amount of $12,527.44 Approved to hire West Michigan Shredding for shred services Set Budget Workshop date for February 25, 2025 at 6:30pm at the Irving Township Hall Approved to allow WishA-Mile bicycle tour to use our grounds as a rest stop Upcoming Meeting dates: February 18, 2025 6:30pm (Board Meeting); February 25, 2025 6:30pm (Budget Work­ shop) Adjourn 6:35pm Full minutes are available at lrvingtownship.org or at 3425 Wing Rd, Hastings, Ml 49058. Prepared by Deputy Clerk, Shelly Lake. Attested to by Supervisor, Dan Lydy. ♦ �♦ Saturday, February 1, 2025 14 THE SUN AND NEWS ' T'it • .■ >. * A Peters announces he will not seek reelection in 2026 Molly Macleod Editor Michigan Senator Gary Peters an nounced on Tuesday he will not be seek­ ing reelection in 2026. The announcement comes as Peters rounds his 10th year serving as one of Michigan’s Unit^ States senators. The e ♦ Democrat will end his term at the end of 2026, having served 12 years as senator. “I have always believed that American democracy can only remain healthy and vi- 4 s brant when every citizen takes an acti ve role in strengthening their community. There are many ways people can choose to serve their community and all are important. The how and when we serve is Afferent for everyone and what we do becomes part of a unique individual life story having many chapters,” Peters said this week “At this point in my life, I have been able to write many different chapters, and I look forward to the new ones with both anticipation and excitement.” * i Peters assumed longtime Michigan Senator Carl Levin's seal after defeating Terri Lynn Land in 2014. Peters success­ fully defended his seat against challenger John James in the 2020 election. Before serving as one of Michigan’s two senators, Peters began his state political career in 1995, representing Michigan's 14th District in the Michigan Senate. He served in the state senate until 2002. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Michigan's < 14th and 9lh districts from 2009 to 2015. z Peters also boasts a long career in the United Slates Navy Reserve, where he niiH’ -K 5^ J served from 1993 to 2008. He also spent 'F* * _ M 20 years working in the private sector as a financial advisor. I “When I was first elected to Congress in > t'l I ri 2008,1 always knew there would come a I time to pass the torch to the next genera­ tion of public servants and allow them 3 I the opportunity to bring fresh energy and ideas to our nation's capital. Our founding fathers envisioned members of Congress as citizens serving their country for a few ijf, terms and then returning to private life. *jr-■’^,.44^^'J '> I agree. After three terms in the House and two terms in the Senate, I believe now is time for me to write a few more ' .jjrr, paragraphs in my current chapter and turn over the reins. I will therefore not seek f reelection in 2026,” Peters said. I Though Peters announced his inten­ Ii 6 . tions to retire at the end of his term, he says there is still more to do before then. • “I have two more years remaining in my current term and there is more work to ^illiai’^ do. 1 intend to continue my work on issues Rip. importantto all Michiganders by working )rar<» u to lower costs, make sure everyone has the opportunity to succeed, feel safe in their » w*” community, and protect core American f democratic values. ■Hia “My service in the Congress has been ‘ J the honor of my life. It has been a hum 1 I. ti*' bling responsibility given to me by the voters of the state I love. I will be forever I grateful for the opportunity to serve, and muWi r• I believe my work has left our country a better place.” Governor Gretchen Whitmer lauded Peters for his service this week. I “Senator Gary Peters has been a stead­ rWisiSiyi^J: *x fast champion for Michigan,” Whitmer said. “As a member of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, }: he has fought tirelessly to create good paying jobs, bring manufacturing back to our state, strengthen our auto industry, Iq» lower Michiganders’ health care costs and . * tn fcT'^TjSfrf protect reproductive freedom. I Mb.. “As a veteran ofthe U. S. Navy Reserve, * Senator Peters recognizes the importance ixr ofa strong national defense and helped se;r > K'. cure Michigan as a defense leader through X MAMti I his advocacy for Michigan’s Selfiidge Air .r Uli National Guard Base. £ “I am deeply grateful to Senator Peters for his service, bo± as a Michigander and friend,” Whitmer said. -w^oen ,?!4 As Peters prepares to wrap up his J I, 'I f J I J1 *Mr rsT 3 -4 ■U? p r ’' * ' T i K « F’ .7T5“’ ' «af! ij A 1*3 b J ■ ^1 f if-K A r' )■. 4 .^f V ♦ «• k J * 1 j’j r 4 « LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ’.4^' < . .'■ J M• I*’ >1 • y »' »T t * CHURCH f 4 4 . cornerstonechurch 250 Vine Street «• ► Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am < 4 r fr rV 1 ,*!»«• 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 616-891-8669 ?/ 'J '/ Join us for our traditional yet casual worship T service, in person or online, I at 9:00 am I WWW alashabaptist org 72AO bStn svMt SE, Caledonia . iSj r. J I I Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Sfl<vleflrfm«9 Sunday st 9;30 AM * 6.00 PM <* » f' X' Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST fl d * a 5 :• /I I 1 I FIRST BAPTIST k I k Good Shepherd ' Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH L/ve^trr.im FBCMiDDLtVIlLE NET - S215 M37 - 269-795-9726 M i * 1* r -331^ »' H H w I IF > • t i f f * LtWOi I <i^PEACE CHURCH JOURNEY M Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. » ' Caledonia Location 9186 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:16 am and 11:00 am Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., MiddleviUe, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am I t. 4 1 I I 1 ( } MB @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool rwK^j vr ! iWBasMBtetJra jspstitt assistance 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, Mi 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org 1 Sunday School I. Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. •> > Jamn L. Collison, Pastor www.yankecspringsbiblcchurch.org 10:30 AM .r''. >3 4 See REELECTION on 15 >1' * i 1 fl i iI I I 1 2 4 I WA CO. 9-1 -1 CElTER 4 5 I 1 I I I I f I I r I 51 I I I 91 10 181 I" I t I r l /fF . 6^ U 19 I Illi 111 •I' 91 7, 10 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 71 151 161 171 f • DIAL (800) 249-091 IliON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at fawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 I ?a f 8 _ K Watch our services from our website (see above) I v. «I I* 9:30 AM Sunday Wonhip I >I fl I 1 > *> • « ♦* ”Shining Forth God's Light 616.891.8661 www.whitneyvillebible.org 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcwBb.com I t 11 3655 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am I •V 4 •• 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 ^Church SERVICE TIMES: I A 4. PastorJoryathan DeCou I ’ T' I «« I 7 MIDDLEVILLE ^ .4 t I < .< Yankee Springs Bible Church CHURCH I A • I «*l ► t. t THORNAPPLE VALLEY ■ * t Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. PFACECHURCH.ee I 1 I I Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. CHURCH 201 r X Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. (269) 795-2391 k: I Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Church: A Jr«. 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfaniilycaledonia.org Sunday Worship............................ 9:50 a.m. =>i« facrbook.com/f>r%tb.-tpfH(middievillc Ar A-.- 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Jk. < < f. r Ab’ •••.-• 211 221 231 241 251 26 271 281 291 30 I ««' �♦ THE SUN AND NEWS Saturday. February 1,2025 ♦ 15 ♦ ♦ Patricia Louise McCrath * 1 Robert R. Bekkering k I J I A ■>P; ► k 4* I ri Robert R. Bekkering,of Middleville, Mi. known affectionately as Bob, passed away on January 21,2025, at the age of 58 in Wyoming, ML Bob was born on December 20. 1966, in Grand Rapids, Ml to Roger and Karen (Kollar) Bekkering. Bob was a proud graduate of ThornappleKellogg High School, class of 1985. He dedicated over 14 years to Steelcase, working diligently in the shipping department. Bob’s passion for the outdoors, woodworking, and golfing were well-known, as these activities brought him immense happiness and peace. Bob leaves behind a loving family; his parents. Roger and Karen; his siblings, -■'S'. -’3 1, b L ’i«. * I 1 s » I »r. 1- V < I r. £ » A wni . •'‘X -i ■ r » I' A I <( 'kli' N- I f > ‘2 / r 4^ A » r < a;i' *4?. Wu 1 I c.» . n., . . rnmqntHMCh »• i • - JOODJUij *- F t ■ 1 I I I J "• mif *^1)'** • '•1 ■W:?. ' 4 I f A I •J I Brian (Suzanne) Bekkering and Bonnie (Dean) McNutt; his cherished nieces, Emily (Josh) Zeigler, Erica Mutschler, Katie (Mark) Orr, Brittany (Nick) Huerter, and his dear grandnieces, Adrienne Ziegler, Maya Huerter, and grandnephews, Paxton and Finn Orr and Gole and Theo Huerter. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Harold and Ruth Kollar, and Charles and Julia Woodruff. Friends may meet with Bob’s family on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at the BeelerGores Funeral Home in Middleville from 5-7 p.m. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Bob’s family. <■ 7 I i* b Patricia Louise McCrath. age 81, of Kentwood, Ml, formerly a long-time resident of Middleville, went to sing with the Angels on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. To know her Is to love her. Patricia was an amazing cook and loved to bake. She was preceded in death by her son, Robert McGrath; her brother, Mike Hodges; her sister, Shawn McCraney. Lovingly remembering Patricia is her husband of 61 years, Walter; children. Tacy (surviving wife to Robert) (Dylon and Rheagan), Becky (Doug) Callihan (Nick, Kimberly (Anthony). A^ssa, Eathan, Maddy, Nate, Precious, Hailey, Elliana, Treasure, Jace), Dan (Kathy) McGrath (Eden, Noah, Matt (Jill) Nagelkirk. Katie (Bryant) Ruch, Lindsey (Matheus) Soares). Mari (Chad) REELECTION Continued from Page 14 I r li V «• • 1t u I 4 f’ r »I 4 Patricia Lynn Williams passed away on December 25, 2024, in Hastings, Ml. She was born on April 30, 1962, in Battle Greek, Ml, to the late Earl Russell and Ruth F. (Lowman) Pierce. Patricia was a woman of unmatched love and vibrant spirit..She brought joy through her delicious cooking, beautiful decorating, and love for nature, music, and old movies. Her humor and warmth brightened every moment, and she had a passion for antiquing and an adventurous love of ghost hunting. Described as the best mother anyone could ever imagine. Patricia was the L.. 4 > '.•'41. t< I I 4 « I A ‘•J’ i I» ♦ • V: • *•' ■ f '»• V r A ■l ■ I hJ:. ) • Uum,. . 'O’, * 1 *•» • r 1*^ -J! t t) »« .•• I % «• I «Rl. r I 1 h * , I 4 '* t I • *’*¥«.* W a • 'rrr ' • 4> ’ ? - ‘-4 h. w Patricia Lynn Williams 1 gt 1 I wt-i □ M J f r/ • I r- r. I ... , Moolenaar staff available to discuss constituent assistance «r . . .r 1 Staff members from the office ofCon­ gressman John Moolenaar are hosting meeting times across the district next month where constituents can sit down to discuss personal casework issues they are experiencing with a federal agency. Moolenaar’s office is offering help to constituents who need assistance with a federal agency, including the VA and the IRS. Staff members will be available locally in the coming weeks in Hastings I i I HI ' I .J il' t . V < I* r J 1 I it ♦ I ib i - 7 At * ' J J 1 r i:uiiWMi«By .AW* * .' , »Wj t r* « 1^ I e,. *1 1aiP?^ i * Ji I i » j 4ir^ • I a4** P! BARRY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OUR LEGACY WALL 9-2* ' I i >s^ OmSA; •I J ....... * decades-long career in politics, he is look­ ing forward to riding off into the sunset. “I am leaving Congress, but I am not retiring. I look forward to writing many more chapters when my tenn ends. I do not know what those chapters will be, but I expect one of them will be me finding endless twisting back roads where I can experience the joy of total freedom rid­ ing my Harley Davidson motorcycle on a warm sunny day,” he said. *■ I «* most loving, supportive, and beautiful soul, inside and out. Truly one of a kind, she was special beyond words and irreplaceable. Patricia is survived by her daughters, Brooke (Thomas) Momenee, Julie (Shanna) Gilmore, and Nicole (Gary) Gilmore; grandchildren, Amaya Pena, Aubrey Rasmussen, and Mikayla Gilmore; her fiance, Joshua Mayhew; his brother, Maurice Mayhew; and her loyal dog, Athena. A Gelebration of Life Gathering will be held on Saturday. Feb. 22. 2025 at Gonvis Township Hall. 19500 15 Mile Rd, Marshall. Ml 49068. Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home. Stachter (Kyle Wnuk), Jim (Kristine) McCrath (Hanna (Andrew) Rhoades. Lucas), Karen (Tim) Raphael (Karlie, Cole, Katy, Ali, Josie); and eight great-grandchildren along with her sisters and brothers, Ann (Ralph) Miller. Tom Hodges, Kathy (Howard) Zoet, Joe Hodges; sisters-inlaw and brothers-in-law, Paul (Jo) McCrath, Cliff McCrath, Sandy Scheib, Nancy McCrath. The family will greet relatives and friends on Friday. Feb. 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Stroo Funeral Home, 1095 68th St. SE, Grand Rapids. 49508. where the memorial service and luncheon will follow at 3 p.m. Pastor Brian Albright will officiate. The family has arranged a private interment at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Memorial contributions may be made, in memory of Patricia, to the family to help with funeral expenses. - 1 »l I f ’ I 1 I and Sunfield. On Tuesday, Feb. 25, staff will be available at the Sunfield Town­ ship Hall, 145 Main Street, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Later that day, Moolenaar staff will be available at the Hastings Public Library, 227 East State Street, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Constituents who cannot attend one of the meetings can call Moolenaar’s office at 616-528-7100, or visit Moolenaar.House.gov to receive assistance with their issue. MM ifc ■... Each legacy fund provides giving for generations. From 4-H to the arts, from scholarships to nature trails, these donors care deeply for their community with a lasting impact If you want to learn more on leaving a legacy, please call 269-945-0526, and Bonnie Gettys or Annie Halle can help you ensure that your gifts can support your hopes and dreams. »!*•! C< 11 I • »<COMM^NtlV *I 331S BtOAOWAV St HASttWlSMI wvvwaAJMTcr oao I I I A I a < f. c •* w pSiiHn £ «>'!C5 J .. I 'i ilS I" I I ri I I I } 11 ’ 11 1 n I J, I V . t I n A I ■ 11 I k I it d I I k 4 y I *» X s. 5 \ I ! {I r I 1 u HONORING THOSE WHO GIVE f vjimI z c r. r ■4 .« �16 Saturday, February 1,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS ATWA sunai idne.vs ccm Scot ski sees strong competition at Benzie invite ♦ ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia boys skied to third place in the final team standings and ex change student Chiara Mart won both the girls’ slalom and giant slalom (GS) as the Fighting Scot varsity teams took part in the Bryan Groenevelt Memorial Invitational at Crystal Mountain Fri­ day, Jan. 24, hosted by Benzie Central. Marta set the pace in the girls’ slalom in the morning session with runs of 31.02 seconds and 31.22 which was a total almost a second and a half faster than her nearest competitor. She won the girls’ GS by 1.19 seconds with runs of 22.31 and 22.53. As a team, the Caledonia boys were second in the GS and fourth in the sla­ lom. The Potgeter boys led the way for the Scots in the GS with David Potgeter scoring runs of23.11 and 23.05 that had him second individually. Jake Potgeter was 16th and the Scot team also had Peter Calhoun 17th and Justin Harper 21st in the scoring. Caledonia head coach Duane J >• ■w r ‘EXPIRES 6/15/25 ft ft ■> , ' la 4 'r 'S6 I *^'*‘^* % I A ►l a '1 1 I I J ] J J V r '1 r J. ■FTi h •44 1 » I i L The Caledonia varsity boys' ski team celebrates a third-place finish and a few individual medals won Friday, Jan. 24, at Benzie Central’s Bryan Groenvelt Memorial Invitational at Crystal Mountain. Photo provided Petrosky liked how his “Caledonia clump” pushed back other teams in the scoring. Harper earned a spot in the top four for the team in his first varsity race. In the slalom, the Caledonia boys were led by David Potgeter with runs of 32.26 and 33.02 that had him eighth w* * ■:fi p 7AM Se BLOCKI 4 * < ♦A * < 'w 1 gSOO Cherry Valley Ave St. Caledonia Ml // 616-S22-I004 // WWW buUherblocksocial com overall. Aidan Brown was 13th, Jake Potgeter 20th and James Pritchard 24th. David Potgeter medaled in both events and Brown was among the sla lom medalists. “We are very happy with how our guys skied today,” coach Petrosky said. “We were missing one ofour top skiers, who was at the state choir festival, and everyone else stepped up to put down great runs for the team. It is always nice when we get to race against some different teams to see how we stack up against some ofthe competition we will see at Regionals on February 10. “At the beginning of the season, we knew we had some younger skiers that would help us in the future and they really seem to be making huge contri­ butions earlier than we thought. Jake, James and Justin are really stepping up for our team.” Clare won the boys’ championship on the day with 103 points ahead of Mt. Pleasant 105, Caledonia 121, Grayling 143, GR Christian 146, Onekama 178, Harrison 239 and Glen Lake NTS. Behind Marta in the slalom the Caledonia girls had Zuzanna Poradzka 26th, Madison Reynolds 28th and Ada Decker 29th. Poradzka was 21 st in the GS, Reynolds 26th and Kayli Price 28th for the Scots. “We are extremely happy with how Chiara is skiing. She is a hard worker that is focused on doing her best. Her dedication is really pushing our other skiers and we are seeing them get faster too,” Petrosky said. “We have seen a ton * >* of growth from everyone on our team. “Although we are very a happy with the skiing of our exchange students (Chiara & Zuzanna), our program has been held together by the dedication of our seniors (Liz Hilton, Erin Peckham, Kayli Price, Ada Petersen and Leah Van Hall) who are the backbone of our team. They are great skiers, leaders and students.” Glen Lake had the day’s top girls’ team finishing with 78 points. Grand Rapids Christian was second with 88.5 points ahead of Grayling 100, Clare 113, Caledonia 160, Mt. Pleasant 161, Onekama 188 andHarrison NTS. «WBW»4 .1 p L t z I-.L J rx’9’ ♦♦ •?f w u • «fn * nr znvi r:ryi! /part II • f s i .1 w r>4U(xM/ ' ifTII 4? ' r • 1 tn 'Kfii’xOTa •I r 1 ' rnaasuA 4 »lain ifoiaoifcobMrtJ Um i-i !,'O?MI mJ ) FTOno^i ixoJ fcwnioH rbA onM uju Kt <<1 w dhii I n jns; ?'?bsoi .cwii jasi’ainft V9ri I t Br Ml hrib I » i : IlK ' /fb -fl t -fln T . LUK ’ in *00 XX J iKif* f 4 'r iH // fjfioo^a ?'B7/ rtnuerirt ^bin JISIJ .<At| .nortn 1 f ' •'*1 fir a UI I 'nseasl^ .iV ?»<') inobbUi J /ioarnoHboB (inu3 I ?■ JTO i k :sV* 2 I 4 t » ,.*»^*w* « ’1 / T 4 'J I < -r “T MM i* 4iM p*^ f M* r 'C I- S! t; 2 P/# tA 2 a: A i* ^■4 F < I o . ft * or t^n' f k 1 1 4 A I > Caledonia exchange student Chiara Marta took championships in both the slalom and GS Friday, Jan. 24. at the invitational hosted by Benzie Central at Crystal Mountain. Photo provided 1 ' ■C i O. I: / sifiirtO irratotanprif^n I A ; «♦ « 5-^M (! < I .• TOd o aqirtenorqmiM") '^oo nsL 3S tars nnifeia < aonaa yd b9J<ori iwioDe.? .tot ( f oMM c u •• z• 4 J »' I I * ii t y LJ t I-' .»• I 2 VACO. 9-1-1 CENTER 12 5 5 8 I • • f 10 11 12 \ OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES Tttr I • if QJi DIAL (800) 249-0911 'aJON - EMERGENCIES H I 1 I* 9I 10 * I "Kids Measure up at ^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center 4 -u k Z’J. •*' I >7^ SEE YOU-AT 3 % k ij’ OFF VOUR TOTAL RILL Z hl «4 t 3 »• CUT OUT & PRESENT ; THIS COUPON FOR lOXj • •>.r BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER k k Ms* * 1 < 9 « SERVING BREAKF V ’au • 1 *• i MM M r ” butcher block sefc,;, «* I . A*. »»'«'1 J .*r J ♦ • " lot* 4 M* * '♦• W'« 9: * r -4 & * •-I « * i I n| 12| 13| 14| 15| 16j 17j 18| 19| 20| 21| 22| 23| 24| 25| 26| 27| 28| 29| 30 r es WSH a I MM � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-02-08.pdf 91bd5cb57892458178d774d1fca8ebdc PDF Text Text I BOWLING TEAMS STAYING POSITIVE, IMPROVING T K • •• 5 V * I ft PAGE 6 & 7 «* WWW,sunandnews.com bai bcnoois going lo me polls in May for non­ homestead operating millage increase It gniop zloofInB IbO in lot ysM ni zlloq iBioqo bBotzsmorl ggfioiani opBlIim Molly Macleod boelssM ytloM iolib3 I J « 1 I 11 f*// JnafTwnsB J>9V0TqqB PX3 .0C0£ to fafio aril ^naqo imnuj p/jonteib wfl' I I I to bm adJ Ie aiiqxo ot I ( « ) B er ag^litn snitBTOqo ofIT w Blltni amneMfi bjsaiasfnorl )i83-f vubnooaz JanifiSB h©iv3l sd ■wyoq^T .asinoqoTq zasnizud to dr mofr Jqcmxs z^nrori yrEfn n yyibte^w 3l'riCI »i5bn3JmTOtp/2 D f 3:qfiIlinT jqfiiJaroqo arit bonifilqxs fiBWOll/; noEtebnuol z'Joixtzib aril gnimo'j Ei noHlifli 84^2 Tf<m .tbqx TOdEbnudt 'Eiowk)21£3 risutnriJ I > aril to tewwq 8d ylrisuoi noiUbnudl bisz loyaiblooW ifiool Io b»fd B 3TB Ebni/l 3anB .yonorn arata iliiTi 8^^ JBHtlo —^noillim dl2 m-81 JnoiTUO aril yd bateiofrag .3g£UirTt bBarasniofl odr 'to Jz3r3f!)otfa3TBqrno3 <io jofnziO loorio^ atfiibermatnl ft yanor I wrn slsT9fp3§ zJonlaib [jetoD Li fobt'lGL) fwri) 89ZSJ frool □ilrii!’ j cllill fiwon^Jl :zlGorio^ oori'V. jiifiijU zbrqfiR bnaiD bne 3fir JEfii bonuslqx3 •nyaiblaaW nbmsqo srit wonai Jzum ihjt r s/ioosT olTobio ni zlirm tuofl^ unibnut aonBwoIlB noilfib < ; aril to bna orlf Jc oiiqxa ogfillrm warm 3d ton bns Si EDOM 1on bkow tonJzib cneiONEu BE3IDEIUJVr str yv3l Ct aide 3d Kiwiff-a 1) bO^MJ -ZlBlIob X£t b«iW'( »339 nadiTi. u b'fGoti t8838 «. • c SK A. 1 J ■# U fl I I •J t 1 eiesuAiHS- INI I r •' I I f h bVID Voters in the Caledonia Community Schools district will head to the polls in May to decide on a .5-min non­ homestead operating millage increase. Should the non-homestead millage be approved, the agreement will expire at the end of2030. The district’s current operating millage is set to expire at the end of the year. The operating millage is a non­ homestead tax, meaning mills will only be levied against secondary residences or business properties. Taxpayers’ pri­ mary homes are exempt from the tax. Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer explained the operating millage affects the district’s foundation allowance. This year, over $48 million is coming in through Cal Schools’ foundation allowance, roughly 68 percent of the district’s total revenues. Weeldreyer said foundation allow­ ance funds are a blend of local and State money. A large chunk over $16 million of that $48 million is generated by the current, 18-mill non­ homestead millage. Compared to the rest of the Kent Intermediate School District, only two districts generate more money from local taxes than Caledonia Community Schools: Kenowa Hills Public Schools and Grand Rapids Public Schools. Weeldreyer explained that the district must renew the operating millage at 18 mills in order to receive its full foun­ dation allowance funding. Should the millage expire at the end of the year and not be renewed, the MQaa wawoisno district would no longer ivuNaoisau SSMU93 be able to levy its local 8m> IN owxoeod tax dollars. 8€€# liuusd Board members also 8888^ IIN eipAuaajQ See MILLAGE on 3 aivd ■r'/' V: J ’'''rm ( ■s. 'p' / 4 A . t » * \ * B& 1 b I ..A.-;^ .> I * >!?%^ s* 's7o’. A 5< Editor ssioD BinobsteD adl ni EWtoV > ol b09ff nw jornab siowtoZ on fi no of ybM ni ^lun grailBiaqo beMsMnorl 4 Bfiffii bBSlEsmori-flon adl WiroriB — ^’jdo 9gifil c, .. 4^ I 'MW < **> 4 V 1 * J.X. , ' • r**** > 1, f ' T •'S t <r> '**i- Tr ■■i. < A*. ' lU* TnMff1fflitt-^«T^iri » A '"'“L] f : ■ s r Middleville Downtown Development Authority Chainwoman Kim Jachim stepped down from her position this week after serving on the board since 2019. Photo provided Middleville DDA forms new committees: chair steps down Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer The Middleville Downtown Development Authority plans to form and utilize four different com­ mittees to more effectively conduct its business moving forward. During the DDA board meeting Tuesday, Feb. 4, the eight-person group voted unanimously to estab­ lish ±e quartet of committees in order to form specializations amongst its members, who will look closely at specific facets of the DDA’s work. The four proposed committees include: Economic vitality - Focused on strengthening the commercial dis­ trict, market analysis, business sup­ port, infill development and adaptive reuse of commercial space; Design - Focused on enhanc­ ing the physical appearance of the development district, promoting maintenance and overseeing design review for historic preservation and rehabilitation projects; Organization - To encourage stakeholder engagement, mobiliza­ tion and shared vision for the future of the development district; and Promotion - Tasked with generat­ ing interest in shopping, dining, liv­ ing and investing in the development district. “The committees will play a criti­ cal role in the implementation of the DDA’s strategic initiatives and ongoing development efforts,” Doug Powers, director of community and economic development, wrote in a memo to the DDA board. No members have yet been appointed to the committees. Also, members agreed for the DDA to help the village cover some of the costs associated with replacing the display on the village’s digital sign. TTiough, first they wanted one of the newly-established committees to take a close look at it before deter­ mining how much. The electronic sign is positioned at the intersection of Main Street and M-37. While it is operable, as of September of last year, village administrators have not been able to update ±e sign’s messaging due to its existing radios no longer working and the internal components being beyond their useful life. The sign was originally installed in 2012 from funds put forth by the DDA. Last week, the village council voted to replace the LED display for an amount not exceeding $20,000. A quote for the work from Grand Rapids-based Postema Signs includ­ ed $17,985 for materials and compo­ nents and $1,465 for the installation work. The DDA has used ±e sign to pro mote various local events and agreed to foot some of the bill. Village offi­ cials stated they will move forward with replacing the sign this spring, regardless of what DDA decides. DDA board member Joe Mancini made a motion to split the cost 50-50, but the board was also split with a 4-4 vote. He then proposed See DDA on 7 aovisod s n aisisdd n 9 boeives bB21210 * X It ‘4 ,J $ A<^ t 1 r a« • -9 I ? ’■S 4 ftll i-, » \ 4./ I f 1 !3 j ' I 4 * < J' •'if A — 4 9 1 I i; ■'/i * •’z’l w. I. Si <T& »f V t k t I 4 t I K �.9 A < .1 1 2 Saturday, February 8, 2025 JI’" J, r• Oft Li? fl r I.' THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I 1 Caledonia choir hits high notes at recent competitions Dennis Mansfield Staff Writer Members of the Caledonia High School Choir program have been mak­ ing some noise lately. Seven of the CHS singers were recently selected to the Michigan All­ State Choir, according to choir director Kara Stevens. “These students have made it to the very top level of this program by pro­ gressing through the regional and state honors choir and now represent CHS in a choir of 80 ofthe best singers in the state of Michigan,” Stevens said in an email. t ► NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES b r ► I b b AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m. Caledonia choir members Cerys Smith, Susanna Vire, Ayden Taylor, Dalton Ed, Christian Moorlag, Landon Fleming and Christina Waldmiller will take their talents and perform at the MSVMA All-State Festival in May. If that wasn’t enough to brag about, 41 students in the CHS choir program recently participated in the District Solo and Ensemble Festival on Satur­ day, Feb. 1. According to Stevens, the CHS pro­ -am also sent two ensembles, chamber singers and men’s octet, both of which received perfect scores. Those participating included: Nathen Cox, Nicholas Amorose*, Addison Cook*, Alister Brew*, Christian Moor­ lag*, Tayla Bell*, Meghan Ruthven*, Lauren Parker, Liz Hilton*, Alexis Saidoo*, Nola Pearson*, Landon Fleming*, Kylee Zimmerer*, Evelynn Slomp*, Ayden Taylor*, Katelyn Fer­ ris*, Sophia Price*, Susanna Vire*, Stella Barnwell*, Zahara Muriithi*, Lydia Shoesmith*, Connor Parlin*, Emma Kellogg*, Savannah Robin­ son*, Audrey Scott*, Allison Malone*, Maggie Koopman*, Tiona Sakala*, Gabrielle Linker*, Made Mai*, Ellie Melano, Dalton Ed*, Caralyn Price, ••r 'I’* ) .|V r f AlZ 1 « / r.l e •{' J X I IS*' •.’ I .’fl I r 1 ■JO’ ? ', r. •/r » 1“ I / - t V I *r M I ft i’; Si! ) t N It P* V % fr Mf I 4r Caledonia High School Choir members (l-r) Cerys Smith, Susanna Vire, Ayden Taylor, Dalton Ed, Christian Moorlag, Landon Fleming and Christina Waldmiller will take their talents and perform at the MSVMA All-State Festival in May. Courtesy photos i' / 1 5*' J ,j rf-" i-’'' ..s>' A) J r . --S* V -►.t. •' ,• I •• X Mat*’ 1 ' u- * i •• t-' ». > I £ 1*4*; iJ* ; -t-' • M '^«U ■ lb J •J tF > I V ‘■IW *w ’J* » 'V t Ik >*. I -rid IC I A’ I I I « 1 The Caledonia High School Men’s Octet, pictured here, along with the Chamber Singers, earned perfect scores at the recent District Solo and Ensemble Festival. rSM - -J’- • r/j' ri i < * T ) I • -r. : 0 Rian Restau*, Claire James, Christina Waldmiller*, Derick Prichard*, Kort Thompson*, Luke Smith*, Cody Win * » * . ters* and Malachi Hanson*. (*) Denotes students who qualified for the state festival. .. ^Cfw li-' i < I f. r< ,***';^>* ( >* It I f t THE HASTINGS • *»- I BANNER f GFWC urges high school seniors to apply for scholarships Caledonia Community Schools Tuesday at Noon THE REMINDER has posted an RFP for Wednesday at Noon Asbestos Abatement Services the SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon The General Federation of Wom­ en’s Clubs - Gun Lake Area Women’s Club is urging local high school se­ niors to beat upcoming deadlines and apply for various scholarship awards. The GLWC is offering two, $500 scholarships to seniors Delton Kel­ logg, Martin, Thomapple Kellogg and Wayland Union school districts. The Gun Lake organization is All RFP information can be found on the district website: Group mihomepaper.com https://www.calschools.org/bond/ .1 1 < H I. 4* I 1 b . • ? ’ •' r •f !>• fl*. Io I**. 9 • 1 . 1 also set to award a $2,000 Premier Scholarship for one senior in each of the previous districts. Interested individuals should visit the Barry Community Foundation’s website, Barrycf.org, to fill out an application to be considered for the scholarships. The deadline for applications is Thursday, Feb. 20. DM U0 4 i* 'i .. 4 f I ' .41. I » - M I' •' t' 1 I b 1 I 1 b I' 1 I >. I t ( • >.< i • I****' * THE SUN AND NEWS ■ Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihomepaper.com J rJ < A mv 4J Group *«Jk Sports: Brett Bremer - bbremer@mihomepaper.com 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone; 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com I PUBLISHED BY CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 I Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com Copyright 2025 L® 2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Vbnker jyonker@mihomBpaper.com All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-945-1 9554). This newspaper reserves the right not to J accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. * < r I » •r, 5 • ...» V-ii 9 r III .j ■< : -r' •. X fW3’W 5*4^, __ * M«a Ml 4. — ..4 t I *’■ s Mb 4I :vj< f T. * I V" I, .J b l. < < I 1'. 4 t _ ,U'i ■'J ■ J! t' I » 4 1 I 2 WA CO. 9-1 -1 CElTER l- 1 I 11 10 12 r OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES I DIAL (800) 249-091lHON - EMERGENCIES 5 "Kids Measure up at^fawa Co. ^1-1 Center" 7*1 v« 4 5 I I 8 91 10 b / AJ > 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 19 20 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 �V THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com * * Saturday, February 8, 2025 Registration opens for fall bicycle race »I fsb v liauur Housing development near new Dutton School breaking ground soon .bM Molly Macleod Editor Crews will soon begin moving dirt on the site of a new, 44-unit housing devel­ opment on 30 acres along Pat­ terson Avenue, just south of 76th Street in Caledonia. The Dutton Preserve planned unit development will be located just south of the nearby new Dutton Elementary School which is set to open this fall. The Caledonia Township Board on Dec. 4 gave final ap­ proval to two separate rezoning requests and a site condominium plan, giving JTB Homes LLC and Interra Homes the final OKs before breaking ground. Our development will connect to the township trail network and route through the school,” said Jeff Hainer, land acquisition manager at JTB Homes. “We feel this project Vila*' oil I s - I f V*M J ... 4 ’ Jf .. I f a J C 1 1 A J L. / « f**,- 51 ' ’n s 1 V W i ffit I« I I Hl 4 , iij t ♦ Wika <1 b , < V I • k. f*?a^ mUEBBWC . I 1 I £pesj .1 4 has great synergies with the school, and we have been working closely with them throughout the process.” JTB Homes purchased the 30-acre property from Cale­ donia Community Schools. The homes will be clustered in such a way to allow 12.5 acres of the site to be main­ tained as open space in perpe­ tuity. Each ofthe lots will have a minimum size of 10,000 square feet and a minimum width of 75 feet, according to township docLunents. In addition, a 30-foot-wide access easement will be pro­ vided on the west side of the property, between two lots, that will connect to the neighboring Dutton School site so it can be used as a walking path for children going to and from the school. An 8-foot-wide shared use pathway will be also built along the length of the development along Patterson and connecting to the school property. The pathway along Patterson was required by the township as a condition of ex­ tending sanitary sewer to serve the development, according to township documents. In addition, the township also required JTB to build 5-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of the street within the development and plant two staggered rows of ev­ ergreen trees as a buffer be­ tween the development and Patterson Avenue. Despite an earlier request by JTB to allow parking on one side of the street, no on-street park­ ing will be permitted in the development, according to township documents. StaffWriter Greg Chandler contributed to this report. went to the polls with a renewal of the standard 18 mills, plus an increase of 1.8 mills to cushion reductions made from the Headlee roll­ back. That millage is now at the end of its life. There has been a millage reduction for Caledonia Schools in six out of the last seven years because of our growth,” Weeldreyer said. Weeldreyer shared his projections for the next five years, expecting Headlee rollbacks especially in the later years of the millage agreement. He said the .5-mill increase should act as a sufficient cushion for the district in the event of rollbacks. The district must levy 18 mills to receive its full foundation allowance, but cannot exceed that amount, Weeldreyer reminded the board. The .5-mill increase comes into play in the event of a tax rollback. Board members unani­ mously agreed to the increase last week, with the non-homestead millage request to appear on the May 2025 ballot. The eighth annual Lord of the Springs mountain bike races are still months away. But, before cycling racers and enthusiasts hit the trails, they need to register for the Sept. 6 event. Registration is now open for the 2025 mountain bike event that includes races of 37 or 19 miles on the Yankee singletrack and Barry Coimty gravel and two-track trails. There is a 10-mile gravel-only course, as well. And, for younger partici­ pants, there’s a kids “race” that’s free for children 12 and under. Kids will do a short loop in the field at the start/finish as many times as they can in 10 minutes. All activities begin and end at YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin, a few miles north of the top­ ranked Yankee Springs bike •••• • , .z !?r, I ? .1 MILLAGE ■I '‘*3y Continued from Page 1 'I?'*’/. iS' f ri^ R ;-<ti > J Mil J 4W arj V i ** ilth i A * I I* I I t t s f I M ^^31 t OBicaL: Wk z h . '74 p ' T• V ' ■ fit' X. 1 4 I n ' 4* 1. S’ b L 3 Ar go. P*vxr ' KI, ¥ » ■ "I•i >"l I'. ' fMI Ji liffC :: I I; •f ( fir.tn • ,t -4z ti<,hb£ I I ^2iW1 I ■! Il ^^4 > H I < & I I I I [iin I > 1 > 7“ I 4 t' XJ 4 ts?? <• >» Or< rtTi iJ * I I, I I 4k { 77k , a considered statutory reduc­ tions to the non-homestead millage that can occur during the five-year agreement. The Headlee rollback reduces millage rates when property values increase faster than the rate of inflation. “In 2018-19, that situation happened to us. Our overall property values increased by greater than the rate of inflation, so our mills, our 18 mills, were reduced by .1548 (mills), and that lost about $71,300 in revenue there in 2018-19,” said Weeldreyer. The next year, he said, it happened again. The total Headlee reductions between 2018-19 and 2019-20 added up to .3609 mills. Caledonia Schools ended up missing out on $186,200 in revenues. “That’s real money,” Weeldreyer said. When the district’s oper­ ating millage was set to expire at the end of 2020, Weeldreyer said, the board .2^ *.* *>* 4 RIVER CRUISING or I X* • 4s T lit**' It*' V V * /' •X J i -i S SB-i; •a; Registration is now open for the 2025 Lord of the Springs mountain bike races in Yankee Springs. trails, on Briggs Road south­ west of Middleville. Registration fees and other race details are posted online on the event’s website at lordofthesprings.com. — DM 0 4 4 > I 4 * ■» . 5 > . THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS ' Mr a* > t BILL MEDLEY & BUCKY HEARD FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 4 4 •As NOTHIhr BUT ▲ GOOD TIME * aU* *75^ I \ JOAN JETT LUDACRIS U’. &THE BLACKHEARTS SATURDAY, MARCH 8 t ' FRIDAY, APRIL 4 •ar**** Tickets available now at the FireKeepers Box Office or FireKeepersCasino.com. RIVER CRUISE VACATIONS FlBEKEEFEItS Experience the beauty and history of the St. Lawrence & Ottawa Rivers on a classic Canadian riverboat. Request our free travel brochure. GET YOUR Vliifv ON BATTLE CREEK 1-94 to Exit 104 I 11177 Michigan Avenue I Battle Creek, Ml 49014 Must be 21 or older. Tickets based on availability. Schedule subject to change. 1 -800-267-7868 www.StLawrenceCruiseLines.com 4 I f 'f I I T 1—t » > I |: I 1 A I I i 5 J ] 3 ' I -If T' Ij TV CASINO « HOTEL f ■ ■■ 3 I �r? t' fly ft ✓ I Saturday, February 8, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS WWW sunandnews.com ft ft A Commissioners debate spraying as county spongy moth population could soon see die-off *4* T ill laaj 002 bl t I ♦ fr V r Molly Macleod Editor Barry County Commissioners will decide in the coming months if aerial spraying is needed this spring to com­ bat spongy moth infestations around the county. Representatives from the Barry Conservation District spoke on spongy moth population trends in Bar­ ry County at last week’s Barry County Board of Commissioners meeting. New Barry CD Executive Director Danielle Zoellner introduced herself to the board last week before handing off the presentation to District Forester Ben Savoie, who, along with seasonal staff, has been studying spongy moth populations in various locations around the county. Savoie explained that Barry Coun­ ty’s “favorite critter,” the spongy moth, is an invasive species introduced in the 1800s as a failed silkworm experiment. The moths quickly spread across the United States. “We have done a study based on your (the commissioners’) request to figure out what the damages are going to be to Barry County for the coming years,” Savoie said. While spongy moths can feed off a number of different host trees, Savoie said the caterpillars prefer to feed on oak trees — a resource Barry County is flush with. “They appear in early May and feed throughout June and July, which is what most people notice,” Savoie said. “They eat all of the leaves on the trees and leave their waste everywhere. The adults themselves don’t feed, but they lay a lot of eggs, which perpetuates the problem into the next year.” Spongy moths operate on a five- to seven-year outbreak cycle, he ex­ plained. The population builds slowly, growing each year before a massive die-off once the population hits its ceiling. A disease that only infects spongy moths helps speed up the die­ off process. If commissioners decide to go for an aerial treatment to combat the spongy moths, application would occur in the I WE’RE HERE FOR J ALL rOUR WeAT/NG AND COOLING NEEDS .'U* >• southwest Barry County's many lakes. He saw Barry County's spongy moth infestation firsthand and took it upon himself to study it. He has been work­ ing with Barry CD. studying the spongy moth population in Barry Count). I own 8-and-a-half acres with my wife on Little Cedar i.ake, and a big chunk of that is forested. The spongy moths have been attacking madly so I sort of have some skin in the game. said Dwyer, Though he acknowledged there is room for error in these results, Dwver found 99 percent of the caterpillars he sampled that died were infected with the fatal spongy moth disease. He is hopeful that a die-off could soon hit the county’s spongy moth population. Dwyer said he has access to National Science Foundation funding through the university to help fund his ongoing research in Barry County. He should know by mid-March how present the disease is in Barry County spongy moths and whether an aerial treatment should be needed. As for now, the Barry Conservation District is expecting a lower spongy moth population this year than last, with peak numbers in the first few weeks of May. Should spraying be desired, Savoie said it may be wise to apply the treatment to isolated pockets of the county with high infestation rates mainly in the Delton, Hope Township and Barry Township areas. 1‘ i t 1 / i , I FIW' ' ♦ J 2 ; Dr. Greg Dwyer, an ecology and evolution professor at the University of Chicago, is teaming up with the Barry Conservation District performing his own research on spongy moth populations in Barry County and the presence of a deadly disease to spongy moths. Photo by Molly Macleod spring to affect the caterpillars as they feed. Savoie said the conservation district is working with a local scientist to see how present the fatal spongy moth disease is in Barry County populations. This could negate the need for any insecticide treatment. Dr. Greg Dwyer, an ecology and evolution professor at the University of Chicago, owns property on one of i ffTI 1 1 ! ; } ii .. m' t: Id: ‘ JU 'jrtl iS 1 Hi” A' j; : T. v» I llft> • ‘ 'o. I I 4 K t'- ( * «' w* Hl V t I'W ■ J ’ J 1 ,• .■ Vf-' ■ I ft * I I ft t 1 > r'7 d II r * 1 ) I I 1 t A I J It I . I f 1 4 B£:-- J r I- I 4 I I I UT>- X 1 ♦bb uk * .L> t I ?f' * {V9T V J r 4 .6>r ft tp I f 1^! 4 r-1/ . I i 5 ‘ I I I WT' . A .■'Z • jM } I*? T AliHiii Spongy moth caterpillar £ * I ¥ ft -V LJ F. L-. ’«=■■■*0.' ■'’x 5. 1 ^4 1 ( 0 * f . • .. ri • •• .4 * < f ••• 1 < * I i 1 X J 'A* I If #* \ . ** •i* * f * tea > A k ♦: I .f I I I 4 J* • J T J A+ 1 ^BBB. 1 I , r J r I 9 2 ? ACCREOlTEO BUSINESS 41 4 > .2 > A fl ■ In f. 4r w <4 . < I I. 2 vl fc. WACO. 9-1-1 crSJ ’ TER I 1 La 91 10 T'kl I I I I 1 14 151 161 171 181 19 I 1 I I 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES DIAL (800) 249-0911 ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at (Q wa Co. 9-1-1 Center". 111 12I 13 a? •S' 4 y - I " .*1^' r. .<J/nvr 1955 •• v:' 1 Wi' «_x- .df t LENNO^ K'fr- I * »» « ifTg W- ' * I T #.* <V 2l I 'ft S. ' ■1^ * A spongy moth caterpillar is seen munching on an oak leaf. Photo provided 8 r ** * * • »'r a » »• ..Ji I HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 "W ’Wil • A I DeWeerd (68) t 1• «*' ' I I 5 'M •I in 91 fe .4 * J* 4 t.l N VTW 1 ft GB vi!f I ■A'ft r*" ux • «w» ' I?,. t f. ,1 I V 6 [ tr. 1 p- i a 5 IhIui' 1 'rf .1. I 1 -Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers 4 < ’’.G '1 I ’ .fl -iM nt r. ^4 ru»i ‘ 1 JOf »W' t ■ *- Residential & Commercial R I r.a » 4 201 211 22| 231 241 251 26 271 281 291 30 *j>i: ii.'I. A i I �I 1 r i)b IJ i r.. 4 itf t »«>- I Saturday, February 8, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I ! ■ Scots take down Falcons with 11 guys scoring c;ta R Classifieds *, t I ■ 4 1 1 4 mnM ir'i^; ; I9 r *r 6 ;2 V 1 f fflO X 1 I • I ( '.'V, I ‘I 1 £ia4 Hr 8£>.. iT t*- ''' - 1 i 4 J -ki I ' 'l ■ -4, J 1I S k h. fttti ' 9 * r )B1<,"Wl- Lr*l I y F' 43J- r 4 ! I ■•ft." r T . t r I i ') f 4 i r, ft J1• I• * I gF S r* y 1 'y ** 1r k Hi A r f I !* I i •» bl/ If < f ' F .i ' I I 1 b I 9 s 11 ■ (£ ‘T RW . r f I. J I J J1. () . » b He .1 ♦ tlrl , «»*X ( ' I ’ « ■ft>l I I c5 ill} I i f r :w ■w 'V leys:^ ■ f f rr ■ ' 11 JU J Wfr f ■ * p .' 11 ... { / 'r^wj .362’’ 'J k _ • -/A I ♦♦ 91 kva I I Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Scots got their first win since Jan. 10 by knocking off West Catholic 60-44 in a non-conference ballgame at Caledonia High School Tuesday. The Caledonia varsity boys’ basket­ ball team was set to go for two in a row back at it in the OK Green Conference Friday at Jenison. Senior Parker Little had a team-high 14 points to go with three rebounds and four steals in the win for the Scots. Bryce Backus had ten points five re­ bounds four assists and two steals. Caledonia had 11 different players score. Senior Ralph Emesum chipped in eight points and five rebounds and Jarell Jefferson added nine points. The win moved the Scots to 5-12 overall this season. They were 1-5 in the OK Green heading into last night’s contest in Jenison. The Scots fell to visiting ReethsPuffer last Friday, Jan. 31, 49-45. Little had 14 points and Backus 13 in the loss to the Rockets. Backus had a team-high eight rebounds to go with two assists and two steals. Ben Geerdes chipped in eight points and seven rebounds. The Scots will be home to face OK Green foes Muskegon Tuesday and Byron Center Friday in the week ahead. Muskegon is currently 14-2 overall and '??♦$* I 1 4k A > .--€^ ’*K. -4 > BUSINESS SERVICES 3 • y % Dump Trailer Services, Bobcat Services, tree stump removal,site prep and clearing,dirt driveway installation and land clearing site prep. Fully licensed and insured. 616-389-9496 I c ’ V- iiiK * $ •l J n r I J. A 4. I / J TREE SERVICE 9 ■ '4' BUYING ALL HARDWOODS; Walnut, Oak, Hard Maple, Cherry. Paying top dollar. Call for pricing and Free Estimates. Will buy single walnut trees. Insured, liability & workman’s comp. Fetterley Log­ ging, (269)818-7793. I * Jk, * I < I 11 /r r -4 *• I I ' “ T 7 t I, •*’. .7 Fighting Scots junior guard Luke Witvoet (12) races to the rim past West Catholic senior guard Jack Holt (4) for a transition layup in the first half. Tuesday at Caledonia High School. Photo by Perry Hardin The Fighting Scots’ Malachi Hanson (13) elevates in the paint over West Catholic Falcon Jael Djouguem (24) during second half Tuesday at Caledonia High Schools. Photo by GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM Perry Hardin. cornerstonechurch 6-0 in the OK Green and the Bulldogs are right behind at 5 -1 in the conference and 13-5 overall. we’re casual, come as vou are. tzS T > A ft I i ii-; PI sr p k. VA hl > aK3^ « X J finit (18 Hi ft ( ■ I 18019111 beiB } io)iti3 jTc'h iLteH : IbU eon ►f/ dn l lilrf;;;’1 » I Ifi’ 4 ► k .ji t ) i'; -/ • r t 1 J I nolUSf' 16 210 ilrofl Loi- EOT w L? riJfw nojk-: . noaifi lifiv ol tea d-i?w te'jw 3f ni yelq ojnoulnaj ij I ’ “ K i6 I i k I i I 1 ' I i 51^>VZaJO3t^ ;fn 'U I 1 I WKk inoEfftelki Jfx )1 4 CHS girls get fifth Green win in six tries Vi A L ( - k fTai—IB i1iii»*" • • s* 1 a**. '<< 4 Caledonia I Grand Rapids I Wyoming COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Fighting Scots held their spot tied atop the OK Green Conference with Mona Shores by outscoring visiting Reeths-Puffer 51-27 last Friday. Both the Scots and Sailors went into this weekend’s action with 5-1 records in the OK Green. The Scots were set to visit Jenison Friday. They’ll return to conference play in the week ahead with ballgames at Muskegon Tuesday and Byron Center Friday. The Scots were 11-4 overall heading into that match-up with Jenison after a 44-20 loss to former OK Red Confer­ ence foe Grand Haven at home on Monday night, Feb. 3. The minutes of the 2025 January 14, Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on January 28, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 10OE Main Street and on the WWW. website at villageofmiddleville.orq. U| Join Us In Person or Online! S?i^ □ □ Scan the code or visit cornerstonemi.org to find locations and service times, plus ways to watch online! •— •i ■ rf: *< * ^*s /cornerstonemi ’o I @cornerstonemi I I I I -If' nit ' IQ 4 V I a 5# I ij k I <I I ZIr > * ■ 1 * , K .«^ tfi ti 4 1* w 4 f I t .1 1 I i I A 4 & \ I I I I I I ___ One Church • Three Locations ^0 I J Al “■V X* "•‘i ‘VOR; f 5 k �b 1 •••**»* I Saturday, February 8, 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com V •4 I fT A .1. /ri'; y‘‘ 4^' * I Sporting News I s I ■ z I I Young TK bowling teams staying positive, improving J J . Ilin ¥ A cS^' } } I Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Unity Christian girls kept their hold on the OK Gold Conference lead with a 17-13 win over the Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ bowling team at Hastings Bowl Monday afternoon. The Unity Christian girls improved to I l-I in OK Gold Conference duals with the win, but the Thomapple Kellogg girls made them work for their points. The Trojan teams are in a bit ofa growth period at the moment without a single senior on the roster. A handful ofreturnees are leading the way for the TK girls’ and r Valentine ' s Day M , D D fine usic boys’ teams while some youngsters new to the sport work on honing their skills and gaining experience here and there. “Things have been going pretty good,” Thomapple Kellogg head coach Cheryl Cooper said. “We have a lot of new kids out this year. I think I have five new boys and four new girls, so that is really good. I love that we have that interest coming back again for it. The kids are improving. We have a lot offirst time bowlers coming out. Some ofthe kids that have come back from last year are getting a lot better. They put in some practice time over the summer and you can see that.” She said a number of her varsity bowl­ ers, and some competitors from area schools got together for a youth/adult ancing ining and 616-891-0150 IN FULL SWING Live music 1 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm 11^ > l< I i IT 3O's THROUGH THE 50'S. ITALIAN STYLE DINNER WITH CHOICE LASAGNE, SALAD ANO DESSERT BAR. dance INSTRUCTION AT 6:45 AND LIVE MUSIC 7-9. BODY SHOP UPCCH4ING Dinner, Live Music & Dancing: March 14: West Michigan Homeschool fine Arts Big Band I & II; April 25: Easy Complete Collision Repair Doors (m>en at 5KX)pm Advance Tickets JUST $35 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 THEOLDTlffiATER.COM 315 West Main Stree Your trusfed Body Shop for over 32 years (616) 897-0007 4 X K r ■ I ' 1 I if’ V 0f • t tij In > ■ \ 4 « ( rV'> ^'■' K M i ^-1' p ’4 •< 1^ **r »> I . Bn<i . I, Zi't h < J if* u m 4 WA co. 9-1 -1 e TER i~r I 5 DIAL (800) 249-0911 Kids Measure up at II r L C5^ 111 12I 13 14 ' * 4 * V> I '■l , a r I ’’■^ 1 t V > * O* ‘ .1^ . J.* ,I » *i > ; A '4> t. / <: r 'X ’* ri « .< a A «»*• b. • n « , w r<.w»“ tt^ .y i /WMF9 L***' WK I ,1' . ’f.'u I ? 101 11 181 19 w » < 41 i ’M** U^''' N I / 211 221 231 24 w ( «l^ * 1 •a 4 :3 8 I ** * r A > .X aRrbaxaM- -1 aKO' I t 9 f '^esEBf I i u i w«-^W ’ H v-j I < I f 0» 1 I J t I hiiJl,': 1 t ' ¥ J raf i t .9 > I > ' »• 'nm* i X <r A r 1 i’RsiJmbse ■- s 1* -•‘.j 1 i ; laa tu 12 z* OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 20 1 V.^ Z See BOWLING on 7 I' B’h ) ,•1 517-983-0954 □ 4 'it'*- •” b I *4 A 5rfl* I \ Start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam -O > 1 251 261 271 281 291 301' J 8 4 r I >1 it' I »I fl t 1« f ?• } i f < I j b f f -’5 0^^ V I .. i A » ON - EMERGENCIES awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 151 161 171 :T . t r 91 10 . rfr*^ ff" f A4 Jl! I w'* 4 Al. I*’'" I ■. Jl p- II B I fi)«f r -11«^ 1 ■’J /. I t. z b I Kirs V* x«*'- 11 ej p I I a »♦ » A Jf f X •t *. I 4||M z W I I M < n TN FULL SWING' Big Band Group Dinner served at 6, brief vidual game but then recalibrated to throw a really good second game. The Trojan team won both Baker games on the day with scores of 163 and 134 beating out the Crusaders’ 86 and 111. Hoogterp and Robinett were pretty consistent Monday, and Robinett stood out with a couple of games in the 160s, a 167 and a 163. She earned a team point with the 163 in the second individual game. TK also got team points from a 131 by Hoo^erp in game two and a 115 from Hooten in game one. Phillips didn’t pick up a team point but had solid games of 118 and 147. The Crusaders outscored the TK ladies 727-634 and 655-632 in the two regular games. Unity was powered by Jaydan Blouw’s two games of 191 and 133 and Emily Dertien’s 146 and 148 games that won their team four ofthe individual game points. Emery Burdick had a 128 and a 139 to win two points for the Crusader team too. The TK girls are now 6-6 in conference 1^; duals this season after outscoring Wyo­ ming 28-2 in another conference match at Hastings Bowl Tuesday afternoon. Robinett had a big day Tuesday with individual gamesofl 79 and 153 to pickup two team points. Kayla Chapin-Dyer and Addison Petersen won two team points Thornapple Kellogg’s Jenna Robinett each too, and Hoogterp and Hooten won flings her ball down the lane during one team point apiece. Hoogterp rolled her team's OK Gold Conference a 147 and a 115 and Hooten had a top win over Wyoming at Hastings Bowl game of 113. Tuesday. Photo by Brett Bremer The TK ladies took the two Baker games with scores of 176 and 112 against the Wolves. The Unity Christian boys took a 26.5 to 3.5 win over the TK boys Monday, im­ proving to 8-4 in the confer­ free ence. Estima'®® TK got individual points from Travis Sholty with a • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation 171 in the second regular • Blown-in Attic Insulation game, Colten Wiest with a 202 in the second regular game and Myles Chambers t performed by the band performing hits from the league at Hastings Bowl in the fall, which took a pause during the high school season and will start back up again in the spring. The group ofreturning girls leading the way for the Trojan team includes Jenna Robinett, Casey Phillips, Aubrie Hooten and Kenzie Hoogterp. Coach Cooper said Phillips had a good start to the afternoon Monday in the Baker games, lost her mark a bit in the first indi- ✓ I — > 1 �I * T»«* I I, 11 r r 9- ... a, — BOWLING .*s< ex ; mt •< Ml < . -J f 3 1 '^1 I Continued from Page 6 * 5 1 I n. with a 125 in the first regular game. Sholty also split a point in the first regular game thanks to a 123 that matched his Crusader foe. fhat was the second game over 200 for Wiest in recent weeks. rhe Crusader boys won both baker games and the two regular games those 20 points. The TK boys are now 1-11 in confer­ ence duals. They were bested in a close one with Wyoming Tuesday 16-14. TK had the early lead thanks to tak­ ing the overall total in the Baker games. Wyoming took the opener 156-129, but TK rallied fora 144-112 win in the second Baker game to give the Trojans a 6-2 lead going into the regular games. Things started well in the regular games i I 3 * X ■ I K> '* * I I.» I 4 *r { 9 T^. .» I *0 x'X>x » » I ■% ( 4 4• A XS. i > K. A ;» K V I * <1 f /n* b *>X I Ob.. 9 I A 9 » ‘TU r •Uj. lik ' > ' JJh ‘III’.. ' • - / t A ( <1 1 01 •I > I. > « Itil! 9>t<4 1 I 1 > ib M). “ 1 ’J i» s t. J ^4 t r— ii> lA A I ' C<-^ I I . DDA ' Continued from Page 1 it «JI sending the matter to the newlyestablished Design Committee, which received unanimous support. Members of the DDA noodled on the idea of using the sign to gener­ ate additional revenue, potentially selling advertising packages for private events or businesses. The new sign will have greater capa­ bilities, such as displaying colored graphics and animations. Tuesday’s meeting later conclud­ ed with a statement by chairwoman Kim Jachim, who grew emotional as she announced she would be stepping away from her leadership role. The DDA board has been bare­ bones for the last year or so, but Jachim now leaves with many of the seats having been filled. “These are my final comments,” Jachim said. “I read this morning: ‘Start living your life, time is pre­ cious. We often delay our plans, our happiness and our goals and we think everything should fall into place. Meanwhile, we miss the moments that really count.’ “With that being said. I’ve led this DDA board this community — and have been on the board since 2019,” she added. “It’s been a privilege to serve. But a wise leader knows when to leave. Thank you for allowing me to do what 1 called my ‘feel-good job. Mr* •I A s t* *»*. A . I ibttlrlo yndfT p filial tu^ * •I , *• I J J jpBPJtrr/btt imw9« ■«■' ivaf ‘»i);®ii BK riau^.e iJ-A 4 —w I u J , an . •'^1 t ' a ■ $ I i If ♦ If '>• ■t- 1 t I \ J 4. •I * t r {>A.. . F f* "JI , ' u J9 irtr-:. 9. S>7 7’ v» A I I** » 4 2211(1); < OPH ®biSii sdiJitijri > /JOI./ 9 u .. I Mt Iklfetob s lx I t li 4 44 M-y i •w V T t «r*' 'I! > ‘ :■ 15 I I r ®£ ' f rl* t' 4 f t”"' 7 ii L 1^1 I'l f ft «sft! '^' eI .;m.-S5:M}v' . I t jg '.•• M* |i t . > «asi«® r**' ■ r ■ I 9 lijSteW® •f ) « ' rX •* THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com MM* ■i T k too with the TK boys taking a 624-608 win in the first one and winning three of the five individual points. TK got points thanks to a 130 from Sholty; a 158 from Wiest and a 128 from Chase Buter. That first regular game bumped the TK lead to 13-4, but the Wolves rallied to outscore TK 10-1 in the second regular game and take the overall total in those tw o games for two more points that pushed Stem to the victory. Sholty scored the TK team's lone indi­ vidual point in that second regular game with a 112, but the TK boys actually rol led better in that second game. They won the first regular game 634-606 and then were outscored 701-635 in the second. Buter won a point in that opener with his 128 and then rolled a 149 that didn’t score for his team in the second game. That was because Wyoming’s Carmelo Berry rolled a 103 in the opening game and then surged to a 166 in the second game which was the top individual score of the day. Despite the TK girls’being around .500 and the boys having just one conference win so far, coach Cooper said, “they have a pretty positive attitude. [Coach] Ray [Guild] and I pretty much we’re always telling them as long as you’re improving yoursel fand getting better that is what you have to look at. Sure sometimes when they have a bad game they struggle a little, but overall their attitudes are pretty good.” The Trojans close out the OK Gold Conference duals playing host to Wayland Feb. 10 at Hastings Bowl and then head­ ing to Northfield Lanes to take on Northview Feb. 12. The OK Gold Conference Championship Meet is set for Feb. 14 at Spectrum Lanes. Buter had a strong day at Spectrum lanes Sunday as the TK boys participated in a regional tune-up where they each got to roll six games. He averaged 165 for the day. The TK girls get their turn at a regional tune-up this Sunday, Feb. 9. * M ■*^*^*—. - r «lkk ’••A*: ’ A I ♦r? L I if * : AI c r .f » 1 * ‘ ' I. I 1 T ?•• J I ■ f * The Trojans' Chase Buter lets a shot loose during his team’s OK Gold Conference dual with visiting Unity Christian at Hastings Bowl Monday afternoon. Photo by Brett Bremer gjsfe- Middleville Rotary ■f t. I » I 1 I I I I 1 b> * February 14, 2025 Serving Time: 5:00pm - 7:30pm Date; Location: Thomapple Kellogg HS School Cafeteria (Girls & Boys Varsity Basketball Games-starts at 6:00pm) MENU Spaghetti Garlic Bread Salad Bar Drinks: Coffee, Punch, Milk, Water Optional by donation: Dessert (Cake, Pies) Costas) Adults: $12 Students: $6 Couples: $20 9 ) Downtown Middleville ■ 1 faffuroMe jparks@fbinsmj.com FarmBureauinsurance.com ( Bit FARM BD^LAD M8LlttANCE‘ 121 E. Main Street I at Business (269) 795-8827 1 /< Your local agent insures your Jason Parks 7 Saturday, February 8, 2025 1 y' *• < Presale Tickets are available at Thomapple Township Hall or from any Rotarian / I «» 1 4 I » i n 1 I 1 9 I I I J 3 9 V. -J? I Iti 1^ •f?. J •A I f j t f H II % % a II I I I I k b I I 4 I n « I 1 1 t 1 ) I 5 V I I I �4^ > k ■■ 4 I * T I Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Grand Rapids Gars varsity boys’ swim co-op spearheaded by TK cel­ ebrated its senior night with a 102-72 victory over Grand Rapids Catholic Central at Grandville High School Tuesday. The Gars had six different guys win individual events and the team took the victory in each of the night’s first two relays. Senior Hunter Tietz took first in two individual events. He won the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2 min­ utes 17.38 seconds and the 100-yard backstroke in 1:03.69. Tietz anchored the 200-yard medley relay team for the Gars that opened the night with a winning time of 1:51.56. He was joined in that win by Gabriel Van, Luke Hemker and Ethan Klop­ fenstein who all won individual races throughout the night too. It was that same foursome that also won the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:43.66. f I 9 MWIHWIP * I .--7 n F\ F L. «* / r k-.l 4. e 1- 2^ |X J < J n jj II :9 r /a d 4k« uj I *1 I - SWIM << rt- I U A'l 4 The Grand Rapids Gars swim co-op and coach DJ Cochran (back) celebrate seniors Nolan Send, Luke Hemker, Adlai Kersey, Ethan Klopfenstein and Hunter Tietz during the team’s OK Rainbow Tier II Conference dual with Catholic Central at Grandville High School Tuesday. Photo provided I w Same Day Dentistry cotc^eo to vour hca’mcrt neods F 4* Implants . 'L'tjrn you' icvf'"’ t aoC'Ci 9 Pediatric Dentistry ' * v/fth kid-tricndiyccticri$ Cosmetic Dentistry fr,f I' 1 The senior group for the Gars this winter includes Tietz, Hemker, Klop­ fenstein, Nolan Send and Adlai Kersey. Send was the champ in the day’s 200-yard freestyle race with a time of 2:04.02. Klopfenstein won the 100yard butterfly in 58.74 seconds. Hem­ ker took the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:18.35, one ofthe toughest races ofthe night. He beat out Catholic Central’s Chris Padron by just six hundredths *.«b ¥ A 'I t i •; }> 34? Goo^ renews ' >' U‘- * kV . r '.'.* '>0 5 V f « HK T i 4 t y * V' * It A I -y_\ if •< i. A A." It !i<a I *}' ■» k. J tv M V-’ 9 i ibatiRiX 1 izk •’> I .•^ ►’*• • > \ • UI '>. il)> '^ ! T . ■ A esTtlnav* 4 - C' ■ Al 8 fc'^ ., • vA'4'1 sfl I ' 5* ' , tl 4« 4 * le »>• ! 01 i »• * 4 ;i»^. id -A ► I 5? I .<« i 1 k»^' ««««‘'^ iJ'V' '-^tfc- ^-•l ». n. ' 1 A( « I « V .4 --'f , % >' f"*. ' J : I I i r« Wl • a 4 I I MJtU . 1 t > *1^., > •s M', »■’“ <* a li 'J- T J. ‘ I 3 I ¥ 1 » 4 ’ ■■ 4 1 U|«f I { k b — f I I 1 *« pi‘k ♦ » 1W > j' «1 T •m I MBB i .I,jt J ** » - ' IflMMi ? ’I J . "tTl ;si V ri c I'. r- i r, i .N»( I V r« ■’« 4* 1 5^ ‘ -K- t » Ml f ! >■ I I srwfoTishsr ■i I I • 4 $ ( W fe *MM TIL s 4 •< • J .. t f i < I W?. ICSty.;u.- V V I J 4 fj £ M iM 1 I IT I I 4 1 I" I I I L I f a DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES WA CO. 9-1-1 CEAtER "Kids Measure up at Q.lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center *4r7 { 1-J. 10 I.. ■ <• I * I * * * 11 I 12 ! OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES H 1 f 4 5 8 91 10 111 121 131 141 lI 151 161 171 181 19 111 I 11 I I 11 11 I I I 201 21| 22| 23| 24 •l 25| 26| 27| 28| 29| 301; III I I Illi J III Illi I I U] 1 1 1 I h *1 { I « ( Ik I iV t• i a f f’ I A f < I I 1 1 / I i f • > «• b • { ’ . •# / * ' ■\W«I i If' J I 7 Ui 1 I f » ■> 4 » M r t * iB|j'377 I 5 4t J I i’ » k« Tuesday: March 4th. 2024 Org. Meeting - 10:00AM Appeal dates: Monday: March lOth, 2024 9:00AM - 3:00PM Tuesday: March 11th. 2024 3:00PM -9:00PM All reviews will be heard by appointment only. For appointments call: (616) 891-0070 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia Ml 49316. Written appeals must be in the Twp. office by Thursday, March 6, 2024, The 2025 equalization tentative ratios and estimated multipliers for the Charter Township of Caledonia will be as follows: Tentative Ratio Estimated multipiier Agricultural: 46.57 1.0737 Commercial: 47.57 1.0511 Industrial: 47.58 1.0509 Supervisor: Bryan Harrison Residential: 46.10 1.0846 Assessor: Katie Roodvoets Personal: 50.00 1.0000 Office Hours 9cy*T>6pm 7am-3pm 8CKn-5pm 8on>4pm m Bon- F * ! ’ I 2025 March Board of Review I M TU W Th F .«u- I \. \- Ik 4 • Charter Township of Caledonia Kent County - Michigan I Mertzon ih.s cffet Alien you ccli or b'lng I :fiis coid w.th you 12715 w M-179 Hwy « V^nkeeSpringsDental.com Wayland, Ml 49348 ♦ *> f'.' I □ (269) 792-9723 '» .*7 ? M 60 ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM \2O7. OFF your first visit Scan to request an appointment and learn more ( X 11 t : I A 1-^ k 4 r*^ 1 Dental exams are even more important as we get older, preventing problems and reducing the risk of serious illness. YANKEE SPRINGS DENTAL :ns »• -/"V. Come experience the welcoming atmosphere of our ruroi, locoi office, where our o lients know each other. Tyler Veneman, DOS is a native of Coledonjo who keeps up on the latest technology within dentistry and enjoys getting to know the potients' unique needs r / , ■tDE-LT'^'DENTAL HEALTHY KIDS' MND"BLUEkCRCfSS:BkUE SHIEl^ ' - > HEALTHY-KIDS About Yankee Springs Dental i . --J NOW ACCEPTING aSS 'Ji' 4 f fl A • a 1 * I r *.nb w«r 4 / I mA * *T —A * 4 I We treat our patients like family and offer I comfortable, customized dentistry for everyone. « T • ♦ * FAMILY IS EVERYTHING TO US •4 of a second. Van joined Tietz in winning two races for the Gars. The took the 50-yard freestyle in 23.80 and the 500-yard freestyle in 5:20.28. The Gars also had Ethan Magnuson win the diving competition with a score of 141.20 points. Grant Hillary was the only Cougar to win an individual event. He took the 100-yard freestyle in 55.75 seconds. He was also a part of the winning Cougar 400-yard freestyle relay team at the end of the night. The Gar team had Ty Denney and CadenBliek placed 2-3 in that 100-yard freestyle race Hillary won. The Gars had good representation at last weekend’s MISCA Meet in Holland. Van met the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 state qualifying time in the 100-yard butterfly while placing 12th in 53.65 seconds and he was also 24th in the 100-yard backstroke in 57.19. Klopfenstein placed 28th in the 100yard butterfly in 57.37 and 33rd in the 100-yard backstroke in 57.55. Tietz placed 41st in the 100-yard backstroke in 58.32. The Gars also had the 200-yard free­ style relay team of Send, Tietz, Denney and Van place 29th in 1:34.92, moving up a handful of spots from its seed time and inching closer to the state qualify­ ing mark it is shooting for. That same foursome was 22nd in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:28.04. > r �♦ ♦ ♦ THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Saturday, February 8, 2025 9 ♦ Forest Hills Northern rallies to take down TK in OT < 1 A s I 1 i ■V’-' r ► 'L 4’k. %J I T Brett Bremer Sports Editor « T' (. t I 7’ J I I OrijLr J '' t; / I K I f ,'ri1118710 Iwo < J' n . 1 ' h a' Lul) *» i ♦ ' 4 I F ^01J I* •* f. >■ < .1 .T rbfl: I I u fc ..... 4 • 'J J 1 .^>1 * I 4- r Wk 77t 4 Gi .1 r\ I r! :X . 3.^i Mt* <»r» , L' li Its i(t -« M.¥ i .1* 7 Ue I I i i,. J -r •) < I' 3.J f . 1 I • ’ r TG*. »I 7 t r »< ,3 Bb. I *• rvi fjlv J 'T/ >« ’ ■ C« . - •-.i- 4b *V > Dli. *T : r *4^ J ► -*1 'Xi dtu .. !C4 » A * I I I 4 *“1/^ I loilniq’ t ■^'■. t 30:iiUW rd! :aci‘ V » J i . Having the home court advantage for just the second time in 2025 wasn’t enough to push the Trojans to a Thursday night victory over Forest Hills Northern. The Husldes dug out of a double-digit first halfhole, took control late in the fourth quarter before the Trojans managed to force overtime, and eventually prevailed 55-52. Forest Hills Northern was able to get to the rim too often late in regulation and into the extra session whe±er in the half court or while taking advantage of a few Trojan turnovers. TLe Trojans hit six of their first eight three-point attempts to lead 26-15 wi± 4:40 to go in±e firsthalf, but he FHN team rallied to get within six points by ±e half. Junior Ben Lloyd, who set the TK boys’ record for threes in a game with nine Tues­ day at Hamilton, hit four more in ±e first half and finished wi± five for the night The TK lead was still 39-37 at the start of ±e fourth quarter, but the FHN boys built a lead of as many as four points in the fourth. TK needed a three from Lucas Ploeg wi± 24.2 seconds to send the ballgame to overtime tied at 47-47. Malachi VanEngen got into ±e paint to score the opening bucket of overtime for TK, but Northern went on a 6-0 run over the next three minutes to go in front 53-49. Lloyd’s fifth three of the game got the Trojans to within 53-52 wi± 1 ;09 to play, 41^ but every Troj an chance the rest ofthe way came up empty. TK had ±e ball, out of timeouts, with 30 seconds remaining, but couldn’t get a shot against the Husky defense as the clock ticked down. Eventually a foul was whistled on Northern with 5.8 seconds to play. The Huskies were still one foul shy of the bonus. VanEngen had a three from the right comer blocked by FHN’s Peyton Pascoe and TK got to inbound the ball again with one second left. The Trojans got it in to Jude Webster, but he was swarmed by the defense and ofTbalance he tried to dish offa pass to Lloyd as the time expired. Webster finished with a team high 18 points. Lloyd had 15. Trey Hilton and Lucas Ploeg, who both fouled out before the end ofthe night, had six and five points respectively. Forest Hills Northern got 21 points from 6-7 senior Joey Angok, nine from Moody Dahabra, ei^t from Kyle Brown and seven apiece from Tuthiil and Pascoe. The TK boys returned to OK Gold Conference play Tuesday at home and were downed 71 -31 by South Christian in Middleville. TK went into this weekend’s action with a 9-8 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the OK Gold. The Trojans were slated to host North­ view Friday, Feb. 7. Forest Hills Northern improved to 6-9 overall on the season with the win in Middleville. 32 I ** » i i s I i B’Ml ri ■ Mr' I r f I I ’1 ■9»4«i ♦ 1 >. >7 I W': li 4 ♦ ► / . % >« Et. . < 4 ’ 1 / I z.dk r • / •;*ir' Jr j 1 I I !W1t J , ' r f I I (; t I 9 r 7f i I I .••I lOf'* urf I I I i 1 i 4; i 4 r. y » E P JB X ■*1 L a 1 I I •• • • F I V t • •• :< * i 1 > A ■ J* * >« . * A * 77^ » ^9 4 » »/• 4 >k b' >. - >« 4M « * -J; « « •V *• • * 4 > Tt 1 w .S*®' A NOW HIRING View Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST 81 TO4IJS Group *< a I-' Forest Hills northern senior guard Jacob Tuthiil floats towards the basket to get a shot off between Thornapple Kellogg's Malachi VanEngen and Elliott Neff during the first half of the Huskies’ non-conference win in Middleville Thursday, Jan. 30. Photo by Brett Bremer ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer's Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder I .4.*. I • '.S'' ' k I t Sr V i t I? 1 I. I B I email wsmith(a)mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 1 - ■ •v I* ^^1 »*« Bif d^' ’ 4 4 r» w • Advertising sales • Account management • Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts • Attend networking events 4 '•« OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY Responsibilities include: *. * « J s n ♦ -'fl b k k t > I » 5 « �/*> 4 » » A » ■ *- • «*• • •4*1 I X I Saturday, February 8, 2025 10 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com U*' I 1 i I ♦ ♦ •l? AT J J r PK? . «■ ’ J* «• t •* * . w^^i ♦ Ib»^ ■■.J I 4 ♦ ♦ > t ■ ' t t < t A' * k i. t i 9, * si •? 1 k ' i L« u 1^ K «r ^^ iLi 44 4 ♦»; * •*-u 1 ffr-i 'n I e *1 i F r • Kilt (<’’^49!^ ■ I r • •r 9 i « V t ■ I V. I ) B ? I? A - 1 . 1^, * • .(nr. *» .■•SiS <’ Mr* I '“I.*"'; • • <1 Oi w A I / 4k^ -r^y ■' A t' I HI i f w• 1 «1 )• t 11 4 ) /* 1 t rtk* / Are you creative! -.a^Tr .t-^ . 4 •* .« I nfl*' S' » «*.)>■ View Newspaper Group is seeking a lull-time NOW HIRING GRAPHIC DESIGNER 1 T'-l Responsibilities include: • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout • Interviewing • Writing • Editing 4 SlCi’ i % 4 a- •n' 4 t « I J Til Jt 1 .. « :7w & r. •4 r si A I' “■3 I Ma y I I I 4r I ■ S ’i Il « 1. * I •r I '.» ■A • *lr 1*'' > fF J i^C' f: « «• r '.U > <* 9* r '9r^ ,,;r' J'* * k V -. '•■ I.. .. p •' • f • Coverage of local events, meetings and the community c ’V RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! •M f * V View Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time, experienced news and features reporter to join our growing team of journalism professionals. — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS — & si' I '' STAFF REPORTER View Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time graphic artist for our Greenville location. 4^* I'*!" 5 * I I I ak*AX « |T: '< ..- • Photography • Networking • Copy Editing 4 i «• I r, k k nr,J PJ L-v 1 I .4 dj' tai t » i *•• • Qualified individuals must have a four-year degree in journalism or related communication field and be: • Proficient in Associated Press Style • Deadline-driven • Positive • Friendly • Outgoing • Have the ability to work some nights and weekends IVe love what we do and we know you will too! Are you the person fve need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@mihomepaper. com and let’s find out! V V "i-. ti C- I- « "T I i . Ji3.=l/T'^K1. ♦ «*« XK .1 a 4 J; >h‘- ^<1 'B « • ;,: r* * .tel <1*«w A - **..•U " * ri -I’ \1? * ** Qualified applicants can send a resume to View Newspaper Group Publisher wsmith@mihomepaper. com •J I e r "-.U. .* « 1 k r ^••A. V We love what we do and we know you will tool Group ^Al a .L.AA*:* * . Cm! » 4BW fa *• n li*. t I f Us';' •4 J- ■ ■ - ■ • -',.’ I mJ ; 4 n.. br w Tri-County Times B Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ac Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen < The County Press =:^ Lapeer Area View a. Genesee County View . Huron County View - Sanilac County News Your Buyer's Guide Jeffersonian « Group ^Al « The Lowell Ledger _ The Hastings Banner .nr Buyer’s Guide & News The Sun and News Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Reminder 1 1 1 !"is I i f ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian We are a growing company of 21 community newspapers serving 15 Michigan counties that are delivered weekly to more than 335,000 households with an additional500,000 monthly online readers. ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer's Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder 5>. 'wsh’''- • **WE: - I I < ■H 1\',- r t )Ml! f®!'4 i/U. 4 . » .. 71^ 1 k, •l 'J i^ ? ;t' FT? ' ’FFT’ .■^’' fl T I' r * .? » I. 4 co. 9-1 -1 CEATER 5 8 r I 1^* 91 10 5 I •TTr 11 10 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES ft k a DIAL (800) 249-0911 -MON - EMERGENCIES Kids Measure up at (Xlawa Co. 9-1-1 Center It 111 121 131 14 ‘r II 151 161 171 181 191 20 I 211 221 23 241 251 26 .p 271 281 291 30 t I' *1 > I H « j I I ) T I r. I,' I b b < { A. d 6 ) I « 4' d t ! I I �♦ www.sunandnews.com THE SUN AND NEWS Saturday. February 8, 2025 11 ♦ Scots score first district titie in eight years z 4 Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia had five guys win two matches and a whole lot of other guys get done what they needed to get done at Portage Northern High School Wednesday. The Fighting Scots won their first district championship since backto-back titles in 2016 and 2017 by outscoring Portage Northern and then Mattawan at the MHSAA Division 1 Team District hosted by the Huskies. Caledonia got enough work done early on against Mattawan in the dis­ trict final that the Scots could void the 190 and 215 pound weight classes and take a 37-35 victory. “It goes back to how there are two big things when we started there last year, just telling the kids ‘those who stay will become champions’. It is go­ ing to be a journey,. It doesn’t happen overnight. Stick to the system and they did that,” Caledonia head coach Shawn Veitch said. He feels like that system has his guys peaking at the right time of the season. Cayden Nostrant put the finishing touches on the win with a 23-14 major decision in his 175-pound bout with Mattawan’s Conner Taylor. Nostrant was one of the five Fighting Scots to take two wins on the night, joined by Max Schnurstein, James Car­ row V, Robert Restau and Ben Moss. But there are 14 weight classes, which tells you that a lot of other kids did their jobs stepping up and winning matches we needed to win, but also go­ ing six minutes to save points and that was especially big against Mattawan.” Mattawan threw one of its top wres­ tlers, Aidan Robinson, at the Scots early. Capable ofwrestling at 190, Rob­ inson opened the dual at heavyweight and scored a pin. The Wildcats got pins in two of the first three bouts, but those were the only times the Scots got stuck on their back in the final. Alish Basnet saved a point for the Scots by avoiding getting pinned by Mattawan’s Dylan Putman in the 126-pound bout, holding Putman to a 20-3 technical fall victory. Coach Vietch was also pleased with Mu­ hammed Turk holding the Wildcats’ 1 1 j ' 01 M .C I 1’ r * i ■dj W J 9^ . H. d £- * *«• ]» J 1.' bar '■ (g: 4 * 1 £5 ■ iH >rri(l A&( i J J '■ I ' U .-lii f '1? am I 1w t* )I 7 i G Ti WO 4 9 I 1 iyyiii J ' 4 < J <r 1 A/ i V. f » 1 Bl, * I rt '*; f I 4 ’ I ■*Oi X « f <4' G 4 * .......... I t « r V 4 1 : ..*M Hl HA k v‘^-* WL Ji ■ JI At • I . r * V * 0 i w 1 ? . I Ml I o 1'4. S > r.. 4 .'’I . • »t 1 *’ *Ad • { J I I 1 ■ » s H i t k I t i <<»K; f T • 7^ I J 1 > 1 / ■ » ''‘aYr J I I• I I! I I « I r ♦ I •» 9 •t*/ I ' f GJ > Ir I /J t * f J i >J * 1 f I « *4^ • P ‘f ' »« f I 4 % fifOU? 1 Tf I I I ? --rT< p: w ji'j . I / * I-r^^- M < • V 1 . zt I 't.' I * _ji ! if n nn SflK f I a* I i l—J t — •c- r: 4 r • WM I I DOB PBUMB I L PUCK A' • 1 8^ I A V *r 4*:l t ’I- z •A * * • ► 9> I 1 ** I ^9^ ' >• i ...* 1 f •• •Mir J « -K eL«^ :f* w*f * K I •,r A■ 8 ♦ Te The Caledonia varsity wrestling team celebrates its first district championship since 2017 following a win over Mattawan in the MHSAA Division 1 Team District Final at Portage Northern High School Wednesday. The Scots will head to Brighton for their team regional tournament Feb. 12. Photo provided Gabe Love to an 8-1 decision in the 165-pound bout. Sometimes not giving up points is as good as scoring them yourself. Veitch did want more from Josh Grace in the 120-pound match early in the dual. The Scots trailed 12-6 at that point after Mattawan’s two pins and a pin from Schnurstein at 106 pounds. Grace gave up a take down and a pen­ alty point to trail 4-0 at the end of one period and Veitch got on him reminding him that a match is six minutes long. “He was one move away from getting it done. His second period, he came out with a whole different mindset and energy and ended up sticking the kid,” Veitch said. Carrow got a pin for the Scots in the 132-pound match to put his team in front 18-17 and Caledonia led the rest of the way. Restau followed with a pin at 138 pounds. Moss outscored the Wildcats’ Zack Miller 9-6 at 144 pounds. Koleson Reeder added a pin for the Scots at 157 pounds. Luke Kowatch, Xavier Stewart, Carrow, Restau, Moss and Will Sheely had pins for the Scots in the district semifinal win over Portage Northern. Schnurstein won by void at 106 pounds against the Huskies. The Scots also had Nostrant score a 4-2 win over Cayden Nazakians at 165 pounds and Escher Reeder earn a technical fall in the 113 pound bout. Veitch also noted that while he didn’t get a win in his 190-pound bout, fi-eshman David Tiers did a lot to inspire his team with his preparation in the week leading up to the district tournament to be ready to wrestle at 190. He hadn’t quite yet made weight there yet, and due to illness the Scots needed him there. That gave our team a lot of positive energy to know that a freshman and he’s going to be tough too, would cut down for the team because we needed a 190 pounder. Positive vibes in the practice room. It was so cool to see and have that entire team piece as we talked about it for the last week, - how each individual needed to do their jobs.” Last Friday, the Scots were a part of the OK Green Conference Tournament in Jenison. Byron Center took the day’s championship with 180 points ahead of Reeths-Puffer 158.5, Jenison 146.5, Caledonia 133, Muskegon 124.5 and Mona Shores 83.5. The Scots had nine guys in the top four in their respective weight classes and eight total in the top three. Nostrant was the conference champion at 165 pounds pinning Ja Mier Jefferson from Muskegon in the third period of their championship match after pulling out a win with a takedown in a sudden vic­ tory overtime period against Jenison’s Carlitos Leija in the semifinals. Schnurstein at 106 pounds, Carrow at 132 and Restau at 138 all placed sec­ ond. The Scots got third-place finishes from Escher Reeder, Grace, Sheely and Koleson Reeder. Turk placed fourth. Scot hockey tops Sailors in conference tourney Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity hockey team opened the 2025 OK Con­ ference Tournament with a 4-0 shut out of Mona Shores at GrifTs Georgetown Ice Arena in Hudson­ ville Tuesday. That earned the Fighting Scots another shot at an East Grand Rap­ ids team they upended 2-1 earlier this season in the second round of the conference tournament Friday, Feb. 7. The conference tournament wraps up today, Feb. 8. Saturday’s game-time will be determined by Friday night’s result. Caledonia is slated to close out the 2025 regular season hosting Grand Rapids Catholic Central Feb. Hand then visiting Mona Shores Feb. 15. The win over Mona Shores to open the conference tournament was the second straight win for the Scots who knocked off the Eastside Stars co-op filled with Lansing area teams Okemos, East Lansing, Eaton Rapids, Haslett,Charlotte, Owosso 4-2 Feb. 1 at Kentwood Ice Arena. 1 ■ I • I J I ■ ^.■. f jU. I . Mi I J; f I i« * «o I a’lnd V A 1 I t <* ( ♦ <■ 4 ' » 9 ' I Is I 3‘ I ■4 u * *I 4 I t L I c n I a f i \ I I I ♦ �12 Saturday. February 8, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www sunaridncws com CHS skiers challenged in regional tune-ups Brett Bremer Sports Editor Regional time is here. The Caledonia varsity ski teams will head to Cannonsburg Monday, Feb. 10, for their MHSAA Division 2 Regional hosted by Grand Rapids Christian. The Fighting Scots really tested themselves for a push to try and qualify for the state finals on Monday, Feb. 3, al Schuss Mountain for the Claire Invitational. “Schuss Mountain is one of the best race venues in the state of Michigan, which translates to: it is a huge steep slope,” Caledonia head coach Duane Petrosky said. “About half of our girls have not raced KINGDOM COME at Schuss, which is 550 feet of steep slopes and some incredibly fast courses and the girls really skied well.” The Caledonia girls were seventh overall and the Caledonia boys sixth. Petrosky said his guys were really hoping to build some regional mo­ mentum, but they got off to a bit of a slow start. “We had a climb and a couple DNFs in GS, which pushed us way back in the points after the first event. At the break, we talked about having to focus on one run at a time to finish the race on a positive note and the guys did. DJ Potgeler led the way for the CHS boys in the slalom with a medal-win­ ning sixth-place finish, and everyone on the team finished strong putting the Scots in third place in the slalom event on its own. The Scots’ Lake Michigan Ski Conference foes from Maple City Glen Lake won the boys’ title at the 11-team meet with 58 total points. Boyne/Charlevoix was second with 109.5, Mattawan 122, Grayling 126, Mt. Pleasant 146, Caledonia 176, Clare 227.5, Hudsonville 284, Onekema 311, Harrison 352 and Plainwell/Thornapple Kellogg 373. Aidan Brown had a solid morning for the CHS boys. He won a medal with a 12th-place finish in the GS. The Scot team also had Peter Calhoun 26th, James Pritchard 28th and DJ Potgeter 47th in that GS contest. In the slalom, along with DJ, Brown was 16th. Jake Potgeter 18th and Pritchard 23rd. Caledonia’s Chiara Marta was the runner-up in the girls’ slalom in the morning with teammates Zuzanna Poradzka 27th, Liz Hilton 27th and Ada Decker 35th in that contest. In slalom, everyone completed their two runs while in slalom we lost Chiara, after she lost her skis in a spec­ tacular crash, and the rest of the team really stepped up their skiing,” coach Petrosky said. “I am proud of how well we did, especially in GS where we had a lot ofchallenges, ranging from delays due to course conditions to delays be­ cause of injuries to skiers. It seemed like every time something put a course into a delay our skier was in the start waiting for their turn and they came out and nailed their runs afterwards.” The Scots had Poradzka earn a medal for 13th in the GS. Hilton was 21st, Decker 29th and Madison Reynolds 35th. 44 7 r r' 4. St I r J Maple City Glen Lake won the girls' meet too w ith 82 points ahead of Clare 91. Mattawan 133,Grayling 141. Boyne/Charlevoix 174. Mt. Pleasant 182, Caledonia 191, Onekema 204. Hudsonville 249 and Plainwell/Thornapple Kellogg 354. Il has been a busy stretch for the Fighting Scots they participated in the Grayling Slalom Hootenanny Friday, at the Otsego Club in Gaylord and that was on the heels of a LMSC race Wednesday. Jan. 29. at Crystal Mountain. The Caledonia girls were third al the Grayling Hootenanny which included morning and afternoon slalom ses­ sions. Marla was first in the afternoon and the runner-up in the morning com­ petition. Those were medal winning performances as was Poradzka's tenthplace finish in the morning session. David Potgeter was fourth in the boys’ morning slalom and Brown earned a medal with a sixth-place finish in the afternoon slalom event for the guys. The CHS boys also placed third. bl ' !»' ' ■i- 5 I ■ (^! ■ / .•fl’* A r ■ ,1 ►f' S'. J 4 OP**. 1 I. •. I I » ’ tf n- I .* t ■I ••p /• t . 9 rTiki' I •V ;.ri \p‘ It . ’ ri Il" f >4 W I .r.rf i .Tti I rjU^<, r • t .• > • * Jf* X bin 1 f 'h:«)> I - • • u ijw. S*”'. 4 e 4( J I I f - r fb’'* I -. ! 1.1 ih r f 14 w 'W*' I.. ■ A t . bi iff 1 ■■ ■Ji?- .X I < vr,?. ' ' 1 • ? I J I H ?4 Ij * i ! 4 J Community Development Coordinator 4 I if'i ► .• 4 Mz:: The Village of Middleville is seeking a Community Development Coordinator to support economic and downtown development efforts. This position can be full* time (40 hours per week) or part*time, with a flexible schedule. The hourly wage is $21*26 per hour, based on qualifications, with opportunities for professional development. Ji 1 1 f I ■' iw w 284 N. BRIGOS ROAD MIDDLEVILLE. MICHIGAN 49333 269-795-9091 / FAX 769-795-2388 YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS, BAR­ RY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS; PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held on February 19, 2025, commencing at 7:00 p.m. at the Yankee Springs Township Hall, 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville MI, within the Township, as required under the provisions of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act and the Zoning Ordinance for the Township. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE In addition to participation during a public hearing, members of the public may also provide comments for the Planning Commission’s consideration by emailing or mailing those comments to the Planning Commission for receipt prior to the meeting, in care of the Township Zoning Administrator Joe Shea (ioesheaffljyankeespringstwp.org). Letters and emails are due one week before the hearing date; or by leaving a phone message prior to the meeting with the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea at y 269-795-9091. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the item(s) to be considered at said public hearing include, in brief, the following: 1. SEU 25-01-02: Parcel ID 16-370-017-00,12755 Whispering Pines Drive, Wayland, MI 49348. A request by J.J. VanderLinden, the property owner, for a special exception use permit to operate a commercial Short-term rental pursuant to the Yankee Springs Zoning Ordinance, Article X, Short Term Rentals. 2. Such other business as may properly come before the Planning Commission. I Anyone interested in reviewing the application material may do so at the township hall. All interested persons are invited to be present at the aforesaid time and place, or, if an electronic meeting is held, to partic­ ipate via the electronic meeting. Yankee Springs Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, to individuals with disabilities at the hearing upon four (7) days’ prior notice to the Township Clerk. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address or telephone number listed below. ■ YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION By: Shana Bush, Chairperson Yankee Springs Township Hall 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville, Michigan 49333 (269)795-9091 Position Summary* The coordinator will assist the Director of Community and Economic Development in implementing projects, supporting business retention and recruitment, and serving as the staff liaison to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) by coordinating meetings and preparing agendas. Key Responsibilities* • Assist in economic development projects. • Coordinate DDA meetings and support board members. • Draft press releases, grant applications, and reports. • Prepare site submissions and RFPs for development projects. • Track grant compliance and project timelines. • Maintain business and downtown property data. • Assist with fundraising, special projects, and event coordination. Qualifications* • Associate’s degree in urban planning, business, or a related field. • Two years of relevant experience in economic development, business, or government. • Strong organizational and communication skills. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office. • Valid Michigan Driver's License and willingness to travel. To ApplySubmit a Village Employment Application, cover letter, resume, and three references to; Village of Middleville Attn: Village Manager 100 E. Main Street, PO Box 69 Middleville. Ml 49333 Email; stolsonburgc@villageofmfddleville.org Applications and a full job description are available at the Village office or on the Village website: www.villageofmiddleville.org. Position open until filled. The Village of Middleville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. f .>>’ T 1 K *• I 4 r •J -4 ’' ► 2 fi^ co. 9-1-1 4 5 .> I *I . •> r > I* 'f 7 9 10 111 121 131 14 15| 16| 17| 18| 19| 20| J < ***? 4 j** 411^'?JWiJ n A r V I J ■ I I SdU f 1**1* II 4 I* < k * 4 # fl • i ■— —l1 . j C 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 21| 22| 23| 24| 251 261 271 281 291 30 J r.*e:2f Mft ♦ • i r, 05 f5!jM (i» ,-w ... •• k I .... W* I 7 ™ A ' > t > . •1 r t t r; t” "IBOWtossOaisj * 5 ?. T» ’ r ««ri. %f : > c t » *»♦ •«* *w i I jr> 1 1 I I 6 •». «« Y ♦ ' I « . M - I . r, ***-h i: * r lit ■ I ■ < f DIAL (800) 249-091 iflON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" I *I ri t I I r viC mi***- :ri Wf> h I I 1 .1 j♦ *4 * r^: • < t r -* •' I :*5-i. r- ** y *• r ■' I V* iS Am* Ift'-'Ts’" J I * * i /e4<4Z^e«*<4^ "T A ■4' 4 A HELP WANTED 1 at!’-* I. . ! • '-J• *1 -fr • ll ' hrr >1 I v- • - "dr, f 1 41 ri_. 7 n �s ♦ I K Viking swimmers show off speed at MITCA Meet »«• •< 4 t Brett Bremer I I < i 'M .. ’’ 1 Sports Editor T The push is on to meet the state cut in a couple of relays for the Caledonia/ Lowell/South Christian varsity boys’ swimming and diving team. CLS head coach Todd DeJong said he continues to be pretty proud of his young men following a strong per­ formance at the MISCA Meet against many of the state’s top swimmers in Holland last weekend. The Vikings ’ 200-yard freestyle relay team of Ethan Snapper, Doug Gaylord, Sam Jones and Anders Foerch turned in a time of 1 minute 33.86 seconds in the 200-yard freestyle relay which put them in 25th overall in the race. The CLS 200-yard medley relay of Jones, Andrew Barnum, Nolan Fitzger aid and Ethan Snapper achieved a time ♦ L 4 e- r » t i 'Mf*. k -ft . ) '.4 4 » c f,. t > I < I I * 4 « « * 1 Uj f >;J I ■ tCt. t f I •5 ^'1,h. 7 r ‘I t f I X. « k' laj */ 'H 7 I I. 4 k '*.1 I j * *• I . A ! a I I ■>Jt t V J ‘4<? 4^ I* < ■: » i •• ■ <•* \ ’* ' i *» ^'7 V V I '' I I K: >1- •■'’t'aii;! \ •> I ’•J I I I 4 » th **rr> 4t,U. •* 1 I I 4 <t e K j fiju 1 »‘ I •i 4* ii I <3 s r;. <? u » ' t' ,t 7 u I I • Uj * * ../‘fXj,. % k w V a 13 ♦ V, ' Saturday, February 8, 2025 t * ♦f THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com •• k s 'I 'll I ‘'M f 1 t • 'i*S 4 *> I •I t: ‘I •>11, '•<*114.^ A of 1:47.47 at the opening of the meet. The CLS team also had a couple of individual performances at the MITCA Meet. Foerch placed 41 st in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.93 seconds and Snapper was 55th in 23.44. It was a personal best for Foerch and coach DeJong said both guys competed fiercely in the race. The CLS boys were back in the water against OK Rainbow Tier II Confer­ ence foe Ottawa Hills Tuesday and fell 111 -75 to the Bengals. Foerch took the 50-yard freestyle that day in 23.54 and teammate Fitzgerald won the 200-yard individual medley in 2:16.42. Jones had a stellar 100-yard backstroke turning in a winning time of 1:04.02. Barnum won the 100-yard breaststroke for the Vikings in 1:10.08. 1 -V* 4 < is Visit us online at www.Sunandnews.com A ) J I r •w ? ♦ F*^ Jkt • ; / ;« .. L 5 . 4fy V ^%x ♦ si 4 > 5^ Sr t 4 *• A ■Tv. V .5 .r *1^' • I ft-' IK ♦u^j 5 '* ■ ■ Al ?ia V 4^ - . .T •i •cr.. iL ’’ -*5 * -V <4.. 5* * 4 -s'-’' p' A —- I 4 «<> s A 4 •K*-- T < z << /: r f IfA. ! I I a f *< • I ; 1 / ’ ! ; . ’ ; t ' i rl I « 1 z-. > A.J ’3» / ••S '.WF' 5^ * '• — ..5i kJ Members of the Caledonia/Lowell/South Christian varsity boys’ swimming and diving team celebrate a successful performance at the MISCA Meet last weekend in Holland. Photo provided 4^ < » •-•ft K *' -4^;^—' 1 ■Jr < ' ’’"4; << ► I 19^ I 4 ot u» -. i \ or • • '. .*f. f 1» >4 J i I I ’•KiHirsi 111 * ' I '“■' l’,*i I J 'w t w J 7 L’ 3 11 I Al k-ih6!K''!^‘‘U' >JMr r > I J .L'-l'i ijr|' 1 . 1 .4 . I . < J I I I i 1 i<wW • ♦ ' fl I * .,'1 I f f ■; t .. .vr I i ft •h* 4 b * -. < \ 4 t I I ■I MBMWWW J , -. 1 jr I' I I I i If 5^ Jr * GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Special Land Use request to build a 2,507 square foot accessory building in the A-R zoning district. Property Address: 3241 Muff Ridge Lane, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Parcel Numbers: 41-22-26-301-005 Applicant: Eve Wynalda Date and Time of Hearing: February 27, 2025, at 7:00 pm Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Request to rezone a 40.5 acre parcel from Steelcase PUD-LSP to Light Industrial (1-1). Property Address: 7147 Patterson Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Parcel Numbers: 41-22-12-100-031 Applicant: Chris Sander, Microsoft Corporation Date and Time of Hearing: February 27, 2025, at 7:00 pm Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells® qainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on February 27th, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells® gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on February 27th, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. I I .•^ I I I I I V I 1 I l' i' « I ll 1 I i I I I I I T •. A., 1^ i 4 H I J1 I ’I I I 4 ill. ‘I « I k I fl h I s 3 \ f I I "i ♦ �weq r •J .-J ■f •aT' I Saturday, February 8, 2025 14 THE SUN AND NEWS Earth Day Alliance continues collection Obituaries ♦ ♦ Betty Marie Lenz Bryans Betty Marie Lenz Bryans, age 90, of Middleville, Ml, passed away peacefully in her sleep, Friday, Jan. 31,2025. Betty was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her greatest love was for her husband, Dick Bryans, and her family and friends. im^HH A lifelong resident of Barry HHj County, she was involved in and cherished her community. She grew up on a farm in Hastings, which taught her the life skills she was so good at. She had so many talents which she put into providing such a warm, welcoming home. Betty also set a strong example of love and loyalty. Betty worked as an X-ray tech at Pennock Hospital before they started their family. She chose to stay home and raise her four daughters. In 1979, she went back to work at Hastings Orthopedic Clinic for 22 years. In retirement, she spent her time reading, was an avid walker, golf and bowling leagues, and gardening. She spent many hours teaching her skills < > www.sunandnews.com to the youth of Barry County as a 4-H leader. She also spent countless years at the Barry County Fair, sharing her talents and as a board member. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Dick Bryans. Also surviving are her daughters, Linda (Jeff) Brice, Marcia Lund, Anne (Dan) Wenger and son-in-law, Kary Morris. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Bryans, Elaine Cooley, Belva (Bob) Barry and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jane Morris and son-in-law. Bob Lund; her parents, Harry and Reatha Lenz; in-laws, Carl and Myrtle Bryans; brother. Jack and Judy Lenz, brother-in-law, Robert Bryans, Ken and Evelyn Sprague, Robert and Betty James and Ray Cooley. Cremation has taken place, and we will celebrate Betty’s life at a later date. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or to leave a condolence message for Betty’s family. GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Special Land Use request to allow for non-household animals (chickens) in the RL-14 zoning district. Property Address: 1230 76th Street, Byron Center, Ml 49315 Parcel Numbers: 41-22-17-201-002 Applicant: Robert Pavlovic Date and Time of Hearing: February 27, 2025, at 7:00 pm Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 IT MIDDLEVILLE I 2:^1^ '• -I 1 BO< J I « 4 rl f TOPS 546 I? Sir f i’ I i 1 I 1 ••• •> /* 4 id >» r.,, a'' • J 4 :j I E .•’z / www.theantennamen.com antennamen@gmail.com www.cellttgnalpros.com ■? to* b 0 s II I < J « i I ) 1 f If?s1 y K Xi I I >1 "•1 -, I ** »* c. t d-3' ! I -zi ’J f 4 ■ J” 1 * I ftii/ • ■ tv I II ‘* C ; .ll'i 4 i/J - fT. ** *«< ai t ’ l« 1 1 i. * ' I VV LiOn’Ti ifj ■ I I'i I 4 / .> k * 11 ♦ • *i Tl I > ••• • 1 4 r* ft I I 1 JI < li ??F A > A i; : r *«• 4 J r H b > .; laMT -•J • ‘- 'JI f * . Vii^ Sf;T- d M l»» 4. ‘ ..a fs ■»r 9 iL'iei 4 5 I I 8 9I 10 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 18 I I1 I i ‘ 4- r I! X fs / i 1 ► I . !Tmi9 c ) » I *» < IT J ■OO0t’ ' I **-' /< I it I i 1 t I i I » I rr ♦*’ s' tr- f t '« 1 I J H b HjlVi I 30) «15' r j 1 . I •1 ft ) IlMrVa* 4 ■ ''.-^.-14 ri 4 r Mr* • *• L I )■ iB * • :: U. K«r* -M ’ 1 ) ft i:"- t q I 1 I t I. ft; t r^1 ■'aK ‘ * 1 l-«V M «4t^t ttfnn 4 A Ai i I 4 -M 4. I I 1 > j-<*. - •’Ks;?' -•AiiWWIl*- t I I 1 ■p ' 8 e r fc A^ss<. , ««« 1 ' Ri X .;_^ U>«F < v*; I -- ». ¥ < 1 I 4 27 L ** ►1 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 251 26 f.- .1 r t 211 22| 231 24 JD *** I iliwi— y. 191 201 r i ■ I I VTA. CO. 9-1-1 CENTER I .1^ 'd z I I DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Qi'tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" ' ' rx i'j 19 4 |i9‘LUDLnn3 JI J *’•1 1 < 11 4 • 2 »!#• •. I m ■ • I u I I* ,4 aiEd ’ J I Anyone yvith questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, , or Maryellen, 616-318-3545,'^ The first meeting is free. I '.X<: i 1S f < I ■ 4 I $ t { 269-967-8241 Ib «r 4' Jl Antenna Men • ■ ‘ J r - t II Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells® gainestownship.orq. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on February 27th, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. 3 J* ! »tl' The Feb. 3 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary's report. There is one new fish in the fishbowl. One fish fell out. Virginia's program was “Keys to a long, happy life” from Women’s World magazine. The article had easy tricks to keep your brain sharp, your body strong, your vision clear and more. Keep your vision clear by taking acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen instead of pain medicine or aspirin helps with macular aging or eye nerve clusters. Improve balance by playing ping pong. Wii bowling, or pickleball. Playing fun games keeps you more sure-footed and stimulates your brain balance region. Or, standing like a flamingo helps, too. Sharpen hearing by taking a 15-minute stroll. Zeroise sends nutrient-rich blood to feed the cochlea organ in the ear. Listening to music energizes brain nerves that helps tune out background noises. Build muscle with sunshine. D-3 is an essential building block for strong, toned muscle. Or eat one cup of yogurt. Strengthen bones by opening the window for 10 minutes. It flushes out air pollutants that halt bone thinning and wards off fractures. Or read a book. Rest and relaxation calms nerves and keeps bones strong. Boost memory with a bowl of chili. Adding meat or poultry to your diet cuts down on foggy thinking and age-related memory loss. The iron and essential amino acids are key building blocks of healthy new brain cells. Or snack sooner. Eating a light snack within one houF of waking could cut agerelated memory loss. Linda lost the Ha-Ha Box. See EARTH on 15 The meeting closed with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS r Z" pledge. s. TOPS, a weight loss -a support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. Digital TV Antennas • Stariink Installs • Towers to 3:45 p.m., followed • Cellular Enhancement Systems immediately by the meeting. Press the white Give us a call! buzzer for entry. J •f^unsCaS Ant*nno Mcn f I Local residents are again being encouraged to not throw away old sneakers. Instead, they’ll have another opportunity to donate used shoes - and for a good cause. The Barry County Earth Day Alliance, or BCEDA, asked residents last fall to donate their old sneakers and athletic footwear, with plans for the used shoes to be recycled. Since January, BCEDA officials reported having collected hundreds of pairs of used sneakers. The group has then passed the shoes along to GotSneakers, azero-wastenonprofitthat gives the shoes new life. Local residents may drop off onceloved shoes at the Hastings and Delton libraries, the Corewell Health Pennock gym or Bright Start Pediatrics. Once delivered to GotSneakers, the shoes reportedly are sorted to determine where they will best be used. “Congratulate yourselves,” BCEDA spokesperson Marcia Szumowski stated recently. “You helped keep 915 pairs of old athletic shoes out of the landfills in 2024 when you dropped them off.” According to a statement by the BCE­ DA, one-tenth of the shoes donated are branded athletic shoes and can be sani­ tized, restored and resold in the eco- and budget-fiiendly thrift community store. Another 80 percent of footwear is considered reusable to micro-industiy partners throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East. The re­ maining 10 percent of donated shoes are often considered unusable but recyclable. And, for those who missed out on do­ nating their used shoes this past fall, they’ll have another chance to do so this month. The BCEDAwill have atable atthe‘Tamily Science Nighf’from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 at the Hastings Public Library. Persons donating shoes at the Family ] I J I 1 M I I I I I I I 3 J 281 291 30 I J 1. & , �I J I ♦ ♦ I J J j ♦ www.sunandnews.com 15 Saturday, February 8, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS ♦ ♦ ♦ ^<5 1b 1 t ! I I t I I t J i I I Obituaries t I t i t • fi. n I •S; t « w* * H ’: f if 'i J J I V »• I 1 X ■' I ■ E ? < I.* r. 0> i » ■ . 9 I i f I I ■’i n nI : r i ^1 ' fh. I Ifr. I* •M >r J >4 r ■ ' f I I 'll.. ,J - b j. I I -I h I I ; I ' 'p, ♦Ch L , - % J ' '''Huv t * c ) I I '4, II i .. 4 1 •• Gil I I 1 I* » 1 ’ ''tin .JI A*Y 9) lu ' 't i 1 !. it ■I in 1 1*^. . *1 i ■'t ’69v •J ft '•c . I 1 •P*>'7| I » ,?• KI I 5 t I ■0 •"» bJO..- ♦ . 5 i /I ‘ ' ni : ni ;;. J 3: If r ■ 'H rJ ;» * I IS -- > * .* VI 7 . '*11 I Cl t V Z»; i V*. ■how r> 'ill WK"::”- I ^1 ?L 'CK-: I k k 1 nr,. ( t. I - ■ 7 I J 4 J i z4 ythrr ?<*W I I X. *•* ■ -*1J“ V. U 7 J • *«• * V xw--iA • J : « I ■ ''Se J 44 4'' *I JffWrftX fe * t J ( ird t') 30. d to ™ t- I A 3 r f J *♦ ® •‘i ‘ ■ J' f r ••I 4- i ,9iu269ni;hri07^^^ U jodJ pniniol s .•Mi ’^iW80tr4tt^'-41Vj$1 I J 1 •r0 V EARTH Continued from Page 14 *• * 5* •* I \ y ■ •T'S .1T 3 OCl Dt !f7 1; Hp:- > 1 f II I < * J n r ri I L orb loT CjU .‘t rrt '•£; J I 1 r I • -.fee z I I JO / teal jfr I I Pf •; I 1 I I 1 ■ KwiiniiMWEmynggt I i t { 4 I I I / j' bnott.R jor'''‘?3' I I r r * 4-W r I • i ?i-rz ••r r ^1 Im p I! • X' iOL * I*. -* preceded her in death: her husband and best friend of 58 years, Bill Apsey: sisters, Megan Gearing and Beth Kazma: in-laws, Artand Doris Apsey, iris and Bill Gummo; best friend, Ella Jewett; and many others from the Grady, Darby, and Apsey clans. Shar will be lovingly remembered by: her children, Shelley and Rich Hamilton, Mark and Jenelle Apsey; grandchildren, Dylan, I Science Night will be entered for a draw­ ing for a Culver’s gift card. “Each family dropping off shoes can sign up for the drawing,” Szumowski stated. “Now’s the time to go through your closets and pull out those old athletic shoes that you aren’t wearing anymore. It doesn’t matter what shape ftiey’re in.” Szumowski added individuals who cannot attend the Feb. 19 event may still donate their old shoes at a designated drop box, though they will not be eligible for the drawing. “Sorry,” she said. “But the drawing is only for Family Science Night.” DM life gathering in the summer. Her family would be grateful if you would share your tt favorite memories of Shar on her memorial page at www. beelergoresfuneral.com. Sharleen’s family would like to extend sincere appreciation to the Barry County Commission on Aging staff, Mary Free Bed Home Health staff, and the Corewell Health Home Palliative team for their loving care during her final days at home. In lieu of flowers, those who wish, may make memorial contributions to: https://give. corewelthealth.org/cancercare > 1 • * > I < < ir -\ 41 I LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Service Times 9 S Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM www.alaskabaptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville a^- Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am 250 Vine Street ’•A- A <x co k k Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am Church: (269) 795-2391 AACHURCH peace PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee THORN APPLE VALLEY > •: X 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 616-891-8669 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Li vest ream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE Viiie' '^Ychurch 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses.. ..9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. -W' 1 Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 8655 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto "Shining Forth Gods Light" 616.891.8661 www.whitneyvillebible.org Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... Pastorjonathar) DeCou SERVICE TIMES: Sunday School... Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am Sunday Worship 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml i www.tvcweb.com o holy FAMILY ^C/VHOLIC CHURCH 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. . 9:30 AM •••■•••••« 10:30 AM Watch our services frorr) our website (see above) James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankeespringsbiblcchurch.org * ' . '•J I ♦ « Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin •l <1J •« s Sunday Worship III cornerstone church < K 5 ”15^! ’fttt'rLrJ..... I With heavy hearts, the family of Lois Sharleen Apsey, of Middleville, Ml wishes to tell you, Sharleen, passed suddenly on January 19, 2025 after an arduous fight with cancer, at age 86. She was at home with her daughter and grandson. Sharleen was born July 11th, 1938 in Flint to the late Robert Darby and Marcella Darby (Grady). She later moved to Grand Rapids and graduated from Ottawa Hills High School where she made many close friends and developed her sense of poise and traditional values. After graduating high school, she met Bill and moved to Middleville where she started creating a welcoming, tidy home with a warm, sensitive, and caring family. She then spent the next 61 years in the same home, perfecting it to match her inviting, tasteful style and. building her enduring family legacy. During her life, Sharleen served in many roles. Professionally, she worked in a pet shop, was a secretary at the Masonic Temple in downtown Grand Rapids, was “the Avon Lady,” a Cub Scout den mother and primarily, an administrative and executive secretary for the Thornapple Kellogg School District for 29 years. Personally, those who knew Shar, knew her as polite, very friendly and recognized her for her signature, well-coiffed white hair and stylish wardrobe. Those who loved Sharleen knew her as a devoted wife with unflinching love and loyalty to her husband, children and grandchildren, friends and neighbors, and four-legged friends. She was a daughter, big sister, wife, Mom, best friend. Aunt Sharleen, Grandma, GGG, and the true embodiment of a homemaker. Her home was a welcome place of comfort for all she knew and loved. We will miss her beyond measure, but know she is ecstatic to be joining those who t Kr-> 1 Lois Sharleen Apsey Shannon and Cody Cousineau, Keegan, and Kaitlynn; brothersin-law, Arthur (Cindie) Apsey, Charles Gearing, Ron (Sylvia) Kazma, Steve (Mary Jo) Uhen; many loving nieces and nephews: beloved cousins, Kathleen Johansen and Jerry Darby: best friend, Marilyn Finkbeiner; neighbor, Ken Morgan: surrogate children and grandchildren, Chris, Jada, Josh, Alex, and Jake; and other dear friends and neighbors. Although Sharleen wished for no formal services to be held, her family will be holding a burial and celebration of A 1 �Saturday, February 8, 2025 16 www.sunandnews-com Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Trojan heavyweights put the ham­ mer down early. Starting at 157 pounds, Thomapple Kellogg six consecutive matches to build a 34-0 lead in its MH­ SAA Division 2 District Final against Gull Lake in Richland Wednesday. Things got interesting in the end, as the Trojans needed Griffin Grummet to seal the victory in the last of the 14 weight classes, and he did just that with a 7-4 win against his 150-pound foe, clinching a 43-35 win and the dis­ trict championship for the TK varsity wrestling team. The Trojans will head to Harper Creek High School Wednesday, Feb. 12, to take on the host Beavers in the MHSAA Division 2 Team Regional Semifinals. Parma Western and top­ ranked Lowell meet in the region’s other semifinal match-up Wednesday. Gull Lake got to the final against TK with a 53-26 win over Pennfield in the district opener in Richland Wednesday. Camden Peter started the TK run at the s< • 1 sr III I’I e r • < OOU tAKC AIXAT8 ***S5 uiumi I w 4 I I !■ »>» V* 7 r 4 6. W*1 « * •• a I i < *1 I 4 - ... . 'av- opening of ±e district final with a pin at 157 pounds. From there TK got a technical fall fi’om Blake Bossenberger at 165 pounds, a pin fi-om Jackson Smith at 175, • a tech fall from Jayce Curtis at 190, a pin from Tanner Buxton at 215 pounds and a pin from Abram Dutcher at 285 pounds. A quick pin form Christien Miller FRONTIER HEATING AND COOLING - > IfJ K |B ■■■ MB MM MM High E/Hdenty 9 gm *. FURNACE S AIR I $400 OFF If FINANCING AVAILABLE > Nq monthly interest if paid within 18 mo. I* ■ II A** 3 ■9 I I - 1 •1 » I «« j 1 f- I r< 1 ' J < t 1 i , < ' ..V •Sxp^ fl*' < A CUT OUT & PRESENT ; THIS COUPON FOR 10%:■ OFF YOUR TOTAL BILL : ■ ■ ‘EXPIRES eilSI2S ■ Must present this coupon. Expires 2-28-25j Other products available: . k • •• •• X . M 5 ' J' , th e BLOCK! SEE ■ k .r • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and morel Ml "lli> .. £ J 9900 Cherry Valley Ave SE. Caledonia. Ml // 616-622*1004 // www.butcherblocksocial.com htiill lt\ icfi-itiiis 210 East Main Street Caledonia -11 f : ( i J f :>Mr- : te rzT* 9. r. V I I I I I *4" ’* '■ J V co. 9-1 -1 5 I J I 4 "Kids Measure up at ^;tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center 9| 10| iMpBH U .8 .cte'i .^styuasE Jnar 3fiJ ni □JacfBBw nsa el-iia ;1T udt bn I tB jshttjd l»ufarrifa(ri >hrO AAgHI* i .9 .cb^ Idotb8 ri^iH egnbaBl t eiaart wb rio a □ niw nnfiib adT isluj^ oril 3UO o8ob oJ veh btfoe i: 1 ciftl /{fibni tasl oUivalbbilZ nr nogfis y 3fbtozj2no7r;^olb>I©{qq8nTOir.I ll » fi X y. “fioD bloD oib )s?a82fila td^bw allivdltoiM ni qirianoi<^ri.3 oooai aril ni rteinh qu-iomun b Ito rlamn JK^Bda Etdl oonawtnc ,£11 JBiaUiW .abnuoqtB£jBTad3tuCI 9 ?dl IB lagiodiogB .0?l innfiifTHj® ?irfo ?bfiuo(| £ I £ Is notniS btis ? V I J I r k W r I < H I t/«'T I n fn^mT □rfaiot EBBloJdsbmrad] mf' I rUinSIlBiyzogiabaawII Ujn M If?/; I iwdl ni luof I oorranylnoa c fto bariainil baaf/K// 2.8££ ^nnoaayd noaBOBqirianfMqfrnjr rbw hnoooz ^bw /IT ./gbnf bfiBiO TH w/fbioMlobBsrfB <.i( OV □iiori3»J)29W .£\ notflU <bina z.di §n;a’f>7. 4 ^fiboB q^KI bflri oalB rnaal ifT 'jri f Sdiod ?21 tB ni9‘} bns ^tonoq rtS I J . lftghv/TOrilJ&q Moaun ddt f'B /lain ETbfiifl fai^ b£ffi l)9l la /bira^ >;2B1 j || rioadiO Erm3 bcm tniiit aww oSL: ?.alwoniUbvrxBWl bcm afanuoq ££1 .dtnwiiiftodBTOW FM ’ fioi * n; j 1 I L . I I 7 | . ;. a S s M 1 - I DIAL (800) 249-0911 ''JON - EMERGENCIES 8 I 1 I t Usb udrb&ifi9 A A^HM lisdJiB ad IffwenfiiiyrT -JifT -smuoT lonteiQ Ituhivfbal L fiowivd •- f 4 noioiv £ j^roOTni) bm Ebauoq £I I i t -—■ . I 5 at 113 pounds and Grummet’s victory sealed the deal. The Trojans will be at their MHSAA Division 2 Individual District Tourna­ ment Saturday, Feb. 8, at Harper Creek and the TK girls can compete in the MHSAA Girls’ Individual District at Hastings High School Sunday, Feb. 9. The district win came on the heels of a solid day to close out the regular season in Middleville last Friday, Jan. 31. Thomapple Kellogg won six of the 14 weight classes at the OK Gold Con­ ference Championship in Middleville to finish off a runner-up finish in the conference this season. Dutcher at 285 pounds, Miller at 113, Grummet at 150, Bossenberger at 165, Curtis at 175 and Buxton at 215 pounds all won their weight class for the Trojan team.TKhad 12wrestlersoverallfinish in the top four in their weight class. Wayland finished off a conference championship season by scoring 228.5 points Friday. TK was second with 191.5 ahead of Northview 117, Grand Rapids Union 72, West Catholic 70 and Wyoming 56.5. The TK team also had Diego Rodas at 126 pounds and Peter at 157 both finish as the runner-up at their weight class. Smith at 190 and Raini Braska at 120 were third, and Emma Gibson at 132 pounds and Maxwell Knowles at 144 were both fourth. t I t I >• -*»»» 2 B I9lte qirlanotqnnariO Ji^iC bl I I 4 I fe The Thornapple Kellogg varsity wrestling team celebrates its MHSAA Division 2 District Championship after a 43-35 win over host Gull Lake in the district final Wednesday in Richland. Photo provided 9 V 4 Ml « I * • *r 9 J I BREAKFAST LUNCH 1 4^ z • i ft < _ ■----M < I \V rz •ri DINNER 4 I I 1 SST h k I M2 4 * 1 iii 1: > NOW SERVING BREAKF iot ••• I « b 7«E.,ecK.r •a z WCHER bl » ft 4 V J • 1 5-^ a* ua*^ iii:-r/:z3sr qirianoiqni J J ft WWW f * 4 ’ TK tops Blue Devils for district championship ft ft ft ft ft THE SUN AND NEWS 1“ 19 n 12 y, OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES J n| 12| 13| 14| 15| 16| 17| 18| 19| 20j 21j 22| 23| 24| 25| 26| 27| 28| 29| 30 I � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-02-15.pdf 8978a5ea8caaf88d6a32a3ed2e23766f PDF Text Text M . I • 4 I, j* r i NO. 43 I New staff writer joins View Newspaper Group i lethw tlBte wsM .oncnaiugM wsiV iai|Bq2W9M t 7 1 ; lO i < boot all / fkw noaieto^ fIeoM dloM toJib^ i r T 1 bnti .YfifammH ajspdetH srO IJ or bnii I aif. an nf bs ne bmof f" 5 tu»l 1 TOftv/ IXW Ji JflJiuoril bnr. iwMieiXf ww' nfitr oraaalr^ laati ertooM mmt baJuubiTM noziston 1 j^mqa nr yJKrevin noisanm z’lOlfldacrf ari I 1 9 9 ♦ XKKjnoprj nr>-ehnflrl Joy te ibj nfi ail 5&lw asffnvoo Ti mobrraqBfaor oriJ jsiboM .'zlrmvin! 1 fuaJRnrOTflBBsriooJl 0 > akir Tf qn wny I aeufioeO If;/i I worrJ I J>)laR nonate^ li Hw wqEq orfJ "31 btXFA tjovz <tb rno : Ot 9qorf I .TSOTCO 6 OTJlqb * bn/, ctb^n ihoq^ otn ossrrb I .. nr'I .jneyfodtwO I i I wf (tk; I i cmu' > । oft > nr agtolworcl '.efvj ,d < ' tanr , ( qEiy >torki WB aeaTc lia?^ ' 1, bkjkI ori .TBy< fasq aU nl /4 J i If IK fritirflOJorin To'l n fans aroh:aabo u (fqc j 701 noizBoq £ wetI T • f iff ‘ fv jbru. znoqexitsi I ji ' H W bMTfflSlaVBfl r* lUrmotaqoIrf rtxm - . T- I J B^El 1^. r, ^'x‘ bns aaw I irir bn, Ixmbct tOOM x1 hf ‘ 11X)) entum r. r’ <1’1 r T < i t f fi ' f 1 ' > I I WBOoinr lU ajJBTJVOj iaim';. ITIHW J s c !I View Newspaper Group West welcomed a new staff writer to its ranks this week. Newcomer journal­ ist Noah Peterson, 24, started his job with the local newspaper Noah Peterson ’ group earlier this month, according to editor Molly Macleod. He will write for The Hastings Banner, The Sun and News, and The Hastings w. Reminder. Peterson said his pathway to the paper began in a familiar place. “I found an ad in The Sun and News,” Peterson said. “It’s where I learned of this new position and thought it would be the best place to start.” Peterson graduated from Rochester Christian University in spring 2024 where he earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communications and got hands-on experience in sports coverage while working as an editor for Shield Media, the independent student media outlet of Rochester Christian University. “Because I •4 •ew up in this community/’ Peterson noted, “1 know that working for the local paper will be a good start in my career. I hope to someday work my way into sports media and capture all content in Michigan sports.” Over the years, Peterson has gained knowledge in the journalism field. His strongest areas are photography and videography. In the past year, he launched a solo business for photography and videography — Prime Productions and Photography. “I have a passion for capturing content, especially sports and events,” he added. “I have learned so much in the past year and I hope to continue to grow in the West Michigan area and beyond.” Macleod said that his pri­ Noas mary focus will be news UNOisno WLLNaaiau coverage in the Caledonia and Middleville areas, including OKnSOd see# Ijuued schools, government and more. 8C09> in 9||iAU®aJ9 See WRITER on 6 SSMM03 'iX e'lj in 4 .?’oori3< 1338 m38 OWWIF Mi bVIO n - torivcf: I bBgl SID •v V*’ atvd Members of the newly created Gaines Charter Township Fire Department raise their right hands in taking an oath Monday night at the township hail. Photos by James Gemmell Members off the new Gaines Township Fire Department get sworn in James Gemmell operating the Cutlerville Fire Department. Due to its booming population, Byron trustees decided in July 2023 that Byron needed to create its own fire department in Cutlerville. In response, Gaines trustees decided to purchase the existing Cutlerville fire bam on 68th Street west of Division Avenue, even though it is in Byron Township. Gaines is paying $940,000 over five years to buy out Byron’s equity share in the fire station, making 20-percent payments each year. Construction of Byron Township’s new Cutlerville fire station is underway east of US-131 and north of 68th Street. Gaines has a contract to assist Contnbutina Writer w Members of the newly-estab­ lished Gaines Charter Township Fire Department have been offi­ cially sworn into duty. They collectively raised their right hands and took an oath at the township board’s regular monthly meeting Monday in the township hall board room. Many of them have been fighting fires in Gaines Township for years. The fire department began oper­ ations January 1 as a single, entity, the result of a merger between the Cutlerville and Dutton fire depart­ ments. The township board opted to combine them into one depart­ ment after the Byron Township Board severed a 74-year part­ nership with Gaines in jointly aovisod s n QIS ISHd • * * » « > « Til I ft . V j-. ! t, 1 I I » 9 I * * A • 1! f 4 e ,9 « « > f > < * i I a Byron in fighting fires in Byron Township until that fire station becomes operational. “I think it’s a key moment for (Gaines) township,” Gaines Supervisor Bob Terpstra told the firefighters as they were sworn in. “We know that it was trig­ gered by our neighbors to the west pulling out. It gave us an opportimity to pivot, make some changes. I know that change isn’t easy; it can cause some anxiety. But it’s also an opportunity for us to really think about what we do, and it’s really good for the community to hear again the power of a fire department in the township. I think it’s very important.” Clerk Mike Brew asked the Gaines Township firefighters to See GAINES on 2 �f ft ■r r b Saturday, February 15, 2025 2 I' THE SUN AND NEWS r* www.sunandnews.com 4 4 , BCSO-Middleville Unit sergeant honored with Meritorious Service Award Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf recognized Sergeant Scott Ware for receiving the Meritorious Service Award at the Middleville Village Council Tuesday night. “It’s a big deal with law enforce­ ment,” said Leaf. “Something very positive happened a few weeks ago and we should all be very proud.” On Jan. 10, Sergeant Ware re­ sponded to a report of a missing per­ son and used the resources available and instinct to connect the case with a loose dog report he handled earlier that day. His resources included cell phone data containing ping locations he obtained from the missing person’s phone. When efforts began to become unsuccessful in his search, Sergeant Ware refused to give up and ultimately located the missing individual who was suffering from life-threatening hypothermia. “There is no doubt that Sergeant Ware’s diligence and perseverance prevented the loss of life,” Sheriff Leaf noted. “It’s his efforts that presented him the Meritorious Service Award.” FREEPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT I 41 t 1/ Noah Peterson Staff Writer NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES I '. -I. •? A Meritorious Service Award is an honor given to individuals who have provided outstanding service or achievement. It recognizes those who have gone above and beyond their normal duties to make significant contributions to society. This was not the first time Sergeant Ware earned recognition for his service. In 2021, he apprehended a suspect who was fleeing from police after breaking into a house in a resi­ dential neighborhood in Hastings. It was a long and dangerous car chase that spanned three townships until the suspect finally surrendered to Sergeant Ware in the Village of Woodland. “Thank you, Sheriff, for coming up and sharing that moment for us,” said Middleville Village President Kevin Smith. “We’re certainly proud of you, Sergeant Ware.” •l 4r II 4 > r J •B «¥■ T t i A r. 1 ^". I wui i^ * I I <I Bu* . A Barry County Sheriff’s Office Middleville Unit Sergeant Scott Ware (left) was honored this week with a Meritorious Service Award, presented by Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf (right) at Tuesday’s Middleville Village Council meeting. Photo by » r * 1 1 I ■ :«[• ■ •J ’J ' . 1 'r^JI k >■’ 0- k* * raise their hands for an oath as he read the following statement: “I do solemnly swear and affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this state. That I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of firefighter according to the best of my ability.” The firefighters all responded with, “I will.” A photographer contracted by the township then snapped several photos of the firefighters in various group poses and with their family members. THE HASTINGS BANNER Tuesday at Noon 8:00-11:00am THE REMINDER AT THE FREEPORT FIRE STATION Wednesday at Noon 7 00 State Street, Freeport THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon scrarn tool eg95 iF 'S Group mihomepaper.com Free will donation to support the purchase of eauioment for the new tanker. e 4 4 r ♦ *5' 4 » *1 . • f • \ f • I w{»^ . ' F df V >•' ■ yr- •I f, \ s I Brew asked the firefighters to sign an oath that was then put into a township folder. “We know that’s not new but it’s certainly worthy of all of us trying to remember and keep you at the fore­ front of our minds,” Terpstra said. He added, “I, for one, understand the ways that you need to be pre­ pared, and the ways that you need to continue to be trained and prepared in a fast-changing world. All of us have heard stories over the years of amazing rescues, of heroic events. We cannot, however, forget the day to-day and the day after day after day that you show up as you serve your community.” Continued from Page 1 Monday at 5 p.m. , 22, 2025 *4 t Noah Peterson GAINES SHOPPER NEWS ’ !4| 4 •**. ► w r BATTLE CREEK •r.’^ J? * Monday at 4 p.m. SATURDAY, • 1 AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE iu 9*' ’* £S£i M All « * k % :’v- yr*X:S d/ J I e*^ i iV # rv . A >* u* ''^wr' < V-..r2 '1 J 1* .■ 1 ■ 9^- 1 1 B• A'- ■ 1 » «JI r isSSS. '-'V * I-*:-' • 891"* '. V' f jc»**o 4 d ..--..vvlsb i ■ t I WB"^ j3 • -’r ( *« I ,irtia' ( 4 r 1-n t ... 9 1 I 1*1 I I r J{ wCfcM 4u4 ia» r I n 2."« wSiJ'*'- * ar’e' wb > □ • •• « Al •* J 4 Trrw’***' II t •tr* a I K —* **l I I Visit us online at Sunandnews.com iis .4 JMWBseds I afindrrtlsxrtSi^ 1 ► 1 > 4 THE SUN AND NEWS « •BMM 1 I I Ikmiiinlbfeist® v' W*4 CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 PUBLISHED BY I'TT? s Editor: Molly Maclood mmacleod@mihomepaper.com i JJ ■£ Group I Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept ., 1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com I * k IT > -1 will * » » I T J t-f.. » ♦ • g 9 4 • 9 » • * e * 9 « V 4 t t- 4 » J • r • 1 • » • 4 » • • I 1 4 I I 2 4 WA co. 9-1 -1 CENTER I 4 5 ■«* 8 9I 10 I I “T^'', I I I •■aa « i xk, t •-••' w I 5 f 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES f DIAL (800) 249-0911 |ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at| iawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 I I I -I 151 161 171 181 19 201 J 211 22| 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 d « h M « t I u I. / I I I 11 t: b J • 4 1 g I z I I 4 < t c t fl) w t I I t,, ■*1' { e • I 5 11 « • • a< i '*’4” *9 V « * «4 I « 4 f r iSdd' t �J A X• V k ■ . I A I 1 James Gemmell Contributing Writer A I 1 4 Without most of them knowing where a certain 20-acre parcel of property is in Gaines Township or how much it might cost to purchase, town­ ship trustees voted 6-1 Monday night to authorize spending up to $3,000 to have it appraised. Township Clerk Michael Brew cast the lone no vote at the Board of Trust­ ees’ monthly meeting at the township hall. * > -A t * 4 * rw «♦- 7; I A -I I4K r, V r f -I,... a : < • f ’•n S I -Wh tK — t r. h « I % •4 4 9 4 < > A vBk 0/*' I. 4 n Commercial, industrial and residen­ tial development has been booming in Gaines in recent years, and a lot of the township’s forested lands, agricultural property and wetlands have already been purchased. Township officials are trying to preserve some open space and park land before most of it is snapped up by developers for construction. “I think we all recognize that, with all the development that’s going on (in the township), if we don’t set aside some parcels soon there’s going to be Gaines Board approves annual planning and zoning report J .t I 1 -4^. J ‘S * * 2 James Gemmell Contributing Writer • A- IbL X. ‘ I I The Gaines Township Board unani­ mously accepted on a voice vote the annual report from its Planning & Zoning Department on Monday night. The Michigan Planning Enabling Act of 2008 requires municipal planning departments to submit an update each year on developments and code enforcements. The planning commis­ sion gave the report a thumbs-up last month and sent it to the township board for review. Assistant Township Planner Dakota Swan went over some of the highlights of the annual planning and zoning re­ view with township trustees. She men­ tioned a chart that shows how quickly Gaines Township’spopulationisrising. “We just assume that the population is just shy of 35,000 residents now. But we won’t have a solid number on that until the 2025 census comes out,” Swan said. The U.S. Census Bureau is scheduled to release population data in June. That will include information such as house hold income, and breakdowns based on age, sex and race. The next U.S. census is scheduled for April 1, 2030. The annual report includes a section on parks and trails. In June 2022, the township board accepted an $8,740 bid from Grand Rapids-based architectural firm MCSA Group Inc. to prepare a Parks & Trails master plan. It incor­ porated input from township residents who responded to a survey about how they would like to see open space de­ f 1 I 'U f '* > * (♦ « t I S I I* 4 I ■ ! i ♦ a V s i >* 'A A V f I I > > !I 4 4 * •4^- t ■ “'**4.1. I * * r "1 1 ’ hiJ2f 1 I I ) j» f * « 4 •*> I I -> I H< MMBJUV n I I ' ( 1 •• f 'tiff-' w Ml0lb I A? it.u«nrUI .. i i Lun/t 4 * i Jj ' I': If 4 9 ■(tjcriw; f I VtYOrft . « 4« « veloped in Gaines. Township officials have been talking for a few years about the possibility of developing new park space on a township-owned parcel next to the Byron-Gaines Utility Authority at 1381 84th St. SE. The big piece of information here is that staff are on the lookout for pieces of land to acquire for recreation pur­ poses,” Swan told the township board. Given the rising price ofeggs, Town­ ship Treasurer Laurie Lemke asked Swan if the planning department is receiving more questions from resi­ dents about the zoning rules for owning chickens and chicken coops. have gotten a few applications over the last few months,” Swan re plied. “The zoning ordinance currently, if you live in the A-R (Agricultural/ Rural-Residential) or A-B (Agricul­ tural/Agri-Business) zoning districts, you’re allowed to have chickens by right. When we move into the more suburban and solely residential areas of the township, regulations do get a little bit more restrictive. So, currently the way it stands in the ordinance, ifyou live in the RL-10 (Residential) zonin district, you’re not allowed to have non-household animals However, if you live in the RL-14 (Single Fam­ ily Residential) zoning district - which calls for slightly larger lot sizes than RL-10 - you are eligible to apply for a special-use permit and get consider­ ation from the planning commission to have chickens.” 44 homes on them, streets through them. And we can never go back and try to get park land somewhere,” Trustee Kathy VanderStel said. Township Manager Rod Weersing told trustees that Gaines staff mem­ bers were recently approached by an undisclosed developer who might be interested in selling a heavily wooded parcel ofland in the middle ofthe town­ ship that has Plaster Creek running through it. The exact location has not been publicly disclosed. “It’s a very desirable piece ofproper­ ty,” Township Treasurer Laurie Lemke said, adding that “it’s a bit of a gamble and a bit of a roll of the dice.” “This is either going to be seen as a wonderful opportunity or a little bit of a can of worms,” Supervisor Bob Terpstra said. The Michigan DNR has said the land, if developed into a park, could potentially be eligible for a state grant. The DNR trust fund needs a certified commercial appraisal,” Weersing said. Meanwhile, Gaines Community Development Director Dan Wells was approached about a possible purchase option for a second parcel of property not far from the first parcel. The second parcel would cover 20 to 30 acres. “He has not had a chance to dig (research) deeper into the second one yet,” Weersing said. “So, that one we would only appraise if we found out it was a good possibility.” He added that a group ofpeople owns the property. “They may want to portion some of it offto build on. Which would actually be advantageous to us because right now it does have a sewer connection to it, which makes it a little more valuable. The portion they want to build on would utilize that sewer connection. So, it would make the remaining portion a little less valuable,” Weersing said. The township’s 40-year sewer con­ tract with the City of Grand Rapids expires in 2028. Weersing has said the township may try to negotiate an ex­ tension of the sewer district boundary from its current border near 76th Street southward to cover the Plaster Creek See PARCEL on 4 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. 44 BODY SHOP COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your -hrvsted Body Shop -for o\4er tl>3■> * r« - ■■Esva V *4/ • 9 4 I • t 4 7 If..! « « 1 • J »*!■! I I • — I R»l • W* ■I » W - I iN H I i T Ji*. ? 3 Gaines trustees approve appraisal of mystery parcel for future park development I •f Saturday, February 15, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com s & k I i I \ !> gi iMi <1 'w ^'1 w ■ �f r. r av j' L Saturday, February 15, 2025 4 - 4% . Il > B I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com <v * *' j i PARCEL Thornapple Township chips in $10,000 for trail project Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer The Thomapple Township Board of Trustees is joining forces with the Village of Middleville, voting at its Feb. 10 meeting to kick in $10,000 for a project to overhaul a stretch of the Paul Henry Trail. That might not be all, however, as Middleville officials might seek additional financial assistance in the future, given the hefty price tag of the project. Middleville Village Manager Craig Stolsonburg, Village President Kevin Smith and Village President Pro Tem­ pore Makenzi Peters were all present at Monday’s meeting at which the township board pledged $10,000 in matching funds toward the effort to fix up the trail. The Village of Middleville is look­ ing to enhance the Paul Henry Trail by I t Continued from Page 3 watershed closer to 92nd Street. The township’s Parks & Trails Com­ mittee had requested that the town­ ship board consider authorizing up to $7,000 so that both properties could be appraised. But trustee Rob De Ward mentioned that the township board approved in December spending up to $35,000 for a township-wide Natural Resources Inventory to be conducted. The board voted at that time to initially budget $23,1000 for an out-of-state company to undertake a three-phase study to survey the township’s topography, among other tasks. The trustees could later determine if they want to spend the remaining balance of the $35,000 budgeted to expand the study. DeWard asked why the township shouldnot waitfortheNatural Resources Inventory to be completed before getting the appraisal done on the two parcels. But Weersing said he was not sure ifthe own­ ers would still have the property available for sale a year from now. “I don’t know if this is available in a year. If we put them off for a year, they may go in a different direction,” Weersing said. He added that, to be eligible for a state grant, the potential park property would first have to be appraised. But De Ward said township trustees should have been given more infor­ mation about the parcels before being asked to vote on whether to authorize funding the property appraisals. “Instead, we’re being asked to make a decision about something we don’t know anything about. And I wonder if we’re being good stewards to the public if we’re making decisions here on the replacing two aging railroad bridges and repaving a stretch that extends from the village south to Irving Road. The renovations likely won’t come cheap, and Stolsonburg has been mak­ ing his rounds with municipalities and local organizations to solicit funds. Stolsonburg said Monday the proj­ ect would cost around $2.2 million, adding village officials are pursuing state grants to help with the cost. Even if awarded state funding, officials would likely have to raise around $500,000 to $600,000 for the neces­ sary matching funds. After crunching the numbers, Stolsonburg requested Thomapple Township earmark about $150,000 for the project - far more than the $ 10,000 the township board OK’d at Monday’s meeting. Stolsonburg said he plans to talk to See THORNAPPLE on 6 WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS »■. A ' > •> Residential & Commercial I •t-V Y ZJ - .’4 V < Pl -Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers fif I .JM &V 1 __ r lj w «1 N<* ' Jf. 1 I X k r 12 F 619 , C5D -F.' 4 LIGHT TRUCK PARTS isa MUS • rax m • i • nuts • sm • ras • m 'I k tub mil SERVICE * YOU PUll IT 269-381-2300 s Mae I £iiM>£ <* f * » «« > * Sf wr DeWeerd <68 $ K“ {- LENNOiCi HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. 269*792-2234 DEWEERDHTG.COM .•s? . tM ... S/iree 1955 LBBB< * ACCREDITED BUSINESS ni { -^r’y • —is •JT^^TS— ►t jUSED PARTS R USED TIRES •^,■1 . . .. LA 00 •» > _. . < . »• J * f ( 9 0 • - .y • t » • • I I ) I 21 WA CO. 9-1-1 C 4 5 6l(77i I I I .1 I."* ^>•• s’ I . ji’' ■-.’U { M <%»<• ■> >I 8 W— •' I* 0 <■ f SS TER . 91 10 5 I * ’'^- 151 161 171 r * ■I «£ r f-t iie>’ rI I tf*.f «V' I , «4b I. I t> i •• u , f r I * ■ * y. > z i »• ■ ■J I 0* K'f. I *I 1 -K ■ » I w’ > ■ Mi \ V Vr > V r* 1 * f. '-M t*" 1 W' I 4 ' .^ . A' .1 ’ , 1 fj. j '’k »• t 'I J t . 71 JU. ..vl 4 41 4 * o «p r « ,4I •, ■ *.1 1 4 ,*• ••A' JJ?" i I kl •l z .> v I ✓ i r * *Xi » -1; \ '*• .-J' » J w rrr < 1^ ’ ■ 'ri- li^‘ ' P; J -V/ »< I .4^ 11 -1 .'itf‘''i''/,4e I -aP • t -i' V r J f I » Uttle SlU#^’ .M it ' ’ t.J J Ai;n ' r* * Sus# vl / as* t :9' ^JCBU^T t t u 1^* y'- Wk*, fiss^ “ ‘' f' <. ♦ *l ,WJ ♦< r.l r5<^*r ^"F* 'iwid(s 1* • ^,.4 !.IB» I Hl i^SMNN 1 f» A-**** 1 ♦.V ■ .♦ kwH *s- fssranlW' ■ , ?di ..4 I u vTRRVn! Ttir- taMMB*!! «I !• «WV *."• i ^^W***: k If—4 ' 1 i, 1 iinaifS^" 1 » * •♦ f . y2. I 4--‘ ■ 4Mrr IS- - t IL Eswaiwisi sk ttl 1 A h -4A(«'>n -■ A ja i»:w .' M< I hU i * \ 1 ♦ r I r* , t I t T ‘J** i - *«T^ bi^k I 4 I'>4 * '*r ■ 7I i • • 1 •. -Ui * 'll as ■ ■ *i>*i*^ 1 1S«W^ ’ **« t \ • u'in k 4 -■’A I 4 ( • -'A' < Z1 k '" 1 * 4 •. •i, . J 1^ i I t • f t'f I « ' ■ I 11 10 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 201 211 22| 23 24 251 261 271 281 291 30 f.: Sj (> I TWw « Ip. ' fl. - -Ik L 1 I 1 V vwi dr 4 I >w > tatesa "^iw^ 1 t 19 I f 4b I 181 V I r « 14 J * r ■ < Ai . ■ »■ DIAL (800) 249-0911 ’4ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at 0/tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 13 /* O'* ■ -W OB T'kl' ■ 't t « « . 4- 9 r ’j . blind side,” he said. “The developer has asked us to not divulge until we get further down the road,” Weersing explained. “But how can we spend $7,000 in taxpayer money when have no idea what is, where it is?” Trustee Dan Fryling asked. Staff thinks it’s a really good opportunity,” Weersing replied, “and that's why it was brought to the attention of Parks & Trails, who reviewed it and also think it’s a good opportunity and have made this request.” VanderStel, a member ofthe Parks & Trails Committee, said the committee was not given a specific location where the potential park property is. “Not the actual location,” she said. “It was being kept quiet for the reason stated, that we don’t want it published.” “We’ve given (the Parks & Trails Committee) the highlights of the prop­ erty and told them why we think that it is a good opportunity,” Weersing said. He added that township staff have “an idea” on what the cost of the first parcel of property would be, but not the second nearby parcel. DeWard said trustees have a right and a duty to know where the board is spending taxpayer money. “It just sounds way too secretive to me,” Fryling said. Terpstra said he did not want to wait a year for the Natural Resources Inven­ tory to be conducted before deciding on whether to have the parcels appraised. “I think we need to trust our township staff and adhere to what the current property owner says, that they don’t really want all the information out yet,” Trustee Tim Haagsma said. A motion was then raised asking the township board if it would approve the Parks & Trails Committee’s request to authorize spending up to $7,000 for appraisal ofthe two parcels of land that could be used for future park locations. The vote was 5-2 against the measure, with Haagsma and VanderStel casting the two yes votes. Lemke then pointed out that Gaines Township has not invested much in its township parks in the past 20 years, other than some construction work at Prairie Wolf Park, mainly. After that, Haagsma made a motion for the board to authorize spending up to $3,000 to have an appraisal done on the main 20-acre parcel that staff has been considering. As mentioned, that was approved 6-1. y n ’ �’1 A I 61 X4 I I i i k k-A •v I 4 4. Ik Church Safety Conference slated for Feb. 22 ( s’ } 1 I Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer i I I * I I' 1 A? < No one likes to think about a situation where their lives might be in danger — but one local event is designed to prepare you for exactly that. The Larry Jackson Memorial Barry County SherifTs Church Safety Confer­ ence is where such information is ex­ changed. This year’s event is slated for Feb. 22 at First Baptist Church of Middleville. The event runs all day, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and features several guest speakers and break-out sessions with varying topics, from building safety and legal liabilities to de-escalation tactics. It’s an opportunity for groups and indi­ viduals to receive this kind oftraining even ifthey previously didn’t have access to it. “Particularly at churches, you don’t want to think about an active shooter coming in, but we rather equip people to know what to do in those situations rather than they regret not knowing what to do,” I I '^5 ” 1 J • LU 31 > I L i « I I I 1 a; ■ 4 « X I I' IT . I I > I f I • 1 u. ?w 4 I'i .'ix r"* > rK i J I I 4 4 « ■in • I J Mx V % 5 <1. ? s I I r» ' 4 ..rqu ■ r 4 ■ tj -'Mk. '.SI, ‘ I H. ' t• -t-x.. *':■ , ,, .... 1 u 11 f* r a k I * OJ u. n i. < I« ''*h. %a.. I.. '4 i . Tj 'J - I tl. ^’Ch UM '•d i . ’‘•J ’'/&H i 1. «■ • I Saturday, February 15, 2025 5 V * I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com > ■■ » k.' ■‘'.1 t%ri| T -I and retired member ofthe Grand Rapids Police Department. It was while prepar­ ing a conflict de-escalation training class for his church security team in 2016 that he realized what he had to share and teach would benefit anyone who deals with the public. Wynsma said people of all professions tend to partake in this training, including teachers. “We think it is fantastic because it’s more about trying to help communities and churches and schools,” Wynsma said. “To just have more knowledge because the more you know the better you can help people. That’s basically what it comes down to.” Wynsma also said that each con­ ference features something new, so someone who may have attended the event each year will walk away learning something new. Detailed information on the event, along with registration forms, can be found at barrychurchsafety.org. said Becky Wynsma, who is a member of the Barry County SherifTs Auxiliary, a member of First Baptist Church of Middleville and helps to organize the yearly event with her husband. The training and education don’t just center on extreme situations like an active shooter, either. In fact, first aid training is also a popular breakout ses­ sion for the event. The event has steadily grown over time, with a record 393 people who signed up for it last year. As of now, around 290 people are registered for this year’s event, putting organizers on pace to match last year’s total. Advanced registration is encouraged so that organizers can get an idea of a headcount for food purposes, but walk ins are certainly welcome. This year’s keynote speaker is John Riley, of Gentle Response, an organiza­ tion that provides de-escalation training. Riley is a former Army infantryman 4^ . 1* <V Classifieds > BUSINESS SERVICES Dump Trailer Services, Bob­ cat Services, tree stump removal,site prep and clearing,dirt driveway installa­ tion and land clearing site prep. Fully licensed and insured. 616-389-9496 TREE SERVICE BUYING ALL HARDWOODS: Walnut, Oak, Hard Maple, Cherry. Paying top dollar. Call for pricing and Free Estimates. Will buy single walnut trees. Insured, liability & workman’s comp. Fetterley Logging, (269)818-7793. I *X, H! ' * <r • STARBASE Battle Creek shuts its doors for now: future in limbo -t I « € , » < » -w ‘ Ha, r t 1 I p/l t « 7 I V 1 r ffKtl ; . ' lu J I * c ■ li ■f' >.- - I •• ♦ M*-. ■ J I I John Hendler I I 9 I 1 ■ *1 • n View Newspaper Group I I R: *' ?) I « k • < • JO ’ I II ft . UJj. k I •• «r •*rr (ino < f^oi: . ! I » *4 W t f’ r-i 1 I Jr. mH 1., ■ I f w '■flotJVl It 4 ' r d^/lic J ' ;, .1 t • A*. ■ i l’: •• « f I { T 01- r 4 t ;lLJErBB8M|^ i I ___ N i i I f I ' u. ;3 . J « r IA •| .^nin ur Um io f I: • ft .4.5(1 tonOlSB Li': LI h I tK 150 X 4 I r I rl > «'•» iU 1 *7 .J- M ••* k r n. Ja^ Ui y X ... >n 1 ujL. I I * IA I I i A b(i odj I ‘b MA.' VT:’ ni I sri < I 1 X t <4 • L, tat r s|qE t- I • ' r ' I i w< rj: J tgou J 1 jtk II fl ■STEAM program idled for more than 1,600 area students STARBASE Battle Creek closed its doors and program operations on Feb. 7. This closure not only impacted the Battle Creek site but all 90 programs across the United States, including two others in Michigan (STARBASE Al­ pena and STARBASE One Selfridge), Puerto Rico and Guam. Fifth graders at Thomapple Kellogg Schools will have their plans to visit the STEAM learning center put on hold for the duration of the closure. “At this time, we do not know if this is a temporary or permanent closure,” said STARBASE Executive Director Amber Waterbury, who noted that STARBASE Battle Creek has been serving the community and region as a leader in STEAM education for 18 years and has approximately 1,600 children in the program. “Please know that we are working diligently to re­ main afloat and continue providing an ■I .1 > ■ 1 4. I’* M »• $<• V '<• i* ■ X* ‘ '* i 1. X — •■« e *» <• I* Al M I -A .1 ( r 1 I- I t 4 » ♦ ’ « 1 ks K I *1 11 z ...s! •Tj >S' •« • m. 4 <tfr t. 9 J f •nit A- d 1 .1 T a t ■i >1 I I. I- V «• I* tw «• w* Il * * O O 4* <• •• k' I' <« 4 ( ;’.i' forward for funding the federal govern­ ment, Waterbury notes that there has been disagreement on how much to al­ locate for the 90 STARBASE locations. “Currently, the House has proposed $60 million; the Senate has proposed $20 million,” she said. “As a result of this disparity, the DoD comptroller (the financial reporting and accounting of fice) is acting conservatively and only released $20 million for all STARBASE locations during the continuing resolution.” On Jan. 29, the DoD program man­ ager informed STARBASE they would have to close its operations on Feb. 7 because the DoD comptroller will not release additional funds. STARBASE does not know if this shutdown is temporary or will be permanent. “We will only learn this once Con­ gress passes the appropriations budget and the president signs it into law,” said Waterbury. “If the Senate concedes to the House and increases the STARBASE budget to $60 million, we’ve been told we can resume operations. If the House concedes to the Senate and empowering educational opportunity that inspires generations of children to come. Fifth-grade students in the core program come to STARBASE Battle Creek for five hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) of instruction one day a week for five consecutive weeks with about 250 students attending each particular sec­ tion at a time. Students in STARBASE Advanced (approximately 80) are in grades six and seven, and students in the Outreach program (approximately 500) range from K-12. Several schools in the area participate in STARBASE programs. STARBASE is part of the Depart­ ment of Defense and Congress passes funding bills for the federal govern­ ment, which, when signed by the president, become law. They entered the current fiscal year on Oct. 1,2024, with no budget in place. The federal government is currently operating on a continuing resolution, providing limited funds and STARBASE funds are fully expended. As the U.S. House ofRepresentatives and the U.S. Senate navigate the path • < <• 1* !• I lowers the budget, STARBASE will most likely face permanent closure.” STARBASE, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non­ profit organization that operates STARBASE Battle Creek. T^ey can fully accept any monetary donation people would like to make to help re-open the doors at starbasebattlecreek.org. (Contributions may be tax deductible.) “With your critical financial contri bution, we can supplement the shortfall in our budget while Congress makes a determination,” said Waterbury. “The See STARBASE on 14 Your local agent insures your > 1 1 O A I BUfiEAU INSiJBMCE* FAHM &tawntie^ Compaq r el Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-8827 jparks®fbln^i.com FarniBureaulnsurance.com �I I • I jlj* J II f I.lfl 6 Saturday, February 15, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Thornapple Twp. board acts on variety of agenda items Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer Helping fund trail renovations was far from the only action item before the members of the Thomapple Township Board ofTrustees at their Feb. 10 meeting. Other agenda items included: WRITER Continued from Page 1 He looks forward to covering other sto­ ries like sports and local events. After graduating fi-om Caledonia High School in 2019, Peterson attended Grand Rapids Community College for two years before transfer­ ring to Rochester Christian University. There, he was given an opportunity to compete in the cross country and track teams while pursuing his bachelor’s degree. Peterson graduated after three years with a degree in mass communi­ cations and was recognized as a twotime Character of Champion for his athletic accomplishments. I • Thomapple Township Emergency Services ChiefBill Richardson was given approval by the board tohire two part-time EMTs and four part-time paramedics to fill the void left behind by an outgoing fidl-time employee and a long-time part­ timeparamedic, who woilced significantly more than the typical part-timer. • The board approved the appointment ofStephanie Skidmor as township’s rep­ resentative to the Thomapple Area Parks and Recreation Commission, succeed­ ing JeflTKenyon on the commission. Her term will expire at the end of this year. “College was a blast,” Peterson said. “I never thought I’d get to compete at a professional level and graduate in a field I am very interested in pursuing.” Peterson came back home after graduating where he plans to start his career in journalism. Over time, he hopes to gain lots of experience and connections to pursue a career in sports media and communications. I’m excited to be back home in West Michigan,” Peterson added. “I hope diat my time at the local news­ paper group provides me with new opportunities and knowledge of what I want to do with my life. Macleod said she is thrilled to wel­ come Peterson on board. “I know the Middleville and Caledonia areas are in good hands with Noah. I know firsthand what it’s like to start your journalism career in the community you grew up. I’m excited to see him learn and grow while con­ necting with the community,” she said. Founded in 2003, View Newspaper Group is a locally-OM^ned, locallyconnected community ney\^spaper group covering 13 Michigan counties. As Michigan's largest independently owned newspaper group, the company publishes 21 newspapers with print editions reaching more than 335,000 households each week, plus an addi­ tional 500,000 monthly online readers. For more information, visit mihomepaper. com or contact View Newspaper Group Brand Manager Emily Caswell at ecaswell@mihomepaper.com. N S H 99 Charter Township of Gaines, County of Kent, MI 1 The Gaines Charter Township Board of Review will meet on the following dates; • Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 9:00AM: Organizational Meeting • Monday, March 10, 2025,12:00PM to 6:00PM: Appeals Hearings • Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 3:00PM to 9;00PM; Appeals Hearings The tentative ratios and the estimated multipliers for each class of real property and personal property for 2025 are as follows: 1.1351 1.0737 1.1042 Commercial 47.83 Developmental NC Personal Property 50.00 4 1.0454 NC 1.000 Americans With Disabilities (ADA) Notice The Township will provide necessary reasonable services to individuals with disabilities at the Board of Review meetings upon seven (7) days’ notice. Contact Kim Triplett at 616-504-4332. I • UI r. 'J 4 r r I f ', d 1 '. to LK 1 fl b k L J i ) J I : >i • i |n')T190 ibi .bi ^0 4 > J 3 sit mt rs I J ( 1 F f > V * f ' ) 5 I I I > ry.'. i*. i 1 ' I ."T^ > 3\' THORNAPPLE J I Continued from Page 4 I I F J 1 I a__ r t 1 «k . ..'I ■* ■r* « I J (ft-' J 55 J r *« /a' I* ♦ V e' r ■ 4 -Ti *1* * Il 1 /STfir** b I 1^ I •• F f 1 ? pr^B I- 'l** J HI* 'Cl t 1 I 4 J 5 3llv» CHS toys 1 3 <** Wi in GfW 3 I.-' '■J?. 't fig The Board of Review will meet as many more days as necessary to hear protests and equal­ ize the 2025 assessments. By Board resolution, taxpayers may protest by letter sent to 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, MI 49316 or by email to jim.zenas@gainestownship.org, provided the protest is received before 5:00PM Tuesday, March 11,2025. 44.05 46.57 45.28 • TTES will once again have an agreement with Yankee Springs Fire Department to help provide ambulance services. This was the case back in 2014 before Yankee Springs opted to contract with Wayland, instead. “Geographically, we’re poised in a much better location to take back over that coverage area,” Richardson said, referring to the new agreement. ’ Richardson added his department would likely average only about a call every three days to cover those duties in the portion of Yankee Springs. The contract will bring his department around $4,500 for the year and cannot exceed $6,000. Caledonia Community Schools The Gaines Charter Township Board of Review for March 2025 will be held at the Township Office, located at 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, MI to hear appeals regarding 2025 assessments. Agricultural Residential Industrial r U I the Irving Township Board of Trustees about helping fund the renovations, as well as soliciting additional funds from local organizations. The trail project is targeted to begin in 2027 and the village would need to start applying for the grants in the near future. “I just want to say, I had penciled in $10,000 because I hadn’t spoken to anyone about this yet,” Thomapple Township Board President Eric Schaefer said. “I Aink we feel comfortable with that as a starting point. But I think it was important for you has posted an RFP for guys to get this resolution of support sooner rather than later,” he added. Technology When we’re done with our budget and Network Switches see what we have left and what we can afford, we certainly see the importance of trails. ” All RFP information can be However, some members balked at found on the district website: the idea of that amount ballooning from $10,000 to more than $100,000. https://www.calschools.org/bond/ “I can’t imagine that this rural com­ munity is populated with people who are going to accept that kind ofexpense going to a trail,” Trustee Ross DeMaagd said. “Es­ pecially when the roads V W1 j lfcz" V need the money and that "free St--. benefits the general public a lot more.” DeMaagd added that • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation with some outside-the-box • Blown-in Attic Insulation thinking, they could find an alternative avenue to fixing 517-983-0954 up the trail one with a start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam smaller price tag. 2025 MARCH BOARD OF REVIEW MEETING SCHEDULE 0 i I If J / I I T? If r, » I «w * * * T • « <>0 ij I «. fesiitteiiCiis; .J 4 i'l*.; VW '.'ij•ip rn 7f J tt.l(ll. I T ha * 1 / -'«r > 1 **«•-* > W 4 I 4- * 1 I r'-'V •.4 t / % I r ^teSas^ T r » H 9J T iT 1' 1 I ** *'r ■ » •<1 1 • -I* r 71 I <iFL I » J J 7 I b» ' I M ’*l'» « ' 4 » « • ■■ .1 » • «11 a « 4* • _t * ( • • f « " T E « •* v * 4 « ♦' « t 4 * » t fe I. » I I I h’' I”' 4 f h (< 1 2 I r: I 11 10 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES « 4 5 TER 8 91 10 DIAL (800) 249-0911 ’.ION - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Q. tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 H 19 201 - L_t I a • '. WA CO. 9-1-1 C I Ar ** fl ■ ' »4 ’. ■ 1 211 22| 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 I ! I 1 I fl 1 j I I i. f 1/ H I L T < I r< I I I ■ r 1 I I t ) I 4 t J f f 1 1 t i �s ^4' 1. V J Wildcats from Northview best TK teams on senior night L I- »• 5 I I i I ... 1 <1 . j I j s i « 3 **1 X f T- > * ■1 X ,v. 1 f: 1. 'I 4 ;U X «« iT-*’ 2 A s z I I I Ik . 7 V. 15^153 V >7 1 J_h Saturday, February 15, 2025 \ w ■ THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com St ' *I z * i } J* s. <5 s, < 4 ■'>* r. »I I V 1 ,w h I ^«JI k I « I ri 1 4 J k ■ A< •» n •k <1 t t • I f * '* ' r < ^-4 5. — .I 0 I * JU «h»; I L^i N i ♦& 'i V *K / / i -i "^lr_h*■*" -^1 *• •t t *?■ Are you creative n biM » ■ ■ ;*>* < • > r«-. T ______________________________I........------------------. , 3* Jsu' .- I nOir. IC I tdiih -Hli (I I.' ' er..' eru. r'nj 4 A I I i 4 ■ *< .Hl » irl r ' 1 I • I . 1 . I k iil h •u f' ■ J *1 «N J. Vb 7 I ‘Wild'* I ■ ’*W .. A* \b s f I 'J « I' ••V ) ■’'lit <• J •. I ^1- t I Thornapple Kellogg senior Ish Cantu gets to the rim for two points during the Trojans' senior night loss to visiting Northview in Middleville Feb. 7. The Wildcats took an 85-50 victory. The Trojans were 3-6 in the OK Gold conference and 9-10 overall on the season after a 52-42 conference defeat at Wayland Tuesday. Photo by Thornapple Kellogg senior Emma Dykhouse and her parents are honored during the Trojan varsity girls’ and boys’ basketball teams’ senior night ceremony Feb. 7. The TK ladies were bested 50-35 by Northview on the night, but rebounded for a 53-52 win over the Wayland Wildcats Tuesday night. Brett Bremer Photo by Brett Bremer View Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time graphic artist for our Greenville location. — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • ND WEEKENDS — This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Photoshop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! J J T, ■TT*' f $ I t I A' w Brett Bremer WiMi Sports Editor LGu ‘^ ■nnhate'l ' till! I 4m '■N u. I "1 L ’O I i % 1 I ■ MU I 3 f f I II .' -djUi. /b’’ Mi. : t ( •> • 0 t• ■ r .4^' ‘ '■a# /•. 4 Jrf I' « {<■*1 1 I 1 i • 4 ir 'r J 11 'c'. etSSS! I .J 1 .1 i I 1 .a 1 I 1 I f »<* V • fl aiih> CHS boys score sweep of Jenison in Green hoops I I I I The Caledonia varsity boys’ bas­ ketball team made it 2-for-2 against Jenison in the OK Green Conference this winter and two wins in a row by outscoring the host Wildcats 47-40 Friday, Feb. 7. Caledonia had three guys in double figures led by 18 points from sopho­ more Ben Geerdes who had five rebounds and three steals too. Fellow sophomore Bryce Backus had 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals for the Scots and senior Cam Myers had 12 points. The Scots had just beaten West Catholic in a non-conference ballgame Feb. 4. .............. • The win streak ended at two though as the Scots ran into the Muskegon team ranked eighth in the state in Division 1. The Big Reds kept their OK Green Conference record perfect at 8-0 with a 61-20 win at Caledonia High School Tuesday, Feb. 11. Geerdes had seven points and four rebounds in the loss. Junior Luke Witvoet added six points. The loss to Muskegon drops the Scots to 2-6 in the OK Green this winter and 6-13 overall heading into a Feb. 14 ballgame against Byron Center in Caledonia. The Scots will be at West Ottawa Tuesday and then close the regular season at home against Mona Shores Feb.-3k............................................... — NOW HIRING — GRAPHIC DESIGNER I _»r r f Responsibilities include: • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout Mie love what we do and we know you will tool / Ve you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@mihomepaper.com and let’s find outl ^^1 The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer's Guide Jeffersonian Group TrI-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen }. The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer's Guide & News The Sun and News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Reminder We are a growing company of 21 community newspapers serving 15 Michigan counties that are delivered weekly to more than 335,000 households with an additional500,000 monthly online readers. �I I • r J. Saturday, February 15, 2025 » 1 f THE SUN AND NEWS yf^y^yN. sti nandnews .com ■ re^onal titles. The Pioneer boys won with 86 points, with the low score in both events. Grand Rapids Christian finished die day with 145 points and West Catholic 157.5 to earn the other two team qualify­ ing spots for the state finals. Caledonia was fourth with 186 points, 18.5 behind third-place West Catholic and ahead of Mattawan/Paw Paw 189, Cadillac 197, West Michigan Aviation Academy203, Hackett/Vicksburg226.5, Spring Lake 275, Forest Hills Central 315, Northview 323, Lowell 337.5 and PlainwellZniomapple Kellogg 365.5. The regional course included two different GS courses and two diffwent slalom courses for the boys’ and girls’ two runs down the hill. The boys’ opened on the GS runs on the cold, cloudy morning and Potgeter tallied times of25.93 seconds and 26.85 seconds to hold a spot in the medals by more than half a second. In the slalom, Potgeter had times of32.38 seconds and 32.40 on ±e two runs while the sun came out and the wind picked iq) on the hill. ‘Tor him to qualify for both this year is huge,” Caledonia head coach Duane Senior David “DJ” Potgeter and Ital­ ian exchange student Chiara Marta both medaled in both events, the slalom and the giant slalom (GS), for the Caledonia varsity ski teams during the MHSAA Division 2 Regional Race hosted by Grand Rapids Christian at Cannonsburg Ski Area Monday. The pair earned the chance to compete again at the MHSAA Division 2 Ski Finals at Boyne Highlands Feb. 24. Potgeter, a state qualifier in his junior season too thanks to a regional slalom medal, placed ninth in the boys’ GS and then fourth in the boys’ slalom leading the CHS boys to a fourth-place finish overall. That’s a bit of a tough spot to be in as the top ten individuals and the t<^ three teams from the regional qualified for the state finals. Marta was fifth in the girls ’ slalom and * the runner-up to Mattawan/Paw Paw’s Anna Hoogerheide in the girls’ GS. The East Grand Rapids boys and girls were well ahead of their competitors in the team standings and both captured —TP' II UN 09^ WM»***T ' - -I •* ■' ' fess.' 4* I NOWibtVING BREAKF * 1 > * z - < 1. .y* ’Vk I* I tv »(*• I (As>. I . « X. I I J « J. I 1 i * 1 JI I f* * c I I I; • *• 1 t ‘I.* 4 J • ♦ 1 I •* 4 « 4» 4 The Fighting Scots’ Liz Hilton gets moving down the slalom course during the MHSAA Division 2 Regional at Cannonsburg Ski Area Monday. Photo by Brett Bremer F * I * V » X' <■ ■! " I Al-'*'" • x.i UTT ■ L-.>V , 'L ' 4 f -X fastest second run ofthe GS earlier in the day, but a fall the first timedown kept him out of the medals in that event “The boys team all season long has been ■eat and skiing well,” Petrosky said. “The second half we had a couple guys make mistakes. We had lost a ski. and then we had somel•ailly double eject ■ A r-' « ,J r 1 » A 1 X .r r. ' * ▼ 1 I' f 5 fi 1 J iuJsZ. 1^- L• . i s'* I /MUS- a Kx. a’ -'i 1 1 I 1:*/'• 4- .is.. Li See SCOTS on 9 I 11118*"“''' r<' 1 > J fa Ai •J a ! -I .•X' « *A • r » ss g J :c^ * Ir Petrosky said. “He really, both as a skier and as a person, has just grown so much over the last four years. We are just re­ ally excited for him. This winter, he was trying to make Team Michigan, which is through USSA but they have a high school component So, he did a bunch of extra races on top of ours. That experience along with his hard work has helped him to really step up. That field of skiers down here is really good down here in our region 5.” Experience and knowledge have been the biggest things improving Potgeter’s times this winter. “For him, it is really about how he reads the course and body position,” Petrosky said. “He is really good at holding his edges and building sj 1 in the right places on courses. A lot ofkids, especially moving north, kids have gotten so much better at how do we create speed where we can, hold it where we have to hold on, because there are bad conditions and its so steep and you can’t build speed, and then how do we accelerate across the flat. DJ is just really good at that” Cadillac’s Zane Wallis won the boys’ GS competition with runs of 24.82 seconds and 25.96. East Grand Rapids’ Quiim Irwin >vas the top slalom race with runs of30.33 and 30.67. He also had the & f f - ** * Fastest Scots on skis score spots in state finais Brett BremerSports Editor i' fl 4 8 . / ** » i• •)il,.. 4 Wi 4^1^ - 8 IL ■Mm**...-. . IT *S. L.8“- *Jr -e'.. M 4b s*. '9^ 11 ru BREAKFAST LUNCH ®W, I 'A • y. { W Il IX., I Bl > r* DINNER •c» * * R ’a 4 J . aiBiaiW* I .1 r » <• I.. 5 , 4 I isaiiilWB&Ste i4. J w^' rW < I f«» A 4 4 t r 1 A .>1 • I '-TV' I 4 % I M w ■ 1 icWieE)!! fc> I aCibMt^ t 1 [ - n' ' 4 • r- i ■ I T; • ■ >■ lit j •• iMi m.- -. >4 «r V e X 1 >5 I * *4V % .’t ■ I S 1 I CUT OUT & PRESENT • * f !? * 1 9900 Cherry Valley Ave SE. Caledonia, MI // 616-622-1004 // www.butcherblocksocial.com iWse?* »' t ■liW . » • I • • W “W « «Si '* “• V • « I 2 4 I » I 4 4 • t • sr * s I 4 « » 4 i 4 f 4 4^144 lit » I • 4 « 4 t « 4 9 4 4 12 I 5 DIAL (800) 249-0911 BoN - EMERGENCIES Wk co. 9-1-1 II Kids Measure up at /• 9 10 111 121 131 14 iwa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 151 161 171 181 19 201 * - - r 4 ***^^*^ - * <« ».u . <;» * 1• ® •• . ', * *1 11 • . V »• <.4 ••At.’ « I 1 k I J V i . ^liR^ 4 I . ♦ • 4 1 t < < ♦ < I II.H' 11 k n. 1 t .r r t « yTTFT^,-^7S Caledonia’s Chiara Marta leans into a turn near the top of the GS course during the MHSAA Division 2 Regional at Cannonsburg Ski Area Monday. Marta earned a medal in both the GS and the slalom to qualify for the Feb. ... 24. D2 State FLnals.EhotoJiy>Brett£reiner... Afi - 1 '■W ■ EXPIRES 6/15/25 i > THIS COUPON FOR lO/oJ OFF YOUR TOTAL BILL 5 * 4 rf « 4 f 9 T , < 4 r . 4 4 / I fl I' I 11 10 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 22| 23 24 251 261 271 281 291 30 fT. �* ♦ ♦ ♦ .. ?K. *> t L f * ! 1 1 4 SCOTS Continued from Page 8 > 1 I 4 «B^0 * « Hi’ *1 -X . *K 4 * « r f u A ’. I J L, S.. “'■5. r 1 K I I ! r , 3' J « '} ^h. J • •a. • I & 3 r XU.i ' A 4 •h^k. ■< •t He, 4. Ou 4 ik vB ■» I ► u '■V;'*.. A * ♦ k f’ A n ■» '^r I \ f 4 » ’ r 11 i , i • I t f I * ' 1 .;4 tJ r 'ii s ’73 1) i. I J 1 ' f A / ■'V ,A b J r n I 7 1 bnu a **n»j IlbJ r *4 < ?w< 4 I rD*<. ObR>i r.o bar nor hl 'J 18-i i 1 'V ■ ■A '“' I tTk-. f I ’ p it I r f t r f I f t •I \W W jfft * 4 9 1 Bl’’ r.-.'. ) V --- irfwyj’lv ■iff*'V ) i « ' J >,jttisl2!8aR;v 4 M *1. hfiri iittM £ ’'LiMBi’hBT ) •g * re '' izsH s( io li 6^ tb M* ' /■h-'X 9 B ■ ■ I yi I i Et- I I I A t / / 1 4 .02 b f ATfl ! Wflw I J 1 f r I ( It I I V ri J *> - ’ •* I 'IT ■ lb » 1. ■ & .1 / IT t ) ■ M a 4, f I T •*e > ( « < I 1 me 4 •I t T“ V ■JdF .' J IDadi p •AT .> 1 i f I > rr> H. J J E towards the bottom bottom in that hole that developed. DJ is kind of at his level, but with the other guys on varsity if one guy bumps out there is another guy ready to step in and put a time down that helps. “Peter Calhoun, I have been running in my sixth flight, not because he is the sixth fastest guy, but because he is the guy who can run a fast time later in a flight through rough conditions, and he did it for us again.” The CHS boys’ team had Peter Cal­ houn tie for 24th in the slalom, Jake Potgeter 29th and Derick Pritchard 37th. In the GS, Jake Potgeter was 22nd, Aidan Brown finished in a tie for 27th and Cal­ houn finished 33rd. Marta’s first run down the girls’ GS course was a hundredth ofa second faster than Hoogerheide’s, but Hoogeiheide got the CHS leader by nine hundredths of a second the second time down for the win. East Grand Rapids’ Sophie Hicks won the girls’ slalom. Marta had GS runs of 26.38 and 26.22. Hoogerheide clocked in at 26.39 and 26.13 bn her two runs. “She is a special person and skier,” coach Petrosky said, “and when we first met her she kind of downplayed how much she had raced. She is from Cortina, in Italy (home of some of the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics competitions)... the first day we saw her ski it was like, ‘oh, wow. Marta is closing in on the team scor­ ing records held by Emily Petrosky, the daughter of Duane PetroslQ< who is also an assistant coach in the program. Marta had slalom times of 35.55 sec­ onds and 34.21 seconds. The East Grand Rapids girls won a regional title with 57 points ahead of Cadillac 113 and Grand Rapids Christian 116 in the top three. They were follows e in the standings by Mattawan/Paw Paw 132, Hacketl/Vicksbuig 181, ForestHills Central 201, Grand Rapids Catholic Cen­ tral 209, Caledonia 254, Spring Lake 279 and Northview 358. East Grand Rapids’ Sophie Hicks beat out teammate Hannah Darooge at the top of the girls’ slalom leaderboard at the start of the day. Hicks had runs of 35.05 and 33,20, just shy of fourth tenths of a second better than Darooge’s runs of 35.19 and 33.45. The Caledonia girls’ team also had Liz Hilton 36th, Ada Decker 40th d Madison Reynolds 41st in the si om. Scoring for the Scots in the GS behind Marta were Zuzanna Poraddea 42nd, Decker 43ni and Hilton 45fh, “What I have noticed fixjm my younger skiers especially, our team h^ a lot of sophomore girls, they have been watching and trying to do some of the things [Marta] does on the course, and their times have been coming closer and closer. They’re still awaysoff. Ijust think having a slder like Chiara around brings everybody up, because they all want to I think we’ll see the benefits do well for the next few years on our girls’ team, and the boys’ too. She’s faster than most boys.” Like the Caledonia girls’ team, the Plainwell/Thomapple Kellogg Trojan boys’ team was led by an exchange stu­ dent, Claudio Costa. Costa had the top run for the Trojan club each time down with times of 27.21 and 28.50 in the GS. The Trojan club also had Mark Gielincki 40th in the GS, Gerrit Taber 59th and Loehn Luckett 60th during the morning session. Costa put together times of37.20 and 36.63 to place 27th in the slalom. The Trojan club had Luckett 47th, Taber 48th and Ben White 57th in the slalom. The Plainwell/TK Trojans head to Timber Ridge for the Southwest Michi­ gan Ski Conference Finals Wednesday, Feb. 19, and then will race at the Cale­ donia invitational at Crystal Mountain Friday, Feb. 21, to close out the season. Caledonia will be a part of the Lake Michigan Ski Conference Championship at Crystal Mountain Feb. 19. 4 ."Bi fi ' Saturday, February 15, 2025 9 ♦ > » THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ♦ ♦ r 1 ’Mt <*• * I •1 (» I .w 4 * >< 'X,* c !*• J*-* V L ft - * K » L 1 •'f > v A >• j**- • r f I The Fighting Scots’ David Potgeter takes his second run down the hill at Cannonsburg Ski Area in the GS during the MHSAA Division 2 Regional Monday. Potgeter scored atop ten medal in both the GS and slalom to qualify for the Feb. 24 D2 State Finals. Photo by Brett Bremer FROIVT/ra WANTED •BUILDING MAINTENANCE PERSON I HEATING AND COOLING Looking for an individual who likes people and can work independently. This is the perfect opportunity for someone who would like to learn building maintenance, from our maintenance person who has been here 18 years, ideal for a person who has some practical knowledge about household or building repairs already. We are thinking of part-time work, but we may be open to discuss full-time work from 8-2 Monday-Friday, on call with rotating weekends, vacatiori days, cell allowance and some flexibility with days off when needed. This is for someone who can be self-motivated, able to work with other staff as a team, we can be flexible with the understanding that this is a small public housing agency where a professional atmosphere is a must. «« M» EM MB MB «M M High Efficiency FURNACE 8 AIR MOO OFF FINANCING AVAILABLE *No monthly interest if paid within 18 mo. I 4 .e ■ III J ¥ F < I r^st i^senUhis coupon. Expires 2-28-25j Oth^r products avallabls: • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats -abd morel SEND RESUME TO: Plainwell/TK’s Mark Gielincki picks up speed at the start of the boys’ GS course during the morning session of the MHSAA Division 2 Regional at Cannonsburg Ski Area Monday. Photo.by. ButtBremer . c4< •X Martha Reyff-Banash, Executive Director Middleville Housing Commission at Lincoln Meadow Apartments 500 Lincoln St. Middleville, Ml 49333 "i ih < nnii>iin\ fmill hv it fcinii^ 210 East Main Street Caledonia V z 269-795-7715 mreyff-banash@middlevillehousing.org .5’ 616-891-8900 �» r / t J <■ I Saturday, February 15, 2025 10 ,< THE SUN AND NEWS I y ? ■ f.:l 4 * www.sunandnews.com t ■Vwi"'. ’ . .V r Hayden makes quick work of first girts’ district OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ n ^*1' * r ■ ■ r cr . > t f 9 ♦ tf • K a 9 .• J ’ i * 9 I 9. 4 I ► I B •• •« r ♦ ftr f; i I 4*^ f 4' :t d K L< J ■3* j J , . * f 11 * L % X I 1 'i-' 4 . -r ♦ r X .V i > 1 > t « w KT * ft *•4 I 4 '■1 •w « V • 4 ' « I 4' ■ 9 tn a • e ' • II ■ ‘ •f a fl' • ■ ' « It ■r;.« I 1 id 9 r. >. t 1 -4b ft < Ji 4 ft «ll*l,i4 ' ft ' fl w a f 7 4' Sil k' *' X* 1 r 9 1.3 J i MARKETING SPECIALIST Responsibilities include: • Advertising sales • Account management • Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts • Attend networking events Group email wsmith(5)mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder I » ( « » » 0 I ■ t / I 9 < « LI rPi. , 4 k A I < ,^70 V. 't 3(f r: 4> ’'W t lEUt A'. I 1 ’ J • > ^Ml ahic; AAQig . ' *^ •’•'5 r-- t Kellogg got four girls through to this Sunday’s regional at Portage Northern High School. Thomapple Kellogg senior Emma Gibson won the 135-pound weight class. She pinned all three ofher foes in­ cluding Allegan’s Dawn DeGood 1:20 into their championship bout, Raini Braska at 110 pounds and Adelaide Holderman at 170 pounds took runnerup finishes. Holderman couldn’t help but smile as she high-fived a still kneel­ ing Hayden after Caledonia’s two-time state champion pinned her 58 seconds into their 170-pound title bout. The TK team also had Rylee Alberts at 140 pounds place third. “I think it is really cool. It kind of represents how many more girls have joined the sport, and not only joined the sport but stuck with it too,” Hayden said of the first-time district tournament. “I think at first wrestling is a hard sport for girls to keep doing, especially if you’re one ofthe only girls in the room. I think it is really cool how much it represents how girls’ wrestling has grown.” Both Holderman and Hayden had made quick work of their first two district foes. Hayden pinned Otsego’s Destiny Barck in 12 seconds in the See HAYDEN on 11 «riJ '?j : « *' 1 1/t 4 U ./ / ; •5 • k 4* 1 ', t I 4 I > e * : bJJl* f 1 w '■ I J. ♦ ■;-f4:;'r2»r.» 1 r, r Ai. ; 1 iftii 4 if *r 1 ''f-- I' r 4 1 W6(*•> i ; i * tp-. r.B ' J ; I I . ( ► t e ."c| va'J! •( I V ■A t'. • I 4 i w**,-. ■ r • *; I .' iv ' 55'5 ■ I 1 Iw r £f2nt^ i n I > Y* J 1.; . I f V ' i n 4 “T" r . - I'l • il Of t ‘JJ, i t 1 I r •r A I - w * s I t LS-tetfan ;..s iwnixsir hi'ffoit-’tw' » ** ^r- *1 art ^irtwn ;u:23 mr 4 i-r MRI< *• O r r .IT. kIt’ ftfl< 4 . T r w k • u X 4 4 ■ (.U •>" * ib.' I « ■ I o 'l ni-hboa f IJ-^ Otl x h> b i; ’iMc i iI I imf bj 9^^ ‘ Ij; : ?/ r •**» I A .;,. i *4ftJ : ap**V * ."’■"•Trrt’i u ./ f 4 »•» '•****- ♦ < u t t I « I » 1 » 4 - V Brett Bremer Sports Editor In the MHSAA’s first season with an expanded girls’ individual wrestling tournament, which includes a district round for the first time, every district champion was a first time district champion. That goes for two-time state cham ft* pions Maddie Hayden from Caledonia and Madison Nieuwenhuis from Plainwell, and for previous state medalists like Hastings’ Dezarae Mathis and Naomi Grummet. Grummet closed her junior season with an all-state medal in her hand for an eighth-place finish in the 155-pound weight class at the MHSAA Individual State Finals at Ford Field in Detroit last March. Her senior season will keep going towards a return to Detroit after she won a varsity tournament for the first time ever Sunday, taking the 145-pound weight class at the MHSAA Girls Individual Wrestling District hosted by her own Hastings High School. Naomi is one of six Saxons who won their way through to the regional round of the state tournament. Hayden was the lone regional qualifier for the Fighting Scot program and Thomapple View Newspaper Group is seeking a ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian '1^ .. NOW HIRING E ■ <9 Thornapple Kellogg's Adelaide Holderman (left) reaches over with a smile for a high-five from Caledonia’s Maddie Hayden’s quick pin of Holderman in their 170-pound championship match Sunday at the MHSAA Girls Individual District at Hastings High School. Photo by Brett Bremer J 5 XT * * 1 Vi-- .+ I < * ft _J ft *X’ 4bl 1 KiCr « \ « • .f f .OW' ■n*AiF « ?« « 2,* I « fl «'• 9 r (TS 'I ft • I -Tr. . W' ' > I*’ h i •.J-■^: dT t *x I « « « I 4 * t irfe ■* "' h I I 1 T* I 5 4 £ tfiTA CO. 9-1 -1 CEd'TER 4 91 10 I ' I '17 I r I I I 10 11 i2n i OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES r I t t DIAL (800) 249-0911 ‘ION - EMERGENCIES Kids Measure up at QAawa Co. 9-1-1 Center II II < «: in ’ F) frn H 'W OOWi»«»* A 9* « 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 19 201 21| 22| 23| 24| 25| 26| 27| 28| 29| 30| llQB I I I I I III I I I I I I I I I I I IlLli, I I I I I. I I I I I I ai r I ! I 1 I t f, H J is' IX I <1 il I I I t • k ri r f' M - J I 9 t 1 I t I * I J I J I ft* 4 t I? .■X : 9 �♦ ♦ THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Saturday. February 15, 2025 11 ♦ Scots get into final 16 in D1 with win over Knights ■M ‘ Ki « J r / f i T* F aw- =^, , I* I 1 I * I kf w I ! J I II- Brett Bremer Sports Editor Only eight teams made it further in the MHSAA Division I Team State Wrestling Tournament than the Fight­ ing Scots this winter. The gap betw een making the final 16 and being one of the squads pushing for a title was evident Wednesday at Brigh- ton, and so was Caledonia’s progress. The Caledonia varsity wTestling team knocked off Loy Norrix 54-23 in its MHSAA Division 1 Regional Semifinal match and then ran into the Brighton team ranked second in the state in DI and fell 76-0 in the regional final. “We talked about it. If we could win round one, that was as goal for a ’ i ! »A ■CL I 111 hj 1 4? 4 T I L. I 1 4^ 1 I I i 9 V * Y J ) . ¥* J < * • . I J w I V 4 ft j. t. i, -r * t fa ——.^1 » h A L? n .c •l( I * t •iSS! I 1 * t * *4'3. ' ' • *. > • A ■ X I'l ■ - IP w!=-j32| I ‘ Thornapple Kellogg's Rylee Alberts scores three near fall points in the closing seconds of her 140-pound match for third against Hastings' Jordan Milanowski for a 17-14 victory at the MHSAA Girls Individual Wrestling District at Hastings High School Sunday. Photo by Brett Bremer r ft (J HAYDEN % 1 4 11 if 1 < Continued from Page 10 1 s li 1 i I I fZ f 1 « < * 4. t I 1 ' I I' I * .1. III , li u. I I *I f 1 A< V.’. r 1 1 4 4 J iiKtetti * 'd ♦4 * I J tt'f i J <• I I Y 'I S 4 f I . • « ' {• r f Pm?* 1 • r .1 I 1} • H t. i to* ' ? 'a*** 170-pound quarterfinals and then stuck West Ottawa's Braelyn Sharda 35 seconds into their semifinal bout. “I'm making sure that I’m the one hand fighting off the whistle. I'm the one getting what I want off my hand fight. I’m the one getting to my attacks ... I’m just making sure I’m the one who is kind of controlling and dominating the match. Mostly it comes pretty naturally, but the more nervous I get for a match the more I’ll kind of hold back. I think some­ times when I am more nervous for a match I have to cognitively choose to be the aggressor and be the one who dominates the match.’’’ Holderman needed just a little more time. She pinned Fennville’s Gabbi Vanstaalduinen in 65 sec­ onds in the quarterfinals and then stuck Portland’s Madison Pohl in 28 seconds. Hayden is up a weight class from 155 where she won the first two girls’ state championships. Thornapple Kellogg’s Jaycee Teunessen, Briella Dykstra, Addison Barringer, Aubrey Sines and Shaylynn Myers all won their way into the blood round, the consolation semifinals, but saw their tournament run end one victory shy of qualifying for the Feb. 16 regional. In all, TK had 13 girls competing at the district tournament. Caledonia had three. Halle Stout, who qualified for the state finals along with Hayden last year as a freshman, wasn’t able to get out of her 105-pound weight class this time around. «» T < I r-r t I successful program," Caledonia head coach Shawn Veitch said. “I am a straight shooter w ith them. That Loy Norrix match was a match I felt like we should win." The Scots didn't win a dual with Lov Norrix in December of 2023, the first match in Veitch’s returning to leading the CHS program. The Knights took a 5621 win on that night in the Caledonia High School gym. “Two years of growih and we flipped that script" Veitch said. “It just really show's the trajectory' of our program and that it is on the right path, going the right direction to get to where we want to get at.” ^0 Loy Norrix forfeited the first two w eight classes, 120 pounds and 126, to the Scots’Alish Basnett and Stephen Hooper to open the regional semifinal Wednesday and COUNCIL Caledonia led the dual from start to finish. REGULAR Coach Veitch was really pleased w ith a 12-11 victory' MEETING in an ultimate tiebreaker round from Ben Moss over the MINUTES Knights' Darik Smith in the 144-pound bout w hich was the Scots' first contested victory of the night. The minutes of the Smith had a 3-1 lead after one period, but Moss got a January 28, 2025 Regular Council take down of his own in the second period and went into Meeting, that were the third period with a 6-5 lead. Smitii managed the es­ approved on February cape point he needed to even things up in the third period. 11. 2025, are posted at “He has just stuck to the script, asked questions, the Village Hall at 100 E worked during and after practice on 1 ittle adjustments. Main Street and on the Veitch said of Moss. “He had lost 1 can't even tell va website at how many matches by one or two points through the villageofmiddleviile.org. first three quarters of the season. Veitch said he could see Moss getting down at one point, but they were able to talk about how it really meant he was really close to a breakthrough. That has CHARTER proved true through the final weeks of the season. TOWNSHIP OF The Scots also had Koleson Reeder score a technical CALEDONIA fall at 157 pounds and David Tiers earn a major deci­ BOARD OF sion at 190. Pins came for the Scots from Muhammad TRUSTEES Turk at 165, Caden Nostrant at 175, Kai Spencer at 285 pounds and Josh Grace at 120. Max Schnurstein added a forfeit win for the Scots at 106 pounds. Coach Veitch noted that he also continued to be really impressed with Koleson’s toughness. He had a The minutes for the severely sprained ankle at the late season tournament January 15. 2025 at Lakewood and kept battling through pain on into Township Board of the postseason. Trustees Meeting that were approved on Caledonia has three wrestlers still competing in the February 5, 2025, arc individual state tournament. Escher Reeder, Tiers and posted at the Township James Carrow V earned top four finishes at the Scots’ Offices at 8196 MHSAA Division 1 Individual District Tournament at Broadmoor Ave., and on the website at www, Howell High School last Saturday. calcdoniatownship.org. Escher had the top finish placing third at 106 pounds. He beat Grand Ledge’s Alex Duprest in the cdnsola tion final for third place 7-1. Tiers was fourth at •J 190 pounds and Carrow t e> * I ’ I fourth at 132. The three n.-,'. regional qualifiers is up from one a year ago for the Scots. That trio will take part in the MHSAA RIVER CRUISE VACATIONS Division 1 Individual Re­ Experience the beauty and history of the St. Lawrence & Ottawa Rivers gional at Portage North­ on a classic Canadian riverboat. Request our free travel brochure. ern High School today, 1-800-267-7868 www.StLawrenceCruiseLines.com Feb. 15. Vi Meeting Minutes * H* 7ft4X . 1 3. * RIVER CRDISINB - 2' T rj rl ■t » 9 ♦ �IP’ • I Saturday, February 15, 2025 12 A THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com A ♦ I* . < 1 ♦ * 5•1 . Ml 7^ -v rr 5 I J I % § ■* 1 A* / V* ... i of r •i F Jf fZ . ; It t ! >'" >■ 6 ■ • -y ’. . r' «.••' «'«r*. 0 Mu ^■' k Ju** & 1 ■■R H— I ■ < >Or w "iiU 1^ < TIP •^“**^^'*** Thornapple Kellogg junior 144-pounder Maxwell Knowles reacts to pinning Harper Creek’s Amaree Armstrong in the penultimate bout of the MHSAA Division 2 Team Regional Semifinal at Harper Creek High School Wednesday. Knowles’ pin and a 150-pound pin by teammate Griffin Grummet pushed TK to a 39-38 win over the Beavers. Photo by Brett Bremer 2025 March Board of Review Meeting Schedule Yankee Springs Township Barry County The Yankee Springs Township Board of Review for March 2025 will meet at the Yankee Springs Township Hall at 284 N. Briggs Road, Middleville, Ml 49333. The Yankee Springs Township March Board of Review will meet on the following dates: Appeals are by appointment. Please call 269-795-9091 to schedule an appointment. • Tuesday, March 4,2025, at 1:30 PM - Drganizational Meeting • Wednesday. March 12,2025,1-4 PM and 6-9 PM - Appeal Hearing •Thursday, March 13,2025, 9 AM-Noon and 1:30-4:30 - Appeal Hearing Brett Bremer Sports Editor Nobody expected them to beat Lowell. But for a minute it didn’t even look like the Trojans would get the chance to take on the top-ranked Red Arrows Wednesday night at Harper Creek High School. Lowell kept its bid for a 12th con­ secutive MHSAA Division 2 Team Wrestling State Championship alive with a 75-0 win over the Thomapple Kellogg varsity wrestling team in the MHSAA Division 2 Regional Final in Battle Creek, but not before the Troj ans got some late heroics from Maxwell Knowles and Griffin Grummet to score a 39-38 win over host Harper Creek in the regional semifinals. The Trojans needed pins in the final two eight classes to pull ahead of the Beavers on the scoreboard, and they scored those 12 points. Knowles pulled off the unexpected in his 144-pound bout with Amaree Armstrong, pinning his Harper Creek opponent midway through the second period after the Beaver 144-pounder had scored the only take down of the match in the first period. Armstrong led 4-1 after a locked hands penalty against Knowles on the top early in the second period. Armstrong couldn’t take advantage of his free chance to get off the bottom and Knowles kept working, and work­ ing and working until Armstrong was on his back. “I got my legs in deep and it was a lot ofpressure on him. My right leg was ap­ plying a lot ofpressure,” Knowles said. “I am a new wrestler. I’m not great in other positions other than top. Knowles, a junior, came into the The Board of Review will meet as many more days as deemed necessary to hear questions, protests, and to equalize the 2025 assessments. By board resolution, taxpayers are able to protest in person, by letter sent to Dan Scheuerman at Yankee Springs Township, 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville, Ml 49333, or email dan$cheuerman@yankeesDnnQStwD.org.. provided protest is received prior to 4 PM on March 13,2025. * it • II I ii.’V ' ■f ft ft ft •?f t iff ,r ■ r ;x • '• > I J. [•A t J I a I I J I f 1 *4 i , I • J 1 •I ,1 r* 4 4 • ?• .0^ J i A J •l ft -u - a'iv fl’ r n• r *1 • J*' ft •ft } 1 1 V .V. J Sv* ■cV. ' >* ' •b nr- t’li: J * 7 5 Ik » ft I -yV- ft I* r ) f I * , '’•«r fr" * V' vr » w * ** 4 * A i »>' I• '* i » k . ( M ■ -0C ' Iy .1'5 V- it k t h r :4? J ‘ i * •* A J / « ji ryr* ; / '3 t * < J:', 4 r > X 1 f * .*• I H r I-'' t r > ' 4^ « •• ♦>*P S k: .t c i / A ;(' • * f r *r 1 ) '•i” r -A', f I «B8a< 1 r- ’1' i ;rC k j: ft f A ..2.x -5 I t I £ 9 I •n-ir iaif»!2: I* i rr I I •k 5x*-- A w 1 ■ •'•V I*'” *' I ^A: ! ’ ' ft 1 J «« • f >4 f 1 ' » » tf** . t I « s I » A \ 1 '■v^TSiir i • < «' '«*B 't* Charter Township of Caledonia Kent County - Michigan 11 s— .» AL»| * - ■' . I - - ) ' 2025 March Board of Review March 4th, 2024 Org. Meeting - 10:00AM Tuesday: Appeal dates: Monday; March 10th. 2024 9:00AM-3:00PM March 11th, 2024 3:00PM -9:00PM Tuesday: All reviews will be heard by appointment only. For appointments call: (616) 891-0070 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia Ml 49316. Written appeals must be in theTwp. office by Thursday. March 6. 2024. The 2025 equalization tentative ratios and estimated multipliers for the Charter Township of Caledonia will be as follows; Tentative Ratio Estimated multiplier 1.0737 Agricultural: 47.57 1.0511 Commercial: 1.0509 47.58 Industrial; Supervisor: Bryan Harrison 1.0846 Residential: 46.10 Assessor: Katie Roodvoets 1.0000 50.00 Personal: I I I /I DIAL (800) 249-0911 'XON - EMERGENCIES Kids Measure up at ^Xtawa Co. 9-1-1 Center II Q 151 161 171 181 191 201 I 1 V 5. r r ’* \/* •: • ♦ I ■'^1 tiXSak. 1' -r- A "Ct 19' 1 r f f ■ .y • i ' 'gr 4 )!tq(liyrn.t ■ II ft t I k 1 ft • IL f " ■ 'M I Mt » A lii / < B I 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 24 ;l , «» I 111 121 131 14 {/ r f > n * i hj 2 4 WA CO. 9-1 -1 CElTER 4 5 6 8 91 10 I • 4 t ft ft ' I ' I ’ f' i* ft J I i I < 1' ft* *r I . > ft I r .4 n I Cd.-' I * Dan Scheuerman, Assessor V F > a I t jftkbr t * ■'*». • ■ w: ■ ii( '.4 I J I Americans With Disabilities (ADA) Notice Persons with disabilities that need special assistance, please contact Tom Hopkins, Clerk, at 269-795-9091 t i' I I 1.00827 1.12334 1.00766 .1.09745 ...1.00000 Rob Heethuis, Supervisor J f The tentative ratios and the estimated multipliers for each class of real property and personal property for 2025 are as follows ‘Agricultural ,49.59% ‘Commercial 44.51%, ‘Industrial.... 49.62% Residential .45.56% Personal Property.,.50.00% i bout with a 12-28 overall record this season and Armstrong sported a 28-13 mark. This is Knowles’ first high school wrestling season. ‘‘I want to be a fighter, and my old school didn’t offer wrestling so I transferred schools to Middleville so I could be a wrestler,” Knowles said. “I might as well, you only get one op­ portunity to do wrestling really. I come from a Jiu Jitsu background, so a lot of moves you do in Jiu Jitsu you do while you’re on your back. It is okay to be on your back. Breaking those Jiu Jitsu habits has been really hard coming into wrestling because obviously it’s the opposite principle.” Grummet, a sophomore, followed up by pinning Harper Creek’s Caden Molak 61 seconds into their 150-pound match to secure the victory for the TK team. Grummet also secured the Tro­ jans’ district championship win over Gull Lake a week earlier. “Two weeks in a row, as a sophomore he has been thrown into that situation and he has done a really good job,” TK head coach Dayne Fletke said ofGrum­ met. “He’s a team player. He wrestles for the team. That is a good place to put him if it’s going to come down to it.” Harper Creek had a couple spots where points got away from them, Raini Braska at 120 pounds for TK against the Beavers’ Camren Brock and Diego Rodas at 126 pounds against Harper Creek’s Devan Garcia, held on to allow just five-point technical falls rather than six-point pins. Those two flights where the Beavers were heavy favorites added ten points to their team total rather than a possible 12. “Coming in, to start off the night we See PINS on 13 4 « V I ) •••*»•<-*•** **^ T ■ft* « r 9 z .4’ Back-to-back pins give TK a shot at state champs ♦ I 251 261 271 281 291 30 'r 'foap b .J « ' 3 u < 3 A- �♦ ♦ 1 T 4m* 1& I I I 1 f ♦ ■)z I 1 I I I ’r i r• I 1 * i 1 j 4 . I * t « tA rT , * I .O i If z ?tl-J'if.' 'f T r Of I < . t I I > 1. ~Li'n< B litf ' « • <b4 >; / 5ji •tit •th i I M'* '•5 . 'J •I'.. > * 1 ' » r •U:. a ' » * ! j 'TjSr.-. . tft I b If 8C \ * r n, ft 1 X L vn •Tn.i " fi ‘ VI II I a > K ♦ «♦ i •. ’Caj if *' ? ' J I I 4 1 s £m •Uj t J I • * I I J 2 t I fl r f }■ ( » ‘•Jl ■Vf. *'H ? <-L 4 u. 4 <w> I I nc b r !<• r * '. *., 4 Si . .V Hi’- w r u. "‘I - . ’If •' 1 ) be I ;< 1 f* 5 • ■ k •< ■■ • •-A J If ' ‘ tw’J f V I t. I i f r, I : ( i I • / 4V . V ’?v;: ........... *'■»< ’i ’ V > J k ■*"r I 1 A 5*1’* CT* * -* r s I *1 I f I * hp. •** K< 31. ! VztZMt - *-wwt PINS Continued from Page 12 were looking at Harper Creek who is a solid, solid program, and we were talking to the kids and saying every point counts,” Fletke said. “If you go through there and you look, any of those kids that didn’t get pinned, even getting teched saves the team a point ... that really put us in a situation to pull that out. “They might have had a tall order, but they knew they were going to give 100 percent and they weren’t going to back down. That makes a difference in a dual. The team wins, we all win. If one wins, we all win as well. Those are things this group has going for them.” TK opened the dual strong against Harper Creek, taking a 21-0 lead through four weight classes. Camden Peter at 157 pounds, Blake Bossenberger at 165 and Jayce Curtis at 175 all scored pins for TK to open the dual, Peter managed his with four seconds left on the third period clock. Bossenberger and Curtis scored their pins early in the second period of their matches. That early Trojan run was capped off by a 20-13 win for Jackson Smith over Julian Landenberger in the 190-pound bout. Christien Miller scoring a pin 57 sec­ onds into the 113-pound match against Harper Creek’s Carson Andrews ac­ counted for TK’s only other points until the late heroics from Knowles and Grummet. Harper Creek got a 13-4 major decision from Sean Johnson over Tanner Buxton at 215 pounds and had heavyweight Ricky Johnson pin TK’s Abram Dutcher 65 seconds into their 285-pound match. Cohen Renner then added a forfeit win for the Beavers as the line-up flipped to 106 pounds. After the two technical falls at 120 and 126 for the Beavers, the Harper Creek team took the lead in the duaj for the first time at 32-27 thanks to a pin by Jackson Pennock in his 132-pound bout with TK’s Bennett MacDonald. The Beavers bumped their lead to 11 points with two matches to go as Israel Waite pinned TK’s Trace Pfiefer early in the second period oftheir 13 8-pound bout Lowell beat Parma Western 67-10 in its regional semifinal match, and then swept all 14 weight classes in the final against TK. The Red Arrows’ win over the Trojans included nine pins. Getting back to the regional final is u n r r uol * |>*<W »»w»w»»a 1 1 ■ /ii u r ’ 1 ; 1 f I I Jr. J »? ictn I ! t .-f I 1 } r t*r-, H J IP . b- - J I I 4 t r r r fft, • - iff; 1 V I t »' .4 ( t i THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ■ I- JI . •' • i •I* nice. It has been a couple years,” Fletke said, “the final 16. I think it has been three years for us since we’ve been in this position. It is just nice for the whole team. We brought 50 some kids here to watch what we’ve been working for this whole season. It is a family. We could have brought 28, but no we want everyone to witness it, because we all work together in the room every day for each other.” A few TK wrestlers still have matches ahead. The Trojans were at Harper Creek Saturday, Feb. 8, for their MHSAA Division 2 Individual District Tourna­ ment and five Trojans won their way through to today’s MHSAA Division 2 Individual Regional Tournament at Gull Lake. Curtis took second in the 165-pound weight class. He had a pair of pins and then a technical fall against Parma Western’s Titan Parker in the semifinals before running into Lowell’s Owen Segorski in the championship bout at their flight. Segorski pinned Curtis 1:20 into their final round match. Smith at 175 pounds, Miller at 113, Peter at 157 and Bossenberger at 165 all placed third. Saturday, February 15, 2025 ♦ ♦ Green title on the line as Scots host Sailors Friday Brett Bremer Sports Editor There is more than one game’s worth of work to do yet, but the first confer­ ence championship in the new OK Green will come down to a bailgame between the Fighting Scots and Sail­ ors at Caledonia High School Friday, Feb. 21. Both teams went into this weekend’s action with 7-1 conference records. The Scots were set to visit Byron Center Feb, 14 while Mona Shores had a home date with Muskegon Friday — the only team that beat it the first time through the conference schedule. Mona Shores took the first match­ up between the two teams last month, scoring a four-point win in Muskegon. Caledonia got conference win num­ ber six last Friday at Jenison, pulling out a 51-50 win over the Wildcats, and then took a 54-43 win at Muskegon Tuesday, Feb. 11. The Scots moved their overall record to 13-4 with the win at Muskegon. « The buck stays hare! Spend it hara Keap It hera Invest In Your Community. vieWh.^w^o« Group lu« Thornapple Township 2025 BOARD OF REVIEW f I II I I 1 I Notice to all township taxpayers: The 2025 Board ■ nt iin Lili' :f| L?A«jnn?Asfl ii too East Main Street-Middleville/MI 49333-269-795-3385 «w* 4 of Review for the Township of Thonapple will meet at the Township Hall, 200 E. Main St., Middleville, Michigan on these dates: e< • www.villageofmiddleville.org « PUBLIC HEARING March 4,2025 - Organizational Meeting 9 a.m. Monday, March 10, 2025 9 a.m. to 12 Noon; 1 to 3 p.m. !K 'Diesday, March 11, 2025 Wednesday, March 12,2024 r 8am-to 12 Noon; 1 to 3 p.m. To make appointment with the Board of Review (Written appeals accepted until 3 p.m. March 12, 2025) The public is invited to attend this open meeting and to offer comments. Alternatively, to participate in the meeting by providing written comment, you may email your comment to the Director of Community and Economic Development at powersd@villageofmiddleville.org, or drop them off in person to Middleville Village Hall. Written comments received prior to 4:00 pm on March 4, 2025 will be distributed to Planning Commission members and it will be noted that such comments were received prior to the meeting. * A copy of the Special Land Use application is available for public inspection at Middleville Village Hall at the address indicated above during normal business hours (Monday thru Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to noon). The tentative recommended equalization ratios and estimated multipliers (factors) necessary to com­ pute individual state equalized values of real prop­ erty in the Township of Thomapple, Barry County: CLASS RATI0(%) MULTIPLIER AGRICULTURAL 47.16% 1.06022 COMMERCIAL 49.97% 1.00060 INDUSTRIAL 47.68% 1.04866 RESIDENTIAL 45.14% 1.10767 PERSONAL PROPERTY 50.00% 1.00000 None in Class TIMBER-CUTOVER None in Class k The Special Land Use Application seeks Planning Commission approval for a drive-through facility within a property that is part of a Planned Unit Development (PUD) overlay zoning district, where permitted uses are regulated by the G-2 zoning district and subject to the provisions of Ordinance 2131. Drive-through facilities are classified as special land uses in the C-2 zoning district and require Planning Commission approval per Section 78-552 of the Village Code. 4 CALL 269-795-7202 DEVELOPMENTAL The Village of Middleville Planning Commission will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 7:00 pm, or as soon thereafter as possible, in the Council Chambers at the Middleville Village Hall at 100 East Main Street. The purpose of the PUBLIC HEARING is to receive public comment and consider an application for Special Land Use Permit on property located at the northwest corner of M-37 and Heyboer Drive. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., ,, .<41 . f f 13 < Persons with special needs who wish to attend should contact the Village Clerk no less than 3 days prior to the meeting. The Village Clerk can be contacted by phone at the number indicated above or by email at rvanpolen@villageofmiddleville.org. during normal business hours (Monday thru Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to noon). Rhonda Van Polen, Village Clerk Eric Schaefer, Thomapple Township Supervisor I I <• • •• I* I �^5 J Saturday, February 15, 2025 14 THE SUN AND NEWS STARBASE (slotkin.senate.gov/contact-your-sena tor/) and representatives Tim Walberg (walber g.house.gov/contact), Bill Huizenga (huizenga.house.gov/contact) and John Moolenaar (moolenaar. house.gov/contact). Waterbury said she has been com­ municating with Peters’ office and said the senator and his office have been very supportive. Continued from Page 5 ♦ ♦ funds we raise can help us function in some form during this time. Your sup­ port is vital and will make a difference.” Waterbury is also urging people to each out to their Congressional rep­ resentatives and senators, including senators Gary Peters (peters.senate. gov/contact/email-gary) Elissa Slotkin ♦ ♦ J, www.sunandnews.com “Your voice matters, and with enough support, we can help protect this invaluable program for future generations,” said Waterbury. “A quick phone call or email to their offices can make a significant difference.” Those with questions can contact * Waterbury at awaterbury@starbasebattlecreek.org or 269-969-3219. LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST I CHURCH i cornerstonechurch Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Service Times Join us for our traditional yet casual worship Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM r ' . service, in person or online, www.alaskabaptist.org I 250 Vine Street Sunday Service 10:30 AM ex Middleville :4 f J / I I III ✓ Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com t »!■ 9 Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville I Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. Church: (269) 795-2391 FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone:616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org 9:30 a.m. I HOLY FAMILY jJ/CATHOLIC CHURCH O 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Sytiod) Sunday Worship r cornerstonemi.org/weekend 616-891 -8669 (jGod Shepherd r/ Lutheran Church / 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 at 9:00 am I I . 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am I aKPEACE CHURCH JOURNEY x^SarcA CHURCH Caledonia Location - PEACECHURCH.ee 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am @ St Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location 1664 M-3 7 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH e WMc' Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org MIDDLEVILLE TOPS 546 MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday School Sunday Worship Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml ! vww.tvcweb.com 14bZcZ} .9:30 AM 10:30 AM 4 K' • f d » 1 3 4 ■1 -'Jr, t « p” V'- ■ K TO U t 1 nF 1 i Ia i .4* jMfi H P p ■-.* f*. 3 r ( a » i: 4 i .r i ■ -w >7 t \ • 7^^ t b /er by L J 7. f lb jr ,4 1 «« i *w* 4 £ I A .U ri­ r ! r= X.. 7 •t TF I .I 4 I z fts^ . •1 f 'JC 5 I J* 4 b 7 I 7 V-1I' l:Y‘ A ■ ' / I I I 4 ■ * . I I i ' r i I ■■ I n2 Oosen^ l'’’- r. ;• #. 1 % 3 . .r I Ifi ' 7103891 I moonast^' 0 f; ' 1 E F J, r i-Ktt. ■ erl ’ 91 srlieitl J . ■< I s *« 55 * ut UE t-iMlii nt ‘....'’’I I I evil a J EO 8c zfP I* raal edi 9 . I i 3 I. * 3 < I . F st Vn : 'fl -I ■ I ♦r- 4. * vriv X . : .M . f; (A ’ (tt i , ► r <4 14 T « '.**»1 »•» J Vtm Mr r PX' 4 1 i u 3 1 * ?«S!«5»2BS • I■ r iSt&i5i6S‘¥ 11 r5 • k » LIX'l -i=+ I *. IT -r — p 1 ?! N-A.. / I m ^.V.L / e < .MW T... T. ■ •-••Ci *» jl *4’^9^ 84 <4 MBH gJt*- PS I f«»w A > Wf'’ 1 b« ' You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors.. .and our future. r 5 “r * f '«* 'J -d w < 1 T z I I Group James L. Collison, Pastor • www.yankeespringsbiblechurch.org our services from our website (see above) >10 II '' > It 4- 1 r . . I J 4 i k c -’fV --..p ’ f IflTfKBATI I. I p-A YOU’RE NOT JUST I OUR READERS. 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... PastorJonathan DeCou I .. A. ‘a "Sbiaing Forth Gods Light” ’ ’’ JI- 11 ^K» ((•f r i I 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 < I*.—Ti I: The Feb, 10 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There is one new fish in the fishbowl. One fish fell out. Maryellen’s program was “Better Than Perfect" from the Jan./Feb. TOPS magazine. The article was from the perspective of an eldest child who felt she was a high achiever and perfectionist. She beat herself up worse than anyone else when making mistakes. The author found a prayer group called "Therapy” that helped her learn the power of forgiveness begins with forgiving yourself first. Forgive yourself for all mistakes big and little. Even ones you don’t know you are making. Whenever a mistake is made, stop, and take a breath. Apologize immediately without making an excuse. And don’t forget to apologize to yourself, too. Next, look to see if a lesson can be learned what led to your action, what do you need to work on, and what ca r^ou act on. Then, let go of the mist^e. Forgive yourself as well as others. If a mistake continued to bother her, she went to confession. It helped her to forgive herself and others. It also helped her to learn from and heal from her mistakes. Another lesson she learned was that good can come ■from big mistakes. When she learned something, she let God handle the rest. She also learned that mistakes are going to happen because we live in an imperfect world. But forgiveness can heal.them, and lessons can be learned. The key is to never give up. Virginia lost the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting closed with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-3183545. The first meeting is free. 8655 WhitneyviHe Avenue, Alto 616.891.8661 www.whitneyvillebible.org I' Yankee Springs Bible Church Church * ■ ■ <IT «s M. Your Community Connection V • ’W 1 « 1 Ul’’PI’'? (* I /1 V . .5 V2 r 1 « « 4 « » I * « * I I 4 • » • 4 « 9 9 t 4 t 4 4 * 4 4 « b • « « 4 * * 4 4 1 « 4 « 4 « • « 4 ♦ 4 4 • 4 4 4 4 b a « » f I**. 4 9 4 4 4 4 « 4 » 4 . 7 » « ■ V »•<<«<» t I 4 *1:1 > ▼ I r t J t I » Li !•! 1 I I 2 "T I 4 I Wfii co. 9-1-1 CEATER 4 5 8 91 10 5 "1*1*1" I A W 1 121!^ n I OR'9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES I DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at ^^awa Co. 9-1-1 Center II 111 121 131 14 I I I > 1 Ubl Illi 151 161 171 181 19 20 211 22| 23 24 251 261 27 281 291 30 I I; b ! t I I I, » �> t J i *■ i:-3^ 4 •k «f, ♦ ♦ n r>. * * *a. Saturday. February 15. 2025 4 ix % J V* Obituaries *»(< '“vis. ' '4s Ir 4 'Vi ’ *• k.' A bu f 4 4- » «» 3 ¥ * s f i I I 4 ', Ctk a <■ $ J < t.'s/ ♦ ‘Ju:./' 9 '3 f*"; .<?!>. f "s J > i. A J i J 1 i J Q-s : *. • t Ra/ • *• < 1 r • r* «♦ f I I V *. *I r: < f * f;. ■h:. I I 4 1 r I*'’ ’’to M '41 I I ■V 4 . t ! > r t I fe 1 . 4 . .I t Roger Charles Keating, March 23, 1943 - February 7, 2025 left his earthly home he loved at the age of 81. His final hours, before €. entering his Heavenly home, were spent in the presence of his beloved family. He is survived by Joyce, his treasured wife of nearly 62 years; his sons, Kraig (Jill) Keating, Kory (Shannon Houseman) Keating; and much-loved grandsons, Skyelar Guy, Taylor Goodwin and Bailey Goodwin. He was a devoted husband, father and friend. He will be deeply missed by his immediate and extended family and his many dear friends. He was the guy who could fix almost anything especially if it was one of the John Deere’s he loved so much. Favorite times were spent plowing snow or mowing grass. Other good times were spent on one of his many boats, or just watching the Thomapple River go by. He was predeceased in death by his I } 4 Robert Lee “Bob" Klinge Bob’s life was filled with the joy of simple pleasures. He found happiness in camping with his beloved wife Linda, who preceded him in death in 2018. His love for family was evident through the time he spent with them, and his enjoyment of sharing meals with friends at Thomapple Kitchen was always a delight. He leaves behind a loving family, including his siblings, Joyce Colborn, Clarence (Mary) Klinge Jr., Larry (Mary) Klinge, Klinge, inoe. Ron (Carolyn) (Ca Cindy Klinge. and Kris (Dan) Reeves, along with many adored nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Jessie “Jackie" (Dykstra) Klinge Sr. Bob’s family received friends on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 at the BeelerGores Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest at Fort Custer National Osmetery on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to DAV (Disabled American Veterans). Please visit www. beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Bob’s family.condolence message for Carol’s family. y ■> ( •' 1 j I. J * ; 9r{ *»• •♦d'c ‘Mii s!ias&,w..' *• -iZr ' 4 1 •I* •4‘. 4 « »! '•“1" M k • >A j •r fOftcajtt. •• w. .. «| f < • f W5 .1'. -I I I I; hi. :«« •4 f i ;/■ J 1 I I i * t M* '9 ( J 1 I j r I I .... HLM w» «n,«iVOtW ? 44 t H •J* I Ir* r‘“> ri 4 I i S -V u. «• * , HB.. J i 1 I (*r' » ** i I i f t * '..1 * t UW-*r. LU 1 R I in a Ml Terry D. Rosendberg ------------- •4t r’^ 7^ > I ’I IS^ I 4. - < 4 } ''•* t 4 1 ♦ IT. u ifi service. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to St. Paul Lutheran Church. Capital Improvement Fund, or Faith Hospice Trillium Woods. Per, Mr. Keating wishes cremation has taken place. The family would like to thank family and friends at St. Paul Lutheran Church, the caregivers; Amber, Tammy and Quan for their wonderful and compassionate care given to Roger. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com. I 60 ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM *r , I -I * U-*’ Vi . * ■" —I parents, Ronald and Alice (Lamphear) Keating; and a brother, Ralph Keating. Memorial services will be held at 11 a m. Friday, Feb. 14, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 8436 Kraft Ave. Caledonia, with Pastor David Miller and Pastor Timothy Brand officiating. Relatives and friends may meet the family at the church on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. and on Friday from 10 a.m. until time of !• ' t t ■ wai V A t Roger Charles Keating .••1 lik .A * 15 ♦ \ < THE SUN AND NEWS WWW. sunandnews. com » '»■ K * I l. Terry D. Rosendberg, passed away peacefully in Eloy, AZ, on February 10, 2025, at the age of 84. Born on June 15,1940, in Middleville, Ml, Terry was the son of Claude and Mary (Boley) Rosenberg. Terry had enlisted in the Navy and later embarked on a diverse career path. He worked for Arnold’s Amusements, WG Wade Shows, and Diversco Gravel. His entrepreneurial spirit shone when he owned his own tire and wrecker service in Kalkaska. Throughout his life, Terry drove trucks for many companies and held a variety of jobs that showcased his versatility and work ethic. Terry’s zest for life was evident in his numerous interests and involvements. A devout member of the Parmelee United Methodist Church, he also enjoyed fellowship at the (Solden Harvest Cowboy Church in Arizona City, Arizona. Terry's love for the outdoors was unmistakable, with over 50 joyous years spent in Eloy, Arizona. He was a valued member of the Barry County Gas and Steam Engine Club and relished the simple pleasures of exploring the desert, and even finding abandoned vehicles for cash rewards. He was a jack of all trades that could fix almost anything, and an extremely talented welder. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, even going to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally one year with his brothers Dodie and Mike. Terry’s love for birds, and his musical talents on the dulcimer and accordion were known to all who loved him. Terry was a loving patriarch, leaving behind a large and adoring family. He is survived by his children, Tammy (Ed) Jackson, Tim Rosenberg, Tom (Dana Newsome) Rosenberg, Jim (Kelly Hull) Rosenberg; stepchildren. Dawn (Jim) Losinger, Alan (Lydia) Brog, Jody (Sheryl) Brog; 40 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and 5 great-great­ grandchildren. He also leaves his siblings, Jackie Gerard, Mike (Lynda) Rosenberg, and Susan (Bob) Parsley, as well as many nieces and nephews. Terry was preceded in death by his loving wife, Janet (Thaler) Rosenberg, his grandson Matthew Allen James, his sister Nancy (Bob) Anders, his brother, Dodie (Rosie) Rosenberg, and his brothersin-law, Gary Gerard and Paul Parsley. Services will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions to the Barry County Gas and Steam Engine Club will be appreciated. Please visit www. beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Terry’s family. BARRY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OUR LEGACY WALL ■» p r . K » “ 7* ■A I •l i b r HONORING THOSE WHO GIVE Each legacy fund provides giving for generations. From 4-H to the arts, from scholarships to nature trails, these donors care deeply for their community with a lasting impact. If you want to learn more on leaving a legacy, please call 269-945-0526, and Bonnie Gettys or Annie Halle can help you ensure that your gifts can support your hopes and dreams. ( k rtAti Of A 'uVK COMMUNITTfOtXJAfiON 211 *■ MOAOWAV AT. MAATtNOA Ml WWW «AMVCF 0*0 I 1 1 • ♦ �Saturday, February 15, 2025 16 THE SUN AND NEWS www.su nandnews. com ’Wenbn’snuaAvww ♦ ♦ ADVERTISE YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS BACK PAGE FOR ONLY 40 PER HOUSEHOLD ♦ I 4 <f •QJI The Sun and News is direct mailed to 14,800 homes every week through the US Postal Service -SOiVTSS ' 1^. s % t LET US CONNECT YOU TO YOUR NEXT CUSTOMER! »?« I I .lit.- r & : ■ * IVI t ♦T 4 if ■» ( r 1 V i f -J. :• < k z -d •j I 4 r I 'i I t :> 7 / i •* *1 I* e • T' ■’t. k K 4^ (. e ? ■h 4 c jS •i.’ > ts i:- ■5*' ( I M* J / — «XB K : e.: -V.> y I ?■ F. UiL X 4 r •Sj *? I < if 4t*’- I € *7? >• »r r iv. r. I tt ~\ •jr' M". 1 V M L & r »< / 'A IL •iKR • » 4 " •4 . .* t L .< • r . < » 1 . /* 4 L J II' 'i ft •l Group > r /■. s54t tA 9^^BC 4 •^Sr* i' ^*** ’ < *^ J* ,» 'S#; I * c> K 9^ I i ’*C r> s. 4 y iI > J. t? J Contact Chris Silverman » 1 J a »w '■.m I i:j '".X Rr t r i f 1 4 n. <* I « ,4 ■ p_« « c r 4^ '•- V [ n J r< / I 1 I / J.V l^^1^4«» h :ii 6 ' * \, ? f 'It <1S I ft= F »L : * V '■jt. < if?<.•' 269-945-9554 i *> :l /■ csilverman@mihomepaper.com I S:«J .<• '■ .». aJ i /-i f\ < *: J &» e K. i -I*. V *a « « 4 I 4 4 « I V I » < « 4 » I I » t < 4 4 « 4 « 4 I « I I < 4 < » 4 < < < 4 « < 9 * < 1 < 4 4 4 4 4 4 9 « < 4 4 ff t 4 » 4 • ♦ « 4 4 « 4 < 4 * » « t « I 4 4 « « 9 < 4 1 • t 9 « * 4 1 4 S<* 2 4 * • « 5 8 < « ( « * < 4 • « 4 i < « » 4 ( t 4 • « < I ( « t « < 4 « < • 4 « ( 1 I 4 '« >z 'I « < 4 1 4 4 > -. I I DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES II Kids Measure up at Qilawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" f •. < [44 V «r* ’ 7 *sr E« I 4 4^ ►. /-6r^ ^1 1^1 • « •r. t 4 t 4 » 4 I co. 9-1 -1 cOftTER 4 * r 4 4 1 V < ( < « .’'.XX « iC 6 4 4 « e ♦ 9 « < 4 ♦ 4 ♦ « « I at A ?p- > 4 1 4 4 4 i « « si ioi”i n y. « ) /* I < ♦w 4r u JB •« a* I* 4 A f . Cl t ■•'I 1 1 I rr J J p » >»**» r* n ( r * .*• <•* k fc. • I * • * A . i 12 * OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 1^1 PI 1^1 PI 1^1 ]n I'^l 1*^1 2^1 2^1 2^1 2^1 2^1 2^1 271 281 291 30 � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-02-22.pdf 54249b5f2494c0fee5bf5876d38020b1 PDF Text Text Jf * « f k s L t J t « k * * T» k 4- * « I . A# ♦ a f « 4 » 8 I A / < t « 5 4 9 « f 4 } t t s 9 't J * I V TROJANS FIND SPARKLE EARLY. HOLD ON LATE AT DISTRICT L * / » i Ho rr: ■ f * '•3 6 NEWS THE SUN AND I j. z- * w » own Newsoaoer Serving the Middleville. Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas X L< V? ) 1$ PAGE 15 www.sunandnews.com SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22. 2025 NO. 44 ;ovt 4 .*< •• J I sllivsIbbiM Middleville gymnastics building burned in Friday blaze ! p I MMMAilceM ia)nW«E12 Noah Peterson / * i 9 Staff Writer fL I < 7 .1 saiblurd «ti , -narTT .4^ I .<W .vafanH ion w-^/ ajsiarwqiib mt iBry/3z to znolte Ui et J? txic .zeol to»’ baafeab I t .abJEnr ot9w isfto TZiTO OI1™^ owzz 93ifo*l bnoj ad ot bafiopi aww eanaft jcoUuid 3rn .m.q I bnuoia MID ? I9 f il ZTC'j on (bw boiqiooonn Toii Snol Jot4 I .rwqwfl .hnfilyfiW xpiwr^aT J gjnwnruxpb out fiinobdlfiD X|891 ot Bafafionwf bausiq oodofi .nodswqo sdt moriguoirf) toJfioilqmo J bbw noitsuti? siTT rii fli RjnnhYTi m ww wdJ Jfifb I I i I % f 1 . *.1* t Middleville’s Gymnastics In Motion (GIM) was lost when the building caught fire around 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. There were no injuries. Despite the efforts of several fire departments, the building was declared a total loss, and it is unclear if any items were salvaged inside. Police were first to arrive after heavy smoke and flames were reported to be coming from the roof of GIM around 1 p.m. The building was reported to be unoccupied wifti no cars in the lot. Not long after, firefighters from the Thomapple Township, Wayland, Freeport, Hastings and Caledonia fire departments responded to the scene. Police placed barricades to keep M-37 closed throughout the operation. The situation was complicated when it turned out that there were no hydrants in the area; firefighters See BLAZE on 3 i’ v .« V 4 4 ’>jl » « LI k V ■ Vi >4 I 1 4 % J t > J r « . I. f ** *» Mte.____ V .J* I J B « H ’ I I 1 J t: ' B. ■ X 7 ♦> r ■ IB •TT < I < ■’I •c jr T I* »« I - * . A* s> >“• A wide shot of Middleville’s Gymnastics In Motion on M-37 just outside of Middleville after firefighters put out the fire that occurred there on Friday, Feb. 14. Photo by Noah Peterson > L‘> I I 1 It IbIeT ni taeqauS 1 ^’p s s* « *• » HwnmeO mduI isfiiW enttudhtnoO Suspect in fatal shooting in Cutlerville charged with felony firearm, open murder 1 4 *’* C AT A;>. James Gemmell Contributing Writer J Kent County SherifPs Office investigators say 36-year-old Jeffrey Gamble had known 18-year-old Marquan Leron Brice for many years. And family members told vari­ ous media outlets that Gamble even viewed Brice like a son, in some respects. But that relationship ended in gunfire on Sunday, February 16, in the Camelot Manor Mobile Home Park in the Cutlerville area of Byron Township. That is north of M-6 in the 6200 block of S. Division Avenue, which serves as the border between Byron and Gaines townships. W0Q3 According to the uawoisno TviiNaaisau SSMU33 KCSO, the shooting vcm IH OKtOflOd occurred around 5:30 8CC« liiujed p.m. in the 300 block of 8C88> dgiAueoJo N. Harewood Dr, aivd V oafftO x'RnarfB Vnvo3 tna^J al blo-wv-df. yae giotegbeavni i rrwi^ bal ^IdrafiD ynsfir io) oonS noioJ nBupxsM .aisay TS7 b!o? gT^rnsin xlinifiJ bnA I Jail ^lluo £it»m Ufo rnoa ni no^ b ailil 3oii0 bawaiv .»qifiFrt’HifJ'ji ifid) JuH .aJa-sqacn nsirid 1 k<BbfufZ nooiftnug ni doM loneM lolsinsD orf) ni ,dl w ijiimshu ) sdtni snroH a* IB 1 1 4 t » 1 i J ion fi n d! .qirierrwoT norzfllo >lanld 00£d 9dt fii d-M id od ofll ^r. rbrrlw .aunavA wo) misD bfUi noTxfl mowtsd **«A*dB| i .gqid^ jd) 0) .u iibioojA ihood^ od) bttlOTi; b3THJ3OO ildj00£ ad) M! .fn.q M bcxiwouH .M t I GDBW CnUBNEU saiDEUivr ICMKPc wMvvrniMBS faomxo k I I i bttwtf 1338 <8838 OiMiMwe' Ml bVID w 1 I n a bOSxvGB bB8I8W / > -J * £ y ' J ; .-1 1 L^' a 91 i t I *: . M » r > Ar ’if -4. v>« » Ue 3*: 417* ** t ■ ••IR ' I, Lh* ..2*^ »•>«■» » J **T •»r .. « 1, * ' 9^, 4 •> *■ lb • •el »g>^ g vf M li ' >* -» • J^F • E* . w. r 'l-'l- Deputies took the suspect in the shooting at Camelot Mobile Home Park into custody after a brief manhunt. Photos provided Court records indicate that Gamble was shot in the hip and chest late that afternoon during an argument with Brice. The sheriff’s office said Gamble was driven to a hospital with critical injuries and died after under- going surgery. Deputies said that Brice fled from the scene after the shooting but later was apprehended after being tracked down by a sheriffs office K-9 unit assisted by drones. Brice was taken to the Kent County Jail. Court records show he was booked on February 17. The KCSO said the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the case and filed charges of open mur­ der and felony firearm against Brice. He was arraigned on those charges Feb. 18 in 63rd District Court. The sheriffs office said that Gamble was Brice’s mother’s boy­ friend, and they all had lived in the same home for many years. Detectives said they are still inves­ tigating the specific circumstances surrounding the shooting. Details about the nature of the argument See SUSPECT on 3 aovisod s n OIS ISUd 1 I f J a 1 r I I 1 I I r fl 1 I Al » * » 11 U' i3 I ■ * it • • I * 1 J \ 1 4 \ f 1 �(F * « t % I * f » 9 2 Saturday, February 22. 2025 t 1 li THE SUN AND NEWS ' * • f 1 V* -r i .'• -•x’tr _ w *? > p I «• % ■ 7 ▼ I -t; I * » u I -r / tSt •* * ♦ *aiar* I■ « y I*’ > t Caledonia’s EnrichED’s RAD Drone program has five teams quali­ fied for the 2025 North Central Aerial Drone Championship in their first two competitions of the season. “Cal RAD has been constantly grow­ ing since we started four years ago,” said Caledonia EnrichEd President and Student Services Assistant Angie Miller. “Last year we had 19 students and this year 30 students on 11 teams. Both events took place at Ketter­ ing University, with the first held on Jan. 25. After three intense finals, each resulting in a tie, a rulebook decision declared Caledonia’s “Fly Guys” (Gavin Grysen, Owen Mar­ shall and Nicholai Nonhof) and “Altitude Strikes” (Nick Amorose, Shane Johnston and Zachary Little) as Tournament Mission Champions. The “Fly Guys” also received the Coding Award for their outstand­ ing programming techniques in the Autonomous Flight Mission, while “Calvin & Hobbes” team members Jackson Bernal and Hailey LaPath were honored with the Judges Award, recognizing their exceptional contri­ butions. In addition, sibling duo Alex Hockwarth and Kate Yard of “Stall Warn­ ing” were awarded the All-Around Champion Award and secured a spot in the regional championship for their skills, teamwork, and professional­ ism. Hockwarth and Yard further proved their dominance by reclaim­ ing the All-Around Champion title at the Feb. 6 competition at Kettering and recorded the highest skills score ofthe day, securing the Skills Mission Champion Award. “The All-Around Award means that you’re well-rounded and did well in every category/’ Miller noted. “Alex and Kate earned a score of 475 s * 5 * SS» * I* 4 L > » .•w- Tt) MAK E AMERICA I HATE doesNOTi i US a___ g r uir> great r KI / f k handful of Barry County residents braved frigid temperatures on Monday to protest in front of the Barry County Courthouse. Photo by Molly Macleod Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer A group of Barry County residents have joined protests across the state to push back on the Trump Administration’s decision to allow Elon Musk to involve himself in the operations of various fed­ eral agencies. On Feb. 5, residents from Barry County traveled to Lansing to protest alongside others from across the state against the administration’s efforts to reshape Washington’s institutions. “The sudden shutdown of federal de­ partments and the unauthorized access I i Musk’s team has to sensitive databases affecting every American violates the U.S. Constitution,” said local protest organizer Lorraine Lindsey. “What are our elected officials in Lansing doing to stop this? More importantly, what steps are our state representatives and senators taking to miti­ gate the harmful impact of these changes on Michigan residents and businesses?” On Feb. 10, Barry County residents joined protesters from Michigan’s Second Congressional District at Con­ gressman John Moolenaar’s Caledonia office, demanding action. Roughly 60 See PROTESTS on 19 We are accepting UffUfcustrnners in gnur area. Whether you area Commerdal, Industrial, or Agricultural business, ora Residential customer, FUELING YOUR SUCCESS Ridderman Oil has the knowledge, resources and products on hand to meet your needs. % ( • I WHOLESALE FUEL OPTIONS IN PIAINWELU Ml I Purchase 150 to 12,400 Gallons of Gasoline and Diesel Fuel 87 Octant El 0% « 90 Rec - Ethanol Free #1 Home Heating Oil • #2 Diesel On 8 Off Road I >/ ’ We Seii and Install Bulk Fuel Tanks, Pumps and Accessolies Right for Your Home or Business. ♦ r Delivery avoidable lot your convenience I V Contact us to learn more 269*685-502$ - ■**>»ajjr7We ; Houf3 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday 950 Industrial Pkwy. Plainwell, Ml 49080 1 TV • ' www.sunandnews.com moL-. I I ♦ i t i t I I ! 11 1 »* r I ‘ Noah Peterson Staff Writer ‘ 2?, z t It Caledonia’s RAD Drone Program off to a flying start ' ** • i t Series of local protests held to push back on Musk’s involvement in federal government f J I I riii»flw iwahwiror RiMerman OU r I k at K. « . Mb t ffl* J 3 * I Award winners (from left) Zachary Little, Gavin Grysen, Nicholai Nonhof, Shane Johnston, Owen Marshall, Kate Yard, Jackson Bernal, Nick Amorose, Hailey r LaPrath and Alex Hochwarth from the Kettering Competition on Jan. 25. Photo provided S'#* / > -.r- A frr 9 tr 4*4 A (l< jii®' 1 '4 I p . 1 rJ?’ n*. 4 ' f « ♦x* t 4 b A 4. * ' tJ I- ;5J**' II ,13)' .. * J 'T « i ♦ • ' la .?b . 2* ft «,'• V lu *-J •> .fr ' « s .> ’ r*. > V *\/^^*^* 4 1'^. '’ «>< 9;-^ points, and I am impressed with their professionalism.” The success doesn’t stop there. Cal RAD’s middle school team “Error” (Brady Cook, Micah Vink and absent teammates Kennedy Collins and Leah Marshall) earned their own re­ gional invitation by winning the AllAround Champion Middle School Award at the Feb. 6 competition. In addition, team “Altitude Strikes” once again clinched the Tournament Champions title and took home another Coding Award, while team “AC130ABOVE!!” (Will Angus, Jack Gifford, Gain Rushlo and Charlie Schmidt) joined the regional qualifiers list by earning the Middle School Skills Champion Award. Cal RAD’s next big tournament will be on Mar. 22, hosted by Hud­ sonville Christian. “With eight Caledonia RAJ) teams ranked among the top 10 middle and > high school teams in the state, this season is already shaping up to be an incredible one. We can’t wait to see what they achieve next!” Miller said. ? I •> I ' w 1^ ' r J J ' J . 9 ' I ' * r r I X Iz.' fc h u r v^ ^nl /wj? 1 ' .-K** * I .^,V If * 1> i 1 «< .. 5 .4^ 1 y 4 I 1/ y A I f \ ►9’. i 1 r r ♦ ^2 h J 1 9 ' r . * ■ ■ir J ♦ i nr^' .. ■ ¥• Bl > l‘ J 1' I I ; 4 ■ 1 < ■OQ vUi a^S ri' Oir A' > 'A ’• a ( t ■ ''L. X.:> V'. rns? r ^t*5 *V * BLAS bj, I' < 1 > * J f I <• A.. t r^r. ’ ' A r < < J Mrisfi ^art/dSi i k i ai4“ > • ** t .,■ ♦ • » 7* 1 . >• •£ I ’'St;;' t ' > < X. HL « / ^>0 itt ' i. ,» J : r< iaanogfi ) .■w.'.jLuiirtioi z 9 » Ve •r ) I w 43 F ! UAb J 1 I I I -• ’far M-bojifi >rr >»* ^.ri? ** « V 4 & t I THE SUN AND NEWS The Sun and News ’ Proudly Published Since 1870 a 1 PUBLISHED BY t sJJ : Editor; Molly Macleod • li p mmacleod@mihomepaper.com • ♦ ♦w J Mr St 6 Group s Sports: Brett BroHiBr I Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher bbremer@mjhomepaper.com * 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.8unandnews.com I Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman Copyright 2025 ® 2025 Jams Media, lLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. csilverman@mihomepaper.com Marketing and Community Engagement ement Specialist Soecialist: Jennie Yonker iyonker@mihomepaper.com ... *4 I I I t r CONTACT US I PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper LAll advertising in The Sun and News is subjectS Pto the conditions in the .applicable rate card^ advertising contract, copies of which arel^ allable from The Sun and NewsAd0ept.. i361 / r'N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49068 ( 269-9450664). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have^t^ l^no authority to bind this newspaper, and only^ ^.^-publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of fs the advertiser's order. ■ K n .1 !L A<U4Be I -? V 2 4*^ 1 I Tr *'• I I J 1 I n *JhVlA >:e V Sa . ■ •.« t I' . 1 2 co. 9 -1-1 4 5 rM * 7t ■ J': I .> •1^ • •l 0 4 CBftTER 8 9I 10 I' I ■ 'll ■ I s-fe 1 p 15| 16| 17| 18| 19 J? I I c I 11 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES t DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Q^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 w r^ a 4 20| 21| 22| 23| 24 25| 26| 27| 28| 281 2291 30 t 1 �1 r I 9 I -N ff I I » » « « I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com K Saturday, February 22, 2025 3 I r xW < L Ada church to host free movie night March 1 ::r‘ * T1 I •r*:. 1 -Il ..I < K i I •i ■ I. ' i . <■•.4 I 1 •.'b I I -j J s* ^1 J % : r A i I 4.. *■ ■ I V A -S. ••■'I » I. - 9 SUSPECT I if I p 1 L i Continued from Page 1 » ' ■ 4 b. •a TT• ■J. i ■ • <1 b ■, *. J k I 1 I ‘ 'f £ between Brice and Gamble had not been released at the time of this report, nor was ballistics information about the type of gun used. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the victim’s family and friends during this difficult time,” the KCSO said in a news release. Anyone with more information related to the incident should contact the Kent County Sheriffs Office at 616-632-6125 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345. A GoFundMe page has been established for the family by Jeffrey Gamble’s brother, Thadius Gamble. It reads, in part, “He was a loved son, brother, uncle, and friend. This was unexpected and tragic.” b '1 w »r; i s ■'T / ; I r ,. • ns M. ’*41; 1 *» ». J ) I H*J *A lit J ‘ri I t J ‘k I -fu, —I I r *T 'TI • dji-. u • 1. /I Ci h J‘ f tli. 43 J J mV. I J .. V{ x> 1£J , . f i I 6 1 •b ’ ‘Ma--: k- - ! I •V I *r I 1 r r I J t ji J fc n Pi ‘ V *• I , I , i:. *• f ' I 1 I I J •t ‘W*. * I A ■4t ’i h h j h' bi'.i I! UI >.«j f’ l.i ;UJ-- Continued from Page 1 « -'-IM’ r- 4Rcne I ► I J I. f » U I J i 1 < f ' - .J ? ’ ‘ ! I' I I T had to bring in fresh water tankers to battle the blaze. The building was declared a total loss about an hour after the fire was reported. An excavator tore down the remaining structure when it was revealed that nothing was salvage­ able inside. GIM Athletics shared on its Facebook account that it’s difficult to comprehend Friday’s events. “We want to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support for our gym! We don’t have any information at this time on what caused the fire, but we are beyond grateful that no classes were happening and no staff were in the buildings. Materials can be replaced, people cannot.” Barry County Commissioner Catherine Getty expressed the impor­ tance of the gym in the community I I **i’ ri I : I' 7..V/Z ,yieiD < A* I A . i • 4 I I BLAZE 4 / fI < I I.} •l I a /* M.V 44 I •X • > ' I 1 :l * * ** t r I »■ .;fi jaaoaat,tJtfcadfiif .. , ‘xtjlh Mtir; <• I 1 4 II.. II' '•■ ., n- f &«> xTf “5 •4 r i 4 i . ................... IK 'j W ’■qr fl * i-, ♦ • •* I y 1 .. « ?»r4.-^<bp borfm/z AoodqoT o J nrr Local officials were planning for a busy weekend, with weather forecasts calling for 8 inches or more of snow, as well as windy conditions. Happily, Mother Nature seemed to ease off a bit. Barry County Sheriffs Office officials reported just four vehicular accidents over the weekend, though Lt. Tim Ste­ vens said that didn’t necessarily include calls into Central Dispatch regarding motorists who may have slid ofiTthe road due to poor weather or road conditions. “There was no large spike in our numbers,” Stevens said. Jake Welch, managing director of the Barry County Road Commission, said the county agency called in road crews for the weekend after initial forecasts last Thursday called for up to 10 inches of snow. That included conducting operations both Saturday and Sunday. “There was definitely blowing snow,'’ Welch said. “The wind has been gnarly the last couple of weeks. “(But) for what we’ve been getting on the weekends as of late ... this was lighter than what we’ve been getting. he added. “This weekend wasn’t all what we were expecting. It wasn’t a ton (of snow). Compared to some wea±er reports, Welch added that local residents may have experienced snowfall ofjust 2 to 3 h i JRITOfttfiZZ lfl*v-35nsf I ’1 at Tuesday’s Barry County Board of Commissioners Committee of the Whole meeting. “My heart really goes out to a busi­ ness owner in Middleville that lost their business last week. Gymnastics In Motion, that facility was really a hub of a lot of activity for fami lies and really an outlet for a lot of kids. It’s sad to see it burned to the ground,” Getty said. A GoFundMe for GIM titled “Keep GIM Coaches and Kids Together” was created on Saturday and has already raised more than $7,000. Funds will go to the coaches to help continue working with the gym and kids and providing training space and equipment until a new building and gear can be attained. Please be patient as we navigate this difficult time and look towards the future. Your support means every­ thing to us,” wrote GIM representa­ tives. w inches, depending on what part of Barry County they call home. However, despite having less than anticipated snow fall and wanting to give BCRC drivers a day off, crews made at least one pass around county roadways Saturday and Sunday to make sure motorists had a clear pathway. Additionally, crews worked to push back growing snow banks and drifts. Of course, such efTorts have created calls into the BCRC office concerning damaged mailboxes, “We’ve got a ton of calls about mail­ boxes,” Welch said. “It’s been a tough year because we’ve had to push snow back.” See STORM on 14 WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOL/NG NEEDS V I m rf» Po* sr Dennis Mansfield Staff Writer I 1 beverages will be provided. The Whitney Fellowship Church is located at 4935 Whitnevville Ave., between 48th and 52nd streets, in Ada. For more information on the movie night or upcoming other church events, visit the church's Facebook page or its website, WhitneyvilleFellowship.org. DA/ Winter storm proves less impactful than expected Z I p'? U!7 fj Ji'i t cessful businessman to start charting a better course for his life. Through the prayers of his mother and biblical discipleship from his new mentor, Wright begins to discover God's purpose for his life is so much more than he could hope for or imagine. Fellowship hall doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the film starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free, and popcorn and Marquan Brice's booking photo. I ‘I c Whitneyville Fellowship Church in Ada is inviting community members to a movie night on Saturday, March 1. The featured movie will be “The Forge” which tells the story of Isaiah Wright, a 19-year -old who has some growing up to do. A year out of high school with no plans for his future, Wright is chal­ lenged by his single mom and a sue- ..k- - Residential & Commercial Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers -Air Conditioners I -Heat Pumps I -Water Heaters I -Humidifiers i / I an & a? •f’* ■ 9iB I I *’ •*4 r” b* r ___ _ I f ' ' .^«« ■ 4 DeWeerd ( ATiMC & AIR AID rnMniTinMiMC HEATING CONDITIONING, iMr INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM Since 1955 MP » f I i I >tl1 ft I 3 •I. $ I# I II r liS \«r t M ’ it I 1 V U ♦♦ X « •A J I* \ r » 1 r J Jg -31)^ 7 * * .•ri e .V «s 'k<« 5^ 3@i A+ . BBB. ,1 4 a*. I b rv 17 I -- I I I & ' At • -4> * ■I t I I ACCREDITED BUSINESS �I Fiiii < 4 I I 1 I ■ l -^ / ' Saturday, February 22, 2025 4 * i <• I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Caledonia High School releases first semester honor roll Caledonia High School has released its honor roll for the first semester of the 2024-25 academic year. Students earning a grade point aver­ age of4.000 or above are recognized as Summa Cum Laude. Those with a GPA of 3.500-3.999 as Magna Cum Laude, and those with a 3.300-3.499 GPA as Cum Laude. Students qualifying include: NINTH GRADE Summa Cum Laude Holden Ahee, Marco Amato, Madi­ son Ambrose, Nick Amorose, Stella Barnwell, Connor Bloemers, Owen Bloemers, Maddox Bockover, Eve Boersma, Charlie Bont, Hayes Boucher, Emma Bowman, Alex Brady, Audree Brown, Aerianah Bute, Chloe Caldwell, Nora Case, Stella Chinthluai, Kendyl Clapper, Elise Clarin, Reagan Cobbs, Quinn Cook, Maci Davis, Miles Dood, Keely Drier, Sophie Edmondson, Adelyn Feenstra, Naomi Fennell, Ain­ sley Fron, Mohamed Gamareldawla, Myla Gortmaker, Ava Graham, Sophie Grajewski, Gavin Grysen, Mason Harrison, Caleb Helmholdt, Nevaeh Hirkaway, Scarlett Hoffa, Hannah Holmes, Rachael Homacel^ Isabelle Homing, Emery James, Ella John­ son, Shane Johnston, Max Judd, Erik Kalkofen, Lilliana Klein, Lily Klein, Summer Klein, Luke Kozak, Zachary Little, Nina Lusaya, Brinley Lyzenga, Owen Marshall, Bryson McCulloch, Haileigh Mclnally, Brooklyn McLeod, Lilian Meurlin, Mayar Mohameed, David Montross, Carly Moore, Alayna Musk, Berkley Nelson, Gavin Nel­ son, Kendyl Nonhof, Ryleigh Owens, Michael Paarlberg, Isabella Palmitier, Steven Pekrul, Emma Petz, Aimee Poe, MacKenzi Price, Griffin Rapa, Riley Reimbold, Corbin Ryder, Tiona Sakala, Daisy Schmidt, Grady Smith, Bennett Snapper, Kendall Somerville, Cooper Sowerby, Lydia Specs, Emily Stauffer, Arrow Stephen, Ruby Stoepker, Abi gail Tava, Logan TenHopen, Shrimathi Thinniyam, Sakthi Kumar, David Tiers, Adelynn VanderZand, Lilli Wonnacott, Logan Workman, Katerina Yard, Quinn Ziegler and Zack Zupin. ■■ Magna Cum Laude Kelsie Baker, MaiLynn Bates, Lydia WHITNEYVILLE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH invites you to a free Community Film Night Saturday, March 1 - 6:30pm Gathering - 7pm Film Located at 4935 Whitneyville Ave, betvfeen 52^^ & 48^^ Popcorn & beverages provided Bell, Isaac Bennett, Annika Bergs, Rylee Bos, Maie Brown-Nguyen, Lydia Casey, Tristan Chu, Anderson Collins, Nora Collins, Analiese Crothers, Sarah Denick, Naiya Dilley, Abigail Douglass, Jaycie Duffy, Henry Dupuis, Joey Du­ vall, EmmaElzinga, Sophie Ferris, Zach Fisher, Olivia Foster, Emma Garza, Grace Geelhoed, Madelynn Geerdes, Melanie Genao Grullon, Mady sen Gizzi, Chace Gorby, Mallory Graham, Russell Grandon, Aiden Hager, Eli Hanna, Brooke Haynes, Jackson Heffner, Riley Hess, Avery Hitsman, Landon Horan, May May Huckleberry, Shane John­ son, Eli Jurmu, Aden Kalkofen, Maisie Klingensmith, Cooper Kosecki, Mason Lapekes, Ruby Larson, Emma Lerg, Khloe Lowande, August Maichele, Aditya Malvankar, Sedad Maric, Louis Mauriello, Cole McKenna, Tyler Menninga, Zahara Muriithi, Samuel Myers, Nicholai Nonhof, Oliver Olmstead, Gage Openshaw, Ellee Osborn, Egan Otto, Sydney Palmer, Lia-Rose Perry, Corbin Peterson, Zachary Pirkola, Zainab Piromari, Haven Powers, Sa­ mantha Richardson, Isabella Rozanski, Max Schnurstein, Aliya Schultetus, Conlan Schultz, Amelia Sharp, Caleb Sheldon, Cruz Sierra, Sutton Smith, Reagan Stevens, Jakob Swartzlander, Lucas Temple, Jared TenBrink, Calieb Tewoldemedhin, Myiah Thayer, Sean Thompson, Moss Thornton, Emma Unger, Logan Uyl, Levi VanderLaan, Raylee VanDeWeert, Kane VanLente, Lilian VanStrien, Laney Walsh, Brynn Ward, Lilli Ward, Brianne Weih, Samuel Westemeyer, Blake Whitlock, Vivian Williams and Lauren Ziegler. Diemer, Jordyn Duffy, Kerim Durie, Jaden Emerson, Lleyton Finlan, Bryce Freese, Logan Hackman, Katelyn John­ son, Oslo Langeweg, Katelyn Light, Bryce Mitchell, Molly Muller, Maddyn Mulvey, Cade Paalman, Turner Platte, Alex Postma, Logan Pratt, Hestia Reed, Escher Reeder, Valeria Roque-Segura, Kylen Spencer, Marco Torrense Gal­ lipoli, Iris VanOosterhout, Noah Wert, Naomi Wiese and Ethan Yarger. f X & .*< *** 1 *K z I tl I 4 i I fl- V I I *<14*^ » i .* I I I J > '4Ai I * Aibree Akers, Addison Athearn, Bryce Backus, Layla Bouwens, Bria Brower, Justin Brown, Jagger Bumes, Kiara Cogswell, Katherine Cousineau, Elizabeth Crankson, Elliott Davis, Emery DeRosia, Trevor Dorman, Al­ lison Dryburgh, Liam Dykhouse, Josie Endres, Grant Feldpausch, Estella Finkbeiner, Benjamin Geerdes, Chase Geister, Ayla Gerken, Aseel Ghannam, Grace Groendyke, Sean Harney, Gabriella Henney, Dylan Hilaski, Leah Hileman, Thomas Hodgson, Braden Hofstee, Maria Homrich, Claire James, Zack Keson, Ty Kimbrell, Mackenzie Krentz, Jack LeBoeuf, Vanness Lin, Madison Lockwood, Ellie Melano, Kayleigh Miersen, Noah Miller, Taven Openshaw, Abby Poe, Sophia Price > Quentin Raffler, Katie Reoch, Benji Rewa, Avery Seif, Lincoln Senti, Evelyn Smith, Tyler Smith, Emma Sokolovic, Harrison Solum, Lileeanna SouterAllerding, Lucas Swartz, William Szyperski, Sui Tial, Katie Tran, Kate Trusevich, Jayden VanderSyde, Anna VanderWal, Meghan Venhuizen and James Visser. J. ■ .ii> I < I I a* 1 / rrfj I 4^ J i; < X'm t ' I <1 'j'j' c Xj ' w Jill * bJ** 4 'J f 6 .Ji- * - 1 r .>-*< •' ’-V I *■ 1 J 9 * r - V < k * -15* ■ '«.>t « r* A I » 1 , r M I t i *T ift <* n^- ». “ .J <' .f* 1’ i > f i t J ' 4 ■• *» Am'b’ I * k t 'id',' A' I 14 I I / . * I * Iteiri*'' ii-' fi • •-^1 ' AI.^' ■'■ t I* J F f f .i;t5 . u It: ■ ■• » rV J # * I Ar uir 4 f f* 1^. A I r*’ I , ► w* 1’ if ./IJ • r <V * J tl > I .4 ’', '‘A' '-U./ * ,-X' » >0^ M T j T 4 . . W A 1 -t, ir X , issnSsii-';, 'IT* *1 r« J . A <41** I J f < tJI «iW i.‘ T t 14*4 Magna Cum Laude tf •€ jl > 1 r t f B 4 < ■ 1 I fe -M- M • 4 «8l'u.Y ww t 4 4 "•> a 1 I ** ! ;:3!k;u‘^-^A ii J 1-4 < IT RE/MAX 4sF * ▼ 1 Jackson Almy, Cameron Beach, Caleb Abdelkader, Cameron Bach, Sarah Berger, Ainsley Bridges, Kayla Maddison Blaser, Payton Bykerk, Veda Briseno, Aidan Brown, Kobe Buchan, Choiniere, Elijah Clark, Evan Crater, Aaron Collins, Hunter Creguer, Caelyn Aslyn Crocker, Elliot DeVries, Parker Crocker, Akaela Daman, Addison Dana Brecken Daniero, Cole DeBlecourt, Ada Decker, Loralei DeHoek, Natalie DeTurk, Tessa DeYoung, Will Dickey, Daniel Don W I aldson, Levi Dorband, OF GRAND RAPIDS 1 Cora Draft, Vivian Fink, Margaret (Margo) E. Peric Madelyn GeborkofT, Justin Commercial/Residential Full Time Agent Golembeske, Luke Gras Cell: (616) 204-9792 man, Emmett Haan, Lauryn y Office: (616)957-0700 Email: margoperic@remax.net Q J Hager, Tzila Handley, Ar­ bor Hannink, Anna Hom­ rich, Evelyn Huttenga, Jack See HONOR on 6 > I TENTH GRADE Summa Cum Laude Cum Laude J t A ♦ • •• *« '■^n'4 >r set*. 7 iheOE ’ V •* 1 W'l I} r»w . 3 eI Tj • « »1 1 C » f1 3^ '4:\. I -.fnms ? h. I > .r« «..dS >v I’ I -’it I /, I «<p -:?W7' > • I KT t 1 I i I‘ I 2 I 4 I 5 L6J' I f DIAL (800) 249-0911 ION - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at^awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 9I 10 111 121 131 14 15| 16| 17| 181 19 201 . *1 / ' I' •» 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES t.*-. I 211 221 23| 24 * r I I h ■I 251 261 271 281 291 30 I 4 4 I �4 I i I i I ¥ •» I I i S THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Saturday, February 22, 2025 * •A 1 w Build a great wardrobe to build your personal brand Building Brands 1 < Classifieds A i th p,,' ‘A t j •* I 1/ I, * •■I » i I •■ Ji f •-t< '•J I f '■ ’ft. I I \ 1 * <>1 <1 J ! J I I ’•^“4 4 1 ' I t 4 I ’* • A rA . > I i I ’r » I 'H J I 4 '■t I « i'li , ‘t- J . 4 i » f k’ ■ <• «i. '•« H'r. •‘1 4« I ■«) • T . h r, ' ' I : J/ I I Ct 4 ' I J ‘ r: til / 1 I • /C: I• Jt X 1 4 X 4 4 I ■' r <■1 » 3. ’■ - . I VL 1* > '’fit J*?' ■' X' . L "-'f' r I, I '' \ ' • ’•-t s. f ' 'I . r'.<. 'S* • r •*4 I I r I: I <L.- M i ua ''<1, , H'u. * t ’ ‘ i • ♦ e < T J V * • «• la? 4 « I N ’‘■nr ftB: <- J J 'i * r ■) r, ( > < > / * I ► • « U. «a imvru ■ 5 t ( * I «s^ f I iJljn X I '■•'W •• rb *1 CK 1 < * I . i— . fe-' " tu ....... is '.j: V *.>..‘11' J I • n>' ( rrt IS cUtii J < J I ‘J .a f I« i, J'-4 'f •< i • L- t L I •♦'X JZ rr d(_- 1 aniwji bS T 1 V ' It ? 1 I Iblht “-5S< i’‘ji< : I 4 ! I 1 J < I I 5i ■ ■ ^3 ( I I l;un J :U . ♦ I . i r s r r r t s V > . I b?-h lO onJ I ,jb nt Of I ftt » -JlltUt ! f » I 4 • -t ‘ < 9 I ' i I ' , h K)V .1 4 I v\ * bj l-^ i 11 I I ro! ’ i V tiT v<aj ♦ <r< -rp • • V ( I I 1 •' I ' 1 J ^TSfi 3Sr •jH 1 i ?J VJ * 1 < I • / ( )j3Brlrn ahni! b I iP ♦• i { ’^ti * A f selves still matter in 2025? A few months ago one of The answer is a resounding my team members walked into work wearing the most yes. Despite relaxed post­ pandemic standards, a lead­ perfect fuchsia blazer. I was immediately obsessed er’s presentation remains a and told her as much. Since cornerstone of their influence and authority. Leadership is we don’t always work in more ±an actions, words, or the same office I thought EMILY it lessons from seminars it would be OK if I bought the blazer myself, but after CASWELL encompasses every facet ecaswell® some digging I discovered of your presence, including mihomepaper.com it was sold out in my size. your appearance. Forming a Bummer, except that I’m strong executive impression an expert shopper and within 30 min­ is as vital as ever.” utes had found a similar blazer from And that impression is made quick­ another retailer. While it didn’t have ly. From the article, “some studies, a belt like hers did, it did have a faint such as the one appearing in Social pinstripe. If you’re picturing the blaz­ Psychological and Personality Sci­ er, I bet you’re thinking “wow, that’s ence, suggest (a first impression) can one loud blazer.” happen in as little as 33 to 100 mil­ When I finally went to wear my liseconds.” fuchsia blazer earlier this week for a Knowing how important your branding workshop I was presenting wardrobe is to your personal brand, at, I had the same thought. My team­ here are some tips to build a great mate pulled off the blazer so effort­ wardrobe so you can build your lessly, could I do the same? I wasn’t brand: positive, but the clock was ticking, so Take note of what you like: Just I went for it. as I made note of my teammate’s I’m so glad I did because by noon blazer, I make note of pieces I love that day I had received multiple com­ almost daily. Usually, it’s something pliments. Not just on the blazer, but I see someone wear in person, but I my overall “vibe.” I have to admit, also rip out magazine pages, screen I was walking a little taller that day shot outfits I see online or hit pause if knowing what a beautiful piece of I see something of note on TV. This clothing I was wearing. process takes time ultimately helping After texting a photo of my look you create your personal style. to mv teammate, thanking her for the Invest in your clothes (and a tsilor)? While I love a good inspiration, I started thinking abvUt how our clothing plays such a big deal, a great wardrobe is an invest­ role in not just our “vibe,” but also ment, so budget accordingly, always our personal brand. leaving room for the work of a tailor. That particular blazer is one of An expensive jacket that doesn’t fit many I have purchased in recent right will miss the mark on making years as my career has evolved, I’ve the impression you want it to. From taken on more responsibilities and the forbes.com article, “As Zig Ziglar began to lead new team members. aptly said, ‘You cannot climb the lad­ Something about a blazer, even when der of success dressed in the costume paired with jeans, says “leader, ” “pro- of failure. fessional,” “pulled together.” Clean out your closet: I like the It’s no secret that I love clothes, one-in; one-out method, which en­ and it’s no secret that clothes and sures that when a new piece enters your style say a lot about your per­ your closet, an old piece that no long­ sonal brand. That said, I know post­ er serves you exits. It’s easier said pandemic dressing can be tricky. than done, but important. Also impor­ The experts at Forbes agree. An ar­ tant is an organized closet. Whether ticle on the topic on forbes.com reads, by color or by style, I like a closet “In a world that has embraced casual that makes is easy to find everything. norms, does how CEOs and other Develop your own “uniform”: organizational leaders present themLeave the black turtleneck and jeans r ' Th i 1 I ■>^H> 5 to the late Steve Jobs, but create your own “uniform” so that getting dressed doesn’t take up too much time or energy. I have a few no-fail combinations I can reach for when I need to look great, but am lacking inspiration. I know not everyone has a passion for fashion, but I promise an update to your wardrobe will do a lot to boost your brand. Like the forbes. com article said, looking good means “You’re serious, prepared, and inten­ tional.” It’s also good for your mental health. From the article, “ research published in the Journal of Business Research found that intentional clothing choices shape individuals’ con­ fidence levels, influencing how they present themselves and interact with the world.” What’s your best advice for build­ ing a professional wardrobe? Email me at ecaswell@mihomepaper.com. Emily Cas'well is the Brand Man­ ager for VIEW Group, the branding division of View Newspaper Group. BUSINESS SERVICES Dump Trailer Services, Bobcat Services, tree stump removal,site prep and clearing,dirt driveway installation and land clearing site prep. Fully licensed and insured. 616-389-9496 TREE SERVICE BUYING ALL HARDWOODS: Walnut, Oak, Hard Maple, Cherry. Paying top dollar. Call for pricing and Free Estimates. Will buy single walnut trees. Insured, liability & workman’s comp. Fetterley Log­ ging, (269)818-7793. I COMMERCIAL-RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rapids. $20.00 ANNUAL/SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)2049792 margoperic@remax.net SCHEDULE YOUR SPRING TREE TRIMMING NOW! ONE MONTH LEFT TO TRIM YOUR OAKS k> *>♦1 .'V ■ I r a* 'I ‘»v •/ I 'V 4 < * K .■«r 20 Years Experience! S/'S e go where the work is! s J 4. >** rt~ 4 AT S' r I I ¥ > . s* A* ii i t ,#• •'.. •s a A K I I < TRIM YOUR OAKS BEFORE THE SPRING RUSH! Storm clean up Bucket truck service Affordable tree removals & trims Specializing in difficult jobs Dead Tree Specialist Profession tree climbers that go where trucks can’t go • Over grown yard clean ups ave money on cut and leave job^ • • • • • • s 10% OFF Jobs with Cleanup Service Nol WM ffiy «ar dIv IM MMt GMBA K aa» d MlM» Ca*an MVSSS 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 Exclusive Cut and Leave Tree Service We put on the ground, you clean up. SAVE up to 50% Services cost K * MW Mrf «•«* 4 «*■» Fully Insured • FREE Estimates Call or Text Joel @ 616-427-5209 �1 I iiii* J t Saturday, February 22, 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS HONO^ Cum Laude Morgan Barthel, Ryder Bom, Ava Decker, Ian DeHaan, Judah Dorband, Miles Fynewever, Miles Grengs, Rhyan Guzman, Connor Hager, Olivia Hawkins, Emilia Kaszynska, Landry Mueller, Drew Nichols, Hailey Nichols, Renno Nichols, Jake Paoletti, Connor Parlin, Logan Paulen, Milana Rico, Mateus Santos, Kenan Sehic, Nicholas Seif, Aster Siang, Re­ ese Stafford, Braeden Stallard, Juliana Stevens, Brock Tidey, KaydenTyler, Gretchen VanderEide, Mya VanderZwaag, Gavin VanMeter, Tara Walter, Sophia Whittemore and Emma Wilson ELEVENTH GRADE Summa Cum Laude Joelyn Abraham, Mackenzi Anes, Madelyn Anes, Hannah Backhus, An­ drew Barnum, Valin Barrett, Brooke Bender, Brecken Byrd, Wade Cawson, Kyla Charles, Addison Cook, Gavin De­ Fields, Kayla DeGraaf, Baylee DeVries, Sebastian DeZeeuw, Charlie Doan, Maxwell Doll, Brennan Donnelly, So­ phia Douglass, Larissa Dudicz, Sophia Fata, Katelyn Ferris, Anders Foerch, Yasmeen Ghannam, Landry Hammond, Caleb Harrison, Adam Haynes, Sam Hoag, Ayden Hoisington, Kay Hurst, Katelyn Jaquish, Noah Kaplan, Ian Kimbrell, Jolie King, Parker Knoop, Circe Langeweg, Gabrielle Linker, Avarey Lippert, Parker Lipsman, Mar­ ian Listen, Allison Malone, Keira Mar­ shall, Jayden McCoy, Noah Moberly, MitcheU Moelker, Christian Moorlag, Angel Par, Caleb Parlin, Rebecca Pezzato, Derick Prichard, Ashia Robinson, David Robinson, Isaac Robotham, Abigail Schnurstein, Abby Skibinski, Luxe Smith, Ethan J Snapper, Chelsea Tran, Helena Truong, Brooklynn VanArtsen, Kaden VanRyn, Abby VerBurg, Samuel Walma, Maya White, Elliot Winger, Rydik Wrubel and Continued from Page 4 Johnson, Stephanie Juarez, Isaac Judd, Riley Kalacanic, Ava Kennedy, Maggie Koopman, Luke Kowatch, Ava LaBine, Rosalyn Langworthy, Sonja Lazarevic, Olivia Le-Tran, Nick Long, Benjamin Lusaya, Made Mai, Owen McCormick, Jackson McNew, Alyson Minton, Gavin Montanino, Landen Moore, Grant Mor­ rell, Madelyn Mulder, Connor Myers, Kyle Nguyen, Corinne Nordlund, Keira Paalman, Clayton Palmer, Nola Pear­ son, Mackenzie Popma, James Prichard, Jackson Pugh, Abi Putnam, Ava Rairigh, Adelaide Reavis, Koleson Reeder, Gabriela Rissley, Willa Rose, Jennifer C ^1- : ocniena^ Vanessa Schram, lyden Schuch, Lydia Shoesmith, Laife Shu­ man, Lily Smith, Lincoln Snow, Sean Sorrell, Ethan Sova, Taylor Sowles, Ad­ dison Swim, Sophia Teelander, Maddie Terryn, Shelyn Thomas-Ferrell, Jazmyn Thompson, Margaret Thunder Hawk, Presley Tidey, Madison Trompen Han nah Twork, Niklas VanderArk, Olivia VanLaan, Addison Veldt, Emily Wal­ beck, Abigail Wilkes, Ethan Wright, Julia Zenn and Kylee Zimmerer. ▼ I t I I i Breakfast Buffet Fundraiser I Help us support veterans and community functions. Saturday, March 1,2025 T^. ._1_ . . ni _ ._ _ — T _ bacon, sausage links or patties, potatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, milk, OJ, coffee, jH ?tlii Gsoom, Jameson Palmer, Lauren Parker, Aaron Pyper, Madyson Saari, Ella Schultetus, Colton Sheely, Mya-Rose Slosser, Adam Smith, Halle Stout, Ellie Tennant, Jack Thornton, Claire Timmerman, ^nnuaF February Sale BiGGBY I COFFEE isEl 20% off Fabrics 4F * (excludes sale items) Ends 2-28-25 Caledonia Memorial Legion Post 305 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, MI *0* Jesus Loves Zou "u* LUNCH M-TH 11 AM-8 PM; FBI 11 AM-2PM: FBI BUILD A BURGER 4-8 PM QUESTIONS: ASK US. • • -I J. w HHHMK 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 #- OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 w V« A. Addyson iji.n, Olin, ers,, Aaayson s *1» 'M**A*<':**.2' X-’ * *A < ^tq^^ay 9 ffuUi Cleaners Pickup Station : 5’1. z, Andrew VanderKolk, Haydn Weidner, Ella Wickens, Morgan Wnuk, Leonidus Xiong and Brianna Zeller. TWELFTH GRADE Summa Cum Laude Isabelle Anderson, Sophia Anderson, Luke Atheam, Michael Berger, Greta Betz, Keegan Broomfield, Ethan Buer, Malia Burke, Parker Chapp, Teagan Chu, Rory Cobb, Madison Coles, Lauren Collett, Carson Conroy, Liam Cook, Nathen Cox, Adysen Daman, Kiersten DeHaan, Kaylee DekkingaWeller, Noah DeRosia, Ella DeRuyter, Christian DeYoung, Evan DeYoung, Drew Diebolt, Hannah Dupuis, Aidan Edgar, Alexa Elliot, Ethan Fisher, So­ phia Gauthier, Jenny George, Sydney Gonyon, Silas Haan, Alex Hance, Neal Hargrave, Liz Hilton, Alexander Hochwarth, Noah Irish, Micah Jacob­ son, Kathleen Johnson, Samuel Jones, Bridget Kayser, Mason Kern, Lukas Keson, Benjamin Kieliszewski, Kylee Kirkbride, Gretel Knipping, Colin Kowatch, Nirdhvaitha Kumar, Elena LaFranca, Myah Lapekes, West Larson, Danielle Le-Tran, Austin Licari, Sam­ uel Lusaya, Siyani Mahadevan, Jessica Maier, Joshua Maier, Hailey Markwat, Tyler McAllister, Samantha McCor­ mick, Brennan McVey, Sawyer Mertz, Samuel Miersen, Shaun Milanowski, Elise Miller, Nathan Montross, Andrew Moore, Mason Morrell, Claire Musk, Cameron Myers, Alivia NeubauerKeyes, Josie Noble, Copelin Okrang­ ley, Peter Paarlberg, Erin Peckham, Eliza Pehrson, Ada Petersen, Elizabeth Pickering, TJ Platschorre, Allie Poe, Zuzanna Poradzka, Kayli Price, Joshua Rabourn, Finn Radtke. CavH Keed, Rian Restau, Kaliana Reynolds, Sebastian Rissley, Garrett Ruehle, Addison Russell, Meghan Ruthven, Juliana Ryder, Addison Saidoo, Allie Sensing, William Sheely, Henry Simon, Ranveer Singh, Cerys Smith, Olivia Stauffer, Owen Straight, Christopher Streit, Andrew Tava, Claire Teunessen, Kort Thompson, Hailey Tiers, Justin Trees, Isabella Treib, Adela Turpin, Ryleigh VanderBerg, Kenna VanLente, Luke Veldman, Susanna Vire, Emily Vu, Trevor Walter, Cameron Weibel, Isabella Wierzbicki, Leah Williams and Cameron Wright. Magna Cum Laude Madelyn Abraham, Ava Acton, Ashleigh Adams, Keira Bommarito, Kiley Bommarito, Lakely Bottum, Joseph Briseno, Susan Buss, Brooklyn Bykerk, William Chrisman, Jepna I I , \ J-1 r - hF ♦ I 9 I i i ft • I 1 I Il t f 4 II ' I * f 3 1^1 iCf. : 1 ft • di t J I I /#>'5 ' I3S F > 'I;' s 1. I p A’* e «■»■ * >' >ict » • f J*” .ol’ i., T .k I > t ! y I 9 M.T- p. } . I u r I •- f* 1I * I r\* * F ' €* I ■A vr .T .4.8'^’*^' i t »»L f 4^ r 4^ r f -i % 4 '- a t. A Ai i ■ I; I i b 11' Jr Xi s « -/I < 9 I* ^46 7lH' I* ' •Wil H r i t J ■fc. • n I i V 4 J J 3:s*" H /renbn/^.. i Hi: ■ I k : . 1 k < Ji’ I ■f4 • I 9 I 4 \ino3rr|>‘. . *1i I -k Wto 4 >L7I . 4 «r. * U-«O1 K' B J ■ II ■ %4.V Ai W 9* * Menu subject to change Adults $13.00»Children 10 & under $5.00 For more information call the Post at 616-891-1882 Coffee Donated by Elliott Ziegler. Magna Cum Laude Parker Anderson, Alivia Baareman, Ava Bedingham, Lillian Bender, Madison Bergs, Skye Bradley, Elliot Clark, Tana Coates, Gavin Dean, Aydin DeBoer, Peyton DeHorn, Hudsen Derengowski, Elysa DeVries, Brent DeYoung, Saman^a Dunham, Audrey Duong, Carter Dykstra, Garrett Fales, Kebe Fitzell, Eliana Grinstead, Gil­ lian Guzman, Andrew Hanna, Malachi Hanson, Shannon Harmon, Haley Hart­ nett, Madeline Hayden, Katie Honhart, Jonas Howell, Zoey Hunter, Raymond Huynh, Benjamin James, Alyssa Jerni­ gan, Paityn John, Noah Johnston, Lyla Keller, Hellen Komera, Kohen Lapekes, Molly Liggett, Adelae Lucas, Addison Luxford, Torie Main, Jocelyn Marti­ nez, Easton Miller, Ella Miller, Zoe Miller, Liam Moore, Ben Moss, Kortney Muller, Sergio Munoz, Sophia Myers, Cole Nyman, Codie Okrangley, Stuart Parker, Camden Quigley, Alyssa Rife, Savannah Robinson, Niomi Scavo, Mila Schultz, Gavin Senneker, Ryan Snider, Bradyn Snow, Austin Soper, Evan Standley, Madelyn Stauffer, Nina Stiver, Summer Tague, Hailey Thayer, TylerTriebel, Gabe Trudeau, Austin Tufts, Rosalyn VanStrien, Eli Velting, Payton Walker, Brayion Walma, Yelena Wilks, Dakota Winters, Luke Witvoet, Ryne Wysocki and Drake Young. Cum Laude Erica Angell, Sam Baker, Carter Berends, Libby Coles, Cassidy Col­ lins, Erik Cove, Ella DeVries, Katelyn Farstvedt, Thomas Fryers, Jr., Na­ than Johnston, Molly Larson, Teagan Markham, Logan Marvin, Cody Mey- - AAXA **0 and the First Saturday of each month Serving 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. www.sunandnews.com I F' ti F" J*, Iff '• ■■'J' H. I At ■3i -i 0 c <. / t Ij : > .1. J ■ J I r 4 "■1 8’^ J • 1^ ’ I i If “y , I I I 1 •« r * .V I' ■A 9/ ■; r 3- JT”:" : -A ■'e to • < • t r^® 1 I .. .i I r F j I f ▼ V J k « * ----- **« ! I r ' . r3 I > AB V I o '’•’al?—- < gr-L '.^ I i • ■ W/n .. 11 ? A I 5 I iU» ■' ' :fK j .f > LL^ I, k J r . k . 4 • J J rs • '• x'if f '4. L \1 ' • See HONfdfrbn 8'" V <* I ■ f". I ( a 4 t r 4 r I I ’•y I 1 » WK co. 9-1 -1 C 4 5 8 91 10 111 121 131 141 151 161 171 181 I I 1 n 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES f DIAL (800) 249-0911 I^ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Q/tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" . <9 [TER I’l 191 20 211 221 231 24 251 26 271 281 291 30 j 1 �9 1 I r J t I / THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com * 1 1 1 Saturday, February 22, 2025 7 f u •s Wk f I I V •< I ’1 Icy Gun Lake Winterfest back with a splash I s < ' $ 4 'h Xi’ 'i XL X r X S 1 ’ti, X!. ‘’U ' ')> I ’ll i 1 I I • 1 X 1 • • f • •J r 'fb f. ' I I > I I J V • 1 t A 1 t ■' f I. J' « I t f • 1 ■y 1 « ' ' f . -t < I I < s I L r .’* A ♦ 4. I I '. :.k •i: T ^.1 I $ ) .1. J rt I I 1 I .d. . > I 1 I r ’ ♦ /L I w I r I **t. : p r Br lb -X‘- ‘ ij' ( *1 —•Ft 1.1 N < < 11'' Jt. 4-' > .t ,7^ i •r I f® !s 1 ; t/.l »£*«»», I ) 4 !' z u Yoi -rito h"^'T».n£K *<1 Karen Turko-Ebright Contributing Writer A record-breaking turnout of 80 braved frigid temperatures at this year’s famous Polar Dip at Gun Lake Winter­ fest. However, the icy fun spread with the West Michigan Ice Riders, who revved up their motorcycles to put on a show with the frozen lake as their stage. William Reaume of the West Michi­ gan Ice Riders could not resist the in­ vitation from the Gun Lake Winterfest committee to fire up his motorcycle on the ice with his group of 20 bikers on Saturday. “The Winterfest committee asked us to put on an ice bike expedition for everybody,” said Reaume, who lives in Orangeville just south of Gun Lake. “We ride here locally a lot. It’s entertaining for the crowd.” Ice riders range in age from six-yearold kids to riders who are over 70. They all throttled their engines on the ice at the annual Winterfest at Gun Lake Park over the weekend. The riders wowed the crowd with slick maneuvers across the smooth, icy terrain, performing for JI J ’I’,:' '> V.l V V « >•• *1 J* •w » Mb tti- * J k .****< : *W » K V .:u: K 4*^’1 I ♦ I MJ?! V X Z J i 4 * h > -■ k 4 ht 7^ ' r r CriIbu • - k •i^ A-.- B “’safeL ' > fete life I I ’< >««««'*'i r, I ! tt*. ... * < V 4 V '• » I 1 1^ 2»'bb f . 1 t i «r - iy.** I tuV b * WS5 William Reaume and the West Michigan Ice Riders swapped their tires on their motorcycles to ride on the ice at Gun Lake Park on Saturday at the annual Gun Lake Winterfest. Photos by Karen Turko-Ebright tion in our games. It was fun,” Stacey said. “T really like the location. I think a lot of people can see it because it’s visible.” This year, trolleys were on-site at Winterfest, transporting shoppers to local businesses and restaurants around Gun Lake. “There were a lot of people on the trolleys,” Stacey Landman said. “Many people got to go to all the different See WINTERFEST on 8 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. I /997 ft B. an audience of about 300. “We are trail riders and motocross riders during the summertime. This is the off-season,” Reaume explained. “We already own motorcycles, so we swapped the tires out to ride them on the lake. We have a ball. The motorcycle group is selfaffiliated and likes to put on a show. Reaume said the group supports the local restaurants and businesses and buys gas in the Gun Lake area. We are trail riders and motocross riders during the summertime. This is the off-season,” Reaume explained. “We already own motorcycles, so we swapped the tires out to ride them on the lake. We have a ball.” Winterfest 2025 moved from Yankee Springs State Park to Gun Lake Park at 2397 Patterson Road. “I love the location because it’s so close to the water. We got to see the bikers today,” said Theresa Paiz, who heads up apparel and marketing for Winterfest. Under her vendor tent, Paiz offers the public a variety of Winterfest swag. “I’m glad we’re back here because we were at this park eight or nine years before,” she said. “I love the location because people approached me today and said, ‘We were in town, and we did not know you were here. We stopped by to see you. ’ At the state park, we did not have that because it’s off the road.” She said, “It was a great day.” Stacey Landman co-chairs Winterfest with her husband. Brad. Both are in their second year heading up the event. “This year was great. We had lots of kids. We had a lot of audience participa- 11 *■* * , T’ • »• I t lAQQ I ' I « iiO& / 1., . •• ..I I <1 5 *r V'••t t t • wisn_ ft • ♦. . —I. Your local agent insures your k I * ■ iim ....... ... iSOtfir r. a t fi I . r. <_____ <------ fr. ♦’A'T I ’fl Vft* * 7> / • 1 s .' .c* ? x: .•X Efe ax * IV, If.. li jflT'. Lee^r-.T- L’ p-* .4 ♦ I I -.J a V-\ OHi I ' I I j I' ic miof: i ’ i , I * I ! I I .•MI . .Ilia J * b ? r’ • J <’4 >4 K, X J ■ . I ■ . *' V .- r* : • Ife4 i’*ij I -: • .r t• ft •; * I ' f 1 k I 4 r W 3tr; ' I I ’ft^" .. A Jut I r i Mi i ««>;*< lt\ I « I p. 1 » r A group representing the Healing with Hope and Happiness mission aims to bring hope and joy to kids dealing with serious health situations. From left, Brian Kaczanowski and Nick Dykstra take the plunge at the Polar Dip during this year’s Gun Lake Winterfest , < f t f <' - k Fs^rm D BODY SHOP FARM BUREAU INSURANCE* COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR fusurcutce, Cotnfto^ 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 .Ax o ® 1 '(A Jason Parks I (269) 795-8827 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville ¥ . i jparks^binsmi.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com Your -trusfed Body Shop -for oyer 32 years I I I «* s .7 . . 4 > « V / V « * •• «■ .»« �J .J * 2!^ »**■ Saturday. February 22. 2Q25 8 THE SUN AND NEWS WINTERFEST casino puls on a very nice show/' Idol winners performed their win­ ning songs al the Winlerfcst main stage on Saturday. First-place winner Maurice Townsend received a $750 check, second-place winner Jayccc Pelers look home the $5fX) prize and third place winner Summer I edford walked away with a $250 award. All three took home trophies. r^eb Iimmcrman, president of the Gun Lake Business Association, en­ joyed her day at Wintcrfesl. “We arc thrilled to support area businesses. Il’s so nice to hear that the trolleys have been full and that people are enjoying themselves,” Timmer­ man said. Katie Niemchick ran the Polar Dip. She credits the considerable turnout of Polar Dippers to the price cut this year. “We changed the pricing from $25 to $10. We wanted to make it aflbrdable for people to enjoy,” Niemchick said. The proceeds will go to this year’s chosen charity, The General Federation ofWomen’s Clubs-Gun Lake Chapter. Conttnued from Page 7 restaurants and businesses around the area as opposed to staying in one spot.” Besides trolleys, she said the games were a big hit with the audience. ”!l was fun. We did a pizza eating and Vernors chugging contest and played the Price is R ight games. F veryonc won gill cards to use around town,” Stacey Landman explained. Jan (irabowski lives in (iun Lake and was excited to check the Polar Dip off her bucket list. She came with Mick Buhar and Joany Spencer. However, it wasn’t on Buhar\ bucket list. “It’s just something to do,” he said. Brad Landman said the park was bustling with people all day long. “It went well. Our goal was to bring people together and to the businesses,” he said. I’ve seen the trolleys full run­ ning around. We couldn’t be happier.” Eiiz.abeth Jones continues to take charge of Gun Lake Idol. “Idol went great. Ilie singers liked that they finished at the casino rather than the Winterfest stage,” Jones said. “It’s a great experience for them. The 1 I NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES 1“^ r t < 9 I li'u-paus •7* AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT Monday at 4 p.m. BATTLE CREEK Friday, March 7th thru Friday, April 18"’2025 5-7pm or until gone SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m. THE HASTINGS ALL YOU CAN EAT BANNER S14.00 Adults S8.00 Children 12 and under Tuesday at Noon open TO PUBLIC ■ ALL ABE WELCOMEl THE DINNER INCLUDES REMINDER Breaded and Beer Battered Fresh Pollock Filets served with Tartar Sauce, French Fries, Coleslaw and Homemade Bread & Butter. Dessert: Soft Serve Ice Cream. Coffee and Lemonade Wednesday at Noon THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon No other Food Menu Available. For those who do not want fish dinner, outside food may be brought in. Group mihomepaper.com 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia caledoniaamericanlegionpost305.weebly.com •t c I <• fl 4 1 If V 1 f I X. i 1 1 i ri V ■r J r V ?£ i. V'’' J*'' f* J •u T . »- 9 • J* 4 51 I I rL 4 I 91 10 L.' "-•1 ■ J r 1 A crowd o< about 300 gathered on the ice at Gun Lake Park to cheer on tl ie Polar Dippers and watch the West Michigan Ice Riders on Saturday at the annual Gun Lake Winterfest. I ■ > ■ ' I Ig k 1 li F'" HONOR Continued from Page 6 Clapper, Dakota Cole, Makenna Cole, Jack Collett, Remy Cortez, Coen Crocker, Samantha DaleyFell, Campbell Day, Brynn Decker, Mary Depetro, Kara De Vault, Tristan Devrou, Isabelle De Wolf, Maria Dias Ribeiro, Taylor Doss, Dalton Ed, Easton Ellens, Laney Elles, Isa­ bella Ellis, Ralph Emesum, Amber Fairchild, Chessie Fanco, Leighton Fink, Landon Fleming, Anthony Fox, Ethan Franken, Alaina Frank­ lin, Ella Frederick, Cambria Gaier, Aiden Gieseler, Sofia Goldoni, Katie Guernsey, Kailyn Gustin, Presley Gyorki, Brogan Hacht, Leigha Hall, Leyla Hazel. Ally Heaton, Paige Henion, Claire Hoop, Rebecca Hornacek, Kaleb Huyser, Flavia lorizzo. Rachel Judd, Kaelin Kalacanic, An thony Kauffman, Avalynn Klapmust, Eden Korb, Olivia LaHaie, Mason Langeland, Kathryn Langenburg, Lauren Lauver, Abbie Layton, Isa­ bella Leason, Gabbi Levack, Ellery Lienesch, Molly Lieske, Myrthe Lippens, Parker Little, Emmi Mince, Zachary Mulder, Amber Munson, Tucker Murray, Khadeeja Nasir, Tien Dinh Nguyen, Obaidullah Noor, Aubrey Oldfield, Amariana OrtegaSummerville, Sakura Otto, Crew Paalman, Lukas Palmitier, Allie Pellerito, Georgia Pennington, Alana Pettenger, Ethan Petz, Ragaz Piro mari, Alejandra Posada Fernandez, DJ Potgeter, Noah Prior, Logan Re­ G »> r *' * * 9 •J V It Ut ' » ■ 'A . imbold Isaac Reurink, Jack Rife, Allye Risner, Jensen Rivera, Nuria Ros, Kyler Ross, A laina Russell. Anthony Russo, Madison Savin, Kasen Savoy, Payton Seelyc, Jacob Sensing. Brody Siler, Makenna Smiertka, Taylor Sorsen, Johanna Sproul, Hayden Stanley, Emma Stein, Ava Streff, River Swanlund, Ayden Taylor, Filip Taylor, Alexis Tell, Sam Temple, NatuTewoldemedhin, Caleb Thome, Colton Timmerman, Muhammed Turk, Annika VanderFide, Patrick VanderKolk, Addysen VanderLaan. Cade VanderLaan, William VanderWeele, Aiden VanDeWeert, l.cah VanHall, Talen Verburg, Reed Vogeler, Christina Waldmiller, Lillian Walker, Kayla Wever, Ella Wierenga, Josie Wilcox and Lauren Wnuk. » ■ I I ' ^'r J ♦» ; ( -< I. I s*^ r » w .F > I J I k I .“i I 81111®'*** fl 1 fl f \ 1 h-‘ , J., i t I I 1 I t II :A I r r k 191 20| I J » 1 t • fa»4* J,* A I i r* . I * I 1 ■> i I ; Avery Beezhold, Jett Black. Mya Buigess, James Carrow, KadenColegrove, Valentina Correa Sobral, Cody i DeVries, Madison Doroff, Kaeler Fox, Owen Fynewever, Gabrielle Gonzalez, Lily Gortmaker, Nathaniel Gue, Alexis Hammock, James Harp­ er, Lexi Henney, Brady Hilaski, Ellie Hudson, Carter Johnson, Lily Keech, Jenna Labun, Isabelle Laval lee, Luna Moras, Cole Morgan, Jackson Olin, Alaina Palmer, Heidi Phillips, Ella Plummer, Bailey Postema, Hanna Powers, Axel Price, Samuel Pugh, Ademar Reid, AJ Roszkowski, Ella ’ Rounds, Yoga Sharma, Quentin * Stacer, Anika Svems, Carly VanderRoesL Levi VerBurg, Alani Xiong and Isabel Zupin. I - « letK u F ■ f ri.« b* *1 V .* Z-i fMWfmwSa! >J r- 5 ? • * Ke < I r i IF leMir. I 4 n r > 0, I t «*> A f •1 ! I « » & f ITMiMJi >■» I I ,1 » s Di?? i * « ' ffltt J > • 9A ** I ».x; t’ ’Pd 4’ •Ttf -L • « •»** i r a L.; BUX ?*. 'T. F > •* ■->«« I 10 11 12 X OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 21| 22 i r I ry I 18| ♦ > A - { (• «<v ♦ Cum Laude F b* 1 I DIAL (800) 249-091 lJ»N - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at*'^ ... awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 15| 16| 17| « » c< V T^ 111 121 131 14 V * V V I TER * I / I 21 I 3 fk CO. 9-1 -1 C r* > I I t. •r .Z’ t I , •/. < I < > »■ « ,1? W: I I «» CALEDOfllA AMEMCAM LEStOM 11^305 I WWW surt.4i>dn(?WISfOOn' 23| 24| 25| 261 271 281 291 30 1 il • t p 14 �THE SUN AND NEWS WWW sunandnews.com « br*t *^Ha 2S» '•t MIDDLEVILLE *1 TOPS 546 1 t i 4 ii The Feb 17 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary's report I There is one new fish in the fishbowl ! Virginia's program was from TOPS President Rick Danforth in the March/ 5 April TOPS magazine. "TOPS Evolving j to Remain Viable Why do we resist ' change? Without change, nothing can be improved The same goes for I our weight-loss journeys. We need to i make changes to get to our desired ! goal. Even TOPS founder Esther Mann knew her original ideas would need to evolve in order to succeed. Making changes is vital to any organization or company If not, they cease to exist. Linda won the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting closed with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. Anyone with questions may call k'irginia, 269-908-8036. or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. The first meeting is free. .x“*1 ' 9s i ShI r t > XX»w 1 I I •k i • i 4 4 * 4 y I j T ■ I ■:? IS I •l. I V 1 f, A ) I kJ I a >n Si * U *» * Il 9 *4 I i'' •“J iS., * *. I ’' t .9 4 i ' .1 > ■ : ' I < I ■ « Sik ?* * I - v ( V, ter ........... 4 L 4 ' i j 1 » At •» I j * K ’ J I I < V Trojans close regular season at home Thursday night Saturday. February 22. 2025 9 CHS duo falls in blood round at tough D1 regional ! 1 made the path a little tougher for Reed, Carrow lost bv technical fall in his quarterfinal match against Hudson­ ville's Conor McAlars to start the dav. He bounced back to score an 8-5 win over Reelhs-Puffer's Taiyner Cowles in the first round of consolation, but w as pinned b\ Hunter Pulawski from B\Ton Center in the blood round. * James, he just had a tough weight class," Veitch said. It was just a stacked weight class. We were trying to find a way to get through." "All in all, I would say about as expected. We want to have more, but just as a program tliat is where we're at right now. All good steps. You look at the DI competition, not only our district with Grand Ledge and Brighton, but now we have Rockford and Grandville. You have to be a hammer if you want to get through. Reeder was one of two CHS fresh­ men to qualify for the regional, but 190-pounder David Tiers injured a knee in the Scots' team regional competition and didn't compete at the individual tournament Saturday. Brett Bremer Sports Editor Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia boss won't he repre­ sented at Ford Field in Detroit this season, but that doesn't mean this season wasn't a success. It was another step fons ard. The Fighting Scot varsity wrestling team had three individual regional qualifiers, and only two were able to compete at the MHSAA Division 1 Individual Regional hosted by Portage Northern High School Saturday, Caledonia freshman 106-pounder Escher Reeder and senior 132-pounder James Carrow V both won one match, but had their season eventually come to an end w ith a loss in the regional blood round (the consolation semifinals.) Reeder won his opening round match, 9-2 over Hudsonville's Brax­ ton Sandee, but then was pinned in a semifinal bout by Brighton's Jameson Wood and then fell to Hastings fresh­ man Hunter Sutfin in the blood round. "Escher had a great first match," Caledonia head coach Shawn Veitch said, but he said Sutfin's opening round loss was as bit of a surprise and that The Thornapple Kellogg varsity girls' basketball team will close out the regular season w ith a home game against Lakewood Thursday in Mid­ dleville. The Trojans were set to visit Grand Rapids Union in the OK Gold Confer­ ence finale Friday, Feb. 21. WestCatholic and Wyoming both scored their second win of the season over the TK ladies in the lead up to that second meeting with the Hawks. The Wolves bested the TK ladies 45-37 last Friday, Feb. 14, and the Trojans were downed 54-29 by the Falcons in Grand Rapids Tuesday night. Those two losses pushed IheTrojans’ OK Gold Conference record down to 3-8 for the season and their overall mark to 7-12. TK will start the MHSAA Division 1 state postseason the week of March 3 with Byron Center playing host. fkta 1 * r ii II r 11 I I «'I I ‘Ml I f I * v > It A I $ I T ;i lb I / It •••1 I 3 r a ( |X * ♦1 S H Summary of Request: I I ) N The Gaines Charter Township Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: I I W 11 uv, .a 11 * > --.V. L' ; I . ,s . t k > K ; f &E)£|jl((jJt - I I j*! t I I fh. I L 1 f L I L i < I H **1 . « I I 1 I X . ■ VJ 1« W*! ! ft'f •I I u 1 ' ' V- I 9 Bma J •''II l..«» *' Applicant: Kevin Offringa Date and Time of Hearing: March 12 th . 2025, at 7:00 PM 1 * k 9 Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 I 4 t *EXPIRF.S 6115125 W 1 1 1 • V 1 1 J ' I 0 9 * T W ? 9 4 ' I I 4 I z* •. ■ 1 .a . •» *«. S^£>0 Cheery Vai • > ■ ■ FS "'1 the blocw OFF VOUR TOTAL BILL ’ t i« wk-' SEE TPM-AT CUT OUT & PRESENT ; THIS COUPON FOR 10%J Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact info® gainestownship.org or (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. vS* .y; 41-22-13-200-021 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected during regular business hours Monday through Friday, at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices or contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan. wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5 PM on March 12 th , 2025. h' . r,?| •• Parcel Number DINNER 9. b U A 4422 76 th Street SE. Caledonia. Ml 49316 LUNCH c ► t ' BREAKFAST Request for a dimensional variance to reduce the rear yard setback of the eastern property line from 100 feet to 50 feet to construct a single-family dwelling in the A-R zoning district. Property Address: Location of Hearing: M 1 I * I ; ,1 • ‘(sKitait ^Laite,jR I f I f NOW SERVING BREAKFASTIS 7AM ... ( I < f A. 0 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING > I s* '*• '• •‘-w MT,', • . » butcher BLOCK^OCMf ’ GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP s..' . r • I « 4^e ■ H{l • *-.i !»V 616-S?2-10>. W nTw S£ Ci r A - I *^1 I r >9 I �4 I uil Ir I Ml I t r •« r 1 I Saturday, February 22, 2025 10 THE SUN AND NEWS r 9 V 9 JfRI»fc * 3L-^ <1*^ w** V . jk www.sunandnews.com ri / I i&^i fe Brett Bremer Sports Editor k •fi, *a .^b The Caledonia sweet ladies built up some good momentum for what was set to be one ofthe program’s biggest nights of basketball in the past decade Friday. Mona Shores was set to visit Caledo­ nia for a winner-take-all ballgame for the 2025 OK Green Conference Cham­ pionship Friday night at Caledonia High School on a night that also includes the Scots’ annual Cal Slams Cancer fes­ tivities and the Scots’ senior night. Bo± teams were 8-1 through their first nine ballgames of the conference season. The Fighting Scots improved their record to 15-4 overall with a 48-37 non-conference win over West Ottawa on what was an eventful Tuesday too at CHS. Senior center Lakely Bottum signed her National Letter of Intent Tuesday to join the Aquinas College Women’s Basketball program next year, and then <... U.’'- .• V •?** 5- '• V* r 4 Iw? / r ‘A; <ai>b ■.>. { I at Caledonia junior center Jolie King (top) forces a jump ball with West Ottawa’s Nevaeh Reynolds during the first half of their non-conference bailgame at Caledonia High School Tuesday. Photos by Brett Bremer I I ONTIER FAMILY IS EVERYTHING TO US. HEATING AND CX)OLING •4 % ■ A 3 . ' '^■ we treot our pahontt like fomlly and offer comfortabte, customized dentistry for everyone. High Efficiency FURNACE 6 AIR i :a. > 1 * I J ♦\ Implants Same Day Dentistry 'W ' ' ♦z t {' • l‘.■>'JI' k « MOO OFF !•’ li t 'L! H. h*- nil ’ Pediohic Dentistry ► ' I1’ CoMnetic Donlistiy 1 I j *• NOW ACCEPTING 4. ft “mSBO About Yankee Springs Dental V* . • *'♦ I KM S,' •< 2^ 1 K ; .V ’ 4^'; ““isn (269) 792-9723 12715 w M-179 Hwy ) YankeeSpringsDental.com Wayland, Ml 49348 : ¥ S<on to f^qucTit on opixunlnitot t jrwl loot n moi c > •a 5 LJ I * » • » 45* ( J/ - Must present this coupon. Expires 2-28-25 . k M MV W V other products awillsbls: your first visit • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! * I Sv? I , a’ ’ I _T > II / •I she scored the first seven points of the game against former OK Red Confer­ ence foe West Ottawa in a ballgame the Scots led from start to finish. “It just worked out that way,” Bottum said of her big start. “There was definitely good movement offensively. Right away our energy was good,” Caledonia closed the first half on a 16-3 run to really take control against West Ottawa Tuesday, and then fol­ lowed that up with a 16-6 run in the third quarter. “I was happy with the way the girls adjusted. They saw a lot of different defenses tonight,” Caledonia head coach Todd Bloemers said. “Coach [Paul] Chapman is known for doing some gimmicky stuff, and he gets his girls to buy into it and do a nice job of executing. Whether it was 1-3-1, 2-3, man, box-and-one, we were able to just run our stuff and get good shots. I didn’t feel like we shot the ball great tonight, but I thought that we executed well enough, and moved the ball quickly enough, to make things happen.” Bottum finished with a team-high 13 points, freshman guard Emily Stauffer had 11 points and nine Scots scored in all. Freshman guard Myla Gortmaker had seven points and freshman guard Olivia Foster had six on a pair ofthrees. “We’reproudof[Bottum],’’Bloemers said. “She has improved every season, but I have really seen a difference in her demeanor and focus here in the second part of this season. I think it is not a surprise that she is playing quite well.” West Ottawa was powered by the ability of freshman guard Jana Honeyc­ utt to get to the rim. She finished with a game-high 21 points. Bloemers said the Scots got better with their help-side defense as the game progressed to limit Honeycutt at least a little. The win bumps the Fighting Scots’ record to 15-4 overall this season. They See SCOTS on 11 I I1 tni k 1* I H -C" ‘ io5I^ I i 1 ( I 4 >1 •' ✓ I 4D .* 4. • 4 Jf* I ’< < A 9om-^pm 7om-3pm 8on>-5prti BomMpm 0Qn>l2onT • ^uo-i iot, 1 '■’l t-' i .r lOr n k Miloiiio y I ■' I 4 sitaasi J 1V » 1 I 3 1 » 4 ^|to3 V I uw 4 I ./r* to.. ' ui, fp r', '5 ..■Y' r* • k J fi'*” S X / ■apw. f. \ t J s. I >*■: -f a t / ' fl < 3-. I’ I >► r ‘' . /i * air ■AW -• * :3^'' . * < ft 3 4 (i ( a I Iu. i>ti^♦ * I i Bl I p I ft/ .i. * • \ .. AT 1 3 . f *_.<♦ .t ft • 4^ UJ'-^w -r. d ) I'S*' 9^ - M' ( • w. J >' » J.)F J ft >. t xMft i, :i ^5- ll < 1 I I t 14 » #1 ki ^-3 I s* <Xi ■.<« .y I I 1 t I "i' I J ' I . i ; ! I S : 1 I ■ ••• > I I' A Ms get a 5*'^“' tvt mfl lu ' 3l TK W It I T J Mttf '..•Uv t I • ^et . .‘j 'J 1 c I >t wi U . t It. J ■> E ) ■ Hr 4 * * UVJII. I’ -J‘4 i t >1 i-. 1 I *i f ' - »' W ^siafEWswoHpf"’- 9 I ♦ M » « { J >166 . C ’U f J u» * ♦\ T / r '4 i; Jv ^au. a: 4 ? * r ( f * V ' >( i » ) 1 >.v X W ,w - T 4A J \ 'V‘ F K 5 J *• 9 J a. J r n*?- > I J ^•4. - t I > ■V 00 ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM r :uiiii k IN ..>s y -» Ii<J^ I'tiilt h\ li ft iiiil-. 616-891 V . T’ ft 210 East Main Siren! Caledunta I * < J i I Office Hours M Itt W TH F k I *I • S'*. 1 f. //l.- ♦ -i- r...1 L Dental exams are even more important as we get older, preventing problems and reducing the risk of serious illness. !2O7o OFF YANKEE SPRINGS I I DENTAL I <4 r. I t: VAte IsS •J Copfte escpenence the onmtphete of Our furai, local office, when^ our pottenu know eoch other Tyler \feneman, O&S is o nofive of Coiodotiio who Iteeps up on the loiea technology within dentistry end er^ys getwng to know the poh^s' unique heeds I .r » K40> 1 9t I No monthly interest f if paid within 18 mo. ' IT I J FINANCING AVAILABLE • — t I • / i ■Vip' I r • Bottum inks college plans, helps Scots beat W.O. f J A. .« -4A «• . * • 1 >• I I t 1 o .K ii (i '‘f-’-b fl I I Ii r I4 I I 11 tl I I I 1 I I 4 iflTA CO. 9-1 -1 CEITER 4 5 8 9I 10 I I i I 1 DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES M •* Kids Measure up at Q;=tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 19 20 I I p r ’ I 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES •*> c S' J I I r ' V ■' 25| 26| 27| 28! 291 30| ’ ? fc—WM I « 4 1 1 I ! I iI fl 't I . I ( I s• r. k. I V,. ( r 21| 221 231 24 ♦s w 4'i it I < T 4 I * I, ft z I j i I i 9 ► / tt I 4. V �t I * 1 ♦ I i ’» ♦ ! I Saturday, February 22, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com b 11 i r V ** ■ SCOTS ■' •(.I I * • ' 'y I I i I 1 r 4 t t : ( I M - I I 4 I A.) 4 j * ,v * >* 4 /■. - ’t ■ iV < • au,- •*» . f « J'.* n r / ( M?. ' f »fcfc. F‘ 1 . p 4k. s ** » I J *1 dA Fvi al 3 'A 7/ — » I, ♦ -’•73 I t k *tl,J ’’I. S' * t» t' z 'f» y. .J I S A <4 <■ ■ *« s■ ; k> /J I 2 J I Ml) bMft ■^. I t J I ' <V. s ’*n I • 4 tn J * * 1 '-, i '5>rn^ - J Tr??/ l1 .!< *..1 I I I I » • 'I • ' ik'*’h.f *T > I X i f I > //>r ‘Vj V 1^; J ' 1 1 <» 1 ^{} '.'1 1 1A 1 K • I C 1 ■'n bl r I . '*45, < *« I A tC»* . L n 1^*1 .1 \ •4 ■iiiS * I' .*1* I . '■‘s4ti.**i(‘i 'i.j.ii'i:’' I i> f « ' '.r ’ ■ ' w ‘•S' t < « st* 4U> f - I ». f k Continued from Page 10 last won a conference title in 2016 and that title was the first for the program since 1994. Bottum said she and her teammates were really excited for Friday night’s match-up, looking forward to avenging their 42-38 loss at Mona Shores from last month. The Sailors’ lone confer­ ence defeat this season came against Muskegon. “After that we came in the locker room and we said we’re going to try our best next time and we’re going to beat them. We just need to play a lot harder. We underestimated them on they shot more threes some points than we thought they were going to shoot, and made them. Now we just need know now that they have the three-point shooters and the post so we need to lock both down.” Bottum hopes she has more than a few ballgames remaining with the Scots who will start their MHSAA Division 1 District Tournament the week beginning March 3, but she is also looking forward to playing at Aquinas in the future. “I am really excited for that. It was between two colleges, but at Aquinas as soon as I went there, the practice I J ,x S *• 1 * > t r^. 3^4 L z A 9 ♦ -Z* t. * I I « iV£.r. •» !; Ar n T * I ■k .. .B y J « z. > 1 J V w . 4 1 If f A«r-f I '/ ' ’-tF F r L. Hm n / ,.:j • -w « roo^- flp ’J l»'« i I Y'fil • « • I I < ifOl I I 7 * « s f 1 1 *p I I t 4 I* r 1 ■'.Jva.t'./Ax-t-f 4 I \ J i. I 17^ I !±i! b» t rWIi i. • fi r J f I pw -i I « □d qof rl I « ad wV/.''(-'i4o F I 1 5a ttiairJfi' 1 I I «D*r"7 I I I I I ** 2 ’' ^i^ i ■t A j; Ibi 1 % •a fl h ) I i I The Caledonia varsity boys’ basket­ ball team will open the 2025 MHSAA Division 1 state tournament in Wyo­ ming Monday taking on Thomapple Kellogg. The Fighting Scots and Trojans tip off at 5:30 p.m. in the opening game of their district tournament. The Thor­ napple Kellogg boys took a three-point win over the Scots in Middleville back in the final game before the holiday break. The Monday winner takes on the district’s top seed, Byron Center, in the district semifinals back at Wyoming High School early Wednesday evening. Host Wyoming takes on Ottawa Hills i Are you creative A > Caledonia senior center Lakely Bottum puts a jump up over West Ottawa’s Brooke Villemure during the first half of the Scots’ 48-37 win over the visiting Panthers Tuesday at Caledonia High School. NOW HIRING GRAPHIC DESIGNER attended, 1 felt like it was family right away. I felt like I was meant to be there. I just got that feeling and it was nice.” She said getting that decision made did take a little pressure off. View Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time graphic artist for our Greenville location. — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS — This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Photoshop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! Scots get a second shot at TK boys in district Brett Bremer Sports Editor i V 4 Responsibilities include: • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layx)ut rt<> '» R net i .< 9 z J 4 f. Ik r * r» i • • I IM I J . • k / I VT f in the second opening round game of the night Monday at the home of the Wolves with the winner of that one set to face East Kentwood in the second district semifinal Wednesday. That top-seeded Byron Center team improved to 7-2 in the OK Green Conference, two games back ofleague­ leading Muskegon, by scoring a 66-44 win over the Scots in Caledonia last Friday. West Ottawa scored a 77-46 win over the visiting Scots in Holland Tuesday night. Caledonia was set to go in a Friday night home game with Mona Shores to close the regular season with a 2-7 mark in the OK Green and a 6-15 overall record. I. We love what we do and we know you will too! Are you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@mihomepaper.com and let's find outl Group ■ ■ ■ ■ > ■ itf The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer’s Guide Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News Tri-County Citizen M Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review B Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ The Sun and News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Reminder r We are a growing company of 2! community newspapers serving IS Michigan counties that are delivered weekly to more than 335,000 households with an additior^i500,000 monthly online readers. ♦ �-• 'A. 4 ♦ 12 Saturday, February 22, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS (K* y www.sunandnews.com ] I' ) I 'rf-?!J . • 1.^ ♦ ♦ ♦ Si Hayden and Gibson win regional titles in Portage OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY ♦ ♦ ♦ a. V r* ‘ J. • »< . A » J* w V* I it J f 1 1^*’ I/ I W'WT e i A .4^ 4 r £ x> .5 >4-. M.'-* <?-• > dV' i i Vb» 9 ■ •f'KZ k- I X Tr :i » If A .f I « ■ ft ( V I . ■ t > r % < »> « 1 •' K / k '« > < « It- * “*-l b J ■ 9 X- * k*-' Ji ' « Ar' * L * ■ I .b i^4}’ S ’4 4 N‘ *^4. t *1^' 1^- 9H^ »' a • 6*** * :?’3 < •. ^ -=»r: k' I • -x>* =t A' • S' f <r ^•4* •V tfKi Caledonia junior Maddie Hayden (top) awaits the pin single as she holds down Paw Paw’s Angle Miller during the first period of their 170-pound semifinal at the MHSAA girls Wrestling Regional at Portage Northern High School Sunday. Hayden, a two-time state champion, won her third regional title Sunday. A NOW HIRING liH* > J A •!$« .I . I 4jft dj,A« ^rjy *•' ^6^ !»• 1* 4 1 4 >r ■rJ 4 < * \ P ' Hi4 f.HJ *M .i4 » V u^X- I w 0^'1* >- u 4<t ‘ « >• r .f . ^e. •J *0r; r View Newspaper Group is seeking a e* S'* 9 ''' .> 1s 1*”1 I **n ■* r R sH !• <»'W b’' - ?' > ' ^3 A f• I MARKETING SPECIALIST x u r0» ' > »r :^>- ei .*jt» * >»a7 II 1? n Sr ’1 I ’^1 iJC:^ J \UI F b_ r^- t 4 » ib-*' I •H l\ F*# b* [Ji >1 ,*- •> hr ^■4 I 4'^ ft. k5 Responsibilities include: •a^;- I -M. f >. L •l rf-’ t ::^ • Advertising sales • Account management • Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts • Attend networking events 't I iij-’ f ?. p*. #1 •7 w &ai r 1 ii I ■d ;;i2 •• ♦ . li.Lx-. [ IT ♦ i .ki r t; s > ’*lht w I H* f ► • v«. »r > ipt •** I 41 --^ lift*" W* 4 * V > r * VIEW . ■«?;> email wsmith(a)mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer's Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen I I «r «/V ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder V • ( 4 Mb* 1 r Thornapple Kellogg senior Emma Gibson (top) closes in on a pin of Allegan’s Dawn Degood during the first period of their 135-pound championship match at the MHSAA Girls Wrestling Regional hosted by Portage Northern High School Sunday. Photos by Brett Bremer Group ? I Brett Bremer Sports Editor Adelaide Holderman did something nobody else has been able to do since the 2023 MHSAA Individual State Finals on Sunday. She scored a point against Caledonia junior Maddie Hayden in the state tour- ■■> ! J'l.i 1 *■ ' 1^4 02 I 1 II ltl 9 Holderman, a Thomapple Kellogg sophomore, got a quick take down of Hayden at the start of their 170-pound championship match at the MHSAA Girls Individual Wrestling Regional hosted by Portage Northern High School Sunday. As quick as Holderman A .41:^4 I I > « tV > f ' 0 ■ I Lm< -9'‘ I >J5-’ i j 4 f i t .S*U' i:*r^ JJ I ' t rlx.♦ J 11 \ ‘ 1 A .*A t: k •1i - i> M «:' * ''ik 1 ►v. r. t ^1 1« h 1 2 I ^.*" J* ffA CO. 9-1-1 C 4 5 I 4 TER 8 91 10 5 ' I ' l”^l ' I ' t .•i>- I' ' I' I 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES } ?. * DIAl. (800) 249-0911 '-4ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at fi^awa Co. 9-1-1 Center H 111 121 131 14 X 15| 16| 17| 18| 19 20| 21| 22| 23| 241 25| 26 27 28| 29| 301: V_ h 4 J '! ■ I • b b k I < s b' 1 I J t ( if ft r t ’tr. « < •- X » :h I* r t *IP. u- .i- > .cf nnijo V If ii .1 �T 1 ♦ 4 ’7 ♦ i 13 Saturday, February 22, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com i t ♦ J Z3JK fire I f Continued from Page 12 I 1. 1 1 had those two points though, the two-time state cham­ pion Hayden had a two-point reversal and then a pin to win her third regional championship in three years. “1 was just being kind of sloppy with my underhook and she got in on a shot,” Hayden said. “Not too many people shoot on me, so I am not too swell at sprawl­ ing right now, but it is okay. If somebody would have taken me down before, I would have really been able to laugh it off. I would probably be pretty mad about if for a while, but that is one thing I have kind of been doing especially with having a concussion this summer and getting back into wrestling. I realized I have to laugh it olT and do the next best thing.” The last time somebody scored against Hayden in the state tournament was the 155-pound champion­ ship match at the 2023 Individual State Finals when Howell’s Brynn Green managed a take down in the third period to cut into what had been a 6-0 lead for Hayden to that point. Hayden of course went on to a 7-3 victory in that match and then took seven straight shut out wins on her way to a second 155-pound state championship in 2024. Hayden had five shut out victories this postsea­ son before the regional final including a win over Holderman in their district championship match the previous Sunday. “I had a lot easier time having fun at this touma- I r J note * Mi . c ■^-4- f» 4 4 S'**?! 1 aOi till 7 f I /I ar J gn b imd ■fBiidaat :9nHnu2 Litie t oir r ad) "f / (t **1 f-svari c^LdflT 1 iToa? 1 m I li ; lol f j VI I J 1 t t a ‘If 1 ' I : A 7 ..\f , I p . 4 i 5 -X-. • 4 J* ■ T- I V M r.f Mt aST! <1 *r4l m;p1 p r $ r fe. ?. Ln-b . KUOl Jn ;. r *• I* ?.» 11 : 5 b'. .L t <' ft merit,” Hayden said. “I don’t know what it is about this tournament. I just had more fun, and that always helps with wrestling good, just having fun that is something me and [coach Shawn] Veitch have kind of been working on. Before every tournament he is telling me just go out there and have fun. The best thing you can do is just go out there and have a smile on your face. I think this tournament is kind of when that clicked for me. Before this, I would be pretty nervous for a lot of my tournaments and I would be kind of anxious. It just clicked for me today to be able to have a smile and laugh stuff off.” Hayden and Holderman were quite familiar with each other before going head to head in the regional final, and Hayden said she thinks the pair are capable ofmeeting up again in the 170-pound state champion­ ship match at Ford Field if they’re on their A-game. Both girls will head to Ford Field in Detroit the weekend of Feb. 28-March 1 for the MHSAA Indi­ vidual State Finals. Hayden was the lone regional qualifier for the Caledonia girls’ team this season. Holderman, a first time state qualifier this year, will be joined at Ford Field by senior teammates Emma Gibson and Raini Braska, friends since kindergar­ ten who also won their way to top four finishes at Sunday’s regional tournament. Gibson took the 135-pound regional championship and Braska placed third at 110 pounds. Holderman and Hayden started practicing with each other last fall after that was proposed through a mutual fnend, and Hayden said she’s learned from Holderman that she should never settle in and just feel comfortable out on the mat and that teach skills and be a big helper in perfecting skills. The Trojan junior Holderman said she can go into a match with Hayden with nothing to lose, “I just try my best and try not to get pinned and just try to work my moves and not let her dictate it. “I don’t remember [how I got the takedown.] I kind of black out when I wrestle. I don’t remember anything,” Holderman said. She said she was shocked and happy to qualify for the state finals, and she feels like she has improved a lot since her sophomore season. Holderman said she is more aggressive this year in trying to wrestler her own match and not letting opponents control a match. Getting to the state finals was one of her goals coming into the season. Gibson is now a three-time state qualifier and she’ 11 TITLES I i ? 1 noq ovzf 9 ♦ • 'i ■r £ a ; - ‘T- 'W .J 9.. ? .i * 4 r w; I 4 V fl ? I J I .I f t. I F f J / 4 >* «! > jB 4 3 fS- J r t '■# A 2 r IM ✓ J I I 'fff < fl J (4 < <♦ !> 4 I I •> i . I Um KJ "R.! 5^ du § I 4 K 4 \ r4 1 -4? L r ' ’ W'S# ”' . t IA. - Ai/ ,.'^:VV k* * A iliH • ■ I ; J? •*«I 1^* M a *r:- r..' .A! fe: .'•f T* 1 a be chasing her first state medal on the mats at Ford Field. Braska is now a two-time state qualifier. That TK duo was joined by teammate Rylee Alberts at the state finals in 2024, but the sophomore Alberts was bested in a tough blood round match with Hastings’ Jordan Milanowski Sunday. Gibson is now 28-4 this season. Her win Sunday was her second regional championship. “My positioning was really good today. My shots were on point today,” Gibson said. “I think my head game, my mindset was on point.” Gibson scored a quick pin of Three Oaks River Valley’s Addison Lynch in the quarterfinals and then outscored Otsego’s Samantha Bonoevetz 18-2 in the semifinals. Gibson said she was a little apprehensive about being able to get shots in on Bonoevetz in that semifinal match, something she has struggled with in the past, but her confidence grew once she found she was succeeding in getting her opponent to the mat. Gibson closed her day by pinning Allegan’s Dawn DeGood 43 seconds into their 135-pound champion­ ship bout. “I think I have a really good chance at placing [at the state finals] this year. The last two years I was super nervous and wasn’t in the right mindset. I think this year I switched it all around and learned how to give it all out there,” Gibson said. Braska was bested 8-1 by Anna Williamson from Mattawan in the semifinals 8-1, but bounced back with pins of Bellevue’s Ariel Crawley and Sturgis’ Geovana Cruz to earn her third-place regional medal. Holderman got to her championship bout with Hayden by scoring first round pins of Watervliet’s Ayanna Marshall and Marcellus’ Carlee Osborn. Hayden moved her season record to 18-1 with her three wins Saturday. She started the regional with quick pins of Marcellus’ Memory Sylvester and Paw Paw’s Angel Miller. Holderman was the only one to last more than a minute against the Scots’ star. “I was happy with how she responded,” Caledonia head coach Shawn Veitch said in regards to Maddie getting taken down by Holderman. “She just kept wrestling, scored back and kept wrestling. Especially at this time of year, she’s not used to getting points scored against her, but you’re going to be wrestling the best competition. So, those kinds of things can happen. I do love her. She comes right off and is like, ‘man, I’ve got to sprawl.’ You’ve got to love her.” V J w. r a ' T^*". Vse,^. k 7 . I •v J «S'S spraif Po- L * . * •» . « k »^Tr-^rp.. • •4 V Ic < .9. iS5S7= f j: L" H* ' "J '. Ir. u w freh >r I 9 V rn i ! ,IU,}1 44 V t’.'.d^ 1 t • " I •‘11 uJ i .. 11 uv.wss •VT > 'i2’ f 1 1 I t L, 'T I I I V • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation Thornapple Kellogg’s Raini Braska (left) works to break free from Mattawan’s Anna Williamson during their 110-pound semifinal match at the MHSAA Girls Wrestling Regional at Portage t ! Si ‘ Northerrt High School Sunday. icV Start Saving Tqd^y - Use Spray Foam > •. *. / 1 I I 11 ) I* » 1^. » 9 i *lt I 4 H M 1 t u a { I k I • I '4 I h I i i \ I I I I it J <. 1 -800-267-7868 www.StLawrenGeCruiseLines.coin I r • fi Experience the beauty and history of the St. Lawrence & Ottawa Rivers on a classic Canadian riverboat. Request our free travel brochure. Si J u I ••l* t J «• > / I ■‘ RIVER CRUISE VACATIONS 517-983-0954 ’ 1 • V W TA >*^'3 rf i. nl( o 4 Esl'trna^®® <. *< 4 J 1I UI mVEK CRDISIH6 h A •i 7 1^ �14 Saturday, February 22, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com >rr- Goalie goal closes out conference season ♦ ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor ♦ ♦ b<3SQ/* I *.OV*' fl?*: Sam Hoag is a goalie. He’s always been a goalie. He started as a keeper in Squirt A at about ten years old. Now he’s the wall at the back of the Caledonia varsity hockey team that capped off a 5-1-1 season in the OK Conference Rue Division with a 4-1 win over Grand Rapids Catholic Central at Kentwood Ice Arena Friday. With 56.4 seconds left on the third period clock, and the puck in the net at the far end ofthe ice, the short-handed Fight­ ing Scots spun back the other direction to their own net to celebrate with their junior net-minder. Hoag was credited with his first goal ever, at any level. “I didn’t even see it until I saw every­ one celebrating you know. They shot it all the way down the ice. I was close,” Hoag said. “Their guy shot it and I was the closest to it. “It counts.” “It’s fantastic for the guys,” Caledonia head coach Jeremy Bultema said. “You saw it out there on the ice and in the locker room they were charged for him.” Hoag was strong in his net all night long, the Scots scored three early goals including two from sophomore Drew Nichols, and the Caledonia penalty kill was outstanding when it needed to be and it needed to be a lot. Senior Henry Simon also scored early for the Scots as they had a 3-0 lead 8:09 into the contest. Ty Lewandowski and Austin Osborn both notched assists dur­ ing that early stretch. Catholic Central got a 4-on-4 goal from Henry Kwiatkowski with six and a half minutes left in the first period. The Fighting Scots spent a little more time than they would have liked with I < '■ r ' * a ’ V, e g « 15 • r .T1 s ssasSi z P rF* * ■Bsman I 1 r< 7 - 7^^^ so r •• r J 1 / I t I •• k' <■1? > * .r Caledonia goalie Sam Hoag is all smiles as teammates Ethan Sova (15), Luke McNabnay (5) and Henry Simon (7) rush over to celebrate his empty net goal late in their win over the Grand Rapids Catholic Central Cougars Friday, Feb. 14, at Kentwood Ice Arena. Photo by Brett Bremer four men on the ice. They were called for seven penalties in the game. “If you can hold a team to no power play goals, you have got it down,” coach Bultema said. “We work on that every week. The guys, we’re a short bench today we’ve got some sickness and some other stuff going on, the kids battled today. When you can shut down a team, I think we had seven penalty kills there, and that changes the momentum and that really fires us up and helps us with the win.” He liked how his guys stayed in structure and outworked the Cougars’ power play, stayed in lanes, and blocked some shots. The Scots were midway through the second period, Caledonia was whistled Charter Township of Caledonia Kent County - Michigan 2025 March Board of Review Tuesday: March 4th, 2024 Org. Meeting - 10:00AM Appeal dates: Monday: March 10th, 2024 9:00AM — 3:00PM Tuesday; March 11th, 2024 3:00PM -9:00PM All reviews will be heard by appointment only. For appointments call: (616) 891-0070 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia Ml 49316. Written appeals must be in the Twp. office by Thursday. March 6. 2024. The 2025 equalization tentative ratios and estimated multipliers for the Charter Township of Caledonia will be as follows: . . Tentative Ratio Estimated multiplier Agricultural: 46.57 1.0737 Commercial: 47.57 1.0511 Industrial: 47.58 1.0509 Supervisor: Bryan Harrison Residential: 46.10 1.0846 Assessor: Katie Roodvoets Personak <> (.i i ^4 50.00 t.OOOO I I V Mb t *« A* «;r .V MT for a two-minute interference penalty and 1:57 later a two-minute roughing penalty putting it on the penalty kill for almost a full four minutes. They man­ aged to kill off both penalties with an especially stellar final two minutes in which it felt like the Scots were able to keep the puck in the Cougars’ end for more time than it was in their own. The Scots also had a couple of penalties in the first five minutes of the third period that they managed to skate through unharmed. “We locked them down. We’ve been working on it in practice. We got a lot of those,” Hoag said of him and his squad killing off the penalties. “They’re taking away ±e shot lanes, the back doors, doing a lot of communicating. It all plays into it.” Hoag said all the guys are doing a good job of communicating, but es­ pecially Lewandowski and the team captain Kauffman. The Fighting Scots, a co-op team with Caledonia, Lowell andThomapple Kellogg, were back in action at Mona Shores Saturday for a 4-2 non-conference win. They will head to Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo for an MHSAA Division 2 Regional Semifinal against OK Conference Rue Division rival Byron Center Feb. 24. The Scots and Bulldogs skated to a 4-4 draw during their regular season match-up, and the Bulldogs cairned a st J 1-0 overtime victory over Caledonia in the third-place game of last weekend’s OK Conference Tournament. “We learned a lot from [Byron Cen­ ter] in the OK Conference Tournament last week. The boys are ready,” coach Bultema said. “We were again running through some sickness in that tourna­ ment. We tested out some new systems. It worked well. We’re about as prepared as you can get.” The wins last weekend move Cale­ donia’s record to 18-6-1 overall this season. As the celebration at the end wound down and the Scots prepped to head over and thank the home fans for their support Friday, junior Rylan Bultema skated quickly over to his bench and passed the puck along to coach Bultema, who slipped it into his right coat pocket - a souvenir to present to Hoag later in the locker room. Hoag had 27 saves in the win Friday. In the win over Mona Shores Sat­ urday, Caledonia got two goals from Lewandowski and one each from Ethan Sova and Tony Kauffman. Simon had two assists and Sova, Kauffman and Gabe Supuk had one assist each. I II liifL -ITZOV ; i'rt I '1 aa i I J*-' j i L I: 1 / /1 * a W[ . ieriJ r 9 s L' A 4« 1 1 .’,4 1 I I N. V flci J -I 4 h I F it I .J •r * J I D H”'. 1 1 - •r I : I -Fx » * XI ’ k* • - ?T -X t 4 5 8 I 9I 10 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 19 * A1 << .-4 J n * I- :5 \ * I 4 ■ J ’ . M-1 *' iorr - I/ M*' JrJi- • r ' ?iv »♦ ,r»W glOM.: I ’' 1 MV ' f F I I ' I' 4 > I •i ' fl- 1 p'. 1 J I f A r- r ^T r . /Z^ flj r-' .i». >• J . * ''t* . 1i (‘SS-V . STORM I Continued from Page 3 4 He added that getting the snow off roads and adjacent areas sometimes is a balancing act, as BCRC crews work to get snow and debris off the roadways and help residents have access to their mailboxes, while also trying to avoid them. According to Welch, mailboxes are supposed to be located at least 17 feet from the centerline of a road. And, if a driver hits a mailbox, he added the BCRC does have a policy for a resident to request replacement of their mailbox with a generic one provided by the county. Overall, Welch said Barry County residents have been very under­ standing of such incidents. “Barry County, by and large, is a great area,” Welch said. “I’m con­ stantly having people expressing how appreciative they are ofwhat we do. I tiy to pass that on to our crew. “This is what those guys do,” he addecj., .‘‘They’re so good at it. r t t T r . • kF 7,- '.» I I \ ’ *J r 211 221 231 24 «r^ 1 Vf .a ff'2 .J*'! 'I* J • •* J. 1 » - fii J irP‘3 4M ' / { • f rM *;» . t r/^»> { ♦Jb J J- ■ ri-^ .••' 'C * I vxt: I y r 4 13':^ 7. ' ■ J ‘ t i ik4«tlii(iiwF* i ** J 4^ srtaeaiikialaiP*^ h' * ’C J 4ft ‘ i 3 rraT-,' ,* * IV bM .Mk .... - j a I f - .A'5^ Ji 1: I ? / i /j. fV t' 't ' 4fe?T t^r'T'T’ '> 1 , y I T s9-2«., “®n5J54 ’’C ’ t i* -• i ’jnr?2&32?^ 1« y.f’j • - *. <* <« JV 1 * .. ♦: •M .: 1 < *1 J 1 ”w»i. t n. T.1 J *'''h ’ r < r JI ‘At. I A *•a ***«■* sI j d 251 261 271 281 291 30M I w I I J » J1 A rf; I . r ♦ > /I t , *.i -I*’***- — — ' p I I JI- «b 10 11 12 \ OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 20 ull .4 I 4 II f ' :i I DIAL (800) 249-091 llfON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at(^awa Co. 9-1-1 Center l/kco. 9-1-1 CFlTER 4^ " < ■'I t * J *:r? t J 5 6*^ ’•k I 1 2 >/ f 4 I' 1* 1>I » JTOl -J- 1* fe ‘* I J I. • •5 4 Q I V • -r 11>"I* A 11 I It ■» • t J‘ J1 _5r ‘.I 4 t HJ t I I i 7 Fl 9 I I I- >1 «» “I ■. ■ iJ �V! I ♦ ♦ 'A THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com <11 Saturday, February 22, 2025 15 ♦ IVojans find sparkle early, hold on late at district • • 1 I Brett Bremer IM % I I I k i L J L 1 1 I'; >lf Ji h. I J ’’5- ff J ■’f 'W <IJI' H-X 1 I e. c M» I //I -n ‘:^ri * « s »' . / / » I ) Wl< I '‘li M i>‘n 4 I t* ., > . 4; I t X I I i J '71'':* J 'll ih z I. I ■ 4 I rjj I I ) > < I I <1 4 I » I 1 I 4 Qi. '<*?> 4 I I I « J .. *I 4t’ • fr I i ’»£: « h'H! ■ I -q I ^9 ,f • » I ■ •i % .» f * 4. Vf- . ’ t.r If? “7r i J J ■ ^'r.': -fl’. 7 » . I a « u^vX > fn L • h I »K. J I • 1 r *. J ••2 t > u t Ill'll p J I • I' iitii L. ■> . - •< : j ■'mA I t er Creek667.80, Hamilton 656.04, Ste­ vensville Lakeshore 654.38, Wayland 653.60, Zeeland East 652.80, Edwards­ burg 641.04, Vicksburg 634.74 and St. Joseph 609.80. The district champs from Plainwell had the top scores of the event in both rounds one and two, a 230.60 and a 221.46, and then scored 314,60 points in round three. Zeeland West was the only team better than Plainwell in round three with a score of315.10. Thomapple Kellogg had hoped to be closer to those numbers in round three, but finished with a 308.60 which was still the fifth best round three score of the da). “Round three was not our best perfonnance,” Lula said. “Our most consistent stunt group took a fall, for­ tunately we didn’t take a penalty forit, which isgood, but I think itwas really a A.r*' « 1 *. f • « *■* < 7 5fr4* ♦ « I 9 r* . ‘ I I j ^1 • f* ?* * • ; > I -11'.’: I 4 t . J I I r .1 .1 .:ZMv« I 4 f J •. I I u > •»♦ I* , 1 I J• • J « I I p-'' I •• • j < r 4- iwUa I *♦ T* i•f I i • I . ■ • { LA f t I * I I -^t» :; ,r. j. iv- • • t « / 1* *4 I 1 ♦* T ’i ir,i; ’2*1 IWW II I r I ' js: r rl 4 I I r. I ' i ***** u a : < iiu- * J’ * * 1 } *r . inaT-: I .*•1 £« 1 J 5 ■"fl I J'*' t M , <l.r 1 I •*4v * 3 J t n ’ 1 b; .c y.i '.** 'll. ’ /J7 U'rr.-' I J * ■ .I I !0* f: Sports Editor f « I 4 I I I 4^:: A * -< j '.wr J - 4 f- O .^1 The Trojan sparkle flipped ends of the meet, but the Thomapple Kellogg varsity competitive cheer team is still moving on. The Thornapple Kellogg varsity competitive cheer team placed third at the MHSAA Division 2 District it hosted Saturday to earn a spot in the regional round of the state tournament Saturday, Feb. 22, at Forest HillsNorthem High School. They did well. They did very well. It was our highest score of the season. Obviously that is what you want this time of the year is to climb points wise,” Thomapple Kellogg head coach Madalynn Lula said. The Trojans had their best round one and round two scores of the season, and their best performance in those two rounds according to their coach. TK had a stunt go awry in round three, which kept the Trojans from climbing any higher in the day’s final standings. Plainwell won the district champion­ ship with an overall score of 766.66. Zeeland West was second with 761.36 points ahead of TK 752.68 and Gull Lake 749.86. Those four teams earned spots in this weekend’s regional at FHN. Sturgis wasn’t far behind with a fifth-place score of 741.28. Mattawan was sixth with s score of 687.32 aheadofHastines676 68. Harn- our sparkle. We have been saying that since conference. Part of round one is that it is more than skill and execution. It needs perfonnance behind it. “Us coaches came out from behind the mat on Saturday (after round one) and for the first time we looked at each other and thought ooh that gave me goosebumps.” A . .1 2>* * •S z • J FV r b* I i 1 I L < r •*' * L► •iXR . *1 RM > PUBLIC NOTICE GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS February 10, 2025 The Gaines Charter Township Board held a regular meeting on Monday, February 10, 2025, and took the following actions. 1. Reviewed the Consent Agenda. 2. Approved the Meeting Agenda 3. A portion of the Gaines Char­ ter Township Fire Department took the oath of office upon the change of the corporation name 4. Approved the Consent Agenda 5. Accepted the 2024 Planning and Zoning Department Annual Report 6. Approved a Parks and Trails assessment request not to exceed $3000 on one property 7. Approved the Water and Sewer Development Contract for Thornap- < Thornapple Kellogg varsity cheerleaders perform during round three of the MHSAA Division 2 Competitive Cheer District at Thornapple Kellogg High School in Middleville Saturday. The Trojans placed third at the district to earn a spot in the regional tournament at Forest Hills Northern High School this Saturday, Feb. 22 Photo provided group that hadn’t fallen all year. Things happen, flukes happen. I am glad it hap­ pened this week and not next week. We still scored well int hat round, just not as well as we could have.” The Trojans did do some things right in that moment to keep from taking a penalty that would have made things really close with Sturgis for the final state qualifying spot. “The bases and back spot kept the flyer off the ground. They kept it safe. They’re smart cheerleaders. AAll A A A qFA them are smart kids and they know what it takes to minimize the point loss,” Lula said. The team knew what it was going to take to maximize its scores in rounds one and two in the week leading up to districts too. Lula said they brought in some outside eyes to practice to really help them tighten up their performance and see things the cheerleaders and coaches might not have been noticing after drilling so many times over and over again. TK put up a score of 228.30 in round one which was only bested by the Plainwell girls. The TK score of 215.78 in round tw^o was the third best score of that round behind Plainwell and Zeeland West. They needed those numbers as round three has been the powerhouse for the Trojans throughout “Round one, for weeks now, we have been really focused in on honing in on the details of round one. The biggest thing in round one has been finding Thomapple Township 2025 BOARD OF REVIEW Notice to all township taxpayers: The 2025 Board of Review for the Township of Thonapple will meet at the Township Hall, 200 E. Main St •t Middleville, Michigan on these dates: t o March 4 'Jn'jc o ■ I r - Migaiiizaiional Meeting LfJ 4 < n * r. f r f •• r. 9 a.m. Monday, March 10, 2025 9 a.m. to 12 Noon; I to 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, 2025 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, 2024 Sam to 12 Noon; I to 3 p.m. CALL 269-795-7202 To make appointment with the Board of Review (Written appeals accepted until 3 p.m. March 12, 2025) The tentative recommended equalization ratios and estimated multipliers (factors) necessar>’ to com­ pute individual stale equalized values of real prop­ erty in the Township of Thomapple, Barn' Count)-: RATI0(%) MULTIPLIER AGRICULTURAL 47.16% 1.06022 COMMERCIAL 49.97% 1.00060 INDUSTRIAL 47.68% 1.04866 RESIDENTIAL 45.14% 1.10767 PERSONAL PROPERTY 50.00% 1.00000 DEVELOPMENTAL None in Class TIMBER-CUTOVER None in Class 'l’C <’• 1 f ’ - 'f k X* SHTaefe^.'Thdhfiiptjfc wwhip Sdt^eif • w • SAI I r Michael Brew b.V.Tj'^ V.V.1A 4ft C'l.Gaines Charter Township ▼iCleit< >4 Tx T, 1 & -«A .. J nil Ibi! I f i > T»S riiti r. Sri I n, 53 * 78; / I 41 ■ u 4 J la •f 1 > kJ f 9 1 1 f ‘I I ft I ■I ft 4 1 h I f i A I ? I \ t I ^1 ................ 8. Accepted the Water and Sewer Annual 2024 Report of Billing Ad­ justments 9. Scheduled a Public Hearing for a Streetlight Special Assess­ ment District for Thornapple Farms Phases I and II 10. Approved moving to the B S & A Cloud Version 11. Adjourned the Regular Board Meeting at 7:38 pm A complete copy of the minutes of these meetings and any resolu­ tions or ordinances adopted at the meeting are on file and available for review at the Gaines Charter Township office, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Michigan 49316. Ordinances, meeting sched­ ules, meeting minutes, and other Township information are also avail­ able at www.gainestownshiD.org. J CLASS ix: nio Parmo i^iidOV 111 I?. « �4 p !■ » 1 V’ A’ I Saturday, February 22, 2025 16 ♦ ♦ 4 ♦ t ► THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Scots fill up all-conference squads in the LMSC at Crystal Mountain Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Fighting Scots couldn’t catch the Glen Lake squad this winter, but their depth was evident on the medal stand at the Lake Michigan Ski Conference Championship at Crystal Mountain Wednesday. The Caledonia varsity boys’ ski team had nine guys earn all-conference honors, out of 15 award winners in the conference overall. The Caledonia girls were also second in the confer­ ence to Glen Lake this season and had four girls earn all-conference honors thanks to a top 15 overall finish in the conference’s season-long “World Cup” points system. David Potgeter, a state qualifier for the second time as a senior this winter, led the CHS boys with a fourth-place finish in the overall conference stand­ ings. Sophomore Aidan Brown was fifth, sophomore James Prichard ninth. PUBLIC NOTICE Village of Caledonia A public hearing will be held on March 10. 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Hall located at 250 S Maple Street SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 to gather public input for submittal to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Passport grant application for the “Paul Henry Trailhead” project, located at the north side of the intersection between Kinsey Street and Main Street. Interested persons may attend the public hearing. Written comments may be addressed to Brian Bennett, Village Manager, address as noted above. Brian Bennett, Village Manager 0 N S H I d 2025 MARCH BOARD OF REVIEW MEETING SCHEDULE 3 Charter Township of Gaines, County of Kent, MI IG uidcniA I TOWNSHIP J The Gaines Charter Township Board of Review for March 2025 will be held at the SE; CwCdO^il M! !9 appeals Township Umce, located at o555 regarding 2025 assessments. J. I J r" . 1 - K . A-. Av « Ihe Gaines Charter Township Board of Review will meet on the following dates: • Tuesday, March 4,2025,9:00AM: Organizational Meeting • Monday, March 10,2025,12:00PM to 6:00PM: Appeals Hearings • Tuesday, March 11,2025,3:00PM to 9:00PM: Appeals Hearings The Board of Review will meet as many more days as necessary to hear protests and equal­ ize the 2025 assessments. By Board resolution, taxpayers may protest by letter sent to 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, MI 49316 or by email to iim.zenas@gainestownship.org. provided the protest is received before 5:00PM Tuesday, March 11,2025. The tentative ratios and the estimated multipliers for each class of real property and personal property for 2025 are as follows: Agricultural Residential Industrial 44.05 46.57 45.28 1.1351 1.0737 1.1042 Commercial 47.83 Developmental NC ersonal Property 50.00 1.0454 NC 1.000 Americans With Disabilities (ADA) Notice The Township will provide necessary reasonable services to individuals with disabilities at the Board of Review meetings upon seven (7) days’ notice. Contact Kim Triplett at 616-504-4332. WACO. 9-1-1 CENTER 4 5 61(77 8 91 10 I I I freshman Jake Potgeter tenth, junior Derick Prichard 11th, junior Peter Cal­ houn 12th, junior James Diegel 13th, junior Gavin Dean 14th and freshman Justin Harper 15th. “First of all, I want to congratulate Glen Lake on winning the conference. They skied great all season and earned the championship trophy. Our guys re­ ally skied well this year and are really showing improvement. We are putting the pieces together for a team that will be a contender for years to come,” Fighting Scot head coach Duane Petrosky said. “David Potgeter was our lone senior on varsity, which means that we have everyone else back.” He had the same glowing praise for the Glen Lake girls. The CHS boys were second at Wednesday’s meet where the top ten in each event earned medals as well. In the giant slalom (GS) the CHS boys had David Potgeter second, Aidan Brown seventh, James Prichard eighth and Derick Prichard ninth. Jake Potgeter wasn’t in the top four scorers for the team, but he still earned a GS medal CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA KEOT COUNTY, MICHIGAN PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the Charter Township of Caledonia will hold a public hearing on March 17, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., at the Caledonia Township Hall located at 8196 Broad­ moor Avenue SE, Caledonia, Michigan 49316. The hearing is to consider a Home Based Business at 8461 76th Street SE, on parcel number: 41-23-11451-031. The business is a pet groomer entirely within a 10’ x 20’ building. All interested persons may attend the public hearing and comment on the proposed request. Written com­ ments concerning the request may be submitted to the Township office, at the above-stated address, up to the time of the public hearing. Dated: February 18, 2025 PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA '>A *”4 ' yf* I V i < 1 for placing tenth. The CHS boys’ team had David Potgeter second in the slalom, Brown sixth, Jake Potgeter seventh and James Prichard ninth. Italian exchange student Chiara Marta set the Caledonia single season slalom wins record with her seventh victory, and still has two more races left including the MHSAA Division 2 State Finals along with David Potgeter at Boyne Highlands Monday. Marta was first overall in the all­ conference standings at the end of the meet too, with the Scots also placing sophomore Kylee Zimmer sixth, Polish exchange student Zuzanna Poradzka ninth and senior Liz Hilton tenth. “Our girls really made some huge im­ provements this year and are building a foundation to move the team forward in the future,” coach Petrosky said. “I haven’t mentioned Kylee Zimmerer much this season, but she has had a great year. She transferred schools and MHSAA did not allow her to ski on our varsity team but she really worked hard and ended up sixth in the conference. We are excited about having her on the varsity next year along with the rest of this year’s sophomores and freshman. “These are great girls who are be- . coming very good racers we are excited to see what the future brings. Our seniors and exchange students will be missed, they are an exceptional group.” PoradzkS was eighth in the slalom race Wednesday and Hilton tenth, and the Scot team also had Ada Decker place 11th in that event. In the GS, the Marta took a win there too while Poradzka was fifth, Zimmer eighth, Hilton 11th and Decker 13th. < 1) I I i i j •A • rr' Ji I *55 r r b.f’ J *V J T I / f /• Bi'" J ' IWp. 9|. «!e:e. -4 •V < (3«' .><t ■ I x* I u A-* 1I 4 J % 1 6^ 1 k Vf. 15'• V I I ir f 16 171 181 191 201 ti< ■’ta 3ynr. .35b 't > J s ■ « I F'* . IQ I**' I '-M u' 22 tv 000114 1 J •T w rI « f*. .1 I . *'» r 4 >j Ji' z &iu> .•5 \r i B A I ei V OT W * t 4* i? Sni . •< iff! 7r• ,1 M ’r 4 *\±. If 1,' ♦ *0 s J * -. ‘ Iz^oi * =.▼41 k1 XI JUT* o ?*o « V * t J J r.i ri- r 5^104 bj" "I* 1 •* J T ‘I"' nri35ii L| A t . f-. ' f G'C'b- 4 J ' 'r C ■ J 1 ■ : .<^'J JS; ft f f 4 f Hi ■ t 1 I f *• ** 4 * 4i X «»•*" T I I U/ 1 J t • .1 T i i .W* I I rI 9 ’'T T“ z* « 1 % I • ♦ I f 'i; r I f jf H. I 1i, < • . / « { I aU r ’ -’J i i i 1 1- >J S?^ M A 9 I KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? IIR^ w • ( 1 4t * % I I > , „3 J *** - * t X f I ' W - ■ iD '09i ® iism Email mmacleod@mihomepaper.com 3W3H uMA Hb id II THE SUN AND NEWS I I ) * I 1 VHE^MLn^«^ ftm* 27 ■■■ r 51 b* I •< r i 1, . b I «I 1 4: 281 291 301 ] 1 r I. iib u 1 It H ' I is' I I ti I I ft1 t> b I ’ •l I z I I I IS ■ « We’d love to hear about it! 231 241 251 261 >'T- < i OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 *7 WH I < BW MJ i8tf f 12 151 n J J* I 14 -13 4 1 A» If il 13 .J 1 * < 1 ■t. L 9• ij 121 J ■ I ) I J 1 1 111 I ■ ir 1J s DIAL (800) 249-091 If ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at^ awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" r i I , *-* ' I (f r r I I a »■ *** '* >" rt .. s �♦ \? • it ♦ I ■ ,• < ''ll’ * . I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I k I 1 I UK. * I Ui.'W: 1 4 3 I I -I •’i.. J * i -J f .i ' "I*. V I * r. I A i -1 I , I r I I 1 ( I •a *• ' T ' / V i./i' •< f *>-s ' t ' • 1 >J k u < t .41 V » f f 9 1 i I < i 1 t I i‘^ V I • IH *1 A I J 4 1t k I I A.‘ X V: o ^S. 7^1; » ' ju. I * « *5, 4^ <• r» 'J. fj t H. .S' I Ik . 4 il J I -a™. rrsvo * 4? I I I I Td* I I ( >A 4 f 5*1 . L 'V L r. •’j5 J I s r * % k 4^ ' J m I I •r % t 1 •• 'b.L I I 3, 1 < .tni*'.« : . f Ir^ J.II ”Mii; crt L. Fbr ? I > i ' i I < OMB J I; i I J.-I.. ' { I P »x I J ih ** * J r. J I I f J I J IA 11 ?• 1 *■-! 4 J I 1 e 1 1^: ’f '1.1 • .1 'M 1. I s 1 . 4 <• 4 > J 4 . i I A Z 1 • I J i. V ♦ i< iblUlf ■ n- i , I H !i J .1 ' • 4 I1 t , .A. > 1 { f I t » i i1 I f X ) •, i- ‘ ' '> If A' .tt'J b I S 1 < ' z J ! 1 X » u* «»; aw I ■ <^ I •>< J - : J 1 1 ( I t' ( I 1 r t I t T Saturday, February 22, 2025 17 ♦ ♦ Caledonia cheer concludes season at districts Noah Peterson Staff Writer The Fighting Scots competed in what would be their last event of the season Saturday. The Caledonia varsity competitive cheer was a part of the MHSAA Division 1 District 1 hosted by Hudsonville High School. The top four teams from the dis­ trict advance to the regional round of the state tournament. Though Caledonia did not qualify for regionals, placing tenth, that didn’t mean the Fighting Scots didn’t have an extraordinary performance. “Of course, everyone wants to advance on to regionals,” said Caledonia head coach Lauren Hermenet. “But I believe our girls showed up and put up a good fight.” Caledonia presented itself with an im­ pressive overall score of682.90 points, its second highest overall score this season despite a number of injuries on the team. But the Scots pulled together to face the adversity and fought through the obstacles they were thrown. Senior Isabella Wierzbicki led the team with her incredible leadership qualities and her drive and determination to her team and the sport. Junior Alyssa Jernigan fought through some injuries over the final few weeks of the season to compete for the Scots. Caledonia had scores of 214.80 in round one, 196.30 in round two and 271.80 in round three. Grandville tallied 785.18 points to earn the district title and will advance to regionals on Feb.22, along with Hudson­ ville with 780.20, East Kentwood third at 778.30 and Rockford fourth at 776.60. The Grandville girls led the meet from start to finish after scoring 236.80 points with their round one performance. The Bulldogs added scores of230.48 in round two and 317.90 in round three. The runnerup Eagles from Hudsonville closed strong with the top round three performance of the meet which earned 318.70 points. The OK Green Conference just missed having a team break through as Jenison, Mona Shores and Byron Center placed fifth, sixth and seventh respectively at the 12-team regional. The Jenison girls were just 2.1 points behind the last of the regional qualifying teams with an overall score of 774.50. Caledonia tied for fifth in the OK Green .•tf r J .awf — I I =? * K\ s IF <r •! ♦• 5 f *r . r' sr c L gM 4 . 1^^^ —M— 1^^ KS fc-iK I 4 4 - - - •S’ > • J •.} ’. :r '» r t t H T s^*''**\'.»s>*..^. ....................... 'iSTS*A <i J t'U I '' 1 ^‘oMM **w <* r* * V ft * 'I 7^ m MHb € W9*X gR' The Caledonia varsity competitive cheer team holds up its flyers in round three at the MHSAA Division 1 District 1 competition hosted by Hudsonville High School Saturday, Feb. 15. Photo by Noah Peterson 2025 March Board of Review Meeting Schedule Yankee Springs Township Barry County The Yankee Springs Township Board of Review for March 2025 will meet at the Yankee Springs Township Hall at 284 N. Briggs Road, Middleville, Ml 49333. The Yankee Springs Township March Board of Review wilt meet on the following dates: Appeals are by appointment. Please call 269-795-9091 to schedule an appointment. •Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 1:30 PM - Organizational Meeting • Wednesday. March 12, 2025,1-4 PM and 6-9 PM - Appeal Hearing • Thursday, March 13, 2025, 9 AM-Noon and 1:30-4:30 - Appeal Hearing The Board of Review will meet as many more days as deemed necessary to hear questions, protests, and to equalize the 2025 assessments. By board resolution, taxpayers are able to protest in person, by letter sent to Dan Scheuerman at Yankee Springs Township, 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville, Ml 49333, or email danscheuerman@yankeesDrinQstwp.orQ.. provided protest is received prior to 4 PM on March 13, 2025. The tentative ratios and the estimated multipliers for each class of real property and personal property for 2025 are as follows Ik Agricultural 49.59% Commercial 44,51%, Industrial.... 49,62% *Residential .45.56% ‘Personal Property...50.00% * .1.00827 .1,12334 .1.00766 ..1.09745 ....1.00000 Americans With Disabilities (ADA) Notice Persons with disabilities that need special assistance, please contact Tom Hopkins, Clerk, at 269-795-9091 Rob Heethuis, Supervisor Dan Scheuerman, Assessor Conference this season and some of the Scots’ upperclass­ men were recognized with conference awards. Wierzbicki and fellow senior Madison Bernal were awarded all­ conference, and senior Zoey McLeod received a honorable mention all-conference award. In addition, Wierzbicki was a scholarship winner at the LMCCOA Scholarship Invita­ tional on Jan. 25. “It’s a huge blessing and well deserved,” Hermenet noted. “Our seniors have brought so much perspective, expertise, and advice to our underclass­ men.” The Fighting Scots are ex­ pecting bigger and better things as the program continues to grow. THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP BOARD 200 E MAIN ST. MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 SYNOPSIS OF MEETING MINUTES Monday, February 10, 2025 The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with seven members present. items approved: 1. Printed Agenda approved as amend­ ed. 2. Consent Agenda approved as pre­ sented. 3. Approved Resolution 02-2025. 4. Approved motion tor Incident Com­ mand Training tor all tull-time (EMS) employees not to exceed $1,540.00. 5. Approved the hiring ot two part-time EMTs and tour paramedics. 6. Approved the appointment of Steph­ anie Skidmore. 7. Approved “Statement ot Attempt to Collect Delinquent Personal Property Tax” and “Waiver and Consent” form. 8. Approved Ambulance Contract with Yankee Springs Township. Meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m. Prepared by Deputy Clerk Brenda Hess. Approved by Township Supervisor, Eric Schaefer. Copies ot the meeting minutes are available upon request from the Township Clerk or by visiting https:// thornapple- twp.org/meeting-minutes/ Office hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. -EndBrenda Hess, Deputy Clerk Eric Schaefer, Township Supervisor �1 I .A Saturday, February 22, 2025 18 THE SUN AND NEWS ■■ www.sunandnews.com the United States and the kF Caribbean and that filled many vacations during her A f' ■ f ’ rewarding career as a Human Resource Professional and t Manager. After retirement 4k 1 Rena would enjoy time planning and cooking meals for those she loved. Spending her winters on the gulf coast a in Florida and summers in western Michigan. She enjoyed many hours relaxing with her husband on her deck, or in her lanai, watching beautiful sunsets, listening to music, and sipping a glass of wine. Rena also enjoyed • K Obituaries ♦ ♦ * A - f ♦ Rena R. Seitz married May 12, 1989, and who survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Laura Sigg (Jeffery Kinell), Alison (John) Sorensen; two sons, Joseph (Heidi) Seitz, Lucas (Jessica) Seitz; along with six grandchildren, Kelsey, Nathan, Maximillian, Mya, Alexander and Bryce. She is also survived by a sister, Bonnie (George) Grippen. Rena really liked to travel throughout Rena R. Seitz, age 73, of Caledonia was called home by her Lord on Friday, February 7, 2025. She was born October 21, 1951 to the late Stanley and Irma Chandler. She was preceded in death by two brothers. Terry and Jim Chandler. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 36 years, Joe whom she i .4 • 4** ej- • * % ■' X-. LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Service Times Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Sunday at 9:30 AM 8 6:00 PM www.alaskabaptlst.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST 250 Vine Street 616-891-8669 Sunday Service 10:30 AM Good Shepherd ?“ Lutheran Church ex co •t-JJ • 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. « *rv III i —ji.iii.nrrT ± Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Church: (269) 795-2391 a* Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddlevifle FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 . T. «• ..E J' •l 'V* 'L ‘"'Al 4, if* 1 ■? V 1 • I Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY vMe' Church IS^ CHURCH e 8655 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto 616.891.8661 www.whitneyvillebible.org MIDDLEVILLE PastorJonathan DeCou SERVICE TIMES: Sunday School... Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am Sunday Wonhip 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com .9:30 AM 'U . 1 /V .• !B l!Bd.9 ‘8 •. 8*tenr.-t .. I { I * u > w *lr » I ' r I sA . I t ( 4 ■:C ':/! Titr I 3. 4 i.fl- /* a ,- v, « . 1 /i I I <noi}sw9l r* J !»“■■' I r « J' ' J n F T i' 1 ,1 V r I J 1 j! P- ■’I • V ’ MM ' O * / *I < *< ♦ ! i. r I r I » i ; 1 % ut^ I f r 4 • ► I ♦ A J i r: .J X * 1* . I ''Jr-J 4 I * . iinr r* • □ilU. - r : J • I 1 1^' .■rr’.z*'—III * * * * I — » TV 1 4 I 4 C • 1 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, Ml 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 * I mV 9 ..sis •s IV r ' A A 1. > pA M* PHI <»' : c9 in ■»- i I 4«e > I r ut cfb IZ Rachel Bean Rachel Bean, age 41, of Caledonia, went to her heavenly home on Monday, February 17, 2025. Rachel came to the U.S. as a baby from Korea at the age of 2.5 months old. She was raised in Minnesota, Kansas, and Nebraska, where she called home for many years and attended college. She spent years in Chicago working at several restaurants, including Tavern at the Park, where she met the love of her life, Allen. She had a heart to help others and was learning and striving to help others in need. She enjoyed cooking, the arts, including ballet and attending the Nutcracker every Christmas. She also enjoyed shopping at the Dollar Tree for a bargain. Most of all, she loved being with her family and raising her son, Hudson. lEUtf Isrtl ) I W.Binobsto ro .rK-e® ' X j ^1^3 I i 2fttno(n>&i‘ '§i; 'ir’t .2£3n6>l .sfoeenriM ni bsei - <kr ' I ' tv b&on r I fl&svsettmniMu'v St*', .r;* «**k****‘' "* 3B\M i 3u* ul|C UM* bn 3 219(110 qiari .b99n ni eisrtto ql9fi Litflnft gnihuiani .af® eflf .gr > <r f I y99r|b>i36Utul4i9r1M IfciB niqqc ric bayojna * f j f 116 lOtaoM. .illBQTfid E 1 pniaifiibflBvliniGl *19(1ill ■ ♦ F L* '♦ '’HI” wnrna« 4 Im ** I 4 J Shining Forth God's Light" t r * * i i, Ui! •'( * ;4 ■J ' .'J 3 n I * ( c i fl I Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... i^qS^ 10:30AM A 4 Sunday Worship: PEACECHURCH.ee r . r Ws Considering becoming Ca±olic? Call or see our website for information. Hi J o’ I , -t JU soto^ /lif H-i^r ■■ fcyqnoi i 7 *« 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. CHURCH 9!m ir ; . r I I HOLY FAMILY (y CATHOLIC CHURCH '4< 4 •V 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend i' < . > I > 1 L talking with, swapping >1 recipes with, and just 1 f spending time with family, JI- friends, and neighbors. I She was always ready to tJ watch the grandchildren’s sporting activities, do an occasional walk, go for a V V. golf outing, or enjoy college football or basketball as long as one of the teams were the Wisconsin Badgers or the Michigan Wolverines. Rena also enjoyed watching professional football, but only if it involved the Green Bay Packers and they were winning. A memorial visitation in celebration of Rena’s life will be held from 2-4 and 6-8 pm on Monday, February 24, 2025 at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 616 E. Main St, SE, Caledonia. Those who wish to make memorial contributions in Rena’s name may do so to the Kent County Animal Shelter. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com. K>' Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am iBAPEACE CHURCH JOURNEY c; IPMI-. *> 1 Middleville i cornerstonechurch ■■ T 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankeespringsbiblechurch.org Watch our services from our website (see above) I I GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM •.* 4* J •i». 1 F sidW3.2!«<i iiX s -K .V * 1 n I* ' El- •> I 3? 4 We- r I t > I (l I I H I I } : I I '1^ 2 4 y 1 tSa“"=- «*! yi CO. 9-1-1 CEWTER 4 5 8 9I 10 I I 5 I I 4 1 L DIAL (800) 249-0911 [>ION - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Q4awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 15| 16| 17| 181 19 201 t > I 10 f 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 22| 23| 24| 251 261 271 281 291 30 t 1 i ‘ ! '1 it h I 4' I i 1 �I ♦ ♦ 4 J I s < > THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 1 * s t I ’ ft, •> 4 PROTESTS ♦ r i w Obituaries I 4 f h I I I V V 5?*-k * u Continued from Page 2 < •v Robert Lee ‘Bob’ Klinge ■> I * 1 4 4 t ’}•. V I t . ■V 5 V '-et f I JI I j I *ft 1 % b r ■■ “n, A / I J I ; • • f» :r J T I ft b I t I I ! ' •(s" -''' 'i: ’•I f 1 ►/ ru ? { q:, 4j.. io t rw' v^oo., i9df I T>, 'i< I ifv H 8S36f8 I ■•^RnJwV n r. J » f I 1 I 4 I j t ' n , r tn. J 1'. Oh ’’I I b * -* 4 A I : jl'l f J:. I I I ll ij I*' - I. 9iqa, * E (, 1 e ’lA.i ’ n-' L4)’ w them, and his enjoyment of sharing meals with friends at Thornapple Kitchen was always a delight. He leaves behind a loving family, including his siblings Joyce Colborn, Clarence (Mary) Klinge Jr., Larry (Mary) Klinge, Ron (Carolyn) Klinge, Cindy Klinge, and Kris (Dan) Reeves, along with many adored nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Jessie “Jackie” (Dykstra) Klinge Sr. Bob’s family will receive friends on Thursday, February 13, 2025 from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest at Fort Custer National Cemetery on Friday, February 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM. Memorial contributions may be made to DAV (Disabled American Veterans). Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Bob’s family. Robert Lee ‘Bob’ Klinge, a cherished brother, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 7, 2025, in Wyoming. Ml. Born on July 11,1947, in Grand Rapids, Ml, Bob was the son of Clarence and Jessie “Jackie” (Dykstra) Klinge Sr. A 1965 graduate of Thornapple-Kellogg High School. Bob proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army, serving in Vietnam with the 18th Engineer Brigade. He was the dedicated owner of Bob’s Engine Hospital for over 30 years, where his hard work and commitment to service built a legacy that will long be remembered by his colleagues and customers alike. Bob’s life was filled with the joy of simple pleasures. He found happiness in camping with his beloved wife Linda, who preceded him in death in 2018. His love for family was evident through the time he spent with 1 . demonstrators urged Moolenaar to uphold checks and balances and push back against Musk’s disruptive and unconstitutional takeover. “It should alarm eveiy^ American that an unelected billionaire has been allowed to infiltrate our government with no oversight,” said Lindsey. “Musk and his unvetted associates have accessed private financial data, gutted federal agencies, and are now targeting the Department of Education. This is a hostile takeover of our government.” The protesters called on Moolenaar to stand against what they perceive as President Trump’s disregard for consti­ tutional processes. “The President could implement his agenda through legally mandated decision-making, yet he and Musk are choosing to ignore the Constitution,” Lindsey added. “People are concerned for their future. We need Congress to fight for us protect us from this illegal coup. We will not back down.” Protests were held simultaneously at the offices ofall 13 Michigan members 19 of Congress and ±e state's two U.S. Senators. The statewide action follows reports that Musk’s self-described “De­ partment of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) accessed Treasury Depart­ ment payment systems. Protesters fear that not only has sensitive financial data fallen into unknown hands, but that future payments could be at risk. Most recently, on Feb. 17, another group ofBany County residents braved frigid temperatures to protest at the Barry County Courthouse in Hastings and Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids, determined to keep public attention on the matter. This is not a partisan issue it’s an American issue,” Lindsey emphasized. We are fulfilling oui* patriotic duty by holding our elected officials account­ able at every level. We urge others to join us in demanding transparency, adherence to the Constitution, and poli­ cies that serve all Americans, regard­ less of ideology. Our nation has long been a beacon of democracy let’s uphold ±ose values at home.” The group plans to march at least once a month, with details announced via local social media platforms. .if J V r 1 *» • y FIRST BAPTIST miDDLEVILLE -41 f I I i*. I Id I f BOT BATTLES I I f ‘r I I TL i - ir' ■t? * Ll • * 1 JV -« « t «Mla 3 « —Sunday, March 2 •n •* Me r.' js* I ( Doors Open: 5:30 PM - Event: 6:00 - 7:30 PM •4 t I, •< 1 -... I 3* I IU.J aI :• ILj » Come Watch! - All Ages - No Cost - Free Snacks - You Are Invited! 3 I 1 264 N. BRIGGS ROAO* MIDDLEVILLE. MICHIGAN 49S33 269-795-9091 / FAX 269-795-2388 Notice Yankee Springs Township-Barry County Is seeking estimates for Rest Room remodel Project The basic scope of work is as follows: -Remove old. designated plumbing fixtures, partitions and flooring in Ladle’s Room and Men’s Room. -New sinks, faucets, comfort height elongated toilets, grab bars and partitions. -New mirrors -Paint block walls -New luxury vinyl flooring *Note: full specs can be picked up at the township office or emailed to you. 1 * Township Hall Location: 284 N. Briggs Road-Middleville, Ml r ^*^4-*.**'' > c: ;■; JRK* J Certificate of Liability Insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 must be submitted with the bid. Bids will be received until Noon, Wednesday, March 12,2025 addressed to: w *b I* MS 4 IWMMMI 8 Saturday, February 22, 2025 1 4 it S a ..iRiiti . A ;S(aihi t^'iSsSriSl® :■ wwSICsi 1 - ;te ( 4 « . r 9 >»» aiir^ * I , 9 4 * ’•3 . i !F I 9 > tes i 4 i Tom Hopkins Yankee Springs Township Clerk 284 N Briggs Road Middleville, Ml 49333 1. i I t Please Call 269-795-9091 with any questions. 'f ‘Mk- % •*^i» J i r a. -• '.*7 lJ; *• k (» u '*• I 1 » -.t: t .V * ' 10 rJV • «• "r ■* ’» 1 > t:; 5 5^^ Li ;a.i 1^. X FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET | FACEBOOK.COM/FIRSTBAPTISTMIDDLEVILLE *47 I I •I J;* » ,'4 <1 Estimates may also be e-mailed to tomhopkins @ yankeespringstwp.org and must be received no later than Noon, March 12, 2025. It is required that contractors v^s)t the township to review the project with township staff prior to submitting an estimate. A more detailed scope of work will be sent upon request. i a J ■;jO r'<'r * t Estimates will be evaluated by the township after 12 Noon on March 12, 2025 before being presented to the Township Board for possible awarding at the March 13, 2025 Township Board Meeting at 6: 00 PM. Yankee Springs reserves the right to reject any and all estimates. ♦ �» IT i t s — 20 Saturday, February 22, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com nrK3.awwTbnsnya.www I % ♦ •▼■*> k k* r ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ff *' . .'J NlSflTHAWK GRILLE & BAR 40 years in of alsnoigei bl9i=f bio^ of e 1 I t I I 1 i I I i I Ik. c ’R 9 Curtis third at regionals to earn return trip to Ford Field i • • I vs ' 1 » » I / ( 1 I I s T r * . f. <- • •• 1 I I ' j 4 i f / February 24“'-March . t i 1’,.-"^ a ) r 1 Give-a-wt^ swag, prizes, drink specials, and live music I! I I . I I.' : ♦ >1 i I w i I «»> Music Line-up ? 1 Wednesday- Cash & Smith 5 to 8 pm Thursday- Curt Hines 5 to 8 pm Friday- Tipsy and The Kickstands- Stoll pm Saturday- JudejChop Band 7 to 11 pm •t 1 li I. I a .9^ . i I, » We would like to thank all of our < J « customers throughout the years for all their « support!! A SPECIAL THANKS to our staff too! —A ^e fv&pe ta sec y&n daring &ar Innwersary Week ti9^ ceMraic! * Rm f UPCOMING EVENTS: r Brett Bremer Sports Editor * ” MARCH 8™ JACK & Jill POOL TOURNAMENT 4 >S :5? -v~-. > X.J'W- JL - .T* .n A 6 <7 -9ft APRIL 26™ 19™ ANNUAL CHIU COOK'OFF r I I tf J Trojans take back-to-back OK Gold victories on home floor I d MARCH 17™ ANNUAL CORNED BEEF DINNER • » i •7 t- ♦♦ < 6950 WHITNEYVILLE RD. ALTO 868 6336 The Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ basketball team took back-toback wins over Wyoming and West Catholic and was looking to close out the 2024-25 regular season on a threegame win streak as it played host to Grand Rapids Union Friday. TK moved its record to 11 -10 overall with the two wins and 5-6 in the OK Gold Conference. Trojan head coach Phil Garber said Lucas Ploeg and Jude Webster led the boys in orange and black in scoring in each of those two victories, and it was a bit tongue in cheek, but one of the key bits of the scorebook against the Falcons was Ploeg finishing the contest .. without a foul. Keeping the jimior forward on the floor as much as possible certainly benefits the Trojan team, and that was certainly true in the 65-53 win over the visiting Falcons in Middleville Tuesday. TK topped Wyoming 60-50 in Mid­ dleville last Friday, Feb. 14. TK was 2-0 against both the Wolves and the Falcons in the OK Gold this winter. The Trojans will now head to Wyo­ ming Monday to take on Caledonia in the opening round of the MHSAA Division 1 District Tournament being hosted by the Wolves. Game time is set : for 5:30 between the Scots and Trojans who took a three-point win when the two teams met in Caledonia back in December. p- ?« fTO bifivnol T0tfli4 ddf gniqad/I I ?? f 1 < • ■♦I AI * > jta B 1 II 4 2 b 1b r fA CO. 9-1-1 C 4 5 6 «9r> 8 TER 91 10 5 I I I I J. I 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 9 I i! t DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Q,tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" , I 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 191 201 211 221 231 24 251 261 271 281 291 30 ;!3tnr. oJ fafiad won ihw zncjoTI ci f BtnobdlsO no sjtat y I 1 9 I I V I t I I '«1R a bloO yiO srh fu znoolnH jrii ijn ) I I yfmBtiw sMhzoq zb riooni b ioo^ zBw iBfii hns .ihbsj rrnjoiT Lidl •revo fxrw £2-2d sriJ ni sinJ iruHTR rJIivsIfabiM fii 2GK»Ib9 gnhizr/ 3C 31 zebssu -biM ni 0?-0d §QtaioyW baqqoJ yIT .M .(fe4,<EbnT13BislIiv3i 83vloW 3dJ fbod taoifigfi OS zfi w >11 r t r-x . •___ . Ja J F » I loO XO jIaedKi looll II I J 3(11 Io nsdmgm last ortj won ei (li baofilq 9(186 gnibnsfa rnssl gndli Isubivibnl S noisjvia AA3HWI ert bfifl O3l6 rnssl nsjcnT arlT vebiu: V6r )619199 nsbrneO ,81 f isiolli .Jnamsmuol Isnoigsi ortf lot vfila lliw bns yeb f -8 6 rtliw nosBM srM btefl bioT is 2lBni=l oleiS Isubivil babivoiq (U«iri BS < « i; Senior Jayce Curtis (second from right) is now the last member of the Thornapple Kellogg varsity co-ed wrestling team standing as he placed third in the 165-pound weight class at the MHSAA Division 2 Individual Regional Tournament at Gull Lake Saturday. The Trojan team also had Jack Smith at 175 pounds, Christien Miller at 113, Camden Peter at 157 and Blake Bossenberger at 165 all qualify for the regional tournament. Curtis improved his record to 38-11 on the season with a 3-1 day and will be a part of the MHSAA Division 2 Individual State Finals at Ford Field Feb. 28-March 1 in downtown Detroit. - BB. Photo provided x* Linn AA8HM 3fblo hnutn j^ninaqo odi i gnrari JnsfosmiioT UnteKI I noiarn* tSB zi sroii ohbO .zsvIoW sd . p.rtR|nriT Ivfig C It 9ftl mriw nrw ttHoq^^sirir K ^toou xad fii )io&d BiflobolsD nr ^t^crr^rafist^ t^dmoo � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-03-01.pdf 79f7ab59afd01d9bbe55ea181eac2c6c PDF Text Text Your Hometown Newsosper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas r: • •8F 4 •' I I 3A .OH i i inB eiutimuH wen Jb YiBtnsrnsB flonMs*! rtMM i9thW tt&18 EOTobalfiO arit to ziadmaM o biBOfl zlooriaa vJinummoD ktfibqu noitBaubS 3 wan ®dt to norJoinJznoo ariJ arit riJrw ,loorio8 ^{lEJnamalH j-ttitfmut wan z'yliiioB^ arit3o .da-l ,Y£bnoM gniJaam bisod orf bnod ££0£ /; to mq aA □m^pj arif 'taTOiJoiniznoo aril n'lut obuloni Ilrw loorfa^ tv bsEUi boYiTiB vlJnoooi riorriw 3IX| wtT .Sftifaiiud wsn sdt trt sb .ziicria sldfiJajtbB zabuloni in bvsl absig vd basia z9ldBJ .88in ZB Ilsw ZB .moO'! rit moil o-Hrtimol bazu J)(O pibnaqsb .looriaz yiBlnarnala MjB lE bloz ad lifw ,noiJtfanoo ’ bfui ^loori□^ isdto oJ baialto joiUzib sriJ nirifiw nut 9rit idi noiJBtiailoa sfO baifiria bos bsnnciq zfiw aiuJ in .gtWxrioiA idta^iiSi^woT b lb riJrw bdJeiooegE arobndv noqooa bm; a^ionags gnizfirio IBOO 3iutfmoJ soirit jioilibbu 1 gniriErmut erit nr Jeieeu lliw .gnibliud wan tont?ib loorioE wsilad Eslufurno ) 3rit Jo noitooftoi u 3-1 >lni‘hwoT bisa ".oviaz ifiV/ neW noiJnaubS £ I ->I lo to aJ jiltKib fbw bojliow oW zbnod zzEq .zbasn yliJnsbi ol till j'33m jEri) zaiJiiiaBt n§iz9b 1 loi gniniEsI (Eb-mabom to .33e1 ; bm, gJnab TlSi^-llut luO EDOM I UE 'I , i j « Wl I -J, ■3 4 * I K* t > 1 , I b jbii oeln aw CR810NEU UE2iDEIUIVr iUaMF? BMMirniiaoB bO 001 If bo: ssigatBTJz bsiwn »J38 rr V * aeinaqxo nruo 998 J. OifieLwine' Wl bVID □ 8 bOaiVGG bB2i 210 NO. 45 Furniture arrives at new Dutton Eiementary Noah Peterson Staff Writer Members of the Caledonia Community Schools Board of Education received an update on the construction of the new Dutton Elementary School, with the arrival of the facility’s new furniture, at its board meeting Monday, Feb. 24. As part of a 2023 bond program, the construction of the elementary school will include new furnishings, which recently arrived and will out­ fit the new building. The package includes adjustable chairs, desks and tables sized by grade level and class­ room, as well as rugs. Old, used furniture from the former elementary school, depending on the condition, will be sold at auction, and offered to other schools and buildings within the district. The solicitation for the furni­ ture was planned and shared by TowerPinkster Architects, along with vendors associated with all the pur­ chasing agencies and cooperatives. In addition, three furniture companies will assist in the furnishing of the new building. “We believe school districts are a reflection of the commutes they serve,” said TowerPinkster Director of K-12 Education Matt Wakely. “We worked with districts of all sizes to identify needs, pass bonds and design facilities that meet the needs of modern-day learning for both stu­ dents and staff. “Our full-service MQQa aawoisno expertise also means lVllN3aiS3d SS««33 8C90> IW afflAUMJg we also help districts OkC >«>8 0d 8CC# liiujed strategize and pass bond 8£88> '8J|IAUa9J0 See DUTTON on 3 aivd 1 aovisod s n a±s isad www.sunandnews.com SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2025 B “X Investigators trying to determine cause of house fire in Cutlerville James Gemmell Contributing Writer The fire marshal for Gaines Charter Township says no people were home when a fire broke out Friday evening, Feb. 21, in Cutlerville. But two pets were. “A cat did pass away and a dog was rescued by firefi^ters,” Pat Quick said. He is Gaines Township’s deputy chief of Fire Prevention/Fire Marshal. The fire broke out around 6:20 p.m. at 6833 S. Division Ave., which is about a block south of 68th Street at Rawlings Street. It is also one block south of the township’s Cutlerville fire bam. Gaines Township Fire Chief Ken Van Hall said the fire’s cause is being See FIRE on 4 ■k. ■ •s n; A- 01 « iTl- t -•4 . 40W f ' < - .s 4 . » I 4 I 4 .'J •( It 'L ?♦ r’l .X The Gaines fire marshal said a cat died in a fire on February 21 at this house on Division Avenue south of 68th Street. Photos by James Gemmell Former DDA member receives certificate of appreciation H I Noah Peterson Staff Writer ,.. e I • *4 T ES£ Former Middleville Downtown Development Authority member Kim Jachim (left) was honored with acertif icate of appreciation presented by Village President Kevin Smith (right) during the Middleville Village Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Noah Peterson Middleville Village President Kevin Smith helped honor former Downtown Development Authority member Kim Jachim by presenting her with a certificate of apprecia­ tion during the Middleville Village Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25. On behalf of this board and the DDA, ±is community wants to recognize Kim for all of her self­ less servitude to this community,” said Smith. “It was pretty surprising when she shared her resignation, but there is one I know that has truly served this community and she will be sorely missed.” Jachim stepped down as chair­ man and board member of the Middleville DDA a few weeks ago after serving on the board for over five years. Many know Jachim for her volunteerism, offering com­ munity support and promoting local events. While leaving the DDA, Jachim continues to serve as business manager and board member of the Barry County Area Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development. “It’s been a privilege and an honor to serve this community,” Jachim said. “I’m truly honored and will in some way continue to serve the Village of Middleville. Thank you for this recognition.” The Middleville DDA is currently seeking a new board member and community, development coordina­ tor. Applications and job descriptions are available at the village office or online at villageofiniddleville.org. �i I 4' |r p' Saturday. March 1, 2025 2 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com r ‘i/z e P * • * TKHS performing ‘The Wizard of Oz’ March 6-8 Editor Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and Toto, too, won’t be in Kansas next week. Instead, ihemerry band can be found inside the halls of Thomapple Kellogg High School’s performing arts center. Drama students at Thomapple Kel­ logg High School will follow the Yel­ low Brick Road to Oz in the TKHS spring musical “The Wizard of Oz” next week. Director Haley Bovee said the cast and crew have been putting in hours of rehearsal to make this an f Pierce Cedar Creek’s Volunteer Orientation Training > will be held Tuesday, March 11th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Institute’s Visitor Center. •m , if The event is free. Have you thought about volunteering with the Institute? Would you like to learn more about the Institute’s mission? Join us for an evening of learning about the Institute’s history, an overview of the trails and property, a tour of the main buildings, and upcoming volunteer opportunities. Whether you are interested in education, land stewardship, community science, office work, or public relations, learn how you cart help inspire appreciation and stewardship of the environment. Biejtcje ’4^ % x|<« 1 4 * •• «' .1 »v 'K r it 4. I Xi unforgettable show for all ages. Three performances are slated for March 6-8 at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. They can be purchased online now at tkschools. ludus.com/index.php and may also be available at the door each night. Customers can reserve their seat selec­ tions when purchasing tickets online in advance. Those who purchase tickets at the door on the night of the perfor­ mance can still select seats based on availability. The story of “The Wizard of Oz” follows Dorothy Gale, a young girl from Kansas, who is swept away by a tornado to the magical land of Oz. In her quest to return home, she journeys along the Yellow Brick Road to find the Wizard, who is said to have the power to help her. Along the way, she befriends a Scarecrow seeking a brain, a Tin Man longing for a heart and a Cowardly Lion seeking courage. Together, they face challenges from the Wicked Witch of the West and discover the importance of self-belief, friendship, and the idea that “There’s no place like home.” Bovee said she and the cast are ex­ cited to perform such a beloved show as “The Wizard of Oz.” I am thrilled to be putting on ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ My parents introduced me to the movie from a young age, and it’s one of those stories that I keep coming back to,” said Bovee. “I think it resonates with a lot of people, and I’m hoping to fill our auditorium seats for these talented students.” Bovee, a 2020 TKHS graduate, graduated from Western Michigan University in December, earning her bachelor’s degree in vocal music education. ‘The Wizard of Oz” marks the first turn in the director’s seat for Bovee but she is no stranger to the TKHS stage. “The best part of the rehearsal process has been getting to know the students,” Bovee said. “The cast is tal­ ented and full of energy, and the crew is super creative. It’s amazing to see what these young adults can do. “It’s also been super cool to direct at the same high school I went to. I was in the students’ position five years ago, and I remember how much fun I had in the theater program. Those memories still stick with me, and I’m hoping that the students leave this program feeling the same way.” The production involves 35 student cast members, student musicians and many additional students and adults working behind the scenes. Alyssa Spurgeon plays the role of Dorothy, who travels to Oz with Scarecrow, played by Alex Evans; the Tin Man, played by Lukas Walters; and the Cowardly Lion, played by Michael Sager-Wissner. Other cast members include Abigail Dumond as the Wicked Witch and Mrs. Gulch; Avery Hagemann as Glinda; Valerie Tamez as Aunt Em; Isaac Oprea as Uncle Henry; and farmhands Zeke, Hickory and Hunk, played by Anthony Sager-Wissner, Lucas Eggers and Adam McLaughlin. Additional cast members include Sheamus Nutt as Professor Marvel, Anthony Sager-Wissner as the Wizard of Oz, Bo Snyder as an Emerald City guard, Chiya Collantes as the Coroner and Jackson Lambitz as the Mayor of Munchkin City. Several more students are involved in supporting roles such as flying monkeys, poppies, Munchkins, Winkies and Ozians. 1 ♦ * i •> I ■j U’’' ;r Molly Macleod J I 1 e✓ ..X r. I 1 I •/ 4 I*!* ♦ A 4. . ■Y- •< < 5^ 4ii II I I *4 1 f I I r ’ r 1 < I 4 lllhii Illi! Il J ► J c t > M Alyssa Spurgeon rehearses a solo as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.’’ z I*.- I I -<K, i* • 1 i I V i F i t* I ' .*11' t A Photo provided 4- F < -I I• r i « i < 1 1 . i w(1 >• s > “The Wizard of Oz” is well-known for its fantastical special effects and set designs. Bovee said the stage crew at TKHS is stepping up to the challenge. “This TKHS performance will fea­ ture some special effects that are not commonly done on our stage, including the use of fog and snow machines, said Bovee. “Our auditorium manager, Mr. John Schilthroat, has also created a green screen effect to project the head of our actor who plays the Wizard onto the back wall, along with flame projec­ tions. I think it’s a super cool effect, and I am so grateful to have a team of creative people to make moments like this come to life. Though Bovee is looking forward to her directorial debut next week, she gave credit to the many parents and TK staff who have dedicated their time and help to the show. “I’m very grateful to have so much help in the form ofTK staff and parents. It’s a huge job, and I didn’t realize how huge it was until I started this process. It takes a village,” said Bovee. r 1 f 1 1 ,r t’' •PM ,f ■ ‘ l .. UJ’ ■ * 1 •U< V . .,10 . J I m J J 1 J k w ■ I 1 J a A* .» sfp . I 1 -5i^- ■I* ;. Vj. ■ J .-Ji.' !±. V.A «< J * fd*®® Mt M 1 Emm A rjaCT" ■•w - > <■ ,'l1 fl. ’ /’ » J ______ ) (( f. iV ■ * ** I '4’ I •r* Li r f' *. •l p. ■ * X A* ('■ ri * ounoK 9^ V--i‘ -It" i \ J 4 )4 ’ '' J 1 i ■*'* ’' bl z 4 1 » t 1 I 1 o I V e* * J I 1 • 1 P MV»IVJ 1 WO?*-. > 4 4 cj » .1 r ,, ««* I ,• *• r- .k 1 4k 5 , I j J i THE SUN AND NEWS CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 • 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com I I J i PUBLISHED BY ’sujjjjjjJluXj' Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihomepaper.com 1 tt • X r Group Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC AH Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept.; 1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only , publication of an ad constitutes acceptance ol * the advertiser’s order. . 0 f I. i . I . I. I n : 1 , I v»- a r• I •• 4 *’1 i J fi Ie i i *»Tfet4 ■ *v tv I s r- *t> * " id*? I >«' * is: I,’ i I H I- I 21 VACO. 4 5 J I' DIAL (800) 249-091 IC "Kids Measure up atK TER 8 91 10 ' r' 6.1 11 121 131 14 I 1 I I 12 11 10 OFf 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES i )N - EMERGENCIES wa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 151 161 171 181 19 201 21 22 I 231 24| 25| 26| 27| 28| 29| 30 • s i 1 I I 9 I ‘I iJ ’ i I • i I ■ u i I. • 4— i L * I V s X ( f i 4 a a I �I > 4 Vj .> '^31 T^.<4 •<: < 1 j k ■ ) % iA 'I a’ r A I 1 aw. A • V • ;> ’ » * t I 9^ 'V. Noah Peterson Staff Writer T A > 1 I X;. ■t 7 4^ Members of the Caledonia Char­ tership Township Board of Trustees discussed a resolution to approve an easement agreement with the Kettle Preserve development at its regular meeting Feb. 19. One condition for approval is that developers must install a shared-use pathway that connects to an existing trail in the area. More legwork is still needed on the legal side ofthe easement agreement. “Kettle Preserve as part of the con­ dition of approval agreed to put in a shared-use pathway that wi 11 connect to the CK Trail,” said Caledonia Charter Township Manager Alison Nugent. The site plan and project itself is under construction. We are working to get the legal easement information to be approved and recorded.” An easement is the right to use an other’s real property without taking ownership. It refers to pathways across one property to another, and can be used in specific situations for a limited purpose. Board members hope to use the path­ ways as methods for residents to walk. bike, and move from place to with bet 5 % J A •t* M ' ! 4 u i •A. < -»r I ■V •’F . ' V •>1 iV' * 1 ’Oi 1 '-i ' / ’y. n) ■’:u. t t .4 / *^4 i ; tS I «r t I IT n->^. . ■A,.."*' ♦ ) ■■ V 4 s < - UM » ) »'* •'S:' «J5 I H • >« ' *K\ - <.-l $ 1 i“ifl id . I •St « J ? . i a .M-' -*T t:t. *r «» <7>«1 ■ ■■ •*1 . ■ ,U .'”‘^*-4,.. 41 Z) T% i^'~ . '•*< « W' t ’dien. ’'u;. ■’ ■ ■ > - » > I’ 'ft/ i.’. ( lU' ■ I » •< M. I u - I ’ iw I «• ter safety' precautions. The agreement could lead to the repaving of the road and trail along Whitney\ ille Avenue. “I’m concerned that the easement doesn’t go through the private drive right away. said Trustee Tim Bradshaw. “So my understanding, ofcourse, with the private drive is that the resi­ dents and the homeowner’s association would take care of the trail itself that we’re signing to own and maintain, which doesn’t appear to be covered.” Kettle Preserve is a new residential community located across from Kettle Lake Elementary School and eight miles from Caledonia High School, along Whitneyville Avenue at Garbow Drive. It will feature three phases with a total of 63 new home sites in the Cale­ donia Community Schools district and is about 25 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids. The development’s HOA will offer general common maintenance, snow removal and private roads. Other fea­ tures include a variety of floor plans, well and city sewer, as well as a com­ munity area with a playground. More information on the easement agreement for the Kettle Preserve development will be discussed at the township board’s next meeting. t'w,. I ‘M>*, ' I •»** W" ; ^CWtfl ■:/' ■■ I—— IW ■ ♦* -M A >■ .^lA. I* %, * ■<, f A7 ■.:3-= v> «1l A > •“1 * k • >1 / t P ]A ‘b*. "ji^ *K. w 44 ‘-rf f 9e •* ' < f'i I / ^5* / J ^4* w d?: S^At- A 9 Kettle Preserve from fall 2024 after Kettle Oak Drive and Kettle Dale Avenue were paved in preparation for the construction of 28 single-family home sites that are part the first of three phases of the residential development. Courtesy photo 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. * » , ’ M DUTTON ing shape - both on the interior Continued from Page 1 and exterior of the building. Inside, masonry walls are shaping the new I, < • ’ b 1 '4», (i w ru ') . <U-»dr‘^lJU I UM-*' Scaife » «( .T,r r lA \ iiiisife'siih , pniUdD t ;»b- Getting it Right: ! I .i ^41 th 1 4' •J/l ( > i /' «wt f »»»*>4** ' 2 I 1 ‘iaU t i9iiC Ba 1 J ’ ♦ it .# . i-' >' i* i I I ' ' tv - 4‘ A t spaces, with steel supports for lock­ ers being installed and bulkhead framing work is well underway. iibinlliteb * « - *U»4JiJU. ▼ -♦ ' • / H r I'Ut n■r^ campaigns,” he added. Progress continues at the new Dutton Elementary, as the class­ rooms and the gymnasium are tak- < fSit •*«, « 1 I ♦ .'■> ■ '*3 I * The article “Caledonia’s RAD Drone Program off to a flying start” in Saturday, Feb. 22’s edition of The Sun and News incorrectly refers to Stephanie Pearson, Caledo­ nia EnrichED President and founder, as Angie Miller. We regret the error. Your local agent insures your H#me < Jason Parks BODY SHOP COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 (269) 795-6627 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville - IMSVIMMCf' |parks#fbl nsml.com FBrmBure8ulnsuraAce.com your -trusfed Body Shop -for over 32 years * -site .^.^^■srse ' ' 'J . ' r i I .1 L : i '} I I. • I « a It 1 4 4 ’ft J ft k *»*• S J ( ’ * *^*1*T '‘ 3 Caledonia board discusses easement at Kettle Preserve development i V Saturday, March 1. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com i J s A X I \ �n* t ii'J Saturday March 1,2026 4 < ■ • w- • - aH THE SUN AND NEWS » « /-.I'» < **• • V J K TTie Thornapple Township Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed Township Budget for fiscal year ?0?5-?026 at the Thomapple Emergency Services. 128 High St . Middleville On Monday March 10, 2025 At 7:00 p.m. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied Io support the proposed budget will be the subject of this hearing A copy of the budget is available for public inspection at the Township office. Americans with Disabilities Notice The township will provide necessary reasonable services to individuals with disabilities al this public meeting upon 6 days notice to the Township Clerk. Friends of Middleville library kick off feasibility study Staff Writer Ihc Friends of the Mid­ dleville Area Library recently partnered with Hopkins Fun­ draising Consulting, with the effort kicking off in January, as the group continues its efforts to give Middleville a freestanding public library. “The feasibility study is a joint effort between the Middleville Village Council, Thomapple Kellogg Schools and the Friends of the Mid­ dleville Area Library,” said Friends group member Rachel Blocher. “letters were sent to the community stakeholders to IRVING TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS February 18.2025 Meeting called Io order at 6 30pm at 3425 Wing Rd Hastings. Michigan 49058 Present Lydy, Buehler, Brummel. Nagel Cfndy Ordway Thornapple Township Clerk Absent Stout AgentJa approved with amendment Approved January 21, I hornapple Township 2025 BOARD OF REVIEW Nolicc Io all township taxpayers: The 2025 Board 2025 Meeting Minutes Craig Stolsonburg presented Village ot Middleville request tor support Approved to send letter of support for Michigan BEAD Grant Program of Review for the Township of fhonapplc will Approved to pay $30/month for Duo Se­ meet al the lownship Hall. 2(X) L . Main St,. curity Services (allows to work remotely) Approved Resolution 2025-01 Middleville, Michigan on the.se dales: Poverty Exemption March 4, 2025 - Organizational Meeting Approved Resolution 2025-02 Property 9 am. 9f I- conjunction uiih the Village ofMiddlevilIc Ad-Hoc( ommittec, had developed a plan to make a new Middleville public library a reality ” A few sites for a new li­ brary are being considered in the feasibility study, f inal determination of a location for a library and building spccificatimsw ill be decided by the Village of Middlev ille and the generosity of donors. Members of the I ibrarv Committee have suggested sites that offer a walkable distance to downtown Mid­ dleville with a focus on easy accessibility and parking. The Friends of the Mid­ dleville Area Library' meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m., w ith the group's next meeting sched­ uled on Wednesday, March 12, at the Middleville United Melhtxiisl C hurch. Individuals may also sup­ port the ongoing effort by donatingtolhcTAEF Beacon Society' of the Friends of the Middleville Area Library, which seeks to promote the Lighting the Path of Literacy through Middleville's local library. » Approved Wednesday, March 12, 2024 to spend no more than Continued from Page 1 $2,219,50 for Assessor envelopes and Sam to 12 Noon; 1 to 3 p.m. CALL 269-795-7202 printing lor assessment reports Approved to transfer $400 00 from Town­ To make appointment with the Board of Review ship Attorney account Io Cemetery Admin (Written appeals accepted until 3 p.m. Approved to transfer $150 00 from Town­ ship Attorney account to Audit Services March 12, 2025) Approved to pay bills in the amount of $5,169.69 t he tentative recommended equalization ratios and Set Budget Hearing date tor March 18. estimated multipliers (factors) necessary to com­ 2025 at 6:00pm at the Irving Township pute individual state equalized values of real prop­ Hall erty in the Township of Thomapple, Barry County: Upcoming Meeting dates: February 25 6:3(^m RATIO(%1 MULTIPLIER Budget Workshop: March 4 11:00am Board of Review Organization- al Meeting. March 10 3;00pm-9;00pm AGRICULTURAL 4716% 1.06022 Board of Review Public Meeting: March COMMERCIAL 49.97% 1.00060 11 9:00am-3:00pm Board of Review INDUSTRIAL 47 68% 1.04866 Public Meeting. March 18 6:00pm Bud­ RESIDENTIAL 45.14% 1.10767 get Hearing. March 18 6 30pm Board PERSONAL PROPERTY 50.00% LOOOOO Meeting Adjourn 7:05pm None in Class Full minutes are available at trvingtown- None in Class ship org or at 3425 Wing Rd. Hastings. Ml 49058, Prepared by Deputy Clerk. Shelly Eric Schaefer, Thomapple Township Supervisor Lake. Attested to by Supervisor, Dan Lydy of any occupants was com­ pleted at the same time by other crews.” He said there were no injuries. Vicki O’Connor said her 26-year-old daughter, her son-in law, age 29, and grandchildren - ages 2, 4 and 9 years old - lived in the rental home. “The home is heavily damaged. They have lost most everything due to fire damage and smoke/water damage,” O’Connor said. The water damage did go into the basement. Some of the things in the basement are salvageable. From what we are told, the house is repairable but (the family) investigated by Quick, who told the Sun and News it was contained in the kitchen area. But smoke damage occurred throughout the rest of the home. Besides the two Gaines Township fire stations, firefighters from Byron Township and the Kentwood Fire Department provided automatic mutual aid. Gaines Township Engine 35 arrived with smoke showing,” Quick said. “Firefighters made an inte­ rior attack to put out the fire and a search of the house 4e J I r f & J 1 A V 1 k J ■ • Ik >■ i' h' w nA. co. 9-1 -1 CENTER 4 ‘®8I 5 I 9 10 111 121 13 14 15 161 171 181 19 201 211 22 4 t <J r '.M 7 X“- 4 A^'l I♦ ( 1 ...r Il .. I f mJ i t T fir-**’ ■>.: «w . <2T^ , ti I . I * 4 ' 1 * r *> r I• , 1i II I * ' i - ' .u »*'3« I I It /• L • V i^al^ 4P A >♦ •> 1 0* f * "r I 4<9f •Ji' -ill!''*':"' t «e* A »*» I' I « 'P' *S' .•Ml I » rz*=’ «* *\I 1 iMt I i StC >h > 5a 9 «* ■■. ^IW ' f V «t -itk t ;b I I I < a I II J’ I :La!te'''?r« r ' CjC iW: a i '*' ' l.vu ♦ .1* ♦ 6 • . 4 b bM « 4* 3 il .'- * '* Ui . iral' *>*e^ I A ,. ' ’. 1 * '.v. • I I .•'.A, J k e U' w. 4 5 ' I I I t r 1 1, ■ r' * ».i«i ih 0 p * i.. r v» * ^kro!’ * nrts^i 'Av? U l ;i sw 4.- ?♦ I I 1 23| 24| 25| 26| 271 281 291 30 L 1I r j; fl 1 fl t . I il I • • I i 4 12 11 10 r. OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES DIAL (800) 249-09111ION - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at® wa Co. 9-1-1 Center" A t fu I ■ i 1 * I n >■ 1 I i ' V V .1 V 4 ' i t • ’fll t t i » I. 'I'1 1 t I- I •A. f a I I I N' / •u I r I ■1 I A f . t I I .1* , A y * will displaced for a month or more.” The house will be cleaned out and repaired during that time. She added she heard the fire may have started on the bottom right side of the oven or in that general area. But that has not been confirmed. A GoFundMe webpage has been set up by Shawn O’Connor to help the dis­ placed family. The page is titled, “Aid for Niece's Family After House Fire.” It says the family members had left home to go for din­ ner when they received a phone call that their house was on fire. r~|- J J,4#' , .4^' s H*- FIRE • r 1 k 3 laptops, use one lor election day . .AA'.'• g' ir Approved to allow the township to recycle 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Si*':*';.!■ ( Transfer Tuesday, March 11, 2025 TIMBER-CUTOVER * Approved Resolution 2025-03 Property 9 a.m. to 12 Noon; 1 to 3 p.m. DEVELOPMENTAL bonng communities, such as Caledonia ar>d Hastings, in order to attend communitvbuilding events such as story times, baby play times, acces­ sible lech tutoring sessions and community events. Since its beginning, the public library has been lo­ cated at Fhomapplc Kellogg High School. The school district made space and pro­ vided funding for the public library and continues to do so. But having the public at a school does have limitations, say Friends group members, including very' limited pub­ lic access, shared staffing and constrained financial resources. In addition, the library' is unable to provide many ofthe services that residents enjoy in neighboring communities. “Several years ago, a group of community leaders came together to explore the pos­ sibility of a permanent pub­ lic library in Middleville,” Blocher said. “After months of careful planning, and an examination of commu­ nity priorities and library' needs, the leadership of the Friends of the Middleville Area Community Library, in Transfer Monday, March 10, 2025 CLASS set meetings with Hopkins Consulting to discuss their support of a free-standing library for the Middleville area community. Over the course of the next few months, represen­ tatives of the Friends group and members of the village council's ad-hoc Library Committee will be dedicating theirtimetoassist Keith Hop­ kins of Hopkins Fundraising Consulting in determining whether the transition to a free-standing public library is feasible in Middleville. ITie study is hoped to shed light on how much support the project has from the do­ nor community and to what degree the group can rely on philanthropic fundraising for that support. Middleville is one of the few communities in West Michigan that doesn’t have its own stand-alone public library. Friends group mem­ bers say the current public library in Middleville doesn't have the funding, staff or open hours to adequately accommodate community­ building opportunities. Many Middleville resi­ dents have to drive to neigh- - rV Jl Noah Peterson I :V’ , * THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING . J t f 4 r f J A I t < < { f •*4 . ■. t .n �kill I k « i ■■ I ■c s f. f * A# a I i a. • a / » t i t • y 1 Saturday. March 1. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS I 5 V ♦ k c \ I ‘h. L Chiefs reflect on rash of high-profile fires, tell homeowners to remain vigilant with fire safety *4.' ‘Si r •A s Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer A 4 A .e.. * r.-r <; s'. J r L f I <« t 1 I h ^1' f After multiple, high-profile structure fires around Barry County this w inter, Thomapple Township Emer­ gency Services Chief Bill Richardson hopes residents are reminded of the importance of proper fire safety. “I try to keep (fire safety) in the public’s eye. but I think it's something we’re so conditioned to not think it’s going to happen to us," Richardson said. “We preach it to the kids in school and they go back to their parents and tell them, but I think a lot of people think it's not going to happen to them. This winter has been the backdrop to a number of devastating structure fires throughout the county. In November, a fire destroyed Delton-based car dealer­ ship Smith and Doster followed by a fire that caused a total loss at Yankee Springs restaurant Yankee Bill’s Wood-Fired Saloon. Most recently, earlier this month, a fire destroyed Cjymnastics in Motion, a long-standing gymnastics gym located in Middleville. While these large com­ mercial fires caught headlines, fire crews continued to contend with plenty of residential fires, too, including in December when an Orangeville Township blaze claimed the life of a teenager near Plainwell. The high-profile nature of these fires may make it seem like the w inter has been especially active for fire crews, but Richardson pointed to numbers for his own department that showed it’s a fairly typical winter. I>ast year, Thomapple Township Emergency Ser­ vices responded to 13 structure fires. This year, that number has crept up to 15. Total losses on those fires are also about even between the two years. However, a fire at Bradford White last year inflated that number and without fac­ toring that one in, total losses would be significantly higher this year. espeIt comes with the territory in the winter cially a frigid one like this year. 1 J X . r < > I i X A t, 4. ■{ ■■ / 1 « J « *9 % t ' I t » < ■ / I f ^*1 9 I 1 1 ► ’1 .A. 4 /j *v !T^.. , ♦»». 5 * •> < * * I tl ft 4 r^ -• r i I » J f > ’ 1 1 I i. ■, f I • f *V ► J 1 h. .V >1. 4 I s ‘V, i ' J z (• • X •f 9 f I < % 9 1 J I I 1 '4 « I 4 . 4 iT I. ■: I 4 «U3l : *• r> » w ^>1 ••r. * I fT? t <01'. I 1 I. 11 r '•I to 4 ®y' ’ifsi I* « * •I 'I ‘ J «« -1 3 V i 1 •7 V 4^ r I r A..* L 1 4 •‘^1 5H ' *< I I I V i ; I / I * 1 •e''- t I** • 1 • ill o* •«» . fl; .• 'X* Church to host fundraiser in support of food pantry 4 IM ' ’ .A t 1. ii'joa 4 4 J The Middleville Community Food Pantry helps support local residents in need. And, the Middleville United Methodist Church is looking to support the pantry' in its efforts. The MUMC, located at 111 Church St., will host a Corned Beef/Cabbage Dinner fundraiser on Friday, March 14, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the church's fel­ lowship hall. Donations will be accepted at the door. Volunteers say the pantry is always in need of cereal, peanut butter, jelly, Hamburger Helper, juice and snack crackers. According to church officials, the pantry is housed at the MUMC and is staffed by volunteers, helping provide more than 30 families a month with various food times. They added the cost to maintain the food 1 • WE'?'"' ■ ■' * A r-fr, ♦ BiEiafsi , fO^t c sffi 4 I ..fl Zip'*'.' t fl' « i I • r-t fj' rii ««<■» fe --..................... iI I • * 1 1 fK*l r'JT 5 ?1. ««f l:i ante! i« L® . I I I '«l < * .♦*r .«.• 9 4 I! .!i I I , ► l?..‘ 4*^ • * *---- I H w*- ■ e 1 <** »• I ’.i; 'i * € - MOT I 1 Ti’T 5;: A< t. The Versiti-BIood Center of Michigan is partnering with Caledonia Community Churches to host a blood drive at the Holy Family Catholic Church on Kraft Avenue in Caledonia on Tuesday, March 11, from 1 to 6:30 p.m. According to organizers, they have set a goal of 55 pints to be collected at the March 11 event. Anyone 17 or older is eligible to donate blood, with those age 16 also being eligible with parental permission. While there, potential tiafe -.I’i :r pantry is between $1,000 to $1,200 per month. Proceeds from the March 14 fundraiser will go to support the operations of the food pantry. sts'sSPrayfoa 9 • • Monday at 5 p.m. THE HASTINGS BANNER Tuesday at Noon THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon THE SUN and news Wednesday at Noon s 5 " free Estimates «» 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today Use Spray Foam www.cellsignalprot.com I « 1 •u n I t u 11 I I I % I 9 \ % 1 1 na* J * *5^ iri i .4. Antenna Meri fl tJi-M s K• c Give us a call! i J •* • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation IIP ] X r> • Cellular Enhancement Systems I ailfiuS f • Digital ’TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers I Il3i mihomepaper.com I I'tJ I Group L_ k I. SHOPPER NEWS «I9 I 1 BATTLE CREFK — DM t •J Monday at 4 p.m. office by calling 269-795-9266. j y.. J AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE sons may contact the MUMC f' A DEADLINES For more information, per *■**! J ADVERTISING donors can learn how to enter a draw ing to win a vacation to Hawaii. Rules for the Aloha Savecation Sweepstakes may be found online at versiti.org/savecation. If interested in donating blood, persons may sign up online at versiti.org/ccc or contact Char Mello, blood drive chairperson, by calling 616-901-2803. The blood drive is open to the public and donating by appointment is preferred, though walk-ins are welcome as time allows. — DM f >*■ NEWSPAPER 'i s w ' z. 1 ' A Blood drive set for March 11; enter to win a trip to Hawaii IW, Ikkxisjjil e van depending on ihe niunicipaliiy. Local depart merits also need the personnel and capacity to inspect properties when needed. W hile nian\ commercial buildings are subjected to regular inspections, it's not a silver bullet to avoid fire hazards. Jim larger, long-time chief of the Freeport .Area Yolunteer Fire Department, didn't go as far as sa> ing this year w as an especially active one for fires, instead, that instances of structure fires typical l> ebb and flow. "We'll have some winters where it seems like we run all w inter and then we'll have a w inter w here we don't have anything," said Yarger, w ho said a typical year w ill see his department make roughly 14 nins to structure fires. I don't know if there is a pattern to that, I just know it goes up and down. ■t 1 I WTien you're heating your home, it just depends on what you’re heating with." said Richardson, adding that older homes are more susceptible to tire risks. “Codes have really straightened up a lot of the risks.” he added. “You don’t see as many fires in the new er-built homes because of code changes." The human factor is always the outlier," Richardson said. “W^e have people who overload circuits or use extension cords inappropriately. People who self-install fireplaces and wood-burning chimneys w ithout cleaning them. Those are all human factors that can’t be changed w ith codes." But, even when it comes to fire codes — w hicli dictate how often a commercial building should be inspected and w hat inspectors are looking for they > 269-967-8241 www.theantennamen.com antennamen^gmail.com �a » • t *( * /' X' r . * I ^-51. * ft < 9 r I r Saturday, March 1,2025 6 ’1 . ww^ &unandnews,oorr! f I 11 ✓ Gaines Planning Commission recommends township board approval of zoning ordinance Contributing Writer TTic Gaines T ownship Board oTfrustccs could make a final decision on a proposed major update to the town­ ship zoning ordinance al its next meeting in March. Die township's Planning Commission held a special roundtable meeting Monday night, Feb. 24, in ihc board room of the township hall. No citizens attended what largely was a workshop-style meeting. After nearly two-and-a-haIf hours of making final changes to the document, comm issioners voted unani­ mously, 7-0, to recommend township board approval of the first comprehensive update to the zoning ordi­ nance since 2007. ’The final draft incorporates all the changes recommended at Monday's meeling. The township board will hold a first read of the update al its March 10 meeling. David Jirousek, a consultant with Horizon Commu­ nity Planning, provided input and solicited proposed changes from planning commissioners. TTiey, along with Community Development Director Dan Wells and Assistant Planner Dakota Swan, have been work­ ing on the amended zoning ordinance since July 2023. g---- -• I I —>■■ w II lift— 4 ♦ J*. <»* • » • K V4 id f i Township consultant David Jirousek with Horizon Community Planning goes over final revisions on the proposed Gaines zoning ordinance. 40 YEARS 1 ;8 t e I INSURED REFERENCES •••* f ■ 1 Wood, Window & Door Specialist Inc. Vinyl Windows • Remodeling FREE ESTIMATES CB Pennock 269-908-2173 rhe zoning ordinance is the township’s primary legal document governing land development It in­ corporates the vision outlined by township officials, the general public and other stakeholders whtjse input helped inform the township's new master plan and a future land use plan that was adopted a year ago. The proposed new ordinance has 36 chapters that arc designed to be easily interpreted by the reader and balance personal property rights and the public's best interests. “We've reorganized a lot ofthe chapters.” Wells said after the meeting. “We’ve rewritten things to be much clearer, so that people can actually read the ordinance. And wc'vc eliminated a lot of cross references that were incorrect that have been evolving over lime. “We've eliminated a lot of inconsistencies. It should be much easier for people to find the information that they want to find. There are a couple table summaries that lay things out very clearly,” he added. Once it is adopted by the township board, the up­ dated ordinance will include the findings of a zoning ordinance audit report and the input from a zoning ordinance steering committee. Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra was a member of that committee and participated in Monday night's meeting, as well. Terpstra and PlanningCommissioner Tim Haagsma, who also participated in the meeting, «ire both members of the township board. Among the changes, the Planning Commission decided to change the name of the Rural Residential District to the Agriculture/Rural Residential (ARR) dis­ trict. The intent was to protect prime farmland, preserve natural resources and protect the area’s rural character. “Basically, I think it’s a nod to the agricultural heri­ tage here,” Wells said. “And we want to make sure that the rural parts of the township really do maintain that character. So, we beefed up some of the Intent section of that to support farms a little bit more.” The areas included in that district were going to be regulated as farming areas, anyway, with some lim­ ited residential uses or large-lot residential uses. So, it was just a matter of changing the district’s name to more accurately reflect the farming aspect within the zoning designation. Planning staff also have worked to make the defini­ tions in the sign section of the zoning ordinance much clearer. That is part of Chapter 36, which is simply titled “Checklists.” Jirousek asked planning commissioners how they wanted to address political signs. “Do you want to allow for an unrestricted number of signs during election season, or do you want to just stay silent?” he said. The commission decided not to enforce the number of allowed political campaign yard signs, but did stipulate in the zoning language that temporary signs would only be permitted 45 days before an election. And they must be taken down within 10 days after an election, if they are in the public right of way, per Kent County Road Commission policy. , Classifieds I -»■ 4 *T 5 6 I *< 8 91 10 11 121 13 141 151 16 17 18 191 20 » * • « «t .IIJIS Dump Trailer Services, Botxat Services, tree stump removal.site prep and ciearing.dirt drive­ way installation and land cleanng site prep. Fully licensed and insured 616-389-9496 a If I V z J , 1 .4^ / . .y:o>- J \ 11 1 ’ 1 > i CEMENT/CONCRETE I • J AR p*" y r i JNR BUILDERS Concrete flatwork: Dnveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored, bcensed and insured. Call Jeff (616)293-7729 « =« fU » I.. '1 I t • I k '' 0 f./ i t 1 I ( 1* 9 s a* .......... nM) A* ■< «> .> • tv t ) ► ■ « TREE SERVICE « 1 BUYING ALL HARDWOODS: Walnut. Oak. Hard Maple. Cherry Paying top dollar Cait for pricing and Free Estimates. Will buy single walnut trees. Insured, liability & workman's comp. Fetterley Log­ ging. (269)818-7793. ) .Lit'. *9' Z ' f f5£" f I - #a»r I 1*’ p • 1 1 <• ^4 ?> hf- .« N I I COMMERCIAL-RENT < p , <WW y OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave. Suite A.B Grand Rapids, $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic® remax.net I, ’ I I ] 1 <.v »W' 1 in. [ A Local candidates in Gaines Township typically rely heavily on placing signs along the roadway frontage to solicit voter support. “We really do run campaigns in this township by yard signs,” Planning Commission Chairwoman Con­ nie Giarmo said. Each zoning district will have certain building specifications and setback requirements. “So, those are now all organized in a consistent manner,” Wells said. It » Iw ™ i I - I 1 > t I 1 ) z. _ SlArl I, I Fllltl?^ I I eveih > OllllliKt® V •'rf‘I Fl . “1 IK IV I I kA- Friday. 4 pi • ■ 'i W* ^Tliiijhis? »-VZi * f ) I I ♦ ♦ I 1 SUKla^ i '-M. ' 4 ■v / miu-iin •X V-" L ► •«*«v u SiBixCic!^ *< -y 4* 3^ L Ssnfw*-"*int t 9 I * ( i < i I !• Gaines Township planning commissioners held a roundtable discussion Monday night, Feb. 24. at the township hall to discuss an amended zoning ordinance that is nearing completion. Photos by •. t t r I '>». i r* f.Tv. a I .1 I • irt* I •n. 4 •*» f! 4 1t It* 12 11 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES I I 211 22 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 3011 III I I I I I I I I I I I I I I llj I I 1 4 '1 ‘ . I 1 i AI a it t , I < J p * •; • .‘i i Ei I < i I « H,- . t « •■-fo I James Gemmell I I T I ^..1 r a 1 < I t' i f. U'' z It* BUSINESS SERVICES I Tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center’ f > f "Kids Measure up at i' A t I VA CO. 9-1-1 CliiTER I r ■ I h DIAL (800) 249-091 iriON - EMERGENCIES Cl z I t 'I n J!’', !; E--,-Z r 11 4 I •*4 ) T I I > ’ * fc I VT > I ••rja I t.’ >' * '2a. I ii/*' v’ >*• c ■ I (-f •» i I J I THE SUN AND NEWS James Gemmell . I 1 J I I •a J v* ■?*’ �i -nr THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com •• 1 Saturday, March 1,2025 7 • VT.. « ’ft i r. ( < > 4 4 'T#* a 4 I i t I TT '■WW V A I ■■■'4 Hi ■ » 1 V f %1 •r L-.' < 5 * I 'FU I s «K 1I v< > .c ♦ I I I t r' ( ’ th* “■IC ♦ .1 I I <> I ‘lihi . V i 1 J r f ! J ' JW / J ■ I I 'll 4 h 1 I b; Hu i ? W ' ftr ' Ih/ . V flI F* I a ise I .. I 1 < \ d + • ! <-r *' r. , 'n./d.M*,' .. I J1 f 11 J f i ' '' '^‘*’**^11 • J I I I J ■ '‘1 otuto'-." ’’ey 4.. 1 Al St- ! nr g^> 5 * u4 >3V ’/7 J ; -"wriM i i' . i-iW 4* I T f I <4 \ 1 f •* I u '. ilWIIW I z I 1 I 9- ‘’’B o'BjJw.S'SJ 0^ I -“-SYTr ” ■ ' : ’F'rwhilav’’.’■ ^^4 1 4^ 4 tWr- ,'4. 4 • i , 4 A r . • . k * '1 - c* 4' L • 'ntfiVfi ■» )ni • itf, ISV r I ■ I ■ . I i J i vtfuld . siixb' . )« fToM < . U. r. > I I f I i n; K i lu "I . / H •r^'^n C: I « c 1,1 I •• ' ‘ Ofl i I I j1 I t 1 r nt « ■» hr. ' liij' I f 1 |M«' Jee n J I 1 •I I I T I k I I BwobseM > r' 1__ •••,4V ••' ' <9 438 <. - • ’I ’ 3^ • I *. 4* A I *1 ' I .' X « f ♦ •-*r'» I • ,1 •.?a' • \J'r! Local trail chapter hosts hikes MIDDLEVILLE TOPS 546 For those wanting to get back outside and walk off the winter blahs, the Chief Noonday Chapter ofthe North Country Trail Association is hosting hikes during March and April. CNC members will host the Spring Ephemeral Hike on Sunday, March 15, with the 8.5-mile hike set to kick off at 2 p.m. at the NCT Trailhead on M-179. The hike is set to end at the Sand Bar Gun Lake in Mid­ dleville. Then, on April 26, CNC members will host a Half Marathon Hike. Participants will park and meet at the Michigan State University former robotic dairy bam in Hickory Comers, with regis­ tration slated for 7:40 a.m. and The February 24 meeting opened with roil call and the secretary’s report. There was no change in the fishbowl. Virginia’s program was from the TOPS “The Choice is Mine Handbook: Motivation and Reality of Healthy Weight Management." If you find yourself saying, “I love losing weight, but I just hate giving up food," it’s time to make a choice. And it's a lifelong struggle. it’s not easy There is pride when you are on track and hopelessness when you fall off. We need to stay consistent in our program, be aware of what you want, where you are at in your journey, and what is getting in the way. Know yourself. What do I have but want to get rid of? And what do I want but don't have yet? Make a list of these two questions to get your motivation. The five-step plan to motivate change begins with precontemplation. You don’t think any change is needed. Contemplation starts with your awareness that you need to change and start with a plan. Action involves making a commitment and beginning a program. Maintenance js to establish a program and stick with it. Use these steps to make it happen. Tell yourself the truth. Be accurate. Be committed. Remember your commitment. Say it! Post these motivational phrases where you can see them. Once a weight control program has been established, motivation begins to change. Positive effects of success increase the motivation. Never forget you are not ever alone. Call someone’s bluff when they talk negatively. This is your choice and your journey. Stay in control of your own life without any guilt. No one won the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting closed with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. Anyone with questions may call Virginia. 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-3183343. The first meeihig is fi'ce. f I ■<.' » « 7 ■'“'n ‘7' EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT »r. H V.'! i i t ) ' »» I ti 4 A TV L> *4 I I' > J r M 2* 4 • ♦ < J I'M s* w. > '45 ■ 9 t -9^ I 4 A VA . M *1 •* r ’ >• . _ 4 M w I M )( tri * * ‘ iv V-*At r- <• <> Y .• k fr k ■>.J 4 .4 «» «• 'Y'.. -T . - . ' ■ xt:: A >'14 4' M- 4* ,• » ■ ' tJV ♦ w \ . .* </» h1 Jw . * > $ 4 <k r*.* . 4 I r; «« 4^*4 -3ft « ? 5' . ’ 4»*>* . . . 4 < 9 I •s *X • 4 <'l: 4* > . * The Chief Noonday Chapter of the North Country Trail Association is planning hikes in March and April. Photo provided s. X t tS .V _____ -sg^ w® •i l> » «« > r I W** J 0 ?-Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers -Air Conditioners Heat Pumps -Water Heaters -Humidifiers ip. MH $14.00 Adults $8.00 Children 12 and under OPEN TO PUBLIC - ALL ARE WELCOME! DINNER INCLUDES Breaded and Beer Battered Fresh Pollock Filets served with Tartar Sauce, French Fries, Coleslaw and Homemade Bread & Butter. Dessert: Soft Serve Ice Cream. Coffee and Lemonade No other Food Menu Available. For those who do not want fish dinner, outside food may be brought in. 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia caledoniaamericanlegionpost305.weebly.com I ' X ■ .» 4 12 1 E*3g fl 1 *15 >z^ o Bl r J 1 J’ w '■ ** X* V I I < *- 4 4 fl fl fl 1 4 i < 9. DeWeerd (68^ ’I’l 4 JV. 4 4 . * A* . 5 fk 4 r 1 ■ 5 z ^Residential & Commercial ALL YOU CAN EAT •‘4 s . 4. ■i*r Friday, March 7th thru Friday, April 18“’ 2025 5-7pm or until gone < f- r*« ;**'» WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOL/NG NEEDS Vi 1 i: 5 ‘‘H-WSS T ' ♦ > < CALEDONIA AMERICAN LEGION 11305 ► -T ? the hike beginning at 8 a.m. The April 26 event will start at the bam near Baseline Road and North 39th Street and end at Dock at Bayview on East D Drive in Richland. According to organizers, a shuttle service will be available throughout the day, if needed. Participants are urged to be prepared with clothes for the weather, as well as hav ing a backpack with a hat, plenty of water, sunglasses, snacks, change of socks and cellphone. And, those finishing the hike will be awarded a certifi­ cate of completion. For more information on the two hiking events, people may contact Kenneth Baker via email at kelticken3@gmail. DM com. r-.v r .'**r \ re HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. . DEWEERDHTG.COM - 1'. A a/: At ACCREDIITO BUStNCSS sr ■^A l> M't I » i r ; ’ L1 ’ i ‘ Vs’ • <. r " ^>nee 195.5 3r^ 269-792-2234 LENNOXy * * i I I «■•■ *-r . i ' f t t • I * i J I f 4 « s I 1 ♦* *4 * F ■» lb . '< :»^ » 4 vir <«• «fl «. « .•r.4b^ ')> » 4 ( �I 8 Saturday. March 1.2025 THE SUN AND NEWS WWW sunandnews co 't JI Marta wins honors at ski finals, Potgeter performs well • I ; • $ r J’ and from the beginning she really impressed me with her hard work and dedication to excellence,” Caledonia head coach Duane Petrosky said. “As soon as I saw some video of her racing back in Italy I knew that she would make it to the State Finals, and Monday was a an exciting race for her and the best ski racers in the state.” “We had warm weather and some unique conditions, but Chiara skied well.” Marla had runs down the GS course of 31.92 seconds and 36.50 seconds. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep’s Maren Studt took the individual GS state title with times of 31.12 and 35.67 on her two runs. Harbor Springs’ Tara Shouldice was the runner-up with runs of 31.64 and 35.52. Marta’s two slalom runs clocked in al 39.00 and 43.87. TTiat first slalom run had her in 13th place before a tough second trip down the hill. Potgeter was a two-time state I V 1 I I '*- • - WB I 4 t ’'J Sunday, March T £ I t fi J V I f .A 1 1 A ** . 4t 1 r / I’. I $ I i Vi I I > I I, ' J'' w * t '4 9 » I < 4 ir' r* ir * <R< S' Caledonia senior David Potgeter and exchange student Chiara Marta, a pair of state qualifiers, share a moment at the bottom of the hill at The Highlands during the MHSAA Division 2 Ski Finals Monday. Potgeter is a hwo-time state qualifier and Marta earned second team all-state honors with her performance in the GS Monday. Photo provided I e r I % 1 I IlJi fW < .* I' i . I 1 ( t *:1 • v: and improved on his performance.” “DJ has been the foundation of the boys’ team the past two years, his fast and consistent skiing has helped us to improve as a team. He may be the best leader I have coached and is right at the top as a skier, too. We are going to miss him next year, but I know that he has See SKI on 11 I' I mI /■ t'->5 1 I ( irwi »« ■ I » a ’ ftottODO ' I V t 4* * j 1 I A 9 <€(« Ta,?.' \' 1*^ » I to* 11 1 I k mnUtx sui ;A ,ij •Vk eg »I r T9 I »*1 I A.' 4 » . 1— r —y.i I > » IP xsjtelWaiiils r< •r I I I ) j 4 . t* * O , iffijasalA r A WV: I w • C u sun t ft .>(llll&«vS' ■•fSfSS!! J ■» t i -<T t ' -fi • Ji A*..-"* >» i* ♦. fin. ■ A ' * r ! ’A« .‘ i;. IV ■ r 4 1 ' 1-800-267-7868 www.StLawrenceCruiseLines.com F ? t» * Miil ‘liiWrtVtrt' ! \k ^lt£ in«' ; IT-, ‘i T:: M. ♦ it ibidL ' V. «aA' Ji HTrfWai,-.'.’. • < i' • . T -fiA. I I I I ‘I r 4 ■, DIAL (800) 249-0911flON - EMERGENCIES awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" "Kids Measure up at /VA CO. 9-1 -1 CfilTER I I / 91 10 I L 4 8 fc *■« ’ttbmit OUr^MUk I ft* MWWMiWi-MftW 4 5 k JBB* Experience the beauty and history of the St. Lawrence & Ottawa Rivers on a classic Canadian riverboat. Request our free travel brochure. FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET | FACEBOOK.COM/FIRSTBAPTISTMIDDLEVILLE 4 I at _____ RIVER CRUISE VACATIONS •7. f t'* h* w mwi a|KjKbv;i]gi mn Hm nan 3 . T 5 ) » I "•4t "■f.. I •' -r***»' I I I * *> > I I s t t’ JI * f tBP. - rt- .. J.'.'' r 0P‘ I ♦ r: w fiWr " ^3 I «M»« y J. - k 4 4 I _____ t A 5 f r ■ 'A-' . I I • . Vj p 1 I 9 f K A. I f ..t* Bft II b I i «•-’ k »1A O' nr li 1 •> • J .0 » J bi-r' T... 1 Si: t C: ( I k I IB 1 1 /v**!*** RIVER CRUISING *. * • ► -A ■9 Bf K.! I SV 1^^ ' I • •v* 4 •J I Come Watch! - All Ages - No Cost - Free Snacks - You Are Invited! '.A» I 1// ■ ’ I * 51 *. .. (1 * > Doors Open: 5:30 PM - Event: 6:00 - 7:30 PM a 4 I i 4 qualifier at Caledonia, just the second Fighting Scot on the boys’ side to ever qualify for the state finals more than once. “DJ really impressed me at the finals,” Petrosky said. “He pushed himself and really seemed to enjoy the entire experience. He seemed much more comfortable at the race this year BOT BATTLES . > V b I 1 FIRST BAPTIST miDDLEVILLE 1 > •' ! « ► • •* * i A Brett Bremer Sports Editor A couple of the Fighting Scots’ best ever proved to be a couple of the state’s best this season on the slopes. Caledonia Italian exchange student Chiara Marta earned second team allstate honors with a 13th place finish in the giant slalom competition at the MHSAA Division 2 Ski Finals at The Highlands in Harbor Springs Monday. Marta also placed 26th in the day’s slalom competition. Fighting Scot se­ nior David “DJ” Potgeter was 23rd in the slalom and 32nd in the GS. Both skiers were in a field of more than 70 competitors in their respective races. Marta is on the second Caledonia female skier to place on an all-state team. Her name fills the Caledonia record board now and she is at the top of the list for most slalom victories in a season with eight. She tied a team record for finishing in the top five in 100 percent of her conference races. “I first met Chiara last October • OHB 11 12 131 14 151 161 17 18 191 201 11 10 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 21 221 231 24 25 261 271 281 291 30 fl « II r. i r r I i f ( tI I I I ■ �if Ur. L!p .1 7^' ' I t 3 i : r 3 w -5»r i V J t < Saturday, March 1,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ! . r > ' I 1 > • ■ I I Scots are OK Green Conference champions I i I t e I aV ■ ’ i- r •p : J 1 I ' J I I I i , 11. . < L I r 1 I » I J V *4 * - J I jqG'j J - i 1 I « i I I • »ozf I €. ’ mii ft XI s .*" v f- ■ i It > K) s W-ni I 1 > I' ■■ 4 I > i) .te-' 4tj , 'I f 4 t ">■ - L-. ^ft£i i !: I I . . lOIotolB > tflD TjSpOBrio OQOb • *n z H-.’ r I I I max f n a hjO t f ybluic^ lOV/ <. I olfl nojJaffl *s II 4 I I J I I •*[£) 11. > F ^3;/; , ijmsf Bgsfir » 1 . 1J & 4 jsol Uatt(X2 4 4 « I ► bf I *<* < “L' J I i 'trap! . Jv/ I tc:~- I * T I * K* I /.jT- i / R •V i'.e k [fn 3 •« 4 * a s ■. O' I •l ■- 7 J • ■* i*. nn dd1 i □ mm 1? -•J i iI ■**.» r 1 « I i’**** I W '' ; A -^aPli.4:,- f i I k ■* I 4.' VZi • ■I- J t I * J u.. J t *r'iiI?yiiJ.' £1 I n :f T?li»Lb /r f t; 1 1 I •J.' 11 i I siH rft Ji J .yiftt '/bfc < •fk I I ■ f’ iji' j^noTi’ r -I I J 5n: lol '.Cl • oc : ‘ ‘-j, i ! > Ji?':?; ''4^ II H. ' 1 I *<_ 1 "TTrteai > i *e t < I f ^ilq^ I J st ( 'Tct H e l< 1 I J /l ;8^ ‘>K)| s ? J ’* i I I '"i / fJ .’(7 I * 4 • 40 Jt 4 I ■). ) f I I . I I •w J Jri>ii’ <irt' J Xi'/lO .•! n'J'fi i «<v II cLu' lth 35RI ign nnmi4»^ "' 1 ♦ t 4 I fj 1 ( ' L rf < i 332 W1® J 1 I a I II* ! I I k ■ ♦ 4^ .1 I «> 9 k Brett Bremer Sports Editor The plan is for this to be a beginning and not an ending. The Caledonia varsity girls’ bas­ ketball team captured the OK Green Conference Championship, its first conference title since 2016, by outscor­ ing Mona Shores 36-32 in a winner­ take-all tilt for the conference title at Caledonia High School Friday, Feb. 21. Caledonia celebrated senior night, its Cal Slams Cancer event and a confer­ ence championship all in one evening. “Our seniors, who have been ab­ solutely wonderful, Lily Gortmaker, Brecken Bloemers, Kathryn Langen burg and Lakely Bottum, they started the game with energy,” Caledonia head JT coach Todd Bloemers said. “Obvi­ ously, Lily is not on the court with us (because ofa season ending injury), but she was locked in helping kids when they came in and out of the game and bringing that energy. I thought we got off to a great start, set the tone and the seniors did a great job. “Mona Shores, nothing was easy, our first game with them was much of the same just in the reverse where we ended up losing by four. It was close. As much as we tried to extend things they had a response. I think it took a lot of grit from our kids just to step up and understand that there were going to be those ups and downs in the game where sometimes you have to navigate those emotions. The crowd was a lot larger than normal, and I think that fed into our girls in a positive way.” The conference title is j ust the second for the CHS girls since 1994 and it is the first in 14 varsity coaching seasons. split between the CHS guys and girls, for Bloemers. The Scots got on the Sailors early tak­ ing a 15-8 lead and then led throughout the night, and despite the low point totals on the scoreboard Bloemers felt like his girls were able to create the up tempo pace they like to play with whereas Mona Shores was able to play at the pace it wanted to when the two teams met in Muskegon earlier this season. Caledonia closes out its first season in the reworked OK Green with a 9-1 8-2 in conference play with its only pre­ viously loss coming against Muskegon. Bloemers said his team was able to make them work to have to get the ball up the court, apply different pres­ sures to make it tough for them to get into their offense, and when we get defensive rebounds we want to run, we want to fly, we want to fill lanes and we want to play in space. I think by the end of the first quarter it was very obvious that the pace was in Caledonia’s favor. They had some kids getting tired and I thought we were just starting to find our groove. “We’ve got an athletic bunch. We’re young and sometimes it is just tough to hold them back. They want to run, they want to fly around and that is what we were able to do.” A trio of freshmen guards led the Scots on the scoreboard. Emily Stuaffer had 11 points, Myla Gortmaker eight and OliviaFoster six. Sophomore forward Kayla Briseno chipped in four X t 1 J *4 I 4--S I *1 ■» i / ______ 0 4 ) .'Ik •4 *■ i"*r •M I. V-. •*>> ) 1J A >* ? • Ad • I .«• I ITTinr r !• * 1 . s 9• a ;^Tg8a . *; f -I 4 * • *1^ The Caledonia varsity girls’ basketball celebrates winning the 2024-25 OK Green Conference championship at the end of a four-point win over visiting Mona Shores in the conference finale Friday, Feb. 21, at Caledonia High School. The Scots open the state postseason against an as yet to be determined opponent Wednesday at Byron Center High School. Photo by Chris Robotham /5f • 1J r L* k.,^4 f *f-, ‘’‘.'f’-X *’kV-’ ‘;f/- t. I N rI r. 1 « SHERRIPF GOS LIN 1 i fi 4: -A or k <( I f 5 •* '4 1 •1 V 1 i i ‘ I I (269) 962-4036 . o » I I i f I J a starting as low as NOW HIRINC W. * > i I «i a • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115+ YEARS •T ^ I f: IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP 4 • WE WORK WITH ML INSURANCE COMPANYS » QUALIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIANS ts A $3970 9 ■' f ••“.y <t -I'. ; 6 I A *« ? •• Q X II 5?^ I ■*. V ' * QUALITY ROOFING , INCE 190 • Xb ? t IF Ii • st. ?^'*' >5a; ‘A‘ ---------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------r.'-' ... &; X I d 1 .■ • • 1 a• THE MOST TRUSTED NAME (N ROOEINO < 711 PX* a2rLf*/r^ S. moNnER HEATING AND COOLING PRE-SEASON See SCOTS on 10 I) • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM i • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS ■ . f . *4: • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED J 4 • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU s Other products available: • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and morel I * J » f . •i 1 V 4 t '•4 » t >1- V t 0 I •.r»* •;s * L^. «**< f K 7 :*ii 210 East Main Street Caledonia 616-891 T I / w /S''! CALLtoday I FOR YdUM FREE >* > ,*» I vy^’ ♦t * K < •• rhe company built bv referrals r I I 4si4 5 r % ' A «« '> V5 > A « « > 1 •*. X >. ► IN SPECTION VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK k k �(>.5 HRS 12 ///I Saturday, March 1. 2025 10 THE SUN AND NEWS SCOTS Continued from Page 9 puintv In all, eight different Caledonia girls put the ball in the basket. Stauffer also had team highs in as­ sists with three and rebounds with six. Bottum had five rebounds. As a team. Bloemers said his girls had nine assists on 12 field goals and only turned the ball over seven times. Laynic Russell had 18 points for Mona Shores and Katie Phillips had eight, Braylin Meyers was the only other Sailor to make a field goal in the ball game. She hit a three. “I thought we were so hard to play against Friday night,” Bloemers said. Ihc way we defended the ball screens. the way we moved and rotated in the full-court and then our pressures in the half-court. I was really proud of our kids to being locked into the game plan. Sometimes kids feel like they have to score the basketball to find value, and sometimes that’s just not the way the game of basketball is played. “One thing about this group, I know a lot of coaches talk about it, any chance they have to gc< together they love U. The seniors have just been so unbeliev­ able in their leadership arid irxrlusion We have three freshmen, two sopho­ mores, two juniors and four seniors and just a mixed bag of personalities and skills, and kids arc just really ramping up and playing their roles to perfection That is what is really fun to sec, that we’re able to find the nght play and not just look to making the play for us. I think that is what separates this team right now and why we have won some close games. The kids have that connection. They love each other and I think they love playing for Caledonia. It has been a lot of fun to work with a group like this that is hungry to learn.” The Scots were 17-4 heading into a regular season finale at DeWitt Feb. 27. Mona Shores fcl I to 15-6 with the loss to the Scots. Caledonia will open the state postseason in the MHSAA Division I District Semifinals March 5 taking on the winner of Monday's opening round game between Thomapple Kellogg and Byron Center. The Fighting Scots battled through the emotion of Lowell’s senior night ■WKi A #»* * -I-'. ' $ ^w» »'•' 'V 1/ T 4U. 7AM DINNER I <1 * II Winning a conference championship is something as a coach you want to set your mind on at the beginning of the season because if you can battle through the teams that just scout you re­ ally well, and know your personnel and plan so well. I was realty proud of our girls this year As a young coach you get surted and you have these bucket list items you want to check off and we are definitely exited to get that first conference championship and we just hope to continue to grow this program so that that is the expectation moving forward that we’re going to compete for those things.” mJ* * see toom OFF VOUR TOTAL BILL * fl *EXPIRES 6/15/25 fl fl t 9 I BraflBrwnar Sports Editor ««*«**' • >• r t • - The Thomapple Kellogg vanun girls’ hasketbail team cloaod out the OK Gold C onference eaxm with a 58-27 win at (.irand Rapids Union Iasi I nday. and will Man tlxr ' t slate postseason Monday evening The I K ladies open their MHSAA Division I District Toumamenl against the Bulldogs at Byron Center High School Monday. Tip-ofT is set tor 6 p.m w ith the winner of that bailgame advancing to the district semifinals to face the Caledonia Fighting Scots Wednesday, March 5. The I K girls moved to 8-12 overall on the season w ith their win over the Red Hawks Feb. 21 and closed out a campaign in the OK Gold. Byron Center sported a 2-20 record heading into the weekend. TK was slated to finish the regular season at home Feb. 27 against Lakewood. I rM ■t ii . <• s’** i' F: y > f '5 • I 4 i •v 1 I k I ML 5 ( f i V 4 tif al *4 4 J *6 V 1 J t 5 - * I *•* <1 if h t Ji' I k*i s * ft I I a I I » Lf- I } fl « 1 a I < *1. 9900 Cherry Valley Ave St. Caledonia KI // 616 622-1004 // www butcherblocksocial com * <• i' < • 1 •• 4 ^0hei d J A I 12 I k 3 a r r 8 I 6 b < & { I I I 5 I J w : J* * .A ► ; t Dan Scheuerman. Assessor •ft a s •p t r*. ! A 1 ■^'9 ■ I- IM H " ' I ** I _ I ' ■ Mt- w.. i 'L* - k-v„ I »I •i Z I y 5. L I d I 1 r y I *•* 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 301 i * I.V . Vi » ds*’. ’• I • 'J i' I I i i - f if < I if t a 9 9 f' r I < i 4 tf t I t < <• k'r • -X' »* s < ‘ :*• t. 7 J A 1 4 1 r h fl' > l I 9 P 191 201 21 J ? f *r I• I ' I’ 1 ' I ’ I ' I ' I 'I ' I 'I ' I • I ' I ' I • I ’ I ' I ' I ' I' I ' I ' I ' I' I ' I' I ' I * I ’I ' I •I ‘ I '' ' ’IJJ I 21 I 3i I 4i I 3i I Q *10 I 111 I 12 WA CO. 9-1-1 CENTER "Kids Measure up at^^awa Co. 9-1-1 Center* OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 18 I isat immpo-s 1 I I 17 4 5 i if 15I 16 u ft I h1 . 111 121 131 14 I tad V /■ • Rob Heethuis. Supervisor • .t Americans With DItabIhlies (ADA) Notice Persons with disabilities that need special assistance, please contact Tom Hopkins. Clerk, at 269-795-9091 i -JI I ’*• 49.59% 1.00827 4451% 1.12334 •Industrial... 49.62% 1.00766 •Residential 45.56%.......... 1 09745 •Personal Property .50.00% 1.00000 II -c ? fH I f I • 1 I I adaft* II . /A® 1 91 10 r A 5 r 8 T V < 7 .A* i > i 5 tt V' 5 1 I s 4 0’ aa 1^0 J I •Agricultural •Commercial fcTHE BLOCK! THIS COUPON FOR 10X> k The tentative ratios and the estimated multipliers for each class of real property and personal property for 2025 are as follovrs II CUT OUT & PRESENT ; •«. an: 2025 March Board of Review Meeting Scheduie Yankee Springs Township Barry County c fl k t i <* rw a t'' The Board of Review will meet as many more days as deemed necessary to hear questions, protests, and to equalize the 2025 assessments. By board resolution, taxpayers are able to protest in person, by letter sent to Dan Scheuerman at Yankee Springs Township. 284 N Briggs Rd . Middleville, Ml 49333. or email danscheuerman^ankeesDrinastwD.oro. provided protest is received prior to 4 PM on March 13. 2025 J I 4 points and Bonum chipped in 14 points, five rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals. t • * Ji on as the game went on F oster had ten 'uffi ik ii* • Tuesday. March 4. 2025. at 1 30 PM - Organizational Mooting • Wednesday. March 12. 2025.1-4 PM and 6-9 PM - Appeal Hearing • Thursday. March 13.2025.9 AM-Noon and 1 30-4:30 - Appeal Hoaring r> I coach, something her teammales fed i Trojans start postseason I at Byron Center Monday ■ The Yankee Springs Township March Board ot Review will meet on the tollowlng dates: Appeals aro by appointment. Please call 269 7B5 9091 to tchodula an appolntmont. LUNCH 1 l^angcnburg had six points and was feisty and aggm&ive according to her r z ft** The Yankee Springs Township Board of Review tor March 2025 will meet at the Yankee Springs Township Hall at 284 N Briggs Road. Middleville. Ml 49333 BREAKFAST Vot ••• Stauffer had eight points, nine re­ bounds and six assists tn the viaorv f -• t I 1 I •tii NOW SERVING BREAKF for a 4g-30 win over the Red Arrows Tuesday, Feb. 25. 4 «»-ae > OTCHEOLOCK^ggJj,-. r WWW sunmarwwis oom I, ■Y ■ w>e �; *■ <• .♦ 'i; lA ■^’’1 3 V ' 'I - V I A I K «»* I^R? I » » aSSRXxaa* k' *-8 ) & ^.*w 9 Xi Sj V S \ .. Wi 1 »> I www.sunandnews.com SKI I 1 r-tC I I ■ k I 1 4 made an impact on the skiers around him and know that they will take what they learned from him to continue help the team improve.” Potgeter’s name is all over the CHS ski records too. Only one guy has more career conference event wins than he does and he was top five in 90 percent of his conference races this season to put himself second on the Scots’ board on that list too. And those are just a couple highlights. He placed 23rd in the slalom at the 2025 finals with runs of 32.45 seconds and 35.63. It was Gaylord’s Keaton Abraham who finished at the top of the D2 boys’ slalom leaderboard with runs of 30.15 and 31.87. In the GS, Potgeter was 32nd with runs of 32.77 and 36.92. East Grand Rapids’ Quinn Irwin was b I iv; I 'L A. ' r T kr 11' ' -T 4 (t '. .'fl > I .' ( < t • -z- . 4x1 ) &***' ? . 5 1^ . iC ‘!A >1^ v : zi rrTt J » *1^. I v*. • .A a “ » , ? • . »w: Tiu.i-' u < t < I I. ?>4 u "jV ■ ’n J t J t^- I 1 e< « I 1 1 A • rr A** Xlii ''t ■'?l; i 1^ ' V' 'Lb. 015* f I • w. 'MJ ■ 1 Wi.. .e . ’ .. Il \ 'Lx A b. « .M • •»*»» SITo. * ’’ u <- « 4* * T' ' v,.-. r »* ) / •I u s I 9 ’f ’'Gil > •1 .V 5 “^fi, - s I 9 « A I r « ’^• fa- ' '< I * I a > L 7 ■ > F P I* t •^4 -■M 1 1 . !} . . / * 9 <» V 4 i 5.y .'9^ Scan our OR code to find your • a r I I i ■: . ■- < r ^1^ 4 >4 M perfect invitation! > F: < . J ’t ■ *J I "1 1“ '» i-.. .IS II.- *<?»;« L t I IWI tf 4 A a .—M^ r A' X ■^ii»ii"i» »'<■! M V. WEDDING INVITATIONS fl I of. ' 4 ■ ' ? I 5**** ' . iL Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. TT I I tVTW3;|L> n ?• u • r < I « ■ ’ J ll L r N < ii II w I I t 1 I La* PRINTING Jk'. >K. I b 1 ginad@pennylaneprinting.com lU R.\ .1. p r ( 5^ BY-*3 www.printingbypennylane.com K.\i 0^ T v-^ I* 4 » * 4 • '• • l’» » ■* « 4 w a 9 « *» V •t \ . *R 4 9 * 1 Jr** 41 a s - •, 1 nba wv •Sf * ' 4 .......... View Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST Responsibilities include: Group email wsmith(a)mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian a Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder I * it f I 1. i I II I < i L 't r I I ’ ' I fs «»■ iW •• I* ^.' k- **• ’ Fl / « All a> S leaW f I I I I I i Ik ‘H i I I J t I a X *. iJ V M * I K I I > I J * * < ■. t »• 4 ^3 < la I. .X «< BRk -■I"'** f > ■ 1 <ri' . I * Simply Perfect X. • IX in J**-’; I, Ml *’1.. <2 . ■wcy ."F w S > •l 'WkMT J Cii'- >» < * 'i hv i <K b : 4 w I ■ »V , JI a .. 4<. ff* • Advertising sales • Account management • Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts • Attend networking events w X V • nun 4dl k»« 9k '6*; •V » T ' ■'« «i b * <1 NOW HIRING •J ’,•1? •< WP'i 60 ONLINE TO SONANDNEWS.COM ,► 1 « MX **< . OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY p Ji HBV the boys’ GS champ with runs of 31.23 and 34.81, and he helped his Pioneer team to the state championship too. It took a tiebreaker, for the Pioneers to claim the title adding in points of fifth skiers in the GS and slalom. EGR and Petoskey both finished the race with 94 total points. The Great Alpine North team was third with 108 points ahead of Notre Dame Prep 131, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 162, Houghton 182, Grand Rapids Christian 221, Bloomfield Hills 222 and West Catholic 252. Harbor Springs beat out East Grand Rapids 69-90 at the top of the girls’ standings, Marian was third with 149 points ahead of Detroit Country Day 184, Grand Rapids Christian 195, Rochester Adams 201, Great North Alpine 220 and Norway 237. Continued from Page 8 » ■^s 11 Saturday, March 1,2025 1 I ' O;- THE SUN AND NEWS . T. .A \ J 4 'B in 'M JI I it n I i J A s \ I �4 ' 9 !r » a 1 4 ■ Saturday, March 1, 2025 12 z ♦ / f• Jt i r f f '■ 1 i aim i T /I z . ? t I >*.s !'//. I /)/ r I f I I ~1 I, •l • f ' 1 I www.sunandnews.com 1 i 4* I Ik 9 J r 1I / tr .UH A A A NOW HIRING GRAPHIC DESIGNER View Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time graphic artist for our Greenville location. — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS — This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! Responsibilities include: • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout IVe love what we do and we know you will too! Are you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@mihomepaper. com and let’s find out! Brett Bremer Sports Editor Thomapple Kellogg junior forward Trey Hilton look the ball away from the Scots and went to the free throw line with 70 seconds to play in their MHSAA Division 1 District opener at Wyoming High School Monday. Hilton buried two free throws to give the Trojans their first lead of the second half and the Trojans (13-11) held the lead the rest of the night. The TK varsity boys’ basketball team earned a spot in Wednesday’s MHSAA Division 1 District Semifinal against Byron Center back in Wyoming with a 44-37 win over the Caledonia boys (617). The top-seeded Bulldogs did down the Trojans Wednesday to get into the district finals. “I feel like once we work as a team and love each other, things go well for us,” Hilton said after the TK win Monday. “As soon as we play on-onone things don’t work out, but once we love each other, work together and play basketball as a group, as a whole instead of five individual people, it is a really solid squad. Part of that started with a lot ofoffensive rebonds and a lot ofeasy buckets we were getting.” Hilton’s two free throws that put TK in front 37-36 were part of a 12-1 run by the Trojans to close out the ballgame. Hilton, who has made a little over halfof his free throws this season, was aperfect 6-for-6 at the line for TK in the fourth quarter and finished with ten points before fouling out late in the ballgame. “I told him, I said I’m so proud of you because he has been struggling. I ><»•. •r-Be J i '« I The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer’s Guide Jeffersonian Tri-County Times Daily News -I: Tri-County Citizen / Oxford Leader ' Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen J z 4 A-k I ? < Iplt I J I w ► r r, .4# r i 4 •» N «*■ i V I 4 1 I » 1 1!> ( V s st" » ’'a I . V ' V 1 f tJ’- 1»* hl’ di J a i •K .1 I J I k I > »t 4 > v *^!>— I ft it W- i . * • > S I i > Caledonia senior guard Parker Little is swarmed by Thornapple Kellogg’s Jake Kelley (right) and Jude Webster (left) as he tries to get to the rim during their MHSAA Division 1 District Quarterfinal at Wyoming High School Monday. Photos by Brett Bremer rxe*’ /raid I* V - '*"» X »- ♦'I 7 C « •t l’.* *'■ • ♦ ♦• f' 4 I' •» I ^ :' jp- • 1 He is usually like 50-60 percent from the line, and I thought oh, boy, but he came up clutch,” TK head coach Phil Garber said. “Those were those mo­ ments to seal it at end end. It was great to see that.” “I love being in clutch situations,” Hilton said. See WIN on 13 . IT % *5 » ' i J 1 f' I k 4 L‘ 'it • j S> 4 W * ‘T- f I' n 4 a*j IL' t 'P I i wmU & I I 1 >. <*-. A rK ill /3' « V .I \ A Z , / « I t h 1 v\ m t lSt:.4 • if *4 .ct:’; Iff ' .n jiia----- r * ♦ ft £ Ridderman Oil has the knowledge, resources and products on hand to meet your needs. . & t F WHOLESALE FUEL ORIONS IN PLAINWELL, Ml SUCCESS U^^UUR^ V »• Ift \ •' -I s ft J r I i t ' I STOdaMnim • WRec-Ethanol Free #1 Home Heating Oil • 92 Utstl Or k Off IM I * We Sell and Install Bulk Fuel Tanks, Pumps and > . ' ' Delivery 3ve/leb,‘e tor your ionvemefKe Accessories Right forYour Home or Business. Hours 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday 930 Industnal Pkwy, Plainweit Ml 4^080 A s 5 » • K .f t ' I Ridderman Oil '. * -r - ?’i^ t » 1 I --:3a I li a^-sn. IP! > k “•i' T r . *1. 'Ai T'a« « .. 1' •k I •K ’A 1 : I h r I 11 12 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES DIAL (800) 249-091 llfON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at^rVSi awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" ni r 20 211 221 231 24 251 26| 27| 281 29| 30 V I I 4 I I 1 V i L ‘I I 1 a I 9 ;I r< < r ; I A J z I i » *r.. i^. * L‘‘ farr^O^^S^WB *5 A r L' r 9 •• • • ex 5^ ?’ *■' ^. * i I L VI'* • • 11 1 (i »* ... I Contact us to Inm more 269-68S-5825 181 19 t I I 151 161 171 > 4 9^ t 111 121 131 141 .-V- ’b I1 4 91 10 T' ■ * ..r)^‘ «* . 4’ f h 8 I ' r J I » 6 I 'If blAhja^ ; ‘fc' I ft ♦ 5 .4ft «»> I I. M 4 » « / b* f '' ;.*• Hl';. .L* l/k co. 9-1 -1 CFMTER * i J J b i A; 2 i .1 Purchase 150 to 12,400 Gallons of Gasoline and Diesel Fuel I jT t 4* J •> T“ A* I n 1 f I 1 r f V 1 I f r<l I Whether you are a Commercial, Industrial, or Agricultural business, or a Residential customer, We are a growiryg company of 21 community newspapers serving 15 Michigan counties that are delivered weekly to more than 335,000 households with an additiorya!500,000 monthly online readers. I ' t I I I I We are accepting JHFHrcustemers in ynur area The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer’s Guide & News The Sun and News •' Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News wK The Reminder 1 4F I G r .ft ft til Group rt* •~- i a I E: t 'If I •5-’ *W / '■'W-! ? s. z y f • Hilton finds touch at the line to finish district win Ui «4 7, I THE SUN AND NEWS ♦ rffi f k �in ■ft 4 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com . 'i Saturday, March 1,2025 WIN LSim r k * 1 I u 39. n © Scots fall in heartbreaker against Bulldogs 4 I '>4 * * I V 'i Brett Bremer Sports Editor »'Si' I .. < < - * 7- st- J a. r % L • 1 ■ /-r-. r J j: nr J?! ’ I I / s I V t i; r «R , hi .J 'r I 4 ' r 16 -4 ) •rf-A ,, - I " n. :'":)h . « ■ Mf I r ■*- JiJO ' b • r r'\ 1 < 1' i J b nfi .-' •q u L J </ /I- I ."i, ’ r ‘^1 I 1 ‘I •I iA. ‘i I. 4 Ik •r 1 I *:( I I- <1 I I •TA I f '‘ft’ j u *‘7 . Ik 1 V / ft c. 4 » f I- ' 11:0 rtv.i . f ’ 4 fw I !t ?^nr‘L I ‘ « r ‘ J ) I' I I I I I i ; iyi*? ,01., I •> ,' n; i r' I I * ib. T ' *1(1 . < • I i f li r r. I ..; I ♦* -U .4 fl ! * 1 I '^k«ss! I r b ft 1 I A r (. r> ■QtS * K L hl^TsWf 3O^*-'43RftiB* At n < r K nnti few V J 1 r” i r}O?X'j^ r I »* A / 'V Jr T ' J I J' FSI >rZwiirtrt«*U|i • ■ aL: I “ t-- 7 J 1 4 f- k ■ V.- i 1 I •- J I I * f ^ 'C.''2 Jahb ■■ ■ I I ■ li I I MA I I I I ixtK£ t J I I k i I ofernjucis .jbi oJ /io I I ''' c’ J [ A i •» I =rl f ll • ■< I -.n 1 J i K ( I J J It doesn’t get any tougher than that. A tremendous Caledonia varsity hockey season came to an end in the regional semifinal round of the MHSAA Division 2 state tourna­ ment Monday evening as the Fighting Scots were bested 3-2 in a third overtime period against local rival Byron Center. Caledonia assistant coach Byron Lippert called it a brutal end to a record season for his guys. The Scots’ weren’t convinced that the Bulldogs’ game-winner was a clear-cut goal. Bulldog defender Gordie Young made a tremendous charge from his own end through center ice, split the Caledonia defense and slipped a backhand shot underneath Fighting Scot goalkeeper Sam Hoag off the left post. Officials ruled that the puck managed to get across the goal line, before or after, it deflected off the post and back out into the crease and was cleared by the Fighting Scot defense. The Scots also had two goals waived off the by the referees for the net being nudged off somewhere in the process of the puck finding its way into the net. “Our seven seniors, it is a shame for them,” Lippert said. “We got over our emotion and came together in the locker room and came together as a group. Hugs and tears and look­ ing towards next year. Tremendously proud of the progress we’ve made with our program.” The Scots had just two wins during the 2021 22 season. Head coach Jeremy Bultema took over the following season and the Scots man­ aged eight wins, then a 13-13 mark in 2023-24 and now close this season with an 18-7-1 mark. The two teams were back and forth through­ out the night Monday. Caledonia took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Drew Nichols three and a half minutes in, with an assist from Harmon Esch. The Bulldogs got goals from Braxton McKee in the second period and Jaxson O’Keefe in the third to go in front 2-1 and the score hung there until the Scots’ Austin Osborn slammed home a rebound with five seconds left in the third period to force overtime. i Continued from Page 12 * Trojan junior forward Lucas Ploeg buried two three-pointers and had a big offensive put-back during the fourth quarter to wipe out what had been a 27-20 Cale­ donia lead early in the fourth. He finished with 11 points. TK junior guard Ben Lloyd had a game-high 16 points including a three and a few free throws in the fourth quarter. The young Caledonia squad got 14 points from sophomore forward Bryce Backus, ten points from sophomore guard Ben Geerdes and eight from senior guard Parker Little. “I thought early we were really locked in on the defensive side of the ball,” Caledonia head coach Nate Bums said. “It was a pretty emotional start to the game and we fed off of that defensively. Offensively, however, we let the emotion of the game speed us up and not allow us to take a deep breath and execute.” Points were tough to come by in a bailgame where the officials let the two teams play. It was a 7-7 tie after one quarter and the Scots led 16-10 at the half. “They’re a physical team for sure,” Hilton said. “Props to them, a whole bunch of sophomores out there, they know they have to play physical and they did and they made it tough, but not tough enough I guess.” A 5-0 lead by TK at the start ofthe game, and a seven-point lead early in the second halffor the Scots were the biggest lead for either side until TK pulled away in the end. “They did nothing [special],” TK head coach Phil Garber said. A- .A?'?' < z fl 3.^&rI I 2? I w Thornapple Kellogg junior Lucas Ploeg celebrates an and-one opportunity as teammates Elliott Neff (right) and Ben Lloyd (right) arrive to help him off the floor during the second half of the Trojans' win over Caledonia in the MHSAA Division 1 District Quarterfinals at Wyoming High School Monday. ‘‘They ran man. They did some heavy ball denial . on our end we went into man in the second half and turned it up. That was a good turnaround. It was the second game in a row we were down eight, ten points hey, we’ve got to battle back. We’ve got to battle back. “That is not what you expect, but it is. It’s championship basketball. I told them it’s districts, anything can happen. Every team comes to battle. Nobody is just going to lay down for you.’’ Bums said as the second half wore on and his team struggled to score against TK, it started to affect the effort and focus on the defensive end. RE/MAX OF GRAND RAPIDS Margaret (Margo) E. Peric Commercial/Residentiai Full Time Agent Cell: (616) 204-9792 Office: (616)957-0700 Email: margoperic@remax.net Q IfelkStSi 13 The Trojans made the bounces go their way late with a little extra hustle. Hilton had the take away that led to his go-ahead free throws, and Trojan senior guard Jude Webster got a takeaway on the press after those foul shots, getting the ball up off the floor to Ploeg who then found senior guard Bryce Lloyd for an easy two points. TK also kept a few possessions alive late by tipping rebounds away from the Fighting Scots. “I told them, when you guys are everywhere like that it is hard to stop you. You get on that roll, so that was good to see,” Garber said. “I don’t think we ever cracked under that pressure. We have been here before. Don’t make this mo­ ment bigger than what it is I said during a timeout with 30 seconds left. You know what to do, get one stop and the game is over and that is exactly what happened.” It was the second win of the season for the TK boys over Cale­ donia. The Trojans won by three in Middleville back in December. “A tough year for sure, but it was a valuable experience for all the guys coming back,” Bums said. “Their desire to compete grew throughout the season and they can use this experience to fuel them through the off-season.” The host Wyoming Wolves outscored Ottawa Hills 74-68 in their opening round bailgame Monday and then fell 60-43 to East Kentwood in a district semifinal Wednesday night. The Falcons (12-11) were set to face the Byron Center Bull­ dogs (17-6) in the district final in Wyoming Feb. 28. Byron Center ran to a 76-35 win over the Trojans in their district semifinal contest Wednesday. •RNAPPLE ITCHEN U RESTAURANT Days/Weekends No Nights Now Hiring • Line Cook • Dishwasher • Host/Server STOP IN AN APPLY! (2691-795-3672 4525 M-37 Hwy Middleville �► ri Ji.’?' I Saturday, March 1, 2025 14 r THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com mt' . CHS girls win regional team and singles titles ♦ ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor ♦ The Fighting Scots are filling the trophy case. The Caledonia varsity girls’ basket­ ball team captured a share of the 202425 OK Green Conference Champion­ ship and followed that up by adding a regional title Wednesday, Feb. 19. The MHSAA Division 1 Bowling Finals are being held this weekend at Thunder Bowl Lanes in Allen Park. The Scots’ regional championship last Friday at Revel & Roll West in Kalamazoo earned them a spot in the team state finals that were set for Feb. 28 in Allen Park. The DI Bowling Singles Finals are today, March 1, and the CHS teams had junior Addison Luxford from the girls’ squad and junior Brady Humberger from the boys’ team ear spots in the state singles finals with their top seven finishes at last Thursday’s regional singles tournament at Revel & Roll. Luxford was the regional singles Comed Beef & Cabbage FUNDRAISER Friday March 14 th from 5-6:30 pm at Middleville United Methodist Church 111 Church St. Middleville Fellowship Hall *M ’Ifr- r- X . LX A T I 4 r TTjW IV WL I HR I ■ i 41 j 1 J > 1 » to w I. < V I I « • I . «• ’vV t I H » ' i* * 4 I champion. The CHS girls took the team regional title last week in a battle that came down to the final game against Portage Northern. The Huskies had an eight-pin lead over the Scots after eight B^er games and one regular game, but the Scots surged for a score of 776 in the second regular game to beat out the Portage Northern girls by 72 pins in the end. Portage Northern put up a score of 696 in its final game. Throughout the day the Scots had top Baker game scores of 184 and 171 among the eight baker games. They finished with an overall pinfall for the day of2,676. Portage Northern closed the meet at 2,604. The top two teams in the boys’ and girls’ team competitions earned spots in FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT 4» 269-381-2300 dr bt Jir 4r 4* > .4 -R 14.' 4r -41 w iJft f*l wr IIVA CO. 9-1 -1 C Is I I M .e X dr i I KRX^* * r 4 ii'. » I ’I 4 5 Kalacanic closed strong with her two best scores, a 181 and 178. Light opened with a 191, her top score of the day. The CHS team also had senior Kaelin Kalacanic 15th, senior Josie Bums 31 st and senior Khadeeja Nasir 37th. While Luxford was at the top of the singles standings, Humberger qualified by the skin ofhis teeth in seventh place. He led Byron Center freshman Nolan Martin by four pins through four games after Martin exploded for a 201 and a 201 back to back. The two then both rolled a 172 and a 189 in their final two games to leave Humberger ahead in seventh. There was a pile up there at the line for the last ofthe seven state qualifying places. Humberger had an overall pin­ fall of 1,100. Sixth-place finisher Ryder Roberts, a senior from Hudsonville, had a score of 1,101. Martin finished at 1,096, East Kentwood junior Kieron Curry ninth at 1,092 and Portage North­ ern senior Aiden Cooper was tenth with a score of 1,089. Humberger had a top game of200 on the day and also rolled a 168, a 198 and a 173 in his first four games. The Caledonia team also had juniors Jack Thornton and Wade Cawson tied for 26th place, senior Connor Gif­ ford place 39th and freshman Hayes Bouchard 43rd. «» .. t- ' "**'. J'' aS*" T •T' I I I "I* ’I f 'HI I I i r I I 81’ I I I n *n 121 13 14 15 161 171 181 19 ^1. * >. 1 V. f I ' f X ■ ■ '.f 14 'A k M** , T I'M < I >• : 1^ '((ijtia*;'» M<T. t” a*-' 1, . hWi** U. I I 1?^ U'T * 7 n 4 4 T * i.*- t dW fW51 Ji;; • • ■ T i 'i . J t -rJ ja J I-’ '• I I I I « 1 ir«* I 4 X . >4^0 J . . ’i/ I to I i|' w , 4. Xjiwrt' < * ».. I * ’* c >A \_ 4 P'. I f( A"- ^jSxi I. i ■ J t - i t I. i d I » A4 I I 44 • 1 .r^ I. < I ' , nuX • r-ij .4*«* ■- I - K ai® “ I .'.I t i > -Ui . I ’< T -Hi I .- 1 rf' i >r. 1 I I r I t t 4h ('» iL IA dii re cuitl ttpy t * i -. (tofeat t-mr«Z' ■ I 1 i r* ' » *: I . i f yicrrjftrf' i - jO t . -fc ■ i V'A» < I 1 ^' W I I 110) ’’ L. J O » 1 1 £' U; 1 ir>’’n ,'‘*^‘n'vv. T r I 'jis.-" \ ( ' ‘H. *u. 1 I I < 4. 12 211 22| 23| 241 25| 26| 27| 28| 29| 30 . r 1 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 20 ■. n as f 11 > I ( 3 »; < .« - • DIAL (800) 249-0911 t^ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at \Na Co. 9-1-1 Center" TER 91 10 ntli* ' " » •" ♦ ri this weekend’s state finals. Hudsonville was third with an overall score of2,579 ahead ofZeeland East 2,431, East Kent­ wood 229, Loy Norrix 2,223, Portage Central 2,114, Mattawan 2,094, Byron Center 2,003, Battle Creek Lakeview 1,786 and Grand Ledge 1,628. The CHS boys were tenth in their 12-team regional competition on the day with an overall pinfall of 2,651. Their day included a high Baker game of 172 and a top regular game of 860. Hudsonville won the boys’ team regional title with an overall pinfall of 3,171 ahead ofEast Kentwood second at 2,982. Grand Ledge was third just a little way back with a score of 2,899. The teams switched into singles mode for the regional tournament Thursday, and Luxford had a heck of a day. She won the regional champion­ ship with an overall pinfall of 1,067. Her six games produced scores of 191, 164, 200, 163, 170 and 179. Luxford was 52 pins better than Por­ tage Northern senior Aubrey Rowlson who was the day’s runner-up. A couple other Scots weren’t far from earning state singles spots. Sophomore Riley Kalacanic placed ninth and freshman Katelyn Light was tenth. Kalacanic had an overall score of 908 and Light 900. The last of the seven state qualifiers from the tournament, Byron Center senior Ashley Cramer, had an final pinfall of 93 lUSED MRIS £ USED TIRES 3 1 .4 1 II* t LIGHT TRHCN PARTS? m ruTS" not < ns TONS > VMS • sm - os * 4X4S I I '1 > U*' 1 . .-1 .. kP’ > 'I 3 I* 5 .* I r 1 •i 4 I £6 <• The Caledonia varsity girls’ bowling team celebrates winning a share of the OK Green Conference Championship. The CHS girls followed that up by winning a regional championship in Kalamazoo last Wednesday to earn a place in the Feb. 28 MHSAA Division 1 Girls’ Bowling Team Finals in Allen Park. Photo provided 4B»-' I » f , <« « I .i: - » J, »»■ I r<>. <1 • '* I *< » A d k ♦ •\ J? < ■ R ■F •* 11 A -R- '1 ,s^ L* . V <4 *v' : •» t- < 4b) 4 h / •- -W" I 4* S", Proceeds to benefit: Middleville Community Food Pantry Donations accepted at the doort 4 “■’^1 1 3 4Bfe*4 ) » I j y- n' k i t V i « ^to■ ^^■ <1 c h J < i * ? r' ' to' ■!i <3 .. ( ..'W \a 1 1?'’= i •to .1 •.i 1 hi /w u < i 4^ * ■ IV- = * / .4 .-iV. ■ " '>T.. I I t* -4 ; X’. ’ i. I to < .‘i f 4^ A« >* --.fi 7 •^T’’ X'' II ,r S'C .? •*1 V’ 11’ 1 r k 7 »4» « »4 / t• ■.:* >1.. •'.'C k Ak a/iil ?*• Si 4 I < I 5 i Ao I I i.. f r 4 J. i • > 1 �J } 1 1 'HL *■ B« ♦ K ft I I J ? I 5 Sifinfu » wodi.fxTfzf . .tl ■ I 'ooJa2 fc iG a: jk [ dr )m fi A: t. mO I I bj -yiqrncfb -vieFil 100 <3 e s 5? 'iTfi') ftefo2Ml AV* 7 as® T 4 1 I -i'l t f 1 » •lerff odinc eniv ftl nOEJKl -jHicsi o’/zf sfF 3®. <1 )- t *. » ib •.-V r-c . Mha vnn ;fP i 111 * f I 1 w; t f f >• ■u < i Mt-i,,. ■’ttl ■ V I b ' r n‘ I < r r r r : 'Si e M ‘Cg; I ta 1 ■< I J- K .J I •* c. •i 'tn f t f l4 A fl . 4 / s S'-.'X.'' ** ■■ V > 3^ « v-# ft ■Sn 15 / ’I Al ( X- •4 J t FT ' -’ V r I I I r 1 I I 1 w . » •» •* / t ► ^0 vi>U < V. I , s,,. i. J J -• . Jb.«A ■' ) I i ?V 5 • 4 4 I - s?. I I I Al. ► '.-i • 9 ‘,»iu . « . e J Vl ■(- rr^?Vri 71 .VSi.i3Ct.( s' r* f J “r\ ’y: Wt 001 f i i? tO'> •« ** .J i ’•*rw /H;r.i., »^?|P I I 9- 4 -S ■ ! I I - # ' f 0< f J r 1 f J I .i/ i'l t » ' I - h: H - K’ T xrrl/'iVj J .«■ r S rrO ' r *-3 . JL i'l j I II < A . ■" '■LrTPiiJi'tr/ I ( I f Brett Bremer Sports Editor It is conference championship week­ end in the OK Rainbow Tier II Confer­ ence. The league is at Byron Center High School Feb. 28 and March 1 for the conference championship meet. The Caledonia/Lowell/South Christian Vi­ kings and the Grand Rapids Gars both picked up wins on the final day of the regular season Saturday, Feb. 15. The two teams gathered at the Com­ munity Education and Recreation Center in Hastings for duals with Grand Rapids Union. The CLS boys were 2-0 on the day with a 149-29 win over the Red Hawks and a 97-85 win over the Gars. The Gars co-op took a 123-42 win over the Union boys in their match-up. CLS head coach Todd DeJong said his guys had to dig deep to win the hard-fought battle with the Gars and had some phenomenal time drops on the day. One of the biggest CLS time drops came from junior Anders Foerch in the 500-yard freestyle as he was just able to chase down Gars’senior Nolan Send for the victory in that race. Send had about a two and a half second lead with 100 yards to go in the race. Foerch’s winning time of 5 minutes 38.56 seconds was a season best by about 14 seconds. Send had a season best time too touching the wall in 5:39.80. The Gars’ Gabriel Van was the only guy to win two individual races for his team on the day. He took the 200-yard individual medley in 2:09.40 and the 100-yard butterfly in 56.49 seconds. Sam Jones took a couple of fi-eestyle victories for the CLS team. In the 200-yard freestyle, Jones just beat out another personal best swim from Send. Jones finished that one in 1:59.10 with Send clocking in at 1:19.16. Jones also outraced the Gars’ Ty Denney at the front of the 100-yard freestyle race with a time of 52.59 seconds. Denney 1 ■■urn,' "w-**®-* ^y£..i=rJ?" rftr j I 4 I I i 1 •<-2- I I I t A I & a , i’w I I I jU’ II 1 I I • I 1 s ? »■ •V. : :4 MMIh ■ 3*^7 -p‘ ‘ II 1I I ■r ■ I' ( !■« 3 ' -•« « & I 5 r. * •• 1 * I *■ ! * 2 w*. 4 , I, „ I . J^U' |««>® <r 4 — A X 4 I u ■% 4. * 4 ft -- - ♦ 1^ ¥ f*- fi » r' 1 4 *«*■ 4 IE 1 s \w4 5 >3r <ftM < * * J)®-*'- 't « 1* i •4 • V 4. < 'sri $» < ‘* • * .>< 1. i Oft - Relay swimmers take off at the start of a race in the three-team meet between Caledonia/Lowell/South Christian, the Grand Rapids Gars and Grand Rapids Union Feb. 15 at the CERC in Hastings. Photo provided finished in 55.72. CLS was powered in part by wins in each of the first two relay races of the day. The Viking team of Ethan Snapper, Andrew Barnum, Nolan Fitzgerald and Anders Foerch won the 200-yard med­ ley relay in 1:50.95, with the Gars’ team of Ethan Klopfenstein, Luke Hemker, Sreyas Murmu and Caden Bliek second in 1:53.55. In the200-yard freestyle relay, the CLS team of Snapper, Austin Tufts, Jones and Foerch finished in 1:35.19. The Gar foursome of Hunter Tietz, Ty Denney, Send andVan finished second in 1:37.24. At the end of the day, the Gar team of Send, Tietz, Denney and Van won the 400-yard freestyle with a time of 3:40.65. The Viking team of Jones, Liam Schuurmans, Tufts andFitzgerald was second in 3:50.16 in that one. A trio of the Scots’ 200 free relay swimmers went 1-2-3 in the 50-yard freestyle led by Snapper who had a time of 23.12. Foerch was second in 24.36 and Tufts third in 25.02. Union’s lone victory of the day was in the diving competition where Major Vance put up a score of 235.35 points. Ethan Magnuson was the runner-up for the Gars with a score of 153.45 and coach DeJong was pleased with how CLS’s Caleb Sheldon dove in a third-place performance that earned him 117.55 points. Klopfenstein led a 1-2-3 finish in the 100-yard backstroke for the Gars. He won in 59.31 with Tietz second in 1:03.24 and Murmu third in 1:13.73. Klopfenstein was also right behind Van in the 100-yard butterfly with a runnerup time of 57.95. Andrew Barnum won the 100-yard breaststroke for CLS in 1:11.46 with teammate Ruben Baker second in that one. YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TO: THE RESIDEN’FS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS. BARRY COUNTY. MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held on March 20, 2025, commencing at 7:00 p.m. at the Yankee Springs Township Hall, 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville MI, within the Township, as required under the provisions of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act and the Zoning Ordinance for the Township. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE In addition to participation during a public hearing, members of the public may also provide comments for the Planning Commission’s consideration by emailing or mailing those comments to the Planning Commission for receipt prior to the meeting, in care of tne Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea (joeshea@yankeespringstwp.org). Letters and emails are due one week before the hearing date; or by leaving a phone message prior to the meeting with the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea at 269-795-9091. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the item(s) to be considered at said public hearing include, in brief, the following: 1. SEU 25-02-04; Parcel ID; 16-370-013-00, 2734 Sandon Circle #13, Wayland, MI 49348. A request by Christopher and Patricia Gonser, the property owners, for a special exception use permit to operate a commercial Short-term rental pursuant to the Yankee Springs Zoning Ordinance, Article X, Short Term Rentals. 2. SEU 25-02-05; Parcel ID: 16-215-014-20, Lot 22 Streeters Resort Plat, Middleville, MI 49333. A request by Robert and Patricia Albaugh, the property owners, for a special exception use permit to build an outbuilding pursuant to the Yankee Springs Zoning ordinance, Article XII, section 12.7 Outbuildings. 3. Such other business as may properly come before the Planning Commission. Anyone interested in reviewing the application material may do so at the township hall. All interested persons are invited to be present at the aforesaid time and place, or, if an electronic meeting is held, to participate via the electronic meeting. . • t Group E?^ xl J Invest In Your Community. u 4- - 0^ 'r> I Spairi It hgra. Kaap It Inra. I >4 . ..ue I The buck stays hero! I I 1 T t I I luus 15 CLs wins exciting distance races at last league duals ♦1 I’ Saturday, March 1,2025 ♦ f k.4 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com J Yankee Springs Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, to individuals with disabilities at the hearing upon four (7) days’ prior notice to the Township Clerk. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address or telephone number listed below. YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION By: Shana Bush, Chairperson Yankee Springs Township Hall 284 N. Briggs Rd. Middleville, Michigan 49333 (269) 795-9091 ♦ �u ; 1 VJ I I* . iiSi K, 1f a. .» . • ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ I ; THE SUN AND NEWS TK comes up short of third straight finals trip Brett Bremer Sports Editor at a hyper-competitive regional it was too much to overcome. The Trojans placed sixth at their MHSAA Division 2 Competitive Cheer Regional hosted by Forest Hills North­ ern High School. The top four teams at the regional earned spots in today’s (March 1) MH­ SAA Division 2 Com­ petitive Cheer Finals in Mt. Pleasant. The Trojans have made their money in round three in recent seasons, but a round three score of 309.30 Saturday wasn’t enough for the TK ladies to hold the spot in the top four that they had after the first two rounds of the regional. Round one had its sparkle. Round two was su­ perb. Round three just wasn’t quite where it needed to be for the Thomapple Kellogg var­ sity competitive cheer team to make a return trip to the state finals for the third consecutive season. That’s not how things have gone for the Tro­ jans in previous seasons. The TK varsity com­ petitive cheer team had one stunt come down at districts but survived to advance to regionals. A different stunt group had a hiccup at Forest Hills Northern Saturday, and “We have in the past been able to rest on that round three, and this year we have not been able to do that,” Thor­ napple Kellogg head coach Madelynn Lula said. “In some ways, I am fortunate in them learning that lesson. You never want to rely on * ‘ »« Hl' >1^' «' • > < Z I • < < 1 .X k'J • I’ ■ '/■ J www.sunandnews.com / .r ' A ‘ » Saturday, March 1, 2025 4 r-.z <K I 16 '9 i z «' L ' t 91'^ JI J . ^' I . 4'^ A & t -ft ''' J > <► L « * 4*‘ i L 1 SV ,-7 ••?.5- Jj! /• 1: I anything. ■L r She said there wasn’t one big reason that jumps out as to why the Trojans’ round three this season wasn’t as near perfection this season as in previous years. Some illness swept through the team late, and the TK team did have a fairly young group overall. “When the round hit, it is beautiful and it’s perfect and they were . '.d 4 I * * * .x ft r / •tf*- . • II 5^' ) -I* < \ u M1 V V %-• -T k. •l ♦ F « * I -•' <« . k 1 *'>'» « hM c&^ ■S. r 1 is ■■ :5r 3 I ■;V'*’ 11 Clara Kovich and the Thornapple Kellogg cheerleaders perform back handsprings during their round two routine at the MHSAA Division 2 Competitive Cheer Regional hosted by Forest Hills Northern Saturday. Tankee Springg Township •V )'CBd rmolipq aiebj W noiaiviC AATr^-'Ai 1 I J liT ’ yeth tac! rn3rt ■ i -^5 z •V 4\ I ) N. BRIGGS ROAD- MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN 49333 269-795-9091! FAX 269-795-2388 Notice Yankee Springs Township-Barry County Is seeking estimates for Rest Room remodel Project The basic scope of work is as follows: -Remove old, designated plumbing fixtures, partitions and flooring in Ladie’s Room and Men’s Room. -New sinks, faucets, comfort height elongated toilets, grab bars and partitions. -New mirrors -Paint block walls -New luxury vinyl flooring *Note: full specs can be picked up at the township office or emailed to you. really good at it,” Lula said. “This year, theyjust I don’t know if it is be­ cause of the youngness of the team, not under- CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Township Hall Location; 284 N. Briggs Road-Middleville, Ml Certificate of Liability Insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 must be submitted with the bid. Bids will be received until Noon, Wednesday, March 12,2025 addressed to: Meeting Minutes Tom Hopkins Yankee Springs Township Clerk 284 N Briggs Road Middleville, Ml 49333 Please Call 269-795-9091 with any questions. Estimates may also be e-mailed to tomhopkins@yankeesprinQstwD.org and must be received no later than Noon, March 12, 2025. It is required that contractors visit the township to review the project with township staff prior to submitting an estimate. A more detailed scope of work will be sent upon request. Estimates will be evaluated by the township after 12 Noon on March 12, 2025 before being presented to the Township Board for possible awarding at the March 13, 2025 Township Board Meeting at 6: 00 PM. Yankee Springs reserves the right to reject any and all estimates. The minutes for the February 5, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on February 19, 2025 are post­ ed at the Township offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave, and on the website at www. caledoniatownship.org. standing the magnitude of it. You can’t drop a stunt. That is just not how it works.” Plainwell, Zeeland West, Cedar Springs and Reeths-Puffer had the top four round three scores of the day at FHN and finished as the top four teams in the fi­ nal standings. Plainwell won the regional title with an overall score of 767.68 ahead of Zeeland West 760.14, Ce­ dar Springs 750.86 and Reeths-Puffer 646.60. TK was a couple points up on Cedar Springs and Reeths-Puffer heading into round three, and Northview also jumped the Trojans in the stand­ ings in the fi- nal round. Northview was fifth, less than half a point back of the last of the four state qualify­ ing teams with a total of 746.14 points. TK had a final score of 743.00. The TK ladies had a score of226 in round one and sat in second place behind only Plainwell at that point. The TK team added a score of 213.20 in round two, and was in third place going into round three. Lula said her team’s round two performance was probably its best of the season. “We have been saying all season that round is our hard round if you will,” Lula said. “The See TRIP on 17 r woltriJTOi4 L oi I I K mroe .I t 1 I F. 10 k loixW*// a I ( f r /■ .O&XI^X Io tnooa Unm i1 a bari f2eibsi z!T _ MobnuOT nr f bnoo38 ni jsa bflf rs llsvmtfin vkio botitod H 'W r r fatal J^T 9ilT.jiWx^!J8fU 'io 01002 ; ■ * hm.'oi rrt nr jbI o/u J^nuoi tMSc a9nH' i'?n3C|’ovn brajoi > a ! u i : 3 It i • l» JU J J I % :t'' ' I♦ . 1^ ,noaBS8 'jfil *» < n ! .r ■ • »^, • I 4 I I ** *1 •"I ► J I . '•‘'St nr w> I -I? * jI •( :ifts Ur M 11»— ' - 'TM I r, 1 2 I I 5 1 I I 5 J, 9I 10 8 IJ DIAL (800) 249-09111SON - EMERGENCIES VA CO. 9-1-1 CEiftTER 4 1 II 11 Kids Measure up at 12 131 14 awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 151 161 171 181 19 20 ■I' 12 11 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES t 21I 22I 23 24 25I 26 27I 28I 29I 30 ‘1 6 t’ 1 2 I �I I i I I, U‘ I I I elite teams all have standing back tucks and we don’t have that high level skill in our routine. We still, in terms of math, could get the same point totals, but skills are tough to execute.” “We really honed in on timing and just the details. The skills we do are hard to time and I finally feel like on Saturday they looked as close to one unit as opposed to ten as we had all season.” A big piece of the improvement was the jump timing, something the squad has really been drilling to improve both round one and round two scores. “We’ve been breaking it down piece by piece,” Lula said. “People look at a jump and think, oh it’s just a jump, but the takeoff, the swing, the landing, J gj^yrrlB , ^V£ff' IC4> W ?i/01J ■^^I51.b{nrzj ,rttern I I I I J * i' 1 dgsoj ' tnr d vlhsa i oVf 4 I Jan .^^tHJ5b -/it t2-'L , I bfu 0 ■ IMc ) OJ t Jd? TQO $ 7Rf)V' ’ ic V .ao r .5dr t<J0J9tq J id J r aax.gnimin nut on i zliOOf2«ll J 1 XL JO E bfin sno bnuoi LGOTd no^d ov I jifi?, £kjJ ,009 iq ’<a [ bfl£ qnofbs .'IIoojIe) srfnutf .0 1 the height all comes along with having the timing of it be perfect. There is also that piece of when you’re yelling and you’re so tight and your arm muscles bum that makes it tough.” Plainwell had the top score in each of the first two rounds at 232.20 and 224.08. The Plainwell Trojans capped off the regional championship with a score of 311.40 in round three. Zeeland West had the day’s top round three score of 315.10. Cedar Springs moved into third place in the end with a score of 313.60 in round three and Reeths-Puffer into fourth place with a score of 310.60 in that final round. Mason was seventh on the day overall with a score of 739.02 ahead of Forest Hills Northern 732.92, Gull Lake 728.48, DeWitt 726.54, Mount Pleasant 718.54 and St. Johns 703.40. Continued from Page 16 I me s. A "o M 1 »■ 1 I t I J i: j A •4 'I * 4 I. i rt w W' I , J * I I 2025 MARCH BOARD OF REVIEW MEETING SCHEDULE C:> T 0 W N S H I 3 Charter Township of Gaines, County of Kent, MI The Gaines Charter Township Board of Review for March 2025 will be held at the Township Office, located at 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml to hear appeals regarding 2025 assessments. Ihe Gaines Charter Township Board of Review will meet on the following dates: • Tuesday, March 4,2025, 9:00AM: Organizational Meeting • Monday, March 10, 2025, 12:00PM to 6:00PM: Appeals Hearings • Tuesday, March 11,2025,3:00PM to 9:00PM: Appeals Hearings The Board of Review will meet as many more days as necessary to hear protests and equal­ ize the 2025 assessments. By Board resolution, taxpayers may protest by letter sent to 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 or by email to jim.zenas@gainestownship.org, provided the protest is received before 5:00PM Tuesday, March 11,2025. The tentative ratios and the estimated multipliers for each class of real property and personal property for 2025 are as follows: Agricultural Residential Industrial 44.05 46.57 45.28 1.1351 1.0737 1.1042 Commercial 47.83 Developmental NC Personal Property 50.00 1.0454 NC 1.000 '1' I.: ♦ ? I Americans With Disabilities (ADA) Notice The Township will provide necessary reasonable services to individuals with disabilities at the Board of Review meetings upon seven (7) days’ notice. Contact Kim Triplett at 616-504-4332. .^MM'*** * 9^ < J 4*- ^.T. •:3 ? 1 H' 'I I •-1 ft 1 < .A 4 w I / T r - «, V. « i I A , ) > J I ■i. af,. ».• r Caledonia ^4 f'»^ V ft ■f. 9 TOWNSHIP r charter township of Caledonia COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN * “•p »I4 t •>5l Ki*:-, -. _ .. 4a^p«B PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, March 20th. 2024 at 6:00 p.m.. the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Charter Township of Caledonia will hold a Public Hearing at the Caledonia Township Building, 8196 Broadmoor Ave SE, Caledonia, Michigan, concerning the application of Walter Bujak. The applicant is seeking a variance from the watercourse setback requirement for a replacement deck to be built on this parcel. A dimensional variance is needed due to the water­ course setback requirement stated in ZO Section 3.45. Such land is located at 6662 Thornapple River Dr. SE Alto, Ml 49302 and is legally described as follows: ‘t* t ©s '« TRIP 5 IT N ^3 1 Mb a 'rU .1 «? » 4 * V >1 Mat ftJtr * ?*«*-^ •K** f ./•(V' *» iC?: *1' <ssiia t 1 Vi I > i J.i I A' r r M , f JI ,1 ^,«w—• ’i?i I h < )* t i«t,W PART SW 1/4 COM AT INT OF N LINE OF THORNAPPLE RIVER DR /66 FT WIDE/ & EXT E LINE OF * LOT 13 BLK 7 OF VILLAGE OF NORTH BROWNVILLE * TH NWLY ALONG SD DR LINE 288.0 FT TH NELY 10 FT M/L PERP TO SD DR LINE TO CONT 666 FT ON LT BANK OF THORNAPPLE RIVER TH ELY ALONG SD CONT LINE TO A PT N FROM BEG TH S TO BEG * SEC 3 T5N R10W 0.10 A. 0 VJ ’:1 ul ? Wl I iV ft tfsA A Vali 'IV ? % > «« I i TiB/feHS 10 >« * All interested persons may attend the public hearing and be heard with regard to the requested variance. Written comments concerning the proposed variance may be submitted to the Township Office, at the above-stated address, up to the time of the public hearing. «» .1 . :^'r’ X r •»' • .• ♦ •'^ ; I’L .> 4 rt ►■:-* if. *•' wt > f 1 A 'ak A i jb ...;s.ui fciAHl.'raSRg^ •« r.; 4 'I V i 2oie • .. •. • : ' ■ 5 TK cheerleaders McKenzie Czarnecki and Lilly McKeown shout out while celebrating the Trojans’ theme of ‘threes’ this season during round two at the MHSAA Division 2 Regional at Forest Hills Northern High School in Grand Rapids Saturday. Photos by Brett Bremer ?1 > 9 « 4 I I i t I 1 I ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA Posted: March 1, 2025 �Saturday, March 1,2025 18 I I II I r /I Obituaries ♦ "" 12holidays. Tammy was famous grandchildren Adalyn, for her "over-decorating,” Isaac, and Lincoln. She is which transformed simple also survived by her sister. gatherings into magical Catherine (Jim) Beckett. experiences full of warmth Tammy was preceded in and laughter. death by her mother, Alane Tammy is survived by her Philipp. husband, Albert VandenToorn Funeral services were held and her children: Iris (Jacob) 11 am Wednesday, February Roberts with grandchildren Wesley, Glenn, 26 at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 616 E. Main St. SE, Caledonia. Burial was held at Lakeside Cemetery. Relatives and friends met the family on Tuesday from 6-8 pm at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online at www. mkdfuneralhome.com. Ud i dedicated swimmer and diver who carried her strong spirit and determination into every aspect of her life. Above all else, Tammy’s greatest devotion was to her family. She poured her heart into lovingly raising four children and celebrating each of their unique paths. Her V CHURCH Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM www.alaskabdptist.org 66th Street SE, Caledonia jRep, Christine M, Beaudoin Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am 250 Vine Street 616-891 -8669 M 1 i J Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville -lb., V '11 d:=5- Livestream; facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleviHe FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH Caledonia Location 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Middleville Location Pastor: Rob Wurst hctp://goodshephercllcms.googlepages.com Church: Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses.. .. 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. (269) 795-2391 Opeace Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. CHURCH PEACECHURCH.ee 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee ■I 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am — THORNAPPLE VALLEY •’*s HOLY FAMILY il/CATHOLIC CHURCH 9:30 a.m. > i 11 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship !>* * Mv Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am ICHURCH MIDDLEVILLE e ^Me' Church fcu. ( I 'iri < • r 1 I ( ■■ 616.891.8661 www.whitneyvillebible.org J »'■ Sunday School Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am eeeeeteeeeteet Sunday Wonhip 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankccspnng^biblechurch.oi^ 10:30 AM our services from our website (see above) I- T| 4'^ ■’.’I X > »* /*</ »!»'tfj ■ '< Xi* .. r k J UI sc ■i. ■ t * . s; 1 •4* ! r..';^' J rij I 4 ’ *7? •• u* 4 If you see news happening, or if you just want us to know about something going on... .V<Ui ■ ’ t * « r <, 1 i I ▲ mmacleod@mihomepaper.com ' >« I uj ** I c 1 ,r *■’ I 5i "i Group « 1.^ AK Caledonia American Legion #305 le A . JMT r** ■ ft //W' f' f <tv t* * < 1 ; ■•■■:■ Id? n <r s I wT hsfnt. . w :< r I * <* * 1 > fPofiAh. fMeal I J i|K*V '•' . 6W? u J Fai Tuesday. March 4ih . —. 'iUk •- ' ■ L'ik <• CO. 9-1 -1 CElTER 4 5 8 91 10 "Kids Measure up at Q.lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 191 20 n 1 t rr 4. • r * Fresh KieLbasa ■ Kapusia (Sauerkraut) * Golampki (Cabbage Roll) «Rye Bread «Pierogies (Potato & 1 < .J.... 1 * i dKi. j T '•*A' I t V i -< T *« J * ‘ t V 1 * -' t I JISM? ; >jAX%Qi v« 4I Cheese Dumplings) p ♦ 1 1 4 i rt 1 > 4* ’* V" 1 ■'"I v: ?■■. I Mr I *< 1 -i V u « I 9^. J ! A “ r? I Serving Hoon (o 7pm (Or Until Gone) k Dine in or take out /$1B Regular Kitchen Menu Not Available this day 4f‘i :■ 4 A J J.'- ■ S'Ut«i*< . iiti* ■1 Ml .1 V 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, Ml r II I i i .1 »• •i ir I DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES f .M l4. »■ I T';j'' V’ Zill » I ! 5 ” tn r< V' au,. 4 1 i• » 2 t. <* ’ 1 J__ I ■ «« t I JI'' 1 I I I . A* i: . I j 1 i' ;K|y 'J ',» I* • • . a L/- • A' «5^- • X ' -t I f 9:30 AM J • 1 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. I -nr* 1 I a I GIVE US YOUR SCOOP! 8900 Dufiy Road Middleville, MI 49333 Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... •V >• ■ i ■ Yankee Springs Bible Church "Shining Forth God's Light" 1^ t I . I? www.stpaulcaledonia.oi^ h’ KI ♦ > 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 8655 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto PastorJonathan DeCou SERVICE TIMES: @ St Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 1 i -s: THE SUN AND NEWS ..p r . tWfr^ ft li 1 IRST BAPTIST III / - • 7*^ r,, ii» Zl I* cornerstonechurch X r r . J t Caledonia Vine Street Church r’* — I.. LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ALASKA BAPTIST J ! CR Tamara B. Vanden Toorn Tamara “Tammy” Beth Vanden Toorn. beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away on February 13, 2025. She was born on December 21,1966, and spent her childhood in Jackson, Michigan. A proud graduate of East Kentwood High School, Tammy was a l P*" k • a 12 11 10 OR'9-1 -'l FOR EMERGENCIES 211 22| 23| 24| 25| 26| T7 28| 29| 30 �% * • R I ♦ 4 '“J ♦ ♦ I • •1 , Hl > <• 1 www.sunandnews.com . THE SUN AND NEWS Saturday, March 1,2025 19 ♦ “ .1 1 * A 4 • J ?«•» Frank Valentine Bednarsky, Sr. I h ' I 1 A1312323 1 ■I f i '■ ’i xhmI * I I r, i I i w I • J . r Kt)V' •t p I « net ■ It- I Ed . -I I I <14 I. i J . "T. c.. o 4f)n' / JI4 U«vi *'* »* K 2 5 y* (jn^>iov7-* .4. 2iii pni S.9^n5qri h«?ER 9 vttei^. i ! I ♦ sdt Q sf I » *1 C OfVi } * \... •h c|£ 1 r -* I 4 V J '.' I ., lofiril: ftflou *^’1 of 9VB ■ fUW '(-1 > r* I 4 -It h J • r I I »r iwol- r i *w I enl '■y i I' V , J • I. I 1I bi -■' b. * if >1( w I A. f ft n».. « 1** ii... '•W 1 I 4 drs ' 4 :| s / nr ;nv u’4 I , J i ■ h, ' ■ tj < r i I nOd, - ’r k. J ■ I . • f ir J III . I V r; II r A 1. ■H IE -3QUh 4 ^4 VttR i;. i R j; ■■’♦‘■19V - J • Gt »a n. iilf’ p (Hzi UI I r«4< . ic OL ( r w* *»* r » * A: I * < 11' > .. I 1 i I a* i.." > •11 I i riitiiiit,, E t I I J Wn k f / si UnMuc;''d'.-'QJ '’( 3'1 J 1^ .it:i? ' « Is ro c9rn Z3. ( p -’‘'I Hl Alt b:.'\ ;Bn’^ ' I/) s I •n * 1*1 t ias»' □D < I .*4» ir*. C io I ' ? 1 ”1 s t j-r '-iV ■ ~H 1 f I I .J ;)9S 1 t I 1 J I _fji; r 1 - « BB tr . I rrrj ’ a -4!: I 9“K?0 ■ • ve| o ;o ■ 1 1 rl to ;k.. II iO 1 ■ ■ f-o •! zj ■ 1 '1 bKJ : ’ I 1-^ 19VI IDA • m I ism o2 BV9 erl tint 9 ''I' 1 «« A • 'j/fll Ji I** I 1 I J W.) I Mo '•! 9" ■ ■ •» • r If h !l I* ; tv •9/ 1 •.»« ’ 'Z7^U‘ ' ''1 i ; r.S* I - f / , ■f > i . 4 i * 9 • p- r— •k I 'f S6« ’*01 I I Frank Bednarsl^ Sr. (age 89) went to be with his Lord, ir'beloved wife Joan, and son Jon, on January 6, 2025 after battling Alzheimer’s. He z • r was born October 20,1935 in East Chicago. IN to Lily * and Frank Bednarsky, where he became a self-taught i printing press operator and bindery room supervisor, «* moving around the Midwest b* furthering his skills working for companies like Rand McNally and eventually becoming the VP of Printing at Eerdman’s Printing in downtown Grand Rapids (1966). He met his wife Joan (Joanie) in Cedar Lake, IN, where he gave her a ride to school in his Lincoln Continental so she didn’t have to ride the school bus. He was a lover of cars, especially his prized Lincolns that he owned over the years. Shortly after they met, they were engaged and married in November of 1957 in Cedar Lake. He was 22 years old. They had three children within four years, all born in Indiana hospitals. After that they moved for job reasons to Kansas City, Kansas for a short time. Then they moved to New Buffalo IN, and finally to Green Lake, Caledonia in 1966. Two more children were born there, completing a family of seven. Frank not only enjoyed shopping for, fixing, and driving his long list of various vehicles over the years, but he also had a love of boats and water. Living on Green Lake for almost 60 years was a passion of his and he instilled the love of boating, water sports, fishing, and sailing in all his kids. To this day they all live on or near water and love being outside and enjoying the water during the summer. For the older sons, Frank Jr. and Jon, there was always a lot of raft/ dock maintenance and cement pouring. Every summpr Frank Sr. would spend his 2-week vacation constructing some type of steps or patio out of cement at each of his homes on Green Lake. He was a very hard worker and strong physically! These special cement pieces are still on the lake today. In the early years at the lake, he really enjoyed a friendly competition of slalom water-skiing with his best friend, Lee Zandstra. It has been said that they weren’t happy unless one of them came back bleeding. He was also a fierce competitor on the golf course, especially with his eldest son, Frank Jr., belonging to the Briarwood Golf Course Men’s house league for over 40 years. Additionally, he was a member of the West Michigan Seniors Golf League. So many of his jokes during golf, and he even landed two hole-in-ones in FL! He continued .s f I **9 * % to play golf in Michigan with his sons Frank, Tom and his grandson Frank HI, and at his winter home at Leonardo Arms Condos on Fort Myers Beach, FL. He had golf pals in two states that enjoyed time with him on the various courses they played all over. He was an excellent golfer and was already missed in the last few years, due to his illness, by his golf buddies. I guess you could say Frank was an all-around outdoorsman as he loved hunting, salmon fishing with his own . boat on Lake Ml, cultivating his hobby farm garden with his Allis-Chalmers farm tractor, and animals of all types. He bought his daughter, Amy, her first pony and walked it through a snow storm on Christmas Eve to deliver it in time for Christmas morning. He enjoyed helping Amy and her sister Fawn raise their various horses, along with a couple rabbits, and a few very special pomeranian dogs (Copper, Fritz, Ace). Animals brought him great joy and relaxation. Even during his last days in Byron Manor, his granddaughter. Holly, brought her dog in for visits with grandpa. His quiet, kind and gentle attitude in dealing with life’s trials and tribulations will be missed by all. Frank adored his family and it showed. He is survived by: daughter Fawn and Robert Cichoski, (5 children), son Frank Bednarsky Jr., grandson Frank Bednarsky III (wife Regina) and great-grand children Brody and Jersey Bednarsky, grand daughter Holly Bednarsky, daughter Amy Bednarsky-Genther, son Tom Bednarsky (wife Sarah) and grand children Jonathon Bednarsky and Samantha Graham (husband Shayne). And especially his beloved one and only sister, Lily Ann Kuehl (90), of Port Orange Florida. They were only 12-months apart in-age and grew up very close to one another. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Joan (9-17-24), his son Jon (2015), a favorite Aunt Roseanne, and many uncles. And a special thank-you to 103-year old Anna Marie Marinelli, First Lieutenant/Nurse, WW II and Byron Manor resident. She was Frank’s neighbor, friend, nurse, and clergy, combined. Anna has been a great comforter to Frank and all his family during his illness and is considered a family member by all the Bednarsky’s. Cremation has already taken place. Obituaries Brenda D. Michael Brenda D. Michael, age 70, of Freeport, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2025, in Grand Rapids. Born on April 26,1954 in Hastings, to the late Rigoberto and Helen (Moore) Rendon, Brenda was a lifelong resident of Michigan and a beacon of kindness and creativity in her community. A proud graduate of Thornappie-Kellogg High School, Class of 1972, Brenda dedicated 23 years of service to Rose Pest Solutions, where she was a cherished colleague and friend. Her warmth and reliability made her an indispensable part of the office team. Brenda was a member of Carlisle United Methodist Church, where she nurtured her faith and fellowship. Her love for reading, solving jigsaw puzzles, and her talent as an artist were just a few of the hobbies that filled her life with joy. She had a special place in I * : AI .■ ?—.*■ her heart for animals and could always be found with a book in hand or cheering on her favorite contestants on ' ST Jeopardy. She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter. Erica McGinnis; y> her brother, Bruce (Daire) Rendon; her sisters, Bonnie Toogood and Marcia (Randy) Clark; along with seven nieces and nephews, and a host of extended family and friends who were all touched by her generosity and loving spirit. Brenda’s family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 from 1:00PM - 2:00 PM at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home where her funeral service will take place at 2:00 PM. Burial at Freeport Cemetery. Memorial contributions to the American Heart Association or a humane society will be appreciated. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message. .mJ ,--S RODNEY & RENA SCHAD «r. A LEGACY OF GENEROUSITY A former US Marine and his wife of 50 years, created a scholarship fund for TK graduates who pursuing a career in Industrial Arts, CAD/CAM, engineering, industrial design), providing a legacy for over 30 years. Even today, their endowed fund grows from the ongoing generosity of family and friends, honoring life and legacy of the Schad family. k •< '5 If you want to learn more on leaving a legacy, please call Bonnie Gettys or Annie Halle at 269-945-0526, to help ensure that your gifts can support your hopes and dreams. THORNAPPLE AREA ENRICHMENT VfARI OF IMPROVING FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP Lives THE BARRY COM NITY FOUNDATION 231 5. BROADWAY ST HASTINGS Ml WWW,BARRYCF,ORG ' I 1.. i S-*' ici A I 55.*. M 7'1 .'V Hi fiC’S* /. fc. lU’ J. •i*"; V *>? ( i I ! i •y.5.^’ » I U Jr sw I. •.vz. s V k. r *^^*/** 1 •2. •a: SI J 'll » I I f 1 .* I I f ' Il A/ ^5 I II I 1 • 4 i 1 i s 1 a* s 1 c I 1 I I f \ �20 Saturday, March 1,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I r e I ■JU.' w^M^nsn*•• 1 1 ♦ ♦ ««4 t 4 f « ♦ 1 ♦ I ♦ 4 a w r’ li f? a ' 1«‘"' ■ 'J> * ** I k 4 b ASPHALT » ’^’«i1 V 1 4 I !"'# a'" 2 I ■ J •s. B SERViHG THE !< , Ki 4 *1J FOR OVER 30 YEARS! / 4 • * I I t a 1 ic V 1 r<T^ 7024 * w li J « I 4» ■- t jy' 4'‘' « VIE^<.^q<oup k’ I ii':i < BEST of the BEST 1? r ’’ r BABBY COUNYY fOB CHOOSING US BEST or THE BEST IN MT ? J 4 Wi i.H 4 «a I 'll pw*- J >3 ku uk *1 1 F / ft ** ■ tUl j: i '.r. wj ■ <- ll . 4 VA I 1 i *s I 1 ’vr ( !C. 1 Z 8 0 B !' k i I I I Clip & Save I I I I I w ASPHALT li. / I I A »500 OFF r '•V J Barry County Residents On’y Must pr< ent coupon - not vald w/any expires Aprj! i. 2O.?f70 I I I I I c r MB « 94 st fl 0 4* I . « I •% • 44 * sul I n ntlij •1 \i' I I aJI <^1' ar W ’Z llw > { '' W !■ f' i■ f (269)948-9369 Facebook f5» Residential Driveway Installation *1 .MURRAYSASPHAL Find us on MV !• .-ni 'S' *' » R*L. i r^> .‘ii2K ij • ♦ ♦ *4 •*' >MI - as 9^- 7 r,. -* fj C I IJ > • r* r lufiSS f iM^SsSS f < I /ACO .•r»j i^‘3 s> I •v? I I 5 I ..^ t J II ■ 1 1 DIAL (800) 249-0 Kids Measure upa (f I «<• I il' I« ■Ci rr 1 33IOWaaH3iA3 H £ as 11 12 10 1 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES I ||T^ - EMERGENCII O:)^ 9-1-1 Center" L5! 4 ‘ iM > ■ 13| 14 11 I 171 ,1 f i I IJ 181 191 201 2 22 231 241 2 r i 261 271 281 291 30 i .9 I- � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-03-08.pdf 95815f2356358b960d0305e9c5ef3ede PDF Text Text SMI 1 TWO TKHS i STUDENTS ADVANCE AS NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FINALISTS 4^.* I r THE SUN AND —1 NEWS Your i-fomerown Newspaper er\'ing :t^e Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas I 1 PAGE 4 .I www.sunandnews.com SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025 NO. 46 4 > •r>!' 19rt363) 2H3 inorl iBnoiiGn 1 1 Caledonia High School educator Heather Tomes was recently selected as the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Citizen Award by the Congressional Medal of Heather Tomes Honor Society. The national recognition honors one individual each year who demon­ strates an exceptional commitment to educa­ tion, youth development and civic engagement while embodying the core values of the Medal of Honor — courage, commitment, citizenship, integrity, sacrifice and patriotism. Tomes attended the New York Stock Exchange Circle of Honor Dinner this week on March 5, where she was recognized for her contributions to education and civic engage­ ment. She also attended the NYSE Closing Bell Ceremony as a guest, where more than 20 Medal of Honor recipients would be honored. The Circle of Honor Dinner celebrates indi­ viduals and organizations who make profound contributions to the nations, including the NYSE itself for its ongoing support of veter­ ans and veteran-owned businesses. For years, Heather has been a passionate advocate for fostering leadership and civic responsibility among students,” said Dirk Weeldreyer, Caledonia Community Schools superintendent. “Her dedication to educa­ tion and community service has left a lasting impact on Caledonia students, and we are incredibly proud to see her recognized at the national level.” District staff say Tomes has been instrumen­ tal in implementing character development programs at CHS, incorporating the values upheld by the Medal of Honor into her class­ room. They say her commitment to shaping the next generation of ladder waa3 aawoisno aligns with ±e Congressional iviiNaaisau SSMU3J Medal of Honor Society ’ s mis ­ revel IN -emwMJO oicrogod sion to inspire and educate 8£€#l>uiJ8d students on the importance of e£88^ ‘9IIIAU99J0 service and integrity. aivd ■ *1^ r A ? I T. ; .ifwiri 483uy G EE rnormia^ Ilofl B)n3iqi33T lonoH Io tj&boM iniCl Tonoll to 3biiD oflT f enoiJ&stnBgio bw tlsobiv mticn srii ot enobudiiJnoo progrto ?3r Tot Itezli 32YM aid bo/iwo-naniQYi^ zhb k **7 iU J 8fUf lodjiiSlI ,2TB9Y lol 4 bBsI ;^in31got idit 3XCOO7bE 3bu1' gnomn ylilidignoqzoi SO'J fiinob'jluO ,T3<3'lbl30W 3ibol 1311' Jnabnarnnoqu? orrrj ynriurnmoafanr; noit !3brti tinob^lG’J no lOBqmi 13(1 Of bijooq yldiboioni hvil Icnoiten I K^mo l ItKla toiitziO E f* I ij gnilmrnsfqmi nt UI TnqpATrij iB EmBTgOiq dI ’ IcteM :)d) yd bbriqu 'ffimrtj i9fl ywfT ,nTOoi 303^ )Z3n ori J (DOW V I r <i CnUOMEH uaiDiiuivr tUMUA maHww* ntwti JcbaM iiq£ii> Oi ‘ioi< b«UJjt| »339 teno zJnsbulf it bnj> Caledonia Community Schools, in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, officially opened the Caledonia Community Center during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 27. The state-of-the-art facility, made possible by the 2020 bond, is designed to be a hub for recreation, wellness, and community engagement for resi­ dents of all ages. “It’s so wonderful to see a project that’s been so long in the planning and construction to finally come to fhxition and great to see so many people out here today,” said CCS Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer. “We look forward to seeing it enrich our community for years to come.” Hundreds of community members attended the celebration, which includ­ ed district and community leaders, as well as CCS education and outreach coordinator Monique Brennan who was given the honor of cutting the rib­ bon at the recent ceremony. “The Cal Community Center is more than just a building, it’s a place for all ages to connect, learn and create lasting memories,” Brennan said. “For over 30 years, the Caledonia Resource Center has enriched our commu­ nity and this new space allows us to expand that mission, providing a true home away from home for seniors, families, and students.” In addition, guests got to witness a “First Splash” in the competition pool by the Caledonia-Lowell-South Christian swim teams, along with elementary and middle school students and senior citizens, symbolizing the center’s multigenerational influence. “We are so excited. These kids are ready to go,” said Todd De Jong, CLSC varsity swim coach. “They’re I i nodcwbo ot enoiludnJnoo x)F - *' lonoH to -ibiiD ©stwrioxii [Bw owlw rtoifiM no 1)rift'' ?fijiic Noah Peterson Staff Writer } ioortJ?* rfg'H einobdluD g^nwT isriJflsH loJfisnbo bsiMbr ZBW 5d) to swiqiMi 9ril afi . . ^rnr bofl^ingniJziQ 210oflj vd btflv/A naxfiiD io icbsM knoizeaisnoD .TWiooE lonoH noiJiiK§o3^"r IcnoiJfin or IT riaso tobr/ibnr ^no wnori imo:^ UHioiJrpax'j nr; aJtffOa xfi jfwmqolwsb dJuo'^ jtoiI yio'j 9ri) gniybodfTKj oirriw mmoa ,3§b'bjo3 - lonoH to Tjcq ttfBJ .vtngsmi w^M 9riJ babnsiu; zsmol UG'H Caledonia officials celebrate official opening of community center Noah Peterson Staff Writer flomtsA ilsoM isfiiW ttfifS id) b*ibn3)3B ofclc Three down, one to go CHS teacher receives national honor e ^leeuAiH^’ bVID rJAf bOeiVGB bU812K) aovisod s n OIS ISUd A * .. •. ? '■ K I B / 1 I I t r. . A 9 1 Vj i ► (P 71 K i I » ? ■ J ft j K t I I I1 ■) I X *llit**' f Ia I $ z f 4 / I r 1 * 4 ■t. ' <*■ ■: *I' / r >»> . 4 •'• >4i>J Al Caledonia junior Maddie Hayden has her right arm raised while raising three fingers on her left hand after winning her third state championship in three varsity seasons at the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals inside Ford Field in downtown Detroit Saturday. Hayden defeated Clinton's Raven Aldridge 5-0 in the girls’ 170-pound championship match after pinning her first three opponents at the state finals. Read more about Hayden’s third state championship on page 17. Photo by Brett Bremer See OPENING on 2 ?» , w* <1 s I s • > \ » s \ I k f iJ rk I ? I I ■ I I 'S I 1 I ' \l I ( *. < J J I u LJ lY l^ll ■ r‘- % . i'L > . 1 * t t * I ? I .J bl ‘ i'. I I n •I I * ij I i ‘h ■» s ■h r I I \ �I 1 Saturday, March 8, 2025 2 THE SUN AND NEWS Horses run wild down M-6 Wednesday morning James Gemmell Contributing Writer Kent County Sheriff’s deputies say the approximately 15 horses that got loose from a boarding facility in Byron Center on Wednesday morning were rounded up safely within two hours. Kent County dispatchers told 77ze Sun and News the horses got loose around 7:30 a.m., and some of them took a stroll down eastbound M-6 in Cutlerville, tying up rush-hour traffic with a big backup. They were seen wandering around as far 1 * NOW HIRING s 616-891 • 4r-f 5 « 4 « •* I i » 1 I > ft t » } 1 T / I J r I 1 I 4 *»<** .f' -3 ?THEJVIOST TRUSTEED JMAWtEJN hdOFINGvIi »• s. «W I r el^ * MBOfc w 4VK. * •»«« • ' • local trusted roofing company with 115» years Si 4 ** * IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH AU, INSURANCE COMPANYS • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED » w'V “3±7£-*- 6 !1 ** « * **> •• r I t * CALL TODAY S' FOR YOUR FREE *> * « “** ' *%. t! A • w I* . tn ■ 2'^-©©a r - --r* • * « MP z I INSPECTION * 9 r ** • <» - ..'iC r -y/ VISIT us ONLINE; SHERRIPFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK u k > I «• /I s « 4. •e<< »' • lU*' S' I> ,(U y* . •* t A V f S'-' r. Mll< Jjl I T K I V •Wfl- i i ♦ • I X .I f .xii V..-- 1 *» V 1 Lv I r* •” 5|BI^ *A * ** 4«» ▼ Ztl * « LLvftdBti wf wV 4 > > iJ n^joc T*' d* r< i 'TV ' i ia** w - jc I 't X r - ■ «r W ’< I t iLuHV < *«> « I . I > I I ' iTfL-/ b’. «!a ■ ■ I ► I * . I f «« 46 •-2-Z * 4M 9^ V 1 gonna love having this pool in this community and seeing the full value of it from little kids learning how to swim to elderly people being able to exercise. It’s great and it’s about time.” The center features a competition pool, leisure pool and splash pad, fitness and wellness area, indoor walking track, basketball court, and facilities for the Caledonia Resource Center, which offers educational and personal enrichment programs. Our partnership with Caledonia Community Schools and the Caledonia Resource Center exempli­ fies the YMCA’s commitment to strengthening community through collaboration,” said Scott Lewis, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids. “The Cal Community Center will be a place where people of all ages can focus on their health, build connections and be part of something greater. We are honored to help bring this vision to life.” 4-'’ ■- / ^3^ 8 >> I k " A Continued from Page 1 • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU QUALITY ROOFING * I OPENING • FRIENDLY. HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM A SHERRIFF GOSL.IN' 9ia eupinoNM nomoTeoQnfll 2 1 r The celebration continued dur­ ing the Grand Opening Weekend from Feb. 28 to March 2, offering community members a chance to tour the facility, learn about programs, and sign up for YMCA memberships. Starting March 3, a member­ ship will be required for access to YMCA programming. To make it even easier to get started, the YMCA is waiving the member­ ship join fee from Feb. 20 to March 31. •a A I ? > JK- f 4' <• < .-A J 7 t » * • > xf • \ QI » i ■W*' t •JC ► t j 1 i Photo by Noah Peterson ,>??■ • * Other products evalleble: I -1 I /-I Photo provided 210 East Main Street Caledonia I % A Caledonia Education and Outreach Coordinator Monique Brennan (center) at the Caledonia Community Center ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 27. -A. The compeny hmli h\ reiai * » 7 Kent County Sheriff’s deputies say the approximately 15 horses that got loose from a boarding facility in Byron Center on Wednesday morning were rounded up safely within two hours. • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! ■ I X ■ QUALIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIANS r I* •wiw»»s, y $3970 8? ,4 \-4l» AYiCiSABE Z?^ r; d s * starting as low as c J It I 4II •flwi. '... PRE-SEASON r :» . T V V I fc • HEATING AND CXX)LING F ba 41 1 'r ' ♦« ' east as Hanna Lake Avenue in the Dutton area of Gaines Township before being retrieved and placed in a trailer. Police say the horses had gotten loose from a boarding facility near Wilson Avenue and 76th Street in Byron Town­ ship. The horses were all back “home” before 9:30 a.m. See HORSES on 6 FROimat H r 1 I .< Il I 1^ www.sunandnews.com M:£5r. j9'im: i 4 1 *v I, f T* I. *5 • r-yJK . Aitt. •’•'Hl M i kF.' i s ' ■ I ’ '■I .f -i>:> .jn "jufi I * R aWfirroc I - 4 _ . ... . X Jr ' u R S/J ■•£. r.;-.-' 1 ?r:i vJ 'jW9 oT’Wdl*I'.J ‘^'a* 3 ii 1 i Kii, *teW •9C - VilOb * id«i t 4nMfwi 4-V ■MaOM F ^A-*- >* fflBtff-ftiiffel*?' ;f , 05Jj’llLM..;^;5'^< 4 f 1 1 a)s^ JuCi* I IP { 1’ * *^e1 ogmMhmnk^* THE SUN AND NEWS CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 PUBLISHED BY TJi^lUXUlUJlL/ Editor: Molly Macleod Sports: Brett Bremer Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager Chris Silverman Copyright 2025 a2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. csilverman@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com 7< a J *n^rK * A -C J if h* .Id. -»•* L 1 I." •• 11 1 A . rr. A r* ; iaoiM « i' 441 I t k T- « •i « * . f' J •- 1. t-rj h 4 •6 .'Tv' • I < « Cj ^’*C1 < ■>“ --- 2' t i h 3 (. b f • I I I I I ? 'f JUt I* I 2\ !.• WA CO. 9-1-1 CEttTER / •r I 4 5 ^8 91 10 • I' 'I'.ri r 1 r 't I I I 71 DIAL (800) 249-091 iriON - EMERGENCIES II 11 Kids Measure up at 12 131 14 awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 151 161 17 r:r' f' I I I I I f. j r I »!iR I ** I I I I I 111 12) OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 181 19 201 2B 221 231 24 251 261 271 281 291 30h r t'i-" ' ■ '* _ 1 I "lil' Y. • <6’**«k 1- * “a’'- '•V. I.( r * % I i I ' VA .W Ie. I If".»I f i* Wc c JI X* " 'i- .... -n— V j All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. Group * rrimacleod@mihomepaper.com 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com iN I A a. I« he J 3A a" M- �THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com tni felts where you don’t have any control to protect the neighbors that are in the parcels and the neighbors on the east side (of Patterson),” he said. The west side of Patterson Av­ enue is in Gaines Township and the east side is in Caledonia Township. Another 76th Street resident, Bruce Beebe, said he and his wife had a similar experience in not receiving a letter from Microsoft to indicate it would not be buying their property. Beebe claims the company said it was interested in the because it is close to the intersection. “We put our life on hold for a year and a half. We accepted the agree­ ment that was given to us to buy our homes out. I was told we’d have to be out in four months, once they signed. So, I tore everything down to get ready, because winter was coming,” he said. “We were sup­ posed to demolish our houses, too, as part of our agreement.” Beebe said he thought the deal James Gemmell Contributing Writer -1^ I Wgnmrt lil 4 I ' H. *1 b. J 4 .J i'( f rk* r* T i »s * kt * * J .1 '■ • ■i 12 r 4 - r A. ST’- 7^^ I * ' K S '► w 1 U* w I t la *4 I L LA ' «« I A . i - IT; 3»»' • I b-n * 1W» f I •1 •«i I A r db I .I b 15 > 4 p. |V|< Jill U 2*^ £ k< d <• □ J hfjjcuj I « t .X i'fV ffbin'A/vJ 1 * ’ - iW'n G life 1 k r sa|it /t-' ,■ •WJD , n , 1. ■q lRrtnfltoq£Sni • gift 5iiS[(li; _ • If I i« k' tj « '3. :r| /. 0< dU i A r •A •ij rju ri '^ • ( . t 'jt>uoi8biaBi ill; (“sitAi J MtiiwMlff r s *• II xK> A L. t I I Jf ■ 9 0» I I *»L.11 2 If i I I -J • * t Kt ’ fr J 3d t Al 1 U € I -* -■ 1 pt’r- I I ) I • jiO I ( I ( • TO; V I I [ The Gaines Planning Commission voted unanimously at its February 27 meeting to postpone for one month mak­ ing a recommendation to the township board regarding a request from Microsoft Corporation to rezone a section of land. The 40.5-acre parcel is located at 7147 Patterson Ave. SE, about four blocks north of where Microsoft purchased 316 acres of industrial land last fall at the northwest comer of Patterson Avenue and 76th Street to potentially be devel­ oped into a major data center. Microsoft reportedly paid $45.3 million to buy that land from Steelcase Inc. The parcel Microsoft is requesting be rezoned is just south of the Amazon Fulfillment Center, which is located at 4500 68th St. SE. The request is to rezone it from a Planned Unit Develop­ ment - Large Scale Phased (PUD-LSP) designation to Light Industrial, which is what the township has future-zoned it for in its zoning ordinance. The parcel is undeveloped and, according to Gaines Community Development Director Dan Wells, will “likely become part of the project they (Microsoft) have planned for the larger parcel to the south.” Rezoning the 40.5-acre parcel would eliminate the need for dual zoning of the properties. But some planning commissioners said they were “disturbed” by comments from a couple oftownship residents who said in a public hearing that they were mistreated by Microsoft officials con­ cerning a potential purchase ofsome land they own. It is separate from the parcel Microsoft is seeldng to have rezoned, and from the 316-acre parcel purchased last fall. Township resident Timothy Zan­ dbergen - a former Gaines planning commissioner - said he owns about five acres of property immediately south of the Microsoft property that was previ­ ously rezoned. He said Microsoft made offers to him and some other neighbors to purchase their property. “We jumped through hoops getting the papers signed,” Zandbergen said. “Basically, Microsoft threw us and the other nei^bors to the south under the bus,” he said. “We negotiated a fair price Microsoft had a fi’ee look and due diligence period, and tied up our property for many months.” « • • JB- ■yit ► F I I k s: f Microsoft Community Affairs Manager Meredith Lizza addresses the Gaines Planning Commission at its February 27 meeting. Photo by James Gemmell Zandbergen added that he and the other property owner cooperated with all Microsoft requests, including keeping quiet publicly about the potential land purchase. He said his understanding was that the technology firm was going to put $25,000 into an escrow account in case the potential deal fell through, but said the corporation never did. Microsoft did not confirm that. “Come to the end of the due diligence period, nothing was said. No reasons (were given) for backing out, they simply went silent and we couldn’t get ahold of anybody. We didn’t get anything in writing from them saying they didn’t want to purchase the property. Just dead silence,” he said. Zandbergen said he had different ex­ periences dealing with Steelcase in the past when he sold part of his farm to the office furniture company. “We never had any issues with Steel­ case, an awesome company,” he said. Zandbergen said neighbors near Pat­ terson Avenue and 76th Street would have no ability to force Microsoft to keep the township’s best interests in mind, if the property is rezoned. “We’re just here tonight to ask the planning commission to think pretty hard about changing this to a straight zoning Get yodr Irish on at the HawklH cTWarcli 17 tk & .y oin us in > celebrating ourfamily tradition! . t A !; * I k > J 1 a only MB " \ h595 «b Can also call in to go PRE-ORDERS prior so we know how much to prepare! Save the date IRISH BEEF STEW Served with: Homemade Bread only • • • Our 19^''Annual Chili Cook-off is Saturday, April 26! Nighthawkfoodcatering.com A $1295 faccbook 6950 WHITNEYVILLE RD. ALTO • 868-6336 / 4 Corned Beef Potatoes W Carrots J Cabbage & Rolls k V ’ I I Includes: s I > CORNED BEEF DINNER Ll I J* » 40 year Tradition I * to buy his property would close on December 5, 2024. “So, all last year my wife and I were looking for homes to buy, knowing that we had to move and demolish our house of 35 years. I’m just really fhistrated that a big company like that would just treat people like this,” he said. “We were thrown in the sewer after they got the property they wanted.” “It’s a little disturbing to hear this,” Planning Commission Chair­ woman Connie Giarmo said after the public hearing closed. But she noted that there are always two sides to a story. Jonah Mills with Microsoft’s land-development team then ad­ dressed the commission. He said the company has a rigorous due diligence process that typically takes three to six months to com­ plete and includes working with engineers, public planning profesSee REZONING on 8 I t .r 3 Gaines PC postpones Microsoft rezoning request after hearing disturbing’ comments from residents f k Saturday, March 8, 2025 �J t"—' I V .J ir I 4 Saturday, March 8, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Two TKHS students advance as National Merit Scholarship Finalists I ► I k 44 44 < t r’t >5 j 1 . -1* -*1 1. ^S - I 'Tl r ' ¥ b r c • 9 "1 1 I •TiL’ 4 i,-‘ ♦> I ! X.- * t J' I IP » » •i I j A L *1 I 1 I9 4 —M/771^ > A s I I 4 •ri J ■■ ' 1 ■ If ••• ► I 'ft* r b > •• PS • •*! I •w s’* til I • c Jr ♦ T’ •,’s I ) ♦ bF * 4 I IJ I. r \:- •: *>• k 3<«^, n * I I 11 ✓ h • *«' -CP plays and musicals. Novak works as a member of the stage crew for plays and musicals. Walters has been in all of the plays and musicals for four years and had the leading role in the 2024 fall play. He will also be featured as the Tin Man in the spring musical “The Wizard of Oz.” Additionally, Walters is a member of the Student Council, National Honor Society and theater arts class. He also performs with a worship band for his church and plays with a jazz combo including a performance at the recent Barry Community Foundation Home­ town Hero Banquet. He is the son of Jason and Robin Walters. Novak is a member of the boys’ varsity tennis team. National Honor So­ ciety and Science Olympiad. He enjoys reading in his free time and helping his younger cousins. He is the son of Jared and Amanda Novak. The two scholars offered some ad­ vice to younger students just starting their high school careers. “Put in the work. Put your nose to the grindstone and do the work. Get things done. Be in class and pay attention in class. But most importantly “do the work and surround yourself with friends and teachers who will help you,” said Novak. Walters added his advice. “Push yourself and don’t be independent about your learning. Use the resources here. The people and teachers are here to help,” AfM AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m. BANNER Tuesday at Noon THE Scan the code or visit cornerstonemi.org to find locations and service times, plus ways to watch online! REMINDER Wednesday at Noon THE SUN and NEWS Wednesday at Noon 2.^. .e^— Ite- Group I @cornerstonemi mihomepaper.com I’ ■ Kl^r ( ■k A 4 I.n I.U V 1 bl 1 *■ . r ► *• _ -<Tx rM L J » : J I I .M 4 - *-4 •I. 4. I :G£ /, 41 5 5 81 91 10 10 DIAL (800) 249-0911 >\ION - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at C^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center". ms co. 9-1-1 CElTER 4 rj' 11 121 131 14 15I 161 171 181 19 . • t5 211 221 231 241 251 26 I - ■"fH *- I ' b I ' RW I M«r I . - Si 1 4 ft l*> / 4 B V * ........ *I vr I r 4* I I «J d Wx* f '- j/!'«• 1IfI j r J 7 421 1 .j.T -. •* * 4 p ft —«ipr«'''r t;—” « •C 1 n f" J , W'iEi® . *2 4 .ij— . k-' "jki ’ : 1 Um. Jt- 4 0bg-Vafy**-^27'fn‘-■ f’’ < . •" V J: ' ■ -.•*11 i • • r w rti I* •n ’ V 1 1^ ] -1 MJ M*«Ar . I » ’ I A f —JA 4 >* M 4 m. .. I I • i II. - a * J I J * * J «* '-T I .4 4 « ‘4;= !• w ! I s ■■ , -'L' .. rT -X" r, .1 1/ . Ml I- f".. 3^it I f A r» • J I ■. "dk 4^ I 1 I ,1 I . ... .•■* I I • p*1. I I • • e- F t*s b e**. Vi* J < I I I s.:_ -W T* I ■’^ r ■‘K« •t ir-i- ■» tf. ^^3 1“' 1' V*l I X>- .1 ii j’ ir > I I on:»V a!£ T*. r,, •n* A p> * i* J♦ • J «* ». ♦ • ?• '9^9: I I I 1 I T -51 '• I .< I .I . .'1 .is r I uf ‘4 ■-"1 Cr. I .. * 1-1 % I If 1 H Th. r I / •« I 'I-.- ilrf•■'.I . '.I' it~ f f I .u . • I 12 J j 1 r»'» I ■ i 271 281 291 301: I •y r' 11 I V ii. • l’i Ift , . 16 Im 'U t * >— I . n^fpn V I w* bM I * * ** ■‘•8<-x»s£ ( I 1-* J. - t e M 4 h r »• OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 201 0! ^.i I* I I J J I J H ■* 41 ■■ I sr ' 9 I. 'WIT' Al* •.r I 2 nt> I y J. ' *1 rr J I 1 I I • «S: *1 I —: 1 ■) I I f T 5 X. I J I ?! ■•rn •» ' rf- 1 ■I* I I i I, 1 s >ir* 4 .7. I r I, L Jb^ r X J I mW ,r i^TT In addition to his AP classes, Wal­ ters said he has mostly enjoyed being in band classes all four years of high school and his theater arts class. Both Walters and Novak are members of the jazz, marching and symphonic bands. They’ve both been involved in 4 c I I I Photo provided 3l Join Us In Person or Online! - « Two Thornappie Kellogg High School students were recently named National Merit Scholarship Finalists. Pictured from left: National Merit Scholarship Finalists Lukas Walters and Cole Novak with TKHS Principal Tony Petersen. THE HASTINGS «■ , 5 r NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES h I' I V •l •4^ I , I » * > J 7^ - t •X .1 X. 44 t'l I J •X 99 4k *1 2^* Caledonia I Grand Rapids I Wyoming ' /cornerstonemi I :r - *• * -t 4 * V One Church • Three Locations ‘O 1 t fiw □ WV'V' (. »•’ b It •F. I M n • ■ T iL-. 4 I ‘All* ,4i0i t r something medical, but I’m not sure yet exactly what is going to appeal to me the most. Walters has finalized his plans for college and will be attending Aquinas College to pursue a degree in com­ munications and a pathway to pre-Iaw. Both students credit TK Schools for helping them reach this ultimate achievement. “We have truly incred­ ible teachers here. I think the classes we have offered here have been really helpful like the AP Language classes that really helped me do better and be prepared for the tests we had to take to get to this point,” said Walters. The teachers make the class and TK has great teachers who ensure students have what they need,” added Novak. Both students said some of the AP classes they’ve taken over the years have been their favorites, especially AP Language and AP Calculus. Novak said he also especially enjoyed his classes in genetics and biotech, anatomy and physiology. we re casual, come as vou are. □ 1 i de cornerstonechurch □ *• ik 1*. •• Two Thornapple Kellogg High School seniors have advanced as Na­ tional Merit Scholarship Finalists. Cole Novak and Lukas Walters both recently received notification of the prestigious national honor and were presented with certificates by TKHS Principal Tony Petersen. The two students were first named among only 16,000 semifinalists in the nation and now are among the ap­ proximately 15,000 finalists. From the finalists, some 6,870 will be awarded scholarships this spring totaling nearly $26 million. It’s quite an honor, even if I don’t end up getting the scholarship. I was not expecting any of this in the slightest,” said Walters. It’s still surprising to me. It’s a very happy surprise,” Novak said. Novak is considering attending either the University of Michigan or Michigan State University to pursue a biology degree and continue into the medical field. “I know I want to do I www.sunandnews.com 3 brf\ a } ^<£ I �< ««. ■ • 1 1 I .4 ,1 b a v'TT it i A 4 19 ' ’Sr XI y % < « ft ■istnW {m:» ■' al'iO t, i I «4 J •t e James Gemmell Contributing Writer 4 >! jfeSL - m •» * Ti: 1 I 6k r J B* kt: . •!; 1 ■ 1 I 4 k ' >■ I , f Shu 4 f 9*i W’ Atr. ^5W'-sf .1 f\ d •t T 4 - J - » r h ** a .. JI I» , f na’-. I. .1’1 ■ n "it •Mi of >/ tffi^rMqr « • I* /' ' « p^»» 4 '•••I 4 hr ■Wit ' ifJB: >. s I J 1 '^1 L uft £|i. Mfcj.. $ \' I I I ’ •• •J I ( .H'ij^TJi •rV !/ r• , ’lAl ? J, •s rp 4 . I /jiTrr f SIS j;. ' 1 '•' TUI -T r I ( I • I : t K« . w 4 /iL.p. < •. *. RW 1 t. i/ J ft '4iv •■ * l.'?\ k 1 1 iT, fr. 4 m Iri '1 .V * *1 A ' I tu r 4 ( . -Mu t I r •1 I * A 11 *^1 J I .» * Mbijfx J I nst t 51’’ .’6" 'A taSfr ”*fc ) 1 Vs. f .J 11 ' J 1 d^lis ir N. J T .'...J :'ii^ 1 I xrilVL ; • > * VHt ii*H >fu tTi t. r 1 * I , ■«• »/ -pfFrx r ¥ 1 I I A I I ftp I ! IJ ’L : I I I ■4 I- w* ft I 'T I JJ 1 rI 4 • 1 .0 1 rt’ rr g^- ill *>/ I ** i JO? ■v J I I I 4 '■ 1 I 1 i <« I 1 • .♦ ’ I ■ A I . ..xar ■I ► « *• * <,'. i * 1 ) -xv -. I J• 4 2f i The Gaines Planning Commission reacted more favorably at its Feb. 27 meeting to a revised proposal by Con­ tinental Properties to build 15, 24-unit apartment houses in Dutton than it did to the original site plan that was presented a month earlier. But on a unanimous vote, the seven commissioners decided once again to postpone any action on Continental’s request for approval of a preliminary Planned Unit Development (PUD) re­ zoning until they can study the updated proposal further. A preliminary PUD must be approved before a final PUD can be considered. If approved, ±e two-story apartment buildings would be built on a 24-acre section of a 40.6-acre parcel on the 6300 block of Hanna Lake Avenue. That is im­ mediately south ofM-6 in the township’s residential (RL-10) and mobile home (R-4) zoning districts. The 360 apartment units would have a density of about 8.9 units per acre. There would also be a clubhouse along Hanna Lake Avenue with a single residential building. In the developer’s modified site plan, two of the buildings would be moved to the east side of the development. Also, a 6.7-acre section of dedicated park land along Hanna Lake Avenue was added to the plan since the original pre­ sentation in January. In addition, a bou­ levard would extend off Hanna Lake as the primary entrance to the site. It would extend to ^e east side of the property. Jordan Teichen, development director for the Wisconsin-based firm, called Vern and Linda Verduin up to the microphone to explain why they are considering sell­ ing the parcels, which represent one of the few areas left in the township that are still zoned for apartments. Vern Verduin said the sale of farmland is inevitable with growth in the area. “You’re not going to farm in Dutton. We’d like to. We like Dutton, but we’re just not going to do it,” he said. “We lost the land across the street here, We’re slowly getting pushed out.” Verduin also cited increasing traffic congestion in the area as a reason for selling the property. We’ve had offers,” he said. “We like Continental. We like their product.” Verduin added that his family will (( fqii j 8ff( r’ T i « ■ ’k I 4 I r> \ J I I f ;. -1.2^ •S.’ ’ BUSINESS SERVICES 1. Dump Trailer Services, Bobcat Services, tree stump removal,site prep and clearing,dirt driveway installation and land clearing site prep. Fully licensed and insured. 616-389-9496 H ,-.—> .A w «» I. ft o >1 ifci. r* V . If • •* * * ■f' 5 V .T I a CEMENT/CONCRETE A I I > * .J K Si .*s’‘ JNR BUILDERS Concrete flat­ work; Driveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored, Licensed and insured. Call Jeff (616)293-7729 5r ♦ Continental Properties Vice President of Acquisitions Erik Hahn discusses with Gaines planning commissioners an updated proposal for 360 Authentixstyle apartment building units to be constructed along Hanna Lake Avenue south of 60th Street. Photo by James Gemmell continue farming and has identified a site to purchase in Allegan County. I don’t think it’s a secret, but we’ve (tentatively) signed with the Doezema’s (Dairy Farm) on the Shelbyville exit,” he said. Continental Properties has been coor­ dinating with Verduin about the timeline for moving his cattle off the farm his family has been working on for nearly a centuiy in Dutton. “So, one thing we decided to do is dedicate this park, which is a great way to commemorate their legacy here in the township,” said Erik Hahn, Continental Properties vice president of acquisitions. Continental has been using “Authentix Gaines” as a working name for the proposed apartment complex, although some township staff members have said that name does not reflect the Dutton community very well. As he did in late January, Teichen gave a presentation to the planning commis­ sioners about the Au±entix-style hous­ ing brand that would be used. But at the most recent meeting, he was joined by Hahn, who took more of a hardline stance when commissioners insisted on a reduction in the size of the apartment houses from 24 units to 16. The planning commissioners had told Continental at the previous meeting that the number ofunits must be capped at 16 and that they preferred a more upscale apartment style than the Authentix brand, with higher-quality finishes. “I’ll be just completely honest with all ofyou,” Hahn said. “We cannot go down to 16 units, unless we pursue a housing TIF (tax increment financing). It will ere- hit the price point... some oftlie requests you’re making is diminishing the afford­ ability of these units to the point where we wouldn’t come back. However, Teichen said Continental could build three-story apartment houses, instead of the two-story, which would ate a massive gap in our financial model. .., There’s not enough depth in the rental market here to do what you’re asking, to the extent that I wouldn’t proceed with this project. “We would go elsewhere,” he added. “I want to be super clear with you all. The cost is so high these days we can’t 1 See DUTTON on 7 1 o r??®E3 V*'* p t« * •• .A>. 'J’si •V* w * •..I • *v. »»•< - k 'T* T“i J I M Scan our OR code jift to find your perfect mvitation! ft r *5 >* ”** s *<•5.V. • 41 M I IW •« ’ I <• kA 4*v * M > 4* * Kt < •M ** a > V. f^''^yi' . A ' Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. PRINTING BY www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com y. iA A k 5.' 1 I .. * I ‘ I . ♦ g I II II ♦« ‘ H i-' I ft t I J M 7t 4 I d * u ri ,i » TI i 1 i 4 k 4 -ft s I 5 I \ 1 r 3 / w n iri I J I. rzy > I cz ► > / ’1 h -.*r- * >rr - ■ I .J.. L' T.* ■ I r% "T ►5 . 0 4 5 . JA .. AC ft I »fr? Saturday. March 8, 2025 Revised apartment proposal in Dutton draws Classifieds^ warmer reception from Gaines planners s 9 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I « V I •I * �, ? • * f 1 W’ Saturday. March 8. 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS kVA'A' f .‘Hl A% Campus Life approved for annual music event b I .’.Ld ” Ji f ✓ . fr 1 I *Z /r ■■ ii ■ Runners brave cold temps at Winter Trail Fest t'.' < { f w f *5^’. I r • I 4k 9 b/j s. < T i I I HI .7 . ' .1^ { I I s >• 1 I r « *>1' .■A3 1^' b 9 t « > 3 % 4 V r r f Middleville'S Campus Life got its event permit approved by the Village of Middleville Council on Feb. 25 for its annual live music and talent show. The event will be at the amphitheater and pavilion on Main Street on May 31. Photo provided Noah Peterson Staff Writer The show will go on after the Middleville Village Council approved an event permit for Middleville Campus Life, a youth organization serving students at Thomapple Kellogg Middle School, allowing the group to move forward with its annual music and talent show scheduled for late May. Village council members unanimously approved the event permit at their Feb. 25 meeting, with the music and talent show set for May 31 at the amphithe­ ater and pavilion on Main Street. The event is slated to offer games and music for the whole community. Andrew Kiste, director of Middleville Campus Life, requested the permit and said the show would be the best way to end the 2024-25 school year. “It’s going to be a Campus Life party for the com­ munity, for our students and their families to see what their kids have learned,” said Kiste. “Kids will participate in a series of games and listen to some live worship music to send the message of love. It will generally be a nice time for families in our community to come together.” For the past three years, Middleville Campus Life has helped the needs of students at the Thomapple Kellogg Middle School. The organization also started a program for local high school students this year. For more information on Middleville Campus Life or to get updates on upcoming events, interested persons may follow its Instagram and Facebook pages. HORSES Continued from Page 2 For some, it may have harkened memories of when a cow got loose and was seen running loose on northbound US-31 south of the S-Curve in downtown Grand Rapids on December 1,2023. The cow escaped from a trailer in that instance. How the horses got loose Wednesday was still being looked into at press time. ^S’S snrav f®. REFERENCES f r I 1 free Estimates Wood, Window & Door Specialist Inc. Vinyl Windows • Remodeling > • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation FREE ESTIMATES 517-983-0954 269-908-2173 CB Pennock I Start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam 1 I Noah Peterson Staff Writer Over 300 participants braved the cold and icy conditions Saturday morning, March I, to com­ pete in Middleville’s Winter Trail Fest Half Mara­ thon and 5 Mile Westside run at Yankee Springs. Runners of both races ran through trails in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area and had to battle ice and 20-degree weather. Runners had the choice of crossing the frigid water about a half-mile from the finish or running a bonus quarter-mile to avoid the water. Custom race beanies were given to the top overall winners and top age group winners in both races. The event saw 376 runners and featured sev­ eral course records. The top overall winners of the half marathon were Addison Smith, 27, (1:26:56), Samuel Darling, 47 (1:29:45), and Tyler Johnson, 26, (1:37:56). Smith also broke the course record for the male 25-29 age group, which was previ * ously held by Alexander Hoffman (1:45:59) in 2017. The female overall winner was Melissa Winchester, 27, (1:42:10), who also broke the female 25-29 age group record that was previously held by Brandi Corkins (1:52:45) in 2018. The overall winners of the 5-mile run were Skyler Frisbie, 17, (35:47), Scott Evans, 41, (38:44), and Christopher Fay, 40, (42:48). Frisbie broke the course record for the 19 and under age group, which was previously held by Connor Brower (44:40) in 2020. The female overall winner was Sarah Storey, 21, (44:32). “We are veiy' happy with the turnout of the race. said Rob Hyde, the race's director. “Il was icy out there, but the people that toughed it out were definitely pleased with their efforts. We are very thankful to Gun Lake Department of Natural Resources and University of Michigan Health West sports medicine.” Since 2017, Trivium Racing has hosted the Winter Trail Fest. Runners can sign up for its partnering event, the Summer Trail Fest, featur­ ing an ultra marathon, half marathon, and 5-mile run. The event is June 14 at Sleepy Hollow State Recreation Area in Laingsburg. X Ji*. iak* - J- t Runners begin their hah marathon or 5-mik race at the Winter Trail Fest in Yankee Springs on Saturday morning Photo by Noah Peterson I * INSURED 4 I b * i *3’ •t » b t < X I r i t 4 ar I 1 /' * 1 l=f I r 40 YEARS rw I 1r r “f? i* 4Z' 4 - 4. ^4 I r ' v* . V f I* 1 J I f :5 ^5 i> 1 ► • 'f.. ’ j^. f f 4 - r - » 'I b > I U ■ > • ** I f' * ( ’.'A 1.') » A «»* < -1 V I t , ( hP » r I > t T* 1. 1 * rj’ ♦ .• ’ f J [ ia* 1 >4 f ( * 'I f i f > k l« I 1 » \. ^•4 mV, J J,,' i; 4 s # >• •k! u I I I Jx^ «. »• i, .--i r ■ '4f- ;.^zv t r M ** ■ i I I •w b» 1‘ ( I T f X- I K I <% « s , (rii'i® li - 1 TllSi 4 .< * 1 11 A* ir. 1 ' i t M13 7^ 'J'?' n 1; I i. 1 < X IX * t y i rn t<* * .u «• .1 < 1 L I- I ( I I 1 J L! X.V kv-* Ilil 1 ’jape'll I 9U1 c J 4# f J •^r «1 MewSi * ■' Ki ' - h' «u . di. 4 I’ J ' • S I. * 4 4 f me. ,L*>J I 1 \ *> T X u V / b<> l. '-c 4. » t 1 I I I I 2 •I «•• ■ i’ ? /VA CO. 9-1-1 CENTER 4 I I 8 91 10 I I I rr DIAL (800) 249-0911i|ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at 111 121 131 14 awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 151 161 17 181 19 I 11 12 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 1 5 20 9 < I 211 221 231 24| 251 26| 27| 28| 29| 30| 1 J r! » I t I 1 I f I * Ml 4 I « ft 1. 9 r 1 { a t 1 �7,;., A I > THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com f DUTTON ( \ f £ I f Continued from Page 5 J reduce the total number of apartment houses but not the number of individual apartment units. “Ifthere is concern over the scale of the development, we could also consider dropping (total) unit count,” Teichen said. “We would prefer to drop two buildings rather than go to (16-unit apartment houses),” Hahn added. “We won’t be back, ifyou guys need to see 16-unit buildings.” At that point. Planning Commission Chairwoman Connie Giarmo said she favored postponing any deci­ sion until the proposal concerning the 6.7 acres of the property being dedicated as park space can be discussed with the township board. Wiersema said that if the park portion is deeded, the township will have to examine how it would maintain it, how we can take care of it, all that kind of stuff. That’s a question the (township) board needs to maybe weigh in on,” added Planning Commission member Tim Haagsma, who is also a member of ±e township board. That concept of a park came to light at the last minUte,” Teichen said. “So, we have not had conversations about that transaction or how ±at is taking place.” The revised site plan for the project includes some significant improvements. In terms of traffic circula­ tion, there is the main entrance boulevard, plus a new roundabout to improve traffic circulation, and enhanced pedestrian pathways. The sidewalks would be extended along Hanna Lake Avenue and connect to sidewalks between M-6 and 68th Street. A revised drain crossing is designed to cause fewer wetland impacts. And some new building locations in the site plan would provide improved views ofwetlands. “The previous plan had a couple of apartment build­ ings closer to Hanna Lake,” Community Development director Dan Wells said. “They moved ffiose to the rear ofthe property to get an open space facing Hanna Lake. So, they moved them back toward the eastern end ofthe property so it would have a more open feel.” Teichen said Continental Properties would need some incentives ifGaines Township wants a higher-end product than the “attainable housing” type originally proposed. He suggested the township consider using Tax Increment Financing under Michigan’s Brownfield Redevelopment Act to support the development project. An Act 3 81 hous­ ing TIF would allow the township to capture increased property tax revenue from the redeveloped site. ''We would need about $ 16 million to (cover) the ad ditional cost, based on the gap in the price point here,” he said. Total parking has been reduced to 664 stalls from the 696 that were originally proposed. Teichen said in the January meeting that the studio apartments would rent for $1,300 per month, onebedroom units would cost $1,450, two-bedroom units will be $1,775, and three-bedroom units would cost $2,050 per month. Hahn said during the Feb. 27 meeting that the Hanna Lake Avenue location is appropriate for Continental because it is close to the Broadmoor Avenue corridor. “Where there are all those new industrial jobs coming in, he said. “Microsoft was here this evening. That will ir\) ro fri ‘» ;;J0JL i u - t JI r.. If t rr f 'n r Txx.> xxae 'ii I 7t 4^ Vo ^bjj r' IJ I i)( 4 1 >o!'f* > >i3ig <i nw/ oq I '.IXr/ i arl i biflf; oimi^ ■ 1 I -J' A V . -'4 KJJ 11 s f MhS(U 7ifx>) I * '’MbtxI 9’t J. « r u>« I. I f 44 ^<if^ <5^ “a « 1 ^9 & J .H 46 > 'Txi h i f } t r A. . i M 44 1.1 I -.'‘•Mfl - U'« '» ’^U w A > 1. It A '^J>4 u •I ’Vv..,., Ml 4* ^ tet ^u.; 1* 7" ill.. ' '>,s; I > < ‘"-sis ^4 '*7tBL U w “"d • V I'/ *1* t 7A r * ■.f.’ ■ - -ISyiasiiLi. I 1 r bc^ • • } iI ■■ i i s t. n 1 I AJeO ' ! hory '' ’rm ' <» I- 1: I '♦ ■ ' • < rr k t . I ;)ias I 1 • 1 UI,' ■I. n i 23t ^.’'4 I 4 * » A*> % Jr, K •’ ‘V I 1 *r ***• * Ui J I 1 IVt II 1 1 p < / ) «“ * ( 4 I* J If i <• * ) 4 . J M ► ’ * itti, hb Ci 1 QU^.U 1*1 O 1 rks I •r 1 * f •*‘V f- M J ': !?hbl • J . V e V t ‘ (K U. > I 5 » *• 1 .i 4' U“ I { '■ M’ > h •-SU. ‘ • i f -,4t d f i r I 1 9 U i ml ’! .U * IJi'” I J• 1 ' ft * -... X B ra -- • >-*** >r» *: I J :r 1: > sX 't ' r • » I I )‘ I t > I t M'* nil ^1 •J ' • I < « < ' F 't a*! b * > *. < I ) J . ♦, jX. A r* * TKAA to hold annual ‘All-School Dinner’ Get your tickets. That’s the message of the Thomapple Kellogg Alumni Association as it prepares to host its annual “All-School Dinner" on Saturday, May 3. According to organizers, the dinner is for all graduating classes from Thomapple Kellogg High School, as well as former principals, teachers and staff. The deadline to register is April 9, The annual dinner will be held at the Thomapple Kellogg Middle School cafeteria, with the school located at 10375 Green Lake Road in Middleville. The event, which will include the honoring ofa dis­ tinguished alumnus, will kick off with a social hour at 5 p.m., with appetizers and dinner at 6:15 p.m. The menu is slated to include smothered chicken or roast beefdinner with salad, rolls, potatoes, veg etables, dessert, coffee, iced tea and water. The cost to attend is $20 per person and checks can be made out to “TKAA.” Mail your dinner reserva­ tions with your name, guest name, year graduated and choice of chicken or beef to Wanita Huizenga, 5285 Stimson Road, Middleville MI 49333. Seating is limited and those planning to attend are encouraged to mail in reservations as soon as pos­ sible. Those wishing to reserve a table-a minimum of eight people - are asked to provide the names of those guests at ±e time of registration. DM bring a lot of jobs, but those are the types of jobs that we’re pursuing.” The revised site plan also calls for stainless steel appliances in the units, instead of the black ones that were originally proposed, and addressed commission­ ers’ prior concerns about the apartments’ exterior color scheme being too gray for Michigan winters. There would be two different residential building types with two separate color schemes for both, or a total of four variations. As for proposed amenities, the updated site plan still includes a pool deck at the clubhouse, a 24-hour fitness center, a leasing office, and valet trash service. A community garden has been added to the site plan’s southwest comer. A disc golf course, a car wash station, a dog wash «e» j'« I Xt <* A Z'" 7 MIDDLEVILLE TOPS 546 The March 3 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary's report. All chapter members are swimming in the fishbowl. This week was a No Gain Week. Virginia’s program continued from the TOPS "The Choice is Mine Handbook" titled “Motivation and Reality of Healthy Weight Management: Effective Self­ Management for results." Organizing your activities make success possible. You need specific goals, good time management and a monitoring system. Specific goals can be personalized guiding you to do what you need to do. Time management requires finding time every day to do what you need to do. Know where the time is going to come from, think before you commit to any requests for your time, say no without guilt, because you can only blame yourself if you over-commit. Monitoring ensures you execute your plan. Make a list of five barriers preventing you from your program. Now, write down how to deal with these barriers. Talk to yourself by having a weekly meeting to go over how well you tracked your daily eating and exercise goals were accomplished. Then, set your goals for next week, meal plan, and plan grocery lists. Manage temptations and cravings by remembering they are normal. Blood sugar readings and the time of day are triggers. To fight temptation, you need to imagine yourself resisting any type of temptation, big or little, in order to fight it. Visualize a food you want to eat. Imagine getting it, smelling it, and tasting it. Remember it will taste really good for a little while, but you wouldn’t feel good afterwards. Decide you can live without it right now. Throw it out, if necessary. Do not practice an image success when you are hungry or in an eating environment. Virginia won the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting closed with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. The first meeting is free. station, gathering spaces and two leash-free pet parks are included in ±e dedicated open space. I do appreciate the amenities that are offered with the apartment complex itself,” Planning Commission member Ryan Wiersema said. “I think this has some really decent amenities that are offered.” 44 iM- Kl AMenno Men * OF GRAND RAPIDS 'A ’t RF/MAX s » ■A Antenna Men; n ........ * r 4 X p Margaret (Margo) E. Peric ?> Commercial/Residentiai Full Time Agent Cell: (616) 204-9792 Office: (616)957-0700 R u.: Email: margoperic@remax.net • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers • Cellular Enhancement Systems >S1) Give us a call! •t/Suis^ OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A, B Grand Rapids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. A • « « •. r « . « b. . w 9 •* •* • *■ . * » Saturday, March 8, 2025 , » 1 cell(W) SIG «SmI 1 269-967-8241 www.theantennamen.com antennamen@gmail.com www.ceilsignalpros.com <• ■ • -B -w - » * '••»'■ t • . :• t �f ZdiW .J ;1i 3 ‘ -ill »** Saturday, March 8, 2025 8 _________________ THE SUN AND NEWS REZONING Continued from Page 3 sionals and attorneys to assess every property before committing to buying land and joining a community. “I feel we’ve been very open and honest with the correct folks, especially with this rezone request,” Mills said. “It does not sound like it was a very smooth process, and I apologize if there was a miscommunication.” “It seems to me you’ve got some bridge-building to do with some of the nei^bors,” Giarmo told the Microsoft officials. “But like I said, I believe there are two sides to every story. So, I think it would be a very smart move on Mi­ crosoft’s part to get someone from your company in touch with the neighbors, who are visibly upset about how they’ve been treated through the process.” “Hearing these two neighbors does not make me happy,” planning commis­ sioner Tim Haagsma said. He is also a member of ±e township board. “It does not give me more confidence in what’s going to happen. That said, this piece ofproperty that we’re looking at is not contiguous to the neighbors’ (prop­ erty) that was talked about. That doesn’t I I Comed Beef & Cabbage FUNDRAISER Friday March 14th from 5-6:30 pm at Middleville United Methodist Church 111 Church St. Middleville Fellowship Hall 1 X * \, c . I LI * I • T < 'tf y9> ift 'if. > < 9 wft^***^’* fcar>i,n Proceeds to benefit: Middleville Community Food Pantry Donations accepted at the door! 9i* www.sunandnews.com I r ftV* make it right. It’s just really not the parcel we’re talking about.” Haagsma noted that the proposed uses for the two Microsoft parcels are very similar, so he understands the corporation’s request for the rezoning. There is an exit point onto Patterson Avenue, but Wells said the corporation is still trying to figure out whether ^at would become an access road in the future. Haagsma said he has concerns about access to the parcel via a long dead-end road, from a safety and mobility standpoint. “Once this is rezoned, all bets are off,” he said. “As Mr. Zandbergen said, once it’s not a PUD we lose that control.” “We’ve been burned by a large corporation in this township once already,” Haagsma added, not naming the corporation. “And then, as soon as you try to do something about it you don’t know who to call. They’re all hiding behind everybody else. “When you deal with large corporations that have more money than anybody else does, you can’t fight them. That’s what I’m concerned about. I haven’t heard anything from Microsoft to make me more confident in what’s going to happen,” he said. Typically, no site plan is required with strai^t rezoning nor details about how the property will be developed. Mills said his company, Microsoft, will be held accountable to all the township’s standards. But he noted it is early in the rezoning process, so that is why no site plans were presented at the meeting. To get the site-plan approval, we have to meet all the code requirements. And typically, what we like to do is, we’ll have an open house. All the neighbors are invited to come and look at what all our site-development plans are.” Commissioner Talimma Billips expressed concern about Microsoft’s neighbors not being able to reach company repre­ sentatives, saying “we don’t want to end up in ±e same boat on a laiger scale.” “These are long-term residents of the community, and to have to go through what ±ey went through for such a long period of time it’s unfortunate for them,” Commission Secretary Lani Thomas said. Microsoft Community Affairs Manager Meredith Lizza then addressed the planning commission. “I heard your constituents, and I understand. That was a miss,” she said. “And we will make a good-faith effort. But I will also be a direct contact for this community ... my role in this position is to advocate for your community. When we go throu^ these development phases, I’ll be in some of those meetings and able to aggressively go after what your concerns are. “I may not be able to fix everything, but I will be to advocate for what the community wants. I’ll give you my business card after that and we’ll tiy to make it right,” Lizza said. Before considering taking a vote next month on whether to recommend that the township board accept Microsoft’s rezoning request, Commissioner Brad Waayenberg said it would be nice to know how important the road-access issue is. And he said it may help to solicit some more information from the township fire department or ±e Kent County Road Commission. The township board would make the final decision on the rezoning request after the planning commission gives its recom­ mendation. And that will t^e at least a month, as the board would take a first read of the proposal at one meeting and then take a second read at a subsequent meeting. The planning commission voted 7-0 to postpone making a rec­ ommendation on the rezoning request until its March 27 meeting and said it would be Acceptable for township staff to prepare a resolution on the matter, if they choose to do so. After the vote, the Microsoft officials met privately in the township hall lobby with the citizens who spoke out in the public hearing. ■■III DNR hosting open house March 12 on proposed Hall Lake Dam modifications I • I J I 2 /A CO. 9-1 -1 4 5 ■■" 4t ' c TER 8 91 10 T • 5 ';i' I I I .I i I Molly Macleod Editor The Michigan Department ofNatural Resources is hosting a public information open house on Wednes­ day, March 12, to share a draft plan for decommis­ sioning Hall Lake Dam, which is located in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area in Barry County. The meeting will run from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hastings Public Library, 227 E. State St. in Hastings. DNR staff and project team members will be on hand to discuss the draft plan or any environmental concerns related to the lake and surrounding area. People will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments throughout the two-hour period. A copy ofthe draft plan and public feedback form, which is open through March 19, are available online at Michigan.gov/YankeeSprings. The dam, which is located six miles south of the village of Middleville and one mile east of Gun Lake, is owned by the DNR. The Michigan Department ofEnvironment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Dam Safety Unit classified the Hall Lake Dam as a significant hazard dam the last time it was inspected in July 2021. This means that if the dam fails, loss of human life is unlikely, but economic damage, environmental harm or disrup­ tion to essential services downstream are probable, say DNR representatives. Most funding for this project will come from a recently awarded EGLE Dam Risk Reduction Grant. The $ 1.6 million grant, awarded in May 2024, can be used to address infi-astructure concerns with the dam and potential impact on the surrounding envi­ ronment. Hall Lake was one of 22 dams across the state last year to receive grants totaling $14.1 million designed to reduce the risk of dam failures. In July 2024, DNR staff said they plan to use the grant dol­ lars to remove “all water control structures, placing a properly sized culvert to restore local hyetology, and restoring the area with native vegetation.” The Hall Lake Dam was built in the mid-1960s. “The DNR has listened to the public feedback about maintaining recreation on Hall Lake, and has been working with EGLE and our design consultant on a solution that would address the dam deficien cies while still preserving an outdoor recreation lake experience at a new, lower lake elevation,” said Joe Jandemoa, park manager, in a DNR news release. DNR staff say public input is a valuable step in the planning process. Community members, park users, anglers and other stakeholders are encouraged to at­ tend the open house or provide feedback via email. For more information on the Hall Lake Dam, contact Jandemoa at 269-795-9081 or email JandernoaJ@Michigan.gov. f V ft c 4^. » .u> . I UlX. t t 1 r yy nT»"y> "U' ” II ■ w I f * J k>' !> ,{• , t»' £ ► iri'w < 4. .! r. I I r . ■ liU f i r 1 J ? ft- 1• . X W' • rMP” •, .1 p > If 4^ JI**'*'* 211 221 231 241 25 26 J r» ’ I > udir i' r nfk II • I U.i -< V... ‘ k "'■J" Ta: f . «rr '7 ‘ i 'H ( * A i -i •• r* - : J- /k ) *A 1 f rW I ;,i r-' I* ■ f J . U 11 < Mi/ ')' ' t-5 ■’ll f * 4 « s r U«|K i if <* 1 lift. k . -- >1 I «) I ^>1^' aft* < ♦<* > ♦e f < VW u I > -C er: . 133 I t ii» cJr-* .. ;£• f.T < I I, » f* K -5^ > <sr - - nn^n < le »■ - - • 1^' « ki8» + << i'. 9 ..''moii-' I .'I % ft I rn. JO 5 1 «I 4 . t I . "1 V. ler s rsOBfiai * A^C J * a -» . .. V* ;xi; .'ST?*'!-’’ -■ 5 ■ W ’.'J.J r’s; fesiw^ /i .« It V « 'll I 1 .•M ;3iiaSik«-’^ ■ > f 1 '! , B t J ’ '. '3( ti V 1^* I A J i.'. i •,r,r*;?r^-r.r J i f Mt i J ft .301 ■ J "Jw lit ) • ft k .■ i (HJ83TJ s ”''7 "'i' L (TR ' A A* I 1 i ■ U' s9 , I a I * i } . L i r> ‘ .J ’< .4 MJ . L k r -it ’ ’ • .wA—I TCTWPFf ■ I i J X < . 1 J 1 i fl ... c I < * 1 k « k 1; '•a 1 . lMa3* Y 01 y I *4 ; z-7 - B I t < «««» I I 11 12 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 201 iijT' iM j ■ f-WT^ ;«• «I 15I 16I 171 181 19 foins*- *1^ * DIAL (800) 249-0911 t PN - EMERGENCIES “Kids Measure up at awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 12I 13I 14I J** I i I. I r’ -’Kji Din Hfioin .4 k I ---------------------fl } I 271 281 291 30 1 ' ft r �I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com -I t 'C. ia. I *1 A •> r ♦ « :A j -3 a. •5 it . •V j 7. r tj 1. ••• u. I *> f » V 9 i)*. 4 I « 4 I I »t • 4 « ^>1 r. (,' y ■a \ 1 ■ih .'V r I 1 I I ui j* «• r» j.: :■ r •*1 ■ '• ^•r / .i 9 .I y w i A k;^ I It « H ,p -I' r• I L. • 29 1 ’'.(x f > s' 46' r • I » J « >* I. s **1 ’ « :UU|- .r ■( t r ♦ >2. k 7 - l I 1: . 1 •4: I.: fl r < ‘-i. J iVi » s IA b. h • '"SAsjt "W 1: ' 1 4 r• 4 »*■ B ■ > ft f 7 r * w ?• , 4 A'. AlHiA tJ « I f n I H i I • * «i..;1 1- I A J «.« -J 5I s ■ ■ >1 > iA . 8 ■J- r "* : 4 J rjt ‘7 j-*' ( 1 -j. fl J «p ru. I d I 1 !4 i.i V r» r k4 Ir.j sr J /• r I . ‘ T'riki:'',' .'' J - **d ' U- -. I •^1.11tf I J * •****!Hr: I ■ 't ^'' »C! f t«.r * n n< 3 A fl 'UZI 1 t<4% '—•9? KQ J A- . ; .• 'f'l • r, *• - I I K* • •« •f_-TV r'itUa i . ‘nWi I * i, I .*'1 I U ■3T;t- |-l».'l'x I < n..B • ;tK t >< f M WWe « HlUBIBUIMnlllt 1 I J. 5 I 00 ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM FAMILY IS EVERYTHING TO US. .. -1?^ '• Ik •; . mi We treat our patients tike family and offer comfortable, customized dentistry for everyone. r! ‘ I e ' < I Am < Same Day Dentistry Implants cotered to your treatment needs to I eturn youi teeth to good healUi Pediatric Dentistry Cosmetic Dentistry with kid-friendly options for Idea! results k* H ( A—.<• '.S ♦ J t •S' * > Ibk :t A P NCWbAt^E^lM { 'IL • 1 / b* About Yankee Springs Dental X* I 11 I Come experience the welcoming atmosphere of our rural, local office, where our patients know each other Tyler Veneman, DDS is o native of Caledonia who keeps up on the latest technology within dent stry and enjoys getting to know the patients' unique needs 'T 'Ji < a I 1 SUCCESS I L* ' J 'I VV yp liC uafc^2*4 A 1, % .W1 -} 'X. .< 1. 'i 9 s>i<- > Sa « ♦m Dental exams are even more important as we get older, preventing problems and reducing the risk of serious illness. . «« 1 4^* fl l2O(toMl16U • 90 Rec-Ethanol Free #1 Home Heating Oil • *1 DInel On I OH Rond t ' ■ •1^' ' .* Mwa^ ' "** aidiht’fe hu Accessories Right for Your Home or Business. ) i’n» ^Mulp nuiiffiileiu d Sartt9 t97l^ < Ridderman OU 12715 w M-179 Hwy YankeeSpringsDental.com Wayland, Ml 49348 (269) 792-9723 Scan to request an appointment and learn more. 4 341 CtiTogk Office Hours M 9QP't-6pin Tu 7anv3pm W Tb F Som-Spm 8am-4pm I I \ L * ■ * ■ *1 I i J l<’ <• * * . ^Eiiill u r I L I I i I J it I I fa 1 1 II I I ll L I j I <5 A s \ I I I t ( i \V I J 4 II w t . • 1 I We Sell and Install Bulk Fuel Tanks, Pumps and 950 Industrial Pkwv. Plainwell, Ml 490B0 ;i( ) « !2O7oOFF your first visit YANKEE SPRINGS Mendon this offer when you coll or bring I this card with you DENTAL I Hours 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday 1 (i 4 Contact us to loam more 269*685*5625 ' 1 1/ a ♦6 y s A '3 .... I n-^ ' j : ■' ^5* Thornapple Kellogg senior Lydia Schilthroat (2), Emma Geukes and Emma Dykhouse (right) share a moment in front of their bench after checking out of their final home game in Middleville Thursday, Feb. 27, a Trojan victory over visiting Lakewood. Photo by Brett Bremer Purchase 150 to 12,400 Gallons of Gasoline and Diesel Fuel * ■- . -«? DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME Ridderman Oil has the knowledge, resources and products on hand to meet your needs. I 1 . t *0 Don’t forget to spring forward one hour before you go to bed on Saturday .*1 bll ?• u . r.-j-ra’flS s n ■I .s 1 WHOLESAU FUEL ORIONS IN FUINWELL Ml Li tftH $ J V^,l < 'Silk' I > «* w t 4 Whether you area Commercial, Industrial, or Agricultural business, or a Residential customer, L kJ .:^ J » » a*;i k ■f i «-l.-ilk >K M We are accepting MFWcustemers in your area. 1* 1 MHSAA Division 2 District Tourna­ ment at Olivet High School Monday and took a 53-39 win over the Orioles. The Vikings and Orioles split their two regular season meetings this season. The host Trojans got out to a 13-2 lead in the opening quarter Thursday, and things never got much better for the Vikings. But the Lakewood ladies learned they have to bring a little more fire right from the get-go and got to face some tough zone defense. All helpful things as they prepared for their district match-up. Getting shots was a challenge for the Vikings in Middleville. Jacqueline Possehn had a team-high five points for Lakewood, hitting a three and a pair of free throws. Avery Farrell, Liz Markwart and Ana Grant had four points each. Thomapple Kellogg had four girls in double figures led by 13 points from Geukes. Schilthroat finished with 11 points and Dykhouse ten. TK also got 11 points from sophomore forward Reece Ritsema, seven from sophomore guard Ellie Harmon and five from freshman guard Taylor Lloyd. .i ^1 «»-«m»OT9K^ I 2 Brett Bremer Sports Editor The end of the regular season was a little bittersweet, but the postseason started the way both the Thomapple Kellogg and Lakewood varsity girls’ basketball teams were hoping - with wins. The Trojans controlled things from start to finish in the regular season fi­ nale in Middleville Thursday evening, Feb. 27. Seniors Emma Geukes and Emma Dykhouse knocked down threepointers for the Trojans in the opening minutes ofthe fourth quarter, with Dykhouse’s earning an especially explosive reaction from the Trojan bench. Senior Lydia Schilthroat was able to scoop an underhand shot up between Lakewood’s Elizabeth Markwart and Heidi Carter while being fouled for an and-one opportunity that bumped the Trojan lead to its final margin of 57-17. One at a time, Geukes and Dykhouse came off to applause and hugs while Schilthroat waited at the free throw line, and after her shot attempt it was her turn. The emotions of the moment hit the Trojan senior trio on the sideline before the handshakes began - and be­ fore the team’s state postseason started this week. Thomapple Kellogg opened the post­ season with a 46-40 win over Byron Center at Byron Center High School Monday in an MHSAA Division 1 District Quarterfinal match. Lakewood faced Capital Area Ac­ tivities Conference White Division foe Charlotte in the opening round of the I ' * 9 Trojans and Vikings open postseason with victories I 9 Saturday, March 8, 2025 I ©am-l ‘ Ba ®i 0 �I it J. 1 - A** : W* *4 K ■BBHI ( iI r CHS bowling season ends in qualifying at D1 Finals I I Brett Bremer end over the weekend at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park as the Fighting Scot girls’ team and a couple of individuals competed in the MHSAA Division 1 Sports Editor An outstanding 2024-25 Caledonia varsity bowling season came to an •• ♦ Bowling Finals. TheCaledoniagirlsrolled±eirwaytoa 13th-place finish in the qualifying rounds ofthe team state competition Friday with top Baker scores in the 160s throughout the day. The CHS girls rolled eight Baker games and two regular games in the qualifying portion ofthe competition. On Saturday, Caledonia juniors Addison Luxford and Brady Humbarger partici­ pated in the slate singles competitions. The top eight teams advanced to mach play rounds Friday. Utica United was the top team in qualifying with an overall score of3,404 pins. South Lyon was sec­ ond at 3,220. TTie Caledonia girls had an overall pinfall of 2,811 in the qualifying and were 138 pins behind the last of the match play qualifying teams. The Grandville girls who were sev­ enth in the qualifying rounds captured the MHSAA Division 1 Girls’ Team Bowling Championship with wins over South Lyon, Rockford and then Holt in the match play bracket. The Bulldogs won a best-of-five Baker game contest with Holt in the championship match 3-2, outscoring Holt 158-153 in the final game to clinch the state title. Holt reached the championship bout with an upset of favorite Utica in the semifinal round. Holt outscored the Grandville girls 153-116 in their first Baker game, but the Bulldogs rallied to pull out a back-and-forth final in the end. The Caledonia girls won an OK Green • *• •* ••. 1 Cb botcher bloci^^j^ «# NOW SERVING BREAKFAS BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER iot ••• * ♦ ** 7AM -I fWi. » 1 t * V• L ^'42 * 4 k J > .•I i .4. > n lis5--3 k V I •u ?7 SEE YPUAT a CUT OUT & PRESENT ; THIS COUPON FOR 10%J OFF YOUR TOTAL BILL Z * EXPIRES 6/15/25 ■ ^thebw^ ..■•A**'____ I a*;. 9900 Cherry Valley Ave SE. Caledonia. Ml // 616-622-1004 // www butcherblocksocial.com w« r/ Conference championship this winter and qualified for the stale finals as a learn by winning a regional championship as well. Utica look a 3-1 win over Belleville in the match play championship match on the boys’ side Friday. Luxford placed 36th in the qualifying contests Saturday in the DI Girls' Bowl­ ing Singles Finals. She had a total pinfall of 1,013 through six games. She had a high single score on the day of 199. She was 93 pins behind the last of the 16 girls who qualified or the match play bracket. Utica sophomore Ava Mazza was tops in qualifying with an overall pinfall of 1,354, but she was bumj•Ts^li from the match play bracket in the semifinals by Rockford sophomore Sophia DeLuccia. Novi senior Madeline Gazzarari finished the day as the state's DI girls’ singles champion by outscoring DeLuccia 205165 and 225-220 in two games. Humbaiger rolled to 54th in the quali­ fying in the boys’ DI singles competi­ tion with an overall pinfall of 976. He had a top single game of 210 to start his tournament. Hartland senior Haden Hebei beat out Davison senior Joe Merz 1,372-1,376 for the top seed in the qualifying, but in the end of the match play bracket it was Wayne Memorial sophomore Lyman Derrick III taking the state champion­ ship by outscoring senior Dylan Hamden from Utica 257-212,233-232 in their two championship round games. r 4 T' I I 5^ *.i I 41k ■ r r * « i"' R f I •»J I - * a •l I •n ' ••J ♦ 4 J /< I * *> • . I* a f B, a i % ir- I ! l•Al^7 ✓ < .ti-- II J VAI i«r4i|SB— I I d “f (' * I I I , > I. * I I k I / f ’ 1 :."f v*** JI 1 f ’» ■ ■ ihianS 9^ 1/ ’ I <tr > I t ) J V K. I-*’ •• « i I I 1 i * Ilgis’ t f I . f 1 ; L.v T ' iM0< 9 11^: 'f . -J*. k '«b- .«f,n ‘-<4 ,x Mt .‘Stef’ R !t > -I t tc k** • A 3^Wi ' r . ?• ,. t I r** I •♦ : I r I 1 I1 *1^. * i I > * ►> i' I *•' L nI IW' ' ** a *i i5 * « I V J* ' rf I I r A r X^st «* ? i ' I t I T I. 4 w» W 4titD* i It® . ’••1' •K t i ft ar—'* I t t 1 '■ ‘x J Ml i tUrr::'.*V I . . Year I i ClipN Mye~T ^■1 4 Schedule an appointment and get -? k THORNAPPLEEYECARE.COM ■si; L Cekhf^atfoH 269-213-8108 | 4624 N. M-37 Hwy. Ste E, Middleville, Ml 49333 | Next to Harding's Market <*» /TA CO. 9-1 -1 C 4 5 TER 8 91 10 111 12I 13 11 «• «!« r 4 ki ’U ♦ f' .•f* I ■ Ji ■ . f -• I te ““*4 K: ■ ■ •w d r • ■Mk . »* V 1 ■ '4 I •H'* -/• ~ n.2. , I. V » **• Mw •i f,t,- «4b * »-. ■ ilWF I t DIAL (800) 249-0911l|ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" I 7^V % $ L I <*• it aTl r -»>4 your eye exam '!e*A-..' 1 ' > ■I - A rr* ; k.. i 20% off IJ Witc ■■ J 1 f -Thornapple • t I i t 5 I b a. - r 1 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES * 18I 19 201 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 301 141 151 161 17 I M f. J t I < I ' • I < -1 I I I i < t *1 ♦ a T S s �♦ ♦ * Avw/.' t « ill • i « I k J. MliilSni I r I I { ’I* < «k. '■r- 11 ♦ >• • ..>wbk t t i ‘J! Saturday. March 8, 2025 Pennington retires from CHS footbali nninris" A THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I f f/S^- K t I ■> T A .□i- I t I ■^1 •:S . £ V I' ' 5* 3^ 3 Ifl 4 L.-< 5 I J 1* u « I i b/ E a--< Z’ <. H > i. L k * I, ff I 1 11 9 1. ,\ a. 1 1 5 t I 9 6 •*;i 4- •i Wb ^'• I I b ■bJT 7^ ft ▼ --.t ,1 •’w,- V ' >» ’-’SI J nos . 4 4 A . X, I pH. / «»; r ,d^n •M- ■ . nriteiv J r' Caledonia varsity football coach Derek Pennington talks to the media inside Ford Field alongside his son Derek Pennington Jr. and Mason McKenzie following the Fighting Scot varsity football team’s 2022 state runner-up finish. Pennington announced Feb. 17 that he is retiring from coaching. Photo by Brett Bremer i I "t. * I *v. 1 4 I r * A w r t r, I < /.UfrHO I ♦ I > rJ : i <« Ib K} V f * . < 4 . 2ni IN j*k' •K-.^. » »i V. . '..u K I 1 ' •.MTilM rt J '*■ wo) .- I f I i t laiifcfcbc 9 M* < ' < >’ « ?»• Mb 1 ( I I ■r Ift i ■ ■ I I tl ■ :I ) /I « •w re I u e I I I *A IH • •••ii irv7 rr /« jS X ■ !?• V J''. i a 4 /’T'.l'jtS I I I 9 1 ♦I hl -d * ar 1 I iI t t I 6-)l. ] tgai^ I iB - htht >u ;x.‘ iH biobta|>H Mnbi -I « ■ A8L ' ) (-i - T'B i ■I ! JjUlJ'fW .0^ .*•* •' ii t Brett Bremer Sports Editor Derek Pennington, the second head coach to ever lead the Caledonia varsity football team to a state championship game, announced he is retiring from coaching Feb. 17. The Fighting Scot varsity compiled a record of 34-12 in his four seasons leading the program, including a 12-2 2022 season in which the Fighting Scots won their way to the MHSAA Division 1 State Finals at Ford Field in Detroit where they were eventually downed by the defending state cham­ pions from Belleville. Caledonia won a district champion­ ship under Pennington in 2021 as well and reached the district finals in 2023. The Scots were contenders for OK Red Conference championships in each of Pennington’s first three seasons, but could never quite get over the hump against perennial powerhouse Rock­ ford - at least not until a 14-13 win at Rockford High School in the MHSAA Division 1 District Finals at Rockford High School in 2022 which helped ' Il I propel the Scots to Ford Field. Pennington spent 17 seasons leading Zeeland West High School’s football program before coming to Caledonia where he was able to coach his son, Derek Pennington Jr., who is now a member of the Western Michigan University Football program. Over his coaching career in Michi­ gan, Pennington had 134 wins, 15 winnings seasons, 13 playoff appear­ ances, four district championships and two regional championships. He was named the 20022 AP Coach of the Year in Michigan, the 2022 Division 1 MHFCA Coach of the Year, and five times was an MHSFC A regional coach of the year. He of course credits any awards he received over the years to the players and coaches working along side him. He said he is really proud ofthe accom plishments the Fighting Scots made over the past four seasons. The Caledonia varsity was 4-5 over all last fall missing the playoffs for the first time during Pennington’s tenure. I f'. I I ^Are you creative — NOW HIRING — :9 It rte'. Ml t ^8= ‘ -I if J11 I 5^^ < ’ Al X 4 < iA*: i r i ll > 4 <? •’’i > ATT J s. :7, * rs*. . ■•• t. GRAPHIC DESIGNER \lle\N Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time graphic artist for our Greenviiie location. — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS — This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! Responsibilities include: • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout INe love what we do and we know you will too! Are you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@mihomepaper.com and let's find out! \^l The County Press : Lapeer Area View Genesee County View >. Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer’s Guide : Jeffersonian Group Tri-County Times Dally News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen ? " 7* - The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer’s Guide & News The Sun and News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Reminder community newspapers serving IS Michigan counties that are delivered weekly to more than 335,000 households with an additional500,000 monthly online readers. IVe are a growing company of 21 1 I I I I I I 4 IL <1111 #flnl I I I 7iira « I II f J * f r t •- ! It i I 4 H H I ' 'i I 1 « J . /• fl i I u I 1 X I -1 i i \ I II 1 I ♦ �12 Saturday. March 8, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS iVojan trio ends weekend with all-state medals OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY ♦ 9 9 Brett Bremer Sports Editor Three of the four Trojans wrestling at Ford Field this weekend in the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals will close their tournament run on the state medal stand Saturday afternoon. TK sophomore Adelaide Holderman wrestled her way to a fourth-place fin­ ish in the girls’ 170-pound weight class and senior teammate Emma Gibson placed sixth in the girls’ 135-pound weight class. Trojan senior Jayce Curtis placed eighth in Division 2’s 165-pound weight class. It is the first all-state wrestling performance for all three. Curtis (38-14) and Gibson (317) are both three-time state qualifiers. This was Holderman’s first finals ap­ pearance. Holderman and Gibson both wres­ tled their way into the championship quarterfinals Friday before being bumped into the consolation bracket, and both girls finish their season with more than 30 victories. Curtis opened his tournament and closed his tourna­ ment with losses to Holly’s Christian I . A s 1 4 J I ‘ t 9 .• f k A V* I . .................... WWW sunandnews co r t r I NOW HIRING View Newspaper Group is seeking a Preston, but w on a pair of consolation bouts Friday to secure his spot on the slate medal stand. All three Trojans found themselves in the “blood round” Friday where a win earned them another day of wrestling and a spot on the slate medal stand, and a loss would mean the end of their state tournament run. Curtis’ match there in the second round of consolation was one of the wildest he has ever wrestled. He took a 20-17 decision over Kaleb Gagne of Escanaba. Gagne had a lakedown eight seconds into the bout and led 7-2 after getting another takedown with 15 seconds to go in that opening period. Curtis managed an escape and a take down of his own in the final few seconds of the period to get within 7-6. The second period was more of the same. Gagne got of the bottom quick, and then Curtis took his first lead of the match with a take down. They traded points rom there with Curtis notching two takedowns in the period and then i V MW w r J I> «I Him I I .* ♦I 'i1 ■ bI I tau ■> 4 I A •I : 1 f'*'* 4 *0? f J ft fl it! f * - -t I• 3 t ?! J 'S* ♦V X t:dHl € I • ! Ia X* >A y ft ' I ■• f J ■ ■ ■ 4 ir* ♦I ¥ : J I J J '■ t :S2 1 f I V i ♦ r ¥ ftS i I > V > twam 5?o: 4 * I I u T See next page MARKETING SPECIALIST ? . • - I I 1 1 ( • * •4 L a Illite HjftsI •* ?• ( I a W 9 w .9 ‘I Responsibilities include: 0 '.Cl *1 I Advertising sales Account management Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts Attend networking events -w J F' «ih3 ibitJriiii-Sf tin Kjifli Cris sfid I I Ii *r I uSilffilitUs Fffljto&jfe? .♦ kw ew ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen 'JO ri a aea 31L •- >_ IM hk ’ ms F^ibawPe it . t I W *u*’ 3 , .V •> WlbS3K tVtK J ’ sM » tibwiil -1 i!MSRlEiss«5gB5 ■'*»**' IK, I I ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer's Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder * V I LI ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer's Guide ■ Jeffersonian X MV W ’-9 email wsmith@mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 L i L.L. * ’1 I W! X * IT I t' I< i'i 'a 3*^ SI ol ifl ' I ft I Group w 1^1 :S323fc^ { I iE T I me I I ! .. ■ w ;l Thornapple Kellogg senior Jayce Curtis looks out from the medal stand Saturday after placing eighth in Division 2’s 165-pound weight class during the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals at Ford Field in Detroit. .V ft. 4 Tr T ■ I • V- *< ► J 1 14 .t ts \ L Rr I I « ■ ih . K I t > 4 e t« •*. .. ■i I i * J ' i:r' DIAL (800) 249-0911 "Kids Measure up at| 9 10 I I 1 ON - EMERGENCIES awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" Ill 121 131 141 151 16 171 181 191 20 ■I' fl 11 12 10 r OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES * 211 22 231 241 251 26 < /• v •' Vs* 27 28| 29| 30 riWN t !i^!>• *1 * J < I �THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Saturday, March 8, 2025 13 ♦ vi ■t t I *»'iii*Ki J » 9 < .i ) k > 11 r-f ? f. ’*3' X, f:- N S?' t j f > - ; 49 *■ .V 4 ■ s.'** '■ t > 9; t , 1 9 I > : 9 -a 1 r I 1 { L* AM iM < •3n: '•w • .X ; (f < .>-4f « li' •* n Ay >». 't IL tr ; l r if , ''I I I f u « ■•fb.•5 I .•»^» •. *♦. I Thornapple Kellogg sophomore Adelaide Holderman (top) nears a pin against Marcellus senior Carlee Osborn, as TK coach Dayne Fletke offers assistance from the corner behind, during their first match of the medal rounds Saturday inside Ford Field in Detroit at the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals. Holderman was 4-2 over the weekend to place fourth in the girls’ 170-pound weight class. IM I I I '* «) Hr 'VS'J “'Jbck,'. Continued from Page 12 A *’*rv*** j ■ ( i " rwe nui L'l, *4^ ^*in ni i i > if* t 9 4 *H 1 ' 4 P • • < f ? { i i r- i f «S«' I Exn ztftu’ J i; rr 5 rr Jooh-f hufij fi nr J hag on I* 1 i fie*J< §od^ori 4 ' xjq'X : idsls r w * I ’ '^t • < . WfgsDd kTiKiegSdj r snoft 98 I '*'' * '.Vil 1 ' T .f ' i e♦ a •ri I J r * • T ewion u-n X^5 i srf jI j f! or lOzzoiggB srit j ,TB&7 zrrit > 48^d emu J u e->rio3£ntfar* »oi noediD I*'I ^vi>l jiiBfl to nia b j i {. I 1 1 j I / > ‘Y jjfenro *? ' rr',. U latfTsO < ] ¥( lisrIr'to ziBnfhanBup. i nri I 1 ' k 1 Tjjrjj I z r > I > 3 :• I 4 { .J '7 _* '^ I r ♦ =L. *» * ! 9 ! i f k « * I <.• If 4 i -fe 9^* K I I t * a X irll i ,J ■ I.. Ir Gagne one in the end that sent him into the third period in front 13-12. Curtis started the third period in the bottom position. He reversed his way to the top, then Gagne did the same, and then Curtis managed another re­ versal all within the first 75 seconds of that third period. The second reversal nudged Curtis in front 16-15. This time he got Gagne to his back for four nearfall points that proved to be the difference in the match at the end even with Gagne scoring another reversal with 38 seconds to go. Curtis prevented Gagne from scoring again to advance with the three-point win. Curtis and Gibson both said they went into the state finals with fewer nerves this time around. Curtis said he really put a focus on trying to be the aggressor in his bouts at the finals this year. Curtis was bested in his two medal round matches Saturday. Gibson started her tournament with a pin of Bark River-Harris’ Vaida Uskilith-Karaja, but then fell 12-7 to Center Line’s Carmella Clark in the quarterfinals of their 135-pound girls’ bracket. She went on to a 3-3 weekend that ended in another match-up with Clark in the bout for fifth-place that was decided by an 8-7 score. In between those contests with Clark, Gibson scored an 8-3 win over Otsego’s Samanatha Bonovetz in the blood round Friday and then won her first match of the medal rounds Satur­ day by pinning Allen Park’s Adeline Tuccini. West Bloomfield’s Tamari Khizanishvili bested Gibson 14-5 in the consolation semifinals to put her in the match for fifth. Holderman (32-13) won three straight matches by fall in consolation after a quarterfinal loss Friday in the girls’ 170-pound weight class. She started her tournament run by pinning Waverly’s Se’nyah Suddeth-Doss early in the second period of their match. In the quarterfinals. Holderman was bested 7-2 by Clinton’s Raven Aldridge who went on to finish as the 170-pound state runner-up behind Caledonia’s Maddie Hayden. From there, Holderman started her run up the medal stand by pinning Westland John Glenn’s Brooklyn Fisher in the blood round Friday. Hold­ erman started her Saturday by pinning Marcellus’ Carlee Osborn and then Waverly’s Victoria Carter. In the match for third, Holderman was bested 7-0 by Pine River’s Adalyn Holmes. The TK team also had senior Raini Braska competing in the girls’ 110-pound weight class. She was best ed in her two bouts Friday in Detroit. v* 3- IUMM» .. , Min SPwm • II 4«% V ♦ ■III r*- — *v ' ..i .itfWR* r-- - ----------------------■ ■ ■ X 4;> — -s; '• '. A ; «a«M»'' w —• M *- w Thornapple Kellogg senior Emma Gibson fights to try and score a reversal against Allen Park's Adeline Tuccini during their opening match of Saturday’s medal rounds in the girls’ 135-pound weight class at the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals inside Ford Field in downtown Detroit. Gibson placed sixth at her weight class to earn her first all-state wrestling medal. Photos by Brett Bremer W 5$ ■vf. ■• r-. WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS I 2 ■ JI ♦s E S .. 3 -4= & MB 6 A ...... > •s ' >-X '< __ _ a; Residential & Comme^Bjb < 1 -Gas Furnaces ' -Gas Boilers I W*X X % I HBB c % 1 2* 2 ), Air Gonditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers 12 *4^ gjjCj ( X » A sz fi 9T^ I if DeWeerd <68^ ATHun & & AIR AID rnwniTinwiwr. HEATING CONDITIONING, lur INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 ’I Since 195S r 4 NNOX ACCREDITED BUSINESS �Saturday, March 8, 2025 14 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com r t; New pool proves beneficial to Vikings already ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor Monday - Friday: 8 t I * 1b A few Gars put on a push at the Hol­ land Second Shave Meet Tuesday to ^rj try and join teammate Van, a D1 state •’ r 4 qualifier in the 100-yard butterfly, at iB * « • mrriW’ *nfl the finals, but came up just short. The □rff Uil\ •D ■ Gars ’ 200.yard freestyle relay and 400t)' yard freestyle relay teams were both ald^j :1/[W tIMBI * t less than half a second from the state mo L.V qualifying mark. The Grand Rapids Gars did score a ft tfj r »* pair of championships in Byron Center. i3JBaDnrrr<aj iiec Klopfenstein swam to a winning time '/ i .^:y' 4 of 56.34 seconds in the 100-yard back I'i' >)■■■ stroke and he chased after Van in the 100-yard butterfly. Van won that race in -1:3 ’ ♦rr»-* n 56.43 with Klopfenstein third in 55.67, Foerch had the lone victory for the - \ CLS team at the conference meet. He ff K’ took the 50-yard freestyle in a personal i best time of 22.59 seconds. CLS also r . .?.!i ■ <5''' had Tufts fourth in that race. L’S.< 1 Jones had a pair of runner-up finishes rJ . d>’. i for the Vikings. He was second to Ot­ *iU tawa Hills’ Juan Huner in the 200-yard ■ifiH: freestyle with atime of 1:53.57 and sec­ ond to Wayland’s Eddie Oudbier in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 50.72.""." || • *01 I ii* • Oudbier was the only guy to win two\ individual events at the championship. T\See next page > J am t» C * k« .f l» fr H J i •« »I ■ ••••>'• 1 4 1 .-y • s f Xs • I ?> I ■‘y.f LTr tf I A i > I •b •X^ tr rf .1 T I s •rpf' I k i' I I '• srw i « 1 I ««b ** T • i 11 t >. X -t I »* 1 ’ ♦- 4 * I r*.i - f. X <•’ .fc—- ’ A A X IV ' r /- » . zii^-' F Wanki r* ''! ...^ r t I J A. o ■ A 1 fh . Grand Rapids Gars senior Nolan Send races through the water during his preliminary heat of the 500-yard freestyle Friday. Feb. 28, at OK Rainbow East Division Championships hosted by Byron Center High School. Photos by Brett Bremer \4 Jt ? < 4 » , • t J I I . . I? i r * r I ing this possible. We ’re also proud to say that our first week ofpractice in the new facility paid off in time for the Rainbow East Conference Swim and Dive Meet.” The CLS Vikings placed third at the conference meet, behind the undefeated conference champions from Wayland and the runner-up Bengals from Ot­ tawa Hills. The Grand Rapids Gars, a co-op between Thomapple Kellogg, West Michigan Aviation Academy, Unity Christian, Hopkins and West Catholic, placed fourth in the final standings Sat­ urday. Wayland clinched the conference championship with a score of451 points ahead of Ottawa Hills 471, Caledonia/ 'ilB FMM BVREAV M8VBMCE* 1 6»avf>»tie» 1 ®#£iib^4 Jason Parks (269) 795*6827 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville Jparks&fbinsml.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com «• I Lowell/South Christian 335, Grand Rapids Gars 314, Catholic Central 264 and Grand Rapids Union 106. Junior Anders Foerch, sophomore Nolan Fitzgerald and senior Sam Jones earned all-conference honors with their performance at the Feb. 28-March 1 conference championships. Gran Rap­ ids Gars freshman Gabriel Van, senior Ethan Klopfenstein, senior Hunter Tietz and junior Ty Denney all earned all­ conference honors for their point totals at the championships. The Vikings swam to third even with­ out Ethan Snapper in ±e line-up for the weekendmeet. An illness preventedhim from competing wi± his teammates, but he got to practice for a couple days in the Cal Community Pool Monday and Tuesday and was back strong enough Wednesday for the Second Shave Meet at East Kentwood where he raced to an MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 state qualifying time of 22.44 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle. Snapper also teamed with junior Austin Tufts, Jones and Foerch to beat the state qualifying time in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a finish in 1 minute 30.54 seconds in that race in Kentwood. The MHSAA Lower Peninsula Divi­ sion 1 Boys’ Swimming and Diving Finals will be held March 14-15 at the Holland Aquatic Center. 1 I* t tTl <-■ •. I I r .7 J. p -r KB I • r / ^5rv • 14 15 161 17 181 19 20 <jr'* w MfV o, J<*V • h. ♦ V. . I I J r f 1 ♦(* *'♦ * 4 ^4Ws v* I I .V k ! > •4 I Hfr,' « •Z/*- Q - S”<t.{ r* rM t b : { I r * **** ■ K. mT ®*5*« r 4-' t X 1 5^ ^7' c V i • .-*1 i5i *- '*• « 1^2 I { s V 4 . £1 > '5 *er I t II ;i I / ,J w 'k f H' i T V R I ,• i - M * A r /■ I I M sr c 4 ♦1 .I f f> J >. -A > *-.• ' 4 I i ** I 1 I Grand Rapids Gars senior Hunter Tietz races along in the backstroke leg of his preliminary heat of the 200-yard individual medley at the OK Rainbow East Division Championships hosted by Byron Center High School Friday, Feb. 28. le^^aaVb* q ti C .. ‘-4» * ~* I I h *>.— rr. L j;h:^ V 'iMry r « . eatoiia-’ Uti-tWOl •i )lB9dV’;_^ ' :) 3l '• r - ‘‘1 \rj f.,;, I I I I MBT tir* 4 'I k I I I J * f f I 1 I I OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES ] 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 301 I t i t’ 1 i < «i 1: t J I* i't ":n'^ j 12 111 121 13 - ■-1 r » :_*x 1 n ^.*•1 « X” •w’ DIAL (800) 249-0911 riON - EMERGENCIES Kids Measure up at :awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" ‘Btr I 1 I 91 10 '■ ’ 'd "4 I I 8 * I 1 I /VA CO. 9-1 -1 CElTER s * t Lake Estade I z >♦ •' Your local agent insures your 7 J I to 5 pm < 1 1 * Your iTusfed Body Shop for over 32 yeors I I It' * t ku 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 5 ’* "g Complete Collision Repair 4 e: 4 . I J BODY SHOP I 1 ' 1 I BUSINESS HOURS: J •w J X 616-891-0150 I I i The OK Rainbow East Division had to borrow the Byron Center High School pool for its championship meet last weekend, buttheCaledonia/Lowell/ South Christian varsity swimming and diving teams don’t need to go looking lanes to share any more. The CLS Viking varsity boys’ swim­ ming and diving team got to get in a week of taper workouts in the new pool at the Cal Community Center while welcoming the team’s divers to finally get to practice with the rest of the team too before the conference meet. “You could see, feel and hear their excitement as they huddled together, taking it all in,” CLS varsity boys’ head coach Todd De Jong said. He expects it to be an ideal environment for his guys to grow and reach their full potential. “The Caledonia Community Pool serves many purposes for the com­ munity, but the team was the first to experience it and demonstrate its value. We are deeply grateful to the Caledonia community and its leadership for mak- i( J 1 ♦ I “ riWJULiJ ‘. > I I I 1.- 'fc*!-.;j-V — 1 i..' •• s �u ♦ 1 i4 •. MK — I V J I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com < .-.iSB Ti- ♦ V t 15 Saturday, March 8, 2025 c I I J I •» , •i- >■ ■ ♦ ' . ’<t?h ♦ I I 'C t -I 5 g .r £ . r «Rb. I I i *>« > * M/ y*- •u z> *K .s '>1 < 1 K » A X < * ' ,k‘ , T ?t • I . ■J \ K Al« .y* I -s ’Wt 4 r" ■■t I ^4512 : »** A A ^■ f ■ 1 r«* J f it e I t 1 CLS junior Anders Foerch races through the water during his preliminary heat of the 500-yard freestyle at Byron Center High School Friday, Feb. 28, during the OK Rainbow East Division Championships. Foerch placed fifth in that race at Saturday’s finals after winning the conference championship in the 50-yard freestyle. i < <I I I I p r ; p> I b • J7i^ . -It I .i I -I,' J I v; r? .7 •■* J . .4^ Jj'- 1^* — T*' •• jA= •A c I &1- ■ *** T .s. ~^__ _ .. r r . I '■• V 4 *1 I ■ < •iS’------ . •* ..:*r !>* •l 4 • 1 ♦ .■?‘7n; ■ f jf J A ) ------— *» 4 S- I 1 . > • 1 ' Cx* w t *.‘X’ iiaB ifolitya ; i I -* > f t*' . % .i < >1 y» tf • I M 1 /r — W-- J <9« J* VI ♦ _ .42. I % bS J i?*- .• ••r . !» ♦ M* .A. < a 1 M .H ^9^ ’••*. • • ? I 4'.. ‘ % »>» < • I x <1 \ * «*«^ .. » > k •w I I * "^<V i *1 •< wr V• . A < •v •*z .'^W-" * 1 f I • : • *• > LI •^S 1--^: *g_fT ,.== 77 ■fe^__ Grand Rapids Gars freshman Gabe Van races to a win in his preliminary heat of the 100-yard butterfly Friday, Feb. 28, during the OK Rainbow East Division Championships at Byron Center High School. Van went on to win the conference championship in the race Saturday. X 44 »» * »x I A> >v> *AU.. b. t: I " 'hni ii. ' 1 I 1*V ■1 - Jfe* >4*-. r.i 1. i > .. S «va*> a*.. .1 »R :<niiaQiJ ”l ikt •T’ A iT . <1 He also won the 200-yard individual medley in 2:03.31. The Gars’ Van was second in that race with a time of2:06.44 and Tietz was third in 2:10.42. CLS’s Fitzgerald wasn’t too far back in fifth in that race. Fitzgerald swam to a runner-up time of 5:16.90 in the 500-yard freestyle behind only Ottawa Hills sophomore Wyatt Jacques (5:05.96). The Gars’ Haiden Vruggink placed eighth in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of5:46.32 L'J M (7 Continued from Page 14 *»ii . 1. 7^0,-. ■ 1 st? ’i.A- ■u *, • v’/ nr ! Ni (« lk/> i « > /•'I 'RU. r '■}! f; i -«H ’* ’«• 1' ' p J ! 11 lA * nr ' »U7 •• / TjJ’lu b to *. ■■ « r i 'd^ I I I • T' W t » ’ 1 Z«.s ’.I . I 1^ » 1*4 •b- r^zsi' > .. I ■' ■ m 4b r < Ja f *J I .. . MI ■. O' f T t / , ‘ti ■ I fr^v • t t’ 4 k C?: * . -eP J #>*> - - * « tA;. ’•b. < style with a time of 23.68 seconds. He was also fifth in the lOO-yard freestyle in 52.86. Ethan Magnuson, the Gars’ lone diver competing, was sixth wi± a score of 214.85 points over the course of his 11 dives. The performance earned him a spot in the regional diving competition this season. CLS had freshman Caleb Shel­ don eighth in the diving and Tufts ninth. Nearly every individual medalist all day long Saturday set a personal best time. The Gars were fourth in the 200-yard medley relay to start the meet and the top relay performance from the team came from the foursome of Send, Tietz, Denney and Van that was third in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:33.39. Jones, Barnum, Fitzgerald and Foerch had the top relay finish of the day for the CLS squad as they opened the fi­ nals Saturday with a time of 1 ;45.52 in the 200-yard medley relay. They were second only to Wayland in that race. The CLS teams were fourth in the two freestyle relay races without ±e speed­ ster Snapper. NOTHIN’ BUT A GOOD TIME 1 < r and Send was ninth in that event despite a time of 5:41.39 in the ‘B’ Final that bested his teammate Vruggink’s time. That lOO-yard backstroke final was an outstanding one for the Gars too with Tietz second in 58.32 and fresh­ man Sreyas Murmu seventh in 1:06.62. CLS junior Andrew Barnum was the runner-up to Wayland’s Mason Fein in the lOO-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:06.29. Denney’s top individual performance for the Gars came in the 50-yard free- f 4 4 le K. J &|! i er ’ I r •? 4 LI Jj J ;' ri A V y-. fit; .5?- If - > ' *< t 1 I 1 1^ I 4 k I I •K I ?I1 1 J 1'l-- V' l. i iZ', A 1 . I 4V « ■ * > i" ■ \ i«' I II b •( r* « » ( w . r. .f t- : ICr < I "’’JW5 y < I •1. »* • Ti’* <*Hb I '« 1 -J* if »-• y L S I *^Bic «;.i I"J. > J « .1 < jl^ * V J r* A I 'XSlff .. * ' fe> “X. * la ^■■■^ i«- k :<ar 11 * *5*^ 2 4 ***♦ r.«x- & . ( I! )fe 4 .4 4 > ' -S- -» . I I * i- 42^ - >* r I II ><l J *< I J^ST* '''U . I ^•- Adah * g1»« I 1 V / '-i*''*' i'». Ti 7 c-*?’ “■' 1 ♦ v-« *»ik ^-1 . w <» •r »T, a s. I •f 1 •f f '* <1 uUub JW I rwT- a. C 0 R* r i f «■ y-ss 'WHIM i'’ *if -'■‘A xt r W^** ■S' 14-^ V •• ** r 1 « - AW • > ir i « iiif .' »' » Vi 1 -!^- 'Ak I I 1^' r b - V < $ 1 «. r v*— 4 . J 4 J- w A -V.4' > ^‘r ., J ^.“8 I . M ^1 4 A I A Caledonia/Lowell/South Christian senior Sam Jones pumps a fist after winning his preliminary heat of the lOO-yard freestyle Friday. Feb. 28, at the OK Rainbow East Division Championships hosted by Byron Center High School. Jones was the conference runner-up in both the 100-yard and 200yard freestyle Saturday. COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the February 11, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on Februa^ 25, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main Street and on the website at www. villaqeofmiddleville.org. \ * A I* XV!• f JOAN JETT \ ,'SU & THE BLACKHEARTS J **' FRIDAY, APRIL 4 . i k * » * 4 . ww ** t I .1 ? • Lt* A BUSH TOM SEGURA LOADED: THE GREATEST HITS loUR COME TOGETHER THURSDAY, MAY g ‘ FRIDAY, MAY 9 Tickets available M* at the FireKeepers Box Office or FireKeepersCasino.com. R FIREKEEPERS GET YOUR VlSliv ON TM CA51NO•HOTEL BATTLE CREEK 1-94 to Exit 104 I 11177 Michigan Avenue I Battle Creek, Ml 49014 Must be 21 or older. Tickets based on availability. Schedule subject to change. �V V. < « f I Saturday. March 8 2025 16 THE SUN AND NEWS minandnews com WA > •T Fighting Scots win their way into district finals 9 .V f rhe Irojans were pleased to only give up 18 points in the first half. Caledonia was happier to allow just eight. The Caledonia varsity girls’ basket­ ball team (18-5), the 2025 OK Green Conference Champions, opened the slate postseason with a 47-25 vin over Thomapple Kellogg in the MHSAA Division I District Semifinals at Byron Center High School Wednesday. Thomapple Kellogg (10-13) took down the district hosts in the opening round of the stale tournament Monday, but this was the postseason opener for the Scots. It took some lime for the Caledonia girls to get into an of­ fensive rhythm, but as head coach Todd Bloemers had hoped his defense didn’t collect any rust wailing for the postseason to begin. Freshman guard Emily Stauffer had a game-high 22 points and shouldered much of the offensive load early on. CALEDOMIA AMEMCAK LEBIOA A30S M t •7' EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT Friday, March 7th thru Friday, April 18*” 2025 5-7pm or until gone ALL YOU CAN EAT $14.00 Adults S8.00 Children 12 and under OPEM TO PUBLIC ALL ABB WELCOME! DINNER INCLUDES She scored or assisted on each of the Scots’ first five baskets spanning most of the first quarter and a half. Staulfer found an open Olivia Fos­ ter for a three-pointer four and a half minutes into the ballgame that put the Scots up 5-2 and they led the rest of the night. They had a 9-6 lead at the end of one quarter and pushed the lead to 18-8 at the half. “That is the best thing about Emily,” Bloemers said. “She is such a joy to coach because she is not a scorer It's not just assists. She isjust a playmaker. Whatever the right play is, she is going to make it, and she gets more joy out of setting up her teammates. When you watch her watch her teammates make a shot, she is the first one to run to them and touch them and tell them good job. That becomes contagious too, and that is how a freshman can lead.” Thomapple Kellogg freshman guard Taylor Lloyd drilled a three-pointer and sophomore forward Reece Ritsema knocked down a couple free throws to open the second half, but five points was as close as the Trojans would gel the rest of the night. “Honestly, we had opportunities, we just needed to take care of the ball a little bit better,” TK head coach Brandi Jeunes said. “I think the emotions and the weight of this game got the best of us tonight. Our defense was fantastic. We did a lot of things to shut them down. We only allowed 18 points in the first half, so that was pretty good, but only scoring eight obviously there were defensive woes. We can hit big shots, we just didn’t tonight. They were kind of up in our faces and we let it make us miss opportunities. We didn’t use the whole floor.” Trojan senior guard Lydia Schilthroat led her team with eight points. Lloyd had seven points, and seniors 1 H' Breaded and Beer Battered Fresh Pollock Filets served with Tartar Sauce, French Fries, Coleslaw and Homemade Bread & Butter. Dessert: Soft Serve Ice Cream. Coffee and Lemonade ■ ■ No other Food Menu Available. For those who do not want fish dinner, outside food may be brought in. ( i a •J oil' r* 1 Pi ( ,v;’ /? X. r } t.' 'I 4 Mr 41 F .z X 1 1 V V ^•7^- wmEy^ r +•- A ► I f I V * I I 1 t ¥ 4 cI *8^ 1 ■ r I I I *49 sr it ■< * F S' 4 i . y* FhUb* < ee^W a 9 J / til:: I g L »• I . 9 *» VW V: J*" I’ *1. .. * **' ■'-■• f X 4 * A 1* A *xa^ ••r 1 I / r’ * 'Si^ 1 f tI 1 * w r:s .4*# r ) )i *4 • •* i r » I 1^* 1 I « *- ’dit 4 I j 1 1* r i^" -T' e« i r A * -Aie^ aitiaisi ] 9 r 1 e •w r- » I I I Caledonia senior Lily Gortmaker and the rest of the bench celebrate a fourth quarter three-pointer by teammate Emily Stauffer during the Scots' win over Thornapple Kellogg in the MHSAA Division 1 District Semifinals Wednesday at Byron Center High School. Photos by Brett Bremer >, t’** ' ?SiSi. 4.1 «to ll f Ito *41 r 'I J- L4* *1 •*< I ► I •« I The buck stays hsrs! Spand It Hera. Keep It kora. Invest In Your Community. Group A « to be a distributor out of the high post. She liked how her team fought on the boards, got hands on passes, and fought to try and keep the Scots out ofthe paint. “We have a lol of kids that score,” Bloemers said. “There tend to be a lot of kids in that four to six point range and those add up when you have a lot of kids contributing. I thought we were hard to play against tonight. Brandi does a really good job coaching her teams and her kids always battle. We knew what we were getting into, and I am just glad the ball started falling through the basket a little bit so we were able to take a deep breath and start relaxing and playing our game.” Bottum was certainly someone the See next page ■ U’X? cs’sid;™ ' *• JI ilia i,^ f -*’ e’ V/CX *4- 1. Emma Dykhouse and Emma Geukes had four points apiece. Foster, a freshman guard, and senior center Lakely Bottum had six points each for the Fighting Scots. The Scots had eight girls score. James said defensively her team knew the Fighting Scots liked to get to the basket and that Bottum would look *••- * X X. I tr^ 9548 Cherry Valley. Caledonia caledoniaamericanlegionpost305,weebly.com X. 3-^ Jr*. 'A" f Brett Bremer Sports Editor z > I - •r- t 1» « A4< '.Wt *" - at n totf .r ’f Li »t .-«.» iq^fuv • • , , Ig' PC I , I , «i.* -T J V a v« .T Pk 4 - Tixerk.. XZ*. •*-* 1 I t-i .of •> * J •* _ '.''A^ •*! < ♦ *.-> ^<4 (to»« I i' A-J..! .i Ak'lSK wm k I #fW **•• I * •J. • » < •< ':r‘•leXx ) * 9 4 I < ■w 1 t **•, j.. r> 1 «M i I f . 1 'X.- 1 1 t ’.r kA il f I I' f 'I 4 VA CO. 9-1-1 C TER 'rn r.ij' 5 n T’ I T T 1 7 1 I c il I I I I iTbn 11 I OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES I I DIAL (800) 249-0911 ION - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at J^awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" nl • • •. I I p> 4 5 8 9I 10 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 19 20 211 221 231 24 251 261 27 281 291 30 f — u h r * ,v « I "r » n I t f’ I A 4 t J a { < f < I i p �"f w. ♦ ♦ THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 17 Saturday, March 8, 2025 ♦ Hayden earns her three-peat; one to go *. I 1 Brett Bremer r Sports Editor f* •V *’C ■ a K ♦ J I I 4 a.' I J V p •1 i 7^ L • I > t■ s* t ♦J J t .a * 1 •M. /I i I I ft -4 Caledonia senior center Lakely I jl Bottom goes over Thornapple 19VO’ I? b^pMnnfrti itW" ; Kellogg junior McKenna Hoebeke in the paint for two points during the MHSAA Division 1 District Semifinals at Byron Center High P nciyt 5 joW IcCiffa^ School Wednesday. (!• ■ » z % in Jl I I ’’jj r 4 * T Mo* Continued from Page 16 mmt tjoijr too «1 * 'dt 'tt fisy/l * r j 4 } )FTi] en‘ ' ■'•t- • I ■ * giB/j '44m I ' * '' jrri K§no‘’rj W I T5tt..>abci-3^ ■rcr J « 3 M I jt • ». K. '’-'••Qi Mti U; iM J • , • k-f, t •.k. ? 1 I ' *. I I I r « / -T ; b } I t Ij; t '1 - fit u r 4 » s f W'* ■ ‘ ! { 4 .» Wk. .1' - t I 'I r X. ( I* I j « ■• • ( / •* • 4 * .WJ I 1 r ( * I ' '■’liiC'T.' t C' • tjf' 1 j KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? We’d love to hear about it! bJ » .4’ • * t, I I 1 MtC ■MM Trojan defense had to pay attention to in the paint, but her defensive presence in the post was certainly felt at the other end ofthe floor. Midway through the second quarter on back-to-back attempts she rejected -shots by Trojan senior guard Tealy Cross and Ritsema near the rim, and Trojans looking to drive appeared always aware of the threat of her coming after their shots. The win earned the Scots a spot in the district finals back in Byron Center Friday, March 7, against the East Kentwood girls who beat Wyoming in their district semifinal bailgame Wednesday. “The future is bright,” James said of her TK program overall. but these seniors were great so 1 wanted it now. I thought that we had a good chance We will miss those seniors greatly, but yes our future is bright.” I i '1 minacleod@mihomepaper.com THE SUN AND NEWS Group I 1 The big throw she envisioned in her mental preparation for the match never materialized and she had to stay out on the mat for six minutes for the first time in a couplemonths, but Caledoniajunior Mad­ die Hayden is now a three-time MHSAA Individual Wrestling State Champion. Hayden (22-1) defeated Clinton’s Raven Aldridge (33-5) 5-0 in the girls’ 170-pound championship match Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit. It didn’t come right away at the final horn as her first thoughts were about how she could have wrestled better, but before head coach Shawn Veitch was putting another championship medal around her neck the joy that comes with winning a state championship started to materialize for Hayden too. “I think 1 was kind ofromanticizing the idea of a certain move that I wanted to do. So, I was kind ofjust thinking about it for my match. I was like okay, this is going to be my set-up, this is going to be the move I hit and that is all I was thinking about, instead ofthinking about how ifthis doesn’t work I’ll go to this, or just going in with a clear mind. “During the match, I just kept trying to go for the same move, trying to go for it, forcing it, and she obviously wasn’t go­ ing to let it happen and I kept forcing it. That’s where I messed up, being very one dimensional before going out on the mat. But she real ly, really wanted that reverse headlock. It has just kind of been working,” Hayden said. “It has been a really fast pin for me lately. I know they had done some scouting, just because I’m ripping underhooks every single match. Every­ body knows I’m going to be doing that. At some point it is going to catch up with me and I’m going to have to figure out how to get around that and do different things and chain wrestle better.” More than once Hayden has been called a “wrestling machine” and Veitch referred to her as “champ” as he shouted instruc­ tions and encouragement throughout the final. But the duo has worked and discussed how important it is to have fun wrestling too, especially during thisjunior campaign which started a little slow due to an offseason concussion and » included a bump up from 155 pounds where she won her first two state titles. Veitch said he was proud that Hayden only spent a moment reflecting on her perceived struggles in the championship bout before finding * M r X -18 *? . » ■ rf * d * iL''p • f * 4 4 I. Fighting Scot junior Maddie Hayden (left) fights to try and get Clinton’s Raven Aldridge to the mat during their championship match in the girls’ 170-pound weight class Saturday at the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals inside Ford Field in Detroit. Hayden took a 5-0 win over Aldridge to earn her third state championship in three years. him and announcing her spirits were im­ proving and acknowledging that it was a moment to enjoy. Overall, Hayden said she was able to find happiness in the things she was doing right more often throughout the course of the two-day tournament this year than in seasons past. Three down, one to go. “I am happy. I am very grateful for the opportunity that I had, and I am grateful to still be able to showcase that even if I am not wrestling my best, or there are obstacles ... 1 can still go out and beat the best,” Hayden said. “I am grateful. I am happy that I went out and got it done, because sometimes youjust have to find a way to win. You just have to want it more. I am gratefijl that I did have that in me to go get it when I wasn’t wrestling my best.” Hayden pinned each of her first three THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING The Thornapple Township Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed Township Budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 at the Thornapple Emergency Services, 128 High St., Middleville On Monday March 10, 2025 At 7:00 p.m. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be the subject of this hearing. A copy of the budget is available for public inspection at the Township office. Americans with Disabilities Notice The township will provide necessary reasonable services to individuals with disabilities at this public meeting upon 6 days notice to the Township Clerk. Cindy Ordway Thornapple Township Clerk See HAYDEN on 20 ■» f I » W * V < ■ ■r • ft V to k I t I I 1 1 it w >♦ *e I A J- ■ • «fc' ■ > * • �18 Saturday, March 8, 2025 Obituaries ♦ ♦ ! 4* * John Owen Muir, a cherished husband, stepfather, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed peacefully on February | ' 27, 2025, at the age of 92. Born on May 14,1932, John’s journey through life was marked by dedication, service, and an unwavering commitment to his family and community. A proud Army veteran, John carried the values of loyalty and discipline throughout his life. He was a respected alumnus of Allegheny College in Pennsylvania and went on to earn his Law Degree from the University of Michigan, building a foundation of knowledge and integrity that would guide his professional and personal endeavors. For over 25 years, John was a familiar face at Muir Drug Stores, a family business where he worked alongside his father. His dedication to his work was matched only by his commitment to his beloved wife of 40 years, Jan (Bigelow) Muir; his stepchildren: Diane (Tim) Hill, Colleen King, Michael (Beth) Harcek, Thom Harcek, Todd Harcek, Katie Harcek-Westcott, and Mark (Angela) Harcek: grandchildren: Jennifer, Jaime, Kayla, Logan, Jack, and Carter; great­ grandchildren: Mark, Zane, Novali, Liam, Haylee, Aspen, and Kendra; and great-great granddaughter Amelia; who brought him immeasurable joy. He is also survived by his brother, Robert Muir and several nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents, Boyce and Ellen (Owen) ♦ ♦ ! Terry D. Rosenberg av/ay Terry D. Rosenberg passed going to Sturgis Motorcycle away peacefully in Eloy, AZ, Rally one year with his on February 10, 2025, at the brothers Dodie and Mike. age of 84. Born on June 15, Terry’s love for birds, and 1940, in Middleville, Ml, Terry his musical talents on the was the son of Claude and dulcimer and accordion were Mary (Boley) Rosenberg. known to all who loved him. Terry had enlisted in the Terry was a loving Navy and later embarked patriarch, leaving behind a on a diverse career path. large and adoring family. He He worked for Arnold’s is survived by his children, Amusements, WG Wade Tammy (Ed) Jackson, Tim Shows, and Diversco Gravel. Rosenberg, Tom (Dana His entrepreneurial spirit Newsome) Rosenberg, shone when he owned his own tire and Jim (Kelly Hull) Rosenberg: stepchildren. wrecker service in Kalkaska. Throughout his Dawn (Jim) Losinger, Alan (Lydia) Brog, life, Terry drove trucks for many companies Jody (Sheryl) Brog; 40 grandchildren; 40 and held a variety of jobs that showcased his great-grandchildren: and 5 great-great­ versatility and work ethic. grandchildren. He also leaves his siblings, Terry’s zest for life was evident in his Jackie Gerard, Mike (Lynda) Rosenberg, and numerous interests and involvements. A Susan (Bob) Parsley, as well as many nieces devout member of the Parmelee United and nephews. Terry was preceded in death Methodist Church, he also enjoyed fellowship by his loving wife, Janet (Thaler) Rosenberg, at the Golden Harvest Cowboy Church in his grandson Matthew Allen James, his sister Arizona City, Arizona. Terry’s love for the Nancy (Bob) Anders, his brother, Dodie outdoors was unmistakable, with over 50 (Rosie) Rosenberg, and his brothers-in-law, joyous years spent in Eloy, Arizona. He was a Gary Gerard and Paul Parsley. valued member of the Barry County Gas and Services will be held at a later date. Steam Engine Club and relished the simple Memorial contributions to the Barry pleasures of exploring the desert, and even County Gas and Steam Engine Club finding abandoned vehicles for cash rewards. - will be appreciated. Please visit www. He was a jack of all trades that could fix beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory almost anything, and an extremely talented or leave a condolence message for Terry’s welder. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, even family. 1 Muir, grandson Jeremy, and brothers Kenneth and Bruce Muir. John's passion for helping others was evident through his involvement with the First United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, where he was actively involved with the mission committee and helping refugee families in the area. He was also involved with Mobility Worldwide and the Mary Freebed Wheelchair Sports Camp. As a longtime adaptive swimming coach and teacher, he empowered countless individuals to reach their potential in the water. His love for swimming continued into his later years, as he participated in the Senior Olympics in Arizona, showcasing the enduring spirit that inspired all who knew him. Remembered as a genuinely loving, kind, and generous man, John’s legacy is one of compassion and selflessness. The entire Muir family will hold dear the memory of John’s unwavering love and the countless lives he touched. A memorial service for John will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at First United Methodist Church, 227 Fulton Street E, Grand Rapids, Ml 49503. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s name to Mobility Worldwide 414 E 40th street Suite 3, Holland, Ml 49423. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for John’s family. V w 1 I T Chester Thomas Benedict She loved his “ big muscles ” and 4 J walked with confidence to be with t he never forgot her “ big browrn is his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, eyes”. r*i 11 on Sunday, March 2,2025, at the Tom shared 54 wonderful jT age of 77. years of marriage with his wife, Born on July 4,1947, in Grand Brenda. Together they would Rapids, Michigan, Tom spent have four children. Jennifer his early years on a farm in Alto, (Sudeep), Thomas (Sherry), ‘ I where he developed a lifelong Kristen (Chris), and Eric (Sara) love for the land and a strong — and were blessed with work ethic. He spoke fondly of eight grandchildren: Madelynn, /V his childhood, recalling early Jay (Alex), Jack (Faith), Anna, >/* ! mornings milking cows, long days Savida, Wally, Nolan, and Stella. driving tractors, and the joys of farm life. Tom Family was the center of Tom’s world, and attended Caledonia High School where he was a nothing brought him greater joy than being a standout athlete, excelling in football, basketball, devoted husband, father, and proud grandfather. baseball, and track & field — setting several Life took him from the fields of Alto to school and regional records in football, some of chapters in Sault Ste. Marie, Ml, and Toronto, which still stand today. ON, before settling back in Caledonia, Ml — a His athletic accomplishments took him to community he loved deeply. In later years, he Western Michigan University where he.attended enjoyed winters in Avon Park, FL, and treasured on a Football Scholarship. While an injury would time spent at the family cabin along the St. shorten his college football career, Tom would Mary’s River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. quickly realize that injury was the best thing With positions in Manufacturing Management that ever happened to him. Tom transferred to and Human Resources, Tom built an Grand Rapids Baptist College, where he fell in accomplished career at Steelcase, Inc. While love with a brunette who sat behind him in class. his career was marked with many successes. t t *1 * .'.a • ‘ 1 * I I I Jfa r, / I * I .^B• MM I 1• — 9| t ’ 1 !^n* >.tl i"' • I J 9'^ r- ■ ’ (1:^ -^ 4-’ L<^;zFr' i c ‘1^ • 1 I ff. 4 I. I - w »• I 9 I .A- 'f ; IT f “1 “ I I “I‘-I I -.i L -’I t UH’ii ? ' ./fit : J * J*11 T pi(ti(R" 4 t r r• I 1 1 I *• I. i.bUi'-' ? 11 U Ml • if. I k* T I Ir SfaJiip •.,.' '' 5?” < r ♦ <1 iLh)^ " L."»r' 1 r- .: a 4 it!' pk I i * ; Sri I tTT*. r if.. 'fK SMI’ ! '«A Afk J •4» r* • < ’ ; t '•t » rTi<-4 i LX- wi f 1 wH ^Ti;: A• *1 i ’' * I k I nf I ir >0^ 4 ifU ! *' •• '! I I J I !Ui‘ I f r> I J c I } '11'1- . nr ( H*? ?r J r r • > I K;" .• • m ..I r I • tJtp I I 4 1 - ---- ■^■1" I it was countless life-long friendships that he developed that he cherished most. After retiring, he found fulfillment in coaching baseball and softball for Caledonia High School, giving back to the community that had always meant so much to him. Sports were a defining passion throughout Tom’s life. Summertime was filled with Softball and Gus Macker Tournaments, and winters meant Saturday Morning Basketball with his friends from church. In 2003, he was inducted in the Inaugural Class of the Caledonia High School Sports Hall of Fame. There was always a game on his TV, and he kept up with sports news on his favorite sports talk radio programs. His love for sports carried through to his later years as he eagerly traveled to cheer on his grandchildren in their games, concerts, and activities. Tom’s Christian faith was the foundation of his life. A lifelong believer, he found a wonderful community at Faith Bible Church in Atto, where his gentle spirit and servant’s heart touched many lives. Tom drew comfort and guidance from Psalm 121, “I lift my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” With deep kindness and quiet strength, he had an extraordinary gift for making everyone he met feel valued and heard, always taking r I I Chester Thomas Benedict ^9’39*' t t. I T ? 1? a genuine interest in their lives. He was the Mu C6W ’R r'.Vii ’ first to offer a helping hand, whether it was ■fcnEjjiaiqtu . UuillI plowing a neighbor’s driveway or showing ir ■ *■ up when someone needed support, never ui'j-n hl ' • ■ . q -J v'jj; i 1 Kl ’ J I ilflA I asking for anything in return. His warm spirit, MSII" selflessness, and unwavering faith left a lasting imprint on everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. Tom is survived by sisters Rosemary (Ron) f'OH 1 DeJonge and Joyce (Bob) Graham, sisters-inI I ‘-fi: .t'-!j t {.Whr» law Kathy Hoath, Susie (Roger) Schlehuber, '•{ . r-nns I brother-in-law Tim (Linda) Hoath and many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Marge Benedict, his -.a»WaJT 1^-I brother Jack Benedict, his in-laws Jack and Lois ,i Ji it iOh ’ Hoath, brothers-in-law Roger Stanley and Jackie I ’ifibifi ‘in Hoath, and niece Sarah Stanley. * 89k M The family will greet visitors on Sunday, March ^x;<i4Ly,-jn f 10 9, from 4 - 7 pm at Stroo Funeral Home, 1095 68th St. SE, and on Monday, March 10, from ii- I It i t ai I 10 -11 am prior to the service which will begin m ' tIU J(3 ;c at 11 am at Ada Bible Church, 8899 Cascade h itfiSq Rd. SE, with Rev. Kyle Pierpont and Rev. Aaron ft Buer officiating. Interment will be in Chapel Hill Jaak > V nwnaib Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations : to Faith Bible Church, Atto, or Corewell Health Hospice in Tom’s honor, continuing his legacy of C ■UI’ H compassion and service to others. j.’VfadJ r.i > 4 » I q * * 1 •!** -J s.* f ri Iv.U t r I f * aM J I I II L I L.t«M »1 4 * w*-1 I «r » 1 A U re 1 —J I 4 w1 i.^Ulfii±V4v;.JIe ■ l«V *. "*• • 4 f r H ** > . J 1 1 I r »*• n*i KT* I I ; I I I 1 U J I J JI 1^ ‘4 i6 K ♦* I *« •4*^ . V ♦I 1 U .51* .■>;^i I I I I I .! I ♦ • I I • » h 1 •*« > I I i'-l’ I• ‘ r-^- f r S 7*5. Wr 4 n;,; 'r, 1 T ?*-a ; ir k 1 ffpM <’1 , ^jiniBWiT.iR 4 > • :4 tape* •***t( J 1-^ r >■ iK t- .1 > .. I ( • '^."T * il « tit ri^'^ it'.' rt-‘ ’z 19 < - • 't )l I. I -jE I I i i'is'V I I ) 2 I n 12 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES t J. r DIAL (800) 249-0911 ■'JON - EMERGENCIES I7A CO. 9-1-1 5 f I! "Kids Measure up at 04awa Co. 9-1-1 Center 9 10 m 121 131 141 15 II s j? < 161 171 181 191 201 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 301} L I I o u I •4I II * t 11 I «! ’ Bl I * I J I < I �i-’ -* > 14 Ss * -Z' A •• •V 4^^ k- .z Lt %.A—*•• ’ll... .b'a*^ A is.* t 'I \ 1 T. \ isrUi u Saturday, March 8, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I ; 19 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ -— ♦ husband of 11 years. Alien; son, Hudson; parents: Allen and Jeannette Bean; sister. Sarah (Brad) Coughlin; motherin-law. Sharron Chu; father-inlaw, Zooey Chu; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Christopher (Heidi) Chu, Sydney Chu. Stephanie (June) Roberts; many nieces and nephews, including Meghan and Connor Coughlin. Relatives and friends may meet the family Sunday, February 23 from 2-5 pm at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 616 E. Main St. SE, Caledonia. I It.# I I c • «/ •h 1 « ' k J i’ 1 Obituaries I d I ( 1 u ?iS' 4“ •. t w Rachel Bean •?l.^ » I ■ > i I ; I • I •-U • I ' .• • r r VW 4 Rachel Bean, age 41, of Caledonia, went to her heavenly home on Monday, February 17. 2025. Rachel came to the U.S. as a baby from Korea at the age of 2.5 months old. She was raised in Minnesota. Kansas, and Nebraska, where she called home for many years and attended college. She spent years in Chicago working at several restaurants, including Tavern at the Park, where she met the love '1; Q* 5 I I •’ /\ r> J tr I 1 9 n 4 — / • J 4 k-t 1 I » Sy • 4 St %• 4 •I I 1 i f X f K » w 4« ■ <»*■ *>l. •V ■,. I IV. r '‘I*,®* 4 '^y ► •4 •^QK » I IS "nm^ '■‘U. n 8* \ - • TZT " I* I* 5?. ,’*Mi .. ■" 'StV' r. 1 U' s I ilV& V % I t. » . I « ■*ai5wL -i ■« ■< i > 1 . I w I I f r b r« f • 1 ? ■< •^r I {*'*• t. & I I k * b 1 ir- •- b • , ‘ « I- •t X I I < Ih 4 • r ioU *. f r i it tx 1 I 't'r I I f ( ” .... < * I {1 ■ V' ‘W*i 'rsine;’«!« ' ■ * ;t? »i < n r * U4 I c f -T Mf 3?;®Sf(^ nhmtaw 5r i :.rc,arr..o»i if k/z A • •X i j(iSSfeiSlItSEtl: t'^H .ucT 1 I I I i iii Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM www.alask8baptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia » FIRST BAPTIST 250 Vine Street Sunday Service 10:30 AM Nliddleville 1 I 1 I! V/ •i4 Tieiuih’fc J .J I* < *•*>. Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11 ;00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am • eWiH rt*t‘ * J*- H.UAtw V.HL j'«» 1 I ' Ini u '4 n'’’’ 1 A I ■ * * I .... .qirrTfi’i'- *** . -hJlW. r.f -4 ,9? ' . i »ue UA® I. .#*• ■< cornerstonemi.org/weekend ri HOLY FAMILY ^lICATHOLIC CHURCH s>/ 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org 7^ 908 W, Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) . . . 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Church: (269) 795-2391 aAPEACE Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. I 5f. Tdi/ if- Crtiiffh -fMkiwr CHURCH PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. iM (^ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org I g iM rBlIlH’* Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Sunday Worship............ 4 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 616-891-8669 a; LdsSfc Join us in person or online Sundays 9;30 & Ham I t iTfJTL-fik. co X'' if III cornerstonechurch Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am i t '1 I I ' iGO Ik* Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin I I 1 t * CHURCH 9 r 1 I ■ •* .1 A'* ALASKA BAPTIST 1 /r- t Patricia (Pat) JoAnne Tripp passed away J ; February 26th in the comfort of her home. She was preceded in death by her parents. Earl Ferguson and Linnie Martin, and her brother, Gary Ferguson. Pat was born July 7th. 1941 in Battle Creek, Michigan to ® Earl Ferguson and Linnie Martin. She married Lawrence (Larry) Tripp on November ' 11th 1960 in Hastings, Michigan. They spent a majority of their 64 years of marriage in Middleville, Michigan, raising 3 children. Pat truly loved her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. When she wasn’t spending time with family, she and Larry enjoyed I traveling with their camp group friends and I mushrooming around Northern Michigan. I They spent countless hours exploring flea markets and garage sales. Pat loved searching through her cookbooks and hosting many meals with enough food to feed an army. Pat cherished the time she spent with her granddaughters getting her nails done. Pat is survived by her husband Larry, daughter Jody (Tom) Gunn, sons Scott (Denise) Tripp, Steve (Shannon) Tripp, her grandchildren Hillary (Adam) Billmeier, I Jacob (Emily) Noordeloos, Justin (Camila) Noordeloos, Taylor (Kevin) Lukas, Holley I (Colin) Wurst, Steven (Meghan) Tripp, Sydney (Rylan) Tripp, and her great­ grandchildren Landon, Ainsley, Leo, Lucca, »t Thea, Colson and Jordan. Pat will be dearly missed. I r. t 1--------- T BB. Caledonia Vine Street Church « -if rr- 4 V 4^ I" LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Patricia (Pat) JoAnne ■n-ipp i I s ;' lii ■ lllTTb ■ * RI *) 7 » f f of her life, Allen. She had a heart to help others and was learning and striving to help others in need. She enjoyed cooking, the arts, including ballet and attending the Nutcracker every Christmas. She also enjoyed shopping at the Dollar Tree for a bargain. Most of all, she loved being with her family and raising her son, Hudson. She will be lovingly remembered by her *< 1 -.1 * I A celebration of Rachel’s life will be held 11 am Thursday, March 13 at Ada Bible Church, 2045 68th St., Caledonia, with Pastor Jake Oswald. A celebration of Rachel’s lite will be held at a later date. w' In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pine Rest Foundation https://www.pinerest.org/, Mel Trotter Ministries https:// www.meltrotter.org/. or Kent County Animal Shelter https:// www.kentcountymi.gov/1415/ Animal-Shelter. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com. a k THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE Yankee Springs Bible Church CzX.>CzO ^/*l3ll51e '^Church 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 8655 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto 616.891.8661 www.whitneyvillebible.org PastorJonathan DeCou SERVICE TIMES: Sunday School... ,9:30 AM Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am Sunday Wonhip 10:30 AM 20 State Street. Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com Watch our services from our website (see above) "Shining Forth God's Light" Sunday Morning Worship Community Group........... 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Jamei L. CoUisen, Pastor www.yankccspringsbiblcchurch.org �20 Saturday, March 8, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com incri wendnsn I i I w* W/W ft * I J t i r I ♦ ♦ i I & Caledonia High School ♦ » i J ■ r t • j! >• * * •• P4 i. \ I z I • 4 20K CHAMPION 2 » r GIRLS ITO I I 4 t <<■‘’■1711 > » I 1 i I %'s ♦ <1 Celebration 4' Caledonia junior Maddie Hayden (right) looks out from the medal stand after winning her third consecutive state championship at the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Fnals inside Ford Field in downtown Detroit Saturday, Hayden took the championship in the girls’ 170-pound weight class over the weekend, and was joined on the medal stand by Thornapple Kellogg sophomore Adelaide Holderman (second from left) who placed fourth in the weight class. Photos by Brett Bremer.. In the fall of 2025, Caledonia High School will celebrate 75 years since the construction of Its football field and honor the historic 1950 football team, which completed an undefeated season without allowing a single point (Caledonia 234 - Opponents 0). HAYDEN opponents at the finals over the weekend. Carleton Airport’s Olivia Kemp lasted un­ til the middle of the second roimd in their quarterfinal match-up. Hayden’s other two matches in the lead-up to the finals took less than a minute. She opened the tournament by pinning Chesaning’s Paige Heise in 29 seconds Friday. Kemp lasted 3:01 before being stuck to the mat. In Fri­ day evening’s semifinal, Hayden pinned Waverly’s X^ctoria Carter in 54 seconds. The three-time champ loves showcas­ ing her skills, talents and ±e results ofher hard work on the mat, but she also can feel the pressure that comes along with having a lot of eyes on her on and off the mat. She said tries to look at that as a blessing in disguise motivating her to do things the right way. Veitch said there will likely be some fo­ cus next year on improving conditioning. Not many opponents are able to make it six minutes with Hayden, but he wants her to be ready for times like Saturday night when an opponent does. That was something I kind of messed up in too. I gassed my self out forcing ±at move,” Hayden said. “I really gassed myself out, gassed out my forearms. I think another part I kind of messed up in was I warmed up for a really long time this time. I don’t really know why. I really like to be ready, but sometimes you have to pace yourself even getting ready for your match. So, I think moving forward I need to really push myself on my conditioning If you have any leads on these items or know someone who might, please contact: Kelly Clark communications@calschools.org 616-891-8185 Caledonia Community Schools Administration Help us preserve and share this Important piece of Caledonia's history. ' n I' .•siFr -• .I* “fl • 2 fA CO. 9-1 -1 CEWTER / * *1 4 5 I'.•fl J 9I 10 I "Kids Measure up atB^awa Co. 9-1-1 Center 14 151 161 171 I ? \ 3 *r L u.’C fiw-bns bn9?t99w grtj lavo easla Jrtora nsrnrobloH ebtt^ebAfnonrinrtrpa^ott^ < 181 and push myself mentally to know that even ifI do get gassed I still have so much more I can unload. “I have all the physical abilities. Some­ times youj ust have to dig a little bit deeper. i When your arms are giving out, your i le^ are giving out, your lungs hurt, you ' still have so much left in you. Just gotta figure that out iq? here,” she said pointing 8 to her head. , Romeo’s Kalli Manuel was the only girl 0 to defeat Hayden this season, by an 8-3 score at the DeWitt Girls Invite the first weekend in January. Manuel was 42-0 , this season and took over Hayden’s place ’■ as the 155-pound girls’ champ at the state 1finals Saturday. Hayden is a year too late to be the state’s first four-time state champion in the girls division. Fowlerville senior Margaret Buurma (38-3) accomplished that feat by scoring a 1-0 win over Romeo’s Belicia j Manuel (30-3) in the 145-pound champi onship match Saturday. Another first at the weekend’s state fi nals was the awarding ofthe first MHSAA Girls’ Team State Championship trophy Ie i which went to the Grand Haven girls. The individual finals were scored as a team tournament in the girls’ division to decide^ the title. The Buccaneers closed the tour-^ nament whh 69.5 points ahead of Lowell 59.5, Fowlerville 57, Romeo 56.5, West Bloomfield 50.5, Plymouth 49, Plainwell I 42.5, West Ottawa 42, Riverview Gabriel Richard 40.5 and DeWitt 37.5 in the top ten. The Thomapple Kellogg girls were 11th with 36 points. Hayden’s run to a I title had the C^edonia “team” in a tie for 21 st place with 28 points. iMvmIMM yii£QkHn JrtQisw eri Js bcarinriot £-8 IB yd .noaBse eidit rnfaf/Bil inabb mil atb mivnl eliif) rtWsCI aiit J8 sroe (* I fl 201 * booino rmo 1 mom .zaflHHatoffiyritr wb IIbstoI r* . Jtd tziid 12^offe'nuit20(iffx/ HKTz .luo ^nr/T^ 31B enna luoz rad'// uoy JTuri luoy c3tb ^eal sttog jaal. .uy^ m itsl ifauro r® wart Hite ynbraoa ixsa aria ".sBri qu )uo larii tninift / c )■ 0-2^ aew I^unaM .ynuflffiL m braotow 'Jo£iq ------>looff -—bon ।-----------•. jn'/o noeBse ^ifii jJER aiftlB qiOBifa 'zlii^brajoq-rS! orij < e J ♦ ♦ /I mJ 5 ffs sj^dd oidlsi oalTBsy c ei nsbysH I altis 3fb ni noitpnsjfa slste stral-tuot )i?ift tSTsgtsM ioif02 nov.tvit) /’□ JEsi JBdi fJoiteilqnroooB I 1 A I f.DibH e'cnraoil wo tw/r <>1 r :Lrinoo2 •^2 I -iqniBfbhouoq-^.M oril ni (£-0£| I junr.f-^ /BbwiBii fblnn I qrft2no -ft 'jjfiJa Ofir jb r^ift loriiofi/. AA iiHI/i laid srifIo :^fnbifiwfi odiaB/' z inn ^dqaH qiftenotqrnfirfD inasT * iin) ^riT .ehisnazBH bomD sriJ oj tnaw riaiil fnsQj B 2B hoTooa ST9W ^Ififift Iftubivifani oJ noteivib 'aliia srit ni jnaraEirnoi ^5o) oriff bdsoia ETOfwoouH offT /jb 1 itewaJlo bearifl moq liriw Joonicn J29W x.d? como^ ,?? !>ifi’rrahwo i * 1 w f I s e*.' I' Ib'OTisl^ ftttfonr(W bbilfnooifl r bndfiO w^rmvifl 4^ ewsflO ? Vc mWsa bm a.O^ bTBriai»i qoi: slqqBflsxfr tid f .nafc • ‘JWf h oj on ? rabyeH .amioq df rijriz (Ml iffiffii ''rnBor* BiirobolfiO sdt bcri sWt .afflaoq g£ fWw ooabtJalS A 13 TO I 1 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES II 19 wrd off dffitmm ibgyrn dauq bnii ioumoaejvKrilhH t I?j22es Joaobilinaw > n 1 DIAL (800) 249-091 irsON - EMERGENCIES 111 121 13 _ oom erit tgo < isuowjnf ta cprtanoii^mBr :-toal nabysH .yefenutaS JtotfBQ nwoj&i ir • A rumored film of a 1950 game, possibly recorded by a parent, potentially from Middleville. • Scrapbooks from team members or families, as archived newspapers from that time are unavailable. • Photos of the team, games played at Lakeside Park before the field was built, or images of the field's construction. • Other memorabilia, such as jerseys, game programs, or keepsakes. .i; ♦ A ' 1 7 As part of this celebration, the district is seeking memorabilia to help tell the story of this incredible season and the field's construction. Items of particular interest include: -W ; w. a'I Continued from Page 17 > J WHil 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 I « 5 � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-03-15.pdf 24b6000068d459c360bf306381457341 PDF Text Text U! : w € / < ' * OM ff Btngzaiqsi amhgnoJ 18 svitan sliivalbbiM 88 ta zsib labnaS Longtime representative, Middleville native Bob Bender dies at 88 ( botlssM vtltM lotiW f I I I < > I I • I k*.l * * i I nBgifiotM sri! ni wiJBJfrazaiqai .g^viJBrn3Z3Tq95I amofrr mmt gnilEobsTg lattA ft >?<?! ni looriag rigiH B nr ■OTTgafa errf berriBS TabroH sgiilatM molt noiJBOubo laioJluo lofl I nr vJiziovinlf 9Mt2 tH .a.lJ fi BB wiGO Bfri nfigsd ail rj 01 ^ninGilianBil aiolad Toltq {< |j » !i} tMimai bnc I8t?l ni ea'nazaH ) to jinBi adi IE baibai oH .OQQI JWI ni lafansfl .bnuoTg sriJ no sitriW mBt niEb besH-OO? ,oiob-00{,I •SliivalbbiM slil eifi to rianm ^^^q^ labnaH I al ! .ojiviaz ailduq oJ be 1 vjnuo > vtibH aril to ncnniBrio ij SVbl moil zianoizzicnmoDlo nr 3V! j 01 b3)a3le gnisd oidted I doj H - ^TuUlEigoJ. nfigrrioiM -Wl o- £>^o j mmt zfTTWJ xig idl- J 'i ^{JnuoD x™® t rik* < 4 f 1 -J J 5 J i bs*>l?x znsD ennsdlfiD rsmom g sjtej or ZTonoiazinunoo 3uT je 2nnonori oonslia 1 h33rn p.i^noieeirnmoOlo bifiofl B) 01 t - . iJiii b'l EDOM 1 ot temcMn CnUONEU ' BESlDERUVr iaetrnnim woHst e ICIiMCc t Y4WE K 3?.?Xq3Brf} I J/ Ji.*’. lOMaa seS . ■ 8€€# WUUSd 8888^ m 'eiliAueejo aivd aovisod s n QIS ISdd OWUAiie- mt bVIO bozivee bUZl ZIO See BENDER on 3 . 3C f 1 DYik y IVUNBQISaU SSMU33 semv IN •fHAuaug OttvOflOd : <(8839 Ex I.n The county is mourning the kW I loss of a longtime fr ♦ leader, volunteer and community member. Robert “Bob” Robert “Bob” Bender, a lifelong Bender Middleville resident, died at the age of 88 this week. A Navy veteran, Bender served area residents for years as both a Barry County Commissioner and a longtime representative in the Michigan House of Representatives. After graduating from Thomapple Kellogg High School in 1954, Bender earned his degree in agri­ cultural education from Michigan State University in 1959. From there, he began his career as a U.S. Navy pilot before transitioning to the Navy Reserves in 1981 and serving until 1990. He retired at the rank of captain in 1991. While on the ground. Bender ran his 1,100-acre, 500-head dairy farm in Middleville. Bender spent much of his life devot­ ed to public service. He served as chairman of the Barry County Board of Commissioners from 1978 to 1982 before being elected to serve in the Michigan Legislature a job he held for six terms from 1983 to 1994. Barry County Commissioner Catherine Getty asked her fellow commissioners to take a moment of silence honoring Bender at Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting. “I’d like us to take a naaa moment to remember usNoisna a fellow commissioner that passed away this 4^ z k« 1 > N I www.sunandnews.com Middleville farmer honored on national stage for corn yield Molly Macleod Editor f zt yjnuoo sffT sriJ gnimuom amiJsnol fc'to azol (B 333tnul0V ,19faB3l vjinummoo bfiB .Tsdnram 9 9doB'' nsdofi tiedoR nolaltl £ .Tsbnafi bnoB -1831 slIi'/slbfarM t Kiri) «« to a§£ arif Je baifa Jnab baviaz i^jaH jimaJav x-zfiH 4 , ubH e rilod 8£ zuay tot anabizai : lol E bnE TanoiKzinnnoD yinuoD Olbl SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2025 NO. 47 I* iB Bl V J I, 1 I I V • 19 4 itr X • \J s*’ !r tl J 4 ¥ A V ^K7*V » r ♦ Middleville farmer Brian McKeown (center) proudly displays the plaque for his second-place award in the Nutrien Ag Solutions “High Yielders 2024” corn contest presented at an award banquet in Denver, Colorado the day before the beginning of Commodity Classic 2025 on March 1. McKeown was honored at the banquet by Nutrien Ag Solutions representatives: Spencer Harris, Rob Dunlop, LoRaine Salmon, and Eric Kunzeman, U.S. Manager of Seed Marketing for Nutrien Ag Solutions. McKeown used the DynaGro variety D50VC09RIB to generate his second-place yield of 303.61 bushels per acre in the No-till Irrigated class. Photo courtesy of George Hubka/MG News Service Gaines Township Board approves second phase of Dutton Center development James Gemmell Contributing Writer The Gaines Township Board voted unanimously, 7-0, at its meeting Monday night, March 10, to approve the final preliminary plat for the second phase of the Dutton Center planned unit development, or PUD. The development covers a 10-acre section of a 29.3-acre parcel, with 51 residential lots proposed for the site on the 3300 block of 68th Street. That would include a density of slightly more than five units per acre. The township board had already given final approval for the first phase of the mixed-use commer­ cial and residential development. Project applicant Michiana LLC, a subsidiary of Allen Edwin Homes, received approval last October to rezone a 29-acre parcel of former agricultural land to a PUD. That was for the remaining northern section of the former J & A Post Family Farm, north of Shadyside Park. Because that first phase was a single parcel, not a plat, it essentially was approved by right as a site con- dominium project. Mike Allen, with Allen Edwin Homes, said recently the home­ building company went “above and beyond” the lot-width standards that had been previously approved by the township by adding some selfimposed conditions as part of the PUD. The conditions included front-yard setbacks varying from 25 to 30 feet to give the streetscape some texture and variety. In addition, there are self-imposed architectural restricSee DUTTON on 3 A 1 E I I I ■1 I r 1 « < i I iJ tK >1 % I I. s» : •:*• J •J II I !u1 V 1.1__ ___ 1 Ui » t .mF r I B I it ’i I in (I •a X I • I J ] ' a t 1 0 i + \ ♦ I I 4 J t I t �r 1 *• t 2. I Saturday, March 15, 2025 t THE SUN AND NEWS .*r www.sunandnews.com nua.vwwr Caledonia residents respond to proposed trailhead parking project Staff Writer The Caledonia Village Council overviewed a project proposal that would create additional parking for the village’s downtown area at its meeting Monday, March 10, with several resi­ dents sharing their thoughts in a public hearing to help determine whether the project should be set in stone or not. The focus of the project would be to build a small parldng lot on the in­ tersection of Kinsey Street and Main Street, just north of where the Paul Henry Trail trailhead currently sits. The ntONTiat HEATING AND COOLING provide 22 parking spaces for residents wanting to use the trail or to provide extra parking on Main Street. Village officials say with construction and engineering, the project is to cost an estimated $530,000. More information will be provided if the council approves the DNR Grant on April 1, which could provide $ 150,000 towards the overall cost of the project. “The biggest thing I want to stress is that this is still very much preliminary,” said Peter Tierney, project engineer with Fleis &VandenBrink. “What the DNR is going to look for when we sub­ mit our application is that they’re gonna look for elements such as parking, rain garden and lights. They can move around, they can change but they’re See TRAILHEAD on 5 •» ■» RE I < ' r t t I I r i Ji I —& I « I • «T~. -.9 •'i V n « J t<» I i br* ^je i' 4 I ) ‘I * • I 1 V c ‘^t ’ • 'iT mH’-. A I i «* * :T /• .u J > w f ‘ai'j j Caledonia residents attended a public hearing to share opinions on the proposed trailhead parking project at the Caledonia Village Council meeting on Monday, March 10. Photo by Noah Peterson I • ft »- I r r. 1 » .*• t* jit ► J - -tr Gaines trustees receive update on county data storage 1 1 starting as low as ^970 •• V QUALIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIANS ***^4**^*^ * iS V li** S *« •A 1 Other products ava/lable: '«s • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! / •t Kent County Commissioner Robin Halstead addresses the Gaines Township Board of Trustees at its March 10 meeting in the township hall board room. Photo by James Gemmell 210 East Main Street Caledonia 616-891 U * ’ /W* < . • «A; S'j— * 17- 'I ( . r ;u I I James Gemmell Contributing Writer As more and more municipalities shift from using onsite servers to store government data to using cloud stor­ age, Gaines Charter Township officials are exploring the best way to securely maintain township records. Township officials recently asked District 10 Kent County Commissioner Robin Halsted about how the coimty is storing its data. The 10th District represents all ofGaines Township, plus Precinct 6 in Kentwood. Halsted, who was elected in Novem­ ber, answered that question at the town­ ship board’s March 10 meeting. She said Kent County uses the government cloud to store data for about 50 different services. But she said the coimty still has not transitioned its Equalization Department’s records from the internet to the cloud. ,f “And so, we’re working on about a two- to four-year timeframe with >. that,” Halstead said. “Because it’s a major change, and it’s going to require multiple departments to be on board.” Like many municipalities, Kent County uses BS&A Software to store records. BS&A Online is a collection C of municipal services that provides instant access to various types of infor­ mation held by the local government. Residents who set up personalized user accounts can access those records. Currently, Gaines Township pro­ vides its residents with a website link to BS&A Online on the gainestown * ship.org website. They can look up tax payments that are due or tax history, as well as their water and sewer accounts, building permits, special assessments and real property records. Local governments store information See STORAGE on 8 ?( -,n •> I • 6^. • ■'J? 4 rr 1. •4A »■*< J* I ■ : A rEtfr»*^ 3 .I.*** > .i-»r . i • J . r X I •A ■i? i" f 1 4<tr>n -F J lm ,r6ar ‘ J J w •J k f I* - ■ * t f T .L r“ .. I I IP* if rwri ' t J 1 • .•** 1* . d t *14 > V1 .. * • * .R^WA -* 'T K j f. . T' * .<1'2 V r , • tM - I •« 4 I I Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper jyonKe^@mihomepaper,cor^ , . • 4 r •| r Group mmacleod@mihomepaper.com Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept.. 1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-945. 9554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have • no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser's order. » 9 • I . r’r e. • u. > l^iisRk «• ,•> V ««* 15!!^ * “ *• ! ) f \ » k 1 I T I» V 2 I « 4 Ol inrA co. 9-1-1 CElTER 5 I I 8 91 10 5 « DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES w "Kids Measure up at Qjiawa Co. 9-1-1 Center 111 121 13 14 15 A? I II 161 171 181 191 20 I I I 8 r t 12 11 10 i9 OR -1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 241 251 26 1 r V k J 1 V • k I t >.4« BAM * r' 4 » ♦V* 4 >< *. i. I < ». i Editor: Molly Macleod csilverman@mihomepaper.com .' - ■. I 4 1 * I I I r 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com I z ) PUBLISHED BY bbremer@mihomepaper.com i iikiiwjee « I THE SUN AND NEWS Sports: Brett Bremer f ^rREt .4.rtf*'* '-.r I r *-* atsr-w* A The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 ri .--zh S' «.3«l *' CONTACT US A s I I J 1 I I t < * 0? *< r ««<hI y.- ■ 4 • "The cempeny built h\ rcfcnuls > ( .T AYiCiSAgE NOW HIRING I / t _________ * r • * r r* I If >• I I t 9^- Ui,. » * 4 j -7 ■I 1 4 /• F- rvi«a| tLSIOICf PRE-SEASON f I lU 271 281 291 301 9 I z I 4 I 4 IW •V r �V e t > I — k. % y F- I ■ t .1 I i i 1 I is X * t . 4 ... Saturday. March 15, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com •V % > •V > k 1 * I i * >*> 1 w. 4 *- 1 < 3»i: n • \u 1 g* Members of the Gaines Township Board of Trustees consider the second phase of the Dutton Center mixed-use project in tandem with the Thornapple Farms development just south of it during the council’s regular meeting Monday, March 10. Photo by James Gemmell •u F :w * £i. btt* ri.r*W '• .J s w --R 1 a % M DUTTON **»■ •c 'S will be connecting in from the north, for starting this phase. As they move it along, they're going to have to connect in from the south, as well, to get building permits, once they get to 30, Township Manager Rod Weersing said. “A pretty straightforward request.” Allen Edwin officials plan to begin the third phase of the Thomapple Farms development this year. It would build the first two phases of the Dutton PUD concurrently with the third phase of the Thomapple Farms project. A water and sewer develop­ ment contract for that was approved by the township board in Febmary. After a public hearing Monday night, township trustees voted unani- Continued from Page 1 ( » - i tions, such as garages would not be built to protrude more than 10 feet beyond the front of a home. There also are minimum porch requirements. Fhere would also be sidewalks on both sides of the public streets. Sanitary sewer and municipal water connections would be put in place, and detention ponds would control storm waters. Allen Edwin recently completed construction of Phases I and II of the Thomapple Fanns subdivision immedi­ ately south of the Dutton Center PUD. “The Dutton Center development *> » •. I ’ ’FIs I . “IK < > ft M' > f *• > J *» ? ’’'Wlja *5 M ' 4 > l l<l^ IBU ijj x. ^F4nn I*. «* I. l» *t »'» •» I wjiib; i4 K I '***k5i Sft?** i t• -*• irfwol). * «MM*M*i* «e J r R 1•* BENDER Continued from Page 1 .MUi. ■ }-+ 1 I • ■‘ rjbn^tl * rr >•/. jfnmoj H* • • « «* J.i M t 1 **** ♦— ‘■’’id/ 4 * rw( * « *•4'4 J < , ;«)at.®sii(i 'lsfefeay;a t ' r ' i TTKriltt liriffli; S. 1 Ifl^mE;'; ..a; » < < 4 «I /•rt. t. « 'feW.i < 4 I r I f k s1“X>«’ > ------------ I f I 1 >««W^ r 1 i I 1 I * f 4 fl J, A UiUH .. 4 1 « *1 ,i wh-&F! ► * *• ) .y 3«li* I «• .M • (I w ^itto *4 r r urCI 444€ t- islature, Bender served on the House Agriculture Committee, the Appropriations Committee, the Agriculture and Forestry Committee, the Corrections Committee, the Education Committee, the Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Social Services & Youth Committee. After his time in the legislature. Bender and his wife of 65 years, Carol, joined the Peace Corps for a 2-year volunteer stint in Russia from 1995 to 1997. The couple spent many more years volunteering for “Houses to Houses” in Guatemala. Visitation for Bender is scheduled for Friday, March 21, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Beeler-Gores Funeral in Middleville. A memorial for Bender will be held at the Middleville United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 22, at 11 a.m. A private burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Middleville. d past weekend. Bob Bender served as not only a county commissioner chair but also then continued to serve our state as house rep,” said Getty during Tuesday’s invocation. Bender represented Michigan’s 88th District from 1983 to 1992, which at the time included Ionia County and townships of Assyria, Baltimore, Barry, Carlton, Castleton, Hastings, Hope, Irving, Johnstown, Maple Grove, Orangeville, Prairieville, Rutland and Woodland and City of Hastings in Barry County. After redistricting. Bender represented the new 87th District from 1993 to 1994, which included Barry County and the townships of Berlin, Boston, Campbell, Easton, Keene, Odessa and Otisco and the cities of Belding and Ionia in Ionia County. During his time in the state leg- -;4 r »• ] L- J. b’Ai t r, i* p . i w •» ■ Ai 1 ■Ti The proposed location of Phase II of the Dutton planned unit development is outlined east of Hanna Lake Avenue. Source: gainesiownship.oro mously to approve establishment of a special assessment Streetlight District for Thomapple Farms phases I and IL Phase 2 of the Dutton Center project will feature 51 detached homes with minimum lot sizes of 5,800 square feet. Phase 3 calls for 120 multiple­ family apartment units, which would consist of 10 buildings with 12 units each. Phase 4 envisions two, 2-story 15,400-square-foot buildings along Hanna Lake Avenue that would include commercial, residential and office buildings. Phase 5 would have two, one-story commercial buildings of 6,350 square feet along 68th Street. 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. I 1^^ BODY SHOP COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your frusfed Body Shop for over 32 years r'W''* 1 J I JI I mUv I- ) P i i 19 > •M. •t t u » w /** 4 •, ..x < w. Ji s! ii 9 I I 1 h » I I ft s \ i •'.4. A M f 1 > s ■ « 1 ■*’!' > V •, • 1 .r >< t H 9 ^■4 .4 1 — 9■ i 1 1 * I I L V s 1 1 > » k *X/^ V r »» r * V z J to is J> li 1^- < I I* I 1 'w . >■'. w h*' ,t J a. 4 fl *« A ■ A “ ♦ * X j i r L I ■•:4 * ; I s A-. _ 1 & ■»r i M 11 1 w I J 3 �f r 1 I I (I I 1 Saturday, March 15, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com CHS hosts college and trade fair <• t a.. — t ' ► Noah Peterson Staff Writer Caledonia High School recently hosted its annual College and Trade/ Business Fair on March 6-7, providing over 1,400 students from Caledonia and neighboring districts, including Byron Center, South Christian, Lee, and West Ottawa, an exciting op­ portunity to explore future career and education pathways. This event showcased a diverse range of post-secondary options, from col­ lege and universities to skilled trades and business career opportunities, helping students connect to profession­ als and plan for their futures. On March 6, 55 colleges and uni­ versities, including Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University and Grand Rapids Community College arrived at CHS to help students leam about academic programs, financial aid and career opportunities. The event also had military representatives from the United States Army and Air Force, along with the National Guard and Michigan State Police, to encourage students to join the armed forces after graduation. They provided information about military service opportunities, career paths, benefits and eligibility requirements. The following day, 52 business and trade professionals in careers ranging from health to finance attended, offer­ ing hands-on experiences and valuable conversations about careers in skilled trades, apprenticeships, and business industries. “This event is a fantastic opportunity for our students to engage with colleg es, businesses, and trade professionals to explore career pathways,” said CHS principal Bill Martin. “By bringing together representatives from higher education and the workforce, we’re giving students access to resources that will help them make informed decisions about their futures.” The two-day fair took place in the gymnasium at CHS, featuring booths and displays, allowing students to leam firsthand about various industries, I -H’*’ Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers A A .** • < / t * b 4 K ’* e L / r 4 Mk^ .t 1 Wi 5 > f 4 : ■r.c. i > > I. fe’'*! 3 r 1 . ..^SCC J f s. 4 “ _Z* JL. •; I !*• I* 4 f 1 .4r. t’ 4. > ■ i- r I 4- ’*s i f L I** c ri r I s 9'*^ 1 1> ■ '•t A.^_? «?• 1 . V* «!.. «»vibS J 4 ' ’^1*’ 4k * 'PiT’ 4 • ♦ r- 'L V. J-**",. * S V V 1 - 't» f / rp> V A 1 •y I ■’5>< IM * « The College and Trade/Business Fair took place in the gymnasium at Caledonia High School March 6-7, where students got the opportunity to explore future career interests and post-secondary education pathways. Courtesy photos 4 * w 5 District staff say that Caledonia High School is proud to host an event that not only benefits its students but also fosters strong connections with local businesses, trade organizations and higher education institutions. They say they are thankful for all the colleges, businesses, educators and volunteers who used their time and expertise to make this event a success. NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES » 9 i.S •’ ;' ( ' : « •V I « «' • r 4 NEWS Wednesday at Noon LENNOX ti: *»• •a* A< > • •* I fr. r K’A' t & >-fw < u ■^- iS > k. >• « ’ J {fiaap* VI 4* * >• *, f J4 Z '.k t -I ■^5; jUk 9«^ **. , ...*>HC3ti' 3 I. . *^ T ♦ ♦ " --xien^ir. * • r. Jf s’ S) I ’LL < w ' ** Ik i r 11 rJ ,I k b rL._.j ;.V-> K. t 1 • MfV r; A r. ♦ «*• 5. i.: ... 4 li 1 f I 1 MS -..S*. / • • • '< ;• YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors...and our future Hfit rr.-p^ I I w -4^ f I r / I- 1 » II I i ^R* Group « I tJr -1 Representatives from the United States Army offer information at the recent CHS College and Trade/ Business Fair. *<• .. (br* I * r' »< “1 • f ) 9? I n * b J I 1 i ® :: I f 4 9 4 * 1 I a J ! s 1 1 I I ■ 15 » Group mihomepaper.com 1 Your Community Connection I* 1 a« a >• r / . ilbaac&...di x I 1 - . 1 h < I I T' I I 1 •< co. 9-1-1 CElTER 4 5 I 91 10 8 T I fir ';j''T'7l''T'(l''T|9l,' I DIAL (800) 249-0911 ’'JON - EMERGENCIES % "Kids Measure up at (J^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" ' 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 19 201 1 f j i I I I I I ' I' 1 I I » V t 11 12 10 A OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 241 251 26 4 « I t 271 281 291 301* I • ! J I I t b u k. I U ‘ ! I i I I I f X1 111 i ’ b I i • * I b %% I I I% I 1 s* i I f I i k 4 9:' iae****! 1 », I ’Ta ■ I I 1 I fi **-a 4 . ACCREDITED BUSINESS ■ •» I. ' . -SI' . i Tuesday at Noon THE SUN AND BBB. .-. ■&«»>“ s»fl Hoait^ THE HASTINGS Wednesday at Noon A+ 5 J’ I f H k SHOPPER NEWS BANNER IF’ i REMINDER A 269-792-2234 3^75 1-k t BATTLE CREEK THE f . !>• '#■ i 4*; ^2. S/ncc /955 tl k-' *' I z.Ui., > -r : I ] Ll. 1 *B4 NUk . *• •* HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. 1 <1 a- . 1 »• - Monday at 5 p.m. I 1 . ..S' wbJ*"24t< '1£ •t I ( career paths and post-secondary educa­ tion options. Beyond networking with professionals, students were able to ask questions, gain career insights, and discover opportunities that align with their interests and aspirations. 1 11**?’^- I H f ?*• P X X .J I jHV p‘t 75 W ATIMC & AID rnMiniTinMiMn iwr A A < 174 » > i > I 1 e J 4. Wl* Al DeWeerd (68) H * W' I k Monday at 4 p.m. ./'M 1 I/**:* I 1 AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE •' DEWEERDHTG.COM - • LA 5 Residential & Commercial II 9? b- 4 » « fW *4 * WE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS > V w : r- » I. �I I 4 1 J 1 • s -ir J* I i■5 f f r -- V r I ; 9 ^-X € »«r4 A i. * k *2 ^'4 n* *t A •’ k I / M r,. » ^-7 . c_ >/* 48 Organizers are preparing for the annual Thornapple Kellogg Alumni Association “All-School Dinner” on Saturday. May 3. Here is a photo from last year s event. Photo provided I I * * t* •c 1 2 ' r{i .' * <? s 4 i rw; 'f I I 1. »• X Mi f I «s I I lift f t p *• V- ■ ALUMN Its '*1 ¥ ^'f* I i * tfC* L. .4 fl TRAILHEAD Il -Vr / . 'f X •{ J n Continued from Page 2 U' 1 4 •M * r. t r 4 •' J !»/ I ■ •’>IU I t.' J 4 I 4 t tr .. r* ! I QV Efi I ET* ta I 3 L . JI .. r 4J 1 ’*?* •n I Vj V- I V Ik fti .life ■•^"wari I I f % ^T- I 4 I ijti'P* I { ( WU»{ U ' . -s': 4 Jd t k •• - I ♦ i t i if*'* 4 ' i< 4 • / «I 1 -5 r -«Oj ' .01 i Ji 4ja J - » t'T' i t 93«09 ’ ~ t » ’.’ll;-J i t 4 f i I 1 2 5 r .i, • • I i f if .1 I r r ( j jTnfgi •; 9 1 1 I —.. 4 ri 14 « I I r - 7 il- J M r tE'^ > )‘ f** r* J f . w fl • • K's I •f*r^ A fl 1* 1 y^Ui- Sr : ) US»f ’ I.. . '« + .“I I ► i btXiV / . - "/AT j IL.r n;sjl ■ J .1 J. K* • iiit ! _____ r: n» w ide k- t V t, t I' .41- . I 't J'/tlt VE- ;.*llLiWLir--r 1** I J ‘All-School Dinner’ is May 3 >' 5 •' c I- > tJ ■|^ /O i V I /rflt J I 1■ •41* f ’Io L I I ( really looking for elements. This is more of a direction, not a document.” A public hearing was held after Tierney’s presentation, providing resi­ dents with an opportunity to give their personal opinions on the project. Most residents claimed that the project needs improvements and should not receive the DNR Grant. The most popular issue with the project is the concerns of safety in the community. Residents claimed that a parking lot in a less visible area next to their homes will increase chances of break-ins. “Anytime you add an additional park, there’s potential for something to happen,” said Kent County Sheriff Lt. Ryan Thome. “Having cars in a remote or crowded area could create concerns for the safety of its citizens. But with further updates, we could provide extra patrol and suggest extra lighting and no overgrown landscapes to ensure no suspicious activity will occur in this area.” Speakers also claimed that the park­ ing lot will increase traffic on Main Street, especially with bikers and walk­ ers on the trail consistently having to watch out for speeding. “The traffic is horrible on Main Street, as far as speed goes,” said resident Steve Firestein. “I see many people on the trail on a bike, scooter or walking, and I think it’s just an accident waiting to happen.” Though the majority of the public some who saw it as a start and that it could possibly work. Missy Break, owner ofthe Ice Cream Express, said that Main Street does have a parking issue, especially between 4 and 9 p.m. when students are leaving school. She suggested that lines outlin­ ing parking spaces could be redone to provide additional spots. Break added that improvements should be made with the goal of ensuring public safety. “I agree that we need parking in this community,” she said. “I’m saying that we need to put our voices together and come up with something. I have kids who walk down the Paul Henry Trail from school and would hate for somebody to get hurt on their way to get ice cream.” After the public hearing, Pierre advised that the project was not “set in stone” and will undergo further improvements. The Caledonia Village Council will follow up on the proposal at its next meeting on March 24. Get your tickets. That’s the message of the Thomapple Kellogg Alumni Association as it prepares to host its annual “All-School Dinner” on Satur day. May 3. According to organizers, the din­ ner is for all graduating classes from Thomapple Kellogg High School, as well as former principals, teachers and staff. The deadline to register is April 9. The annual dinner will be held at the Thomapple Kellogg Middle School cafeteria, with the school located at 10375 Green Lake Road in Middleville. The event, which will include the hon­ oring of a distinguished alumnus, will kick off with a social hour at 5 p.m., with appetizers and dinner at 6:15 p.m. The menu is slated to include smoth­ ered chicken or roast beef dinner with salad, rolls, potatoes, vegetables, des­ sert, coffee, iced tea and water. The cost to attend is $20 per per­ son and checks can be made out to TKAA.” Mail your dinner reservations with your name, guest name, year graduated and choice ofchicken or beef to Wanita Huizenga, 5285 Stimson Road, Middleville MI 49333. Seating is limited and those planning to attend are encouraged to mail in reservations as soon as possible. Those wishing to reserve a table - a minimum of eight people - are asked to provide the names of those guests at the time of registration. DM • jt^***. s hore! * \X b j* ■■ .'•■^^— Spend It here. Keep It here. • < tI 1 Invest In Your Community. ISLJ Group f J J, CALEDONIA VINE STREET 4 CHURCH SERVE STRENGTHEN CONNECT \Ne warmly invite you to join us at Caledonia Vine Street Church as we celebrate the hope and renewal that Easter brings. JI H- -y r s LIGHT TRUCK PARTS -p K 4 W: > * if . t ■r *w*' r r i ISEB NUTS* NCK VPS‘UK nils-(US'sirs-KEPS* 4X4S | I FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT | r 269-381-2300 VW K f h >V *» *«*TCWI«« K ** tP* 4 USED PARTS: USED TIDES | ' !*» t / '' 5 Saturday. March 15, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I V. WV : f 1/4 J . 1 IM ilBiiMriH b'ki ■ 1811 UKTST., KAIAMUOO [ Soup Suppers Wednesdays through Lent March 19th, 26th, April 2nd, 9th & 16th at 5:00pm Free will donation to benefit local mission project Maundy Thursday Service, April 17 - 7:00pm Good Friday Service, April 18 - 12:00pm Easter, April 20 7:30 am - Sunrise Service 9:00 am - Potluck Breakfast 11:00 am - Worship Service 250 Vine Street, Caledonia, Ml Facebook: /CaledoniaVSC >• �J A « 6 rJ} IJ' Saturday, March 15. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS > • V. 1 I .a’ Conservation officials urge landowners to be leery of spongy moth’s return As spring approaches, folks who have had trouble with the spongy moth may be wary of its return. The troublesome pest is usually noticed in its cat erpillar stage, where it is a voracious eater of many different tree species* leaves. Its preferred host is oak trees, but they can also commonly be found on spruce, basswood and apple trees. It is important to understand the life cycle of these insects because it helps determine the best steps to control them, llie spongy moth, like other moths and butterflies, has a four-stage life cycle - egg, larvae, pupa and adult. The cycle begins with the egg stage, where each egg mass can contain 600-1,000 eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae, the fancy science-name for caterpillars, and it is this stage where spongy moths will feed continu­ ously and can cause severe to complete defoliation of trees if the population (number of caterpillars in an area) is large enough. While the opening stage may seem like an eternity, the caterpillars are a short-lived portion of the moth’s life cycle emerging in late-April or early-May and feeding for seven to eight weeks. Following this, the larvae (caterpillars) enter the pupal stage for one to two weeks in late-June or early-July, where the caterpillar has created a cocoon and will undergo metamorphosis. After pupating and emerging as an adult moth they no longer feed. After adult moths mate, the cycle starts over again and the flightless female moths will lay their egg x-’ " s w * At > -A3_ * 41 I < I* A spongy moth caterpillar seen on an oak leaf. File photo masses in dark and protected areas, such as the under­ side ofbranches, crooks oftrees, awnings, and gutters. As Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials predicted, 2024 spongy moth populations in southwest Michigan were high enough to cause noticeable tree defoliation in some areas, including Barry County. Luckily, outbreaks of spongy moths are cyclical and also dependent on their natural predators. For instance, moth populations may increase when their predators, like mice and squirrels, decrease. In addition, this species also has two pathogens that become prevalent when spongy moth populations get very large. The nucleopolyhedrovirus, or NPV, is a viral disease that naturally occurs in spongy moths, and E. maimaiga is a fungal pathogen introduced to the United States in the 1990s to help control spongy moths. The two diseases combine to wreak havoc on large, dense populations, leading to a significant population decline when the five-to-seven-year cycle will start all over again. In the fall of2024, the Barry Conservation District conducted surveys for spongy moth egg masses across the five most heavily forested townships in Barry County - Hope, Irving, Yankee Springs, Orangeville and Rutland. Technicians compared the number of non-viable egg masses to viable egg masses following a simple sampling protocol developed by Penn State RE/MAX OF GRAND RAPIDS Margaret (Margo) E. Peric Commerdal/Reskfentlal Full Time Agent Cell: (616) 204-9792 Office: (616)957-0700 Email: margoperic@remax.net ca.^e OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT; 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A, B Grand Rapids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. ✓ ti 1 * University Extension. On average, the survey indicated that 84 percent of egg masses were not viable, which indicates the popu­ lation of spongy moths in the sample area is largely expected to decline. There were a few sampled sites with higher percentages ofviable new egg masses, but subsequent follow-up this winter has shown contin­ ued decline of viable egg masses even in these sites. Natural patchiness in populations can make out­ breaks hard to predict across a larger landscape, but thankfully spongy moth populations do appear to be declining and there are actions the landowners can take to stem the flow of caterpillars this spring if you find your property has a lol of viable egg masses and you are worried about your trees and shrubs. The first step is to take stock of your situation. Take a walk around your yard, or through your woods and start looking for signs of these critters. The most obvious sign will be their egg masses, which are inch-long fuzzy-looking mounds of rusty orange hairs stuck on the bark of trees, underside of decking, and other dark places near forests or large trees. New egg masses will be darker in color and firm to the touch, whereas non-viable egg masses will be lighter, crumbling and spongy/squishy. While you are out counting, you can destroy the egg masses so they do not hatch in the spring by scraping them into a bucket of soapy water. Even if you don’t notice spongy moths until the caterpillars are out and about, there are still things you can do. A common trap for the caterpillars is to wrap a dark cloth around the trunk of the tree at a height that is easy for you to reach. When the spongy moth caterpillars travel to hide during the day, they will hide under the cloth, then you can go out during the day and smash, bum, or dump them into soapy water to kill them. For the most severe cases, pesticide is an option. The most effective spray for spongy moths is the organic pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis v. Kurslaki, or BtK, a soil bacteria that kills many types of leaf eating insects. There are a few things to consider before deciding to spray. First, the timing of a spray is important. If the See MOTH on 14 'Wi o; ’> r I * IIJ I , ■t Vi l1 9 t B r ’un > 4 “4^ «»■ 4I I vv I I ilk / .X 1 r t ism ) I 4 tj * . IK?!* til ’ * 4 « •5% B .’’’it' » ::i i Mid io wel 1 1- t r « ) ' wi» ■ OH J I fMk'* 7*1^ f'«ir ’ ilLMH I 1.^ I } ’I i k- ’ .X. X / • • J It I > - r 1 4 i If I J* . 1 'fii? iay’f iij,»- I ii;; 1 r > »* I r t * I < IV { I J V J J*? f I t f i r U I I « I* w .u ••• I •X r k I V 1 ..'V I I f • lS 1 f < t 49 V 4 Oci> - f 11 * I f < I •* I* I 4 '..Il r t«‘ f 4«»* I k J r* Isfltf*** J’- 4 I ** II ' ,u J ■ > ■**r ? ► 9* •rf * { «» I r r I « I I «r ♦ .M * >• 9 I. •♦' » '—stitwsia' 1 I I I* i 1 I • »* » •I * 4 .* • r. ».*" 1 «»• •— J s 1 1 mi • *1 ftKjir'Jh r ** I ■9 9< I 11 * . Z-if « fl Mm I 40 YEARS Antenna Meri •KU « R I 4W - • 1 I J A Ir IM 1 I J I ■ f * < I i i I LK W Wood, Window & Door Specialist Inc. Vinyl Windows • Remodeling FREE ESTIMATES CB Pennock antennamen@gmail.com 'V* —— e ( ■ '■'" ‘Mtt www.cellsignalpros.com J ■ ‘-' anfSiiaai ' ’d’Htofc' RIVER CRUISE VACATIONS 1 I f—st. 269-908-2173 Experience the beauty and history ot the St Lawrence & Ottawa Rivers on a classic Canadian riverboat. Request our free travel brochure. I ‘Gi I! I, :l-I i< . f M I' >;)* f . 1 -800-267-7868 www.StLawrenceCruiseLines.com 1 r. ,s I’ J' V I. « ■ u L'* fl t I a < r I ■ 5 r';i I " I 11 12 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES DIAL (800) 249-091 i/IdN - EMERGENCIES a Co. 9-1-1 Center” "Kids Measure up at f I 91 10 111 121 131 141 151 161 171 181 19 20 'lit.'; * J • 1 I I ' * « Al I 1 4 v’.v » ^4 4 • I V *•*.•«.-11 € t I .4 T * > J" I * Sa r ( I II www.theantennamen.com i I I 269-967-8241 A- I *1 I •’< J t A •1 Give us a calH J t**O/ inxttkjmer. ! < ’ ■•' • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers • Cellular Enhancement Systems CitL?W9 *S!vi SI ,1 REFERENCES I "• V^J I 4 •• 1 S' ffSSursQsf INSURED 1 • 'll 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 301 ♦ • fl i <1 M ? r ' 4b « % �1 b t ’ j J , 'ill New Barry County Planner conies with experience and a vision I I 1 F 1 L « THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 1 A ' Ji. -■■J I c s • I I A ■ “X 'V)«: 7 7* ■■■< I T » <9 ■ j b •>1 i )I A * < w A *• *%£> X‘ ’ k A* ♦ ' k.*- f i *S iC "• te".- ^Se X X S '*^ (L 4 z*' I ■ !■) ,54<'#•. i' 1 > I * * fTHDb WJ. •£- '■X’ I* <a ■ X.0 f .I s /. h j- Jeff Keesler started his job on Dec. 2 as Barry County’s new planning director and zoning administrator. ■u. Photo by Karen Turko-Ebright A' » > I «, ‘S.s Karen Turko-Ebright Contributing Writer ■ri ' --■1 J. s 4 •. I iU /'it' tij u 1• J ^’.55 f? I > J r Jb I > f « ’ r-' w te ft 4 ' * I - '4 I J ft’ • J vk:--w /'A V .• t"i J 4 ? r* •fl-L-t I p;i. e Tk • it ) ‘O' / J I 4 t b i. IJ. *> V * n 7-*‘r .■5- P\'/ '?«['s Ji J i I 7< • 1 I 11 <R< I * f’ *v 9? t A “J ‘ ''■h 'K' u. J f,'.- *rf I fi. I 9 4 *I •’i:- M S' j' /• • "• M if ,^i • . I w b -r , J' ♦ / . fT •X <’ ' • A y r :4' ‘ / l{, 1 < f i . •V4 t 4b* M i' .< ■ r-#* 4*^ . '. ■ J >!: «< e » / JiJ J ♦•I i,*' 1 1 L ^513 >«& •P» G -/ . r. '1. 4 ■». ’’ f '.?'*-5-^ ’4u^ 4> i » r • i 4 \ { •V «r V4 r >1 I . 1 :: / ta* xsesl^jiiovzis WII’ k. :is UlMVU. 35?jL 4 ; if orx </ ) I t J r I I I • ; gall 1 , « • k.. ■* A A*’^ « i c at 9HM^9D^ ? J < ■l . J .I 1 ’ jj. J 4i5fi .JiQcar t.h'• < - -------- 7 1' la^fi Jfw jBMEBrn ■* I Y. t |v •t /: . J * ■ ‘'r-yUdD )o©fnTft^2ii ^ki *« V I f K II J If t rT' I I A .k,' I f 1 ( A J u £01 Oil s in ••T 1 A •"s f »<» ri afi I IK i ’ I * « z 1 . I .tirAT'»-1 I He’s Barry County’s new planning director and zoning administrator. Jeff Keesler started his new position three months ago, after Jim McManus, the county’s planner for 33 years, re­ tired from the same position. McManus told The Sun and News ±at he now works as a Principal Plan­ ner consulting for McKenna Associates in Kalamazoo. Keesler worked at McKenna as an associate planner from 2022 to 2024 before taking over McManus’s former office inside the Historical Courthouse in Hastings. He gained experience at McKenna and stepped in to help other commu­ nities. “I did master plan projects, zoning ordinance updates, and community planner work when communities didn’t have a staff planner,” Keesler said, According to the 2022-2023 Michi­ gan Association of Planning annual report, Barry County’s most recent master plan, dubbed the Barry County 2040 “Live Better” Master Plan, re­ ceived an award for Outstanding Plan­ ning Project: Best Practice. McKenna Associates of Kalamazoo served as a consultant to Barry County in development of that plan. Keesler grew up in Durand and grad­ uated from Durand High School. For the last 20 years, he’s lived in Lansing with his family. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. Addition­ ally, he earned a Master ofArts degree in Urban and Regional Planning. Not only did Keesler work for McK­ enna before accepting his new planning director and zoning administrator posi­ tion with Barry County, he also worked as a program specialist for the AARP Michigan State office in Lansing for six years. His job focused on carrying out age-ffiendly community work in Michigan communities. He worked with a team providing technical assistance to communities to help older adults feel at home as they aged. “We did statewide advocacy for older adults and age-fnendly community projects in East Lansing, Highland Park, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids, Jackson, and several others,” Keesler explained. While fulfilling many responsibili­ ties at the state AARP office, Keesler had a priority job that was his focus. “My role was working with helping age-fnendly communities be welcom­ ing places and help our older adults flourish and stay active,” Keesler said. On Thursday, Feb. 27, Keeslerjoined an audience of about 40 people at the Revitalize Delton meeting. Revitalize Delton (RD) started in the summer of 2023 with a handful of community members ready to clear a path for future generations. Since then, the organization has grown with more volunteers. RD aims to bring additional housing, residents, and businesses to Delton and make it a place where families thrive, raise their children, and send them to Delton Kellogg Schools. Keesler told the audience his depart­ ment does not plan to change the natu­ ral charm of Barry County, including Delton, but instead, to keep it intact. “Our goal is to keep our county lakes, fields, and woods all natural and healthy. We are not trying to urbanize Barry County. We want to keep things natural and beautiful,” Keesler said. “The way that we can do that is to follow the master plan. This is the only ordinance that we have, a new 2023 master plan that really sets out the goals for the county in the next 10 to 20 years.” Read the Barry County Master Plan in its entirety at barrycounty.org. Saturday, March 15, 2025 7 OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY zw > I 1 . :Aa y .4 NOW HIRING view Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST Responsibilities include: • • • • Advertising sales Account management Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts Attend networking events Group email wsmith(5)mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer's Guide Jeffersonian ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Tri-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader . Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer's Guide & News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Sun and News The Reminder �1 J * I J I, 8 Saturday, March 15. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Annual spring weight restrictions in effect statewide Ihe Michigan Department of Trans­ portation (MDOT) and local agencies have enacted spring weight restrictions, an annual move to protect roads. As of Monday, March 10, weight re­ strictions are now being imposed and en­ forced on all state trunkline highways in the entire state of Michigan, State routes typically carry M, I, or US designations. In the restricted areas, the following will apply; On routes designated as “all-season” (designated in green and gold on the MDOTTruck Operators Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights. All extended permits will be valid for oversize loads in the weight-restricted area on the restricted routes. Single-trip permits will not be issued for any over­ weight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width, 11 axles, and 150 feet in overall length on the restricted routes. On routes designated as “seasonal” (designated in solid or dashed red on the MEMDT Truck Operators Map), there will be a posted weight reduction of 25 percent for rigid (concrete) pavements 1 and 35 percent for flexible (asphalt) pavements, and maximum sj lof35 mph for some vehicles. Drivers must follow the speed limits for weight restricted roads, per stale law. Si 1 restrictions for trucks and the rules for propane fuel delivery and public util ity vehicles can be found online. When roads that have been frozen ail winter and begin to thaw from the surface downward, melting snow and ice saturate the softened ground. During the spring thaw, the roadbed softened by trapped moisture beneath the pavement makes it more susceptible to damage. This contributes to pothole problems already occurring due to this winter’s numerous freeze-thaw cycles. MEXZIT determines when weight re­ strictions begin each spring by measuring frost depths along state hi^ways, ob­ serving road conditions, and monitoring weather forecasts. Weight restrictions remain in effect until the frost line is deep enough to allow moisture to escape and the roadbeds regain stability. County road commissions and city public works departments put in place their own seasonal weight restrictions, which usually, but not always, coincide with state highway weight restrictions. Signs are generally posted to indicate which routes have weight restrictions in effect. For weight restriction information and updates, call 800-787-8960, or you 9 can access this information on MDOT's website at Michigan.gov/Truckers, under “Restrictions.” All-season routes arc designated in green axxi gold on the MEX)T Truck Operators Map. which is available online al bil.ly/4hr4fil. You also may sign up to receive e-mail alerts at public.govdclivery.com/accounts* MIIX)T/subscriber/neu. KtM KJ I 1 h « I’ ESbiiA 1 4 •s*: I t F. Ji s ♦A : * *1 I J W *'■ • I t TAEF seeking nominations for 2025 Hometown Hero Noah Peterson Staff Writer TTie TTiomapple Area Enrichment Foundation (TAEF) is seeking nomi­ nations for the annual Hometown Hero Award. The group is seeking nominations for outstanding individ­ uals in the Thomapple Kellogg com­ munity who exemplify excellence, integrity and commitment. The Hometown Hero Award is an honor given to an individual who has made significant positive contribu­ tions to their local community, often through acts of service, bravery or exceptional dedication, essentially being recognized as a hero within their town or city. This includes first responders, teachers, volunteers, com­ munity leaders, or anyone who has b II dnsi E f J R! J gone above and beyond to improve the lives of others in the area. Nominations can be made by going to TAEF's Facebook page or by searching formsbcf.org. Another option is to send your nomination to TAEF, % Annie Halle. P.O. Box 164, Middleville, Michigan, 49333. Nominations must include the nom­ inee’s name, address, phone number, and a brief explanation of why the nominee should be considered the community’s Hometown Hero. Nominations are due May I, 2025. Last year, Catherine Getty was recognized as the Hometown Hero for serving the Middlevillc-area com­ munity for 25 years. TAEF held a dinner to honor her for outstanding community service. lit f 41 f « t I 4 L I J I t I 4 • f i <T!’ I 1 r I 1AM b i/ * ( ■ I 9 J t I k I ( F> T f <>>■ ^14*: 4 t AAjiSSW’ 'A* to ' tr^ 7 a 5 J I I < (I * 4 flP- 1 to I f >70 iK >1 * w A /*• r s 1 1 ' 1 w I’ « . r** i \<*- i HR-* J t J 4 s ' 1 s ♦ b** Ti' 1 _ V Continued from Page 2 about their annual budgets and resident information for those government services. But to ensure the safety and security of that information, govern­ ment agencies establish agency-wide procedures to ensure the data stays accessible. Municipalities must use systems that protect vital data from cyber-attacks, lost power, fires and so forth. An efficient storage methodol­ ogy can improve government com­ munications and collaborations. Some municipalities still rely on storing government data on physical servers located within their build­ ings. But they can be vulnerable to cyber-attacks and require dedicated I.T. staff for maintenance. So, many local governments are now using cloud services like Government Cloud and GovPilot, instead. They offer advanced security features and r” LJ Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we‘ve put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. PRINTING OY W- www.printingbypennylane.com ginacl@pennylaneprinting.com k' I 2 STORAGE i automatic backups. Some munici­ palities use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software. While Gaines Township officials keep an eye on how Kent County is handling its data storage, Halsted said the county is planning to install a Customer Identification Program next year. “They’re really not sure what the cost is going to look like for that or how that affects everyone through­ out the county, if we all decide to go in at the same time,” she said. “But once we start to do that, they are open to discussion with all of the townships.” The county Equalization Depart­ ment provides property assessment and taxation services. Plus, it main­ tains property maps for municipali­ ties in the county to keep accurate records. Former Gaines Township Assessor Megan VanHoose is the county’s equalization director. tk r -p I t 5! < •I 1 i k * t’ r* . . i t < '^5 t IV 1 it' 3 f 4* $ ••'-« V *4 f? tSMu art I' I A } 4I a• laitidfi* IRtj' A' I I** Sj. 1 >4 < X i 33W I I * i .1 V .lO'znv. *05 I ti* > . 7-' ■'' f 4 I 1 I 7 Jt J ‘ta . I « V TOf2 » « r- I t i '44i»b I «* • I . . I L.>iOi7:;siku^.jb I «« ; t J I . -TrXH/KJ I t Ml I i t : ^*; lUUJ) 1 5 I I . *■ a 1 ( f iiei I ' ; ’ ? >f'v J ▼ III Ww’ T5 .MH 1'^ i I: bJ. I . ?!iyii^.. «.*-.*.* « I Ma '^.*4 » « I Jl- •- •. * •» .r KJ ■■ •I <- I i' JI I i 1*1 '•I ■ ■ A i -<'5 r ' J ■ > K V ■_'» i I |1 I I I 2 5 JT/k CO. 9-1-1 CElTER ^la-J 91 10 lUoN - DIAL (800) 249-091 "Kids Measure up at( 111 121 131 14 I 1 EMERGENCIES awa Co. 9-1-1 Center” 151 161 171 181 19 20 B I 11 12 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 0 *1- 4w ?I « •w 4 . « * r 'd line? I • f .w J -*r I I > r « .'i.v —Ai W V : * Ml I WWW sunandnc'ws c om Si 1 1 I * '. 9 J tI ^96^ r �ir I > 1 A * H > A < / J iV^ ♦ I >1 I A t I ‘ ’V THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ji M *V t Saturday, March 15, 2025 9 t I x* t I Viking seniors settle on their collegiate plans I I 4V,'4r * » 9 4 & 42 4* I ?5 t r f I JT* * A fc’ > *r. J t *.%■ ■ t? k r « I V• ( % it * ■ k I K i ' ,4 X * i- 13B". f IbiA li » r> << at^' <ik V V I « 1 w > i t •* X. Ik *v V < « :9 1 -*w. ** J K * J 'A I 1 I I • I ■ 4 S' § k» A*-. ■' .i I 4 k »• J.4 Rte k > '^-4 < « LX*» i 4 Sl»«-v 1-I. s , . f •; <^1 / J P ^.• f, .**31' ..A r 9 t / 11 LB A #*•- ■ Jt' ■ A 1' I f, 'i ■T' r •jfxA. «« #/ V r/ < '•*Xk > ■? -r. ■ *• I > 1 • ei I • k-j 4 K>- j '‘•\v *1 ’ • «» «‘ ; I I < * < r« « •»n /IV Oiio . Tl /4 * div _ >Sa[« . * ^*. n ’lol ei } It ^5 t—t » [a?-? !ii»* 1 •***• k.4j. 4 rt I & »iu :} « * ‘‘-I fi*i it ta«« I » X. I ’iJifci t t 4 f 1 t t I M 1 k’ - ilifij f'W •I.. ! 4* ♦ «*>trw r-jql I 4^ * j n TPr'i I ni - j •I p ! PJ r * .! W WVIW « ► : J 4 A- * win I- V <r w i; j.kU • « ‘J-. ( J X^'V- . *• , r '3sD(p- ' t',v 1» «*• I k f n x: ^.' » I 9 : • .' « « J -•-1 t f^f^f... A 4>* " /V r t* I« I . J ' • «i«4 III:U“- \. I / oil I . I c. I . I 1 I r > k r* flw • ?v;> * I *• 'I V.JJ II' • • I f I l-TkCf^ MT* J J ♦ I ' . f’ -Mk> I Caledonia senior Isabella Treib is surrounded by family as she signs her National Letter of Intent to join the Bowling Green State University Women’s Swimming and Diving program next season in December in the Caledonia High School media center. Photo provided Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia senior Isabella Treib went from the state medal stand to the sign­ ing table this winter. Treib celebrated signing her National Letter of Intent to join the Bowling Green State University Women’s Swimming and Diving program next season after a stand-out varsity ten­ ure with the Caledonia/Lowell/South Christian Viking team. She was one of two Vikings celebrating making their collegiate plans following the 2024 season. Senior Elise Miller, another mem­ ber of the OK Rainbow East Division champion CLS girls’ team, also fol­ lowed up the season by announcing she was signing on to dive with the Davenport University Women’s Swim­ ming and Diving program. Treib’s senior season concluded with her placing fourth in the 100-yard backstroke and fifth in the 100-yard freestyle at the MHSAA Lower Penin­ sula Division 1 Girls’ Swimming and Diving Finals at the Holland Aquatic Center last November. She was also a part of state medal winning relay, teams in the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay for the Viking team. Treib also placed eighth in the iX 1 t - 4^ < \c *T> V ' Ex I I s t i i J i • I » I » 1 < r*« * ^11 Are you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@thedailynews.ee and let's find outl c 1 »* <J * J. / L». Group t 6 r * Xl » •Jt- X r Caledonia senior Elise Miller celebrates signing her commitment to join the Davenport University Women's Swimming and Diving program as a diver beginning next season. Photo provided ‘I ft IVe love what we do and we know you will too! * 4 «» ft • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout •J I I This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! ^1 I I t I — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS — *1 * I I L I. l^/ew Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time graphic artist for our Greenville location. 1 <• 4 g! r w I *:I. • ««>, ^■^.. I •& I.Z-. «» i^iwi II I- .. GRAPHIC DESIGNER »t* I I* . Responsibilities include: 1 I 4k^ u? « >4 f. I <V 1 I • 9 r. ir f t • <1 NOW HIRING 50-yard freestyle at the state finals as a sophomore. She qualified for and scored at the state finals in each of her final three varsity seasons. Miller came up one spot shy of earn­ ing an all-state medal, placing ninth in the diving competition at the 2024 state finals. She was a two-time state qualifier. I •l it ■<w« a r » ,♦» Are you creative I « Q L ■ 1^, 'V. i 1 w< T . liU □ .X .Mir- I 9 k r* I » * 1 4 I '•ini i .r t k •*^ *>e * I t ' « •l I k i ; Tl * i Z 3 ♦/ t 'f I* il^ ..■i ■i « t T -w K 9 t l.p 1 > in / fl Is V J .• I k X < i n a >• ' k 1 k3 i' *1 r.4 r I ' . r % ‘X t * >v f T V » J? I. . ■ I s>^ «« <* J •/ ♦ I The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer’s Guide Jeffersonian Tri-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer’s Guide & News The Sun and News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Reminder We are a growing company of 21 community newspapers serving IS Michigan counties that are delivered weekly to more than 335,000 households with an additional 500,000 monthly online readers. �* I i 10 Saturday. March 16. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS e t Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia freshman guard Emily Stauffer attacked the rim along the lane, scooped up a shot as she was raked across the arm by an East Kentwood defender, and then looked up, hop­ ing for an and-one opportunity as the whistle blew. The ball bounded off the rim and out. Stauffer grimaced, shouted and clenched both fists in front of her. She got an encouraging two-handed low five from senior teammate Lakely Bottum, but that first feeling the was one the Fighting Scots had a few too many times in the MHSAA Division 1 District Final against East Kentwood at Byron Center High School Friday. They felt it when a couple lay-up opportunities in transition just didn’t fall. They felt it when a couple open threes glanced off the rim. They felt it when a slide over to try and take a charge was half a second too late. They felt it when Bottum picked up her second foul and went to the bench late in the first quarter. They felt it when he Kentwood sophomore forward Jazanaye Silva dodged a box out to rebound her own missed free throw twice, seconds apart late in the first half. And they felt it when East Kentwood senior Jazlynn Ward swished a couple of running one-handed floaters in the closing minutes to help the Falcons seal a 41-37 victory in the district final to bring an end to the most successful Fighting Scot season in recent memory. “If you’re struggling to finish and you’re struggling to rebound, that is kind of a recipe for a game to get away from you, and the girls just battled, and battled, and battled and continued to hit shot after shot [late] to keep the game close,” Caledonia head coach Todd Bloemers said. “I just wish we could have built a little more momentum off that really good start. A couple missed shots and a couple offensive rebounds given up and then I think we lost our rhythm a little bit on both offense and defense. “And credit to Kentwood, they’re a scrappy team, they’re physical, they’ve got some length and we’ve seen it on a bunch of film. We knew what we were getting into playing them. You want to win a district championship you have to execute that part of the game plan and finish and get a little luck along the way.” The Caledonia varsity girls’ basket­ ball team (18-6) shot out to a 9-0 lead in the district final, but the Falcons (13-13) fought back to tie the game at 11-11 three minutes into the second quarter, took a 17-16 lead with just over a minute to go in the half and then led for the rest of the evening. Stauffer and Ward tied for game-high scoring honors with 14 points apiece. The Falcons also got nine points apiece from Silva and sophomore forward Sophie Cobb. Caledonia had its typical balanced scoring behind Stauffer. Fellow fresh­ man guard Olivia Foster had 11 points. A third freshman, Myla Gortmaker, had five points and junior guard Baylee Devries and Bottum had four points apiece. I < t wwv^. SU nandnews com Stellar Scot season ends in Division 1 District Finals « r' i ■ 1 3,. -■i 0'7 1 'Witt ; r /11 I' 4*^.4t F ' 4 r I I ’ e. J 'tr i 6 Uy I *> r s A; < J 1 fl W. f* s A I .iM- -x --! k.,» I r r . ■I fl ♦: ' if, •X. . ’a S' „ t I « k I 9 * 4*. I 5 3 The Fighting Scots show their emotion after a 44-40 loss to East Kentwood in the MHSAA Division 1 District Final at Byron Center High School Friday, March 7. T* «l I* 1 1 ♦ <J 1)t ( * A'< I u* «I 1 rr. * Keeping even on the boards with the athletic Falcons would have been a herculean task, but the Scots would have liked to have been better at ending defensive possessions. Once that was combined with a rough shooting night it was too much to overcome - but just barely. Bottum picked up her second foul of the first half with 46.4 to go in the first quarter and went to the bench until the start of the second half. That made things a little easier for the Falcons on the glass. Kentwood had a 20-17 lead at the half. “I think three points at halftime, we’re not going to try and put her out there in a game like that where the emotions are high and Kentwood is hyperaggressive attacking the basket,” coach Bloemers said. “Just felt like we didn’t want her to pick up her third. We were hanging in. We hit as big drought offensively where I think we See FINALS on 11 r .4 -i* » uI III I I X J i Jf ** f* J L> ) i M % t t ■t r; ■A I «* r / A 5 A, I i?*? flt>" V W 1 »?.' •* fe fc I CekbratfoH >. ' 1 ■»W ' Ib J I ^.7 >« •J I I w / .. ‘a* 1 & A •r« « ..' f Caledonia junior guard Baylee Devries maneuvers her way around the East Kentwood defense in the paint during the MHSAA Division 1 District Final at Byron Center High School Friday, March 7. I i '; hiBUQ ' 4 I Zr 4^ r^r.dl 4 I AA€HM,| tyn.'r>’ i‘jlf,,'J rrcnyffi t- e• J?* ’ -,..■•,,0 i- I ■ LV-. ..X * 1. 1VT I 1 w f /■A it -- 7 j WP«Bfe,. 'Sic 1 T iv' Clip N I M « I . I I. . i r '■ I .t: I fl s'V--.? •4 A *74 “?* w i ? r tr F r 1/ •l ,v A. Kas* ' I w ■ 14 n in I-’’- ' T 1 r I Intb * I I IL4 B r:'i • » fl t* H i ' J ibrtte I pr' ■•' }^3 E^^’; . / 269-213-8108 | 4624 N. M-37 Hwy. Ste E, Middleville, Ml 49333 | Next to Harding's Market ■ I P« * .... % .'tiT w"* « V r jofe ,4 ’U ,r> !.■ fl’ 't‘-' • S -■> •4b^w 1 >:.■ if J 1 I G 2 ••■ i "■ 4 ' I t- « VA CO. 9-1 -1 cHEter ,_4 iT— 1 DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at OHawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" R I 10 f 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES Z 4 “^8 91 10 111 121 131 14 I r— s 20% off your eye exam J *{ h V * > Schedule an appointment and get ^•* n Vs I ir, rX i rw .«r 'Year) .7* <c L THORNAPPLEEYECARE.COM •• L .’9’A. -Thornapple • I fl’ ♦ k. •.A:- 15I 16I 171 181 191 201 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 h ft ‘1 /it i ex; fl b- f A A i J I f < 4 r I i 1 > / I > I < < * I k �J ■k 1 •> r, /' ♦ ♦ J « FINALS 4* 1 • ■ F F’Xlt I .MJ* I Continued from Page 10 I ■ * s I iw ’ py I ♦ r H -S* f 1 > ■) »V ii 9 «A. L M <► 4 ’’n< * J * h "tl! i i X ■j 1 SjiT ‘rffr f- » t t 1 -hi. iiu I t f i * « IJM I ij 'Mb •x. 5 j . t. ' 7? ■ • ***/ just struggled to finish. Really, that was a key all night. In the second half I am not sure we could have produced better shots and we typically will put a few more through than we did.” The Falcon lead grew to as large as eight points with 2:45 to go in the third quarter before a triple from Gortmaker gave the Scots a spark. The Scots were within 31-26 at the end of the third quarter and would get as close as two points with 2:30 to go in the fourth. The Scots had that clenched teeth and fists feeling again with 2:45 to go in the ballgame trailing 36-31. The eyes on the Caledonia bench saw defensive pressure force the Falcons to lose the ball out of bounds. But no signal came from officials, and eventually the striped shirts huddled and decided they couldn’t decide and called a jump ball. Fortunately at least for the Scots, the possession arrow was in their favor. A heated coach Bloemers called a time out, and the Fighting Scots returned to the floor to run a play for a quick three from Foster, off a feed from Bottum in the high post, that made it a 36-34 ballgame. I 4 j .,7 dlp i I a i Id Sk.. •( 5 T •'. : J t '111. f r ■ ^v * j V I t* c * '«3b t Tfl ■•s'' •5^ ' ( X I Of ' I ;enteo n*.,' ''■J n.J Ju ( ' 4- ii? * i* J r ■'Xb J w rj I '' i. 1 7 ’€ ■ w 4 - K * * •^4 i » T \ « '* iJ h i y < e»4ii A ■t T t»< 4* *» *4 I •tl ?• •<; J! A? ir0t M nWi J i . -M If * ... [ t ■’^ ten f.^ 4 I 1 * ■ r. < X' ■n <» East Kentwood pulled down just enough offensive rebounds and hit just enough free throws over the course of the final 90 seconds to fend off the Scots despite a couple more threes, from Stauffer and Foster. Bloemers said the two big keys coming into the game were defensive transition and defensive rebounding. He was really pleased with the way his girls limited East Kentwood from getting quick baskets in transition throughout the night. The East Kentwood girls were bested 64-37 by Forest Hills Northern in their MHSAA Division 1 Regional Semi­ final ballgame Monday at Grandville High School. “1 am really proud ofhow we battled. I think struggling with the physicality early, sometimes maybe teams would yield at that point, and 1 was really pleased to see how our girls responded. It is a game we’re going to be thinking about for a little bit in the offseason, and hopefully it drives us in our train­ ing and our weight room work that so many of these young kids have to grow,” Bloemers said. “We have some good things going. “But I’d also like to say that [seniors] Brecken Bloemers Kathryn Langen­ :A mhm 4 <• ' <, 3^ *< • A V I I IfF -JWS' ■ s I J . ■ J V w 7*. kr; i r» 1 «i« D * / 1 i Jl bsfisjiffejif i - Ml •{ L« •*•” . ■ , GOI r M I r*i». Zi < < irt^’ 9 L if I 1 jS I sW SPiJM I w r.- / •? A f A 9 I J T i ■7. p fl h II k F.t'Ai *f < i ■*W tbijL tfiinot) FT’' «4w I ♦ 4 • :b A *0s J V f k Caledonia freshman guard Emily Stauffer puts a shot up around East Kentwood's Sophie Cobb at the hoop during their MHSAA Division 1 District Final at Byron Center High School Friday, March 7. Photos by Brett Bremer JW» Bbo( i ;i ■ i J ' l1 1 f >•' •* I Bl ' •* !■« *— I I H' ♦ . A >• I t I aai Ibu ^11 h 20 V “1 II '4 J . 4 V R 11« JI I • i ! i •r J !► k (I h f A ■-.4- V * THE CEl, FOR PU| REH^« <* I n 11 b l1 11 • I I 1 I h u I I I { SL^2SK? I -4 .?• 4*’ I Jt k p m3 ■r r > Caledonia senior Brecken Bloemers pressures the Falcons Sophie Cobb near mid-court during the first half of their MHSAA Division 1 District Final at Byron Center High School Friday, March 7. burg, Lakely Bottum, Lilly Gortmaker - absolutely unbelievable. Teammates. Leadership. They make everybody feel like they’re the most important person in the room, and our program does not get to where it is right now without their sacrifice. They’ve been through some downs, and I am just so proud that they were able to go out on a high which was winning a league title and competing for a district final. And we’re looking forward to making those milestone steps in the future.” ■_ r r i ••v-s F* r 1 i F, YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. ' -i"; I *w 4 .-^’K I 11 ♦ J • V > ( r t * u Ji * A ■I*!.. Saturday, March 15. 2025 ♦ 1 I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 1 You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors and our future. ••• vlEv^r Group Your Community Connection CALEDONIA AMERICAN LEGION 11305 L xA’ \ t 9> i ‘I' EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT Friday, March 7th thru Friday, April 18‘"2025 5-7pm or until gone ALL YOU CAN EAT S14.00 Adults S8.00 Children 12 and under OPEN TO PUBLIC - ALL ARE WELCOME! DINNER INCLUDES Breaded and Beer Battered Fresh Pollock Filets served with Tartar Sauce, French Fries, Coleslaw and Homemade Bread & Butter. Dessert: Soft Serve Ice Cream. Coffee and Lemonade No other Food Menu Available. For those who do not want fish dinner, outside food may be brought in. 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia caledoniaaniencanlegionpost305.weebly.com �M (* Saturday, March 15, 2025 12 THE SUN AND NEWS ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor A couple more Fighting Scots will be patrolling college defensive backfields in the coming years. Caledonia seniors Reed Vogeler and Colin Kowatch signed on to join NCAA football programs next season last month. Vogeler inked his plans to become a part of the new Calvin Uni­ versity Football program and Kowatch signed his National Letter of Intent to join his big brother, Aidan, on the Hillsdale College Football team. Vogeler joined the Fighting Scot varsity part way through freshman season in the fall of 2021, was a start­ ing safety on the team that earned the MHSAA Division 1 State Runner-up trophy in 2022, and earned first team all-conference honors in the OK Red Conference in each of the past two seasons while playing defensively at safety and linebacker for the Scots. Kowatch was a two-year varsity player at Caledonia, and took over as a starting safety in his senior season. Recently retired Caledonia head coach Derek Pennington said at the signing ceremony Feb. 5 in the Caledo­ nia High School media center that he is proud ofthe two guys that are both great students and great members of the high school football program for four years. “We had a season where we saw some adversity and you find out a lot more about kids when things aren’t going well than when they are going well,” Pennington said, adding that “these two dudes” stood out for the way they gave everything they had through to the end of the season. The Scots were 4-5 in the fal I of2024, * I I w- b e^r I * I f CEMENT/CONCRETE • • • •. I It I .1 f I JNR BUILDERS Concrete flatwork; Driveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored. Licensed and insured. Gall Jeff (616)293-7729 % * « « :l T" r It f iltb 9> » < k » vil*’ s V «» ‘ 1 *’ .V I*' I r p 4 w I a' *♦> «• * "<1 .. tT’ L > I* TREE SERVICE f BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy sin­ gle walnut trees. Free Estimates Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793. J i bi w<*^/ . A • w* k' * ‘.<r ! r «» !*• •r-- tL -<SiW «• u r • I * /• 1 4^- « . 1 » r'l* . •* ' 4 .1 > EMPLOYMENT V* Caledonia High School seniors Reed Vogeler (left) and Colin Kowatch sign on to continue their football playing days on the collegiate level Feb. 5 in the Caledonia High School media center. Vogeler made plans to join the Calvin University program and Kowatch signed his National Letter of Intent to join the Hillsdale College program. Photo by Brett Bremer missing the state postseason for the first time since 2019, on the heels ofwinning 30 games the previous three seasons. Vogeler said he learned a lot from 2024 Caledonia High School gradu­ ate Brock Townsend, now a safety at Central Michigan University, about effort, skill and the trust needed in a defensive backfield. And while they are set to graduate together, and Vogeler played more linebacker defensively in recent seasons, Kowatch said Vogeler was the same kind of example for him and his teammates. “He is just a leader,” Kowatch said. “He is a leader out there, calls out the defense and just helps you make your mistakes correct. He has been our de- I BARN HELP WANTED Must have experience with horses. Full and part time positions available with competitive pay. Please call 269207-4218 or email at zipowell® yahoo.com if interested. fensive leader for three years. He has been out there starting since he was a sophomore. His leadership and knowl­ edge of the defense inside and out been helpful for me at least.” Vogeler is looking forward to being a part of the Calvin program which played its first season of NCAA Divi­ sion III competition in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) last fall. “I just really want to be a part of a program and build something,” Vogeler said. “1 really like the coaches there there and the experience they have, just how they knew me on a personal level and how much they wanted me, which was a big reason. I think that should be Your local agent insures your >*■ 3 r < FMM Bl/HtAU MSUBMCE' WA * » Cleaners Pickup Station 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 I t Jason Parks (269) 795-8B27 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm: Saturday 9 am-3 pm J Iparks^insmi.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com ► I K 4 t J I I if'*' A 3n ..•A 1 I w ^il Ct4 1 r > I I a big reason for anyone - how much they want you. I liked them talking to me about what they would see me doing through four years.” Reed’s big brother Luke Vogeler, who was also a part of that 2022 state runner-up team at Caledonia, has been a stand-out kicker for the Colgate University football team the past two seasons. He was named first team all­ league in the Patriot League last fall while setting record team records for accuracy and distance. Kowatch is excited to get to play with his big brother Aidan, for at least one season, at Hillsdale. Aidan was a safety at Caledonia and has transitioned to linebacker at Hillsdale where he has seen most of his time on special teams so far. Having him as an insider in the program has been priceless for Colin. “Obviously, the academics are there,” Colin said of choosing Hills­ dale. “It is a great academic school and my brother is there too. He has loved every minute ofit over there. That was a big pull for me, being able to play with my brother as well as the fact that it is a historical program. The way they run things over there aligns with my beliefs and everything.” See SCOTS on 13 1 I 'i*. ^i’ t' 5 1 f « DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES II Kids Measure up at ^;iawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 13 14 15 161 17 18I 19I 20 » I 10 11 I u1 li I r* i*) t b« .'» I* lA ite ft I f * M rt . f-‘^ ». «*JTVC' » <> I 9• * S’* I I •> -*Mi'’ » I lA—* .r « :.v « 1 H- -iifSISS I jyii **er^ ■Q • -r v> ■ 4t •* 1 fc I I 'J A U,i5 I 4£iiW ,_ ; 1**?' 1 — 4 *• «* F. • ■1 1 t •'.cl'.’''’' T! «• » :‘i 1 i«.\ 9 f -i J / J ’ F’ ■■•wwiWilDtbtC' IBOiiiiJUEfJbr.M'.' f I L Li I r* 1 k I I I < I?* O't(U, r * I i I MB4 1 I ’ I J I I I K r I f I ‘1 J L r L & r L'l ■ W&w' E J •4 ?* I I <5 ’•*, i > r*\x "S * ’** Atf’ ■ k * " - iQOb.' IM*** '•Ui I •. V i. 0 X.*' I • - .V 12 I J*>* > 1 x J I x OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES li j: .V If J hb 1?^ V f-lr A I ’•fT. 21I 22I 23I 24I 25I 26I 27| 28| 29| 30 ‘i 1 3 * ^1* a I I «ry ;s#*; t T 4 . ^.. r'f ’' * ( I > ' r I 9I 10 >• ' <. g I i • New Collections • Linus Project Drop Otf • 108” Wide Backing ER r* t 'W 9^ iri II r t P’? Jesus Loves Us til 1 > • 1 QUESTIONS: ASK US... rr r./i0 I k Ifs Time To Start Graduation Quilts ** .1 I Classifieds ' w * I t i I F T 4 * / 0 ft M ■ . V‘ Getting bigger, faster, stronger earns Scots college spots ■- l!SP S I I 3 « �♦ ♦ k •'5* f THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ' ' La ; J Saturday, March 15. 2025 13 ♦ ♦ CHS selects new leaders for football and futbol programs rv’ < L 4 I I rf , I t A ' I / I ir I ’>5! ■ ’ A t > i/*. I - r Ji : J r J 7 —4 1 s > I If _ t I. r,- A/ 1 I r I I lr»j 'T f ♦ ’I > t I 4.' r i i i 1/ 4 z 9 A I s I f 7 ) J .’i ' 4 4 J FT* i It u. 2 < » fim ’ f •'i r'.^ 91 ■TO**, ' t * I i/, ,I r 4 I 4^ r*’ i ( I ‘J •! cnr '■ii, I '■ .'■^1 I ► I t w»* A * K : ■ ( I 9« ?• i Continued from Page 12 ‘ 1 ( ship with the BC Lions. After his playing career, he returned to Ferris State as a defensive line and strength and condi­ tioning coach before joining the Caledonia football pro­ gram eight years ago. He has served for the last six seasons as the defensive coordinator, including during the Scots’ 2022 run to the MHSAA Divi­ sion 1 Football Finals. Kastens has been an essen­ tial part of the Caledonia var­ sity girls’ soccer team’s recent success, helping lead the team to a 2024 MHSAA Division 1 District Championship and 2023 District runner-up finish. A former collegiate soccer player at Oakland University and Grand Valley State Univer­ sity, she was a two-time NIRS A SCOTS I .. — —TWB^* I ? The Caledonia Athletic De­ partment announced this week that it will be welcoming Whit­ ney Bell as the new varsity head football coach andTaylor Kastens as the new varsity girls’ soccer head coach. Both have spent the past few seasons as assistant coaches in the programs, and the athletic department stated that both bring an incredible passion for student-athlete development, on and off the field. Bell is a Ferris State Uni­ versity Hall of Famer and was a dominant All-GLIAC defensive tackle, earning All­ America honors before play­ ing five years of professional football in the Arena Football League and CFL, where he won a Grey Cup Champion- V I I I I f k J I f ^<0 ** • , I ■ I r J •' k > I • . 1 ■ lAboSeM- < V > i » . • r~ * 4 / r 1 t 1 IR: 1« & ! r' 1 •t ► * * **^''***«v*^*il I t 9 i lUz c L. ? •*«« w , r Li -->r kM« !4W'7^ 4 I ati molt I $ MJ - ( ! I tilir ■ ri’ ’' 1 ■ 1 tt;/^3 < * I I I f J d «T I I * 4 '* rJ'Ti 1 iA .'.4- ' - J n - I I I f It ■ Si fC I It’s nice just being able to know the personalities of the coach more than what they tell you on paper,” Colin said. “Being able to hear it from your brother there is no real filter. He tells you everything. You get to know the play­ ers, the coaches and the culture over there.” According to Hillsdale’s announcement following signing day, “family ties were a big part of this class, as seven of the 25 recruits have relatives associated with Hillsdale. Five - Vince Carrico, Seth Davis, Colin Kowatch, Connor VanBeek and Bailey Wade - are join­ ing older brothers already on the team that they’ll be playing with this fall, while Dom Spinazze has two older sisters who played women’s tennis collegiately for Hillsdale Col lege, and Leo Marquell is the son of a former Hillsdale defensive coordinator whose mom graduated from the college.” Both Caledonia guys know they have three things they really have to improve as they get set to play collegiately. “Gotta get stronger obviously,” Colin said. Bigger.” Faster.” Kind of those three big things. But also just from an intellectual standpoint trying to understand the defense better, because it is a different defense than what we run here at Caledonia, just trying to buy into that and 4^ 1' < ’■ 't nr I •n • • I 4 ■V' iostors national qualifier at Grand Val­ ley and brings high-level play­ ing and coaching experience. Beyond the field, Kastens is a Physical Education, Unified Phvsical Education & Health teacher at Duncan Lake Middle School, a District Wellness Committee member, and a leader in fostering studentwellbeing and athletic excellence. “We are incredibly fortunate to have both Coach Bell and Coach Kastens shaping our athletic programs,” Caledonia High School athletic director Fred Townsend said. “Their commitment to developing student-athletes physically, mentally, and personally is what makes Caledonia athlet­ ics so special.” — BB k rl r freb Estimates • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation 517-983-0954 start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam I •% * : fl rrr. if j V 4. I V I ip.*?'® . -{ a* I :* t 'I'S Whitney Bell has been announced as the new head coach of the Caledonia varsity football team. Photo provided learn their defense.” Reed and Colin are already a lot bigger, faster and stronger than they were when they arrived for workouts the summer before their freshman season. “Their strength program is insane,” Reed said of the CHS program. “1 really liked it here. 1 started my freshman year at 150 and I am leaving at 205, so that means something obviously. Colin credited the CHS program and work he did at Max Effort with helping to turn him into the player he became his season season capable of earning a spot in a college program. “It was awesome playing with [Colin],” Reed said. “I didn’t get to play DB with him, but he was a great player and he was one of those true Cal players. He didn’t get to play as young as me, but he worked really hard and got to play his senior year. He made it obviously. He’s playing college football. That’s the goal.” 9 *« ‘i? 4 > Taylor Kastens has been announced as the new head coach of the Caledonia varsity girls’ soccer soccer team Photo provided PUBLIC NOTICE GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS March 10,2025 The Gaines Charter Township Board held a regular meeting on Monday. March 10.2025, and took the following actions. 1. Reviewed the Consent Agenda. 2. Approved the Meeting Agenda 3. A Public Hearing was held for Thomapple Farms Phases I and II Streetlight Special Assess­ ment District 4. Approved the Consent Agenda 5. Approved the Dutton Center Planned Unit Development Phase II Final Preliminary Plat 6. Scheduled a Public Hearing for April 14,2025 for the proposed update to the Zoning Ordinance 7. Tabled the Liquor License Renewal for Logan's Restaurant #531 to the April 14,2025 Regular Board Meeting 8. Approved Liquor License Renewals for: a. JD Holdings, LLC - Peppino's b. TSF Apple Venture. LLC - Applebee’s c. Stonewater Country Club - Fire Rock Grille d. Grinning Mitten. DBA Railtown 1. Microbrewer Manufacturer's License 2. Small Wine Make Manufacturer's License e. Celebration Banquets, LLC f. Briarwood Golf Course 9. Approved and accepted the assessment roll for Thornapple Farms Phases I and II Streetlight Special Assessment District 10. Approved an application for Farmland Preser­ vation Program (PA 116) 11. Appointed Jeff Brinks as the At-Large member of the Byron Gaines Utility Authority Commission 12. Approved the conference request for the clerk and deputy clerk to attend the International Institute of Municipal Clerk's conference in St Louis, Missouri 13. Adjourned the Regular Board Meeting at 7:12 pm A complete copy of the minutes of these meetings and any resolutions or ordinances adopted at the meeting are on file and available for review at the Gaines Charter Township office, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE. Caledonia, Michigan 49316. Ordinances, meeting schedules, meeting minutes, and other Township information are also available at www.gainestownship.org. Michael Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk Vi. 6 COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the February 25, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on March 11,2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main Street and on the website at www.villaqeofmiddleville.orq. CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meeting Minutes The minutes for the Febraury 19, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on March 5, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave., and on the website at www.caiedoniatownship.org. �• A •• L 1 t 14 Saturday, March 15, 2025 either hand or truck sprayers. Local contractors can help decide if either of these options will help accomplish any goals for control. The State of Michigan considers the spongy moth to be an endemic pest, so treatment is considered the respon­ sibility of the landowner. Knowledge is our best tool to combat this pest and recognize when treatment may be most effective. Barry Conservation District has put together more information, links and a list of contractors that can help at bar- www.sunandnews.com ♦ timing is off, or spray drifts onto non­ target vegetation, it has the potential to harm beneficial insects like other moths and butterflies, including the Monarch butterfly. Second, the cost of spraying has to be considered. To be effective, the spray must cover all the leaves of the tree. On large forests, this can be done by airplane or helicopter, whereas individual trees can be sprayed with rycd.org/leam/spongymoth. Or feel free to contact the district office via email at barryconservation@gmail. com or by calling 269-908-4139. Editor s note: The Barry Conserva­ tion District contributed this report. ll CHURCH Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM 8 6:00 PM ♦r Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am service, in person or online, at 9:00 am www.aiaskabaptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 250 Vine Street 616-891-8669 i. Sunday Service 10:30 AM Good Shepherd Lutheran Church oe €0 Middleville '4* ri HOLY FAMILY ^^CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave,, Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) » Sunday Worship.............................. 9:30 a.m. < t*4 /•* Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com 1 Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville iftAPEACE CHURCH .in. nC ;ih4 A CHURCH Caledonia Location - PEACECH'U 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. Church: (269) 795-2391 FBCMIDDLEV1LLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY ' ill 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am RCH.ee * THORNAPPLE VALLEY @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, Ml 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledoDia.org 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 'Church 3655 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto 616.891.8661 www.whitneyvillebible.org MIDDLEVILLE "Shining Forth God's Light Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... Pastorjonathan DeCou SERVICE TIMES: Sunday School... . 9:30 AM Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am Sunday Worship 10:30 AM Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. Yankee Springs Bible Church ✓ CHURCH 4 lij Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location - www.holyfainilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. n ..10:00 a.m. .. 11:00 a.m. Watch our services frorr) our website (see above) - I 9 I A ’ I I I I ft I .4 iap y’ 'r ' I 2 4 WA CO. 9-1-1 CEffiTR r r ' I y i ' I' 1 ' L I I I I 'I ri I I I I 111 e* t I 1 I 101 I DIAL (800) 249-0911 fON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up atOlawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" OR * i * a s »r' i f f I h r ft f 1 • 1 All.1 8 91 10 111 121 131 14 15 161 171 181 19 20 ’ I V’ t r 4 I ' r* J 1 I J > 1 > I '■1* I •r r V I i Ml? 4k >a* . ** ■* uS'r* 1 * (Jt '• r 1 t * t I p 11 ' T' < Ii f j I ' J k • r •f, I * •il 4 . •T t r"! : 1 4 I t r 4* > f*l r I f3 uf T A 1 I 4« 4 t- ; iCJft s .. on JI ■ 4 >art^P- <.n */' t 11 O’^ 4 ► ' PM' 1^4 i '' f I . 1H - J I I A>tJi f 4 w» ar fi r-T' * ... .. lA'i IfcV' 7 » B ’.W' !1 4H nrOT'’ . I f <- '5 > < T* I I rM .. 1 Jf l*Ev r 'W 4ai O J rfr Ml l.ibi 0** aam s IllfniUeii b H ,39 «»*“*’ •wtjrtf i »■ r 4 » / : nr •! .J’ ' A t*7 44 4 r . kt h 1 on-’ r 4 . l;yE r ^9.'. I Ji ir-r*. r • *w J I 1 ! ' I V .□ h vn i ♦( ' I i ” T •! I .T ' . M irii 1L • 41 d f- *1 a * J ■ Rr r f L-.. R . k4 ■ ‘^1 *1 I ■W?J i I 1 1 u ) . Hl •lu. / t-1 f i * f; «1|! J I CVr I I 4 1 t )9P ‘ i 4* 4M I f WC'jtlbGlO^^ 'I k/ t ■ rM-4gi9W . bJAWllDi ilYUtL Jth ‘*.1 I -L rniJcern-Ril^-vC f *.< HfiT < * -- { ■'"/PS 101 4 ,wsU3M*'nl'l \n ,cW6- .oe ■ Til >• 12 251 26| 271 281 291 30 I. 1 Wttll MVW V?.’/ . 1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 24 . A J 'fe 4 ’ -•.f .« I I 5 f I J J I I i i !■ t • r 4 4 > t I at J ll I 4^ - OBiiK* IT I I J h I > ■ FT r* fc I . 1LJ 1 I •» a ■ r «l ! r I r ; 1 Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. The first meeting is free. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankccspringsbiblechurch.org 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com ■ S i The March 10 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary's report. Two fish jumped out of the fishbowl. Virginia continued her program from the TOPS “The Choice is Mine Handbook" titled “Motivation and Reality of Healthy Weight Management: Effective SelfManagement for Results." These tips help manage cravings. Cravings are often a physical response to a specific situation. They are normal and natural. Change your response to whatever situation is triggering your temptation. The benefits are short-term. How will you feel afterward? Think about the amount of effort expended to burn off those calories. Think about how good you will feel by resisting the temptation. Avoid places that trigger your temptations. Your craving is fleeting. Don't give in! Ways to prevent cravings are to drink a glass or water, leave the situation, take 10 deep breaths, or brush your teeth. Binge eating comes from an imbalance of brain chemicals. It involves eating more than you want to eat and feeling guilty, disgusted, or out of control afterward. A binge eating diagnosis is defined as having two binges a week on average in a six-month period. It is usually consuming a large number of calories in a short time. Foods high in fat and sugar are most common. Diets are often proposed to be an all-or-nothing effort. Once you fail, you feel you won’t ever succeed. The secret to your success is perseverance., not perfection. There is no perfect of magical solution. There will be good and bad days. Perseverance is most important. A successfuTweight manager will get back on track after falling off the program. You are not a bad person. Some days when you deviate is inevitable, just become more flexible in your thinking. No one won the Ha-Ha box. The' meeting closed with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. cornerstonechurch Join us for our traditional yet casual worship f i TOPS 546 THE SUN AND NEWS Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin £ • if» MIDDLEVILLE We'd love to hear about it! mmacleod@mihomepaper.com r r . 'H’ . J1 LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ALASKA BAPTIST f H.nr KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? Caledonia Vine Street Church J d I Continued from Page 6 ♦ sr f. THE SUN AND NEWS MOTH ♦ i AX l< • �Tf \ * > * ♦ 1. • Hr 1 f s I L « » V 1 '■»!>.V < Uv k-* 9 > ’I V-I L« •1 1 J' ; f »rb * ) * ) X f V I 1 I Si f 4 •» r IW t I « r j ♦ cV. i I •'t I* I 5 I « « t z « Mti f* 1 4 >. ' 4 ■*r.i5J3l H M > u ! r .-Ml, *■1 ' M V •S’ Mil-. 4* I -! MT. •U. b-: I '-CL,. I r i I ■ II r i »* I f 'a * < : r Ju. » i K3C »« ■ ^^4’u . J. p - ^1 J • » r >1 1. */ '■» iiivwniiir"* I i «• 1 I I . US cr. I*» ■ t •VI Ur MK** V iMran I I I >"x:; b » £1A^ * ! »* **< «»« ■•"ITS , f:. t .1 I 4 4. *w » I Iw 'b ’ .. IL * 1 • I r ■ ' I . * i.-. . T V y • kJ fftaT L I [J I ( served as chairman of the Barry County Board of Commissioners (1978-1982) and spent 12 impactful years in the Michigan State Legislature as a state representative. Bob and Carol’s story didn’t end with public service. The adventurous couple joined the Peace Corps, spending two years in Russia (19951997), followed by many more years volunteering with the nonprofit “From Houses to Homes” in Guatemala. Together; they hiked and camped across nearly every National Park in America, explored Europe, and spent idyllic summers on Mackinac Island—a place they held close to their hearts. Though Bob’s flight plan on earth has ended, the spirit of his adventure and kindness lives on in the lives he touched. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Bob’s honor to From Houses to Homes in Guatemala (www. Fromhousestohomes.org). Bob’s family will receive friends on Friday, March 21, 2025 from 5:00-8:00 PM at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home, Middleville. A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at Middleville United Methodist Church. Private burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Please visit www. beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Bob’s family. Fly high. Captain Bob. May you find endless skies, open trails, and Carol by your side once more. t r I Wk- « ♦ < ’* ✓ • e A ■ ••• <• 'I Robert Gordon Bender, of t Middleville, Michigan, flew peacefully into his next great adventure, leaving behind a X T .-•* lifetime of stories, service, 4 and love. He reunites with his beloved wife of 65 years, Carol Cox Bender, as well as his parents, Russell and Alice Bender, and his sister k Beverly Bourgeau. Bob’s legacy continues through his children— Cheryl Hemond (Michael), Julie Cleary (Kevin), and Greg Bender. He was a cherished grandfather to Cal Cleary (Lynsi), Hannah Chesser (Dan), Sydney Johnson (Peter), and Gabby Hemond, and an adoring great-grandfather to Margo and Remi Chesser, and Peter Johnson. His sisters, Joan Tabor (Vinal) and Mary Wood (Steve), will also miss him dearly, along with a lifetime of friends and admirers. A proud alumnus of Thornapple Kellogg High School (Class of 1954) and Michigan State University, Bob earned a degree in Agricultural Education before taking to the skies. In 1959, his love for flight became his career as a U.S. Navy pilot. After years of active duty, he transitioned to the Navy Reserves, serving until 1990 and retiring as a captain in 2001—though his heart would forever remain in the cockpit. Back on the ground. Bob returned to Middleville in 1964 to run his 1,100acre dairy farm, managing 500 head of cattle and the chaos that comes with it. But his passion didn’t stop at farming—Bob also found himself drawn into the world of politics. He [ 41^ Obituaries Bill Briggs Lewis Bill Briggs Lewis, age 78, of Middleville, Michigan, passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2025 with his family by his side. He was born on April .1 1,1946 in Barry County. Bill retired from Bradford White Corp, as a skilled tradesman after 43 years after serving in the United States Navy. He was preceded in death by his parents Russell and Edna Lewis, brothers Johnny and Gladeon, and sister, Melanie. Surviving are his wife Sherrie, brother Alpha (Margilene) Lewis, children April Lewis, Orin (Carrie) Lewis, Stephanie (Tom) Wilde-Ecker, Robert Wilde, J ► 7n M I 4 % * i ®!raffliii!( r’ - • ti- S -e^ I V taiHMiro. toa^sniierpj JMes | " J/rat . >''« • * < Ml IS B 4 5«- I No Gold, i MovinR to i i 4eJ»iP * i A *-*"'‘* \\ i J I «r«* jjeisw’*' •g ■ t • ■ J t .. 4^ •' « '' fr. i I i I I I c 1 L I I d I I i YCAftS OF IMPKOVtMO lIVtS K SCHOLARSHIP NITY FOUNDATION 231 S. BROADWAY ST, HASTINGS Ml WWW.BARRYCF.ORG e4x "fc <• ’ I THE BARRY COM .1 V I I If you want to learn more on leaving 4 > \Q ,*•* ■ •2 .-^. 4 FOUNDATION .*r3 1*^ * « r. *■ ENRICHMENT >x. f J, aT. **' I THORNAPPLE AREA £ t .. A R a , a legacy, please call Bonnie Gettys or Annie Halle at 269-945-0526, to I help ensure that your gifts can support your hopes and dreams. currency. T V ( V J ♦l ri I ' I; 4 A former US Marine and his wife of 50 years, created a scholarship fund for TK graduates who pursuing a career in Industrial Arts, CAD/CAM, engineering, industrial design), providing a legacy for over 30 years. Even today, their endowed fund grows from the ongoing generosity of family and friends, honoring life and legacy of the Schad family. >& . __ ♦ ssaasj! ■ *t.? grandchildren Skyler I Favreau, Chase Favreau, and Dillon Ecker. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held from I 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, i April 5, 2025 at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church . at 159-131 st Ave, Wayland rw M Michigan. Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Bill Lewis to (Barry County Animal Shelter) via checks or cash at 540 Industrial Park Dr., Hastings, Ml 49058. To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign (Bill B. Lewis’s) online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www. NeptuneSociety.com A LEGACY OF GENEROUSITY k 5 I I RODNEY & RENA SCHAD f * ■T. 15 Robert Gordon Bender Ip'' I * k •* Saturday, March 15, 2025 ♦ \ I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ■ar-*.,*;- �Saturday, March 15, 2025 16 THE SUN AND NEWS 1 www.sunandnews.com 1 Gars’ Magnuson 25th at MHSAA Di diving regional ♦ ♦ Brett Bremer * ♦ Grand Rapids Gars junior Ethan Magnuson closed out the 2024-25 varsity boys’ swimming and diving season at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Diving Regional hosted by Hudsonville Thursday. Magnuson was about ten points shy of getting through the first round of cuts. He put together a score of 94.95 points through five dives which had him 25th overall. The top 13 in the end emned spots in the MHSAA Division 1 L.P. Boys’ Swimming and Diving Finals that will be held at the Holland Aquatic Center March 14-15. East Kentwood’s Fidele Byiringiro won the regional championship with an 11-dive score of 417.60 points, and Grandville’s Brody Agema was the runner-up with a score of 402.35. The field of 28 divers was cut to 21 after the first five dives at the regional, and then after three more dives the field was cut to 17. East Kentwood’s Bradlee ' ft a ft •fc 4> ✓ I 1 I Viau was the last of the 13 state quali­ fiers with an 11-dive score of 280.55. Grand Ledge’s Aaron Almay was the last guy cut with a final score of275.40 in 14th-place. The rest of the field of state quali­ fiers from the regional included Loy Norrix’s Isaac Patrick; West Ottawa’s Isaac Kamara-Hagameyer and Zach Jonekryg; Forest Hills Eastern’s Dante Grossa, Nik Luehmann and Andrew Garcia; Grand Haven’s Carson Tithof and Simon Frisinger; and Grandville’s " Finn Sanders and Caleb Chambers. The Gars’ lone state qualifier this winter is freshman Gabriel Van in the. 100-yard butterfly. He’s not the area’s only state qualifier though. The Caledonia/Lowell/South Christian team will have our guys competing in Holland this weekend. The team of Ethan Snapper, Austin Tufts, Sam Jones and Anders Foerch qualified for the state finals in the 200yard freestyle relay and Snapper is also a state qualifier in the 50-yard freestyle. Sports Editor ♦ Vj <• ..J Grand Rapids Gars diver Ethan Magnuson leans back into a dive during the OK Rainbow East Division Conference Championship. His finish at the conference meet earned him a spot in the MHSAA Division 1 Regional last week in Hudsonville where he placed 25th. Photo by Brett Bremer I. Wt’ftfiiifijmug .Vfwvy 'lUJp 3)412 £1 jriJlojaai 3rijfeBW I 2 tJSl io oTooa I na rijiw g: >fu E7/ /fimlA rioTs/. bmi cV^o snow Icotlr. rttiw jto yu^ I a I I 6 orb Io laai voj tobubni (8001^ vrii fnmt 22 fimttO lauW J^rna^ jml / miff ti3&s bra JDfi Hfeup <jj4j2 15 J < k. I WsCIg frraJaBd rIhH 13910^ is/fnfain I i* * •1 .Beeoi jO*iT fID21s J /fOVRH irfwsi) •COTO < .5 I ^^wbftA bns > Y faaiB ncirnsn j rbisj ixm ^nbaadnni I I bt ? irii ^ftijwp irtol -^tbO -jriT fb iu bhoEt) fufnrtaeit i^Jnr t, X •*! * Iti^nud Ijwwo( no J’ naiG : fb Ion z oH e uo^ 'li|/,ft-lu-iinetolaj ‘jtir fiauo (t I* •> > -r n 1 1 i b2fiA^gnq£i[i ."T JGfb3 •<ny)3io'i ^nbn/. bvr; ’U ;)fb fti * f I ' <?-t£ Ei ♦ lo incai VC □not ffwei lot tiortiJiii !Gi<’ -jriJ 4 IT s^TfJoqrnr r .4 t .-IL'ui • vel3T . *si rRaoit Ln jiy|?9^£T&7-0< ^dirnndBaaaHM I : i i I * we are accepting KKf customers in oner area. C****lw:*r gOTCHER BLOCI^OCf/l * * Whetheryou are a Commercial, Industrial, or Agricultural business, ora Residential customer, FUELING YOUR SUCCESS •3.2 1 7AM BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER ••• s J • I • \ ! I t P' > • iI ft ! 1 870daiw£10% • 90 Rec-Ethanol Free MllfMH J i *1 Home Heating Oil • 12 Diesel On & Off Read Mm«9i q t c We Sell and Install Bulk Fuel Tanks, Pumps and int somij^ Delivery aviitable for your convenience " Accessories Right for Your Home or Business. 1 J I AwHI^OM^A^Wr I I O Ridderman Oil nsinnstatiiSI I >5 THE JVIOSTTRUSTEO ; r NAME IN ROOFING to A L*:. local TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115-» YEARS w ft SHERRIFF Ei GOSLIN' 4 • 1 • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP A ■ IT »< • •: t * >■ 5 1J A I* r * • 1 **» ft' ««v 4 'S CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE i. I I J INSPECnON VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK .J » ■ “n ■■ i' '4 1 '-I 4 / X 1 ■/I 'L* e A n i'C * Mxl*! 1 • •S’5 ’>• A Milt? 1 l/A CO. 9-1 -1 I I r I y I I I I t * 1*1 /I C Sr TER 4 9I 10 I w 1 DIAL (800) 249-0911 ’-xION - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Qilawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 191 201 I 11 10 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES a 1 d I fl 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 8 I «I h I ft. I. < M ♦ I 4 a1' I . -^0 1. 1 I I, I’ ttA". : sew < I I .1 4 I I 9 ■ «s ♦ f I r / 4 ik * h i * V f L 1 I .V ' V ; i- * fE I 4 i I f f 9^ Li •to» HM^ 9900 Cherry Valley Ave SE, Caledonia Ml /f 616-622-1004 // v/ww butcherblocksocial com • -,-4 /I i -Tjnr: <•:; 2- . .4 4k • w* . ■ ft 9^“ W4 ' w MX sin *w ( *• >X Z» « .:£r: 1 • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED * •4 V '* r f L I. * s‘ " □r s J P • A* RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU * i r • • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS c QUALITY ROOFING * I .. < • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM a 4*. to ft IN THE BUSINESS B . ~S‘ r 1 • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS t I CUT OUT & PRESEMT ; THIS COUPON FOR lOXj • ■r ■ V ■ ■wiMtoiHm 4Z f** 1 « *EXPIRES efl3f25 K .4 £ OFF YOUR TOTAL BILL I r .1 J f a* J J* I 1 * V i ' iwsiourtnsMi UI 3^«niaRlkwthOB|IM’4^ : t»9n WM torn tn M n । -rr^QaiQ kU khucus' f UI' Purchase 150 to 12,400 Gallons of Gasoline and Diesel Fuel 950 Industrial Pkwy, Plainwell, Ml 4906' -I '''■ A V WHOtfSALE FUELOmONS IN PIAINWEIU Hl • “V ! t J ft Houn 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday F a <F»! Ridderman Oil has the knowledge, resources and products on hand to meet your needs. Contact us to learn more 269-685*5825 A ¥ I ■ - ]** ! ’"'b I > ft . a * Ik ■i ■ i NOW SERVING BREAKFAS - . a ft ■ I 4 > Zl I ft I 4 6 ft'' I 4 L t• f I 4 r I I I 1 I A‘ .r’ A/ * •w* Jfc- *. « I i* •b • ,I � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-03-22.pdf e30363f8cf6d50fd08eb6b578c81eae8 PDF Text Text rJ 3HT THE 1 I SUN AND NEWS Your Hometown Newspaper Serv/ng the Middleyilie, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas 4 3^ .O*^ KCSO: No one injured after gunfire during domestic dispute lujni 9110 oM :023)l nhub Slitnue stuqoib ottzsmob www.sunandnews.com SATURDAY, MARCH 22. 2025 NO. 48 I Gaines Township officials discuss vision for future park space, trails I 4 T t s iftemmaO wmat i9inW gornjcintnoO James Gemmell Contributing Writer f 1 O5fri«) vinuo'J moJi Kent County Sheriffs Office depu­ ties say no one was injured during a domestic dispute Tuesday eve­ ning when gunshots were fired in Cutlerville. They took a 37-year-oId woman into custody at a residence in the Cutler Estates Mobile Home Park. That’s in the Cutlerville area of Byron Township. It is located south of M-6 off Division Avenue, which is the border with Gaines Township. Deputies said the 37-year-old man she had an argument with was not struck by the gunfire. There was no word on what started the squabble. No names were released. Potential charges had not been announced at the time of this report. I ) [Tub botutfli ajuqeii* oiiasmob n iwTii WV/ ^Jo^^^fHIy TOflw gmn .^flr/TjIluO mrt^/ jIooj mH hfli W <boj£uo otni ^1 wnol I i4idoM 831*123 isllu J fEbfuai'i T/'J J I I r* * sHrmlJu^ wli ni z'l^riT g b3iB3Gl 2111 jqiriznwoT nmvfl [ ( B31Ii noi2mO Tto d-M to w rfw«j I 8!KjiEr> rf»*< latnod srl) 2i r J gaw' itorw Jfwnmgiii ofi barl H*/ stoHI .3iftnu3 «fi <9 dEup^ 1«11 b3iui81«lw no bmw ,b38S??lo f OTOw g^msri oH ood jmtweri e^Tfirio ifiitnaJo*! JI eidMo amirsrif JE booniioniui I) ( 1 I I I J i ) t. 1 I" ? > » - r V - h ) J / r t > >A « M. I • T 1 1 iu' I ■ S', ilT t ■Ja 4 w * 4r ;jgeuiasaBss V. ■ if f ■ r * i ► ft 4 * * ’-1 ?• ft* '■• ^v '-* 5i 1 ft. J** J ? / f 5. : fT. I r • . * » <I * i • t A L t 4 „v ► . •* * 99^ *v 4*? s J ii' r :i- f « ♦ w. 4 J jJb i El* * I ft » X- 9^ A K •■'*w « y»' / .iiuf r t r• •* 5 u 4 I ^8^ ft 'w 4 4 f \ r r r ki I f k I B£> The Gaines Parks & Trails Committee members held a meeting at the Gaines Township Hall on March 5, with the committee's next meeting set for April 16. Courtesy photo James Gemmell Contributing Writer f 1 ■J Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra has said ever since he won the August 2024 primary that one of his priorities would be to focus more attention on developing parks in the township. It clearly is a vision and a goal of the trustees,” he said at the time. “We are committed to putting more money in the budget to develop the parks and trails — maybe purchase some land, even. I’m excited about mak­ ing Gaines Township more outdoor friendly and recreation friendly.” The vision may be gaining momen­ tum based on recent actions by the township board and the Gaines Parks & Trails Committee. That momentum is being fueled, at least in part, by a 2022 online survey in which residents expressed a desire for more park space, playgrounds and recreational opportuni­ ties. Those opinions were later included in the township’s Parks & Trails Master Plan was adopted in 2023. Since then, the conversation has not abated. Last month, Gaines Township trustees authorized spending up to $3,000 to have a 20-acre parcel of prop­ erty appraised for potential park devel­ opment. Staff did not disclose the loca­ tion of the heavily wooded parcel, but did say Plaster Creek runs through it. Township Manager Rod Weersing, however, recently said he was not optimistic because of the slow pace of See GAINES on 4 . i Ik * 7^ r Jr :b» < 3*:‘ T V 'V i*.' f*W 1^. < > v t ------ 7 ♦ ‘O a ftnerlS yfnuoO fne>l { '"00 on yea noh pnnub SOON CnHDNEU euT u t IJ r,.! i b UTUoeiuivr jt) iuymrlv/pninew tJuO n: bout fftIQW oloriqvBShuoO Kent County Sheriff's Office deputies say no one was injured during a domestic wool uawoisno dispute Tuesday 1VliN3aiS3U SSMdJJ BCW> IW •UWUWiO evening when gunshots orc xoflOd 8CE# lILUjed were fired in Cutlerville. < -i'.: J'..> MH r Jr? W38 48898 fMBUAjjie' Ml hViD n s botive^ ego 9C08> m •sipAueajQ aivd Courtesy photo Midvilla Flats breaking ground Thursday Molly Macleod Editor Developers at the Midvilla Flats are set to officially break ground next week, marking a significant milestone in the project that has been years in the making. Construction Simplified, develop­ ers of the six, three-story, 24-unit apartment building complex, invite locals to join them at the project’s groundbreaking ceremony next week, Thursday, March 27, at the construction site at 4611 N. M-37 Hwy in Middleville. The ceremony begins at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday with a meet-and-greet, See GROUND on 3 3ovisod s n 8 qjiexguij. r- ft t> s 4' J '<* ' •rffl o I 11 19 J ;1 i> ft a It n i T .M .i i I I I t I I I ii \ f 8 I » �i 4 I Iff * 1 f / J I? I j I 2 Saturday, March 22, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS i:- www.sunandnews.com Caledonia Mock Trial team competing at states this weekend 9 V A I I I k I I ^75 r I their persuasion skills to thinking cre­ I' :ir atively, responding to objections, and 'll rtt^nqi^ supporting each other, the teamwork on display has been impressive.” i, (st?» Caledonia High School Mock Trial and Intro to Law is an elective class, helping students hone their skills in •18 ,<r'r law, problem-solving, collaboration, OfT public speaking and critical think­ ]- i (S' ing. The program was introduced after Elizabeth Yard, a local attorney '..Cl ,06 n*" and Caledonia parent, met with the si* oh* '.JI school administration to bring a mock u-.? * courtroom experience to the students. 03 4M> jf''' . ■>' rf ■ Over the years, student interest in the . ■ wJ8 program has grown significantly, rising er rn ’ from an after-school club to expanding into two elective courses. Students learn to think critically and creatively - »i * about complex legal issues, making it a unique and valuable opportunity for J ' young minds, Jonkman said. , J. “At the beginning of the season, many students had little knowledge H 9sb3l //i :.i 3^01 ,Ufl3 of law, but by the end, they are confi?< dently citing federal rules of evidence S ^unsbi/s lo e Jtn istai in front of real judges and attorneys in I ni ?y5.nons bfrr , j a courtroom,” stated Jonkman. “Their rfP* .fisfluinot boTGm tjia oirhs - -t dedication and work ethic are consis-^»F3yg_fn'' IxiB .7 tently impressive, and I’m excited to t .1 see them take on the state finals.” S16J3 f B'5' ' 1 IsnT ;^ji Caledonia Mock Trial is competing this weekend at Veterans Memorial W>.IB o I Courthouse in Lansing, March 21-22. 2£> 1L fbisM ..^12 I I I I The Caledonia Mock Trial team advanced to the state finals this week after its outstanding performances at recent competitions. Four Caledonia teams competed at the regional competitions two at the Oakland County Regional on Feb. 21 and two at the Kent County Regional on March 8. The team of Alexander Hochwarth, Isabella Wierzbicki, Meghan Ruthven, Av Jordan, Olivia LaHaie, Sebastian Rissley and Mason Langeland took first place at the Oakland County Mock Trial Regional Tournament. They earned a spot in the state finals tournament held at Veterans Memorial Courthouse in Lansing this weekend, March 21-22. “The students have put in an excep­ tional amount of effort in preparing for this year’s case, which centers around a first-degree murder charge,” said Caledonia High School Teacher and Mock Trial Advisor Jenny Jonkman. They have done an outstanding job of carefully analyzing the facts to build a compelling and convincing argument.” This marks the second consecutive year Caledonia teams have won region­ al competitions and secured a spot at the state championship. Last year’s team finished as semi-finalists for the entire I 75® oi'jsvi iW j I I Noah Peterson Staff Writer Z •*’W* - i I fs 1 I 4 . I > € ■* - V *1 S' .-Mt*' J? ■4 k X .3 kv * ► s * f n A 4 * I’ f f t ll s • X, r . p > A "Mb < * I a: t .»•' 4 J 1 I A' A A. I It t 1 (* K > > J ♦' t s?' , * I A It 1 ■•, 4 < > Wi J 1 ! I ♦ - ♦ .':r I \ I *'( /»>•» 1 < (i •< 0 > *6 f. k V'V 4 • ■9»' A I X ♦ It. r I"” 1 r r I T.'-- < A V * 5>* V ••V* ( a .. J ■ . ^?C7 3- *« •••• Members of the Caledonia Mock Trial team pose for a photo at a recent competition. Seven mock trial students are set to compete at the state tournament this weekend. Courtesy photo • ■>1 i(4b • I ♦♦ R C’. ! ■^6 •j 1 r» * > h' w ! f I I A state, setting a high standard for this season. The returning students—Al­ exander Hochwarth, Sebastian Rissley, and Meghan Ruthven—have leveraged their experience from competing at the highest level to maintain momentum throughout the current season. All three have understood the importance ofcol • I I f laboration, continuous improvement and learning from each other to lead and mentor new students the complexities of the competition, Jonkman said. ‘‘Regardless of team assignment, all the students pushed one another to im­ prove, collaborating to strengthen their cases,” Jonkman added. “From refining < V Ti n V •> J 4 *» r 1 « y-/f .:------ • * r 4 I z r e a. Ji . ; J . .) t 1 t 1 u I -------- ifc: Cal FFA earns top honors at State Convention Noah Peterson Staff Writer Caledonia FFA members earned top honors and valuable experiences at the Michigan State University FFA State Convention earlier this month. Sixteen Caledonia High School students spent three days at Michigan State University for the 97th Michigan FFA State Convention, where students networked with other FFA chapter mem­ bers, toured the food science facilities and Mobile Food Unit at MSU, visited the MSU Dairy Store and attended sessions and listened to keynote speaker Lasada Pippe. Delegates Noah Herbst and Mad­ die Lockwood attended a Legislative Reception at the State Capitol. “State Convention was an amazing op­ portunity,” said delegate and greenhand (first-year member) Maddie Lockwood. “It was a time to not only learn more about FFA and the world of agriculture, but also an opportunity to become closer with my FFA teammates.” Two teams competed and advanced at both district and regional competi­ tions. The “Parliamentary Procedures” **' ’ in (Pattrick VanderKolk, Kenzie Krentz, Brinley Lyzenga, Maddox Bockover, Emma Petz, and Emma Palmer) team placed 12th, earning a Bronze Award. The “Jr. High Conduct ofMeetings” (Trenton Schiefla, Adam Peereboom, Grace Bai­ ley, Daniel Calhoun, Deegan Pecha-Gnat, Evan Diehl and Nicholas Ulloa) team placed 10th, earning a Silver Award. In addition, several students earned in­ See next page 1 4. F jacer**^’ I ,’1 r s- u : i 4 b, -- ? •« ? - £ vvv • I r S’ J , >1; t The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 !' X . • I J *. ■■ b. I V lb bit I f i 1 I F r •I 1 J . li 11 i “ivniw > -■"95 WM- s- - • ** -X. . '' ' X'. 4 ' A if 91MI f. S' v; All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept., 1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-945f, 9554), This newspaper reserves the right not to § accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only! publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of j , the advertiser’s order. rfS •X 1 9 •e?' mmacleod@mihomepaper,com Group Sports: Brett Bremer ♦r Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. . . csilverman@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com W ' w' • * » • I.. J « t 1 .€ar- 4 I I till t?r> V I- ^<4 *1 1 ♦ ru nitt' I •■3k? J V A X t f ' Ba •.r; « I '' V' .W s.. 4 f ■ ‘•es I k ■ t • Xi it” n-’" I I 2 I /k co. 9-1-1 CENTER 4 5 8 4 91 10 /• I 1 • z Editor: Molly Macleod 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com f:!h; f THE SUN AND NEWS PUBLISHED BY 1 •" r 1 •> CONTACT US >• *1'1*1' I 1 DIAL (800) 249-09111ION - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at 111 121 131 14 V awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" I I 4 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES f 15| 16| 17j 18| 19| 20| 21j 22| 23| 24| 25| 26| 27| 28| 29| 30j 12? �Saturday, March 22, 2025 r ■{ • i’npi* t f 1 • lb. I li > i 4' I *I f frt J- { 4 « > /' 'Jj r '■V 0 ifl'» j-j J ruV ''f/fl ' •»- 1 ij « v,.'-''U I ' K r ' fi*>n^> ^Z‘f bloi > ariT »w7‘ ir •j w h Id A «1 % " ■ * A •* • . % c;^j ‘iTOtnskai If f- liU^TOB «< Jcf* / bioi; uf ' *4 . 1- I ' I* “* t •? naq gnitf ijBBrtvMSe riM: n ■ I < / 4 nnszzzaJI I ' It i: I ■'i. *w* 1 .X * .1 r I X I •^4 i (1 f f J ;iiobnf// tnj jeoo/lT^n ■^, •s f I 'lai/ 01 zj’b n'j zi^ S®-’’ L iB ! s < yodi '> >?t r 'T *4 < . t ■ \ xigAl'-rt A * I ’’J I OJ^ >1 'i K 3 e I *. A; I 9 /* »Eh f I ‘Z' r •* 9 C Continued from previous page eT. & /*. « ^trt» Ari dividual honors. Senior and chapter vice president Carly VanderRoest received the Silver Proficiency Award for SupervisedAgricuItural Experience(SAE),the Gold Academic Award, the Gold State Degree, and was voted the 2025-2026 MI FFA Sentinel. Senior Patrick Vanderkolk received the Challenge 24 Recognition Award for taking part in the agriculture education opportunities that Michigan FFA offers, along with the Gold Aca­ demic Award and State Degree Award. Both VanderRoest and Vanderkolk will be earning six credits to MSU (if they so choose to attend) as they graduate from CHS since they have successfully earned their FFA State Degrees and will complete the Agri-Cal CTE program offered at CHS. “I have been to MI FFA State Conven­ tion four times now, each time has been a different experience,” said VanderRoest. This year was unique because I got to see more of the background as I was 4ft 1^1’4 » -■■i □i. HONORS HAPPY ■ ' n » * % s w I 3 >. lXT • c « 4 *>*• at* A .W A I. . » u t fS 1 V L* - y 1 L-*’ ' Z ' u n « i 4^ i 9 ’WB’ /• t :9 >. I 9i r 9‘ ■ X w •<?*' ‘Li ’ / J Our students competed at a high level against other FFA chapters from across the state, and I couldn’t be more proud of their dedication and hard work to get there,” commented first-year FFA advisor Erin Robertson. “Beyond ±e competition, we had some incredible experiences touring campus, attending sessions, observing other teams com­ pete and visiting the food science lab and mobile lab facility.” Caledonia FFA’s next competition will be at the MI FFA Meat Rabbit Contest on May 1. /? * t 4 Caledonia FFA Members attended the 97th Michigan FFA State Convention at MSU March 5-7 Courtesy photo running for a State Officer position. It is always a fun experience to see how things change over the years and I can’t wait to help put on next year’s State Convention as a State Officer.” Caledonia’s FFA club has had a strong reputation since 1934. Though times have changed and the once very rural farming community is becoming a bit more devel oped, FFA members say ag is still strong. « El* -*» I •1 e 29 y. ■ ‘^.”*6 BIRTHDAY! w ■« % c ik^nF* »• / Dick Stager to celebrate 95th birthday Dick Stager, long-time resident of Middleville, is celebrating his 95th birthday. An open house will be held in his honor on Saturday, April 5 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 257 High Ridge Ct., Middleville. All are invited, but please do not bring a present. ♦ «« r ' —--T.. ilS i •.'IF •v: A «. ’^^;i. I s p $ .t . » i * **r- > : » 9 t. ’ I u I «k ' ‘-’h -Zjr/ I 1 » j-r'-.. t' ) P' ll/u; ■ 4 • r I •% Wk ( *•* * **r?HQ I4 ' A . w iTr in r . I 'j FREE KID CLOTHING EXCHANGE Midvilla Flats developers Construction Simplified are celebrating the groundbreaking of the project at a ceremony next week Thursday, March 27, at 3:30 p.m. in Middleville. Here is a look at the construction site as crews prepare to break ground. Photo by Molly Macleod TVRDaY, march . 9 AM -1P** 1 '.?.p rF- \ 1 A 1 i •. > a I kw J. . GROUND 4’ «r - « > f Il i*-i taiEcmisW i! Continued from Page 1 I •'•r s • X 4 .t I 1 J I I • . ^1. 4 r -. I « I : I 1 I r-i 1 I V" I 1 . s 4b /4 J t . >h-. ' ,-£rrf, ri •» * ♦* >t ^»r • .'V 9 r> It r- n< f/T rd ‘ ri I • I i- * .u .. t I > !uuK.u^T^>fnt? < ...} M I I '1 i * 1 ■ t Ij I X 1 i II followed by the groundbreaking and speeches at 3:45 and a celebration at 4:15 p.m. at Riverdog Tavern. The project, which will create 144 ftft workforce housing” units, is projected to cost $20 million and be com­ plete in the spring of 2026. It is locat­ ed at the site of the former Middle Villa Inn, which was demolished in 2015. The six buildings will be con­ structed on the 13.3-acre parcel. A tax-increment financing agree­ ment agreed to by the Barry County Board of Commissioners in August 2024 was a major hurdle for the project. The TIF agreement will allow the county’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to collect $4.48 million in new tax revenues that are expected to be generated by the development of the apartments at Mid-Villa over the next 15 years. About $1.9 mil­ lion of that would come from the Downtown Development Authority, which operates with its own tax­ increment financing mechanism where it captures a portion of taxes paid by downtown property owners to support public improvements in the downtown. Bring in your outgrown kids clothing and exchange them for another size. Clothing must be unstained with no rips or holes. Sizes newborn to 16. Now including maternity clothes! FIRST BAPTIST After 12:00 remaining clothes will be given away without exchange. Middleville 5215 N. M-37 Middleville, 49333 I 4 �I ,1 A r' Saturday, March 22, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS GAINES to list the top priorities we needed to address in ±e years to come with our Gaines parks and trails. “We were given the opportunity to present each of our priorities, as we see them. Then, they all went up on a board, where we voted to determine the township’s priorities,” Diemer added. Terpstra said he plans on spending more time helping to set a vision for ini­ tiatives, including parks, in the township, “Much of the visioning and research will take place in 2025 in preparation for building enthusiasm and support for resident participation and fundraising in 2026,” he said. And, he has the full confidence of the township manager. “I think that Bob (Terpstra) is doing a great job of leading the charge for the future of the parks in the township.” Weersing said. Gaines Parks & Trails Committee chairwoman Dana Lehmann said com­ mittee members wanted to add more parks and greenspace to the township’s inventory for a long time. “Our updated (township) master plan documents the shortage of this resource,” she said. Township Trustee Kathy VanderStel in 2024 recommended last year that Continued from Page 1 negotiations. “We’re still in discussion with the developer,” he said. “They keep changing their mind on what they want to do there. “And the latest iteration would not make it worthwhile for us to participate in. So, we’re trying to find something we think would be workable to present to the (township) board.” Gaines Community Development director Dan Wells was approached about a possible purchase option for a second parcel of property of 20-30 acres not far from the first parcel. And, more discussion about parks is underway as spring arrives. Terpstra met with the township’s Parks & Trails Committee on March 5. “To develop a plan for new initia­ tives in Prairie Wolf (Park) and addi­ tional ^eenspace, and acquiring new properties,” he said. “It was a great day we have a good plan and focus going forward.” “We had a very welcomed roundta­ ble, collaborative meeting,” added Parks & Trails Committee member Brian Diemer. “Bob (Terpstra) challenged each of us, as experts in our fields, I k ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS Residential & Commercial 4h Gas Furnaces Gas Boiiers Air Conditioners -Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers s I « 'L 4 G 72 I ---- nr «4 i IHB £5 • ■ I r • MMB ♦♦ * • 4. •r« 7^ . DeWeerd (68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 4 Swcc /955 f 269-792-2234 k « A+ 5 BBS. ? www.sunandnews.com Gaines trustees dedicate some of the township’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds for pari<s and trails, including potential land acquisition. “If we don’t grab it now, we’re going to lose that opportunity,” she said, refer­ ring to all the recent residential and com­ mercial development in the township. In December, the township board authorized spending up to $35,000 for a Natural Resources Inventory to be conducted before the township begins renegotiating a sewer service agreement with the City of Grand Rapids. The existing contract expires in 2028. “I just see this as very important for our town­ ship to act on it now, versus kicking it down the road again,” VanderStel said at the time. “Because we’re all seeing property being developed everywhere, chopped up, sold. And some of that especially the Plaster Creek watershed area - we’ll never get something like that back again once it’s put into a pri­ vate developer’s hands. Those are huge assets to our community.” The township already owns a parcel on 84th Street, west of Kalamazoo Avenue, that it has been eyeing for potential development of a park called Cody’s Mill. Lehmann said the property poten­ tially could be home to sports courts or ball fields, or a playground. Though, Weersing added more research needs to be done to determine how the Cody’s Mill space might be used. Originally, officials considered using the space as an active park, instead of a more passive-use one like the 45-acre Prairie Wolf Park. But officials were apprised that die Cody’s Mill site has a grading issue in terms of how it is sloped. “It drops off,” said Weersing, pointing out that it might be good for sledding. “You can see the top of the hill and frien it goes pretty steeply down to the back.” As for Prairie Wolf Park, residents have expressed a desire for the town­ ship to add permanent restrooms and a pavilion be built at the site. “We’ve considered putting an outdoor educational center at the park, along the lines of the Outdoor Discovery Center (in Holland), the Whittenbach Wege Center (in Lowell) or the Blandford (Nature Center, in Grand Rapids). I’d love to know if people would be inter­ ested in that,” Lehmann recently told the township board. Developers are also playing a role in developing additional park space within the township. In February, Wisconsin-based devel­ oper Continental Properties submitted a revised sit^ pjan the township’s , WE ’RE HERE FOR ¥ < 4*• fiU ACCREDITED BUSINESS (q, 4 Gaines Township officials discuss vision for future park space, trails The idea of increasing park space, trails and other recreational oppor­ tunities in Gaines Township seems to be gaining momentum, according to township officials. The following is a timeline of some events in the efforts to address the issue: 2022 - Township officials conduct an online survey, in which residents expressed a desire for more park space, playgrounds and recreational opportunities. August 2022 - Township trustees discuss the possibility of setting up a parkland acquisition fund, noting that more and more land is being snapped up for development. 2023 - Township approves Parks & Trails Master Plan. December 2024 — Township board authorizes spending up to $35,000 for a natural resources inventory to be conducted before the township begins renegotiating a sewer service agreement with the City of Grand Rapids, with the existing contract set to expire in 2028. March 5 - Discussions at the township’s Parks & Trails Committee include developing new initiatives in Prairie Wolf (Park) and additional greenspace, and acquiring new properties. April 16 — Next meeting of the township’s Parks & Trails Committee at 11:30 a.m. o un T7 t B » A* a •’*•1 > A j I J I t ( I • i ’ I r I I- ’ Ba J ' ■. ‘. 4 f i ' ihLjJ ) i'i; r 7'j J'.' « l"« • ■ i j < i ■‘J « t 4 i I I J i I I t I X A * .I f !• L • f 1 I I J ; 15 r 5^’ -----I) 4 I > 4T J . / i" K ■ rx.’" <'' I E( 1 ■ H '! •J is ' ■;. 'i 11 ■■ f (b r 1 i ■ ■. i . *<' • . 1. t / It 1 t I ) L I I t ‘x*. J # ! 1 ; R 4 V - "a .*> s t I t ,'*1® 4 ' '’"S ' 'I ^fTTO G « a■ * Wb<* J 4 f'I s. 1 ./* SF V ' f i ► i f'. i ff' lm4j *7 // WB .m .xtny’ 1 t • < 1 11 l?L > 4 r wt » I IM 1. 4 < > L. <• w « • <; ‘^1 , * I f 1 r r *«♦ PxrTft>;: s>i* I 1 ; f J Jl fj f »sl 14 b .: Sp*’ J *y ’ <_*4“ •* : f I I I * ■. I I I f •I 4 » 1 ♦>' ' . •JfU * • 4 J Planning Commission for a proposed apartment project on Hanna Lake Avenue in Dutton. Part of the proposal would entail a 6.7-acre section of dedicat ed park land along Hanna Lake to honor the legacy of the Verduin family which fanned the area for more than a century. The Planning Commission postponed making any recommendation on die park until the township board can review the proposal, with board mem­ bers needing to discuss various issues, including how ±e township would maintain the park. Also, Lehmann said the Parks & Trails Committee is working closely with ±e Gaines Historical Society to help “keep the rich history of Gaines Township visible.” “Just think of the fantastic possibili­ ties if everyone that has interest in parks and open space were to be involved in helping to vision and support ideas for growth,” she added.. . i. . 1. KAoealfll^O’^ ■' fl t I ' ? t? J -I •• Z XW .*>4^, ' J*. I ?/* **•' ; I , I f-: % • J . J k 1 l’ I X I i » 9^ V* • Lurrti' , I J a t :V5’ ♦ ? 4 1 r:; ?. ^.. 1 ' lCXt 2ibka^H* . .,i4*WfcKT « •» »I XJ I' • L KI 1 TTRMtsr It Vl -.V ‘ f I £, i juy< _ -4 5 ; ^u^ynj ' « : A' 1 4 I I 1 T « < *1 I I I i ■R» X. «>. r r i » uy; i^> 4K 9 U W i I. 1 1 r I *1 „ I t ■ w IB ■ J— my' jn J la i—«.<. J — WX '"r***' tt; r «ii r ... 1 r •T* ♦ .7 3 •)» I . I - r> X* .4 '•Jl .J ■ I t L V. Ir » '** J r W Sir-... I i Waft J J k i •> 1 I 3 T ' f ' 2' *:<x I iYA CO. 9-1 -1 CI^TER 5 5 t I 8 91 10 « Q 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 19 ' I I I 11 10 12 I OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES DIAL (800) 249-0911 -MON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at 6<lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 1 4 i^';j I 201 211 221 23 241 251 26 r> r-i I 1 "> 271 281 291 301 tirX .*< s =5 �'*1 IK Vi’‘ v\ k A.A 1 1 I i »I , it *5;, Saturday, March 22, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Annual spring weight restrictions roads changed Thursday 5 a w > ( Xi A L * .. V, 9 1 4 'ft s •w r b 4 ' 4 XaS CEMENT/CONCRETE ''‘if. 1A t •* V * t BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm 1 1‘^?l t < MmuMt I .< rv Mm t I « I 9 ■MUAb ttr 5 .. X .T ' -v I s ) > t k V 1 CONSTRUCTION 1 .Sih « )V -< «* S' CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks. Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 I » > * •• Im I s ' 1 u 5. Mi t 7 A ..t > aK ■J r f. «.' IQBA <1 a I1 r **<5 ___ -■ 9 * •• • *ir ARN HELP WANTED Must have experience with horses. Full and part time positions available with competitive pay. Please call 269207-4218 or email at zipowell® yahoo.com if interested. ODtSmcii XI I1 1 1 * * *• 'S- I J I I M ’>■ '- & 1 * 0 a 1 » rr* I <> *. J fj * -F* ■ *1% / ■ l« f ; f XI 111 r <» i « < I , s * ■>l(-‘,,. it «k— AJA ihi-v t ' ' J i s • * / znn**^ * G_n 9 9 / « 4 7V. -^v CJ- ! E(i. uibi • I * * c. I 9 J ('■' b : 1^1 ir * — .41 I <u wa^ •K 9 r II 1 ■> ♦ ’ ? J [ (1 I 'T Uh* n i >1 W €IV-! 1 Lf) 71'/ ; nmi ’ M ‘ ■r i Ui M > 4 I ^xnsnriK^ riiiltwiA;’ toi • -I J1J 1 r 4 > 1 i i f / * ♦.) ♦ •* p «( n . ; 1* fri -'jj \ ...I •" *-w< I*; 11 » Of nr: I 5 ' FT 1»«1^ J, " rs'Otrn 1 u-j! f I I » I 1 I 1 i--Xi. I * w hf I •J ' T tJ w»-” '■ ’ '1 jri O • Hl' fUli i • * ru. IMF . t ’ J , ,, I ■ 1 ( I K '- I r 1 -* NT: ’ ».r-< I I I J CMeaeo ! Effective noon Thursday, March 20, weight restrictions were lifted on all state trunkline highways from the southern Michigan border north to and including the route beginning on M-43 at the 1-196 Business Loop intersection in South Haven Courtesy image vji,. ‘‘"’fJliii! a 1 i r 99 i • '< It u. m A 1 1 V " * I- '»; -J. ■ -Wlr'" - i 1 The Michigan Department of Trans­ portation (MDOT) continues to adjust spring weight restriction areas in an annual move to protect roads. Effective noon Thursday, March 20, weight restrictions were lifted on all state trunkline highways from the southern Michigan border north to and including the route beginning on M-43 at the 1-196 Business Loop intersec­ tion in South Haven continuing to the US-131 interchange in Kalamazoo County, then south on US-131 to the 1-94 interchange, east on 1-94 to the 1-69 interchange in Calhoun County, north on 1-69 to the 1-96 interchange in Eaton County, east on 1-96 to the M-59 interchange in Livingston County, and then east on M-59, ending at the 1-94 interchange in Macomb County. Frost restrictions are still in effect for the remainder of the state and will be imposed and enforced on all state trunkline highways north of the route detailed above. State routes typically carry M, I, or US designations. In the restricted areas, the following will apply: • On routes designated as “all-season” BODY SHOP EMPLOYMENT I I i t!) is V** wr f ii j',. . « I, M & US routes effective noon March 20 n )• ■ .1 J . Spring weight restrictions I lls?h'' > »■ '’."I 1 ' I I I t I 1 I < JNR BUILDERS Concrete flatwork; Driveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored. Licensed and insured. Call Jeff (616)293-7729 7 > 5s. Classifieds 616-891-0150 (designated in green and gold on the MOOT Truck Operators Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights. • All extended permits will be valid for oversize loads in the weight-restricted area on the restricted routes. Single­ trip permits will not be issued for any overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width, 11 axles, and 150 feet in overall length on the restricted routes. • On routes designated as “seasonal” (designated in solid or dashed red on the MOOT Truck Operators Map), there will be a posted weight reduction of 25 percent for rigid (concrete) pavements and 35 percent for flexible (asphalt) pavements, and maximum speed of 35 mph for some vehicles. Drivers must follow the speed limits for weight restricted roads, per state law. Go online for speed restrictions for trucks and the rules for propane fuel delivery and public utility vehicles. When roads that have been frozen all winter begin to thaw from the sur­ face downward, melting snow and ice saturate the softened ground. During the spring thaw, the roadbed softened by trapped moisture beneath the pavement EXPIERIENCED GARDNER 3 to 4 days a week with flexible schedule. Please apply in person at Saska­ toon Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto. Complete Collision Repair w 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 your trusfed Body Shop -for over 32 years THANKS I WOULD LIKE to thank my family for the nice 80th birthday party you gave me. Also, to the people that came and all the cards and gifts. Greatly Appreciated, Sheila Dykstra COMMERCIAL-RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rap­ ids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic@remax.net makes it more susceptible to damage. This contributes to pothole problems already occurring due to this winter’s munerous freeze-thaw cycles. MDOT determines when weight re­ strictions begin each spring by measur­ ing frost depths along state highways, observing road conditions and monitor­ ing weather forecasts. Weight restric­ tions remain in effect until the frost line is deep enough to allow moisture to escape and the roadbeds regain stability. County road commissions and city pub­ lic works departments put in place their own local road seasonal weight restric­ tions, which usually but not always co­ See ROADS on'G • CALEDOMIA AMERICAN LEGION 11305 Vi 1 ’ F* ‘a* 1 m-pay^ EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT Friday, March 7th thru Friday, April 18<''2O25 5-7pm or until gone ALL YOU CAN EAT S14.00 Adults S8.00 Children 12 and under OPEN ro PUBLIC • ALL ARE WELCOME! DINNER INCLUDES Breaded and Beer Battered Fresh Pollock Filets served with Tartar Sauce, French Fries, Coleslaw and Homemade Bread & Butter. Dessert: Soft Serve Ice Cream. Coffee and Lemonade No other Food Menu Available. For those who do not want fish dinner, outside food may be brought in. 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia caledoniaamericanlegionpost305.weebly.com I 1 k t ( f �i J tI A *4 k t 1A tlB ur A* I r ..M I I I I 6 Saturday, March 22, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com '7* View Newspaper Group sales professionals honored I f WF r.* LAPEER Leadership at View Newspaper Group is proud to announce the company’s 100+ Club Class of 2024. Each sales professional honored achieved more than 100 percent of their individual sales goals for the entire year of 2024. A dinner and cel­ ebration attended by View Newspaper Group leadership, the honorees and their guests was held at Frankenmuth 1 le * I > JI ' ¥*t ^7 « * 'X r ' X •1* 4 3 * w .41 4iO > [II i tw. f . if I V I QmiER HEATING AND CXX)LING PRE-SEASON I I iI I 6 ij rj AVlClSAIiE / I U -It <1^ ‘.•^r '' X.*' 'X •v— - 'W % *4 \ '*^ni The View Newspaper Group 10O-i- Club celebration held March 12 honored sales team members who achieved more than 100 percent of their annual sales goal in 2024. Pictured here are View Newspaper Group Controller Jill Nichols, honorees Lorraine DeHues and Michele Guerra, North Oakland Advertising Manager Eric Lewis, honoree Jim Misener, View Newspaper Group President Rick Burrough, honoree Nikki Howard, Brand Manager Emily Caswell, Advertising Director Pete Clinton, Graphics Manager Jen Ward, Greenville Daily News General Manager Amber Rood, View Newspaper Group Thumb Area Consultant Jody Woltman and View Newspaper Group Publisher Wes Smith. Brewery to honor the group on Wednesday, March 12. View Newspaper Group Pub­ lisher Wes Smith said, “We take great pride in honoring the 100+ Club Class of 2024 to acknowl­ edge and show our appreciation for their dedication, hard work and outstanding sales achievement,” The 100+ Club Class of 2024 includes Michele Guerra, Nikki Howard, Murray Callahan, Jim Misener and Lorraine DeHues. View Newspaper Group is Michigan’s largest independently owned newspaper group cover­ ing 13 Michigan counties. The company publishes 21 newspapers with print editions reaching more than 335,000 households each week plus an additional 500,000 monthly online readers. i t f * t < I I * r’’ J' zI ri r I > f*’ • . . rgf -V ■■ ,r ■ * V♦ I ( i I »• .T I I I r t .< i ) i • I • 1 I t f I 9 «' J 1 I f, • *1 Kf ■ I i t=r’ U' * > I ir I** /t jI A •:.a Jf*'- ep I f p» I* ? /t . t k } 1 . • >• . I • I J 1 - I, I ' b i • • iva ■‘52 t If r { «* o»^' . ■ -Vv . wiUbKn yitr' - .d ' 4 V' « '’/Ie . ri'. J . iJI » amA w- .z 3 > .< •r C J » ’ I «r V* ut $3970 NOW HIRING QUALIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIANS other products available: • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and morel The ^empdny hinli by icfciiiiis' 210 East Main Street Caledonia 616-891-8900 »I ? J j.A' r; CAP*A ♦ 4 1 • .^>1 starting as low as « i. I « ZU* Ri ' f T dz'i r »■ I » t-v I I 1- i' BCEA to host recycling presentation March 26 Barry County Earth Alliance is looking to help local residents who have questions on the benefits and best ways to recycle. The BCEA is hosting an infor­ mational presentation with Emma Dillman of the Kent County Recycling Center at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, at the Hast­ ings Public Library on East State Street in Hastings. Dillman will share information on the importance of recycling, common misconceptions and how individuals can make a meaning­ ful difference in the community’s environmental impact, according to a press release by the BCEA about the event. The presentation will include “Watch Your Waste,” a video tour of what happens after a recycling bin is emptied into the truck. — DM * it ROADS ’■.U I Continued from Page 5 r I I J J I ( incide with state highway weight restrictions. Signs are generally posted to indicate which local routes have weight restrictions in effect. For weight restriction information and updates, call 800-787-8960, or you can ac­ cess this information on MDOT’s website at Michigan.gov/Truckers, under “Restric­ tions.” All-season routes are designated in green and gold on the MOOT Truck Opera­ tors Map, which is available online. You also may sign up to receive e-mail alerts. Trucking companies located in New Jer­ sey and Canada can obtain information by calling 517-373-6256. MM > 4 J 4 a I* 1 ku A Till' c 1 k t t I I ;:iR ■o I . - S l‘ I 1 IB /.I llB r 7 J TO, f;2W 1;^ / 'IL 3e4*-A tehn l«rTO€lW» «R j w *1 T >1 |.9niino51dsiiiiak< li?k 1 ;t^?^b91floc f r-ay rt, Bnolnt nrEiddti * W'AUij ‘tfifli bl IIL ^9 »■ i- fOBB J -^nL A M r; ( I 1 I <>• •i B L ClipN BBkh. f J* > <t L. e Schedule an appointment and get 207o off your eye exam tfMMb y r I k THORNAPPLEEYECAREXOM (V ( * '’U W I 11b ♦ SS I !»« - B —’ I < i T r .f SSSjjjwiiB t * I # ? <*4. — «• i.l i'';j t -1 eTA co. 9-1-1 ceAter I I lor DIAL (800) 249-0911 'sJON - EMERGENCIES Kids Measure up at ^,lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center H X- 7 H n •1 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES »• 4 5 8 n*. 9I 10 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 19 201 211 22| 231 24 251 26 » HBF w , 'jI 2 j Wi ! 1 1 I ffR! * I it t k »» Cekhratfou 269-213-8108 | 4624 N. M-37 Hwy. Ste E, Mjddleville, Ml 49333 | Next to Harding's Market me r’ 271 281 291 30 9 k: •v « *>• V. I -Thornapple I • L 4 Year I 13) none I �♦ T X) Saturday, March 22, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 7 ♦ state runners-up have late answer for Scot comeback - i n £1 91 J I i ♦ WB 1 ‘‘b 1. BjOI 1 (1 Toil J - * • 4 i J 'V EjBt/n 7-5^tn i I tt "TiJUg d w s A % Al p « A » 1 i<t I -piH Vj ► 1 ‘5 I. i » i, •k . ’ $ < i *J * * * ’ I ■ •fl • . -> * ■ irr i 'll V:4 I J' '' -1 . If ..a I s') A * . > •’* ‘ Q h. I « ^J1 lb f. J. < • J r* i 4^ f .< A i II ’4 * J / f 4 h(A J ’'Wb; ’X’ T J t fA ’’ t I I f : t » « J '*K f . •< toils % r 1 L •*:I,r trn I “I told the guys coming out of half­ time win the quarter,” Caledonia head coach Kolin Herron said. “That was the big thing - take it one quarter at a time. We knew that we were getting beat on the ground balls. We needed to clean that up ... it was 7-3. Finished 8-7 against the state-runner-up I have to be proud ofthat considering we were out six guys also to start this game. No complaints about how that second half finished out. Would have liked to have taken the dub there, but the first half we just have to clean up some of those mental mistakes.” The Scots did win that third quarter, 2-1, with Send riffling in a shot off an assist from Haan as the horn sounded to end the period. It was 7-5 going into the fourth quarter. Caledonia lost the last few seconds of a man advantage to a turnover, but got the ball right back in the Hawks’ end and all the momentary hiccup did was create some space midway through the fourth quarter. Senior Teagan Chu Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor Caledonia went from four goals down a little less than three minutes into the second half to even with a little less than three minutes to go in the game. The thrill of the comeback bid only lasted eight seconds though. Forest Hills Eastern senior Jack Kishman took off towards the Caledonia net after win­ ning a draw and raced right in to score what proved to be the winning goal. Forest Hills Eastern closed the 2024 varsity boys’ lacrosse season being handed the MHSAA Division 2 State Finalist trophy at the U of M Lacrosse Stadium in Ann Arbor last June, after falling to Detroit Catholic Central in the state championship match, and the Hawks opened the 2025 season by pull­ ing out an 8-7 win over the Caledonia boys at Scotland Yard Wednesday. The Hawks led 6-3 at the half in Cale­ donia and then jumped to a 7-3 advan­ tage with a a goal by sophomore Baron Prominski 2:58 into the second half. >? found freshman Corbin Ryder streakins to the net and hit him with a pass which he then put by the Hawk keeper to get their team within 7-6 with 6:19 to go. The clock wound down to under two and a half minutes to go with the Scots pressing. A few shots bounded wide until Chu found senior Brady Hilaski at the top of the offensive zone and he managed to get a shot under the Hawk keeper. Officials had to runs in to dig under the Hawk netminder to find that the ball had crossed the goalline. After the Hawks took the lead back, the Scots managed a couple decent chances from Senti firing around screens in the closing seconds, but couldn’t put one on frame. Haan was the only guy with two goals for the Scots. Junior Rylan Bultema and sophomore Ryder Bom both found the net once in the first half. Chu closed the contest with four assists. Senti had a goal and an assist. Being stronger, and smarter, with the See SCOT on 8 V V -4 «> • 4 % nt. a IP « 1 V i :1 1 ___ » •-WK . • i . t i . Caledonia senior Brady Hilaski celebrates his late goal which tied the Scots’ match with visiting Forest Hills Eastern late in the fourth quarter Wednesday at Scotland Yard. The Hawks did rally for an 8-7 win in the end. Photos by Brett Bremer I 1b» IVit* 9 4 f •A YANKEE SPRINGS DENTAL ( I J i 1 r ‘*<1 FAMILY IS EVERYTHING TO US. « V Wr' .. r I 5- We treat our patients like family and offer comfortable, customized dentistry for everyone r h lit <1 I » w* «'k <' > ' *3 M A. t' i • ..*1 J. •. 'J £2^024 Vl»w ■ ■ > 4I — I f 1 V 1 • 4 ■ BEST of the BEST 1 & i 1 *.- • I • - .’will I s r s i “I I, THANK YOU • Ki JL >$21 • & 1M 1 ► I a I S) iBN! □JTAC myHK^ )0Q u. ,'t B3v (A - » * *** 5 .^ * * r RC «r ■>« J TYLER VENEMAN. DDS 7 20'/. OFF J YOUR FIRST VISIT © " SPRINGS DENTAL Mention this offer when you call or bring this ad with you I I. I 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE I K 5 I I 1 [ 616.916.0188 I t 1 TYCORoofs.COM I I . f BEST DENTIST Jr J NOW ACCEPTING TO ALL OUR DELTA DENTAL HEALTHY KIDS AND BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HEALTHY KIDS PATIENTS FOR THE RECOGNITION [ YANKEE 1 >8a« M 2. i Request an Estimate a z p?' »« COSMETIC DENTISTRY for deal results ROOFING .A J t tS I I ■ a PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY .vdh kid-friendly options V 1 i M J 4 IMPLANTS to return your leetr^ Io good hea’tti * . ,W J 1’ ■j SAME DAY DENTISTRY atered to your treatment needs TYCO 1 '< ♦r 9 t ri □ □ □OiSdSi <•• — (269) 792-9723 12715 WM-179 Hwy YankeeSpiingsDentaLcom Wayland, Ml 49348 scan to request an appointment and learn more *’ ''' W. I Office Hours M 9cm-6pm TU 7am-3pni W Sam-5pm tTh ® *L_f flom-4pfn Bom-rZom * • (•MR Cover it with confidence. BB ®I 1 .i. r jk A> . I ni' f I k I S! 'I fl I u •ZiS-J & 1 B M ilk r Sll sF >:E □ L IK 1 t I i,5 b’. It u it u s ft t I L 4 I> * 4 �8 Saturday. March 22, 2^^ 4 < *•4 W lUiail- MllrtH » VIIJ3 MK.IIK.AW ««aTS 7*a«mi traJA Ma-wa-^Ma V 4 * t ( ( t VANKEI SFRIM.S TOW NSHIp ZXJMSG BOAROOr APPEAIA PI BLU HEARIM. MITKT It, THI RLSIDI NTSANDPROPIRIYOWMRSOI IHT IOWNSHIPOF YANKI f SPRIMiS BARRY f Ol hriY. MU HKiAN. AND ANY(/THI R INTLRI ST LD PI RSONS ,Pl EAM lAKI NOIK E thaf a •peciaJ puMK. heanry will bt held on April g..-4l-25. commencing al 6 00 p.m at ihe Yankee Spring* lownship Hail. 254 N Brigg* Rd . Middlrailie ML within die losvnship. a* requimd unler the prtwiaions of the Michigan Zzwung I JuMing Art and the Zoning r>rdinance far the lownship PI I ASL TAKI NOTH I In addition to partietpatum dunng a (Mibiic hcarirqiL. members of the pubik may also prrjvide comment* for the /HA*a considenrtion by emaihng or mailing (hoae comments u* the ZBA for receipt pnor to the meeting, in care of the lownabip Zoning Administrator. Joe Shea Ooeshca^uyankenpringstwporg). letters and emails are due 3 day* before the meeting dale, or leaving a phone message prior to the meeting with the lownship /xvuntt Administrakw. Joe Shea at 269-795-9091 Pl I AM I AKI n 'KHIf K NO Hf I that the to be conktdered at «aid public hearing include, in hnef. (he following I ZBA Parcel ID 164lM>-00.V(W: 2751 Ku«»dl Road and 2753 Rnttell Road. WaUand Ml 4934g. (he pf<>pert> i» zxmed Guo Retidentia] L,«krfnnit The property owner. Ilenpe Virta. rcquesti a variance to alknv diviaMm of ihi* parcel into two parcel* pursuant to Article XX of the Yankee Spring* Townwhip Zoning Ordinance. 2 ZBA 254).34«; Parcel ID I6-O.3O4M(L.4I: 217.3 Mac Drtve. Wayland Ml 49.34g. The property owners. I'.rick l..eep and Susan l ox, appeal from the decisitjn of the Zoning Adminiatratcw requiring them to remove an outbuilding umatructed without a zoning permit in violation of Articles V and XII of the Yankee Span lownship Zoning Ordinance. 3. Such other busineea ai may properly come before the Z^mlng Board of Appeal*. Anyone inteiraled in reviewing the application material may do ao at the townahip hall. All inicreatcd peraoru in invited to he pmem at the ifomaKl time and place, or. if an electronic meeting la held, to participate via the electronic meeting. Yankee Spring* Township will provide neceaiary rcaaonablc auxiliary aid* and service*, to individual* with diaahlitie* at the hearing upon four (7) day** prior notice to the Township Clerk individual* with diaabilitie* requir­ ing auxiliary aid* or aervicca should contact the Township Clerk al the addreta or telephone number listed below YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Jake Welch, Chairman Yankee Spring* Township Hall 264 N. Brigg* Rd. Middleville. Michigan 49333 (269)795-9091 1* .•» t II 4^^ t <'3- > %' I I tf H IIM0 ■ * r Il I I 4 r V —A * *‘O •* ?□*!« I ■>< ■4 & r* * bl « >* 4I ^fa:<;Vnin i(p 4 r ij aLZ-^ •J .• Caledonia sophomore Emmett Haan attacks the net during the first half of his team s contest with visiting Forest Hills Eastern at Scotland Yard in Caledonia Wednesday evening THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP BOARD 200 E MAIN ST. MiDDLEViLLE. Mt 49333 SYNOPSIS OF MEETING MINUTES , ■ f'* r* . I 1 cf! I I k■ I♦*' > f 14 r v 4, l' SCOT ed 3. Public Hearing regarding the 2025/26 Township Budget. 4 Approved motion to hire a recording secretary. 5. Approved partiapation in the Barry County Fair th. 6. Approved plan with the Barry County Road Commission. 7. Approved Paul Henry Trail Mainte­ nance Plan. 6. Approved General Appropriation Res­ olution Fiscal Year 2025/26. 9. Approved Township Supervisory Sala­ ry Resolution 2025/26. 10. Approved Township Treasurer Salary Resolution 2025/26. 11. Approved Township Clerk Salary Res­ olution 2025/26. 12. Approved Trail Commitmenl R ^-'14 lution 2025/26. 13. Approved TTES Firefighter Pay Scale for 2025/26. 14 Approved TTES Compensation and Leave Policy 2025/26. 15. Approved one-day BS&A payroll training session. 16. Approved the update of the Person­ nel Handtxxjk. Meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m. Prepared by Deputy Clerk Brenda Hess. Approved by Township Supervisor, Eric Schaefer. Copies of the meeting minutes are available upon request from the Township Clerk or by visiting https 7/thomapple-twp.org/meet- ing-minutes/ Office hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ' ’ • Monday through Thursday. ipisceat®'’^ . ■•.< 4 |%IJ fif 1 I I « <-*"S 2W u i f 4 r I ball in the second half helped keep the Hawks from putting it in the goal as often themselves in the second half. “Moving the ball from defense to offense, w hat we call the clear, is super important in lacrosse." Herron said. “We had to make sure we took care of the ball, took our time moving it up the field and found the open guy. We made sure that we had some of our offensive players playing defense, so that way we could swing the ball out to them quick. That helped for sure. Overall, just getting our heads up and taking care of the bail there." The Fighting Scots had a solid 13-6 season overall in 2024, but fell to Mattawan in the re­ gional semifinal round of the MHSAA Division 2 Tournament. “We’re going to take on that identity of playing fast and playing physical," Herron said. “We’re going to come out and smack you in the mouth. Offensively, tonight we did have to slow it down just because we are shot guys, but in the future we’re going to push it fast. I think we did that a lot last year with the personnel we had, and I think this year is just as talented if not more. We like a lot of what we see. We have some good senior leaders, and we have a lot of good young guys who are going to come out and play physical on defense and play fast and physical on offense. Being physical on offense is just as important as • bemgphysical vn defense.” J 1.1 T Continued from Page 7 2 Consent Agenda approved as amend­ ’lA ’ I* Monday, March 10.2025 The meeting was caHed to order at 7:00 .aitt* . i ... {ittrf f I 1. Pnnted Agenda approved as amended. The Gaines Charter Township Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing to consider the following request; Summary of Request: Request for a dimensional variance to reduce the front yard setback of the western property line from 60 feet to 15 feet to construct a 1,040 square foot residential accessory building in the A-R zoning district. Property Address: 10676 Eastern Avenue SE, Wayland, Ml 49348 Parcel Number; 41-22-32-300-055 Applicant: Bruce Sheler Date and Time of Hearing: April 9th, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 I Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. I Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during I regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the I Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, I contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@QainestownshiD.org. I To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be I received by 5:00 PM on February 27th, 2025. I Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact I Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request I mobility, visual or any other assistance. u 1 4 •J? hems approved: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING X* 4 p.m. with five members present. GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP ■ t I t • V t ^<4 I < I4 & k* ♦ 'J I 1 ■i K?. J- f J* ’fJ » »>. *.s 3 I 7! > .A' m I I !»• I i ► a k • I SEES? *.’■ ■‘ • . i' I• 1 I w ■ M I' I « I 1 I I i jf• 1“ J. 1 i fl I 1 rr> I . i4 ■ --I 'teiwt. •m r . 1I th ir I* I a i- i »* » 3J » 11 kit h •I A I/ ^3 1 9 I. T ►"i K-- -8 le t 4:f Jr. Vr " «4 J.g s. 1 1 4 I I I 11 10 12 t OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES A 4 ^8 •^1 5 r TER 1 •l ’fl 91 10 II n| 12| 13| 14| 15| 16j j7|^18j 19 20 f I• j I NA CO. 9-1-1 C 4 V G* r. K ON - EMERGENCIES awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" ■ »* 4 4 DIAL (800) 249-0911 Kids Measure up ■ 4 . ' , ■ r' ' '«3 I ■ I s A •.-fr-Tjc- I 9 4 $ ] 21| 22| 23| 24| 25j 26| 27j 28| 29j 3^ I i r 4 < I 1! t1 Ia If I < •« V a It ' I I t 1 I e t I a p 9 t I �♦ t ♦ ’f ! W1U2.WWW ♦ p I I I 1 c d J % , s-;’ Brett Bremer 1 4 Sports Editor i tonr^ }L r J. 1 I wmsia 'toiB : 'O * 1^; < IJ R.-«WJ\.’ r‘ I i £143 T.'^; ;jt.; (Il P ) n hi I I f flC fl.. i ' ' .1 4 c.i. I I r ..ft ilJ ztLB I . F ij I J I 1 I I 3 . rftmTr I *« JA I' ’ll J! >_ * ft t <4*^1 s weI V • V > i Ilf ■ r I f ^iU:£2ts? r ll •V* 3 4 ••-« r 'fj 7‘ :j3fX •^1 .4 ’T ^ag^Tf / J J tl . t; <’^7’ )' IdbfflV! Esw '4iJ < I I? "1^ ■ , 1 K Rat .i«A^ e. J ft I 'in WTar * '>J ft* • z |:I w ■> iW WElffiS I >T .. I; 1 Ir I I t I toi^BV r t 9 » n I *irXJ* <- -3 - I. 9 * > I: 1 {• n i/ (* J Xj I?’- > i I K { JI r * i. I I * /I * 9hi««A.t iS I, S'/Mi y J J < «K >' Lis ?feS-iP“i 4 ■*<-- • s^ ;.-y ' t 'UlJMe I , *« *. k . nj> oK •• If: * *j. I % I ■ TVrV •• •*! Bl 'S'/Sli biar-<a£P^ <. 'MjaiL... aoriw 1ifiTncn ; TOt-Y^-, fe. -ter’ 1^ r wJ a T » 12 sJbiS A®2S’?S5< Lit a 9». f ’ u , .a.. ♦ CLS guys go fast at finals, want to get faster I f t (£J0 ■ 9 > • I Saturday, March 22, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I '•< *-5 “One more year. One more year, one more chance.” That was a thought in the head of Caledonia senior Ethan Snapper after he and his teammates narrowly missed out on a school record and a state medal in the 200-yard freestyle relay and he narrowly missed out on a state medal in the 50-yard freestyle at the MH­ SAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Boys’ Swimming and Diving Finals at the Holland Aquatics Center Friday, March 14. “1 think it is rather foreboding, next year if I come to practice twice as much 1’11 go twice as fast. I am gearing up or that 11 second 50 free,” he said with a chuckle. Snapper set his own personal record in the 50-yard freestyle at 22.19 seconds while winning his prelimi­ nary heat of the race at the state finals. The time put him in 19th overall. The top 16 earned spots in the March 15 finals of the Finals and spots on the state medal stand. He also combined with Caledonia/Lowell/South Christian (CLS) varsity boys’ swimming and diving teammates junior Austin Tufts, senior Sam Jones and junior Anders Foerch to put up a season-best time of 1 minute 29.68 seconds in the 200-yard fi-eestyle relay. That left the foursome in 17th place at the end of the preliminaries and just five hundredths of a second off a school record - just off two major milestones. “Everything went right,” CLS head coach Todd De Jong said. “They worked on technique a lot. They worked on speed a lot. Having our own pool was huge in doing that. It showed. It showed. Their starts and relay exchanges really showed every piece of hard work they have put in on this.” There was a slim chance the foursome would get the opportunity to chase the school record at the finals Saturday, as they were the top alternate should a team ahead of them decide to scratch out of the finals, but that opportunity didn’t materialize. It it had, it would have made for an exceptionally busy day for Snapper who also was slated to partici­ pate in the MSBOA State Solo & Ensemble Festival at Portage Northern High School the morning of I 4 * L *1 .*1 W'* <«9«U •W t •• A ...Js y 4*^ * I < ft 'ftk — -11^ - e I A 6/ *< * p ft. t9 .9b l« 9 K* I r*'’ V • 1 4 ■ ^5^ * w: * Nr J « *• < 1 ft ! . 96 n^.:. 4 ^w-r %' ft. % <e I k >,> - B S * 9' »- ’^■ A % r w V b » HSraP, 4 •X* > -V UK K -1 •i k k ».» ‘-W'9 •*. < 2T< « 9 V9* % ft 4 - .' i 1 'W * v*> Sl< <r9 4;^ ftw •'-9 ■f» ' ^*1 ** u >y* _ 4^ 4 J < 5 V 9 < > * * 'fk ’’I f ■ '<■ «' •%. S ■■■^- -b’- •ftWiir •* J H' ■*^' H ... . M. « 9. . .. .. X ■« , - a^..- 'M* k ♦* W*'* Wk Caledonia/Lowell/South Christian junior Austin Tufts takes off for his leg of the 200-yard freestyle relay as teammate Ethan Snapper touches the wall and teammates Sam Jones and Anders Foerch look on from the deck March 14 during the preliminaries of the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Boys’ Swimming and Diving Finals at the Holland Aquatics Center. Photos by Brett Bremer March 15. “Ethan is just amazing,” De Jong said. “We’ll just put it that way. I can’t take too much credit simply because, he’s actually a very good cellist, so we don’t get him a lot. We don’t get him every day, because he couldn’t make it every day with us being at the other pool. This is just really raw talent. I look forward to next year, having our pool and then he can come to practice every day. He is going to be amazing, but his cello playing is amazing too, because he prac­ tices under the principal cellist for the Grand Rapids Symphony. See FINALS on 10 41*,’ * ll^** '.ft .* '-?!L *^^^^ • ^*^*^*"* . /% •-Wk. .—^'3 ’A 9 th *• *- 97 *> •* '* ft T RIVEB cum I •< .> 17" 1 * « a i 9A '':*v«. . RIVER CRUISE VACATIONS Experience the beauty and history of the St. Lawrence & Ottawa Rivers on a classic Canadian riverboat. Request our free travel brochure. 1-800-267-7868 www.StLawrenceCruiseLines.coni ;W« I »*■ ______________________________ , r M » *9 1 t k.zft I I MdraiiSEi^. ss-> I i1 Afftenfto Met? «*>* 5 « ’ «: 4W > ., rE/MAX Antenna Meri * WW*^"^^*** / ' 1 l> r -T. '!■ • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers I Estimates i T. 1 . i . » 1 1 •li I . > rC- b IF I ft -i. I -iwl. Give us a call! I I I I r I' I'.' 269-967-8241 1 cEtdOff)) SIGh^ ^Syi 5 2^ J I :J J fsu^sQ^ I to > I X. > antennamen@gmail.com start Saving Today vvww.cellsignalpros.com J • IS :r « Commercial/Residentiai Full Time Agent 1 < ar Cell: (616) 204-9792 «< Office: (616)957-0700 Use Spray Foam I w f RE/MAX OF GRAND RAPIDS Margaret (Margo) E. Peric 517-983-0954 wvvw.theantennamen.com I H 9 w w® • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation I ¥-***-* k*. J • Cellular Enhancement Systems J free J, * V Email: margoperic@remax.net •J **iM *(■ 4 A' I J J r If .. ftfla 4 II •l sH’ J* V >n J f i V <- A ill' ll * > 4« I t t. * A ij rl H ‘ n 'i I iO 4* 4« 'U f I I J /t 1» • ,« n 11 » -1^1 I lA It I I ft .ft I I 4 2 I i < t ) « 1 i I I t I I \ �♦ ■ 10 Saturday, March 22. 2025 Ci. a THE SUN AND NEWS WWW sunandnews I 1 TKWC youngsters ready for MYWAY State Finals ♦ I I I 1 s *••• I -' z I ' <1> V k- I r ! I 9 f I I 1 1 4 i w A 1 I r •HZ « L r r' I 9 9 * ‘ ■ 'f • A p* I J >♦ •l H * fii f t g* *% F » a f J --TP < t * a k ■J I *»e- 1 « F*. < r 4 r , 9 f' ' •w I I k 4^ r 3 •’ i 9 w htr J v'* f I* fli « • > •1^ II 1 J w 1 I 4 r 11 •^T I * w r 1 » v* rs »**’ / 4 .. e;. 1 The TKWC youth wrestling club had 23 wrestlers place in the top four of their class at the March 8 MYWAY Regional in Hudsonville to earn spots in this weekend's MYWAY State Finals at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo. Pictured are TKWC state qualifiers (front from left) Zander Holderman,Tristen Craig-Wright, Sawyer Jones. Lila Ybema, Levi Morey. Brayden Polmanteer. Hayden Hall. Riley Hall. Mavin Case, Austin Quint, (back) Chandler Simerly. Cole Price, David Sheely, Ben Landon. Ashton Braska, Adelaide Holderman, Blake Bossenberger. Emma Gibson. Jimmy Manne and Abram Dutcher. Missing from photo are Hendrix Sokoloski, Brinley Ybema and Rosalyn Sleeman. Photo provided — BB •f 4 XV' •• t" . ,f <WH»u FINALS is after school some days as well. Now that we have the new pool in Caledonia morning practice becomes an option so I should be able to come more frequently.” The CLS guys in the 200-yard free­ style relay wound up 37 hundredths of a second behind the last of those 16 teams that qualified for last Saturday’s finals. Ann Arbor Pioneer’s foursome of Edward Zhang, Brighton Han, Charles Knoepp and Henry Baumhover wound up winning the state champion­ ship in the race in the end with a time of 1:24.66 - finishing .83 in front of the runner-up foursome from Detroit Catholic Central. That relay win wasn’t quite enough for the Pioneer boys to chase down Saline though. Saline took theMHSAA L.P. Division 1 State Championship with 291.5 points ahead of the runnerup total of 263 from Pioneer. 4 Detroit Catholic Central sophomore Camren Turowski won the 50-yard freestyle championship in 20.41 sec­ onds with the top four guys in the race all touching the wall in under 21 seconds - meaning that if Snapper can cut his personal best time in half in the 50 free he would be the favorite for a state championship while also cutting > about six seconds off the world record. ‘ “I look at it this way: he has devel­ oped so much discipline there, it just carries over right into here. He has a positive attitude.” Snapper competed in club swimming between the ages of 7 and 11, but then took a break from competitive swim­ ming before joining the CLS varsity team as a freshman. After a season of swim practices in Grand Rapids, cello rehearsals, his own time working as a music tutor and all the other things that go along with being a high school student Snapper cut swimming from his schedule his sophomore year. He said the new pool at the Cal Com­ munity Center was the predominant factor in bringing him back to the swim program. He thinks next year he might be able to practice twice as much dur­ ing his senior season without having to spend so much time on the road getting to practice, and with more available times to get work done in the water. “I am in the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony, and we have rehearsals on Mondays so I skip practice on Mon­ days,” Snapper said. “I also teach lessons to people six to ninth grade-ish, and that ■> Ll^ Scan ourQR code to find your perfect invitation! i fl 'I zlK^ Ba ( f V ‘A- . 4 k. 1 * \ A v-*«- pl M* li h } • ’ll I ^.1^5’'”'' < r > r k r J t-. ’ .1 4 t" 1 A ♦ I ? 7 . I J r K1 I * Caledonia/Lowell/South Christian junior Ethan Snapper pumps a fist after setting a new personal record in his preliminary heat of the 50-yard freestyle March 14 at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Boys’ Swimming and Diving Finals. Snapper finished the preliminaries in 19th place at the Holland Aquatics Center. Mi I I I -•*S* I Ii'l- •. r c♦ } *< f Continued from Page 9 » )S,(»s^ 4 -. -« X— Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. PRINTING BY www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com ■. lW*^ 11 \ IJ > ) , I I i: t X ' r i , I I . t H -r .^CT BAH 1f i z *• 4 :(*■ 4 1^* ^1 « ’2' < DK J s I.1 • 'Y ( t tl^> I» ur ’ >$ * XI. ' t i f 1 ' ■ .•1 .iftxa5<'»« flEi4li9»!W^/)5 /•jglili. t OfM H .1 4 I I. I I 1 W «a *?K M'wi *•• •* *} JI I1 *<■ •■ • 4' V' * f' •1 •A . I >• ! * V 9*4 *k - fl 1 gl. KliE. nw CkiI *3 wl it 1» t'/ 4 : », iSrl^ I •m; 5 •■ ;• 1 W r I i t I «• •V • 't-l. • t • 1 I *.>^v.r.Jt w 44'i> ,' f- 1 *» , If Ui K> f I, 1^ i I.. 2Wl. ’'X'\ fcBaiW *. , ■ r- nito* 4^*^ ».... . •f" ■ S' -+v A i! Ai in'iflu ivi vJ -It 1 L W- jm I *1 I _________ I ' » ?l l"I..5J 7 r ' ■ i. < f V r I 3S p > . c p. .-■J > L • •aawl/ .7” MU ( f■ V • I I I I I 'n I I J. • -L' rkCO. 9-1-1 CEBTER > 5 8 91 10 bl DIAL (800) 249-0911 I I I 1 F. ON - EMERGENCIES k "Kids Measure up at! I** awa Co, 9-1-1 Center" I I I 10 11 121 T, OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 1 1 111 121 131 141 151 161 17| 18| 19| 20| 211 22| 23| 24| 25| 261 271 281 291 30l! V J J i » I ! * • 1 is 1 I. t 41 I : 1 Mi I h; ♦ • • . l! I» • a f 1 K f I 4 * t t 0 4 I I I f �Pi f w ' Ui. ■ J I i I II I Pamela Joyce “Pam” Pafffhausen Obituaries I I 1 Pamela Joyce “Pam” Paffhausen, age 64, of Smyrna. TN and formerly of Caledonia, Ml, passed away on Sunday, October 20, 2024 at home. Pam was preceded in death by her parent, Cecil and Shirley Decker, and her in-laws, Ronald and Lillian Paffhausen. She is survived by her husband, Steve Paffhausen and daughter, Jamie Paffhausen (Ange Austin) of Smyrna, TN; son, Wayne Paffhausen (Forrest Hill) of Roswell, GA; brothers, John Decker (Debb Decker), Ken Decker and Rich Decker. t I 1 ,1 bUncill •»« oC n ♦ It f B’> Ronald Mervyn Duryea I • J i I ........ J hr 4. 4’ < J’ k 'ii -f- A < q » another on the way. Ron’s family will be forever grateful for the wonderful love and care Ron received from both Sentinel Pointe and Legacies Assisted Living. He was a favorite among the staff and they share in our grief as we say farewell. Cremation has taken place. The family will hold a private service. £ *♦ r 1 Se^8TDe‘..,E? •I i 4 11 t { ’..4 *u J . r»tonrto?C!r'''* I ii^ ’’r I IV ?io?ivz at ! d :-'l I at r I • I Ha ■ mo B'.c ,d {'' yinr Mt ( ' t Ki IJfiJf * h t .a *V)|| lotnU i J ■ ■ Ronald Mervyn Duryea, age 88, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2025. He was born in Grand Rapids, Ml on June 26,1936 to Daryl and Mary Duryea. He attended Lowell schools and eventually moved to Grand Rapids where he graduated from Union High School. When Daryl and Mary divorced, Mary married George Stocking. George was a wonderful stepfather to Ron and was a very important part of Ron’s life. While working for the phone company, Ron met his wife Caroline (Patty) Barnaby who was a telephone operator there. They were married on October 24,1958. Early in their marriage, Ron was enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Maryland, often hitchhiking home when on leave to see his sweetie. After completing his military obligation, he and Patty settled in Caledonia, where they raised three boys. Ron loved to hunt, making the annual trip for many years to the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula. He loved the Upper Peninsula and snowmobiled there for decades. Fishing for walleye and perch was on the top of his list and he was a proud boat owner since the age of 18. His favorite fishing spot was Burt Lake in Cheboygan County. Later in life, he and Patty enjoyed camping, mostly around Michigan. One of his favorite experiences was traveling to Alaska with their fifth wheel trailer with a group of family and friends. Ron loved to tinker in his barn and there wasn’t anything that he could not fix. He loved the outdoors and could spend hours taking in the scenery. As he got older, you could often find him sitting on his sun porch listening to the radio while overlooking the pond behind his house. Ron was preceded in death by his wife Patty. When she passed away in 2020, they had been married 62 years. Ron will be missed by his children: Jeff, Jamie (Chris), and Joel (Sandy); grandchildren: Alecia (Kyle), Eric (Erin), Amber (Tom), Austin (Ben), Jared, Zachary, and Luke: great-grandchildren: Hadleigh, Reeg/ Beckett, Luna,JVIilo. Harlow, Remi, and» ► I I S 4 -n .»IJ *««(KtoBb , I f w V 1 tfj --- I MV T .1 . I K• Ml .8cJ Ob ilrr iral isl; 9 1 rn I V6f. ••A ;b’ . ifir ' I bol J 'in; Hi ■ -• h* ‘'f I... -T <• h9qql^ 1 .53b£u qot efli I U .>. • 4. : 1 I • <« r-' I • I I Hl; h:r'H B k 4 ’ ’ Sfenei >1 h. •? n “nm 1 i' 1. f 5 :'UV <1 Hr J 1 I . , >fil ■ * * M I ee^« ' i Lt .hiMt #1 1 •' WT .?6W ' j i 1’ T^nk**ny^Mi}n9 11 ' nn L I •L .. • r* c I • SI r- r- nn-: k J I Onin; xJ »4y 4m V 1 frill" iinnnft'vnr ‘ ■ two [F'l : ; I I " 10) J U3 r« c;. . I ip » rV r? I » I’ ■J i I I Jf '*"7 I ♦ ’.r •i • /. .DB’ib I 1 J ihuHcrns I 1 rf iWfiBS-;' "- ■' ’ ;• h;v-L« 'fVb,: ;. iaoL b°- I1 I I 1 .'in -j-f 1902 lb • >s Si • r iSihhn , I ■..... W B» ^uiJ I i- I'.w t .r £* ne 1 , • • J I 1 I » '1 4 I ?T0 » r d" A". 4 LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY a* V I I 1 >• • Pam was always active with friends and family. Pam found joy in many hobbies, including boating, gardening, scrapbooking, and attending craft shows. Her love for flowers and the outdoors was evident. She created beauty wherever she went and embraced life with enthusiasm. A celebration of life service for Pam will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Blain Cemetery in Caledonia. Donations can be made in her honor to the Alzheimer’s Association. 'J'1 I* 'fc; 11 ♦ 4 ) 1 I I ) ii Saturday, March 22, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS i ) < t ■ —• ■ Ik T1 www.sunandnews.com I I 1 I I I f ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM www.alaskabaptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville ’t 250 Vine Street snep^ ex co Good Shepherd I’ Lutheran Church http:/! goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Livestream: facebook.com/flrstbaptistmiddlevillG FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location ■a 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am Church: (269) 795-2391 MIDDLEVILLE PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Viue' Church I i X 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaJedonia.org Saturday Evening Mass .. 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. I* rt cfiunr^ .^4 "■-4 Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www'.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 8655 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto 616.891.8661 www.whitneyvillebible.org Sunday School... . 9:30 AM Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am Sunday Worship 10:30 AM www.tvcweb.com HOLY FAMILY J/CATHOLIC CHURCH ! SERVICE TIMES: i cornerstonemi.org/weekend CHURCH Pastorjonathan DeCou 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml 1675 84th st. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 <j^PEACE THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH Join us in person or online . Sundays 9:30 St 11am 616-891-8669 Pastor: Rob Wurst *4 I r Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Sunday Worship........................... 9:30 a.m. 'k cornerstone church Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) */ !" .i* Caledonia Vine Street Church !HS> Watch our services from our website (see above) "Shining Forth God’s Light tt Sunday Morning Worship Community Group........... 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankecspringsbiblechurch.oi^ �! 4 « a Saturday, March 22, 2025 12 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Van swims his fastest butterfiy yet at state finals ♦ ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor ♦ 9 4 4 ? - I■ I. ■A: -I i JM ’tA I I ;-4 < EX" An impressive freshman season for the Grand Rapids Gars’ Gabriel Van concluded with a 17th-place finish in his preliminary heat of the 100-yard butterfly Friday at the MHSAA Lowe Peninsula Division 1 Boys’Swimming and Diving Finals. Van set a new personal record with his time of 53.44 seconds cutting al­ most a quarter ofa second from his seed time at the Holland Aquatics Center. That time put Van just 14 hundredths of a second behind the last of the 16 qualifiers for Saturday’s finals. The top 16 all earn state medals. The Grand Rapids Gars team is the varsity boys’ swimming co-op com­ prised of Thomapple Kellogg, Unity Christian, Hopkins, West Catholic and West Michigan Aviation Academy. In the end Saturday, it was Saline senior Diego Valdes on the top of the butterfly medal podium with a finals time of 49.15 seconds. He was more I ..AB J. I. I ,> •J >> T a ’ • J •* .• << .. >\ "A IS J*' 7 « f e I _ . (!-• • I i L m* < I ■k.. ' 1? . ty I, •r^ A' t ,1 ■L :.4> * X «> 4 ( I XS .9 i. >5 •• ' I'i >* < 1 r X «-’aj a 4 'i I A .•> * •J*- n ■ * * h-.. **•.. A*. 4. ii A x • I I, I 1 : • • ■ ^A'- »1 *• Ik* 1 > J I • Sh -6. .I h »,■ 1 1 *• L- -J’*’ .'*•1 > W . 1’^ ♦ a’ I 7v I e l<r fi- 'A Grand Rapids Gars freshman Gabriel Van races through the water in his preliminary heat of the 100-yard butterfly Friday, March 14, during the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Boys’ Swimming and Diving Finals. Van placed 17th in the preliminary race with a personal record time. Photo by Brett Bremer than a second ahead of the runner-up, Ann Arbor Pioneer junior Edward XT J •• * k u... NOW SERVING BREAKFAS 7AM riN" ll»W^ w* M»>' ..tf BREAKFAST LUNCH •^oV^ Mt. k I W^' iot ••• f > ♦ J A bMh2 » niMMPD Zhang who touched the wall in 50.37. Van was an all-conference swimmer in the OK Rainbow East Division this winter winning the 100-yard butterfly at the conference meet and finishing sec­ ond in the 200-yard individual medley. Saline and Ann Arbor Pioneer were 1-2 in the weekend’s final team stand­ ings too, with Saline capturing the state championship with a final point total of 291.5. Ann Arbor Pioneer was second with 263 points ahead of Northville 224, Zeeland 176, Detroit Catholic Central 175, Grandville 134, Milford 111, South Lyon 101, Bloomfield Hills 95 and West Ottawa 85 in the top ten. f ni I n V 1 • r / etmR grflviQ fcBiBt^ a year ago for the DI championship. Valdes’ win in the 100-yard butterfly was one of three individual champion­ ships for the Saline boys. Sophomore I ssac Adanin won the 200-yard individ­ ual medley in 1 minute 48.24 seconds and the 100-yard breaststroke in 56.23. It is the first swim state championship for the Saline boys since 2013. Ann Arbor Pioneer had victories in the 200-yard medley relay and the 200 * yard freestyle at the meet. Detroit Catholic Central sophomore Camren Turowski matched Adanin’s two individual wins. He took the 50yard freestyle in 20.41 and the 100-yard 1 /* 1 /I yl ft yihauud tnBY-OQf artt to I qi^2fiOMpBub I C( odlJK^ rm IS /fh^nud hnasiyOftl -<^(*4111 [fw'^ab r -fiG>qm&d3 Ui^tviborei tnoraorkpi^ .e'fod ‘jorb^ aril toi -biv rfanri Ioby-OIK aril now ?imcm2 l>L8^ ^luaoB Im valbMi >* . L2.d^ ni sjloitetaBS'id b«iV’4)01 od qicbfioiqsBcio dttta/nn/e iart^du 44 4 1 t • u iQ : w> ft i r* ft*** A .£ 10£ ^ooK 2i(od sniUE ni 29no)aiy bad -hmim*} lodiA nr -00£ oitj bfByfibix^lbocBbwv^X) .J33irr9ittlB al7l3a9® siomoriqoa fsiiiwO oiforiJaD Jhm ^'fH^BhA bodomm iAawoKJl* ncn 0? >looJ 9H iifuw Isubi/ibm lnsY-(W I ‘jfb bra I KOS ni i t (loos'd * /I L I K > Zr- I we THE MOSTTRUSTECy: i^AME IN hooFiNGC;; •* > ft< <? T % ^4 t .-ry 4: L\ X ■ a *ft < * s •* ■ I.. > 3^ •. 4 ■ft •« - w I ■ SHERRIFF ZiGOSLIN *■ te ■_ * I X.*' I■>” .V-' ■ r»- ’ >• t-' •X 'V 4^' J QUALITY ROOFING .•ixx: i ftr- N c *: y CUT OUT & PRESENT ; THIS COUPON FOR 10%: OFF YOUR TOTAL BILL : ■ a *EXPIRES 6/15f25 1 I —• ft * w •» • ♦> *• . • r> . r4«» • •• • •Mi^ •rr— •* J A* W > 3»'- %• ’ 9900 Cherry Valley Ave SE, Caledonia. Ml // 616'622-1004 // www.butcherbiocksocial.com «8 •J I I > r sw >1 S' □i 'J ligfe^ >b e - J ■ M > •» CALLTODAY A ®1S- - • ■• .f * fa i*4» 'IO w V’ * A' . 4 I FOR YOUR FREE Yr >1.- yL* INSPECnON - ■„ J J -2 ?1 9* •• •» . VISIT US ONLINE; SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK ?3R1-JnAfl\ A n 1 VI ffti 1 a I 1^ I A « > ri } » It I. !• I i t I I I I 1 sr T WACO. 9-1-1 CENTER 4 5 8 9I 10 DIAL (800) 249-0911 Kids Measure up at II 111 121 131 14 91,. OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES ON - EMERGENCIES Swa Co. 9-1-1 Center" , 151 161 171 181 19 I J . * 1 ♦ I< I « Ui ?T3 * * B I *■ • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH llS-» YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH AU INSURANCE COMPANY5 • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU 20 r I L.^yr... f 211 22| 23| 241 25| 26| 27| 28| 291 301; T I I i 1 I I 11 (1 IJ 1 !.) il! m! rl u* s I I < I Zi' J I* • i b • r * 4 < I £ 4 t / t I I � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-03-29.pdf 15144f73344a5424878207adf5fb8be2 PDF Text Text £3 • - Planning commission discusses review of Cornerstone Estates project Bimmoo pninnslA W9iV91 3923U32ib gnolsisnioD to Tagjoiq 39tcf23 NOAH PETERSON Staff Writer NOSOTHRHAOH Members of the Thomapple Township Planning Commission dis­ cussed a review of the Cornerstone Estate site condo plan prior to schedul­ ing a special land use (SLU) public hearing at its meeting on Monday, March 24. The project, if approved, would build 15 condos on 22 acres of land on the comer of Whitneyville Road and Garbow Road. Residents would receive private roadways, private util­ ity easements and street lights. A project location map and internal street layout were provided to show planning commissioners the proposed lot or unit layout and dimensions for each condo. Each condo will also be filed under a site condominium plan, which is a condominium development consisting of a single-family, detached dwellings where the unit owner owns both the land and the house, similar to a traditional single-family home, but with the benefits and restrictions of condo living. Members of the planning commis­ sion shared many concerns during the review of this project. One of the biggest issues with the project is the use of private streets and roads, which is against the standards for plat and site condominium developments by the Thomapple Township Planning Commission. According to Section 21 of the plat and site condo­ NQ03 lONoisns minium division regula­ miKiaisia «aM04 ■mm w«8 tions, “ private streets and OKWM akjqBnuHn adi u* TwdnwM iigbtnim*> jininaalM qift/rr/^<j3 nw/ * adJ I” zMuzoT h or KHTf fwSn obnoY au/z3ttJ brul UiWi' i- ;<ii. rui Mi to snrrofl AC rknaW 3<n .b'l/onw* rr nt) ■h 1 I blu/rf ~ allr/YamiriV/ to Tsmoo aril no risloobur^M wrxhar) bni; wtooai vnq .jrzHwbrzii I bn/; pbnn qfH! nniteaol 01 bob I /or I or/v/ tuovll w yj ad I r7 ^firni 14 »’.C. ; ilfw joho j dacH .obnoj nuiAinK bno > ili' k idbniJ b^Ift iTJuIrfrnobno i b I riiiriv/ >, zhmf i r. to gnutitnfx> >rrMy<i n ?,« H'l atorl*^ aanihwt f bnaboai ^)ri ! fe I *■ * nori . LgfsoiliM J zjftwisd wll .giTfvif obaocT: ntjij}- f 14 5? jrirtonsdrrwM I 1 I ^rj Ir /ncm J'-' I Pi ' <1 If not^ r irii lo w3«wr !> r • i ■ IT. hr./ «auzM t rr.T A 'A O'/' ! > .n.>i r> to mu ’i i&t aril leats^ 2! iturnimdjnaz’^lig / I n ■' I ■ hl /:rV') ! • ks' -s .noieerrmnii^ •« J f ■ ' f’. t tii ?*) / r 9 I i rri ■ nuHPinj I ’ 3J« znq .F/IOU Toaiuonq *4 fOfiM CAUQMn tfBRBUUfyr MMVi. MBWWMT'. WWMO I 8€Cf IHiu®d 9£99> IKI -OQtAueojo aivd aovisod s n OXSiSUd <9839 ; wm }(T« bO££eai9i 1 1 bVU iw 1 ’ *I I ■ --»e I I I 4 pi! IL T. ( I?' 11 '1' < l!4 I ti R J iT .4 I > la l.i M ' 4 II n * I 1 I I 4 • I it I d 1 1 I s Gaines Township Board to hold public hearing on proposed zoning ordinance amendment JAMES GEMMELL Contributing Writer TABLE 2.20 B: ZONING DISTRICTS Residents and business own­ ers will get a chance to provide input on a proposed zoning ordi­ nance amendment at the Gaines Township Board’s April 14 meet­ ing. A public hearing will be held during the 6 p.m. meeting at the township hall. “During that meeting, we will address some of the comments we will have between now and then,’’ Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra said at the board’s March 10 meet­ ing. That is when the trustees gave the draft ordinance a first read. Township consultant David Jirousek with Horizon Community Planning is scheduled to attend the April 14 meeting. He and town w ship planners have been working on the zoning ordinance update since August 2023. The need for amendments to the ordinance were identified in a July 2023 audit that mentioned several steps to bring it into alignment with the township’s F- -T Category_________ Residential Districts District____________ Rural Residential Suburban Residential Village Residential i^Murt I ple«Pa ml ly Res Ide nt Fa f Abbreviation Lc^apter r. Norb Residential Districts Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts ■" 91 V Nei^borhood Commercial 1 Office and Service d Ught Industrial Heavy Industrial Planned Unit Develooment Industrial Districts t Overlay District RR SR VR MFR 4 5 6 7 NC GC OS MB II HI PUD 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 New zoning district categories will be covered in the updated zoning ordinance. Source: galnestownship.org final tweaks are made. Once it is, the document will be the first com­ prehensive update to the zoning ordinance since 2007. However, there has been confu­ sion among some residents and business owners about certain aspects of the draft ordinance, even though a link to it is posted on the front page of the township website, gainestownship.org. new master plan. Once approved, the revised zoning ordinance will serve as the township’s primary legal document governing land development. The proposed new ordinance has 36 chapters that are designed to be easily interpreted by the reader and balance personal property rights and the public’s best interests. The planning commission recommend­ ed in February that it be approved by the township board after some See GAINES TWP on Page 6 •l X • •^4 T?' > h • 1 •>. • 5. Gaines Township trustees listened to public input on a proposed zoning ordinance at their March meeting. The board will review a final draft for an amended ordinance in April. Photo by James Gemmell I } datlMi See PROJECT on Page 1 ------------ www.sunandnews.com > 9 -- 1 �< At " ?• 4- Saturday, March 29, 2025 2 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com / i.” I I As Women’s History Month draws to a close, the ladies at the GFWC Caledonia Women’s Club are reflect­ ing on a 109-year history as they prepare for another year of serving the community. Established in 1916, the found­ ers of the Caledonia Women’s Club created the group to support vot ing rights for women. Not much has changed in the 100-plus years of the club’s operation it then focused on community involvement, political activism and educational programs. Over the years, ±e club FRONnER HEATING AND COOLING PRE-SEASON AmSABE f I starting as low as f >v Bi : i • I r B NOW HIRING QUALIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIANS Other products available: • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and morel “The company built by refcrials H 210 East Main Street Caledonia r 4 . .J I I 616-891- A III % ‘4 •A r* ? h 1 e I ft f ‘J i rr I « '!.» I '<f • r I ii 4V / i 1 4 J a? J '..-< >r rr fE J ^1 J f 9 A f ' 4h 4 Members of the Caledonia Women’s Club were spotted in the wild recently at Carveth Village Middleville for St. Patrick's Day. Club member Lenora Black’s son, Peter, serenaded residents with Irish tunes. Courtesy photos has expanded its focus to involve­ ment with local schools, promoting the Caledonia library and other ser­ vice projects that make life better in Caledonia. In 1948, the club joined the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC). It has remained fed­ erated since then. Today, club members are active in a dizzying number of initiatives throughout the commimity each year. Women’s club members say they are proud to provide scholarships to yoimg women in the area. Each year, the club gives out six $ 1,000 scholarships to Caledonia High School senior girls. The club also gives out one $7,000 scholarship through the Caledonia Educational Foundation. Additionally, the club helps send boys and girls at CHS to the MYLead youth leadership con­ ference every year. Other yearly activities include hosting the Caledonia High School senior girls’ brunch at the end of each school year, supporting Green Gables Haven in Hastings, conduct­ ing Adopt-A-Highway road clean- f ' We sell bedsheets, we sell key card books, we do bake sales.” The club is always looking to serve the community in any way it can, said DeWitt. The club sells six-packs of cookies each year for $ 1 at the Caledonia Harvest Festival. Cookie buyers are encouraged to donate money that the club will give to a local food pantry. The club also provides tree seedlings each year to the Kindergarteners at Kettle Lake Elementary. Women’s club members operate free clothing closets in five of the Caledonia elementary schools, excluding Dutton Elementary. “A lot of women in our group are retired teachers, and they just Imow the need for teachers. You have a kid who spilled paint on themselves, wet their pants or just don’t have any­ thing. They need clothes. So these women put closets in all the elementaries,” DeWitt said. All kids are welcome to use the clothing closets for any reason. “We’re there to help so kids can be comfortable and learn in a comfort­ able environment — not be sitting I ii ups, supporting the local library, wrapping gifts for the Santa Claus Girls, supporting local nonprofits and much, much more. The ladies of the Caledonia Women’s Club are not afraid to get in the weeds when it comes to fundraising for its initiatives. “One of the main things we’ve done is the scholarships, and that is our main thing to provide scholarships to girls,” said club member Kaaren DeWitt. “So we fundraise. •’wr.r* fl f .1 Editor I >5 I Cal Women’s Club looking to the future after more than a century of service .1 I f E MOLLY MACLEOD % 4 bnid 1 I ‘ (5»' ^2asaa^.itt Ei : I Hl? r -r » f- ri 4 ?• t,.* b W f* JIiw I yi? .2^ i & w « « V.' See CLUB on Page *1*1? -1^' 4 » cr>‘ ■ r,. a* ' 'W'. ‘T' '•* I J' X- .f « 5^ r >■ i < , a ■I'* M i 1* 4 ft* «*■ >/1 I JI V M 1 I I ft I 4 ,-^1 4 % •ar. 4 z» -iP^' I it rr 'laBt ♦ a»'’ , 4 I b b *• .1 »**’ •i I - » f f ■1 -4 5^* . jft Ad *a I r T «** ff sMB V ! 1 •» ’*■ •fkw . J -11* : •J ♦ ♦ '! a i® •* 1 1 u f A 4 .t. 4h». !<** 4 s % 9 J I 411 ah A J I SIMA' t > 4 'I 1 Xi* t » 1 i <> «» * < F ) ■ *4ii^ I • . Ui c« 'I' 'l»* - f k*^ 1 -K • * I 1 I 2/ I « ft w I * \ E<S>: liiS ai**** V w 'W #< w « •«* 4* i. =F^i 1 4 f* J 1^* .At ••X** i * •^L I I I ) a 5* ‘Ml p k i. wu ei 7 K’V■ * < ' h.« l!iH? ^iiLiiiv VI - * w B' ft 1 < »* \' • ••<gEp*Me > i s J, a* " r-yf' fa i Roughly 35 women make up the Caledonia Women's Club today. The club was established in 1916. Here, members are seen at a recent Christmas luncheon. kiul '“■•T.y^twchjl ifp-'Till t W M irMlI ■rL 1 k* '->1^ WeoHM M r »- THE SUN AND NEWS 1 I •i 9: a. .Bbi ■ I* a r CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 PUBLISHED BY 4 ' Editor Molty Macleod aj^;L Group mmacleod@mihomepaper.com Sports: Brett Bremer 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com ---- ----- ........... .......... AH advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept.. 1351 ‘ N. M-43 Hwy.. Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutsS acceptance of the advertiser’s order. Advertising Menaper: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com ® PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com V r • ^1 > I t . s , Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher bbremer@mihomepaper,com <-• Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. J. : 11 ' A It . I i 4 9*' .1' . * ’J . *I ‘ M>> J >. I’’ 1 ev '44 2 I « k-- «. I’m I « •v J• i I f I f i .» ? 1 —— ,k i, t, I s L 1 II ?* I I I I 4 _r. I/A CO. 9-1-1 C 4 5 ■>. 8 TER 91 10 5 I I '6j' 1 DIAL (800) 249-091 l||oN - EMERGENCIES H Kids Measure up at Mlwa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 141 151 161 17| 18| 19 20 T ItJ n 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 21| 22| 23| 24| 25| 261 27| 28| 29| 30fs J K ) i I 1 I j t 11 M U ' ?*! n fii I I G I / 4 I I 4 » I 1 �“Ks: Saturday, March 29,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com «i ‘i. 3 "• I fl.'S I I •• 1' w f J ♦ s J a ■ aS 4 •f ij« % 3 A I / V J i; .1 <♦ • 4 < < NOAH PETERSON Staff Writer r 4. a* 4 'W( J s» u % I •t J --'/■ « 1. 4Mi Six Thornapple Kellogg High School students competed recently in the Business Professionals of America state leadership conference in Grand Rapids. Courtesy photo |4 f 1 • ''B. i’' I,. S 4 b I 1 J ' It, ■ / M m *-» mi ■ I fet. *< li. w ■"J r «*4 : R/ e 1 b k 1 I 1V ' I $ I»5’ . « <1 3S| I i '< ri » r ■•A I I i 'V i V i .1611 RTX I »■ fl — I t 37T5d? iin" 40 ' ) Q£jh7 4_n» . j u: tr Mfjji J r I y nr obrf aIsH sfrnr .riia J n *I iiD lfl6‘J it'r' ITdtlW L Hr. >TOb JBtn-2g*ft •« ?T' '?• IT r • c < TO « r I I ■Ji- • T 0*1 * f *’ fl < ■» ‘f I s 1) f • .'if □itiihO Jj' Joni ..eJ I K 'f A. I X '^5 1 -UkilUvH • a Riverbank Music Series OK’d for another year ** .*v > * . BPA students head to national finals A half-dozen Thomapple Kellogg High School students, members of the school’s Business Professionals Association chapter, earned honors at the BPA’s state leadership confer­ ence March 13-15 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. The theme for the event was “Elevate Excellence,” and students did just that at the open event testing held in the DeVos Place Convention Center. Students participated in busi­ ness-related events and competed for the top spots. Four of the six TKHS students also qualified to compete at the national BPA finals set for May 7-11 in Orlando, Fla., including: • Evan Liu - Basic Office Systems 1st place; Fimdamental Spreadsheets, Sth place; • Meghan Skidmore - Fundamental Word Processing, 3rd place • Ryan Skidmore - Intermediate Word Processing, Sth place; and • Emma Johnson - Medical Coding, Sth place. • Molly Alden (6th place, Prepared Speech) and Carmen Reynolds (7th place, Human Resource Manager) also earned honors at the recent state leadership conference. Other members of the TKHS team, coached by Keith Hamming, partici­ pating at the event in Grand Rapids were Emalyn Cartwright, Katelyn Chase, Avery Oppewal and Kylan Pratt. DA/ The music will return this year after the Middleville Village Council approved an event permit on Tuesday for the Riverbank Music Series; a special event offering free live music every Friday during the summer. The approval allows artists to move forward with booking dates for this year’s series. Village council members unani­ mously approved the permit at their March 25 meeting, with the Riverbank music series set to be scheduled from June 6 through Aug. 29, excluding July 4, at the amphitheater on Main Street. The event is slated to offer live music to the Middleville community every Friday night from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Douglas Powers, director of Community and Economic ft U BBS 5 Development, requested the permit and said that the music series tra­ dition would be great to continue this summer. The Riverbank Series is something we’ve done for numerous years and it would be great to do it again,” said Powers. “I’d be more than happy to answer any com­ ments, questions or concerns in motion to approve the event permit for this tradition.” The Riverbank Music Series has been a summer tradition for many years in Middleville. The music series will showcase many bands from the Grand Rapids area and provide free live music to the Middleville Community. For more information on the Riverbank Music Series or to get updates on upcoming events, interested persons may follow Middleville’s DDA Facebook page. 100 East Main Street - Middleville, Ml 49333 www,vittaegQtmiddleville.Qfg 269-795-3385 PUBLIC HEARING The Village of Middleville Planning Commission will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Tuesday, April 15.2025 al 7:00 pm. or as soon thereafter as possible, in the Council Chambers at the Middleville Village Hall at 100 East Main Street. The purpose of the PUBLIC HEARING is to receive public comment and consider the following items: Special Land Use of property located at 4650 N M-37 The Special Land Use Application seeks Planning Commission approval for a fitness center within a property zoned C-2 (Highway Commercial). Fitness centers are classified as special land uses in the C-2 zoning district and require Planning Commission approval per Section 78-323 of the Village Code. The application will be reviewed in accordance with the special land use approval standards set forth in Section 78-567 of the Village Code. i i J THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN ROOFING ix <J. * I' f. i * r I 1 t ■ 9 it 3 o * QUALITY ROOFING .^1 'X f. r I •«• — .4 * * CALL TODAY t *w '•sf 14 <• ** FOR YOUR FREE >4 11 I L iT I •5^ r .< , -J * *r-< • X Ji '-.e *«wr *> I' « * J T I v Pin- • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH US* YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU 9 • M 4 ** X. INSPECTION • •s f vlj CJ • VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFF6OSUN.COM/BATTLECREEK Rezoning of property located at 313 Arlington from R-1 (Low-Density Single-Family Residential) to C-2 (Highway Commercial The public is invited to attend this open meeting and to offer comments. Alternatively, to participate in the meeting by providing written comment, you may email your comment to the Director of Community and Economic Development at Dowersd@villageofmiddiwilte.oig. or drop them off in person to Middleville Village Hall. Written comments received prior to 4:00 pm on April 15,2025 will be distributed to Planning Commission members and it will be noted that such comments were received prior to the meeting. Copies of the Special Land Use Application and the Rezoning Application are available for public inspection at Middleville Village Hall at the address indicated above during normal business hours (Monday thru Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to noon). Persons with special needs who wish to attend should contact the Village Clerk no less than 3 days prior to the meeting. The Village Clerk can be contacted by phone at the number indicated above or by email at rvanpolen^villageofmiddleviile.org. during normal business hours (Monday thru Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to noon). Rhonda Van Polen, Village Clerk J ,1 h I I I I ’ r t! 1 f I nr r I a •p c H a I s: Tf l1 h I s 4 J 4I* X' 1^’ » t 4 i .i ' I- I I It IJ I 1 4 aI ‘h I >4 ft j \ I » I 1 I �• » MW IP > * Saturday, March 29, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com TK inducts 55 new members into NHS chapter .j' c I < V r I »■ Ihomapple Kellogg High School’s Elizabeth Thurber Chapter of National Honor Society inducted 55 new mem­ bers at a ceremony Thursday night, March 20. The new members include eight from the class of 2026 and 47 from the class of 2027, bringing the total number of members to 95. As you can tell, these 55 students deserve to be called the best of our student body,” said NHS advisor Barb Maring, while welcoming the students and guests. “Let us remember that the National Honors Society is more than a cord worn at graduation, more than a certificate or a line on a resume. “TTiese talented students understand this, and they know they’re about to make a commitment to use their gifts and talents to better the lives of oth­ ers in their community through their involvement in the NHS,” she said. “Let us remember that the NHS is a lesson in how to live a life as an active member of society - a lesson for a lifetime.” NHS members must meet several criteria for membership. Students must have a 3.5 GPA and provide evidence of their leadership and ser­ vice. Students submit a written essay describing how they portray the four pillars of the NHS - character, ser­ vice, leadership and scholarship. A five-member faculty council 44 Caledonia Community Schools has posted an RFB for Caledonia Stadium Waterline Relocation . All RFP information can be found on the district website: https://www.calschools.org/bond/ J * V 1 f J I t t 1 I .'t‘‘ .1 « ■i 1 « -(f 4 I I I ,V‘ I I I I I I < Thornapple Kellogg High School inducted 55 new National Honor Society members last week. Courtesy photo « / I I t Rian Allen, Avery Bushman, Raegen Chapman, Caleb Chatman, Mason Chivis, Saige Clous, Mark Cuison, Parker Dahley, Jalen DeVore, Madelyn Eitel, Alexander Evans, Elijah Frazer, Grady Galaviz, Mary Gaudreau, Logan Goggins, Austin Hansford, Peyton Hardy, Ellie Harmon, Julia Hart, Adalyn I 1 A '5 v'l determines which students should be invited to NHS. Students inducted at the recent cer­ emony included: • Class of 2026 - Shaelyne Bennett, Mark Gielincki, Miller Juarez, Oliver Lietz, Benjamin Postma, Lilian Rubert, Kara Smith and Gracyn Traub; and • Class of 2027 - Molly Alden, 9^* M 4^* !♦ <• \ ▼ ri ’Z ilu'"' r• I I .'■r *:i H '.1 I « t-rf 'i!' k ’i' 4 I f f'u- y . r*i 4 «4 I I .*> tJI Of « Jii S M f 7 % P «! .* i r X S. J 4 « I? ■ «R £ See NHS on Page 7 . '• i' I ‘ •■ ' i-'' ** WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS • *> V -f g 616-891-0150 ■f, k' > 11 A I * I r I V * 14 . ii 1 4^ 1 fl 4 « 1 wi: * > :; r * ■y 1 •* t •.i- y i I J kA / » tf 1..>» h f3 igfi 'KS^ ^2 ;sa _■ BODY SHOP - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. Sjncr /955 269-792-2234 21^75 DEWEERDHTG.COM * * ** er * r r * * r p * 9 V ACCREOfTED BUSINESS 2 TJA co. 4 5 I I 4 .a 9-1-1 C 8 10 T“ Your -trus-bed Body 5hop -for over 32 years > « « * I 121 131 1 9 14 151 161 I *s ■n 1 n ii c 9 » 4 9 « • JI tCi 4• 1 a . T waa* •ms i % I f DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES “Kids Measure up at Q^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center"; 111 ♦ 4 t 5 iTER 91 I a .4 ’ ^2IQ{^------ t V r 1 y 1 jWiwri, i r 9 It i . BBB. 3 >1 ) I Lb8 « 1 '.'S*' ^■A+ £ I T « 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 • .•'!* LENNOX > > «M«I f COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR V * » 'SpWIl! » >(^541^’5-*' I DeWeerd (68) e. ;4 " ; - l»i 9 t Sil w « ' 4 fcte. I S JiXAMSB tBIMKf j II 'Ji --1 1 b tJ T > i; * >$ I A< w ‘.l" •* » r -a 4B W 9 . 1 •< •.9 4 .B** -w \!!10fBt^- Ii Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers “Air Conditioners ■Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers ? . Usi «•. fl *<.• MM { 4b T*1S> f ( J » * 1 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. Residential & Commercial a 5- • F J / » * /-J 171 181 191 201 I J lor I « n I I A I b 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 22| 231 24 251 261 1 271 281 291 SOL I J 1 1 M i • f 4* 5 ;i> t« b |i a I r 1 ) I I •l a.' �' I ■ > I I i I J rj ■< r THE SUN AND NEWS WWW. s u na n d n ews. com I Saturday, March 29,2025 5 i unnA 1 * I i 1. Annual spring weight restrictions continue to be lifted on state roads 1 i J V I ? nil sd 41 giiii I i i-lfe * -'OrFtlSil I i 7 • » t; I (J I1■ > t V 1 n sL fJ i pcroMjJbi't ^57 j;fU£ I I I t t I « t . ^8C- ' f r i ‘ ^7 * • :>n: I .y f F f *t 71 A ( I T's. k. I >1 ia • r1 1 Aw ; r». J’/ J ». T •j 'V, $ 9 I /<* • • t: •r 9 > • I < • f • < > 01 p.i • > 3- • ( 7 . i r 4 " ’I? •s i. t ?c . • •> > 4. r r. i c I A 4 [? I . J H «* ‘ / f lati IPt ,I > I - •* r*• 4«• 4 ****•» < ,in 1 ! r... A . •L I I <1 3f .t; f «» i Wfi » r i > ■. f ftR » Ifi 1 J lit I I I, / 4 / 4 t J*: t r J <1 ► I « >w restricted area on the restricted routes. Single-trip permits will not be issued for any overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width, 11 axles, and 150 feet in overall length on the restricted routes. • On routes designated as “sea­ sonal” (designated in solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be a posted weight reduction of 25 percent for rigid (concrete) pavements and 35 percent for flexible (asphalt) pavements, and maximum speed of 35 mph for some vehicles. Drivers must follow the speed limits for weight restricted roads, per state law. Go online for speed restrictions for trucks and the rules for propane fuel delivery and public utility vehicles. When roads that have been frozen all winter begin to thaw from the surface downward, melting snow and ice saturate the softened ground. During the spring thaw, the roadbed softened by trapped moisture beneath the pavement makes it more suscep­ tible to damage. This contributes to pothole problems already occurring due to this winter’s numerous freeze­ thaw cycles. MDOT determines when weight restrictions begin each spring by measuring frost depths along state highways, observing road conditions, and monitoring weather forecasts. Weight restrictions remain in effect until the frost line is deep enough to I I 1 « The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) continues to adjust spring weight restriction on state roads in an annual move to protect roads. Effective 6 a.m. Monday, March 31, weight restrictions will be lifted on all state trunkline highways from the southern Michigan border north to and including the follow­ ing route beginning on M-20 at the US-31 intersection near New Era then east on M-20 to the US-131 interchange in Mecosta County, then north on US-131 to the south US-131 Business Route/M-20 interchange in Big Rapids, then east on M-20 to the US-10 interchange in Midland County, then east on US-10 continu­ ing to M-25 to the M-15 intersection in Bay City, then south on M-15 to the M-46 intersection in Tuscola County, then east on M-46 ending at M-25 in Port Sanilac. Frost restrictions are still in effect for the remainder of the state and will be imposed and enforced on all state trunkline highways north of the route detailed above. State routes typically carry M, I, or US designa­ tions. In the restricted areas, the follow­ ing will apply: • On routes designated as “allseason” (designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights. • All extended permits will be valid for oversize loads in the weight- a See WEIGHT on Page 7 1 [ * J I f I ( 4 • Wide Quilt Backs .A • Zippers, Thread, Bias Tape J I IJ 1 • Calico, Burlap, Flannel I I I A K®''* * y • Linus Quilt Station * Gott Loves You QUESTIONS: MH ASK US... •MM 9iaK»r X lO -.2*41 * J • 'A -if* MRt! * J; 9 f >pwf IP *4 I J ' I •• 'S w I *4 ■} The Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing on a proposed restatement of the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance, including an amended official Zoning Map, which is referenced in Chapter 2, Section 2.20 A. The restatement is a complete update and replacement of the existing Zoning Ordinance. Date and Time of Hearing: April 14, 2025, at 6:00 pm Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 The proposed restatement of the Zoning Ordinance includes the following parts and chap­ ters: ■ PART h INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS O CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION O CHAPTER 2 ZONING DISTRICTS AND INTERPRETATIONS o CHAPTER 3 MEASUREMENTS AND DESIGNATIONS PART IL ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS o CHAPTER 4 RURAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (RR) o CHAPTER 5 SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (SR) o CHAPTER 6 VILLAGE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (VR) o CHAPTER 7 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (MFR) o CHAPTER 8 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (NC) o CHAPTER 9 GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (GC) o CHAPTER 10 OFFICE SERVICE DISTRICT (O-S) o CHAPTER 11 MIXED BUSINESS (MB) o CHAPTER 12 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (LI) o CHAPTER 13 HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (HI) o CHAPTER 14 PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) OVERLAY DISTRICT o CHAPTER 15 LAND USE ■ PART III. BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS o CHAPTER 16 BUILDING REQUIREMENTS o CHAPTER 17 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS o CHAPTER 18 USES WITH SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS o CHAPTER 19 LIGHTING o CHAPTER 20 PARKING AND LOADING o CHAPTER 21 MOBILITY, TRAFFIC, AND ACCESS o CHAPTER 22 PRIVATE STREETS & DRIVEWAYS o CHAPTER 23 LANDSCAPING o CHAPTER 24 SIGNS PART IV. REVIEW PROCESSES AND STANDARDS o CHAPTER 25 GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES o CHAPTER 26 SITE PLAN REVIEW o CHAPTER 27 SPECIAL LAND USE REVIEW o CHAPTER 28 CONDOMINIUM REVIEW o CHAPTER 29 PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT REVIEW o CHAPTER 30 VARIANCE REVIEW o CHAPTER 31 ZONING AMENDMENT REVIEW ■ PART V. ADMINISTRATION o CHAPTER 32 AUTHORITIES o CHAPTER 33 LAWFUL NONCONFORMITIES o CHAPTER 34 ENFORCEMENT o CHAPTER 35 DEFINITIONS o CHAPTER 36 CHECKLISTS Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownshlp.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 4:00 PM on April 14, 2025. 218 E. State St.. Hastings • 945-9673 > Pickup : C Station i Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 6986640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. > J 4^ ■ It •I T V I I t r - <- I IP . ! "’■ 111Ai 4 •l « 5 t-tf Ml 1 I 4 I P GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OPEN: Mondav-Fridav 8 am-5;30 pm: Saturday 9 am-3 pm ;j£ ' ’ 0 W f. S CZeaners I « t I r r\ I ’ U ? ( 1 ' (1 I . .'i 14 ' 11 I II 4 I n I I 1 I J J 4 s �4 z > rf*i I Saturday. March 29, 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS GAINES TWP > Continued from Page 1 4^ For example, some think their property will be rezoned under the revised ordinance once it is approved. Gaines Community Development Director Dan Wells said the zoning ordinance is not part of a rezoning action on any properties in the town­ ship. “So, all the parcels in the township will remain what they are zoned currently. It’s just that in the Future Land Use Plan it designated what people can do with their properties in the future. So, they can change the zoning to that designated zoning. But this zoning ordinance won’t change any zoning in the township,” Wells said. However, there are some changes to the name of the zoning catego­ ries. For example, there are new residential districts titled Suburban Residential (SR) and Village Residential (VR). In suburban areas, there are the Residential-10 and Residential-14 designations. “Those numbers are based on the number of square feet per parcel CALEDOMfA AMERICAN LEGION N305 V -1 'A ri EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT Friday, March 7th thru Friday, April 18“’ 2025 5-7pm or until gone 4 The Gaines Parks & Trails Committee members held a meeting at the Gaines Township Hall on March 5, with the committee's next meeting set for April 16. Courtesy photo that’s required. So, Residential-10 is a 10,000 square foot parcel and Residential-14 is a slightly larger lot, 14,000 square feet,” Wells said. “We’re combining those in the new zoning ordinance to just the general Suburban Residential. And the mini­ mum lot size there will be 12,000 square feet. And that brings it into alignment with the state law on sub­ divisions. The standard parcel under state law is 12,000 square feet.” One business owner, Tom Werkema of Werkema Machine Co., said at the March 10 township board meeting that a proposed rezoning of his business property at 7300 South Division Ave. from light industrial to residential might “greatly reduce the value of his building by not 59 ALL YOU CAN EAT ..■/:........ / $14.00 Adults $8.00 Children 12 and under / *> y 9b ♦ LIGHT TRUCK PARTS OPEN 70 PUBLIC - ALL ABE WELCOME! DINNER INCLUDES K£l WITS • Breaded and Beer Battered Fresh Pollock Filets served with Tartar Sauce, French Fries, Coleslaw and Homemade Bread & Butter. Dessert: Soft Serve Ice Cream. Coffee and Lemonade No other Food Menu Available. For those who do not want fish dinner, outside food may be brought in. IFS • Ml TIK • VMS • ISi • ISM • ms full SERVICE ft YOH PUll IT 269-381-2300 < USED PARTS USED TIRES I 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia caledoniaamericanlegionpost305.weebly.com 5* ! : 1811UKE ST, KAIAMAZOO 1** -z< >5. > / y WWW sunandnews.com allowing future owners to use it as designed. And he said the zoning change potentially could categorize almost every business along the Division Avenue corridor north of 76th Street as an existing non-con­ forming use. But Wells clarified that the busi­ ness’s zoning will not be changed. “Nor does it create a nonconform­ ing situation where he wouldn’t be able to sell it as industrial property. He’s going to be able to sell that for industrial use. Unless he or a future owner requests a change to that, it’s going to remain industrial. So, it doesn’t lower his (property) value at all,” Wells said. He reiterated that no zoning of any parcels will change under the town­ ship’s proposed zoning ordinance amendment. “That’s welcome news,” Werkema said in a late-March phone interview with The Sun and Ney\^s. “All the changes in the zoning ordinance have been discussed very carefully by our zoning commit­ tee,” Wells said. “We have a zoning subcommittee that’s been meeting regularly over the last year-and-ahalf to discuss all of the changes under the zoning ordinance. And it’s been closely vetted by the planning commission.” Township planners figure 15 to 20 percent of the language in the updated ordinance will be different than what is in the existing township ordinance. And most of that pertains to property setbacks and zoning lan­ guage. “It’s just that we’re updating it and changing some of the language and bringing it into current law. There are a lot of things in it that current law says weren’t appropriate to keep in there. Our township attorney has reviewed it. Everything’s been vet­ ted very closely,” Wells said. Another point of confusion among some business owners concerns last year’s redesignation of several properties along the east side of the Division Avenue corridor in Cutlerville and along 68th Street in Dutton. The amended ordinance includes Neighborhood Commercial (C-1) and General Commercial (C-2) designations. The properties were brought into alignment with the new township master plan that was adopted by the board in 2023. However, that is not directly related to the proposed zoning ordinance. Werkema told planning commis­ sioners recently that he is concerned about proposed limitations on the square footage of solar arrays, which he said could preclude some­ one from going “completely off the grid. They’re assuming an interconnected system. He said township officials should take lot size into consideration in the zoning regulations. “The 1,500 square feet that they’re allowing for solar panels is not adequate, if somebody wants to disconnect from the utility, go off the grid,” said Werkema, the for­ mer chairman of the Gaines Zoning Board of Appeals. Township planning staffers heard his concerns and have made some adjustments this past week. “After consideration of Mr. Werkema’s comments at the board meeting and discussing the issue of scale-of-ground mounted solar systems, we will present language to the board for consideration in the latest draft ordinance amendment to allow non-commercial systems greater than 1,500 square feet on a parcel, under a special use permit process,” Wells said. He added, “This will ensure that immediate neighbors will be notified of larger proposed ground-mounted larger systems and not have nega­ tive visual impacts to surrounding properties.” That’s wonderful,” Werkema said upon hearing the news about the changes being proposed. He said the draft ordinance amend­ ment is “very well-written. I don’t have any complaints unless I get into the nitty gritty of some of the rules.” One proposed rule that Werkema took exception to pertains to the parking of any inoperable motor vehicle outside of an enclosed garage for more than 48 hours. I don’t think that dealt with it being licensed or insured, at all. If somebody didn’t have the money and needed to wait a week or two for a paycheck, they’re in violation, Werkema said. He feels that does not give people without much disposable income enough time to either get their vehi­ cle running again or sold. 1^ •f-v 4’?' u i'’ H r f c* ,1^' I •u t- I h SV IT ’J i fl ? Ir t J’ 1 fc 4 k 1 I I I "t I i\ 5 I 1.1 ( i" . T I I ' t- I I ** • . * t c ■ !■ z J f• I I '► J J 4 A I. >■ 'f I J ■r '.I ‘ •• 1? V ! 1 ir I <3 I I 4 J j i till 1 y4‘l>“ s > I I ; I < I . r -■ . •r'. > •i!j> I ' t 1t I 4 a ».I—»•'■• rij A /U« ‘M 9 f « » * -r* I w r* r *4 > ’ < b>? i '■ I i 4 5 6 TER 8 9I 10 111 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 19 I . t 1 ? I ;'>i' i?l ... • i i. I I I I 1 I r- J r ) r T • ' I t M t i I I i * 1 t 1 » 9^ I i * 5 4 *T e / * :X . I u... -..r- f •■ ai-i it ' •‘^'^ 9. * ■ibVjti i: « J rji .» i ! I » « *|r 1 <*■> 11 • > ; K * ’» ■ / » . • * ' r * z •• f X ■■’V' b. !« i i;’ H •i 211 22| 231 241 251 26 I 1 1 11 10 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 201 ■ r;’ V r I DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at (Jj^tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" ; .It r' ’ 271 281 291 30 z 4 <1.4 '-7^ V I ** ( t 7. ■' •1 9 i \ a *r U_._. ( . !' * Dlr SUK'' Il t V ni— 04 * « **• ,T I? 4 4 4 “a % r 59 i >< L r* B** 44 I r ■ • . u*- > jur ‘ 1 11 ‘ ' < S i t . t ■ >'■ ' a I 21 I 3 SITA CO. 9-1 -1 C ■' . a' ' I I 1 k t Il ' ’*n Mm M- I r �^11 <1 \ >.'C'' . '''V» 1 THE SUN AND NEWS vvww.sunandnews.com 'Vl ■< 1 Saturday, March 29,2025 s ♦ 4^ '•Jl > I •' ■•• r 4 » I I » ' TT^ i I I I *X -t i s* 4 ' s » MxsrlrK r.o>! -nm VIS I > K "X, H'' /‘si.;''- ’ I sI ’’Hi ■ a-; ‘’«s^ I. I. I ij 1 !<> "I* <1H "V . I J 4 M . I., Kjn>rbrr J * I '■''M liL't ■ J I • |v ij V '-• ( . I vu .■*) ■■ > /iOiJUtfitt f 'Mf’i K t.v/f >*iu Vil *B ;k ■ / y •X>4. * t V. u A Mi ’’ii- tk u ■ i ? « •t I M » x IC*' k f *w r ' t 'I. II •s ' *rji.. I I •* V / *31 ■z,-'«r/’'bh f 4iii 1 I 'fj- . 'J I * •'•I'llI?’ 'A. I f I in.. •t •( fO: i- 1 I •> I * •' V 1 • -J •• If - I 1*0 • - i. tx f -J >u ( 4 '*^1 c ’ i Im > ••••? ^TtfJ 1 '(i # '"‘I I V h » i « - ’-fei; O I I «^w^*»♦ . H V ■< ■ It. ■ CLUB i y •9 Continued from Page 2 ^r r *K t-f. R- J •►-•II ** ► I ! *' 1 -F- 'I . I r< - «• ;. < . < I ■L b • I *« z > < d. 1O»| p.\ Ki I. t • I J o» -k- ; tt 4 > * **0 L • ‘ri I 5 I< u r I 4 • S-. p 1 > , V * r. H ?(’. r ' w if ► r T I f‘i 1 i kAr- > *v * < 1 » I F b .’J '!1 ^)tti!(:U' k * 4 Continued from Page 5 J kfr'S S’ allow moisture to escape and the roadbeds regain stability. County road commissions and city public works departments put in place their own seasonal weight restrictions, which usu­ ally, but not always, coincide with state highway weight restrictions. Signs are generally posted to indicate which routes have weight restrictions in effect. For weight restriction information and updates, call 800-787 8960, or you can access this information on MDOT’s website at Michigan.gov/Truckers, under “Restrictions.” All-season routes are designated in green and gold on the MOOT Truck Operators Map, which is available online. You also may sign up to receive email alerts. Trucking companies located in New Jersey and Canada can obtain information by calling 517- I I « •• .1 1 J r _ A 4w S-. 4 "K* -* ■f -r , -7 4. « r 4. / I < y X w B * ►* > w Ji '‘/t1^ r h * * / I z 1 r; < « * V « * R* i r» . -X "M* < • ■!ji i;l ^1'1 1 iff I r » 4^ X 1 4 y «- K 1 I > f • < f > 1 > 1 « I 4 * 1 4^ X i Bl 1 t ; . »k— • . * * 0*1 * * • »■ <■ ... \ V k < •x TTU,- r I I z 1 ( ( \ 1 ki X -v 4 b I 4 - / V ■t 55 « r -K- 4 •*“• * r r* v. « •s; < J :> 1 '(' 4. -i « 'y t j-t s \ • « * J •« •’ 1 4 1•. 1 I ? I I / ' I ; / I > lit I A look at an early site condominium plan for the proposed Cornerstone Estates. If approved, developers would build 15 condos on a 22-acre plot of land on the corner of Whitneyville Road and Garbow Road in Thornapple Township. Photo by Noah Peterson review this plan more before a public hearing can be held,” The Thomapple Township Planning Commission will follow up on the review at its next meeting on April 28. DeWitt said the club is not the posh, strict club of women’s club past. “It’s evolved where it isn’t just ‘Old Caledonia’ Most of these people are new to Caledonia, and they joined the club because their kids are here, their grandkids are here. They’re new to the community, they want to meet people and they want to do things. “It’s just a great way for new peo­ ple to the community to get to know the community and what’s going on. There’s pretty much never a bad idea.” DeWitt said it’s the community’s support that makes the club success- ful in its initiatives. “The support of our community — that’s what keeps us going, and that’s what keeps us able to fund those scholarships. If we didn’t have the community behind us, we wouldn’t be able to do as many things as we do,” DeWitt said. The club meets at the new Caledonia Community Center on Mondays once a month, excluding in January, February, July and August. Ladies interested in joining the club can message the Caledonia Women’s Club Facebook group for more information. DeWitt said the club is always looking for new members. 5ah'xsd! / V •> 1 i> -jEii^i'Vi:'; there with wet socks,” she said. The women’s club will host its third annual Bunco fundraiser this April, which supports the clothing closets. Today, roughly 35 ladies make up the club. The club’s longest-serving member is Judy Harrison, who has been a member since 1965. “For 60 years, she’s been in our group,” said DeWitt. “We’ll have some people, they’ll come and go, but she’s been a staple since 1965.” Breakfast Buffet Fundraiser Help us support veterans and community functions. Saturday, April 5,2025 and the First Saturday of each month Serving 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Eggs, bacon, sausage links or patties, potatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, milk, OJ, coffee, 4 k : i I i M . iW.bB 4^V. . 1 I t K 4► I J .tl 1. I i i r I I ‘J* • * I • .J .fn I / rn iV r «w 14 I 4 J J .Ml ■ I I i I. » 1 4 J r-' 1 I I I 1 I ; - .afai •• z I 1 . 4' h>"* ‘ H } J>V '“V 1 I ■ wai' u. 4 I I I r ! I I I uh 1 ! ) -t» * • I 1 » KT ’rr? T ■'.f ! IB*- MM 313-h25(>. * «•« i4i < roads are not permitted. All interior streets or roads shall be designed and constructed to meet the stan­ dards of the Barry County Roading Commission or other public agency with jurisdiction. Construction inspec­ tion of all internal streets or roads shall conform to requirements of the public agency with jurisdiction and shall be dedicated as public streets or roads. Several other concerns were addressed, with current residents on the location site expressing concerns about having to reduce private land use, which can lower property value. But Phil Gensterblum, the township’s zoning administrator, informed mem­ bers that nothing is official and that more discussion is to be had before moving forward. “There’s lots of elements that don’t comply with the planning commis­ sion,” said Gensterblum, “The big thing is that we need to look more into the ordinance regulations and s k/ X* •t .'^ Continued from Page 1 WEIGHT J 1 .. .'*1^ '”[•1 ‘ f t « ’i* « Cj. PROJECT 3 « I I. I '. ^•>‘' NHS Continued from Page 4 Henry, Alexander Hildabrand, Alexa Hoeksma, Adelaide Holderman, Jacob Koster, Addyson Lambert, Leighton Leslie, Alaina McCrumb, Callie Middleton, Gage Novak, Isabelle Piering, Carmen Reynolds, Reece Ritsema, Marissa Rowley, Katelyn Scobey, Taylor Seif, Paige Sheely, Meghan Skidmore, Lily Stanard, Ethan Strait, Charles VanDuine, Brandan Veiling, Alexis Watson, Emma Weeber, Chloe Yates, Alyvia Zolinski and Parker Zube. During the March 20 ceremony, a roll call of new members was read by NHS secretary Josalyn Cramer and NHS treasurer Valerie Tamez. TKHS principal Tony Petersen greeted each member before they received their certificates, who then recited the NHS pledge as they were formally wel­ comed into the NHS chapter. “I would like to be among the first to congratulate you,” said Petersen. “It is an honor to serve as your princi- pal and I’m proud of each of you for the hard work, dedication, leadership service and the impeccable character that each of you has displayed. “You’re among the best and the brightest at TKHS and I look forward to seeing the legacy that you continue to build as a member of the National Honor Society,” Petersen added. The TKHS National Honor Society was founded in 1958 by Elizabeth Thurber, a language arts instructor. At the first ceremony, seven students were inducted. DA/ s t « > » e « * t * f f I * Menu subject to change Adults $13.00 • Children 10 under $5.00 For more information call the Post at 616-891-1882 Coffee Donated by BiGGBY COFFEE Caledonia Memorial Legion Post 305 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, MI LUNCH M-TH 11 AM-8 PM: FRI 11 AM-2PM; FRI BUILD A BURGER 4-8 PM B 9 « • a 0 a a » a a • a a k a > ft a • a V �a t 8 Saturday, March 29, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS S I www.sunandnews.com A' «I it f Sporting News * « * * I J •> » •i <4-; •* Scot keeper hits milestone in loss to Mona Shores 1 4 < I I I 1 •fM •'.« H 1 •l 1 ‘ft V Are you creative? ■vl- — NOW HIRING — GRAPHIC DESIGNER Miew Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time graphic artist for our Greenville location. — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS — Caledonia scored the first two goals and the last two, but in between Mona Shores found the net enough times to take a 6-4 vic­ tory at Scotland Yard in Caledonia Wednesday. Fighting Scot senior keeper Alivia Neubauer-Keyes made 11 saves to keep her team in the match and sur­ passed the 200 save milestone for her varsity career late in the first half. This is her third years. She came in as a sophomore playing in the field and not knowing anything about being in net, and has stepped in and really just excelled these past three years,” Caledonia head coach Kendra Venema said of her senior keeper. She said Neubauer-Keyes’ best asset is her mental toughness. “If she gets five down on her she doesn’t let that affect her. She is .* * I ■;' V This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! I I i V . ."i I s •J V 1*4 r> 41’ i k •» 1 9 ' ?'s V V V V » u X. A V V k V1 U U . • ' ‘ U tt i \ V.lvkvlliAlllllUlKlL. U t ' ^^1 H 1 u u t u . ■ 1^’ ' ( 4 . '1IP'‘II9» . / ' f* k1 . V I >* .•*! ^(4 MM J A 1 i.l .' r ’ >t’V • I DT'^aid I -• 9 r • XT J tf .* 4 ..J r I * •f \ « 1^* I 4 % 4 n 4' 1 rA if« * ’ I > - 4 *«» .. « I • » J 9 Ilf 36*”' r' » . **» 1^ < I /i 4 I / J *4 t I «» T r 1 » r «*’*• . -y-.< I- si Il « » I i 1 I a 1XV’ -i* u r d » •** it ♦. I. 1 *l. i I 4 I . I. •■'i! 1 *r ; 1 II r 4ir:. in T .. ji W 1 i f / I i 11 iV'iVvuiVii,; . k I it « « t 11U i V H n L I luuauf Livunnv bAVUtUUl IVVVI lAVI ,v / 1 V. *Pi 1 «ete p 4 » fr •kT -k ■ 1 4 - ‘a I 4 ?4’ k * W 4 li ^4' < f , * i aivviHi iVKUVUi Wkvvvvm lUklWUt k\ ikVlUP VliVUtH IVttkUVi \UVVIV1 AkVWUt i 'W * r ? 4 ■ * <1 r. ■M • 5' t < ,1 jj Oto;--. 4«W» V >uu\u f 3s!f i ' A A * Si ‘4 V ***• Group I t a ' 1 • •IWi ( 'i 4,P M I m AVI iVVU VVVIMU AVWWVAV IHVkUUV *s * <<1 << . T* J ‘X 4 kV. « I t 1umvvin f We are a growing company of 21 community newspapers serving IS Michigan counties that are delivered weekly to more than 335,000 households with an additional500,000 monthly online readers. J • J A 4 » VI aT?' »p j;' W The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ The Sun and News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Reminder MUm .3 H fsd r ifii I t 1 ■ • ii 1 ' K tA I i V f /ir y J i Jl * Are you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@mihomepaper.com and let's find out! 41'“<i 4 •u I f Jf 4^ 9 fr- INe love what we do and we know you will tool ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News A Tri'County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review W Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ii”” t4 See SCOT on Page 9 Responsibilities include: • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout ‘J ‘ ready for the next one. She can eas­ ily just say, okay I’ve got it next time, and not let it continually affect her. That is one of the hardest things about being in net,” Venema said, “because once you get a few on you sometimes you get a little defeated. But she is very head strong.” On most nights, the Scots hope that allowing just six goals will be enough to get them a victory and Fighting Scot head coach Kendra Venema was fairly pleased with her team’s defensive performance overall in front of Neubauer-Keyes. “We put in a ton of work,” Venema said. “We go back and forth between a man, and when we’re down because of a card we go into a zone. That’s the first time all season, we have had cards every single and, and that’s the first time we got a stop with our zone and they haven’t got- 66 ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News S Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian I L t 1 BRER BREMER Sports Editor 1b. ■ J f L ' W/’ f• I V I 4.'*; I * Metier . 4T e w. %• 'w 4*:9 I* A 4 **T ' I. •%***^ A . *>« fc- ■''. Caledonia senior goalkeeper Alivia Neubauer-Keyes directs a shot from Mona Shores’ Danika Johnson away from her net during their match at Scotland Yard in Caledonia Wednesday. Neubauer-Keyes recorded her 200th varsity save during the contest with the visiting Sailors. Photos by Brett Bremer 4^ I 1 ' M [ >*** . p * r '•M' ' —^.%n4 **M M/* Wa e?i- ‘ •b ?J 1 >1^ ! . A. • • ■ * ' 4 w I ^'•|T. J •4. ’ \ tB > . -' iiiQStSjj^ 'I -k'•l r.’ - Ih •> I « I ? i■T# V M. I 2 NA CO. 9-1-1 C I I 4 5 .-jv 4 5 —* 91 10 111 121 131 14 1^ < I I 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES ■.••.» Li. /J i DIAL (800) 249-0911 ’'JON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at ^ztawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" . TER 8 I 151 161 171 181 I 191 201 211 22| 231 24 251 261 271 281 291 30 9 f t / a a i J 4 . IM ■ r. �4 r H .a h ♦ «* «* I \h L y £ > *.«« U,b » , ' *a> ’ t ,v* h I; A '* c* J ten a goal on a yellow card. “Our defense worked really hard to only let in six while having so much time on our defensive end.” Senior Mya Burgess had three goals and senior Kenna VanLente one for the Scots. Senior Ellie Hudson notched an assist on all three Burgess goals. The two connected twice in the first four minutes of the match to put the Scots up 2-0. Coach Venema liked the way her girls chased down ground balls early on, but could see that they weren’t as vigorous at it as the first half wore on. “I think part of it is just how new all our girls are. We have eight or nine freshmen and three people that have never played before. So, it’s just a pretty new team that isn’t used to this level of competition.” She said getting young players used to varsity rules and the varsity game can be tough early in a season. They go from having to stop on every whistle, and not being able to check, and not being used to this level of physicality to then dealing with people putting bodies on you, and really dealing with hard checks and faster speed, and it all adds up,” Venema said, “and their stick skills to can just be a little bit weaker com­ pared to the varsity level.” I 1 f !:t£^ ■ it JLi'^ (. f 1 ; f w t K '* ' * / J ‘ ) 'h ’j , aite ,T 4 c .1 H 4 A 4 i x*/ » f b-i < 10* 1 ’ J. I '•■ 1 l*-ri A « *0 1,1) r '^i-, *h k *• >< ’’J (< ( r ' U- 4JF» f>J) < 1 31., -1 I i ■*" ...' U-.' /u r Ml. A . bI V..’ 4 4 • t I k 31 i ifc t > ,’'-i 1 S t I ; ‘j I i ! ’ k. '■C.i'\S^ i 4 »4> <<hl/ ”tl 1. . k ■k ‘••c r• I *i” ' 5 '♦ < «« I ’/ 1» • *< a " b.1 L. • * < * I ^♦..f ■ '^Sl { • .1 t ooe » iw. ' f • i ! / I.. ! 4* W> Uli '■e!5 x; J < ’S? w s*,, Ji'* 1107/ • • r’ • 7 I 0^ 4 I * iA fie t p u 4. a. . 46 b I 4)1 > Ji I J»eaxcaa I sadaeui > A* J » > ;4j ■■ L c aa • • •-1 I OF i I F r »lll s. ; * I A « V r 1 1 I A". , ( < I . > il ► 6 < ,7 A I » ‘I > 4 J4 t 9 •k r . * i JF: A <u’ n * I ' aT^» i 1 cBbNk. a •I 4 4^ 4' I I K f 4 s* I I I■ e 1 1' ’’ F Z _____ I ^4 I p ti •• A- 1 •M t i t .7 >P4A^ 1 ‘ i «» t I 1^- ■I ''' Bl I j »... 4 i r t * L J .K r L ■)fi. »* ■ I I ■ •V• < 'I 1M b I A»o<, TP bircbolBO I Caledonia senior Kenna VanLente sprints through the midfield with the ball during the first half of the Scots’ match with visiting Mona Shores at Scotland Yard Wednesday. I I iJ rtDnrw>^*--i’7'. I I I u ^1 I •' I 1 r*-- » i I i I I MF • ^tr >< L r r NOW SERVING BREAKFAS' '...^ ‘ ‘1 V \ 1k»^ I H.. BREAKFAST io« » Ik. ' 4 * 4' .*« ••• 'i n i 4 1^" Li r ■JlC' DINNER .'S » u LUNCH •\oV^ ■ *• s I 'v 7^^ •» 'I ‘Jlk** . _ J Caledonia senior Mya Burgess turns back to celebrate an early goal with senior teammate Ellie Hudson during the first h^f of their contest with visiting Mona Shores at Scotland Yard in Caledonia Wednesday. Mona Shores scored once before the first quarter was up and then tal­ lied two goals in the second quarter to lead 3-2 at the half. The Caledonia offense was held in check by the Sailors for the majority of the second half. It was a tremen­ dous defensive play by VanLente that finally broke the Scots’ scoring drought with a little less than nine minutes to go and the Sailors in front 6-2. She stepped up to intercept a clearing pass from the Sailors in the midfield and charged in on the Sailor net and put a shot away. She had seven forced turnovers in the match. The Sailor lead held at 6-3 from there until the final minute when Burgess finished off her hat-trick. The Caledonia girls are now 0-3 overall this season. They fell to the 2024 MHSAA Division 2 State Champions from Grand Rapids Catholic Central 14-6 Monday, put­ ting up a good fight according to their coach. VanLente had five turnovers in that one, a ground ball and a goal. Hudson had two goals and an assist. Burgess, Vivian Fink and Mallory Graham also had goals in the loss for the Scots. Burgees also fought on the draws and won two while causing two turnovers too. Northview took an 18-8 win over the Scots in the season opener March 19. h. pt F < ( aK ■1 t h « Ct J ii I, : J CUT OUT & PRESENT ; THIS COUPON FOR lOXj OFF YOUR TOTAL RILL ' ‘EXPIRES 6/15/25 SEE YO^*J. BLOCK! -^^.MBMBni “— ... B 616-622-1004 // www.butcherblocksocial.com 7* ♦11^ leEovEsr KU V ROOFING I, Serving the Caledonia and Middleville Communities. COVER IT WITH CONFIDENCE » » » » » Residential Commerical Roof Repair Storm Damage Insurance Claims -■'IT all "'ti. a* *F ** • 6i6-9l6-0i88 100% SATISfACTION GUARANUeO X nan P miacebook ACCREDITED BUSINESS OP ye I pit » JI .1 I u I I « ! ‘» I 1 t .i II I * I 4 I il u b 1 I I I 4 » I i 1 f I r 4 I b * F f I J t f ) wC’ ( , * r 'e^. I) J 5 I •5 JI I I ISTIMATC \ < I .I,,*. Cherry Valley Ave SE. Caledonia. Ml H II ) if t u I 4 - t I > »' ♦* r < M JI x i 1 b •» •I'A ■ ^--a****^ r « J 1 7AM -Sai : Bl ’J - ' ( I I 9 ^CHERBCSex B ? 9 A * A Continued from Page 8 « ■ Saturday, March 29,2025 * SCOT « li! s THE SUN AND NEWS v\ww. s u na ndnews. com I \ Google CiOwmi Atvwvrt A # 7 '*r * �i I ■J 1 I* 1 I > I * 4* ■ .V I r ~-«J 10 Saturday, March 29, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Ilf WWW. sunandnews .com M I _ .« 1 ? T a-***^^ \ B & -J ■■ w '1 A z « >L 1 V I t I •, * i • I e V IWI $ « - ' t.' H; ■^1 1 I g ''4«b. — NOW HIRING r*. •« \lley\i Newspaper Group is seeking a 4F h t I r J gniM; i V i I fM { 4 ir ri I fl/ i o rn * *■4 , I . < w 1 r - ! jMfcom Sfiil f pow I F I f W». >' 1 V I ft i S/ •.*. - ■ -7 OMB8) < 'I ' I in ; li J? I ^^ibs '•' /Jnov^i U-‘u f i in 'i; ssr 'h!.£SI > M s: *T nr t suoi^ ul JO- I r -■ • 4 u;; I I - •* g • * V 71 r Z i:.' ' ' atG -I ' n« I . 7 i »c < O‘ ■ ' 'j I L . s ■ '! .: i •*/ A '' * I < '•il * * rfi nt fir u 43 > “7 a . f I t I ' A I J 1 HiW*’ 1 ir ; -HfWT-TSr - - I M, A 4 4 4 ( < 9 A -.Si -I A 4 •I I'’ !• I •9 • r I. Kist'” *33 « a Cs F**, * 1. »» ♦ I Scan our OR code to find your perfect invitation! J i I • ** -,tg.K5’* ?> 'j; > * (4 .‘/libwIVU t I «•> aB .J ♦ u I ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen I i I r f I r I y ) » > » •X ft >♦, . »1 I «• .« r»ii V * V.' * r • « I I • • s nt • • I . ! k r*. 5 ;V r 9 ‘‘ $ L > ■»»** Simply Perfect 4 MP 3L '32.21 t 4 •• N t JSAIOB 4 1 »!&« *1J Ik I i i »vib l» »S‘ 4 A iW •• « I t ( WEDDING INVITATIONS > ''X Bf 5/ Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. ; saahii^<^r}i| A $ I. 11 PRINTING BY I I I www.printingbypennylane.com t :.n ii •I I r J ■ 'W> S ginad@pennylaneprinting.com w 1:^^ * ie : .'»• ! I I 11 10 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES « DIAL (800) 249-0911 ^^\ION - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at ^Mawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" . 151 161 171 181 19 201 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 I I J 1 Ml' •.v« — Z’ / .1 Sia ■ i 111 121 131 14 * .••r * ' »s > ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer's Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder 5 * M9 r *• email wsmith(a)mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 91 10 * M R I ■■ I IB G rou p 8 1/ * •• n I I I 5 a * < V 4 4 « I 1 W^kCO. 9-1-1 CE TER Jd'i n j li ’ 1 ■I See TROJAN on Page 1 *r 2 ; < .*■ 1 • « r ‘ <v *vv*** 1 / ;« tf-: • Advertising sales • Account management • Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts • Attend networking events I V X Responsibilities include: ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer's Guide ■ Jeffersonian ! < 1*44-^ -a:.:iS rft- .cbririyj? * MARKETING SPECIALIST t !. i came from senior state medalist Brooklyn Harmon as she won the 60-meter hurdles in 9.26 seconds. The TK team had junior Mia Hilton 12th in that race in 10.15 seconds and freshman Amya Gater 14th in 10.28. Hilton and Harmon also teamed with juniors Madison Kietzman and Payton Gater to place fourth in the day’s 4x300-meter relay with a time of2:56.79. In the field events, the TK ladies got top ten finishes from senior Emma Dykhouse in the shot put (fourth, 33 feet, 10.25 inches) and Hilton in the pole vault (eighth, 8-0). They were both regional placers in those events a year ago - something that will be made tougher this spring as the Trojan teams make the move up from Division 2 to Division 1 for the MHSAA state competitions. The TK boys got a 19th-place fin- The Trojans are off and running — fast. Thomapple Kellogg senior Jacob Draaisma, a state qualifier in the 800-meter run and the OK Gold Conference runner-up in the 1600meter run a year ago, raced to a new personal record time of 4 minutes 26.13 seconds to open the 2025 varsity track and field season at the Grand Valley State University Indoor Laker Challenge March 19. He placed fourth in the race with that time and also scored a fourth­ place finish in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:01.88 - a time about three seconds off his best perfor­ mance in the event outdoors a year ago. The Big Schools meet at GVSU was held for boys Wednesday, March 19, and girls on Thursday March 20. The top finish for the TK ladies X rr r ▼ A 5 k r R Trojan track teams get off to good start at GVSU BRETT BREMER Sports Editor f If; I '■M —" OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY .r I A* I 1 r^- *•* ) 4 ' I �♦ « THE SUN AND NEWS * IJ >1. t X V V V fix s * » '?*«' «!< ft /i-. 4. •' '► ^11 >. I - ai -«« • VW ’ 1 r r 1^' X I iSLe^.. I ¥ ! V V' ' ft r •.*-J lULtilH 1 xs I w J B.. r 'ig p r' .-^i* ft- ( . • -% f •4. Jj I-? ^ '' r Li 1 ■ Group '» •JS‘ ’ •T?' t ir^; I I . "^' k 11 Saturday. March 29.2025 « ft t ’J '/* i z I h ?■ * •> * J f •h* «A i rT- V n t t I s > 1 ♦z I I A > 5 f t I,. K J R I > K* > I lb /' J t 1. r k < V 4 y I 4& i S. & ’’fat e: - ■ s « » ?^‘'’9 i V £ < r f •z. t w . I What parents can do to save morefor college • 1** A I •4 I I I I A ft I / I I 1 I i (-lawail •a all X* ■1 < 'tiVt. i B? . lis » s j I t 1 f I r. > aising a child is no small task. Though it’s no surprise that parenting requires a substantial investment of time and energy, the financial cost of raising a child might raise more than a few eyebrows. According to the SmartAxxet 2024 Study, the median annual cost to raise a child in the United States in 2024 is S22,85O, and that figure is considerably higher in many states. Commitment and discipline are vital to getting across the financial finish line when raising a child, and that includes finding a way to finance a col­ lege education. Data from the College Board, a nonprofit that studies trends in the cost of a college education, indicates the cost of tuition and fees varies widely depending on the type of institution. Tuition and fees at an in-state four-year public school cost a little more than SI 1,000 during the 2023-24 school year, while it was nearly four times as much ($41,540) at a private nonprofit four-year institu­ tion. Financing a child's college education can seem like a daunting task. Mowever, an array of strategies can help parents save more for college. •f t ■ 1 9- ' I rj kftr. , f .< Lr wp-' 1 I SW'- [ -♦w—• * 1 ♦1 > a R« A ■I •♦ t 1 I . ft V t ■ i J i I I I V < ^JDDI^G IN WONS I (t’ 5, ► JMr 'f <. *1 •JB*' *« ? I &** I 3“^’** ft g 1.’. ~rn J 3 • , J 9 s 4 J.' *N f A » « II I I < » t I ?. n) . - < i * • s i * 1 I 1 2 j i . I H( ft J Iii i « II ft ftft ( 5 » i I • Take advantage of a 529 plan A 529 education savings plan is an increasingly popular way to save for college. The Education Savings Programs at Bank of America reports that 529 plan assets increased from $88.5 billion in 2008 to more than $446 billion in 2023. A 529 plan is a tax-advan­ taged investment program administered by a State. When funds withdrawn from the plan arc used for qualified expenses, such as tuition costs, then the earnings are free from federal income tax obli­ gations. There are distinctions between 529 prepaid tuition programs and 529 savings programs, so parents arc urged to discuss those differences with a financial advisor so they can choose the best plan for their situation. • Redirect extra income to a college savings plan Parents may have **extra” sources of income that can be used to fund col lege savings. Annual bonuses, money distributed through state-sponsored property tax relief programs and even money freed up when kids gradu­ ate from daycare and into elementary school can be redirected into college savings plans. Redirected daycare expenses may be particularly savvy, as parents know the cost of daycare is considerable. In fact, a recent report from Child Care Aw are of America indicated the cost to place two children in child care exceeded annual typical mortgage payments in 45 states. Once kids are out of daycare, parents can redirect some or all the money they had been spending on child care into college savings plans. * • Don't go it alone A 2023 survey from the College Savings Foundation found that 45 percent of parents would request that family and friends contribute to a child's 529 plan in lieu of the standard gifts given to children for their birthday, special events like graduation or during the holiday season. This practical yet less traditional approach can pad college savings plans by a considerable amount over the years, and close relatives might be more than happy to help parents fund a better education for their youngsters. College is a costly investment, but parents can look to a handful of strate gies to help defray tuition costs. Metro Creative Connection •* �< < 3«1ufr|»y. Mairti 12 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS WWW MWWtriow* oom tF <ILJ yw .i^OTftr4W»: •* •s 4 # I 4 Thornapple Kellogg Schools s • r. r- •.y 1 • Where Kids Come First Mtcb? •M• “I i K*v. Points of Pride: • • • • • • • • • • • 0 K i r 18 High School AF’ Courses arxl Growing firadc Ixvel Configured Buildings New Slaic-of thc-Art ILarly ChildhtNtd Center Member of Kent Intermediate School District Extensive Extracurricular Opportunities KCTC Applied Trades Programs Member OK Gold Conference 3.100 Students K-12th Grades Dual College Enrollment Capturing Kids' Hearts District Strong Community Partnerships S??' ENROLL TODAY /4 V t I 4 n *? r > ■L r w * •* r / <« L# J a * *'JI { T t «r*r A « 4 fX :Ht A I*® ;2.' iIkJkW ! e •* I f I » * > B. » I i 1 t « I N w —4* « -nc- t w •l I ft '5 4b ’’ w’ 1 <liiStcKh'iiitai t 1: u '. fr A ir.^- 11 'dKnedBlboo* * lb ♦ liiiBsiwfc tti3^ if/ft" ?X • ^-"wlPilDjii. W. ^■Wil VjT* • •*1 j: ■•-^•3 @ TK Schools 1 Mt *• te' For More Information or Schedule a Tour Call: 269-795-3313 4» 1a 0 I: . i, • ♦* •'W iV-;L! •<T ? 9 I Wv U 9 i ♦ . .. I*; k .'r b1 i « »& Wa « * k A** 4 1 F,* Lfl I I Ir T UK co, 9-1-1 CENTER 4 5 8 •'il’ 4 91 10 DIAL (800) 249-0911 "Kids Measure up at 111 121 131 141 I 10 1 N - EMERGENCIES awa Co. 9-1-1 Center* 151 161 17 181 I 191 201 D I n OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 241 251 26 271 281 291 30L r- 4 *? t e i M . I i>' I 1 .<« •iKin;; 1 « 1 W' I II ■V. y T T r I» wriWM YouTube ft ..J I jWWff *A / i :j ;■ o 11 T. l:1 -« > Mi I J WcHsil, \\ A \\ .tk>ch()()ls.(^ I M h 41 i/* ‘T ’* < n ;)|b1W»^®’ April 14-Mav 16 t ft'ir ' • '1 'J b. siifbitsti«^ School of Choice Open Window % r » . r4 •I '•> , I T J? > * 9 11 Free 4- Year-Old Preschool 1 I < t h 1 I • I 2 < 4 ft 4 4l 4 J X 4 « . • I t,.-' �♦ ♦ i THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com *1 ♦ * ♦ ♦ TK Schools: A Great Place for Students to Dream, Plan and Prepare for the Future 11^- r I k t I j I c • b 1 il ^^>4 ‘7 I,', «' I I JJ .rnr I ■; r/.r;O * 1 9 k : kii; 0> 1^.3JB jgifaisb e’lok toBci«ai».i® I I 7 1 L rjfi ri ZJfKibOla'? v 0 k .5 rftiw bCdv e5 i 1srii tl •I flEil zJnfflbuta >IT b$ nfjijrwmtij bb 833ivi32 tnaa •*iifau}2 »• Ttfi jjr3J m r rt I I I JH ft 1 lOTb JF-' , <11 ' ’5' 'I; n 18 aataifi jik-W w _l«l’A5^Ud aT “<■< □Biun-n .3111 35: -•4^ ‘g::/ • ftl ii 'If ( fa fOi J t A i d •I J 1 WiaE 4. J f-M - > T Unfl «&t2 sriJ nt ' ?iod rr^ X. i ♦V ' V1 2H>n •fc /z zinT k 1 g rrtn'' 6 '■> xii I' MfJa Am • c i6jrt3^’5k ix btm jH r 3n'‘. s oLgnrorS^ .a^M riVi f t 1 :x. -'I / ‘ > i 1< ■"I . .V .**1 . . o4j5 J I 1 1 Fi .’ VTfijTOmain. 4* "ssP 1 St s ' ■< |aH>Ti isifi'-* t dmom won ?? iae eidi lOJqBriO ivibni svIH • itb IflOOO i 56 310 J "4 ' j I i I 1 ! ’ ft owl bnn norio r 1 < J ' I. 1 J I iA t Ju 8 ifHi >( ^55 • 9 1 t l©TO IL.OZ t i'll? < I I IJ QI’ I jf I I 7:fctRfWi V t ' f - '< * t ■ JJW‘ 7 * lb 1 I 11 11 r. s I f f Thomapple Kellogg Schools has a long and valued relationship with an incredibly supportive community. Working together, the community and schools provide quality experiences to help prepare students for success beyond high school - whether they plan to enter the workforce, join the armed services, attend a skilled trade school, or pursue a bachelor’s degree at a college or uni­ versity. TK students have job-shadow experiences, internships and even jobs through partnerships with local businesses while still in school. As a member of the Kent Intermediate School District, TK students have access to a wide array of stu­ dent services and opportunities. Many high school students attend KCTC for more specialized train­ ing and education in different fields including health sciences, human services, arts and commu­ nication, business management marketing, tech­ nology, engineering, manufacturing, industrial technology, and natural resources. A few highlights of recent student achievements throughout the district include: • Two TKHS students were named as National Merit Scholarship finalists. • TKHS Science Olympiad team will compete in the state finals at Michigan State University. • TKHS sent 10 members to the state BPA competition with six earning honors and four advancing to nationals. • FFA students attended the state convention where one student earned 2nd place in creed speaking. • Three Odyssey of the Mind teams with stu­ dents from High School, Middle School and Page Elementary School advanced to the world finals at Michigan State University. • The TKHS National Honor Society inducted 55 new members into the Elizabeth Thurber Chapter this spring. • Five individual students earned musical hon­ ors at recent district competitions - three for solo choir and two for solo musical instrumentalists. • Seven students have been named PRO stu­ dents of the month at KCTC since January. • More than 40 companies were represented at the annual TK career fair. • More than 30 volunteers participated in mock job interviews with seniors. • 22 student-athletes received conference hon­ ors for winter sports. • TKHS drama and musical students gave three outstanding performances of “Wizard of Oz.” • Middle School students attended Career Quest at DeVos Place. 9 I t V /» .'I '3 I I II H j I I f . % i. » “r *•« 'l il i 13 rH ♦ 4 Saturday, March 29,2025 ♦ ' ! i I ] I J ,1 1 r J * I I r J I I i f F I F J •• t. I ;-F' r* < * * t * I f 9^. Vs s .i «• J-*** . » f 'll r t. 4 4 ♦ f V’’ z I 5 •'st e ■ >« i’ <20 fi r - L *♦ t. * 9 r r»' f s> J 3 •i .:?••* T» a -t- r*’. • 1 K. •**1 ' 4 J'?/ 9‘ 3»» .’-*F h / K •» > r X .+ < 9 vr i 2 e. jp \.4 v* • * L h I X 9%^ lif • W.5 .^5 *.P * « ' 9 9 l£^ j! ' RI. - >> 9 *v*- V. TKHS Science Olympiad team advances to the state finals. ''’L'”m /I ar J 4S 2 CJpA. • ‘.‘’• . A — ’ •1 t I X 1 -fl •s< I { b V I *t V T> •I ■bf’ jrwiD * - B5 A* ' J 1? '11^ K 15 ■' «3 A Lee Elementary students and teachers fill the hallways for DEAR time - Drop Everything and Read. • Elementary students completed Reading Month challenges. Reading Month emphasizes the importance of reading and encourages stu­ dents to continue reading all year. • Middle School band members are learning all 12 major scales. • Lee < Elementary is the all-time leader in the state for donations to the American Heart Association through Kids Heart Challenge (for­ merly known as Jump Rope for Heart.) • Page Elementary students learned about philanthropy and service through the Circle of Giving program. Students donated $736.95 to various organizations in the county. • Bus Yay! Awards are being given to students to celebrate positive behavior while riding the bus. • “Schools to Tools” mobile field trip made a stop at TK Middle School to give students handson experience in skilled trades. These highlights are by no means a complete list of the student achievements in recent months, but an example of the variety of ways students at TK are being successful. TK Schools is committed to continuing suc­ cess for students through excellence in education, building relationships with students, providing necessary support, and celebrating and recogniz­ ing student achievements. Stay up to date with all the news from TK Schools by following the district on social media - Facebook, Instagram and YouTube at TK Schools. Download the free TK App for all the latest information or check out the website at www.tkschools.org for more great stories about our students. Don’t miss the quarterly newsletter the TK Key - also packed with information and photos from all our schools. �f 4* O4 I '.I » I’' 14 Saturday. March 29, 2025 I THE SUN AND NEWS WWW sunandnews com r TK fills many spots on winter All-Barry County teams a BRETT BREMER Gold Conference for another title, but ultimately came up just short of its goal to gel back to the state finals. And it was a season of growth for some young TK bowlers. fherc were highs throughout the winter for all the I rojan sports teams, and many of the lop performers from the TK varsity squads have earned spots on the 2024-25 All-Barry County First and Second Teams along with members of Barry County Christian, Mastings, Delton Kellogg, Lakewood and Maple Valley teams in their respective sports. Here are those TK all-county award winners. Sports Editor ♦ Ihe MHSAA winter sports season wrapped up with the girls’ basketball finals in East I .ansi ng last weekend, and it was a fine winter season for a number of Thomapple Kellogg High School student-athletes. Ihe TK varsity boys’ and girls’ bas ketball teams both had double-digit wins with the I'K girls finishing as the winningest girls’ basketball team among the Barry County area schools during the 2024-25 season with 13 victories. fhe Thomapple Kellogg varsity wrestling team won a team district championship and the new TK varsity girls’ team competed in its first ever duals, while the two squads sent a handful of grapplers to the state finals at Ford Field at the end of the season. Swimmers from the Grand Rapids Gars co-op proved some of the best in the OK Rainbow East Division, and one I'K freshman raced his way into the state swim finals. The TK varsity competitive cheer team swept its way through the OK 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 WRESTLING First Team 120 - Christien Miller, Thornapple Kellogg; Miller closed his senior season as an OK Gold Conference champion and a regional qualifier. He put together a record of 35-10 this season. He was a two-time state qualifier in high school and a state medalist at the end of his sophomore campaign. TOVNSHIP I ‘4’ 165 - Blake Bossenberger, Thornapple Kellogg: Bossenberger GIRLS' WRESTUNG t 1 First Team Rylee Alberts, Thornapple Kellogg: A regional qualifier vsres- was a regional qualifier and a confer ence champion as a senior for the Trojans. He closed his year with a record of 36-10. I 175 - Jayce Curtis, Thomapple Kellogg: Curtis earned all-state hon­ ors for the first time as a senior this season placing eighth in Division 2’s 165-pound weight class al the slate finals. He was a three-lime state qualifier. Curtis closed his season with a record of 41-15. He was the OK Gold Conference champion at his weight class this season. Conference champion at 150-pounds this winter. Grummet put together an overall record of 30-18. Grummet had wins that clinched the Trojans’ team victories in the team state tournament, in the district finals against Gull Lake and regional semi­ finals against Harper Creek. I r- Ij’ ^4* ’ «b’ * I i I ! •J *:« .'4^ I' • • u 5t >* .1? I ■jk r !#> ff i ; * F f 4r- Braska completed her third straight season with al least 20 wins this win­ ter finishing with a mark of 20-10. Braska placed second at districts and third al regionals to earn her spot in the state finals at Ford Field. Wrestling at 115 pounds in the regular season and 110 in the postseason « Braska won her weight class at the Plainwell Tournament in December and the Ron Russo Classic in January'. Second Team 157 - Griffin Grummet, Thornapple Kellogg: The OK Gold .. »* .a I ( I Raini Braska. Thornapple Kellogg: A two-time state qualifier. WRESTLING J I tling at 140 pounds throughout her sophomore season. Alberts was 26-15 this season. Alberts was a stale qualifier a.s a freshman. This year, she was the champion at the Northview Girls Invitational at 140 pounds and the 145-pound runner-up at the Ken! County Championships. * C '* * i < t f s*. 'W I •f ! * •uM* A' -•7 r ' <»« **- I 'A ' -f 4l I > 1, *'»a J . ..WIR, A r• 1 rJS0 w t I a V* Brielle Dykstra, Thornapple ’ • Kellogg: Competing at 115 and 120 pounds throughout the season. Dynasty wrestled her way to 12 wins in her junior campaign. Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 CaledwiA < H , - w Mf •f * 1 t I ■If-' 7 k ■< M • ' • > .* I s t'..w '• I See TEAMS on Page 15 < .-L I i CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN I .K - tr«i <- PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, April 17th, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Charter Township of Caledonia will hold a meet­ ing at the Caledonia Township Building, 8196 Broadmoor Ave SE. Caledonia, Michigan, concerning the application of Walter Bujak. Ihe applicant is seeking a variance from the watercourse setback requirement for a replacement deck to be built on this parcel. A di­ mensional variance is needed due to the watercourse setback requirement stated in ZO Section 3.45. Such land is located at 6662 Thornapple River Dr. SE Alto, MI 49302 and is legally described as follows: a 1*10 o-ibate'" * 3f I ‘ > s ite:. .*r s I » 4 / < r VVi bW i ? it BA M L* t 9» ' «■ uw » M. ■' 4. J w i J i& 1 «. X r I < - .rv «r X A“ :« ■ * e „ if ■*• Il F* CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA '* • .«<» •ntfva "aT I* ■ * L. n sag I- •v. rw’"’" A / s ♦> R >• ir* •4b.. KS 1 -0aflhBv.^ J Posted: March 29, 2025 *!h I -r ■ »w fliTiiSiki r k am iCfi*-------ai r ‘'■'UI 4*^ «. OL’S * '.a* -tf* •••Sf * I* 4i ' ... All interested persons may attend the meeting and be heard with regard to the requested variance. Written comments concerning the proposed variance may be submitted to the Township Office, at the above-stated address, up to the time of the public hearing. 3aa I ft;' / / I. « lite ^siyi isiisasx^k EbsiiSi ssrant^wjil J I < A' ***J * I' 1 if 1 PART SW 1/4 COM AT INT OF N LINE OF THORNAPPLE RIVER DR /66 FT WIDE/ & EXT E LINE OF * LOT 13 BLK 7 OF VILLAGE OF NORTH BROWNVILLE * TH NWLY ALONG SD DR LINE 288.0 FT TH NELY 10 FT M/L PERP TO SD DR LINE TO CONT 666 FT ON LT BANK OF THORNAPPLE RIVER TH ELY ALONG SD CONT LINE TO A PT N FROM BEG TH S TO BEG * SEC 3 T5N RIOW 0.10 A. I l ► { * 'a.,' 4 ■ I t t « ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS •*« ...4 I ! t • 1** 1 « *. > rUit IC Zi V 1 »X" ♦ 1 '. ■< «y •w * ’29wk _ . Jayce Curtis 1 #. b C M r a w a h I » 4 < i I4J 5 58 fe 1 •■ f ' * . / 11*1 •. % 9l 4 4, r ! I 1 4 » I I I V I I > 21 Ir <■ VA CO. 9-1-1 CENTER 4 I 5 6 I I 1 8 4 91 10 I I I IT’ I' I’I'I' I ’ I 71 SI I I I I rr i: " DIAL (800) 249-091 IffON - EMERGENCIES a Kids Measure up atflX wa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 141 a 151 161 171 181 19 I I ' r I I to 101 I III ' I ' 111 I a 4 t 12i B.' s * V rn, BO. la* t OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 20 21I 22I 23I 24 25 t b $ I0J I 26I 27I 281 291 30 r !*. «4< > �Jb 1 V s (f. 4 X . ■)» ♦ ♦ ■ 5* a Ik TEAMS Continued from Page 14 » 5 W * »\ <1 She was a medalist at the Hastings Saxons Invitational at 115 pounds and reached the blood round at districts before bowing out of the state tourna­ ment. Emma Gibson, Thornapple Kellogg: A three time state qualifier, Gibson finally finished on the medal stand at the state finals placing sixth in the girls’ 135-pound weight class. She was 31-7 on the season and added district and regional cham­ pionships to go along with a title at the Kent County Championships and a couple other tournament titles throughout the season. Adelaide Holderman, Thornapple Kellogg: Holderman placed fourth as a sophomore in the girls’ 170-pound weight class at the state finals closing the season with a record of 32-13. Holderman was a district and regional runner-up this season, falling only to the eventual state champion at both of those tournaments. t i ‘ Ct -t I T t t r > ■SV’ 1 s i I 'Q. fx I « » 9 Mia. t, ' t> '^1 «4b. i J '! j « ) r. da »fc l€f? «• X t 41 u I r I Q I it <*|f .M • > I < «. IW ! .4. * '<1K z. t I I f x X ^*<a f -•z s., * ’< AU’ "Ll. >< i v." 1 K ItK > /9 u. b«lh ’• r-*"] A f*; ..k'L' . i J * u«. LX * ■***« « k s 4 GIRLS’ WRESTLING H. Second Team Shaylynn Myers, Thornapple Kellogg: A freshman competing at 145 pounds for TK, Myers won 11 matches this season. Myers wrestled her way to the blood round of the girls’ district tournament in Hastings at the end of the season. Aubrey Sines, Thornapple Kellogg: Sines had 11 victories dur­ ing her sophomore season competing at 140 pounds. t’: < : . J rT" I . 1 I ^4' r •» • f I 1 1 'ghi^oritlo bni#! I tb Esoil 1 nr^ ; M II pr 5 I! I’Brl <. ^^tJROltoX I _ ' l Is ' J. • w 1 fe v;I 1 / » .*» f >,♦ s • I r < 'ji I. * I *« ■ /« I I • X 3 ■ rw u c J •4^ I Fli ti*2 J h h J c X i -• ii * V r I L T i .-4 ♦. V IF ' 'K B ? i • z n L If K I i f / J A * Itf 1 f ♦ I < '* < m.-. * 'v inma ttsIB vd »rtori<1 Saturday, March 29,2025 Jude Webster. ' eC'ijb Photos by Brett Bremer She will look to bounce back after a junior after a tough exit from the state tournament falling to her teammate Alberts in the blood round of the dis trict tournament in Hastings. * BOYS’ BASKETBALL First Team Trey Hilton, Thornapple Kellogg: A junior forward, Hilton led TK in rebounding with 4.8 points with 4.8 per game. Hilton was tied for second in scor­ ing on the Trojan team with nine points per game and capable of scor­ ing inside and out. Jude Webster, Thornapple Kellogg: A senior guard for the Trojans, Webster led his team in scor­ ing at 13 points per game with his ability to hit from outside and get to the rim. Webster was named first team all-conference in the OK Gold this winter. BOYS’ BASKETBALL Second Team Lucas Ploeg, Thornapple Kellogg: A junior guard/forward, Ploeg tied for second on the TK team with 9 points per game this season. Ploeg averaged 3 rebounds per game for the Trojan team while being a physical presence inside and out. GIRLS’ BASKETBALL First Team Reece Ritsema, Thornapple Kellogg: A sophomore forward, Ritsema averaged a double-double with 10.1 points and 11 rebounds per game. Her combination of size, skill, speed and aggressiveness make her a beast around the basket. She was named all-conference in the OK Gold this winter. Lydia Schilthroat, Thomapple Kellogg: Honorable mention all­ conference in the OK Gold during her senior season at point guard for the Trojans. Schilthroat averaged 6.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2 steals a game. GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Second Team Tealy Cross, Thornapple Kellogg: Injury stymied her junior season a bit, but the junior guard still managed to contribute 3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2 steals a game. Offensively, Cross uses her speed to get to the basket and score in transi­ tion and on the defensive end she is a feisty on-ball defender. Taylor Lloyd, Thomapple Kellogg: The Trojans’ leading scorer with 13.9 points per game as a freshman this winter. Lloyd was able of attacking and getting to the basket and also an out­ side threat who set a school record with eight three-pointers in a January win over Grand Rapids Union in Middleville. COMPETITIVE CHEER First Team Payton Gater, Thornapple Kellogg: A returning all-state per­ former from TK’s 2024 state finals squad, she made the move to back spot to fill team needs after being a base in each of her first two seasons. She was named all-conference and all-district this year. “Payton always proves to be a dynamic asset to the team in any way needed,” TK head coach Madelynn Lula said. Mia Hilton, Thornapple Kellogg: a junior flyer for the Trojans, Hilton was named all-conference, all-district and an all-region award winner this season. “Mia is a returning flyer with talent that continues to grow beyond our expectations. She has a very deco­ rated reputation in the cheer world already and will continue to chase being an all-conference, district, and region athlete in her senior year,” coach Lula said. Vi 6 COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the March It 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on March 25, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main Street and on the website at www.villaqeofmiddleville.orq. Claira Kovich, Thornapple Kellogg: A junior who earned all­ conference, all-district and all-region honors for the second season in a row. “Claira is also a returning flyer with talent and heart that is unmatched by many,” coach Lula said. Lilly McKeown, Thornapple Kellogg: A senior backspot for TK in her third year competing at TK and her tenth year in a competitive cheer program. She was named all-confer­ ence in the OK Gold this winter. “Lilly is a dedicated athlete who fought hard through an injury this season without missing a step,” coach Lula said. COMPETITIVE CHEER Second Team Kaylee Clarke, Thornapple Kellogg: A junior, Clarke was named all-conference and all-district this winter. A front spot as a freshman, she just spent her second season as a flyer. “’’Kaylee has grown as an athlete far beyond what we ever could have expected when we first met her. She continues to prove to be abundantly coachable, selfless and is full of raw talent,” coach Lula said. Sienna Schalk, Thornapple Kellogg: A junior, Schalk earned all­ conference and all-district honors for See TEAMS on Page 16 IRVING TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS Marchis, 2025 Meeting called to order at 6:30pm at 3425 Wing Rd. Hastings, Michigan 49058 Present: Lydy, Buehler, Brummel, Nagel, Stout Agenda approved with amendments Approved February 18, 2025 Meeting Minutes Fire and Sexton Reports presented Barry County Community Mental Health presentation Passed eight resolutions Approved to pay bills in the amount of $6,564.59 Upcoming Meeting date: Board Meeting April 15, 2025 6;30pm Adjourn 7:10pm Full minutes are available at lrvingtownship.org or at 3425 Wing Rd, Hastings, Ml 49058. CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meeting Minutes The minutes for the March 5,2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on March 19, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave and on the website at www.caledoniatown•> Prepared by Deputy Clerk, Shelly Lake. Attested to by Supervisor, Dan Lydy. K J •I 4 J ' f 119 1. «« L Ail <** I ** 9 I I / t ’ I k I I I '0 f. 15 ♦ 11 A 11 ft K THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com i?, 11 I ft A t 4 L I A 1 i a 1 I 4 1 \ ♦ �z ■r^lL T^ ifc». nte< 1 I in « Saturday, March 29, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews com it ■ ! Continued from Page 15 ♦ TK this winter. A returning base for the Trojans, she competed in all three rounds. “She was able to learn how to back spot overnight to help her team during a time of sickness on the team,” coach Lula said. “Sienna has been compet­ ing in cheerleading for most of her life and has settled into a very comfortable leadership role this year. Emma Syswerda, Thornapple Kellogg: A freshman who earned allconference honors in the OK Gold. She took over a spot as a base for TK with some middle school experience before getting to the varsity. “Emma quickly took to the inten­ sity of our program and gained all of the necessary skills to compete in all three rounds,” coach Lula said. ♦ ft*" .:W TEAMS ^OYS’ SWIMMING & DIVING Eirst Team Caden Bliek, GR Gars: Bliek drooped his personal best times in the freestyle sprints at the OK Rainbow East Division Championship while scoring in both races for his team. He turned in a personal best time of 24.75 seconds in the 50-yard freesty le and 57.55 in the lOO-yard freestyle. Ty Denney, GR Gars: A top free­ style sprinter for the Gars, Denney placed third in the 5(>-yard free­ style with a time of 23.68 seconds at the OK Rainbow East Division Championship. He also placed fifth in the 100-yard freestyle at the conference meet in 52.86 and was a contributor to the Gars' relays throughout the year. Luke Hemker, GR Gars: A top breaststroke performer for his team and in his conference, Hemker set his personal best at 1:15.71 in the race while placing ninth at the OK Rainbow E^t Division Championship. Hemker competed in the m^ley relay for the Gars throughout the sea­ son too. Dominic Jakubowski, GR Gars: Jakubowski scored for the Gars in the 50-yard freestyle at the OK Rainbow East Division Championship with a 14th-place time of 25.98. that was anew personal best. Jakubowski also set a personal best lOO-yard freestyle time at the confer­ ence meet of 58.92. Ethan Klopfenstein, GR Gars: —a —* U I H' ‘Uno M BIUOOS RaAI>- MIDDLJtVll.lJL, MICHIGAN «OS3 ________________ 2O-7W0V1 t VAX 2e»-705-2388________________ YANKEE SnUN&S TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Klopfenstein capped his senior season by winning the lOO-yard backstroke championship at the OK Rainbow East Division Championship with a personal best time of 56.34 in the race. He earned all-conference honors while also being one of his team's top racers in the butterfly. He set his per­ sonal best in the lOO-yard butterfly at the conference meet at 55.67. Sreyas Murmu, GR Gars: Murmu got into the A finals of both the 100yard backstroke and the 100-yard butterfly at the OK Rainbow East Division Championship this season. He turned in a personal best lime of 1:06.62 in the backstroke to place seventh and was eighth in the butterfly in 1:04.16 to place eighth in the but­ terfly. Nolan Send, GR Gars: A senior, Send had a top individual finish al the OK Rainbow East Division Championship of fourth in the 200yard freestyle where he turned in a personal besl time of 1:57.30. Send also had a top ten finish in the 500-yard freestyle at the conference meet and worked to chase a state cut with the Gars’ 200-yard freestyle relay team. He had some of his team’s top times in the 200-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle throughout the season. Hunter Tietz, GR Gars: A senior, Tietz earned all-conference honors in the OK Rainbow East Division this season. He had the fastest time of the season in the 50-yard freestyle this season for the Gars clocking in al 23.61 seconds al ihc lx>y Norrix Invitational. He placed second al ihc conference meet in ihc 100-yard backstroke and third in the 200-yard individual med­ ley while also working with the 200yard freestyle relay team to in and chase down a slate cut Gabriel Van. GR Gan: A fresh­ man, Van swam to a I7ih-place finish in the prelim’s of the 100-yard but­ terfly at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Boys’ Swimming and Diving Finals this season turning in a personal record lime of 53.44 seconds in the race. He earned all-conference honors in the OK Rainbow East Division, winning the 100-yard butterfly, and had the lop Gars’ lime in the 50-yard freestyle, the 100-yard freestyle, the 200-yard freestyle, the butterfly and the 200-yard individual medley this season. Haiden Vruggink, GR Gars: Vruggink was one of the lop distance swimmers for the Gars’ team this winter. He placed seventh in the OK Rainbow East Division with a lime of 2:04.52 in the 200-yard freestyle. He was eighth in the 500-yard freestyle with a personal best time of 5:43.76 in the prelim’s al the conference meet. .# ;r" * '♦ I 16 • r . Mwh / j*T JP*- . « V '•f •l I 1 I -. I j* I i. A i « 4 •r J I ’ > 4 I J JV^ 4<5 r 6 I I r /• J4 5^' MlT jrfU ‘ I ! 05 •1 V I I >< jr 4 K I f ^a* w« .> JI •i 1 I * 9 i^^*-. i;i# .'J* , I i 4 * rrr MV** ( I 1 *. ’ V- fl t Y M** <T» -.Cr* i ■P-I 11 I I t f •U^ t I . 8 < t 1 9 •. r - I BOYS’ SWIMMING & DIVING • > A : a Second Team Ethan Magnuson, GR Gars: '« k i i k >* & See TEAMS on Page 17 TO THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIPOF YANKEE SPRINGS, BARRY COUNTY. MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER 4 A • I 9 ’ J s V • I INTERESTtD PERSONS; 1 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that • public hearing will be held on April 17, 2025, commencing at 7:00 p.fn. the Yankee Sprmgs Townihip Hall 214 *fe i N. Briggs Rd., Middleville Mi. within the Township, as required under the provisions of the Michigan Zoning EntNing Act aid (he Zoning Ordinaice for i I the Township. 9 <I 1^- Cl i P1.EASE TAKE NOTICE In addition to participation durir^ a public hearing, memben of the public may also provide comments for the Planning Com- 1 mission'B consideration by emailing or mailing those comments to the Planning Commission for receipt prior to the meeting in care of the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea ( ioeshea(^\ankeesorinystwD.oty) Letten and emaib art <hie one week before the hearing date: or by leaving a phone message prior ■* A w w 4 I 4 to the meeting with the Township Zoning AdmmisOaior, Joe Shea at 269-795-9091. iBadranimi PLEASE TAKE FlfRTHER NOTICE that the itemfs) to be considered at said public hearing include, in brief, the following h J. I. SEU 25415-05; Piml ID: 16-5704)05-00,2759 Saadoa Circle, Wayhad, Ml 49548 A request by Rich and Starr Adams, the properly owners, for a special exception use permh to operate a commercial Short-lenn rental pursuant to the Yankee Springs Zeming Ordinance. ArticU X Short Tim kfitlab. l'•'■*!■ islink#! t 2. ZOC 25-05-01; Whbperug Pia« Coadomiaians, Whispering Pines Road, Wayland Ml 49548 Parcel IDs: 16-370-001-00. 16-370-0024)0. 16-3704)03-00, 16-3704)044)0, 16-370-005-00, 16-3704)064)0. 16-3704)074)0, 16-37(W)0W0. 16-370-009-00. 16-370-010-00. 16-370-011-00, > 16-3704)12-00.16-370-013-00,16-3704)144)0.163704)154)0.16-370-016-00.16-370-017-00,163704)18-00,163704)194)0,163760204)0,16 ! 370-021 -00. and all condominium common areas. Public Heving of a proposed rtzoning of the property from “Resort and Recreation’' to “Gun Lake ? »♦ Residential Lakefront" pursuant to the Yankee Springs Zoning Ordinance. Article XIX, Arnendmeitt^ to Zoning Ordmeiicf and Officiet Zoning Map f I ■ j. 3. SEII 2602-04; Parcel ID: 163704)154)0, 2754 Saadoa Circle 913, Wayland, Ml 49548 A request by Christopher vid Patricia Gonser, the property ownen, for a special exception use permit to operate a commercial Short-term rental pursuant to the Yankee Springs Zonmg Ordinmee, • * 1 1 Article X, Short Tenn XentaK 4. SEU 25-02-05; Parcel ID: 16215-01620, Lol 22 Streeters Resort Plat, Middleville Ml 49555. A request by Robert and Patricia Albaugh, the property owners, for a special exception use permit to build an outbuilding pursuant to the zoning ordinance, Article XII, sectiai 117 OntbuSdingt s A * ' t r •1 I: 5. Such other hesioess as may properly come before (be Planning CommissioB 11 Anyone interested in reviewing the application mVeria) may do so al the township hall. All interested persons are invited to be present V die aforesaid i w* time and place, or, if an electronic meeting is held, to participate via the electronic meeting. ., i 5 Yankee Springs Town^ip will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, to individuals with disabilities at the hearing upon four (7) 's days' pnof notice to the Township Clerk, individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Towrship Clerk at the address ■ • t •igr ■ or telephone number listed below. I -bl YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION :i By: Shana Bush, Chairperson Yankee Springs Township Hall ::*“*** 1 9 284 N. Briggs Rd.. Middleville, Michigan 49333 (269) 795-9091 t, s • it e r f I ) II (■M H '' ’ .< r s~ ‘ ( I i^TW ' • — '.A . s- / M- t, a • --•—' '.%r « I I I I "P T I 4 •J 5 r I “I I "I J 8 9I 10 I I .1 ■ 10 11 12 T. OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES I f.* I k DIAL (800) 249-0911 'i'JON - EMERGENCIES “Kids Measure up at Q^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" NA CO. 9-1-1 4 r V 111 121 131 141 151 161 171 18 191 20 21 22 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 301 j r 1 1 J j II •1 II r I «I ■ •, ii 4 t‘ '9rtit3i.j5jm a r 1^ f > Jenna Robinett .•* 3^ t' a t f f < 4 Z Z 4 t i i >s«* �I k\ W U>,> ♦ / * V ♦ • I X ► *•*5 . r k • < > 0 V u *-*• <b*> • ,»<k '• aJ kV * I. 4 The top diver for the Grand Rapids Gars this winter. He placed sixth at the OK Rainbow East Division Championship and was 25th at regionals. Magnuson also competed in the 200yard freestyle relay at times this season for the Gars. *b* > 8 n. f <4l 1 ? i I < A 4 , tk •w, •< \ 0'** k.' 0k v< 7.. Ik *<* Qi.c5‘; $«,, i i ■k; ' ■'* f ’s. > I * Buter had the top average for the TK boys of 144. He rolled a 225 as a high game this winter. * u*. j / r t * I t V -Mr» A, Vr'r 44 .A ■ •r: li > «. 'X. TROJAN ■•uJ * * I* «»• '.U -J i ' I ! I f1Jm I 4 I ish in the pole vault from junior Luke Archer as he cleared 10-0. Sophomore Camden Peter was 24th in the high jump at 5-4. The top relay finish for the TK boys came in the 4x600-meter relay with the team of senior Case Dykhouse, soph­ omore Layne Schilthroat, sophomore Elijah Frazer and freshman Jackson Hasty 23rd in 6:51.04. Sophomore Brandan Velting added a 25th-place time of 54.42 seconds in the 400-meter run. The TK ladies had a number of girls finish as high as the top 25 in events. Hilton, a previous state medalist, also had a personal record run of 1:01.81 in the 400-meter dash that had her seventh. Amya Gater was 19th in that one in » * illLl i hJ A tic I !f II 41 ' s < I ’T^ c fUreau r * I 1 :*10lfcl.ziT '5(1* .I ? 4 Jiolfi J MW' ’ * k son I I 1 3 I £b ?^rii • ‘ «} afiw ToiiEXbZfTiA * i 1 "Co < bf/max B I 4.'’ BARN HELP WANTED Must have experience with horses. Full and part time positions available with competitive pay. Please call 269-207-4218 or email at zlpowell@yahoo.com if interested. EXPERIENCED GARDNER 3 to 4 days a week with flexible schedule. Please apply in person at Saskatoon Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto. COMMERCIAL-RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rapids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic@remax.net i • > K*? : 1 -^MEMORY IN LOVING MEMORY- Paul L. Dykstra, husband. Dad and Grandpa, who passed away 5 years ago April 3, 2020; and Paul “Spike” Dykstra, son, brother and Uncle, who passed away March 7, 2023. We think of you so often, the things you did and said, you never really left us, you just went on ahead. We continue to remember you with warm and loving thoughts. Sadly missed by Sheila Dykstra, Brenda and Carl Blough and families. I r-’ '■? A H J I $ f ilk A*'' R RE/MAX I RI Commercial/Residential Full Time Agent V fc 3 L3 k 4 ' ’’i J, Cl a >«■ >. —■>1 7^^ rll I Cell; (616) 204*9792 I Office: (616)957-0700 H' J * 05^ .f J5>’ ♦ Ml .//SursCaf CeLL((0 3< CJA-F} Give us a call! 1 5 — J signAl I Email: margoperic@remax.net 269-967-8241 www.theantennanien.com antennamen@gmail.com www.cellsignalpros.com : J *F I F • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers • Cellular Enhancement Systems L OF GRAND RAPIDS I Margaret (Margo) E, Peric i ■S'"’'’*.. ■ i*: » A EMPLOYMENT r J ■ BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy single walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-8187793. Antenna Meri I J A* . M<O •# 1 TREE SERVICE ? { J'S NEED STUMP GRINDING? Call 269-908-6227 Rooted Outdoor Services. I f II? STUMP REMOVAL 1:05.11. Trojan senior state medalist Ava Crews placed seventh in the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:16.72. Payton Gater, Amya Gater, Kietzman and sophomore Isla Tillema teamed up to place seventh in the girls’ 4x600meter relay with a time of 7:28.24. Dykhouse wasn’t the only top perform­ er in the shot put for TK. Senior Lilly McKeown earned a mark of 29-5.25 that put her 16th and junior Marlee Shuford was 21st with a put of 27-11.5. Sophomore Lydia Slagel was 16th in the pole vault clearing 7-0. Payton Gater scored a 21st-place high jump finish clearing 4-8. In the long jump, the TK girls’ team had Payton Gater 14th (15-8), Amya Gater 15th (15-6.5) and Dykhouse 18th (15-2). Continued from Page 10 u i CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 t !i <1 CONSTRUCTION Phillips had a 130 average on the season and got better and better as the season went on. She had a high game of 163 late in the year. I ■ .*» JNR BUILDERS Concrete flatwork; Driveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored. Licensed and insured. Call Jeff (616)2937729 Second Team Casey Phillips, Thornapple Kellogg: the season. He rolled a high game of 192. 1 CEMENT/CONCRETE GIRLS’ BOWLING Landen England, Thornapple Kellogg: England had a 138 average for I :k t Fi DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOWPLOWING. Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing Dumpster-Solutions.com (616)283-9712 Robinett led the TK girls with a 140 aver­ age on the season and had a high game of 183. She earned all-conference honors in the OK Gold this season. Second Team Chase Buter, Thornapple Kellogg: <• 17 BUSINESS SERVICES Jenna Robinett, Thornapple Kellogg: • ‘A ’I t < average this winter and rolled a high game of 179. She earned honorable mention allconference in the OK Gold and was the Trojans’ top scorer at regionals at the end of the season. BOYS’ BOWLING ‘•'1, Classifieds First Team Kenzie Hoogterp, Thornapple Kellogg: Hoogterp put together a 130 * < bi- GIRLS’ BOWLING Continued from Page 16 e 1 ( Saturday, March 29,2025 ♦ ♦ TEAMS i > JR* THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 'V J I I > I I free r 4 I Estimates • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam �< i r 'r J 1 I f I »■ I Saturday. March 29, 2025 18 THE SUN AND NEWS 9 Timothy ‘Tim ‘Tiny’ Wade Jr. Obituaries ♦ A A ♦ ♦ William James Callan William James Callan, age 94, of Middleville, Ml passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025. He was born on the family farm in Grandville, Ml on February 14,1931. Bill’s love of farming, nature, and gardening continued throughout his life. He was a United States Army Korean War veteran and earned a Bronze Service Star, National Defense Service and United Nations Service Medals. Bill retired from General Motors after 22 years and was an accomplished machinist and electrician. Prior to that he worked at General Electric for 12 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Mary (Kindlarski) Callan in 2019; daughter, Ann Hammond; granddaughter, Laci Washburn. ; He will be lovingly remembered by his son, John (Georgia) Callan; grandchildren: Matthew (Sharon) Callan (Danielle, Matthew, Jr., Maya). Molly Callan, Mark Heyboer, Max Heyboer, Chelsea Lozano; as well as several beloved nephews and nieces. A Mass of Christian Burial was held 11 a.m. on Friday, March 28, 2025 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9669 Kraft SE. Caledonia, with Rev. Michael Cilibraise presiding. Interment St. Patrick Cemetery. Relatives and friends met the family on Friday from 10-11a.m. prior to the service at the church. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Holy Family Catholic Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com. www.sunandnews.com Z X (Jeremiah Edwards), Bailey Haight; grandchildren. Haizee Reynolds, Kain Reynolds. Daphne Wade, Dalia Wade. Pterce Hight; mother-in-law, Penny Wade; cousin, Eric ., Anderson; special friends, Tammie Morse, Billie and Brenda Kindle. Bill and Glenda Kindle, Trenton, and his beloved dragons, Tink and Tank. Tim graduated from Caledonia. Timothy ‘Tim’ 'Tiny’ Wade Jr., age 48. of Caledonia Ml passed away Monday March 17, 2025. He was preceded in death by his father, Timothy Thomas Wade Sr.; mother, Judith Kay Anderson; grandparents, George and Edith Anderson. Tim is survived by his daughters, Kaylee Anne Wade I I I 4 fl >■ ' <t • M I ■'>' > I •I f ^4 7 J I fl 'F I !« ’ « w t i < I i. x!> I : I ► t f' () <* b>' 1 I 4 t f i •5 1, ■ I A Al/. * V i }• J » 4 iJ* b * « 1( I, 4, ' / I: ; I V * z V J V •I !>t 4 ■f Z‘ *9 Ml. ». 4 ! 'W s 29 ✓* !»»■ d 9 ** v-'T." . i f 9k • i- I I * 4 t * Z* J 5 .s A* /fl ■1 r** w** th- I I * 4 ■'"V j9 IB <. * • A•s > w *'P. ♦.I ‘jfci *. V ' 1 < * t F* *4 * ' •>.. 'i 4^ •> 9 .* f 5** A I h * .1 4 t 4*3 *f >** S '. r > rj > • b V ----- ■ • •* . W ..4 & . > I * •s.I Fledgling turkey hunters are invited to learn from experienced mentors at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute next month. Courtesy photo F - dAit^ > I j> t >u J Bim i J fl National Wild Turkey Federation teaching new hunters at PCCI next month RODNEY & RENA SCHAD L b •* s 1 » * fettr « New adult hunters can learn to hunt wild turkeys next month from experi­ enced mentors at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings. The event, sponsored by the National Wild Turkey Federation, is one of many events it is sponsoring next month aimed at educating new turkey hunters. Hunters will gather at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings from Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27. A LEGACY OF GENEROSITY A former US Marine and his wife of I 50 years, created a scholarship fund for TK graduates who pursue a career in Industrial Arts, CAD/CAM, engineering, industrial design), providing a legacy for over 30 years. Even today, their endowed fund grows from the ongoing generosity of family and friends, honoring life and legacy of the Schad family. k^a .A J -S? • r s». •l THORNAPPIE AREA m r I ij ’ fll" i I I I The cost is $225, which includes two nights’ lodging, Friday evening dinner, breakfast snacks, Saturday lunch and Saturday evening wild game sampling. This event is limited to eight new hunters (two hunters per mentor) and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration can be found at your. nwtf.org/events/login7. For more information, contact Jen Davis atjdavis@nwtf.net or 734-6806049. MM aw ningy I’bnH 4 « 'L:rjiicZ,<r3t Ltdfirf.ina i'l’ 'fin f k I J » lV I ' 1 «> 5^ < SSftt I * t I I? I ‘fo.- Zit?: /, * -r I .<20^ I I 1 I . «A AI B B <4 ■ u I Li • B BA fl ] I k ■ I- ♦ UI •1 • IMh y. .4iambiW I < 'l; t I 4 I F ' .1 It- I A . k I The Village of Middleville Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 1,2025 at 7:00 pm has been cancelled. i «• r o I A I' • <4. * I * .A I r n-i 7.1-Tr Ir ■ 1 9 H .i ■ .A ■ V’ I , t si Rhonda Van Polen Village Clerk ’9«». * L 6 *1^ ^>1 I J t 6A «• Ei;' ■ p I I ■ ■ r I jl ’JL I ■I I I I ^-..l ««> . I if I I It Hh I 1. J" “■ “ I • •> l/VA CO. 9-1 -1 C TER I I I 5 I 1 DIAL (800) 249-0911 fMON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at ^tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" n ' I' 10 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES J 191. 1 M I 4 5J 114 91 10 111 12| 131 141 9 iW u I . —Vz '•* . 0 r _ 151 161 171 181 191 201 211 22 231 24 251 261 271 281 291 30 <• Viisn p »1 •f. 1^’ •••* 4 I fl I ■ ■ ■ n I ‘•I 4 I I ( I 1 r } I 4 K i 4 9 I I I ^*1 ft I I B . I:r « i J •I XJ t A > I ;’ I I Wl I I ■'•li / a ( '• 4 I The meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 7:00 pm b li ' r st 100 East Main Street ~ Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villaegofmiddleville.org THE BARRYCOMMUNITYFOUNDATION 231 S, BROADWAY ST, HASTINGS Ml WWW.BARRYCF.ORG I f . Is >1 I -AH I 4 I k YEARS OF IMPROVING LIVES FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP CSftW!- i 1 If you want to learn more on leaving a legacy, please call Bonnie Gettys or Annie Halle at 269-9450526, to help ensure that your gifts can support your hopes and dreams. ENRICHMENT « t % X �..a—l-jfc.. . • % ft ft ft www.sunandnews.com J Saturday, March 29,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 19 X ft e e Legal advice offered at no cost to Barry County seniors AM .w. «i a % t L.. k 'B* . * J ft \a X. X » ’W* *<■ M; t '«'• M I K. <1^ . I l^ The Legal Services of South Central Michigan-Battle Creek office will conduct over-the-phone inter­ views for legal advice and possible representation, without charge, to interested Barry County seniors this month. Those who wish to speak with an attorney should call the 269-2245040 between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11. Legal Services of South Central Michigan-Battle Creek office is a nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance, representation and education to low-income people in Calhoun and Branch counties and seniors in Barry, Branch, Calhoun and St. Joseph counties. The advice and counsel is funded primarily by the Area Agency on Aging Region 3B through the Michigan Aging and Adult Services Agency under the Older Americans Act of 1965. -J ad ■ I r X if I.-I r-. w • ^^'*’ - • A> ^rraar ',4 - if.." T k 999^ .<1* B" . . I i. '^I / J • T A •.-S’ •»• ’«' rf*r I iXS&bi' -9ft c *l\ V V-»' ' *H I * t ‘h : i J B • f A 4 y .A ;< « ft J T. u liB Hi' > . ji - 1 .^dUB f t ' ‘W. e 'H <*► u. :| Ui • • I t '! . w t J J I — MM 4 * k I• ( I I I I 1l J ft ”^<1 >: B ;* «• nitbi I : Mrti ,4 tf 1 > « » i ) * S- I V •tfw. I f aU^i t •; -r. • w * Ir V ’t *I I eaUt '1 « o «.«*. c 5 IRVING BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE 2025-2026 Will be conducted at 3425 Wing Rd, Hastings, MI Tel # 269-948-0633 • W' i s®. April 15, 2025 6:30pm I i k ♦ >» at,.;?: Dn,jhWJ May 20, 2025 7:00pm T I 6 1 I • H t k i sd 'jlSstefeeOi, k:’ ''5 CHURCH IM Ui *4’ 1 I Sorvioa Times Sunday at 9:30 AM A 6:00 PM www.alaskabaptist.oro 7260 68th Street SC, Caledonia IRST BAPTIST Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville f *T-:* Liv«’slr«'Hrn f.itc’tuxili cc»m/(irstt>.iplislmnklh?vilh CHURCH July 15, 2025 7:00pm August 19, 2025 7:00pm Middleville Location September 16, 2025 7:00pm 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am 1 -iXA t Jr • I « «* > I # * w • •-» • February 17, 2026 6:30pm t <* i® 'M ' t ( « I r,. ' I. - December 16, 2025 6:30pm January 20, 2026 6:30pm 7 «» November 18, 2025 6:30pm 4J r i October 21, 2025 7:00pm * « » •1 •* 616-891 -8669 k Good Shepherd ’ Lutheran Church Sunday Worship............ 3<b JOURNEY 250 Vine Street 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstoneml.org/weekend fl HOLY FAMILY jJCATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) ,1 '!' .4. ! Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am « .... 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepage$.com Saturday Evening Mass ,.. 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. Church: (269) 795-2391 AAPEACE Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. <**^^%*^ ia: ft Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. CHURCH Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. PEACCCHURCH.ee « Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 * Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.itpaulcaledonia.org t nec ' ; >b cornerstonechurch > I ftl Caledonia Vine Street Church /far. Christine M, Beatitloin 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am k k ALASKA BAPTIST Caledonia Location « p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry Anyone with questions may call Virginia. 269-908-8036. or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. The first meeting is free LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY June 17, 2025 7:00pm ----- R < Linda lost the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting closed with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge TOPS, a weight loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville, Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 I k »m The March 24 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary's report. There is one new fish in the fishtxwl. Two fish fell out This week, the chapter members discussed their experiences at last weekend's Spring Workshop in Battle Creek u X rrt I* TOPS 546 FBCMIDDLEVIILE.NET - 5215 M37 • 269-795-9726 ••'*»** •i’ MIDDLEVILLE I March 17, 2026 6:30pm Yankee Springs Bible Church THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES; Sunday at 9:30am & 11 Warn 20 State Street MMdtevHie. Ml / i e Churc 8655 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto 616.891.8661 www.whitneyvillebible.org PastorJonathan DcCou Sunday School Sunday Worship 8900 Duffy Road Middleville. MI 49333 fV Shining Forth God'g Light 99 Sunday Morning Worship 10:00 a.m. Community Group............ 11:00 a.m. 9:10 AM 10:30 AM \Natch our services from our web^e (see above) James L. Collison, Pastor www.yaniccespringsbiblechurch.org �Saturday, March 29, 2025 p ■> I 4 i 1^'«kV ' T ' •« Id * *^iK- *T * r. - - - 'j»^' / K % y ;4 J <« A. vs, V r. * A r A Si ** T ■ ADVERTISE YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS BACK PAGE FOR ONLY 4C PER HOUSEHOLD t,/ •^pr > J WWW sunarwan<Mb».ciom / t < i ft*- THE SUN AND NEWS <* i V . -f -,iV- ,P The Sun and News is direct mailed to 14,800 homes every week through the US Postal Service * LET US CONNECT YOU TO YOUR NEXT CUSTOMER! # I ' ’► * r t ? 4 > X 1 c- *yfc. *3 « * ■* K C-: Za 1 J ir f t '1 w ,k > <4 g > 0/ < ‘ !> 1 4 4 4 Wife z pH .4 ,^E3 * a 1 . ■. .Wl A f 4 r:^ «» « > 9 • J < 4 •r.i;; u y 4^ s r.?:* J > . \ p • s ur V 1 * ., r A 1 If • ...J kJ 9 4 » t J d¥ T♦ Mr T. r ss^ «4 > t 1 g' 1 li 1 1 *4 A al A.’ < p p 1 P P V W ppp PM P P P ■■ V r* 4 A OBB avM A « SO 1hBm>ABOkS t t 'w M ft •T-TI R 4 i •Jll P--- r u?-, *\ J \ I V r VJ 4Hl a » Mr < Ih*; 1 » • -rf A y. * 1 /V If f -1 r * •« 4 X • ?L> T. I c' i » I4 ' rr21 p < I I ' I il I I I fA CO. 9-1 -1 C 4 5 'I 41 'I« 9 II ' I 51 ‘ I ' I' ' I 'J ' 1 I ’ ' L 10 DIAL (800) 249-0911 'JON - EMERGENCIES H Kids Measure up at Q,lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 15| 16| 17| I I ' I ' I I ' I' T f 1 I 11 12 I OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES it > « TER 8 I I 18| 19 201 4 J I 211 22| 23| 24| 251 261 271 281 291 30 •_J ! t n t *4 r f< f f Af < < JI I 4* < a « I I t -- * � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-04-05.pdf 37b9c06fdb352ff987bdc992aca38b50 PDF Text Text "www.sunandnewsxom > 2J b R BlIiVbIM u )|lot noifsiniznoa gni>l69idbnuoig ynomsisa totiaaMylMM construction following groundbreaking ceremony I i r tl iwii swirWixJ 01 jbw jmI .twotri ^»d( gmsicTTr) fbiM oil no bMsaoJ n J Ur*z <5>>tqrnoo ^no 41«F1 rm/ 'jioiEuo/t W»l wrf bertq^ al Hr* zirefntttqf- 4 neqi. ad I zernar, brrtBioz asnibliuri >; TOfl aam* icrft l^tcq oioc t brui -artO .rml alhV albfaiM 1011 giii;!a^un fchwfii hfiqf> mom fl M IlfW ^TfiOp^ 00£v I 0) ofcbi H rw wwnqoiwsb «f1T vunummoo 31ffioq It; SnilfiT4 fl v«iwo9 liirtjljtofq aril fberf Twhui 4* bna 3?doxAg ifOTff 3<n .feliBir Icool oi tJoon icrmmnuKj Midi eatobni B ead flbanexpi e'bbnoflaM .eJol aeoriJ to 9no ni ei b^flilq/nrH noiJotntmoD wir to norJorniOToo 9riJ mw KirrsfnnciqB wfl .Jobtoiq in*xjoi*jv^(I rtsduCI yd bobfi^rl 114 rr.>ri)orf to rioirtvz .lyxly^ll fleol bne * I’ 1’ f 4t I •J < ' % i;> ’4 i • * IlivsIbbiM In owJut oril 9joi I jjiol Av)W b^>39fMloam •WOT' ylbtqsT ytinummoo sill 3i: *»/fnqini lliwtooioiq jjfiw bne unsbieon m* .uaic adJ n i eszesniuKl lol ) iB * 1 c * s e* .wodyall w »n 103 odJ ni W»b B j^eueri »qof>3 fniiup^i JR e-32 * -A. * 5*!rT * * Molly Macleod Editor •* 'Ofc? Construction is underway at the site of Middleville’s newest hous­ ing development, MidVilla Flats. Developers and stakeholders gathered last week to celebrate the ground­ breaking for the project. Located on M-37, the MidVilla Flats, once complete, will create 144 “workforce housing” units. The apartments will be spread between six, three-story, 24-unit apartment buildings scattered across the 13.3acre parcel that was once home to the Middle Villa Inn. One- and two-bed­ room apartments ranging from 1,000 to 1,200 square feet will be offered. The development will also incor porate community amenities such as pickleball courts, a grilling area, a gazebo, and a nature path that con­ nects to local trails. The project also includes three commercial outlots. McDonald’s reportedly has an interest in one of those lots. Construction Simplified is managing the construction of the $25-million project. The apartments were spear­ headed by Dutch Developers LLC, which consists of brothers Nate, Eric and Josh Heyboer. “MidVilla Flats is a transformative development that’s an investment in the future of Middleville, providing much-needed workforce housing. As the community rapidly grows, this project will improve accessibility for residents and create new opportunities for businesses in the area,” said Nate Heyboer. MQOa The project will put (QNOiSnO 1VllN3aiS3H a dent in the county ’ s SSMU3) cent IM housing shortage. It 0»€«a«(M required cooperation ecv# iiuued 8C89> in ©iiiAueeJO See FLATS on 6 « I MfiPl tlliVbtM lgo/ni nn ^'Jcdriremqoljy/ab Q9?r .’I £ #•; I to«>3 e 21 nortxnJeno'J i z'dlliv^bbfM Io q dfi’/WM gni iroblori-jjUJz bnii mqolavsfl . I fiDOM CflUOKH VtmMIUfVf ICWK MMNwnwan tOMsn 1W3H RI QlVd bVID rra botivoe bH8L«^ .* •'-ar. ; M* .1-* i ■■ AZ /* ?W w —nr •i gw I V. *»' 1I •S . -i • ;;Si-.Auu. * eia » < »x* ¥ «* *jr.r; ) f » 3 V 9 < », T'- /> ' * ' «' " # *"^**** *> ■' *!► ---- t r-^ •■' f < .< ■r.r .aS V • Ij. : < >' •T: » h I —h- >» < » s ♦*1 V t b .»&« V* * A L^- * 4 - * > Sis r*\* z 4 'A ♦a*?—*; What is left of a barn blown down on 76th Street west of Patterson Avenue after an EF-0 tornado went through Gaines Township on March 30. Photo provided NWS confirms tornado touched down in Gaines Twp. on Sunday James Gemmell Contributing Writer Many residents in Gaines Township and the surrounding area were left to clean up after a severe weather system, which reportedly included at least three tornados, swept through parts of southwest Michigan on Sunday, March 30. Damage in the Caledonia and Dutton areas was spawned by a line of thunderstorms that brought heavy rain and high winds that uprooted trees and snapped power poles. National Weather Service offi cials confirmed a twister touched down at 5:42 p.m. Sunday near 100th Street and Eastern Avenue, and traveled 4.2 miles in a north­ easterly direction before dissipating w 76th Street, between East Paris and Patterson avenues, in the Caledonia area. “We did not have any animals there at the time, so that was fortu­ nate,” he added. Zandbergen also said two bams on a neighbor’s property on the north side of the road were leveled by the tornado and another bam was damaged. And, the tornado damaged structures along 92nd Street near Kalamazoo Avenue. The tornado touched down within two miles of where another EF-O tornado hit Gaines Township on April 11, 2021, near 100th Street and Eastern Avenue. NWS officials said that one traveled about half a See TORNADO on 5 near 84th Street and Hanna Lake Avenue at 5:47 p.m. The NWS labeled the weather event as an EF-0 tornado, as it reportedly packed an estimated maximum sustained wind velocity of 80 mph and cut a swath of up to 150 yards wide. During its five minutes on the ground, the twister inflicted signifi­ cant damage to bams and outbuild­ ings, toppling some of the struc­ tures. It also uprooted several trees and spewed debris. “I’m just happy nobody was hurt,” Gaines Township resident Timothy Zandbergen. “It damaged a lot of bams.” Zandbergen said the tornado tore off the roof of a bam on his prop­ erty, located on the south side of 3QVlSOd s n QIS ISHd '* J I r *I • It u i<£' I « I fl* • ft S ► I I ■ p 1)41 I I « TOkjar fi<s« r I i. I < r ► i> » » I I ( r I t k 1• t I I I k * > k I t I I » I I ♦ t t 11 I I 14 I I in !.i t I* i i‘ li • »t a It «b 1 »I 1 i ' • «a I •4 I 3 * \ �i * /• I 2 4 Saturday, April 5, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS f 4 www.sunandnews.com 4. I ♦ TK supe candidates slated to interview April 14-15 Molly Macleod Editor The search for Thomapple Kellogg Schools’ newest superintendent is drawing nearer to its conclusion. Four candidates are scheduled to interview for the top spot at TK schools later this month. Members of TK’s board of education say they hope to have the district’s new superintendent in place as soon as July 1. On Monday, April 14, Troy Rheel will kick off the first round of super­ intendent interviews at 6 p.m. Rheel, retired, served as superintendent forthe Hillsdale Intermediate School District. Robert Pouch will follow Rheel with his interview at 7:30 p.m. Pouch is currently superintendent of Morrice Public Schools. Interviews continue on Tuesday, April 15. Cedar Springs Public Schools Director of Human Services & Elemen­ tary Academic Services Dan Scoville is slated to interview at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, followed by Bill Crane at 7:30 p.m. 1 ------ —---- - ----------- I ** * ! TKOahi ? < i l£ f KF.LLCUMk MlfiH SCHOOL I i *^1 < I 4 I I ( i w f n I 3K—J I .:X .^e^B ♦ I L n ii .4 BWW>« J L ■ >:) i •* I ***» ^emai II .1.,^ Thornapple Kellogg Schools is making progress in its superintendent search. First-round interviews for the top job are slated for April 14 and 15. File photo Crane is superintendent for Kent City Schools. “We were pleased with the candidates interested in becoming the next leader for the Thomapple Kellogg Schools,” said TK Schools Board of Education President Dave Smith. “The applicant pool has many quality candidates who may be an excellent fit for our school district and community. We are excited to leam more about the candidates’ abili ties and attributes as well as what each candidate has to offer our students, staff, parents, and community. As always, the B» if t » I’ 9' board values input from the public and strongly encourages people to attend the interviews. It is our hope to have a new superintendent in place on July 1 TK Schools has been searching for its next superintendent since former superintendent Craig McCarthy retired at the end of last year. In the meantime, Tom Enslen has served as TK Schools’ interim superintendent. The Michigan Leadership Institute has helped the district in its executive search. The four candidates selected for first-round interviews came from a pool of 15 applications, with candidates’ experience ranging from current and past superintendents, principals and central office staff. Interviews will take place at Thor­ napple Kellogg Schools Early Child­ hood Center, 3316 Bender Road, in Middleville. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to attend. The interviews will also be recorded and posted online after the conclusion of this round. I 9^ V.WBftB lb ! i B . •» ** vU' h-* . c. * -bIF J t* 1 r 1. bJ ( r*' Ic f ' f i I / vti • J 4 ♦ »>• J . A> f -/?>■.Mfr r r’ » J '■; ^1? tl*', .'^3T 1I • f- ,• r 1 ’S**' . rZ«r in* «k I r 4' 4 a ! *.... a * • ■ il3’ u !• t i 'P ff z .* •J- ' J r fir J I /J 11 ul^’ f * 4 J*. kKrz <<'■■.Jr • r J >♦ 4 I I to^ 1 I a \ I j ’ I * to •V < I * sX> & J 4 9 » .A .A - ■i J C,* z;p zV' JJI’' 4 z* >r iOff t tS II 1 f/ /'• 'i. JB • I , t 4 I b < r.:J 0 A T,1 tJI > ' «r *a* Er ?.z I I 1 s 4 zr ** 1 i 1 I 4 I F r -•-Jit;?’*'’ J f I » .JM-- I 0% i I 1.1 J > •! *. 9• • fl • I I ■HIM I ? Middleville DDA approves plan for social district Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer The Middleville Downtown Devel­ opment Authority reviewed and signed off on a proposed social district for the village, bringing the project one step closer to fhiition. Under the Michigan Liquor Control Code (MLCC), municipalities may designate a social district containing common areas where patrons are al­ lowed to consume alcoholic beverages that were purchased from adjacent and licensed establishments. These social districts come in handy during the warmer months when out­ door programming like the village’s Riverbank Music Series is scheduled. Various stakeholders have discussed a potential social district in Middleville, and the DDA was tasked with reviewing and approving the plan before a village attorney would go to work drafting a resolution that would be presented to the village council for final approval. Commons areas ofthe proposed social .<MA1 I district would include portions of West Main Street and portions ofHigh and Wa ter Street along Sesquicentennial Park. Members of the DDA board gave the plan a thumbs up with little to no discussion during its monthly meeting on Monday. Not only will the village council need to sign off on the proposed so­ cial district but documents need to be submitted to the MLCC for approval. Main Street Committees will also assist in developing programming, market­ ing and engagement strategies for the social district. The Middleville Market is generally reserved for local makers who sell handmade wares. This year, the Mid­ dleville DDA intends to try something different to help local entrepreneurs gain exposure in the community. Kassandra Clark, the Community Development Coordinator for the vil­ lage, floated the idea to the DDA board of having a local entrepreneur section at the Middleville Market. This would entail two to three booths at each show in the 2025 season. They would be available on a day-to-day basis and can be used by businesses that don’t necessarily have a product to sell, but rather, a service. See DDA on 6 MB ENTREPRENEURS WELCOME AT THIS YEAR’S MIDDLEVILLE MARKET it * 4 > »• i » «k .•lW V > tk 1 4 J , st** 9 J t J liSiCi -1 .1 I Kch fT*A □ tss f b I ) f' ft F 1 I f * l.'s < I ;t -^4 Xj Ah bte<iv/2{ri ' 1» 9 f J ( r* < I f A J* k t r hi J ■i» ■■■■■■■■■nMdB ^l< BuaMMOMM H THE SUN AND NEWS CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com Editor: Molly Macleod i 'bhsr^lK ' ' 9 haj-i f mmacleod@mihomepaper.com I ! ^^1 fcGroup Sports: Brett Bremer i bbremer@mihomepaper.com i Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mthomepaper.com I Mailreting and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper PUBLISHED BY I Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Pubiisher Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. 4I* < fr « " All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions tn the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and NewsAd Dept., 1351 N. M“43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser's order. < f I I 1 I IT ■ T ) I I J ‘-w a < I 'A- *r i I I A r f I t I '•H.TC <«l •M �r V, 1 I lb. 9 I ♦ J t SI I1 4 1 uc*inB qiK S-* riorii .18 I •4 I I* tit. I i View Newspaper Group announces launch of St. Clair Area View 1 I ' at.. I < * I*' . W •q k f V. < V 1 » J/5 IM. ^■r" f ■ ■■ I •< I i t. TW/ 1 • JI . I . I' I J I P < ui < i1 N. : y **TK. * * 4 *4 H * 4 & I J { i’^?r, ) I H vn- I I. I ■\ I I t .1 i' ' fnj V •* f ( ;lkj J J I I iii * I Ik .,1 I ' i; •« i* . 4 *' i. I I I' I J «<Bb »' I 11 «1 Ui I •'K.uH ■f , I » L r 1 3 • .*.K I I Qti „a I IL .* t*u. I 'T iM I' i X 4 W I k V »< i^ruj'tK lik.' ’wiijib * f 4 V' > V. r f * ST. CLAIR — Leadership at View Newspaper Group is proud to announce the launch of the St. Clair Area View, which will first land in mailboxes on Friday, May 9, 2025. “Our team is excited to bring this free, locally-owned community newspaper to readers in the St. Clair area,” said View Newspaper Group Publisher Wes Smith. “The St. Clair Area View will connect readers to their community and our advertising clients to our readers, just as our other 21 locally-owned newspapers across the state do.” With the launch of the St. Clair Area View, View Newspaper Group is now home to 22 locally-owned, locallyconnected newspapers across the state, further solidifying the group’s position as Michigan’s largest, independently owned newspaper group. Founded in 2003 by Lapeer native Rick Burrough, View Newspaper Group’s community newspapers have more than 352,000 copies in print each week covering 14 counties including: Lapeer, Oakland, Genesee, Livingston, Sanilac, Huron, Saginaw, Shiawassee, Montcalm, Ionia, Barry, Calhoun, Kent and St. Clair. “At a time when some newspaper companies are cutting back, we are happy to say we continue to grow,” said Burrough. “We saw a need for a local newspaper in the St. Clair area and after a lot of research and meeting with communiU' members, we knew we were the right new's organization to make that happen. The St. Clair Area View' w ill include coverage of area schools, local govern­ ments, nonprofits, businesses, high school sports, community members and much more. It will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to 17,000 homes in the St. Clair area two times a month. A digital version will also be available for free at www.mihomepaper.com. View Newspaper Group Reporter and Community Relations Manager Casey Johnson has been named Editor of the St. Clair Area View. Johnson began her career with View New spaper Group in 2011 as an intern at The County Press in Lapeer, while earning herjournalism degree at Oakland University. Johnson worked in community journalism in Huron County until 2015, when she went back to school to obtain her state license in therapeutic massage. She practiced massage therapy full-time until joining the Sanilac County News in 2022. 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 AM to 5 I* • »!• KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? s! I. li' . 1H4’SW®L[ •a « I 1 We'd love to hear about it! It Email mmacleod@mihomepaper.com H£ I ■c « k' ' am-'i V - -I I e THE SUN AND NEWS ..I* i ■'V a If VWW-,.^a~w •Il 352,000 22 CMMUMTY mnFAKm covciiMB 14 cowmn 4 “Our team of award-winning jour­ nalists looks forward to telling the great stories of this community,” said Smith. “Equally as important, our team of ad­ vertising and marketing professionals looks forward to helping area busi­ nesses connect with customers through print advertising. Most of all we look forward to serving and connecting with a new group of readers. CALEDONIA AMERICAN LEGION 11305 Albert (Dan) Genther 1 3/\2l49-^l^l22 r* * it W.V. JHM»7 .. < \ r BODY SHOP S14.00 Adults S8.00 Children 12 and under 70 PUBLIC - ALL ARE WELCOME! DINNER INCLUDES Complete Collision Repair 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your trusted Body Shop for ovfT 32 years Breaded and Beer Battered Fresh Pollock Filets served with Tartar Sauce, French Fries, Coleslaw and Homemade Bread & Butter. Dessert: Soft Serve Ice Cream. Coffee and Lemonade No other Food Menu Available. For those who do not want fish dinner, outside food may be brought in. 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia caledoniaaniencanlegionpost305.weebly.com . - .M I little knew that morning that God was going to call your name. In life I loved you dearly, tn death I do the same. ft broke my heart to lose you, you did not go alone; for part of me went with you the day God called you home. You left me peaceful memories your love is still my guide; and though I cannot see you, you're always by my side. Our special chain is broken and nothing seems the same; but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again. Forever in my heart, Love Amy »>>»•.».«ia« 'V'jL u L *.1 5 ( 4 J J t I u I I f } It 11 4 a 4 1 f I 5 3 \ I » I If t 4A 3 — 1 Kb* ALL YOU CAN EAT •I « OF MORE THAN Friday, March 7th thru Friday, April 18*^2025 5-7pm or until gone 4I 'M stifiA TOTAL WEEKLY PRINT CIRCULATION EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT '! ‘Xj w*» Group ‘p ■ .'iti 5 ?!*»■ ^71 pm 1 1 s» View Newspaper Group Sports Editor Mike Gallacher will lead the St. Clair Area View in local sports coverage. A 2012 graduate of Peck High School, Gallagher played varsity football, baseball and track and junior varsity basketball. After high school, he attended Delta College and St. Clair Community College, where he was managing editor-in-chief of the SC4 student newspaper. He covered local sports for newspapers in Tuscola and Huron counties before joining the Sanilac County News as sports editor in 2019, View Newspaper Group Marketing Specialist Christy Hendrick will serve as sales lead for the St. Clair Area View. Hendrick earned degrees in English and journalism from Oakland Univer­ sity, and worked for the Macomb Daily as a features reporter for several years before obtaining her teaching license. She taught Pre-K in Port Huron fol­ lowing herjoumalism career. Hendrick has been in marketing and advertising at the Sanilac County News, Jefferson­ ian, Buyer’s Guide, and Thumb Coast & Country since 2021. 3 £1 ** I Saturday, April 5, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandfTews.com �*. 1 4 Saturday, April 5, 2025 I I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com •f V’ f *H Gaines Planning Commission tells Eden Forest townhouse applicants to come up with a better site plan James Gemmell fourth proposed changes were rejected. The first one called for the removal of one four-unit building along the southwest edge of the development to avoid impacting the adjacent wetlands. Because one ofthe four-unit townhouses (Building 17) was so close to a deten­ tion area, it was removed from the site plan. Instead, another nearby townhouse (Building 16) was converted from a fourplex into a sixplex. So, the total number of units was reduced by two from the overal 1 site plan, from ei^t units to six units. That was the second proposal approved. “The old Building 17, when we originally proposed that, there was just a comer that was getting into the wetland area. And after conversations with our wetland consultant and (the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy), it wasn’t really going to be a good plan moving forward,” Walsh explained to the planning commission. The third proposal to realign part of a sidewalk from ^e west side of the main road (Chartway Drive) that comes into the development south of 61st Street to the east side of the road and add a mid- Contributing Writer The developers of the Eden Forest townhouse project in Gaines Town­ ship recently made some unauthorized changes to the site plan that prompted planning commissioners to tell them to go back to the drawing board. The planning commission voted 6-0 to reject two of the proposed revisions at its March 27 meeting but approved two other changes. One planning com­ missioner was absent from the meeting at the township hall. A conditional rezoning for the project from a residential (RL-10) designation to single-family (R-3) zoning was previ­ ously approved by the township. The Eden Forest development is at 1184 both St. SE, which is immediately west of the Kentwood Community Church. Brad Walsh with Orion Construction and 60th Street Ventures LLC recently submitted the revised site plan for the 18.2-acre property. It’s part of a larger development in that area. The first two proposed changes were approved by planning commissioners, but the third and A *S! ’=R * ^■:^’ 1 •• W n” < I % Scan our QR code to find your perfect invitation! 1 » . > 'X V ■ n». « L •> I K A rI J ’J i t ^4 4* * V74M w _ ..W- . \ Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. PRINTING BY www.printingbypennylane.com ginacl@pennylaneprinting.com f I 'K >*** 4^ I I I * I II ” <>• / V.' I r /* 4 i 1 A w* • r It ;r . •4 • * . I •• 4 I r 4*4 Zf I * c «( J!?**" « 44* t OT* A < I, k ?• / 4 A'. 0^ X T* ■? IV Sr A i I I V . b i* r / t '* JC 1 9^‘ . 4 r*- / %♦ s > * « 1 • -X 1 J I Justin Longstreth with Moore & Bruggink, at right, talks about some points on a map showing the layout for the Eden Forest project. Orion Construction president Brad Walsh stands at the lectern. Photo by James Gemmell street crossing did not go over well with planning commissioners, as mentioned. Nor did the fourth proposal to relocate a playground to a comer location adjacent to Chartway Drive and a private drive, Ramsgate. Commissioners noted that the original site plan aligned the pedestrian path along the west side of the main drive, which created an unimpeded path from the north end ofthe development to the playground. But the revised site plan alignment would have required children to cross the roads twice to reach the playground on the west side of Chartway Drive. “They had originally located the play­ ground farther in from that intersection, away from the intersection,” Community Development Director Dan Wells said. “Because they had to re-contour the stormwater detention basin, they had to move the playground toward that inter­ section. So, now it’s going to be right on the comer. And we’re still not clear exactly where that configuration is. They didn’t specify it.” “One of the main features we like to have in a development like this is ad equate playground space. And crossing twice to get there, I’m not sure that that’s ideal,” Planning Commission Chair­ woman Connie Giarmo said. “And then, the moving ofthe sidewalk over onto to the east side rather than continuing it all the way down the west side was an issue,” Wells said. “When the original plan was approved, that was a point of discussion because, OK, kids who are living up here could easily go straight down to the playground, which is an attractive thing. Here (under the revised plan), they have to go down halfway, cross over the road, go down to the intersection, cross back over the road to get to the playground, which is a * IT .W-1.4 <5 iH'IV 4 safety issue.” Walsh said the playground was origi­ nally proposed to be located behind an existing auxiliary building. But it was moved to the side ofthe building and close to the road while plans for the stormwater detention pond were being finalized. Redrawing the detention basin prompt­ ed the developers to move the playground close to the intersection. “Weranoutofspace, frankly. The pond just grew andthe original location that we had back behind the building just didn’t fit, because of the footprint of the pond expanding,” Walsh told commissioners. Part of the original project involved building a daycare facility adj acent to the church, and a playground was supposed to be built, as well. 4( In speaking wi± the church, they had some concerns that the road was a little too close to that playground,” Walsh said. “So, we shifted the road closer to the development and moved the sidewalk to the other side of the road, creating a buffer between the playground and the current building.” Justin Longstreth with the civil engi­ neering firm Moore & Bruggink said after those conversations with the church, a section of the existing road was moved under the revised site plan 10 to 15 feet west ofits originally planned location. The sidewalk was supposed to be on the west sideoftheroadundertheoriginal siteplan. “Because we moved that over and to create a little bit of additional buffer, we just adjusted the sidewalk location so that it was located on the east side ofthe drive as opposed to the west side. But it still is pro­ posed to be constructed,” Longstreth said. So, under the revised site plan the side­ walk would no longer be on the same side of the road as the playground. And that See EDEN on 18 11J I 4 •> {o'ior? ivacto * t J *» jO:> r r r -liiB ' J bhslisb □ * J { r ^ojri «I ’j 0^' AJ JL ..oBWtet>findtr 11 £J nrdBd noonaabt t i fcMiof’'^(Fiqrrfr5vom’ .(OK I tJiwqt u r .vhtaBTt/JOI 4 'nr 5' 3 ' . ar; 4 A I J ‘t Isni^ J If rn& •. l*d»b1in4s<d9lfljdsdB hooq ‘xtfio lanqtDol .^T^nore^l^wo^ HoJ i hovkjr/ni > I f t u r f I I. r y J -r / . .4 c - fMit rrLjj: h i * •> I X1»7TO : I f /T) >* le • I O3'A _6S: M * i, n’ I. I y. atnqol IK ‘i3d • r £ -beoT r r ■j± boa ^ja; ’oi^<Bis tl 1 [ Qt o; 3* ‘ oftl fU ■ tl I A k * , V ,rt;’ftirfrz- ■V'lair. I r ll i utOl nBlq '-tia ' .ijoiteoofebo 4 f orfe f» 00 f-KT f>030Cj| ;taa|w (sfBgfx>ofb ntii oJ ‘Mffi 13V0 iflfb ho/orn I oftjd Isnobifabc i(> I trluttoafiniJBOol>ljBW9bb 1 I. 4 3E 3*Anb oflt'lo obia tass w I -oiq gi Ife li tuH .^bia las jLjijsa ftoita^ffld' « ^^nakf^boer/sil i v;- uU A »5 '•*-^’Wt IS2 w TT<-vt} nyQ Pi. --i • ' 1 « B •j «*>' ~-. * ' ■ la I » I 1 I I > •I I �I j.»w9nbr»8 I ' A www.sunandnews.com oaAM r TORNADO * s J me r • z Jl t I I i >.• f : 11 4 I J f I - 1 * I a I Hi J SOb I I M U.L.- i 1’ ■ 1 j X' I ■I '•"1 1 I' I •h. * < I I ' I' 9 b • t * 4 J - A 1 *1. U> X J. I k '. I •k r I I I / J I .a • Ml n ■ I M V r~.r * I t| I I Ttfi . ( :’‘TLj •A I I ?u=5t; i u •J I f, } 1 i 1 4 I "I 1 I. 5 X i > Continued from Page 1 I I ihnr/z qoJ -J < Saturday, April 5, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS » mile with top winds of 80 mph. The thunderstorms that whipped through southwest Michigan on Sunday, combined with a major ice storm in northern Michigan the night before, left more than 320,000 homes and businesses without power statewide. If that wasn’t enough, the NWS confirmed an EF-1 tornado near Edwardsburg in Cass County on Sunday. That twister packed 100-mph winds, traveled about two miles and damaged several homes and businesses during the three minutes it was on the ground. It also ripped the roof off a local marina and damaged boats. The NWS confirmed yet another tornado touching down Sunday, stating a EF-0 twister spun off around 6:05 p.m. north of 120th Street, near Poplar Avenue, east of Grant. The tornado reportedly was on the ground for about four minutes, or just under 3 miles, and had top winds of 65 mph. -J Classifieds • t ■t 1 BUSINESS SERVICES r W" LS> « ' 29V k • -r* <4 DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearingd, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing Dumpster-Solutions.com (616)283-9712 CEMENT/CONCRETE JNR BUILDERS Concrete flatwork; Driveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored. Licensed and insured. Call Jeff (616)293-7729 The twister did extensive damage to a barn and some outbuildings at a farm in Caledonia. Photo provided CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 1 » t < 1 ff I ' ’ / »■> I •/ \ w • a< ( • ~Jnvl. % ** t I ?• 4k * <iiBi II L\j - W EMPLOYMENT L\V &S: j W . A* - : ' • ■ ••X ' 'w. .\V V I F it a J V <? '•Ik BARN HELP WANTED Must have experience with horses. Full and part time positions available with competitive pay. Please call 269207-4218 or email at zipowell® yahoo.com if interested. 1 «, '4 ._ Hl NEED STUMP GRINDING? Call 269908-6227 Rooted Outdoor Services. t vs t 1 STUMP REMOVAL ’•»* i J > '^: **1 1^/ e>l < '^z. I I I* <A iltf ifl i *% J I " 9 h ■ X B. Al > I .1 I u 1 k U* '■ niu. '•’’v * Damage on a property along Hanna Lake Avenue south of 84th Street. I I « li^iO »=rr cv w* ft X4,y Jr ♦ J •X ? CA - I 1 u i K I 1 'A. I > ' -^tl >K<I , I J I, COMMERCIAL-RENT < s <• * " .»“r 1 I, t '* 9 I ”• >• « F t t L Jf. I t f t r* t9 J I I ' 4. '•: I 9 v4 I • Xi » I ' * .J i- ?'<.. ( .. < V I R; : » X 1 t •■’ /. ’I O 9 1 EXPIERIENCED GARDNER 3 to 4 days a week with flexible schedule. Please apply in person at Saska­ toon Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto. OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rap­ ids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic® remax.net 4 % * X X. S^' I k r t ^JS I V w T iiS^ Aa> ». * X -t-L <11 I •l' \ A<fj •41 ■rffsi(33i)iia sraa^fisi ! A Fl 1^^ jl * * V ft j S n ts«ars ■yjpat roi^ V \ * t >-4 ! ■ >w*w xaja**..*’?- *4. > *• e 7 J* • . t EKfi^ t • « A </ * >1 . . I ) wi ■> •fc-* I *• ■ •J**-’ V ^.acitas' J «£.-4f«-*-^' - <K r r 1 £ I * M ir. • • « •.. 4- r *lft ••:r?r *r .XL I J ► . YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. I* FARM BUREAU M8UBANCE » r 1 uiMUit*'- ' I •■1 Llife You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors...and our future. I I Your local agent insures your 4 •. J’t w* 4 - ■ > Much of the roof was torn off a barn on Timothy Zandbergen's property on 76th Street. » I. <» »*' V •fl A. •n ■'* •k —tZV .u I The thunderstorms on Sunday put some traffic lights out of service, such as this one at 76th Street and Eastern Avenue in Gaines Township. Photos by James Gemmell r. Group Your Community Connection Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville , J • s ** ' / r.t. J ij I » l.l I < I I 1 < h< ‘b < I I I 2 I 15 i tii '1,1 ‘1 > * * 9 ll it 1 ( ) I I •• I t I h \ I t I r f (269) 795-8827 jparks@fbinsini.com FarmBureautnsurance.com �y HJ ITT' Saturday, April 5, 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 1 I r ' *TTT!i Severe weather system causes little damage in Barry County five tornadoes touched down in though none were sighted in Barry County. “Our deputies were consumed with weather-related calls from trees and wires down, to accidents and a grass fire,” said Barry County Undersheriff Kevin Erb. Damage to property from falling trees and 1 im bs was not^ throughout the county. “Fortunately, there were no reported injuries due to the weather.” Jake Welch, Barry County Road Commission managing director, said the system seemingly hit the southwest comer of Barry County the hardest, in areas including Hickory Comers and Middleville. “It was a bad storm,” Welch said. “(But) it wasn’t too bad of a storm for us.” The BCRC deployed extraI crew Swriter"^*®"’ Bany County seems to have weath ered a severe weather system, one that included thunderstorms, high winds and even tornadoes, that rolled through parts ofsouthwest Michigan on Sunday, March 30, better than most without any residents being harmed. Pattrick Jansens, Barry County Emer gency Management director, said as of Tuesday afternoon that as many as 6,000 local residents were still without power as the result of the storm. People have been impacted,” Jansens said. “Lots of power lines down:” According to Jansens, the storm dam­ aged several homes and other structures, such as bams, which were hit by downed trees and limbs. News reports stated as members to help deal with any storm damage clear debris damageand andhelp help clear debrisfrom fromcountv county roadways. We had a bunch oftrees across roads,” Welch said. “That was only temporary. “Tm not aware of anything that was closed longer than Monday morning,” he added. “We’re back to business as normal for us.” Timing might have also played a role in Bany County’s good fortune in riding out the storm. Welch said there were no reports of any flooding across county roads due in part to the fact that most or all of the snow in the area had melted a couple of weeks ago. “That’s the one that will catch you,” he said, referring to the combination of spring thaws and early season rains sometimes causing local flooding. *A < < % . 1 1 RS ■'4 w. f >1 . ^.4 X X *« •• .. - T -r ^4^ 4 ’V.,. } ■L f V - '*w» ■v *> ‘ 'V . ilr. «r«»* *» 1* ft ■3^ r*“ * e* .'.■'■ft.* b »'t *’***'.- 9 > f .4^ ■V. «’ . i' /• * -'S* J * /* » F * - * A i I «A -* 'X 4 *»< I I i >» Ju A 4 . ! :i: Construction Simplified, joined by representatives from Dutch Developers LLC and elected officials from the Village of Middleville and Thornapple Township, broke ground last week at the site of the future MidVilla Flats. Courtesy photo FLATS Continued from Page 1 Village President Kevin Smith. The project’s developers echoed Smith’s moti­ vations. We were looking at doing this to resolve the lack of housing in Middleville. A healthy housing market can help those looking for affordable housing, such as first-year teachers and new residents, and benefit the growth of Barry County,” Heyboer said. Pre-leasing for MidVilla Flats is set to begin in July. Should everything go to plan, the first building will be ready for occupancy as soon as September of this year. The entire project is pro­ jected to be completed in April 2026. (( and approval from multiple levels of government throughout the county. “The one thing that I really want to bring to bear is the village, the township, the county — it is my intent, it’s always been my goal to work together and find common ground, especially when it comes to projects like this. Affordable housing is absolutely our highest priority. This represents that commitment,” said Middleville /* r * JU Iii' Ar & * .'ST j:-’* % • •f* i ' I i e V 4 t 7* J 5* t If z •Ml : y *r-: Jif i I V • I t riD« ■tJC' fell' I I I 1 ! ri V V I VA. ' x’l ». ajfr" ■ uJUll' > Mb* > wj ? 1* w* d'". M <>* [ . jfH: 1 0 Clark also turned her attention to planning for the Riv­ erbank Music Series, a live outdoor concert series that extends through the summer at Sesquicentennial Park. The conversation turned to whether or not food trucks should be invited to the premises. Clark’s plan was to invite food trucks that would provide desserts and sweet treats so that they wouldn’t interfere with the food offer­ ings from restaurants located within the village. She said she also plans to set up signage on the prem­ ises of the music series that displays menus for those local restaurants in order to funnel business their way. Members of the DDA board raised concerns about incorporating food trucks, encouraging Clark to engage solely with local restaurants to get them involved. Clark said she would be engaging with local res­ taurants and businesses to give them a heads-up on when, and how, to participate. “I don’t want them to feel like they have to com­ pete,” Clark said. “This is my way of testing out the waters to see whether or not they will engage like they say they will. Next year, I plan to evaluate did it work _______ J '(4 > ’’A’ 1-. DDA ENCOURAGES ENGAGEMENT FROM LOCAL RESTAURANTS DURING SUMMER MUSIC SERIES ■ r 0 A further north. According to Welch, road crews from neighboring Kent County are heading north to assist with cleanup efforts in Lower Northern Michigan, which was hit by an ice storm over the weekend that left thousands without power. So far, Welch added the BCRC has not received any such request, though the county agency stands ready to respond. “We’d do what we could to help,” he said. And, with more inclement weather expected during the week, Jansens said he is encouraging local residents to “have a plan” and “be prepared.” Jansens added that Barry County resi­ dents may find tips on how to weather severe storms and other related informa­ tion on the BCEM’s Facebook page. “Many residents now operate service-based or home-based businesses including photographers, wellness providers and direct sales consultants,” Clark wrote in a memo to the DDA, which she read from during Monday’s meeting. “These entrepreneurs contribute to our local economy and are seeking inperson opportunities to connect with the community and build brand visibility.” Village officials would need to draft a code of con­ duct that would dictate what sorts of services would be appropriate to sell and other rules of engagement. e •SA* i'*^***, If iOaSB^ 11 t' I ‘Fl Rik I t ■- 1 f' X^|«> I J 1 , X CA ♦av * -*r ”.>i^ A fc’ tr ••V M ... ■ 4«44 a *' r rf:.l " , A- J ( t t i- ■ I I !S i I ’ ? JTO 1 t J" l.i / / •i r J > I I t > u I I . 4 k, t i>? ! J9 / > *' ’ J i f :Senioiil8ii«i« " ‘ '-Dl jyilHUff ^TP!?. r. Hl* i r > ’ u ^S8S» fftnslaoJ, i()WiaUB; . )noo iQot'jiJO jyJ j Botup^r Gi nmnr ' Mh!j.rEUzi<i ffionrij3H> Otten X- * s iHS’a ^lislO .^311 ’ J I 4^ 1 823bsb *•< Virj r » ' ft. t t . nhu J * ‘L’ I 1 ft < f aA -i«.- . fqa; 1 ,i:as’woonr;> • t I t I J baisFV icd A •a- TH I sGH WfeJ LJ : ’ ‘J \ I f J 135^ Ot; LU r I y • r ! J : V! 1 J^r ) J n 'd ■n I He; I. i r » '< c 5!^ A J CT *^7 1 Si&Y 1 < < ky*^a. ’ k 4 , L. •* •. ! I i b • V. iCiilJ * -4f4l ___ _______ __________________ :____________________________________________ 77 -J . ! • *x> « 5^ y' > « J < I F,>' •■* r C-' fl -4 Bl I I*/ 4 1 « Beside dealing with Sunday’s storm BarrvCoiintvnffiHakarPw:ifehL«^^z^«J Barry County officials are watching events •* ' : k ■ Continued from Page 2 MM* f X- DDA t > I -* "*3^' V*,'* V'* T f i 4 �» W-1 i I , '15 1 «.” i * J : < I ) V Jr . I ’ tM. f » I •5 V X I k 'V X & X s 4 { 0 I B I** '^1 *^1/ ' Vi. 'O't r, <- ■' i » 'I Sports Editor < f •V 4 * 'K fl X.. I <• J I I I f > s MI’S u ^\r ^'t 4 < 4m.:^ # - ' I ’“‘11" 5 fE8'i< 5 • I* ••e * fl S'h, > 'IC57)/6i35fL '"*1 8eorjqot^rijtfJLi. lOTS &531»lrtJb bto ' bloi) >l() ijijrfHOOdl ofhn ( II /I f I.;. • '■ Ij ll iL /H I«. j ^>itilLijp<T •161 s 5 f ’ .) ) 5 I "rjeiht B » -X <J liOi^r/iCI tluEni oj »nr-OO^’ rit n i I in/nint-owis*^ i nJ bfiB klEnoi;2oi J 11 nr 5)613 5Jf.u 5ri)o nju> fr ejfl) H U J. • w ;f d* 30/11. P'4Pi /((’ I * •Vi > I 11 k. n. ► Tm s »“4i> f I k ' f -I k**> lU' * >«l V I * •» Ilir,-Sr,. hwf i i Ui ?*! I I * 4 . *1 rntmi qO) t< i. -n " » • ? * Less experience for TK boys’ track team this year Brett Bremer 'r I V .’• ‘ 4 i .fcj 10. Sporting News t I V % ■, ‘ '■ 7 e X s Saturday, April 5, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com * The Trojans have five state quali­ fiers a year ago and four of them were seniors. The one holdover for the Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ track and field team is senior Jacob Draaisma, a firstyear varsity runner last year who quickly became one ofthe top cross country and track and field athletes around. He was the OK Gold Conference runner-up in the 1600-meter run a year ago and then qualified for the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Track and Field Finals in the 800-meter run. He got under the two-minute mark for the first time at regionals and then placed 14th at the state finals in the race. Getting to the state finals could be a little tougher this spring as the Trojan program makes the move up to Divi­ sion 1 from Division 2. The list of top returning performers “Our team is filled with hard work­ ers,” Wonders said. “They have an uncanny ability to compete. They are a truly gritty group.” The team will need to rely on that a bit as there is less experience on the roster than in previous seasons. “Our message to our team is to com­ pete in everything,” Wonders added. “ Our goal is to be competitive in every race and every meet.” The first OK Gold Conference meet of the season is a double dual in Mid­ dleville where the TK teams will take on Wyoming and Grand Rapids Union. Wonders said he expects Wayland to be the top competitor in the conference this spring, and the Trojans already got a look at the Wildcats last Friday at the Wayland Invitational where the Wayland boys outscored runner-up Plainwell by more than 175 points. for the Trojans also includes senior sprinter Lucas McNabnay, seniors Jake Kelley and Kyle Porritt in the throws, sophomore Brandon Velting in the sprints and sophomore Luke Archer in the pole vault. Velting was part of a TK 4x200-meter relay team that placed second in the OK Gold last spring, but he is the only returning member ofthat foursome. TK closed last conference season with a couple strong performances in the pole vault as Archer passed 10 feet 6 inches for the first time at the conference meet and fellow vaulter Hunter Tietz, now a senior, cleared 9-6 for the first time there. TK co-head coach Matt Wonders, who is leading the program once again with Chad Ruger, said he sees sprinters Lucas Ploeg, Maddox VanEngen, Elliot Neff, hurdler Brecken McWhinney and throwers Isaac Fleischmann and Adam Lozada as being some key newcomers to the varsity team. *4 T » * iiK 79 16 »*• A< 11 0^ 1 "A.. ««•* T 1 J Ik 1^' r rf*>**:x J • 4 *' f "9^ ft «•* 4 0' ■s t •l X •> ♦.y • ^.5 ■»' ■^' I / S Jacob Draaisma 1 i I I I B wiC'«»>£*' le-T ■ .01 Ll\ .•^ I T I I a * 1 1 r 4 O’? - .1 U--' V lo,' 1 I t •H f '* B -'H I h IG’ i • T X *< •* t bfiUoe ft *• r • I fl.','1 ;i I i I I V Vi S * . •b r T:1 ■ <. H A i nra3H:;^ t r I V I J •* fl 1- • - ■ X J I 1 ?. ■ ■ *' » I J t jf‘r j j I \ J X tu X j 1 ■ -yf en^fc^- 4 t I I t • '’I J t i . / jOIU I . I ( • » .L I t i I j J h •' ‘ J ■i'^'k •L I > Ji Wh I r -* I lllft I , : •4 *•^1 Brett Bremer Sports Editor t- fl I’l A . B,' ■ 1 n » i Senior duo set to lead TK along with big junior class ■H-.ih »• «j'GH\rD I I I t I There are some good leaders back for the Th6rnapple Kellogg varsity girls’ soccer team this spring with a total of 11 girls back from the 2024 roster. Even with that big of a group, it is a fairly young squad filled with juniors and a few sophomores and freshmen set to contribute too. The senior duo on the team this spring is made up of midfielder Madilyn Chivis and defender Emma Geukes. Geukes has been a great leader for the Trojan varsity for a couple of seasons already. Chivis is an outstanding distributor of the ball and should prove to be one of the Trojans’ top scorers as well. Both girls have won all-conference honors in the past. The heartbeat oftheTK program is itsjunior class. There are a dozen juniors on the varsity roster. It is a group led by attacker Tealy Cross, goalkeeper McKenna Hoebeke, midfielder Paige Abshagen, defender Megan Schuurmans and the group also a ’J > «, 1 r * 1 ir. I***’ ■ I—»ltt. I ------------JI " 1 ^<4 I kr- LBB < L h ■Btr VT w ir IS'9 I .w ««K .•«II1 4 t :b. McKenna Hoebeke includes varsity returnees Cami Stahl, Ember Hondorp, Charlie Manrose, Ella Fischer and Natalie Borrink. There are a handful of freshmen and sophomores who should contribute to the varsity, and may move up and down between the JV and varsity throughout the year. The roster includes a number of club players across the formation. The TK ladies are off to a 3-1 start so far with a 1-0 mark in the new OK Gold Conference thanks to a win this week over West Catholic. It should once again be a battle between the Thomapple Kellogg girls and the tough South Christian program at the top of the conference standings. The two teams finished their conference regular season in a 1-1 draw a year ago, the only blemish through the conference regular season for either side. Those two teams will meet in Middleville Saturday, April 19, at 11:45 a.m. TK returns to action after break visiting Wayland April 15 and playing host to Wyoming April 17. �8 Saturday, April 5, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com rr; b .lad ~ I I m. •V .''4 9. I« 'ttt t ifSPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS ?v IF'*- f I X lj * « « «1 « *1 <«• 4 fei? I" 1^' •* . Handful of TK state qualifiers joined by talented youngsters Brett Bremer Sports Editor There are new challenges for the Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’track and field team that won the OK Gold Conference championship and placed second at regionals a year ago. A group of four returning all-state athletes, and a number of other girls capable of pushing for those kinds of honors, are back to lead the way on the score sheet for the Trojan team as its faces a bump up into Division 1 for MHSAA competition and a reworked OK Gold Conference. The Trojans should still be the fa­ vorites in the reworked conference, but girls will have to be just a little bit better to meet state qualifying times and distances with the move up to D1. That group of returning all-staters includes senior Brooklyn Harmon in the hurdles, sophomore jumper Ellie Har­ mon, senior distance runner Ava Crews, junior hurdler Mia Hilton and junior middle distance runner Payton Gater. Brooklyn was the OK Gold Con­ ference champion in the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter low hurdles in 2024, placed third in both races at the D2 State Finals, and was a part of the OK Gold Conference winning 4x400meter relay team along with her sister Ellie and Hilton. Gater was a part of that 4x400-meter relay with that trio at the D2 Finals and they combined for a sixth place finish. Ellie was the conference long jump champ and qualified for the finals in ±at event. Hilton placed third in the 300 hur­ dles at the finals last season. Crews quali­ fied for the state finals in 2024 in both the 1600-meter run and the 3200-meter run, and set her PR at 11 minutes 24.06 seconds in the 3200 at the finals. TK also brings back senior Emma Dykhouse who would be one of the Trojans’ top contenders should it need a decathlete thanks to her abilities in the jumps, throws and sprints. Senior thrower Lilly McKeown will be back to push for distance with Dykhouse in the shot put and discus. Sydney Martin is a returning sopho­ more in the sprints who will hope to score in those quick races along withju­ nior newcomer Jordan Fitros. TK head coach Maggie Wilkinson said her team »1» w 9 ' M 5^ ?• > ▲i < 18^ h-— I > ■ 4 w rV , k i <■ 4 > 1 4 I ' I ' 1^ •c J 1.1 W'"^ • kV— .St r * Ml •.•V' 41> 1 I t b t' I j i r.r? -b tr ex £7 4M •V I J' , Li ca rs £ i '4- I!I i I { T 1 i JL.-. See QUALIFIERS on 12 Brooklyn Harmon ■ ’ I » fl i s J I t 8 .aH Ji 1 1 »< r k i i a ^fionk y&u tAe sp&fts&rs is)^ supp&rt &9ca£ sp&rts! ? t J I s1 J i .’5^ I r b * W* • i » ' r fit ♦ « » '4 ( f 5 •i a f I 4 1 *S i f •A <13 i 5 ..'.'tiai I I id «. -Xs: ■ 'f •i |^.JJJIIIIHI ^bCbK I Andrew R. Cove, cfp, aams Financial Advisor 421 W, Woodlawn Hastings, Ml 49058 269-945-3553 I: Italian Joe Lyons & John Curtis, V Owner/Operators X MIDDLEVILLE'S FINEST Edwardjones MAKING SENSE OF INVESTING OMO COMPLETE AUTO REPAIO Middleville • 269-795-3550 500 Arlington St. Caledonia • 616-891-3550 9820 Cherry Valley Rd. TIRES2000,NET SEPTIC SERVICE 117 W. MAIN MIDDLEVILLE, Ml Ph 795-7911 Fax 795-1677 3305 West Quimby Road, Hastings, Ml 49058 269.945.4240 Skag Mowers Husqvarna Outdoor Products Phone: 616-891-0050 9800 Cherry Valley, Caledonia FARM BUREAU . INSURANCE ^em-^wes ^nera(ffOifiM 914 W. Main Street Middleville Phone (269) 795-3694 CALEDONIA RENT ALL FRONTIER HEATING G COOLING 210 E. Main St., Caledonia Call Frontier Nowl 616^91-8900 A C;^ IPOZ ▼ s— % 6 i 4** T^.T {? ■ DINE IN & TAKE OUT cspizzamiddleville.com 110 Johnson St Caledonia •/ jparks@fbinsmi.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com t L •I Fjtffs I ■ x-kBiFi 11446 Chief Noonday Rd. Middleville. Ml 49333 Gun Lake Area Ur- Il ' ?_2C_y^A ■'"’FT8ES! b *. :r' * . 1 ?WS.eOS.G8S 269.205.2042 Highpoint mkpCPA i; I * T 18fl * •ia I -W ll X',?y.7?.?^. 1 **«% t t I » 1-888-422-2280 highpointcommunitybank.com Member FDIC PH; 269.795.7927 www.mkpcpa.com r iB a &•* M 500 Edward St., P.O. Box 277 Middleville, Ml 49333-0277 T1 / • t ■ Jason Parks 616-891-1233 AT 1 COMMUNITY BANK 9028 N. Rodgers Ct. S.E., Caledonia V Ja I ! I 616-891-0150 I rV£0.t£WlNH81ti *« * 4 ' * H *• 4^ t I I f I I I 1 I 1 I t. 6 » �I I i 1 ‘r A I n.r. % V « I I I I I f d' I ♦ t* 6- r $1 4 I 4 Ii I I I 4 •-S!' • ♦ & • (Ai SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS J 1 BA •'• I »• 't V ■ L TK hopes to be near top in new Gold golf competition I 9 Ik* t :1 . >/ ■ iIH & X • i.J t i, <* - I 41* A •;..«i- I *1 9 t I I V 1 Saturday, April 5, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I I |C i < . I X u f S; k ♦ •r* I I I I r I L 7Sr P. r.v--. >S’ " *■- ( •il A ‘'^ *? M > r A I •* •r-'* - ; f-l': *•'/ > J' ' .V A >> ■ > % \ •R I •J , 1 I .- The Trojans are looking forward to seeing what the reworked OK Gold Conference competition will be like this spring. The Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ golf team enters ±e 2025 season wi± a line-up filled with expe­ rienced varsity golfers. There are four guys back from the Trojans’ regional five from the 2024 season - a list that includes ±e team’s regional leaders Parker Dahley and Will Na±an now a sophomore and a senior. Dahley also had the Trojans’ top score a the OK Gold Confer­ ence Championship a year ago - placing 27± overall in a really tough field. The group ofreturning seniors for the Troj an team this season also includes Kylan Pratt and Ryan Skidmore from ±at regional line-up last year as well as Owen Comer, Blake Hardy and Evan Liu and Tyler Voss who were all with ±e program a season ago. “Our goal this year is to be competitive within the |S •V A I Sports Editor / c Y’ + I '^1 »< + p I * ? >• V (. I i I i I 1 4 •1 s p f 4? I I •Kt %•? ki > 1*1 * f . s• J I 7^“ 1 * j' • i 4 s Vv‘ ♦ y ; AlT.. f, V I ' ■fc' t3 f' *** iibVH a V .4 V «bZ V “1 Sr J • ♦. I ’t It I r' fc*** V L/ ' 'w T X „.J L L . > Kylan Pratt Photos by Brett Bremer V«f iqb conference and get better throughout the season,” Tk head coach Bob Kaminski said. “We are looking for­ ward to competing in our new conference and hopefully being in contention by the end of the season.” TK was fifth in the tough OK Gold a year ago which saw South Christian place fourth and Forest Hills Eastern place sixth at ±e MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Finals while Grand Rapids Ca±olic Central senior Will Preston win the individual state title. Catholic Central is gone from the Gold this spring and so is Forest Hills Eastern. The Sailors only lost one guy to graduation though and Wayland had a decent young team a year ago. League newcomer Wyoming will host the first conference jamboree April 16. The weather hasn’t allowed the Trojans to get any of their early season matches in yet. The group ofnewcomers looking to help improve the varsity scores includesjuniors Cody Forsythe, Quentin See GOLF on 20 Brett Bremer • T t 9 ; * M M • . f THE MOSTTRUSTEDJNAMBIN ROQEING 3 Uy J 4b ..*d 3 ^M' ► • 4* iMt jv<5r e * *•* H * «>w T?• * ..>k_ w r^T ■BF-i I Mb I A YANKEE SPRINGS DENTAL FAMILY IS EVERYTHING TO US. > -A » r i • x;- * 4^ 1 - *T., K ■ -Vi. .* . * A- SHERRIPF GOSLIN 4^*V -»»• a JI nil Mm '4*> rM * <>/ :.f 111 k) 1 i|M| VwH iMKtk Ai. H r mnr w *• * I •t K-** 1 R v*» }: •XhS?? .M : J Mk ' - - .A' z- W- . -* ' *. I 4“ •' I II • ( • t { u .-.V* I •• * , •* I lA------k H 4 mA lb*** (I ^«S J r •t * 4 A sbi I MW 7 f .bMI jk * it T’ 14 I J «* r ( f fc.. •W ■ * 4 A ,1.-- I Hy il Rl^ .'I .9 * CALLTODAY ‘ .• » . . •■ *’ - « .‘ t -■ 1 w Z) ¥ V •vX** t .,.k’ • • r sZ * ■ * ■ A •. - » «» i-. * X' <4 I I best < 4^ 3MW «• t «. b/ BEST * \4a_ -uu:;2^ ... V THANK YOU r VtJ •• BEST rxckiTioT DENTIST *—. _ PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY COSMETIC DENTISTRY with kid-liieudly options for ideal results TO ALL OUR DELTA DENTAL HEALTHY KIDS AND BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HEALTHY KIDS PATIENTS FOR THE z T TYLER AK. VENEMAN. DDS I iM MB H «■ HI your «w * - wt, • □ □ • □uKi!» ■M HI Hi YANKEE SPRINGS DiNTAU I I ! I MentlOH this Offer when you call ! or bring this ad with you ■■ 1h (269) 792-9723 12715 WM-179 Hwy YankeeSpringeDental.com Wayland, Ml 49348 scan to request an appointment and learn more H FIRST VISIT -..i .<ir* .A M 207. OFF H --- --«■ IH ■■ Xi i. jsf^ -*• Be. Io lelurn youi teeth to good health NOW ACCEPTING RECOGNITION [ w 4 « ^99^ w «e •*'M ^024 X f* <> J <* -5 ' VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK * 1 I t k < w J *> ?X s W: itf 9 K. t ( J 4 s & •9 J * IMPLANTS catered Io your Irealmeat needs M INSPECTION' t; a SAME DAY DENTISTRY c;) -w.sr '"WW } ( Jb T < *n» *1^ •» 1 K<*** % j.< IB |r *» FOR YOUR FREE’^ A "I ;»■ t . > -JT "W-* w* t. ri’* •^-XC*** > w J* * _ ««dr I <» *>«r H w J*. i I 1 t ! 1 -'v w * 4X wt< ► J 1 I 1 91 ! {f f * * tdWn «• A T*-- *C *4 •V« e: en i -5. •4 • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115+ YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU f* •.X .• XMa^K :?n*> *•*» |D| We treat our patients like family and offer comfortable, customized dentistry for everyone r' I *5 t X ■a«:; JU r- «b-* I -X ww«»«X’ QUAl H Y wool INC. *« $ ! I 342 ooogie revter/s K, M MB MM ■■ IH ’ BH HI ' BB M Office Hours M Tu W Th F 9om-6pm 7om’3pm 8ani-^m 8<xn’'4pm 8Qm‘l2om • Mt H* ©IV �10 Saturday, April 5, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com z I hM % 4^ t % L**-* A I I *9 I I SPORTS PREVIEWS i* • 'R 1 I Trojan softball has great group up the middle for her senior season after signing on to join the Grand Valley State University program next season and earning allstate honors a year ago. She hit .621 with 8 home runs in her junior season. She will once again man the shortstop position and also take turns in the circle. Adelaide Holderman had a stron .!J freshman season with the TK varsity and Garrett said she ill be the Trojans’ anchor pitching from the circle this spring. Up the middle, the Trojan team also brings back senior Kenzie Bouma in Centerfield. She was an all-conference honoree along with Hoebeke last sea- The Trojans are hoping to get to the point where they are surprising some people this spring. Thomapple Kellogg varsity softball coach Ashley Garrett said she sees a squad with solid pitching depth and strong bats from top to bottom in the line-up as the 2025 season gets underway. It is a young squad overall and some girls are shuffling positions aroimd, but at the top the Trojans have some excel­ lent leaders to carry the load while everything gels. Kylee Hoebeke returns B ■ I RESIDENTIAL PAVING 1 * ' i « Murray’s Asphalt 269-948-9369 r ASPHALT expires 4/15/25 • must present coupon V i* ;5«xi * • V 'J f Vi w*.t V V-Z: t' |» .w < 9 '-***3’. A • •¥ i; aW *. k M PAVING * PATCHING * SEAL COATING * WINTER HOT MIX PRODUCTION CHIP SEALING * HOT RUBBER CRACK FILLING * LINE STRIPING 5 •■■III ' * « J > I a» T « 1 * ♦ I j p « I » /t I r r. T i < f Jl I 4 1 w i / < r ' '*51 * .is 4 1 t . 1 J/ "m aV t I & •V * t I » t % '^4 i 1 I I * r ,.' s I 1 1 > t i i 4' /• II a a < ’ I a I a .* •I I S J I I I I / u i 'J F • a f I f A V’ 1 I A ir» - 4 I I » < f ' J I « * i ■ ’ , i i f g < < i t 4 J « J > a A L i I ) I t » « 1 i i 'l J J > t 9 > fill i LK. 5 1 f < fi X I f * 4 * I I r * I I k i r 9 k A » 1 r> ■Wil «L„’ r , -t I 4• I •’H * I t tr-' M f < I 1 ( ( 2 AiiA j I * < 1 I♦ i * tit**** & (H IbiHt A i 4 ■««* I __ « I < A 9 t .w A. • 1 X i > i f a < 31 9 1 i » a f » 4 4 i I » * I I L 4 •w i 1 F R*- 1 »' ( * t > f. .I X k Ji i ..Ta ' t ** ■** i ■ e t r I , V ' *1 > V « * r: fl : lidfeW**’ A W ..X’ * t ■WrtKba-i # ROW »1 4 ( 5 •l * T i. A 4 « COUPON f; * I Brett Bremer Sports Editor I i- e • 4,-. *•* T ». I fr I.' • ' Kylee Hoebeke son and hit .358. Behind the plate, Garrett is happy to add freshman Anna Romph who the Trojan coach says has a high softball IQ and all of the tools to be a highly successful high school player. The TK ladies were bested in their first two ballgames of the season last Thursday at Hamilton. The Hawkeyes took 8-3 and 14-6 wins. In game one, Hoebeke was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Left fielder Aubree Stevens in the number two spot had two singles and two RBIs. TK also got his from Bouma and first baseman Jenna Robi­ nett. Hoebeke tripled and drove in a run tes^Es; I I hits and Romph went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. TK also got two hits from Allison Wolowicz and had 12 total hits as a team. Holderman started both games in the circle. TK is scheduled to host Plainwell April 17 and then play host to the Barry County Invitational with Hastings, Delton Kellogg and Lakewood April 19. Garrett said her girls are looking forward to going after those rivals and then getting started in the new OK Gold Conference. TK opens conference play on the road at West Catholic April 21. Garrett said she expects Wayland, South Chris­ tian and Northview all to be especially ♦r **89 1 .u u** 1 r r ♦ I * . z** t <> .J i*J A r f r f ? ■'*< f’ : 1 » 5 ■ —* * - .*>' 4 < »f A .r ;j» ■ t 1 1 . d-: ■'~a tiri? t w if '*T* ''i \ i 8a . * * ,\ if . w w «• J 1 :j J 1 \ I . ' ‘4 MIST! I Ji T.' A ---- > '1 X . IB ' )fc 4* Of. aO X t** t ?I _J . 7- 4 » ~*>'W ' �I. • K 1 I I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com f i Saturday, April 5, 2025 11 ♦ ♦ a •Y'V • TK baseball got taste for success in 2024 postseason 1 1 ( f A r !. r B I -» •4 t 4 'A* A I : I J 4 V '“s' 4* t2. I IT '■* k I t r I r *,M j! I 1■B 4 sV r, \\^ ft' \ ■ I 1 I 9^ .1 i I ■ tf r*' lb- Ji I® J X i I .K^ 8^ XP / I -I I I (r « •J ' X A i I I I .I ft Si? •• * I y & >• kU I kJ 1 J I. ? I L I J I * 1 I* r I, I X 1 I f > U al i rA WM Xt A t ft 11^- r Jayce Brummel r <3 i r .t : r»B^ib IH Brett Bremer Sports Editor •* i2 ■ -d 3J- lo;.! »fH n(' ft 7£b-ujJ£cj 9 b 9rfj ft .noaG-32^il£O ' fiiwr ^ ^InqxrnofiT i.n' fWoD nufl iBunrre ra r i 9 ’ IhqA iSlIiv^IbhiM I I* i I u J 4 *<ml arTT K. I J ^CJ 1 JI * X- Sil T •.■ t Off i I i I T r' i f •I .4 1 b. i*Mw t . : rrt if i J; .f 1 i -.Ci'I. I* K -'W f 1 ft- >« yf hU uU •.etxc/gli I I ■ J I / rM AJ.J.. I I I I 4 1 I I *1^ •Hf ‘ >13 ■ I ) > •; » : f t I f t A ' I V ; i J I I t i 1 ! 1 - A I . , Hl? 'IiJi? I I I > 1 Ji- ifnd I I .j’ * > I "■ rt f I I J -jsh - u to nnoS f J » I 1 I I ' I I 1 $ ( •'' > T i , f I 1 I I r. I' t The Trojans get to have a few fun Saturdays on their home diamond in the early season. Thomapple Kellogg will host the annual Barry County Invitational in Middleville April 19 and then the team’s annual Wood Bat Invite May 3. The Trojans won an improvised Barry County Invite last season in Middleville, an event traditionally hosted by Hastings, and finished off the season with a 17-17 overall record under head coach Nick Iveson who is back for his fourth season leading the program this spring. “This is a team that has some high goals,” Iveson said. “We are looking to finish on the upper half of the league standings this season along with a run in the [state] tournament. Last season we won two postseason games and fell in the district final. That experience has been great motivation for a lot of our guys to put ourselves back in that position and improve upon it.” Leading the way in holding those expectations is a solid senior group of returnees that includes first baseman Jayce Brummel, outfielder Jacob Davis and Bradley Moerman all ofwhom will see time at pitcher, outfielder Anson VBerlinde, catcher Connor Domb- kowski and middle infielder Spencer Ybema. “We have an experienced group with a lot of depth at pitcher,” Iveson said. “We have a lot of great athletes, and we will look to put pressure on opposing teams with our speed on the base paths.” Acouple ofvarsity newcomers coach Iveson is looking forward to having help out are junior middle infielder Carsyn Redman and sophomore middle infielder Micah Dock. It has been a bit of a tough start so far for TK. Zeeland East took two from the Trojans last Thursday in Mid­ dleville, and the TK boys fell in a pair of ballgames against former OK Gold Conference foe Grand Rapids Catholic Central. The Cougars took a 14-6 win over the TK boys in Grand Rapids last Friday, March 28. Redman was 2-for-2 with two walks in the number two spot for the Troj ans in that Friday afternoon defeat. He scored two runs and drove in one. The only other two hits were singles from Dock and Ybema. Dock walked once and scored two runs in the lead-off spot for TK. Ybema, hitting in the three hole, had a walk, a run and an RBI. Brummel also drove in a run and scored one for the Trojans. See BASEBALL on 12 Are you creative? — NOW HIRING — GRAPHIC DESIGNER View Newspaper Group is seeking a lull-time graphic artist lor our Greenville location. — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS — This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Photoshop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! Responsibilities include: • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout Vie love what we do and we know you will too! Are you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood atarood@mihomepaper.com and let’s find outl The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer’s Guide Jeffersonian I I I ! I 1 . t I fe! 1 hl Tri-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer's Guide & News The Sun and News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Reminder IVe are a growing company of 21 community newspapers serving 15 Michigan counties that are delivered weekly to more than 355,000 households with an additional 500,000 nnonthly online readers. I I I 1 I Group ^Al ( I ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ �, * I 4 > ♦ >■ Saturday, April 5, 2025 12 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Falcons rally in sixth to beat Scots in opener ♦ ♦ i I ♦ I itS'qiQ {'I nj 1 o ♦ ♦ --—.p—... •“ T Brett Bremer Sports Editor the bat of Ethan Sova in the top of the third brought home the first Caledonia run of the season. Ty Lewandowski singled into left and stole second to get the Scots’ fourth inning rally going. Jaeger Tidey singled him home from second. The Scots had just four hits all game. Aydin DeBoer and AJ Roszkowksi both singled once. Aryn Taylor started for the Scots and threw two shut out innings, striking out three, walking one and The Fighting Scots managed to sneak one game in before spring break, falling 5-2 at West Catholic Tuesday afternoon. The Caledonia varsity baseball team built a 2-0 lead through four innings, but the Falcons rallied for five runs in the bottom of the sixth to steal the win. Two Falcon errors, a walk and a sacrifice fly off I giving up two hits. Alex Spinney, Trevor Walter and Ryan Wysocki followed with one scoreless inning of relief each. The Falcons finally managed to get to Gabe Trudeau in the bottom ofthe sixth scoring five runs on five hits. Caledonia will head to Middleville April 16 to take on the Thomapple Kellogg Trojans and then will host the Cal Tournament April 19. ft I I I’ ■•o if A I I J 1 J I J « 'J I 1 ' * '0^ - 4I i I c ; y D niiVft ’.ifinoj? ftj'zr li'/f-lh hi* A, .■ .it. $lMi i7>-» 11 I > f : u to m ■.^. i i '■K > a' . • .. ? 'i: •• r 5' A « I r I 1« •V * r QUALIFIERS BASEBALL jumps and middle distance races. “We have an amazing core group of girls that naturally lead this team,” Wilkinson said. “They allD are looking out for one an­ other on and off the field. This team wants to win and compete.” She said a big thing for the team will just be staying healthy all spring. Continued from Page 8 graduated three of its top sprint­ ers a year ago so the addition of Fitros and freshmen Amya Gater and Kayla Price are key. Gater is already off to a great start to her first varsity season, and should contribute in sprints, hurdles. f. cs ki Continued from Page 11 With Catholic Central, Cedar Springs, Kenowa Hills and Forest Hills Eastern moving out of the OK Gold Conference, the league brought in West Catholic, Northview, Grand Rapids Union and Wyoming. “We are looking forward to compet­ ing against new teams,” Iveson said. “Northview has a solid program along with South Christian who was a top team in the Gold last season.” The conference season gets started April 15 as the Trojans visit West Catholic for a doubleheader. The format remains the same for confer­ ence play, with the Falcons coming to Middleville April 17 to finish off the three-game conference series. In between those ballgames, TK will host Caledonia April 16. '<r •, 1 *, r> B«7-0rf7/ j !Uua< r-, Si' ■^ss* |no2fioa iafil Lk I t JA •• * J ! J I rIT .t: J s .... t in- •V I 1 r' « V' r- ?l •b«L ► I s f ■■ <» nq/. ! V T £? rf J * •>’ ’ ^7,013 T K>-‘ 5 ' B I « K 2xf': *4^ 1, fj’ r r f t r- ' \ 'A t-j , > • • r \ SCHEDULE YOUR SPRING TREE TRIMMING NOW! < » “5 11 ¥ ai I f^eauesT /w eSTIMATS > I< I ;*5x t rm < 1 * ft • J; t’ 20 Years" Experience! 1. • • Ml. ♦. H < » j I go where the work is! li' < X .*7 < r* 'I •*• V"’ «^',X -z-> * K ., . ■ rr > I •a* •t .> M- ...**•■ »»»•••• e f I ** M •^.. » I » s •* R f Xj >4 V 1 I i ' 'V « 4 / ♦ I I 10% OFF I I Jobs with ■ Cleanup Service I I I tot loM Mth Ely other otter. Must preset com H ths ol Blrrwli Coupon opffVig I I z X ✓ -r .J .w..' . ■ •-• -t • ■•—•■ -r 4. t V l;,. * 1 .V VM ii’ .. 4iS I ^*4 * f I I V: .I * .V ‘ t > I- Ai • istki Residential if «IB r JI I* “I -S «■ Commericai - - Ws. f ir'Sf' ■■ V t r-1. » ♦J Roof Repair ll » Storm Damage s» . ■’ - Wfc- Exclusive Cut and Leave Tree Service C • » * Insurance Claims \ * I II 11 I 11 We put on the ground, J 11 you clean up. 11 SAVE up to 50%; 11 cost । II Services W * iB R Ulu RB PM CM 1 JWS'fe I itlUi 616-916-0188 I 616-427-5209 *"■>.";■■» I ■ '. i • ' »•••■< -r-' .'•.'■'■ ■.' ._.i....' •■ ■'. • X W* talwaw&p' V Tt r * I yelp £•. •4 « 41 f *rcoFn»TFu ar 4 is* 100% SATISFACTION 6UARANTFFD — ||[2 facebook ** ¥:■ X Fully Insured • FREE Estimates Call or Text Joel f t x Storm clean up Bucket truck service Affordable tree removals & trims Specializing in difficult jobs Dead Tree Specialist Professional tree climbers that go where trucks can’t go • Over grown yard clean ups • Save money on cut and leave jobs -- I TRIM YOUR OAKS BEFORE THE SPRING RUSHIi • • • • • • - *<► I 55^ •‘.s * 4 « * I >^-4* I ... I h OA* I I I » f t F' 11 1 COVER IT WITH CONFIDENCE • » .H *». ^=i=* 4i» I k .ifi”' k • y « t '■ ■iiiH I I <» Ci- L < *3 « I * *** *1 • > 'I « «' 4 • JI ' 1 •* 1 kV* '- er* .e 4 V* >* « < *z «< ■ .» . « > ■ M I 1 i Serving the Caledonia and Middleville Communities. *c I V f J -J V I ROOFING »^T Xli e z h I <1 I u < TYCO ' /s 'i ,-r ■ '• J 4 Ir* . i I *•«» F"" V. A 3 *i • xfcsia_____ '« > Q *1 I ■b. X A Google CuNomtr I : << 4» — ' • -•x.w-' ■• ' s * I i » ■ J ■L. . • r I j < �♦ 4 ''<ii ■e* I t ’<5 « 1 er. * U'iU k I 1/ I 1 I I iCk r 4 * . f 9! • V • I s ! I 1 i * k s ’<1. I I ’H 4 •W' * ' • 1 « ■ 4 i •. » ' « 14’ i; > F f I I A X M '/I I . X S' r 4 I 4 4 5 I "’tlsl ^84 1 p f- • • u,.. ’-^'lI ■ I 1 »> •> >!ir -..q '9^ 1 '• i I' < T r» r » 1 tt 1 l» 1 ' i ;i 1 J * ► •*1 ’wv: *k i Sb..; • i, G f V A V r ■ t J V'-»1 r X •r TTfit ■ i: i b. •J -X' ■M. "S3 i , I / <1 gifijo » SV I 1 » teecoo ■! bJi 88'. I r 1: lonaib E^fe« , 1 *•>*^311 ,-niob mob i . X "A - J ft p y . Id - . f .4 •» c 4 I itii I n wiiilea: iwioz - tTG’bn IkI , H; J I I ^■vpf I JI ‘I > • TfT*. /tb^ If/J 1 r lie / >l£l iL r ft' V •-J i£>4 f-i j I ' ’JX.J De 1 brfu gojtol' 6fim:iRJvJ WaH > iL ( * L/.tjiiiifc tii^ d* h®- •■ — . 5. J Ei "J "1 jfcx j>£fl fcnt X /-1 iX _ ' f 4 i I f tft J ‘ I ( V : i > t '• 3 1 ' re? te ;ol X . t<y)v oaTrfJ '.^1 srll 11 awri 1 .Torfr^ »t ±>ulz ft .>l( w n I J 1 .1^ * pe.-.- i« .« I ..If a 3/7 .23ru4n, JDA ) j nsr( Hjki'gW riwo’^fl bfifl eatiO I i J R I I • *k 1 f ; ? boisbntil II .isd W( teri3 Tud 4108663 Ike J9>I R .w( j‘ trr'n’q 001 ot 1. > (lU floJjQ-Kibl ill it luidft«W^ : i f / ♦ Four goals by Cross take down Saxons at TKHS t r I 13 •- -s 1 • 4 k... Saturday, April 5, 2025 4 $ I J THE SUN AND NEWS i . 4 S'' www.sunandnews.com I i s: j. ■•i J 1 J j. Hr i./ . .. S 1 Brett Bremer Sports Editor Junior attacker Tealy Cross convert­ ed on a penalty kick midway through the first half and then added three more goals throughout the course of play to lead the Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ soccer team to a 5-1 win over Hastings Friday in Middleville. The victory is part of a 3-1 start to the 2025 season for the Trojans who opened OK Gold Conference play Monday with a 4-0 win over West Catholic in Middleville. Senior Kalli Koning converted a penalty kick for Hastings Friday after junior teammate Dez Mathis drew a foul in the box TK goalbox. The Saxons are now 1 -4 overall this season. Cross and her teammates were able to take advantage of a fairly young Saxon back line“She is very aggressive, and she can shoot from the outside,” first-year Hastings head coach Megan Deal said. “We are just lacking experience on the outside I would say. We have so many seniors that are more centers, mids and forwards, not necessarily defense. “Last year, Tim [Schoessel] did more of a diamond back with the four and I am doing more of a straight back. . We’re working out the kinks. We have a freshman that plays more on the outside and an exchange student, so it’s new for them, but they’re athletic enough to get back there and pull their weight. It’s kind of a newer team.” The TK team has just two seniors too in Emma Geukes and Madilyn Chivis. Cross is part of a massive junior group. “We all still have that close bond that we’ve all had my whole career,” Cross said. “We all had such a good bond over the past three years. A lot of us have stuck together. There were nine of us freshmen year. That whole nine is still playing and still here, minus a few ofthe ACL injuries. We’re all here together. We’re all here training every day.” Cross had her own knee injury which popped up during club play in Novem­ ber. It hindered her junior varsity bas­ ketball season, but she feels pretty close to 100 percent now. She didn’t appear hindered on any ofher four goals Friday. She drew the foul that earned TK a penalty kick with 23:33 to go in the first half, and she converted on the PK " J J i * . .w; •> . ^ )l r J TV ? '*v, .b .W4 5 <1* • --— I’J a?< r . , J i |X' I I I j 'J 3 4 4 I « ' I .I': Il ■ i iu I J i I I '! u 4 ft »- 5 I BWI III 3 VJ k I •■w_ — — 1 Y -2 ss V'». 7 I ' \v *3 1 ''MKtdi 4 —I wLKbpy r. »r****'^**-i^i*--. MT * **< ( * I t W ,e 'IW’ L. Ullftl ft >■! •* 4^^ I ft » *I w *4 » • ft— • u« “fcl S'* .••• ” » - ---- if J *10 : r* ««WrT*^P < > •I ' .4V f •• I «4 AlS* A MB 00 4r ..I— .T ’ .. . -^1 ■Ml r’ • A TK junior defender Ella Fischer settles the ball in her end of the field during the Trojans’ win over visiting Hastings in Middleville Friday, March 28. Thornapple Kellogg junior Tealy Cross fires a penalty kick into the net during the Trojans’ win over Hastings in Middleville Friday, March 28. Photos by Brett Bremer > to give TK the lead. With 16:16 to go in the first half, the Trojans stole away a Saxon throw-in deep in the Saxons’ end and Chivis soon chipped a pass to Cross in the center of the attacking third for an open chance on goal that put their team up 2-0. TK took that lead into the half, and Koning’s PK cut the TK lead in half. It was only a one-goal game for about four minutes. Cross ran on to a through ball behind the Saxon defense and put a shot by Hastings keeper Sadie Handord with 27:22 to go in the game. Cross pushed TK’s lead to 4-1 by heading in a comer kick by Chivis with 12:51 to play in the game. Chivis finished off the scoring by burying a shot with 2:59 to go after a little chip into the center of the attack­ ing zone by teammate Alexa Eden. “We were just moving the ball well,” Cross said. “We were connecting. We all have this cross-town rivalry, so there is that extra fun out there playing against club teammates. We all had good energy, good vibes and we all wanted to work together. It was just fun.” The TK ladies are off for spring break now. They’ll return to play at Wayland April 15. ♦ > I! *1 < ? ■^i:' > k? » « I« < •l ./T. WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOL/NG NEEDS x» c: 4 I < < i Residehtiar& Commercial ♦x w kv Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners ' -Heat Pumps -\Naier Heaters Humidifiers >vs '*‘X V ,4 • f. ><a .w* J •M 5 . ? s f9. r ‘ ♦ *a 12 c t* bftnio I— ♦s ft /rqgi) ?? ■i^B ♦< 9• V V 4 ;r I ss 4 * X ik 4.4 A d f: DeWeerd <68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 t I 1k » 1 •. r I.W X' IJ 4a L w 01 b K L^l A. ' r- . i; ftW ft ■t I .. .4^ 4 4 * ft F F Since t9SS W I A+ , BBB. ACCREDITED BUSINESS �14 Saturday. April 5. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS sunandnews oom Long battles end Scot victory over TK ladies ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor fhe fighting Scots and Irojans closed out an early season dual on the courts at Caledonia High School with a little extra tennis Thursday afternoon, March 27. Fighting Scot second singles junior Audrey Duong fought off Thomapple Kellogg junior Jordan Pranger 10-5 in a super tiebreaker to close out their match, and Thomapple Kellogg junior Natileigh Merchant held on for a 10-6 win in a super tiebreaker in her third * singles match with Caledonia senior Claire Teunessen. rhat was just a tight match the entire way [at second singles]. They were so evenly matched, and it could have went either way, as the scores show. Just a couple points here and there made all the difference,” Cale­ donia head coach Mike Wilson said. The same thing with Claire at third singles. She just battled and refused to quit. Again, a couple points a different way and the outcome could have been a little different." Ifiat victory for Merchant earned the one team point for the I homapple Kellogg varsity girls' tennis team in a 7-1 loss to the host Scots. Teunessen did her very best to try and make it a shut out rallying from 5-2 down in the second set to eventually win a tie­ breaker and force the super tiebreaker to decide the match. "She just battled all the way back, made a couple ofadjuslments and got it going, just basic stuff, a couple techni­ cal things - give herself a little more space on the ball and coming over on the top,” Wilson said of Teunessen’s tweaks. There was a lot of new on both sides of the net for the two squads. Freshman Berkley Nelson is the first ninth grader at first singles for the Fighting Scots * 4 I M* ♦ I > i '.■f « A.'ri?- . 0’ I* r * L -W .lT! •‘’’S «- w* ■if't r If € J I .4 rU :3 i 1 f 4 . lor- T* -!1 ■ t ■5**•4e eX I II J! « 4g m' ♦f ^4- * M- 'WW L-- I it* I r e. «l » • Thornapple Kellogg third singles player Natileigh Merchant knocks a shot back at her foe from Caledonia during her win in the dual with the Scots Thursday, March 27, at Caledonia High School. J ^>4r «* f ■! 4«l^ I * t I I J .• 1' J 1'.-J A * 4 K I k .2 "• < — < VI ■vK *> f • ■ A » J. i * Fighting Scot freshman Berkley Nelson hits a high bouncing ball back at her opponent from TK during their first singles match at Caledonia High School March 27. Photos by Brett Bremer in as long as Wilson can remember (and that is since 1997), and she took on Trojan senior Isabelle Schilthroat who was playing a first singles match for TK for the first time. Nelson came out on top in that one 6-1,6-0. "She has a lot of experience. She is very solid. She is the one. She belongs at first singles,” Caledonia head coach Mike Wilson said. “She has been coached really well. She is very adaptable. She can hit a wide variety of shots, and that is just where she is so good at taking a couple of things and putting them into action right away. If something is not going her way, it’s a very quick conversation and she gets out there and does it. It is fun,” Wilson added. Throughout the rest of the line-up, the Scots won straight set matches. Gretchen VanderEide took a 6-1, 6-1 win over TK’s Emilia Sandborn at fourth singles. On the doubles side, Sawyer Mertz and Anna Homrich scored a 6-2, 6-3 win over TK’s Jalyn Grimes and Nata­ lie Culver at number one; Zoe Fleming and Hailey Markwal outscored TK’s Molly Alden and Cayla Brouwer 6-4, 6-0 at number two; Kebe Fitzell and Emery James beat TK’s Marla Osa and Carli Ogle 6-0, 6-3 at number three and Maya White and Hellen Komera topped TK’s Leighton Leslie and Chloe Yates 6-3, 6-2 at number four, Wilson said he had to trv a lot of different combinations to finally come up with his final doubles line-up. A lot of those duos are new. He expects it will be a really solid line-up as the season progresses. * M... “I think we’re definitely coping with the stress of playing,” TK head coach Philippe Sylveste said. “We’re coping See BATTLES on 17 I I il I r I ( ir l fi 4* 4'* I 4 > 4 e i - I r■ I I TfU: th ti » J it '» 9 I c >r k I I ti * I « ’ 4 s T'‘ .>« r * 4 I 9 V f 5 J ; J /f I r 4i itr 1 IE .1 7 tr ■* A * 4 1 f I * ' 4 e to ^^41 no'j I V. I tf f i-- i. $ ’A .’J» •' £ =7 • 1 ■ -.-i-t <«i.0 -s 1«* d > A I >■ J «* we« I I « I I I K c « * «> kf '« ri t 4 1 < iri U 9 J *5Cii *■ ■ 'J?.'' �THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com J 15 Saturday, April 5, 2025 ♦ ♦ i ■it Scots finally overtake Hawkeyes in the ninth V • I Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity softball team went to bat in the first inning, the third inning, the fourth inning, the fifth inning, the sixth inning, the seventh inning, the eighth inning and then the ninth inning trailing the Hawkeyes on the scoreboard. The Scots ended the ninth in front. Amber Fairchild, hitting out of the number eight spot for the Fighting Scots, knocked a bases-loaded RBI single towards center field to score teammate Malia Burke from third with nobody out in the bot­ tom of the ninth for an 8-7 walk-off win over visiting Hamilton Tuesday. Fairchild was 3-for-5 at the plate for the night, contributing to a 14-hit Caledonia attack. Even with that offensive output, the Scots found themselves down 5-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. Singles by Addy Olin and Fairchild started the Scots’ comeback there. Olin scored on a fielders’ choice from teammate Maddison Boucher to get one run back. CHS pitcher Addi Veldt worked her way out of a two on, none out jam in the top of the seventh to keep it a 5-2 ballgame. The Scot bats really came to life to start the bot­ tom of the seventh. Hudsyn Tanner doubled to center field and Burke followed with a single to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Molly Lieske singled into left, and both Tanner and Rian Restau, who was on to run for Burke, came around to score as the ball got by the Hawkeye left fielder. Lieske wound up at second base. She moved to third on a wild pitch and then came in to score on a ground out off the bat of Olin. Yer 1918 tlaiB •»; gjfid rdfiote*! >^fn gninni J?iil ,;.inrnn f/tli jfh 1 1 J ni. TP’iini ^rh i I « e s-ffl ti b. I J>lin-n( £ ' A iidj Xs t <> r-i ___ J zbuwoi oi; I p• to BRTOidJTTnori* mof ficuFI rafegaill a ’ to .' f < V f k * > ( ! tsrl •’ i / C'.; I ' ; • vbb! vrf r I / 1 » ''r/ ,1 mnttiaoioiD 9 , .JjfH '^unsJ^o •I.-’ I i I -lici I I 1 r r' r 4 .*k^inO7.‘4 <‘ 'ii I ' ! T f jiwiT o fl rr/rf rfifv/b* idoji dJ Ui djo Il ‘ i I t s ( 1 Bd? f 1(1 ■b I I I '<-21^ I fl ' f (€^=5®; / ?« I f- f -"'r f I ••I a.*’ I '-P I I 4 I I >|yzeH I V i I . I I fd I I I , '/ I I I I .□« I I I I *!• 'I ' j r 1 1 I I I , ’1 I I I I I* .1 f, liduS s I * i 4w?i.h* •I 1 a', i ^4? The two teams went into extra innings tied at 5-5. With the extra innings runner starting at second base in the eighth both teams pushed one run across to go into the ninth tied 6-6. A two-out single by Veldt brought in the Scots’ run in the eighth. Hamilton got one run in during the top of the night, and the Scots brought their extra-inning runner, Tan­ ner, home quick in the bottom of the ninth with a lead-off single by Burke into center and then an RBI sacrifice fly into left from Lieske. Olin took two pitches in her ensuing at-bat and ±en drilledadouble into rightfieldthat moved Burke to third. The Hawkeyes’ intentionally walked Aliya Hemden to load the bases and set up force plays all around the diamond, but Fairchild delivered her game winning hit. Veldt, Tanner, Burke and Olin finished the ballgame with two hits each. Veldt threw the first eight innings from the circle for the Scots striking out eight. She gave up four earned runs on five walks and ten hits. Olin got the win in relief pitching the ninth. The victory on the cold, breezy afternoon pushed the Scots to 4-1 on the season. They split a double­ header with Rockford in their season opener March 27 and then took two from Coopersville March 28. Tanner was 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs in the Scots’ first win over the Coopersville Broncos last week, an 11-8 victory. CHS took game two 10-3. The Scots have 71 hits through five games so far this season. L r" Ik i W If'? "“vS •■ ’‘^s^isEs r y JS. X z‘ - . MJ » -* ► .1 •, 1 .’ I I' I A t» I n« lU uHI 1 I. •* T t 1. «f3HlA S" I . zs 1 »» » t I > t T r^: A \ \ < k A If'. I 5 J \ > 1 1 r« ► itih ? - f. iik. $ '' b' r R< r f 4? , ! J» ■ [ ■ I J BV liEi***' ' { •41 ■ r h; f Ai • t .A t i X- **• < f •k ±11 >^4’ s *« 4 -A ?9| gKiirftiyw >441^ •, T ** * K * «*» r ^**’‘-* < '**nr .K 4^ ,1^ ’_-«?,■ . . ,4' • Addi Veldt pitches for the Caledonia varsity softball team during its extra-inning win over Hamilton Tuesday in Caledonia. Photos by Brett Bremer 40 YEARS kRE/MAX . OF GRAND RAPIDS lie ^1 ' J J INSURED REFERENCES < sn; .WIH |M9S >1 A 4iik 1 VKY II ■’Fv t Wood,Window & Door Specialist Inc. Vinyl Windows • Remodeling FREE ESTIMATES Margaret (Margo) E. Peric Commercial/Residential Full Time Agent ’W > ▼I / f .J 4 jy .►• hI I <<* • (616) 204-9792 Office: (616)957-0700 CB Pennock 4 269-908-2173 Email: margoperic@remax.net f fls*. I f a J ’W' k Ji4h I 1 r* •k r f I >. 4 .:t; « •RaX' » i. » I 1 •-9* < ■ « Mkwb* s t r I a I I -•i.A ■ '^'■ t y I / a- / 4. ( I r ®d'« , j i •x w s i -y. J J l\ II T C' »• ! 1 ^.fs; -a.. r? pF/MAx k -T * -t ♦y I •I w* 1 ■■' -xtwiii fri(fct-.’.!’’n 1^ £ t’' iTKAitMl i V •* e I -■' ;;‘;!s!iit' . f y < I 5 , ^.K. I* !■,» iMMi^rwaSrJ « t * I*-* ■ I•w .A K frhh s I f ••’t • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation I J 1 •iBf-’V 3»^ 4 u 1 '1- ■ ■ z I __ 5 • x» fl " The Fighting Scots’ Hudsyn Tanner rips a double into right center field to start her team’s three-run rally that tied its bailgame with Hamilton at 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday in Caledonia. Give us a call! tf/SureCaK •M/W 517-983-0954 H»|||^ 269-967-8241 C(l H **4 4 *« * I 4 1 cell(W) ♦ wgJLl.i Start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam n o* J www.theantennamen.com antennamen@gmail.com www.cellsignaiprosxom I t ti*l 4 r I. K* I I / I I I i 1 « !'■ 1J I 1 i ill f tl A' i .1 0 I J 4I 1 I ‘i s n 4 f, I 1 i I I I II I I • Cellular Enhancement Systems i I i Antenna Men » a • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers 5 , ll J • *» ►v? Mienn^ M*n * ■-^ ’ rrrr fe WSSBBi^ MSSiav"** » ■ I I , uV<r40S \ o �/; J !L. V i f 16 Saturday, April 5, 2025 Caledonia TOWNSHIP ♦ ♦ A • THE SUN AND NEWS CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the of the Caledonia Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on April 21,2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue. Caledonia, Michigan, to consider an amend­ ment to the text of the Zoning Ordinance. Some of the proposed changes include: Definitions. Section 2.2 would be amended to define a private garage as an acces­ sory building or space within a dwelling or building for storage of vehicles and other items Accessory Buildings. Section 3.10 would be revised to permit up to one accessory building that is not more than 200 square feet in area, and that the square footage for the accessory building shall not count towards the maximum square foolage in the applicable zoning district. Residential Accessory Buildings. Section 3.11, regarding residential accessory buildings, would revise the regulation of residential accessory buildings, including dimensional requirements for accessory buildings in Table 3.2 Driveways and Private Streets. Section 3.29, which includes requirements for driveways and private streets in all zoning districts, would be amended. The revisions would include changes to the categorical requirements for private driveways or private streets, depending on the number of lots that would be served, adding a definition of the term “roadbed," requiring shared driveways to have 33-foot wide easements, and prohibiting driveway easements from private roads within site condominium develop­ ments. Design and Construction Requirements for Driveways and Private Streets. The minimum design and construction requirements in Section 3.29 for private streets and driveways would also be revised. This would include changes to roadbed require­ ments for private streets serving nine to fifteen lots, to turnaround requirements for private streets that terminate at a dead end and are longer than 150 feet, requiring traffic calming devices to be reviewed and approved the Township Fire Chief, requiring private streets to be extended to neighboring parcels for connectivity to existing or fu­ ture development, revising the shoulder requirements for private streets, and requiring a vehicle turnoff and pedestrian connection for mail kiosks. It would also be amended to allow principal dwellings that exist prior to the establishment of a private street to be incorporated into the private street and not count toward the number of homes that determine the minimum requirements of construction. Recreational Vehicle Parking. Section 3.36 would be revised to include the A Ag­ ricultural and R-R Rural Residential Districts to the list of districts where recreational vehicle parking is permitted in side and rear yards. Commercial and Industrial Access Drives. A new Section 3.61 would be added to include requirements for internal access drives for industrial and commercial uses. The new Section 3.61 would address paving requirements, curbs, frontage treatment, greenbelt buffers, and design and construction standards for internal access drives. Outdoor Lighting. Section 3.50 would be revised to add a requirement that light pole and fixture colors shall be limited to dark bronze or black. Architectural Standards, Section 3.59 would be amended to apply architectural standards to the C-1 Neighborhood Business District and the C-2 General Business District. It would also be revised to apply certain architectural standards to offices, commercial buildings, and mixed-use buildings. Signage. Chapter 19 regarding signage would be amended by revising the require­ ments for illuminated signs in Section 19.2(d). Landscaping. Table 28A would be revised to amend the size and spacing require­ ments for certain species of plants, including certain evergreens, large deciduous shrubs, and small deciduous trees. Temporary Uses or Structures Requiring Zoning Inspector Authorization. Sec­ tion 3.22 would be revised to allow the Zoning Inspector to issue a permit for a tempo­ rary accessible unit during construction or remodeling of a principal dwelling, and to provide that the accessible unit may not exceed 160 square feet and must be removed within 15 days after a certificate of occupancy for the principal dwelling is received. All interested persons may attend the public hearing and comment on the proposed amending ordinance. Written comments concerning it may be submitted to the Township, at the address above, up to the time of and during the public hearing. The proposed amending ordinance is on file at the Township Hall and may be reviewed, or a copy obtained, during Township office hours. Dated: April 2, 2025 PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA WWW sunandnews.com s r. .4 GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP * lavWB £ t * 4 ■ ' >; M; I t NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING f I ’ { J 1 I * t- t » 1 I 0 The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Special Land Use request to build a new 3.200 square foot accessory building in the A-B zoning district, for a total of 5,843 square feet of acces­ sory buildings on the property. Property Address: 9744 Meadow Valley, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Parcel Number: 41-22-26-400-025 Applicant: Gerald Lawrence Almy III Date and Time of Hearing: April 24th, 2025, at 7:00 pm Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on April 24th. 2025. I . Jr 5 I ,? lA I' I ■ . 0 1 • I $ < I il 4 I. / < >X 5 < ' i. ** > >l>^ ' ,v, i i * ■ 1 1, I 3 •;V' ' Il I <4 I4 ’ • I » 1 • .3 / i I 4 1 1(1^b' ; I f & I .A f e.jp • ,1.' i V * f’ .X >'* • > I J f‘ I’l) I*" t- I ) 1 I 4 r I •-<r f 4 > I t < I v> '•I >/ I * r 1 1 A 1 • I ^lee t < I: L I I L.t ♦s r mm;?: ’f I t >* .7 ’ 1 » ,A i i 1 4* f. I i I t r ( ; I I J t ■J I Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. . r . I < -f.J ri-'' .-ftl < '■ M . < V-; ■■■ I r a I a I -.1- • GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP • t ■ 4 - • 4 i 4 i 9 .1 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ' •»*» 1 r . ; ♦ 4 * - V TThe Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: t ** ,J J3»9M Applicant: ■ . j Sy*- »■ fl ’ * 1856 100th Street SE .‘•'R'li- I < 'J *• v:* J ' Li**” ofCgi'WCoirt).*5f^ ■ v Parcel Number: fl f r Summary of Request: Stoneco 2025 Operating Plan Property Address: a I • .line' J 44 41-22-33-100-022 i;r«***“ . X- • I • tn Garrett Singer, Stonecol Ifc!?.:: A ) • M «. • - I AU '» C' Date and Time of Hearing: April 24th, 2025, at 7:00 pm Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on April 24th, 2025. I • > s r..i . . ® al<« . -V rrt >5*iWCrv»- A < I JiiiCai t*u- ftJE^TTUM . fees; A' I * j I I I I Silwli 1 I. I b t*. f f hA i I , 1 ) •;5 I ®«a;iHHn».U£ J if I ■* s«y S* M • * z' ' •-** ^' *•* it UB- ■1.. '•'As' ♦ ^-issiiaije ** u«*. A *bI f I :I 1 * ',7' M A . A* '• : «W »« -. b I' ic'f. , .** ■r-J 4 -•; r. ~ I ♦ > I s if I ' J)'*' 4 K': I it 1 ■ * r Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. / * -4 �1 U- ♦ I ♦ www.sunandnews.com THE SUN AND NEWS Saturday, April'5, 2025 17 9 ♦ Sprinters power CHS girls to win in Green opener s % BATTLES 9 9 X » Continued from Page 14 A Brett Bremer Sports Editor I t. 4 « I s s * k r Vf 'r A I I - I ; .. J k * >■ J 4 T L r * ’1 I t. ■ M * s. ■ i i * 1 4 1 r ’ f r t • i 1 'J - ’ a/ . ? I -fcWI /iij z* ■?'^i • 4 ' '• i. t I I I J « I I i I f ‘ 4 z ; Ou 1 , I * k » 1 fei SI. * * fv ,■•‘9.'. .u* a • • . 'O', L- 9*1 L 3i - ’ A U •ntevi J * - ni J > 4 I.I A< » * 4 I *•:» -) I ' I I J 4 1 1^ I k <1^ Vi ■ ' >I s. 4 i i . 1 I i, h> •x p '‘■f, f » I ’fl ■ ’ni 4 4 J I -I'. *'4 r • J. r f ■ Hlei: A J:. ; L - i. , ’F ’1 fij ‘. j Kinis *'‘iU V r !I I <5 Jfii . .4 f .UfC-. >' rV'-h-: 1*. ’til I 1 ' 7: } I ♦ T'-) • Wl 1 -f a- ) i •A VI -'tfll I 1 1* 1, J 1 • 4* 1 I with we’re in the lead, we’re not in the lead, we’re in the lead, we’re not in the lead, and that is hard. It is hard emotionally to manage, but overall it is pretty good. I think the girls were sur­ prised at how well they played in relationship to their nerves maybe and what they expected. It was good. It was pleasantly surprising to see them go and compete, and compete. It wasn’t a freebie. That was good.” TK had a scrimmage at Vicks burg before the dual, but it was their first competition of the season. “I have targets now I can work on. I have things, I can help the girls move along. I am excited,” Sylveste said. The CHS girls are now 2-1 in duals this season and they also scored a fourth-place finish at the early season Jenison Invitational and beat Hamilton Tuesday after­ noon this week. “Everyone is playing up a little bit. We had a brutal try-out,” Wil­ son said. “It was really tight. We had so much competition there. Today was a good day. We’ve had some practice and we could see some of those things in action a little bit more. That has been a good thing.” I 4 i’’' <. r I t I f X UM k * < L 1 * I.\ t I i >V I I- I jXjr •l < •r a,*- r f 1 ■1; • I rft K ’'O* X "t, < f ■?j|i ■ \ I has posted an RFB for Bid Pack 1 Caledonia Monument Sign package. J r-’ 1* I) tv sr. r I J . •.tJ '■ ’-i Caledonia Community Schools 1 k I 1 A I. I 1 I I( ■T' k ’* n AU RFB information can be found on the district website: * J :';K. •TV ' * 4, The Caledonia varsity girls’ track and field team opened the 2025 OK Green Conference season with a 79-58 win on a chilly evening in Jenison Tuesday. The victory moves the Fighting Scots to 2-0 in duals so far this season. The Scots had success all over, but the sprinters really got the job done. Freshman Brynn Ward won the 100-meter dash in 13.29 seconds lead­ ing a sweep of the three scoring spots in the race for her team. She also won the 200-meter dash in 27.57 with the Scots going 1-2 in that one. Sophomore Isla Sheely was the runner-up in both of those races, and she won the 400-meter dash in 1 minute 3.99 seconds in another event in which the Scots swept the three scoring spots. Melanie Genao Grullon, who was GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Caledonia TOWNSHIP V NO PUBLIC IC E Charter Township of Caledonia Kent County, Michigan NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Public Accuracy Test for the May 6, 2025 Special Election has been scheduled for Monday, April 28, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the Caledonia Township Hall located at 8196 Broadmoor Ave, Caledonia, Michigan. The Public Accuracy Test is conducted to demonstrate that the computer program used to tabulate the votes cast at the election meet the requirements of the law. Joni Henry Clerk, Charter Township of Caledonia I https://www.calschools.org/bond/ — iW I Caledonia boys. The CHS boys had three wins on the night with Jonas Howell taking the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 41.85, Cody Meyers the discus with a throw of 133-10.5 and Kaleb Huyser flying 19-3.25 in the long jump. Caledonia boys’ head coach Ben Thompson said he was also really im­ pressed withjunior Noah Johnston going toe to toe with Jenison senior Seth Con­ ner, one of the top distance runners in the state, to place second in the 800-meter run and the 1600-meter run. Johnston had a PR of4:29.30 in the 1600 finishing less than two seconds behind Conner. John­ son had a time of2:04.80 in the 800, just over a second back of Conner. “It was also amazing to see all of the team at the end ofthe meet cheering our 4x400 meter relay team on,” Thompson said. “We are building a great culture.” Visit us online at www.Sunandnews.conn •i.- i-d third in the 100-meter dash, led off the 4x 100-meter relay for the Scots and combined with juniors Jolie King and Joelyn Abraham and Avery Seif to win in 54.60. Seif, senior Alaina Palmer, se­ nior Avalynn Klapmust and Ward took the 4x200-meter relay win in 1:53.11. Caledonia also had the team of sophomore Olivia Hawkins, sopho­ more Evie Huttenga, sophomore Maya Terryn and Klapmust win the 4x400meter relay in 4:28.32. CHS senior Hannah Dupuis ran her fastest 3200-meter race ever to win in 12:22.29. The Scots also had sopho­ more Olivia Hawkins win the 100-me­ ter hurdles in 16.70 and the 300-meter low hurdles in 49.04. In the field, Lakely Bottom won the high jump for the Scots by clearing the bar at 4-8. Jenison took an 89-54 win over the 1. I TThe Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Special Land Use request to build a 2,857 square foot accessory building in the A-R zoning district. Property Address: 3241 Muff Ridge Lane, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Parcel Number; 41-22-26-301-005 Applicant: Eve Wynalda Date and Time of Hearing: April 24th, 2025, at 7:00 pm Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on April 24th, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. J » I t k .’.li ; 1 tL u 4 / i I I f I I i I It, hi 'll I I’ ;s <1 I t I 'li I > I I I I *5 s n k \ I i �18 Saturday. April 5. 2025 F I • <• .* .r THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandn^s com V I EDEN * ♦ Continued from Page 4 mcan.s pedestri ans w i 11 have to cross two roads to get to the playground. Under the revis^ site plan, a speed hump would be installed mid-block. Wells said a steep slope is the reason why the sidewalk crosses the road in the new plan. Ixmgstreth referred to it as a raised crosswalk. “It’s not a SII 1 bump. It’s a way to slow traffic down and still it is an eleva­ tion above the pavement grade. Bui it’s done over a longer distance so it’s not as much of a jolt. But it’s a material change and an elevation change so that it slows traffic down as it crosses over,” Ivongstreth said. Planning commissioner Ryan Wiersema said he was concerned about the speed hump being placed on the re­ vised site plan without the township fire department being consulted first about safely codes. But the project applicant clarifled that the speed hump will not impede emergency access by fire trucks. Planning commissioner Tim Haagsma said he had a problem with the de­ veloper’s plan to move the playground. “It’s like all of a sudden, ‘We’re go­ ing to slick it there next to the building,’ and it’s kind of like an afterthought It looks like it almost touches the building. That’s the concern I have with that.’’ “I agree with you that that playground just doesn’t look like it belongs there,” Planning Commission Vice Chair Ron­ nie Rober said. “Like it was thrown in, ‘Oh, man, we have to have a playground. I^’s throw it there, that’s an empty space.’And I don’t like the idea of this road with the bumps and everything. Once people gel used to it, they’re going to still go flying through it . and visitors are going to fly down that road, bumps or no bumps. Giarmo expressed concern about the two crossings that would be needed to get to the playground. Ilie reason why we had it on the other side of the road to begin with was the unimpeded walk from top to bottom of the development,” she said. Haagsma said vegetation near the wet­ lands could potentially obscure visibility. Not only did they take the sidewalk and move it to the other side of the road but it’s smack against the east side ofthe road through that curve. So, there’s no buffer between,” he said. After the discussion at the meeting, the planning commission took a series of votes, all of which were approved 4^ 44 unanimously. The first was to appnivc the removal of the four-unit building near the wcftlands and to allow the in­ crease of the unit count of an adjacent building from four to six. The secorxl motion was to postpone items three and four that were listcxl in the staff report. Those called for realign menl of pari of the pedestrian path from the west side of the road to the east side ofthe road and added a mid-street cross­ ing. Also postponed was the proposed relocation of the playground. Haagsma noted that the project ap­ plicant made a change in the site plan to move Chartway Drive without asking for planning commission approval. So, another motion was made that the planning commission require the project applicants to ask for a realignment ofthe road when it comes back to the township with its next site plan proposal. Once again, the motion carried 64). “I didn’t know until it was brought up tonight that the road was moved,” Haagsma told the applicants. “Thal concerns me greatly, okay? When you just decide to do something different that doesn’t sit well with the planning commission. You’ve been chastised by me. Just consider thaL alright?” “We didn't change the road location in an effort to deceive the planning comm ission,” Longstreth said. “We were trying to be good neighbors to the daycare and didn’t realize that moving the road over by 10 feet was going to be as big ofa deal as what it is. So, I apologize for that.” Staff recommended that all the crossing areas be striped, and that the applicant specify in the next site plan details about the playground location, the playground equipment and what kind of fencing will be installed. “We usually require sidewalk on both sides of the road. And we didn’t here,” Giarmo said. “And then they have it moved over. It makes us really unhappy, and a little bit uncomfortable with what happened. What I would like to sec is sidewalk on both sides now.” The developers will have to come back with an improved site plan that ad­ dresses al 1 ofthe planning commission’s concerns, if they want to move forward with the project. As part of a larger project, the town­ ship board adopted an ordinance in July 2023 to rezone some property to accom­ modate Orion Construction’s proposal to build 152 market-rate townhome units west of the church. A separate development called for 124 units to be built on a parcel north of the church. * 6 I x* J" Obituaries F' --t 1 •4 I f Richard Scott Koning .r 9 I % p Richard Scott Koning claimed his promise of eternal Ide on April 1.2025. at the age of 69. Now his weakness has turned to wonder, his suffering to splendor, his discomfort to delight and his faith to fulfillment. Rick was born on July 5, 1955 in Grand Haven, Ml He was married to his loving wife. Julie, for 27 years. Rick worked at General Motors for 30 years as an Electrical Engineer. He had a love for everything outdoors, especially fishing and hunting. Rick loved going on camping trips, boating, spending time with his family and friends, and had a passion for serving his church. Rick is survived by his loving wife. Julie; his sons. Scott Koning, Paul Koning, Tim (Danielle) Koning, Jesse (Tina) VanBemden. and Mitch (Morgan) VanBemden; his MIDDLEVILLE TOPS 546 The March 31 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There is one new fish in the fishbowl. Virginia finished the “TOPS Motivation and Reality of Healthy Weight Management" series. Everyone who struggles with weight loss knows it takes time, effort, commitment, exercise and healthy food choices. Emotional eating is a common practice. It is used to tranquilize anger, frustration, depression and stress. To manage anger, you need to validate it. accept it. vent it. write it down, talk with someone, and release it. Deep breathing and exercises also help. The only person your anger hurts is you. To manage frustration is a lot like how to manage anger. Putting the frustration into perspective is another step. Depression is serious and can be debilitating. Medications are helpful. Counseling is also important. Both together, is the best. Stress wreaks havoc on a diet because it requires more energy, and we go to sugary foods. Instead, do deep breathing exercises and daughters. Missy (Matt) Tava and Vai (Matt) DeLong 13 grandchildren; one great­ grandchild and another on the way, many nieces and nephews. Siblings. Kathy (John) Gascho. Nancy Morgan, and Jimmy Koning. Richard was preceded in death by his parents. Forrest and Dorothy Koning and brother. Ron Koning. Rick's family will receive friends on Friday April 4, at Peace Church. Middleville. Visitation is from 1 3 p m. The funeral service, officiated by Pastor Ryan Kimmel, will take place immediately after. Refreshments will follow the service Memorial contributions can be made to David’s House Ministries or Friends at Peach Church. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or to leave a condolence message for Rick's family. P ♦ ;I I n r 4« rr /• > ** i V 9 B )W« I! < 9 M I ♦ ‘ ■m 1 A 9 c b • b t. I I i f . r 9 I ¥¥• 4* I Is I 1 % I ♦♦ • 4 I I I • ' i I < •« » * 1 I ) i I I ( r meditation exercises. Exercise helps the most It gives you energy and helps relieve tension. Keep some form of exercise going even when stressed. Compartmentalize situations and remove yourself from stress is always helpful. Take a 15-minute relaxation break every day. It recharges you and prevents stress and tension. Try yoga, daydreaming, or closing your eyes for 15 minutes and rest. Family and friends will influence you Sometimes they are helpful, sometimes not. Communicate to them what you are doing and why. Ask them to be supportive. The only person that can do it is you. Make the right choice! Virginia was the best loser for the month of March. Linda won the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting closed with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Wetgh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.. followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. Anyone with questions may call Virginia,'.A 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-3183545. The first meeting is free. « J*,, 1* 9 1 I 4I f t * I ' t V 'I’ i■ f ■t’fl '►•' • i’^»' ,i * * h. r* <***• ( 1 r f K *1 A ’>• / * I . •v Ln JOURNEY I t i i 1 ( I ; < 4^1 Zni ' 1 t * M_ 9 • I* a* I* 1 IMII IWIIIII *1 ' WilMbisnHfa . .1^ I /• V ?^553:'.Tr •. KWB ”5 Vj if L V » 13 1 f 1 \ * 1 E « i F I I 1 th. **♦*«» ♦ t ; < I » « I r' I » •• ■ I 5 I } J i 1t ♦ <) I' > 'I. Si I I M 4 ii •-1 'till M <•I I, n I I i * JI b 9 •I' �1 i i ■ ♦ 1 4 f ♦ ?■ IW #- A •r • u • www.sunandnews.com i 4 i • Obituaries % *s I 'V^ -fiS Jr X * % A Patricia “Pat" Ruth Bruce, age 76, peacefully passed away with her two daughters by her side. on January 26 2025, and went home to be with the lord. She was preceded in death by V b her father and mother, Duane and Ruth White; sisters, Jan and Judy, and her infant sister. Brenda Jean. » She is survived by her two daughters, Amy Bruce and Tara (Gary) Vickers. Her brother, Bill White and sister, Wendy (Greg) Colyer; brother-in-law, Lee Purdy and many nieces and nephews. Ux: « ■V « I 1 f •( J 4 •, Private burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Memorial donations to Peace Church Proclaim Fund will be appreciated. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral. com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Charles’ family. Arrangements made by Beeler-Gores Funeral Home. Charles Monroe Aubil ll n ** c' I .1 t ✓ 4 1 r « 4 V 1^I »a T Bp. 1 ♦ Patricia “Pat” Ruth Bruce M 1 19 ♦ f 4 I *1 Saturday, April 5, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS I I '^l i 1 * Pat grew up in Caledonia, Ml on the family farm. She loved caring for all the animals with a particular love of horses. She also loved driving the tractors out in the field. Pat was a loving mother and a superb Grammy to her furry grand dog and grand cats. Her 4f greatest passion in the last 20 some years, was quilting. She b• r made hundreds and hundreds I of lap quilts for cancer patients through out Grand Rapids and Lake Orion. A memorial luncheon will be April 13, 2025 at 1 p.m. at the Legion Hall in Caledonia. «k> I 1 A. f. -;i t 1 LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY 7 * MX I » 4 > I . •r t I b- 4* L.; r* j ri "■ i I t *. I * p ♦ f J ‘•v r • I f ft ’ I d • M I I I M > I I / V 4 t t. ■ I •l I • •♦ * • '■’.‘'tsu « A <7 I s s.’ I* ■ 1 J T p } fI - r I .' . 5 * . f, ■ I r.’irr J. I 'h n;.; I ! H .. I f I I Mi i -r I 1 ‘C • < J 1 I t I ! I ’ C .r t r _A 1 **s I I. t 1 t I' •• '' n T ,• '.1, I' I liii 1 . .V 1 VI X _ . I * * '■T’X •* ,fcK 1 & ▼ ■’fiJ , L. • • k► 4 ' J VV t 1I-? > r J I X. ■ I '% ■?S 4 . * » » a c 1 . cJ . . ! rn n 3 Charles Monroe Aubil, age 62, passed away on March 31,2025. Born on March 11, 1963, in Hastings, Ml the son of the late Charles and Marian (Winger) Aubil. Charles dedicated 22 years of his life as a skilled welder and painter at Steelcase. His professional journey also saw him offering his talents to Maynard’s for 13 years, Caledonia Schools for a brief yet memorable year, and providing his expertise to Pennock Hospital for four years. An active member of Peace Church, Charles found great joy in his faith and fellowship. He was a true outdoorsman at heart, reveling in hunting and fishing, which brought tranquility and adventure into his life in equal measure. A devoted Detroit Lions and University of Michigan fan, he wore his colors with pride. Charles’s love for the open road was best experienced atop his cherished Harley, a passion only paralleled by his enjoyment of traveling to Florida, where the sun welcomed him year after year. Survived by our wife of 41 years Amy (Kits) Aubil; children, Maria (Ryan) Ringeisen, Mindy Aubil, Jesse Aubil; granddaughters, Adeline and Anastasia Ringeisen; siblings, Ruthie (Ron) Blain, June (Phil) Olzak, Bonnie (James) Ciluffo, Char Callow, Larry (Linda) Aubil; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Funeral services will take place on Friday, April 4, 2025 at Peace Church at 11 a.m. Pastor Bob Hudberg will officiate. V JO ft4 V • ♦ • * r . r": Il r -4-P* .T* * >« 1 1 c ;s - J-’ # € I ri'hv-'. 1 Hx II •I sj h 1 u 4 9 !; J V > .Zl. A -*r r •’' • •• ■p YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors...and our future. I) ' Group J I iS J ■ I Your Community Connection . -r'Y;.: L I I *4 Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am www.alaskabapti5t.org 7240 68th Street SE. Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST 250 Vine Street Sunday Service 10:30 AM oc co J Middleville 616-891 -8669 Good Shepherd II Lutheran Church 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) - * Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. b; •«.« ih . i I Livestream; facebook.com/Firstbaptlstmiddleville FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Church: (269) 795-2391 <APEACE cor nerstone ch u rch Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Ham 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/wGekend ri HOLY FAMILY ^/CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. i r >*• sr Tai<f£lit6^nDl Cfiurf/i 4 tr^ CHURCH f* Caledonia Location ■I 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee ^4 Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org b !•. I* * * Yankee Springs Bible Church THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE y 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 - ^’Bible '-'Church 8655 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto 616.891.8661 www.whitneyviHebible.org PastorJonathan DeCou SERVICE TIMES: Sunday School.. Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml I wvvw.tvcweb.com Sunday Worship .9:30 AM •••••••••» 10:30 AM M/oZcZ? our services from our website (see above) a. "Shining Forth God's Light" Sunday Morning Worship Community Group......... 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankeespringsbiblcchurch.org �I I I 20 I I Saturday, April 5, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS TK ladies victorious at their first invitational of 2025 OUR COMPANY IS GROWING — DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ www.sunandnews.com iistif te 3UO SSOS Io ♦ Brett Bremer ♦ Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ track and field team took the championship at Friday’s Wayland Invitational. Already one of the state’s top hur­ dlers, TK senior Brooklyn Harmon set her personal record in the 1 OO-meter hurdles to win that race. She clocked in at 15.06 seconds, and she was one of three TK ladies in the top four in that race. Freshman Amya Gater placed third in 16.72 and junior Mia Hilton was fourth in 16.86. There were three TK ladies in the top ten in the 300-meter low hurdles too led by Hilton who was the runner-up in 46.91. Gater placed fourth in 50.01 and fi’eshman Addison Rocco was ninth in 58.27. All three ladies set their PR in that race. Harmon, Gater and Hilton also teamed with Amya’s big sister, junior Payton Gater, to win the 4x400-meter relay at the end of the day in 4:12.59. In the field, TK senior Emma Dyk­ house won the shot put with a personal record throw of 35-4 and senior team­ mate Lilly McKeown also set her PR with a seventh-place mark of 30-9. TK also had runner-up finishes in the girls ’ meet from Amya Gater in the longjump at 15-4 and Hilton in the pole vault with a PR of 9-0. Payton Gater was third in the high jump at 4-6 and third in the long jump at 15-3.75, while also adding a runner-up time of 1:01.47 in the 400-meter dash. Dykhouse added a fifth-place long jump mark of 14-8.5. Kimberlin Zavalza-Nava was fourth in the high jump for TK also clearing 4-6. TK senior Ava Crews placed second in the 1600-meter dash for TK in 5 min­ utes 34.48 seconds and second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:32.31. The TK ladies outscored runner-up •f i 4. 'A -I 4^tr % * I ''1 4'1^ fS. I 4 * / II 1 J 1 a . . 4 • V 4 •k * ' r• « fe 4* * • I 9 9 i • ■ 9 9 g t Vr A r; I £ . .9 9. A » ■ f « < 4 • e 4 *V J r I r 2? 4 < K 4 1 • . ♦ 1 4 • X4 * I •i « NOW HIRING — View Newspaper Group Is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST Responsibilities include: • Advertising sales • Account management • Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts • Attend networking events Group email wsmith@mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen GOLF Continued from Page 9 c • • I *» P; It' t <* ' 1 * - » I. I 3 ft I > "(I •2toioc|^.£0V wtfto q«3rijhollft zsibel i rr^faroL tuii XT rbsb i3J9oeM)OJ <3nbv?. bm lifts i«BodM I 1 biiib EBw gam? ,00£ 31ft nl .iftnn ni 'rateOnoiYB^ Lnifb3 bnB rfaab ebw fraaO ;00fr ’ ^TT ,008ddlni .dhos r talX no2 /bisH fW34 hcB riftft rffiraoUiT fJi ni Edibai .^T jwboww unrif lia <bBH rthw fjoj OOdJ ' fli i»J q( fri ffanal bno ftoovsB Ebloir<9>] rannsD fjori Xr rtJiM drain'J^M limaL -(X) I xt* aril fii tnirij gmaj IjgiI osIb -M ni3Hi-001z^ ^)rij fit bitril .ybIst (fitei latem-OOfe^isrii ju rlnuot t« -iqnttria JiiJ isoJ bnalr cJnioq £98 rir/r (cb aib no q I39tn'eyod aibni facnwosaBw lbw baa^igyod >{T ^rfT .alaioq 81V i J I I b I ' I* I i I I f N' 14 rimdtE El etri )og unEisBTa dooaL loinaz gnibiiBlzlso r& o$ Iio noesag io ni nin isBin-OOd 1 3fb gmnnr/^ -9in-008 3111bnB ?,bnr»38 VI .kt'gs; I > • ’1. r‘ 1 - I J I j 4* c r u *< ,1 i IM h 2 oril an Ob 8^ r bna otMzJuc Jaoa .afostgsdtl oJ 1)330 3W lud nasy aril ni v1tb9 f o) oids gniafl oaiBg frxte iro f boog fi rthw lode boagiin E rnort 1 ",yon312E003 toI laadna ei aoisj biaa iia noaeea EdbkKinoqqo tastaisf bits ,208(011tiol ofa at >ho7/ oiHoe fttw A cr -t < r< Ci 11 Q( < Mil* 1 I 1’ ’ST'n IBT y"Jl « •**, -^llll^ -J-*' <1 c “l . « a. .£8.£0;£nir f foJ qoHo Tisq b bort gyod XT t T3b9 naboisQ atirav? Waft awt ni bm M. la cpnuq rigid aril nr fhxi aaakf tri 1^ tmssb oela riiimg ra ni ftoda eavr’rarfaiA eiud nraniH. .1 101038 bns ^onaalo Hubv sk wo ^nkbg rteon booalq .\13iT i bdbbB fg dDialToinsg .O^Jst .luqioriz 3fbra ^^^Id^hantsoBlq^ ’^nbbV nobranfl ‘jiomoriqoe rffij gnbaiq gianqz olqwx) s i# JI*7 bna d9.£2 ni riaabiaBioOO^dJ n .2V.^£ ni riaab BtetoHOOS adl iii nstftl .5Toniori<^O3 ni ran T^Jam^OOlt ^dJ ra itoav? 101 Vt baoaiq oak ad I £2.^£:2 niOO^l arbn^ * 9^ f « t 9 r 'Jiblo qo) 3ib JI I allivnaqooD .ibbsi r >* V, Missing out on those early season matches and inconsistent opportunities to be outside have led the Trojans, and likely most teams, with some work to do around the greens. “It is early in the year but we need to work on our short game. Being able to recover from a missed shot with a good short game is critical for consistency,” Kaminski said. t ^“r-. I MSTr". I Phillips and Frank Wilkinson and senior Jordan Rowley. “We really like our team’s potential. They are a very hardworking team and are very supportive oftheir teammates,” coach Kaminski said. ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder Plainwell 852-707 at the top of the seven-team standings. Coopersville was third with 702.5 points. TK ladies filled the top ofthe standings. In the 100-meter dash TK had Jordyn Fitros fourth, Dykhouse fifth and Sydney Martin ninth. In the 200, Fitros was third and Martin seventh. Behind Payton Gater in the 400, Claira Kovich was ninth and Madison Kietzman tenth. Int he 800, TK had Isla Tilleman fifth and Peyton Hardy seven±. There were three TK ladies in ±e top ten in ±e 1600 too with Hardy eighth and Breanna Schut ten±. In the 3200 TK had Carmen Reynolds seventh and Alaina McCrumb ninth. TK also had teams third in the 4x 100 meter relay, third in the 4x200-meter re­ lay and fourth in the 4x800-meter relay. Wayland took the boys’ champi­ onship on the day with 893 points. Plainwell was second in the boys’ meet with 718 points. The TK boys placed fifth as a team. TK senior Jacob Draaisma got his outdoor season off to an outstanding start winning the 1600-meter run in 4 minutes 44.17 seconds and the 800-meter run in 2:03.82. The TK boys had a pair of top ten fin­ ishes in two field events. Camden Peter was sixth in the high jump at 5-4 and Jackson Smith also cleared 5-4 to place eighth. Junior Luke Archer was sixth in the pole vault clearing 9-6 and senior Hunter Tietz placed ninth getting over the bar at 9-0. Senior Jake Kelley added a tenth-place mark of3 8-9 in the shot put. Trojan sophomore Brandon Velting set his PR in a couple sprints placing sixth in the 400-meter dash in 53.96 and tenth in the 200-meter dash in 24.75. Another sophomore, Ethan Strait, was seventh in the 3200-meter run in 11:47.42 for TK and he also placed tenth in the 1600 in 5:24.52. 1 t T I I T i r II I i' ( I I t ! ■ I4 1 J ’ f f: i] t r I : 1 / J, 5 f I I 4 4 I i I I I f I H b • I 4 I 1 L' 11 I < b I. I a t f i t. I I I I � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-04-12.pdf 7512f00c37690bbda2b5d6d4c09172eb PDF Text Text t 1 3HT J THE SUN AND I I CAL LACROSSE GUYS GET A BIG EARLY VICTORY ATB.C. NEWS Your Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas _J J NO. 51 TBkyrjfc SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2025 “ ft .J I ‘’t □/ * k «> 4 i ».• PAGE 14 V' • 5 v>l.i •VT www.suhandnews.com ! I DlbblM to znosoO amt zisnwosmoil vsz ,iotBw voq of ton bib vorit sllid guiooB Dozens of Middleville homeowners forced to pay water, sewer bills they did not accrue ( I I 1 1 r j -! I I I » I 4 I BUuS noBY*L i^iW gnitodiilnoO [Jid T3W92 htiE TOtfiW bmqnU !o 33£lliV sriJ ni zazea-iibe lol dHivslbfaiM no toJIoBt £ z'larr^vo vnaqoiq witaaqzm ad) aiem oJ noTta ns nt zazaJ .alorfw brad z'agfil yftaqoTTf tfidt ziTBam ziflT qmi no aanfilcd arlt Y^q nt ftal bnrriad ftal aiaw tsrit zllid Yl* .Tsnwo eootvarq silt fidt noiailMTOo arit ebw «idT iwb te twvnui lionuoo agfilliv ! ylulogai z'gnrnava yfibasuT 83ibbB li 9iwlw ^gniJasm bain onia b^^^bIof^^ esri tedJ suzzi bomul noizeuoaifa ©flT .rilnom i2 flivo>l tnsbiao'fl sg^IliV zb nq tfiri) Bsbi sdt izaissB balifii fliyfiq Jlaojz ad bluow zranwo .ziiarit fnzBw Jnrit t no BBW Hi ^Jasnori sd II'P' E^ovz I .EiriJlo bno gniviaooi eiri anijlfiflE .Ito fasliflil rilrmE .yHW on iEut g'oTSflT^ dgBiirv 9flt mxnbounoo sfIT sidtfiw bisqnu ni sail nr Iteeti Ol >l3Bd 9jfib terit zflid T9W9Z ill 101 ebnul orit gmsam rioiriw taiB wriT nodg ow gnwtaya K mofi gilid xrililu bbsqnu ni 'd2bnE ESOS moil dLeiO^SZ .l^£0£ raoil faant-ifid bieqnu adtlo IzoM de 'J i; wai b tud ,00£2 wolad d JBrif Yti^qoiq ano gnibuiani •dC.QVQX to aone zazB J YHEni nl EDOH t faauzK i Jem zsw cnexoNEu BEBHKILUVr Mrrwo '{tjgqorq ccdMes Sth ,b3vom yarll ^«w»|»338 BB flid aril narlw f J TO < I" « W; -* j f i; ♦F 4* b r I .4 fl .1 I ^"8 "1^ «©93 ( : 1 ‘ Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer Unpaid water and sewer bills for addresses in the Village of Middleville will be tacked on to each respective property owner’s 2025 taxes in an effort to make the vil­ lage’s fund whole. This means that property owners are left to pay the balance on unpaid util­ ity bills that were left behind for them by the previous owner. This was the conclusion that the village council arrived at during Tuesday evening’s regularly sched­ uled meeting, where it addressed the issue that has smoldered since last month. The discussion turned heated as Village President Kevin Smith railed against the idea that property owners would be stuck paying a bill that wasn’t theirs. “I’ll be honest, if I was on the receiving end of this, I would not...” Smith trailed off, shaking his head. “There’s just no way.” The conundrum the village finds itself in lies in unpaid water and sewer bills that date back to 2022, which means the funds for these systems are short. There are $588.01 in unpaid utility bills from 2022, $5,019.16 from 2023 and $677.75 from 2024. Most of the unpaid balances are below $200, but a few are above, including one property that has a bal­ ance of $979.35. In many cases, a bill Noaa was not issued to the H3WOiSnO 1VUN3OIS3U property owner before they moved, therefore, 8CC# Jitujad when the bill arrived. SCGdt^ ‘0||iAuaai9 See BILLS on 4 SSMU33 ecTOt in -0IBAUMJ9 OtexoQOd <8838 OisetMine* bVID OlVd s. .e^j: ■ ^31 'I Io •s. A AT I n .> F T-. •1 !• ?•< I s J • si C •f r-wr' I .> **». ■ X X.‘ I •I •J V «» ■» T- f- Continental Properties development director Jordan Teichen describes modifications in the latest proposal for an apartment project to be built in Dutton. Photo by James Gemmell Developer gains momentum in pitch to build apartments in Gaines Twp. James Gemmell Contributing Writer Continental Properties has moved another step closer to receiving approval for 14 new two-story apartment buildings in Dutton. The Gaines Township Planning Commission voted 6-0 at its March 27 meeting to approve a revised preliminary Planned Unit Development, or PUD, site plan in the 6300 block of Hanna Lake Avenue, adjacent to M-6. One com­ missioner was absent. A final site plan must be approved by the commission and the town­ ship board before the project can begin, with public hearings also held before any final decisions are made. The property, which is currently farmland, is owned by Vernon and Linda Verduin. Vem told the Planning Commission previously that he would like to sell the prop­ erty to Continental. “We’ve been working closely with the family,” said Continental Properties development director Jordan Teichen. “And it’s important for them, as well, to continue their (century-long) legacy with their farming operation.” The development would be built on a 24-acre section of a nearly 40-acre property on the 6300 block of Hanna Lake Avenue. Each of the 14 buildings - one less than origi­ nally proposed - would contain 24 apartment units. The updated plan includes improved amenities, a revised architectural plan for a clubhouse and more access to preserved open spaces. The proposal also calls for a five-acre public park with dedicated parking along Hanna Lake Avenue and an integrated walking path to enhance connectivity to sidewalks between M-6 and 68th Street. “There is a multi-use path adja­ cent to the drain crossing, as well as an extensive sidewalk network See DEVELOPER on 5 aovisod s n ais isdd na boSivcE bUSi 210 I 1 <!»■ . r* ’ I I I I I T I i I .4 • �Saturday, April 12, 2025 2 THE SUN AND NEWS 4t i www.sunandnews.com :> r 4 I V ib* 7 I • / JS- J Fj 4 ’t ^"r % '^41 f 1 •*4 '^671 t y 4 » A f z. . *« a V r y . 41 ' f'i- f t A 4 M* r I owntown d I * 7;^., ■ -T • ( •- <• •I i’ *** x* MO,. ^MNiO J ■ ,0^ I. '*=— <.• The overhauled digital sign in the village of Middleville now has new capabilities, such as displaying colors and animation. Photo by Jayson Bussa r b 4^ , jV ' . J . I J I t k T t*. isit Revamped village sign set in Middleville; council tweaks message policy Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer ‘ ^4 k t • *> 7 ♦i IT w I The Village of Middleville’s sign on the comer ofWest Main Street and M-37 flashed a colorful graphic this week about the upcoming spring season. This was something not possible a few months before as the sign previously could not be updated by city officials nor could it feature animation or other similar features. The sign was recently overhauled with new panels and internal components installed, allowing city officials to now update it remotely. They plan to utilize it a lot more to feature information that is important to community members. “The design panels are in. Take a look at those when you drive by-they look really cool,” Village ManagerCraigStolsonbuig told the village council on Tuesday night during its regularly scheduled meeting. “Now, we can update it from here. We don’t have to go out in the wind or rain or whatever to update the sign,” he added, noting that the radio system on the previous sign had failed, so it could not be updated remotely. Because the new sign has been installed, the village council looked over the vil­ lage’s LED sign message policy, which lays out guidelines on what sort of infor­ mation would be appropriate for the sign. Officials have not looked over or tweaked the sign message policy since u.r r r 1. 1 ; ’T. f f Tl t I <57 April 25th • a "D C CM * •/ .a Ib O 5 o m J < 1 I I t ’ 1 ¥ i I X * ■ z« ...it k I / •’ » 9^^ r iz 4 ^•’ »• i I > M 4 ’ubl. / h X # O ’ tt •I- * ♦* 2 >' I UT ' I V -r’*, , . . ,«es»'’^ .J * r\.- l»e > r > V Ol B «■ f / I 5 2 j I ^.2 a> i Q. E o V c o r ' z K Ai K i.' Zj w t Ar 1 ___ •./ I • \3.S! I-. t • •"’t «< • .-ft 4 > ku •1 c o o M Ti * ».r ^i^afeThornapple Eyeca rel I •"■ ?» I r 1 4624 N M37 Hwy Suite E Middleville, Mt 49333 j ft ■ f.' I I 9 * a* wwy/ thornappleeyecare.com 3L isa T' > * < I 2 I < - tt I 2> 4. 4 ■ .1 * V* 1 ■i. /y- - r 9^ » ^.1 • N - • a ■ /5k ■', • s ••d' ‘l» 4 X • * a *' ■ f-. i . I I »v>>1 . I L' ’’ ' ...r J 1 4 • :u^ 4 •4 Next to Harding's Z Iff" « \ . 1 See DONATION on 4 % -4^ 4 5 ' • t 11 I •’> > ■u. .24 KT ■ I * - '‘'if A * 1 I t. X ^1 4 9 |X’ I i 4 4 b » ■ • • ■ 3 - Il v'SirKHi 1..V *-r .M-WW- II t1 A < 1 n r '.ad . f 15 .r L ’ r**' i S‘2*'* X I -L Fj "A 4 'I * * f J » ’ -3 r .• ' ■ r « 9. f. L .•»* ' 1 I «1 ■2SJ6'- ■ ■ bt IMfc 37.-^ f «.A'. It • ■■•'f > I* ) K I. J «S»J k J; ) 1 1 6 yr __ J* 1* - -ifi u .J \ I J lii flt > at * d I j i: ■^2 r 4 I? i ««r • * * »• I 1 r. lb * 'M .^3 1' 1 j 1 •.. El b < . I* I I H' /• • I • I Calvin G. Hill Memorial Park in Middleville will be on the receiving end of an overhaul over the next coming years, replacing the old and outdated equipment that is still installed there. Photo ) 7 I V* 1 AJ I. .r.;J ».i3<,sKix ’4 I •- i I (. ’I r>H . F,r« i: vv.’l *', **» •“** lilil' '-I • - . I * ' 11 B I . t I by Jayson Bussa J. ' H * 1 a' “.r »I 4-’ ' J3f ft ^SR- r - 1 lljlk r I ■ isNt t 6 ♦ .> II mil I • •> •’te?-' THE SUN AND NEWS Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihomepaper.com I3 XXLLLb-f^ 1 ^^1 Bb 2JJ liMxO 4 Sports: Brett Bremer Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman Copyright 2025 @ 2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. csilverman@mihomepaper.com jyonker@mihomepaper.com Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher bbremer@mihomepaper.com Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker .v^;, PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card [ or advertising contract, copies of which are ' available from The Sun and News Ad Dept.. 1351 N, M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have . no authority to bind this newspaper and only j publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of 'i the advertiser's order. 1 Uk. 1 11 f - iniKfe i. i'iite gj 'J I: I ) PUBLISHED BY CONTACT US 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone; 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com L J*) * . The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 ) » . ♦ . I-'- (I !«■ { ' : •) 1 See MIDDLEVILLE on 18 ‘ V o' A donation to the Village of Mid­ dleville will go toward helping revamp a local park that is in fairly desperate need of some TLC. On Tuesday evening, during its reg­ ularly scheduled meeting, the village council heard from Village Manager Craig Stolsonburg about a recently received pledge from Drs. Craig and Deborah Mulligan for $ 15,000to help upgrade the playground equipment at Calvin G. Hill Memorial Park. The donation was being made in hon­ or of Dr. Craig Mulligan’s late father. The pari^ located at 127-199 Ellis Street in Middleville, currently features a variety of outdated and potentially unsafe pieces of equipment, which need to be removed and/or replaced. It also features a basketball court and HI I » J Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer A** in *: A.u >1 * f . » ► .t_ PM*6 PM ■ I / A ¥■!. : w* 1 uR it */> o O eno / r f, Village receives donation to help breathe new life into Calvin Hill Park •ft spring Garden Frame IShow ***'^ 9 “ 9“ ** .1 r-’ '• > o5: / . I f # i! f r n :.L -•w 4 * T ■f » :x.u "1*1 ' ’i I 1 V *1 I A' Ut ..r III •< t f If k A ti I y .b •i a I n 1 1 I 5 2 7 ( CO. 9-1-1 CENTER 5 6 8 91 10 DIAL (800) 249-0911 fON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at|^|awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 15 I ■ I I I 12 11 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES n 161 171 181 191 201 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 �k. * ‘Ji 4 4 A \ Wl]A www.sunandnews.com \ 'W'-. 'V* A iwer '4 Jj 3: I 11 4 s? ’< A Ilk'’?- £Tn ■ V : • Vj i. / r *io ’ ■I 4 I I * 4 'tj- ♦u'l t I ; A i f 4« r ( • 3d 'll I ,I I I 3 ’I T t r ’T t-. • I ' i t r ► r fl *•’•>. -V fl T * ( 4 I J * . X. J''' TJ. s ft. t J I < I I I ' K I r 4 tl --iT) f r 1 —/ fci. I Jr; I f Si s I 1 (li d V, *3 •s I I f '1 ..-T t f «1*v !• . 1 IJ5*i I - r, <■th r i -2 •* »•. I / *V I 1 rf.u ’I V ) hi 1 » II ■■ 4 r I Vi I , I r. * I ij-. 3 4 I } Saturday, April 12, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS ’ #£11 . 1. ft C' ! ii Cal voters to consider non-homestead millage renewal on May ballot Molly Macleod Editor Voters in the Caledonia Community Schools district will decide next month whether to renew its non-homestead operating millage. The millage re­ newal, if approved by voters, will levy 18 mills on non-homestead properties meaning over the next five years primary residences and some qualify­ ing agricultural properties are exempt from the tax. Additionally, voters are being asked to approve an extra half-mill “cushion” to be used in the event of Headlee rollbacks chipping away at the nonhomestead millage in the coming years. Caledonia Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer said the non-homestead millage is critical for funding the staffing and district’s core needs operation. “Our budget is like 87, 88 percent people,” Weeldreyer said. “So, when your budget’s 87 percent people, and you still have to always have lights, and you have to have heat, what do you cut? This is the question people ask, and I don’t know where you’d begin. How could you cut? You’d be cutting 20 percent of your staff.” Failing to pass the non-homestead millage renewal could negatively impact property values in the district, he added. Schools receive money from a vari­ ety of different sources. Many of the funds districts receive from state and federal sources are inflexible in where they can be spent. Weeldreyer pointed to the district’s food service fund, which is a separate account that can only be used for food service purchases. The non-homestead millage supplies much of the district’s general fund. “Where this money, where this non-homestead operating millage is going is the general fund. That pays our salaries, that pays our heat, our light, the busses, the fuel, all that kind of stuff. Everything that you think of, more or less, is in that (general) fund,” Weeldreyer said. If voters renew Caledonia’s non- homestead operating millage, the district can continue to levy the full 18 mills on non-homestead property owners meaning it will receive its full per-pupil foundational allowance based on full-time equivalent students (FTE) in the district. Should the millage fail to pass and expire at the end of this year, Weeldreyer said CCS will not receive its full foundational allowance from the state, putting critical programs and services at risk. This year, CCS received roughly $48 million through state foundational al­ lowance funding. That makes up over two-thirds ofCaledonia’s $70.7 million in revenue for the 2024-25 school year. One common question asked by voters is how bonds differ from a non-homestead millage. Weeldreyer said the non-homestead millage funds critical operations bond money cannot. “This (the non-homestead millage) is for operating, which is totally differ­ ent than bonds,” Weeldreyer told The Sun and Ney\?s, “We are not allowed to that’s why it’s all mix that money tracked separately. We cannot, with bond money, we can’t pay anything op­ erational. It’s only for building stuff.” State law mandates districts can- not levy more than 18 mills on their residents through a non-homestead operating millage. CCS is asking voters to approve an extra half-mill “cushion” next month in addition to renewing the non-homestead millage’s Headleereduced millage rate, just under 18 mills. Weeldreyer explained that even with the cushion, the district can only no more. levy 18 mills The extra half-mill would only come into play in the event of a Headlee roll­ back, when millage rates are reduced when property values increase faster than the rate of inflation. Weeldreyer said the extra cushion allows the district to continue collecting its full founda­ tion allowance from the state without having to go back to the voters for a reset” of the millage at 18 mills. CCS’s current non-homestead millage, voted on in 2019, has been affected by Headlee rollbacks six out of the last seven years. Voters approved a L8-mill cushion when approving the 2019 nonhomestead millage. Weeldreyer said that extra amount is projected to run out in the next five years, if not sooner. More than half has been used already. “You can never collect more than 18 See MILLAGE on 6 NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES Caledonia L I s f’ J_ i 'I V >4 f S4 4/J t J * « 0. -- idL f f I Al I t “ • " I J I I :8r II I ♦! r < -• tr ) |>< I I. 1 .§s»-ij. 21 ’>14* 1 I Jd r <Friv IT Sir' I *I ( I • 1',Va. — Il e* LUite. I «I > f It IT" .’Ll ^1 • •* I. A I i -r I Or. .■tfh fi iIwCj. rJ f r ' • ’ 'Hqn I• -I ■I -mcrr ‘ H J. J? r*- I * ll k» ■ tv • I ? i 1 1 6 'z-X oj muq ► 1 ■-W^ 1 .i«rr - fete 'A I (V/fW’i r‘^03Ea«- • » A> l ■•f I J I I I 1 ♦ •« ; Lru.; nt>h of A I f -j'// F4 ujni •' <'^.4 jr ’ ^Ttst^h fc-"" I 51^75^0^; ijjiM£-nd 7■, I ■s'ST . z Mil AY* ' -- Duncan Lake Middle School receives national honor Duncan Lake Middle School has been nationally recognized by Solution Tree as a “Model Professional Learning Community at Work” for its sustained success in raising student achievement through a collaborative, results-driven culture of continuous improvement, according to a recent announcement by school officials. Duncan Lake is reportedly one of only five schools in the entire state of Michigan to receive the designation. According to the announcement, the recognition reflects years of focused work by staff to implement the PLC pro­ cess - an approach centered on the belief that the most effective path to student suc­ cess is through ongoing, job-embedded learning for educators. That includes a focus on learning, a culture of collabora­ tion and a commitment to results. “We are honored to be recognized as a model PLC school,” said Jaym Abraham, principal at Duncan Lake. “This achievement reflects the inten­ tional work of our entire staff and their unwavering dedication to doing what’s best for students. It reaffirms that when we focus on learning, and support one another as professionals, great things happen for kids.” Schools are recognized based on strict criteria, including demonstration of a commitment to PLC concepts, imple­ mentation of the concepts for at least three years and clear evidence of im­ proved student learning over that period. According to the Champions ofTLC at Work, educators in the schools and dis­ tricts selected for recognition have shown “a sustained commitment to helping all of their students achieve at high levels. They have been willing to alter the structure and culture of the organization to reflect their commitment. We applaud them and congratulate them for achieving this very significant milestone on the never-ending PLC journey.” As a result ofreceiving the recognition, Duncan Lake Middle School will be featured on allthingsPLC.info, a Solution Tree resource hub for educators. DM AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m. THE HASTINGS BANNER Tuesday at Noon THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon Group mihomepaper.com ▼ / American Legion I tt305 4 Fundraiser 'good FRIDAY FISH FRY Friday, April 18’" 2025 5-7pm or until gone ALL YOU CAN EAT $14.00 Adults $8.00 Children 12 and under OPEN TO PUBLIC - ALL ABE WELCOME! DINNER INCLUDES Breaded and Beer Battered Fresh Pollock Filets served with Tartar Sauce, French Fries, Coleslaw and Homemade Bread & Butter. Dessert: Soft Serve Ice Cream. No other Food Menu Available. For those who do not want fish dinner, outside food may be brought in. ALL PROCEEDS GOES TO West Michigan Veterans Assistance Program 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia CALL 616.891.1882 for more info caledoniaamericanlegionpost305.weebly.com �I I r ‘ ■< (6 4 Ri ■1 I, 4 Saturday, April 12, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS BILLS ~ Continued from Page 1 they were no longer at that loca­ tion and the unpaid bill was never addressed during the property trans­ action process, leaving it unpaid. The village, by law, has to collect the unpaid sums, so the current property owners are left on the hook for it, as they will be added to the 2025 tax roll. During a March 25 meeting, the council asked staff to apply this ordi­ nance to only non-owner-occupied properties and attempt to collect the balance through a collection agency or some other method. Village Manager Craig Stolsonburg spoke with the village’s attorney to learn that the method was not legal. The attorney pointed to an ordinance that spelled out how the village should address this situation. The ordinance states: “The water/ sewer rates and charges shall be a lien on the respective premises served by the system. A\hienever water/sewer rates and charges shall be unpaid for six months or more, they shall be considered delinquent to the tax assessing officer of the vil­ lage, who shall enter the delinquent sewer rates and charges, interest and penalties, together with an addi­ tional penalty equal to 15 percent of the total, upon the next tax roll as a charge against the premises affected and such charge shall be collected and the lien thereof enforced in same manner as ad valorem property taxes levied against such premises.” By the attorney’s summation, the village’s hands were tied, and Trustee Robert Bishop echoed that on Tuesday. There are laws that restrict all this so there is no point in even discuss­ ing this because the decision was made above our pay grade and has to change probably at the national level,” Bishop said. “So, discussing it here is just a waste of time.” The council wondered how a prop­ erty owner might be able to pursue reimbursement from the previous owner who accrued the expenses. Bishop said they could pursue small claims court. “It does cost money to do all this stuff, but that’s the legal system,” «6 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS; Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. 4 I www.sunandnews.com Bishop said. “Yeah, it sucks, but that’s what we got. 1 don’t get why we’re having a discussion about something we can’t change.” “Because I don’t understand it and when I don’t understand something. I’m entitled to be able to understand it,” Smith said. “I appreciate your input thus far, though, and it has been very useful. I’m about to cast a vote on whether someone is charged $975 on their taxes that they weren’t expecting this year. I owe it to them to be able to have that con­ versation. Hopefully, that’s clear.” “Was it not clear what the lawyer said?” Bishop asked. It doesn’t matter, because that’s an opinion,” Smith continued. “There are options and I want to make sure we’re exhausting them at this table with what we control. If we can con­ trol it, I would much rather it be in our hands than the hands of a lawyer. Because at some point, all of us will be asked this question, ‘Why did I get $975 tacked on to my taxes?’ My answer isn’t going to be ‘It’s the systern, I’m sorry, it sucks. At the end of the meeting, Smith apologized to Bishop for the tense exchange and explained he was frus­ trated at the situation. Holding his nose, Smith voted to approve the measure along with trustees Richard Hamilton, John Osterbaan and Bishop. Tracy Gillhespy voted no and two board members were absent. Stolsonburg said that the village would look to take proactive mea­ sures to avoid such situations in the future, such as providing a property owner with an estimate of their final bill and escrowing the funds to ensure the bill is paid. ♦ -V V 1U DONATION F' I I 1,^1 <11 an updated play structure for children. Along with the donation, some siz­ able funds are available to start over­ hauling the park. The village council had previously approved $I(X),000 in the contractual line item for parks and recreation. This same line item has been included in previous budgets and has never been expended. Village staff also plans to apply for a country grant ofup to $ 15,000 along with any other grant opportunities that might be available. Village officials drafted a master plan for the park in 2022, envisioning a completely oveifrauled space that potentially would include a splash pad. Council members wanted to make sure that the donation helped them to further the plan that was already in place. I would encourage this board to be very thoughtful of what goes in there because we have a lot of opportunity for that park to do a lot ofcool things,” Village President Kevin Smith said. “1 think that, in the past, we’ve made some moves at Calvin Hill Park that probably-we could have done better.” “So, as long as we’re paying really close attention to it, we have some really large projects coming up and I want to be very thoughtful of it,” Smith added. “All ofthem require our attention and commitment. I would like to see Calvin Hill be something very, very special. My only concern is that we’re adding another project on top of a very large list.” The council and Stolsonburg agreed that a good starting point would be to remove the equipment that is potentially dangerous. “I think it’s something we can pick away at,” Stolsonburg said. “Every oth­ er year do another piece somewhere.” ft-* > ■- f.'. • •kJ N •s .1 **CI 4 > 'ik I 1 I B I I >• 1 fabii^x B I J *• / J I rihnra 1 I •T fb r r rf. •1 z V Hl’ .Alt' ./ J I I f 9 1 • I ‘1 t f j’‘ Jf I ’•^ 4 ) I I I BODY SHOP 4^^ 1 .dfn a ?>•' i? ■ «l ■ * I f A ' t A'wa 1»* .n w COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR t« irin:^ I rn? • >: 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 r I * J B 1 r;1 l1« , 4 1• ft :I I J * I < i 1 &tgwe4^ Cotttpaft^ ^•Be k. ft Jason Parks Your trusRd Body 5hop -for owr yi 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-8827 iparRs@fbinsmi.corn Farm6ureauinsurance.com Uli ■TT** itfi^ ! r i. I tv I L . iT > t |VJ V 4 IJ/ lOh ' ' k ▼ • « . '. ' , J n • t.. t 7> 1 1 xtfl* • ■u bC ■1-« ft.,, • >• .■J I <>* hIi; ethi t ' IJ r ■. 2 • i’V •if. A CO. 9-1-1 CEbTER 5 5 •rW 8 91 10 1 1 DIAL (800) 249-0911 ^'JON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at p^tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" II 111 12 13 14 15 161 171 181 191 20 rmnn 5)32 14 . , ;*T79 1 t r* i .14 i- ii F?*’ -» u. *•* i 1 I >■ 4 4.. I r > I fi H • UU .'V s AfhnjBV nmy I «< 11 ___ 4 W bS r'-Ty>^ iaBB I * Hh?, I ' I .cETrl ‘T’Xl. . ft 1 I R ( I f ±uA Ri :^I3X ! vir tj' T ( IIJ 'M «I 1^1 « 1 I %.• I Ad ; -Tib I J a * IX - f »a u** • I I i/' ♦' f > i f 1 T I. I B I ft % I ;S Ar ' Ib-- t <♦ r ••• U' • / I I * I I ' VW ■IlWllli •K fl ■ rr 1 ) »«la '•. tb k'U / Sir,' ■ •.^v. 1 !USED PARTS f USED TIRES f. 1811 LAKE st KALAMAZOO f I t t ♦I ■«.» w f k V T 12 11 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 I a- ’• ► I Hlhift*- - ’ W5fc*-- IB I BPi '•! I U-aV V * '* I fcf I , I < ■I 269-381-2300 •.I r <{ ' ,K ' a '' .. . I0 •t * II LIGHT TRUCK PARTSI i- ‘f * I FARM BVHFAV WSURANCF* ^ri iHa I f b 1*¥ i^'^s 12jijjii * I >. Ask about our annuities and IRAs ( cf* M I / Retiirement f 4rt r uJl t r I z A I I »sa HUTS • fttXIFS-Hf TUB •»«$■ SITS ■lWS-«« FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT M*-' / I r A J V* >♦ f At: .»cl >1- !: SB® r OBVflP ✓ r F I tMV I r*. r ti'h) '4 I Your local agent insures your mill Mil * l'' > I / * I, T 1 ». •r z- . i i'l I 599 * iS:- A Continued from Page 2 46 / • ■ > -. �/ I I fl X » I 9 > i .A DEVELOPER ■■ \ -J'« 1 .I Continued from Page 1 s 4 4’ I •* «K li t ' throughout the (proposed) commu­ nity,” Teichen said. A boulevard would be extended down to Hanna Lake Avenue to provide a more welcoming entrance to the development. A roundabout would be added to the east side of the property, under the rev ised site plan. “1 appreciate the boulevard,” Planning Commissioner Ryan Wiersema said. “I appreciate the roundabout concept. “I really appreciate those aspects. 1 ’(fr, '.X A ■; I .''*eu 4 c ! .• r. I /* I ? ft f, f * * 44. * } 9 1 .1'' r. > \ : t * J V I♦ flu »ft 4^* I s t. X ': ' f 1 s. 1 « • V ■*» I lift M i ■ '■’at J? XU ; 4 I .4 J IH> < 4 .c •r I •k.W I ? ft« ; • ' e *; Sf b» V k I •►4 < i... Classifieds I ’'lb I w i •* ft. X4 I I I 4 b • > ft ' •*1 t *‘’A ‘‘O' < J ••4 !«7' -■Ji f- ■ r-- » I. i .'ft J .Mij * ! •< DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOWPLOWING, Lot Clearingd, Forest­ ry, Mulching, Brush Hog. Mowing Dumpster-Solutions.com (616)283-9712 ■ I 1 r •t « BUSINESS SERVICES , f’.. I. M 9 / V S‘ Ihii ■' ■’ ! w ■ 5 ie 1 ft CEMENT/CONCRETE 1 I ft • k h it -•<vi * •/ s I u, I '>W JNR BUILDERS Concrete flatwork; Driveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored, Licensed and insured. Call Jeff (616)293-7729 .v\- «H '* 'iT| t... •’ ft - 1 / ft I ■' 5$*?=-1 ti CONSTRUCTION .. '■;^ -. . ) e ’■ I ~1. 4 ' 4 CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed. 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 I I J { •w M ^ •-* <V. i . 5 ’:*t W «IY TREE SERVICE 1 * t c-tr s r Ifew ’Avzajj/ > ft ! 4 I BUYING WALNUT. HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy sin­ gle walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793. L Y I I I I > I r *ft I k I ' t EMPLOYMENT n « M3< EXPIERIENCED GARDNER 3 to 4 days a week with flexible schedule. Please apply in person at Saska­ toon Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto. tli in F' . >; ' b ft I : ' 5 li t * I ► COMMERCIAL-RENT ! . i OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT; 7884 Eastern Ave. Suite A,B Grand Rapids, $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)2049792 margoperic@remax.net 4 r..' 9^'*^ I Ba\ ri ( 1 IF L I a I . 1 JAft 1 . •Uu Saturday, April 12, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I appreciate the park,” he added, “I think that’s a good idea.” The parcel is zoned Residential-4 (mobile home) and Residential-10, and w ould be rezoned to a PUD designation to allow more flexibil­ ity with the layout. The township’s Future Land Use Map designates it as Multi-Family Residential. The updated PUD is the third iteration of the site plan, as the Menominee Falls, Wisconsin-based developer continues to tweak it to meet township approval. Besides the apartment buildings, the site would feature the clubhouse, a leasing office, a 24/7 fitness center, a resort-style pool with a sundeck, community garden, pet playground, car and dog wash station, a pergola and fire pit. To address commissioners’ con­ cerns about the township’s ability to maintain the proposed park, Teichen said Continental plans to present a proposal to the township board at its April 14 meeting, which will start at 6 p.m. at the township hall. Another concern expressed by Planning Commission members in January was related to the Authentixstyle housing brand Continental had originally proposed, stating they wanted a higher-end product than the “attainable housing” concept. That led to Continental coming up with other proposed improvements, including varied building styles, floor plans and color schemes. “We are introducing the disc golf course,” Teichen said. “On the most current site plan, we are showing a walking path through the open space on the east side of the property.” As for the architectural enhance­ ments to the clubhouse, he said there would be upgraded exterior materials for a high-quality finish and more visually pleasing facades to improve the streetscape. The color scheme of this building will align with our residential build­ ing color scheme,” Teichen said. “We would be including masonry around that front entrance. So, this is a sig­ nificant departure from what we were showing previously. But we heard your comments on it (needing to be) in line with the architectural aesthetic of the rest of our buildings,” he added. “We feel that this is more in line with the other structures that we’re proposing, archi tecturally.” VTlOaTA IbBOM A .* . o — ft” ’’jr > '■ i>' ■■■ ■■ft I e t; * IK * '< .• V «l i ( ft: 'fl * BTJ HA A • r *< ■■41. ft, i 4 s. ft . * € 4^ s-.: « »S3 * * .-^ 9 ‘f‘.- > - -** . L 9 ft 5 1 v*«l 4 V I » • IV ♦ -« % w. • i \ i J 4 >ft ?'> ft « .‘J Sc* ft ■ ‘ft ‘i’ > 1 *4 » ■ ’bii V T w« ' V « CF*; A♦ Ml .ft . *9k * PRELIMINARY SITE PLAN ’^.^..J-'^^tZ^QNTINENTAL, RMwapT** A preliminary site plan for a development Continental Properties is proposing to build on Hanna Lake Avenue, immediately south of M-6. Source: gainestownship.org she was pleased with the progress the developer has made in revising the site plan. “I think we’ve come a long way with this project,” added Connie Giarmo, Planning Commission chair­ woman. Previously, Teichen stated the studio apartments would rent for $1,300 per month, one-bedroom units would cost $1,450, two-bedroom units $1,775 and three-bedroom units would cost $2,050 per month. Commissioner Talimma Billips said FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE 5215 N. M37 | FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET 11 4 10:30 AM 1 Sun. April. 13 M * 'T* ... %r a % ffoop FPiP/l >. .••. W -H t 3»y: I VftPi*^ Xmb < K sV <* • «f 10:30 AM I Sun. April. 20 • g Free Breakfast served 9-10 AM X« n .W’’1 7? “i w k: Tf?r < ,'l 11 I ="1 I» Wl f 11 » 9 ' 1 I tft I U 4 U s I « ft I T I < V” . »x 9<: I 4 n A’ I I. f Tfe I I I J I I r I I t » I,' p ftft !■» ‘tx-^ - 7:00 PM 1 Fri. April. 18 <> I 4 4 / r V 'J r . fl r* I <C AA X ••• «*’< '1 A < >/« •ft?. *• ( T) X » -V *4* I •<' 9*» ) --J' i 5 s «* 4 1. �J I■ * I i’' ✓ ; 4’ » Saturday, April 12. 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS Ri ■ J I wwwsunandnews.com Officials confirm Kent County’s first measles case in over a decade flic Kent County Health f>cpanment, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, recently confirmed a case of measles in a Kent County resident. Ihis diagnosis is the county’s first confinned measles case since 2013 and Michigan’s second case of the year. "Measles is a highly contagious disea.se that continues to circulate both in the U.S. and globally," said l>r. Adam l.ondon, KCHD health ofticer. "Ihis case is a reminder of how quickly measles can spread and the importance of vaccination. Wc urge residents to check their immunization status and to get vaccinated, especially if planning to travel internationally or into areas with active measles outbreaks. fhc infected adult recently traveled abroad before reluming to the U.S. and traveling between Michigan and New Jersey. Individuals who were present at the following locations on the specified dates and limes may have been exposed to measles. Measles spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. It can stay in the air for up to two hours after an infected per­ son leaves, continuing to infect others. Symptoms typically begin 7~ 14 days after exposure, though they can surface as late as 21 days after exposure, and may include: • High fever(may spiketoover 184' F| • Cough • Runny nose • Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis) • Tiny while spots on the inner checks, gums and roof of mouth (Koplik Spots) 2-3 days after symptoms begin • A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usu­ ally starts <M1 face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs 3-5 days after symptoms begin People who were at the above loca­ tions during the specified times should monitor for these symptoms for 21 days A ij I r after exposure Anyone cxpcncrKjng ss-mptoms is urged to call ihcir health­ care provider before seeking in-pcrson care to preveni further spread. “Measles can lead to serious complications, es­ pecially in young children, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems. said Dr. Kristin Oldenbcrg, KCHD medical director, "Fortunately, the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is safe and highly effective at presenting measles. Two doses of the vaccine provide 97 percent protection against the disease. For more information on measles. visit the MDHHS website. DM ry feen r? 1 I r. * * ly *4 •.de’ t * R I I •e JV tJS II » i I ♦ Scan our OR code to find your perfect tnvitation! f F i < J >♦ f .«■ I t A I ' Ai' > ' a** I • ' • J • *< »e•* »• 1^'. is * e J <R - ^-*-1 A 4* Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we*ve put together sets of stunnirig wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. PRINTING BY www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com M. 4 * ' rd * fl* 4 ■o ' if J MILLAGE i < Continued from Page 3 . </ f/ACO. 9-1-1 C^TER 4 5 6 i ^8 7 9 4 10 5 121 13 14 15 17 { I •A f” 18 191 20 mills. Your bill will never show anything more than that. And, in order to get our full amount we have to have 18 or we lose the full (foundational allowance). We lose it if they vote no, or we lose those little pieces that come off of it — and it’s not new in that sense," Weeldreyer said. Voters have several opportuni­ ties to ask questions and learn more about the non-homestead millage renewal in the coming weeks. On Tuesday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 29, Weeldreyer and district J staff will host a “Community Conversation" from 6 to 7 p.m. at the new Caledonia Resource Center, 9757 Kraft Ave. More information on the non­ homestead millage renewal can also be found at the district’s website, calschools.org/non-homestead. Election Day is Tuesday, May 6. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. that day. 9 ft?' < 'V U-KK A 1 f > I ■ 'ilS ft.. I i J I i :P .1 I< ^3 ■ iiibs* Good® I t i mRA «** A 4 ’^1 fc- iff J •« » fl ♦ { 1 HflS •'X < V 3*3 if ? *4 it - \ ‘rp 6 I d k J a8efcMm I i ►.II* ; 1 t? f iiscife ' 'b 3.4 I £-* '".V Rv<^ja«‘Sr «K «r ■■r ♦ • ■K »r I SbAs? r I >k 4 V rR' aging parents to seek help when needed, providing support systems, and reducing the stigma around parental struggles can create a more compassionate and understanding society - one that safe­ guards the well-being of children and their families for generations to come. For more information on factors that protect children from child abuse, contact the Fam i ly Support Center by cal I i ng 269-945-5439. — DM 231 24 fV etf - • •■'A* * *• rAM r I T V u < I I J SB A k I F If i’ * I I i < . 1 1 I oe:♦ * '# r t T I i ? t I * J A. ) IC 4 3 W 1 J lit AAa 1 A ■ I 11 10 T. OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 22 !1’ f 1 I 16 A.? ■ DIAL (800) 249-0911 |ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up atE ^awa Co. 9-1-1 Center” 11 V *9 I I ' I' !• .4 •< 1 Hi 7 J a* x" I' >' t I . J t T r L-/, I and job demands to personal hardships and emotional strain. Without the ability to cope effectively, stress can escalate into frustration, which increases the risk ofharsh parenting and, in extreme cases, abusive behaviors. Parental resilience acts as a buffer, helping caregivers navi­ gate difticulties in a way that promotes positive interactions with their children rather than negative ones. According to the FSCBC statement, resilient parents are better equipped to handle setbacks, seek support when needed, and model healthy coping mechanisms fortheirchildren. That, in turn, fosters a more secure and nurtur­ ing home environment where children feel safe, valued and loved. Research has shown that parents with strong resilience are more likely to use positive discipline strategies, commu­ nicate effectively and maintain emo­ tional stability, all of which contribute to healthier child development. Building parental resilience requires access to resources, community support and opportunities to develop problem­ solving skills, the release stated. Parenting programs, mental health services, peer support groups and stress management tools can all play a role in strengthening a caregiver’s ability to cope with challenges. By investing in parental resilience, society helps to break cycles of abuse and neglect, ensuring that children grow up in envi­ ronments where they can thrive. As communities come together to pro­ mote child abuse prevention, prioritizing parental resilience is essential. Encour- 9 i. * z factors in preventing child abuse is parental resilience - a parent’s ability to manage stress, overcome adversity and adapt to challenges while maintain­ ing a stable and nurturing environment for their children" said Bill Mattson, FSCBC’s executive director. Raising children comes with inevi­ table pressures, from financial struggles i* •M I April is "Child Abuse Prevention Month." And, child abuse prevention is a complex effort that requires support, education, and positive measures to strengthen families, according to a state­ ment released by the Family Support Center of Barry County. "One of the most critical protective 4$ F >>T 5-’'i ‘J’’ Parental resilience: A protective factor in preventing child abuse .41* 251 261 271 281 29| 30 I i I 1a H M « i I 1 f r �a /• ff ? w 4 .b * « Saturday, April 12, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 7 I V' * I. ' . »e, __ . } » .•n: * I • « ■ .. ■ * 4 < <* A SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS k « ’I L 9 f* \ K’ t t-*'* i 1 ■ .1 *1 I. z ■ ibfe • : ♦ 1z > X *?l ► X f . s 1 u Roster biggest it has ever been for CHS boys’ team . V p .ft Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia lined up 32 guys to run the 100-meter dash in its season opening dual with Lowell. That wasn’t even a third of the team. Caledonia varsity boys’ track and field coach Ben ITiompson said the Fighting Scot program is the largest it has been in his 20-plus years of coach­ ing with over 100 boys on the team. The overall attitude is positive and hard working,” Thompson said. “It might take us a bit but we will be suc­ cessful by the end of the year.” The Caledonia boys were 4-2 in duals in their final season in the OK Red Conference last season and ran to a fourth place finish at their MHSAA X I *. 'tv. : .1 Ui « r ••■S' <u M I 0 5 2, < 1 t. j 1 ''f9r^L rh M < ' s f ( K- C I 4 ' m •IL I f - ' »¥ ■ t I < OUi * Hjh. 'Wf b. ■ -.W-j' f t 1 n I 4 •« 11 1 •>niA< '.S / I* Ui J I 1 $ X. Ji a ■W 1>« rrot^ Dri J » «?.■' * i k'. I ■ .^1 1 ■■ <ibi> I « 41 r aiM r MKttMM e 46 * T o w |K'.'■ •'? <4 Jral R < (• u I 4^' I 13 ;-a *4 * Noah Johnston Photos by Jayson Bussa V -1 I. w- II 1 J - ■ r 5 I* S. .. • c?* 't .1^, jumpers Colton Heyboer and Austin Tufts. Sprinter Aaron Collins is one of the top sophomores back. Newcomers will be big contributors too this spring with juniors distance runners Noah Johnston and Nathan Johnston top additions along with fi-eshmen distance runners Sean Thompson and Bennett Snapper and freshman sprinter Robert Restau. Coach Thompson said all his gradu­ ations from last spring leave a lot of opportunities for youngsters to step up and score for the team. The Scots were bested in their one OK Green Conference dual prior to spring break, at Jenison April 1. They will be back at it in the conSee TEAM on 13 Lower Peninsula Division 1 Regional andafifth-placefinishattheDl MITCA Team State Meet. All seven guys from that squad either graduated are no longer with the team, but there is some talent back for the Fighting Scot team. The returning senior group is pow­ ered by sprinter Josh Maier, highjumper Andrew Tava, distance runners Kort Thompson, Ethan Buer, Aidan Edgar, pole vaulter/sprinter DJ Potgeter and hurdler/sprinter Dalton Ed. Key returning junior contributors include Jonas Howell in the hurdles and sprints, pole vaulter Ben Moss, throwers Liam Moore and Cody Mey­ ers, middle distance runner Eli Velting, distance runner Luke Smith, and long •k’ S9 ' S“| I I i il. Good experience in balanced CHS tennis line-up k w 1 *» I f 3 1 ^'W ’ w J t < * •« b "-AV. ■ B •• • *8 ft k*. I I • a h «Wi Li I « ’<? S/- k I I s ) 4] *4 I* I ' * t< @1 'i* -I J < -s-- •! •.i 1 I I «1R *- •* «• 9 f •I VI • 1^. 1 b 1 4 3»WUi(,' J * I ' V A >‘-1 • ft • ------- ‘ 3< ' « «!' Audrey Duong A Oi Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia varsity girls’ tennis coach Mike Wilson called it a “brutal” tryout season as a lot of girls with similar skill levels worked to earn spots in the varsity line-up. One decision wasn’t too tough. Fresh­ man Berkley Nelson earned the first singles spot and coach Wilson said she is the first freshman first singles player in the program since he took over in 1997. With her at the top and a strong group of and coach Wilson expects Byron Center to be a solid squad too. Behind Nelson in the singles line-up, the Scots bring backjunior Audrey Duong at number two, senior Claire Teunessen at number three and have sophomore Gretchen VanderEide up at fourth singles from her fourth doubles position a year ago. Teunessen and Duong each bumped up one spot in the singles line-up from a year ago. At the top of the doubles line-up, the See TENNIS on 18 returners behind her, the Scots are looking to compete in the OK Green Conference this spring and maybe improve on their sixth place finish from regionals a year ago. The OK Red Conference was always brutally tough from top to bottom, and Jenison makes the move over to the OK Green this season with the Fighting Scots. The Wildcats were a few points better than the Scots when Jenison hosted its annual early season invitational this year. They’ll be tough to contend with in the conference I 'B •W»««li»'W^r^ I s III ilBi '?19 j O' Ilia r I 1 HM*;\ Jn f. . i I t ■' rVj M4*n * pF/MAX Antenna Meh I > •« I » ^4^ dt»Drl>< .’•V. J •< ‘TO • 61 iMtfl tJ • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers 1... ( I 1 I 1. « Give us a call! b I IN 5 •ffSur^gS I 1 » H c i. I',. Jr "H"..... 9^ r. niSX'^'Wlr •J ‘Ui I gs« I » 4 I'lil < f I .i<Sl alllHl ft prsi/nji I s X '■ 1 'jk V 1 no* www.cellsignalpros.com I free i 269-967-8241 www.theantennamen.com antennamen@gmail.com .JKi&W Jr f'--. EstWa'®® r -1 /21 RF/MAX •«l • Cellular Enhancement Systems Sf^ •• 0 ■i jp • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Biown-in Attic Insulation 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today -- Use Spray Foam < OF GRAND RAPIDS *^1 / Margaret (Margo) E. Peric « >*'W #s i a Commercial/Residential Full Time Agent Cell; (616) 204-9792 Office: (616)957-0700 Email: margoperic@remax.net �r Saturday, April 12, 2025 8 r > THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 4 Ml * r i . *v J *A h-i * k . * r i ? FSPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS ?♦ J I II /• . ■ 4 ■ ■It'® I ! I I CHS girls have a lot of top point scorers to replace 1 >•97 ( t. I* I I J’ r 1 .♦ l-< I 4 Ai?' . I 1 Brett Bremer Sports Editor A 1 » coach and teacher at Caledonia and his seventh leading the high school girls’ track and field program, said one of the big goals this season is to qualify for the MITCA Team State Meet again this season. Leading the way in working to get back there is a group of returners that includes senior distance runner Hannah Dupuis, senior sprinter Avalynn Klapmust, senior jumper/hurdler Emmi Mince, junior jumper/thrower/sprinter Jolie King, and sophomore sprinters Olivia Hawkins and Isla Sheely. Hawkins was one of the top hurdlers With 82 girls on the roster there are a lot student-athletes who can step up and score points for the Caledonia varsity girls’ track and field team this spring. The Fighting Scots have a lot of spaces in their line-up to fill as the team is looking to replace eight of its top ten point scorers from the 2024 season in which the Scots placed seventh in the OK Red Conference, seventh at region­ al and eighth at the MITCA Team State Meet. Caledonia head coach Ben Howell, who is entering his 21st season as a I , •*b. :-1 f •'^ ) $ ft ^:p. • Il fjk’ J '***■ JI / f** * ''?r< ■.. < f h I *• o: ♦ •• t / a; I '4. ,1 . A- > r J i W» tf** ■ fcl V J v’* '' t J 1^ c J I i»*5 I *^*'*.! t 4 »* *11 il'.* t ...4a* »* —t I It I > WE'RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS * 1 f > 4 .. •’t > I JA ft J 4 ■‘•L* * ■'? .Ti '4 11 i 1 >ats-i ... flMflttJ . 5 -3 S’” I *>• ( Residential & Commercial ,4.' k Olivia Hawkins '». -if h -Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers i -Air Conditioners i -Heat Pumps Water Heaters ^Humidifiers I.. * r I I »< '-?t m/ 4 4 *1^ 3! ! 1** asfts. » I 12 9^^ M. -rrgj, I .^•I'ili^ Atil Ss* DeWeerd <68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWBERDHTG.COM ■ Siner /9SJ 269-792-2234 ar?? r.ai r J A* > BBB. ACCREDITED BUSINESS 3 *>. in the OK Red Conference a year ago placing sixth in the 300-meter low hurdles race at the conference cham­ pionship meet as a freshman. She was also a regional medalist in both the 300-meter hurdles and the 100-meter hurdles. Coach Howell said that his team has a number of new athletes on the team this year, freshman through seniors, that will really be key contributors for us throughout the season. He likes his team’s depth overall, but said it is hard to tell how things will shake out in the new OK Green Conference. Byron Center should be tough. The Bulldogs were third in the . Hl KegionaLtlI in last season with most of its top per­ formers underclassmen. Mona Shores had some really fast youngsters too who helped their team to a third-place finish in the OK Green in 2024. The CHS girls are already 1 -0 in the conference with a win over the Jenison girls who made the move from the OK Red into the OK Green this year. The Caledonia girls return to con­ ference action Monday at Muskegon, April 14, and then will head to Hastings Friday, April 18, for an invitational. The Scots don’t get to host their an nual Soderman Relays this spring with construction ongoing at Ralph E. Myers St^diu «« f i.c !te3i a ** I li •r *VKIB r u < lOJwI rr IB * J i ^^-aab ihsoiL / f I t iJ'J i 0 * m 4s w in -al^, 8i^t :. It k iw* /i ■- r X'y i 4 •w « ft 7S± ■fU' u • ** J I < star :S U :tai08a» r.,_ A ^jiSU’. ! ’ II miAiM’ e • • . ..... .. I I' 2 0 k<> ■ VrT ■iff- ' I ' I I ' 4 s DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Q4awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" , •l JVA CO. 9-1-1 GE iTER 4 5 8 91 10 t. / 11 12 13 14 15 161 171 181 19 I ' I 10 JS^’ 11 > 1 ?•<.' 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 20 ft ■ $*)r i L 'I r- ■ I .'t ft'. t. J”-' f V I ■ 4|. ftMUbint'Ja Kx t* : ^11 V t ^4 f I 211 221 231 241 251 26| 271 281 291 30 . •? I �<1 1 I VZrf f CHS baseball looks to keep run of success going $ I <«» I J I ■* 5 9 J I J Brett Bremer I > I > I I rurz • u ) gfliBglicd 3no I f ► t /jsrl lirw 210^2 sffT ' Stfd 0) . D XO 13-'I i n9dJ •,cb3lc3 oirr .no^s^j^ 1 r ? I 9 I I 1 |o*1 0) I t 1 ^) [ inq/v/zcfazanhoW nuoT Ib3 nwo .n ydt .01 FivjA fi.' D 09310 biduob B itw 2tU 2 ffilT .£r h AicTh f UES)TO xfllwnaaii 1 . ■U I I I J ! 1 I ■'^ ) > I ait f rI A i I 1 > f -. Qi 1 ycba© iT c ncrT>ba#i wwiiir.<fc li atfoorio 1 it* I> 1 4 o odtte 1; 2 IjOOgfii lXS' <6£riJl J irfoflvz2J >»E^ ndgiH 4G AA2HM iiotni ©fij lo il >J5o tteoiH \ r .dgwcte HIA > id iacd 31C 333 A mfT) f; 1 djnri to B gnrd : vM .EnntnC'Sez q ‘ Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity baseball team got one ballgame in before spring break. The Scots will have a little bit more time to tune-up before the beginning of their first OK Green Conference season. The Caledonia boys head to Middleville to face the Trojans on Wednesday, April 16, and then will host their own Cal Tournament Saturday, April 19. The OK Green Conference season starts wi± a doubleheader at ReethsPufTer April 22. The format in the OK Green will be for teams to play a double­ header on a Tuesday and then finish off three-game conference sets on Thursday at the other school most weeks. It has been a good run of late for the Fighting Scots who have won their way into the MHSAA Division 1 Regional Finals in each of the past two seasons. AJ Roszkowski, Trever Walter and Cam Myers are back this spring after being a part of both of those extended postseason runs. Myers is back on the mound after being tabbed to be the guy to start on the mound in the Scots’ re­ gional championship bailgame against Hudsonville at Central Michigan Uni versity last spring. The Fighting Scot team also brings back pitcher Aryn Taylor, Ben Kieliszewski, center fielder Ethan Sova, Garrett Johnson, catcher Jackson McNew and first baseman Talen Verburg from last year’s roster. 4. V’ I r AT C- / raft hni 1 4 '1/ I rt •' I i 1 > na)< ot 3ftt ' imrcxno 4 t I I I I J *1 qiiienoR tncrfo bnc flno'J Jb ^llr^nozbu ' .gmiq; tael ytiz-u. : toj?; tdarH orTT I irii/ i3doHq;lo£< < § f > wy.L I .> i 1 I I ? i I .I ntno J .Uav, jSZi n® p'di • J I; 1 .1 « •• IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS r Roszkowski is taking over the short­ stop spot for the Scots and filled the lead-oflF spot in the line-up during the season opener. Walter got a turn on the mound in the opener as well, a 5-2 loss to West Catholic April 1, along with the starter Taylor and other varsity new­ comers Alex Spinney, Gabe Trudeau and Ryne Wysocki. • FRIENDLY. HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM A 4 4 • I SHERRIFF GOS LIN • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS V 9 **-C ' • A* RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU • • • W*W*4**« •• «w 49 •K •• / >B .J X• “>TPi CALL TODAY % X. w w ' *4 * QUALITY ROOFING r « * 2-* • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED I ■■1^ ( ' fl / >> a< IsF^ «• ^1 > .’*w - t - FOR YOUR FREE T’S. *"*5>’ "Wk. 1 •• . J ' * *<K X.. 'W **< INSPECTION! e- 4 4.^ W'% ** r ■MAH. rt VISIT US ONLINE; SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK * L ' <« PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE VILLAGE OF CALEDONIA S ANNUAL J ! It f • : TURDAY M PRIL 19, 2025 10:30 AM /•* r FREE FOR ALL AGES! A I THE COMMUNITY GREEN 6290 92ND ST, CALEDONIA Ml 49316 i i * *• I*- r . rf"';' I-' ** LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115+ YEARS THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN ROOFING I icliu. 9 s h 2 Saturday, April 12, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 59b. L 1 A 1 * . \ PLEASE JOIN US, RAIN OR SHINE! •- .* < t i « IL^ 4BB «1 *w xlfin.. I »A 1 <♦ IIIUI< M WWMWf' 11 • f 1 i fl 4 •< •l i 1 ■ 9 I r ' Wttfl A* « EGG HUNTS: GET YOUR PICTURE WITH 11:00: AGES & UNDER THE BUNNY! 11:15: AGES 10:30-12 III . ..■ f w 1 J I X. f k 1 J r. s ' £ * • . MV--* Ve f ?T fl «« «* ' .1 11:15: AGES T 1 r I A 9 Ui > 9 9 & UP I / » M I -§7 s 200! I 4 1^:00 W.7 MAA c'1^- . at* * 1 ’ i Cam Myers I r * ^4a». r -- J I I 1 ( A ,._f* I * 1 1 ^tfBl 3 II » 1 r 4 s U A» 41. 4. 41 A.-4 .w< ..A AA .li I X .»..x A. W •« 4 4* 4 >4 -A .A '«^ <Mk. .A *' 4^. 4» .4 ■ -- — - 4. 4. �« 9 1 Saturday, April 12, 2025 10 THE SUN AND NEWS r www.sunandnews.com * X I’ ♦ I* I •A ^ledonia Community Schools A 1 for SUCCESS! 4* > 9^ >3 T* 4 WHY CHOOSE CCS? * > Kit r Academic Excellence: Home to two National Blue Ribbon Schools and a tradition of high achievement, Caledonia Community Schools offers each student an exceptional academic foundation. It ^1 Q) Pathways to the Future: With up to 21 Advanced Placement (AP) offerings, an innovative manufacturing and engineering program (induding the addition of a middle school engineering elective next fall). Career and Technical Education (CIE) and dual enrollment, students have access to diverse and rigorous opportunities that align with their interests and goals. A I «* * T 9^- ad^ ENROLL NOW! Qf Award-Winning Programs: Our broad range of co- cumcular offerings—induding academics, fine arts, and athletics—have a well-deserved reputation of excellence induding state-level honors. Students have the opportunity to shine inside and outside the dassroom, through activities like competitive robotics, elite music ensembles, FFA, Mock Trial teams, theater and the visual arts, DECA, the creative writing team, sports, and much more. Ready to apply? » 1 * t I MV F •4 •s < ji m IM’i f s □ Id □ J? *5*. TH Complete your application online today. 41^ skilstesMflK , J I r ■ □ Have questions? I ■ * \Ne're here to help—just give us a call at 616-891-8185. Exceptional Educators: Our staff are recognized across Michigan and the nation for their dedication to student success, innovation in teaching, and commitment to service. 'd 16 Us, TW €7 r t I • •ri’ i I School of,Choice Applications ^cepted: r.M’rr • Student Wellness & Safety First: Caledonia is a MI Heartsafe district, with a strong focus on student health, emergency preparedness, and the continual improvement of safety and security protocols. J % V A t ▲ 1 A ) L ■*v« 4 s. Ji 1 4^ ’i * t I Register for Preschool - multiple options avSlable including FREE Four Day Four-Year-Old Preschool Whole Child Focus: A Capturing Kids' Hearts National District, Caledonia proudly indudes four National Showcase Schools, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to building relationships and supporting students emotionally, socially, and academically. •K I 4^ B3 V A .t Visit our website: www.calschools.org/enrollment IB t. A 11 » 9' fF I caledonia_community_schools Community Connections: Strong partnerships with local organizations and businesses provide students with realworld learning experiences, mentorships, internships, and support that extends far beyond the dassroom walls. /CALSCHOOLS "•A (Is rl ft Administration Office I 8948 Kraft Ave SE | Caledonia Ml 49316 r 4 • Si I A A .Xi K eX-' •J 1* f» ■ r I '£ F t I. 1J #WeA 5^ '4> T ’Sr; I 1 Ma .•> 10^ I J Jw--’ V '•* ■ •f a « M U.* J <4 6 L 4 1. 1. d j 1 I 1 I }'I i I * 11 ■ F] fl! I I I . I ■'?l: • 4 2 91 10 8 5 I -l »• V -< DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at ^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 11 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 19 '1 20 21 * .4i E. y; •• ♦ n 12 10 f OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES ! WA co. 9-1 -1 CEdTER 4 -q—r I I T I 1 I I II 221 231 241 251 26| 27| 28| 29| 301 * 1 t i I' 1 E iH i <>i I ► I ’J I «> ’ 11 3• I > r /J I i 4' 3 « « t 1 I 9 I >• 9 I r ♦ t •4 • �I. 1 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunarHJnews.com 9 t ■■4- Saturday, April 12, 2025 11 I i i fA 1 I At Caledonia Community Schools: People Make the Difference JI <1 4* ♦b a gnma Inote .-^1 h. B * ttj ,n- it >. • /ID iff bhrflf •briA ,£t«| I rtfcnBqxadU *4, ■r Ki T tt-Wn&iD < I I ? t aobsrwqi orft-Iteerrti I » •j Brf ! ♦• I J ■14. f r V. V • •I {f 5? b(f •4 ' k. 1 4 llCUai 1’1 I t •-.-f 5*? 9 I ? • U ii I **rr Hooked on Community At Caledonia High School, we believe learning should be as unique as the students who walk our halls. For junior Andrew Barnum, that belief took shape—literally—when he decided to build his own electric guitar. Already a cellist since fourth grade, Andrew fell in love with string instruments and wanted to expand his skills by learning guitar. But instead of settling for an off-the-shelf Instrument, he turned to YouTube, sketched out a design, gathered materials, and built one himself—from I y tx) neck to electronics. At Kraft Meadows Intermediate School, leadership can come from the most unexpected places—like a crochet hook in the hands of a sixth-grader. When Olive Roush pitched the idea of starting a crochet club to STEM teacher Becky Sowerby, no one imagined it would become the most popular after-school club at Kraft Meadows Intermediate. But with 30 eager students and more on a waiting list, it quickly grew into a tight-knit community. ■iii I I Crafting Dreams That first build turned into a passion. With the encouragement of industrial technology teacher Kyle Scholten, Andrew pursued an independent study where he handcrafted a custom guitar for science teacher Ben Howell, known for playing music in the middle of chemisby lessons. It wasn't just about woodworking—it was about honoring the impact of a teacher ! and blending creativity with craft. I { I 9 1 Olive leads with patience and passion, helping classmates stitch everything from scarves to stuffed animals. For many students, the club has become more than a place to create —it's where friendships form and confidence grows. With support from generous community donations, the club has flourished. As backpacks fill with penguins and dinosaurs, one thing is clear...the creativity, leadership, and connection on display are exactly what set Caledonia apart. tn I / I f 9 i t i J I I ii. £ I i 1 Andrew says classes like woodworking taught him real-world skills like self-discipline, time management, and the freedom to experiment. Mr. Scholten saw something special in Andrew: "He had the drive and motivation. He took an idea and turned it into a reality." i1 1 •JlWlii-.., srl) bsd sifr Wss’ 6 olnl li i hart. J In Caledonia, we believe in the power of students to lead, inspire, and bring people together. And in this cozy classroom filled with yam and laughter, that belief is stitched into every loop and knot. It's stories like this that show how leadership, creativity, and connection thrive at Caledonia. * / -I JIgGCUuilw JA tf to xioqque I At Caledonia, students are encouraged to dream big with the support of teachers who believe in their potential. B 5 I 5 * * fl c 1 ^4 I it A !I 4 I k'5^, ♦1^ < 9 • B • * • I K. .'W tv Empathy in Action *4 1\ < > 1 ir J < TB * 1 r ■■ * *•< •» : * *9^ L-: (MMLS » 1 1 t Empathy is more than a word—it's a way of life at Caledonia Community Schools. Mrs. Sinclair's class at Paris Ridge Elementary recently showed just how powerful empathy can be. When one of their classmates arrived with their very first broken bone, the entire class lit up with smiles and support. Markers came out, well-wishes flowed, and everyone wanted a turn to sign the cast. It might seem like a small gesture, but it meant the world to their classmate. By putting themselves in their friend's shoes, these young students demonstrated what it truly means to care. By putting kindness into action, these students showed the heart of who we are. That's what sets Caledonia apart. �Saturday, April 12. 2025 12 THE SUN AND NEWS sunandr com •b n .a / jr F Sr - X* a* J 1 '5? J I r I it; ■Sift*- a / k A h • < ♦ «p II ■ f I. /t4 F Ti ga * 1 r 4^ /H . y I ■ ft (lisrT •w • ) ’ >• ^*v •V :4 ■ it' 4 i I I J .iSX 1!^' k» m s £?• la 1" ■ '’ev. *• J . J* I—1 »*‘5*’* I s4 '■ iiiii<(^' k*** k •s i I < a Aa I -T Are you creative^ NOW HIRING "A*' - I t at Mike's Pizzeria Jayern jleeply appreciate th^support of theVor Hill I ffhity Wl I •A i b<^ ■ > 4 b»' liS# • ii,i^«r« I # i i‘ 1 » F J* jik Wishing the best for everyone during the Easter Holiday. GRAPHIC DESIGNER < fU V):j' X I I a lib* s. <!'*• I ’»‘>5.;- B j i>- 3 . 2 View Newspaper Group Is seeking a full-time graphic artist for our Greenville location. A i * KttoinSr (tlUWK — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS — This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! tf □ rsiMs; <•) r. □ •l iJUU rfv* ROOFING Serving the Caledonia and Middleville Communities. Responsibilities include: • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout VE i i is COVER IT WITH CONFIDENCE INe love what we do and we know you will too! Are you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@mihomepaper.com and let's find outI » » » Group The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News r Your Buyer’s Guide Jeffersonian Tri-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen » » The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer's Guide & News The Sun and News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Reminder 'V I 1 I .M A «d »> «1w I i 4 A . I 1 Residential Commerical Roof Repair Storm Damage Insurance Claims ll I J I I F «r ft ;4 I 1k 4 1 f 4 I 1 IB r I » r I .w* i wrn ^11^: •I I' I! » M I, ■- » 1 I I t!- 616-916-0188 I I t MU n I I I i 100% SATISFACTION GUANANTFCO lui I I I « J t :) ( We are a growing company of 21 community newspapers serving IS Michigan counties that are delivered weekly to more than 335,000 households with an additional 500,000 monthly online readers. ^facobook WVWWV A/ LPf tHTI r> BUStNI yelp-j: "WWil! Gongle Mmm "; " i • t* A k I T" M I; , ■< .« •'» .• 4 .7 J A» .f«a •*< 'i «« J « t-' -'-•A. , . >.• ft*-. I I 2 VA CO. 9d V *4 1 ji <? 4 TER 91 10 I' '• I I r I 4 12 11 10 ) OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 5 f DIAL (800) 249*0^ "Kids Measure V 111 121 13 I 14 15 IjON - EMERGENCIES awa Co. 9-1-1 Cerileif 161 17 18 '.^ . . 191 201 211 221 ,2 J £ J4I 251 26 T Cl I I 27 J y rr^ *• * . 4 �% * 5 1 J z*: ♦ THE SUN AND NEWS s«jnandnews com Saturday. Apht 12. 2025 13 ♦ I I iiin I ♦ * :rv ♦ *' * J■ r ■ B tL *f SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS! 1 « F 1 -* < . sw «b t* ) SJOlWlr ll r Scots should be in middle of competitive OK Green golf race *>! ms ‘:ti8 4 > •» Brad Bremer Sports Editor ’’t 1^. «' K t?c 'Wb t > 1 I n1 5' <■ V .Vr I :lt M u I 1 ■v- I bl X 1 ib;' T ' ( 1: n i 1 4^Xt* ‘ I( I I i V '* Ie The Caledonia varsity boys' golf team has four of its five regional golfers and five of its six confer­ ence meet golfers from last season back for the 2025 season. Senior Parker Uttle was the Scobt’ top golfer at rc gionals a year ago, finishing 25th in the Scots’ DI Re­ gional in Muskegon. The team was 11 th as a w hole, and hack on the roster from that team arc senior Mason Kern, senior l.cvi Verburg 4e [ M a sc♦ V. II w V1Y* 5 > I I “e. I fe- f 4 •S? y and junior Camden Quig­ ley too. Little was the Scots* leader a year ago at the ()K Red Conference Champi­ onship meet finishing in a tie for 11 th. A cixjple more guys w ho played ke> rounds, like at the OK Red Conference Championship, are back too in junior DJ Robinson and senior Lukas Keson. The Scots had a couple of early season contests post­ poned due to the weather. They arc slated to open the new OK (ireen Con­ ference season at a jam- «y F * ■.< k IHfiux** *1 • <■ U' I I* te. V f I L > r ••F* k ? K... «• * s 1 > * 44 p* Parker Little boree at Railsidc Golf Club Wednesday. Apnl 16. The Scots will then travel to the Kent Counts Classic Apnl 17 and the Thomapple Kellogg In­ vitational April 18. Caledonia will host a conference jambtsree al Saskatoon April 28. Neu OK Green Con ference foes C.*ilcdonia, Jenison. Mona Shores and Reeihs-PutTer were all within two strokes of each other at their regional tournament .1 year ago w ith some top players coming back, so it should be a vers* competitive conference season. TEAM Continued from Page 7 lerence Mondas, April 14. at Muskegon and then the Scots got to Hastings Rk an invitational I nda>. April 18. As ciMistniction continues at Ralph I Myers Stadium the righting Scots don’t base a home meet on the schedule for this season. The OK Green Conference competition will Ix' tough this spring. Hyron C enter won the OK White C^onfercnce a year ago and has a kx of speed back fnmi that squad, but the Scots should have a gixxl shot at finish ing in the top half of the confer­ ence standings at itic very least. M- 9: t 1 LU I 111 Lf 130 1 < I ft . < a Thanks To The Sponsors Who Support Local Sports .♦f »« IfOaOB ! COMPLETE MUTO REPMIO MlddlevHla • 289*798*3550 500 Arlington St. * I I A 4 .V< I p" II 1 I Caledonia • 816-891* 9820 Cherry Valley Rd. r.T 1: , iiK jiflDaaBiii 1 w ^«* • <*•* r I* i I I I t •. '■.•4 IL ’Sn. s/ 1 7 « * I 1 i awad f r »•* i-! I* I A r d 4fi<M Comer of 92nd & East Psris (616)891*8447 WWW.CaMoniaPacking com V‘ 1351 N M-43 Hwy , Hastings, Ml 49058 FRONTIER MULLERS IUTI1I6 a COOLING CALEOONIA rAOHFRS ELEVATOR S « ga '.•k.' A BOir 40 &e^aoMRa 269.945.9554 PANT& From your Caledonia Formers Elevator Family 146 E. Main, Caledonia IkMn I2pm-Bf«n Tues -S«l 12fim-4fini Sun (616) 891-8108 9175 Cherry Vellry Ave SL, < alednnia wwwcfeco com 616.710.0796 MCO. Phone: 616-891-9171 227 E. Main St Caledonia 210 E. Main St., Caledonia Call Frontier Now! 616^1-8900 ♦> a r»^wipe] highpoint Good Luck COMMUHITT BANK Athletes f K 1 M Caledonia D&W Center i«D •I s «« Phone: 616 S9I 5750 (« I J ll SwiehengA OK CFE EPOM'APirKi^oliC Sun News *I Ii , Ui'J 616-891-0150 1*888*422*2280 barA,CQfn 616-891-0050 AHM M«mbe< FDIC SAag Mowen llimqwm Ouidnrw Pmducta Phone ll?ihV4Al 110 Johnson St• I Cotedonto CALEDONIA RENT ALL OPMwrev 98CX) Cherry Valley Caledonia ^aWeAreCAL Caledonia Community Schools �ir * 4 f I IJ f .4 I ■’it 14 Saturday. April 12, 2025 I’ THE SUN AND NEWS » www.sunandr^ews com .A ’ 9 1 I I ♦ I.) Cal lacrosse guys get a big early victory at Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Fighting Scots headed into spring break on a high. The Caledonia varsity boys’ lacrosse team improved to 2-2 overall in the early season with a 16-8 conference victory at Byron Center. “T hat was a huge win for us as a program,” Caledonia head coach Kolin Heron said. “We haven’t beaten them the last four years. I know a lot of those seniors wanted that one against those guys right down the street, and so that was a big one and for me, going to Byron Center, that was a big one for me too. The Scots lifted their coach onto their shoulders during the victory celebra­ tion, but the coach gives all the credit to the players. “That was pretty cool,” Herron said. “I appreciate them for that, but at the 99 . -41 * 2025 YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP SPRING CLEANUP DAY Saturday, April 26, 2025 9:00 AM start @ the Fire Station 1425 S. Payne Lake Road Finish (and Pizza!) around noon. Please come and join us in cleaning along the roads in the township. A dumpster for trash collected will be provided along with trash bags. Please bring gloves. Please call the Township office at 269-795-9091 with any questions. f r T Ji-* r f i I A r I » I I K f *%• I t I i * . 4 4 { S'"'*: t > 4 { VA CO. 9-1-1 CEilTER 4 5 6 « I 7 <^8 91 10 Tr i « t- . iSf V 4 f / Lincoln Senti i J* I 1 senior face-ff man Crew' Paalman. senior attacker Brady Hilaski, and talented attacker Teagan Chu who has been an excellent distributor of the ball in the early going. The returning juniors include captain Sam Hoag, a leader on the defensive end as well as attacking midfielder Rylan Bultema who saw a bit oftime on the varsity as a sophomore last season. The team brings back big-bodied sophomore attacker Logan Senti and fellow sophomore goal-scorer Emmett Haan. Sophomore goalie Landen Moore is taking over in net. “Collectively, they are probably the most talented team I have had in the last four years, and even when I played, collectively I haven’t seen a team this talented,” coach Herron said. “They all make each other better every day whether it is in practice or in games.” The Fighting Scots are 2-2 so far this season. They will play host to Detroit Catholic Central Tuesday and then travel to Muskegon to face Mona Shores Thursday. Caledonia will also be a part of the Portage Northern Tour­ nament Saturday, April 19. !“• I * ■ 151 16 17 V I • I DIAL (800) 249-0911 e^ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at ^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center” 111 121 131 14 ’ ( 1’1 V 5 J : M' ifjiW' J / 18 19 20 I 231 24 25 * I I I t I 1 I ) I I 4 I ‘r *”* «« <5' I I ,•„« !i ir I I 4 4 ir~t r« it ..-s® I *i4i » I 1 1 . d . ! I 1 I 1K A t • I V b A .^4 I «-'4N > « I I \ V I » 1 5.; «* i,\ f .7 ▼ t fOMWM '' I A ... \ w«au9 • Tryr i I 'w* I » »»!*•*' » r* f fit - ' • i .. «»MU KM® 41 4 *. I I I k '.<PWr1BWi 4. . A ** lA imm< 1 IHU I I •1 Z i 4 * - r'A.-*! 4 i - 1 ? j i, I - . 4r 1 > 1 1 r t I 4 <• I f I fi ) t i ''Wpfiaii 'r:' 11 8< 1 12 11 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 22 ! 1 » 2 t I t X i* jJ* <* X" * O' I J I1K». I I* * shot or whatever, trying to stop them from moving from defense to offense so quickly. Those are two things that we’ve spent a lot of time working on. We’re seeing progress in that for sure. It’s somewhat just learning how to play together, learning how guys move, but thankfully a lot of them have played together for a while. “ That group of guys that has played together for a while mixes talent and experience. The Scots had senior Ethan Fisher back for that Byron Center bailgame after he missed some time in the early season. He had five goals, an assist, six ground balls and two caused turnovers in the win. He was an all-conference player as a junior and coach Herron thought he was right on the cusp of being an all-state honoree. “He is a guy who has been up on varsity since he was a freshman. We look to him to lead a lot for us both of­ fensively and defensively, because he plays midfield,” Herron said. Long stick midfielder Leighton Fink is back for a senior season and had seven ground balls and five caused turnovers in four matches so far this season. The team is also bringing back 284 N. BR1OG8 ROAD- MIODLXVILXE, MIClflOAN 49333 269-795-9091 / FAX 269-795-2388 •»' ? . * k I • f I ’• - -T,ISboiM *• 1 end of the day they were the ones out there on the field there playing. I just put the guys on the field. I am very proud of them. Byron Center is a very good team. They won the region last year, and they’re going to beat some teams this year again.” Coach Herron sees his team as an athletic, physical group. He wants his guys to play hard and fast while also re­ specting opponents, and he’s seen them taking care of that business already this season. Playing that style will be most successful as the Scots continue to gel and get better in transition. “We’re always looking to improve, whether that’s defensively, offen­ sively,” coach Herron said. “I think the two big things for us right now that we’re focused on is clearing the ball, from defense to offense, and then on the ride, so trying to slow that process down when we had a turn over or saved K 1 26| 27| 28| 29| 30 J * J j J i �I I 4 1 4 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com II Saturday, April 12, 2025 15 9 I iB *032 I k I 1 I g WlH ttai8 f « *r I 4 O')* I • s. T •T I j IS » I f > 1^.4 J. I j• Lf ! II nite " **' Itl'J t */ « I I A3 W I I > I4 4 I 1 I '5k ' * I * «"d '• 1 : P J 3J yt I Wise * 1 I . I vfi ifl I I ©fhoi J I I I r ft oonsTGftro&'i:' 'giocfocD rnoit o<wl 1©VO niw Tto-^lh w JjBoid giThq? 4 f Hi.; I I I I 1 If' I tedj lanoyjfl ’ 1 *»'^'‘tbJ5OO •*>51101 f ’■'7^0 j •\r a. ■' . 'J I.'' • ’J .. .•«W 4. Scot softball roster filled with nine seniors this spring Brett Bremer Sports Editor Fighting Scot head coach Kaylie Schertzing has been leading the var­ sity softball team for five years and she has her biggest senior class yet. She has nine seniors on her 2025 ros­ ter at Caledonia, and said there is a lot of talent and leadership in her group. The class is led in part by the trio of outfielder Addy Lash, pitcher Molly Lieske and catcher/infielder Malia Burke. They’ve already helped the Scots off to a 4-1 start to the season. Caledonia split a doubleheader with former OK Red Conference foe Rockford, took two from Coopersville and scored a walk-off win over Hamilton before spring break. Beyond the great senior group, coach Schertzing said she is also look for key contributions from sophomore pitcher/infielder Addison Veldt, junior shortstop Hudsyn Tanner and junior outfielder Maddison Boucher. So far Schertzing is liking her team’s defensive versatility. The team was 14-16 overall a year ago, and based on how things went Schertzing said she is looking forward to her pitchers working to improve their ERA and for everybody to work to find ways to improve the team’s overall offensive production. This team is eager to build on the success we had last year and sur­ prise some people,” Schertzing said. “We’ve had a really strong start to the season, so I am excited to see where we go from here. We’re in a new league, so it’s going to be fun to compete and see how we stack up in the OK Green.” There are some tough teams to com­ pete with in the reworked OK Green. Jenison has moved into the conference from the OK Red along with the Scots, and Byron Center and Reeths-Puffer look to be pretty tough in the confer­ ence this season too. The Scots will continue to prep for the conference season with home I <5 1 J f <0 L •*L^__ t.. I rv i J * 5 Tanfcee Springs Towruship J a ♦ • II I I ; ’ s . 4 f > ■ I 4 I 1 7'^ n’t ’ - 1 « I i fi : ?te e< I 1 I \ . ft y; I I I .• I i t I) 11 r-’ r* > ‘I f:'H I I .L. ' ■ )£ «CJ • ( Y - ' u b /<. I I . I I I* ' 14 _ . 1 6 .'fsl X I \\ 4 <1 I ' ■ ill / I If .1 I I •.K « * 4* f^43^<r ’ 8 r ' . '• T I I f V‘ TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER IN­ TERESTED PERSONS: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that at a public meeting on April 3, 2025 commencing at 11:00 a.m. at the Yankee Springs Township Hall, 284 N. Briggs Road, Mid­ dleville, MI 49333, the Yankee Springs Township Board of Trustees adopted Township Resolution Number 04-03-2025; Resolution Establishing Temporary Moratorium on Applications for Mining, Quarrying, and Gravel, Sand, Earth, and Mineral Removal. I I f I •l *• f PUBLIC NOTICE OF RESOLUTION I fl 1 I 284 N. BRIGGS ROAD- MEDDSEVILLE, MICHIGAN 49333 269-795-9091 / FAX 269-795-2388 YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES .1 I I ■ If PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the above resolution is available for review on the Township website, yankeespringstwp.org, and at the Township Offices at 284 N. Briggs Road, Middleville MI, 49333. M » ■I I 1 5 I YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES Rob Heethuis, Supervisor Tom Hopkins, Clerk Yankee Springs Township Hall 284 N. Briggs Rd. Middleville, MI 49333 269) 795-9091 > 1 .f r fj* < * f t 1 r » I J I t » I & '-a i Sr 'T z 9 A Si 5 1 4 e .1. I i.-- >'^' *. I 1 I J < 4 > ! I I 1 ¥ is£_i Addy Lash doubleheaders against a couple OK Red squads. They host Grandville Tuesday, April 15, and Hudsonville Wednesday, April 16. The Scots also visit Kenowa Hills April 18. The OK Green season starts with a doubleheader at Reeths-Puffer in Muskegon April 22 and then the Rockets come to Caledonia for one game April 24. — .. - .7^ IVfMU . 1 SYNOPSIS VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES March 25,2025 * tr 1 The regular meeting of the Village Council of Middleville, Michigan, was called to order at 7:00 pm by President Kevin Smith. Present: Bishop, Gillhespy, Hamilton, Osterbaan, Peters, and Williams. Absent: None ACTIONS TAKEN 1. Motion by Peters, seconded by Hamilton, to approve the agenda as amended adding to Reserved Time item (c) Independence Day Fireworks. Voice Vote: All Yeas. Motion Passed 2. Motion by Hamilton, seconded by Peters, to approve the Consent Agenda as printed. a. Approval of Minutes for the Regular Council Meeting of March 11,2025 b. Approval of Bills as of March 19,2025, for $111,874.33 Roll Call Vote: All Yeas. Motion Passed 3. Motion by Peters, seconded by Williams, to approve the DDA Riverbank Music Series Event for June 6,2025 through August 29,2025. Voice Vote: All Yeas. Motion Passed 4. Motion by Hamilton, seconded by Peters, to approve Resolution 25-05 Temporarily Suspend Enforcement of Certain Provisions of the Village Ordinance. Roll Call Vote: All Yeas. Motion Passed 5. Motion by Peters, seconded by Williams, to approve Resolution 25-04 Exemption of Fees for Peddlers, Vendors, Transient Merchants and Solicitors. Roll Call Vote: All Yeas. Motion Passed 6. Motion by Peters, seconded by Bishop, to approve Resolution 25-06 Decertify 85’ of Arlington Court from the Village of Middleville. Roll Call Vote: All Yeas. Motion Passed 7. Motion by Peters, seconded by Gillhespy, to approve Resolution 25-07 Certify 245’ of Arlington Court into the Village of Middleville. Roll Call Vote: All Yeas. Motion Passed 8. Motion by Peters, seconded by Gillhespy, to rescind Resolution 25-01. Roll Call Vote: All Yeas. Motion Passed 9. Motion by Williams, seconded by Bishop, *o approve Resolution 25-08 Local Unit of Government Match with Donated Funds. Roll Cail Vote: All Yeas. Motion Passed 10. Motion by Hamilton, seconded by Gillhespy, to approve Village of Middleville Personnel Policies dated March 25,2025. Roll Call Vote: All Yeas. Motion Passed 11. Motion by Hamilton, seconded by Smith, to apply delinquent utility bills, as of December 31,2024, on in-active non-owner-occupied accounts, and to apply delinquent utility bills, as of December 31,2024 on active accounts to 2025 tall roll per Chapter 70 of the Village Code o Ordinances. Roll Call Vote: All Yeas. Motion Passed 12. Motion by Williams, seconded by Peters, to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 pm. Voice Vote: All Yeas. Motion Passed Respectfully submitted: Rhonda Van Polen, Village Clerk. Village of Middleville The complete text of the minutes is posted on the Village Website http://villageofmiddleville.org or may be read at the Village Hall between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Thursday and 8:00 am-noon on Friday. �/ 16 A t Saturday, April 12. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS WWW #- 1 J sunandnews com Brett Bremer Soorts Editor f i 4 The Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees will hold a pubic hearing on a proposed restatement of the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance, including an amended official Zoning Map. which is referenced in Chapter 2. Section 2.20 A. The restatement is a complete update and replacement of the existing Zoning Ordinance. Date and Time Hearing: April 14. 2025. at 6:00 pm Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices. Board Room. 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE. Caledonia, Ml 49316 o1 The proposed restatement of the Zoning Ordinance includes the following parts and chap­ ters; PART I. INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS o CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION o CHAPTER 2 ZONING DISTRICTS ANO INTERPRETATIONS o CHAPTER 3 MEASUREMENTS AND DESIGNATIONS PART II. ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS O CHAPTER 4 RURAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (RR) O CHAPTER 5 SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (SR) O CHAPTER 6 VILLAGE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (VR) O CHAPTER 7 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (MFR) O CHAPTER 8 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (NC) O CHAPTER 9 GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (GC) O CHAPTER 10 OFFICE SERVICE DISTRICT (O-S) O CHAPTER 11 MIXED BUSINESS (MB) O CHAPTER 12 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (LI) O CHAPTER 13 HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (HI) O CHAPTER 14 PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) OVERLAY DISTRICT O CHAPTER 15 LAND USE PART III. BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS o CHAPTER 16 BUILDING REQUIREMENTS o CHAPTER 17 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS o CHAPTER 18 USES WITH SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS o CHAPTER 19 LIGHTING o CHAPTER 20 PARKING AND LOADING o CHAPTER 21 MOBILITY, TRAFFIC, AND ACCESS o CHAPTER 22 PRIVATE STREETS & DRIVEWAYS o CHAPTER 23 LANDSCAPING o CHAPTER 24 SIGNS PART IV. REVIEW PROCESSES AND STANDARDS o CHAPTER 25 GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES o CHAPTER 26 SITE PLAN REVIEW o CHAPTER 27 SPECIAL LAND USE REVIEW o CHAPTER 28 CONDOMINIUM REVIEW o CHAPTER 29 PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT REVIEW o CHAPTER 30 VARIANCE REVIEW o CHAPTER 31 ZONING AMENDMENT REVIEW ■ PART V. ADMINISTRATION o CHAPTER 32 AUTHORITIES o CHAPTER 33 LAWFUL NONCONFORMITIES o CHAPTER 34 ENFORCEMENT o CHAPTER 35 DEFINITIONS o CHAPTER 36 CHECKLISTS Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 4:00 PM on April 14, 2025. 1. i t a ) •' * rt» « I < The Caledonia varsity girls' soccer learn has a few days to prep yet for its OK Green Conference opener. The Caledonia girls arc 2-3 already this spring hav­ ing scored a 1-0 win over former OK Red Conference foe Hudsonville April I, before heading into spring break. The Scots travel to Reeths-Puffer to open the conference season Tuesday, April 15. The Scots will be home to take on Jenison in a con­ ference match Thursday, April 17, and then will be back at Scotland Yard Saturday, April 19, for a non-conference match with Grand Ledge. The Hudsonville team the GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING l5' 5 Soccer squad working to fill holes from graduations ■f: < 6 16 >&► /*■ ► .1 * t, 1 I I M *> % % I a 1 J t r 4 «•» ft wT .w 5 I nit J i, t •«( -<! «■ f >9? J 1 m 1 fi’ .1 1 h t I Scots beat by a goal to start the month was one that the Scots upset in the MHSAA Division 1 District Finals a year ago. Coach Taylor Kastens was a part of that squad See SQUAD on 20 '* V/'t 1 Joslynn Wilcox #• •» b. 1 ID r I * f y r J t. < I L J 0^: J J J i *t I I 1 ■"’fsi if 41 7 •*> & 5 • t 'f I ii » il ...» f A« NOTICE PUBLIC ACCURACY TEST NOTICE IS HER£BY GIVEN that the Public Accuracy test for the May 6, 2025 Special Election will be conducted on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gaines Township Community Room, lower level, located at 8555 Kalamazoo Ave SE., Gaines Township, Michigan The Public Accuracy test is conducted to demonstrate that the program and computers that will be used to tabulate the results of the election have been prepared in accordance with law. ICMVt! t^W*^** SE 4 AX*** I f Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 6986640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. !**' » r»-i •^1 I t I I * S . L ^3 —S3 T» ^OU'^ OUI ’—-n. '1 W, our idan.-^^ i r* 5 •^1 pS’lj h I 4 & 1 r 1. iijitas 1 f I Michael Brew, Clerk Gaines Charter Township I •* 1 A i: T I -: j a t Vi "T 1 w g ■* BfiJlio I < 1 I i. i r »i I ^11 I I ia k ri' Y i I'r t b: I I I. il Ar 2 VA CO. 9-1-1 CEilTER 4 5 6 I I ^8 7 9 10 I 5 • I' 1 I 1 DIAL (800) 249-0911 PION - EMERGENCIES wa Co. 9-1-1 Center" "Kids Measure up at 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES •n a___ • 111 121 131 14 151 16 17 18 191 20 211 22 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 4 t in ^(iotrtoe, L. !■ ■ « 1 •J I I -4 * «« �THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunarxjnews.com Saturday. April 12. 2025 17 ♦ Youth movement happening for CHS girls’ lacrosse mA* V ilkt A b»iB iWw I X IX <» I T- Brett Bremer Sports Editor It’s a young roster for the Caledonia varsity girls’lacrosse team this spring. The Fighting Scots have seven freshmen on the rosier and nine sopho­ mores. Head coach Kendra Venema said she has a handful of girls in the program who have never played la * crosse before. t it s ■ -s . 1 U I* f J » I W1 5? ‘Mta..'WI ^4. 4 'Mb ► % I I t I f I I) I i k 4 J 3 T>KL sik / f i I V i « ♦« * I .I 04. n I » i 'Things are going okay so far for the young Scots. 'They’re I-3 overall this season, but went into spring break on a good note thanks to a 16-9 win at Zeeland East March 31. The Caledonia girls return to action at Mattawan Tuesday, April 15. and then will be home at Scotland Yard for matches with West Ottawa April 16 and Lowell April 18. * There are some good senior leaders back for the Scots. The team has senior goalkeeper Alivia Neubauer-Keyes back in net and she already celebrated her 200th varsity save this spring. The Scots have seniors Ellie Hudson and Mya Burgess back on the attack along with Kenna VanLenie and also returns seniors Ella Rounds and Elena LaFranca. Caelyn Crocker. Vivian Fink. Tessa DeYoung. Morgan Barthel. Keira Paalman, Ella Ganzevoort and Jen­ nifer Schiefla are all sophomores w ho were on the varsity squad as freshmen last spring. The freshman group for the Scots includes Kelsie Baker. Rvlee Bos. * Ashlvn Crocker. Lilliana Klein, Mallory Graham and Quinn Ziegler. f r T I r t > • » « ■Il KENT COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER It T I I REMEVV OF DRAINAGE » tI » DATE: TIME: LCXr^ATION: * r f QtirsTIOJNS: ''•n A I ♦ s t The Kent County Drain Commissioner will hold a Day of Review of App^Yrtionmcnls and Review' of Drainage District Boundaries on the above date, time, and location. The Day of Review is an opponunity to review- the tentative apportionments of benefit for each parcel and municipality within the drainage districts. Maps of the proposed drainage district boundary revisions can be found on the Drain Commissioner's website at; http^^Viwyy.keOE ypuniYI T/Prain-Commiossioncr under Petition Projects and Notices. % ft k.* J Thursday, April 24, 2025 8:30 a.m. Io 4:30 p.m. Kent County Drain Commissioner's Oftke 775 Ball Ave NE. Grand Rapids. Ml 49503 (616) 632-7910 ft l« A general description of the lands by section number proposed to be added or deleted from the drainage district, as recommended by a licensed profes­ sional engineer or surveyor for the drain, is as follows: « / I f i I / I I r * * > 1 •?: ■ <r Ellie Hudson I. r 1 1 J I I’ T ( I V I 11 WE 1 t I 1 IJ Tiisi'EifdBatHiisimb! J tfii 4 1 I I I r.-t t •f 1 .IX* 4** i YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors and our future. •• • i I t t A * T * I X. « I I t I V■EV^r Group I I I I f I lyn a k^ilElRfiV 1 I ties EMMONS LAKE GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP CALEDONIA CHARTER TOWNSHIP I t J 1 »i ftTiTWn itCf^I filikvxTt n FT 8.9.16-21.28-30. 32-33 20, 29 iGTilEliKWo 1*^441 bl । k ■ * f*4iinxy4i 20-2 L 28-30, 32>33 20, 29 The Drain Commissioner, engineers and/or other staff members will be available to assist individuals throughout the day and make revisions to the boundaries or apportionments where necessary . There is no need Io schedule an appointment for a specific lime on the Day of Review. The computation of costs tor the drains will also be available at the Day of Review. Drain assessments arc collected in the same manner as property taxes and will appear on your w inter tax bill. If drain assessments are being collected for more than one (1) year, you may pay the assessment in full with any interest to date at any time and avoid further interest charges. Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation in the Day of Review should contact the Drain Commissioner's Office at the number noted above (voice) or through the Michigan Relay Center al 7-1-1 (HOD) al least 24 hours in advance of the Day of Review to request mobility, visual, hearing, or other a.ssistance. Comments on the apportionment of benefits and drainage district boundaries may be submitted to the Drain Commissioner in writing before the dale of the Day of Review to 775 Ball Ave NE. Grand Rapids, Ml 49503, or electronically to drinto(akcntcouniymi,goy . Comments may also be submitted in writing or verbally al the Day of Review. Comments submitted in advance must be received by the Drain Commissioner prior to the Day of Review to ensure consideration. You may appeal the Drain Commivsioner's decision to revise the district boundaries to the Kent County Circuit Court within ten (10) days, and you may also appeal the determination of apportionments lo the Kent County Probate Court within ten (10) days. I he follow ing is a list of any county, township, city, and village Io be assessed at large in Kent County in the drainage district: Gaines Charier Township, Caledonia Charter Township, Milage of Caledonia The following is a description of the lands constituting the drainage district: Emmons Lake Drain: Sec 13, 24. 25. T5N. R11W, Gaines C harter Township. Sec 7-9, 16-2 L 28-30, 32-33. T5N., R1OW. Caledonia Charter town­ ship, Sec 20. 29, T5N. RIOW; Village of Caledonia, Kent County. Michigan The following additional information can be found on the Drain Commissioner’s website at hUps;//w3^:w.kentcoun^lymi4J9v/§J 7/Prdin<Qmm^ under Petition Projects and Notices A map of the lands constituting the drainage district The Notice of Letting that includes: • Number and length of sections, the average w idth of each section, and if the drain will be closed, the amount and specifications for all tile or pipe required; • Location, number, ty pe and size of culverts or bridges to be installed; if any; and • Conditional upon with the contract will be awarded. Your Community Connection Dated: April 2, 2025 Ife®' ■ - T Kenneth J. Yonkcr» Kent County Drain Commissioner ♦ �18 Saturday, April 12, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS TENNIS an early season victory over Thornapplc Kellogg. “We have kids that haven’t played together. This year, a couple JV players made it. That has been good. Emery [James] playing with Kcbe [Fitzell] at third doubles, Emery is a freshman, so they’re still getting used to each other. I think that is going to be a good combination. I think the doubles line-up is going to be pretty solid all the way through.” Fitzell, a junior, and James are filling the third doubles spot while ju * niors Maya White and Hellen Komera take over at number four doubles. Continued from Page 7 Scots have senior Sawyer Mertz and sophomore Anna Homrich. Mertz joins leuncssen as a team captain this spring. Both Mertz and Homrich were in the varsity doubles line-up in 2024 as were seniors Zoe Fleming and Hailey Markwat who are teamed up al number two for the second year in a row. had to try a lot ofdifferent com binations to come up with the final (doubles] line-up,” Wilson said after WWW^sunandnew-s < or’ Komera is up from the JV a year ago, and Wilson said he expects fellow juniors Molly Liggett and Chelsea Tran to get some time at fifth doubles when needed. ITie Scots are 1 -2 in duals so far this season. They jump right into the OK Green Conference action here after break with a dual at Byron Center Monday, April 14. The Scots will got to East Kentwood for a match Tues­ day, lake on Reeths-Puffer at a confer­ ence dual in Caledonia Wednesday and then head back to East Kentwood for a tournament Saturday, April 19. Plant-based cooking class scheduled for April 27 CHURCH S«rvlc« TImM Sunday at 9:30 AM A 6:00 PM Join us for our craditionaJ yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am www.alaBkabaptltt.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia 250 Vine Street 616-891-8669 9 I- ■. f*) ' i I f& t * J f ( J♦ f cornerstonechurch join US in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am -A*-, 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstoneml.org/weekend I / I I • I I ■ s' ifv'i’'' •4,1 1 H th ' ) t d *'^5r - •»* mhlij I !»»<« '*>1*41 1 I Mn:sr> f y 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship............................ 9:30 a.m. St’ i * 1 An '" iii 1, t~ Pastor: Rob Wurst hctp://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com I li vest mam. facpborik.com/firstba ptistmiddleville Church: FBCMIDDLEVfLLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH (269) 795-2391 % <iAPEACE ' W» !i i ' PEACECHURCH.ee 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11.00 am Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am (^ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave.. Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.9tpaolcBledoiiia.org k SK 8900 Duffy Road Middleville. MI 49333 I « I Shining Forth God's Light L MIDDLEVILLE fS 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a. m. Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... SERVICE TIMES: James L. CoUison, Pastor www.yankcespringsbiblechurch.org Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml ! www.tvcweb.com * * J *1 c ... V 5^ efi^^ t ? J ’x u I /• > , -.i bI ' 4 •r ' 4 It i, ' taU'. : J® I L i T, /I *4 «• t ' i'I < I : • s ♦ 4 r I • < X' 1 i, 4 c <fa J' .’L'. t I ;; t 4^ I »*** 1 X V<^ • s' itoon <• TiDr .1 A 1 J 1 I. L f >• w*- i if J ” '1 wit' R 9 % ilrfUW f J t r Lti i V iiniiij i A c ^T|5fir J. F p« 41 in I ,4 t >un . 1 I ij J Ite 4 w Yankee Springs Bible Church THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. f 'h 2020. It was drafted with the idea that it would be updated each year. However, , with the changes made this week, counci 1 members said it wouldn 't be necessary to take a look at it every single year. The policy outlines the nature of mes­ saging the sign would display along with its intent. The primary purpose of the Village of Middleville LED sign is to provide village-related information to the pub­ lic,” the policy states. “As a service to the community, a limited number ofmessag es from other government entities may be displayed on the sign. However, the messages from other government entities must not detract from, or conflict with, the village’s messages and must follow the guidelines listed (in the document).” No political or personal messages would be permitted or messages de­ signed to advertise a business. However, the village’s Downtown Development Authority has floated the idea of using the sign to generate additional revenue by selling sponsorship packages. Requests to post messages must be made in writing or emailed to the village manager or clerk. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. r 4 CHURCH Caledonia Location - 1 t & I • Continued from Page 2 Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. • < I . hh >* MIDDLEVILLE Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. i r rt Saturday Evening Mass. 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. I (iir s 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org 9 I 'k' Middleville ft I k f FIRST BAPTIST t V>4 I 4 1 ri HOLY FAMILY y CATHOLIC CHURCH W HI H I to k Good Shepherd ’ Lutheran Church *'' 1 > > -4**^?* Sunday Service 10:30 AM *9 'f I I Area residents will hear from plant­ based cookbook author and national board-certified health and wellness coach JoAnn Rachor at a plant-based cooking class later this month. The free class will beheld Sunday, April 27, from 3 to 5 p.m. Rachor will take attendees through engaging cooking demonstrations, complete with tasty food samples. She will also demonstrate several recipes from both of her cookbooks. AH those who attend the class will receive a free copy of one of Rachor’s books. The class will be held at the I lastings SDA Elementary School at 888 Terry Lane in Hastings. This event is sponsored through the Hastings Seventh-day Adventist Church health ministry department. More information and registration can be found by texting or calling Janice Cleary at 269-804-9959. — MM c Rev, Christine M. Beaudoin 4 ( • -W-- ALASKA BAPTIST 4 « LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church « fwrr rrjefb / » 5 rr /T ;rvt. ;S^ (be i u<«R ' I I'vL .1 f .“S & t IgXT/: I' '. I • warn <1 ? I A IdMaodA * •»r K. * fi /• (U3 ' ! u-il n 4. T •f 4 ^1 A W nr/lr .h fl t > t I .1' 'lit . Mi S' w I J ♦ I >V . 1 I * I < a ' >1 k * — u c $ •/ *w r I I 21 VACO. 9-1-1 C 5 I L 5 3 iC . iw 6 T 7 8 Xu ’ 3^..- TER 9 10 7 DIAL (800) 249-0911 “Kids Measure up atj 111 12I 13I 14 I "I ■ si ON - EMERGENCIES Bwa Co. 9-1-1 Center” 151 161 171 181 19 I I 10 t t 11 12 4* OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 20| 21| 22 23 24 25 26I 27I 28| 29| 30 I �•< s V I A X .V 1 \ « ?s s ■ I, 4 J < t k »•-. S , s JI V J I < 4 •» I A> 1 'U 1 t -’I A I •1 > J * X t I^3 '* K I ■l>li .X / ; trffl *■ A I I 4 s- 1“^ ’ 4 / i i;. •I r 7> ♦I h?/ X. SL » X. * >1 4 4 « < !? k i » /'I I ib I a 1 • 1 i I 1 1^ A I *w I I I Siii I t u be X -^L u » k A f ’ JI . i •"' 1 ti •'» t It t, > 9 » i *•' 4 t X’ A.‘ . ! 4 I 4 * ''3 k Y 4. ?■> .k s Li^ * t Ifw^J « « J S X• Mt r I f '* ► t * 'k' I I f i ( I i J / I t 9 I i . > 4^ I 4 •1 * 1'! Ainu Vr 'I r * I V F ■k f ' I 1 H '^9** Local firefighter named “Hometown Hero” by West Michigan Whitecaps Jayton Butta «W 1-* / Contributing Writer r ' A member of the Thomapple Township Fire Department was honored by Minor League Baseball team the West Michi­ gan Whitecaps during the organization's season-opening home stand. Last week, when the Whitecaps debuted their first home games, they honored Hanna Hollis of the Thomapple Township Fire Department as part of their “Hometown Hero" scries. Hollis has served the community for three years as a firefighter w ith Thomapple Township. «• When not on shift as a firefighter, Flanna keeps our tiniest residents safe and healthy as a pediatric medical assistant." the White caps WTote about Hollis. “With a heart for service, you can often find her helping other local heroes during times of great need through her role as Treasurer on the Board of Directors with Hero Services," the announcement continued. Ilie Whitecaps uses the “Hometown Hero services to spot! ight individuals who go above and beyond to serv e their communities. * •*-1 Mb* * » » « ** 4 ft I ♦' h. i 4* * «W' * * Arbor Day is a special day at Delton Kellogg Elementary thanks to beloved educator, Mrs. Martin. Her legacy provides white pine saplings to every student to plant and enjoy. Started in 2010, this fund now boasts thousands of trees, some of which could be over 30 feet tall by now. If you want to learn more on leaving a legacy, please call Bonnie Gettys or Annie Halle at 269-945-0526, to help ensure that your gifts can support your hopes and dreams. * 4 ♦ «r ii* Pf»^ < * ■J . TV ‘ :l 1 < * *— 1k'> 4 « ' 1 V* > 4 iwm*2- p I * M 4 t tI 4 ** r- < t » . » A 1 xT Hanna Hollis of the Thornapple Township Fire Department waves to the crowd as she is announced at a West Michigan Whitecaps game this past week. She was named "Hometown Hero" for the many ways she serves the community Photo courtesy YIAtt OF tMTVOVMC tIVIS THE BARRY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 231 S. BROADWAY ST, HASTINGS Ml WWW.BARRYCF.ORG DFLTON KFLLOGC; EDt’CATION FOVNDAnON of the West Michigan Whitecaps . ?’ Peninsula Prestress Company J u Hi t. Ml. r * Jt«r ^<rNOW HIRING > N A .V.J. * p ‘..K I s 1 r?.! EaSTEK * • GENERAL LABOR ■ I* r * • Wa<A..,. i w.,, r£ : % « I How to Plant a Forest r?’ & «■* t iTl -♦ * 19 Saturday, April 12. 2025 MARGERY MARTIN ELEMENTARY TREE FUND « . ■*' > Mb I I I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.coni i I HSDor GED REQUIRED: ( »<• ;j.;. v> i r t’ oncrete Manufacturing 4 J I (I ‘•1 > PPC It looking for tkillod profottlonols to Join our toamf Tako the next atop in your caroor with a company that valuot your oxportioo. 'ifeililf:' i A . taiW’Hi;: - — Qjt cornerstonechurch^ —■ A ! * i I» «<«4|» I ■1: <» : a I CB '. b.«4« w 1 r”.' q SjSskitilf iMie y!40himc F art HP r •n 11 ' ; O i :o O 4» s ' z » . I uw e B-.* , -"O • llaj fiOlJI* ■ •' T i 4 rtH J f < Ii I.. 4 . % * - * '^^4 ’ J V' I .jr-. MW ■» f Ml 1^. 4.' ' <«' Send Your Resume: ,1' 4 •1a> . I "A b It 'S' 84th St. Campus Service Times: « Saturday, April 19: Gpm I Sunday, April 20: 9: Warn ft 11am !< <',rt.r «• .•*i'. ■ V I 1 1 ) .1 J I It ll r p k t t ( k I f-i.- i. Irf » 1 /•. For more information: rosa@ponstress.com * A ■J-** r'*s «M 4 •>««««■>* 4 4«aBV ■■!«»> /<! >4 M *•* '■ I ( . > - XI •l < L 1 w> » CompatMve Poy ft ftontMM A STBO M0nir«g Bonus y tlLOO - <24.00 per hour (Bosod on Exportonco) y S7B0 Botontlon Bonus (After BO Days) y • Oroot Bonoflts Pacfcogol yf Fon novooy* Q B Vocation Days ft B Porsonal Ooys (First Yoor) l>euWtk.uf Cw9rog9 Q MA IMirwmnt Match UM Incuranca n Company-Ppovldad UnHorms (indudbtg Wtntofwoor) * Join a toom ttMrt pdorMzoc quatfty, aototy, and prowthi „-.»r r r r ornrT’Jonf.*' ii irf 11 �r u 20 Saturday, April 12. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Continued from Page 16 £ “a I 1 a % i i •a 1 r WWW ♦ ■BBh. u. I r I as an assistant coach, and she is back for a fourth season with the team but now as the head coach. Overall that Caledonia team was 9-6-2 a year ago. The top performers back from that squad include senior center midfielder Josie Wilcox, senior forward Laney Elles, junior forward Baylee Devries and sophomore defender Averi Rosted. Coach Kastens really likes her team’s chemistry so far in the early season and sees a depth of talent that will help make the squad successful. That depth has been boosted by some young additions to the program like sophomore defender Kayla Briseno and freshman defender Myla Gort maker. Overall, the team does have a bit of inexperience on the varsity level though. One of the big things the Scots have to work on as they move forward is the ability to finish on the offensive end. Coach Kastens said really this is a B 1 ■TTk... SQUAD OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY e a i www.sunarxlr^ews com NOW HIRING season that brings a mix of excitement and challenges. M We’re adjusting to the loss of several key players due to graduation and injuries. Karstens said. "*lf we can sUy healthy, we have the potential to be very dynamic. Our lineup has plenty of depth, which will help keep us competitive throughout the season. With the strong opponents we face this spring, we’ll be battle-tested and well prepared for playoffs. We’re confident in having a successful season, with several players steeping up to take on crucial roles. “We expect to be competitive in every game, though we ne^ to focus on finishing games and staying orga­ nized- something our young back line is still learning. There will be highs and lows, and not everything will go our way, but our ultimate goal is to compete for hardware in the OK Green and the post-season.’’ She said she sees Byron Center and Mona Shores as the top contenders for a conference crown. to xira taitf HoMHM <i»xa9ttMb Im <w 10 Kxol -><11 «,3 in tlAB iKMttufasiX <4 jw II* rt3 7W ‘I mwja k *sl Un 1 1.1*. > nomaX - • Uh-OXXj irtJ -jyieri iut) wi . .j. i. .ri^umfrrb fnv -at ! fUqBb (B v-wM * •T. 4 i^nmqasQ xs I t I ’JW mMtnqqiD i II) • •k * 4 «. (WW »id bd I r jw. vff ’ I£ r» ■■ Bi 1 11 !>* < heydi) IO) t 4 Up -t. «k.l ■ Itnvn ’iriim iaoim I e J a > 7» >3^0^ ‘ . ... W* «« h :'“*suia ^'TrrivnTTiSS •Jr- 2*^ 4 rfn ■< IS I> te e W jWIb SI ? I I 1^: I I :4-i ’mImi J!>* B IJ w an r.yn/ JOadM JI i I .J t J I .hv •J*? •r”! K- eJ 1 I j I ! 4 11TT 3 nfifi 4 3 3 J tnoo I « «I 1 V View Newspaper Group is seeking a •• ?? .•,* t t I MARKETING SPECIALIST J 4 * .h 1 < 'f 'f^ < ( i « I Responsibilities include: Sunday, April 20 • Advertising sales • Account management • Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts • Attend networking events 0£lh<^ I '•^ 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. .m.s (i£:0I I w* I «ll • • « * • • B • a • a Group * • • ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen • a a email wsmith(3)mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer's Guide ■ Jeffersonian • 9 • • • • • • • GUN LAKE COMMUNITY CHURCH H3HUH3 YTIMUMM • • • • 9 ..i ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer's Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder « V gunlakechurch.org 269.795.7903 V.W ce a 12200 WMt M-179 Hwy., Wayland, Ml 49348 A t * i H 4 r Ia 0 t«« « . X 1 I « i A a B \|| fN *P ’4* (I *4 ■*. ? • k f I IX 4. I »i p I I r I I I I I .4 f. •LA' r rACO. 4 5 a 4 CatTER ri 8 I I 91 10 5 f ’1 a lJ»N DIAL (800) 249-091 - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at^^wa Co. 9-1-1 Center" O" 111 12I 13I 14I 15I 16I 17I 18 r 10 11 ’I' n If 12 i lI I t I* ? I t « 179 : If OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES f* 191 201 21 •p a 221 231 241 25 261 271 281 291 30 wtfc- V !d2 ite t I I I L � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-04-19.pdf 9c60762dff7561c427244d6dea379cfc PDF Text Text - I z / rft.' / L<*- ' - r * / ! ♦A I* 1 / *• 4 J r •• .’■v* E^" J + .• -• •W\ As « i . the SUN VANSTEE ONE OF ‘12 STARTERS’ FOR CHAMPS AND NEWS /our Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas < t Xv<’' A r< T ■ < » f. •• *■ • t F I 1 * J* bV A <» PAGES I f r ► I I f S2 OH www.sunandnGws.com SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2025 NO. 52 ! I r I 1 ateiiBnit ssiilT istBl Dniwsiinslni 9au2 MT 10T fltnom t b0Sl3SMYH0M I I sltjqBmorfr all ni zmsbiaa^I j^hlzib eloorioZ eifj adl tovYiiffwbi aril gniwofiJi leoH 2Xr ifrabfialnnsquz Izan aw^rnoiini zi^dmonr noiJ£oub3 eidl flohigoq sdl loJ zoJsbifanfio jadni wo I ^Ito ooidl gniJoolo^ aioi Txwr ori) ot no ovom of 200 .aw^iviotni O1 abuloni MzilEnft ■aatri) srlT fefoori^a ateitonrreJnl olfibzfliH If M .Irisa^l yo iT jn9bn91rTnsqu8 I ttrabriaJniioqug zlooriog boiA tionimoD yliD InaX brtc riotioH O llifl insbn9Jniisqi/8 elooriag k>Ib bawaivialni zigiknft sriT rij? □ildo^I 2§niTrf2 ubaD riliw w 833rna2 nemiiH to TOloaita ) J 'I c I *s « *1 .X ioorn^g otmafac^A '{TfiJnsmalH )8sjjT bn£ vfibnoM no allivoo? □ to bifiod aril to Ino-ft ni jlaow to aan^rbuB b^^losq £ bnE noi? ; 8)nsbul2 TtoJa .noitEnzinimbfi .ztraifiq {rrrflt >fooJ giadmom HOB XT r 0£ to JEil fi 231£faibfwo aril §ni fanp woft nn Ttivo ^oiJaaup too leoufrbobfoff .rioJSQ qifl870bfi^l .oononoqxo iradJ no i^rij ozionirni ol nslq yoril worl .□Tom brtt Ttmurmnoo oriJ ni >• *t 1J -f’ rf Div' ?w;>i nstnr Jzilfinft srfl liiqA ^yjsbgsuT no >bfi ‘ i ') I Zc .lalnaD booribJiriD (dijq ^HT .sHivsIbbiM ni bneilB ot boaswoonQ IG . 5 i zi3tn i Tto Ejlobl snsiD t>ni ' £:<) jfi flauoH yd bswoHol ijo; ’ fw etgilEnil sriT .m.q 8Te livnstni ^ri) gidtod toiuzib 3'n3 gBfi ^hbiD EODW labn jJnn‘jqnE srit CnUONEU uniDENiiYr ffunuU yJi5 CUhMVe ptoiUAini* re 10159 .ui 37nig eloorio2 hOB0«XQ gwi dsrit ot toM ^8838 0L66UAf||6' l^j SUAMH 392 ?, A ! )!: t?2 A : I I 1 J f aivd > •» AAijaw » > .•ff s %■ « r ? >KM* r. .2:4 .A' » * * *> . k '‘*^' ^1 SKtWT >> 9 Il I iWJ 8 M 4S *• ♦ v<* > w g The Rutland Township Board agreed to contract with Thornapple Township Emergency Services beginning May 1. The move comes after the township board rejected a subsidy request from Mercy Ambulance. Photo by Molly Macieod TTES strikes agreement with Rutiand, iatest in a growing iist of partnerships Move spells uncertainty for future of Mercy Ambulance Jayson Bussa and Molly Macieod Thomapple Township Emergency Services will now provide ambulance service to Rutland Township after an agreement was struck between both entities. At Monday’s Thomapple Township Board meeting. Bill Richardson, chief of TTES, spoke with the board as he looked to have trustees sign off on the measure. They did so unanimously. The agreement stems from discus­ sions between Richardson and Rutland Township administrators. “We showed (Supervisor Marti Mayack) our service and talked about how our operations worked and I had already pidled their call volume,” Richardson explained. Richardson found that Rutland’s needs clocked in at around 150 calls a year, with the vast majority of them in . the northern portion of the township, which is near TTES’s headquarters at 128 High Street in Middleville. “The call volume isn’t going to be inundating to the department,” Richardson assured. The contract starts on May 1 of this year and ends on June 30, 2026. The contract between the two entities will not automatically renew, but both par­ ties can take the necessary steps to extend it. Rutland Township will contribute $6,500 to Thomapple Township toward the cost of providing these ser- I t «I JTf mH s_^ ^:iff s < 1^4 . 28 ''1 s b ..s’* .J 1 I ■ n* I . .. F V .1* I*' a -ve < t* 1 I vices to its residents. The timing is advantageous for Richardson and his department as they just received the go-ahead from the township to hire two full-time See STRIKES on 5 I 4 Ift .w. '■ / f r y FROM oim AMILV TO s GUR.S ? Group I « ♦ 4 * - i / •>' « I II : «' I I « > 4 « « k t » ’ «r •r < f ,I /..‘C w 'i > > .ir- » #1 ! f I > aovisod s n ais isad 7 ( 11 ri- X y on X08 Od n g bozives bKSi glD r^ • * ’- I eCOTk IN '8IIIAUMJ9 bVtD ' j j i ? SSMU33 J ,1 A ♦ ♦♦♦» / I Residents in the Thomapple Kellogg Schools district are one step closer to knowing the identity of the district’s next superintendent. TKS Board of Education members interviewed four candidates for the position this week, selecting three of the four interview­ ees to move on to the next round of interviews. The three finalists include retired Hillsdale Intermediate Schools Superintendent Troy Reehl, Morrice Area Schools Superintendent Rob Pouch and Kent City Community Schools Superintendent Bill Crane. The finalists interviewed along with Cedar Springs Public Schools Director of Human Services and Elementary Academic Services Dan Scoville on Monday and Tuesday this week in front of the board of educa­ tion and a packed audience of TK administration, staff, students and parents. TK BOE members took turns ask­ ing the candidates a list of 20 identi­ cal questions over an hour and a half each. Candidates fielded questions on their experience, leadership styles, how they plan to immerse themselves in the community and more. The finalist interviews will be held on Tuesday, April 29 at TK’s Early Childhood Center, 3316 Bender Road in Middleville. The public is strongly encouraged to attend. Crane kicks off interviews at 5 p.m., followed by Pouch at 6:30 and Reehl at 8 p.m. The finalists will tour the district before the interviews. Crane has served as Noaa the superintendent of uaNoisno iviiNaoisau Kent City Community Schools since 2022. 9CC# iiuned Prior to that, he served 8C88t^ IIAI ‘aiiiAuadJO See FINALISTS on 2 , ----- ----------------------------------------------------------------- . * ( r Editor .1 r'i . •. -4;' is i*F Molly Macieod I lOJibS irj Three finalists interviewing later this month for TK supe joh i » > W �T A .1 2 Saturday. April 19. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS I < WWW. b u n a ndoew s Gaines trustees adopt amended township zoning ordinance I k lowed regarding solar panels. TTiere is a clause in the ordinance that allows a homeowner to apply for a special-use permit through the Planning Commission, if that person wants to exceed what would typically be allowed by right for solar ground­ mounted systems. Another major change pertains to driveway access to roads classified by the Kent County Road Commission as county primary roads. Tlie revised ordinance restricts the number of ac­ cess points from public primary and secondary roads to development sites. “Access points shall be limited to one, unless it can be shown that the property will generate sufficient traffic volumes to require two points of access or that additional access points are necessary for safe operations internal to the property,” the ordinance states. That language applies to single­ family attached dwellings. “If you recall, we have for years allowed duplexes to discharge onto county primary roads,” Wells said. -1 A / I Continued from Page 1 ;! V R 1 ■ r .h'. V Kf ■ 4 A 4 I" as assistant superintendent at Kent City from 2020 to 2022 Pouch has served as the superintendent of Morrice Area Schools since 2021. Previously, he served as principal at Linden Middle School from 20172021. Reehl most recently served as superintendent at Hillsdale Intermediate School District from 2019 to 2024. Previousiv, he served as superintendent at Cheboygan Area Schools from 2016 to 2019. TK Schools has been search­ ing for its next superintendent since former superintendent Craig McCarthy retired at the end of last year. In the mean­ time, Tom Enslen has served as TK Schools’ interim superin­ tendent. The Michigan Leadership Institute has helped the district in its executive search. The four candidates selected for firstround interviews came from a pool of 15 applications, with candidates’ experience ranging from current and past superin­ tendents, principals and central office staff. a - Jf ■/ t located beyond the already-established right of way. They specifically high­ lighted a stretch of M-37 within the village along the Glen Valley planned unit development (PUD). TTie MDOT officials wanted to know if the village would mandate residents to replace the trees and shrubs that were removed. If so, MDOT would compensate those property owners to cover the cost of doing so. “In our discussion with property owners, they’re asking the question is the village going to require to put those back in there,” said Ben Bozek, who works for the real estate services division of MDOT. “That space is getting tighter and tighter with having to !• * FINALISTS “And we want to stop that practice now due to safety concerns for that number of driveways going out. So, any driveway going from a two-unit or any multi-unit home now^ will have to go onto a collector driveway minor private road - to get to one that would go onto that primar>’ county (road).” David Jirousek, a consultant with Horizon Community Planning, worked with township planners since August 2023 to develop the amended zoning ordinance, taking into account input from township officials, the public and other stakeholders that led to a new township master plan being adopted in April 2023. The master plan guides residential, commercial and industrial development by plotting where the growth and investment in the township should go over the next 10 to 15 years. Jirousek said at Monday’s meeting that the need for amendments to the ordinance was identified in a July 2023 audit that mentioned several steps to bring the zoning ordinance into alignSee ADOPT on 7 to kick off in the spring of 2026. This highly anticipated project will zero in on the oft-traveled stretch of the state highway between 76th and 92nd streets. Crews will rebuild and widen the two-lane road to alleviate the con­ sistent traffic jams that form there. Widening the road will force MDOT to utilize the existing 120-foot right of way surrounding the road, but because of the scope of the work, MDOT ex­ pects that it will affect property beyond the right of way. During MDOT’s visit to Monday’s meeting of the village council, repre­ sentatives wanted to specifically dis­ cuss the village’s expectations if crews had to remove trees or shrubs that were I b MOOT, Caledonia discuss tree and shrub removal during upcoming M-37 expansion project Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer Representatives from the Michigan Department of Transportation are seeking guidance from administrators in the Village of Caledonia on how to approach the process of removing trees on private property during the upcom­ ing M-37 renovation project. These MDOT representatives were present at Monday’s regularly sched­ uled meeting of the Caledonia Village Council, partaking in a nearly 45-minute discussion period with members of the council. TTie Michigan Department of Trans­ portation is anticipating an issue that will arise during the rebuilding and widening of M-37, which is expected T *«a» I James Gemmell Contributing Writer The Gaines Charter Township Hoard of Trustees approved the first compre­ hensive update to the township zoning ordinance since 2007. Trustees voted, 6-1, to approve the 292-page document at its regular meet­ ing on Monday, April 14 with Trustee Dan Try ling casting the lone “no” vote. Ilie revised ordinance, which is bro­ ken down i nto 36 chapters, wi 11 serve as the primary legal document governing land development in the township. “Keep in mind that over the next year we’re going to find things in this ordinance that we’re going to want to change, that aren’t going to work that we’re going to want to tweak later on,” said Community Development director Dan Wells. One example that was discussed is emerging battery energy storage technologies will require the township board to alter the zoning ordinance in terms of what is allowed. Township staff made some last-minute changes about battery systems and what is al- 4 r ** I Tfc' ■ /ic •* I > ’ <K.' Kf- * ' < » /t 4. -• ..V* .r >■ ,1 4 I<4* » 4 > I >* t Al f * r^J‘' J r» 1 I t k z 5 I I t vlV iv A t li A 'a .^7 kiT*T * 1» 1 a. 4 » % f t. 1 I * .r i I 4 ► .#• r t* < 4 I• A 4. « 4 ) ' T ‘I*! i 1 * , I f-' I * I -•I*’ ri I .. '♦!, 4 iJ * v> f. JU'"*’'" ■ I s •• . •- •’’’J I. J n . ,1 I f l4 s «u •i J 4• „V' 9 1 CL--feSiF’ . V rr ffi w®' ♦ K > ’sSie «a> I-' J**" '0 .'-.-c 1 ■ i; I •J A • t •0 r *•7 / yJ 2^^ ! fe,(i)iian» 4 f ■ - •- * Ml* ' I I ’•b. a T st* 1 t push the road out. ...That’s really the question on this corridor what is the village’s stance on landscaping?” In the already-established right of way, MDOT plans to remove trees or shrubs as needed but vowed to preserve as many as possible. When removing those trees and shrubs, they are not obligated to replace them. But, that’s a different story when it comes to the new right away that See MDOT on 7 t to * 1 d t« '•'i» /F .1 1 *• r I 5 . i »• r « 1 r> » IV t ^a . •1 •".J LJi ♦ -• -M ’ 9 .. i •*•■• -* t’**- i • ik : 4 •J s I*. r ! •< r ri* «• A' M »y ? I* Q<-v b THE SUN AND NEWS PUBLISHED BY CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 » Editor: Molly Macleod i J ^^1 -9 mmacleodOmihomepapef.com 1 Sports: Brett Bremer Advertising Manager Chris Silverman csih/ermanOmihomepaper com Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Vonker iyonkerOmihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Please recycle this newspaper ? » .'■ I. 1.’ L K . I*« --^ Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher bbremerOmihomepaper com 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com ‘fff , *U * i b' * • b K t Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U S. An advertising In The Sun and News Is subject * to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which ar© available from The Sun and News Ad Dept., 1351 N M-43 Hwy.. Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-945| 9554). This newspaper reseryes the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have ;f no authority to bind this newspaper and only * publication of an ad constitutes acceptance the advertiser's order. i » IF T 1 -I I... •Ai •A ' 1 ♦? • I t I *<• 4^2 .o ?. .5c . I s. RV 4 , ■V .•ik ' t 4 r <« . ■ M I 1 i !l • ’V‘ f 2 tf TT 4 I I 61 ■ 5 s 1 DIAL (800) 249-0911 MON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Ottawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" (A CO. 9-1-1 91 10 111 121 131 14 15I 16I 17I 18I 19 20 12 11 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 24 251 26| 27| 281 291 30 . i_ • i *A _ «. S 'n J* m? •51 �’fi: I I Ii f i 1 « •I James Gemmell I I I a r 1: V Contributing Writer • 1 I r ’i V t ►« I - u w 4 9 ' , I ■4' r ft r 1 I i k J I »- 'l ft ■kJ '/ > I IJ 4 z ■ •»a 1 T J* . » .. k •t L i■ 'Mik O I * ■ I r.-mh A t 1*^ I .i ,t h ■»Tt. * rk’ « 1. ■' L •i iU J i J. f■ 1 •-. -( ■1 [ * 1 « ' 1 A •'> I. *7 n b * j:^n > ■' lb " « ’ ” 1 I I * * L ) I I > . 1 t , II • * / 5. . tf •‘. 4 • - MJ n *4- ■ h /*• * L'> . <r T 1 r A I ft I I I t 1ft 5 J * f f j/ 'r.sia -1 r f , 7-W -.1. r / k’ "I ' J t^'t > ^^ T’ • '- rssfc--. j ' ’ W:' b /. 1 I L- f b * IZ I IZ I I « ^'lOf J •> I ' '"•Z'l 1^: J ” i j : L I I I I C X WiHiWUd a,;..;; •. a ( . 1 C I L' ' I i —. ■' t I I * ■ I i . WlQii-U•fl I 1 A x!. Saturday, April 19, 2025 Gaines Twp. website siated for major upgrade * Cf THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com i mam i 9^ I bmni 8 >t-it ! i/ b ^!>n 7i-. —.Bfci, I The website for Gaines Charter Town­ ship, gainestownship.org, will be getting improved software soon that will make it more user-friendly and faster, according to township officials. The township board of trustees voted 7-0 at its meeting Monday, April 14, to approve revised web services that will include a virtual assistant in the form of an artificial intelligence, or AI, chatbot and the addition of a forms module that the town­ ship’s departments will use to streamline the process of managing applications. The chatbot wi 11 be intuitive, absorbing information from users and becoming faster and more efficient over time as it adapts to users’ behavior. “If you’re a resident and you’re on the website, this is going to get you the help that you need,” Gaines Supervisor Bob Terpstra said. “The AI chatbot is familiar to most people. “And it will get better as it is used,” he added. “It will learn what people are asking for. It will direct you to the right place, but it takes a little time.” There will be an option for website viewers to translate words into as many as 80 different languages, as well as the ability to change font styles for different needs, such as handicap accessibility. “It’s a search engine but you train it on your website,” said Township Manager Rod Weersing. “It learns your website, but then it also continues to learn from different search terms that people use. “So, it’s always evolving, growing and helping to answer questions and direct people to what they’re looking for.” The forms module will also improve the creation, use and submission of the different forms required by the various departments. That will allow them to more easily track and manage applica­ tions submitted online. “We can plug all of the forms that we need in,” Weersing said. “So, building department, planning department, as­ sessing and everything else that we have. It will create it into a writeable form and then we can direct each one to the ap­ propriate desk. So, it will show up in an email that this form has been submitted.” According to township officials, the goal is to increase efficiency and improve service delivery for residents. “I think that will be a huge upgrade for us for interacting with the public,” Weersing said. The township’s annual website mainte­ nance fee had been $2,275 and it is due to increase to $2,675 at renewal. The addi­ tion of the AI chatbot will add $2,400 to that cost and the forms application will cost another $1,000. That will bring the total annual cost for the web services to $6,075, or $3,800 more than the township paid previously. Also, the cost for 2025 is higher be­ cause of a one-time setup fee of $1,950 for the form’s application. The new contract is for five years. “This will start the process for upgrad­ ing and updating the website,” Weersing said. “We’ve got a committee that’s been working a little over a year on ideas. We’ll start implementing those ideas into an upgrade.” The township already has been using the new Granicus Agenda software for its online township board and planning commission agendas. Treasurer Laurie Lemke initially said she was not sold on the idea ofadding the chatbot at an annual • • •• J 3 4. ft bJ . ? I — •4. 1 » - f *- >» ( A .r X The Gaines Township Board discusses potential software improvements to the township website at its April 14 meeting at the township hall. Photo by James Gemmell There will still be a search engine box on the website. But, according to Brew, that it is not as fast as the AI chatbot will be. “The old-fashioned search doesn’t speed anything up,” he said. “It uses keyword searches where we have to tell the key words. And they almost have to use our exact keywords in order to get it.” “And then, you get results from all over the place, and sometimes not even on the website,” Trustee Tim Haagsma added. cost of $2,400. “I think if we have a well-designed website people will be able to find their way around,” she said. The fact that it’s learning makes it faster,” Clerk Michael Brew said. ‘‘The AI behind the scenes makes it so that it’s learning what people are asking and making their web experi­ ence so much better. “This is what all websites are going to in order to make the search ability of your website so much better, and less menu-dependent,” Brew added. r iK* The buck stays bora! hr' W^TtS 7 X-'.vS t Spend It Imre. Krap It hgra. Invest In Your Community, Group s A 4 e Fire Department PANCAKE SUPPER 4 ( AW* r r •V ■. U ♦ 4l 7 4 «' ' 'tWP ’**s Ci: RnAa i /i I r •!-. !W) •w 1 ** *1 -I ..J 4 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 * wLwM^Mk OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm ..44 «< 4 •4 4 4 4 4 4 A ■nut, .1 Serving: Pancakes, eggs, sausage, applesauce & real maple syrup Cost: Donation ^..r J f A ■ w■ W ■■ WO *3 MU- I A 1 I I t 11 I B I ■ I .-•UJ -k ,t 1 d i ■4 AI I'i i iI I I f if I It > ' '1 r I J?, n J1 1 1 I e I J» II ' a I 4 » n ‘i \ 3 \ I I I • 1 fl ■ ■ f»........ b II II I r a « *»> 1' L.AAA.AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA A.AA AAAA A AAA A A. A A A A A A I wusawiMaw"**'’^ .. J p > Saturday, April 26 tS^T^O.p Cleaners \ Pickup ‘. ; Station j 1 ■ 4 KSK A k TL r- '- % QUESTIONS: HMH MSI US... F t. « M Ito 4 4 4 4 4 7) SkB;- I ^x' �* T # 1 4 . f I i Saturday, April 19, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS spring I k I J B^AVr ^^^9^ < «*«* Thurs, May 1, FOL Members Only Presale: 3:00-5:00 t I James Gemmell Contributing Writer A Rapid Transit bus was reportedly rear-ended by another vehicle while traveling on Kalamazoo Avenue Book Sale ■U- < i » r * 9ir > t .-estear* I Membership can be purchased at the door. k > Thurs, May 1, Public Sale 5:00-7:00 Friday May 2,10:00-4:00 Saturday May 3,10:00-2:00 Teachers with ID 20 free books Caledonia Township Library 6260 92"'^ St, Caledonia AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m. THE HASTINGS BANNER Tuesday at Noon « I THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon 1 THE SUN AND Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer The Middleville Lions Club is already hard at work planning its annual Fourth of July festivities and this year, they ’re asking Thomapple Township fora little extrahelp to keep the celebration running strong. The Lions Club, which has long been the driving force behind Middleville’s Independence Day event, checked in with the township at its regular board meeting on Monday. Every few years, the group meets with local partners, includ­ ing die Village of Middleville and the Middleville Downtown Development Authority, to gather feedback and discuss ways to improve the event. During the meeting, Lions Club rep­ resentative Andrew Beck walked the board through the day’s usual schedule and shared insight into organizing the festivities, which have continued to grow in popularity. The celebration kicks off in the morn­ ing at the downtown pavilion with BATTLE CREEK 1 Kent County Sheriff’s Office officials say a Rapid bus was rear-ended by another vehicle while traveling on Kalamazoo Ave. near M-6 on Tuesday, leading to a multi-vehicle, chain-reaction crash. Courtesy photo Lions Club seeks increased funding from Thornapple Township for Fourth of July celebration NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES NEWS Wednesday at Noon Group mihomepaper.com www.sunandnews.com Sheriff officials investigating crash involving transit bus Caledonia Friends Of the Library w I near M-6, leading to a multi-vehicle, chain-reaction crash Tuesday, April 15, according to the Kent County Sheriffs Office. KCSO officials stated a total of eight vehicles, including the bus, were involved in the accident that occurred at about 2:40 p.m. on Tuesday in the southbound lanes on Kalamazoo Avenue, just north of the Paul Henry Freeway (M-6). According to KCSO Sgt. Eric Dietrich, there was no immediate report on what caused the accident or who was at fault. But he said the bus was struck by a vehicle from behind, which led to the chain reaction. No one on board the bus was injured, and no names of persons involved had been released as of press time, with the accident still under investigation by the KCSO. “Minor damage to the cars,” Dietrich added. “There were some minor injuries, but nobody wanted to go to the hospital. Firefighters responded to the crash, as well as KCSO deputies. ^9 bounce hoiises and music, and picks back up at 6 p.m. at the AYSO fields. There, families can enjoy a live band, laser tag, archery tag, ax throwing, and other family-fiiendly activities leading up to the evening’s fireworks display. Beck said the cost of putting on the event totals around $15,730. He also asked the board to consider increasing its contribution to the event from $3,000 to $4,000. The Lions Club currently maintains a balance of about $7,000 in its account for emergency use. With current fimding, Beck noted, the club would likely break even or come up slightly short. Thomapple Township board president Eric Schaefer said the request will be added to the board’s May agenda. Beck emphasized how the celebration has become a major local draw, estimating that roughly3,000people attend each year. “We say around 3,000, but families are learning about it and showing up, and due to the free events, more and more are coming. It’s a big draw,” Beck said. This year’s celebration will include many familiar favorites, with a few new touches in the works. The Lions Club is partnering with the Downtown Development Authority to JUT’. Classifieds 1 i ** I I i BUSINESS SERVICES I r I DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. • K t 4 2 iTER A7AC0. 9-1-1 C 4 5 •* r. .•••? 8 9 10 5 » « 7 DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at 04awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 131 14 15 161 171 181 19 20 '■ I- fc <• r I.-' ' if Vv I i > £ kOb* J• A ft 4^ A cr 4 \ -«• I ■* 4 I IS .J*'-' JNR BUILDERS Concrete flatwork: Driveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored. Licensed and insured. Call Jeff (616)293-7729 I 1 r - Ji. ’ \ mJ r »• f* »K r 1*4 > Jl rl* V .J. -1 < fr CONSTRUCTION J. CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 I • J *» AOt- ■ 1 EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCED GARDNER 3 to 4 days a week with flexible schedule. Please apply in person at Saska­ toon Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto. iri ■ »(* . ♦ »• -V.T T> L *» s JR" ♦ I * ! ‘i'S-'- * * ♦ • ** t. 4 3 Uta COMMERCIAL-RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rap­ ids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic@remax.net f 1 rtt» • A 4 s t 'W M^i .>/i; ■ *X. 4 Vr- 1 -fir1 » r A J4 < n ft .* jA'J/*‘ V* i K • ? ■ f I u •< a 0 « 1 t -v? M£-‘ M » < {•’T FOR SALE- FREEZER BEEF. Angus cross. $3.95 per pound plus pro­ cessing. Hay and corn fed, no hormones. Call 517-588-7950 or 517-649-0097. 1^' Ml* • I I Ji I 1 rdywr^ -1 FARM, YARD & LIVE STOCK ■r-' J 4^ jfl iATTKn jcnn EugnA 1 01 > I. . ^ 4 3u I XhU- 8eJVr?W ga><W » i» — expand the morning programming. “We’ll be working with (Community Development Coordinator Kassandra Clark) to try to get more businesses to be open and for longer and also to help pro­ vide entertainment like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, little kids tattoos and things of that sort,” Beck said. One big change: This year’s fireworks display will be handled by a professional service, rather than volunteers. “We’re using a fireworks company but we’re literally getting it at the same price we would [pay] purchasing fireworks for,” Beck said. “We’ve talked with this company—it would definitely make this safer for everyone doing it electronically. They’ve committed to what we’ve been paying for fireworks so it’s not an added cost, but it will just be safer.” ■ IV T* SM I «.» » f } 0 * .r Cl. . »-»^ 21I 22I 23I 24| 25| 26| 27| 28| 29| 30 -* *>• *» I Toi t'on J '?c I rumim ub EL--11) A ........ I ^5 »? » ■.d "-iAJ’WTIw 1 P' waqptuv^ yawLtti t AV » • I A < Ib^vobbt r ■ r , I ffl mvi’tfjfe??' ♦ s rioigid^nO dIH I J r 19 <• , lonn k I I ' » ■ narj'M*t,Vr^ I I *\u I At j > da f I .. •. I * / . I I i:WB J IB I? J r < t « » T^^jbbfsw JL *> M / '••4 GE JOoS *'.’^ .. I t : t|K' 4l*)-f • 7 RI (DA * r? IM X A 1 L i tti >*. ■w 9 12 11 1 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES L>V? < I sMMwqs •' > < I K • J CEMENT/CONCRETE I I ’ 4 r ' Iw I I w iR' I I « j 1 j I I Ug ^1 I A • J 1 WSii,(it 1 * a. . »■A fc u • ’< �f f li X V *I Saturday, April 19. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com < 5 h V STRIKES I V* • Continued from Page 1 I 1 MM M •»h r I - t® 'Hk X: tixSlf t < K atau, ifB paramedic firefighters to take the place of three outgoing part-time memb^ of the department. Rutland Township’s contributions will help further defray the cost of those additions to the department Thomapple Township Emergency Services already has similar agree­ ments in place with both Irving and Yankee Springs Township. The agree­ ment with Yankee Springs is still in its infancy. Last Thursday, Yankee Springs Township opted to sever its agreement with Wayland EMS. Yankee Springs Supervisor Rob Heethuis told The Banner that he and the board were impressed with TTES’s service and infrastructure and that the department’s proximity to Yankee Springs Township made them a better fit than Wayland EMS. « * -T ''O' *5 t; ■' :A t < 4 » ' 4 i A » ( t t 9 A.r ?---' r fH M 9 I » >1: 4 r 'S i. ill .Q»V V 7 «» t X /ti ^i7 .vd of b t t >• fa 1 r I r X ♦ l«ii J -•e» I i % •'ll' X. 'ifll »V I I 9 M* w I 1 t ‘ *7/ f *• 7'-' '•V f* > 'r tots 'rv, 4 •» r J«4.. ♦ i' • * Mercy’s future uncertain ■* '< ; 5-.. 9 *4 4l5Ci » 11 *<■ I J! 1 IT b 1 2 f J I •a'A..- t tC!I:' I « ill ’U u<. t ' li • 'ft *S y b ’J -mJ I * T «•? 'K;. l/ >> \ i 9-i^ 1 , J r I r«*w ' f T it U * . ■ '*■ 7**9r* *1, J r, IM '1' * w 4 ***** J ""I ^rti riuacttir ► 4 0 I . •i < • * >* h rWL*n’ t3 » » t M * ' n . t » » J r' • ’ 1 9 t I 4I rx F r i I J I j « O»I H/X! «* I I « <I liteisiisraipf''' i . -11 I *T ■ % t *U ■ ft H i ’ ' J < ; * 4 i/ t i iifil * at ”1^ *' ill f II '« ■ri ' ' I «4 I ..1 TI si « B * Rutland’s shift to contracting with Thomapple comes after a request from Mercy Ambulance for a subsidy of $274,992.00 from the five Barry County townships that currently contract with them, plus the City of Hastings, through the end of 2026. ITie subsidy, if agreed to, would be split between the city and the townships: Rutland, Baltimore, Carlton, Hastings Charter and Hope townships. Mercy requested the subsidy citing increasing costs and staffing chal­ lenges. The future of the service could be in jeopardy if its current financial trends continue. Rutland was the first municipality from the group to reject the subsidy request so far. The City of Hastings approved the subsidy at Monday’s city council meeting. Several townships have yet to vote on the matter. Mercy’s proposal calls for the sub­ sidy to be split between the munici­ palities that contract with them based on usage. The City of Hastings will take 34 percent of the extra costs, or $93,492 over the next year for emer­ gency services. Rutland was requested to pay $52,250 over the next year, a stark difference from the $6,500 charged by Thomapple Township. Hastings Charter and Hope Township were asked to contribute an extra $38,500 over the next year. Carlton Township was asked to pay an extra $30,250 and Baltimore Township was asked for an additional $22,000 through January of 2027. ‘Tlie one thing I always think back on all the time when I started this job is ‘What’s best for the residents of this township?’ and ‘We have to be good stewards of this township’s tax dollars, said MayacL “ and I’m not 100 percent sure that paying Mercy is going to fill those two voids. On the other side of it, I went to other ser­ vices to see what they would provide. Thomapple has the ability to provide service to our area and some other sur­ rounding areas as well for far less, for far less money.” Mayack said he felt welcomed by his discussions with Richardson and TTES. They really wanted to serve the area; they were excited that 1 was there. And the discussions with Mercy are more on the side of they feel like they are down and out. And I get it — I mean, it’s hard to come up and ask all these townships for this kind of money,” Mayack said. Though the move to TTES will spell a significant cost savings, Rutland township board members spent nearly an hour at last week’s township board meeting discussing the pros and cons of the move. Concerns with increased response times at some points in the township were raised, along with con­ cerns about supporting neighboring municipalities. Brad Carpenter, Carlton Township supervisor, spoke during the pub­ lic comment portion of last week’s Rutland Township meeting. ‘‘Carlton Township needs you guys as much as we need Hastings Township. We don’t have potential options like you do if we another ambulance service that’s generally in the vicinity like you guys have,” said Carpenter. “I was a fireman for 10 years, a first responder, and 1 can tell you that response time is critical. A Middleville Planning Commission approves new The Other Body Shop’ gym location Hunter McLaren Contributing Writer The Middleville Planning Com­ mission approved a special land use application for a gym located in the village. Jon Hubbell, owner of The Other Body Shop Fitness Center, spoke to commissioners about the business at their meeting Tuesday. ‘‘I think small towns especially, like Middleville for example, are really underserved for good facili­ ties to be able to work out at afford­ able costs,” Hubbell said. “Td like to bring one to town.” The proposed facility will be housed in the shopping center at 4660 N M-37 Hwy, in the space formerly occupied by B2 Bargain matter of minutes, and sometimes sec­ onds, really matters.” After much debate last Wednesday, Bins. The gym is planned to have locker rooms with showers and will be open 24 hours. Members will access the space with a provided keycard during unstaffed hours. Commissioners approved the special land use application unani­ mously and identified no concerns with the proposal. No one was present to address the proposal during the public hearing portion of the meeting. The Other Body Shop opened its first location in Hastings in 2019, opening a second location in Grand Rapids in 2022. Hubbell said he runs the business with his brother, and the two grow row crops and raise cattle in Hastings. the Rutland Township Board agreed to contract with TTES in a 6-1 vote, with Gene Hall voting in dissent. WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS Residential & Commercial Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers Your local agent insures your Busintiiss FARM BUREAU INSURANCE* |4 X 5 » 0 ]. r** A. ¥ 72 »-.< ? ; •< BBL M. •••J , > -e I •I fttstifrtMe Got^aj^ t A nM Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville 9^ (269) 795-8827 jparks@fbinsmi.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com ’^•'r DeWeerd <68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM T/v/or A+ £ Sinv<* 195.^ 269-792-2234 BBB. ACCREDITED BUSINESS I « J a M 4 * WW.— ( V 1 It I it u « I t I 0 f A 4 1 X 'I * I 4 \ S A �iT I ft 1* f* .? > Y i 1 t r? V - r- . I ! i 6 Saturday, April 19, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS •V www.sunandnews.com I Fire damages home and attached garage in Gaines Township < r •i - < I,—•• ■» A fire did some damage to a house in Cutlerville on Wednesday morning, but the most significant damage was done to the attached garage. Gaines Charter Township Fire Chief Ken Van Hall told The Sun and News there were no injuries to the residents ofthe single-story home or firefighters. It broke out around 5:30 a.m. in L k I k I I «• •*« 5ft' r’ 4 If i/ ft 9 '1?i f r A 1 » s» <f * .f J < ♦ the 500 block of 76th Street, west of Eastern Avenue. “The cause (of the fire) is under investigation. There was pretty exten­ sive damage to the garage and some damage to the attached home. The fire was discovered by the neighbors, who alerted the residents that their garage was on fire,” Van Hall said. Crews remained on the scene for a couple of hours. I i I . James Gemmell Contributing Writer I 4 HK 9 T kA z r > I *K' / 1 .r A JT. tf.' 1 r ♦ * A ' Li • « I » ■b**: J 4 ft I A .' 5* • S’* ........................ ... • '■^V' y -*-T ft- I ( w -t f 9 &! ■V You can see extensive damage done by a fire to the roof and side of an attached garage in Gaines Township on Wednesday on 76th Street. Photo IV I lO 0 rF. . lilf by James Gemmell iVc * 1 / r V »;'W to* ;v 1 I 'S '<■' i. Motorcyclist dies in two-vehicle crash in Gaines Two. James Gemmell Contributing Writer A motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of a two-vehicle accident after colliding with a mini­ van in Gaines Charter Township on Sunday, April 13, according to Kent 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm BODV SHOP Complete Collision Repair 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your trusted Body Shop ■for over 32 years County plans to sell former DesignWear property in Middleville County SherifTs Office reports. The crash reportedly occurred on Kalamazoo Avenue just north of 100th Street — about a mile north of the border with neighboring Allegan County - at about 5:20 p.m. Sunday. According to police reports, both the motorcycle and minivan were traveling northbound on Kalamazoo Avenue at the time of the accident. “The driver of the minivan was attempting to make a left turn,” KCSO Sgt. Scott Dietrich, citing the initial findings of the KCSO Traffic Safety Unit. “The motorcycle was behind the minivan and (traveling) at a high speed and unable to avoid the collision.” The motorcyclist was identified as a 26-year-old resident of Allendale, while the driver of the minivan was reported to be a 41-year-old Caledo­ nia woman. Names of the individu­ als involved in the accident had not been released as of press time, as the incident remains under investigation. Dietrich said the Caledonia woman was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries. “There’s quite extensive damage to her minivan from the collision,” he added. Alcohol is not considered to be a factor in the fatal crash, though toxi­ cology tests are being conducted on the motorcyclist. I V* •ir 1 -I' > v?-. “ I r 9 V fii r 4 « 4^ t;«F' >K 1 -T T sir'; •V » a' MV > tw i < < 5 i Molly Macleod Editor X <i5r M** 1^ f* I L if*'.. Barry County is closing in on selling a property it “accidentally” acquired late last year. Demolition crews from Pitsch Companies tore down the former DesignWear building at 118 W. Main St. in September 2024. The DesignWear building was once attached to the former Baby Bliss building, which was tom down earlier last year. The Barry County Land Bank Authority received funds from the Michigan State Land Bank Blight Elimination fund to pay for the demolition work. Barry County Administrator Eric Zuzga said during Tuesday’s Barry County Board of Commissioners Committee of the Whole that the county is closing in on a deal to sell the property on Middleville’s riverfront. “We have an offer on the property in Middleville that we acquired by accident,” Zuzga said with a smile on Tuesday. “This property was ac­ quired during the demolition of the Baby Bliss facility. It had a shared wall, if you all remember that. It’s been taken down, it’s been cleared.” Zuzga said the offer of$60,000 for the property from Nate and Jillian Otto would clear the county of the f-': I County officials are closing in on a deal to sell the former DesignWear property on Middleville's riverfront. File photo f i I I ' T -^S*; <* c: I ft 4 I sdt^.‘ .j «< I ?i«6* ■d t- A f Rb • remaining debt taken on from taking over the property and its demolition. “Looking at this, I thought $60,000 was very low for a riverfront parcel, but it’s also a very, very tiny parcel. It isn’t really buildable and it does have some issues with the river being right there, and some stabilization things, that we’ve been talking about this for quite some time,” said Board of Commissioners chair Dave Jackson. “And we did advertise,” Zuzga said. “We put (the property) on our website, the Chamber pushed it, and this was the only offer we received. That being said, we recommend sell­ ing the property to the Ottos.” “This clears the debt out that we took on when we accidentally ac­ quired the building, so we are going to move forward with that,” said Jackson. The Committee of the Whole rec­ ommended approval of the sale at the commissioners’ next regular meeting. 5>«‘ ..-VX • ll» ■ I < r lfw®rn " ‘ j; * J I '* i f . n X v- ng •I* V J 1 nvh # 1 IB ' , ai.ryiltf » I r 'T? ! • n r r 4 V. ' rr»r* I 1* 2ir wMau;4 f — r4 1 I I* t € rl r ?: J -'t .331 ’ J 1 r I / •K l» u* T kA f‘ I' few 1 In ill I *• 4 1 « I Se/ha:. * 4 1 1 f k of 4 V Tl Tfc*W Rm . * ^nc I R ■iv : « J f - > «■ to ■^<jMb«- |E*»>imUU^^ t M *4 b m 4i. £/ r^A ll k ...^ X h. : 4i 2 I h •• vi’K- ••i”* I «A I I I •1 I A, 4 sj •-Ji y I 1 .-L > I 2 A. J ATA CO. 9-1 -1 CElTER 5 ^8 I-I I -1. 91 10 5 I f ft I 1 DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Q4awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 13 14 i; I 12 11 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES I I 1. 151 161 171 181 191 201 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 r » • / «» ' T r. sift I V I . 1 ijgJJ*; »i- ”“4r' < 4*4'4 ■ I TK* uilfi ? * r .ft; A ■ * Lu )> t k I X . '"ft - sV • . J �\\ ► ll>— I ADOPT 9 i Continued from Page 2 b I 9 J z » .. _ __ 1 '—* - - - ment with the township’s new master plan. He also noted a section of the amended ordinance concerning previously approved Planned Unit De­ velopments, or PUDs. One area concerned how to address a change of use. Township officials decided that if something is a permanent use — for example, someone is changing the use of a multi-tenant space to another permitted use - it would require an administrative review. If something is being changed to a special land use, it would go through the special land-use process with the Planning Commission. “We did go through and clean up the entire PUD process so that it would be simple,” Jirousek said. “We’rejust falling back on a base district. We’re using those standards. In a new PUD, the only difference would be that you would identify the modifications to that base zoning district. So, a very simple approach.” Any major changes to a previously approved PUD, such as reconfiguring buildings or adding a significant amount of square footage to a building, would require a project applicant to go through a Major PUD process. That would require a favorable Planning Commission recommendation and township board approval. If an applicant proposes a project that goes beyond that in scope, and does not qualify as a minor or major change, the developer would have to come back to the township to seek an ordinance amendment. They would have to go through this new process to rezone to the PUD overlay with a base-zoning district,” Jirousek said. “So, if something is so far beyond what your original intent was for that PUD, they’d have to go through your new process rather than just amending the old PUD.” Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra said a steering committee focused on residents first in conversations about updating the zoning ordinance, particularly concerning safety. “There were certainly recommendations on how to handle things that were not agreed with,” Jirousek said. “But, ultimately, we walked through every sec­ tion of this ordinance as a steering committee. “And I sometimes would offer multiple ways how to handle certain issues. And the steering committee would determine the best way,” he added. “It’s not a policing document, it’s a living docu- iyj )n‘;fn ’ll *1^ 4 ft 1 1 ‘ «« <■ J ’I botov A 4 » 5wbe -. .. .J K *> & k •v ■ «• > '. » -I 'n. I t *1.A4 I 9 C I t A r i *to'ier ‘T • < 0 1i) / I. •I '*» 'A f » ■Hi) Ixr?* n ♦jiS,* X : <£ f it t ♦ • i q ‘fl pAin i '0 4 ) 1* V f J t , 9^ <t 9 •n *1 la U 1 I ■' r 4 f •V J «w I im- •^Ui 4 fit* » I ik ■' I t L. . ■ J I / I t, 1 Ht: t ' r ’ - <. 1 >♦ ' iI U I I ■J r ! t ;* -*<41*^: ■ -4 . I 4 • • i ( etw I I • I V I ‘»‘*S«sn5;u '. b I .k *••• >4 . * ■ 1^ t4 f ' 1 f 40 '••k I 4 i / f I 1 4 » hj. I 9 1^1 1 rV p' :3r rt i>« t THE SUN AND NEWS_______ www.sunandnews.com * . * » ’ « ’ * I f I f'*-r • ’ J ** ’e (wwOfe ■ **T*Al^ - 1 .•’b 4T B •» 9 •7.1 i Hrr:ic 4 '^fis r r niwsi / iHbii' f ment,” Terpstra said. “I talked to Dan (Wells) earlier today about how, if we discover something in here that we feel is not the right thing to live up to, we will change it.” Ultimately, according to Wells, the updated zoning ordinance helps protect a resident’s property rights. “The great example is, ifyou’re living in a suburban neighborhood, you don’t want a pig farm showing up next to you or a slaughterhouse or an industrial site that’s making a lot of noise,” Wells said. “There are separations that are created by zoning in terms of uses are there for a reason. And that is ultimately to make sure that people can live their best lives in their comfortable homes and not be interrupted.” Trustee Rob DeWard said township officials typi­ cally try to first communicate with residents who are in violation of the zoning ordinance before resorting to enforcement. “In my 30 years here at the township, we typically respond to citizen complaints on enforcement,” he said. “We’re not out driving around looking for violations. I know that some of the (recent) citizen comments almost implied that we are. “That is not what we’ve been doing,” he added. “I don’t foresee us doing it in the future. But it does give citizens an opportunity, if they have a grievance, to the township’s attention. And then we can investi­ gate. And we have this whole process that allows the violator time to correct that.” Township board members agreed that zoning regu­ lations also protect property values. However, Trustee Dan Fryling said he felt a stipula­ tion in the ordinance that makes it unlawful to store or park inoperable vehicles outside of an enclosed garage or building for more than 48 hours is too restrictive. Township Manager Rod Weersing said township staff first checks a given property to make sure a vehicle has been there for more than 48 hours. If so, the township sends a letter to the property owner. “Then we give them a month,” Weersing said. “In that time, they can call and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got a part that’s on a slow boat from China, it’s not going to be here for two months.’ Okay, just show us you’ve ordered the part, and we’ll give you some time. “Ifwe don’t hear from them in a month and nothing has changed, then we issue them a second letter no­ tifying them, ‘Hey, there’s a problem here that needs to be addressed. he added. “It gives them another opportunity to contact us. Again, we don’t want to Saturday. April 19. 2025 7 MOOT Continued from Page 2 MDOT plans to acquire from property' owners, and it wants to earmark the proper fiinding to compensate property owners for any damages that might be levied to their landscape through the removal of trees and shrubs. "‘There are going to be some trees along the corridor that aren't going to be here anymore and we have the right to remove tltose because they’re in the right of way,” Bozek said. “It’s just the ones beyond there what is the village intending to do because that’s something we’re looking to discuss with property owners and help pay to put something in if it’s required. Bozek pointed to the fact that, in the past, some property owners have had trees or shrubs die and removed, and they were not replaced. “In discussions on how we handle this as a united Caledonia front, I believe it’s kind of leaning toward (the fact) we want some type of buffer there for noise and aesthetic,” said Village President Jennifer Lindsey. “We don’t want one side to be full landscaping and then our side to be barren. Nothing is 100 percent, but we talked about one of the options is whatever we can put back should be put back.” Lindsey stressed that both the Village of Cale­ donia and Caledonia Township be on the same page on the matter. Trustee Gerrianne Schuler echoed Lindsey’s sentiments that the village should walk in lock­ step with the township to bring consistency to the nearly three-mile project. “If we can meet with the township and say...is there a way we can get a plan before we tell these property owners what has to go back? That’s the only way it makes sense. If we make a decision and it looks totally different than the township side, it will look really silly. I think we do need to work with the township.” write citations, we want to work with residents. But we have to protect everyone.” The updated ordinance may be viewed online on the township website, gainestownship.org. w -r k'«.:4ar' aaKAUiiiiuiftn W' 4 I ;-i J- t- xr4 *n Of/"A» ' lataaiweiw: jA«»<wb» It « . .a ..I > I J > . V\ i • 5^. if «> {bW“' -t: >T'.. s IK iinii li i' W .. t .T a ’'1 J?. 7. -a w I 9 ■M 1 V Nti r’. { f t 9 t'T H I I-1 :.■ ill .» 'fl I - '!» :■ J{i 'Si .% •t r .V lik fl 41 a!®Bsiiiiiil®, Antenna Men & J lisasWiJ '’ •- flvte M^n ’1 > . * . 9 Estirn^'®^ Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers • Cellular Enhancement Systems • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation Margaret (Margo) E. Peric Commercial/ftMidential Full Time Agent Cell; (616) 204-9792 Office: (616)957-0700 Email: margoperic@remax.net k, I b RF/MAX OF GRAND RAPIDS free 9^ A Give us a call! fffSmsSllS 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today I 269-967-8241 1 no* J www.theantennamen.com antennamen@gmail.com Use Spray Foam www.c9lltignalprot.com I J 1 Iy .. 1^ I • < ( b I g h I i I .1 i I J i Ai I* 'Si I kir ’I I fl lii I f I *« I I i.!H I I Ij in 1 « I k 1 It 1I s 1 1 t. * f 4 \ X' �b 4 I t .. Saturday. April 19, 2025 8 I Cb^“ THE SUN AND NEWS tt wvvw.sunandnews.com L-. 9 Z> I k ) » I i T Sporting News r“ 9 4; TJ I I f >4 I ■I ■t I ?9 I I A v;- r i tl i I Vanstee one of I k Brett Bremer Sports Editor Nothing slowed her down after the buzzer sounded. A sleeve and pad covered her right knee. Her trademark blonde, bubble ponytail bounced behind her as she leapt onto the court. She was the first ever Great Lakes Intercollegiate Ath­ letic Conference Sixth Woman of the Year award winner in 2024. In 2025, Thornapple Kellogg High School alumnus Paige Vanstee was the first Laker off the bench to get into the scrum celebrating her Grand Valley State University Women’s Basketball team’s NCAA Division II National Championship. k. I YANKEE SPRINGS DENTAL rs^^ Vanstee, a redshirt junior guard, contributed 8 points, 3 rebounds, an assist and drew a charge as the Lakers defeated the University of California Dominguez Hills 70-58 in the National Championship March 28 inside UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, PA. “My coach said this before, but he’s had people telling the whole season that this team’s gonna win the national championships, this team’s going to win the national championship. So when it happened, it just didn’t feel real,” Vanstee said. “But the amount of work that this team has put in. It’s well, well deserved.” The Lakers close the 2024-25 season with a record of 38-2. It is the fourth FAMILY IS EVERYTHING TO US. ^..B> 9 We treat our patients like family and offer comfortable, customized dentistry for everyone 9 9 5^ 1 t SAME DAY DENTISTRY iJ* 1 ■< 2 starters’ for champs IMPLANTS !c return your teeth to good health ccterea to your ‘w- a J*-' 4 c r C PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY z ^i- THANK YOU ^024 ** *• bestA of BEST? < *B^ * "u' V 0. '->■ NOW ACCEPTING TO ALL OUR DELTA DENTAL HEALTHY KIDS AND BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HEALTHY KIDS PATIENTS FOR THE z RECOGNITION [ BEST DENTIST jYLER ^B □ □ ^B ^B BB flB ^B BB Bl Hi M O ' ' V*^*'*' VENEMAN. DDS YANKEE SPRINGS DENTAL or bring this ad with you HI BB ^B o COSMETIC DENTISTRY tor ‘deal results ^B (269) 792-9723 ^B ^B ^B 12715 WM-179 Hwy I^Mriee^pransOeirtaLcoin Wayland, Ml 49348 scan to request an appointment and learn more ?42soc^r««« BB ^B BV Hi ^B Office Hours M 9orn-6pm Tu 7om-3pm 3QfT\~^pa\ Th F * M ^MHB ®i ton-Apm a<yn-l2pm consecutive 30-win season for the Grand Valley State University women, a feat matched only by the South Carolina ladies who were the NCAA Division 1 runners-up to the University of Connecticut this season. Dominguez Hills with some tena­ cious full-court pressure early on built a 7-2 lead, but the Lakers eventually settled in and controlled the ballgame. The Laker lead grew to 3 5 -19 with three and a half minutes to go in the second quarter after Vanstee twice got behind the Toros’ defense for a lay-up. Vanstee also had a big semifinal match-up for the Lakers as they knocked off Pittsburgh State 67-61 in Pittsburgh. She played a season-high 22 minutes in that bailgame finishing with 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Despite all the success, Vanstee has yet to start a bailgame for the Lakers. And that’s totally okay. The Laker bench had 44 of the team’s 70 points in the national championship game, and that wasn’t really anything unusual for the GVSU ladies. “I’ve heard my coach say that with this team we played 12, and we had 12 starters,” Vanstee said. “I guess just coming off the bench is easier for me, like nerves wise. I’m just like okay. I’m not starting the game, but like I’m gonna be in soon. I think it’s easy when the first five on the floor come out knowing the second five are gonna do just as well, and we never had a gap between the play. You could interchange every player on the starting five. So, I think everybody knew that it was more oflike what you contribute to the team instead oflike personal stats... it was just more like we all play and it’s doesn’t matter minutes or who starts. It’s just like what you can do to get a win. Like how you can contribute for your team to get a win.” Vanstee was really impressed with her teammates attitude. The Laker 8 <- I r ■(r V 1 : 1. II I V 1 <. t '.) 1 r A' t 3 5 ;v.' 'I'M < -tf* 1 r •< 1 'I I* s J* r , Jr f 1. « 4 It f- fl R I/-> '4 F f 0 24 L f r j.,4. C'. * A y* ■ >! I* « 1 9^ i r J* . r a^ «■»' .-I- 4"*- 1 ; I f-T' 9 71 t1 Of k <•' 8 •T 9 10 I 131 14 15 161 17 I I nia i n . « • 9 '. i PV *• * 4-»r^ a: * u» R . t Tl I- . r I I iT > I,, 5'1' I •• — ’a I uJd ITR wito * X*"% ' 1 iirr.K J J 'i ' •» '. 1^'^' J I > » J t I , x0z«>in ■J P^e ,U |tH : 531 /L /BV/ I* x/< ita^'% Ta** i. I ^^ |o 1 IJU .. !>;, l I ! 1 : I #-.'4 -f 1 1 J *■« «w« c 1 1.4 <. BB ser. J ’.K Iw • • «i * 5 4^ r -5*177 It 4 J \ r Mtb J. rp-;3Cp kf"' "1^: iiV soeB t « Bb •HluT'SMnMttV J l(xr r^WZtMi* Tv n I *» I,’ B B l -B i I 1 * < It^l I 4 1 I I I I 12 n 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 181 19 201 211 22 . f • f r 12 M ' I f f n -W* flT i 4* » z t- •rt II 4 ..'HSOnV : /a »k I /fK co. 9-1 -1 ceAter • pn'f • a I DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES H "Kids Measure up at ^’,lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" '•ud' F. u: «- • < w' I, • 2 ' iV '( IF 4 •I f li. li- . See VANSTEE on 9 I e' . I a'- I 4 I c I . i . i • t« >* * > ra'*'”'"*.. iV - ». ■ I i’"'' ^6 ♦ I i I » > J 1 II J team even had a few girls who started throughout the 2023-24 season that started coming off the bench this sea­ son, and they didn’t skip a beat. This Laker team got the chance to start building chemistry last summer with a team trip to Italy. “It was Rome, Venice and Milan were all the places that we played,” Vanstee said, “and that was just cool because everybody played and you got to see just how the team would develop throughout the year. It was just kind of like a sneak peek of what the year would be like. So that was really cool to play over there and just take in the experience. It was it was amazing.” Basketball took Vanstee and the Lakers all over the world in 2024 and 2025. Vanstee had knee surgery in the offseason and got her first game action » 9 I 1 i Grand Valley State University redshirt junior Paige Vanstee beats Dominguez Hills’ Nala Williams to the bucket for two points during GVSU’s victory in the NCAA Division II National Championship game in Pittsburgh March 28. r .a I I V 1 KI* i' j I t i • r' ' i (* c A r J « r A M « I/'! E'^ ! t L t I I * r^' . t Li ^9 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 1 4* I I II t b 'I I. u h u ( I £ i L « -« �I % J; THE SUN AND NEWS WWW. SU nandnews. com WWW w Pratt second at first OK Gold golf jamboree forTK «r Ik 9^* Brett Bremer Sports Editor y ’ll •W A ■' ■ lAw* ««6l I rt J’ F' k '■* i; * « Cl I I 4 I ',A r A •i I ii '<5S 4 *i4B& >11 f w r I ‘S 'i f• $ 1 ' e* i. ■ • s * II fl I e*< K ''4!hi BnW njj > h\i. It J OrfT h3f i ♦to* 3 I _ H. J 4-r* * • It 4 • / i &A*K_1 ' t •i, •. I ; -■-,1 ilfRP •*4 *'»«» » •’W 3.W9 V > f I Grand Valley State University redshirt junior Paige Vanstee (24), a 2021 Thornapple Kellogg High School graduate, is in the middle of the celebration as the confetti falls inside UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, PA March 28 following the Lakers’ 70-58 victory over the University of California Dominguez Hills in the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship. Photos courtesy Grand Valley Athletics 1 Caledonia boys place third at first Green golf jamboree I -d w< VANSTEE ->k ’n Continued from Page 8 io,. ¥ I 5 *w^; i; 4 « «! ** f- Fl I ♦ J 1 JV;» I' 41 dr:1 JB f't B<i f***«^h : qi" ET ■> U|7 < 4 naJ|^ '•■■ >ri J a; r ‘ I r; 5:!—« ut P . ■ *-41 I IF' IL. ■ •i-T. . *ri o *■» 9- i .■ f ’ ' ' ' , Hi : 7 t LI ' ll k > I I I•’V'W I .■. r f 4 < *»- 1 & 4 fc<’ J Sai 1® Si l f r frfr f 11 * 1 •r: .te+s(R' ’-J MSI ■t w F7 rr/*. t ’/I ..2i I .a 1 I I 1 ‘f’ : *n ■ 4 ’ - .jrt r 1 i Pi H W< * { ' I '5.-- * sutakpedolV M.u'.' 4 :l* ■• « .Jkl K.« .4 » I ’*1 rj r' tijf: r «» 1 «• * »" I r* e I .J IK 4 I i 1 I * • . /eilfiOtd I J M-* I I• «v 'S’ » ^.uoia -r iSitflWWff’k II r ,S. ; I tPl'**- i , I . a’*! '"'’ * Jut' , M » I X • .» •4^ in during an early November trip to open the season in Billings, Montana. The Lakers got to play Ohio State Uni­ versity in the big arena in Columbus in December. The GVSU team fol­ lowed up its trip to Pittsburgh for the Dll Elite Eight with a quick relaxing trip to Florida before getting back to Allendale to catch up on school work. The national title is the second for the Laker women. Current head coach Mike Williams was also an assistant on the 2005-06 Laker women’s team that won its program’s first NCAA Dll championship. He has nurtured a program where roles are embraced and clearly everyone is treated like a starter. “I like to be a big energy kid,” Vanstee said. ”I think when you can contribute all you can off the bench when you’re playing it is huge. My mom showed me something today about team culture and how you can determine a team’s culture based on how their bench is, and I feel like our team has great bench energy, because 1 think we all like to see each other succeed and we’re capable of like one game somebody has a really good game but the next game, it could be a completely different person and it could be one through 12, like it doesn’t matter. We all are capable of being the main scorer for that game ... so 1 feel like that’s where I contribute is on the energy side and I always try to try to be aggressive for like rebounding or going for like the 50/50 balls on the floor, trying to be strong in those areas.” Vanstee said having knee surgery in the offseason did slow her a bit at the start of this season, but it wasn’t too different from a normal year. She said through her first few collegiate seasons the Lakers have really been into GLIAC play before she’s felt all the way up to speed. Kind of like how things rolled in that national championship game. It took a little while, but once the Lakers were up to speed they were dominant. They led 3 8-21 at the half, and started the second half on a 9-0 run that gave them their biggest lead of the bailgame at 47-21. The Toros got the Laker lead down to 12 points with two minutes to go, a couple Vanstee free throws helped keep the Dominguez Hills ladies at bay for a bit. The Toros did inch down to with ten points in the final minute, but the victory was never really in doubt for the GVSU ladies there before the blue and silver confetti started falling. fifth overall on the dav * with a 31 and TK also uot a 40 from senior Tvler Voss and a 46 from senior Ryan Skidmore. South Christian won the day * ’s team contest with an overall score of 145. West Catholic was second at 153 ahead of TK 158, Northview 162 Wayland 166 and Wyoming 224. West Catholic junior Owen Kotowski shot a 34 to finish as the day’s top individual. Pratt’s 35 was matched by South Christian freshman Brody Shifts and sophomore Harris Hoekwater. The Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys' golf team placed third as the OK Gold Conference gathered for its first jamboree of the season at Indian Trials Golf Course in Grand Rapids Wednesday. Trojan senior Kylan Pratt was the day’s runner-up with a two-over-par 35. He opened his round with backto-back birdies on number two and number three and then tallied a third birdie on number seven later on. He was one under through his first seven holes. TK sophomore Parker Dahley was t ? 9 * f c Saturday, April 19, 2025 Brett Bremer Sports Editor junior DJ Robinson and a 43 from senior Sam Miersen. Mona Shores won with four guys among the day’s top six scorers includ­ ing freshman Cruz Beckstrom who was the runner-up with a one-over-37. Reeths-Puffer junior Kristian Brown was the day’s individual champ with an even-par-36. The Scots were set to take part in the Kent County Classic Thursday and the TK Invitational Friday. They’ll be back in action when the OK Green gets together again at Muskegon Golf Course Wednesday, April 23. The Caledonia varsity boys’ golf team placed third as the OK Green Conference season opened at Rail­ side Golf Club for the jamboree hosted by Byron Center Wednesday. Mona Shores took the day’s victo­ ry with an overall score of 155 ahead of Byron Center 163, Caledonia 167, Jenison 168 and Reeths-Puffer 173. Senior Parker Little led the Caledo­ nia team with an overall score of 40. He had three pars and a birdie on the par-4, number five during his round. The CHS team score also included 42s from junior Camden Quigley and P5 THE MOSTTRUSTED* NAME IN ftOOFING.' MT-- 4 . «»• I -'3! SHERRIFF GOSLIN e-w ^=1 r ir_ •. w QUAUTY ROOFING w ' to < * tif . r -r 'l-f 1 1. •• •^1 r* **«<* IW w * - I*; ft ' *♦ * * s •J 4 * . I :.T5»* .*:CS.«Ifcl - r "S'-" o * ‘■^s9^ ■■ w * to*. 7.- :iib >XJ • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115» YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • Af RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU Sr *** 9** w t o* * "" CALL TODAY INSPECnON' . “T -to- « '■^ f VISIT US ONLINE; SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK * X 4 �10 Saturday. April 19. 2025 I THE SUN AND NEWS j WWW. sunandnews. con "^1 Some new events for TK, same great results < ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor Oops, she got a big PR. Ihomapple Kellogg senior Emma Dykhouse helped the Thomapple Kel­ logg varsity girls’ track and field team to a pair of victories on the first day of the OK Gold Conference season in Middleville Wednesday with a winning mark of 34 feet 4 inches in the shot put and a runner-up discus throw of 88-2. A new discus competitor this spring, who head coach Maggie Wilkinson said is very responsible, Dykhouse forgot to go compete in the event dur­ ing the Trojans’ tri with Wyoming and Grand Rapids Union until a reminder from TK throws coach Cary Saxton. Saxton got to Dykhouse just after the senior’s run in the 4x100-meter relay, and she quickly rushed off to find her throwing shoes and get her throws in before the event closed. Dykhouse said she felt like a quick practice throw flew better than any at­ tempt in practice a few days earlier had gone, and then she ripped off a mark that ended up beating her previous best ♦ ♦ from last month by about 17 feet. Mostly a sprinter and a long jumper at the start of high school, Dykhouse was just one spot shy of qualifying for the state finals in the long jump as a sophomore. She threw the shot once that season, at the OK Gold Confer­ ence J V Championship, and then nearly qualified for the state finals in that event last year as a junior. She said she is quickly learning that the discus is a lot more technical than the shot put, and hasn’t gotten the full spin down quite yet, but she is enjoying it so far. It was something she wanted to try this season. That wasn’t something she could say when she started out in the shot put - but now the shot put is her favorite event. “Because I’m good at it and then also I think because like it’s something dif­ ferent for me to do that I don’t normally do,” Dykhouse said ofenj oying the shot put. “It’s just like very fun. 1 just started weightlifting a few years ago and it like helps show where my progress has gone with my weightlifting. So yeah, it’s kind of fun. “ IM »» st Scan our QR code to find your perfea invitation! r 4 VI *9 •;f '\2' a*••«T■l <«.>• • t T» ' » rs •'• 1: ^«aM JI •ft »■*« w w*^ * r<*aiX 1 MM.)*' * '■ iW 3 ' Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. r PRINTING BY vvww.printingbypennyiane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com > «•, I It was a day of shuffling a lot ofthings up for the TK ladies, who dominated their OK Gold duals. The TK ladies took a 117-19 win over Wyoming and a 122-15 win over Grand Rapids Union. The TK boys also secured two confer­ ence wins outscoring Wyoming 78-59 and Union 77-60. The Wyoming boys and Union girls took victories in the bouts between those teams. Wilkinson said the Trojans’ move up to Division 1 for MHSAAcompetitions at the end of the season has her really trying to change things up at every op­ portunity. She said many of her girls’ big goals are all about competing at the state finals ~ something that will be at least a little tougher this spring in DI. She wants to explore every op­ portunity she can to help her girls reach those goals. A regular 100-meter dash participant last season, Dykhouse ran the 200-me­ ter dash Wednesday and ran a leg ofthe 4x100-meter dash, handing the baton off to new junior teammate Jordyn Fitros. That duo teamed with Sydney Martin and Leigha Jager to place second overall in the race behind a foursome from Wyoming. The Wolves’ team in that race included junior Myah Nabors - who was the only girl ahead of Fitros all day. Running the relay together for the first time, Dykhouse made sure to remind Fitros of two things before they headed off to their separate exchange zones: You’re fast. I’ll be tired. In other words, don’t take off too soon. In the end, maybe she could have taken offa little sooner, but there is noth­ ing surprising about relay exchanges needing a little work in early April. “I think it’s great. It’s like, I love this team,” Dykhouse said. “It’s really different without the seniors because I’m so used to having them. Like, I’ve had them since I was a freshman. But I really love this team, and it’s a great team, and I’m really excited to see where we go to.” The rest of the relays were victori­ ous for the TK ladies Wednesday. Fitros teamed with junior Mia Hilton, sophomore Ellie Harmon and senior Brooklyn Harmon to win the 4x200meter relay in 1 minute 47.30 seconds. The TK sophomore foursome of Pey­ ton Hardy, Alaina McCrumb, Carmen Reynolds and Isla Tillema won the 4x800-meter relay in 11:20.47. At the z r. ■•XH I Ift. crf' ' Wit- e 4 I Z' bl k9 t' I 1 • t’ M ■ 1^ l» I rt ': • « r e V-?. > I < I* v; 1 cb#»3 I 4 J >; I *■ I z I? k. I -*1 V 'JArt"** . -I 4 r 17 Sias*'; f I .- ft* i. r i .« V »■■’•■ r I i r di ' r id* ‘ u 11 4. ft . jr I 18 1 I « ..le *4^* - ts" ;* i* ■ T . ‘K. p * < * 1 t '■'55 J 11 2 (J'* * *- * L '*5 I I t Thornapple Kellogg senior Ava Crews runs to a win in the 3200-meter race during the OK Gold tri against Wyoming and Grand Rapids Union Wednesday in Middleville. 4 .* k^ti 4< 1 XX t5 , » I’- J* «« HSFI 'ini 6 a* % ?• • 1» ■ p Z end of the night, the TK team of fresh­ man Amya Gater, junior Payton Gater, junior Madison Kietzman and Hilton won the 4x400-meter relay in 4:36.80. Fitros was second to Nabors in the 100-meter dash with the Wyoming junior winning in 12.74 and Fitros coming in at 13.12. In the 200-meter dash Nabors won in 26.18 with Fitros coming in at 27.23. Senior Ava Crews swept the three longest races for the TK ladies win­ ning the 3200-meter run in 11:32.11, the 1600-meter run in 5:23.13 and the 800-meter run in 2:31.56. Hardy was second in the 3200 and third in the 1600, and freshman Breanna Schut came in second in ±e 800. The TK ladies swept the top three scoring spots in the 400-meter dash with Payton Gater winning in 1:03.40, sophomore Isla Tilleman second and junior Claira Kovich third. The TK ladies also swept the two hurdles races powered by Brooklyn Har­ mon who took the 100-meter hurdles in 15.46 and the 300-meter low hurdles in 48.62. Hilton was second and Amya Gater ±ird in that 100-meter hurdles race with Hilton setting her PR at 16.53. A couple freshmen were second and third behind Brooklyn in the 300 hur­ dles, Kayla Price and Addison Rocco. II I Z I * T^i^mnSi'Q I > *• 4 <* 4 r> f t ! ’41) ocd&H t' >. I «s -1 *■' 1 r J n, st 1 II ri T i > ISB 5 I B OB 'la •t 4 hJii H I w &t «*■ i; 0 "'ia' 2 .r fti? e .Ift * M 1. (< •ab* A * I '( 1- I 11 r;< * S J ♦ i^r I 4^ * I t X" .•* * ./■* • J• z -"4 * <1 Xr 4 ft* •< • 'if V », ■3*. lx I '‘’0 ?. 7 *i / t fl 4.« I -« :44 I i T ' » ■■ •• I ■MBw' » k w pax: a •V 1 /J nv ri I 2 I 51 5 I 610^71^8 I I 91 10 DIAL (800) 249-0911 "Kids Measure up at( 111 121 13 14 15 ON - EMERGENCIES awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 161 171 18 191 20 * I 12 11 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES * VA CO. 9-1-1 CElTER 41 ' I • I" I ’ I I I 21 221 231 241 251 261 27| 28| 291 30 J" 4 i < �i J I 1 4 4 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Ji ti 11 Saturday, April 19, 2025 4 t There were sweeps of the top three spots in three field events for the TK ladies, including the shot put with senior Lilly McKeown second and junior Marlee Shuford third. Brooklyn Hannon won the high jump by clear­ ing 4-10 and sophomore teammate Lydia Slagel improved her PR in the event to 4-10 to place second while sophomore Kimberlin Zavalza-Nava was third with a PR of 4-8. In the pole vault, Hilton won at 8-6, Slagel was second and sophomore Raylee Preston third for TK. Ellie Harmon added a long jump victory with a mark of 14-3.5. The only girl better than Dykhouse in the discus was Union’s Azaria Powell who had a PR of her own at 95-8. Senior Jacob Draaisma powered the TK boys to the win by matching Crews’ sweep of the distance races. He won the 1600-meter run in 4:49.32, the 800-meter run in 2:07.84 and the 3200-meter run in 10:55.18. He won the 800 by about 12 seconds, the 1600 by nearly half a minute and the 3200 by more than half a minute. Freshman Brekin MeWhinney was also a standout for the TK boys. He won I « I J .:1 3 It J .1 < ' V 4 iff?* J ► IT % *> 1 r — b z a -•5^^■ iiJ. r T k ^izzs^^SK L c £ Mb rVx 4 i A I f L ** r» ■■-i ■■ I I I ------- - ha I U it. . -J PA«^ ♦ * ♦.•r 1 If r? __ I I I % sI fe.il . I « ■ '■ an* •’ I 1 . Urj z > ( r* S, II u I r I >b 4 I • « { J I ’ t f V**. L' •< Thornapple Kellogg freshman Brekin MeWhinney runs to a runner-up time of 48.85 seconds in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles during the Trojans’ OK Gold tri with Wyoming and Grand Rapids Union Wednesday in Middleville. >.'Mi L- II ' 'nni.’||] t- ■■•■ ,’ ■ 1 4 u#*- ^,1 U- 1 • I f •t , I I , I *. i , * IRG, 9 t J I Ji I jh.vu-' " 1 .» ‘*’*4 4 •l •ai ‘•■' I rti I c** ‘.I I !?> I1 - r ns i .> ■ I 4’ « I <■ i s the 110-meter high hurdles in 17.79 sec­ onds and placed second in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 48.85. Union junior Josiah Osei-agyeman got him by about two and a half seconds in that 300 hurdles race, but MeWhinney had a more than one and a half second lead at the end of the 110s. The Trojan boys capped off their vic­ tory with the team ofLucas McNabnay, Elliott Neff, Lucas Ploeg and Brandan Velting winning the 4x400-meter relay in 3:44.38. The TK boys won two relays. The team of Case Dykhouse, Elijah Frazer, Layne Schilthroat and Draaisma opened the meet with a winning time of 9:08.90 in the 4x800-meter relay. The pole vault was the top field event for the TK boys with Luke Archer taking the win by getting over the bar at 10-0 and Mark Gielincki second at 9-0. The TK team had Derious Rob­ inson second in the long jump with a PR of 17-11, Camden Peter second in the high jump with a PR of 5-8, Kyle Porritt second in the discus with a PR of 125-2.5 and Adam Lozada second in the shot put with a PR of 41-0. L. » li«' . t .t iJMc * V ** «* '♦r > Thornapple Kellogg sophomore Brandan Veiling gets up to speed on the anchor leg of the 4x400-meter relay during the Trojans’ OK Gold Conference tri with Wyoming and Union in Middleville Wednesday. '’■«! NlfifflfflftA GRILLE < BAR I, .• 6950 WHITNEYVILLE AVE. SE, ALTO • 868-6336 ) \ I I w * i t A Us. Z&’JjJii 4 9 I 19'" Y; 1 ■Jk- /-A I fiWifff n I* <«»* ■as a I I t -A. « * fj- «• « / « * « > K o COOK OFF ibc I y 4 Mwe- : CHIU siiiSil, I .1 il * ' V 9 ! G. Annual F •I't 1 •i >« I. * \ k > ‘ W. <r, k f I - k’ if I <*' * -•*> ■'v.S- 9 I I -I< 1 / / *♦4*. k- e * 3 Saturday, April 26,2025 4 I, ar* •• ( e > A- r .P • * —•^ • 1 ' *'■«■« I Wg< AT J < 'M 1^ (9 > A f Benefits Corewell Health Hospice (St* Palliative Care West Michigan ■tf 5 1 { Ji I ■k esa i f I a Starts at 12 Noon y I I I n 1 ? tMf« 9 < df^l) > «* Thornapple Kellogg junior Jordyn Fitros gets the baton from senior teammate Emma Dykhouse for the anchor leg of the 4x100-meter relay Wednesday during their OK Gold Conference tri with Wyoming and Grand Rapids Union in Middleville. Photos by Brett Bremer «I I M* .r 0 A ^>2j I d •* ► * 44^ 4l I I 3 1 • <)11 il » .ad I J 1 t I I I u t Come check, out auction items early R2 GREAT MUSIC with liido Chop & John I.ipi Band.... and a tew special guests! Fl 1 I J^AMILX FRIEIUDL Y EVEKTfU s^. SCJ J Check out our website: nighthawkfood.com I fwffi fl p 4* » 1 'Sjfrv - 1 I nvC. r. FOR ALL YOU CAN EAT CHILL - Beer Tent Raffles Silent & Live Auctions ^2 Hotdogs I ENTRANCE Live Music t A • » V chili tasting starts at 2pm 11 ................. S>i« 24 Chiu’s TO TRY *• d ff CBOQH Nighthawk Grille & BarIH » t I �''riJ I' •9■ 'V ♦ 12 Saturday. April 19. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS *• * I www.sunandnews.com 4^: Distance runners dominant as Scots outscore Muskegon SrorBEdtor' opuiibcuiiur The Caledonia girls moved to 2-0 in OK Green Confer­ ence duals and the Caledonia boys got their first conference win Monday in Muskegon. ITie Caledonia boys took an 88-49 win over the Big Reds, and head coach Ben Thomp­ son said his guys came out of spri ng break ready to compete, Tlie Scots won with their depth, especially in the dis­ tance events. The CHS boys took sweeps of the three scoring places in the three longest individual races and won the two longest relays. Junior Noah Johnston led the A ♦ THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP BOARD 200 E MAIN ST. MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 SYNOPSIS OF MEETING MINUTES Monday, April 14,2025 The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with seven members pres­ ent. Items approved: 1. Printed Agenda approved as amended. 2. Consent Agenda approved as amended. 3. Approved the purchase of turn­ out gear storage not to exceed $2,200. 4. Approved the purchase of turn­ out gear from Wayfand Fire not to ex­ ceed $1,750. 5. Approved the purchase of bud­ geted capital items not to exceed $41,100. 6. Approved hire of two full-time paramedic/firefighters. 7 Approved Emergency Services Protection Contract with Rutland Township. 8. Approved correction to the Reg­ ular Meeting Minutes of March 10, 2025. 9. Approved special meeting min­ utes of February 19. 2025. 10. Approved March 2025 Planning and Zoning report. 11. Approved 2025-2026 meeting schedule. 12. Approved continuation with EMC Insurance. 13. Approved continuation of cyber insurance through Hiscox. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Prepared by Deputy Clerk Brenda Hess. Approved by Township Supervi­ sor, Eric Schaefer, Copies of the meeting minutes are available upon request from the Township Clerk or by visiting https:// thornapple-twp.org/meeting-minutes/. Office hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 'r'"1“ minutes 40.24 seconds in the 1600-meter run and 10:10.63 in the 3200-meter run. Aidan Edgar was second and Kaden Van Ryn third in the 3200 for the Scots, in the 1600, Kort lliompson came in second and Mason Morrell third. In the 800-meter run, Eli Velting led the way for the Scots with a winning time of 2:01.56 with teammates Luke Smith and Grant Feldpausch placing second and third. Bennett Snapper, Sean Thompson, Feldpausch and Smith teamed up to win the 4x800-meterrelay in 11:18.48. In the 4x400-meter relay, the Scots got a win from the team of Joshua Maier, Velting, Jo­ nas Howell and Aaron Collins. Collins was the 400-meter dash champ with a time of 52.48 seconds, and he was also the runner-up in the 200 with a personal record time of23.81. Jonas Howell won the 300-meter intermediate hur- dies in 42.20 for die Scots and movedhisPRinthe 10-meter moved his PR in the111 0-meter high hurdles to 16.97 to place second in that race. The CHS boys swept the points in the high jump and the pole vault too. Senior Andrew Tava took the high jump with a personal record leap of 6 feet 2 inches. Junior Parker Lipsman was the runner-up with a PR of 5-8 and teammate Rydik Wrubel placed third at 5-6. In the pole vault, CHS had se­ nior David Potgeter win with a PR of 12-6, and Benjamin Moss and Peter Paarlberg placed second and third with their best vaults of the season so far. Junior Liam Moore won the discus for the Scots with a throw of 151 -4. The Caledonia girls’ team took a 101-36 victory with Jolie King, Olivia Hawkins, Hannah Dupuis and Brynn Ward winning two individual events each. Ward, a freshman, won the 100-meter dash in 13.11 and the 200-meter dash in 27.46. T Like iL«>th#>hr^vc the boys, the Caledonia girls swept the three longest individual races, Dupuis won the 800-meter run in a personal record time of 2:36.76 with sophomores Maya Terryn and Akaela Daman placing second and third with PRs of their own. Dupuis also won the 3200-meter run in a PR of 12:22.08 with PR runs from senior Adysen Daman and senior Kiley Bommarito in second and third behind her. Adysen was the winner in the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:51.66, finishing less than a quarter of a second ahead of Akaela. Senior Keira Bom­ marito was third in that one. All three girls set their PR. The sophomore Hawkins swept the hurdles for the Scots. She won the 100-meter hurdles in 16.33 and the 300-meter low hurdles in 50.19. Junior Sophia Douglass, junior Hannah Bennett, fresh­ man Elise Clarin and sopho- J / i*' more Kylee Zimmerer won 4x800-meter relay for the Scots in 12:35.93 and the team of sophomore Evie Huttenga, junior Brooke Bender, sophomore Maya Tenyn and Hawkins won the 4x400meter relay in 4:30.27. King took two field events for the Scots. The junior won the discus with a throw of 83-8 with teammates Chiara Marta and Lillian Ward second and third in that one. King took the long j ump with a mark of 15-3. Freshman Lillian Ward led a sweep of the pole vault points for the Scots. She set her PR at 7-6 with sophomore Madison Trompmen and junior Joelyn Abraham second and third both clearing 6-0. The Scots were set to par­ ticipate in the Hastings Team Invitational Friday, one of the new early qualifier events for the state finals, and the OK Green season continues when the Scots go to Reeths-Puffer Tuesday, April 22. 4! f- X.' tflS;' * . < > .A h' II * Al' 'J e -5 1 4i A • '■» I rf < I I ,• << 5» » f I- f 4'^' > « I Ji* » ■V J «A r «»' * «•' .. V 1 t I "4 -J’' r> •1 > I •J Ll’’ I .t I I. •» I « » Ji % 1 I -» J • « » r z’ 0 A I w 1^: I ’fl r • l. V'“ r/ 4 « <41 *< * V*» • KF 4 i.*ar Al ' > t * ’:lS . -r r "if 4 1 » * » p* * ft .4'^’ ■f < i» J t 4;!> 41 «» ' *1 4 ( i ’J t i ' *x« ^^3 .• il.TiSi^ > / I i t .1 b'" ' a, 3 ) ♦ 1 4 1 VvV*’ >0” A J>4»* f I r<.' ? 1 > 4 X. I j » I J u > tjik"' I < A I 4 '••4 i'- 4 S I u 'i * i b J Doubles sweep helps Scots to first Green tennis win Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity girls’ ten­ nis team picked up its first OK Green Conference win outscoring ReethsPuffer 6-2 at Caledonia High School Wednesday. The Fighting Scots swept the four doubles flights and got a pair of singles victories to outdo the Rockets. Freshman first singles player Berkley Nelson took a 6-0, 6-0 over ReethsPuffer junior Olivia Smith at the top of the line-up. That was the only singles match that wasn’t stretched to three sets. Senior Flavia lorizzo helped the Scots clinch the win with her fourth singles victory. She beat out Reeths-Puffer senior Mylie Neel in a tiebreaker in the first set 7-6(5) and then regrouped for a 6-1 win in a third set after Neel took set number two 6-3. Caledonia’s Audrey Duong at second singles and Claire Teunessen at third singles both won the opening set oftheir matches, but then fell in two close sets to close out the day. Things were pretty evenly matched on the doubles side too. The Caledonia first doublesteam ofSawyer Mertz and Anna Homrich and the second doubles team of Zoe Fleming and Hailey Markwat both won three-set matches. The senior Mertz and sophomore Homrich scored a 6-2,5-7,6-4 win over the Rocket duo ofseniors Malania Eilers and Gabrielle Borgeson. At number two, in an all senior match, Fleming and Markwat outscored Lauren Matz and Elana Weiden 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. The Scots’ two other doubles wins came in close two-set matches. Junior Kebe Fitzell and freshman Emery James outscored Rocket sophomores Ava Dietz and Kaitlyn Darow 6-4, 6-2 at third doubles. At number four, Scot juniors Maya White and Hellen Komera earned a 6-3,6-4 win over Rocket junior Makayla Smith and sophomore Jayla Brink. The Caledonia girls are now 1-1 in conference duals. They started off the league season with a 7-1 loss at Bryon Center Monday afternoon. Sophomore Gretchen VanderEide at fourth singles picked up the Scots’ lone point with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Bulldog freshman Syd De Vos. The Bulldogs won the other seven flights in straight sets, but the first singles match between Nelson and Bulldog freshman Sharon Okoh was an espe­ cially tight one with Okoh pulling out the 6-4, 7-5 win. The Caledonia girls are slated to be a part ofthe tournament at East Kentwood High School today, April 19. They return to OK Green Conference play in the week ahead taking on Mona Shores in Muskegon Monday afternoon and then playing host to Jenison Wednesday, April 23. Caledonia will host its own invita­ tional next Saturday, April 26. 1 * VI f e r t u 1 i c r<z I >* ILA * t t i • •• A.S’ * Vit 1 I J i f jri »r J • k £ •u 1 J V u 4 I'** 4 BT *. lb* • » a* I 1 •‘•r^ ‘ r. r S 1 I I »4 iVi v» UM t* ... M •4 _ > 1 •r I 44* b I t a t. It I i I I ■ I f Wtt Springs: ■ tasliip r ;l I *>•£ •'4.♦• • ' -l-l' jiis ij aci 4 ia t A \ I k I — Wi 1 • f. , uli| J I ... » 4 1***' i 1' K ' •• t • I 1 4 I **1 i •*** ,s * 1 * It Pm ’.w: wa.1 t rr/.-T; I f. i-nL 41 14 . i ? .• I. 1 a JI 1 I .4 I 4 I I '.AOV f. II *1 * '.'Xf —'■■ 5 I 1^1' 8 I T' 1 I I 12 11 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 5 < VA CO. 9-1-1 CENTER 4 I “T 91 10 DIAL (800) 249-091 iriON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at{ ni 121 131 14 wa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 151 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 231 24 25 7 4 *> VMIi I ■ .■ J * I r f if > I f 4 * »Ji r *■ f#5 I ( I I V L 2 4 I 4 261 271 281 291 30 i I II i! < I c I II �">! % THE SUN AND NEWS ' ‘4 S.ituntev Apnl 19 202S 13 r 7 5^- K 'W * ■Ws 3 Scots test themselves against old OK Red foes k I f '* V' I 4 k. f « •k *. I 7(8^'' ' • S » I 4 ( JI .-Sa;'’iK 1 4 ' » I ( i t 'I c t r. '■ih flff. * ’•x V A.*'** i N. *1 J 9 -V 1 ¥ J I r » •ft’ . * X \ / V k 1 t A *a 4 (» ft »> pv « '« t K 4e I 4 I. VI I 1, e > Jin 7.' >4 x; ¥ J 4: I ‘A \1 * A* i ” W Ik 1- b 4 iA Mi w t * n. <a.i •*< f ■■ *^1 ’ Me I 1 f » i * ' »fc fell. •-*v It MO *.4, V- w V-rr * r V * .. * I 4 « ' 1 : 1 4 i «IWA I J '* 1 ! to I rt* ^4 9 -’a» i MiiQS ‘ 1 ;«5aot S’llDtfe ' t ( ’’-Spfiar^ B<vO Bremer SporU Editor The Caledonia varsity softball team went 1-3 in a pair of doubleheaders against former OK Red Conference opponents this week. The Scots split with (he Grand­ ville girls Tuesday afternoon with the Bulldogs winning the oper>er 14-2 in Caledcnua and then the Scots coming bock fora 19-6 win ingame two. The Scots were back in action Wednesday falling in a pair with (he Hudsonville girls in ( aledonia. In the win over the Grandville girh TucMlay, the Scots exploded for 11 runs in the top of the hrst inning and then eventually added seven runs in the top of the fifth to help bring the ballgame to an early end. Hudsyn Tanner, hitting in the lead-off spit for the Scots, was 2-for-3 with a home run, two walks and three R Bls She scored four run,s in the hallgame. Her home run was the Scots’ only extra-base hit in the ballgame as the team sprayed ten singles around the field Malia Burke and Amber Fairchild had tw o hits each. Fairchild drove in four runs, scored twice and walked once Sophia Gauthier had three RBIs and A Olin drove in two runs. rhe ('US offense was assisted by nine walks and three Grandville errors. Molly Lieske got the pitching victory . She gave up six runs on six hits and four w alks over five innings Vi 4 • • ^11^ TK ladies get their first shot at South Saturday morning i while sinking out three. in game one. it was the Bulldogs with the hot start They scored five runs in (he first, two in the second and then five mexe in the third to quickly build a double-digit lead. The Bulldogs outhit the Scots 12-2 in that opener The two Caledsxiia hits were a single by Lieske and a solo homerun from Fairchild. Fairchild also finished things off in the circle for the Scots with a perfect inning of relief in which she struck out one. She was the fourth of four Caledonia pitchers in the loss. Hudsonville took 12-2 and 17-^ wins over the Caledonia girls. The Scots had eight hits in the operxrr, all singles, including two each for Lieske and Fairchild. Addie Veldt’s bat was hot in game two for the Scots as she went 3-for-3 w ith a tnple and run scored. The rest of the Scots* hits were singles by Lexi Henney and Fairchild. L ieske went the distance in the circle for the Scots in game one and Veldt threw the whole five-inning game two. The Scots were slated to head to Kenowa Hills for two ballgames Friday, April 18. The OK Green Conference season starts Tuesday as the Scots head to Reeths-Puffcr for two ballgames. The Rockets come to Caledonia Thursday. April 24 Next Saturday, April 26. the Scots head to the Rock « ford Tournament, I I rtbesnfe-r J t i i Br«a Bramer Sports EiWof The Thomapplc Kellogg varsity girls' soccer team pushed its OK Gold Conference record to 2-0 with a 4-0 shut out at Wav* land W ednesdav« evening. The v ictorv. the second shut out of the scastwi so far in conference play fiw TK. moved the Trojans to 4-1 overall I T I on the season The\ were set to face Wytuning in Middleville Piursda> in amxhcr cvmferetKe evmtest. The Troians h,s\c a big showdown tvxlav. April I*?, plaving host to South Chnstian inside Bob White Stadium. Cianie time is set fix 11:45 am The Sailors are oft'io ,s 5-0 start to the seasem and w ill liead into the w eekend with a 3-0 conference reci^ril Ihev have only allowed one gixil against so far this season in a 2-1 win at (irand Rapids Chnstian to open play last month. They outscored their four opptvnents since then 26-0. CHS soccer girls win Green opener at Reeths-Pufter Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity girls’ soccer team opened up GK Green Conference play w ith a 2-1 win at Reeths-Puffer on the road Tuesdav. The Fighting Scots upped their over­ all season record to 3-3 w ith the victors >. Jenison was set to visit ('aledonia Ihursday night for .inothcr conference contest, and the Scots are slated to be home against at Scotland >'ard Satur­ day, April 19. taking on (irand I edge. In the (>K Green next w eek, the Scots visit Muskegon luesday and Byron ( enter fhunulay. Mattawan comes to Caledonia for a non-c<mfcrence match next Saturday, April 26. H< • t k M MIKMiA ROAD MTnm.RV1l IX MV IIKkAH >■•-?»% MP1 ( FAM 2025 YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP SPRING CLEANUP DAY Saturday, April 26, 2025 ■ T ' **s*4^* Yankee Springs Township X 4 - .L t -J r< • .‘iZ W I 1 IfCilfib^^i' <* '4 ,, w JutsfllliiBitlf 1 { • > » A* I * • r> kH* J- J (S •• .< I d > »efe<yw{5(!l ■ w- *• i - " V. V I ..(V» »**’•* ' ' , ___ Ai* KJSV tdXb 4 } 9 .♦ (n i tf «I ■ .-r U h'J' •n ,s \X «• . ‘M »• I <** ’4 * 1 is requesting bids to rework the walking path in the 2M N BKKXia MOACK MIDDLCVILLB, MICHIGAN 49333 Townsh ip Park located on M»>79S>mt / FAX 7C9-79S-23a9 Parker Grive off from M -179. ■. . ............ '....... . . i . . .7 Work would include the milling and removal of existing asphalt , finish grade and needed gravel. Pave a new base coat of asphalt, apply tack coat and pave new topcoat of asphalt. The track is approx, h mile in length and 10 feet wide. Bids must he received by April 30, 2025 at noon at the lowTiship halL 9:00 AM start @ the Fire Station 1425 S. Payne Lake Road Finish (and Pizza!) around noon. Please come and join us in cleaning along the roads in the township. A dumpster for trash collected will be provided along with trash bags. Please bring gloves. Please call the Township office at 269-795-9091 with any questions. �**.,*?^ 14 Saturday. April 19. 2025 I THE SUN AND NEWS r www.gur^arxlr' . BUILDING BRANDS | Three tips to help you adapt as fast as a first grader here are many perks to my job, one of them being that every so often I'm invited to speak at a career day or a teacher will ask me to speak to his or her class about what it’s like to work al a newspaper. I wo weeks ago, I was invited by a first-grade teacher al Chatfield School in i.apeer to do just that. I think first graders are the young­ est group I’ve ever spoken to, so I wasn’t sure how much they’d grasp. I’ve known this teacher for years, so I was comfortable asking for some advice. She suggested I talk about the various jobs at a newspaper. I prepared remarks, packed up some pencils, notepads and newspapers (swag is a must in any school) and headed to my speaking engagement. Standing in front of 49 first grad­ ers is intimidating. Their energy is so high I worried I’d struggle to cap­ ture their attention, but they seemed to be hooked on my every word. What was helpful is that my arriv­ al was per­ Ar fectly limed ill during March EMILY is Reading CASWELL Month when ecaswellO the entire mihomepaper ccxn school focused on reading newspapers. The school’s musical this spring Newsies — was even tied into the theme. When I was done speaking, I asked for questions. The first graders had a lot of great questions. I especially loved the stu­ dent who asked about the clothing options for each career choice. A girl after my own heart. The questions eventually turned into storytelling. I was getting lots of great info like, £ J ►v I GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF ADOPTED ORDINANCE TO RESTATE THE Q) GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP I ZONING ORDINANCE AND I N S H P ZONING MAP At a regular meeting of the Township Board of the Charter Township of Gaines, held on Monday, April 14, 2025 the Township Board approved a restated Township Zoning Ordinance and zoning map. I I Formal notice of the adoption was published in The Grand Rapids Press on Thursday, April 17, 2025. The restated Zoning Ordinance will go into effect on Thursday, April 24, 2025. A true and complete copy of the newly adopted Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map can be inspected or obtained in the office of the Township Clerk at the following address: Gaines Charter Township 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 616-698-6640 F I iF 7 5’ Fnti’ ♦ MF 4 A >*» ♦ • • .it r * • *s A zkJ' Don't take it personally; Be like I I, Xi I ■I; t * ,■1' the first graders, who clearly didn’t see the instruction to ask questions instead of telling a story as a per­ sonal slight. They simply adapted and found a way to make it w ork for them. If you don't waste time taking changes personally, it'll be easier and faster to see the change as a positive. Practice Deliberate C alm This is a new concept to me that I'd like to do more research on, however, what I initially read in a Harvard Business Review article on the topics has me intrigued. From the article, "New. high-pressure situations often create a level of anxiety that triggers the very reactions that tend to limit us. stifling innovation. This is the adapt­ ability paradox ... ‘Deliberate Calm' is a solution to the adaptability para­ dox. It enables leaders to act with intention, creativity, and objectivity, even in the most challenging cir­ cumstances, and it helps us to learn and adapt to novel challenges when the stakes are highest. ‘Deliberate' refers to the awareness that you have a choice in how you experience and respond to a situation. ‘Calm' refers to rationally considering how best to respond, without being governed by old habits.” .1* * - 1 V* I , ** ! * 1 9 > t 1 - /%. « 4 I HI A i IV 5 f 0 I J 1 br , il'f * » J *n 9 I 1 r r t I 13 ♦ 4 r r* • < AC I f • (♦ I (• ii t r' ’•w I ) ..■i> 1}^ r-' ** hr; J It ■ ■ « I I 9V 11 r J 4^ 1 I n. »-r.X li I J i>f^F ' f 4 * I* 4 ( 'I* I ! F I V i I *?» 4t ef^ I JO----1-» T ♦ t jnte ft I tkL. I • ’••3 .. , f \ 4.Ji t r .. & > s Remind yourself you^ve done this before: We have all adapted at some y e> -7 A * * « * thai r li /» point in our lives, and the world hasn’t stopped turning. Remind yourself that no matter the change or the challenges it brings, you can do it! What skills do you use to adapt to changes? Email me at ecasys^ell@ mihomepaper. com. Emily Casv^ell is the Brand Manager for VIE W Group, the branding division of Vieyv Newspaper Group. a I V 4 I I : 4 1 — -1 -1J 1 I •'S 4- T 1 I I ■ -MtW r i r t rl: t A 'I k .' f 9 > ' I r 5 • -<CR.<N R V r I p»HiWF»r' •n «• I I i « I” I t *• M 9 •i r THE SUN AND NEWS h r i-i I’ I I Nk CO. 9-1-1 CElTER 10 I t DIAL (800) 249-0911 TTids Measure up atj 111 121 13 I 12 11 10 r. OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 5 I ton I Ml <1 J N 9' I • ’h r 1 9 YUlli I j 8 ■ F» F ------ --------------------------------— mmacleod@mihomepaper.com I 14 15 (ON - EMERGENCIES awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" h A 16 171 18 19 20 211 22 4 Tnisn > i I 5 < J •••:•? 4 V* 1 We’d love to hear about it! I Ip 4fl( I KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? Charter Township of Gaines Michael A. Brew, Clerk r-' s r * Illis one time my brother was in the newspaper.” "My dad gels a news­ paper about cars.” I enjoyed learning a bit more about the students, but understandably the teachers wanted to encourage more questions and said “remember, you are asking ques­ tions, not telling stories.” The students didn't miss a beat and almost immediately found a way to tell their stories in the form of a question. "Did you know my brother was in the newspaper once?” "Why does my dad get a newspaper about cars?” I loved it! The students had adapted incredibly quickly. How smart! The entire experience had me thinking about adaptability and how important it is to all of us and our brand. For better or worse, the pandemic proved that we can all be adaptable if we have to be, but five years later where do you rank on an adaptability scale? Changes in tech­ nology, personnel changes or even a career change can be just around the comer. Can you adapt as fast as a first grader? A forbes.com article on the topic notes that “adaptability in the work­ place is the ‘top skill of the moment, according to Linkedin’s report, The 2024 Most In-Demand Skills ... McKinsey predicts that eight of the top 10 skills future workers will need are soft skills — like adaptability Adaptability is the capacity to adjust quickly and easily to changes in your work environment. ‘Adaptability is the best way to have agency right now,’ says Aneesh Raman, VP, Workforce Expert at Linkedin. Raman adds, ‘at the core of manag­ ing change is building that muscle of adaptability. Keeping that is in mind, here are three tips to help you adapt: A* 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 I I • I I I i J t I I 4 I �Saturday, April 19. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www-sunandnews.com 15 □ I * I M■ K’ i i I *I X a * •1 Marilyn K. Awrey i I 1 < * i V1 . C;'. |S • I V SV|>. I * I • ■'-I >55 ■ I M - I s I I <Jb ■ a » L k * c V .y r V.. r> >T. TOPS 546 graveside service will be conducted in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes you to make a donation to the American Cancer Society, as she was a longtime donor and cancer survivor. Please visit www. beelergoresfuneraf.com to share a memory or to leave a condolence message for Marilyn's family. 1 <K •* MIDDLEVILLE Obituaries V . 4 , . * The April 14 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There is one new fish in the fishbowl. Maryellen's program was on the “7 Types of Hunger." No amount of snacking will satisfy mealtime hunger. There are 7 types of hunger. Eye hunger is the appearance/presentation of food. Nose hunger is from the aromas as food is being prepared. Mouth hunger concerns the texture and what it triggers as enjoyment in the tummy Stomach hunger is made up of stimulants that are created in our tummy Cellular hunger comes from when nutrients are off balance and compensation takes over. Mind hunger is when past eating habits require us to makes healthier choices. Heart hunger is when emotions trigger binges and restrictions. Knowing if we are really hungry or think we are is a balance club member's say they need to achieve. Sue lost the Ha-Ha Box. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. Anvone with questions mav cail Virginia. 269-908-8036. or Marx^eUen. 616-3183545. The first meeting is Jree. > < Is, i i LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY 4 y ’-A,. Marilyn K. Awrey, passed away on January 11, 2025 at the age of 88. She was born on September 11,1936 to Howard and Marie (Nye) Harrington in Hastings, Ml. She was married to Curtis Awrey on February 6,1954, and they remained married until his passing on April 8, 2022. Together they raised three sons: Michael (Susan) Awrey of Wayland, Ml, Kyle (Elizabeth) Awrey of Shelbyville, Ml, and Randy (Blanca) Awrey of Kentwood, Ml. Marilyn was a lifelong resident of Middleville, Ml and had attended school there. She was also a retiree of Knoll Office Furniture after serving over 20 years there. Marilyn was known by many for her spunk with a bit of stubbornness sprinkled in and she carried that all the way to the end. She was a fighter. Since 2022, she has been a resident of Carveth Village and most recently under the care of Gentiva Hospice (both of whom the family wishes to thank for their tender and loving care). In addition to her parents and husband, Marilyn was preceded in death by her sisters, Shirley (Merle) Raymond and Joyce (Gene) Sanderson; her brothers, Edwin Harrington, Thomas (Ida) Harrington, and James Harrington. Marilyn is also survived by her half-siste. Deb Shields of Anderson, California; step­ brother, Raymond Travis of Springboro, Ohio; cousin, Darlene (Hubbard) Mix of Paw Paw, Ml; and her many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. Her biggest joys were her grandchildren, Brandon, Brittany, Michelle, Jake, Kaylee and Alex; and her great-grandchildren, Laney, Peyton, Levi, Amelia, Jalen, Elania, Malia, Ryder, Ella, and Lydia. They were her true loves. Marilyn was a longtime member of Parmalee United Methodist Church, where she had many dear friends. Cremation has taken place and a 1 •1 4 mil • -d w * ' ( L.' . f V * A •^b ‘s4 - % li *1. k.. ' -iR: u. ► I y f V •J '' -b t bt ■t s, ■*« I> .11 i. • * 1 'n ' ♦< V • *1 • TlRii. ■ V I ■'1 . ** 4 ' -•W' I / I TiJ.es f I r I» '. t S!WU.4}^ ♦1 kk ’ ' ' f 4 ! I WO.I :r:i f ■ kr flUf, k ■’W '<• r. » ( Aug ■ *7 J ’'•’’Aj ' 1 I? 4 I ) it ' tu 1 e? - 4.' »• 1 •I-' I ' •• * « ’ », t ♦Wner ma : lufl c*.. 9 ' t4 Jut " i '• V • *4.. «*a5r*3,Bt11 * if'. ' ’ t I . rr.lWmi SDllflli 'Ur'/’-tw't I ( I f • I hnn.av2Ar’ ’) V r 1 tUir 1 si I' t ' I t > T !U T' I . ••I 1 / .'UG\ I k u .ill 1 le- vRi I ( .. c’H.?’ L. t Httil I nr. L ’I' J I I .' • ( ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM www.aiaskabaptist.org 7240 66th Street SE. Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST Caledonia Vine Street Church 250 Vine Street Sunday Service 10:30 AM V 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 616-891-8669 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church <x co « HOLY FAMILY ;Jf CATHOLIC CHURCH i 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com 4 Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY w ffs: ♦♦ V >1 I t’ . 1 Isf ." Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Ham Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Sunday Worship III • •« Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Middleville TT cornerstonechurch CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am J I. CHURCH PR I PEACECHURCH.ee Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. »a Sundays at 9:00, and 10:30 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891 -8688 • Preschool (616) 891 -8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church 111 ■ *:k CHURCH 6 ft 9 «7U 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 ^1 <• I "Shining Forth God's Light" di „t &A' k SERVICE TIMES: Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. <i^PEACE THORNAPPLE VALLEY MIDDLEVILLE (269) 795-2391 Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. J4 Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. V Sunday at 9:30am & 11 ;00am James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankecspringsbiblcchurch.org 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com r I k « I ___ T- -i- s ________________________________ ♦ I It < I I i I it tl k 4 I s4 4 I i 4 I f 1 t i r } 1 1 t I ■ t i 1 \ �16 . -"T’ ♦ Saturday, April 19, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS ... •'•-4 <1 r4 ♦ ♦ er . \ ■ j w 6 i ■.?i. 5 f ¥ < 4 • > 1 J West Catholic walks it oft against TK in opener of Gold set Bradley Moerman had a strong start on the mound for TK allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks through five innings. He struck out six. Brown’s game-winning single was the Brett Bremer only hit of the seventh for the Falcons off Sports Editor ofTK reliever Carsyn Redman who threw Drew Brown came through with a the final 1.2 innings for TK. He struck out two-out, bases-loaded single in the bot­ one and walked one, and the run against tom of the seven± to give West Catholic him in the seventh was unearned. a walk-off win over the Thomapple Kel­ Micah Dock doubled in a run for the logg boys in the OK Gold Conference Trojans and Spencer Yebema was 2-foropener Wednesday in Grand Rapids. 3 with a run scored and a walk. TK also The Falcon varsity baseball team took got singles from Jayce Brummel and a 3-2 win after TK had rallied to tie the Jacob Davis. Cam Walters drove in one ballgame at 2-2 with single runs in the run and Davis scored one. fifth and sixth innings. The two teams got through four innings with the Falcons leading 6-1 before play was halted Wednesday and set to resume Thursday (April 17) with the conclusion of game two and then game ________ r_______ X three of ±e conference set Closed or Open Cell in Middleville. or Blown-In Fiberglass TK will play host to Hastings, Delton Kellogg Roy Mast. 517-652-9119 and Lakewood today, April 19, for the annual 2501 N. Ionia Rd., Vermontville Barry County Invitational. ^T>_i ♦ www.sunandnews.com V 4 139 .st View Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time STAFF REPORTER I * f®** «>an»W^v^iwi 4 >• loo >bjna sH 3l11 R8W Ofc^ 5<im»BV».9W«g>'^isnT1l rio t'/KoU-J orij 161 rtaray^e sdrlo jirf^ i //9Tfbortw fHuntoji .Xriote^raB„£.j Ian„ if lanu^ fin sib bw boilawhoBi J •J®«™3nu Pjbw rtoo798 sdtf»i jfb 101 run i. in faoldaofa siaotl I J ’01-L «tatneby i93tracfiilMm*aB, <P |£.^T Jiaw I, ixB benroa lan BaW bmmina jo^<«l nroit ^slann! *J vno fii -jymb mjlaW rnaJ .tiygU de jtv) |it -'no'jifci 'jfij ^§nin VRklblOl^d t-r>]^nifa&9l '•r* 4 1X V k iT* fiTw /ebaantoW botlari nq/i J /fhamd T jrnuaaT oj I4 •I '4 . ? 4> * •i it ’iS : 3119131000 Olb 1o OOldj jHivoibbi^/ ni J IB 1 . !* «•» •J -Tff ■ 1^’- h • Ml £r; sa; D007/f«>i£j V ae<>S •l i k L b J n rioj’-Al v.^nnaEfl J • 1 I ./clq Ut// .41 .. <.:nl9 S3'** A Z': I ' I I >0 fiowui'jnrx) orij fbr/r (VI fnrb Ijt ovn jfnflsi I ♦ I I ! I J Lns I f E loi A* I InqA llioiiEJrynl v/nuo J v-nn^l rl t " ’MS * • b **3^ / bl? ijoTooa Ei'feU bim 'll luoj (fa^uonrij 10^ gnmaj owt ori J View Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time, experienced news and features reporter to join our growing team of journalism professionals. •itan u *I MV SPRAY FOAM '^vrfsnbrt^ua?<ww F' • »* *n •4. >• 4 id? RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: .4 * • » I 4. • Coverage of local events, meetings and the community • Interviewing • Writing • Editing .Sy:;’ • Photography • Networking • Copy Editing Qualified applicants can send a resume to View Newspaper Group Publisher wsmith ©mihomepaper. com J Spring ^ardci Frame Show <• < A i Qualified individuals must have a four-year degree in journalism or related communication field and be: • Proficient in Associated Press Style • Deadline-driven • Positive • Friendly • Outgoing • Have the ability to work some nights and weekends t¥e love what we do and we know you will too! « 2 T’ I . ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer's Guide Jeffersonian ii I*- *51 i:v-V *-4 "JR 1*^' • -<c. • • ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ b ♦ri ** * 9v r *• **I, K.. r QJ « t. c > t T •e < * w. -fi 1 ■ s'S’ • 1 I •x' < I 1S>H$ . 9 r •l 4 «$ .T* Mb ’^r ..I 11-^ I ■o O z z S 0. 4 ■ irf- a• ku * .4 A X T 4 4 * 1 1 I * The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer’s Guide & News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Sun and News The Reminder 'A. I •:# l?< *0- k'lft * J >1 V 4 M I .- ■ 1 f b Kj * Widrfo I Tftb WT thornappleeyecare.com I 4vm I J tA-t wu «wm/ ■ r c •c • Q. !■**** I si z a I >. flO -o I ♦ rk 9 • (/) ■ J •• <* R 4’ w I i ■*1 ’ . •• ■ M • ! K O i T u. L .M U. II^J 1 •■a.’ J J o sa *n 1 Tri-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen t I 1 o 9 R* • i T Group ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 't.- I -r^'i ^Al < ,s «X : Next to Hardings i '4 e 7 4 J *r I f I. * .t 1 J 1 » I » < 1 « 4 • / * 4 t ’ t t I I. 1 1 » —4____ : * J ••T p • < i > □ < •a I I I 2 5 <*8 91 10 I <.5 1 5 IZA co. 9-1-1 CEiiTER 4 I B> I I I I oI DIAL (800) 249-0911JJ ON - EMERGE "Kids Measure up at Cwt jtawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 13 14 151 161 171 18 19 201 21 10 n I I I 1212 r > f 1 I I . '* I ir r u I ■. '•^ 089-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 33! H 22 23 241 251 261 271 281 291 301 WOE [^£^8? I -• r» V ’ e r * * r’'? dS I V � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-04-26.pdf b3242bf91f6ec86a857dee9345447cfd PDF Text Text fV XjO Your Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas ' ' J < . www.sunandnews.com SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2025 NO. 53 ffX J IVUj 8t89TI6 023)1 a 01 0169111} 19116 Brtoo 9lbbini .qwT KCSO arrests juvenile after threats to Gaines Twp. middle school u f 4 i I ! James Gemmell Contributing Writer ilemmeO eemsL lalhW gniXJdnlnoO tno'A adJ vd haviaaai qil P qZ. .Yfifara/k no ajflftO ^Tnarf^ A tip received by the Kent County Sheriffs Office on Sunday, April 20, about a threat made on the social media platform Snapchat has led to the arrest of a juvenile, according to KCSO reports. The tip came via the Michigan student safety program “OK2SAY,” which allows students to anonymously provide tips about potential harm or criminal activities. The threat was made to Pinewood Middle School, part of the Kentwood Public Schools, located on 60th Street in Gaines Township. Tips may be submitted by phone, text, email or through the OK2SAY mobile app. In a prepared statement, KCSO offi­ cials stated a 14-year-old student was taken into custody Monday morning, April 21. Deputies reportedly searched a home and found no firearms. “This is a reminder that the Kent County Sheriffs Office takes all threats - especially those involving schools very seriously,” KCSO officials stated. “Threats, even those intended as Jokes,’ will not be tolerated. Our deputies, detectives and school partners work closely together to ensure the safety of students, staff and community.” Officials reported the juvenile suspect was being held in the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center. “The post contained a specific threat to Pinewood Middle School,” sheriff offi­ cials added. “A KCSO school resource officer assigned to Kentwood Public Schools and KCSO detectives immedi­ ately began an investigation, which led them to a suspect.” KCSO officials added they encourage parents to talk with their children about ±e responsible use of social Nooa media, the possible serious UBNOlSnO iviXNaoisau consequences of making threats and the importance see# WUJJSd of coming forward with 8£88t '0||IAU©9JO information when it is seen. I lE3Hfr E lUOdB 0008 9dl rVJ d) 0) bsl 86)1 lErioqeng rmdll^q O23>i 01 §nibio33E .slinsvufeB sairiaM adl £fv qil ';YA2£>IO" mffigoiq ’/istez lBOorir<nonE o) airabtrtz awolk 03 D) rmBri kitzwJocf luods zqi) abcm 8BW jEOiri) sfff .zsifiviioi; .loofbk slbbiM faoowsniH t-JI n jool’,8100)132 3Hdo<f boovrtnoJl (ifkiwoT asnUD ni JasitB fftOd toriq vd bsuftrndua ad YJsm eqiT n YA2SX0 311) rlsuoiri) io liBnra ’□>1 JrranraJEla fasieqoiq e nl sbu)8 blo-TBoy-k I b bsJBJj? zkio jm yfibnoM yboJeua oJni rra^Lsl 2 Ytbohoqai a^UurpQ . f£ InqA .ermB^nl ori bnuol bne smori >{ “gHf ifidJ Tobnrcrm b ei eirfT 83jU:t 33fno z'ftnarf?! yinuoD □2 vlovnr aeoriJ yliBiosqaa - •1 I 'i 'I 3 i bobnatni 3eorft ,2tJ59Tfrr' oqsb -trif) .bWRilot sd lor- lliw sris rOTcq loofba fane zwiJOQJab srlj 3‘uj?ji3 01 isdJssofylaeoia .YJiiiumrno'j bncTtfifa .arraboJa (in-j/iJi 3rlt bsfiocpi ekiofftO o?) }fi3>l 3(1) nt blsri snisd zsw .3)03') riohnsteQ sfinavul r; f ; b'jniernoo leoq arfT" ^i'j iri? oor) J? olbbiM boow9ni4 !o( ()< JZ A“ J)3bbB ekio [ boowifij>l 01 bangigaB wrFto gy/insiob O2'JJlbnB gloorioZ V .fh fjj}^h8ovni fifinsgsd yidte Jooqeuz b ot msriJ na Y ,'rtJ bobbii HlBiaifio O2DJ< rsnbi zio wrlJ fbrw ol atiaasq. J ; I I T. I J *1 F h t 4 r* p 21J □ldi?noq29i oril di^^oq orb jsibam I to aoarioupaenoo li 3ft J DflB gJeTffb 8 mwTol gnunoj to larfw noitermofni GDDW cneiowEu BE3IDElU(Vr ECKMiX ■ nHsaxi WIBWQ .-.i J z bSUWK t338' 1 *8838 SSMU33 9CT8» in -e|||At»8J9 Ot^ *oa Od ) .4 ’1 ’ t 4 1 ->1 bVID / nr Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer < r- > a ■ Plenty of change, growth and evolution has happened at the Yankee Springs Township Fire Department, and Dan Miller has been there to witness most of it. Miller came to the department in October 2015. At that time, he was a member of the Wayland Fire Department, which had just signed a contract to provide ser­ vice at the Yankee Springs fire bam. “I started with doing some inventory out there,” recalled Miller, whose 50-plus-year career as a first responder includes stretches in both law enforcement and fire/EMS. “We knew the con­ tract was going to go through so the township board had me out there doing inventory and what­ not.” See STATION on 5 •>< I ■t 1 • r 1 ■.. ». aA H ■ fll i V I 1 > « i « t t Jl l«l :;25: I ‘ ’i ,A I It _— m 5* '*** — KO' ** * ** ( ** 1 The Yankee Springs Township Fire Department fire barn at 1425 S Payne Lake Road was formerly run by the Wayland Fire Department. In 2025, it became a stand-alone station operated by the township. Photo by Jayson Bussa 4 Hunter McLaren Contributing Writer 2 U- Till -1 The search for a new Thomapple Kellogg Schools superintendent is now down to two candidates. Superintendent candidate Troy Reehl withdrew him­ self from consideration for the position Monday. TK Board of Education President David Smith read a statement « <L 1 »* Thornapple Kellogg Schools superintendent finalist Troy Reehl interviews for the position earlier this month. Reehl withdrew his name from consideration this week, leaving finalists Rob Pouch and Bill Crane still in contention. File photo regarding the search during Monday’s board meeting. “Earlier today, Mr. Troy Reehl withdrew from consid­ eration to become our next superintendent, citing his desire to pursue other active opportunities that are a better fit for him and his talents,” Smith said. “We wish Mr. Reehl the very best in his pro­ See CANDIDATE on 3 aovisod s n ft • / A. >'S A z A . I •»bCI * ■' . ■B' "■V* - f I. • 9 . / I4 I * •*/, ■< X-Z * n 5 3.< I'l »>* * fiU* 'I' L> — 3a I r > c r n H : • i I ’ ♦ J i -4 t I I L I I \ f f # J I < k' W ■ , 4 It I WHi! f mi ♦ a....... ■ \ TK superintendent search narrows after candidate withdraws ’< ■»»» bi >v 3 ! J V z . I 4 k_ I I J I aivd IsIV n s bogiVGS bB2124.0 Yankee Springs officials reflect on journey to establish stand-alone fire station �J T ,4 I I a £‘ I .» .A .4 < r;'’’ I I 2 Saturday, April 26, 2025 r r THE SUN AND NEWS r K www.sunandnews.com < Caledonia Egg Hunt draws big crowd for Easter festivities ■ t ’I f t. ~ V II J •* I a 7- A J •i I t J r 4 1B v» A 4 ."A*; 19^ r z 1.4 La « I f I ♦ I *U- ,4* :r •w 'f c F f ir • .'. »* w 4 .1 J-' 1 f I Ii 4• "9r i L : II 9 * ■t 5^ • t. i t I « X .k » -___ Tn . I X . •4« > ’r t* * A I «> % <e ..'J >1 r ♦ t • t j J * ■ -■' s* .>sv ‘***4w. ^•T 1 ■ t f ■!. • >Z s 'V- I The Easter Bunny waves at a young visitor on Saturday morning at the Caledonia Egg Hunt, which was held at Community Green Park. Families lined up for a photo opportunity. Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer <i. K t • i.1/ fw .. >1 .1 i < t k w> t J 1 - > 1 I t kF > i f -.¥^ SHERRIFF GOS LIN fc, 4 T J - J T? 5?^ W-\b. A l’ ■f- . ••^L> .4a» w u * < xw" -? * < V* a»j0BWi I L BW •< *9ir 1 Sf'- iCi * w * 'fcl # ■=f^ I I I f f iBr w ''S '• SfcLr % 9 S©9-©©2-WS©' *1 ••' • * 3 «* n:* J f 1 I .T 1 « t 1. i -» A •*' ii,'.-- 'Wl f; T^Im '^- 41 jais*, tR£ w * ,< J 4 <» ?* «*« b «* •» 9 's k L* < .X - ;4 t* b «:> .** < .’i .•TT*, 4 «* Ji •*^z S4. (».iiiiW!»>‘' r «ur w > Z*z ' •RE /• *x> A 1 -WflT » T V ''f 4 z X 4^ i rpialssiju^-- • r >• X w lf;&a *A* 4 * t. ’.■I- z ttcjiliteirbi)! ■ 4 MS:^ SMd^wAir«> «• On top of the traditional Easter animals, like bunnies and chicks, kids at the Caledonia Egg Hunt were able to get up close and personal with a variety of other farm animals. VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK ■i' - *.? I « >> . ■ t* ' I >4 »r • • a EL. 9 9 11 • V FOR YOUR FREE I INSPECTION .■.-ftgaiilijss^ Jf z •y t •'Ik * w ;7** . 1 .1 I <u t ?5 * » 9 :1* t'i •' s 1^* T > I". If Ik‘ h •« f *» ,<■1 , ie-" 8»!ES«<^. IJ i » ■ -S t: W '<C * CALL TODAY 4^ *r Jr^ ;; I• Ah Sli * r- > I . if- MF J i «r L " ~ jP ’rr. H I e A A l> Ui * • «. 'JL t • 4 >4 A .> *•.. ** ... ,•> r H • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU •fl U* .'Jf '^rL I I f* .-A • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED UUAUTY ROOI INt l ¥ ’' f•w uP » • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS 1 V lA c • WE WORK WITH AU INSURANCE COMPANYS F* < X • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM \W * ■ f ■ I! 4 A •J? ’ f’ •p‘ B 4 • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP 4 * I ■]:> II I ■I*.- . » J 1 .■‘I' IN THE BUSINESS a»' .i P' I Kids rush into the grassy area of Community Green Park in Caledonia on Saturday morning to retrieve as many eggs as they can during the Caledonia Egg Hunt. Photos by Jayson Bussa • local TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 1154 YEARS Ai*; ■ -•*» ■z 1/ I lthe most trusted NAME*- IN ROOFIN j S ^Sf. • J «* I »* 4« . 1 '.Xia* >t.-^ .1 > 3 »< 1 I ■A' I .’’Lr The community egg hunt overtook the park and featured a variety of ac­ tivities - from a small petting zoo with bunnies, chickens and other animals to visits with the Easter Bunny at the amphitheater. The event centered on the Eater egg hunt, which sent kids home with candy and goodies. Some lucky egg hunters received gift baskets sponsored by local businesses. Community Green Park in Caledonia was littered with colorful eggs late Saturday morning - but not for long. Organizers would eventually unleash an army of eager kids of varying ages, who quickly scooped up the eggs into their bags and baskets as part of the Caledonia Egg Hunt. . * ! * « r t » A <• * 0- >, V> -i V tl • .4 t <J •i * V >* rr:■ ■’EaKL'nr.a - J f I I " ’I r ' H'>"*l.Ti-, "’l;>‘ 4 ■aSStiC'"-" g, f I ri« fi • f v'mU ( aoiL <j * '* ’ THE SUN AND NEWS I .<11 86-^ ri d CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 PUBLISHED BY ♦^rjJWJ2D > f «■ •' mmacleod@mihomepaper.com Group Sports: Brett Bremer Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher bbremer@mihomepaper.com til* Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC AH Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. csilverman@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com « » 4» * 4* w* All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to j accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have 'J no authority to bind this newspaper and only j publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of* the advertiser's order. •A Editor: Molly Mscleod 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com ' .MA » * • 4B* •' A A . _. . __ MA «r «U <kB* * A • I •.r ' r. • ♦I t HtWMi * * 9>/ “ M * ***^ »s f E-^®i!esspsfe « *» •V ► .►- *' > J '‘'■k -8 4 •:v> ►J»i^ B : .4 “ fl iWtsSffijijiy ’4:^ - L B .B [ 'V T 1 I I. f :L > .1 1 t J < • .1^?. I I“ 2 4 fA CO. 9-1 -1 CElTER in »*---- iJr?’.’. 4 J 5 8 91 10 r^' ;.i ■ I L i 3k fe DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Qjlawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 11 121 131 14 151 161 171 181 19 201 10 11 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 T 4' J 44 1 * * �I •:, { s I t I i Caledonia Twp. officials to create vision document for parks, traits 4 Jr 12)013 X •t w » »x L r.! t I R: Sr. ■ V 9 '. 1 4 Hunter McLaren JW k .I :tB I u p J T » I?!? J V Ills ■'i3a ' *I* Contributing Wrrter ( aledonia Tow nship officials w ill be working to create a cohesive v ision and strategy document for development of l(Kal parks and trails. * » 4 s 4. ** * 4 1 I "Ji S’ .. Wil II /A ■ i CANDIDATE 4 Continued from Page 1 « h < L 'JR ’ t ‘»2U A I z . 4^ i 1 *«. 4 A « r I* I (essional pursuits and arc kxiking forward to continuing the process with Mr. Bill ( rane and Mr. Robert Pouch. The board held first-round inters iews w ith four candidates earlier this month; Troy Reehl, retired Hillsdale Intermediate Scluwl District superintendent; Robert Pouch, Morrice Area Schools superintendent; Dan Scoville, Director of Human Services and fJementary' Academic Services al Cedar Springs Public Schools; and Bill Crane, Kent City Community Schools superintendent, Tlie four were chosen from 15 total applicants, with the board inviting Reehl, Pouch and Crane to attend a second round interview. The district plans to carry on the interview process with Pouch and Crane starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29 at TK Schools Early Childhood Center, 3316 Bender Road. The district said members of the public are strongly encouraged to attend. Pouch and Crane will tour the district and participate in a community meet and greet the day before from 4:30 to 5:30 on Monday, April 28. The location of the meet and greet remains to be determined. TK Schools has been search­ ing for its next superintendent since fonner superintendent Craig McCarthy retired at the end of last year. In the meantime, Tom Enslen has served as TK Schools' interim superintendent. I ri s ' i s 1 t t I «« C ¥ A {» I aa ' t'H 8""^ •w^nri’^ Hi « 4 iP* I ■4J I Wit ' r '■ J'S I f*. i I > tJ. i *n * I 41^^ •. -•• i r* vn I :A , I I iiFJ I 1 • 9- r r 3 3 I I i • I k * vB FT ~y tvifpaa^ f ■P ' s 3; r i Ji k “h. r- 9A I F I * J* , f » LtiM t i-. I ■«w ^-1 • If. .n I Wi ■u r / I ' g I T J unit t Kr^ feM tKfn : 1 ni> t it (Ttr* > it M ^a*< n. « V 1 jkww * I I ’-.ry r ( I ! 2tH V I .V I* 1 .4 I 1 I '1 •v j; f i r> 4 v::* i 1 k A t ' wi' B K* I t Si Construction underway at Yankee Springs Twp. Park 5 *• ■ f A >! y 1- f * » J f-I ,,■4* X 4 d K I* *''t a * * >J "h r « Construction kicked oH on Wednesday at Yankee Springs Township Pi^rk with a ceremonial groundbreaking for the park s new pickleball courts and basketball court reconfiguration Bultsma Construction will build four new pickleball courts and will reconfigure the existing basketball court to be full size. Additionally, crews will install a hopscotch area and four square courts. Construction is projected to wrap up by June 2. Pictured here are (from left) Bultsma Construction's Mitch Dubba. parks committee members Kaye Evans and Deb Tomko. Yankee Springs Township Supervisor Rob Heethuis. Parks Chair Sandra Marcukaitis and Justin Bultsma of Bultsma Construction. Missing from the photo are parks committee members Chuck Shira, Diane Ullery and Catherine Getty Photo by Molly Macleod Breakfast Buffet Fundraiser Saturday, May 3, 2025 and the First ^turday of each month Serving 8 a.m. to KhOO a,m. £ggit bacon, sausage links or patties, potatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, milk. Of, coffee. * Menu subject to dianfe AduJu SI3.0I) • Chiidren 10 under tS.OO fior more information call the Post at 616-8911882 BI^BY Cefftt Donated by CELEBRATE SUCCESS! Send your student achievements or personal milestones to mmacleod@mihomepaper.com THE SUN AND NEWS Qraup 3RD ANNUAL 66 UNIQUE ANTIQUE FESTIVAL Help us support veterans and community functions. COFFEE MARKET 125* Flea Market Vendors Packing M66 Full Of Antiques. Collectibles & Handmade Items *Outdoor Facilities Provided* 41 €?* SATURDAY, MAY 3RD 9AM-4PM DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE, Ml rain or shine! «---- Caledonia Memorial Legion Post 305 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, MI LUNCH M-TH 11 AM-8 PM: FRI 11 AM-2PM: FRI BUILD A BURGER 4-8 PM A I Kickin' Kurbs. Pronto Pup. and Patty Matters Will Provide Some Of The Best Food In Michigan! We Will Also Have a HUGE Selection of Amish Baked Goods! If Interested in being a Flea Market vendor or Food Truck Vendor contact Mike @ 517-852-9080! 1 n 1 il4 « di; I I • < I I I ;r J r 4 A i* mJ 1: 1 lfc|V »! '' u : 1 I I 1 I A it! t ■- 1 (t I . i tl .4 tl '• I b 4 « % > A } V \ } t c €J* * /Ul- • < . ........... . ... 4 f . “* V ? I ... ..^WhlKiW 4/ A ♦ r » *M (nqA .ipkfcniti/ «i. - J Members of the township board of trustees approved the first step of the process at their meeting Wednesday, .April 16. The township could soon begin w orking w iih a third party to draft the document, according to Township Manager zMis^m Nugent. The vision document reportedly will lay out park projects and utilize infonnation from \arious liKal enti­ ties involved. When completed, it would serve as a vision dtKument for township officials and the public, pro­ viding details on planned projects and estimated costs. With discussions of a potential millage in a couple of years, we feel it is really important to show the community what it really* looks like and what Caledonia could look like," Nugent said. ITie plan will compile information from the township's own Parks and Trails Committee, as well as from the township's collaborations on parks with Kent County and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “All of these are different pieces. said Township Super\ isor Bry an liarrisen. Ilie idea here is to bring all of them together so we have a sort of one-stop document that melds all of these into one place.” “None of this is set in stone,” he added. “I think it's always important to check back in with the community.” Also, Harrison said having the docu­ ment with estimated scope and budget for planned parks projects would allow the township to more easily prioritize them, noting a millage for park projects had been sidelined for other, more urgent needs in the past. “Certainly, this will be considered in context with all of the other things we are prioritizing funding with our gen­ eral fund dollars and asking citizens to fund,” Harrison said. “This will give us the information to make a go or no-go decision on moving forward with some of these projects.” 3 «• ' ^<1 « Saturday. Apnl 26. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS WWW sunandnews com �¥ iTrf // y. J liZX * ' K I" J A ' »• —1 4 / I /I { Saturday. April 26, 2025 4 J THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com { Gaines TWp. officials to discuss how to manage growth at April 28 meeting t James Gemmell Contributing Writer I /4 < -■'•A (r*;.' ■ «• 1 L «0 J • .> a t »<■» M MWMW I t 'i. . i. i t Gaines Township trustees met in the township hall board room on April 14. Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra has asked township board members to give their long-range visions on how to initiate and manage growth in the township at a special township board meeting slated for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 28. Photo by James Gemmell Visit us online at mihomepaper.com » ♦ i X .. e T* < IVE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS X Residential & Commercial c..’ k -Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers e I I »? r; 99 ( T » L 4C MM •> t..-. 11" 1^' £ 72 w a \ -r * .A w- — y I HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING. INC. I Since I'iSS DEWEERDHTG.COM • I I DeWeerd (68) I w ■i Ss r 269-792-2234 UrT? Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra has asked members of the township’s board of trustees to give their long-range visions on howto initi­ ate and manage growth in the township. At the board’s April 14 meeting, Terpstra asked the trustees to consider nine broad categories and be prepared to discuss their thoughts about each one at a special township board meeting slated for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 28, in the lower-level community room at the township hall. The meeting will be open to the public. Categories to be discussed include synchronist housing. Division Avenue corridor improvement. Prairie Wolf Park, additional parks, connecting and expanding trails, brand marketing and outward-facing communications, library upgrades, the township’s De­ partment of Public Works Department and public safety. Terpstra told trustees the April 28 meeting will entail discussion about their priorities on behalf of the town­ ship residents. The question to begin will be, Tn five years, 10 years, 15 years, what will Gaines Township be known for?”’ Terpstra said. “Your term of service, what legacy will it have for this town­ ship? I’m going to try to feed you and give you some philosophy, and let you ask questions. Terpstra and executive assistant Kim Triplett have been working on posters for the upcoming meeting. “We ’ 11 gain your input. Lots ofthings will come up,” Terpstra added. “The (Gaines) chamber board is totally on board with helping us. The Parks and Trails (Committee) you heard a lot go­ ing on with that. I feel like it’s moving in the right direction.” Parks and Trails Committee mem­ bers were provided the opportunity to present their individual priorities at a recent committee meeting. In February, the township board au­ thorized spending up to $3,000 to have a 20-acre parcel of property appraised for potential park development. The property owner had approached town- LENNO)C> A+l " I BB8^ ACCREDITED BUSINESS ship officials about the potential sale of the property. Township staffer did not disclose the location of the heavily wooded parcel, but did say Plaster Creek runs through it. Officials with the Michigan Depart­ ment of Natural Resources have stated the land, if developed into a park, could potentially be eligible for a state grant. However, Township Manager Rod Weersing said in March that he was not optimistic because of the slow pace of negotiations with the property owner. In addition to that, Gaines Commu­ nity Development Director Dan Wells reportedly was approached a couple months ago about a possible purchase option for a second 20- to 30-acre par­ cel not far from the first one that might be for sale. There has been no public update on those negotiations. Also, Wisconsin-based Continental Properties is making progress in its effort to build 14 two-story apartment houses in the 6300 block ofHanna Lake Avenue, adjacent to M-6. If the devel­ oper gains township approval, it plans to buy that property in Dutton, which is currently being used as farmland by the Verduin family. Part ofthe proposal calls for a five-acre public park to be built, with dedicated parking space along Hanna Lake Avenue. Terpstra met recently with depart­ ment heads, township staff and elected officials to discuss the vision plan, including park development and which projects they may try to raise funds for in the township, according to reports. “We’ll develop some context and then we’ll start to create what I call the ‘pitch. He said. “These posters that we can invite our residents in to consider with us ways to make these things happen. “By doing that, we can begin to build collaboration, information that we can write grants (with). We can talk to some of our influencers.” Terpstra said Kiosha Jeltema, the manager of the Kent District Library branch in Gaines Township, will also provide a poster to discuss. A' •l V 4 1: I I I I I II I DIAL (800) 249-091 ItlON - EMERGENCIES /TA CO. 9-1-1 CEaTER pM awa Co. 9-1-1 Center" ; "Kids Measure up at I 1 5 6 7 8 91 10 11 121 13 14 15 161 171 181 19 20 k. K K ■'» . i r . J' ' “ '■ J* I« -r I i *« I I r .a . - t / 4.4.r -f * 4 f •r i- . /vC •• J t r z J •7^’ M I 3 J. ? L I f 9 I ti' 5 ATI I L I r I I I I If » '/ • » * r» • ■ . » ■! 1 4 > s«> X* 41' __ “S’^’S^e' '. 11♦ M t • f I Lt: J i I u I •_ f 1 rz. ' I I 04 1 If I I I * <** s .z "•' «S. * t I /UI ::fi 4 >■ ’ fl *w A ... .IKI /»V J‘ J fl > t ..i £0 ■•'I > 4 e »iil’' rfi's*?’ • A ‘^9 i .. . J. * 1% II u «iji.' i EOW^ . ;; a •• - - r •» I r i nl If .F «5! jj» .r r4 If ’^Uf G !• Ui:* V K n«3 I- vtf J «V 'bL < •a t lu I 1 I ^*10'1 sin « ^4 *> >xTP ,♦ ! \.. > *' 4 'r b, . » —Wfc -QU TTyt-rhnui"siti A'- * I R - \v?.? * .1 J r c k-*.. ■■ i»iH -33 r r ''W1 ? t! 'I “002 nT ♦ e. 1 J 'W 23312001 I J r : Lxf li u’:t ivH ■ ( « • 4 » IV 9 at 1 ♦» b / I J '-jnb » * .)• 1 I J ? 2' I J 4 •I je 0^^ r**-’ I i 1 ) i. rj r ■ a rioi ^5 4* J ■ - • u ■f ’’ ■I' ! 4 I 1 ' 1 J *K= - A A. i fl I .-i .« . 1^*6^ i ' I 12 11 101 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 rA I ^i I b ‘I I I* I <>1 • I 1 I f ■ ! •^91) • *4 A w •TT 3-. 0 ** ’itinv’ - r 4 1 ^9 A A VW 999 I > I ' V t I .,1^-■ -. IJ!?-''I 1' t 'i» J J”’ /w*** i 1 k I I ir A * jf »ni j U �I ’>1 , •<«! I, STATION I 4 i ’•*1 V .-r f 1 I . f ?nT ; I . d: . I I > 1 : -r / - itllb X irrtcu if- •7 ’r* • • u ■**1'. % I ► I * I * t I U tnsnrr □Tl • } 'I f ’ / • ?> J 4 4062X1 ’•»6 t IJ., I X V I s.l ’ 9 A S 'J 11 r > J . LJ ) *4 . » ft, '•■A,,,, *4 ifii i f 4 'I is % 5 I r > llB ‘<1 r. ‘ 1 M: I J I f T I I k « / f. t ’h * I I r. «:i Hiki ft f 4 , '?hjF |r % ft > . 1 e?** I •W L..:au. i ► I b. i . 1 I J: sJ 1 ■i| Yl . ■■■ I iiI irri • I 1 M. I 1 F4 t i 4 { > • u«. •I . "a ’Kt?; r •• L I f - ®feialb 'rrr ( JI gsi r 1 J. r Li? la; ' -A f-.f i- : !!se i' •41 : ; J f 1 I s t I t fl «as«*4f5Ei^ete k 'T''V' I I 1 I ^9 J J t' r « i 1 J i L>d , ,. t Continued from Page 1 Nearly 10 years later, Miller is still with the Yankee Springs department and even has the same title of deputy fire chief. However, the dynamic at the department is a lot different after a major milestone that came about earlier this year. In March, the Yankee Springs Township Fire Department became its own, stand-alone fire depart­ ment, no longer under contract with Wayland Fire Department. And, earlier this month, Yankee Springs severed its contract with Wayland for ambulance service, opting instead to use Thomapple Township Emergency Services. The moves signify a new era in Yankee Springs Township emergencv services, one where the township has full ownership over all elements of the related services. Miller walked through the time­ line of Yankee Springs becoming a standalone fire station, with conver­ sations sparking nearly two years ago. “We had a fire committee and we talked to the fire committee and it sounded pretty good that we could go on our own and sustain the (lead­ ership) structure we had,” Miller said. Township officials started to take the necessary steps to become a stand-alone station. It was not quick or easy work and there’s still more to do. The department consists of 19 fire­ fighters who are paid, on-call with one person serving on a duty shift. The department tapped Hastings Fire Chief Mark Jordan to serve as its interim fire chief, a tempo­ rary measure intended to leverage Jordan’s credentials to obtain a fire department ID and other measures to establish the station. Currently, Yankee Springs Township Fire has officers who have finished Fire Officer 1 training and are wrapping up Fire Officer 2 train­ ing. Yankee Springs also tapped into the knowledge base of Bill Richardson, chief at Thomapple Township Emergency Services and the state fire marshal as they embarked on the process. The township board drafted and passed a fire and emergency ordi­ nance earlier this year, which was also essential to operating a station on its own. Once it’s able, the board will seek to promote someone from within to the fire chief position. “We just offer our sincere appre­ ciation to the Yankee Springs Township board members for their vision and leadership in making the important decision to establish our own standalone fire department,” Miller said. “Their support has laid the foundation for a safer, stronger community.” Rob Heethuis, township supervi­ sor, said becoming a stand-alone station was a logical move for the growing township. “Obviously we looked into it and there are a lot of concerns any time you deal with emergency aids of any kind,” Heethuis said. “So it was looked at and there was no reason we couldn’t. We had everything that it takes. We have an excellent fire bam, we have different types of fire trucks, we would do everything we needed.” We looked at the financial side of ' ■ iU.fci'IS',. I ai iM •? »■J. I - • » J w HEX I ■^'Ibi’Kpsf I ( J t- r . r • > 4k lir JU f Your local agent insures your C/ops /T* ...V- ’SB' FARM BVnFAU MSUHMCF* I I t ♦U. • « ’ IS • f *f 9 s V I < •*s % KAS Mills ’HeK BPS’ IRE TMS’WUlS* SUK'KEFS •«« I FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT i 269-381-2300 * S » i' « 4 ft. w r I • 4iu.:: ■ < TJ I ---UJ7.JI iU ■ -- • * ’S’. . ¥ . 4 y ’ «) 9 t '1 ■ 'I 1 nr' L « I J I t < 4 I iT’ .i * •>9 - 1?-1ll I t • > I ■ I I J I iift 11 ■n f'? I i 1 A A ft I I f ■ft ft 121 E- Main Street Downtown Middleville (2S9} 1811 □i 795-8827 JparHs^fblnsmi.com FarTnBureaulnsurance.com * *« • • • IP. LIGHT TRUCK PARTSI 'USED PARTShUSED TIRES I Jason Parks Saturday, April 26, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com K Tin;RAID • ft it and what that would look like?’ he added. ‘‘We only have one millage in Yankee Springs for emergency services for fire and EMS, and we were worried about what it looked like financially. But what we dis­ covered is that, while we have to do some things first, it will tuck under the millage much better anyway. The homegrown department will take on the challenges that come with the unique demographics of the township which includes 5,000 acres of state land and numerous homes located on lakes. Miller added he appreciated all those who are set to serve the town­ ship, now that it has established its own fire station. “We would like to extend a heart­ felt thank you to the dedicated fire- . fighters who faithfully serve the citi­ zens of Yankee Springs Township, as well as those passing through during time of need,” he said. “Their commitment, courage and willing­ ness to help at a moment’s notice truly embody the spirit of service. We are here to help and we are proud to serve.” Caledonia Friends Of the Library ■> s ^<13, Classifieds BUSINESS SERVICES DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. CEMENT/CONCRETE JNR BUILDERS Concrete flatwork; Driveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored, Licensed and insured. Call Jeff (616)293-7729 CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 TREE SERVICE iUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy sin­ gle walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793. * w EMPLOYMENT EXPIERIENCED GARDNER 3 to 4 days a week with flexible schedule. Please apply in person at Saska­ toon Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto. < ■ J t Book Sale > 5 4 Thurs, May 1, FOL Members Only Presale: 3:00-5:00 Membership can be purchased at the door. Thurs, May 1, Public Sale 5:00-7:00 Friday May 2,10:00-4:00 Saturday May 3,10:00-2:00 Teachers with ID 20 free books Caledonia Township Library 6260 92"^ St, Caledonia COMMERCIAL-RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rap­ ids. $20.00 ANNUAL/SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic @ remax.net FARM, YARD & LIVE STOCK 19 FOR SALE- FREEZER BEEF. Angus cross. $3.95 per pound plus processing. Hay and corn fed, no hormones. Call 517-588-7950 or 517-649-0097. GARAGE SALES 2 FAMILY SALE- May 1st & 2nd, 9am-7pm. 4682 7th St. (Ka­ lamazoo Ave), Caledonia. Electric treadmill, cherry baby crib, walnut high chair, coffee table, pecan bar, antique lamps, and more! �I' * ?r V/ M t ♦ I 9 Saturday, April 26. 2025 6 fxs THE SUN AND NEWS WWW sunandnews com !' *** Fate of Middleville’s downtown trees discussed 4 I I Ax' f “t Mb' iiiRiij ja'" ' ’ •J Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer I lent to putting a Band-Aid on it. or remove the problematic trees and repair the sidewalk. Belson said removing the two trees and re­ pairing the sidewalk w ouid come w iih minimal cost, taking crew s a matter ofhours to complete the work. Members of the council launched into discussions about the fate of the mans other trees, w ondering if those should es entualls he removed, as well. We don't need the answer off-hand on w hat to do going forward. Right now. wc have two issues we have to deal with. Ue can spend money and put a Band-Aid on it and let the (two) trees stay for now but he fully aware that the sidewalk issue will come back or the tree may die or wc cut it off and fill the tw o spots. While the two trees in question w ill likely be removed, members of the council floated vari­ ous ideas on how' to address the others if thes begin to cause similar damage. One idea was to proactively remove them all, but members of the council agreed that the measure would be too radical at this time. "I would say remove the troubled trees now but I would encourage staff to start considering this, especially because our Main Street Initia­ tive is all-in on things like this,” said Kevin Smith, VillageofMiddleviHe President. "It falls in line with our long-term strategy to transform what we have now to become a more w alkable, usable space. I f removing those trees is the right answer in the short term, I would say with the council's approval that would be the best bet. I i .S'— : V ft *«at ttA * » X* >d* I Some trees planted in downtow n Middleville during a streetscape overhaul nearly two decade.s ago are beginning to cause damage to sidewalks and officials recently discussed what should be done about them. Alec Belson, Assistant Manager of the Vil­ lage of Middleville who also heads up the Department of Public Works, provided his general department report to the vi I lagc counci I this week. Part of his routine report launched a larger discussion amongst board members. Belson pointed out that three downtown trees are causing the surrounding sidewalk to heave, which ha-S created a tripping hazard. Belson wanted the council’s opinion on what to do about them. Two of them one in the parking lot of the village hall and the other in front of The Sandbar Esthetics & Spa need to be addressed as soon as possible. Those, and several other, trees were installed in 2006 when the downtown streetscape was completed. The project included new side­ I flk ' I* 4 MP, z ... . t <■«»* « f i 4 IBU*** A f.iW*" a •■ 5, I 1 z <4C c J sii* it ?F • - B£ZL 4 mg I • 4. J- - I Officials in the Village of Middleville are finding that trees planted during 2006's streetscape installation are starting to overgrow their designated areas and causing damage to surrounding sidewalks. Photo by Jayson Bussa 616-891-0150 • • -Z'A IS * i 4 • r .'7 e > t r* " Jr -2 '‘n ■ A / '' f 1 4 ff tf .«% -a:- ec X '-A* j < z Vr." >5* lighting. But, now, 20 years later, the trees are beginning to outgrow their designated areas. Belson and his department are left with two options: Re­ pair the sidewalk and leave the trees in place, which is equiva- ft zi-’r" i I f * 1., •4^ * <3 I J 4 I 9 1 I p* • X 4 9 S' 4 t 1 J 4 f - ‘J >’ • ’.4 » ■ r.; .'If • > ■ :n!l ’ I *> 1 ? ■ V ft' s •< walks, tree plantings, decora­ tive lighting, irrigation and electrical outlets for seasonal K Mi: •1 1 s ■ < •• J 4 f 4* r I 1 •fi. < zt. . < .1^ t* • $ > < • A- * ' rN ►M! ' T H u • ' '.► ♦A* 1I• . L^‘ I '11 ^4 • 4 4 t «4 9 ‘ . «• \ I J 'I J , 1'4 . I I 1 r. v*^ ‘ -J * V 4<9 I . i • *1 ’*-! i'* J tf 1 11^ * * 4I «4 I HO** r.^11.' • i'Jit f 1 r 1 94 I ■x« f ’ I ih "jfu--'-' t BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. I i Middleville car dealer gets OK from council to hold anniversary event Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your 'trusfed Body Shop -for over 11 years > 5 i «*■ J Vin ‘ <• ■ rv the council. "What we're looking for is permission to hold it on the property, to have a bounce house, food trucks. We already put out a sign-up sheet for people to bring their classic cars to the show." Broadmoor Motors acquired the dealership location from the Harkema family and maintained the tw o employ­ ees who worked there. The lot offers a wide variety of used vehicles. The council signed off on the com­ pany’s petition to hold the event, scheduled for Wednesday, June 11 at 4 p.m., contingent on the fact that the Barry' County SherifTs Office reviews the plan and does not have any linger­ ing concerns with the layout of the event site. Broadmoor Motors Middleville is having a grand opening event - finally. The automotive retailer, which also maintains locations in both Wayland and Hastings, established their foot­ hold in Middleville at 4600 M-37 roughly five years ago. But, as com­ pany president pointed out to the Mid­ dleville Village Council at its regularly scheduled meeting this past week, it all happened during the COVlD-19 pandemic so they never had the op­ portunity to celebrate in style. “We really wanted to have an event, so we’re calling it a five-year anniver­ sary car show event,” Koning said as he presented a petition for his event to BODY SHOP 4 ■ ta/< ,1. ' 9311 Ob* V• Tr«^ r ♦ I ■■MHW I I4 ' •s I ' ti--- m: &.<■ '*4 • 1 ill'Wiiiit s 1 r 1 j I I* * ft / f yfl^‘ X > I* * ..'7=* I I ^_-rMLL « .1« f s 1 I J J >. iH. ? t I MJ AC «« * M! i* f a i Y 4 X. f ■ t: I 1 I H rX 14 i - t R t* f. T I » 1 I 4 2 VACO. 9-1-1 CENTER 'T'J' I f rt A 4 ^8 5 91 10 I DIAL (800) 249-09111 [ON - EMERGENCIES *Kids Measure up atS M'^ wa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 12 13 14 15 161 171 181 191 20 i I I I I t 10 n 'I' I II 12 p^r ■S2 {1 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES I I .‘.t I 21| 22| 23| 24| 251 261 271 281 291 301 j I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Ij r A I f I tf I i! h •1 1 i 4 I It •» T « t It I 1 < I . 1 1 1 f’ • I I < J € 1 r tf I 1 ) < �I I I I ( I Saturday. April 26, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 7 > - A< 7 * BEDHD investigating possible measles case in Eaton •3 1. I V.i • 4 f I 4 4 ‘a 1 A t 1 4- w i '•T’ A ■ *4.t I ! The Bany-Eaton District Health Department is investigating a po­ tential case of measles in an Eaton County resident and is alerting the public about potential exposure while test results are pending, ac­ cording to a statement released by the agency on April 18. Measles is a highly contagious spread by direct person-to-person contact and through the air. Infected people can spread measles before noticing symptoms, including from four days before through four days after the rash appears, health of­ ficials stated. “We are acting out of an abun­ dance of caution to notify the public as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Julie Kehdi, BEDHD medical director. Measles spreads easily and can have serious health consequences, especially for children and people with weakened immune systems. “We encourage anyone who may have been exposed to take action right away and check their vaccina­ tion status.” BEDHD officials stated there were two potential exposure sites related to the pending case, includ­ ing people who visited the following locations: • The King Ocean Crab restaurant on Miller Street in Lansing from 6:30 -10 p.m. on April 12; and • Bad Brad’s BBQ on South Baldwin Road in Orion Township W-* < • **.' ..AT- ' J > A T.- I /’r *”4 <r-<• ■ eu .wr* I A ..... ........................ ......... ,'■'1 a*' '’'i 4 I I •n • > The Middleville Village Council voted unanimously to appoint Amanda Pullen and Maria Gustinis to the planning commission, for terms that will expire April 30. 2028 File photo A / I f I r I •• u Two re-appointed to the Middleville Planning Commission • w Jj- 4. s* • •u Bi X 1 J ■'.‘iliik fi s * S^4 /v -s h 4 5S ti L *4 »l ’’n a 4k I < I o 4 4t V tx ^4 d* I. 1 I ' < . 4 - »•. 'V ««« ■ ' ■ if .f The Middleville Village Council re­ appointed two members to the village’s planning commission this week. The item was the only new business on the council’s agenda this week during its regularly scheduled meet­ ing. The council voted unanimously to appoint Amanda Pullen and Maria Gustinis to the commission, for terms that will expire April 30, 2028. . Nil I.. I. b >rp.- 1 *jl Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer "^11 . / 'tl. -'mm I* ff a. s .1 r I 1 ■ Ik ■' '\i.< I k I I I < , .’ ■ I ■PT'' •> f<4 I I i f r r i 9^ Wb'»« ‘ 't ;c The planning commission posted a notice of upcoming vacancies on Feb. 20 and only received applications from Pullen and Gustinis, who are both current members of the planning commission. Pullen, who is the daughter of for­ mer village president Charlie Pullen, has been a resident of the village for 36 years. She is the longest tenured member of the planning commission, serving on it for 18 years. Gustinis joined the planning com­ mission in May of 2019 and has nine years of experience in village govern­ ment. Both her and Cullen are members of the Ordinance Committee. Gustinis is also served on the Master Plan Sub­ committee in 2020. IstKIrom The buck stays harol •‘IS ^11 'I Smnd It hsra. Kb8p n hara. <♦ ' Ip ' Group I » c Invest In Your Community. i * ♦ 1 u.. . 'V ■'-XJ'.Vj fitl; •• □ 1 4:30-7:30 p.m. on April 13. Anyone potentially exposed should monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days from the date of exposure, according to the recent statement by the BEDHD. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose or rash. Individuals are asked to call the local health depart­ ment if they develop such symp­ toms or go to the nearest hospital emergency room if the symptoms are severe. If seeking treatment at a health care provider’s office, urgent care or ER, persons should first call ahead to avoid exposing others. If it’s been less than six days since any potential exposure, persons may be able to receive post-exposure treatment that could prevent illness. They should contact their health care provider, pharmacy, or local health department for vaccination and guidance. BEDHD officials added that in­ dividuals with two appropriately spaced doses of the measles vac­ cine are considered protected. And, adults bom before 1957 or who have evidence of prior measles illness are also considered immune. For more information about mea­ sles, including a link to download individual immunization records, persons may go online and visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services measles information page. DM I I t 1 ini« ' h:v 1 .J fi floIr««<V“ Mm —w ,ss^a. J -1. • xr*" I 9* Antenna Men I . ■<« ■A - *4 . ...' KltAJBTW I ^•r— ’ t «.: I . / *5 » Digital TV Antennas • Stariink Installs • Towers ' .1 • Cellular Enhancement Systems 4 .. r. •• .V t 1 Ijfcl 7 C I rF/MAX 'V L 1* .I*- ’1 a ' i n< .1 Give us a call! 1 1 r ;l ■ •■■ tffSursQiS |i . Ik cti-rif I 1 269-967-8241 www.theantennamen.com X I RE/MAX OF GRAND RAPIDS > I Commercial/Resldentlal Full Time Agent ..r*' start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam _ II / r fj i A r ll'iKI r I 11' It > t I i 9 k .ri { > r* 1 1 f • ft M aF.o'’' hl l.i » I I I 1 J 'u ‘1 * II r* I It I . 1 I 1 •i s 'I \ J .•% 517-983-0954 Cell: (616) 204-9792 Email: margopenc@remax.net ■ .1 A • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation Office: (616)957-0700 wwwecellsignalprosxom 4 Estimates Margaret (Margo) E. Peric antennamen@gmail.com .1 H: ... w w free I . «S'S Snrair Foa * �9 4' ’4'- 1*^ 3^ 8 I Saturday, April 26, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com > ■'^waaMib r\ - V r r K I J I Sporting News I 'I 9 < I .. V r r I 3 ✓ II I »' t t t •a * w f-. ►r-/ BIMO TK bats heat up to win Barry County championship I i I I I walks in five innings. He struck out five. It was his first start of the season. You can’t ask for anymore out of a sophomore,” Iveson said. Redman got the save with two shut out innings of relief. “My favorite part of the day is every­ body got in. Everybody contributed,” Iveson said. The Trojans were helped out by six Viking errors in the win, but the Trojan offense did all right on its own too. Dock was 2-for-3 at the top ofthe line-up with a double, a walk and two runs scored. Jayce Brummel was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk. Redman, Moreman and C Walters had one hit each for TK. “We were seeing the ball really well today,” Iveson said. “I think we kind of started to click a little bit. This past week was kind oftough, first conference game coming back from spring break. I think just, we were hitting the ball well. We finally started to find some gaps. So yeah, they’re they’re seeing the ball really well. “We struggled a little bit Thursday [against West Catholic], so it was good to see the guys bounce back today and have some fiin and play well.” Lakewood head coach Brad Tacey mostly liked his guys’ performance. Some early season injuries have the Vikings shuffling their roster around a a bit. “I mean, we played well offensively all day. We pitched well all day long you know, and pitching has been something we’ve been struggling with,” Tacey said. “So, I mean, Closed or Open Cell we’re making some strides. We have guys that keep or Blown-In Fiberglass going down. We had a kid break his hand last week, so Roy Mast. 517-652-9119 we’re losing him. We lost 2501 N. Ionia Rd., Vermontville our number three pitcher at a tom labrum. We’re trying . ^St ‘NsuMr. SPRAY FOAM W > -w > r I* -M* 1 L .1 1 L 1 1 4 I Brett Bremer Sports Editor Thomapple Kellogg got its bats heated up. The L^ewood boys are still working to defrost their gloves. The Thomapple Kellogg varsity baseball team snapped a 3-3 tie with three runs in the top ofthe fourth inning against Lakewood in the championship game of the Barry County Invitational in Middleville Saturday and went on to a 6-3 win. Lakewood made a bid to cut into the Trojan lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, loading the bases on a Reily Teigeler single and a pair of walks. Trojan reliever Carsyn Redman got Lakewood’s Ethan Guiles to ground into a 5-2-3 double play to stymie the rally. Third baseman Bradley Moreman scooped up a ground ball and fired to catcher Connor Dombkowski for an out at the plate, and then Dombkowski’s throw to first beat Guiles up the line. Another ground ball to third got TK out of the inning unscathed. “That was huge. That killed their mo­ mentum for sure,” TK head coach Nick Iveson said. “It got us out of the inning with no runs. That was huge. That was probably the play of the game.” TK sophomore pitcher Micah Dock got the win on the mound al lowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and three r f/' I I k . -1' ^rr* i s.'i Ar * r—^5.. r* tf J t 4 ;A< e > >> I L - ei ¥ •J *♦ *•-’ I >< J > ♦^>5'1* Cl 9^ 'a' t' M ( k A .• 4 .M y' i 4 . 9^ -4 4^ ' J. - * 9 / b* • . * J*. t a t r % *r.| . . »: a 'JTr* d!?*’ **’•<,* >,•2^—4 ’A t*< 'f > •T^ * •• I 45. •9 » « rf" 1 - J r * •r 1 1 > ? ^1 > 4 1 iK"' 1' Z; ■* r f* I 4 *#» £ [9 I « 1 ii mt 0 p’' «■ *w I -1 ! ■ fU 2*:». ■ t »• L> { « Ii 1 X •« l/' ’*► r ■.Jirr.- u Vn.:, ! .J 1. Carsyn Redman pitches for Thornapple Kellogg during the Trojans’ win over Lakewood in the championship game of the Barry County Invitational in Middleville Saturday. •.€7 : .A i' • ' ■ ^cXJt r 1 1 1 *« J i to fit guys together and figure out who can, you know, work in there. It’s early in the season, it is still cold, but we are definitely making progress. I’m not a moral victories guy in ±e slightest, but, you know, I was proud of the way that we hit the ball the way we pitched, but we have got to play better defense,. Tanner Haight started on the mound and went six innings for the Vikings giving up six unearned runs on seven hits and four walks. He struck out three. Carter Stewart closed out the game by striking out the side in the seventh. The Vking offense against TK con­ sisted of five singles, one each by Seth Willette, Guiles, Stewart, Teigeler and Bryer Poll. Willette, Guiles and Poll each drove in one run. Willette also walked twice in the lead-off spot. “Tanner going six innings, he stuck in there and he kept pounding the zone even though we weren’t making plays behind him,” Tacey said. See ????? on 8 e4.>>0! V » / 9F V »«r**' I I 4 I I fl II ^W'> l-f* f < ■ p p* *'2 * > « Id *>n: •v ..** * * «1 S'»*. A I II .'a*'' * it I - r« <• I fli 1 •* 1 »a A feilbiia aI-*.**-* • -IM 4 |4 ,.Z-=3f*^ 5 Wr 5 I? w'W'tw'»^115,11? •# -► ■ \s 'i* I 9 \ x«wr :.h- ’•p V3l«ar .4faiiB». .*% -■k; ♦ Wiuir .« « '4 a ~ ~ " '4 . >4^ 9’ * 1 Thornapple Kellogg’s Anson Verlinde watches the ball fly towards right field during the top of the sixth inning of the Trojans’ 6-3 win over Lakewood in the finals of the Barry County Invitational in Middleville Saturday. B ’ 1 < I :1 0 1) I Jr ’ a I I I 1 t -- otMlimB' • ' .mni »< ■ ■ ■ ■ «» ^rttow*. W- •ri‘ I l^rlsfc v I » Jt «■' I f ■ A ■» ■'• J ■ > A . I ?r •ir 5 2 ATA CO. 9-1-1 CFJiTER . * 4 5 8 91 10 T';j 12 131 14 1 I « DIAL (800) 249-0911 ’slON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at ^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 11 »: s 'Sus* 15I 16I 17I 18I 19I 20 12 11 10 K OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES r 21| 221 231 241 251 261 27 281 291 301 It t... I. Continued from Page 8 I \"J- * «• .. •'Ir I >1 < r * A' i- CT �/ e 1 !>4 A NV v; I Saturday, April 26, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com T' ■aUT 9 9 . ........... —• • -------- - - I I t I I I V. V. *X "'j Fighting Scots get their first wins of the spring I 1 J I I t 1 I ? J I -T •*k I ■ar it' I . ’1 ^*** * 1 « 1 'ft >t KS IP3 t ' A V ** & * K. « I I w Xr •J A r JV15 ia i I Sk ••J* :w J \ i -CT 4’ I I 1 b' f» » k w I T * ,'2^ I V4 I 4^. *W ' *< i’ .y. I f IlgMW Ik The Thornapple Kellogg varsity baseball team celebrates its championship at the Barry County Invitational in Middleville Saturday after scoring wins over Delton Kellogg and Lakewood. Photos by Brett Bremer 1 .t j'F^ vtnBQJ 'iifttJ I U t)(i; pr,-.){ 9« I I .=* J ■u ► •• / 1 I r I. - iw <. .10 t ;; eV 4 rt ?«•-«! ^:r<» < </ IB.r. 'a 2^. 35; i I I' **-1 < ’ □t; r *. - U"' k«' * If ;n.* I I f l‘ .1 ■V f J'v’a ♦^1 p4 I. % ) ^*41' M I 1 r ’ f c Vf b ,• U r «5rI ' ' • *' ' iS una I I ’ IV/.XI2 J I . ,1 9 jfii I .’f 4 •:» I -Z<.i L-i- r f ’ I I • *h :♦ * t - 'ri)<! I .. .. I. • o •*-!*.*“ J .« «^Tt 1 . I lij e 71 .*1 t«T r I ■ t L'nc u •M H9Hh i' _fSl 4 » < ’ I f j { z I f* hT^x- r >v^ • k ♦ <4 ifelOH- nr 1'.^ ' aoTs!'/ >- ••. I US' r ♦ e;. I' I ’Z I r t u r r wr 1410 I 1: r I r I » irfM J 1 . 7;}i I I I ’ .s’ V . 'o . B> ? t 1 p » I ^■r' I qf --- a' I I I The TK boys also won big over Delton Kellogg in the opening round of the Barry County Invitational. They knocked off the Panthers 19-4. An 11 hit TK attack in that one was powered in part by Dock who went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Spencer Ybema, Brummel and Jayce Curtis had two hits apiece in that one, and Brummel drove in five runs himself. Dombkowski was the winning pitcher. He allowed one unearned run over five irmings in which he struck out six, walked two and gave up just one hit. The Panthers got to reliever Dominic McDonald a bit, but Anson Verlinde came on to throw two irmings of relief striking out four and giving up one hit and no runs. Elliott Rogers doubled, drove in a run and scored a run for Delton Kellogg in that opener. Owen Rogers was 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs. Lakewood reached the championship game with a 16-4 win over Hastings on the TK freshman field at McFall Elementary. The Saxons closed out their day with a 14-4 win over Delton Kellogg in the consolation game back at McFall. Hastings closed out the day witha 144, five-inning win over Delton Kellogg in the consolation game back at McFall. The TK boys are off to a 1 -5 start so far to the OK Gold Conference season. They were downed in the first two ballgames of their series with Wayland in Middleville Monday, but bounced back for a 12-0 win over the Wildcats in Wayland Wednesday afternoon. Davis shut out the Wildcats through five irmings on the mound Wednesday striking out six. He walked two and gave up two hits, both singles. The Trojan offense knocked 13 hits and took advantage ofeight walks. Zach Eldridge hit a lead-off home run in the top of the third irming to up the Trojan lead to 2-0 at the time. TK broke the game open with eight runs in the top of the fifth. Dock was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Verlinde was 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and three RBIs. Ybema had two hits an RBI and a run scored. Eldridge finished with two runs scored and two RBIs. He walked twice after that home run in his first at-bat. Cam Walters, Brummel, Redman and Dombkowski also had hits for TK. Wayland won the series opener Mon­ day 13-2 and then took game two 10-4. The Trojans were slated to visit Ham­ ilton Thursday, April 24, and will face Wyoming in the OK Gold in the week ahead with two in Wyoming Monday and one in Middleville Wednesday. 'I I I I 1 I i I: moved Lewandowski to third, then the two pulled off a double steal to get what proved to be the winning run across. Despite being held to two runs, the Scots had seven hits. Roszkowski and Ethan Sova were both 2-for-4 at the top of the line-up. Ryne Wysocki also singled once and came in to score his team’s first run. Caledonia upped a 7-5 lead to 12-5 with five runs in the top ofthe seventh inning of game two, and then finally closed things out after the Rockets rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Scots’ 14-hit attack in the 12-8 win included a 3-for-5 performance from Lewandowski. He drove in four runs and scored once. Trevor Walter had two hits for the Scots. Myers was the winning pitcher with a complete game effort. Only three of the eight runs against him were earned. He struck out three, walked three and allowed seven hits. The Scots and Rockets were set to meet for one in Caledonia Thursday. Gull Lake took a 6-0 win over the Caledonia boys at the invitational in Caledonia Saturday, but the Scots rallied to beat Haslett 8-3 and then shut out West Michigan Aviation Academy 9-0. Brett Bremer Sports Editor I Visit us online at www.Sunandnews.com > ■ 1 I The Scots are finally playing some baseball. The Caledonia varsitv baseball team managed to get in just one bailgame before spring break, but are now off to a 5-2 start to the season after winning two of three at its own invitational Saturday and then sweeping an OK Green Confer­ ence doubleheader at Reeths-Puffer Tuesday. The Caledonia boys took a 2-1 win in the conference opener wi± the Rockets and then outscored their hosts in Muskegon 12-8 in game two. Garrett Johnson gave up just one unearned run on the mound in the 2-1 game to start the afternoon. He struck out seven, walked three and allowed three hits in six innings. AJ Roszkowski came on for a shut out inning of relief in which he struck out two and gave up one hit while earning ±e save. The Scots took the lead with a run in the top of the third and then after the Rockets scored in the home half of the fifth took the lead right back in the top of the sixth. Ty Lewandowski hit a leadoff double into center and Cam Myers followed with a bunt single that TK ladies win at Lakewood Invite J and in OK Gold opener Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ tennis team took the champion­ ship Saturday at the annual four-team Lakewood Invitational. The Trojans took wins over the host Vikings, Pennfield and Ionia on the day. That tournament came on the heels of the Trojans’ OK Gold Conference opener. The TK ladies knocked off Wyoming last Thursday, April 17, 8-0. TK won all eight flights in straight sets that day. Senior Isabelle Schil •* I throat took the first singles win, 6-2, 6-2, over the Wolves’ Samantha Dang. Jordan Pranger took the sec ond singles win for TK, Natileigh Merchant won at third singles and Emilia Sandborn took the fourth singles victory. TK didn’t give up more than one game in any doubles set. Molly Alden and Cayla Brouwer at number two took a 6-0, 6-0 win. TK also had Jalyn Grimes and Elise DeBeoer win at number one, Natalie Culver and Chloe Yates win at number three, and Carli Ogle and Violet Sanborn win at number four. w « ‘x J . L C sTi ■ r I <1 I < I a: I. -j.jk'1 ‘ J .ifL'.'-TJ. — -KS~ P I t I I I ^:ir I I* k ♦ 9 4^* V * DD ef' I w I la g •■tl; i « I �J I 4 * ,1! )*’ 9^ r 1 4&« (tff! ■■■ r « i i I ;1 > I r < f 1 '.'h ! Saturday. April 26. 2025 10 yif r THE SUN AND NEWS r •Nr < I • I l' 4t! b 6 j > r I > t r '^99^ * iStrr —4 ■ ' «v ■’<? •" ■•'. • 'id 1J 1! Chivis has quick answer for TK in draw with Sailors 5 -*1 1 Am ; . Brett Bremer Sports Editor r /J I 1 "..«S ‘JF Ibctau * ?>•. <1 f 4 $• c< ’sec** ■ • * > I r* •& :1 r r b I a: >t * . e ^4 “ r ’“-TV A I ^-— 4r *< * -* - • .4ttL a I •# 1 -:^rsTBr.: 1 J9 ^.7 y .= v- • I ■w »•' ««- . » 4 I I R £ Thornapple Kellogg senior defender Emma Geukes fights to try and get the ball off the feet of South Christian's Meredith Helmus during the first half of their OK Gold Conference bailgame inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville Saturday. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw to remain tied atop the conference standings. Photos by Brett Bremer e t. □ if « * I □ •I I •• I t 4 □ u ar" > rr I Scan our OR code to find your perfect invitation! icc*A Some ties feci more like wins than others. The fifth-ranked South Christian varsity girls’ soccer team struck first, but the Thomapple Kellogg girls didn't really have much time to hang their heads Saturday afternoon in Mid dleville. They answered right away to hold onto a tie atop the OK Gold Conference standings. The Trojans and Sailors are both now 5-0-1 in conference action this spring. TK followed up the draw with a 2-0 win at Grand Rapids Northview Monday and then knocked off Grand Rapids Union 3-1 in Middleville Wednesday evening. The Sailor goal Saturday came on a breakaway 11 minutes into the second half. It wasn’t even two minutes later that TK’s Tealy Cross chipped a free kick behind the South Christian line and teammate Madilyn Chivis was there to get a foot on it. Her first swing was deflected away from the net, but the ball returned right to her feet and she riffled a second attempt into the back of the net. “It was really exciting, we really need that to give us confidence and IP^ P»5 w <T .0 ”r^«*W4 < :j'ihl4jV i. * •1 ja . I V :xd rP — 4“ *«L -t C. > V M. I ♦ w % _____ •-I \ .,m, —r-;—- ’g •h IT? * / «« I f. 4‘Fl ft ( ■r^i- < .1 'f * . i * : * IV* A » Simply Perfect r 4 f WEDDING INVITATIONS * www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com :^= •* Y I * 1 r I i I 1 f r ♦t 4»’ 4 n M* ■' »5' 7 i 1 •▲' 'W a-4F ► y ■i^ b «* •/V . . A»- 1 ■ > ■f 1. I* fr' * ; i'y I VOlS hi^. fj 1 •» ' 'ij• ^1' ’ r I 'J .^SMKrn ' 4 J > 1 t I t I 1 J • I I I' h: I ’ } I ZS?E ‘ '’■ 1 I •’ll a •i ■' \ j *: T. < t t <•1 I . k < * 4 • { ✓ * I .A *E i! * ~ 2-'\- M 1 f 1 1 i i''’ iJt It fl iI >• 1 • p• pt* / r » < r f I 4 > • >« lit kW Vr > L< l! r I x« «M V fr a « ( 1 Ai '4*Mi rK I. ■> • .• »• 4 1^1*^ X ....... I. *1 . r” i I I % I ♦ s 1 I • • * » 4 r I } *. t * /J L-:*a I 1 1 K’ k^jiiygRr Thornapple Kellogg junior Charlie Manrose fires a pass ahead during the Trojans’ 1-1 draw with visiting South Christian inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville Saturday. t Ii<¥* YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors... and our future. 1^ ' hJib 'cttB L., 1 .•^1 »• J kii i 1 U’ i ‘WttB P Pm , <• >'•'% ■"■W‘ -v VlR' 1 - Mir . . • I viEyiu^ Group I I -.«St fT Your Community Connection i I #• * T: I t J I ""Ka [ft •> • w I 1^«“ I T *4* 1< Si.* .! 1 4-;^ ■'!?S I A, ATA CO. 9-1-1 CFJITER 4 5 6lcy7r 8 I I 91 10 5 « 1 DIAL (800) 249-0911 'JON - EMERGENCIES “Kids Measure up at l^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" *>1 ..f-. " J PRINTING BY . » i «“ L * J iS" •‘.v >A r Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. hiJ* 1 * 4ft •• >-■' IL. jr I / ? 1 1 aw «>' < 4>; I keep us going through the game. Chivis said. “I was a little worried w hen Ihev* first scored seeing our team, some heads went down and stuff, and then after my goal everyone was right back in it. Things were back and forth the rest ofthe day. Chivis said junior teammate Cami Stahl had a good header that just missed finding the net and junior Paige Abshagen had another good attack on the Sailor net. I was excited to compete. I know a lot of my teammates were too. 1 was excited to have that good competition," Chivis said. “I was pretty glad we tied, especially because ever> one w as light­ ing pretty hard there at the end. It was close. I am glad we were able to hold them off. They had a few breakaw ays. but we were able to hold them off." The Trojan defensive line and keeper McKenna Hoebeke came through in the end. “I think we just came together as a team and worked hard together. If we didn’t come together as a team we wouldn’t have tied that game," Chivis said. South Christian followed up the draw by scoring a 3-0 win over visit­ ing West Catholic in conference play Monday evening and an 8-0 win over visiting Northview Wednesday. The Sailors are now 8-0-1 overall this season. TK moved to 7-1-1 with the wins over Northview and Union this week. The Trojans and Sailors are set to meet again in the regular season fi nale at South Christian High School May 19. ’ u '4* I I •* * « tf' if X ft wil in'? *^1* .T' * ■iJf _________________ A J t I •Ml**"' : if r ir • I I I 12 11 1 t OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES t 111 12I 13I 141 151 161 171 181 19 201 21| 221 23| 24| 251 26| 27| 28| 29| 30 J4 h H t �I V • ' n > A e e 1 1 Sib»< w I.e • kJ 4*4 I L www.sunandnews.com THE SUN AND NEWS I J TK girls win big over Northview to stay perfect in Gold T .’VI f « III 1 ’#f { % T» I • .4 ’-r .•*4^ I 4 . • B r ' fA u ■ I . 4 • I A 1 Ik « ’•j’ .^4 fil >'i 4 J ■« •n • >i. Us ' i rC !*3'' T*V r I I » ’..‘4 J f ' b. I . •”12 V a_ k* I V 1 -f ■ iS" 1* ? •b k •*• V - Uh- ' K i . 5 4— ASS'* Ji J •M •• ’» » t d I, I ■ < . .. 4* I ( «1 * ■Ml.. *1 •n « < C--<e •C' .’•M I K '■•^ ■*». *M* U >. •r .4 A I* <* ;"i .J.. i I J » . It s Ik ^•J .1 •4 ■ ' ♦ e ** Wl ' vvvOf r 4 B- I I Id ♦ t * J. f r i I f laj •I .n * :Ai H ?iiv'i}4 bno3 rrr” n.U'/' i t ' f I u OJ r / > Tr ) I Illicit 1 3^^ •7ui4 ■ ■'M fc ‘i 1? -.44-.' .ITT'” : < >r j . t J If ; fr s •4B 1 7 bi I «a» f T 4 * « { •UI I t T T;4 4 ol ! ^llot i 11 I nogib i .f?\ 1 n/b 1 >rit w I r . .IPMI lIll 9 n t rr • I, ; Ar ,l 1 ? 1 1 1J 1 U I I u J it jqT /i. ni / j»wrBtisT'.' ■ Sif-i V -iS iJni®’Stenin I.. T I I « -Jij I I : J » t n wV ' i r ±.'** :C^ OT8 4-_,_____ I *, V f k>>^ I I t ( 1 r □!Si koi c; < I J I •I k- * . '•^.0 jgjteiiy k J I T-: I The Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ track and field team is now 3-0 in OK Cold duals after a 114-23 win at Northview Tuesday. The TK boys are 1-2 in conference duals after falling to the Wildcats 83-53. The TK ladies won 15 of the 17 events in the dual with the Wildcats, and had a pair of winners in the pole vault as sophomore Lydia Slagel and junior Mia Hilton tied for first, both clearing 8-0 in the same number of events. It was a sweep for the TK ladies in that event with sophomore Raylee Preston improving her pole vault PR to 7 feet 6 inches to place third. Slagel also won the high jump clearing 4-8. TK had senior Emma Dykhouse win the shot put at 34-2 and senior Lilly McKeown win the discus with a personal record throw of 89-0 Peyton Hardy took the 3200-meter run in 13 minutes 37.55 seconds for TK and was the runner-up in the 1600. TK senior Ava Crews won the 800-meter run in 2:31.83 and she was the runner-up in the 400. Junior Payton Cater wonthe 400-meter dash for the TK girls in 1:01.78. Brooklyn Harmon won two indi­ vidual races for the TK ladies. She won the 200-meter dash in a PR of 26.63 seconds with Hilton second and Amya Cater third in that one. In the 100-meter hurdles Harmon had a winning time of 15.34 with Hilton the runner-up. Amya Cater won the 300-meter low hurdles for TK in a PR of 48.02 with fellow freshmen Kayla Price and Ad­ dison Rocco placing second and third in PR runs of their own. Junior sprinter Jordyn Fitros won the 100-meter dash for the TK team in 13.18. The Trojans also swept their way to wins in all four relay races. The Northview boys piled up points in the sprints to get their win over TK. Senior distance runner Jacob Draa. isma led the TK team with a winning time of 2:00,25 in the 800-meter run and 4:36.47 in the 1600-meter run. He also improvedhis PR to 10:18.92 while winning the 3200-meter run. Draaisma also teamed with senior / ers. Senior Kyle Porritt won the discus with a throw of 121 -9 and senior Tan­ ner Buxton was the runner-up with a personal record throw of 116-11. Junior Adam Lozada had a runner-up mark of 41-.75, a new PR, to place second in the shot put. In the pole vault, TK junior Luke Archer cleared 11-0 for the first time to place third. TK athletes took part in the Wayland Invitational last Friday, April 18. The TK ladies took the championship at the event outscoring Plainwell 852-707 at Case Dykhouse, sophomore Elijah Frazer and sophomore Layne Schilthroat to win the 4x800-meter relay in 9:02.91, beating the Northview team by almost a minute in that race. Freshman Brekin McWhinney took victories in both hurdlers races for the TK boys. He won the 110-meter high hurdles in 18.15 and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in a PR time of 45.62. Junior teammate Benjamin Postma was second in the 110s and third in the 300 hurdles. In the field, TK was led by its throw- Brett Bremer Sports Editor •^4k *4’ Saturday, April 26, 2025 '•¥ . > Ju 1’ h\ Ki 0 lOAOMO I*. > up to F r f 4 I ■ i on si . H o Zero Turn Mowers SPECIAL DEALS ON OTHER HUSQVARNA TRACTORS J %\ f SCM A Mowers r Some Discounts Available In Stock! Ready to pick up Ready to mow! ■■■ .r* t! >k X 1 I ♦< t e... , *• • Parts & Service • Large all SEASON inventory stock iTiSTf 1 ki 'SSST^ 'S5fs^ I 4. t rt ♦» P • _ —..• _________ V ’ ♦ •: FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED ’I CHERRWOIE® AVENUE - lAlEQQNIA. MW931^ ^01^ '\V- ♦A ‘4 I J »R IIOIIKK: NONItAY FKIIHY / .TR'r: 'I ii fl 1 I ( s rl H J' I & * I r I 4 I : kV H 1 < ) D * ( ll I I 1 D % A 1 J \ I I I ♦ *I I < TO r>::tOi-M: s/lTl'KiiAY iriOtM TO r.ooiM 0** • < » a-, t •’ I i >s r >o Se f' ♦c MB -*• •■Ri' .'U X f feAA» M?' «' : V • t P^-' *• * • •* ' (Sts?/"'’ .Be s s^' wwWi^^ltdeniarQiitSluo^^ 1 I I t 4 I •a * 4 tX* 4 I 4 J I vr J ! f ‘ tt I c J *1 > .w 3- kL VC I*. rk' W 1 I JV ’3 r 1 ©Husqvarna ■*1^ * ■5-* I Shape up YOUR PROJECTS with the right equipment! 4 •■sr-' J ♦ e SALES & SERVICE .1 tf* A 11 the top of the standings. The TK boys were fifth as the host Wildcats won the boys’ meet by about 175 points over the second-place Plainwell guys. Draaisma won the 800-meter run in 2:03.82 and the 1600-meter run in 4:44.17. Emma Dykhouse improved her PR in the shot put for TK to 35-4 to win that event. The TK team of Hannon, Amya Cater, Payton Cater and Hilton won the 4x400-meter relay in 4:12.59, and Harmon improved her PR to 15.06 in winning the 100-meter hurdles. CALEDONIA RENT-ALL r?;--* •* ♦ < q �f2 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ f Saturday, April 26, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS I T www.sunandnews.com Hoebeke homer clinches county title forTK Brett Bremer Sports Editor senior season for TK “It’s a good way to start,” Hoebeke said. Sophomore Adelaide Holderman got the pitching victory, coming on in relief of senior Jenna Robinett. Holderman was also the winning pitcher in game one ofthe day for the TK ladies - a 24-0, three-inning win over Delton Kellogg. Lakewood took a 3-1 lead in the championship bailgame with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. TK got one back in the home half of the fourth. Federau got two groundouts to start the bottom of the seventh with her team still up 3-2. Anna Romph fought back from an 0-2 count to work a walk to get the rally started and then Aubree Stevens reached on a Viking error that could have ended the game, bringing Hoebeke to the plate. Hoebeke was 4-for-4 in the bailgame with two runs and four RBIs. Besides those four hits from Hoebeke, an RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth off the bat of Holderman was the only other hit the TK ladies managed off Grand Valley State University bound senior Kylee Hoebeke stepped into the batter’s box with runners on first and second and two-out in the bottom of the seventh inning of the Barry County Invitational championship against Lakewood Saturday afternoon in Middleville. She watched the first pitch from Lakewood’s Peyton Federau sail by for a strike. That wasn’t what she was expecting., “I kind 6f thought I was going to get pitched around a little bit, but the first one was right down the middle,” Hoebeke said, “and I was like okay. The next one was too.” Hoebeke drilled a two-out, three-run walk-off home run over the Centerfield fence to give the Trojan varsity softball team a 5-3 win over Lakewood. She can’t remember ever having hit a walkoff home run for the Trojan varsity or any of her club teams throughout the years. It is her first home run of this <I:O; *JRp ' •<. > to J?’ <! 1' - • 3 • / * ''y’i • «»e \ :u. T > 4 I w <- * J** e. > KOVeST M (STIMAU r *../ .s >• k TsCO ■to" fl -t-J' :«R ROOFING 3 * I • \♦ U** o P* S • z i_— A - Serving the Caledonia and Middleville Communities. * V 3 . Is c I r -fe « F to» to I T r \ COVER IT WITH CONFIDENCE K B* ■* S n .4 » Residential » Commerical » Roof Repair » Storm Damage » Insurance Claims 6l6'9f6-0t88 r Tj 100% SAT/SFACTfON 6UARANU80 HfJ^Mbook A< A Kt PHI n A Google yelp’o ht fSJNt ’**-. C^MomBT Rmcm Ir ♦ W ♦ "t I •*1 I I / . 4/ r •. to'. ' *• z ■n, i Hra> 9 * '-t I i I I < i I f, I j 1 91^^ i.M» 1 I JL I*' F a'**' * 1 r ■ to . 2 *• *'l .M , » J * • > / 1 * I J A 4 *1. ? ■ XI»*^ I .Jfec i > »1 8 5 • 9 10 wt . xJ I T -.-in •' 4 ( J : a*-' : A 12 13 t .( 4 •ar • :> I Teammates greet Thornapple Kellogg senior Kylee Hoebeke at home plate as her three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning powers the Trojans to a 5-3 win over Lakewood in the championship game of the Barry County Invitational in Middleville Saturday. Photos by Brett Bremer ■<»' 1- ii'T i 4^ >• 15 i I I* <• V' u <» r •' * ( &« • 1 I 1 I ' * ■i ' ' .k •*!> • 4 # .► . ’>** ! of Federau. Overall though, Hoebeke likes where her team’s offense stands at the moment. “I like it. We’re hitting good this year,” Hoebeke said. “We didn’t give up or anything, so that is awesome. This year, we started out really strong hitting-wise. That is encouraging.” “Part of it is, most of the team played together last year. We only have two new girls or whatever, so we’re all getting along pretty good and we know the drill and everything. Everyone has been working.” Robinett went four innings in the championship game in the circle for TK. She struck out one, walked one and allowed four hits. Of the three runs against her, only one was earned. Holderman threw three perfect innings of relief striking out three. The four Lakewood hits were all singles, one each for Galatea ArchboldPyle, Madison Fenlong, Avery Farrell and Graysi Hillard. Matti Alchrch and Archbold-Pyle had one RBI apiece. Federau’s final line in the circle was 6.2 innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on four walks and five hits. She struck out eight. TK smacked 14 hits and took advan­ tage of 11 walks in the three-inning opener against Delton Kellogg. Romph was 4-for-4 at the top ofthe line-up with a double, a walk, four runs scored and two RBIs. Hoebeke, Holderman and Kenzie Bouma had four hits apiece. Hoebeke and Bouma both drove in four runs. Holderman, Robinett and Chloe Bossenberger had three RBIs each. Holderman gave up one hit and one walk in two innings while striking out five in the circle for TK. Stevens threw a perfect inning to close things out, striking out one. A single by Josie Lyons was the lone hit for Delton Kellogg in the loss. Lakewood got to the championship game with a 14-0 win over Hastings in five innings to start the day. Delton Kellogg took a 10-2 win over the Saxons in the consolation game to close out the day. Those victories came on the heels of a pair of wins over Plainwell for the TK girls in Middleville last Thursday, April 17. The TK girls took 11-3 and 6-4 victories in the two games of the non-conference doubleheader. Romph and Robinett both homered in the game one victory with Holder­ man getting the win in the circle. She struck out 12 in seven innings while walking one and giving up three hits. Stevens was 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored to help power the game-two win for TK, and she shared the pitching duties with Hoebeke and Robinett. 4 i * * 8 U as*'-glCE 3f t r Itf i II r« > 181 19 10 11 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 20 211 221 231 24 / 1^ • Mct; r trti.’.)**• I'* I <Je; . mt fJV* # <. t. A J.. *' r V w* M (1 ' ik • u t I I •t> ■» ;a .■5 f 4 I I . 1 -■i - - f; M ' V • J’ Pxdkri ‘jjB .L .♦I u, n M ft •* ; i 33811® i nf^ FtPQTBe^ Ue^offem? to* io C V * k’’ 1 r I Q*i . t t. »>!»* - a r ,• •J ■w i ^17 ''5!€ r» t.; M * 1 r* » >’■ * I '4 to * 9 Ltoi > J T ' 1. ■ asfe >• aacte It; OSS j I *• U8 j« er t: 'I *4^1 F 4 1 1 I -jj^ In !iig. 'v fZ F JI WI , r f • r IK • • no I < I ♦s .5 f 4. t i» *M .aiW jS? s b f □ -<<?: •M t.'i » X 4.' A •» JI 'X r f II Si ** i • r I I I I 161 171 I 4 i • «a— I j**‘ . .1 . s/ . 4 • ■ II » . f 14 !t^.- 4 I "Kids Measure up at Q^lawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 y > I t DIAL (800) 249 -0911 NON - EMERGENCIES ATA CO. 9-1-1 CElTER 1 « 1 w 1 . > ■J*! ■*. 1 e ■» t « « A 1 r 5 Ll"' s < ! f J 1. I !' i! •s I. L> .Tb* 5>’ • • i II I • F <4: 11 I.' I s’ ■ b. z o A'-' i I I i I** I uUto. I F' «w r I I- % r* I I ♦ I 12 I J i j I j 251 261 271 281 291 301; I I r I «* • to 8 3i;ix �♦ I ♦ b 1 sib. . M(jJ < i ! Saturday. April 26, 2025 13 ♦ ♦ > I Scots and Troians in middle of pack at TK Invite 1 A r THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com i I / i a 1 % V Brett Bremer kwwTMBtB •I ' r f 9b-,q£mo< ri' bnB t* i®ar IK" holtc U ■ . J r J lirmdsiMf f V?fc . Si. liB a -r 2g> ,4i t i A x; IK -T, ,.. » . 1 i F^M>rn; i'jiriV^»*T>>'n 'I ’ « ‘'’fu icd ^- Tfxa-i/: iD 1 d em ti. I hv •* r • k *7J-4 O3X' cc tw • u f 1 tf;’ t 1 1 L. . ’C^r'Ti^’O > ,1 t I /itnM If J a » L ) "Cl ' h». * f :r^ Ji r^v % ** :h J r .-1. '4 f. ofV r I 1) * V t E'J-U •af> J n * 4 < «L I »« i39|in»eii w • *9^ k ’*V r t I 1 S"'Hr > ^4 .V » 4 p > > I T V* ^4 ■5^ T 'c A« ^Sr 4* A w «k XHE •iC^. w ** *^1 w w* t I* R C *** *4 V * J * 11-'- -'.IxT •k * J* I •w < See INVITE on 14 9^ t * ■<1 IVS. ’ j- 'I ► <^1*4 A *Ar< .«* «. • * "V* «**>» Caledonia Community Schools *443^ t $ >« k2» r A •i t •J*. ; I* =4.4 has posted an RFP for “2025 Pavement Program Kettle Lake Elementary School.” All RFP information can be found on the district website; https://www.calschools.org/bond/ 9 •. Thornapple Kellogg's Tyler Voss sets up a putt on Gold number two during the TK Invitational at Yankee Springs Golf Course Friday. Photos by Brett Bremer ley and senior Sam Miersen. Sophomore Parker Dahley led TK with an 84. The Trojans also got an 82 from senior Kylan Pratt and an 83 from senior Will Nathan. Seniors Ryan Skidmore and Tyler Voss both shot 88 for the Trojans. Byron Center junior Gibson Hibma was the day’s individual champion with a three-under-69. Greenville senior -4’ 1 *1*9 I ’ 4 .(* JA « , "i « 4iP ’<rrTx nm -34;... . OlflSS H JK '*•", ('ll * * - » fo-WlB, .-t'JktH-is li' Ki I T 9 1 I r * I *• • < : 14 rrnaC ■•8 •f , Jk * f .?i;' •Wrt ! *.*■ w I * . VI im I *f r 4 T f I i I \’it ■' */■ t noite 1 T 1 I IV uo^. i ■» t I « i . 4 imjWV > lb' '\C 1 «1 1 ^A... I • I < I ( I \ 'vL^no t ; d-'-' I I I .. r rlv it I 12 r U62if> ’***' •* * * 1J I 5* i 01 r* J. _______ _________ ■ja i t ‘>in<H-' • •-.za> r ■ J > 1 I 1 f I i I . 'X\ ' ~y:**i;iaii7 •- . GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP The Gaines Charter Township Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Request for a use variance to allow for a funeral home to operate in the Suburban Residential zoning district. Property Address: 1095 68th Street, Grand Rapids, Ml 49508 Parcel Number: 41-22-05-326-020 Applicant: Michael A. Vos Date and Time of Hearing: May 14th, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected during regular business hours Monday through Friday, at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices or contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5 PM on May 14th, 2025. 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia, MI 49316 1 Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax; 616.891.0430 CaudwiA TOWNSHIP CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the Charter Township of Caledonia will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 19, 2025 at 7:00pm at the Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue, SE, Caledonia Michigan, 49316. w. •. Iw » lei-' .•.J'-K-* >9 - r't’! * * ; «• ■p H--'; ■ tj A The request is for a i rezoning of .7 acres from C-2 to R-2 to allow for residential 41-23-10-201001 at 7611 68th in Alto, I Michigan. / 'k > > w ■. '-4 *F i .4’ •F. u •Afc’ *• r >• 4/ ••• •« I r ■-<4* •1 V-' /« 9 2 I X '*-1 > /• > ** -■ u 11* All interested persons *5^ may attend the public ^.«* </ « T hearing and comment on * *' A* the proposed rezoning. V* . ' / : V** w Written comments con­ • incerning the requested rei z zoning may be submitted to the Township office, at the above-stated address, up to the time of the public hearing. It- ***!*. <*«■ k ■X * *•« • r 4 .( M xrt; « • n t .... ‘T ■ J j P I t tL • # NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ■ ■’At ■'.'t R' , je‘5 ■ fl I .«< n I •S. in 0^, k 1f of V <'(1 4 • 'Ik* t 3 >n * Just one stroke separated Caledonia and Thomapple Kellogg as the Trojans hosted their annual TK Invitational on the Gold and White nines at Yankee Springs Golf Course Friday, April 18. The Fighting Scots closed the day in 12th place and the Trojans were 13th overall. A field of 22 teams was led in the end by the Greenville Yellow Jackets who put together an 18-hole score of 313 on the White and Gold nines at Yankee Springs. Hudsonville was second with a score of 314, followed by Jenison 315, Grandville 317 and St. Joseph 318 in the the top five. The Scots had a score of 336 and the Trojans shot a 337. Senior Parker Little was 32nd indi­ vidually to lead the Caledonia team he shot an 82. Caledonia senior Mason Kem scored an 84 and the Scots’ top four also in­ cluded 85s from% junior Camden Quig- G WoD te o; .*4 Sports Editor f Sutton Schroeder was the runner-up with an even-par-72 It was the start of a busy stretch for the Trojans who competed in three OK Gold Conference jamborees this week, one on Monday and two on Tuesday. TK was beat out by Northview in a tiebreaker for fourth at the jamboree hosted by South Christian Monday TT Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact info@gainestownship.org or (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance Dated: April 21,2025 PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA �a ii Saturday, April 26, 2025 14 THE SUN AND NEWS ■l I " eA* I. ■48^“ ■■ t- <■ Jto* ■- > * -r ■» ’>*W^** I ,» 1 * - ►. * J '» •i'z. ' ' ♦ a I #» *r«: i» 4 r . «r. / t 1 .A b 3 S ‘ If r .t t p '“'•jiif* Continued from Page 13 >« >4. www.sunandnews com INVITE • «> f ■F Caledonia’s Quigley watches a shot fly in the direction of the green on Gold number two during the TK Invite Friday at Yankee Springs Golf Course. Thornapple Kellogg’s Will Nathan watches his tee shot fly on Gold number two during the TK Invite at Yankee Springs Golf Course Friday, April 18. Visit us online at mihomepaper.com ¥ at Railside Golf Club, finished fourth at the jamboree it hosted at Yankee Springs Wednesday morning, and then finished back in sixth place at the con­ ference jamboree hosted by Wayland Wednesday afternoon at Orchard Hills Golf Course. Pratt had a pair of lop ten finishes individually during the run. He shot a 41 at Railside to place eighth, and he was seventh al the jamboree al Orchard Hills with a 37. South Christian won all three ofthose conference jamborees. Caledonia bounced back from the invitational last week to place second al the OK Green Conference jamboree hosted by Mona Shores at Muskegon Country Club Wednesday. Mona Shores took the day’s victory with a score of 152, The Scots were sec­ ond at 163 ahead of Byron Center 164, Jenison 164 and Reeths-Puffer 168. Quigley tied for fourth individually with a 39 and Miersen shot a 40 to lead the Scots. Kern added a 41 and junior Garrett Fales contributed a 43 to round I • s. » *«’ t •Sv X •MV*****'***' lb * '4^ 4 9 m. «Sr X* 1 •4 « 4^ -IL’ - ’ K ■J K »<'V* 4*' .A' "=*»■ 4 Jv * ( J ,s< > 1 •bT •r >5^ • • ■*■ -4 \i. ai' I ■'•4 ' *. - .0 if f I The Fighting Scots’ Parker Little shoots his ball towards the green on Gold number two during the TK Invite at Yankee Springs Golf Course Friday, April 18. i K '• ' .«< V I •>r’-' r >ft^! 4 •. 1 * C / 1 1 I A r f. \I J’ 4^ ' scf^ • ' A r out the Scots’ top four scorers. Mona Shores had two of the top three scorers on the day with senior Lincoln Harwood shooting a 36 and freshman Cruz Beckstrom scoring a 38. Jenison sophomore Cohen Chatfield scored a 38 to earn runner-up honors. * r» E^l^ r f 1 I I 1 < V p ,->t £ i 1 f' t r* V m'> ( 1 f v;> M »r ! 11 I I (' -•-. V!A u v“ t 11 -4» w '4 > I • IF- 1 I 1 8196 Broadmoor Avc. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Caledonia _ TOWNSHIP . i 8196 Broadmoor Avc. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Phone; 616.891.0070 Kax: 616.891.0430 I Phone; 6I6.K9L0070 Fax; 616 891.0430 Caledonia TCWNSHIP <• ¥ 1 .(••■I''';;; ► .J. z> v< PUBLIC NOTICE Charter Township of Caledonia Kent County, Michigan PUB V I NOTICE IC 2 rt UVA CO. 9-1 -1 C 4 ■’Vi i A TER 91 10 8 5 1 I 14 4 *4^ ik 1« >« f ;S « f NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Precinct 4 polling location has CHANGED for the upcoming Caledonia Community Schools Special Election to be held on May 6, 2025 in the Charter Township of Caledonia, Kent County, Michigan . -r. k I 1 A r«.. .Y l.» -*•», ■ 6 \ ' :• n-. I t « I* O'W tA I "safety’ 3 «ent j l^i TfWlf r • uw I Y I : 4 Ml I .TT • < * f. •• I I > iiki 4W; )d Vr* %a 4{ 4jX ViC fI ■kra^* I ’* ■ >.? *r* «*>* ' % iV H- « r L ••: - k e 7 >• ' - ‘xrn ’ Ar r 6 ww •• T • ) it i« •••I* ... ' 4. •t ... •« 5 t •.»< * • *. I t- I 11 1^1 12 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES 4 151 161 171 181 19 201 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 y*’ M it I i fl I* < I 5 ( I « A* 9 r r • r> A This change is for the May 6, 2025 Special Election ONLY. Precinct 4 voters will return to their prior polling location for all future elections. Questions? Please contact; Charter Township of Caledonia Clerk’s Office 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE Caledonia Ml, 49316 616-891-0070, ext. 215 rr 40^*4 « ^3Ia‘■ T ’ I I r For this election ONLY, Precinct 4 Caledonia Community Schools reg­ istered voters will vote at Lakeside Community Church Located at 6201 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto Ml 49302 I •> »?101 ■ I Vi 5, ’*5KS iL’' fl DIAL (800) 249-0911 ’4ON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at Ottawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 111 121 13 I I PRECINCT 4 POLLING LOCATION CHANGE NOTICE 4 ;ra rf f M > ■3, _jr -'w** I • 1 4 1 I ,? I I « »* IX.'' .ly’-V This change is for the May 6, 2025 Special Election ONLY. Precinct 1 voters will return to their prior polling location for all future elections. Questions? Please contact; Charter Township of Caledonia Clerk’s Office 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE Caledonia Ml, 49316 616-891-0070, ext. 215 . .v •I «1 1 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Precinct 1 (Village) polling location has CHANGED for the upcoming Caledonia Community Schools Special Election to be held on May 6, 2025 in the Charter Township of Caledonia, Kent County, Michigan For this election ONLY, Precinct 1 registered voters will vote at Caledonia Christian Reformed Church Located at 9957 Cherry Valley Avenue SE Ave, Caledonia Ml 49316 (lower level) - «* '* Y r , 1-'''. '^ Charter Township of Caledonia Kent County, Michigan PRECINCT 1 POLLING LOCATION CHANGE NOTICE 'V I I I I J �> I i^www rr Scots second to Hudsonville teams at Hastings Invite * 9 V 4. fk-‘ 1 i > ' i 1 I tJ » ijii. 9n< II i - e J.i) f > 'w< f Brett Bremer Sports Editor r 1 Of the few hundred student-athletes competing at the Hastings Team Invi­ tational at Baum Stadium at Johnson Field, the new “EQ” policy really only mattered to someone like Saxon sophomore Bella Friddle. The 2024 high jump champion at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Girls’ Track and Field Finals last spring earned a spot in the 2025 state finals with her second best day ever at the high jump pit. Friddle cleared the bar easily at 5 feet to rise above the only other five competitors left even attempting that height Friday. Alone in the event after that, she cleared 5 feet 2 inches, 5-4 and 5-6 on her first attempt at each height. Friddle cleared 5-5 at the finals to win the state championship as a fresh­ man after a 5-7 jump to set the school record at the Interstate-8 Athletic Con­ ference Championship last season. She looked to improve her school record to 5-8 Friday, but couldn’t quite clear the bar in three attempts. “I was very nervous, even though I know I should be able to make these heights it still always gets me so ner­ vous because every jump matters to me so much,” Friddle said. “Qualify­ ing for the state meet April 18, it is expected, and it is fun. It is kind of a relief you know, getting it out of the way I suppose.” The MHSAA this season for the first time is allowing Early Qualifier (EQ) events, like Friday’s, which allow student athletes to qualify for the state finals by meeting predetermined stan­ dards. Those predetermined standards far exceed the regular state qualifying marks athletes would need to meet at regionals to qualify for the finals though, and only really apply to the elite of the elite across the state. The second, third, fourth and fifth place girls in the high jump in Hastings cleared 4-9, but each failed in three tries to get over the bar at 5-0. The EQ height for the high jump in Divi­ sion 2 is 5-2 this spring. At regionals a competitor would only need to clear 5-1 to qualify for the state finals. In other events there is what feels like a . fiO >onio•no FIB * ? * I 8 Jilt r I ■! '/fro ( < GHfp J I wi I teem 4 ^1 I I. ^2i J ( ' Cl. U- I I ) s i 1'5 Jh, < <*. I I ► 1 ■;, ■' !J M. I I J * • < * ** ■ • -I r I f A ; t I 4 * ri‘ O ' TTT^'/ ■ 5V n? » < J * 1 i k ! J I 'L, t Btfb JB r nVi -• } .• V I h 'L I. 1I s I’t . « ■“'tU • J A 1 9 A ‘•’’J Ii * I » . '} I• I <ZI w©» •or* I ' I ’b ?J3V^ ( T4 ; 4 t I 5:d J. << A 5. L. I :* . < 4 Z (' •. .’I 1 < I I ' '<r • * I k 4 ) C A' 4 • < I I 1 i ■ '• J ► =•!, .' i Li »H vLsX A •: • ( A* J Ai,;I r Hl; 4 1 . i A * ’ z • * k 4 1 I t A « 'w ■! -'b.V 1 e i .4 . J r ■H » )** a * ' 'WSWS} I i ‘ I Ji } Il1 ) I dl I I • t » 1 1 f t .' • ■■■ I . I j I I I 1 *• „„ v.k >1. I '.zrr '••w 1 .' I .• r I /;i II 1,1 r I 1 I I . 4 I I ( 1 ft w I I I > I ,.',ji(ai;afr’‘-' s f up ’ll ■ f ,^e THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com i much larger gap. Friddle was the only student-athlete from eight girls’ teams and nine boys' teams competing Friday to meet an EQ standard. But everyone who finished an event scored for their team during the meet Friday. The Division 1 EQ standards are even tougher than the D2 ones, and Caledonia varsity girls’ coach Ben Howell said that a quick early season glance basically left the Scots with the impression that it’ll basically take a school record performance to qualify for the state finals early. New Hastings varsity girls’ coach Erin Goggins lamented the fact that there are likely to be fewer meets that are more for fun with the new EQ opSee SCOTS on 17 Saturday, April 26, 2025 VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO VILLAGE of MIDDLEVILLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY DEVELOPMENT AND TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Village Council of the Village of Middleville will hold a public hearing on the proposed Amendment No. 5 to the Village of Middleville Local Development Finance Authority's Development and Tax Increment Financing Plan in accordance with the Michi­ gan Recodified Tax Increment Financing Act (Act 57 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 2018, as amended). The hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., local time (or shortly thereafter) at the Village Hall located at 100 East Main Street, within the Village. The existing boundaries of the Authority’s District are described as follows by map and general property description: VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY DISTRICT BOUNDARIES VILLAGE OF Ml DDLEVl LLE > » !t » f V t ar I t - ^■ S 1 t B bl ^4 s,s t I* ! d ILL r 1 I *► 'I klUlJ f t';i v5 •J fi t 5 *;** 1 > ■* M’ V I LEGEND mPfS Vv Si / rfc_- B fJ7 u I 1 i 1 iV 3 I K 111 8 * J f .4 -L 4 £ * a WADE-TRIM LO/:mioiN OoarrCer B. KW > Iz Lt •V * • { * >* The existing Development and Tax Increment Financing Plan (the “Plan”), as amended by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 to the Plan, and the proposed Amendment No. 5 to the Plan, are available for public inspection at the office of the Village Clerk at the Village Hall located at 100 East Main Street, Middleville, Michigan. I I I 4 r 4 * rj’ Xk** « «• It >1 Ae . L V a*t ) H A * * t > Caledonia junior Ben Moss attempts to get over the bar at 12 feet during the pole vault competition Friday, April 18, at the Hastings Team Invitational. Moss got over the bar in his third attempt to place third in the event and teammate David Potgeter also cleared 12-0 to win the event. All aspects of Amendment No. 5, the Plan, and any other information that the Village Council deems appropriate, are open for discussion at the public hearing. At the hearing, citizens, taxpayers and property owners may be heard with regard to Amendment No. 5 to the Plan. Written comments concerning Amendment No. 5 may be submitted to the Village office, located at 100 East Main Street, Middleville, Michigan, up to the time of the public hearing. Authorized by the Village Council of the Village of Middleville on the 22nd day of April 2025. Dated: April 22,2025 Rhonda Van Polon, Clerk Village of Middleville t I 4 I rf « » * £ ' 4 * t rt' ■ J •‘ ; * I I j ’ •: ±' i ' f. 1» F i i I ' n I 1 * .1 'ii II I . .» • I I ih •A i 3 I a s s * 1 f. I I r j I I I 12 -INDUSTRIAL IH 11 - INDUSTRIAL I / k a • VILLAGE BOUNDARY Nib ...*«* k X fiJjijSES r crw’C^ ^4 IIIHIV A ! ? F-p V'^. L k A <• > LAA^iiJ 3 5 v 4 iir ;• I ? ?> T » j"n /1-^ 1/ *l J$ tlUlHMt { f LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY EUGIBLE PROPERTIES V, Rit^gj C JI tk: t n *V ' a ‘^1 >4 1 f u \ Ir t ' 4? T U- a *.* •** A> '7u.2Z N » .I 11 «< III X I > ♦' I i^' HAP \ �Saturday, April 26. 2025 16 THE SUN AND NEWS s www.sunandnews.com ■ r- ft ft Wilcox finds space outside as Scots shut out Jenison Brett Bremer Sports Editor ♦ I Meeting Minutes i > M 1 ♦i: r ♦ ft • V f ft 1 X '-55 W" s ?-;5 I .rft I .*** X a ,1 « 4Mr -i 1 ft w 1 » / ft k ( 4 1 ft I >«>«k 6 Ofy COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Yankee Springs Township t t « #*■ »< 9 f CL r Caledonia sophomore Kelsey Roszkowski (6) pushes forward with the ball to get a shot off during her team’s OK Green Conference win over visiting Jenison Thursday. April 17, as the Wildcats' Naomi Diekman (14) and Ella Meyering (11) give chase at Scotland Yard. . •*'1 3;>' >?2ig i I I J t 'S' 'Si 4^ -•s* V 1 J hi* •r H:fF ..'4 • < > I I )S« Photos by Brett Bremer Bijii!'* f « I •i(M‘ A e *t » -lit V> I ► * » . i* 4 jtf'ii I The Scots are set to host Mat­ tawan today, April 26. at 12:30 p.m. The conference season continues when the Scots host Mona Shores Tuesday. Reeths-Puffer comest to Scotland Yard for its second conference match with the Scots May I 1' .1'.' i;** i»i ♦i'v ..sxik9 I I t M* 4 V/ >1 I > s .•r I SS I L J * A I ftsArft * V* > I 1 :>r<i ? j r r a’ ' * ♦ ft .**4 e Aa '■-X. r 5S? - 4 .. a ■ b>Z. ft 5-ja6«R 3^ r * '* ■ ft* f. f I* • >* •. F--J* 9 I ♦ r r t »« I 1^ ft > u t i , 1 t * •< c* r *• M I '! 4aB« > «> 2 t j * J t it ftl ♦ *’*’• brW --^•k A1 jH ♦J * 1 ‘t ft? ft r I L X J I 1 ^«<*»****^ ft^ I t S. ' •V * * Yankee Springs Township The minutes of the April 8, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on April 22, 2025. are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main Street and on the website at www. villaqeofmiddleville. org. k fit > 44 Vi A ^4-5 r I 4 . 4^' r 5 r-' t W’ ■ 41 ' U r* ft* u r 1 f >=- jC > . -^9r- ... J -M * J »< I * I r 1 ’I 9^ 1 .5 ■ N» r T r •« i 5 J t V" ( * .aUI < '-.IT. ♦ • * 1 J.* I I v< * i: A i* “ Our back line has been verv from the Wild­ solid this whole year, ” Kastens cat keeper and said. “ We have seniors in our back just inside the line right now, so that helps a lot near post. that they played with each other It was 2-0 at last vear. “ the half and the That defensive group is led by Fighting Scots its keeper as well as senior Allye went on to a Risner, and coach Kastens said 4-0 victory with “ she just commands the field. She stellar shots anchors that back line. She talks from Gortmak­ to the girls. She keeps them very er and Wilcox organized, and of course, Ella is just that found the a wall in the back back. We love back of the net having her as a senior this year. in the second Foster shot the ball in to set up pul half. Gortmaker in a position to score in “We we’re the second half. From a tough angle moving a lot of Gortmaker skipped a perfect shot by the Wildcat keeper off the bottom of the V crossbar and in. I LM Wilcox scored Um ICT* is requesting bids to rework her second goal creating a turn­ the walking path in the 284 N. BRIGGS ROAD- MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN 49333 over at the top Township Park located on 269-795-9091 ! FAX 269-795-2388 of the Wildcat Parker Drive off from M-179. box in the closing Work would include the milling and removal of existing asphalt , finish minutes and rip­ grade and needed gravel. Pave a new base coat of asphalt, apply tack coat ping a shot off the Wildcat keeper’s and pave new topcoat of asphalt. The track is approx. Yi mile in length fingertips into and 10 feet wide. Bids must be received by April 30, 2025 at noon at the the top left comer township hall. of the goal. The minutes for the March 19. 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on April 16, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave., and on the website at www.caledoniatown- I ( people around, which is good. We have a lot of injuries right now, so we re slowly getting back into it, but we're putting balls in the back of the net,” first-year Caledonia head coach Taylor Kastens said. “That's what what I care about. We're finishing. We're finishing our opportunities. We did not do that at the beginning of the year, so it’s nice to see that we're getting on the end of some of them now. Caledonia moved to 2-0 in the OK Green Conference with the win and is now 3-0 in conference play after an 11 -0 win at Mus­ kegon Tuesday. Overall, the Scots were 5-4 heading into a big conference showdown in Byron Center Thursday night, April 24. The Scots and Bulldogs were the last two OK Green teams with undefeated conference records heading into the match. “Well, we're finding that last piece into the final third, a lot better.” Kastens said of the improved scoring opportunities against Jenison last week. “We're building better outside on our wingbacks and balls into the box are a lot better.” As far as dealing with injuries early on this season, the CHS head coach said her team is fortunate to have a lot of versatile players on the roster. She is moving those puzzle pieces around and still working out the best ways to work the three talented freshmen on the varsity roster onto the field. Kastens liked the way having Wilcox on the outside against the Wildcats.There was the opportunity for Wilcox to score another goal or two Thursday had ail the bounces gone her way. Anytime I can find her space on the field. that is what I want,” Kastens said. “So, I pulled her out of the middle today. It was a little congested, and she found that space out wide and had a lot of shots on target. The shut out was one of three so far this season for the Scots and senior keeper Ella DeRuyter. Fortuitous bounces made things a little easier on the Fighting Scots Thursday, April 17. It only look about a minute for the Scots to put pressure on the Jenison net at the south end of Scotland yard in Caledonia. Joslynn Wilcox charged in for a shot and a Jenison defender's attempt to clear the ball was deflected by Wilcox right into the Jenison goal. The Scots got a second goal before the end of the first half when junior Baylee Devries started a counter attack with a pass from the midfield out wide left to freshman teammate Myla Gortmaker. Gortmaker slid a pass back to the middle that was just out of the reach of Devries who kept her run going. The ball found its way to senior teammate Alaina Russell on the backside CHARTER and she poked TOWNSHIP OF a shot that CALEDONIA glanced off the BOARD OF leg of a Jenison TRUSTEES defender, away ,4’ I 4VW 1 u • —i •s'S * •*? - Is I } Caledonia's Olivia Foster works to get around Jenison's Aliya Vugteveen (right) with the ball in the midfield during their OK Green Conference match at Scotland Yard in Caledonia Thursday, April 17. * WIL 1. * I > "4^. ♦ 1 T I , "»* 4* ft »ri» I < L ) I *A^ft t. ’'f-^raoSff * I f * 7 < I. I ■ < AM I I I r h f •r' .1 ft' 5? > . t *44: Mvr' 4 I 1* !?Kr I ■’"Wi I L 4s 4 •r* ft r J I I I 4 •» ITA CO. 9-1 -1 CENTER I 5 I r I T I I ill r 12 11 \ OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES V ft t. DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES H « I 1 I T Kids Measure up at Q,-tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" , H ** ii MWtl IlH flfliBHHfl J flSi ft.** hll i f &«* 1«i» J al KI «* J ft. th*«t i f *H1 J 1 4 91 10 8 5 111 121 13 14 15 161 171 181 19 20 211 221 231 241 251 261 271 281 291 30 r 7. t IJ h M it I I t II n I i 1 4- i i i a 1 I t t �I 1 ♦ ♦ fa ♦ I XTOOS SCOTS j 1 I / I I Continued from Page 15 t nov 1 Sheely to win the 4x400-meter relay in 4 minutes 16.92 seconds. Sheely had a win for the Scots too with a personal record time of 1:01.42 in the 400-meter dash, and she was third in the 200-meter dash with a PR of 27.63. Freshman teammate Brynn Ward was the runner-up in both the 100-meter dash (13.39) and the 200 (27.11). The Scots had all kinds of PRs Friday. Maya Terryn set her PR at 2:33.94 in the 800-meter run to place third and senior Hannah Dupuis was second in the 3200-meter run with a PR of 11:51.36. Caledonia girls’ teams were second in the 4x800-meter relay and the 4x200-meter relay, and third in the 4x100-meter relay. Junior Jolie King had a couple of the Caledonia girls’ top finishes in the field. She was third in the shot put with a PR of 29-8 and fourth in the long jump with a mark of 14-2. Freshman teammate Lillian Ward was fourth in the pole vault with a PR of 8-0. Hastings’ Friddle won two of those events too, taking the pole vault at 9-6 >X‘ 4 y .'!'>'ti, r ;q--r > 4^1 bl, ‘’i jB Ab 4 J 5 i. -rr n « i r 11 'Bk J h ir > < f ■’70^ ' ? . Jfr/nofchL i **. « *1 I .>i / rt f' • ■•t njki -1 'ihi « 'B 11 •* * HOW ► H I bfA •r* I -fcKj • r, /TTOq I 1 I.?? (D ft r I. c J - - 'b'fv H i J 1 f i i 'ifl.ciuLi r- l-t t egos) *'4t K ’^1. «« J 1 I Jh;f4 ^*5 1. ■ Ia I I * r • iii* • £'■ / .4 •"Wu - vh »1 I I 1 •n-j' I • ' ■M^ I J s !■ rj^^j I } I I ’ > I J k ' to I . *• f « I ***-S.i .. . ir V/»-3\ Ik , * ( V I * X-w> « «4 <Tf r\- T Ur I‘ r portunities. She said the Saxons had a tough time this spring finding teams to compete in their annual co-ed relays, an event with a myriad of different events that is not an EQ competition. Hudsonville, Caledonia and Char­ lotte were 1-2-3 in both the boys’ and girls’ team competitions Friday. Hudsonville won the girls’ meet with 919 points ahead of Caledonia 861.5, Charlotte 682.5, Hastings 620, Grand Rapids Track Club 460, Ravenna 413, Belding 392.5 and the Quad City Mus­ tangs 17.5. Just because it didn’t happen Friday, doesn’t mean the Scots won’t have athletes pushing for spots in the state finals this season. The teams certainly had plenty of athletes pushing for vic­ tories in Hastings. Sophomore Olivia Hawkins took a pair of wins turning in a time of 16.14 in the 100-meter hurdles and 47.84 in the 300-meter low hurdles. She also teamed with sophomore Evie Huttenga, senior Avalynn Klapmust and sophomore Isla <. *I R . * I 4 A I Rs--/ J Vs .« 'fr •''Afi p -. 1 XI- 1^' » . ^11 * ( r * u X «' 1- I*' 'W s ''X T • w 1 -k X'. <1 & «< i Su t r-:T7 I x - ------------- ! I r X I / ■4 J /* «^C > » 1 7 I mg r i '4 £ ; IJ r I li I S I Hr r I I *• 1 A 4‘ I iialf Vs s« f g <r . t."WMwa<p ' s I u II *• « k^ssb «• ’I 1 r i ♦' • i T ; 3 4 w ‘ PMSS 1 ,<1 i _ A X • ■ Mfe s jit9 I M II E 4 II L .. ;~ r- 5,' •“r ••w* ipew I : - & S: s - 1 'Vil?? • t V/?’' * f J * It ' f I I k j f I i » A' I ♦ 1?' 1 i( ’cnt''’ i I I 'PA ' See SCOTS on 20 •• •'•r. c’**- XsW •s>* s, IM' t . ?, 5 X >■ Caledonia senior Keira Bommarito races with the pack at the start of the 1600-meter run during the Hastings Team Invitational Friday, April 18, inside Baum Stadium at Johnson Field in Hastings. Photos by Brett Bremer I 1 I and the long jump at 15-10.5. She was a state qualifier in both of those events last year as well as the high jump. The distance runners has a great eve­ ning for the CHS boys. Eli Velting won the 800-meter run in 2:02.06. Junior Noah Johnston won the 1600-meter run in 4:30.03. Senior Kort Thompson set his PR in the 3200 at 9:52.93 with Johnston adding a PR of 10:00.14 to place second. Teammate Aidan Edgar, another senior, had a time of 10:18.43 which is a PR for him to place seventh in that 3200 too. Velting teamed with sophomore Grant Feldpausch, senior Ethan Buer and Smith to win the 4x800-meter relay in 8:22.21. Junior Jonas Howell scored runnerup finishes in the two hurdles races for the CHS boys. He dropped his PR in the 110-meter high hurdles to 16.38 and dropped his 300-meter hurdle PR to 41.33. The CHS boys got two wins in the field. Senior Andrew Tava cleared 6-0 in the high jump to win it and there were three Scots in the top five with ♦ >r > •4 .**«I . • • .•1 * I* •i J I 7;^M:dr k t m.-i ■ • I . .•Jt ’ I .I- V I i>»-" ■ I I I i I ' t ! i. ihj 4 ;*>”• ) I 1 .'-Jr:'. fl ■1 Brooke Bender takes off with the baton as the second leg of the Fighting Scots’ 4x200meter relay team Friday at the Hastings Team Invitational. Bender teamed with Avery Seif, Avalynn Klapmust and Brynn Ward to place second in the event behind only Hudsonville. IRVING TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS April 15,2025 Meeting called to order at 6:30pm at 3425 Wing Rd. Hast­ ings, Michigan 49058 Present: Lydy, Stout, Buehler, Brummel, and Nagel Agenda approved as amended Approved March 2024 Meeting Minutes Approved to pay bills in the amount of $8694.27 Approved to hire Hickory Ridge Tree Approved to purchase new Treasurer Laptop Approved to extend AT&T con­ tract Upcoming Meeting dates: April 17,2025- Barry County Road Com­ mission Annual Roal Tour 8am, May 20, 2025- Board meeting 7pm Adjourn 6:54pm Full minutes are available at Irvingtownship.org or at 3425 Wing Rd, Hastings, Ml 49058. Prepared by Irving Township Clerk, Tessa Stout. Attested to by Supervisor, Dan Lydy. GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hear­ ing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: A site plan review and residential PUD Rezoning called Authentix featuring 336 multifamily units Property Address: 6326, 6330, and 6338 Hanna Lake Avenue, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Parcel Number: 41-22-02-100-051,41-22-02-100-053, 41-22-02-100-055 Applicant: Jordan Teichen OBO Continental Properties Date and Time of Hearing: May 22nd, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. In order to be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on May 22nd, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. �Saturday, April 26, 2025 18 Obituaries ♦ e ♦ ♦ Jean M. (Baker) Gallup Jean M. (Baker) Gallup, age 91, of Hastings, Ml passed away on Friday, April 18, 2025. Jean was born June 1, 1933, to Art and DeEtte Baker and grew up in Middleville. She graduated from Middleville Schools and worked various jobs before becoming a newspaper reporter and photographer where she worked for The Grand Rapids Press, J-ad Graphics, Penasse Globe, and WBCH Radio in Hastings. A very strong woman, Jean excelled in her work as a reporter because of her love for people. She was married to Cecil Gallup for 58 years until his passing in 2012, and together they were blessed with to Jean, and she cherished spending time with them. She loved cats and enjoyed fostering many of them. Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil; daughter, Teresa Hansen; granddaughter, Betsy Corson, and several siblings. Lovingly remembering Jean are her children, Ron Gallup, Gary Gallup, Mike (Sharon) Gallup, Marilyn (Ed) Corson; * * great-grandchildren; several siblings, nieces and nephews. The family greeted relatives and friends on Monday, April 21. at Stroo Funeral Home, 1095 68th St. SE, Grand Rapids, 49508. A graveside committal service was held at Mt. Hope Cemetery, in Middleville on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. I, f / I «* * ut . 44 i♦ i L .11’' i I I n 1 . )' f 5• . r ’ / > . n I■ f .J II: f r** •J .4 1 r ■.•T f •4 t ’fc* I .4 &• f f ’■ .</C- 1 11 r .4; I V V I 1 ..tv s» i I ♦r i LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM www.alaskabaptistorg 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia IRST BAPTIST Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, Sunday Service 10:30 AM Good Shepherd ’ Lutheran Church Middleville »* a •. [ lb 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship I &' 616-891-8669 k <x L aiU Church: FBCMIDDLEV1LLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 (269) 795-2391 Bi^PEACE CHURCH JOURNEY 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http:/! goodshepherdlcms.googiepages.com Li vest ream, tacebook.com/firstbaptistmiclclleville 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY ¥ 7^' * 4 fB CHURCH J HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Ca±olic? Call or see our website for information. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. I I @ St Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church 'Wt; >fc5 <, v« ri kJ Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor; Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location - . .wz 11- PEACECHURCH.ee 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:16 am and 11:00 am The April 21 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There is one new fish in the fishbowl; one jumped out. Virginia’s program was from the May/ June TOPS magazine “Breaking the Cycle. Five Strategies to Overcome Cravings.” Why are cravings so hard to resist? Your brain is wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain and discomfort. Once the craving is satisfied, the stronger the pleasure and relief becomes - leading to the “cravings cycle.” Most cravings are food-related or emotional. Sometimes they overlap. To overcome, consider these strategies. First, pause and reflect. Question the reason for the craving. It isn’t permanent and will pass. Then, align your actions with goals. What would this do to my goal? Will I be happy? After that, tune into your emotions. Why is this craving here? Our pledge says to control our emotions. Then, shift your choices. Stay away from trigger areas or situations. Finally, empower yourself with every decision. Allow yourself to make intentional choices. Maryellen lost the Ha-Ha Box. Linda was awarded $2 for staying in the fishbowl for six weeks in a row. The meeting closed with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-3183545. The first meeting is free. Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am M CHURCH Caledonia Location cornerstonechurch u 8900 Dufly Road Middleville, MI 49333 b .HI I "Shining Forth God’s U^t" MIDDLEVILLE '•*7 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship Community Group........... SERVICE TIMES: & James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankccspringsbiblcchurch.org Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml ! www.tvcweb.com T* I 1 TOPS 546 1675 84th st. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend at 9:00 am 250 Vine Street MIDDLEVILLE 9 »f t & • ae A f 1 W Siller ■» K>* i P f J « • fl I J5»” . v... I ’ I 4 gi:’- ACM >* * ’4’ * .' (HM-r ♦ IR 4 fl r' a 51' 11. ' TP*bl> • .<*'. HP ■! L>nF ;-mj8£ u p I '^’f‘m if t 11 < u& , IJ f I •*** I’P r f 4 I 2 WA CO. 9-1-1 C J A A ]J* <** Ki ) NA- 4 4 iTER / ,/J u 8 5 > ?h 9 10 5 Tn f I #• DIAL (800) 249-0911 NON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at ^lawa Co. ^1-1 Center II 111 121 13 14 1 t ■ ♦ ;ur.sni lllip VI * B HfU ) J wiMardvR F42 ' X Si bdUlB' > s <r h i H 1 ? I I ‘ rr-f ■J" ■•4T ( :f * £ B p * •• "4^ J Ku " h It F. if - I 1 . I4 '> I'*. t t * b ' I - .OLtnc noQC'’ ! i\'. cC<. ' '• ’ ** vpfirv f 1RV9.11 srni-dpisW c»biui\ hsweilot ..f ■ n a '■Ht ha- r ,yrn9 t Lu JU‘.i.lT'3tt 'IQ-DC'.E IjIatBinc * wssud i ii u . 1 ’ 1 I I 1 J I 4 Si AII I I I <1 'f t 1I * I *» I h' tl 1 4 I I< I I. f 4* } 4 I 9 / I I j ( I I ^ofV I I 4 'h>' :! 1 IJuJu 4.'.-i t? ..a .7 t *'«l OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES t • p no® 'T -•*< *• Ir ■ I I ' *i' * 12 I 'f v.nf ' ' '‘Jll L- 1^12^1 ?! 1^1 'f " ’ » ; * * ) L. I PI r 71-2 bi g^''^^0!liSUJiaTOL^ r SAk lb ' I LLUJVV HlhS I i f 'til :n I ■'’L y 1 f'vl V», TQB. » V ( h ^5? |k tna VJ u I jUi nooi Jn9nBmieo f nai li •• * a* I 31 {«it rnjWjC r- fI I ll ifc'* f * fHSl 1 -----------------?mr2 r<3S:: I Ty r** rt.M Vf-V n.if« I ' i ngs ' r > I K s r”*'V3! �t I fa c fa i i J w 4 !' < * 'V i 1 J I I I J ’T fa * • ftI . ./'■J Zt\. f x. , 1 t* A Zo1 »» ' i r I < J f '« • / J ■ fa A -k •k ! *1 '! ’ 5 > • fa K f ■ z 4 u* A 7 J I .' I. J « . k T /i nau K i ■t' - * ■ 9 <4- r t I < I t -S -I u -WE'*. L T C t J ’ A I ■M; i « i . . woiww— ----------------------------------------------------------- V I I ► / . '1 I " —i 1 >> 1 tA II I V u.. A .<fa1 £ F ■am • 9 ! ■» .> (k V-.' •n*»—««a tn.. '» a 4 U' •» * xfa 1 » r. 3.^K I 9^ ■r /< '/<. .'i'. r 'V 1 ai*** A -w*” *U X L 9 Caledonia High School hosted its second annual Practical Comnnunications Mock Interview Day, an event designed to help prepare students for the professional world, on April 1. Courtesy photo > *4 ■’r V hsB a I Legal advice offered at no cost to Barry County seniors .. f ■ "4 J< fa I* •■ I i« t > I tin ■ It I * 9' i The Legal Services of South Cen­ tral Michigan-Battle Creek office will conduct interviews for legal advice I* -4^ I V I .-n-u. ’^r I lif •Vu t ^-j .\b. and possible representation, without charge, to interested Barry County seniors this month. Those who wish to speak with an at­ torney should visit the Barry County Commission on Aging, 320 W. Wood­ lawn Ave. in Hastings, between 10 •^! a.m. and noon on Wednesday, May 7. Legal Services of South Central Michigan-Battle Creek office is a nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance, representation and education to low-income people in Calhoun and Branch counties and I •P’ J' seniors in Barry, Branch, Calhoun and St. Joseph counties. The advice and counsel is funded primarily by the Area Agency on Aging Region 3B through the Michigan Aging and Adult Services Agency under the Older Americans Act of 1965.’ MM ’ Kii r . fa Ifa fa : vi • 1 V * u ? I H M4 -c: A. * 1 MARGERY MARTIN ELEMENTARY TREE FUND • •• s» ( V 9 Atm cpmmerDe Owncer r ••wi n? n t«T<w • IJ • I 4 I U I h I* ’Rs > r *• / t" f 1 "U- * ’W«| ■'V ^i53 I, r I’.fl . •« 5 I ^^ewissiti ?" A n- •T^ 4 fa fa L* r fa « «fas. b =r* •.i' T I >5 <s EWS fl ^^Sr\ ** .* * -a .fa 4 •w ,4 a**- • f. I?W^ - i J1 ' * ■ FOOD TRUCKS - LIVE MUSIC > 1 S J. ' * Ki a. / £kZ. 7 •'’'.iw?: Card • : I I -ff ■ • I H o ♦ "TllJIT^^' I, ( - IZO ■ XI 15 .' z ' r •4 0 1 EOS Impiflnwnter - Barb Relmbold • Frontier Heating & Ccollng • । C^cdonia Township — ro« Chevralet flinn VHltey-Dentistry • LMCU • Stonvikonge eonauiting. PLC • SCRVPKO of Voutheast Gi'and Rapids • r: Ridgevicw Farm * Caledonia < Farmers tlevator • Edward Jonefa Casey Vanfeneen •Re^Bath Grand •x * .1 * ff w *, .fl ¥?*• '. ire . 'r** - ■< .7 Hfc- 1 X .I I. I J “> .• I >15 Tni », <* fan •• " I>1 I 1* M It n i 1 I h i• I :’4^'’’ I. * 4 » » •0. «• fa * » «. mAt>w4 K A- « t • i A A A «ik A* A* «Mr «A A A f 4 VsR «*fl •4 y * 4 United BanK* Vriesman and Korborn Civil Engineers • Yoga Zen 3 • Jeff Bryant Painting • Aro or Financial Credit Union •OSKAR oU - Proper Eu Medical and Aeflthotice Center • Duko’i Doggie Services • Jerry's Body Shop • Dutton Automotive • Polished Oental Cere • Mikn Meyen PLC* Saltkdinv Smoke • treadstone MoBgage • PerJipecllwe 30 LLC* CAivaonia Vision • Kent district I ibikuy Caledonia' HuUt Jepeen Physical Therapy > • 4 ' •l I* k > *• s IC &___ » . wrv x AV L’fa 5 iA «■. ■ •|A How to Plant a Forest Arbor Day is a special day at Delton Kellogg Elementary thanks to beloved educator, /s4rs. Martin. Her legacy provides white pine saplings to every student to plant and enjoy. Started in 2010, this fund now boasts thousands of trees, some of which could be over 30 feet tall by now. If you want to learn more on leaving a legacy, please call Bonnie Gettys or Annie Halle at 269-945-0526, to help ensure that your gifts can support your hopes and dreams. i. Q I; YEARS OF < lAAPROVING LIVES THE BARRY COM DELTON KELLOGG EDUCATION FOUNDATION A A* * * •♦ *i*aaA A 4A <* * •» I. 1^ • •• 1. 4 A 1 A f Z’l . NITY foundation 231 S. BROADWAY ST. HASTINGS Ml WWW.BARRYCF.ORG t: 'CiX *« T fa » X A * 4A ^VaA*** I. 'fa I z WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO I « •. 7. • J) i ■fa *s^.- hKc CiwKwnr? • iv; 5 >* ‘4 r .< I « J' *■ Slumping Grourub Play Lafe • DAW tresl) Market • GR Graphx • klwanis Club of Caledonia* Camp O'Malley Caledonia Township • Ilie village of Caledonia >■ Anri lo our Cnmmittoe Members Kni»», Hf'ilanvl Pohkiherl Dental Care • Monique bromvnn - Caledunia ftesourtc Center* Justin Rultar Raihown brewing Compaiiy’i.oufti tarmer ■ tArrners insuranve Federal Credit Union ) 9 X J 1 C.Z1 i .b^ ♦f •• •l? I fat ^PFCU Credit Union eJ r i • 1 f I t CHAIRMEN OF THE BREWED ■ »l ‘4^ ■ t 4 Mobile Piiyinent*. Only I bls even! is C.isbless Xi □ •e . t ■Zr ' T ;i: N<» I lu il<*ioi (}j j| .ub> Ah i ifhYl Allnwpft BEEROLOGISTS I iJ! I -W 4 J THANK M JO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS -J tz> * kft -» Afa iTi r .1 fap »». V.ilid ID Mif, ymii uwii i tt.ui n> • • i' ■ •i / t fa W I 9309 Dobbet Wengei Memoiul Di 4:00-8:00PM I y s >/ll l\M 05/03/2025 COMMUNITY green * -I V b«4a. I. fa fa documented their key takeaways as part of their Professional Portfolio final project. “We are incredibly proud of our students,” added Yonker. “They took this opportunity seriously and represented Caledonia with profes­ sionalism and maturity. We are also so grateful for our community vol­ unteers who gave their time to make this event such a success.” For more information about CHS’s Practical Communications program or to get involved in future events, persons are urged to contact the school’s main office. DM statement released by CHS officials. On the day of the event, students arrived dressed for success, ready to engage in 15-minute mock inter­ views with local professionals who asked standard interview questions and provided individualized feed­ back. “This day is about more than just checking a box,” said Cobb. “It’s about giving students an authentic experience that boosts their confi­ dence and helps them connect their classroom learning to real-world expectations.” Following the interviews, students reflected on their experience and Caledonia High School hosted its second annual Practical Com­ munications Mock Interview Day, an event designed to help prepare students for the professional world, on April 1. Spearheaded by CHS educators Megan Cobb and Theresa Yonker, the event welcomed 39 community volunteers who conducted inter­ views with 125 juniors and seniors throughout the day. In the weeks leading up to the event, students worked diligently to create professional resumes, write cover letters and practice interview techniques in class, according to a 19 Saturday, April 26, 2025 CHS hosts 2nd annual mock interview day t IT t THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I A A ' * *** >* A A A' **.'• �20 Satuntoy April 26. 2025 y. I » T < r *• ;4-' 4 g t U % A* s X *5^ J ».l A f •1 *1* r « T < •3E- ? 4 # lA »« ( J 1 I V 1 Wi ■i; ** « i .‘l I i;^7 c » t T IT . .^1 I .7 's ||M *1 T■ I ■5 •h. J/5 k Mr 4- 1 I * «S' ■ft k* I A I V?' » *< I 1 »r-* **• % A e.' « 1 Mk II i k * II s e »s v« 4 * I » »■« > . M. • .X' 5 r? r r i lAX *1 k f *■ I 1 T 1 — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS — A /■5 Responsibilities include: • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout INe love what we do and we know you will tool Are you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@thedailynews. cc and let's find out! Group Tri-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer's Guide & News The Sun and News Ad-Visor 4 Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Reminder IVe are a growing company of 21 community newspapers serving IS Michigan counties that are deihrered weeMy to more than 335,000 households with an additional 500,000 monthly online readers. ,1 :r- /J *r\ t 1 e. X 1 '. h I «u 4 > 4: .-•*i / 5 91 10 Caledonia junior Cody Meyers takes a turn in the shot put during the Hastings Team Invitational Friday. April 18, at Hastings High School. Myers set his PR at 41 feet 1.5 inches to place fifth in the event SCOTS junior Rydik Wrubel third al 5-9 and junior Parker Lipsman fifth at 5-6. Scot senior David Potgeter cleared 12-0 to win the pole vault and junior teammate Benjamin Moss was third in the event also clearing 12-0. Juniors Liam Moore and Cody Mey­ ers had big days in the throws for the Caledonia boys. Moore was second in the discus at 137-0 and third in the shot put with a mark of 43-3.5. Mey­ ers set his PR at 41-1.5 to place fifth in the shot put and was fourth in the discus at 133-0. Senior Aaron Collins led the Scots in the 400-meter dash with a time of 51.11, and Levi Dorband, a sopho­ more, was the Scots’ top guy in the sprints. He set his PR at 11.70 to place fi fth in the 100-meter dash and at 23.61 in the 200-meter dash to place fourth in that one. Collins added a PR run of 23.62 to place fifth in that 200. The Caledonia teams both took OK Green Conference wins at ReethsPuffer Tuesday evening. The CHS boys moved to 2-1 in the conference I with a 90-47 win over the Rockets. ITie Scots got wins from Moore in the shot put and discus, Wrubcl in the high jump, Kaleb Huyscr in the long jump, Potgeter in the pole vault, Fxlgar in the 3200, Thompson in the 1600, Johnston in the 800 and Collins in the 400 as well as victories from the 4x400-meter relay and 4x800-mcter relay teams. The victory included sweeps of the scoring spots in the discus, pole vault, 800,1600 and 3200. The CHS girls arc 3-0 in conference duals thanks to a 116-21 win over the Rockets. The Caledonia girls won 16 of the 17 events. King took the shot put, discus and long jump, Lakcly Bottum wont he high jump, and Anna VanderWal the pole vault in the field. The Scots won the 4x200-meter re­ lay, the 4x400-meter relay and the 4x800-meter relay. Hawkins took the 100-mcter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. Brynn Ward was the champ for the Scots in the 1 OO-meter dash and the 200-metcr dash. Sheely won the 400-meter run and Terryn the 800-meter run. Dupuis took the 1600-meter run and the 3200-meter run. ri* t 15I 16I 171 J ^.r±^ <4 . H I . t 5 I 1 . T T L * 4 r T** W'a » * --- >V I 1 4 t < .' .'^.t -L. I •b ‘1 c< 18 19 201 21 ♦I jta rnAXtH Hi I, t p *■ t not ifti IT ..np .. m (tj j<i;^<^nrxir ^**>4 53>fn ’^ts U! rjy» '3fi an r ■ I } : ' C’ f I 1 ’> • / ti I.W‘ dr/i yfh »x 'jna;t nil- 1 4 ■ •n 1 vr-^ ^1 ' nj jLvfiv •n |Wt pb Vi Kl> .ci • 4 1 a. •; I r i!. i f •1 * / /I ‘' ‘: » /;lu rJil 1 . t« I ■jj;fto-><►***» !' t Ifil XfX*; 'fin tm I _2 I'lfn /fb ttfis ziiiZKid iWir TfRSfii 221 231 24| 251 261 27| 281 29| 30 1 I f i t « l’> J ir!i ■ *< I' 119 * i7-»H i HJftJ >ftl s /|ti Jl>«V . I r*// -Hr^ Ti RV'il 0J •^r ’ »rti » 5i .;x > ''>1 i-. I > ■• r r r nf >.11 -I?! <A/... < to ♦«z ■'3rio)3j/ rg u •i -'<M I! ?• » . ;lu*v ’;kx> t-0* M’ I 11 12 10 OR 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES DIAL (800) 249-0911 ’'iON - EMERGENCIES "Kids Measure up at O.tawa Co. 9-1-1 Center" 121 131 14 '6 V :—'Jx ■'dT 11 y? I B 8 J.A 7? •3^:4. rw >rn ‘irnK afi nw' • I *'d? fff J*T* -< jm aov* '4n4lWr! fUh/mi ’mi' ■ I ‘'. i * / t '..A 1 I tn f I * i 4 & I t f TA CO. 9-1-1 CENTER i?^- i«T I 1 < 1 9 I • 1 V s L. r ¥ A t Continued from Page 17 This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! ’at * I •.«^r 'e A f-: ; % 1 Ifiew Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time graphic artist for our Greenville location. u* * TT GRAPHIC DESIGNER i^K sr’ r — NOW HIRING — -! I I r 1 Are you creative? VI 5fA 7% .^*.«. I I I 9 f »< r* The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer's Guide Jeffersonian k. •- + . r.t-1 T.’»- ' •, f fet k r f I Hi (J � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-05-03.pdf 209b5acb91172c207a22ad65474f8964 PDF Text Text • I I I I 4 1 ■U ♦ ♦ >• * '•■■L -TS L. •WMXiBfij 2 .--■ nfTLl lii I €' £ L L I • 4 -- 5I i HE SUN AND NEWS t J —; I I I SCOTS AND SAILORS PLAY TO DRAW. REMAIN SECOND IN GREEN b > * * 9^ -• 4 * W • e C3 e'JC''’ 3 3ia Gai'^es Tou^nsh-o Areas — w PAGE 11 4 » •sft F > f 4 . i. I r A • •*» ••• * l-K A rj • 1 1 t>z NO. 54 .on «tni gloortoS >IT tsbnstnnsque anpissi 1 I, 4 MAY 3, 2025 .» ' TK Schools interim superintendent resigns •r• enqesC I 2idt Tsbc-".)! jmiiB'wqn TbnoTiu'^ gi ^loofbJ^ mn^i jnibnomii jqu?. /. nuonni , n^lKnJ mol jn^bnojni lOM no rioiJcn^izoi oleib-irrt qqijmorn i>i1i oi twmv ru, fii ibfl tf> l)W)H ^loort3i^ non nslBnJ ,j2n’rnom vfibnoM Eli fWOb j^niqrpJ'' 'Sf* >1 an jndMidinrraqu^ mnaini moil 2i ii^mo uoY w; rr^ob mr 1 mmi *>711^311’ .iniibnoJniTK t * Ui t 'I i I AX * A. ’ igrVOjj HJO to Ji: ; J/TOTTUO Ofl 1^; ii9qu>: bni. bicod loo<to3) nwafc |> I bfu; XfinoiJoruJt^ <b i (tnab inoj oj bsfmqqu^ 4^ milaiH ".bifigoi errfkni ,yi3rl nurtoi vnt b'jyorn-j hl ^nilbniJoT lid'nbnow nasri sbndnl won janUfi/rr bn/i ^qirl^ fo’z oqHfl i bfUi ,nhuib iBaig I fcirii j/rH ihvz insbnotnhsqu^ iyz3r</i i .cl) 1 pj»rioufn 2i> i zlinul'Toqqo ^wlnot lul I bnzi J>9bidTb> Il lb, ! jriu • 4 pbisgoT tzormsV/ b l In buoH m orfl ri‘)’ iRnJ nw/ jominoj bwmqqs . tor: I; rb J'l ;)fli ;§nrm^ nigad j TOth; .?£0U tn fl rj'jjnnonnn grille'JdM lit J .■ndrnooaO Jael hmoCl tn bieoiR soiV HOtl J nolan^ o1 seooqeai ni bia? < jjiueib orii .riouo*! dofl tsriJ =tn*)l -jnn^que loorio?, bonan fWni owl ni noirieoq erri Jc-fb,- jilT' EDDW 3^/ or b3Ji;>x'> enuoMKu ttUlDEKliVr nbnr. ubsoi vzon Xi C’ luvnct ,i^ni *833 BT '\basriE oruJut <8838 nisotttiQk Mi .bIB^ J e (50 / e (-. 1 e I r A bVID bOglVGE bBSiSlD I f irI Despite selecting its next permanent leader this week, Thomapple Kellogg Schools is currently operating without a superintendent after interim super­ intendent Tom Enslen announced his immediate resignation on Monday. In an email to the Thomapple Kellogg Schools Board of Education Monday morning, Enslen announced that he was stepping down as TKS interim superintendent. The following email is from Enslen. < “I am stepping down as your interim superintendent, effective immediately. The current state of our governance team (school board and superinten­ dent) is dysfunctional, and I don’t feel supported enough to continue in this regard,” Enslen said. “I truly have enjoyed my return here, and it’s been wonderful rekindling relation­ ships and making new friends. This is a great district, and I hope your new superintendent will love this place as much as I do. 1 am forever grate­ ful for the opportunity I have been afforded, and I wish you all the best. Warmest regards, Tom.” The TK Board of Education approved a contract with Enslen to begin serving the TK district January 1, 2025, after Superintendent Craig McCarthy announced his retirement last December. BOE Vice President Derrick Brock said in response to Enslen’s email that Rob Pouch, the district’s newly named school superintendent, will start his position in two months. “The school board is woaa excited to welcome its usMoisno iviiNaaisau new leader and is look­ SSMU93 sceer in 'amAuwjg ing forward to a bright onxoeod see# iiiaiad future ahead, ” Brock 8€89^ 1^ 'd||iAuaejo said. □IVd aovisod s n ais xsud jffl r r fA ■ 4^ . f rfr 1 r rj f «' s / ■ »•. w kLI .*5 J « r r :r >. « orr Txwt » ’IT I Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer MBhd3-8ih«T MiaX i9»nW HBlf; www.sunandnews.corn A ? ». 'X I s K \ XL s \ k r. k*. / X I A. i f < 'I T J i I $ I gi I /' I « 1 t •'fc } r ' i ? I 1 f k {r r K r s i I :'A. X s • I »» t ■-• Over 60 people showed up Tuesday at second-round interviews for a new superintendent inside the Thornapple Kellogg Early Childhood Center on Bender Road in Middleville. TK Schools selects Pouch as new superintendent Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer After a months-long search pro­ cess, Thomapple Kellogg Schools has named Rob Pouch as its next superintendent. Pouch served as the superin­ tendent of Morrice Area Schools for the last five years and as the principal at Linden Middle School from 2017 to 2021. After the first round of super­ intendent interviews last month. Pouch remained a candidate, moving into second-round inter­ views at Tuesday, April 29’s meeting. After candidates answered numerous questions, TKS Board of Education President Dave Smith polled seven board mem­ bers, including himself, to decide between Pouch and fellow candi­ date Bill Crane. While three board members raised their hands for Crane, four other hands tipped the scale in favor of Pouch. “I am thrilled and excited to join the TK community. I’m looking forward to working with their board, staff and community to ensure the students of TK are college, career and world ready,” See POUCH on 2 Caledonia Community Schools urging voters to approve millage renewal Tuesday Hunter McLaren Contributing Writer Caledonia Community Schools board members urged voters to approve the district’s non-homestead millage renewal request at the ballot box next week. All districts in Michigan are required to levy 18 mills on non­ homestead properties to receive their full per-pupil funding from the state. Unlike a bond proposal, the non-homestead millage funds go directly to the school’s oper­ ating budget and pay for things like staff salaries, student pro­ grams and other day-to-day oper­ ating costs. As a non-homestead tax, the millage will not affect homeowners it will primarily affect businesses and rental properties. Board president Tim Morris stressed the importance of the millage to the district during the board meeting last week. “This is a big deal. It’s 22 per­ cent of our budget, nearly $16 million,” he said. “We’re here because of how the state funds this portion of schools. We didn’t create it, we didn’t want it this way, but we’re dealing with what we have here.” “Not passing this would be catastrophic and devastating to the immediate school year. I can­ not tell you how important it is to pass the operating millage,” Morris said. Tuesday’s special election comes as the district is nearing See MILLAGE on 3 �4« 1 2 Saturday, May 3, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunanclnews.com “C • POUCH ^3^ Continued from Page 1 Ie & 1 I Rob Pouch was named the new superintendent of Thornapple Kellogg Schools at the end of second-round interviews on Tuesday, April 29. Photos by Karen Turko-Ebright ntONTiat HEATING AND COOLING I » 1 I 1 1 Pouch told The Sun and News. He and his family are already in the transition of relocating back to West Michigan. “We had two quality can­ didates, and the decision was very difficult to choose between the two, but ultimate­ ly the majority favored Rob,” Smith said. Other board members echoed Smith, including BOE Vice President Derrick Brock, who said during the community meet-and-greet and the can­ didates’ tour of the school district on Monday, he had a chance to talk to administra­ tors. He said he heard a com­ mon theme about both candi­ dates. “Some administrators said they did not think we could go wrong, that these candidates are fantastic,” Brock said. “Thank you to those who have come before us and helped lay the foundation to make the district attractive and pull in these candidates.” Pouch said he is grateful to the community and the school board for their support. “We recently sold our house in Howell, Michigan, and are fortunate to have a summer cottage in Ottawa County where we can reside until we can find what we are looking for in TK,” Pouch explained. My wife and I have five kids; we just sold a 30-acre hobby farm.” TK Schools has been search­ ing for its next superintendent since former superintendent Craig McCarthy retired at the end of last year. Pouch will start his role as superintendent on July 1. /\ fun fundraiser z 5 , ?• J « * t'. Ik 4 ft V L i A J' ft c>- f >J <** A f ► ■> Ct w t' «v' .p .4’ *• •, I ■9* ft ’ f r A*. ' "V ■ f I z / A if I ,^.- V p 4 4' 4 * V The Caledonia Women’s Club hosted its third annual Bunco Fundraiser at the Holy Family Catholic Parrish in Caledonia on Saturday, April 26. About 60 members of the women’s club reportedly came together to enjoy an evening of Bunco, refreshments, prizes and fun. According to club members, they appreciated all of the support they received locally, especially from Caledonia’s business community. > i « f ft - ■,4 Al it i >’ ? . ■ > jm-- . A '.A’’ 4^ *fC^ ^ik* t - 'KF* ‘V 1 f rt**« t:1 1 I < f I * •14 ' wit. wS'lT' i » r ...lis”'®' 4 . r I* ft .. ' J 4 -fT r r;. 4** •r • J -1 r •• *5 I*; *4. J Al *> ft - ■ Gaines voters to decide on operating miiiage renewals Ml James Gemmell / Expires 5/31/25 other Products and Services Available • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! * T 'v . I, I ' «» Contributing Writer r--^- I s I- TiUjNiEUR ' t ’ .»4’ Courtesy photo Ayici - ? Two school-related proposals will appear on Tuesday’s special election ballot in Gaines Charter Township. Both requests are for the renewal of the non-homestead operating millage in the Caledonia Commimity Schools district and for the Kentwood Public Schools, respectively. “This renewal is vital to maintain critical funding for student programs, staffing, school safety, and essential services,” according to a statement on the Caledonia Schools website. It states that the operating funds account for about 22 percent of the district’s operating budget. The Cale­ donia district held a series of public informational sessions about the ballot proposal in March and April at its ad­ ministration office and at the Caledonia Resource Center. All school districts in Michigan are required to levy 18 mills to receive full per-pupil funding from the state’s foundation allowance. The tax does not apply to a homeowner’s primary resi­ dence. But it applies to non-homestead properties, including businesses, rental properties, and vacation homes. In-precinct and absentee ballot vot­ ing are available for the May 6 election. > * .r iXi I » 4 i f J * fi» #** 1 y. tr 1 * i : » ft ^■IW ‘I ft > •z r: A «> > t * r 1 • > I . 1 ' t r ft i' I ¥ >■ ■ '.-'Jli'/ r . J « t A £K ’ > r.' -Il Lidwl A YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. I { 210 East Main Street Caledonia You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors... and our future. <iE»SS^W V J.*? • frii9fW*i », I i I A -.tm VIE)^^ Group Your Community Connection 616-891-8900 ift A di It r I A-M?* I t 1 • W'riiihJ J 11 Al* )♦ J. V THESUN AND NEWS < t & Ts> J 1 The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com CONTACT US Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihomepaper.com ji/jjjjjjitujr iJlJlLJJJlLUJXy jiQjsjjiimjj Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csiiverman@mihomepaper.com Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist Jennie Yonker ement Snecialist: iyonker@mihomepaper.com PUBLISHED BY PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. ,1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. 1 I T“ 1 V / I rj V ft i > 4 '■«A Aa;11 4 •• ♦ ( 2t ’I J '. I IF 1 �I It J A > % T I r 11 w r ns T? James Gemmell f Contributing Writer ■»9 JI. J- I* jr * < • ’ • A 4 0. i 1 i (i 1 1 I i £ f Members of the Gaines Township Board of Trustees are trying to distill some general ideas and preferences for the township’s future growth into a concrete list of priorities they could soon begin to act upon. The board held a two-hour special township board meeting on April 28 that ended with trustees ranking their individual priorities by applying sticky notes to eight large poster boards set up in the lower-level conference room at the township hall. The posters listed various categories for discussion and mentioned prelimi­ nary recommendations that came out of township committee meetings. The categories included a township vision statement, affordable housing, the township’s promotional brand, priori­ ties for Prairie Wolf Park, potential up­ grades for the Gaines Township branch of the Kent District Library, potentially adding more parks and trails, and up­ grading public safety. Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra asked trustees to initial the sticky notes and put them on items they think deserve top priority. Terpstra said the composite ranking ofeach item will be disclosed at the township board’s May 12 meeting. The first poster was about developing a township vision statement. The next focused on housing priorities and the right term to use. For example, whether to use the phrase “affordable housing” or “synchronist housing.” “Whatever happened to ‘accessible housing’?” said Trustee Rob DeWard. “This is for the public. “You’re going to have to define synchronist housing. Tm a college k > i a t, i A . 3k t» t i* 9 ♦ 1 u- k I ? i V •t <5 i ^■4 6 V i i •l U’V '' ( ■ r •» iw •Vl I < 4 r f » ’ ♦ r V1JJ J J r r » t .4 ' I -I-. -■ U'c. . i I ' M , i J r .V tA ’I *•'1 .n.. '‘ f > * ■' ‘l f s u , I s •V. > Wu’ < I I 4• r 'I. J. , R I r'«/i I I* .*« J .» I V * ; ) 4 lU * 1 4 , f •R /a. /« 1 / aa •R ♦ M J * r• u ) ih rq>^„ ' I -< > * 'A; ■. •♦• • I ISJi! •a .A iXkK.. r ' . ‘■-*1 s 4‘.» s ''6 f K 1 iliiteH I * RfS. ^uok-. , *!(b ”51 r^'O b^yi t .i I '».... J <1 I I J • fe t ur ’• V I ’ 4 1 .’Jc> * f r .-1 *'■ I ) » ' I ' H J ) . . . P’ fH‘|, • * f > i’ i ■Mi ou;': • z < 4 .4 ‘ginria I 1 1 I t I I •* t I i I 1 i J ■i ♦♦ I 1 mI •’ *'•-» 4<TM9«M 11 . V J h «ltos ...... ■■ 11 1 k V graduate and I’ve never heard of that word before.” Terpstra said the term “accessible housing” often takes on the connotation of being ADA-compliant. “Accessible kind of implies that you want to aim to provide housing for everybody over several different income levels,” added Dakota Swan, assistant township planner. “This is my personal opinion. I think housing is a human right. I think everybody should have a place to go and sleep at night.” Trustee Dan Fryling disagreed with the idea that everyone is entitled to housing. “I believe that people deserve a house, as long ^s they’re willing to work for it,” he said. Treasurer Laurie Lemke said afford­ able housing may be difficult to find in Gaines Township. Township officials questioned whether what could be done to ad­ dress housing, and whether the town­ ship could retain its rural, agricultural heritage at the same time. “I would be disappointed if we had all kinds of affordable housing in the $200,000 range, if there was too much of that,” said Brad Waayenberg, a member of the Gaines Township Plan­ ning Commission. “Because once you cheapen down an area .. it just waters it down for everybody.” He added the area south of 76th Street in the township should be kept more rural. “This is why people move here,” Waayenberg said. Gaines Parks & Trails Committee member Brian Diemer agreed, adding the township should preserve what it See GAINES on 8 • f IK 3^x iwua '■.x'r ' 4 r ( .•K.'..,'. ' J. J « .• « * V ..A V -- r J ' .I 1 • Cellular Enhancement Systems . • A» S R ■*' r W Give us a call! > 1 ir f 1 I £SS^ '^.1 I 11 1 ^44 .■ .A F I I sr4g WG* J 269-967-8241 www.theantennamen.com ant ennamen@g mail, com A VF * u* ' k',". . •• . r ■ ■ « A A .ai&s4 » I *4 11 a *• t <• T -J 1. J - \ ‘ -•■ •' a . Vv *14 IB t I t J / « ■ I iRr- 7 p . V* Mt >* >> 4 -Z-jx -e* 1 Members of the Gaines Township Board of Trustees listen to public input during a special meeting April 28 in the lower level of the township hall. MILLAGE Continued from Page 1 i X the completion of its 2023 bond proposal project. Board members said they were pushing back ratifying bonds for the final projects in the proposal in an effort to get as much value for the district as possible in a volatile market. Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer said the district would be working with financial advisors on a daily basis to achieve the best possible outcome. “Investors become reluctant to jump into the bond market when interest rates could go up the next day. It’s kind of a waiting game right now,” Weeldreyer said. “We will do the best we can for the taxpay­ ers, which is to hold off on this and watch market conditions and strike when it is best and most advanta­ geous for us.” 4 *-.,7» « V-.u.. J k iH 1^ Brad Waayenberg, a member of the Gaines Township Planning Commission, speaks to the board of trustees from the audience section. < •< rf/max y 11 1 .« Ir Closed or Open Cell or Blown-In Fiberglass •1 S W / Roy Mast. 517-652-9119 2501 N. Ionia Rd., Vermontville •MT-te < fe J RE/MAX OF GRAND RAPIDS Margaret (Margo) E. Peric r L \ Commerclal/Residentlal Full Time Agent Celt: (616) 204-9792 Office; (616)957-0700 Email: margoperic@remax.net www.celisignalpros.com *•■ ' 1 r I J e I J I 4 I i i k sV —Sts -s;. •1*0* • ■5-^^ ' H*'. ■A ua • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers • *u. I I a »> ►) r mQ r > •5 Antenna Meri ' 1 h 3 Gaines officials discuss township’s priorities at special board meeting •-.3 ( Saturday, May 3, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com i I iS f It s I I s E \ �4 A A t Saturday, May 3, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS Obituaries www.sunandnews.com nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, Carol Miedema; his daughter, Cheryl Miedema; his siblings and in-laws, Janet and Jay Wiersma, Ken and Wilma Miedema, Florence Miedema, Ed Westendorp, Judy and Wayne VanHouten, p Marge and Roger DeMann, Marilyn and Frank DeJong. John was a faithful member 1 of Trinity United Reformed Church. He had a steadfast faith, which remained strong throughout his life. A special thanks goes to Steve Huisijen and family who •iite.- John Herman Miedema, age 97, of Caledonia, Ml was received into the arms of his Lord on Saturday, April 26, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He will be lovingly remembered by his children, Bob and Barb Miedema, and Al and Linda Miedema; his.grandchildren, Brian and Karen Miedema, Melissa and Eric 4 41 4* I 'f < • ' h I 4 I . wl' .^1 ■ r ; U' A ' i rlwwrxiRBt of •a ! I 4^ Mo 'S wwvtiftWtBrl i Bt'ttofiB r'?vil8l81 t \gM . Bbawrif fen-, lotsH t)Q(,nu ■1. t Reitsma.'Rob and Mary Miedema, Brent and Kathy Miedema, Rachel and Andrew Weaver, Emily Miedema, Nicole Murphy, Phil and Andrea Miedema, Joy Miedema, and Tricia Miedema. John was blessed with 25 great-grandchildren and one great­ great-grandchild. He is also survived by his siblings, Louis Miedema, Art and Wilma Miedema, Ida Westendorp, and Jim and Marie Miedema. He is remembered by many r / 4 John Herman Miedema faithfully picked him up each Sunday so he could continue to attend worship in his later years. The family greeted relatives and friends on Thursday. May 1. at Trinity United Reformed Church, 7350 Kalamazoo Ave. SE followed by the funeral and committal service with Rev. James Admiraal officiating. Interment at Dutton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Esther School, (www. estherschool.org). * » ’ ^’*1 fW HNhV * ’J I •J o i '■ I *& F’-» ’piSS"’- W' ' ! I J.' ’i 'k ^^BfnRiBX oaes ItBrif yo bBwollot bvna iLimngipn tiSfivmbA ; T''" j/' i .'P'. ; a » t * « r I L IttUl 11 f l»^' ■in* ! « I A.' X'* U’^ . Al^ C,*" L LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ' t MIDDLEVILLE tA- ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am www.aia8kabaptist.org 72A0 66th Street SE, Caledonia IRST BAPTIST Li Livestream; facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville —* • I KJ IK V I T I FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY 250 Vine Street r CHURCH 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 616-891-8669 HOLY FAMILY J/CATHOLIC CHURCH .1 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfaiiiilycaledonia.org 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Church; Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m, & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. (269) 795-2391 <APEACE Sunday Worship: \ i 1 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. 5 CHURCH Caledonia Location PEACECHURCH.ee 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location a 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am A C' k Good Shepherd I Lutheran Church oc -v Middleville Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Bam > M Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor; Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee i JI V3 JQG iif- .f 1 r @ St Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool The April 28 meeting opened with roll cal! and the secretary's report. There are two new fish in the fishbowl; one fish jumped out. This week, the chapter held its awards ceremony. Maryellen was the winner for Division 3 with a 26.6-pound loss for 2023. She also received an award for a perfect resume for 2024. Sue was the winner for Division 3 with a 16,4-pound loss for 2024. Linda was acknowledged for her hard work and great attendance. All winners received petunia plants. Virginia was given a mixed bouquet of flowers for being a good leader. A small celebration was then held. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without any shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-3183545. The first meeting is free. lesqo IT V-ic" 1 r 4I i' ♦< Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Sunday Service 10:30 AM cornerstone church ' L- 1*^ TOPS 546 • c Caledonia Vine Street Church < 1 nil < • • 1. >* (11 qo rinn-;*n i (' / If- SI®- < r >•• rii * rf jp'' u , : i; ‘ I ratted I |(W*n te-' fii Mt I ti 4<' ‘ I I 1, w^'; ‘ Ll I J* 111> I '• fi' 1 4 . t^- I ■ 1 ' .i . ‘1 4.3 /• ;<i . ncii-iq)^ 1 1 .I •r (I 1 n i;nviC3 f A \| ? hi*? •* Ji* 8 iwei. .x>h--^c! i r f f 1 • 1 JI V3fy' iV- -rfi. 4|hS0S V i L aoi tipf’ 9 « ' B.431Hrl ^fi -, ■ S jUt e J ’isnn’w 1A 9 n-rft '..I * t * » 'f j'* Io 1 9 *' i*. 4 '.H b! 1 - t/ V |irii3<9a II A * Tin « uiW'A I ML', • 4 • I T .•r n ri ( r ' 1 1 3 xMt* ii T • > B * t u» ... , . ' I 1.1' ►r • SBE**®™®** ;llBlsltiim » I 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.8tpaulcaledonia.org *3 am B * il 1 1. .1* I• ••J9 I yM‘ ■ THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville. Ml / www.tvcweb.com *■ "insggt iH "Ua Yankee Springs Bible Church 1 <• ( f 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? We’d love to hear about it! . 7* 2 A •t « * J 1 1, 11^ I v' t. Jama L. Collison, Pastor www.yankeespringsbiblechurch.org *? « F * ♦ mmacleod@mihomepaper.coin Sunday Morning Worship........................ 10:00 a.m. Community Group................................... 11:00 a.m. I ? : t "ShiningForth God's Light" < HMiiiMHnyt * k * I km * THE SUN AND NEWS »1 ••“ ‘*wa IE**"’- VIKFU^oom* !W« ’T ** - «w A V. 1 I > L K li 1 ir ! I ; B I I I r I ' f t < I f I I < <I I h II h I. I hI I I I I t» H I, I t « I. 4 i I / t’ 5 I* f I I �I L *« * * 1 i' .'J X .55 1 U_ •* « < I fl * I ■■ ■ -* . w t # r-pT V 1 f ' THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 3 Saturday. May 3, 2025 5 XT TWp. planning commission approves StoneCo operating plan gwTf Classifieds James Gemmell t Contributing Writer -f’ k - ■C4, 1 t f k L < ( ‘.''S biM . • -»i<W- ' --hr^d.: > <1 r / J *u» 4 7 > A •• . 'Ik'. < ■; I i i •> ■ I s1 1 : - >1 I r '» jftu r -? I -J’’* Si f f •’th. . i I• f '^i- : 4 <r// .rjose^ .-J /I’TwK '4 ofctf f . 5' • 'r > *1 • « 0^ > • k 'oi. ; 1 •1^ I I i»'»J I 4 i| 4 I k ^\-r I ■*T f . I « r. * e: I r *A > • ) r ) ‘1 ) J V I lu 'liIf ' 'i* I •.'■’’ffeM I” i tI 9 '-9 A ** < f J •; I I ‘4^ 4 * f« 9 CI -a. Ji.' . ‘ > 't* 1 I J- ■F.u-/ k ’'’ 4 f ft ■ Wb I i 9 b ‘J Y J 1<W < 'J ** & f IR/ lO^ 4! t (< >♦A e * > w -.•r I r • H ’ I i ‘"*^1 I / 4 t 'la w I V * 4 u I I* I f r I . I /t ’ <7 . - < « i /X i w »t 'I f;s‘; i/ r J I I .1 5b 4 l%l C- 1 ? J r* J t ' 9 jvIi i.f9 t vUU. I I ‘ t. >s^' i I r t I' { lbwrwm I t i .I ai * 11 • • »kZ n» / > V ># • I 1 -T < I I A - ' fi I kLM^ t Ir r ' ) a I t 4 • 4 1.. t tipr ♦ < ■ r w« M« A miiH t 1 4 f :' fx* ) I I 1 4 U b btj ( ft I I /h'jr’j ■3. trblKlWf ’t ):• A * V t ** 4*^ I )0S(< u «> I . 1 I r » ' •I ■•v*' I Middleville-based paving materials supplier StoneCo has received the goahead from the Gaines Township Plan­ ning Commission to implement its 2025 operating plan. Planning Commission members voted, 6-0, at their April 24 meeting to approve the annual plan with some conditions. One commissioner was absent from the meeting held at the township hall. As part of a township ordinance stipulation, the Planning Commission must review the company’s mining operations each year near 100th Street and Kalamazoo Avenue. StoneCo, also known as Michigan Materials & Aggregate Co., is a subsid­ iary of global building products com­ pany CRH. It mines crushed limestone, sand and gravel that is used to supply state and local road commissions with paving materials. The company had applied to the township to conduct additional filling operations in the gravel pit area of the Barnaby parcel, which is just east of Kalamazoo Avenue and south of lOOth Street. StoneCo previously completed all mining on the site and is currently working on reclamation of the pit. “They are having to recondition it and get it back into restorative shape,” said Dan Wells, Gaines Township Commu­ nity Development director. The annual review is for the 72-acre site at 1856 100th St. SE. StoneCo will work with contracting company Kamminga & Roodvoets (K&R) to bring between 100,000 and 200,000 cubic yards of clean fill for placement along the south road front­ age of 100th Street, east of Kalamazoo Avenue. According to township staffers, a level area will be created that could potentially be used for building homes. “We don’t need this to meet our rec­ lamation requirements. It’s strictly addi­ tional,” said Garrett Singer, an assistant operations manager with StoneCo. Singer said the clean fill is sand and gravel that will be coming from the US131 rebuilding project in Byron Town­ ship between 76th and 100th streets. K&R truck traffic already has been driving down 100th Street for years to a separate StoneCo project site west of Peas Avenue. “So, they’re really just driving a little BUSINESS SERVICES DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. CEMENT/CONCRETE Community Development Director Dan Wells, at far right, makes a point about the StoneCo project at the April planning commission meeting. CONSTRUCTION •J I f- I 4 f9 4 I i I I COMPLETED MINMO AREA 2023 <» 5 ^0^ 1 •,I t COMMERCIAL-RENT I 9 I* » '5S. ,* A I > 1^. I —W «« I }. 1 f! 4 1 ( S<Z I w V I • A 1 ?i. I ■rt* '-9 1 9 .4 * M, » « A Bisu^^sa^ i ft* 'r<AriA|MMa( Ml 1a. • -.,,.7.—Il t ' L ; I ■ r f ■' V <5 'X i .ai 9 f T< I b;ah bit further (east) down the road across Kalamazoo and into the Barnaby pit,” Wells said. We’re going to bring the material in off from 100th Street,” Singer added. Our driveway’s going to have two entrances. We’ve already been approved by the (Kent County) Road Commission. It’s going to be a one-way drive. So, they’ll enter on the west side and exit on the east side.” Township planners figure that will mean about 10 to 20 trucks will be making the rounds there on most days. Bulldozers and other construction ve­ hicles will be spreading the soil around and compacting it. Township staffers said StoneCo will also need to secure environmental per­ mits from the Michigan Department of (4 I t I 1 I k ; 1 I I II! I 11 P I OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rap­ ids. $20.00 ANNUAL/SF 2205 sqft available. RDMax of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic@remax.net iaaw.-- This map shows where StoneCo is conducting operaiions along 100th Street in Gaines Township, east of Kalamazoo Avenue. Source: gainestownship.org 1 1 II •I >. 9 H* I EXPERIENCED GARDNER 3 to 4 days a week with flexible schedule. Please apply in person at Saska­ toon Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto. I - i/f- *» ('■ :’r « I I I y O’ EMPLOYMENT * J I ti CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 loom STVCtT ' 1 JNR BUILDERS Concrete flat­ work; Driveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored, Licensed and insured. Call Jeff (616)293-7729 Environmental Quality. Wells said StoneCo approached town­ ship officials three months ago about the proposed project. They discussed it with the township engineer, who will inspect the fill material on site to make sure that it is free of debris. The township’s Sand & Gravel sub­ committee reviewed the proposal, as well, and made a positive recommenda­ tion to the Planning Commission. “We thought it was a pretty reasonable proposal, that they would bring in clean fill and compact it so that the edge of 100th Street could potentially become usable space,” Wells said. “Right now, it’s just sloped down from the road right of way. “So, it might end up with some buildSee PLAN on 9 FARM, YARO & LIVE STOCK FOR SALE- FREEZER BEEF. Angus cross. $3.95 per pound plus processing. Hay and corn fed, no hormones. Call 517-588-7950 or 517-649-0097. GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE- May Sth (11am4pm), 9th & 10th, 9am-4pm. 6795 Leisure Creek Dr. SE, Caledonia. Meris shirts sz L & XL, games, play balls, kitchen items, sz 10 men’s golf shoes, plenty of misc, free grill, set of 2 navy blue living room chairs. Visit us online at mihomepaper.conn �> • * . "V » r» r / ** ■ 6 Saturday, May 3, 2025 Arts grant applications due May 20 The GFWC-Gun Lake Women’s Club is once again offering Summer Arts Experience grants to high school­ ers in the Gun Lake area. Applications for the grants are being accepted now through May 20. Each year, the Gun Lake Women’s Club offers financial help to incoming ninth- through 12th-graders in area districts fortheatri cal, musical, creative movement/dance, literary and visual arts programs. The Summer Arts Expe­ rience grants can help fund experiences like theater camps and other creative arts programming. High school students at Delton Kel­ logg Schools, Thornapple Kellogg Schools, Martin Public Schools, and Wayland Union Schools are eligible for the grants. Applications for the Summer Arts Experience grants are due by May 20. Students can apply for the grants at barryeforg. Anyone with questions about the application process is asked to contact Annie Halle at annie(gbarrycf.org or call 269-945-0526. MM 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: ,n • ? ( • ”i-.*s THE SUN AND NEWS i. * www.sunanclnews.com *»nbnsnua.www Kellogg Bird Sanctuary offers free admission for moms on Mother’s Day * ’Kti ^ioM I r 7^ A X * f I f r l5^flS.w^ * M '<•**> A A ’I V < * b *; VI « * ft * 1 1 zi 4^ E ' W' I h ft ft I w* I .,■1 Wlf-v— * 6*! 1 *1 ■5* '■** •^^MM*** **'*^***^^*^ « 2r'«b. »<* ' — V*' *4^ Ml ' . ..(Wiu —• '« 4 ■* f : V x« J. , 1 •5 w- -fl* • y* *> ■ . »■> ■z'- fl,. • — • MV:-.* 4* '^<W '*W I II . ... . -^i m—p——*^ -..^iiiiiHiP**- \ ! ^ ’3 s ' i ft k • <«»• Ml* efl * - ■*- A' •> 1 fl. ^9^ . 9 ...M a*- it '^y MM* 4 1 % u falflb. >» ■^1 ->|>^ iBlWBlir^ <« It: < ,.,ii 4 I 4i<’ i, • / »• ii k. ■ i. k The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary is once again offering free admission to moms this Mother's Day, May 11. Courtesy photo I 4. r:' •> ' u* ft Is Moms can enjoy the spring migration season, along with spring flowers and trees in bloom at the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary this Mother’^ Day. The W.K. Kellogg Bird SaneAUGUSTA NEWSPAPER DEADLINES tuary will continue the tradition of offering free admission to moms on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11. Sanctuaty hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sanctuary’s Storybook Walk title for May is “Mama Built a Little Nest,” by Jennifer Ward. Pages from the book will be located along the accessible, %-mile paved path to read while walking. The May theme in the Overlook Building—an indoor space along i=^ the paved path—is “Be a Backyard Birder.” Visitors can explore the worlds of nature and art through birds and birding-related activities. The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary is located at 12685 East C Ave., one mile north of M-89 and just west of 40th Street. Anyone with questions is asked to contact the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary at birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu or 269671-2510. MM f >■ <*' ✓ C99 • I A s 1 f i ft h > i 1 .— T /If** i i** a ii^» I .•J' . J . f'j I :> ft fl ( I.' J) ft .. » I i_j h . i4ni I r I 1 I .f.. I * .1’ * 4 r f J 3W *< •Zl ':5Vi . u ) k ’f r ' I » I 1 J *■♦ •* S*’ a f 1 <' < _ r / I i 1 tfj 1^7 li; ' « 1 I tt Advisor Monday at 4:00 pm Shopper Monday at 5:00 pm Banner BODY SHOP Yovr +rwfecl Body 5hop -for over 32 years i 4 1 < V-** sCV^i* I ft 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 I.' ;«yii^'Ml* *• V Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm Complete Collision Repair < •l -A )it .nil i t I 5'fl -tK F J ft * .z, u . r. Pi > » L..^* ---•. '■ A' Sc I l\ * J Tuesday at Noon Reminder Wednesday at Noon Blood drive set for May 13 in Caledonia Participants in a May 13 blood drive may not only help save lives, but they may also set themselves up to win a pair oftickets to a Detroit Tigers MLB game. Your local agent insures your Fs^rm e Sun & News FARM BUREAU INSURANCE' Wednesday at Noon o I Group Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville ® (269) 795-8827 jparks@fbinsmi.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com According to organizers, the VersitiBlood Center of Michigan is partnering with Caledonia Community Church to host a blood drive at Holy Family Catholic Parish on Kraft Avenue in Caledonia on Tuesday, May 13, from 1-6:30 pm. Organizers stated the goal for the upcoming blood drive, which is open to the public, is 55 pints. Anyone 17 or older is eligible to donate blood, and 16-year-olds are eligible to donate with parental permission. Rules for the sweepstakes for the two tickets to a Tigers ballgame during the current 2025 season may be found online at versiti.org/takemeouttotheballgame. If interested in donating blood, per­ sons may sign up at versiti.org/ccc or call Char Mello, blood drive chairper­ son, at 616-901-2803. Donations by appointment are preferred but walk-ins DA/ are welcome, as time allows. a ■ . ’ ■* . <011...I I.*. 4« M ft*9< *< -A ri. ’■ .1 ] '*^mrp k I t ■seh? f« i® K^;w I I I . I J ibb’/' I 'jno^^'-skirn <t'8 *4 I k I v4 >•«V « ? ’' I j I 1 z* 'b fK«b u) • I • -J . r. I. 1 « fl 4* ,»u I I I 1 > i At../ 1r ’ I ): Ir .'■t ^3L' t 1 i J ■ ■’13 .<i < I J r.3 1 0 : I I J fl J to ilir : g ’ --1 Tl 1 M ft I'.'.V. 1 fl »j..- .. tj/ 'v^ I > cr* I > 1 VV 1, '•1 k.., <« »' SmS^Sc , t t « * u » ,.A ’. » 5^ rf> •l JI jrt A ! ? « J 2 * Hi ■r ■ti 9 tl • ' »*V' 4 * : **' * �e WK**' w »• t s 4' r *1 "S noM ' |v7 to ncq»»8t.¥Li; :p 3 . mo J 30nx.fb rx«» tiH fc I I k < t nt rntf^ I ii'IzrltviiOit 7’1774. rogMIii''! fnf»! .». r i\I ri Jr L’l’nib - tjjf/- h f 'iU4. J 4 .,’3 < . « tr Z j 1 • ■ ’ 'Jfurj • T tM O'ZZJ Mj ir/j Scots rally after falling in finale with Rockets Brett Bremer Sports Editor That’s why Jason Burghardt likes baseball - at least part of why. The next chance comes quick. The chance to earn an OK Green w Conference sweep against ReethsPuffer got away from the Fighting Scot varsity baseball team Thursday, April 24, as it fell at home 8-4 to the Rock­ ets after winning both games of their conference doubleheader in Muskegon two days earlier. Tomorrow did come quick, and the Scots bounced back to score 5-4 and 11-7 wins over Sparta in a non­ conference doubleheader in Caledonia Friday, April 25. / K, ' “We just kind of shot our foot on a couple of things, but I still like where \\ we’re at,” Burghardt said after the loss Aryn Taylor pitches for Caledonia to the Rockets last Thursday. “It’s still during its OK Green Conference early, so I think at this point we’re still contest with visiting Reeths-Puffer getting live at-bats there, and reps de­ Thursday, April 24, in Caledonia. fensively and still getting work there. I think all the things we need to fix just 6-4 with two runs in the home half of come with time. You just have to work the fourth and two more in the bottom through it, and hopefully it doesn’t cost you a game. If it does, big picture, of the fifth. you’re figuring things out the things Fighting Scot starting pitcher Aryn you need to work on in practice. Taylor gave up six runs in four innings, “We had a big senior class last year. but only two of them were earned. He I feel like we have a handful of new struck out six, walked two and allowed faces there with some pieces that were five hits. there before, so you have that little bit “He didn’t have his best stuff, but of a learning curve. But I really like he had enough,” Burghardt said of this group. The nice thing is they’re Taylor. “One thing he has gotten better coachable, they do the things they’re at is striking guys out when he needs supposed to do. You can always trust to, when there are guys on limiting that those things are going to work the damage there. It also helps if we themselves out sooner rather than can make a couple more plays behind later.” him. That is a thing that just happens The Scots have gotten a good glimpse See SCOTS on 14 at what a season of improvement can mean at the end of the year in each of the past two seasons winning dis­ trict championships and heading to Mt. Pleasant for regional final contests. The Scots hurt them­ t** "free > Estirnates selves with five errors in the one loss to the Rockets • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation Thursday. Reeths-Puffer • Blown-in Attic Insulation built a 6-0 advantage with four runs in the top 517-983-0954 of the fourth inning. The Start Saving Today Use Spray Foam Scots battled back within i s •r. B T • .A Ik -A, n^/'- > i. tr> . -tx '«» i' ♦ ' ’iU I * I. i• h 1 f .' t ■-H < aU u 9 1J • i ► / u J /’‘‘jjk • b. i. <4 > u i>* k I A r, Tf/l' i • J it* J ri f ¥ ' ir :-4 O; ■ ■’Hbv . K 3 ...JI :i 7V*1 ' ••'; .1 tM 1 J « fr '. 1001 - T 1 r I 1 J , f 1 J! i: J ( 1 ' I 111. )i 'i « »'•! L -; r’ ? I ,• I ' •■w I f I 4 t 4* t .W J '361 I I TJ3O 'ris*rf-A • . A t e I. * '- '1 . I 9 ' I I I Vfl I 1 wri I taneBMRMM J (I 1 I T Mu dofis J t staiPj t 1 I *• 4 « s i 1!^' 4 . '■ i } I ♦ t t « i F Tkf: 'Ci'' f. i 1 ** ’ • k' * Al I ' k <> z I qioaimW) **•* I svkiri s 1 VI Iy I I I 1 f^ >■ \ X 9 f i 1 A f ■ L 4 M ijfiiriaM®’ V z A IJ A 1 I t f 9' « , - ■ to I ■ fc 4 JI A .?? At T* * 11 i ; I • I > kAJKZ» i % M « ■> < > Wl'ti } I. A Jill V I \'l \ V'' .d I } : • it * X i *< 2 >I t■ X ** Bl T-> Residential & Commercial R '^2. E I I I B * * f' Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers B , to Id •: • J 8.2 > - • A4 1 %% I /X m li 1 ^# ■—‘.i A *'4)21 9 itefc I J .R ' ’ ~- .. 3r f 2?. '3 'K 1 i J \‘l > V .Vjat -4 MBi T J Iff » DeWeerd <68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM V f S»«e«- f9SS 2 j J f I' II II I I * 11 f « ( •a ' ri( 1 I !i I t •n } s ik A 1 4AI. I 1 r" ) I r r-* > I 9 to IVE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS 11 >& to 1 I'I « • < r !• K f ■■ ■ % I I 1 •A Caledonia head coach Jason Burghardt offers a fist bump to Ethan Sova after he tripled past the Reeths-Puffer center fielder in the bottom of the fifth inning Thursday, April 24, in Caledonia. K I I * t \ i J / '** - ' A f 1 V * ...***• I !■ tf ivieii \ i I \ \ ‘ M i ( / .u; r VW n\ 4 '. t • w • y I .•».*« 1 k r \ V /1 •e ’t' I s /WzWir^ • Wim o a^. . A* z ZA J. f I J*. I I. 5* r k** Ji ■ u ? 4 I J 4 f f r 1 Saturday, May 3, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS A r* ■ n * vvww.sunandnews.com .mA : I F \ A+ 2 ^BBB. ACCREDITED BUSINESS �•♦ ♦ 4 .SOT* I Saturday, May 3, 2025 8 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com V WO ^57''* ( < ...... . . J ’'"-i ♦* KW** •— * ***^A«« «n« < / «r-«r4K^ I ( !lk ft ■■! Ml ■ * •• «z » j . •4 r I j I W2 4 r*> I { « 4 1 r 'K I'. 5 T' J min i H V I VIS 4I * 1 ' '-.•f «ir *• 1 1 I 9 4k t 4 15 J , t1 4 . V •' X..’. % * 4 v-« A , X 4*1 ’li- rw A, . * V II •r* ar Jp • •.... • t 1 I 1 : ' r A. r p .r • :* xv.ar '4' 1 *’/ / I in I I .;9 ’ ' p I i i ) I I ir-' !r5 * ’ - ■ J 1 t r I . i' .'t .-M' ^■1 ’ > > •. i Ct? ^4 9^ '• X i ^4 *.* \ 1 1 jT z w .' ■ * ■ *• .J > «av J ' •Am ft s I f 4 ’ I* I >- A' 5' ft c • c I r 'V 4L *> 4 —• t» X‘. X* I « ir • CV • /r > 4 .¥ ■ * J 9 >/ Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra leads discussion focused on developing a long-range vision for growth in the township at a special meeting of the Gaines Township Board of Trustees on April 28. Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra leads discussion focused on developing a long-range vision for growth in the township at a special meeting of the Gaines Township Board of Trustees on April 28. Photos by James Gemmell I'’’ 49 X t- <. I r • « r* i M4* . .<1 U1'^' fi GAINES Continued from Page 3 has in the way of a rural feel in certain areas. “I would encourage that we keep thinking about the heritage, the his­ tory,” Diemer said. “And celebrate that, don’t lose that stuff. And build from there.” As for potentially developing more parks and trails, Terpstra said the town­ ship board will be asked at its May 12 meeting whether to adopt a resolution submitted by the Parks & Trails Com mittee to create a Parks & Grounds Department. Some of the committee’s recom­ mendations include expanding and connecting existing trails, creating and maintaining an all-trails phone app, developing Cody Mills Park on 84th Street, improving the Paul Henry Trailhead and restoring the 138-yearold DeTray School located at the comer of 100th Street and East Paris Avenue. The school is owned by the Gaines Historical Society. “If the township could somehow regain that property, that would give us another park,’’ Lemke said. “We could also help with that restoration. That school is starting to decay. And it would also preserve our heritage.” “A lot of money is (already) invested in that building,” said GHS president Shirley Bruursema. “It’s not deteriorat­ ing as much as we think.” She added the Michigan Towns» ship Association has stated that the township cannot donate money to the school’s restoration. Resident Steve Komoelje told the board he has been thinking about park development for a long time and the need to acquire land for it. “If you don’t start now, where is the land going to be 10, 15 years from now?” he said. “It’s not going to be there (for park space).” DeWard recommended that the township board put a ballot question to the public on whether to fimd the various parks and other improvements through a millage request or a special assessment. “Let them vote on it,” De Ward said. “And then we’ll have the money to do it. “The other thing is we should be making every effort we can to get (state or federal) grants to help us with this. There are sources of funding out there, but we need to pursue them.” In discussing public safety. Town­ ship Clerk Michael Brew said he is concerned about more and more crime filtering into the township’s neighbor­ hoods, adding the top priority should be to examine why it is happening and to upgrade public safety. “I know at least three individuals who have moved out of Gaines Town­ ship because crime is coming into the neighborhood and they’re saying, T can’t raise a family here because of this, Brew said. Parks & Trails Committee Chair99^ woman Dana Lehmann said she is concerned about what will happen when all the residents move into the future Prairie Wolf Station town center that is being built on 84th Street across from Prairie Wolf Park. According to Lehmann, there is no entrance gate to keep people out at night. “It closes at dusk,” she said. “Who’s going to police it? The township’s deputy fire chief, Justin Holmes, said the department is having difficulty retaining part-time fire staff because they move on to larger cities where firefighting is “more adventurous.” He added state standards require that fire departments have four members on the scene of any fire before they enter a burning structure. “They should not be arriving on the scene dictating who lives and who gets help in nine minutes,” Holmes said. “Fire will not wait for us.” According to Holmes, the depart­ ment employs plenty of firefighters, but many leave after the township has invested considerable time and money into training them. Waayenberg suggested a longevity bonus should be made available to the new firefighters to incentivize them to stay on the job for at least five years. “We don’t have a firefighter level in our department,” Township Manager Rod Weersing said. “We have engine operators, we have lieutenants and captains. So, we’re missing that step, which really comes after the training. “And that’s why we’re training people and (then) losing them, because they get a better opportunity than parttime and paid-on-call,” he added. “So, that’s one of the things we’re looking at putting in next year’s budget, the firefighter position.” p fl t H - ■ ■ fc .SH ri > P*' k □ yjiTf I .9 1;: 4 J" 4^- .' 1 Jf r s s 4 f-' . % '.*• * 4 u" ri' 4 I £•’€XT-' 4 4 lBli‘!*•'; ! r I 1 9 » » Urf s p J I ns;®con —» 9 4 5 k . lirj s I H omici c $ .1^ Ife.,^ c 'Bll . r 1 >> I ).v w A 1I 1 f#u! > J- 1 ’Jj X i 1 t V . ■ 4^ ■t’ i z ' ?t s KPI 2: ; Rental Housing L Affotdabilib' I * -►x u T II << I ) ;t I »« >• • • . ft- •» <*r ifcrifi’iS&iSffilBfc i 1 hrtP® ik!K«f>rF I J I ...^H 3 j f.l SOU’'"” F *5 1 I < A oat^ IO** 00^ .h * J * r. < Ai^ d .1 e' A c » i* A poster that reflects potential priorities to be considered for the Gaines Township Board when it comes to housing. iBitnstoq, <•< te • 4«l» ' }i nsflw bisoB qirtti gs^ �* M'^9WW Saturxlav ^^ay 3. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 9unandnew« com 9 >«* ^^A^to^v****^^** JW, PLAN I ...-^ Corwiriued Irom Page 5 4 t* lappen." said Kathy \mderSteL *ho liv near the mining site on Kalamazoo Avenue and is a member oftfie township board. *rve been assured it's probabH just one year that that's happenii^. So. I think we can live with a vear of that goir^on. She added the soil on the Bamab> par cel has not been seeded yet and wondered if that could be done soon tocontroi dust from the project. StoneCo officials had suted dust control will be done by water trucks, as needed, and street sw eeping will be pctfomied by K&R. Tm really concerned about the mud that's going to pi Ie up on I OOth Street because that's sticky stuff, aixl with the hrst rain and the trucks rolling out of there.” VanderStel said. But they (SloneCo) have assured me they will keep on top of that with sweepers. And they did us. as well, so we're going to hold them to that,” Planning Commission Chairwoman Connie (iiarmo added. Singer said he was not sure when StoneCo's contractor was planning to seed the western portion of the property, w hich will not be touched by the inbound clean fill. After the public hearing closed. Plan- 'i./. a .J >-r *• 3 able parceb. Probably, kmd of large loc rural residential-type structures. l ie added that septic systems could be installed at a potential hxure housing site, negating the need for mumcipal sanitary sewer pipes to be extended to the site. The rest of the pit in that location w ill remain m place Lm fairly confident this should go off without any problems,'' Uelis said. SloneC/o has been mining gravel at four pLs on adjacent properties in that vicinity for several yean. Currently, the only active site is the Jepbwy parcel at 10287 Kalamazoo Avenue, just south of the Barnaby parcel. Ihc Planning CommiMion will con­ duct a separate review of the 29-acrc Jeplawy site later this year, per town­ ship ordinance. A PCT) rezoning for it was approved in July 2023 for a mine expansion. A public hearing was held at the April Planning Commission meeting. There has not been truck traffic in there (in the past), so it's kind of dis* appointing to see that that's going to ft. I 1 f MH « rt" | l>4r « 1 1 I s I ♦ * f •I 4 x sr* 5 4 Vki t z r'.< y 4 *f <r' M, I a s I ■ iC * Ra. A X Ir r*i I ' r f I I a V B 2 A < A, h k : 1^. I M. I IL f r \ X 5^ 1 t A I 1 '-■4 1 A ’‘‘A i r “L . *«■$ P's -w w. ' A i I t I s •t 4 I aa w M 4< Br. •l I ning Commissiorxrr Brad XK'aayenbcrg suggested that soil-density tests be completed to make sure that it is com­ pact enough to allow for houses to be developed on-site. And, Commissioner Tim Haagsma said a one-year time limit should be placed on the project. "K&R's been hauling on Peas Avenue forever, but that's a little different than w anting to keep hauling here.” I laagsma said. ”1 think we should get to a point where we should be done with this. I’m also a little concerned that w e don't know w* — I I * o SHERRIFI OOSLIN* I 1 1 -w r 9 * 4 T 4 i AV OQ '•^,5 QUAUTV ROOriNC i ■{ .1 i c s Funding 3 Favorite Charities e * I - i *1 9r *■ ► • a 1 1—<r « 'B local trusted roofing company with H54 years * * JM IN THE BUSINESS a 1 ' I J » * B *1 a • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP M JP i Ik 12 '*3 I a /• • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS 4 X t • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM t . > 4 fsl 4 b« • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS -F I 4 -- - < •l* fl F >5 J A 1 r z • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED T « •2^ 4 ‘--W 1-... ’i FM i «' ' B a -w>« < • A* RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ' « t f z J • * . I * >! I • 4^ I• '* > * f J* V «• fr’ I r*4 •> * r « f i J 4 FOR YOUR FREE * 1 t r • » " I INSPECnON A I c T' r,' i' * T ~ - > bi *- «* » i: i priest’ I Xr^ 0/ i L'. ' * 9 ■¥ fs • .*• Robert Morrh VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK ■ SSr-' >• • t J —.J > J -V I 3^ /rfi? ilw*" ' Iz -i --- - ir^ • ."I* 4 * f -:yr* ft jv tk -A 4 ■i .k . tk » I/' J 'I TTIIIil' e*Tl- : • ••■' «' ^4 r <5^5* ‘tt •e* • « -H'V. at-'- \4 'I' € r * *- t - r'' 4 'll \ .i- -s ' »** .•9 a ■ « • * »V4. » » 1 1 ? / J L A "t k'' f- "i* i / f .t » i t t I u V k st n % I « I k t s 1 I barrtCOM NnV^OUNOAllON 231 1 BftOAOWAY 51. HASTINGS Ml WWW BARRYCF O»C I :-< ! J ▼ a iHe 1* * c VIAU or WMOVMO UYit A p' ,1. C"' ..1 'J -*• T :•< . IB Even though he lived in California, Robert Morris found a way to support Lake Odessa's library, historical society, and scenic trails. Established as part of his estate plan years in advance, the Robert B. Morris Fund continues to generously support his hometown year after year. Take the time to consider your philanthropic priorities. If you want to learn more about leaving a legacy, please call Bonnie Gettys or Annie Halle at 269-945-0526 to help ensure that your gifts can support your hopes and dreams. I 1 I I a* CALL TODAY 0* 1 when iIk seeding (will he done). Neighbors have to de«il with soino thing that has nothing growing on it And when the wind conies, it's going Io blow dust.' In approving the 2025 operations plan, the Planning Cotninission added certain conditions, including giv ing the township engineer the authority to test the compacted soils for density, cleanfilling the site during the 2025 calendar year and seeding the pmperty w ithin the first growing period of the spring. HOMETOWN LEGACY * «w 9 1/ i* or Garrett Siriger. StooeCo's assistant operations manager, addresses the Gaines Township Planning CommissKXi at its April 24 meeting Photos by Jamas Gammail » I C- > •• V THE MOS'T TRUSTED.NAME IN ROPFING i 1! >» *I I 9 i **«s w-iti •O' ^IWb' B « 4 •« •a r a '•« �"".4 ii* ' f *! / k . J t .'i *V Saturday, May 3, 2025 10 9 7 9 11 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com r* f 4 f Ui' • F Sporting News I I 4 1 t i • *♦ ■> i ' 4 1* V {*»' 9 IK jF j i /I f 1 W 3 /I Z.1 I I * *1 b 1 r.' •> V I * r 1 <rj a*»T J w *<» - t '-•►J Scot offense quiet in pair with visiting Jenison girls * 0A r a* J -Oh e 4 / V t ' * k z ♦ 4 T '>5 I <- 11 z. f • !. A'- « t ( ,11. ( .. 1r V * A f I I .•1'»»’ • I « i V h.. t9 f ’’'S I’--’, « y p 1 1 p < 1 4 f V / ^11' I *e ff; ■ ', Brett Bremer Sports Editor ■—i W ■■ !»!■ * f r I I Wl '-'i. r A Caledonia’s Molly Lieske knocks a single into Centerfield during gametwo of her team’s OK Green Conference doubleheader with visiting Jenison Tuesday. Photos by Brett Bremer The Caledonia girls scored once in the first inning and then were held scoreless for the next ten as the Jenison varsity softball team took two wins in Caledonia Tuesday. The Wildcats outscored the Scots 3-1 in the opener and then earned an 11 -2 win in game two. Wildcat pitcher Claire Meritt held the Scots to two runs on five hits and two walks in game two while striking out ten. i mOOCST AM esTiMATe Tx*CO ROOFING A pitching change didn’t help out the Scots too much. Alli Wright threw the opener for the Wildcats. She allowed one run on five hits and four walks while striking out three. Hudsyn Tanner doubled to lead off the bottom of the first of game one for the Scots. She went to third on a pop out and then raced home on a two-out single by teammate Addy Lash to tie the game at 1 -1 Jenison answered right away with a run in the top of the second to go back in front and then tacked on one more run in the top of the fifth. Lash finished that first ballgame 2-for-3 at the plate. Malia Burke and Maddison Boucher had the only other Caledonia hits. In game two at the plate, Boucher was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Tanner and Aliya Hemden both doubled once and Molly Lieske had a single for the Scots. Lieske threw game one and went the distance in the circle for the Scots and allowed just two earned runs on six hits and three walks. She struck out two. Addi Veldt threw game two for theScots and was hit for 11 runs, but only five earned. She gave up 12 hits and five walks and struck out eight. The two losses drop the Scots to 0-5 in the OK Green Conference so far this spring. They were slated to play their third contest with the Wildcats Thursday, May 1, in Jenison. The Scots have their set with Mus­ kegon next week going on the road for two Tuesday and then playing one in Caledonia Thursday, May 8. The Caledonia girls host their own Fight­ ing Scots Softball Invite Saturday, May 10. COVER IT WITH CONFIDENCE A *3 t *>• Z ♦V 4^ / <. » Residential » Commericai 9^ ■ »'3 -•'“' 6i6-916-0188 r i' I 5».’i»»44JSA f i 1 * a :, A '■: t I e■' «»■» »* I ■r 'J 9 A <1 p ‘.{BLnuis?!”'jjr/nj Ih r. 1! -r ll s i **r a» ■ S 1 > 4 & r F ■■ s <* •MK 'a C '*' 4 C k r i 5 I A I « m * I .f ( k 1, b I i > *« $ fl I 1 I I i I t I 4’ 4 f j I ’Ml wW « k I l] i ■ *a 1 w » ' ".«w * 1 1a 1 i , A— y e I p-o • •* • /■ Google CufMtr RyxiWWl • < ** .* »* r - •Ate - I ' ■ ' If I I I X « |> y jfJ^KBbooIr . -li 4 * Mr- 100% SATISFACTION OVAAANTFCO — < r .'V M* A X"- iW ' L» i!i *^'<[X'*I**F>^**^ <» f” -, *1*. •l. I I HMMP**^'**- '. •. .f f 1^ ? -ijIflL,'--- *1 9^ - L4 ( •<X, ILi I • 1 ?.’ J ir.* r*- I » Insurance Claims i^Wl V & A ur ; ?p L 1 r :l wr^ iL iw sort <• I 4 ' - -ar- * 1 ft Jf !•? » Roof Repair » Storm Damage b'* A % . j .4 , » ii i ■' * .4 .’ J .1— ' “i t KNi*' <y rw* T I r 45 Lidf ’ : « I I. .d «* Serving the Caledonia and Middleville Communities. t n .' * **x ** >v * ,I * 4 w <• .> - ■ «• - yW Me r I w 't r I I “«* ■ Fighting Scot shortstop Hudsyn Tanner fires to first for an out after knocking a ground ball down and then scooping it up during game two of her team’s OK Green doubleheader against visiting Jenison Tuesday in Caledonia a •ir * »-Uft:, 1 •w» »r *b<* t •’S J® : I » L «» ■ ■9 ' -1'* vt » I > /. •< -4 k/ J �ft ft I ft J :c jh./ '/A-/7 - 4'^ ■ I 1 1 kh THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 11 Saturday, May 3, 2025 ft ft Scots and Sailors play to draw, remain second in Green '8 b 1s 1 ) ’r I i f.* » vu*;, Sports Editor The Bulldogs were the big winners, and they weren’t even there. Caledonia and Mona Shores played to a 1-1 draw at Scotland Yard in Cale­ donia Tuesday evening. Both teams moved to 3-1-1 in conference play with the draw, putting them a game and a half back of the Byron Center varsity girls’ soccer team in the OK Green Conference standings—meaning either team would need help to catch the Bulldogs during the second half of the conference season. Byron Center beat them both during the first run through the slate. Freshman Olivia Foster scored in the first half to give Caledonia lead Tuesday, but it was short-lived as Mona Shores found the equalizer before the half. The Fighting Scots had one or two charges on the Sailor goal in the final minutes, but most of the final 20 min­ utes saw the Sailors on the offensive. Fighting Scot goalkeeper Ella De­ Ruyter and her defense were able to clear away a handful of Mona Shores comer kicks, and DeRuyter made a solid save on a quick counter attack by (xic; I & f 4 } 1 t •I I il * — I 5 X I , 'l; j • J. bt t ♦ Ui. 't I J A 4 I ft: < t J ti . I I I I I 't r F I d I c T : •/ ) s ■ 1 t t 4 r ’)• I >; a -/r b c •<x\ I r' <b r *» ciu > » * 9 J ' .• ft 1 {• i *« ‘M. '7. ^0«- > ) ' .siW "TIM i f 4^ r k ‘Cl ’ ‘ r-M I f. B I ^111-. -«. • J n*. I c;.! f ’ ’‘•r ■«m. i."*'! Aj -- > . /“rt’H', 1- w, f I' k' I » oniiffv I .1.1 u-i. '• « « «lf . 'lA t; il> - IJT i war.' ■ w f .;/ 4 the Sailors’ Ava Freye who was break­ ing in on her goal. Fighting Scot senior back Joslynn Wilcox started one good long surge up for the Scots carrying all the way from her spot in the defensive third to the offensive end where she found team mate Olivia Stauffer open heading to the comer. Stauffer earned a comer kick for the Scots. That comer was directed on net, but saved by the Sailor keeper. The freshman Stauffer also ripped a shot from the left side that was snagged by the Sailor keeper in the closing minute. Mona Shores saw its record go to 8-2-1 overall this season. Caledonia moved its overall record to 5-5-2 overall this season. The Scots were slated to host Reeths-Puffer for another OK Green contest Thursday, May 1. The Scots go to Jenison for a league game Tuesday, May 6, and then will be home for a conference contest with Muskegon Thursday. The Scots’ last win came at Mus­ kegon April 22. Byron Center bested the Scots last Thursday, April; 24, in Byron Center and then the Scots played to a 0-0 draw in a non-conference match with Mattawan Saturday in Caledonia. Brett Bremer I iS 1 I 1-/ * ft 4 t J % ■ ♦ 4,. ' w M % < ft *» > « % a •’Z •• *ft wif- ft •l •f 1 « I I H •4 'Jft a’ * 4 * Ji nowj I 4 i I t » * 5 r J J m II? .i. Caledonia senior Delaney Ellese (9) heads the ball away from Mona Shores’ Makinley Younts during their OK Green Conference match Tuesday evening at Scotland Yard in Caledonia. Photos by Brett Bremer A YANKEE SPRINGS DENTAL FAMILY IS EVERYTHINO TO US. I I . 1 I I SI r w> ('"n We treat our patients like family and offer comfortable, customized dentistry for everyone r <» ^1 * ) 1 I f <« >* r/ ?* I M C I a S' •b'ii t f 4 >1 r * ■ if'' *«V :f —r A ( ■9 • IM k % > •r* a rA' t I i ( * « »V 4 B J K> : f - f ♦ WiWLa,«Lj- ? 41 r SU A ,3 » 4 BEST DENTIST » I JI 4 O J '.uuvdS^'ir > -I I , J I I Willi kut inofkliy options f, • ! ^9— □ j 207. OFF □ (269)792-9723 12715WM-179Hwy YankMSprfngsDental.com Wayland, Ml 49348 scan to request in appointment and learn more .i42 6ooitei«.«*« ^‘2^* 'tIk' r *. - 't il ' i ,l’ 1 I i » t hl I V I I YANKEE SPRINGS DENTAL TYLER ' Mention this offer when you call ! or bring this ad wHh you ' VENEMAN. DDS ’I 1 i NOW ACCEPTING Office Hours M TU 9om-6pm 7afTv3pm W Th 8orn-5pni 6um«4prn F 8om-'2CMTi JI I f. « * «► Fighting Scot goalkeeper Ella DeRuyter gets off her line to punch away a Mona Shores corner kick from above the Sailors’ Makinley Younts (8) and Olivia Naylor (25) during the second half Tuesday at Scotland Yard in Caledonia. I h I i - K I 1 , » . .eiWn •A 9lr I I -< COSMETIC DENTISTRY ' YOUR FIRST VISIT IS" ♦be 9 >: pi S f I * "1 A i f vy- r- TO ALL OUR DELTA DENTAL HEALTHY KIDS AND BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HEALTHY KIDS PATIENTS FOR THE r<7K I nc z RECOGNITION ' I 1!^ I . k • I*' 44^ I I' '4' V- > A -7 •* 2 T Si > ( J C r f. '.t I •< ' v»W„.«.» B •* .1 9 J * » ■ ftr r A b 25 S; 4 i s ^02^ 4 < > E« THANK YOU r •w * •Jr PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY i. I 1 to rctuff i to qood A' J 4 *•'* ft IMPLANTS cnlemtl to yotir IftKjImedl fioeos (J 3 •• S' SAME DAY DENTISTRY iA• ' K. ?ai e. ‘.5 } * 4 I « k ' <x b' f ► ei s �t fl I 1 I ■ Irt i 4 jw AZ* 1 I st I Saturday, May 3, 2025 12 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I ;J‘ ! ♦ ft ft ft ft ■ft >1 1 5 V. r . > f i I * * . I / I t ■V'.' r > i ai ■ ■ »v ' 4* ft 4«, • « A 4 4 ft •T *4 ’ I < -i * 3 i 9?* 7 < t X 9 < ■ -•» * :*' ■• '» ft 1 * rr I % ♦ » 1 ft ft > l.’ S’ J A •J, U7eiv NOW HIRING t ■» • /V .. < r '» ■ I *';,d w < r f ! V * I. ■ r 4 « r** - ( Brett Bremer Sports Editor r e* I Wildcat softball shuts out TK ladies twice in Middleville OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY ♦ * ■V J ft* t 1^1 The Trojans took a Saturday off for prom, but will host their second Saturday tournament in three weeks today. May 3, in Middleville. The Thomapple Kellogg varsity softball team will be looking to bounce back after two tough OK Gold Conference losses against visiting Wayland Wednesday evening in Middleville. The TK ladies were bested 9-0 in game one and then 11-0 in game two, a contest Aat ended in a walk-off home run by the Wildcats’ Madi Ludema in the bottom of the fifth. Anna Romph was 2-for-2 at the lop of the line-up for TK in that second game and Kylee Hoebeke and Adelaide Holderman both singled once. Wildcat pitcher Harmony Laker struck out six in five innings, allowing four hits. She didn’t walk a batter. Ludema pitched game one for the Wildcats, shutting out TK on six hits and two walks. She struck out nine. The six TK hits included a single and a double by Kenzie Bouma, a double from Hoebeke and a double from Jena Robinett as well as singles by Kennah Cocco and Romph. I f .1■ J’’’” t)% 1 T ’I I *b > 9> w< fl < / ft 1^( 1 ■i ft X " 1 » ft *s ,1' <* i 9 1 I 4 fi w I ftv a if- 1S^« k -/• ft fli « *• l’ h- »* t ■? I a t A* I w s s' ..♦* 1 L •" -4 f' » b 1'. i I * ..*4 B .’V - «» I I' Thornapple Kelloggcenterfielder Emily Stevens makes a leaping grab just shy of the fence during game two of her team's OK Gold Conference doubleheader against Wayland in Middleville Wednesday. Photo by Brett Bremer f w J I kt«* ».• »► A> ll«S^ r I *♦ ■J I A ■ r I ikO »*“ ' ’u ' « 1 ( *• 1 i I v II*'* , Newspaper Group is seeking a ) :3 MARKETING SPECIALIST ^*is ■r* » « a r»ij* I < :• ^9 tf (< j! ..a«8sjwi>^ . fl . ( r* • Scan our OR code to find your perfect invitation! « J< Responsibilities include: ) S'* I 9 t 'T .w I, L w. 'Ir'l' A’ A * • • • • Advertising sales Account management Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts Attend networking events . -■f f A •’W.. i J 1, Wu \ H I' MbH > » -------- h“ I I ft z r . -Sir / 1 ft* 1-1 ( > L 2 1 t .\ I Group email wsmith@mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer's Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder Simply Perfect iWfAiltaiM H»i. ^ ..'t {UUt^Gdi £’ e* ti .M- 1 9 4 * V I -Wl £® '*£. ■'5 w WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. • 1 ti','< ’Mr • T I .*1 1 « *• * k >»■ PRINTING BY . ri 4> ‘««A ’W • «*•. -f ir ■ www.printingbypennyiane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com t* >•* • •«1 ?- ' *> ''; »•> '*1 « �I I II ‘I 7^5 \ t I •r ♦ ♦ I 4 Sil I CHS girls win all four doubles flights in dual with Lowell J IB 4^ W' I 1 ► 1 I Brett Bremer Sports Editor ir u .'i' X. fl w4 t f I K « > * a: ... Miu ;>^bn Ui 9qi * ^2 TJOl r, I ri. • / V f.K' J ’A 'n'x4 J 1 >» * fi'SIrv hi) ' '-''-fl ' Al K A I I I * oiiqo iMffl *nt/ I r*. I i i t ► i/K Iffi ii ri/ ( • 4—• A M. s • '•f i. * b^i (Olli J jr Iy 4 • 'IZ * 3 b 51 r •» k\F >1® I t ; irijJOE t w f 5. « bi. 1^4 * X I • - >> i •> • ’f.' I* .A • t .1 S».j|fcr'W *ui 4 1 '*1 31? . i J ‘‘Oz. <J ■ ' ' i B I ’4i4iV‘ i 4 •• < [f > k « I I f I i I iT* > I Jr » . . i ( t iat ni xt I fOJ t I /J .) V'?!; •>» ,1 1 ji9W0vl THO - 11 FFI . ‘ ► Ife- 13 ♦ ^V. t Saturday, May 3, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com i I H T I ,1 HI ■ Wr® i J.; lisbnsV nab: W irj ll'jwot laV' .8i>lgn dr c ij 13: nh/toj 11 i ' t f I A doubles sweep helped power the Caledonia varsity girls’ tennis team to a 6-2 win over Lowell Tuesday at Cale­ donia High School. Lowell sophomores Gracie Lyonnais and Kaila Richards took a 6-2 win in the opening set of their dual with the Scots’ top doubles team ofsenior Sawyer Mertz and sophomore Anna Homrich, but the Scots rallied for a 6-4 win in the second set and then won a super tiebreaker 11 -9 to clinch the match. The Scots fought off the need to play a super tiebreaker along the rest of the doubles line-up. Scot seniors Zoe Flem­ ing and Hailey Markwat took a 6-0,7-5 win at second doubles over the Lowell duo of Sienna Berg and Lilah Cone. At third doubles, the Caledonia team of junior Kebe Fitzell and freshman Emery James won 7-5,6-3 over Vivyenne Skin­ ner and Natalie VanLaan. Completing the doubles sweep for the Scots was the number four team of juniors Maya White and Hellen Komera who took a 6-3, 6-2 win over the Red Arrows’ Brooklyn Haywood and Nadine Cozzio. Fighting Scot freshman first singles player Berkley Nelson scored a 6-0,6-0 win over Lowell senior Ariana Fred­ ricks. The Scots also had sophomore Gretchen VanderEide score a 6-1, 6-2 win over Lowell senior Quinn Massey at fourth singles. Lowell got wins from Kaylee Royer at second singles and Izzy Mosier at number three. Mosier fought offa charge by Scot senior Claire Teunessen. Mosier took the opening set 6-2, Teunessen bounced back for a 6-3 win in set num­ ber two, and then Mosier pulled out a 10-7 win in a super tiebreaker to take the match. The Scots were back in action Wednes­ day at Holland and fell 6-3 to the Dutch. VanderEide took a singles win for the Scots outscoring Rilee Hoebbel 6-4, 6-3. The other two points for Caledo­ nia came on the doubles side in fourth and fifth doubles matches. White and Komera beat Holland’s Lucy Green and Remi VanFarowe 6-4, 4-6, (10-8) at fourth doubles for the Scots. In a race fifth doubles match this season, the Scot team of Molly Liggett and Chelsea Tran took a 6-3,6-1 win over Holland’s Lena D’Addona and Emma Palmateer. The Scots were bested 7-1 by Hudson­ ville and 8-0 by Grand Rapids Catholic Central at their own Caledonia Invita­ tional last Saturday. White and Komera earned the Scots their one point with another win in a super tiebreaker. They outscored Hud­ sonville’s Delaney Colvin and Malia VanZee 5-7, 7-5, (10-5). The Caledonia girls were schedule to host Grandville Thursday afternoon, May 1, and will be back in action Tues­ day against visiting Unity Christian. The OK Green Conference Champion­ ship Tournament is on the schedule for Thursday, May 8. ♦ VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO VILLAGE of MIDDLEVILLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY DEVELOPMENT AND TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Village Council of the Village of Middleville will hold a public hearing on the proposed Amendment No. 5 to the Village of Middleville Local Development Finance Authority’s Development and Tax Increment Financing Plan in accordance with the Michi­ gan Recodified Tax Increment Financing Act (Act 57 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 2018, as amended). The hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., local time (or shortly thereafter) at the Village Hall located at 100 East Main Street, within the Village. The existing boundaries of the Authority’s District are described as follows by map and general property description: VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY DISTRICT BOUNDARIES VILLAGE OF Ml DDLEVILLE NAP 1 I on 7* V »r .XI*'H tk. I ixisiu 1 I .orK J I E ♦* * ' ’ ■» S s. :!8T Kra f '.tl* Jr ■ill, ■riiiHM <’ ™St ill tMTm s » r r * >r » H*- t I LEGEND :5 §S1RS > 5 V VILLAGE BOUNDARY ’•'J 4 >«fS BESE *> II □ tin X tn.3 A LOCAL DEVELOPMErrr FINANCE AUTHORITY ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES •» < tv. J (4 V T ggm Effli >4 V ;’*’k t i t ;aL-.2 J i9c 9i>* A I 4* t I * V1 e «Sr N W J* ^-4! V S' vT? r . \ * 12 - INDUSTRIAL. II - INDUSTRIAL p* ♦ k ♦ « / .1 iTr ^4^ « I• 4 *< I WADE-TRIM ftozamiotM OrartMTO. t99e ■4Wb- .«ivr o,iin s « b . n I’ 1 19^ . y 1 I / .ft jrT’ 1 I I ‘ H r 1 » k J r I I f k> » 1 rriix I ( I I .* 1 f ' i I .' <...J 4 a; 4*hv f * . .. t I f 1 Al » 4 I f J ! * • I I I r W9H 4 . t I I r’crt? i" « > r I . * L ' i »h nn Joq ) » r • f / . / •\T ; 4 - ' } « •• I/ ,; rri: if \ / J I s ’ll I J TK has two guys in 80s at Tom Collins tournamont 1 i I J ; j-u:' j 1 I i I I kUre- ■ l*l. •.! •* f » K- ■ II . Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ golf team placed 20th Thursday at Gull Lake’s Tom Collins Memorial tournament at Gull Lake View Golf Course in Augusta. Gull Lake took the day’s champi­ onship with an overall score of 303. Otsego and Portage Central both shot a 'jin -----------; __ *i _ 319, with Otsego earning the runner-up spot on a tiebreaker. Hackett Catholic Pre was fourth with a score of320 ahead ofVicksburg325, Kalamazoo Christian 327, Charlotte 328, Byron Center 329, Zeeland West 330 and Mattawan 331. Sophomore Parker Dahley led the Thomapple Kellogg team with a score of 87. Senior Will Nathan scored an 88 and senior Ryan Skidmore a 90. The TK team had seniors Kylan Pratt and Tyler Voss tie for the team’s fourth score with 94s. Gull Lake senior Hank Livingston shot a three-under 69 to win the day’s individual title. Loy Norrix senior Isaac Scavarda (74) and Vicksburg senior Rilley Briggs (75) rounded out the top three. Gull Lake had three guys in the top ten. Sophomore Jaxon Chapdelaine See TOURNAMENT on 19 .( * .» ‘ I 1 ? k . r-, y.-' j J* i1 N 11 I I 1 • I I , 1 t, iL ’ 1 : * 1 I t '1^ < M f I I I The existing Development and Tax Increment Financing Plan (the “Plan”), as amended by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 to the Plan, and the proposed Amendment No. 5 to the Plan, are available for public inspection at the office of the Village Clerk at the Village Hall located at 100 East Main Street, Middleville, Michigan. All aspects of Amendment No. 5, the Plan, and any other information that the Village Council deems appropriate, are open for discussion at the public hearing. At the hearing, citizens, taxpayers and property owners may be heard with regard to Amendment No. 5 to the Plan. Written comments concerning Amendment No. 5 may be submitted to the Village office, located at 100 East Main Street, Middleville, Michigan, up to the time of the public hearing. Authorized by the Village Council of the Village of Middleville on the 22nd day of April 2025. Dated: April 22,2025 Rhonda Van Polen, Clerk Village of Middleville �•Al **>» k f .< » . . s. r’ < * . \’v; * * < • AV • «< 4 rJt ft A J 14 THE SUN AND NEWS a Continued from Page 7 A. 7.J ♦ J '' > 9 » a 9 la * ft » « z a' ' a a^j #. ' t i .AX» .'' '®| £ > 't I 4 >p » > rk/«;.’^£. ’ A 4 » 4 .1 4^ X ' Je - •V >4 A 'i:' 4L y.' «*.. «A 5?*- «' ■: ' ** fa-4 e **» ft * A* '^} f ' 4i^ rz •i > 4 t « «* » r ** 4 **• ■hib. / •» ■ I i V r * ".^ : > * :-v 'A fc- e 'J.- I *w * ^'‘>J t.. ' >'?^' ll w > * . *T? A>*» -A A I * * .K " **./*■ ♦r'** :Aj,: ’t X*-: ft * '■' J :*1 •4 * • 'i ft s 1b % ! 1 • .r: , '^» . .^. \ / r f *' ‘ < * * ''■ : < f I . ♦A^ 4 - - *< ■f s . 1 m4 4/ 4« V- * 1 74 .< A » A u .£3-a > z 1 4*. *v fl I /, > «r ' w < 4^ *4 Fighting Scot third baseman Ty Lewandowski slides to his left to try and get to a bouncing ball during his team’s contest with Reeths-Puffer in Caledonia April 24. Photos by Brett Bremer some days and you’ve got to move on. Composure wise, and kind of that stuff from him it is exciting to see. That’s the fun stuff as a coach to see that growth from a player.” Alex Spinney threw 2.2 innings of relief and was charged with the two runs the Rockets added to their lead in the seventh. Talen Verburg stepped on the mound to get the final out, but walked two before he got it. The Scots managed eight hits, but could only turn them into two runs. Rocket pitchers didn’t issue a walk. Ethan Sova was 2-for-4 with a triple a run scored and an RBI for the Scots. AJ Roskowski was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Ty Lewandowski singled and drove in a run. Verburg had a single too. Cam Myers and Jackson McNew had one RBI each. McNew was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. The Scots are now 3-2 in the OK Green Conference this season. They opened this week’s series with Jenison with a split in Caledonia Tuesday. The Wildcats took game one 10-0, but the Scots rallied for a 3-2 win in game two. Lewandowski had a lead-off walk in the bottom of the first of game two Tuesday and scored on a Wildcat error. Jenison tied things at 1-1 in the top of the second, but the Scots came right back to score twice in the home half of the inning. Trevor Walter singled and Ben Kieliszewski walked to start the inning, eventually Spinney singled to the left side to drive in one run and a second run came home on a fly-out to center by Lewandowski. The Scots were outhit 9-3 with all three hits coming in those first two innings. Myers went the distance on the mound giving up nine hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out six and only one of the two runs against him was earned for the Scots. The Scots and Wildcats were set to close their conference set in Jenison May 1. The Scots head to Muskegon for two conference games Tuesday and the Big Reds come to Caledonia for one Thursday, May 8. r :* i www.sunandnews.com SCOTS t > * / * « J 0^ . f*’ ^4 r f : , A® ( s CALEixs'nA TOWNSHIP Caledon TOWNSHIP <** j .V P* »«> II » J# i .01 1 V iG*: .-5^ .^1 .i' * I 1 i I i; .iV % i I * >• II » » I > t .J » 9 J* t I t « 'sIp . 11 11 A-'ji I r r n>K* v I I « J V ft p’ / 9 t u 4 •if-’!* f** > ir i-<X' r fl V'^ • ■* ■f. . * Zl* .Th J z « 4 1^ '.'A *<i> t 1I j I »f A I r f** f .4 * A ,> '.i Ji’ii /:3!V V i A ' kr.t cf ?f kg ^Ki:* 4 » U’ . I c r 1^' /• I 1.P <4 frr. '□Ifez \\ 97.. ■' ■ t f ■ / .t I < fa Mr; jar.) V14<i !•' .«• himbaa ft *> r <4 j *^1 A * I v-r d nt • »> V 1 <j1,z ■\ L7iL3y)t ir ** I'-,-'It ' -.4 f FV' . » r** id!* r U ->3 ; I -: \ g 1 J 4 * zA' X .M. <* Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 •I -ii < 4 4 j 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 < I 'r •• Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 Ij ft (.-.'fl’ , 'll 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 r * I •i Saturday. May 3, 2025 A 9 i'«i^ ir^* .•F’ •:** f' ! {■• w I II * ilim»'ii. ,1 Ml 1 .4:A* J 2i ’? •*. !»'' ^5.^' lie • iU- X 1 I . PUBLIC NOTICE Charter Township of Caledonia Kent County, Michigan PUBLIC NOTICE Charter Township of Caledonia Kent County, Michigan (. 1 r NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Precinct 1 (Village) polling location has CHANGED for the upcoming Caledonia Community Schools Special Election to be held on May 6, 2025 in the Charter Township of Caledonia, Kent County, Michigan For this election ONLY, Precinct 1 registered voters will vote at Caledonia Christian Reformed Church Located at 9957 Cherry Valley Avenue SE Ave, Caledonia Ml 49316 (lower level) This change is for the May 6, 2025 Special Election ONLY. Precinct 1 voters will return to their prior polling location for all future elections. Questioris? Please contact: Charter Township of Caledonia Clerk’s Office 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE Caledonia Ml, 49316 616-891-0070, ext. 215 ** Ji.c’: '.A*’ isars:’*"’ 4ft *^i .t '.' :/r' ' («** f Jk »»^ * • *‘ M I IL r W g" T NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Precinct 4 polling location has CHANGED for the upcoming Caledonia Community Schools Special Election to be held on May 6, 2025 in the Charter Township of Caledonia, Kent County, Michigan 1 •> i'^r^^= t r < I I. . i w»' e -* a-; 1 iV 9' ‘ V I 9 «r* It * r: • «!• 1 * * • ts-** • 15 I ' 'I*' P > -r? * • V For this election ONLY, Precinct 4 Caledonia Community Schools reg­ istered voters will vote at Lakeside Community Church Located at 6201 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto Ml 49302 I Br> Vg. F" it *1.4^ Ly'*’* W» I I * ♦ ft ’’4 1 ^ • * t» ; 4* f- • - .' S. I A-“ 1' r*. i ift i This change is for the May 6, 2025 Special Election ONLY. Precinct 4 voters will return to their prior polling location for all future elections. Questions? Please contact: Charter Township of Caledonia Clerk’s Office 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE Caledonia Ml, 49316 616-891-0070, ext. 215 ?A ''.KS ffaiKi nOM3in * * '• •V ?K«r' & 9 Lt J ! A-saltos I I ip**#; I '• I Ji W.: I ' <, 9 f t k I I i I 1 V I X4 I I r ll ft. r f X| ( Ift I ! b I. It r. * I ill I1 k t h 1 / -rar’ 4I ■ ft * : L I PRECINCT 4 POLLING LOCATION CHANGE NOTICE •■-'SS ■ . i * 4>» 4b PRECINCT 1 POLLING LOCATION CHANGE NOTICE -J ( 1 I I �'V ♦ I. s \ * THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ft nr Bill 3fft£ •« « J J I?*. J V •- ,- t' fk'» ■ 4 -I I ( 4 ^<3'! .!. ’ ^Iqrf; '.-4bL. I ► I I I J I I I iJ. i A < . Mb,. ■ *q.,. 1 • ■^«.. f* J I *i• i I I b J s. < :-t ‘n ! t . '-4 / I » • • 4 I *r z 4 I J' I » I •• "firrlJ '•'O J •< ' fr*- 9 I ■ J I t ni ' I > t « * . I 'i ?**( »t V I I I .r. X ^*4 * :*X ' ( ' i I I i’si 1 If < '«n I -'Ou rib. h, ;. I I ' W : 4 I . ' j 'j I Mbt-' a I t t -I % 1 J f fe______ _ £ , M Brett Bremer Sports Editor k V T5 h> ». J 3 «•. \ I TK wins every relay in Gold victories over West Catholic r. • PJi that one. Draaisma also won the 800-meter run in2:10.49 and the 3200-meter run in 11:45.43. Sophomore Brandan Veiling and junior Lucas Ploeg went 1-2 in the 400-meter dash for TK. Veiling won in 54.07 and Ploeg was second in 54.92. Those two teamed with senior Lucas McNabnay and sophomore Elliott Neff to win the 4x400-meter relay in 3:45.93. McNabnay, Neff, freshman Maddox Vanengen and Veiling wont he 4x200meter relay in 1:38.98 and the team of senior Claudio Costa, McNabnay, Vanengen and sophomore Jackson Smith won the 4x 100-meter relay in 47.95. TK got wins in both of the boys’ throws. Junior Adam Lozada took the shot put with a mark of41 -.5 and senior Kyle Porritt set a PR with a throw of 126-2 to win the discus. Junior Luke Archer added a PR of 11 -6 in the pole vault to win that one. The TK ladies won all four relays on the day too and dominated in the field events with a sweep of the shot put and girls placing first and second in every other field event. A sweep of the four relay races helped power the Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ track and field team to an 83-54 win over visiting West Catholic Tuesday in Middleville. The TK boys upped their OK Gold Conference record to 2-2 with the win, and the TK girls moved to 4-0 in the conference with a 102-35 victory over the Falcons. The TK boys opened things on the track with the team of senior Case Dykhouse, sophomore Elijah Frazer, sophomore Layne Schilthroat and senior Jacob Draaisma winning the 4x800-meter relay in 10 minutes 19.70 seconds. They beat the Falcon foursome in the race by more than 40 seconds. That was the first of four wins for Draaisma. He led a sweep of the three scoring spots in the 1600-meter run for the TK boys finishing in 5:22.41. Freshman Jackson Hasty was second and sophomore Ethan Strait third in 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia, MI 49316 ^3i! ■^nc' f I I II r n t*• b , ^1, I t '■ 11 i ;i?,v ;r*,. <T -rf. M- f* ; -fr f uf TO (rn;^h t I < f ' r 'V 4> •’ 9 •T1 r>* r -r * » 1 j 30^' */ t i / « •'W/rWiTJUl. 1 -iJ bl 4 hl w ».r»» i J I t/ f • 4> . I« •.d.I iatf£ f rtm « “M- r 4IW )I f , I : 1 I :ir- < J ■I u«*43a^ui5t11 I •*»*' PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 19,2025 at 7:00 p.m., the Planning Commission of the Charter Town- I ship of Caledonia will hold a public hearing at the Caledonia Charter Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue, within the I Township, on the application of Craig Hoppen, on behalf of J&H Family Stores, to amend the approved Valley Point South I Industrial Park PUD (the “PUD”) and to amend the Final Development Plan for the PUD as to Parcel 6 of the PUD. The pro- r “'"simsfc J I CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING I 1 ? 1^'; X 5?’ sophomore Avery Bushman and sopho­ more Estfani Sanchez Vega win the 4x200-meter relay in 1:58.88. Vega, Kietzman, sophomore Sydney Martin and Dykhouse won the 4x 100-meter relay in 53.61. TK opened the day with freshman Breanna Schut, sophomore Carmen Reynolds, sophomore Peyton Hardy and sophomore Alaina McCrumb win­ ning the 4x800-meter relay in 11:36.70. The team of Jager, junior ClairaKovich, Amya Gater and senior Ava Crews won the 4x400-meter relay in 4:37.54. Crews took the 1600-meter run for the Trojans in 6:00.96. A handful of Trojans were a part of the GR Elite Challenge at Houseman Field Saturday. Brooklyn Harmon took a victory in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.45. Pay ton Gater had a great day with a personal record time of 1:01.09 that put her in third in that race and she improved her PR in the long jump to 16-1 to place third in that one. Amya Gater, Hilton, Brooklyn Har­ mon and junior Jordyn Fitros added a runner-up time of 1:46.92 in the 4x200meter relay. KENT COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER NOTICE OF MEETING OF BOARD OF DETERMINATION KENT LISTENING VALLEY NO. 2 DRAIN k J <«» I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I posed amendment would add gasoline service stations as a permitted use within the PUD, and would amend the site plan for the PUD to allow for the construction of two proposed new buildings within Parcel 6 of the PUD: a gasoline service station, with drive-through facilities, and a retail building with drive-through facilities. The lands that are the subject of this request are owned by Broadmoor-84 LLC, and located generally at 8300 Broadmoor Avenue SE, Caledonia, Michigan 49316, and are legally described as follows: Parcel No. 41-23-17-400-063 PARTOFTHESE 1/4OF SECTION 17, TOWN 5 NORTH. RANGE 10 WEST. DESCRIBED AS: COMMENCING AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF SAID SECTION; THENCE SOUTH 88 DEGREES 24 MINUTES 20 SECONDS WEST ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID SECTION 451.75 FEET TO THE PLACE OF BEGINNING OF THIS DESCRIPTION: THENCE SOUTH 88 DEGREES 24 MINUTES 20 SECONDS WEST ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID SECTION 42.09 FEET TO THE NORTHEASTERLY LINE OF A CLEAR VISION CORNER RIGHT OF WAY: THENCE NORTH 52 DEGREES 31 MINUTES 31 SECONDS WEST ALONG THE NORTHEASTERLY LINE OF A CLEAR VISION CORNER RIGHT OF WAY 284.71 FEET TO THE EASTERLY LINE OF BROADMOOR AVENUE (120.00 FEET WIDE); THENCE NORTH 27 DEGREES 40 MINUTES 56 SECONDS WEST ALONG THE EASTERLY LINE OF BROADMOOR AVENUE 453.11 FEET; THENCE EASTERLY 104.15 FEET ALONG A 150.00 FOOT RADIUS CURVE TO THE RIGHT, THE CHORD OF WHICH BEARS NORTH 82 DEGREES 12 MINUTES 35 SECONDS EAST 102.7 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 77 DEGREES 53 MINUTES 55 SECONDS EAST 355.93 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 04 DEGREES 34 MINUTES 50 SECONDS EAST 290.00 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 01 DEGREES 35 MINUTES 40 SECONDS EAST 223.52 FEET TO THE PLACE OF BEGINNING. I All interested persons may attend the public hearing and comment on the proposed ordinance to amend the approved PUD I and site plan for the described lands. Written comments may be submitted to the Township at the above-stated address up to I the time of and during the public hearing. Interested persons may contact the Township Offices or consult the Township website I at https:/Zwww.caledoniatown$hip.org/ up to the time of the meeting for any updates concerning the manner of holding the I hearing. Dated: April 29,2025 « PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA DATE: TIME: LOCATION: Thursday, May 15, 2025 7:00 RM. Caledonia Charter Township 8196 Broadmoor Ave, Caledonia, MI 49316 QUESTIONS: (616) 632-7910 A Board of Determination will meet at the above date, time, and location to hear all interested persons, receive evidence, and determine whether the proposed maintenance and improvement of the Listening Valley No. 2 Drain is necessary and conducive to the public health, convenience or welfare, as set forth in the petition, dated March 11, 2025, pursuant to Chapter 8 of Public Act 40 of 1956, as amended. A presentation will be made to the Board of Determination, which outlines a brief history of the Drainage District, and describes the roles, responsibilities, and decisions made by a Board of Determination. The presentation is to provide background for landowners and municipalities in the drainage district and to facilitate the dissemination of information and the receipt of testimony of landowners in the Drainage Districts. The Board of Determination will make its decisions at the end of the meeting. Proceedings conducted at this public meeting will be subject to the provisions of the Michigan Open Meetings Act. Information regarding this meeting may be obtained from the Kent County Drain Commissioners Office located at 775 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503. Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation in the meeting should contact the Drain Commissioner at the number listed above or through the Michigan Relay Center at 7-1-1 (TDD) at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting to request mobility, visual, hearing, or other assistance. Anyone aggrieved by the decisions of the Board of Determination may seek judicial review pursuant to MCL 280.72a. Ken Yonker Kent County Drain Commissioner < 'i I f I ,1 : 1 1 I 1 I a « i • I I’ II ! S i‘ ■’ I1 I.’, I I ♦ « •a J I® JI I 1 J 1 IA 'ft I s I. \ I I lx I » •< * 15 6 . 4 I CaledcwiA TOWNSHIP . 1.. If Phone: 616.891.0070 Pax: 616.891.0430 —> ■ T Saturday, May 3, 2025 Senior Emma Dykstra took the shot put for the TK ladies with a mark of 3 5-.25 with teammates Lilly McKeown and Marlee Shuford second and third. Shuford won the discus with a personal record throw of 85-0 and McKeown was second in that one. Junior Payton Gater won the high jump and sophomore teammate Kimberlin Zavalza-Nava placed second with both of them clearing the bar at 4-8. Freshman Amya Gater won the long jump at 15-5.5 with Payton second in that one just two inches short of her sister. Those two Gater sisters also went 1 -2 in the 400-meter dash with Payton winning in 1:03.02 and Amya dropping her PR to 1:03.86. Sophomore Raylee Preston won the pole vault with a personal record vault of 8-0 and junior Mia Hilton was the runner-up also clearing 8-0. The TK ladies also swept the top three spots in the 100-meter hurdles led by a winning time of 16.78 sec­ onds from senior Brooklyn Harmon. Hilton was second and Amya Gater third. Harmon won the 300-meter low hurdles too in 47.84. The TK team had sophomore Leigha Jager, junior Madison Kietzman, <5^ fi e 1 I f> �1 1 • I 16 Saturday, May 3, 2025 H I THE SUN AND NEWS GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP ♦ ♦ 4 r NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hear­ ing to consider the following request: /•fl" I www.sunandnews.com ‘:-nbr GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP ■ NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING *•* T I )V f 4J •* f 9 k’ 5 r ( J V r. 1’^ • j 4 1 I II w I I> > • s I i Summary of Request: Special Land Use request to build a 3,456 square foot accessory building in the Suburban Residential zoning district. Property Address: 148 79th Street, Grand Rapids, Ml 49508 Parcel Number: 41-22-18-165-011 Applicant: Jay Niewiek Date and Time of Hearing: May 22nd, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 ' :b L: J ) t The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: A I J"' •'■ K J J -Id 1 I •» r r*. J '.A r, u 1 : • I** « K >♦''' Liicw. L'-' r-4 M'iiTd ■ 4 f. 3?^ H >' » I I Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request ay be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on May 22nd, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. r The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hear­ ing to consider the following request: f ?t»¥ A HV ri e I I ir Li; It’ f ; I- f i"*; I K. II J 1^'' 1 1 ■ijAi i- V / * 0 I' r ► A # A r £ r I I 5- ) I ft I I I : •» f. I I A....-" » • i'' . c •> rP ♦—r: J k- * •» ‘ -.--“I I ! ly •- • ft NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING * ( li’ I 9 'O’ . I }«*« y NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 4 I 4 GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP 4 K . I GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP H ** •*‘^«. • I* - I! Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request ay be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on May 22nd, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. , - —MB . Summary of Request: Special Land Use request to build a 112 square foot roofed porch on an existing 2,304 SF accessory building for a total of 3,513 SF of accessory build­ ings on the property. Property Address: 9889 East Paris Avenue, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Parcel Number: 41-22-26-400-009 Applicant: Steven Redmond, Homeowner Date and Time of Hearing: May 22nd, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 ¥ < I * I « ■' , - 4-'*n i<..- ’IlWt . IIV I ( J The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hear­ ing to consider the following request: 014*^0 A * •f ‘ -> f. ' Ola 'J : ■k■ V? ‘fe BI <1* * I Summary of Request: A Tentative Preliminary Plat featuring 50 single-family lots that make up Phase 3 of the Hoffman Meadows plat. Property Address: 2319 Crystal Meadows St E, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Parcel Number: 41-22-09-276-002 Applicant: Chris VanderHoff Date and Time of Hearing: May 22nd, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Summary of Request: Request to rezone one 45.8-acre parcel from ARR (Agricultural/ Rural-Residential) to VR (Village Residential). Property Address: 1264 100th Street SE, Byron Center, Ml 49315 Parcel Number: 41-22-32-200-005 Applicant: Randy Koetje; Koetje Builders & Developers Date and Time of Hearing: May 22nd, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request ay be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on May 22nd, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request ay be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on May 22nd, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. ■!« c ‘.H FV f»W aaiiiVJ' It :iaf jj » f. na: u' •» ’ "3 >1'A i * I 1 I 'rj, I "■tgt R“*i* • '. tj -I , 'fH*’ T r noitemi 4 azsriau J .lensrfS ileW.rB I k y^no s i hi t ut .1511 x(.\> V 4 1111.3.^. « iC fl t y A A I ♦4O.W 3 r A A I 1 •I.,' -■4-, I t I i X r I w I I I «*» .. k-YI 'AVIiayitow t % 'I ’4 I I I I r » �1 I Ik.; s A • •',2 * f i 4 X I z 4 4 «• z 4 I « ♦ ♦ 4 ■ V THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Saturday, May 3, 2025 17 ♦ ♦ t Scots can’t quite outrun Bulldogs in OK Green duals .^I V. ■ 4 s I ^5i > Brett Bremer Sports Editor A senior foursome raced to victory in the 4x400-meter relay to clinch a two-win night for the Byron Center varsity boys’ track and field team at Mona Shores High School Tuesday. The Bulldogs needed the win in the night’s final relay to hold onto a victory over the Caledonia boys in their OK Green Conference dual. Both Caledonia teams took OK GreenConference wins over Mona Shores, but both teams fell to Byron Center at the three-team meet. The Byron Center boys secured a 73-64 victory over the Fighting Scots. Caledonia defeated Mona Shores 73-64 too. The Bulldog boys were 2-0 for the day with a 96-36 win over the Sailors. Caledonia’s boys are 3-2 in confer­ ence duals this season after the split. The Bulldog boys dominated the sprints sweeping the top three spots in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter dash, and they . won the 4x 100-meter relay, the 4x200meter relay and the 4x400-meter relay. Caledonia held its own in the dis­ tance races and swept the 800-meter run points with three guys running a new PR at the top of the standings. •. > *** r w i f r J L L 4 /f' A 7^ t I 4*. U' to. f I r i i I ■ s .M U » I 1 4 -0 t » t « i;- ’’•*1 :1 I • * .A I €A 4 no*.: s' Vn. fiK- ■•5' ,<' « t •9* V W A. 4 • *«.• I » i , » Rt l13Z^1. c I• ; I/ J '*11’1 e- Md •> * •r : r*’ * ’ I! I i t tQ^ i i Vi •**' k / ^<1 % HIP •r* i^i I I ■t I I ) I I i I II I I t '' s ifl I r ^9^ 4 -* ii I I C* I * • I *K * X > e 1 J *> r* IT** t z if h >««tRl65a22S,JlN 4 iw3afi«[feto:=r L I ate I 1 I •< i I I ,«wi?*»B»S!e®<fJii*iffsi'"-''i J s • ) r « k<r I i 4 t i I? I 1 fit tit ■r^ tt f III • H ; y r t , IK IF . t I t X ' >' I * i-^ I ,< -.siTi^r I I e -4 Caledonia senior Eli Veiling takes off with the baton during a relay at Lowell’s Kathy Talus Memorial Invitational Saturday. Photos by Jen Howell Junior Eli Velting won in 2 minutes 0.11 seconds. Senior Ethan Bauer was second in 2:05.30 and junior Luke Smith third in 2:05.71. Junior Noah Johnston won the 1600-meter run for the Scots in 4:35.92 and senior Kort Thompson won the 3200-meter run in 10:18.24. Smith, sophomore Grant Feldpausch, Buer and Velting teamed up to win the 4x800-meter relay in 10:15.88. CHS also had the only two guys to clear 12 feet in the pole vault with se­ nior David Potgeter winning the event and junior Benjamin Moss matching his height to place second. In the girls’ competition, Caledonia defeated Mona Shores 83-54 and fell 87-50 to the Bulldogs. The Byron Center girls added a 100-37 win over Mona Shores. It is the first loss of the conference season for the Fighting Scots who are now 4-1 in OK Green duals. The Byron Center girls swept all four relays, with Caledonia teams second in each race. The discus was one of the top events for the CHS girls with junior Jolie King winning with a throw of 87-10 and senior Chiara Marta second at 82-2. The Scots were 1-2 in the 3200-meter run too with senior Hannah Dupuis winning in 12:19.69 and senior Kiley Bommarito second in 13:03.06. Scot sophomore Isla Sheely set her personal record in winning the 400-me­ ter dash in 1:01.06. Bryon Center senior Lauren Mil ward beat out Scot freshman Brynn Ward in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, but Ward ran her fastest sprints yet. She dropped her PR to 13.25 in the 100 and to 26,92 in the 200. Caledo­ nia also got a personal record run in a runner-up finish from sophomore Maya Terryn in the 800-meter run as she hit the finish line in 2:29.86. Dupuis set her PR in the 1600 at 5:26.93 to place third in that race. There were a couple of good girls’ hurdles races too with Byron Center senior Natalie Formsma blazing to wins in the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter low hurdles. Scot sophomore Olivia Hawkins was the runner-up in both races with times of 16.30 in the 100s See DUALS on 19 t ■ 1 a I ( I *' > 11 I ’ -w ’ -^ Wr ► < r s-5fc 1 s '’T' A * k 1 * I t V r lA VW < t % A «r AACAAfll •» AAe » V LOWELL *I I AM WV” Fl 1 r LOWELI. inRe M it <V I■ « Fighting Scot freshman Melanie Genao Grullon earns a spot in the 100-meter hurdle finals with her preliminary performance Saturday at Lowell’s Kathy Talus Memorial Invitational. yi' "iM..-: 284 N. BRIGGS ROAD- MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN 49333 269-793-9091 / FAX 269-795-2388 YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held on May 15,2025, commencing at 7:00 p.m. at the Yankee Springs Township Hall, 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville MI, within the Township, as required under the provisions of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act and the Zoning Ordinance for the Township. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE In addition to participation during a public hearing, members of the public may also provide comments for the Planning Commission’s consideration by emailing or mailing those comments to the Planning Commission for receipt prior to the meeting, in care of the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea OQeshea@vankeespringstwp.org). Letters and emails are due one week before the hearing date; or by leaving a phone message prior to the meeting with the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea at 269-795-9091. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the item(s) to be considered at said public hearing include, in brief, the following: 1. SEU 25-04-06; Parcel ID: 16-370-020-00, 12747 Whispering Pines Drive, Wayland, MI 49348. A re­ quest by Peter Schneider and Ann Heuer, the property owners, for a special exception use permit to operate a commercial Short-term rental pursuant to the Yankee Springs Zoning Ordinance, Article X, Short Term Rentals. 2. Public Hearing for Proposed Ordinance: Zoning Ordinance — Private Residential Ponds, and Agricul­ tural or Farm Ponds. 3. Such other business as may properly come before the Planning Commission. Anyone interested in reviewing the application material may do so at the township hall. All interested persons are invited to be present at the aforesaid time and place, or, if an electronic meeting is held, to participate via the electronic meeting. Yankee Springs Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, to individuals with disabilities at the hearing upon four (7) days’ prior notice to the Township Clerk. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address or telephone number listed below. YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION By: Shana Bush, Chairperson Yankee Springs Township Hall 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville, Michigan 49333 (269)795-9091 I* s 1 1 ,1 I f I I I 4 ! » I 1 I I I I t IR '.I » 4 i I -A i 4 s 2 F J \ 1 I 0- Me ■J » 4 «RV I I < V I 4 I‘A » WLUL X VL L I V V COW C V V L owr t I 1 * >*» l . I I r �1 I 18 c t 1 THE SUN AND NEWS A. ; rou w MOT JUST OUR RCAOEM <W'r* tat inaagi WeariMMr* Wv Cmmum^ CchnkIrvi < PUBUCMOnCC GAINES CMARTEn TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETINO SYNOPSB Aprs 14, 2025 The G»ir»e» CharW Tawnth^f Board h«4d a raoutar matting on Monday, Apoi 14, 2025. and toofc the lodging action* 1 Havtawad Pia Conaant Aganda 2 Iha Maetng Aganda 3 A PuOHc Haar^ waa haid on t^>a Proposed Naw Zoning On>narK« 4 Approved of Consent Agenda 5. A^rovad the Propoaad Updai ad Zoning OnSnanca 6 Approved the Cook* Croaaingt Enctava Water and Sawar Davatopmant Contract 7 Approved the Rtver Birch ApartmerrU Phase 4 Water arxl Sewer Devetopment Contract 8 Tabbed the Park* and Trait* resolution •upportmg davelopmant of a Park* and Ground Z Public Works Department 9. Approved the Employea Hand­ book Ui^ate for Earned Sick Tima Act (ESTA) 2025 10 Approved the Prairie Wolf Park Boardwalk repair 11. Approve the server room fire suppression system keeping all the equipment in the server room and □gating all of the controllers a cost of $17,135 12. Approved Revize website improvements and the purchase of Al chat search module and online forms module at a cost of $8025 for 2025 and $6075 after 2025 13. Removed the Logan's Liquor License Renewal and Certification from the table placed at the March 2025 Gaines Charter Township Regular Board Meeting. 14. Approved the Logan’s Liquor License renewal and certification. 15. Approved the High Performing Teams Training for additional em­ ployees of the township 16. Granted township staff the ability to re-negotiate contract ex­ tensions for up to an additional three years for D.J's. Jack's, and JND Snowplowing. 17. Adjourned the meeting at 08:22 p.m. A complete copy of the minutes of these meetings and any resolu­ tions or ordinances adopted at the meeting are on file and available for review at the Gaines Charter Township office. 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Michigan 49316. Ordinances, meeting sched­ ules, meeting minutes, and other Township information are also avail­ able at www.gainestQwnship.org. Michael Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk TK evens OK Gold tennis mark with three duals in three days # is-’ V I H »*\ p b .4 Brett Bremer Sport* Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity gfrts' tennis team i» 2-2-1 in OK (iold Conference duals this spring after going 1-1-1 in conference duals Monday. lueaday and Watnesday ITw Trojans suffered a 6-2 loss to sisiting West ( atholic on a blustery day in Middleville I uesday. Ihat dual was stuck between a 4-4 tie with Wayland Monday and an S-0 w in at (irand Rapidy Union Wednesday afternoon. I K varsity girU'icnnis coach PhilipSvivestre said he sees his young team making progress Ilierc were close bouts throughout the line-up in Middleville l uesday against the West Catho­ lic girls. Ihc I rojans* lone singles victory was a 6-3. 7-5 third singles win frewn junior Natileigh Merchant over f alcon freshman LIvse f oster. TK also picked up a point at fourth doubles where the team of Carli Ogle and Ava Zcllmer outscored the West Catholic freshman duo of Mia Palachecki and Ashley Kumer 6-4, 7-6. Ihc f alcons won in two quick sets at first doubles, but the other two doubles wins for West Catholic were pretty tightly contested. Ihc West Catholic freshman duo of Alana Ryan and Olivia Marti rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over TK’s sophomore duo of Molly Alden and Cayla Brouwer at second doubles. At number three, the West Catholic team of freshman Ava Eitnicar and junior Jolie Mondroski won in two close sets, 6-4, 7-6(5) over TK senior Natalie Culver and sophomore Chloe Yates. TK and Wayland finished in a 4-4 tic Monday in Middleville. Alden and Brouwer look a 7-5, 6-3 win over the Wayland team of Teagan Robinson and Hayden Keena at number two, and TK look three singles victories. Trojan senior first singles player Isabelle Schilthroat outscored Wavland's Lauren BulLsma 6-4, 6-1. At second singles, TK’s Jordan Pranger beat Wayland junior Emily Omness 6-4, 6-2. Merchant and Wayland junior Charlotte Markowski split sets at third singles before Markowski retired from the match. TK wasn't far from pullingout a win. Emilia Sandborn split sets with Wayland’s Brynna Cain at fourth singles before Cain pulled out a 6-2 win in set number three to pick up a point. The first doubles match between Wayland seniors Katie Harter and Nikol Yanakieva and TK’s team of senior Elise DeBoer and thejunior Zellmer and the fourth doubles match between Wayland’s Hannah Bogeman and Isabella Bogeman and the TK team of Ogle and Jordan Price both ended in 7-5, 6-4 Wayland wins. Schilthroat pulled out a three-set win over Union’s Charlotte Beresford Wednesday in Grand Rapids, outscoring the Red Hawks’ number one 7-5, 1-6, 6-1. «R The rc«i of ihc 3ro|anx ail won in «trai^ wet* and the TK dotiblc* leamv nnl\ dn^iped one game acm** eight sei*. Pranger hcklcd I nwn «cnK< Hale* Ramos 6-1.6-4 al second singles, Mcrchani d<vvkncd Heidi XU fs-i. 6-2 al number three, and al founh singles Sarxlbom douned Amarah U ilhams 6-G. 6-0, I asl Thursdas. ihcTK ladies u ere bested 7-1 in a TKin-confcrencc dual by visiiing GnmdVille. Merchant got I K s lone win w iih a 6-2 6-1 victory over Cirandvilte freshman Alexis I3orazio at number three singles Again, there w ere a few rcallv close doubles matchc* DeBoer and senior Jahn (irimcs at first doubles were edged in the end in a super tiebreaker. Alden and Brouwer al number two doubles fell in two close sets including a tiebreaker at the end of the first set that the Bulldog team pulled out 13-11 before finishing the match with a 6-4 win in the second set. The TK ladies were set to head to Zeeland for a quad Thursday afternoon and will be at the Holland Christian Quad today, May 3. ITic OK Gold Conference season concludes with a dual at South Christian Monday and the conference tournament at the end of the week. Doubles contests will be held May 8 at South Chnstian High School and singles contests May 9 at TKHS. 91 b I d 4 "1 Rk i I I a 1' •H'' « A*** i ■ I ’XIj I* < * I A 't I •* 4 « s 9 t w 1 * * - i i % s?* r * * » A i 1 J I ------- 14 « Thornapple KelloggI irst singles player Isabelle Schilthroal hits a serve during her contest with West Catholic's lop player in Middleville Tuesday Photo* by •» ' ..4 ’ 10^“? I1 I t* T Brott Bremer to .A a 1 tl* •r a^' t >• f * J • 4l. < i .t M j r / Je! i V.' .4 J k rI U ;jA ' S|®(W9W®»' » I • w L V J aBI ii5. »ie» rtowtrntoihifi t'a ( % I * i OtoiC I r > •< ^NihasStoR ribitiSJl At 01 f ✓ J I Thornapple Kellogg first doubles player Elise DeBoer hits a forehand return during her contest with teammate Jalyn Grimes against West Catholic's number one doubles team Tuesday afternoon in Middleville. I i I 1 ) I ( i. ( » I ) L rs.—*' 4 I I I « i A •1 I 1 ■ i 11 S! it 1 I i I t I t i 9 / �a .A ?. •- ’V a * 9 f ♦ ♦ 5 A THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com k ■'I Saturday, May 3, 2025 19 ♦ *. Il* ► Scots make it six wins in a row by beating Eagles VJ* t ••r l» I « s » mi ^6 . ■'W -- ■ A K 4 I f « «**»« 4 'A '.Jk « * •\ i dk I ) *br I t > >4' ii 1 1 A 'O- b. . •w I I h I X A/, yi-k J r rv Um •4^-■ . ‘..T *T6« W ‘ ’ X. 1 »4i ' '■ i I '^t’. t **♦ J •A » 1 J I » » 9> hr f *Ju4 : ■M xift, Mj, •> Kia ■' ■ Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity girls’ lacrosse team keeps winning and keeps ticking off big individual milestones. The Fighting Scots knocked off Hudsonville 13-11 at Scotland Yard Wednesday to stretch a win-streak to six matches. Ellie Hudson had six goals in the win. Caelyn Crocker, Morgan Barthel, Mya Burgess, Kenna VanLente and Quinn Ziegler all contributed goals as well in the win over the Eagles for the Scots. Caledonia head coach Kendra Venema said that goalie Alivia NeubauerKeyes was “a beast in net.” The Scots’ unofficial stats had her down for a career-high 19 saves to go along with three ground balls. In the past few weeks, the Fighting Scots celebrated Hudson reaching 100 «K k I I I % s -• -a k » VC 4 r A.< f 7 ' • t 4 JA I 1 c I >v*. *s •>< Tf .J ‘4 1 ••t » 4 * k 4 4 % >1 « '^h •»: -kij; ‘ .Z- A 4 *** -I it. r I .s» ■< k i.4 * I 0 V if' varsity goals and 200 varsity points and Burgess reaching 100 varsity draw victories. The win over Hudsonville was the second win in three days for the Caledo­ nia girls. They defeated the Buccaneers in Grand Haven 15-7 Monday. Vivian Fink led the way offensively with four goals for the Scots. Keira Paalman, Hudson, Burgess, VanLente and Quinn Ziegler all had goals. The offense got a boost from VanLente and Fink teaming up to win ten draws. The Caledonia girls were set to face Forest Hills Central. The Rangers entered the match ranked fifth in the state’s Division 2 power rankings. The Scots will be back in action at Grand­ ville Monday and at Jenison Wednes­ day. MHSAA regional competitions begin May 15. < ■'■L + A> ft \* ' . 4 i , epfiA rao «Ma— " £ * ’c , > 'J s I zmcsill I : 1 4 tb >w<; i lfii ( A4 I S>> 4 1 J j0?9r> jU teedllBfp 9 'lo<| "t> I 1 ' IB» i A M r "7 flofaoliu S^-F < c ■ ;»;tl4)li 4 Ji Or) fO ;> bncmoMTilol .S£-Sl«:0£'to jiail 1 I Ml bjsfl Rliifj 21 Clsfr' ns?. 10 msst vfibi vjlbom /nari Mi \ fr(tool'To<nuL ninrw I I TO?^lOf^qo^1fo mcdl | j t 4 [O I I. ■ *- I I I I [ i , ariJofeU e«W'f#;piw£l I c 1 4 1 XbfK VfAl giqrasrio l teoH-noasa^pwqmut J - I ! ' J4 ■f Fin shot a 76 to place fifth individu­ ally and senior Joseph Blondia was eighth with a 77. Rounding out the top four for the tourna­ ment champs was junior Luke Coffinger with an 81. The OK Gold Conference got together for 18 holes at The Mines GolfClub in Grand Rapids Wednesday. South Christian took the day’s victory with an overall score of 300 strokes. Wayland was second at 331 ahead of West Catholic 339, Northview 344, Grand Rapids Union 349, Thomapple Kellogg 360 and Wyoming 441. Dahley led TK with an 83. Seniors Nathan and Skidmore both scored 92s and senior Ky Ian Pratt added a 93. A. — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS — This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! Responsibilities include: • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout INe iove what we do and we know you wiii too! Are you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@thedailynews.cc and let's find outl Group — The County Press « Lapeer Area View - Genesee County View * Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News « Your Buyer’s Guide * Jeffersonian t k I « Tri-County Times Daily News _ Tri-County Citizen • Oxford Leader » Lake Orlon Review M Clarkston News w The Citizen ■ K « S The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer's Guide & News The Sun and News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Reminder *** lb*-"'. ( Visit us online at www.Sunandnews.com We ere a growing company of 21 community newspapers serving 15 Michigan counties that are deiivered weeidy to more than 335,000 households with an aMitionai500,000 monthly online readers. I s<SIII i >• 'r View Newspaper Group is seeking a fuiMime graphic artist for our Greenvitte location. I .1 A GRAPHIC DESIGNER ■I > La ? Are you creative' — NOW HIRING — Continued from Page 13 and 48.12 in the 300s. The CHS teams competed last Saturday too at Lowell’s Kathy Talus Memorial Invitational. Both teams were second to Hudson ville on the day at the seven-team meet. Moss won the pole vault clearing 12-0 for the Caledonia boys and the 6800-meter distance medley relay team of senior Aidan Edgar, Smith, Johnston and Thompson won with a time of 20:42.32. The CHS girls had the 800-meter sprint medley relay team ofseniorAlaina Palmer, junior Joelyn Abraham, Tenyn and Ward win in 1:58.80 and the 4x 100-meter relay team of sophomore Mariah Peterson, Palmer, Sheely and King win in 53.80. Hawkins was also the300-meter hurdles champ in 48.17 and King wont he long jump with a season-best leap of 15-3.25. ■ .1 I XJ f a ,J s I — V ft «> TOURNAMENT Continued from Page 17 < . litH tit,'; aak DUALS I t f ■ “H k JB W" w •l • A « in t < s ii J I 1 IJ I .,1 .5 , 9 I I I V. 1 I 1 ) I J u I $ I 1 I 1 » u *b 'll s \ b i I 1 \ I t L* �20 Saturday, May 3, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ’n^-..c;w9nbne,n!j3.v/v.-w k F (Li 31 ♦4 1 ♦ Ik < ' ^2^ * *r’ * f VJ y rm ■A ♦ k’ < * '■t . *- *4 > A u fcAr ■ - > S5V « • •• -1r ’ 9» I PT / tr is^. ft > 4 > r *S t. 1 ♦ 1 i r r u.9'i fc J i 4 • V »'€^ •*-4 t A .‘^.. * » ?l .Til *a' 4 **:• / ?T-'.7 ►* I » •T i. r *' > a WV-V* « y - • • «r s 4 -^— F ? Uli MEK * <•' J 9 I 1’ 9 < < > z > f i ‘ > /! t 'v- - ''' r 1 . - ? < * ’ k '.: MZ; e « t & 4 i <:. ’€ • _M1 ow pr^? > T BW^ 4I Jt « f / 4 «x < < X’ r z » 9*« * k e .y * n •F r > i. 4 < I / > / JK * ^n Iv t I. f. » * .* I f t rrr .-Sk. ■-’C |'*"||“*^ Wx a' ' ’ ■ 7: » i < 4 z- » J' » ■ J I k A T < f J 4 A J I \ J e '*!’*■ Z f ' f 3 > X r I ■J J' f .* X I I ?. > t I k * T^fl « I V :< I L t> r 1 V ft; I 't.- fiL. ) f i Jt u < ’*1. S «4 $ f M I * * » i *•p -J i f a f :■■ s JL» ? X i ■ SPOT! z Mbra f t •f » 4 4 » ? ♦ « k. 9 9 'c^ I t ?^’ * -J T4_ 1. • * *; VI I -Vi - T *-* *4 ii r* *» -1 4 i •< 7, i < ^■-i> i S) LOau »4 4. t2i^; ni.- , 14 >ra — ( t * I • 4f 4.^’1 jf 5;. k 9 ! i’ >> e r 8546 WHITNEYVILLE AVE SE, ALTO Aft; 1 < . .. yg-ge&^g^ ir «. 'J '■*!*' t X M*k ■rf^-*r^r IK -.4;. fc“ * » •' a = u ■l>-v *1 -44' r r>IPJ .", •^m*- ' _ . <♦ ,4. Ml a M> w ’ r -z- _4 «£.”j| / TZ.* <r) J* «% .<*■ ii > ifTti I T^WnawWlTW' rrr r4 « I «» i .1 ■r $ ‘4 *.• ■*? .'<•■ ■* ( 1 t « 1 t A .11^^ »i/1 i, * v-Xr. s v> ( 1 ■< * V* ?l 4 r 9* / • i'-S ' ': Ifc^diSS n V*-4.* lr.x A . J* J? ? f. kZ !•• s. 4 * ** '4 * J \ ___ 5-' I •J •1 (» *» Ti^- t”. ’: '4 9 t I . > [ I 4»v . 4 I 1 1 1 > < I ’g >F I k' 'dEl K h ' •i rl r 1 11 » .t .4 4 * «, I 1% *« "A J i -i. ri * r I ' i l». i > f I * 4 I t y 5 k > n R ‘ 11 I > > •' J > *4S< ' t X . » r If » > 9 «( < r r R ■-s'^4’ '. s k r i r. I > \2 4 1 ?ia > I r 4. f J X 4* 1 - 4 p L f « I 9f I y ( r \ r* I ► £. .4 k^pbw. > ¥ >. 9 r I £; A* >* 1 ' •. Rw { ^4 f I V- • " « t I ■4 x » f I . B. a 4 A V '■< 4 ■ -t ’■ fA.' ,■ t -9. ' 9 X. k » » I*- < . L * *> iB ►s 4 1 I e ?u I e ' ! i.' A* ■i c I k r i * I. I •■l I I f I I ( • I JI (t 1. z � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-05-10.pdf 426eee7d358288cc72b44cc94972386c PDF Text Text f « I i ♦ t J f -Jk ! TROJANS CELEBRATE RARE WIN OVER WAYLAND li SOFTBALL r I >« c^* THE SUN AND * J I* < f V’ A 4 ' »■ [ 3H T ■If r t. J NEWS Kou/' Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas <1 J K V » •* J 1 I > PAGE 10 I rr./ ■’'nUriwiMl i 1 ■IL. t i?e -OVt ■>* I slllm 886q zistoV i8Ie3 idI iBWsnsi lOitaZ yliiiitnimoO J / 1 f lOfttB www.sundndnews.com SATURDAY, MAY 10. 2025 NO. 55 Voters pass millage renewal for Caledonia Community Schools CHS crowns prom king and queen Molly Macleod Editor I B -llini jjmJffBqo nf> lfr«9noi 3gi. .l 1 < Ilrw JBriJ ginolwU’j qtJ w? HI Hoori'jk 7Jinummn3 iO joW J Hot ai flr/13301 ot jiinibre/l Itqjtq-TOfj I nt ixoir 9di lOl ^rfi moil s A I I I ((1 zy) wit ni moV jvaii yriJiewl« yd Ir-warKn «1J j'A ai r»5Jf,7 ? Iritw jiaew Hj 5mr/<nqq/i giihrojoy nsg^llA 1 XVi, [ » bfui 011/^ ^Tji nt mrttzrb IIA nnTforl-^ncMi nn Hlint HI vvdl ot <> ito'l irarit '/no'Wi ot esilToqmri ajfilnU .atttz sdt mofi :?ntbro/l I (bo3l83nrKwknoft adt .iBeoqoiq loofl'j^ 3t1» Gt vltMTilz 03 ifanul ^gnirit idt varj boi: gni ■B bfui erfungoTff tnabirt?. .eansLs? sA .««OJ gntlBToqtj y£l>ot-'<«lj w oxelitrrr aril jest beMeamofl /l A ' ' i- J ilw li - ?T3nwo9£nort kmIIe K} Inim i bf«i &38eMTiEud loolbs aoiUFH-j Liwsmi ?.’'{£b»3i/T svio nr ot srunhnrw llw unJ I- nofhoq bnfomorl^nori i< — snibnu't gni .1B3Y riOBG lu'Unfirii yWrboixir air oW' hno:/ idf ’ZJinummoo .8hT3bul8 wo TO'f Moqqu? i jqu? '>lGorio8 310 / eiffP* .TJYO'riilo^W :?17i0 iBMoqmj 311) ni hiJsd tmcife B noiJGXito jwlduq grroUa E bf nr tP'iVju o) BBsri n j/alo 8830 i 31 j7/ indbut? unolt: ilhw loirl';/ jfirir yjin (lqi»b o? V Voters approved It a non-homestead V-' operating millage renewal on 1* ( Tuesday that will set up Caledonia Dr. Dirk Community Schools Weeldreyer to receive its full per-pupil funding from the state for the next five years. Voters in the CCS district approved the renewal by a healthy margin this week, with 2,915 voters in Kent and Allegan counties approving the mea­ sure and 1,597 voters rejecting it. All districts in Michigan are required to levy 18 mills on non-homestead properties to receive their full per-pupil funding from the state. Unlike a bond proposal, the non-homestead millage funds go directly to the school’s operat ing budget and pay for things like staff salaries, student programs and other day-to-day operating costs. As a non­ homestead tax, the millage will not affect homeowners — it will primarily affect businesses and rental properties. Tuesday’s renewal ensures the dis­ trict will continue to receive its full non-homestead portion of its operat­ ing funding roughly $15.6 million each year. We are incredibly thankful to our community for showing continued support for our students, staff, and schools,” said CCS Superintendent Dr. Dirk Weeldreyer. “This vote reflects a shared belief in the importance of strong public education and a willingness to invest in the suc­ woaa cess of every Caledonia wawoisno IVUNBOISaH student. We’re grateful to 9cm» in npMwats 0K«ee0d walk alongside a commu­ sec* liuued nity that values education ecds^ eiliAuaeJO so deeply.” EDDM cneiMKH HCBiDcmnn IMMir mMttr 99^'-- wt bVID I n e bO£ivQ6 bust tw 1 aivd aovisod s n OIS ISdd t : .. Caledonia High School students Patrick VanderKolk and Hannah Dupuis were crowned as the 2025 Senior/ Junior High School Prom king and queen at the annual event May 3. Pictured; The newly crowned couple stand with 2024 prom royalty Micah Nagel (far left) and Alexa Pearson (far right). Photo by Nevaeh Kurtz View Newspaper Group welcomes new staff writer View Newspaper Group is pleased to announce the hiring of Karen Turko-Ebright as a full-time staff writer. Ebright has been covering news in Barry County since 2019 as a freelance writer. Her new role will expand her beat, adding Caledonia, Middleville and the Yankee Springs area to her current territory, which already includes Barry Township, Orangeville, and the Gun Lake area. “I have worked with talented editors and am excited to add current Editor Molly Macleod to the list,” Ebright said. “She is welcoming to me. I am grateful to be a part of the team at the View Newspaper Group.” Previously, Ebright reported for MLive as a full-time news reporter in Kent and Allegan counties for two years, covering communities in West Michigan for the Advance weeklies. “I’m thrilled to have Karen expand her role on our team,” said Macleod. “Her experience, tenacity and sense for news will be an asset to the com­ munities she reports on.” Her journalism background in­ cludes television and radio broadcast news reporting, plus some news production. Ebright graduated from Grand Valley State University in 1991, earning a bachelor of science in communication with an emphasis in journalism and film and video. Ebright worked several television newsroom internships in West Michi­ gan and Lansing before she was hired as a television news reporter at WBKB in Alpena for two years. She then landed a job at the WOTV 41 News bureau in Battle Creek. “I sat on the assignment desk for See WRITER on 2 » J“. t r i,' '• /?- H p* .t’' •I » I 'r < I « w--*- 9 » T’r , f . MM . ..MM I H I I r I I I ( a '•3 1 i I 3 I I V 'u )i5 I u ' .1 n n 1 < I I 1 •ii I •4 s \ J \ I 1 > �4 2 Saturday, May 10, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Mobile Farm to Fork field trip gives Caledonia students a taste of agriculture and farming e.s * I'I -J te ij < « .4 .. J T « k 1 * » t •'V 1/ ■■■■ Jf.l I u»*k A 1 B s *r*^<laFx WRITER ?' ■ Continued from Page 1 y s L approximately two months until I picked up a camera and started shooting video and reporting news stories for WOTV 41, covering stories in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo,” Ebright said. After the TV station downsized and ceased operations, Ebright continued her writing career, reporting remote print freelance assignments for various com­ munity news outlets, including an online travel company, while she and her husband raised their Karen Turkotwo daughters in West Michigan. Ebright “I am grateful to continue working in the news industry writing stories that make a difference in local towns,” Ebright said. She likes small towns. After all, she grew up in Wash ington Township when fields, trees and dirt roads were' < her landscape while running long stretches. Ebright said that makes her sound like a marathon runner, but that’s not the case. She’s only run half-marathons including the River Bank Run a handful of times, the Holland Tulip Time race, plus numerous lOK races. Those hometown runs continued but extended to the ' northern part of Michigan to the small town of Suttons 1 Bay, where her husband, Dan, grew up and went to f# ts.:.! school. They have been married for 32 years and live in West Michigan. Together, they have two daughters. Madison recently graduated from Grand Valley State University and Bella will graduate this month fforri^ I *3 City High/Middle School in Grand Rapids. In her free time, Ebright enjoys spending time with her family and running and hiking trails with her Australian Shepherd, Milo. ‘t i 4 V u 'a r “ r I » 1^ %. > . * .t r »» < z I * I ✓ s U; b / «p A« t J f':IL 4: rr^ 1 A F- a 5 .3 ? H z/- * 1 -r *4 a Ifef. • r 4 r4 k* • ? I .. i, I. f’’ > I <. * I*I *7: fr1s ’f 1 >' ><•'1 11^ .1 •mlT; I 4 idnndij f V r.’ , >t£fn :** * t: J IL •S4 t: b, hIJV .9 ‘I ..-lift 4i>-' <■ • St fl •R • •< High School Students Kaelan Brocock and Luke Rohfaff taught the Caledonia Elementary students all about the life cycle of plants and how to care for growing plants. The kids planted a green bean seed to take home and watch it grow. Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer She’s a food science educator at Caledonia High School and has been in the field since 2010. Stacy Bender’s love for the subject runs deep. “My family is rooted in agriculture, so it’s tradi­ tion for me,” she told The Sun and News. Bender understands the importance of farming and what it brings to everybody. That’s why she sees the big picture and likes to start teaching from the ground up at the elementary level to breed future food science professionals. The Agri-Cal Food Science classes put on the Mobile Farm to Fork field trip for Caledonia El­ ementary on April 25. The high school students put together posters with key terms, breeds, animal purpose, products, by-products and more to share with the children. “Without agriculture farmers, we have no food or resources that provide us the stuff we need day in and day out to survive as a society,” Bender explained. AmobileFarm-to-Forkfield trip makes learning about food science fun for youngsters. Bender’s high school students were instructed to make mini A •G ’ Ji >5? Aiden VanDeWert. Weston Atwood and Lukas Palmitier are teaching Caledonia Elementary students about cattle. Cattle can be used for beef or dairy. Rascal here is a Jersey Angus cross; Jerseys are a dairy breed and Angus cows are a beef breed. Photos by Stacey Bender •t" F I I >Rir 11 5 ' I* ' A /- I t IA 4 I'4 * urn -IL * i'A 'I _ * r w»rs if", ► lesson plans for the educational event, including stations for each animal. The animals took center stage as kids were given chickens and ducks to hold, along with leashed and harnessed rabbits to walk. Added to the lineup of animal celebrities were bottle-fed tamed goats, Uma, Evie, and Jay, who played a game of chase with the kids. Week-old bottle lambs. Marshmallow and Gra­ ham Cracker, were gently petted and welcomed into the students’ arms. Rascal the calf greeted the children with warm eyes at the beef/dairy cow station. He is a cross between a dairy breed (Jersey) and a beef (Angus). When Rascal was a day old, he had a broken leg and spent six weeks in a cast. In addition to the animal stations, students learned about the life cycle of plants, care needs, and had the opportunity to plant a green bean seed, then take it home to watch it grow. "' r uB* ‘♦it** I COK Ik' **•’ w fl f 'I I 7W»y‘'r* I I* I •l 1-* ^*r •: M<r r' ■ r ?w 41i! / fX iW'7 -r f^ca^ I ABOUT VIEW NEWSPAPER GROUP *> in I A L J ft *• > - I -4 1 Founded in 2003, View Newspaper Group is a local ly-owned, locally-connected community newspaper group covering 14 Michigan counties. As Michigan’sA largest independently-owned newspaper group, the company publishes 22 newspapers with print editions reaching more than 352,000 households each week, plus an additional 500,000 monthly online readers. For more information, visit mihomepaper.com or contact View Newspaper Group Brand Manager Emily Cas­ well at ecaswell@mihomepaper.com. ? * ) • • <•*1t t^9^*4 • . 41. •• -'4. i •^^tt*** A ijy 9 V v9 iRNf^rrK- r' ♦ iS ..... , JlJjai.iMM*** ;w^4iX'u£w’'>..■ -• t I t ■ 1 I' I J r .• J-i' I I «■ I 1 I r THE SUN ANDREWS The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com CONTACT US Editor: Molly Macleod mfTtacleod@mihomepaper.com •M JJiJ K Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mfhomepaper.com i Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper PUBLISHED BY ! ^^1 b ' *■ *» III . «* 1. •r“* t t I I Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Copyright 2025 L®2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. I Alt advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept., 1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. > I I It # . 4b t SiBi • f1 f r 1> fl ' it > r 41 9 4 • F' J 1 t ,I . * • Ar i i' I 4 V. •'.^4 - 4 •R I »- .Jr «■ flfc « ) �V A k n h c J THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Saturday. May 10, 2025 3 A Bidding process for construction of water storage tank in Gaines to begin • sesrooK .s < ♦ »* M % V I •A • t i ' a J *< * If f ti* hl' % 4 Li V ", / . f •R .4 * *< 1. 1 I I i i ■-Sis' * t-- F.-' .z ;.z * ' Jr **■1: >> z r* ! ( d*Jlk - '>• I ?S'.' 9380 - DIVISION av , J- t * TV 2 4fl • 4^4 - • V V •t\ r,' *1 •> The Gaines Township Board will meet on May 12 and May 19 at the township hall. •V, I C < - eu « A view of the ground-mounted water tank on Division Avenue south of 92nd Street in Byron Township, used by Byron and Gaines townships. Photos by ? IS I . 1 I f ' 71. ? -M V , ! . J James Gemmell A.. , • 1 ' ’'•H James Gemmell Contributing Writer <n*» I I Gaines Charter Township officials say a planned project to install a water® storage tank along Patterson Avenue should be going out to bid by mid-May. It is one of several developments township staff and engineers are exam ining in a busy month that has Board of Trustees meetings scheduled for May 12 and May 19 at 6 p.m., and a planning commission meeting on May 22 at 7 p.m. Township Manager Rod Weersing told The Sun and News the groundP mounted water tank would have a capacity of 2 million gallons and be paid for through the township’s water fund. The 40-foot tank will be located about half a mile south of 68th Street. The costs associated with the project I ' t > I ‘VJ I T » '•'/ J • r/, * *\ I • T J: aih I A ;b. •4 f 1 fi«.' X t > I u « ■r^ « *1 •* ■•■• L r to *<C *•. 4 #*♦ » » ^5;. fetefinite -k .IJ ‘ ' V I ias ;rjzA».4 ■ •;‘.r ^«izr\U < I ic: •i I ’ *-*• . • I . •! 'Ao . T ■ ,J '9wVsi r 34 ^7 S Tf » ’ ’V ■ : i -• I , • J T I '^4 ■ < • rtfflnmj;.'--iw i... • t •r J nx) ZM M»+i ’q.|| UJ. • • •' ■ •. J.v ■ . * I i «.« * / 4 totob 'U-.. J ’ , .k' will be split evenly between Byron and Gaines townships. An exact cost estimate has not been determined yet. The townships are the fastest-growing ones in Kent County, based on U.S. Census data. A construction permit will be re­ quired from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) before work begins. In 2021, the township board began discussing the possibility ofusing some of Gaines’ American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) economic-stimulus funds to pay for construction of a water tank. Gaines Township has one existing connection to the Wyoming water sys­ tem, from which it draws its municipal water supply. Rob DeWaard, now a township trustee, said when he was the township supervisor in 2021 that a break in the water line from Wyoming into Gaines is inevitable at some point in time. And he said when that day comes, it could leave the township’s ap­ proximately 35,000 residents without a public water supply. “But by building this (second) in­ terconnect, which I think would cost $15 million, that would give us a loop that would allow us in. If something breaks here, we’d have another source of water,” DeWaard said at the time. “I think that’s just good practice to have that, if we can.” But township board members opted not to allocate a portion of Gaines’ $2.87 mil­ lion in ARPA funds to install an extra water tank. And the esti­ mated $20 million cost to add a second con­ nection to the Wyo- ming water system exceeded budget limitations. Then, they received a notification from the City of Wyoming in the sum­ mer of 2024, informing the ByronGaines Utility Authority (BGUA) that it would need to increase its water storage capacity. “Right now, the authority does not have enough storage for the summer months, so (the City of Wyoming) is See TANK on 6 Ito NOTHIN BUT A GOOD TIME CLINT i SATURDAY, JUNE 7 . .... 1 — Pm]',' 7 •*'01 itiwnsffliooQt^ 4* to*: nZ ■ _ ■' ziWTT . Willi" '' 16 1 : *a 0 .' " jHi “* f fl* < ' 99^ Antenna Meri I Kt r V ffl* ■r t .' S’ 1 iff • Cellular Enhancement Systems 1 Amm S;: ^//SuneQlf 1»- & Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers ' t t c> 8. *R 3C CJA-JI Give us a call! 1 no* J 269-967-8241 www.theantennamen.com antennamen@>gmail.com www.cellti9nalpr0s.com qisngitlifxwwvs 1 st lNSUt4^ SPRAY FOAM Closed or Open Cell or Blown-In Fiberglass Roy Mast* 517-652-9119 2501 N. Ionia Rd., Vermontville JOHN FOGERTY THE CELEBRATION TOUR THURSDAY, JULY 17 EARTH, WIND & FIRE SAM HUNT FRIDAY, AUGUST 1 FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 Tickets available now at the FireKeepers Box Office or FireKeepersCasino.com. FIREKEEPERS GET YOUR ViJifiFON m CASINO•HOTEL •ATTLI C«(IK 1-94 to Exit 104 I 11177 Michigan Avenue I Battle Creek, Mt 49014 Must be 21 or older. Tickets based on availability. Schedule subject to change. I Mlrer'aiR-^^:£31 r 1 V I V iC ■ i Hi II n I .1 1 �4 Saturday, May 10, 2025 r r •• r F * :?< > . Obituaries Shirley M. Mayhew Shirley M. Mayhew, aged 84, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2025, in Middleville. Mil. Born on September 12,1940, in Suttons Bay, Ml, she was the daughter of William and Claribel Chailender. Shirley graduated from Traverse City Central High School in 1959. She dedicated 30 years of service to Fables Restaurant Lfir I* .V' "Hot .<9 .IT' before her retirement from the local grocery store in Middleville. Her commitment to her work was only surpassed by her devotion to her family and community. A skilled knitter, Shirley created over 2,000 baby hats, warming the heads and hearts of countless infants. Her handcrafted hats and mittens also provided comfort to many children at local schools and churches. An adventurous spirit, she of the Middleville United Methodist Church, where she volunteered her time and talents with joy and humility. Her faith and dedication to service were sources of inspiration to all who knew her. BHB She is survived by her loving husband of 34 years. Brad Mayhew; son, Glenn (Kathy) Meredith; daughter, Dianna Palmer; daughter-in-law, Laura Meredith; ♦ It. *1^ s LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY 9 k I t Mark Meredith; and son-inT law, William Palmer. Shirley's family will receive friends on Saturday. May 10, 2025 at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home from 9-10 a.m. Her funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. with Pastors Ron Worley and Tony Shumaker officiating. Private burial will take place at Irving Cemetery. Memorial donations to Middleville UMC food pantry will be appreciated. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Shirley’s family. r— ’ .J ■jpr.jlf* f I I 1ll« ' 1J I 1 t ■ *■■'41I 1 -1 si I r j-'ddP 131896^ (IF ,.j0iA.VEb •6. 1 .4.* A fl JI s 'J ; I UI ’ J < / r*» "-^1 I Mt ; T / 2 4 I ■v C* • ■i fll 1.9*1 RbflS>H I V t Ifl 9)IM 1:1 ■ r 1 th ,» s' 4 i /♦! i ar *» j 4 •i I I* •V*r. »• ’ c * r» jff •ab J ' • I' J s $ ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Caledonia Vine Street Church Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM www.alaskabaptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia IRST BAPTIST Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am 250 Vine Street Sunday Service 10:30 AM ex Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship if* J .• *■ ■ I Livestream; facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville FBCM1DDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY k I? ' H: cornerstone ch u rch Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am < 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http://gooclshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Church: (269) 795-2391 jfAPEACE CHURCH PEACECHURCH.ee HOLY FAMILY J/CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfainilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. .r if 1 1 J-1- .A<5 . ■1 iiJ '• You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors...and our future. Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledoiiia.org 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 "Shining Forth God's Light MIDDLEVILLE - Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com •t ». ,■ >• 4 i i 1 < «» •Aj . i*' > i Group J Your Community Connection »Z* tt1i) idflcS" •1 9 \ .V kA4 k1 i H r ;! 1 I IK’^' '■ iP NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES 1 .1-. < I ** JF * ♦ "4^ ** ..fNryHify: 1 .wa* 4 1 AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE «s A Monday at 4 p.m. I BATTLE CREEK I I SHOPPER NEWS r r . 4 Monday at 5 p.m. n.q 3 Jf. yebno k ,4 k ? ♦ V m Sunday Morning Worship.......... 10:00 a.m. Community Group............... 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor THE HASTINGS BANNER r ? .H:Hr ff B’ > '4 Tuesday at Noon $l3WMAa 4* - t 1 ■ lOoH ♦ . ■ f y f ■b?94 I 1 THE REMINDER ]H' A:z* I I * ♦1 ? Wednesday at Noon Ii iBeniK' ’ Vioo0'Te. J «• THE SUN AND NEWS f As- bt r/z J. Wednesday at Noon 4 »4yj IB vebaant : « /V F** .1 Group mihomeDaDer.com “M ; 4 >I •*:l • fl •>r •AB* 5 a t Yankee Springs Bible Church SERVICE TIMES: K" f#. 11 Nliddleville *” 4 616-891-8669 L. «■ �- 5* li *« I s'l Saturday. May 10. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 5 J TKHS student selected as representative for SkillsUSA s “ * I a 1> . I . itV A Obituaries 1 I * I 1 &. . 1 f: * 1 *?/■ I ‘4 X. X- <A Terry D. Rosenberg £ ■ ,J. • 3 f* -y* T •l- 1 ■ I '* *. A• 4 ! K >, nF ■ t 4I {. 1. V 'I *• I I a . Ji -iT;-. r i 4 * $ 4 i A f *1. ii M. I I n ^b-T* J 9 * r>v.' — »in=’ Sir i'lvndI . J ■'<1 flWib "'J 'S. '’»3Slj y li uj' ; ■W.-v .t^ b jt 'lu. / 9' « i . ‘■Vin,; 4 « R Mnu 1 -< ( ' f I. J n’ rm w rI ♦ V I T • * ;!’u ' «a I'1 s 1 I I If, ) •4( ■wWb.. ‘ ’"'Hri I u» J »• I > > ' > 4 ' i. iU w I 5f«i ww si * ‘■•-Mm. ! !IU- W' ' ► t I • • <4k * I DEa . r J, ' f . ti KJ I t ‘♦ .. ' m 'i. I . J E. I I .V M\ T J. ;4 ititW If Terry D. Rosenberg passed away peacefully in Eloy, AZ, on February 10, 2025, at the age of 84. Born on June 15, 1940, in Middleville, Ml. Terry was the son of Claude and Mary (Boley) Rosenberg, Terry had enlisted in the Navy and later embarked on a diverse career path. He worked for Arnold's Amusements, WG Wade Shows, and Diversco Gravel. His entrepreneurial spirit shone when he owned his own tire and wrecker service in Kalkaska. Throughout his life, Terry drove trucks for many companies and held a variety of jobs that showcased his versatility and work ethic. Terry's zest for life was evident in his numerous interests and involvements. A devout member of the Parmelee United Methodist Church, he also enjoyed fellowship at the Golden Harvest Cowboy Church in Arizona City, AZ. Terry's love for the outdoors was unmistakable, with over 50 joyous years spent in Eloy, AZ. He was a valued member of the Barry County Gas and Steam Engine Club and relished the simple pleasures of exploring the desert, and even finding abandoned vehicles for cash rewards. He was a jack-of-all-trades that could fix almost anything, and an extremely talented welder. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, even going to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally one year with his X* s. ** f ► 4 X’’ > z ->• t W -f-t ."Wah.. - i I 3^4.-- V4 .' I Mb 1 WjJitSiBS. « I Al tfl **M ica r brothers Dodie and Mike. Terry's love for birds, and his musical talents on the dulcimer and accordion were known to ail who loved him. Terry was a loving patriarch, leaving behind a large and adoring family. He is survived by his ^3 children, Tammy (Ed) Jackson, Tim Rosenberg, Tom (Dana Newsome) Rosenberg, Jim (Kelly Hull) Rosenberg; stepchildren. Dawn (Jim) Losinger, Alan (Lydia) Brog, Jody (Sheryl) Brog; 40 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and five great­ great-grandchildren. He also leaves his siblings, Jackie Gerard. Mike (Lynda) Rosenberg, and Susan (Bob) Parsley, as well as many nieces and nephews. Terry was preceded in death by his loving wife, Janet (Thaler) Rosenberg; his grandson. Matthew Allen James; his sister, Nancy (Bob) Anders; his brother, Dodie (Rosie) Rosenberg, and his brothers-in-law, Gary Gerard and Paul Parsley. Terry's family will receive friends on Saturday, May 17, 2025,10 to 11 a.m. at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home where his memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Private burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions to the Barry County Gas and Steam Engine Club will be appreciated. Please visit www. beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Terry’s family. I 4 I I I I I I S 9 Si. . r ? 1 r M4M « / T.ru t 1 UNB tT I R ^1 ,‘tsir.^l r » I X I * thj lBii)i!te I •• A ... S4» t “* e?’ -. J » I M I ■ ’-J* VOTE^ < < r < Half rI I ■\ii 4(1 ( : 4*. if I dieiilS I i ■ , J .f ^7# I"1 m t : Hi ! I br no' V ! .. C, ) I t J I Wff* { « ' 'j'. TJU *1:2 ' I i” ■ ■ ”J it) i { I >r « ’■ F One upcoming trip Barnhill is reportedly looking forward to is the chance to visit Washington D.C. and meet with legislators. A trip to Atlanta and the national competition is also on her calendar. Devon Barnhill, a student in Kent Career Technical Center's criminal justice program, was recently selected to represent Thomapple Kellogg High School as a regional representative for SkillsUSA Michigan for 2025-26, ac­ cording to an announcement by local school officials. Pm vers excited about it. said Barnhill, a junior at TKHS. “I feel like I’m very lucky to have this op­ portunity." Barnhill reportedly learned about SkillsUSA through her classes at KCTC and was encouraged to seek a leadership role with the organization. “Everyone is there to succeed," said Barnhill. “You have to put in the effort, and you will be successful." SkillsUSA Michigan represents more than 5,000 student members across 100 chapters statewide and is one of the largest career and technical student organizations in the state. As a state officer, Barnhill will undergo lead­ ership training, assist in organizing the SkillsUSA Michigan State Leadership and Skills Conference, and represent the organization at various events and conventions throughout the year. One upcoming trip Barnhill is report­ edly looking forward to is the chance to visit Washington D.C. and meet with legislators. A trip to Atlanta and the national competition is also on her calendar. “All my hard work has paid off,’’ she said. “Every one in SkillsUSA is incred­ ible. It’s very much a feeling of pride to be able to be part of this. Barnhill added she enjoys her classes at KCTC that are helping her narrow her career interests. “It’s so much fun and I love the classes I’m able to take there. I’m very grateful for that. It’s really exciting to be able to explore different careers. Initially, she was somewhat inter­ ested in engineering but quickly real­ ized that wasn’t quite the right fit. She also considered the idea of becoming a police detective, but as she gained more information, she realized that wasn’t exactly her goal either For now, she’s interested in work­ ing with DNA analysis and through & 1 I ? 4. -•S’ u 1 I* 3 4 u / /1 b *• 1.4 M M. 4. t 01^1 II c ■i ♦ r ... b'l ■ I •' II mn.. • . • x- * J ' r*/-: I <•** > < '* *. % I '4^; I- i. S’? 1 ‘ A I J \ Devon Barnhill, a student in Kent Career Technical Center's criminal justice program, was recently selected to represent Thornapple Kellogg High School as a regional representative for SkillsUSA Michigan. Courtesy photos SkillsUSA has already been able to meet and talk with representatives from the Michigan State Police forensics program. When she’s not busy at KCTC, Barn­ hill is very actively involved at TKHS. She is a member of the color guard for the school’s marching band and plays clarinet in symphonic band. She also golfs, is a pole vaulter for the track team and is a member of the Teens Against Tobacco Use. In her spare time, Barnhill said she enjoys reading and helping raise beef steers on her family’s farm. I’m very grateful for TK for giving me the opportunity to attend KCTC and for the experiences I’ve been able to have there to help prepare me for my future,” she added. DM (4T 9 f I I t. s 1 Mb s w I W 'F V J iTiwi .—r- I I I I I { M■ F t l.l ,4 r I I ill 9 Ih I r I II 'l» I p, n H I I »t I ■1 'h >a I •i 1 \ \ �jv Saturday. May 10. 2025 6 1^1 «• • I THE SUN AND NEWS A ■ A 4 r ilii ■ (”Om '.v 4 iT-. Il III » ;i :P .4iai <* MIDDLEVILLE TOPS 546 .V 7 |A> I * ■ —^11 iiM>i iQi Tr»e tZay rrbfjiiftinq o[>^?ned w^ti r f.,3h ar *d the secret ary r€-pon There we two new fish tn the fiyibowl. one I listt pjmp^fd exjt Maryf*llen s program carne Irom the May/June TOf% magazine lined AftftixJe IS Everything " What you think bryxxnes ycxjr mindsei Neqalive ttxxights grow mto habits that become difficuft to cTiange Ycxj rxxjd to take charge arxJ change things lor ir»e better Start by removing negative words like ‘can’t. don t , won t”, ‘not «( GainosTownshipconsultingengineer Jotf Gnttf.T « ca yt*F yrrj^wjiafy and ’nev'**’ Dor, I assorjate with Dptihte Dtjwrterc^ Io succxKXl »n making rhanrx' । *apfx?o Be kind to yourseti Wt'.al yruj eat equals how you and Thp rrore ycxj ititnk negatively ll»e more you will stay right wherr* you are Visualize evf*ry morning how you wish Io IfxA when you reach your goal Over time, your brain will help you achieve yotx goal You can ctiange any part of your hie by simply chariging your mindset ♦ r •• A' ' r I TOPS a UM*-- 3*;; metotc. H I .. Ha 4 H;-» I Box 9 .♦i « h_R« -upport group. Mcx^day In J - 4ri MeaeJnw^ vmm from 3 30 p m to 3 45pm . foH's*. immediately by the meehng Press the white burZ€*r entry Tt>^ diapter ts looktng lor anyone interested m a group that supports weight loss fnjnxiys MWthoul shame .4mwiF With gyestum mtn' ra9f i trf^inta nt 6/6-M9‘.i5^5 The ftrKt meetinfs, is Jb •l I r t 1 > >« ^•1 «» t i 4 4 Bl tow < I L I F F 4 < f i< i J RTn-i f' * i J♦ -.-T i 0 1 I I k TANK Continued from Page 3 requiring us to add storage,” Wcers­ ing said. T he BGUA, located at 1381 84lh St. SI;, is jointly operated by Byron and Gaines townships. It was formed in 2002 and performs the operation and maintenance of the waler and sewer systems for both municipalities. T he two townships get their munici pal water from the City of Wyoming, which has a water-treatment plant in iiolland. It intakes water from l ake Michigan, treats it and distributes it through underground water mains. Currently, there arc three municipal storage tanks in Byron and Gaines townships that hold a total of 4 million gallons of water. An elevated water tower is located on 60lh Street west of Wing Avenue. A ground-mounted wa ter tank sits along Eastern Avenue near cornerstonechurch we’re casual, come as vou are. 92nd Street. And, in Byron Township, a grtnind-mountcd tank is located on Division Avenue south of 92nd Street. “Right now, the authority docs not have enough storage for the summer months, so (the C ity of Wyoming) is requiring us to add storage,” Wcersing said last July. As of press time, tow nship engineer Jeff Gritter was still calculating the es­ timated cost for the new water storage facility. He is a senior civil engineer with Byron Center-based consulting firm Vriesman & Korhom. But some officials have said it would cost more than $5 million to build and install a ground-mounted tank and pipelines. Gritter has said in the past that a new waler tow er probably would lake a year to design and construct. In other business One Church • Three Locations Caledonia I Grand Rapids | Wyoming I Join Us In Person or Online! □ □ I ; a Scan the code or visit cornerstonemi.org to find locations and service times, plus ivays to watch online! J J /cornerstonemi (fficornerstonemi Weersing said that a new platform ladder truck for the Gaines Charter Township Fire Department is sched­ uled to arrive by October from Apple­ ton, Wisconsin-based Pierce Manufac­ turing Co. It was ordered more than two years ago to replace a fire truck that is more than two decades old. Byron and Gaines trustees voted unanimously at a joint meeting of the township boards in October 2022 to split the cost for the $1.7 million fire truck. Gaines officials voted last year to allocate $1.2 million in AR PA funds to­ ward the purchase ofthe 100-fool aerial ladder truck. It will enable firefighters to access the lops of larger buildings in the township from a platform. The new Gaines Charier Township Fire Department was established on January 1 after Byron Township opted to no longer jointly operate the Cutler- I villc I ire Dcparlmcnl Gaines is now running ihc fire stations on 6Klh Street in Cutlerville and on 6Rlh Street in Dutton. Byron is building its ow n along US-131 north ofbKth Street. Township priority rankings (iaincs Supers isor Bob Terpslra said he will announce at ihc Mav* 12 board meeting how township trustees recent­ ly ranked their top priorities for future growth in (iaines. They held a special meeting April 28 to consider various categories such as upgrading parks and trails, improving public safety, and plans for the kK'al library as part of a broad vision for township grow th. I he township board will consider whether to adopt a resolution submitted by Ihc Parks & Trails Committee to create a Parks & Grounds Department. ' '• 1 ':'^ [ II** •*- « I ft’ *,* »* J.* rtl*' ■e ;J * « 4 b b' Ip* \ x\ ■ t » .uI^V ' n : I 4 to’' i i*’ ^■ul'<- * 4 ( J 5 r 9 & I — . >»r • * 'J !> - I sife ! J Ji .%*i »* A yr b A r j 1 t R' w * I A 1 a ' * i I A• * I. •A* Hoffman Meadows Phase 3 The Gaines Township Planning Commission will hold a public hear­ ing at its May 22 meeting to approve what is called a tentative preliminary plat for 50 single-family lots as part of the third phase of the four-phase I lofTman Meadows subdivision. A final plat approval would be needed after that before construction could begin. Phases 1 and 2 have previously re­ ceived final township approvals. T he first phase was completed in 2023 for 40 single-family home lots on 15 acres on the northern half of the develop­ ment. The second phase was launched last year. The project would be at 2319 Cry stal Meadows, which is west of Hanna Lake Avenue and south of 60lh Street. Chris VanderHoff is the property owner, and the engineering firm is Feenstra & Associates. Zr''’.* of 0^ r* *'* •. J * eijf r t I 4 «* ** » . S »19< <a • 4 ®VE .vi>‘ I 1 I I : .9• i 4 I .v •»* is * I ' i ( , ■ I - ES '■’1^ i 1..« J 4 I * i I' I I ..1 I t 4 4i *< • I hiiil: ! i t 'J « I - ■T I ''vuv: . H< ». 1 I <• I I i e * 4 b I !■ r I: BWliiiiw, r . OI . *( I* A « V* f < I t t I « I I ( t e I B I |••.'*■l—1 •. :.'2^s?y!¥ } £ t L !I I < 1 I 4 3 ( { ti I I 1 I it * 1 » t 1 I I I 1 i ■ 3 I �'10-5} k u fl ) «l ( J '< ftr« Kettle Lake teacher receives ‘Excellence in Education’ award 4 ~.... I . 4 i 4. *• I t X J:-. '•J I 1 Excel ^.4 k 5 29 ' a x:<s J * < i n Educal < < S ( ?■} U •? ■ K Saturday, May 10, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com tt %» Az Classifieds Caledonia Community Schools announced recently that Mary Frey (left), a kindergarten teacher at Kettle Lake Elementary, was honored with the Michigan Lottery’s Excellence in Education Award. Here, she is joined by Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. Courtesy photo ' • >> DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. • ' V I a; GO TO SUNANDNEWS.COM l^•* 1 I I( »r K ill , ft ' T . inEducati>n s C Y S * I. > -rm I t’ 'J 1.^1 *01 J ’f • > I I I wS isivv’ 1I r• t 9 I ft h.i' • > .J ■■ .-art f J I 4I 1 f A I ; 1 i I J I i >2 I I 4 • ? J > k J 7 V •l V * ■^7 r A I : /jL.s.i. r • +. J > ^'58 I . a li" uk' I Ui, r \-T4 TJs'r.'ir".’. •T *J 44 I I ? siX: h M CMBI. «( V 4 1 ---------- . ( * ? bl - <♦ 1 fnw** £♦ ft r J TT 1* id 9. h-v I 1375 *^(!S!S i •Ci I I i' W-OI ’ ’ 9 »• S ■ di Ji i 1. I A » '"■niV r J 1 I, - aa^j ■x , ^^-iw 4 • «. •’ > • ’ / - 1 J •i p- ssiiap! .« b' I. l<’)q b I ■'■-itiwi.' ft t ■ ■'1 <k4 4 Ui Ji. I I d *» R 4 . - —I* ) V .. .H I ».• .«A I I ' wK' i I.U ' I I j '•.1 i... ! • -I 4 r bssi L ( J I I [i;,. « I 4 i 4 r^)(nz86ianJ'-~- ■■ /k '*'*1 1 f ft 't-fl * 'Ct' 1 I i f-s I H I 1 Jri* .4 • .. 1 1 «> I • ar X . l-ftft.’ -X ■B* t 23 7^ I * 1 ft- - - 1 I I I I 1 I • -U1L22' r* I • V S * I I I r • J ' ! itcui 1 i I :f1 :■■ ! r i ? L 9^ 1 *'■ 4 J I I b I ft I I I ft S JSW 0 i 1^. Your local agent insures your r- * f JNR BUILDERS Concrete flat­ work; Driveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored, Licensed and insured. Call Jeff (616)293-7729 Excellence > ^11 ■ CEMENT/CONCRETE Ji I f .1 1s > I BUSINESS SERVICES MICH ft * ft V I 7 ’* * i Caledonia Community Schools an­ nounced recently that Mary Frey, a kindergarten teacher at Kettle Lake Elementary, was honored with a Michi­ gan Lottery’s Excellence in Education Award. Frey, known for her passion, dedica­ tion, and deep personal investment in her students’ growth and success, was surprised with the award earlier this month, according to a release by CCS officials. She reportedly received a $2,000 cash prize and will be consid­ ered for the Michigan Lottery’s Edu­ cator of the Year honor, which comes with an additional $10,000 cash prize. The Michigan Lottery established the educational awards in 2014 to cel­ ebrate exceptional public-school edu­ cators across the state. Award winners are selected based on their excellence in advancing student achievement, dedication to their work, inspiration to others, leadership and positive impact on students. “Mary Frey’s dedication to each stu­ dent, evident in her detailed care and personal investment to each individual in her classroom, is truly remarkable,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “She inspires students to have ‘ah-ha’ moments and fosters kind­ ness that ripples throughout the entire school and beyond. She is a true hero to her students and an asset to her school.” According to CCS officials, Frey has been an educator for 22 years, spend­ ing the last 15 years at Kettle Lake. A graduate of Michigan State University, she holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development and elemen­ tary education, as well as master’s degree in literacy. Frey said she believes teaching kin­ dergarten offers a unique opportunity to build a foundation for lifelong learning. “Kindergarten is such a precious time when little ones are discovering their own abilities, interests, and indepen­ dence,” she said. “It is a privilege to witness so many ‘ah-ha’ moments and to foster a love of learning from the very beginning. Frey was nominated for the award by a parent who highlighted her daily personal updates, community outreach projects, and lasting impact on students and the broader school community. One notable example of her leadership reportedly is the Kettle Lake Kindness Project, which began with her class creating Valentine’s Day cards, notes of encouragement and snacks for Helen Devos Children’s Hospital staff and later expanded into a schoolwide movement of kindness. PA/ KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? We’d love to hear about it! Email mmacleod@mihomepaper.com H#me » CONSTRUCTION I I I FMMBUHCALf MSVRANCF I > TREE SERVICE 1 ®#fa Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville o (269) 795-6827 jparks@fbinsmi.coni FannBureaulnsurance.com Blended Heart Ministries 1 EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCED GARDNER 3 to 4 days a week with flexible schedule. Please apply in person at Saska­ toon Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto. COMMERCIAL-RENT •4 . r I BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy sin­ gle walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793. ■: i I* < It I J J n X I - g A.' ' . <1 OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rap­ ids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic@remax.net GOSPEL CONCERT Sunday, May 18 at 6;00pm at LEIGHTON CHURCH 4180 2nd St., Caledonia, MI FREE Admission Donations appreciated to support their ministries! < www.leightonchurch.org i FULL SERVICE a YOU PULL IT I / 'USED PARTS f USED 1811 LAKE ST., KALAMAZOO t! I I "t i'J I » 1 U ’W < ft I I.; ‘ ri hi I I ri ft( J ft ‘t i 5 \ I I 4 Z 1 * J f' 269-381-2300 , fl Ir > Ka HUIS • HM BW • Hi T8ltS • IMS • SWS • KffS • 4MS I'. i V J/ LIGHT TRUCK PARTS I il '. y- • c ft 1 / / X THE SUN AND NEWS Group i CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS. Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 4 Sv �V .R ill A 8 Saturday. May 10, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com KI ft > IJ 40 IWQ Local teacher named Educator of the Year by Down Syndrome Association Micalah Waskiewicz, a teacher at Kraft Meadows Intermediate School in Caledonia, has been named the 2025 Educator of the Year by the Down Syn drome Association of West Michigan (DSAWM). The award was presented at the an- We’d love to hear about it! Email mmacleod@mihomepaper.com THE SUN AND NEWS VIEW~^ Group TRONTIER w aaiwajHHnt ;S I F I* 4 I * It }| A I I. irr 7 4f . .''3^ . « 5r r» { I i BKm tv Ml- “ Az • 3r' Only I ’1 .7 Expires 5/31/25 Other Products artd Services Available • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and rrxxe! Jhi' (.oniponv hmlt h\ lefciiols 210 Cast Main Street Caledonia 616-891-8900 .-.Zt > ) ■ '3 J If* •f V. L ¥5 f b- * ** ' * >F ♦ !» J w. •ylr. I k * >*= S f • , <5 ' I k ♦ •» is 1 ' t / .r r- 1 V- .Bl mW .iji' •< Jtf-f' Micalah Waskiewicz, a teacher at Kraft Meadows Intermediate School in Caledonia, has been named the 2025 Educator of the Year by the Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan. Photo courtesy of Caledonia Schools i ■* 4 t - 1 *1 •J r»»i' '.7 I Vi 4 1 ft I I A* .V 251 LV •V » ,1 J Every second Saturday in May, let­ ter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America collect the goodness and compassion of their postal customers who participate in the NALC Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive the largest oneday food drive in the nation. Barry County is no stranger to this effort, and letter carriers around the area will participate in the drive today. Led by letter carriers represented by the National Association of Let­ ter Carriers (AFL-CIO), with help from rural letter carriers, other postal employees and other volunteers, the drive has delivered more than 1.82 billion pounds of food the past 30 years. Carriers collect non-perishable food donations left by mailboxes and in post offices and deliver them to lo­ cal community food banks, pantries and shelters. Nearly 1,500 NALC branches in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands are involved. The United States Postal Service, National Association of Letter Car­ riers, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, AFL-CIO, United Way, Vericast, Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, CVS Health, Kellogg’s, and United Food and Commercial Workers International Union are all supporting this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive. To donate, just place a box or can of non-perishable food next to your mailbox before your letter carrier delivers mail on the second Saturday in May. The carrier will do the rest. The food is sorted, and delivered to an area food bank or pantry, where it is available for needy families. One in ten Americans face hunger every day in America. This drive is ' one way locals can help those in their own city or town who need help. 1 J I . *< J > I 1' : Z SB 9 / IP #»• ». I or z t’l". ] J' 1 I L Viv s ■- -1 r* f I ( ?.• *.■ Vr A 5t ' - I I ' fJ ’ • I I I 4 va .< F J a < rrr-T’i: ♦ ? I t yi « k • •*** I I I n e • r:. r-» * • r ! F •' « K 1 ‘ t I I *1 I — MM • ‘W»«' ;a-j . I J •*r I « r I I I fIt I I► t! I ii I It il I ( Kt :At '. 7ff f - ■ I J t f’l . k r■ I •i { 28 J’ i ft I w. s T I 4 ■r I. t r» 9 . c5->. •Sm**'* * t > IHF •r r Letter carriers collecting food donations for Stamp Out Hunger drive < I* 4^ At/iCi * I -i (ft: I •f r I r J ♦ * a - HEATING AND COOLING J 4 « I GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM * *1 I nual Winner’s Cup Benefit held on May 3 at the Kent Country Club. Waskiewicz was recognized for creating a nurturing, inclusive envi­ ronment where students with Down syndrome feel understood, supported and celebrated. Parents recognized Waskiewicz for her work with their kids. “From day one, my son has been completely comfortable at his new school with Mrs. W. I had the imme­ diate feeling that she just understood him,” said the parent who nominated Waskiewicz for the award. Another parent noted, “I have never felt more included than with my son being in her classroom.” A student told his parent, “Mom, that is a person that gets me. She un­ derstands me. She takes care of me and makes me feel safe!” “I am so blessed to work with in­ credible kids, and I love what I do,” Waskiewicz said. KTE KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? I <?*** J K I. .. .J �V; ♦ ,1 ♦ Saturday, May 10, 2025 9 ** A ♦ ♦ I r Sporting News M 1 4 I •s 1 1 1 I ''M a i I I Uk. .4**1 . ' S kja| e / I *k t I ... 4.'- r, t •« r I J •r ] ’ > Brett Bremer Sports Editor s I • 1 ■ • 1 1 I I 1 i * • Big wins keep coming for Caiedonia LAX guys K 4* EJ 1 ’S, I c •X > fJ J & ❖ 4 < .:-l .a *4 » «» *A 9 • \ «, —« f 1 4 n Wt . Wifi. - ’ I r' 49^ 1. ■- ?*. k ! I J • f- 'k *W IkZ I I r TuVK'^TCHitb., . I Caledonia junior Rylan Bultema fires a shot into the net for a goal during his team's win over visiting Harper Creek Saturday at Scotland Yard. I r I' I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ♦ I I I •1 1 F I « 1 I II >4 ♦ H t ' c t . 1I I i r toljlioili T I !■ >»4 T * 1 ’ ’tH I «« r f 9 — T- I I * ** 41^ I ObK . .. 4* O Mi' 9 vwV / K r Oi 1> A I r 1 in • • b4c> •• Vt .J:,'. « WbviA .aL > 1 1 1 I 1 J f aiK^*ab» Mi 1 1 :» ft k.411 iV nI *J 1 ikji''' «t I ! \ i i I w. » i4 il k I i V* I I * . I ' 'X I .I » 4 Vid* * I 9 ■fsasFJ k I I 1* t F I i II , I • • I ’ f I.; » « I I .••• V,J I I 1 '.'uJ C'J t b T. ' • e f Caledonia sophomore Austin Osborn weaves his way through the midfield with Harper Creek’s Logan Converse giving chase during their non­ conference match at Scotland Yard Saturday, May 3. Photos by Brett Bremer A one-goal, overtime loss against Hudsonville is the only blemish on the Caledonia varsity boys ’ lacrosse team’s record since March. The Fighting Scots have won 11 of their last 12 and are currently ranked 11th in the state’s Division 2 power rankings - one spot behind the For­ est Hills Northern team they soundly defeated Tuesday evening in Grand Rapids. Caledonia bounced back from the one-goal loss to Hudsonville with a 20-10 win at West Ottawa last Thurs­ day, May 1, beat visiting Harper Creek 16-3 Saturday at Scotland Yard, and then went to Forest Hills Northern for a 16-6 win Tuesday. On their home turf against a young Harper Creek team Saturday, the Fight­ ing Scots got four goals and an assist from senior Brady Hilaski. Senior Silas Haan, junior Rylan Bultema and sophomore Lincoln Senti had three goals apiece. Sophomore Emmett Haan added two goals and sophomore Ryder Bom scored once. Junior Camden Robinson scored two early goals for the Beavers who trailed 4-2 with 3:42 to go in the first quarter before late goals from Emmett Haan and Bultema pushed the Scots to a 6-2 lead by the end of the quarter. Caledonia dominated possession throughout the afternoon, and got to unload the bench. “It is good to get some dudes in there for sure. We got to play a lot of people at a lot of different positions, so that is a good thing,” Caledonia head coach Kollin Herron said. “Most of that is learning for the future. There is a dif­ ference between good teams and great, teams. Great teams don’t mess around in games. When we put guys in different positions it is mostly for, hey what are we looking for for the future, or trying to get some defensive guys some of­ fensive playing time. That way they can pass and catch the ball a little bit more, and we can get them comfortable with that... it’s focused different positions.” While a Harper Creek team with just one senior on the roster has to rely on youngsters quite a bit, the Scots are learning that they have a mix of senior and underclassmen they can really lean on this spring. Emmett Haan, he’s a sophomore, we’re looking him to probably step up into a captain role when he gets older, and [senior] Ethan Fisher is a big one for us. Unfortunately, he has an ankle issue right now ... even when he is hurt he is on the sideline leading guys and encouraging them,” Herron said Saturday. For a sophomore, for a young kid, when Ethan isn’t on the field [Emmett] is the one calling our offense. He is be­ ing a leader out there, and he is encour­ aging guys, he is sticking up for guys on the team, pushing them to be better in games and to be better in practice. In games like this, it is sometimes gets hard to stay focused when you’re up that big on a team, but I think he really helps our guys stay level-headed and focused during the games.” Herron said his guys had a lead in See CALEDONIA on 14 s*--• • *11 ’’J f SA; »s ?. • REQWfSr AW ’ mwE fSHM/ITf s « R• % ’•VJ TfCO □ Ji •l I s A ■ I > ROOFING Serving the Caledonia and Middleville Communities. ' A * a s t •< ••w r . f 7 I A COVER IT WITH CONFIDENCE I I •• 1 ♦n % X s r » » » » » Residential Commerical Roof Repair Storm Damage Insurance Claims -.,4. t'U < 4 W/ •'IK' ... * ( . 4 •> ! a v f 616-916-0188 100% SATISFACTION OIIAAANTCCD f I £ ACCRFOITEO I^Jfoceboolc -A- -A- A -A^ w w**w yelp-i* Google CuVomer # I t I J I i■ J I . II I i'ij i'l 'l' ! �;V I I I 1 J 10 Saturday, May 10, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com .f Trojans celebrate rare win over Wayland softball 4 4 to 1 i T *9 < win with an RBI and three runs scored. “Honestly, you just really have to go in and just know that your teammates are counting on you to be there for them,” Bouma said. “We lost to Wayland, I think it was Tuesday, and this this was a game where I was just really motivated to be there for my teammates at the right time and keep my eye on the ball, and not let the mental game get in the way.” We really wanted it. We know we have lost to Wayland in the past, and it was really the perfect time at our own home invite to have this be our chance at redemption. That felt good.” The Wildcats shut out the Trojans in their OK Gold doubleheader last week with 9-0 and 11-0 wins, with game two ending on a walk-olT home run in the fifth inning that boosted the Wildcat lead to double figures. “I just think that we had a talk Thurs­ day about being there for each other. V WE 'RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS 'K:'\ 1 i r 4 a ;•••*. I r Xr ■9» iflh, II Residential & Commercial i A c s -Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers r* J Ri I i ■MB / V itr.^ . i?? ~£t-. ♦ sls AMX <* > < * & 55e*C' •*t> a r fl ' r • X’* 4 *♦ :;k^aisgfe? ,-„ , DeWeerd (68) A*riMn & ff. AIR AID rmuni'Tinbiiun HEATING CONDITIONING. iwr INC. I I i J • DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 1 Since t95S - f J a MT-'" '-'■ A+ 1 ^BBB. ACCftSDITED BUSINESS iF; .r >1 t ‘'•'I *>■ f 1 r 4 % t-c MIE'M Brett Bremer Sports Editor Some Saturday tournament trophies just mean a little more. The Trojans won’t forget this one any time soon. Thomapple Kellogg’s varsity softball team bounced back from getting swept in its OK Gold Conference doubleheader with visiting Wayland in Middleville April 29 by beating the Wildcats 7-5 in the finals ofSaturday’s Thomapple Kellogg Invitational. It is the first win for the Trojans over the Wildcats since their 2019 district tournament, the first varsity softball win over Wayland for any of the TK ballplayers, and the first varsity win over the Wildcats for TK head coach Ashley Garrett as a coach or a player. Scoring four runs in the top of the fourth inning pushed TK in front of the Wildcats 7-4 and they held on the rest of the way. Centerfielder Kenzie Bouma was 2-for-4 at the plate in the <41 /J f. ••-Sir- r 4 4 ! V . .« «1 * : I ir 4 to i (• f 7 I ' » r: I . £ 4 1 'I f** **• •’44 v; WV 4 Ir 9 i «i 9^ v •.V 1 > ' f'J •>rw* i 3^ V? ■to 1 ' < I* *• * . 1 lk. ■9'- >* -i- ;•! *• lie ’ • 4 .• 4 b', i Ml i J % *4 X 1 *4 I : >v I 4>: 3 9^^ 4 > w* H ' f- I • TWT/ -- «-■ . 4 r, If: The Thornapple Kellogg varsity softball team celebrates with its plaque after beating Wayland 7-5 in the championship game of the TK Invitational in Middleville Sunday. The win over Wayland was the first since the 2019 district tournament for the Trojans. Photos by Brett Bremer 13” .-si*. 4 . Ml ►* I-' r 'C •> ^4 f' I t» K * J I think that really helped us, bringing that into this game. Putting that into play and being hyped for each other. Even when we were down we didn’t get down. The mental game you don’t let that get in the way, look at the scoreboard and keep competing and you’ll win.” TK put a lot ofwork in on its “mental game” last week. “I told them on Tuesday that it wasn ’t a skill thing. That is not why we lost. Wayland just has a littler higher softball IQ and softball savvy than us right now,” coach Garrett said, “and we re­ ally worked on that the last couple days in practice and they put it to use today. We actually did classroom session. We talked about different things. We talked about different base running things. We talked about our approach at the plate and what pitch we’re looking for and just little things like that. My team has a bunch of girls that play travel ball, it was just getting them to realize what is going around them and thinking a play ahead.” TK had seven hits in the win. Bouma was the only girl with multiple hits. She drove in a run with a single in the top of the third, and managed to work her way out of a pickle between first and second to finish safely at second after the throw in from the outfield initially tried to cut down a Trojan runner at the plate. That hit tied the game at 3-3 at the time. TK got singles from McKenna Hoebeke, Adelaide Holderman and Jenna Robinett. Holderman, Robinett, Aubree Stevens and Chloe Bossenberger had one RBI each. A couple of Wildcat errors got the Trojans’ go-ahead rally started in the See next page /i/'- 1 J > I I. .b* ’3i» j. d.» b 4/ ( vii'i . ii’’ (Ju i W' 0?” I lb 4^ J i i •« f . f t t-J f •A i TJ i ( I J •# I♦ i I 1 .9 T: A J .' " .• •* I . ‘r t I I J % I I *• fl I a!9l» 1''A s I I' • w i «* •J I fjai 'A*' * 1 e •4 s I a4 IVp Vl ■»»«** k 1 IIHS ■: I raw* Ito 1 fe V 1 f 1 Jg- ' 9?* L -4 tSrDed'I 11 J' 1|>v f V '■IMN Wbm« 4 % J 1 wa i ai:£feE''i<RR»< IM '.'IB a J:’;! i£; .tw. J 1 * i(is^jtsmiEsxvdK w WvMtr.MK'l, I *• ♦ I • •• ••r% .J t . ■7T $ Wtoto* ** - ri fliS r— Thornapple Kellogg’s Chloe Bossenberger gets a jump off first base during her team’s win over Wayland in the championship game oftheTK Invite Saturday in Middleville. ** I 97^ -to ♦< ftSktoto. *>Ti i .«.4ito- >4 Jr y 1 4 . 1 * " .I •I ’•-V tia.-i 9U' ej letT •Tf t6c' I * I ft f I I I li .1 * ( �I al THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com (Wi!. if/wy/ I I 9 sr*' I f I p—' I J t TKHS girls close undefeated run through OK Gold duals I •WT «k. I I I r I t 1 i ■atarE Brett Bremer Sports Editor f 4 ridibJ znoqc E » 1 -ll' ‘ The Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ track and field team will look to finish off an undefeated OK Gold Conference season this afternoon, May 8, at the conference champion­ ship meet hosted by Wyoming at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids. The TK ladies finished off a 6-0 season of conference duals with victories over Wayland and South Christian at Wayland Union High School Monday. The Trojans beat the host Wildcats 104.5-32.5 and the South Christian girls 100-37. The Wayland boys are in the same position as the TK girls having improved to 6-0 in conference du­ als with wins over the Trojans and Sailors Monday. The TK boys close the season of conference duals at 2-4. The TK hurdlers are really hitting their stride as the season winds down. Senior Brooklyn Harmon, junior Mia Hilton and freshman Amya Gater placed 1-2-3 in both the 300-meter low hurdles and the 100-meter hurdles for the TK girls Monday. All three improved their personal record time in the 300 hurdles. Harmon won in 45.74, Hilton was second in 43.36 and Gater placed third in 47.61. Har- Jbfc-r fl Bo ZihH <3^ . ...I ?"fl: I -iM I I I’ f . 9 f*' 'f I f-. r TI . Ol M'. f u z 14 A', f < r I Liv r^i? ’ 9^ 4 'SS-j ‘ ■7M V I I } 1J <U>4? < I J 5 • 5-tjr '*7>i W;! -z < A / ' I I ir- 'N : U V f A Wl ’'U *T 1 ntsnf?™l!( OfJ^oq rj nk^-'T JI ' > 7*“ J ? 1 /v '. r 1_ t 4 •5 fea Tf ’Sfe . 11 ft! >fc fe : k ’t t f! JI r A* * IC ! I* t 1 Im. * ( 'L; I -.>4' . (VZKWJ^ ’ ; i I ■ u* « v> Mb I 4 I ■ 1 t- 11 I — ??' ♦ Saturday, May 10, 2025 r f I ! 1 f 4x100-meter relay in 52.57 seconds. To close the evening, the TK team ofjunior Payton Gater, Brooklyn Har­ mon, Hilton and Amya Gater won the 4x400-meter relay in 4:16.98. Dykhouse also improved her shot put personal record with a mark of 3510 and senior teammate Lilly McKe­ own was second with a put of 29-3. The only victories for the TK boys came from senior Jacob Draaisma who took the 800-meter run in 2:00.47 and the 1600-meter run in 4:32.92. Hurdlers had a good day on the boys’ side too overall. Wayland sophomore Alex Hubbard and senior Malachi Rodriguez set PRs in placing 1-2 in the 110-meter high hurdles. South Christian junior Daniel Egler won the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, with TK sophomore Brandon Veiling second in that race with a PR of 42.88 that left him just four hun­ dredths of a second behind. The two guys behind him set PRs too. TK teams were second in the 4x200-meter relay, the 4x100-meter relay and the 4x400-meter relay. The 4x100-meter race was an especially close one with the South Christian team of seniors Bryce Kenyon and Sammi Anema, sophomore Jesse mon was third and Hilton eighth in that race at the 2024 MHS AA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Track and Field Finals. In the 100s Monday, Harmon won with a time of 15.25 seconds, Hilton was second in 15.93 and Gater im­ proved her PR to 16.65 to place third. Junior sprinter Jordyn Fitros had an­ other big afternoon for the TK ladies. She won the 100-meter dash in 13.00 and the 200-meter dash in 26.67. TK senior Ava Crews had a pair of individual wins too taking the 1600-meter run in 5 minutes 43.43 seconds and the 3200-meter run in 11:40.74. South Christian junior Chloe Rinzema prevented a sweep of the wins in the individual races on the track by the TK ladies. She took the 400-meter dash in a PR of 58.46 sec­ onds and she won the 800-meter run in 2:27.40 just besting a season-best time of 2:28.68 from Crews. The TK ladies won the three sprint relays. Sophomore Elile Harmon, junior Madison Kietzman, sophomore Estefani Sanchez Vega and sopho­ more Sydney Martin wont he 4x200meter relay in 1:51.52. The team of Kietzman, Sanchez Vega, Martin and senior Emma Dykhouse won the VanDeGriend and junior Ethan White winning in 45.63 seconds. The TK team ofsophomore Elliott Neff, senior Lucas McNabnay, freshman Maddox Vanengen and sophomore Jackson Smith was a little over a second back in 46.71 and the fastest Wayland team in that race was just eight hundredths of a second behind TK. The foursome that included Way land senior Landon Dunahoo was DQ’d in that 4x100. He was a part of wins in his three other events. He took the 100-meter dash in 11.51, the 200-meter dash in a PR of 22.84 and raced as a part of the Wildcats’ win­ ning 4x200-meter relay team. Last Saturday, May 3, theTK ladies took the championship and the boys were third at the Cougar Invitational hosted by Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Both teams had a pair of event wins. The TK ladies had the team of Brook­ lyn Harmon, Fitros, Amya Gater and Hilton win the 4x200-meter relay in 1:46.76 and junior Payton Gater won the high jump by clearing 4-10. The TK boys’ had junior Brayden Muma win the discus with a throw of 109-7 and Derious Robinson win the long jump with a personal record leap of 18-8.75. I i s rm* ✓ irj.. Continued from previous page l»»l ~ b .. I rr *r,- - V ) B I I /, i i— 4 t .4 ri * r HHEw I -rti { 1 9 ILl 41 ■'*» r T • I > -I 99^ 7 I JI t < i ■ I Js It 9 ' d ■ £ 4 prrrvF L r * . I I • J * I t£ f. uc Ml— t I A. 1 r 'J •.- 1 ' * ♦ £• fl I If I I 1 r »/ J A« I r 9 SIT' i pr* ti. : ' ’ V lio *«.s > b- ■/ ‘ f. ..Ji top of the fifth. Holderman had an RBI single, and Stevens and Bossenbergerput together back-to-back, two-out doubles to extend the TKJ lead. Stevens was the winning pitcher. She allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits and two walks across the final five innings. She struck out one. Robinett started in the circle for TK allowing three runs on five hits. She struck out one too. Wildcat starting pitcher Harmony Laker allowed seven runs in five innings in the circle, but only one was earned. She walked one and struck out nine. TK got to her for seven hits. Madi Ludema closed things out for the Wildcats with two shut out innings. The thing we really worked on was getting our trigger out of the way and getting our front foots down so we can rotate and hit the ball,” Garrett said of her team’s improvements at the plate between games against the Wildcats. “And they did so much better with it. I was a little nervous. Comstock Park’s pitching was not Wayland’s pitching, so I was a little nervous with how they were going to adjust and they did it right out of the gate. It was fun to see.” TK opened its day at the tournament with a 16-1 win over Comstock Park. Holderman pitched and allowed one unearned run in four innings. She struck out seven and walked one. The TK offense had nine hits in the win including doubles from Alyssa Schaefer, Stevens and Bouma. Bouma was 3-for-3 in that one with two runs scored and two RBIs. Stevens was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and five RBIs, and she also walked twice. Allison Wolowicz was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Wayland earned its spot in the tournament cham­ pionship game with a 23-0 win over Delton Kellogg to start the day. I rE/MAX J %« *• d > ■ * 4 rVRF/MAX OF GRAND RAPIDS »• V. ' ♦ < > Margaret (Margo) E. Peric I. r 4-^ k,d» < ■■ J-. 4* t 4 w •*, Commercial/ftesidential Full Time Agent Cell: (616) 204-9792 Office: (616)957-0700 Email: margoperic@remax.net free Estiniat®® A 1^^ ( J I f L • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam £ f I •{ I .t J I I r :• ..5?. J f* •> • 9 •I J 4 4’ k > I r. L_ 1 ■ u i' 'n k I" 1-1 •1 .1 It I J I ft t h I ’3 » �a 4 1 > I' . V T f 4 V T . 12 Saturday, May 10, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Wooden bat tourney title goes to TK boys WWW. sunandnews. com 1 ..ijL*'" .* .2* * .-1 6-^. ' M B X* 1 r • .-iS- . < 1^ t* ftt., ** I i.. .ft* t v«^ .4^ •l t c < •HP < it f I- y V ' '.L- r- ft !» I.? f II** 1 fpl •Bb IA V < 4^: f* A 4I ! y ' A ■ •.! -:Z ■ L W', . ■> 4* f’’ S-^ .•t? I t * .•* ♦ '14 ■< ' ^iio * >• 7a (» < i *'•5 • s’ * s;?3< A r I 91 1 A# *■ 4 I Aft 1 f Jb .V ;,»i!*' 1 .t" * > 5'''' I ) -I *e r ft /• » ^ :. , 1■ rs *• ft«4 r I M M i j > AS I •* ♦ • •4f ’. .sn I ♦ C I r* 4 K / WiR*' t* ,<I»' < ft' . A sr' ;> • i;. <!< ■< II t •W|]P<T< . . i le-M: .1 r-i'* 'W»M, >> I **2i**^ * "K fe i B' V' -* «frv. Thornapple Kellogg catcher Carsyn Redman leads the way through the handshake line with the Unity Christian Crusaders after the Trojans’ victory in the championship game of the TK Wooden Bat Invitational Saturday in Middleville. Photos by Brett Bremer I ft / .j f' »•* •is?' t 11\ « ' V I I ..-ft IS<^ "n. ^'■ri r ft « .♦ !J **• .w5JS»‘ .'la^B-c-' M. c f Scan our QR code to find your perfect invitation! e ’ll :w K 1 IL • e 1^* iBir-. L * n-'- Anson Verlinde. A Cam Walter double into Centerfield brought him home. The Crusaders had their chances to cut into that Trojan lead and couldn’t do it. Unity Christian put its first three baserunners on in the bottom of the fifth inning, and its first two on in the bottom of the sixth. In the fifth Trojan starter Micah Dock got a pop out and a strike out, and then a little roller to first base that Jayce Brummel scooped up and flipped over Dock covering the bag to get TK out of the inning unscathed. In the bottom ofthe sixth, with Walter now on the mound, Unity Christian put its first two on thanks to an error and a walk. Walter induced a pop out into left and a pop up to first for the first two outs. The two Crusader baserunners moved up on a wild pitch with two out, but Dombkowski made a nice play on a ground ball at third and fired first to end another threat. Dock got the win in the champion­ ship game going five innings. He gave up two earned runs (three total) on six hits, three walks and four strikeouts. w 4 ■F ft." Brett Bremer Sports Editor Moving guys around the bases in the top of the fourth and fifth innings put the Trojans in front of Unity Chris­ tian in the championship game of the Thomapple Kellogg Wooden Bat Invi­ tational in Middleville Saturday. The Trojans turned those busy base paths into a few runs, something the Crusaders weren’t able to do as TK pulled out a 6-3 victory to win a home tournament for the second time this season. Jayce Curtis led off the top of the fourth for Thomapple Kellogg with a single into Centerfield. He stood at second base with two out when Connor Dombkowski delivered a pop single into Centerfield that allowed him to come around to score breaking what had been a 3-3 tie. Dombkowski would score too without the benefit of a hit stealing second and then third and com­ ing home as a throw to get him at third got away from the Crusaders. Carsyn Redman led off the top of the fifth with a walk for TK. He stole sec­ ond and went to third on a groundout by )■ r .. ?5?71 * < X I VM< «t t.M ♦» <»• «> Mtw^ Cl *• 4« f V I 1 V 4 .; J M. r ] 1 t ’’•ft* r. < X « « Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. » /■ PRINTING BY > www.printingbypennylane.com .ginad@pennylaneprinting.com » **** :2jii Rz t-ii a s. Walter threw two scoreless innings giving up one hit, striking out one and walking one while earning a save. At the plate, Walter was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Dombkowski, Brummel and Curtis had the other three TK hits. TK started the day with a 4-3 win over East Kentwood. The Falcons did move guys around late in the bailgame scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth and once in the bottom of the seventh to pull within a run after TK built a 4-0 lead. The six hits in the ballgame for TK were all singles, one each for Domb­ kowski, Redman, Verlinde, Brummel, Zach Eldridge and Cooper Rasey. Curtis, Rasey and Verlinde had one RBI each. Dombkowski, Redman, Brum­ mel and Eldridge each scored a run. Jacob Davis was the winning pitcher he threw four scoreless, hitless innings. He walked one and struck out three. Redman tossed the final three innings. He struck out two, walked two and gave up three hits. Of the three runs against him, only one was earned. The Trojans struggles in ±e OK Gold Conference did continue this week as they fell to 1 -11 with three losses to Northview See TITLE on 13 <• HI !( ,f^ » . ft 4• '»>w s C'*,. 1 t TA I 4 A Mlt J I aik«s:T> ■ w a r •Bl* % * . . « . B« ■w.- J & Xr 1■« > RS* :s- ^1 A. J I .... twod 3\: ip'* ♦*/ I 1^' T «* A* I 4 4 ■ ( v.z I . .Qk! F*\ i f ' •Ti fsttiRc- & *1 s. i. 1 ipsAia^sp'* r■ ■ ? ■s: < 1 bftV t-* > 1. bvte'lKB^ n. '^xV . 1 * « 1^*. ) r> « » >1 *. 33a w « * >M A ■»/ ft 'IB ft \5 ■rMe,. r^L- ' • •••ft. F t s u I 4 7^ I A< I Jeji^itsi? H 1’.’ r aV iijiiGtVdfc&fe- I* -4 *( 4' « 141 1.^ rr-AT. l>u i*- w « .ft': * 4 4 I IkF- c V“ 4 w ’T’- >4 I % % > • • -V. :?EY ■J X4 1; r'f ' - f 4 r-£ '(M > 4 • «> A V I ni I ■ j ..i Jfiik I :«b2I^bJ I Thornapple Kellogg's Connor Dombkowski hustles home to score a run during his team’s win over Unity Christian in the championship game of the TK Wooden Bat I nvite Saturday in Middleville. •r bl r ., k » . I ’ 1 * •r ’ t k •** •’WBP «-- t**]- *1 F I ^Qf' '■ i-A 1 I * ■J 4* .«s 1 - >. ■'J * •• Za^ p 4 1 I !-» I I rityi ■*l^ M « t) * —f:?■ J: 1^- ■. i. .•■ > ' %i » A x * f ! J ?? ^s ..i *t-4 ■ *3^1 k T s .1 �“ t I ,Vx'<s I I I .I * hr www.sunandnews.com I J i ■-W I Big late inning powers Jenison to series win against Scots f -•.*< * a ^^****•**^^*^^^^^^^ I ) I I Scots no-hit Muskegon twice in quick doubieheader sweep I f 4€ » I 1 k I I I □inF 4 I wnwTBtteW 4 lOJitr 2ticq8 o ni£>J fl A 4 T* fboJ sifl aril * 5 L 1 1 ■JS fl 4 I I ! I L 2fUJI IQK. >r]t) 9(1 a' jioCl I . I J ?10Tl *5(11 fc 1 i I iV ► v‘ fir; 08)3051 7 **o f f ■ib?" ./rit t' ^0 ’ sth * 1 1 u 'MV; ill 4 I A cr I?' ? Ou. '’*‘171 1 *. •l r * '^4''t'; 4ft . / »i.'. I* ’e I *4. 1st 4 V - ; • \ I '”1 A >Xi Ml t • I* I I I ofn |k i, * * 1 Ki 1 1 •'-’nil . -- Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity softball team took two lopsided wins at Mus­ kegon Tuesday afternoon outscoring the Big Reds 18-0 and 19-0 in their OK Green Conference doubleheader. Nine hits, 11 walks and three Mus­ kegon errors as well as five hit batters allowed the Scots to score their 18 runs in the opener. Doubles by Addy Lash and Rian Restau were the only extra-base hits for the Scots. Maddison Boucher was 2-for-3 at the top of the Scots’ line-up with two runs scored and an RBI. Lash was 2-for-2 with a walks, two runs and two RBIs, and Sophia Gauthier was 2-for-2 with a walk, three runs scored and four RBIs. Hudsyn Tanner walked three times, scored a run and drove in a run. Lauren Parker pitched for the Scots and no-hit the Muskegon girls in the three-inning bailgame. She struck out seven and walked two. The Scots had eight hits and worked 13 walks in game two. A double by Claire Hoop was the only extra-base hit. Molly Lieske and Hoop had two hits apiece. Lieske was 2-for-3 with two walks, three runs scored and four RBIs. Hoop closed the night 2-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored and three RBIs. Malia Burke matched Lieske for a team-high four RBIs. Addi Veldt walked four times hitting the number three spot for the Scots. She had an RBI and two runs scored. Amber Fairchild was the winning pitcher in game two with another three-inning no-hitter for the Scots. She struck out eight. An error to start the bottom of the second allowed the only Muskegon hitter to reach base in the bailgame. The Scots and Big Reds were set to meet in Caledonia for a third bail­ game Thursday, May 8. C t I TITLE ■'•R i I . Jriun’i’ , ' rj, 4 J I I I wzifil J soivz *' Continued from Page 12 I I * I • I m: I ' riw i ^9l -fciui 1 lid \ ■) , H1 b\- •. P * I q I ’« k b I > K ci . Uwf « 1 I : *A jU ( ( . -I fiihvz b'rb A 1 i 1 I I I •I fL I J { k ft I : J 4I'. • H > i A I J •• ' I I 'll H I I r ' J • ' ’H ■ I . i ifcztl 1' r -'rtt III ) 4 H I sue <k**> J I i£f Brin * I i *• Ir A I . 4 f0i t I *4 • J r br^f*’ > 9 hr- I K I > » i I 1 I ( 2T1>'*** ■• J <) - t I I I II fl .'‘l u/ll > t ** r 13 Saturday, May 10. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS ■f I c I t .n ±is week. The Wildcats took 10-2 and 5-0 wins in Grand Rapids Monday. Verlinde was 2-for-2 with a walk in the opener, and Dombkowski and Da­ vis both had hits. Singles by Dock and Redman were the only hits for TK in the game two shutout. Caleb Munson earned the shut out win for the Wildcats in game two with a complete game effort that saw him strike out five and walk one. The Wildcats finished off the sweep with a 5-0 win in Middleville Wednes­ day afternoon. Davis tossed the first five innings for TK at home giving up three earned runs on five hits and one walk. He struck out six. He was also 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of singles. TK had six hits in all, all singles. The Trojans play their series with Grand Rapids Union in the OK Gold in the week ahead. TK plays host to the Red Hawks for two Monday and then will go to Belknap Park in Grand Rapids for one with the Red Hawks Wednesday, May 14. 4B * / i I 7^ < . Ai V I k- . i. • Patriotic Cottons in 45” & 108 «.2 IX » •.-A'. **l Thornapple Kellogg pitcher Cam Walter works to earn the save in the Trojans’ victory over Unity Christian in the championship game of the TK Wooden Bat Invite in Middleville Saturday. T 4 I 1 I I I t '4- 4» « 4 1 US ■ > 1 1H !! • Ideas: Grad Quilts, Toss Pillows, Placemats. Tablecloths, Potholders, Aprons, Towels, etc. #r X $ 5 ballgame and will return to conference play with a set against Byron Center in the week ahead. The Bulldogs host the Scots for two Tuesday afternoon and then come to Caledonia for one Thurs­ day, May 15. In between, the Scots host North Muskegon Wednesday. Thomapple Kellogg will play host to the Scots Friday, May 16. The Scots followed up that loss to Jenison last week by hosting Ka­ lamazoo Christian for one May 2. The Comets took a 3-1 win with single runs in the top of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. The Scots had 1-0 lead after scoring in the bottom of the first, but couldn’t get another runner around despite outhitting the Comets 7-6. Roszkowski opened the ballgame with a single through the left side for the Scots. He went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Ethan Sova, to third on a single by Myers and then stole home with Myers stealing second behind him. Back-to-back singles to open the third inning didn’t amount to a run for the Scots though, and again the Scots couldn’t move a runner around after a lead-off single in the fourth, or the fifth when they opened the inning with a single and a walk. Sova started on the mound for the Scots and allowed one earned run in 4.2 innings. He struck out one and gave up three hits. Roszkowski gave up one earned run in the final 2.1 innings. HE struck out two and gave up three hits. Neither guy walked a batter. 1 '4 * r •• t I s bB* Brett Bremer Sports Editor Jenison took the rubber match in its OK Green Conference series with the Caledonia varsity baseball team in Jenison Thursday, May 1. The Wildcats answered a game-tying rally by the Fighting Scots with six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on their way to an 8-4 win. Caledonia falls to 4-4 in the OK Green Conference this season with the defeat. Jenison only had one more hit than the Scots in the ballgame.Cam Myers was 2-for-2 with a double and a walk at the plate to lead the Caledonia offense. He scored one run. AJ Roszkowski tripled once, scored a run and drove in a run. Alex Spinney had a double, and Talen Verburg, Jackson McNew and Ty Lewandowski each singled once. Verburg and Ben Kieliszewski both drove in one run. Aryn Taylor started for the Scots and was hit for five runs in 4.2 innings. He struck out three, walked three and gave up four hits. The Wildcats got to Spinney, who came on for Taylor, for three runs before G Trudeau closed things out with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief work. Ben Slagter got the win for the Wild­ cats giving up four runs on seven hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out eight. The Fighting Scots had their OK Green ballgames with Muskegon can­ celed this week. They were slated to visits Gull Lake Friday evening for a V 'll* Jesus Loves You li* X QUESTIONS: ASK US... T % I r ft MCH*/ » MS4 kJ 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 Li 3 Hulst ' Cleaners , Pickup Stalion OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am»S:30 pm: Saturday 9 am-3 pm /■ t «•. • > I r ■ �4 4 T zine z > r •A:' > .1 r 14 Saturday, May 10, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Stauffer free kick finds net to get Scots win at Jenison Brett Bremer forth a stronger fortification around its net this time around. The Scots still managed 12 shots on goal in the game. We only found the back ofthe net once out of 12 shots on target. Ella DeRuyter, the Scots’ senior keeper, did not face a single shot at the other end of the field. That win Tuesday came on the heels of a 5-0 shut out of visit ing Reeths-Puffer last Thursday, May 1. Caledonia was set to return to conference action at home against Muskegon Thursday, May 8, and concludes the conference season with a couple of tough match-ups against Byron Center in Caeldonia Tuesday, May 13, and at Mona Shores Thursday, May 15. Sports Editor Jenison packed things in the de­ fensive end, but the Fighting Scots found one quick answer at the start of the second half. The Caledonia varsity girls’ soccer team scored a 1 -0 win over Jenison in an OK Green Confer­ ence match on the road Tuesday to improve to 5-1-1 in conference play this season. Emily Stauffer put, what head coach Taylor Kastens called “a beautiful free kick” into the upper 90 of the Wildcat net half a minute into the second half for the only goal of the game. The Fighting Scots outscored the Wildcats 4-0 in their first meeting, prompting the Jenison squad to put 4I» www.sunandnews.com Trojan soccer improves Gold record with two shutout wins Brett Bremer Nichols each scored once. “We played really well in the game, we possessed and controlled the game well,” Thomapple Kellogg head coach David Wood said. “The team has really started to kick into gear after a time with some players out with injuries. I am very happy with how things have been going, we are ready to keep pushing to the end of the conference season and into districts.” The two shutouts push the Trojan total to six on the season. The TK ladies return to conference play Monday at home against North­ view and then will face the Union girls in Grand Rapids Wednesday. TK is now 9-2-2 overall this season. Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ soccer team bounced back from an April 30 draw against West Catholic in OK Gold Conference play to take lopsided wins over Wayland and Wyo­ ming this week. The Trojans improved to 2-0 against both the Wildcats and Wolves with the wins and are now 7-0-2 in the confer­ ence this spring, trailing only the 8-0-1 South Christian girls who they will face at South Christian High School May 19 in the regular season finale. Tealy Cross had two goals in the win over visiting Wayland Monday. Madilyn Chivis, Alexa Eden and Brooklyn BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. 1 Brett Bremer The Caledonia varsity boys’ golf team won the OK Green Conference jamboree hosted by Reeths-Puffer at Lincoln Golf Club Tuesday. The Fighting Scots beat out Byron Center by one stroke, 158-159, at the top of the standings. w r 11 I 4 ' k A»: , .I r' I' >8 »•r1 lt)‘J7Kl J i « b382^ v' ’ I .0 .* I A X» P r »'• « I 'ua^ I u r *f I HI*’ > ' • •» I 9 r» I h >I > r 71 ib/'< T« ft•-4 1 i*w - pF ► 1 01 »r) w ♦* -. fir L 4 ;fji MB 0« irr. X l.'tf Imxi Al xibul 5 I • * •v * t -i# u>»' % ‘t M t UXf^* ■Si > I -Ui I* . > A J • .^l fff jh*** .’.b I I I LV” Scots win jamboree at Lincoln Golf Club L < t < I Scot junior Camden Quigley led his team with a one-over-37 to finish sec­ ond individually. The Scots also got a 39 from senior Parker Little, a 40 from senior Mason Kem and a 42 from senior Sam Miersen. Mona Shores was right behind the top two teams with a 160 ahead of ReethsPuffer 164 and Jenison 167. Byron Center junior Cassius Bont shot an even-par-36 to finish as the day’s top scorer. A'-* «* * J I r 1I Sports Editor 616-891-0150 I ,!•- • I ■t iiSi^ r J n*- ' l/l . V> ' 1 . ' I ! SI**4 1 L« IlIf »** K tr'i'’' 4MA »* 1 * r** • t b * ;aW" »a^ . er* lx -.FJ, . ti4 ''‘f •r X* * I . -eiS p I i 1 ( 1 X jTi ,r I ts > . I ««t/ * /' » j 1 I I 4 « I ! 1^ CALEDONIA Continued from Page 9 BODY SHOP COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 your +rus-bed Body Shop for over 32 years the match with Hudsonville it dropped back on April 29, and they let it get away. It is the only conference defeat of the season so far for the Scots. They were looking to clinch a share of the conference title with the Eagles, who dropped a conference contest with Mona Shores, with a win in their con­ ference finale Friday against Zeeland East. The Scots also had plans to host their military appreciation event that evening. “We’re going to use that as fuel to get us through playoffs and get us that regional championship. April was good we’re getting towards month for us playoffs now and starting to play re­ ally good. Just gotta get some guys healthy,” Herron said. The Scots have their first playoff op­ ponent set. They’ll host Lowell in an MHSAA Division 2 Regional opener in the' coming weeks. The Scots and Red Arrows also face off in a regular season game in Lowell today. May 10. Mattawan comes to Caledonia for the regular season finale Monday, May 12. There is still time to make tweaks and improvements. “Definitely spent a lot of time work­ ing on the clear and the ride. Definitely have spent a lot of time working on our face-offs, which have gotten a lot bet­ ter,” Herron said, “just fine tuning the little details so that way when we get to the playoffs we can play a full four quarters. That is what we have been putting a lot of emphasis on the past few weeks, putting together a full four quarters, because when you get to the playoffs anybody can beat you.” -qoi u«>U4i^irtitr^' <J4IM b I < I Fi*^ ' Xa* 1&4 » r- .r 1 I U <7 f r ft .r« ...- X Sb. A ' •ft -* » J 1 - 4 e t t / . . u •^*‘*^'*'1 HJ. Jt 5 . ■»*. *X-'- II u<. J * > V ; 4 ‘^r bit i > 9? I I rWe * r 4 J ) ■ r — r «f, 4^ hl 3 I ■f i IH k t r ' U'm/a 1 J v » •’''rr •“f it l?(lt . r ♦*«» •* > t 4 Wtl*i 1 4 t • I 1-5 t yun % 1 J ' .i f .< •A ^wbc ' f / 1 ’ '^"*r 3 XAr '• IM- wm ' ’’T* bjq I » Uiv t I 1 r.u . •AWi u. ■a r r * 5 ybiA^^.iiw * * ■'A-. ■> *<* « r' C 01 1 -7 t r s Oli I ■ » ■ C’ . ’ I 1♦ I s VTA'^ IM fcL.-5v; « •i* •* V * 'T**' iA;. ’■'W I i 4 �■ 9 If , I to Lil ♦ I 1 I ♦ JI l'' ! i THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnerws.com I 15 Saturday, May 10. 2025 ♦ ♦ 1 I ‘ J Trojans finish middie of the pack at Hastings Invitational M v-. . I c to. 4^ J- r to.< « « a I Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thornapple Kellogg varsity boys’ golf team shot its w ay to fourth al the Hastings Invitational hosted by the Saxons at The Legacy at Hastings Friday, May 2 9 Sophomore Parker Dahley led the Trojan team while finishing in a lie for seventh individually. Hastings junior Daniel Jensen hit an eight iron with a little draw from the tee box up the hill on the par-3 number 18 to help him close his round with a rare birdie on that hole. Apparently it hit near the hole and I had ten feet left for birdie,” Jensen said. ‘'That felt nice, especially after a double on I 5. Il felt nice.” Jensen was one over through his first 12 holes Friday before that double bo­ gie on number 15, one of the toughest holes on the course, but he bounced back with a birdie on the short, par-5 number 17 and then another on that par-3 18. He said despite playing a lot of rounds at The Legacy, he can't 't »»I rut /• ■^51 \ > ? I 4 : X » • 4! I I I ‘’I* . V. t *ei,>,''‘G- I 4 t 1 .1 T 1 • V I .-i. 1 • S ' .. i r ft « 1 % '■L > , . ’ h>- ' <>v V X s % a ) ■*<?• A . I I y J f I k k to k t 'to I ■> 1 ' s f I in'i' Mt' wl J f 1 » I X •M 'M'.'u > k s } I ‘^1 * i > 3 •fl r % s. ‘’f-tf c, iKj ' 4 t 4 > to » <f 1 > * e * » 1 S' 1 'tt: 'll I*’’!-; V * I •« ** . I 1 I t f. f 1 .n< c % • ’^5 i- J 1 I t SI 2! ft'BMLU.. f f'MIli '^illfStffil 1 • to I > J A Iblntistj-', * *F ’ ■* i - w ,* •• *» I t :■ asfflilUi)!' ♦• *> > ,T?^2<taBi3p Iteiiitoi I* s s f f to ■J r «> 1 1 4 *<■ I r I f li lDjlGlif ilSS. 'SS fi f :'ja .tamijtilfii ' »a i a;: Li; ELaatotei: ’' -s» Dfe^sitfiM' -Si r; ®«K Wfeii ■' intspiikirfw*: ’' I 1 I 4 I 1 .. k' ar* «’ •' I i II f L^ gieitiiiiiOB’i!'' • <>• I. •* I I. . 5J •«* r'' « TK senior Owen Corner fires a tee shot on number ten during the Hastings Invitational at The Legacy Friday, May 2. I V * s •4 Uli* • f ' J k.l » I « I 1 . 'W remember the last time he birdied 18 and it certainly isn't something he has done often. He was the oniv one to birdie 18 Friday. Jensen closed his round w ith a twoover-74 to win the dav's individual championship at the nine-team tour­ nament. Ionia won the day's team champi­ onship with an overall score of 324. Hastings was second at 350 ahead of Lakewood 353, Thomapple Kellogg 358, Battle Creek Lakeview 367, Low ­ ell 367, Pennfield 385, Potter's House Christian 392 and Lowell 'B' 404. "It's okay,” Jensen said of a 74. "I could have played belter, but I am happy with that. "I could have putted a lot better. I left some birdies out there,” he added. Ionia and Lakew ood are Capital Area Activities Conference While Division rivals. Lakewood head coach Jason Solgat said his team has gotten used to finishing in third place this season after placing there at a couple recent tournaments and conference jambo­ rees. He hasn't seen Ionia shoot as well previously as the Bulldogs did Friday. "Another thing here, three strokes out of second or so, and I know a kid that started with a quad and I know a kid that started with a double bogie, Solgat said. “After three holes of golf, we were +12 already. 1 ’d rather see that mid-round or not at all. We've got to learn just to come out of the gates ... when we start playing to our potential we*re going to be good. Ionia had four guy.s among the top seven scorers led by freshmen Bryce Schmid and Carson Schmid. Bryce shot a 76 to finish second individually behind Jensen. Carson shot a 78. Lakewood was led by senior Cole Thrun who was third individually with a 77. Solgat said strong putting and improved tempo up and down the fairways helped Thrun put together a good score. Lakewood sophomore Bryson Boucher shot an 87 to finish in a tie for seventh with Dahley and Ionia junior Cole Petersen. The tournament champs from Ionia also had junior Adam Kramer in fifth place with an 83. Hastings freshman Andrew Barton TRI '■ a «■ rt < V r -w I *\ 1 V » r N '-f I 1 * M •to • TA •d V f Ik i ♦ ** Hb > to r I . •A 4 i<, : / -.'to A*'t ■'*. i^TTj w w " f <> I ya *12 uV< > I 1 4 A . 4.H^. ♦ Thornapple Kellogg sophomore Parker Dahley rolls a putt towards the hole on the number nine green during the Hastings Invitational at The Legacy Friday, May 2. Photos by Brett Bremer Live Public AUCTION Saturday May 17th 10 am The Estate of Dale ‘Red’ Schraeder 216 Grant St. Hopkins, Michigan t finished in a tie for tenth overall with an 89. The Saxons also got a 92 from junior Bronson Elliott and a 95 from senior Hunter Pennington. Lakewood's top four was filled out by a 93 from senior Kenny Dutkiewicz and a 96 from sophomore Vance O'Mara. Thomapple Kellogg got a 90 from senior Owen Corner, a 90 from senior Kyi an Pratt and a 91 from senior Ryan Skidmore. TK was back in action Tuesday hosting a dual with Hopkins at Yankee Springs Golf Course. The Trojans took the win by the score of 180-189. Sophomore Easton Sytsma led the TK team with a 42. Senior Tyler Voss scored a 44, Comer a 46 and senior Blake Hardy shot a 48. Hopkins senior Luke Dame had the day’s top score, a 41. Real Estate * Truck * Tools * Household * MORE Join us for a nice country auction in Hopkins. Red was a handyman and auction enthusiast, many usable items including Tools, Power equipment. Shop equipment. Furniture, Collectibles, Household and more. The real estate will be offered at approximately 11am. A 1 bedroom home on a quiet street on the outskirts of Hopkins featuring outbuildings and an attached garage. See our website for photos and information www.VKauctions.com (616) 437-1047 I 4 k A ♦ I u t\ I to I t, V to * {1 b k I A 1 « to H .» » « T « « « A > I to *• 1 \ t I i MICTMMC I t I* r* I ' w 7' ■ •’ • 1C f ' I > * % V.. 4 * « -1-: V k 4 S' > 1 ^9^ S% .• 1 9 » r I h% *• I BAL �16 Saturday, May 10, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS ♦ ♦ ♦ ■». I k * *K *« .•fi r •d Jl I A •k A 1 < i < \ 4 •I* I 4 ’ ’ fl » 4 *▼ V 1 < * '4 • Ml * < • .» .4 4 « 1^* < ■ri' J 9 F If •' fl I <» 9X > * * ^'4 NOW HIRING Miew Newspaper Group is seeking a 1 MARKETING SPECIALIST Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity boys’ and girls’ track and field teams beat out the Pioneers and Grand Rapids Christian Eagles to win titles Saturday at the East Grand Rapids Classic. The Caledonia boys won with an overall score of 186 points ahead of Grand Rapids Christian 128 and EGR 105. The CHS girls had 160 total points ahead of Christian 136 and EGR 108. In a meet with a handful of different events among the 16 competed, Cale­ donia junior Eli Velting set a Caledo­ nia school record in the 600-meter run with a time of 1 minute 24.49 seconds, beating out his nearest competitor by more than two and a half seconds. The Caledonia boys also had vic­ tories from Bennett Snapper in the 1600-meter run, Jonas Howell in the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, in three relays and in four field events. Liam Moore and Cody Meyers teamed to win the discus relay for the Scots. Andrew Tava and Parker Lipsman won the high jump relay. Ben Moss and DJ Potgeter won the pole vault relay. The long jump relay win went to Kaleb Huyser and Colton Heyboer. Meyers, Moore and shot put per- • Advertising sales • Account management • Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts • Attend networking events. 60 ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM I • y-- * J formers Ian DeHaan and Peter Paarlberg won the 4x 100-meter throwers relay for the Scots. The CHS team also had Potgeter, Howell, Velting and Josh Maier win the 4x400-meter relay and the team ofAidan Edgar, Snapper, Mason Morrell and Thompson win the 4x3200-meter relay. The CHS girls had two field event wins. Jolie King and Mackenzie Krentz took the discus relay, and King teamed with Zuzanna Poradzka to win the long jump relay. Olivia Hawkins won the 100-meter hurdles and the 3 00-meter low hurdles for the Scots, and teamed with Maya Terryn, Brynn Ward and Isla Sheely to win the 4x400-meter relay. The Caledonia girls also had the team of Isabelle Homing, Addison Cook, Abigail Tava and Evie Huttenga win the sprint medley relay. The CHS teams were set to go to Jenison Friday, May 9, for the OK Green Conference Championships. Last Friday, May 1, a handful of Scot two-milers competed in the Shepherd Blue Jay Invite. Senior Kort Thompson, Johnston and senior Hannah Dupuis all ran their fastest 3200-meter races ever, and Thompson and Johnson turned in the second and third fastest times ever for Caledonia guys in the race. Thompson was 18th overall with a time of 9 minutes 28.66 seconds and Johnston clocked in at 9:29.98 in 21st place. Dupuis placed 28th in the girls’ race with a time of 11:23.29. Responsibilities include: % r I CHS track teams finish on top at three-team EGR Ciassic OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY ♦ www.sunandnewsxom r I * n; Hcl f » ! 4 I. r<{l J ,.{,1 n h I » .TH J' !OI ?JGS l4ifi «4 T r. n’ f:'/' rjict/ A d iL^blZn^HiTSSl LIL f *•* f 5^^ j; nioMno f U’nwaidMj' bbf* ran k.H J r:. 1Z bug ,iiii i X iil // Ho^nr-FTVii JfRVS 01 ( I r jhb fJ';T Jaxsb; i i tmasij r V iinv'boj qmL’t .' (10 I* K I no// 131= I I /i I ,T ««* frms3brat loo^ - n 9 n I 1 r“ 1 bnB blsW n rrH .YdtT ’*3nrr~0Gt-?^ ncoj imri jin r Mi lU fif’rob no?ibby. ,i^rmGH 'ilbdfl. 'jrfdibBS.iinr^naj //fityi '<3ihbm3miq 132 tnw ZUD 'J *01 .V zsM ^qI^^noIq^uifO oomrfeoO b* imbfTGri fi .1 Ta Jltl HI b'jjsqtnoo ?n!hfl-ow> /Jh/nl /eL loirts? bfifi (ioianfiOl .fioa<^rHMiT Jg3J2Et irarh nsT ite ^iuqiKI rifii tio^qmoriT bns .lOTd/'aasn^jgpri 'jrij nr temni rvozn-io 'ic4 T'jvdEamh laan ’ Bt •r -dtiJI <^B7^f'O2qmr>dT .'jQBitjrii FH rmPlosjfmicfbivI >t.job bns br .‘joaiq 33IS . ' r J I h □I r«? ‘I * ^0 ♦s $ > W: 1 1 . * lA>£.££:ino I JJ V' r L f J THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN ROOFING Group email wsmith@mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 SHERRIFF GOSLIN* QUALITY ROOFING '-X. “ 3 *»• >S- » The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View B Sanilac County News B Your Buyer’s Guide B Jeffersonian B Tri-County Times B Daily News B Tri-County Citizen fl Oxford Leader B Lake Orion Review fl Clarkston News fl The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder r I* * w A A 0&S*hjB I ? • k t! ’••cJSi .^n e B' CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE < ..z •• I r ]^* . •• --rr H’n'A- fi j ? H- J.n -Xi- . : yVM. t ’' r" J V I MA^Trn’A- J 4 UA3^?IKJ f J J. J K rr.v . Uk? • . .. cry/-'.. 1 X I r■ c'FfC4Tqo>jn;M;rxi« T < ; f ! '^3 ?'.* • ' V ** . A ■ ■ ■ ■ • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115» YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU I w 1l^ < * *L * 5 r **** ’ g^-3 w § § 4?* <• .f • 1 L.< I 1 .X. •J r ♦ nijf'v c w INSPECnON Evil «k 1 L fl L a ( VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK 1CJ 13AJ n (• I** t < k k t \ It � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-05-17.pdf ce9617755ae5920d7e760cab89e5858a PDF Text Text •<* ♦ J! TK CLEARS EVERY HURDLE ON ITS WAY TO ANOTHER TITLE 0‘^ 1 •• \ PAGES 10-11 — 32 OH SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2025 NO. 56 - ........ — ^’'^»^f*BB5a»W’ ■ V*: ’ Caledonia fire chief honored at township hoard meeting rta silt BinobalBO mwol iB bsionon pnit99fn biBOu * r www.sunandnews.com .—fl ' ■. ?5 Karen Turko-Ebright Contributing Writer JdglxB-otiuT iwmX isfriW pnrtudntnoD r ncoH qiriffWoT stfiobrfcO sdT iBiosxjz fl bslEori 89M2inT rfornom i6iQ9q<s a *--------a ,T y®M eVcbzonbaW ^fs^' mzvr] 8BW lJoo2 toifID miH im3 moft "bisv/A lontcT- g rifiw rnaziR bofi tioqqi^ .aerwf-anio inornrnpd .2.U anJ yokpm ZTonori noifingoMi arlT cpj« n» bne svode og oflw jD lEnoiwH srifto aTsdmsm gni fi .97T92£>fl laifD" .Tonori ariJ oJ irtimmoa tpab I J I qiriwbaof •t; ) 01 Jud aiWufl ot teoi. ton loitETi 'Birj v/tsu Oflw aornsw los '.Y fqu? ylinifif ot gnilitoofte oldixsft 5 enoiJac aid ,Bto3mY0lq3b snnufa ! fbiw vma 01 enewn ti terlw '^ilq oiqqfi anoitofi .zaanieud wdfo nl ;gnrwollot adt abulani jfeow tasl ** * gnqqs Yleuonnnfifiu biBod arfT • i' larwoT fltnobalBD moft noitofn b toH bwriaiJl .lO TOTOgaaiT tnsoH t faiotqO aritlo 009,92 wtEnsn of iBfiait ylnooD tnaJI’l srit of oonslsd n norhwvsiq ginb liatf to 38u wft .maigoTq noil IZ 1 ’It 4 X A u laiHO eaS I t The Caledonia Township Board of Trustees hosted a special moment at its meeting Wednesday, May 7, as Fire Chief Scott Siler was presented with a “Patriot Award” from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, and the U.S. Department of Defense. The recognition honors employers who go above and beyond in support­ ing members of the National Guard and Reserve. According to the honor, “Chief Siler’s leadership reflects deep commitment - not just to public safety, but to the citi­ zen warriors who serve our nation. From flexible scheduling to family support during deployments, his actions exem­ plify what it means to serve with heart.” In other business, actions approved last week include the following: • The board unanimously approved a motion from Caledonia Township Board Treasurer Dr. Richard Robertson to transfer $9,900 of the Opioid fund balance to the Kent County treasurer for the use of their drug prevention media­ tion program. See CHIEF on 4 3 r CALEDONIA TOWNS IP AMoaajAD OT qi 08* . ** J k It 1 t 1 '4% Eu — li K-:^- nsyR lueA JIel mot^ nesaiqei bns leoitto yvaM I eri) to hoqquS isyolqma to 83) QvieaeP EODW cnuowEu QtfiO betneaeiq UESioauivr (MWWWfS i tJooS teiilO qjH > I \ lonieR ©rW rttiw b8UJOI|t330 '(8838 Qlodq vsotiuoO 0ieouA»He' Mi 1 t. II I « I I 1 bVID From left, Paul Ryan, a retired Navy officer and representative of Employer Support of the Guard Reserve (ESGR), waaa uawoisno presented Caledonia lVliN3aiS3H SSMU33 in -OIDAUMJO Fire Chief Scott Siler OKxoeOd with the Patriot Award. 8CC# ffuued e888> Courtesy photo IM diiiAueeJO gy^ Some members of the recently formed Gaines Charter Township Fire Department get sworn in at the May 12 township board meeting. Photos by James Gemmell Gaines Twp. and Byron Two. finalize fire service split James Gemmell Contributing Writer The Byron Township Board of Trustees stunned its counterpart in Gaines Township in July 2023 when it notified them that Byron would be severing its 73-year partnership in mutually running the Cutlerville Fire Station. The Byron Township board again surprised the Gaines Township offi­ cials recently by submitting written notification in April that it intends to terminate a “Fire and Rescue Services Agreement” that requires the Gaines Charter Township Fire Department to provide services until Byron Township’s new fire station in Cutlerville becomes operational. The agreement, which took effect in late July 2024, right after the partner ship was officially dissolved, requires Gaines Township firefighters to assist neighboring crews in fighting fires in Byron Township. The pending termination of the Fire and Rescue Services Agreement does not mean there will not be any mutu­ al aid available on the Cutlerville side of Byron Township, if needed. However, the agreement required six months written notice in advance of termination. Byron Township officials reportedly only gave five months notice. At the Gaines Township board meeting Monday, May, 12, Township Manager Rod Weersing said the township will miss out on one month’s payment from Byron Township as a result of the early end of the agreement. The Gaines Township board voted imanimously, 7-0, to accept the early termination, though not without some criticism. Weersing said Byron Township has been paying Gaines Township an average of about $60,000 per month to provide services since the agree­ ment took effect last July. “So then, we say penalty for early withdrawal, $60,000?” Clerk Michael Brew joked. “It’s not a bad idea, maybe 5 percent,” Treasurer Laurie Lemke added. Trustee Kathy VanderStel dis­ agreed, stating Gaines Township should “take the high road.” “Let’s be the grownups in the room and do this the right way, even though they’re not,” Trustee Tim Haagsma added. The split between the townships in jointly running the Cutlerville Fire Station on 68th Street, near Division Avenue, officially took effect in July 2024. Under the terms of a 1950 Joint Operating Agreement, Byron Township was to provide 12-months notice before severing the partnership. However, in 2023, several Gaines officials reportedly said they were disappointed that Byron Township trustees did not discuss their decision prior to approving the separation. See SERVICES on 5 aivd aovisod s n ois isad n-r bozivee bB2i 810 I 14 b Ml r 1 f I I < I 1 I ,,1 , ( I . t I 4 . a I 1 I • !» (,.1 ‘1 -• d uis I II «t • li J •j <11 4 ■h \ I �I Saturday, May 17, 2025 2 THE SUN AND NEWS Girl Scouts plant flowers at Middleville Veterans Memorial Ki .. The Thomapple Kellogg Alumni Association honored Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Steensma with its “Distin­ guished Alumni Award” at the all-class banquet May 3. According to organizers, about 135 people attended this year’s banquet. Dick Stager and Laura Thede Hyde, represented the Class of 1948 as the oldest alumni attending, with others representing classes from the 1950s through 2013. The Distinguished Alumni Award was one of the highlights of the eve­ ning, with the honor being presented to alumni who are outstanding in their fields. The awards are presented annually at the alumni banquet and prior to the homecoming football game in the fall. Steensma, a member of the TK High School Class of 1998, is an acute care surgeon - board certified in general surgery and surgical critical care covering trauma surgery, emergency general surgery and the surgical inten­ sive care imit at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. I am extremely humbled to be here,” she said in accepting the award. “If you think about our community and how important the people here are, everybody here is a testament to that. We are a foundation right here in this community that grows individuals, that fosters curiosity, that pushes people to learn and excel, and I’m so gratefiil for the education and the community that we have here that really did that. “I will never be enough to deserve this honor,” she added. “I will continue to work in every way that I can. I hope I . *»• i Girl Scout Troop 9116 members spent their Monday evening giving back to their community by planting flowers in three new large pots at the Middleville Veterans Memorial. Courtesy photo Day and the significance behind the KIA (Killed In Action) Wall to the girls,” Stora said. The wall lists 13 Middleville veterans who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. The annual flower planting service project is a long-standing tradition in the community. It was started in 2018 by US Army veteran Charlie Pullen, a former Middleville X^llage Council President involved in Barry County veterans’ ac­ tivities and a statewide veteran advocate. Pullen passed away in November 2020 due to complications from COVID-19. 66 local trusted roofing company with lis-k YEARS IN the business • 10 YEAR service GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP * . ** < • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY. HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM I. SHERRIPP GOSLIN • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS I—Ik.,. ■ QHAI irV HCM^I IN<* • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU < -r"* ■■ .« H.. • V k. 9 * % *** M ••*r** , **' % CALL TODAY 4Hh t’—^SP-rr. 9 ‘S' *2^ < •,-<..3’u,.iw:-- A * I‘•36" 4E-, . 4^^ 9 ' 'K. - V i f ik TK Alumni Association honors Steensma • THE MOSTTRUSTEDt NAME IN ROOFING w 1 rt \ Several Girl Scout Troop 9116 mem­ bers spent their Monday evening giving back to their community by planting flowers in three new large pots at the Middleville Veterans Memorial. Troop leader Amanda Stora and her co-leader, Jennifer Baron, agree that the evening with their Scouts will be a memory they will always treasure. “Our troop consists of Daisies and Brownies, which is the youngest rank in Girl Scouts, so for most ofthem, this was their first time being able to contribute to a community service,” Stora explained. With shovels in hand and troop leaders assisting nearby, eight out of 11 from the Girl Scout troop started digging. All were busy watering, planting, and smoothing the soil for a few hours until the pots were filled with red, white and blue flowers. “It was truly a pleasure getting our hands dirty,” Stora said. The flowers are donated every year by Creekside Growers and Sue Dykstra, a local supporter of the memorial. Com­ munity donations covered the cost ofthe new large decorative flowerpots. “It was special having Jerry Welsh give a brief explanation of Memorial www.sunandnews.com I *R r. X ? Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer ■■''.J FOR YOUR FREE 4 • ( * "’H * 5* »■ 1 lA • Mt. • 1 > V A! I >U , I V If «A ;> / t f k i >5 j I > i f ) fife ,7 ( 'J A , ‘'•I » t' ‘ r. ’ 4 6 c << k' r < 1$!-” Ji ■ *A I * jS:> f* .4 I t a I i M r T • - rl •k 1 f «&X- ..*!***■ I * J • J /> t 5’ .r^ I - 45* I I 9 »’• dir I I i I I* A I* jicr ■* ____K V * t *'l » I 1 I A >». » / ■ r;* Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy" Steensma was honored with the Thornapple Kellogg Alumni Association’s “Distinguished Alumni Award” earlier this month. Courtesy photo 4 t .I •v - . • J's**. iiflairnbl t ' \.'*j t rU( f.. , p. J • We > a «• •** f <x T» t' k .« you realize how important what we have here is and what people take with them for the rest of their lives, More than anything, I am grateful foi the community that helped raise me and gave me so many opportunities to grow. Thank you is simply not a big enough word. The May 3 dinner also provided alumni a chance to reminisce with each other, as well as look through old yearbooks, photos and memorabilia. Upcoming events for the TKAA include the Alumni Golf Scramble on June 7 and the Homecoming on Oct. 10. DM r -1 »■ t ( ' 1 • J; «•*?»? A J •t ' rr 1 Ifc* r S5?'/ f iSi^ 4 ; <i. ’ * ( r s It- *' - i -J . I.. «v ,o 1< « xz* > < ti % r BTTZ- •V*- 1 <1 a ‘ kZ'‘ * ^5 f , t I $1^ »• «a 3 ; #-»J 'T-- IL 1 J .. _. 6 •'' f < •t 7 In ** if » T»»• M1 iSh rK ir. lb tf n > a: I: KbOfiq r 4 ? ' fl AH t H / I4 I ,• Tffci I f I * » noo:- 4 ■r •T* it -. I , c ■ 6 n I I * INSPECnON * ** .t‘ Ml I ( r VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BArTLECREEK I US () L 4. * «. A I^M *Tif rssttSbI r M A ^4 :l ', _. -JumtECT 5 tl^ > 1 < 1 ’l tX THE SUN AND NEWS » r The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihomepaper.com *:!3 JJ Group Jjj Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com I PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper -3 1» •• ?1 ■ > PUBLISHED BY CONTACT US A J i Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. ( ,n;S i -J"S I M ■«l « 'i .-I « I ■ 1 11^2 * • «r* U n.. * «* I A ’ 'I Bi 6L- * t'liWi •4 ^ ^9 T •* t 3» 4 X —«b H I ‘ lb J I I f -J * f 'K \ > • a. ^>•1 Ki r I M I • •» f I I. . r I I b i {• I I r I t I , i. f i I. £ i t 14 I '■3W �w t. I C1 K. I a . Saturday, May 17, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com '■1 5 f SERVICES TJ ’’I I r r ax 1 t I a 1 Obituaries Diane Mary Creel *1 11 , 9 s k I - A I i « 4 !1!. I X I I J 1 J M » »£!() SIB61& > { f '•* Al- ru. h-’ ■ r» > 'ft. « ■'! A'., f I I •4 I* 3 't »u, I s ' »' I Ju i All 1.. ■ *iq .’-J * ^3 M f 1^'4' A* * - I s « I M riib , 1 I V ' Cat'll • I KT 4 ' ’R • b* 4 I i « r» / t •» ; * r-* >« 1 a t '•nov « t L* J'Q I J 1 0 I*? K, ; i 9 » *> ItPt T I « w- -NW u. '4» *w»l ?♦ I ia,E4 t r' ’ 4 i •- liiw W '«M rtaiiBK '1 ■f k. **4 < 'Y n ‘ •* f,MlO a t « 4* t i J ■*x I -f.i felii-M ■ ■ T J I I .. 0 I, rtMuria ycm flam' orlw asci IT I I J 1 1 J i I 1 I I I r j } I I rw*' fc2- I Diane Mary Croel, age 75, of Grand Rapids, Ml joined her Lord and Savior on Monday, May 12, 2025. Diane was a woman of great faith, a loving devoted mother and aunt with an infectious smile. She enjoyed life and spending time with her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gary Croel; parents, John and Ginger Koryto; siblings: John, Dave, Roger, and Jean-*^ Koryto. She will be lovingly remembered by her son, Scott Walker; sisters-in-law, Chris • Koryto, Sherry Troutwine, Rose Putney; many nieces, nephews, greats and great greats. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. on Monday, May 19, 2025, at Holy Family Church, 9669 Kraft Ave. SE, Caledonia, with Rev. Michael Cilibraise presiding. Burial will be held at Bowne Center Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family Monday from 10-11 a.m. at the church. « Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Faith Hospice (https://faithhospicecare. org/) or Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation (https://parkinsonsmi. org/). Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome. com. I * 1 u a I ‘ <« 4 '.J 'I t I : * IS: Visit us online at Continued from Page 1 Former Gaines Township Supervisor Rob DeWaard, now a township trustee, said at the time it was “disrespectful” to Gaines Township the way Byron officials handled the situation. At the time, Byron Township Supervisor Donald Tillema said notifying Gaines Township officials in advance would not have made any difference, adding the town­ ship’s booming population left the board with no choice but to approve building its own fire department in Cutlerville. The new fire station is being built along the east side of US-131, north of 68th Street. Gaines Township trustees voted last year to buy out Byron Township’s half of its equity ownership of the fire bam on 68th Street, west of Division Avenue, with the Cutlerville fire hall appraised at $1.88 million. Gaines’ cost to buy out Byron’s equity share is about $940,000. The five-year buyout began in late July 2024, when the township began making 20-percent annual payments on that amount. When the new Gaines Charter Township Fire Department was launched on January 1, 2025, that fire building in Cutlerville was renamed Station No. 1. And the fire bam on 68th Street in Dutton was renamed Station No. 2. Because the two stations merged, they are both part of the new Gaines Charter Township Fire Department. Weersing wrote in an April 30 staff memo that he met with Tillema and the fire marshal on April 21 of this year to learn about Byron Township’s intentions. “At that meeting, they informed us that they were planning on having their new fire station ‘go live’ on September 22, 2025,” Weersing said. Weersing added that construction of Byron Township’s new Cutlerville fire station is projected to be complete in early August, well ahead of the termination of the Fire Services agreement on Sept. 22. “And then, (they’re) planning on moving in their equipment, and having some time with their staff in their building before they go live,” he said. Gaines Township Trustee Rob DeWard recommended the board include a provision in its acceptance letter that the township must continue to be paid for fire and rescue servic­ es, if Byron Township’s new fire department is not operational by Sept. 22. That language was included in the motion and approved in a unanimous, 7-0, vote to formally accept the termination notice. Paid on-call and part-time members of the recently formed Gaines Charter Township Fire Department are sworn at the Gaines Township Board of Trustees’ regular meeting Monday, May 12. for a new platform fire truck due to be delivered from Wisconsin-based Pierce Manufacturing this fall. With the town­ ships no longer jointly operating a fire department, Gaines Township will now pay for the full amount. “We moved ahead with it, knowing that Gaines (Township) was going to pay for the full bill,” Weersing said after Monday’s meeting. The platform truck will replace a more than 20-year-old, with the new 100-foot aerial ladder will enable firefighters to access the tops of larger buildings. In related action at Monday’s meet­ ing, Gaines Township Clerk Michael Brew swore in the paid on-call and part-time firefighters who are members of the township’s recently formed fire department. A similar oath was read in February for the department's full-time members. Weersing called for the last radio calls for the former Cutlerville and Dutton fire departments to be played back for the audience at Monday's night. “1 do think it’s a historical, pivotal moment,” Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra told the firefighters. “You may have been on the force for a long time, but now it’s the Gaines (Township) Fire Department. So, that’s worth aclmowledging, putting it in the history books. WE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS A t*-’s • Residential & Commeccia 4. Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners -Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers ‘i r» r♦ J , I 4 k4U I I I j <•» > I r ?< t DeWeerd (68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING. INC. TbSfik Since 1555 LENNOX A+ i ACCREDITED BUSINESS �6 Saturday, May 17, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.stinandnews.com i I' * • ‘s ) Classifieds BUILDING BRANDS I BUSINESS SERVICES DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. CEMENT/CONCRETE JNR BUILDERS Concrete flat work; Driveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored, Licensed and insured. Call Jeff (616)293-7729 V CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCED GARDNER 3 to 4 days a week with flexible schedule. Please apply in person at Saska­ toon Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto. COMMERCIAL-RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT; 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rap­ ids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic@remax.net APPLIANCES NEW KENMORE 5.3 cu. ft. range/ oven. Black, electric, self-cleaning. Asking $400. 541-578-3988. LAWN & GAROEN TROY-BILTTUFFY rototiiler. Heavy duty. $250. 541-678-3988. opefully you’ve all read the great news that View Newspaper Group is grow­ ing again! The announce­ ment was made last month by Owner and President Rick Burrough that our group will launch our 22nd newspaper, the St. Clair Area View on Friday, May 9. The free community newspaper will be deliv­ ered via the U.S. Postal Service to 17,000 homes twice a month throughout the St. Clair area. View Newspaper Group has grown through startups or acquisitions nearly every year since Burrough found­ ed the company in 2003, which means I’ve written quite a few press releases on our growth. As I discovered when I sat down to write the latest release last month the thrill never goes away. I felt something magic course through my fingers as I typed. While there’s no doubt about the magical feeling our team has right now, the reality is, there’s no sleight of hand at work when it comes to grow­ ing a business. It takes a lot of brain power, a lot of people power and a lot of time. There are so many things a business must do as a whole to prepare for growth. From updating technology and infrastruc- I < Build your brand for growth ture to ensuring place it’s impor­ the right policies tant to keep and procedures are them consistent, in place, there are which over time hundreds of steps helps to clearly to take to ensure define your I success. Luckily, brand. we have a team of • Ensure experts in place EMILY each team to handle each of CASWELL member is a ecaswell those jobs. brand ambas­ mihomepaper.com Part of my job sador: Your is to keep our team members brand strong and poised are the best ambassadors for growth, because a com­ a brand can have. They pany cannot grow without talk to friends, neighbors a strong brand. I don’t do and family members daily this alone, it takes every and help your brand grow View Newspaper Group with every interaction. It’s team member to make our important to ensure each brand what it is today. member knows the brand If you’re looking to grow inside and out. Everyone your business, building on the team should have a your brand is a great place practiced 30-second eleva­ to start. Below are tips to tor speech about the brand help you do just that. and their role in it. As an • Clearly define your added bonus, a growing brand: Before you can business means more perks grow your brand, you must — like opportimities for define what exactly your advancement for team brand is. You do this first members. Happy brand by conducting a brand ambassadors are the best audit to determine a num­ brand ambassadors ber of things, including • Advertise your brand: where your brand stands Your brand can’t grow if in the market versus where no one knows it exists. you’d like it to stand. It’s There are two keys when a lengthy, but valuable it comes to building any process. Once the research brand consistency (see portion is done it’s time to item No. I) and fi-equency. create a strong brand iden­ Achieve fi-equency by tity, which includes a mis­ exposing your brand to sion, vision, logo, tagline, the commtmity in as many colors, brand standards and advertising and marketing more. With those items in avenues as possible as fre-T (•I : 4 ...1^ ,9 I < I « I quently as possible. r t 1 r I rI • Deliver on your brand promise: A brand promise •r -ij J r '4^ I » is a one-sentence promise that matters to your audi­ ence, is unique to you and above all — believable. This promise should indi­ cate what your product is and who it’s for. View Newspaper Group’s brand promise reads; “View Newspaper Group is a locally-owned newspaper group committed to mak­ ing meaningful connections for our readers and our clients.” Delivering on our brand promise leads read­ ers to pick up our papers and attend our events and it leads clients to us when they have a need to reach their consumers. All of those items add up to growth. • Give back: Whether through time, talent or treasure, it’s important that your organization’s brand is associated with giving back. It’s proven to be good for business, and more importantly, it’s the right thing to do. View Newspaper Group is dedicated to giving back to the communities we serve. In 2024 we gave back more than $180,000 in cash donations, as well as thousands of dollars more in trade advertising space and editorial coverage of t ' r, bi«r ■ t I 4 I* ..J ' si r ♦ I .1 * 1 •I* 0' < Z*'. f . I k <; I / /I ll r f ♦ f J I** •I 1 3' r' t 4 4^ I "'if » « » .c t f > f I < r ✓ J I - I V J? I 5 *■1 V K r p 0 i . X* 1 4 . i- • I *• 3 >rL^-' r J f Itf I\\I ( : lxfe' I I is3!if r A (3^ 4 4 I 1 6 I ?, r f 'r 5 I. Si,v t I »i< r’ ’ ’:r ■ irr' I X O', M -T 1 t r. •* / r-' ’ J • 9^ 4 r< 4 ■/rri »l 1 •A* ** t< p • t / '• -*1 4 IPr-J I I I * > * 'W r u?l&’ p J.’ ft* w I r 4^ J • I* US' t 1 V? I 5 n I f . & V ) .^4 9 I r u I * , 1 I j ! 1' mC I’ f' :h ^JKB- f 4 » r&i/J I I > < I r I I L f 1 r t n IA I, I r 4.z-» * I 'I r 3 f : J * ! Itl i ► * as r* !»». •' r •r j I I - ijJ * '2*1^ I IVw '• / I lb V I n I. I I ii '.I 4^ T *• 111 See BRANDS on 7 « ) feW.-nt I E&8@ J ii ) " r ' ■ I ' rf/max n WJ rttaa AAiwirxf M^n I fl »» free -A L* r i 4 .<1 « Estimates 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam L ••'*■■«»■« I 1 1 .4 , " I » t «■* ? V I I I* t « T. Lt M. • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation Antenna Men t Margaret (Margo) E. Perle * r ««* ■ > • V IB > I !i ■ i ,.':*-*«Bssij «o H I vt* iMiWB Give us a call! 1 itL-iiirsl' -4 • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers ‘ • Cellular Enhancement Systems tffSunsSaS I Wrt! I T. LRF/MAX ? OF GRAND RAPIDS ! I I •4 r I « I Y r I 1*^ u* 1:1 �k i. ^3 I * *•- 1 J J 1 < . THE SUN AND NEWS ^^ww.sunandnews.com 4 Saturday. May 17 2025 3 ' A’* »' I Gaines trustees mull offer for potential park as part of proposed development M. I? I k r t L«' . )9 lilt I J James Gemmell J I' / 4 r .'It- ] I I I I* I ' <■. ft 5 'R a > h. ft I i fif 4 ( ft ■^i!' /a *S I< ft I It i * r ''■Ix; ‘<»j, '‘C « K t I « 4. ■s* * ■ ' I * .* 'Itoi- I I * <1. 4^1'< Af t t •tl 'x Mm n XJ I '•iM i ■ s^-.. ft * » ■ • « 3^ >1 ■ 5 Ik *. t . t » 1 ti> 4 * ». 'I i ». •*r *'’ii u ' Mlh lUrf • 4 f V -1 '4kiu- •♦nr. .. if IV -• f « *• 3 X, I >ft. I.. - ,4 ft . ► / i L, « I * ?*» . ) 4&Mr I * A I.: riM* ... i. 9 " J * * t)Riv£. * i > ' » f I.. . • **K< •• * ,I t iwu»^.. 91 Xi •I tl► 1 'x I I .1 « *r ft ti r V i * .ji I ♦ ■ t ' I I ♦ I -t,' 1 l*V .tj,7 t ' IE 9 * ' I zr » r#» ft 4 UH^«p. I t I 1 ' ’ ’ *7, t I s > 9 < W* ft I .rt»W’ » w ) .r E I1 IViil . t I * ? n’T s 4 ■ 4 I X . I ■'? ' 'i . » M 1 Jfii ie-rtiBfcri *■ tarr » 'r /i B • ’rt I « » « ir 111 I t I I 11 Contributing Writer Members of the Gaines Township Board of Trustees are pushing back any decision on whether to accept an offer on a 3.6-acre piece of property that would eventually be turned into a park in Dutton. Board members cited concerns about the potential long-term costs of maintaining the park as one of the reasons they are hesitant to accept the offer, while discussing the issue at their monthly meeting on Monday, May 12. It’s also part of a broader discussion township officials have had in recent weeks concerning the development of local parks and trails. In delaying its decision, the board did not vote on the office Wisconsin­ based Continental Property, which is seeking approval to build 14, twostory apartment houses just south of the M-6 freeway. The three-acre park property would be part of the develop­ ment project. Vernon and Linda Verduin’s family have owned the farmland property, the site for the proposed develop­ ment, for more than a century and have previously stated they want to sell it to Continental. The dedicated . park space would meet the township’s zoning requirement that a public ben­ efit or amenities be included in future residential projects. Continental Properties development director Jordan Teichen said the town­ ship’s master plan calls for a multi­ family use on the property. But the land would have to be rezoned from the current Residential-4 (mobile home) and Residential-10 designations to a Planned Unit Development. The Gaines Township Planning Commission approved a revised site plan and preliminary PUD for the parcel on March 27. A final PUD must be approved by the Planning Commis­ sion and the township board before the project can begin. Continental Properties will be seek­ ing a site-plan review and approval from the planning commission at its May 22 meeting. Commissioners will then give a recommendation to the township board, which would decide The location of the proposed park would be south of the clubhouse and west of the Anderson Drain that runs through the propert>. “We would deed that land over to the township - should the tow nship accept it - for open-space programming,” Teichan said. “There is dedicated parking along Hanna Lake for visitors of the park. (RunofT) would drain into our detention pond facility.” He added that one of the goals of the township’s 2024 master plan is to enhance the local park system and that a township-wide survey in 2023 showed about 80 percent of residents expressed a desire for more park development. But, first, township officials are seeking to answer the question of who would operate and maintain the park. “They will build the parking and they’ll do some initial maintenance, but the question is who’ll take it long­ term?’’ Gaines Township Community Development director Dan Wells said. “If this is for the public, does the townSee PARK on 7 < I j ft ft I • Ji«W sxisr Ur ' HW i u 4 it'-1 * X iMT* o r « I 5 A X ___ I <* & 4. TT** ? ♦ 1 I 4 9 '*■>1 « > o X «r 0 ’« i t o J I «• U I k • ■i 4 / 1 E f'i r » i. 1 d( r ia*i >* I < t I ■. i >■ » ft < 1 - 7 ( Jfw ft;:’ z r / * Jz 1 S c k-r. Q 4^ % VV > \ V 31L. ... 9 * \ 9 O ■ « o I I ■■ * «« « '■> ■*> I /■ .9 Q ^1^ 1 1! t ■ fft f-. 1 I : { a S I 1 ! II 7 1 * i H r (T I 1 ’ 11 '' W4*ftft. j J h' i I UbJ rr- I \\! i o // I \ V » - \ " t. "k Li »* O 1 1 > av" A layout sketch shows Continental Properties' site development plan for a multi-family development adjacent to M-6 in Dutton, with the proposed dedicated parkland outlined Source: gainestownship.org * NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. BATTLE CREEK ft Caledonia American Legion Post #305 MemoriahB^qll, SERVICE5W»* Monday May 26, 2025 t SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m. Alaska THE HASTINGS BANNER Tuesday at Noon 9:00 AM, 68th St. and Thornapple River Drive Blain 9:45 AM. 1270 68th St. Dutton THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon Group 10:30 AM, 7000 Hanna Lake Ave, 11:15 AM. 84th and Kraft Caledonia 12:00 Noon. 503 Elm St. c «• * ★ 1 M*s. Sprague is tuminamherjinat assignment! ★ * I* ★ !★ 1^* • r r:. • K . ■■■-*» •z » '. ft c it if if if if if After 31 incredible years at Thornapple Kellogg Middle School, Rojean Sprague is hanging up her teaching badge and starting the next adventure. Mom, we are so proud of the ways you've nurtured, encouraged, and inspired thousands of TK kids from your classroom. Please join us in saying congratulations by sharing a sweet note or your favorite memories! ★ Love. Ross & the kids ★ Holy Corners A si if ir if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if I , Schedule for Cemeteries A Addresses ; * if if if if if if if All letters can be mailed to: Mrs. Rojean Sprague PO Box 101 Middleville, Ml 49333 * * |w * I'ftr I★ * ★ * I* ★ ll^ II ★ * ★ I★ I★ 11^ iII ★* * 1'^ * * I1 II'* ll'ftr if ★ ★ if ★ �Saturday, May 17, 2025 4 < V 4»* i Obituaries Shirley Ann (Nowak) Spiegel Shirley Ann (Nowak) Spiegel, born September 14.1936, was called to her heavenly home on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Conrad Richard (Dick) Spiegel, and son, Konrad Nicholas Spiegel. She will be missed by her children, Stephen and Kate (Caliri) Spiegel, and James and Heidi Spiegel; grandchildren, Dorothy, Sam, Grace, Olivia, and Isabella; siblings, Tom and Rose Nowak, and Leonard and Joanne Nowak; and brothersin-law, Msgr. Robert Spiegel, Fr. Tom Spiegel, and Fr. John Spiegel; along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Shirley was born and raised alongside for Dick’s provision, who happened to have a daily need for greeting cards when Shirley was working at a card store in Grand Rapids and smiled broadly when he recalled the orange pant suit she wore on their first date. Dick’s successful business ventures allowed Shirley to generously give LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM www.alaskabapttst.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am 250 Vine Street Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship ■J t* th * f 616-891-8669 ir^ * Livestream: facebook com/firstbaptist middleviHe 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages .com Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 (269) 795-2391 cornerstonechurch "■ ^1 II Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend ri HOLY FAMILY ^JCATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. to numerous nonprofit organizations throughout her life. While raising her three sons, Shirley picked up many hobbies, including country painting, crewel embroidery, and flower gardening, always striving to have the outcomes match her particular vision for whatever was at hand. She was an active and faithful member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Caledonia where she served as an usher. Shirley was known for her tenacious spirit and ability to boldly express her opinions, including her insistence on feeding the wildlife at their Caledonia residence despite critters coming near the home’s foundation. When it came to animals, Shirley’s tenderness was evident, from the care . of her favorite cat, Samson, to proudly displaying pictures of James’s many cats on her bulletin board, cooing “little rascals” to Stephen’s rats, and even petting the mechanical dog in the sunroom at Boulder Creek Assisted Living where she passed in her sleep under the care of hospice. A Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at Holy Family Church, 9669 Kraft Ave. SE. Memorial contributions in Shirley’s honor may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Kent County or to West Michigan Humane Society. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com. X i \M1 JOURNEY CHURCH <APEACE CHURCH Caledonia Location PEACECHURCH.ee 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location « 1664 7 9:30 am and 11:00 am Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd, Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee CHURCH << d 20 State Street, Middleville. Ml / www.tvcweb.com <8 • t u @ St Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledoDia.org 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 "Shining Forth God's Light MIDDLEVILLE Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am i» Yankee Springs Bible Church THORNAPPLE VALLEY SERVICE TIMES: Lf Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... - rv 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankcespringsbiblcchurch.org *1 r t I f • i X .. sr X 1 r r^r •K . *•* bin r < no3 nj ; ■.ode "11 m -U >** vli '•5 9 I .pr"- -”’SG .4 fWGit b .^ueo t 1 0 / t'Mil? .lyewlS: l;.'iir u-!U rtf r-vefl c 'iri HajsnI f)i I ■n 1 . b r' * h •f ; “oieiv nK2£ niHF: ’I. f I t t I I 4 i e •t •* I P’* ♦ T A '.; r « I * '•■ i k I t I. I ^'1 4 I I I £l^ * ; I ?0 < Lin I 1 z ► :r. 73 « ' I •' z r- -d r k I • ( u < ► .. G f !-> ‘ 4 U -. ! 4>T t 1 * J h r*S i I » f r r r I 1’5 > J s?- -ir i » ,V ♦V e : j/j': i * u." ►** « * 4 1 ' , f 1 4 4 r ( ■ I t « k 11 .^4 L 'i* > < '. 1^- !■'■ UT.' A . f . I _♦ T' ' ' r in, ' * t '.'■jr J I I J»> •I CHIEF - J L-i. jWWW“ ir f Continued from Page 1 • Fire Chief Scott Siler’s salary received approval from the board to be increased to $102,000 annually, effec­ tive immediately. • The board approved a recommen­ dation to have Fishbeck, an architec­ ture and engineering firm based in Grand Rapids, complete the develop­ ment of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance Manual for the Caledonia Wastewater Treatment Plant at a cost of $35,000. • Board members agreed to increase the Caledonia Independence Day Celebration budget from $15,000 to $25,000, with $20,000 reserved for fire­ works, adding $1,000 out of the remain­ der allocated for support services. • Lastly, the board unanimously approved a bid to relocate Caledonia Stadium’s water main, not exceeding $80,000.00. f t I >tw9k IB WT M&X ; I I ' & A* X ’r ' • b • T 8^ . sV 4 • f A 1 / k -jWl;’ .*» i- I .-' r- I? Ml KL J «" * ’ I i I eU T ■ * A < » MV « I fl r • fi>I bn I • i k f I ' k ► » ..I i -J Ji f 8 8 : i j . < • I 1 f • r I ; * I. I r J r ■ t>t iL ’.« fc:' Knt- I I r i juf ; 13 HI f i I Ui I I i ’*1 s L a beiv- '■ 'I.** i 1 1 ! )bs.ii2 ’■j■Lje iM ' f r yk 9 It llE . ^_._ ’ • -1 .-t t 1*5 I •w f 1 J -’IIl s oomcK .’XX) -’s 1?: 09 �A •' T. **£•;■ *1 ♦ ♦ I s. •V V V « t I k'. .1 6 I 5-r r k • * ■ *1 r »■<» 1 > ?■ ' 4 ( > s A r> I •r 3!L’ I '"4. 'A •fe. a 4 .« '•1^. % k < f 5^ A I *A s » I ** r s .’Sts: / 1 > X* i. » ’•.lb > «*» ■rts HammaO^ t 4 .s. It 1 •t ’ ./ • r 4 • • r by James Gemmell », '■■W! A b '/<l 4 fl < 'k ... PARK '’H 14 « I •1 •>. I wI Continued from Page 3 * *' V*b b*. > . J . At-s'ltol ... « » ^£*1 I < 1 3f V/ -<*/ ^.1 4 5'‘M « a T 4 ra- i }p •t *-1 ■. < "I, r A r •nr' - jkf 1 c • -»** - A I J •’fl) I ) 5 X 1’6'. I > *<- r. !I «' I I I • 1 •> I Cxtf i ; d rt . T- i t 1 f* * .'‘-.Vti « • •»*a) I « 'I' ♦ I I * i I *s * vC '4» c I ':T>O4^'I '. 1 . 's ( RyVrtJiU* f jT I i I L’rxV I i Uli I »v. J 6 I • ) /ev.ii-It s »l’ *;q T-n): 'J. 1;^.^ »• •’ UJ r i_ i i iM I I ► I,- : . : 1- sn»r<U Jxl ‘’I aloe I 1 ! ’ I • i 5 I ''' '■IT rV’ 7-31J ,Il V r < I iA i/t 19S- i I ', /Jc'xl-v:rj 1 J i < Ibv 31 ' fl Ur.ff I I I 1 T iL w 53 01 Itfidl aria" 1 It I I . 'I e • . O t I’ f ship want to ultimately have control of this? We would then do whatever amenities we wanted to do, probably in conjunction with DNR grants. “What’s in the best long-term inter­ est of the township? Do we want to control these pocket parks or these smaller parks? Or do we just want to say, ‘Hey, look. Since you’re putting in the development project, you have to maintain it long term, he added. Whetl^r the space would be a true public park, if it is in the control of a private entity (Continental), is an­ other question officials are seeking to answer. “I don’t think that’s quite fair to the developer, in my opinion, if it’s public property,” Trustee Tim Haagsma said. “Itjust seems kind ofdisingenuous that we want (the park) for us, but we want them to pay to maintain it.” Haagsma said, if township residents want more parks, then they should also be asked to pay for the associated maintenance costs. “And if they do, fine,” he added. “And if they don’t, we asked. We can’t do much more than that. Trustee Kathy VanderStel said she agreed with Haagsma’s evaluation of the situation. “I’m not sure it’s fair to say the de­ veloper has to maintain that long-term when it’s a public park,” she said. “I would love to see this be a public 999 I I I I 1 4 9» Gaines Parks and Trails Committee chairwoman Dana Lehmann speaks to the township board about the research that is needed before the township decides on potentially taking ownership of future park space in Dutton. Photo IA ismintoq nu t V *-'7> y •1 •> f kJ'S?* ■’I eG * • J. fcKEOfj !• «r I 44>« s*«* *1 X 'fl*V Ik.. I Ml « A ft I ?• r nonprofits events and fundraisers throughout our entire footprint. Many of our team members serve on local nonprofit boards and volunteer in their commimities. Giving back is an important part of our brand and in turn our growth. If you’re looking to grow your brand to grow your business, we can help. Emaijjne at ecaswell@ mihomepaper.com to learn more. Emily Caswell is the Brand Manager for VIEW Group, the branding division of View Newspaper Group. • i- ziTi^r ? »r j I 1 park,” added Township Clerk Michael Brew. “That would be fantastic, but the devil is in the details of maintaining it. I don’t know, at this point, that we have the funds, the availability and all the rest of that stuff to take that on without either getting a public works depart­ ment - which would take a couple years to implement - or finding ways with our current staff to maintain it.” Park maintenance typically includes regular cleaning, lawn mowing, land scaping, infrastructure repairs and dealing with graffiti and vandalism. Teichan said the Verduin fan]^ legacy would be memorialized throu^ the park dedication. “It’s a chicken-and-egg thing,” Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra said. “We’re not ready but can we get ready?” Dana Lehmann, who chairs the township’s Parks and Trails Commit­ tee, agreed the township is not ready yet to decide on whether to accept ownership of the potential park space. “We need to research how parks and grounds work,” she said, while .t proposing the township’s engineer evaluate the property. “We need to do our homework. “But r d like to see what our engineer comes back with on what’s feasible,” she added. Wells said the township board could consider various options, such as agreeing to purchase the parkland in a couple of years and allowing the developer to maintain it until then. He o said another possibility would be to split the costs for maintenance. During the board’s discussions, Haagsma added there’s also the issue of a lack of available park space avail­ able in the township that needs to be considered. “So, whenever we get a chance to get some, I think it behooves us to, at least, figure out if there’s something we can do,” he said. Also, during Monday’s meeting, board members considered a resolution put forward by the Parks and Trails Committee to establish a public works department. The trustees did not act on the resolution but agreed to discuss the issue further at a later date. “We’re endorsing what they’re try­ ing to do,” Trustee Rob DeWard said. “However, we’re not committing to it at this point until we see some numbers.” Yourlocal agent Insures your Lake Estaie PABM BlftEAV MBDHMCP* /^ieA^atig Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-8827 Jparks^insml.com FamiBureaulnsurance.com I ( > 1 rA •9 ',5 f I 1 I . I • I . I I • - .J AI i I J / 7 onnat Continued from Page 6 & J* r Saturday, May 17, 2025 BRANDS > ► a I 1 I I I A \k V THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com BEATING AND COOLING I A I I 1 9 I Ai/iCi * V Only 1 Expires 5/31/25 other Products and Services Available • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! I he t. oiuptinv hdill hv ich'i idl‘> 210 East Main Street Caledonia 616-891- k ■4 I .A. 111 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm BODY SHOP Complete Collision Repair 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 your trus-bed Body Shop -for over 32 years �1/1 8 Saturday. May 17, 2025 * THE SUN AND NEWS WWW. J sunandnews oom t «« sij’J! -i ■ 4 w Sporting News 1® 1 'W < t f .jif t « < Scot comeback bid a goal short against Bulldogs » ' . <•» 1 J * > * Brett Bremer Sports Editor 1 -J I, Byron Center clinched the 2025 OK Green Conference championship fend­ ing off the Fighting Scots 2-1 at Scotland Yard Tuesday in Caledonia. The Bui Idog varsity girls’ soccer team improved to 9-0 in the conference this season with one game to play. TTie loss dropped the Scots to 6-2-1 in confer­ ence play, tied with Mona Shores in second place in the conference stand­ ings heading into a meeting between the Scots and Sailors Thursday, May 15, in Muskegon. The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead in the first half and controlled play “We changed things up in the second half to put Byron Center’s backline \ V. i. > t Fighting Scot senior defender Joslynn Wilcox clears the ball away from her box as Byron Center’s Ella Alexander jumps in on the play during the second half Monday at Scotland Yard. A A YANKEE SPRINGS DENTAL FAMILY IS EVERYTHING TO US. We treat our patients like family and offer comfortable, customized dentistry for everyone SAME DAY DENTISTRY i'nti’Hhl Io Youi hOOlfTHfOl OiHuls under pressure more,’’ Caledonia head coach Taylor Kastens said. “We were able to get them to cough it up a few times. Late in the game, Averi Rosted pressured their backline to make a bad pass that went to Laney Elles, who hit a beautiful shot that went off the crossbar and Emily Stauffer was able to finish if back post.’’ The Scots had an earlier flurry like that late in the first half too as Rosted fired a comer kick from right to left in front of the Bulldog net. The Bulldog defense managed to head it away to the top of the box where Fighting Scot senior was waiting for a rebound. She hit a bounc ing ball high in ±e air that clanged off the cross bar above the Bulldog keeper Nora Shans. Scot sophomore Kayla Briseno was right there to get a head on the rebound, but couldn’t get much behind it and Schans blocked it down for her teammate Jordyn Zimmer to clear out of the box. The Scots moved their overall record to 8-6 2 with the defeat. Byron Center improved to 13-1-3 and was looking to finish off an undefeated conference season at home against Jenison Friday, May 16. Mona Shores was set to head into its Thursday evening match with the Scots with an 11-3-3 overall record. Kastens said its nice to be facing some of the top teams in the area heading into districts. 73ie Scots open postseason play at home, Thursday, May 22 taking on Northview at 6 p.m. Last Thursday, the Caledonia girls took their second OK Green Conference win of the season over the Muskegon girls outscoring them 12-0 at Scotland Yard. The contest against Byron Center was also the Fighting Scots’ annual Mental Health Awareness Game, with the Scots donning green and purple jerseys and a presentation from Jon Reibel at the half. Reibcl the founder of Drip Over Skill which started producing natural eye black. Caledonia senior Joslynn Wilcox is a part of the company’s ambassador program, and throu^ that relationship Drip Over Skill sponsored some mental health training sessions for the Fighting Scot program this season. V 1 4« i * .J. 0 B|?T BEST * I ut Sli i* 4S >•! ’li M BEST nckiTioT DENTIST TYLER wr-k. . ' 'i l!‘^. b □ •* □ .-.f/ □uKSB j v . •f * V I. t I r • r> ■ •✓ r. 9 « WrI I*- lie Tyd S qrr I > > irumn nnvi^ot tfi2?xonu .• ' rifXit V t I wn vrfK** i • t r 6 I 1 c<uaaM u ; A WJiMLn :iU w j ‘-tx^ IS ‘ I > > r I I <1 c; t 4. JI ? « I •t O rs 7b iTh ^|_2 ^om 3prn tom-Spm Bam>4Drn 9orn-ttem r •••fir*.b. * ••• IB a ! tefd I *v t 1 t w ■ s i Wl :r !h . .< ’e- 11 >1 t I < I I YANKEE 8PPING8 DENTAL __ _ W B MB i !■ { k’“. M iX i \ Mention this offer when you call or bring this ad with you . < M2Q<»^r««M«s r t* (269) 792-9723 scan to requestan appointment and learn more 4 1 COSMETIC DENTISTRY tor hUhiI ffsull'’ J 20% OFF 12715 WM-179 Hwy YBnkMSpringtOental.com Wayland, Ml 49348 yr»*' ■iSi> >• NOW ACCEPTING ■M B BO « ----- flV --- WB oK" . «T < I I YOUR FIRST VISIT VENEMAN. DDS ■» < I X r^r>v« • ♦ I TO ALL OUR DELTA DENTAL HEALTHY KIDS AND BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HEALTHY KIDS PATIENTS FOR THE z RECOGNITION *’• T IMPLANTS h) HfUiin yooi It'i'lh h) qcHxl hooHh PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY With kht ifiPivlly Of'tlOOS THANK YOU r J L ''s it - 1 ? r.i inwClfi! I ■ 7 / u >• .S i I IO Hi? 7 W I A • Caledonia sophomore Averi Hosted (right) and Byron Center sophomore Ella Leyendecker leap in to try and get to the ball first during the first half of their OK Green Conference meeting at Scotland Yard in Caledonia Monday. Photos by Brett Bremer ■■ a• rv •I 1 <e ) I I Sj �_________________ THE SUN AND NEWS_______________ www.sunandnews.com ■x)o.a»«nt>nenuaw«i wv I I I »i«li 1, 4 /J, I 7 ? I A Brett Bremer Sports Editor J i ’t awK , I 4 b? 4 «> f •T M V >■ ^6iij" * 4 *v 1 IB J V « T J % w .J ira _4 t 4111 ■ifii «r It was a co-op effort on the Caledonia High School boys’ volleyball club this spring, the final season before the sport becomes an of­ ficial MHSAA sanction^ event in the spring of2026. The Fighting Scots added players from Thomapple Kellogg and Wayland to their squad. “I think we’ve come a long, long ways,” Caledonia senior Lukas Palmitier said. “The beginning of the year I was a bit nervous, but after our first preseason tournament, I got a lot of faith in us and how we could do good things.” “We didn’t really know each other very well, like we don’t return that many players, then we were co-oping with other schools, so we’ll have new guys. We just didn’t know each other very well. We know each other a lot better now.” There are still times where everybody is smoothing out the chemistry as the 2025 sea­ son winds down. The Fighting Scots closed action in the GR South Conference with a tough night against the conference leaders at Grand Rapids Christian High School Wednes- I 11 2 fl ill IW > 4: < 'S'- 'V » i •r!*> 1 I HL,.":- '■"illlli ' ■9 9 ■ -w I > < i r'..'f f I rs I* . / *w A I I 1 4 i. i ■:j ft' K ** i (. *» Ap^ 4 •s J ''9 * ,1 . K 4 ‘ 1 •• .»• •T be ^■4 ■> ‘1 bi) f- » ' !;• :>( AM j f Caledonia senior middle Lukas Palmitier (right) tries to slow down an attack from South Christian’s Ike Schrotenboer during the GR South Conference finale at Grand Rapids Christian High School Wednesday. Photos by Brett Bremer I f > 'i^. ' , *:-?e L ‘ not n ■'^neu 1 t •N •^4 n; •r; \ iVk K I np.tK.i a Mt i®- c. ■ ’Mb..’ 9 CHS boys face conference’s best in final volleyball contests -V ' I I I Saturday, May 17, 2025 W- ■ ’7'1' t '-’ili! I I day. The Caledonia squad fell 25-21, 25-21 against the host Eagles and ±en fell 25-15, 26-24 against the conference champs from South Christian. The Sailors, last year’s Divi­ sion 2 state runners-up, finished off a perfect 10-0 conference season with the win. The Scots close GR South play at 6-4. The Eagles finished in the runner-up spot at 8-2. Overall, the Caledonia boys have put to­ gether a 14-9 record this season. They’ll take on a tough Rockford team to start the Division 1 state postseason this week. Palmitier said improved communication in the second set was really a big key to the Fighting Scots giving the Sailors a battle there at the end. “In our serve receive, we’ll say seams left or right, andthenthat’s usually Parker Knoop, and he’s the one telling us about that That improved a lot in that second set” Coach Palmateer said she also noticed improved positivity and a better mindset with that improved. The Scots actually served to take that sec­ ond set. Junior middle Deacon Sidebotham firedakill from the right side to put Caledonia up 24-23, but his set-point serve caught the net. A Sailor block and an attack from Pal- Tf! Fighting Scot junior setter Christian Moorlag puts a pass up as South Christian's Caleb Plune protects his side of the net and Caledonia middle Deacon Sidebotham looks on during their GR South Conference match at Grand Rapids Christian High School Wednesday. mitier that sailed just long gave the match to the Sailors. “We’ve got lots of young, like raw talent, I think,” Caledonia coach Avery Pdmateer said Wednesday evening. “Alot ofour returners, guys that have been here for like three, four See VOLLEYBALL on 16 h :r. RCOOIST All I iSTiMAre |r t - igKS z ’ s .'■i .J □ •* u- I** « f c I I I: •' Kt ROOFING I Hi, fVl w -4 .. « T ■ w< bft 1^ ■; 1 I q biaeR "smoD looR imo s » 1 I£ < ;I t ’ c V t »\ r ^^5 'X Residential Commerical » Roof Repair » Storm Damage » Insurance Claims » r If! I V I T I • •t iu ■tUHj COVER IT WITH CONFIDENCE » FW 1 Si r h I I I I l.».. h-lt. swot I .1 F Inspiring Others Everyday The way Janis Fitzgerald lived her life is her true legacy. She greeted each day with a sense of purpose, and her passion for helping others created a ripple effects in the community. In 2015, she and her husband, Steve, established the Fitzgerald Odyssey of the Mind fund, a creativity program Janis coached, judged, and coordinated for years. Sadly, Janis lost her long battle with cancer in 2021. In honor of her generous spirit and the positive impact she had on many lives, she is remembered by a “Tree of Life" sculpture in downtown Middleville, where she will always be a hometown hero. ftH. < I, r• r THE IMPACT OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP £< . . k> > E.< W -^4 * J V I > i H/1^ J #-• ■ wr » b I I* ♦♦ r W-1 ■ V. • Serving the Caledonia and Middleville Communities. I»! .inobslsD 9fl) r liwat .2£ ffonmoJalliv bbiM 9^- ►‘ » R i □ 6t6-9f6-0tS8 «** YEARS OF IMPROVING LIVES 100% SATISFACTION OIIAAANTeFD I ? ' n !• I •y V J Arcftforrru facebook y e I p %« Go.gle QtfKww JJ « J V' IJ I I li I '1 , ! J (» THE BARRY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 231 S. BROADWAY ST, HASTINGS Ml WWW.BARRYCF.ORG /f you want to learn more about leaving a legacy, please call Bonnie Gettys or Annie Halle at 269-945-0526, to help ensure that your gifts support your hopes and dreams. �y:*. Saturday. May 17, 2025 10 THE SUN AND NEWS TK clears every hurdle on its way to another title Brett Bremer Sports Editor third behind her. The TK team had four of the eight point scorers in the 100-meter hurdles and five of the eight in the 300-meter low hurdles. Freshman Addi­ son Rocco was seventh in the I OO-meter hurdles and sixth in the 300-meter low hurdles, with fellow freshman Kayla Price seventh in the 300s. Harmon won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.33 seconds with Hilton second in 16.50 and Gater third in 17.48. Rocco had a time of 22.73. In the 300-meter low hurdles, Harmon won with a time of 46.06. Hilton came in at 46.39 and Gater in 49.17. Rocco (54.88) and Price (55.20) both set new personal records in those 300 hurdles. “We ail really work together and we’re super close. So, I feel like we kind of have like a hurdle community at our school and we’re always helping each other out,” Harmon said. “I would not be where I am today without Mia Hilton. She’s onej)f my like one of my best friends and she’s insane, like we push each other to be better every single race and 1 mean, you saw it and going around The TK ladies did a little bit of every thing to simply dominate the OK Gold Conference Championships Fhursday at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids. Tlieir second consecutive undefeated OK Gold Conference Championship had long been decided when senior Brooklyn Harmon picked up steam coming around the final turn of the 4x400-metcr relay race, spurred on by the opportunity to lap a runner in front of her on the final straight away. The next time Harmon and the Tro­ jans were rounding the final turn it was at the end of a victory lap hoisting the conference championship trophy. The 'fhomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ track and field team, which was a perfect 6-0 in conference duals this spring, outscored runner-up Wayland 206-104 at the top of the standings Thursday. Harmon led a 1-2-3 sweep of the top spots in the two hurdles races for the Trojans with junior Mia Hilton and freshman Amya Gater in second and □ Jb I* * rx ■ w ■f w □ t Scan our QR code to findyour perfect invitation! 1 • I 1 I □ .1 4* A I • VWhV fhb - >b I I *• 1- Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. I PRINTING BY f the curve [in the 300 hurdles], we were like right next to each other, and like we were conscious of that because we ran at Way land on Monday and we both ran a huge PR because of each other. 1 am so thankful that I have her to run with. “She's the sweetest girl, and she’s just like so insane and we push each other to be better. Like, celebrating our wins together is the best part," Harmon added. “That's another thing about like our hurdle communitv at TK." Hilton was the runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles Thursday, but only got into the final by the narrowest of margins. She was second in her prelimi­ nary heat and finished with the eighth­ best time of the prelim’s after a crash two thirds of the way through her heat. “The third to last hurdle my knee gave out, and I like paused because I didn’t know what happened,” Hilton said. She hit the hurdle and came closer to going under it than over it. She recovered to get the hurdle down and o over it and then somehow finish her heat behind only her teammate Rocco. While it was a stressful moment, in the end it only helped display how far ahead of the field the TK girls were. “We all just love like practicing together, and I think it helps that we really like hurdling,” Hilton said. “It’s just crazy like at practice we just are lik ouncing off the walls, and we are jusTready to hurdle half the time. We’re just getting through the warm up so that we can jump over the hurdles. We help each other a lot with like our blocks and starts, and since Brooklyn’s like really good she’ll basically coaches us all, and our coaches are amazing too.” Harmon was third in both the 100 hurdles and the 300 hurdles at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Track and Field Finals in i 24. She also earned a state medal! The TK 4x400-meter relay team last year along with current teammates Hilton, Payton Gater and her sister Ellie Harmon. An injury kept Brooklyn from competing in the state finals in 2023. Hilton placed eighth at the state finals in the 300 hurdles in 2023 and 2024. Hilton called the freshman Gater “a WIL I « i** WWW. sunandnews com 1)*' V»' y T f I , I « 1 MH* J f .*• I J Ir I t : :P p I I 1 I J / b r * ll. , l» I 11 ii I * i J I so .t ‘f >*4^’ I 3 is lu '.H’l 1 * u I I 4 J .< V 1 /A A" ? i'r ) A A I'3'* 4 1 tr r *1 I rz A h J th ! if ji'l’ ti® « i I •i I nd®*” ■^' - 1 t n IF i4 •r ft * >• - -i-s? «, if y ■<> iH* I r M If' V •*t: * 11 i I I f I I J r t V r ' I i > t t . 1 I** * * J Thornapple Kellogg senior Hunter Tietz pulls himself up towards the bar in the pole vault competition at the OK Gold Conference Championship May 7. Tietz set his PR in the event to place seventh, one of two TK boys scoring in the event. ) z IfiJi '.'6^ . I w. I I!.,'. }>- V F I I I i I* si Hi)*’’ I I 1 I f I s * 'J V IX 3 *"■ * 4 '0. lA C tte r t b*. II f* <* s t 4 4 I • r. -v I 1 , d I r. > I Harmon was joined in the 4x400meter victory at the conference cham­ pionship by Amya Gater, Payton Gater and Hilton. They had a time of4 minutes 11.42 seconds The Trojans ended the day with a relay win and started it with a rel win as senior Ava Crews put on an i essive late charge to chase down the leader from South Christian on the final lap of the 4x800-meter relay to win that one with teammates Alaina McCrumb, Isla Tillema and Madison Kietzman. They finished with a time of 10:24.67 - a little over half a second faster than the South Christian foursome in the race. That was just the start of a stellar day for the senior Crews who won the 1600-meter run in 5:19.11 and the 3200-meterrun in 12:12.47. She added a runner-up time of 2:28.43 in the 800-meter run in between. . The Trojans were chasing the Sailors for much of that 4x800-meter relay. “Once it came to me, I was just like pushing all the way through trying to slowly catch her,” Crews said of South V n r liast&f i . I >* .4,mi I .• r B* - * * R I 1. 1 4 rI A 1 I I* . «• tf'.SB I s I 1 f , ■ J • •• r i• ’hl’ft'i*?*'' ■ l-*3» a •• I * -in 4 V k 4 f4 H ir : L . •H '*ar Tt 1 • -* ,‘l.- ! .1 ( ’ 5. I >1 s L 4 4 I jOi a?iiw r •> xikcbiii) I • 1 It •'iiljtaio J nkaa asttrt *5r । k [fife '“'•"fe 'Jt 1 r H O- * k ' ,1 I ‘^1 *• .:1 r* f 9 fee. rIV r I 4 *iae\n'- «♦ *1^ .*t u I I 4 '* V 4 # asi i I t I I* 1 • > V OiA hv Ll 4 I V z yI I * ! u ft ' '.A • 1 II iI r A iI * 1 I ? 1 I ft* r, L «fe:t .♦ i **%! H **o t. T L. «is,^ �s * 1 . . '1 { A * I ♦ < fl Xi. r ■ I Ik I 4-. ( i» ..n, <«K iit' Brett Bremer Sports Editor •4 !* .‘> I 1 / 1 krtl • 1 ''st.: i- ’»A' •( ■'(■ h liul ■f. Zi b t -ft t I \ to* ? I U' ' > J 'J. If! k4 A X X I f * f f f 1 t • i ISO biJO I .) * 7? I A .5 5» I< k * ft I a 1 »•.* ■ 1 ■ r* Aw < i •r A Z * iff U'' > ’w^A I <1 I /h K * .ri? A r/ J 1 ^iL:. tHiJi * 11 t*-.. *w 9 A V 'J J 7 4 1 -•r A fru'I ( ' JMI y , 1 •»> r >; si :U 1 w $ I L > * 9 / d: .#. / r Ai 1 ft; I i Ite <1s I 't f. s » 'J b 9 % A •'«» A li* 4 4: !r F' ■Fl ' ; ■. 1-^A I * o *y<6i I i:’ I ^St V A T ,; ,r^ w. «• II J 4^ - - ■ * S. 1 A>W % V 1 k 4k' r*. a I V I II } J J - r - (xl Jid 31 ■ .OfT fkiij t» r/e a "1- *‘3 •• » Ui I f < WEildK J »• •.. it'idr j 4 •i 4 r • 0 7 ‘“k f* w**n rd zt ) I . :• 'II tew J « • • 4 I •*» i’ r I I ? 1 i <. • .. 9 7 1. -,22t • II * i . aA* r iajSlt < Tinr' ”' ■ } r I -- 4 ®5^:’ 4 - <* I i 5*^rt r> \ < I 4 .-.f I I 1 MJ/ t jV/ i«' r^- s^fft', II v_<^ » TK and South chase Gold championship Monday I I J 13 ■ I A Saturday, May 17, 2025 Ai" •V VI THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I, •i (I I k 1 The Trojans got to celebrate on their own senior night Monday in Middleville. Now they hope they’ll get to cel­ ebrate on South Christian’s senior night Monday, May 19. The Thomapple Kellogg girls and the Sailors remained undefeated in OK Gold Conference varsity girls’ soccer action heading into their sec­ ond match-up of the season. The first ended in a 1 -1 draw. The 9-0-2 Trojans outscored Northview on senior night in Middleville Monday and followed that up with a 6-1 win at Grand Rapids Union Wednesday. The 10-0-1 Sailors took their own 8-0 win over Northview Wednesday. South Christian clinches the confer­ ence championship outright with a win or a tie on Monday. TK earns the trophy with a victory over the Sailors. TK honored senior attacker Madilyn Chivis and senior defender Emma Geukes and their parents during a halftime ceremony inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville Monday and then really picked up their play in the second half to put away the Wildcats early. “They have been awesome all the way through, coming in as freshmen all the way through,” TK head coach David Wood said of his two seniors Monday. “From a soccer stand-point you couldn’t ask for anything better, the work rate, their technical applica­ tion. They’re awesome. As teammates and as people they have really brought the group together. It is just such a nice group we’ve got. The chemistry has been great, and it is a lot down to what they have been able to do. “They don’t leave anyone behind. They really bring the group together when we’re at practice and in every­ thing that we try to do.” Tealy Cross and Alexa Eden scored first-half goals for the Trojans, and then TKseored five times in about 32 minutes in the second half to finish off the Northview girls. The two first half goals were pretty good ones. An excellent through ball ahead and a well-timed run gave Cross a breakaway chance. Her first shot with her right foot was deflected by the Northview keeper, but a Wildcat defender then tumbled over her keeper and the ball came down to Cross who got the chance to fire it into the open net with her left foot. Eden’s goal came on a laser of a shot from the top left of the box a few minutes later. Chivis was the lone Trojan to fin­ ish with multiple goals Monday. She ripped a free kick from about 25 yards out midway through the second half and then fired a comer kick from left to right later that went off the Wildcat keeper’s hand and into the net. TK also got goals from Hailey Lee, Cami Stahl, Ella Fischer and Meghan Skidmore in the second half. “Honestly, they were just trying to make sure they could connect a little bit better just finding that extra player we had in there. In the second half, we were able to connect a little bit better through the midfield and the goals that we scored, they were good,” Wood said. The Trojans moved their overall record to 11-2-2 with their win over Union on Wednesday. “This final push is just making sure that we can continue to play well,” Wood said. “I firmly believe that when we come up against anybody we can play well on our day. It is as much just about keeping our routine, keeping everybody healthy, moving and I feel like we’re in a good spot as a team.” TK travels to Battle Creek to face Harper Creek in the opening round of the MHSAA Division 2 state tourna­ ment next Wednesday, May 21. The Beavers moved to 12-3 and clinched an undefeated Interstate-8 Athletic Conference Championship with a 4-0 win at Jackson Parma Western Wednesday. YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors.. .and our future. VIE^MCnu^m^ Group Your Community Connection «d. V-. t,.- • < I 4 r •1 •2iC3»,V^' t \. Thornapple Kellogg junior Cami Stahl gets by Northview’s Daisy DeShane (right) to fire a shot at the Wildcat net during the second half of the Trojans' 8-0 OK Gold Conference win over the visiting Wildcats in Middleville Monday Photo by Brett Bremer 100 East Main Street Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villageofmiddleville.org HELP WANTED DPW SUMMER HELP M The Village of Middleville is seeking qualified applicants to fill DPW Summer help positions. The hours of work will be Mon.-Thurs. 6 am-3:30 pm and Fri. 6 am-10 am. Salary will be $15 an hour. These positions will start at the end of May/early June to late August. Applicants MUST be 16 years old with a valid driver’s license. Specific duty areas include mowing, string trimming, yard waste pick-up, park cleanup, and light to medium lifting. Upkeep all flower beds around the Village and Downtown area. Assist the DPW Staff as needed with various other duties. Interested applicants must submit a resume and cover letter and complete the Village otMiddleville employment application. Applications will be accepted and considered until position(s) are filled. Applications and a job description are available at the Village office, 100 East Main Street, Middleville, Michigan 49333, or on the Village website: www.villageofmiddleville.org. �I 14 Saturday. May 17, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Scots tie B.C. for top spot at Green track championship WWW sunandnews corr I f— g 5 I I J 1 * « Ihc Caledonia varsity girls’ track and field team closed out a great day in Jenison by running to a victory in the 4x4(X)-metcr relay at the OK Green Conference Championship Friday, May 9, that pulled them into a tic with the conference champs. fhe f ighting Scot team of sopho­ mores Evic Huttenga, Olivia Hawkins and Isla Sheely took the victory with a time of 4 minutes 12.13 seconds that beat out the runner-up Byron Center foursome by more than six and a half seconds. That left the two teams tied with 167.5 points at the end of the meet, giving the overall conference cham «■ pionship to the Bulldogs based on the results of the regular season duals. Another fraction of a point somewhere Friday and the Scots would have shared the conference title with the Bulldogs. Caledonia head coach Ben Howell said his girls were projected to finish about 30 points behind the Bulldogs and just exceeded expectations all throughout the meet. rhat 400 meters was a distance that really suited the Scots Friday. Sheely was the conference’s individual champ in the 400-mctcr dash with a time of 1:0l .72, and junior teammate Brooke Bender and Huttenga placed third and fourth respectively in the race with new PRs. Bender hit the finish line in 1.03.15 and Huttenga in 1:04.83. Hawkins added the 4x400 win Io an earlier championship in the 300-meter low hurdles. She won that race in a PR of 47.21. Hawkins also had her fast­ est 100-meter hurdles race yet as she turned in a runner-up time of 15.79 in that race. Sheely was a three-time champ. She also teamed with sophomore Avery Seif, Bender, and Klapmust to win the 4x200-meter relay in 1:48.10. The Scots had a fifth championship with senior Hannah EJupuis running her fastest 3200-meter race yet to win in 11:19.48. The CHS girls had three in the top six in both distance races. Dupuis also set her PR in the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:22.12. Seniors Adysen Da­ man and Kiley Bommarito went fifth and sixth in that one. Adysen Daman and sophomore Akaela Daman went 5-6 in the 3200-meter run. AH those conference champions earned al I-conference honors for the CHS girls as well as Brynn Ward, The buck stays hsrsl tpiil n hn Imp R bn PUBLIC NOTICE GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS April 28, 2025 lit Your Community. Group The Gaines Charter Township Board held a regular meeting on Monday. April 28. 2025, and took the following actions. 1. Approved the Meeting Agen­ da 3. Discussion toward long term planning and goal setting for the future of the Township. 4. Adjourned the meeting at 07:32 p.m. A complete copy of the min­ utes of these meetings and any resolutions or ordinances adopt­ ed at the meeting are on file and available for review at the Gaines Charter Township office, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledo­ nia, Michigan 49316. Ordinances, meeting schedules, meeting min­ utes, and other Township infor­ mation are also available at www. gainestownship.org. CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meeting Minutes The minutes for the April 16, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on May 7, 2025^ are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave and on the website at www.caledoniatown- Michael Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk Vi e ofj COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the April 22, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on May 12, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main Street and on the website at www.villaaeofmiddleville.orq. i . I ? r • • I t > • s=^ a Brett Bremer Sports Editor I -.1 r .1 Jj 4A ^9 '5/ V ii!0' F I X •9^ '^4 w ♦> F I F I J I V T* 4 T,■ 4"; •JJs T.r 7 I.' The Caledonia varsity girls' track and field team celebrates finishing in a tie for first at the OK Green Conference Championship Friday, May 9, at Jenison High School The Scots matched Byron Center's 167.5 points on the day 4 '■ J". J 1 » ) J ^0 . f* « jji ® * I < 1 J boys’ conference title. The Bulldogs finished with 166 points ahead of Jeni­ son 159, Caledonia 117, Mona Shores 71, Reeths-Puffer69 and Muskegon 45. Liam Moore, Cody Meyers, Noah Johnston, Kort Thompson and Eli Velting earned all-conference honors throughout the day for the CHS boys. They all earned that honor based on points. The Scots had a few runner-up finishes in the distance races. The ju­ nior Velting was the runner-up in the 800-meler run with a PR of 1:59.82. Another junior, Johnston, was second in the 1600-meter run with a PR of 4:25.16 and third in the 3200-meter run. Senior Kort Thompson was second in the 3200-meter run in 9:48.29 and also fourth in the 1600. Moore and Meyers earned their points in the throws. Moore put up a PR of 46-11.5 in the shot put to place second in that event and he had a throw of 143-11 in the discus to place third in that one. Meyers had a shot put PR too, of 41-7.5, to place fifth in that one. He was fourth in the discus with a throw of 138-11. Junior Benjamin Moss added a personal record vault of 13-6 to place second in the pole vault. He was one of CHS guys to score with a PR in the vault. Senior David Potgeler was fourth with a leap of 13-3 and senior Peter Paarlberg placed sixth with a height of 12-3. The Scots had a number of their best performances in the field on Friday. Se­ nior Kaleb Huyser set his long jump PR at 19-10.5 to place fifth and sophomore teammate Colton Heyboer was seventh with a PR jump of 19-6. / A* . '-y V 5 I Photo provided Melanie Genao Grullon and Jolie King based on their point totals at the meet. Ward, a freshman, was third in the 200-meter dash and sixth in the 100-meter dash. She also was a part of the Scots’ third-place 4x 100-meter relay team. King, a junior, was second in the discus with a personal record throw of 100 feet 5 inches and she placed fifth in the shot put with a mark of 29-8. Sopho­ more teammate Mackenzie Krentz was third in that discus competition with a PR of 91-5, and the Scots also had senior Chiara Martin place seventh. King added a PR of 17-.5 in the long jump that had her third in that event too. Genao Grullon earned her points with a fourth place finish in both of the hurdles races. She set PRs in both events, and she was a part of the 4x 100-meter relay team with Ward, sophomore Mariah Peterson and senior Alaina Palmer. CHS freshman Lillian Ward set her PR in the pole vault at 8-6 to place fifth and sophomore Anna VanderWal placed seventh with a PR of 8-0 in that one. The Scots also got a PR in a scoring performance from VanderWal in the 800-meter run. She was eighth in that race, and sophomore teammate Maya Terryn placed fourth in that race with a PR of her own. Jenison was third in the day’s girls’ standings with 135 points ahead of Mona Shores 72, Reeths-PuflTer 52 and Muskegon 33. Other medalists for the CHS girls throughout the day included Lakely Bottum, Allie Dryburgh, Emma Bow­ man, Emmi Mince, Mariah Peterson, The Byron Center boys beat out Jenison by seven points to claim the 4 t '• 4>l 1 /t * »r’ .'3 ' .1^ ' * I he*'' 1 . < k* k 1 I! * If > f • .4 • * (« «r 4 ■jiSi ‘" J *f h ,» •< .4^ f .. tv ' V I’ 'H 0'^ ■11**"; f V * 1 ' f t*- 11 1 K r,4 -• ■' J k « •t c P}^13 ' 4'5 SH'- ■ h r > * ’ l> ' * ) ♦ I k* t9 h 4 - g^'>*** ■ »< Ji UI J/ r ♦ I -V * % w* r \.l ‘ 3 • M- I 1 115 IJ* V?© • L.'i. 4 «» ot V 4 *-• • **> t / .. 1 * it \ ■ x■ • « ..M 4« « D ' Z'jf «ji> r I k ■*•* 1 iJUMt * I lil- ¥5- *• ff ♦ f 1 4 'iw- A' > I iptl) 4 1 »• t I 1 i ' « “ l-iu i I r> * ►* . .I«X * i . » c * \ <‘j « / .w z • -4 *• » e V* J I I 1 I r* J w kid, !w ^r?ra .u'k r. J i fW""” Wfe'rf BiCS'^i't-‘V'«m p' atjKI^y f^lUA*.k^ r*> » f . I • r*«« . , h y t ♦M Ji t > 1 1 "•afi -4 1’ 11 s 9^ -i ..'4 M iwaai hYf , ' •• AU^4 I, .' |. \ t;! I . I J IK f .'tt *7 c ■ > 11 I ». 'fr » i •>< ‘'k' <waI La.. « fTU 1 M See SCOTS on 15 * mHnr• ’•“L «• . M ‘ I1 A k r <4 M ) tv ? ' p-... • n* 5'* 'v * . - . -7*- 1 I / t b 4 I f 9 1 I i h s < H If »1 il $ I I i, b • ' /l 1 r. r 4 I > t I J 4 4 f �T I I THE SUN AND NEWS WWW.sunandnews.com 4 uunn I r Saturday, May 17. 2025 11 DALL UN 4: > »-• i ■ ,4 1 1 -■, I ■4 J % J 1. X •J « f l\ r b I F A ) k I •« •• V V J1 fL, ----------- .-.gJ ♦ T r Tfi b:> •‘w r • V o '>4 lii f I ’.4, * * ■ i» I* 5.' T. * r:!h Xb J * L r The Thornapple Kellogg varsity girls' track and field team celebrates its second straight OK Gold Conference championship with a victory lap at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids Friday, May 8. Photos by Brett Bremer ' '> J C'l •s. < «• J 4a "lltt 4 di • w' HWi_ r Continued from previous page "'4 . "4. "‘zM • r 1 ’ 4 A V ) I I ( w .WR.. J 1 Yx.. y ,1 9 t ► . .I 3 f ■ I ' ' k i r'k. * I w • r *- 4 1 . I ► ^'"Ji •I ;M > I k ■ u ( « I i Jii:; i< V *: ' I 41 I '-t r A K' bl 1 • >•< % 4 A u I I J 4 ...... I •d fv:« u 4 C *:A . s .• J • r * I *■ 1 !z I, ' * J ■! 3v '•r.k- LIjTI It » t I r T i :*s; 'T-. L I f 1 ' 4 I < ‘ I 1J t 4 / N > I ». I >• Z’ **T1 i * ♦ •a < i A'I n I I * 1 I u -*«w t ’’■TH I t H’ JT • I 11 kM •la/n dj j id* Cirt ■ <'4 '» Xj 01- a f > J iStJ-i ( i irti* Sfal*— h i.fliWT r •w f w iaaiaUini » • i •J k• -t w 1 > I "ffiaaiSiHife J . .1^ i t W It »* i I ’ I ■ 4 • i'i •» b* I* * .J « r I I V ■ I I 1 1 *'1 \'l h i J I » i Utt ? n ’'f : >* » ’Ht i I lU r < 1 &l K ■'■'‘•/’I' 3 n t 5 I 4 4 ) I * ? • r»' • J I icpKefi .’-six I I5U 1U 'Illi ' rt k~ ll s»ii on her shoulder and I went around her on the outside on that turn and then finished right ahead of her.” That Sailor relay team didn’t include junior Chloe Rinzema, who was the only girl to finish in front of Crews all day. She cruised to victory in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:22.45. She also took the 400-meter dash in 58.98, ahead of TK junior Payton Gater’s runner-up time of 1:01.05 in that race. “Pretty awesome, actually,” Crews said of her feelings on leaving the meet with three wins. “I was not expecting that after so many injuries throughout the season, but, yeah I came through.” She has dealt with hamstring and calf issues that popped up during her indoor track season this winter. She’s not at 100 percent, but that didn’t stop her from having her best 4x800 split ever in the relay victory. Crews said she is pretty pleased with ending her TK running career with back-to-back team conference cham­ pionships too. “We have just a really great team, like there is a lot of depth to our team, so a lot of people are contributing. We've got people running just always up front. We've got people in the distance, people in the sprints, people in the hurdles. We just have a really good team and it’s been like that for a couple ofyears now.” The TK sprints got a boost this spring from junior newcomer Jordyn Fitros who scored in both the 100-meter dash (fifth) and the 200-meter dash (fourth) for the Trojans, with senior Emma Dykhouse scoring in the 100 (eighth) to add to her impressive day in the throwing events. TK had at least two of the eight scor­ ers in all five of the girls’ field events, with junior Payton Gater winning the long jump with a mark of 15-6 and Amya placing seventh in that one. Dykhouse set a PR to win the shot put at 36-3 and also had a PR in afifth-place finish in the discus (92-10). Payton was the runner-up in the high jump, clearing 4-10. Senior Lilly McKeown was third in the shot put (30-7) and seventh in the discus (82-9). TK sophomore Lydia Slagel put up her PR of 9-0 to finish second in the pole vault for the TK ladies and she was also eighth in the high jump. Other girls scoring points for the TK girls with top eight finishes through the day included sophomore Ellie Harmon, sophomore Leigha Jager, freshman Breanna Schut, sophomore Carmen Reynolds, sophomore Sydney Martin, sophomore Estefani Sanchez Vega, freshman Carissa Caskey, sophomore Kimberlin Zavalza Nava and sopho­ more Rylee Preston. South Christian and West Catholic were right behind the Wayland girls in the day’s standings. The Sailors were two-points back of the runner-up Wild­ cats with 102 points. West Catholic was fourth with 100 points ahead of Wyoming 58, Northview 38 and Grand Rapids Union 23. The TK boys’ top finishes came from senior distance runner Jacob Draaisma who set a personal record of 4:25.91 seconds to win the 1600-meter run, won the 800-meter run in 2:00.54, and Thornapple Kellogg senior Ava Crews rounds a turn with only her shadow to chase in the 3200-meter run Thursday, May 8, during the OK Gold Conference Championship at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids. Crews won the 3200-meter run, the 1600-meter run and was the anchor on the Trojans' winning 4x800-meter relay team. he also set a PR of 10:14.42 in placing 4x200-meter relay by the team of senior fourth in the 3200-meter run. Lucas McNabnay, sophomore Elliott This is just Draaisma’s second var­ Neff, freshman Maddox Vanengen and sity track and field season. He finished sophomore Brandan Velting. 14th in the 800-meter run a year ago at Other top eight finishers throughout the D2 state finals. He is still sorting out the day for the TK guys included sopho­ which events he really wants to make more Jackson Smith, junior Lucas a push in for this year’s postseason. Ploeg, senior Case Dykhouse, fresh “I’ve just been trying to focus on like man Jackson Hasty, sophomore Elijah having more fun and putting less stress Frazer, sophomore Layne Schilthroat on at the end of the season, especially and junior Adam Lozada. since I know where I’m going to col The Wayland boys were plenty domi­ lege now.” nant themselves Thursday winning the He laughed thinking about the fact boys’ meet 181.5 to 140 over runner-up that he ran his fastest 400 meters ever Northview. South Christian was third on the first lap of the 800, and while he with 104.5 points ahead ofTK 59, West didn ’t PR in that race he knows just how Catholic 52.5, Grand Rapids Union 49 hard he is able to push now. Draaisma and Wyoming 42.5. came into the season really focused on TK heads to Portage Central High the 1600 so he is still working out that School Saturday, May 17, for its re­ 800 strategy. gional meet. The Trojans compete this TK senior Kyle Porritt had a runnerseason on the Division 1 level for the up throw of 126-0 in the discus. Junior first time. Luke Archer cleared 11-0 to place third in that event while senior teammate Hunter Tietz upped his PR to 10-0 to place sev­ enth in the vault. Trojan junior Derious Robinson improved his Closed or Open Cell long jump PR to 19-0.25 or Blown-In Fiberglass to place seventh in that event. Roy Mast • 517-652-9119 The top relay finish for the TK boys was a fourth­ 2501 N. Ionia Rd., Vermontville place performance in the * * si SPRAY FOAM 1 1 * w/ • f f 1 I a I t? ' I ■ I ! >1 I I i»! ' n * .1 I « u K u b b H I « 1 A A b I s i i 1 \ I MV �t 12 Saturday, May 17. 2025 ■-X THE SUN AND NEWS TK golfers fifth at final OK Gold Conference jamboree Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thornapple Kellogg varsity boys’ golf team placed fifth at the final OK (iold Conference jamboree of the sca.son Thursday, May 8. The Trojans shot a 179 al Boulder Creek Golf Course. South Christian won the day’s event with an overall score of 154. Northview was second with a 165 ahead of West Catholic 165 and Wayland 171. Behind the Trojans, Grand Rapids Union put together a score of 183 and Wyoming 219. TK sophomore Parker Dahley led his team with a 42 that had fiim 13th individually for the day. Trojan seniors Will Nathan and Kylan Pratt both put up scor 45, and fellow senior Tyler Voss scored a 47. Northview senior Roman Tysse shot an evcn-par-36 on the Wildcats’ home course. Union sophomore James Fowler and South Christian freshman Brody Shills both scored 37s. The Sai lors had four guys al 40 or bel­ ter. Senior Brody Monlsma shot a 38, senior Wyatt Sall a 39 and sophomore Harris Hoekwatcr a 40. The TK boys were with the rest of the conference again May 15 for the OK Gold Championship at Kauffman GolfClub. TK had a couple non-conference duals in the lead-up to the conference tournament. Zeeland East took a 177 188 win over the TK boys at Yankee Springs Wednesday and the Trojans were bested 160-164 by Byron Center at Yankee Springs Monday. Dahley led TK at both events with a two-over-38. * Visit us online at mihomepaper.com 8196 hroadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 Caledonia KXFNSHIP Phone 616 891.0070 l ax; 616.891 0430 CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA KENT COUNTY. MICHIGAN PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the Charter Township of Caledonia will hold a public hearing on June 2 nd , 2025, at 7:00 p.m., at the Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor SE, Caledonia, MI 49316. The public hearing is to receive comments regarding the application of Caledonia Public Schools for a special land use for additional signage on parcel number 41-23-30-400-019, at 9757 Kraft. 412330400019 PART OF SE 1/4 COM 1162.27 FT N OD 02M 03S W ALONG E SEC LINE FROM SECOR OF SEC TH N 89D 43M 33S W 1312.01 FT TOE LINE OF W 1/2 SE 1/4 TH N OD 1 IM 1 IS E ALONG SD E LINE 799.99 FT TO N LINE OF S 1/2 NE 1/4 SE 1/4 TH S 89D 43M 33S E ALONG SD N LINE 1308.93 FT TO E SEC LINE TH S OD 02M 03S E ALONG E SEC LINE 800.0 FT TO BEG * SEC 30 T5N RIOW 24,07 A. S' WWW. sunandnews com Scot golfers third at final OK Green jamboree Brett Bremer Sports Editor The OK Green Conference will gather al Saskatoon Thursday, May 22, for the OK Green Conference Championship. Jlic Fighting Scots placed third at the final nine-hole conference jamboree of the season Monday al The Meadows on the campus of Grand Valley Stale University in Allendale. Mona Shores won that final conference jamboree with a score of 164. Reeths-Puffer was second with a score of 167 strokes ahead of Caledonia 168, Jenison 172 and Byron Center 173. Senior Sam Miersen led the Caledonia boys with a 39. He hd a birdie on the par-4 number two and then closed his round with a second birdie on the par-4 number six. Freshman Alex Postma shot a 41 for the Scots, and junior Camden Quigley and junior DJ Robinson both shot 44s. Jenison junior Brady Pettenger and Reeths-Puffer junior Kristian Brown both shot 38 to tie for the day’s top individual honors. Miersen’s 39 was matched by Mona Shores junior Eddie Kuznar. The Sailors also got a 40 from senior Lincoln Harwood. Caledonia will tune-up for the conference tournament playing in the Mona Shores Invite on Monday, May 19. Brett Bremer Sports Editor The number one singles spot in ihc OK Green Conference should just keep getting tougher and tougher over the next few years. Fighting Scot freshman Berkley Nelson was 2-1 in her three matches at the conference tournament hosted by Byron Center Thursday, May 8. Jenison freshman Kelsey ITiompson look the first singles championship with a couple straight set victories in^ding a 6-3, 6-3 win over Nelson in me championship match. Nelson and Tliompson squared off four times this season with Nelson winning the season opener in a super tiebreaker. Nelson look the next three meetings - two in two close sets and an­ other meeting in a third-set tiebreaker. Nelson also had a 6-0, 6-2 win over Reeths-Puffer junior Olivia Smith and a 6-0,6-2 win over Byron Center fresh man Sharon Okoh. Okoh and the Bulldogs clinched the team conference title by winning Thursday. The Bulldogs finished the day with 14 points. Mona Shores was second with 10 points ahead of Jenison 9, Caledonia 6 and Reeths-Puffer 5. The only other singles win on the day for the Scots came from fourth singles sophomore Gretchen VanderEide who beat out Jenison sophomore Jimena Castro 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in a three-setter. The Caledonia second doubles team of seniors Zoe Fleming and Hailey Markwat, third doubles team of junior Kebe Fitzell and freshman Emery James, and fourth doubles team of ju­ niors Maya White and Hellen Komera won one match each as well. 4 I tu > All interested persons may attend the public hearing and comment on the proposed rezoning. Written comments concerning the request may be submitted to the Township office, at the above-stated address, up to the time of the public hearing. Dated: May 12, 2025 PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA % ,r .6 V V V ' 'i' .> r t ,1 Caledonia TOr^S^IF 3 \ > t 1 k • I 1 .<41^ <>?> * r »> * < / Bid I i-* • 3 V .3 • A, »• ?i l> I y » t Id V .V -y 1 f .2 I C"'" .y 1*'^ \ > > ’ ht T Ik I u. ..V I 5 HftO vnlr<,^i ‘''- Imtr iJt r V t . * ’.Ml*' 1 I Z’' ■ I II I I •1^'' ir / »•» «k 9 1'^ 1 I 9 it - ?•*' I IV i I 4 IP* : I f 4 4* to kt villi'. I f I'?* W** ’ . I k I •*dLi“ 4 ‘\V.^ 0 I- : I 1 r .1 nn ‘iHiw • J I M. > if* t X* 9 1*''. V' r4 . 44i>i I i lit ► ** nvi Ji ** h i. < V I v 1 * pl I ii; ■ I.J I { I 4 I « •.I*':-’ • >* .•fl:' • \ iiGe'' jt-' u»»‘r fu ’ I 1 I I i I J I J '.n»*i •■i SCOTS 4 t t 1 • I *« * I t r I ! >« w r ! 8 • » I rj t i 7» *' :r5’> I I 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SB Caledonia. Ml 49316 ■ B>n| J I I • I ^st Phone; 616 891 0070 Fax ; 616.891.0430 I ►< ’ 4a* •* Xww» J 1 4* t 1 u Ii I **. .p. I V“.A. |1 1 /* • ■ SPLIT/COMBINED ON 08/06/2021 FROM 41-23-30-400-015; V*' ■ Nelson gets two wins in top flight at OK Green tourney V CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA KENT COUNTY. MICHIGAN PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the Charter Township of Caledonia ' I * t s I1 will hold a public hearing on Monday, June 2 at 7:00pm at the Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue, SE, Caledonia Michigan, 49316. The request is for a special land use on parcel 41-23-06-300-041, located in the I-l and 1-2 district at 6633 Konkrete Drive. In the I-1 portion of the parcel, the applicant is seeking "light manufacturing, including the processes of grinding or otherwise processing raw products for wholesale ” The applicant is seeking to crush concrete on site for up to three weeks per year. All interested persons may attend the public hearing and comment on the proposed rezoning. Written com­ ments concerning the requested rezoning may be submitted to the Township office, at the above-stated address, up to the time of the public hearing. Dated: May 5.2025 PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA r I •»* T t . , I I . i X J f I .' '• -I V > « • -fM ..;.V /i.H ■ rr II I CXIO m? 1 t > 1 * 1“ c ■ t 4 «1 «•« •* * ’ I u I « -*w. 4. *4. « ♦ d 4. I •f z a I ♦ T I 9 4 4 iI !, ii' f i *1 41 9 f I f I t 4 J f I V i �« 4 % : I .I I A i ^>1 > www.sunandnews.com .Xx% Trojan tennis in three-way tie for second at Goid tourney V• I 9 A 1 i?’ 'It V-. * ■3' l» * ;: <11 I i %k • .i ( • I. T ->j, ■ ' f >: ••LL. 4* i ■’I ■«» k *0: k I J I I ^1. * TV* 't ' Ji- H w n s k JIfr I 4. I* 4 • I I I s ' ;> I' 1 J** '« X t ’ II s » \X A J J 4 I 1 k 5' / *X-M ■ 'i *> ' - z “ff; VA A 4 i .*L I I’. I; I, I I :e3 > 'J, J ( 1% •< •-': ’*9: '' ■ ’■'X*f T.. . s •b I. s ■kst a< . I - Vj « 1 lu *rk t» ' Ifl.1 I > ?, • I .< •< < J '?' Y h. •> f s I > 44<’ J Uf daw inb^ / « 9 1 I? t 41 • I .1 w < / •'V u ■ 1 V. I ■ba 1 ^riii ’♦ 1 Jr •' aihi> I 1. J*'. r 'k. ^4 •' k ( I b» *• < I m\ I «^’’<1 1 I . r • • f *irj Iwl., I «• .» 1 9^. > “*-» V r J J’?J; 1 wa<l Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ tennis team closed its first season in the reworked OK Gold Conference with a runner-up finish at the confer­ ence tournament last Thursday, May 7. South Christian won the confererice tournament with 16 points. Northview, TK and West Catholic all finished tied for second with 12 points ahead of Wayland with 11, Wyoming 1 and Grand Rapids l41ion 0. The Trojan second doubles team^f sophomores Molly Alden and Ca^ra Brouwer had the team’s top finish plac­ ing second at their flight. They took a default win over Grand Rapids Union andpulled out a 7-6(4), 6-3 win over the West Catholic duo of freshman Olivia Marti and sophomore Sydney Kesterke in the semifinals. Alden and Brouwer also pushed the South Christian second doubles team to three sets in the championship match with the Sailor team of senior Maddie Bultsma and freshman Jill Zondervan eventually scoring a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 win. Trojan junior Jordan Pranger had a third-place finish at second singles i k ila^ I -k . Kc •j :' L **' I 4 4 hkltoe» •* ** « . '• k '' z> >4 « r fl ‘*.- «• •> % 1 4 < iXVM »• * OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY I \ A 1 f » < ' i *» • ■■ft® ^^fesssai - s .1 » r ■ w 4X:. ' 4I» u SCOTS Continued from Page 14 4 * t ■s ftfk: 9! 8* fessiuj^ ... I **> r « *'*^^aiiiwi ; 1 9 * t 4* b »* « *4^ . J f ?* J ' 'W «»'-e /.n i J »- ' . 1 • 4 ,., kf’iw I ;S' eV* I i » V » -wa® ' 4 F I { 1 ’“i 9 .» t 1 1 1 / <; » 1 • ft' t 1 1 J i 1 ifn -■< 11 i » X •I f ) 2fca^*F . *r . ■ J * j 4 w* I 1 1 i>j . ■’fr I d ^Uivin^' i (■'iW'*' J I w.!*! . J.. ) ) I Thornapple Kellogg fourth singles player Emilia Sandborn knocks a forehand back at an opponent during the OK Gold Conference ChampionshipinMiddlevilleThursday, May 8. Photos by Brett Bremer Velting teamed withjunior Luke Smith, sophomore Grant Feldpausch and senior Ethan Bauer for the top relay finish of the day for the CHS boys. They finished second in the 4x800-meter relay with a time of 8:37.83. Also scoring at the meet for the Scots were Andrew Tava, Aaron Collins, Jonas Howell, Levi Dorband, Joshua Maier, Jayden McCoy, Capree Thomas, Con­ nor Myers, Levi Dorband, Aiden Hager, Bermett Snapper, Mason Morrell and Aidan Edgar. The Scots are at Portage Central High School today. May 17, for their MHSAA Division 1 Re­ gional meet. IK I * u 4 X C * -A J L L « < * < it .4 « 9 4 I * r I » * K * « 4 < { « »» • » * i «c* 9 » r •> i Cl s > X* « I 9 A » »• 9 # « » ** z »4 < * f > « « * 4 « 9 k » • . k *'«k* 4.* if ■« NOW HIRING View Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST Responsibilities include: • • • • Advertising sales Account management Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts Attend networking events Group email wsmith@mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder > r I i' , II 4 I 1 1 j ( l.i I I JII r 'J » s I 4 '!! I s I. I I. \ I Ite* ' S I I •i t .J □L I » w * * ' * '• * . ♦ * ■ 7^ t * » .! » gr«7 I • I u I ( Li i > 9 ( I * 1 > I 74?* ) A': 1 x t k -fi"! • t, •' fc i* |4 k I r » .vv* •k I *• t A • Rf where she knocked off Northview senior Ava Leonardis 6-0, 6-4 in the match for third. TK also got a third-place finish from the third doubles team of sophomore Carli Ogle and junior Ava Zellmer. They defeated West Catholic freshmen Mia Palachecki and Ashley Kumer in the match for third 6-4, 6-1. At the top flight, TK senior Isabelle Schi Ithroat had a 1 -2 day to place fourth overall. She opened play with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Wyoming senior Saman­ tha Dang, but then fell to the eventual flight champion from West Catholic, sophomore Emily Holt. Holt earned the first singles cham­ pionship with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Northview seniors Peyton Underhill in the finals. Schilthroat closed her tournament with a 6-3,6-0 loss at the hands of South Christian senior Savana Michmerhuizen in the match for third. Trojan third singles player Natileigh Merchant was fourth at her flight too. She openedplay with a 6-1,5-7,7-5 win over Wayland’s Charlotte Markowski but then fell to foes from Northview and West Catholic. It was a good battle in the semifinals with Northview se­ nior Avery Lowe. Merchant took the See TENNIS on 16 15 Saturday, May 17, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS �I I Saturday. May 17, 2025 16 THE SUN AND NEWS a www.sunandnews.com i » 4 ♦ t I •>/ z f J ♦ I ♦ s / f < I i f i 4 f J A t X tf / * <'< 9 < < / f « f r; $ .1. J * ie 4 i '’-^5Sp z * t I 1 ow *** XT^W •■VP « JU • / «A': I A ,1 9 ! I A I f II I. L J i j M i 1 ’t ! GRAPHIC DESIGNER View Newspaper Group is seeking a iuii-time graphic artist for our Greenvitte tocation. MOMDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! Responsibilities include: • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout M/fe lore what we do and we know you will tool Are you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@thedailynews.cc and let’s find out' Group The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer's Guide & News The Sun and News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Reminder We are a growing company of 21 community newspapers serving 1S Michigan counties that are deiivered weeMy to more than 335,000 households with an additionai500,000 monthly online readers. I 4 I J s .IP I I I V I i I i- ** •• opening set 6-3, but Lowe eventually overtook her with a 6-3 win in set two and then a 7-0 win in a tiebreaker at the end of the third set to advance. Junior Emilia Sandborn had one win F L r t: . i fl V *• r* J « < 'I 3 ’ / f « *7 • •< * * Ut* Lt ’ 4 I ’ •7 Wi T J J ;' 1 <4* »--4- i I «. k . < « 1 ; . H ' I 4 1 1 i . uj a u { i i 1 . ' . k M . M r ( i 1 « *-^^11 r i > iini~A 4 I < .<• ,2. HM •>*♦-*-* -w-i- » <!■ ♦ • ’ I & ►x r 4 4 ii *> '■^ * I I • 1 mcnt 29ot is >l3Kl yeitov b )ir* ol ni pr MO artt 16 8no3tB=l erU I9vo sigO It isC .8 vbM yebsiuflT ioorto2 rIpiH nBrish •z s ' r&; w* ID Continued from Page 15 ■ t • ♦ < ♦ J M Zellmer leans in to hit a volley back at foes from West Catholic during her win with teammate Carli Ogle over the Falcons at the OK Cold Conference Championship at South Christian High School Thursday May 8 TENNIS I I 4 I t it I , > iUi -U; "V t I mrrv 1 Hl! 1 *3-4 4 ^aoiiMMI ■ J • ’ - * » 11 1 > F-.-t ■» * t'1 i . (I > t r *-T JI J I 1 Trj-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen k* ww • w ■ » •ww 4 n • — 2 7 wWw -t f:'; I ^0^ •>“* A^l I i 7r • H t< T J L r f Are you creative? — NOW HIRING — i —*- 4 i J J ■ L ( * I * *V* AA vHiC 4 /4 A \ 4 I I fr t iraaii; J r J di A ■ ■ 'X ■ •» i: The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer’s Guide Jeffersonian kenn « / I 4 * * -* rw? % > >■* »» I — z w.. J i -77* t" '7' ■I * jp » ( ■ * ... I t a - --------- i WmI . 4i • •••» my ■a > < z r I <*30 A ■W » rlH :zJ 4 ■ fi <« t * 1 MJ tI > A 2 < X V - ■ 9 4 I1. » !I >? A > K 4 / 5 * » * »’ • I » t < f ► tc A/ 1 / / L ?? «S'. I n z f It, 4 1 T I ♦' X r < < ♦ ♦ 4 >> t ♦ > » • V < f nioo^awwibnsnua .www in consolation at fourth singles for TK, as did the third doubles team of Natalie Culver and Chloe Yates, and the first doubles team of Jalyn Grimes and Elise DeBoer. TK was set to head to Byron Center for its MHSAA Division 2 Regional Wednesday, May 14. lot 891^018 ririuoi )a noUBloenoo lo fiffia) 891dud> tairit 9ritlxb 86.,^ bng ,23mY toMO 1I’v. T3VfaO ^ilBtl asmnO nxlsllo fimaj esiduob iTift; .rsoRsa 88(131 i^raD noT(a oi baad oj 138 ebw XI iBooigsfr £ iroiaivKI AA8HM zli •M yeM .{Bbeanbi * i I t J i F I j F J VOLLEYBALL Continued from Page 9 years, so we have Lukas [Palmitier] and then Deacon [Sidebotham], and Parker [Knoop] and Christian [Moorlag] those four they take the lead a lot ofthe time, so they’re like a major part ofthis team. All of ^em have gotten better every single year too. They play club, at Impact, so they are getting lots of touches, lots of reps. Especially our middles and in this conference, I think ±ey stand out pretty big. That’s exciting.” Those middles are Sidebotham and Palmitier. Sidebotham powered the Fighting Scot attack at the net against South Christian in the final Wednesday, with the team’s setter Moorlag doing his best to find him often. “I think they’ve been playing to­ gether for so long, especially those four, I think that they enjoy the game and it shows, which obviously makes me proud as the coach,” Palrnateer said. She is a former setter for the CHS girls’ team and now plays club ball at Grand Valley State University. Palrnateer said Eli Hanna, a defensive specialist, is a youngster she has really seen make some strides this spring. The CHS coach added that she has also really liked the improvements from libero Parker Knoop whose versatility has been important for the program this season. The Scots are interested to see how things shake out next year. They ’ d love to have their Thomapple Kellogg and Wayland teammates back yet, but Palrnateer said a decision hasn’t been made yet ifthe CHS team will be a co-op program when it opens varsity play. Spencer Napperand Jeremy Palmitier j oin Palrnateer on the coaching staff this season. The CHS coach said she likes the com­ munity that is growing around the program in Caledonia. She likes having former play­ ers coming back to help guide the team. This season’s roster also includes Thomas McKee III, Gage Reynhout, Joseph Bawi, Kaeler Fox, Kyle Nguyen, Austin Tufts, Jaren King, Russell Grandon and Rydik Wrubel. A .ytiaravraU 81012 yall aviziB^ c .sniBH tlH too 139: Klllllfi< <11081 ood aria 'ralesfliioy s at ^atiob .§anqa atdl asbnia dtaoa sistn n oto aod 8ria 10111 bsbbe (bfioo 2H0 9<£ 0f»dH raorfi atoanBVCTKpniariibaiil xt trod eod ylififfiarav saoriw qoodX 13)1 :-u .rK)3B38 eUHf jltsullju sdl toI iflonrx wori 998 c4 bolaSBlffl 916 2100? 3ff o) 3voi b' yariT .TS9y txan mo sifiria 8§i -XbW Imib ggoltsX slqipmodT itaril 3 T381sito3 lod Jay jbfid galBinniBal 1 If 9 i I I I i I ? I I I A ci r I V fv X X' 3flfti by sfaBiaBsad f naad notausb h ►! rrariw rafiigoiq (p-oo I sd lli'^ fanBi3cpsl4wtBq8 .yfilqyJiB' i:< v^^^ 9ib no T39Jfi£da9 riotiaiiinriB^ vm .008898 EOb'RBK -rao3 aril 893fil aria biBB riaeoo EHO 9f roBd u jcnqariJbauo® ^^oiwJig 8 i ifiriJ y& -YBlqT3tnKa§tHVBri?3)fil8d2 toobob .msst srit sbiug o^ari of jbed gniino 1 o! Ot U! u.J §0111: 1 . ■3 > I ac r. G. C j ‘C h 1* / f; I s i gfthiiHrrr 081fi 2 nO8fi98 xH fe joofiirrsM 3§bO ,in gen I .asyng^ atyX .xoT isiaaJi jwBfl ric I -nsiO Ibazuil .gmX tmel .aw f ru lacknW t®* V n : � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-05-24.pdf dbfed3d3f8f2614c855a8d6c480891f4 PDF Text Text 7<• r www.sunandnews.com mortT .allivatbbiM nl beilzE qirtznwoT howmtt yluL i9vd gnimos ni tnaws 9. I Middleville, Thornapple Township asked to take over July 4 fireworks event in coming years I ■» 1 odJriflJb I oti! bfTs ij., / Ofcrrtrfhbif/ hfl/S Olbo^^ V/Ef' ofli wwlf K)l vliH K3jtel Hw ffi'" jtnii'jarwtb snoiv’ jfjwj oriJ to qiri'^ » ijst2oi‘ /trmTHr> «r tn’’** ,<^fA .dal ) moi.l ■jlir/tfbbitz I »rajtoq> .dwl ' ^dr >IT 4367 moil nooijdiUnoj ziifisy .jw/ writ JZ'sn 9rfi 101 I tiqqBmcMn Woi jtwf! ofafini 1x1 2T3d(Tnni bixofl n odr moil rHrtfd iTiivoJfr^vod 5llr/^bblt^ t c * •5^ M ** A I ir^r jbfiH a» ot vxnuriJuA 107 hoBl 01 !!*/*< Bit 9ft> 01 •> 'nottsid«bo h T<v«» 000>)<? wt ibMirP’ * ldh / orir 9dy«t( Jfirti faiBB IV7 71UI Kpoofi Www/ qjriwiwo; MOO /1 TOdt r/z tuatr iKxn mb faiw R/: ol ) KfK»i. 1 >iii fr*vrngnjo Jl sbwrtJ rj *>Hf b3\tnfia») bhI orf/z jbsd »rryw| ni dul’) Bnoul afrlo I o)boijc*i oflbeig v»> rOOS vrf fidiTn® rV/ \ 11 nt . t .Tfirnl <X)Qj£. I«> znohui^t ^1-!J i 4 f// hinjitf iH mod (MU? J3«n^ 3t i tsoei rmft b»m niit ■! 'i. Is; ad tAarr/' .tnews odi :' / J J I r f r*oT st^J^wrorn A 'i p t « i • u. )?«3iqx*j lOlMrioP^onS ,r h'.HnOnor) tidaol ;il3^U i i ■ 4 • I 7 >1 e j(i naori ar/’P* .’■1 ?'r* 1 rv JI iibiUH J fOfiB ciimnBM waiKKinrr;. ti /h 3*qrxMi Io '>h:nQincf» bnt. A kO*’**' 71 .bUiiJr, I'; aidi7i7V7 iol nov huumms 49938 ItjBifti 01 (JU snot) r x.^ QlVd bVlD II I Both the Thomapple Township Board and the Middleville Village Council have agreed to fund Middleville’s Fourth of July Celebration for three more years before discussing who will take owner­ ship of the event. The event is currently hosted by the Middleville Lions Club. Andrew Beck, representing the club, spoke to both boards last week asking for a $6,(XX) yearly contribution from each entity for the next three years. Beck told Thomapple Township Board members he made the request following a decision from the Middleville Downtown Development Authority to cut back their contribution to the event, as well as to facilitate the celebration’s growing scale. The ask is for $6,000 over three years, and that maybe the village or the township would accept (the event) as their child,” Beck said. “I come with it and am more than willing to assist, but I think it’s outgrown the Lions Club.” Beck, who has organized the event on behalf of the Lions Club in previous years, said he hoped to transition the ownership of the event by 2027 or 2028. With con tributions of $6,0(X) from each municipal board, $2,(XX) from Bradford White and several from local businesses, Beck said the event would be able to continue to be held with no admission costs. Thomapple Township Supervisor Eric Schaefer expressed his thanks to Beck for his continued efforts to make the event happen every year. (C I’ve been at the event, I've seen the thousands upon thousands Moaa uawoisno of people that enjoy it wuNsaisau SSMHJJ and participate, ” Schaefer ■cmtR wume OK W Orf said. “It's great. Thank ecc« you for everything you’ve IW eiiiAueejo done up to this point.” bOttVQti bMBLkU' ■ 4 • A?A. -J 3 4 r * *A ♦ AT bte i (Jontributing Wrrter a * r <9 Hunter McLaren I irifni^'ii I ♦I 4< > •r *«■* M The Gaines Township Board of Trustees discusses the township s long-range vision and priorities during a May 12 meeting at the township hall Photo by Jamei Gemmen Gaines Twp. officials rank priorities James Gemmell Contributing Writer The Gaines Township Board of Trustees, without a formal vote, at the board’s May 12 meeting approved vision and mission state­ ments to help staff members focus on township priorities over the next several years. “This is not only a big decision, but potentially a township-chang­ ing decision,” Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra wrote in a May 5 memo. “Our vision/mission statement will create priorities and point us toward future goals.” The township board first discussed the statements at a special meet­ ing April 28, when board members began formulating a set of priorities for long-term growth. At the meet­ ing, each board member also ranked their preferred priorities by placing sticky notes on seven large poster boards regarding issues including branding, affordable/attainable hous­ ing, parks and grounds Department; additional parks and trails. Prairie Wolf Park, public safety and the township’s branch library. The ranking of those priorities was revealed at the May 12 board meet­ ing. Prior to the meeting, however, trustees settled on the vision state­ ment: “Gaines Charter Township provides quality living for genera­ tions to come.” They also agreed on a mis­ sion statement that reads, “Gaines Charter Township honors our heri­ tage, creates a hospitable, respon­ sible and engaging environment for residents, business owners and com­ munity partners to assure a vibrant future for generations.” Both statements will be placed on the township website, gainestownship.org. “I think what you came up with is fabulous,” Trustee Tim Haagsma said. “There was a lot of input that went into this, a lot of different ideas all kind of came together,” added Township Treasurer Laurie Lemke. To address the issue of branding, Terpstra said he would like to pur­ sue hiring a consultant to create a new logo, including colors, tagline and images. No vote was taken on the request, after he said there is more work to do. “All of that will impact our pub­ lications and our website,” Terpstra added. “And we have a (township) news­ letter going out,” Lemke said. “We can incorporate our vision and our mission statement in that.” In addressing other priorities: Affordable/attainable housing Township officials have said they would like to maintain a rural feel in Gaines. Development of a township parks See RANK on 4 jorn,.. f♦ tt . w - «» « * munpAY REMEMBER AND’HONOR »r •. J!' > • > f fi 1 •l I MAY 26,2025 •l Ik * * -A T T.H 1 I, •1 aovisod sn 019 iSUd I ( 9 ■ft �IT ii* I Saturday, May 24, 2025 2 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I' 1 e—* p CHS Class of 1975 gathers for reunion n. J I*--*. I ^*^**^! * '» 2-' . .vMK ( c,, b9<.> I r' t/.-. / i < •^11^ ** * ** t *h 'ZJ > I > I '•.5 V 1 I I J I •A ^1^ L. * < J »* /• 9^ w t u * ? ^7 V mi • * w MS*' 4 < *** ‘ ■ % t *-^5’’ L I w . • .L * I-U* ♦* ii ♦ K w K X 4• /> £•>1, 4 44 1 *' t./ * T •*a f 1 J f-’ii rO V ilsL^ 1* .4 IM V '> * \ /• ♦t < J 5 . 'r > t i h i » It < r r,. 4 I* i .7*;. I • ••< •> 1 Caledonia High School’s Class of 1975 celebrated its 50th reunion on Saturday, May 17, at Briarwood Golf Course in Caledonia. Over 80 attendees gathered to reminisce and reconnect. Highlights included a performance of Caledonia Alma Mater, a special tribute to the late Roger Loring, 1975 class president, and activities like a50/50 drawing and silent auction. A cake was donated by D&W. Organizers gave their thanks to everyone who contributed to making the event possible, including the local businesses that donated items. Courtesy photo •• I .. '.T* < < I Si' iB 5 i ' 1W ■ • -*if J » f* I Of b9f1?f V I k ( fti < * I t / \ I J I A > it- ?> it > < rP 9' i r • / I 11 I A 9 I h 9^ , rif® V ) t I •< t w bea|^ .f i e*: W* I iBini J.-' iTBdV.' JIBO. 'A 4 I K f W 'Klfj/lS'V© OM trt ?rh urii^lBnBi If : •f ,tr ‘0l t.ftt i ifJHtffll I V♦ i !•* * *»--- «' W —I ■ i.- Memorial Day services set throughout area Molly Macleod ceremony on Sunday, May 25, at 4 p.m., held at the Yankee Springs Memorial, located next to the fire station. Michigan Trucks United is hosting its 6th armual Gun Lake Memorial Day Cruise on Monday, May 26, at 11 a.m. Staging will open at the Gim Lake Commimity Church at 9 a.m. on Mon­ day, followed by a 10:30 a.m. drivers’ meeting, safety meeting and playing of the national anthem. The cruise, which spans 26 miles, will end at ChiefNoonday Car Park, where a Memorial Day cruise-in event is taking place. Orangeville Township will hold a Memorial Day observance on Simday, May 25, begirming at 2 p.m. at 7350 Lindsey Road in Plainwell. The public is invited to join guest speakers and community volunteers to participate in the event commemorating Memorial Day and fallen veterans. Also, Hickory Comers will host a Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 26, a tradition that has been intact for over 60 years now. The event kicks off Editor t 4 Monday May 26, 2025 Schedule for Cemeteries £ Addresses Alaska 9:00 AM. 68th St. and Thornapple River Drive Blain 9:45 AM, 1270 68th St. Dutton 10:30 AM, 7000 Hanna Lake Ave. k Holy Corners r i .~j«im Caledonia American Legion Post #305 . . H i »u i k 11:15 AM, 84th and Kraft Caledonia 12:00 Noon, 503 Elm St. & ^■er 1 Locals have several opportunities to honor veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice at Memorial Day services later this month. In Middleville, the Lions Club is hosting its annual Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 26, at 10:30 a.m. Parade participants will line up at Thomapple Valley Church, 20 W. State Street in Middleville, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Monday. The Caledonia American Legion Post 305 is hosting several events throughout the Caledonia area on Monday, May 26. Services kick off at the Alaska Cem­ etery at 9 a.m. on May 26, followed by a service at the Blain Cemetery at 9:45 a.m. Services at the Dutton Cemetery begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by a service at the Holy Comer Cemetery at 11:15. Finally, flie Legion will host a service at Caledonia’s Lakeside Cem­ etery at noon on Monday, May 26. Yankee Springs Township also in­ vites the public to its Memorial Day with a pancake breakfast at the Hickory Comers Fire Department from 7 to 9:30 a.m. The parade begins at 10 a.m. sharp and will start at Cadwallader Park, proceeding east through town and ending at East Hickory Comers Cemetery. The annual event traditionally attracts well over 100 spectators and participants. A ceremony in the cemetery will fol­ low the parade, featuring guest speaker Retired Colonel Frank J. Walker. The Delton Kellogg High School and Gull Lake High School bands will perform. The event also has a scheduled flyover. “This is a wonderful parade and one that has taken place for over 60 years. Each year, the parade gets larger and larger. Besides the highlights above, we have several tractors, horses/carriages, fire trucks from several surrounding fire departments, floats, classic cars, Boy/Girl Scout troops, 4-H participants and local children on their decorated bikes. There are also a few hundred spectators that come to see our parade,” said Chris Reed, parade coordinator. f.., I ?T* J - ’^4 c J p- ‘jaiBsrifin B f c? >4* <r s f. . f 4 triM IJ rii feofcirj .>r E 7 r saiiEbainirs ’ Ite s * ^Wbte 1 - ■ - !-q z ry A /2'4 ^4! I* Lkl^: ► f •R «? *©6. rr » t n I * i■ t JI 1 1 I I •4 •i7 I k r ; P»*’ tf r II I > XI V I 2 r c-y - n it ■ H'l' > -1 I 4 i 4 i . - mQ?VO /i- mq J i” •> t r A i {ji^. ilrTlBtriaS'H 8«orfta|il<Wz i|.TgnihraTC * ■ I ten'zsg [ ’ -J sj pqb ■’.t JI N TST A ' nrfiBMW ■f * .1 • X M A- •Jr juMrutti. C- ■ j> "34 ^7?l ■Mitel r\n ;x“;‘x J I J. 4 ^9 WV W V I I I 1 THE SUN AND NEWS ) I I I The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com CONTACT US Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihomepaper.com ifiTiffmiB gfff r '' 5 ’ PUBLISHED BY t J »mn imjisu Sports: Brett Bremer Advertising Manager Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com Marketing arrd Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Vonksr jyonker@mihomepaper.com Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher bbremer@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 1 % RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper ftil^il 1 Copyright 2025 ® 2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. Alt advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept., 1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. k I * I I I I I 1 MW* r*-~ > IT $ I r r* e « 44 teVW i M I M -? Ic Vf : F ■ ■■ ■'W < f fe 5 X * III J, 1 J t t 'I <! tI �fc1 tr 1 I I f I V. J. V i i .UI V in 3L 0 ’ ) ilcitso it I noiS?.! ,nti ITC set to conduct aerial patrols of transmission lines I ■f I I I 1 I I 9 I I r 1 371 I 'V 7 i I t •J I ft*' ^ioil noi2x^ 'itai ji*>V 1 ■i J Si^Tj } / I / 4 In bciTL<}3ri 'HJ aoj ’’I yr bg& A V ft < A •* f p JCz © f ’*4 Xl ft* t 4 3 So J J 4 ’th. u. b . : 1 ^^..4- 1J tfl T vi^vMV i (*A 1 « Si' 1r i ; - 4 k; C' s*’A* 4; »!A 'SlSi I - ’ - Hi me L si 'll /ft I V r>- I . A V » 4 .; A' 'll o 9 > t Ji I ObM 1 < Js’U- *» MJ Vx. ^5 *%0T f liiiildlk. 91^ fl 9 ) w ' t r d ’A z c. «« V I 4 J J F t • ’'f^fcLT, Hb ! ft .%t u/ ; I I I I i haiBR’! i I J.J > usKtr Ofl M Ii • Bgeoii't o iL.; * «■ I f (i^li.L : I r F B OGOlCf flQi :x.- V* I I I < r .J’ f; a . r• f 3\riaq[nK»«d/4& V-- I ] 1 MB /T'l I obtfljll r •:oi22;rii I I I 1 . 'ib 1 or?'TOn! ♦ '■ I; Si « ' F <1^ r jvrTfTito OfL • : ri H I > El 4 > -.7^^ 2 J 4 a *6 . —4 ; •r T • I ?i,a Weather permitting, ITC will be conducting aerial patrols of the high-voltage transmission struc tures and lines in Michigan dur­ ing the period of May 2%June 30. According to a statement released by ITC officials, the helicopter patrols are conducted to provide an overall status of the overhead transmission sys­ tem that is operated by ITC’s Michigan operating entities ITC Transmission and Michigan Electric Transmission Co. The aerial inspections will cover nearly all of the Lower Peninsula. While the dates may change, ITC officials stated the effort is set to begin on May 27 with patrols in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. The patrols are set to include Barry County, as well as Allegan, Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, Monroe, Ottawa, Shiawassee, St. Joseph, Van Buren and Washtenaw counties from June 12-17. The effort reportedly will wrap up with patrols over coun fl* ties in the northern portions of the Lower Peninsula from June 24-30. The patrols are a North American Electrical Reliability Corporation requirement for ITC’s vegetation management program, support proactive main­ tenance objectives and are in line with the company’s model for operational excellence. They include inspections of all trans­ mission structures and equipment including, but not limited to, monopoles, steel towers, wood poles, conductors (wires), insula tors and other equipment. According to the company’s recent statement, crews check See PATROLS on 5 •-’4 I L' I / I' 1 .Ui !*• 3K I LlV. f /• J ■ ( Z9 ' • I dl * »♦ . 73 •1 4 I mmuiv r- I 5 *" • ■ Haj CW*-* ’k^**^'* TV — A f 1 z t J \ X'' T 2y» □ 9 « L*V. f \ It % k »ww« CW » . » 1 I '4 'A u< flar Tie ,< J (C F t f -Jf; r ; SVSh ri I \ I ' -« I 1 V r * fl* * tI u . 1 t I J 7 ti / (I T < Y 1/ 1' w r .;V* <!P 1 K *.z -I 1 ’A t ‘J 19 « i;- L ► J A f r i d K k* I**' vr' < .» •• • » •n -Siu 1 t 4 • » -ft 4 < 4- ( 4« V % » 1 « ...i i * Five senior girls from Caledonia High School walked away with a $1,000 scholarship when a group of students and their mothers gathered at the high school on May 19 for the an­ nual Senior Girls Brunch hosted by the Caledonia Women’s Club. The event is intended to celebrate the students’ accomplishments. The scholarships went to Malia Deese, Sophia Gauthier, Jenny George, Gretel Knipping, and Nirdhvaitha Ku­ mar, as well as the $1,000 Trade and Vocational Scholarship to Emma Stein. Additionally, Erin Peckham was honored as the recipient of the Cale­ donia Women’s Club Heritage Schol­ arship, which she received on May 14 during Senior Recognition Night. The audience listened to guest speaker Brittany Barber Garcia, PhD, who told the young women always to remember that accomplishments don’t measure their value and that true fulfillment comes from doing their best, embracing their successes, and remaining ground ed in their core values and beliefs. s .f > ■w .i «^ 1 f t it ' ■ - ■<. V ft Caledonia Women’s Club scholarship recipients include (front row, from left) Jenny George, EmmaStein, (middle row) Gretel Knipping, Nirdhvaitha Kumar, (back row) Sophia Gauthier, Erin Peckham and Malia Deese. Courtesy photo ir ir ir ir if if if if if if ir ir ir if if if ir ir ir ir if ....—Il ■ft’ ★ ★ ★ if ^s. Sprague is tuminainherfinat assignment! ★ if * p if i^ if ★ YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. if if if You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors... and our future. VIEW Group ★ > I ★ t ★ if if if > J# t ★ J ;>ss k ★ ★ ★ r ZL 4 ★ • Patriotic Cottons in 45” & 108 4a: » ★ • Holiday Prints Arriving VT a w ■tj* Jesus Loves Ils r QUESTIONS: HSd ASK US... IMMWIMB MdPt-r k rli % 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-S pm > J I 4 I 1 I. t »*4 I J • l' ; f 7 ri ( 4 : .1 i * I u '1 I I.-. I ★ . I I • Quilts for all occasions I 1 ;^Mar ‘ » I I t I I kJ I 'j •H." • ! I I •1 % 1 T 1 f $ f ' fl 1 f i 1. li h I «a l>l:t I 'fi II rn. I a 4 ( I »4 LL E -if5 I « <4dPf Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer J b *. • 3 Outgoing seniors awarded Memoriai Schoiarships from Cai Women’s Club I s* Saturday, May 24, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I • r •v^ •sTj L tr V After 31 incredible years at Thomapple Kellogg Middle School, Rojean Sprague is hanging up her teaching badge and starting the next adventure. Mom, we are so proud of the ways you’ve nurtured. encouraged, thousands of --------------- s7- -»and --------inspired —I------------------------------------TK kids from your classroom. Please join us in saying congratulations by sharing a sweet note or your favorite memories! if ★ * if if Love, Ross & the kids ' HvJsf Cleaned tickusfi Sifftion *w*e I tllf All letters can be mailed to: Mrs. Rojean Sprague PO Box 101 Middleville, Ml 49333 ■ itifi^ifirifiti^ifieiHritifitifififif if if I �4 Saturday, May 24, 2025 Obituaries Richard S. Bryans Richard S. Bryans, age 91 of Middleville, Ml passed away on Monday, May 5, 2025. Dick was born at home in Hastings, Ml to Carl and Myrtle (Coleman) Bryans on July 16,1933. He grew up in Hastings and graduated from Hastings High School in 1951. He played basketball and ran track. In 1954 he married Betty Marie Lenz and <* V d I Anne (Dan) Wenger; sisters. Marilyn Bryans, Belva and r Bob Barry, Elaine Cooley; son-in-law, Kary Morris. Dick was a devoted family man. He was slightly spoiled by Betty’s cooking and baking, and his four daughters took pretty good care of him too. He was blessed with 10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, they had a wonderful life together with many adventures over those 70 years. He is at peace now, reunited with Betty who passed away on January 31, 2025, and his daughter, Jane Morris, who preceded him in death in 2015. Dick was also preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Myrtle Bryans; in-laws, Harry and Reatha Lenz; brother, Bob Bryans; sisters, Betty and Robert James, Evelyn and Ken Sprague; 3^. LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM www.alaskabaptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST Sunday Service 10:30 AM Caledonia Vine Street Church Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin 250 Vine Street 9:30 a.m. . Ill N 1 ¥-t -• ^1 M> Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcnis.googlepages.com Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET- 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH !* ‘ r CHURCH » 3. 7 o'>5,v 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am b, THORNAPPLE VALLEY ■■ Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee I • » I I cornorstoncmi.ory/wockcncl L HOLY FAMILY /CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass .. 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. .4 ■ Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. 4-4-' T 1; Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church i w- a 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 "Shining Forth God's Light Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... rr 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. A Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am < ■J **♦ ii •f t A I \ ]ames L. Collison, Pastor www.yankccspringsbiblechurch.org •M: L.I HB V A I I : ,1 1 f, i < •r r r .1 'i ( .J • -*• 5 r* 1 4" « 9 • A 1 ' wA L M * J * •s• I < •z if’;’’ iTi t __ ■ * t Z/ 1 I r* V' tif' I / I I > ** 1 iSP'yj?-; ■ • s« I 4 jr.iua i 7% rni I FT fl “.Aw II.. i 1 »' ■■4 ; i,F t. -'1 sCsf^^ A r: *M * I RANK > r ■ l> 1(6 r «> I /• }HI 1 t 11 JI Continued from Page 1 and grounds department - Such a department would be charged with the upkeep of cemeteries, snow plow­ ing driveways and sidewalks, pruning trees along trails and trail cleanup. • Cemeteries - “We will need this sooner or later,” Haagsma said. “We need more than what we have. Blain Cemetery is a mess.” • Prairie Wolf Park - Priorities listed by township board members include the desire for a pavilion and upgrades to the buildings and bams. Other priorities included improved parking, addition of an amphithe ater or stage, educational programs, playground equipment, a suspen­ sion bridge and a fishing platform at Hardy Pond. • Public safety - The need for addi­ tional facilities, possibly including a third fire station in Gaines Township, as well as the need for additional fire department personnel. • Gaines Township branch of the Kent District Library - Replacement of fiuniture replacement, carpet and tile, painting of the walls, and addi­ tion of a fence to the front lawn so that programs can be safely conducted outdoors, as well as providing a bar­ rier between participants and traffic along 68th Street. r^v •'CC'.,'!' .’(• * Md 4 .4. rk 1 4i M i D D L E V LLL E 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcvifeb.com J : i 1 PEACECHURCH.ee CHURCH SERVICE TIMES: s. ** and Betty’s lives. His career was in the Redi­ Mix business in Hastings ■L and Middleville. He retired at the age of 62 where he was a loader operator at a local gravel pit. His hobbies included raising registered Simmental cattle, visiting numerous county and state fairs, solving the world’s problems over coffee at the TK Kitchen, woodworking, and making toy barns and bird houses. We will be celebrating both Dick and Betty’s lives on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home in Middleville with a visitation from 10 to 11 a.m., and a memorial service to follow at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Jane Morris Memorial Fund or the Barry County Fair Improvement Foundation. t f I ■ O. L *L Caledonia Location - ■ 4 .•V (269) 795-2391 AAPEACE sr,: .5 1% 616-891-8669 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church oc co Sunday Worship ■_ • -■rr U' ' Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) ‘t cornerstonechurch » Middleville -VY • IT X' 1^ IjjI * r JVIO •F’ ► ft^al r • » i t Ir 1 t * * -i* \ ' 'J*'4/. 1 ’ fl S«SS5S»f a. .i3fc( • Y .‘Tor I StStMlK ' Tj • ; J lU («»W^ L Z Lil. ' 1 • I -1 ’ . rnT-'-' uTs?sn?bIfed a HW w aCOBT^c. f’r I :qnj: ibDOfi 1 rlB I I !kiaS^ ioi iwn -tiT 1 A J • .■jrtrF' Ml? f I - -n I , 4 Mr«. * f q wP 3^’ i 1 41 I A* f' t J"" 4 * I I Ll. ' MM I• w I < r "•WW (•« .'G j 3EM( 4 J Mksia t-ifc £ hifc- I i; r r r- I •» ■»■ .i rnaou’-’l % I . 4 t J A 1,'M nBXr ^E ii'jSf'ter* rjthsc .J I ^0)^ A I A* )l i I I r I •t fj i u, 1 i k �*•11 t • J J I jiis I I J » 1 Ai I t b THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Saturday, May 24, 2025 5 t .1I1 «iu -ft m rl I* IS M' >> j£’: Annual sock hop, car show set for June 6 Classifieds I I I 4 1 Hut 1 I i I >u * ' 9 BUSINESS SERVICES GARAGE SALES DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOWPLOW­ ING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. GARAGE SALE- May 30 & 31st, Friday 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm. 4’x6’ covered cargo trailer, $875; tools, misc. househgold items. 4590 Circle Inn Dr., Shelbyville. 269-601-1977. tj . » CEMENT/CONCRETE . % I n* Xu 5 *• ' lU I •X' ■\ I ■VT < I liu / / 1 r ► k Hl CONSTRUCTION 1 Vi •N 1 -5* ■’Ts ^.un I CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 .4 I n - .< ^2 I a \ r -: 1 JNR BUILDERS Concrete flatwork; Driveways, patios, porches & steps. Stamped and colored, Licensed and insured. Call Jeff (616)293-7729 < .6 f I f TREE SERVICE I GUN HO ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GARAGE SALE! Fri.-Sat., May 30 & 31, 2025, 9am-5pm. Rain or Shine. This is a multi-family association sale! Sale locations between W. Joy Rd. & Lynden St. in Shelbyville (Gun Lake). Antiques, tools, household items, home staging decor, lake toys, cloth­ ing, furniture, and so much more! > h I BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy single walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793. »5. ‘‘Ml * 111^ 4* .u .« ‘ • ./ ' • » A ' •• ^■TiLi - a f 1 9 ( e I a EMPLOYMENT • • • t Ui ■ ^'.IJ > The buck stays here! * « O.- APPLIANCES EXPERIENCED GARDNER 3 to 4 days a week with flexible schedule. Please apply in person at Saskatoon Golf Club 9038 92nd St, Alto. •’f • ■ * i .1 *n A .«• 4»- V Invest In Your Community. Group LAWN & GARDEN V TROY-BILT TUFFY rototiller. Heavy duty. $250. 541-678-3988. COMMERCIAL-RENT • •* *-a I s Speri ft imra. Knap It heroL NEW KENMORE 5.3 cu. ft. range/ oven. Black, electric, self-cleaning. Asking $400. 541-678-3988. I Jb t I *■ The annual event is set to include live music, food, hula hoop contests and a limbo competition. The night is for both kids and grown-ups seeking boogie down in their best ’50s and ’60s threads, with “Best Dressed” prizes awarded to both kids and adults. Also, the classic car show is back. Line-up begins at 4 p.m. off of 92nd Street. First-, second- and third-place trophies will be awarded at 7:30 p.m. DM to the “raddest rides.” Caledonia Township is again pro­ viding fans of the 1950s and’60s the chance to go back in time to shake, rattle and roll at the fourth annual Summer Sock Hop & Car Show. Participants can dust off their old poodle skirts and cuff their jeans before cruising over to the Caledo­ nia Community Green on Dobber Wenger Memorial Drive in Caledo­ nia on Friday, June 6, from 5:30-8 p.m. for a blast from the past that organizers say people won’t forget. I ( BOATS WE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS jS; “*s» i.-** h* * 3}^^ * J r :STT"*' k- * p- ■ 4'" k *»!«- J J .n■te^5r^- *. t J I I >■*> € ■■ I' 1 f 3 ■■ • jar OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rapids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margopenc@remax.net 2015 SUN TRACKER 18’ Bass Buggy pontoon with yaht trailer, 2 live wells, fish finder, trolling motor, biminy top, canvas cover, and 60hp motor. Asking $20,000. Text or call 909-636-3690. Residential & Commercial i T t ' c JB c> e ’k •HV^ * 4.. f I J Uii I I J Continued from Page 3 * » • I ' fO h t iA f t J ]ka!i^£' Tn* } > t 'tnv“Tt r xiii:: I'-' t sk' I It .1 t. , 4 4 k « u > V t I .J ’h I ' •L/pU t t .J r ai ; i it f 5 I .1 I . 1 < « « I J I ( t *Z.M> I I I I ■ ri- 9 I •» I t F * f r .*;*•*' I ► I 1 ’j •1 I i 1 ‘-:f PATROLS . I r’f/L I .■ .o ' sion lines. For more information about ITC, persons may visit online at itc-holdmgs.com. DM for damaged or worn equipment and vegetation hazards. The inspection flights are often conducted at r low altitudes to allow accurate visual inspec­ tion of equipment for lightning damage, wear or other potential Closed or Open Cell problems. ITC officials or Blown-In Fiberglass state this is normal procedure, so there is Roy Mast. 517-652-9119 no cause for alarm if a low-flying helicopter is 2501 N. Ionia Rd., Vermontville sighted near transmis- Gas Furnaces ' -Gas Boilers -Air Conditioners -Heat Pumps -Water Heaters Humidifiers n st lNSW4y^ SPRAT FOAM J aaik DEWEERDHTG.COM t.. I Hi a I i Li * ‘I -.1 a 4 1 •t iij •! I Mi* J t I I 'i ' D : I I t’. / rt V I ■i 12 w ,, I < * Ml Q fflsl ll OB J .« > 4 >« I B 2 'I » 269’792’2234 M i «Sil A f ,1 5in<:c J95S r I r - LEfimD) y DeWeerd (68) ! I. K “u ................ ... s 2 .. HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. VV IS '^i a V KE •• 4 I w 111 I L 1 r ir A • 4. A ( ' r J A+ ,BBB. ACCREDITED BUSINESS A.'' I ■Bg-’T! �1 1 6 n* I I Saturday, May 24, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS f www.sunandnews.com «4' i Jacob Gregory Draaisma III is the son of Jake and £•’ Allison Draaisma. He has been involved in varsity basketball, I varsity tennis, cross country and track. He is a member of X ?s the National Honor Society and Student Council, where he Jacob served as vice president. Draaisma III Draaisma earned conference runner-up and regional champion honors in tennis, was a conference champion and state qualifier in cross country and a 1600meter conference runner-up and state qualifier in track. He is a member of Teens Against Tobacco Use and lists being able to qualify for state in his first year of track and cross country as his greatest achievements in high school. He enjoys running, biking, swimming, video games, watching movies and playing card games. Draaisma will attend Chicago State University to major in pre-physical therapy and then attend another university to obtain his PT degree. He will also be running cross country and track at CSU. Aidan Dudik is the son of George and Erica Dudik. His school activities have included being a member of National Honor Society, Student Council, student section leader, varsity tennis, junior-varsity basketball, Teens Against Tobacco Use and being a Aidan Dudik donor for the American Red Cross blood drives. His honors and awards include earning all­ conference honors in tennis for the OK Gold 1 -'/ii. < k Th »> » Conference and being recognized by the Rotary Club for his tennis achievements. He also earned highest honors in ninth through 12th grades. Dudik has also been busy outside of school with the United Way Day of Caring, serving as a youth basketball referee, youth basketball coach, youth golf and Bible study. He enjoys golf, tennis, bas­ ketball, video games and reading. He lists his greatest accomplishment in high school as being able to teach fourth-graders about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine through TATU. He also lists earning all-conference honors in tennis as a memorable accomplishment. Dudik plans to attend Michigan State University Honors College to study business and finance. Kylee Hoebeke is the daughter of Mike and Erin Hoebeke. She has been a member of varsity volleyball, softball, NHS where she served as vice president, marching and symphonic band, Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle i, leader, Linkers, Teens Against Kylee Hoebeke Tobacco Use, Student Athlete Leadership Team, Student Advisory Council and Student Council. She earned all-conference, all-district, all-region and honorable mention all-state in softball. Outside of school she has been active with youth softball lessons, TK sports camps and blood drives. Her hobbies include softball and playing travel softball with the Indiana Bombers, running, lifting and reading. She lists her greatest accomplishment at TKHS as earning honorable mention all state as a short­ stop during her junior year in high school and helping establish an official FCA huddle at TK. Hoebeke will attend Grand Valley State University where she will continue playing softball while studying exercise science with a focus on pre-physical therapy. She plans to go on to a graduate program for physical therapy. r ’ 1 1 « c r r «*» tt A • >W« •♦V A b > » 4 I r ' 1 1 «5; r 11 TKHS announces top students for Class of 2025 Officials at Thomapple Kellogg High School announced the top academic students for the Class of 2025. The students are listed in alphabetical order by last name and include the fol­ lowing: r I: f* A / * Y' f Evan Liu is the son of Yong '■ "I r < *•. 4i Qin Liu and Li Fang Liu. His school activities include tennis, 4 i golf, and track teams, Business Professionals of America (served as president), Student Council (served as president) and National Honor Society. He has been a member of Evan Liu the Youth Advisory Council and served as president for three years. He has also served as a board member of the Barry Community Foundation for two years and worked at this family restaurant, China Kitchen. He has been involved in the 2025 Leadership Barry County Cohort and Circle of Giving. His hobbies include playing golf and tennis, hanging out with friends, playing cards and play­ ing Rainbow Six Siege. His greatest accomplishment at TKHS was earn­ ing a first-place rating in BPA at the state compe­ tition and qualifying for BPA national competi­ tion twice. He is also proud of receiving the AP Scholar Award with Distinction in his junior year, leading assemblies and school events for student council and graduating at the top of his class. Liu will attend Harvard University to major in economics and minor in computer science. Will Nathan is the son of Benjamin Nathan and Nancy McClear. He has been a mem­ ber of soccer and golf teams, and National Honor Society. He also earned a first-place award in the state MITES competition. He has been a member of the Youth Advisory Council for Will Nathan five years. Circle of Giving and Leadership Barry County. He enjoys golf, hanging out with friends and family, and playing cards. He lists his greatest accomplishment in high school as earning a 2024 AP Scholar with Honor award. Nathan will attend the University of Michigan to study mechanical engineering. Kameron Nichols is the son of Lee and Amy Nichols. He was a member of the varsity I ti tennis team where he earned all-conference honors three years, was a singles conference champion, earned academic J all-state and all-state honorable Kameron mention his senior year and Nichols was the Holland Invitational champion his senior year and the Hamilton Invitational champion his junior and senior year. He is also a member of the National Honor Society. He has been a middle school assistant tennis coach J k< * t •K*‘ r I j V f I '.J »* a? « J t * J * 'o' I ( > f f ) .. J •ar I I J L J3 * < J '' 1 I t 1 J > I* ,? ■ I A 4 I * *1 ♦ V’ It II II t <1^ , * .. « 4 'W fl 4 f r I 1 L: 1 > » I ■ 7' *' * . *3 ! >** ! w * I* n « I A IT f ' iS*' <1..J «9 a V • •* « t J ? I ii-r* .ii* I * 1 A T bC 'J*' ' & .5^ -AC* / L 4 i^r 7rr IF* 1 . I?-* * i <v {t J / it I FA* •' f « A .* ' .*4 ' nog' » •I 9 r u .k4. V' r L TH T 1* 1 % J 1 « r . |. I I I 'E 'zjr 1 I ■t i • ♦ • r • .♦ t' ■ r 3qino »■□dfl kw fl- J' r A t *» *■** A 1 V A 4 .i.r-i-__ * } I 1 ' I • V I 1 * ’tn ttWi*”’ i I. bl I 4* ' J r |i §ni^ einfis > I I T 1 1 } it ) \*4 T •'0(1 r ■ .ir.fiTi t J ^nia ;■i 1 k r ir H » < , ♦ iWr 9 tu. 1 :A .W‘, it I BBi? I ?< »s's?.'’':®L^«a T— X I■ 0 » S .XMl A/tfenno M*n d e . 1 k :■ ■■■■< L ‘ S: .♦/I t Antenna Men p L44^'.4«aJ^P«" ' . ■r b " free Estimates k i a*. I 1 • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink installs • Towers • Cellular Enhancement Systems • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today ** Use Spray Foam Give us a call! 269-967-8241 cell(W) SIG wwwxellsignalprosxom k I J www.theantennamen.com antennamen@gmail.com X T i Ej 1 r r~ t . I ■ n 1 S IFMI b I I r f :■ «i I . nr ic •. t 4 I I M 1 ► 1 * ;< 1 litis;; h! k< r V • * A ' < y. • t See next page t I I 1 «»« a 4 )i 41 1- ( I k 1 » « 4 iaI *t > y r ^-yJ • y 1*4 W k I V fl - ?• I �V E B I 1 • ** ‘•>L ' Saturday, May 24, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I 7 « ■ t % ♦ '■■JI » a • 7 *» Vj. I ' g‘ T- J. t • /' 9 . / *r./^ u Continued from previous page b'' J . te I I I A I A I I Si* J < / I ir' 1■ r - t; -5 '1 % * }•. '4 ’.J •• r"; » A#, < * -tv i I * r I ‘ci J • A, I > /^ll F t -•r !S i > it '* B •' ■■^1 t : -'o-- ' fj. Mi* ’ ib th ■•tJ. 'll / ‘ • J i as i I p *tT/ * R* Yv . ..T I ’ A / " -1 £,r ri 2 •. A 1 I r I I 4 * ’“‘lx . *9 X J * JA .1 t**------ .• ■---------- f r OhW’^ -Sswi' "!t I 1 u - •'3 ?*' i ► r* I* A I > fs;. K, r 2^ g •i. I >4^ I Ip -1 I u* 1 •v si— > <1 I R * 4BTT< inet U «5 I « 2 fl •'* ''Sftjar. * ‘ * t 1 srutsdc^ J r I ii > € JJ I J IR r I, 6^ C tn M Innobfi r ( I • fn I on i ijSasdl'fr.AastfJiW^j^ I *«-a« ’.y XiciJ W: I ? ♦ ■ : • H 4 ■''■■" OT^WffiUtu I ’ J! ; t’7 u li. 1 ) I Tr VMi 3 i’l r -hi­ . w 1 fcx:. ;. I ■. V i 4 ■ education or to go into research. Gary Skiles is the son of David Skiles. He was a member of ±e robotics club in high school. He has made the honor roll every year and received Gary Skiles a few student of the month awards. He works at Heinz Freeport Genera and has volunteered for the Freeport Homecoming event multiple times. His hobbies include jet skiing, weightlifting, coding, chemistry and anything that gives him an adrenaline rush, such as theme parks, jet skiing and skydiving. He lists his greatest accomplishment in high school as being in the top 10. He was also proud that he took the AP chemistry test and was one of the only people to earn a 3 score on it. He also made a goose hunt mobile that hangs in Main Street of the high school for AP physics. Skiles will attend Northern Michigan University to study chem­ istry and possibly pursue a career in chemical engineering or research in 't i W.' I f I I » k e J j IIP*' ’ I r Your local agent insures your •* Ca££iiig^cM ? r i’ 3' y f• I4 1 I j <] f X ■■ n AKtf t Get ready to rewind the decades for a throwback night of fun <5 / i 3 rw ' I® > i 1 FARnt BVREAiJ MSiJRAWF* I 1 <# f •r Jh- t. 4e 1 t 269-381-2300 w ¥ > * 9 4 * < :a|Ka>'..*'fr?y wr £ I lEWBl-lCl J IS xjhf *»• A , . tr* i I . uvr'iin> '• i-Lm Ti ■ -1- 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795*8827 Jparks^insmi.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com J :r! xl v: .Y *V ^SSSS . V' I * 4 s« / I. ••• ♦• •Ww •• T* 1’ - Sis^- *«W— ... .J —. ..as-I" »• ■via J BUMKW * V»«1 Si*^*.* • I I » J s. - ‘- ye V -J '•?r *k. k ' I.I I L--. IT V •» *» I I! Line-Up r < *1 Heyiris at 4:oopin off of ()2iul St. 1811 LAKE SL KALAMAZOO / 1' + o, II 'DetaUi at Caledonia Community Qreen 'Park < ■ □ gpf- s *i ■ ^■ ! x.-^ - i^S *> « ..Car.Show ?■ Jason Parks I »V; ■ ‘ \» lUSED FARTS «USED TIRES f 1 1 rj : KEILIGHT TRUCK PUTS run • nn w- $* * - >4 J i t fc*- Friday June, 6 2025 5:30pm - 8pm .» ■! y I w -J .4 • £ ,.H ■ / r < FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT ( 1 ! I and G^ieaA&is/ t me tm vus suits jeeps ihs I IC£ at r i I I [ i *« . ■»“ i r £ n I the pharmaceutical industry. Lukas Walters is the son of Jason and Robin Walters. He has been involved in the theater program all four years of high school and in K two band classes each of his four years including I concert, symphonic and jazz bands. He has been a Student Lukas Walters Council member all four years and National Honor Society member for two years. He is also a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. Outside of school, he has been a member of the worship band at church since 2020. His hobbies include music - playing a number of instruments including bass, electric and acoustic guitar, trombone and keyboard. He also enjoys reading and collecting recently starting a book collection. He lists his greatest accomplish­ ments in high school as earning a 5 score on an APUSH exam, being a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and obtaining a full-ride scholarship to Aquinas College where he plans to DM Study communications. 4th Annual r AfUl ••**- un Z.Z ✓ t ^rtrja/ * I • and played club soccer where he won a state cup. He was also a finalist in regionals and qualified for nationals his sophomore year. He enjoys tennis, soccer, fishing, hunting, movies and video games. He lists his greatest accomplish­ ment at TKHS as being academic all state and all state honorable mention in tennis. Nichols plans to play tennis at college but has not determined yet which college he will attend. Cole Novak is the son of Jared and Amanda l«-^ ’ Novak. His high school activities include varsity tennis. Science Olympiad, stage crew for plays Cole Novak and musicals. He has also been part of the TKHS marching, sym­ phonic and jazz bands and was a speaker for the NHS 2025 induction ceremony. His hobbies include reading, video games, camping, tennis, watching movies, collecting magnets, model making, crocheting, and spending time with family and friends. His achievements while at TK include being a National Merit Finalist, Board of Education Certificate of Achievement recipi­ ent, a Middleville Rotary Scholarship nominee from the English department, earning highest honors every semes­ ter, National Honor Society member his junior and senior year, and mem­ ber of the Science Olympiad Team that made it to state competition for the first time in years for TKHS. He plans to attend Michigan State University in the college of natural science majoring in microbiology. He will also be a member of the Honors College. His goal is to follow his degree into becoming an immu­ nologist or virologist or possibly pivot and go into the medical field to become an optometrist or therapist. He plans to explore all his options while in college. Rylee Seguin is ±e daughter of Corey and Kaite Seguin. She has been in a TK musical and was a member of the << i^ ‘ Student Council. Rylee Seguin She received the College Board’s National Rural and Small Town rec­ ognition award and AP scholar award. She is a member of the National Honor Society during her junior and senior years. During her senior year she took six dual enrollment classes at Grand Rapids Community College and was awarded onto ±eir President’s List. She has tutored other students through NHS and spent a summer volunteering at Premier Martial Arts. She also currently works as a cashier at J&H Family Stores in Middleville. She lists her hobbies as spending time wi± close friends, doing anything outdoors including kayaking, biking, beach volleyball, and playing with her younger cousins and broker. She also likes going to the gym with her sister. She lists her greatest accomplish­ ment at TKHS as being a positive influence on people around her and always striving to do her best. She will attend Eastern Michigan University through Eastern’s full­ ride Presidential Scholarship and will study biology either for secondary •iV^>nw ‘. .V>.» At*. r �.Jii i ») ( i£ J L * - _ ** • I 8 Saturday, May 24, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 2ft J 4 /y * I CHS Class of 2025 honored for outstanding achievements at Senior Recognition Night Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer Caledonia High School recognized the Class of 2025 last week for its remarkable accomplishments. Several graduating seniors were honored at Senior Recognition Night on May 14. Sixty-one seniors were presented with the Gold Academic Award, honor­ ing their remarkable scholarly achieve­ ment of a 4.0-plus cumulative GPA, while the silver award went to 123 seniors for retaining a highly notable 3.5-3.99 cumulative GPA. Thirty-eight students were awarded local scholarships totaling $42,000 from generous community organiza­ tions and individuals. The special event included celebrat­ ing 76 special, military, athletic, and department awards, plus recognizing a wide range of student achievements from the arts and sciences to leadership and service. < j I I i I t s -^<a* iir V F" ■ i .4 I > ft I 1** V r <X. a; 4 1(1. r\ > I I :•*. L« . r.* / ■1 ■ J 4 A • r• 9 XI ki 1 'n gr . >• - *# 1 "ft y «■' $ ’V 4 ft . /> / << fim FfJ ■5 y’* *> ♦: ‘a; ’ *Fkr|, » .8 r v«** <\ ■*^ «f» - «*« . I ft ft ft 4’" :1 ** p • ♦ /i 9 ft ft * ft ft •« A ft •» y:. I 4 ft .9ft z• v« »« fti ft I ft ft ft • ftl ft i#' / ft Wf b iS. >• 4 *.’ ** * ftl /’• 1 If* 1 i t- a ft I Sv • M .. .V yr fl a ',' <^. . . '. '44.V*’ i'i-’ * >•*? 4 J I I A r ft ft V* ft VKa«C * ♦* ft « 4 ft •ft ft< z .k.*kMr I ( » ft .•'A * r ■J* PF r - '1 ■flU Kaliana Reynolds (left) and Patrick Vanderkolk (right) were recently awarded the Caledonia Educational Association Future Educator Scholarship. Here they are with CEA President Veronica Van Wagoner. ■ ^1-" I r r f r . 't"* I5 r —• 1 fe tip’T*. I •< I* . t I «r z. «» 1 »» k 1“ - 'k v>‘ ..^ / I II I M tf ft .r :t . X 1 p l1* tl>*l Ml* ft w ’ '« if* 31^ 5- J ♦$ 'CY' • •• . . V '• • •* r 4 t t » • •. ft bl / I Cl t L «ft I ft > I < t 4 • t-. l' ♦ p tt • c f • • • « s V e v^* < I J I u. pH L-i>- *.. t i > 4 ft > p . ft i: / 9 » 4 s J . < > :r- I •w '<*^ ft * 9* o '‘Korit jft . ■ » <7:5/ IMf * tj. t -i •r* *«!»& 7 sr II 5 Kallen® R®yn^d« T* te •*• ja 2W $ V.,«. c^««trr* <«./ ft* ft ?» p <>* r f 4 < f 1. • I I ** 9 Two Caledonia Seniors received the MHSAA Scholar Athlete Award at last week’s Senior Recognition Night. From left, Peter Paarlberg, Rian Restau and the presenter Phil Miedema. 4 T -.'ft' Y 1 > ^5f * ♦ A- * » I’ •krr-' i r I* ' r 9 >4X1^ •i • 4 1 Ik a * •< r *■ I r ft r# •b r 1 / * - I » K J 4 > 4 f / 1 Ji' 4 > V*. L'l^ • I' 1 ♦ I I z, >1 t d ft. 6 t .1 I I ftK.. a* 1( I > '•0 I ' U^Xl’>- I i. bbx* ) .' I UN Jm. ftf »T^ ::■ ■» *« ?t?S3* c.« »«» * I * ■ « ..te <V1 R ft 9 ft ; *i MP/ M t- ft \ > » 4 < V > 5-« f f. ha-? * L p* r ^'1 SO I Vs* MEMORIAL DAY 451 IlV s" tV \ Mii s. U (. ZA|faftxX ’ »1 ' .* • ^*r V ««.. ’A REMEMBER AND HONOR vp B.listteai v^itei^... 4Sl' J % 1^'* ft ft 1 *ir-' k 4 { Gaines Charter Township wilt be closed on Monday, May 26th, 2025 4 BLAIN CEMETERY AT 9:45AM DUTTON CEMETERY AT 10:30AM IZ r * -% ft i(a|p.nu s .*.>1 tea Will f I SW »*4 ft if^ JI * T > ft , «la "•»»? h” r k* <► " -J .i,' - '/ ' i. r ft will hold Ceremonies for Memorial Day at: V A w * **• in observance of Memorial Day American Legion Caledonia Memorial Post #305 t» S-SR? « B I I ft i. 1 «ft --•» * T ft e .t f -1. * >• •4 * \ ^^..• »’Z,* t ft • -t -•# *r«. "ftr * 99^.: .t ** <T*X.^A n ft* 4 “^ •p*' ’rOCC’-* ■99^ 1ft ikkr'-n-M ii ik vr^ S®5555S^ 555^ =*S5S ft* Isabella Wierzbicki received the Alpha Beta Award at Senior Recognition Night, which was presented by Kurtis Hoffman. Courtesy photos <. *♦ ' I'.'y -.il —• r k s i I 1 p if tf •n- .. ftp*i •'*1 •< . �A t I I •L 3 T » » !> I A I I„ I V k 1 ' * I TK rolling through stretch against state s top D2 teams J J I ■ I 9 I 4 1 1 I 1 9 ‘’■ftUI’ r Brett Bremer Sports Editor ( < 9 i > A* 1 OG f 4 3r-’8l -’-i 1 I V; a DC; I fi('3 r -r 'm f • 4 89rb9 k v* :rb. t i. -H < * I I I 91 rr r i torr •r F I’.V tr : I i,-" 1 t r*. :rr I I r 1 ) I ;I 4 J lr.b K 4 f 'iff’ > V* 1 > I Rt H :n< ? ■ I J' • • inr^r ./T; ■ r. .1‘I I ’> / . L r lUotj 1 ar h'// ' 7^ I ■ K/ ' 'A ’I f G‘i < iV .3? J I ifci; jjfj ' - He 9» I •F ‘ t* n J frflfl?.’-:’. i rf u JMXWil’MS-; t l^nftggo.S ' tfir w L 4, r il UwJJ J i O • •l > I ’I i" i 4^^ I J «4 I ) 1 f : «* * J .. J ') I I* 1 • I •. I'M* J I x* a• . * ** • I vMttA 4 4=^ J I rlt»a icioiiu aiiovjBf gid ?gdb I d lbliwwjiifc *: I I *• .ll. ’•> --ilt . 4 3 J»j itUfi ; I I 4 V. Lj rj^ 1. L-. '77, X 8911111JJ' Uk.T . i . V •j-ft'':) iBog «’'4sa i.) J3ii)f £<i art "^t rriG^tqo •R I » I rt> 1.« X18:; .'i I I •V T I luaetil JlEt:l38noqHJ?'iSC .‘K « u a .* ' w. ? f!/ niriayj tbiioM j rrol c iM« '■ >lfl t wfi orllbariofB \ J 'A f Iwz HjX ^Iqt ar if .1 V R m I X *x * • f >oa^i 'h' I lorn 38 • 191 ,15;; Tri^.'ne (rnoit ili^dg o;i ftq 103« 4 r ' » i s odtr/vob. •1 I *> V [ 4 I f Otfii -jJ jnL. i* \ jJf.iTimfiQ) c I ■1 1 (, oi::;?' 1 vfbfo?itoFi > ■- II rJ i f i ■ r Q.|i ? K'bb'. I I e : I f bni 3 i IH Lut r/nsljK ' i fcn ikil I * ar J *4 J'- t * 1 1 • ns 11“ I I J ao3G0<: blov ?' bsrf’ I 3 .'o; I y y^qaiq 9vxiff ■ / a 9 1 • • • ■ KU t B Saturday, May 24, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I t aiC s f * a 1I i A group offour ofthe state’s top 15 ranked teams in Division 2 are apart ofthe MHS AA Division 2 District Tournament beinghosted by Gull Lake High School. The Trojans came out on top in the first match-up between two of those teams Wednesday at Harper Creek High School. The 12th-ranked Trojans defeated the 13thranked Beavers 1 -0 in Battle Creek to earn a spot in the upcoming district semifinals. TK will face either eighth-ranked Otsego or Battle Creek Central in the district semifi­ nals Wednesday, May 28, at Gull Lake High School. Game time is set for 5 p.m. Otsego and Battle Creek Central were set to play their opening round game Friday evening, May 23. Third-ranked Gull Lake takes on Plainwell in the second district semifinal match of the day Wednesday, and the two winners will meet back at Gull Lake High School Friday, May 30, for the district final with a 6 p.m. scheduled start. Madilyn Chivis fired a comer kick into the Beaver box in Battle Creek Tuesday and Tealy Cross finished it offto give the Troj ans the lone goal of the district opener wi± just three minutes left in the game. ‘The girls played really well in the game,” TK head coach David Wood said. “Going into the game we knew it was going to be a close game. First half, we created chances we should have capitalized on. Same within ±e second, but it took until the final three minutes in the game to get the breakthrough goal.” Should the Trojans face the Otsego Bull­ dogs, big favorites in their contest with BC Central, it would be ±e third straight game against a top team in the D2 state rankings. TK closed the regular season against num­ ber five South Christian Monday. The suspense lasted all season, but it didn’t last too long Monday evening. South Chris­ tian clinched the 2025 OK Gold Conference championship wi± a 3-0 win over visiting Thomapple Kellogg. Sailor senior Alexa Boersma lofted a centering ball from the right side into a stiff wind and over the Trojan goal box less than half a minute into their conference finale. Senior teammate Anneliese VanderLaan beat everyone else to the ball as it came down and knocked it by Trojan keeper McKenna Hoebeke into the net for a 1 -0 lead. The Sailors added a second goal early in the second half and then a third with eight and a half minutes to play to finish off a 11 0-1 conference season. The Trojans close the OK Gold season at 9-1 -2. A Trojan win would have propelled the TK ladies to a conference championship. The two teams 1 < i* ^2 * >« * , « -1 F I < * 1 H ■X A-* ’ »*' -I* ■ Xi *? / IL ■ ZB, I "*t3- ** f % . 15 (V V .r WAS • I• > s f> * I s. , ...J CT® •.’ll •i. rJ —A- ’ r > ■ •’iT^ b SAM^ X i’’-1 K 1 4^90 .............TLlIT w I 7^ •-’n ▼A* « rtAJ. L X' ns «« k 'W: •I• • ’’ > • n 4 ___ l\ ^Ta«< I « IL»* _ k 4^ . - Thornapple Kellogg senior defender Emma Geukes (right) and South Christian sophomore Meredith Helmus get tangled up as the ball bounds their way during the second half of their OK Gold Conference finale at South Christian High School Monday. Photos by Brett Bremer I ■ » h .-<u «' ■ 4* i :!r f At *. 4^ * 2. az f 4 4 k« - ■'•S 1-r »> V. . «4I Jk— < J- > •f T S^’ J fI S'. 'J' * z ;4*rt Ji M I T *^u>*«*'^** *«. 5 Thornapple Kellogg sophomore Alyvia Zolinski drops a pass back as she’s pressured by South Christian sophomore Meredith Helmus during their OK Gold Conference match Monday at South Christian High School. •l finished in a 1-1 draw in their early season meeting in Middleville. The, only other blemish on the Trojans’ conferencerecordwasa 1-1 draw with West Catholic late last month. The Trojans, now 12-3-2 overall, South Christian moved to 15-0-3 with the win Monday. The Sailors were awarded a penalty kick nine minutes into the second half and senior defender Hayden Donker stepped up to put the shot in that put her team up 2-0 over the visiting Trojans. Junior Cassidy DeVries blasted a shot into the net with 8:38 to play for the Sailors’ final goal. The Troj ans had some trouble getting a comer kick cleared. South Christian sophomore Hattie Berry knocked the ball down to the feet of DeVries for the shot in the crowdedbox. Good scoring chances were few and far between for the Trojans. The Sailors were oftentimes a step quicker to the ball than the Troj ans in what was a pretty physical match throughout. Early on the Trojans attempted to answer the Sailors’ opening goal. TK junior Tealy Cross put a pass ahead forjunior Paige Abshagen who lined a high shot towards the Sail or net that the South Christian keeper Olivia In ’tHout leapt up to snag. r*. I 9 fl Ts I* lefowsr/iN ' RiKE ^*1 ll ¥ •l '• □ Li, • J □ >7 ,V < [•K .•e I •rrf V b « I i '/ 9 • t J ROOFING 1• Ti- 9 •X Serving the Caledonia and Middleville Communities. - ki COVER IT WITH CONFIDENCE t <• •4 Residential » Commerical » Roof Repair » Storm Damage Insurance Claims » ■ ■ r >y r 9 f 616’916-0188 100% SATISFACTION GUAAANTFCO L AccPCOtTf n lUlSINISS If] factbook lb*W^ yelp-.i Go >gle Cuttjtntr R«*ww« *. >* '' �•l 5J 1 tt f t S « .'I r .0 <■ u. ft '.I: f f T- I Saturday, May 24, 2025 10 THE SUN AND NEWS I tji t www.sunandnews.com - •. ..ZfKr... 1 r . .Ji r jT f i- • 1 'J* * Sporting News > x V 'J i 4 .^1 .. r’ •1 I^' 0 N 9 •I I ft I 2 t— — JrJ? i I * 4 •1 I* «1 k I < i Scot seniors’ PRs earn them spots in D1 Finals Brett Bremer Sports Editor Competing in a track regional for ±e first time, Caledonia senior Hannah Du­ puis earned ±e chance to run in a state finals race. Dupuis set a personal record time of 11 minutes 10.01 seconds in the 3200-meter run at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Regional at Portage Central High School Saturday to place second and earn a spot in the May 31 Division 1 Finals at East Kentwood High School. “I would say it went better than I wanted it to,” Dupuis said. “I wasn’t expecting to get second because I was doing a little looking on a±letic.net be­ fore the race and I was like, these girls are really close to my PR. I’ve run like noNTiat HEATING AND COOLING I 1 ,( I i 1 Ayicj Expires 5/31/25 Other Products and Services A vailable • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! >4 llh- kOin/Hiny buill hy icfciidls" 210 East Main Street Caledonia a I I I I similar times lately, but about two, three weeks ago I set a major PR. This whole season I’ve dropped like over a minute in my two-mile time. So this is all kind of like very surreal to me. If you told me at the beginning of the season that I like make it to the state meeting. I’d be like, what?!?! I think that’s crazy.” This running, like low 11 s is still very new to me,” she added, “and it does not feel good, but I’m very proud of myself and my body for doing it.” She shaved almost nine and a half seconds off her former PR and was more than 90 seconds faster than she was at the 2024 OK Red Conference Cham­ pionship where she ran the fastest time of her junior season last spring. Before her junior season, Dupuis hadn’t even competed in the 3200 for the CHS girls. Caledonia varsity girls’ track and field coach Ben Howell, who also coaches the Fighting Scot varsity girls’ cross country team, said Dupuis competed in cross country the fall of her freshman season and was about the teanj’s number 20 run­ ner. It’s nice that she’s here they thought. “She didn ’t run in the regional meet her freshmen and sophomore years, because she wasn’t even a varsity runner,” Howell said. “But, she just keeps putting in the work. It is really awesome. When you look at the field of runners there aren’t many people who have achieved so much over time. It is pretty awesome. She is not the kid who showed up her freshman year and was dominating.” That’s more the girl who finished ahead of her Saturday. Portage Northern freshman Ainsley Keim took the regional title in the 3200 with a time of 11:09.66. Howell said discipline has been the key to Dupuis ’ steady progress over the years. “She is going to run every day,” Howell said. “She isjust going to keep on running every day. It is just like brushing your teeth. It is something she’s not going to skip. And she wants to improve. She takes the talent she has and works with it and makes herself the best that she can “She started just with small goals. She has never had huge goals. It is just get ting a little bit better all the time. I think that’s the key.” The Caledonia varsity track and field teams had two state qualifying perfor­ mances Saturday. Senior thrower Cody Meyers was at his best too. He unleashed a personal record throw of 157 feet 11 inches to place third in the boys ’ discus and meet the state qualifying distance. He beat his previous best by an astounding 15 feet. Overall, the Caledonia boys were ninth and the girls 12th in a field of 16 teams where the East Kentwood boys and girls dominated to win regional champion­ ships. The top two in each event Saturday earned spots in ±e upcoming finals as well as others who met the predetermined qualifying times and measurements. For the first time this spring, athletes could also qualify for the finals throughout the season by meeting even tougher stan­ dards at “early qualifier” events. The CHS boys had a couple near misses Saturday. Senior Kort Thomp­ son was fifth in the boys’ 3200-meter run with a time of 9:33.24 - .24 off the state qualifying time. Junior distance runner Noah Johnston placed fourth in the boys’ 1600-meter run with a time of 4:22.94 - less than half a second off the state qualifying mark. The Caledonia boys also had scor­ ing performances thanks to a PR from junior Jonas Howell in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles (40.76 seconds); a fourth-place finish from the 4x400 meter relay team of senior David Potgeter, junior Jonas Howell, junior Eli Velting and sophomore Aaron Collins (3:34.94); a fifth-place finish from the 4x800-meter relay team of junior Luke Smith, sophomore Grant Feldpausch, senior Ethan Buer and Velting (8:36.93); a fifth-place vault of 12-9 from Potgeter in the pole vault; and a jump of 5-10 by senior Andrew Tava that put him fifth in the high jump. Junior Jolie King had a strong day 9 k r } «VB * 4 1 r ■ i i’ k* • l* > ' 1 -S r J 1 * J 4< 'l' i 'V fl f ■t -w /MB I h I t*— t /ft ' ?• * Ik W1 y >4. ■4. 3^- A 4 •I J. JV ’'yn'- J l*r *• ? i *9 *P a; X* • •'‘El * I -r * 1 ’ 4*" ■ ! I A Ar* .a ! .n i". r r J 9 ? C’ • 9 I t Zib * it r’ *v-x f** 4 ■»i ’*{23 S>&. - ;4^4 1 I / r# * <]i5 t Caledonia senior Cody Myers fires off a throw in the discus competition Saturday during the MHSAA Division 1 Regional at Portage Central High School. Myers set a new PR in the event to place third and qualify for the MaySI DI Trackand Field Finals. -w T f* if ! iiitec ■f 1 r ' f r r * in I »! skM ifc’i tiii lK, leap in the long jump. She flew 16-7.5. Sophomore Olivia Hawkins placed sixth in the 300-meter low hurdles with a time of 47.29 and was a part of the Scots’ fifth-place4x400-meter relay team along with seniorAvalynn Klapmust, freshman Brynn Ward and sophomore Isla Sheely (4:17.44). Coach Howell was pretty pleased with King’s performance and said he knew Hawkins was disappointed not to qualify for the state finals in the hurdles, but her competition just really stepped up and ran fast. There were four state qualifiers in both of the girls’ hurdles races Saturday led by Thomapple Kellogg senior Brooklyn Harmon who improved her own school records to win the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. Dupuis’ 3200-meter race was as tough one too with four girls qualifying for the DfW gnfM « til i ‘ J'fK' f t/ru3 fc ?5 ' •* J , t) 5< $ 5' t j . It l- oH F u i1 II >1 fl Wvv- I? I *. • ■■t1li I I I 4 I .*4.. • ■ t I J 1 qni* I asi f I zL - 4Jit= I 1 -Stoi t aSrs^aseBiJoi -13' -I d I I I I 1 fe'CiS'-Tabcrr-:; %A •* I f •J I I I . r r T. 1 I. * III* . I .f % 9 • ._*»J J- . lU ► •i 4* 'X w 9 -Tr ■ f v*A ) V 11 rm-' n| 4 I «1 I t- 1 I �¥ J♦ ft ft J ri I n ‘<5^. Saturday, May 24, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 11 ♦ ♦ J Pair of doubles wins forTK tennis at D2 regional I f A *4 *•*3(3 / J I 3b 1 6' > fc. ft tft' I J f f ) 1 < I 12 w 4 ft ! ’W. » > I * ft i ■.It •* H I 1 J * X’ili 'r I IL ■ i ?* 9^ V t- M ] ,-YIk < w ft I 4 J >4 t r .1 >1 : A' I •l ■ ft I i 9 r N Ik • & ajOI y* ♦ ^5; Ik.- » V rt ' 5 i 5 1 (tial »■ ■ j - 1 JfelzniA^fl flBsniliw •*ni» I y’tJ I ft ’ • ft ■ i T j I ’ -Gt. -iL-t*» . i ' loiaivi * I t 1 I t * I . t I V ft * « V ’ i E VSM ''1 I f % 5 ■ T bit 091 1 II I I . 00 I 1. I griiu r 1 / k "‘ A lrT9>i ni V Caledonia senior Hannah Dupuis (left) and Portage Northern freshman Ainsley Kelm’close in on the finish line at the end of the 3200-meter run during the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Regional hosted by Portage Central High School Saturday, May 17. Both girls set a new personal record time and qualified for the May 31 DI Track and Field Finals in Kentwood. Photos by Brett Bremer 9 Continued from previous page ft 'I ■. _ iiw' ■*’ 1 • .'1 / • J;. I I I I » .*< r; 7 '' r I ’ '*1 !k. I I K .1 •' Ij ; *d ' tj i • i • ■» (.BvWl r I !■ J I r/i 0 / '^v/2 ( ^1. .4.I I I y I I k A . 7 I I/ A i I I t^Vf-XOj •l -u I ) i <■ «9 h ► l.-i •■J Hi . t > T-7'f -•1 I. 4» 1 i ( ’ Cl p •f T >r I.. « J 4 1 i • I . I I r\ r. J .6t'7C ■ !- O' I 1 I (thj/3itf ? a4 * ft srtfm • , I V-.- I .>.T- > i v kj J ■ »k' a I I . 4. f i i 1 (lifyi-r-v ' >- U 'ial • / Ibr 4 r I I ♦ * \ I s 4 I » »r', I z • ■ I •jn** v-f J J ( I ■ • -ner: i 1 .: >31U. ‘ L f • I •« > V )?0' • 1 1 1 Ri -- - <<* '75 v* ! . r’ b ) I I < M b 1 Ji ) I fl ‘ i Jl J • finals based on their time. Portage North­ ern had two qualifiers in that race with junior Olivia Stacy third in 11:13.84 and Kalamazoo Central senior Annie Alkema was fourth in 11:14.83. Meyers was in a group like that too with the top four discus throwers all qualifying for the state finals. Kalamazoo Central junior Aiden Thomas won that event with a personal record throw of 160-1. Byron Center senior Nolan Stubblefield was the runner-up at 159-7 and Ottawa Hills senior Rashawn Rogers qualified for the finals too with a throw of 153-5. Sheely had an eighth-place time in the girls’ 400-meter dash of 1:02.11 for the Scots. The Caledonia girls also had the 4xl00-meter relay team of sophomore Mariah Peterson, senior Alaina Palmer, and freshmen Melanie Genao Grullon and freshman Brynn Ward place seventh in 51.70. All six ofthe 4x 100-meter relay teams that finished ahead of the Fighting Scots met the state qualifying time in that race, and there was a group of six girls who qualified for the state finals in the 100-meter dash too. East Kentwood sophomore Logan Richardson won that 100 in 12.36 and she anchored the Fal­ cons’ 4x100-meter relay team that won in 48.48. Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ tennis team closed its 2025 season with a tenth-place finish at its MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Regional Tournament hosted by Byron Center Wednes­ day, May 14. The Trojan second and fourth doubles teams won opening round matches before running into highly seeded teams at their flights in the quarterfinals. The TK sophomore duo of Molly Alden and Cayla Brouwer at second doubles beat St. Joseph’s Lainie Dorow and Charlotte Con­ fer 6-4, 6-2 in their first match, but then fell to the second-seeded Mattawan duo at their flight. At fourth doubles, TK sopho­ more Carli Ogle and freshman Lucy Schilthroat took a 6-0, 6-1 win over Portage Northern’s Sruti Raghubanshi and Sonya Pruyne before falling to the top-seeded team from Byron Center in the quarterfinals. The Byron Center Bulldogs ’ Rylie Hull and Avery Hustak, a pair of freshmen, won that fourth doubles flight in the end over the Mattawan duo at their flight. Those two teams won every flight at the regional. Mattawan took championships at first, third and fourth singles and the top two doubles flights to finish the day with 27 points. Byron Center was second with 20 points getting wins at third and fourth doubles and second singles. Mattawan junior Ana Cheng beat out St. Joseph junior Ellie Fischer 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-2 in the first doubles championship. Both those girls qualified for the upcoming MHSAA Lower Peninsula Divi­ sion 2 Girls’ Tennis Finals along with the full line-ups from the top two teams, Mattawan and Byron Center. Zeeland East was third in the team standings with 16 points ahead of Gull Lake 9, St. Joseph 8, Holland 7, Sturgis 7, Zeeland West 7, TK 2 and Portage Northern 1. I I I I I I I I I I I I I s ss «c oe s & 3 I e 00 GO s £ o o I I I I I I I I I I I I I V** V MUSIC 1 . » SERIES ft ft • « •-ft . > w • ft ft • « ^ ft • ■ • 0 • « f.X > » bin I * w ft ' ft M I ^ft . I I I I I I I I I I I I Ia § from 6:30-9:00pm at the Amphitheater at East Bank River Front Park by the Pavillion I June 6th - 06:30PM-09:00PM - Pretty Kool Genre: Pop Rock / Dance Covers June 20th - 6:30PM-09:00PM - Acoustic Shenanigans Genre : Acoustic Rock / Folk / Country June 27th - 6:30PM-09:00PM - Out of Favor Boys Genre: Contemporary Blues July 18th - 6:30PM-09:00PM - Bluecatz Genre: Blues July 25th - 6:30PM-09:00PM - Thornapple River Band Genre: Folk Rock / Americana August 1st - 6:30PIVI-09:00PM - Barenaked 9O's Genre: '90s Alternative Rock Covers August Sth - 6:30PM-09:00PM - Beatles Thing Genre: Beatles Tribute / Classic Rock August 15th - 6:30PM-09:00PM - Silent Bark Genre - Nirvana + Others Cover Band August 22nd - 6:30PM-09:00PM - Bluecatz Genre: Blues highpoint COMMUNITY BANK MY MlOb f B.Healthy z Dow'ntown D&vsiopment Authority DON'T MISS A SHOW - CUP AND SAVE THS AD M a e S I s "O g a» 3 3 I I I I I I I I I I I I �4' F <ir (< A fit • •. 4 12 ♦ Saturday, May 24, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS TK boys third at OK Gold golf tournament 9 Brett Bremer Sports Editor The top seven scores all game from South Christian and West Catholic guys as the OK Gold met at Kauffman Golf Course in Wyoming for the conference championship tournament Thursday, May 15. South Christian won the day’s team championship with an overall score of 301. Northview finished second with a score of 328 strokes ahead of West Catholic 329, Thornapple Kellogg 333, Wayland 336, Grand Rapids Union 361 and Wyoming 475. Seniors Kylan Pratt and THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP iOARD 200 E MAIN ST. MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 SYNOPSIS OF MEETING MINUTES Monday, May 12,2025 The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with seven members present. Items approved: 1. Printed Agenda approved as amended. 2. Consent Agenda approved as amended. a. Approved increased retirement contribution from 5% match to 8% match. b. Approved partnership with the Middleville Lions Club for Fourth of July Areworks. c. Approved Computer Replace­ ments. d. Approved Budget Amendment to move funds from part-time EMS shift fund to full-time shift fund. e. Approved Budget Amendment to move funds from ambulance account 505 to 403. f. Approved Mowing atTTES building for the season. g. Approved an additional seven Paid On Call firefighters. h. Approved 2024-2025 Fire Chief Contract. i. Approved 3% Cost of Living Wage Increase for Township elected officials, office employees, and EMS employees. j. Approved Health Insurance Waiver be raised. k. Approved the updated Thornapple Township Emergency Services Rate Table. I. Approved five-year Cemetery Con­ tract with Wickham Cemetery Care. Meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m. Prepared by Deputy Clerk Brenda Hess. Approved by Township Supervi­ sor, Eric Schaefer. Copies of the meeting minutes are available upon request from the Township Clerk or by visiting https;// thornapple-twp.org/meeting-minutes/ Office hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday throuah Thursdav. Will Nathan and sophomore Parker Dahley each shot 82 to lead the Thomapple Kellogg team and tied for 13th individually. TK also got an 87 from senior Tyler Voss. West Catholic junior and South Christian senior Landon Lemmen both shot a 74 to finish at the top of the day’s leaderboard. The Sailors alsogota75 from sophomore Harris Hoekwater, a 75 from senior Brody Montsma and a 77 from senior Wyatt Sall. West Catholic’s Owen Kotowski, a junior, also shot a 75. Thomapple Kellogg will head to Stonehedge Golf Course in Au­ gusta to play its MHS AA Division 2 Regional Tournament on the North Course Tuesday, May 27. YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors.. .and our future. Group Your Community Connection Online Only AUCTION Tuesday, June first lot ends at 6pm 4311 30*'^ St. Dorr, Michigan **Over 500 lots in this large online auction** With over 500 lots this large online auction promises to offer desirable and useful items for all bidders including; Kubota zero turn, Power equipment, Large array of power and hand tools. Collectibles, Military items. Sporting goods. Camping items. Hunting and fishing. Furniture, Household and MORE! AUCTON C APPRAISAL www.VKauctions.com (616) 437-1047 CHS girls open softball postseason at home Tuesday against Rangers Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia will host the Forest Hills Central varsity softball team for an MHSAA Division 1 Pre-District ballgame Tuesday beginning at 4 p.m. The winner of Tues­ day’s contest heads to Lowell Saturday, May 31, to face Lowell in the district semifinals in Wyoming. The Caledonia girls were still looking to finish off the OK Green Confer­ ence season late last week hosting Mona Shores for two Thursday, May 22. Byron Center finished off conference sweep of the Scots with an 8-0 win in Caledonia last Thurs­ day, May 15. The two Caledonia hits in that loss were singles by Addy Lash and Lexi Henney. www.sunandnews.com <J * 1 TK Aquatics looking to utilize updated pool this summer Brett Bremer Sports Editor TK Aquatics is prep­ ping for summer classes and events in the pool at Thomapple Kellogg High School in Middleville. Pool coordinator Jeff Saltzgaber said, “we’re excited to provide a va­ riety of lessons and well­ ness-focused activities designed to serve students, families, and community members across the Mid­ dleville area.” Those offerings include parent/child swim lessons for youth ages two months to two years; group swim lessons for ages 3-12; mid­ dle school and high school swim camps; adult group swim lessons; and private swim lessons for all ages. *4. I * X 11 Mm it ■ TK Aquatics is also introducing Aqua Mo­ tion and Gentle AquaFit self-guided, low-impact water fitness windows that promote movement, flexibility, and overall wellness. These sessions are designed for commu­ nity members looking for a low-stress way to stay active this summer. Programs begin June 9. Aregistration deadline has been set for May 30. Links to the pool schedule and the swim program flyer with a QR code for reg­ istration can be found on the Family/Flyers page of the tkschools.org website. Those interested can also contact Saltzgaber at jsaltzgaber@tkschools. org for more information. ilf 4 I I » <1^. iv I • * /c) J - 'J I I J •> r' f ri ■ r ?■• y,.dP as r 11 . . - J 4 » <«e » * 1 » -U I. ♦ > ,F I t I I . A I z < • I ■*1 « I ♦' '*-ir r I ^Mir * • Ji 71 'z I p’*" I/* i*\'' 1 d e:<;r I if V 4 » a .UI»’ J r ♦ » I .Ji*" i » » <’> ni * ***'» I V : r ■I ’- J t 40's f Ij s -ft a ► iJH. .^- F" • ‘V I r I ' ,3 r » 1 . .A >1 ■* • 1 I s . ( 1SSS'” noiUf. ' I r I • ' hr I I -fr I I- ■ J I 1) I I I lyojans finish Gold season at .500, host district Saturday $ LI I II I I Brett Bremer Sports Editor IRVING TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS MAY 20th, 2025 Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm at 3425 Wing Rd. Hastings, Michigan 49058 Present: Lydy, Stout, Buehler, Brummel, and Nagel Agenda approved as presented Approved April 15th, 2025 Meeting Minutes Approved to pay bills in the amount of $3820.00 Approved March 18th, 2025 Budget Hearing Meeting Minutes Approved to pay the Hickory Ridge Tree Service invoice of $1,800.00 Approved to pay $10,000 for Hammond Road Village Limits Road Work Upcoming Meeting dates: June 17th, 2025, 7:00pm (Board Meet­ ing) Adjourn 7:29pm Full minutes are available at Irvingtownship.org or at 3425 Wing Rd, Hastings, Ml 49058. Prepared by Irving Township Clerk, Tessa Stout. Attested to by Supervisor, Dan Lydy. 4. South Christian took two from the Thomapple Kellogg varsity softball team in Mid­ dleville Monday. The Sailors scored 17-7 and 3-2 wins to move the Trojans’ OK Gold Conference record to 6-6 for the season. South Christian snapped a 2-2 tie with a run in Ae top of the sixth to pull in front in the opener. Adelaide Holderman went the distance in the circle for TK and didn’t allow an earned run in her seven innings. She struck out seven, walked one and allowed six hits. The TK offense consisted of four hits. Holderman doubled and scored a run. Jenna Robi­ nett, Anna Romph and Al­ lison Wolowicz each singled once. KenzieHoebeke walked twice and drove in a run. The South Christian offense exploded for 18 hits and 17 runs in game two, and ±e Trojans struggled to handle ±e ball defensively allowing five unearned runs. Holderman, Romph and Robinett had two hits each for TK in that game two loss. Robinett doubled once and drove in three runs. Holder­ man had two runs scored and an RBI. Romph had a single, a double and two runs scored. Wolowicz also singled once for TK and drove in a run. The TK ladies are hosting their MHSAA Division 2 District Tournament Saturday, May 31. The Trojans will play at 10a.m. inadistrict semifinal contest against the winner of the Tuesday predistrict contest between Hastings and Wayland in Middleville. Hopkins and Allegan are set to play the second district semifinal of the day Saturday in Middleville at noon with the district championship game to follow. I V* in . f ♦ f J '14. ) < r r I r A : I r I '»I.b FlttflC ’ 3-* f f J1 I 1^ i I A r- M f -r*< I I 1 • r ft rj Mt* )- * A ' ’ t u* 'A; - jaaDinM ■pjIMU i'*—- /W) IXj t * 9^ ' I 1 I f 14 .J . 4 J 1 X«<:r 7 tX•I4 1 i > I I 'OF > f i' 1 /♦ I 1 XJ i• I I I A •■I' i .J I I 1 * « ' *«.* ft J ii I 1 I I . « rjj’k2...i« -• a II 9• ?;>i: 11' i r I • . a.i/‘ ?“• 1 I iG, 9 » « I 1 / * e I .. 9 1 r j\: A I -iJ V . - I I I I t T• I J . I f » BW J »• k 'f j <-12 Su-4 .S i t I I r 1 I r't^' I L I f f �5 •k X X V X. V •r ♦ * I I \ . . I ♦ 4/ ’WM AsKlii., '\ r ■tr. THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Saturday, May 24, 2025 13 ♦ ♦ > ». » Scots shut out TK, ball teams closing in on state postseason •I <« I i I i' ‘ •I f I Vf . .i. k A. ' . Brett Bremer Sports Editor I The Caledonia varsity baseball team took a 10-0 win over visiting Thomapple Kellogg Friday afternoon. May 16. Ethan Sova got the win on the mound striking out three and walking five in four innings, but he only allowed one hit. Aryn Taylor came on to strike out two in the fifth. Caledonia had 12 hits, including 11 singles, to score its ten runs. Bryce Freese was l-for-4 with a double and drove in four runs. He also walked once and scored once. Jackson McNew was 4-for-4 with a run scored. Sova was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. AJ Roszkowski, Trevor Walter, Ben Kieliszewski, Alex Spinney and Taylor had one hit each. A single by lead-offhitter Conner Dombkowski had the only hit for the Trojans. For the Scots it was in the middle of a stretch in which they played on five consecutive days last week getting in a total of seven games during that span. The Scots were bested 8-4 by Byron 4 r ► f I I J y ,/ L •n I I I. I ' I 4 ' I * I *< ?. I <6 * t ’V.c a I I I I 4 K s ^■*1' *<». 1 • V « I !i^ •<• .n- I ,▼ J -I H % A. « 'u « * 44 l.> I'fc. e « * * "'Gw f VB dU. i - I* ’ • - 0/. X I 4 .'ti K?! I & .i <( 1 J I •< V ■ 7. I '■ r i . I *1 t La* .1'4 t X fl., 1 A*. 5 ,'^1 1 I .J t <; - J ■ i ' '®*>Q 1 I i r ao^i 'f I Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Fighting Scots finished off an runner-up finish in the OK Green Conference by scoring a 2-0 win at Mona Shores Thursday, May 15. The Caledonia varsity girls’ soc­ cer team was 7-2-1 in conference play this season, falling only to the undefeated conference champs from Byron Center along the way. CHS head coach Taylor Kastens said her girls absolutely dominated the match in Muskegon last week. Bay lee Devries beat three defend­ ers to the goal and finished with what coach Kastens called a beautifully placed shot to the left of the Mona Shores keeper for the Scots’ first goal. Ellery Lienesch scored the Scots’ second goal, cleaning up a missed clearance from the Mona Shores defense at the top of the box and putting a shot over the Sailor keeper’s head. Kastens said her girls created a number of other scoring chances throughout the evening, but just couldn’t get any more to hit the net. Fighting Scots senior goalkeeper Ella DeRuyter kept a clean sheet facing five shots on goal. “We pressured higher up the field this time, which helped keep their backline under pressure and our backline was lights out,” Kastens said. “It was a full-team performance and the best complete game we’ve played all year.” The Scots are hoping for more of that as the postseason gets rolling. They were slated to host Northview for their MHSAA Division 1 District opener at Scotland Yard Thursday, May 22. The winner of Thursday night’s contest heads to Rockford to face the 12-2-3 Rams in the district semifinals Tuesday, May 29, at 5 p.m. Rockford won the OK Red Confer ence this spring. Caledonia moved its record to 9-6-2 win the win at Mona Shores. «v '*^10 '« *iOilj| ’ ' •* . r J * 9 ..’I A 4 MT. ■ ■ I ^11 V 1 1 e -*r» €*-' 4 • f * n'> <n I I > 'H I If r 5 Ya,w1gee Sprinss Townsliip 4 • K V X * ft 204 N. BR1CX3S ROAD- MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN 49333 269-795-9091 / FAX 269-795-2308 I I NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Township of Yankee Springs, Barry County, Michigan Ta.iih:ee Springes Townsliip 284 N. BRIGGS ROAD- MIDDLEVILLE. MICHIGAN 49333 269-795-9091 / FAX 269-795-2388 Ml* T I I { 1 ! ' iV.i b ' •'«-<< I ! J 1 2 x* ®®ii| 4» 1> Kfl du. 4^ ) I } Li.' I ♦ I f* L :i•J - aj I *1 t I ► 5 * r i * r Center May 15, and got swept in a double header at Grand Rapids Catholic Central May 24, 6-5 and 5-1. The Scots were slated to visit Mona Shores Thursday and then play host to the Sailors for two Friday, May 23. South Christian is set to host the Scots today, May 24. Caledonia will enter the state postsea­ son in the MHSAA Division 1 District Semifinals at Forest Hills Central High School Saturday, May 31, taking on East Kentwood at noon. Forest Hills Central and Lowell meet in the district’s other semifinal contest Saturday morning. The Thomapple Kellogg boys fell 5-2 and 7-4 in a pair ofOK Gold Conference ballgames in Middleville Monday. The postseason starts for the Trojans Tuesday, May 27, with a MHSAA Di­ vision 2 Pre-District bailgame against Pennfield at Harper Creek High School beginning at 4 p.m. The winner of that one will take on Hastings in the district semifinals back at Harper Creek High School Saturday, May 31. Harper Creek and Gull Lake will meet in the district’s second semifinal contest May 31. Scots handle Sailors in second meeting to finish second in OK Green a r 4 4>k 7 J/' 1 * * i 4 I J J. 4 ‘ I •« <« . -<^1 H:1£=I r rr MI 1 « Im4«« ..-.i - ■ 3 ‘ I ; 1 'JU«T J rJ J h <i q r4 iL I.' f • - r-v 1 '* 1 1 ‘ Ij I ! wiori' I * I fI l! t 1 :■ -’ir'- *9 . I ,H M II I ' 1 • I I I I I I I " JeAJ ■Ju ^nFT-f I f- -ri’ f I i -■ • 4 I ri. I 1 Is F ■ ) J I tiw < u''irwTi i fii\- -.-au i I '■ ;i»n.' •v* J--*l!in’!^ tr- s * I ■ » *i . Hrl Ik I I 'll J I I I , I • '* I I J , l' I ri ' I ( 13 I i hi TO THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS IN BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that as a result of petitions of property owners within the township signed by the record owners of land whose (area or footage) constitutes more than 50 percent of the total (area or footage) of the hereinafter described Deer Sight Drive special assessment district and the township board of the Township of Yankee Springs proposes to make road improvements consisting of installing 1.5 inches of base course asphalt compacted, and installation of 1.5 inches of surface asphalt compacted. The length of roadway is approximately 16 mile. And to create a special assessment for the recovery of the cost thereof by special assessment against the properties benefited therein. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the district within which the foregoing improvements are proposed to be con­ structed and within which the cost thereof is proposed to be assessed is more particularly described as including the following parcel numbers: 08-16-135-008-00 08-16-135-005-00 08-16-135-017-00 08-16-135-009-00 08-16-135-004-00 08-16-135-012-00 08-16-135-007-00 08-16-135-003-00 08-16-135-010-00 08-16-135-006-00 08-16-135-002-00 08-16-135-011-00 08-16-135-009-00 08-16-135-001-00 08-16-135-001-00 PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Township Board has received engineering plans shovring the improvements and an estimate of the costs of such construction in the approximate amount of $52,000, has placed them on file with the township clerk, and has passed a resolution tentatively declaring its intention to make the improvement and to create the special assessment district. The township board has also tentatively found the petitions to be compliance with statutory requirements. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that said plans, estimate of cost, proposed special assessment district and petitions may be examined at the office of the township clerk from the date of this notice through ffie date of the public hearing and may be examined at such public hearing. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a public hearing on the petitions, plans, district and estimate of cost will be held at the Yankee Springs Township hall at 284 N, Briggs Road, Middleville, Michigan, commencing at 6 o’clock p.m. on June 5,2025. At the hearing, the board will consider any written objections to any of the foregoing matters filled with the board at or before the hearing as well as any revisions, corrections, amendments, or changes to the plans, estimates and costs or special assessment district. All interested persons are invited to be present at the hearing and to submit any comments they may have. Township clerk signature: Tom Hopkins Township address: 284 N. Briggs Road Middleville, Michigan 49333 NOTICE OF PROJECT PLANNING PUBLIC MEETING Yankee Springs Township will hold a public meeting on the proposed Drinking Water State Revolving Fund - Water System Improvements project for the purpose of receiving comments from interested persons. The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on May 29, 2025, at the Yankee Springs Township Hall located at 284 N. Briggs Road, Middleville, Ml 49333. The purpose of the proposed project is to improve the Township’s aging water system and comply with drinking water standards. Recommended improvements include watermain looping and increased capacity of the water treatment system. Impacts of the proposed project include improved water quality, increased pressure and reliability. Short-term construction related impacts include noise and dust during construc­ tion. The estimated cost to users for the proposed project may be up to $45.00 monthly. Actual costs will vary depending on financing terms, principal forgiveness, and/or grants, as well as the final user charge rate structure. A copy of the plan detailing the proposed project is available for inspection at the Town­ ship Hall. Written comments received before the meeting record is closed on May 29, 2025, will receive responses in the final project planning document. Written comments should be sent to: Rob Heethuis, Township Supervisor, 284 N. Briggs Road, Middleville, Ml 49333. �» f I I 14 Saturday, May 24, 2025 < THE SUN AND NEWS wwYf. SU na ndnews com V r » Falcons only ones above TK girls at first DI regional 4 4 e e ’***w..^ ♦ This is not anything new for Thor­ napple Kellogg senior Brooklyn Har­ mon and juniors Mia Hilton and Payton Gater, but the churning of the perenni­ ally talented Trojan 4x4(X)-meler relay team brought up freshman Amya Gater this spring. She has settled into a spot in the leadofTleg, racing 400 meters and Ihen hand­ ing the baton off to her big sister Payton. Amya opened the spring with a 400-meter run of 1:05.11 at the Grand Valley State University Lakers Chai lenge, but knew she had to be faster to be a positive part of the 4x4(X)-meter relay team. She ran the 400 at the OK Gold JV Conference Meet May 12 and notched a new PRof 1:01.63, a few days after helping the TK varsity girls win the 4x400 at the OK Gold Championships. It was pretty tough,” Amy said of shaving those four seconds, “but it was adrenaline. Adrenaline helped. I knew I needed to get my time down, so then it forced me to get my time down or I didn’t run. [My teammates] cheered for • r Xi J ( L r* ■j f I, ♦ .L« * 1 5 Thornapple Kellogg freshman Amya Gater takes off at the start of the 4x400-meter relay Saturday during the MHSAA Division 1 Regional at Portage Central High School. The TK team placed second in the race to qualify for the May 31 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 State Finals. z ' ' Brett Bremer Sports Editor >• 44 me every time. They pushed me to do better, and they made me do better, and they were very encouraging the whole time.” Thal improvement didn’t make a re­ gional start with a trip to the slate finals on the line any easier though. In the blocks for the last race of the MHSAA Division I Regional hosted by Portage Central High School Saturday, Amya said she started shaking - even more than usual. “I didn't know what to do, so I just had to wait for the beep. I was very nervous,” Amya said. “It’s not usually that bad. I get nervous. My body kind of gets shakes, but my hands were like shaking on the ground and I didn’t know what to do because I thought I was going to false start.’’ The buzzer went off though and then it all went away. Amya got the baton to Payton who handed it to Hilton and then finally got it to Harmon who brought it across the finish line. “They’re just crazy,” Harmon said of her teammates. “I know Amaya, a being a freshman, it was super nerve wracking * * '* I 1 ’W z » I for her, but I’m so proud ofhow far she's come. We told her before the race she earned this spot. She knows what to do. “They’re amazing and they're my best friends and I’m sad to leave them. Competing in an MHSA A Regional at the Division 1 level for the first time ever only the East Kentwood girls were better than the TK ladies in that 4x400-meter relay and in the overall team standings for the day. The TK foursome cut more than four seconds from their previous best together in that race to place second in 4 minutes 7.33 seconds. The East Kent­ wood team of seniors Alana Bailey and Atiek Anyang and freshmen I^Niyah Carnegie and Deborah Aowdiek won that race in 4:00.88. In the day’s final team standings, the Falcons had an even more impressive advantage outscoring the runner-up TK girls 151-66.5. In the boys’ meet, the East Kentwood Falcons outscored runner-up Kalamazoo Central 147-118 for the team title. That was the only race all day where See next page t I jt V 4 »« 0 i : .A*-*' ,r t 9 4 j- ' t i L. I I > . jj, i . ... .)■, L.lL. Ji? f J ' * ** ■..■ .1. t '•'i i9^' f,f ■ 0 i r» t v ' ■ i I J f f I < .it .... . / I • s-» V• » . A *S’' 4 1. (WfS* '■ . 71 « I .#^01 L. I T 4 ♦* V • A > « ■\l r 4 t- > I 4 I I I I 1 ' .1^ A 4 f I I I* I ■if' J k • t I • ; iA* ■»* k « ’’ft'®' I. i ^- . 616-891-0150 4 4^ V » 1 «» * r I w L iK ■ 4 4 r >T 1 k V t I *«* * ««»• :u. 11 > ifs. 1 4 4 b ac> ■-■ £: «4 • 4r 4» n • . _ t,-’S t f .J 4 4 J w . 9>« JI 1 4 «»• i: 1 u A k ... MU \ k* 'X L X# A csr:* ,XF**** F? *Wz> * al •rt-t* S31 ?. I. Scan our QR code to find your perfect invitation! « I* r r f ^r V‘ < I k X. 1 1 . > ■ T '.4 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday; 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. || Z ■ n z fe- sjfl . 7" > V I V d[ 1 J “'..z CT 0» Simply Perfect BODY SHOP WEDDING INVITATIONS ( '"•'B 'a 1 ♦ ■ 0 t♦ » 1 . '1' If. I I J r r“—. ik 4 f 4'.» ft** f 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 LI 1H: J 1 4 t * • f 9 « 1 ' k'- 5 1M4-W V. ■ Ji — www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com f- • **' 4^'4- 4 ' Your +rus-becl body Shop for over yi years ti Potsifi r * *v • t«r v* I' n <'4 »'• h r k*. 1 !t.::. ■p - ...I J B I ’ ' siIf I i 1 'I ‘J. r 1 I» ! 1 <1 M 4. (i :.i I tI L I* » I 4 i 4 J I 1 X I I I I V I I 1 c r COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR PRINTING BY S • W f Air** I K * Created just for your big day, we*ve put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. Manwi I ( I �'r I i;I Wk I I www.sunandnews.com r I i •l Continued from previous page I * k II I s 4 I someone finished in front of Harmon. She was a part of three state qualifying performances. She improved her own school records to win regional cham­ pionships in the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter low hurdles. “I hit every goal,” Harmon said. “I kind of wasn’t expecting it, but I was expecting it. I wanted it for myself. There was always just that little doubt in my mind, but I just stayed super strong with myself, and I was like ‘you trained for this. You know what to do. Focus on you. Stay in your lane. Only you. Only you Brooklyn. Focus on yourself’ I did that, and I think that’s what it was. “And all of my encouragement from the amazing people around me always helps me too.” Harmon won the 100-meter hurdles in 14.65 seconds dropping her PR in that race by more than four tenths of a second and beating her nearest competi­ tor, East Kentwoodjunior Alana Bracey, by nearly half a second. Later, Harmon caught a flash of Bracey’s leg in her peripheral vision as they rounded the turn in the 300-meter hurdles. That spurred her on to a winning time of44.81 in that race. She cut nearly a second from her PR in that race and I 4 I I » 4 - I Nr •j. » *? f : ’J. J u 1 J I A. I 'I < ♦ :• f f lx 1 II f >• I ’tx. » .1 r d. • I r2 % f 4 k I i t r « "L I I • .. 1 I. I •I J ? ■ . I •'J k k. f * ! A V I I 4 <?af. ' fl'/ I ( l;i •x I I ffcr/ ♦ 'i'. 1 ' ^<1 ■yu.*. 3L. *’’1 . '"is m. I«- u. ’ lu.. tsL S'' T; J *'•4 unf v,rfj > -i.e a n led 10 r»“* W I ? 1 A I» < x« moil i '• WK RI I 'J e ' -1 ’t >> • r .^• /* « V 1< I J i f- » J ■(BW. IT 1 ♦ 4« #'^,5 iZ* Zr ^4 Ai I 'L. y I Wil e « Iw i .A 4 k > I ft 4 t T I • I V K iIT r...... < 4 i < •I 5«“-i * > AJI • X V, I r 4 f. I • I A 1 •Z ’• A A & Si W‘--i t V V w •'V t 4 •> 9 % I ( )» r i t •i'f I i I •V ’4 r '» i >4 • r f I w»« « I •I -?*• *■ <* •* * «U I 1 I 1 I :' ! J I I ( * ¥• i I I ( I ( i I ti 4 . I ! ( t 1 j I, R***- < i i I ► ‘J 4 k P Thornapple Kellogg senior Tanner Buxton fires off a throw in the shot put Saturday during the MHSAA Division 1 Regional hosted by Portage Central High School. finished about three quarters ofa second ahead of Bracey. Hilton also qualified for the Finals in those 300 hurdles with a third-place time of 46.36. Harmon was third in both hurdles races at the MHSAAL.P. Division 2 Fi­ nals as a junior, after missing the chance to compete her sophomore season due to an injury. Harmon, Hilton and Gater teamed with Brooklyn’s sister Ellie, now a sophomore, to place sixth in the 4x400-meter relay at the state finals last year. Hilton was a state medalist in the 300 hurdles at the end of both her fresh­ man and sophomore seasons. The top two finishers in each event at the regional Saturday qualified for the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Track and Field Finals which will be host­ ed by East Kentwood High School May 31. This spring, for the first time, there were opportunities for early qualification to the finals throughout the season and there were also the usual state qualifying measurements athletes could reach at the regional to allow for more than two state qualifiers from a single event. The TK girls also got top-eight scor­ ing performances from junior Jordyn Fitros in the 200-meter dash; sophomore Isla Sheely in the 400-meter run; senior Ava Crews in the 800-meter run and the 3200-meter run; freshman Amya Gater in the 300-meter hurdles; the 4x100-meter relay team ofjunior Madison Kietzman, sophomores Estefani Sanchez Vega and Sydney Martin and senior Emma Dykhouse; the 4x200-meter relay team of sophomore Elli Harmon, Kietzman, Sanchez Vega and Fitros; sophomore Lydia Slagel in the pole vault and Dyk­ house in both the shot put and the discus. Crews went all out in the 800 setting a PR of 2:21.91, but couldn’t quite hold a spot in the top two to qualify for the finals in that race. Kalamazoo Central senior Aimie Alkema won it in 2:17.08 and Gull Lake sophomore Lane Isom caught Crews in the end to place second. There wasn’t much energy left for Crews to make another run at a state spot in the 3200-meter run and she finished eighth in that race in 12:05.91. She wasn’t the only one to just miss a spot in the finals in that way. Dykhouse was third in the shot put with a mark of 34-5, finishing just six and a half inches behind East Kentwood fi-eshman Nevaeh Eubanks who fired off a PR of 34-11.5 to place second. Forest Hills Central junior Olivia Latunski won that event at 37-9. Dykhouse did close out her season with a personal record throw 15 Saturday, May 24, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 9 r^flE « 4 I fl I lOWEl t t t* h: / I M** • » O- * ‘ nnnTtrr • . a a > rrurnm Ou nW 0* r * o r • n r «■« 4 rruTn* nnnTicr .-O huh 1.^1 1 aT» Thornapple Kellogg senior Brooklyn Harmon runs to a victory in her preliminary heat of the 100-meter hurdles Saturday during the MHSAA Division 1 Regional hosted by Portage Central High School. Harmon improved her own school records in winning both the 100 hurdles and the 300 hurdles at the regional, and also qualified for the state finals in a third event with her 4x400-meter relay teammates. Photos by Brett Bremer of 93-4 in the discus. Payton Gater was third in the 400-meter dash with a PR of 1:00.52, but the top two were a few seconds in front of her, which is a lot in the 400. Portage Northern sophomore Mauriel Seeberger won that race in 55.47 and Forest Hills Central junior Emma Goring was the runner-up in 57.21. The TK boys were 13th as a team. Senior Jacob Draaisma had the lone scoring performance for the Trojans with a fifth-place time of2:02.15 in the 800-meter run. • J Cipr' I 9* <7> A 4 J k \ A ?S<yar.!A t I J'" J L -1 It I I* I, < /: /J < / 4^ 5 ■ s. • , t I 3 D • D>1D I w 11 £ ^4 *• > « 1 7 J .. V*>’ . .-wi* < 4 « I..’ -•r^ ► TT Ka .c E^ELij^ C7 imMers, fam A f\ Your donation helps rebuild, pre serve,A]^l^aut4'l^ 'h/ this commurrity resource •• u / f 1 i * :W'- 1 I 1 □ SCAN TO DONATE 1 s i i < t I k k I t a •.-?» fl fl and TO LEARN MORE. I, fl fl f.'- fl. flfl B ■I □ fl I < �16 Saturday. May 24. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunarxlnews. oom WWW Scot freshman fourth in field of 95 at Mona Shores invite OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor if B r • «. 1 > '•t. I 4 * B v-a k I . j MT ' * * •1^ I F I9 9 9 'T .5b I» • ■■ ■ * 1 4 ■ t c T 1 « i r 0 « « i t *• W' n ^IVfli 3910 a score of 320 ahead of Grand Haven 325, Hudsonville 328, Caledonia 333, Loy Nomx 333, Northview 335, Jenison 338 and West Ottawa 340 in the top ten. Freshman Alex Postma led the Cale­ donia team with a score of 77 that had him in a tie for fourth overall on the day. Senior Sam Micrsen shot an 84 or the Scots, junior Camden Quigley fired an 85 and senior Parker Little scored an 87. Grand Haven senior Carson Osborn and Rockford sophomore Austin Helsel both shot 75 to finish atop the individ ual leaderboard. Lumen Christi senior Adam Fuller carded a 76. The Scots were at Saskatoon Golf Course Thursday, May 22, for the OK Green Conference Championship. The Caledonia varsity boys’golfteam shot its way to a sixth-place finish al the 19-team Mona Shores Tom Wilson Invitational Monday at Muskegon Country Club. The Fighting Scots head back in that direction Wednesday, May 28, to be a part of the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Divi­ sion 1 Regional hosted by Mona Shores at Stonegate Golf Club in Twin Lake. At the Tom Wilson Invite, the host Sailors took the day’s championship with an overall score of 315 beating out Rockford on a tiebreaker for the title. The Rams also finished with a score of 315, Lumen Christi was third with lusnu I » I • » _r •' *• /(tk» I.MWBritii! • 44 , wi6O(HnW»jn ’***^^*’^fabl i.irmoS /stA(«mrb» «io B riBW irI i. t 4 t , fiawi Z«> »IB ro i town Ijraot-soj tm M fl n& torit inmil/ imZoiia flB J ) FObMBj ----------- -- ’iTfHnoi, TRmbaio3334aUqirtR«ti^ nofbO fwmO loima »»•/»} I ls«toH mao/^ VKHaodqo* Imt ijtx -tiwitai 'zf4» fumrteKTfi.«! r i-Mh F h i ♦ r V f 10WW IjanSa mmiJ bww»>M>a YleO (wMBjlMiJ IS 3WW «b -Wil ,£r <»M 1 X. . X L J ■9 NOW HIRING View Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST Responsibilities include: • • • • 71 wasnbo J r r <, «ll Advertising sales Account management Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts Attend networking events Scots get a few wins at tennis regionai in Holland Brett Bremer Sports Editor bnelloH nt iBnoigev < the other three flights and finished as the tournament runners-up with 27 points. West Ottawa and Rockford girls met up in all eight flight championship matches. Hudsonville was third with 16 points ahead of Grand Haven 10, Jenison 7, Caledonia 3, East Kentwood 2, Traverse City West 1 and Grand Rapids Union 0. The Caledonia senior second doubles team of Zoe Fleming and Hailey Markwat scored the Scots’ lone doubles win. They beat the Jenison duo of Mackenzie Mitton and Sophia Vande Bunte 6-3,6-1 in the first round. In the quarterfinals the Scots were downed by the number two team from Rockford. West Ottawa sophomore Evie Price cap­ tured die first singles championship without dropping a set She only dropped six games all day and knocked off Rockford senior Maya Clark 6-1,6-1 in the championship. The Fighting Scots scored three points to place seventh at their MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’ Tennis Re­ gional hosted by West Ottawa Wednes­ day, May 14. Caledonia junior second singles player Audrey Duong took a 6-4, 6-4 win over GrandvillejuniorArianna Comstock in the opening round at their flight Sophomore Gretchen VanderEide outscor^ Grand Rapids Union senior Amarah Williams 6-0, 6-0 in their opening round match at fourth singles. Both of those Scots were downed by Rockford girls who went on to finish second to West Ottawa girls. The West Ottawa girls won three singles flights and two doubles flights and captured the regional championship with 30 points. The Rockford girls won ki tA^gwn ixa vawfe lort ewoq fttwr qu’^'TMVun Irtonm RJaniehjghiatboM tmawno^ qatontMTmofto idjitft irtjua A kWoqrtl lijiw tnub kaw '>tlr/tsjei3 IT; * r* ,i rioa&ni ,01 (waH IxureJ ta ! u IB' anwra r. L boo'^niBj{ tied. L i iijoi 0 miaU bnBsiJ Imn t jsldaob txnosa iwoe tinoboljjJ t yoiiBil txa ^nmoiT xAlo nrw !>8toBob anol 'zjoo^ bdj txnrK B t F. t* * r bqImMH ijub noBinatodnasd 'JI I -d X-o UmV tina:i 3ib i^iia^ntstup smIi rd Iwcn t?nt I I .1 <rw) Txlsrajn wb vd bocr^^ob r snmoriqoeswvntl jh laodhwr^ilwnaiaw^ ^9mBgzRb»7qori>Yl(n9(i£jx ^ni loiaM bnbbo>{ Ito bujjorul ixn » quianoK^TWik) bit ra > J .< n »il J .6 «a%i, IE TH E MOST TRUSTED’ ' NAME IN roofing * __ Group email wsmith@mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 _ •l ll -A-I’* ’ ' I* • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM SHERRIFF GOSLIN’ r 1 3 • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A* RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU QUALITY ROOFING j t* : .• . * *' 9 •• V ( • •- iS' V '* A 4B * 99 w c- w A 4 I «l . J > «» >4 9«* r t * ‘dh.<z/.M4iir) '■ 'J/! ■■.: $ r* I 1 L< U CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ■ yr .ic; jjaT > o * 2i £ e R * 2g AHtH /l J iA MOW > f> 1?WO» ; r uRSRua iziMJfl R rma >lO 4 YAQOT UA3 T? 0 c •c CL ) INSPECTION * - ROtR 9Tn \ izHUGOR oMwew t, DfomM jhBi 3Zn- hUCJY 4 I. M iZJ t J« ’XXitra I »■■.’JW ri' - fr, > I ^ut F» t HOIT33Q< X. 9 9 -j3R13nTA>».MO3 . f ‘ VISIT US ONLINE; SHERRIFFGOSLIN COM/BATTLECREEK / f « ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS !• < i W/'t. I ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen I o • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS * % ? • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP ' r local trusted roofing company WITH IIS* YEARS IN THE BUSINESS i. .* >• ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian • ■<0 1 J 1 « « < 4 4 t » « . « >v I' jyMiIrtr - MW W^rV^^jajleS" V <’ ir XU 4 1 II: f 9 4 »: ii I t 0 «/ ll <5 < Xi 1 /1 iii •h I 4 a £ i f <» f * 4 I rJ * t � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-05-31.pdf 0a8c7e6de5015d3e19fb622b80f24522 PDF Text Text 1 THE SUN AND NEWS Your Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas I 11 TROJAN GOLF SEASON ENDS AT TOUGH 02 REGIONAL ' PAGE 13 I ' J3' ' 15 b A* 4^ / -------------- < ae .OM SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2025 NO. 58 www.sunandnews.com r> Mortarboards fly throughout 2025 TKHS commencement IBOdfSllOM I f J ( r 1 { • t * 1 .-Mt 2r I >« J [ I • •V > J > I I I T .yalwoR nsbiot .zivsO doofiL ' teen ttsl ot frigid moil 3le32Bt Temeonemmoo loorloS rtpiH Jacob Davis, Jordan Rowley, Brody Wiersma and their classmates move their tassels from right to left near the conclusion of the 2025 Thornapple Kellogg High School commencement ceremony Thursday, May 22, in Middleville. M. <; Photos by Brett Bremer ismvia ttvia yd MdodH Brett Bremer mmiB ttoiB * i lOtiW zfioqS TOtod llw EbTEOdlfiboM niugud yjlx>l lotrra^ gniJEubBis Ewn o) nobio ad) aatfimazsb larl « hsi 01 trign moit 21988St TrariJ icmoiri' dSOS arit'to noiEulonoo jnornrnoo Ioofb2 risill SgolbJl Sports Editor 'a ill 11 . CT 'JI K*. id A 1! fT/Z doG abignr ynomsw , /EfaiHUflT no ^JivolbbrM ni LTlpnoornsi l<x>o vlcknogfiQgnLJ vri gaJEuhEig faeri bniw ybeaJa b aa^'i ibfh moft lifirf fans ziazzM » eb 11 odiEhom ausm nwob gni li'jio ot mortt goiqqng to ' jfh nt qu t«*lbfBjrl zioJfiJaaqz ) X’loqH bnorru/Q fii^idA ttiG J 1^11 ni )bl sri2 rbrniBW Jnia? )g?x> lajlBoqg 31onv3>l .XT new adi'k* ^iloqg ^looCnftal Icq st Ilfw JSOSlo 88613 oft gsqori .bhow aft) ojni EODM v adi Js J>nA cnuowfiu VESlDEIUfVr xnH j>CI TOinaa 6 ichmf: wttnirniww i boiG'jrf euRTOiW biuoa WOT Jnoft hWWit W38 eirf bnuaw ebnfiff Ml J I ) c. | *1 H bVID Mortarboards flew well before graduating senior Rylee Seguin gave her classmates the orders to move their tassels from right to left near the conclusion of the 2025 Thomapple Kellogg High School commencement ceremony inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville on Thursday, May 22. Unseasonably cool temperatures and a steady wind had graduates sweeping tassels and hair from their eyes, chas­ ing down rogue mortarboards and/ or gripping them to their heads, with spectators bundled up in the stands. But Abigail Dumond spoke of the warmth she felt in finding her place at TK. Keynote speaker assistant princi­ pal Jeff Dock spoke of the warmth he hopes the Class of 2025 will take out into the world. NQ03 And, at the very least, uawoisno TviiNaaisau a senior like Brody SSMU33 9cm» in '9«AiiMjg Wiersma seated in the OK<oeOd 8CC# l!UU©d front row could cup his 8C88^ ‘91|IALI8eJ0 hands around his mouth aivd na boexvoE bUn 810 aovisod s n OIS XSUd f 1 1 J 'V. I J 1 1 I < •a i *« J and blow into them like a pitcher try­ ing to feel his fingers again on an early spring baseball mound. TKHS and the Middleville commu­ nity celebrated a class of 244 gradu­ ates, and the sun broke through the gray sky as the seniors began crossing the stage to accept their diplomas. “In high school, you discover who and what makes you happy ~ sports, clubs, music. Everyone has at least one memory that stays with them,” Dumond said to her classmates. “Maybe it was a teacher telling you exactly what you needed to hear in that moment, discovering a lifelong fiiendship, or achieving something you never even thought possible. “I personally experienced all three of these things. I’m still best fiiends with people that graduated last year and even the year before, our wonder­ ful band director, Ms. (Claire) Jansma, has instilled more confidence in me as a leader than I’ve ever had. And just when I thought that I didn’t have the time or the talent to continue doing this every day for four whole years? And then you leave thinking, man, I’m going to miss doing band, or football, or soccer, or writer’s club, or video or swimming.” Senior Cole Novak introduced Dock, a former high school science teacher and current Thomapple Kellogg var­ sity football coach who has now taken over a position as an assistant prin­ cipal. Novak had Dock as a science teacher his sophomore year. “One trait of his stands out above all others in my memory, his pas­ sion,” Novak said. “His passion for the subject, his passion for his students and his passion for providing the best possible teaching experience he could. See TKHS on 8 theater, a lifelong passion of mine, I was proven wrong. I’ve now been the villain in our school musical for two years in a row, and let me just say it’s a lot more fun being painted green for three nights in a row than you think. Oddly enough, I was actually quite sad taking ofiF the face paint for the last time. “This is the type of magic that our school brings. TK brings you things you didn’t know you needed. It intro­ duces you to people who you never knew you needed to meet and connect with. It shows you that you have so much more inside you than you would have ever realized on your own. You walk in here as a freshman and think to yourself, how am I going to survive Successful Scots II r i £ S' % » is « % HI j wm* Members of the Caledonia High School Class of 2025 are celebrating their first days out of high school this week after receiving their diplomas at last week, May 2O’s commencement ceremony at Calvin University. Look to next week’s edition for a full recap of CHS graduation festivities. Courtesy photo �1 2 (• Saturday, May 31,2025 ------------------------------- ------------ - ---- - .. . . I , .. THE SUN AND NEWS h WWW unai'drK/ws A. J. . ' 'T J TK Schools bus involved in Wednesday crash J^. F •I n > j t L / 3^ > «» * r j4 •••; 17 : • I- / • 4 < I- Thornapple Kellogg Schools bus was involved m a crash on the East Beltline in Kent County Wednesday morning Photo courtesy of the Kent County Sheriff's Office fii 4 th Annual Ca££in^a£l 'Pink CadioA and Gfiea&edA! ♦ Gel ready to rewind the dec«)dc«» for a throwback night of tun 50 ’a Sock 1100 & Car Show ♦ Friday June, 6 2025 5:30pm - 8pm A /iX * aaff Writer A Thomapplc Kellogg Schools bus was involved in a trafTic accident Wednesday morning, May 2K, according to an email sent to parents on Wednesday from Thomapplc Kellogg Interim Supcrinicndcni Mark Provost. The bus was struck by another vehicle and tipptxl onto its side On board were three students, two aides and the driver. School officials contacted the fami­ lies of the students involved. All passengers were medically evalu­ ated; however, one staffi member was transported to the hospital for further evaluation. All passengers arc expected to be okay, the email stated. “We arc grateful for the quick responsc of emergency personnelwrote Provost. The email also stated to par­ ents “The accident was determined to be the fault of the other driver.” However, Kent County Sheri fT’s Public Information Officer Sgt. Scott Dietrich updated The Sun and Ney\'s on Thursday with difTenng informalion. “The bus driver was at fault,” Dietrich said. 4 e* I •« 4 f I1 r ' ( .*» 1 t 'iA I Karen Turko-Ebright I — V- I + •««« Provost said ihc distncl has yet to see the final police report The district docs not have any further updates to share regarding die recent bus ifKidcnt Al this lime, Thomaj^lc Kellogg Schools has not received an>^ finali/ed informaiion from the shcrifTs office concerning the pohcc report. said Provost in an email lo 7he Sun and Ney^ .\ According to a press release from the Kent County ShenfTs Office, the initial investigation of ihc accident, which happened just after Ham on Wednesday, May 2H, indicated that a school bus, carrying students and slafT from Thomapplc Kellogg Schools was turning northbound onto East Beltline from westbound Bradford Street w hen a northbound Kia sedan struck it The Kia collided with the left rear comer of the bus, causing it to roll over. The driver of the Kia was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with a head injury and minor lacerations A school staff member riding the bus w as also transported after initially being unconscious and was being treated for a head injury. «« •J ri i I z.< . Jr o* 1 . (• < I I J 4 f 4^ « t tamil t i 1I '’'4 ; y ) 4 J. c I I*' i* t # ' : .1,1^ f 4 W 4 1 t(tf I I * < '4 J 1 f i• X"Hr wu . ri s t .4^ I ri ! ^} I• T*’ I • 1 *1^ »* 9 «* •‘X* /I fit •A a* ifliO 4 i A A * --<•0 "i " w <0 i * 1 0IS i «' I* ‘ i 4 f . V** fV • • j. ; !j3* V- 1 * J J rnl^ I • 4 fl I I iisS ( **■ I t f t jillOC® ' «<*- < I • 4 - .'•t I 1 '5** • V > - V’ ■ 4 V . 1 r nA k .-A r A i A i 1 > J r • Xr‘-3 rfj U. z 4B ’1' J i i* 4 ____________ 4 L. 11.» uf it I s • Patriotic Cottons in 45” & 108” 211^' * * •‘w I e K. ri ntn' <I>1 k • Holiday Prints Arriving V* 4^ .V* • Z r* '5< izlpfl i<fG ssdesftt a < K 'iSS A * I i ( I**"U'i-'' v.*“ 4 t-i* <• • • Quilts for all occasions 1 rt 1 »• * ^SK?*** j Jesus Loves Us □ Car Show Line-Up t ’W. QUESTIONS: ASK US... f o 1' 216 E. State St., Hastings • DOaiU at Caledonia Community Qreen "Parh 945-9673 OPEN: Monday-Friday 6 am-S 30 pm. Saturday 9 am-3 pm i ;ilJS3!!5£je M • X I \ I J fli Mkfflf « .1 ileffiiia (Il 4;()()pm offuf p^iid Si. i M S t I '1 fSckitff StafioM I • I 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com Sports: Brotl Bromor bbremerOmlhomepaper com Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Advertisins MaM^r Chris SIhrorman csIlvermanCmlhomepaper oom f I i r Martotmg and Community Engagoment Spoclalist; Jonnlo Yonktr lyonRerOrnIhomepaper. com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Please recycle this newspaper Copyright 2026 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved . Printed in the U.S. •t 4 iu-j I. ;i«WiRndtoraiKi aavim'iW* iFm AB advertising In The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have ; no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser 's order. ■iiifl 4MB f*’ i t Group J, •A-nflilte ki I • f • 4 1 2. :-r^ *4 -7, T!6«*aytti i I THE SUN AND NEWS Editor Molly Maclood mmacieodOmihomepaper oom 49 1 I The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 * I r r• PUBLISHED BY fr I ♦. V 1 tns^<46 j A . L ♦•. ■F CONTACT US **1^* •» V> t ** fl I f : ILi I r ) a ' f ’ I : I . 'J sitT' <♦ I4 ’’•j-'-Ka r r I I .V t <■ ! I, • ■ b.s I I I ’I .**y 1 1 s I ' >• .X, < i (. II I t I I t IIr ♦ < rl 't 1 1 A I I I. M t ir I I I 1 4 I fl t 9 i i 9 9 t fB n Vb s *■ 3 i »> 5 •l* < •a f ! 1 t •-i SifSW' / 1 I J'J �u 34 I 3k f ‘ T r . * 9 9* w 9 J 1 _r . Jk tif^i I "1. SU.'"’*?*, 'K S J T: I I I t 1 s ii. ?’f. ’< I < X f 5 'A *,i ». «f5. ? I I X ’ I 1 .\ .. ' >1 <1 X L ' r -. 'Itjl . 1 .2-< f fai ■ 4 I . J , i • ■' V‘. SI I > I •# . J).. 1 < Cr I s L. I‘x? b ■ V A artofc r n*. luor Ji • *. 11.4 k ■ » bi I w* ’"U .1 » •* I 1 I z I r ■’VUiril < •h x6 «k,. s* J 1.1 L. 1 r I ".'I I < fa fa 1 C 1 : I J *•. I I k €’ o . F 4 ’ / • .k, J y *• IT V 4J / r ‘-’1.® i i. 5 I ?S w . r I ' ;T|( J 1 ,f J s| i r> ] IM 1 !(JOl. !'.l . 4 I ; 14 ■’ i.ai 41 it t •JI •i» p' >f. *Il) HI 8t I ,.f 1 I I k i1 L ri : • .-.T'J- fa I c< » .1 1- ■ : : . » im22d t I « —^1 1 I 1 * ? 1 I f I »» »»^*** ■ r’ J * b* aW ‘f fb •n jfvc •» " )oHtr\!I < k .1 I r.t I 4 I I I mF I I I -V I •I •• •^r A Delton woman could be headed to trial for her role in a June 2024 crash in Baltimore Township that left a Middlevi 1 le resident dead and another injured. Kylee Lynn Brooks ofDelton was back before Judge Michael Schipper in Barry County District Court 56B on Wednes­ day, May 21, with a pretrial hearing being scheduled for Sept. 10 and a potential trial slated for Oct. 13-14. Brooks currently faces four felony state Senator Thomas Albert k soiAs Dennis Mansfield Staff Writer Sen. Albert schedules local office hours in Allegan, Barry counties ■ * < < 33 Y 3 Trial set for Delton woman charged in June 2024 fatal crash 4 * I Saturday, May 31,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com v^etV*! -• Wr i 4 / I State Sen. Thomas Albert has scheduled in-district office hours to meet with residents at two locations on Friday, May 30. Albert will kick things off in the State Senator Hastings City Thomas Albert Hall council chambers, 201 E. State St., from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Later that day, Albrt will be at the Ot­ sego District Public Library, 401 Dix St., from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Office hours are open to district residents to talk about issues related to state government or to request assistance with a state issue. Priority will be given to constituents seek­ ing to discuss issues that require privacy. No appointment is necessary, but space may be limited at some loca­ tions. Local office hours in other parts of the 18th Senate District will be scheduled at a later date. The 18th District includes Barry County and portions of Allegan, Calhoun, Kalam­ azoo, Kent, and Ionia counties. Residents unable to attend office hours may contact Albert’s Senate office via email at SenTAIbert@senate.michigan.gov, by calling 517373-1734 or by calling toll-free at 855-347-8018. Visit Albert’s xwebsite at SenatorThomasAlbert.com for more information. charges, including reckless driving causing death, as the result of the fatal accident on June 14, 2024, on Dowling Road, west of M-37. According to previous news reports, a preliminary investigation by the Barry County SheriflPs Office stated that the accident occurred while a line ofvehicles was headed east on Dowl ing Road where the lead vehicle was pulling a trailer and slowing down to turn right into a driveway. At the same time, a black Buick behind the trailer, reportedly driven by 60-yearold Susan Alcala of Middleville, was turning left into a gravel pit driveway. Brooks, who was 19 at the time of the accident, was driving a Ford Maverick in the same direction when she allegedly at­ tempted to pass the slower vehicles ahead of her and crashed into Alcala’s vehicle. Alcala’s mother, 84-year-old Arlene Willis, a passenger in the Buick, was taken to a local hospital where she later died. Along with the one count of felony reckless driving causing death. Brooks was also charged with a moving violation causing death, reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function andmoving violation causing serious im­ pairment ofa body function. Ifconvicted on the top charge, the Delton resident faces up to 15 years in prison. During last Wednesday’s court pro­ ceedings, Barry County assistant pros­ ecutor Josh Carter said Brooks has been offered a plea agreement on the top charge of the indictment, with all other charges being dismissed if she were to plead guilty. Brooks remains fi’ee on a $3,000 bond, which Schipper said would continue as long as she followed the conditions of her release. Your local agent insures your Retirement Ask about our annuities and IRAs ■i FMMIBVIIEAV IMVBANCE* ••A. A I 4 > 1 « A 3t ri> * 1 I? fi*; 2» ».» «w * z .t I I < IT. Sif I yy ft - J <1 *y\ J -• '-liiK. *• • Jm V **»? Delton resident Kylee Brooks (left), along with her legal counsel, stand before Judge Michael Schipper in Barry County District Court 56B during court proceedings in Hastings on Wednesday, May 21. Brooks faces four felony charges resulting from her alleged role in a June 2024 accident in Baltimore Township that left one woman dead and another injured. Photo by Dennis Mansfield 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm Breakfast Buffet Fundraiser Help us support veterans and community functions. Saturday, June 7,2025 and the First Saturday of each month Serving 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. BODY SHOP Complete Collision Repair 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Eggs, bacon, sausage links or patties, potatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, milk, OJ, cojfee. * Menu subject to change Adults $13.00 • Children 10 & under $5.00 For more information call the Post at 616-891-1882 >IGGBY Coffee Donated by __________________________ 4 COFFEE Caledonia Memorial Legion Post 305 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, MI LUNCH M-TH 11 AM-8 PM; FR! 11 AM-2PM; FRI BUILD A BURGER 4-8 PM ft **~A Jason Parks (269) 795-8827 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville jparRs^insmi.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com Your +rus-bed Body Shop for over 32 years I '■•r i’ III 1 I iJ 'i I I 5 i 1l I • 1 1 I t I ^4 4 4 I I ! t s A * A ' 1 t -y 4 I '.r t ITLsr Fl w < I ft �» 67 yews, Sharon (Myers) SchoncSeirnay^. arx) theff I { ScrK>nf>ei™yer Mapone HaH. Foresi SchoncJHmayc? Gtefwi Schondeimaver Catherine Moma and Jahr Schondekneyer Ken was a man of many ac mlere^. mciuding antiquing wrth his brother Glenn and woodworking He took py in the simple pleasures of lite, such as cutting wood watching Thomapple-Kellogg sports, and staying close to home His love tor the outdoors was ewdent as he spent countless hours working around the house and taking his grandkids for quad rides around the property. He developed many friendships at the Pennock Frtness Center, while mornings at McDonald's were brightened by his regular coffee gatherings Ken was also a loyal fan of the Detroit Lions and Tigers, never missing an opportunity to cheer on his favorite teams. Ken’s family will receive fnends on Saturday, May 31.2025 from 10 a m - noon at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home. Middleville Private burial will take place at Mt Hope Cemetery Memorial donations to St. Jude Children's Hospital or Paws with a Cause Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Ken’s family. . & children Mike Rone (Chuck) Visser, and their grandchtldren Rebekka (Garret) Knil. Zachary, I Kenneth O. Schondelmayer Kenneth 0 Schondelmayer passed away Welong Irendships and a love tor local sports Ke proudly served his country as a member of the United States Manne Corp For over two decades, he served the Middleville community as a beloved barber, a role that allowed him peacefully on May 24. 2025, in Wyoming. Ml. at the age of 88 Born on October 24, 1936. in Middleville. Ml. Ken was the son of Carner and Clarissa (Bowerman) Schondelmayer another 20 years to Sleelcase, where his hard Ken graduated from Thornapple-Kellogg High School in 1955. where he formed work and commitment were well recognized Ken leaves behind his devoted wife of to connect with people from all walks of Me Following his bartering career. Ken dedicaled Hannah (tne) Raymer. Amanda (Ere) Breneman. Jacob (Tracey) Visser. KyLeigh Visser, b i F Andrea (Joey) Noftte, Nathan Visser, 11 great-grandchildren. and sisters* ID'law Marcia Schondelmayer and Janet Sctwndelmayer. LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY f ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Caledonia Vine Street Church Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Service Timet Join us for our traditional yet casual worship Surydey at 9:30 AM A 6:00 PM service, in person or online, www.eletkebeptitt.oro • *r Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am 1675 84th st. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend at 9:00 am 72itO 68th Street SE, Caledonia 250 Vine Street cornerstonechurch 616-891-8669 / 1 2 V I* k- I SP p * L •k ' a .a rta »■ . i i '■B ■: w t Mfib-. 1 ,? He was preceded in death by his parents. Garner and Clarissa Schondetmayer. dauohter-in-law. Sue Schondetmayer, and siblings: Milo w • 0 z JT • 9 1 •:'SiK I a 9 w 4 ■’M r ■ ► r I I L— ' ./T *■4^ L! . .• I I 11*^ I • • ./ * J M I 4 xr'> 7 \. p » » A I* * I r * ’. , »»- t i I ■I ! •tt£ i » / ■ *1 f e' I .. > ; «* > . "....tefRp- .f \ i> jv I I r FIRST BAPTIST 1 Middleville Si w« r • 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship ^T' fll k Good Shepherd f Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM 4f« M iZ i □Ij 1 9:50 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshephcrdlcms.googlepages.com Uvefctr«>Hfn facebook.com/flr st baptistmtddfeviik* FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - Church: (269) 795-2391 i HOLY FAMILY J/CATHOLIC CHURCH r NEWSPAPER 9669 Kraft Avc., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org t ip. J HI '! a &1U T JOURNEY CHURCH u . ** ■ 1 Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Il AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am CHURCH .ioRSi ' '-'.1J Monday at 4 p.m. 'i\T! 11 1 . r*3 PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Ixad Pastor; Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee > CHURCH 8900 Dufb Road Middleville, MI 49333 MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9;30am & 11:00am 20 State Street. Middtevilie, Ml Z i.eom 1 r . i net’' 1 THE HASTINGS I bIj BANNER »• ' iM fx^IWCl ■ K:’ I ♦ • - r? r ts I . T ’*^1 t . «» I Tuesday at Noon 8436 Kraft Ave , Caledonia, Ml 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpa u lea ledon ia.org THORNAPPLE VALLEY I '1'1 *iJi J Monday at 5 p.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool Yankee Springs Bible Church I I SHOPPER NEWS f ! S BATTLE CREEK Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. 4lMtf I .\*ie t Fellowship 9:45 Io 10:00 a.m. ’tr jr *• <1^PEACE r ' tJ'-'-.“ ■tTv -* DEADLINES Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & II a.m. -t? * ADVERTISING Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. r u r ♦ I i: .L I r 4 THE ■'C-'E^oCo- 1 REMINDER ' II 1 Wednesday at Noon ► ’A^piiS' (red’ I 4 I 1 V, . i, it . •* ' A'w&nriUui.tfV': t ,> Mt- M •• 4* « k ■'^K -W I «Ee.\a.^ , 1 the sun and news 4* .... 3t I "Shining Ponh God's Light 99 r .• k ’ «* I r Mt 4^' 4* ( ? I Wednesday at Noon ** MW Sunday Morning Worthip Community Group........... r 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. ^JxSZi * Group mihomepaper.com <4 ( 4 1 p Ip I t I i 4 I I 1 J I t » 1 *r 2 i: 1 .'1 f t i » 4 4 af T— 'ClMlU ■ 4 «e .'A 1 -,R *• James L. CoUison, Pastor www.yankeespringsbiblcchurch.org * 5A i ■» « c I ’ • > p* A k. w* �1 V -J' I t I r « i -1 9. •’SW' l’ I I 1 3| Next phase of Hoffman Meadows development hits potential snag 3 iI > Au V A 5 •» ’Ik •'f A ML . ' * v! s— 4 1 A « . ’J k, ;*• •f r .I T *5. e- « r s tl ■! I aa MM J# 1 I r > I I * * 'X I < I K X 4 * * k « ? I .M »« [I •I s f X 1 4 •vA *■ •<J', '%• I Z’ I 1^ 4 f’t <« » A *» <. * < ❖ J* I '1. J Members of the Gaines Planning Commission discuss the proposed next phase of the Hoffman Meadows subdivision at their May 22 meeting. Photo ! -irjj k» atu; J « •J « lu * *' i James Gemmell Contributing Writer '■Wfcf f 4 1 •> "■*1- r J i I I f X r I/.U'IA ’ LliJ ■ . i V . *• 1 s . fefSl tu ’ 4 L •’'zi I HJ A.. I, I ■ «te>t , ‘ ■’-‘SW} fl I I f loxu. ( ‘J j A Sr I I I * 4- qoh t J #4- 4 44 U/ 4 I I Ml r • HM I i I I » f 1 1 mi 1 t { , ^4 4^ ft ' I ! MR •>« * i At t I f*. 3 I J I J r J I i . I 1 t a •V' ®!M4 VOJ f 5 » < i., I ( J fi' ' i llEK.-?" I ■ i { I »' 7. 1 by James Gemmell -J I I I I I ft t i I PI »I i I 1 The third phase of the Hoffman Meadows subdivision project in Gaines Charter Township has run into a poten­ tial roadblock. Township staff recently recom­ mended denial of a request by project applicant Chris Vander Hoff for the tentative preliminary plat approval of 50 single-family lots on the 2300 block of Crystal Meadows Street in Caledo­ nia. The 20.19-acre property is south of 68th Street, about halfway between Hanna Lake and Kalamazoo avenues. The first two phases of the proposed four-phase development previously re­ ceived township approval without any problems. The 40 housing lots included in the first phase were completed in late 2023, with construction of 55 lots for Phase 2 was finished in 2024. The third phase calls for the 50 ad­ ditional lots as part ofan overall 145-lot project. Vander Hoff, with Bosco Construc­ tion, is seeking tentative preliminary plat approval as part of a three-step process that is required before con­ struction can begin on the project’s third phase. But Planning Commission members voted unanimously at its May 22 meeting to postpone making a recommendation to the township board until it receives a written opinion from township attorney Clifford Bloom. At issue is the timing of the request. Plans for the project’s third phase origi­ nally were drawn up under standards of the former township zoning ordinance and submitted on March 11. The de­ veloper later requested that the request for the tentative preliminary plat be postponed until the May 22 meeting. However, on April 26, the Gaines Township Board of Trustees adopted an amended zoning ordinance that in­ cludes stricter standards the proposed development fails to meet. The mini­ mum lot sizes in the former zoning or­ dinance were 10,000 square feet. Under the amended ordinance, the minimum required lot size is 12,000 square feet. Thirty-one of the 50 lots proposed for the project’s third phase are smaller than allowed under the new require­ ment. “Our township attorney determined that, since this tentative preliminary plat for Phase 3 was not previously ap­ proved by the Planning Commission, it is subject to the standards ofthe zoning ordinance as it stands today,” Dakota Swan, assistant township planner, said at the May 22 meeting. “Unfortunately, this standard is not met. It is not con­ sistent with the dimensional require­ ments for lots in the (new) suburban residential zoning district.” Vander Hoff said he was taken aback when he first learned about the new requirements. 5 Solemn crowd joins together at the Yankee Springs Veterans Memorial Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer 6 .1 Saturday. May 31.2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com J Over 100 visitors gathered solemnly at the Yankee Springs Veterans Me­ morial on Sunday for a ceremony commemorating those who died while serving in the United States military. The national observance is a day that honors those who have served in the armed forces of all wars. To begin, Yankee Springs Township Supervisor Rob Heethuis welcomed visitors, volunteers, and guest speakers. Deacon Mark Chrusciel opened the ceremony with an invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Cub Scout Pack 3065 from Middleville. Next, Annie Van Houten sang "The Star-Spangled Banner, followed by the ceremonial flag “I talked to (Gaines Community De­ velopment director) Dan Wells about this at the end of 2024,” he said. “He assured me (there was) no problem with this. “Then, I got a call from Dan a week ago saying, ‘I’ve got bad news, you can’t do it. Vander Hoff told Planning Commis­ sion members he believes state law allows residential lots to be built under terms of the old zoning ordinance, so long as the project application was submitted before the amended zoning ordinance took effect. According to Michigan State Univer­ sity’s Extension Office, the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act generally protects lawfully existing uses. It states that a developer’s right to proceed under the old ordinance becomes established when "substantial physical construc­ tion” for the proposed use has begun. But, no construction has begun yet on Hoffman Meadows’ third phase. I’m going to lose a lot of lots. I’m losing several hundred thousand dol­ lars on this in lots,” said Vander Hoff, referring to the potential denial by the township. Our township attorney determined that the proprietor has no vested rights until approval is granted,” Swan said. Planning Commission member Tim Haagsma pointed out, however, that ^^9 44 44 folding from Middleville Boy Scout Troop 105. The ceremony included Mick Lane, who sang the ^'Greenfields of France, "After the War,'' and "Last Day of May.” Guest speakers included Brant Mitchell from the Gun Lake Tribe and also a gun salute from the Tribe’s Honor Guard. Students from Hast­ ings, Meagan Ramey and Oweit Boge, played "Taps. Initially known as Decoration Day to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War, Memorial Day became a national observance on May 30,1968. Some people may call Memorial Day the start of summer, but we must never forget to honor our military, Heethuis said. "I am very proud to be a part of the ceremony. ^4 Bloom never gave the township a writ­ ten opinion. It was merely stated to a township staff member over the phone, according to Swan. “We approved the concept a long time ago,” Planning Commission chairwoman Connie Giarmo said. “So, in order to give the applicant every possible consideration, I would really like to have something in writing from (attorney Bloom) saying we have to consider this under the new ordinance.” Swan said township staff originally thought the project application would be grandfathered in under the old ordi­ nance, because it was submitted before the new one took effect. “It wasn’t until we touched base with the township attorney that we realized that, ‘Oh, this will be held to the standards in the new ordinance, as well,” she added. “This was kind of last minute for staff, as well.” Township Manager Rod Weersing recommended the Planning Commis­ sion postpone a decision until staff members can review the matter with Bloom and possibly get a written clarification. Commissioners agreed, unanimously voting to do just that. Sometimes a closer review may render different results,” Giarmo said. “I think there are some really splitting­ hair things that we need to take a look at.” 44 �{ Saturday, May 31, 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS Disability advocates express concerns who are participating in the system,” The House bill would impose stricter work requirements for able-bodied adults younger than 65 years old, plus implement fi^equent eligibility checks and verification of legal status. Other provisions would require states to enforce cost-sharing on people with incomes above the federal poverty level (currently $ 15,650 per year) who are en­ rolled in Medicaid, starting in October 2028. In addition, frie bill would reduce the federal matching rate for the Medicaid expansion population in states that expand coverage for immigrant groups. Medicaid is not a luxuiy, it’s a lifeline,” Grand Rapids African-American Health Institute CEO Vanessa Greene said. “It is the difference between stability and crisis for over 75,000 Americans including working families, children, people wi± disabilities, our veterans and people living with chronic conditions.” Scott Becker, who is wheelchair-bound, said he was bom with a brittle-bone con­ dition called osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder that causes bones to break easily. “Ifit weren’t for Medicaid, I don’t know where I’d be,” he said, adding that he has James Gemmell Contributing Writer Advocates for those who rely on Med icaid to support basic needs are expressing concern about legislation at the federal level that calls for major changes and cuts to the program. The leaders of some local healthcare and nonprofit oiganizations held a news conference on Thursday, May 22, at the Disability Advocates of Kent County of­ fice in Cutlerville. After a marathon session that lasted into two nights, the Republican-controlled House voted 215-214 last Thursday in favor of what President Donald Trump has dubbed “the big, beautifid bill.” The House bill would reduce Medicaid fund­ ing to states, potentially resulting in fewer services and more costs for beneficiaries, according to critics of the bill which has yet to receive Senate approval. At the news conference, local leaders talked about those who might be nega­ tively impacted. “We are 100 percent in favor of health­ care reform,” said David Bulkowski, Disability Advocates executive director. “However, we believe that a big part of health care reform is engaging the folks I* had a “lot of sleepless nights” over pro­ posed changes to Medicaid and the rising cost of prescription medicines. Jenny Knight, a parent with a 30-yearold daughter diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia when she was a teenager, said her daughter has responded well to Medicaid-funded dialectical behavioral therapy. “But now with the proposed cuts to Medicaid, her life and the lives of so many others are at risk,” Knight said. “Losing Medicaid coverage would be life-threatening for my daughter.” The CEO of Catherine’s Health Center in Grand Rapids, Megan Erskine, said that 60 percent of the health center’s patients rely on Medicaid coverage. “I always like to tell the story ofa patient that we had who lost her healffi insurance, whichmeantthat shelosthermental health medications because her mental health was not stabilized,” Erskine said. “She lost her job and then she lost her hous­ ing. We met her in a shelter environment. She’s back on health insurance through Medicaid and has access to mental health medications and is now working.” Erskine and others at the news confer­ ence emphasized that it is a fallacy that people who are covered by Medicaid are not working. 41 •3* W'K' r* r www.sunandnews.com “Medicaid supports everyday people - seniors, working families and their children,” said Wende Randall, execu­ tive director of the Kent County Essen­ tial Needs Task Force. “Medicaid helps support people’s basic needs, things like social woik in schools, rides to medical appointments.” Erskine said the middle class will be affected, as well. “If people do not have access to Med­ icaid they’re going to make some very difficult choices,” Erskine said, “Health centers and doctor’s offices are going to have to make very tough decisions be­ cause a significant portion of our revenue is through Medicaid.” Randall called on West Michigan U.S. Representatives John Moolenaar and Bill Huizengato help craft legislation that will benefit those who rely on Medicaid and similar programs. “It is our state and local officials that have to make those critical decisions,” she said. “No one should be denied here because they’re too sick, too poor or too different to me,” Greene added. “So, today we’re here because Medicaid matters and we cannot turn our back. “We have to fight for it, to protect Med­ icaid and we have to stand up for those who need it most.” a 1 *> 7 r h 9 t r* ‘*1 < <» 4 > A. fl, II 4 ♦ I • J 4«l -rj y’. ft Uf I 4 I4 .f » •*> T 4 f V IP 1 9^ ^ ’ V - 1^^- I b , I "r.V I f ' -A - i. r1rX J.*. J 1 v- 1 li f i i s I I I *I r . /V I s 4 » I I 4 I J I i t'4 J' z J ’ 4'’ X I I 1 4 f • T' L I* l^lp I ll>I e I i I t » •* I A'-" F 10. *1 *« WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS ^35 • :* 55^ * 1 r » James Gemmell Contributing Writer r f a> £ Residential & Commercial 4/ * 4 X -Gas Furnaces “Gas Boilers r-Air Conditioners Heat Pumps t -Water Heaters Humidifiers A 13 r* ■ _ 1 9 & • k 4 4 1 MM * irr::a> t dt *r,5a f 44 a •I J I? *«*■ . ......... ♦ - < 1 rx > t- V * < DeWeerd (68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 269*792-2234 r. I •ft . . * ^itei££4 t • * Bra I Siner i95S UNiio^ - kJ.' ■*♦ Proposed apartment complex in Dutton nears final approval K * rk* ACCREDITED A Wisconsin-based development company has cleared all but one hurdle in its quest to build 14 two-story apartment houses in Dutton. The Gaines Township Planning Com­ mission voted 6-0 at its May 22 meeting to recommend the township board approve a planned unit development, or PUD, rezoning request for a proposed 336-unit complex at M-6 and Hanna Lake Avenue. The property had previously been zoned as Residential-4 for mobile homes and Residential-10 under an old ordi­ nance, while the request by Continental Properties is to rezone it as part of a new PUD Overlay District. Each of the 14 residential buildings would contain 24 rental units and feature a mix of studio, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments, plus a clubhouse and a variety of on-site amenities. Continental Properties is proposing to build the development, which would be named “Authentix Gaines” because ♦ S u L U..; W' I s ft % t ft 0 V tel t stf iiiiuM*:^ i •ff l* - *■ i < f housing brand. The project would be built on a 24-acre section ofthe 40.5-acre prop­ erty along Hanna Lake Avenue. Township staffsaid construction would begin after Continental closes on the land in December 2025. The clubhouse would be completed by November2026, and the first residential building would be ready for occupancy in December 2026. The overall project would be largely com­ pleted by September 2027. Continental officials have an agree­ ment with Vernon and Linda Verduin to purchase their property’if the required rezoning approval is obtained from the township. As part ofthe deal, Continental would deed 3.6 acres of the land to the township for establishment of a new public park, which would commemorate the Verduin family’s legacy ownership of the property for more than a century and its agricultural heritage. The Planning Commission also voted unanimously to approve the project’s site plan, butthat is contingenton the township for the PUD board eivi final f u? . —I I p r'S' I n h'* llu^ ' J . . - -•Uk • ! I I ' I 4'n;'i I I ; ', ■/ . '.I (f ' » , ill'll rJB a. 1 t .. r I 3" u r. ■ ? 1 vif !> bcT 4• ti'i- ’, i I : < ’ ,' c: I.T I’iw- J '(ll’ •• yy ? f w .. I '^ Hr t J UJZ ' 1 i iU U I u . ISn / i/ a I s .e I I s I 1 miji r ■ J V * y. 1 « 4, 1 tr*T 1 F « .LjbiHUi’ • 11 * U(4 •• }! ’*?; i < I ff/T '»f t I* k r i ft I ■ 4 •. £ i. , (.bi-! t • 1 w.. f r 4« J DI ' J J Liyximt vtT V nu Lu UI ’ M.* ,t . t iilti I ? LIT* rj 12n IL ■ I ytfa I I* i jl'jH Id O f i<Kii «. 1 ifut <Kl c: .• » .. «*! �s 1 4 vvww.sunancJnews.com 7 Saturday, May 31,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS »*• 4 I I I o r I & ns J I i * I 1 ’ A ic Jb- 1 ( < i I 1 •'TJ ’’k? / ■7 k 1 a I » I ■’ll- V • V t it *D. b ■ •Q ‘1 <bui I I Jl-J ' O c f - f, <?*, ■*/* ‘-I'' h* *1 • jfjo, abW-r'J '/Wu. •Ff. • J 4 At , . ■*«.> ? "4 ■’rj, If I I 4/ I r .. . s .-A « •>: c*'. . I 1 - <u)u ** Irt.‘ •» -I I t i-r.. u.. * f ;;k. t q *4 ** • .> 4 • '» u IL ti /J ’’v. - * Id*', it g *i *bi»L ' t; i J' 1 X > ■TW< b • ’ 4 f'» -t - *4X5.'*11 ra^. 0iiv 4 **». •« . •' W . •« * “PPftig i J I V. «• 5 YEARS IN MIDDLEVILLE! ntONTint iW ' *» f ( I « I . ** : t iL 4a Al’S T ft ki I 1 1 Af/iEl DjNiEUR n . i: . nl ii » 1 •J "" BROADMOOR MOTORS HEATING AND COOLING -4 ; tk- ? 1 ■1 I rv sew Tl IIS OR coni: 11- vol' Pl O\ ON PPINGINO A C\P! I I WI-PNIiSLW II INI- 11, 2025 4:00 PM •4600 N M37 MIOOU-X'll,1.1:, Ml IQ533 dr u:’ '■•x. Rski .ft-7 I ' Ift l! 1 A- I a .h T ,4. -- 'fe&i :X- r i u IL’ Expires 5/31/25 r ‘ 1 ■. »\ J -tl—«*!>■>- ‘ r* , . i ri'.- L-l. ' - i • lA 4H J ’ Other Products and Services A vailable s ''JG.r .1 -IT If 3* ( •VJ* i.teCai® . 4 t uni L 4 I 4 •OB' 'J I f t -M //k' n>niihuiy biiiH hv leleiitils’' 210 Cast Main Street Caledonia 1 I rop 3 CAKS Ki ;ci:l\'l: A PPIZJ: CAMPS & 1301'NCP. I lOl lSPS 1’0013 riU lCLS • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and morel /< sSai?®' »- I ! ’ll * On/yG? 1 I ... .a • I V|/ ’-*A siilartLic' T'FS’jrjE'f::; iRVJ r. hr There are about six acres of wetlands, as well as the Anderson Drain, which is p^ of die county’s extensive network of drains and stormwater detention ponds. As for utilities, an existing water main would be connected to the Authentix Gaines site, and a sanitary sewer connection w ould be made to an existing trunk line. Some of the project amenities include the clubhouse, which would feature a large gathering room, a 24-hour fitness center, a kitchen and a coffee bar. A resort-style pool and sundeck would be adjacent to it. A peigola, a firepit and an extensive network of internal walkways, a fenced pet play­ ground and washing station, a community garden and a disc golf course also would be included. ‘A ■ w ^<4 rezoning, which could possibly be in June. Because the PUD received preliminary ap­ proval before the township’s new zoning ordinance took effect in April, the project is being considered under Ae standards of the old ordinance. However, since there (had) not been such a decision on the site plan review, (it) will be considered under the standards in the updated zoning ordinance,” Assistant Township Planner Dakota Swan said. The ordinance stipulates that the maxi­ mum number ofapartment units allowed is 16. So, the developer is requesting a PUD modification to allow 24 units per building. Township Manager Rod Weersing said the Authentix Gaines development would a •r« some much-needed housing in the township. “And it’s the best spot in the township for that type of housing, for a denser type of apartment building setiq),” he said. “It’s hidden by M-6; it’s back off ofHanna Lake (Avenue). So, I just think it’s a really good spot for that development.” The Gaines Township master plan adopted last year predicts a population increase of about 15,0(X) residents over the next 20 years, requiring up to 5,000 new homes to accommodate the new residents. Commission that the township board has not decided yet on whether it will opt to maintain and operate the new park G^nes Township officials have been meeting with township engineer JeffGritter to discuss the park space, feasibility of township owner­ ship and how it could be used. “I do want to underscore that we did follow the new ordinance for the landscape plan,” Teichen said. ‘So, using native veg etation. There would be pretty robust plant­ ing on the street frontage along Hanna Lake. “In addition to that, we do have founda­ tion plantings — different ornamental and canopy trees throughout the site. Then, there is that landscape median buffer through the boulevard moving to the east side of the site,” he added. V . * nM Continued from Page 6 1 X. ’ HJ r. u. DUTTON U.S. Census Bureau statistics released in 2021 indicated that Gaines’ population was 28,812, a 14.6-percent increase since the 2010 census was taken - the fastest growth rate in Kent County. A public hearing was held at the May 22 meeting. Henry Spenski, who lives on Hanna Lake Avenue, was the only resident to STI•38 k “This is the wrong place for that kind of high-density housing project,’’ he said. E>utton, for most ofus who live here, used to be a nice, pleasant place to live in a kind of semi-rural area. This is going to change things drastically, at least for people in the immediate area.” Continental Properties development director Jordan Teichen told the Planning 9 9 9 9 I I I V 1 op MC3PI; |\po. poi .lOA' I'S ON SOiUAI. MliDIA! Bn INST At'.BAM; «? R I • xet’hooi V r f «■ ■ ■■ f I I 9 I i t'J A I 1 IJ 1 4 I I I n I 9 I i s h i I 9 \ II J 1 e �I 8 . % .♦J * Saturday. May 31.2025 THE SUN AND NEWS WWW. sunandrwws.oom .*w* 4 OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T Miss YOUR OPPORTUNITY V s f 9 » I A r •I a.II^ NOW HIRING View Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST Responsibilities include: • • • • Advertising sales Account management Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts Attend networking events Group I email wsmith(a)mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer's Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri’County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder TKHS Continued from Page 1 Now that he's moved on to an administrative role. Mr Dock has a lot more prd5lems to deal with. But he still has that same passion, and he sti 11 w orks harder than anyone I know to ensure that TK is the best place it can possibly 1be. _ Dock shared a message on the new scoreboard at TK from youth speaker Timmy “The Dreamer” Bishop who reminded the graduates to keep dream* ing, and then offered his outi thoughts for the graduating class. He had a reminder, a challenge and a hope for the graduates. He wanted to remind them that through life's challenges they are not alone. He challenged them to fill the world with empathy. “These are great years okay, but these are not your best years,” Dock told the class of 2025. “A lot of you have not met the most significant person in your life yet, or the most significant people outside of your family. How cool is that? How awesome to know what your future has in store to meet those important people. I hope that in doing that you go and you expe­ rience people that are different than you, that may share different beliefs. that might look different than you. And that is where the challenge comes in. The challenge comes in - we need you to pour some empathy in this worli “What’s empathy? Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. And when we talk about screens and we talk about all of those things, empathy comes from having personal connections, not from a headset, not hiding behind a screen or keyboard, but being able to have those conversations in the dorm room, or at a coffee shop, or in the barracks. That is where we build empathy. “Empathy is not weak. Empathy is strong because you’re actually puttin: •4 yourself behind a person that you’re trying to build a relationship with. You’re listening to that person. That doesn’t mean you have to change your values, but that does mean that you have to maybe keep your opinion or maybe not be so opinionated. “Empathy matters.” Dock hopes that the graduates will not be afraid of sharing their excel­ lence wi± the world. He shared Marianne Williamson’s poem “Our Deepest Fear” which was made popu- lar in part by the 2005 basketball film. “Coach Carter.” “Our deepest fear is not that w e arc inadequate, our dcq>est fear is that we arc powerful beyond measure." Dock shared. “It is our light, not our dark­ ness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am 1 to be brilliant gorgeous, talented, fabulous? “Actually, who arc you not to be? You are a child of God. You playing small does not sene the world ...” In his own words. Dock summed things up ‘Ihe poem says that wc arc scared to go out and put ourselves out there. We’re scared of all that is so good in us, of w hat might people think. Maybe we fail. But don't let that fear limit you. You are all brilliant. You are all talented. You’re all fabulous. Now it’s your opportunity as you walk across the stage to share that.” And with that, the Trojans did walk across the stage, one after another as senior class advisors Tricia Rickert and Cary Saxton read the class role. The symphonic band performed throughout the event, under the guid­ ance of Jansma, the TKHS alumnus who is finishing 14) her first year as the high school band director. Senior Choir members sang “The StarSpangled Banner” and the honors choir and senior members of the concert choir performed “1 Will Remember You.” Will Nathan offered closing statements. It was class valedictorian Evan Liu who shared an opening at the start of the ceremony. “We’ve learned that consistent effort and the willingness to face adversity lead to success. But while personal determination has brought us this far, we’ve also discovered that our ereatest achievements come forth through col­ laboration,” Liu said. “Just as LeBron James can’t win a ring alone, we can’t succeed without the help of others. King James has shown throughout his career that our greatest impact often comes through not just from our individual achievements, but from how we elevate those around us. “Our class has shown remarkable unity, compassion and resiliency, qualities that will undoubtedly valu able assets long after we leave this campus. Class of 2025, congratulations on this remarkable achievement. But remember, crossing the stage today is not our finale. “It’s merely the opening ch^jto- of our greatness.” < r.1 •tl Ife’*”- i j. I ■ •" ' ‘I*- I I * • • t 'I I( .r>. , i I I > 1 9 I , •y-'. / 4* X f t t A • * t I •4 iy\» hP mH ■ 4 ,r! V t l.r •P*’ lIVx . I H I* ** r 4 ? ) 1 !T• J r . <4 S I f V i* / J ' ir? 1’ fiwtC Jg>- 1> I 1 I 'V I** .. V-’’ r■ ft* I 'U' •• .•Aw e 4 I 1 116* I*' V « ;'b ■ J .•t** .... . » 9 flC**-* ■ 4 * UiW*'- •1 • ■ T» •’* A*- i; t* *4 fl 4 r T I* A 4^f. taa Fl 4 I. i ft A I .« *>l * nt 1 I li * . «r $ k Vt V I I I ft. 95^ I TirtF TO! 1' • tw^ H iV *• I** i: ► A« 4 ** u. ■ V r > tear : W - • .i * sett K I 0* h & iiJUiT?tyu * V ll IS I 4 -J* ft_ . S' ■L. .. Ru? * .J I .4 n j •M * 9 ■ swdf! 1 X; t -25. rc*. IWTM- •I MUK IS J 5 • IM •9 L X r. I 1 9 . 6!W»r.A. r« % s 19 d « * . * y Mil I W I I I > i �i \I■ ■ * r . 1 * X. <> Saturday, May 31,2025 9 Scots win a regional title for the second time I I *» THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com •Mb I Brett Bremer * * I Sports Editor 7 The season started with a loss to ♦ -f A the Hawks. VTFt: The Fighting Scots made sure it n 1 didn’t end with one I The Caledonia varsity boys’ lacrosse team won the second regional champi­ b; onship in program history by rallying w fora 10-6 win over Forest Hills Eastern I ’tt in the MHSAA Division 2 Regional rF I Final at Forest Hills Central High > i School Tuesday. Caledonia last won a regional title in 2017. The win Tuesday put the Scots The Caledonia varsity boys' lacrosse team celebrates its program's second regional championship ever following in a Friday night (May 30) MHSAA a 10-6 win over Forest Hills Eastern in the MHSAA Division 2 Regional Final at Forest Hills Central High School Division 2 State Quarterfinal against Tuesday. Photos by Chris Robotham Forest Hills Northern, at Forest Hills Northern High School. The CHS pro­ goals and two assists in the contest for a matter of, ‘hey, we want this more gram has never advanced as far as the On the other end of the field, sopho­ state semifinal round. Dearborn Divine more defender Cam Beach played a than they do’ and it was just pure effort the Scots. Sophomore Emmett Haan Child and East Grand Rapids were set key role for the Fighting Scots. Beach from there. Defensively, we weren’t had a goal and an assist. Senior Brady to meet in the first of two quarterfinals moved from a close defense position letting them breathe. We were on them, Hilaski and freshman Corbin Ryder at FHN Friday. The winners of those guarding his net to a spot in the mid­ pressuring them, forcing them to make both scored once. two contests will meet June 3 at an as field so he could stick with the Hawks’ turnovers. Offensively we were attack­ “I’d say for 99 percent of the game yet to be determined site. Jackson Arnold who scored four goals ing the net.” we played a full game,” Herron said. The boys want to make history and in his team’s 8-7 win over the Scots to See WIN on 11 Sophomore Lincoln Senti had two they’re on the right path to do that,” open the season back in March. Arnold Caledonia head coach Kolin Herron didn’t score Tuesday. said. “They’re really close to the verge The Hawks did score though. They f of doing that right now.” built a 2-0 lead in the first period, but r Trailing 6-5 to start the fourth quar­ the Scots rallied to lead 4-2 at the half. ter, the Fighting Scots outscored the FHE fought back for a 6-5 lead going Forest Hills Eastern Hawks 5-0 in the into the fourth quarter. final period Tuesday. That came on the “ We started off kind of preaching to Scan our QR code ss heels of an 11-10 overtime win over the boys like hey, we can ’ t be scared to find your Okemos in the regional semifinals last and stuff, and I think in the fourth perfect invitation! Thursday, May 22. < quarter, going into it, they they just Junior Rylan Bultema scored the wanted it, ” Herron said. “ I honestly > L overtime winner in that victory over 1 think that’s all that it was. We didn’t the Chieftains and finished with a I make any crazy adjustments going into team-high five goals in the victory over * *** ■nij the fourth quarter. I think it was just Forest Hills Eastern. I - -■’IK, 1 "f I A [ 1 A iri 9 a ! t tt 1 I 1 e. I. ■ft ' » i; 4 <1 *;i r- « I <**• III *1 .9* *I * ' i7*f . fe., 't « , ’‘t'J ’ i 1 4:a> c. n t !2-)1 •' 4 oir *u . J iu J * t ?z*. M /J T J It tiV. f « ! •*/ . f V I ■•■I * ' k L 9 I I.. J X 19 9 1 A t?., B ft •J I >1 I flU^ r t r^Jil I V* I 9 f J • t Ct.’ T! I ■?r*! I •* J 1 X'.. 4 ft. 1 *v rr^ f I I « I II II ki J 4; .» I f h > hr. t JeJ f * tn « * *1", u Hl I “VUkl t-.v I* p < ’’r 't U. I d VI (f?,. « IT! I.. 9 ( I . t iflt I I a I I I U r 4 I T •• ♦ h i '■“ns, ’ ‘r isii. J •5 ♦4^. < w I t ■ •‘‘A ■ - n * w » ilh. I n fiOU 9t’ t J-■f isat «I I I •V 50nb *“'■ /£hi {- H• «at iH ruo » 1 <i p I V * V y ciRii •* »«< L t (. . ♦♦ < •M i 'kA\ V I T S-l I 4Ik jW 4 I I 4 . I. a. 4 4 fee i. «l J >z. I 4 1 •I I * . 1 I ’ 4it i. -•wJ ■ ’•» « ♦>■*!J' •-wi -t *w«a»9 :ui£: I « % w 9ft »» ': ' t THE mosttrusted: NAME IN hOOFING e • ”*• I [ ■ <« a MS'® I « IK « SHERRIFF OOSLIN' ; I K< : I i aia«*^ Jt »'1 4 -»S2:***^* ^'*£. •i gsssiciff c * M I >«• z ■2!‘ .wSfeF < -4^ ■ CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. PRINTING BY 1 * 4 9 r .Aw. 'I .A- ■* * •*. » - a 0« «=JI X w & www.printingbypennylane.com INSPECnON ginad@pennylaneprinting.com K* I 1 it A *• & '. .e-s I*®*’ ja* . -Wf BS>Wj0 ••^•*4 X*—JP-rr* e ■M .1^ - • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 1154- YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ♦ 9 A : * n’TST - < Wk QUALITY ROOFING ^2ji»-TS* i I -’SIS wO****^ MU. > : i I . B J ''A v r hv’' ’ o n I »» rI i L > %* '•K* 4 y XJ ’ 4 r. r ’■<? 4 I •L > Iktf, I I I 1 ' •; I I /■’th'' V • ’X $ 1 s n [ Ml Hit ‘-1 h I r •w < 4 K >' i i a « » \r Jr'. I -’•'01? . ! r -Sil Xr 9 iJiLO 1 Icr ■1 n 4 I ! F’ fc w J ?’U n ’“t J • ^4 A k . I VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK 1 ( i <• 1 II I ( i Ij ■I » ft I* s �10 Saturday, May 31,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ‘W * i Sporting News i?S?? ■ t I ! * M; - < .4 •* Busy end to Scots season includes sweep of Bucs Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Fighting Scots aren’t taking it easy heading into the postseason. The Caledonia varsity baseball team snapped a three-game skid with a sweep of a non-conference doubleheader against former OK Red Conference foe Grand Haven Tuesday in Grand Haven. The Scots were set to face another for­ mer Red foe, Hudsonville, on the road Thursday, May 29. Caledonia travels to Forest Hills Cen­ tral today, May 31, for its MHSAADivision 1 District Tournament. The Scots I r '♦v • •M 1 iir '« *»> *>'' * 1 c /< * f •tt’ J t ► , r » I 1 » f* p' ? • t t ! ) / < 8 I I* r 4» «» W t # * \ ;i .-e 0^0 > K t If f / ^K,' tSf 11^ t y <5 oi;(^ • z\ \ a V • V t kt *r?’ -“s*: I r- *=* I L '^6’ 1 I I. L 1 ‘ f X « • - ? rd i 1 X t. « / 1 i 1 K T A 0191 f ■AVr ■ < . e f 8 ► tv '_»U.. o «w .«e 14 Wr <» «a> « V 4^*’’ • J 9^ «M * .4 - 4 « . « z- . n; * *6 f’'« -1^ A •• :K* J r f Jf ,'^i » **> * I?. 1 A 4^ •w 1. A MT J “T-^ ■ff »■ \ « < a*..: I ■* > X » W *fc' I «• .=(’ J * o> * A ■ \ * * rjgji "S ' « y Bi Caledonia’s Ty Lewandowski knocks an RBI single into center during the first inning of game one against visiting Mona Shores Friday, May 23, in Caledonia. The Scots were bested in both games of their OK Green Conference doubleheader with the Sailors Friday after scoring a win in the series opener in Muskegon last Thursday. Photos by Brett Bremer * e« S’ <• -•,♦**^.4*1^^?. p 1 - «» « 'It < ■“•■ ■ ■ -riT-r- ■ k- I' , n* t 1 i " ** > . •.^ /■ '. * > ■1.^ '1^: |4 fffOUCSr AM eSTIMATS ' «• .4 I I •“ai-t’. T.'CO . a- *x ROOFING A i >1 « Serving the Caledonia and Middleville Communities. s •l ♦ •i r ■■■ ■■» .•1. r ."A A :i 4 I AV COVER IT WITH CONFIDENCE A ‘ 4 z febL. » Residential » Commerical » Roof Repair » Storm Damage » Insurance Claims 6r6-9r6-or«« 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEED ACCWDfTFP > 3UBU»*aJ*^3 l^facebook A A A- A wWWww yelp%t ■-^i di Google Cuttxw ***** are slated to take on East Kentwood in the second district semifinal ofthe day at noon. Lowell and ±e host Rangers open the tournament at 10 a.m. The district final is slated for 2 p.m. The Scots closed an 8-7 season in its first season in the OK Green Confer­ ence taking one of three from the Mona Shores Sailors late last week. Caledonia scored an 8-6 win in the series opener in Muskegon Thursday, May 22, but fell 21-7 and 2-0 in a pair in Caledonia Friday afternoon. South Christian took a 5-4 win over the visit­ ing Scots Saturday before Caledonia bounced back with the 10-4 and 11-6 wins at Grand Haven. The Scots had 11 hits in the opener withthe Buccaneers. Alex Spinney went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Ben Kieliszewski was 2-for-3 with a walk, a run and an RBI. Trevor Walter was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI too. Bryce Freese and Cam Myers both doubled once. A total of four Caledonia pitchers combined to toss the seven innings. Myers was credited with ±e win coming on in the second for the starter Johnson and tossing two scoreless innings. Myers struck out two and allowed just one hit. AJ Roszkowski threw an in­ ning and a third of scoreless relief and Spinney closed ±ings out keeping the Buccaneers scoreless over the final two innings. In the five-run win in game two, the Scots scored in five ofthe seven innings, getting a little breaking room with four runs in the top ofthe fifth, two in the sixth and two more in ±e seventh. Ty Lewandowski had a big game at the plate going 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. Ethan Sova was 2-for-4 with a run and four RBIs. Tanner Verburg was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs Cole Nyman and Roszkowski both doubled once for the Scots. The Scots had five different pitchers take the bump in game two. Roszkowski got the win coming on for the final out of the third inning. He only faced one batter. Aryn Taylor started and allowed one run on three hits and a walk through two innings. He struck out two. The Buccaneers chased Gabe Trudeau off the mound with three unearned runs in the in the fourth. Walter and Freese closed out the final three innings for the Scots with Freese earning a seven-out save. I 1?. I r V r A *4. • • ♦ r . > ..r .AirfjOT ’ , »• ’ J «« * • I ''b' k 1 , s ' * ■ I . k I ' I u\ '* AJ . * J ?’’^'O e.! • a* I or I h j I' I rs-»*<tSW^r I. 1^ - tt i' 1 >-• fV ' *' TH* > wor * 4 r’ ■ "-jiXifiW 1 I ,. ,J* I J i ; I' r t 1 fr ■' i • 1 1 - / f I t“ i' rr II '.r^bh/ -1 « 4 t nciidr i jiiLK i i 1 ■-rr* t'J)' 4 I /■ wmtjnrjQ r ^w«*<aww .1 J j isfe r* n» I' • 14-^ % xr, »*,v 'A k < \ i I /r ’Lr ? c 1 x< 1 «i K-i 1 4*3 a-w. I i I: * »* ■VKi' 11' .J o I I; Kriit I *-1 k •» « • wia? lOl J*Qil.. �5 I i f ■ ♦ ♦ fU * fnoc "S'y ; I . ■■!! www.sunandnews.com s r I WibXIF i I I I i t! -sfrr .>■ ‘ j'qqan 3S‘-'' a iX't lisdfio''. I 's *> T: aBa^J^oq ;j I I I »- r a I J ■ * lUijs Ui» 002»‘ I 2tr nr i ffiii ii i A . } 1 c -il'i TK and Wayland set for district meet-up in Middleville Brett Bremer Sports Editor t- I noqoOi J ft M fl. The Thomapple Kellogg varsity softball team is set to open the state postseason today. May 31, taking on Wayland in the MHSAA Division 2 District Semifinals in Middleville. Wayland outscored Hastings 16-0 in its Pre-District bailgame at Wayland Union High School Tuesday afternoon to earn a rematch with the Trojans. The Wildcats swept the OK Gold Conference doubleheader with the TK girls this spring, but the Trojans rebounded to get a rare W over the Wildcats in the championship game of the TK Invitational soon after. Game time is set for 10 a.m. with Allegan and Hopkins set to meet in the day’s second district semifinal at noon. The TK ladies were set to close out the regular season with a visit from the Hopkins girls Thursday afternoon. May 29, in Middleville. 5^ •< WIN Continued from Page 9 uriHiju % ft 6>lk*♦ V z Y’ « < a >A > I Si’ rr*" 'in IA V I H-. J J I I f r ■ I ' r ( . I • >Oi • r k t g, 1Al r 4 '‘-VtQ 1 n? • / f 9 I # • • i 9 ’ *'03 AU . »»L' 1 ' f. n y if Bill • idi 4w * 4 n 4 f J ’j □Trial . Jia A? •\ .1 < K •' 4 fi X' t J '' <1 • pI .-••nt B 11 A “There were moments of where we kind of lost it a little bit, but our bench kept us in it. Their energy was really good all game and we never quit. We never got too high, never got too low, so that something that we’ve been preaching to them is when good things happen, hey, celebrate those things, but then you gotta focus back in. I think they did a really, really good job of that.” The CHS coach said his guys came out a little flat in their regional semifinal last week against Okemos. “I want to say we were down by four, maybe five, going into the fourth quarter, and then I mean same thing again, the boys just wanted it,” Herron said. A late penalty in regulation against the Okemos guys gave the Scots the opportunity to start the overtime period with possession. They fired a few shots at the Chief­ tain net in the opening minute of the four-minute overtime session before Bultema buried a rocket from about 15 yards out. Bultema followed that up by scor­ ing the first two goals for his team in the second quarter against FHE to even that match at 2-2 before adding three more scores the rest of the night. J, T .. 77 •*SJI bX 1 2. ii4 1 rtf; (» < . .'t ' I • 1 •MN 9 ** ft! I GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM t 1 r i'J' J I ri Jiri 4 •W-jS' I 1 1• hn a '''‘' B 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia, MI 49316 Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 OledoniA . h *rr i 4 ! I I - I « i I r I T CzJtU.f * J • »T» uiH flj'iiJf: 1 r 3 ri IlW « bi- . f u 9 - i 1 • ' .<■ 4 1 '''l\si k '. 31 1^-. «(I». r r , ,4. if’ Caledonia Township is Hiring a Part-Time Receptionist. Send cover letter, resume and 2-3 references to anugent@caledoniatownship.org or submit in person to township. W‘;s; . ar^nrb in: >: < Uw. r.'. 0 .II I* :’'J I . ■ ft / I ,teles 4 •rrtST I * * '<«M* Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity boys’ and girls’ track and field teams both placed fifth at Division 1 MITCA Team State Finals in Davison Friday, May 23. A group of 15 boys’ teams and 13 girls’ teams competed in the 17 events, with teams allowed to place three ath­ letes in each individual event and one relay team in each race. Every finishers in every event scores for the team. All day long the ladies battled the elements, their competitors, and most importantly themselves as they im­ proved upon initial seed placements, time and time again,” Caledonia girls’ head coach Ben Howell said. Junior thrower Jolie King had the top finish of the event for the CHS girls with a third-place throw of 107 feet 7 inches in the discus setting a new personal record. Other top eight finishes for the CHS girls came from Olivia Hawkins who was fifth in the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter low hurdles, Han­ nah Dupuis who was seventh in the 1600-meter run, and a pair of relay teams. Mariah Peterson, King, Melanie Genoa Grullon and Brynn Ward were seventh in the 4x 100-meter relay. The team of Avalynn Klapmust, Hawkins, Evie Huttenga and Isla Sheely placed eighth in the 4x400-meter relay. CHS boys’ head coach Ben Thompson said his guys were 14th in the MITCA Power Rankings heading into the meet. “This meet shows overall team depth and culture, where all three athletes in each event score so the more depth you have, the better your team will do,” 100 East Main Street Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villageofmiddleville.org Hi ■ 1 <» Scot teams both fifth at DI MITCA Team State I lasnijsijCi^ lou^ t*' I •v.ny % ? iI/ .mt 4• 7 5 11 ♦ 111 » Tib Saturday, May 31,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS * Director of Public Works The Village of Middleville is seeking a qualified applicant to fill the position of the Director of Public Works. This is a full-time salary position with benefits. A complete job description is available at the Village office at 100 East Main Street, Middleville, Michigan, 49333 or on the Village website at www.villageofmiddleville.org. I rA'J •7S I* > I '.I, 1 I• j 1,^ ii » / I j 1 I ( J I 1 I 1 4 I !? f 1 I > bl ■iii r •A *I ft I 2 r. I I 1 Thompson said. “The boys had many PRs on the day and pulled together, as a team, for this great performance. It was a stellar finish for the Scots as the relay team of Josh Maier, Jonas Howell, Eli Velting and Aaron Collins managed a fourth-place finish despite not even being seeded high enough to race in the fastest heat of the event. The CHS boys had a runner-up finish in the discus too, from state qualifier Cody Meyers who fired off a throw of 156-2. Benjamin Moss was seventh in the pole vault for the Scots and Liam Moore was eighth in the shot put. On the track, the Scots had Collins fifth in the 400-meter dash, Noah Johnston fifth in the 1600-meter run and fourth in the 3200-meter run. Jonas Howell ran to an eighth-place time in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Meyers and Dupuis are set to be at East Kentwood High School today. May 31, to compete in the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Track and Field Finals. THORNAPPLE KELLOGG SCHOOLS NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2025-2026 BUDGET PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on June 9, 2025, at 7:00 o’clock p.m •> at the Thornapple Kellogg Early Childhood Center 3316 Bender Road, Middleville, Michigan, the Board of Education of Thornapple Kellogg Schools will hold a public hearing to consider the District’s proposed 2025-2026 budget. The Board may not adopt its proposed 2025-2026 budget until after a public hearing. A copy of the proposed 20252026 budget, including the proposed property tax millage rate, is available for public inspection during normal business hours at 10051 Green Lake Road, Middleville, Michigan. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. ' Ibis notice is given by order of the Board of Education. Brenda Hess Secretary ♦ �A Saturday. May 31,2025 12 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ f THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Undefeated Otsego ends Troian soccer season Brett Bremer Sports Editor The goal came straight out of the soccer text­ book. A pass ahead from the defense out wide. A push to the end line. A centering pass. A crash­ ing attacker. The ball in the back of the net. Otsego scored about 18 minutes into the first half against Thomapple Kellogg’s varsity girls’ soccer team Wednesday in the MHSAA Division 2 District Semifinals hosted by Gull Lake c< ■J •>* SB HV 1 ■Ki « r:3 it .. V : 1 .1 5- • r-V" * 1’ A '-J-y. ! * ,1 T'A > *5 t * I ..4^ 74^ *4 ‘^r »dW-*3ife < - A r 4 T', Li'jaip 'TryI bn * *1* 4. St -..■I I'* • '"■■iff 'K' X 1 I# — ■yi ^ihir I I <inwWW4>«H'»rr. . «« - 46:: ... Wh> J ♦• K I VI t*. . ** Thornapple Kellogg sophomore midfielder Alexa Eden (right) works to try and get the ball off the feet of Otsego senior midfielder Grace Geret during the second half of their MHSAA Division 2 District Semifinal at Gull Lake High School in Richland Wednesday. The Bulldogs took a 1-0 win to earn a spot in the district final. Photos by Brett Bremer COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the May 13. 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on May May 27, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main Street and on the website at www.villageofmiddleville.orq. 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia. MI 49316 Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 CALEcmA TOW^«HIP * m*' CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA, COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF POSTING OF TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed Caledonia Charter Township Ordinance, which would amend various sections of the Charter Town­ ship of Caledonia Zoning Ordinance (“Zoning Ordinance”), has been posted in the office of the Township Clerk at the Caledonia Charter Township offices, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue, within the Township, for review by the public during Town­ ship office hours, and has also been posted on the Townships website, the address of which is www.caledoniatownship.org. The amending ordinance would amend different provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, including adding a definition for the term “garage,” and amending regulations related to accessory buildings, drive­ ways and private streets, parking of recreational vehicles, internal access drives, lighting, architectural standards, signage requirements, and landscaping. CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meeting Minutes High School in Richland, and it was the lone score in a 1 -0 victory by the team ranked eighth in the state in D2. The undefeated Bulldogs (15-0-1) were set to meet third ranked Gull Lake (18-1-2) in the district final back in Richland Friday, May 30, as the host Blue Devils bested Plainwell 6-0 in the second semifinal of the day Wednesday. It was sophomore Olivia Witteveen who carried the ball deep towards the end line for the Bulldogs there midway through the first halfand then fired a low, hard centering ball. TK goalkeeper McKenna Hoebeke was a step off her line at the near post as Gull Lake sophomore Peyton Dennany came crashing in and just manged to get a leg in front of Trojan senior defender Emma Geukes and direct the ball into the open net. Minutes earlier, Hoebeke had come sliding out of her net to kick a Bulldog shot just wide ofher net. Over the final minutes of the second half, the Bulldogs had a few more point-blank chances that just went awry. A header in the box found the Bulldogs’ Peyton Johnson alone for a shot in front that went over the net. A clear •?4 S. ' •? •* z Joni Henry, Township Clerk Caledonia Charter Township bn-il T % . t- ' • I : ' .\iV u . n T ■ 1 I i ’JI’ n (; ■ I I ! - J'.z 1 I ; ! • 7ilZ •H :<i K' I I • .'isip': '.j'.’' -Ti « i I J V* ♦ I : ' I BIO hr 9# t Lrr, ' .SJzL'V k I ’i ■ riM T ♦ < 'I '> vfttnnnfl Z I ' I ■. ' ’ J'J'nb i ft ‘itif’ J 4* -I <r ♦ .• r I ■t rti.' ■ FJ; 1 J*'.*’ >.js i/bi? 1: .. *’f- r t ■ V. .410 .r •^Ri^ "Ty/' s 4 Jja z- f'^ * I'X* kj Of)? 4 4 l> r '.i 1 i 4 4. ’ :V u ujK’ I rA J>« 1 I V i I 1 'J* r HL’ * !• : . i •X ! if-’ > It s f' , ' J J • 1 14 ‘ 1 ( /• I < 1 i 1 *t T 4. I1 / r 4 I I 1 II I ' IV- 1 r * 1 4 1 A 1 1 J 1 J . k I r ' r 9- - / * tr* 4 4 V k L' ft 1 (T Jr xi *.h kti- t I I) -ftU t '/Ji 4 f I t U»' ?!■ * sr^ 1 ^rr> .1, A w r st iNsuMr^ SPRAY FOAM W I I I J k. i r ■( 1 1 I 1 b ilitefIlir.. ▼ T '*■ ,-e ' •rt * ’ > 'Ai' '‘I I *..< W'i 13; 1 »VK U<s»f ■’fe; Closed dr Open Cell or Blown-In Fiberglass Roy Mast. 517-652-9119 2501 N. Ionia Rd., Vermontville I In- V i* ***> N I »> f i M* •J i I* *<. I 1 I * nr<p off * T \ • 9 rd IW4 1 I ..-JC-r:-, 1 J I' u IV ___ ,„ t 1 i L k I I, r Lt S /(I I fi <* r ;• i < I c i <* / I • '' t I •> r p •» ing attempt that deflected back towards the Trojan goal led to a 2-on-1 against Hoebeke not long after, and the Bulldog shot this time from senior Haylee Dennany found its way straight into Hoebeke’s mitts. Much of the second half was a game of keep away, but not the kind where the Bulldogs sat back. The Trojans tried their best to shoot a ball ahead for junior attacker Tealy Cross, but getting those long balls off was tough and then getting onto them was even tougher. The Bulldogs foot skills and spacing made it tough for the Trojans to hold much possession in the second half, and when the ball was fi’ee it was the Bulldogs more often than not putting on the charge to get to it first. The threats against the TK net didn’t come quite as fi-equently though in the second half either. Junior defender Ella Fischer was solid clearing things away from the center of her end throughout most of the evening. The TK ladies end the season with a 12-4-2 record, and will bring back much of its roster intact next spring with Geukes and midfielder Madilyn Chi vis the team’s lone seniors. The above stated ordinance was considered by the Caledonia Charter Township Board on first reading at a public meeting of the Township Board held on May 21, 2025, and is expected to be considered on second reading by the Township Board at a public meeting on June 4, 2025. This notice is given in accordance with the Charter Township Act and is authorized by action taken by the Caledonia Charter Township Board. The minutes for the May 7, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on May 21, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave and on the website at www.caledoniatownship.org. n 1 �•J J I I * 1 b *; , V £ • hi <> )1 ' ¥ I I f I F J 1 V Saturday. May 31. 2025 13 Trojan golf season ends at tough D2 regional I r II ; f - !k) 'v . 5 I Brett Bremer Sports Editor fhomapple Kdlogg senior K > bn PraQ had the top round for the Trojan team al the Ml iS.AA Dnision 2 Regionai ToumamcrW al Stonchcdge N<vth in Augusta T ucsda>. Pralt fired an S4 to place 30(h ovcralL I (e finished socn wokes hack of a group of three gu^'s who ckisod the da> in a piaynfT for the last of three mdividnai sUl£ qualify ing spnts It the vanity hoj s* golf regional I fastmgs jimkir Jensen qualified for the Ml IS AA 1 xiwcr Pentnsub fhvision 2 Boys'C jolfl rnals by shooting a 76. He roiled tn a five-foot pun for par on menber nine to finish off his IMxilc round. Thal pun falling into the cup kqM him out of what would have been a four-person playoff for the last state (Qualifying positiom. TTk top dtftx (cams and top three individuals not CHI those three teams qualified for the June 6-7 Finals that will he pkiyed at Hedford Valley Golf (Tub. (irand Rapids Christian won the team n^mal title with a score of30l strokes ahead ofSouthCfuTstian 504 and Unity C firistian 510. Way land's Theo Fddy was the first ofthe three individial stite (Qualifiers from the regional shooting a 75. The (eagles entered the postseason ranked number one in the stde in I Jivision 2 and the South CTmstian squad checked in m seventh in the final regular season state rankings. IJdiind Fdd> and Jenserv a group of three gu>^ scored 77 and had to go into a playoff for the last state qualifying spot which wound up going to Plainwell junior Drew Rayman. I Ie bested Otsego senior Spencer Shearer and * I J J rX ,v. •I 1 K 1 z t 1®*^ w-mH THE SUN AND NEWS om .V ’US k id * » rJ 3 t,,'W u I if a I *< •kr. ri t *> ii« A "q: IM k I 1 4 55) I *> 5 t f *u. * A • \ I 4 V# V ’■RI. (r' •w* HtMland CTirvstian sophonxwe I inus X^uxkTibctg in Ok fvbynff. The ITximapple Kdkigg placed I5lli al iIk IW<e;im event The top three teanvs were well dx^ad of iIk field wiih U av laixl fourtli with a score of525 15 stnMces biX'k of (Ik last ofiIk three suite quali tying lean vs. (Xsegi^ was fitUi willi a score01326aheadofZeeland West 550.1 lolkuxininslian 554. Hamilton 555. Plainwell 542, West Midiigiin.-V union Academy M4. kwiui 545,1 lastinus 554, S<xnli 1 hum 555, Thcmapple Kellogg 556. Portland 562, ZeekuKi Rvst 5(^, Allegan 406 aixl I ansing Waserly N J'S. Sophonuxe Parker Dahles scored ;ui 87 Rx the 1 rojaivv and f K also got a 90 from seniix f> ler Miss ;uk1 a 95 from senior Rv;ui Skidmore. (inmd Rapids Christuui scniix Jolin Cassidiis w:vs tlw day's individual ciiampnxi wiili a four-under-^. Ifiere w ere three Eagles among tlx: lop ten scorers. Jiuii« Siiw yer O'Cimdv sfxxa 74 andjuniorCtxiper Reitsmaslxrta 77. IIk regional champs also got mi 82 trom junux Ty Exickson. South OuTstian sophixnore Ihuris IltKkwaler w;ts iIk day's individual runiKr-up with a 75. Hk Saikxs had llic only team wiiJi four guys inxkT 80. Senivx Brody Monlsnia sfxX a 76, sophonxire Drew \^.uxkTlKide a 77 and junitx Caleb Knxischell a 78. The third-place team (him Unity Christian got a 74 from senior Noah Ikstemian, a 78 from senior I ak4Vs V^maanen. a 79 from senior Jack Vtldliouse and mi 81 from juniix Bn^gan Slx:rd. < A•Jk.. .jdiH f *< ♦ ♦ z7 • A •-.V >* * t TK senior Kytan Prall shoots his ball towards the green on number nine at Stonehedge North Tuesday during the MHSAA Division 2 Regional Tournament Photo by Brett Bremer • f’ 4 T*; * * rr •* I 1 A r* 1 ■ -i j V "Mfc. I ifel *« N. BRIOfM IMMD MtOOLCVIllX. MTC tSirkSN «raj i«w.7»*-«a*i / FAX aew-Tws-ZMX <.*. ' .—1^^—■ YANKEE SPRINGS TOW NSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Pt Btl< HF ARENG NOTH E I C(M NTY. MIClIKiAN. AND ANY OPIE R INTE RESTED PI RSONS M filial if w—C.. I? I I V -• Ik'-R PI EASE I AKE NOTICE that a puNic hcorir^ will he heW on June 19. 2025. commencing at 7,00 pm. a the I Yankee Springs Township Hall, 2R4 N Rnggs Rd , Middleville MI, within the lownship. as required under the ** provisftwis of the Michigan Zoning EnaNing Act and the Zoning Ordinance for the Township. ■ -■^ •ti’2 W‘1^5 r'.t - r* ,i .*» 1VI' ' t * 4«.r. ■ 1 1; PI EASE TAKE NOTICE In addition to participation durii^ a puHic hearing, members of the pubhc may also k provide comments tor the Planning Commission's consideralion by emailing or mailing those comnteots to the i. fated Sint’ :»i: #► a ■ Planning Commission tor receipt poor to the meeting, in care of the Township Zoning Administrator. Joe Shea ' (joeshcAir? vtiniccspnngMwp (Wg). Letivn and emails are due one week before the hearing date; or by leaving a pbimc mewogt prior to the meeting with the Towmhip Zoning Administr^or. Joe Shea ol 26<)-795-9091. 4 PI I AST TAKE EHRTHER NOTICE' that the itemfs) to be comidered at vad public hearing include, in brief, the following: « 4‘ 1^' nil Rf SIDEVTS AND PROPERTY OW?sERS OE TIB TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRIMiS. BARRY IO ii' I. SEI tn mercial Short-term renul pursuant to the Yankee Springs Zoning Ordinance. Article X. Short Term Rentals I X W«j I I f •( i - . ' 4»« 4 ?: von-Jla' I I I I J YANKEE SPRINCiS TOUISSHIP PI ANNING COMMISSION 4 1 1 Individuals with disabilities requir- ing auxiliary aid.* or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address w telephone number listed lelow. e J ! catt iherenTby ipcaal uae«un<nl agaimt the properties benefited themn PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTKLE that the district within which Ihe fnregning improvrmenlA are proposed Io be (on strocted and within which the coit thereof is proposed to be assessed is more partkulArly described AS including the follnwing parcel miniben 0R-16*B5O0RO0 OR 16^135 00900 OR-I6»B5W4» OB 16^135 006^00 0R-16>B5-0O94n OTKEBS 00500 0fTl6-B5^00 OR 16^135005 00 OR I6 B5-002 00 OR 16-B5X»l>00 «r.i. 7'1 .»< k PI EASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that said plans, estimate of cost, proposed special asaesamenl district and petitions may be examined al the office of the township clerk from the dote of this notice through the date of the puMk hearing and may be examined at such public hearing PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a puNic hearing on the petitions, plans, disirKt and estimate of cost will be held al the Yankee Springs Towmhip hill at 264 N. Bnggs Rood, Mi^leville, Michigan, commencing at 6 ociock p m. on |une 5,2025. Al the h^ng the board win consider any smtten ohfcctions Io any of Ihe foregoing matters filled with the board at or before the hearing os well as any revisiom. corrections, amendment or changes to the plans, estimates and costs or special By; Shana Rush. Choirpenon asKsoment dutrxt Yankee Springs Township Hall AB interested persons are invited to be present at the hearing and to submit any comments ihey may have 2R4N Bnggs Rd Township clerk signature: Tom Hopkins Middleville. Michigan 49333 Tovrmhip addresA; 264 N. Briggs Road Middleville, Michigan 49333 .• * •T( ■Jr 7 »v k 4 t i I t «l .1 I 4 I i» k 1 a t i vl •k I t R S s « s M I I 4 t < 16 B5 O17 OO 16 15S 0U 00 16-BS^OlOOO 16-BS-Oll 00 IfvBS OOI 00 PLEASE, TAKE FL^RTHFR NOTICE that the Ttwrmh^ Board has received engineering plans showing the improvemenl-s and an estinMie of the cosU of such omstruction in the approximate amount of $523XX). has plxed them on file with the (269) 795-9091 I I I I (» Oft OB OR OR aswssmem dutnet. Ihe Inwnahip hoard has abo tentatively tound the petitions to be compliance with statutory requirements abilities at ihe hearing urMwi four (7) dap’ prior ncMice lo the Township Ckri 01 bW' g improvements emwating of mstalling 15 inches of base course asphalt compacted, and insiallation of I 5 inches of surface asphalt compacted. Ihe kngih of rod^oy n approximately Vi mile. And to create a special asseument f« the recovery of the Anyone interested in reviewing ihe applicatnin malcnol may do so at the township hall AH interested persons Yankee Springs Township will provide necessary reasonable auxtliaiy aids and senices, to individuals with dis- 1 Deer Sight Dnve special aaaesarornt district and ihe tosmshg) hoard of the Township of Yankee Springs proposes Io make mail lownship derk. and has passed a resokilKin tentatively d«ianng its intention Io make the improvement and to create Ihe special electronic meeting. I PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that as a result of petnions of property owners snthin the lownship signed by the record osrnen of land whooe (area or fooUgt) constitutes more than 50 percent of the total (orca or footage) of the hereiniAcr described 2. Such other hutinesv as mav properh come before the Planning Commission. are invited to be present al the ahwvsaid tunc and place, or. if an electronic meeting is held, to pwtkipatc via the I • 25-96-07; Pared ID: 16-370-021-00, 12747 Whispenng Pinev Drive <21, Wavland. Ml 4914R A request by Riley and Anne (iarn, the property owner*, for a special exception use permit to operate a com­ I I TO THF RFStntNTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THF TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINtiS IN BARRY COtINTY. MICHIGAN. AND AN1' (TTHER INTERESTED PERSONS *4 I’l 4 »M M. Rwioov mown mi»oucvxk.i^ MionoAN Mnv / FAX saw Tvs-tvai NOTICE OE PUBLIC HEARING Township of Yankee vSprings, Barry County, Michigan �.r' 14 Saturday. May 31,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com f 0 ♦ ♦ ♦ Lieske Ks 15 as Scots earn spot in district semi’s Brett Bremer Sports Editor They’ve been a battery for 11 years, and they earned themselves at least one more game together with their victory Tuesday. Caledonia senior pitcher Molly Lieske fired a varsity high 15 strikeouts in a complete game shut out of Forest Hills Central as the Fighting Scot var­ sity softball team took a 9-0 win over the visiting Rangers in their MHSAA Division 1 Pre-District ballgame. “She only gave up two hits, so they didn’t didn’t hit her hard and she was pretty controlled,” Caledonia head coach Kaylie Schertzing said ofLieske. “When she’s dealing she’s in a good spot, and she looked really confident today. So, that’s good. It feels really good having that going into Saturday for sure.” The Fighting Scots are at Wyoming High School today, May 31, set to take on Lowell in a district semifinal contest at 11 ;30 a.m. Byron Center and Wyo­ ming square off in the district toumaNOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2025, at 7:00 P.M. Please be advised the Thornapple Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on June 23, at 7pm or as soon thereafter as possible. The public hearings will take place in the Township Hall, 200 E. Main St., Middleville. The public hearing will address the following: 1.) Special Use if 174 -Applicant Sydney LaDere is wishing to add a new address to her Group Child Daycare Center (SLU 163, approved 7/2023) at 12076 Olivia Dr., Middleville, Ml (parcel 08-14-175-019-00) per Thomapple Township Zoning Ordinance Sec. 19.27 2.) Special Use if 175 -Applicants Jon & Twila Starkey are wishing to construct an accessory building in their front yard at 5701 Ravine Rd., Middleville, Ml (parcel 08-14-160-023-00) per Thomapple Twp Zoning Ordinance 21.3. 3.) Special Use if176 - Applicants Robert & Kendra Curtiss are wishing to construct an accessory building in their front yard at 8084 Parmalee Rd., Middleville, Ml (parcel 08-14-002-01310) per Thornapple Twp Zoning Ordinance 21.3. Any interested person may attend the public hearings to learn about the extent and location of Special Use requests to offer comments to the Planning Commission. A copy of the applications noted above may be examined in the Township offices at the address noted above during regular business hours. Monday - Thursday 9am- 4pm Written comments regarding these appli­ cations may be addressed to: Secretary, Thor­ napple Township Planning Commission, P.O. Box 459, Middleville, Ml 49333. Sandy R'aifigh, Commission Secretary or submitted via email to: zoning-administrator@thornapple-twp.org Americans with Disabilities Notice Persons with special access needs should contact the Township Clerk at 269-795-7202 no less than 72 hours before the hearings. Cindy Ordway, Thomapple Township Clerk ment’s first semifinal contest at 10 a.m. “I just went into it knowing that it could be my last game so I just gave it everything I had and just hoped for the best,” Lieske said. “And me and my catcher [senior Malia Burke] have good chemistry, so that helps. She has been my catcher for the last 11 years so we just work good together Burke started catching pitches from Lieske in the Caledonia Chaos club 11 years ago. “Her change-up looked really good. Her drop ball was on more than usual. Her drop ball especially, I think looked pretty good,” Burke said. Lieske thought the movement on her pitches was much better than it has been in recent ballgames. She only walked one. She was happy to pick things up at the plate a little bit too. She went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a pair of RBIs. “I think just her mentality has been very positive this season as a whole,” Burke said of Lieske, “which we struggled with in the past. We have had worse records and played tougher competition, and she has been really positive with her mindset.” Burke had a big day at the plate too going 3-for-3 with an RBL In all, it was 1 r ■&' «e *«w« 4 1 -fe'" ? •• t SCOTS 'M 4 J I 4 r; 0 ,1^ . $ I A V'' I i * o<‘ » if » Ml A > k w a . A I / w .. Ima d a>> .I •y" T >/• r < ■‘*« IS* A . u* * * r* > iT * al' .a 4 4 *<* ♦ -1 -^esf * I \ I fe ' 5».'—' Jr 'i. k’A I »• 0b V >« *« 0 k f i 1 ■ * 0 \2I^ ^^fc**** ^P" •’W? a - J •r^ . ♦y* r . • *- w f r T K .K K< 1^. J & . •.>t'VA Caledonia catcher Malia Burke leads the handshake line for the Fighting Scots at the conclusion of their 9-0 Pre-District win over visiting Forest Hills Central Tuesday. ’»/ ■ 1 I t 1 .'4.^ .♦1* « . - If -1 •r H fn.>‘'' , <1 kf*. — V 1 k • 1 ■' 61 < ' .u4m I I Antenna Men r- 4 ncKTuie * 1 t / 1 a 12-hit Caledonia attack. All 12 hits were singles. Senior centerfielder Addy Lash had a pair of singles and a run scored too. Third baseman Lexi Henney was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBL Junior Hudsyn Tanner, senior Rian Restau and se­ nior Sophia Gauthier each singled once for the Scots. free 'll “It was a little bit of Estima^®® a slow start, but just we • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation were just figuring things • Blown-in Attic Insulation out and adjusting to the pitching, ” Schertzing said. 517*983-0954 “Once we did, we started Start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam to open things up. We got some key hits and we were scoring pretty consistently 1 throughout the game, so Xft II that was good. By the very s end of the game, we had a two-out rally and scored a bunch of runs. It kind of Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers shows we can do that, but • Cellular Enhancement Systems a little bit sooner.” Burke and Lieske are Give us a call! two of nine seniors on the 269-967-8241 Scots’ roster this spring www.theantennamen.com looking to keep their sea­ www.cellsignalpros.com son going Saturday. The Aatp.tno Men I > • * .-I-.X; «k»‘ 1 antennamen@gmail.com 1 Caledonia coach has liked the way vocal leaders have emerged from the group throughout the season. “Rian Restau is not a kid you’re gonna see in the lineup a lot, but she is the most selfless kid on our team, and we’ve just talked a lot about how much that matters and how much ofan impor­ tant role they play.,” Schertzing said. “So, I have got shout her out because she doesn’t get the stats and the num­ bers, but she plays such a crucial role. “Malia has been our catcher for four years and she just really stepped up, and she’s had some points in the season where she’s been beat out and she’s accepted that, but then she’s coming back and she’s hitting the ball really well. Sophia Gauthier has been a really big leader as well for us, and holding the team accountable and there are so many others too.” The district final will be played in Wyoming Saturday following the two semifinal contests. The district cham­ pions advance to the June 7 MHSAA Division 1 Regional tournament hosted by Grand Rapids Northview. The CHS girls planned to tune-up for Saturday with a doubleheader against Wayland Thursday, May 29. I I h ;ra ’i h’ <1/ / ■ r dB • 1 * . t ' ■*4 J c I b k I WV I I * I *Tr I I • J.lJiK.tf!^- ; ■'puiufjjxso**, I* 0 ■K •• ' ..*3; i I > *• I 4W I ) * / a ’^iseV iV sd . . i .t'^ ~ • ■ • 11 n I i J dU « )i Mtet I t ■:J.* ' f •• ( 'J . r* . ’ ►rf-C'U{ :..« ‘^iM^-. (ilv J ’^T i tte>3O i J s * A »1 « 1 i I J i ti 4 r ** - U' 4 * ♦ ! ?»i ''jw-tti VI *c i I t . I« ■-’ ...... . . » f . * *T <4^>«».^44Tn2tr 3 * I J I 4 4 • it • *►> "^itSte?TAV, •* col 1 M4 Ito » rfj; I J i-. ^V. r V - .I '. r' 1 c > I •5' i iisib « . ) . ’ *\ f t - . f >W J f 4 i - ittk I 'if/or» & A u A* I K I. 1 ' 0- ’ ’.i iL. ** «> *■ \ I 4« I. iTf J t I i » 1 •< .f •* I I •.J . I . . �4 I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I .> • —' I ■' WW. I I Uli ,bwo t Brett Bremer Sports Editor * M ,?T!aa2roq2 IC ' Ji n. 1 f?. 3%fSBiafl0) Af* . I*. . rt ,V«'i I I * • J W w ( f fc f toT tf iioijafl I 1 t I k -^giijoO tittD 'In. fhO/ : fjli! f taoio'J ^cnot/ bm:bid1 I f 1 4 t I 1 'a 1 r f ■ < J :QV> > J 4 'j'j : I I .tH' r I I -it. . r = bim »' f• J' » t ,I.,. ' t f '<•1 1 '< 1 • «i > 4* >0 f I f 11'/ i ' ► • -I Ito,2 t t k hx. ?.i f I . 71 < I J « 'I *z . J I c « I tr* jjp f’m)'- /•*w A.' l“ Ax. ’ iii J I > I' •I • I I J J I 1 I J.. i •• T 2 ‘.r V . J 1 - ■ J flJ ■f * r -J 1 I «« I' s < y -I'./l ' T f * t -1 *• •bk I c> J 4- I J '"*^1 ''* ♦. f» / I “1. I I : f I F si J t. I I* < I - ■ 1 4. * .b••6 .1 b ••• -.-..1-...,. *. >r. r - I' '••’‘’MNIVA. «.< at— *,• I'.?* ' ■.=i I J . I - i - - r I Are you creative NOW HIRING GRAPHIC DESIGNER View Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time graphic artist for our Greenviiie location. — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • ND WEEKENDS — This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! Responsibilities include: I *Q« ’** • '■ r*: r. ii - • i f ’k J ■ I 1 t t. >> • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout f f. r'K' The Caledonia boys were 11th as a team and a 31 st-place finish from senior Parker Little was the top performance for the Scots at their MHSAA Division 1 Regional Tournament at Stonegate Golf Course Wednesday. Forest Hills Northern beat out Rock­ ford and Mona Shores for the top spot. The Huskies put up a score of 300 strokes ahead of Rockford 305 and Mona Shores 305. The top three teams and top three individuals not on those teams at the regional earned spots in the June 6-7 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Boys’ Golf Finals at Forest Akers West Golf Course at Michigan State University in East Lansing. The Caledonia varsity boys’ golf team put up a score of 337 with Little shooting an 81. He was five strokes back of the last of the three individual state qualifiers. The trio of individual state qualifiers included West Ottawa senior Ethan Moore who shot a 74 and Portage Cen­ tral’s Ben Liddell who shot a 75. West Ottawa junior William Nagelvoort won out in a three-player playoff for the last of the three state spots, beating out Grand Rapids Union sophomore James Fowler and Byron Center junior Cassius Bont who all finished 18 holes with a score of 76. The Fighting Scots had four guys in the 80s. Freshman Alex Postma shot an 82 and junior Camden Quigley carded an 84. The Scots’ fourth score was a 90 from senior Sam Miersen. Junior DJ Robinson was right behind with a 91. Forest Hills Northern won the re­ gional title with three of the top five scorers at the tournament. Senior Will Pollack and junior Mathieu Duffo finished in a tie for second with 71s. Senior teammate Grant Ofield scored a 74 and the Huskies added an 84 from freshman Lucas Dhaseleer. Rockford was led by a'71 from sophomore Owen Wilson and a 74 from senior Kaiden Dressier. Mona Shores freshman Cruz Beck Strom was the day’s individual champ with a 70. The Sailors had three guys in the 70s with junior Eddie Kuznar add­ ing a 75 and senior Lincoln Harwood scoring a 78. Portage Central was eight strokes back of the state qualifying teams with a score of 313 in fourth place. Byron Center was fifth with a score of 316 ahead of West Ottawa 322, Hudson * ville 332, Grandville 333, Mattawan 333, Northview 335, Caledonia 337, Loy Norrix 339, Grand Haven 339, Grand Rapids Union 340, Jenison 345, Reeths-Puffer 359, Portage Northern 363, Kalamazoo Central 372, East Kentwood 391, Battle Creek Lakeview 393 and Wyoming NTS. '1 f > 15 Little leads Scots in final round, at D1 regional tourney •1 I Saturday, May 31,2025 I w TK ladies improve some PRs at scholarsliip invite Mfe love what we do and we know you will too! W* * M.' “-S! 1 1 i U iLt XC . * I t b 1 1 «’)' I I I t > L) I 4, f 4 _ J r.hsj Miait'iK aLV.' ! 4 < f I ' ..' .s f 1 >, U 7 f' I rp I ! I i . ^.. • T -ITS?*--IS' *7^' J. I 1 i *-I I u .BAW A ► M ^•,Xb ■ > I :.*F jGuijSIT p > • ‘•..U ^kn aril ' ‘A • rife msq I I- r?«d* I 2 M I'rV. » * iafttxf- zii -r*' I i I fwjllit t I t I * I -■ I J ,1 J UI e I Brett Bremer Sports Editor A handful of Thomapple Kellogg girls took part in the U of M HealthWest Sports Medicine Scholarhip Invite at Byron Center High School Tuesday. TK girls took victories in the two hurdles races. TK senior Brooklyn Har­ mon ran to a time of 14.90 seconds to win the 100-meter hurdles. Junior Mia Hilton improved her personal record time to 45.73 in winning the 300-meter low hurdles. The Gater sisters both had top ten finishes in the 400-meter dash. Junior Payton Gater improved her PR to 1 minute .39 seconds to finish third in the race and the freshman Amya was ninth in 1:02.82. The TK team also had sophomore El­ lie Harmon set her PR in the 200-meter dash at 27.69 to place 20th overall. The meet included athletes from all across West Michigan and beyond, with competitors from 33 different schools scoring in the girls’ meet and 40 in the boys’ meet. The Zeeland East girls and the Byron Center boys finished atop the day’s point standings. Brooklyn Harmon, Hilton, Payton Gater and Amya Gater have all also qualified for Saturday’s MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Track and Field Finals at Hamilton High School. Are you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@thedailynews.cc and let’s find out! Group The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News - Your Buyer's Guide - Jeffersonian ' Tri-County Times r Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review " Clarkston News ■ The Citizen The Lowell Ledger . The Hastings Banner Buyer’s Guide & News The Sun and News < Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News u: The Reminder a. We are a growing company of 21 community newspapers serving IS Michigan counties that are delivered weekly to more than 335,000 households with an additional500,000 monthly online readers. f I '**•.'* .c .'•. 1' I *.*" V - i , I ' I l-k I t I II t : J I 'll I hl r i 'li .1 i.t 't r I 1t I I ft •1 'I I •i *f r I \ t I 1 �Saturday, May 31, 2025 16 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I ■*»9nbnsnua.v¥ww t — —— ....................... I < I ■ 1 CfS'MOTO* ♦ * 4 ♦ ♦ REV ♦ ♦ I ; rf.’ -J I SALES EVENT Financing as low as 1.99% AND Rebates up to $1,500 <79 4^ ..X *• f '.'-i I g r *4 4 on select off-road models' ’I I r I I 1 f f f ■g. I I ■ 1 1 w -■nf' i A * ♦ $6,499 I 1 Or apx $ 125/month UIOSTD k f 1 rr t <« • c 5 / ★ ★ I I .. 1*^ •• M, - <• UWXL $18,999 $16,999 s -I I I * eft-; r*rl - I r*; <vSa V “v lU p * 1 ^1 •s :£Si J Visit cfmotousa.com for offer details 4 CRMOTO DTCM V ai 1 . • I ■ •• ir[,: **with approved credit plus tax, title and license. 4.9% x60 months y.-- rw* • I Mon. - Fri. 9:00am - 5:00pm, Sat. 9:00am-1:00pm Ph: 269-945-2782 Fax: 269-945-2107 2310 S. M-37, Hastings, Ml 49058 fnqOOzr-fnBOO.'G f ► T aeosr^ ^1 o' i ‘Financing is subject to credit approval. Void where prohibited. Not all who apply will qualify. See cfmotousa.com for terms and conditions. Includes select ATV and side-by-side models. One year factory warranty plus two years CFMoto Care extended warranty on select 2025 off-road models. WARNING: CFMOTO recreational vehicles are intended for off-road use only, and can be hazardous to operate. Read Owner’s Manual and all product labels before operating. Never operate on paved roads. Operators and passengers must wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Operators must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license. Passengers, if permitted, must be at least 12 years old. Always use seat belts, cab netting and doors (if equipped). Never operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Avoid excessive speed and sharp turns, and never engage in stunt driving. Check state and local laws before operating on trails. Take a safety training course before operating. Contact your CFMOTO dealer for more information, call the ATV Safety Institute at 1 -800-887-2887, or go to www.atvsafety.org. ©2025 Zhejiang CFMOTO Power Co., Ltd otoMIO rsey owtiuiq rtnerwr^ppnEi vs" .yndcffiqo bkM tiedd laubenq Is bne irur a sr JaBSi ts sd Jaiffl Wfrep .e«Qr.e22fi^ 9io)Bd iwiil isadbnsstdi )i3ai» MJ ..oO wfl oom ensiBffi £S0^ 4? r 'S*-' .1* <• I � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-06-07.pdf d1925039c9db66b69289bc2a64ccaeda PDF Text Text Mi 1 NO. 59 62 .on '‘•s! < •' *. • -.r. •, <. • > £2 www.sunandnews.com SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2025 r Y*: : Gaines P.C. recommends rezoning approvai for former minerai extraction site inamnioaoi .u.'i zaniB lot iBVOiqqB gninossi loUgoifto iBwnlm wnnot tlammeO jamsL ) t Contributing Writer J laouq aiaB-dt* (lisan A It noilBiaqo sninim s ot inaaBii^ ^oad bluoo qirizrrwoT zanisO Kjolavafa snizuorf aiuli/l b 1o aJiz ^fmEin qiriwrJVoT zaniED arlT M Mi IK .G-d Jjatov noizziramoD nwo) arit bnaoMnoaor ot gnitaam I1OS3101123Up3T B ovoiqip; biBod joe! fo A nearly 46-acre parcel of land adjacent to a mining operation in Gaines Township could become the site of a future housing development. The Gaines Township Planning Commission voted, 6-0, at its May 22 meeting to recommend the township board approve a request to rezone vacant property on the 1200 block of 100th Street in Caledonia from its current agricultural/rural residential designation to the township’s new “Village Residential” district. The parcel - owned by the Margaret Heintz Trust — is located on the south side of 100th Street, just west of Peas Avenue. Project manager Todd Stuive of I f I I I I ■ I I -t .4* ll 1 r » L I V -r 4 »- « J. J ;-fl- * ► t 41 I I I ihr 4 A / 1 »«- S' & . aXs . .*^1* • .f’S 1 I 1 •/ r ‘I’ >*1 z'*; <« iti* <■ I > -•6 See REZONING on 2 I i miNOsan 002 41 James Gemmell f lalhW pniludhlnoO )OM 00!: I aril no znsqmq Iobobv K)t1 ErnobstfiD ni 199112 rilGO f to nsbia^i IjranUfin/JluongB tnanuo an a'qirizrwol odl oJ nohfifisiaab .lohJ^ "lEilnobizoB osEliiV bM 9rit yd banwo - loaifiq srfT : adJ no batfiool ei — tziriT stniaH bo i89W taut 333Tt2 rilOO 1 fo ahiz .aunavA J -9viiif8 bboT lasEHEm toaioiT '*■'. *> k. "j; ‘p-i t ; >. / ■ J '• A ri’ ><« • in^• ♦' i ri ■» K II. . I S' T I. c/i < i * 5 It was a full evening on May 20 at the 2025 Caledonia High School graduation inside Calvin University’s Van Noord Arena. Photo by Jason Saidoo f I * C { it i •i ? _ * J* I ’ ..^c »I •■ r4’ J* »I w ( •T** L 4^’‘ '■ 5r i I ♦> •{ 1 r« w > . V i A I 1 G ahetob weiv beeriievo nA 191 sflt tsrlt leoisq 91ob-9^ eqmoo Jnemqoleveb besed oq ,1'900X01 ever! ot Bni>l993 'Off OlUJut 6 lot imoonoo bns fnemqolevab ! .t99iJ8 rlJOOt gio.qlilOTwohBniBe EDOM CnUONEU KSIDEMIVr echmes 0iMB«rra«BB boasMo b0Utf4«33e 48838 GweuMie' Ml bVID n ? boexvGE buaisio An overhead view details a nearly 46-acre parcel that the Jenison­ based development company is seeking to have rezoned, possibly for a future housing uawoisno and condominium iviiNaQisau development on 8CC# )iuiJ0d 100th Street. Source: WQ03 SSMU33 8C88> IN •lAUBUO IMXOflOd 8C8e> IM *a|||ALieaJO aivd aovisod s n CIS ISdd Caledonia Community Schools celebrates the graduating class of 2025 ¥ gainestQwnship.org Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer Caledonia seniors proudly walked across the stage on graduation day receiving their high school diplo­ mas. The big milestone marks the beginning of the next chapter into their futures. During the Caledonia High School graduation ceremony on May 20, a sea of purple caps and gowns filled Calvin University’s Van Noord Arena. The class of 2025 and the audi­ ence listened to the speech of Isabella Wierzbicki as she encour­ aged her classmates to always be kind as they enter into their next chapter of their lives. “Class of 2025, as we go our separate ways I want each of us to promise ourselves to be intentional with every person we encounter; filling them with kindness, and selflessly caring for them. We all have heard that ‘kindness is key.’ I remember the times we would laugh at this saying, but throughout these years, this quote is more than just three words; it’s what we all search for in this world. “Regardless of the opportuni­ ties, or the academic and athletic achievements I have been given, my mother has always told me that See GRADUATING on 10 �J 1 1 Saturday, June 7, 2025 2 • A THE SUN AND NEWS Peace Church celebrating 60 years June 13 j www.sunandnews.com Cal schools request special land use to install sign at community center J JU 9 « •5 Jayson Bussa ' 8 Ri ! ym>n?t»nitH» Contributing Writer Caledonia Public Schools would like to welcome guests to its Cal Commu­ nity Center with a lar^e sign. Perhaps, too large. The Caledonia Township Planning Commission met on Monday and part of its regularly scheduled meeting included a public hearing for a special land use consideration submitted by Caledonia Public Schools for 9757 Kraft Ave., which is home to the newly- I •y 1 ^nfCXMai **•«* W 4 4^* A 'a ’.¥l 9 .* .. I « b« k 9 • t * "*T •l 4S3 Ai X i 14k«9W. a * — ¥ 4 1 F V- ( ? *1 y i 7T niai M—* * '• » I I -A « J r and its new Wayland location. Peace Church sees roughly 3,000 parishioners for its gospel-centered services each Sunday. Roughly 2,500 of those attend the Middleville location. Out of over 350,000 churches in the nation, Peace Church has been named one ofOutreach Magazine’s fastest-growing churches in ?\merica for the past two years. “I want to make it known that we are thankful to the commimity, for allowing us to be here and allowing us to love them. And I just really want to say thanks to the community. We know that not everyone agrees with the Christian message, but I don’t feel like our commimity is against us,” said Peace church pastor Ryan Kimmel. “We’re able to thrive like we are because we’re adding value but also because our community has been great. We love our community.” Peace Church is located at 6950 Cherry Valley Road in Middleville. More information on Peace Church and its upcoming events can be found at peacechurch.ee. t J I I I REZONING Continued from Page 1 a Editor From humble beginnings inside Caledonia High School to its new digs on M-37, Peace Church has come a long way in its 60 years. In celebration of the milestone. Peace Church is hosting a 60th an­ niversary celebration service at its Middleville location at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 13. “To start in the high school, and then when we came here (to the M-37 church location), we started in the chapel, and then we built a new worship center, which is now our lobby, because now we built another worship center... it’s just amazing to watch the different stages ofgrowth,” said Peace Church facilities director Laura Ross. “And you wonder if the charter members are they going to be for this? After 60 years and you keep going and their hearts are beautiful. They just love watching what the Lord is doing.” Between its Middleville church opened Cal Community Center. Caledonia Schools operates the new facility in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids. Caledonia Township Planner Lynee Wells gave the cliff notes of the request to the five commission members that were present, pointing out that Caledo­ nia Schools was looking for its special land use to install a signer that is larger and taller than what is allowed in R2 zoning district, where the parcel is loSee SIGN on 10 «J I 4 Ou,, A- Peace Church is hosting a 60th anniversary worship celebration on Friday, June 13 at 6;30 p.m. at its Middleville location. Photo by Molly Macieod Molly Macieod I Exxel Engineering, representing the Jenison-based Koetje Builders & Developers, said the property could be connected to existing water and sewer lines, with plans for the site set to include the construction of 53 homes and 32 condominium units. The site previously was used for mineral extraction, with a conveyor used to transport materials for the StoneCo mining operation. Mining operations still occur on the adjacent properties. Assistant township planner Dakota Swan said the proposed rezoning is consistent with the township’s mas­ ter plan, which calls for moderately higher density housing. “(Township) staff does not antici­ pate any adverse effects to property values of adjacent landowners as a result of this rezoning request,” Swan said. Bob Woronko, owner of SE Agricultural & Commercial Solutions located across the road, said he favors the project and would appreciate municipal water and A 4b sewer being extended to his business. But, he added he is concerned about the potential cost of utility connec­ tions for neighbors. “Not everybody there is financially in the same boat as our business,” Woronko said. “And so, one concern for me is what effect it’ll have on the neighbors when that water and sewer comes through, if they’ll be forced to hook up.” Local resident Daniel Brown said he looks forward to additional hous­ ing being built, but also that traffic congestion on 100th Street is a grow­ ing concern on 100th Street. Like Woronko, Brown said he was also worried about the potential costs of water and sewer connections. “Tm envisioning (up to) $40,000 to connect to water and sewer, if that’s in the area,” he said. “And I don’t want to be put in that position.” Planning Commissioners Tim Haagsma said the township does not force people to hook up to municipal utilities when they sell their homes. “It’s probably the mortgage compa­ ny that would require that,” he said. I 1 AT • MT fW * '<J « 'wti' >■ I I r.-L-i L .ff 6 .A*' ■ V I k A. 1 I* u** J 1 M ii-*’ s I J I '14 iA'' » 1 r 9 »• \ k - I. • . - < •< <•’ •1 \F i k 1 p? U A1 h: i* V d^;8m I r r. I » » 3 n t I I a k • w <. F* • A • .•* »L* : V- k <S| fe 9 **;JU> Wk* I pv < I 1 J!***! f CW f'.Jt kJ S?zrX:.i r <■ I k.<6 I** •.»(? I M * Xi A I !*!• I I Fin I ♦% 11 Tj “k ■x' I -a' Ki JI ..MJ- I . ■c » I 11 J ’•TSxr ' .VX ■ 1W. X ittWlMBlKBIR THE SUN AND NEWS The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com CONTACT US Editor: Molly Macieod I Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher bbremer®mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com jyonkerOmihome^appiqpki PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper A ^aRRKli I Group Sporta: Brett Bremer Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker I ia J mmacleod®mihomepaper.com lii (* I bAI 1 ,♦ ’’J b«* f PUBLISHED BY 9 «* ► I Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising In The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept., 1351 N. M-43 Hwy.. Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser's order. 4 I r.? d -.4^ •A-. . o Cv ” Bl' X ■ f I r -I 1 ! ‘J mSM ’1 rl • •I . 4 a k W=^.s * 5 ' . 1 » A 1 > L I ' •i . s f > J �’ I - Hl If •U r I !b ip < A. , i '’H JT n ) I r V. V •r r I I : A • rl F 4 1 I V !•* 'I i # f i >4 Pl I *. i » > V [ • .6.' t > > A I ■t* r *i! I A > W! £> b t 4' .■tt 1 r l’^ d ri 9 r■ h rw 4 I V 1_ A * * I *, e 4. r' f Mb IJ 3 Two Gaines Township schools host graduation ceremonies y f 7 Saturday, June 7, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com r » ■ c *< V <.• ur %- > ■’sd; tvV ■ { : < I '‘''0 i .<->0 If' j■ »(SU Some of the 621 East Kentwood students who graduated on May 22nd enjoy commencement ceremonies at Falcon Stadium. 3 ’r jk Jli l!:» Wh '*’b Mut n w l> '■ •■0. •le J ■ < . '*1; < James Gemmell Contributing Writer <*« W ■ It was a busy day for Gaines Township on May 22, with not just one, but two, commencement ceremo­ nies being held at local two high schools. East Kentwood High School and South Christian High School both held graduation events last Thurs day night, with South Christian holding its graduation indoors and East Kentwood being held outdoors. A total of 621 students graduated from EKHS at what district officials said was a “joyful and spirited” ceremony at Falcon Stadium. In an email, Kentwood Public Schools officials stated that “the cool spring air couldn’t dampen the excitement and pride that filled the stands.” According to school officials, about 8,000 friends and family members attended the ceremonies, along with members of the KPS Board of Education, ad­ ministrators, school leaders and Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley. “There will never be another class like 2025,” EKHS principal Omar Bakri told the crowd. Also speaking at the event were teacher Mike Gorkowski and students Sofia Daniel, Naijis Hussein and Silas Mitchell. “This remarkable group of graduates has been defined by their diversity, relentless work ethic, and a defining sense of kindness,” Bakri said. The excitement and pride were palpable at South 'Christian’s graduation ceremony, as well. It was held in the high school gymnasium due to concerns over the weather. “We celebrate the hard work, perseverance and accomplishments of these graduates, “ said principal Krista Wright during opening remarks to the Class of 2025, the 70th class to graduate in the school’s history. Keynote speaker Rebekah Wierenga, an English teacher, challenged students to thank those who have helped them along the way. “As you close this chapter of this life and look forward to whatever is next, I encourage you to ex­ press your gratitude to the people sitting in front of '^Zi3 14 < 'fit 4< ^1/ » ■--1 ' -"*1 'S«_. 4 i 11 Am 'TWSik ’’K ■' i It t Hl ■**^1 J . t Mb 1 4 t . I ■ ::?Tfenr''<l ; 47. Vx.-. PJIk. > A . , ' nc .Jui. J T ’ S V OU.J b 1 tlKz.. » } 1 , ■ 1*4 |r •J I i I A« r tf 1 • lix' : J •< < H .7’^9iikn 1 ■V 1 to e looiij. fftlb » ’’'■'I - 1*. .I «. '- ■'“W • t • < J * 1 J •‘■■I I 1• • »• I ^■'9. < ) ‘ { :U^Jxw 1 St^rl I I I / I 1 -I 1 «.4r S : I 1 I I -L, 1 I -i i I , .. 1 J I •«< •r r I 1 ' .w i?32J Jf : . > a i* I A «BS » ) .■ I I -■h:' f .r Jr l^nab ^uwWrth A '4 a r;T?r!?sa.i > 1 ilh;,ql<?ri *1. rtoVsV I 4*4 dA - WW II -i i-B I I lOi.;. hFrr;.^^•Jlq The South Christian Class of 2025 celebrates on graduation night, May 22, at South Christian High School. Courtesy photos you tonight - your parents, siblings, grandparents, teachers and fnends who have been such an instru­ mental part of your support network over the years,” Wierenga said. Next to speak was South Christian head of school Aaron Meckes. ‘‘All the papers written, the assignments completed. your concerts, your artwork, your athletic victories, including some championships,” he said. “They all display your many talents. After the ceremonies, event coordinator Christine Sall stated, “We wish the South Christian Class of 2025 God’s richest blessings in their future pursuits and endeavors,” Cal planners approve concrete crushing operation Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer The Caledonia Township Planning Commission has given the green light for an area business to crush concrete on-site for a limited amount of time each year. James Dykema ofGrand Rapids Gravel Company appeared in front of the Planning Commission dur­ ing its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday for a public hearing that would grant a special land use permit to the company, which operates a facility at 6633 Kon-Krete Drive in Caledonia. In total, Grand Rapids Gravel operates eight dif­ ferent locations in and around Grand Rapids. Dykema and his company were looking for per- •X Antenna Men A/ilerwio Men * *V J fit; ■ 2=u * mission to crush concrete no more than three weeks per year, and sell it wholesale. Crushing would be done by a third party and would be conducted for no more than 15 days. Crushed concrete can be used for a variety of applications including paths and driveways or act as a sub-base for other materials. The commission complied with the standards for granting permission to run an operation like this. Some ofthe biggest concerns that can arise for these operations are dust and noise. Caledonia Township Planner Lynee Wells briefed the commission on the project, pointing out that it is not located near residential areas. “People have said that crushing operations can be See CONCRETE on 4 MM 1 • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers "free • Cellular Enhancement Systems X Give us a call! ,dSunsS^ CELl(W) SIGN^ cj,Uf| 1 ne* J 4 269-967-8241 www.theantennamen.com antennamen@gmail.com • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation s 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today <* Use Spray Foam www.cellsignalpros.com d 4 i •'.V* * t I 1 I R^.1 I pl Fj J j It / I » ! J I 1 M .t !•« ■ 1 II * I 1G I t V* Ml V I : •i I I '.t ill ’ll J1 1 r 1* H a s I I * 90 J •i ft \ 0 I 1 �j.i yi Saturday, June 7, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS Obituaries * Ruth E. Geukes Ruth E. Geukes. a lifelong resident of Middleville, Ml, passed away peacefully on May 25. 2025. at the age of 90. Born on January 19,1935, she was the daughter of Chester and Eleanor (Smith) Geukes. Ruth graduated from Thornapple-Kellogg High School and immediately became an integral part of the local business community. She worked diligently at Geukes Market. Bradford White, and later found her calling as a respected insurance agent, where she helped many in her community find peace of mind through her guidance and expertise. Her dedication to service was matched only by her love for Middleville United Methodist Church, where she was a devoted member. Ruth’s faith was a cornerstone WWW sunandnews.com of her life, and she lived it with grace and compassion, inspiring those around her. A true outdoorswoman. Ruth found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She was an enthusiastic horse lover and an active member of the Diamond Trail Riding Club. Her passion for horses was only paralleled by her love for golfing, where she spent many sunny afternoons perfecting her swing. Ruth was an avid bowler, her laughter echoing through the alleys as she celebrated both strikes and the joy of the game with friends. LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Caledonia Vine Street Church 91** Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM wv/w.alaskabaptist.org 12kQ 66th Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am 250 Vine Street •.err corncLstoncmi.oi g wcekcncJ i fcr ’f - L ' ••Th 1 r J? Sunday Service 10:30 AM CHURCH k Good Shepherd ^WCATHOLIC HOLY FAMILY ’ Lutheran Church oc 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http:/1 goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com LIvestream; facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 9 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am CHURCH PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee THORNAPPLE VALLEY 6 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com •te- I ' « 5t 4* iHhcW f < « Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & II a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaiedonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church rv *-4 . 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 ’’Shining Forth God's Light MIDDLEVILLE Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am < * **w* ♦' ••«**/ CHURCH SERVICE TIMES: ill! Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. (269) 795-2391 MPEACE t* Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... f. 9t 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. jama L. Collison, Pastor www.yankccspringsbiblcchurch.org Is ♦ w. • TT’ r 4 1 — 1 '. k ■ t :t 1 M . _ 1: . »> 1 t I. > * 1 KU 7. I I J £ n t I - .a • I « ♦ Of' ti t •• 1 I 1 t ••I'*' > r 1 I I f Ht r f f 1 A *K I '' I’I ''.u ► H' «* w * f ii' I .... $ «* -5r< p if f Jr .V.' >( 1 T-’J ’< A « .4 ♦ » * ' *< * lU f ► I I L-I f r I i;, k . f* i? .4 . r I -S' 1 J J * kl / k 1 liS? ' ■ <3tt V Jllgiva*; 4 1' J t e>'- ■ ... \ S ■• 4^ I .... i .-rt? I >'A' * . A v‘ I I .k-- > r 't-' *• > 1 • ’. \ I i \ r .A •I 11 JOURNEY •>n ftf J 1 p»-v . ‘ T I •f V ‘r- i f 616-891 -8669 Sunday Worship Ill '4<’? • Ruth's kindness and warm­ hearted nature could also be seen through her years of driving the courtesy cart at the Barry County Fair a role she cherished as it allowed her to meet and help countless individuals Ruth was predeceased by her beloved parents, Chester and Eleanor, and her brother Donald K. Geukes. Her memory will be forever held in the hearts of those she leaves behind her sister-in-law. Janet Geukes; her niece. Jennifer, and her husband. Dan Myers; her nephew. Donald Jeffrey, and his wife. Sarah Geukes; and her treasured great-nieces and nephews, Nicholas, Taylor. Lauren Myers, Jack, and Emma Geukes. Each of them will carry forward the love and cherished memories that Ruth imparted throughout her life. Ruth’s family will receive friends on Friday. June 20. 2025 from 11 a.m. - noon at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home, where her memorial service will be held at noon. Pastor Ron Worley from Middleville United Methodist Church will officiate. Private burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Memorial contributions to Thornapple Emergency Services will be appreciated. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message tor Ruth’s family. I Nliddleville 8 1 A K. cornerstonechurch f’ ■ 1 » i *♦ * I s CONCRETE *I r’ Continued from Page 3 d loud but this is in an industrial area; there are not neighborhoods nearby,” she said. “The company said a third-party crusher would monitor noise and dust but there wasn’t a specific dust mitiga­ tion strategy other than the fact the site is wooded on about three sides where the crushing would occur,” Wells added. Wells saidthat the township’s engineer examined the plan and was slightly concerned about potential drainage is­ sues for the runoff associated with the operation in addition to the pH level of the run-off. Final approval is pending a review by the engineer and the commis­ sion also asked Dykema to provide more information about dust mitigation in his narrative to the township. Piles ofcrushed concrete are not to ex­ ceed 3 5 feet in height on the site, as wel 1. Dykema said that his company cur­ rently conducts crushing operations at three other locations- Muskegon, Grand Rapids and Grandville. “We have had approval at those three and zero complaints about the crushing operations and (Caledonia) was next on our list,” he said. I V k* V J ,. X •n A .1 . r iM ( ' •jit.-” sr ( I V a vvui 9^ ;'h - u liJLOW 8 vrT* * t aas ' * r 1 I > I -4 t t - s I j>5 V'‘r> • k F ■ }< t • r'l; • 1 • I' • 1 ; 1; c* r • ■' J • < r •.' - T I -I - . rii e« 1*' • t": * ■ - * 1 Jr T 1 I 3 I f r I i. t I 301 J *T * I i ii I I K J J Ir 15^ 6f ’ ‘ ■rr>> .\{5 ««£. '■tj ■-I bfi I e «• '•'! iWT: : h. J *, ♦ ♦< e> *mU •< c > 41 I F’ ,. , im ^luuOfc yx A ? J f 1 J » . r . J .. V » fl WB - <fi, t •• Mu \ ♦ J I t -• *• f ! 1 ■•.ri' V I fl t / i $ '7-. �I > I I J Y1 w • ft» * I 4 jin THE SUN AND NEWS WWW. SU nandnews. com i. 9 .1 t •r ^'1 1 5 Classifieds TSH Iw 7 L i T r 9^ f / fi V 5?^ •z V t F<<iuRC9 M * a* 4 B iS4 ' 47M ri L F * LS f A 7^ 2U I BUSINESS SERVICES ©’/t •T. 14 k 10 0 DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearing. Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. IS 5J A. *4 V * I K L S / * ife. r A HJ ’ A** vk Ww ft. , « • I • ft I •• I A. I i >• LI uw II • < r, wfnV/ grnl zit-qi 7 1.? *f M *I 44 f* •• '0 i • • t .•.i fI i « > I . ■» « J r * 4a 1 I t « ♦ r Ti 9* *s a -Ml ft # t 'Tr.. '4 -1 •I I n « i' I, V I i '«»(sj 1.1,; « > * ■Jmi is..] ‘a»^v ' '4 . ***t»A*r < »i » u... '“Wf * f J r V I 4 .'m’-Z u Uu t-iTA J r . n «jri» ’ 'T' 1 I *ifra 4^ *T k I I ?RlSHW« » t' I - »IT(« ' *« t,i Iffitc f ’.^■i t*‘ */ h ,• t SiBtsteoJisr.1’I . ( * ’ f I 'Sfto'WjiiL-t iff-' I. A.. wwiwr I ' t 1 I "J I,. I toai'jlBtti;?- n -'J" r i *■ c tn t V• t t.<i r f r J * [Qin^ I I tVJ f 1I •1 I ,3^ e r—, .' k J »» ft-^ 4 >aK-. The Diemer 5K Run starts and ends in front of Legacy Christian School in Cutlerville. Courtesy photo Contributing Writer ■ iL •'W- James Gemmell $ t 44» i■ •> ► 4I. ft 1< / 5 Brian Diemer Family of Races to run in Cutlerville on June 14 I ft Saturday, June 7, 2025 Aprizepurseof$7,7(X)willbedivided among the winners Saturday, June 14, at the Brian Diemer Family of Races in Cutlerville. The 35th annual event is named after Brian Diemer, the former South Christian High School and University of Michigan star who won the bronze medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He also competed in the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics. The Diemer 5K Run began in 1990 in Wyoming, Mich., before moving to Cutlerville in 2000. The start and finish lines are in front of Legacy Christian School, 67 68th St. SW, in Byron Township. That is just west of Division Avenue. The races will head east on 68th Street to Union Av­ enue in Gaines Township, and then wind south through a residential neighbor­ hood before re-emerging on 68th Street at Union Avenue. The participants will then head back west to the finish line. About 700 people usually compete in the various races each year. A 5K Handcycle race and a My Team Triumph race will kick things off at 8:28 a.m. The main 5K run and walk will go off at 8:30 a.m., with a Virtual 5K sched­ uled to begin at 10 a.m. and the Kid’s Run and Junior Jog starting at 10:15 a.m. at the soccer field behind the school. There will be different distances, based on the age of the children competing. The steeple jumps are optional. Diemer will be running in the 5K. As always, if you beat his run time you get a free doughnut. Six bands will be performing along- for first place. In the Handcycle Women/ “Live bands playing and getting ev­ Men’s Open, first place will be good for erybody excited and pumped up to run a $300 prize, second place earns $200, their best race,” Diemer said. “Every and third place $100. band has their own special forte, but Packet pickup for the event will be at I would say it’s everything from light Legacy Christian School, 67 68th Street, (blues) rock to hard rock. And we also just west of Division Avenue. It will go have a drumline again this year.” from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on June 13, and As mentioned, the Automasters on race day from 7 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Junior Jog will be on the soccer fields Age group awards will be given to behind Legacy Christian. the top four finishers in each age group. “It’s on the grass,” Diemer said. “It’s a A portion of the event’s proceeds will safe place to run. And we throw up some go to some local charities. The Brian hay bales and some (wading) pools. So, Diemer Family of Races is a nonprofit we develop a little steeplechase course. 501(c)(3) organization. And it is so much fun watching the kids More information is available at dijump and navigate the pools and the hay emerrun.com. bales, and just to see the smiles on their faces when they get their (free) goodie bags at the end ofthe run. It’s just a lot of fun.” For the main events, race organizers said the e prize money will be allocated based on the w JOHN FOGERTY starting gun time, not 4* THE CELEBRATION TOUR the chip time. i • THURSDAY, JULY 17 The prize amount rj i t for first place in the Iw women’s and men’s /■ • A A » open is $550, with sec & ond place earning $400, third place $300, and then lesser amounts for the other Top 10 finishers. In the Mas­ EARTH, WIND & FIRE SAM HUNT ters Women and Men’s FRIDAY, AUGUST 1 FRIDAY, AUGUSTS events for ±ose 40 and Tickets available now at the FireKeepers Box Office older, there are prizes or FireKeepersCasino.com. for the Top 5 finishers. GET YOUR vi iFON FIREKEEPERS The winners will re­ ceive $450. The Grand 1-94 to Exit 104 I 11177 Michigan Avenue I Battle Creek. Ml 49014 Masters Women/Men’s NOTHIN’ BUT GOOD TIME ra 4 ' » < 9 IT 1 CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 TREE SERVICE BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy sin­ gle walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-818’7793. COMMERCIAL-RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rapids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)2049792 margopenc@remax.net AUCTIONS THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS at Caledonia A-1 Affordable Storage will be sold at ON-LINE Public Auction to the highest bid­ der via M37 Auction.com whose business address is 9790 Cherry Valley Ave SE, Caledonia Ml 49316. ON-LINE auction to take place as follows: Pre-Bidding/Viewing begins June 19 and auction close date of June 24, 2025 for this auction in order to satisfy storage liens outstanding as of sale date. Items are pertaining to the follow­ ing units and are all miscellaneous general household & garage type items: Terri J Scheltema #96 and Matthew Kamradt #58. FARM, YARD & LIVE STOCK 1st CROP HAY: $3 per bale. 517276-0347. 1st CROP HAY: $3 per bale. 517276-0347. TW CASINO • HOTEL BATTII COftK Must be 21 or older. Tickets based on availability. Schedule subject to change. GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM �4 brC*. 6 7, 2025 Saturday, June THE SUN ANO NEWS www.sunandnews.oom I .«^mi 7'^7’ I I Mav ^im w 7 9 A r IK fr<- » I J I 3^' k' t t 4 4. >* 7 J ,*1 'n’li I H44V AfMV twav Aibn S«Ar^:fw J Mamano EUiw TviBiar B*cir iJb***w ... U^k4. «Ji' s. *49fib^ F.»<> k A funmgmOa'^Aorm am r t / 4r r\ .^' t J I f * « < I C' hjfwi riMwr ^ir» (^ir»<a htwTic^fll r^jntu II FW n HurtK^ fain f liirtovar* Matffh*' ftwn BHBBB r»' I* J» {)' ' «- Atrij?.!* Eixi/rKMid A A I I I a L La^«n r iwvtii r»,»y^ fXj , r r;ft4^114- c '***n>/^ ' OwmuvTW k A . 9 *■ i UmtCWxmm q Cmra C>yttKM^.< Chartottv CMom CtauteCflMa w I’ e fi i I c > 4 BmnwGibfion r )3)yn0rvfTm Oean I H •/bn# J H r M Harrfy anxaiyn Harman A tc^ > Mannion Cflhon Hamu f > k •5* P J V •ukroy Howta •reiI1 A. ’ 1 I Tim Haman I t I « s -. ‘t 4 k a sjd^ I t..’ kJ r 4* L-j » * t -L- r. .1 Ml I ! a A Conner K«“nntMy f h ■ • f <r > I •.' k J tv r,i* '>:ej f f. \ F Cl'/«'.• ’ «♦: c"" A n** S^^tfTTIC^ or L*1‘ r fiU"- c \ -TTitX'n If : t ? L larr<ilan I Ua(^ Tyk/ UMl a > RI n 1 Brady lawi rnngLa « 9 . r t * Uty MCMown tMCOs McNabnoy Grayton Meaney Matby^ Meneroud <T.. Zachary Marva l^a Monroe Sro^oy Moermon k 1 Abbt^a Morfan < ■ r ... . ij n■a^^»' fc. _ f «« Maigoi iota Musjrynsla J r r 4 ’>• ot. a H □vicai^Maiar 4 .JF. IX * •l .J Hrctmiomha ri •••• kJ fr Fai f kJ .»r OominK McDonald BjOBBrnm J I ^*‘’r FT*ww« 4K; ' V W. I r Kal^T^Mn i L I tJ f ' ‘1 Vat^pn Oykura b fcmmaOavkM J ' 4*» • r II 'I 1 ft- 4 f r- f .-'r* Thor nappie-Kellogg HS Class of 2025 'lr< b 1 McKmue hutJi OlMsNdffI*'"' >r .y** ** —awti Woman kd k .'4a« / «k »* * I.*a ’t 1 •I Tf.<vr. Randolph r Wraith rchtcMf 7r*y ktf»i A f* f- I', if • 4- 1 » '. /,. ry n »• • AnA P .. .. F^ '! ,ruf Prrz Kr.T.rtr- f- My- A w ■!ir a . '■Sr S . 1*1 a** « f w trkMSOMMlV mMkScbWrat F lyQM Sctiiohroai Beniamin Scon javnet Scaben Rylec* Seguin Cote Shellenbor^ HotenSend kd ■ fl !.> 1 L DEXl Iordan Srrnpson .X rf. > * or n I s. j c 1 Mn Skidmore « Trovton r J: ^r r A e Bcyter SAowmm *ee t V 1 I 4' Gabnena>vam ka e. j'di 1 Gory SMet k a t n1 I 4 am �r —- aw sr THE SUN AND NEWS w.sunandnews.com • < Saturday, Juno 7, 2025 1 1 &A « 5 • ** yiUfw rk-par I ha • < a I I i :Z V *; *•* r " , «' J ■•'s* 4^ ' r 0» • .. •F v .v» i, *n vF- < 1. .4 « I I \ • /• A r ** 7 I x - >t T -e< i • I... I b r .XK V* . A* «• ft , - •r •> u* . < i#L •?? ’>•1^ .. o, ■■WMJC<a»A4 • *'.to: k •«« A I -fe » 1 r .". k *'. t : /» 1 MF Financial Advisor 421 W. Wi Hawn Hastings. Mt 49056 Italian 4 269*945-3553 k' h 1^ 1 1 • I m I Mvirew R. Cove, cfp. aams I . ■Rr ■■Mb Logdn BfOvvn QOvid BoucruKd I A •4 .. b Edwardjones M^dy^yn 0/ya/i Jdyce Brununel Kayto •s > I a r h H 1*1 MAKINO SSNSC OF iNVeSTlNO 117 W. MAIN Ph 795-7OBB Fax7»5>ie77 * & S-\ . pA i". k*^ a 25 1 1 J N«ili<CuMr 4. s t ak A « I I f KaKSyn CuHon lacobCrvwMT AMtCr«w> flwfsr MIDOLEVILU. Ml i£vrurs r e *» • Bam«> Tjnnvr Buxton k A A r ' Mf r 1 •g ♦ ♦ ak 1 f a Tanah Oanb Jayee Curtis Benjamin Davidson Skytyr Davts Ounn )acob Davis Maletiyha Oav^dson k A / Middleville * 269-795-3550 500 Arlington St. Caledonia < 616-891-3550 9820 Cherry Valley Rd. 914 W. Main Street Middleville I tx W Mka COMPUTE AUTO OEPAIR ^eefer-^ores neraOQme Phone (269) 795-3694 t r Sophia Euerman 't -Ik. I Ailison Fazio k ( s I onnor Dombkowski k A kJ k < 2[^0 'Of A F kA li .■■ I!1 I I I I . Mont Feldmann Marco Fontana 1 k kJ 1 f^n FrUzeR Mason Ffcndi Aiden Foy Owen Forbes P Roy GenthCf k A e A 1 !1 > >k y •» <»< .1.1’ t M ,7 /i XCb^^mt I A' B7-J?S w r cy a ' 'Christian Hayes Nicolas Hervas tereu AddHun Hensiey k A Kaymn Hiemstfa Kyloc Hoebeke Claire Holmes Addyson Hoffman k a Evan Johnson k a A Logan Johnson Jo’niQue Johnson k J k J RoW?rt (ones 'W ' / Aflana Leos 110 Johnson St• / Caledonia k » r an Uu Nathan Linebaugh Ca^Ua Long p p Chiara Marques Autumn Mahler k Novall McOmid Uiy Mascho Connor Martin k a .4^ SEPTIC SERVICE I Joe Lyons & John Curtis, AT I «w Owner/Operators f r 3305 West Quimby Road, Hastings, Ml 49058 I 269.945.4240 Wk» * r Kameron Nichofs Cole Novak i 5 Lea Ogle Marissa Orr r < y t f i r jordan Rowley Austin Palmbos i t 9 -I 15? Esmeralda Salaya-Quiror Ayden Samc^ ■ p I Michael Smit ■ /'.-L p Alyssa Spurgeon Bo Snyder FRONTIER n I Caden Strait I. 1 Call Frontier Now! 616-891-8900 Caleb Summerhays Madelynn Strimback Garett Swift Zander Tagle Valerie Tamez highpoint mkpCPA f-' 500 Edward St.. P.O. Box 277 J ® V I I .4 i** . -» rr^ An * 1 r*> 'r a L’.^'r:'. •%*! MB A’V' I T Mhwiciinga T SjpehearVbema J hl Snk* Gpi 1-888-422-2280 highDointCQmmunitYbank.com Member FDIC fi*akiaa 6«alu# Iphpuarci ■Phpt«8r99<W l/V* J. .t (k Tr. t .. .ftaMBv' ....^ •» / I I > I I r il‘ i 1 i I » i ■! I *A HI . 'I J.i iI I I l1 u I I 4 4 ( 4 h \ a I JTt^.-Sr7?.^^ narttw ■^. 4 R**,- . >« .'IC- • irWCW r>Knday Rd. U'd(0ev.1td Ml 49333 Gm Lake .^'ea 269.205.2042 COMMUNITY BANK •.*a cspizzamiddleviile.com V p k k^ k ',3i f Hannah Starr DINE IN & TAKE-QU.T •X• '.4V A. Cy EATING 8 C00UN6 Jenna SarJIen k J .w- « e J ’ k A Kte 3? 4 Nathan Startn Ana Santos <FnS A ’tex ? •y Wakeheld Sandborn J & f-A. A .1 s. ;1 Vldeta Sanchez k I 9800 Cheny Valley, Caledonia f I ♦ I * * k'9 * * kV k J A »•■**- !► Phone: 616<891-0050 k ) « J' > k/ 5P•» Skag Mowers Husqvarna Outdoor Products 210 E. Main St., Caledonia / ■ < k A I Mkhael Sager>Wissner Isaac Ruth CALEDONIA RENT ALL JennKcr Rofnircz-Ramlrcz F< •JP (Run Andres RuU V Kykin Pran I k i Kyle PuniU J i Fl Marla Osa Ternandczr-Valdes k A k d ' xr Farm8iireaulnsurance.com w kJ I jparks@fbinsmi.com a 4 ) JidcLenu 9028 N. Rodgers Ct. S.E., Caledonia Vf 'B p Jason Parks 616-891-1233 k a *ja < 616-891-0150 r ^3ii^aky esftaeB I * T e\ *4 T T si *Ji s.kjnab«iiuiei T ?,A nHKM v'lLv ^Ir FMM BUHEAL Mat. W8UMNCE* Middleville. Ml 49333-0277 PH; 269.795.7927 wwwjnkpcpaxom �Saturday, JuQB 7, 2025 8 THE SUN AND NEWS WWW sunandrwwBjOom ? A ^■3 w I *5 T- SiK ic: 3f- *~ •**^' r t r •< .A •m *•*^5 i**-* * V * * *4« •,A a*-.: Vba** ^‘A ^*2 1 :*t- I I >■ l> PTt ^4^ • •! rv !>; I K I . 17-. I J I* s ,O \' A li ii lilH I 9 \<< s». 1^. I j 41 V I 1 y !• r I •^*Sr a* > * £A* I* !•’ •iF'. * •< i I ^l| r «X r • h « i s. !n af*. i J r :'■ oUl 4 •A Xia * > > V •v • '’J I •«« •A- < &> w >T I ** J «J i X V ■X’:? -I y .*!1 V t ( ?> if V A» 1^ ■ 4L * >tS > II M / r ? « Ki^M r > i* A. .-i- ir t \ ,-W ' "***■ v J I U r ’^- ik>J < >s «> CT J & V .*<• S y ?7~. ■■ iJZ •1U / •v £ ?? 4 f T-‘ 9 I 1 aL?L I 3. a « f fR I’ lAa 4 1« » r jr jI* > I a L I L .jX" I * *? < 9 :r 5( / > A J f t'W •>? < u i 4 \ * • - < * / ' f z<*‘ » .5 I XT r ■ * A S^-: k’^ >• 4ti" Vv 1 Jk w f '. r.. rf i9 c* rj^ 9^ « . I JL___ i I. / ■ ' -'y'' *^* 9y >■ f > .2.;» s’ a SL- s) cv z .X '< *4 r eI > 1 < ?• >. s c A J ) r: < o w t J. .wn,.. '*• t I J V. * t f J t ** w MjllM •rt f ' 5 ►. 7f1 J" V .• 4 r: > 1 4* I •t *f f A > > I r > s A • ^7- if t V ji?<. r f >.* rJ ! f r :4 V Sb^ V .’t* ffi-. 4 ,r • 4 i •* r «X* 0 ' p '4^1 » z^a.r?ao ’’W^Pr, V L4 *e '•fc lit r /• >* In r 1^ J •l * 1 • I. •i S I 1 » a 1 V ill I I 1 J J • f lis t I 9 I »•. {< 't, } ■ ! I I II • f n I r (i> < r p * I < i t 9 I I f �* ^nbnBnua.wwv; 'a 1 www.sunandnews.com THE SUN AND NEWS Saturday, June 7. 2025 >«r I Tn IT I ! CAlEOONiA PACKING LLC I usm ondCusiom tluetforium COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR Middleville • 269-795-3550 500 Arlington St. Caledonia • 616-891-3550 9820 Cherry Valley Rd. Corner of 92nd & East Paris (616)891-8447 www.CaledoniaPacking.com I TIRES2000.NET I cerengA C E I w 9 F 4 0 BE *» Phone: 616-891-5750 Caledonia D&W Center CALEDONIA FARMERS ELEVATOR From your Caledonia Farmers Elevator Family 146 E. Main, Caledonia (616) 891-8108 www.cfeco.com MULLERS P/^NT S DESIGN CO. . . _ ^_k .. Hours: 12pm-8pm Tues.-Sat. 12pm-4pm Sun. 9175 Cherry Valley Ave SE, Caledonia 616.710.0796 Phone: 616-891-9171 227 E. Main St., Caledonia 616-891-0150 110 Johnson St Caledonia ♦/ BODY SHOP FRONTIER HEATING 8 COOLING 210 E. Main St., Caledonia CALEDONIA RENT ALL Skag Mowers Husqvarna Outdoor Products Phone: Call Frontier Now! 616-891-0050 616-891-8900 9800 Cherry Valley Caledonia woodLm^ highpoint Cmds! COMMUNITY BANK 4 1-888-422-2280 hiqhpointcommunitybank.com ArE3 Chamber of Commerce Member FDIC I l. 4 y X I TS-:J 9 �•r- * 'c / M e I I a 10 Saturday, June 7, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 9 hi>‘ 1 & h >9' .r ' < r 1 t I I wI 4 X J J •* r .j • F 4 iiy B ) j k' I ■ i , High school North campus •■* *• k .* «‘®‘'®slhools I A k ■a I .<■ 1 I 9050 < I < *1”'^^ J'”*' A®'- J 3, 4 < t*. w Senior Abu Shukur receives his diploma. Photo by Taylor Walter i .a >>'i .« * .•Sr * * Ml MM X ■ rj 1 u . fe[*: u r- ifek e4 Your local agent insures your 12 J ♦ '.k * 4 I / ■ > Businfliss Mi;- F4flM BUREAU INSURANCE* i&lu. ftteuf*o/teA -■Y DeWeerd fes) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING. INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 t i ®#& LENNOX « d I 'I •f r• r I. % i f I I A* k <7 1 jiV I ..Ti , I -r'. «*> Nk k Wells said. “This was for the wall sign and we gave them an additional 67 square feet for that wall sign.” Wells said that two standards must be considered to allow the special land use: whether the sign is justified based i on the nature, size, location and density ofthe development and safety - whether it would cause traffic or safety hazards. Wells pointed out that the area does not feature sign clutter and therefore a smaller sign would be visible. She also brought up the potential for the sign to block the visibility for people crossing the mid-block on Kraft. The applicant did submit an email to me after reading the report and ques­ tions saying they did analyze the sign placement and the view that a driver I would have ofthe pathway and they did state that they still wanted a white sign and not a dark background. I let them know our ordinance does not allow a deviation from that.” Tom Kaywood of the engineering firm TowerPinkster has been working with the district on the sign package. He was the only one to speak during the public hearing. He said that the I large nature of the sign was to facilitate both brands - Caledonia Community Schools and the YMCA. He said that he wu was bound by some national standards set in place by the YMCA organization. Following the hearing, planners agreed to table the matter, directing the applicant to explore sign options of a g smaller size. S -3! s J A+ 5 BBB. ACCREDITED BUSINESS Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville •-M'l 9^ 1 J 11 *A •'i I I. A • li> J* . * , f I' -ft fl’ 1 Ik V'' f - I 1 l'\ J rA' J I I.. ■ al ) I* i 1 (269) 795-8827 jparks@fbinsmi.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com --fj. f « ' kl ? s. isr- - I I t f . ‘ •r*,s , , i t J 1 _ 4-ii: =/r-'Sl?3!5h .AJ . I I I r vU r VI '. J 1 (• . I >• 1 9 r• ? 4 ^5e“ - *• 1 J .At-- r A 4^I he tZ J A * I ,J I (»• i r J V! ; _* ■' h — 4 Iff k A I > ^’U¥iav :i -•ira .1'^ <C k I ^•s* « " * 0 r < ;> t i W 5 ♦ 1^1 4^ 'f b :^r Aw t/x 'j 7t’ b i b# W4 Q / 40*^ . i '♦ : Hid ? J A’ 3 2 • i FwIMm . p- A t 1 •Jj. w xw 9Bmr. I w t mW 4 •Jl ' A r $. I • A •W- ^■ -1£WW*.1 4'^.1 J JI * J I S k * •I A- I »* K»<1 BLi; ib .4-r .ar L» ’K5. ’• «. « t *■ i r { I 4 ' I ' •■ J 1.., ! i r A I t 1 J J® iGSF h: ' r I I I JI I t I .Since N55 a P ‘fir > l' « “W i. .-A >’■I 1 n W.-‘ * / 1 IK •X •- ' I t k r r r -t’ h'oy'”' tt r, I • w* J r 1 I cated. The sign also would not comply with a requirement that states signs must have a dark background. Caledonia Schools has been install­ ing new, branded signs at several of its school buildings and facilities already, and they were looking to keep the sign for the community center in line with the others. Their plan for the community center is a sign that would be seven feet and two inches tall with a total area of 70 square feet. The ordinance allows for signs that are 32 square feet in size and 14 inches shorter than what was proposed. “Back in 2023 when we approved this project (the community center) they also asked for additional signage,” •r R I •tT' Continued from Page 2 ? c- > fl! ISO Operations/Transportation SIGN A Residential & Commercial Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers * I n ij 1 I «■ >« A Caledonia Community Schools has been installing uniform signs featuring set colors and branding throughout the district. They want to bring a similar sign to the Cal Community Center but will need a special land use permit to construct one that fits their height and size needs. Photo by Jayson Bussa someone’s life,” Wierzbicki con­ tinued. “Each and every one of you holds a unique place in this world and are here for a reason. Follow your aspirations and be who you want to be and promise yourself that you are intentional with every step you take.” ■ ■■ ' J 1 I ** 1 4 WE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS '<• » s 8948 Administration ♦**> ■‘ * I i I \ being a kind human in this world is most important. Simply smiling as you pass someone in the hall­ way from south campus or holding the door open as we enter school, truly can make a difference in 4 J » 1 I Continued from Page 1 : I Ai I. * .??'<• .' li s J GRADUATING I <1 1 * >■ j 8950 1I r I I I hw. Emmons Lake Elementary K 4 ■< -k i b 3^' ‘> 4 IJ i I f > f •J 1 z 4 �k . M ■1 4 r f J '-4S! i J - , I I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com - Saturday, June 7, 2025 11 1 TK ladies school’s fastest ever at Division 1 State Finals » ; IA'^IJ IC BlVf I ■-.sa ;-rWlK‘ f. J Brett Bremer Sports Editor One state medal. Two school records. Four girls with a day they won’t ever forget. Senior Brooklyn Harmon is Thor­ napple Kellogg’s first-ever Division 1 state medalist. She placed seventh in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles; broke her own school record in the 100-meter hurdles twice; and then teamed with juniors Mia Hilton and Payton Gater and freshman Amya Gater to set a new TK record in the 4x400-meter relay Saturday at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Track and Field Finals inside East Kentwood’s Falcon Stadium. It was pretty cool,” Harmon said of becoming TK’s first DI state medalist. “I was hoping to get a medal in the 100 hurdles too, but I am still happy with the PR I ran considering 1 wasn’t even breaking 15 two weeks ago. So, I guess it is okay.” The competition pushed her in that race and in the 300 hurdles. 1 had like this weird sense of calmness, and I think it was from praying about it so much and just trusting my­ self,” Harmon said. “I know I can do it, but being DI is a different mindset. I haven’t ever run with any of these girls. I felt a little weak in the curve and I think that is what got me not to be a PR.” Hannon hit the 300 hurdles’ finish line in 45.32 seconds, her second fast­ est time in the race ever and just about half a second off the school-record time > :a i ’ H 1/ * I '•-cm4 S; wio rir I J 4 £ £ if -x! r f * .J J- t . I k I li* bu- r -I I 1 [ >“n « I! 1 X i .‘7 I 9 *. f t :> f '* 11; I ' 'Hr t *r. » I i * r J J: 1 f I •* f b k 4 ’I I f k \ 1 4 I I ? .■*.1 66 *i 1 s 4 rj r* ) f I . * ' .1 -■< § jlfcL ? V « A .12^' Av ft Jt . ' I I 'u . ;n5 1 7 »• « t < fA J.. r 1 r .. » ')t u I I III *•^1 J .1 I >5K u 4 u * • If rM 1 ;on I r A I J J' *'*r Ki >4.. '’’ L 'A Ip tl f- nn I I 9 I tl I - 'u . li X 1 L I ' ' -T: ui •t 1 Ifir V <14-. p I 1 I t • r I I f JI s / 1 6 nrl n» I 1 ‘A ■ 9 Z J ■IK '1.1 • < ■< ■’ ti Tl * HI* [^1 Ss 3 J •**- - I .V «' jiir 5^ •c* K. , » *.4 t w-lF W i it’ * r » f* ^•4 Wb ':- «’ ■» 4 > 1 J II ' 4 A* *4-r> I* V W a r I * t.. -A ■X ' w *•1 > f 'W- I'S > Wfl u, o I3t A* <J 3 7- s 1 * » f h ( •t V !. $ *S!1< ii ? r J A i r 1 ' k. I « < r ‘5 , X. r -L- Ti ( I ► < a 4. w* •• /! «I • « :4«iH K. .\F. - **• , / I OT»f•-*'"' ’ k • •J' ■■'"w A a r Bp 4 it' « Thornapple Kellogg 4x400-meter relay teammates (from left) Payton Gater, Brooklyn Harmon alternate Ellie Harmon, Mia Hilton and Amya Gater collected their breath, loosen their spikes and discus their school-record run at the MHSAA Division 1 Track and Field Finals Saturday at East Kentwood High School. Photos by Brett Bremer A » 9 ♦- fcll» >o 4 r; 11^^ KENTWOOD Me >v GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM Yankee Springs Township 204 N. BRIGGS ROAD- MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN 49333 269-795-9091 / FAX 269-795-2388 YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN f NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE TO:THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on May 8, 2025 the Township Board of Yankee Springs Township adopted Ordi­ nance No.05-08-2025 rezoning certain properties in Section 30 of die Township. The ordinance is effective on the Sth day after publication of this summary. ORDINANCE NO. _05-08-2025 ORDINANCE REZONING CERTAIN PROPERTY IN SECTION 30 OF THE TOWNSHIP SECTION 1. Rezoning of Certain Property located in Section 30. The Common Elements and 20 units located in the Whispering Pines Condominium Subdivision, are legally described and rezoned from the existing Resort and Recreation District classification to the Gun Lake Residential Lakefront District classification. The Township’s zoning map is amended to reflect the rezoning. SECTION 1 ■ Rezoning of Certain Property located in Section 30. The property located on 2741 Russel Dr., Parcel Nos. 16-030-003-10-01), are legally described and rezoned from the existing Resort and Recreation District classi­ fication to the Gun Lake Residential Lakefront District classification. The Township’s zoning map is amended to reflect the rezoning. SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY. The various provisions of the ordinance are severable from each other. SECTION 4, REPEAL. Repeals conflicting ordinances or portions of ordinances. SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. The Ordinance is effective on the Sth day following publication after adoption. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the full text of the Ordinance has been posted in the Office of th^ Yankee Springs Township Clerk at the address set forth below; on the Yankee Springs Township website at www.yankeespringstwp.org and that a copy of the Ordinance may be purchased or inspected at the office of the Yankee Springs Township Clerk during regular office hours or by appointment. Tom Hopkins, Clerk Yankee Springs Township 284 N. Briggs Road, Middleville, MI 49333 269-795-9091 yankeespringstwp.org » I H I LI It I t I 4 I ♦ 1 s h n J J I 1. \ I 4 kentwc Thornapple Kellogg senior Brooklyn Harmon rounds the turn n the 300-meter low hurdles Saturday inside East Kentwood's Falcon Stadium during the MHSAA L.P. Division 1 Track and Field Finals. Harmon placed seventh in the race to earn a spot on the state medal stand. I ‘i <• Ac M 11 I 9 rm I .<♦ .'H ! vab *. . k.xjftte- •> • * I I •-V / * I I ' ■'V ¥ •_ la k * I -a**' ' 3 66 66 > ■ t. 1 I f • < I * •V. <10 ri J •1 1.'. she set in winning a regional champi­ onship two weeks ago. She has plans to be a part of the Grand Valley State University Women’s Track and Field program next season. The Trojans had a couple near misses at the medal stand at the finals. The top eight in each event earn medals. In an earlier heat of the 300 hurdles Hilton dropped her personal record in the race to 45.66 to place ninth - just 14 hundredths of a second behind the last of the state medalists. “I was so excited that 1 PR’d at first,” Hilton said. “In my head, I was like okay you probably just got like 12th or something then coach told me I got ninth or something and I started crying. It was so close. After learning her place, Hilton said she spent some time sitting alone, upset just thinking “this is not real.” My dad came over and he was like he was like, you PR’d why are you sad. I was like, because I don’t get to go on the podium. My sister was telling me, just be proud of the PR. Next year, I want to come back and 1 want to get top eight so bad, so I am actually glad that I got ninth because it puts a fire under my butt to get top eight next year.” Hilton was a two-time state medalist in the 300 hurdles in Division 2, plac­ ing eighth at the end of her freshmen and sophomores seasons at the finals. Harmon had a ninth-place finish of her own in the 100-meter hurdles to open the day Saturday. The TK record holder in that race too, Harmon imSee FINALS on 12 �'w 12 Saturday, June 7, 2025 VILLAGE OE MIDDLEVILLE BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN notice: OE ADOPTION OE VILLAGE ordinance; AND SUMMARY OE THE; REGULATORY EEEEf T TEIEREOE PUBLIC NOnci, IS III.RI.BY GIVI-N that on May 27. 2025, the Village Council of the Village of Middleville adopted Ordinance No. 2142 (the “(Ordinance"), amending Sec­ tion 78.04 thereof, the Village Zoning Map, to rczone the following described lands within the Village. The principal provisions of the amending ordinance are as follows: Section 1. Rezoning of Lands. Section I of the Ordinance rezones a parcel commonly referred to as 313 Arlington Street (Parcel No. 41-022-442-00) from the R-l Low Density Single-Family to Highway Commercial (C-2) District. Section 2, Severability. Section 2 of the Ordinance provides for the severability of the Ordinance in the event a portion of the Ordi­ nance is determined to be unenforceable. Section 3. Effective Date. The amending ordinance will become effective on June 14, 2025. A copy of the ordinance may be examined or purchased at the offices of the Middleville Village Clerk, 100 East Main Street, Mid­ dleville, Michigan, during Village office hours. Dated: June 7, 2025 VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF VILLAGE ORDINANCE AND SUMMARY OF THE REGULATORY EFFECT THEREOF PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 27, 2025, the Village Council of the Village of Middleville adopted Ordinance No. 2141 (the “Ordi­ nance"), amending Section 38-36 of Chapter 38 of the Village of Middleville Code of Ordinances (the “Code"). Section I. Amendment of Section 38-36 of Chap­ ter 38. Section I of the Ordinance amends Section 3836 of Chapter 38 of the Code to prohibit possession or custody of, or consumption in any village park or on village-owned property of any alcoholic liquor except as so otherwise provided in the Ordinance including within a Social District created pursuant to the Mich­ igan Liquor Control Code. Section 2. Severability. Section 2 of the Ordinance provides for the severability of the Ordinance in the event a portion of the Ordinance is determined to be unenforceable. Section 3. Repeal. All ordinances or parts of ordi­ nances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict. Section 4. Publication; Effective Date. The amending ordinance will become effective on June 7, 2025. A copy of the ordinance may be examined or pur­ chased at the offices of the Middleville Village Clerk, ♦ « 100 East Main Street, Middleville, Michigan, during Village office hours. Dated: June 7,2025 VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE THE SUN AND NEWS PUBLIC NOTICE GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS May 12, 2025 The Gaines Charter Township Board held a regular meeting on Monday. May 12, 2025, and took the following actions. t Reviewed the Consent Agenda. 2 Approved the Meeting Agenda 3. Discussed the possibility of donated land for a park 4. Approved the planning and zoning fee schedule as present­ ed effective June 1, 2025. 5. Accepted the termination of the Fire and Rescue Service Agreement with Byron Township on September 22. 2025. 6. Accepted the presented contract for Gaines Charter Township Fire Department phys­ icals using Professional Health Services, Inc. 7. Accepted the three-year contract for EMS training from BDI, Inc. 8. Approved the bid from H&K Landscaping, Inc for $10,155.00 to clean up and hydroseed the west new section of Blain Cem­ etery. 9. Acknowledged the Parks and Trails Committee support of development of a department of Parks and Grounds / Public Works. 10. Paid in full the Emmons Lake Drain Assessment. 11. Approved the Crystal Springs fireworks application. 12. Approved the special event liquor license for the Hearts and Hooves fundraiser on September 20, 2025. 13. Approved the road closure request for the Little Firecracker parade. 14. Discussed and revised the vision and mission statements. 15. Adjourned the meeting at 8:14 p.m. A complete copy of the min­ utes of these meetings and any resolutions or ordinances adopt­ ed at the meeting are on file and avail­ able for review at the Gaines Charter Township office, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Michi­ gan 49316. Ordinances, meeting schedules, meeting minutes, and other Township information are also available at www.gainestownship.org. Michael Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk Visit us online at mibomepaper.com WWW. SU nandnews. com Lowell gets late run to knock off CHS softball Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor Lowell got the go-ahead run in the bot­ tom of the sixth inning and then put down the Scots 1 -2-3 in the seventh to win their MHSAA Division 1 District Semifinal 4-3 at Wyoming High School Saturday. Jordan Velzen led off the bottom of the sixth with a single for the Red Arrows, advanced to third on a couple of ground balls and then scored what proved to be the winning run on a Caledonia error. All four of the Red Arrows’ runs against the Caledonia varsity softball team were unearned. Caledonia senior pitcher Molly Lieske gave up seven hits in six innings and didn’t walk a batter. She struck out two. The Caledonia offense outhit the Red Arrows 10-7, but the defense let the Scots 4* < z ( . 4!^ J** I ' '1 > I I I down with seven errors. Lowell took a 3-0 lead in the ballgame w ith two runs in the first inning and a third in the second. The Scots answered with three runs in the top of the third inning. Lieske got that CHS scoring rally start­ ed with a one-out double. Malia Burke was hit by a pitch to put two on with tw o out. Claire Hoop blasted an RBI double and then Sophia Gauthier followed with a two-run single into right for the Scots. Lieske was 3-for-4 at the plate with the one run scored. Hoop and Gautier were both 2-for-3. Maddison Boucher had a single and Addy Lash a double for the Scots too. Byron Center ended Lowell’s season with a 6-4 win in the district final in Wyoming Saturday. ■>: * I tl * J r A’5 r !I F i: 9 I r F * .•’Sy < .*1 L ! r I • V I ' f ci-" r r O' 1.1 Wi' I t I t s Z rii.^ "J Ir J k I » ' » * A* X r ri' < t . h t 1 > V 3 *4 >4 s 1 . I .ri'' /• V I! 9 - 1 . ' 4 *1 p ir ' I ft’’ 9 ■ I 3 iff* r I tr 1» i I « * . i ✓ •••^ k V a u ’-r V .4^ A ' I » « \ .1 I f \ s ,1 i 1^. . */■ S ■' » lor * 4k X I J 1 '"r* I jl FINALS Continued from Page 11 proved her PR to 14.62 in the preliminaries. She improved it again down to 14.48 in the finals finishing three hundredths ofa second behind the last state medalist. Harmon and Hilton closed out their day competing in the 4x400-meter relay with the Gater sisters and racing to a new school record time of 4 minutes .57 seconds. Rebecca Winchester, Kersta Gustafson, Emma Ordway and Chaney Robinson still have their names scattered across the TK girls’ record list in other events, but the 2025 TK foursome in the race at the DI Finals was about a second faster than the top time turned in by those Trojans who won the 2006 D2 state championship. A school record in the 4x400 was not something in the minds of Amya, Payton, Hilton and Harmon heading into the state meet, but they shaved an astounding six sec­ onds off the TK team’s previous best time in the race from this spring. They were seeded 25th out of 27 teams at the state finals in the race and wound up in 12th place. “I knew it was possible. I knew all of them could run under a minute. It was just is it gonna happen today,” TK head coach Maggie Wilkinson said. “And so we were just focused on timing, like running 200s and saying, you need to run 28 200s, and we worked on the chaos in the hand-offs. You just got to get out and you got to be on your game, and they did it all. They didw it. They are just amazing young women. “They’re awesome, and what a way to end the day - with a school record. The TK girls all were pleased with the preparation for the hand-off chaos. “We were literally standing on the ex­ change zone at our track shoving each other,” Harmon said. Payton Gater said coach Wilkinson was definitely the most physical one in that chaos training. It worked. We would create chaos in the exchange zone all week have, like all everybody that was at practice there. I mean we would be pushing each other and kind of running around each other to create chaos in the handoffs, which definitely helped me be­ cause we knew what to do in that situation,” Payton said. It certainly was a step up in competition, the move from Division 2 to Division 1 this spring. For reference, the Trojans in Kentwood were nine hundredths of a sec­ ond faster than the Saginaw Swan Valley foursome that won the girls’ 4x400-meter relay at the MHSAA L.P. Division 2 Track and Field Finals at Hamilton High School < 4 i "J t I • I I -•* «d 4 A c* * t « 1 r .1' I ' ■ ■.'• ^•fCj ;t » . I <!lSj j* 4 ; r % ■ % ■■ * r<» .,t .t }i f «• I 1 I F , I ‘ '■ I \a ? i t i J ?K Ir 4 -.! ,f i »T*' r« <* I i A » t. .V»• “ A J r;i/k * • ^44 4 I UlM ‘ >4-* I) t 1 ‘ 'V tH - -IrR I i .V • • .; ia * «l J -4 < K'' / . 1 • 3 1 ,1 < klvfvfc r. ^►V* ' 5. I# I ■*' ■ aajm': ( H i *w ,1 A Sia 4 I ' ti . T i » c > a I fi' r 4 % A r } » I itM ", 1 ■ 9^) BP rw* if Tkj; 1 Mi.. . t' I V K. f«9J /. :4. 'I ■ mJ t .'fii �i I I www.sunandnews.com A. A xs TK ladies take last 2025 at-bats against Wildcats 1 •J . « • k 4 ( ■MK' I 1 'i z» 4 a I 1 * •5 I A > I ■ 4, I * t - Ib*. b s J 'I . I . . ,• r < I I , • J - • r 1 X, X' "♦Wk F 4 • ’ < i: V. i 1 < T u »< <*4 * s . ’L 4 I •A i.' 'lb -n • 1« 1r 4 > I I I s vL *T. ' I ' (> < 4 1 * ‘ * •‘h '*T . • • 4 r . I » # ^1/. ■ > « kl I -^4 f. ’^1 -. r 1 • *1^ fz 4bi ■ ‘4. ‘<¥1 f I t *• -J J ^Tk.]' f. I 1 , I X. Jk ijx. nJ * I -^L t / » * L F -I no- X| <1 I 11 14. s . r < --1 «*■. 7I \ ■ * < . * » A •e t ♦ . R- i<4«/' ' I "* i ' .4 ’t k £a 4 T ■» » « ■'i I V ilCd-UJT - ■ ’"’J’ r. 1 -••i • J Vz ‘ ’ f 1 . • ''! ;1r. d ’.'I '••T 5 ri n/ n : A ♦u ■•('T k A3 iJ& ‘ I I 1 t 4 » « IJl ’.I; ' 4 I k ,1 V flls^ j 1 -.11 u * 4 t * Ik I A J I I I 1 .. .L il-V I > s:4 ie* I 01 lit ji«zf5Bci i:^jgis' -I 4*1 f I A 4 f I L .- - i 1 J t7 <• ’ t*. ,fI 11 '1 1 n jtriiJ'i - z I 1(5 n I itn ' J ’J ' Fl .1» I ' I ' r I I r • ’I*® I » rr • 4 o jhn ’ ,1 r ' I THE SUN AND NEWS Brett Bremer Sports Editor In the end it worked out for the Wildcats. The final outcome didn’t change, and Thomapple Kellogg senior McKenna Hoebeke got to take a few more swings in orange and black before heading off for the Grand Valley State University softball program. McKenna’s time in the batter’s box did come to an end as the Wildcats held on for a 6-5 victory in their MHSAA Division 2 District Semifinal in Mid­ dleville Saturday morning. Wayland intentionally walked Hoe­ beke with two-out and one on in the top of the fifth inning and the Wildcats leading by a 3-2 margin. Adelaide Holderman delivered a two-run dou­ ble, giving TK a 4-3 lead at the moment The Wildcats rallied, with the help of a couple TK errors and a few singles, for three runs in the bottom of the sixth to go back in front 6-4. Hoebeke’s spot in the line-up came up again with one on and two out in the top of the seventh. Wayland head coach Cheri Ritz came out to intentionally walk Hoe­ beke again in the top of the seventh, according to TK head coach Ashley Garrett, “and Kylee looked at her and said ‘coach - this could be my last at bat, please let me hit,’ and Cheri did.” Hoebeke battled Wayland star pitch­ er Madi Ludema through a 16-pitch at-bat. Hoebeke watched ball three go by to reach a full-count and then fouled off ten straight pitches before ball four went by for another walk. Teammate Anna Romph singled with one out in the inning, went to second on a ground out by teammate Kenzie Bouma and then stole third during Hoe­ beke’s at-bat. Holderman came up in a big spot again, and Romph scored on a passed ball to get TK within a run, but Ludema won this time around striking out Holderman to end the bailgame. Hoebeke closed the bailgame l-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Romph was 2-for-4 at the top of the line-up for TK. Holderman had a big game for TK both in the batter’s box and in the circle. She allowed 11 Wayland hits, but only one earned run. She struck out seven Wildcats and only walked one. We made a couple of errors late in the game that sealed the deal for Wayland, but we pressured them into the top of the seventh,” Garrett said. “The girls had obviously already won a game against Wayland so they knew they were capable, it just didn’t go our way this time.” TK fell to the Wildcats in both ends of an OK Gold Conference doubleheader this season, but rebounded to beat the Wayland girls in the championship game of the TK Invitational in Mid­ dleville later that same week. Garrett said sophomore Emily Ste­ vens had a big game for TK too going l-for-3 at the plate and throwing a runner out at the plate from right field. The two teams were back and forth throughout the ballgame. TK led 2-1 after one inning. The score held there until the Wildcats scored twice in the bottom of the fourth for their first lead. Ludema allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks. She struck out seven. “Wayland’s pitcher, Madi Ludema, is one of the best we saw all year and they hit one to nine in the line-up,” Gar­ rett said of the Wildcats. “They’re just a well-rounded, well coached team.” Ludema was also 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs. Kaylee Lown, Mackenzie Kositzky and Laney Wolf had two hits each for the Wildcats too. Wolf drove in one run. Harmony Laker, Clara Dutkiewiz and Shelby VanHouten had one hit each. Wayland followed up the victory over TK by securing the district cham­ pionship with a 13-3 win over Hopkins in the district final Saturday. r t* r LIGHT TRUCK PART^ KaNins<mxvK>siiEnKS«ym*smdEffs>«(tt '4 I i rau SERVICE & YOU PUU IT 269-381-2300 i 4f > > W I V 5 4 > . USED FARTS r USED TIRES * * rf. . A' 1t11 UKE ST. KAUMAZOO ■> Saturday, June 7, 2025 13 GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hear­ ing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Special Land Use request to build and operate a drive thru in The Crossings Planned Unit Development (PUD). 1535 Eastport Drive SE, Grand Rapids, Ml 49508 Property Address: Parcel Number: 41-22-05-280-002 Applicant: Matt Cole; Roosien & Associates Date and Time of Hearing: June 26th, 2025, at 7:00 pm Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on June 26th, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Zoning Text Amendment request for Section 24.8 of the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance to allow for Electronic Changeable Message signs within residential zoning districts (SR, VR, MFR) for institutional uses. Property Address: N/A Parcel Number: 41-22-05-280-002 Applicant: All parcels Date and Time of Hearing: June 26th, 2025, at 7:00 pm Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan. wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on June 26th, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. �s '41 r 14 <* Saturday, June 7 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Outstanding CHS lacrosse season ends in state quarter’s Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor 'fhe cavalcade of comebacks finally came to an end for the Fighting Scots at Forest Hills Northern Friday, May 30. The Caledonia varsity boys’ lacros.se team pulled within ene of the host Huskies at 7-6 a minute into the second half of their MHSAA Division 2 State Quarterfinal, but a third straight comefrom-behind victory in the postseason did not materialize for the Scots. Forest Hills Northern scor^tLsix unanswered goals and went on to a 15-7 win over •- > . the final 23 minutes. The Fighting Scots rallied to beat Okemos in overtime in the regional semifinals and then won their second ever regional championship coming from behind in the fourth quarter against Forest Hills Eastern last Tuesday. Sophomore Lincoln Senti scored the last of his team leading four goals with 2:31 remaining in the fourth quarter at FHN Friday. The pleasantries with the Huskies WWW. sunandnews com i! r I i A . r\V X /: I Vi ; F I . rV A t. » i 1.1 r'Cr' Jr r JJ »*' 1 I 41 9 I I► I II 1 Sk were through. The last on-field huddle of the season for the Scots broke. The last bits of the sunset started fading. Senti found his way across the tack for handshakes and hugs with the class­ mates leaning over the bleacher railing with letters spelling out B-l-G-L-l-N-C painted on their chests. He wasn’t the only guy in purple and white there to show appreciation for their supporters. Senior Brady Hilaski had two goals and junior Samuel Hoag one for the Scots. Putting the ball in the net is tough when you don’t possess it. FHN junior Benny Hall was nothing short of domi­ nant on the draws winning nearly every (if not every) single one all evening long. He is now over 500 face-off wins for the FHN varsity. Owen Ostipow and Cooper Clark had four goals apiece for the Huskies. Dylan Van Skiver scored three times and Eli Macauley twice. Senior Owen Butler opened the scoring for the Hus­ kies, and while the Scots pulled even at A*: 9 s .4 I 1 ''' V . f n Ik r I 1 J *’’r J yi k k^l>l 1 I* t ■in I*'! II t r. k • V 1 < 1}.> J l« r • K I r I -H •o .r;* .i! < *’• t I 5 t 9 J f / r .^v J I 1 JI i./ J Mb 9^ k . I I Hto?, ',.6 ft ■r B I < r f # V 4 J ■ I ■ 1 V. i J V J K ' A / .-zJ p 1 A I -< fc- '9 i Caledonia sophomore Ethan Wright tries to slow down Forest Hills Northern junior Benny Hall as he dodges through the midfield Friday, May 30, during the MHSAA Division 2 State Quarterfinal at Forest Hills Northern High School. r- ( \ ' *4 •^4 » >** > 1 Mit I I• r“ T • ) if i Photos by Brett Bremer '*’5 i^;-a t »■' > . 1 JJ L t' J •f’ ? 1-1,3-3 and 5-5 they never held a lead. FHN fell 20-7 to East Grand Rapids 1 in the MHSAA Division 2 Semifinals in Hudsonville Tuesday, June 3. V J’ k: .'•MitilU w• lyi’ 1 r •.1.1 Hr^ 9 4 •f w' ’ I i WHAT AUCTION COMPANY ri’. z •• J * ■' nrr; flw 616-891-0150 ?r • 9^ A/S I—M I 22551 Bedford Rd., N Battle Creek, Ml 49017 ► ► »z BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M, 269-209-7187 J 1 A z ♦ •*> 1 •'z di a t ) i k k V . T Huge Estate Auction on June 14**' ' a - •» « * I ♦' • j:. located at 11818 Wildwood, Shelbyville Ml 49344. X AUCTION STARTS AT 10AM. I : V' « This is one of two auctions to be held on the property. Feafuring a 20' 2002 Benningfon ponfoon boat, super clean, Honda 50 HP 4 stroke engine, canopy, boat cover and super nice tandem trailer. Also a StarCraft boat with 85 hp Mercury, clean boat and has a trailer, Lincoln arc welder, ceramic kiln, antique glassware lots of Fenton, ruby red. Moons and stars etc. vintage tools, old bikes, old bar items, vintage turniture, fishing items, collectibles. There are tons of items in the barn to be auctioned off. Look at more photos on our website: whatauctioncompany.com I i w 1 S'yi S'vi I « I I r J u rJ f Vi - I 1 « « 1 » / •4 I 4 M* \«*t A i r- Vai I < A* i •’ s »Uin k' t 2-' BODY SHOP I . »'-» •> 11. I A/'' II I •' » •"r ■J 9 I •1 I It >• JhA. t I >(• COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR The second auction will be on June 28th. It features a true barn find! A 1967 Ford Fairlane 500 convertible. One owner with 62K original miles. Numbers matching car with all the original dealership paperwork. EteT' vHnl I ■ £ * 1* 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 . '*^^3 J '«V< 4 r/ -r . » ll II .. I 4 4 z I . a ’ «9 j*^'*-* / t 1 I I' A % u ’iv*; » J *NO BUYERS PREMIUM! L. ,4 Your -trusfed Body Shop -for over 32 years 9■ *. WiA1 HERVUr* -r* -♦ • I -•r. ’ 9 -W ■JW • > t * >« I >«4l . ’ilk’ II I E ■tg •f » ■; t J i f i �4 ♦ www.sunandnews.com THE SUN AND NEWS Saturday, June 7, 2025 15 4 ♦ I I A ♦ - Dupuis pushes 3200 PR under 11 minutes at Finals * • I I < r Brett Bremer I’ 5k * Al' K ;t A *1. o. f I AA r ’ tr. 1 > I f 3 IfH r' t r k ’ 7 • j I sa.^W I'- 1 JBom 7 4 ? i<- r. -K r■ - i*. .I i'l grrjif^ lint 7’ «-Vr I txi* 1 A 1 Skt; __ __ tf 9^ :ri3i 4 / 4 1 j 7 f •; V I ' 'R A frru . frit 4^- * Pf*. Mr » I >«4ll 0 t f I ♦ -T“ f 1♦ •t txi * I i j I I ■ ■' J Mj * to; * iZt 1 . 9 'I t ij. « 1 -^. i t f * 4 * « lo'i I i-<fa 1 y r 1 I il 8! I 3 tr 3 I -^s * *•»,! rUi 4 J 4 9 113 I »Ok /S? < e -ft I 1 J r’l > « i I r a r * [ Al 4 J I Ek i 3 » t I w iT/ ) J I r I I >' ■ 1 I I ) ■ la if^- E q: It** ’ li ( f 1 ' »» ••a ( w IA I 4 J -i***-’ I * Sports Editor Hannah Dupuis likes to find a pack with a good pace and hang out at the back and let it pull her around the track. If the 3200-meter run at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division I Track and Field Finals hadn’t been her last varsity race, she might have started rurming out of folks to chase soon. Dupuis shattered per personal re­ cord in the 3200 dropping more than 15 seconds to finish with a time of 10 minutes 54.52 seconds and a 13-place result in her first ever track and field finals race Saturday at East Kentwood High School. Caledonia] unior Cody Myers added about 18 feet to his PR in the boys’ discus this spring, and was just a little off his top throws of the season at the state finals Saturday. He imleashed a top throw of 149 feet 6 inches to fin ish in 21 st place in his first state finals appearance Saturday. The progression for Dupuis lately in the 3200: 12:33.75 as a junior season best. Down to 12:22.29 at the first OK Green Conference dual of her senior season this spring. A sub-12 3200 of 11:51.26 at the Hastings Invitational in mid April. Another leap to 11:23.29 at the 2025 Shepherd Bluejay Invite. From there she cut about four seconds off her PR at the OK Green Confer­ ence Championships, and then more than nine seconds off at regionals to 11:10.01. Finally, the shocking dip under 11 minutes Saturday. “You keep this up and you’re go­ ing to be running a two-mile in seven minutes,” Caledonia head coach Ben Howell joked with her after the race. Her next school races will be for the Michigan Tech University Huskies, and she was excited to get her PR within a second of the young Minnesotan she’ll be rooming with next fall. “I didn’t even believe it last week when one ofmy coaches was telling me I could have been in the tens,” Dupuis said. “It was coach [Clenon] Fincher and he said, Hannah I expect you to be in the low 10:50’s.” She wasn’t really hopeful of that at the starting line. “I was feeling pretty stressed out, about it. I was kind ofjust thinking that IW all that matters is I made it here today. All I was thinking was that all I need to do is go out and do my best,” she said. Dupuis did mostly stick to her plan. She found a pack to chase, and to be honest she didn’t remember too much about the race other than seeing the clock tick to 5:20 as she completed her first mile. “I thought, ‘oh my goodness, I just cooked myself’ My mile PR is 5:17 so running a 5:20 on the first mile of a two is a little bit crazy.” Her first timed mile in high school was eight minutes and 34 seconds. It was just last fall that she realized she might be going fast enough to include running in her college plans. “I want to be a bio-medical engineer, so I kind of wanted to go to a tech­ nological based school just to start. I emailed the coaches in December and was a little worried I was a little bit too late ... they seemed really excited. Their girls’ team is pretty small. There are only going to be four girls in the FRONTIER HEATING AND COOLING A/C > s ' z •t ft* 5 SJ I L h *4 r 1 ■z r> jI ‘U! r A tw* Caledonia senior Hannah Dupuis works her way to a new personal record time of 10 minutes 54,52 seconds in the 3200-meter run while placing 12th in the race at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Track and Field Finals hosted by East Kentwood High School Saturday, May 31. Photo by Brett Bremer 5 I 6’ ’T I r 1 : 4 X Vs ( >>_- /■ r * □ >F 1MK.. L ♦ ■ aB Jf Scan our OR code to find your perfect invitation! % Ml 19 1 ' Tt -SS-^4 ■p? r. L f Only * :* 4 * !♦ 1 ( k I ___ J « A 4' ♦ X I a SEEKING Simply Perfect Other Products AServices Available • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! WEDDING INVITATIONS l/ic company bmll b\ icfcrrals' 210 East Main Street Caledonia 616-891-8900 1 ‘I r i t •» I / J Experienced Service Technician Apply within. » * « K r t « tr « r X I I ,4 A I I L I 4 ..J I l-l i» IT krw 1 A II R II A. 09^ w TUNE-UP ^*1 I/. .1 Expires 6/3Q/25 > 2 J F « I freshman class, which is very small. But I’m very excited, just the four of us in two rooms next to each other.” The DI girls’ two-mile champion was West Ottawa senior Helen Sachs who hit the finish line in 10:16.56. She had a good lead on Ann Arbor Pioneer senior Natasza Dudek who was the runner-up in 10:21.68. Sachs was also the runner-up in the 1600. Dupuis was one of 15 girls in the race to finish in less than 11 minutes. The last of the eight state medalists was Hudsonville sophomore Cassie Karasinski who clocked in at 10:46.52. Walled Lake Central senior Garrod Alexander topped Myers and everyone else at the shot put pit in the boys’ competition Saturday. He fired off a top put of 64-1.25. Midland senior Maxwell Stoecker was second at 5810.25. Portage Central senior Liam Takace clinched the last of the eight state medals in the event with a mark of53-2.25. Stoecker was the runner-up in the discus too. 4 Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. r PRINTING BY www.printingbypennyiane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com • J �Saturday, June 7. 2025 16 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Rams shut out Scots on their way to district titie ■W A I i i Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor Scoring opportunities were few and far between for the Fighting Scots again.st third-ranked Rockford in the MHSAA Division 1 District Semifinal at Rockford High School Thursday, May 30. Even one of the Caledonia varsity girls’ soccer team’s best chances ended up going the other way in the Rams’ 3-0 victory. An obstruction call on the Rams led to a free kick for the Scots’ in the of fensive end with 11 and a half minutes to play in the second half. The Scots tapped the ball for a shot on the Ram goal by freshman Emily Stauffer, but the Rams charged hard early and knocked down the attempt. There was an extended scramble at the top of the 18 that eventually led to a soft tap at the net by Caledonia senior Delaney Elles. The Rams reset and earned a free kick of their own near midfield. The kick found a Ram player streaking up the right side who tapped it to the middle w for an onrushing Laney Carlson a step inside the 18. She fired a low hard shot beyond the reach of Scot senior keeper Ella DeRuyter and inside the left post for her team’s third and final goal. Caledonia picked up its attack about ten minutes into the game for a bit, and had another late surge in the final ten minutes of the second half, but the Rams controlled possession and were a step ahead getting to the ball throughout what was a physical bailgame. Still, the Scots held the Rams off the scoreboard until the final 15 minutes of the first half. DeKuiper also scored the Rams’ first goal as a rebound found her a little less than 25 yards out from the net and she ripped a shot into the upper right 90 of the net. Rockford made it 2-0 before the half as a throw in from the left side found its way into the Caledonia box. The Scot defense prevented the Rams Isla Brown from turning with the ball at the penalty spot, but she was able to drop a pass back for teammate Alia Ponne at the top ofthe 18. Ponne one-touched a shot perfectly I « '« -'.* ' ? ’i Pt I B^WjO SHERRIFF GOSLIFT Riri (t y QUALITY ROOFING 3 4 EJisiTratta J ■<"» • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115^^ YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU w * J . * w W * UI A Wl Led u I 9 t ( «» CALL TODAY * i I ♦ ■"rr »B1 L’ ? If . ' ■ .t VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK 269-962-4036 I ! f' % ,i A*R * V9 *H b k 1. € p W". L * W*' I"' J t IM .4 J ) /A ' .7' . » •r. 11 5 t k f Caledonia defender Myla Gortmaker is held back from getting to the ball by Rockford’s Sydney Dekuiper during their MHSAA Division 1 District Semifinal at Rockford High School Thursday, May 29. Photos by Brett Bremer \ I 4 .J. • * I ' I into the lower right comer ofthe Scot net. The Fighting Scots had a comer kick in the final minutes of the first half, but weren’t able to create a dangerous chance off ofit, and had a few shots in the first half deflected down by defenders. Rockford had a flurry of comer kicks . ■ .'j t 1 ‘ I r ; ______ J . nuance audio * .*> s . •Je'jfe' ■'f* J ' *> The new invisible hearing solution throughout the second half, and long throw-ins from Audrey Mulerspaugh in the in the offensive end into the CHS box were at least as dangerous as comers throughout the ballgame. The Caledonia girls end the season with a 10-7-2 overall record. They were second in the OK Green Conference in their first season in the new league. The now 14-3-3 Rockford girls took a 4-2 win over East Kentwood in the dis­ trict final back in Rockford Saturday, but were bounced from the state tournament by the OK Green Conference champions from Byron Center 1-0 in the regional semifinals in Grand Haven Tuesday. ’■'si ^'■y® .13 1 ?ivin f i 1 f” (I . s a <» i ’ - f • L, 9 i k •"5r«'»* i H t > * rr; f < i •’I*! >{ »'>>? J HD • ‘fr la fp I tnwji 5 ITT : ’TOT) •> '» r i/j* f .4r>«’ r it J t 4 1 * Jt J ’Xi ■ t I jud Ifii f 'f>r I '/zii/o ' ' 1 k < r Hi t I iT? s ! 4 (;b ze iwsl IB«"!' t ■I. i ■ ’i r i ’.n) f r f r fi1 -i *>' » Is ’ f ■.I ‘ Lb rt; ' . rj f » 9 t c’‘Tj; fxn' 1 f fteti vi» £iuaii * 7* I V s I i .1* 1 11 t i fF» < I I 1 'j’fVj i O" 'f/t i 11 nn’ } t f ■. itif 11 CAk*****^^'^^* IV I <r % ’ 5 t I i « “999 r r « -• 1 J •y * <« <♦ • • ««iw 1^" 1 ) iI w- y — K f -■-f 4 V i w 1 ..l^ Bp'* Ji :«'5 Hear better in noisy environments with the all-in-one hearing glasses. gl *^4 •“A 'Ift >1 mill I II Stop in and try on a pair! Next to Harding’s 269-213-8108 5 * k. *1 A J t I •i a a ■K if'- EYECARE f » « — Thornapple ir f ** I FOR YOUR FREE INSPECTION xr •w z c. * it KJ t •j F. X z**. jf I J• kJ’ : 4 4 I * 1 1 THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN ROOFING 9 w r I* i R. r r ^’7 " -z 9 Caledonia senior Delaney Elles pushes through the midfield with the ball during the Scots’ MHSAA Division 1 District Semifinal against the host Rams in Rockford Thursday, May 22. A 5 I I f :9B.d f s I D •• ? ii f I f I •}I I 1 I 11. /» zenEh*’U noiafvia A8HM 'stooS srt ► taori yfit VpNI .YsbaiLBlT InoliBHl* � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-06-14.pdf 0ed4935cdc265e3d126f45873742e958 PDF Text Text Hastings ruDlic Library LjG'fCdARa^ RECEIVES CHECK FROM GUN LAKE WINTERFEST I < •• < . k « . *r 3HT 4 I 1 Your Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas i f 4 AND NEWS the SUN t I ft I I PAGE 3 1 9 06 .OM »9>- NO. 60 f*- J ♦ I ■ wwwfsunandnews.com SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2025 i egnerl noateS vsIbbiM 86 ted loJosiib WAO f J I to sgdliV sdJ gni naz raftA • wnrt-uzi^a 9dJ en sIIivalbfatM 0 1 idf TOJMHb zjlioW aiiduH >vw lud -jEri ziriqugniSMri t I t noq^T jgfel gfri ^r/is i hv-jlbbiM to V 2''<£b2ain »7iCI WHO sHivolfabiM .§niJ99m ico<i fa3Z89-iblMi nozbfl aoi A eidt aniii idl aioJiziv d 9fni) 3flt baziJ ouHenoa bam fwot laatfil oril to .3TU8O1O BGl-j Ylleioifto ei fa£O« gnml Ti 37fifl vadT .oiftait riguoirit Hb zil ofivz anovnA .)l£riq8fi aritTlo 3bi83i« ot gnrog lohriv b .onrl) ^>^* Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer 1 I WnhdB-oilwT nuiBK isfiiW tt6J8 losjao Belson hangs up hat as Middleville DPW director I 1 C S’ 938 After serving the Village of Middleville as the Department of Public Works director for 10 years. he’s hanging up his hat but not before giving his last report at Tuesday’s Village of Middleville meeting. Middleville DPW Director Alec Belson addressed the board and visitors for the last time this week. He used the time to let everyone know of the latest town road construction closure. “Irving Road is officially closed to all through traffic. They have milled off the asphalt. Anyone who lives there, a visitor going to a residence, See BELSON on 2 / - • ■Mbrs A ^4 •*5 -• zs V V K 0. •Ct L > k< J • ' >4 " •K 9^^ "OWWIIIB I i 1 .• * r * AJ 1 **«*»«lg *«u \ k • vl . r' I 41** I• I *1 .IW ■ 'V 4t >t 4 I J 1 1I SjI •V * ' 1 1 :'l A 4 K i * U •* J O’ - . II *A I «» 4-- I 1 V. >• IT 46 *«v ) ■ “k .. . w '3S < 1’4 *c ? I T.’V' v’,* k 'Mk 4 A I «b %« . iZ 41' -4.1 * *• ***».. < ^<3^4 '•fft * f '•>-K w- ;>=^ 1 < f. .«-z* R t •• <£ ^7^ 4 < •4 < *U'. « .yi*'- s 4H* J Akx * t / L«^ “=»' t J'-’. r '■> . An 18-year-old man from Byron Center lost his life last weekend while swimming in Campbell Lake, located in Bowne Township. Photo by Jayson Bussa « 1^' > '«r ■/ " I :.r k I Ti I d « B J J . •• • ■ /?■ I, « ♦ ; 1^ is * I* *< j Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer ■ % 'lr<c h A IL ' i tt •< f » J I' 0 V- i* 1* . . t. • . A . ' A r I I € > > *. I* I A * •u r* ^VPlVIVB^ U nliEq^O 9lliv9tbbiM to sgslIiV 3 09lA lotoaiiO 3?lioW otldu9 toitBOBisf^T 2irl bsonuonnE ivBe! 3i eH >i99w EDDW CnUOWEH n fi t II .}3 of sgslltv BEaiDERlfVr lebnotniiequa as bOkBxo yfnuoO yneQ arlt beiWJJ »33e <8838 tiDoa noiaaimmoC OlMUAIRe' I iaJ KW IN ’»fl|AUMJ9 eMMAsmuoM bVID iMMMJ Village of Middleville Department of Public Works Director Alec Belson announced his resignation this week. He is leaving the Maoa HBwoisna village to start a new job lVllN3aiS3« as superintendent with OfCxoflOd 'sec*'wed the Barry County Road 8C90> Commission. Courtesy photo *8||IAU9aiO SSMU33 ECKMPf Man drowns while swimming in Campbell Lake I* > I f* f * 4 Ji .*1 1 4 '-9» J ■ !«• X > !! •4 n •. ■r An 18-year-old man lost his life last weekend while swimming in a Caledonia-area lake. The Kent County Sheriffs Office released a statement detailing the drowning of Francisco SantanaMeza, which occurred around 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 8. Santana-Meza, a resident of Byron Center, was swimming in Campbell Lake—located along 84th Street in Bowne Township— when he went underwater and did not resurface. Emergency crews were dis­ patched to the scene to search for Santana-Meza. The Kent County Sheriffs Office’s Marine Patrol was assisted by the Bowne ToAvnship and Caledonia Fire Departments. Utilizing multiple boats, includ- * ing one provided by a local resi­ dent, the crews were eventually able to locate and recover SantanaMeza’s body. The sheriffs office noted that there were no specific safety con­ cerns regarding Campbell Lake, but emphasized the importance of exer- cising caution whenever someone is in or near a body of water. Campbell Lake, situated on the eastern edge of Bowne Township, spans approximately 46 acres and is a popular destination for local fishing. “We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the young man who died this afternoon at Campbell Lake,” the sheriffs office said in a statement. “Losing a loved one is very difficult, and we recognize the impact this has on those who knew him.” aivd aovisod s n 018 ISdd n? bosivcE bUtltW ■j 1 » ! < A t ( • • * I » 1* / I { 4 ( A i m 1 i t 11 I » I I I J I ( I ( ’ !* » bl I 1 j I Pl II b I >) 1 i * t •4 •i •h \ I I ) >. . I -w—._ •r �I Saturday. June 14, 2025 2 i THE SUN AND NEWS 5^-. w Caledonia Twp, honors Lisa Segard with Hometown Hero Award Caledonia lbwnship has named Lisa Segard as the recipient of the 2025 I lometown Hero Award. Segard served as the Village of Caledonia’s administra­ tor from 1998 to 2024, cementing her legacy as a trusted source of information and calmness in Caledonia. Caledonia Township Supervisor Bry­ an Harrison wrote a letter in support of Segard’s nomination, highli^ting some of the impact she has left on the community. “It is with heartfelt admiration and unwavering respect that I nominate Lisa Segard for the 2025 Caledonia Town­ ship Hometown Hero Award,” Harrison NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES » l-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m. THE HASTINGS BANNER REMINDER Wednesday at Noon THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon Group mihomepaper.com sunandnews.com l^ake Wildlife Corridor and champi­ oning Arbor Day projects. “Her signature Japanese tree lilacs still bloom in neighborhoods thanks to her leadership and foresighL” Har­ rison wrote. Segard also played a vital role in planning the Community Green, enhancing parks and pathways, and even helped install four early warning sirens to keep residents safe. In her free time, Segard has served as a merit badge counselor for Boy Scout Troop 202, contributed to the Emmons Lake Elementary and Kraft Meadows PTOs, and helped connect paths between schools and neighbor­ hoods, building both physical and community bridges, Harrison wrote. Whether she was helping on the pool committee, working the ‘Book Cave’ for the Friends of the Library or serving as secretary of ±e Glen Valley Property Owners Associa­ tion for 25 years, Lisa made herself available to serve quietly, humbly and consistently,” Harrison wrote. Some may recognize Segard as the Easter Bunny, whose costume she adorns each year. “She has built a legacy by lifting others, by doing the work that needed to be done, and by inspiring eveiyone around her to give a little more,” Harrison wrote. KTE ,4 ';4 <1 i.i K •* t * i'.j .• * I /< t A Caledonia Township selected Lisa Segard as the recipient of the 2025 Hometown Hero Award. Courtesy photo wrote. “Lisa’s decades oftireless service, boundless knowledge, and steadfast inte^ty make her not only a deserving candidate but also a shining example of what this honor represents.” Harrison said Segard has been an “in­ visible guiding hand” behind countless initiatives in Caledonia. Her intimate knowledge of the village made her a critical resource in the village offices. “Lisa’s fingerprints are everywhere in Caledonia’s growth and spirit,” Har­ rison wrote. Some of Segard’s accomplishments include securing grands for the Emmons Gaines receives positive auditor’s report on its financial accounting James Gemmell Contributing Writer A certified accounting firm identified no major issues when it conducted the annual audit for Gaines Charter Town­ ship’s 2024 fiscal year. The Portage-based firm Siegfned Crandall reviewed the township’s financial statements, as well as its busi­ ness activities, each major fund and the aggregate fund information. Siegfned Crandall representative Dan Veldhuizen gave a brief presenta- See GAINES on 6 I ► a "<lk BELSON 1 •J tI •p Continued from Page 1 Tuesday at Noon THE 'V.' J ■4'* < t t I you're fine. explained Belson. “But, if you're going through from Main Street to get past the construction zone, that's the issue.” Police are monitoring the area. Belson said contractors estimate the road construction should be wrapped up by late summer. After his report, he addressed the board and those in the audience. “Next Friday will be my last ofTicial working day with the village. I still will be working with the village for several months until someone finds a licensed replacement for me." Belson said. “It’s been a pleasure the last 10 to 13 years serving the village. I had an opportunity that’s very hard to pass up. I’m going to work for the Barry County Road Commission as superintendent of operations. Thanks for everything that everybody has done and helped me with over the years.” Village Manager Craig Stolsonburg told everyone that while he is active­ ly looking for a new DPW Director the village council has to approve someone as street administrator. “Previously, it has been Alec Belson, as you are aware he is leav­ ing the organization. We need to appoint somebody. Previously to Alec being the street administrator, it was the village manager prior to that. So, it makes sense for me to be appointed to that.” A unanimous roll call vote among board members approved Stolsonburg to step in as street administrator until the position is filled. The job position is posted on the Village of Middleville website. Anyone with questions can call the office at 269-795-3385. “We will pay for certification train­ ing if the right person meets all other qualifications,” Stolsonburg said. #1 i • k*. (ifi i4‘ ./iv .«1 toil r > 4 ‘x I r ' I' I :9 (iff*’' i 1 * i 4 <1 * a % ■ "yr'I#'' V/ •7 lx • e . ■■ 1J * I - > I » 1 9 ‘Z > * A I* f> s I 1^/ ■t (: ,1 V 1 . *V ’ .SI! HdJ k J nr I I 5 T f’ rd •1 z ^5 ^1 A ■V■ * u* It;, I I *> ir ■•sw/th I r I z' I .• > >V> f fi . J I ’V 3 iI 1 e i 4*1 »u / t ji J « A* V * • .J * . .'M’* -t-,. f T V J 11^ ..r I . ..Miot- * » I ’ I * Ei .; s i t; . ( I I I ’•* ' .s\ J »;** i U •* m J < 1 ■ ■ « f 4 : **> > 1 If i ■ I '*>5 A I Im iiL V 11 J Iw1 ’-W» -'i.* , i» > t J 4fl I # ',V' I B* t 9 ****' M * ■ * I R f- 1I I 1'2. •* 1^3 GF^’C-G. U)l 4 2. J u bl b. w* ’ 9* ' A r *I I ,W’ 4al r 1 A A t V ** rr* .wxM**®'' 1 - ’ > 9«*y • ►r ...lir. 1 Ato* Dp Eai te; I* a. 4' Cfi S K-.--^%2iyaije *t' ... 'te. t. v-.'C VI * »:X I * «s -mw» rwii ' ■k' £ .an .♦ I i I, •• J * • UJ A A- I THE SUN AND NEWS if ----------------------------------------------------------------- ,, r,. Bb * s The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com PUBLISHED BY CONTACT US Editor: Molly Maclood mmacleod@mihomepaper.com a I Group k • Sports: Brett Bremer Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Copyright 2025 ®’2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept.. 1351 N. M’43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser's order. J I 1 w. I I I i ^S8i-Ct8Fil«!iBl^ • BtowMi Alic haSBSw '1.: I; s Z' WKi a I 4 *Ma»^ «?« t I. a I. * :f a t I a X fr « a I * *. �I < 4 1 > I V * ft 1. ’ w •1 't'r '•A ,1*. ' • I I » { ' 'Os’O .-'h f A I I; J i I ■ I 1 a I f r r I I '» > K' ' t < * '. 'K ■f J // j I I ► 1- J • r' ) 1?. 1 bii IL. * I ’t It . Is h t vikj.nt, I ‘.tH- ''-I *1 / J f ■<« 'kr,,"' < o Xi> I t I “• I III ■ I / • • I ^1 ne Jt - *> I fli. IJ.. Vbi( « 1 : ' !-j,. 'f < I Tq/ •i I • . V J w < •M j . »>a M r-L ft 'O'S (._ ,• I 1 fl 1 I ♦ *1 > I J r♦ % ' -n i , 4 » ><4l <1 Jm II? I 4 p 4 9 X « r» *• • « <* 1I 4 * I I lif 4 i 1 i ICT. I I Ft i J I'.i • r C 1 I, J4€iU:uilU< < Rfert r >17 i < ♦ < r- 'I ► V • 9^^ -■♦-'A hf 4 *?**«-in 4 ' I I *e ..A > Staff Writer Each year, one organization is rec­ ognized for its local contributions by the Gun Lake Winterfest Committee. This year was no exception. Gun Lake Winterfest Co-Chair Brad Landman told The Sun and News at Winterfest 2025 that the General Federation of Women’s Club (GFWC)-Gun Lake Area Chapter was the chosen charity. “These ladies are often in the back­ ground taking care of the area. They help residents who need a little boost, they raise funds and awareness for many projects out here, but seldom get recognized for their work,” said Brad Landman. “We wanted to make sure they are recognized and give them a nice donation so they can keep up their great work.” Co-Chair Stacey Landman recently presented the president of the GFWC Gun Lake Area Chapter, Raeanne Renner, with a check in the amount of$3,175. “I was proud to learn that GFWCGun Lake Area had been selected as the recipient of the Gun Lake Winter­ fest donation,” Renner said. “It means a lot that the festival recognizes and supports our club’s dedication to com­ munity service.” Renner became president ofthe GWFC-Gun Lake Chapter in June, 2024, for a two-year term. The GFWC-Gun Lake Area Chapter has 89 members. “We usually have over six projects going on at a time,” she said. The GFWC-Gun Lake Area Chapter celebrated Arbor Day and Earth Day by planting three large eastern white pines, Michigan’s state tree, at Yankee Springs Township Park. 7 •u. < e ► I 9 I « S' • * <«* I %« I I ft < 1 n I I ■A I 1^0 ps *4 * a k Your local agent insures your I ** * *H 4.* Raeanne Renner (left), president of the GFWC Gun Lake Area Chapter, receives a check for $3,175 from Gun Lake Winterfest Co-Chair Stacey Landman. Photo by Onawa Terburg F4RM BVHCAV mSVIMWC Jason Parks “Our commitment to nature extended to our Earth Day celebration, “Walk for the Birds,” where members raised $395 for the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary’s 100-year fundraising drive,” Renner explained. “Thanks to a matching donor, our contribution doubled its impact, helping update facilities and support environmental research vital to our region.” In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the GFWC Gun Lake Chapter planted pinwheels throughout the community, symbol­ izing the joyful childhood every child deserves. During National Library Week, April 6-12, members showcased their creativity by crafting and distributing w » handmade bookmarks at our local lending library to encourage reading and literacy. In May, $13,500 in scholarships were awarded to students from four local high schools, helping invest in their futures. The largest fundraising effort to sup­ port those scholarships will be the golf outing on August 9. In addition, the club distributed sweatpants to the four school districts in the Gun Lake area and throughout the season. The Gun Lake Women’s Club also maintains eight berms at Yankee Springs Township Park. On May 25, the Gun Lake Women’s Club participated in the Memorial Day 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-8827 Jparks@fbinsmi.com FarmBureautnsurance.com 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm BODY SHOP k.’V^-5 J Antenna Meri ni 1 I I I Give us a call! 269-967-8241 517-983-0954 I ■— • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers • Cellular Enhancement Systems w n ILl iB K k ' ft • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation l( 'r Ml Estirna'®^ J Fl «w r I « » > 4 > Anlenr^ M<n L.^ M fc - » I ■ 11IWW— >eeo > s i k k •« A i r^ 'f T it • ■ Service at the Fire Station, honoring those who have served. Every month, the Gun Lake Wom­ en’s Club supports our free lending library, making books accessible to the community. “At the Annual GFWC Convention in April, we were honored to receive the prestigious Club of the Year award for category three, based on club size,” Renner said. Karen Turfco-Ebright •*w 1 1 3 Local charity receives check from Gun Lake Winterfest sri ’ jait fioiJrj Saturday, June 14, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com cell M S'Gf^ start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam ..40^ no* J www.theantennamen.com antennamen@gmail.com www.cellsignalpros.com Complete Collision Repair 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your trushed Body Shop for over il I I i 11 il n j fl I 11 M 1 » 1 • I . I I < i ll { ! I I I i 1« I i I I II ' u » »I I t I ' (1 I J ‘ 14 'll 4 I 0 9 I 1 I •I -a I •i (> I. \ r I �Saturday. June 14, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS WWW sunandnewscom Watershed council hosting paddle trip June 21 ITie Thomapple River Watershed Council is hosting several upcoming events for local residents to learn more about the council. The TRWC will host a pair of events on Saturday, June 21, to help local resi­ dents learn more about the watershed, the council and lake part in additional discussions on a variety of topics. At 10 a.m. on June 21, watershed council officials will host a morning paddle trip on a stretch of the river from the Middleville Dam down to 108th Street and the Indian Valley Campground. According to organiz­ ers, it will be about a three-hour trip. And, from I -3 p.m. that day, partici­ pants may attend a “TRWC Meet and Greet, to learn about the watershed, areas of concern, creative environ­ mental projects underway and how to get involved. For more information on the trio of upcoming events, persons may visit the TRWC website, thomappleriverwatershed.org, or on Facebook by searching for “Thomapple River Watershed Council.” — DM LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Caledonia Vine Street Church iiev. Christine M. Beaudoin Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM g 6:00 PM www.alaskabapti8t.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Ham Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am 250 Vine Street 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 616-891-8669 k Good Shepherd V Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville HOLY FAMILY t JFCATHOLIC CHURCH \ 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. 4^* r •II •) III A 9 Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistrniddleville Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdJcms.googlepages .com Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 CHURCH JOURNEY Caledonia Location ■ 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 9 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am eAPEACE CHURCH PEACECHURCH.ee Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. i -9^ Tauf t * ♦J u Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & It a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. a Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor; Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Winr. aw ifcufl W , ' .a||(' @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 6I6-89I-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org rr k TOPS 546 »r t. Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. J*" Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am • 5 , % ' i The June 9 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary's report There is one fish in the fishbowl Sue's program came from the May/ June AARP magazine titled ' The Aging Power of Sugar." Sugar is the primary driver of aging reaction Each gram of added sugar a day ages one's biological age seven times faster Added sugars in our food are harmful, especially any ingredient ending in -ose. Fructose converts to fat in the liver. When sugar molecules bind to proteins and lipids, a compound called AGE accumulates, causing disease in tissues. Every tissue in the body can be affected. Sugar increases burdens on an already aging body. It increases the risk of dementia, makes one’s belly bigger, wreaks havoc without nutritional status, damages the liver, increases risk for heart disease and stroke, increases the risk of diabetes, worsens menopause symptoms and promotes tooth loss. Maryellen lost the Ha-Ha Box. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting, Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036. or Maryellen, 616-3183545. The first meeting is free. < JI ' -"s PX -I '■ * r *1 < - w f r i. •/ » I (I# a I k f A >• f w n i Jas jD' I 1 » n."' » 1 F 4 r " I 'k V* J I I r v» r .i,;/ I .I I f 1 «■ I A t k (»*! a (llU* '1 ‘ -w8» I *o !■ I: -I 't1 > Ii 1 fl! ww* K* • f •l i r I > f- fill n J ■C L v» "’T « .i ■ I A 1 ( A ; r’, J> I ru.** «* t ', * I* ■ dSIlil* riOB- ♦ * ’-.n .iw 9 ♦ I I jesifliW^ JGESIB* I i r ) J 1 I 1i •c « . - A •liW I KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? uA \®id’ II JSSf I 1 I * I 1 ' 'L is! Backs-Wm A» ’k ***> 1 < I e? I tl. 1 Email L mmacleod@mihomepaper.com F n^:r; Wk A ■ tA ' 1 THE SUN AND NEWS % , I V' t U'. V ' I ( : ^2 t » 1 A ■< 4 James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankcespringsbiblechurch.org 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / wvw.tvcweb.com p-' 9 X.ii * 1 'J' T •r iF •M,Zi Shining Forth Gtxi's Li^t MIDDLEVILLE MIDDLEVILLE We'd love to hear about it! 8900 Road Middloille, MI 49333 tt CHURCH * Yankee Springs Bible Church THORNAPPLE VALLEY SERVICE TIMES: Saturday Evening Mass. ... ....... 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. (269) 795-2391 a M cornerstonechurch 1tr ■Bx* I 'I I 1 « « ! *, J ! V :b ft i ] i 9 �II' Classifieds g 1 X S I f J s Y' T T f I J S; BUSINESS SERVICES A I DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mow­ ing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. 'r 4 I— t I 1 • . -..i ' 'b.'.t I J ' - >I I > 4 ? CONSTRUCTION i 1 J' r j r . ' I J I f XA a I 11 t.,-- 4 T r t 1 .'irJ 4 ‘C •X i* FT***- > CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 1t J i f f-’ i I 4 ,216^1 I L J * 4 I, A *< 003 COMMERCIAL-RENT I * >> r t f OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rap­ ids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic@remax.net I .* * . 1 ** t t •s < ''•It I • ■- t 4 r 1 ( ( 1 V. f ) ? % II ■1^ V •'W I i . VaL * I * • i .»ui Ui ..: I & LIVE STOCK FARM, ’r' * *. ■i •X ■ V;; I I •* *1 1st CROP HAY: $3 per bale. 517276-0347. PETS 1/ t h s T;. I f • -Olilr L' 4 MMI. ‘ J 1 FREE KITTENS 2-6 week old kittens. Peach calico, black white and tan. Call 269-331-7242. For pictures text 269-525-8187. 1 «-i ‘ J y ^’lae ■ I I, <u Wl WANTED 9 ir / ^FS®8 r *< I. • ! 4 AM» ) WANTED TO BUY: Standing Tim­ ber. Conscientious timber harvest er. Saw Mill Office- 517-254-4463. O nQKJS I ?» ♦ ►j.w* g-W/. ‘1 I 1 Skbi 8 f 1 T 4*: •A i JAS a .W£2Sej|m 1 asiia n ,vl nue Ml 1 HAU ,.f . 8 II J9 1 i??S f * ______ I lit J .r ♦ JI! fJ GARAGE SALE: June 19th & 20th. 8am-4pm. 5223 W. Tupper Lake Rd. (Between Bliss Rd & Jackson Rd on M-50). 4 B w GARAGE SALES nt i • v 111 - 4 * F r i i i«C3BM J (■■ t r h <1 * » -u * NINTH GRADE: Summa Cum Laude — Holden Ahee, Marco Amato, Madison Ambrose, Nick Amorose, Annika Beigs, OwenBloemers, Maddox Bockover, Eve Boersma, Charlie Bont, Ethan Boucher, Hayes Boucher, Emma Bowman, Alex Brady, Aerianah Bute, Lydia Casey, Stella Chinthluai, Tristan Chu, Kendyl Clapper, Elise Clarin, Reagan Cobbs, Quinn Cook, Daniel Diffenderfer. Miles Dood, Keely Drier, Henry Dupuis, Sophie Edmondson, Adelyn Feenstra, Naomi Fennell, Olivia Foster, Ainsley Fron, Mohamed Gamareldawla, Gavin Grysen, Mason Harrison, Nevaeh Hirkaway, Scarlett Hoffa, Hannah Holmes, Landon Horan, Rachael Hornacek, Isabelle Homing, Emery James, Ella Johnson, Erik Kalkofen, Lilliana Klein, Lily Klein, Summer Klein, Luke Kozak, Emma Leig, Zachary Little, Nina Lusaya, Brinley Lyzenga, Owen Mar­ shall, Haileigh Mclnally, Cole McKenna, Brooklyn McLeod, Lilian Meurlin, David Montross, Carly Moore, Brianna Muma, Berkley Nelson, Gavin Nelson, Kendyl Nonhof, Ryleigh Owens, Michael Paarlberg, Isabella Palmitier, Steven Pekrul, Lia-Rose Peny, Emma Petz, Aimee Poe, MacKenzi Price, Riley Reimbold, Sa­ mantha Richardson, Corbin Ryder, Tiona Sakala, Daisy Schmidt, Amelia Sharp, Bennett Snapper, Kendall Somerville, Mayar Mohameed, Zahara Muriithi, Samuel Myers, Nicholai Nonhof, Oliver Olmstead, Gage Openshaw, Sydney Palmer, Corbin Peterson, Haven Pow­ ers, Griffin Rapa, Escher Reeder, Valeria Roque-Segura, Isabella Rozanski, Aliya Schultetus, Conlan Schultz, Caleb Shel­ don, Grady Smith, Sutton Smith, Kylen Spencer, Reagan Stevens, Jakob Swartzlander, Abigail Tava, Lucas Temple, Jared TenBrink, Sean Thompson, David Tiers, Marco Torrense Gallipoli, Emma Unger, Logan Uyl, Levi VanderLaan, Raylee VanDeWeert, Kane VanLente, Mohamed Wali, Brynn Ward, Lilli Ward, Brianne Weih, Noah Wert, Vivian Williams, Logan Workman and Lauren Ziegler. Cum Laude — MaiLynn Bates, Audree Brown, Maie Brown-Nguyen, Evan Crater, Aslyn Crocker, Evan Debrie, Elliot DeVries, Parker Diemer, Kerim Durie, Jaden Emerson, Zach Fisher, Emma Garza, Madysen Gizzi, Mallory Graham, Arianna Gue, Khloe Lowande, Molly Muller, Egan Otto, Cade Paalman, Emma Palmer, Zachary Pirkola, Alex Postma, Logan Pratt, Hestia Reed, Max Schnurstein, Nicolas Scholl, Cruz Sierra, See HONOR on 9 Cooper Sowerby, Lydia Spees, Emily Stauffer, Arrow Stephen, Ruby Stoepker, Logan TenHopen, Calieb Tewoldemedhin, Shrimathi Thinniyam Sakthi Kumar, Adelyim VanderZand, Samuel Westemeyer, Lilli Wonnacott, Katerina Yard, Quinn Ziegler and Zack Zupin. Magna Cum Laude — Stella Barn­ well, Lydia Bell, Isaac Bennett, Connor Bloemers, Rylee Bos, Chloe Caldwell, Nora Case, Elijah Clark, Anderson Col­ lins, Nora Collins, Analiese Crothers, Maci Davis, Sarah Denick, Naiya Dilley, Abigail Douglass, Jaycie Duffy, Jordyn Duffy, Emma Elzinga, Sophie Ferris, Bryce Freese, Grace Geelhoed, Melanie Genao Grullon, Chace Gorby, Myla Gortmaker, Ava Graham, Sophie Grajewski, Russell Grandon, Aiden Hager, Eli Hanna, Brooke Haynes, Jackson Heffner, Riley Hess, Avery Hitsman, Amelia Hodges, May Huckleberry, Katelyn Johnson, Shane Johnson, Shane Johnston, Max Judd, Aden Kalkofen, Maisie Klingen­ smith, Cooper Kosecki, Devin Kurtz, Oslo Langeweg, Mason Lapekes, Ruby Larson, Katelyn Light, August Maichele, Aditya Malvankar, Sedad Maric, Louis Mauriello, Bryson McCulloch, Kayla McKenzie, •1 cornerstonechurch we’re casual, come as vou are V. t ■■KT ■ I , I r** *T ♦J* • Quilt Fabrics - First Quality • 108” Backs - Wide Variety • Gift Certificates Available • Threads, Zippers, Trims, etc. < 4 One Church • Three Locations Caledonia I Grand Rapids | Wyoming Join Us In Person or Online! LJk K/^ BASiB B Scan the code or visit cornerstonemi.org to find locations and service times, plus ways to watch online! ■{i* Jesus Loves Zou “O* ■ r’ ;«9' 1 . I QUESTIONS: r HS4 I ^S-., H @cornerstonemi .V * Wk* 1 ' n P OS? i ■SJ"''- > >** 1 I ■.0 j a f I . > I • </ Caledonia High School released its honor roll for the second semester of the 2024-25 academic year. Students earning a grade point average of4.0 or above are recognized with summa cum laude honors. Those with a GPA of 3.5-3.9 received magna cum laude recognition, with stu­ dents posting a GPA between 3.3-3.49 as cum laude. Students qualifying for the second se­ mester honor roll include: • i I ti- r 5 CHS recognizes student achievement with second semester honor roii » V Saturday, June 14, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com �Saturday. June 14, 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com •f*. • 4 s 9, 4 ?a > .1 V * •« V .« a M- •*.T> rr 5 I.:! > k > Mb’ k •i Ms I r S’ 1 1 <» <w 1 J it — I Ml £ c 9 bi •* House fire in Gaines Twp. causes injury, structural damage in Cutlerville. Kent County Central Dispatch offi­ cials reported the blaze broke out just before 6 a.m. at the home located on the 7800 block of Jonagold Drive at See FIRE on 8 A house fire during the early morn­ ing hours of Sunday, June 8, left one person injured and did some damage on the upper floor of the bi-level home .:ae :MU:' J nmuTOR ■ t VP* V J r_j HEATING AND COOLING X,'’ A/C Expires 6/30/25 ' - TUNE-UP t 'SUfO • .^b^KV.rk . l^ouHd up your young un's and bring them to Leighton Church for a rootin' tootin' good time learning about the wonders of Jesus! Sunday. June 22nd Thursday June 26th 6. J0-S.50 p.m. I -» 4 •l Only ■ Experienced Service Technician Apply within. 'I I 1 Dan Veldhuizen of the Portage-based firm of Siegfried Crandall gives a presentation to the Gaines Township Board of Trustees on Monday, June 9, regarding the findings from its 2024 fiscal year audit. Photo by James Gemmell GAINES Continued from Page 2 tion on the auditor’s report to the town­ ship board at its regular meeting Monday, June 9. He said the township received an “unmodified, clean opinion,” meaning there were no major errors in its financial operations. “We’ve made relatively few adjust­ ments here,” Veldhuizen said. Even though the accounting firm prepares the document each year, the township management is ultimately re­ sponsible for the financial statements and internal controls, or checks and balances, over the transactions. “A lot of new board members that I have been talking to this year don’t realize that,” Veldhuizen said. “They often report this as ‘our’ report. And, it’s important to let you know that this is your report, ultimately.” Auditors reportedly made some corrections to the township’s internal outer Products AServices Available • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! r I I 4120 2nd Street. Caledonia B I For 111' partners age 4 thru 6th grade fL r (entering rn the fall) PB THEMOSTTRUSTED*NAME IN hOOFING w. « r 4» -w *" c REGISTER ONLIME AT WWW LEIGHTONCHURCH 0R6 AFBS <■ I > jr SHERRIFF GOSLIK *■ rif> 210 East Main Street Caledonia \ * * r 1 Wf i 11 i {jleil®i'' control procedures, such as showing depreciation on capital assets and reporting developer contributions. The accounting firm also made adjustments to township ledger on taxes receivable at the end of the year. That’s rel ati vely few compared to a 1 ot oftownships your size,” Veldhuizen said. As for the township’s financial posi­ tion, he added that the township’s fund balance is about $6.5 million. “1 always look at that relative to expen­ ditures,” Veldhuizen said. “If you do the math, it’s 212 percent of expenditures. That’s a higher fund balance than I’ve seen here before. Some ofthat’s due to the additional interest that’s been earned,” he added. “But I also think it’s important to know that’s a healthy fund balance and not excessive.” Healthy financial numbers also were noted in some of the township’s fund balances, including $ 17 million in sewer, $12 million in water and $2.9 million in inspections. fl *ri » >ri A"’ » w 1.' 9•Vi W 4 .J < f i -» »- I i I f ( iUl « i I f JOk'"'' ;...«r «♦ .V J 0 f* » K ** 1* b I J t i I * %n 1 J i ( I ;* k 4 u I 1 rfCV t4r f J * •• * ijar i j.. J a «M a JU / C I r .’<" '. * 1 I - J I xwv I* !. I'i ' £" « i *l|tf*'**^ t 4«k <1 'TMFT t > I' ^ ■■ I •''•Gl : iif- V'tfes f 'I I ijNitaOrf’ J » ( I f 9 if 7 . ■ t I 47 ii * ji • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALJ. INSURANCE COMPANYS I I '1^'^ 1 I > & • A4> rating with better business BUREAU » >» f r 5 iV, 1» * • a '-9^ 1 kJ t kJ i 1 CALL TODAY 4 t r : * w <1. .1 •*» ! * V or INSPECTION^ USSi!- J 33 r r?. |*lTVk -.X 'ri «• z J II : I >» W-962W36 I » J4 < t VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSUN.COM/BATTLECREEK A. - r M-r- - A •> 1 r » 4 'j« (k k I » * 0. *' i.i 2 J 1 ] « > » > 5 < 1 1 « * » 1 1 « . ..< irr:2 * iZJ t 1 ■'» t FOR YOUR FREE -_wi. I 4 Ssu-Sh- I I / » B I «r w € >f IN THE BUSINESS a * 9 \ k k. ) ) < i ai • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 1I5» YEARS I *« •■W. I » •A w ,3h>' tr - iA -lb * -- . -♦ * •ff-'-W »r • ** • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED QUALITY ROOFING ^4 A' ' t ". 4 yr* j • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS -.W- ' ihe iompdm hiiilt h\ lefctiiiis' FE^ I t I a t • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM 4 ..V f I k' V a f I V iB SEEKING <-* 2 <- . > c L r I I kr-v A house fire on Jonagold Drive in Cutlerville reportedly may have started upstairs, possibly near an elevated deck. One person was reported to be injured as a result of the blaze. Photos by James Gemmell V fA’ ti > z h James Gemmell Contributing Writer IE k5fi^ r Al* I iw*--.' a-*. • I •i k >*■ iI V a♦ • k : ’■ft j IJ •CTxS.^j s I» t ' 4 4. * «>* E J « -*«r K •fi I ’ -r; V • larv w d 'll . j !► ■X *ar / V. ri « a, t V"'-' F **.1 I f 1 I ■' .'•* sr '"^'* •.' s LI i L i I I t I ?'! I I 4^ �iv I b 4 I 4 4 J I . Mr ‘ f Saturday, June 14, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I 7 4 4 4 I Or TKMS junior equestrian team earns honors ( r Is A ' f a iMT- ai='JBs jqqrmodT I 4 ill I pH i { ; The Thomapple Kellogg Middle School Jr. Equestrian team earned Reserve Champion honors last week end at the Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association District 19 meet at the Barry County Expo Center. Team members competed against 10 teams in 16 different classes to bring home the honors. This event is open to riders in grades fifth through eighth grades. The team is coached by Ally Quist and Leah Mokma. KTE 1 .1' I I F 4* I adJCs J * ■Aqirif-ii J, O’ - J ff; / I - . t I »J ? < ( I 4 •- A r flLi* «4 j I. ’I 4 I at ’ k .'TIj ’W I * *• ► J The Thornapple Middle School Equestrian team members are (from left) Kayleigh Brown, Anna Kenyon. Emily Coe, Emy Snow. Riley McKeown, Taylor Buehler, Savanah Scott. Charlotte Cowell. Brystal Vos and Morgan Ryan. Courtesy photo '4--. -i f s ” Caledonia bus drivers win Regional Bus Road-e-o Competition V. 1 7 K ‘-'■ l, >1 I Karen Turko-Ebright 7-<W I Staff Writer tv. tfj J /in * A * I I I s 4. <»1ni 1 • I 1 SGO/r .'*t hIm) 4 A Im. I I'.' 1 * <» J2U r 1 J » ■44 I I ‘ it ■» bl (fl- I.U 1 'I f '1 , '*^O*ii* u s 4 I •• • I 1 I 5^, I I I 1 tj^> 11 .-rvf region. Bus drivers were challenged with emergency simulations along with a series of other real-world scenarios con­ ducted at the 2025 School Bus Road-e-o, including precision maneuvers with tight turns, parking challenges and backing exercises. To highlight their expertise and rein­ force safe driving standards, participants had to complete a rigorous written test and demonstrate safe student loading and unloading practices. Overall third place winner, Dan Otten­ wess, earned the opportunity to represent Caledonia at the State Bus Road-e-o on ' IP.Wr T*.} I Ml «Ae A team of bus drivers—^not bull riders from Caledonia schools has reclaimed first place at the annual Region 8 School Bus Road-e-o, held on May 10 at Hudsonville Public Schools. Caledonia brought both ±e regional and county titles back home. Caledonia Transportation Director Michaellita Fortier said, “Grandville won it (title) last year for county in the region.” The group competed against almost 60 other drivers from other districts last month including Grandville, Forest Hills, West Ottawa and more from across the 4 1 I . f ■'iiSOSS } t ! f • J w ♦ ’ey > 4 •• * iW““ rt' *a 3 K f AV 1 11 X; ■' a;A V 1 •J. . I J I •< f I I i I 1 ) / k.* ' i r 1 •w > Ml W ? 'l « t/ I » 4*1 I i 7 • r ' t f •» t / v iii^ V I '.J V • . 'SW ' 1 V r' I* * fx in a t »3 □ : t ►t Th The Legacy of Leadership In July, Dr. Kim Norris completes her final term on the Barry Community Foundation Board of ■ r Directors. Serving her 2nd nineyear term, she becomes one of 1 the first “double emeritus" board members to reach her term limit. Inspired to give back to her community, she is especially L excited about the work done to establish several programs providing workforce housing in Barry County. As an ophthalmologist and owner of Creekside Vision, she is able to give back in many ways. « ♦4 -'i .•> SEE THE GOOD SHE GIVES J I L *«w>- than a competition. It’s a celebration of the critical role school bus drivers play in student safety,” said Fortier, “We are so proud of our team for demonstrating exceptional skill, professionalism, and a deep commitment to excellence. They truly are the best of the best!” J ,1' B June 14 at Mason Middle School. The award-winning Caledonia team included Dan Ottenwess, Tim Nurenberg. Heather Vantil, Deanna Hall, Ethan Fitzgerald, Janice Steensma, Tari Johnson, Sue Mullan, and Beth Pritchard. ‘‘The School Bus Road-e-o is more * I » t .1 r 4 Hi ,1 Jr »A' 4 4 I 'uS ’f...*1 t' 4 I th * * M MflPI JQAjUioU , ■ • ../.n or Rjfii ‘ lOB Oil) rs 31)610 II 1 I J ; J} ni nl .jIqciIuE^^ '/i .nfiLuM aiJSii f .wc fro 1 er nt , J s I ■ i 1 '■' >1® j qc '^ilTlA .no?ni1oL I I ♦ ' J8 QOlnB^ ! J 4 9 "t ill™ iw b> kI 1 r « A On May 10, Caledonia Community Schools' team of bus drivers won first place at the annual Region 8 School Bus Road-e-o held at Hudsonville Public Schools. In the front row, from left are Tim Nurenberg, Dan Ottenwess and Sue Mullan. Next, in the middle row, from left stands Heather Vantil and Tari Johnson. At the top back row from left are Deanna Hall, Ethan Fitzgerald and Janice Steensma. Courtesy photo YEARS OF lAAPROVING LIVES THE BARRY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WWW.BARRYCF.ORG I 1 < f » ♦ ’* I » •'/4 i .I 4 .1 1-; H' ‘1 I V r I I h V » • » I r •r ■W^W«lCTg4 * If you wont to learn more on leaving a legacy, call Bonnie Gettys or Annie Halle at 269-945-0526, to ensure your gifts support your hopes and dreams. ’1^ > », V I �t » *• » it k- ■ ’tx «!>• 4. / Saturday, June 14, 2025 8 THE SUN AND NEWS 1^ www.sunandnews.com t' ♦ .4 A > l^' 's IS » V 5^ : J FIRE 4k ’ 4 ;«r* * <1. I . 1 A V I miW W .. ’*br- Q. >M| I 4£. house fire broke out just before 6 a.m. Sunday in Cutlerville, with emergency and firefighting crews remaining on the scene for a couple hours. YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. X I 'ft* K 9 You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors and our future. ■ II 11 ■< ■' •J . •h I X i.-f-W* t ' w 4. S-M J w-MkBBSaML. •s* • • • J t "5^ / w > ? < r X > * • Group I Firefighters from Gaines Township and the City of Kentwood respond to a house fire on Jonagold Drive in Gaines Township. t iA t X I A I 4* I* r.\ E ..J / V I r- . •* 4 . 'sX' z'l* • » * I .*f V If* * I 'UL^ 1 • !■ 1 >' Ie# Zj# .n r r< r...... • .i^ 9 •4 ? 1 »a ; 4 ♦ r » z 9• .41'^ x< M 8^" ■■■ r > t ’i'’ I, «.w S)e^ ■> 9 4 lA V ! f'- r’* t k il ' » 1 •• :#• >' r- .-'TU-; «A <iV-» / (( I !>■>.. Your Community Connection '.s: €€ w VIEV^T ■ Empire Drive, west of Eastern Avenue. Firefighters reportedly knocked the fire down fairly quickly, with crews then remaining on scene to mop up and check for potential hotspots for a couple hours. Witnesses said the fire may have be­ gun near an elevated deck, though that remained unconfirmed as ofpress lime. Gaines Charter Township Fire Chief Ken Van Hall also said the cause of the fire was undetermined and, according to reports, an investigation into the blaze was ongoing. One civilian injury occurred while escaping the fire,” Van Hall added later. One dog and two turtles were rescued by firefighters.” There was no word from public safety officials on the extent of the person’s injury, nor was the individual identified. Gaines Township firefighters were assisted by units from City of Kent­ wood and AMR paramedics. I «r * if' Continued from Page 6 4 :■ I / r 1 «&/* I > 4 *■ * .9^. \ I r I 1^. fa I ’ 4 (• I «> I* r i*- » f. •A ' 0« I - f ft •* A I b* -M' \ r 1 .K ,» i#ur. I. I J f I ( T QfT 4 M 1 * E 1 I I * t ) I n ■ w« >< * It 1 * * i *'■«**“ 1 i I I 1 ..4 4 4 I ft I J II I 4 ■w— 4 « . *«. * n-T 4>. I s 1 Scan our OR code to find your perfect invitation! »/ I :jU »» aS I ,I r t I .H ■;:;illJJ, » 4 A J :1B ]^M1« r . 4 1 V • i • V • >>. IMH* I •< ;• J f, b *5’’ J ** IB.' X . A / ■ A— a *V te,CBilBiW: fcilteK'a > • » * • • Wj »- 72- Simply Perfect r; ,r •i 1 < > :siJX t ><•» f xLr-r.b' V I', . ' 1 •• 1 ii? U *■ P • 5**2 WEDDING INVITATIONS *w X• 1 = 1 . I 1 ir S 1 Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. ar”T £r ABR I I -c ’ >1 / Im V s I BBB. ft .. .. • I JaiK '9t « t?' ■'Mat * 4 i .- t' c. f ginacl@pennylaneprinting.com wI ' V- p ia •< ,T A’".' ft ibf I ¥?»* ' I ‘V. I. . ** * r- •.* » t k -T t I « 9 » f ! t t t T I 9 ! * I « 9 / t i t 9 *V-.' ! t Llr !«« T » taC3^- f t \ www.printingbypennylane.com A+ ) *1 PRINTING BY ACCREOfTEO BUSINESS Bkfesii. I tv LENNOX * B, I » * ft 'U- X ! ' ^F” f lV’* * . X#- . • r: 7i’5 *!(■ T t z. V , I J> * if I f F A ^1. ■-' V «> > r . .r^ .* HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. Wk7'"^4V Since 269-792-2234 DEWEERDHTG.COM ♦ ' ki * I <• DeWeerd f u.^ V wn-tt.v -I 1 J k?: B t r a» 1.' • I > «4«*^ « I lA:' FuCr^^’ . I'* J » Vftr A 1 Residential & Commercial .f « - r; 'X-fe 1 w < kfe r i at*’’ kt I Pr > I I*.* i ri >■ kr . S * t f » M -c I ** < it * -------- < r". ■1 »SIT I I w ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers Air Conditioners -Heat Pumps -Water Heaters Humidifiers f X• ■* • IVE ’RE HERE FOR Ik ♦1 9 < f f « t I t t 4 f I I / r f ! f I ! * t b » « V « I / I !f^i I y.' t 4 I h I 1< I I I •. t I I i r ii < !4 i f :• 1 ( '1 1 �♦ ♦ I 1 .i THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Saturday, June 14, 2025 9 I HONOR I J i t i ■ •' l'*.' ♦ Continued from Page 5 J I J t J Raelynn TenElshof, Myiah Thayer, Iris VanOosteihout, Lilian VanStrien, Cooper Wiltse and Ethan Yaiger. r I f A nt I •asisY nr.f(J.' i 1) * I t t ,I ’i f M < •atj/ < TENTH GRADE: A* 1 A t < I > V *-r. * * k I I I I 4 9 ♦t A I k> 11 • ■‘IS- Ir w r s J I I ! ric9.1 ,1 i toH rr I f 5 f J 1 •''A I K • 5, I J J. t'i /Hr i yr i I s M I y/alznafi f i I 1 ijrrjL ‘Ui ^^7 mV lu 21 r } Hi / ■ 1 K < r rm I 4 s '■ » ’fii ’ I 42 I '-la* I J K. i >1 I 3 ’ -.11 % . -1 11 s f f rm I ) Cfll I ; m SIot w 3 jz I 5 fef I J'nri 0 I J III ^11 qi V. J TT «J jsfii Ltl- nr?. I rnrh/ ^5^ ill n jL tkUrc a . -a 9 2^’ TP I t .i;k’ £ < kJ ' I i II' I •if.’ L ( .■f" on w 7 I j©f/ n.ijE ( 1 / . r V I i : ■ I G W (I j ll1 1 ; I €11/11)11 I I I /I ' • G I J-.l' fi ) i S 1 i 1 < J :0 f I I • t I I J I 1 i ■' I Jj; ; I i I I N 1 ( •- :6' 1 I <t>I' V'CM*- 11 i t I I 'f f'.'- ‘ i f ..it ( I g 1 ■ I I ( i 1 I ! ( f ‘ I , Summa Cum Laude ~ Aibree Akers, Jackson Almy, Addison Atheam, Bryce Backus, Layla Bouwens, Kiara Cogswell, Katherine Cousineau, Elliott Davis, Em­ ery DeRosia, Trevor Dorman, Liam Dykhouse, Josie Endres, Grant Feldpausch, Benjamin Geerdes, Chase Geister, Ayla Gerken, Aseel Ghannam, Grace Groendyke, Sean Harney, Gabriella Henney, E)ylan Hilaski, Le^ Hileman, Thomas Hodgson, Braden Hofstee, Claire James, Zack Keson, Ty Kimbrell, Luke Kowatch, Mackenzie Krentz, Jack LeBoeuf, Vanness Lin, Madison Lockwood, Ellie Melano, Kayleigh Miersen, Noah Miller, Taven Openshaw, Abby Poe, Sophia Price, Katie Reoch, Benji Rewa, Madison Reynolds, Vanessa Schram, Avery Seif, Lincoln Senti, Evelyn Smith, Tyler Smith, Emma Sokolovic, Wiliam Szyperski, Sui Tial, Katie Tran, Kate Trusevich, Anna VanderWal, Meghan Venhuizen, James Visser and Emily Walbeck. Magna Cum Laude - Morgan Barthel, Cameron Beach, Sarah Berger, Kayla Briseno, Bria Brower, Justin Brown, Kobe Buchan, Jagger Bumes, Elizabeth Crankson, Hunter Creguer, Trey Curnow, Akaela Daman, Addison Dana, Brecken Daniero, Cole DeBlecourt, Ada Decker, Natalie DeTurk, Levi Dorband, Cora Draft, Allison Dryburgh, Estella Finkbeiner, Walker Freese, Justin Golembeske, Emmett Haan, Lauryn Hager, Olivia Hawkins, Caedyn Heys, Maria Homrich, Evelyn Huttenga, Jack Johnson, Isaac Judd, Ava Kennedy, Rosalyn Langworthy, Sonja Lazarevic, Nick Long, Benjamin Lusaya, Made Mai, Owen McCormick, Jackson McNew, Gavin Montanino, Landen Moore, Grant Morrell, Madelyn Mulder, Connor Myers, Kyle Nguyen, Renno Nichols, Corinne Nordlund, Keira Paalman, Jake Paoletti, Connor Parlin, Logan Paulen, Nola Pearson, Mackenzie Popma, James Prichard, Jackson Pugh, Abi Putnam, Quentin Raffler, Adelaide Reavis, Koleson Reeder, Ella Rigley, Gabriela Rissley, Willa Rose, Kelsey Roszkowski, Alexis Saidoo, Lauren Scheid, Kenan Sehic, Laife Shuman, Lily Smi±, Lincoln Snow, Harrison Solum, Taylor Sowles, Lucas Swartz, Addison Swim, Natalia Teneyuque, Madelyn Terryn, Jazmyn Thompson, Margaret Thunder HawK Presley Tidey, Madison Trompen, Hannah Twork, Niklas VanderArk, Jayden VanderSyde, Addison Veldt, Abigail Wilkes, Julia Zenn and Kylee Zimmerer. Cum Laude - Sophia Baldizon, Ryder Bom, Ainsley Bridges, Aidan Brown, Aaron Collins, Caelyn Crocker, Will Dickey, Luke Grasman, Miles Grengs, Kobe Griffioen, Rhyan Guzman, Connor Hager, Arbor Hannink, Anna Homrich, Riley Kalacanic, Emilia Kaszynska, Ava LaBine, Hailey Nichols, Hayden Paggeot, Milana Rico, Jennifer Schiefla, Tyden Schuch, Sean Sorrell, Ethan Sova, SophiaTeelander, Brock Tidey, Gretchen VanderEide, Mya VanderZwaag and Olivia VanLaan. NiomiScavo, Ella Schultetus, Mila Schultz, Ethan Schwartzfisher, Gavin Senneker, Colton Sheely, Luke Smith, Sofia Smith, Ryan Snider, Austin Soper, Alexander Spinney, Evan Standley, Halle Stout, Sydney Streit, Summer Tague, Ellie Tennant, Claire Timmerman, Landon Tiripan, TylerTriebel, Helena Truong, Eli Velting, Abby VerBurg, Payton Walker, Brayion Walma, Haydn Weidner, Ella Wickens, Yelena Wilks, Drake Young and Brianna Zeller. Cum Laude ~ Juliana Apo, Hannah Backhus, Ava Bedingham, Lilhan Bender, Ella Bums, Sydney Claike, Tana Coates, Leila DeOliveira-Terzic, Brady Fanco, Gillian Guzman, Andrew Hanna, Malachi ELEVENTH GRADE: Hanson, Haley Hartnett, Katie Honhart, Benjamin James, Alden Jones, Av Jordan, Neelani Jourden, Kohen Lapekes, Torie gell, Valin Barrett, Brooke Bender, Brecken Main, Madelynn Pittman, Savannah RobByrd, Wade Cawson, Kyla Charles, Addi­ inson, Hadeel Shukur, Mya-Rose Slosser, son Cook, Gavin DeFiel^, Kayla DeGraaf, Madelyn Stauffer, Andrew VanderKolk, Baylee DeVries, Sebastian DeZeeuw, Samuel Walma, Anna Wmdsor, Dakota Charlie Doan, Maxwell Doll, Brennan Winters and Luke Wtvoet. Donnelly, Sophia Douglass, Larissa Dudicz, GOTett Fales, Sophia Fata, Katelyn TWELFTH GRADE: Ferris, Anders Foerch, Yasmeen Ghannam, Summa Cum LaudQ - Ashleigh Adams, Landry Hammond, Caleb Harrison, Adam Sophia Anderson, Luke Atheam, Michael Haynes, Jonas Howell, Kay Hurst, Noah Beiger, Greta Betz, Brecken Bloemers, Kaplan, Ian Kimbrell, Jolie King, Parker Keegan Broomfield, Ethan Buer, Malia „ ...... , . Knoop, Cu-ce Langeweg, Gabrielle Linker, Burke, PaikerChapp,Roiy Cobb, Makenna Avarey Lippert, Parker Lipsman, Marian Cole, MadisonColes, Carson Conroy, Liam , Listen, Allison Malone, Keira Marshall, Cook, Remy Cortez, Nathen Cox, Adysen Jayden McCoy, Liam Moore, Christian Daman, Kaylee Dekkinga-Weller, Mary Moorlag, Cole Nyman, Angel Par, Caleb Depetro, Noah DeRosia, Ella DeRuyter, Parlin, Rebecca Pezzato, Derick Prichard, Christian DeYoung, Evan DeYoung, Ashia Robinson, David Robinson, Isaac Drew Diebolt, Hannah Dupuis, Aidan Robotham, Abigail Schnurstein, Abby Edgar, Easton Ellens, Alexa Elliot, Amber Skibinski, Evelynn Slomp, Ethan Snapper, Fairchild, Chessie Fanco, Jenny Geoige, r, J o XT- o • T, , Bradyn Snow, Nina Stiver, Hailey Thayer, Presley Gyorki, Silas Haan, Neal Hargrave, Chelsea Tran, Brooklynn VanArtsen, Ally Heaton, Aliya Hemden, Liz Hilton, Kaden VanRyn, Rosalyn VanStrien, Maya Ellie Hudson, Kathleen Johnson, Bric^et White, Elliot Winger, Morgan Wnuk,Rydik Kayser, Lukas Keson, Kylee Kirkbride, Wrubel and Elliott Ziegler. Gretel Knipping, Colin Kowatch, NirdMagna Cum Laude - Parker Anderson, hvaitha Kumar, Elena LaFranca, Myah Alivia Baareman, Andrew Barnum, Skye Lapekes, West Larson, Danielle Le-Tran, Bradley, Elliot Clark, Libby Coles, Julia Austin Licari, Ellery Lienesch, Siyani Cooley, Aydin DeBoer, Peyton DeHom, Mahadevan, Jessica Maier, Tyler McAlHudsen Derengowski, Elysa DeVries, lister, Samantha McCormick, Brennan Brent DeYomg, Audrey Duong, Katelyn McVey, Sawyer Mertz, Samuel Miersen, Farstvedt, Eliana Grinstead, Kaedence Herr, Elise NIiller, Nathan Montross, Andrew Sam Hoag, Ayden Hoisington, Hazel Hom- Moore, Claire Musk, Cameron Myers, ing, Zoey Hunter, Raymond Huynh, Alyssa Alivia Neubauer-Keyes, Copelin OkrangJernigan, Paityn John, Nathan Johnston, ley, Peter Paarlberg, Emerson Pattock, Erin Noah Johnston, Avery Jurmu, Lyla Keller, Peckham, Eliza Pehrson, Owen Petersen, Jonathan Kellogg, Hellen Komera, Molly TJ Platschorre, Allie Poe, Kayli Price, Fmn Larson, Ty Lewandowski, Molly Liggett, Radtke, Caydence Reed, Logan Reimbold, Adelae Lucas, Addison Luxford, Owen Rian Restau, Sebastian Rissley, Addison Mancuso, Jocelyn Martinez, Easton Miller, Russell, Meghan Ruthven, Juliana Ryder, Ella Miller, Zoe Miller, Noah Moberly, William Sheely, Henry Simon, Ranveer Mitchell Moelker, Ben Moss, Kortney Singh, Cetys Smith, Taylor Sorsen, Olivia Muller, Sergio Munoz, Codie Okrangley, Stauffer, Owen Straight, Christopher StJameson Palmer, Kady Palmer, Stuart reit. River Swanlund, Andrew Tava, Justin Parker, Aaron Pyper, Camden Quigley, Trees, Isabella Treib, Adela Turpin, Kenna I 1 ) 1 r 1 s i iJ 4 r I I VanLente, Susanna Vire, Emily Vu and Cameron Weibel. Magna Cum Laude - Madelyn Abraham, Ava Acton, Sophia Bartuch, Samir Begovic, Madison Bemal, Keira Bommarito, Kiley Bommarito, LakelyBottum, Gabrielle Bums, Teagan Chu, Jenna Clapper, Dakota Cole, Jack Collett, Lauren Collett, Samantha Daley-Fell, Kiersten DeHaan, Kara DeVault, Cody DeVries, Madison Doroff, Dalton Ed, Noah Fennell, Leighton Fink, Ethan Fisher, Landon Fleming, Anthony Fox, Kaeler Fox, Ethan Franken, Ella Frederick, Cambria Gaier, Sophia Gauthier, Aiden Gieseler,SydneyGonyon, LilyGortmaker,Kailyn Gustin, Brogan Hacht, Leigha Hall, Alex Hance, Leyla Hazel, Paige Henion, Lexi Henney, Logan Himes, Alexander Hochwarth, Claire Hoop,RebeccaHomacek,NoahIrish,Micah Jacobson, Samuel Jones, Rachel Judd, Kaelin Kalacanic, Analise Kaminski, Anthony Kauffinan, Mason Kern, Benjamin Kieliszewski, Avalynn Klapmust, Olivia LaHaie, Mason Langeland, Addy Lash, Lauren Lauver, Abbie Layton, Isabella Leason, Molly Lieske, Samuel Lusaya, Shaun Milanowski, Emmi Mince, Mason Morrell, Amber Mun­ son, Tucker Murray, Tien Nguyen, Josie Noble, Aubrey Oldfield, Amariana OrtegaSummerville, Sakura Otto, Lukas Palmitier, Pellerito, Geoi^a Pennington, Ada Petersen, Ethan Petz, DJ Potgeter, Noah p^or, Joshua Raboum, Ademar Rei^ Kali ana Reynolds, Allye Risner, Jensen Rivera, Kyler Ross, Garrett Ruehle, Alaina Russell, Anthony Russo, Addison Saidoo, Madison Savin, Kasen Savoy, Payton Seelye, Allie Sensing, Yoga Sharma, Makenna Smiertka, Johanna Sproul, Hayden Stanley, Emma stein, Ava Streff, Ayden Taylor, Alexis Tell, Claire Teunessen, Natu Tewoldemedhin Kort Thompson,’ Hailey Tiers, Ryleigh VanderBeig, Addysen VanderL^, Carly VanderRoei William VanderWeele, Aiden VanDeWeert, Leah VanHall, Luke Veldman, Reed Vogeler, Lillian Walker, Trevor Walter, Kayla Wever,’EllaWierenga,’lsabellaWierzbicki, Josie Wilcox, Leah Williams, Haylee ^Vinstrom, Lauren Wnuk, Cameron ^^right, Alani Xiong and Isabel Zupin. Cum Laude — Brody Benjamin Joseph Briseno, Mya Burgess, William CMsman, Kaden Colegrove, Anthony Daley, Tristari Devrou, Taylor Doss, Laney Elles, Isabella Ellis, Zoe Fleming, Owen Fynewever, Katie Guernsey, Emma Hansen, Carter Johnson, Lily Keech, Eden Korb, Jenna Labun, Hailey Markwat, Vincent Mauriello. Cole Morgan, Zachary Mulder, Sam Ouwinga, Alaina Palmer, Alana Pettenger, Ragaz Piromari, Isaac Pitchford, Samuel Pugh, Brody Siler, Bradyn Sorensen, Sam Temple, Caleb Thome, Levi VerBurg, Talen Verburg and Christina Waldmiller. DM * ♦ �1“ I, I 10 Saturday, June 14, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS ft ',x- be < Gaines trustees discuss voting equipment options ft Vi 2027, and the Slate of Michigan has said it is not anticipating having funds available formunicipalities to purchase new equipment. Gaines Township has nine voting precincts on election days, but essentially 11, factoring in early voting and absentee CHA RTER voting. The current esti­ TOWNSHIP OF mated per-precinct cost CALEDONIA to replace the equipment BOARD OF is about $15,000. TRUSTEES “Unless 1 can find prop­ er ways of consolidating precincts, the cost to Gaines Charter Township would be in the neigh ­ The minutes for the borhood of $165,000 if May 21, 2025 Township Board of Trustees 1 have done my math Meeting that were correctly,” Clerk Michael approved on June 4, Brew wrote in an email to 2025, are posted at the The Sun and Ney\^s. Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave And that would be and on the website at just for the new equip ­ www.caledoniatownment, not including the additional costs associ * ^0 COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Meeting Minutes The minutes of the May 27, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on May June 10, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main Street and on the website at www.villageofmiddleville.org. ♦» 284 N. BRIGGS ROAD- MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN 49333 269-795-9091 / FAX 269-795-2388 YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE June 25, 2025 at 6 PM PROPOSED 2025-2026 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING The Yankee Springs Township Board will hold a Special Meeting to conduct a Public Hearing on the proposed Township Budget Fiscal Year 2025-2026 at the Township Hall, 284 N. Briggs Road, Middleville, Michigan 49333 on Wednesday June 25 at 6 PM. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed Budget will be a subject of this hearing. A copy of the proposed budget is available for public Inspection at the Township Office on June 19, 2025 during regular office hours. Americans with Disabilities Notice: “The Yankee Springs Township Board will provide necessary and reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting to individuals at the meeting upon 5 days notice to the Township Clerk, 284 N. Briggs Road, Middleville, MI 49333. Phone 269-795-9091. Fax 269-795-2388. Tom Hopkins Yankee Springs Township Clerk < I / ( f a t a ! ! f 9 / * a * 4 a J « f 4 I 4 a I t / a a * a a 9 ! a t ! t a i ! 6 a / J t t t a t ! a 9 « / « r / I t 1 p. » • A,* I' I 1 f W»' T t James Gemmell Contributing Writer Gaines Charier Township may have to spend around $ 165,000 to update some voting equipment in less than two years. The expiration date on it is Feb. 28, ♦ * *9 jr> I’ ,t Mir A 9 ' S**' !*' ' < I 4 r t 1 i f- .ir • r n VOTE iBvrmiM » ♦ t It I k 0 V * «< t I ' -.7*. r* ’<► ■ 1 ?> Gaines Charter Township may have to spend around $165,OCK) to update some voting equipment in less than two years. Photo by James Gemmell 1 ♦ 1 I »• >■ i* f I I k’ I 9 I ^v\l t f? i ated with the purchase of supplies and training staff on how to use the new equipment. Brew discussed the situation with the township board at its June 9 meeting at the township hall. “So, I guess I’m asking that we bud­ get money for election equipment (as) capital expenses,” he said. “I do have a note in my information for next year’s budget that we need to create a provision for that,” Township Manager Rod Weersing said. Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra suggested that the township board take that discussion up at its July budget meeting. Brew said that he may be able to reduce the number of voting precincts in the township through consolida­ tion. The state constitution allows only 4,999 active registered voters per precinct. The maximum number used to be 2,999 voters, but the Michigan Legislature changed that in November 2023. Local election commissions can consolidate precincts with fewer than 4,999 active registered electors. “With the amount of development that’s going on in Gaines Township ...I don’t know how much I’m going to be able to reduce our 11 precincts,” Brew said. Michigan law requires that separate early voting sites be set up for voters to cast ballots in person before election day. After the early voting period ends, all equipment used at the early voting site must be returned to the clerk. That includes electronic voting equipment, ballot containers and election materials. The Michigan Association of Mu­ nicipal Clerks (MAMC) held its sum­ mer conference June 2 through June 6 at the Muskegon Convention Center. Dominion Voting Systems, Hart and Election Systems & Software (ES&S) demonstrated some ofthe latest election equipment they supply in Michigan. Brew said the three manufacturers and some new companies are going through a rigorous testing process for electronic tabulating equipment to make sure it is performing properly. “Our standards and laws have chjinged recently with Michigan voters adding new election laws to the Michi * gan constitution,” Brew said. Some of those changes include early voting, same-day registration, absentee ballots being processed in precincts, and electronic voting for military and overseas voters. “The older voting equipment is too slow to handle the new demands; thus, the need to get new equipment,” Brew said. “Accessibility standards have also changed, which were not necessarily built into the technology of the over 1 O-year-old equipment.” 1r 1 !»• fk * t A'* t k' A tI I s m I I I p k , I j i I ft. I .4 A 5 I * 4*4 r• V * r ;^r : I »ifl^ 7# - I i‘i r 1 I » 1 »• I » • * a: I ft if <b rj f 1 1 1 t aJ ►*- f ''Ml I * 9 J r . II 11 t I ♦t ttlOiBiif* ft _ M ’ r r- -*•*44 4 > <* * . r / J 1 r •e f V ( I t I t X 4*.' I . Klii ’ M’lll * < J VK:-K!tain 9r t f * 9 4 ft I A CRM I j r t I I « a 1 ul '4 I ( r t 4 •♦ A • A ••'w I * I i C4'' 1* * >1 �I I tI ♦ i ♦ I www.sunandnews.com -iRfcnL - THE SUN AND NEWS Saturday, June 14, 2025 11 ♦ ? t tHM i;’k; 4 Wildwood Summer Series in Alto entertains crowds with music, food and drink i i I I e I ? I v 9 f f riA.' 02 4 nirf 9 ' »' k * Contributing Writer > i I James Gemmell -» t 1 i > VII iCi . f ; 1 j / I 'J ■ K’ My? 1^ I I I I J. f * di; zi IBlu f r i r I 1 '9nfff in Qi JiJ'dT '* Ucdsbna ; ft CL ■&I «F ; 4 sr • • V. •. ''i t ^i= I 4 4 f «•« J 2 a > A h / J ;i- l( b. » 1 r * • 5.‘ w ■U .-f tl 'ihi ■^1 A* I ■•7 ♦ r f ’T' - I 1 I A 4 .^1 . I <• f* 1? f < ■ s « I X VI? 'hi •> ■k* r < t I' t I, •< M ’\-X- r klM r •»K- 41}. I kVn I I e < f. •% w I * I I . M.A * * ! 'is f (,>in<»i*. J J 4 •w I 1 > ]4bku "1 ii . >ib>UJ i ll. « ) J •It 1 J 4 'f* V' I t 14 11*. I Mtn u - w «K. 1 • VI b i •• I Vi J. ■• 'li ’n jii! 1 X . '• I- ’ I I «'’f t; ‘I « OJ hJ i. I :i t ■« V % . — •’•^1 { »a>i; I'. A r I U' 1 >w it I * ’Ilf * I V r/r- r t 1 r « .4 VJ* rnU sa33o.-i(7 sumt Bvi 1 I 1 I J* f ’J ■ * 1 I i t it I .-n « A t iU For the past six summers, a 55-acre farm in a remote area of southeastern Kent County has been the scene of a monthly event featuring live outdoor concerts, food trucks and a beer garden. Wildwood Family Farms is at 7970 Snow Avenue in the Alto area of Bowne Township. That is about 21 miles from Grand Rapids, nine miles from Mid­ dleville, about 19 miles from Hastings and about 17 miles from Lake Odessa. On June 6, an estimated crowd of about 450 people attended a two-set concert of blues and funk played by the West Michigan band Soul Syndicate. Many of the people in the crowd sat in lawn chairs or danced to the music, while o±ers visited the food truck and full-service bars. Children and dogs played in a large grassy field nearby. “So, there’s family wi± kids. They’re being spread out all across the farm. And some people will sit up in the Beer Gar­ den and just use the band as background music and hang out with their friends. And some people will be front-row seat and watch the band,” Justin Heyboer said in a phone interview. He and his wife, Kelly Heyboer, have owned Wildwood Family Farms for 24 years. “We wanted to create this space out in the country where it’s pet-friendly, it’s kid-friendly. Parents can bring their kids - out, let them run around and not have to worry about cars or traffic,” Heyboer said. “It really means a lot to Kelly and I havingparents ofyoungkids, especially, still being able to ehjoy a night out with their friends but know that their kids are safe playing out in the field with a bunch of other kids.” Justin said he and his wife have always enjoyed live music, so they got the idea about six years ago to begin the monthly T WJ.K^dRn f I concert series. “A buddy wanted his band to play out there, because it’s pretty quiet, it’s a country setting,” Heyboer said. “A few friends showed up and said, ‘Hey, you should have more live music out here.’ So, we started a series called ‘Between the Silos.’ Our farm was built in 1893 and there’s two big silos out there.” The idea was to bring people back to the farm to enjoy live music outdoors on a summer night. “I think we’ve lost a little bit of the sense of what it is to get out into the country and really be able to enjoy what the country and, especially, what the summer in Michigan is. ^cause it’s such a short time frame,” Heyboer said. The series runs from May through October and there usually are six or seven concerts during that time. Each concert begins at 7 p.m. on a Friday or Saturday evening and runs until dusk. “Most of those are regional touring artists, but we’ve had national touring artists out there too,” Heyboer said. For example, the Traverse City-based indie folk and roots music group The Accidentals has performed at Wildwood before. And Michigan-based band Full Cord Bluegrass won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s “Mo­ mentum Band of the Year” award and the Telluride Bluegrass Band Competi­ tion in 2022. The next show will be July 11 at 7 p.m., featuring the Simply in Time Band, Per usual, the gates will open at 5 p.m. and the cover charge at the door will be $ 10, with kids under age 16 get­ ting in free of charge. Heyboer said that, under a land-use stipulation in its zoning ordinance, the township only allows Wildwood to hold a maximum of six concerts per year. “Which is fine because we’re basi- j f 141 4 I i f ft. t it f Us s * V / z. 1 h;; f X %z si r/. t y z * ♦ < t I ( >**■ .X *« ■ • X * -rfWl J ? *.'■■•'11:;.' ■:r'- /I « » • I e 4 > 4 I 1 jMir I < 1 i < I 4 - * * 9. I 9I t ( CORRECTION: Kylee Hoebeke, the Thomapple Kellogg varsity softball team’s senior shortstop, was incorrectly identified by her sister’s name in the story on the TK softball team’s district semifinal contest with Wayland on page 13 of the June 7 edition of The Sun and News. 1 ) I * I I I 1 I t I* 41k 4k — NOW HIRING — t GRAPHIC DESIGNER View Newspaper Group is seeking a full-time graphic artist for our Greenville location. — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS — This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! Responsibilities include: • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout Vie love what we do and we know you will too! Are you the person we need? Send your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@thedailynews.cc and let’s find outl Group I >11 > ♦V ’ See SERIES on 12 I I I ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View n Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide B Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times M Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen S Oxford Leader H Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer's Guide & News ■ The Sun and News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News H The Reminder We are a growing company of 21 community newspapers serving 15 Michigan counties that are de/rvered weekiy to more than 555,000households with an additional500,000monthty online readers. I *1 b f I I •* �I « I i Saturday, June 14, 2025 12 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY » > w L I Ml; I .-f *• M ft A 1 r F: I ft ' . ♦ L Yi £.’w«-l I i ‘ '5^' 5 I* * F I J . 4^ I 1I •■-r i' >^v > s '1 ft -t M Ik i M : :-.s r.' 9 * 9k. L w* ** ,1 « K I I 'Xu' t .'» • ■ ■• w 4 I F • « Jf I ^9^ ts •I' •u. • * , 2 « Soul Syndicate played a couple of sets of blues and funk music at the Wildwood Family Farms on June 6 in Alto. Photos by James Gemmell I «K 1 s « z FW1 irs5«^ < ■■ *> •V -J* w. .r* I • . 999* « J T’ I. Ki 1 t •* i mir > J' F I 4 *<eR I r •*k '* 4 . .•ar" ' >■ a <r - ^af ? 1 - jr ~ ~ ~ ~ -~ -~ — * A 4 «» » t r. » A t' iltrnmaeamiy^] •. i » • e rt' f * • ■ * tr ?‘♦:4. ■ 3 4* *% •*> ? .r* <* Illi-... > V > n *« wr. .te > I ft ♦ J I Sr- jt: VJ -W L •.*' > 4 I ■A. 5* irfLjn' « Account management • Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts • Attend networking events Group email wsmith@mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer's Guide ■ Jeffersonian 9 t 9 9 f 9 9 J 9 9 9 i. 3 —.*v -y . _L1 • •.» ..3 las 'Z 1 if " V t T t / 1 I'MI A TK r .J^== s 4 r I bnJbinTtf ft' T oafT ^tvs^mfo tw I1 1 nemo bSOTaribIqq :j • —• «-»wr’. Ift J ■ I !• >• ft 4* Cm sftbuion’l Sft 3, A ’7 -. 4 ■np ^4 f 9 9 f 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 f 9 9 9 f # / 9 t 9 f / 9 9 9 / 9 9 9 9 ! 9 9 9 f t t / 9/ 9 9 9 9 9 ! SERIES range of400to 450 people... otherwise, it gets too big.” When people show up, they’re either there for the party or they’re there for the live music. And it’s a great mix of both,” Heyboer said. Corporate events plus birthday par­ ties, weddings and other life milestones are celebrated at Wildwood Family Farms, which has bams filled with ani mals and l^d that is used for planting flowers and vegetables. Wildwood says on its website that guests can experience a farm-to-table experience by booking event space for 10 to 40 guests. And people also can schedule an appoint ment to get fi-esh-cut flowers. cally a private-event venue. So, we do weddings, corporate events,” Heyboer said. “I think ifyou do it more than once a month it loses some of its anticipation of coming out to the farm We have a lot of our regulars that show up every time, that put it on their calendar every summer. We have some who have never missed a concert.” The Heyboers don’t want the event to grow too large. “Our biggest thing is we try to keep it smaller and more of an intimate-type setting,” Justin said. “Try to keep it in die 9 t 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 t I / I ! / 9 I ! t / I f ! / / t t I 9 t t t 9 / 9 I t 9 t 9 9 I t t t / t / 9 t 9 9 f i 9 9 9 9 t I 9 I 9 t » 9 9 9 9 9 9 t f 9 / 9 ! 9 9 9 I 9 I I t t 9 I i i • 9 t 9 *> i 4 t 9 9 9 9 4 9 4 I 9 9 4 t 9 f I 9 9 J * r * i I .f i .< i i / 9 * t f 9 t t 9 1 ?*• w 9* .uBwnriJo... s^iqooq »9 •Mid istbs 31' variJ viorie e lqtx>: toT 3wb 'ji <9tto io vnnq od To xim iBat^ & e’lrixiA .:j(au .Wbk nod'. -TKf xfifartnid ?ulq xinaT* 31 ^^{io}a91un st i£ nite> Ixffl zgni > Il *R /lirnB’i boowMtW )B baM' -im rixrw tolifl ^mnd ^tari itoi idi boaUiKi la/b txw zyae boowUiW ^dWani^av I jororacpcs nao JfiriJ sn gnbtood zd OQoarnqxd sidft r r » II bnA iiaws? 0^ u^f)l ’ }nioq(|B ns dldx>daa nsa 1J cN * .^TWOft JflRXteSTt J ! I t ‘ J J t ! ft f f ! 9 9 ! t 9 9 f < 9 9 9 9 9 i 9 9 I 9 9 9 i 9 4 9 t 9 f 9 9 9 9 ! 9 9 I t 9 ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder '^'S{ t t 9 ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen BP!7 Mm Continued from Page 11 I ri * I-* w* r • 1 An estimated crowd of about 450 4 people turned out for the most recent concert in the annual summer series at Wildwood, which includes fodcHrucks, a beer garden and play areas for chiJdfen and pets. « /’I / <r*^ 58»■', <1 9 * Advertising sales / Ik J .ll^A _ t . I 1 » < \ .r-' ■-3^ » Mb.^: 4; rx • > 4^ y 0 tt Li / If 4^ * » A <J i ■e ■ r » I < I 4 . ’ J .. *,> it 4 . -» 'A •X -r J •a ► R e' Ji / n 1 y F . t I ijl A I* • » I, ’1 > « V : r* 1? Q « *•7 I > 4^.' L> r 9^ I Responsibilities include: ' >* V •4 •»* view Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST *• > *w* f. 3r . • 'r** % » *, ? * *. rllta buP n NOW HIRING L >• Ift • > ■ < ♦ . I ■ -"k ' I • W«r r a^ ). 5* 1 J 9 r » < 9 9 4 / 9 4 .9 I .i i 9 f 9 i' r i t r I t i / tJ t J t ( t •'^V 9 9 9 9 9 A 9 i 9 •<r^\ f. / f f 4 t 9 9 4 t < I I t 9 9 t A ■ i. • .'t . 'S’ , t ) » I z I I f I I O is' 11 *4 I ft 41 f I 4 � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-06-21.pdf 51d3f13d28269db34b1a869830e25785 PDF Text Text ’i e<li tSi !, n, Al ut NO. 61 fd .OM Iq riBfnow BinobolBO gnhub gniyl ot ylliug iq saoBfiit ngiBqrnBO f f t t 8Z«iS ao>T*L istnW piwtudokioO f 1 I I n iyyfV^J a£nv)>^ lanotolc J > Hi 01 nodmriotnf szUl goifar/mq ri^tonottcgtlz'z'/nifWsniTnbgsit . daal anbdj aofwnh ngt«q .:>utr^VLGIVOD bfo-viV^.^^o n .wnoEfl filbnxfk bsWMriw; ,T3ziBibnbt nc3i IduqofI F □□COCf 3 01 KiWTWtfil^ o<:Ui 1 gni .nohj^il8'//nr toimm u^nub ; humiotf fi 8om&9 irjlq yUuJl^ fbrv^ /WHiTf nr tcvz onri o> cjn lo • ? l^^ Tol W'i ^ne»l .ftuoD 1x03113 vlnooD mfirijjnl jqfno ii moYl ofxa orfl £0£ ni bi>iiT Jnrdqmaj oofunh l-aiVOD wb to Jriawri 9fb gni ei. ffwonT m/mvofo A .ornrab cfi Xi 336k| ol Jrijiuoa ixfisixioiM billow Jcri r 213)0'/ Olbtsri lfi?.oq r» ii'jwoH /3n33i3fna I ari) nr) ./or) rtiirlw .nA loma/oD 0) bsEiJ JuioomsO £ ,i3fniirlW J ■ i •A i1 I ttiorlguoKlt zistxio yoxragiamo .simab ifWfJ oancnit nsifiqmeo otsiP norrob to a^nufi sriJ Isrlt tiBm od 3*j'ziJ£iJini Jolbid of gnr >b y;jnoni ;lub biovs ot oilduq V Ink Iqmo'j b jovowoH .znoiJ iwminiu ^lonoh t£ril gnig^Ik n gnmidbinoj 'fd inomoiiupon /jioiiBxinfigio jrtmqnon lairl nxaiGqrrwo sriJ ol boJsnob KH ?5foii6nob b;Kri:»lo2 >(hz vM nlmq 301 ^o^l bfirl (IbsrtoqoT riairiw auvi fliiojfiM rd ,quoi^ oril Uw yo^lTiriE 11 rd ir iioqa-jH 1£3eH toI gnasijiD xxl I norhigi}83vnt ari) gnhuQ n i-ji f tuodu ba>lEii EDDW cneioNEH )bfiH .,u^i^mlbfHJ1 uraiDcwjuvr tCUMP/ lusl , Ibopalk 3fk nvMirniwn wvnm 111 K'! bib 3flz liafl Bnoilcbi gtibliow ^8838 fl s 1 I < I i > ■i n. t •t ♦ r. ’i > I 01WUAIH6' bYID n 8 bO8iVG6 buei 810 lA^MAO 938 Caledonia woman pleads guilty to lying during campaign finance probe >• 1 ■x AX • A* <9 • V «. > Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer ?4 .f* • >*^* i : ’fl*—p-' !ML^ 4 A Caledonia woman entered a plea of guilty this week to a charge of providing false information to authori­ ties during an investigation of a cam­ paign finance issue dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sandra Baxter, a 65-year-oId Republican fundraiser, admitted to giv­ ing a false statement to a peace officer during a criminal investigation. Her guilty plea carries a potential sentence of up to one year in prison, with a sentencing hearing set for Aug. 13 in Ingham County Circuit Court. The case stems from a campaign finance complaint filed in 2021, dur­ ing the height of the COVID-19 pan­ demic. A movement known as Unlock Michigan sought to place a ballot pro­ posal before voters that would repeal the 1945 Emergency Powers of the Governor Act, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, used to issue emergency orders throughout the pan­ demic. State campaign finance laws require that the names of donors contribut­ ing to ballot initiatives be made public to avoid dark money dona­ tions. However, a complaint was filed alleging that donors circumvented this requirement by contributing first to nonprofit organizations, which then donated to the campaign. Baxter solicited donations for a non­ profit called Michigan! My Michigan!, which reportedly had ties to former State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and the group, Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility. During the investigation, Baxter was asked about her role in waa3 Hawoisno fundraising. Under oath, 1VliN3aiS3H she allegedly claimed ±at she did not have a 8CC# liuBej working relationship with eC88> 1^ 'ailiAuaeJO See CAMPAIGN on 4 aivd fl K «>* •fr 4 1 9 1 \ < \ :< ■ > nja> x->. • Z1» r---j w /i « S> A bite 4 h > J.•w W’ JK dr e II * ♦’ » « •r* It <* k . 1 A * F< n* . X \ i r r > <:-W •h < lt «•' L I Members of the Yankee Spring Township Fire Department attended the Yankee Springs Twp. meeting on June 12. Pictured are (front row, from left) firefighter Kyle Ritsema, resource probationary firefighter Nikki Mendez, firefighter and EMT Makayla Konecny, (back row) Deputy Chief Doug Katsma, Chief Dan Miller, Captain Al Bouma, Lieutenant Skylar Henion and firefighter Daniel Ramey. Photos by Deb Mousseau Yankee Springs officials share updates, swear in fire officers at township meeting Karen Turko*Ebright Staff Writer Over 35 attended the Yankee Springs Township meeting on June 12 and watched history in the mak­ ing at the swearing-in of four fire officers. Everyone paused for the solemn moments conducted by Yankee Springs township Clerk Tom Hopkins as he administered oaths to Fire Chief Dan Miller, Deputy Fire Chief Doug Katsma, Captain Al Bouma and Lieutenant Skyler Henion. ‘‘This is big having our own fire department and swearing in our team,” said Yankee Springs Twp. Supervisor Rob Heethuis. “That’s SSMU33 ec984 in •wAuwio 0»E «oS0d s www.sunandnews.com SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2025 are currently 20 personnel who are firefighters, EMRs (Emergency Medical Responders) or both for the YSTFD. We have great personnel who have gotten us where we are cur­ rently at to serve the public in time of need,” Miller said. All current Yankee Springs fire­ fighters can apply for the health and safety officer position and the training officer position. Miller said the first step in applying is to write a letter of commitment and drop it off at the Yankee Springs Township Fire Department or email it to danmiller@yankeespringstwp.org. See OFFICERS on 3 a milestone for this board and our community.” The board also introduced Daniel Ramey, the township’s newest fire­ fighter, who recently graduated as valedictorian of his academy class. “It makes all of us at the Yankee Springs Township Fire Department (YSTFD) feel good to be able to get Yankee Springs Township to have their own Fire Department now,” Miller said. “We have command officers from chief, deputy chief, captain, lieutenant and temporary training officer. Other positions to be filled will be health and safety officer and training officer.” Miller has been in fire service for a little over 50 years. He said there aovisod s n ais isad 1 a 1 > * K < h « 41 I. . * \A 1 k . ♦ * • > » < 9 * fl . u I 1 •* 4 II I r : I I i I I I 1 1 1 J iil H 5 4 4 t 4A 4 L I * % « 4 » • * I t >• ...-t-L > fl u * flL,... / » I » •t k I > f f . * t. % if I « » // %* 1 / > A <• 'z _ 4^ » * * A- - �' fl a* r' Saturday, June 21, 2025 2 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews cofr- V ,•» /• i r <♦ - V. '.t I r I r /.‘lO ■ y Developer seeks change in permit process to speed up construction timeline James Gemmell Contributing Writer lawsuit against the township, stating the project was allowed by master and future land use plans that were in place at the time. A Kent County Circuit Court judge agretxl and eventually negotiated a con­ sent agreement between the two sides. In exchange for the township al lowing the Prairie Wolf development to pro­ ceed, the developer dropped the lawsuit. J.R. Kendall, president of the Kendall Property Group, told the township board he just learned last month of the change in the zoning ordinance pertaining to the building permit process that could be problematic. “We’re preparing and getting started finally with our project, and it came to our attention that you (now) require roads and utilities to be installed prior to issuing building permits,” Kendall said. “So, my goal here tonight is to open the discussion and see ifyou would be will­ ing to consider amending that ordinance to kind ofbring it more in line with what we’ve seen in other municipalities.” Township Manager Rod Weersing said he has had conversations with township engineer Jeff Gritter about the feasibility of tweaking that section of the ordinance. “JefTs big thing is just making sure we have the right (legal) guard rails in place to protect both the infrastructure that’s going in and the township for any The developers of the 82-acre Prai­ rie Wolf Station mixed-use project in (iaines Charter Township would like to get the first residential building com­ pleted by the spring of 2026. But, representatives of the Kendall Property Group say a new township zoning ordinance adopted this spring potentially could delay the start of construction for the $120 million town center development by several months. At its June 9 meeting, members of the township board listened to a request from the development group to amend the building-permit section of the zon ing ordinance that requires municipal utilities to be installed before construc­ tion can begin on a site. TTie developers first pitched the Prai­ rie Wolf Station town center concept to Gaines Township trustees five years ago. But, the township board rejected the project on a 5-4 vote in February 2022, citing concern about traditional farm­ land being used for a massive, urbantype development on 84lh Street, just east of Kalamazoo Avenue. Concerns about increased traffic and the impact on neighbors and local schools were also cited by board members and citizens at a series of public hearings. The developer then filed a $4 million * I A/Ue«'nf' Mfo Wk i 3< PJV.n ,tfSu^SSSt cellCW) *1G* 1 J 269-967-8241 antennamen@gmail.com www.cellsignalpros.com ^4 I*' f < (• ■ J* f * I t i 1L T #y .<1 * Ji .•« • TT**- V^! At V * M* r S- * • I zz r> 1< * 4 * ■sn . * * I '^.7- 4' ^^^Ss****—**!'anb, I irw. i5j.: I i ’1/ ■B ♦4 1^* I ■b>‘* i t > re I ft « • - •# Z7W' ^1* -4^ •m* i Ji * AY •I a ’v'=- T. V ■< i ii I i r' J «< k .,'. 0«< i 7e a •*-J f $ ■' ■ Wv r. K' ■L IB « P--; . X r i J K .• -*r V I .. > % rr •A r I '• •t ■«l-» 'A* 1^, f I t f st’*-' if t I *W H -i? >. i.•j* I r 11% t AT** ' "i il .zi J .r rA' I. c--------------- - ------ ,r fl Dirt is being compacted for the Prairie Wolf Station development along 84th Street, east of Kalamazoo Avenue, in Gaines Township. Photo by James Gemmell > I ft 1 » 4 ( !• 1^1 l£ I » t I I «* www.theantennamen.com '■II' I’ .1.!^ ♦ Give us a call! 4 ’i ) z %« • Cellular Enhancement Systems » .4k * • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers '4*' 1' future situation,” Weersing said. Community development director Dan Wells said he has received posi­ tive feedback about the Kendall Group and its partner firm, American Kendall Properties of Zionsville, Indiana. They’re very organized, they’re very confident, they know what they’re do­ ing,” Wells said. “I can understand their concern about the timeline. “To a developer, time is money. Hav­ ing those foundations placed and being able work on those projects quickly and efficiently, from their viewpoint, is important.” According to the development com pany, Prairie X Wolf Station . r 9 FBEt ' » will have a Estima'®® retail center, 127 single­ • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation familyhomes. • Blown-in Attic Insulation 36 condomin ium units and 517-983-0954 11 townhome Start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam buildings Antenna Meri - . i > !>' .f • k I with 44 dwelling units. It also will have eight upscale “Haven” apartment build­ ings with 116 dwelling units, nine Park­ way Flats apartment buildings with 91 dwelling units, 11 Canal Flats apartment buildings with 67 dwelling units, and 34 dwelling units over the retail space. In addition, Kendall said plans call for commercial, office and retail build­ ings consisting of about 20.800 square feet, one senior living building with 110 living units, and two future commercial lots with undetermined building sizes. A sanitary lift station will be installed, as well. The developer is constructing about 1,600 feet of i6-inch water main along 84th Street. Once completed, the water main will be available for connection and use by adjacent property owners. We sold 53 acres to Eastbrook Homes, who will be starting the single­ family townhome portion of the proj­ ect,” Kendall added. “We just recently placed about 4.8 acres under contract with a senior living developer out of Indianapolis, the Neil Brown Group. See DEVELOPER on 5 fl- » t * be I* sr 4* »6 t fl. fi r I s 4/ '-i'. ik'-'’- T r’ J 1 ' -fT I « :v,W .V* r* t I ' ■: . •* c I 4 ♦X ifUO r r 9 4 k 1-’;. ;u I 4 >» 4*\l h Wig'J •'* r* A t* * ?• i /A , »l I ■ I w •.L<’W I li g Mi c •r I I •> ' •*f18 ^4 V *^i£” r'A t4 '.M J I « 4 a 4 I ; f..«)!!$ « I I®* i 1-1 4 i I ** I 4 * <. »\!: ■ •> i r 'J >* T ’ 1 ; p j le J J ;.'iijjt® ffign'r. □- « A • .« bU t r* • 2 " Atu.’ L 11 .‘’Ww I. n» 1 ‘ 4€ j I'k.' F A "VJL Iliff .. M 1*3 .’f. '■u /I 1 I vV I b 1 J t >* 1^2 « 4 // I . V ' ri ' Amrf / i ■ i f I «w :jht j 7 I Pr 1 ' 1 i nr “J I' Z f ?R 4 r I 1 9f r^' ■ R ./ yji^sSf I./ z MliiBftiB* JV am* «HI • p I THE SUN AND NEWS j ■J . .j;»i ivutiABipi;, ; I I I ■p CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 r « Editor: Molly Macleod « mmacleodOmihomepaper.com Sports: Brett Bremer * IJJ4^23 XlJ JM. L Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com { I t Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Vonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com ^1^1 Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher I bbremer@mihomepaper.com 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com PUBLISHED BY I PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. ’ 4^ Jr All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept., 1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554) This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of. ' the advertiser’s order. S’ .4 '•—F <* <^*4 «<»« u .A ■1. _ -™t fe * J 7 * •I 4 t ft ; V ■- iillk I T- Mil*• 4 !U A! tits' J? 5 •h 4 -V 9' fl f * « » s I 1 --1 t Ik « I ( •M** rftji jJ&T’ '5* I I « * I I, I I9 I' I f I t 9 4 4 I a I h 1 < j t : f J . I f I I i 4 I t 1 i - r r t: ni I t« b b J > I I ___ vA �i 1 Saturday. June 21,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 3 A. „•># * fc# Bfl3. "iJife ? MijS I i r 9- i' 2£f^ IMQ*' I [. ♦ r r J I TTlfro lOnffcAJ*'! fl I 4 T5TU2£Ol'' 4 j; (0fln:ftcn!j bifiod sff! 4 • « my t * I biv^ny^ i >r. .[0Tj.’'Z‘jz>w .rmm ?'*Ji-‘’4 hnn ,21/81/ . I 'i I 4 > z S ■V- I I « S r. & / SJt t ri X,. icJ f .H- ( < < A I t ». 4 •'/n. ■■ J. 4 • ( • 1 I l/k. / i I I k, 1 i 1 • * M, ‘ 7^ V V* I > t 4 / J 'J u ** I I. •i 'Ir,)'. X ♦ { . *> J n [ •v . X h/<r. ♦, f i A t "U' * I '•/Al A.4. I t- f 1J { < T r JiL »?l > 9 >K>i. su^. K r ^tte- ii. 1. 1 n. V * T» r / ♦< I I f s u... s 'M' I V. c »I' ' I >« •rf-' ' M .D',/ n I '9(1 V., i f L'A^a-rk I •t Z aTh v > l' -*‘1 1' >, ) ■T. « i "n* I k_ I .'*- ► < jb ■ • . ux I I « r «i I r llft 4« { «« ) run > t « k 1 I rU Vktfel ' VV. J y. ) r > I t it in'r.il*’ (TI3« • I I I* ^KM B WlWWWr ■ '‘•'Z' I 1 r 1 <; ( , r ' ’ It I ■ _ I I I « I I ‘’14 b 1 ■ .^Y»?r -lit 01 a i Jl * 4 4 itoi *r I >• . I '0ny>t liEdto.' I I f J J -f • < ** * OFFICERS Continued from Page 1 “Dan has been with us for almost 30 years. He is well respected by our citi­ zens,” Heethuis said. “Being sworn in as fire chief is a crowning honor.” In other business on Thursday, Treasurer Deb Mousseau presented a comprehensive financial report. The board unanimously approved six detailed budget amendments affect­ ing genera! operations, fire equip­ ment, weed control, veterans’ memo­ rials, and liquor law enforcement. All adjustments were adopted by roll call votes. The board also approved a new audit services contract with Siegfned Crandall at a cost increase of $150. Thomapple Kellogg Varsity Cheer Coach Madelynn Lula proposed a community pickleball tournament fundraiser for August 2 at Thursday’s meeting. The event would be held at the township park and include other family-friendly activities. The board expressed support and will formally consider the request at its July meet­ ing. Gun Lake Improvement Board representative Bill Bryker reported upcoming treatments to combat inva­ sive aquatic plants in Gun Lake. The board unanimously approved a new pond ordinance, the first in town­ ship history, to regulate pond creation and avoid misuse for gravel mining. Planning Commission updates shared last week included discussion on a revised master plan, short-term rental approvals and a pending gravel ordinance. Other zoning matters included that a Barry County judge has ordered the VanderKam property on M-179 into full compliance by October. Enforcement benchmarks are in place to ensure fulfillment. Township infrastructure updates were also given last week. A special assessment district was approved for Deer Sight Drive at approximately $52,000 along with an application for another for Payne Ridge Drive, with strong support from affected residents. A large accounts payable amount of nearly $70,000 was approved, attrib­ uted to fire department payroll and the initial phase of park renovations. Renovations on pickleball and bas­ ketball courts are expected to be com- Caledonia schools board approves 2025-26 budget pleted by June 23. The recycling committee recom­ mended adding a bin and pad to avoid frequent “dry runs,” supported in part by a $4,000 mini-grant. The Clean Water Committee is set to meet on June 17 to discuss capacity issues and a proposed housing devel­ opment that may require major water system upgrades. Several residents voiced concerns over township financial reserves, transparency and public input during Thursday’s public comment period. Resident Mike Cunningham urged the board to reduce the general fund balance and called for putting trail planning on the ballot. He and others, including Precinct Delegate Robin Laansma, asked the board to reinstate two public com­ ment periods and live stream meet­ ings, “We’ve removed a valuable oppor­ tunity for the public to speak before decisions are made,” Laansma said, echoing a broader call for accessibil­ ity and civic participation. Key upcoming dates include a bud­ get workshop on June 18 and a public hearing for final budget adoption on June 25. “Tonight felt special,” said Trustee Dave VanHouten. “A lot of hard work went into getting our fire team to this point. I’m really proud of what we’ve built.” I k Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer The Caledonia Community Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a budget resolution for 202526 at its meeting Monday, June 16, while also passing a third amended budget for the current 2024-25 fiscal year. Both budgets were presented to the school board by Sara Devries, the dis­ trict’s chief financial officer. According to CCS officials, the 2024-25 amended budget showed an increase in overall revenues of $1,326,886. That’s compared to an amended budget plan approved in December of last year. Expenditures in the budget also increased, but by only $216,129. As a result of the changes, the ending fund balance of $11,843,578 for the third amended budget was $1,110,757 higher than what was projected in a second amended budget. The 2025-26 budget includes reve- 4 a « * tf IT- Residential & Commercial 4 4 i 11^ 4 I X t A. k- i * F* ’ « •v -.w I..4 I «• i X * . 4 I -Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers V ( 9 > 1 J? A. — * J > 9 * r I! ♦A I A -- X /V •l • f 72 J « ? < Pictured here, Yankee Springs Township Trustee Dave Van Houten (left) and Yankee Springs Twp. Clerk Tom Hopkins (right) administers the oath to Dan Miller (middle) who was being sworn in as the Yankee Springs Township Fire Chief at the June 12 meeting. !■ Xi. Ex ^-w I ■I I. 1J 4 •• M E" f i! Jb ft. • . .u'4 * % b * . T* % DeWeerd (68> HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM LENNOTy 4 A+ Sfncv 1955 269-792-2234 BBB. tj V' ' f ty/ t ( a II : 1 1* i I I I I r ■r. I H.i •I b * « 11 ■ I $ I -J I ft •H 1 h I 1. * t ! 4 b X >3 I ; u * SI I .? . I 1 l-'S 1/KE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS r .1 *« nues of $71,566,106, a slight decrease of $501,772 from 2024-25. The two largest components of revenues continue to be from state funding - totaling $46,991,551 - and $16,567,928 from local property taxes. Additionally, the upcoming bud­ get also projects a slight decrease of $295,327 in expenditures. Total expenditures for the year are antici­ pated to be $71,994,897, including $39,778,876 for teachers’ salaries and instructional expenses. The second-largest expenditure line item on the budget summary is operations and maintenance, totaling $7,114,338. Based on the budgeted revenues and expenditures, the fund balance is esti­ mated to be $11,414,787 as of June 30, 2026. The budget plans and video of the school board meeting are available through links on the district website, calschools.org. \ 4 z ACCREDITED BUSINESS �£ <1 I r .f- 9 4 a J f .' 'll-’ • I; I. 4 11 Saiufday, June 21, 2025 A THE SUN AND NEWS A V. « I c 'A * -com ri?r t • f Fire station to host blood drive YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. The Yankee Springs Fire Station, located on South Payne Lake Road, is hosting a blood drive on Monday, June 30, from 2-6:30 p.m. Across the state of Michigan, fire­ fighters are encouraging their commu­ nities to support local blood drives by making appointments at participating fire departments. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors... and our future. VIEVV^ To donate blood, an individual must be over 17 years old and weigh more than 110 pounds. Those participating in the blood drive will receive a $25 e-gift card, when providing a valid email address. To register or for more information, persons may call 866-642-5663 or email versiti.org/MI. DM Group Your Community Connection Visit US online at mihomepaper.com LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am www.ala8kabaptl8t.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia 250 Vine Street Sunday Service 10:30 AM 'i 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) 4 Li J • <• t 1^^ Sunday Worship............................ 9:30 a.m. t*’ III Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepher(llcms.googlepages.coni X Livestreani: facebook.com/first ba pt istmtddlevi He Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY (269) 795-2391 gihPEACE CHURCH 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstoneml.org/weekend 616-891-8669 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church oc MiddlevUle A Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM ft 6:00 PM IRST BAPTIST cornerstonechurch V' fl HOLY FAMILY jf CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone:616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. f R CHURCH Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. & Caledonia Location PEACECHURCH.ee 9186 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY 1^. ■ @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, Ml 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church « r I <? Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. I CHURCH 4i1 J if' > X I >>1 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 4:k ''Shiaiag Forth God's Light” MIDDLEVILLE <1^ Sunday Morning Worship Community Group......... . 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. SERVICE TIMES: James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankcespringsbiblcchurch.org Sunday at 9:30am & 11 ;00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com fz II I /•a* 1 t : S r ...JI'” ,# » MIDDLEVILLE V. ■' 9 ■ V k TOPS 546 I * I* I ■ jf 1 I *" « f <1 V' The June 16 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report There is one new fish in the fishbowl Virginia’s program came from the June 2 Women’s World magazine titled “My Amazing Cravings Cure/ The article was on Carney Wilson's journey through weight loss. She lost 160 pounds by having bypass surgery She still had arthritis, Gl issues, bloating and bathroom issues. Her doctor thought she might be sensitive to grain. After living with these issues for a good part of her life, she started by cutting down on sugar, having healthier portions and then stopped wheat. She went gluten-free with rice, corn and potatoes. Her hunger decreased, cravings for white flour lessened, and her Gl troubles and arthritis got better. Studies show that those with low gluten intakes will see energy improve, weight going down and gut health improved. Linda lost the Ha-Ha Box. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-3183545. The first meeting is free. CAMPAIGN V 1 I f iI i 0 I .* I «• •M I T 1 , tk / ** J I « J « I I K I I I I I * . T ‘ 4^? * I / . 1 a ■i I ■' •• 1 • 'I 1 J 'i ‘ 0 -V" . «' 1 I K << I I I r. t’ : » / ‘ I • x- * I * tin J SP*- 1^.. ii r I 9 < 1 1 • •< . I . K'* |! . xiajwlrip, I r •r ) » •u •>< (IF’' /'J** >4 i J J • <Tf > 1 ’•*TR I t'• > B . 1 . * '(■F- 4 4 V ► I I d 11 i&i L.««i 'i - 4’ / i I St*’ T.'ia er^ I A ■ •. • 'i-*- ■ .4^iieAiv. 1VN ) L sIF -fci ‘ kw< SB * I SS®*'I Iqc w. Continued from Page 1 6irr Bir. I".— 1 9*. :<» A? tjj H Shirkey, which investigators found to be false. Because of that false statement, Baxter was originally charged with perjury, a more serious offense that carries stricter {penalties. She ultimately pled guilty to the lesser charge. Meanwhile, Heather Lombardini, 47, of Okemos, who also helped raise funds for the initiative, is facing charg­ es and has been bound over for trial. “Knowingly providing false infor­ mation during an investigation undermines the integrity of our legal system,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a prq5ared state ment. “This plea makes clear that those who attempt to deceive investigators will be held accountable. “My office remains committed to uncovering the tru± and prosecuting individuals who obstruct justice,” the Democrat AG added. - TS’.’ • * t 4' «C H it A V ' t!«l • i I L ... « * I iB < 1 «b f J 1 'Sa [»^4 I- 4 -•?■', 1 i. 7 .. ■ f*. V ! --rtfSWKJS r r t I I ill' 1 ■fi I. ^^SUE •J ft * r I ' |•MSlL « . 1 lk.1^ ^Q| *1 j i? .« 4.4« J' 11 al il L<- 1 * I! I 1 41 . hl ; -f i § L L,, ■1 * J-.' < f I 1 Ie ■lit I- B 1 S 1 .k [ H; j: T iAKti 'k ruu:n>i 11 ee * JI / a I' a 4 I * i I * « » *1 4 \, s .1 c �4 I I A I I r i Saturday, June 21,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com V * %A ■ JI ■ DEVELOPER r I ; ■U K Continued from Page 2 “fc. •J. ' . s . 1 I f ( i a ’i X. -’qrzu -Q tj I <y "tl .V And, then they’ll be in front of you, hopefully, here in the coming months.” Kendall said excavation of the site will probably take 60 to 90 days, with contractors to start installing under ground utilities in July. Extension of municipal water lines began last winter, with the developer constructing about 1 V n ■ 14 ) ■ IS»^ A4I ■ 11. I* 4 i) J M * ■f: r 'V V t. -< 9 , ‘9 ' 'U 1 M **• * * 4 . Classifieds t a I I I 4 I 1 Si'I r s i I I BUSINESS SERVICES I 2 4 I nnTB* ( DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. * •l. r .pnii I r ( I f i i" t ir .. . A I I > «• I V.) 5 •I' f f >1 * M, CONSTRUCTION 11 CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 «a 9 ..5 - A I ; . * L '■“I 'J IT Xi !* J I 4• : I 1 I r I i W 4 ** I ^1; 1 I ‘18^ "->■ # TREE SERVICE b ■>« i I Ziii.kx i . t'' t. Av • ’V A- ^4. i? r I <*- I A •1 t 'H' I f., COMMERCIAL-RENT •’*r.i' I OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT; 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rap­ ids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic@remax.net I I < t I • I I * WT I w I I * *** I IL «* joAi 4 » * - w* n iUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy sin­ gle walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793. * L I I WANTED r * WANTED TO BUY: Standing Tim­ ber Conscientious timber harvest­ er Saw Mill Office-517-254-4463. ► ir |! I I r . I/A Ihft t t : • t wr*v. I » Wl* {■■ .de ”^1 _ _j1 I H I 1 .fVJM ■ ■ *4 J tesflt FAfiM BVttEAU I^SLRA^CE‘ __ __ _ y,sons second verse," board member Rob De Ward said. “The biggest thing was the wording from the original ordinance that was pulled out," Weersing said. “It was not a strong protection for the township. It was verv loose. Jason Matthews, a maintenance tech­ nician and Kendall's vice president of construction, said he did not understand ±e township board's concern. I’d like to talk through the process and work with you to get you to some place where you're comfortable with what your liabilities or concerns are. Matthews said. “But then also facilitate the means to our end of getting this development done in a cost-effective, efficient way." He added that he would like to get construction going as soon as possible. “I’ve got to make hay when the sun’s out. Matthews said. So, getting as many of the foundations in place before snow flies is a big-ticket item for me. Prairie Wolf Station will be the Ken­ dall Group’s seventh development in Michigan. It has developed two projects in the City of Wyoming, two in Holland, one in Kalamazoo and one in Grand Rapids. ^’1 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. Your local agent insures your 2001 SUZUK11400 INTRUDER excellent shape. $2850. Call or text 517-231-9953. * * could be an ability' to take that land back." Wells said. ‘*We wouldn't have to finish buildings." To set the building section of the township zoning ordinance amended w ould require two readings by the town­ ship board. The first read, we get to look at it. Wells said. “We get the staffs opinion both from my perspective and Jeffs perspective, plus the fire (department), BGUA, all of it. So, then you can kind of decide how you want to go about it." All 30 building permits would be submitted at once. They would have to present some language which would be vetted by staffjust like any other normal process, Wells said. “It would be presented to you as an ordinance amendment. Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra added, “We adopted an ordi­ nance but we also said (at the time) thaL as things come up, we may need to amend it. My take is, we can find a way to have us do our job and they do their job." The first reading of the proposed amendment will be at the township board’s July 14 meeting, with the second reading on Aug. 11. Something sounds like the same BODY SHOP FOR SALE I I 1,600 feet of 16-inch watermain along 84th Street. Right now, now we're looking at getting started," Kendall said. “And if we can get foundations going in order, as we typically do, we can have founda­ tions in toward the end of the summer and be going vertical this fall. And have buildings under a roof that we can work on through the winter." However, the building-permit pro­ cess was changed in the new zoning ordinance to protect the township in case a developer ever walks away from a project before it is completed. The ordinance stipulates that installation of utilities should be completed before construction begins, so the township does not end up having to pay the cost. The township previously had a rule in place that allowed early construction starts for multi-family projects. But Kendall said a staff memo cited three reasons for recommending the rule be replaced last year. Township officials stated it is easier to repair damage to utility lines if building construction is not taking place at the same time. And, storage of building materials on site while utilities are being run creates hazards for workers. But Kendall said the utility line test­ ing would take place at the same time as construction. “Our utilities are ready to be con­ nected as soon as the building’s done,” he said, adding that the Kendall Group has its own on-site superintendents. Wells said he discussed the matter with Gritter, township water and sewer administrator Tracy Lawrence and the Byron-Gaines Utility Authority. “There (are) some financial things that we could put in place to make sure that, if for some reason a project goes belly up - I’m not talking about (Prairie Wolf Station) but any project that involves multi-family - that there COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR t PETS f It t rjo. ■ 1 V • I i* * I i 3 UNUSUALLY MARKED KIT­ TENS. 6 weeks old. $15 each. Text 269-525-8187 for photos. For more information call 269-3317242. I i I i r 1 1 to *1rf I I. • fn^fUftutCA 1 t I1 I ® #& Jason Parks <s 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 (269) 795-8827 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville jparks@fblnsmi.com FarniBureaulnsurance.com your -trusted Body Shop -for over 32 years I 1 9 4 * if '1 i! ♦ '4 J I r I ( 1 ! r» f I 'b * t .I 11 4 ‘A 1 i 4 I 1 5 t 4 �I A fl * • 9 [p 9 . it . V. / 6 -9 Saturday, June 21.2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com '• -9 ■A'• •• • » ■r. D <•. >' Budnik wins annuai Diemer 5K Run, O’Neil finishes as top woman James Gemmell Contributing Writer old Sean Ryan of Grand Rapids finish­ ing third (15:46.82 chipped, 15:50.18 clocked). The top female finisher was 29-yearold Megan O’Neil of Rochester, who came in 20th overall with a chip time of 16:48:56 and a clocked time of 16.50.87. The complete results for the various races are posted at diemerrun.com. The top male and female runners each received $550 cash prizes out of an overall prize purse of about $7,000. Finishing in second place in the men’s and women’s open was good for $400 and third place earned $300. In the masters women and men’s events for those 40 and older, the prizes for the winners was $450 each. The grand masters women and men’s win­ ners each received $ 100 for first place. In the Handcycle Women/Men’s Open, the first-place finisher received a $300 prize, and second and third place finishers won lesser amounts. In the 5K Handcycle Race, 40-year-old Casey Falkner of Stevensville came in first (8:03.24 clocked, 8:00.18 chipped). Spectators lined 68th Street on a sun splashed morning with comfortable temperaturesand local bands including a drumline playing music, as 28-yearold Ryan Budnik of Charlotte won the 35th annual Brian Diemer 5K Run in Cutlerville on Saturday, June 14. According to event spokesman Rob Hyde, 617 people participated in this year’s Brian Diemer Family of Races. The races included not only the 5K run and walk, but also a 5K Handcycle Race, a My Team Triumph race, a Virtual SIC, a Kid’s Run and a Junior Jog. Most of the events were run on 68th Street in Byron and Gaines townships, although the kids’ run and optional steeplechase course were set up behind Legacy Christian School. Hyde said Budnik posted a chipped time of 15 minutes, 28.57 seconds, with a clocked time of 15:30:22. The runnerup was 41-year-old Joel Conn of Okemos (15:39:73 chipped time, 15:41:80 clock time), with 16-year- *» > Ifo 3 • 9^ I « ,1 t’ fI »* r'- i: L 4 f J f; S' « 1-5 I I 4 SJ* zo V & i 1 ri < UI P^„' V rf J ff KJ♦» SU) K*"' 4 r 1 •. i ' l‘- 4 I t rfk J ■ f f 5 3 » ffj J ( - J >4 » Ryan Budnik of Charlotte and Megan O'Niel of Rochester were the top male and female finishers in the Brian Diemer 5K Run on Saturday, June 14, in Cutlerville Courtesy photos llB'- I # 51. ii ^(9 !U' !:j I f t 1 I 1 A portion of the proceeds from the Brian Diemer Family of races will go to benefit local charities. \ r r 'H J i « J I I f f f I i 1 < i J _______ 2 »■:: ■ r:-i rls;.* .5* T .f i.H JI I :s .1 d ii ft ■ iKr}- .r ' *— II •_ V 1 I « "^.. w< f 1 ir 1 u; t 1*^ jn ! . - jsdai'J®'’'^' it # .5*. Scan our QR code to find your perfect invitation! < L't.'-. I * ' ? V .w < * ft* -* 4 191 * J, 1^- • E. I '■ i f 4 ‘ *jie X 4^ * i •w 1 I 9^ * JVvt^ I * F’ "I > II r w A. 4 . * 4 I I I ’ n *4 * f d..4rt I W 9MM '**>w 1 t r t He was followed by Steve Chapman, 60, of Cedar Springs and 75-year-old Tom Weaver of Grand Rapids. Mm * •atU I V,' frtti I * t '<< I !■! ■■■■ «■» * MM « ,.n r -w— I I 9 r » 0 f .J 9^ 4 > \ > fn J.:,USB > 8, 1 I11 .M (««■' ■ . ■.bwilKfe-' ’ .'jsv <» ** •l 1 J I '■ •r -•J I'V 1 «• k« «l u I »• .-'SCoffAelE-- 'm; s 4B "/I 1 f I L • < r t ♦ •J 4 9^ •v 0 t ’I ... . !■ ■ . I■I 4 • I • ♦I I • 4' .. ..!». \ / ««< Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. PRINTING BY www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com I Xte 1A Former U.S. Olympian Brian Diemer stands over the top three finishers in Saturday’s 5K Handcycle Race, along with Casey Falkner (middle) of Stevensville, Steve Chapman (left) of Cedar Springs and Tom Weaver (right) of Grand Rapids. ’ •r i «<*4f*'* A 17^ Ji <•• •' k* I *’^V’ Jf..' ^4i lOOSl 1 I V *• -e s-^'i I ?•• ''‘Wja - ;.'f4 niiVvic Lj £I CCS announces new school year starts Aug. 25 Caledonia Community Schools (CCS) administration announced in a letter to families this week that kids will go back to school for the 2025-26 school, year on Aug. 25. “We know many of you are eager to make plans, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to finalize the remainder of the school calendar,” read the letter. “This process - 1 J WCnatiw^ * I 4 * •s r 1 t I I I• I involves close collaboration with our union staff to ensure alignment and support for all members of our school community.” I• CCS administration will share the' full calendar with school families as, soon as it is finalized. “In the meantime, thank you again for your continued support and flexKTE ibility,” the letter said. I I s^' 1 i Miiajuui I lesuK I 1 I J X IM k'.-' I BL Il ? » IFw rar’Btti 6*- f > f ‘"Y ' K: * ■ ) MiiG t r. T< Jt ^•? •i 3' f I, .*1 J ■■■ ».rj Y « '<’1 4 rX ■^1 • -■^5 ■ ■ ...±^ f I .• 1 ■^**«** aJ V 5» • • sx « 4 t. <• •V p - ■ �* 0 k,".' I lA Il •w. ' '9^ I a 1 II t tb 1 I I t- - -1 B I A jI tf u I* > • .. i I ! I F S’ J I i ri f it L h I ' • t « I lb 'ti ■, *' Wt ■ ‘'•h.. 1 I •ti *< W/ 1 i 5 •, V 'll . V ■ S'tij V''SDi. rI V aJW 1 I * * r * h » * r L I -11 1 ISOl t- > 1 1 Ki |Y-i 4 s.* T: f 4 ■Jkl L » BriJ I I rI r I * I ■ T t < bi 3 s. .• Y. IF tri f I 1»« 4r 4• 1 i 'I •I p y ft S?! Cffl s»ltr ft ♦ * 1 * ■ u •A. s ■ <• I Ji • * luh 2025 W’cdnesdav. Julv 2 8:30 a.m to 1 p,m.. at St. John Episcopal Church Lellowship. 124 S. Sullivan St.. Lremont • Wednesday. Jul) 9. from I p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at Coreweli Health (irand Haven Center. Community Room. 151 CM) Whittaker Wav, Grand Haven • rhursday, July 10. from 8 a.m. Io I p.m • at Coreweli Health Ludington Hospital, Versiti Mobile Bus. One At­ kinson Drive. Ludington from 11 a.m. to • luesday, July 3:30 p.m., al Corewell I lealth Bhxlgetl Hospital, YAW' Conference Room. 1840 Wealthy St. SI (irand Rapids • Tuesday, July 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Coreweli Health Zeeland Hospital, Conference Room A A. 8333 Lcich St., Zeeland • Wednesday. June 11. from 8 a.m. lo 11 a m.. 4700 60th St., (irand Rapids. Versiti Mobile Bus • W'ednesday. June II. from 9 a.m to I: H)p.m.. al Coreweli Health (irand Haven ( enter, ( ommunily Room. 15100 Whittaker Wav, (irand Haven • Thursda). June 12, from II a.m. to 4 p.m.. at Coreweli Health Blodgett Hospital, YAW Conference Roc^rn. 1840 Wealthy St. SE., Grand Rapids • ITiday. June 13. from 7:30 a.m. lo I f. noon. It Corewell Health Crreenvilic Hospital. Versiti Mobile Bus. 615 S Bower St.. Circenville • Ihursday. June 19, irom 730 3,m. to noon, at C oreweli Health Big Rapids Hospital. Big Rapids Clxssnxim, 6<)5 Dak St . Big Rapids • Thursda). jLine 26. from 10 30 a m. to 6 p.m.. at Coreweli Health Butterworth HiTspital. Room 1710 L T. 100 Michigan Ave. NL... (irand Rapids • Tuesday, June 24. from 9 a.m, to 1:30 p.m at C'orewcll Health Reed City Hospital. V'crsili Mobile Bus, 300 N Patterson Road, Reed City • Wednesday. June 25. from noon to 4 30 p.m., at Coreweli Fiealth Cardiovascular Services Bradford. Heart Cafeteria, 2900 Bradford St. SI .. Grand Rapids June 2025 r J ’■k. rl r 1 g . 4V8 1 8 S Bower St . Greenville • rhursdav. Auu^ 2S. fnMU 10:50 a.m. to 6 p.m,. at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital. Rvxun 1 7|0 LI', 100 Miehiuan Ave \1 Cimnd Rapids Versiti BkxxJ ( enter of Michigan is the primarv provider of bkxxl tor Corewell Health hospitals, and bkxxl donated can help trauma v ictims. sur­ gery patients, premature babies, jx'ople with anemia and those undergoing treatment for cancer. Hie pnKess for donating bkxxl takes about an hour. Uns includes registration. a brief medical screening and bkxxl collection. Individuals 17 and older who are in gixxl health and not e\|X'nencing sv mptoms of cold or t1u mav* donate bkxxl. Donors w ho are 16 years old may donate but must have parent or guardian pennission, A photo ID is required to donate. l or infonnation on donating blood or to schedule an appointment, visit donatc.michigan.versiti.org or call 866-642-.^66V \f\f ntONTIER nuance audio ST a, A. , HEATING AND COOLING ^rp»m6 t * A/C TUNE-UP * • 1 nc new invisible hearing solution ^Oa August 2025 • Wednesday.Aug.6,1 p.m.tobp.m., at St. John Episcopal Church Eel low- Only 'J THE MOST TRUSTED • NAME IN ROOFING ntwlHAist » I f tin IN THE BUSINESS I r » I • FRiENOtV, HONEST A EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS w SB» w I u ri ■ * I (BibE e^' '*a I rip* V Sii’v.tr-j0 1^' 41 8 w « W rfr- *ar 1 r: * JF 8 r ! i J * ->4 Sv w :k 9 iL RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU - • >* 4| * . • FULLY LICENSED. BONDED A INSURED • QUAurrv NooriNC t • 10 YEAR SERVia GUARANTEE ON AU WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH AU INSURANCE COMPANYS 4 .A 9 w A !I • w 0 * *> •C’ Y J k,ie f < ■< I 1 I re,- V i .1 1 i ( ♦ 4 I i I I i u .t I « u; II 1 s 14 4 .1 4 269-962-4036 CALL TODAY Experienced Service Technician Apply within. Other Products AServices Avadabie • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Tbernxjstats and more* T A INSPECnON 210 Cast Main Street Caledonia I I I I I T VISIT US ONLINE SHERRIFFGOSON COM/BATTLECREEK k Hear better in noisy erwironments with the all-in-one hearing glasses. Tfeomapple — E Y E C A R t t FOR YOUR FREE <« * 'a A * WAkA SEEKING • lOOkK TKUSriO MOOriHC COMPANY WTTN IJit V1AR$ * • 025 ship, 124 S Sullivan St . Fremont • Wednesdav. Aug 1 L from 9 p.m, to I 30 p.m . al Corewell Health Grand Haven Center. Communitv Rixvm. 15100 Whittaker Wav. (Srand Haven • ITiursdav. Aug 14. fnTm II a m. to 4 p m., al Corewell Health Bkxlgett Hospital. V\W Conference Rixun. 1840 Wealth) St SL , (irand Rapids • Wednesdav, .\ug. 20. from 10:30 a m. to 2:30 p m,, at ( orewell Health Zeeland Hospital, Conference Rix>rn AA. 8335 Eclch St . Zeeland • Wednesdav. Aug 20, from 8 a m to rxxin. al 4700 6(Hh St. (irand Rapids. Vtrrsili Mobile Bus • TTnirsdav, Aug. 21. fmm 7:50 a m. to noon, al Corew eli Health Big Rapids Hospital. Big Rapids Classrwm, 605 Oak St , Big Rapids • Thursdav, Aug. 21. from 9 a m. to 1:50 p.m., al Coreweli Health Reed City Hospital. Versiti Mobile Bus. 5(X) N. Patterson Road, Reed Cilv from 7:30 a m. to • rriday, Aug. 11:30 a.m.. al Coreweli Health Green­ ville Hospital, Versiti Mobile Bus. 61 5 t Jt • Satunlav June 21 THE SUN AND NEWS I Coreweli Health, in partnership with Versiti Blood Center of Michigan, is bnrting a series of 26 blood dnves scheduled throughout W'csi Michigan in June, July and August The summer schedule includes a variety of available appointment limes, including morn­ ings and evenings, designed lo fii into busy summer plans. In Hastings, blood drives will lake place during the following dates and times: • Wednesday, June 11. from noon to 6 p.m., at Corewell Health Pennock Hospital, Health and W'cliness Build­ ing, KXX^ W; (irecn .Si., Hastings • Iliursda). July 3. from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Coreweli Health Pennock Hospital. Health and Wellness Build­ ing, 1009 W (ireen St . Ha.stings • WWnesday, July 16. from noon to 6 p m., al Coreweli Health Pennock Hospital, Health and Wellness Build­ ing. 1009 W. (irecn St., Hastings • Wednesdav, Aug, 20. from ncxin to 6:50 p.m., al ( orcwell Health Pennock Hospital, Health and W^cllncss Build­ ing. 1009 W (ireen St.. Hastings ()ther Coreweli bkxid drives in W'est Michigan include: IB * Ji Coreweli Health announces summer blood drive schedule fc ■—* * •4 4 •x k ▼ Stop in and on n Next to Itartfingf^ 260-213-8108 : �!»♦ THE SUN AND NEWS Saturday, June 21,2025 8 A WW sunandnews.com 1 r? 1 Ir ' 2024 Water Quality Report for Village of Middleville Supply Serial Number 4360 ft drssofves naturally occurring minerals arxl, in some cases, radioactive material, and alto««d tn drtnkmi water. MCLs are set as close ts the MCLGs as feasible ustr^ can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activTty. the best available treatment technology. This report covers the drinking water quality for the Vrtlage of Middleville for the 2024 calendar year. This information is a snapshot of the quality of the water that we *I •1' t f 9 r* t f'” V* f dilowed in dnnking water. There is convincing ewdence that addition of a provided to you <n 2024. Included are details about where your water comes from, what t* I # disinfectant is necessary for control of mcrobiai contaminants it contains, and how it compares to United States Environmental Protection Agency Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from (U.S. EPA) and state standards. sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and t Level Goal {MRDLGI. The level of a dnnking Your water comes from 4 groundwater wells, each over 78ft deep. Two of which are I water disirifectant below which there is no known or expected nsk to health wildlife Mr > h > occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic 4 wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming. t• contaminant in drinking water well R 3 on the west side are built to a depth of 78 feet and utilize unconhned sand and Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as gravel aquifers. Production well 14 on the west side is built to a depth of 3S2 feet and ggb' Orpnic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic There are no significant sources of contamination included in our water supply. We distribution system along with implementing our well head protection program. U’ t r i billion or micrograms per liter .is.''/ ieJ I Middleville, 100 E. Main St., Middleville, Ml 49333. He can also be reached at 269-795- ERA prescribes regulations that limit the levels of certain 3385, or belsona@villageofmiddleville.org. More information about this report can also • • •?** be found at www.villageofmiddlevitle.org. contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Federal Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which provide the Contaminants and their presence In water: Drinking water, including bottled water, •r. e d Quality Data 9^ « r please contact: Alec Belson, The Village of Middleville, 100 E. Mam St., Middleville, Ml » 9 a « J 49333. He can also be reached at 269-795-3385 or belsona^villageofmiddleytlle.Qrg .1.* f This report is also available at www.villageofmiddleviile.org. , .1 n -Cii.-" 9^' II The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a I . .... V 1 I * II out of a total of 1299 service lines. If you would like to know more about this report, I• I Monitoring and Reporting to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be .--riTj** I \ Our water supply has 72 lead service lines and no service lines of unknown material same protection for public health. may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. • '1 . O’ I yV triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. I »1 . I hr • I 4 If you would like to know more about this report, please contact: Alec Belson, Village of I ■<C“ fi Action Level (AU: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, septic systems. * 1 f gQZ): picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and A A ►r t: parts per trillion or nanograms per liter chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum are making efforts to protect our sources by testing all our drinking water sources and I' • I1 oom: parts per million or milligrams per liter oil and gas production and mining activities. e 1 not detectable at testing limit Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of Estates Development near the Thornapple River. This well is buih to a depth of 197 feet. 1/ ♦ 4 I Mot applicable agriculture and residential uses. utilizes the Marshall Sandstone aquifer. Well H S is located to the west of Bryanwood *>• I I^is (EGLE) Requirements: The State of Michigan and the U.S. EPA require us to test our r *4| ■> »■- rCL water on a regular basis to ensure its safety. We met all the monitoring and reporting The table below lists all the drinking water contaminants that we detected during Vulnerability of sub-populations: Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune systems disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. U.S. EPA/Center for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the * A i i Treatment Technique ITT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a obtained by calling the U.S EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). .1* MRDtGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. Irving Rd. near the Village limits. Production well • 6 on Irving Road and production ,m3 a Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally located near the water storage tower on the west side of town. A third well is located off ► Maximum Res»buat Disintectant lewi IMRDU The h<hest level of a bnmfectant Contaminants that may be present In source water Include: 1 .i I requirements for 2024. the 2024 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not I health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the We will update this report annually and will keep you informed of any problems that data presented in this table is from testing done January 1 through December 31,2024. may occur throughout the year, as they happen. Copies are available at the Village of The State allows us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because Middleville main office located at 100 E. Main St., Middleville, Ml 49333. This report necessarily indicate that the water poses a the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from % V.i * 9^ I, 1 •6 < I will not be sent to you. L*-'* year to year. All the data is representative of the water quality, but some are more I-** «■ .•i* We invite public participation in decisions that affect drinking water quality. The than one year old. W' , t Village of Middleville Council's regular meetings are held on the second and fourth ( J ' afl Terms and abbreviations used below: Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm at Village Hall. For more information about your »» Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLGl: The level of a contaminant in t s. i water, or the contents of this report, contact Alec Belson at 269-795-3385 or at www. f f villageofmiddlcville.org. For more information about safe drinking water, visit the U.S. Sources of drinking water: The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health, MCLGs i EPA at http://www.epa.gov/safewater. water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. Our water I allow for a margin of safety. ir. I. < .I. J r. comes from wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, Ur- I. A ** :e Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is r; * ; ‘D I EN' t/Dlenttortn^ Oota for Urgvtotoa Carttorr'ioatrts ^fc' I . is ■ * < I MG.' ( MffDl gubted MW>LG iRanfe TMectW iburce vf ConUMTvnar* ' Samnto 4.49 0*13.3 2024 HO — 4 4 16 0-0 39 2024 NO ' and aluminum factories N/A ' Sodium* (ppm) TTHM Total Trihalomethanes (ppb) 80 N/A N/A 29.33 0.<nS6 5.OS-28.1 o.oooei0.156 2024 NO [frioslan of natural deposits I I * I 2024 NO Byproduct of drinking waler disinfection HAAS Haloacatlc Adds (ppb) Chlorin*’ (ppm) Alpha emlRars (pCi/L) Combined radium (pCVl) 60 4 "15 ■5 Total Coliform E. coil In the dlctrlbunon system (positive samples) See E. coH note* N/A 4 0 00202 ■ez” 0.03-l.lS 2024 2024 NO NO I Bypreduct of drinking water disinfection 1 Water additive used to control miCTobes ~tT' 0-Q.Tf 2021 0^ L12 .3i7:7i5 2023 PvDuoroocUrw urffento >gM NM N/A N/A 0 0 N/A 2024 Erosion of natural deposits NO NO 4.1 (XI 2024 NO N/D N/A N/D 2024 NO 400,000 N/D N/A N/D 2024 NO I II Perfluoroectaneic add (FFOA) (ppt) .9 'I ' 4 <1 A* todMtx; ataln-raaM>nt treatment* from industrial tocMRto* Ii N/D N/A N/D 2024 NO 4 t I 1 N/A 4*** 'i t mij! sss s ■I I• fc' a 'B**"*\*^*^^ Fl frern toduMritl tocWClM Dlsch»ri« and waste fntm niuttrtit 1 fadMn; breaWown of precunor compounds RrvflghUng toam, dochafg* Nam otoriropirting N/D N/D 2024 NO fadiaeK ddehargr and wacto • TO*. DtacfiBr^ and smt* from induftrial N/A N/D N/D 2024 NO -A fNet' / I homtoduclrial fariWa* i— Erosion of natural deposits i ' NMunlly present to) the envtoonment N/A h wOHztnc tha Gan X ohemesi procM* ONcfwrt* and wasto from indvnrtal f“ 1 NO Rrvffghtfng to«m; drachwv* and wMto Pcrffuomhmnok acid (PFHxA) 1 0 Sl (PFHxSXppt) (ppt) 2OU > PlraA^tone foam; dheharva and wmta Parffuerohoant tulfenic add Ptfffutponenanolc arid (PFMA) H/0 t ( A (ppt) • f 6^’66267 420 (FFBS) (ppt) I M/D N/A ■' — Perffuorobutane autfenk arid i tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits promote* Nrong teeth; OHchwvc from femhier 370 arid (HFPO-OA) (ppt) ' Erosion of natural deposits; Water addlthe which Fluoride (ppm) Otacharf* «(d waft* from atouMrtal todMat HaaftooropropyNn* arid* cRmer 4 , Runoff from fertffiitr utK; Lc*chin| from sopoc 10 JU f fl 10 1 4 x_ Httrate (ppm) iA.'';' k © ► •r. ./-J ■'Ie.. ',■? nt- todVito*: staln-rvaMant traamwnti I Human and animal fecal waste ■m Mi>«» ri »•••♦»»« «•» * 1 4<* * Fecal Indicator - L coll at the source (positive sansplas) TT N/A 0 N/A 2024 NO Human and animal fecal waste « RA* <> IjoaO servic* Rn*t, corrasion of bouirtiold LaedO^bl 15 0 3 DO 2023 0 pkmibinc Indudtog RlUu* artd ftarturat, Croalen it natural daporio * Sodium is not« regulated contaminant. 4 Copper (ppm) L3 1.3 0.1 00.2 2023 0 Corrosion of household pMnbIng wstcmsi t i K kX r 1 ...X* '■-’te Erosion of natural deposits -'A, f fc; ’ the chlorin* 'Level Detected' was calculated using a running annual average. *f. coli MCL violattoo occurs If: (1) routine and repeat samples are tttal coliform-positive and either Is £. eo4-posWve, or (2) the supply folk to take aB required report samples following (. co#-posittve routine sample, or (3) the supply fails to analyze total coJiform-positiv* repeat sarrple for f. co«. -A? L *u ■ - * NPwty (90) percent of the sarRdes coffecMd aran IBM II .... • or below the lemi reported tor our w«er. A toto ! I 1 4 I I �♦ ■*1 L, 'U Saturday, June 21,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com to. 9 ♦ ♦ * Lifetime Scot, Miedema, takes over as new Cal A.D. X J % 4^^ c J It f .0 I i '-S, < •5 f i I X e I h •» , s 4 1 I > f iM f r J 1 I 1 ♦ t I « ■1^. I •* 4 . 1 >' : ♦» •*r » k 4 •. > I . I <rJ. '/ f *T . *«« i I f '^’5 k I * Ij^- *b < nt- .^k «♦ t V. a 4^ f * ''•’■V * 1 > > '44 1 -tft ■ •t X V I lA. I • r I 3.x lu. * PI * A. □nij ;4 I r . * I '■”1 14^ J r « b. I -iU^ ' » . ''f n . UK) ' I ’■ ’WIF f <» ■A»*a-k WhJ. f t ■ ’ I Ot -i 1 J _ I r T0! «5iJ li- a Mi » J 1 • F* J . 4-i lit'-’ « I orlj 4JOY') Il£dfto<i Be.*Jr I 1 -XX __ <4 t . u I I J \ »• ~‘lt.*’ * -‘.K u i I 1— r I ?! <■1^: 41 J I o r . J r I I * I I ;iU- ■ c .;4 lU f I I * I • r Y' ic* ?______ I I i t? i it' I 1 an outstanding individual leading our athletic program and continuing to build on the long tradition of excellence here at Caledonia, Miedema said he would eat, drink and breathe soccer growing up. He was a ju­ nior on the 1999 Caledonia varsity boys’ soccer team that reached the MHSAA Division 3 State Championship match and was a team captain his senior season the following fall. Caledonia has grown a lot since then. The varsity soccer field was in the same spot physical place at that point, but hadn’t yet been emblazoned wiA the “Scotland Yard” moniker and was still a grass field. Lacrosse wasn’t a varsity sport at that point. There certainly wasn’t a YMCA with a pool across the street. Since then, the Caledonia programs have sped up to the Division 1 level for MHSAA tourna­ ment competitions in most sports. Townsend helped develop the #WeAreCAL brand, expanded athletic opportunities, and emphasized studentfiist values. Under his guidance, Cale­ donia athletics gained strength, structure and renewed pride. He watched as his son He championed innovative training models, built strong community partner­ ships and fostered a foundation to support future generations of athletes. He also guided the man who would be the new AD. “Fred, for the past six years, has just mentored me a ton in looking at the big scope and the big picture,” Miedema said. “Obviously, looking at details and indi­ vidual cases and talking with athletics and coaches, and dealing current issues and any events. But also in how do you run an effective athletic department in terms of bringing it extra sources of revenue or sponsorships to help offset costs and to Brett Bremer Sports Editor Phil Miedema was announced as the new Caledonia High School athletic director Friday, June 13. He takes over for Fred Townsend, who is retiring after a tenure as the leader of the district’s athletic program that began in 2019. Miedema graduated from Caledonia High School in 2001. After earning his degree in K-12 Physical Education from Grand Valley State University in 2009, he returned to Caledonia and taught Physical Education, Health, and Speed & Strength for thirteen years at the high school. He also completed his Master’s in Educa­ tional Leadership in 2017 and recently earned his Certified Athletic Adminis­ trator (CAA) credential in spring 2025. “Ever since graduating from Cal and then working for Caledonia and the athletic department, whether in game management or whether in the athletic training department, it’s always been a dream to be in Caledonia to stay in Caledonia with that. I think once my wife and I started having our kids and being in Caledonia it was cemented for me that I would love to stay in the Caledonia system because of our family, our kids, our community and our history. My wife and I are both firom Caledonia originally.” Miedema and his wife, Andrea, are raising their three boys, Hudson, Landon, and Gabe in Caledonia. All three are active in youth sports, including the Caledonia Youth Football Association (CYFA), the Caledonia Youth Basketball League (C YBL), the Caledonia Baseball/ Softball League (CBSL), and Caledonia Youth Lacrosse. The whole family can often be found cheering on Cal teams at home games throughout the year. Over the years, Miedema has played a key role behind the scenes in the athletic department. He worked alongside the Fighting Scots’ athletic trainers, took on event management, and helped lead the department through major changes. When Townsend came on board, Mi­ edema moved into the assistant AD role. “Phil is a servant leader who under stands the heart of Caledonia Athletics because he’s lived it,” said Superin­ tendent Dirk Weeldreyer. “His vision aligns with our focus on developing wellrounded students who show leadership, responsibility, and pride in everything they do. We are thrilled to have such CJ -J LIGHTTRUCKPARTS? I vsanns>naiPS<iSTiiis-nB«anrs«iK.ws % FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT r > we «wx 3fll. EbflGJd fn I I I w I ;r-'" .* kI I » I -• I M •5gr c £ f » » » 4';^ s. ' w » ♦* 4r USED PARTS USED TIRES 1811 LAKE^l KALAMAZOO t • •*. * 269-381-2300 t ' 4 ' ■ * give our student athletes our coaches the materials, equipment, training that they need to be successful on and offthe field.” During Townsend’s tenure there have been numerous structural improvements to Caledonia athletics. The Cal Commu­ nity Center project finally came together and massive improvements have been made to Ralph E. Myers Stadium, with construction ongoing this summer. Those are just a couple of the most obvious projects. Townsend also looked on from an end zone seat in Ford Field in Detroit as his son Brock, now at Central Michigan University, helped the Caledonia varsity football team to an appearance in the2021 MHSAA Division 1 State Champion­ ship. That was one of numerous on-field successes during the past six years. Miedema looks forward to rolling on with the #WeAreCal mentality. “We’re trying to all go in the right direction, all pull in same direction from our youth sports all the way through our middle school sports to our high school sports, and we give our kids opportunities 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia, MI 49316 » r* W. -s ------ I - Ow’W s » > f New Caledonia High School athletic director Phil Miedema and our coaches opportunities, and in our community as parents and as members supporting our student-athletes we want to give them opportunities to showcase what makes Cal great.” “Fred’s motto was ‘be great, and work at being great, Miedema added. “We want to continue that. We want to work to be great at everything we do.” Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 Gm^SoniA TOWNSHIP . CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the Charter Township of Caledonia will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 7, 2025 at 7:00pm at the Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue, SE, Caledonia Michigan, 49316. The request is for special land use for a vehicle wash establishment with oil change use, Drive and Shine, at 6949 Broadmoor Avenue SE on parcel: 41-23-07-276-001. Ihe use will occupy approximately 4 acres in the north east corner of the parcel. ^it. • All interested persons may attend the public hearing and comment on the proposed request. Written comments concerning the request may be submitted to the Township office, at the above-stated address, up to the time of the public hearing. /I I ».» . « i IC bm f % I J l< r :w t \ X _s I ■ 11 I I 1 SI fI «» I » I I 4 I* L t 4 t •A Dated: June 18,2025 k •i' t si MkW ■M'V *« » I 4 PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA i 4 .’5 4 h> lTb^VW*s km •n . -X Iz- IM L T > S' 1 �10 Saturday, June 21, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Chris Jacobs kicks off Caiedonia Concert Series Brett Bremer Sports Editor With a variety of guitars and sounds rolling from bluegrass, to blues to rock and roots, Chris Jacobs Band opened the 2025 Caledonia Summer Concert Series at the Community Greenspace Amphitheater Tuesday. Jacobs, a Baltimore native who released his most recent album “One of These Days” in 2024, played some tunes from the new album. Some older releases, and a couple covers includ­ ing Lucinda Williams’ “Fruits of my Labor” during his 90-minute set on a hot, sunny evening.. Jacobs pulled out a three-string, cigar box guitar for a couple of tunes, and played “Poor Davey” a song where Jacobs is joined on his album by bluegrass superstar Billy Strings who just happened to be scheduled to play at the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival at the Eaton County Fairgrounds June 19. The roads across Barry County Char­ lotte weren’t the next path for the Chris Jacobs Band though. The band was set to play in Buffalo Thursday evening and then back to Michigan for a show at The Ark in Ann Arbor Friday, June 21. Next up on the schedule for the Caledonia Concert Series is a visit from Chain Station Tuesday, June 24. “Chain Station is a 4-piece, highenergy, get ‘em out on the dance floor string band from Denver, Colorado.” according to the group’s online bio. “ Their music is well-steeped in Ameri­ cana roots, with vocal harmonies that are high, lonesome, and tight. Their picking ranges from lightning-fast to mountain mellow. They are a bluegrass band that would satisfy a picky oldtimer and delight fans of newgrass, a delicate balance indeed.” Michigan singer/songwriter Lexi Adams opened the show Tuesday, ac companied by Calvin Hinds on guitar. Adams mixed her own tunes like “Mountain Mama” as well as “Livin’ the Dream” inspired by her time going to school and working to be a song writer in Nashville, Tenn. Zylstra Door Inc. sponsored Tues­ day’s performances. Event organizer Adam Stauffer is 1 'TP r J J F V really looking forward to the rest of this summer’s line-up. He continues his goal to avoid repeats and to keep bringing uber talented performers to the stage in Caledonia. The rest of this summer’s slate in­ cludes Sentimental Gentlemen July 8, Johnny & the Yoooahoos J uly 15, Time Sawyer July 22, the Soul Syndicate Aug. 5, and Ashes & Arrows Aug. 12. r 9 4 •jT • .r ■ B I r Ji .V 5 i rI « % { i Kt 4 • I < > iNi 1 'V I ♦ I I I :iv 'f w 7 L-..> X I » k J 1 1 1 k’ F i i r. I' ■ .jor*' - <• *• r f i 5: a<' I I U' W| i 9^ J V >* L- 1 t :D,i‘ I’ ( * ft X > s Opening act Lexi Adams looks over at Calvin Hinds as she sings a ballad during the first night of the summer Caledonia Concert Series Tuesday at the Caledonia Community Green Amphitheater. ,’5 •* f* 1 I: |V I ) » i 1 « ,4 .-1 11 i:s • t. t 4 < ' ■ t A.* ’ I Sl^" l?if' I I r 'I ! ' r 1 _* J r « 1 i ir »■ R 1 v*^*^^**^ Sprizies Townsblp 284 N. BRIOGS ROAD- MIDDL£V1LL£, MICIIIOAK 49333 269-795-9091 Z FAX 269-795-2368 NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN Chris Jacobs picks a three-string cigar box guitar as he plays his headline show during the first edition of the 2025 Caledonia Concert Series at the Caledonia Community Green Amphitheater Tuesday evening. Photos by Brett Bremer CELEBRATE SUCCESS! B h ■' If r*' > Send your sfudenf achievements or personal milestones to bmiOkl' r mmacleod@mihomepaper.com THE SUN AND NEWS •/ 'i *ta uA * *• I ♦ I. «flp' * . ’k 1 v*rv s. LJ. Group ♦t (I * *» . !• •• TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN. AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PER­ SONS: which PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the following is a summary of Ordinance No. was adopted by the Yankee Springs Township Board at a regular meeting held on June 12, 2025. ORDl □ * K Caledonia officials issue 'important notice’ to local water customers donia Township and Caledonia Village sprinkling restrictions are as follows: i Jt • Residents and businesses with an ■r<n 'Ji' even numbered address may sprinkle on even numbered days; and 1 • Residents and businesses with an odd I 1 numbered address may sprinkle on odd Jl numbered days. Officials stated households or busi- •' nesses with private wells, as well as the aedl! it hand-watering ofgardens and trees using a watering can or hose, are exempt from l«j !c the water restrictions. » J.'jtcr? f Officials also stated that the restrictions will remain in effect until further I Waati-Ti 5. notice and that local residents are encour­ aged to follow the township’s website, *• ♦ ’4*^ *«itli9C!KS« * caledoniatownship.org, for updates or '-ffl • w contact Caledonia Township by calling 616-891-0070 with any questions or A-.......... DM concerns. •..r : r' I SECTION n SECTION 111 AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XIL This section amends Article X by adding Section 12.17 “Ponds” which provides standards for the requirement of per­ mits to build a pond, and sets for standards for the construction and mainte­ nance of private residential, agricultural, and farm ponds. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Ordinance are severable. REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES/EFFECTIVE DATE. All ordi­ nances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed and this Ordinance shall take effect eight days after publication after adoption PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the full text of both Ordinances has been posted in the Office of the Township Clerk at the address set forth below and that a copy of the Ordinance may be purchased or inspected at the office of the Township Clerk during regular business hours of regular working days following the date of this publication. YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP Tom Hopkins, Clerk 284 N. Briggs Road Middleville, Ml 49333 (269) 795-9091 Officials with Caledonia Township and the Village of Caledonia issued an important notice” to local water customers on Thursday, June 19, announcing restrictions on die use of sprinklers “ef­ fective immediately.” This plan is in place to help limit the impact of heavy water demand periods on the township’s water supply and is essential to help ensure optimal water and fire protection service to your home or office,” officials with CaledoniaTownship Utility Department said in a prepared statement issued Thursday. According to the announcement, Cale- U J 1 1 i SECTION I <*** A u*'- •’ « fc’ n ■A 4 * *0 4k JI < «« 9 L,.k.kl . 4d 2 iX IJ M* « 1 * *4 TT b I >1 - •• --M r J •, 4 s’ • * b rvak .11 4 tl ................ rjH-ir B> 4 I I I ■ I V 1 n• �If?-* A * I .'A I g :a3i h THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 1 i Saturday, June 21.2025 11 « iT Trojans celebrate their college-bound athletes t I 1 I I -r Brett Bremer Sports Editor H!<n8 n ■ ? ■ J T I ,} >> I t r^>. f ««, tt I Tormth } /.A?hK .1^ I 1 * 4 -rf'. ' '*1^ ,;'|i gnie ' r I .7 i I q I t *-? < If q v >H I T ro rr ‘•1 i i: J ’ c w 1 ^1 e . !O' ' h « 7 I I 7? )f’ ’ 1 I to ’4. I * 4 I * { * I I / fit . 7f, 4 m .Idfec f b r4 < ■sl 5 * I 8 ^5 Ju 0 v* V* Hi . •sviHi r• t •1 ! > ••V * -. 3^J J r;r; i h . I li % I 11 bA «S 4 * 1'• . A < nc J ♦ r , ll A ; ■ hr y r D ■ 4i'jWK» 6'. 4; .J' J f '■ J I » ( ( I { i: I ; • J* •l J • I 4 . TTK*^-’- I I I (' wn .. t •j;. I • • r i,-- S « T?BSi?f r -A I I 4 4 Hi :UX'.'' 1 I« *p r-."■f'i 1; 49 SI 'ie* r> J , r 4 liliiteBlh fl ? + l| 1 4 Kistb *4^ 4 I f I * A i» »A i. * X > IfjT/ » a ? I I I • t ■’ -Oif;’- • •i* t** 4 i ?l ' TTr I r»n iHiJSW*- r. ...... I t —, bnr •'r< ■t I I I I I 'T yT* 1 1 f I V J ■'TrnTss-^ t ** r f & I i iA 2* ! ’♦ . 1 11 ' * 1* < A I e i rJ .. < u t. '•* I a ) I •• J I * >. 7 I / * c ' fh I >*• a €/> J I s 1 1 I ** H .:2 r»"" . k > k’ I I I C’. • •*' I. i ir f ( • Many of them just finished their sporting days with the Trojans. Brooklyn Harmon on the medal stand at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Divi­ sion 1 Track and Field Finals, and Jacob Draaisma cruising around the track there at the finals in Kentwood too. Kylee Hoebeke pushing Wayland to the limit as the TK varsity softball team worked to try and upend the Wildcats for a district championship. Thomapple Kellogg High School honored a group of 18 senior student athletes who will continue their play­ ing days on the collegiate level during the annual senior signing day event last month. Harmon and Hoebeke are headed to Grand Valley State University, Harmon to run the hurdles for the Laker Wom­ en’s Track and Field team and Hoebeke to play for the Laker Women’s Softball team. Ava Crews, another track and field and cross country stand-out for TK, will join Harmon in the GVSU running programs. Draaisma is the lone member of the group headed to a university competing on the NCAA Division 1 level with his decision to join the Chicago State Uni­ versity Men’s Track and Field program. Draaisma, who didn’t start running competitively in high school until the spring of his junior season, was the OK Gold Conference Champion, the Barry' County Meet Champion and an individual state qualifier in cross country as a senior, his lone season of running varsity cross country at TK. His junior track and field season he was the OK Gold Conference runner-up in the 1600-meter run and a Division 2 state qualifier in the 800-meter run. This spring, Draaisma won the 800-meter run and the 1600-meter run at the OK Gold Conference Championships, placed fourth in the 3200-meter run. Initially, I just emailed a bunch of schools around and kind of see saw who would respond,” Draaisma said. “They called me back and I talked to them and I went on a visit there. I love the area, kind of getting out of the smaller town just to feel it for college. It seemed like a great place to go.” Harmon, who became the Trojans’ 6b JK4 Ji . -s x •T| X iV bio'k as HL 1 <^l * F * % \1 ‘v' L * 9 r •V* f * P': X I ♦* a . I J, t ,5L., J i j 1 « I .1 c I "t s t • I * '*• ... I s* 4 ' a Ju I to’*>-’' •sr- A « . b f I 4 J 1 r X 1 1 £/r- < * X* t i'- e . r I. ’■■ Thornapple Kellogg High School celebrated its senior athletes who have earned the chance to compete in collegiate athletics in the high school auditorium with a signing day event last month. The group included (front from left), Abby Dumond, Aubrey Hawks, Kylee Hoebeke, Lydia Schilthroat, Brooklyn Harmon, Kenzie Bouma, Lucas McNabnay, Jacob Draaisma, (back) Ava Crews, Emma Gibson, Ailana Leos, Hunter Tietz, Isaac Ruth, Jacob Davis, Bradley Moreman, Brody Wiersma and CJ Lennert. Missing from photo is Simeon Biltawi. Photo provided first ever Division 1 state medalist this spring with a seventh-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles at the track and field finals, is looking forward to progress­ ing with her technique and speed a little closer to home. ‘‘I didn’t want to go super far away from home just because my family and I are really close,” Harmon said. “So I felt like it was a good fit. I can be away, but still super close. They have a really good track program and the facilities are super nice, and I love their coaches. Crews earned all-state honors in cross country last fall, and Draaisma just missed that honor. Hoebeke was named honorable mention all-state at shortstop in Division 2 this spring for the Trojan softball program. Harmon and fellow 2025 graduate Brody Wiersma were named this year’s OK Conference Athlete of the Year award winners at TKHS. Wiersma, who missed out on competing in foot­ ball, basketball and baseball through­ out his senior season due to an injury^ sustained on the Trojans’ first offensive drive ofthe fall football season, is lookSee ATHLETES on 12 WHAT AUCTION COMPANY 22551 Bedford Rd., N Battle Creek, Ml 49017 269-209-7187 Huge Estate Auction on Saturday, June 28th located at 11818 Wildwood, Shelbyville Ml 49344 AUCTION STARTS AT 10AM Vehicles will sell at noon A car enthusiat’s dream, a true barn find, a 1967 Ford Fairlane 500 convertible, one owner, 62K orginal miles, 289 engine, all numbers matching, it even has the orginal dealership paperwork when purchased. Also on hand will be a 2011 Buick Enclave super clean. Super nice furniture, collectable glass, Fenton, Ruby red, cranberry and more. Fishing itens, tools, antiques etc. This auction is huge! This is a fabulous estate auction with a lot of hidden treasures. whatauctioncompany.com �12 Saturday, June 21,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews com ’ I - www 1 OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY 5 I 4, A 1 I • X. I ■ft I t *v ... ' t 1# I r A » I I 4 ? % a i A ■% 4 1# X. .*• . 4* I ♦ ■ » I •.d< I X J Youngsters work on cardboard projects during the Thornapple Kellogg Schools and Community Library Cardboard Construction Extravaganza Tuesday, part of the 2025 summer reading program in Middleville. Photo provided t ar-nd, (I r i •J-' JI ’ .I ' 4f .WJ^U i NOW HIRING Summer library events begin with Cardboard Extravaganza at TKHS Brett Bremer Sports Editor View Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST Responsibilities include: • Advertising sales • Account management • Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts • Attend networking events Forts, vehicles, desks, suits of armor, robots and more rose from the moun­ tains of cardboard strewn from one side of the Thomapple Kellogg School and Community Library in Middleville Tuesday. The annual summer reading chal­ lenge kicked off June 9 and the first event of the summer was Tuesday’s Cardboard Construction Extravaganza. Cardboard, duct tape, scissors, glue, streamers and more were provided for youngsters to use their imaginations Group email wsmith@mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 a The County Press a Lapeer Area View a Genesee County View a Huron County View a Sanilac County News a Your Buyer’s Guide a Jeffersonian ■ Tri’County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen a The ■ ■ ■ ■ a a Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer's Guide & News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Sun and News The Reminder nx: 5 4' -J ‘ r-'-. • J J fTf^sd is5 I * 11 I ♦ V I'layj I « I » '/Vi 'f> /Iww^rtjj jtst !' hiVi'.|!’ f I 4 ( I “r /fAi '44qr'. fujT ntH fprb.nv/ol iiJKMfnort I' j! / • J 4 /lut Joau fij tc I -4 1 f jiif ) ■\nS ji.nub f norn.qf (ii.frrtul fnoTtngqozi n t III bfu i'/f.bR'jnb')//hnn ^Yfb^iuril /Vf.te'jn I !!o ; 'IlfUf J < t ■y. r J Isiaui^ »nfi<n ) f 1 ,.. i Continued from Page 11 ing forward to getting the chance to return to the baseball field next season for the Aquinas College Saints. Wiersma is one of three TK base­ ball players headed to the next level, joined by Bradley Moerman (Trine University) and Jacob Davis (Alpena Community College.) The Trojan group also included CJ Lennert (Olivet Nazarene University Football), Lucas McNabnay (Aquinas College baseball), Aubrey Hawks (Alma College swimming), Abby Dumond (Alma College diving), Hunter Tietz (Davenport University swimming), Mackenzie Bouma (Grace Christian University softball), Lydia Schilthroat (Grand Rapids Community College basketball), Isaac Ruth (Grand Rapids Community College soccer), Simeon Biltawi (Grace Christian Uni­ versity soccer), Emma Gibson (Albion College wrestling) and Ailana Leos (West Florida University golf). The list includes all-conference hon­ orees, captains, all-state award winners and more. .-ddA .(1 iiirnrnr/fi* ‘)U“ ) hizJZ.i i /mir/rn J noqnT/fXh 43! 1 3jfcni)b.fr’joH‘jnnoii3uW j ? i fiibyj ^iwio/inU ru hif/' /nnufnmo )?btq8>ibn unatJlfiluJl :;flfieL(l'cH’jJ^nd J vJtnunima' J ^^fiKbariiiJ 'jorhJ) i wfiliiH ) noadit) nirrmd J no j<t liiaiiA bfiB ‘" J rwkK»-IU?3bul'5nr t ■ H* '>’J'iSi-r I I ft '» Tr J / •: : t I r ri t ■ ii L« u B ?' •* 1 .b I 1 » •> -J ___ /J JL- ) f :+ 9 .31 :< I r- I 4 I X / 4 ’q;<- '-u1 I. i, 70 11 < I r T I I f "'-! 1 ATHLETES IE to construct anything they would like during the morning event. Plans are for a a Cup Stacking event June 25; 4th of July Crafts the week of June 30; Mini Golf the week of July 7 and the annual Water Fun Spray Day with the Thomapple Township Fire Department July 22 in the south park ing lot of the high school. An Ice Cream Social is on the slate for July 29, during Prize Week. The library is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m on Mondays and Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays this summer. ikO 2r haWwn uMMie^thr « i?'* —. I r I < fl *>1^ u! /I 4 I 4' i •f " . r: >e � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-06-28.pdf 12353193d8f3d49832a95e1c78fc582d PDF Text Text Il ’T 1 I I I I j I i I 1 , !■ c i NEWS THE SUN AND PY, p— ATHLETE AWARD FOR CROSS COUNTRY •5;- V* * A hr-■^ Ycur Hamero^-.'n NewsDSoer Serving rhe Middleville. Caledonia and Games Township Areas ■w* ft l»4‘ 1^ ’ M II. 11 ^1* 9 ar **s 5S PAGE 12 — 1 «r SATURDAY, JUNE 28. 2025 NO. 62 KUDiit- v-i n A « V ?;• » • I A 9 A a*- E I » < ■I -<*• »'• 4 r a l; •• ' ’Js ><*bS , Ji *k F ?• J f ' i ir .A- . ■5it> A * b A• • Ml * 't ( < >'■ •• ft* I* *Alir ir f I zr* Vs X' * i I « *1 r h- <■ A oJApf? i .'ll 4 V f ' tf > ? TTT i «»*>*« I . V '•< fr o ** • / jt;. M-di ■ s •* 9 7^^ < Aa* I 9^9 1 . -« :W 1 %• X I !» V iZ -» 4 nAITtr ! <5- E •.r. ■I I; > ' .”KA r ■ *% I V It* «r *b 1• c: I C r k 1^ 4 " w: t .a^ jZ I w- * Anh M. z I 4 .^. ^.;s> 4 if.’-s** \ A‘ • r <» > V f * 4 .I *• -4 u« 1. Jit'S*’•: 2 w> > « * i l„ I *«j • JUjiV^__ W., -Tr A Mitten sculptures are popping up at local businesses around the Gun Lake area. It’s part of the first art competition of its kind in the community. This mitten is one of many that can be found around the lake. Photos by Karen Turko-Ebright J gf liciqoci eifi amulqiuos nsttiM iqmoo tjs t3ii 1 eril to tisq s’ 11 .eeiB nuui >9d NoO terlt vnEm to eno si First Gun Lake art norifsqrnoo^ competition underway now 3 J nuO tain IrtpiidS-oiiiuT naieX UI la^iW ttst2 ■ t u,! / siqo©q to quorj^ . -I ' moi l ni sbiaiuo ^nil ; rmo) $llivs>ifabiM ni IliiD Xfi 1.' f ) I 1 ( t ) )> ^ . !<> 4 < obiiQ-li£ft£^|j r; to 2OtOflq '^“J EDOW cnaiowEu j nni rtfisrrfoiM HESIDENlJVr Vj 1 .f. fi V arifto tnoil ni nai^ gnoniA JiiBiuHlesi ®rA .n^jloolno adl EfiMWr^ , _J fHMWW’wi iNBfj bosnsvl bsuui[”»338 q V8838 fl QLSeUMIIS’ bVID f Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer A group of people standing in line outside in front of the Sand Bar & Grill in Middleville formed a half-circle as they were taking photos of a painted waaa HTWOiSnO Michigan mitten 1VllN3aiS3U SSMa33 sewk IN afllAUMJO sign in front of the OK xoflOd restaurant. Among 8ce#i!iujsd 8€98k the onlookers, Amy ‘3||iAUddJ0 •t fl«« ^^fl I 1 Scherer was also admiring the sculpture. “I don’t know if I am interested in painting one but I would like to have one for our home,” Scherer said. Mitten sculptures are popping up at local businesses around the Gun Lake area. It’s the first art competition of its kind in the community. President of the Gun See ART on 2 Stehouwer wins chamber’s 9 ‘Lifetime Achievement Award James Gemmell Contributing Writer Tom Stehouwer, of Tom Stehouwer Auto Sales, got a special treat at the 2025 Gaines Chamber Scholarship & Business Awards Luncheon on June 10, being honored as the chamber’s annual Outstanding Person of the Year/Lifetime Achievement Award winner. The luncheon was held at the Postma Center on the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services campus. Stehouwer Auto Sales has been operating at its current location on Division Avenue, south of 68th Street, for more than 40 years, and the Stehouwer family once owned a Sunoco gas station at 68th Street and Division Avenue in Cutlerville even aivd 39ViSOd s n ais isad n g boeivesk b«2i 21D z 1 < ■^rrv '- < J a* A?' f * MT* 4-f X A z 9*1»> Brent Springvioed (right) accepts the Business Owner of the Year award at the Gaines Chamber of Commerce 2025 Scholarships. Business Awards Luncheon on June 10. He’s joined on stage by the chamber’s executive director, Barb Nauta, and Hydroz board president Scott Yockey. Screen captures from BCTV 4iw . e 4 1 J ai. * . •. s 1 4 * A ' iT? *•< ' .4 »F r* ' ?*::n * before that. “Tom is an upstanding community citizen and his business has a 4.8-star rating,” Gaines Chamber executive director Barb Nauta said. “He and his team are amazing at customer service. He is praised for his honesty and community support. Tom, you are truly amazing, and this community has been so honored and blessed to have you. Thank you for all you’ve done and continue to do for our community and families,” he added in honoring Stehouwer. Stehouwer then stepped up to the podium, telling those attending the chamber luncheon that he has resided in Gaines Township his entire life. “I had my first business in 1950,” he said. “I sat on grandma and See STEHOUWER on 8 £ .A . I '1^ I I * i I I I ■4 I II I I J 1 I ’ p 11 ! I 11 I J I;j I t I t.l r ; ) t 0 I 1« I 11 n 1 I *} I .i *« *5 1 ri \ n i \ 1 I I I' ! 1 L 4* V I 1 J 4 >v •>. K •Il V * •. 5cC -f‘ I -♦ I :r • < ?*• Jw2 jr 6 l« I • A , a ** n « << tv .ql ‘ I ^nS * r r F.t .fL.^ ***A Xrr- •«^u' * ■/I 9 t?T il A • 9 I a z «» ■ 'i 4^- 11^ .« Il Wlf# . 4 ulBlWl « A < ?>3 I ^"1 dx. L ;k^. 4 11 i/ > »• I A i 1 s ’ JJ lu t 1 I- 1 -> < S ' f I >» * L< S'^ I J MM ; X'OJ < ■T” • e. .• * I I c I*' 1 r I A' ‘ b.-. ?s $ T' A k .C- ■/J t /'J ■ t.2- » J I I s> 1 ■■fl «* > I •^(5 J*.- *'!fc BaHu? II h * T ? r '" • . ■*1. fl ! L X L r r t 9 Ik*' —"’T ■y"’ V . % < 1^ iV <♦ ♦ • U a . Vs ■<fc w- • •"*r- 1 t 9 www.sunandnews.com rruAi J state Street astings Ml 49058 r *T= �Saturday, June 28, 2025 2 THE SUN AND NEWS ART Continued from Page 1 Lake Business Association, Deb I immerman, remembers the first discussion of bringing art to the Gun Lake community. This is the first. In our Tourism t ask f orce, we discussed how we could bring art to the lake,” I immerman said. “After diatting about what we could do that was different from other small cities and townships, ferry Cole, came up with the mitten idea and had someone fab­ ricate them. Together we partnered to bring the project to life. Cole is the co-owner of Chief Breakfast Buffet Fundraiser Help us support veterans and community functions. Saturday, July 5, 2025 and the First Saturday of each month Serving 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Eggs, sausage links or patties, potatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, milk, Of, coffee. * Afenw subject Io change Adults $13.00 • Children 10 & under $5.00 For more information call the Post at 616-891-1882 Coffee Donated by DIGGBY COFFEE Caledonia Memorial Legion Post 305 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, MI LUNCH M-TH 11 AM-8 PM: FRI 11 AM-2PM; FRI BUILD A BURGER 4-8 PM 6 M Noonday Car Park in Yankee Springs and also the co-chair of the new Gun Lake art competition with the ‘Tainted Peninsula: Gun Lake Artistry” contest idea which requires a fabricated Michigan mitten and local businesses. “As the sculptures began to take shape with each artist’s touch, it was incredible to see how' much heart and hometown pride was poured into them,” Cofc said. “Every piece tells a story, not just of#vlichigan, but of the people and places that make the Gun I.ake community so special. I hope it inspires others to explore, connect, and appreciate the creativity all around us.” The new art competition invites local residents and businesses to cre­ atively paint sculptural renditions of Michigan’s iconic Lower Peninsula. The final entries for competition are in but anyone who wants to do so without being in the competition, can. Call Terry Cole at 616-2629477 for more information. Cole said his interest in the Paint the Peninsula art competition is to get everybody in the commu­ nity more active. “I’m community minded,” Cole said. “Let’s keep www.sunandnews com 7 * I ’’. I I*’•* I •• , E their favorite entries \ ia a QR code located near each sculpture. Public voting will take place from Julv 5, 2025, through Labor Dav. Awards will be presented in two categories: Best Residential Lnlr>' and Best Business F.ntry', with vxinncrs announced at Fall Fest on Saturday Sept. 27. Visit gunlaketourism.com/events for more infonnation. I love ihal the business coinniunity is working together to create pro­ grams and events that bring people together and celebrate this beautiful place around us. Timmennan said. Voting on the mitten sculpture opens July 5 through Labor Day. Information will soon be posted at gunlaketourism.com/painled-peninsula/. i never seen such a great community response to an event, fhev ask a lot of questions and want to know where the other mittens can be found,” Cole explained. “1 he people that painted them put a lot of time and effort and thought into them, it wasn’t just a weekend job.” The mittens are fabricated out of fiberglass and foam and produced at the Chief Noonday Car Park. ( i » r* i ■ 3 p” V AI ' aMBk kt* d t* o *k^‘ t . f 4 r-* ***' < ^4 ■ Locals can vote for their favorite painted mittens as part of the Painted Peninsula: Gun Lake Artistry" contest. II everybody out in the community and keep business local. It gives people a reason to get out and do stuff. Sculptures will be displayed within a one-and-a-half-mile radius of Gun Lake, creating a public art trail throughout the summer. Visitors and locals alike will be encouraged to explore the displays and vote for *r . 4 7 f < 1 V’ I IWi i r ■ ■ .4 I ’rf .1 I V I S *- (* I t I . I f ■y 'r> •j « b• I * « T ilT iJ I A *- > 5 I Ji 1 f i I If ■< t V i 4 ft I *> r ( >*Ib I 1 ■ T r Lj1,\ I ,< J • ' f 4 V i i u' •V. VK * Wt r \ • ■i ‘ < I I ’ I ■ f 'If 3 It' I .1 i J t4 I I 4iV'fl > ! r ft ' nvi* J «I i' '■ i J ' 1 f fi w % X A 1 . 'JT J s) » 4 4 < Itorr;. .f >* I I <1 I .t 1 t J 1 “ifii* H I I I . .. li' 4 ,1! A I Of K’ r ' 7 i . i •.■b i* . f / » I 1 tr. ? t J 1 ‘T) • I , »Kn. V 1 4< I e. I ** I A f rttWji’'-' .3 r,‘ ft ♦•if f'J 1 I • ' J <I J J Lift ’ I . V tmU** ' K fVi’’ I TP" I A r . I -0# A r 4k 4 1 ■.'<y r 1 k * «I ♦ ' 4 ri rr . J ft ft* •— • 7*^ 1 (*r * * >« ♦f* J , ft. * f I i. HI >• «> I I t I. Chamber set to assist with upcoming events Ir .t>' V h:' I tt mm* ft t 311' 1 James Gemmelt Contributing Writer The Gaines Chamber of Commerce is keeping busy, as chamber officials and members will be involved in upcoming pub­ lic events this summer. The local chamber will partici­ pate in the Kent County Sheriffs Office’s annual South Kent National Night Out event on Aug. 5 in the parking lots outside South Christian High School. That will run from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event is set to include dis­ plays of various police, fire, road commission, military and police vehicles, plus other activities. Another upcoming event involv­ ing the chamber is the annual •• r Gaines Township Movie in the Park on Friday, Aug. 22, outside the township hall on Kalamazoo Avenue at 84th Street. This year’s free movie will be Dog Man. The event will get underway at 6:30 p.m. with free games, kids activities and food trucks. The movie begins at 8:30 p.m. ?• ♦ b^ s CS' ... B ft JO. r 1 r ft - 4 I V < " ? .. •'I'J •^r** *' Wf 4 ••• eJi A .r; I «ft *. A* / * •» . <ii •» 1% 31 r >» » I I M n" t . AQiiBir" « Art OS I* r ' nw» N« «i t** t THE SUN AND NEWS I i VVi VSSS -■ The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone; 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com CONTACT US PUBLISHED BY f Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihomepaper com Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Group ..' J e i i Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman ( csilverman@mihomepaper.com Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Please recycle this newspaper iSA ( i I I Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card"^ or advertising contract, copies of which aroi available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. 136 ll N. lVl-43 Hwy , Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-945 9554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. H* 7 If J •fc ./pit J, 1 .•7*S L4 » b H'-’ 4 •*.» ,1 . ♦V 4 I I ' . sd* , 1 f t •*fc iPTT b w 1b tw • t • �a I J A I it ii } J 4 ? 3 lt"' i J Ji ' ** I. 1 V r f > h - {S.I t ■'hT. '■ ■ K ' T-ci'.rt f I J p. r '» ■'ll • imb’/rl ; .• I JI K * 4/,' J I * I • . :( :f. J <■ * 'I Vi Cr' ‘^‘r. f (j. r \ * A r »*• .4 I ’ X. . --U 4. I r r. r• ‘ r I I . ! • • >T J- e ’tl 4 J 1 4 1^ • r : -n If « a A' •' J hri.I ■f; i I % r' 4- ' • - • • I < J V• • r * I A k 1 I I t ^•fl J- ’ r.' I h b t. i < '>1 • I ’ \€D.r> *j -1 ' I; ^ I *1 I r f u. ‘u. ttu ®is,i 4 /w ■ rV-'' » i . n 1 > “l’ .I « < ">< i '■•L 1 2* i • *5 fa « ■J^ii I I I •fc. - * I I 4 i 1 I ' c •, < * gilllid I Ittt I ' J r •, s 1 r ' f f 4. jyl f t f i >». Sx' A’ ■ loi'.or 'IT*/: >>lk .?!. -Ur ^sf . f. r r:. s /'* I ^7 / • • • {i r • ; '.• :^ii I I I / I 1 ( <1 r» rj < • J M . I ) T I 4 A > •1 k JI I ! k 1 'V«:hi I 11 •y J bn;; i rr^” -! • * f k 3 <L. ’ ' J ’VsrLrr,’ I k i '• 3 I >4? I d/nirj i L. J I K ‘-f * 5. i.> u i < 1 ! 1 <> J 7’ r TF^t ^h 'ifr ► II ■# i t M 5 » <1 y-erl* \ . THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ,i I ! i More often than not, Thomapple Kellogg Schools food service director Jessica Endres can be found in the kitchen helping prep meals, on the serving lines helping out at lunchtime or, now, working at the school’s new hydroponic garden system. “It’s 99% less land use and we use less water,” said Endres. “We also don’t have to rely on the weather at all.” Alone, each of the four Flex Acre 9-by-9 feet panels can grow about 100 pounds of lettuce in 28 days. It’s more than enough lettuce to furnish for lunches at each of the six schools within the district. Endres used funds from her budget to purchase the Flex Acre units from the Wisconsin-based Fork Farms, along with four smaller portable units called Flex Farms that can be used in classrooms. According to Endres, she heard about the units while attending a conference and was intrigued by the idea. Now, she says, TK is the first K-12 school district in Michigan — and in the nation - to use the Flex Acres system as part of their food service. The Flex Acre panels are more of a commercial growing system. The panels are set up in what used to be a storage room near the back loading docks at the middle school. Each panel contains 520 planting pods, with a total of 2,304 pods available, that can be used to grow various kinds of lettuce and leafy vegetables, herbs, strawberries, cucumbers, peppers, edible and cut flowers, as well as other vegetables. “I’m so passionate about this,” Endres said. “The produce we grow is more nutritious. It will have zero travel miles and will taste better because it’s fresher, we can harvest dai ly. I’m confident we can grow some of our own food right here. We have already sent let­ tuce we’ve grown right here to each of the buildings. “Before this we have had to procure our lettuce from various places and sometimes the quality is subpar. You know it’s not as fresh as if we harvest it right here ourselves within days of being used. She said she admits there is going to be a learning curve to plan, schedule and use the hydroponic sys­ tem, but she’s also very excited about the possibilities of all the fresh food she’ll be able to plant, grow, harvest and use for students. I’ve had this idea in my head for a while now,” Endres added. “After I heard about this, I took a lot of time to research and study and really learn about the system and how it could work here. I’ve been working closely with the company and they’ve been very helpful answering all my questions, and getting it all set up and operational.” A team from Fork Farms came to TK and built the system in one day. They worked with the TK maintenance department, and building and grounds employees, who helped with the water, electrical and space needs. Endres said she has also been in contact with the lo­ cal health department and has a strict regime ofchecks a hand in planting or growing something, they are much more likely to try eating it.” The portable farms can grow more than 390 pounds of produce each year, while requiring just a standard electrical outlet and less than 10 square feet of space. The units have a fully contained water system, energyefficient LED light towers and a pump allowing it to be in a comer of a classroom and then easily relocated to another classroom. Students have actually already had a hand in help­ ing, according to district officials. During the high school’s annual service day, several students helped prepare the pods and plant the first seedlings in the Flex Acres units. Endres has thanked students, the district’s admin­ istration, board of education members, the building and grounds department, and the maintenance depart­ ment, as welt as her own food service workers for supporting the effort and making her idea become a reality. “I can’t see a downside to it,” she said. “Nutritional, freshness, food security - it’s all that and it provides educational opportunities and buy-in from students. “Nutrition is a big passion ofmine, and I believe this is a way we can get more nutritious food into each of our buildings and create enthusiasm with students.” Report courtesy of Thornapple Kellogg Schools « w *A • .X ’W ■ » t 1I S'l r- 4 - r V ; s i; 1 4 ■1 z. 5 iw* .r A X ' * •* ♦ * j t -»• % "X. * . 1 A M Br •r < * J! * 1.7 4 A'r 4 » •> .*1 k * £ •1 M X u * * 4^^ ■ « » ’t 4 * 1 1 *• X-...J #• Hiki h * A r *>'» 1’ I f jS •A < * * s* « «>- ■» ►•v .t t * fit. * r4».' t»i ei ? < C4 s I r : s J.: I «4 ^4 ’• > < .V. K -*f ( { Thornapple Kellogg Schools Food Service Director Jessica Endres stands with lettuce grown using the hydroponic system. Courtesy photo and balances to ensure food safety. Each day she monitors water quality and nutri­ ent levels, and has a schedule ofcleaning and maintaining the growing system, as plants are harvested and others planted. In addition to the larger acre units, Endres also purchased four Flex Farms units that are smaller, portable units that can be used in classrooms and include an educational curriculum provided by Fork Farms. “I’m most proud that this department can give back educationally to the students with this program,” she said. “There is always somewhat of a discon­ nect between food service and education and now we’re going to be teaching students how to grow their own food. Education is important. And we want to share this option of growing food with our students. The portable units reportedly are easily moved between classrooms and buildings. “There’s a buy-in from students,” Endres added. “If they have THE GREATEST CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME —AN EVENING WITH PRESIDENT— LECH WALESA AUGUST 31 - OCTOBER 30, 2025 USA & CANADA LECTURE TOUR ft X .b.^ ■ ■ 9 * >k V 4k A wt I' ’ A* -1 ♦ 4 •» f -S’RSfe *>«< VI vft*. .•• 4 Cs ■jx 1?' t •X .............................................. .... 1 * ’*9 f J- ST" *« I I <• I T < (A Meet the Nobel Peace Prize winner and one of the world’s greatest leaders. Lech Walesa will take you behind the scenes of one of history’s greatest turning points - and into the future we must build together. REGISTER NOW: www.HistoryExplorer.com t I C'lI. J I I 1 I I I, I s I i I I;' M4 I 3 ; I ► 1 li* Hl* hi f 3 t : I I D •1 I it I I I 1 1 •i s J \ I I I 3 TK Food Service Department starts hydroponic garden 9^ A .^\7 Saturday, June 28, 2025 �Saturday, June 28, 2025 4 his earthly heart could not sustain his tx>dy, he captured our hearts forever Micah passed from the loving arms of his parents into the loving arms of his heavenly Father on Wednesday. June 18, 2025. There he met the innumerable friends and family who have gone on before him to live with Christ, particularly his Great Granddaddy, Robert Smith, and Great Grandpa, Charles Hamstra. He left behind a wonderful community of family and friends who miss him, none more than his Mama. Dada, and big sister, Obituaries Micah Thomas Van Z^anen Micah Thomas Van Zanen was born to Rebecca (Becky) and Robert Van Zanen on March 17, 2025 at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Ml. In the Bible, Micah was a prophet called by God to speak truth to those in power, urging them to act with justice, mercy, and humility. Our Micah was also honored to bear the name Thomas after his loving Pappap and Jesus’ disciple. Before he was born, Micah was diagnosed with complex congenital heart disease and spent his life in Room 819 at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. While there, he had four major heart surgeries and enchanted us with his silky red hair, engaging blue eyes, and tight finger squeezes. The three months and one day of his life were a gift and while LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Caledonia Vine Street Church cornerstone c h u rc h 7? Rev. Christine M. Beaudoin Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM A 6:00 PM Join us for our traditional yet casual worship I service, in person or online, at 9:00 am I www.alaskabeptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia Fl FIRST BAPTIST 250 Vine Street 616-891-8669 Good Shepherd ’ Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM k Middleville 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship I r* Ill r h .n k» 1 LIvestream facebook.com/firstbaptjstmiddleville Pastor: Rob Wurst http://good8hepheF(llcfns.googlepages .com Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH Caledonia Location fli 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location « 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am 9:30 a.m. (269) 795-2391 CHURCH Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee a SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street. Middleville. Ml / www.tvcweb.com cornerstonemi.org/weekend HOLY FAMILY JJ/CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. X, Sunday Worship: 8:50 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. I Sunday School 10 to 16:45 a.m. ft J «r>4_^ % t 'f ~.S1IIIB<^ @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia. MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledoiii8.org 3 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 "Shiniag Forth God's Light Sunday Morning Worship Community Group............ L r r> A rr I i I I 1 Si ' 1 k n*.i I • r- • J* (i* ■ Ml I Lr 4 4 I 9 4 k k « * 5liR i'e( Li I J: ' I ♦ r >* t. i A** > I ■■•'W 1. . 1 « *> *'W3*-. t . ?. f i««' f I t r I J•*5 •/ 4 ; ' ! } 1 I ' : I 'I I h i lk J t -'OS** f *• 40 1 I I * I f, tf < Al • <f T K ' § 4r ’ P- * -it t . iF/r* «» ,■1 « i >w ? f V • t a 4// * It » ** <«:?«■>> ■ f I i* * 1 V >->1:16 V 17? f Jfe«fr0^»*r I - * 'H. Igf IS, J I I I -,<511 I? '2)*> r M * 4 - J''' w- J * •:; r r»»I '' ■ hl t . -4 na Al i y I & '* w • I iPhi I I '* ^’ ! t . t I I . 'CSM’tJ*' 5 in t MinHiKi * * T-r? ftl n: JI “'00W115 I I i Your local agent insures your H#me 1> r . Sr* r 1 1 A I fAMtBVKUU j fMSVflAWCF* jI MB; LLC i tn . Klj *1 s > I I ♦« Li f I. r t S' f'4 1'4 .*Jh 1 • r- r 1 t*. t < 1 I 1 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. r I ♦ *T ' I;?A « 5 Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 766-6827 f V I I I i « « ( JpadcsOfbinsmi.com F8rmBurBau(n&ur8nce.com » J ;— s II MMBI 25. •ii. ■ I I I f 1 { i I r 4 r ii * 1 1 I- I I « 11 tI < r‘ P A . 1 I 4. I i « ] 4 ♦ I ) I « f J I ' I L: ♦ .'“l I i ' I < 1* b I if 9 ft James L. CoUison, Pastor www.yankeespringsbibiechurch.org J k n iT p< e Yankee Springs Bible Church L r . -7* 6 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 PEACECHURCH.ee Ak THORNAPPLE VALLEY MIDDLEVILLE *• MPEACE F..Jik a OCHURCH Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am Ana He is remembered and loved by his Pappap and Nana (Thomas and Barbara Soyster), Grandpa and Grandma (Steven and Christine Van Zanen), Auntie Katie Van Zanen. Uncle Nathan Groenewold, Aunt Amy Van Zanen, Uncle Joseph Van Drunen. Uncle Paul Soyster, Aunt Bre Soyster. great grandmothers Margaret (Peggy) Smith and Beatrice Hamstra, and cousin Beatrice Van Drunen and well as many extended family members, friends, and the community at Restoration Christian Reformed Church. We invtte all to join us in celebrating Micah’s life and mourning his passing Visitation will take place from 10-11 a m. at Brookside Christian Reformed Church (3600 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Grand Rapids, Ml 49508) on Saturday June 28, 2025. There will then be a service at 11 a m. with luncheon to follow. Nursery care for those with young children will be available as well as a livestream option for those unable to join in person (broadcast on Brookside CRC's YouTube channel). Following the luncheon, family members are invited to participate in a graveside service in Middleville with dinner to follow. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions b may be made to the Betz Congenital Heart Center or Restoration Christian Reformed Church. Robert and Becky would like to specifically thank the wonderful and skilled medical team that cared for Micah and our entire family throughout his life. Thank you for giving us the gift of time with our son and for loving him, and us, so well. Thank you also to our incredible family, friends, church, and co-workers who supported us through months of prenatal appointments, travel back and forth to the hospital, and time away from home. Your generosity and kindness is overwhelming. We could not have made this journey without you. Finally, thank you to the many around the world who p^ed fervently for Micah and for our family. There is no greater gift. We are forever grateful. Please visit www.bwlergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or to leave a condolence message for Micah’s family. r1 7 t: '** iin �I I 1 I -fv-nu*’ I 7 5 Saturday, June 28, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com r I “"I I; 9 I I Obituaries ANNIVERSARY ANNOUNCEMENT I V I: 5 I p **n;* " eflRf. 9 I u If b/'-tk .2^ fI ■J. > */• k> '1 ■nr I ' V ft t I. 1 1 I s • bb.’ C 1*1 ’ ( ta ^7/1-' • ''^' t a e i k J 7 Ic i r.oonfinit bii nd 'h V .<^11 ,rjo)o^i I*ian8c ’b' L. Ji i Hl)O3.8UltO ?t>, • i 5.4 i ’• VtfWOVh. • u ^4 lUb. b ■'<1K ”■'■ ' * *» I • b’,:.. » I A I I 4 b. « If’ M ft. pl. •j 'in J 7 V!? t Uv. IJh ‘ . * J. 0,4.. « I 1 " St * r fl n., , Ji: 9 ; ' 1 1 r I. . ■ ’V ■ h;' i 19v n id I nn.., i t 1 I 1/ 'I ir I I Ilf '’s nt . fbi s r* • • -’w t }. I •. b '^RXt . hn ^llk> i t IR n-TltldV I I & t tiV: nil.' ? ' h I •'1 , f '■ (itl I •dr h. r - r nh .Rihiid. j ■ .,'Vhl j '' t ? ■ J / •''■irijtot... ■ •I , ‘ftt I • • ' Lt Wayne Douglas Bartlett Wayne Douglas Bartlett, age 79, of Shelbyville, Ml, passed away peacefully at home on June 18, 2025, just shy of his 80th birthday. He was an amazing husband, supportive dad, a champion grandpa, and a dedicated friend. Everyone who knew Wayne enjoyed his company. Born on August 24,1945, in Marshall, Ml, Wayne graduated from Ferris State University with a degree in economics and finance. He spent over 30 years with General Motors, where he earned the respect of his colleagues and formed lasting friendships. Former co-workers often recalled how genuinely kind and supportive he was to those who worked for him. Known for his dedication, quick wit. humor, and strong work ethic, Wayne left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. Wayne embraced life with quiet strength and an open heart. He came to understand the joys of travel and the peaceful rhythm of lake life. As his health changed, he continued to find new ways to connect with family and friends, never losing his curiosity or his ability to find beauty in everyday life. He loved Gun Lake, a good bourbon, card games, puzzles, and competing in local golf and pool leagues. He found great joy in cheering on his grandchildren—whether at sporting events, school plays, dance recitals, or marching band performances—no matter the weather. He found special moments of connection in simple things: bonding with his grandson at the barbershop, watching recorded events of his grandkids and great­ grandkids, or simply sending a quick text. Wayne had a deep love for his family and was always ready to lend a hand, offer advice, or simply be present. His pets were just as dear to him, and he cherished their companionship as part of the family. One of his grandsons described him best: welcoming, calm, and always composed. Audrey, his greatest companion and source of strength, survives him, along with his children, Jenny and Brian (Mickey); grandchildren, Nikki, Ryan, Grace, Rachel, and Michael; and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by, who he called, his bonus children, Yvonne, Lisa (David), and Tonya (John); and bonus grandchildren, Brice (Cheyenne), Carlee (Kody), Kiley, Kennedy, Caden, Morgan, and Delaney. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Judy, and his sister, Carol Warsop. A memorial service was held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Beeler-Gores Funeral Home in Middleville, Ml. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to the Karmanos Breast Cancer Institute or that a tree be purchased and planted in Wayne’s memory. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral. com to share a memory or to leave a condolence message for Wayne’s family. I I «I . k, ThB buck stays hsrs! «t • <' -:r . «• ,' i*»* SUFLK' lk- a w XWKZK:.' j ! Spend It hare. Koop it bars. .*•■ .iV, .•'•!! A a CONSTRUCTION r CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 >5 r t> /r 1 / K COMMERCIAL-RENT r OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rap­ ids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic@remax.net 1 J a V I; * WANTEO Chuck and Melissa Flora to Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary WANTED TO BUY: Standing Tim­ ber. Conscientious timber harvest­ er. Saw Mill Office-517-254-4463. FOR SALE 2001 SUZUK11400 INTRUDER excellent shape. $2850. Call or text 517-231-9953. Chuck Melissa and Flora of Middleville, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary! They were married on July 12, 1975 at North Irving Wesleyan Church. Their children are Gerrit and Amanda Keizer and grandchildren Ryan and Madelyn. Cards may be sent to 300 Larkin St. Middleville, Ml 49333 1^ <5* •’ft K 9 Group I DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mow­ ing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. k « Invest In Your Community, ! • R I 1 ‘I-'-** y i ite., - ’ ai J .a I I , 5 « I BUSINESS SERVICES 's> Rf ... K I T i < » i i I > • 1 « Classifieds I PETS House Kittens 2 males (orange) (dark tiger) 1 female (calico) 12 weeks old. wormed twice. 269-758-3737 EMPLOYMENT LPN for Assisted Living Wanted Carveth Village is in search of an LPN to assist in resident care manage­ ment. For more details, please call Makenzi at (269) 795-4972 or apply online at www.carvethvillage.net. Vr^ iae >V. *t* I r I ( An<*or>n M«n ««»> w * .Jifl* & s lb T 4 M hl hl «» B r «•• rj fc ( i Il J? L' Alpha 616 Media, llc b photo • video • drone tb R- residential & commercial real estate • corporate • events 3 I J k b fr k a I I > -"-'j’ * SilM X %« 1 ■ •< - •• . ' ;1 V * grant@alpha616media.com (616) 638-4751 s < I » •ft ■M. 1 >. iX • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers Estinrates • Cellular Enhancement Systems • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation Grant Alphenaar Owner II ■** * * > Give us a call! C(bH •we 517-983-0954 start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam I n G* vvww.celisignalpros.com f « J f J t J .J f I I ♦ ii I , I: IR u Nil J? i 'll I J’ I 1 1 J 269-967-8241 www.theantennamen.com antennamen@gmail.com I '—z-> fl « "free Alpha616Media.com : Antenna Meri I �1 4 J F > 4^ 6 June 2», THE SUN AND NEWS 4 » • ___ R Field of Flight readies for takeoff in Battle Creek 616-891-0150 Ihe Hsate t m » _ f»f Htchl Alt S)u*w md nBfhwwi Y cMimI H prep*r•fur 10 I f tn rhe skies next week The event, whuh the largext combined all dum and balloon festival m Ncwih Amcma. runs July 2d» at Battle C reek f vecutive Airport fbe evetu will feature five dav« af lunilf achviiir* Ih»% includr* an 41ow», ho< an ballocm*. Iirr*«n1k*. concert*, a carnival and m<«fr New tbi^ yesr u a iUi<r» that will take BUStfitSS HOUttS fAxxJoy - F 9 a»/ to 5 w h W-’ «v' A r < (•. i:; > place hit> 1 l1 i 1 * BODY SHOP ^bJSs a h- 1 *J I <M- ♦• I A aa Ihn will he our lirM-evcr drone khow and it was broughi in b> popular demand/' said Bretten Bailey, a i^ikes perMwi lor the event Ihe drone show will lx: one of the mini ^pcctaeul attract ton* we have bnnjght in and it\ being produced by a Michigan*ha*cd compiiny..StariightAcrial ProdiKlionn. Ihe show IS being dubbed “Starlight Spectacular,” added Bailey f ield of f light will also feature two fireworks displays. These will take place on July 2 and July 4. Ihcse show s will also feature niglittime pyrotech- 9 &f. ft *1 1 • 4 A. r I 9 'I > ‘ •< Complete Collision Repair f 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 '^a/r fruilrd body Shop for ovtr 32 yeon e w t r “ 'f'l •* San our OR cork 4. € IkJL 5? a i j i t to find four periect roviWion^ "S J 'JI 1 A Ik a * ♦ <• J A k*£ I I IW I w‘ » " aaiiw" > • ........ i •V • *■ • Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. raiNTlNG BY www.printingbypennylane.com ginad®pennyldnepnnting.com 9 I Ihe Uniled Scales Air Force IhurxIortMrds are heedhntng lh«. ye«v *« Hoifi it Flight Air Show, which is the largest m the yet© of Michigan Courleiy phota t J-' r nicB. Attendee* will not oniv be able to sec colorful fireworks in the sky, but also phosphorus effects on the ground and walls of fire. Prior to the fireworks displays both •s nighU. the “HOI SIRI.AK II '57 Chevy Jet Truck will do a night per­ formance and run. There will also be Balloon Illumes, where the balloons light their burners to illuminate their envekYpes at twilight on Julv 2 and July 3. The event also features one of the nation’s largest twilight and night air shows on July 5, the Twilight & Night Air Show. a* I f you’vc never sicen a night airshow before, you’re in for a real treat” said Bailey. **11 is truly a magical event. Walt Disney would've been impressed with how these theatrical night air show's are performed. Ihc twilight air show will feature aircraft performing against the setting sun. As it gets dark, the aircraft will then perform with lights, pyrotechnics, wingtip pyro, aerial launched firew orks and more. You’ll get two air shows for the price of one on the Sth” said Bailey. “We'll have our day air show that day as well” O' 44 Air shows, scheduled for July 4-6 w ill feature the I hited States Air I orce Thunderbirds, the ILS Army (iolden Knights, the U.S Navy I/A-IMI Su­ per Hornet RHINO Demo learn and the U.S Air I orce I -35A I ightnmp II Demo Team, amimg others July 3 will feature a civilian warm up show (>ver 1 50.000 people are expetied to attend this year's event Tickets for the 2025 field of I light arc on sale now at ficldoff1ight.com. Advanced purchase is recommended, but not required Parking will be cash only. Organizers request exact change of $5 to help keep traffic flow ing The Battle Creek field of flight Air Show & Balloon festival is the largest in North America Ihc event is one of the longest-running annual air shows and halkxvn festivals in the state of Michigan a.s well as being Battle Creek’s largest festival The event has been held over the 4th of July holiday in Battle Creek since 1980. for more information on the event, visit ficldofnighl.com or call 269962-0592. Follow' their Facebook and Instagram pages for the latest updates. John Hendler s 1 ■ I-* * * w * w * * •* * ■» «» • ■* * * liostii S, 9 I r ? 4 » e :■ ■ if» {Jllli® rL 1’1^' kdli 4 AT gfc. , a 'io*?**' 5 Isfieal(hr. .*•' J A r iLtaiUB i •I fwfeiwiwia *.* V 1*9 <!• Mb ■tssailgtt Sittjiiiioiimiiial r lilfi I B I 4J W' /I [ I ■**•1 . .1 I'1 4 a t Visit us online at mihomepaper com t: lll4 -f* JS*JM i « * aib © ■ II ♦ • ♦ t « f «r I 1t J f I I I i/ 11 Mt J I 3 i <i » I 4 T �''I Mil! ur (' I sn « 7 .. iI Il •f i < 7 Chamber officials celebrate grand opening of new hotel t 1 ... Saturday, June 28, 2025 I 4iiM ■ bi" I. THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com f I < X I I, I I r* V I v^' _ i jI •t #x5 7 I r> t 7 2 ,i t. ' W">r « 1 : bL F . •• T ♦.._ * 1/ & ’jK 1 A » - —s/ ; I J * I 'i'- w ) 1 B* I 08£. i 4- k Us «I r - IL • K i f 1 I t- IS S 5 I * MT / b 9 i o J V FflAs V f *• f4. E Xlb I i \ CK .*’1 r_ k ' * *s o * ’i.. I > .A*; . •• «*^J«k***^ .*1 . I ’n I > I I if «h MB. s feb. « {*. »C>: *? > 1 4 /> .^0 " -w r> I t I ri s • •• 1 : r / < F* I I i i I J u t b I 11 v’v A "iT I’ttc Wk .1 ri < i** I Ik! *t > ti «» I • t J :* ,r-*- r 4'’ t ( , ’ - I 1* F I 'X J I i J k «, % t I ft fl V'i I r r : •e.*. • •T IL /\ 124-suite extended-stay hotel that opened in Gaines Township earlier this spring kicked off its grand opening celebration with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, June 18. The 124-suite Staybridge Suites Grand Rapids South Hotel, located on Eastport Drive just north of M-6, is part of the Namou Hotel Group and is owned by IHG Hotels & Resorts. The hotel group is a member of the Gaines Chamber of Commerce. The new hotel features a fitness center, a sun terrace and an indoor swimming pool. Additional facilities include a lounge, outdoor fireplace, and outdoor seating areas. Here, representatives of the hotel group, along with various members of the Gaines chamber, the Staybridge Suites staff, and Gaines Township board and staff members gather for last week’s ribbon cutting. Courtesy photo V s , 1 . •h t * w* Vti < ♦ 9 k s*» •nt X I ’^.4 . * •J tf I a Wr -4^ A f I / J ■ •A Middleville Lions hosting Independence Day celebration I WE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS |s I '• ••‘i.J > .*£ » j tJ I I ' 80 I *J41 < i I z ' ..... r' r ti lit*. •• ■ / Editor r- •-• '''/I ti„,„ IB •. S iTJ. i J at' 1; • ‘ i’ G *. / i 1 -'jl J .-wwna ■, •‘U’S V/ (’ 'l .: p Pii, J J £ • I • * ’■r * 1 ■ • . J' r • J b II ** II Mr (: f t. .^4 .A . I • «• « 7 f: 4 b 1 // I a t{ • •l f . f Oli J. ■i t- '^spsw^fTIW' '■. I ■'/on School soccer fields from 6 to 10:45 p.m. There will be free activities for both kids and adults, along with live music from The BlueCatz and food trucks. Free activities, provided by BattleGR Tactical Games, include laser tag, bow and arrow tag, axe throwing and airbrush tattoos. Fireworks will begin around 10 p.m. on Friday, July 4. Thomapple Valley Church will be handing out a limited supply of free hot dogs during the July 4 event. Seating is not provided. Molly Macleod ] 1 •l I I The Middleville Lions will keep with tradition, hosting the annual Independence Day celebration this coming July 4. The free celebration begins early in the day at 9 a.m. at Middleville’s downtown amphitheater. There, at­ tendees can enjoy a live DJ while the youngsters can work out some energy on the bounce house. The celebration will continue at the amphitheater until 2 p.m. After a midday break, the party moves to the Thomapple Kellogg High I I ’".S- ;U . B-' r Residential & Commercial A > Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers l-Air Conditioners J 1 . **’ •! 1 •I £ £ ' f 1 *♦ A I 11 II •■te 16 ^L- wf t 12 • I -Heat Pumps -\NaieT Heaters Humidifiers tr:;ss^ t5>._ I I -E-* -M t*?? 2S ri $ I YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR REAOERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors... and our future. VIEW Group 1■^'355 ■ s. & .x>~. <. D eWe erd (68) ATiMn fi. AID rmbiniTinKiTAin HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, luir INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 ■ ^'*’7 * « .0 .1 r-. 11 : .1 xd It' I I k 1 « ^—• 4 9::* ( 3 t * Since 19SS f » ■ . A+ . BBB> ACCREOrTED BUSINESS K. �I. Mil’' 8 r June 2#- THE SUN AND NEWS 4. J - -.-• i WB4MI I **»^iz* I I i f •• >'‘/t 4 '9^ 1 4 £ 91 s ' ■'» I •♦ ^2 *• i J J. ( 4 -- ■ -»-»•.■* * I / e A ■ '■ s ■ A I Ip M 1 a r i » r L k #• ^Ii) I 'K "• l '^. 9 > r I it < I \t< lal'V'! ? •4 Wa 9 i •V ^r* IZ/eiv Newspaper Group is seeking a fuii-time STAFF REPORTER View Newspaper Group Is seeking a full-time, experienced news and features reporter to Join our growing team ol Journalism professionals. RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: • Coverage of local events, meetings and the community • Interviewing • Writing • Editing • Photography • Networking • Copy Editing Qualified Individuals must have a four-year degree in Journalism or related communication field and be: • Proficient in Associated Press Style • Deadline-driven • Positive • Friendly • Outgoing • Have the ability to work some nights and weekends fcnoiv ycx/ irf// too/ Qualified applicants can send a resume to View Newspaper Group Publisher wsmith&mihomepaper com VIEVWom^ Group ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer s Guide ■ Jeffersonian 9 ■ ■ a • ■ ■ ■ Tn-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen • • ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer's Guide & News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Sun and News The Reminder Games Cbarnber of Cewnmerf e preMcJonf Barb Nauta gtvet lorn Sfehouwer a hug aftc* hm apeecb accepting pia Out&tarxJirsg Person of the Yoar/Lifetime Achievement Award at the chamber t anrutal awards presentation on June 10 •J J .: Tom Stehouwer shares »om© memories at growing up in CuOerviiie after receiving tfie Gmnes Cf larr^Mr Commence Out^landrig P<?<ion of the Yoer/Ufetime Achteverrwii Award on «Xx^ W * 4 4 »• cj^ T. <» ' ir 7^' 4 STEHOUWER Continued from Paoe 1 graiMlpa’s porch, and I had Tom's beans for S cents a hag. And. then, I was one of the younger members of the volunteer fire department . and my dad was firc chief. Stehouwer was later drafted into the U.S. Army and subsequently worked at Pfeiffer Lincoln Mercury. “I had to sell evcryihing to get started (in business),” Stehouwer said. He thanked family members and those who have worked for his com * pany over the years. “I love you all very much.” he said. “You guys arc very important. I think we’ve been very good for the community.” Stehouwer added that his grand­ parents once had a house on the northeast comer of 68th Street arxl Division Avenue. And they would house the nurses that came to Pine Rest to learn how to be nurses,” he said. Brent Springvloed of The Springvioed AgcncyZFarm Bureau Insurance was named the chamber's Business Owner of the Year. We have been so very blessed to have Brent serving on our chamba* board for about four years. His leadership and love for helping our community is truly outstanding, Nauta said. “As a business owner, 44 44 44 • • • 44 Brent it a I>ccn4ed muhi-line inaurMKC agent Previously, Spnngvioed also Uught at South (."hnstian Hiirfi School for 16 years. a* rd jutit like to thank Harb and the chamber for this recognitum.*' he said “1 really appreciate il 1 want to say thanks to my staff members who are here . thank you so much for all that you do. a« As you know, in whatever posi tion that you're in, it’s often the people that don't get the recognition that deserve it the most The Business ol the Year Award went to Kaihowm Brew ing Company in Ihjtton. Justin Huiter and Gim I>ee co-founded Kailtown in 2014, They also co-own the adjacent (/(kmI Mooed Caft on 68lh Street. The Gaines Chamber of Commerce appreciates both Justin and Gim.” Nauta said. *T>ur commu­ nity is so blessed with yemr generous and amazing contributions and your sponsorship. In a video presentation at the lun­ cheon. chamber officials stated that the nominations are for chamber businesses and business owners who demonstrate outstanding per­ sonal character, community involve­ ment and business leadership. Ibe nominations were given by all active chamber businesses and voted on by its business committee. “We were also able to award 11 different scholarships this year," r* k’* rMj O' * I* . ff ’4 <♦ * r. 9 i >* ?S r • .n&4 * t 4 ' 4ti k: * I X * V’ < * ■.* I I I f 1 i . - ri MP r r I .aA* I s I u 'I J TUtC / 44 44 J >w- ' 4N 4 i ( ’litW f V « ,•* I ♦ I « . 7 Giitr r isSH. SlB' Otf f f I .■r»’' • u f I SB » t < ■ 44 n»»s*wbtolrtli y Al* 1 iU <.^ittiiiDiie T .i<wifa!.ifeib i 4* -w ante ^UltiaUl^ * ? andrn^ aiyi J » I w.A - < I L IT L *'1' '• b. s c. ',»t k r win ' I I «H9I .^*OTkir> f i * i f. < I t 1« < I *1’ i? » I fl (> f I* 1 t / t ] I 1 ( b I i 1 �fl I ' i? ■-.A •ff- • z- ; J*' -rf. i : • - ! i-aii I- p Molly Macleod a<jsl3sM vl ... 13 1 !”< .IGV/ZS Tot ziisfl Hr?/ J fif/j rno ’ A f * -V* It Qi j by/ryir IF ?»rnmo fl p ’■ ^ncb' XB'>> V♦ ’fl *. b.J V u 2 jHilJ kx. kL V * V ,2 19 » IR E|l <1, J k *« <l> ’:k ; * A V i V b. * kA. * iir 4A rit I V ii.s * ’ 1* * Ji 1 ■ * ‘W. i J ’’Si "•j(j £ { t r I /’ liivz ; -J < 5(11^^ a I r-- e. kv.C'. A I fu I r rt.hd 'H • . E f • if R^: » .1 I J . >• , 1 . f M c« ' ^^^■ 4 / ri r ’f (Ji V » I. i; ’ I • ■ $. ■ r 4. .:,:5W3Ti^ y I <<« bt I Lt T. oil 'J ; 4 IJ4 * • r ; J J 71^ t *'’9 S' ' J r 'twzio-J .yxB^SU”^^ J)’ ’&>w yil^D J enrfTELPl 4 / •fl “*> A >nf- . > A hJsqmoo It;i fl r- >.—.r—™»™---■a'3. .wiji 1®® I f^YiSssiiwaffij I '><-■ r ife’- ‘ 10 > I I I J I t I r:?f I I { iw'jJU • TrftMhn^;<bo(f’.'^ zjiii-ifis aWft’^fr M r I r GU*. i 1 r MVI « i- Ffi q' 1 k I f . i I rts\ .. -sLjtV. lii 1 1 i I I I 4 r I ^<11 1. I ul •I « » tn • j * i I J r A11' " - Hi* 9 Commissioners approve body cam and radio purchase I I Saturday, June 28, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com R I r-i Editor By the end of this year, officers with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, along with corrections officers at the Barry County Jail, will all be sport­ ing new, body-worn cameras thanks to a purchase approved by the Barry County Board of Commissioners at its regular meeting this week. The purchase agreement approved on Tuesday includes 30 new in-car cameras, 22 new in-car radios, the re­ purposing of 11 current in-car radios, four additional desktop radios, 36 new portable radios, the repurposing of cur­ rent Kenwood radios tojail staff and 46 body cameras. Of those 46 cameras, 21 will be used by Barry County Jail staff. The rest will go to BCSD officers. The county is purchasing the up­ graded equipment from Motorola and Crouch Communications. Because the purchase came mid-budget year, the county plans to finance the purchase. County Administrator Eric Zuzga proposed financing the purchase with a $848,358.73 installment purchase agreement from Highpoint Community Bank for three years with an interest rate of 3.99 percent. That purchase agreement was approved unanimously, 7-0, on Tuesday. Commissioner Cath­ erine Getty was absent. An unbudgeted purchase ofthis size is unusual at this point in the budget cycle. Recent events helped push the purchase up in priority for commissioners. Radio encryption standards are changing in the fall, and Motorola is including steep discounts not offered by competitors for the full technology package. In October, Barry County SherifTs Department officers were in­ volved in an officer-involved shooting in Delton. Though officers were cleared of any wrongdoing in that event, the need for body cameras was felt more acutely after that incident, said Zuzga. Body-worn cameras can help protect the county from liability. In turn, if an officer commits a wrongdoing, bodyworn cameras can help hold that officer accountable for his or her misdoings. Body cameras can also streamline an officer’s daily work. “Having those body cameras allows us to record coming into the scenes, our interviews, things like that. I think it’s extremely important every single one of us has one of those,” said Sgt. Scott Ware during Tuesday’s public comment period. Though the purchase will spell a hit to county funds, the three-year financ­ ing allows Zuzga and his team time to whittle down the costs with grant funding. Commissioners voted on Tuesday to approve an application to the Michigan Municipal Risk Manage­ ment Authority for up to $95,000 in grant dollars to help offset the cost of the Motorola purchase. Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf also mentioned cur­ rent efforts from Rep. Angela Rigas for a $230,000 state budget appropriation to the county to offset the cost of the camera and radio purchase. “I appreciate our partnership with Motorola, thanks for coming here and answering our questions. And our jail and officers, we’re looking forward to providing that additional safety and transparency for our community, for what that’s going to bring. It’s a new chapter for Barry County,” said County ntONTOR HEATING AND COOLING Expires 6/30/25 c*^r:jis^ «HI ..■3^ b» Dnly SEEKING Experienced Service Technician Apply within. GMer Products AServices Ai^ilable • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! E 4 I 4 num—_____ J p. 1 I I I I, 4 1 > fl I1 , •! t ' 4 i lx’ I I I li ! !’• iii ‘ 210 East Main Street Caledonia f '•i /’U ’ * 1 <i •K The Barry County Board of Commissioners voted this week to approve the purchase of body cameras, in-car cameras, mobile and in-car radios for the Barry County Sheriff’s Department. Pictured here at last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting is Sheriff Dar Leaf discussing the department’s need for the purchase. Photo by Molly Macleod Board Chair Dave Jackson. “We know it’s a little bit incident-driven off of something that happened, and now dif­ ferent stories, we want to eliminate that in our future. We look forward to this next chapter with our law enforcement and with their protection and security going forward.” SEE THE GOOD SHE GIVES The Legacy of Leadership In July, Dr. Kim Norris completes her final term on the Barry Community Foundation Board of ’ll Directors. Serving her 2nd nineyear term, she becomes one of the first “double emeritus" board members to reach her term limit. Inspired to give back to her community, she is especially excited about the work done to establish several programs providing v/orkforce housing in Barry County. As an ophthalmologist and owner of Creekside Vision, she is able to give back in many ways. * t T r X*. > '■v* ♦M X 1 a • A/C TUNE-UP .f :k' I I 1 If you want to learn more on leaving a legacy, call Bonnie Gettys or Annie Halle at 269-945-0526, to ensure your gifts support your hopes and dreams. YEARS OF IMPROVING LIVES THE BARRYCOMMUNITYFOUNDATION V7WW.BARRYCF.ORG �I ( f T I 4 F 10 Saturday. June 23, 202 r: r" THE SUN AND NEWS X- - w'W'w sunanj' Caledonia church to host 10th annual ‘Kind Like Katie’ blood drive file ( alcdonia Community Church will host the 19th annual “Kind I,ike Katie" Memorial Blood Drive, held in honor of Katie I airchild. on July k with a goal of collecting 67 units of blood. I airthild, the daughter of Kristina and David I airchild, was killed in a car accident on May 3. 2015. while on her way to babysit. During her time in </irl Scouts, Katie learned Ihc value of blcxx) donations." her parents stated in a testimonial. “She provided years of childcare serv ices during Holy family hlcMxj dnves so moms and dads could donate. “She was kxiking forward to donating bkxxJ herself for the first time." they added. ‘‘I ’nforlunalcly, it was scheduled just three days after her death. She was given many pints nf blood after the accident We still had Io say gcxidbve U her, but hlocxi donations v^crc essential lo her final moments." According fo organizers of the annual blood drive, a total of 756 pints of blood have been collected during the first nine years of Kind I ike Katie bl(H»d drives. Versiti-BkHxi C enter ofMichigan w ill again partner with ( alcdonia Community Church for this year's event set for 1-6:30 p.m. at the Holy I amilv C atholic Parish at 9669 KraO Ave. in Caledonia. I very donor will receive an ice cream treat Katie's favorite and every individual who attempts to donate will receive a pickleball set. I he blood drive is open to the public. Anyone 1 7 or older is eligible to donate blood, with persons 16 years of age eligible to donate with parental permission. If interested in donating blood, individuals may sign up online at versiti.org/ccc or contact blood drive chairperson Char Mello by calling 616-901-2803. Making an appointment is preferred but walk-ins are welcome, as schedule allows. DA/ j (HARII K fowNSHip or CAI I IX)MA BOARD OI I RUSn ES Vt COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Meeting Minutes I he rnint)tc<» t<»r the hifiv 4. 2025 township Board of I nisters Meeting that were approved on tunc IK. 2025, arc posted at the Township Offices at KI96 Broadmoor Avc., and on the wchsilc at WO, V akd uulalv>v n 1 ft s i i The minutes of Ihe June 10,2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on May June 24, 2025. are posted al the Village Hall al 100 E Main Street and on the website at www. yBlageofmiddleville, org. *- .vs ct-H I - Li in 1 1 / Ofl* f I Conservation district officials to treat roadsides for invasive species c I r I 1 I 1 I The Barn, Conservation Distnet isg.Hngonihe warpath, prepanng to fighi various invasive speties along roadside nghl-of-wa\s in both Uarr\ and ( alhoun counties. According to a recent announcement b\ IH D offtcials. the local conservation district based in Hastings has been contracted b\ Barrs and < alhoun Counties Io perform custom chemical vegetation control sert ites for phragmites and knotweed two state-prohibited invasive sjx'cies found along local road right-ot-wavs lechnicians rcportedlv appiv I PA-registered materials as part of the Barry-( alhoun-Kalaniazoo Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area. Work lo complete ihe treatments will be conducted between June 23 and Sept. 30. Persons who ow n a properly adjacent to w here Ireatmenl has occurred and w ish for us to expand beyond ihe public right-of-w ay, or those seeking to report sightings of phragmites, knotweed, or other invasive species, arc encouraged lo contact Sara Huetteman, invasive species coordinator by calling 269-908-4136 or via email al bekeisma^^' gmail.com. DA/ \ ! r I t L *rw -T* I j j ' I I x! I w 1 I t 'c; i L r V Fl XF I d I I / if 'j 1 I I *' MrI 4 ? 1 4 f "-if J 3 yV u* < . A f Ir •' > i * A /* 4 / A A x*. I ; • * f 1 I t 1 J I I , £aIiI 3ll»* > I I; -ktll NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ‘■f' NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING • I I i 1 At a regular meeting of the Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees, held Monday, June 1 0 W N S H P 9, 2025, at the Township Hall located at 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316, the Board of Trustees was asked to consider an ordi nance to amend and approve the Authentix Gaines Planned Unit Development rezoning. The Township Board of Trustees has set a public hearing date of July 14, 2025, to be held at the Board of Trustees regularly scheduled meeting commencing at 6:00PM on said date. The purpose of the public hearing is to consider a request by Continental 870 Fund LLC to consider the rezoning of land to the Authentix Gaines Planned Unit Development (PUD), site plan, associated roads, and utilities. The PUD is legally described as: ri * Parcel 1: 41-22-02-100-051 Parcel 2: 41-22-02-100-055 Parcel 3: 41-22-02-100-053 Commonly known as 6338Hanna Lake Ave., SE Commonly known as 6330Harma Lake Ave., SE Commonly known as 6326Hanna Lake Ave., SE A. true copy of the proposed ordinance to amend and approve the Authentix Gaines Planned Unit Development rezoning, can be obtained at the Clerk’s office during normal business hours (8:30am-5:00PM Mon-Fri). Michael A. Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk At a regular meeting of the Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees, held Monday, June 9, 2025, at the T 0 W N S H P Township Hall located at 8555 Kalamazoo Ave , SE. Caledonia, Ml 49316, the Board of Trustees was asked to consider an ordinance to amend the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance as provided for in Chapter 32 thereof by amending Section 2.20 and the Township Zoning Map. The requested amendment of Section 2.20 thereof, the Zoning Map, so as lo rezone the following property from Agricultural/ Rural Residential (ARR) to Village Residential (VR), the land being commonly described as parcel 41-22-32-200-005 located at 1264 lOO*’ Street SE. The legal description is as follows; W 14 NE 74 EX S 20 A. & EX N 750 FT OF E 691 FT & EX N 223 FT OF W 396 FT* SEC 32 T5N R11W 46.08 A. »t '4 ,“'h 'r 1 i < r ✓ iSB® ^05 I t . r * A « 3^ I » ■> '.A 1.4 V 'i (A I .1 1 ’'J I f tan 1. ■ AI SI it t I 1 I iI * z* ■ I . ( -> •f .<4 Z'.V r L; I i The Township Board of Trustees has set a public hearing date of July 14, 2025, to be held at the Board of Trustees regularly scheduled meeting commencing al 6:00PM on said date. The purpose of the public hearing is to consider an ordinance to amend the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance as provided for in Chapter 32 thereof by amending Section 2.20 and the Township Zoning Map. The requested amend ment of Section 2.20 thereof, the Zoning Map, so as to rezone the following property from Agricultural/Rural Residential (ARR) to Village Residential (VR), the land being commonly described as parcel 41-22-32-200-005 located at 1264 100*^ Street SE. Ml® 3^ r anied none: J .4 o * e. kt: /--’-’■Bit f 4 : I I s I ftd It I Bn fU! .4 - I ‘A ? J u l; Al A HSW Dil® IJf - i M t I Ml- rv* j'n! 1 I< « 4 A true copy of the proposed ordinance to amend the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance as provided for in Chapter 32 thereof by amending Section 2.20 and the Township Zoning Map, can be obtained at the Clerk’s office during normal business hours (8;30am-5;00PM Mon-Fri). r J |4 Tekifeio! Al Outa; J 11.^ * t / 1 94 '’ f L?^v I 1 ■s L • / J I Michael A. Brew Gaines Charter Townshio Clerk k' * > I I M 1 , V 9 » . \ ■ - •••< K J • • .. I VA I ■ '^1 ' *■ V-' : I. t 1 I t f ! i i i 4 i r 1 I } , 1 1 1 I f I ! I f ‘1 ii ’ I I 4 ri I f 4 if t J r I 41 4 i i I 4 �I I a* ;“4 < THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 4<’ a 'A- Saturday, June 28, 2025 11 HI rt ik 4'- I I 9 •- 7^ ? ■-W * '•» 9 s [ .'I Vk r k i % I ■W V' V. -* W-’ t i t I .B A.4 v,’ , -"i YA * 1 -'■i ►T * f —RB. r i*, * t’ Jk I * I » ? 19 r> aA'\ <K»—<1 ■■ / s *b A b 1 V '.'1 •'* I % 4 • * f Se •** * - t .1 t > # •l T % 4 • . 1’IE - i.* 1'/ t » >*1 > Air *B' >— f. 4 A "b- 4* K. I •■ k*' ........ ■■t: •ff M 1 I*-. >*i - r> t •,*^ •• ■ ■ .. • -45 :i . % IM. s » ?’% % i IP * •l .k * *1 -A ^k- fc • * 7*fe Jr" > ' I J 14^ I , f f* 1 i 4 ' / « . *•••' T» I 1 I ’^b s M' I •u Tr* b.. (i- I i I '^ii'/ fMl I i '1 14 V ' J ■ l'.V lf^r >* . * I w ! I- , .i A' A 4 J f5? Al.* •« • r; 1 *.• I 1 1W4 J •• * '-A i* u ' ^ISjSgd ' » 9 J '^l 'IP’HL.. ■ ienrBT9« “7*4 >'.' A« • •' utivifaiXu., l^. 1 < I H» r r . i « '.} ' f f ■ • ’1 t ■ »' Tr, • •*'* t> - 'a:y9 ■ I bA < ,' r 4• c J •> •• r» > \. * j h * <2 -*r '^'*4 4 ! •1 1 ■^-4 M * <t' I j I ‘-rjl > I t •» Ht BI I * ‘Bt^'l V1 ■ ■<C'Ji LJ*< i I •- . r**.» Z ■J -• I I J ♦ I I U .• ri k 3 — ii}’ t r Jj' » ; fc iiil ’ c ik' . * M« . ” )J 3 .?./•; •t^r I. I I I 1 1 . A’' >. 9.V I *s Lincoln Senti from the Caledonia boys’ lacrosse team was named second team all-state in Division 2 this spring. Photos by Brett Bremer - 4S 4 L ■ TTFk ■' ' r • ’iT'’ '■ I K I I I^r . 1 4’ c. .'A I I r 1 ' .i-uU'l' (b I'( Brett Bremer Sports Editor Postseason honors have been roll­ ing in for the Caledonia High School athletic programs. Both the Caledonia varsity girls’ lacrosse team and the Caledonia var­ sity girls’ soccer team have earned academic all-state honors. Individually, Eden Korb, Elena La Franca and Kenna VanLente from the girls’ lacrosse team have earned aca­ demic all-state honors, as did senior pitcher Cam Myers from the Caledonia varsity baseball team. On the field, senior defender Josie Wilcox from the Caledonia varsity girls’ soccer team was named honor­ able mention all-state in Division 1 by the Michigan Interscholastic High School Soccer Coaches Association. The Caledonia varsity boys’ lacrosse team had one of its best seasons yet with a run to the MHSAA Division 2 State Quarterfinals for just the sec­ ond time in program history. Lincoln Senti and Sam Hoag were both named second team all-state in Division 2 by the Michigan High School Lacrosse Coaches Association, and teammates Brady Hilaski, Emmett Haan and Rylan Bultema were all named honorable mention all-state. t >■(. f / I/? Hl' y u ' r■ z. f nr J I ** a ’ •< . I i j f It. :l* z f. i^7 t •■ «* > •z • I T Josie Wilcox from the Caledonia varsity girls’ soccer team was named honorable mention all-state in Division 1 this spring. GRAPHIC DESIGNER View Newspaper Group is seeking a fuii-time graphic arlist for our Greenviiie location. — MONDAY THRU FRIDAY • IN OFFICE • NO WEEKENDS — WtFF c ^IBf. 1 This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about graphic design with a keen eye for quality graphics. Must have working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Photoshop (PC) - Illustrator a plus! J «» u *f’ \ k.-*«> > .1 4 >t Responsibilities include: ) • Newspaper advertising design • Newspaper composition/layout «**’ ’-i >- I t > Mie love what we do and we know you will too! K>^' * »• vu'I 1^>-. Are you the person we need? Sef7(7 your resume to General Manager Amber Rood at arood@thedailynews.cc and let's find outl y r 4 r V A* UA 4< P I y. r" e « t :’♦ S3te ’.'?*» ‘«^fchk. '’Ml MnKtT. 7*** W IB/ib v«. FS *»• ,'.x* J * ■■'-W . X* *. 5.M E * • - *■ p Sam Hoag from the Caledonia varsity boys’ lacrosse team was named second team all-state in Division 2 this spring. GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer's Guide A Jeffersonian > IS » W * K « » W Group Tri-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen s The Lowell Ledger S The Hastings Banner Buyer’s Guide & News The Sun and News a Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News « The Reminder We are a growing company of 21 community newspapers serving 15 Michigan counties that are delivered weekly to more than 335,000 households with an additional500,000 monthly online readers. . J -ft . ) i ’ I. f I I I I I II ti •'IP I *■5 s / Mi I •1 • I I 'J I ] I 4 I i h s J I. 1 I t I I I r NOW HIRING <>• • ... ,v Are you creative Scots celebrated for performance on field and in classroom c I *' 7 • ’vy * t.,. I < B '> '"T.'i* I ‘ * >=> Sa. A •» V. •v2^*< -ae • if k<. > ir 1 \ ' .1 •i f It ir S <««9 \ *4 . <. i ‘. /! m. 3 w I ■» 4 'y~ 'lb .z 4* . *1 V -k- «> T * \ �z*' / I • lV ■I r I 12 Saturday, June 28, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF VARIOUS ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at a regular meeting on June 18, 2025, the Township Board of the Charter Township of Caledonia (the “Township”) adopted an ordinance (the Ordinance ) to amend various provisions of the Township Zoning Ordinance. The principal provi­ sions of the Ordinance are summarized as follows: SfiCtifiUl of the Ordinance amends Section 2.2 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding defi­ nitions by the replacement of the definition for “Garage — Private” to provide that a private garage is an accessory building for a space within a dwelling or building devoted to storage of vehicles and other motorized and non-motorized items. ■Sgetipn 2 of the Ordinance amends Section 3.10 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding ac­ cessory buildings by the addition of a new Section 3.10(h) that provides that up to one accessory building that does not exceed 200 square feet in area is permitted, which does not count toward the maximum square footage allowable for accessory buildings in the applicable zoning district. Section 3 of the Ordinance amends Section 3.11 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding res­ idential accessory buildings, including changes to ±e maximum allowable total square footage for accessory buildings in Table 3.1 and Table 3.2. It also amends Section 3.11 by permitting a greater floor area of up to 15% of the allowable total square footage for an accessory building if approved as a special land use by the Planning Commission, subject to compliance with applicable architectural standards. section 4 of the Ordinance amends Section 3.29 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding driveways and private streets, including changes to the table summarizing the categorical require­ ments for shared driveways and private streets, the definition of roadbed, and the required easement for shared driveways. It also amends certain design and construction requirements in Section 3.29, including requirements related to roadbed standards for certain private streets, standards for vehicle turnarounds for private streets that are longer than 150 feet and terminate in a dead end, requiring traffic calming devices to be reviewed and approved by the Township Fire Chief prior to installation, connectivity requirements for existing or future developments, street shoulder requirements, and vehicle turnoff and pedestrian connection requirements for mail kiosks. It also clarifies that principal dwellings that are existing prior to the establishment of a private street may be incorporated into the private street and do not count toward the number of homes to determine the minimum requirements of construction, but the existing principal dwelling may have a driveway only to the private street and must be a party to the private street maintenance agreement. Section 5 of the Ordinance amends Section 3.36 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding rec­ reational vehicle parking in certain zoning districts to add the A District and the R-R District to the list of districts where parking of recreational vehicles is allowed in the side and rear yards. Section 3.36 was also amended to clarify that recreational vehicles cannot be parked within the required front yard or in any area between the street right-of-way line and the main front wail of the building, except that recreational vehicles may be parked or stored on a driveway in the front yard, including within the required front yard setback. Section 6 of the Ordinance amends Section 3.50 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding out­ door lighting by the addition of a new Section 3.50(d)(10) which provides that light pole and fixture colors shall be limited to dark bronze or black. Section 7 of the Ordinance amends Section 3.59 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding ar­ chitectural standards, by clarifying that architectural standards apply to office buildings within the HC, Broadmoor and Cheny Valley Overlay, C-1, C-2, and R-4 Zoning Districts. It also amends Section 3.59(d)(l)(i) to reflect that the facade standards for commercial and mixed-use buildings also apply to office buildings. Section 8 of the Ordinance amends the Zoning Ordinance by the addition of a new Sec­ tion 3.61 regulating commercial and industrial access drives. The new Section 3.61 includes design and construction standards for commercial and industrial access drives, including requirements for the paved surface, curbs, the frontage treatment of such drives, greenbelt buffer requirements, and compliance with design and construction standards for drives in other sections of the Zoning Ordi­ nance. Section 9 of the Ordinance amends Chapter 19 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding sig­ nage to add a new Section 19.2(d) addressing when signs may be illuminated and the requirements for illuminated signs. Section 10 of the Ordinance amends Table 28A and Table 28B of the Zoning Ordinance regarding the size and spacing requirements when landscaping is required. Section 11 of the Ordinance provides that the Ordinance shall become effective seven days after this publication. A copy of the ordinance may be inspected or purchased at the offices of the Township Clerk, Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE, within the Township, during normal business hours. Dated: June 25,2025 TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA t www.sLinandnews.com 4 r li'c TK’s Crews wins state Positive Athlete award for cross country Brett Bremer Sports Editor Recent Thomapple Kellogg High School graduate Ava Crews has been named the 2025 girls’ cross country MI Positive Athlete Award winner. Crews and the other Michigan honorees through the Positive Athlete Great Lakes Region were honored on the field before the start of Tuesday evening’s Detroit Tigers baseball game at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit. The goal of the Positive Athlete awards is to recognize student-athletes across the country for their leader­ ship, resilience, and character beyond the game. The national organization received 12,270 nominations, across 50 states and 3,327 schools during this year’s nomination period. The group looks for kids who lead with positivity, determination, and re­ silience. All Positive Athlete nominees are not only eligible for recognition, they gain access to career develop­ ment, leadership, mentorship, and j ob opportunities. The Great Lakes Region Includes Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentuejky, Il­ linois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Crews is set to join the Grand Valley State University Women’s Cross Coun­ try and Track and Field programs. She >5 « > V H I* ri' yr was a four-time state qualifier in cross country for the Trojans and earned a medal at the MHS AA Lower Peninsula Division Cross Country Finals to close out her senior season with a 26th-place finish. The TK varsity girls’ cross country tetun won the OK Gold Conference Championship this fall with Crews finishing as the conference’s indi­ vidual champion. The TK girls’ track and field team won back to back OK Gold Conference titles with Crews leading the distance crew, she won the individual conference championship in the 1600-meter run, the 3200-meter run, was the runner-up in the 800-meter run and helped the 4x800-meter relay team to a conference title. Throughout her track and field sea­ sons, Crews ran in the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Track and Field Finals in the 1600-meter run and the 3200-meter run as a junior. She earned an all-state medal as a late fill-in for the Trojan 4x400-meter relay team at the 2023 state finals her sophomore track and field season, and competed at the D2 finals in the 3200-meter run in both her freshman and sophomore seasons. She also competed in indoor track and field competitions throughout high school. . 4 ! i f i i , 'r .'Lik' I / f '.iX tV* <• 4 -jfli 4» b"* ' /V‘ r F t I « i *} 1 r I ! »* .4^ » i f A ;L- .*C •S •l r' y { I I % * * I > % »y I ' >4 I p 1 A Av. > 4 t fX-- 3 W* 9 t <r» r e et tl 19 .4^ . f ••4 dr A 4 . .jU ' «y * -S a* -m; iS > ■ kUSt • i i » o;irj > p >* ♦ T* 9 < >'< ■t'-S ' 1 r juo* »*T Mdt I < t I * \, ) •4 4JflK I \ « * t 'i , ,«„hf ™ ?< f , # 1 I -on 1 t J Vf* V'f'd i.nj I ueWJfa^ in ty>ioarn 4 r ILH X J !»/ A J A * I ki '4 . r: ... r i."*" -»*• '* *<u -^■'c ..r 4 > * <* b* wn m «• *«• tM riWWIIVOMUMKHa i 9V**W WI» ■ IT •Me ♦1 i .V- V* *>»>* a *w' • 4* ^laa^ lA A i I *» 9a * * * J ) Li X '» IM s A r« w « » II ««* .*.■ t' 1^ ] I I 91^ * 95 it I L 4 I I I ■ww*- > ______ '■-> fit '<.4 ik. 1^ I ^«URIV9^ F *x 1 ) « <y. iSS lSS I 1^ fck V' t i 55 £»• I -ri I J • A 1 I SfA Ax 1 i I J . *1 I tA A I •* lA ' 1 H 4 4 : -% 1 4 I % f fl I I I * I 4 [ i 'J >? I J ■ •‘J’ • r STi >*• fl t 1 Recent Thornapple Kellogg graduate Ava Crews (second row, second from right) is honored along with other Positive Athlete state award winners before the start of Tuesday’s Major League Baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Athletics at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit Tuesday. Photo provided I i 4l moiT bno393 /.wi * I IrtS, I r W' 9 V* • / ( .k I T a < )■ '4 J < **• I J II u i £ I 1 A �X % * * Vr A *< <5^ ■ ? , 4 < *4 r *k. Ai u Pools open in Middleville and Caledonia throughout summer » s a 1 ‘XL;'' ' .seQ; 4 J »A h.« th St • X f wt Ski' 4 'X K r-> .V, W' »< ■>! * s < >A S ''«!K J Ti ...i «« I i i X :*. *> V •A * T -'***’> 4 V w A 6 *9< Na. M 1 ft (*>’ s S' 4r -A I Mb > SI *”61 Wi. ■ f- n r. s bs *3 ' 2^'- a; A 'w a •X. ' A r 4 'iij * *• . I ir S’ •• '•k- S' . f. ’A» ’* 4^ M i p «a ■’1,... 's ■ tb*' 3 Al ft 1 •w » IX. 1 M * a* w > ' «.iiX available upon request Admission IS $2 per person per visit, and there are also optHXis availabk for 12-visit passes and yearly paaaes Children under tlvec are free The pwil in Middkv ilk is also open from 5 a m tn 8 a m Monday through Friday for lap swimming. Swimmers arc aaked to enter the high school through door (19, near (he weight room on the south side of the high school There arc also Aqua Motion and (ffcntk Aquafit classes goir^ on on Monday and Wednesday evenings Aqua Motion classes nm from 6 W p m to 7 15 p m and (kntk Aquafit classes from 7J0p m to8 15 p m The r A 1 •4^ :) I N t!.. • IL 1 1 X 9• II 4^ •Ma# r * X* A. A I e I*’ 11 r — * «i» I. 13 ‘i ’ k____ »»1 '*, ( <' * u* Bt^ ' ■■■i * ' 4 IM I as *1 aiwtK xonr* is HiafST t^ix *w«i aMMrd cT STipw-alX V 'Si i r. 1 w^u-i 1 «f m. ttw /mo^ ftwWS * PwKk at ite* CdinkwtM tiW Bnxktefc** <w M. < 4Mxkwi«A ^4 tetfH aOMte ai* !(■ teft^M n*SWt^rt< M Irtns**!*!** Xw .n M i * ««ftB a* flSbKSnl te* Wv teaWr* lb* < pwtytiW* lAkWa Ibx^lnuMw Aw< (Kt* b evateMa vMSaMrt Irhb. 11 Tbr MaMM NmN Ma vadv vwU wWwS iifW— । f* te» teB<kte*^« wd «* *Sr ZiWMAg OrWmmv a «^i«dme Na *N PCT^ m m1 tewtte liMiiftriJ ux Ai lb *s > ii UewNii qRiKrSawkh.ae< Mb* nqMNMTi aa «ei fc<ih m the Zcwiftng Ontemme. Pl'D (Vnte MKrK N- fciteaig taaC m bNMWd Nx Zl) Sexivm I v Mql and ; ' lOtg) 1) Anv kN wa*. wvM «e cNwvagr re^MWeweMi aei teaeite « (tee ZiNMng t intenavwe. intteading but MN bMMl W ^MO— I * «k4 11< e A "bV well ta* (ter m Ns kamwIhi an fcdbw*wg cKNnpWtw* of V(MteagMi tlvfaaetOTevN nt 1 ranipurtatian Pnwxt N«y ( 5 4UU| IN 2IOW' 4J «e<xkk nyftNftrww aa «e4 ftmte Mi itee ZtwwaigOntenank*. H’D Odtnaauex tmteadtng but «KN kaaaNed «k ZO s<itaaai IS 111«. M «XMl and SeKtkwi Is I MdMS) 4uc h' la* k «it grrerupa*.* Ml r :iu * SS < - ozunsAs” t Sir • •cHraai Misnow at vsrvs rAWs KkvTnx*sn oi^'DOMrvn u V iui n^A.s f 9^'’iwrn m/ vt so A!r*irp? as iMi s/wDai utrt At V«»/ SaINI MfVr Vtl AWOfZaaOOB'WS Vfzr t>S tZ /" AW’FRCyU 41 laxaJM « frie OhoxiJtekni Uu Cmal huaabci 1L22 U U2 ffiU o 4i:k*Ii<ZOUL^rr J *( tw /k wfas pa9a af\tctx^vrr i ostxlutvn M anr V rwoN wax vn /xTrwi mf st mi joht toi 010^4^01 as AUfsivn a> nr ha r f\Ar9( Atryrr haj00A0i79 0m^APt/Tas 4/ zi zi lAi 00^ m * 4i^i2u^jmL\rri •cjifjtn} yfAfM)wPA/tk KfsrtrH sTran^iKiA^tsn y unnmsios it.av suit’msT^^200^1101 ^iomi as ASiistwnBr Min At sn i iHTnn At AUf swo 9iimAT sritK\rm su MJjejw»i’<wxHts«^r<aMa/5i^c^^^ fwxm ai iai oia Af /i iAJOOt LmhI fiNok MJILHQ BaMkaoar Aru PSod Nutnbci 11 JSQ 2JQ QDl. MpiBw at THAT PAKtOf \ I ,! Nf I 4 irtf^ f ilfCl tM HWT Mr• • vrjoT^S Himr iftMA lAjbaflas M SZ^JteadHi* Av^flaul hwnbe il ZZ V kpdb an* rtM m 41/91'900000 IMjrT OfVhA C(FM ATM COO StC TH S U/) /4Af ZOS 11 AfOM; S V ( use 4^1 rr n/x w 2/1 ^/rr nf x 4D A4A4 50s h swi *a tr ihsauy/to ^t FrAUYNGA/4O0/rT9iADCt 0ye moraosi, cHfVfO fieAos s ysn/oai 4^s 9^ /1104 rr maMiOk nmnoc tha0/di9M04A u toi 4ur ruuy useot otniADMiHtK Avr sn Ml' fjoFTH/nfc nis/'n90A4 ias u AtoM7sn//ruxr ^2ti40r7 rtt ^o/n MM O'S r 2^0 At rr rtt a '/doomm e oa n rr rtt s an ji m o/s w /a ai rz rtt st ir 17^ 12 rr AiasAi a /Aoa/rr OAr^ct o\r roi r 1 nsx, ( Huon of A/ts s z4D zam zvs t t29 91 rr^ TO oee, • set 1:^ tas rttow 1 ma wjtotv01^00^/004 rttuM 4t /a 12 400 om l]AlMlIMjtoailaMXJkl«.i!afuL^^ t; WQjQH. 4r«4 flhrJ at PAirr ST 14 COM AT sf COR or sk< nt s on 44At ons u akxm; e y < usi tAM 22 n nt S rjtn y 49A H (MMOZ FTTHAOn 44 M O/iK F 221 29 TT Ttt A 24f^ 0AM OOS IV Z/Z 10 91 Ttt X Aon/oM H 2000 rr TO oFii Of TtttA nesf nt wtr //a ao ft afon(, a /m 7$ 97^ OAn eVOVF LF iOSig CHOOn OFAOA S 0/0 UM jaS W 219 04 F7^ Ttt A 790 SAW 4VS W 7X) Ct Of MOADMOOO AVT TH S 270 4OM MS £ AIOMG Mt U 2A^ 9A FT Ut A 02tt 4AM 07S I 992 4A rTTOA use OFAOtsx; s so /om w foom ok; nt x on /om f 92a 90 ft rn ok, ’ ak tr rwofow/ooA lUsakni r ATfMfl BfONdmotN ATC^faad Niantag 11 ZZ 17 lOO ozo. S444SFTOkX 7O0OrrOF THAI PAOr Of HW t/4 FYlSCItYOfFIYtiST 09 99ttOAtt MQOO AVF 020 F7 H ZZM. M< 17 T5fiOtO9A I Al A ■' p hi 4 'd as f if * .w V V 4 CHsarra ww^xhifcw exoixivu cos STS os kisi. V4K MH.SS Nb I «F*s^zc* w- In addition to ihc muiiitudc of LAct ml pond* «id die Tbomepple Rnrcr rotlmg through the heart of Barry C oumy. a couple community pools are open to help area reudents try and heat the hear thn stanmer loo m Middleville and ( aledonia The rccemiy refttfhtshed pool at Thnmappie Kellogg High School tn Middleville n open Monday thrnu|dh Friday from I p m. to 4 15 p m arfth Its four 25-y«d swtm lanes. musK playing, updated locker rooms and flsialics. no^ks. kackhoards and more iwwi Mr* a.: m »'Mcr fnne<« clasacs arc open to every one for $2 per ckna So rcgimtion n needed The TK pool will be cloacd /uh 3. 4. 5 for (he 4th of July holiday There » abo of course the new pocd al the Cal Cootmunitv Ceiwer YMC A on Kraft Avenue SF , aermt the soxet from (Juncan I akc Mtddk School aho has Its con^xtiuon and kisurc pooh Open tlaxiufbmii the week The facibn houn m Cakdmia are 5 a.m to 8 p m Mrwidav through Thun da>, 5 a.m to 7 p m on Frxla>v 7 a.m 5 to p m on SKurdN)*!, and noon lo 4 p m on Stffftdaxx V'im the Cal CommuntU Center page of the » ar> mca org webteite for a spevitK pool schedule which includes open i*im «hJ lap swim limes u *eil is clivs schedule Reies for associMKW) wide memhership 10 the Cirand Rapids YMC A and C'al Communii> C enter spceihi; mem­ bership can be fixind on the organiza* lion't websiie as swell A m«xithh« Cal tommunili Center ()nlv Household membership includes a S100 join fee and a $117 monthly charge A fourmonth Summer Household member­ ship 10 the Cal Center is currently available for a $350 fee. There arc also separate memberships available for young adults, seniors, adults and youth. two micpcs^dcr* ■* *« June 28 2025 f st •i K-'H.-lli.?* 6.> k THE SUN AND NEWS I *1 .t I X • . *. . <♦ touMoLUkAlZkZiBmdoum Aix.. l*SKd2uuntMt 11 ZZ IIIW(LL^ tfjpaih tUurthrti at S Mt 9 F7 Of niATPAtnOf NW If4 LYtNO ft Y Of fJ7 I/Nt Of RROA/lWfXlR AVI /t/O fT Wine. •VC 17 TAN tttow 40/a A I 1 V ( » 9 I n '■' I « . * V 1 • • . * •«1 ii’*' » . •w I i I I 1V I s a B I .d > f r ft 1; I k tt t 4 a I « a k k k ft \ I 3 .-wNKs The Cal Comrnunity Center pool opened with a first splash back in February arxj the recently refurbished pool al Thornapple Kellogg High School m Middleville is open this surnmer as well to give residents the charice to cod off or get some exercise hi Photo providod All Inlervated pmiwM m«r attend the p^k hearing and be heard with regard tn the reque •led variantca W'rmcn comrmnti cnacerrnng the pmpoaed eariancei may be wibmHtpd tn the Tnwnahap OBkc. al th* ahmr Ua«*d addr***, up to th* time <it th* puWk hearing Ih* Inwnihtp wifl prwftd* rweaaaary mannabk MisiliMy axb and ftervka* tn IndmduaU with diiahihhca up<m 72 henin advance rwNica by cnrrtactlng ioni R Henry, lownahip (Jerk, by phone at (616) RVI 0070 DMcd hint 25.2)25 ZONING HOARD Ok APPI AkS, CHARTER TOWNSHIP Ok CAIJIXINIA �.f % I' 1• I IP A r** ♦ - 1 I J L T, r • 14 Saturday, June 28, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS nr www.sunandnews.com •• A couple of box fans propped up on the monitors in the front of the Cale­ donia Community Green Amphitheater weren’t nearly as effective as a big gray cloud or two and a welcome breeze that arrived just in time for the headliners Tuesday. Chain Station performed for a hand­ ful of local celebrities that host Josh Rose pointed out before the show, Clifford the dog (not the big red one) and dozens and dozens of other area music fans on a steamy evening at the second Caledonia Concert Series show of the summer. The string quartet out of Denver, Colo, played their form of bluegrass “mountain music” with Alex Thoele on acoustic guitar, Jon Pickett on a stand-up bass, Jarett Mason on mandolin and Jeremy Koch on banjo. The group has all kinds ofmidwest ties, and Mason grew up in Menominee, Mich where Michigan’s upper penin­ sula, the Wisconsin border and Lake Michigan all come together. Youngsters were doing cartwheels sr ■ J A, bA 9 w f r» I Zfc >, V’ Im W4F I w • ■ ( I- . «>• I o I • Jm” 1 I •I J J J .1 a I I i 1 * J • .* > r i, « I i I 4 p' 1; 4i A P J » r* ■ • ’M- ' <rr ► $ * A 4. •.z V'.' I * 4^ > A t’ * 4 .e»< r i '• ** ;.i" J- - » .A' ►- 3 ■ 4a«Ka* r A' f Ji -i'di A Chain Station members (from left) Jeremy Koch, Alex Thoele, Jon Pickett and Jarrett Mason perform during their Caledonia Concert Series show at the Caledonia Community Green Amphitheater Tuesday evening. Photos by Brett Bremer * * IT I* 1 * 9 ( I II. J f .*i I 1 -t* w 4* L-J and mule kicks in the grass before the show ever really even got started, and by the end Chain Station had everyone singing along on “Never Goin’ Back” from their 2013 album “Dancin’ With the Law.” 284 N. BRIGGS ROAD* MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN 49333 269-795-9091 / FAX 269-795-2388 “Make sure she gets a good view when you leave the parking lot at two, ‘cause we’re never going back to that place again, and we surely didn’t make any friends,” Thoele croons at the opening of the song about a disruptive significant on a night on the town. “Cause we’re never going back. Nev er going back. Well, we’re never going back. Never going back. We’re never going back to that place again,” he IRVING TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS June 17th, 2025 Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm at 3425 Wing Rd. Hastings, Michigan 49058 Present: Stout, Buehler, Lydy, Brummel, and Nagel Agenda approved with changes Approved May 20th, 2025 Meeting Minutes Approved to pay bills in the amount of $5,284.95 Birch Fire Ambulance Service requested financial support Assessor Salary Approved Resolution Consumers Energy Ordinance tabled until July Meeting Upcoming Meeting dates: July 15th, 2025, 7:00pm (Board Meeting) Adjourn 7:57pm Full minutes are available at Irvingtownship.org or at 3425 Wing Rd, Hastings, Ml 49058. Prepared by Irving Township Clerk, Tessa Stout. Attested to by Supervisor, Dan Lydy. NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PER­ SONS: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the following is a summary of Ordinance No. which was adopted by the Yankee Springs Township Board at a regular meeting held on June 12, 2025. ORDINANCE - ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT - PONDS AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XII, This section amends Article X by adding Section 12.17 “Ponds” which provides standards for the requirement of per­ mits to build a pond, and sets for standards for the construction and mainte­ nance of private residential, agricultural, and farm ponds. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Ordinance are severable. REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES/EFFECTIVE DATE, All ordi­ nances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed and this Ordinance shall take effect eight days after publication after adoption PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the full text of both Ordinances has been posted in the Office of the Township Clerk at the address set forth below and that a copy of the Ordinance may be purchased or inspected at the office of the Township Clerk during regular business hours of regular working days following the date of this publication. YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP Tom Hopkins, Clerk 284 N. Briggs Road Middleville, MI 49333 (269) 795-9091 . ( llt < I •• * •• i s t ■V** Ik * t • .kA) ;iJ L* 1^7 ' B**"" ;q 1 /• "n*t ■Lf I J I 5 V » ■*S»^___ V t k I Chain Station guitarist Alex Thoele works to change a string, one of three to snap on him during the hot humid performance Tuesday during the Caledonia Concert Series Tuesday at the Caledonia Community Green Amphitheater. • (I /4 ■ 1 M LJ (# 7 ','. >• • . I r: 4 I v'raUcI?*’ v>nvJ . i i fw 'S' — ■ «• V.: V ia tofc.sis I (uGik^ I ! I J L' sibii'Ki I iS % rjaBsCcmiOL jfteaiBea M > t g. A I < li ♦ * -^4 A./ uJ I 1I s W'" t . I h PiV I « ilv ’• -1 I I Krd 5 I V I I > 1 •4 « y I -A 3 * ¥' < f « t /f. ik w;; Sfefr aafes’A I r V 1 r k 1 7L RI H • I t w I ♦ I { - k ,.«'k I 1 >T>,iiBr. I—I IlL » 1* A *«« • 1 J * I Luke Lehnart plays his guitar as the opening act, along with Bernie Steffes, during the Tuesday night Caledonia Concert Series event at the Caledonia Community Green Amphitheater. ____ I R yv 4 :siif L . * ap 'M ?y6lq III w IKSa’fe' ’ k • X K I A -*R*!|' Bt)39U te LZA.. I —, 9^"^’'98 tieon •> Ifi? ' '• 1 I I t . -S ' r .t I r h I t ■i t r T { i I I r r i. 'I I D ji* I $ 1 t' b b 4 i J I f 1 I f J -tT? SECTION III A I r »** SECTION 11 9 ' 1 L SECTION I 5 <«» A» TO: il •t sang along with his bandmates, while trading harmonies with the audience. The group had some previous fans at the show, by a show of hands and hoots and hollers, and certainly made some new ones during the 90-minute set. The group put a bluegrass spin on Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker’s “American Girl,” but mostly played See MUSIC on 15 ■ iL ? ■ / 9 Chain Station brings Mountain Music to Caledonia Brett Bremer Sports Editor I �-4 y fl i I I r □s r I * / THE SUN AND NEWS /-r DNR plans workdays to clear out some autumn olive Breit Bremer Sports Editor J » f >. ■ 1 9 a II,'; « J r» ' z fel .1^ ■■ ^4 J t iJ I I f 9.1 t :li« It 9 I til ‘ <{•• 9/ 2 I' . ’WtnzL 4 I** • 1 .J J / tj« »>: I t < * f t •w i i' riA’ I J > * ♦‘ k ♦/ BOT--' I f •n ip-- r r 1 I i k I < I *• I . V *4 • --^Vp. I, ■# I "MJ 1 >• ftri I I t t [’A * 2 1 ♦ > ■“4 I « ‘"5 •• biHf ■ 1 < >1 s » t: A Volunteer Stewardship Workday will be held in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area today, June 28, from 10 a.m. to noon. Volunteers w ill get the opportunity to meet the DNR’s new natural resource steward Tyler Lidgard while working to help control invasive autumn olive plans around Deep Lake. No experience is necessan. Vi)lunlcers will be trained lo identify Ihe target species. Autumn olive is a deciduous shrub that can grow to 20 feet high. Leave are bright green on lop and dislinctiely silver underneath. Hislorically planted for w ildlifc food and habitat, autumn olive has been found to be highly aggressive, with seeds widely dispersed by birds and mammals. Autumn olive can shade out desirable native plants and fixes nitrogen in the soil, which can degrade native plant communities that thrive tr r % 3 \r. ! iI A . k. •J ■ < Vi'ir ■ '’WV'tf? (I on low-nutrient soils. It is dilTicult to control, as cut slumps and roots will resproui. Many places in the Yankee Springs Recreation .Area have been overtaken by the Asian shrub. Volunteers should meet at the Deep I akc mountain bike slacinu area otTof Yankee Springs Road, Another work dav will be hosted July 19, from 10 a.m. to noon, meet­ ing at the North Country Trail parking area on Norris Road, just south ofCiun l ake Road. Dates occasionally change and events may be canceled due to inclem­ ent weather and other reasons. Please call the park to confinn dates/times prior to your arrival. A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into Michigan stale parks. To register to participate in one of the w ork days or for more infonnalion, Lidgard can be reached by email at LidgardT(? Michigan.gov or by phone at 517-388-8517. MUSIC 1 Continued from Page 14 • ; \ *3^3 I > A f I♦ f I '-■V J { •X V .* leM.. I I I •J rs •f w ri - J 1 I •*T’» >E‘4 I *'T •ft Ik. h 4) 5 2 I J r •«« t I I I ri 4- IE' f I 1 t'j 1 N !• ’I 1 z V 5 1 «* ■"1 I K,•i’ 9-' t 'e 1 f I J J t * F I V i'as,W I s f I [IN’'7 V' *^' •V 1 * eVSTOMERS Ertes'tise Imniediatelv •l ♦ t r 1 trngalion Vvage Caledonia Township and Caledonia \ illage sprinkling restrictions are as foltowN; • (Xfd fsen Sprinkling OasA Kcsidents Businesses with an even numbered address mav sprinkle on esen numbered dass. Resi dents Kusinevses with an txld numbered ad dress mas sprinkle on <xld numbered dass. .f A J* >* 4 J*’ T' I tceptions • Private wells used for watering. • Hand watering of gardens and trees using a watering can or hose. J < ) F lb I I ••V Volunteer workdays will be held June 28 and July 19 to help clear invasive autumn olive shrubs from the Yankee Springs Recreation Area Photo by Brett Ihiv plan IS in pUcc to help limit the impact of heavy’ water demand peritnU on the township’s water supply and is essential to help ensure op iimal water and tire protection service to your home or office Restrictions effective until further notice. Please follow and monitor the townships website lor updates, calcsloniafownship org or contact ( ale donia Township at 616 8*^1 1)070 with any qiu s lions or ton<crns Ihank you in advance for your cooprrafion Sinverdy, Caledonia township. Cfility Department Bremer r * < iMmRT.xM Noncr to wati r J ;i u '■*1 Satupday. June 28. 2025 ' • 9 1 « I Af from their own catalog which they've been building since Thoele and Pickett met in ILstes Park, Colo, in 2006. For those that need another dose of Chain Station, the band will be at The Liverx' in Benton Harbor today, June 28, and al Chicago Winery' in Chicago Sunday. F rom there, the band heads back to the mountains in Colorado. Luke I.ehnart and Bernie Steffes opened the evening of music, which was offered up free to the public with the sponsorship of Ser\ e Pro of South­ east (irand Rapids. We need music and love and things that bring us together," Rose proclaimed as he closed the evening's show. The Caledonia Concert Series con­ tinues throughout the summer. Senti­ mental Gentlemen from East Nashville will headline the July 8 show. When they aren't performing their own mu­ sic. the Sentimental Gentlemen are the regular backing band for Sierra Ferell. The band played on her recent Grammy winning album “Trail of Flowers." The band promises to provide lisleners with “bluegrassy sentiments from a rotating stable of members that includes George Guthrie, Patrick M'Gonigle, Jacob Groopman, Tod Livingston and Kyle Tuttle. YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors • • • and our future. V■EV^^ Group >11*^6 Avc SI ( akxlnnia. Ml 4M'I6 Phone 616 RM| 0070 I tlx 616 KOrO4 M) CHARTER TOWNSIIII’OF CALEDONIA, COUNTS OF KENT, MICHKJAN NOTICE OF POSTING OF TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY (ilVEN that a proposed Caledo­ nia Charier Township Ordinance which would amend Section 4,2 of the zoning map, has been posted in the olllcc of the Township Clerk at the Caledonia Charter Township ofllces, S196 Broadmoor Avenue, within the Township, for review by the public during Township otilce hours, and has also been posted on the Tow nship’s website, the address of which is www, caledoiiiatow nship.org. The amending ordinance would rezonc property commonly known as 7611 68th Street SE from the C-2 (icneral Business District to the R-2 Medium Density Single Family District. The above stated ordinance was considered by the Caledonia Charter Township Board on first reading at a public meeting of the Town­ ship Board held on June 18, 2025 and is expected to be considered on second reading by the Township Board at a public meeting on July 2, 2025. This notice is given in accordance with the Charter Township Act and is authorized by action taken by the Caledonia Charter Township Board. Joni Henry, Township Clerk Caledonia Charter Township Your Community Connection I x if I I k ! I I n ft b ( t< « lA ft ft I I < I < ♦ s 2 I t I I \ �* < Xz • 16 .'V Saturday, June 28, 2025 1 THE SUN AND NEWS M I, I T F tsfc • •V J I 1 > A-. J ♦ i ! I J •1. *1 ^5% •’4^ ■k J www.sunandnews.com Caledonia hockey co-op announces new head coach f ’ 1 •i- .» 1 y A > Y tfO-O3 riOBOO 4 Tyler Jaenicke has been said Fred Townsend, the named as the new head coach now former Caledonia High ofthe Caledonia varsity boys’ School athletic director who A-** hockey team. presided over Jaenicke’s hir­ Most recently, Jaenicke led J ing. “We’re excited to have multiple Bantam-level teams him lead our hockey program with the Grand Rapids Blades into the future.” to league championships, a While rebranded in recent District 6 title, and a State Tyler Jaenicke seasons as the Caledonia Championship semifinal apHigh School hockey team, pearance. the program remains a co-op along Jaenicke served as assistant coach at with student-athletes from Lowell and Grand Rapids Christian High School Thomapple Kellogg, and was a three-year assistant captain Jaenicke replaces Jeremy Bultema when he played for Davenport Univer­ who guided the program to an 18-7-1 sity’s Men’s DII Hockey Team. record last winter in what was his third “Tyler’s experience, leadership, and commitment to student growth campaign with the team. make him a perfect fit for Caledonia,” — BB ->ril bnOdiT. 'Of ban bb i1m«H limbak-J larmot-/to oriw iotoyjiib □uatitin (Apdo ■iiri R'ojl3i<mi IWO tebtijai •JVEfi oj l»if3Z5 fnEi:^oiqv5i3(«iiuobB3l ini Irewi rn babi»«h-i olMW citTobalBj 'jrfi J eno^BG 1 .tnssj ^siloori qcKX) i: pmaEn I i i f r r I hm ilsz/o.! rnoit k ^§olb>l c /frmal zaaalqai I-v-81 rtBat rastj^oiqQiit 1 4 I tntrii Rid KBW iBriTrfH latnr/i (IW3J ortt f Idv I I £ 4 I I ; fe' 1 > * t!' (■ to I J I ♦T* i ; I I i i e • NOW HIRING 4 J r •s . I • I V/eiv Newspaper Group is seeking a Front Office Administrative Assistant in our Hasdngs Banner/Reminder office R New Caledonia varsity hockey coach Tyler Jaenicke in action as a member of the Davenport University’s Men^s Dll Hockey Team. Photos provided 60 ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM 4 K. • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP ■■■^ 9^ • WE WORK WITH INSURANCE COMPANYS SHERRIFF •I GOSLIN- *■ >- The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer’s Guide Jeffersonian *< ■ Group Tri-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer’s Guide & News The Sun and News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Reminder St. Clair Area View r iT *9 3 • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS •r 5 • A4 RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU - »k 9i * .aT **^r . A c I ♦ r. a** •yb ■ w %B " «* e U c. «* □L •I . .1 * * w 4^.' >1.* r* <> O . a ? oft eYMA^MO3 3 JiWAUe/i J Q X I O " al _ ai o IL T •» i I CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE (Z) >. co TJ <U c c Q. ififlueMi .s Claw UA3.3Ua r K 09 b AQOT XiA3 'W i :iY ^0^ lii -£i HL -• 5 rw'« Mt I ■Oir. ■ 269-962-4036 aifloino Fitxnim \ 11 INSPECTON VISIT US ONLINE; SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK 1 CIH«MAMA»0W^JJAMD3TTWAJIAlf 4 > H Z S 0. / u s -t s L £r. « w I o o o • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED OUAUTY ROOFING BS Av ft* y T. IN THE BUSINESS ' 5* ■c: w- I • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 1154 YEARS THE MOSTTRUSTED= : > * NAME IN ROOFING<• isdmsm b 3B noilos ni e?J tnbivoiq zot«d4< rne CM hx • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM ^41 •l J *w Please email resume to Jill Nichols, Controller jnichols@mihomepaper.com I I i ■f • Full and Part time positions • Monday - Friday • Competitive Hourly wage • Fringe benefits available to qualified full time employees 4 f ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT m r WI kr .1 I I’ z» J « < < I I >1^330? "TAaiMCO.y’ijeoovfWfl � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-07-05.pdf 5b384d85e92791b230ecee890e6dacd3 PDF Text Text * OVERDRIVE FINISH OFF BOERSMA CORNER. KICK FOR NATIONAL TITLE ♦ 4 * -F I PAGE 10 X. •x ( ' NO. 63 £d X>M U ensioiT tioxo boE All wan I j I +’ mo'j ^^^^ort to J99T}« «<I ,>f ^IqqBmofn snwoz 3 I mix’ W9U c no bnuoTy ojfoto I. 'yirmfOTT vcbiTJ ^lii'/islbblM :/• -SbJ’fci'S I/, wnt KAREN TURKO EBRIGHT .•A 4 4 s« I J. I I bseiBi ml TOiqBfly sfIT j f rruxl sdt lol zmsig bns znoil oj ^ifciBTbnirt bifiod nozr/bfi molt 000.01*2 hnuou loo'J ylleor orh Jlnrrir I ^Iqooq nsriv/ Jfiril v/il w oiil .rieoa sreanH loin®?- 2llXr ' Jnorio^ Bifaujto'j * •l Over 200 runners and I walkers laced up their shoes T ; II ’ and lined up at 8 a.m. for the start of the 1 Sth annual Kilt Klassic 5K run, walk and fun run last weekend. The event kicked off a day of festivities at Caledonia’s annual Independence Day celebration on Saturday, S3 June 28. This is the main fundraiser for the Caledonia men’s Dcnj' and women’s cross country and track teams. This is our »/ > 1 Sth year running the race,” explained Jill Thompson, Caledonia’s annual Independence Day parade always draws in a big who helps organize the crowd, according to Caledonia Charter Township Supervisor Bryan event. “Technically, my Harrison. Courtesy photos. husband, Ben Thompson, started the race almost 20 signed up and five other athletes known as years ago but we had a couple years off with “angels” pushed the wheelchairs through the COVID and another year.” race. (See more on the Kilt Klassic on page 8). In addition to the 5K, athletes in wheelchairs Following the race at 10 a.m., a lineup for the joined the race for “My Team Triumph.” parade gathered at Duncan Lake Middle School Thompson said five athletes in wheelchairs on Kraft Ave. Floats, and visitors c in red, white and blue, bagpip­ 4^ ers, fire and police departments, « to churches, local businesses, school bands, various youth groups and more started moving at 11 a.m. WVAl -r' V/ Among the long lineup of parade I participants was Kay Brown, who works for Glen Valley Dentistry. She was the lead planner in con­ structing the company’s float and theme that marched along Main Street in the Caledonia parade on 51 Saturday. Brown spent about a month creating a 4-foot tooth out of paper machd with some help Employees of Glen Valley Dentistry pose in front of the fi-om her sisters, who built the b... With alfalfa all around, com more than waist-high across the street and horses and cows on the hori­ zon, the young Thomapple Kellogg FFA Chapter broke ground on a new bam off of Bender Road in Middleville Friday morning, June 27. The chapter has raised more than $150,000 in dona­ tions and grants for the bam project, with the FFA advisory board fundraising committee bringing in around $40,000 from community donations. “I think the really cool thing about having a bam is that when people see it, they’re gonna be like, ‘oh my gosh, like we have live animals right outside of the school. TKHS senior Emma Reil, the TK FFA vice » J” 4 » a r r-T / « e -ft" » " .> 'Uv*' '•p < . «v /'a II & >• a f A >1 »$» • *< * •. I A-. « 1 1 J * >* i elqqsmoifT ©rif to sisdmsM Juo tub t() Hut elovortg Jsiit arlJ et! ot le. msd onutuf iierlt to I ertt to r1toO8 teuj allivalbbiM r yei 'iH apsieg 2ud aloortoS (ttei mott alevorts rttiw wnloV/ a>lt’3 tnabiaaiq A33 XT usee' bne hoR 1 AH't Xt Haw EDOM cnnoNcu I .fwnseg tafnuH uniDutuvr OMWirfVBn) iaeX .anommig u>«B«n b«wt{ 1338 sxelA .ioiwoloW <0838 lanBH neiviV bns <WU«IR* M( bVID II ■fe' ‘A I'’.-- 1* w F* J «■ ■ J y ** r *1 I D Bk I Rwaw 4» Mc / to* * *** *T.’ «. 4b V •*. v 4 •<-i Ur » ’u-i.'V-'* T T ■ t <• X > 'S h;> f i. * W..dk * 9 ? • <4^2 i 1 b L •ft < * I ,W> . ?r ■H t * > V to *v i. company’s float that marched along Main Street in Caledonia last Saturday, June 28. See CELEBRATION on Page 2 Bovisod s n OIS XSUd Mi8I8W » » I i ». I k J V > I I 4 I I t t ( I > t * I k ‘ I » I » « I r" I 1 I t I > • > J 1 k I I * > t I > t 4 I * > I t ‘A 1 A L It I M I I 9 ‘4 3 9 11 1 « k IJ k !M b. hi f h I It u «I I «} I s •h r \ I I ) I I » » t • t » I » I • -• I i'l r * ,• aivd n? bocxves * V Members of the Thornapple Kellogg FFA chapter toss the first shovels full of dirt out of the ground at the site of their future barn set to be built on Bender Road in Middleville just south of the high school near the TK Schools bus garage Friday. The group includes (front with shovels from left) TK FFA advisor Alyssa Hamlin, TK FFA president Erika Wolowicz, vice president Emma Reil and treasurer Alexa Hoeksma, as well as TK FFA members (back from left) Noaa uawoisno Hunter Seaben, Carter Hondorp, Maguire ivuNaaisau ssMtn] Kittin -oaMMM) Simmons, Kadyn Palmateer, Allison (MioeOd eccfiluusd Wolowicz, Alexa Hoeksma, Paige Sheely 8€88> 'd||iAUdaj9 and Vivian Hansson. Photos by Brett Bremer I 1 Kill « r • W ’V \ • I * |w >T^ 1 • ! -x* ft «( .V. • A-x, ■ 1 t F* » J V ' k I to r <L / / frA J a *S* ' i c t 'v V > ' ** t » I'^yarcviv \’ * i F » b*-'.< a Ito * • ’’*1 i I < < "V***?^ t• •> >• I > A 3 ■4> k I I *»w b. M' •' ' 3 See FFA BARN on Page 3 • .* ! I y d T; 7* #. I oe'i' Ti ft* Staff Writer Sports Editor TOftba ZJKXjS |(K£llfiH’^ fljiV/ Caledonia’s Independence Day celebration draws a big crowd BRETT BREMER ! www.sunandnewsxom i SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2025 M OMM Trojans thankful and excited for new FFA barn ! naiBflB THRB JyiilAlL I *■! t 1 I t » w �r y A< V I » t • .'■’I' Saturday, July 5, 2025 2 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com CELEBRATION I li I I I/ ■t X I 1 I 5', \ f |i •I 84./ «.« 1 X / A. w ► ♦ g* * * I. / * •• ’ ^'1 L. *• • 'J* • i I inside of the tooth. “They worked on the armature of the tooth,” explained Brown. “It’s a real family affair every year.” Besides waving to the crowd on the float carrying the giant tooth, employees handed out sugar-free suckers and carried out their theme which included wearing sunglasses and t-shirts with the slogan: “With smiles so bright we gotta wear shades.” The tooth traveled on a float along Main Street with about 20 on board. “It was a great turnout this year. There’s always a ton of people. We always underestimate how many are at that parade. We bought double sugar-free suckers and we were in good shape this year,” said Brown. “The crowd never ceases to amaze us that comes out to the parade every year. It was gorgeous weather. The bagpipes were behind us.” <* wrw I i* I •I -------- X • x <■ *S A VIEW A. colorful display of fireworks ended the day at the annual Caledonia Independence Day celebration on Saturday. June 28. 1 ’ I » > 1 > «* r t i I . • i1 f I 4 O' t rfalt.J. : I E I 4> 9 i B't J ) I I > ll 1*' T w S' J A ft I I 1 r y • X I / i B -X-a s I* ?* <>■ r V I I-' J I* r V Jv*’? I I I «, B* ♦ l< i 1*r/ A I . ifi - s .1! ,v 4 I 4 aJf kJ biy << S’ > ? ♦ 4‘‘ j4 H T z* A > . H ioi ► ■x -.'|i> 1 n a< k B j ‘Ifi r « ' Jli' . .. Util I> <• ' -jSI . Ju tt fi ' fI 4V II «sw i'*. ' iV t ' I t f .r > A* iiir i,»d' r*. *5)Z J r> I l« *B I r .■rf ‘f**' w A. ff/- ■■J s r- f-* f I*' r « o. ’i*£s ;f iffll $r‘ <*** -itrti'' ikfi'^" ir Group 1 'att? A? 1 YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors... and our future. 4'i^ j) « I in ..ii L •1 j s t A J Later in the evening, the sky lit up as a crowd gathered to watch fireworks. Caledonia Township Supervisor Bryan Harrison said there have been some changes in the Independence Day celebration throughout his tenure of 25 years serving his community. “We don’t take a headcount, but surely the crowds have grown right along with our community,” Harrison said. “We used to have a full day of festivities at Lakeside Park following the parade but par­ ticipation dropped off, so we added truck and tractor pulls for a while. Some great traditions for sure.” Harrison said two events at the Independence Day celebration always draw a big crowd. “Of course, that parade and fire­ works are mainstays and we have a committed core of volunteers that help to plan and organize it each year,” Harrison said. “The school, village and Holy Family Church partner with us as well, so it is a true community effort.” Continued from Page 1 I I h L ft-’i * 1 1 'A- > I L V f ‘ P' *• [F # J5 (• I ijaP bWik 11 I* -kr j 4 '^•rr I • -^‘s 4 I* I An'r-itriU Men Antenna Meri r' e*es. J < > I l» »• <’•* •* c, •• »I 1 Alphaphoto 616 M edia, llc • video • drone p* .n X • <4 I «»»*** 4 9 i fi A 4 ;:. «r ■ 4 J ,t •• • \ < ♦. . • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers residential & commercial real estate • corporate * events 1 , Estimates • Cellular Enhancement Systems Give us a calH 1 ri i 269-967-8241 www.theantennamen.com antennamen@gmail.com grant@alpha616media.com (616) 638-4751 i ■ Pfi • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation Alpha616Media.com tf free Grant Alphenaar Owner I - •* 1 .4i 'IK: J Tj11 Start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam w* ‘t ••1 u * w I t K b Q * I I I THE SUN AND NEWS l« The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com PUBLISHED BY Editor: Molly Maclood mmacleod@mihomepaper.com Group Sports: Brett Bremer Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher ' bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist: Jennie Yonker jyonker@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper .. .......... . Wi* t ♦<. • • CONTACT US o '■, fe 517-983-0954 www.cellsignalpros.com r.' Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising In The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. Hl . 41 • ,»*''•^11 • s Of V < lao «(4 « -«l1. **«» 4 , rr. ’n ) 1^ - 1 *s wrr** 4 4 f ■ X“ . 4 0^* ? I. ••Sr=i « • *» * V •,! �*9 i “K a w* If t I ♦I FFA BARN ’T k I I Ai « ’■1 • , % f -?••* * '■- w"' «• r ?/ < >• 1 Lov. •< ■ b 9 1 i V%'' s ■ .-^b.- „ « ■«l ' A’/ ■3 9 .MJ, 1 5 I ' I K O •! « '/K * %;' - -u.*^ ' 'I r• I rb; *^Th '•'ilr 9 ^ ’. \a a *tr,. A r <U<|^ 'X b. <^4 I’hi *®tl J 1 J . i': **0 . ' A ‘I r.A ♦ V T* r» i "J •t ► » -i* I* ’! ri.i * I r J ,'V I«, b» '1 < to 9' zf! I I / (rrw nw3i 9^- I 3tTjlMqlir ^nioa '(IksokJ^^W irndin i J‘J.'. “ I telj BGfl 11 'I TO baiw?. ifinwXffmd I gniliil 1 I « ,' <«p 4 J , I f r-rt. u.. I * zW r 4, 7 • i i b 9 .4> * a < ittw '■“i 2U I 4 / I / 9 Jr J 4 i ‘ * * I* > » * I * I I ri ■p I I I I 1 I h 1 .»* .> .•w-fte' . «ybirjq !j5£lrlw»’ IM' 59 '*1 I t I I 11 1 ij )O?> » : 'f.' president, said Friday. “It’s definitely gonna be a way to get more people interested and it’s a good way to set up the future, the future children who are coming in from our younger schools. It’s a good way to set them up for getting interested and involved in the project, because young kids see the animals and they’re going to think it’s really, really cool. Reil said her great-grandparents had a farm, raising cattle and sheep, and she had an aunt and uncle with a farm that sparked her inter­ est. Eventually, she was able to get involved with 4-H and the new TK FFA which she joined her sopho­ more year. It has only helped boost her passion for farming and the agri­ culture industry. “It is definitely a very inclusive group,” Reil said of the TK FFA. “Because of (TK FFA Advisor Alyssa) Hamlin and everything that she does for FFA and everything she has helped me with in FFA, I am actually going on to receive my bachelor’s in informal agriculture education. It has definitely helped me bring what started off as just really liking animals into my entire future.” The TK FFA chapter was dor­ mant for most of six decades until recently. The program faded in the mid-1960s and was reborn during the 2022-23 school year. It has been a pretty productive three-plus years already for the program. There are certainly chapters that have been going strong for more than four years that don’t have their own bam. “In the fall, we do our broiler chicken competition, which is where we raise about 50 chickens in a shed right next to the school, and we take them and the goal is to get the best­ looking chickens. You go and show them to judges and get ranked on that,” Reil said. “We won first in the state our second year doing it, which was our first year with Mrs. Hamlin — which is really awesome. “And then there are two main com­ petitions that we do in the spring, and that’s our leadership competition and our skills competition.” The new bam will be used for FFA activities, events and there will be classroom space. Plans are for the main stmcture to be ready this fall ' - r* ' .>V f v’ 99 ti- qisaili 1 4 * - O. .4A Continued from Page 1 I « K Saturday, July 5, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I * it' u. • ■ I JaJ i J u* rr - t A f L TK FFA president Erika Wolowicz speaks about the opportunities the new TK FFA barn will provide during the groundbreaking ceremony for the barn June 27 in Middleville. and for TKHS principles of technol­ ogy classes to spend time helping finish off the interior of the bam throughout the fall. “I was kind of eager coming in,” Hamlin said, who is an agriculture, food and natural resources educator for TK Schools as well as the FFA advisor. “I started this essentially during my first year here. I saw an opportunity. I saw a very supportive community and I had a very good feeling that they would be able to help me get this dream to become a reality. To begin, we had to get it approved by the school board.” That took some time, and once the project was approved it was full speed ahead with fundraising. The head of the fundraising commit­ tee was Lani Forbes. Major grants came from the DeCamp Foundation, Consumer’s Energy and Eaton RESA. Hamlin was also very appre­ ciative to TK Schools for making the project a reality. They are going to be able to really apply what we’re learning in the classroom into practice in our, essentially our, farm,” Hamlin said. “There’s a lot of concepts that 1 teach, like animal reproduction, genetics, nutrition, welfare manage ment, all of those play a key factor,” Hamlin said. “It goes a long way when students are able to learn it and then put it into play. So I think it’ll be important for them to be able to practice that.” Hamlin grew up in Jackson, and she was shaped by her own experi «• Thornapple Kellogg FFA advisor Alyssa Hamlin speaks to the crowd gathered just off Bender Road in Middleville Friday, June 27, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new TK FFA barn. The main construction is set to be completed by the fall. ences in the Jackson Area Career Center FFA as a youth. “My advisor really pushed me, Jason Gehrke,” Hamlin said. “He pushed me into becoming an ag teacher. He said he could see it, and I kind of trusted his intuition. I’ve always had a passion for agriculture. I’ve grown up raising livestock for 4-H and then FFA really I guess took it to the next level for me. “It developed my leadership skills, developed my speaking skills, it developed my passion for teaching others about the agriculture industry and really trying to communicate where their food comes from. That’s one of my main goals is teaching kids the whole process from start to finish.” Hamlin, TK FFA chapter president Erika Wolowicz and the TK FFA advisory board chair Chad Alverson each took a moment to address the gathered crowd down the drive from the TK Schools bus garage Friday. They thanked sponsors and looked forward to opportunities the space will provide. “This is a testament to the sup­ port that is in the community itself, Hamlin told the spectators. “The students at TK have really jumped full force into everything that encom­ passes FFA and the agriculture industry, and I am really excited to use this facility to ignite those real learning experiences for the stu­ dents.” Wolowicz, a TKHS student, said she believes the new bam will create opportunities for students and com­ munity members alike. “Our FFA members will now have the opportunity to raise animals within our bams and show at the fair, offering a spot to the students that may not have the facilities at home to raise livestock,” she told the crowd. “They teach us valuable skills such as responsibility, hard work, time management and even good sportsmanship. As an FFA chapter, we’ll be able to use the bam to host new activities and events that will help us connect with our com­ munity as well, not only ourselves. We believe it is important to teach our community about agriculture and how important of a role it plays in our everyday lives.” Alverson is really excited about the opportunities the TK FFA will provide students beyond agriculture too. He said while many people think the FFA Organization is just farming “it’s actually not. It’s about leader­ ship is what it is, and that’s what these kids are learning.” Graduating class pictures on display Join family, friends, and classmates for food and fun, awards, and door prizes Be the ‘First to register’...‘Traveled furthest’...‘Traveled least’...‘Oldest student’ Classes of 1938-1974 ecLkViOKy V- When: Saturday, August 16, 2025, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (lunch at noon) Where: Caledonia High School Cafeteria - 9050 Kraft Avenue, Caledonia Cost: $20.00 per person Make check payable to Jo Ann Carney and mail to: Jo Ann Carney 8900 66th St,, Alto, Ml 49302 by August 8, 2025. Include name and class year. Please pass the word...let’s keep this event going! k I I k » k a « I k V t k a * a a a » t » 1 I f f ✓ I 9 4 i; k I I f Il I • ft it u a 4 I I I I* •h 4 I ■i s h * ( I I \ I J J 4 I « « I 1 a a i . 3 • • a a % a t t �Saturday, July 5. 2025 4 Your local agent insures your Lake Estad/e FARM BUREAU MSUBAMCF* r I rr 1 Jason Parks (269) 795-8827 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville jparks^fbinwnLcom FannBureauin6urance.com THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Community foundation to celebrate SOth anniversary at upcoming events Barry Community Foundation offi­ cials recently announced a milestone anniversary celebration, “Capture Your Dreams,” inviting the com­ munity members to join in a series of events designed to commemorate three decades of service. Since 1995, the BCF has reportedly worked toward improving lives by fostering collaboration and bridging resources through the vision and gen- erosity of donors. “We are incredibly proud to reach this 30-year milestone, a testament to the dedication of our staff, volunteers and the unwavering support of our community,” said Bonnie Gettys, the foundation’s president and CEO. “As we reflect on our past achievements, we are even more excited to look for­ ward. “This summer, we want to hear from LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH i Jiev. Christine M. Beaudoin Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am www.alaskabapti6t.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia 250 Vine Street 616-891-8669 cornerstonechurch •'** vr •-rr s« Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend » you - what aspirations you hold for our shared future in Barry County, Gettys added. “These insights will be invaluable as we chart our course for the next 30 years of impact.” The “Capture Your Dreams” anni­ versary celebration will feature a series of events throughout August and September, including; • Founders Festival in Delton on Aug. 9; • Brew Fest in Nashville on Aug. 16; • Summerfest in Hastings on Aug. 23; and • Heritage Days in Middleville (date to be determined). The public is invited to join in foun­ dation members in celebrating the anniversary and contributing to a col­ lective vision for the future. For more information, interested persons may go online and visit the foundation’s website, BarryCF.org. — DM A AC 4 t » ‘ v-j?* -J ft .Of ' UJ J »• > J' * if.' J.3 I A t* T » I 0*- f fl'. "X ' r. 4>G * If a ►* k r br *» i 4 i y f 4 f I iL' z I* S' r 3 '' ; .* (J 1 ,4 '.J*- ’J 4 I ■»>•* r 1 lI ■( 4 K ■ I: • 'J i ' > » I 4 ♦4 Ij .|0< wfl*' > I xiO •> fl ■ • • I r*’ i J i -> t T I. - idU r 1 9 t -1\ R I n »l** !► J s r t r hJ/. 4 1 gp;.; 4 FIRST BAPTIST NIiddleville Sunday Service 10:30 AM 1 V. co % Good Shepherd Lutheran Church • 908 W. Main Street, Middleville .4 Sunday Worship 4 I 1 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org (Missouri Synod) PS - .«.■’■.*,> n»*‘ HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst isti. http://gooclshepherdlcms.googlepages .com Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddlevjfle FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH (269) 795-2391 Church: Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. <ikPEACE CHURCH 1 i ► Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee OU THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCHk MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml I www.tvcweb.com ■< I <11 ixi< I, ■ Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MT 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 eR — Ill "Shining Forth God's Light" Sunday Morning Worship Community Group........... 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankecspringsbiblechurch.org I I MIDDLEVILLE TOPS 546 The June 30 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There is one fish in the fishbowl. Maryellen’s program came from the July/ Aug TOPS magazine titled “Stopping Middle Age Spread.” Metabolism tends to slow down as we age. We are expected to gain 10 to 25 pounds between the ages of 20 and 40. Most of it is fat tissue. Distribution also shifts to surround your organs. The risk of diabetes, heart disease, and neurodegenerative diseases goes up. Dietary changes are now needed to maintain a healthy weight Some people do intermittent fasting. The key is to maintain an active lifestyle daily walks or going to the gym. Exercise a little at a time throughout the day. It will help tremendously. Sue lost the Ha-Ha Box. She was also the best loser for the month of June. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meet­ ing. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone inter­ ested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. The first meeting is free. ^vg_( «T • < 1 I f i I ikb jlo“i fliikv bonano 5x L nt Kefk^no > ' * A 'J A I f. L j£U niuu trnna mmnQ gntqqotd** bobtJ &nf^ /^^.4a (’? il^aJ nirijrxttt ’ □Iba 43^ I4 •V y > ■d iL AA .• 4 '-’a • ;r. I ' * V ♦r » • # r <• J ! I ‘ I ■HJ' 1 - .4 r '( t niBlniefn c4 si vt:! i *?f« f4 siniog io rjIIb# viffib' jfil luoriguoTfii t md b ju obfi ..d^uobnsmo': (fell! ^8w 'jd2 .xod'ftH* jhijL" iimom oclq nn-ntrfaifim iiriw Ljot i II I I Jib 1 r I ft I jabalq 29* H jfil * <i33fr quoTg Jwnqn^^ <?ol fi k I ' rcbci<' ''’'TOoiJ r I *•*<«»** i -iaam . fit vd vldhiii>jrHnii b& < w . ,'/T*n31'd sdj-i -raini sna*(ati j i' "OidDol. - noqqna [ f I I I 1Ib3 lOfH Fnod^j.^ i 1 • .noUuftfli/ s.jA-'V'Sle*. . il’esisf .» H < L » i J t* I" �3! h ] ‘ I •1 « k Kent County Board agrees to settlement with Anaergia over Sustainable Business Park r- IA A I* 4 1 ki W ! k S’ ’JA .! ’< T i, L ■* 1 *4* I* < '<U-' A' L. f 1 •I 4 <> •Jr .7 Kent County has settled a lawsuit with the company originally cho­ sen as the anchor tenant for a future Sustainable Business Park in Allegan and Kent counties. The county said in a June 26 news release that it has agreed to pay Anaergia Inc. $725,000 to settle the case and to avoid a “potentially lengthy legal process.” ITie county said its insurance would cover the payment. The suit is scheduled to be officially dismissed by July 24. In 2023, Kent County postponed construction of a bioenergy plant in the park, citing concerns about Anaergia’s financial health and its ability to complete the project. The business park will be built adjacent to the South Kent Landfill south of 100th Street and west of US-131 in Byron and Dorr townships. In 2024, the Canada-based renew- - . t. '* A i I J'’ . 7 •> f k 1 'ftx 'A. I1 1 .'^i i'’ •.V L L J ft I f. ' ■ h 1 6 . * L^l. ** X I tl I *■> J 4W I *»^ib 7 Id '*<li L AJ J ■ A r i»i^ *<bIk t1 ll< ¥ '!^ 4 f r a i > T i . ' V xl.- I *** KkJ 4 > 9 / '•> *9 V i?!hr*** I >:»» i S^A I M rji ^4 4 •. T i3'i X -......... I J'J- f Y ■ V $ V 1 ' 5 >♦ hi r I I I V 5 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. able energy company filed a $2.3 mil­ lion federal lawsuit against the county for breach of contract. Anaergia alleged that Kent County failed to pay it for initial landfill diversion work it did on the business park after cancel­ ing a contract. The county refuted that and said Anaergia did not fulfill its obligations. A subsidiary of Anaergia, Kent County Bioenergy Facility LLC., had been awarded a S5 million grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission to develop the bioenergy plant. In 2022, the Kent County Department of Public Works approved the Project Development Agreement with Anaergia and another company, Continuous Materials Inc., based in Texas. The original goal was to open a bioenergy plant by 2025. “Neither Continuous Materials nor Anaergia will be part of the project JAMES GEMMELL Contributing Writer 1 \ Saturday, July 5. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com BODY SHOP COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Vovr ■h'l'sfecl Body Shop -for over 32 years See BOARD on Page 9 r ■ t’ •,, 4I t*. '' a: sis X • I 9 X Cis T'-’i-' 4taw. .I t WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS 1 •l ► I < i ® < * / *5 ■4^ i?‘ IV s- X» •**< ■•44 7 ■*» ■ LS i 4 I r I ? • J 1 r L 2«Wjk^sii8£ * I'rrv. L. ■■* f: J. *?* c I■ ■' ' ’1 . ' ***» rI J 1 • ■* *«i; . r I J J "ii .’.*3*^5 _ - - - — , M—a '— /\ conceptual rendering for the bioenergy plant that originally was supposed to anchor the Sustainable Business Park in Byron and Dorr townships. Source: It. ‘ __ -- ' » 1 gainestownship.org ( r - ibi t "'■rSBlfc Jii •;'^i*niiiii W *1 • • 1 J. 44 . . f ♦' I lakii r- **■/ V* Ila. BiEis Pt^ • is.nH btW«rje siiri — <» ? .al 9/' I A 'Mt’S % iH 7?®* W‘ I .I • al 1 Ir * ' I / f . : i> s 'I » 'rf-r : -F^^'b I* y •• • • The current site plan design for the Sustainable Business Park in southern Kent County. Source: Kent County Department of Public Works s'* a ( ) A I'.' L u f' * / ! ) 4 :r * 9C 1 tr I 72 b > • Mb. IT 1 t=: = iE < X a» t >« I .*.4 iL. kA UM 7-' T. * I •a 4 Mn« k4ae*A —1«*. * ■ > C/ '*■ l^;y I ' a. •rte! 15 •>* '>r •»* M0*^*«9* fc'injwr WIWWAT* 2^; 1 4 * Sr r V* a Gas Furnaces E-Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps I Water Heaters Humidifiers 11^ ■k Sfc- ini: * r« I Residentiai & Commercial i ftiniir' .I L T ♦ If'W 1 mi WHft- fr . *^--' DeWeerd (68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 LENNOX A+ r Since 1955 X < I X • « I » I I I « I t t I b i I « 1 « > r--. ■ J li t / t I I i** I ij f I » ’15 ia u » * ft u I I I a •a I & i I. 1 I i I f I \ 4 I I 1 1 » 1 t I « > I BBB. ACCREDITED BUSINESS �Saturday, July 5, 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS vvww.sunandnews.com Mt Gaines PC recommends allowing Electronic Changeable Messaging signs as special permits JAMES GEMMELL Contributing Writer The Gaines Township Planning Commission is unanimously recom­ mending the township board deny a sign company’s request for a text amendment to the zoning ordinance to allow Electronic Changeable Messaging (ECM) signs within resi­ dential districts by right. However, the planning commission did vote at its June 26 meeting 5-1 to recommend the board approve a zoning text amendment to allow spe­ cial use permits for the ECM signs, so long as they are in the township’s new Suburban Residential zoning districts and for institutional uses. Under the existing ordinance, the signs must be shut off between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. One planning commissioner was absent from the meeting. ECMs are programmable digital signs with bright lights. They typi- cally have LED lights or red dots. Gaines Township only permits them on freestanding signs, as opposed to wall signs. And no more than 40% of the sign’s area can be dedicated to an ECM display. Denise Simons with the Midwest Sign Company requested the text amendment in writing. And Mike Tiesma, director of Business Development with the Wayland based company, made the pitch to the platming commission in person at the meeting. “We get requests occasionally spe­ cifically for schools, churches and institutional uses in residential dis­ tricts to incorporate an LED message center in their sign,” Tiesma said. He noted that installing the ECMs would not be appropriate if schools or churches are located in a con­ densed residential area. But he feels it would be okay if few homes were around them. GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: f r *** V*' » ” * I I.. 4 .A II « 4 ^.n fiUT' > •• * 1 L Mike Tiesma with Midwest Sign Company requested a text amendment to Gaines’ zoning ordinance to allow Electronic Changeable Messaging signs in residential districts for institutional uses. Photo by James Gemmell “For those specific reasons, we would like to request that you con­ sider changing the text in there,” Tiesma said. Planning Commission Chairwoman Connie Giarmo said a public-input survey was incorporated into last year’s Gaines master plan update. And it showed that many township residents do not like intrusive light­ ing from signs. “About 28.9% said they’re very concerned and 41.9% are somewhat concerned. That is over 70% of the residents in the township who are concerned about lighting,” Giarmo said. Commission Vice Chairwoman Ronnie Rober was adamantly opposed to text changes in the zon­ ing to allow exemptions to the light­ ing provisions. “We worked long and hard on this, as I remember, trying to decide was it good, was it not good. And I think we came up with the perfect solu­ tion: no,” she said. Rober cast the only no vote on the motion to allow special use permits for the ECM signs. A public hearing was opened at the meeting but no citizens came up to the podium to address the planning commission on the matter. (The lighting) is a big concern with a lot of folks,” planning com­ missioner Ryan Wiersema said. < jh I Applicant: I* Location of Hearing: wn- •>iaiR o-;(>,U bni ,-v" / pWKfrr'qidauww ■ J? W7Brf9-soiV no l-e 1 2222 Li I -I' ■-rJ f. ■IP Ki . R ’’C /1 J I jy- i mrn >• * I i f I ■'4' f-r 11 1 ■< •jBor'’”-- 1 1 •Z <1 -I ■ t I 1 9 /» • vVi * **> .>■31 1 * r 4 : ; i» 9 J*® '□ 1/ r i I f5 K I (iflorTHi a < r X,fl .. ‘satoiit*',.. See GAINES PC on Page 12 4 4^ ’gipftaS'ife- < ■**-* *.- « -_ g ▼Wb' / * . K- r --t* > 'Uik 4 ** .'W:* i t 1 ^saainfci:ria< / * >* f aw»<l .t * tj I w • J* J I 1 ' ..I lU. : f _ c t 9 '■ *1 1 { [< k I ■■J”-' Y' ' . / ML A - A > > IK -♦ > /A I ’ji > * —3 r 'J’Wiiiiiiijaf (•iilwi' { I i * V f J* ’* ie ' J* '3 u\' y- '•-i ' ■3 " 1 ' 'a •*W u I l. t I s I T i ‘J. 5' 1 4 I « b 'I I * G 1. / f * • b b t J 3' « I u-< ' 3 ..I> *i C’ r f •r. tv WT? ’ B». Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 9806188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on July 24th, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. ac t Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 c 30 ) s/ramiQ' >■ * k» fl Jennifer Ranero Date and Time of Hearing: July 24th, 2025, at 7:00 PM 1314801 • d. 4645 100th Street SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 41-22-25-400-006 Ctf* r , J. >• pit’’ Parcel Number; 9 4 Summary of Request: |Consider revocation of a Special Land Use permit for a home occupation in a residential accessory building in the Agricultural/ Rural Residential (A/RR) zoning district Property Address: I » .4 �1 \ 4 1 I ♦ I ♦ * ♦ I THE SUN AND NEWS wvvw.sunandnews.com ( I Saturday, July 5. 2025 7 ♦ I Ikh 9 -1^ * I t 1 i '*Mk. 9 X, i L •• % i. X r -I 'J K. ■—-I- I qu-- *' II I .1 r f vr '3JX n- *** J ■' •*iM A •wir , ' i .. ' ’b 'v > ■ 1 /X; 3b. 4» 1 rjrf nr ^xa % >• ^Cfl ■ a iZi. r-. ’Tri4. J Ite i r I H'fJ ■ 0 fl&(. tatd-* ‘<u». » '••Z I I ,/ 4 H'jU'I ' 120. idn h k'.'W I r nf 'fl f 1' ■'■’’Tk b Ml 1 K i f-’. » r f 9 f I 4 * •; I *KI ■ I I » 01 3/ J •* i v] ! 9 I I I ■-’T Vt> »*. jJ. r . :,"-‘?«W»./''t' 9 b I I -litiJ- '■'> 1 .i I ^i£:. ■J. Oi . 1 J 1 ■tatu^ I 1 ■ It >A -eib,'■t'wi 1! "•‘<■1:3 ' -I’lJf' t J o>. ’ ‘H i?- ., I I I ■■.>l'i •?? fl r * '• fl 19 I 'bl -ii 1 f « !i T I » i I » ■ ■ r I ) ( I >- : b. I « A * t i «»« 4> 1 ’ ■ 9 ) 1 J ' t ■ -?d > I'n ■ ’ - .lit lh-L- Ji X ♦./ IK ’ f I f n b' ■, i T:".. 1 11 i ‘S I 0 ■ I ‘ \'u:i V f I I I I I . i % u n* i. !• tisitj; 1 I A SV/ y) I V I ) i I 4t» tj 1 ? I i IK?; ' liiif-i * f : 1 ■ I I J / ** V /« f : I. I t. I t I f I w/ 4 I I I 1 J *V I f t ■ I ♦ Page fifth-graders help make new hammock garden a reality “Magical, mystical” and “just perfect.” That’s how a group of girls described the new hammock garden at Page Elementary School in Middleville, as they got to try it out after a recent ribbon-cutting cer­ emony. Students scattered around the gar­ den in groups to test the hammocks and enjoy all the hard work they put into making the garden a reality. With scissors in hand, Page stu­ dents from Deb Rossi’s fifth-grade class snipped a red ribbon officially opening and dedicating the school’s new hammock garden. According to school officials, the hammock garden is the result of fifth graders, who researched, planned and helped raise funding for the project through much of the 2024-25 school year. The idea for the garden started after Rossi took her class outside to read last fall. They sat on the ground enjoying being outdoors but found ants climbing all over them. “It was very distracting,” said Rossi. Then, Rossi came up with the idea for a hammock garden, pitched the idea to the school’s principal, Amy Forman, and then to her students. She wanted them to be part of mak­ ing the garden a reality. They enthusiastically moved full speed ahead, brainstorming how the hammock garden should look, researching different kinds of ham­ mock gardens, and even helping find donations and support for the project. Students created and presented a presentation for a few members of the board of education and other school leaders, gaining their full sup­ port. At the ribbon cutting, students said all the work was worth it. Kaiden Snyder comfortably laid in a hammock holding the class pet - a giant frog named Sunny. He said Sunny deserved to enjoy the garden, too. It’s kind of crazy,” Snyder added. “We were working on it just about all year and now it’s awesome to see it all come together.” He said the hardest part was wait­ ing for the project to be done and ^4 !*■ Huge Live Public AUCTION The Incredible Collection of Jack Dangremond n i.-* 4 ,1^ July 12th at 10:00am 1 -ft t % I ■'•JF « '• 369 Thomas St. Allegan, Michigan I iao t I «u Join us for this huge auction opportunity > ' s tv . 5 I ( 4 r* Classic cars including 1961 Corvette, Trucks, Bobcat, Vermeer Stump grinder, International Scout, Motorcycles, Over 60 riding lawn tractors. Large collection of Industrial die-cast construction models, Firearms, Full array of Tools and shop equipment. This is a very extensive auction expect 2 rings. • X. < • t y <■ I I i V X. >> I ’.VJ I I’'*- * WF •.W ( t w < «% 1 f 4 M. L; « • V • * See our website or Facebook for more information and photos. **» i^-'< Deb Rossi and many of her fifth-grade students at Page Elementary School’s hammock garden ribbon cutting. Courtesy photo ready for use. Although they tried their best to have it finished before the end of the school year, it didn’t quite happen and the fifth-graders who spent so much time creating the garden realized they wouldn’t even be the ones to use it the most since they’ll be moving on to the Thomapple Kellogg Middle School for the upcoming 2025-26 school next year. However, the ribbon-cutting event gave them an opportunity to be the first ones in the hammocks. “It’s really good. I hope the fourthand fifth-graders next year will really enjoy it,” Snyder said. Eli Foote wrapped himself like a cocoon in one of the hammocks. He gave the garden a 9 out of 10 stars, saying the only thing wrong with the project was that they had to wait so long for it to happen. Rose Forman, who will’be a fifth­ grader in the fall, wasted no time getting comfortable with a book and her stuffed animal in one of the ham­ mocks. “I’m excited,” she said. “It’s going to be a great spot to read.” Rossi addressed her students gath­ ered for the ribbon cutting. “I couldn’t be more proud of you guys and all your hard work,” the teacher said. “This is amazing.” MICTION C APPRAISAL www.VKauctions.com (616) 437-1047 See HAMMOCK GARDEN on Page 9 THE MOST.TRUSTE‘DJNAME IN ROOFING -◄ ►' -W ♦' 9^ 4* ► <L^ ____________ MB" •1^ I '/■ « ,. 3m;. . * Ji.. 4» 9 5 ■ « • n A w .. w ■> «r * .w * w .9^ w X- «b. * ’it w WWI SHERRIFF GOS LIN w hw QUALITY ROOFING rl^r: r MU < w .: f ■w*- :* * < war- 4* w iT'A i’*'* t .♦.4 >T- * r V ■. 'W Ik T •.MAS . .• * w « in. « Bl* I *< I t ) X* *M IB V fr * w«' W; > we 9 « * 3^ 9^^ • f*" .1 M^ * CUhr > •• 1 » 0b . >* -.Ta I 9 II 4 ’-'t'v A .311. w ■ CALL TODAY < •, 1^ ‘ Ek ^9 i 9iZ<> z •JW f^v 5*1- 'W ear ' • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115+ YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU A • ■b ^■4-' •fe. r^-Xt txfl r w ?. 4*. sr«r- =.t 1 ?. * •t* ; ;r» 5: *» Jt -4a ■ r roR;you^^E%, 9- ** *. * a ■F .INSRgCTtON'fez^ X- ‘ > t-- - -3-1 vi* • 9 J * * «<* VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK ***v * •zr- w** .* >« * * 3 ^269-962^W V* « "3* ' *% 4^ X 9 • , «» -•——A- . Ji ’*’^» * > -w 4l «M >' w R.. V I * •w«.. , I / I I I » r I t I » I I I ! I I I I L ■ J 'i B * / I, . I i, I I « I I f HI k* ;r ( J 4 1 X i I > fl 'i' r I i I it u I I I i) I ft I A S 3 I. \ I I r I I J I I » I • • .} f J 4 ■' t / �A, ♦ >yt' r V 8 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Saturday, July 5, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Kilt Klassic keeps bringing Scots back to Caledonia BRETT BREMER “This race is always cool. We’ve had all these alumni come back, and parents of kids are running. It’s really cool,” Thompson said. “Hopefully [they’re coming back] because of the relationships they made in cross country and wanting to come back and see their friends,” he added. “I’m sure they want to give back to the program and to keep running a little bit. Some of them are running a lot because they’re college athletes and some of them are just out here. We have got people who’ve been graduated for a long time that probably graduated 10 years or 20 years ago.” Thompson was happy to report after the race that only one of his three sons finished in front of him. He said he went out a little fast, not used to racing distances as short as 5K lately. The one of the three Thompson boys who did finish in front of him, Jamin, has bested him Sports Editor A good portion of the guys and • gals stepping onto the medal stand in the parking lot just outside the Caledonia High School tennis courts at the conclusion of the Kilt Klassic 5K Saturday were current, former or future CHS student-athletes. There were 241 finishers in the 2025 edition of what is an armual fundraiser for the Caledonia High School cross country and track and field programs. Andy Adams, 21 of Alto, was the men’s overall to finisher with a time of 16 minutes 16.6 seconds. Jamie Lyberg, 41 of Alto, was the top female finisher with a time of 18:52.1. There were four Thompsons in the top 20 overall, including Caledonia varsity boys’ cross coimtry coach and track and field coach Ben Thompson. « *4 e ..J- / s. I J 2r I *• ?;! 4 i I b # 4 Scan our QR code to find your perfect invitation! % •• • S9I M I L . J V »te« u < j. 4 ^■>1> 1^ I I 11II ■ 1 I I V I I i -t 1 p • <► I 'V < .V r, 1)^' 1? 4I • I I r* t ! <€»?■ w . 'Fa' rs .5. I t f r/ .J i{«!< t r* 4 'T » 9' f- I Caledonia High School alumnus Tatum Verburg cools off near the midway point of the 2025 Kilt Klassic 5K near Kraft Meadows Middle School in Caledonia Saturday." Verburg won her division and was the third fastest female overall at the race. Photos by Brett Bremer 9^ < f I. i»;. •> ?>» ♦ ’ rjicn 1 A 'A: « i.' It .\ ; t / f •% i* Mil k ' • '>4 I .i I .ti** • A*** • .1 , K>' J » ■ .<aai I J,. 4 I -1^1 h moment coach Thompson said. “Last year, we used some of the money to get some special cham­ pionship uniforms for the boys and girls, for like for conference, regionals and state meets. That was kind of a cool thing,” he said. “We’ve bought a lot of pole vault poles in the See KILT KLASSIC on Page 12 « I I 1 / I I Jr 1 ■0 r 4 J 1 I rl * I 1 .■tT •V* t .r I 1* }1 J. ♦ *« w i V 1 M «* • ** j: ; K t SsSB. • < YJ.^ ■A an «« ? i 2C I 1 I A > •T- k 4 * K r .> Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS 4 I A 1 > «. —A'I y8SW3ffi£M I t i T. ____ Mk r 'M '41' I H > L>f >* 9^^ F Si. k.-jZ t I r!“ 1***^ J > W>* 4 J .J 1 J » a«k n.flk I I *■ f w % n I V * 'I 1 IA Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. «* ten Ml «||L V Ski ft on. ■iriS/toa • w ll» » ' ^■' ...... ........... 1^^111 1^ !■' J >y«v«u *.<>• w t I, . I % > i Iw '■ v.1 /l 1 PRINTING BY 1 I* V 11 t' F www.printingbypennylane.com ginacl@pennylaneprinting.com « * T •«l «e.’ I « * ■ t»r V ' A ' tPidfcaiad K I > I * ) I I i .1 .•e X nL»aAvwvF L before in a 5K so dad was okay with that. Jamin, a senior on the Cornerstone University Mens’ Cross Country and Track and Field teams, was tenth at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Conference Cross Country Championship last fall and placed third in the 10,000-meter race and seventh in the 7,000-meter race at the WHAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships as a junior in May. He was fourth Saturday with a time of 16:35.1. Clay Batio, 20 of Caledonia, was the runner-up to Adams with a time of 16:23.7. Noah Johnston, a senior at Caledonia High School who was a state qualifier in cross country in the fall of 2024, placed third in 16:31.1. Adams, another CHS grad, runs with Jamin at Cornerstone University. He was 19th at the WHAC Cross Country Championships in 2024. Hannah Dupuis, a 2025 CHS grad­ uate, was the second fastest female of the day with a time of 19:49.9. She’ll begin competing for Michigan Tech University in the fall. Her one­ time high school teammate Tatum Verburg was third among the ladies in 19:53.8. There isn’t anything special funds raised are being set aside for at the K M I Me r r s. fvff Jt J « ' I & r Runners including Noah Johnston (98) and Noah Peterson (129), who were both top ten finishers in the end, take off at the start of the 2025 Kilt Klassic 5K Run/Walk in the parking lot in front of Caledonia High School Saturday. i nff/v o.'W ' I A . i f r’hSlHIl rr K * f �« ♦ Saturday. July 5, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 9 ♦ ♦ ¥. Page librarian Jessica Shuck said she knows students will get a lot of good reading time in the hammocks next year. “You should all be very proud of yourselves and what you’ve been able to do,” Shuck told the students. “I’m very excited to use the garden next year and I hope it will be another way to help entice students to read more.” And, Page’s principal was ecstatic with the garden. It z I mn ir.y £ « ■ • b; r * ' i: ■ ■ 9 ■ 0’ I /. ••d A 't i z <J r J / * / •• . ''« n.' i »» * : T ; . r • 4? ||£ t * /jl J V > f % f. « i.'S F r 1 F •.•J BOARD i *< 1 Continued from Page 5 5; 1 • as we move forward?’ DPW Director Darwin Bass told The Sun and News. The county’s stated goal has been to divert 90% of trash that goes to land­ fills and convert it into marketable materials. Anaergia had proposed building the $400 million waste-to-energy facil­ ity to process 400,000 tons of trash annually that businesses put in their dumpsters and residents place in their curbside trash carts. Also, about 30,000 tons of recycled commodities and organic waste would have been processed to produce renewable natu­ ral gas and fertilizer. In February 2025, the Kent County Board of Public Works approved the completion of the final infrastructure design and bid documents for the 250acre Sustainable Business Park. Baas said the bidding process will begin in the Fall of 2026 before the county Board of Public Works makes a final decision on the project. Plans are for the Sustainable Business Park to include facilities for mixed waste processing, organics recovery, stormwater management, Ml ***» '. u 11 i A . \ i 4- •> I V f •’-4J -1 € t r * T > 1 i. L' ti « -'/ijr U' I b I 4 ■ -''Itifcv •’* 1. ■■^' . I I 1 h®|V «b tV •m. J• tel'. . '"ffn HI \ 4. fcil f JU,' J ■ m. > ‘4 1^' x< ■> , ftzi /1 I .’I I I T rr^ ‘ ♦ i>ll • « » I .J '8v/ 1 >ri9 / r I I ) t f ri ^v- 4’"^ r..j/5 w <r 9 . fll J Ji,.,. n»W I. iT^ •, * I ai;- Sis 4*. I I v ♦ ‘1 ^Mfiatttr te t ^1 ' ’< 95Q T• U iftW 3IHjn >1 Sjfr', nr 1 flOfttOTO^ »?. adnol3W& eiwri Lnft 4M i '. ; A 3tWT aiz* .7 baxiBi'' 1 »a V I '1' I .i^ 1 I > /' I**’.;* T Li !i I** 4 i I Til , > s. Mm w s i.x -J HR B < •u K -•*•4 i < ? I 'J iiji . i 6 «: * •I 5 ( » AVI » selfless act by our fifth-graders. “They knew they wouldn’t get it done to use themselves but they still research and development, construc­ tion and demolition debris sorting, and end-use operations. Grand Rapids-based engineering firm Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber Inc. was contracted to develop the major construction-design docu­ ments. The original design proposed by Anaergia for the Kent County Bioenergy Facility had a transfer station. However, the Kent County Bioenergy Facility will not be con­ structed as originally planned. Instead, the county is now planning to build the project in phases. The South Kent Transfer Station would be constructed first, and then the facility for process­ ing organics and recyclables would be built. Baas said design work for the trans­ fer station will begin this fall, with construction tentatively set to start in late 2026 or early 2027. The construction timelines are sub­ ject to approval by the county Board of Public Works and the Kent County Board of Commissioners. The plan is to open bids this fall for constructing the Sustainable Business Park. “And if bids are favorable, and with BPW approval, commence construc­ tion in Spring 2026,” Baas said. The goal would be to restart the process of procuring developers for the mixed-waste processing plant later in 2026. It would entail anaerobic digestion and processing food waste to produce Renewable Natural Gas. That involves capturing methane gas released during the decomposition and converting it into a usable energy source. Kent County officials said sustain­ able waste management is an environ­ mentally responsible way to manage food waste by diverting it from the landfill. “So, we’re taking steps on this in preparation for the closure of the South Kent Landfill in 2030,” Baas said. The initial plans called for the City of Wyoming to supply water for the project, with the municipal utilities running from Byron Township into Dorr Township, which would either be a wholesale or retail customer. The original concept also envisioned the Byron-Gaines Utility Authority (BGUA) taking control over part of that infrastructure. However, the BGUA consulting engineer, Jeff Gritter with Vriesman & Korhom civil engineering company, said he has not received an update on that yet. f 0 « 0 Safe Off Fabrics (excludes sale items) Sale Dates: July 1st-July 31st Troucf to 6e an (American^ i QUESTIONS: ASK US... USED PARIS - ’ USED TIRES Hulsi Cleaners Pickup Stahon / Mi«neK«> MMipni^ 4 isn M« ST, KAUMMZOO li » •<r “I love it and I love that it’s for future generations of Page students to use?’ Forman said. “It was such a r J I t A Deb Rossi and her students cut the ribbon to officially dedicate the hammock garden. Courtesy photo ns 269-381-2300 i - i-ss sr I-4. • t£* FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT 1 I .J* i»Nin*raim-iRTin>nB*nn>iBn>aa H X t 9 LIGHT TRUCK MRTSf I A I I r 1C vt , - I • c 1 I I (** «c 'cfs, r '$ 'x. “ IS Jfl J I / 1 , I, worked verv' hard on it?' she added. *‘And now it’s here and it's going to be a great place for students to enjoy readine. Support for the project included a $1,000 “One School at a Time” Award from Family Fare, a $2,278 grant from the Barry County Youth Advisory, material donations from NTA L^dscaping and assistance from Barry County Lumber, as well as help from members of the school district’s Building and Grounds Department. — Thornapple Kellogg Schools X 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm 5 “We have not had any additional communication regarding (Kent County’s) schedule or plans for the business park,” he said. Stakeholders in the project include the two counties and their respective road commissions, plus the City of Wyoming, Byron, Dorr and Gaines townships, and Consumers Energy and DTE Energy. The DPW said more than 7 mil­ lion tons of trash have been put into the South Kent Landfill since 1986, and as of 2023 the existing waste-toenergy plant had processed about 5 million tons since 1990. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025, at 7:00 P.M. Please be advised the Thornapple Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on July 28, at 7pm or as soon thereafter as possible. The public hearings will take place in the Township Hall, 200 E. Main St., Middleville. The public hearing(s) will address the following: \) Special Use ^177—Applicant Jennifer Carey is wishing to construct a residence on her property to house an immediate family member requiring around the clock care. Her residence is located at 3450 Eagleview Ct, Middleville, MI 49333 (parcel 08-14-025001-35) per Thomapple Township Zoning Ordinance 5.3 (t) and 19.68. Any interested person may attend the public hearings to learn about the extent and location of Special Use requests to offer comments to the Planning Commission. A copy of the application noted above may be examined in the Township offices at the address noted above during regular business hours. Monday - Thursday 9am- 4pm Written comments regarding these applications may be addressed to: Secretary Sandy Rairigh, Thomapple Township Planning Commission, P.O. Box 459, Middleville, MI 49333, or submitted via email to: zoning-administrator^thomapple-twp.org Americans with Disabilities Notice Persons with special access needs should contact the Township Clerk at 269-795-7202 no less than 72 hours before the hearings. Cindy Ordway, Thomapple Township Clerk * * « )- ; .I* • 3 t .3. I teHHi f i / I I i ! t J I II lib I ( ‘r. I It I I I 1 I t s h I f f t » \ I r ft I ( �/. 4 • I' t Saturday, July 5, 2025 10 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com V > «— A clockwise spin from Mary Free Bed Overdrive’s Nate Boersma punched a comer kick to teammate Kyle Friar at the top of the goal box five and a half minutes into a second overtime period in the championship match. With the Motor City Eagles’ goalkeeper on the near post and a defender on the center of the line. Friar turned to hit Boersma’s pass just inside the far post to give the Overdrive a 1 -0 golden goal victory in the MK Battery United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA) Conference Cup Series Founders Cup Championship, June 22 in Fort Wayne, Ind. “I just passed it. 1 don’t even pick a play half the time,” Boersma said of his comer kick that led to the Overdrive’s championship clinch ing goal. He said going quick before everyone is set up works out to his advantage a lot of times. The Overdrive, one of the top seeds in the Founders Conference heading into the tournament, did not allow a single goal all weekend long. The team shut out opponents 5-0, 3-0 and 1-0 during pool play, took a 7-0 win in the quarterfinals and a 2-0 win in the semifinals. Boersma, a seventh grader at Thomapple Kellogg Middle School, said he enjoyed “destroying” teams •w r > •W-' b •2 V i ajU > .• t T f U' z nr <u h k i > 1 \ F. I F t ( f 4. y t ImMM II I f •»w — Mary Free Bed Overdrive attacker Nate Boersma (12 of Middleville) sets up to put the ball in play during the finals of the MK Battery United States Power Soccer Association Conference Cup Series Founders Cup Championship, June 22 in Fort Wayne, Ind. USPSA photos by Katie Pierce fW at the tournament. As far as earning six straight shut outs, he said “our defense was just on point and our goalie was playing really good.” Those victories put the Overdrive, based out of Grand Rapids, into the championship game against one of their local rivals, the Motor City Eagles from Northville. Power Soccer games consist of two 20-minute halves played on a basketball court in specialized $12,000 powered wheel chairs with cages on the fi-ont built for knocking the ball around and protecting feet. A six-meter goal is at each end of the court. Games are played 4-on-4 wi± three “field” play­ ers and a goalkeeper on each side. The Overdrive team compiled a 13-7-1 during the 2024-25 season playing in the Founders Conference, and earned a promotion up to the Presidents Conference with their championship finish in Fort Wayne. Boersma, primarily an attacker, was second in the Founders Conference tV :CCR«EEM P«C O mEHRMB is s4 ■ VISITOR HOME • Jjl aS T ^4 ws iwi rn 1 •r Se ■T T> J 4 J ,tj r Sv 44 4IW ^Mb' <9 ♦ ** I it > U L 'I z" t c «« I « A 1 I w « M -mJ^V £ 4 •—-•w*. J ✓z 9L. . ^■ca. ( 1 f >•**? * ** , -aja^ g n jiiTit^J? ;r^xa «*.*>«* A ;• f y* I III fc iigir I > I 4 1 X'S — ’ r<:-r-- Al The Mary Free Bed Overdrive celebrate their Founders Cup National Championship victory following a 1-0 double overtime win over the rival Motor City Eagles during the MK Battery United States Power Soccer Association Conference Cup Series Championships June 22 in Fort Wayne, Ind. with 16 goals this season and led the conference in assists with 14 in 21 games. New seasons begin in November, and teams play in tour­ naments throughout the winter and spring to earn spots and seeding for the national championship tourna­ ment each summer. Jonah Westcott of Hastings is also a member of the Overdrive squad after earning a spot on the Mary Free Bed traveling team for the first time this season. Westcott came on late in the first ten-minute overtime period and was on the floor with Boersma and Friar as they clinched the nation­ al title. Friar was named the tournament MVP, and the Overdrive’s keeper Alec Lundy had to be high in the voting for that award with his six shut outs and a rare save of a penalty kick. The Overdrive team, one of the youngest at the tournament in any division, was coached by Pete Kaiser this season with Nate’s father Jason Boersma and Liwie Berger on the staff as assistant coaches. “Pete is a pure soccer player and has been his whole life,” Jason said. Kaiser played at Aquinas College, and while power soccer is new to him, he has been able to transition some things from the pitch to the court. The USPSA is the governing body for power soccer, which is dubbed as the first competitive team sport for power wheelchair users. Power soc­ cer empowers athletes with diverse disabilities, such as quadriplegia. Muscular dystrophy, arthrogryposis, and cerebral palsy, to compete inde­ pendently at all skill levels according to the organization. Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports began its power soc­ cer program in 2019, and after a bit of a set-back during the pandemic in 2020, started playing games and competing in tournaments in 2021. “The first year you just played games and we had hand-me-down chairs, and they went in and it was like taking an old rust bucket F-150 truck with cattle guards on them playing against Corvettes,” Nate’s mother Vikki Boersma said. See OVERDRIVE on Page 11 I * 9 / 4 Overdrive finish off Boersma corner kick for nationai titie BRETT BREMER Sports Editor •IffJl* - •) > 4 « R it I :K ; i f « t r 4;* • »*> i I Its *j ► ».n <*» «• >• « > A1 .1 I J Z-I ^1 A I b * 1 > * ( iv I * !V ♦*- *1 / • { * j' < k-T' /1'1.-' A' I 11 ** lA'r t t 4 .r>* 1 I ‘ 4 J* A » 1 J, . •) .,4'' . ’'J:*,' :h:rc 9^ . u V w f'.. < 01 r T iC . ifrr 4 M f V pl*’ » f f -H’? » t f f r -•f' rv .' ‘ 11 .t if 11*'^ XT <ir* ............... .1 > - 'i .'■'1 J - kufi ..ei.: J. > * V 1 **• A •r »»' at' * i . r i^L J J ? .L I* r tf A .w« «ik.ib A'.t f (BM» 4) I I > H - i:! 1 I > «* 41 t 36®*5'. ll »lT»f I . > > 1 1 I ■ s r 1^' a F -•• g r-»' I i v; JS<5 I f R?, >2t>i« .i'Gifc^.^. t9 'k <1,7! /.(-mao*** • 1 I k. j 4f’’ r/ » 'i * r J .I 1 A bb?!® b I . J m.** •I asi '’”“* I®F1)1B1I!«-^.^ b 1 * * J Jl/r* %• .'<ii «) 'A»»< r* f n • .;sk!a .« • 4U as.'i '^- ' I ap . c I h »'’**• % 1 $ ‘S’- » J n ,' r: ’ J / * 1 te: I* A» -■ J A' I 4 f; I, I r. *4» •1 R I b• •if Kk4l s <A * Wr 1 *1 n > I 1 I '■ TASSOS,&■ OCB'Z^B^ 1 I * a 1 %I ♦ 4^ .s i ' ’.T t t *' »*n' ■- ■ * .« r % L’ I I I ‘">> 4ite = -‘W ♦» r I ( «’ I « t It I .Sniw,*. • t . . ’J I 4& -* P'kiki,,, r '■. H &ar * ; ...I . ... I r.^ i �I t. iC nU J'. I '1^. 4 I 4 www.sunandnews.com 00 ' i'il 4 ' *?• SQj % '■'Cy.. .1 I J J ft. ’’••Wb.' 4 /I i / < 4 J h \ * ft'.. 1<.%, ** ■ ft. f ’I -4 * a > ■ i A •!r I i > £ !»Wfnoj4i< t vl • ) 4 i r. ? ' *1 XA ■ ......................... tofTtKA bfliuafJi tea \4‘l . J ' » ■ , ’< * R '.h "■’euv'i » . *V 1 "’TB. I s % » ' iS- ' I* :| I I A ■ z k > i MT I ' ' -'fhr*-: (T:- A I *. t w a i b :'5 • r $ .'4* Ji I t:. *- * 1 H I) I / 1 I >1 f < * • « t If ***' '--K • * t. • ** « i TIoWieM- • I I A « ■ wwon’-'n. 1 N . iWli* li f-r w«r tn OTO ti firn * ** T i “M ^dJ ni n) TqBhtlbnBli J •I 1 lai • •« I u 4 I ! OTO l«f) I* 4 F>w BE i 700^ rjwai ’I • I I 1 r 1 * . < 1 •A * f I • ' iiCTn r niK .OTiritet ' .- ** 5 1 ? >t {> onBi lu I Jb r 4 rHU-oa ■ I « I f ■-ii' J f -■ HDjiyatoii : i I I I 1. .J ,^it^?2pr«'vr «Ui O'J - t 1 $i< >• 7 rfU r-n^' 8 S'il'; SI Continued from Page 10 “My chair kept falling apart,” Nate said. The Lori’s Voice nonprofit helped the Overdrive acquire some better chairs, and that made a ton of differ­ ence, and Nate has managed to get a chair even more specific to his own needs since then. It takes some work to modify chairs so they best sup­ port the abilities of each individual driver with the placement of switches and such. The chairs also need to be torqued to not be more than their drivers can withstand. Chairs are tested before and after matches to see that they don’t exceed 6.2 miles per hour (10 kph) in both the forward and backward direction. Players mostly use foot guards to move the 13-inch ball. Jason’s role as an assistant coach has more to do with his engineering skills than X’s and O’s he provides. It has become a whole family sport. Nate’s big sister Morgan Boersma, a TK freshman, works on the pit crew. Jason took some of his RC racing experience from his childhood and has her cleaning tires with acetone. All the parents in the stands had “Pit Crew” shirts made up for themselves as well. TK junior Karsyn Boersma isn’t quite as into the competition as the rest of the family, but sometimes she enjoys the travel. There is a lot of travel. Vikki said finding gymnasiums that can also support the electricity needs for a fleet of battery powered wheel chairs is one of the sport’s big challenges. Tom Flynn is one of three sports coordinators in the Mary Free Bed wheelchair and adaptive sports department, the one who tasked with handling power soccer as well as wheelchair tennis and para standing tennis and goalball for the blind and visually impaired. The Mary Free Bed program also offers wheelchair basketball, wheelchair lacrosse, wheelchair rugby, hand cycling clin­ ics and competitions too. “Over this whole season, coach Pete [Kaiser] always has his white board out at practice. They’re always scouting other teams,” Flynn said. “I’ve seen coach Pete watch film while they’re driving home from tournaments. All the coaches are so invested in this. They draw up the X k I f 4 T^; 1 zofTl coi OBTqK '.'.dUrl. s« nrr<ll ' . ’I u^Jijw §115'^’ dofioa 'li :;n.0!l vf ... itI? \ A**.* '■; a « ■ J j: -S »l >1 1 4 . »• k ■' i «l ’ I I •5Ml J1 ! 7/- .?^r e r" I plays. They scout. They know who those other play ers are and what kind of defense we want to play, or who we want to have playing on offense.” “The players bought in,” Flynn added. “The coaches got the players to buy in that this system will work. The players know they have to play on offense or defense, you can’t just play offense or defense. There are even times where our goalie he will take the ball up the court and then somebody knows to come back and play defense. They just have an offensive and defensive mindset, and they players know they have got to do what they have got to do it is so much fun to be involved. When I started in 2023, the program was up and running. To see the progress from then to now is incredible.” Players have their regular chairs, and transition into the specially equipped Strike Force power wheel chairs with guards for the contests. There are rules against 2-on-l play to help limit contact to not only protect the players, but their pricey equip­ ment as well. “We are 95% philanthropy. Fortunately, we have people that sup­ port us. We pay travel expenses for players or tournament fees, coaches fees, rental fees for gym space ... we’re very fortunate that we have the support that we have,” Flynn said. This equipment, at $12,000 apiece if you have 12 players on your team there is $144,000 in equipment. It is a fun sport to watch and it is fun for these kids.” The Overdrive program has play­ ers in it from nine years old to 32 years old. The Founders Conference is the lowest of four levels in the USPSA with national champion­ ship competition. The Premier Conference is the top level with a Champions Conference, the Presidents Conference and the Founders Conference the other three steps in the ladder. There are also non-conference and recreational play opportunities in the USPSA, like the ones the Overdrive started with not so long ago. “It’s pretty exciting,” Vikki said. “They’re kind of the up and coming team.” More information on the Mary Free Bed programs or how to help support them financially can be found on the wheelchair and adaptive sports page of maryfreebed.com. ♦ OUR COMPANY IS GROWING DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY A \ ^4MaR|4 \ \ w.. I J « ■ Vv-. ■.S'’-' % t ** * ' View Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST Responsibilities include: • Advertising sales • Account management • Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts • Attend netvi/orking events \AI Group email wsmith@mihomepaper.com 810-452-2622 ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide & News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder I I I I 1 I B 'i' II i I / I t i I i • It ;3 JI Li ■ii * : H U .•4 1 I n r t i 1 I I s s J 5 I II t t t « » I f .* /• 4 I i 11 Saturday. July 5. 2025 ♦ OVERDRIVE *< THE SUN AND NEWS 4 \ �12 Saturday, July 5, 2025 A E9 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com r 9 ♦ Classifieds ♦ I. I 1 1. ♦ I ♦ J ♦ » BUSINESS SERVICES DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOWPLOWING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 TREE SERVICE iW’ ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT NOW HIRING View Newspaper Group is seeking a Front Office Administrative Assistant in our Hastings Banner/Reminder office • Full and Part time positions • Monday - Friday • Competitive Hourly wage • Fringe benefits available to qualified full time employees Please email resume to Jill Nichols, Controller jnichols@mihomepaper.com ^\AI The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer's Guide ’ Jeffersonian Group Tri-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader " Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen <*• ♦ (. >' * * « « - The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer’s Guide & News The Sun and News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Reminder St. Clair Area View BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy single walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793. HOMES FOR RENT HOUSE FOR RENT- 8 miles south of Hastings on Cloverdale Road. 3 bedrooms, 1 (new) bath. Ranch, 1200 sq. ft. on main floor. Heated garage, basement below. Totally remodeled with many new amenities on over an acre. Pasture land surrounds house with nice views. $1800/month plus utilities and $2500 security deposit. Lawn care and snow plowing provided. No pets, no smoking. Call 616-780-3078, leave message. COMMERCIAL-RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rapids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic® remax.net WANTED IZTdf.W WANTED TO BUY: Standing Timber. Conscientious timber harvester. Saw Mill Office- 517-254-4463. 1 r ♦I ^H3MYn}''fA I 7 k .1 hotr^iW (MVvU fcMoiaoA^i ni 31 ^iso ineWeei rw faiasB ot OTom xH .tnsmoi i&nmiXaMluio i Jrelno Mqqa 10 STO»*iSe" tan i I Tsi .a e i: n FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: I960?? Massey Ferguson 135 diesel, 3 cycle Perkins, 3 point hitch, 5 PTO front loader. 6 ply tires 149-28, good tread. A blade and bucket fits on front loader, $6,500 obo. (616)450-4873 or (616)597-9341. NO SUNDAY CALLS. i 1 EMPLOYMENT LPN for Assisted Living Wanted Carveth Village is in search of an LPN to assist in resident care management. For more details, please call Makenzi at (269) 795-4972 or apply online at www.carvethvillage.net. is<^T grabnstS tYUmona *88 ’M8»mrtl9<ta«B00tW8( J THSMHIUnB I •• t eeesM ’TVOaer :;3JAl nijhsM e.faaato eer nrx 3 lobRot looit om P .rtottrH abfild A boog ,8SW a 005.32 39bso( Inort no eftt lattai , v. r >t I w;G-ve2!<ita) •>o cm-oetMari JJJAO YAOm I I AUTOS 2017 PORSCHE MACAN GTS AWD, Sports Chrono Package with launch support for tighter suspension, steering and more aggressive shifting experience. Off-road mode for higher ground clearance. Touring mode for softer suspension and steering. Adjustable sport exhaust. Heated seats and steering wheel. Leather/ suede combo seats. Apple car play /Android auto. Factory Towing package. $22,000 OBO. I I t B j L. i I f I 11 lA 3T0 MAOAM ilfivj oDajIaaR onoiriO ehoq8 ' loien^oaua letrtpiJ lot tioqqua yniltirta oviaeeig^ Biom bns gi ! lot obom tsoi-llO oone tYbom pnjTuor 9on6Tfiei31 □nn^9te boa nofgnoqaua t)3t69H .lauBfha tioqa ekki leritsej .leedw pnneets bnr ISO f^qqA .2Ibm odmoo iniwoT yiotoa^ .otue bioibni < J oao ooo.sss .9( I 1 .*1 > I r • -i/ I j KILT KLASSIC Continued from Page 8 last three or four years for track.” Racers who competed in kilts earned special prizes at the end of GAINES PC Continued from Page 6 Gaines Township allows internal and external illumination of ground signs for non-residential uses and external illumination is allowed for residential development entry and wall signs for non-residential uses. the event. My Team Triumph racers were once again the first to take off from the start line. The 5K run/walk was followed by a Kids Fun Run on the practice fields behind Caledonia High School. ,1 rlqmunT (rma f /M .)r)r> "^0 oJ J3ift oriJ oonf >if£v/Vnin Jd? oriT .^nri nat2 sri no nuB abiB a /d towolh i4not»16O bnrrted ^Mdft aoifoi J(X>do<; i5V£i2 asftiiafa doosmbio inoTWJ The current ordinance defines sever­ al classes of sign illumination. It states that sign lighting shall be of low inten­ sity with effective provisions made to minimize spillover of light beyond the actual sign face. And the light source must be enclosed and directed to pre­ vent light from shining directly onto traffic or neighboring property. ' JI .LioasaiiBa^ nsie io •reinr wl To od Ilsds ^nbd^il ns o) 'jtisfli ^ooisfYoiq 97ft}91b ri/i ?fb bnoY^d lo i^Yoifiqe osi u(bhctA .S381 ngia oi 1)91331(6^ bnfi faoeeboo 9( ifio vinantb i^anrnfa'facnt idg flnqoiq gnnoddgian i o * 4 / 1 I j. I 4 J I r I I I I 4 / f i f z I 4* / � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-07-19.pdf 02c01eddc295fdb76f414fdd0797c641 PDF Text Text I » » yr^ 1 I ’ J 1 ■r.. 1 ’ 2 » s • a y k* \ X V 1 i I > » $ » > ' t I A s 'i i V V \ -r \ \ S s V \ I J I 4r ri 1^ R ?• ■ s Your Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas s. 4 4 sifiio .<^' .*^' ^abi> to faiBod g'ianizib sil) SBjUEoab InaoQi sriJ §niwo( J 1 .. — Caledonia Community Schools offi­ cials recently annoimced a vacancy on the district’s board of education fol­ lowing the recent departure of Trustee Katie Isic, who has moved out of the district. “Katie has been a steady and thoughtful voice on our Board,” said CCS Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer. “She brought heart and perspective to every conversation, and always kept students at the center of every deci­ sion. “We’re excited for her next chapter and truly appreciate her dedicated service to the students and families of Caledonia.” With Isic’s seat at the school board now empty, board members will seek to appoint “a qualified individual” to fill the vacant trustee position, according to a statement released by CCS officials on Monday, July 14. The appointed trustee will serve until Dec. 31, 2026, and will have the opportunity to run to retain the seat in the November 2026 election, if they choose to continue. To be eligible, applicants must be a resident of the Caledonia schools district, a registered voter, at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and must have lived in Michigan for at least 30 days. i » toVOTTE gfiri Offw />i2l .lorrtzib « > 4< I 1 I .0012 J smaii toI bsJioza ai'aW fadnsd siBrogiqqB ylinJ boe iJm 2Jnsbcr»2 sri) oJ aobnsz .BinofasUD doa 5riMB 1B32 z'oizi riJiW ziadmsin bifiod .ylqma won ribni fasfiikup b"' inroqqfi ol Boq asJainl Iiwobv aril Ifii ol Jai iTOfnalsla b ol gnibioooB £bnoM no ateioffio 233 yd r _ w59121/11 balnioqqs sfJT .-hf [fw faafi ,d£0£ e f fibJoi oJ run ot yJinufioqqo lobodb d£(I£ lodmwoK oriJ .auaiinoo o) azoorio J 1 I I I J I ■1 ’•'.-J: 4 zJflGoilqqB .^Idigite sd oT 4^ I ri *? j^ofaoIuD sri) Io JnabizQT B > ei^To z baiaJeigoTB JohUib rmiti j .8.TJ b 4>Io zTeay ai toI negirbiM ni bsvil svsrf .ayah lOAV 338 ■» r ’.e- See VACANCY on 5 « p« ~ •• V 1 LiL « * Kv J r* t I > f’** * > p t p. .■-Y I •• ?♦ A'11 ■ > ■EILJ w- to; • 1 1 yI w '< w V- * II I / ■I S3 kwwi ZA** ’""I b9h.C JorioS I ^c97bbibnfi^ I It no voncosv IO3 .noifBOUbe IDDW CnSlQWEH HoiOEiunrr (CliMBS eiMW9iri««D8 bO0a«) I wac e uawoisna wiiNaaisau I' 1 i’ bOLWK »338 ^8836 • ewBUAiRB' VVi « bVID r» 2 6O81VGE bsex eio !■ I B •r^• 4 m rwH * F iW www.sunandnews.com -■'•Si r > < .. J Ji IMV li I 1 f I I) « •. I .J I t SSMW03 8Gm> in '«*uwj9 OKMOSOd 8CC# liuuQd 8C88t ly^ 'd||iAU88J9 aivd aovisoa s n OXS ISM Caledonia Community Schools is seeking candidates tof ill its recent vacancy on the board of education. Courtesy photo s ' <• f I ) 't _ z - s f. V "■ Z.l 1. n f I! J )\ i/ I t f\ lxV I * \ I LV .■ A! i i n \ ■. I rt V i * I w •** t A I 1 II 1 V T I' « 4» li iJlA *4 t * p r I h t ( r. r r r* I I rv h r ■< n3k<*«fc> 1 ir I I > ^0 11 * M ■A£A X 4 aU I r 3( * rxjT I'ti' «:• *« V I. 4 *4 A X b.» 1 -as^ <•# r ■/» Ai •V » I 4 1 » .1 i U c mi K L«>; in. t < 9 kVlr I i\ IV I < LA t > . '-J? ••7 A 4 % 'i f > t « lLV V J 1 /I «>V«? • •* 1"% “U 31 » ^astv' > t r ;\1 A N k I W X 'SM J 1 f. f » <.1 Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials plan to begin a drawdown of Hall Lake in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area later this month as part of the plan to address safety issues with the earthen dam beneath Gun Lake Road. The plan is for 6 feet of water to be drained from the lake level by the fall of 2026. Photo by Brett Bremer DNR planning Hall Lake drawdown over the next year Brett Bremer Sports Editor The North Country National Scenic Trail winds along Hall Lake’s western edge in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area, as well as a bit of die lake’s namesake trail. Not far from where those two paths coalesce, there is a perpetual lean-to “fort” in a section of pine forest that has served as a playhouse for genera­ tions of youngsters. A boat ramp on the southeastern tip of the lake has been used by families of anglers for decades as they look to snag bass, perch, bluegill and the like. The lake’s edge will slowly move away from the trails and the lean to over the coming months, and it appears eventually the Michigan Department of Natural Resources may look into putting in a cany down boat access site. •w 1 J ’‘t « I s B iT39d esH Eoft^yo no ooiov f}ft^d§uoriJ ^WCl Jnobn^Tfimqv?* 2DD E jifisri tri§uoid 9rf2 wq wJb bnn ^loilBaTQvnoo yiWQ 9V0 to 151033 orit IB I I n « i'j?? YJtnufnmoO EinobokiO fe^^rujofuiE CCS seeks candidates for board vacancy 1 I . r SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2025 NO. 65 ibnsa 2)l992 233 insaBv bwod wt ( l> >*■» ^ 6 GM 1 I PAGE 11 << I I 1 t ) > I I > PROJECTS ARE TAKING SHAPE INSIDE THE RALPH THE SUN AND NEWS 5 k I, t f » I I ?> 1 > k t f 1 1 > » > > / J I I \ r r « I IB I > I > \ V 1 X I Bui, MDNR officials also announced Friday, July 11, that the state agency is moving forward this summer with a phased plan for drawing down Hall Lake Dam to a lower lake elevation - a decision that reportedly addresses safety issues with the Barry County impoundmenL while also allowing for continued recreation use at Hall Lake, accord­ ing to state officials. A routine spring inspection fol­ lowed by an engineering analy­ sis of the dam led the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to issue an emer­ gency drawdown order. The MDNR will immediately apply for the necessary permitting to begin the gradual drawdown, which will begin later this month. The final project drawdown is expected to be complete by fall 2026 and is funded by an MDEGLE Dam Risk Reduction Grant. Those grant funds must be spent by October 2026. “Given its classification as a sig­ nificant hazard dam, the worsening condition of the culvert and embank­ ment, the prohibitive cost estimates to undertake replacement by the state or local municipality, and the risk of expiration of grant funding for the project, reducing the lake level by decommissioning, or drawing down, of Hall Lake Dam is the only viable option,” said Joseph Jandemoa, park manager at Yankee Springs Recreation Area. Not everyone is in favor of the project, however. At its regular meet­ ing Thursday night, July 10, the Yankee Springs Township Board of Trustees unanimously adopted a res­ olution to support the preservation of See LAKE on 7 �1 I 1 1/ * ■ * 9 .> I .Jdl »• ii. ■ I . 2 J 19. 7Q2S THE SUN AND NEWS J z I Developer obtains final OK for apartment homes in Dutton >«e * I 1 r** ■ s Cotodbubng Wntar The Ciainea Tnwnvhip Hoard of Truslevs prnvMlad it* final approval tar f onlmcmal Propcrtiea to move ahead with plans t<» bwld 14 two-sMwy. 24umt afwimeni houaea in Dutton After a public hearirig. uzwtuhip trustees voted 6-41 al their regular meeting Monday. July 14. in favor of s pLaoned imit developmcni. or R D. rs/tmttiif requeat for a proposed TT6unit comples at M*6 and Hanna I oke Avenue The dimples will be named “AuihentiM Gainea.*' »neT the AiMhergis. style housing brmd The priced report ­ edly will he constructed on a 24-acre sevtKin at a 40.5-atre property along the 6hM) hldck of I (Vina I j^c A» e No resident» tpiAe at the public hearing Ihc property had been zrmed m ReiidentiaM (mobile home) and Residen­ tial* I fl under the township’s previous zoning ordinance but is being rezoned as part of a new Pl I) Overlay District under a revised ordinance ackrplcd in April I ownship board members also ap­ proved the final site plan lor the 3T6 .ipartBBaMs ilsai will hr hwh The Ganas Townatep Flaonaag CnwMiiiw A ' 'M LIGHT TRUCK PARTS ruu SERtnCE a TOR PIHl IT i 269-381-2300 9 I IK arte plaa and Iha R fl> rerotw^ a pubtM. hr«^ on May 22. Qtumea Township Community Da* vchipmcnt direcsor Dan Wdto said W'iM<w»Mn-b«B«d C onMienuJ f*rnper >■ ■7. jsf J Your local agent insures your Retnrementi Ath aoat our amwMIes and IRAs raatt maaMi USEOPARTS' USED TIRES i - >T , n. i‘ 1 1 4‘ I* 4' ♦I .)b J 1* } iMW rvswn IsBaa Partis UI I Mam 9tfMt LR^vnvwn L » wwooiotpw 4 4* if i >.<• * , Si % ( I 1 •< F t A .. r 1 r- x/ ■' / J :s 8 4-^ > ’ uL jifcij * J-W < * I V 'M' I 'K ^*4 • }, ■ .J ■?** 'k- •. »• •» k. ' .iOfr 4<- 1« . nil. ■.. sa:-. w • Iff F r •< . -If I *I 1 ContmorrtaJ Propertioa Devetopment dH<?ctor doiflan Imction tpoatis. to ttw* Gatnem Towrwhip Board oi Trustue* at n* Jtrfy 14 metrtmg m the ttjwniggp hall Photo by Jamas Comtnall in family"* legacy, wrih it* mAnmhip nf the property dating back more ibMi a century, and its agricultural heritage (tames fnw'nvhtp nffictelt have rm opimn Io rccenT the open perk space until wix month* after Continental re­ ceives Its Ir^ ceiTiftcele of occ upancy, which the developer projects In he in 2028. The taw*nship also has the option onctting die offer expire cw declining it According to reports, the township attirmey is rev lew ing specihes of that proposal. M Il will give the towndiip approxM inately three years to make a decision •a w het her to take it for public uxe or not. Wells said “Continental will maintain the space until the township decides whether to receive it. Teichen said Continental Properties did suggest in the [voposed agreement - 1^. 5M M I 0* 9 I 9 V £ thai It would pnnide tcipiMni fm the Iwid and aecd it while the lowncbip considers whether to take ownership of the proposed park space Township Trustee Kathy Vander Stel said the revised site plan sbowa a “snoiificant" decreaiw' in the ratio of proposed parking spac«s per apartment unit from 2.25 spaces to the revised 1 K spaces per unit That would provide a total of 626 parking spaces tor TTn apartments units. It just seems like eseryhody comes home al night and they all need spaces. and an) visitors that tome through. a* Vander Stel xaid It wound* light to me a* It ha* to do a lot with their client tele,” Wells said. “Thes don't get a lot of families that would (have! two cars See DUTTOM on 6 The Sun and News t{! * la Proudly Published Since 10ZO 1 • lilgSlS®’ «I I •1 -caw*® •s* SICE 9 « • '4 • »see E^^ACwij^mv^iwp •« < » ■ u!«» d!»» : -tail) *IIi<klli«.ik5¥ 'is? ' lO ■' _,<irr 1 t«H H i 1 T iiswiS » r AP ndiFartWtng #r The Suri and News b to corOmoTi* H 9«e OpkcM»w tale Group t 1 ! I I PRINTED ON wens «tCrCteOR*PER FnMH* FH* nFMFipafJBr CopTHahl 2025 02025 Jam* Madia UC 44 Rights Reaervad Rnnsad Iha U 5 f t caa « z eveMebW from The Suff end Hew* Ad OefA. 1J N M 43 Hwy HesRngt Ml 4<rx^ < zr9 1 95M) Thw neweoeow reaervee ew ngm mir Io | ecoept anec^^edur*order Ouredte^ers' ^Mel no U> tMx) 1h« rwwapapar and #4 AX* •4^ or eOverliwng contrecA. ciopM cH Rick Burrough. Praaitfant Was Smith. Oroup Publiahar car'RMvWf^ MV "^3 id »4 RUBtlSHEDBV DCMMW^^WlCWTlBpOpilr CXVm 1351 N. M*43 Hwy. Haetlngs, Ml 49055 Phone. 269-945-9554 WWW. eu ne ndnewe. com Oti ..'A -..' I s—,a^ MlWr MoBtSkImI ■ trvTwciecbJWKoiwpapw oom i u I/. ^5 *f4c' -A I iiK CONTACT US r. >• THE SUN AND NEWS i Lafic® h. *4 T Sr < • T ^L . 'i- i--* < *• l> II '> { It' aa 1811UKE ST. KAIAMUOO t • s r A ' if K •e * MW prrparMKin mret dw nest month and then build die pn^ert's tnfra«Huc*ure ahead of an anovipatcd oomtrucUnn «(«t thi« fall Thr drvdoper will pa> for uiit«y e«Wn»ta(M and infraatructurc fhc 24 apanmer^ rental untu will fealurrami«ofuudM. I*.2-and f-hcdnwim •(wimcntB, plus a ciubhnuac and vanoua oo-«»ie amenilm such a* cluhhouac. a hlnc» center, a pool, a community garden, a pet playground. a pergola and a fire pt The property it currently owned by Vrmon and 1 ifxb Venlum Continental fhoperties Development director Jordan Tei then said ( ontinen* tai has an agreement with the Venhtins to purchase their proper!) In return. ( <int mental has offered to deed 16 acres of the Land to the township for establishment of a new public park, w hich would commemorate the Verdu- «s «!I I *.* • J adflM & J k - > *- I." j 4 r♦ 9f A- ■ » kiiigE J • i ‘■’1^ 4^ If ■ I I < . ' ■ ' I I '. I . • *AX I**! I:^Ufi> "“‘aa*. Ci?* puMca^on of an ad omaMutaa 9KCCt(fiartci9 al t»a ordar A* r I I 1 I I I ‘l I t ! ' t . 9 * •T «I « t: tl i. 1 -i« I d I » a 'i i f / I J �I *' .< • i. Saturday, July 19, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ai J ♦ 3 I Library officials updates township board on programs, services 1? * i '4 ' ■ a 0 yi£i J * James Gemmell Contributing Writer I J ' / ■ "S nfn I i fl'y d . I fi 1 • I . I r I I )j i t: V( J • I I iJ f I 1 i 1i p/Hfr TOW i 9 r 1 I \y.} ‘ J ri * i: h !iW / ■' ..4. wOh.ri: tJo^ r J I I t ag3ii ixif ni nsJ^ o T^dJo i-f’^ i J • f t 4> - i * I r r riji (/ 4 . ! I I XT!- ' ‘ f) I I b4£fU biiJ <oft I ^Totefl O33hJG^toPiinbesn , fl tlsi I I Bi *I > *^1 ^^9 f I 4 * t L r J J ? 9 b" kt ’. I iflumiJiifefkJj'jrri I nui I 1 J I t - «(, /!• I ,I % ♦ te . I / - --IRI fjSUir*’- .j J'J 'A 2 F i. 'I I . *S I, J’>r I • I .H 1 I I I e 1 h r J '■••■(Ch. It. ■ I I r r 11 9 \WtV;' >’ 7 ..^ 1 •b» r r 1 w I ' •'-nib*. •• t -O' tf V. •'J I ait *• '’T * * ■ bnu , ■'-'’‘'if;' 4' . ' ■ *>!«!* •« *•1 ’-! 1 .iXi’j' 'n !•> < ^OTEMj* 7 4 • ♦TV 1 1 ‘ < I V. * hie I ' ■ .Li (ifr' s .A /I iu i ' friQg' nr oibr. ‘r . I I I I I I I I. 1 I J I f i •1 < Ri Members of the Kent District Library' knew they had their work cut out this year to try to match their accomplish­ ments of2024, when they won multiple national awards. But, KDL executive director Lance Werner informed the Gaines Township Board ofTrustees on Monday night, J uly 14, that they have gotten off to another good start in the first half of 2025, as he and other library officials provided township trustees with an update on the district’s programs and services. Before they did that, however, Werner read a list of KDL accomplishments last year, including winning the Institute of Museum & Library Services’ national medal for Museum and Library Service. KDL was one of five public libraries in the U.S. to win the medal. “That is the highest award that a publie library can receive in the country, he said. “Also in 2024, we disbursed the $250,000 that we won for another national award the year before.” That other national award was the Li­ brary Journal’s Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize, which is presented to one library every year that has demonstrated a major community impact through partnerships and programming. Werner said the $250,000 was used to help fund four building projects in the library district and for a community scholarship fund. “I’m very proud to say we gave away the first two scholarships this year - one to a non-traditional student and one to a traditional student,” Werner said. As for some other highlights from 2024, he said the KDL’s electronic (e-book) checkouts increased by 19 percent. Library visits rose by 7 percent ► ♦I 47 <♦ < I K ♦ f r s K I r. •< 4 Lg— 1U * f $ I. V r ■< i; * 5i ^:S 9 11 • .. r « « >♦ J 1^ ’’Jb’ ?.* *" .>r t Kiosha Jeltema, manager of the Gaines branch of the Kent District Library, talked about some of the resources the library provides. '4 I rTte: KDL Executive Director Lance Werner apprised Gaines trustees at their Monday night board meeting about what the district library has accomplished in the past year. Photos «w • < 9 € V .f- r by James Gemmell v,. ’«2 J3 ^5 X to 2.4 million and in-person program attendance went up by 14 percent to 320,000 people across the county. We are the most visited cultural institution in Kent County, by far,” Werner said. Last summer, the KDL distributed more than 23,000 meals to kids as part of its summer food program in collabo­ ration with the Feeding America West Michigan food bank. And they are off to a good start again this summer. “Last month, we distributed over 10,000 meals,” Werner added. “Food for kids that come in, that are under 18. And we know that kids with full stomachs are better able to learn and read.” “It’s really awesome to see kids come in and get the food they wouldn’t get otherwise when school is out,” added Kiosha Jeltema, who manages the KDL’s Gaines Township branch. 9 99 V : < y;« A r- 1 ■"fe? I’ ■* '■* r fl c * x_- (4 someone to attend virtually a legal hear ing through an online video link. We also provided a Chromebook (laptop computer), so they could do the meeting remotely, and provided the sup­ port on how to use it,” Jeltema said. ‘‘So, it’s things like that allow people to know that the library really is for everyone. She added that the KDL branches offer free printing of up to 50 pages per week for patrons who have library membership cards. There is a small fee that is applied for additional pages. “So, just trying to be fiscally sustain­ able,” Jeltema said. “But really, people are blown away that they can get so much from the library.” KDL Board of Directors member Christina Tazelaar added, “It takes a partnership between municipalities and the library in order to offer library ser­ vices for the good of our community.” “KDL exists to further all people, including the kids who are participating in all the creative and fun programming over the summer to keep them learning and sort ofprevent a summer slide,” said Tazelaar, who represents the library dis­ trict’s Region 6, which covers Caledonia and Gaines townships, and the City of Kentwood. » KDL Board of Directors member ChristinaTazelaarthankedtheGaines Township Board for partnering with the district library to benefit the residents of the township. The library district runs the food­ distribution program called “Gather 2 Grow” Monday through Friday, from noon to 1 p.m. Meals are available at the various KDL branches and bookmobile from June through August. According to Jeltema, there are many other services the district library pro­ vides. She gave an example in which the KDL provided a private room for I I I i ♦mum k>|M... IM.-* i * »*■*.- «{S ■■ IIB Anfeenw Men Antenna Men I • ,I I « X s* **> 1 Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers t T ** Give us a call! r 9 •r f CJ.lvH ■i'i- CEudW) s 1 » M I ■I .'Z- Ti 269-967-8241 1 52^ J *■5^ www.celisignalpros.com I " free Estirriates >1 residential & commercial real estate • corporate • events • Cellular Enhancement Systems .?! A 9 Alphaphoto 616 M edia, llc • video • drone www.theantennamen.com I antennamen@gmail.com • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam Alpha616Media.com grant@alpha616media.com (616) 638-4751 Grant Alphenaar Owner �J A .K^ Saturday, July 19, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS I www.sunandnews.com * .1^ Obituaries » 4 a Everett Dale Mutchler i.' Ah .9' 1L.. «?» (K T Vl* " t % i; . I. ,r • |A Jean Marie (Higgins) Hadder * I She is survived by her loving husband, Wayne Madder; daughters, Teresa Weedall and Ashley (Kamari) Henley: son, Travis Madder; brother, John (Pat) Higgins; sister, Carol (Wayne) Hammond; many grandchildren, great grand grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and cousins. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Jean Marie (Higgins) Hadder, born July 3, 1952 passed away June 4, 2025 with her family by her side after a battle with cancer. Jean was proceeded in death by her mother, Thelma (Fillingham) Higgins. • / i ■ti ■ t 4 ■ < I r) u* L* - I 1 I w '•f GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM ■i k ’4 r .* ;v I hi ' 't I » » I’ I 1 1 1 * t •Vi Ife / J <4 * > -2 LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM www.aiaskabaptist.0r9 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia Caledonia Vine Street Church » « 250 Vine Street Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am 1675 84th st. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 616-891-8669 9 1 r• cornerstone c h u rch Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am I cornerstonemi.org/weekend Our community has lost a great man in Everett Dale Mutchler. A volunteer, advocate, and friend to many, he passed in his home with his wife Sheilah on July 11, 2025. A service and luncheon will be held at Thornapple Valley Church on July 25, 2025 at 12:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sportsmen Outreach, supporting veterans in the outdoors, at 304 E. Main St., Caledonia, Ml 49316. ( i , FIRST BAPTIST Middleville \V i .. Ff- '• bb fl J '*Xi Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddlevjlle .. Aa .. . Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. JW'' :r X 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) 1 LI ih Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM j ♦1 A lilHMi FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Church: (269) 795-2391 1 HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH t 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. DEADLINES ut .liO0 All y r> r : r i' I If-- : nOP'^ , j; r* 0jvn^ f I I t r Mjish?* »#■> I. .u6ft‘ J I*’ I I , I T « ' I ; 1 s •1 I I t > i.jll I ! am - ” f t I1 i > i I lUicllCiiahU 4 ilSt.- ! X ssiidfe AD-VISOR 8( CHRONICLE 1 i V '< < k ; ADVERTISING ’ 1 1 NEWSPAPER jU) « '55^ ' ) 'rtis* •» V >’ «- 4 • * A ** ar- Monday at 4 p.m. -1 ) M ■ ' II r4 i w JOURNEY CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am aKPEACE CHURCH PEACECHURCH*. CC Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891,8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee w r J i. ( ; I ! ‘ r Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. (. ifflSESli; »» BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER HEWS 1 'll 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.$tpaulcaledonia.org w» Yankee Springs Bible Church 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 > Monday at 5 p.m. 1 I < • >^1 •I I J BANNER I James L, Collison, Pastor www.yankeespringsbiblechurch.org ’ • •nA»-- 1^ H- Tuesday at Noon I I THE I? 4 REMINDER Wednesday at Noon » I ; tEluswiE:>)(Ken^ t I I * 44 4 ‘<.J, I, • I I i nac.> '.Oe^n J UI i.- i H I >■ > * X M»«Bl«**** -1 Group . !e ^•i 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. • I * • • it Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... .4 . • ‘ » T- ■ THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon "Shining Forth God's Light" I J THE HASTINGS @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool a.*' •* Wil' ir A & ,jml B mihomepaper.com L 1 '-^■>7'5--^ ■■ F v- ■ ’ wX- s «■ ■ �4 I — * .1 I • Saturday, July 19, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com — r* nz ’ U'.- 5 '4 - Commissioners tap mentai heaith veteran to fili vacancy r'’ r Classifieds 4 Ife Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer ■.’A .b? 4 i ♦A t BUSINESS SERVICES 4 ’’i # DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearing. Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. ■’0 . t n A { 1 t I J . A ! I I J i ♦ ♦ ; > X,.'* * 6 I ” CONSTRUCTION I f CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS. Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 I I 4 « 4 3 4 •» 4 *I ! . r « I t n. 'e 'V’il t ‘TV II 3ZWT 4 -V’l •M i' -=5 • AW OH ^ u*' "'Tj . I : I •4 ' hH,',: s * ‘-'i I ’ ». V; * BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy sin­ gle walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793. t 'I ski M u I I f ■I I < . . .3 Vs COMMERCIAL-RENT ^hl, 4 OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rap­ ids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 F Jj .*rj»= /ir < I V. ■ < in.e.1 f 4L 4^ * • Xi . ► r» 4..-. 4 ' ’’ll- > , bI L 4 .4 »t. ' f ^1!vv. . rWjtjutif J KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? WANTED TO BUY: Standing Tim­ ber. Conscientious timber harvest­ er. Saw Mill Office-517-254-4463. 1 u *A t • ’*1 V iwein I I **• •M i !{• 1 > h GARAGE SALE Friday. July 25th & Saturday, July 26th, 9am-6pm. Tools, golf clubs, cat warming tent, rotisserie with all accesso­ ries, Halloween decorations, and many misc. items. Come find your treasure at 11300 W. Parmalee, Middleville. S’ — Jf F '■ L' M .r raui M zt V - . • - eq ; I r *A f } V1 1 I k«' I 1 f 'ijSjte I I invited to submit a letter of interest and current resume to Michele Zoet by July 24. Applications may be emailed to zoetm(gcalschools.org or mailed/delivered to 8948 Kraft Ave. SE, Caledonia, MI 49316. Office hours for in-person drop-off are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. “Joining the Board is an opportu­ nity to lead and serve our community in a meaningful way,” said Tim Morris, CCS board president. “We’re looking for someone who is ready to listen, collaborate, and help guide the future of Caledonia Community Schools, More information about the vacan­ cy, eligibility and appointment pro­ cess is available on the CCS website and through CCS communication channels. — Report compiled by staff writer Dennis Mansfield wx F S5VW.- 4 j u urttU--'. ?• K;««h IVI e y r fl IWI flO p * Noon^ •r if h * *Mi * I w * Mfr r I b4 t * X Email mmacieod@mihomepaper.com 4 'I I THE SUN AND NEWS I Qraup WE CONNECT COMMUNITIES '.•I 7' I >5 ,p VI • 1 li- / ■J Marvel at Jesus, Live for His Glory ♦% ( . First Baptist MiddleviOe VBS at FbcMiBdSevili^i^^ — ST” rJ 7 h t0l(r« rJ — Schedule a conaultatlon today *Contact Advartising Director Pete Clinton 610*664*0611 • pclintonOmlhomepaper.com ■«<" t > » J X-** <?'■ 4 "►W « X — « p« ’W . k '•I 1 * > . '* Group *•'4 * f./ • We reach more than 352,000 homes each week and know how to make the most of your advertising budget. I »I ■* > ,I «» 1 ( c .> • *c ,V bMnooa Mlvolau I ♦* ^MM i * 4_ I 4 ' <r ♦ Z We'd love to hear about it! Let us connect you to your next customer! I J 4^- .•« I ib 4.- *Lr t I a A ¥ I f I i 4 • I 1J ** Is *t *755 V ^^5* t 4l 1 GARAGE SALES J was a county mental health administra­ tor for 15 years, taught social work for 10 years and fonned a mental health foundation in Cass County in 1991 that is still in operation today. “I’ve been bumping around mental health for the last 45 years or so/’ Wil son said during his interview Tuesday. and I thought I had “Pm retired now plenty of time.” His term on the local mental health board will expire on March 31, 2028. ^4 WANTED 1 r,- fT*n»(II1AV/ fri V J According to district officials, appli­ cations will be reviewed during the school board’s July 28, followed by public interviews at a special meeting on July 29. If needed, deliberations reportedly will continue at an addi­ tional special meeting on July 30. Community members interested in serving on the CCS board are margoperic @ remax. net HEWnt I VACANCY Continued from Page 1 TREE SERVICE I The Barry County Board of Com­ missioners is filling a vacancy on the Barry County Community Mental Health Authority Board and doing so with an individual who wields decades of experience in the field. Commissioners conducted inter­ views for the vacant seat on the 12-person board on Tuesday morning, July 15, during their Committee of the Whole meeting. The county received two applica­ tions for the seat, but only one indi­ vidual went through with the interview process. That was Jerry Wilson of Irving Township, who is now retired after spending decades in the world of mental health. Wilson reportedly holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s de­ gree in social work and a doctorate in higher education administration. He 1 V, .' *?« 1 f * * J (r‘ z • . 4 I «< i I >'- i « I ^>1 1 i. 1 I : I I J / I 1 1 1 I t 1I J 4 « A < .tJ I u J h'. I 4 I '.i I J ' t.1 M ' Pt fit I I I » I •!» 1 4 af \ �*.4 I*:,*” 1 4 6 Saturday, July 19, 2025 ( THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Additional college-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners announced The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of nearly 800 additional winners of Na­ tional Merit Scholarships financed by colleges and universities, according to a statement released Monday, July 14. And those additional winners included Thomapple Kellogg High School’s Cole Novak, who is set to attend Michigan State University to prepare for a potential career in microbiology/immunology. The recent Merit Scholar designees join more than 2,900 other collegesponsored award recipients who were announced in June. Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners MIDDLEVILLE « I I I 9 r r TOPS 546 Wfl t 4 J The July 14 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There are now two fish in the fishbowl. Maryellen brought a fruit fusion parfait for everyone to enjoy. Virginia will be bringing a desert oasis watermelon and feta salad to the next meeting. Maryellen went over the rules for the new contest “Slow and Steady Wins the Contest.” Chapter members filled in one dot for each one-tenth of a pound lost. Maryellen won the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-3183545. The first meeting is free. View Newspaper Group is seeking a M*' ' t I 1' .4 I I I f/ .V • I 1 r b b • I s IP *1^ ♦ t •• ) i r I 4 J I • ' w»* I r * I Jijst* rI X«»*' I i. a ■I ■ f I J J i"* I '4dr\j t »• . .J . »a t u it 4: X|P r vjr fjtt K” . I r*.' »• X* 1*^ . t l” «• I I -• I fl I 9* J' .•1 ’ill* f I '. A r. / 1 rw i 1 » > r * * « n : JifJ-, I* '■^ . X I Y - ,;^r^ ,, y,T, 4 V s ry -t'A If I I1 0 1 II* w V*! i' .^. 4 I ae^” . .fVkO . ’ .asi^. ri'«' > 1 ua u L* T GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM . b . * ••T s vT^- fl»'«i»R t > 1 ux; I I I -*l T* fl ’B I • • Cl-.'-' * f/H M & . I r V I ler T 4 ; . fl * 1 Responsibilities include: Advertising sales. Account management. Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts. Attend networking events Ll i - h1 I DUTTON / sr * - 4 1 )1 i >» .A - a « «.♦ 4 «• < S V «0Mb t * 1 • • - *» X Jf*. iX • '’Vk r --.i' >>X i. *'* .??' •« ( i.L I > •1 A 9k >. ‘■ f l» » •V’* * » . • • T....... <>w *v* X*' )^, « * ■“**v oA*-. AO-VISOR & CHRONICLE VIEVbU^ Group mihomepaper.com V 5 Send resume to: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com 269-945-9554 5 f* .4 ' ^^151 ** u It’s a lot more single professionals.” Trustee Tim Haagsma, who is also on the Gaines Township Planning Commission, said commissioners also inquired about the parking spaces at their June meeting. “At their other developments, that’s what they see they need,” Haagsma said. “If they don’t have enough park­ ing, their residents are going to tell them that they don’t have enough and they’ll have to deal with that.” Teichen added, “We did talk about this at the Planning Commission. Across our portfolio in Midwestern markets, I believe our ratio is about 1.85 (spaces per unit), which is just slightly higher than what’s on this site. “Internally, across all of our communities we target 1.75 stalls per unit, Teichen said. “So, we feel comfortable with 1.8.” « 1 IT .^1^ ■ *4 -7n' .'I: fl y •* 99 « r r i.. •« A 1 •• -A I M*. Continued from Page 2 -Mwi 1 ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide and News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder ■ St. Clair Area View I I / ■ I • ( **. A J ' —ilfe ri5s^*< . ' IT ' ’’F ' ' • 94 covering the Marshall area. ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader •4 ♦ from among the finalists in the Na­ tional Merit Scholarship Program who will attend their institution. College-sponsored awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship. DA/ MARKETING SPECIALIST I!*-’4 ' • f •♦ Our company is growing, don’t miss your opportunify. WE ARE J R Ji I j\ a * fl ■ W W » IB IB ■•' •. >- }« 9r * / I yi*'’r r 6 fl 1 C ** I P-J » ... ? -*1 '’j?.. I 'i it' r > • % « 1^ .4 <• \ 1I * •*.* ♦ r* J 4 ’ *tt r T’l } >«««4- Im a 1 4 1 rc ar ■ ■ n4 f C V* a* *«•« -£‘•• • u;ij :il i i ♦ ' »I 1 i □upn - Ir4 - r » I > -' I • • -i-'' i- *■ *. ■T /[ I .M T - * A «. • <*vw '• .• ^> ’ ■ ..♦.V J 1 I I k (.a ar a b zMrQ^^xnrno fI • ' n-' I I A 1 ! r a . —fl ) 1 I 1 •^ AA* 4 p - I i I A » r»a J fi « J ., ' * iilB ifcif •K^y *- ' Tjjj £* 11 I'; ., ' « / ^7. n dl 'A <. >1 I rT^*nl^ ’ il ■ ♦ ■' ^**3:^ i« "R II I > 1'I ; J II I 1 I nr b — I r.B I I I 1 L 1 1 I fi 'jt •<. I *4 »< I { <1 ‘I I, I A9 t* <T I < I I 1 i <1 < : b fl I » f » L I f i I f 1 t A k .1 I II W.IHH|«P||M| �5ft f PUlW f. < s • * 4 I I/;;: K I. 1 TI r X >. ^0 ; I f <1 s i A. -f) 1 *1 >5 > I r I •Mer / I A V I ..■f4 * > * ■ Sk^ X 4> r r f i K • M I i A I X 4/ I *f •k 1 • tfc« r, n b . I4 T ’•nq^ J I• 1: I ■ r 4 f •• I I t i A3r V X r I •' ►* i ■'.» I « S’ gp (J ■ I r* % ’ w6 I i I I 4??h » I; I >' I * . I ( ? I ( hl I > I < * j •> )] .*1 4» . Y’ lx I 4, 'ft. s < 4 ' •> '1\ -X w.<— f ’s. !• » 1 1 3^ Jf ' •L*' T fee >» I rgi-!i.rHB!|ll ■a H * t{ ‘X8 ?dl’ t ;-r otB 4>h' aidb .. odefitj mt ' ("ueetev ft b 1* . f r i *<( I 1 «8 4. ^'■1 : i' nByT&< 1 •1 ' } Hl I .?>tex I'T 1'.' : . i !jT •*'1'^ ii f •ir' ! I J J 5) 1 ak: : 1I J J •7” ■* Hi ■ ■* K (• f . w •-•_ b'?' ;IJ i » ■3' b OtJlTOli I » “ 3 ru 1 SL-’n^ L r**> 11 ti* V A. .I J J' (jr !'• Ir iirm '‘' I I. I q k « < ‘i’H < I fl QcJ T I T H :. 1 • I» . r L I’)!. I f I I I t J ( I C vj k t I I * I Yl. -'j tfc'tah f I I ( iaait I I'- itlfTiMa 1 b » 4 . •I I lit •-Wi lit* 1 u 1 I ♦ 1 1 R- r * a :U-i > JJ .1 ' ’ i. I” •I u I H 1 •kV I I ♦1 ' . »• ' ■■ ■ trv'u'auci H orit vol I I b I I j «vn^ • >»^e ‘T’x9 J W I •J irT.« ►*** V..J.. h v:«i! 1' I I( 11 K ■ Continued from Page 1 J 'J 4* * f- -tAM'iGl beluL i bp’ Ik’! q'l M I fTi&:3U3 v-i i eaobqir •Ma-'*^' iK'-fV 1 euoivoiu to < .QOittO G I v w '1- I':?:- l/ I 1 < 1 r on Hall Lake. These include Williams Lake, Long Lake, Baker Lake and Chief Noonday Lake.” Repairing the dam was the clear choice of those who voiced concerns with the plan during a spring open house on the project. When it became clear to the MDNR that local governments and agencies were unable to assume full responsibilities for the dam, state officials determined that drawing down the impoundment was the appropriate course of action. During those discussions, MDNR officials report­ edly learned that dam impoundment conditions had worsened and would need to be addressed quickly. In 2022, MDNR Parks and Recreation Division initially engineered a project to replace the water control structure, culvert and a portion of the embankment. The competitive bid for that first phase of dam repairs came in at over $1 million, more than double the original budget of $500,000. An estimate for that repair now in 2026 is $1.11.3 million. That project would also need to include a second phase of work to address additional embankment work to bring the dam back into com­ pliance with MDEGLE’s Dam Safety Unit require­ ments, a phase that never got close enough to reality to come up with an additional cost estimate. Classified by MDEGLE as a significant haz­ ard dam, failure of Hall Lake Dam could cause economic and environmental damage, or disrupt essential services downstream, though loss of life is unlikely. The dam also previously received a condi­ tion rating of “poor.” “It is the DNR’s goal to ensure that Hall Lake and surrounding amenities remain valuable natu­ ral resources that are both safe and sustainable,” Jandemoa said. “The short-term aspects of decom­ missioning the dam include a gradual lowering of Hall Lake to an approved level, removal of the outdated water control structures, installation of a new culvert under Gun Lake Road and full restora­ tion of the road. “Long-term, the drawdown will reduce the size and depth of Hall Lake but will allow this body of water as well as the North Country Trail and Hall Lake Trail to remain. Once the new lake level is established, the DNR will also explore replacing the existing boating access site with a carry-down access site.” LAKE Township set to save after switching insurance carriers i I Tv I « 1 .•$*11 7 i J« J I I 4 Saturday, July 19, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com N-;. . i' i ♦% the Hall Lake Dam, marking a firm stance against state plans to drain the lake. Yankee Springs Township trustee Dave VanHouten and Supervisor Rob Heethuis voiced strong opposition to the state’s plan to eliminate the Hall Lake Dam, citing concerns over environmental impact and community loss. VanHouten, who attended a recent MDNR and MDEGLE meeting, said no clear explanation was provided for why Hall Lake was targeted beyond a general liability reduction initiative. The board voted, 5-0, to adopt a resolution opposing the dam’s removal and authorized Clerk Tom Hopkins to draft letters to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the MDNR advocating for the dam’s preservation. “This is a beautiful lake and a vital part of our community,” VanHouten said. “Draining it would be a huge mistake.” Originally an eight-acre lake about 6-feet deep, the Gun L^e Road embankment raised the water level about 6 feet when it was installed. A water control structure added in the mid-1960s raised the lake another six feet. Hall Lake currently covers roughly 46 acres. MDNR officials reported that its Parks and Recreation Division met with various units of local government and other non-govemmental organi­ zations to discuss the possibility of transferring ownership of Hall Lake Dam. Unfortunately, no group was able to commit to financing the neces­ sary repairs, including the ongoing monitoring and reporting of safety and maintenance concerns. According to reports, MDNR Park and Recreation officials are no longer leading any efforts to find a new owner and are moving forward with plans for decommissioning of the dam and lowering of the impoundment. According to the MDNR, the phased drawdown will protect the integrity of Gun Lake Road, which runs along top of the earthen berm dam. The project calls for an initial drawdown of 3 feet during the month of July and about another 3 feet in June 2026. A gradual drawdown of not more than 6 inches per week is planned to protect fish and wildlife, as well as stabilize sediments as much as possible. E MOST TRUSTED' “Once the project is completed, a smaller : NAME IN ROOFING body of water will continue to exist for SHERRIFF outdoor recreation, GOSLIN* similar to its original QUALITY ROOFING dV' ", * lake size,” Jandemoa sr > said. “And fortunately, BHB there are other small * L:.^-5 4 lakes within Yankee Springs Recreation ai!-«® Area that can provide X recreational experienc­ es like those available The fate of a dam at Hall Lake wasn’t the only agenda item before the Yankee Springs Board of Trustees during its regular monthly meeting Wednesday. July 10. Board members also voted to switch its insurance provider to EMC Insurance through the Ted Hartleb Agency. The decision was made after a comparison of three quotes, with EMC offering broader coverage at a lower annual premium - $51,129 compared to the township's current $58,000 plan. The new policy includes full replacement value for fire trucks and coverage for township signage and memorials previously left unprotected. Board members also improved what they reported­ ly see as budget friendly infrastructure improvements, including a new digital phone system to replace its outdated analog lines. The system, provided by Ocean Omega, includes 14 lines and will cost $140 monthly - down from the current $200 - after an initial $2,600 equipment investment. The board also OK’d to add another pad and bin for recycling funded by a $4,000 grant from Barry County Waste Management, as well as the scheduling of a public hearing on Aug. 14 for Payne Ridge paving . improvements under Special Assessment No. 51. The evening’s public comment featured residents raising concerns about tax policy and board trans­ parency, with former clerk Mike Cunningham sharply criticizing the board for maintaining a 1 -percent ad­ ministrative fee on tax bills, Cunningham stated it was unnecessary and showed a disregard for residents’ pocketbooks. “The board is supposed to notice when we can save residents money - and act on it, ’’ he said. Also, precinct delegate^ Dave and Robin Laansma called on the board to restore a previously eliminated public comment slot at the beginning of meetings and pushed for live streaming to improve public ac­ cess and accountability. Robin Laansma accused the supervisor of sup­ pressing voices, calling it “a sign of weak leadership.” In other business, township fire department of­ ficials reported strong community feedback following a busy Fourth of July weekend and noted that the old fire truck will be sold soon. Also, Park Committee projects - particularly the pickleball court and walk­ ing path - are reportedly nearing completion, while Planning Commission discussions included progress on a mining ordinance and a potential new blight or­ dinance. And while the Zoning Board of Appeals did not meet this month, a tentative meeting scheduled for August. Board members closed with praise for Tom Hop­ kins’ work on the insurance policy and enthusiasm for local road improvements. The next regular meeting of the board of trustees is scheduled for Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Yankee Springs Township Hall on North Briggs Road. The township does not stream meetings online, but re­ cordings of previous meetings are available at the township office. .«s» v*? !•» ^•4 Li A' w « < » * * Z 4 — * 7 - 'Z ___ - •• - ** > - -I. > W* ** ► " 4 H * * »-!■ » iSaX* — 0-962-4036 F 1 « / » ... J/ A / I «K ) CALL TODAY * *s ”^^:*** I ifi .W • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 1154 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU • FOR YOUR FREE INSPECTIONl VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK �r jO') ■« W 5 ' ♦ Tuiy W, 20z «x THE SUN AND NEWS Middle, high school students invited to take part in ‘Congressional App Challenge' f nr^rouman kihn Mfoicnsar. R-MI. invtlc* vtutientA m Michigan * Scexmd (tvigrewrinai l>><anci «o mur tfr 202.5 *X <*^£rcsMrinaJ App( lialtcn^/ auurcbng U»a nxxm ^alcrncni rricawd H Ins oflKT. locnicrthcvxffTtcM, Mudcnucan wiirkun their (7wri,nr tna gnxjp ffiiptf I f(lur MijderiU, tn create an original app of their chrxning ihc contest is open to all middle school and high school students in the Second I hstnet which irx ludcs all of flarrvA and Itmia cxiuntiek, an well as all or part.* of IM other runghbonng counticw I he winning individuaJ or teon fn<n the Soixwid DiMnct will have thetr app dtuplayed in the U S, ( spnol They will also have (he option to aRcnd an event in Wanhmglrvt. I)X _ when: they wai 4iowubc their i<ip okvigMde <<hcr <aiKicf<s fnm across the I wlcd Smcs I rtnes must be submittod on the ( ivigresSMWial App Challenge wcb«tc. Kiib and a check list kr suhmiMuons can he kuid (v> I me al ww wxxingnaMsunabppchallcngc. us. ihc deaeflme f« erttnes ts raxm on < )ct 30 Addituxial questions about the 2(125 ( ongressional Af^ (halicngc may be directed to Congressman Mtxilenaar's Washington, D.C office by calling 202225-3561. r TK cheer program planning first pickleball tournament I he I hornapplc Kellogg cheer program is hosting the first of what it hopes to be an annual pick leball Tour­ nament fundraiser Saturday, Aug. 2, at Yankee Springs I ownship Park. Sign-up is going on now and a link for online sign-up can be found on the TK athletics Iacebook page. Atcam’s spot is confirmed once both the online regiMralion form and payment have been received. Ihc bracket vtyle tournament is scheduled to run from 9 a m to 3 p.m. r.ntry is $50 for teams of two. All ages are welcome. In addition to the tournament play, there will bca skills compciilion, raffles, silent auction, food and more. DM WWW KCC Theatre to perform tree showings of original play July 25>27 1 I f Ihcauc fans will gel a chan*^ uj sec Ihc pla\ Kdlogg Communttx ( al­ lege IlKaUr etudem^. and communitx mcmhcn. uill he pcrtcirming al the j I dinburgh 1 estival I nngc this sum met VW a senes of free performances scheduled this month in Hattie ( reck Nearly 20 KC ( Mudents.alumni.em­ ployees and community members w ill embark on the trip of a lifetime this sum­ mer to perform w ith KCC IhcaUealthe 1 dinburgh I estival 1 nngc in Scotland. The trip, which runs July 29 through Aug, 10. will feature the international premiere of an ab­ breviated version of K('C Theatre coordinator and pnifcssor Hrad Pocr's original play “Pando, which dcbuted at KCX in Ific spring of 2024. The community is invited to watch cast members load in. pcrlorm and load out the show in minutes or less with performances starting at 7:50 p.m. on Friday, July 25; 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, or 3 p.m. c ■»corTt > I •f S Simday. Jid> 27. al the Hmda Perfammg Am C enter cm the KCV campus at 450 Nonh Ate m Battle Circk All performances arc free and open IO the puhlK. though donaiKvn will be accepted to future K( < Ihcatre inps and intiiativet Pocr dewnbes the (4a> as "a philo sophical c'<wncd> s« *n the worlds of video games’ that's aixesMbIc for all ages It consists of a senes o< shin onc-act plasv, each set tn A difTercnl \ idco-gamc-insptrvd unisersc and conncLied via a hand­ ful ot Kb<»rt scenes between them Ihel dinbunditnppreuodcbtheC. lege’t 2(125-26 theatre season, wfiuh includes two mainstage prodtMiions. one in the fall and one m the spring Audiences can catch the D I) Hrooke murder mvsterv Rehearsal for Mur dcr“ on campus in Nosember and the musical axnedy "Disaster* ' by Jack Plntnick and Seth Kudetskv. » in Mweh. I or mmr information about the up­ coming inp. "Pando' perfonnatKes o< K< (' Theatre programming in general, persons may contact Pocr via email at poerb/u kcllogg.edu or b>' visiting the KC ( Ihcatre I acebook page at faccbook.com K( (' ITicatrc DM ,r ■ST" K'-Ct'?’ «* f t r A r 9 St r t 1 W IK < I ♦ 1 I, . *4*) ■'^ I 'k V 1 I \ -• 9- 9 1 < #1 * I < * ir'‘ aA W A f ' Z- 4 T 9^ 1 *< r I r y»' r 1 Vi* I .A 4 idekii .1- I j f * 4* I I ♦ I * • * funW^' ; I fH < fl 100 East Main Street Middleville. Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villageofmiddleville.org Wa» V, 4 ' 1 y I 0 W k S H !■ Iv* NOTICE OF PUBLISHING ' 4 f ’Si X' ■ 1^ I r ■■’t. * Jft 1 1 1 r b £ t ¥ PUBLIC NOTICE rhe Village of Middleville Public Works Department will be flushing fire hydrants beginning at 7:00 am on Monday, July 21, 2025, and will continue throughout the month of July and August. Village waler customers may experience some discoloration, and or pressure difTerence while this regular maintenance is being completed. The waler remains safe to drink during this process. Usually letting the tap run for a few minutes will clear up any discoloration and normal pressures will return once Hushing operations have been completed. If you have any questions regarding this operation, contact the Department of Public Works at 269-795-3385. We appreciate your patience in our endeavor to provide you the highest quality of water possible. Posted: July 16, 2025 Kim Dannenberg Village Deputy Clerk I At a regular meeting of the Gaines Charier Township Board of Trustees, held Monday, July 14, 2025, at the Township Hall located at 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316, the Board of Trustees adopted an ordinance to amend and approve the Authentix Gaines Planned Unit Development rezoning. I ♦ L I :^9 fl t » ’ ua 4 ♦a* .t 4 4 f. */ : * * J 9 The Township Board approved a request by Continental 870 Fund LLC to rezone the Authentix Gaines Planned Unit Development (PUD), site plan, associated roads, and utilities. The PUD is legally described as: I■ t»nfliTT Si Am I II i it *5 I 8?^ <* Y f. I Parcel 1: 41-22-02-100-051 Commonly known as 6338 Hanna Lake Ave., SE Parcel 2: 41-22-02-100-055 Commonly known as 6330 Hanna Lake Ave., SE Parcel 3: 41-22-02-100-053 Commonly known as 6326 Hanna Lake Ave., SE r M SI L w 4 ’1 t '1 r ii. J v* > rj 4 true copy of the approved ordinance to amend and approve the Authentix Gaines Planned Unit Development rezoning, can be obtained at the Clerk’s office during normal business hours (8:30am-5:00PM Mon-Fri). I 4ra ■y '* P9 . F. "■ — Wl’ •'"aa I . F ( : a^JMiWUW i Said ordinance shall take effect seven days after first publication of this notice. I I I r I r Vi i Michael A. Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk *«4Bi i 4 *;• f I, •a . z * ‘Ti I V rr 4 ■ I. v f X I I I 1 fi i} , I ir t i I I i 9 i I ♦ �A. I ► ! . Barry County Fair closes curtain on ‘Kids Rock’ week Saturday J I J I 2‘ ’ Brett Bremer Sports Editor .. '\- • n *. b,-te.. »(-'*• a 4 t c » t I •'«>A •*lb 4 I \ I« i k ■' b. .4R 9 ' f i •4 > • . • I IK 1 ♦ ■ 4 « i V 4 • I* I tc. 1 r ' k ♦ k 4 rk- r^n- t ? 4 ’ -7 . '"’I-. ■■ 'th t s. k jf V ;V M ' : . V*. f • V II } 4 < 1 J I? r •' •s t >? h << A * * r I Uh * r J -r r. 4 k < niii ''■» I A. 1 ) * >4 I <1 -1^ * I r>. I r 11,, lill 1.1 1 •v;- I ' r> ’ *** 440: n -n-. f I •Mill 4 is II ’<t;. bl' *■» * ’’•n 1 I i I s. a ’ft -1 >A «xS. 1. J fl A k I I I V % < 4 t M/ K wI J- « b ^tecj * SSL f' *w% I i 't. < tv * <» 4 <• ff ’-.r Wl* E,! ■■ . ■ 4 w I ! C-4J t r *• » r ’i T ' < f % 4 4> r 4 I »I A e » * r; 4* 5 * « I / I J * 5 *9 ** lUi Bryan Wilder of Hastings takes a turn with his monster truck during the Mud Mitten Race Series in front of the grandstand at the Barry County Fair in Hastings Monday. The fair wraps up its week of activities today, July 19. r Visit us online at www.Sunandnews.com •4-.. ■■ V. X •Vi 1 J F’^ h -<>«ar&eM^3lj:;tTr‘ *r** • L^ “-■'i 1 •> Gas Furnaces I -Gas Boilers I-Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers 1 * 4 r b« »d 1 { ■n 4* «• t- k f i I I I i I I ■' I i * All are welcome to come cool off with the 2025 summer reading program at the Thornapple Kellogg Community Library Tuesday, July 22. The summer activity schedule once again includes a Water Fun Spray Day with the Thornapple Township Fire Department. The annual event will be held in the parking lot south of the high school from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Folks are told to come prepared to get wet. Photo provided I I J MObiMmh* .. . I If . r -T 4 9 k 2B — » II ♦v.v . *K / 12- t x.. 1 ■I 4i« 2!r 4 9. y' > » . •« fl- ik'i i 1 Jr < A’.*’. ‘ ’ a DeWeerd HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 B . LENNOXy Vx V*’ .Since J 955 .J i; ✓ r I r > • « 1 I 1 I » r I .1 * H I 11 LV « =5 jB • 1 4 % I 1 • TL’ - J- ■ * .y A *"i* 6 1 I * X I 9 4. ■ tv ■ ■ 1 I » i'^ It I I 1 1 h I ‘II I A h \ 4 4 ’ll r' e ■ ■ -*F* I t I V « I r... ■ 0^. e . -u*- . F,2 I •i ,.l 4 4 'k V •> 0 Residential & Commercial r ’ *• 1 ;i W t *V ■lb . *4 « 4 4 • I r a: t *. < > Ff ! • I WE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS J Dll -! ■f ** I > *4» - BarsSliry 9. 4 A X •f, »• < I «* *6 V ’X4 r » Jf?' . S. ' ’J r * V' >«>■ 4’ J WAPPLE • *nn£4icSCyE IhV ^2 lu 9 » I* * > * .X' Am. X XMC 7 ( ”^ A < ** I • W-x . • V -r *w « I , , ff, _ « » r» « \ 9 • 6 I 5 • » * . AA’ •e t t » 'm -f J ’ll. « .s •. \ »• i 4 >1 >* f9 I ► i > •4“ t V I A * * * z 7 ^A<. < 4 « .**•* ■.' ' •« f i I V X r > I 4* 4 TK Library Water Fun Spray Day planned for Tuesday afternoon •I * vWt” • ’ !> I k ed Mitten Mud Race Series mud runs, a couple nights of Unique Motor Sports Off Road Derby and demolition derby. Super Kicker Rodeo and Michigan Truck and Tractor Pullers. The finale of the evening shows is the Michigan State Fair Super Cross races Saturday. Super Cross is set to begin at 7 p.m. Admission to the grandstand is $15 in addition to the regular fair admission. Fair admission for adults is $8 per day. Kids 8 and under are free. Parking is free all day every day. Credit cards are now being accepted at the gate as well as cash. The schedule for the fair on Saturday also includes the 4-H Show of Champi­ ons in the show arena beginning at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Young Clover Dairy Show. Antique Tractor Pulls will be held to the west ofthe Expo building beginning at 10 a.m. Barrel racing will be held in the horse arena beginning at noon. The livestock fashion show is in the show arena at 3 p.m. and the 4-H Has Talent show will be held in the show arena at 4 p.m. The Barry County Fair concludes its week Saturday, July 19, at the Barry Expo Center between Middlevilleand Hastings. Midway amusements get rolling at noon on Saturday. The fairgrounds are open from 8 a.m. until at least 10:30p.m. The 4-H events kicked off with Youth Dog Judging in the show arena Saturday morning, July 12. Youth Non­ Livestock Judging was held throughout the day Saturday. Rabbit, Cavy and poultry took the 4-H spotlight Sunday. Open class home economic entries like photographs, paintings, jellies and jams, vegetables, breads, antiques, crochet and quilted items etc. started making their way into the expo build ing Sunday afternoon and judging took place in those classes beginning Monday morning. 4-H judging continued throughout the week. The small animal sale was held Thursday and the livestock sale Friday in the show arena. Grandstand events this week includ- i r BV 9 Saturday, July 19, 2025 . I I It- THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com A+l 1 . BB&> ACCREDITED BUSINESS r �I f -Zia r 9/ I r I 10 Saturday, July 19, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS J z f ♦I www.sunandnews.com I I Ji' ’ F*- I r Sporting News • •z > •• * ' I * * * 4 •i *> "r. J < — s *> • < I I i n Ml i K J ■« “fe’ 1 1 A . Wi •> • ’ % J .t / *. % * I r:/ •* 9: •-.ai' « I r« I MHSAA sports participation numbers highest since 2018-19 Michigan High School Athletic As­ sociation member high schools reported a combined participation of 275,684 athletes in MHSAA-sponsored tourna­ ment sports during the 2024-25 school year-the highest number ofparticipants in those activities since 2018-19 and despite another decrease in combined enrollment across those 754 schools. Thispastyear’sparticipationtotal was 5,020 students - or 1.9 percent - higher than in 2023-24, while enrollment at member schools fell by 1.3 percent. Boys participation was up 1.9 percent to 161,329 - also its highest since 201819 - and girls participation was up 1.8 percent to 114,355, its highest count since 2019-20. MHSAA participation totals count students once for each sport in which they participate, meaning students who are multiple-sport athletes are counted more than once. Two sports set participation records during 2024-25. Boys track & field counted 24,759 participants - a 3.7 per­ cent increase from a year ago in breaking its previous record from 2005-06. Girls lacrosse participation was up 0.9 percent from last year to 3,970 participants in setting a record for the second-straight season. Another 15 sports saw participation increases this past school year. Girls tennis saw an increase of 6.4 percent I , n,4' ^ f 1 4 < t FM * • . I f ft A J ’l /*A •vtJ ' 4 < JelP’ zA" A £ Kr> I 'W '«'■ 3 I I ■ * — • •* I i . & * I < < / • 1 * Xa -i •V L ■ MZ IF 1 MM ' < —-. - i 1 I fc r' < * 9 I •»l’ i I K %S.Av» 1 s - I « f’ j 4 1 1 1 % e *• *1 •*’ t f I 4 J I ♦ > F I % •r* hl' A ■ tr-- ■ ■ t 4 1 b I I .41 F < FT >• I r'- » r t ^St P I •■J Bl » r J < l-J 1; r h^tasii^- Kt" ;«r^ I ■* *7; /• I* N I S H P NOTICE OF PUBLISHING * « > Caledonia senior Andrew Tava was a part of a record-setting number of student-athletes participating on MHSAA varsity boys’ track and field teams this spring. Boys’ track and field and girls’ lacrosse both reached record levels of participation during the 2024-25 school year. Photo by Brett Bremer «aM^t 11 I ! ( • r» ■ .7' nr lb. .? KIP*- *1 I « t •* I < J r ♦ r it .xm/A rI yt J f . 4 iStrfTiiLtitiESSi r . •• 1 1 9 i .UflUNV);. - ■ ’’jS >; cr 4 *1 I <4 1 J ............ ■■ I -4 • wwi” *14 , , J.. • * • I 'SL I f ;■ r A J <rh: s : A I ■>£■ At a regular meeting of the Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees, held Monday, July 14, 2025, at the Township Hall located at 8555 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316, the Board of Trustees approved an ordinance to amend the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance as provided for in Chapter 32 thereof by amending Section 2.20 and the Township Zoning Map. The amendment of Section 2.20 thereof, the Zoning Map, rezones the following property from Agricultural/Rural Residential (ARR) to Village Residential (VR), the land being commonly described as parcel 41-22-32-200-005 located at 1264 100"’ Street SE. The legal description is as follows; W 72 NE 14 EX S 20 A. & EX N 750 FT OF E 691 FT & EX N 223 FT OF W 396 FT* SEC 32 T5N R11W 46.08 A. The approved amendment of Section 2.20 thereof, the Zoning Map, rezones the following property from Agricultural/Rural Residential (ARR) to Village Residential (VR), the land being commonly described as parcel 41-22-32-200-005 located at 1264 100’” Street SE. A true copy of the adopted ordinance amending the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance as provided for in Chapter 32 thereof by amending Section 2.20 and the Township Zoning Map, can be obtained at the Clerk’s office during normal business hours (8:30am-5:00PM Mon-Fri). Said ordinance shall go into effect seven days after it is first published. 9 Michael A. Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk It J to 9,485 athletes, followed by boys and girls wrestling’s combined increase of 5.2 percent to 12,422 participants with boys wrestling participation up 3 percent and girls up an incredible 24 percent to 1,505 athletes. Girls track & field (18,108 athletes) and boys cross country (8,209) also saw some of the largest jumps at 4.5 and 4.1 percent, respectively. Also reporting increased participation during 2024-25 were boys tennis (3.7 percent, 6,163 total athletes), football (3 percent, 36,210), girls volleyball (2.9 percent, 19,679), boys golf(2.7 percent, 7,416), girls competitive cheer (2.4 percent, 6,319), boys basketball (1.7 percent, 20,541), girls cross country (1.4 percent, 6,826), boys soccer (1.1 percent, 14,112), boys bowling (1 per­ cent, 4,333), boys swimming & diving (0.9 percent, 4,073), and girls soccer (0.7 percent, 11,090). Although 11 sports saw participation < I decreases during 2024-25 from the previous school year, those for girls basketball (-0.4 percent) and boys ice hockey (-0.7 percent) were lower than the 1.3-percent enrollment decline at MHSAA member schools. Football remains the most popular sport in terms of participation at MH­ SAA member hi^ schools, with that total of 36,210 athletfes its highest since 2017-18. Girls volleyball remained the most popular girls sport in 2024-25, with its 19,679 athletes the highest total since 2012-13. The participation figures are gath­ ered annually from MHSAA member schools to submit to the National Federation of State High School As­ sociations (NFHS) for compiling of its national participation survey. Results of Michigan surveys from the 2000-01 school year to present may be viewed on the MHSAA website. (3 •.0 <4. /1 r^swns. * . ■ 9- *. 1 «r I ’ . .UaXM '- . .■• ' -•M kvt I' lO - .V Tttdf ' T t 1 > '4*1 U-w .r I ' L, bi* “*•» ,w 1 I n rI 7*-l ‘ - I I <W W H/i . r. 1 fl » 1 I **1 a srrm fluHl £ I a noq^a ill23rt§irM‘!i!fc it I J '31 I b i -rtlBS 31B I AAgHM I 1 1 ' I I 1 gjIuaaM .<3''rnKinoM I lO-OGOI-tt*™ ^ffsi {flx* lyMBnKiaaaa 1 I t J I • A I * irt ’’^wr J L % » I I (l I I k 1 r « I * 1 ?! I I I 4I i r I > I '11 «I II I < 4 I I It J VJ �I• .w I t i 4 r •J I. ’I 1 1 I ( ' 1 V/ THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I Saturday, July 19, 2025 11 •i 4 i . •'b- I Projects are taking shape inside The Ralph J I T * 9• r» I I « Brett Bremer » Sports Editor The first two dates on the Caledonia varsity football schedule are home ones, and work is progressing at Ralph E. Myers Stadium in hopes of having it ready for visits from Holy Names Catholic High School out of Ontario and Reeths-Puffer. The Fighting Scots are slated to open the 2026 football season at home in Caledonia Aug. 28 against the Holy Names Catholic program. The old home side stands and press box are gone. A visitors grandstand is currently gaining height. The massive new concession stand and restrooms are progressing nicely. The new arched entrance at the south end of the stadium is taking shape as well as the tiered sections of the hill inside the south end of the stadium. Construction began inside “The Ralph” as the 2025 season wrapped up, and kept right on rolling through the spring while the Caledonia track and field teams had a season of competi­ tions completely on the road. This construction follows the instal­ lation of synthetic turf prior to the 2023 fall football season which was a small part of the $88 million bond passed in 2020. Caledonia voters also approved a supplemental bond in the spring of 2023 in part to continue the stadium renovations. The Caledonia football program is hoping to host its annual Purple and Gold scrimmage inside the stadium. Aug. 15. The first date for 2025 foot ball practice allowed by the MHSAA is Aug. 11. 1 > «* i I Hrlm. f • f •' * *4 4 t! fcj ' .. lot Wfhflff! ! M? fl /fy i >J1 bin r K’^rtSfn r J 1 Hfitrrf f CfcSfl- I ATi I i of* ak J’ I r iG r. 4 <s 11 I : mio 'J im. ■5- I rt • I ■ J I >/< £. T ? .XI II •• uuu ti' ■i I " tr ian& b'jTai X 1^'”' rI I ■> Ib © I'Ji'OB/ai ,g^ f -t ■ i t * 0ltij /E T • If jte4£s)..*j}hzr; .t> t ' t 4 .> > Tif j . r b / « 4, * • ^4 s • a I -•rl : ’ f ?T^ r . 5 I'l jite" h ‘7 U r i 11 ^1 9 I; 3 M k “ I » «« »*»» s ■i • . i *. 4 ^4 U^“ I I AA . ! ? I Hs/U .J -l-n I «/ •*» . t « V ■ -.di *Trtr ■l ■ ■ * -O* « 7C> ■’'■‘•(SatsIlBiB • r •<* > "I ff) : Pin h 4<.- ‘ . 4 b I* I -''jjajjiiif; 1 1 :^1') - J..r ialig x t / <,u- WB t *» * 'JJ. ........ .'. "j/L • A •' 4 r # a 2^ ■f « / bW > *^r *4. 5?. OB «F 1 « It I * r* A I / __ >XJ.a-'<r I * an I I ' A * * ' Jit ’ . AS « I r^’ < ♦T ♦ *M : #4' V pW 4| 1 ;<i ''' El •rw- t . *1» R- • tT S-L-^ t^RSi w• S* f* .A-^-sr ■ 0R.kA » ar fr- i-X fif>' I U mA *» J»x> str**?" * 5,' T...V I ’bMKk-PT r.-* >\ V >9 hgb MB •«C*I » '7^ «r > . _ t » 4 'Tf- ».K —»“ - O'? sS ’ft ^ST f '■ 7*^ ^■'SiiS!!^ t? * ...' Wm» 9 isss’^SR' I ■<- ^*-5 < • • * ! s ‘.iK, >« --*^1 i* > ‘vj . s CKT:-! tr ’ •*» «■ >* r» I** «» w«£> >.’4 k E 9 <•;' I . * >Kni ' i I t** •— g| *■< >!!S^ ~1-- I I f 4* I y±. MW . -K I *» '«aagMk * >. r*r T '"“ u <4 .JJji’l I ' * w •T t * f «»«M • V >* > ■RSSmut /* •.TV 4<» < bll ■<>llfc, I •»*» ' Work progresses on the massive new building on the south end of Ralph E. Myers Stadium in Caledonia Wednesday. The project includes improved concessions stands and restrooms as well as a newly designed entry way. The plan is for the stadium to be ready to host football games this fall. Photos by Brett Bremer The Fighting Scot football program is also preparing for one of its big fundraisers, the annual Scots Kickoff Social at Butcher Block in Caledonia which is slated for Aug. 16. That will be a good opportunity for folks to hear from new varsity football head coach Whitney Bell. Tickets for that event are available at caltouchdownclub.com. The work going on at Ralph E. My­ ers Stadium is just a small portion of construction going on throughout the district this summer including work at the new Dutton Elementary, and big upgrades at Caledonia Elementary and at the bus garage. > «« ^9 16^ X' 5'* .• • >* l' 4 r 1 I ■r t r I BWPWii u 1 ■ »' —• * ■» os^**^* * w. 8 A J*. .'BrOHMHm '■■.BBLUMB MHMMVMK ■■* 01 h *»■ M**^^***"^^^—"’^**^'*^*—Si *■»*■ I ................... ns t I 111 I UW—iE«. R W- • M- • (• • ^■■■■11 47 * MS 1 MHMMMBW*. », a •~r-.Via iimS ..li \ i “ u* • ‘» H* I 4A ' K' X " - '. X ■ . j1 w •* •* « we« Wm'W 71? d 2k. k> ns*’. t * T i # t*» i ** t « lb ”1 VIEW 'Wi.: k . .4 .I •* .1 k lb* > IT* 'WMH» , 40 0 jjssawfa . ^3^flaW SunAndNews.com cau 2 f Ite . I * 1 k »I 4 1 ••••• 44 YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTION y t ■ Tb>* Proud to be K Ui; B Group r k .1*. . MT:. I I IV -1^ imwii * I . " —t The visitor stands on the west side of Ralph E. Myers Stadium in Caledonia are beginning to take shape. Photo provided V < r <. W ♦X k Ub»y ti s^'sa wr* 11 3?« '-' -r s amMVr 1 • ^KKiI^ & J <• ) Jb The buck stays horo! Spend It hsrs. Keep it hara. Invest In Your Community. ^^^liE^I^Cw.^/7^0* Group I-' 23 Ek I I > —.^h k ..V' I I i I I I I I i I I 1 u 9 f u I‘I ? I J I 1 ! !> ; 1 I ( 'll I I?. II 11 I I Ils M I ( » a *4 i X h 4 1 ♦ I 1 I 4 I 9 9 i 4 \ X* .A’ I >» '* �J 1 I I 1 Saturday, July 19, 2025 12 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I I ’ rKi^-ewenbaanuaji^vw I Tri Del Sol returns to Barlow Lake area Sunday morning k** H ♦ > 1 R' I A '4 : \ r f I n IS 1 J s . . - tB < A > 2 Is: K a 4 r ;W rr % 0 <lb ■u .L • ' ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Brett Bremer Sports Editor It took just over two hours for Connor Reynolds to hit the finish line first in 2024. A little over 22 minutes ofswimming, 58 minutes of cycling and 41 minutes of running gave him the victory in the Olympic Triathlon at the annualTri Del Sol Triathlon held at the YMCA Camp Manitou Linn at Barlow Lake in Middleville. The event, an annual fundraiser for the myTeam Triumph West Michigan Chap­ ter, returns to Middleville Sunday, July 20 for its 2025 edition. The event’s Olympic Triathlon in­ cludes a 1500-meter swim, a 40k bike ride and a 1 Ok run. There is also a sprint triathlon which is half of each of those distances and a super sprint triathlon that covers a 200-meter swim, a 10k bike ride and a 3k run. There are also duathlon, aquabike, relay and swim only contests for each of those distances. Event organizers are expecting an ex­ cellent weather day and are happy to report that lake temperatures are right around 80 degrees for the swim. ifieur Newspaper Group is seeking a Front Office Administrative Assistant in our Hastings Banner/Reminder office □ .> > { E ■ The County Press :B Lapeer Area View B Genesee County View B Huron County View B Sanilac County News B Your Buyer's Guide B Jeffersonian Group ■ Tri-County Times DaHy News K Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader B Lake Orion Review H Clarkston News The Citizen WB B The Lowell Ledger B The Hastings Banner il Buyer’s Guide & News B The Sun and News >Ad-Visor & Chronicle B Battle Creek Shopper News B The Reminder B St. Clair Area View (■ f »J « < s 4*^ I I 1 loanocp-rartobaa tw 'iasTjq raw oi tiBaaiq sd launr '^®nnrw asnq riaBo roofanBi rud 161 3i<5i§d3 JOU Jnov^ I agaiwBibriee I2fi0 *>81000 .tffioM sifij '/mrii? oi&l v fjo ftoo8 hGoci arolid oonajaib Iww /jTortt rnaA heoS ^^rar) bns beoH ajiaJ nuO at WI4 lOMorooM Idni laswKtejoe ^bsd besri bna booH ijs: .ran 3rij ra^od oi niJ-uotirrnM qi hnuoTBqriiBO rroit riJuoefca^ fi3riJ has TTolTBaiobna rleindoriiof OlB 832BKX) JfBTp bflC lOT saorto lo eoatnoq jbed bnn m I * I I I i I I s I i I I' e £ ■ ■ < * P % I ► KS LM I i sboii^OmoneiZ Auoy bnft oS '.nwlBlwnitehgq ,■ i perfect invitation! J 11 i Scan our QR code to find your K i •!% z. 0 1 K J >V 1= I.* I jyaH T •/ > t'* vt. I .Air,___ M v** IflV J <<*« «« « 4 ■■ -—I—. • A s - -w iair.. 11 '■>- A, «« / t* I, Kf .• ■,'■> e—Ibi-•*«■'• Simply Perfect I— h • WEDDING INVITATIONS ViTI f J •> a Please email resume to Jill Nichols, Controller jnichols@mihomepaper.com OJ J38 'JM aamDcroro ^■iol nste E fteir .vEixi 0£:V liwrs ? zi 8T33an6t dnB^roqo nobranBi fn.E £kd I onu roqonumi ili'« i left bolubaiba z i noniiimnq ibs biBWs qirfenoiqaiBrb kb llsw g -ni 3snq mDtMnn sd i I t JI *?* ' • Full and Part time positions • Monday - Friday • Competitive Hourly wage • Fringe benefits available to qualified full time employees I i 1n J I 1.4 P i k. ( I □ .1 9}l6j WOhsB I Opening ceremonies are set to being at 7 a.in. Sunday, witii a rolling start for the Olympic length event beginning at 7:30 a.m. The transition open time for racers is 5 a.m. andit will remain open until 6:45 a.m. An awards presentation is scheduled for 10 a.m. As well as championship awards, there will be random prize drawings in­ cluding two $250prizes and other sponsor gifts. Folks must be present to win prizes and previous random cash prize winners from the event are not eligible for the random cash drawings. The cycling course takes riders east of Barlow Lake along Shaw Lake Road. Olympic distance bikers head south on Yankee Springs Road from there, travel east on M-179 to Gun Lake Road and then back southwest until they reconnect with Yankee Springs Road and head back up to Camp Manitou-Lin to begin the run. Runners head south from the camp around the south end of Barlow Lake and then loop back to the finish. The sprint and super sprint courses are shorter out and back portions of those routes. NOW HIRING ■» I I H, • Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. ?t401 T I <r ?! O’ F J •• 4 To 219aSS9^[fe®3<i51 II .9V<R .IUOX PRINTING BY www.printingbypennyiane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com k tf . 4 rrKn-^ri^nnqenslyi I ‘ ww - " •''m r' t 1 1 I? ■ {• I' iI I h i.' 1 I h I ♦ f i ‘JI J ; I T I < I h ii I. II' I a> fl H a. I I I 1 1 J < X � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-07-26.pdf 62a856b9ac4531cc640913fdc6bc0840 PDF Text Text •> < Your Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas i I 30 .OH SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2025 NO. 66 k WWW,sunandnews.com I iMiAa Hl aflHHua 91616098 OWT tnsbioni pnitoonz isIluS ni Dstioqsi b svifuassnos no GUNFIRE IN GAINES: Two separate shooting incidents reported in Cutlerville on consecutive days 11 I •I i i 1 a. .Ai 1 I ■i 4^ re •sni ^flaitJsiCl llo'jr! d?! O23J4 * ; gniloori8 oril b^B^ -sraoK oriJ ni rt^’^mJrtfifhyJiiidi^8oq8^o•n^ . .sfaioinz-TObiufn B S ’ hmabi bfUJ zllnzoT ygqoluA J rifiubivibni ovzl srlt 1 is A .^nimom yshziurlT »isb noilB^hzwni adl zatBlz n-j'jvrtod momugiB oilzsmob I ztHiitii) to loaAlfl yoTT bio 1 b! (' iB‘j Xnahlliis zifi bnB rlK( f o'i z jnifiB to ozIb .isdaW .gniJooriz aril z; 1 i f. 3 i b 3 M yjfujo’J inazi sriT o z'jfzqoiuH balaubnoo aarftO ifli b inimiolab bns ladaW bnB J ir/i ■> zo? to tiijzgi £ 2B boib rl 01 i iiiiO' ZBW wjsia .zbnuow Jjmjow )op?nog slgniz b moft 38 ^^c.l6gq^5V^ .1 EDDh rfoVz tori? Y' ifijfil CHMONEU J I • ia Tlifi ••J } > r s H n/zo ekl ^niaki f ' fTx'’ 'oncio’l nwuo ea HEaiOEMJJVr hOHMi’. eiwuMRv i« mas bOBWSIC bsuwu »338 <8836 eifiOUAIRB' f 1 1 I I; # J rC -I bVID n ? bOzivGS bU8X 8X0 J “W- w z'. ♦ The normally peaceful community of Cutlerville was rattled by the sound of gunfire in two separate shooting inci­ dents on back-to-back days, according to police reports. The first shooting occurred around 1 p.m. on Monday, July 21, in the 6700 block of Madison Avenue at Summer Shores Drive. Kent County Sheriff’s Office deputies reportedly responded to complaints of a loud argument taking place inside a home in the subdivision north of 68th Street. After arriving on the scene, deputies stated they found a man and a woman dead from ‘‘an apparent shoot­ ing.” KCSO St. Scott Dietrich, while at the scene, said the shooting was be ing investigated as a homicide, with a strong possibility that it may have been a murder-suicide. Autopsy results and identifications of the two individuals were released Thursday morning. A KCSO release states the investigation determined a domestic argument between 52-yearold Troy Blacer of Gaines Township and his girlfriend, 43-year-old Elizabeth Weber, also of Gaines Township, led to the shooting. The Kent County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted autopsies on Blacer and Weber and determined that Weber died as a result of several gunshot wounds. Blacer was found to have died from a single gunshot wound. Investigators say Blacer Moai fatally shot Weber before uawoisno 1VI1N3QIS3U taking his own life. Neighbors, who asked 8GG# )!LUJdd for anonymity, said Blacer scesk iVM '9|l!AUdeJ0 See GUNFIRE on 3 aivd SSMU33 BEWIW »fl|Au»^9 OKXOQOd -1 * James Gemmell Contributing Writer llenifflaB asm&l i9tiiW pnitudiitnoO loto^fi^n yUfiffnon arlT rrmoJ fliflj yd bubJBi zfi-/' ^llrmlwO joori^ idBtcq^ia f,Hi ni airtnus B ,? <dj nt) zinab .znocpn i^oiloq ol bmuooo gdiJnorif! Jzift ^rfT sr J£ zlul ;<GbnoM no ;fn.q IB iiun vfK nozibfiM Io jJoold who 2oior(2 93ffi() g'ftiTSffi^ ylnuoD ^moa 01 hwbnoqzoT vlfwnoqai aafilq gniXil WwrnugiE buol b Inon noizrnbduz aril ni smori ui) no jjnrnnB loftA .J3otI2 4 IS bouol yariJ baJBia zsiinqsb ioicqqjinfi moi't bssb nsmow b M •I X THOWNA#»^|^ s* EtAffTMOr i A* '. s fc w 9 L*; L A I 4 ■K I I I I I •Pi II w 'jir^ % * I 1. -T’’ * •• It: ^ri .•*ai s , -I > — —; . I .r •r* — s — L* Youngsters both try to engulf and evade the spray from the TTES fire truck during the TK Community Library Water Fun Spray Day at the high school in Middleville Tuesday. Photos by Brett Bremer Sprayer and sprayees soaked at annual library event Brett Bremer Sports Editor The honking fire engine drew cheers as it came along Bender Road in front of the Thomapple Kellogg School and Community Library towards the south parking lot at the high school. The kids already knew what was coming. The library hosted its annual sum­ mer Water Fun Spray Day with the Thomapple Township Fire Depart- ment Tuesday, with firefighter Zack Cronk spraying down a group of young readers. Those youngsters did their best to dodge the spray from the fire hose at times and did their best to draw his fire at others. Cronk got to participate in the event for the first time as a member of the Thomapple Township Emer­ gency Services along with Lt. Mike Powell, firefighter/EMT Cassandra Vugtezeen from TTES and special guest Kelsey Gnuse from the Saranac Fire engine honking horn up Bend er as it closed in on the parking lot. “I was just available for it, so I signed up for it. I didn’t think I’d get this soaked,” Cronk said. “This is pretty great, getting out in the community, spraying down the kids and making sure they have a good time.” Powell admitted that Cronk might have been drenched a bit by “issues” with the extra water cannon firing See EVENT on 2 «* aovisod s n OIS ISdd 1 I •a I X > •A w ■ VJ f « A e fitr- c 4 ZI • * K I « A �* I 2 I k Saturday, July 26, 2025 I THE SUN AND NEWS Deadline set for Middleville survey on five-year rec plan Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer Every time the Thomapple Area Parks and Recreation officials update a local five-year recreation plan, they reach out to the community through a survey. And, this time, a deadline of Aug. 15 has been set for com­ munity members to submit completed surveys. Paper copies of the survey are reportedly available at both village and township halls in Middleville, accord­ ing to TAPRC chairperson Catherine Getty. Thesurveymayalsobefilled out online at surveymonkey. com/r/TAPRCParks2025. A link to the survey may be accessed through the TAPRC Facebook page. “We put yard signs with a QR code at trail heads on the Paul Henry Thomapple Trail, as well as at all the parks in the Village of Middleville,” Getty added. TAPRC was established ¥4- t I* k. -I ► .... I 1 I ♦ r < 1 2a.. 4 • 4^ !----- TVT, V ■* www.sunandnews.com 1. “The five-year renewal by TAPRC to update the recreation plan must be filed with the State of Michigan to be eligible for state grants,” Getty added. “It gives us the opportunity to update that to make sure we’re in alignment with what the people in the community want to see done. “The real value of that five-year rec plan is to our entities so that they are eligible to apply for those u "ants.” According to Getty, there are several projects that have been facilitated through the creation ofthe recreation plan, including a pavilion that hosts a lo­ cal farmers market, a trail from Main Street to Crane Road, and the property that Thomapple Township purchased for the trail that extends almost two miles north from Crane Road to Stimson Road - to name a few. “That was the most recent improvement, so that would not have been possible without having a qualifying rec plan that is filed in the State of Michi­ gan,” Getty said. Peters added commu­ nity members have also participated at TAPRC booths set up at recent See PLAN on 9 4 I f f 1 •»u * 4 sr i 11 1 hI* I -— .. 4 A f r ) J I. I w* ' i* c * HU- I -I > I n -Ui ■« f k. s 4^ ►> J 1 I r< I 4* IM 1 r-/ in Jt I « I I A pavilion in the Village of Middleville is one of several projects that have been facilitated through the creation of a local recreation plan. The deadline to fill out a survey to again update the five-year plan is slated for Aug 15. in 2000 through a joint agreement involving Thornapple Kellogg Schools, the \511age of Middleville and Thor­ napple Township to help plan for park and recre­ ation resources in the Middleville area, said Getty, who joined the TAPRC board in 2002. “On Aug. 1, we will be at the Middleville River Bank Music Series at the amphitheater next to the pavilion to get more community informa­ tion on how they want to see our "een spaces developed or improved on our parks and things like thaf” said Makenzi Peters, TAPRC vice chairperson. I EVENT Continued from Page 1 r from atop Thomapple Township En­ gine 51. Youngsters cooled off in the spray, jumped in mud puddles and capped off the half-hour session with freezer pops passed out by the library staff. The TK Community Library summer hours continue to be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The library will host an ice cream social Tuesday, July 29 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., in the middle of its prize week for summer readers. t 0 Off Fabrics (excludes sale items) E!« .4^ 1 9^. ?? '■k* 1 1 < t. « \ r • K /J Youngsters are blasted with spray from firefighter Zack Cronk during the annual TK Community Library Water Fun Spray Day in Middleville Tuesday. " iC'i t ‘ I , '-..J fcH'i n {J vu r** IE J ■ ns# J '--•J '^5 %• e*. J Tray for our nation Y 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm • I1 ' . S’ I• t ' I Md IRK** »h AJi 4« } ** * J MAPRC r 7 j www.surveymonkey.com/r/ TAPRCParks2025 PiMSe complete the survey by . e/isas I I .^>14 U. ( The Thornapple Area Parks and Recreation Commission is seeking feedback on the future of parks & recreation facilities. —I •t * • IOS* I I > J’J> /fubt Cleaners Pickup Station i A • ** 5 Sale Dates: July 1st-July 31st QUESTIONS: ASK US... I f \NE \NANJ yOUR INPUT! 1 I! • > i I f a t > y I #’ A .. d t . . I* ** A a ■ ,1 .'srsswt « r a 'I**** . I ** 51 .iUk* ’ I wifi* «S I r* '1 I >• % \ •> > vie xV six For more MformetKXx pieAte contact: Cetberine Getty, TAFRC Chair, cathenne«getty33trgmailxom xU I e •’ w R I 2as 1«'l THE SUN AND NEWS »i 5 1 4 } I The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com CONTACT US Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihomepaper.conn biiJjjJjjHitlO aiiixij Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com PUBLISHED BY PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. I I r • I t , ♦ 4 V <. . A J Pl e v®5 <>I^J L-d » I * ft < k 4 wee b. / 4 i u.. 4" �i i k.' 4 -’'ll, _ www.sunandnews.com 1 z J I Saturday, July 26, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 3 X > k 1 3 <9 <1 <• ' 'tv V Inaugural 'Taste of Gaines’ festival on tap Sept. 26 outside township hall J ■> I 9/ K... I 4 9 a ».s I r' r ■■ \ . 11 k '-t I A first-time community event in Gaines Township on Sept. 26 will highlight local restaurants and other businesses. The festival is being hosted by the township, the Gaines Chamber of Commerce and the Kent County SherifTs Office, and is slated for 5-8 p.m. on the lawn and field adjacent to the township hall on Kalamazoo Ave. Chamber vice president April Moayyer, chairperson for the Taste of Gaines, pitched the idea for the festival to township trustees at their meeting Monday, July 14. The festival will be open to the public and tree to attend. Our goal is to have at least 20 restaurants with (vendor) tents, where you can go around and sample small (food) bites,” Moayyer said. “There will be plenty of activities and inflatables for the kids. And, hot-air balloon rides. There also will be a beer-and-wine garden, and a DJ.” In addition, organizers said festival­ goers can expect to see the KCSO’s tactical team truck, a 50/50 raffie and enjoy various giveaways. “We’re excited to bring together local businesses, law enforcement and our township team to celebrate com­ munity pride and create meaningful connections,” Moayyer said. The township board voted unani­ mously to approve the Taste ofGaines event and provide up to $10,000 to cover expenses. The vote was OK’d on condition that township attorney Clifford Bloom first give his opinion on the legality of spending township funds on such a festival. 1 5 * • I II * * *4 « i / . ^3 s •l • « •» W ^11 — «►*? LI 9 ** »."'V V ■> ♦ > ■ 4 5 A % lllll z K 1 % Ik I I Z‘. t V-, Muto r JG>8Jb r ‘I b.H ' L;'. t' I F wN I Inc :( '. t * ’B #» 1' r I . . t 1-r 3 / • I f } rT k 2W a I I 4 , -c ’t/ J ' ’ll; • J n u , i ’-r: 9 J L 9 fi I I * I / ' '-MJ I I , } I. .J”' £ I ' ' •A * i I i I f ; i 3c f 9 *» « z ■) I * d4 5 J I -• I / I . I r. I t f* <I tr ' I 4 r I J I I 1 r, 1 > r « «< 4 ( 2if : t i*.4 4 k X * 1 iuq t ■ ■ < 4 7 >> *-X A 3 C;l ., 1 Ml Kent County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home in Cutlerville on Monday afternoon, July 21, later reporting a woman and a man were discovered dead inside. Photo courtesy Kent County Sheriff’s Office i t/. Trustee Rob DeWaard requested Township Manager Rod Weersing get a clearer interpretation of a Michigan law, which reportedly allows local governments to spend public funds so long as an event provides a general benefit to a significant portion of the public, from Bloom. “It is their opinion that the township funding the Taste of Gaines event would be a permissible municipal expense,” Weersing said, after later hearing back from the township at­ torney. Weersing added the event will benefit the community at-large, and is not a direct donation to a particular business. “Tltere are going to be some fam­ ily activities at the event,” he said. “But, also, it’s going to show them what’s available within the town­ ship. And, hopefully, generate some additional business for our township restaurants.” The first 6-0 vote, with one member absent, at the board’s July 14 meet­ ing authorized township officials to provide $10,000 to help pay for such items as tents, tables, balloon rides, marketing, vendor support and logistics. Township officials said they were hoping to recapture the funding via sponsorship fees, with any expenses not covered by the sponsorship fees being paid out of the township’s general fund. Sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Moayyer at aprilmoayyerrealestate.com or by visiting the Gaines Chamber of Com merce Facebook page. See TASTE on 5 James Gemmell Contributing Writer % r. i % I. 4 J 1 /' I a i if I 'I'T GUNFIRE Continued from Page 1 and Weber had been dating for several years and lived in the home together. Reportedly, a 9-1-1 phone call noti­ fying police of the situation came from someone who was inside the home around the time ofthe alleged shooting. Dietrich described the incident as a horrible situation” for all those involved, including the neighbors and deputies who responded to the residence. The KCSO Detective Bureau and Crime Scene Unit are investigating the motive for the double shooting. The second incident in Cutlerville reportedly occurred around 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 22, at a home on Fontenelle Street, off Division Avenue about two blocks south of 68th Street. KCSO deputies reportedly respond­ ed to a complaint of a 66-year-old man allegedly threatening neighbors with a gun. The suspect’s name had not been released at the time of publication on Thursday. At a briefing Tuesday, UndersheriflF Bryan Muir said the man allegedly pointed a gun at deputies when they arrived on the scene. A police tacti­ cal team was then summoned and Michigan State Police troopers, as well as officers from the Kentwood and Wyoming police departments, also responded. “After some time, the man came back out armed and crawled underneath part of the home,” Dietrich said. “He fired several shots, putting both deputies and neighbors at risk. “Two deputies fired their weapons in return,” he added. “The man was struck by gunfire and taken to the hospital by ambulance, where he remains in critical condition. The two deputies involved in the incident Tuesday were placed on paid administrative leave, which reportedly is standard procedure after an officerinvolved shooting. Because KCSO deputies were in­ volved in the exchange of gunfire, an outside police department, Wyoming Public Safety, was requested to handle the follow-up investigation. «» A I K I I I > eV s Sg 1^^: lar: ■mmmJ 0 M*n J I '.' J uj < n I r I • V c « Antenna Men i *v 1' Alphaphoto 616 M edia, • video • drone < 1 <' -M ' I 1 » • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers I I .1 ns y * ^JJT* 1 I I ■ 1, ■1 '*5WW* 269-967-8241 Grant Alphenaar Owner grant@alpha616media.com (616) 638-4751 517-983-0954 www.theantennamen.com antennamen@gmail.com J Alpha616Media.com • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-in Attic Insulation Give us a call! ♦ li residential & commercial real estate • corporate • events A • Cellular Enhancement Systems I ** I Estimates ;'S" g 4 "freh i llc Start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam www.cellsignalpros.com ’I I t I t J 9 51 > « ( A zf ( k U 6 i % / A > 4 *• 1 a K ! ! / I I If 1 / 11 H t 9 1 I 1 I II , ’’3 I 19 I I i M I »' 1 I 2 I (1 1 I I 1 I * • I » I I '4 I r i 4 ? \ I * f, 9 » 9 9 ih r J J t r & X n'. 1 �r iiH*’ ( i ft >2 ..•ri J 4 Saturday, July 26. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS I Obituaries f Mariva Ruth Phillips Mariva Ruth Phillips (nee Palmer), affectionately known as Mick, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2024, in Poway, CA, at the age of 87. Born on November 5, 1937, in Grand Rapids, Ml, she lived a life marked by devotion to her family and her faith. Mariva graduated from Ottawa High School and spent her early years fostering a warm t ^k/X4 ♦ • L • and nurturing home. Outside of the home, she worked at the Thornapple Kellogg High School Library, at Hudson’s hair salon, and at Sunset Waste, where she was known for her teamwork, quick wit, and care for her coworkers. A loving and supportive wife and mother, Mariva was the life of the party, always ready to make everyone laugh while equally prepared to listen and empathize. She www.sunandnews.com taught Sunday School at the First Assembly of God in Grandville, Ml, and shared the love and kindness of Jesus with all around her. Her hobbies included 4^ spending time with family and friends, visiting Lake Michigan or the ocean, reading, sewing, and caring for her pets. Mariva was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert Phillips, and daughter, Amy Phillips. She is survived by her sons, Michael Schierbeek and his wife Judyne, Jefferson Schierbeek and his r: ' wife Su Addison, Jaimie Schierbeek and his wife Julie; daughters, Michele Keeler and her husband Michael, Alisa DeBorde and her husband David; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss her deeply. An informal open invitation graveside service for family, friends, and acquaintances who wish to honor Mariva’s remarkable life and legacy is scheduled for 10 a.m. August 9, 2025 at Mount Hope Cemetery in Middleville. WK ' tobtrT n-'i ‘ bitt r boaoaud I 4 * H ft 1 , I I ■ L Ictni Klw rnodSl I ( DI f « » I 4 » A -1 •1 I B- * «_r_ . ) J >'S WfMiTtt j .4 i. (t 3at *1 I \ L • i T i Wn V < * I .i JMns ••• •r < 1 <T» 4 J I 1 I «* •<*Vww^^ • J bi JI i I • LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM www.alaskabaptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia 250 Vine Street FIRST ’ "". f t BAPTIST Service 10:30 AM k co Middleville 1 k 616-891-8669 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) i Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. ; I Pastor: Rob Wurst http:/!goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com 4B 'll Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville Church: (269) 795-2391 FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY gj^PEACE CHURCH Caledonia Location Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY .<»w ■I X 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfaniilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming CaAolic? Call or see our website for information. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church r CHURCH < 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 "Shining Forth God’s Li^t" MIDDLEVILLE 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship Community Group............ SERVICE TIMES: James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankecspringsbiblechurch.oig Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com I HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH cfi^ -hl • i* ,..aV n 4 . X3f’ TOPS 546 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend PEACECHURCH.ee 9186 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am MIDDLEVILLE Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am CHURCH « i cornerstonechurch . a, * ih >' The July 21 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There are now three fish in the fishbowl. Virginia’s program was from the May/ June TOPS magazine titled “Mixing it Up.” A recipe developer gavelO tips on how to improvise new dishes. 1. Bend, but don’t break the rules for cooking or baking. Follow kitchen rules. 2. Replace ingredients but not the quantities, especially in baking. 3. Replace similar ingredients. A green for a green, poultry for poultry. 4. Same rule for spices. 5. Go without an ingredient if you don’t have it. unless it is the star of the show. 6. Easy does it. You can always add to but can’t take away. Taste as you go. 7. Research online. Look for a specific recipe or search for what ingredients you are thinking of using. 8. Pretend you are on a cooking show. See what you have available in the house and make a meal. 9. Add more veggies. You may need more spices but the taste won’t change. 10. Relax and have fun. It’s not the end of the world if it doesn’t come out. Listen to your taste buds. Chapter members continued the contest by filling in one dot for each one-tenth of a pound lost. Linda won the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.. followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. The first meeting is free. I 1 IT. : 9^ 1 > ■> 'a •1,7 J <©. 1 ft L*I* I n.- 4-* r, > ■/ 1 r|r- •r iivlP J **4 ” «fi •I s/ I c L ' .t* 4 9 • H* 1. ■ > <■ *• I <1 >1 tf - I > * 4* **9S< i I t II J • r I i W''-■ ,^31^ I .41^.- i b:= i’ U *CV 1 % *ftr 4 f I I 1 ►S'*-* f, f 1 i ( » 1 & «IV 7111 f'.fill I J 1 i - Mi* ' ♦! 1 f ’.I ILJ|(B*iC;il£ » 4 C’TH .. . 1 ■t / Ik g3S'-- FJMT “ ■ -? r" i (»<*<., I I ► » •j_a * I n . I r f J f -.f • 1 I I t / I ■S tt SI- J * I 4 4 1 A -7rSSwBE3»rg^>X- 1' *• -*s* •r 1 .kC'i' Il /x< .... ■ • *’ • J f Aim life'' L f 1 u.; ''TIM ujpir; I • ’rv" ,• 1 J I 1 I 4 .9P'i C'4 i I I ! I / ■V I * 8i38l^i«L^' « * V r* I' V d •n fMt: 4 - V •> 4 ? t 1 i -- 1 I I • I I I I I I ) 4 * A t / J •» * 4 4 4 i 4 « lii r �A 1 s k I I 4 ri. Saturday, July 26, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com » *4 V *4 5 ii< Sheriff’s office hosts annual ‘South Kent Night Out’ on Aug. 5 *. f*' 9^ •* 1 A T tai < < * James Gemmell Bid ? I 4 Contributing Writer H undreds ofpeople turn out every year for the “South Kent National Night Out in Gaines Township, and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office is expecting another big crowd for this year’s free event Tuesday, Aug. 5. For the fourth consecutive year, the event will be at the parking lots outside South Christian High School, 7979 Kalamazoo Ave SE in Byron Center, and will run from 4:30-7:30 p.m. “It’s a really important and exciting event because it brings the community together, and the community gets to share their concerns with first responders, law enforcement, firefighters, EMS,” KCSO Sgt. Jeff Bylsma said, the community policing officer for Gaines Township. “It’s a fantastic event,” added Town­ ship Manager Rod Weersing. “There’s lots of participation from entities in the community, and it’s a huge draw of people within the community to get out and see what’s going on with the Kent County SherifTs Office, the fire depart­ ment and other groups in the area.” According to Wikipedia, the first com­ munity Night Out event was held in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, in 1984 and later became a nationwide event designed to raise awareness about crime prevention and strengthen partnerships between communities and police depart­ ments. Neighborhood watch groups, drug prevention and other anti-crime programs are often highlighted. The KCSO has been hosting the local 1 s4 5 » [> 'I I J * i; J V J I I 'll » i «* *4 9 t ] I I» •ft WiC 1 h t Oh ► t ' t' i Il1'l I . ^l! Hr a I t r '■s i w IT* I I f 4 5- gfrn'i Ji '32SSfa^) I I rj I ■ .ri 4. A- t ’ [. 9’i . I It 4 !« *< f • ‘■'H J ............................................................................. £ 1 » »i •• .*» ft ft V I ' ;run ■bb 5. "L’ f / ' - Ui fl •it < I' I t * 'Mt K < 1. I*!* < , ,b I < J f ’•'J / I ?>.d ♦>l ‘■plf h:<- I f I 4. I n. a '} i ’IrW • I rW9J& It M • * » • f 'irn •¥ I I r*n 4 t ir < • ’5r' 11 Xl*b I r* i. 1 I i <i"; ■ I I I '*4. ■• : I I I I 1 I X ' i n< ► *. * -*w 1 1 *, I f ) I i o -J J « « i . f ■ i f « K 4^VITn 'Tf I I I I t'"* ■•I s r i- -■ - b»**A-4 ; I EC -) 4 ; .<t ■ rtf I . p>* I I > I } 1 /' f I r .«'/'? I I I i i t I I I I t / * / ft I.: I - 5*' 4.‘- EMPLOYMENT DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOWPLOW­ ING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (Caledo­ nia, Ml & Colorado Springs, CO) Direct overall financial direction for Italian based global organization to achieve short & long-term financial objectives. Min Master’s Degree in Economics, Finance, Law or related & 3 yrs exp as Sr. Manager Audit or related analyzing financial & accounting data in industrial sectors. Must read, write, & speak Ital­ ian. Apply to CMS North America, Inc. at hr@cmsna.com w/ “CFO” in subject line. CONSTRUCTION • M CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing,-etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 > • 1^- COMMERCIAL-RENT As in the past, various specialized police units will be on display at the South Kent Night Out event on Aug. 5. File photo by James Gemmell event since 2010, with the event includ­ ing displays of local police and fire department vehicles, along with military and road commission vehicles. According to organizers, food and information booths will be set up and there will be various family activities, such as kids’ games and fi’ee goodies. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and other agencies will have representatives on hand, as well. There also will be an Aero Med he­ licopter demonstration, if the weather permits. “They all get together to bond with one another andjust create a stronger relation­ ship and have fun doing it,” Bylsma said. The KCSO also will be hosting a National Night Out event at the Mary Free Bed YMCA in Grand Rapids at the same time. Michigan-Battle Creek office is a nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance, representation and education to low-income people in Calhoun and Branch counties and seniors in Barry, Branch, Calhoun and St. Joseph counties. The advice and counsel is funded primarily by the Area Agency on Aging Region 3B through the Michigan Aging and Adult Services Agency under the Older Americans Act of 1965. MM ,1 — BUSINESS SERVICES ) The Legal Services of South Cen­ tral Michigan-Battle Creek office will conduct in-person interviews for legal advice and possible representa­ tion, without charge, to interested Barry County seniors this month. Those who wish to speak with an attorney should visit the Barry County Commission on Aging, 320 W. Wood­ lawn Ave. in Hastings, between 10 a.m. and noon on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Legal Services of South Central I I [ A* lao S’ s 1 4 .1 A Legal advice offered at no cost to Barry County seniors •M I n * V Jr^. J i A I t ,_____ * •• -B* ’>• ■ I' Classifieds OFACE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rapids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic@remax.net WANTED TO BUY: Standing Tirhber. Conscientious timber harvester. Saw Mill Office- 517-254-4463. GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEE- All aspects of golf course maintenance, including trim­ ming, mowing, tree removal, and bunker work. Please see Evan and apply in person at Saskatoon Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto, Ml. To set up an appointment call 616-570-5597 or apply online at saskatoongolf.com. FOR SALE LAWN & GARDEN ATV- KAWASAKI QUAD Brute Force 300. Like new, under 200 miles. Elec­ tric & pull start, $3,400. (269)986-5218 BRUSH HOG LAND Clearing, gravel driveway grading and other skid steer services available. Call 616-551-9523 WANTED TASTE Continued from Page 3 “It’s reallyjust a great way to highlight Gaines and all the great stuff we have going on here,” Moayyer added. A second unanimous roll-call vote gave the township supervisor, treasurer and clerk authority to review the applica­ tion for event liquor licenses and provide a recommendation to the Michigan Li­ quor Control Commission for approval. Normally, such recommendations are reportedly made by the full board but board members agreed that designating three elected officials would streamline the process. Only beer and wine will be sold at the inaugural Taste of Gaines. “We’re so excited and blessed for the Gaines Chamber of Commerce and Gaines Charter Township to partner in this awesome Taste of Gaines com­ munity event,” stated Gaines Chamber Executive Director Barb Nauta. “We hope to see all of our Gaines chamber businesses and community families at the event, whether they have a booth or are volunteering,” Nauta said. “We know that this will be a huge success with (Moayyer’s) leadership.” B rea kfast Buffet Fundraiser Help us support veterans and community functions. Saturday, Aug. 2,2025 and the First Saturday of each month Serving 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Eggs, bacon, sausage links or patties, potatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, milk. Of, coffee. * Menu subject to change Adults $13.00 • Children 10 & under $5.00 For more information call the Post at 616-891-1882 Coffee Donated by BIGGBY i :1 COFFEE Caledonia Memorial Legion Post 305 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, MI LUNCH M-TH 11 AM-8 PM; FRI 11 AM-2PM; FRI BUILD A BURGER 4-8 PM X ■I t 4 ? 4 4 » r «* » I I ■ f. i ■ w I ’ s 4 i 1 'I ! « f 9 4 a» 9 p < �A >/ I i 6 I Saturday, July 26, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Concert series caps July with Time Sawyer performance Brett Bremer Sports Editor Area music fans really showed up to support the Caledonia Concert Series as the band Time Sawyer performed at the Caledonia Community Green Amphitheater Tuesday for the final show of July. It was as if the crowd, one of the largest yet this summer, was taking the band’s advice even before hearing guitarist and lead singer Sam Tayloe rT, I f t I sing “you best get down to livin’ be­ fore livin’ gets you down” on a warm, sunny evening. Time Sawyer is a four-piece band based out of Charlotte, NC. Jordan Nelson on drums, Court Wynter on bass and Justin Clyde Williams on electric guitar took the stage with Tayloe Tues­ day, after a quick little acoustic set by Williams. Honoring Irish traditional music, On the Lash opened the show. That four- some released its first album, “Fireside” in April, and drew glowing reviews from Tuesday’s emcee Josh Rose. Time Sawyer’s latest fiill-length re­ lease is 2O24’s “Honest Effort.” The band paid a bit ofa tribute to rock ’n’ roll legend Ozzy Osbourne who passed away Tuesday while sticking to its folk-rock style. “One of Time Sawyer’s goals has al­ ways been for listeners to feel a sense of See CONCERT on 7 lO *'1 J .. J I. i . <1 t -’W »? .J I fi^ ll t , 1 ■n p > J r ♦ f 9 *? h * ’/J Lt k • J Ik' I L I -a?; K: 1, ; 't i?s 4 rf J iBI « 1 » I. L > F« > I-k--''. I 3 u I 1 irt fr T J I a » 5* J ,I '4 w* 'Jt 4 j: ^4 J * A* « » I Our company is growing, don’t miss your opportunity. WE ARE 4 It s I L r. J VI I rT/. J f' *.R • I / a • i! 1 1 > 4S--* I F« k Jake Clyde Williams sings one of a handful of his own acoustic tunes before hoping on the electric guitar to play with the headliner Time Sawyer Tuesday during the Caledonia Concert Series. I i View Newspaper Group is seeking a Af- 1 MARKETING SPECIALIST *■ I 1 f -2,sr- 'i 71“^. ■ i^U.. * * V 7-’^ ,u .p ■* f I * . ii 4.^', I ■ ss< I « 1 . w E. I ‘ • 1^4 I ,al?’ I 1 \ ■J ife •» st I . I .r JT-*' > If I . I TS I 1 NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES covering the Marshall area. Responsibilities include: Advertising sales. Account management. Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts. Attend networking events -T/- I i V *5- • n I 3 k < ♦ A 4 .4 I ^9 4 I 1 { AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE ( { Monday at 4 p.m. ?► « <L 1l'> 11 V * - • *-A 3 T * BATTLE CREEK r I ? ! SHOPPER NEWS rI'J i 1 h'«’* I Monday at 5 p.m. V ? r£ -I h 'j f THE HASTINGS Ji'' i BANNER i i r , •«I4I j Tuesday at Noon 1 ■< fV AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE THE VIE)AL»^ Group * mihomepaper.com ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The County Press Lapeer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer’s Guide Jeffersonian Tri-County Times Daily News Tri-County Citizen Oxford Leader ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ M Send resume to: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com 269-945-9554 ■ ■ » »4 *> •>■■* 4k '«»•. 4 THE I T I ?f “ r> a U n'^nH iiap|it»3a| I 4^ t » 'r r X '• * a . 4 ^4, fl « Ml I SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon I 'I S' 4 . rb fe I I < I I e Group mihomepaper.com a t y{;SMB>ii2 4 t * i REMINDER I 1 ■r » 1 Wednesday at Noon Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer’s Guide and News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Sun and News The Reminder St. Clair Area View c ?av.i V' f ' p- 1.^1 HOC 14 16 Tb’et i . 4 R .V queiO moo.iso t .» je.-'TI ■ �4 ♦ I I w I z i Saturday, July 26, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I 7 ♦ I I ♦ f r . Ah r I w I •» . * COME JOIN US FOR I I * I I A 1 A i rk I i k -J 8 i J f ***« I I R ( I I r rK I r? di , ,1 t k 4 I 1 I f 4 » » > i >f A J r I I J ! f t (I I f I I I t V r S • 9g K U %4 I ' k s « » b fei. r } ff L> .•' r £ r .: A 4 J 1 7 f M I - < *4 fl ) r ■ A J. ky r f * 4^ V.*. /? ^4 —-1^' t V ' Z' ' j4»- n I” -jC’IV 4 fi f'fte w , Uil S y.i ♦ r • 1 U / « ' '' ao- ’J^lfrf* I AK .J *. 'J r, f. it T?* «1 d ’! I ^-4 ' - -.Vb 1 I■ Continued from Page 6 I fl^ fi'l I community and connection during the show, and then to keep it with them, long after the music ends,” Jody Mace shared in the band’s biography on its website. The show was made possible with support from Henny’s Yam Shop as each week local sponsors help bring traveling acts through the park that ' T?4' i bl0. -I J K’ * d_: A> -iRTOftiri^Lr f/ .:: '■, I 8Bw'‘-5» 1 -. ‘ I /r<?ibr ‘lt*rj7ny . ^ '- g ■'! 4 i *> t 1 ’ I i * i: :7 f r ^1 1 'J 'I < < Z 2'' I -S r • r ?r r J ‘‘*S t r i 1 I V I I «»!, 30 •1 I w I I r I « I I i, 4 ■ ■>. 1 !'• •> 4 .-Z . M O M Caledonia Community Green Park 9309 Dobber Wenger Memorial Drive, Caledonia POPCORN PROVIDED BY THE TOWNSHIP n Checkout the Caledonia Community Green Park Facebook Page for more information. 1 1 { ffflv ( I b JOIN US FOR TWO DAYS OF FAMILY FRIENDLY FUN I f^SSFOT s&m@ec FREE ENTRY BOTH DAYS :’•* "1g'' r '•kFuav' hs < lg> Y « u V ,’L II V t T^rS'! I g 11 ' I '’X ,■ 11 n J • a* T - - - tiaiiff, f # I’ u r * !!' MITi ‘ 4* I rT I J 1 ! AI y ■' I t t THE MOST TRUSTED’. iSlAME IN ftObFING c A «• I * w I I w ✓ ' .i w* '-k I JB ' .' J 1 I ■i <1 1 •X.’ I I r I i 4 Mil 1 < 11) J 1 , rt5J 4 . : J 1 * •u If I I I ** 4•• J *A «u I t I w* > • _• .C • '^¥_Tr. B **** ->r ’ 4 I •W'*' f I I t 1 1 s* •V 1 ♦IX-?*-T k M. U W R w «A4i Sv LIVE MUSIC FROM CALL TODAY x 1^:: r\ : JUp m ' J ' FOR YOUR FREE INSPECnON fe > '■'k LIVE MUSIC FROM ' :2zr)«-, ♦xs !X-’H WBOTa I VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK CalMlwa* Ambmi UhMOMr WOTWMu WMiWM F«MCIwrvrot« VHteoe of CaMoAla Aho RMCHI* SWMICM Aipiiw ewwhs Puoi WoH DfUino Vo^aftm Smqm ataaMn** BMavy Cai Ww On Main OMFoUows UStMtCw* ex MoMM ShlM lM|W«9Hnn OMofM* Hatr Cm Salt ClwwFniiUie . m ■ ^>^T^^Bibiii hl FEATURIHol a LW" Ue suing Band 4 1 —•* 269-962-4036 « I . J F^T PARADE . / 4 . > ”T1 .t FEATURING J|L msT k FAMILY T AVERN CRUISE’NIGHi, • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU M.. ' - ■ ■• -fj YMiefc.. iG% R S H O W s -5i< <•* ■ I 4 . s •P* • ’MM f^, » . ^KiR"' --K- A * vl a . J » I (3b«ffi-M0S Ww I t . •' — - Tfc ! I I r>.' - x 3p- •.IC t • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED 2. 4* F •’* •• iH w • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS 55- E ffaraigiH C*A« Raps *1^ 9 *’* t >• fc ' OUAUTY ROOFING / «*' SHERRIPF GOS LIN 1 9 -I n IN THE BUSINESS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM ”1 '■: i I -SI w A 111 1 > r • WE WORK WITH AU INSURANCE COMPANYS I I 4^ TRACTOR J SHOW --- ------------------------------------------------------------- -' Biut^r Btor h Soci^ > I ' JBL • z YEARS • LOCM TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 1 I I _ M .r *« I %* o»v T Tsn. J H- y \ *s Botery I u » 4* - I^^EIVr^ BmqmM I J 8:30pm 77is! r» t ; * - 'k •.I AUGUST 7™ Jjlt. -A i 5- TH 5:30- ■ TAS.ItE CALEDONIA ■ <. mmacleod@mihomepaper.com THE SUN AND NEWS view-^g™.. r i «• ■£ *2 AUGUST 6 - , TuaiyiagB^Y «!7@l£)KlBS©2aV We’d love to hear about it! 1' ? . L-’ KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? s I A ^Si- i I L- ) i . .•—- i r** **4 5 are typically playing much larger (or at least more expensive) venues and festivals. The Caledonia Concert Series is taking a Tuesday evening off in the week ahead. The Soul Syndicate will perform Aug. 5 and then the summer season wraps up at the Caledonia Green Aug 12 with a performance by Ashes & Arrows. Opening acts begin at 6 p.m. and headliners typically start their set around 7 p.m. each Tuesday. CONCERT ''« J'j PI < I Sam Tayloe sings as Time Sawyer bandmate Court Wynter plays the stand-up bass behind him during the Caledonia Concert Series show Tuesday at the Caledonia Community Green Amphitheater. Photos by Brett Bremer T ¥ r> V ! < 4' s < Jt" \< • Ibix.* J AUGUST 8, 2025 AT 9:00PM 1 BhbA'b In Cmw nmoAv mmMmB * CaMwm Bmsb ftMMiK CMw CarfMiBMB AaahChaviMB AMWMM* HlMIfftflA (_ -MWris• r 1*1 ■ Xy .iiWAft*uE-w. a I ’) * 4 fc 1 -I % I ' ' ( t I I r -a J I 1 1 I i g » I I I' I k A * * * « •. 't 9 f Y I ■ r J 4 i < I » ! ' J t r * *<4,‘I f^. » \ A 4 r r s k A » f 1^’ B • s * A I 4 r V i t A k �* 8 Saturday, July 26, 2025 I www.sunandnews.com 2. Consent Agenda approved as presented. ' CELEBRATE SUCCESS! 60 ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM r « : ■ I f I ■ -— Jk .A *• mmacleo(l@mihomepaper.com GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS June 09,2025 1 V' !“• ■— I Send your student achievements or personal milestones to ► I - fTi • THE SUN AND NEWS /• . _r< -■.•■*2**' * XJ» li1 '• J I < I I I • Ij- * Z. .z II , IBII I 9 A THE SUN AND NEV^S A ' 1^1 ........... ... I * ^•z4 f r I j I Group 5 4 I *• M. THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP BOARD 200 E MAIN ST. MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 SYNOPSIS OF MEETING MINUTES Monday, June 9,2025 k ’ .c V IJ; i k * t * ,•1 1 A I ' f: I I r I y Gm. f • ’ > A* $ • « 1^ i» 1, 1 * e I J 5^: /. * fl. I X 1-, 4. * I f fl r f J •r < : r .1 *3 . ri' k V. 4 -A" I The Gaines Charter Township Board held a regular meeting on Mon­ day. June 09, 2025, and took the fol­ lowing actions. 1. Reviewed the Consent Agenda. 2. Approved the Meeting Agenda 3. Discussed the 2024 annual fi­ nancial audit 4. Discussed changes to the or­ dinance for issuing permits for multi-family developments 5. Set a public hearing for July 14, 2025 for the rezoning request from Koetje Builders. 6. Set a public hearing for July 14, 2025 for the rezoning request from Continental Properties. 7 Approved the Prairie Wolf Station Water and Sewer Contract #2. 8. Approved the purchase of Modus election software. 9. Established September 19,2025 as Prisoner of War / Missing in Action Recognition Day. 10.Approved the e Assessing Department conference expense. 11. Approved the Gaines Charter Township Fire Department con­ ference request. 12. Approved the special event li­ quor license for the Grand Rap­ ids Swing Dance fundraiser on September 06, 2025. 13. Approved the personnel com­ mittee recommendation to al­ low staff to post an additional electrical / building inspector position. 14. Approved the Supervisor to hire a graphic design firm or individ­ ual not to exceed $20,000 to rebrand Gaines Charter Town­ ship. 15. Entered close session to dis­ cuss a personnel committee matter at 7:48 pm. 16. Entered open session at 8:24 pm. 17. Approved the Gaines Charter Township Personnel Committee recommendation to move town­ ship manager. Rod Weersing contract to a rolling 1 year con­ tract. to add 1 year of severance to a maximum of 12 months for each year of service being retro­ active to the first year of service, and to raise the level of pay by 5% retroactive to February 27, 2025 18. Adjourned the meeting at 8:44 p.m. A complete copy of the minutes of these meetings and any resolutions or ordinances adopted at the meeting are on file and available for review at the Gaines Charter Township office, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Cale­ donia, Michigan 49316. Ordinances, meeting schedules, meeting minutes, and other Township information are also available at www.gatnestownship.org. Michael Brew I Gaines Charter Township Clerk_____ | 1 w r s & > .............. 4> 4 51 .a fl A- i 1 2^. . ^_- b J >' ■ •* I The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with six members present. Items approved: 1. Printed Agenda approved as presented. 2. Consent Agenda approved as amended. 3. Approved trail maintenance at a cost not to exceed $4,000.00. 4. Approved Resolution 09-2025 amending the Township’s 457 Plan. I Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Prepared by Deputy Clerk j Brenda Hess Approved by Township Supervisor, Eric Schaefer. Copies of the meeting minutes Printed Agenda approvedfrom as are1, available upon request presented. the Township Clerk or by visiting https ;//thor nappie-twp.org/ meeting-minutes/ Office hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP BOARD 200 E MAIN ST. MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 SYNOPSIS OF MEETING MINUTES Monday, July 14,2025 The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with six members present. Items approved: I > r i I <1 1^ •> g r .4 This file photo shows residents gathering for the annual free outdoor movie on the lawn next to the Gaines Township Hall facing the adjacent Prairie Wolf Park. Photo by James Gemmell ii> -J 1 ’* -.•/ .-•’•rJ' I . ‘Dog Man’ movie to run on inflatable screen outside Gaines Township Hall CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES James Gemmell Contributing Writer Meeting Minutes The minutes for the July 2, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on July 16, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave and on the website at WWW, caled oniatown ship.org. •> Vi 6 COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the July 8, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on July 22, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main Street and on the website at villageofmiddleville. org. \Ny^\N. A 2025 animated superhero comedy will be up on the big screen during the annual “Movie in the Park” outside the Gaines Charter Township Hall on Friday, Aug. 22. The choice for the 10th annual event, with this year’s movie set to run 89 minutes, was produced by DreamWorks Animation. Pe­ ter Hastings provides the voice for Dog Man, who is a hybrid be­ tween a dog and a police officer. The movie starts at 8:30 p.m. on the east side of the township hall on Kalamazoo Avenue. But the festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. on the lawn facing the adjacent Prairie Wolf Park. As always, there will be food trucks, Gaines Township Fire Department and Kent County Sheriff’s Office vehicles and displays, as well as games and children’s activities. The Movie in the Park, which is provided free of charge, is sponsored by the township and hosted in collaboration with the Gaines Chamber of Commerce and the township branch of the Kentwood District Library. “A great community event,” Township Manager Rod Weersing said. “It brings the community in for a family-friendly event with vendors, local businesses, food trucks and a movie for the kids. A fantastic event. It’s a very lowkey night that utilizes some great space at the township office.” Township Treasurer Laurie Lemke said this year’s movie was suggested by library officials. “It’s based on a very popular children’s book,” Lemke added. “We’re also going to have some pre-games and kids’ activities.” Swan Orthodontics in Gaines Township is sponsoring Disney characters, who will be making an appearance at the event. That was very popular with the kids last year,” Lemke said. “So, it’ll be a fun time for kids of all ages. Bring your lawn chair or your blanket. We’re looking to have a good crowd again this year.” At least 200 people typically attend the event. In case of rain, Lemke said the movie will be canceled with no makeup date. “Luckily, we’ve only had to cancel one time,” she added. # : * '■ J'- iU 4 . IISR*" __ _ JI; ttB 1 , 4 . •* y 8 y ' ft < < * rl r 1 1 .Vite* 1 » 1 » 1 <}<^ L 'A ! r t• 5i^ If'. ■• r* •'■• ’ 1 ; J 1 «. f / niUOT I y I I; A vji^' w 1 ll :Ti ! ’■; r, ; i ! j I 4 iC I ffafria U f; I) *1 ■! 1 . I . -zyr? e i ( < 4 T > ■4 f ■ 'i • i' 9 •/ « f I; » •F • -f I b I. r. J I ’ I 1 1 m/ I ✓* V 5 /t isft . Al I ..A •* ♦ • ♦•• • I Mt s 9E:9 —'rM 1« ar. 1 ! ^inaiti^i-- ■> I J 4 HI iiMUV’i I 5 I. I I B 1 ^wriffiagT IW Ml I ' fUlbiM IB - ' TTT •I .■4MI I « I I i ■i], A s ' i. J I iff :» <* *■ I i . I tw-; J w* > r. J t ^sd ftm •l • ish -1 I. I I I J k « P" •w tiS^t I I / 8 \ �4 ♦ 4 1 I i I i Saturday, July 26, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 9 4 4 ( I I I VILLAGE OF CALEDONIA COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE AND SUMMARY OF THE REGULATORY EFFECT THEREOF ( I t.-; I I I J •1 J * * V n 14 I j i i t j •e h J i ^rw r ?♦ I 1 tfflS * ■* V » ^1 ifc • A ♦z '■W.1 '3 *-w t. *• / 4 »« . j • xB J ' k I </*"^|iiiiim lb ■ !i • A f •» *A Several projects have been made possible through the creation of the five-year recreation plan for the Middleville area, including a pavilion in the Village of Middleville where a farmers market is held. The deadline to fill out a survey to update the plan is slated for Aug 15. Photos by Kassandra Clark 1. ( ♦ ;;*Ag A 4 4 .V t r / A >1 . 4 “'iq 181979:; t ( I I * XT *•1 . •*« >.%.■ ■r PLAN A 4 ,** f '’^;rnF:u 1 >l « < A '•I I I ( Obo^ .( f f'l l 'n i z - a :Cfek 1 I •) •<r '• 1 J » ?I * *•‘ 5..' r'l Ia <• . 4 ?b j j! Continued from Page 2 1 V * I 4 'r. i*. • • t >r I »v s..* '‘■•i Ju. 1 I i'3 i'llM’U I 1' ■J 01 I • ’ «• c; ' r I < , 'k b f n2J( •» »l fl. t % J fl ’’ ’^'44 «i. 1- / fl* ’tit I 4It r c’*- •' 'er- f •e • ti.*’ ITb 01 1 . I ’’•■-eu.- ’‘JI - . J ~ 4 } lUI’ ! T ' r bn . »l, U li ..I • * ft < ■' f‘ * ♦ J! 'flu *♦4 - I 4 'll'?’ * *I ' I I r ) I ’1 1:Z' >/ •V. k r'-j ■> > * y > -<LL? situ; • .. I ! 1 I «w A j I J i W-: H c I fllM f I i 1 * I r k i Blips M . f Your local agent insures your Businfliss I mi k 1 *» \ A FARM BUREAU mSURAhlCE* { ! J I 1 I' I 1 I I I * 'f vT^ i ) A U V I * 1 1 ■* ‘■ ■ II- I local events. Many picked up flyers with information and a QR code to fill out the TAPRC survey. “It’s a big deal every five years,” she said. “It’s a huge effort that we all help support. “We do hire a consultant... tomakesure we do everything correctly and to help us in the effort because we’re all volunteers.” In the fall, a joint meeting is scheduled to include the TKS Board of Education, Thomapple Township Board of Trust­ ees, Middleville X^llage Council and the Thomapple Parks and Recreation Com­ mission. The joint meeting is set to discuss the community input that the TAPRC received throu^ the survey process, as well as other efforts, and is still currently being collected. Peters said defining the role of the TAPRC going forward will also be dis­ cussed at the joint meeting. < Ju ] u *' n * J nisK *kI ' I 4 » • Mai I . I I 4 I r I I i ) i ( 1 Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-8827 jparks@fbinsmj.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com “Our bought process is we’ll be the initiation of getting capital improvement plans completed based on that five-year rec plan, as well as assisting in grants or fundraising campaigns,” she said. “We feel our focus will be going forward into ±e future.” The meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22, in the upstairs conference room at the Thomapple Emer­ gency Services Building in Middleville. For more information, individuals may contact Getty by calling 269-953-3 L51 or via email at catherine.getty33(^gmail. com. IRVING TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS July 15th, 2025 Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm at 3425 Wing Rd. Hastings, Michigan 49058 Present: Lydy, Stout, Brummel, and Nagel. Absent: Buehler Agenda approved with changes Approved June 17th, 2025 Meeting Minutes Approved to pay bills in the amount of $280,876.09 Chief Jordan gave update on Birch Fire Ambulance Service Approved Freeport Fire Contract and payment of $82,500.00 Approved to start process for Special Assessments for Applewine Rd and Gorton Rd paving Engle Rd Natural Beauty Designation discussed, residents asked to obtain petition signatures Upcoming Meeting dates: July 24th, 2025, 5pm (Board of Review), August 19, 2025, 7pm (Township Board Meeting) Adjourn 7:37pm Full available at minutes are Irvingtownship.org or at 3425 Wing Rd, Hastings, Ml 49058. Prepared by Irving Township Deputy Clerk, Shelly Lake. Attested to by Supervisor, Dan Lydy. PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on July 14, 2025, the Village Council of the Village of Caledonia adopted an ordinance that amends Chapter 15 of the Village Code. The principal provision of these ordinances are summarized as follows: Section 1 of the Ordinance amends Chapter 15 of the Village Code, which addresses the compensation of Village officers. The following is a summary of the amendments to Chapter 15 of the Village Code (“Chapter 15”): Section 2 of Chapter 15 was amended to provide that the Village President shall receive a fee for his or her attendance at each regular and special meeting of the Village Council, in an amount determined annually by resolution of the Village Council, in ad­ dition to receiving an annual salary as compensation for the performance of the duties of the Village President. Section 5 of Chapter 15 was amended to provide that the Village President and Vil­ lage Trustees shall not receive compensation other than the compensation included in Chapter 15 during their terms of office, unless other compensation is approved by resolution of the Village Council. Section 6 of Chapter 15 was amended to clarify that the term “other Village officers,” as used in Section 6 of Chapter 15, does not include the Village President and Village Trustees. Section 2 of the Ordinance provides that the Ordinance shall become effective immedi­ ately upon this publication. A complete copy of the Ordinance is on file and may be inspected or purchased at the office of the Village Clerk, Village of Caledonia, 250 S. Maple Street, Caledonia, Michigan, during Village office hours. VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE Dated: July 23, 2025 VILLAGE OF CALEDONIA WE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS -S • < Residential & Commercial M .r >1 -'ATA. •rx -Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters r> -Humidifiers *■ 'r ^■1 k S I «« 9 n JT^' t ' A. f -or- rxa .< ’‘3/ V O •l > :££ . I -i> f. 1 4^ .•• • -• ft ft ii D eWeerd (68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 X 1* V Since /955 f LENNO^ ACCREDITED BUSINESS �Saturday, 10 26, 20?5 I 4b>. • T" J if- I * ' •' 0^ * " { I. iL . I 1 > V » * 2M N HRKXiS HOAO- MIOOLEVII.I^.. MICHIGAN 4M33 2W-7»5-9(WI / JAX 2fc»-7*5.2aee 5 f TP Nonctoi PUBLIC HEARING 2 a * lownAhip of Yankee .Springs, Barry County, Michigan r • A .♦ K, I Hl KkSIHI NT S AM) PKOPI K I Y OWNERS Ol I HF I OWNSHIP OP VAN KI I SPKINr.S IN HARRY HJUNTY. MK HK.AN, ANH ANY OIHI R IN I I RP_STI I) PI KSONS. Pl.LASP f AKf NO I K L th^t a« a rrtull of petition* of property owner* within the township signed by the record <»wner* of l^nd whose area or ffwitage constitute* more than MJ percent of the l<»(al area or fiHiiage <tf the hereinafter drurihrd Payne Kidg Drive special assessment disint I and the township board of the Township of Yankee Springs propose* Io make road improvements consisting of installing 15 inches of base course asphalt compacted, and installation of 1,5 inches of surface asphalt compacted The area of roadway i* approximately 21,276 square feet And Io create a special assess menl for the recovery of the cost* thereof by special assessment against the properties benefited therein c PI .('.ASI' IA K P I Cj RI H PR N() I K I; that the district within which the foregoing imprervement* are proposed to he constructed and within which the co*t* thereof i* proposed to be assessed is more particularly described as including the following parcel numbers; OK OH OH OH OH OH OH 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 017 021 017 021 017 ON 017-017 017 020 017 024 017 027 (KI 10 (M) (Wl (K) (X) (X) 08 16 OH 16 OH 16 OH 16 OH 16 08-16 017 017 017 017 017 017 021 30 012 (X) 015-00 OIH 00 022 fX) 037 00 OH 16 017 021 OH 16 017 013 08-16 017-016 OH 16 017-019 OH 16 017-023 0«-16-017-026 20 00 00 00 00 (X) PLEA,SE lAKE FURI HER NOT K>E that the Township Board has received engineering plans showing the improvements and an estimate of the costs of such construction in the approximate amount of $52,(XX), ba.s placed them on file with the township clerk, and has passed a resolution tentatively declaring its intention to make the improvement and to create the special assessment district. The township board has also tentatively found the petitions to be in compliance with statutory requirements. t 4 I* tl * V I I Emma Geukes of 7 hornapple Kellogg Schools received the Travis Wenger 4-H Scholarship •ack row is (L/R) Tyler Wenger (bolding Miles Wonoer), Stephanie Wenger Phil Wenger Emma Geekes (ror ipient) •eckyWnnqix Front row is (L7R) Macy Wenger and Madilynn Wenger Courtesy photos i •4 * k *» * ’’ .4 I V I f fiA'' >)f I* > W F ♦ * :I . I •r iRsw > ,L V* t A trio of Barry C ounty seniors rc“ ccived scholarship awards through the Barry ( ommunity Foundation to help them pursue p>sl-sccondar\' opportuni­ ties. thanks in part to their dedication to the county’s 4-H program. - «’ ’ I 7 “The Barry Communits I oundation and the niomapplc Area l.nnchmcnt I oundation. along with their donors, are very proud to support students who participate in our county's 4-H Continued on next page 4r WV 5 4f ■ rio of Barry County 4-H members receive scholarship awards • I f v-* rEt6 ■ I ^#1 I I ** 4* e i J Mil 1* Sic J t 8S5) i* ») / 4 -A f If •-..M r •• / fit-’ f < Proud to be I ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ At the hearing, the board will consider any written objections to any of the foregoing matters filed with the board at or before the hearing as well as any revisions, corrections, amendments, or changes to the plans, estimates and costs or special assessment district. mihomepaper.com A 1 YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTION PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a public hearing on the petitions, plans, district and estimate of costs will be held at the Yankee Springs Township hall at 284 N. Briggs Road, Middleville, Michigan, commencing at 6 o’clock p.m. on August 14 2025. Township clerk signature: Tom Hopkins Township address: 284 N. Briggs Road Middleville, Michigan 49333 f, J PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that said plans, estimate of costs, proposed special assessment district and petitions may be examined at the office of the township clerk from the date of this notice through the date of the public hearing and may be examined at such public hearing. All interested persons are invited to be present al the hearing and to submit any com­ ments they may have. t 1 The County Press Lar>eer Area View Genesee County View Huron County View Sanilac County News Your Buyer's Guide JeOersonian Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tn County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer $ Guide & News ■ The Sun and News ■ Ad-Visor A Chrontrle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Reminder ■ St Clair Area View Group 9 r V ♦ Ii 4. *i 1 ' - L I t r fflt W P I ' ■ f > I i :j4b * I 1 i jj a ssiW C Sito 2271 SiK : I { 5 s’I «l*llMW(ISI^i&^ r i I V 1 1 i ’ I I I I ll2ffiM!l!tw^2Wiefft?«are < ija 5^^te«jsRdbr?a£;5?ffi-i ; iteaSijBjppESecfii’ ( '■ M Wffl kSw jffisiSng U aw ♦ ' ■‘•'J •f I f 4 f- 1< i f 1 / •< 4 1 * • I r«j i1 i' 4 r# .aiW*’’* [ ' r ,f »«*> ■ ■ J IF * 1 • k* • fi- ' I �I I JV I *4 2 1 4 J I ♦ ♦ ♦ * I ' *1 5 1 1 f > Saturday, July 26, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com VW t 1 11 ♦ 4 Continued from previous page > »■ ■ — biE- ; i program,” said Annie Halle, Barry Community Foundation chief operating officer. “Barry County 4-H has had a rich history and instills the type of dedication, leadership, and en­ gagement skills that our youth need to be successful.” Those receiving scholarship awards included: Emma Geukes of Thomapple Kellogg Schools received the Travis Wenger 4-H Scholarship. Geukes has participated in 4-H for nine years, showing both lambs and pigs. She will be pursuing a degree in supply chain management at Grand Valley State University in the fall. Another TKS graduate, Char lotte Dykstra, received the Jane Morris 4-H Scholarship. Dykstra has shown market steers, breeding rabbits, dairy cattle and market lambs at the Barry County 4-H for 12 years. She plans to attend Western I ■.rnma.TPi I r- ip'ranTTro-' ' . rb » .* « a ,2ni ; r. I !--d ' VTfWWiWAd leer I fl} ' la vioieffi f' ? 4 r 4 I I 1 T. ih I I r I f 1 t r E •yToi bomi ' u I I I bi 1 I'm a I •V* f Ima* J t 4; I 1 tl *> /3 7 T IUD, i * > > ^4 w n & I r '■/hl - C J ' 4. ♦ X, . * Ob n Ibu. ’’•I '{t V ‘ nTj . f1 f ?*ill em bnh • tth: 01 r y ► I u •* Ar % y• ♦ * ‘v I f 'S. ( k n<i6< j ^i^;r J. J >. i > * I; V 1*.. *4 j51^^ TJ I Michigan University this fall to begin pursuing a degree in pediatric speech. The Gordon and Carolyn Worth Scholarship was award­ ed to Isabel Gee of Hastings Area Schools. According to an announce­ ment on the scholarship awards, Gee has participated in the Bar­ ry County 4-H in the open class exhibition, which included baking, sewing and crocheting. She reportedly plans to attend the University of Michigan in the fall to begin pursuing an engineering degree. The Barry Community Foun­ dation continues to offer vari­ ous kinds of scholarships to a wide range of students, with applications for scholarships to be awarded next year available to students online starting on Dec. 1. For more information on the Barry Community Founda­ tion or the scholarship awards, persons may contact Halle by calling 269-945-0526. Z)A/ ♦ i« » 't: I I I. c 04 616-891-0150 ► 1 2025 I I f BARRM COUNTM < FAIR n• •* BUSINESS HOURS: I I I Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 PM t / * '/ •A J *4 y“ 5'1 * %.«*d iS ♦ t . t Bt <■ t 9 tv *■ F 1 t. * I * 1 i* * • w 4 • .. t 4 .in • . E. i • '•Is BODY SHOP 4 • £• ? I*? r > 1^ r' >• t f r '■•A i « A t-' «A « I Another TKS graduate, Charlotte Dykstra, received the Jane Morris 4-H Scholarship. (L/R) Annie Halle and Charlotte Dykstra. YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors... and our future. VIE^T Group Complete Collision Repair 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Vovr trusfed Body Shop -for over 32 years 4r. '«i. J r I r I /I 4. - 3-11 E 4* I lul. ,Y6bnoM bled | ooxsmsIfiX lebtsnoo o» be>i3B zoiq 26 eofiertlbiO I pnibliuB ,aC!’-I J .sfirmeq gnibiiufl lUlomJs vlifT.6f!tlum z 1 I •J I T> Q> lileoTKUUk Tilt' / ' il STT !. ■ F f 1 t •1 n •» I r 1 t 1©} beaoqoiq erlT te lltw ,(8) nuiJoeS I M' 0 W N S H P NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING At a regular meeting of the Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees, held Monday, July 14, 2025, at the Township Hall located at 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316, the Board of Trustees was asked to consider an amendment to the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance as provided for in Chapter 32 thereof by amending Section 22-136, Building permits, Section (B). Said section (Section 22-136, Building permits. Section (B)) thereof, restricts all early starts, including multifamily structures. The proposed text amendment to Section 22-136, Building permits, Section (B), will allow multi-family early starts. I I SbuiT t' bi608 gr’T 3S , rf iuguA beiu 4X|!rtf vr lefierlO ■’niE yd io r r I I f .,’4 i I I I I .1 J euif /V tenwoT; J I I 4 f ... . kK i|teie8 ^TOlO I I I -I » 1 1 I f The Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing at their regularly sched­ uled August 11, 2025 meeting to consider an amendment to the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance as provided for in Chapter 32 there­ of by amending Section 22-136, Building permits, Section (B). biM j r T - J i 't t The Gaines Charter Township Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Request for a 40-foot dimensional variance to reduce the Street side yard setback of the northern property line from 60 feet to 20 feet to construct a 3,400 square foot resi­ dential accessory building in the A-RR zoning district. Property Address: 9720 Hanna Lake Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Parcel Number: 41-22-26-320-002 Applicant: Jeremy Boot Date and Time of Hearing: August 13th, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 A true copy of the proposed ordinance amending the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance as provided for in Chapter 32 thereof, Section 22-136, Building permits. Section (B), can be obtained at the Clerk’s office during normal business hours (8:30am-5:00PM Mon-Fri). Michael A. Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact info® gainestownship.org or (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. I <40. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected during regular business hours Monday through Friday, at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices or contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5 PM on August 13th, 2025. I I J r I i! I GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP -w * « �( « 1 i i Saturday, July 26. 2025 12 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandr»ews,com < I i —— ^wrniaatp ■ ■ «w » * * i f I SAVE THE DATE CRAFT BEER AND WINE FEST ► i. ! ♦ t A k .•A .1* / ( >fe Iff 1 <T ■ £tf Daily News - View Newspaper Group is hosting 1 >* 'sdl fl • J rf I :*« I r « 5 2 i Saturday, October 11,2025 fe: 4 ns 4 ** ** > ■■ ■ V. Ct. 2-7 PM, TIVOLI SQUARE, DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE I 19i^: IN .JU < V 4 r free food I 4 I B.. I « { UWEVAOS'C I r 9- I < w be^ i It ""SI n V I 1, < 4 >> k J L </ ? ' 4 : I 5J A ♦ ■ ,.l« t>. 4 •f. s •?< «? •y ADVANCE TICKETS: 'J «*• Alt •A ■x .H •K ^^toberfest 't. g . •^.r- • f f .r;-’ % •• - 2025 - zSODDITi: oMiioieeti 'f 2 ! < V VIP ADMISSION $50 Includes one hour early entry, exclusive food and drink pairing experience. Hops & Grapes 101 with local brewer, commemorative Bottles Brews & News Oktoberfest lanyard, souvenir glass, five drink sample tickets and food * «r ■’£ ,VTin» vh69 irort Ilf * -* .-'f - ... Bnnieq >lnnb bni* iBOol TWiw fOI esqfrW -’weifl ealJJoa wdsio nnavuoz ,tnevns.i bocrt bn® ?J9xoit ■#lO"n 4 1 .J I. . • I I si t 't. y GENERAL ADMISSION $30 Includes souvenir glass, five drink L. sample tickets and food SPONSORED BY; ISABELLA BANK The event benefits Rotary Club of Greenville z I 1 r» C4 Local. Growing. Staying. 2i r Rotary Club of Greenville. Ml □ Sponsorships available. Contact Amber Rood at arood@thedailynews.cc or at 616-548-8257 * A If V * t r ' 'V « < /JT, 7^4 < 4 4 □ r* t M. cF r >«• □ 5l t p < e* 'i *4 » I '"*4. liT- I / 1 4 .s ... M "■ •v t it « «. I ;5 # 4' ♦ J »a^ t 4 4 • i9 Z"'- r 'I ,y. f 4 ■■ T > .4» t, X «------------ '■!» « Cl « *ff r K “T t ■ p t. <4 I V a :i 9 UI t « J' < .S r* ft L../! < 7WU T w EVENT BENEFITS: 4 vs shod JKJ hsotf •e It 4 1 s- e- Scan QR code or visit thedailynews.cc/oktobGrfest k for tickets Additional tasting tickets will be available for purchase at event for $1 each. DAILY NEWS VIEV«U^ Group bool r)n?4 -fS r 1 > ^r• Pi ♦ EVENT HOSTED BY; OCSMOUZIHO X ( *■ 7 t -,^b^ AAIB ' t »* 4 9 .. r 9 4 t •< I ** A 4 4 ■- A kT j1. » h f aVj32W«T4l � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-08-02.pdf 89604a1e749c968496b5ae77e3447128 PDF Text Text e A* PAGES ■■■ 1 www.sunandnews.com New IK supe nils the ground running ri aqua NT wsN nui bnuoiB srit b 9 Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer lrtDllll3-fl’l’“T O8«)l islnW ttsia ionvnxfX'j to zte'j/ rftiW k/J doJl .»K*o9Jnni)qu^ foorlo^ -io»n zi: gninnin bnumg sdi Jfd Il lobfJiil won >loorio2 gsolb>l rfrtW . I zlut ' Tfib ;i^niloMn fiQilcoubo to bieorJ 1 1 I ’ ds»x/l .'WTiinr wsrncoT on) ni .boodc gnivoni ^'junifrroo 8<jfd mT jeoamol bru: Jzii^ i atlfV'jlbbiM iEiit WiMn on ?.'H ifil brnrltata gnixsnw 18G/1 JgHi bicod B yrsfi hnn 3l izod ?.'Ji»lw gtiiob ni Jaaioini J>i£^ riouoA rtj^ Tof fnBnoqmi K'lfirfJ bnA" jnoilfibfajol Ifr otg oeorlT irn5J«^<>! loofbf' wo lb; tnsv/ .SVBfl 51 4 J 4 I n i .1 w it ij^ ofit Bfi b'/na^ aeri ibuoH I LJ 54 t aloorl'jH tivik osinoIVf to insb ofrivf orif 8u bnb 2'icy< wft Jaal iTioil looriu^ slhbrM nabniJ . r IDS oiqqBmofir srif InqA nO uornineru/ bsiw bifiofl iooriofi ** s A s 11 4 -i' L* .fl >1 4 1 SSf' * 4 1 i ’ ** s '» e ■/ il 1 • J k * s K ♦ Contributing Writer The Gaines Township Planning Commission gave its final stamp of approval for the first phase of the Dutton Center residential project to begin. Plarming Commission members voted, 6-0, at their July 24 meeting to approve the final site plan for the 233-unit mixed-use development at the 3300 block of 68th Street. The development is part of a proposed five-phase project between Dutton and Hanna Lake avenues that will also include some commercial development. Gaines Community Development director Dan Wells said the devel­ opment complies with the town- >1 L : I 4 I I I I weM ppolleM 9bni3tnii9qu8 ftouoS uL no noitiaoq 1111 r) T J i a •riiiff nmatt yd otodq I EODM CnUONEH BESIDEIUfVr ECHMee RMwvrrKBB bo«o*a«o Nooa uaMoisno ivLuiaoisau SSM)I» Bern in affMiMJs beuA»ll33e <(0939 OtMUMRe- INI 9ee# Wiuj»d sees* m ‘siiiAuaaJO OKKoeOd A z J* • * •I -X’l bVID K n ? bOSivcG buex 210 aivd if*' ;1: ? J li Thornapple New School Kellogg Superintendent Rob Pouch started his position on July 1. File photo by Karen Turko-Ebright ship’s updated master plan adopted in 2023 that envisions a village center being built along 68th Street. Wells said it also comports with the historic character of the village, with the village-center concept aiming to create a blend of com­ mercial and residential structures that accommodate a walkable neighborhood. Dan Larabel, a land manager with Allen Edwin Homes, presented an update on plans for the project on behalf of the J&A Post Family Farm, LLC. The developer received approval last year to have a 30-acre parcel rezoned to provide addi­ tional flexibility in laying out the properties. “They can start construction on A '• .* - I » .. ... ■ '.IP 4 ' - T- -r J Ta -_-|iT . - , < J / ! . MBI M r* II J i j I 11 9 I Ij J I ri I 15 i I •o 4 '■n M .1 •A I 11 4 I I A *1 i * 1 1 I \ I ) I <1 .■i utilities,” Wells said after the meet­ ing. “And once they get all the utilities in the ground, then they can start coming in for building permits.” Phase 1 will include 37 rental townhomes, 10 fewer than what was originally proposed in the northeast section of the parcel. Larabel said that will allow for some commercial frontage to remain intact. There will be two neighborhood commercial build­ ings facing 68th Street, plus some single-family detached “veranda” homes. Developers also needed approval for the site plan changes because the Kent County Drain See DEVELOPMENT on 3 aovisod s n ais isud .A r Initial phase of Dutton Center development receives final OK E fll *n I L • Dan Larabel of Allen Edwin Homes explains to the Gaines Township Planning Commission how the 233-unit Dutton Center project will roll out during a July 24 meeting. Photo by James Gemmell i J J • A •V ? '{ ' WK .J • 4» I a < Bl 9 r> 1 X* j ■ J > asx t• r •X' J A r*-.r * . 'si ■ S’Sf ‘ K* s* » J I ■> . X !! • «r F'. I ( 1 * V'’_Z ■>* Si I ' Mb James Gemmell ;' I e I , . J ' f • wr «a^ £ J » wjii r" - ■ See SUPE on 5 I I L S. With five years of experience as a school superintendent, Rob Pouch hit the ground running as Thomapple Kellogg Schools’ new leader from the day he started on July 1. With his first board of education meeting on July 21 in the rearview mirror, Pouch said he continues moving ahead. First and foremost, I’m blessed. It’s no secret that Middleville has an amazing staff and gorgeous facilities, and we have a board that has the best interest in doing what’s best for kids,” Pouch said. “And that’s important for success. Those are all good foundational skills we want all our school systems to have.” Pouch has served as the superinten­ dent of Morrice Area Schools for the last five years and as the principal at Linden Middle School from 2017 to 2021. On April 29, the Thomapple Kellogg School Board voted unanimously at f W •• �Saturday, August 2, 2025 2 THE SUN AND NEWS Twp. planners revoke special use permit for home-based business A * < P—T “•r- A I * 4 « w. *< .t '*», .X lir Gaines Township staffers reported multiple vehicles were found on the 100th Street property where a car-detailing operation was taking place, many without license plates. Source: 0ainettowRBitip.org the permit in November 2023 for the home occupation in an accessory build­ ing on the 4600 block of 10(Xh Street in Caledonia, just west of Patterson Avenue. “I don't know if we've had a similar (incident) like this in the township,” said Connie Giarmo, Planning Commission chairperson. • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers Gaines Community De­ • Cellular Enhancement Systems velopment director Dan Wells said the township Give us a call! ''/SurgQf received a complaint from 269-967-8241 neighbors on June 2 that n o» y www.theantennamen.com saM multiple vehicles and trash •M ftntennamenegmail.com www.celltignAlprot.com were stored on the property. He added he and Sgt. Jeff Bylsma of the Kent County SherifTs Office inspected the property the next day. “And, sure enough, the report was correct,” Wells photo • video • drone said. “There was trash resldentiat & commercial real estate • corporate • events piled up against the garage on one side. Alpha616Media.com But there were also about 10 to 12 vehicles grant@alpha616media.com parked around the yard ... Grant Alphenaar (616) 638-4751 many of which didn’t have Owner (license) plates. So, they’re considered inoperable un- ♦4 « • I WB J J r Antenna Men 3< tp >1 1 44 5^ Alpha 616 Media, llc 44 r T •4 ) if'" t • f•* J c if •I • d » *L4 * 9 1z * f 1 « k i9 r 0 X „v1 .<i''l L» 1^. * .<' •■•'I r A. * * J ♦ 4^ f > J 4 / I* I -p £'’Al' / 1*5 *' i* i 9^' i -I k 9 p 4rt .? i » I >i l'^ >•'* I '.-r ?il- f A LV' t I «r ill** ,1 V « r ■ ■ r* - M r* •'‘'iV 1 '.JO’*’ I A<<i f' 5 •X V J . f^ft*** • X ? >• I r jfi ♦/ II I H *^^%**- J 4i V, ' I ■' •',. iilK* I A: A _» I . >** t*- ( 1 I ,A ,........» ti-t r ' ‘x*- I ♦* • >d ^1 } ♦ -*i:i ft "n •• « I • fx J • I. b V I J * A I w ,;*• 5 1 p 1 ,1 I < *. t 4 4 >-• I II 5 ; r** A i * 4 I r I t I < <A .Ai* • atf®" 1 4 I 1 ’. t >) - • —- . 1,1 »1 J I •A u J* - I > f I k -ft'e 1 ' > «• \ ^ii®swa ■ « . *» V* ■ jn.» 4 4 ■ -iT'raEsftffii I. ftx1>- 1 I ------------------ ... 1 ‘ •< .., * «. t* A J I. ft A h I f * .r*** THE SUN AND NEWS • r:* t J • k X* I* i JA < I” ■s> I . -A^ ^4^ 9^ dcr our ordinance,” he added. “And storing inoperable vehicles outside of an enclosed space is not allowed. So, there clearly was a violation there. Planning commission member Talimma Billips said the business had committed an outright violation” of its agreement with the township. “We grappled with the decision to allow it in the first place,” Bil­ lips said. “And we truly, honestly believed that, if it was exactly what they said, that would be awesome. And from day one it sounds like, or shortly thereafter, it just never was what we approved. According to Wells, the special use permit allowed property owners Jennifer Ranero and her husband to store no more than one vehicle at a time inside a carport or garage. “At the time, we put the stipulation detailing work would be restricted to interior cleaning only and not generating any wastewater or waste chemicals by exterior or engine washing,” he said. It was one ofseveral conditions the township reportedly stipulated for See PERMIT on 6 « ««** t. i*'W ITic Caledonia Board of I 'ducatum appointed Kyle Clement this week to fill a vacant trustee scat on the hewd. following a public application and interview process, Ilie appointment was made during a special board meeting held on 1uesday. Julv 29. The vacancy Kyle Clement was created last month when former trustee Katie Isic rekicated outside the district, making her ineligible to continue serving. Clement will serve the remainder of Isic’s unexpired term through Dec. 31, 2026. He previously served as a Caledonia Community Schools Board Trustee from 2016 to 2022. During his six-year tenure, he was an active member ofihe Finance and Bond Com­ mittees, where he contributed to budget development, long-term financial plan­ ning, and oversight of bond-funded projects. “His experience brings valuable continuity and insight into the district’s ongoing strategic efforts,” wrote staff in a district-wide email. In addition to his past board service, Clement currently serves on the Cale­ donia Township Planning Commission and is involved with the Caledonia Youth Sports Association. “We were fortunate to have a strong group of applicants, and we appreciate the time and interest shown by every candidate,” said Board President Tim Morris. “Kyle brings a calm, collabora­ tive approach and a deep commitment to doing what is best for all students.” For more information about the Caledonia Board of Education, visit calschools.org. KTE ’’^S-T""' n WL J# L .-I ■f 'lii w ,,4-’, «•' ... *» Members of the (iaincs Township f’lanning Commission voted unani­ mously at their July 24 meeting to revoke a special use permit that allowed for a car detai I ing business to operate out of a family’s garage. Ilie 6-0 vote, with one member ab­ sent, came less than two years after the f’lanning C ommission had approved 4 J • iK ‘dnjr »C*W'’ CQ’T Clement appointed as new Cal Schools trustee » James Gemmell Contributing Writer fl i 1 c C^ -r*’ 'iVT Ji •> CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com I I h HI’ Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com I I Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman I csilverman@mihomepaper.com f > I I PUBLISHED BY All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rale card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. 1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-945- t 9554). This newspaper reserves the right not to ■ accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser s order. 1 r. mmacleod@mihomepapercom I - ; i » J M Editor: Molly Macleod A I Wv c.» PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Please recycle this newspaper Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. (• ■ ■rassik®- 1 I '-■x 4.x ♦ * .• k • w** • ** <Vv.^ • *** >4<4' sli.Siian'’; b « V «ft •1 * f < 'X . V I »* . -aCiMw. f I ir** -K n ' ■' *-4a I V. 4 I n. I ^- ** j. 1.4 »I f * 11 A t 4 / i f I ' ' »■ •■^4 -“ ■ s - 9h “ •• « / - r H i I: •i It 4 ‘I s II •s B; . 11 ! k Vxs. 4. ' ** �« (to ,oWT »i siPbud ,l<n)l I 3 I V } ' bf: > « i ’ J r c '• ' • c «• '0 I I 4 I I * ■> 4 h f ’ 1 ? I I ♦ ; I •7 "V h n; s b i 4 ' '^1 w 'nr* 4 I I,. J1 I A ■ I ’’Qchf < ■J? s • » J4 *. » k’, I t < * f ts.l I /. i ‘ J • 'C ? % !*?• 3 . 1’ t . •'15R^-Tir.. .> !• I . . »■ I I I t(i>. 1’ II. L« ' 1■ ■ *« 7 b I lit’ * I «J! *> L 'V 1 . -T t ( ' I j i-i'* ' ^9Swi-- asAfJ. V .-.15 ii.' 4.lI •I J < 16-, 'i I.’. 1 Mi . s V ’-'Tj r to * '•V I: lb 1 h A I! % . . I K-l 1, t K 4 * ft I T ••*.\iHll'a>.,l ■ '43^ iv >)• James Gemmell Contributing Writer C*'. ■js’tW nrtfli Gaines Twp. officials discuss public safety staffing, budget at special meeting I I I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com max.' 1 Gaines Township officials have until November to finalize its 2026 budget, with preliminary discussions begin­ ning in earnest at a special meeting of the township board of trustees on Monday, July 28. The board hosted a workshop session Monday night, with various township staffers, police officials and firefighters in attendance. “By Labor Day, I will present to the board budgets for the five funds that the township operates under,” Township Manager Rod Weersing said. The public safety budget was the primary topic of discussion at the meet­ ing. Township Fire Chief Ken Van Hall gave a presentation on a fire department staffing proposal that calls for the ad­ dition of three full-time employees at the Cutlerville Fire Station - or one firefighter per shift. One part-time posi­ tion would be moved from that station over to the Dutton Fire Department. Van Hall said the proposal addresses an urgent need for increased staffing to meet the growing demand for public safety in Kent County’s fastest-grow­ ing township. He added state standards Saturday, August 2, 2025 require that fire departments have at least four members on the scene of a fire before they enter a burning building. But Gaines Township firefighters may have to wait for additional personnel to arrive on the scene, due to staffing shortages. Van Hall compared the ability to re­ spond to an emergency to a chair with three legs. One leg involves personnel, another leg is the training, and the third leg is the fire apparatus and facilities. “Any creak in that causes the chair to tip,” he said. “Right now, with the way we’re staffed, we’re not getting enough people on the scene to take care of the problem. It’s really compromising firefighter safety.” Several new residential and com­ mercial buildings are being built in Gaines Township, and more are in the planning stage. Van Hall said that will put an even greater demand on firstresponders in responding to fire and rescue calls. Township Manager Rod Weersing estimated it will cost the township about $130,000 per each additional staff member. Supervisor Bob Terpstra said he and Weersing met with Van Hall recently Caledonia’s Celebration on Main on tap this week Aug. 6-7 Caledonia’s Celebration on Main is now a two-day event, slated for Wednesday, Aug. 6 and Thursday, Aug. 7 this week. Each night, cele­ brations will kick off on Main Street, fittingly, at 5:30 p.m. Events will wrap up both nights around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday’s offerings include a car show and Family Tavern Cruise Night. The Taste of Caledonia will also be displaying all kinds of tasty treats throughout the event, includ­ ing Brink’s Ice Cream Express, Sugar Momma’s Bakery, Farmgirl to discuss creating a three- to fiveyear plan for addressing growth in the township. Weersing said the old system of hav­ ing two firefighters per each fire engine is outdated. That goes back prior to 2010, when the township was much smaller, had • .1 (4 effVEMaiMt rt^aavTiMfttto <<> fewer calls, not nearly as much going on,” Terpstra said. “So, it’s time to bring that up in 2025-26.” Township recently applied for a federal SAFER grant, which provides funding to help fire departments in­ crease personnel numbers to meet See MEETING on 7 TOWNSHIP CLERK Soovw'^ y Cake Pops and much more. In addition to the festivities, live music from Easy Idle String Band will play during on Wednesday. On Thursday, there’s fun for the whole family including a tractor show, a farm animal pet and play area, the Caledonia Farmers Market and the Pet Parade starting at 6:30 p.m. Plus, festival-goers can enjoy live music from Candid Antics. Questions can be directed to caledoniaeventsOl @gmail.com. — KTE Thornapple Township is seeking a qualified resident to fill the position of »«* * J! .. k»'<« £ V n Ik 1 '.1 '.J 4 w • Of t Continued from Page 1 t ■»—I f. 5!ii <1IK ■: r?4K 'h'n t J 4 4 DEVELOPMENT ••J r #77. 1 *.1 - ’’iUl lirl>3A^ . I J t ♦ • I ?• * f - Tf • 1 I i / : Qua- 5 : 9 »-* r ’■ • 'MIOD ■ A ■' ’ .-t ' ■ ’ >t‘h‘Eto^iv I L': ’ L'H)T • h I ►r* . I ii ‘fir i II nwiiMH—............... ■■■Ill 1 / 9 •I k >HA 4 I k f J •’ ? i ♦ ■ W ' I 4*' 311 i I hxlir ; .1 ■ /LUS' Commission required a stormwater retention basin to be expanded. The stormwater runoff would be collected in a detention basin in the northeast section of the Dutton Center PUD’s first phase. “So, we’re kind of in that final stretch,” Larabel said. “(Kent County) Road Commission approval has been obtained. The Drain Commission, we’re right there on the finish line with them. We’re receiving our final per­ mits to start construction here this fall,” Allen Edwin Homes is in the pro­ cess of completing the construction of Phases I and II of the Thomapple Farms subdivision immediately south of the Dutton Center project. The first phase of the Dutton Center subdivision reportedly will be built concurrently with the third phase of the Thomapple Farms development. That would provide an interconnected public roadway network between Dutton and Hanna Lake avenues. They need to connect another road from the Thomapple Farms subdivi­ sion to the south through this area, so they have a second emergency­ access point off Dutton Avenue,” Wells said. “They’re going to hit their 30-house limit. Until they have that second connection, they can’t build any more houses.’’ Representatives with Michiana LLC, a subsidiary of Allen Edwin Homes, also recently proposed building the second phase of the Dutton Center subdivision as a site condominium, instead of as a plat. Phase 2 would have 51 single­ family residential lots in the southern section of the development, including a mix of ranch, two-story and bi-level homes with three to four bedrooms and an attached two-car garage. The responsibilities include: • Record the minutes of the Township Board meetings • Manage all Township records • Maintain the General Ledger • Administer elections • FOIA coordinator • Manage cemetery • Process payroll • Accounts payable Additional Clerk duties can be found on the Township website: thornappletownship.com/jobs Please submit resumes with a letter of interest to : office@thornapple-twp.org This position will be open until filled. Thornapple Township | 200 E. Main Street Middleville 1 Ml 49333 (269) 795-7202 ■ i t n 4 J Li I k t I I I I 4 J 1 I I • I i Ij f .. I 4 I I 1 r I ! A 11 < k i >s h 'b I 'b 1 h I J J b f \ j I I I 1 3 �Saturday, August 2, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS A MIDDLEVILLE TOPS 546 ' * • •• I I I ■ I - ■-• 1— - ------- — will The July 28 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary's report There is one fish in the fishtxTwf, two jumped out Virginia's program was from the July/ Aug TOPS magazine titled “Mind the Meds " There is very little research done on how weight loss affects drug doses The only research is after bariatric surgery After weight loss, drugs are absorbed differently, but there IS insuttoeni eviderx^e lor general ^^osing guidelines One aspect is clear It needs to be addressed on an individual basis GPs are usually the Ia5;t ones to gel the message Talk to your doctor Make sure they know you are trying to lose weight Gradual changes in dosages is the best Working with your doctor, especially one who is aware, is the best II could save your life Chapter members continued their contest by tilling in one dot for each one-tenth of a pound lost Virginia was the best loser for the month of July Maryeilen lost the Ha-Ha Box The meeting ended with marching in place as the grewjp recited the TOPS pledge TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Uncoln Meadows in Middleville Weigh-in is frexn 3:30 p.m. to 3 45 pm. followed immediately by the meeting Press the white buzzer for entry The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Any'tsne with questions mav call ^'ieginia. 269-908-8036. or Maryeilen, 616-318-354S. The first tneetinf^ is free LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Service Times Caledonia Vine Street Church **' «* A, IRST BAPTIST service, in person or online, 250 Vine Street 616-891-8669 k Good Shepherd jz Lutheran Church Middleville kk J ■n Llvestrearn; fdcebook.com/rirsibaptistmiddleviile Pastor: Rob Wurst http:Z/goodsheplicrdJcms.googlepages .com Church: PBCM1DDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 J -* i A >• r for Aug. 10 CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am CHURCH 9669 Kraft Avc., Caledonia Rionc: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycalcdonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or sec our website for information 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY 9church MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9;30am & 11 .OOam 20 State Street, Middleville. Ml t www.tvcweb.com v 2 • »4 Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. ■ Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. PEACECHURCH.ee Siii^ I* 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, Ml 49333 peacechurch.ee Yt tt fr •S' II HjL-> r •-..A '■Jr z iX' ■ \ r Mits' « d r s#*! f I /r* ST-' ;‘rr- v* II L s’ Ui 9 s .“Y'W: I i < .> £ Af ’ « w W J _ V wl* t V J >t> ■ . !•' ■ 1';^ 9 f 1 < -ijfll* f r-sz^? 0 'j^ r? ’ r* I k 1 •i > . A 4 II f- tf 4 < *45 •r I — //d ■ A nw f^W < P Biff* •-1 ■■ II III J ir * t r . l1 AV V* > L-dit y I jR' 4 i’** v%** f .*-^r **,i * t « L I f . ■« * t . ' i r ru* ii’J • «>«b .r t ■J 4 it iTu”! > «« LIGHT TRUCK FHRTS awn*nnM*MnB<Hi-an>»i-w ■B MTt. MM MB . flat TOM . MIH . MM MM . MM c asii^ yaiaf^'^ J u f - ;, S} 1 J to f 269-381-2300 - 4 sawfeS' I 'l V nr . 1 vM fa •4 ; nu SERVICE«YOB nu n I,V , OFfll^ a I I I * I I I r USED PARTS USED TIRES r jrhimest 00 iV« 1 I IfW. ■;■ fetaitosT^ •f @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, Ml 49316 Office 616-891-8688 - Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonift.org Yankee Springs Bible Church 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 493.33 LmJ I 4 I: ff. ClTOpS BsaffwiteftWW: htfal F L ,1 ai uw. ■'•’ Your local agent insures your I if ilBM 4« 1^: f - ffi io 3^'- • -- 4' rt_ Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM < 1 ») Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel Middleville Location - >• I Area residents can learn about com­ posting and organic garden fertilizers at a free workshop this month. Herbalist, Michigan State Univer * sity Pollinator Champion and Master Gardener Robbin (ilass will lead the workshop on Sunday. Aug. 10. from 3 to 5 p.m. Attendees of the class will Icam how to compost and how' to solve common composting problems. Glass w ill also explain organic fertilizirrs and which fertilizers are harmful to pollinators. Glass encourages attendees to ask gardening questions during the question-and-answer portion of the class. Attendees have the chance to win prizes from a free drawing. The workshop will be held at the Hastings SDA School at 904 Terry Lane in Hastings. All are welcome to attend the class; there is no need to register. For more information, contact Glass at 517-652 3056. MM W’-r- JOURNEY .,rt 1 -L* 4 'catholic church (269) 795-2391 4toPEACE v.> \/ HOLY FAMILY I 9:30 a.m. 1^1 *1 1 908 W. Main Street. Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship -/LL 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstoneml.org/weekend at 9:00 am Sunday Service 10:30 AM •» > Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am join us for our traditional yet ca.sual worship Sunday at 9:30 AM 8 6<X) PM www.ataskabaptiatorg 12hQ 68th Strwt SE, Calecionia cornerstonechurch / a!ich.il;wiIjfcE- * T- i.^ __ F: V 4 •-W' t A • <• r 4, v * < '«»ft k : 1 .« r' I 1;: K ’ll! & 4 . r H w3^ *1 u » w* I A • I TV^ rr fUn BVtttAV Shining Forth God'» Light 'i y Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... to n 10:(X) a.m. 11 ;00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankccspringsbiblechurch.ofg *> t Jason Parks 121 E Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 796-M27 « ri ftk I 3! <*3. J ft A ». t ■ft". to - to. .^ '-’'I''. --4k 1^.4 t» I .J' i » r » • n * > 9- ,r < •-•/•K .K I ! *a I « i-, I < h t I I I I I I L 9 4 '‘I 1 (’ I 11 < t ? I •I 1 « ri 1 • i I { 6 4 A I 4 I t 4 fi«r w ■ .1 • 1;^ wB * 4 • I * ■1 / • ' 'IW J LpartuMtoitmi. 1 FsrniBurMtrfnwrsncft.cofit I 4 A �4 1 : ft It' 1. * A I* 341^ SUPE i 4 1 ! 5— ♦ I -n •T y - O', . J I I 0 J1 I t 4 0 ■ '-». I I i I r I 4^ . < » t i .4- . J - X y . •'v •• Z I V I X I 4 r X I Kk' f i T •t, 'ft • V'l 1 I ft K C-' 9 \ * V s'* r. > \f » Mu ' A / X 1 i 9 1 f. !I Vk ?&rh. '‘‘Ci./' I i.tauoo! 're •i: <1 s. 1 '» ’•s' . 4 A i! ■ . 4' «V( J •K 1. V 1 i *• r. ‘ W A -J > 4 I r-. j >E : »* w I •Hl I < • 4 :^'J. Ik Ui <' rd' j CC^I. -4 f ’ J I I -f .•» i : I H I r *■* I 1 « < t i »- X > I * Ai • J *S : . nibbi i9J£j «* toju-W '■ * 4 ' >r . ’ yir-- ; ? -4: ' ..'^1 I ■; I f I u > I I jui y ii , uifUiiTj > • ( . I , 1 i »' t t ft > ; gfTWt ijli’ • 1 i -w- f b F» i: • ’»'< 1 n ;u J i’ i S' ■’f t I I I I t IE.• 3* L I 4 I f I I 1 .I .1 t • 4 Hit ri Ij ' 1 ■ ^-9 I* I b R «« > I I I Im. •-I ^**<^*M I I I I I ik* I i '.V ( •1 4 ^1 ) ■ 4 •• • I < I Ig It A j ' a K % . iH-^: iMf/r - I I I f JF I I B 01 * I j; iWi . CJI^' - wMft ri I I t 4 ! 1 p .• •**“ I ■ :vJ t . • r r t» ■ •’<-* a special meeting to select Pouch as their new superintendent. Newly elect­ ed members of the TK board include trustees Katie Stanton, Keara Hilton and Mark Price. Returning board members who are officers are presi­ dent Derrick Brock, vice president David Smith, secretary Brenda Hess and treasurer Tyler Wenger. “I was fortunate where I was able to work the previous couple of months closely with Mark Provost (assistant superintendent) from a distance and really be in tune with what had been going on in the district in April, May and June,” Pouch said. “So, that allowed me to hit the ground running and allow me to focus on building some relationships early on.” Over the course of the past month, Pouch has spent time in the school buildings visiting with staff. Tt’s been great being able to focus on staff and building relationships with the staff that’s here and spending time oneon-one with our board members and discussing what’s important here for Thomapple Kellogg Schools,” Pouch said. “As a fifth-year superintendent, you climb to the ranks as a veteran super­ intendent,” Pouch said. “I’m very thankful that my previous superinten­ dent experience has also allowed me to hit the ground running.” While circulating through the school buildings, Pouch had an opportunity to meet with the nurses and talk about the program. “That’s been one bless­ ing that came out of COVID is all dis­ tricts typically now have some form of nursing program,” said Pouch. “That’s been great.” Plus, he’s been to several cabinet meetings. “I’ve been able to listen and learn,” he said. He also met many people at the local Rotary club. In addition to all of the staff and community visits. Pouch attended the Barry County Fair. I was just amazed at the work, the facility, the care for the campus. It was very nice. It was nice to see some of our students’ work.” Pouch said at last month’s board of education meeting during his superintendent’s report, “We’ll call it work that they do because it is hard work every day of the year, all hours of the day some­ times taking care of those animals.” Pouch added that he chit-chatted with 4^ Classifieds 9* ?< BUSINESS SERVICES L * • •• A ■■ ANNIVERSARY ANNOUNCEMENT w »V X J K « I. i* WANTED CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 WANTED TO BUY; Standing Timber. Conscientious timber harvester. Saw Mill Office- 517-254-4463. lai* NEED STUMP GRINDING? Cail 269-908-6227. Rooted Outdoor Services. 'i BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy single walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-8187793. COMMERCIAL-RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave, Suite A,B Grand Rapids. $20.00 ANNUAL /SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic@remax.net some of ±e kids and toured the fair­ grounds with board members Brock and Wenger and saw some other com­ munity members, other superinten­ dents and had the opportunity to talk to the local sheriffs department. “What a great event, and there’s just no greater joy when you go to a fair and you have the kids talk about their animals and the process that it takes to raise those animals. Their eyes light up, they shake your hand, they get excited, they could talk forever,” Pouch said. “Thank you to Tyler and Derrick for taking time to tour Mark and I around the campus.” Pouch said he’s looking forward to the new FFA bam and where that pro­ gram is going. He is eager to see how the program expands into additional fair presence in the future. 1 TV w r < FOR SALE ATV- KAWASAKI QUAD Brute Force 300. Like new, under 200 miles. Elec­ tric & pull start, $3,400. (269)9865218 A: 4 .♦ > •it r S BRUSH HOG LAND Clearing, gravel driveway grading and other skid steer services available. Call 616-551-9523 I . **♦> ■ 4 I ,i GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEE- All aspects of golf course maintenance, including trim­ ming, mowing, tree removal, and bunker work. Please see Evan and apply in person at Saskatoon Golf Club 9038 92nd St,, Alto, Ml. To set up an appointment call 616-570-5597 or apply online at saskatoongolf.com. A: * 1 Wieringas to celebrate 50th wedding anniversary CAMPERS/RVS 1988 AVIAN Model X 34’ RV for sale. Updated plumbing. New tires. Needs TLC. $8,000 OBO. 269-993-2529 Paul and Sallie Wieringa were married in Grand Rapids on August 2, 1975. They lived in Middleville for the 50 years of their marriage. They have two children, Jennifer and Scott Pollmann and Eric and Nicole Wieringa. They were blessed with seven grandchildren. Those who would like to send can cards of congratulations mail them to 11054 Jackson Rd., Middleville, Ml 49333. Ideally, it would be great. Not everybody has access to the ability to raise animals to take to the fair. Maybe now we’ll afford that opportunity to individuals who maybe don’t have that opportunity as that bam program gets up and running down the road. Pouch recently sold his house in Howell, Mich. He and his wife have five kids, and they sold their n * 30-acre hobby farm. They s currently reside in Ottawa J _ County., Their five kids frhe Estirnat®® are 12, 10, 7, 4 and 10 months old. • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation The superintendent seat • Blown-in Attic Insulation became available this year after former superin­ 517-983-0954 tendent Craig McCarthy Start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam retired at the end of 2024. *9 ft 1 B* ( I • I ■i r i 1 i 1 1 II !1 1 n ■ I < ii S fl Il 4 Ik }* I h» 11 { I J f » I I ! n 4 I I AI -9 1 ■i J s z J \ I 1 * I 4 J >♦. I I ’ J f) f I I k > * MP* » ^54 r JF i EMPLOYMENT TREE SERVICE ul .A LAWN & GARDEN STUMP REMOVAL k k •X DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOWPLOW­ ING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)2839712. 5 F > * Continued from Page 1 .f Saturday, August 2, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 5 > I I k �Saturday, August 2, 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS PERMIT that to discharge safely. And consictering there’s a drain right behind the propCTly, there was some concern about that. DeVries added he was concerned about what products were being used. “Eventually, it's going to soak into the ground,” DeVries said. “And it's going to get to the water. My well is 57 feet (deep) and it's not going to lake too many years of multi car washings and greasing to gel to the well. Ranero pleaded for the special use permit not to be revoked. “Being able to raise our kids ourselves while running our business from home has been a blessing for our family,” Ranero said. “'Diis is our livelihood and helps us support our children.” She apologized for the report of unreg­ istered vehicles and the clutter that accu­ mulated near their pole bam, adding the family worked to clean up the area after being contacted by township officials. “We have committed to stand in com­ pliance and keep our home and business in good standings with township rules,” Ranero said. “We feel that it would be a premature and unfair decision to revoke our special use permit al this stage, especially since this is the first formal warning we’ve received.” Continued from Page 2 the operation. Others included restrict­ ing the hours of operation to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through I ri day, and the vehicle stored on-site must tx; within a fully enclosed structure. A nei^bor, Terry DeVries, was the only residemt to spe^ at a public hearing during the meeting. Basically, from the day that thing started, they have never abided by any of the rules that are on this list,” DeVries said. fhere’s always been more cars. lliere’s nowhere near anywhere from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Il’s seven days a week. “And I’ve seen as many as (five) people around there working. I don’t know who they are. And there’s always been cars. I’ve counted as many as 20 cars on the property at one time.” He added his main concern is about potential contamination of the well water in his yard. Wells said that is why the township attached the condition that only interior cleaning would be allowed. “Usually when you detail a car, you’ll use solvents to try to clear off al I the gunk that’s accumulated on the engine,” Wells said. “And there was really no place for ftft www.sunandnews com 'er I ft * ' ’‘Jr'’’ I' • * 'k I t X <1 . r I •A ■ i • 1 JK * 4 **J I tz >1 x. i « i ' 4- ■ z V 4 " f i r« r Q I 1-■^1 ! / I 4 I p - ft ■ * i f' s .< ♦r a. » * • .4?’ J ' t. t !• > i Gaines Township officials said a pile of trash bags and loose trash was piled against the east wall of the accessory building on the site of a home-based car detailing business Source; gainestownship.org VI 1 But that didn’t seem to sway members of the Planning Commission. “If this were a slight infraction, a warning (might be warranted),” Billips said. “Or, if it was one additional thing. But this is pretty disappointing and pretty egregious, in my opinion.” The action to revoke the special use permit was done under a section of the township zoning ordinance pertaining to general compliance and property conditions, vehicles, equipment and machinery. “We have quite a few special-use permits in the township,” Giarmo said, “and if we want our residents to take seriously what we say when we grant them, I think we have an obligation to slay true to whal we required when we first passed this.” «a 9^ ' r t X. * * *v <"• w * 9 ’k i ♦ W *4r » • • • • • • «4A 4 * * ,14 I n 9 I* * - TF '•' A -w A 1 Jk*'* * wi - w r f . '- > • * ► 4* M (^1 » « » - • i * A « • * A * r I * * Caledonia Community Green Park • k •» ( 1 * • ir / W- • tK'" •• I 1 r ■5ST5* ] Trf** — T S '2 W « i iffliOt- I h * * 999 ' * w Ml!!i ffr £ X r J 9 4 I 1 I I * J 2 *4 r. 1^ • r > * 4 / ?- * I I I* •. f •f’!* Mb^ I ;h ' JI A [Tr ^*'’ r f ’’ •4^ ’hW I *»rJ « ,' 4 I . iiija. s n I SHOW 4 4 A 7 1^. t ** 4 a » . .:si[DOi A ' u b-*' PH PlxiJ j I S M S« i * s.r -T >► 9^. 4 INSPECnON ♦ A..« * .•4. r * >4 V- • VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK •f- POPCORN PROVIDED BY THE TOWNSHIP A L^.'J * 9309 Dobber Wenger Memorial Drive, Caledonia w f I «* r I •» .? E, • r I * Ii ’ II (.. ' .t b r • k J J- Id I iT- FOR YOUR FREE ' I I s’ ' V. I I * « i t x.t 1/ I CALL TODAY* I L » !«*«* I ’ I . fts* 1 •I i' * 9^ i-r £ * .4 l“ * • 9 • hfS I®”' t* • ’ J «L* w» > •rjk* t «f 1 it IN THE BUSINESS 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IK^ S • local trusted roofing COMPANY WITH 11S-, YEARS * AUGUST 8, 2025 AT 9:00PM * 4 < J r * K- B. I .r f 1 * > * » : 5.^ « -r- W * AM » Ar X ' lJI jt: F f r .n J ..z*’ A, ' 4* «a QUAUTY ROOFING r 4^ < J * 4«ai^ .A*1 -.2b I * ; .r-fi ;'*• ;> * »- SHERRIFF GOS LIN n r 'm THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN ROOFING 'Z- .•*. 4-*’ A I ** ,. tIW'’ k :p t^’ 9 ' 4 r ■»<* t I «4F • * « r », *V I 3t k Ar • V J F COME JOIN US FOR 4 i I 1 * ..4 9 S ) ' j '^1 . L *>’ r 4i f -&• r' i r f : T I I ■ A' ft* i 4 r f 'V. r**” I / 4 {. r 9^ *«r I < "1 '4aL < *. - •% r n Checkout the Caledonia Community Green Park Facebook Page for more information. (A A II * -w , * * * « « «k > a > -Wl* r % * u *1, 269-962-4036 > ?• 'A. V * ■ » V. I ;/ «Ut 4- -z . i ■ -■ < •• • -y. .:k. s /• s » �< i • r. 1 V *a a? £ J < . 'K t 1 ( I •< 4 * I 14 t IJ I. I t I » « lA I f “*• I I I M H 1 i * r « -4K. 'f < ^1 A i; » » t < 17 W '<>. I. * A V* B rsi i ’V-. br •I ’.J I I *—*? I i I '"•i i XV ...■•.JH>-"’^<*i—•*W> . $ I . J i A X^^^ ***^* 4 •- • t M i ♦ n > M ►. ll >1 I . •^r'■> ( < '- « V I, % s» i. !> •Y*' * b I te J I .f « 1 . .1 V w >,i; s* 4 s k I ‘ir- '>3 «. u j-hLi I » 1 I J .’// I l«ai ,vr I ll IC 4 ' Uk 5 7 & i 4 4 AX S • 1 A 5 IB--’* a** c «•* •' « 7 Continued from Page 3 ■fe i: Saturday, August 2, 2025 f *<> MEETING I M,. THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunarxJnews.com minimum industry standards. “It’s a little bit of savings but not significant, if we get it,” Weersing said. Van Hall added beefing up staffing would allow for more effective operations, as well as reduce the risk of injuries. Also, he said addressing the staffing shortages would improve community safety, not only in fight­ ing fires, but in responding to medical emergencies and other calls for service. Van Hall said adding firefighters w ill help during periods of high demand. “If we have someone call in sick or if we have someone that gets hurt, the chair tips,” Van Hall said. “We have no resiliency. We have to rely on these people that are sitting here to fill shifts. “ITiey have lives, too,” he added. “ They’re already working 2,900 hours a year.” Also, Weersing said a new platform fire truck the township ordered last year is due to arrive in October. The $1.7 million aerial platform vehicle was purchased from Wisconsin-based Pierce Manufacturing last year. 1» w c J <■ !z’ t nidu * •*1 J. •'T>. 1? I I** b Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra (left) makes a point during preliminary budget talks at the township hall at a July 28 workshop*session. Gaines Charter Township Fire Chief Ken Van Hall gives a presentation to the township board July 28 on a fire department staffing proposal. Photos by James Gemmell Weersing added the township's Fire Advisory Committee reviewed a long­ term template for replacing some of the department’s aging vehicles. I took a look at what we’d have to set aside each year over the next 12 years to make this replacement plan work,” he said. “So, basically, my recom­ mendation and what I’m planning on handing to the budget again is setting aside $500,000 per year, so that we can get in line and be ready for replacement of these vehicles as they come up. Township staffers are also consider­ ing whether to replace a Kent County Sheriff's Office vehicle in Gaines Township. The estimated cost for a command vehicle would be $75,000. “That could change a little bit,” Weersing said. “We’re doing some research to see if it makes sense to get something now, before tariffs kick in. To see if there's significant savings in doing something now' instead of waiting.” Township board members also briefly discussed some other future initiatives that the board intends to prioritize in the coming fiscal year, which begins Jan. 1. Tliose include potential improvements to Prairie Wolf Park, possible develop­ ment of Cody's Mill Park and upgrades to township cemeteries. ll > ll *■ .'Mi 'i •li 4 I. 4 r V * I A III I --- ■ — FaUGUST 6'" 5:30- TASTE OF CALEDONIA * ^3* .1 f AUGUST 7T«5:3O- I OeJUWR I* ! k \ 1 .i-;i w* » TRACTOR SHOW 4 $ 4 t J £ I r >•- f.wrMAX ;n' I rr T I t I a |;a ’I •b z 11 « ► i * ffiW «* . Y C‘ s’< *!* '•i > i fcSSr • i « 1 s ? m»imI j 5 f * I PEATURiNI^ . 1 V'l Vlive A4 I li « 'i kr-« w * CAR SHOW music from ESI kk snv Ind I 1' njaCffSIlWW 'S' I $ ’•J p v- trr-T ] ' I A > \• A :i' A*t Aho Poncing Sorvicos Village of Caledonia Buer Well Drilling Cal wear On Main 4 AMil Y » PET PARADE 6:30 pm t I AV t KN 9 <* 1 B T' » I. J ■</. r V. J 4. FEATURING D RraiUIGHiTi■7® Thornapple BBVe Brink's Ice Cream Express Frontier Heating A Cooling Sugar Momma's Bakery Insol rina Home I Caledonia Parmers Elevator Caledonia Dance Center Caledonia Farmers Market Caledonia Area Chamber f I •T- T i •>*' h.. r. I < \ f L I •i r ** V.’ A A I ( J 4 A 7.^ « ..5.- -i. '. iV.-' 1 4 Z; * .X* L'Z LIVE MUSIC FROM < K U IS k N i C H 1 Pox Chevrolot Alpine Events Yoga Zen US Goh Cars a BflECSa^’g G&AWa V ViaXEXSQjg I I L I '• £j;a££££. i « H. V FREE LENSES WITH THE PURCHASE OF A FRAME AUGUST 1 ST’AUGUST 3 1 ST A t ’ i' 1 4 y, » I \ A f 1 r J 1 'i —* # I ' < I B:30rm R ■'! iiii> f A. to 'ia^OHOOPiSfBIB aa^nwuiB TO ' X /r :j9£h I'jsyaiesaaslisAYl TBaosEsiSiSW 'i < aua 9 I * FREE ENTRY BOTH DAYS * ■ >’ ...kfiiHM r-*a PiGfi ^1 •flVT I * ••4 v* « ' A I L f * > .» •J V ••A aM A *: '^1 * 4’ V I ... ... - -V- �.f>■ 8 Saturday, August 2. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS '.I.* I iri •i LU’ i w > t / X r V * i • 6* .« I 4 I I I Yankee Springs Township . 4 r1 1 » & t \fner,,. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Township of Yankee Springs, Barry County, Michigan ' » — PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that as a result of petitions of property owners within the township signed by the record owners of land whose area or footage constitutes more than 50 percent of the total area or footage of the hereinafter described Payne Ridge Drive special assessment district and the township board of the Township of Yankee Springs proposes to make road improvements consisting of installing 1.5 inches of base course asphalt compacted, and installation of 1.5 inches of surface asphalt compacted. Ihe area of roadway is approximately 21,276 square feet. And Io create a special assess­ ment for the recovery of the costs thereof by special assessment against the properties benefited therein. ,u- 11 t >!?■ 08-16-017-021-00 08 16-017-021 10 08-16-017-014-00 08-16-017-017-00 08-16-017-020-00 08-16-017-024-00 08-16-017-027-00 08-16-017-021-30 08-16-017-012-00 08-16-017-015-00 08-16-017-018-00 08-16-017-022-00 08-16-017-037-00 08-16 017-021-20 08-16-017-013-00 08-16-017-016-00 08-16-017-019-00 08-16-017-023-00 08-16-017-026-00 PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Township Board has received engineering plans showing the improvements and an estimate of the costs of such construction in the approximate amount of $52,000, has placed them on file with the township clerk, and has passed a resolution tentatively declaring its intention to make the improvement and to create the special assessment district. The township board has also tentatively found the petitions to be in compliance with statutory requirements. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that said plans, estimate of costs, proposed special assessment district and petitions may be examined at the office of the township clerk from the date of this notice through the date of the public hearing and may be examined at such public hearing. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a public hearing on the petitions, plans, district and estimate of costs will be held at the Yankee Springs Township hall at 284 N. Briggs Road, Middleville, Michigan, commencing at 6 o’clock p.m. on August 14 2025. At the hearing, the board will consider any written objections to any of the foregoing matters filed with the board at or before the hearing as well as any revisions, corrections, amendments, or changes to the plans, estimates and costs or special assessment district. All interested persons are invited to be present at the hearing and to submit any com­ ments they may have. Township clerk signature: Tom Hopkins Township address: 284 N. Briggs Road Middleville, Michigan 49333 K I I * » ■ > > 1 ' ■s > r . •* , 4rSi^ J Hastings Community Diving Club divers Aubrey Yarger and Lydia Slagel celebrate earning All-America honors at the AAU Diving Nationals in Riverside. Calif., in mid-July. Photo provided I V 1 i. j r !«■ * h 1 p I i 9 I l'> I » I I ll f• - it* •ter^ \v F-- I I 1 I , I Slagel earned All-America honor at AAU Diving Nationals I .'A >•* * r;^ I • if u I ** * A* » PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the district within which the foregoing improvements are proposed to be constructed and within which the costs thereof is proposed to be assessed is more particularly described as including the following parcel numbers: k F2 J 284 N. BRIGGS ROAD- MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN 49333 269-795-9(191 / FAX 269-795-2388 KJ THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OE THE TOWNSHIP OF YAN­ KEE SPRINGS IN BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN. AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS: II0^' Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Hastings Community Diving Club has never had a more successful season of national competitions than the one that just wrapped with the AAU National Championships in Riverside, Calif. The successes for the club included Thornapple Kellogg junior Lydia Slagel earned All-America honors, a title she has earned on three different occasions this summer. Slagel, an all-state diver in Division 1 for the Thomapple Kellogg co-op varsity girls’ swimming and diving team last fall as a sophomore, had a top finish in Riverside of seventh in the Girls Al 16-year-old IM Finals. She placed tenth in the same division on the three-meter board and added a 26th-place finish in the 16-18 Girls Platform Finals. Slagel also reached the finals in two synchronized diving events. She was 16th along with in the 16-18 Girls 3M Finals diving with HCDC teammate Aubrey Yarger and teamed with Kiyana Perez from the Northside Diving Academy to place 24th in the 16-18 Girls IM Finals. HCDC diver Abigail Dumond, a recent Thomapple Kellogg graduate who is set to dive for Alma College next season, reached the finals of the synchronized 16-18 Girls IM compe­ tition with teammate Hollen Emmick and the duo placed 25th. HCDC head coach Todd Bates said he celebrated the successful meet by doing a front somersault off the 10-meter platform. “College coaches are recognizing our diver athletes and it’s exciting to see them move on to the next level,” he said. Club diver Major Vance won the national championship in the Men's Masters Silver 1M (19-49) competition with an overall score of 204.25 points after the finals July 16. Vance, who broke a nearly two-decade old Grand Rapids Union scoring record as a diver during his senior season last winter, has plans to compete for Aquinas College this season. Yarger, the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 diving state cham pion last fall from the Delton Kellogg/ Hastings co-op, also competed in the synchronized 16-18 Girls IM Finals with teammate Taniya Ott and the duo scored a 15th-place score. The top fin­ ish of the meet for Yarger came in the Girls Al 16-year-old 3M Finals where she was ninth. She also competed in the meet’s 16-18 Girls Platform event. It was the first nationals appearance for both Emmick and Ott. Club team­ mate Dawn Miller placed 33rd in the 16-18 Girls Platform Finals. In all, there were more than 600 divers competing at the AAU National Cham­ pionship which ran from July 12-23. I Tf - I •-K V <i -n h . > '.'9^ 1 1 I 5 *' r A ( ■ 3 1 Al I 11' ••r* I ■: I I 1 j J ( t ! » I B I 1* ■. Ilf -E ? ) 1 pTTa''^"" - u. r n 1 . ? V IJ . «-8 p p.*.- ' .. 4 w* f > I ' r ‘ ♦* « 4^6^*- ;»(»,f'iiia«-^'*^ s 4 • f > A I I > 31 /H«9? % f *. «>•• V I - fsrv.*" i -A*— lit « •■ I •► • 4 r X.*- I' *• r - *r*: 4 I I I I * 1 ' « 5^ . * 4 v*.'- r' i. . . • •> ra 13BEj mr»* ,i4r-- ' t I . 5 3-J®;'; 3t Ibakifii e n; • » /1 . <1 wi-c. I I < ■ «!*»' I r I • J8 k -••• • * •4f /■t ’ . k J .1 'S I Mt Vihi>rf ■ -Alo.*4 f r 4 4m > J J r\:v.L b r • '. 1 fr rfll ■■ i ft-.: \U9W ' I \ •k M k t I 4*V|^ w ' f f th* I I S' j F , 1, ♦ f �1 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com t WEtK-vW I Saturday, August 2, 2025 9 4 » eiirwrtel®^ Stl 9fUI4J TI Ik MW“ » A j» fc T , ris « * 4 «|2 !• —k tp •m ‘b . I -I yAij.'H r j^ » » t '■r 4 ilAViQni r « ( I r“ t «' 4 ♦ . ■ fk il 'T , X ♦ • 'I << It I y 1" 4 'W I * i I 4 % It -xlr nr 1« i, -» M fu uti^ ft / ( f 1. 4 r ***^(*511 4 I < ■s ■“AO, f L » i* )?; 'Mpu •1.:* h< •• * r> i st, > J < u ? k r n. W^.p) 'k *<«» "'ir;♦^1'). t 'J' Ci. « < t > 'f •/ht * ' On. 4 ‘ s .1 • * I ** .* . to I Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia Baseball Softball League 1 OUAll-Starpurplesoftball team scored a runner-up finish in the Little League Softball Michigan Dis­ trict 9 All-Star 8-10 Tournament in July The Caledonia girls were a perfect 3-0 in pool play and then won their first three games in the championship bracket. They knocked off the Georgetown Blue team 4-0 in the third round of the champion­ ship tournament, but the Georgetown girls won their way out ofthe to a rematch with the Caledonia girls in the double elimination tournament. In the end the Georgetown girls took back-to-back 3-0 and 9-1 victories overthe Caledonia team to win the district title July 12. The All-Star Caledonia Purple squad at the district tournament included Elliana Boening, Molly Bouma, Harper Chrisman, Taya Clement, Al­ lison Davis, Elizabeth Dean, Gabrielle Ebels, Kendall Guider, Addilyn Miller, t I 1 4 <■ m Jl MW * «< «rw* ■1^ iwat— -V _• .Mr ** r-^ % ; • I 1 «k 4 r-A 4 X • - * •i fj » J. J •i. • 1 k _ r t h *^4- V •* » s*», I. > V’ k ‘*5 1 . , •< » k » I « a.* /4*- A SHm < A 4 Kk •f . X t •i V < (1 .V«t The CBSL 10U All-Star Softball team celebrates a runner-up finish at the Little League Softball Michigan District 9 Tournament July 12 at the CalPlex. Photo provided Avery Terry, Braelynn VanDuyn and Emery Vansuilichem. The Georgetown girls were about ±e only ones to put much pressure on the Caledonia team. The Caledonia team had a 1 -0 win over ±e Hudsonville Gold team in pool play, but also had an 18-1 win over Western and a 10-1 win over Rockford to open ±e tournament. The run in the championship bracket for the Caledonia Purple team began with a 25-0 win over Byron Orange and then a 10-1 win over Byron Black. They fol­ lowed those victories up with a 4-1 win over the Georgetown Blue girls. The team was led by volunteer coaches Travis Miller, Kelli Bouma and Kim Eb­ els and had sponsorship help from Trane. b I< H < '*««|«M<aT 91" IT' Caledonia girls runners-up at District 9 tournament 4 I I / .r k' ' Apb * VPw f ' > I .1 I \ u II k ®'L; ! J Cf/ri > ! : I 'll* I > I ^rr :ti !■ r Jt' 4 . t I* 11 I s ♦I J V r *9 ' "‘’'keiii- • in it A t• ♦ r I r zf »l , f * i V * L ' : -■ ‘.viffj’r * A. I » ■» u *' ii M H< f T ' i 't Hr I 'If' 4 r^TTirr’? i, r < It it ;( r' J t hl 'ir T ,t ■ ■ » 284 N. BRIOOS ROAD- M1DDLEVILJ.E, MICHIGAN 49333 269-795-9091 / FAX 269-795-2388 ! *•* 1 i « B I , ■ , n '* * a Tonkee Springes Township k“, I • Hr. I 9 r« 'll :i; LX ! t : ni I T 99 * I » * ‘ f >- •n t'i if r ‘ X; A4r/< !•. i I V H^4«K 4 A • / 1 I V’. Mr T k k. ;r: > ,il * • I L'ilSlfK Li IJl. L r 'I' I rujij r; I> • * :,;*r I i « J. ' G •f I ** 1 I ♦ t H / ? / ; jf;: 4 4 **i f»* Ir I J k» r f ■'! JIX IC E 4i f I ‘ I H ri J'. / SS^S -‘r c t L. rak r 1 I i♦ 1 (* tl I r III-' .. J; k ' *- '" A - / $1.. > *r* « WE'RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOL/RG NEEDS r— I Cfjsk ir ? > YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held on August 21, 2025, commencing at 7:00 p.m. at the Yankee Springs Township Hall, 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville MI, within the Township, as required under the provisions of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act and the Zoning Ordinance for the Township. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE In addition to participation during a public hearing, members of the pub­ lic may also provide comments for the Planning Commission’s consideration by emailing or mailing those comments to the Planning Commission for receipt prior to the meeting, in care of the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea (joeshea@yankeespringstwp.org). Letters and emails are due one week before the hearing date; or by leaving a phone message prior to the meeting with the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea at 269-795-9091. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the item(s) to be considered at said public hearing in­ clude, in brief, the following: L SEU 25-07-08; Parcel ID: 16-370-018-00, 12747 Whispering Pines Drive #21, Wayland, MI 49348. A request by Jacqueline Gam, the property owner, for a special exception use permit to operate a commercial Short-term rental pursuant to the Yankee Springs Zoning Ordinance, Article X, Short Term Rentals. 2. Such other business as may properly come before the Planning Commission. Anyone interested in reviewing the application material may do so at the township hall. All inter­ ested persons are invited to be present at the aforesaid time and place, or, if an electronic meeting is held, to participate via the electronic meeting. Yankee Springs Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, to indi­ viduals with disabilities at the hearing upon four (7) days’ prior notice to the Township Clerk. Indi­ viduals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address or telephone number listed below. YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION By: Shana Bush, Chairperson Yankee Springs Township Hall 284 N. Briggs Rd. Middleville, Michigan 49333 (269)795-9091 » . Residential & Commercial e I « ^4 Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers -Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers •<. sr ? 1 P I i c t 72 I . « ■■■r trzss^ I I •^o >»w US 1 ;V £d I << \JI DeWeerd (68^ HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM ;b 269-792-2234 W Since 1955 ^BBB. ACCRtOlTED BUSINESS > 1 �V 1 A. I ’✓ 10 V Saturday. August 2. 2025 I 1 » Third-place finish for CBSL boys at District 9 tourney M(>* : J..' • f'ililll < z. z I » Brett Bremer Sports Editor . i I > A. <• Ihe Caledonia Baseball Softball League IIU All-Star Baseball team placed third at the Utt Ie I.eague Base­ ball Michigan District 9 Tournament in mid July. ITie team’s impressive run included an undefeated pool play performance. Ihe Caledonia squad knocked off Holland Maplewotxl 8-4, Algoma 29-1 and Sparta 23-3 in its three pool play contests. Ilie Caledonia guys went 1-1 in their first two contests in the championship bracket. They knocked off Zeeland 7-5 but then fell 6-5 to Rockford in round two. That loss dropped the Caledonia team to the bottom half of the bracket in the double-elimination tournament where they rattled off wins by the scores of 12-2 over Maplewood and then 7-0 over Zeeland to get into the semifinals. r '.k\> ■ 4 * p I )* ** X .^1 r i ♦ * I na>r ?• kJ o » I S’ f '4. *« ? "s*^ 1 -•w.. Jt .z*' *- J t 1! 'ft »» I < 4 4 Z i-* # > I ‘ ii I /« >*hZ . •ft ’ ' 1 t 9^ ■ w- 4^>« b b I r JI > 1 1 R I *« * .*^1 s The CBSL HU All-Star Baseball team enjoys a moment together in the dust around home plate during its run to a third-place finish at the Little League Baseball Michigan District 9 Tournament. Photo provided I .\f‘, s< *''( »>lt V «•!« *•! : tctus, Mitchell Thornton, Elijah Ulash, Jackson Vanderband, Evan Veitch and Leo Webster. The team was led by volunteer coach­ es Kurtis Wells, Brandon Cavagnaro, Jacob Utash and Shawn Veitch. * $ I I ( I ? I 3 I H I ►■ ' b 1 J /••s VC? W*5 .< * I 29 fy w 9 I tI t I a 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. ■- - m k T? 4 i i :I If t # «** •sM » r It was a season full of growth, sports manship, and grit for the Caledonia guys, according to the CBSL. The all-star squad was made up of teammates Crew Cavagnaro, Landon Hanson, Jacob Hokewater, Noah Kleinschmit, Bo Schiefen, Jayse Schul- J/.V J 4 There the Caledonia team fell to Rock­ ford 7-4 at Rockford Middle School July 18, the same Rockford team that had handed the team its first loss of the tournament. Rockford went on to finish second to the Southern Little League squad. nr I 'I I 4 » t ■> $ > • * r .29i x' I J I * PM •« in?- r .'J .X •t Scan our OR code to find your perfect invitation! % 4' 1- I Vz * • -1^;* J M IT 't. K I ■r J i' I I * 4 I V lb« .- ■_■. -IT.-.- -- -- ' I iM I •I. • • * \ •■ * ♦ .. 1 » 5^^a«iw5 s! She annua! .•■ * / • —- 4 I, X r /> brt Ie W to be Simply Perfect Sfavsi^iho took part ir^ SRfefebmKite *. * *1 > f-'fj I Your -trus+^d Body Shop -for over 32 years J ra ik ' H** ".i f'Bit few!! te : I Created just for your big day, we’ve put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. '■ W4 ireMea a ■"'Tieacifbteift - «..r’ J PRINTING BY Bite- www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylanepnnting.com w I* A- 1> har^^ I I* •- T •k< Iz V *WI(l I: I 1’ I.; Iv *'4 I t V v*** • t > t b I / I t I < I r / », r I 1 f'i • I if 1 M iP t I ' • * J 11 I. i t’ * I ft a I f I I 4 dbt r: • I 1 t' rf 'F*. 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 r r T. WEDDING INVITATIONS COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 1 ■0- II BODY SHOP ll y a« . LIFWI * a 1 �. u ■■ » ■■ ik I i :i7’ •i: www.sunandnews.com Palmitier named assistant A.D. at Caledonia High I J ' J < 2-' r- il •• Caledonia Community Schools has announced that Jeremy Palmitier is the new assistant athleticdirector at Caledonia High School. Palmitier brings a strong background in education, coaching, and leadership to the role, along with a passion for mentoring students that spans more than 20 years. He began his career in Arizona, teach ing elementary and middle school for five years before returning to Michigan. He taught sixth grade for a year, then moved into administration, serving as a high school assistant principal, athletic director, i if} r ■ft I *?.. I f t irfgwfl r h i jr J. uui I ?a«■ • M rtA ii. * T I S" I ' I J ■ 4/ .i^ni I I t 7’n^> y.rn/rt : I ’.. I t i 4’ . ► k. "if ' t i I i ( J I R iLi THE SUN AND NEWS 9 :*r. . ' I V -.-to.Mx I I 5?, 1 H8{[l ‘t' f 9 • s I 1 ffi’4 •* ih i' > 4 a B S TV f-; I * k Our company is growing, don’t miss your opportunity. k WE ARE k L k k L L / f * * View Newspaper Group is seeking a »z X g ► •• '’*2? ’ I Th .•4 • ’i r t-. *r * I * J r T 4 4 rz ♦ « 1 1 .S' /» ♦1 * IX u i •!« <... *11 V t l» <% < .I w* I 4 B**I5 r / j I I I I « I *'4 t V I 1 *• *2? I 4 • ’l •• 2 • I HL few H I* 1 f 'll. * •1 *•< 1. V tVi I V 4: >. V t < * ** 4' iKl 4 1) •Ti?r-* / <*>* s b » ,r ‘J ’ 'i •1 IL II <1 I e *w • i fi '■.i i s I Responsibilities include: Advertising safes, Account management. Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts. Attend networking events I •i A I I 1’ *J• to * I IK 1 d /c MARKETING SPECIALIST \ 5 I • i *> . c covering the Marshall area. 9 ♦r ♦ r 4 5 4 ♦ r -e> < to T9* 4 « i: k > .1’ W«* R 1 t k. I > I JWX'WS vn T M' «> N —t; i ■ (,S I :■¥» te| *« 'J ?r! p I k I t I ii- I 1» 3 f f , I hi (j.S (J) n ft) f ( t I 1 ; T • i I ■ IT : J r 4 J I 1 I . I I -. I I • ■ ! I I A ‘ f I I I I f ' ' • ► f i}' f : r.’. i* I >-I : t.Jy —« I II 1 I I, r • 1 c I tR I * i f . n i ft 4i“ • •V. s'* X . t A. : I M - Samuel Myers of Caledonia with his championship plaque after winning the Turtle Derby ’at the annual Freeport Homecoming celebration Saturday. Although he had to be talked into participating, he was one of close to 80 youth who took part in the competition. Read more about the annual Freeport festival in this weekend’s edition of The Reminder. The day long event included a competitions like a car show, kiddie car show, chicken poop bingo, cornhole, horseshoes, a hay bale toss as well as a fire barn breakfast in the morning, dancing in the street in the evening, and more. Photo by Brett Bremer isfnatSba'tfi < --I »’ 4 - 9*^ p V h< t ■.'4i 'tI. I • r s* t T r -1 4 AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Group ~7-^. mihomepaper.com ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer's Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader r ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer's Guide and News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder ■ St. Clair Area View t Send resume to: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com 269-945-9554 ! t I < I* !4 i* I i k I 1 b •I I 1 1 H r 1 I I I ■ I k I !j 1 f I kt ’U J I J I *r. .i ' 11 I» l' 3 it II I I I I < ‘I '4 f I i s I 9 J \ I I I ip^ L <3*“ .a -<o- * I 4 19 * j 11 students at the center of everything he student-athletes both on and oft' the field. does,” said Caledonia athletic director Phi 1 Palmitier and his wife, Antonia, have Miedema. “He understands that been deeply rooted witli Cale­ a successful athletic program donia for many years. Antonia starts wi± a positive culture is a first-grade teacher at Cale­ built on behaviors that lead donia Elementary and is enter­ to results. His leadership and ing her 1 Sth year in tlie district. integrity will be a huge asset to Their son, Lukas, recently 3* Caledonia Athletics.” graduated from Caledonia Caledonia Community High School and has plans to Schools shared that Palmiplay volleyball at Grand Valley Jeremy tier’s leadership is grounded in State University. Their daugh­ Palmitier humility, teamwork, and high ter, Isabella, is a sophomore expectations. His values closely align with involved in basketball, soccer, and student Caledonia’s commitment to developing council at CHS. BB Freeport Homecoming has all kinds of victors I V and executive secretary' of the SAC Con­ ference. He also served on the MHSAA Basketball Committee, led alternative education programs, and most recently worked as an elementary principal. Alongside his 16 years of administra­ tive experience, Palmitier has coached high school football and basketball for more than two decades. He has been part ofthe Caledonia girls’ basketball program for the past two seasons and has spent the last ten years involved in Caledonia youth sports. ‘‘Jeremy is a servant leader who builds relationships, values character, and puts Saturday, August 2, 2025 �12 Saturday, August 2, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunarxJnews.com •^****- i’ .X' I SAVE THE DATE CRAFT BEER AND WINE FEST * J I Daily News - View Newspaper Group is hosting Saturday, October 11,2025 t T V > I 1 t i A A r s» 2-7 PM, TIVOLI SQUARE, D0WNT0V\/N GREENVILLE » L I I f?°° f I ; 4; a lne * I • H •k J.J . £r' 1 -C. vl 4*^ r ■* I Z 11 ii T‘ ADVANCE TICKETS: -2025 •5 The event benefits Rotary Club of Greenville Additional tasting tickets will be available for purchase at event for $1 each. EVENT BENEFITS; EVENT HOSTED BY: DAILY NEWS Rotary Vlbx*^ACM|^M^Qraup Club of Greenville. Ml Sponsorships available. Contact Amber Rood at aroocl@thedailynews.cc or at 616-548-8257 Pflnt eec^d «s ?q i 63&)i i ' r 4b Mt3i1 l^rWnea > OOtT) b I I QBK MOKBIMOA Jj ><nnbwil .521^ bool fans ettxod > I t f I t 1 Scan QR code or visit thedailynews.cc/okt.tj tTSj 'fest for tickets Local. Crowing. Slaying. irwM yT44» iBort one I Includes souvenir glass, five drink k sample tickets and food ISABELLA BANK w oM^HBaeiMcu ! I GENERAL ADMISSION $30 SPONSORED BY; aS I f ( Includes one hour early entry, exclusive food and drink pairing experience. Hops & Grapes 101 with local brewer, commemorative Bottles Brews & News Oktoberfest lanyard, souvenir glass, five drink sample tickets and food w^toberfest . j VIP ADMISSION $50 EWSPAPER GROUP'S CRAFT BEER AND Wll 7**7 *1 »« Jew-io sto) $10 rviog I -.1 '..I K.£ « □ a ;[>] ;ki, it r . lA □ * r * r •J / < » * i r ' 'I .» 1■ r I t. I -*r t « ■< t K K \ s \ 1 I « 4-. a « « 1 I 5 'f'l I A 1 t. ' -le 1 f, t .t *■ .. f. c>*“ •“ X •««******' I f I f I r J I I < V b! t. y i I t > ‘ J r ^iifTn-.-|^.^^ " � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-08-09.pdf 5987824aa8674bc43a7f435b36a7efc4 PDF Text Text •"'Jt t9^ A ur 3 •« I k > r* M66 UNIQUE < ANTIQUE FLEA MARKET • J ■1^ ’ r PAGE 11 p L** i*ai "’b .r I / rJ ' Al % La A4 »r » T I. in-iionews.com R ~3 V* qirtenwoT gsniBo ligcimmoa gninnfil • ihowcnolB cwoiqqB I obnoa yicniinitciq t f 0 •J y. jEinl sJnnI I .J JaTfigttM Kjfljj^nH PjxzH rfjr/z nol wnimil^fl loiiM toJnoeoir] tmoj orll o> rwkj muininrobnoJ * <ny|(7ir| ym-dl^ 5dl idt ^'I^^o^^ t vteiooyi Elf// JI (toOO F WSI abizoJf lOTjH\lBTiniuonj(A moit ’idoulw .Ifiijnsfai83>1 ogjsifiv o) H « <« See CONDO on 2 ♦ .i,u n * I I tf -> < *1 - o <* 1 < * \ I'' ■"^11 mJ '■ J 1 .. I &. R. r ’? (•' L t' atLa^B .h ^9 u TC- •>: n s ■■L t f K9v •pfr igrEl Io;<x3 dtiw eteM noL ehi jZi^mbbB mmuCpninnBlS i(teBin^SyluL31i iifai^ qirfsnwoJ nmea aemsl. yd otortS EODM CnUONEU UESIDEIUIVr UWM*^ (M«wiiri«aB» ..M 4 !• *O A ■ V : bOUtf I| 1339 <9999 Ct0«MIR6' Ml bVID n a boeivee btf 2X210 Jon Male with Exxel Engineering addresses the Gaines WQoa uawoisno ivuNaoisau Planning Commission at its July 24 meeting in the 8CC# liiwsd township hall offices. 8€98^ S$MH33 9G89> in '^RAuaejs OWxoQOd boaoMo f ; ■ IM eiiiAUsaJO i 1 *'■^1 im«^ >* r « fl 1 I •:e^- %. ■t L *< .i'iCb 4 ■MB .A*. yr* 11^ ♦ r •r ua ««w aM n I t la <9* s I 1 V I t 'fe»w * * fepWl;^. 4 f MV X r 1 * «■ » 'RRlh**- . JC ,1 •A A f i WB f *pr ■' \ I X *s 4 A .-^ . S r* 1 .X 4* ■: A < 1 J £ Uii« A Gaines Township firefighter helps a child aim a fire hose at Tuesday’s South Kent National Night Out event outside South Christian High School. Photos by James Gemmell South Kent National Night Out event makes a splash in Gaines Township James Gemmell Contributing Writer J? V I * «4 * •v-w., » I < > L»‘S h MB —1^—i *>. t •• » * i 35 % t >* V : UM*' Koetje Builders & Developers has one year to submit a final condominium plan to Gaines Township officials for review after gaining approval for a pre­ liminary plan on July 24. The planning commission voted 6-0 that night in favor of the proposed Stoneworks residential project on 100th Street at Pease Avenue. It is the first step in a condominium land division. One commissioner was absent from the meeting at the township hall. Koetje Builders is the project appli­ cant, and the property owner is the Margaret L. Heintz Trust. Jon Male wi± Exxel Engineering presented the Major Preliminary Condominium plan to the commis­ sioners for the 46-acre property at 1264 100th St. It was recently rezoned from AgriculturaERural Residential to Village Residential, which is a new J0 i v«<*. € VSb. r I wI I t %/ ■ « Ife laqotoviiCI ziablwfl 5ttso>l Ionov lerut n iimdus oi TEXf( ono iwfto qirlzfr'WoT asnistO ol nalq it iBvmqqii sniiBfig taihi wsivm .K yluL nro nfilq {Tcnimil noizgimmoj sniatwlq orfT r/z aifto lovBt ni Jriain JfiriJ f jyjjOTi pjiowonolr Jffh Fl ll .tlUnV/A SlECOfi jTi db bflfil murnrmobno^ r> nt q3J<; tnaadii bbv/ iitfioiEEinimoo onO .Itfifl qtrlzffwol srit la 8^iJ^»m jMfmq srh zi ZTsfaliufl 3fJso>l F f 'K<IWf i yJTOqOTTI “SHt tnii JnEO ► « James Gemmell Contributing Writer T9tiiW gnrfudiifnoO AjBjqn • • I f llemindO zsnitL KOO U"' planning commissioners approve Stoneworks’ preliminary condo plan I «x I '« aivd aovisod s n OIS ISUd Photo by James Gemmell 6. f /' f The parking lots outside South Christian High School served as a bit of a playground for children Tuesday night, Aug. 5, at the annual South Kent National Night Out event. They got to climb into various public safety vehicles and run underneath a fire truck boom ladder hose that was spraying them with water. Those were just a few of many activities they enjoyed on a sunny evening in Gaines Charter Township. Himdreds of people See SPLASH on 7 • >•/ ■'.y' f 1V'»; •V^AL i-- t i ■1^ A i I f ' r 4 I •> / ‘^<^^TROL u .T flr /I M >1 » « / 1 J r 4 fl a■O' w* 4 / r• •* 1 j < yL ( 1 1 i‘ .4 i. * 2 .« .< *> f 2^ The Kent County Sheriff’s Office had vehicles and equipment on display from its various units, such as Animal Control. �« fl fl « 2. Saturday. August 9, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Davenport president announces retirement in 2026 GRAND RAPIOS Davenport University President Richard Pappas. I xI.D. has announced that he will retire at the erxl of the upcoming academic year. He informed the chair of the university Board of I rustees Paula Cunningham in May that his last day would be June 30, 2026. Pappas has served as pres idem of f Javenport for 17 years and is one of the longest-serving university presidents in Michigan, He has been president of four institu­ tions of higher ^ucation, over a span of nearly 40 years. He explained his decision in an email communication to faculty and staff. “After 37 years as president at four outstanding institutions, the last 17 at Davenport, this decision was not an easy one.” Pappas wrote. “I take immense pride in wlral we have accomplished together, even as I look forward to spending more time with my family. The time feels right to pass the baton to a new leader ^someone who will build on our foundation and help shape the university’s next era.” “The I3oard of Trustees has greatly valued President Pappas’ leadership,” said Cfiair of the Board Paula Cunning­ ham. “He guides with vision, optimism, integrity and a strong dedication to Dav­ enport’s mission. He effectively energizes the mission for students, faculty and staff, and alumni. He is fully dedicated to our students’ success. Although we would love to extend his tenure at Davenport, his retirement is well earned.” Pappas became the fifth president of Davenport UniverI sity in 2009. Dur­ ing Pappas’ tenure, the university estab­ lished the College of Urban Education, the Casa Latina onl ine bilingual program, and the First-Generation Student Initiative. r 1 * The Davenport I community has al­ ways been willing to work together for BILL ENGVALL our students,” Pap­ HERE'S YOUR SIGN: IT WASN'T MY TIME pas said. “I’m proud SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 of our efforts to sup­ port students from all walks of life and at LITTLE BIG TOWN SATURDAY. OCTOBER 4 all stages of life. I’m proud of the way we Tickets available now at the FireKeepers Box Office came together dur ­ or FireKeepersCasino.com. ing the COVlD-19 WTRlf •fc pandemic, illustrat­ GET YOUR ON IlCASINO«MOTIl ■* JI9 mriit tr ck(r< ciiri ing that even in the I-94 to Exit 104 I 11177 Michigan Avenue I Battle Creek, Ml 49014 most challenging Must be 21 or older. Tickets based on availability. Schedule subject to change. moments in modem NOTHIN’ BUT GOOD TIME 1 1 L J firekeepers WWW. sunandnews .com cducalion. our faculty and staff knew how to meet the moment, transforming the university to exclusively online over a wed<;end At the W.A. Lettinga C/rand Rapids Campus, Davenport built the Robert W. Sneden Center and the Donald W Maine College of Business. It also constructed a new athletic complex—Farmer’s Field, and joined the NCAA Division IIGLIAC Conference. The university also moved the l>ansing Campus to a new location and renovated the Wanen Campus. All I*®' t 4 T of this progress was under the leadership of Pappas. Pappas uTOte to empkiyees drat “Serv­ ing this extraordinary institution has been one ofthc greatest honors ofmy life. Each day. I am inspired by your dedication, resilience and our shared commitment to make Davenport a place ofexcel lence and opportunity.” Cunningham said that tlic Board of Trustees will begin conducting a search for a new president for the university in the coming months. — A/.Vf I J ■ra I t 1 d >1 » / The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 Continued from Page 1 township designation. Gaines planners said that VR is intended to accommodate a variety of single * family homes with a traditional neighborhood identity. The site would include 53 single­ family detached condominiums, 32 single-family attached condomini­ ums along the south side of 100th Street, and 6 single family land-divi­ sion parcels with frontage and access on Pease Avenue. Municipal water and sanitary sewer would be extended to the site of the future development. “We are bringing public sewer and water in from 100th Street to the north, and we kind of run out of ele­ vation on those (parcels). They will have public water but they will be on a septic (system),” Male said. A planning commission memo said Township Attorney Clifford Bloom is reviewing the master deed and bylaws for the site condominium. Tlie town­ ship’s consulting engineer, Jeffrey Gritter of Vriesman & Korhom Inc., sent Gaines Community Development Director Dan Wells an email in July outlining some recommended require­ ments for the project. One of them would require Koetje > I b * 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com * bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Please recycle this newspaper ft- /. j J • * * 1 11 I I »r* A' I I vt lU 'r .jfliloi J n IL 1 •* * 1 I >■ <11 — I t t i «• »• I* I* r- i I .i r . • ; .-J • ' k Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. V Ifl * r- Ji .V’ I I / tr f w’ s ' • TV* I I < II I I I ■ 4 f I A I I « I 1 < H V V { i T r» 111 li in I a 1 r > **>cW IM 4 z I 4 ( I 1^ • « if rT’ I -'' V f» 1 < * 1 t jne t aidi • Ite W® J 1' I J k r I- ■F MiUbwIl 4 I t i All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to { accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only t publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. • ■* .0. A I i r X • .J ' / A. «< « ^4 s r 1 n iiSWiWt LJ ,r* ? I . I< i kJ itt z Jwl.. • A* 54 X' I 1 . >• I? 1 ( (< r I r i J I i I i z I I i * I I i « « I I 'I n I. J ft I i I 4 < a / I A.* 111 Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sports: Brett Bremer J J 8S kafl!isca}€«flstcon»8«RJi|' ilttisttfe Group mmacleodOmihomepaper. com 4 r Builders to obtain a soil erosion and sedimentation-control permit from the Kent County' Road Commission prior to any site work being done. Another requirement would be Uiat Koetje install sidewalk along the project’s frontage on 100th Street and Pease Avenue. “I’m excited to see how this comes to fruition,” Wells said. “Obviously, this is a new zoning category for our township. And I think we did a lot of work to get the details right on this. From what I’ve seen of Koetje Builders’ previous work, I think that they’re a good fit to go through this for the first time. A lot of stuft'lhat they've done already would meet most of our standards for architectural detailing. So, I think this should be a good expe rience to go through for the first time, ‘in the lots, there’s kind of a mix. There are some that are 60 feet wide and some that are 82 feet wide The 82-foot lots allow for the pos­ sibility of some three-stall garages,” Male said. He added that Koetje Builders will be constructing all of the site’s attached condominiums. And the detached buildings likely will be sold to other construction companies. “He doesn’t have total control of what gets built there, but it will have to meet all of the restrictions,” Male said. • >•' > > t PUBLISHED BY Editor: Molly Macleod c. 7 rr CONDO R9 f 1 THE SUN AND NEWS CONTACT US .il4«LIVVH 9 I �X 1 I . • 'k X < <r«W Xr V .! XA « ' T’J Barry-Roubaix-affiliated event scheduled; Registration open now 't f e . ( I I J J ■.7^' ■ * r* 4 a; 9 4 b r 1 1 -a J r r I r I "n.T?T I ’’ fx C a: I, . I CwB llA^’.**< # I . «r* I a I • •X’ I T-** •eO *8- aw ,x^ k » «' k i^aL.. i I - X * I < r' 1 I " ' ^t£S Ail ■4' W < z> .. *«- J <1 r)» ^2; r 1 b- k. * 4* *s * 7 » r 1^. xs***'■ kw t 11?^ «iX iW.* “s" hi? : I » iW*' V ’ ' ■ ' •«<':'?* iefc:,'^^.^SMa9 i X • V I* .J.* r « «c: •4 f V X A . r V . r. BTT ~-i ? 4 i. * / . J** U ’ "• * . Wb tne> r ►v rr/*M* M k-.-* f I f ilriMn> r ! •5 VI ry. % ii^«^fDg ttw marb gfi.h r xi Ip L i« I »' » I’;»' » ■A I ' T V X. I• V •1 tyj-lK^r !1 K GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM . klk, = ■ ?S ^''kdJilj I* tS '*» »» ‘Xli'iil 'W** b r* '‘kt we’re casual, come as you are. m b , iai&lllf. .,K ■ --"WDn’tloisa ttaliii®,,^-.,. < ?•?*“ e* * 'ssjitjfd. i J . ‘ ICU^ V 9* ;tK F F. S I a '■-4^ fAsi HAM f ' w.*'- » ' V JasM Parks u- Lj- . OeWter^ U4^v«* ' ive.'i Allegan County I airgrounds One Church • Three Locations 150 Douglas /\vc, /Mlegan Ml 49010 Workshops I4 Join Us In Person or Online! VA L August 13-17, 2025 Caledonia I Grand Rapids I Wyoming .0 1 mm n I ‘r\> 1. 1 ®ltl Fs^rm 4 ■■■^.^ -’v^ '.■ '■?? V a Yow lecul agent Insure* your 9 I ^ai r <( »criend Of thr ^cv Mill, manv QcttMv cn|<n travel mg m the am to rwlr pvticro of dve eviurwe during the 0<T«ca^in_ rhe raee v arpviMm hav r leveraged thai dcMfr u> hn the dirt iwx^ rmvre time hchire wmicr bv huMing wKai ihev have dubhedthc IVarrv -RiM^wv I all Femdu TTm v^eelu urgani/erv anntMmeed a ditr (dr the laleM mMallment *4 the nxee Imurelv nde h iv vLded he Sisndav tJeX- 12. with regivtratKWi .^vning <wi Fridav R cviMrat h wi h< the event uan he ownpieted al htkereg Cfwn lallfivuk' h®:rv rtMihaiM. P^roopana can cnio\ «i IH-. cm hZmOtiMcar«ind iUrr^ < <MirU> *<dsrt and gravel riud^ while raising nKWKv hxtwokKakauscv Ihivyear.pnxeedv g»» to hcnelit the liarrv t ountv Animal Shelter and InvAginatKO I ibrar>.uhi<h IS 4 natuwial inttiatne chMnpuwicd h\ fanicd muMuan Partem that has w sr- w 'V ertalev llaaMig^a far one spring cornerstonechurch »i»iiiu! ■ AiS’inik ►rf. < liirT>'R<M]h«M gravel evx^w^ ?*llt *** j Wrm been implemented kvalh b> HaMingx Ri'<<arv I'lirf* Ihe ball I emdo letuh a dvruunie to nder^ that thes wcxfi get chinng the llam Rixihaix. nnv^l inuahh the tall ovkiTA akmg the exnuxe Ilw event aIm> teature^ reln^Junents £vd a giveawav Fivh Hateherv Park in Hastings will again xrvea*the M;igtng area Ux event, in additHxi to the Mart mkI hntvh Ime^ FT Tf 5 3 9 ••^rx Ik F Sahrvtn THE SUN AND NEWS 4 Wednesday Sund.iy Special Events Sc ('oinpetitinns ■ SlSvS Scan the code or visit comerstonemi.org I a -w* to find locations and service times, xk . 05 . ■ plus ways to watch online! Saturday 8( Sunday 10 ( Jose Shopping I-riday & Saturd.iy 10 5 Sunday 10 4 i I ■r i i i <4 IM**^*' f ...' t u li5itlir,.pH{*isl« aa JA* #8• * • * J* i % *:ijb A * I i < 5 I t ( I I 4 •* ■I s s I I 4 s t i I «k « I a w 4 ? k * a 4 > 4 » /comerstonemi 0 comerstonemi «» WWW. michiganfibertestival. info �IA r ..i 4 •: 'J r T 4 Saturday. August 9, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS r Obituaries Raymond L. Blough i >vww sunandnews.com z * r * Raymond L. Blough, i age 67. o1 Middleville, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 I* r surrounded by his family, Ray was born on June i 16,1958 in Hastings, Ml to I9 Richard and Elvira Blough He graduated from ThornappleKellogg High School, Ray loved spending time with friends and family - whether ' that was in the form of a spirited game of cribbage, camping trips with the travel trailer or hunting and fishing throughout Michigan. He was mechanically inclined and enjoyed tackling projects around the house and neighborhood. Ray was known for his unique sense of humor; those who knew him well can attest. While the bulk of his career was spent at STOCK Building Supply, he also drove school bus for a period of time and enjoyed ► > r r H f ri r A I tonrw a Txf* Xvv ♦ hat * lal will will laul la^l a a Ll(<*4 him HIM* BUSINESS SERVICES . i-t DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOWPLOW ING, Lot Clearing. Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. « CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS. Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed. 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 COMMERCIAL-RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 7884 Eastern Ave. Suite A,B Grand Rapids. $20.00 ANNUAL/SF 2205 sqft available. RE/Max of Grand Rapids Margaret Peric (616)204-9792 margoperic@remax.net WANTED 1 I A ■ RESl IN »'I K* >« k Vat t, t I " * • • • • Granite Personalized Designs Laser Etched Portraits Free State Wide Delivery Convenient In-Home Service Serving Ml Residents Since 1979 I 1W 4 A• BARGAIN HUNTERS come fill your trunk with some high end junk at an epic annual Garage & Garden Salel SATURDAY ONLY AUG 9 from 8 to 4 pm. 6800 W Garbow Road (closest crossroad Robertson/Garbcw) Mid­ dleville. Treasures to be found include houseplants, perennials, antique vin­ tage sheet music, books and collectibles» art supplies, children's t iks. camping, garden, holiday, household, jewelry, linens, rock collection, tools. solar panels, adult clothing ail at low low prices! No early sales. Bring a friend and come have fun! /z •V' I I A * WANTED TO BUY; Standing Timber. Conscientious timber harvester. Saw Mill Office- 517-254-4463. F'' * ’It 1 .1“' V’ I » i J ;j : ? S <• 3I »I .i •• f'* ♦ 5 - *✓ I r« s « ' t• I « I i V •». < it I ' \./3> »> I 1 . I 11 r J 4 i'J* I t ■i i' t ijou « ! f: J .Mr t I 1 I '■ J B ri Men ri ♦ t f I a HBHid Antenna Meri • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers • Cellular Enhancement Systems Give us a call! IC .//suns^ Ctlff 1 fiG* J 269-967-8241 wvvw.theantennamen.com antennament^gmail.com www>cellsignatprosxom I I.' AUTOS . T'. I I DODGE RAM TRUCK 2001 Cum­ mins Turbo diesel. Great shape, runs good! 196.000 miles. $21,500. (269)420-8932 ■ A Aa« 1 ' r i I CAMPERS/RVS < ' I. V < I »► f I 1988 AVIAN Model X 34’ RV for sale. Updated plumbing. New tires. Needs TLC. $8,000 OBO. 269-993-2529 I > ,I.J ’e A< * K F,' ; L.. ....kJbr ^8189®*’ ‘T ' ikI k > iJO® AW* CMOMlK*' tr ®Or«*i I Group 5'irK'l? X earn*** tel3,B f I SPRAY FQAM,l^ Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 517-983-0954 Mite « Mr I 1 Alphaphoto616 M edia, llc • video • drone Nelsons $ 1 I «B>*4 » 1 ' l*K._ . > t ► I < ri r* I I PC (’liHWi I ■hl M >'• A k *9 $ IWf f r Grant Alphenaar Owner tv - : J « Alpha616Media.com grant@alpha616media.com (616) 638-4751 M •' I ■ 1 I A «I i residential & commercial real estate • corporate • events k* ■ f * Closed-Cell Foam Insulation ♦ Blown-In Attic Insulation 1^1 L( i k 5 I 1 I Start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam * ; *«* f - J ! I-I 4 h ( > I I s t »♦, {I •l. * I « « *1 M I, (l ‘ |a «I 1 ! t 1 r I 1 ri « t 1 I < f * I f ri I i ww 11^# If> . ri* 1^. 8 A Tz 1 < 'Wl' . .'s '■ • ii fj K 5 I 4 4l *% f I You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors... and our future. VIEV^^ I » t h*—- ♦A I ."-A «> •"y ■ tjrt I' 4 K’^ A.*' I 4 -A -ri *• Z > MOVING SALE Saturday, August 16th at Bam. 7472 Shagwood St., SE, Caledonia. Tools, furniture, decor, and more. r ’ 1 J « 9 .*1 k. r . •> / 1 V fi > >“ I J YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM 4• * r * I www.5nydermonuments.net L . ’A-' --.a. Randy & Diana Snyder (616)291-2425 ^6 «*■ i Caledonia, Ml I. ■J I »C!» (‘I z I*; '.J GARAGE/ BARN SALE August 21st & 22nd. 9am-6pm. 12737 Marsh Rd., Shelbyville (Gun Lake). Home Staging Items - Furniture - Wall Art Clocks - Mirrors - Name Brand Cloth­ ing - Outdoor Furniture & Decorations - Pottery - Bedding - Antiques - Toma­ toes and Other Garden Veggies Comultingid^ignlngi and installing quality monuments { i IV GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALES « > r 4* it,. I I J / Sntjder Mon undents ♦ tf 'J A 1 I I Classifieds his many seasons working > al Otto’s Turkey Farm around >* zJ Thanksgiving. Mourning his passing is P his wife of 36 years. Kathy; children, Benjamin Blough. Bethany Blough (fiance Chase); brother, Berny I (Gina) Blough; sisters-in,1^ law, Debbie Blough, Faye t VanderVeen (Shawn); brother-in-law. Sherman (Laurie) VanderVeen, nieces and nephews, Jake (Jennifer) Blough. Hillary Blough; Logan. Nolan VanderVeen. He was preceded in death by both parents, his in-laws, and his brothers, Russell and Larry. Ray will be remembered as a man of quiet strength, incredible wit and a generous spirit. According to his wishes, there will be no services. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdtuneralhome. com. < f JI > z* I I . 4 (* ri II •’•■X �i »• •w fe A fl’ www.sunandnews.com > i J MIDDLEVILLE I I **A I TOPS 546 ^'rln .1 i. I t 7 X fl '*S'|V. » I ,1 I •** > * .J .1 i I V . I w*. ' jt 4 i '4, .1 The Aug. 4 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There is one fish in the fishbowl. Maryellen’s program was from the July/ Aug TOPS magazine titled "Weight Bias.*' About 40% of United States adults live with obesity. And, unfortunately, weight bias and stigmas permeate all areas of society. It shows up in the media, tn healthcare, in the actions of bullies and even in your own home. The psychological toll of being judged (or judging yourself), only fuels the vicious cycle. Weight stigma, or sizeism. is a discrimination based on body size. Unfortunately, it is a socially accepted form of sizeism. It affects quality of life leading to isolation and feeling low. Low self-esteem can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and thoughts of suicide. Eating patterns are affected with yo-yo cycles. It can lead to binge eating. Medical care can suffer if the doctor doesn't empathize and find the care you need to achieve your goal. Self-awareness and self kindness will overcome harmful self-esteem issues and overall health. ^*1 *, w*'i: --A •« ♦ 4* i‘‘T i’H .1 * s M'* « > M 1 1 ■> • i I « I 'I % k r *• < > • .* rp •r •6 \ 5 •i* 1 i I I I fto, t I •Y’V J s « iV I s SJ : s« >• ♦ a pk><* i •I I V .'I' Ai 1... 4. ) f ♦ .^1 «*« f <esfcv •*r, J 3 -♦ * J k' ^^fUl I * ft 1 / ’’(ft Q/r iM «a J9 1 IJ M « I 'n »•>' L 1 •< I s. >< IT -t TT- «fL I 1 Ljl) • T d ■ -J-*® - I .•I V •e M 1 ir/i . «* ♦''r i:yi 4 r * f b J i <4 * if « I. k. r i * 4 ' iLlflr A •|!l| WMK MidU Mil to Di s teugiiA .yp***^ jpjM ed LIBRARY BONANZA BOOK SALE! I I I Friends of the Library only Pre-Sale Friday, August 22 3-5 pm Membership can be purchased at the door 4* » i mn JI 1 k k ■' ITT CHURCH t i ■'nwiWtam ! 1 ' f • Public Sale, Saturday, August 23.10-2pm, li T 1 J www.aiaskabaptist.org f I • ' Courtesy of the Caledonia Friends of the Library! KDL Caledonia Branch 6260 92nd. St. Caledonia, Ml 49316 I I . , I I 5 t FIRST BAPTIST Sunday Service 10:30 AM • ( . t LiHr a 1 .. -. Ad( » i 616-891-8669 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church co 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) t IT S' A* III in I * Livestream: facebook.com/rirstbapttstmiddleviile FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET. 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Roh Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Church: (269) 795-2391 JOURNEY CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:16 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am ^APEACE CHURCH Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Ham 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend ri HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. II J I -I < 4. »i c/iun^ A Im .J I PEACECHURCH.ee Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. ■ Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee ■! THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH * i I @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church ird 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 6^ "Shining Forth God's Light" MIDDLEVILLE Sunday Morning Worship Community Group......... SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am .1 J 1 j C^^MI > 250 Vine Street 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia 20 FREE books to teachers/educators with ID viii ’ livn' .ISYT •• « t Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM cornerstonechurch T ..JDll A Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CALEDONIA r iEIB, Downtown Hasiinus will asain be the site of a “Rock the Block Street dance on Saturday, Aug. 9, on South Jefferson Street in front of Full Moon Saloon. The event will celebrate the newly issued “social district license" at Full Moon Saloon, according to organizers. Music will begin at 6 p.m. on Aug. 9 with the mellow sounds of Lew Russ, followed by the Grand Rapids-based group. Mustang Band from Grand Rapids. Organizers stated the Aug. 9 event will be the third and final street party event for the 2025 summer season, though plans are already underway for the 2026 summer series. Rock the Block is a function of the Hastings Business Connection, sponsor of the Girls’ Night Out and Jingle Mingle events. — DM LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY •* A’ 5 ‘Rock the Block’ event set for this Saturday Chapter members continued the contest by filling in one dot for each one-tenth of a pound lost. Linda won the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching tn place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may caii Virginia, 269-9088036, or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. The first meeting Ls free. Middleville i Saturday. August 9, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS ♦ 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankccspringsbiblechurch.org 20 State Street Middleville, Ml ! www.tvcweb.com 1 li I I I -I I I I I ! Il ( A I I i p 1 I I „1 tJ ff if i ■ IM I1 I 1 I •t > ft It -4 'i I 1 . 1 s \ I 1 ( J \ �Saturday. August 9. 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS WWW. sunandnews. com mgb < I 1 a r £ CT ' 1 |lw ^a 1 •3 SAVE THE DATE CRAFT BEER AND WINE FEST s 4 J 4 4k' B 1 ’^1 f.« f 5.. fl ' .' ft* 1 .:-4; 4 Jr* Daily News - View Newspaper Group is hosting J I .3: h S' V z /'O z ♦p X i "1' I 1 4 1 ( I «* * 7 J 1 i^ 4 < ’ r { ^7? A -f ■ J r W J: '■ /• I . .,-kJ ^•9 11 1 * 3 I f < 4 IV •’I t ,v *sV Saturday, October 11,2025 » n 'f' I 4 * L n*. . s •1 i h 9 A 4 i, 2-7 PM, TIVOLI SQUARE, DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE 1 '*•' V. A u r ^*4 1 K FP&& f >, * w ja»<« r >5^ 1 4 *• a 4 6O'a^\. BE^ .t A« 4 V . r ' ft k. '.v» A k • F ' ¥ V bottles, BRi!!!!!,® 3 /\VAP > I ’ I ■ n - 2025 GENERAL ADMISSION $30 Includes souvenir glass, five drink k sample tickets and food SPONSORED BY; ISABELLA BANK Scan QR code or visit thedailynev^/s.cc/oktoberfest k for tickets Local. Growing. Staying. iu»* i . « I 1 !• VIEVlUr^ Group I * ” «»r*. ,T^ uV Rotary Club of Greenville. Ml -J 4 Z"^ fc- 4«r teds.' ir jExriiteaKid 1 I : 7 (iva bere. ^T've got •• A 4'.^ ' 1 'IS I BOOfI c r i • F* • • i.'i i EVENT BENEFITS: I Deft'"'*** SSr «( ’ 1 'r' iSgoslii Additional tasting tickets will be available for purchase at event for $1 each. DAILY NEWS .>l» • I *!♦ VIP ADMISSION $50 I Includes one hour early entry, exclusive food and drink pairing experience, Hops & Grapes 101 with local brewer, commemorative Bottles Brews & News Oktoberfest lanyard, souvenir glass, five drink sample tickets and food ©fttoBcrfcst EVENT HOSTED BY: •1 J le . EWSPAPER GROUP'S CRAFT BEER AND Wl The event benefits Rotary Club of Greenville aaas?'''' » ADVANCE TICKETS: < k I . * r ♦ . • A r» .f ■• l^' ■ . k « ’ S" • • it r IJ'< w * • 4 (f fSi bs « 4 — CT * «< B 11^ T ir . I b t tel * 'ri'S' 4 Sponsorships available. Contact Amber Rood at arood(S)thedailynews.cc or at 616-548-8257 M - « - ■ . . CT "^■1 I • A i’ W 9 * i f » 1 ’.■•f ■JI rl • III m ■ I I r b2i-= ib^Mr;.' «.• 3 { 4 I I 4 t I >JH �r 1 : I I I i 4 4 •. ■<li •<. • 4 4 t- . ;--Ue , » I It Saturday, August 9, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS •. 'f '*1 ■ ’fl* >4^ || « K <—f I A % w V I T « fl A I : — •s fl ■ >. t I i ■ * > ( I I J • x d ‘1 I f >A n 1 . fl I I I < ! ••' _j;_-ii^-rr I 4. w? ♦ ♦ A* 4 i i 4 r I t 1 4 I « I 1 r www.sunandnews.com 1 r 4 « I 1 - ‘1 < <1 i I ft i>—> ir * iL* \• * 4 4 I? f < V I 4 z i( 4 4 • 1 •« t r5 f K t :.*S < (’• %>> 4 1 ‘A- 4 K t X lu X •j » : V t 5*«i ^-*-Z *»e . I I I I / <• ■RW J= — — «L I « 1 1 1 .4* i * 1 ■ft 7*.? / i I f run 1 1 r Mg 1 11 I I < X X i: .m . k. fls « ’! V Life EMS Ambulance employees Aidan McMartin and Christopher Johnson flash smiles on a sunny evening Tuesday. ’.1 4 I & .a * c r h. . 1 SPLASH 4:1 I* .'. .r */ X a 1 3 r > MR &J t t/* I Continued from Page 1 I :) I »• 0l attended the festivities. As always, the Kent County Sheriffs Office hosted the local Night Out event. Organizers say it raises awareness about crime preven­ tion and builds relationships between the community and public safety personnel. “We’ve got lots of people here and several businesses (are represented),” Sgt. Scott Dietrich said. “We’ve got police, fire, EMS, tow trucks. We’ve got our Search & Rescue and mounted units over here. We’ve got our Marine Patrol unit, we’ve got L btu KJt . MX --t« J.1 ' 4 r. It^Bb I !! Cl «l » •s £ •-u'"" . • ••J’ S2 : a >• <• < Ai r« TT ' • c^a I 4*^ u j r I I I J J.' « *hi 'nTV I*. /.•. r hMq L 15a r ( iki- ;» -i'^ 4 i ‘T?* a 71 I c <s s *j nf^ - -Jsr 3 f. P ♦ :l J .sA •l I I k A 5« Pb r.J I tr ri r/ 'isw ^sCif® ii •I •• SS’’ ? 4 1 .• *s THE JMOST TRUSTED NAME Ifj ftbOFING, ' J J. 1 4 •i < .;:r-' *> .M* 9 I4 I ai ■Zb.* r. •l 4 .« Mijaa < 1 r i,. 4 :y '/ M • •»' ■ .5^; s -■ w R ■f < > A -A I .-J* u J '^ • H f •1 • ^'•ui I ' •? s I <• li ?l e • II I .7 « I- uT. t I - • .‘X. I OE - «• «■ I 4 * w I t C:"’ Jr >*'• •» «— < ■r X5^' VT** w« fc s-. * fsa :ic- ■* Z--. 4 T-.-r Sag-^sg * i i e w- 4 I t '•• * QUALITY ROOFING M I i I I SHERRiPF GOSLIN *4^. 3 y*i- :•" ,A .Xs I A » > .* J - p' *? '■ ’•I, T* 3 > ) w ".Itor “T& tZJ «i r * ’wt**** -»• *• * 269-962-4036 * ,/<' "V* t I V i *?£ .'4«" > T/ * .r; —'■AM ) b h’ • tT . FREE LENSES WITH THE PURCHASE OF A FRAME AUGUST r 1ST-AUGUST 3 1 ST » ... -Al^ M* • • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115+ YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL insurance COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ■l A . r*H? s \ > L-5.^^ »• J u 35 I •* > b< •.t $ y. , t .J I. Visit us online at www.Sunandnews.com our Technical Services unit - which is our drone team. Our dive unit is over there, our TAG (Tactical Apprehension & Confrontation) team armored vehicle is here. The Kent County Sheriffs Office has been hosting the local event since 2010. It has taken place outside South Christian High School the past four years. Gaines Township Trustee Rob De Ward and his wife attended the Night Out event. He said several people from various governmental and nonprofit agencies were there. “Everybody’s enjoying them­ selves,” he said. “A lot of free stuff for kids. We just come to this every year and enjoy it.” A. X* & ^Sttk I, > i i 4 Trustee Rob DeWard, on the right, was one of several Gaines Township officials who enjoyed the South Kent Night Out. I .if- ^_VI •4F* •. :* i fl * w V ’C 1 ; f f * s ! ;t ’ ■ a **»* * WAM ■: .i«'.: f(~'' *< 1 i / I 1 »•-*'-** (. I c J lt ‘ nlr \ A 'A . A-*—. u t rI ■ 'T §1 CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE INSPECTION ' » ? Thornapple I ■.‘ f XT T 0 H P D I N G MARKET 269-213«aiu3 » 4 wk** r W . T H 0 R N A P P L £ E E C A RV ;u i'/ V A 4 ■fc VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK Mi * 1 �I i Saturday August 9, 2025 8 r Ml THE SUN AND NEWS i> I . < I WWA sunandnewf- 1 C’ rn I =4i I t J i « k I J k' Sporting News I r* » «I« I • 4 if t I r •* I I * i (’ .‘>11 9 » Road Runners wrap season with annual Gun Lake picnic ib : —J hSL r C J * f 4 r I f » b • ►-» Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor * * ff < Brad Bliek of Hopkins and Haley Green of Zeeland were handed the 2025 Wayland Road Runners T-shirts with the big number one on the back in the pavilion al Murphy’s Point on Gun Lake Wednesday evening. Bliek was the male and Green the female points leader for the Road Runners’ summer season. The club finished its 29th season with its annual fun run and potluck al Gun Lake. Runners took on two-, three-, four-mile runs or whatever they saw fit along Stale Pari< Drive and Gun Lake Road, The long runs took Road Runners from the Murphy's Point parking area to just beyond Tom’s Meat Market on Gun Lake Road southeast ofthe entrance to the Yankee Springs park entrance, The Road Runners once again began the summer ofrunning the first week ofJune at Wayland Union High School and continued to get together every Wednesday evening throughout June andJuly. The *• “T*. FA <»Aa * » ;i' « 4 V 4 K. ■ n * * J * i IT 4 * I •> •■./ K > I •> I I i.*-. it % 4* V I S' A >kJ * .I* —J. — Brad Bliek of Hopkins and Haley Green of Zeeland show off their number one T-shirts at Gun Lake Wednesday after finishing as the top male and female point scorers during ^he^2(^5 summer Wayland Road Runners season Photo by Brett Bremer " f* i program included short runs, long runs, track runs, relay runs and more throughout. Points arc kept each week for showing up and finishing runs. The lop 24 runners were awarded numbered T-shirts for their placing during the end of season picnic. Bliek and Green both moved to the top of the points standings in early July. For Bliek this is his second straight summer at the top ofthe standings. The Road Runner club was once again headed by long-time area high school and track and field coach Ray Antel. At least 30 folks took part in Wednesday's fun run, and many more friends and family in attendance for the picnic. Rather than keeping time of tallying points, Antel spent the half hour, give or take, mak­ ing sure the hot dogs were ready for supper when the runners returned to Murphy’s Point. Antel made sure to let everyone know at the end of the evening that the 2026 season, the 30th club season, will begin the first Wednesday in June, k, 11 V * I r. ' L < • ♦ < i 1 I’ ' i I ' J A ,r f ' 4 V ...' 1* k J r; i 11 I a* ,-j1p : JS'l r ’z* 1 '.V r’’- s> •k I . /I • 1 ..<11 ’<<► -i- . > ■ J II n! e il 4? li I 4 ■ ''... ar 1 >>■ ) < ■ 4l<.' ' A : ,-.. wi • I - • * u 4’ > i •r I ) - aSL. • f .»p ’ 1 1 I F u i A'V- » 1 1 i k t •I V 4 *ww^ 4 Ski- rl to find your perfect invitation! I * I f listf’ 4 t 1 A » 1 A 1 nrl 4 ’ I IN ‘ :i| . * Summary of Request: Special Land Use request to build a 15,000 square foot residential accessory building in the ARR zoning district Parcel Number: 4 . ♦ Ift' L * I •ft I ^.. r r If ■ r, I J I L 3429 Loretta View Drive. Caledonia, Ml 49316 i ■ *4 t 4 i 41-22-14-100-058 I I I Applicant: f — .wwel ► 11 The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request; Property Address: /e t . .*• I. J. i Scan our OR code '•Ri ■ T''-' NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 1^ I 5 GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP .•.a 4 * A --- I « a w “W* Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for^cour big day, we*ve put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. Brad Miedema Date and Time of Hearing: August 28th, 2025, at 7:00 pm Location of Hearing: I I II Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room - ■ ♦ t. ' 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 J .t ff. i «vsHa?i. u < » t Vw ‘J > fl.:: U.5I J 'J Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 9806188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on August 28th, 2025. *-.l' (' f' k * i {bU-.r..J ■ I t wTk-n *5 F > 4i 1 ' ti-x i ■' ( > li‘V i I I 1 <i ‘ i«' 4 ifc C t I • ■ ,' J J I. e I —1 PRINTING BY i ■ f a t: I I * vvww.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylanepnnting.com Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. k I I i *• f » » » I I • 4* jrlA IM. P »c I I — .i..* Ik * « e -I^ �I”- < t •* w I I J' , i... ♦ f e IJ 4^^— — teii I ** ■? '«r Saturday, August 9, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS vvww.sunandnews.com ♦ ♦ Chief Noonday Chapter set to cut more trail next Saturday K^i r\ L •» Brett Bremer Sports Editor I* :*1 . '‘C r s 4 J lUx < I I * *, X/K .• J . • 1 I } i J t . '-ir ‘ < r., fi I \'4 • '*Tti 1 J f 1^. J 4 1 f d I '7& 2^ I ,1- A I J rvb’ix; ^•rr ii b4 I J • r. I ■J I i < I . , . tt vn. “’Alt* t i *0 * •»1 / r* 1 ^5 > » j J I f n I *1I I 11 , ^cr. < * ; •> « s •^Cu , •'{;< ' J .1 fi ■ 9. * . f * *>, r ’‘tv. < 3i> > I.-- ■ft I < •’‘Il Ik f I ■! r f ~i4 ' . ^4 4 > y << • * ■■ 'A* » *« 'L i. t .1 I S J <!• ! < » ?i bV f •4 .» << ■ Stfi J •■r'iifei-. ^V^j; Ifc I I ** •' J 44 ' > ••1 A July work day managed to clear about half of the mile and a half of planned new North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) in Middleville, and a second work day is on the horizon. ITie Chief Noonday Chapter of the North Country Trail Association is set to host a chapter work day Saturday, Aug. 16, in the woods between the current Crane Road trail head and downtown Middleville. The new section of trail will travel through a mix of private and public property between Crane Road and Sheridan Street near Mount Hope Cemetery in Middleville, allowing NCT hikers to avoid what has become a busy stretch of Crane Road between Whitneyville Avenue and M-37. The work for the second month in a row will consist mainly of clearing a 4-foot wide and 8-foot tall area through the forest - clearing brush and also benching the way across the many hilly sections of the trail. A June workday drew about 25 volun teers who cut trail for about three hours through the brush south of Crane Road, and NCT organizers were extremely pleased with the day’s progress. The chapter will supply some tools, but volunteers are asked please bring mattocks or pulaskis if they have them, as well as lopping shears, prun­ ing shears or pruning saws. It is also recommended to bring sturdy gloves and wear long pants and sleeves even if it’s warm; plan to wear sunscreen and bug spray; and bring plenty of water and snacks. The workday will begin at the NCT trailhead on Crane Road, east of Whit­ neyville Ave and just west of the youth baseball fields at the end of the road. Work is set to start at 9:30 a.m. and continue on until “around lunchtime.” There are also plans for an optional breakfast meet-up at Thornapple Kitchen in Middleville at 8 a.m. Contact Ryan Bowles for more infor­ mation at chiefhoondaytrailmanager@ gmail.com. A third trail workday is planned for Sept. 20, ideally to finish up the project. ..» t «b 43 1 V • w i-'A X' * * /• ># A V ' 9 » JIM3 * •* ■„> « 1 A r • 31 ■I > «-■ 4 V * •C5 « %* <lr *» rsj^ >« - jH. **S *< .5 ii't. J * < -= .... t 4 *4 <1 >. •d Volunteers cut new trail across a hillside on the planned reroute of the North Country National Scenic Trail between the Crane Road trailhead and downtown Middleville during the NCTA Chief Noonday Chapter’s work day; in July. The work continues during an August work day planned for Saturday, Aug. 16. Photo provided •.M’ ♦ *1 Correction: Everett Wells was a member ofthe Caledonia Baseball Softball League 11U All-Star squad that placed third in this summer’s Michigan District 9 bI Little League Baseball Tournament. Wells was inadvertently left off the list of players in last week’s Si^n and < News story about the team that closed the summer with a third-place finish. e* ■''"liS® a > & ivil « ««l k kt f i ?»»■ •** KI U - J - I •g 1 t . ^4- » I 1 1 i rrrc^4 v; •*c em- #>« '“Sfate •nr.'F^l9f1O( I 1I r 1 % *^*pefP' J ■ L^1 I .-i' ' ...,l I f r €W >UJ. , I t If It -Ofc’ i I ' • 4 ^ It /•S ! I KJ 01 ♦ 4* J !’.■ J T i r 1 r I ■: i| ;j . I I I I 1 j: 'Afi I 1 ,1• I < .< 4 I ♦ “• r • ,4 . . •■r’l * j'l' I ah?TnVI- 1 r i ‘'r N w •• b I ■ * * <» ( r’r ' -J -xl.-’ » I I 1 u<err<jnTmr^ r rJ 1 ! w*}' . i- if I - ► . i b BUSINESS HOURS: I r- 616-891-0150 STATE OF MICHIGAN PROBATE COURT COUNTY OF BARRY NOTICE TO CREDITORS Decedent’s Estate CASE NO. and JUDGE 25-30177-DE Judge William M. Doherty Court address: 206 West Court Street, #302, Hastings, Ml 49058 Court telephone no.: 269-945-1390 Estate of Kenneth E. Piccard. Date of birth: May 3. 1956. TO ALL CREDITORS: ! NOTICE TO CREDITORS: The decedent, Kenneth Piccard, died 11/15/2023. Creditors of the decedent are notified that all claims against the estate will be forever barred unless presented to Ruth A. Piccard, personal representative, or to both the probate court at 206 West Court Street, Hastings, Ml 49058 and the personal representative within 4 months after the date of publication of this notice. Date: August 5, 2025 Michelle M. Lupanoff P72716 4251 Cascade Road SE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49056 (616) 361-2432 Ruth A. Piccard 9910 108th Street SE Middleville, Michigan 49333 (616) 581-7890 Monday - Friday: 8 am ••ee MircaMwwv >4 m MMm «*• tw r«9*« • Thornapple Township is seeking a qualified resident to fill the position of TOWNSHIP CLERK to 5 PM 4 The responsibilities include: • Record the minutes of the Township Board meetings • Manage all Township records • Maintain the General Ledger • Administer elections • FOIA coordinator • Manage cemetery BODY SHOP • Process payroll • Accounts payable Complete Collision Repair 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your frusfrd Body Shop -for o\z€r 32 years » Additional Clerk duties can be found on the Township website: thornappletownship.com/jobs Please submit resumes with a letter of interest to : office@thornapple-twp.org This position will be open until filled. Thornapple Township | 200 E. Main Street Middleville | Ml 49333 (269) 795-7202 f i I ! r J I t I : ; I I I I 1 '4 I 1 t ( I 1 ,1 I J J I ii*, « b • • Jt It I J ’4 1 \ h I. k \ I » 1 I �r » I c> I. I J Saturday, August 9, 2025 10 I THE SUN AND NEWS I www.sunandnews.com ♦ >> i 1 I ^1 flag football players win their way into Junior Olympics ♦ I ' »■ I —1.^ l‘.'» hi*' I :fWl>O'*ra h 1 f I » ♦ * M, tHi. I f5 easi^ *“•♦1 '?*« (l I* I c I'iU-’ n *r -3^ ■ I I I ■< n, fr ■A I * * A Sh « t 9^ . I> '7 ■ I I eI i '' » SI* i, h ** I 6V w \ .X' i 1 'ft I [vl I"* ? * * t It ftg 4 6 A I« A r I 4» IS «i ** .. -'LJP •V * 4;... Si J J I I* •*3 e « ' '•h r-' V 1.*. ■* 'I a I) b **> .. -» ■-'-^ 4 •iT $ ! I '^S^' * "Jf VI C«***.- >% t 9^ •I ■•w i e' 9 * d »l .1 . s \> b s. 9 2 I X k I t ■• .J e * I r « bl *< ft i-’ Kai*/ Ha */•* ,Y » > I • e A. ' 1 VI * ■A*9 R J . / 1 4 i b 'i iT^ wn J7y' f J Jf ,5 > ■ + z w « 1 ) •r* J” r I : -. *♦>’ ■ X4 t ft r • >-» A 6 1 IF ki» •** w f /•. WM * 'J r > •f c A « 4 SF' Scl--- t :jr I , * *» - V L* .. I 9^ V’ * ?? •9 * t m4» The CAL SELECT 7U flag football team huddles up during day two of the AAU Junior Olympics at Rice University in Houston, Texas, July 26. The CAL SELECT 7U flag football team was the lone 7U team representing the state of Michigan July 25-26 at the AAU Junior Olympic Games at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Earning a spot in the Junior Olympics marked the third time the team had earned a spot in a national competition. It was a tough first day of pool play in Texas for the Caledonia youngsters. In the end they were downed in their first bracket play contest, 12-7 by an SUBU team, in a game in which the Cal team had a 7-0 lead in the first half. Reports from Houston are that the boys gave it everything they had against some really talented teams. The CAL SELECT team earned its spot in the Junior Olympics with a championship performance at the 2025 Super Hero Sports (SHS) Battle at the Big House inside Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor July 13. The CAL SELECT program sent six teams to the Battle at the Big House and all six earned trophies for top three fin­ ishes. The 7U, 6U, and 9U Gold teams won titles. The 9U Purple team and 1 OU The CAL SELECT 7U flag football team celebrates its championship at the SHS Battle at the Big House July 13 inside Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The Caledonia squad earned a spot in the AAU Junior Olympics with the victory. It was one of three championship performances by CAL SELECT teams at the event as the 6U and 9U Gold teams also took first place. Photos provided W“ Thank You for Makino Our Annual Golf outing a Success! « fv «r F AAW cruknCMr 0^ caivYwcv isn/iinnuL 4SOLfOUnf/G J a We're grateful to everyone who supported this year's event sponsors, volunteers, players, and community members! □ t<W lb Scan the QR code to see all of our amazing partners & sponsors. > .» K ."RI 4 id| >I > □ si - W t ’ 2029 y 5 •aX :rv e4» Jr «> K . ( i i ' il®'*' r) I -xr «,ee,^ X>W. Work day to clear invasives from near Hall Lake Saturday An outing in the woods will be hosted by the Michigan DNR for volunteers to help remove invasive shrubs thatthreaten habitat at Hall Lake in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area Saturday, Aug. 16. The session is slated to run from 10 a.m. until noon. V. .V ' if .Tt'''« T r r: •f * J > * I I r I • I A» V M.,. !2i •'h' I 3 f u J «• J ^.r I.- f I U< I i .. ^hk ; .--•>>'C»4 r jf I f • V • ’ ■ Mb* 7 t *«« ■'A li 3ft il IJu- a i** 4 « I •*4l* ♦'•*’ i f-r I. ■ J I fl fl i.M 1 '.•'/ bf .> I ,s. f t r \ • /*»• I br '5 r ‘ V * 1. »: I r*b J lift** ’ £l” *82d£j Ktu) a I , fl: 1 -f^ ' 1 i J 1 1 I *A -r- I LU f \ I / ' \ * t I J r ! ) <> I ft ft rfmtatoi* •r I * I V ) k<4i i A a Vt ? * ai Long-sleeve shirts, long pants and closed-toed shoes are highly recom­ mended for volunteers. Volunteers are instructed to park at the winter sports parking area near 10100 Gun Lake Rd. Contact Tyler Lidgard for more in­ formation or to register for the event by email at LidgardT@Michigan. gov. 55 I Xz 5 Vir'* I -b * in our area take their physical, mental, and emotional development to the next level. In a short time, we’ve built a program that’s producing regional and national results.” The CAL SELECT program had its 6U and 1 OU teams place third at the 2024 SHS Battle atthe Big House. This 2025 season included championships from the 7U team and the 9U Purple team at the Great Lakes Flag Football Summer Kickoff Classic; the 6U team at the West Michigan Flag Football Championship; and from the 7U and 9U Gold teams in the 7v7 contests at the SHS Summer Nationals. The program had a number of runner-up and third-place finishes throughout the season too. ?^tr i I ^5 jaUPFOK wumsHPS □ team scored runner-up finishes. The program’s 8U team was third. All six of those teams qualified for a national tournament at some point during the 2025 season. Cal SELECT Flag Football president Brian Michael Walsh said, the 7U team really stood out as the only 7U team from the state to qualify for a spot in Houston. “Their journey is a testament to the power of youth sports and the grow­ ing momentum of flag football in our state,” Walsh said. “This achievement is part of a much larger success story. CAL SELECT is a competitive travel flag football pro­ gram founded just over a year ago to help the most dedicated young players .-■A. c J Brett Bremer Sports Editor <' iHX? ‘-“I •* '? 1 » ( .T ' 1 I "^7!* s '. LO£4 I X •r. z'"-r3 • ♦ *ao t V » J A f. I rrr • I ; 139^ 1 ‘ . X ■ >• Oli y ■ J I. I ft « wr •fl I srto®^ •• -JIV* < I 1^ . et ^^'wJpS » J 1' rt • I - •^. '. ' ■ . I i I » « ' V r 3’ r.-^ t I •< *4^ ' 'L a. r 1 1 5 ’ 4 < ;vLk �J 'S ' 4 MU . 4 i I r I J k i rr. t I I I I ■ i (flvarr 'nn J f ^Tinefir i I i 'r ■ f* I * an /f r e^f rv a I ' «j«1T/^38FrT ' . . .J I nuH . J ’. i MBh > U>'- ' .X -r. 1 tf:J 9i ■ bTBTf ' If * Wi ' x-O; F* * J li I ! I ,i J .Art ni;M|W i fjru i ■ ) -T tl *r^>a J 1 IJ •> .1 / ,7? Ji' 7 J t .1 f J 7 ' ivDifabiM I t. r!<ioo .zgni 1 od no I pXj t .1 -J t I I i \ . I I ■*. f: • ■' ' -'1 1 iM xVj S*Jl •^T^T 1 ' 1(il i f I 'Z . trr>< f I J Ik 7j'l ** T / )nf- (* I. * I r 7 t s - u 1 I k .'I*: 4 > ■ t 'VJi I . 1< * ^bul-jr' 1. I •< r I f ‘I ';»■ F■ 9 V ^4 I ■^Wl J I <1 // (iB-T .1^ = Hl *’ J'st'.f I Ct iL*. * 4 J >• k M w i I . . I;' » ■ g * •* I . r i Ir I I i •T I ,» ■Sf^c Ik J. ’ « . A A •*fwn A WU > 4 r )4 HI uJ’j'iLk,/ H Prnz)t>f /oil t •0 I < J Lc' SiA. DC bfm.x-'i fr// fl I / -J J j • ■ OB I r* 5 ‘ci# I XI K V1 I no I r 1 IF I fiyp 'TTT*^ •• '•*'■* ■■’rJnvjTjfrfi I I fhvdifj' I I b I voijfli eqodM • ^9 11* Saturday, August 9, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 11 4 gatweiB R www.sunandnews.com M H^' . • I III J ^4 ojonef -* fr^^oJfwob 1 F i jTi’ ■ ♦ i ft 'T: I 5c MWJ i-M -'(^f‘{ e??!llLL’F'f o. ■^h. ’4 f k%hft I ( 14 • *4..I * ir t // i -...J,. 1 LU 1 I I 5^ .t > * •*«>r. I I I noe ;> ri'.,. . *-■» f i .fe; >1.1 t J '' ** ■ 4ibjio r <nnr f! > i 1 ’u I I V s AM ** Brewfest pairs with M66 Unique Antique fiea market Brett Bremer « Sports Editor The beverage list is finally settled. The volunteer list is nearly full. The ninth annual Bany County Brew­ fest opens at noon Saturday, Aug. 16, in downtown Nashville. This is the second time ±e Barry County Chamber and Economic Development Alliance (BCCEDA) traveling adult beverage festival will be in town. It last hit the streets of downtown Nashville in 2019. The Barry County Brewfest was first held in Middleville in 2016, and currently rotates each year between Nashville, Hast­ ings, Middleville and Delton. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m. llckets for the event can be purchased online at mibarry.com/brewfest/. Tickets are $30 (plus some online fees) or $40 at the event. Being that volunteers are granted entry into the event after their shift, ±ere con­ tinues to be no lack for volunteer help according to BCCEDA business manager Kim Martin. The group of volunteers this summer includes members of the Maple Valley Junior High football program. Event organizers like to get a local group to help with the event teardown at the end of the day. Martin said Maple Valley Athletic Boosters president Tai Geariiart suggested the middle school football program as it is looking to fundraise to help pay for bussing to games this fall. The chamb^ will make a donation and also allow the football pro­ gram to take the returnable cans and bottles from the event to collect the deposit. The Maple Valley Athletic Boosters will have a big part in the day’s festivities hosting a food tent alongside Brewfest with plans to serve items like hot dogs, chicken wings and french fries. The Brewfest is being held in conjunc­ tion with the 66 Unique Flea Market along M-66 in Nashville Saturday. That event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be an antique tractor show as well as food vendors, music and the three antique shops in downtown Nashville will be open downtown visitors too. “We do this because we wanna bring people into different parts ofBarry County, and hopefully in doing that they’re gonna visit the business in the area... Hopefully some of the restaurants in Nashville get some foot traffic from Brewfest. Hopefully, some of the stores get some foot traffic from Brewfest That is what we’re hoping for from it. Then again, it gets people from other parts of the state or different places into the Barry County area.” 1 I * .i lb ■a * « - .4 g r: 1 hi ^*re« 1 .w. 4 i A * X * t* r. & » 1 3 1 4 -M 1^ ■I 4 < w n*' s' PUBLIC NOTICE GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS A 1 •* 1 I 'r ry July 2025 * I brLjC’ }\ / * < T: < ;.3^s L tv I v M* Barry County Brewfest returns to downtown Nashville for the second time in the event’s history. It will run in conjunction with the M66 Unique Antique Flea Market Saturday, Aug. 16. Brewfest was last in Nashville in 2019. Photo provided Live music will be performed by SilentBark during the Brewfest. Martin said ±e event is up from 35 beverage vendors to 38 this summer- with a Michigan focus as usual and a special emphasis on local breweries and the like including places like Walldorff Brewpub, Glass Creek Winery and Brewery and Gull Lake Distillery. The big boys will be ±ere too with offerings from Founders, Bell’s, New Holland Brewing Co., Short’s, etc. A local addition to the line-up this year is Brothers Brew, a non-alcoholic brewery based out of Hastings wi± a mission to provide alcohol-free options while also putting an emphasis on helping veterans through ±e business. Brokers Brew bev­ erages on the menu include their signature WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS • * /i* 7» ’Ip*. F R» I Residential & Commercial A I H < f '•} sU'»' . '■^ I »’.-• 4 I J » MB<y 'X: » A . .<z Ml ¥ I i4 I I IZE I I ■•.. •.___ i£:i II < 12 .. ..ssrv ♦* V rg:^ 4 ?aT?s:^ F>. KJ* If 2: ■^■1 :u&£& t I Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers < «> rL *:5 2.*Z4^ •T.'T ‘1 '1 It Xb* DeWeerd (68) /‘“1955 Sty HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. VISince DEWEERDHTG.COM hoppy “Icy Hops” as well as “Pink Mist” a hibiscus and lime forward beverage. While the ninth Brewfest is just a week away, plans are already underway for tlie tenth to come to Hastings Aug. 8, 2026. 269-792-2234 -W W A+ 5 .BBB« ACCREDITED BUSINESS The Gaines Charter Township Board held a regular meeting on Monday, July 14. 2025, and took the following actions. 1. Reviewed the Consent Agenda 2. Approved the Meeting Agenda 3. Discussed the Kent District Library Annual Report 4. Held a public hearing on Authentix Gaines Planned Unit Development (PUD) Rezoning 5. Held a public hearing on 1264 100th Street Southeast Rezoning 6. Approved the consent agenda 7. Approved the Authentix Gaines PUD rezoning request. 8. Adopted the ordinance to rezone 1264 100th Street from Agricultural Rural Residential to Village Residential. 9, Approved the Preliminary Major Con- ’ dominium Plan for Dutton Center Phase 2. 10. Set a Public Hearing for August 11, 2025 for a zoning ordinance text amend­ ment. 11. Set a Public Hearing for August 11, 2025 for text amendments to the Code of Ordinances for Early Starts for multi-family with the removal of bond language in the amendments. 12. Approved the tentative preliminary plat phase 3 for Hoffman Meadows. 13. Approved the Water and Sewer con­ tracts 3 and 4 for Prairie Wolf Station. 14. Approved entering into a Coopera­ tive Mutual Aid Agreement for Fire Control. 15. Approved the planned maintenance agreement with Cummins for the Gaines Charter Township Fire Department. 16. Approved fronting up to $10,000 to organize a Taste of Gaines Festival for September 27, 2025 dependent on attor­ ney review. 17. Allowed the Supervisor, Township Clerk, and Township Treasurer to send li­ quor license requests to the Sherrif patrol for the Taste of Gaines event only. 18. Adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m. The Gaines Charter Township Board held a regular meeting on Monday, July 28, 2025, and took the following actions. 1. Approved the Meeting Agenda 2. Discussed the Initiatives Review Doc­ ument 3. Discussed the Gaines Charter Town­ ship Fire Department Additional Staffing 4. Discussed the Gaines Charter Town­ ship Fire Department Capital Replacement 5. Discussed the Township Initiatives 6. Discussed the Parks and Trails Com­ mittee Initiatives 7. Discussed the Road Repair Funding 8. Discussed the Board Member Initia­ tives 9. Adjourned the meeting at 6:51 p.m. A complete copy of the minutes of these meetings and any resolutions or ordinanc­ es adopted at the meeting are on file and available for review at the Gaines Charter Township office, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Michigan 49316. Ordinances, meeting schedules, meeting min­ utes, and other Township information are also available at www.gainestownship.org. Michael Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk < 0 II I ' !,?r / ^*767.^'; st M4 E^0' I X. • F'l N ^,1 I ■l q I >f1 f 1 I I 1 I I . •• I 11 I I Hl I t I I ' t'. IM ' l.k I I ) 1 I h k» J \ J I I 1 4 �J I iA I Saturday, August 9, 2025 12 k I I ij- II I I THE SUN AND NEWS ♦ ) Mk > ♦ * a J V k it- ■** ? t" * \ M»< , I .\ yr. X r -*s 'J A .k < > r I 1 SI 4«« .<♦ * M. • . < A € 1 AUGUST •s lb I A * Ate * V V t , « I ........ * . > ?4P’ ^'r -r^~ ' 3^' 4 J I Ji, e TL -** << Sf DELTON bM !L .*»r •■ { > -> 1 .1 •*r. r c• FOUNDERS FESTIVAL ( i I* 1 s -1 9AM-4PM > •l ' .r ?' •f # SAT % 1 c 4 •3r w ■ « * ’S^ 4 • > •• fl . * «« ■-^9 ■ V». no3.ew9ntJnBfiie.www 4 * « < X « x? * t IL TV-- Wtievents- t'' 4( V » 4> , a t > r A < 3 9^ r <• *-• ■'?* •» ^3* Jr r ' '-<♦ ^'. ♦* V ';’r www.sunandnews.com I MK: ► • *v r fl t «f;£ ) i iu- ?• I. < .^X'SKi .■-•yc' i I •> * '3 I K r ;x *' *0 ‘*'4' fii >» » <• t SAT i , »I i X *y5.> v> ■2^ t 4“ 9AM-4PM •• 1 i-T;' ;.'n ;k rf :v> r I r-. Tk U"' li*jT '” •• S* ’T -rW-F^* .. < * la w Ir- •>- F <k A 'Nd I k. 9 t it. w 1 SAT 1 « » I ?’T 1 10AM - 6PM I «* a ■ '•■'K ;f ^! i! 1 >.’1 b I A X K >*<* * '5e. < •"W* s ) t, • »f^»' . '<• ' 1 • I I * e X. .’a?: -- • &3 I/* 4 :*'Cr>f A 1 SUMMERFEST r ! \ V rJS .'\* ; • ■ •* 1.?; S^- at f 1^' •JI « kK< 1 ‘7 f L V s *v 4* ■S J -*:4‘ A. 'A .4^. .»«• < f f I 9 s »« >* I w Ki r>« % :4 H * 5 N' * ** A ( ’=FS r t' ’iS^ i, r MIDDLEVILLE fl ;a\ t V j«,' I .■^ -< t r M '-•< P*;< ,? rSs 4 V -* ? 4 > t 4 4 I I w H I I" i — idteuj* r h J t «, i- . -X w ! ♦Vzto-. 1 »r •s .<« »■■• I•»^^«n M‘.V '* • > t > 'V 1 I I'i •r. ; t I « r « I 1 1 k «k (t I i -C^-4 » .« I MIAIAk.'''^ >«> '."i ' < * «s * J 1 5J -,. j£j£iUwHi.i 4 T » I .^2- i t. .■e> ( w rc f I % SAO <<• t« * 'W h I <v 7 HERITAGE DAYS I .{ b 5 I > * ^’p- >B f £p •?. > 1 ‘■"3 4 Seft 4^ 9AM - 2PM Xz.* k > 'A SAT 9- ^vZ*' fe* . r SEPTEMBER '_ *1 < 3 ' *A •4 I i •*T€ ;«1^- J' ,sjA.._- 4^ trfX HASTINGS f .--- - t MH a. Si x *'2 t Celebrating our SO^^riniversary by taking part in area festivals Stop by and share your small town dreams! Bj. v 'tf** V > it'T- 4 A» I * 4 < t -.,4 »•; 1 J 3#’* ora** I 4- BREW FEST < .• ■f- NASHVILLE >. ftM 0. •r ^•1 * At V ty ( x%* FS;-' 1 T- t i^ - ■' .V 4t t 1‘. k I i I . - r' .' I f I «A r'i .^-KT. .?• .1 ' 9- *41 :‘a f t H. I. •I .f ?'v ‘* * a. ' <y.*i: >1* *»V � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-08-16.pdf cc3aad0a31e8df58dbf6e43eeb63ddf3 PDF Text Text www.sunandnews.com ioeq alBOoJ nwotnwob )t BinobeisO noiteideleO nisM no Locals pack downtown Caledonia for Celebration on Main . ^1. WBixH-o*wT nswH^ 1 leJnW ttfilS < tmo332 srli TO t «inob3bi') noqii btc ITO 1133W 12BI .V .jiuA .YBbarorn ) ■StUK ■ I iztft wri Of .wuf 1 faancHnH ^>rfl lifirio gni 9rit lol M»irnmo9 W8^ jm/'j 26ri noittirloJ ’ W x; ol OJ nwoiq li oriw J 1 ui f I .2230 wo ZfTH ‘ .biB?. ^«^i^ ".nt<M no notlBidaloO pinnckl srir to srnoz ni b37lo7ni 'n*) f *44 / i I o adt to 7tb 3rii no boi331nutov )t 8B7/ii UiToqzwodgniaszraftA 01 bMioxo fjw I /Ziinnrnmoo .TBV< zMi 3loi -ragaid h nlE nisM no noitandilao arfl wl TOvo bcaiq^ zi sinobalsD 2'iB37 lirfT *( n ni vmb I TibTOJJH .TGW JbbI oeriJ bwmo sijrvilzit afH .arasimsaT' n fmr.'I bnc wori2 wa a bsbula anobslfi^ tn «8aT Jrigik! aziin'J t ■) Ml z jlniiH ,?JB3n bH p'BmmoM XBguk .zeaTqxH .9100 bfw; 9jtfi J iiigmiBH ,83111711231 9fll 01 noilibbB nl ganl^ slbl Y863 fnofi oizum ^nr. jb jI jR-rtbruroz b zb bo'rraa st f!k7/ 9t?Hi /^BbawflT nO .inava 11B ;unibol3ni xliinfil olorlw aril yp iq hoBlsq Icminfl rrnslfi ,woriz llbfc; 3:)|-isM ziarrnfiTfiinobslBD iJ mml aizuni avil zwlq .abaicn .eoilnA rat 3fij biBc i3ufl |j: pi 11373 3fil lo dtiw irijildgrri £ tODW CnUONEU NESIDKUIVr UMW.^ (!i«w«rr««i»i boeofio Sfil arit bm; wori« 3i3fl.' .einobalfiO b«u^!( »339 W938 eiMUMne- I >s *«w. 1 bVID ns boeivQB bBtieio T r* I i 1 I* « A Li View NewspaHASTINGS per Group, owner of 22 commu­ nity newspapers including the Sun andNewSy is pleased to announce they will be relocating to a new office space following the sale of their current space on M-43 in Hastings. “When View Newspaper Group acquired the Sun and New^s^ the current office space for the newspaper was not part of the sale. As such, we knew a move would be in our future,” said View Newspaper Group Publisher Wes Smith. “The current owners of the building announced recently their inten­ tion to sell the space. Some readers have contacted our team asking if the paper is also for sale. To be clear, the sale only relates to the building. View Newspaper Group and its 22 locally-owned, locally-connect­ ed newspapers are not for sale and not going anywhere. We are proud to be your community connection and look forward to serving readers for generations to come.” Smith added that the new office space will be near the current office space and more details will be announced when available. Questions about the building can be directed to the number on the for sale sign located on the property. Questions regarding View Newspaper Group can be direct ed to Brand Manager Emily Caswell at ecaswell@mihomepaper.com. — Molly Macleod f . n 4 K * 5. I Rk •g t J* 41 a r^' ■ * * *r* Karen Turko-Ebright - staff Writer p ’"* • A<>.* » F i , I •v L^aifSln a ■s •K r I _ 4 ITie Celebration on Main descend­ ed upon Caledonia for the second year last week on Wednesday, Aug. 6 and Thursday, Aug. 7. Sarah Buer, who is in her first year serving as chair of the Enhancement Committee for the event, said the celebration has proven to be a suc­ cess. “Last year was our very first Celebration on Main,” she said. “I was involved in some of the planning and volunteered on the day of the event. After seeing how special it was for the community, I was excited to step into a bigger role this year.” The celebration on Main Street in Caledonia is spread over two days. This year’s event drew in a larger crowd than last year, according to event organizers. The festivities in­ cluded a car show and Family Tavern Cruise Night, Taste of Caledonia dis­ playing tasty treats, Brink’s Ice Cream Express, Sugar Momma’s Bakery, Farmgirl Cake Pops and more. In addition to the festivities, live music from Easy Idle String Band served as a soundtrack during the event. On Thursday, there was fim for the whole family including a tractor show, a farm animal pet and play area, Caledonia Farmers Market and the Pet Parade, plus live music from Candid Antics. Noaa Buer said the first day uawoisno iviiNaaisau of the event is always $SWU33 in BHAUNtig a highlight with a car OKxoQOd “oGG# I’UJJed show and the Taste of 8£88> 1^ '0(|!AU09J9 Caledonia, where local n*;<> •• -i*- I K I*? 4^ j83b nifiM no noilHid-sb/J 310 91 p -J Sun and News building for sale {* I 1 >4 -^s> I- t. 5 1' LJ > ./ •’ A I I to Jfl 1 <« 4 * fc'* w ■ LI kM kt J 4< R- >/ M./ z< I t «* -f; •; h“ •* ..9 > >•** <*« r -i—.-5^’ * ! 8’ ! * V f ■ r kb* 4 EVENT STAff S3^!’ • 2 T I f' '.J V t. % ’/V K 1ft A K 14 •k *2 iSJ •k K X » «■<' * r I < «) •n « * •»r t • ) 4* •• '■ < .* •• < « I B A c r If «:.t •'? ■:^i ts^ «■'. . 1 4 » / 9 A <- K X. w > * A -A I z c r. 4 •9 * » I .1 f >« 2 r •1 4*1 A > * ?■ ;■> r 1 *' I ■ •« ■ ■'< « w > * jA ( r Organizers say Caledonia’s Celebration on Main would not be a success without volunteers. From left: Enhancement Committee Chair Sara Buer, Caledonia Village President Jennifer Lindsey and Mindy Brink, owner of Brink’s Ice Cream Express. Photo by Curtis Brink restaurants and food trucks serve up delicious samples. This year included face painting, dance activities for kids and a performance by the Caledonia Dance & Music Center dancers. “The vibe was incredible. Main Street was absolutely packed. At aivd times, it was even hard to make your way through the crowd,” Buer said. “We easily had over 1,000 people out enjoying the evening (Aug. 6), which really shows how much our community loves coming together.” See CELEBRATION on 6 * aovisod s n QIS isad k 9 ■I 4 V. « 'I 5« • t • •ok. . X '.'• w.jjJ*k;^ - r «*' I i I * !.*« > k. ' > P »*♦ ' wara '.e^^ .■?. «•—r *1 . k 'J». k.. *• k 9: >«' I• • ’< <» l« .*<« M>(.v ». _ '.' _«i' _®. <• <« * •* I* <e S« 40 te Itr .w ve <o '' <v, ' ***-’*''^< <•'^jC <*•>»• :?< a fl <4 «• ifl 4 t« *»< I fl ' • <• r? 9 # f '• » • « 14 < '.r. • .« * 9 F »v •* T f r 'F f r » fl '« 19 «'J/ ' ... » .« 9 • > « fl I’ * 1 ■<'■ ♦ * 4 i r » 4 » 1 I B • 9 9 9 • • 9 9 » 4 W �2 Saturday, August 16. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Middleville man receives new, reduced sentence I I f * Dennis Mansfield Staff Writer A Middleville man will still be serv­ ing years in a Michigan correctional facility, but that stay might now be shorter than originally anticipated and much shorter than some would have liked. Scott Raymond 11 and ley. 55, of Mid­ dleville was sentenced to 57 to ISO months in prison, with 938 days credit for time already served, during a hear­ ing before Judge Michael Schipper in « . » I ■ . a « f.- A CAUDONIA UBRARY BONANZA BOOK SAU! Friends of the Library only Pre-Sale Friday, August 22 3-5 pm Membership can be purchased at the door Public Sale, Saturday, August 23.10-2pm, 20 FREE books to teachers/educators with ID Courtesy of the Caledonia Friends of the Library! KDL Caledonia Branch 6260 92nd. St. Caledonia, Ml 49316 •iV*^ 1 f. k. > nir^ jd Barry County District Court on Tues­ day, Aug. 12. TTiat was after previously having entered a plea of no contest to a felony charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death in April 2023. Tuesday’s hearing was actually the second time Schipper had sentenced Handley to prison for his role in the death of 62-ycar-old Jenison resident Matthew Fuller, who perished in a head-on crash on M-37, near Whitmore Road in Rutland Township, on Jan. 27, 2023. According to previous news reports, an investigation by the Barry County SherifTs Office indicated Handley was driving a Chevrolet Silverado truck eastbound on M-37 when it crossed the center line and slammed head-on into a westbound Ford Transit van driven by Fuller, who was killed instantly. Handley allegedly had a blood al­ cohol level of 0.16 at the time of the crash. In Michigan, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or more is illegal. At the original sentencing hearing in July 2023, Schipper sentenced Hand ley to 120 to 180 months in prison. That despite a recommendation by the county’s Probation Department for a sentence of 29 to 57 months. But Handley received somewhat of a reprieve from the Michigan Court of Appeals, which issued a ruling in No­ vember 2024 to vacate the sentence and remand the case back to the local court. Jessica Payne, an assistant prosecut­ ing attorney with the Barry County Prosecutor’s Office, provided Schipper with a photo of Fuller at the start of Tuesday’s hearing. “I have to speak for the (Fuller) fam­ ily,” Payne said. “They want you to « z •? zill t, * ( « It •» I * • vA? ft « s: k •* I < 1 ft r 1 b rt .15? * ;* ft •♦ rj * I iftk..- -A I w w ■iH I 4 Scott Handley of Middleville turns and apologizes to the family of Matthew Fuller, who died in a fatal wreck caused by Handley, during his 2023 sentencing hearing Handley was resenfenced to 57 to 180 months in prison, with 938 days credit for time already served, during a hearing before Judge Michael Schipper on Tuesday, Aug 12 File photo remember that just isn’t a name. ‘‘This did not just take the life of a good man; it took a whole family,’’ she added. “To them, he was very much murdered. They feel strongly about that.” According to Payne, Handley still needed to be held responsible for Fuller’s death, having allegedly been found “highly intoxicated” and “with drugs in his system” at the time of the fatal crash. “This was not an accident,” Schipper said. “It was (Handley’s) decision to drink and his decision to drive. “It wasn’t murder. It wasn’t an accident,’’ the judge added. “It was something in between.’’ Fuller’s wife, Kim, said that drink­ ing was a “lifestyle’’ for Handley and questioned whether he’d change, even after being sentenced to prison. “I’m not OK,’’ she added. “I got sentenced to life.” Schipper apologized to her and the Fuller family “for the whole system” that he said reduces the loss of a family * * ' r" > ' r ’« 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com I Editor: Molly Macleod : H } : mmacleod^mihomepaper com J f H <*. • • f.’ . ) Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper com 1 v.» PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Please recycle this newspaper t member to a number. “Is 15 years enough?” he said. “It's not going to seem right.” However, Handley's defense attor­ ney, Susan Walsh, said he suffered from alcoholism and had used marijuana to deal with previous work-related injuries. “He did not ask for this disorder,” Walsh said. But Schipper said alcoholism should not be an excuse for a person to com­ mit a crime, nor should it be compared to any “real” diseases, such as cancer. “I just think that’s an offense to people with real diseases,” the judge said. “That’s not what (alcoholism) is. “He chose to drink that day and he chose to drive,” he added. “And, he put people at risk. He killed someone.” Schipper stated he wanted to rein­ state Handley’s original sentence for 10-15 years in prison, believing it was appropriate. However, he said he believed the state court would simply reassign the case to another court if he See REDUCED on 5 ‘ .t SAW" ;v ;k M r .^r iboilt ‘ th ■. » J" : ■' I.- f 1 I 4 ;'V*' <* VZ?-'- 1 -p <♦ I* ,1 r *J !p(5th' i- . .d 1 «» t* u'* ke!^ V i f•fl 1 r frt' '* I I k -a <* I J I ft t /|O li It 1 z i»- Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC Ail Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. V f 0^ » 1 I 1* ' I ft* > I i* A«C^* I b V. ■ u 1 i* » *> ' (SliJ® */» t. -k i?4it *1 ^5®!* ■*'* * I* 4 ft I** I A* % T’ J V’t i n r * I •r* J i. ‘ f? * < * t* tf * 3' ( k <*' J >■ I r .ijMikta®* #rut:d -«*r. ncriiiii'Sii'iJ J* ft* p I I ..Ai* V IHfc* I 41 'wkaitisoiK ! ■\. ft « A ) .I'*'”’ a* . 9 '■ I I t : t .• J ' r MIC . 'Wdfoute' .1 I* iTib- VI p PUBLISHED BY * J »* t' . ' ..J’ I THE SUN AND NEWS The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 I C 1*^ ■IJ ^2u ; ? 1 I t 9 < . pi I CONTACT US * • CifP^' t ! ■ i£ * fet * < »*'* «r AH advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept ,1351 N M-43 Hwy . Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269 9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser's order. i»fc t I t »? v, ,af w o I t i < 1 » ij i I 1 I { x^"u4/a» -^JVv’J . .. �* I •4 .Mt * Saturday, August 16, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 3 1 I t. « € Developer provides update on possible housing project *»! -fHCptSVSO J* -J Dq f!: , m gniejo V Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer ♦ t ■fijq CU I nr L> oqmq I* * 'w 1* n. iD *> - 5. a » r i 9 -“a ».•' Z 1 - ■w •? »• r ’<1 J 5 I • J I ' *>0 >J ( b I < 5e .1 V* I 'ta 4 A ■ » */ . Uk; Ma. iQa ■ - > ri Xt 19 n 1 k > UK «> ’^4 ■r * .4 b ■w> 1 •: >1 1 ' M 4 f I -' - it. *' I * * <♦ J ■t h4 ' p ' \ • I *-i L I *‘i L A 'i *ro * L > h >/ 4tU/ . S' <f 4 i^. J 59 » u- iu ? ( I \ • ■ I •% 4 k. * ‘“y X i? < * >"i /' t> .M W1 - u nvM > i i 14 '* > * <' » 1 ‘‘b I «« * 6 V. . • ’Ip LCI *u ► w u I J 46 ' I' t * •* '>’r •X f- J M •* I I I I • KHu J. X:,' i'.IP Ji - , t. iu*q « 1 r *> . , •I JJ UIS .te g,, (t f urw ' I 4 » >‘J h. V * A ,.'; ’ iHuurt jZ. c ► I J ! 1 * J u, I ft p 1 Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer The Middleville Village Council voted to get out its checkbook at its meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12, ap­ proving two significant purchases. After kicking around the idea for a long time, council members gave a thumbs up to a proposal that will bring new playground equipment to Calvin Hill Park. “We’ve discussed improving the Calvin Hill Park over and over again and I think this is a good move in terms of public structures and gathering spaces,” Village President Kevin Smith said. “I feel like that side of town is not well served and 1 think this would be a boon for that. 1 hear a lot from families who take their kids there. Council members heard from rep­ resentatives from Brighton-based Penchura, which will bring in the new playground equipment after the village pulls out the current, outdated equipment. In June, the village council re­ viewed design proposals for three different vendors before choosing Penchura. The council approved up to $163,000 from the Parks and Recreation budget for Penchura to carry out the work. A private donor has pledged $ 15,000 to help defray costs associ­ ated with the project. The vi Hage also applied for a Barry County Parks and Recreation Grant for another $15,000, but was unsuccessful. I A " -MT* • u •• w * < ««Ci « A . « i * 1 s I I ■ ,>^11111 X 4- J ■< ■ 7 -• A rendering provided by Penchura, a retailer for outdoor recreation products based out of Brighton, provides a look at the type of playground equipment that will be installed at Calvin Hill Park in Middleville. Courtesy photo 1 It’s extremely expensive. The leaf vac system breaks down frequently and is very expensive to maintain. These are very highly specialized pieces of equipment. The current leaf vac system, pur­ chased in 2001, has far exceeded its useful life, according to village officials. But, it requires extensive maintenance, including installation of a new engine in 2015. The new purchase is expected to save time, labor and maintenance costs. While the current truck re­ quires five individuals to operate, the new truck reportedly would need See PLAYGROUND on 4 Also, at Tuesday’s meeting, village officials OK’d spending more than $ 176,000 on a new leafvacuum system. The council approved a measure to work through the MI Deal program — where the state teams with munici­ palities to source equipment at reduced to purchase the equipment prices used in the village’s annual leaf pickup service. The village will not receive the equipment, which still has to be built, until next year. The village provides a lot of really great services to the residents,” Smith said. “Picking up leaves and brush, it’s a lot more than just doing those tasks. 4€ 95 46 feKW:- ■ -iK -te * Closed-Cell Foam Insulation * Blown-In Attic Insulation 'w J **** ^6^ \• r I AIM 5 / k A I 'fl-' I f i • T ;r IS c f n tf ' »• •TL I. - •' r 4 r Alphaphoto 616 M edia, • video • drone Nelsons SPRAY FOAM, •• > llc > L residential & commercial real estate » corporate • events 517-983-0954 I f • r . I 1* L '■II ■> > Ai^tenna'Mei? • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink installs • Towers • Cellular Enhancement Systems Alpha616Media.com Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte. Ml 48813 / ► , g AjUf *M>c llc X ■ ■■■-.■I ♦ u ■k ,5 k » Development plans for a proposed housing development at 36 State Street in Middleville are coming into focus, though a purchase agreement for the property has not yet been finalized. Greg Taylor, senior development specialist for Grand Rapids-based Cop­ perRock, attended the Middleville Vil­ lage Council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12, to provide an update on the project, which would be located adjacent to Thomapple Valley Church along the Thomapple River. The preliminary development would include two, three-story apartment buildings. In total, it would include around 42 units. Coincidentally, it’s about a 42,000-square-foot development that our architects have indicated would be for the scope of the project, Taylor said. “It would probably take about 15 months to fully develop from ground breaking.” CopperRock recently broke ground on a 135-unit complex along the river in Hastings, as well. Taylor added that the development firm would use a simi­ lar model for the Middleville project, albeit, on a smaller scale. We’re very open to exploring other ways to integrate this project with other village amenities, whether it be a walk­ ing path or anything else along the river side to help attract people downtown,” he said. “We’re excited and ready to mobilize on that.” The village, its attorney and CopperRock have gone back and forth on the purchase agreement, which is pending a few final clarifications, according to reports. Brighton-based company to install new playground equipment at Calvin Hill Park Give us a call! grant@alpha616media.com (616) 638-4751 tffSurs^ Grant Alphenaar Owner ccllM Start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam 269-967-8241 So J www.theantennamen.com >1^ ante nnamen(<:Pg mail, com www.cetlsignalpros.com . : £ *» i J I ( I I I I ( I iI a T 11 I IS a i I 1 Q I I IS , 1♦ !? I‘ u » a ft It 1 V I I A 4 >& I S k i > i I \ I I �f 1 I , I I* 4 Saturday, August 16 2025 MIDDLEVILLE TOPS 546 The Aug 11 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary's report There are two fish in the fishbowl Maryellen s program was trom ttie March/April TOPS magazine titled Working Out to Stay Sharp ” Experts recommend getting at least 150 mmutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity every week There are many benefits to exercising It helps you maintain healthy *4 t 44^1* THE SUN AND NEWS weight by burning fat keeps your head hfiatthy. helps to build muscle mass, strengthens bones, im^xoves flexibility and range of mention, helps with balance and can improve brain health When you exercise, mcrtecules are sent into your bloodstream and get your cells ready to lake on the physical stress of exercise It also seems to withstand the effects of aging Some molecules boost Cfxjnitive functiori It s OK to start srriall A little bit goes a long way Chapter members continued Uie contest by filling in one dot for each one-tenth of a pound lost Virginia won the Ha-Ha Box ' ' '^unanrjof’ws com The meeting enrJed with marchiriQ in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge TOF^. a weight loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville We»gh-in is from 3 30 p m to 3 45 p.m . followed immediately by the meeting Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested tn a group that supporls weight-loss journeys without shame * Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Service Tlmea Sunday at 9:30 AM 8 6:00 PM Www.9tto8kabaptt9t.org 7240 68th Street SE. Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville r 250 Vine Street a4 61 I-8669 i d’ Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcm5.googiepagcs.com ./4^ Llvestream: facebook,com/firslbaptistmiddleville FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET • 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 Church: (269) 795-2391 € I k ' r I I' I** .Xs*** 9^ JOURNEY CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am CHURCH T THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH MIDDLE VIILE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9;30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com •• 1^ 9 ■ ll • .11 I L X Jr t I 4 I - > w •8®^ . ' V'. J 4 ♦ * V ■ .-H < . iAtiV r r r* •1 1 4 < 1 A' ' I<C’ Affifi) •V f V e •0. ■ a Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 Io 10:00 a.m. 553?^®'! S ‘^h\6 ♦- ii ,.^*l**’ s * j t ' !!>f? (L 'itfiito 4 I < BURIAV *• <;t * ? I Jason Parks I a ISlifD ■ i )p«rkt*fMftwni.ciNn P9rmBureaulnsuranoe.com gWgtelwiCMiijlKi I LAii-- v **’ • I 19 « iiv > ■ I ;I •<1* t laUUt. I I LIGHT TRUCK PAR 8900 Duffy Road Middleville. MI 49.333 Fiin>Fieiin«iKTM*wi>9n*DS*M *i 269-381-2300 , n 99 T I ' t i * 1 L 11 Jk ' K %»«w USED TIRES I t' * irt» 1811 LAKE SL KALAMMOO I iiH & 4 1 *• OSEDMRTS I I 'J I t I 1 tl rail SERVICE a YOU puu n i A a I I < I at I I I j 1 I •*» 7* f f (269) 795^27 121 E Main Street Downtown Middleville Yankee Springs Bible Church • James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankccspringsbiblechurch.org I r 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, Ml 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org 10:00 a.m. 11 ;00 a.m. It i @ St Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... F r ■ A-,' 1- Sunday School 10 Io 10:45 a.m. Shining Fonh Gnd's Fight * t H#me Considering becoming Catholic? Call or sec our website for information. 99 « 1 1 I Your local agent Insures your Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses ... 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. 4 J Tat.'^’ L; 4 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycalcdonia.org ri . . ti4 '■^ ! i » ocef^ Ul '• HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH miBiSSflBtf 'r' L>X u* ■ ^«wwr‘' « 4 > GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM 19 z. ■■ • A I asarj* .. s » :v 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee •t I* 1 f 4 » . eAPEACE I, * 9:30 a.m. I I f 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship IIQfeTvibr, Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Ham k Good Shepherd ’ Lutheran Church / <k 9 only two. Also, the new equipment will have three times the fill capac­ ity as the current model. 1110 village got a quote tor the equipment hack on July 8 for $17 LOCH) but the quote was only good for 45 days, lire cost has since ballooned to neariv SI «3 JMX). though the dealer was willing to split the difference. The purchase was planned for next year, but accelerated due to the dire condition of the current equip­ ment. Due to the acceleration of the purchase, Smith cautioned that the village may have to sacrifice a capital improvement elsewhere. Officials stated that leaf removal is important to the village in order to keep dead leaves from clogging storm drains. cornerstonechurch < it! 4 I > CHURCH » if Continued trom Page 3 LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ALASKA BAPTIST ,'Jt PLAYGROUND ,‘lnyone wt/h quesfian\ may call iJrginia. 269-908^8036. or KJaryeUen. 616-3183545 The first meefinj^ ift free Caledonia Vine Street Church I I I W”* » I w I 1' I •W,:a Ai I-, r., ■I ‘ 1 A >* J.. • • » fl �'S. k V * -y -I * A V t www.sunandnews.com ■V.'Vk Caledonia woman sentenced for lying to authorities during campaign finance probe 1 i '♦ A f t i ''I ' h IJ > e». Molly Macleod Edrtor s . ■ I ■ ‘'b. 7 r * ' i 4 J A * f t < r, ■’t f u/' i51» I. 4 te ! fOe -■W . I 1 > » A I rit J . > .4 v< i I tf A 1. I- * ’ ! I ’ft X 1 K *I V-' «. X ■ I 1* J.. I i t ' * ^*,1 ■ a% I I i , > f M ’Kj> > ♦ r J ' .« \ 4 < 4^ •k I (I I « 'I'M*. I H I I I 'J ’ll.* T I I’ I t r ! il'V 9 3^ I « ■V LL ■ 1 • V r‘ . ■ h .>TC L; r* ■ h .■ i i* 'Is'■I V .1 I r I 1 : r f r I J I "It Tr^' '. I I I •Vk A 4»« f ♦ j » I ir I- M Continued from Page 2 •*f • I i ! 7 (4^ <4 . * w*: <1 <41 < J •' t J I? r-;?; :)!!!?' ' ■■ w f LfH4 I I t J ** ;4^» I —- ------ mrrf* I J t ( J 1 I i Q b a 1 1 I I 1 lui * ,* 1 ; J >»• ,. i'r V i 1 4 i I I I t LtJh *; X * Support Group Classifieds Stumbling through grief with hope be \Q^oVSS Sandy fames and Rich Ashley Everyone Welcome at Ihornapple Valley Church starting ••• $ •*1- BUSINESS SERVICES DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS. Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed. 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 Tuesday, Sept. 9,2025 TREE SERVICE 6:30-8:00 p.m • Team Room A BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy sin­ gle walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured, Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793. Group Settings Are Helpful Grief Share CALL SANDY JAMES IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR JUST COME 269-838-2652 WANTED WANTED TO BUY: Standing Tim­ ber. Conscientious timber harvest­ er. Saw Mill Office-517-254-4463. GARAGE SALES NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE REDUCED IB ««l rief Recovery 4* GARAGE/ BARN SALE August 21st & 22nd. 9am-6pm. 12737 Marsh Rd.. Shelbyville (Gun Lake). Home Staging Items - Furniture Wall Art - Clocks - Mirrors - Name Brand Clothing - Outdoor Furniture & Decorations - Pottery - Bedding - Antiques - Tomatoes and Other Garden Veggies Monday at 4 p.m. c if the campaign. Baxter solicited donations for a non­ profit called Michigan! My Michigan!, which had ties to former State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and the group Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility. During the investigation, Baxter was asked about her role in fundraising. Under oath, she claimed that she did not have a working relationship with Shirkey, which investigators found to be false. Because of that false statement, Baxter was originally charged with perjury, a more serious offense that carries stricter penalties. She ultimately pled guilty to the lesser charge. “For too long, dark money has operated in the shadows of Lansing with little accountability,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. The Unlock Michigan investigation shed light on corruption in campaign finance that was long considered com­ mon practice. Fair elections depend on transparency and honesty, and attempts to skirt the system or mislead law en­ forcement and the people of Michigan will not be tolerated.” — Contributing Writer Jayson Bussa contributed to this report. B'J! I M * A Caledonia woman was sentenced this week to 3 months of reporting pro­ bation, 20 hours of community service and a $2,500 fine for providing false information to authorities during their investigation of a campaign finance issue that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sandra Baxter, a 65-year-old Repub­ lican fundraiser, admitted to giving a false statement to a peace officer during a criminal investigation in June. Judge James Jarno in the Ingham County 30th Circuit Court sentenced Baxter with the maximum punishment allowed by law. The case stems from a campaign finance complaint filed in 2021, during the height of the CO VID-19 pandemic. A movement known as Unlock Michi OB gan sought to place a ballot proposal before voters that would repeal the 1945 Emergency Powers of the Gov­ ernor Act, which Governor Gretchen Whitmer used to issue emergency orders throughout the pandemic. Campaign finance laws require that the names of donors contributing to ballot initiatives be made public to avoid dark money donations. How­ ever, a complaint was filed alleging that donors circumvented this require­ ment by contributing first to nonprofit organizations, which then donated to Saturday, August 16, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS I lintJI... ( I I J did so and did not want the local court to lose its oversight of the case. “I can disagree with it, but it is what it is,” Schip­ per said. “It’s sad. “I don’t know if this is grace for you,” he added, in addressing Handley directly. “It’s not coming from my heart.” During Tuesday’s hearing, Handley stood to apologize to members of Fuller’s family, stating he couldn’t express the grief and remorse he felt since the fatal crash. “I’m very, very sorry,” Handley said. “Tm hoping you someday can accept my apology.” It was not a sentiment that was well-received by Kim Fuller. “Today is not your day,” she said. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Monday at 5 p.m. CAMPERS/RVS THE HASTINGS BANNER Tuesday at Noon Meeting Minutes THE The minutes for the July 16, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on August 6, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave and on the website at www.caledoniatown ship.org. 1988 AVIAN Model X 34' RV for sale. Updated plumbing. New tires. Needs TLC. $8,000 OBO. 269-993-2529 REMINDER EMPLOYMENT Wednesday at Noon GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEE- All aspects of golf course maintenance, including trimming, mowing, tree removal, and bunker work. Please see Evan and apply in person at Saskatoon Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto, Ml. To set up an appointment call 616-570-5597 or apply online at saskatoongolf.com. the SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon •9 .4 • MOVING SALE Saturday, August 16th at Sam. 7472 Shagwood St., SE, Caledonia. Tools, furniture, decor, and more. Group mihonnepaper.com r « » A 5 �& r •^1 » ) » ). * Saturday, August 16, 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS CELEBRATION « .Celebration on Main could not hap­ pen without volunteers and support from the community, Buer said. Planning for the event is a lot ofwork, but Buer has help and started planning over three months ago. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that happens before the big day, so getting an early start is key, Buer said. “It truly takes a village to make a village event great. On the day of the event, I had around 35 incredible volunteers helping to bring everything together. “But the work starts long before that—since May, I’ve been meeting once or sometimes twice a month with a group of about 10 dedicated Main Street business owners and council members to plan and coordinate every detail. “Everyone involved, from volun­ teers to planners to community part­ ners, plays an important role in making Celebration on Main such a success. I’m so grateful for each and every one f Al’ if •^r *< V * % \ th ** r L. 1 . MIj \f « 1 L k ts A I• V V i in I 4 \ A R ; ifcj !■■■■.> ♦ 1^ s > * s* r. n A’ Dancers from the Caledonia Dance & Music Center shone at Celebration on the Main in Caledonia last week. Pictured here are (bottom row) Sophia Delarosa, (middle row, from left) Mariana Joseph, Emma McIntosh, Mylee Grinnell, (top row) Kinlee Giegling, Demi Sonza and Sophia LaHaie. 4' 1 / * iT > '/“a With a tiger painted on his face, five-year-old Teddy Buer had friends guessing his name at Celebration on Main in Caledonia. Photos by Sarah Buer •V 1*4 of them. Additionally, Buer said the volun­ teers she worked with were instrumen­ tal in making sure that Celebration on the Main ran smoothly. Besides volunteering for her com­ munity, Buer works at her family’s business, Buer Well Drilling, on Main Street. She said it means a lot to her to help create an event that brings the community together. Between committee work, two other jobs, and raising two kids, life stays busy for Buer, but she said what makes it all worth it being a part of something that celebrates Caledonia and strengthens community connections. Buer said it has been incredible to see local businesses step up, whether by contributing financially, volunteer­ ing their time, or just showing up to support the event. “Celebration on Main wouldn’t be possible without them. It’s a beautiful reminder ofhow important it is to come together as a community and celebrate our town,” Buer said. “Events like this help strengthen the connections that make Caledonia such a special place to live and work.” Continued from Page 1 4* •/I www.sunandnews.com -^5.- ' I 3 .• I . * » 1 Ar« Ji''. A;I1 J b I » *■ »• < 1 r r* dX \'V / .t 1S^ . b A \' ?!l* UY.... V '.uV .,4 I ! .J.4 * , 41 w .-■ Marilyn Wagner.com </ *4*^ > 616.299.0154 .• t 1 * t 1 * b.<k k' A 4 4 » V L’ < •> . * V )• x* -<t» I < 4 i >»* ■ ■ •\|»r • «iK k) ■' * • 1 I s ifd‘ V ?v-' l» 1 *4 . * >k > . S >’ II ■U.,J 4J -dr-' > .** *k 1 « ..k-r** ..(!>■■ I*' * I i H* -z'’. •4 I. V' ■ * * ' <4 r-^e. F . ,r ur* RK «A *1 .434' ■' i •I '* fc4ih^ > 1 > «' I I • < 7. I* I I Wrfti >■>• • 05 0 « W ' III I I f F* • ai 1 » I >• r I* w.'j4--4 i <*r- * *r <X- w«« ep •—k •l * > »'• ? L 9 Scan our OR code to find your perfect invitation! I 1 I i i' • • * '» !>■< rii~~ir -1 -i i LI ' I ** •• ' 1' ► ~ - Lt a iss-’^ ■V* b * ■' .Uk' . >: <r '. it: ■ r.. ■•m z*. k->.. I t ~-- _. Wb n *— * ■* « Oesi fflaealB •.'■I''.. •* A r*' ? m >' t Simply Perfect KlfCU ;j I H! tr' I •5 I 1 ) \ * 1, V Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. MUN • U!* Ik - a 6 * .A > .1 t I 4 * ** ■'Tw* K Ht - ♦ • A • LJIte' “ “X 'I &« ft’’ I • I F*"' t *■ PRINTING BY t y www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com * V ***^:*: • 4 I •1 I A J / . V f I 1 mnia Ca > • • I 4 4 4 4 • « 4 4 4 6 4 6 « » r «*'.* 4 6 4 * I • 9 ■ 9 • ♦ 9 •? '• 4 6 * » 1 4 4 4 4 4 ' « 4 » > r• 4 4 4 t It L? « t I I 6 4 6 • r'i I 4 a » a 4 I I 4 I « « 4 < 4 t 4 T « I I 4 » 4 4 » • t 4 4 4 » 4 * » t 4 I <1^4 k 4 *< « I » I 4 ■U? -4•..1 llfi! V* •a=^ 4 J. r 1 ■'5.' - • . K I • * 3 '=r»i • “• < I ( < tt i « r 4 t 4 a 4 4 4 < 4 I < i-T’V' 4 *TttT'T ‘'f*' » f t; > Ik. ..I . Z'* c* 44 l>.I • ’ I 1 t*t •T A: T I 4 k ->^**5* •• ii 4 I f » . 4 » '- * f w** T* i J li^ » > n J I WEDDING INVITATIONS GRAND RAPIDS - 1035 Fuller Ave. SE 4 bed, 2.5 bath, garage, fenced yard, updated kitchen. $280,000 SUTTONS BAY - 11964 E. Shaker Trail. 5 bed, 3.5 bath ranch on 2 acres, pole barn allowed. NEW Construction. Ideal second home! $750,000 4 I •> n*- b * > 'J -3 « j. jsiiass : V J a' i itj ) <r 5^* * r 'IT i y <*4«r'>* »«— A. / F -.•A *•. A *>' ■ I* I i jT f: A # ♦ ki 1 * ♦ .**a J BB !■ dtf •• I > r;?' 'W Immaculate home, outdoor oasis with pool, hot tub and basketball/pickleball court, move-in ready! Lots of upgrades! 5 bed, 3.5 bath, finished walk-out with kitchenette and more! Caledonia schools $1.2M •4^ .W » * I I ^.T 10310 E. Rivershore, Alto Vj <#- i-**’ .y. Caledonia schools, 3 bed, 3 full bath, 3.6 acres. garage over and under, wrap around porch, walk-out basement, updated mechanicals. $595,000 • Ak I * 4-^1 I♦ 10561 Stirrup Drive, Caledonia T' • '>1 ■ I awi ■ I — . . W • r?** f- i' NEW Construction, 2.2 acres, 5 bed, 3.5 bath, no HOA, pole barns ok. Custom Craftsmanship, fireplace, Caledonia Schools. REDUCED $850,000 .w***^*^ ' . II B^l I tiJS” 10188 Whitneyville, Alto L. > •I OPEN SUNDAY 12-1:30 > 9^ * 40 I W '■ 1 » •< r* k M 4362 Cascade Road, SE 4 «r ■. 7 *'•< RE/MAX OF GRAND RAPIDS b 1 rF/max j I, **- r k I A « •PT’ i » 1 J (» 4 . ,.k ** * * , 1 I I I 4 ' • I * •'C . -» F =wV »• k =LV ?, *. ■ w V ( » h I f h I I I ! I I i I t f. * 5 t Vi 1 h I! II K i I ,5- �♦ I ♦ I: I www.sunandnews.com w -I * ► i a r Saturday. August 16, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS ♦ 7 ♦ { A i r-. 1 *■ *« I 1 a ? I I ♦ r J I Sheriff official addresses misinformation about camera system •X * A I W i * I J ’v - f i 1 - Y .. AA,. ;■ ’J ' •I • I 9 f < t tf \l--v X. * t .'it# i. * X -L't Mfl tg Y. J. A, T ■ 1 I .-•4,1 a I \I ■bi '*w J « T S >- i • Xfc "sr. *11 •. h .1 . ‘ V •*'•5 nffc < s k. A V: s -} I t ■* ■ ♦/ 4 ' .vi •« • : a. 4 . v» -' tM J . JtK 4 • I >* X. tx. > % i 1 s ■‘ttk. k lb I r / ><. I ■ . • 4 t- 1 <fk- I I I ifjk i f f J V 9 • 1 4 a A I i I, 4 . I t>. J 1. I«« _'i: fl- j I L < I t I *w ) t B . -I • ' !rrjI IF* I f X>&’*!• BTIi I 'I & » «ji5 ft ) i ijR Jbe Ma fj J 14 Ti j/a W if} ^)iC,G5i^ 4 ^.s I t f <81 Iw .4 I ■r. r *» JI ri'i • 4 J ♦ Sw • f , 9’ ■A iL . 'TiftbM f b a • F 1 1 t B « < } if* otqW .•g f Barry County SherifTs Office of­ ficials addressed what Sgt. Scott Ware described as a significant amount of misinformation circulating about Mid­ dleville’s Flock camera system during the Middleville Village Council meet­ ing Tuesday, Aug. 12. Flock cameras, which are used in many municipalities throughout West Michigan, are designed to capture im­ ages of the rear of vehicles as they pass through an area. Late last year, the Middleville coun­ cil approved the installation of cameras in strategic locations throughout the community. During his regular report to the coun­ ci 1, Ware reiterated how the cameras operate and what type of information they collect, hoping to dispel rumors and misunderstandings circulating around the village. Ware, who leads the sherifTs Mid­ dleville unit, said the only data the cameras collect is a still image of the vehicle’s license plate. “In order to figure out who that vehicle belongs to, and the make and model, we have to run that plate as law enforcement, Ware said. “Flock is literally only capturing license plates. “It’s taking whatever it sees and creating a digital version of that,” he added. “It’s not recording any personal information whatsoever and, after 30 days, it drops out of their system al­ together and is no longer searchable.” Ware also dispelled the idea that the BCSO is using the cameras to collect 99 ’W rJ information that could later be used to “stalk people or track people down.” “That’s just not the case,” he added. “It’s not how the system works.” However, Ware said the cameras allow law enforcement to create a “hot list” of vehicles tied to criminal investigations. The BCSO sergeant cited a recent example involving a theft at the Flats at Mid-Villa construction site, where a vehicle connected to the incident was added to a hot list. The system was then able to identify where and when the vehicle was seen. According to officials, all activity within the Flock system is logged, including who accessed it, why it was accessed and the outcome. Only select members of the department have ac­ cess, and a case number along with a purpose code used to identify the nature of a crime is required to conduct any search. “There is much misinformation go­ ing on around our community,” Village President Kevin Smith said. “If you go online, it’s even worse. People have it tracking locations and doing speed checks and it’s simply not what the platform does.” In other updates, Ware reported an increase in thefts at self-storage units in both Middleville and Hastings. He urged residents who rent storage units to check on them regularly, use two locks if possible and keep an itemized list of stored belongings. “We cannot help you if we do not know what’s missing,” Ware said. tSSiN^ » en(>2 )Hq s:; .*bM. .. X. t I * L 4 Ir ik’ r. X t I I t ? I I ’ 1 J '4' V. 5 x; THE MOST TRUSTED • NAME IN ROOFING *I 11 ••X "2 « I' I r SHERRIFF GOSLirr ►I e IK, J • I I I ■ • ,fe -*r ■■- j : s •■ ♦ ijfr » T’ V vW» About 200 people usually attend the free children’s “Movie in the Park" held outside the Gaines Township Hall. This year’s event is set for Friday, Aug. 22, with festivities starting at 6:30 p.m. Source: gainestownship.org Plans set for ‘Movie in the Park’ on Aug. 22 James Gemmell Contributing Writer 4 << ■ >• J K < 5. I -X k FREE LENSES WITH THE PURCHASE OF A FRAME AUGUST 1ST-AUGUST 31 ST 4 \ i X* r i . r’% giiaBijiil^ . * ‘s - ♦ w F* > 4l « W-* is-A •• fj Thornapple b CALL TODAY A J FOR YOUR FREE 4 .. <• Nf y T T * HA R DIi M ARK T 2&9-Z1 *^-81 0 » 1 ' W 4r- * Sstr r;: •>« ' «• •. ’ • J * 269-962-4036 INSPECnON i < I J -w " ■•■.S’ .. j.’»W • A4 rating with better BUSINESS BUREAU k * ..■,S <-i t.< I • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS - . A .fl } <•* 1 - -3k* U — .2*\. • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED ■< .r ■ '• See MOVIE on 9 • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP .» • 9' /A ■i Township Treasurer Laurie Lemke said the movie was highly recom­ mended by staff members of the Gaines Township branch of the Kent District Library. “The movie being shown has gen­ erated a lot of excitement,” she said. Movie-goers are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs. Township Manager Rod Weersing called it a “fantastic event.” Plans are being |inaliz^d. for the 10th annual “Movie in >010 Park” evenL outside the Gaines Township Hall on Friday, Aug. 22. The animated film “Dog Man” will be shown on a large inflatable screen on the lawn facing the adj acent Prairie Wolf Park. The 89-minute movie is a comedy released by DreamWorks Animation earlier this year. ■ f A 'S . IN THE BUSINESS r**v^• > A. r. H < -44 quality roofing I A ■ S! • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM . ! u-J « •Rk **:Li J • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 1154 YEARS • WE WORK WITH m INSURANCE COMPANYS I; .. xja 4«B . pr i ir ’ 3 fc • f I ii ■' ‘ - 1 •—-rYBBBEE" • " > l: fla­ . * L--*«k * 1 ■r. I *IA i Jayson Bussa Contributing Writer - TH 0 N A P P L e E Y E -A I? ^^-.4 - » T ■VP s> ja - VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLINXOM/BATTLECREEK ■ .?r<:.Xv . -.-a . �» THE SUN AND NEWS Gaines Township considers potential partnership with Kent County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority ♦ ♦ James Gemmell Contributing Writer ♦ ♦ But Spencer told the Gaines trustees that the changes in Act 3 81 have opened the door for other types of property to be considered under the brownfield designation. “A couple years ago, (the state) added housing activities as an eligible use,” he said. “A traditional brownfield was meant to prevent (urban) sprawl... But now, with the housing shortage that we have in our state and in our county, there is a need there.” In many municipalities, a Tax Incre­ ment Finance (TIF) district is set up to help fund redevelopment. TIF allows extra property tax revenue generated from redeveloped property to be cap­ tured and used to pay for brownfield plans. The increment refers to that extra tax revenue. Developers are then reimbursed for their expenses. Currently, Gaines Township does not have a TIP district. If one were to be established, the captured tax revenues that typically go to local school districts, for example, could be redirected to the Some legislative changes made by the State of Michigan in recent years could help spur economic development in Gaines Charter Township in the com­ ing years, if it opts in as a Kent County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority partner. That is according to the Authority’s Director of Strategic Impact, Josh Spencer, who gave a presentation to the Gaines Township Board on Mon­ day night. He spoke about the benefits of providing brownfield incentives through Act 381, also known as the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act. It authorizes municipalities to establish Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities. Traditionally, the authorities have facilitated the revitalization ofblighted, contaminated or functionally obsolete properties. Those types of properties have been eligible for financial incen­ tives through tax abatements. ss T 0 N S H 1 if Saturday, August 16, 2025 8 if A NOTICE OF PUBLISHING P At a regular meeting of the Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees, held on Monday, August 11,2025, at the Township Hall located at 8555 Kalamazoo., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316, the Board of Trustees approved an amendment to the Gaines Charter Township Ordinance as provided for in Chapter 32 thereof by amending Section 22-136, Building Permits, Section (B). Said section (Section 22-136, Building Permits, Section (b)) thereof, which restricts all early stars including multifamily structures. The amended text of Section 22-136, Building Permits, Section (B), will allow multi-family early starts. A true copy of the approved ordinance amending the Gaines Charter Township Ordinance as provide for in Chapter 32 thereof. Section 22-136, Building Permits, Section (B), can be obtained at the Clerk’s office during normal business hours (8;30am-5:00PM Mon-Fri). Said amendment to the Gaines Charter Township Ordinance as provided for in Chapter 32 thereof by amending Section 22-136, Building Permits, Section (B). Said section (Section 22-136, Building Permits, Section (b)) thereof shall go into effect seven (7) days from the date of first publication. Michael A. Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk local development authority. So, dur­ ing the capture period, schools would not receive the increased tax revenue that is generated by the redeveloped property. But the state would reimburse the school districts for the lost revenue through the School Aid fund. “I think they may not all know this, but the school districts can apply for those taxes that they’re giving up in that increment, and get reimbursed,” Gaines Community Development Director Dan Wells said. He also is the vice chairman of the Kent County Brownfield Redevelopment Author­ ity (BRA) board. “The local school districts, technically, do not lose any money on this if they go through the right process to get reimbursed.” Spencer said the Kent County BRA was established in February 2024, and that it promotes the revitalization, redevelopment and reuse of property for housing development. The BRA is overseen by a seven-member board comprised of community representa­ tives and two county commissioners. On July 18, 2023, the state modified its law to allow housing activities as an eligible use for Tax Increment Financ­ ing. That means that brownfield sites where housing is developed can now be included in TIF districts. “So, commimities that did not see themselves as having traditional brown­ field properties would probably now be approached by developers wanting to use this (TIF) tool,” Spencer said. “In order to use this tool, a local government like Gaines Township would need to opt in by passing a resolution of concur­ rence to join the (county) Authority.” According to miplace.org, the ben­ efits of joining a county BRA might include governmental cost savings, ad­ ministrative efficiency and greater Local Brownfield Revolving Fund (LBRF) resources. A LBRF helps finance the redevelopment of brownfield sites. Opting in would allow the county and township to collaborate on brownfield projects. “Even if you opt into an Author­ ity - I think this is critical - no plans can move forward unless this body (township board) approves them first,” Spencer told the Gaines trustees. “So, your staff works with us at the county forjust getting the technical accuracy of the plan, but it does not move forward unless you approve it on a project-by- www.sunandnews.com project basis. Spencer explained in his slide pre­ sentation to the board which proper­ ties are eligible for brownfield TIF incentives. Those include facilities that are contaminated by substances above a federal threshold and pose a significant risk to human health or the environment. Other eligible properties are those that are blighted, functionally obsolete, transit-oriented, or considered a historic resource. Also eligible for the TIF program are owners of rental housing units for qualified rehabilitation. This is affordable housing that’s used in this legislation. It’s aimed at households that make at or below 120% of AMI (area median income),” Spen­ cer said. “So, for a family offour in Kent County, 120% AMI is $ 126,000 ayear.” The Michigan State Housing De­ velopment Authority TIF program is designed to support housing that is accessible to a wider range of income levels. Spencer said the expansion of the brownfield redevelopment law to include TIFs is part of the state’s strat­ egy to address a significant housing shortage. Gaines trustee Tim Haagsma asked about the fact that developers profit from such projects. “So, you’re actually artificially re­ ducing the cost of construction for the developer so they can offer the housing at a lower price point,” Spencer replied. “You want to feel comfortable with all of the expenses and the profitability of the development overall. Because no matter whether you put it here or there, what you’re doing is lowering the cost of construction, so those houses are affordable to your teachers and your schools, your public safety officers. Everybody that does the work in the community; these are the folks who are having trouble affording starter homes.” Wells told the township trustees that they should evaluate what is of public benefit. “Because we as stewards of the tax dollars that are coming in and how they’re being distributed, need to look at, ‘How does this benefit our residents in the long term?’,” Wells said. “The issue that we’re faced with now is housing affordability for people trying to come in and buy a house for the first time. They’re basically priced out of our market.” . . I !/ J * I 1 k ' KbiH A' •/ 4»r .„r ♦ I noop A ' .V ,* no > I •03 . I f 3 fi ■'i. > V I’?' ,n U. V I « '..i « Vj- * nt •f f’ 1 > ’ J r * .> I f f 4 f I 8 A ♦ » ' X w ' 11 I r aZ -W-' f' 4* z'"t ■ . 4 Ma. I ;T»"“ If 1 , V- .I'f . tpp •« 1^tf J I ■’■■. * ** ■ Il8« * >• I c ^■'-4 L b' tit [T ■■ i r f Ini' w i ?/ I . . vr ■ d I iJf/t *:4 if « ..112 B ■? ,,i- ♦ A 9!^ fr • # I . .> 1 Ct I I. < * **■ twt Jr; 4 J J i' ' * IP- i* • B a * ’ T ** • • i 4 I f <'4 If' i Ea’iS 4* 1 t - — » < » < « • I « 4 i ? •> J f ( r I /Ji I ( r r 1 A < ’ I ' A T » S/ *I ’J Q f *> .1 aI !' I '*> n .J * I . J J k . V . f I I ft n 11^ .. t k Aiift -J ' T « » >«rr' r I “^Moy broi * ijJiU'J 1 r V £8 :jiWuq vj 1 ni pHw 1 i. 1 1 IIOVIE !► 1 ’*7 **■ , . , > . J * ’It • .1 1 r J AtHieF > t *:;WnnT? b Is * Jguj ^•-^! ’fr\ fr’ 1 lUKAsm^i ' ... a I »7 r'ro^r^ib .'fl *') 7 I • fl I I 7 •".-ir .u I 5.yL<, i; i . < -U’- k ‘flri i I I 1 i Oft; r i t I I i I IA I T n >4 «** i b •• «r t r J* I » -■ 'Ki rV.. * •*** T' .4s.'. / ! I i'•*-■ t I »I k ' ; fV? r * « 1^1 <• I 5 • n * 19^ ■ 'Jik' ■ % & J , ’•j: �V ♦ 4 1 s .. • • X www.sunandnews.com I k S — Brett Bremer Sports Editor « '•cb ’ ‘Q I ) . t V> t I * ’Hi > - . ^lu t X * 4 1 9 s. X u •x r*. A A I . (i,' 'UI -♦h /r» I I 'J: A fi 1*- i *'» . 4 V *> 4 lu X X* I 'v; « 4 . '*11 % •SXf < ' Ui- . ♦ c I I I k 'L * I > r i ' I I X1L *fS i - ” 'tu.. A s 1:1 lit I s , i t 1 . i ‘io ' II ' A Ih. » 'lit. t4^( ' .J iH fa, •' ■'Kii Ji I 1, "<c; » J I. ;I r I • 'I’ <>. » • . V. I 1 -r f I * ’'V J * ... > "K. tOs».. ' I I.' % ' kl '9; * w, r *4 1? Sk I I TJiUi. » L. I « ( *s 'OY fr? VP *• L •<« < -A, ■■Ie'*. « S'- |t|0 ‘*fi® f 3 »u. 4 1 4 X •. I (■r »iuw K •^1 4'** T .' ?£»t . 4 FJ * 1 > V' V J ti4 * '4 t il-k , * p *« . t'- ’ 1 •X, 11 la> ' < ' i VI Ik. ♦ Storms couldn’t stop Ashes & Arrows show <4. >S' w «» < 1 It was two concerts for the price of none as Ashes & Arrows played a longawaited Caledonia Concert Series show Tuesday. The band’s trio of vocalists and guitar players, Ciaran McMeeken, Jonathan Calhoun and Justin Roelant, performed an acoustic set underneath the pavilion at the Caledonia Community Green to get the evening started. Close to 100 specta­ tors gathered under the rooftop with more folks, many holding umbrellas overhead, lining the perimeter. When it became clear the worst of the summer thunderstorms would be rolling across Michiganjust south ofCaledonia, a full-band set with the addition ofdrum­ mer Ted Marks and bass player Trevor Stoyer kicked off on the amphitheater stage. Ashes & Arrows shared its stylistic mix of rock, country and whatever else it could work in. McMeeken, Calhoun and Roelant had the crowd singing along with hearty “Yo Ho!”s on “Pirate Song,” performed a cover of Jason Isbell’s “Cover Me Up,” and played what they claimed to be an unfinished, unrecorded, unnamed and mostly unrehearsed tune that the band is working on that felt fitting fortne evening. “Roll on my brother like lightning and thunder. Take on the high road, don’t you ever sink low. Cause 10,00 lifetimes may not be enough. So roll on my brother until the stormin’ is done,” sang Calhoun. Calhoun also promised during the acoustic set that, “if we do have good weather, we’re going to move down to that stage and some ofthese songs, you’re gonna hear them twice.” Ashes & Arrows was unable to per­ form a scheduled show at the Caledonia Concert Series during the 2024 summer season. Event organizer Adam Stauffer was thrilled to have the opportunity to bring the band to Caledonia for the 2025 season. Ashes & Arrows gained world-wide acclaim last summer as a part of the television show “America’s Got Tal­ ent,” The band released the full-length album “Chapter One (The Long Road North)” in October 2024. McMeeken, Calhoun and then bandmate Benjamin Voigt performed “Wild Horses” during the “America’s Got Talent” quarterfinal round earning a spot in the show’s semi­ finals with their performance. “I didn’t want to cancel again, and they didn’t want to cancel again. The acoustic set was amazing,” Stauffer said as the band prepped for its amphitheater performance. “You can’t control the weather, but the acoustic set was amazing and I’m glad we’re going to get a couple songs here plugged in. “They are awesome. They sound great. They harmonize. They are the biggest band 1 ’ ve ever gotten as far as their online support. It took an encore spurred on by the crowd and the evening’s emcee. Josh Rose, to get the band to repeat at least one song in the end. Everyone was treated to an acoustic version of the band’s hit “Wild Horses” at the pavilion and then the full-band version at ±e amphitheater. It’s in our blood We are, we are wild horses Chasing dreams No one, no one could ever stop us .£ K 7 .^b*. r 41 ! ♦ 4 e 14 . « ■ •; I. * > r a M < > « J -1 V Ciaran McMeekan of the band Ashes & Arrows sings the band’s song “Sexy” in his best country music voice prompting giggles from bandmates Justin Roelant, Jonathan Calhoun and Trevor Stoyer in the background during their electric set at the Caledonia Community Green amphitheater Tuesday, Their performance, which dodged raindrops with an acoustic set inside the pavilion first, was the finale of the summer’s 2025 Caledonia Concert Series. Photos by Brett Bremer Try and stop us You can’t tame wild horses,” they sang. The rain certainly didn’t stop them in the finale of the 2025 edition of the Caledonia Concert Series. “It has been a good summer,” Stauffer said. “We had a lot oftalent come through town and good turnouts. A little warm, but here we are.” The event Tuesday was sponsored by Frontier Heating and Cooling, the last of a long list of sponsors that made the summer concert series possible along with a handful of dedicated volunteers. 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. <» I s b •3'•3" 'ira.teri:,, ;, 1 MOVIE Continued from Page 1 V f 1 r I il, : H’tf * *r I I 4 I Jt I * th' i r A . 1 I tt ^r-"-. «' 1^ <• k. _ f I J *• * ■ J. . L. t f •4 I 1 A l».-‘- i * »* **'11*'* >4 O'* ir I '< * -a St: I ♦. I iw I •**- 1 *♦ •►;* ( . -.J n^lrjiii t Cl 9 4 5 M ■< Saturday, August 16, 2025 » IZ *«• SI ’ ■Mfi THE SUN AND NEWS « 4• .J it I I I ! ij ii 1 I } J II 1 II II i I J *<14 I ’ IJ 1 i It I ,i u < 1 I h I !i h I f f t I r I I The free flick, which will be shown at 8:30 p.m., will not be the only highlight, with the event getting underway at 6:30 p.m. According to Lemke, the ftin and festivities will include kids games, food trucks and o±er activities. Various public safety vehicles will also be on display. The (Kent County) sherifTs office will be here, a (township) fire truck will be here,” Lemke added. “We have Disney characters coming that will be on site. Last year, we had Captain America and Cinderella.” Swan Orthodontics in Gaines Town­ ship is sponsoring the appearances of the characters. “We love hosting Movie in the Park, said Connie Giarmo, chairperson of the Gaines Planning Commission. “It is one annual event that I think we all look forward to. We encourage our families to come out and have fun and see what their town­ ship hall looks like and meet some of the people that are ±eir neighbors.” Township Trustee Rob DeWardsaidhe is looking forward to the upcoming event. “I’m going to try to get my grandkids here for that,” he said. « 15 BODY SHOP COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your ■frus+^d Body Shop for over 32 years �«in I Ca/’ 10 &a^jrd«y. Auguwt 16 2025 *««• i THE SUN ANO NEWS iMRi A'A W vzf vfjfT’’ Gaines board updated on Natural Resource Inventory J«mm Gemmell tailed some of the mforTnation dies Fwve accurmilAcd about open spaces and rcsadcnual dcr\ clopvnent inGiunc^ Tounahrp. *Thcy’vc put together some maps and crtaKhcd a bl of ebu," Cnmmumty Development F>ircetor fbn WcUs Had ‘Hhey hav'c created a worybook, which IS a GiS-based, easily digest iUc presenta­ tion of all the data that they \ c ooOectod from a pretty ex h&tsu VC set ofresources He added that much of (he tnformation was ccvnpiiod from R FXiIS Online local and statc-prov tdod data We've been meeting wnih them virtu* ally over the last couple of nxmihv ~ usualty once or twice a month and wc \c got It now to a point where we think it would be good for the board loacc tt and give their input" Wells said Piazza showed on the video screen an intcractiv c story map that she drew up as part of a goo-spatial model that identifies poicmioJ pnonty orcas for open space or park development It really provides a data-driven spatial tool that can help focus conservation, restoration or just management cfTorts m Contributing Writer Two lop cxocuuv'ca al TirviroScicncc Inc ha\c gjven ihc CMunci Towrahtp Hoard an tyxbtc on a Natural Resources inventory the corrqmy is crxxluctmg Fhey spoke wnth the trustees online via a remote vidoo connoclMm dtamg Monday night's board meeting In December 2<f24. (he (rusioct voted to 8ul)M<i/e township staff to sperxi up to $ 3 5. f < <> for the I n V cniory by the compan y haaod in Slow. Ohio The iru&ucn sax) they wanted Io get that in formaUon before staff began rcncgiXialing a sewer serv ice agrocmcnl w ith the (ity of Grand Rapids Fhe existing 4<l-ycar sewer awMract with lhc( Ity of(/randR:^ids expires in 2ff2K Dijord members aJso said at that umc that (hey also wanted to preverve and potential ly purchase some open space and park land, but they first needed to receive biological ficld-vcrificaUon studies on voils, vegetative cover arxl wetlands r:nviroScicncc Senior Fxoiogist Mi * chaci Ijptak and LnviroSciencc GIS Operations M.magcr Anna F’ia//a dc- ’*•*1 ^^W9HIOAN WORKS!. . 7•f Learn about free: -n^ . •'*s Computer skills training • Career coaching • Job search services J l^cncnl where tfiey will have (he impact** she said "It really supporu (he loaming process by creating this Fwoehne summary of natural resources wahm the townshq? .And then, to use these Features to identify areas of poicnUaUy high eco­ logical value Piazza diapbyed a land-cover map showing the ngwd gnow-di ofdc\ ckipmcnt in the northwest section of the township infive-ycaxncrcmentsbegtnna^m I9K5 to die preseot day. And oix ofthe most ugnihcwHckang * cswc \c»ccnis(hcicmorcx>n\cviedcTop land aid the < 3( MF-pcrcoit) increase m the devdoped land." she said 7ow<mhip officials havx repeatedly expressed a desire to preserve as much of Games rural character a$ possible and protect some of the township's pknuful farmland A topographical map showed how glaciCHk shaped the larxl more than I O,(MN) years ago Some of the key concepts the EnviroScience consultants considered in devel­ oping the model were the importance of water features like wetland streams, in terms ofecological arxJ social value And cultural resources “So, we know that it was used bv (he Native Americans. And there arc some archaeological sites, as well,” Piazza said Another goal is to protect forested land She showed a map depicting what pre-scttlcmcnt vegetation looked like in Games arourxl the vear 1 Kt Ml. A* “Il predominantly was a beet sugar maple forest with some pockets of w hitc pine and mixed hard wood areas. 6 Swamps vifer. mixed in there. It's re­ COUNCIL ally impor­ tant the arca REGULAR was heavily MEETING forested. So, MINUTES just think ing about The minutes of the July 22, 2025 Regular protecting Council Meeting, that those areas,” were approved on Piazza said. August 12. 2025. are The natu­ posted at the Village ral resources Hall at 100 E Mam model con Street and on the website at siders habiWWW tat connec tivityandthc ♦♦ Vi V L L Trade Ad|w*tment Aesittonce •»’ J e • J*'. * PLUS: Ask us if you qualify for Trade Assistance Act I, ^•4 benefits I •TjJ A k Call 1-800-285-WORK (9675) or visit westmiworks.org/job-seekers/ 9:. : e . ■If V / t • ^-iae •> IV A 1 9» 7 i* A? « I- f •r I Take the next step to a better paying job! • *« J • r J V ri t, * >n<iorunoc of prouxxin^ bka>. irfreunu arxi other wetland arcat. Liptak mentioned that Dm Welh and Tounsiup Manaecr Rod Woena^ have panic giMod m oan\'craauara. widi EnwoSctcnoc about whieh mcuics important to mdude m the model Wc M EnwruScicncc wm gwiod bv a kM of good tnfannabon and mpu from (rtuoes Charter Towndi^ Ikocauac we, t4 •? I** f * r A UR'f *J ► r f I * 'O A. ;#* - i A I <1 F’ I 1 I A l>« 4 a I s t » ( I J , ww ihis to he wwncthtnB that s useful k) you I'hitf 'sov north star," Lipiak said Piazza said thes arc building the nodchng framework to identifs bou to nmk and score various areas md produce i^Mlial outputs Those are the dilTcrcnl map layers that \ dualize and organize gcographicalK relevant data The in lormalKKi tan assist lou'mhip stallu ith therr planning efforu llxr consullanis usod a parcd-fconng nKlhad that is used in Googr^>hic Informauon Systems fix assessing the suiiabihty Imid parcels fix purposes such as conversation. dcvclopmcn( and nraourcc management Ihev also used an F:sn software platform called ArcGIS that uses a suitabilitv nxxlclcr Uk>I It shows t(^x)graphical information such as land cover and elevations. Piaz/a said it can analyze w hich areas might be most suit­ able ftHparkoragncultural development, for example Il provides a raster output and gnes each pixel an assigned score.” she said It's all interactive, as well, so you can click on parcels to view pared IDs. acreage." Liptak said parcels that township officials have pnoriu/cd fix a visit by F^nviroScicncc biologists also have been included in the Natural Resources Inventory. We will visit as mxmy high-ranking parcels as we can. That is probably a spnng-likc field effort.” be said Games Supervisor Bob Tcrpsira thanked Liptak and Piazza for their pre­ sentations Ultimately, this is going to be a great tool for us trying to identify areas thiU we want to preserve in the township,” Wells said. “And this also wnll give us good informalicMi to work with (the state) w hen it's providing grants to purchase land and get it set aside for the long term.” *5i I w 4 5 3'. IT •r •'e I-' I 5.. 1 * 1 r .•r> { • IF Wl- r• ■ ir^ r T.v .w * v— V; A KJ -.f I .j ' t R:I r. t 1 r r** I 1 L v:-s ■ .'Vids « '.r. ... ■-)«» < u ) r tv • ’ V 6» *1 *»?» tl «•: 'tl * } J « ii V r-dl' tatoi « A - 104 ' '• • .T* * . /u h< • C.1J .'IO.< 1 i I alllxtexkr^io- '- k ebrtjifls 1 i i Is * pHiStr^jr; 4 iO Ik > A » 2 t <4 I >' Ui 1 X «• t k '•I. • *'V « at » W8 r* fr i> t 1« 1 t I J I < I I ' 1 * I I w* h t I r a I i I ( I 4 f Ta* �■A ♦ ■i# ♦ « i 1 I I r i I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com J Saturday, August 16, 2025 11 ♦ ♦ MHSAA has a few changes in the works during 2025-26 j \ I -r~ «r rr 1 I 5 ' -J .. i * 4 t I I T * A ■*—^--4-'::!' I 1 % I r ( i i' * * -r r b. V I SJ , 5 V * i 4 I I ... 4 • 4 i I I u'**. \ *- ( I I ■ J * f I*. 9 V - •* i ( 4 » I -. I ... 1 I I s » ' i i) - ^4^ 1 9 3 I I J * A v i ; fi . i FT *1 w 4 ' ar' .4 •( J. f * S**^‘ s I 4 4 A * 4m M **y"^*Xr I.. ;gj>w . *' ri. to I k. I* :?* •• A ' *'''«» / .X. > L >. r ’nA « -X. T sW •• * *' i* // « 4 w« % A > i •K » ta. 1b^. A » *• 4 >' MO A/' I k I IJ- 4 ’ I • 1. * -n t l\* 'I \;i '12 ’''111’ : I ■•<n« ^r;b:< ■4 J' !t;L. w C*J H —.WJ Caledonia has been competing in a Grand Rapids area conference and the Michigan Boys Volleyball state tournament for a few years now. For the first time during the 2025-26 school year the MHSAA will sponsor a boys' volleyball state tournament. The MHSAA is also adding girls’ field hockey to its slate of state tournaments this school year. Photo by Brett Bremer vance to the season-ending tournament as well, but only in postseason divisions where there are six Regionals - which will be all four boys divisions this fall. The 11-Player Football Finals at Ford Field will be played this fall over a three-day period, with Division 8, 4, 6 and 2 games on Friday, Nov. 28, and Division 7, 3, 5 and 1 games played Sunday, Nov. 30, to accommodate Michigan State’s game against Mary­ land on Nov. 29 at Ford Field. Two more changes affecting football playoffs will be noticeable this fall. For the first time, 8-Player Semifinals will be played at neutral sites; previously the team with the highest playoff-point average continued to host during that round. Also, teams that forfeit games will no longer receive playoff-point average strength-of-schedule bonus points from those opponents to which they forfeited. A pair of changes in boys soccer this fall will address sportsmanship. The first allows game officials to take action against a team’s head coach in addition to any cautions or ejections issues to players and personnel in that team’s yNE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS I *’6infc^M i I I n. K ♦ K-f I , .1 1 •' tl '* r 1 H GflJr'l « fj I to T. » 1 f 'nai. *9 \ ri (J- ■ 3d) II 4* ' ’ *.' u IT* t w M f. 4 [)|T tiUiw. 1} n»- »S I I i i I J 11 5 f I T 4 J ’I “ 'r J 2I* I ( I I-' . f •• 4'.•»* 11 ‘ iF.'. - MuI ' •ri V ■' lo:^ I I r i’r . ) Pl r '2^ ■ r I 'f4 « 1 4A ' 9 9^ 4 H ■ < .' .s I \ ■' oi'^rr? i i> t .•»i’ttia[tL’'. f ) ero; I ■m ^Ul * (I 1 ! I I *»r' 'i I 1 1 'X s I H' i T « 1 - :■ . SlJ II ’ t I 1 i r* ’ 4 "I •»«» t . ; 14* I I ' 9^^ 1 I H f ■ >4 I t .M i I I ^.4 I 1 I t..< • * ‘11 I, • ' I I I I '4 I • L I 4». I I : The addition of girls field hockey as a sponsored postseason champion­ ship sport and a revised schedule for Lower Peninsula Boys Tennis Finals are the most significant changes to fall sports as practices get underway this week for an anticipated 100,000 high school athletes at Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) member schools. The fall season includes the most played sports for both boys and girls; 36,210 football players and 19,679 girls volleyball players competed dur­ ing the Fall 2024 season. Teams in those sports will be joined by competitors in girls and boys cross country, girls field hockey. Lower Peninsula girls golf, boys soccer, Lower Peninsula girls swimming & diving, Upper Peninsula girls tennis and Lower Peninsula boys tennis in beginning practice next week. Competition begins Aug. 15 for cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer and tennis, Aug. 20 for swimming & diving and volleyball, and Aug. 28 for varsity football. Girls field hockey is one oftwo sports set to make its debut with MHSAA sponsorship during the 2025-26 school year. Boys volleyball will play its first season with MHSAA sponsorship in the spring. There are 37 varsity teams expected to play during the inaugural field hockey season. There will be one playoff division, with the first MHSAA Regionals in this sport beginning Oct. 8 and the first championship awarded Oct. 25. To conclude their season, Lower Peninsula boys tennis teams will begin a pilot program showcasing Finals for all four divisions at the same loca­ tion — Midland Tennis Center - over a two-week period. Division 4 will begin play with its two-day event Oct. 15-16, followed by Division 1 on Oct. 17-18, Division 2 on Oct. 22-23 and Division 3 played Oct. 24-25. Also in Lower Peninsula boys termis, and girls in the spring, a Finals qualifi­ cation change will allow for teams that finish third at their Regionals to ad «M bench area - making tlie head coach more accountable for behavior on the sideline. The second change allows for only the team captain to speak with an official during the breaks between periods (halftime and during overtime), unless another coach, player, etc., is summoned by the official - with the penalty a yellow card to the off ending individual. A few more game-action rules changes will be quickly noticeable to participants and spectators In volleyball, multiple contacts by one player attempting to play the ball will now be allowed on second contact if the next contact is by a teammate on the same side of the net. In swimming & diving, backstroke ledges will be permitted in pools that maintain a 6-foot water depth. If used in competition, identical ledges must be provided by the host team for all lanes, although individual swimmers are not required to use them. Also in swimming & diving - dur­ ing relay exchanges - second, third See MHSAA on 12 • r* - * Residential & Commercial -Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers I L k 2 , 'T t I •4 DEWEERDHTG.COM *u 51: B *• AI J r ( BS- 269-792-2234 Since 1955 ■v-» ■*Br » I I I t I'n I I ! .1 to 11 i t 4 b 1 I 1 I I 4 4 I I \ t 1 I I 4 •<r 4 V ■ I I *■■ . • r;j 'fp-. r 1 • to ’U kl ^ * *• Ee Mb •i ■ A t i.-J-.T i .A >1 HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. V I 7-« I I 1 « i A+ ACCREOITED T- ^BBB. BUSINESS I j J F. ■Mi M72 •W' . DeWeerd <68) r^' I ■4^ * 4 . */ K- 1 '. #1 ■■■% rtT- f * yyi f */' i i < �t k 12 Saturday, August 16, 2025 I 1 THE SUN AND NEWS I I www.sunandnews.com I IM I 7, V ♦ ♦ ♦ High school sports season underway this weekend Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia High School and Thor­ napple High School student athletes were able to kick off the 2025-26 school year with the first official practices of the fall season this week. The first contests of the fall season are already this weekend. The Caledonia varsity boys’ ten­ nis team has a busy weekend in store with the Dobber Wenger Invitational planned for Aug. 15 and a trip to a tournament in Holland today, Aug. 16. The Caledonia varsity girls’ golf team was also set to open play at The Jenison Invitational at The Meadows Friday, Aug. 16. The Caledonia High School football program was set to host its annual Purple and Gold scrimmage Aug 16 at Scotland Yard as renovations finish up at Ralph E. Myers Stadium. Caledonia and Thomapple Kellogg both have one new varsity head coach this spring. Long-time assistant coach Whitney Bell is now at the head of the Caledonia varsity football team. Haley Grams, a special education teacher at Thomapple Kellogg Schools, is the new leader of the Thomapple Kellogg varsity volleyball team. Bell and the Fighting Scots are set to open the 2025 season at home taking on Holy Names Catholic from Windsor, Ontario, Thursday April 28. bnsjlsaw a Grams and the Trojan spikers will host their opening competition of the season, a quad, Aug. 26 at the high school in Middleville. »* Iliw GIST Jiti to notJu^mno-j ^rufj-joo t 9 < .siffzsibbiM !i! ioc s .•»: J I r I .-ai •-4 s h t. r 3’ V 9 I I a R . tt- f • V• ' >**5^ < % 1 19 I 1 I Our company is growing, don’t miss your opportunity. fl f. **- WE ARE .fit tirtS 9 /. I V 9 St*^ 1 < h r ( »« ? Cr 4 t I «» V► J :< ’S z fl: ii’// a 1 *•* r I. k» t I t I ▼ A. I A i •* Haley Grams started her first official practices this week as the new head coach of the Thornapple Kellogg varsity volleyball team. Photo provided .O . View Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST I. I. ■b* I MHSAA AA3I4 Continued from Page 11 M ■ Responsibilities include: Advertising sales, Account management, Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts, Attend networking events 3 .. k i 1^-^. ..rW ' >rj!b - .iX < ,« k. V I* . •"-I .•X’ 1 *7’=L— 1 •V* * i.y; ‘ - jw* } 4 I i I, < .7* -I’ r T?** A • 2 IS 4 •. b* mT / ’*— * >9. ■■ A '7 s I ^no 3V£ri laom • T rinuot tifh’lo ggfaa /nail arhla 'mnohaia eaifaod ibril to i^bmrnai adT L J to ffeinft srfj at lonq nouorn ra sd ’ .lanifnrr/? ntnmooni sidffud biBwiol B radw .Ufidioo'l: won Iliw fkd ,abfluod1o luo t b^mmoo oidiraA odt tcnriw botroq tozzoio lUd adt arwdw io ije« .J I A .□Qti ?£(X; at zsJsnifnfao n^qaiaa -nigad ?}frarncmuol noBBaetaoq i diiO Ekiamra^ TjqqU arii dtr/z ; .jqaaio ylaaw adj gonufj afani 1 air lavEW-1 i aril fttr/z qa'^niqqaT// bn .Of bflft 8£ .voH no ikdi fa — BB •R’ A-- f T epsR molt beocit and fourth swimmers must have one foot stationary at the front edge of the deck. The remainder of their bodies may be in motion prior to the finish of the incoming swimmer. In football, when a forward fumble goes out of bounds, the ball will now be spotted where the fumble occurred instead of where the ball crossed the sideline. The 2025 Fall campaign culminates with postseason tournaments begin­ ning with the Upper Peninsula Girls Tennis Finals during the week of Sept. 29 and wrapping up with the 11 -Player Football Finals on Nov. 28 and 30. b covering the Marshall area. * H fr AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE J' I, r VIEVK»,m„m. Group mihomepaper.com .1 ■^. k k’ YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. yj / r ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide and News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder ■ St. Clair Area View t '•» *.« z Send resume to: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com 269-945-9554 'C TnS"’ 4 i/*' *r ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ififoiho tail! i9fi amBiQ ye hfierl wan ertt ae Xew aidt aeoiia qB0H9?I alqqsmorir ertt Io qq IwMvinq otojW. i nsei lledypiiov yii; f RI: 1 I i 1 ? 1 A tu T / You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors... and our future. *5 V Vr, ♦ I I * VIEVIU^ Group ? IX ♦ ♦ _V*4’« ^otbsmioO Ylfflwnmo Your Community Connection I I * •Vii .?■ * A. i * •I • ■ .-I < » » 1 A 4 4 I 4 4 4 * i 4 i 4 4 4 4 9 4 T * * t 4 4 4 f 1 4 f • 3 » 1 4 4 4 4 I « 1 4 4 4 4 ( 1 4 4 X 1 t 4 4 « « 4 4 X 4 4 4 4 4 4 * < d 4 4 .«b *f / 4 . « 4^4- X I » »'i 4 4 4 b .' I*. 4 4 ' I .J - » < 4 4 4. -t*. 4 * • * 4 . » vi t.. I f r. >« - 4I J' /J I 4 rt • ' •I 4 4 I, .J I 4 i 4 •t • *■ ■V'. ' .1 < ' I ri 4 4 4 4 S p'-. « .4 . •• ■. V r* . ««1' k A■ r I I T"' 1 i' 4 < - » St’ > ^4^ 4 » ■• /n * * I 4 » -i-S 1 V « • « ♦ • I > ■Tn’^r .-»'■-*•. ’ f » « ^4b* I 9 ■0** * Fl <|4 rr^r^v: * J"»»’ « * * i % f ’T' . . I V ». « a « 1 \ •« t « f L_’ 4 z LJ Pl I I- 9 wt ir . g • •• .. ' f if *dl M • 9 9 -e • I 4. � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-08-23.pdf 217330f7cb711750bb740cf651e9e744 PDF Text Text 1 *- . I ■■ 4:M pTV “S ?• < •t ( ''■iJ •5.J * A Ft** z? If ♦ 4 * It / 9 9 4 14 < 4 * If f J * x -5^ ;t£ I Ii 1 TROJANS TAKE TITLE AT MONTAGUE TOURNEY •4. J. 7. •r 1 iz2 rs 1 J' ss JI > I k J > {:. k V*; X: i >r' < •f 0- I i p AND NEWS the SUN p I * Lj >5 Zou/' Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Games Township Areas 4 4 ^^4 ',•? I I & r 0^ .OM T X A i V •s:? « X y ••• •r «u •?:<-!» £1 ,*1. A « { 1 < f 'Z «*fr- *** •? ? V A J h* 1^ % ’ J 4* * r Jl I » 1 I i- I J b* .T r •« ■> i.. ir I r’ '• A> <1 lii^ * w?'-^ f • * t i d 1 » Jl « •> ar K I I « K ■ 4 ^5 ‘ 14 I «** f I a I I w if 1 a Jif f A > 4 i < A V- < 1.. A 'J .; «■ i4 t I ■£$ b * 4 I< » < » ♦ 4 y ’X < «l» j' Staff Writer I (ftomow I • ? 1 j k ->• t 1 1: > r 4 >• s’ 1, J ft Jt 3>lil yllBor orb?' Yhnurnrno3 BrnobskD r^ 3flt bwolo KJfK^rrrjlH noUuO If iKiWh looriOu'^ - — Karen Turko-Ebright bwoTj ag-Uil E gnoniA nnHdii adl lol noiteqioifriB i irubri31ni'i‘jqu^ I bit r I <♦. New $40M Dutton Elementary School grand opening draws big crowd tflpiidJ-OJiioT miB)( istiiW tlBlS .bn, .no drrrib Of egniriJ looo isjjM I bn;; JnoioTOj vfUoi Jzuj A.J A large crowd gathered Wednesday, Aug. 20, for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Dutton Elementary School in Caledonia. Photos by Karen Turko-Ebright W0^$ weM »qo bneiB iofb<< v'iahwiwfh noWnCl wsn allfijJTrarftoffi £ .EinobslED ni i^k>xo ^'TO^ abfiig^rtnuot 9vml 11 iv/ Inoflo2 ziri bwfl srl JjrajOTgvfilq l9^n oi botiozo yIIbot 2'oH'' ljs:ij/ > (lleai g'wl lud lariocaJ bii n'jteadl ''.bnuoTgyKlq srlt bri!i /abiL tniig J03 ?.'!!" .bifix r -=r. u*. ? • £2^ f I (O s Us r I r ’» € > xr*^ 5 r 1 I ■■ lU'J K V % .•x ♦• X aW beierttBB bwoio sribI A ii loortog yiBfnsmeB nolluQ .> p >7 I ' T' •A A ■ ;j^ I •’I IT. J. Wi-’^ I 5f ■ * -«*’i—--- I I k B 5^ X I * > t A 1^ EDOW CnUQWEH BFaiDcuuvr aw 9muw!« nt hOtutIO f J I J b®UJJ!I»33e 49939 f>lS6UAmS* |f*j| Among a large crowd waiting in anticipation for the ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday outside the new Dutton Elementary School in Caledonia, a mother recalls her fourth-grade son’s excitement when he heard his school will have a new playground. “He’s really excited to meet his teacher but he’s really excited for the playground,” Jessica Cardinal said. “It’s got giant slides and really cool things to climb on. And, it’s just really different and unique. I really like it.” Caledonia Community Schools Superintendent Dirk Noaa H3W0iSn3 Weeldryer told the lVilN9QIS3U SSMU33 crowd the former eC90> tn BiiiAusejQ OkExog od Dutton Elementary 9€C# JituJSd 8G88f School served the disIH 'eiiiAuasjo I bVID aivd n ? boeivGE busieio 3ovisod s n ais isdd •4 ae T 4 A’’’' w a*! trict well for 70 years and that he believes the new building will do the same. “It’s not just a beautiful facility but a lasting investment for our kids,” Weeldryer said. According to the school’s website, CCS voters in 2020 approved an $88 million bond proposal aimed at improving facilities, security and technology across the district. Subsequently to the 2020 bond, voters passed an additional $61 mil­ lion supplemental bond to further strengthen facilities and technology. From that $61 million, $40 million was allocated to the replacement of the aging Dutton Elementary School. The new 60,000-square-foot building reportedly includes more open space, the capacity to house an additional 150 students, larger instructional spaces, and a barrierfree accessible playground - thanks to a donation by Amazon - and air conditioning. There are 22 classrooms in the new elementary divided into three wings. One wing includes kinder­ garten and program classrooms, while another wing is designated for first- and second-graders. Thirdand fourth-grade students have their own wing. Other rooms include spaces for music, art, Spanish classes, a media center, cafeteria and gymnasium. During Wednesday’s ceremo­ nies, Weeldryer and DES Principal Shawn Veitch thanked the key play­ ers who helped plan and build the new school. “You guys did a phenomenal job in designing and building this school,” Veitch added. “From the •V — KTE bottom of my heart, thank you guys.” They also thanked retired Superintendent Jerry Phillips for his decades of service to the district, as well as the school board and community for its support. Local residents said they were excited to have their children attend the new Dutton Elementary School. “All three of my older kids have gone here,” said Heidi Winters, who has lived in the district for about a decade. “I have a See OPENING on 6 ' I ♦ 1 r i 1 I I I I' < I a [ * I Ji I 1 ( i'5 I I I J ii I,J I I I < 'H 1(1 h s I t I • Fl <1 t I . 1 i » I s •5 A 1 i» I J f i I I ( I * Teachers at Caledonia Community Schools will begin the new year without a contract this Monday, Aug. 25, as negotiations continue between the CCS Board of Education and the Caledonia Education Association. The previous contract expired on July 31 of this year. Should an agree­ ment not be reached before Monday, teachers will operate under the previ OUS year’s contract. Board representatives say they offered the union a 4.5% increase to teachers’ salaries and scheduled base salary increases, along with increases to starting base salaries for new teach­ ers, at its most recent bargaining meeting. Members of the CEA filled the board room during Monday, Aug. 18’s regular BOE meeting. The BOE and CEA will meet again for further negotiations on Thursday, Sept. 4. A full recording of Monday’s BOE meeting can be found at calschools. org/our-district/board-of-education/. J « « Contract negotiations underway with Cal teachers; school starts Monday 44 JZ ***47 & /1 ■ I.- •• .4^ « ♦ A t, 1 ••• Me* www.sunandnews.com , r* 'T r*e w > w ^1 vCH* V < V '<*i^ SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2025 NO. 70 6' L •f I ' X '^rt' b rA'H' J PAGE 9 I t r -7^. .X; i « i ;4 ?• K i r?? ’►e « s f - ’(■ 9 » \ �I I 2 Saturday, August 23, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Eden Forest cuts ribbon for first phase of townhome project James Gemmell Contributing Writer Representatives for Orion Construc­ tion and Red Stone Properties were scheduled to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Aug. 22, celebrating the first phase of the Eden Forest townhome development in Gaines Township. The development on 60th Street is located immediately west of the Kent­ wood Community Church and will feature 242 units, with 114 units to be completed this fall. According to devel­ opers, another 18 units will be finished next spring and the remaining 114 units will be completed in future years. Land for the $29 million project, owned by 60th Street Ventures, was purchased from the church. Eden Forest will offer four floor plans that will feature two or three bedrooms and range in size from 1,345 to 1,725 square feet. Some of the amenities will include a common area greenspace, lawn care, snow removal and zero-entry townhomes. A conditional rezoning for the project from a residential designation to single­ family zoning was previously approved by the township. This past spring, Brad Walsh with Orion Construction and 60th Street Ven- •5^ p r — .r ► ’ . -X f I --n I’-' 4 A. rr J. i .f * 9^ 1 f *» rf * <5 M • •xi II I. •V* 1 i r f bt. • L 1 t I /r 'k. ;# '■r- r 'ii k 9 I > is t "•M i 5' mum ■ I i f V i 5* fe tI 1 i '. V Jr 'V /». .* r I dA^at I •• t f «V 1 *«|p k . A » .^.J w • i 0^ ^'~-; .♦ itit *I * , . .f < . • 1 1: •^r 't 3^ ♦> s t A rendering of the Eden Forest townhome exterior. Courtesy photo z 4. tures recently submitted a revised site plan for the 18.2-acre property, part of a larger development in that area. The first two proposed changes were approved by planning commissioners, but the third and fourth proposed changes were rejected. The first one called for the removal of one four-unit building along the southwest edge of the development to avoid impacting the adj acent wetlands. Because one of the four-unit townhouses was so close to a detention area, it was removed from THE GREATEST CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME —AN EVENING WITH PRESIDENT— LECH WALESA USA & CANADA LECTURE TOUR AUGUST 31 - OCTOBER 30, 2025 A*. the site plan. Also, a nearby townhouse was redesigned as a six-unit building, rather than having just four units. Redrawing the detention basin also prompted developers to move the playground close to the intersection. “We ran out of space, ftankly,” Walsh said, while addressing township officials in April. “The pondjust grew and the original location that we had back behind the building just didn’t fit, because ofthe footprint ofthe pond expanding.” kF** r'T t ' vt'r; *, I k ' .fe 1^^ } f luff 1 t V .4 t I MS'® 4 •• • * CSiiJii I r t ’J r' fli y' M Ti' V: <s** sr A »• f• * I • X ar*;*" n* I ■ 'K* * < 4 J t * I' tM i 1 1 »** . j li . Aj t j* ’ .'r ' r 1 I.« * *- 4^" •* . -c:;?pW7* t 'Dii'ff) I A' 1 ■ MIDDLEVILLE L*- TOPS 546 H*/ J ^4, e r. K t 4t IVWi -X- Meet the Nobel Peace Prize winner and one of the world's greatest leaders. Lech Walesa will take you behind the scenes of one of history’s greatest turning points - and into the future we must build together. REGISTER NOW: www.HistoryExplorer.com The Aug. 18 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There are still two fish in the fishbowl. Virginia’s program was from the July/ August 2023 TOPS magazine titled “Support Knows No Bounds.” Virtual chapter members share struggles, tips, and grow close. Virtual TOPS chapters join people all over the United States and Canada. They meet on Zoom and only have 8-10 members. They grow to be longtime friends. It is an offshoot from online chapters. Members discuss what's happening in their struggles and helpful tips are exchanged. Having people listen goes a long way. Once you voice your struggle, it is no longer a secret and becomes easier to overcome. They still have bylaws and officers, use TOPS programs, and other sources. They have come to realize their biggest strength is each other. Everyone has their own strength and together they inspire every member. By having a smaller group, everyone’s needs are met, and no one goes by the wayside. Chapter members continued the contest by filling in one dot for each one-tenth of a pound lost. Virginia won the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036. or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. The first meeting is free. I i » R \ ■.<5' ' ua* fc «» •4 '*f .*< Ct.' 4. “ . . ’ v'9rtf « rft, I .X t MT 'Kiv -X'?' * J* I *• • .•t. . .L c A ! SilttS^* f#' * / »**«* AR 4 I 1 tormi * I i * JI * . I f •♦AIBM THE SUN AND NEWS “J.* IP • • »• t V - rs jl r IMb ■ *•** fl s The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com PUBLISHED BY CONTACT US Editor: Molly Macleod Group - mmacleod@mihomepaper.com Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com ^4 PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card : or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. ,1351 N. M-43 Hwy.. Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-945- li 9554), This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser's order. I r J 1' * I • •5. " Mr t ■ < •s' g. •• .1^ * -r 11 I I 1 ' -’L. < I' « I .’I1 ti if 1 1 s. V •«»-. 8«*- I'-Jll'X « �1 » t 4 If WR• s* 4l B'F I "4 V . a 5 It 6 k' «- .. > t R, --fl. *• ■ s. >1^ t 4 - V I ■•< .. dl|Q93aid t r u r Su •• i-f hj I c J > *S. a % t i > R -*>4. 1 Th I < •i r - ‘ L i A A 1 K. « II I '.k, s 1- I s A 4 I Bh4V ■ i I .'W.-. W. 4 * I X r» i I 1 I 1^/ ."'IMtei,; r •' >4. r? . *• 4? t I I I A J t H I f -QA* 1 w -** ?’ 5. I -We « *ea I 1 I •-I. A > » r r . * f 4 • -.I 1 J A ri U'; iV 1/ * < <-.. <* w ( 'I I 1 i I « .4 E I f 'I'H 1 <4 * I I i * . -- ii i '• 'i ai * < J IT 9’ wX. J • I t • • M « 1 * ex* >rr J «l i • i J t ri '.Vtx ? . . I Ik J J A i ll* i A • H I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com J s« I . r-wjr^niwair Gaines Twp. to add columbaria to cemeteries Yankee Springs board talks arsenic removal, road paving and more James Gemmell Contributing Writer * Gaines Township will be installing columbaria, or vaults for burial ums, to the Blain and Dutton cemeteries. Members of the Gaines Township Board ofTrustees discussed specifics of the columbaria, including design and placement, during their Aug. 11 meeting. A columbarium has individual compartments called niches where the ums are sealed in a permanent, above* ground structure. It provides a desig­ nated place for families to memorialize loved ones. Gaines Township currently main­ tains three cemeteries, including Blain Cemetery on 68th Street in Cutlerville, the Dutton Cemetery on Hanna Lake Avenue and the South Gaines Cemetery on 92nd Street. With the Blain and Dutton cemeteries having been expanded, the sites were chosen to have the new columbaria installed. One vault was purchased last year for Blain. “Delivery was slowed by expansion at Blain,”saidTownshipCIerk Michael Brew. At the Aug. 11 meeting. Township Manager Rod Weersing discussed the layout of the columbaria. At the Dutton Cemetery, Weersing said there is a spot near the front of the cemetery that would have three colum­ baria placed in line on a rectangular cement pad. And, farther back, there is space to hold up to six columbaria on a rectangular pad. Besides the initial one previously designated for installation at Blain, Saturday. August 23, 2025 This image shows the type of columbarium that will be placed at two cemeteries in Gaines Township. Source: gainestownship.org Weersing proposed that the township board authorize the purchase of two additional columbaria. That would be for a second one at Blain, plus one at Dutton Cemetery. The price per unit, including ship­ ping and installation, is more than $15,000. Weersing said having the colum­ barium units shipped to the township all at one time will provide some sav­ ings. Money was already set aside in the 2025 budget for the purchase oftwo additional units. “The nice thing is, they have units in stock right now that are tariff-free,” Weersing added. The columbarium in the Dutton Cemetery probably will not be installed until next year, unless a sidewalk­ construction project that is taking place along Hanna Lake Avenue is completed before the ground freezes later this year. A related sidewalk project is also taking place in the cemetery. Could we buy two (columbaria) and put them both at Blain, so that we have three there at Blain?” Trustee Kathy See CEMETERIES on 5 From safe drinking water to pick­ leball courts, the Yankee Springs Township Board ofTrustees covered a w ide range of communitj topics during its regular meeting Thursday, Aug. 14. Trustees spent a portion of the meeting discussing improvements to the township’s arsenic remosal system. While a previous engineer­ ing estimate put the price tag on such a process over $1 million, a new^ proposal from Peerless Inc. Water Systems of Kalamazoo suggests llie project could be done for less than $500,000 by increasing the output of existing tanks and drillinga new well. Tlie towmship has already secured a $75,000 grant toward the work. The Yankee Springs Township Clean Water Committee will return at next month’s township board meeting with a recommendation. Residents of the Payne Ridge sub division weighed in on a proposed special assessment district to fund paving of their road. The project cost is estimated at $57,100, but ques tions were raised about how many households are included in the as­ sessment. Residents said the petition was based on 17 households, while the township’s calculation used 18 parcels. The board agreed to adjust the numbers and revisit the issue in September. Work is not expected to begin until October. Fire Chief Dan Miller shared that the department responded to 15 day­ time calls in July. With 17 firefighters and 14 medical personnel on staff, he said the department is holding steady and keeping on budget. Miller also announced an open house for Oct. 6 as part of Fire Prevention Week, inviting residents to tour the fire sta­ tion and meet local first responders. On the zoning front, the tow nship received a court order requiring a resident to remove multiple vehicles from his property within 60 days or face township enforcement. Gravel mining also remains a hot topic, w ith 83 residents signing a petition opposing mining in residential areas. There’s good news for local park users. The township's pickleball courts are being expanded and should be ready by next week, while the walking path is receiving a finishing layer. A new shed is also scheduled for delivery on Aug. 24. During public comment, residents expressed concents about dirty wa­ ter flowing into the township from Allegan County, as well as the dust and noise from potential gravel min­ ing projects. Others asked the board to consider livestreaming meetings and to bring back an earlier public comment period, rather than waiting until the end. Trustees closed the evening with remarks of appreciation. Treasurer Deb Mousseau reminded residents that summer taxes are due September 15, while Supervisor Rob Heethuis took time to explain the township’s 1% administrative fee on property taxes, noting it helps fund office op­ erations and is standard practice across Michigan. The board will meet again on Thursday, September 11 at 6 p.m. at the Yankee Springs Township Hall, * — MM *♦ k k 9f^ ri-fc . Closed-Cell Foam Insulation I * Blown-In Attic Insulation Alpha 616 Media, llc I I . .5- 'JW- NbIsdr’s residential & commercial real estate • corporate • events “W Alpha616Media.com 4 J iS * *» J I f h” i I I • ♦/* . • i ’ I 01VI I i ■ <« grant@alpha616media.com (616) 638-4751 Grant Alphenaar Owner i' • 1 Antenna Men ■■I—> H • Cellular Enhancement Systems Give us a call! K CJWI 517-983-0954 I I k • • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink installs • Towers Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 I i ft I SPRAY FOAM,LLC ¥:• A kV*-; I I photo • video • drone im a 269-967-8241 1 no* J www.theantennamen.com antennanien@gmail.com Start Saving Today ' Use Spray Foam I j www.cellBignalproi.com i I I I A . r H 1 I 2 1 t I ? »I i h‘ a 11 I! I1 I i« t 4 k ‘l> I-: ! i: « I I I ( .1 41 % II e I 1 I t I i s \ 3 �y J Saturaay 4 t 23 2025 Auqu THE SUN AND NEWS Obituaries •Si ' .A ■ ■ • J' ' Fredrick Dale Ainswort at Barlow Lake, where he developed a love for fishing with hts family, traditions he loyfuHy continued wrtti hs grandchildren Ke also enjoyed camping and spending winters in Lake Havasu, Arizona He had a profound passion for GVSU football and rarely missed a game Fred especially loved attending his grandchildren's sporting events, always their biggest fan Following his marriage to Linda, the couple Fredrick Date Ainsworth. affectionately known as Fred, passed away peacefully at his home on August 14, 2025. in Middleville. Ml. after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer He was born on January 4,1952. tn Grand Rapids, Mt Fred lived a vibrant and full life He often reflected fondly on his childhood days spent W W 5 (MVtnOT^t W purchased iheir forever home on Barlow L ake where they created ccruntiess memones together, stones that wih remain henshed tamity and tnends. Above all Fred was a devoted family man who dearly loved the Lord, his wife, children, and grandchildren Fred dedicated many years of his professional life to Keeler Brass, where he served as Plant Manager before retiring. His leadership, expertise, and dedication left a lasting impact on those he worked alongside He was also immensely proud of his years of service with LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Join m for our iradirionai yet casual worship Service Timet I >K Sunday at 9:30 AM i 6:00 PM at 9:00 am I 'H-.aJ aij .J Sunday Worship Church: (269) 795-2391 FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 CHURCH ri HOLY FAMILY jJCATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Avc., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfainilycaledonia.org 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Roh Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Llvestream; fatebook.com/firslba pl is! midrilevtile JOURNEY 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstoneml.org/weekend 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) I * 4. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 4 t I 616-891-8669 250 Vine Street Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Ham service, in person or online, www.alaskAbaptltt.org Ti-hQ 66Th Street SE. Celedonle FIRST BAPTIST cornerstonechurch Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & II a.m. Fcllow!Ahip 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. CHURCH Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. PEACECHURCH.ee 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:16 am and 11:00 am Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, Ml 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location • 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am - THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCHr @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, Ml 49316 OfTice 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.ttpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, Ml 49333 6 n J J MIDDLEVILLE "Shining Forth God's Light Sunday Morning Worship Communiry Group.......... 99 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. SERVICE TIMES: Jamet L. CoUison^ Pastor www.yankcespringsbibiechurch.org Sunday at 9:30am & IVOOarn 20 State Street. Middlevilte, Ml ! www.tycweb.com » A the I hornapple township Fire Department where hts commrtmenf to commurutv and safe^ shone bnghttv Known for his infectious smite, quick wit. and love of t^bng pkes Fred had a remslat^ gift for bringing toy and laughter wherever he went His warmth generosity, and humor wilt be remembered by all who had the pnvitege of knowing han Fred is survived by his beloved wife of 30 years, Linda Ainsworth, his daughters. Amanda Dziewiatkowski and Jessica Holler, his stepchildren, Chns (Kim) Kropf. Mike (Stacey) Kropt and Sara (Scott) Whisler, and his grandchildren. Breanna Griffin. Morgan Holter, Emily Kropf, Kenny Kropf. Robby Holter. Adia Whisler. Addison Whisler. Chase Whisler. Ellie Kropf. and Owen Kropf. He is also survived by many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family, including in-laws. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Martha Ainsworth, and his brothers. Carl, Jim, and Dave Ainsworth Fred leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and treasured memories that will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and community Visitation will be held on Monday, Aug. 25, from 5-7 p.m. at St Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool in Caledonia Additional visitation will take place on Tuesday, August 26. at 10 a m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a m. A luncheon will be served in the fellowship hall immediately following the service. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed on the St Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool Facebook page and YouTube channel. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial contributions to Farth Hospice. 1 t 5 >i!| "J. I • .•it* .X i ' a k V t 3 r-f ^Tftfr^nr-Jffcfv-, . <1 !» e ? ’ fl*; Y aC^ *■** 4 I' M t <1 y .d I A- f I II 3 1'1. / I .> ^;f e-1 ,1 vs -r * : A * Pi < a'*"*-' ' i I-*' . 'i 4 ... 1' p * 1^- iiKr *> ■ h' I t I -ZV-’ kF £' ...M’ 1# t * f • •.R tu*- 1 44 I r 1' •* .i 1^' ♦! iA * .2 V r>- ffr^’ *>* t t!♦ f' 4I .V. f > .-VJI ( »u » Iti- r. 4 J i1 J ♦* b • k w’ *1 >• L* •ei^ * V** ■ 1 V. - ♦ t ... ‘<1 *ci I'T 1 1 V*- r ■ » r: n^*^' » ♦ t * •• d -M, t • jdr**^* » Y [aflEB r I T f, Fire department to host blood drive Sept. 3 <1 .Ik I • tI 4 V'M*' •■ a c rJ I LA z ir ’ dPt I l» r •f* .' r I The Yankee Springs Township Fire Department, in cooperation with Versiti Blood Center, is hosting a blood drive from 2 to6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the fire station on Payne Lake Road. Persons 17 years of age and weigh­ ing more than 110 pounds are eligible to donate. Appointments to donate are preferred but walk-ins are welcomed. Those donating will be entered for a chance to win two tickets and a VIP experience to your favorite hometown football team. For more information, persons may contact Versiti blood Center by call­ ing 1-866-MIBLOOD or 269-795-9091, — DM .4S» ■ r 1 Considering becoming Catholic? Call or sec our website for information eAPEACE Caledonia Location % V 3k> S' . I i B I . . ! . I •* 1’ I • A *«*«J*^f*» b ..r * f i •. a f rvt* t > ♦ e e' I I I e • •• 1 9 W V -41 I I I I e -♦If < 1/ 1. * k I ) i 1 1 r* • A.* i / r f B'w •y f < fr • > 1 atf I ** ♦ ■ Ji.s/. •< I . .—a vsr. ■ I iu«— fl " I..» Ic** r t ' > 3^-' M 1 • • !r •■; ■ I. I • ' * MH t *• I I I f I I I 4 <1 i h i z '! r I « I I I,‘I r i: y« I 4. i Ve ?*•- h * i T I 9 fl I 1 9> 4 I a4 t i 2 4 « I 'tu LlA' �4 « I ! 4 I 9 * — 9 ( y < •4ldf>'3 * Public hearing to focus on public safety special assessment s i UH «* * wfe*!' yas * • 4 L MJOntiiL % James Gemmell Contributing Writer Members of the Gaines Township Board of Trustees will consider raising the township’s yearly special assess­ ment levy for public safety services to the maximum allowable amount after local residents have their say at a public hearing next month. At their Aug. 11 meeting, trusteesapproved the scheduling of a public hear­ ing during the board’s regular monthly meeting on Sept. 8. “You’ll make the recommendation at that meeting,” Township Manager Rod Weersing told board members. “This will be a public hearing so we can hear what the public has to say. “You will have a copy of the budget prior to the Labor Day weekend,” he added. The draft budget will go in the board packet for the September meeting. The agenda packet will be view able online on the township’s website, gainestownship.org. “My recommendation is going to be to go to the max,’’ Weersing said. “But you’ll be able to make that decision after ! I & 1 • s % *<> J r I f. V' f y' ft) JA 4 '. i» I I I ♦ < A ••• I * »iS» » i/^ a» .u I / I I t 3- 4 * I * I 1 'ij I tn. .K f t “f ' t * Wv ,* J I *’rwn 4 •«« t// . ••i- * r 4 * - *•« * >• * 4?f. I rL.. •1 ♦ a '/ I *1 I » 1 It i J-' n M t { * d. r. * ’ >. 9^ * * b M V * > .t • r ’* *; **-■. • * •--•I * 4 < I r THE SUN AND NEWS WWW. SU nandnews. com * ■ n- *;4; Saturday. August 23, 2025 •-Q **-< .r't .,1' .1 5 • • *1 «» BUSINESS SERVICES <>*'kS < IT’*' DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING. Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching. Brush Hog, Mow­ ing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. ..Me’’.* - ' . \ ' * f.-' e V . if. io' , 1■ K. %*• R 'a pft < CONSTRUCTION Members of the Gaines Township Board of Trustees discuss public safety services at their most recent board meeting Aug. 11 Photo by James Gemmell the public hearing and after you've had a chance to review the budget.” Township staff will present the esti­ mated costs for public safety services during the hearing and discuss recom­ mendations that the yearly levy be 1 i fted to the maximum 1.5 mills. Trustees first voted in October 2021 to establish the 15-year adjustable as­ sessment, citing the township’s boom­ ing population and a corresponding increase in calls for police, fire and rescue services. According to reports of a special meeting held at the time, township board members vowed to keep the annual assessment as low as possible. The original Ievyof0.6millsforfiscal year 2021 generated $600,000 revenue to ftind public safety services. For fiscal year 2022, the tow nship board raised the special assessment rate to 0.75 mills. And it has continued to rise, with the levy being set at 1.0 mills in 2023 and then 1.25 mills for 2024, helping gener­ ate about $ 1.6 million for public safety. If adopted, the new levy will be placed on the 2025 tax roll. The average residential property owner would pay around $200 per year, compared to the current cost of about $160 annually. Gaines Township officials have projected expenses of more than $3.5 million in fire and rescue services for fiscal year 2025, and more than $1.4 million for police services. The board voted 5-1 on a motion to approve one of the layout templates for the columbarium. Clerk Michael Brew cast the lone “no” vote, with another board member absent. The board then voted 6-0 to purchase one columbarium each for the Blain and Dutton cemeteries. The township clerk’s office said it can provide details to residents who inquire about the cost to purchase a niche. The township revised its cemetery ordinance in February for the first time in 47 years. The revision added a $50 administrative fee for township staff to research information, issue new burial­ right certificates and update online records in the municipal data portal. Another change states that the town­ ship will buy unneeded sites back at 50 percent of the current residential rate. Previously, the cemetery had stated that the township would buy back the burial rights for at the original price. The cost to purchase a single burial plot in Gaines Township is $500 for a resident and $2,000 for a non-resident. * I CEMETERIES —iW-. £ r Continued from Page 3 IHiW •* J I J WtiM «t1bu H I 1 I t Vander Stel said. “And then later on, once Dutton figures out where they’re going to put the paths and everything, then we make a decision to buy that.” That was one possibility, according to Weersing. “I think if you wanted to go with just Blain, I would go with one right now,” he added. “(But) if you wanted to start preparing for Dutton, then my recom­ mendation would be two.” r* t IMI!! 4 4 A■ •I ' 9 L^idcJr ti <1^ 1 8.; 4 J 11,; 'll. ;'. V.. / i t I ; ^isdtoKiss CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS. Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 WANTED WANTED TO BUY; Standing Tim­ ber. Conscientious timber harvest­ er. Saw Mill Office-517-254-4463. CAMPERS/RVS 1988 AVIAN Model X 34' RV for sale. Updated plumbing. New tires. Needs TLC. $8,000 OBO. 269-993-2529 EMPLOYMENT GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEE- All aspects of golf course maintenance, including trimming, mowing, tree removal, and bunker work. Please see Evan and apply in person at Saskatoon Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto. Ml. To set up an appointment call 616-570-5597 or apply online at saskatoongolf.com. PETS 6 RESCUE KITTENS around 10-12 weeks old. All have been spayed or neutered, rabies shots, deflead and de-wormed. $25 to good home. 269-331-7242. Your local agent insures your Lake Estaie IT »w*- k $ I Halt® fjM! sinew® jjK Wi »r Classifieds I I I ’ ♦ 5 FARM BURFAV MSVRANCr YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors... and our future. - ir VIEV^^ Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville Group Your Community Connection (269) 795-8827 )parks9fbinsmi.com FartnDureauinsurance.com • e :> ? •^1 . ^1 I. Rff'ill J . "ViRi 1 r 1 ' I 1 % t 1 / < I 4 .,1 T ( 11 I 4 J i f H 4 bI f UI 14 I i * 4 I i 'h i ’3 I s \ 4 1 t . - — - �1 i. 6 Saturday, August 23, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS A 4 • i < * I I 1 f ? •» I J > , .Vj f F •a J t I e * - . ; I » I I <: r 4 • / .c r 4 4r > cl » 4 V s if/ > r •-W ■■ r 6 School officials cut the purple ribbon in honor of the grand opening of the new Dutton Elementary School in Caledonia during ceremonies Wednesday, Aug. 20. senior at the high school this year and a first-grader here.” Winters said the new school was needed because the old school was aging and needed air conditioning. It was miserable for the staff and students with no air at the beginning and end of the school year,” she said. “It’s super exciting to see the new building and be able to be a part of it and see our community grow. My daughter is most excited about the gym, the lunchroom and the playground. With a third-grader and first-grader attending the new school, Brian Dabakey plans on making more memories in Caledonia like he has for the last seven years. “I think it will be pretty special from going to the oldest school in the district to the newest school,” Dabakey said. “It will be quite the change for the kids. “I know they are excited about it. We’re excited about it,” he added. They want to see what the playground looks like. For the Dabakeys and other CCS students, the upcoming 2025-26 school year starts Monday, Aug. 25. Veitch is looking forward to the start of classes on Monday. “I really feel blessed,” Veitch said. “We had the bond in 2020 and then COVID happened and construction prices rose. “We had some tough choices and I’m so grateful for the supplemen­ tary bond, that you believed in us and believed in this community to pass an additional bond to fulfill the dream that I am so excited to hand off to these kids and staff,” he added. I * 1 ,1b. t I i 1 4 JI i: ^lli t L « L J 1 1 JR I . i M- < V5S .<*«« L* r /a M • "y! k E 1 t ■U-J ■ i,ib r 59 .‘t r « A ■* ' -i *», / ! • W: •r L ,^1 1 4 ' f V i I After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, families gathered outside to explore the new, barrier-free playground at Dutton Elementary School on Wednesday, Aug. 20. <> 4 I*W6* t » . . > I r'X* w *16^^ iZ 4 LJ Scan our QR code (0 find your perfect invitation! 4. tel* A » ' ^51 \ '9 5 k .. '«3C: .K r » ff* z » .f •*. rv • V >w ^?,iiteiii^^>»* *c .4^- ay <»* . #,w^» «■ a > / W.. Jl I I f I I i i' - t ». •. r 11^ _r 1 r 4 •> * -i *^1bv » I J IK 4<|- A• e 1 i .iZB r f I K lA I 1^’ f'ft’ I 2 < A 6 I 5^ : I. f □bl. I I : pt it 9i t MW i I i Xi. L' S(eD r 'r 'Of’ I i iff 4 '5 1 i. H «5 . < rr- Ft I i:2«35 i k < ' I Jy 4 ; I f I . I ** s« 4l I 1 I I 1 I * I '• I 66 95 !• /W .4 f A d' u 'J ‘I A »x * U..: ..J » I -tV.i. e^tev 1 ■•id t It I » »•> 1 SIS'^ ’ ' U.* 4 .♦ ) 9 K «* . Ik* «b> ■ ■ ■’A» I' r t, : V . a' ~ •i I >■ 4 1 A' ’ < I «6*- * I F a* tf / * * * —I * ■«, I 1*^ * 1. ' ; .. A student reads a book during the tour of the new Dutton Elementary School in Caledonia on Wednesday, Aug. 20. y '.• • rt' •.. □ .• ■ J I. 6 i J .J $ ► » • ** IC- . ,6 \ M I* '• L I • 4.’ J 66 66 *T I I “Community, I thank you guys.” Veitch continued to address the crowd with enthusiasm throughout the ribbon cutting ceremony. “The reason we are here today guys is I am so excited for our kids and staff,” he said. “So excited that they can come into a state-of-the-art build­ ing with amazing classrooms they will get to enjoy. You’ll see breakout classes that were intentionally designed for small group instruction to help all of our kids. You’ll see a beautiful media center, beautiful classrooms that are designed for art, music and Spanish and an unbelievable gymnasium.” Veitch also reminded those in atten­ dance to enjoy the new playground area. “It warms my heart so much to have a barrier-fi-ee playground that all students can access the entire play­ ground,” he said. “I’m so excited for you staff and you students.” Continued from Page 1 <- *1 www.sunandnews.com OPENING jut . i 1 • Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS ^THE MOST TRUSTED' .r.. _ * * * *<3♦ SHERRIFF 'Z GOSL.IN' ■ .* .K Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. ' ♦% a -te jftf-jH! I •M «4 , . ••• 4 ?x OKn^^ T 1 t *- A J d * «< la^ 1 *- 'i i fi > 'Iki^ te* * CALL TODAY X '■ - -ei /: V* A ?■/ 1 'iria-»*^* Mb I r I 4 FOR YOUR FREE r 1 INSPECnON 9^ ■. ■r-s. •a* •' > 269-962-4036 $ R S. • K. 1*^ u I lak. f. -ar* njX^b *'( * « « w « *w '« jr* ginacl@pennylaneprinting.com «» <1 Item ■a www.printingbypennylane.com 3 * QUAUTY POOF^NG 4 • •• PRINTING SY . * - Wv >• •> - Name In toofing F te x..“ t • • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115-» YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU • "vr ' X’ '■. ' * » *r < 1 « ** f I S^dL'l. VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK □e ^_r- * ■■. — n ■ A( * w < )U t' » m -fl Illi ■« « �4 > z I > 1. I -V. X ’ , , THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com j I » 9 » 'i Saturday, August 23, 2025 7 ♦ I ♦ miM ** 'J I .|S> X'. J Sporting News I. 1 £ 1 * * i ' w 'k’’ h ' li* p .1 »• I •h Grand Re-Opening at The Ralph set for Tuesday I < 3. I I: V . ’J?' S 'Q i •» i ■«L '4 I W 4 * s^ r f ns. * z •> V. j.' ' t"s J ■ i t - ti. , ' 11 ♦ i 9t ‘ r lb I > b i r M. I IS' *> / I >* • f i I I ►». • 4 A « V . I . r, •J 4 J I i 1 jblui Ie I * / j I jii b ■ r z I . Tii r I t 5 ;*5 h I* I • ■ e Y :n. ,:3n^ itooiV/ 1 1 i • f 1/ ' ■, itT fS ft; 14 I. I CQc?^ 'i r t I ! fri. .fl > ' J . ' t; h« 1 I 1 1 ':4i : *«: 1 lifiUj i f * J f ■ b I I f ft i! .1 p’ . TV*^ ■ , kw.« I ‘ HU.’ J A .. r-A ^1 4. Q 1 1J ll ! » J I Brett Bremer Sports Editor There was a press box in the park­ ing lot Friday morning. It was in the stadium Friday evening. The bleachers were still going up, and up and up. Ralph E. Myers Stadium wasn’t quite ready for the Caledonia High School football program’s annual Purple and Gold preseason scrimmage Friday, Aug. 15. But all signs point to “The Ralph,” as it became affectionately known under former head coach Derek Pennington, being ready for the Fight­ ing Scot varsity football team to host Windsor Holy Names Catholic for the season opener Thursday, Aug. 28. Caledonia Community Schools will host the 75th Anniversary Celebration and Grand Re-Opening of Ralph E. Myers Stadium, featuring a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 26. The event will celebrate the stadium’s history and future, highlight the legacy of the 1950 Caledonia varsity football team, and connect alumni, students, and the community. That event is scheduled to run from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Caledonia Schools Superintendent ~va;2fpa!., * ABE •«. A * "T I . ) V % y • ;'i A J I r 1 I I I < < <w, V * 1 A*< Dirk Weeldreyer, Caledonia High School Athletic Director Phil Miedema and Caledonia Education Foundation Executive Director Mallory Walsh plan to address the crowd beginning at 6:30 p.m. followed by the ribbon cutting. A walkthrough of the stadium, alumni story sharing and alumni director sign­ up will go on between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The celebration continues at the first home football game, with more tributes to the 1950 football squad and some special remarks from Mark Uyl, Execu­ tive Director of the MHSAA. The Purple and Gold scrimmage took place on the turf at Scotland Yard, home of the Caledonia High School lacrosse and soccer programs. The Caledonia varsity is led by first-year head coach Whitney Bell this season. 41 J' >: < 4 .M •? . «0 ♦*** Caledonia sophomore quarterback Conlan Schultz breaks into the clear on a run during the Caledonia High School football program's Purple and Gold Scrimmage at Scotland Yard Friday, Aug. 15. Photos by Brett Bremer J* 4 EI AchaujJ&an, ofpoiniment 1 *1'1,1? ■ *<' • LSil/ X ♦ 5, ’IF ) . ♦ a 4 r » ~ le^ Caledonia new varsity head coach Whitney Bell directs his players during the annual Purple and Gold Scrimmage at Scotland Yard Friday, Aug. 15. Ralph E. Myers Stadium is slated for a grand re-opening Tuesday and to be ready for the Aug. 28 varsity season opener. It^s time to start your Holiday Quilts .r^ rJI FHANK YOU FOR VOTING US FAVORITE! W M VIK BpF J Thornapple F. H V * I I W *jy * * J I ioi ♦ : lia I I ^sa^l i • 108” Backs - Wide Variety • Gift Certificates Available • Thread, Zippers, Trims, etc. K 4 1 I >*’• I S; ! in » >• 1 ;r" • ;r I * F t -i >r * •«r3 fr I I 1 * I .1 m«<BTa3U0 au xtA <«l* ♦ 3 1* -» >. ’-w .* I ’d 4TmI b J .I I i ’u* 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 j I 1 .*s* OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm I H •i.f'i * < 'u* QUESTIONS ASK US... I 1 I 1 '111 • trIA ‘]esus Loves You 4 > ’W X Hulst Cleaners Pickup Station We appreciate your support and trusting us with your vision. >**w THORNAPPLEEYECARE.COM I** , 269-213-8108 | 4624 N. M-37 Hwy. Ste E, Middleville, Ml | Next to Harding's Market 1 li I f 1r I k V IIJ E >; I ✓ ! i . I, ' I’l . 4 I 11 I 1 » 4 I I J t I 1$ 'li .5 sa 1^. ( I fi I A s I \ i 4 I t r �4 ' -.4 8 Saturday, August 23. 2025 l’ / THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com J J CHS tennis squad second at first two tourneys ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity boys’ tennis team opened the season by besting two out of three foes at its annual Dobber Wenger Invitational, which it hosted on the Bulldogs’ courts in Byron Center. 4 ♦ The Bulldogs had the only team to best the Fighting Scots on the day. The Bulldogs swept their way to 8-0 wins in all three of its matches to take the tournament title. Caledonia scored 5-3 wins over both Allegan and Mason. Fighting Scot sophomore first doubles player Cooper Sowerby hits a forehand return during a match with senior partner Isaac Robotham at the Dobber Wenger Invitational in Byron Center Friday, Aug. 15. Photos by Brett Bremer :«•*w I 4< :>X WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS < *4- < Residential & Commercial -Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers «4 a V )> . f' •■ I BF *r b T-1 ■ ■ - J d. J Ute sr r f yaKEBB 1 r 11 J «+ rr:^ ■r”' : ri r< at n •9 *^♦*4 *•4. 1• ’rW 4 ^•3 r; rr^ < 9^ ___________ 68^ DeWeerd (68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 - ■J Sfftrr f9« LENNOX ACCREDITED BUSINESS Senior Hunter Derengowski bounced back from tough losses to the top play­ ers from Mason and Byron Center to score his first first singles win ever. Derengowski is a four-year varsity player for the Scots and is moving up from third singles this fall where he spent the past two campaigns. He pulled out a win in a tiebreaker, 7-2, to take the first set against Allegan seniors Silas Neldon in their match and then secured the victory with a 6-2 win in the second set. The Fighting Scots got a trio of vic­ tories from senior singles players in the victory over Allegan. Garrett Fales narrowly scored a 7-5, 7-6(5) victory at third singles over Tiger sophomore Carson Woodhams. At fourth singles, Colin Martin led 5-2 in the first set against Allegan junior John DeLaet before DeLaet retired from the match. While the line-up has shuffled a bit, the Scots do have three regular singles players back from a year ago in Deren­ gowski, Martin and Fales. Martin held down the first singles spot throughout 2024. Junior Quinn Stanley has earned that second singles spot so far for the Scots, after some time previously in the doubles line-up for the Caledonia varsity, but was bested by his Allegan foe Friday 6-1, 6-2. Caledonia secured that win over Allegan with a couple of doubles victories. Senior Derick Prichard and junior Charlie Scott scored a 6-3,7-6(6) win at third doubles. At number four, the Scots got a 6-1, 6-2 win from the duo ofjunior Isaac Judd and freshman Caleb Harrison. The top two doubles flights both went to super tiebreakers with the Al­ legan guys pulling out wins in the end. The Scots won the opening set at both flights, but then couldn’t quite hold on. The first doubles match was an extended super tiebreaker with the Allegan pair of Noah Kuebler and Ian Gaulke pulling out a 12-10 win over CHS senior Isaac Robotham and sophomore Cooper Sowerby. At second doubles, the Allegan team of Oliver Burnett and Wesley Good­ speed outscored CHS sophomores Quin Cook and Russell Grandon 10-7 in their super tiebreaker, Fales and Martin both had wins on the singles side in the victory over Mason Friday. Grandon and Cook at second doubles pulled out a super tie­ breaker 10-2 for a team point. Prichard and Scott at third doubles and Judd and Harrison at fourth doubles both took wins over the Mason Bulldogs too. The Caledonia boys were right back at it Saturday at the Holland Tourna­ ment where they finished second to Haslett. The Vikings took the day's title with 14 points ahead of Caledonia 13, Otsego 8 and Holland 5. Cook and Grandon won the second singles flight with a perfect 3-0 day. They won all three matches in straight sets. Prichard and Scott matched that performance at third doubles, and the fourth doubles team of Judd and Har­ rison won its flight with a 3-0 mark too. Caledonia was slated to travel to St Johns Friday, Aug. 22, for an annual evening invitational. Lowell comes to Caledonia for a dual on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The OK Green Conference season will start for the Scots with another shot at Byron Center Sept. 10 at Caledonia High School. »> i 4m** *41^^ eVSti'S a I *1 4 I F 4 '4. • f I i :r 1 b'JK :«=! c fl I 'l* k I . tiiob I «R >Qha»ii i *< Ef- 7 i pl ---- I .HL. fte* I •I r- V I ITEPtl I I t L ,3 1 f * I r J*’. y *r/< ■ s r :1 JjH . I JKI *- f $ > i J iwrti r ;t.4' '4 »! w . i • -r v/^ T J 5 ? >00^’ */ -tn I i ’ -b ^3^ I tsH’ * A ♦ I rim*' itu }: 1r f o ) t I r* ! • ™ Ci^ t v\r ti0< '' -ej r r -i i 1 1*^ *aai 'mAGT msi^ . Lui* ..^ V • « I >■ I• * -. .,. ..'li Ii »MMB I rI r ' ' 'fc e. t < (»• 4 u ■ ♦< 'J » ■ r• 4 •n?' I *• 4 •> MV«* »., J T •< A. 1 I «aW J** ill A* . *1 I »i,T C 'll «( :r r I« aa^- a '53^ r C 4 n 1^ I , r. Hl v* c4' I I a ►r iSbteU* I ri’h J 1 II I *Wn» V * . a !*■ r w • i I 'Mssi^) fc^^SKW I I ^Ck An^v .^Mse. w.w 1 Ikiosimas:-* } »•> *-• : •'< ,V •. fl 11« r 1 sfe^s^ j| Caledonia senior third single player Garrett Fales hits a serve in a tough two-set win over an opponent from Allegan Friday, Aug. 15, at the Dobber Wenger Invitational in Byron Center. ‘1^®W4WIS£2<> I- ew >4ei u .1 '4* tiT’iioBm* ns I B 1 4 J* J ;Cj 1-, •<- 3 V t -; s»7- • A ‘•i * w» I V ..tA «l tn i I �I 1- f k 9 b 4 4 t I £ 'I r* . ii i I • 4 ■ Saturday, August 23. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ■ 9 ♦ *k *114 1 '? c *! " r |4 9 r 9 t J I 9 r J t I I’ e .A. ^fe p I t f > t ! A /V n I 7 I • f '■ L.X T If, t 4 I I k f I r « I 1 4 1 I t t I I t i s I I I f J I 9 1 t “T I 4 f * 1' f I t ( 9 J t X *v I 1 C I I J. 4 Troians take title at Montague tourney 4 I «< I » A r f 4 f XA T \ b { I A I I <3^ . ’. ' I I I ’T < •1 r“^ TT* •W *Nb 5p^*»***^ £ e 3 - ’ I <1 i 4 "* KL ** > AIT?. .vr r 1 T I ! ' 1 J J < —w < :> . . I I < < • S’ ’ ' ■T J J A: “•t I I I *, I 1 ■Mr. «■< K r I • I I t ! k .. •5- .* i ylqt^ oonsA ’I • 4 I I . 1 * I I i ► ‘f .' * M .r V J I I b 1 •• 1 f X <. I z. -a f J r I A ) 1 I X r • I2 'T » > 1 i I -Vto aS i?a 9^ J z $ » ■*- 1 a** ■> 1 Members of the Thornapple Kellogg varsity boys' tennis team celebrate their medal-winning performances at the four-team meet hosted by Mona Shores Monday. Photo provided ! 3 < &~3 * ◄1 ’*x.. « * ® JI •>- < * 4 i ’4 X*T"— < Jl A I I > ec « '» t 'I «■ > * C s. •< < I £ 9 .•f .X; 4• ♦** • z 9^ •* ^1 • * ‘ >1 All <V 19 II 7 I I I «/ « . ’ll I. ■ " '?5c t ■ 1 1 r « <^t: { * * 'll] V Ai* "Ik •h 1 :"r » '‘la p I f Jf I T •v: ' I M. .1 I » I *1 4 r ,*» Brett Bremer Sports Editor *T J fl! w' -1 1 7 I '!« t' I r k t ! ’t I L£ . ■ ♦••7 -.v u • I T • I : ;*’IV • 4 <7» .F I P . Jt p i 4 } u n C I T r 'I ,•• • mt b «< I. > I ft r/fi ri-(/u V - i 9 ■r ) 4 * I'l w r t i'’. esHuob "T wr • t l’ H *'*■ /* r I i I iiJ'.ihii I I ‘ biff I Jr, J I « □ -a* -J 1 tt:I r 5J1tS ; ' ' i • I tt ri^H f 44? '.I f . *k I r I I * I J 1 ( it t I ’ . fA 1 B&lduc’l nryj^vizl pioM i'm£3) n »&rinovr f _ : 1.. ; t *1 tp .’ Ji ‘ I 1 ! I /I 4 sgidorM .(t: ei tt^rH ’ itoqbfin I I I i t I I I r s (Ui ii- A I£ I i 4 1 ■//(HJSiJ. I I I wj»«|t.?'; iJ ( - -W ’ -H T t J 4* 1 J 720 : If n -r ri r . * 1 I f II 4 > I . .jj/ J » .«>9 1 ■ r.t ' tf Mona Shores narrowly beats TK for invite title I i i r-f. K The Thornapple Kellogg varsity boys’ tennis team went 2-1 as it opened the season at Muskegon Mona Shores Monday. The Trojans took an 8-1 win over Western Michigan Christian, an 9-0 win over Portage Northern and fell in a tough dual with Mona Shores 5-4. Mark Gielincki at fourth singles won a flight championship for the Trojans, and TK took titles at three of the five doubles flights. Sam Teachout and Layne Schi Ithroat won the first doubles title. Luke Archer and Aiden Riffel won at third doubles. Alex Eggleston and Mark Cuison won at fourth doubles. Parker Sylvestre at second singles, the second doubles team of Graham Eden and Gideon Scott and the fifth doubles team of Joel Archer and Joey Krystyniak all placed second. Mona Shores was a perfect 3-0 as a team with a 6-3 win over Portage Northern and a 9-0 win over Western Michigan Christian. The host Sailors got a singles sweep and pulled out the fifth doubles match in their dual with TK for the team title. It was one of a couple extremely com­ petitive duals on the day with the fourth singles match and three doubles flights decided in super tiebreakers. Schilthroat and Teachout at number one doubles had one of two super tiebreaker victories for the Trojans outscoring the Sailor team of Connor Knop and Brennen Resiter 5-7, 6-1, (10-5). TK also had the second doubles team of Eden and Scott win 6-2, 6-1, Riffel and Luke Archer win 6-2, 6-2 at number three doubles and Eggleston and Cuison win 6-0, 5-7, (11-9) at fourth doubles. The fifth doubles team of Issac Musnon and Bella Faoro helped the Sailors clinch the dual as they rallied for a 1-6, 6-3, (10-8) over Joel Archer and Krystyniak at number five doubles. The top three Mona Shores singles players won fairly handily. There were three freshmen total competing in the top two flights. Mona Shores Reid Hackney beat the senior Wilkinson in the first singles match, and Mona Shores freshman Marcus Powell outscored fellow freshman Sylvestre in the second singles match. Gielincki came the closest to pulling out a singles point for the Trojans in the dual with the hosts, but he fell to Micah Bement 6-3, 3-6, (10-7). Mark Lepper playing third singles had his one win of the day in the sweep ofPortage Northern for the Trojans. TK took an 9-0 victory over the Huskies, but five of the eight bouts were decided in super tiebreakers after players split sets. Lepper had one of those taking a 10-8 win in the end. Gielincki at fourth singles won a super tiebreaker and the TK second, third and fourth doubles teams all won super tiebreakers against Portage Northern too. The Thornapple Kellogg varsity boys’ soccer team celebrates a perfect first day of the 2025 season after wins over Kelloggsville and Howard City Tri County at the Montague Invitational Saturday, Aug. 16. The Trojans defeated Kelloggsville 4-3 in a shootout and then knocked off Tri County 2-0 in the tournament championship game. TK is now 3-0-1 with a win over Zeeland East added to the tally Monday and a 0-0 draw at Wyoming Wednesday evening. Photo provided rief Recovery 616-891-0150 Support Group through grief with hope BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm 9" I ’ 1 J BODY SHOP 4 • t Tuesday, Sept. 9,2025 Complete Collision Repair 6:30-8:00 p.m • Team Room A 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Grief Share Your trusfecl body Shop -for over 32 years , a.a»JI b I bp ................ .. GrtMl^ Settings Are He^piil] CALL SANDY JAMES IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR JUST COME 269-838-2652 I I *» i I z 1 I u 4 .J i'i ii I I I t > I 'ii t * < .I H M I ill1 •i‘ I 1 t 1 h I *1 ! \ I 1 **'• starting. hl i Oto® Everyone Welcome at Ihornapple Valley Church K I 4 Sandy James and Rich Ashley I I t 1 I z GtW* < be �10 ♦ ♦ Saturday, August 23, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS head coach Ben Howell said. “We had a number of girls really dedicated with their summer miles this off season so I’m excited to see the improvements from Isabelle Homing, Elise Clarin, Charlie Bont, Nola Pearson, Cora Draft and Abby Tava.” He’s also excited to see how fresh­ man Kendall Van Ryn fits into the mis. He said she has really worked hard and put in a bunch ofmiles this summer too. The Scots were set to see how they compete for the first time on Friday night, Aug. 22, at the annual South Christian Under the Lights Invite. Caledonia will also have its annual early morning dual with Thomapple Kellogg Friday, Aug. 29, at Caledonia High School. “We are a long ways from being in state meet contention, but we’re going to work hard throughout the season in hopes of putting ourselves in conten­ tion for earning one ofthose three spots that make it to the state meet. Last year we started in a similar position and worked our way into fourth place Sports Editor The summer has been a build-up of a mostly new scoring group for the Cale­ donia varsity girls’ cross country team. The program graduated four of its regular top seven scorers from the team that was third in the OK Green Conference and fourth at its Division 1 Regional last fall. The top returnees for the squad are senior Hannah Bennett and junior Akaela Daman who were in the middle of the varsity scoring pack throughout much of 2024. Bennett ran her fastest race yet at last year’s OK Green Con­ ference Championship placing 15th in 20 minutes 11.9 seconds. She earned honorable mention all-conference for her efforts. Daman also had her fastest race of last season that day at Riverside Park. (( The senior leadership of Hannah Bennett and Sophie Douglass will really serve our team well as they did an outstanding job leading the girls throughout the summer,” Caledonia LJzwizaII r■ -- .«r I ) Scots see a lot of turnover in 2025 varsity line-up Brett Bremer heud ♦ www.sunandnews.com r - F <li 4 4 J J 2: « •r* I. X' * r 1 r. ' i £ 1 f ► <6 5 •W/ ‘I ’ J > Wit- 1 I ■ ■ ii. • jn > J > I' <4 V IS t i‘ 1 .'p I ! I * FvS 0*^ I F J -x I <* I ♦f * *■ . > ' ►* ' 1 1 f r — »v • *x ■ -? »>' 9 f ir I. f II rV T 4 I «qi^3£K' fl ra ’<1* r* jflyy. t 1 ''^ > r I . lb * * I I - f •• •1 \ ill fl I »» A rfl r** fl •A / utiv S’ ■ ■ <*;.i , y 1* r F*-- •* .. .'4 I »■* «.ij! f GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP 4• 0 «» ■ > < NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing to con­ sider the following: Summary of Request: Public Services Special Assessment July 12, 2021, the Township Board of Trustees passed Resolution No. 202111, stating each year, on or before September 30, the Township Board would ascertain the Public Services costs for the coming year. Upon determining and estab­ lishing the amount to be assessed (based on unexpend­ ed funds, cash on hand, and the estimated projected costs for that year) shall hold a public hearing on the estimated costs and expenses, for police, public safety, rescue, and fire protection and on the distribution of the levy for the coming year (2026). Property Address: All real properties in the Charter Township of Gaines Date and Time of Hearing: September 08, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Township Hall, 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316. Any interested party may appear and be heard. Information related to this request may be inspected at the Gaines Township Hall, 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, or contact the Township Manager’s office at 616-698-6640. In order to be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5PM on September 08, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at 616-504-4332 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. « THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP BOARD 200 E MAIN ST. MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 SYNOPSIS OF MEETING MINUTES Monday, August 11,2025 The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with five members present. Items approved: 1. Printed Agenda approved as presented. 2. Consent Agenda approved as presented. 3. Approved VK Civil expenditure for assistance in preparing the Ml Health grant application. Meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m. Prepared by Deputy Clerk Brenda Hess. Approved by Township Supervisor, Eric Schaefer. Copies of the meeting minutes are available upon request from the Township Clerk or by visiting https://thornapple-twp.org/ meeting-minutes/ Office hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 1 I Senior Hannah Bennett is one of two reguar varsity scorers back for the Caledonia varsity girls’ cross country team this fall. File photo 5 UK I ♦ IJ'. r U ) --’I •’ Al;Nrt I .1. r * ■ t zW * J.. d • H > by the end of the year at the regional meet,” Howell said. Getting to the top ofthe OK Green Conference certainly won’t be easy with talented squads at Byron Center and Jenison set to lead the way. Jenison had five of the conference’s six fastest runners at the 2024 conference meet and only one was a senior. The Jenison girls ran to a runner-up finish already this season at the Portage Central Early Bird Invitational Aug. 16, bested only by the host Mustangs at the 16-team meet. r -J* s I I't I.. : i vjW I :> * I ; r lana ntQ'-’ ny >4 14 I fete |U I 4. r 1. 1 J 1 tJ ,< <'7t t’W I I 1 I V- 1 •-4. I >'/ A 1 ■ yij A r-- n ? J 1 I ' ”: J -J 4 4 4 f * * I \ t V t ) ' < 1 1 I YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. > ’ 15.. J 4b V ’ ' "**♦ - I-' I J I I I y You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors...and our future. t.« (0 Mii nr I.. f 1 0 > •• w; • Group Your Community Connection ' • 4 1 w I X- I * i �i 4 1 R I I a ♦ 1 I / I 4 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com •V'; t • t 1 » *rr ** i Hardy new front-runner for Trojan girls’ X.C. team I II I I I I Ml ’t. j Sports Editor i fi A L’ I, ’ !6 . -jcnji G If f b io O' jKgMOL fcjd I * i ) 4 0<: ; e* zoioi ' Jfi^ 3 /.... I 4 If; f/ i * « ' •Crdl i‘ nowii'rfl un^ ;j ^n* iil I '' 'StqO) -■ ei^rd) mcoi >Clb 5 9 -1 * ' ' r-,. t ■ • I • -ir ■ J J j ■ 'i r P W91D fi/A 9JoSb I I ?! r I . f 'W*< z^jIUV hgr' I I r fl> * 1 frfA smofFl or j ' IKjH ^<*4 N K nnii^. normh'J UiOtyll baqi'^ii )bnj4 iftBeknoffyji Jr I t r Jin la oquoiXJsrHii^ fL rtoni zhidli rifrz/ ar*x/:’., ,n£fTfSlAU4 f > I . t ni fl; I n't qiJJTsnnjri /iT“ Tno! tei j; ‘ < rriad , Of I >• kibi.. “n*-. % p* K 4 t '» f ^•1 tic;*- 3 I r t r* •'-n; I ■ ‘jwr I’ r... b ! k a >k . I ' ‘TTI » •<h I i P I *4?:^ Ir I k .-'11 I f I 1 1 I i / 1l i| r U_K I :l I I ! ** ,> -» «. . ’ - '’I >^. I, «« KI t 1 f I 'i t ■I ('■ .1 / IT.* u ?fo |i•IfI <&LlI •>» w 3X3 »1 i I I I • k J I .. k. ^>.1 < I * ■ntn'T). .■ •I ? t jf b ( I f* w kktM ' 4 » w 1' I «> ‘ (nrftflUI’ i-qr:' >to M * J ull b < • I J iI 4^ 1 if j f r4 to f ivf I • • icjr m'o\ G. ■ > t •' j j -♦ ' 1 i Thomapple Kellogg’s Peyton Hardy built up to turn in two of her best times in two of the biggest races at the end of the 2024 season. She broke the 21-minute mark at both the OK Gold Conference Cham­ pionships where she placed fifth indi­ vidually and at the Trojans’ MHSAA Division 2 Regional Meet hosted by South Christian High School. Hardy is the top returning race for the Trojan team this season, as 2025 graduate Ava Crews is off to run for Grand Valley State University. The Thomapple Kellogg team has a strong group of scorers returning along with Hardy including senior Madison Kietzman, juniors Alaina McCrumb and Carmen Reynolds. That group helped TK to a seventh-place finish at regionals at the end of the season and a runner-up finish in the OK Gold Con­ ference behind a talented, and young, South Christian team that qualified for the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 State Finals. Kietzman is a four-year varsity run ner who has pushed her PR down under the 21-minute mark a few times over the past couple years. She placed 12th at the conference championship meet last fal I and has been top ten at the Barry County Meet in all three of her varsity seasons so far. The TK ladies capped off their year in 2024 by winning another team title at the Barry County Meet. TK head coach Sam Wilkinson said that there is a small group of three freshmen adding their talents to the team this season. We are excited to have them. We also have added junior Isla Tillema, who has a strong track pedigree which we are looking to develop on the cross country course as well,” Wilkinson said. “This is not to discount our ambitious returners who are eager to improve and that I believe will make a positive impact on our team.” “We have a wonderful group of young ladies who are willing to work hard, support each other, and put their best foot forward. They are a competi tive group. It’s fun to see them go to OR 44 * { n 4V •r •’ • I 5 s 1 01 k f MM « *. *4 . I . r ■ M << ’ * Xtt;zwi Ilf ... 1 /I 4K >11 J * <11 A •*s* I* I 5^ » It M I a- - 5i m. S'W •r ' ;b y; ’ 5. * Brett Bremer € 4j work.” The competitive work was set to start Friday night, Aug. 22, as the TK teams were scheduled to head to South Christian for the Sailors’Annual Under the Lights Invitational. The Trojans compete again Friday, Aug. 29, at their annual Friday morning dual with the Fighting Scots at Caledonia High School. “We are looking to be as competitive as we can in each race in which we toe the line. We are going to do our best to control what we can control while giv­ ing our best,” Wilkinson said. That South Christian team that won the OK Gold Conference last year will be the favorite again. “We will all be doing what we can to chase them down. Placing in the top three in our conference would be pretty dam respectable and I believe we should be in the hunt for that,” Wilkinson said. The OK Gold Conference season begins with a race hosted by Grand Rapids Union Sept. 4. TK will host its annual Coach B Invitational at Gun Lake Sept. 8. That is the only “home” meet on the schedule for the TK team this fall. Opening Game/Match and Key Games/Matches: Our first meet will be at Under the Lights meet, on August 22nd, at South Christian, which is expected to be a fun meet once again. After that, we look forward to taking on Caledonia to have a more concentrated race without the bells and whistles of the Under the Lights meet. /• 4 r A X* b 1 e I << <’• * I - w j •* I. .-. I S-^ 4 171 jr- .« -.t * > » j K 4 * V it I 4 1 i 1 -K- •'.® -' a W>i- «M0VO th * A **•*<’• *.**.4MMO* » i- < ‘ I *« k ■ ■ "•<4. .. w / M<-*A ** ***♦ , ‘ 'r^rglMb.-> ■•■ • -t.s riobw 1 *» 3i5cij>i> •'.T Aa toJi ( **.Ito * ** ... * ' BH / «> r4 J .w. Peyton Hardy closes in on the finish line at regionals at the end of the 2024 season. Now a junior, Hardy is the top returning runner for the TK varsity girls' cross country team this fall. File photo ^^CHIGAN a 4 1 WhRKS! ® X Take the next step to a better paying job! I I ll i Learn about free: • • • 4 Computer skills training Career coaching Job search services .t 4. .e • ar- & KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? 1 'I k b I Trade Adjustment Assistance PLUS: Ask us if you qualify for Trade Assistance Act benefits! J J .9. 4- 1 «• Jr * ( ■* § :..r' J V- 5 t ♦ V K ?• 3 ♦. -1_L 9! i t K 1^ > )■ A « < w Call 1-800-285-WORK (9675) or visit westmiworks.org/job-seekers/ Group I ✓ I J 1, I I 1 1 I * IP I I ' It ‘t * B it u b J 1 s 4 \ . 1 - i»’,.3/ *‘A THE SUN AND NEWS It b U i Email mmacleod@mihomepaper.com r 1 I s • ! ii? We’d love to hear about it! VIK^AC»iipM^ rniffni^. s 'i; I ~ •> I ! I I — * I ’’I 11 hl IT I fCI J 4 J I h > i I k ’F*’ A > t I qi T t |MI f s * % * ?? » I I ♦ a 4 ■:.18MP tatji i 11 Saturday, August 23, 2025 �,, I • Jil 'A <1 1 I 1 I^K*» r4 I 4 * A 11 / I I ...M • I I I I I 12 Saturday, August 23, 2025 I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com t ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Seniors working in with junior returnees for TK golf Cnnrte Sports Editor TJie Trojans lost a couple good seniors to graduation last spring, including one of the program’s best golfers ever, but a contingent of sophomores who filled out the line-up for much ofthe season is back for a junior campaign. There is a solid senior class too for the Trojans. While there aren’t a ton of girls on the roster with a lot of varsity scoring experience, the team does bring .^1° of Vivian Hansson, Jordan Price and Sydney Martin who were all a part of the Trojans’ five-team regional contingent last fall. Hansson led the way at regionals a year ago, from that group of returnees, with a 35th-place finish in a field of over 60 golfers. She was 20th at last season’s OK Gold Conference Championship. The TK team was fourth in the OK Gold Conference a year ago. Also back with the program this fall looking to score for the varsity are seniors Aalynn Pruis, Sophia Lahaie, Emma Reaser, Jersey Sias and Kara Smith. Junior Taylor Seif will look to add her skills to the varsity line-up too. “We graduated a few very good golf­ ers last year. We now have a young team experience wise, but they are hard work­ ers,” TK head coach Bob Kaminski said, “It will be interesting to see how much they improve this year.” A few ofthem have their baseline now. Our company is growing, don’t miss your opportunity. WE ARE View Newspaper Group is seeking a rf 4 s^sr** .S^ MARKETING SPECIALIST a < V I —- nF » • Cj 9 5 t covering the Marshall area. * t! Responsibilities include: h ^4 Advertising sales, Account management, Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts, Attend networking events IC > Co I II — io= «OB The team was 17th at the Kent County I ^InsrhVl iorh;.oa8r.-H.9| ./gbeauf z i^JBqjsril "’^at r adrt»B3l(4 .LI I • hnoaa ibIibM /Haubivibti aBw riTHJot /yiT boa U1 mtooa sdi ro qa Jerit tov/o! A fOB91 xr 16 Iwbzj f- p^tenriO mvinJ „q; yfib83frij3W081l»0') tji) 'JTO32 fc vd orij fte Ijoiuocri .HL' 9ril lot broxzi z/r>l jtfe hfiri rtir ■ 44. £* r uEOandO lanias bins f ? li boriM loda no I Classic Tuesday, Aug. 19. Hansson shot a 100 to lead the TK team. That put her 51st individually. Martin scored a 113, Lahaie a 117 and TK’s fourth score was a 121 from the senior Smith. The TK team followed that up by taking on Calvin Christian in a dual at Yankee Springs GolfCourse Wednesday. They knocked off the Squires by a score of208-214. Martin had the low round for the day against Calvin Christian with a 44. Hansson shot a 49, Price a 53 and Reaser scored a 62. * TK was set to host its annual TK invita­ tional at Yankee Springs Friday, Aug. 22. The OK Gold Conference season starts at Boulder Creek Golf Course Wednesday, Aug. 27, with Northview playing host. Kaminski said he expects South Christian to be a strong squad again, and Northview and West Catholic will be challenging for spots in the top of the conference standings too. 46 I am excited to see how we stack up with the other teams in our conference,” Kaminski said. “It should be a pretty competitive season this year,” he added. It was South Christian that ran away with the conference title last fall. The Sailors had four of the top five scorers at the conference championship, although graduation did take away some of that advantage. 1 Jp . * iI I I J r ' >'■ Ui. .Sdi;l ylTlLUPnB eli raod oj bazew rr issiMiaa inaeM sanTOlm J Wix) >I <rigW833'Z/ aBTJJO J ikx) >l93Tjn .12ort ynrZBiq vraiyriJioVI fl/i>z/. V? rlluoii ^j;3qz.3 bwe iinnin I ■ I i n ‘jd fM ftni IBisr'o^ffeiD bnn w^ivrim ariflo qoJ Wb fH Fioqa loi i-nqnoli b. /x>J Hijnibniua oana qa J3B12 37/ wort 338 O1 bO!l3X3 IH luo ra Rntssi ladio tjr .1^22 I ji?ii ^vnb^qmoo /tbiq u J d Uiiod£ -boUiB 3(1 'TnsvituiJ (EW fKi JficfeiffiUanrlD dttio^ ?fl jfiT Itet lael 'jonoTdlnrx) ori IS nyjooz cpj ;?ftr to mol hcri i I liioofblfi ^quianoiqfnario uofKnaki iidtlo omoa vBws bint bih noiir b it I u* I *# & *4 % H W ■ ■ ‘ A:/ "'a i a '1 1 49 1^' f i 1 s> »Ab 'h -< Z 9^. TJiai a .4 *4 V 1 * r m«*w^ ./ • r • -If; » I * 4r Ml rIJ < j cl rl •4’ AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE VIEVIU^ Group mihomepaper.com r V - u r A *• «• *5 Ikv. ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review -e ■ Clarkston News S The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide and News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder ■ St. Clair Area View Send resume to: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com 269-945-9554 Thornapple Kellogg’s Vivian Hansson fires a tee shot during the 2024 TK Invitational at Yankee Springs. Hansson is one of three members of last year's regional squad back for the TK team this fall. File photo bh ►B vB c ■ nosansH nsivi V eggollsX ©Iqqr >IT A50S 9fb pniuib }ort3 '-»eJ .egniiqS aa^tnsY fs, lenoi! to aiodmom esvtf to ano bi no lot >i0Bd bsupa isnoigsi i’isi oteriQ slR IlBf Bidt rroef c . I. I � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-08-30.pdf 2cce6d90f5c80ce19500b51ced630d7e PDF Text Text > * 4 4 fy www.sun»ndr<*w5 **r*r j V »I lya 4 ’ w 32 tlBtZ 219ri3B9t IbO itnoa 2uoiv9ig i9bnu J29Z pniniBpiBd tx9n ».tqsZ f I , a to 9ro> JRomij; riJi W awj-) liirmiwliK ) h aroriacsi -jfi r. Hofbw griDhfa/ w ^iooflo^ f wd znoittrJOQors h; bsv : to bi^f1 )gzA notJcouK I BinobiJx J sdt bcih m iaifj yui TOfkJBst trnobohfJ srH flK I nobfibo^pfJ nr iaono Dfaiayf I A.T) bifl^ ".alBJ^nqfnr} bm: te2»9^JrviV fiZzrteM -KitMB/ f»od '//al oW b ••tij''; 4/ H faro; 1 r /lul «o twitpKi isrir mil .arrMTRWTS/t f/znjswi ort auffdfpm zwlocoT 3^0 rus Ibref jaimnaj auor/oaq lisrii Jwbcoizi rKKhmm AH’) faro; viinumnKjD \ .ycbfioM srjnufa mooi btcorl aril rrm'd .sfrimn H( Hl lelusoi I k1 aril bazayifafaii rrarifrmi vJuuifii 3 jfBimioQ wldorj snnufa ; Ct J' 1 k 1 adt to jqnioragad sdt /A n biff/not fijq H( )ft .zwbeot > wh bifiofJ i bcoi 01 sESTOni b noinu sriJ -i 9gcd bnn wiislfl^ OJ gaaoTiani f&w gnok .eaasroni Ui Tol zsiidfi^ 92cd ; • yeq I sronifigTcri JTKxxn i siT ifKibi;;^f (tyicoH EDD rafiA j^i) j;=fn 'Ji i! u. frK)fT13te^^ arit bBa'i . f Hann no J jiWuq idt barraqo looft I b-j^:-!3Tbfaj, nodrasm '/Jinurnmoo :I rh iirtmcrj e ^nnfiffe Jncod bun ’Kjt qu >b;aqH of ororil 3T9v/ .ml3G3i fiinob^D ’ wjv-0£ B 21 fJoo^R nsajP 1 ^biJ j /i't 8E/f bnii fiinobolBJI> SJwbuiy STB fnoriw rii • J EOOW CntXONEU HESlOEIUIVr .1 ' ■ 111 V - ’ f?tbj j ei snO □2: (jbiM neafwCl obyli; ) ifi aril lARTMOO 908 trj 1 •uwMBrwwa I hBUwii 1338 48838 bVID ATT bO31VGE I 1 * ■ta I ^22 rV b' i •1 I With almost one week of school behind them, teachers at Caledonia Community Schools are working without a new con­ tract as negotiations continue between the CCS Board of Education representatives and the Caledonia Education Association. rhe Caledonia teachers are disheartened in our district’s negotiation process and proposals,” said CEA President Melissa VanGessel. have been working under a con tract that expired on July 31 and still have no tentative agreements.” Teachers will continue to work under their previous contract until an agreement is reached. Community and CEA members filled the board room during Monday, Aug. 18’s regular BOE meeting. Several com­ munity members addressed the board during public comment. At the beginning of the meeting, ±e BOE put forward a pay schedule for teachers. Board representatives say they offered the union a 4.5% increase to teach­ ers’ salaries and scheduled base salary increases, along with increases to starting base salaries for new teachers, at its most recent bargaining meeting. After CCS Board President Tim Morris read the statement at the meeting, the floor opened for public comment. Several community members addressed the board, sharing a common thread: they were there to speak up for and support Caledonia teachers. Susan Reoch is a 20-year resident of Caledonia and has five kids three of whom are graduates tfom wao3 uawoisno Caledonia High School. iviiNsoisau SSMIDJ One is currently enrolled at SCmiN •WAUMJQ OH<oSOd Duncan Middle School and "oeeiwijod' the other at Caledonia High 8€8e> ; f I / I 1 't 1 I e I I t t I I I Ki I t » « I ft u • p. n M •» 1 • 1 i '« *3 I 4 I I * <* t Jk •'■ 4: < "r r' « t / < < 4 7^ f 1 I ill J Jt ♦I V i * <» J. w b. >R« * - J X ( I •* > / t r* * “ - •^- - * 3". • • r <s X . LI*.A >> * ,s .f . »«* TBfci.iKL 7”'’ • ? . • X *k .■:4 V i!i •"t AU ' b \ *> ' t 1 J J > L*.\ w s-'; H .-r- k .A 4; I fl r b V k r*' \ f- -1 ■'■assl *« » I • « «* “II J .V: f ■'x «. 1 * */ - I / r •* . 9 ■' -jfl. t ■fl k .IF^ • / > S'T* I X /ven j> f 1 Fa 4 k I a. X<7 W’ * A I, v « »•■' 1. </ ,;It »a T ' A ■./. *. ' 1 ''■f. f V f 4 ! r I /• I I r J I* **T r 4 V ’’r r ■■ T M •* A 1 . I I 4 T I f V V •1 w * k bis® A. Ai % r • ,» -- i • V Kids enjoy outdoor games before settling down to watch "Dog Man" outside the Gaines Township Hall on Friday. Aug. 22. Photos by James Gemmell Crowd enjoys outdoor movie outside Gaines Two. Hail James Gemmell Contributing Writer Under a starlit sky, the lush lawn outside the Gaines Charter Township Hall served as the setting for the 10th annual “Movie in the Park” on Friday, Aug. 22. A couple hundred people gath­ ered to watch the free animated children’s film, “Dog Man,” on a large inflatable screen. “We enjoy the free opportunity to be with our community,” movie­ goer Debbie Martz said. The annual event is held adja­ cent to Prairie Wolf Park, along Kalamazoo Avenue, at 84th Street. The weather was ideal I I r Ai.'* V > ** z .-4 f A 1h^ « 1 > « * « (• 't w. t A *T; See CONTRACT on 5 / < T r f v53fe « • *1- « We < j t €V* 7 W ..X * - w -• * y . 7 t I i fl > 'eiiiAueojQ aivd aovisod s n _CUS ISMd f J Staff Writer ■ I »• L 9' r .. 4^ r-. MT*. * r' Karen Turko-Ebright trtB(id3-0)h«iT i»wX i8?nW 11612 alobofb^ Cal teachers start school under previous contract; next bargaining session Sept. 4 fl ( A r- for viewing the 89-minute-long comedy released by DreamWorks Animation earlier this year. Prior to the movie, there were two hours of activities on the lawn and just inside the doors of the township hall. Children and their parents lined up for an opportunity to speak to two people decked out as the Disney characters Spider Man and Belle. And, according to Township Treasurer Laurie Lemke, the Gaines branch of the Kent District Library provided kids games. “We have coloring for the kids, we’ve got food trucks here, everyone is enjoying themselves,” she said. Flor Parada said she brought her 3- and 7-year-oId children to the event “just for them to have fun and enjoy. Local resident Ginny Moyer added she came out to watch the movie, as well as taking time to do some people watching. “Just seeing all the people and everything,” she said. Her daughter, Keisha, was more succinct about her favorite part of the evening. “Ice cream,” she saidz Lemke said the tradition of Movie in the Park began about a decade ago. The library initially contacted me about 10 years ago and said, ^4 See MOVIE on 6 �. t • *' If I 2 Saturday, August 30, 2025 J THE SUN AND NEWS 1 www.sunandnews.com ’■ The Gaines Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved an amendment to the site plan for the Prairie Wolf Station planned unit development at its Aug. 11 meeting. Prairie Wolf Station is a roughly $120 million mixed-use project planned for an 82-acre site that has been used as farmland for decades. Township staff members say the basic elements of the site plan remain in place. It features a village center concept, including a retail and mixeduse residential center on 84th Street, just east of Kalamazoo Avenue. Developers say changes in the proj­ ect’s layout were largely necessitated by Michigan Department of Environ­ ment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) wetland preservation requirements. Gaines Community Development Director Dan Wells said the proposed development of some senior housing on the site is another reason for the amendment. The developer, American Kendall Properties, recently requested that the building-permit section of the town­ ship’s zoning ordinance be amended. It requires that municipal utilities be inJ * J . a a <» LIGHT TRUCK PARTS 44 / ,'k r Bsa Min • nCK IK * HE TMS * MUR • nrs * im > «HS FUU SERVICE a YOU POU IT f ? 269-381-2300 , 1 » ( « t *«?.** •e '»'. * • f ' .-3nut«a)k*^O/A«94^ / i f 7/i USED PARTS \ USED TIRES . 1811 LAKE SL KALAMAZOO V J / •J 1 u A I ar • 1 r 1^/ 1 .•t ! §5 X. r<3a9BM9 M <« jHgtt k«4i s 9 •1 M Wil < y'Tr u / 4«>' K / ' 110 C5TV X X X. ?U' ^5 » tt L «j 87 I 111’ L • 't •»Xz \ ZA' *tf Hl r S.. / aZ/ / 7 ro 'I kstl* 0^ 1 SA BIPM r Ip o •J 5>*x?^ ifI U 1I 1 LM«' X X 9 X 'lOO ! t /• / **«* L X. e —— 107 I* uwo’ «LI I IM jL' ‘ I 102 im t u r J b 1* H: uvihi JpI____ Jl__ s ( [ « 1 ] •“ n 72 I «n«? z (O 0 y .* .1 tv I' I t o .■pup: II n 11 1 21 •• • • ** I• - * m 22 mi «« V II *e re* —I 21 ' ’* I aoif f*/f "5* s s 3 O I •l li| 28 S'«r . / I I w i z L 4 28 UR*' U 1; i A A 2 WO (0 r I •ar* •A 1 * kJ R.ilk p T ' I (t A u O 5 . .'f ‘1 I I' ♦ .to I 2 ~ 4*. The Gaines Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved an amendment to the site plan for the Prairie Wolf Station planned unit development at its Aug. 11 meeting. Source: gainestownship.org t I I I I J » 1’^-••■ I• ------ B s J I I t V » 1 1 e G I I i ,.-•1 ^♦*“4 . 5.-^ I ’I. - * * _. . < 1. r . :i ;.bkk-*- tw*. MXi 1 >w V } '"i’ I >1^ J * =-‘\ » *; 1 a;i * <9 r«* V T P t 1 f I »|0« 0 « I ■ •1 I 1 tf ia4^ ■i a * w 1R * 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 «afilloaMaS9-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com J--'J mmacleod@mihomepaper.com I .' J JJ 5 ! 1 H <> J J Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper. com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@Mowepeper.com tip PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper VIEW.^Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Copyright 2025 ® 2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. 4 \I f» I :U iSSMii* 1 -TE^hn L sat t 4 J ' i ’1 I ■" f ’'. J i I 'f. I ‘1 I Ik ;h^«3ra *•» A *, * < V< 1? 1 ‘ k > h 4 i-J i® »L mU. ^S&Ul) ■*F- «p I J if:*' ji *>9 ■ t. * Wlp«4ib.. < I t i t r k 4 "«SS9 t *111.111 j * J' > » A, k I . I 4 r : PI rt •h ■ • V . 1 « •.»Ju I V 1 * * u I Al r J•* Editor: Molly Macleod '' F i 1 The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 n I rJ All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are . available from The Sun and News Ad Dept., 1351 I N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. ■rr*3i f / t. THE SUN AND NEWS CONTACT US lift 944 b a| PUBLISHED BY .•.bt* A ,;L;L!te't:r k i laeqr Al t I ? * I ?3 • 4k f I a MM 3 ' I. 1 • will now be constructed up to 60 feet away from the wetlands. A senior living facility originally was proposed to be built in the northern section of the site. But the develop­ ers of that section, the Leo Brown Group, later decided that they needed more space for it. So, they requested to build it on a larger lot just south of Gull Prairie Drive. “It makes a little bit more sense, project-wise, because this provides a buffer from the retail elements that are up in the north ... and closer to the intersection at Kalamazoo and 84th, and to the residences to the south,” Wells said. Now that the township board has ap­ proved the site plan changes, the judge will review how it impacts the consent judgment and make a final decision. » n i k . u I planned along the development’s main drive. Gull Prairie Drive. “We had required that the buildings be built up to five feet from the side­ walk,” Wells said. “The intent along that stretch of road was to create a nice urban walking area that would connect across the street to (Prairie Wolf Park).” However, EGLE noticed a wetland on the site that is interconnected with some other wetlands in the area that need to be protected. Township staff said that regulations pertaining to the wetlands would have prevented some aspects of the consent judgment from being executed properly. Wells said the developers also needed more space where the utility easements go through. Under the revised plan, the buildings * \ I stalled before construction can begin. However, before any changes can be made to the site plan, the Kendall Property Group and the township must receive permission from a Kent County Circuit Court judge to alter the terms of a consent agreement. That is because the developer filed a $4 mil­ lion lawsuit against Gaines Charter Township in 2022, after the township board voted to reject the project. American Kendall argued in court that the project was allowed by right under the township’s master and future land use plans. The two sides later negotiated a consent agreement that allowed the Prairie Wolf development to proceed in return for the lawsuit being dropped. One of the main changes in the site plan involves the buildings that are 1 I SIH V / t k’ I >« a k* u <«« A» •rT I • .ri' • J ■4 : J c w 0. u r \ s 1/ MNMRMOi fTMtW’ MMMCSMQW 5^ I * I r' u B H • <M y OMMCEKM VMQiBMQfV 4 ' i aRMtnjHMM crzi] r~n k 102 > •5 CiBSMt^ .t • s * R LEGEND I 9 I •) • » J Mum J •Ma I } I •WU I n .4*« J Tr tt “1 I ■* I - o 1 I ♦ ■ f.* J * mr( IW* n'l ’ * J L M lar M J 1A > w < > saiM 1 f £ a r 11 I 1 I Ti * M 9ar «<;» r-;-i *>< z 10 f3 11 CNM V SwVK 1 Lr“7“i 4 u r^ CJ > V ' *’3 4^'. I ’K leak* »sas<2-*5JLi® Ifc I ^1 »wia ^a UM*M» Osa K Qua aaiM * .!> a^ Cmv* K M »»M» < □. • M. 1’1”’ I «a**< L-M-J r n 11 n I 4*4* L T.I V I » IT" I <•^1 O L --J V, > J I u/T e I 9 f ' I 8 a _ I '"1". 1 iti H '< iii I IftW 'i , •»rl I ’ u. ■ *' I » i> S 4^ J » Cmmv* •CALC. 1* • itr J L Bv* I »««u . tf. /• V I L 1 !♦ 118 1 . tint J REVISIONS: I J "1 »•« r• I f ■ I A •r . I I ___ I iI rz» s kwa •TM---K 1 I MMA@i MMB A*«Minr?40B 1 V L V L / i -1 £ I I L • 114 ” * « < - 118 Mit 112 Ml »' 7 I 1 I rv»tf «*•* I ( r“—* 1 117 X r t I r I jr < tw J!r •«»* 1 M • I I—120 •“ •M 5 'a L l Tr r“ blJ’ •> a B I al aaowsMTMtew 122 A •» > Ml *' "V ■ A ■ 1 I 12> u>r A t ft t 1 M* »% eaa < * i -y if: •• ♦ \ I <4 J .li Gaines trustees approve site pian for Prairie Wolf Station James Gemmell Contributing Writer . J' *w 4 �THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ar .V i ghJ Yr j!! • I ’•l I I t t I 1 4 , ► jriT/e. X*; ' • ■■tei : r I ! I ■ I • C’ I 1 1 <A ■ '; ’ « *1 / i I s t* Zj I !■ -'W ; /. A I9 A. J t f, r I 1 » * I 'L t! ‘ I • 1 s • t V 4.. I 1 . « » 8"* c\ 4 nb' ; ; ■ i I : I' I • < »/ * II u I ‘Jc I ) 1 ! e - ■ . A f > J. ‘ r I I t iI f i r bdauai' i'f IL 6 i » II 1-' ifi; i . T ! I t ■ » / GrHtJ s « J :’i<{ ' > I A 5 ‘ V1 • w k HIW k tr»fiUe rHwwc^’k. I i! k I t■ i'*rt r V 4* r I ij i i J f i) RL .ia .;r-r»t; ;;;dj l 9 «* ’J ,7 ";FaE4*. ud rnEf/i I IB TSfi3U mtiii n jt: I 1 s’ ?, **uT I-. r .• * « « *1 VO'?'-/ 1 ' .f S kI 'T W» ,.<.'41-ft I n 4 I*I A I I U -iJ-J ■' f i l» 4. \ ( •k * f // >4 »l r4l :’fWzv rnrri^kii ( *»« -wd ” .. I i"» 1 •♦<,\’l II > 1*» r¥l*^r! r C(>9 ■’fr.rrfeiio < ■ . J ^BPR '3id _ ^.>iLL\ i., le * r9 * •* I ij^ L . 18s i r i'" Ui Uu P>V M iwi: r.f’iFi ■JdcKiejb »>« i . A A I t ■f • r * ■«*2 I I > X*'■ oau.K * O ^W#V'T ■c*c 4.. -'41:;'^ > J •* . A ■’tip t ' . >d;. « » rS^ ' y. .■ *rnTrjTO^13g*:4M»i ■: H t ( t 1• *l» < 5'. I J'kdlJOk i, / . ’ J» J » I « ', 7':; V' r ’ ' I / C. i I r. * * I I * y , kL, • to ki • I • t t f « J.' IJ •i-l o -rr 1 1 «*v 4 ( I I -/u n.'JLij' • »' ;n“* Oj’ZlO'/ 4 •*n w C I IL / Jc ! dMW:- ixeofi 51 ■. vryik JH / (Aaisw ■ sw]?! rj 4.1 Xilb* ton. - I .u I •Il -f ',.ai 0?, aiioMfi « .iSS-i ; »r,. I . : jr. - V 66 J r*. S ‘'Hi * I » r u •1 '.r .!U>W ? The Caledonia High School BiAnnual Class Reunion on Aug. 16 is getting great reviews, according to organizers. One of the reunion’s lead organiz­ ers, Penny Weller, said more than 90 alumni, as well as friends and family, from CHS classes spanning from 1938 to 1974 attended the event held at the CHS cafeteria, where they enjoyed re­ connecting and catching up, even tell­ ing a few stories from their glory days. Those attending included Gerald Kayser, a member of the CHS Class of 1943, who soon will celebrate his 100th birthday. During the festivities, Kayser was presented a certificate and two hula hoops to remind him of his most recent class reunion. Another special moment that held the spotlight was an announcement of the oldest married couple, Joyce and Dick Hawkins, who are in their seventh decade of marriage. They also were presented with an honorary certificate to show their family and friends. To celebrate their milestone anni­ versary, Joyce Hawkins wore a veil made by Weller’s sister and he donned a bowtie provided by Weller, a mem­ ber of CHS’ Class of 1966 and who’s helped organize the event for nearly two decades. In honor of the original scotty dog mascot, Weller and her sister, Rita, collected scotty dog prizes, including a scotty dog pin and dish towels. The CHS Class of 1965 proved to be the largest group to attend the reunion, with 15 members showing up for the event. While not there in person, Stan Milanowski, who was bom in Poland, sent a letter and a check with his reservation. I graduated from the class of 1953 and very proud of what we were in­ volved in when all of us were poor students or low-income families,” Milanoski stated in his letter. According to Milanoski, his parents were Polish immigrants and he could not speak English. “My teachers and peers were won­ derful in so many respects,” he added. “I will never forget.” 7 I J'; w I'’’ r !• r". i BUOi . 1 I 1» 9.. r t ' : ) V J/ ' Iwtl! ». I 4 fl I .J . a i « / n jnw hfw • J Id J r. 4' cJt k. • w^' > 1 1 1 I X A A f •*4 -^1 ftj *' • * •6’ A ' i* ♦ FA*- I a* £ T IT V x* • A*, ■’. *« k' » > A w * I A . M*- I ■ / X* w w. * A> tv b ib ♦ . I •x: L / •) 'i f T f - A •I I ^.■ ♦ ^11^ / Co’ 4a <4— 4 k V < 1 Joyce and Dick Hawkins, after 70 years of marriage, received an honorary I < w u The Caledonia High School BiAnnual Class Reunion on Aug. 16 included more than 90 schoolmates spanning decades from 1938 to 1974. With the oldest among the crowd, no one could tell that Gerald Kayser from the class of 1943 would soon be a century old. Bob Bergy who graduated in the class of 1965 has a disco ball as his prize to never forget his most recent class reunion. Weller and her daughter, Bridget, assembled 100 fake pill bottle party favors so that those in attendance went home with a fake bottle of pills labeled, “Stay healthy. See you at the next reunion.” In addition, the reunion website was listed on the pill bottles, which were filled with gold-colored Reese’s Pieces candies. According to organizers, the reunion committee continues to collect funny gifts for those who make it to the next biennial reunion that is set for Aug. 14, 2027. m• c Ks • < M certificate from the Caledonia High School Bi-Annual Class Reunion on Aug. 16. Photos by Bridget Weller While a crowd united in the CHS caf­ eteria, they were greeted with a warm welcome speech from Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer. As soon as the doors opened around 10:30 a.m., energetic guests filtered through the door. • Everything made from scratch You know seniors,” Weller said. “They want to make sure they get a seat.” The party started at 11 a.m., with lunch served at 1 p.m. “Caledonia school cafeteria made See REUNION on 6 46 • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar e r 1 A V-iS* »k 1 it I 4 ^M(.ih^ your 1 life A little it sweeten I .4 V Your local agent insures your >7 r1 I I I I I « E4AM BVAE4V MSUMf^CE* '«* 1^*** ♦ 4 1 t. * 1 X \ Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-8827 jparks^fbinsmi.com FarniBureaulnsurance.com Buy Ohs PciStiry Set tke 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA / 616-275-1017 / SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM I i I i » i ■1 h II » I 4 1 :,J (1I •II {tree Cut>idMi S<.MotydA\f: Closed, Toesdaif-l-HdaAf: font\-6f>n\., Qaturdoy: 1 I I I I must present coupon, 2nd item must be of equal or lesser value, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 9/13/25 4 J I id t •H It I♦ XI It n t 4 II T \ I A* f ▼ < I > « > H i’ < I * 11 I BAKERY & CAFE I k 1 §cigar Momma’s I * I it .' t»' K^*7^ * 1 4 *. • ( ■ £ JIBS' J ef 4 LJB» lA. J 4 I ••• T % a- 1 T t ff» V» 'J. r.r4r’ 4 I, I s r ';Ja? I'. Staff Writer i • ' r/ 4U I« Karen Turko-Ebright t X V J 4 3 Bi-annual reunion draws alumni from 1934 to 1974 TT T . 4 n Saturday, August 30, 2025 'j I I I �f Saturday, August 30, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS 't Obituaries Blood drive set for Sept. 9 ♦ > s . S > -•: xJl .. k ■.: • . • v 5 .*.? Susan Marie (Ford) Owen > Versiti-Blood Center of Michigan partners with churches in the Cale­ donia area to host a blood drive at the Holy Family Catholic Parish on Kraft Street in Caledonia on Tues­ day, Sept. 9, from 1 to 6:30 pm. The blood drive is open to the pub­ lic and organizers have announced their goal of the blood drive is to collect 55 pints. Anyone 17 or older is eligible to donate blood. Persons 16 years of age are eligible to donate with There will be a Celebration of Life on September 6, 2025 at the Freeport Community Center located at 209 State Street, Freeport from 12-4 p.m. Pastor to speak at 12:30 p.m. with a luncheon to follow. Susan Marie (Ford) Owen was born February 3, 1965 and passed away surrounded by her family on August 14, 2025. www.sunandnews.com parental permission. Donors will be entered for a chance to win two tickets and a VIP experience to the Michigan-Michigan State football game on Oct. 25, Official rules for the contest are posted at versiti.org/rushin. If interested in donating blood, indi­ viduals may sign up online atversiti.org/ ccc or contact Char Mello, blood drive chairperson, by calling 616-901-2803. Potential donors are encouraged to make an appointment, but walk-ins are welcome as the schedule allows. DM r •t < I < n I 1 J I ► i .V-' I 4 .tO I V I w 6 I r d I, e ff ( 4I.-' I i 4 I / 4 6^ 4^'; rJ 9 ■ ■ p r I V •*!> i I ■ >L .jif 1^ 1 4 V f I V ■ ,.vf •z.;* .•f'" 10^^ • • a .i y *4 I V -♦ « J V* ^.rr /• f h LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH www.aiaskabaptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST Sunday Service 10:30 AM 250 Vine Street 1 co k 5 Ivliddleville — 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) .T*’ Sunday Worship t Pastor: Rob Wurst r Ill ArnJk Livestream; facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH 9:30 a.m. CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am CHURCH Jf' MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9;30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. ’44. X r OiuKh St. 4. -sdib. f 4 r PEACECHURCH.ee Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. * Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee JKr THORNAPPLE VALLEY HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH ft r-im I Iiiyar*4fc @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org Yaxtkee Springs Bible Church 8900 Dufiy Road Middleville, MI 49333 "Shining Forth God's Light Sunday Morning Worship Community Group........... 99 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankeespringsbiblechurch.org 1 J I* TOPS 546 1 ' e r /. I i i ' I '•« 4 .J i The Aug. 25 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There are now three fish in the fishbowl. Virginia’s program was from the July/ August 2023 TOPS magazine titled I'm Worth It!. Understanding Bulimia Nervosa." Bulimia is a serious disorder that can be life threatening. It is a problem with food. It is a cycling of bingeing and purging. Bingeing is eating large amounts of food at one time. Purging is getting rid of what you’ve eaten by vomiting, using laxatives, enemas or water pills. Some people over exercise. It is usually done at least once or twice a week. With bulimia, you feel out of control, guilty and ashamed. People try to hide it. but it won’t go away on its own. Telling someone is the first step to getting treatment. Over time, bulimia can damage kidneys, or damage the heart. The pancreas can swell, as can the throat. Tooth decay, concentration, muscle weakness, dehydration, constipation all suffer. Some also do self harm, have alcohol or drug abuse, or act on impulse. Chapter members continued the contest by filling in one dot for each one­ tenth of a pound lost. Maryellen won the Ha-Ha Box. She has been in the fishbow! for four weeks in a row and is the best loser for the month of August. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight­ loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. Thefirst meeting is Jree. (111 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. (269) 795-2391 <IKPEACE .. cornerstonemi.org/weekend jr !► MIDDLEVILLE 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 '> I r , I (I http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Church: A * Join us in person or online Sundays 9;3O & 11am 616-891-8669 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church k L 9* cornerstone c h u rch Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM >• *T>- I i I r i J ,-ji I ■■•i >' .z • .?-■* (PT .*> P; ■ ’ ' 1 4r Cf»-’ J J ( >1 -M . •- c kiy ' < T’ i I * '. ... • 4 *_A’ '''' < i I t ■Af • ** ; u r^p r..-. . 'i-f ter r 4 I . fr4- - >L « J' I I } J * 1 44 t J 1 » I ■f■' *7* 4 «• • '■J ,p' ' v> • ' ..-•'zf/ T9 * f ’..A *''*• L. Raft’S) ,<•' f . rjii - S’ - J I ■'» • - « • r rB ij Fk 4 •*» k ) ' > I I .' nt 4 1 J i 1 tT , S '-n K U'w •-»«« SiiHy litee B f * 1 1 t f I □ J -4 MIrm ■ i •**> -•V. ■- s. ' I s i / '4.'' J K • » p 'F i t I t •-W'-t 5fiwiiWf I- A . 1 . .•5« ’ * ij ( . 1 -4 • • < ' * «*. 9 •*11 ../• * * *1 . Ji * I i A ■ * - VJi r I'l ‘ > I. 1 r r i" t 1 9 « t I K< . » t » * S' t « i leaBWiPi Miwg iW n ■ *w WW �V I THE SUN AND NEWS * 1 J CONTRACT ; I f i '1: A. 4 .•’J • • t t 1 p «« "'IT- I A' K ’ f iN ' <x. *1 ■ * •v > r. & p4 ■‘fe < IC* •w * 7 u. ■ •• A • * «* ' « fik " I* ■, * I. •t > V n . 1 v. X I. * I ?• p v-J aet- I r I I h 7^ • p h I f « 1 t? ! s w S 1 ; • 'di fV. I . I f/n-i I ? f'Atd 9 i I I i -Xft •• Jr 1l. p f ( * * ‘•1 J I V * >.fe 4 J '** J 1 ^0* » I9 A L • i i ’'•O’ > /.W I '» -L'l U.) Wi V i. 9 •.,•1 if I 4 i 9 r 1 UI' i * Ji * •***<:’ 1 f I ’ <») I f T . I I I» ? i I r I 'I t . J Dr * I ' s . • i f ' y., L 4 1 J «... 1 ft'* 4 •r>* W 4 / r V ^4 i T ■* «.• >57-’ t. I !• J Continued from Page 1 School. Reoch is a CPA and used to be a public accountant and auditor. She told the board she would like them to please show the teachers and staff that they are valued. “Our teachers have made an incredible impact on my kids and their friends and they deserve to be paid fairly and not to spend four months negotiating a teacher contract,” Reoch told the board. “I’ve heard the argument that there is uncertainty in funding we will receive from the state budget. We don’t know how many stu­ dents we are going to have. “Every business and every school has that same uncertainty when proposing a budget and negotiating salaries. Yet, other schools have agreed to 5% or more rate increases with the same certainty. You have offered a 4.5% rate increase and whatever you want to make the math look, I will tell you, when you were in the lower half the bottom 10 of the Kent County school districts, giving even a 4.5% raise doesn't make an acceptable wage. It’s simple math. You can’t get there. They need to be paid what they should have been paid already.” BOE representatives say the board is committed to reaching a mutually agree­ able contract with the CEA. “Despite not having a settled contract at this time, we fully believe that both parties will act in the best interest of students, and the classroom learning environment will not be negatively impacted,” said BOE President Tim Morris. James Ernest addressed the board during public comment. “We don’t think that our teachers should have sub-standard pay. Pay that lags behind other districts in the area,” Ernest explained. “I have had no inside information from the negotiations that have been ongoing, but I would say giv en the late date at which we stand now, this late date, and still no contract “I'm skeptical of any assertion that the administration has been negotiating in good faith and with generosity from the beginning. It wouldn't have taken this long. So, just a plea, please get it done. Please make sure that our teachers are well com­ pensated and are not lagging behind others in the district. We value them very much. Thank you.” Several other community members who stepped up to the j lium in support of teachers during public comment and addressed the board included Jen Hacht, Kim Gates, Kimberly Jackson, Josh Rose and Emily Murphy. The district has not been able to publish a full 2025-26 calendar at this time. Under Michigan law, the calendar is a mandatory subject of bargaining, and, therefore, a full year’s calendar will not be available until it is mutually agreed upon through negotia­ tions. The district will continue to publish an updated partial calendar as it becomes available. “We continue to stay focused on smaller class sizes that lead to better learning envi­ ronments for our students,” VanGessel said. “It is also imperative that our educa­ tors are given the time and resources they need to provide the best education for Caledonia students.” Caledonia BOE President Tim Morris thanked the community members for their comments. BOE and CEA representatives will meet again for further negotiations on Thursday, Sept. 4. A full recording of the Aug. 18 BOE meeting can be found at calschools.org/ our-district/board-of-education/. 7 »»«<• •' *V »L Gritty defense will play big part for defending OK Green champs » • i i'-sjib. i t 4' » I r wI J .^,■1. Xi. ** rr I r ••Y Mb • I J 'T «< I 1 i .j-it A i rbiw It £< IJ Ttf 5 V A A Saturday. August 30. 2025 9 A-^*W I I 1 . Ji,-J i . I 1 tlA*-*) • I » a* 44..-' I • 1 I I / Brett Bremer Sports Editor There are milestones coming. The Fighting Scots are hoping to achieve them in victories. The Caledonia varsity volleyball team is rolling into the 2025 season as the defend­ ing OK Green Conference champions. The Scots share that tile with the Jenison girls. Both squads were 8-2 in conference matches last season. For the Scots, it was their first ever conference volleyball championship. Back to lead the chase for number two are honorable mention all-conference performers Aubrey Reynolds and Avery Seif. Seif, a junior defensive specialist, should surpass the 1,000 dig milestone this fall. Reynolds, a junior outside hitter, could notch her 1,000th varsity kill and should record her 1,000th varsity dig this See DEFENSE on 7 fI I I 3 4 I r ? J 4__ On August 23rd, Katie and Randy Reil joyfully became husband and wife. Their wedding day was a true reflection of love, commitment, and celebration with those dearest to them. The couple wishes to thank everyone who came to celebrate alongside them your presence, love, and support mean more than words can express. With a special shout out to their hosts, wedding party, and of Camera-man course, Axsenn, you all helped turn a beautiful day into cherished memories they’ll carry forever. Above all. Katie and Randy give thanks to God, whose hand and blessings made their union possible. They are grateful for the love and strength He has provided and pray that their marriage continues to reflect His grace. Katie and Randy are excited to begin their next chapter together and look forward to the adventures ahead as partners in life. Group Your Community Connection I I I I I I I 1 T I i t f J I ia It •I * s s 1 r S 1 1 r L 4 1 J 1 » CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 TREE SERVICE BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy sin­ gle walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793. WANTED WANTED TO BUY: Standing Tim­ ber. Conscientious timber harvest­ er. Saw Mill Office-517-254-4463. Breakfast Buffet Fundraiser Help us support veterans and community functions. Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 and the First Saturday of each month Serving 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. £^s, bacon, sausage links or patties, potatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, milk, OJ, coffee. * Menu subject to change Adults $13.00 • Children 10 & under $5.00 For more information call the Post at 616 891-1882 Coj^ee Donated by BIGGBY COFFEE 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, MI LUNCH M-TH 11 AM-0 PM: FRI 11 AM-2PM: FRI BUILD A BURGER 4-8 PM You're our friends, our family, our neighbors...and our future. I h' 1 CONSTRUCTION YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. ■ 4 ’H *1 Caledonia Memorial Legion Post 305 I ! r I I Classifieds < Katie & Randy Reil wedding celebrations v ’ •C*’4 DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING. Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. ne ( t BUSINESS SERVICES r. t! rj N^rbi. k * 5 * Wr �J - —«k‘. «r I 6 Saturday •**- T iGt 30. 2026 THE SUN AND NEWS /• tr ‘’A L MOVIE ! I r 4 WWW sunand news com *iX. Ccxibr H Ki'1 n t? * * *' , f » I 1 * ' j t ! » r» J w • ,■ P ' * < 9 >» i T 'A f k* * ‘Would you like to do a Movie in the Park? We'd like to help. Ixmikc said. “So. the township said ‘yes.’ and they've been coming and plan­ ning the pre-movie activities ever since. 1 a / ■ ■tii t > j I *' t • • t 1 . 1 V ♦ 1 ♦♦ ^■7 ~n r. - * ■ 1 T t*. / J i. ■X.- V '•r p . -j .•« » I « r k' « C' t’ t * 9 1”^ >4' 4 , .J J i AS J.- 1 J i Spider-Man and Belle were the two Disney characters who participated in a rneet-and-greet just inside the township hall doors adjacent to the lawn where the movie was shown last Friday, Aug. 22. « X 1 I 2 I r 4 1 4 A r ft V 'Ji'* i 1' k 4 b . r X J I. I I W*- ■* . <* ■T ri* ; 5»** 4 I 1 i I' ( I f. 1 4 1^ r^■* While a crowd united in the high school cafeteria for the Caledonia High School Bi-Annual Class Reunion on Aug. 16, they were greeted with a warm welcome speech from Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer Photo courtesy of the Caledonia Education Foundation (ecoo««^ ( r ■: .dllhwwi •r .<»■ u i •fz -.1 ' »' 1 /t*’ I' 5 . - ■ i • I »•' I *» * * . *• I ■i? » r?\ r** . 'i •f I A.I ?V! ItiK' I’V-' » r» • I I f « J I 4 .r •a I .4^A T i .. *1*. .f I I* , .. r t I I 1 f> th t I t 1< r I I .*1 D F I the crowd's attention with his tribute performance. He made a dramatic entrance with a special song filling the room with energy and smiles,” Weller said. A display of historic class photos also drew the interest of those in the crowd. Many at the reunion had the opportunity to meet members of the Caledonia Education Foundation. I f f . a* , 1 Continued from Page 3 i o’®’;..* ! REUNION ■JC** I ► I Ik t -c’’ ! Ii At the Caledonia High School BiAnnual Class Reunion on Aug. 16. an Elvis impersonator captured everyone's attention with his tribute performance. Here, he signs ribbons for alumni. * Sfe t ' « ►: .4 r- > I JT’ /I 1 4 I I '.fc' ■ V<• .. 5 1 I i * WM I u c'hi *4 Food vendor trucks were set up just feet away from the food and festivities during the annual "Movie in the Park" on Friday, Aug. 22. 0 *< * c.. .,M 4 ■* k I I I . ..3* ? < L A#* ' 41 ! < :? ' I' P r ? h A. I 4* f' ' z •< - ■> L r mend movies to consider show ing each year. They give me three movies, and I sit in my office and have some popcorn," Lemke said. “I watch the (movie* trailers, and the one tlial makes me laugh the most is the one 1 pick. Page 1 >* 9 She added that library stall' recomT •4 4 ■ * -•tT- I k r f < I *' k * *' I •“r' w .--f * t )i I .1 ' » •i; UI •h> I f J* * ( i .. 44 There were plenty of activities during the two-hour prior to the showing of “Dog Man.” The film was shown on an inflatable screen outside the Gaines Township Hall during the annual "Movie in the Park" on Friday, Aug. 22. The Gaines Charter Township fire engine made an appearance at II Movie in the Park" on Friday, Aug. 22. the food and people raved about it," Weller added. “'TTie staff was amazing. There was a lot of excitement in the room because most were waiting in anticipation to meet the special guest, an Elvis impersonator, who captured I %. v^ I ll>k' .1, - ' f 1k I IV je 'T I 4f 4 .« I *e -Uitfklf* •4 •f,- ■ ' V" ll I r J r 7/ « I ’ <1 *- -** k V 1 t I t -9 4 I - : rI .Wk ' I 1 I J.^. / 7• « r < Alphaphoto 616 M edia, llc • video • drone residential & commercial real estate • corporate • events ft aA4»RHB ^-. ' * Grant Alphenaar Owner cun 1 ^>4 n G« J I •I I ■i^>- * I J r :*i I I <1 ir». W «"r tifc a s 269-967-8241 Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte. Ml 48813 . antennamen®gmaiLcom Start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam www.cellsignalpros.com << I J ® " «fl jsr < I* • I. kJ . r •r • ■> i : f T J* 'fwwUl '1 V Z4i^.ik **kX„ ■z •n 517-983-0954 www.theantennamen.com i I SPRAY FOAM,LLC ’ 1 1 Nelsan’s • Cellular Enhancement Systems Give us a call! J ..... b ► • Digital TV Antennas • Starlink Installs • Towers ,sr k ♦ Blown-In Attic Insulation Antenna Men 'J ALPHA616MEDIA.COM grant@alpha616media.com (616)638-4751 * Closed-Cell Foam Insulation I. «« T' » *w % "S 5» iM A lu . Wii •*L' » 4 •At ' '* V'’. «I * 4* :r '■» ' . •* /V»■ . 1> *5 40 U* V. * « i 1 « •J» •' > M �■w r I 'I V I * !* b ■■ r 4! 6k ' I * INCREASE: A ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH I i y 1 i ■'u- f 4 I f It’s time to write your eulogy i sr i^ e * iwirrjc^ s r h. MkUI ih ! It ^1 I ca atj r n 5^^b :rl t r« / GO7 0 *ino h/ » . t LLt i! b' < at r I '' ‘h? i rtjaubi f*i rr/^jb J J I 4 f I '.□ifn riiu< ed » s * .T -t ski rztSb > c rrjrii I h *, * t 1 *«! t ’ 4 • f J «.T * 1 < 'll ■ ■ * •h. b ** J < I r I- 4 I 1' k Ir • *X' J V > . d 4 '•r k * •^4 .'7.. 2* 1 4 I » 4 I A w< J » 4 ‘r. I, t a I, f/i i I :f t (J I I » ) ... * 4. ■bM I » •*—A., a;, .. ibieaaH I 1 ( bea» J ■-» ru i p- r • ’-x j !K!> ♦ c } I 1 'awit.'T;--' y V ’5; 4 <r 13 fl . ? I ( ' ’ k y ! bn I J Nf1 f Ir * *.*R A ?mvK 2.,,. I i 1 % 4 ^b37i rI ’’ T *. ,•1 b Saturday, August 30, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 1 • < to them after I left? I wrote I had been pushing hard for and I cried. 1 imagined the a week and could see the light day when I would go and at the end of the tunnel as I meet my Savior. When I do, neared the end ofthis person­ what legacy will I leave? al development bootcamp. Writing my own eulogy Up to this point, every day brought into focus what is had been grueling. Alongside important in life. Yes, we our classroom education, Zach Santmier should be good stewards of we were met with physical all we have here on Earth, but who are obstacles every day. We’d run up and we becoming in the process? What down sand dunes in the mountains of legacy are we building so that when Southern California or be challenged we’re gone, our lives will bless people with team obstacle courses that pushed for 5, 6, 7, or more generations? us to our limits. But this last day felt Yes, you’ve probably guessed it. It’s different. As we reported to the room time for you to write your eulogy. This where they told us to meet, the door sort of experience has the power to was closed and everyone was told to change the trajectory ofyour life. What line up single file and wait quietly for you thought was important, might further instructions. become meaningless as you begin to The mood was somber and through think about your mortality. I want to the closed door, we could hear quiet contextualize all of this money talk instrumental music playing in the background. One at a time, they called we’ve been having. On one bookend, we discussed your purpose. What have us to enter the room. After each person left the room, there were tears in their you been created for? I encouraged you to get your money right so that you can eyes. I was pretty confused, what was pursue all God has for your life. about to happen? But now, on this bookend, I want to The instructor called me to enter and as I walked in, he handed me a program. put all of that money in perspective. If all you perpetuate are tangible assets, On the front of the program was a picture of my face. It read, “In Loving your legacy will only last for one or Memory ofZachery Ny Santmier” and two generations. But your life has the had my birthdate and that day’s date. I ability to touch countless generations if you decide today to begin building was instructed to go around the comer and sit down in the designated chair. the intangible legacy you will leave As I turned the comer, I saw the chair. behind. As it was for my great-grandpa, It was facing an open casket. as you perpetuate your legacy, money should only be the cherry on top. 1 was at my funeral. Over the next 10 minutes, I was When you die, people will gather together and will mourn passing and instructed to write MY eulogy. Who would be at my funeral and what would celebrate your life. Spend some time writing and thinking about who will they say? At that moment, I couldn’t help but think about my great-grand­ be there. What will they say? What do pa’s and my grandpa’s funerals. The you hope they say? What do you want eulogies people spoke were beautiful them to say? Spend some time today and their lives had touched so many. writing your eulogy. It will be time well What would people say about me? spent, I promise. Material concerns faded away and Zach Santmier is the owner of as I wrote, the only thing I could think Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of about was my wife and my daughters. thepersonalfinancial course, Increase. Was I being intentional in their lives? He focuses on helpingfamilies escape Was I perpetuating the legacy I had re­ paycheck-to-paycheck living so they ceived? Would my life mean anything can freely pursue their ideal future. DEFENSE Continued from Page 5 season. Reynolds is also a school re­ cord holder for aces in a game with 17. Other key returnees from that team that won 31 matches last fall overall include senior middle Kyla Charles and sophomore outside hitter Quinn Zeigler. Head coach Ashley Brown is in her second season leading the Caledonia program, and her third with the team overall. She is excited to add sopho­ more middle Lydia Bell; junior oppo­ site side hitter Kayla Briseno, junior setter Reese Stafford, DS Kayleigh Miersen, junior attacker Keira Paalman, junior DS Dylan Hilaski and senior hitter Maggie Loomis to varsity roles this season. “This year’s team is built on grit we're and a defensive mindset going to make opponents earn every point,” Brown said. “We take pride in our ability to grind together, stay disciplined, and keep the ball alive.” Seif is in her third varsity season, once again bringing her steady defensive presence, strong serve receive, and reliable serving game. She’s the type of player who never gets flus­ tered and keeps everyone grounded,” Brown said. “Alongside Avery, we have a strong defensive core with Kayleigh Miersen, Dylan Hilaski, Aubrey Reynolds, and Quinn Zeigler. Kayleigh and Dylan may be new to varsity, but they’re gritty, fearless, and not afraid to go for the ball to make a big play. Both are tough servers who will make an immediate impact.” Reynolds is the clear number one on the attack heading into the season, but coach Brown said there are several strong options for swings. Zeigler did get some time on the varsity filling in for injured teammates last fall. “She has made big strides in the offseason. She’ 11 be a key contribu­ tor this year,”: Brown noted. In the middle, we have senior Kyla Charles returning, and we’re eager to see her continued growth after the strides she’s made in the offseason. Sophomore Lydia Bell brings athleti­ cism, hunger, and a ton of potential. She’s developed significantly since last season and will be one to watch in the years ahead. “On the pins, newcomers Kayla <4 7 Briseno, Keira Paalman. and Maggie Loomis give us valuable depth. All three are capable of taking aggressive swings and putting the ball away, which will allow us to stay aggressive no mat ter the lineup.” Overall, it is a group that lacks varsity experience. Brown said there will be a learning curve and some time needed for every one to grow together. “But that’s also an exciting challenge — every match will be an opportunity to gain confidence, build chemistry, and prepare ourselves to peak at the right time,” Brown said. Jenison should be tough to beat in the OK Green this fall, and Byron Center will be a contender for the conference crown again too. The Scots certainly expect to be in that mix. The Caledonia girls went 2-2 at the Grand Haven Early Invite Tuesday, Aug. 26. They fell in three sets against Grand Rapids Christian 25-22, 23-25, 15-10 and two against Lowell 25-15, 25-23. The Scots defeated Fremont 25-15, 25-22 and Forest Hills Central 24-26, 25-16, 15-9. * rief Recovery —Support Group . I Stumbling through grief with hope Gtv Sandy fames and Rich Ashley Everyone Welcome at Hiornapple Valley Church starting. 9t4 Tuesday, Sept. 9,2025 6:30-8:00 p.m • Team Room A Group Settings Are Helpful Grief Share CALL SANDY JAMES IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR JUST COME 269-838-2652 w * I J b •H b « > f s -I*. . h;1 M p 1 f ,1 I I t f I : } iI • 1 I u I I 11 •11 la I f I It it It * I 1 t I It 'it I s h 1 I k i I I t I 1 I \ �* 4 I Ji ■rl. 4 Q Si4ir “*- /. August 30, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS WWW. mnandnewsjQom ( »• I <w *• >3 ■* 1^* 5' i/'. '«• < >.... . 4' . ir 4^, , -. J a h * IT V >K* •l .• A ••w w. I s— * ’ *(. ^Qt, 5 74^ ^1 ’■'•J e f A f ? I if ..T ;> . J a' » . -*= .t » > . A. L?-** s r* r z of4« » rw ' •j '1 < ’Z^ I s *5 ^ - ■t' t <* F S|< » k» Xkifo^ b « •W » T >* .-■r I ;■ ;W -ft .t* 7 9 X* « 7^ >9 < I Jf I It < t 'rv* / • A > TRUMBLE 'J- Local Medicare advice is now in Barry County! Ju'**”" ! I ! *Z" < V w X (F^ ' ft ‘‘ll I ! n- J.» 4.‘ I •, H I V y n I-' r J .4'-' 1 ■A- ■ I -I V I • I C ' .'-'hi^ ' i^aSK* '.If ,.t.< , . ' t ■■’ w Q\j « I * * « * Jr' H k il»* X’" *■ ft » ■^' 1 'b Medicare > # <. < ' * * iX I "** ) :i -I ..^'. 'C •> J* * I ^l V » a •njx] K ii F er jjtf* f« SH n « *w • rr^Ate. t , i3?* > ? -S’*? > « now booking appointments Wr r“’ r J V t ’ J?'. r «• i I? 1 A I for open enrollment October 15^^ - December 7^^ ( .4 <.•>*#4* il'n k' ''-i '”■ 1 ... .iA ;>*?».• , r I •5 * 1» I 1 • *1 J I I Me I jSipiB OBSapKfK .■.3F>M» I I I '•‘'to ~. ,p. >* iktstf a®2Es <« I 9^if t \ ■ ■■ r ; IjfL I. W*- t I 'aV* «. •'if' ' 4'-' •' ■ i ■ HX 4 i I V ;i •• f• Schedule your appointment today as time slots will fill up fast. 26g.213.3232 josh^trumbleagency.com www.barrycountymedicare.com 128 S. Jefferson St. Hastings, MI 49058 , <• fi A i Tt •. • -r • • ROOFIHG 44 * i I Ml h\ 1 ■- I •fiac^vsswzw 1 5“ * .^4' 1/ MUN 4z I Josh Lamphere ) f I * <• WJ > f 1 rI > ♦« * .4' \<S\ Ae. M / ' 4 i Jf V I kt ' .\-.A - •. :v< A >-* eL.‘> w< k^«a di 'M a f A A « 4 a r. J it' J.. l‘ t 1 t 4. > /( ■» —I i d >1 w ■I WB > 4 Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. k t:- Medicare Specialist ■— I k » w 'SSDScim 41k a 1 ,1 t. T ’i. J * ' >•* V .u’* .tfk- /■:r- '• -•X r t t, ff I I 1 ft 4 1 I I f 4 4| I J1 M i/- 11 t» 4 it f. t 1 r 4 J I I I �I 4 4 i w 'f ■ J 9 Saturday, August 30. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com t I 1 I I j I I ♦ f I t i s Li Trojans playing better than 0-3 OK Gold mark might indicate if I ir I i If I I J i I * J ft >> ' K tj z t r '■ ' / I J I ±A '1 :: L; ' b' 1 ■ tzu/n f ivri Wdiib <, •'' f '■'Jjf Ti > ( f 1 LR&a^- > J ’t. p t ii. «• c H^rfT & ■ 41 J V TD li A' I f I » XZ I 1. gwafasa 1 J. ® «EXh6.\ i IB i bs^'feSws&fiteitbssrif Tc-siu </ I Ij SB r * J? zA F* A A 1 'I* ^3ihnA rtu >7 a 0 b£^d I xd / h f n 'ti b '^'*'v t fi IrlLIl 1 >!i); TG-'J’^ .•qrfh' 2^ >’■' I ij fi . qciqrp: ! J bn ;5» t \ 4* fl) : r I >I 'Si Id - I sI [ f 1 i Lt- .! VlUo I «> ■ ( i ♦t ’ i Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Trojans are 4-0 outside of the OK Gold Conference. But in three tries against conference foes, the Trojans are still hunting foe their first win. The Thornapple Kellogg varsity boys’ soccer team fell to 0-2-1 in OK Gold play with a 2-0 loss to visiting West Catholic inside Bob White Sta­ dium in Middleville Wednesday. From box to box, the Trojans were mostly stellar showing off touch throughout the levels both with the dribble and with pass to both stationary and moving targets. The issues Wednesday came back inside their own box for the Trojans. The Falcons showed a talent for deep throw-ins early on and eventually capi­ talized on a couple as TK struggled to clear the ball from its box. We play significantly different than we we did last year,” Thomapple Kel­ logg head coach Andrew Kiel said. We have much more, I’d say, ability to move up the stages on the pitch. You know, we’ve been working really hard on that this year and just making sure we have our shape and being able to move the ball in the appropriate spaces in the correct way. And so, the first half we did a really great job of that. iFf r ij tl ' .’1 .*4 4 iQki i H^r i' r? s •4* *»' « ft... 1 I <■ 9"* 99^ • gXi T«E JVIOST TRUSTED: ’ IN RdOFINGv’i ft f I '*"' ' ». LI I i w>."* • ..4* .. ■ar- I > A SHERRIPF GOSL.IN* -JI •9> \ > V- r I I s "1 - • w 1 A r t «l w ft * Mr k ——1 “» > 1ft h 5r - -'5 Iw • *T . L ♦ -*- S’ TT. L? *« w T ■TP'* -W" ”.T < I: V Bs ' 1 f < 4BV 4 I .sf.' Fl d ^'r^NWdw e- Lac^ i' w • 0 Ik 1! f* k • J ** - ■s K II l1 I> I1 * < .w « - >' w « ? ■■ Thornapple Kellogg junior midfielder Milo McCormick maneuvers the ball through the offensive end during the first half against visiting West Catholic Wednesday in Middleville. Photos by Brett Bremer Mtaiit- - itoi ■£: 111 < ** z W < .5" f* -V i; "9r ■ *>"jp no I I I ** 1 k •A s T f 4 A » 4 I r 4 ( ’ 1 1 i M 1 J !i I UI 1 4 * ...—J •r See TROJANS on 10 I j •L,.! < >1 I <<p < IBL r =? MIU! . ti b u •R I i- >« f •Sa *fr FORYOURFREE • . » >>WM «» lar ■w.. * Ok 1 - * INSPECTION 4 • • • ♦ .4 *'X6 1 • % #> > V a .1 I a » tf' < k >* • a » <r S'^ .1' «-• '4 A ;2 & ' lfJ —■ ,IH I h — I .* -^^M**** w* Tf > •k '’■' « I !t*r 9 t L —4* ' t ■ • ?' I » 4 «« ■^4 •- t -■? I A ft ► 3 V k -« { ' a JtaB V ) Biissa a 1 ■& J h * >. *’«Ba r >♦ :n>J < • J • CALL TODAY &» » e; »K* I« k i n > 1 fc ^Wi II V .1 I L .» »k. « » > w* If 4 w*' r 1^^ < I t • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115f YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU I w 269-962-4036 ( f a » f I I . .< “We we did some poor defending and it allowed them to score and sit back and that makes it a challenge to go, and that’s how the game went.” A year ago the Trojans mostly relied on set pieces and long throw-ins to cre­ ate scoring chances, and that was the way the Falcons made things happen ! .« ** * {i **• -k > I I I *w 11 w a .; ^ • ..V l-U.... ’a’ Jfi. A w V’- 'A 3k • ♦ 5S^ w* * 5 J ». M - F 5V, f * >4 . f * '♦ I QUALITY ROOFING X ".-di *< ' ♦ (1 .M .i 1 • » »• ••»«..' 1 L b c r 1 4^ .J •T 1 r >• r ? • I* Wednesday. It was a long throw into the TK box with around 18 minutes to play in the first half that led to the first Falcon goal. The ball bounced around a bit in front of the TK net and had Trojan keeper Jeremiah Cramer skittering this way and that to try and catch up to it. Falcon freshman midfielder Nick Marcotte tried to direct the ball on goal once and eventually it found the foot of senior midfielder Griffin Vyn who touched it into the net. About 15 minutes into the second half, the Falcons put together a trio of comer kicks, and had a couple opportu­ nities for long throw-ins from each side !I 46 V leytMil? tjnrhovz rrjsH r FSONTIER BEXnNG AND COOLING •' - 210 East Main St. Caledonia MI 616-891-8900 u The company built by referrals'* I VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSUN.COM/BATTLECREEK fr/^ e r •i �I f I 10 3 Saturday, August 30 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS > WWW sunandnews com 9 « 4* liXi' u vv* * ..fto*’ .kf* 4 TROJANS «>• Continued from Page 9 of the field. Ilie ball mostly bounded through the box on the throw-ins safely, but it was always a Falcon on the other side collecting the ball. Eventually, the ball got outside to Falcon junior defender I^o Hayes who chipped a ball from the left side across the TK box. Fhis time senior forward Landon Smith got a head on it to direct it back into the left side of the net for a 2-0 advantage. FLven with a one goal lead, the Fal­ cons started attempting to play some disciplined defense holding back in their end and forcing TK to try and play a few more long balls rather than the short quick touches they’d been playing when the field was a bit more spread out. rhey just need to win those 50/50 balls,” Kiel said, “but part of the prob­ lem too is we’re coming out and we’re just playing the ball up. We got away from finding the feet and moving it. And and as soon as you play it up and just start cleaning it out, it’s a recipe for the ball to come back in. &< f Wc wc lost focus and concentration in a 15 minute spell in the second half that led to set piece after set piece after set piece, where cither wc gave up a comer or a foul because wc were just trying to boot it up. When we work the ball and arc able to move it the way wc do, side to side, side to side and then pick the the pace back up, that's when we find success. Fhat was the lapse.” TK hasn't scored yet in conference play. The team played to a 0-0 draw at Wyoming to open the conference season Aug. 20, fel 11 -0 to visiting Wayland Monday with the Wildcats'getting the game’s only goal on a penalty kick. and then came the shut out against the falcons Wednesday. Outside of conference play, Kiel said he has liked the way his team has shared the scoring load so far this season. It wasn’t for a lack of chances Wednesday. The build-up, especially in the first half, did lead to some good charges on the Falcon goal. A charge forward by senior defender Nathan Shoemaker, with some back and forth up the side from senior Oli ver Lielz, eventually led to a shot by * sophomore Carter Bowman. Later a long cross in from the right by Shoe­ maker cleared junior Milo McCormick crashing towards the net, but found senior Diego Rodas running in behind him. Rodas' touch flicked a shot just w ide of the left post. West Catholic's keeper, senior Elliott Plum, was solid in net earning the shut out. He pulled a bounding ball away from the head of Bowman early in the second half, and he snagged a few' other balls out of the air. Smith was back on the I ine to head away another chance by Bowman later in the second half. And a comer from senior Bowen Dykstra found Bowman's head once late in the ballgame, but Plum was in position to make the save. Having things not go right in front of the net on the defensive end is a bit of a surprise with some good experience on the back line. Shoemaker has been a stand-out for the TK varsity defense for three seasons. Junior Brandon Veil­ ing joined the varsity for districts last season and has filled out the center back duo nicely with Shoemaker so far. Rodas, Dykstra, senior Peyton Fore- man and junior Mi1o McCormick arc some of the other kc\ returnees for the FK team this fall, along witli senior Gabe Gosselin who is hack in the pro­ gram after a year away. They're a good core foundation that allows us to have a good spine. Kiel said. TTie Trojans w ill get a second shot at every one in the conference this season. Grand Rapids Union is off to a 3-0 start in the league so far. South Christian is 2-0 in conference play. They are the only two conference teams without a loss in the OK Gold left this fall. “I’m excited to get to play them all again. You know, that was part of the conversation we were just having over after the game,” Kiel said Wednesday. There's a lot we can do to still turn this around and have a great season. And this is probably one of the most complete teams I’ve coached ... we would like to have one or two of those conference games, but now it's the time to look at the challenges ahead and decide what are we gonna do as a team to set ourselves up for a success?” 4 4 -1 kV•! I <1 I .* 4 • * nV i 4 .Mi I (’I* ... 9 r I' *4 I J VI k • •3 J •. *» c 9 1. !V t ','B.............................. > ; t MidS! r .1 !l . • U’^ I ( I k 4^’ . I V' I* 1 '/Pi-' ( 1 % I -int! 1 ■If- ■ ( X 1 V« O’-'jlieiB' •V i)>9^ . * •'t* V r t «•* «■ C* 1 ’ll t< V I •r hl I 1 w - . A** <1 •■J 1'. A* I I’,i» 4 A 35r>^ % ♦' • ' i B S' T I > X L .>• r 2 a J’ 616-891-0150 If I • 4 •fc —k • * I r 1 9 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. BODY SHOP COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Yovr irus-bed Body Shop -for over 32 years X qtwi -, 3 »• 2M N. BIUGOS ROAD- MIDDLEVTLX.E, MICHIGAN 49333 269-793-9091 / FAX 769-793-23«a r 1 YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIPOF YANKEE SPRINGS. BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN. AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held on September 18, 2025, commencing at 7:00 p.m. at the Yan­ kee Springs Township Hall, 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville MI, within the Township, as required under the provisions of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act and the Zoning Ordinance for the Township. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE In addition to participation during a public hearing, members of the public may also provide comments for the Planning Commission's consideration by emailing or mailing those comments to the Planning Commission for receipt prior to the meeting, in care of the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea (iocsheata'yankecsDringstwD.orgl. Letters and emails are due one week before the hearing date; or by leaving a phone message prior to the meeting with the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea al 269-795-9091. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the item(s) to be considered at said public hearing include, in brief, the following: I. SEU 25-09-08; Pared ID: 16-370-016-00, 2796 Cole Drive #16, Wayland, Ml 49348. A request by Kevin J. Kava­ naugh. the property owner, for a special exception use permit to operate a commercial Short-term rental pursuant to the Yankee Springs Zoning Ordinance, Ar/ieJeX, Short Term Rentals. 2. SEU 25-09-09; Pared ID: 16-370-015-00, 2755 Cote Drive, Wayland, Ml 49348. A request by Deann Crosby, the property owner, for a special exception use permit to operate a commercial Short-term rental pursuant to the Yankee Springs Zoning Ordinance, Article X, Short Term Rentals. 3. CSPR 25-08-04; Pareel ID: 16-020-037-00,11368 M-I79 Highway, Middleville, Ml 49333. A request by Kyle Gra­ ham. the property owner, for a commercial site plan review of a proposed addition to a commercial building, the Sand Bar AGrill, pursuant to Yankee Springs Zoning Ordinance, Article VSite Plan Review. 4. Such other business as may properly come before the Planning Commission. Anyone interested in reviewing the application material may do so at the township hall. All interested persons are invited to be present at the aforesaid time and place, or, if an electronic meeting is held, to participate via the electronic meeting. Yankee Springs Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, to individuals with disabilities al the hearing upon four (7) days’ prior notice to the Township Clerk. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address or telephone number listed below. YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION By: Shana Bush, Chairperson Yankee Springs Township Hall 284 N. Briggs Rd. Middleville, Michigan 49333 (269) 795-9091 I I •' * O / I i II * '■ .Utt i' L •s .. Wt Bl I ’ li ! nmyv&reiM’m .. -X WOi^**'* f* 1 f } ( I ! e * * Winns I . Ai - «» 1 tiSiKt EE A I 4; Jjfrianis 1 •*1 i 4 • hijy U'Uu lX’» •I t I < s* • r I: * t .i ♦ »*. . w** M ,X •X 1 ■p»’ r 7B I, f. M Ml ♦Z .1 J •1 i J I I .1 ♦ > ? *• jLt sr:*?.. * riTT : j 3 « iwl 411 k : I I ? 4ib* J kA r V 1 I S to-*. *») . 1 » r •-A r- h *r* } a I I f If *• •I I It 3 t » I < i 1 I 1 II J i a i J h I 11. Ji > , ■ J �% * If. > i i, www.sunandnews.com Saturday, August 30, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS t 11 1 1 IB t « •I 31/1 ... L RSr Fighting Scots shoot to third at 20-team TK Invitational sW I •MH. '<( . (» • i Brett Bremer Sports Editor •ft I J'. Caledonia junior Lauren Scheid V showed off her talents in varsity tryouts. A few others got first dibs on shooting ■ <4 4 in the varsity line-up this fall, but Scheid 't.v made sure she took advantage ofher first 4f r. shot Friday, Aug. 22. rZ Scheid shot a 90 for the Fighting « Scots, a score good for 18th overall, at the Thomapple Kellogg Invitational ‘Il played on the White and Gold nines at I if Yankee Springs Golf Course. It was I7 the third best score of the day for the ’tfi! -iiis. ?^... Caledonia varsity team, and it helped ‘tQ Ok the Scots finish in third place at the 20« team tournament. She brought in a really good score, good enough that now I kind of think **4-^-------I know who that fourth person might 4gen •* Md be,” Caledonia head coach Veronica Van Wagoner said. u . ' The Scots’ number one was number •4 Iv one for the first half of the tourney and finished third overall as senior Codie SOST. S’ I iftftLi *n O’Krangley scored an 80. Coach Van ; Wagoner said she’s looking for a fourth scorer because her top three are all pretty talented already. Junior Emily Walbeck ; r.flra rorife.,* shot an 87 and senior Katie Honhart a 91. O’Krangley has been a part of the 0 Fighting Scots’ MHSAA Lower Pen­ ^5 insula Division 1 State Finalist teams I in each of the past two seasons. She jj V'' •' ',3fj«K5« . ' . finished 19th at the state finals last fall as fl ^TL ajunior, and the Caledonia team finished nuizi as the state runner-up in 2024. I ! L lUXrl O’Krangley was was one-under Fri­ if day through her first 11 holes, including ‘J an even-par-36 on the White nine. She had back to back pars on numbers three >• ' 71WTTHQ J r and four early in her round. Van Wagoner said one of the biggest ft things she has seen O ’ Krangley improve uoidr.. “lil ’ over the years is her confidence. She /l.hrT *irtT PrmjjWB has the ability now to keep going one shot at a time. “Codie had a fantastic, fantastic, front iVr JiaO-^ «t nine,” Van Wagoner said. “She was lead­ ' ^44 -fXlT •*•• 4-< -' r» ’ ing through the first nine holes. Katie A had a great fi'ont nine. Emily struggled on the fi'ont nine and then brought it back on the back nine.” ,xt3.?r; “Every season I feel like we got ' ft^dOKltthrough this thing where we have to I k <jii nv?* relearn how to be mentally tough. And I h we’re figuring it out. When it all comes 4 I J . . together which hopefully is in the post­ «... k.’ -M i season, or before that would be nice as VI .I *. .i *• ft « f U ft I .k, !r '7 k. V ?d> <T. ►A < I* t b » ■ 1 ’•14 LJ .r* ft*: .fl t « f* 4 -k -J t 4 > «I • 1* > k’A 4» Fi l *J «y .. • 'S . I s * h > ' r • f ■ S. -1 1 J < » > I I r-- s' A n : / t t t -1 )r *• ' Nt 6 €. / ' t J *t • u. r. r u 1 i A <4 1 ‘4 r f 4'» ' A 4 • » > ( * I I 4 J ' Z*. / - /5 I i ' • r J .1 4''> *4 . 1 ’ ’x 1 . 'Jft '*B. Kiij' l-l-t well, when it all comes together it is going to be good. Lowell won the day’s team title with a score of 332 strokes overall, Byron Center was second with a score of 336 ahead of Caledonia 348, Grand Rapids Christian 352 and West Catholic 366 in the top five. Thomapple Kellogg finished in 12thplace with a score of 419. The Thomapple Kellogg girls were paced by a 99 from junior Vivian Hans­ son. Junior Jordan Price shot a 104, ju­ nior Sydney Martin a 106 and freshman Emily Coe scored allO. TK also had a ‘B’ team place 19th with a 112 from sophomore Morela Gielincki and a 114 from junior Molly Middleton. “We had a lot of girls that this was their first 18-hole tournament. We had a lot of girls that moved up from JV to varsity today and a lot of them hadn’t played 18-hole tournaments. It is a different experience than playing nine holes,” TK head coach Bob Kaminski said. “So that was good to give them that experience. I actually had a couple girls 9 ■ ♦? Jr .1* *• x»w^ r S * I ’U ftk.. . •< rz > -i 4i. 4 ?* —— i"Sr r «• J I 4 1 f # I cr p " “FT*— t • < V :p. ** -5^ * • •.:r” • *^WA' *4. 9 ■I 1 <v Mi k J K .4 * )* ) I *** «w 4. x*^ I* 4 r * 9 k *n . “"-J R vR Caledonia senior Codie O’Krangley takes her place among the medalists after a third-place finish in the Thornapple Kellogg Invitational at Yankee Springs Golf Course Friday, Aug. 22. Photos by Brett Bremer ment from his team’s outing at the Kent County Classic earlier in the week. Both Caledonia and Thornapple Kellogg opened conference play who this is their first year playing golf on the team, and they had never played 18 holes. They played 18 holes today. It is a good experience.” He said he saw pretty solid improve- See SCOTS on 12 • ? w* I* sS’ . ( «J I * •• \ W4 :?1< - < i I 4 I "W—. f'.n^ •h 1 M i I t 1 •r > ’ I 4 A . . t Hj . Learn about free: • Computer skills training • Career coaching • Job search services I Jr - C3 ft »• <JM« • 1 * •* r J •, ,11 I . Lt ; * '< i « 1 s . k —■ * • • « kJ* * X J! i « t ft i ftj r I X Trade Adjustment Assistance w 4^ PLUS: Ask us if you qualify for Trade Assistance Act benefits! 1 Kt I -♦/-k * i.44jU <ad. 3 ***. r r 1 r>>‘ 1 .e J >/ y V J fl ( I 1 /*• i i *1 > »•4 t <* * • . Ate J * F 1 I .< V > ’ i «<«> «k I * 4 ^-.4^ * J I z 'I I ♦ • . k f \ iSr. I > ■ 4 9 i' J «» /M I < •V * f 44 r>' ir^<j f ssw ft .•»A $ • iMlh I . » i MBCjag X ® *' *'■ 4 ' «l n > ( s I I b I r «> k * Take the next step to a better paying job! 4 a w a ^K7 b.-..'4k V ■ k ? It ( ( J I > WhRKS! II t < • ) . ..I i: I - U ■ SKftak* 4i TOtl sfd ^MICHIGAN I 4 Thornapple Kellogg’s Jordan Price watches her tee shot fly on White number two during the TK Invite at Yankee Springs Golf Course Friday, Aug. 22. Call 1-800-285-WORK {9613} or visit westmiworks.org/job-seekers/ ft* *.* *. i • , '* 4 ,ik83 » < ( I » ft �Saturday, August 30, 2025 12 THE SUN AND NEWS Gators dive into 2025 season with an invite and a dual Brett Bremer PR to 1:25.07 in a third-place finish. Unity Christian had the top three finish­ ers in most of the swimming events. The Gators took the first place points in the 400-yard freestyle relay with the team of Eloise Nichols, Raak, Jenna Robinett and Hawks finishing that race in 5:07.08. FreshmanAdelaideNydamgotthefirstplace points in the 100-yard freestyle for the Gators with a time of 1:29.49. Gators’ head coach Jeff Saltzgaber, in his second season leading the co-op, is hoping this is another fall of building “strong team culture, work ethic, and positive eneigy.” He is expecting some youngsters to really contribute to the sprints and relays this fall for the team, and he really likes the leadership from seniors like Robinett and the newly added Devon Barnhill. Once again, a boost to the TK student­ athletes comes from the chance to get to practice in the refurbished pool in Mid­ dleville which openedjust in time forthem to practice at home last fall. Saltzgaber said his team isn’t quite ready to compete with some ofthe bigger schools it will face, and Sports Editor The Gators are back in the water. The Thomapple Kellogg, Hopkins, West Catholic, West Michigan Aviation Academy girls’ swimming and diving co-op got its season started competing in the Williamston Invitational Saturday and then taking on Unity Christian in a dual in Hudsonville Monday evening. The TK-led team, known as the Grand Rapids Gators, fell in that first dual with the Crusaders 108-55. The Gators got a win from junior diver Lydia Slagel who put up a score of 245.15 points. She was more than 70 points better than her nearest competitor from Unity Christian as the diving crew once again headed by HCDC coach Todd Bates should be a strength again for the Gators this fall. The 100-yard breaststroke proved to be one of the top events for the Gators Monday as freshman Mara Raak set her personal record in the race at 1 minute 23.98 seconds to place second and sopho­ more Mckenna Hawks also improved her -’5iMt w £ ■IHb'' J w* ■ ■■ X*. # 1 > « J Scan our QR code to find your perfect invitation! L •'t « f . ...jJA. 1 fl r^; J » I’ ' I • t ' II ' * \ I« « < > ^.**«*« X ■)M—■» /; A J H ► >« • <•» 1 r. •.« I- > 'i *s 4 * / r r -^?w *''*5 ^1 ................... ?« 4 IF « * ..w. A ‘ www.sunandnews.com I n the Caledonia/Lowell/South Christian and Byron Center squads should be espe­ cially tough in the OK Conference, but he likes the growth he sees with the help of the expanded swim lessons at the pool in Middleville and the talent coming to the program from the Hammerheads Swim Club based in Hastings. The Gators were fourth Saturday at the Williamston Invitational. Owosso took the meet championship with 452.5 points ahead ofWilliamston 415.7, Ionia309 and the Gators 256. Slagel won the diving competition wi± a score of253.20 points, beating her nearest . J ( f 1 : » t I ' i competitor by 80 points. She qualified for the MISCA Meet in the first competition ofthe season witli that performance. Slagel was a state medal ist as a sophomore 1 ast fal 1, In the 50-yard butterfly. Hawks scored a third-place time of 33.41 and Nichols was seventh with a time of 39.62. In the 100-yard breaststroke, Raak placed third in 1:24.03 and Hawks fourth in 1:25.17. Robinett was eighth in the lOO-yard backstroke for the Gators. Sophomore Scarlett Hilzey was eighth in the 50-yard freestyle and the 50-yard backstroke. Raak added an eighth-place time in the 100-yard individual medley. 1 , f I ■p «J I I ■v-j'' i J? 1 I 1 ’ I 4 J I » I J » • t * »p^ Mt I <3i r • ■ t’ *% II** 9 r I i' • I p * X 1* 4 • ' •h ( 1 I JI I u • 4 I . 9 b I > i 1 4 J i ' 91 p ' t J. 11, «- . 9 I I J j! ’ .iz’U V* 4 I 4 1^ i'f' I > » « . 4j ! ./dH ’4* i4 < z I •i Hi: •!! ’ t .!i. * 1 X A SCOTS 4j*; ’m' 2 v-^ <- t Continued from Page 11 Wednesday. Caledonia was second to Byron Center at the first OK Green Confer­ encejamboree of the season at Railside Golf Club. The Bulldogs won with a score of 171 strokes ahead of Caledonia 182, Reeths-Puffer 200, Jenison 215 and Mona Shores 217. O’Krangley was the day’s individual medalist wi± a score of3 9. Honhart shot a 44 and Walbeck a 45. The Scots’ fifth score was a 54 from senior Halle Stout. TK was fifth at the OK Gold Confer­ ence jamboree at Boulder Greek Golf Club Wednesday. West Catholic won the meet with a score of 179 ahead of Northview 188, South Christian 188, Wayland 219, TK 226 and Grand Rapids Union NTS. Hansson led TK with a 50 which had her in 12th individually. The Trojans also got a 57 from senior Emma Reaser, a 59 from Martin and a 60 from senior Sophia Lahaie. &!S 't f* 3 p *4 »* ' ■ » « ri. ft <J Ji' • ■ ; X . - Z f !-'"-• r 41** ;P, ;f, -.Ili it ,*4* f irir 'J •» t « f .r' rr U' .0® J * /. ,r i.“ .to ^At’? J 1 m: I ‘ «. • 1 J ** t ■1 1 «) 4* tHJ I,, ( z * •«. •i I'iJ « f Vz B *1' 1 ti? I “ u •l ?i t T V t t » A f J fe >4 .* I '^*1^ > Caledonia’s Emily Walbeckfires her ball towards the green on Gold number nine during the Thornapple Kellogg Invitational at Yankee Springs Golf Course Friday, Aug. 22. '7l I I ■ii- * U'. I V41M* "r 1 ^BI> W’’'"^ •j'*P^ ^'"ii^nin ledd* ''M It If 4F w.r’* i', *4*. V : iS" = H A V» «*w 'V Caleix»4iA r5-;r;ill3:'» « Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 ■RmiSHIP >. 41 r rSr .JM gs *-X J ‘I I I lk X lkU!,yes«e a^^kS!^!' x:» 1 nil kJ CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN t I * I >♦ » at»m fl f HIODl- J -idioT I u »/ •’ k d t .: ' r SilliiSlMIl 4b 4.. au; t‘^ t )T> I '/ t Dated: August 25> 2025 i 4 ■1 » PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the Charter Township of Caledonia I will hold a public hearing on September 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., at the Caledonia Township Hall located at 81961 Broadmoor Avenue SE, Caledonia, Michigan 49316. The hearing is to consider an accessory building larger than I' permitted in the RR zoning district, located at 8115 Alaska Avenue, on parcel: 41-23-15-300-067. I All interested persons may attend the public hearing and comment on the proposed request. Written com-1 ments concerning the request may be submitted to the Township office, at the above-stated address, up to the time I of the public hearing. I PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA ( 1 Lj ... Db^i'-ix t '.45 '4 k j’ k I 4, « 1 • r V ' * WEDDING INVITATIONS www.printingbypennyiane.com ginad@pennylanepnnting.com ’ ll 1 Simply Perfect PRINTING BY * f ^-4 .» T. I • •w#* z . * 4 I 1 1.^. I* z Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. I -«u I - ' A 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia, MI 49316 p . * * < ‘1 11 �T I t M’s *r '5 Saturday, August 30, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 13 I / 2^ i *» At •1 « ) 1 I V V I !• I I I 1- 1 -ir. ♦ ♦ I rt 1 - I « A. .r 1 'lb -hi *e ■i *■ •» .‘K I ", IS J I r r. A♦ rw - < 9 . *^1 •u r f ' I f^xj r 1 ■ 49 ?’ ■mil K Jne Jr. isTiib i/ • !L. ( * . » •• 1. ) I ku fj bfiB J . 'Hr / rn 4 rti J yn i 0 jUU I f I, S . EiJsd ■ 1 I T { I rTa '• 1 ’♦a 4. Mt li 1 -r ' If 1 I 1 ' ■ fi'l 9 I I I t. I t ? I I ■ ’***9 w ■ “ • ^4, I * r IK 1 1 * J i ^hzl 8 r to sr* A r 1 f’ t d> worfp. BTTfnj &t J t I I t • h. V I’:m1 ’ •; w T w ? J ■ I f I T L G’x I J* I r "l’ ’I r r h •I * I I rS • : bj I •M ' t t I I . 11.1 • • . I ■ 'y . ni J. • 1 • Ti^uz^ * I .. * V • i I I r • I : 1^ . < nrra ,".1 I r I I , r rn. ■ uu I -' I '' ' / J ‘ kl. I i I f I I I r.jtcf'. I I . I I .• • I I II 4 I I r I At A.. I I LnT I I I *• > S I « M{f,f 4 4 t ) . I J I I I f 1 I I r** • 1 ■J" * * I ' .1 . oKn 'Lt ) I 4 I din I I r;-/' T' --- . I I 1 J. s IX t «-» Hardy and Bremer out front for TK teams on first night Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ and boys’ cross country teams had new leaders at the 2025 South Christian Un­ der the Lights Invite Friday night. Junior Peyton Hardy was one of five TK ladies to earn medals for placing in the top 50. She led the Trojans with a time of 21 minutes 31.2 seconds which put her in 31st overall in the 16-team Midnight Division girls’ race made up of the largest schools at the meet. The invitational this year included 87 differ ent schools with teams running in four different divisions. The TK ladies, coated in paint, glitter and the occasional glow stick, took off out of the gate with fireworks blasting behind them at 10:35 p.m. The TK boys got out of the gate in the same fashion at 11:30 p.m. and in the end there were 323 finishers who wound their way across the semi-lit course around the South Chris­ tian High School Sports Park in that race. Freshman Owen Bremer was at the front of the pack for the Thomapple Kellogg boys with an 88th-place time of 18:46.6 in his first high school race. “Freshman Owen Bremer stole the show in his debut, running 18:46 and immediately stepping into a top varsity territory,” TK boys’ coach Josh Reyn­ olds said. “Leading the team in his first race is a huge development, making him a front-runner alongside junior Grady Galaviz. Bremer also ranked as the 11th overall freshman in the Midnight Divi­ sion, a strong first marker for his high school career.^’ Both Trojan teams had their OK Gold Conference champion, state qualifying front mnner graduate and head off for a collegiate running career since last sea­ son with Ava Crews joining the Grand Valley State university women and Jacob Draaisma off to run with the Chicago State University men. The Thomapple Kellogg girls were tenth and the boys were 15th in the final Midnight Division team standings Friday. Hardy was about half a minute faster at the race than she was at the start of the 2024 season. Madison Kietzman, Alaina McCrumb, Carmen Reynolds and Breanna Schut, who set as new PR, joined Hardy in ±e top 50 for the TK ladies. Kietzman placed 43rd overall in 21:57.2. McCrumb was 46th in 22:09.9, Reynolds 47th in 22:13.6 and Schut 50th in 22:15.9. “As always with this unique race the charge was simple: Have fun, challenge yourself, and see what you can do,” TK girls’ coach Sam Wilkinson said. “They did just that and I am really proud of their efforts.” Hudsonville junior Cassie Karasinski set her personal record at 18:18.4 to win the Midnight Division girls’ race. Portage Northern sophomore Ainsley Keim was right behind with a PR of her own of 18:19.5. The top four girls all hit the finish line in less than 19 minutes. Karasinski’s Eagles won the team title with 62 points ahead of Rockford 77, Forest Hills Northern 94, Byron Center 170, Grandville 183, Caledonia 198, Forest Hills Central 198, Ottawa Hills 206, Portage Northern 216 and Thomapple Kellogg 217 in the top ten. Bremer was one of two fi-eshman in the top five for the Thomapple Kellogg boys. Parker Robinett placed 162nd in 20:19.9. He was right on the heels of senior teammate Benjamin Postma who was 160th in 20:19.2. Trojan junior Grady Galaviz was his team’s number two. He placed 129th in 19:50.8. TK sophomore Garrett Holzhausen was 150th overall in 20:11.4. Coach Reynolds really like the packed that formed there in the three, four, five and six spots for his team. Wyatt Rich­ ardson clocked in at that sixth spot. “[They] finished within just 12 sec­ onds of each other,” Reynolds noted. “That’s excellent early pack cohesion. If we can move that group closer to 19flat, our team will become much more competitive in meets. Reynolds said that this season he likes the stability his team has in the senior group of Ben Postma, Noah Donker and Alex Frizzell, and he said they were solid for a first race of the season, at night, although he’ll be looking to help them push their times below that 20-minute mark as things progress. 66 We showed a solid foundation with the team average under 20 minutes and a tight 1-7 split,” Reynolds said. “A strong pack is forming in the 20-21 minute range, and moving that group into the low 19’s would make us much more competitive in invitationals. We will do our best to continue to develop Bremer and Galaviz to run solidly in the 17’s. Five freshmen made their debut. See FRONT on 15 TH! ItC 0 TiOtU y Thornapple Kellogg freshman Parker Robinett makes his way along the first mile of the course at South Christian High School during the Midnight Division race at the annual Under the Lights Invite. Robinett was one of two freshmen in the top seven for the TK boys' team Friday, Aug. 22. Photos by Brett Bremer IRVING TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS August 19, 2025 Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm at 3425 Wing Rd. Hastings, Michigan 49058 Present: Lydy, Stout, Brummel, Nagel, and Buehler Agenda approved with changes Approved amended July 15, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes Fire Reports and Commissioner Report presented Motion passed to accept Treasurer’s Report, as presented Approved to pay bills tn the amount of $135,036.02 Resolution Approved 2025-13 (Consumers Energy Franchise) Motion passed to send letter to BC Road Commission regarding a hearing to remove the Engle Rd Natural Beauty Designation Approved to spend up to $850 for postage for Nov 4, 2025 Eiection (KISD and BISD) Upcoming Meeting dates: Sept 16, 2025, 7pm (Township Board Meeting), Township Election Commission Meeting Sept 16, 2025, 6:30pm Adjourn 7;14pm Full minutes at are available Irvingtownship.org or at 3425 Wing Rd, Hastings, Ml 49058. Prepared by Irving Township Deputy Clerk, Shelly Lake. Attested to by Supervisor, Dan Lydy. GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM PUBLIC NOTICE GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS August 202S The Gaines Charter Township Board held a regular meeting on Monday, August 11*, 2025, and took the following actions. 1. Reviewed the Consent Agenda. 2. Approved the Meeting Agenda 3. Discussed the Kent County Brownfield Authority presentation 4. Discussed the Natural Resources Inventory as presented by Enviroscience 5. Held a public hearing on electronic changeable message signs in residential zoning areas 6. Held a public hearing on changing the Township Code of Ordinance Section 22.136 to allow multifamily starts 7. Approved the consent agenda 8. Sent the Zoning Ordinance Text amendment allowing electronic changeable message signs in residential zoning areas back to the Planning Commission to review and revise the restrictions on the special use permits. 9. Changed the Township Code of Ordinances, Section 22.136 to allow the board to approve multifamily early start contracts with developers for early starts. 10. Approved the Prairie Wolf Station PUD Consent Judgement I Site Plan Amendment as presented. 11, Approved the expenditure to expand the amount of water faucets in Blain Cemetery. 12. Approved an arrangement of the columbaria at Blain Cemetery and approved the purchase of 2 additional Blain columbaria placing one at Cemetery and one at Dutton Cemetery. Renewed The 13, Rapid contract as presented, 14. Scheduled a public hearing for September 8, 2025 for the 2026 Public Safety Special Assessment. 15. Changed the Township Office business hours to 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Thursday and 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Friday starting January 2, 2026, 16. Chose a township logo (identified in the meeting as example B) and chose a township motto of "Gain more . . 17. Approved allowing staff (Manager Weersing) to award a winning bid for the Hanna Lake sidewalk project to the company recommended by the township engineer. 18. Were informed that Trustee meetings will revert back to a 7:00 pm start time beginning with the September 2025 meeting. 19. Adjourned the meeting at 9:04 p.m. A complete copy of the minutes of these meetings and any resolutions or ordinances adopted at the meeting are on file and available for review at the Gaines Charter Township office, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Michigan 49316. Ordinances, meeting schedules, meeting minutes, and other Township information are also available at www.gainestownship.orfi, Michael Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk // -I i I J « c I if '1 I A I M I I J I » i. i » 'r I 1.1 • bl M * I ri It I ) it •S 1 i h I J I \ I 4 '* �-f I I f I fa i { I Saturday, August 30, 2025 14 THE SUN AND NEWS J I www.sunandnews.com I i 1103.3» Johnston pushes his PR below the 16-minute mark Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia’s Noah Johnston ran to a fourth-place finish in the 1600-meter run and a 13th-place finish in the 3200 at the Fighting Scots’ MHSAA Division I J'rack and Field Regional last May. He took two weeks off after that. He biked a little and did some work with an uncle. Since then, he’s run about 500 miles - pushing up to running 60 to 65 miles a week. He showed he can run really far and really fast Friday, Aug. 22, at the annual South Christian Under the Lights Invite. Johnston opened his senior cross coun­ try season with a new personal record run. He placed fifth in the Midnight Division boys’ race with a time of 15 minutes 57.4 seconds — his first time breaking the 16-minute barrier. “Yeah, that was something I wanted for a long time. It felt good to finally get it,” Johnston said. His previous PR was 16:20.0 at the MITCA Meet of Champions last November at the end of his first sea- * t fin 240 ast w <*-.<** A I ■ 1 * / •t V r .< <4 !7fi i /j^esz ’MS|9 ** • 2M2 $ r SSJ y- .rI e^- ki I ■t, IB J J I > •/ 4 it ‘Hi *22^ » « J V JU Iva v« f >- I WH ' ♦ t I. ^i». The Caledonia varsity boys’ cross country team takes off with the pack at the start of the Midnight Division race at the annual Under the Lights Invite hosted by South Christian High School. Photo by Brett Bremer $ > ; J?' . rf f IfiSdB liHO jrlqiuriiys f r ninsifl r son running with the Fighting Scots. Johnston competed for West Michigan Aviation Academy his first two years of high school. “I kind of sat behind the Allendale guys for a while, and then at one point I was like, we gotta go and me and another Allendale guy just kind of took off,” Johnston said. “That was probably IS 1 J. vIB I 12' ' B*» *) 4^ 4 4 i 4 *■ ! . > A i if DeWeerd <68 Since 1955 LENNOX * # X A+ L? BBS. < ' •xl^ ACCREOITED BUSINESS with IK left to go.” I kind of I wanted to be towards the front, not in the very front, but I wanted to sit towards the front. And then I knew I had the I knew I had the strength to to push it at the end. So I just really tried to go.” The Caledonia boys were third in the race, which was one of the last of the night starting off with fireworks shooting behind at about 11:30 p.m. In all there were 87 schools competing in varsity races, and there were more than 320 runners in that Midnight boys’ race. Lowell dominated the Midnight Di­ vision boys’ race finishing with just 51 points. Holland West Ottawa was sec­ ond with 102 points ahead of Caledonia 110, Rockford 126 and Allendale 149 in the top five. Grandville junior Caden Livermore was one of three guys throughout the course of the whole invitational who bested the previous meet record. He turned in a time of 15; 19.4 to beat Henry Dixon of Forest Hills Eastern’s 2024 time of 15; 19.50. Lowell, Caledonia and Allendale runners filled the next eight spots behind him. Lowell junior Marshall Huhn was second in 15:27.6 and his senior team­ mate Cooper Byrne placed third in 15:49.8. Allendale junior Mason Hill was fourth in 15:53.4. Johnston was the last guy to cross the finish line before the clock hit 16 minutes. While Johnston was a big contributor for the Fighting Scots last school year in both cross country and track and field, teammate Bennett Snapper made a big jump Friday. He pushed his PR to A 'J I• ir« / •f.' . r■: I 1 1.^ :U V I •' * (■ r «n S’ r* 1^1 . If s' ' .1 *> .' J t - F I I I; : (Will V 1 • *« ’j 1 I I iJ sO** ■ -—■ 1 reis^ve' J Caledonia’s Anna VanderWal (right) and Fiona Sakala make their way along the final mile of the course at South Christian High School during the Midnight Division race at the annual Under the Lights Invite. Photo by Brett Bremer ‘ k liA/isdneV rmnA ?' .L .>1 9?i6rn u Al «*•' I I H *< 1 I •>, j, > h- J s )3 Slit to iim IbOit tohoSj'’ HisiJSi WlBl f F • • r; JI * W t ftmhSP I ( w c k / 16:12.9 to place ninth. He was about 1 minute 12 seconds faster than he had ever been before. CHS sophomore Bentley Nichols set his PR too with a time of 16:49.8 that had him in 24th-place in his first competi­ tive cross country race ever. Senior Eli Velting was 34th overall in 17:21.8 and freshman Isaac Dinh 38th in 17:27.5. See PUSHES on 15 1 t V '* *< I I J I I ♦1 r .r i k 9 . C i » I tew afe'a n I! I lUt.'.- J 4 '' o 4 T*. J. -JUju* , irf HIT • I « •t * t • .V ■tz f. 4 4 f *k. r » 4 ( 4 I V 4 i >e£ ' I I ) t >•. ( I 4 4 :7. e J -Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers Air Conditioners -Heat Pumps -Water Heaters Humidifiers 269-792-2234 X *9 «• Residential & Commercial DEWEERDHTG.COM w i I 1 HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. t;- 1 WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS y » •?* t �♦ to *1 ♦ * PUSHES J 1 1 Continued from Page 14 I I < ** “We’re doing good. I think we’ll be better than last year,” Johnston said. “We have a high ceiling with a lot of younger guys. We had one guy [Snapper] who ran sub-17 who had never run cross country before. I was impressed with that. We have a good group of guys. Last year we had a lot of seniors, so we didn’t know where we’d be at, but we’ve got a lot of good younger guys.” I to j r 1 f. J to 1 » * [J 4 'w I t !f '.J I i V )i i t ) 5 i •'t . i *•» s n % r V It * »< Ik fete.. ' 1 i I rnjc43 iIbv q "jV/ V riTta ’fd ■ * riit sril ©bnU •i I • j \£ ft J ■ :.;GIJA I • i I ftl.'sni * 4 n jiciJitfKfl J ' lu;' I I J > i >I TK junior Alaina McCrumb makes her way along a stretch of trail brightened by string lights about half a mile from the finish line at the South Christian Under the Lights Invite Friday, Aug. 22. McCrumb was one of five medalists for the TK girls' team in the Midnight Division race. I a 1 to anibias I 4 • • _ < aiUHft t I I £0092 » «* .J rfctraq ♦ ) I •t *5 I J > < 5 ? iv •I F'. I r f. * F(t I - J) to* .*•. ■ ’ ? I • ) • b ev. < > ■ ^4 hV< r■it U 0 1 r iL |V •v • 1 F Si i « I • I 1 ** to to-* 5 - 9 w»* 1 rr- 1 I >* vta I I/U Sy* JI ) ^n-fvH "fs I, L 1 ■I '7 f • I » : I - < •? V 1 I r ( • • I .-^4 ' > '’:iw I j :;w I ♦ I 1 «u. L 1 1 fI I I iOt> - I * I I i J •• — I * 1 iif,' ! ’ r*' f ( 1 » i I *z 'i •■A 4' ■r. jv^r*** f 1 * ' r-i I 'H .4- » r ? r J ) ’ * V . ' ' • a* . i I« I j} 4t* . Ua ' >■ View Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST FRONT covering the Marshall area. Continued from Page 13 Responsibilities include: Advertising sates, Account management, Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts Attend networking events < r -w Our company is growing, don’t miss your opportunity. WE ARE }I J'/ also included junior Anna VanderWal 54th in 22:19.2 and sophomore Tiona Sakala 55th in 22:19.4. Hudsonville won the girls’ meet with 62 points ahead of Rockford 77, Forest Hills Northern 94, Byron Center 170 and Grandville 183 in the top five. The Caledonia girls were sixth with 198 points, beating out Forest Hills Central on a tiebreaker for that spot. Hudsonville junior Cassie Karasinski won the girls’ race in 18:18.4. She was one of foui* girls to finish in less than 19 minutes in the Midnight Division. The top 50 runners in each race Friday earned medals. The CHS boys’ team had ten guys in the top 50. Those top five scorers were joined by sopho­ more Sean Thompson, sophomore Jake Potgeter, senior Kaden Van Ryn, sophomore Levi VanderLaan and ju­ nior Grant Feldpausch. The Caledonia girls’ team had three medalists led by junior Akaela Daman who was 19th overall in 20:37.7. CHS senior Hannah Bennett was 32nd in 21:33.7 and sophomore Charlie Bont was 38th with a new PR of 21:43.8. The top five for the Caledonia girls H, •s t ’ ♦ ' I 1 . 15 4 i * * Sb Saturday, August 30, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com adding depth for both this season and the future. With several athletes just 20-40 seconds off their personal bests, sharper performances can be expected as the season progresses.” Hudsonville’s Caden Livermore was one of three guys to beat ±e previous meet record on the night as he won the Midnight boys’racein 15:19.4-the third fastest boys’ time across the four divi­ sions Friday. Lowell had the second and third finishers wi±junior Marshall Huhn clocking in at 15:27.6 and senior Cooper Byrne at 15:49.8. All three of those top finishers set a new personal record. With four of the first 11 finishers the Lowell boys handily won the champion­ ship with just 51 points. Holland West Ottawa was second with 102 points ahead of Caledonia 110, Rockford 126, Allendale 149, Hudsonville 164, Forest Hills Northern 194, Grandville 206, Ot­ tawa Hills 242 and Forest Hills Central 251 in the top ten. ^1- •1 •3 siif •*'V > I* n J J f 0 J . 'X •;» tta 3 nr •i. UlK' *X v> 'W Ji i^Kg4.Aa AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE ) Group I mihomepaper.com ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer’s Guide and News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder ■ St. Clair Area View Send resume to: Chris Stiverman csilverman@rnihomepaper.com 269-945-9554 I I ( t ,<3 I » J’ J, T A^’X'F 1 .•i J t 1 1 M r'i :J ♦ ! 1 II I I I • I» 'n 1 I I t ') r A > .li H 1 J Ift u I I 1 1 'ft J i s n I 9 \ f II I ' ZJ �« < 16 Saturday. August 30. ?025 THE SUN AND NEWS WWW rr nunnrMw^. ncwn I - » ' I ■IHW I,, 6 F* I > SAVE THE DATE CRAFT BEER , AND WINE FEST 4 V J .1 I Daily News - View Newspaper Group is hosting f 1 a I t * • w fl ) .. F’ i I < I H *• ■/ 1 L’ c- r t ANk R ■< i •6 I •* *^ T" ■ F .• .'S'., <♦ 4 *4* . > FT*** « J Saturday, October 11,2025 iv< I IV r I'f 2-7 PM, TIVOLI SQUARE, DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE L Hr 4 1 > * % r. TYw event benefits Rotwy Club • .'I FRee f • I I I i' ■NF I V.N E 4 a » J I ,w J • • • .4 1, n u . ] >' ••• 5^VAPV-HS ’0 I I > «r '•.. .1 k ■*. BRiV!!y,H! bottles, L I ■■■ ( S. V Ifj I E I I I ’’WB • •• *<r . I ADVANCE TICKETS: ♦J VIP ADMISSION $50 Includes one hour early entry, exclusive food and drink pairing experience. Hops & Grapes 101 with local brewer, commemorative Bottles Brews & News Oktoberfest lanyard, souvenir glass, five drink sample tickets and food EWSPAPER GROUP'S CRAFT BEER AND Wl ^kloBcrfest - 202-5 - GENERAL ADMISSION $30 Includes souvenir glass, five drink sample tickets k and food SPONSORED BY: I : •k I 1 I 1 ) u X 'r » • i I' Ic' YilO Ttjg WH X fe J 1 I V.J'. e ■ t I 1 .t" ! I niV » ; I I u * r r « r P' ISABELLA , BANK Local. Growing. Slaying. riNTER 11 H siMPLi.Fi MiKaui'f? INSURANCE AGENCY AddItlonal tasting t/cl^nfs e,t be available fc^r ever,> for $1 oach. I « ) AAE I COMMERCIAL BANK 9c; MMWftMl / EVENT BENEFITS: EVENT HOSTED BY: DAILY NEWS Rotary VIEWar^ Group Club oi Oreenvihe, Ml r J Sponsorships available. Contact Amber Rood at arood@theclailynews.cc or at 616-548-8257 ' ' I ■ 1 i»• I I O '.') oil u. i lA K U 4 f * r « F-'" V a lA ci : > T" A T‘ < 0 * T * •/ •* s f. J' ’ k! I I 1f iM” II p I I I A'- jQM —jr " I / ) J / / EC i: i I 4; t- !• li Scan QR code or visit thedailynews.cc/ k Oktoberfest for tickets 4 t I / k T ^1 I > A $/>• < t liAI w V FURNITURKANOTPniANCr I ) I � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-09-06.pdf 1498ebde4ecdae2da0993c2c3ec98066 PDF Text Text seen ’AKE OrEuNTK OVER FINAL MILE OF FRIDAY MORNING DUAL I J I THE SUN AND i 1 I I I. "• •• I I •J tf I ! t i I I i I NEWS Tour Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas r ’ft. I R V t ,i PAGE 18 I y A < » < 'Wr .OH Ve I VAf .JOV VOL. 147 NO. 37 uV J I * *1 SI fifi ylwaiih terit zlaeoqoiq no zmoorazfilo bns ztnsbutz sagBn^ 25X12 22b{o gniqssM t gninodq 'rariofiol gniJostoiq aisqaiq fwo aiolBoufaa ^q sniad rtErinsriJm enozgal I whBUeinrmfaB oilBiouBaind dt alOTvr lazgaBnaV fizzilsM It B gi 3d2 .agBster ggatq b ni 3flt to tnsbigaiq faufi TsrioBSl > grit naawtsd laBitnoo srlT 1.33 boB noilBoubSfo faiBofl 00 JfiqA oani? .I£/^lno ) ritiw tarn otbiI gavitatnagai rto§3n f f to! govilstnagaiqai .gnoig )3 ?rT 'to gnirmigad adJ lA jz'. H') gnitasnr biBod iooriog gin< M miT tnabigaiq biBod 2 idVS :: btFOL Jn5nT3JB)2 .-i83VUBJn92 2I3rl3fi3t OJ 3Z£9T5ni tciea 32Bdfasiuiisfioa Qt 23mioni ritrw r 2i5ri3fiot won Toi noiagoa noiJfih > IC •^-02 B 21 riooaM nB2u2 r f otoLDlo EDDW Iff > — - sbbl 5YI1 CnSIONEU bsTj 51S moriv/ BESIDElUiVr WBMSa L riotelsD boewMj 1338' iJrrarnjo i snO rI •' i ) k t 1 I J 'j I J f 7 n ICO 1 c ** * J < r J 'J f I i J1 « I f J I T k I i lU e- ^38 H. 'l mi bVID 0 2 bosivee bklSX SID i Ia i fir 1 ' ’S .’J-1 C’ .T ijxjr ’weK^. ; * •r M'.' K' r.; 5« f t ®^RR59> MiaW •• ^;:a f I t « I )) V I z ;<■ t s 2 r li« I Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer nbiTOwfo gd39W owl ritiW ladl T3faHu gloBUfKW bio liaril aanoO BinobsfrOlB gisrioBgl B gniqori aifi gloori32 $ .4 I 1/. I 1 tflohdB-oilwT n9i6)l latiiW I I- Contract negotiations continue between Cal Schools and teachers’ union sUogsn t3Bi)no3 lawtsd auniJnoa bnc alooriaS IsO noinu ’zisriassf 1 s T’;r » 1 I >02 b5ftJ92 sd Ufw JnQfnQ3'i3fi tstnaaaiqai 233 srit nsawtsd izA noilBM/bS £tnoh9fr3 srit tonfi toI Jam zaitifiq ovfi srfT [it 283Tq isftB aioitBitogan lo .yBbautflT tiBrnai ztadoBSl £inofa9l£3“ www.sunandnews.corn SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2025 T • > < f ''.i 'V With two weeks of working under their old contracts under their belts, teachers at Caledonia Community Schools are hoping a new contract agreement will be settled soon between the CCS representatives and the Caledonia Education Association. The two parties met for another round of negotiations after press time on Thursday. “Caledonia teachers remain focused on proposals that directly affect local students and classrooms every day; keeping class sizes manageable and protecting teacher plarming time so educators can prepare high-quality lessons rather than being pulled into bureaucratic administrative meetings,” Melissa VanGessel wrote this week in a press release. She is a third-grade teacher and president of the CEA. The contract between the CCS Board of Education and CEA expired on July 31. Since April, BOE rep­ resentatives have met with CEA’s representatives for 11 negotiation ses­ sions. At the beginning of the CCS regular school board meeting on Aug. 18, board president Tim Morris read a statement aloud saying board repre­ sentatives offered the union a 4.5% increase to teachers’ salaries and scheduled base salary increases, along with increases to starting base salaries for new teachers, at the August nego­ tiation session. Susan Reoch is a 20-year resident of Caledonia and has waaa three of five kids uawoisns whom are graduates from ivuNaaisau ssMuoa IN ‘e|||AU88J9 Caledonia High School. 0>€XO8Od 8CC# iiuu»<r One is currently enrolled 8e88> 1^ '©lliAuesJO See UNION on 4 — R> « « »r if'. « ! >*. r w’’ X 4 I >< 4 iV /■ T < * » ■ I' Of. > J k «>* * RAa *1* I f. X' I .7'* -37 ¥■ .T: J < ) & KU d4 '% k uS>K t gm Uy" 7 <• Xji£ i Members of the Gaines Township Planning Commission discuss a proposed Amazon delivery station at their Aug. 28 meeting. Photo by James Gemmell Amazon submits site plans for third building in Gaines Township James Gemmell Contributing Writer Amazon.com, Inc. plans to expand its presence in Gaines Charter Township with the addition of a new delivery station north of 68th Street. But first, company officials will have to come back to the Gaines Township Planning Commission for approval at its next meeting Thursday, Sept. 25. Gaines Community Development director Dan Wells apprised plan­ ning commissioners at their Aug. 28 meeting that Amazon had sub- BQVlSOd s n OLS ISUd I i I. ter across the street, between 68th Street and M-6. That facility is used to sort packages and prepare them for local delivery. “It’s all automated,” Wells said. “They get the orders; the orders get packed onto pallets. The pallets get slid into the van and off the van goes.” The new building would be locat­ ed between the fulfillment and sor­ tation centers, and would be used for delivery operations. The Gaines Township Planning Commission gave approval in May See AMAZON on 6 mitted a site plan for construction of a third building to be located within the township. “They just dropped the plans on us, for an approval of it,” Wells said. “They’re ready to move on it, as soon as they get approval.” The original planned unit devel opment for the site was previously approved. Amazon opened a $150 million fulfillment center in March 2020 at 4500 68th Street, near Patterson Avenue. Less than three years after opening the 850,000-square-foot facility, it opened a sortation cenOB r' aivd •s •€ ' r �t Saturday. September 6, 2025 2 THE SUN AND NEWS I WWW. sunandr>ews com ) i 4. i Alto gears up for annual Harvest Fest & Car Show ■ 7 I#''A* ► A 1 r 3 I t I The small town ofAllo will hold their biggest annual event of the year, the 44th annual Alto Harvest I estival & Car Show, on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. activities fin' all ages. Hosted by the Alto Harvest Festival Committee, the festival runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ihe festivities begin with the Alto/Bowne Township Firefighters Pancake Breakfast from 7 to lO a.m. at the Alto fire station on Bancroft Road. Golf cart shuttles will be available Io and from the breakfast. Opening ceremonies are set for IO a.m. at Veterans Park, with the national anthem, a formal flag raising and presentation ofcolors by the Alto American Legion Post No. 528. Festival-goers are also urged to come out and check out the ever-growing car show, featuring between 175-2(X) cars. Registration for the car show begins at 7:30 a.m., with the event running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Goodie bags and dash plaques will be given out to the first 150 entries, and ‘*Top 50” awards will be presented. There is a $ ] 5 entry fee for the car show. And, those planning to attend the festival should come hungry. The Alto American Legion will be open to the public throughout the day and will have a food booth in front of the post, while the Allo Lions Club will be offering walking tacos, popsicles and assorted drinks. Also, Alto Faith Bible Church will be serving up hot dogs, polish sausage, chips and beverages. Hublxrrt’s Kettle Com will have a variety of Kettle Com and pork rinds. During the day, festival-goers will find contests and activities for all ages, including such returning favorites like the Blue-Ribbon Baking Contest. Entries may be dropped off at the library starting at 8:30 a.m. Double entries are required, one for the taste judging and one for Baking Bingo, a new twist on an old game. Instead of prize money, winners will be awarded various baked goods and baking essentials. Also, according to organizers, the craft and vendor show gets underway at 9 a.m. and is set to feature up I t to 20 booths. Alto library's gently used book sale runs 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For the younger crowd, there's a children's scavenger hunt and other events. Children will be able to enjoy a variety of activities at the Kids Zone, located on the green at Alto Baptist Church with inflatables. Check-to-Chcck face painting, and a petting zoo. The Alto Lions Club will have free vision screening on site, as part of the Lions of Michigan Foundation Project KidsighL with the focus on pre-school and elementary school children. Live music at Veterans Park begins at 11:30 a.m. and runs through 2;30 p.m. Parking is available at the First Baptist Church. Festival-goers are encouraged to bring their own reasonably-sized chairs. For more information on the festival orrelated events, persons may visit Facebook and search for “Alto Har­ vest Festival & Car Show,” as well as “Alto Harvest Festival Craft & Vendor Show.” DM I ' I*. .f*. r « a"), z»v** aV* A ! / I Antenna Men * 4 k t >1 9 H -- >«5t t * /H « . A » t » , (34®’* “0' ir Ml 5 I ■> : *1 4 < V ■ ,.X I a* ’ ♦ X - V'* ’ . - J*. . ✓ K I ( •IP. p »i ly I 1 < r ' .A V < » , 4 V , ri I < I' -A 4 i ' '.f ■'. a r * I 9 I ' rj*” "*5 •L J r. II 1 J V :'<■: ’I I ♦ » n'- A.<*s •' '« k'. / ri-- rr 0 i I , I 1 c ♦A * * 1" Legal advice offered at no cost to Barry County seniors \ •* ft’’* * I' / • Digital TV Antennas • Starfink Installs • Towers • Cellular Enhancement Systems x: cu n Give us a call! 269-967-8241 1 no- . www.theantennamen.com antennamen0gmail.com www.cetltlgnalprot.com The Legal Services ofSouth Central Michigan-Battle Creek office will conduct over-the-phone interviews for legal advice and possible representation, without charge, to interested Barry County seniors this month. Those who wish to speak with an attorney should call 269-224-5040 between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Legal Services of Sou± Central Michigan-Battle Creek office is a nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance, representation and education to lowincome people in Calhoun and Branch counties and seniors in Barry, Branch, Calhoun and St. Joseph counties. The advice and counsel is funded primarily by the Area Agency on Aging Region 3B through the Michigan Aging and Adult Services Agency under the Older Americans Act of 1965. MM I •l '4 • 9 -- > B r )«i‘^ I lk« ••ri I Alpha 616 Media, llc Nelsan ’ s SPRAY FOAM,LLC photo • video • drone residential & commercial real estate • corporate • events -,i^3.-- *7 - Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 grant@alpha616media.com (616) 638-4751 517-983-0954 k k Grant Alphenaar Owner I Start Saving Today - Usa Spray Foam I# ie» If irass r V’ w Sj' I* 1 - r - I • •’ ' •T" 1, .-■7^ & P '4 sushis 1 *1' n w I t ft r I« ' « ^Vf' / I :■ • V. M ♦ t 'i lNsut4r, SPRAY FOAM MJV t <* ” .. ll 'juU. '• A 4 ' 4 tm£ 9/ -'A' I tj r 1^? 1 t. * .' * Si.. ■«’ ® f 0 1' I K 1 I iI • jXi I •U Closed or Open Cell or Blown-In Fiberglass Alpha616Media.com "tL. *• t •< 4« ........ c La t A> k* f I • Blown-In Attic Insulation IX a"!*®" li.V' I, •* Closed-Cell Foam Insulation »♦ I J A t 1 r. w: - ► i ZK « -3 k.. r ■ Roy Mast. 517-652-9119 2501 N. Ionia Rd., Vermontville :L If 1 *« ikii T 4 i I I* . ■ •.LWi® imwMBW* 1 iCKsteSEj t 1 I V I THE SUN AND NEWS T •w Jt I I - I “J ■? ft ^—1 r < , -— m - -raawftqjtpr- piBaaaway rtr** ' "’'‘ilittbsaeliMil -4'■ ra, tr-1' PUBLISHED BY CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 Editor; Molly Macleod Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sporti: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Please recycle this newspaper AH advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions (n the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies oi which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. 1351 < N. M-43 Hwy , Hastirigs. Ml 49058 ( 269-945-^> 9554). This newspaper reserves the right not 1O| accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have | rx) authority to birxl this newspaper and onlyj publication of an ad constitutes acceptance the advertiser’s order. '• Group mmacleod@mihomepaper.com 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 wvirw.sunandnew8.com xw V. ^5 ii. Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. mm t >* vl A u’S r •• *y «* l< ) n f* * 1 . V“’ ■•'. r C4 ' *-» * kJ. L I *- J ■ % n .*« x: ' h- . A "•4 • » 4?. ^-i v'j b i / t, I I 1 / s * ii ? I 't f f I II I I r* M ‘I « it I > fl I 1 I * 4 t < r I 4 4 4 I I * ► ’ i I •a < K I ' < ’ITf M »• 1« 7. K k “■“•r-J .ifJlf i/e I A r �4 A •t A Ih ’'it* r-* * c. f- ' ‘Jlk. 1 1 « r I I i I I J I I 1 K I er 4 s T,. I 't(;/ I I I I j I \ > ''’A,. -I .a 5 I k I * ri i I J-H.. I ’O. • t :i I f t I t H .. • r. •f i. * 1 i V.I 1 t 1 > i A| I ’t f 1. .i *1 • ‘ r f 1 4 1 X 4 w K * > f. ■ ‘-4‘ I VA mi k s; I 1 ■ / . i i ■’ • "-Ji 7 ll f, J k .' I ■ r/lc'h • I I ................................................... li• n' 4 - r * , ’ ? r r k I Wk ' ^.T * : ' TRr.^ ■■ cXk-. * 1 i. < f G Xrf y, I I r• < sar 1 . I I n ■ -1 "Mg c*-’ 1 n—Wi. 1 '7 i.^1 < « I tvn I t fl < s f, « •J I > « » • 'r > J i ’"W 1*' fx r • ri ! ( •k< t ) I I 7 W I v' < J I I' I I I J * I •■*' I i u* Jij ii T u ' ’Wf t » - fl i| « <.«w ;L.... M /> ' ''f--. 4 I . I I ITCO I I I - . .woiui I k I I J I I 9. I J'U." ■ Tf inO t I -JO O J * y , I J • < Gaines Twp. officials work on amendment for message centers James Gemmell Contributing Writer Gaines Township officials are con­ sidering some additional tweaks to a proposed zoning ordinance amendment for electronic changeable message signs, or ECMs. The programmable digital signs typi­ cally use LED lights or red dots. Currently, Gaines Township only al­ lows for ECMs on freestanding signs, as opposed to wall signs. In June, Midwest Sign Company requested a zoning text amendment to allow ECM signs in residential districts for institutional uses. But the township’s Planning Commis­ sion recommended the township board of trustees reject the request. Instead, Planning Commission members voted at their June 26 meeting to recommend the township board approve special use permits for ECM signs, as long the signs are in residential zoning districts and for Institutional uses. Township trustees recently brought up concerns about the time the signs would operate, how much glare the light might produce at night, and a type of display called a flyout, where a message appears to slide onto the screen in a motion-based animation that might distract drivers. The township board sent the request back to the Planning Commission for further review. And, at its Aug. 28 meeting. Planning Commission mem bers directed township staffers to make changes to the proposed amendment and have it back on the agenda for its Sept. 25 meeting, when it could vote on a recommendation to the township board. “The sign ordinance doesn’t take into account light levels at property lines, whereas the lighting ordinance does,” Community Development director Dan Wells said. “And so, we want to bring those two into alignment. And, then, also create a special use permit approval pro­ cess for LED signs in residential areas.” The lighting ordinance addresses light spill, glare, brightness and shielding, and is not expected to be amended. “The lighting ordinance says that you can’t have light going onto other proper­ ties,” Wells said. “There is some limited allowance for that in our Neighborhood Commercial, commercial/industrial. But in residential areas, it’s supposed to be zero.” However, the lighting ordinance does not regulate signs, so something that eat I 3 AI I ' ' -i THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 5 Saturday, September 6, 2025 zoH 31 ?0fi might not be allowed under the lighting ordinance might be allowed under the township’s sign ordinance when it comes to light that is emitted from a sign. Planning Commission Chairwoman Connie Giarmo said enforcement of the ordinances can be difficult. “We can have all the lighting and sign ordinances we want to, but unless we’re able to enforce what we actually have on the books, we ain’t as good as we think we are,” Giarmo said. “Can 1 just say that. “While 1 appreciate the board’s con­ cern about some of the things they’re seeing, I think enforcement. Because most of what they’re seeing probably isn’t allowed,” she added. “From a technical standpoint, I can go stand at the property line with a light meter, which we have, and measure the candle power at that mark,” Wells said. “And tell the owner of the sign, ‘You have to dim it down to a point at which I ’ m not getting a reading anymore during the night, when it’s dark out. The township’s old ordinance allowed ECM signs in residential zones. But the new township zoning ordinance that took effect April 26 does not. Some township board members noted at a recent meeting that ECM signs have some positive aspects, such as provid­ ing a way for churches and schools to provide roadside announcements about upcoming events. Township trustee Kathy Vander Stel pointed out that the LED signs provide a community service. “I hate to not have any avenue for an institutional use like a school to come in and get a sign,” Giarmo said. “But, on the other hand, our residents were pretty clear they were concerned about the light pollution in residential areas.” “It’s not like they can’t have any of them, they]ust need to follow some strict rules,” added Planning Commission member Brad Waayenberg. Wells said special-use permits are ap­ proved by the planning commission and enforced by the Planning Department. The township rules govern the dimen­ sions of signs and lighting technology. Planning commissioner Ryan Wiersema said a “large chunk” ofproperty at an undisclosed site on 76th Street recently went up for sale that had previously been targeted for development. He asked, if a church were to purchase the property, would it be prohibited from installing an ECM sign under the new ordinance. ^99 rf • t" s n * sr * ... ur ‘ $ 4M<* •% - O1QAM VMN9-WF ^ii iMkl A <• Hn** X T • < Gaines Township officials say they want to balance protecting neighbors from intrusive light from electronic message signs with the community service value of signs in residential areas. Photo by James Gemmell regulations strict enough that we’re con­ fident that they’re following the law?” Giarmo said, adding that enforcement might be difficult. “That it won’t be a nuisance.” “Correct,” Wells said. “So, they could do like the channel-lit signs that glow, that are considered less intrusive. But they wouldn’t be allowed to do a LED (sign) under the current ordinance.” “I think we need to think about are our See CENTER on 6 SCHEDULE YOUR FALL OAK TRIMMING NOW! 1 •V ■1 \ . T A’j « f A M I *1 » * sr v< A .I ■ Jia 4 »w 20 Years Experience! » - * * '■A P7 X I . <«*<«** ■ I flr S • ft V H* Sit •• 4 / « ? amr ?*■* W fl* ** K •i. fl t ‘i ««« J 4 a**. * ♦ z* > . fl .X I T * J j S' I► r I / • ■■.W ..W*’ US< 1-^ t :s e« w«'R 4^ 2 i » \ •-M TRIM YOUR OAKS BEFORE THE SPRING RUSH! z Storm clean up Bucket truck service Affordable tree removals & trims Specializing in difficult jobs Dead Tree Specialist Profession tree climbers that go where trucks can’t go Over grown yard clean ups Save money on cut and leave jobs <s- • • • • < • • 1 i 10% OFF I "■g I I I I I Jobs with Cleanup Service I • Nol vafid flKh iTf other Oder. Hud presort comi ittime o( estmte. Couiion opi^ ^3(V25 Exclusive Cut and Leave Tree Service s We put en the ground, you clean up. SAVE up to 50% Services cost M flM «e n flfli IM KM Fully Insured • FREE Estimates Call or Text Joel ; I I I 1 I t t'.' ; I H J > n J h'I iii ' Il '•! 9 * fl It H I < I I •s A I I \ 4 e go where the work is! e ?5^ .•J ‘* 9 . * s 0 I I r . > i I •a hi ) * T abL4-- 4 I I 1___ 'll •aA •ft" t I I i X @ 616-427-5209 �( fl tu 4 i fe A ; Saturday, September 6, 2025 4 ✓ THE SUN AND NEWS »*»' A I e I r Town hall set for Sept. 20 in Fremont j } Voters and other residents of the Second Congressional District, which includes Barry County and all or pans of 17 other counties in southwest Michigan, are inviled lo a "town hall event on Saturday, Sept. 20. in I remont. Ml Harry County Indivisible has been working with representatives from roughly eight other counties in the Second District, and have invited U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar. as well as Henjamin Ambrose and Jamie Hill and other interested candidates, to join in the event on Sept. 20 at II a m. at I rcTnoni Recreation Center, located at 201 1;. Maple St. in I remont. The event will be moderated by former (irand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell and is open to all interested parlies. — DM LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH J Servtca Timet Surxfay at 9:30 AM S 6:00 PM www.6ta6kab6pti6t.org 7240 68th Straat SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST Caledonia Vine Street Church Join US for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am 250 Vine Street 616-891-8669 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship Ill 3b J Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcnis.googlcpages.com llvpsiffrtm fareliook.com/firstllapfistmiddlevilk* Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH Caledonia Location 9186 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location IB 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY 'CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9;30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville. Ml / www.tvcweb.(X)m 9:30 a.m. (269) 795-2391 itAPEACE CHURCH PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 8;(X), 9:30, and i 1:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8!19 6950 Cherry Valley Rd.. Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee ^4 cornerstonechurch Join us in person or orrtine Sundays 9;3O & Ham 1675 84th St SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstoneml.org/weekend fl HOLY FAMILY J/CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass... 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a,m. Considering becoming Catholic? Cal! or see our website for information. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & It a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. r n 111 p Mi Sunday School 10 lo 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church 4B * 8900 Dufh- Road Middleville, MI 49333 G f » Si/ , rI V • UNION . A r I y i at Ouncan Middle School and the other at C aledonia High School RctKh is a CPA and used to be a public accountant and auditor. She was one of several parents during public comment last month w ho asked that Uk’ teachers be oficred a fair wage. RetKh said at iJie meeting she would like dis­ trict administrators to please show the teachers and staff that they arc valued and deserve to be paid fairly, “I've heard the argument that there is uncerlaint) in funding we will receive from the slate budget. We don't know how many studcnls we arc going to have. Reoch said. “Every business and every school has that same uncertainty when pro­ posing a budget and negotiating sala­ ries. Yet, other schools have agreed to 5% or more rate increases with the same certainty. “You have offered a 4.5% rate increase and whatever you want to make the math look, I will tell you, when you were in the lower half the bottom 10 of the Kent County school districts, giving even a 4.5% raise doesn’t make an acceptable wage. The district has not been able to publish a full 2025-26 calendar at this time. Under Michigan law, the calen­ dar is a mandatory subject of bargain­ ing, and, therefore, a full year's cal­ endar will not be available until it is mutually agreed upon through nego­ tiations. The district will continue to publish an updated partial calendar as it becomes available. BOE representatives say the board is committed to reaching a mutually agreeable contract with the CEA. A full recording of the Aug. 18 BOE meeting can be found at calschools. org/our-district/board-of-education/. e>.. <1 • ,1, r 6* i ■J"' I J I •• I ji' " f' i’ * 4 A r vn I > 1 ^81 I 4 1 «1 .Viv '■i5 » 4i f• I: : 1 ) I* ♦ 9 -0 ♦ <o r. I t ■ .i>*• •V lt» '»• Hit t 1 ■ •* 9 •>* ? . 1.^ r*- f 1 : • 4 1 * .»4 I f •\' 1 Axaw i I I f .-** t « k . e J ■ W*. I 7’ 'r * i 4 I LA i IJ 1 I I/. i./V’ < •r* i I { 4 *u r A ... ■ 5l T r- t ; 4 » r * 4 *9 r .Ht r i I * r fr 1 c ; i iflIBlIl® i J P• " * r» / ’I t ,« • I 4 '2i I *♦ » ! K* n r- til'V I roost k I f , f ;I 1 * » Ml ; s®aMB»w**» *» 4*1 1 I ssdFijf i itaiiM T ■J' If* I 3 « i' . * <* 46 c S’ R •' U I I •u <. t'i'jajl i M^tawBBiaBW? . L:- BMtAV .aoW' ■W-. I I tA’.r Lj; )parHieftHn»fnl.com FannBureMlnsursnce.com .in. >p .w iKVOjfi 7^*^ s -- - 1.’ ' T ■ <1 I 4 s ■», • W ■ £' :v rr^ 4 I 1I 11 / R- 4 i|b^ --.V.r I (269) 795-6627 c rHT...n.m 1 t i wv* T 121 E Main Street Downtown Middleville «* ; lb ' F Jason Parks J1!^ e' '3 ( James L. CoUison, Pasosr >*’ww. yank ccspringsbiblcchiirch.org » I Retfirement •>-A ut ’I Your local agent insures your FARM ‘b \ • V f ■ , ss 6- J t I 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. t .'■V ■ Sunday Morning Worship Community Group........... 4 * CoPtir-^ed from Paye 1 Ask about our annuities and IRAs Shining Forth God's Light e• A /■ 1 f »• �1 I Ik. ANNIVERSARY ANNOUNCEMENT s I i 1 L A* •=«h THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com € r• T ' ) •I <1 I i ■ Tin? 4 •I f'..1 A A ■ » J» X Saturday, September 6, 2025 I INCREASE: A ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH Classifieds Seasons 5 X BUSINESS SERVICES sheets for the bed, diapers, wipes, DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW In our household, November PLOWING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, baby clothes and changes of baby and December are our two most Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. clothes for when the diapers didn ’ t r Or expensive months when money II FT DumpstersSolutions.com J dotheirjob. Expenses added up and r just seems to disappear. We have (616)283-9712. quickly. As we tried to navigate this three birthdays in November, ll massive change in life, we also had and then right around the comer CONSTRUCTION to curb our expectations ofmaking is Christmas. forward progress financially. It was CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, There are seasons in the year Zach Santmier Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. a hard pill for me to swallow, but when you’ll find there’s not as Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard by the third ki^ I finally understood the much wiggle room in your budget to make (269)838-5937 principle of seasons. progress towards your next mark. Unless It is natural and OK for the pace at which you have a lot of winter birthdays, typically WANTED we pursue each target to change. When ma­ February and March are lower expense jor life changes happen, there is a learning WANTED TO BUY: Tractors, Farm months for many families. Just like there Machinery, Tractor Parts, Old Adver­ curve in figuring out your new budget. This are four seasons in the year, your financial tising Memorabilia, Tractor Collec­ doesn’t mean ±at when life changes, we life also has seasons that vary from month tions. We do all the work. Payment can just spend whatever we want whenever to mon±. It is OK if in some months, you Upfront. Call Today 616-826-0556. we want. Absolutely not. However, in these simply maintain your progress. seasons of change, you can slow down your If Christmastime squeezes your budget, EMPLOYMENT forward progress without going backwards. just maintain your progress and be OK with Any extra money you have at the end ofthe GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE sitting in the holding pattern for one month. EMPLOYEE- All aspects of golf month might not have an allocation for a You’ 11 make progress in the months to come. course maintenance, including minute. You may just need to let it sit as you You’ve already proven to yourself that you trimming, mowing, tree removal, figure out what a sustained budget looks like can live offofless than you make and you’ve and bunker work. Please see Evan in this new season. Whether you’re moving, already started making progress as you’ve and apply in person at Saskatoon changingj obs, having a child or suffering the filled up your tank. Simply maintaining Golf Club 9038 92nd St., Alto. loss of a loved one, seasons in life come and for one month is OK. Look at the progress Ml. To set up an appointment call go and your pace of forward progress can to buckle down you’ve already made 616-570-5597 or apply online at and should adjust with the season you are in. and tell the kids that they’re not going to saskatoongolf.com. When seasons change, the goal is not to get presents this year so you can increase go backwards. Don’t forget your savings is a little overkill. Yes, they everything you’ve learned may not get as many presents as they did and start spending because in past years if you were buying on credit, you know you’re not making but it’s OK to wait to increase your savings forward progress. We don’t until next month. want to erase all the progress There are seasons on an annual rhythm we’ve made. Maintaining our that we need to recognize, but there are also position isn’t passive. It still seasons oflife when your priorities are going takes intention. And remem­ to need to be flexible. If you’re single and ber, maintaining our progress working right now, then it’s time to get after L L isn’t a long-term plan. It is it and start working up the Fuel Gauge. If for a short season as we’re you’re married, have two incomes, and are navigating the change in our waiting on having a baby right now, then put life. We still are striving for the pedal to the metal and pursue each target BILL ENGVALL forward progress, even if the with vigor and speed. HERE'S YOUR SIGN: IT WASN'T MY TIME progress is less for a period However, if you’re pregnant with your SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 of time. We just don’t want first child, your pace is going to naturally adto slip backwards as seasons j ust. When we were pregnant with our oldest, LITTLE BIG TOWN change. expenses started to shoot up out ofnowhere. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 Zach Santmier is the owner First, Taco Bell became an actual budget line of Tmmble Agency, Inc, and item for us. For some reason or another, that Tickets available now at the FireKeepers Box Office the author of the personal or FireKeepersCasino.com. is what my extremely health-conscious wife financial course, Increase. craved when she was pregnant, and who was FIREKEEPERS GET YOUR ON He focuses on helping fami­ I to stop her? In fact, to make her feel better, lies escape paycheck-to-payI joined in on the fun! Except when she had I-94 to Exit 104 I 11177 Michigan Avenue I Battle Creek, Ml 49014 check living so they canfreely the baby, she lost the baby weight and I kept Must be 21 or older. Tickets based on availability. Schedule subject to change. pursue their idealfuture. it. On top of Taco Bell, we needed a crib. *■ • •I i;"; Ir •» > « ) If. fl ’’il. X-;. K i ( . 1^;. I eS*« I, ■a : . I s *1 M - % hs -V *^1 IK ‘>^1 t 4j 1 t"'-' sz 1 J i 2^ .w tV 1 I * '4* r> W;' ’XmI f '4 Sallis I* 4. ' * *• k •h * ■iSi. < ) ** ••K . .ft -J r * .* •«nn Tin 1 1 ‘X ...( a? •Ia a 1 .1 li w 4 <1 'Ul VV a I I • z — 9. *I Laansmas celebrate 50th wedding anniversary ??• r I V - L S’ T 1 fj •1 \ IJ I [4ili I Robin and David Laansmawill be celebrating their 50th anniversary on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. They were united in marriage on Friday, Sept. 5, 1975 at Highland Hills Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, Ml. Their children include Dean and Nikki Laansma of Allendale, Ml and Jenny and Jeff Shamess of Fort Hood, TX. They have eight grandchildren. Please send them a card at 32 S. Payne Lake Rd., Wayland, Ml 49348. H i 30 1 s V. hefif .1 4 a ll J V S*. I Ulin lAj » •« « •• • a' i -* I 4' 4 .' ''t t’ ‘ I 1 J 5 I I 4 ij k* 4 T* I I yr 1 I i I I^KI •'.1 * J ' Au 4: I I IMTJ I * f-’. I I I RF > w' ■_. Sa ti'H* f1 ’ i>:f I f r \ • If’ IB' t r 'I A 1Jy I I’lll t p b ’ril tJ I H ••• I Bsa 1 IMi'Me?''" t I, < ■'I- 4 I |HAR>*! I I '*w I « I b < as i Visit us online at mihomepaper.com NOTHIN’ BUT A GOOD TIME r J CAS i NO • HOTE L BATTLE CREEK r L F J ViTcfiF TW �r 6 Saturday, September 6, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS AMAZON Commission completed the first phase of a road-widening project on 68th Street, between Cherry Valley and Kraft avenues, earlier this year in adjacent Caledonia Township. That reportedly led to some increase in traffic by Amazon trucks on 68th Street, near Dutton. Gaines Township officials have been at loggerheads with Amazon over more than traffic issues. In 2023, Amazon appealed its 2022 property-tax assessment to the Michigan Tax Tribunal. It was the second appeal filed since the fulfill­ ment center’s construction was com­ pleted in 2020. Township staff said that appeal was settled out of court at a cost of about $6,000 in attorney fees. Gaines Township receives more than $20,000 annually in tax reve­ nues from the facility. The Caledonia Public Schools and the Kent Intermediate School District also receive annual tax revenues from it. Township officials had signed a contract with Amazon prior to con­ struction that provided Amazon with an annual property tax abatement of about 50 percent. Continued from Page 1 2021 for Ryan Companies Inc. to build a 279,000-square-foot sortation plant directly north of the Amazon Fulfillment Center. Patterson Avenue is used as the entry and exit point. The 219,000-square-foot delivery station will use 68th Street. The development is within the for­ mer Steelcase planned unit develop­ ment established in the late 1980s. As reported in the Sim and News in 2021, Ryan Companies’ director of Real Estate Development, Kyle Schott, told the planning commission that, to ease congestion, the delivery schedules would be strategically timed to avoid peak hours of traffic from other companies in the sur­ rounding area. Township planning commissioners and staff say they have heard numer­ ous concerns from residents about speeding and traffic congestion on the booming 68th Street corridor west of Patterson Avenue in recent years. They cited several serious traf­ fic crashes in that area. The Kent County Road www.sunandnews.com «I 11 kI kI 11 fI 11 4 1 I I If I I •• __ ^Z' A n- 1 -i' TO r . \ 1 \ S3. it < ’-Si^ \ k s •. I > J»* *7--^ IW k » l\' n<' j ! r. I t 1\ nT'’' fu V«‘ 1, *U t ll v >. 11 aV Tv' » t \»u I) • > •. r?. L k fl J' )» 4d* GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM I I Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 -Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters -Humidifiers I a* A Alt* «» Ffc< a ’ yi. «k«A Sr < I 1 I i » BODY SHOP 1 »< ? - h-i A* 1 DeWeerd f68| DEWEERDHTG.COM \'' : >.:■ ' .Zb. 269-792-2234 .k k i^ HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. A 4 *4 > r •< r pm .T“ « /954 LENNOX^ Complete Collision Repair 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 '’e. ACCREDITED V.' V •- 4* ” •f .-_- ' I r “« ■*•*' 4 -.^F- Your trusfed for ( k I > > I .... •F 1 wi« s 'I X ( r I f A ■ r ' >r 4 » ' ^^”1; f X •. I 4 <• * *>iV 1 J I Ml ...A .... I) 4 k ' ’ I ■ f; .-*» ."W 9 I I I «st ' J b J V r ? - -X 4 ' k •■ ■» te" J I i I* Continued from Page 3 BUSINESS HOURS: •M.,- V . o CENTER *VIM* '9 'HiibM.. i 616-891-0150 SI .." V . - 'V I : % 1'^ Vr /« ■ I' II T •MtoW t s ■'■> *♦ t ' Ml. t’' Li The overall site plan layout for the proposed new Amazon delivery station north of 68th Street in Gaines Township was recently presented to township officials. The existing sortation facility is north of the dashed line, adjacent to M-6. Graphic courtesy Gaines Township i-<:r. Residential & Commercial I . i. > T w- 4 T I' f fl fl / S?i^ I 1 I I ! J I vT*-- * f ’.Is 1> .■ y r A* r________ ) !• f • B«^V -ss^^ • I I : J ' •*- . »• / .i\‘kUi \ sssss* f t I A rz. s i - \ < 4 t V>" . l\ * * rA>' i .f 'kdii 1 ft < I- • -r w W ■ W ♦> i.' 'll 'I r *k “I think that’s where the rubber meets ±e road, where we have had difficulties. Our township staff is not able, some­ times, to go chasing down signs. We have been a very growing township,” she said. “We have other things to do.” Adding a special-use permit provision to the ordinance would give the planning commission the ability to make a deci­ sion on a case-by-case basis. “That gives us the ability to look at individual cases, and we can then de­ termine if we’re going to approve it or not,” Wiersema said. Wells suggested that the Planning Commission insert into ±e sign ordi­ nance a provision that light generated by an LED must emit zero candle power at a property line. That would then match the lighting ordinance. “That’s the only thing I see that is actually enforceable,” Well said. “Be­ cause I can get a light-meter reading, then I know.” The Planning Commission voted 5-0, with two members absent, to direct staff to modify the sign ordinance to include a restriction on light emissions past a lot line to zero candle power in residential areas. That would be in accordance with the in’s li ordinance. And _-i .«ea 5^ . r I 1:•• J no &***-:■ 4 n » « ~ WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS kJ ' » ifl * 9 J ( f. •^i^uU IT I •a- 9 T * .J aV I I'» I !.W > fr > >♦ s J- i I u\Vj ’'k U?Aj O'* ■"' . ca I I \ ‘(■-^ kt. Ik XTp J ?. I I I I I I I I 1 I I k I ■m I ■AR • ) I I I i f I \ 1 \ <» • ' .I' «* It ■t r f iBwaHieram >» f • .' /> { 4.. t I « • *' « I M, ■ 'K.. I T: v \ f/1 I Uli Qi ? "... i I I < K I* • I 4 r I f W. t «• I te*r jfl u »w • >I B 'T.. flk f 1*.' kl >"/ L I I :ij ?b **> ) J ; :\ I \ I _*'.^XSD4M. rv tiM i I <.s-* c i I tw**” M t -» '.'ytoi^a h: * . ► ?• * ? ♦ ■. rlTF*r 1 ce^ rtS3'. nr - t < 9. 'ii»r^' i-'44. f\ rM i* ft , t r. f\ rj t, f J,( • 1 11 -lb-::•' ) k I f i. 1' t• I r r •» I ttAT’Trr^^'Jt A r • J I 1 i t f I t J I I 1 I i r .a± I •I ;;'n I’o f > *4 H - y ’ I ( •. -^Tor^' I • k <• Bi i J r c fl i 7 k 1 I t< H « !*• ^i»B I I a* L 1 1 r> )f * ^'T -'- 4-i ‘ f* ' I ) f ♦ _:*y» I *■ », I :V* t �V J *. I >( www.sunandnews.com I > Saturday. September 6, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 7 / t Saxons top TK on last second field goal in opener ► i 1 ft J • f i I I I * f J / I >4 I . T| 1 ft 4 *'« ' 4 f f’G; I \ 1 4 4. 1 I I I r * « f f _, ' 1 f t ,41* * *1 I f ( /;>Bw 9 I I { I1 r f I f 4 I t I « I r k '•'2 4 I I r f J g .'^( * -! 4 «< - ' ’-r I i 11 wUi i : J I 'F-e- V r 4 i ■i * iklT' ^^4 < < Aa i ».X H ’ - a ' J *«■ * rf* « J 4 > I I ' > -Ti' I ■ ■■I Z f fl^A I 1 I w ! J / I / anc.*^ • r •J *• 11 r*i ■■ 1 r >■' k 1! 4k * l» r ‘ r*' • *b»T I > I . 'M r » I J 1 • ♦j.. * '- - ^ • «<w Id .*• D« « I 1 n » ♦ • «• « k . • * ? ^?Ci?s!&u J. ■ ,4- tr ■ ? I > *» 4^ r ’• •4» I< « "U y f V ■T^nWWfjjy; I r’ ^rrq 6 1 il ' I I ’ 1 ^*uu ft'"' -ft ’ a JJf’/ I G' /KiZUi I ■M 11 k 'c ,'l r * <* ( T * • '*h r- «I • ‘ .fc* * N • A ♦ It was the kind of game where all of a sudden the cheer team is leaning over the line where the track meets the turf, backs to the student section, watching the game. Where dads stand stone faced and moms rock back and forth in their foldup bleacher seats as the clock fails to tick fast enough. It was the kind ofgame where it stings a little extra for the side that did not come out on top. Sophomore kicker Cooper Hokanson booted a 33-yard field goal as time ex­ pired to give Hastings a 31 -29 victory over Thomapple Kellogg in week one of the 2025 football season Thursday, j: Aug. 28, inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville. Each team had just one defensive stop all evening long. The Trojans’ came when the Saxons decided to punt the ball away and run off the final seconds ofthe first half. The Saxons’ was as little ' more significant. With the Trojans driving in for what they hoped to be a game-sealing score in the closing minutes, the Saxons’ Connor Cosme made a step at TK quarterback Micah Dock who was running an option to the left. Cosme darted back outside as Dock let his pitch fly, and swatted it up in the air. The ball bounced on the turf, and Cosme pounced on it with 2:34 to go in the game at the Saxon 12-yard-line. “As soon as that happened, I went back and I said to [Cooper] I hate to do this to you,’’ Hastings head coach Jamie Murphy said. “You need to warm up your leg. We might have to kick it. “So, yeah, that turnover was a young man [Cosme] that we are very fond of • * Hi / -3' ■y*’ Sports Editor I i J , J Brett Bremer I ' 5 . »____ac^ * E— ♦J I LZ • Kr .. K ( aa* ’ft L z* - * kilrW I *' A\ i Ki >*** *♦ p * I L<1 M?. I > * - «Ai. »»*« . V* h;=?- > t J I k ,1 V* <• 1 \\ ■A » ■*» W^- « Lrv- X. II,RM III l ' — ll « l ’ lig F» %• *1 t J* L^W . *-■ * r^'T--s •4 .7 r 4 ». e * i Mwi‘i »Ri »ja' ■ iBift ‘ ftt’i *F-* J A M* '- <■ T| 11 r fc I 0*. 7^ k *• ■ft'; , *.*- h ; I ’U'^’ K^yrirtfteiawiT-^ *iA'*%*\* 'i •■(i' 'A-1 *-:*b A? 7 « «?■>* i .'L^d } ft’... Cr * ' ftft ’•♦1’ 7.’ « ? ♦k £1 » ' A» . ______ • •^4r^7ev*rr''-rw**"« .^.4 171 — - ft* • • “n X^9K I ____ * ■ '« wi^i' I .. ■»-.* ,1h Thornapple Kellogg senior back Debo Robinson breaks free to score the first touchdown of the 2025 football season inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville Thursday, Aug. 28. Thornapple Kellogg led throughout most of its season opener with visiting Hastings, but the Saxons overtook the Trojans on a last-second field goal for a 31-29 win. Photo by Brett Bremor him. He is a first ye^ player for us. He’s a tough kid. He is just figuring things out and learning the position and he played well tonight. He stepped at the quarterback, made him pitch it, and then stepped back and tipped it. And then it was bouncing around and it kind ofcame up forward to him and he jumped on it. It was a heck of a play. We do practice the cat and the mouse on the option, and he played it really well. The Saxons had 88 yards to go to the end zone, trailing 29-28 at the time. With Hokanson, a two-year varsity soccer player and new football player kicking for the first time this fall, moving the ball 72 yard towards the end zone enough. Thomapple Kellogg took a 15-8 lead in the ballgame on a nine-yard touch­ down run by senior Zach Eldridge with just over seven minutes to play in the • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar • Everything made from scratch fl > 4*.ft I F AMV first half and held a lead from then on until Hokanson’s kick sailed through the See SAXONS on 9 >• ** > 4ft fc; * >* 4 t' ’< 0 V k A .1 K r: your ) HFe o. fittfe it su/oeter 9 r. 4< * / I 'ifl >> « s ..1 Melgar Momma’s BAKERY & CAFE 1 •< “ r :r:=^ < '<» e « < * rst*. V ■ < PROJECTS FOR FALL SEWING • Tote Bag, Potholders, Hair Ties, Quilts, Aprons, Pillow Cases Upi^Ufi 4 Sn 1 « < !j '^■1I « < < i: ^a':'' ff :j Tt ’f I Ir %<' Uai t V ’ > ■ <■ -I .AM ;w^ X- ■4. kT* • O' ■ , 4*? ' A J *3* 0otf Slgvcs Tou I? I •’ t i I 1 'I K. p AV I .4 ' R< r^:’;v 4 -»«- I I I I I I I I I % T« m; ' -* 4 r? » & 3uy 0*ie Qi>«ciatt^ Coffee fihk Get tke Ztyd ftee must present coupon, 2nd item must be of equal or lesser value, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 10/18/25 1 irif II V .laK’* I ftj I 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 TuesdotAf-FttJiMf: C^turdAy: 8M\-2f>9n 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA / 616-275-1017 / SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM Pickup ! Sfofsoft i OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm «ft •' > k « ( I I « t t V < I •t ft * ft ft ft ft ft ft * ft ft • < ft * • • • • ft ft « K » A I .<.v -i *< & --y^i3^>y"rnajiy" - I fi 1 I J ; If: i I I i I 1 1} 1 i 1*^ i',' I’ I t II I ’ti* I ',1 I 1 .'l ' H * • d n t I J k 1 I 1 ) i k. \ I I sk &• .. 1 I JJ k V *.1 ' Cfeattef^ j 1-^ 4 ***? ?s V QUESTIONS: ASK US... ?• 4 >» •" I ft t ■-ar £■*. ||IV« k t* * >*> b * b ?»b ?* w - Gift Certificates Available- I 9 * .vs**.. J �ft? I Saturday, September 6, 2025 4 / H I «’• THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com yi aIV •1 8 1 5. • X< i ■■ 'jfea.HwucLZW i ft ♦f ir f KENT COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER NOTICE DAY OF REVIEW OF APPORTIONMENTS LISTENING VALLEY NO. 2 DRAIN DATE: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. LOCATION: Kent County Drain Commissioner’s Office 775 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 QUESTIONS: (616) 632-7910 The Kent County Drain Commissioner will hold a Day of Review of Apportionments on the above date, time, and location. The Day of Review is an opportunity to review the tentative apportionments of benefit for each parcel and municipality within the drainage districts. Information can be found on the Drain Commissioner’s website at: https://www. kentcountymi.gov/817/Drain-Commissioner under Petition Projects and Notices. Drain Municipalities in Kent County LISTENING VALLEY NO .2 CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP The Drain Commissioner, engineers and/or other staff members will be available to assist individuals throughout the day and make revisions to the apportionments where neces­ sary. There is no need to schedule an appointment for a specific time on the Day of Re­ view, The computation of costs for the drains will also be available at the Day of Review. Drain assessments are collected in the same manner as property taxes and will appear on your winter tax bill. If drain assessments are being collected for more than one (1) year, you may pay the assessment in full with any interest to date at any time and avoid further interest charges. Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation in the Day of Review should contact the Drain Commissioner’s Office at the number noted above (voice) or through the Michigan Relay Center at 7-1-1 (TDD) at least 24 hours in advance of the Day of Review to request mobility, visual, hearing, or other assistance. Comments on the apportionment of benefits may be submitted to the Drain Commissioner in writing before the date of the Day of Review to 775 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, or electronically to drinfo@kentcountymi.gov. Comments may also be submitted in writing or verbally at the Day of Review. Comments submitted in advance must be received by the Drain Commissioner prior to the Day of Review to ensure consideration. You may appeal the determination of apportionments to the Kent County Probate Court within ten (10) days. The following is a list of any county, township, city, and village to be assessed at large in Kent County in the drainage district: CALEDONIA CHARTER TOWNSHIP The following is a description of the lands constituting the drainage district: Listening Valley No. 2 Drain: Sec 3, T,5N., R.IOW., Caledonia Kent County, Michigan The following additional information can be found on the Drain Commissioner’s web­ site at https://www.kentcountymi.gOv/817/Drain-Commissioner under Petition Projects and Notices LA map of the lands constituting the drainage district 2. Assessment Roll and years of spread 3. The Notice of Letting that includes: • Number and length of sections, the average width of each section, and if the drain will be closed, the amount and specifications for all tile or pipe required; • Location, number, type and size of culverts or bridges to be installed; if any; and • Conditional upon with the contract will be awarded. Dated: September 9, 2025 Kenneth J. Yonker, Kent County Drain Commissioner ft * ' ft T. ft lift *A *• A ft It was a pretty outstanding 2024 for the Caledonia varsity boys ’soccer team in its first fall under head coach Lucas Dishnow. The Scots were 13-4 and the only team that bettered them in the first season ofOK Green Conference soccer was the Byron Center squad that went on to finish as the MHSAA Division 1 State Runner-up. All those victories, but the Scots were upended by Rockford in the opening round ofthe state tournament. That will provide a little bit of motivation for the Caledonia boys this fall, but Dishnow said his players already know what it’ll take to repeat last year’s triumphs and even try to improve on them. “I think they know the level of expectation and what it takes to have a successful season. That type of cul­ ture, expectations are already met,” Dishnow said. “It’s already set. I think that high level of commitment to the offseason that leads to the season is understood. Hey, we had a really good season what do we need to do it again? Notice to Creditors TO ALL CREDITORS: The Trustor, CRISSY L. KLEMKOSKY, (date of birth February 5, 1959), who lived at 816 Arhana Crest Dr., Middleville, Ml 49333, died August 22, 2024. Creditors of the decedent are notified that all claims against the CRISSY L. KLEMKOSKY FAMILY LEGACY TRUST, dated June 29, 2023, as amended, will be forever banned unless presented to HEATHER MARIE THOMPSON, Trustee, within four months after the date of publication. Notice is further given that the Trust will thereafter be assigned and distributed to the persons entitled to it. Date: June 29, 2023 Prepared by: Heather Marie Thompson, Trustee 4220 Bender Rd. Middleville, Ml 49333 Prepared by: William E. Westerbeke, P65185 Westerbeke Law Firm, PLLC 4595 Broadmoor Ave., SE, Suite 236 Grand Rapids, Ml 490506 Phone:(616)965-2060 Fax: (616) 775-6444 —■': v 0* > 4 .ft »■ i * iOl Brett Bremer Sports Editor Thursday, September 25, 2025 TIME: New keeper, new head of the attack for CHS boys this fall ■> L What does that look like?” The group of returnees is led by senior captains Gage Helinski and Brecken Byrd. Helinski will spend time in the midfield and on defense this season, and Byrd will be primarily a defender. Rocco Calabrese, a junior, is another key returnee in the midfield. “A lot of other kids are stepping up. Sure there are some other seniors stepping up too, but those are some big impact players returning from last year,” Dishnow said, Nicolas Long is taking over in goal for the Fighting Scots this season as a junior, following up on a season where then senior Simon Hilton and the Scots allowed the fewest goals a CHS varsity team ever has in a season. The guy in the back is new, and the Scots will be hunting for a new guy on the opposite side of the field to lead the attack. Drew Diebolt was named to the MIHSSCA Dream Team a year ago and opened his collegiate career playing 71 minutes as a defender in the University of Michigan’s 1-1 draw with Notre Dame Aug. 21. Those are big cleats to fill up top. It’s a great opportunity to see who can step up to that new role,” Dishnow said, adding that he has a long list of forwards looking forward to giving it a shot. A couple of the exciting additions to this season’s squad include Noah Kapplan, who has spent time previ­ ously playing high-level club soccer, and Owen Mancuso, a transfer from East Kentwood. The Caledonia team is 3-3 to start the season. The Fighting Scots had an early showdown with Byron Center and fell 1 -0 Aug. 25, but bounced back in conference play for a 3-1 win over visiting Mona Shores Aug. 27. They overwhelmed Grandville on the road Tuesday this week 7-0. The Scots opened the season with a 4-0 loss to Okemos Aug. 21 and then went 1-1 at its own Scotland Yard Invi­ tational Aug. 23 beating Wyoming 3-2 in a shoot out and falling 1-0 to West Ca^holis in a second ghpt.out,, , ,,, J s. -lit'* I, 4, i f9 * 4 .p f ji I’ V ¥ «l*1 < 4 .1* fK I » ' J I • O"!» ft .3 yr 1* J f I > ! 9 l^» I I i i‘V .< •) ■ I 0 ft I T»' 4' iV .r r ■ J ,x ej I IS * It r»’ >* -.-yj ft f t • ji>' i .4 I / ft >• u C" «e r U2 '.y > I I I »• r 4 I « I > 'A I. ft*' . 1 '• r.F I -a r I i I I F< w J I'' I •'ll* ,z 5^ ^'1.. -b-®' 4( T*' '*1 ..ot i F i wftr i.i iK’' ziMt* I* r St’ ■ I - < ■ ytaB' J r * 1 I .•ft I Ift v; I t I / i. /r «v • iidr/r' Aft I t If I \ ■ •J' • dHir S'j i' I . < I r* 11 I uJ it I r «9/* I 1 Uf*1 ii JK?** 1h It I k-- I I r* 4 < ft • ’ ft <K’ f * I A tt«c r t - . .xW I ** ' i I TIOO - ‘‘J 4.* ‘ 9 J i, , . Li ’ U> * ' >' **•* •4. > * rv 1 Kis , ,Tfjt I ft i{?5£ I I r 9 ' -ha tev'T'’”--* I ■ ig®-rtEE^Bnsr X fc< • 1 ♦9 ft I ft. a L; \ I i. •. / YSEiBau I1 I ftk? t ■■■ i . 1 4 . .X •• . ft- - - n 14 I ) I* k ftb **tr nrh^'T*’,^ ^QXTftl 1 J I •* I >^4 r ft* ** ; > ti^? Xft- *** ’’W ( r«K^;a JjitC;. ^BiA f 1 I J t J •» 1>T ► iI «. I f I t k*♦ ^Oft J ■ ■ r t I jO&ft ... i �ilk I r 1J « ■ i i ? ■ g- I ( I % t I ( .n I A I I .4 (N. h, I I X A 9 * I > r? * s .I •If •4 4 u. i < T 4^ I Xi. I I I •* N/ kt I** • «r M 4 I i ■ 'Cf- ' 'T1 'I a * . ix “h 04 V’' J Ih I e H ... f ■f*. 1 ’« I,. bui,; *n ( ■*rfw /sV.'. 4 ( ■* J , f; 1 I 4’ 11 ■n'‘>* * I H • Ii ’ft. A I •• 'i < ’’1 i "I i 1 I ■’A* 4 io i * 9 -I*,. 'Mv ■ ’»-fL/ '•M i' 4 I J ■ ' J rt- "-A 11 '•>1 Jr*-.'.,;. A :h 1 • j I r’ a *'Sl .t ' r ?14 i Mr ■ ‘r ’ 4 n V 4 » ••I a J a * ' V < 5 1«U. I •1 w A !h K''^'•1 I wBifj II ZI.J Il r 'I • '1.4 ' , 'A 'ft Continued from Page 7 middle of the uprights in the dark sky. Eldridge scored two touchdowns on the night, also diving across the goal­ line from six yards out a minute into the fourth quarter. TTie TK two-point run by junior Jack Smith following that touchdown had the Trojans in front by two scores, 29-20. Hastings answered with a seven-play, 72-yard drive that ended in a three-yard touchdown run by Trevin Russell, and a two-point conversion run, with 7:25 to play in the game. Hastings was within 29-28 after those eight points were added to the board. The big play on that drive was a fourth-down pass from quarterback Mason Tossava to a diving Spencer Wilkinson that moved the ball from the TK 24-yard-line to the three, keeping the drive alive. Wilkinson had the wind knocked out of him crashing to the turf to make the catch on a ball that at first glance looked like it was too off target for Wilkinson to ever catch up to, as Tossava had to fire it rolling to his right. TK opened the scoring with a 19-yard touchdown run by junior Debo Rob­ inson and a Mason Chivis extra-point kick. Hastings moved in front on its one first quarter drive that culminated in a one-yard TD run by Russell. A Cardale Winebrenner two-point run put the Saxons ahead 8-7 for a bit. TK answered that with Eldridge’s first touchdown run early in the second quarter. Dock ran in the two-point try for a 15-8 TK lead. Hastings answered with a four-yard touchdown run by Winebrenner, but TK came right back with a 90-yard kick­ off return for a touchdown by Maddox VanEngen. The two teams went into the half with TK in front 21-14. Hastings got within 21-20 on a fouryard TD run by Russell, which was the only score of the third quarter. Russell closed the night with 17 rushes for 88 yards and had one 54-yard reception. Tyler Frazer had 12 rushes for 71 yards and had two big catches too for 35 yards. Wilkins had two receptions for 56 yards. Winebrenner closed his night with ten carries for 39 yards. Tossava was 5-of-7 passing the ball for 134 yards. “They were changing things up,” Murphy said ofthe TK offense. “They’re big and physical and moved us, and they changed things up enough that we were having a hard time figuring out their rhythm. It didn’t put us on our heels, but it made us guess. We were wondering where the ball was going to go. They did a really nice job of mixing things up.” Malachi VanEngen had three rushes for 72 yards, and Robinson closed his night with seven carries for 58 yards to lead the TK attack. Smith rushed five times for 41 yards and Eldridge had five carries for 21 yards. The Saxons never let Dock break free. He had ten carries for six total yards on the night, and was 2-of-3 passing for 19 yards. Eliot Neff was on the receiving end of both those Dock completions. *«* ' nil rr * Fighting Scots shut out Canadian foe in game one .1 » .hi > » ‘'A’KIiiaiiKpfi, WiKF) J *1 0 -i-h I 4 I K 4 Ii *I I 4 r t . I ''"iirMdtaCfig I I > fl *1^ I € zjr < i r j *(r 'T*' - ' SAXONS THE SUN AND NEWS * I'' TV www.sunandnews.com ') J -• a' .-bf hA I •4-' ‘ • 11 * .« 1r . k k‘ • I . '.1 Brett Bremer Sports Editor On a night that the Caledonia varsity football team celebrated its 1950 team that went undefeated without allowing a single point all season, the Fighting Scots moved to 1 -0 with a shut out Thursday, Aug. 28. Caledonia opened the 75th season of football at what is now Ralph E. Myers Stadium with a 36-0 victory over Wind­ sor Holy Names Catholic. The night was also the first as head coach for former defensive coordinator Whitney Bell. His Scots got the job done offensively and defensively. Junior quarterback tossed a pair of touchdown passes to teammate Aaron Collins, ran in a score himself, and run­ ning back Ryne Wysocki scored the first two touchdowns of the season for the Fighting Scots. Wysocki had a five-yard TD run in the first quarter and a three-yard TD run in the second to help the Scots move in front 15-0. The lead grew to 29-0 at the half as Backus tossed TD passes that covered 25 yards and 34 yards to Collins. Backus scored the lone second half touchdown on a one-yard run. Landry Mueller was a perfect 4-of-4 on extra-point kicks for the Scots. On the night, the Fighting Scots outgained Holy Names 394 yards to 95. Backus was 8-of-14 passing for 136 yards and he rushed 13 times for 102 yards. Wysocki finished with 13 rushes for 70 yards. The biggest play of the .......................... See SCOTS on -10 Saturday, September 6, 2025 KENT COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER NOTICE DAY OF REVIEW OF APPORTIONMENTS AND REVIEW OF DRAINAGE DISTRICT BOUNDARIE SOUTHBELT INDUSTRIAL DRAIN DATE: Thursday, September 25, 2025 TIME: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. LOCATION: Kent County* Drain Commissioner's Office 775 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 QUESTIONS: (616) 632-7910 The Kent County Drain Commissioner will hold a Day of Review of Apportionments and Review of Drainage District Boundaries on the above date, time, and location. The Day of Review is an opportunity to review the tentative apportionments of benefit for each parcel and municipality within the drainage districts. Maps of the proposed drainage district boundary revisions can be found on the Drain Commissioner's website at: https://wwAv.kentcountymi.gov/817ZPrain-CommissioDer under Petition Projects and Notices. A general description of the lands by section number proposed to be added or deleted from the drainage district, as recommertded by a licensed professional engineer or surveyor for the drain, is as follows: Drain Municipalities in Kent County SOUTHBELT CALEDONIA INDUSTRIAL Portions of Sections Added Portions of Sections Removed 1 7 TOWNSHIP The Drain Commissioner, engineers and/or other staff members will be available to assist individuals throughout the day and make revisions to the boundaries or apportionments where necessary. There is no need to schedule an appointment for a specific time on the Day of Review. The computation of costs for the drains will also be available at the Day of Review. Drain assessments are collected in the same manner as property taxes and will appear on your winter tax bill. If drain assessments are being collected for more than one (1) year, you may pay the assessment in full with any interest to date at any time and avoid further interest charges. Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation in the Day of Review should contact the Drain Commissioner’s Office at the number noted above (voice) or through the Michigan Relay Center at 7-1-1 (TDD) at least 24 hours in advance of the Day of Review to request mobility, visual, hearing, or other assistance. Comments on the apportionment of benefits and drainage district boundaries may be submitted to the Drain Commissioner in writing before the date of the Day of Review to 775 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, Ml 49503, or electronically to drinfo@kentcountymi.gov. Comments may also be submitted in writing or verbally at the Day of Review. Comments submitted in advance must be received by the Drain Commissioner prior to the Day of Review to ensure consideration. You may appeal the Drain Commissioner’s decision to revise the district boundaries to the Kent County Circuit Court within ten (10) days, and you may also appeal the determination of apportion­ ments to the Kent County Probate Court within ten (10) days. The following is a list of any county, township, city, and village to be assessed at large in Kent Coun­ ty in the drainage district: Caledonia Charter Township The following is a description of the lands constituting the drainage district: Southbelt Industrial Drain: Sec. 7, T.5N., R. IOW., Caledonia Charter Township, Kent County, Michigan The following additional information can be found on the Drain Commissioner’s website at https:// www.kentcountymi.gov/817/Drain-Commissioner under Petition Projects and Notices 1. 2. 3. A map of the lands constituting the drainage district Tentative Assessment Roll Computation of Cost Dated: September 9, 2025 Kenneth J. Yonker, Kent County Drain Commissioner '•> i it I I I i I 1 1 I I t 1 a 1 i H ’ I ; I) \ J 9 �V r K£ >7' : .4 ■J 10 Saturday, September 6. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 1 I www.sunandnews.com J 1 CHS girls shoot to third at second league jamboree CL8 girls turn in great early flmes in Rockford pool Sports Editor Caledon ia/lx)wc11/South C 'hri stian senior Sophie Ciaylord won the 100yard freestyle, the 100-yard back Stroke and was a part of a relay win for the Vikings Thursday at Rockford. The host Rams took a 114-72 win over the visiting CLS varsity girls’ swimming and diving team, but it was a solid night for the Viking squad. Gaylord, Amelia McCann, Aliya Van Hofwegen and Caillyn Morris teamed up to win the 200-yard medley relay at the start of the night. They finished with a time of 1 minute 57.15 seconds, a little over two seconds in front of the top Rockford foursome in the race. rhe I OO-yard breaststroke was the only race that the CLS girls didn’t have someone place first or second in. The Rams also did boost their point total by having the top four scoring divers at the meet. Gaylord won both of her individual events. She beat her nearest competi- I 4 Reeths-Puffer junior Sophia McCol­ lum was the day's individual champ with a two-ovcr-37. Jenison junior Kylie Coffey shot a 39. Junior Emily Walbeck shot a 50 for the Scots and senior Halley Stout added a 51. The Scots’ number four score was a 54 from senior Katie Honhart. The Scots were set to take part in the Russ Johnson Invitational hosted by Kenowa Hills at Gracewil Country Club Friday, Sept. 5. Caledonia returns to Muskegon Country Club Monday for the East-West Showdown. The OK Green Conference season continues when the Scots head to Lin­ coln Country Club for the Mid-Season Jamboree Sept. 11. Sports Editor tor by almost three seconds to win the 100-yard freestyle in 53.65 seconds. She also won the I OO-yard backstroke by more than five seconds with a time of 1:01.80. Teammate Lily Klein wasn’t far off a runner-up finish in that backstroke race placing third in 1:07.85. CLS junior Mya VanderZwaag had a runner-up time of2:03.06 in the 200yard freestyle and was the runner-up in the 1 OO-yard butterfly with a time of 1:06.39 and the 500-yard freestyle in 5:35.63.. McCann raced to a runner-up time of 2:30.50 in the 200-yard individual medley and was second in the 100yard butterfly in 1:06.39. Morris won the runner-up points in the 50-yard freestyle with her time of 26.41 and was the fastest CLS girl in the 100-yard breaststroke with a third place time of 1; 17.73 which was less than half a second from second place in the race and less than one second from first. Van Hofwegen was third in that 50 freestyle with a time of26.78. f g Brett Bremer Brett Bremer I The F ighting Scots were third Tuesday as the OK Green Conference gath­ ered for its second varsity girls’ golf jamboree of the season. Byron Center took the victory al Muskegon Country Club with an over­ all score of 175 strokes. Jenison was second with a score of 192 ahead of Caledonia 199, Reeths-Puffer 199 and Mona Shores 214. Senior Codie O’Krangley led the Caledonia team with a 44, which put her in a tie for fifth individually on the day. Byron Center had four ofthe day’s top seven golfers led by juniors Averie Hof­ man and Izzy Tawoda who each shot 43. SCOTS A i 41^ night for the Scots came from back-up quarterback Conlan Schultz who fired off a a 42-yard run late in the ballgame and had 47 yards rushing total on two carries. Collins closed the night with four re- it I r I t t s 3 t t. I a : ** I * 7-4 T T I b I I J V t » : I r.. I ^>1 1 s A V.:. w < 5 [itft ceptions for 87 yards and Lincoln Senti added two receptions for 21 yards. Elliot Clark had a team-high five tackles for the Fighting Scot defense, including a sack and two tackles for loss. Caledonia was slated to host ReethsPuffer Sept 5 and will be on the road to start OK Red Conference action at Grandville Friday, Sept. 12. Continued from Page 9 I I I . I ♦ ri •JI I* I •l ... ( •I' -•'’W THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN ROOFING r > 4^ 1 Uh' U< -I rs « 1 4 1 SHERRIFF GOSLIN* ) A. r .• / V li ■J * . > I L •ii * •<! r* 4 • H f AS L NB>4U J jd •I «b m* . ftcMt A* * <«k. 'r 4 «» y V * w J— . -1^ - - \--- V0 « W... f- Simply Perfect < * • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH llS-t^ YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU d i K —- , u I ♦ I iXt 4 '> *•’1 J 5 aisrt * ’*^L E .» IL^ If I A * * . , a <1 t I M QUALITY ROOTIMS lb' ♦ I .Jf Scan our QR code to find your perfect invitation! I f !’***’’' I i g f ** f * 1 J * '‘,V I A X r IF ;r._ jiat> isastfifflK > «» ♦ 1 / V' Bfe(>lf™f- fe^ WKIf '.•.'.I HV i * • *4 I *1 I * 9 -.’T 50 WEDDING INVITATIONS CALL TODAY A ♦ «> T t Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. L /• I x ♦• A / .! ft M' PRINTING BY www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com .1 r * K Ir I 1.1^ *. ' 1 - Wffiis »C|] « <» k^*.1 fe'L « •; * * < * «■ * I 4 *• ? * * w Mr\ . I INSPECnON * wsaali 1- FOR YOUR FREE t I 1 -• VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK • *. l> « IS • I • J P 4 269-962-4036 VI. ■ imiU RRiv N » rll V f k t f I r /. 1 < i I •* « •i.* « « f I I c •/ •' . 1 ' z * *tx,~ a ' > . 4 < X.' 1 �■’^1^ ! ♦ A s r t ■ lb ■ ♦ 4 ,S I THE SUN AND NEWS 4 Si- I GRIDIRON VARSITY PREVIEW I I i 1 Saturday, September 6, 2025 11 ♦ ♦ 4 4 I I -------- viEvsr * 5 a ** s * '-<F • Group F k I 4 V *4 «r SEPTEMBER 2025 | SPECIAL SECTION 1 1 If f I t i •hl I* i r/ i J I ► I*., ■’i I •a e POOTBALv PREVIEW j! Il r s 4 51 II 44h 1 / • ■ 9 A 'Wi se ) r •‘1* '.4 .N I L M f '^- s& «« « •w :L5;r t 44 k * V t. F I' » V?:1 / « . o^v. I II« ( F>^ •*«fc A 59 u V I >• 1 "***» ';»i2 V* * i > I I AW!fZ K 1 ■ « * MB-. WR 1* ► w WJ 'lb ■A _ 9^ sSJ 9 s > K v*-. if* ' * 2025.F00TBA iI « » 15 » 41 « 4 ■:*. ■‘I i_ •r T. ■ 4 ,• 11 4 I ‘■i. a.' •*t: ( T------ ---- iKT A A. < 1 — -* r- I i L 4k .'^''' iT .4 t* I Ik. a I I i w I J 4 4 W 1 M. w » < « » ?* 35 « * & W' L :n. -- 1’ I M >«. v;: I » his staff later on was one of the best coaching moves he ever made, didn’t plan to hear the cheers inside the newly renovated Ralph E. Myers Stadium for die state championship team. His Friday night plans included a trip to Hamilton as he is helping lead the Thomapple Kellogg varsity football team’s defense along with long-time fellow coach Tim Penfield. He was hoping to make it to the latenight reunion though. “It’s not something I necessarily talk about,” Burrill said of the state title. “I don’t wear my ring. We talk about it more amongst ourselves, some of the buddies and the coaches or some of the players that I get together with. It really does not come up that often. Once in a while somebody I’m coaching with will say, ‘hey you’re working with a state championship head coach.’ My kids in Middleville don’t really have any idea See SCOTS on 15 ' 4e 1 fclltc rnnboln/' "V) HI f}ir(enoiQmE/rj0TS I t*. T<r «A 4 < fw ** The 2005 Caledonia varsity football team that won the MHSAA Division 3 State Championship. The Fighting Scots were 7-2 during the regular season and then rattled off five straight playoff victories including a 27-6 win over a previously undefeated Haslett team in the State Final at Ford Field in Detroit Nov. 26, 2005. File photo V T e IttribBlKG JH % H1 'fH'M'=)brii t wKjji^ 7^1 % 4? .» He ie!H ' fl fll 3ISt 1 Ti' « 2;’ , I 41.;4 «N 1 ■V I i Scots celebrating 20th anniversary of state championship team •K Il u<ii c ? I '1 * < w There was grass inside Ralph E. My­ _____ __ _ ers Stadium back then. I il J I i ft) Isond-aza^wib'" M-6 was a brand new freeway wrap­ tl'Si n( ping around the south end of Grand < Rapids. St/vWT rto(?»7«fl Davenport University was just form­ auR^nwoM ing its campus there between the high­ iAiAP jK way and M-6. L_J i«». MIhw ’ , >’ .1 ’W The wishbone was the offense. I ff* u I The defense was simply dominant. ill 'C kt teiw During what is becoming a season Krfol o '/la? 'S’ of anniversary celebrations, Caledonia Public Schools was set to honor the I |feryiGAA8rfMi00£ „ 2005 MHSAADivision 3 Football State «i ^iwb enoiqiMA;; Champions during its Sept. 5 ballgame against visiting Reeths-Puffer inside Cb&tdmy Ralph E. Myers Stadium. » 151 W»i. I . 4. Those 2005 -Fighting Scots defeated. 1 • b I •* • i t f < li.* u:' 1 b 1. I r 4 I >> - LW . l; r •4 a *1 I 1 F‘ Ti •» rt. Ii I• J 4/ 1 •>i I I f A. 9 0 II I. t. *.1 ' 6 I" a previously undefeated Haslett team 27-6 in the MHSAA Division 3 Football Finals at Ford Field in downtown Detroit Nov. 26, 2005, rolling over the Vikings like they had most of their playoff foes that fall. The Scots won their five postseason games by an average of 28 points. Bloomfield Hills Lahser was the only team to score more than a single touchdown against the Scots during the postseason, in what was a 49-21 state semifinal win by the Caledonia squad. There were plans for a reunion at a restaurant in Caledonia for the 2005 squad following the 2025 Fighting Scot varsity football team’s bailgame with Reeths-Puffer Friday night, Sept. 5. The 2005 Fighting Scot head coach Tom Burrill, who says getting new CHS ,. varsityfootballcoachWhitneyBellonto. .. *•,'•5'^4 ;o'T t- ■•9 i ■14 i > I < 4t v<' . I - ri zX’i . «I .. *.z L^lUkrfdHi^ •’-^•< - ■ fr ;. 1 !» FRONTIER 616-891-8900 BEATING AND CXXJUNG t4 The company built by referrals r «« .* f"-. . 4. .. r ■ •«< r w* t 1. <L^ ■* 9 •*'r’'*^j' .pt A >.4 •* L \ . i I >* A * ST << .i I 1 I » •? t » »> ) f I h « I t ■•.'.It ,1 J s. . '’. . ( ,«< ' </ X k I A □2:/ bJs 210 East Main St. Caledonia MI 1 f 1I < ■It ’1 I 1 I 1 i !£ !♦ r 11 U a 4 4 k 1 I ■b I A rtA T I •a * * i I 1 X / 1 t ’> « .4* r-i . V -t i fflg > « I ».iia .,A 4 1 tR'Att snns|%! «*r * » Brett Bremer Sports Editor > '•Il .• ’h i ♦ » J M L ; :i k *♦ « k :r Ail93 T' I l_ I *▼*•3 '•w s (I 1 f \ ! 99 �Ji 4 ' r' I) and news TH" X l ‘ iiuj MH ’ ’ '< «■ r grid iron VARSnV PREVIEW V:! ■V A r ♦ ♦ ♦ Scots have talented skill group around junior QB There is some carryover, but really it is a whole new era for Caledonia varsity football. Former defensive coordinator Whit ncy Bell takes over as head coach for a Fighting Scot team that missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019 in 2024. Brent DeYoung, now a senior, was the lone freshman on the state finals roster in 2022. He had three tackles in the season opener last week. And he is a part of a solid group of guys who competed under head coach Derek Pen nington for a season or two or three. Junior Bryce Backus takes over at quarterback for the Fighting Scots this fall with a good offensive line in front of him and some talented offensive playmakers surrounding him. The wide receiving crew is a good one highlighted by juniors Lincoln Senti and Aaron Collins. Returnees along the offensive line include senior right tackle Liam Moore, junior center Thomas Hodgson and sophomore right guard Jacob DeVries. Freshman Kylen Spencer steps in to fill the left tackle spot. Backus is a threat with his arm and his legs. Senior running back Ryne Wysocki should handle most of the rushing load this fall, and senior Capree Thomas will get some turns carrying the ball as well. Some other top returnees for the * squad this fall include senior linemen Brien Martin and Cody Meyers, senior linebacker Colton Sheely and senior comer Carter Berends. The Fighting Scots got off to a 1-0 start with a 36-0 win over Windsor Holy Names Catholic Thursday, Aug. 28, on a night when the program hon­ ored the undefeated 1950 Caledonia varsity team that shut out all eight of its opponents and also celebrated the 75th anniversary of football at Ralph E. Myers Stadium. Pennington’s Fighting Scot teams had ten, 12 and eight wins in each of his first three seasons leading the program and then went 4-5 a year ago. While the rest of the OK Confer­ ence shuffled its football schedules in 2024, the Fighting Scots remained in the OK Red Conference and went 2-5 in conference action. The OK Red Conference slate re­ mains as tough as every and begins for the Fighting Scots with a trip to Hudsonville Sept. 12. OK Red Con­ ference teams were a combined 6-2 in week one of the season. Hudsonville took an impressive 27-21 victory over Byron Center. The Eagles were the MHSAA Divi sion 1 State Runner-up a year ago and rolled through a 7-0 OK Red Confer­ ence campaign. Caledonia is home again Sept. 19 taking on Grandville. w CALEDONIA VARSITY FOOTBALL 2025 SCHEDULE OPPONENT........................................ W vs. Windsor Holy Names 36-0 Reeths-Puffer............................... Hudsonville.................................. Grandville..................................... East Kentwood............................. Grand Haven............................ Holland West Ottawa................... Rockford....................................... Jenison......................................... ♦ ..DATE.. . 8/28/25. . 9/05/25. 9/12/25. 9/19/25. 9/26/25. 10/03/25 10/10/25 10/17/25 10/24/25 PLACE Home Home Away Home Away Home Away Away Home J . I1 k' •'H.' I I* Sf FU U»ra f' • Vr 1 F. A » I « » r i> K A & 5*$-^ w* M z J AV. -*9 < 1 *, f at t 41 1 i- < -•n- A * I '3^* 4 [ I fr'' I p .S« I -r' X ..«" ^1.1 r-,- J T VI I r. ■ V'‘ T- t 4^ f- s A #* ¥* k>> .-Kiel®’J, New Caledonia varsity starting quarterback Bryce Backus puts the ball in the belly of senior running back Capree Thomas during their team's 36-0 opening night win over Windsor Holy Names Catholic Aug. 28. Photo by Chris Robotham w fci f .• 'jt'- » 1 Trojans set to celebrate 1965, 1975 football teams this fall 1. I ■P 1 > is- * J , • feWf ■r’ J i:' cr tv » 1 - 3^ 9 That Sept. 26 date aligns with what would be head coach Bob White’s 101st birthday. Coach White guided the Trojans to backto-back state championships in 1964 and 1965. The Trojans will also honor the 1975 undefeated football team and its cheerleaders during the Oct, 17 home game against Holland Chris­ tian. Those 1975 Trojans were a perfect 9-0 and won the OK Blue Conference championship allowing just six points total in seven confer ence ballgames and only 13 points all season long. The 1975 season was the first in which the Michigan High School Athletic Association began honor­ ing state championship football teams. TK wasn’t selected to appear in the MHSAA playoffs for the first time until 1979. •» a J*' I > • W-* R» aft « -W •< I <■» ‘r V J -• L a 4 * •» i I N 'U' •* A I « i’ 1 I I T rt 1 'J : * k T* I 5J I :3&ola®ffi T!’‘««7{ «««»’■> 1 1 ( ’ Ar-, .' i < ’' ■ I * I 1 ’I. I w 0^ '-.V ■-■'.'aWLiite * *• « •A I * » U5*^ X .f t... Thomapple Kellogg High School will celebrate a pair of undefeated varsity football squads this fall. There are plans to honor the un­ defeated state championship 1965 football team and its cheerleaders during the Sept. 26 home game against Grand Rapids Catholic Central inside Bob White Stadium. That 1965 team finished the season ranked first by the Associ­ ated Press and the United Press International organizations in Class C-D in the state of Michigan. Led by first-team all-stater Rob White and second-team all-state honor­ ees Jamie Rohrbacher and Dave VanElst, the TK team was 9-0. Those Trojans won their program’s thirdconsecutive Expressway Confer­ ence Championship that fall. • « k Brett Bremer Sports Editor ■-..■IN* ( 1 *4 I t I w ' li!ai®.f’; V.., - X.. . •r .1 . •J*; >1 A r I r < r * r *1 I -a JI V’ i I I ■ . 4' J ' '^>-&190r<iM I «. * f ' Jil 4^1:- ' I.,/ Ste c. '*■ •**rf I ?4 • or t. k I ' b X' X:* ■> V ’ -•RM i'i * M I i> r > I I I I I I i I I: »1 4l Ai I I t I i b I a ^■ �♦ '''' ’ ♦ . 'X i I I sir 4^ I 1 THE SUN AND NEWS GRIDIRON VARSITY PREVIEW Saturday, September 6, 2025 13 ♦ Juniors already have a lot of varsity experience forTK team 1 lamsiB 119:3 J iGdib3 atioqS iff ^26H LC»n<jn I i < ir? JkUif I iff A)dt mf •H ’’{Obr boL.'i -Crjvz z -• J A . iilll r ann £llQ^LQ ! A. 4 s'.!? ? f $ .1 'ft- >; I?-.' ft 4 I jroniir 1 I I nidi Vtj ^rff ' I <68 / , Il J; •fa^f . •» ■» :■ t 3l' acd I n oa fi-7' ’ j a1‘ Ifl • • J i{:tj I b; JOB Tt . t li’it f 1J asdl to!'' f; ■'( 6«’. ' I '. 1 <> ‘ 3 I Juitff 4 » J I I . • ' < * n vz i i J. s «< •* c* « Jr _ 4. z •H* f l.r . V I Jr " I ' •4 y;/- 4 k j 1 . I r• i. Hrf 1^ npw > f 2 4 J I I '’i‘ L I *jU* If ’ p <1 r J Hi; 5^! 4 * f ’ •j L; 7 k s 4 I • mM " I i I . H ) a* I .i ■-J..\.4,. I ■V- *-1,1 £r*/ « ei ri .A k .1> ♦ fl T tjd' tv •% 7*' > '< I *■> J f H , V ,• 1 *4 y I 1 I H u ■ jriT’ * L. j 1 H' r .1 ,v> f A*4 « I J I j I I J f; , ri^4fs^ 1 k sfc™r'5r"ji!32tsd:i: r k 5?; I-: 4 . ) * i I V «h I I it 'T-il -a .'IS J .J 4 V ■ 4 Wu . • * r I it-«- *A r I I I I I I 1 < I rn^voP'''' 1 jL'fr ' ,1 cQfl^ - JJ, A I M •' ! ( ( Brett Bremer Sports Editor Hastings, Hamilton and Wayland are the trio of non-conference squads on the schedule this fall for the Thomapple Kel­ logg varsity football team as it preps for its second OK Black Conference season. The Trojans ended a tough first cam­ paign in the B lack with a win over Ottawa Hills late last season. The conference remains a tough one again this fall, but the Trojans are hoping for better with a line-up full of youngsters who gained a lot of experience last fall. The cool thing is we’re returning basically nine or ten on offense,” TK head coach Jeff Dock said. “I think all but, and even some of our back-ups, all but one have taken meaningful offensive varsity snaps. Super excited about the return of a lot of these guys.” Virtually all of the offensive backfield returns with Micah Dock stepping under center at quarterback for the second straight fall after being thrust into the line-up in his first varsity game as a sophomore because of an injury last fall. “The biggest thing is he knows the pace, the physicality and the speed of the game. He didn’t have to learn that on the fly or from the sidelines. He has nine football games that taught him what that is. I think he knows the sense of urgency of it. Having a year of that. Having a year in tlie weight room. Having a year of speed work. That’s a good thing. That goes for all those sophomores (now juniors). That’s the beauty of it. We’re really looking forward to see how that unfolds.” Micah will be handing and flinging the ball to seniors Zach Eldridge, Debo Robinson and Malachi VanEngen with bigger roles this fall forjunior Jack Smith and Cam Peter carrying the football. The line in fi’ont of them is nearly full intact, with four of five regular starters back including senior center Jake Welch Jr., junior left guard AJ Dutcher, junior left tackle Brody Hammer and senior right tackle Adam Lozada. Junior Isaac Fleischmann is taking over the right guard spot to start the season. Junior Logan Goggins got some varsity action in last fall and he’ll see time on the line throughout this season too. “You never like having a bunch of sophomores having varsity football, but the cool thing is the following year you have a bunch ofjuniors that have played varsity football,” coach Dock said. “With that being said, it is super exciting to see the growth that those guys will have.” “The football LQ. Is higher. The pro­ gression of things [in practice] can hap­ pen at a little faster rate. They know we want details, we want to focus on details, so that is part of their focus. They coach each other up, which is really cool.” Running back/defensive back Mad­ dox VanEngen and linebacker/tight end Breckin McWhinney are a pair of sophomores on the varsity roster this fall working into roles. There is a bit more turnover on the defensive side of the ball for TK, and it showed a bit as Hastings scored on every one ofits possessions in a 31 -29 win over the Trojans in Middleville in the season opener Aug. 29. Coach Dock is happy to welcome back senior defensive tackle Owen Hood who was on the varsity as a sophomore and missed his senior season with an injury. He expects the team to be solid in the middle with the return ofsenior defensive tackle Blake Bossenberger as well. The Trojan roster was devastated by injuries a year ago, and coach Dock said looking at how to minimize those things from happening is something that is something he has been searching for answers for for eight years. “I am hoping the ninth year is better. My dad jokes around that I need to stay away from you. I am hoping that we stay clean. The one negative is our numbers aren’t great. If we end up losing some­ one, not that it is ever good, it’ll really not be good. “We look at what we do strength and conditioning wise. We look at what we do mobility wise. We look at what we do in practice. We’re constantly trying to think about how do we keep guys from getting injured. I think some ofthat isjust the game I pray every day.” The Trojans have just two teams in the program this fall. The freshmen and JV squads have been combined into one this season. The senior and sophomore groups are especially thin at the mo­ ment. The varsity roster has ten seniors. There are nine sophomores playing in the program. Coach Dock said he likes the leader­ ship he has seen so far from the small group of seniors. TK begins play in the OK Black Con­ ference on the road against Ottawa Hills Sept. 19. The next home game for TK is against Grand Rapids Catholic Central A ■wC- > ( >K rr-^r^^ •lA— * >*» * *** ** -, :ri 1 «• r *>K^**\* -f: * >* ^3 / * < > f. USS € #41^ ^1 V, k k * r A s A* «* >• T Thornapple Kellogg junior quarterback Micah Dock holds the ball in the belly of back Jack Smith while reading the Hastings defense during the Trojans’ season-opener in Middleville Thursday, Aug. 28. Dock and Smith are two of many 2025 Trojan varsity ballplayers who spent significant time competing with the varsity as sophomores last fall. Photo by Brett Bremer Sept. 26. “We want to compete with the best. It’s always how can we compete with the best, how can we get into those confer­ ence championship opportunities and all of that,” coach Dock said. “It is what it is. Everyone is going to have a chance. Catholic is probably the new favorite with a sophomore quarter­ back and a line-backer going to Purdue. They have some dudes. We’ll just take it one step at a time and see what happens.” That Catholic Central team reached the state semifinals in Division 5 last fall, and was one of four teams from the six-team OK Black to qualify for the state postseason. Northview took the conference title a year ago with a perfect 5-0 conference record and a 9-0 regular season record. Holland Christian and East Grand Rapids should be formidable foes again this fall too. THORNAPPLE KELLOGG VARSITY FOOTBALL 2025 SCHEDULE OPPONENT............................. ..DATE.. PLACE L vs. Hastings 31-29............. 8/28/25. Home Hamilton................................ 9/05/25. .Away Wayland.................................. 9/12/25. .Away Ottawa Hills............................ 9/19/25. .Away Grand Rapids Catholic Central 9/26/25. Home Northview............................... 10/03/25 .Away East Grand Rapids................. 10/10/25 Home Holland Christian.................... 10/17/25 Home Wyoming................................ 10/24/25 Home 'ft "•***«**• "• A « *A I. t \ t » J /I i 1 I 4 Z' i. I I I I I t ■'f i'i I I J I r n I ’ I - .1 I •h r I *« fl n I t t I -1 1 J .‘1 J i \ I I 1 I > A s. ywiuk A • ' A A A �^7^., 4. I 4 .11 I 4* .'l t > 1 14 Afi-' Saturday, Septembers, 2025 * THE SUN AND NEWS GRIDIRON VARSITY PREVIEW J i 4 9 * •« ♦ I .3 TKHS cheerleaders earn All-American honors at NCA camp y' . ■ 45' » I ,*1 ’1 -if • V PI-. ♦ "Btt naiiWHi J toww I I or a a* uMf W1 jr I •< T* w I I Jt .r. 1 •SK “l r ft >A r — A. v’“ * ’t' t k -f G * t Wa^LLz^ J AAA * 1 W«» WHNI. ■SX. * ...J» (• 1 a: 1 AA » 9 IF' I 8 y’ i - ’T’ r - • w- J <* \ w4 ) 1^ TA . JT ) « 3 i A 4 ■r-f; •'J p . 'itf p' 1 Thornapple Kellogg senior trumpet player Avery Hagemann and the Trojan Marching Band perform during the 2025 varsity football opener Thursday, Aug. 28, inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville. Photo by Brett Bremer Trojan band opens season during thriller between TK and Hastings Bnrtl Brtmar Sports Editor It was a thriller of a night for the Thornapple Kellogg and Hastings varsity football teams that played a contest that came down to the final second inside Bob While Stadium in Middleville Thursday. It was a “thriller night” for the Thor­ napple Kellogg High School Marching Band too as it had its first big perfor­ mance of the fall with a “Throwback Thursday” theme. The Trojans played Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa, and “Any Way You Want It” by Journey during its halftime show. “We’re going to do a Bruno Mars show, lots of pop music this year later on in the season, and then in the middle of October we’ll have another classic rock show, so that’ll be that’ll be cool,” TKHS band director Clair Jansma said. “I asked them, you know, because they’re the ones performing the music. I don’t want them to get bored, with the stuff that they’re playing. So, I’m con stantly asking them to send me tunes that you’re interested in in. So, a lot of these tunes were submitted or at least show ideas were submitted by students, and then 1 can go in and find what tunes work for our ensemble and go from there. It’s mostly student driven with the show selection process.” Jansma was a TKHS student herself, and graduated in 2020. She played «» under then band director Ray Rickert, and spent part of the 2023/2024 school year student teaching at TKHS before taking over as the high school band director beginning with the 2024/2025 school year “The different thing this year is we have an extra show in there. From last year to this year we have five shows instead of four. We’re still doing a dif­ ferent show every home game.., we’re still doing lots of new music. It’ll be re­ ally cool to see how the students pull it together. 1 am really excited for them.” It’s an all new halftime show every week with the Trojan marching band. “We don’t compete. We’re a non­ competitive marching band. In order to prepare kids for collegiate march­ ing band, at the collegiate level they do different shows every home game. We thought we could incorporate that at TK, and that’s the way I did it when I was there. So, 1 just am kind of con­ tinuing on that tradition of doing new music. “That way the kids don’t get bored of it. There is something new they can focus on every week, and consistently get better with different tunes not just perfecting the same tune every week.” She is expecting her musicians to be well-prepared for their next show. The TK varsity football team doesn’t play another home game until Sept. 26. The hi^h school marching band h^ t► ..(•’1 *« I > -a4 9 / <r» *•. »V fif I The Thornapple Kellogg High School varsity sideline cheer team gathers during the National Cheerleaders Association Camp at Grand Blanc High School the weekend of Aug. 14-15. TK had six cheerleaders earn NCA All-American status at the event Photo provided J I*-* I • t >• I**' s U ,V' bM ,A ■ ,8 9^.5 J r4 ' c J * ► & <« ✓ 4 .f * a irett Bremer Sports Editor group of six Trojans earned All American honors and a trio of seniors were invited to become members of the National Cheerleaders Associa­ tion (NCA) at the NCA camp at Grand Blanc High School Aug. 14-15. Thomapple Kellogg sideline and competitive cheer head coach Madelynn Lula and 20 members of the 2025 TKHS sideline cheer team were a part of the NCA camp that hosted eight ofthe to cheer teams in the state. Lula said the Trojans were one ofjust two programs at the “elite” camp that were not a part of the MHSAA State Finals in competitive cheer last winter - although the Trojans are no Strangers to participating in the state finals. A handful ofgirls who have cheered for the orange and black earned NCA All-American honors at the camp for their performance, poise and person­ ality. That group ofTK All-Americans included Mia Hilton, Clara Kovich, Kaylee Clarke, Keiryn Merrill, Caitryn Hilton and Tobey DeGroot. “You had to be at the clinic, recog­ nized by one of the people on staff as an elite leader on the team, an elite tal­ ent on the team, and you had to show A. * that you’re exceptional in athletics and teamwork and leadership.” Lula said. “We had 12 on our team that were nominated to tryout, and then you have to complete a cheer that they learned the first day of the clinic, and a series of tumbling and stunting and jimping.” Lula added that Mia Hilton, Clarke and fellow senior Peyton Gater were chosen to become a part of the NCA. This was a new experience for the TK team. The NCA has hosted midwest camps as close as Wisconsin which some Michigan teams have at­ tended in the past. Lula said the camp was run mostly by cheerleaders from the University of Louisville. “It was awesome. It was a great experience,” Lula said. “We had never attended anything like that before. It was really cool to see the girls flourish in front of especially talented people like that.” The 2025 Trojan sideline cheer team got its first action of the fall season in Thursday, Aug. 28, in front of the Trozone student section inside Bob White Stadium as the Thomapple Kellogg varsity football team played host to Hastings. \ • *1 t *<i9 , 0 - - A' < 4 1 * i' t \ ’fjl' 4I t ,, 'res' ' ** a : 4 » 1 .• I 1 • / I » r1 : ■ / I* <• I? *» fc. - ' 1 * - » 1 I V Is* » 4 , * r i:.» k F* •» ' I ?. r to •' r *1 >■ 8 V M a *4 -• • I J i v^ra 8» P«>^ r Albi 5 I 1 "51^ * <« 'dfc > 4 i--- A 1 •*.- r»*^H la but mighty, that’s what I like to say.” The Trojan marching band will also perform during varsity home football games Oct. 10, 17 and 24. » ■.♦* ii* a t t J iiiii * » 4 4 •• I «n 1 *4 a If I 1. 11 ►4 > >• I » < L.» 44^ . d* 43 •f 78 members for this season. “It’s a little small,” Jansma said, “but we’re we’re gonna grow and it’s gonna be it’s gonna be a good se^on. Small .. ‘ "V*"?5 «T 'I '”»* '■‘.y I»x T f- ilL.« I■ ? ■ **• . . ."x . I r Waat^»«* r 4 I I I **«> . I W1 t tlUW <' -Xi; ' « 4 •k ' V. 4 . s f •! • •< *1* > ■ F *A t « •r ■ -M «4 > *» • ♦> 'i; ^*‘*" CaWUrsM i* r -^1 , rvi i U •’i I .\(v - * 'V* . I •*.. t, ■ I > *■ t-.*’ 4 '^« . y- r V. ' ? �L I » ♦ I * GRID IRON VARSTTY PREVIEW SI ri' 1 » lAk’'' - SCOTS ♦ I Continued from Page 11 I Jiu-. -Sr w T * I- [ > < HT «4 t J’’ • > I I «1 '1^. i'fti £* liiilxxi 9 9 I x.^ >f ; I 07 . I' •' V •i ;■ 1 b * k ^2 1 t-««w « A <11 I' I ■ < * k. I 'U H. '. » V ’**r> 4 I. ■ 'u •w It* L ' i; •V, •J . s I’i,- ni>. ."'^cv: I * I • '■/ f Z I r iTr. *l& 1 about that. I wouldn't say it comes up that often. I I don’t necessarily think about it that of­ ten, but it is definitely great memories." I Senior running back Thomas Spitzlcy rushed for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass in the state final, and I senior fullback John Muuse had a TD run too. Muuse closed the bailgame with a 22 rushes for 99 yards. Spitzley had 75 1 yards on the ground and fellow running back A lex Johnson had 65 yards rushing while also throwing a six-yard TD pass to Spitizey. Thomas’ younger brother Daniel Spitzley directed Burri H’s wishbone of­ fense as the team’s quarterback, working behind a line of center Jackson Price, guards ITrew Vander Veen and Alex Ohlrich and tackles Jeff Douma and Jared Biggs. On the end of the line in the state final were tight end Rob Hamly and split end Max Larson. Johnson, Thomas Spitzley, Larson, Ohlrich and Muuse were all two-way starters, with Muuse, Dan Jennings and Josh Echtinaw a devastating group of linebackers for opposing offenses to deal with along with outside backer Matt Cavanaugh. If opponents were ever able to get through the line of Ohlrich, I.arson, Adam Devers, Ken Echtinaw , and Devan Jennings. Dan and Devan Jennings tied for the team lead with six tackles each in the state championship game, and Dan forced a fumble. Tliomas Spitzley and Johnson manned the defensive backfield along with Matt Evarts. Mike Gless did the kicking. Muuse*s four-yard score in the final minutes of the first half pushed the I Fighting Scot lead to 20-0 at the half. ' Caledonia had three first half touch­ downs. Haslett had just one first down in the entire first half. Ihat team, we didn't necessarily have a superstar, but we had a lot of re­ ally, really, really good football players and not a weak link, and they just played really well together," BurriH said. Muuse at linebacker and Ken Echtinaw earned all-state honors in 2005. Haslett quarterback Nathan Turner went on to play collegiately at Western , Michigan University, but the Scots held him to seven rushes for 68 yards and ! just 37 yards passing at Ford Field, and mostly the Scots had pushed him back­ '4 wards until he broke free on an 80-yard • V r « tlj Hi f Xi F ■ J ■> I .. -J ! « # J • 4^1 •» t,, . tf 'i.t » st ** hf I ’•rflfti w 1 ' f t>, *• * r d -K ri I iM '■ -V 4 b ■■ •-J* a. • I * I I A b« i-f* '1 P 1 t| t .• ' K y : W ■rft 3 **v W V fjk ri 111 i r* * i ••M k M •** •• J k * M'kwoistoir n 1? 1M»4I rm dlBBt- s ' • nj.i'^ .U'sn’n fctt f' lr. ‘ 1 r Ife B In^i / I I A r » * h {'E 5 1' I J i 1 Ik. 4 • .tr»e T r. J? k 1 1 II • b I j •fc . I I I nl.’k'- ■ H. 1*^ -«« « * 7 •< ! »»• 4 ■■ k ■ ■* \J I.' I - iJ « Jlffl aWtoWHi'. *1 • M «* f mTI 1 li I 1.1 1 I I I THE SUN AND NEWS TD run in the final minutes for his team’s only points. In all, the Scots outgained the Vikings 368 yards to 139 in the final The toughest test of the postseason proved to be a trip to the shore of Reeds Lake to lake on the East Grand Rapids Pioneers in the district finals. Caledonia held on for a 14-7 victory over the EGR squad that went on to win the next five D3 state titles. That 2005 defense for the Fighting Scots is certainly in the argument for the best defense ever at Caledonia alongside the 2022 state runner-up team and the 1950 squad which went 8-0 without allowing a single point. No one scored against the Scots in the first quarter all season long. The Caledonia first-string defense only allowed two scores in the final seven games of the season, includ­ ing the playoffs. That impressive postseason run came on the heels of a regular season that had its ups and downs. The Fighting Scots were 7-2, w ith both oflhose losses com­ ing during a 4-2 OK Gold Conference season. Until that meeting with East Grand Rapids, close games had been a bugaboo for coach Burri Il’s team. The Scots seven regular season victories were all by 29 points or more. The two losses were a 22-20 loss to Thomapple Kellogg and a 16-15 loss to Hamilton. ‘T think of the players that we had. I think of the turmoil that we had go­ ing into the season. The firing of our basketball coach in the summer, to a couple ofour really good players getting injured our first day of hitting, to our scrimmage, to a shut out versus South Christian and a tough loss to Hamilton. From that point on, our kids just rolled. They started to believe." “We put together a Fighting Scot creed that year, and our first goal was to win a state championship. I still re­ member Ken Echtinaw saying after we lost to Hamilton that our goal wasn’t to win a conference championship it was to win a state championship, and that’s what we’re going to go for. Really, from that point on we only had one game that was within a touchdown, and that was East Grand Rapids. “Our kids just got on a roll, and it was so much fun. Our school was so excited. And just to be a part of that was really just an amazing trip." Burrill said that a new weight lifting program ready to be installed by then defensive coordinator Pat Gillies was a key part of the prep for the state title run. “For our kids, it started in the weight room," Burrill said. “It started with their Saturday. September 6. 2025 15 ♦ ♦ Ellinger entering MHSCA Hall of Fame this month Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor Thor nappie Kellogg High School coach Tom Ellinger is add­ ing more hall of fame credentials to his long resume this fall. The Michigan High School Coaches Association (MHSCA) has selected Ellinger for induc­ tion into its Hall of Fame. Coach Ellinger has fifty-five years and eighty-nine seasons of coaching experience as a coach of student­ athletes and is still coaching. Ellinger was inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame back in 2021. Enslen graduated from Thor­ napple Kellogg High School in the spring of 1972, started working with the football program in the fall of that year. He has been doing it ever since. He has bounced around from level to level and job to job in the TKHS football program wherever he has been needed. work ethic. It started with their determi­ nation to turn this thing around. They did everything they were asked to do. They trusted us, even though there was probably some doubt in other people’s minds, there wasn’t in theirs. It just came together." The playoff games that season were the first for every one on the Fighting Scot roster. The program hadn’t had more than five wins in a single season since a 1999 7-4 campaign in which the team reached the Division 4 District Finals. Burrill coached the Scots to confer­ ence championships in 2006 and 2007, and the team made a return trip to the slate semifinals in 2006. He stepped aside from the program following the 2007 season and then returned to lead the Scots from 2014-2020, and won another conference championship with the Scots in 2014. In the end, he spent 20 seasons as the CHS head football coach. Overall, he has now spent 40 years coaching high 1 • t' ?s I ■ ■ ■ ll •f .• * ■ .1 rS k fir •.$ I f1 f Hl 'A > p* * i’i J J . i' Long-time Thornapple Kellogg coach Tom Ellinger has been named to the 2025 class of the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. File photo Ellinger also spent a few years as the Thomapple Kellogg High School varsity baseball coach. He will be inducted as part of the MHSCA Hall of Fame's 14-member 2025 class on Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Comfort Inn and Suites Convention Center in Mt. Pleasant. school football. He retired from teaching a year ago, and is now the director of gol f at The Pines Golf Course. Cavanaugh, a sophomore defensive back on that CHS state championship team, went on to be a two-lime letterwinner on the University of Michigan football team. He appeared in 20 games from 2008-2010 and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors twice. Larson, a senior on the state chain * pionship team, played collegiately at Grand Valley State University as a tight end and defensive lineman. Larson is coaching with Burrill on the Thomapple Kellogg High School staff. “Everybody else, they were just a bunch of Di vision 3 football players that didn’t go on and play," Burrill said. “I think sometimes kids just want to leave it on the field. They had a great experi­ ence, and they’re ready to move on to the next stage of their life." �** ' 16 THE SUN AND NEWS Saturday sep-e.,.,, e . GRID WON VARSITY PREVIEW ‘The Ralph’ is ready for some football in its 75th year Brett Bremer Sports Editor < Folks didn’t need to gel through the sprawling new entryway. into the spar­ kling new concessions stand and locker nxjms, or even hear Caledonia Commu­ nity Schools superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer celebrate the successful upgrade from 36 to 97 toilets in the stadium before pouring out accolades. The 75th Anniversary and Grand ReGpening ribbon cutting ceremony to Ralph FL Myers Stadium in Caledonia filled all the available space around the construction supplies and equipment in the parking lot sc^uth ofthe sladi um I uesday, Aug. 26. Like on any Friday night with a home football game, folks were parked across Johnson Street SE in the lots surrounding Duncan Lake Middle School and Caledonia Elementary. A family with a couple youngsters celebrated out loud the sidewalk head­ ing along the west side of tlie stadium parking lot from Johnson Street to the new stadium entryway as the ceremony was about to begin outside “The Ralph.” That entryway still featured some cau­ tion tape as concrete continued hardening behind the evening’s speakers Weeldreyer, Caledonia High School athletic direc­ tor Phil Miedema and Mallory Walsh, the executive director of the Caledonia Education Foundation. Construction workers were busy in the evening light putting together the bleachers on the home side of the stadium. There is still work to be done, but the project is close enough to completion that “The Ralph” was ready for some football last week. “For 75 years, this stadium has been more than bleachers and turf,” Weeldreyer said. “It’s been the heart of this community, a place where folks have come together for generations from Fri­ day night football lights, halftime shows and homecoming traditions to being an outstanding venue for track and field. Ralph has always been a stage for excel­ lence, pride and connection. “Tonight, we especially pause to honor the 1950 Caledonia football team. That team, Caledonia’s first undefeated champions played right here on this very field. But what made them so special was more than their record. It was how the entire town came together to make foot­ ball possible here in this place, because prior to 1950 football was played on a field just through the trees over there in Lakeside Park. But the thought was that a permanent home was needed. So players, parents, local businesses donated their time, energy and resources. The players literally laid the sod here in 1950 that became the stadium. The bleachers were built and something lasting was created for this community, and at the center of it all was the namesake for the stadium Ralph E. Myers. It was his vi­ sion and leadership that gave this place its start. He was more than a coach. He was a mentor, teacher and a believer in what young people could accomplished when given opportunity and encourage­ ment. So this stadium was dedicated in him his honor four years after the first sod was laid.*’ Vern Keyser who played on that un­ defeated Caledonia varsity football team was in attendance at the ceremony, and an honorary captain for the Fighting Scots as they opened the 2025 varsity football season at home with a win over Windsor Holy Names Catholic Thursday, Aug. 28. The renovations include new team rooms for home and away squads. A permanent Scots Store near the entryway into the facility. A brand new concession building at the south entrance to the sta­ dium. Improved storage facilities. There are new bleachers and a new press box on the western home sideline. There is a dedicated from for trainers and another for game officials. TTiere is a viewing area near the south entrance for those with mobi I ity i ssues, and a growing tiered viewing area still wrapping up construc­ tion from the concession area down the hili to the track. Work is also continuing to progress on a new pole vault and long jump area on the north end of the stadium. “This renovated stadium is an invest­ ment, not just to our facilities, but in the experience of our families,” Miedema said. “It is about atmosphere. It is about giving eveiy student-athlete, every stu­ dent, every athlete, every musician, every fan, and a leader a place to shine and a place to belong. “As athletic director, my greatest joy is watching our students grow into leaders. Leaders on the field yes, but also leaders in the classroom, in their careers and in this community. When they look back years from now I know that they will remember the feeling of being part of something special right here at Ralph E. Myers Field just as 1 feel. So, tonight as we cut this ribbon and step into a new era, ; J II ex* Hl I Hili ;.u’‘ A a L w f SB^ s * L -» r. 1 K ' J «AC * * Ilf’ «* •i n * l< I k it' » J 4 & i 7 F 1 Caledonia dignitaries including new Caledonia High School athletic director Phil Miedema, with two hands on the scissors and a smile on his face, snip the purple ribbon in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Ralph E Myers Stadium and its recent renovations during a ceremony Tuesday, Aug 26 %» *’ • ri V J * .•« aj if « ifl hib» . ;i i <0 . I* k I ’s5S39>- .« < 4k r' -f .» J / T: ( • \ »)' b \ <7* >9 > *’ ► J Cr slBesc^-^ ' ■ 4 I p z J** HKfllEllIi^ fl < Jr«4 hll b / » I Kb?®®’ > . 4k -■ 1 I i t 4 blj Ti ’« •H I . » Vern Kayser, amemberoftheundefeated 1950 Caledonia varsity football team, checks out a team photo with on­ lookers during the 75th anniversary and ribbon cutting ceremony at Ralph E. Myers Stadium Aug. 26. .** ... ♦ jL > I ’'M r iitM- * • 0V((iF€ • •, u c 1 \Norh continues on the home side bleachers Tuesday, Aug.26,astheRalph E. Myers Stadium 75th anniversary and ribbon cutting ceremony goes on around the stadium . in Caledonia. I I • <w« « v1 I iJ Vil &.b « * * I < LA . 1 * I I » 1 I 'XiU I M UI >•< ....•naasibte ;!»>*»1'4Cbs I I 1 I I Effiste® ..kiW I I NR * ; S Kt 1 F «jii««iisaj(;eji^ unci-zsBTV^ . < ... ’ • '« • ( I 4 ’ ’ * 'I a 9 Mi- ySatsEnst •a •4 bl t •* A ' 1 II I i I 1 r f':' u- . iJUv u.ft •- /. * — •V.S', 4 i’k\T I s .s •• •t *!« •*» 2 ■»w-* —a-..tsa. ? • > f- J( V s''-V.. ^1 . . .fu: >> , i ligRiii* *R .'^t . ' I Sr \ 5, 4 # ♦ I 'T* e Hi?"- * J t ‘*1 >. * * 5* iv -I iff > . ** I I I I r- I 4 t* ■RUfittgaiw V. < I#’ I we celebrate 75 years of tradition, pride, excellence in our community. And with the same spirit that laid the so^ played the fight song, and lifted state championship banners, we look forward to what the next 75 will bring.” Dozens and dozens of spectators watched the ceremony from seats set up near the entrance with more people standing behind. There were members of the high school cheer team and the high school marching band flanking the ceremony on either side, and eventually a contingent ofhigh school footbal 1 players made their way up out of the stadium. There have not been any updates to the track or the stadium turf throughout this process which started as soon as the 2024 football season wrapped. A total of $6.5 million from the $60.1 million 2023 supplemental bond passed by Caledonia voters was tabbed for sta­ dium renovations. The last major renovations to the stadium were done in 1998. 4 :.^V , ’ A' rv 4 Photos by Brett Bremer *? -4* 4 Sia . • -n s » ,w 1 •4 18 * I r I * ) TTc'^c II'' • <1 ' s * I I A. Cjhl 1 v » r 1 1 J ft » 't ir . ' 1 I / •l * * ' *4 r 1 e »* «> I iS t « t. > I h t I I I I I I 1 1 I ♦ it iI « r J « I i I i ( bl A •r** * ' ^» It, ••M S’ �♦ 1 i 4 1 : r Mjl) f 4 I 1 www.sunandnews.com THE SUN AND NEWS I "I Saturday, September 6, 2025 17 1 1l' ♦ ♦ I I I I I TK spikers close first day of competition with a victory 9^ ! 'A niTjt'' * . •9 * 1 i » KJ5 to \ 'C » 1 i. . > I i » J J 1 i V '.i <•- t * 4 I r I . *1 1 . J-A, 4 ' ZI‘- I J » •4 I V Ka J ’’h * 'r t I I r g I A J . - '■J ( I 1 J r r I J ’*!. • i t >f. M . ■ h' I « ■’ nJ, I t / lb I T?Q 7 •r t * ’Ov. 4 • • 4 i I 1 I 1 •r^ i » . t ,1* J lai ' 9 tr I 9 ♦of »I K*’ -1 J J r I I {.Mil ' * M t 9 A : I- ■ . k •T » I hr 9 r* I m .i I k • t gatl' : " srfp3 r f • 4 'J ‘-‘7 •k: V' 4 I * ’.T X’J J t- jU ■ /ri i I t • r r A, V U J noww/ * • I I I I rtio^i 50;jbiuj 11 e 1 ’H 1 ‘ x.. I 1 * * FJ .1 I 'n »y£d’w|fc X 1 V.4 r* \ P’' ' ' 1 1 I 4i J V *3*<Fc7fc;ifei u k 4* •* i » '4? J. DW^Ws i 'MW a 1 . .• Rlcsi'^^0 ji' r* . i I f *i . tl I i8laijij-j I i I 'I. • ■ "-'-t - .♦T'-Jj J.' ;giiwiiS I J f I Jfj ! I . V * ’ ■ . <' .. . . . 4 i I I » tf snn ''ll'rD . DTqrnh XU 1 r t ■» < ri4^ ’ »r a I tqd: -I zl 3if KtmoriqoH .woft U J- f € r sioacoa bnroaa w i :i 1 il • * .MniMJ f c® z ► I I I'laiiu ■ am? Hi© ( I S4 «T/5r/fi z wddV, f Af I 9^7 4l 1 I j 7 T >4 I I f ». v_* t zi ^^TTf : b ' ! r * . u JuiiM iiMterr' Brett Bremer Sports Editor oftL I i ttoq' 'jjrj znEjo n c rF Dcodc t3z niw A. 5( ♦ I '; I I The Trojans pulled out a pair of twopoint sets to beat Hopkins and close out its first day of competition of the 2025 fall season. The Thomapple Kellogg varsity vol­ leyball team was 1-2 at its home quad Wednesday, Aug. 27, falling to Ionia and Vicksburg before taking a 26-24, 26-24 win over the Hopkins girls. New Thomapple Kellogg varsity vol­ leyball coach Haley Grams said ending the evening with a win was great. “It was our first time playing together this season as our first tournament got cancelled,” Grams said. “We were all ready to hit the court after a week and a half of practices.” Ionia took a 25-9, 25-19 win over the TK girls to open the day. Vicksburg bested the TK ladies by the scores of 25-16, 26-22. “I learned a lot about the girls and think that they learned a lot about play­ ing with each other as well as my coach­ ing style during games,” Grams said. “The two games that we lost were tough, but there were moments where we were down by a big spread and after getting the ball back were able to rally and close the gap either partly or all the way. This was a success in my book as we have always struggled to rally and close a gap once the gap became fourplus points.’’ Grams said the big goals for this sea­ son include creating a positive culture around the game and on and off the court, and to help the girls gain more volleyball knowledge and in turn create better court awareness and knowledge. That court awareness includes com­ municating on the court to avoid dropped balls and collisions on the court. It’s one of the things the Trojans are focused on improving this fall. The lynchpin of the offense this fall is all new. Sophomore Abby Hoebeke, in her second season on the varsity, is taking over the setting position for the first time. “Our setter didn’t return this season, but Abby was very eager to try it out and has been doing very well,” Grams said in the preseason. “She is a quick learner and we are lucky to have her.” The TK coach said she has already seen a lot of good strides in the con nection between Hoebeke and her hitters. And the TK team does have a few experienced varsity hitters back including junior Reece Ritsema in her third varsity season. She is continuing to dominate in the middle, is a strong leader, and always a positive voice on the court,” Grams said of Ritsema. Also back are seniors Ava Zellmer on the right side, senior Maria Piccione on the right side and senior McKenna Hoebeke on the outside. The defense is led by seniors Alexa Eden and Paige Abshagen. Eden is in her third varsity season and opening the year at libero. Abshagen is working her way back from injury and supporting her teammates until she can get back on the court as a DS. [Eden] is eating up the court and doing what she can to hold each of her teammates accountable at practices,” Grams said. “She always goes hard and is encouraging, especially with our younger players. That group of younger players look­ ing to contribute this fall for TK include sophomore setter/outside hitter Olivia Fischer. “Liv has been a great addition thus far as far as positivity goes. She is eager to learn more about the setting role as she is a younger player, but always wants to improve and do well.” Sophomore Elizabeth sell is another versatile player. She has been willing to give setting a go too, and could really play anywhere on the court for TK. Junior Maddy Eitel and sophomore Arma Romph provide some size at the net along with sophomore Nadia Piccione. Getting some height from the young­ sters is important as the TK team isn’t especially tall overall. As far as ath •Vi leticism. Grams likes her team’s speed across the court. And so far, Grams has been encouraged by her girls’ ability to reset and refocus during drills. The Thomapple Kellogg girls were set to open the OK Gold Conference season Thursday, Sept. 4, at South Christian and will head to the Cereal City Invitational at Battle Creek Lakev<€ Is **•1 •4 '• 4 4 **•' < A. 1 -• % •** « » z v > Thornapple Kellogg senior libero Alexa Eden stretches forward to pass a ball during her team’s contest with Vicksburg Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the seasonopening quad in Middleville. Photo by Brett Bremer iew Saturday, Sept. 6. The TK team is home again in the OK Gold Tuesday, Sept. 9, taking on Grand Rapids Union. South Christian and West Catholic should be especially strong in the OK Gold Conference again. The Sailors come into the season ranked seventh in the state in Division 2. 99 £ z*' » 3 ^MTCHIGAN TTCtr • ’t w 4 • '1 *1 4. Take the next step to a better paying job! ’ X Iff >h: . 4» I «.• Learn about free: • Computer skills training • Career coaching • Job search services ( 'P iJ s. If I / JI J rl r * - -i I i J 9 k 4' •I .i* z H -1 4 9n«»^ ■« • r f t I. * •? I. r «. Trade Adtusfment Assistance PLUS: Ask us if you qualify for Trade Assistance Act benefits! « r • IP ♦X 4 > L,. V i£ "fl 9 • I 1 > L k Call 1-800-285-WORK (9675) or visit westmiworks.org/job-seekers/ J W' •« 1 1 J '( »1 is I ,'i I I 1 > > M JI t fl rt 1 4 I i J \ I> **« "9 t. «' I 1 h" •l .r -i.y v**: (k �4/ r I I 18 Saturday, September 6, 2025 NOTO OF RUBUC HEARINGS THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP e ♦ 0 PLANNING COMMISgON jW MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 2X 2025. at 7:00 RM. ♦ Pteaie be adrued the Tfaomapple Township Plaoning Con* mission will hold puMk hearing on September 22, at 7pm or as soon thereafter as possible. The puMk hearings will take place in the Township Hall, 200 E Main St^ Middleville. The public hearingi will addreu the following: 1) Kenewal of exifting ^cial Land Vie 9132for Top Grade Aggregaiei. LLC for mineral extraction on parcel 09 14-030- 004-00 & 08 14-030-009-00 in the SW % feclion of Section 30. '/hornapple Twp coniojning 40 acra of land. 2) Kenewal of exiittng Special Land Ute 9149 for Excel Exca­ vation for mineral extraction on parcel 08 14-027-003-20 in SW % section of Sect ion 27. Thoinapple Twp containing 40 acres of land. Any interested person may attend the public hearings to learn about the extent and location of Special Use requests to offer comments to the Planning Commission. A copy of the applications noted above may be examined in the Township offices at the address noted above during regular business hours. Monday - 'fhursday 9am- 4pm Written comments regarding these applications may be addressed to: Secretary, Thomapple Township Planning CommiMion, P.O. ^x 459, Middleville, MI 49333. Sandy Rairigh, Commission Secretary or submitted via email to: pgensterblum^omapple-twp.org Americans with Disabilities Notice Persons with special aaess needs should contact the Township Clerk at 269-795-7202 no less than 72 hours before the hearings. Cindy Ordway, Thornapple Township Clerk THE SUN AND NEWS r www.sunandnews.com GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing to con­ sider the following; Summary of Request: Public Services Special Assessment July 12, 2021, the Township Board of Trustees passed Resolution No. 202111, stating each year, on or before September 30, the Township Board would ascertain the Public Services costs for the coming year. Upon determining and estab­ lishing the amount to be assessed (based on unexpend­ ed funds, cash on hand, and the estimated projected costs for that year) shall hold a public hearing on the estimated costs and expenses, for police, public safety, rescue, and fire protection and on the distribution of the levy for the coming year (2026). All real properties in the Charter Township of Gaines Property Address: Date and Time of Hearing: September 08, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Township Hail, 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316. Any interested party may appear and be heard. Information related to this request may be inspected at the Gaines Township Hall, 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, or contact the Township Manager’s office at 616-698-6640. In order to be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5PM on September 08, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at 616-504-4332 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. 14 M* ffl I J Scots take off on TK over final mile of Friday morning dual Brett Bremer Sports Editor A holiday weekend was dawning. The first OK Green Conference jam­ boree of the season was on the horizon for the Fighting Scots - Sept. 4. Caledonia head coach Ben Thomp­ son wanted to not wear his guys out, but also to see if he could gel the gravity from his fastest runners to reel in the rest of the pack a little. TTie Fighting Scots still put up a per­ fect score in their annual Friday morn­ ing before Labor Day dual with the Thomapple Kellogg boys. The Scots took a 15-40 win over the Trojans, and had the 12 fastest runners overall in the race. The CHS pack had instructions to shoot for a six-minute pace the first mile, a 5:50 pace the second mile, and then to get to racing. A wave of purple followed Thomap­ ple Kellogg freshman Owen Bremer around the course for the majority of those first two miles and then started to overtake him. z I • I t i t i * 0 1^* ih 9’ 4^ .■5 L o { 1 if' • ' 1 s I t .i ft " .. > ■ I’ ■ I, <' f: u I A ■ 1. - ♦ a ?** > pS. < M f i .4 I 1 I 9 4 I? I n < y 4 > a >- i 1 4^ 1 i I t » ^9 a .< f*. Thornapple Kellogg freshman Owen Bremer is trailed by a wave of Fighting Scots including but not limited to (from left) Kaden Van Ryn, Bentley Nichols. Luke Smith, Bennett Snapper, Jake Potgeter, Noah Johnston and Eli Velting about a mile and a half into their race Friday morning, Aug. 29, at Caledonia High School. Photo by Brett Bremer Caledonia senior Noah Johnston won the race in 17:38.5. For reference, Johnston broke the 16-minute mark for the first time the previous Friday at the South Christian Under the Lights Invitational. “I just wanted them to not go all out today, because we have three big ones coming up here in the next two weeks with Labor Day in between. That was kind of the thinking behind it,” Cale­ donia boys’ coach Ben Thompson said. CHS had three guys finish in less than 18 minutes Friday. Sophomore Bennett Snapperwas second in 17:48.8 and sophomore Bentley Nichols third in 17:59.7. The top five for the Caledonia boys in the dual also included senior Luke CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meeting Minutes The minutes for the August 6, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on August 20, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave., and on the website at www.caledoniatownship.org. m !. Smith (18:03.9) and sophomore Jake Potgeter (18:06.4). “The times for those first ten or 15 guys were really good or really closed. They all packed up and ran together,” Thompson said. “Which is kind of what we have been preaching a lot. The other thing is we have been focusing on getting faster as the race goes along rd guess all their splits were probably negative. It doesn’t always happen in the big races, but you try to work on that as sort of a skill.” Bremer kept up his pace, leading the TK team with an improved PR of 18 minutes 40.3 seconds. TK’s number two was junior Grady Galaviz, who was much improved from the Trojans’ first race of the season to finish right behind Bremer in 18:42.3. Those two were eighth and ninth in the team scor­ ing and 13th and 14th among the overall group of runners. The Thomapple Kellogg teams were set to get conference action underway in the OK Gold Conference today, Sept. 4, too at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids. The TK team also had Garrett Holzhausen 22nd in 19:23.9 Friday, sophomore Wyatt Richardson 34th in 19:56.0 and fi-eshman Parker Robinett Continued on next page 1► > I 1 <•' •f '■3 iciP ’ •V > ♦ f I * V 1 r I * • • f.’ ■ J J-'*’ t I 1 1 «» .1 r*’ *f' » I ) 1 I 4 I « •* ‘h* '.■r r. M • I wisi'^ :t I 1 13 A* - I .. 1 >■^1 1 I 1 lb! j I J 1 » I I ■*B * • • t fl I.' S ( I 4 * L-l ' i Mr4 WW^I ! «» - — '' fc I > I If J? 1 I 9K 1 Wo I 1 A L • jrvlOillf- * f I j;! 1 1 I t Ci 4 ! I ) ' "T" 1 1 / I I I i I t i'...‘A -i - r -J: I 1 \ I » I I HI :l: i I k:!4. »• .A i I ).-«■ ■ I i Mi I •• * •«/r.. .. < «,«b. .4 * I i ■t ( i'Z^azntfiWX aiirrant?? ® 3»r^ Io aauh I r JO in 2 I FM I I i.R '1 T f 1 1 Ih Al Vk * ■•-'v ** <• P •b > i • Vi J» I t. * r r__?. »•.. *•’ �4 J « 4 1 I I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com II I ■F Ji t I I I A - I - k‘ 1 I ■a f J ft V . I 4 * K> p A . I rs * I •li ( Ji ! tk. It M. > >: 11 II IB ‘ ir . L 5 * / t y & ! eif: I I < •*. I - ! I I B .’bPiJOlD 11 1 nu J{ * Tf I I Trojan soccer gets its first OK Gold win of 2025 Brett Bremer Sports Editor •l I i.9[ s % h r * : J . 1 A a Caledonia front runner Akaela Daman runs along the fence line between the Caledonia High School grounds and the Emmons Lake Elementary playground during her team’s Friday morning dual, Aug. 29, against visiting Thornapple Kellogg. The Thomapple Kellogg var­ sity boys’ soccer team righted the ship in the OK Gold Confer­ ence Tuesday with a 2-1 win at Grand Rapids Northview. The win moves the TK team to 1-2-1 in conference action so far this fall. TK was set to travel to South Christian to face the Sailors Thursday, Sept. 4. TK goes on the road in the conference Monday to face Grand Rapids Union and then takes on non-conference foe Hamilton in Middleville Wednesday, Sept. 10.' r I * j *• ; » I n!;r;fxi! I » i <I»J / . -Ai V ) •nl J L hiBi ii. i> I •T I a/ I » » * J I I I* 1 - ♦ t :■ i * ft • *1 I A ra.fi. bl »**-. . P’ -a- I 4 I ( I * Ji .1 s -u-ai • 41 I I k J r vi / . a c *.F I I 4 ---------------------------- ♦ •' ' < r • R ulb. • 1 <4*^ A. I f I t 1’ I p IbU > T 1 • ■* '.VJ'"' Ai 1 f ___ _ :t * V C V. i J i 4 I. f• 11 I f- )’//// / '.♦ * ' • f b ' 4 i: * P . a J AS At ft 4 9 r 1 -r I • • r. . I I <rT. '8 > ® I I I I < s ■ J;. ' I c <5 « f I 1 f LT t ) •45»» k 1 I. ♦ i / 1 J I i V hex r I n t (pwJ’rt. ...I T\ - *.' ‘ A .jI I rod*’’*' Continued from previous page 27th in 20:00.2. TK and Caledonia will both be a a part of the Trojans’ annual Coach B Invitational at Gun Lake Monday, Sept. 8. The Caledonia girls took a 17-41 win over their TK coimterparts. Junior Akaela Daman wasn’t holding back. She improved her time from the opening meet of the season by almost 15 seconds and was just over a second off the PR she set as a freshman. She hit the finish line in 20:23.4. Caledonia had five of the first six finishers. Senior Hannah Bermett was second in 21:37.2 and sopho­ more Charlie Bont third in 21:58.1. Thomapple Kellogg’s leader, Peyton Hardy, placed fourth overall in 21:58.8. Junior Alaina McCrumb was TK’s number two placing seventh in 22:18.4. Amya Gater had a big jump of over 50 seconds from meet one to meet two and was eighth overall in 22:35.0. Trojan freshman Brielle Miller had a similar improvement and was tenth overall in 22:44.8. Trojan senior Madison Kiet2man hit the finish line 12th with a time of22:50.8 to close out TK’s top five The Scots’ top five also included a time of22:05.4 from junior Anna VanderWal and a 22:06.2 from sophomore Tiona Sakala who raced stride for stride together for the second meet in a row. KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? We'd love to hear about it! Email mmacleod@mihomepaper.com Caledonia tennis shoots down Red Arrows in straight sets Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Fighting Scots battled to pull out a couple of tiebreakers at the end of the first set in a couple matches with Lowell Tuesday. The Fighting Scots mostly cruised other than that though in an 8-0 non­ conference win over the visiting Red Arrow varsity boys’ tennis team. Caledonia first singles player Hudsen Derengowski took a 7-6(3) win over Lowell’s Micah McDonald in the open­ ing set oftheir match and then closed out a 6-3 win in set number two. The match went a similar way at first doubles where the Caledonia duo ofCoo­ per Sowerby and Quinn Cook outscored Lowell’s Rowen Eldred and Nick Rokos 7-6(4), 6-3. Quinn Stanley, Garrett Fales and Colin Martin won the second, third and fourth singles matches for the Scots only allowing the Red Arrows to win seven games across all six sets. There in the doubles line-up for the Scots this fall all four guys are returning players. Derengowski, Fales and Martin are all seniors who have been four-year varsity players. Stanley is a junior. The Scots took convincing wins in the other doubles matches too, giving up just six games in six sets. Isaac Robotham and Russell Grandon took the win at number two. Caleb Harrison and Derick Prichard won at number three. Isaac Judd and Charlie Scott got the fourth doubles win. Caledonia head coach Scott Bont said in the preseason that “several of the guys have worked hard during the offseason and demonstrated a readiness to start the season The guys appeared to have come to the beginning ofthe season ready to start and compete.” The Scots were slated to visit East Kentwood Thursday and will head to Portage Northern today, Sept. 6. The OK Green Conference season starts with a tough dual against Byron Center Wednesday, Sept. 10, at Caledonia High School. The Bulldogs expect to be finish­ ing on top of the OK Green Conference standings again this season. “I would like to see us finish in second or third place in the OK Green this year,” Bont said. “This would be a big improve­ ment from last year. I really challenge the guys to make sure that they continue to get better every week.” GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: THE SUN AND NEWS Summary of Request: Special Land Use permit request for a major vehicle repair operation in the General Commercial zoning district. \'ia ^0 vA. COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the August 12 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on August 26, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main Street and on the website at www. villaqeofmiddleville.org. Property Address: 6980 Division Avenue, Grand Rapids, Ml 49548 Parcel Numbers: 41-22-07-101-003 Applicant: Omar Alameer Date and Time of Hearing: September 25, 2025, at 7:00 PM Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room Location of Hearing: 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on September 25th, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. I I I*- •! > t t » M ♦ 4 4 f 1 I i'I i I iff ( I 19 4 H I a Saturday, September 6, 2025 I I t 1 i r I ' 15 r I 14 i I 9 ri 11 I J 4 '•J * I '1 s \ I I 4 �Saturday, September 6, 2025 20 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ■n<:iu.^wBn?nF;n:j^,vvww 1 4 Jsfe 4 ♦ 1 < .A. 4 w* y < V 1**1 i 4^ < ••z w 4 k 9 V • 4 ^>1 f • X .41 fl \ **• J t I t V'; i < '^1 V T' h '5 1 i r . X 1 *► ; ■* •H > f <^ri r * r f • 9 99 I < I ( < I 5^^ Local Medicare I F r f r r •t r '4* *1 I f •A < TRUMBLE r S’". ’J. 'P s^scibeM 1 4 R* to r advice is now in Barry County! A f r:j > T*' 4^ VMOn 21 1 •j*r >t. * I '.t. *'^2 If t > Hk C \ n r’ u qO 1 V *‘ / . L I k • ♦/ k 'h *•, I &.» ),• 9 Ik •• Medicare I ' .1 5 •ff 1 • r' I 'I *Y •.» *< u .k I t t 4* t 1 *??>>• 4V’ » 9 ► •< <•> ■l 3>‘t y.?’^ . «•- •ka X l> .-5 *t r t • • ♦ ’ 4^ >w t.« •r M . # ^ .* f. tS' 1 .♦ «* * > > I ’£ 4 I • « . r • •t * / I > 1» k l#k* s 4^ V' - •l. ♦ 11^ now booking appointments i"-I 1 1 r ** > ♦♦' .F f 4’' A .J ’^s3 • '-"k <:1 tV I I . ** :v; > A 1 I t. 1 ♦* v- \ rV.’ a •«« for open enrollment October 15^'^ - December 7^^ L 'J. < ■»» z r i A ff'* A 'd u •l I A- = SiS= ^.• C%^ € ) ■:i\ “J*. X’ ; I R Schedule your appointment today as time slots will fill up fast. 269.213.3232 josh(^trumbleagency.com www.barrycountymedicare.com 128 S. Jefferson St. Hastings, MI 49058 ■ .■ •l >• ® > r :Tk ■ / fc I » t r't.. I y .6" •J * v> < 1^ Lk I Josh Lamphere < •••3* Medicare Specialist ny information we provide is limited to those plans Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. AU we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or I-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. iosqS sTDoibsM T- Twi V s i (. *«■ £ ' r • k. K-.'? Il » t I * V I \ \ t \ > s \ .«k. —A it < k > $ I a « 4 4 s \ k 1 > \ * \ k t K k Ik s '* k 4 < t » « « * \ » t 4 - i '- » > * »x», ..x uA.u«. i 4. '. « I k 1 » 4 k k t f « s 4 1 t i * » <a<:. ' \ ’ . • i ♦ . » -< t \ ■? < A t V *1 " * * 9 L r. » .*: V 1 f vt-lr »* > I t r i 0*4 k •* J V :5e z '/ 4 t f, > .4- 1 > » i ! t A ' ■ t 1^ s. K V * HR i^»— ' te 4 * » « 1 * > .iSl z* i > bsJir ^IftBWqoTiiKJTlo Jia r s’ L^ii V / t<;r. ij<a � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-09-13.pdf 1673c2f5b1e2768c3059ba3809d0670f PDF Text Text k / - /f highlv-rankf.d B’jLLDOGS icjch FIRST ’L TfcSl FOR SCOTS •c ' J I If X'W / If ■ / .z. >« < 7 '■r IL PAGE 14 V 1Ufl. 'i / 1 www.sunandnews.com Riverwalk Lofts developers purchase site in Middleville gftoJ dlBWISVlfl idaiuD zisqolsvsb j illivsIbbiM ni aliO Molly Macleod Editor bodbfiM yll lof bhjoo vinuoO ynefi 392 nOO2 Majori jinu-hlurn 'radtoriB ' 9" sdl ni Jnsffiqo onj gnolB SIiOUj diow srit -------e* tftfi toyUI nlqqanofn’ arif to qoly/ab zftod jllBYm/ift zgnilzBH aaiomq floimflznoD iiMft-KqqoD om JZEl alJf/aihhiM ni 333112 ^2 acri 3ol fnofrraYh anl rr»Ara«T*vob ni zigsX lot To sgfilfiV ,TB9Y 32eJ .aUr/alhhiM* zradmarn lianuoa aUivalfahiM 9i)0V ______I OJ xtwfoiq sriJ 9nos9T oJ obianBi b3±£m oelfi 2i Joi sriT ^.IsnJgufani I 4r< 4' < 1 i (} I i J 4' 5..1 f I lj KI f ooB73qqo3 to2fid-8biqsR boeiD B nOTiqolwab lok^s 2'noiloini2no3 bl ifilqz^ toIybT §3Ti) iliijni 33tnJ2no3 ot goqcxf yhec^oo^ liz 9± IB gniajori sfdBniKttB ? I .stlivalhbiM ' ; jhiu-£4^ ariJ oJ aviJEfai sTsri m'l 1 3 9W lEfb Josfoiq '/innfil-Oium olds a swJg d£ 3fb toI sniaoqrnq^ >, r agEflr d£ .guA aril 1b »B .gnilaanfHai w InaraqoIsYab ’nEramilaTq arfj^tnanrtGqfi Yiolz-oaidl ftvn abuioni| 4(1 poifi sbulonf bkiow Ji nl J ea^ . 4 I 1 /I ruodf; a li .YUfiJr^iaraoD' iJJri ... i q( I.'Y /sb Jodt-3TEUpZ-000.£f e - bni sYEfl rtasliriaiB md luo ‘ i J' 7033 arit lol Ywzaaasn 5; 1 ’< A. I GC iij! arit IE bisz toIyeT > t i J99rrr ikxBJoa 9gfillfz £ I | cy< [ jvodB Torr^ OJ r .3 aa A ••J c • re 7 bb^TObfosoTg mort qo 7 1 : J xinoiE zslqinoo t i“i i c . . • :-"s ’ ■ ivi «'-B i G.; 3ri wlirruc g seu j03(Giq 9Uf/^lbbil/ .akiOc -Kiil •Su z£no TWOJ eeS . I I I I 1 9 EOOM CRSiCHBEB Bmetuvr bO9^a« i * < 1:^ 8€e# I'UJJSd 8C88> *8||iAUdaj9 feeiW4«3^ <8836^ bVTD Barry County could soon see another multi-unit housing devel­ opment in the works along the banks of the Thomapple River after Hastings Riverwalk Lofts developers CopperRock Construction purchased 36 State Street in Middleville last month. The 2.58-acre riverfront lot has sat vacant for years in downtown Middleville. Last year. Village of Middleville council members voted to rezone the property to “transitional industrial.” The lot is also marked as a Redevelopment Ready site. Grand Rapids-based CopperRock Construction’s senior development specialist Greg Taylor explained the company hopes to construct multi family attainable housing at the site in Middleville. “I’m here relative to the 42-unit attain­ able multi-family project that we are proposing for the 36 State Street site,” Taylor said at the Aug. 26 village coun­ cil meeting. The preliminary development would include two, three-stoiy apartment buildf. ings. _ In total, it would include around 42 units. “Coincidentally, it’s about a 42,000-square-foot development ±at our architects have indicated would be necessary for the scope of the proj­ ect,” Taylor said at the Tuesday, Aug. 12 village council meeting. “It would probably take about 15 months to fully develop from groundbreaking.” CopperRock recently broke ground on a 135-unit complex along the river in Hastings, as well. Taylor added that the development firm would WQoa aawoisna use a similar model for the iviiNsaisau SSMU33 Middleville project, albeit, 9e99> in ’guiAUMJD OWXOflOd on a smaller scale. > aivd I aovisod s n n? bO8xve5i J btfSlSlO L *=! 1 4 4 ais xsdd N See LOFTS on 4 Caledonia Community Schools teachers and supporters peacefully rally in front of the school district’s administration building on Sept. 4, while representatives for both the school district and teachers’ union sat behind closed doors working toward a contract. Photos by Karen Turko-Ebright Ratification process underway between Caledonia Schools, teachers’ union Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer The process to ratify a new contract between Caledonia Community Schools and the Caledonia Education Association, which represents district teach­ ers, continues after the two sides reached a tentative agreement dur­ ing a closed-door bargaining ses­ sion on Thursday, Sept. 4, at the district administration building. During the meeting, about 75 Caledonia teachers and their sup­ porters rallied in front of the build­ ing, holding up picket signs. According to a statement released by CEA leaders, the outcome of the recent negotiations would not have been possible without the “overwhelming show of support” from educators, families and com­ munity members who turned out for Thursday’s rally. “Our educators showed incredible strength and unity through this pro­ cess, and our community stood right beside us,” said Melissa VanGessel, a third-grade teacher and CEA president. “This agreement protects what matters most - our students. our classrooms, and the time teach fl* ers need to do their jobs well.” The contract between CCS and CEA reportedly expired on July 31. Since April, representatives for the two sides conducted 11 negotiation sessions. A statement by the school board regarding the potential for a new contract was read at the board’s Aug. 18 meeting. “The (board of education) is com­ mitted to reaching a mutually agree­ able contract with the CEA,” the statement read. Also, at the Aug. 18 meeting, Tim Moms, CCS board president, stated the school district had offered teachers a 4.5% salary increase, as well as scheduled base salary increases and increases to starting base salaries for new teachers dur­ ing recent negotiation sessions. But, at the time, CEA members reportedly said the offer wasn’t enough, considering contracts in other districts included pay hikes of 5% or more. See UNION on 3 �2 Saturday, September 13, 2025 J I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I 1 Gaines trustees raise pubiic safety speciai assessment levy to maximum amount • r’/ J I I e <1 if James Gemmell Contributing Wrrter The annual special assessment levy for public safety services in Gaines Charter Township will increase to 1.5 mills on Dec. I. That is when the township will send out the winter tax bill to residents. Payment will be due on Feb. 14, 2026. Township Treasurer Laurie Lemke said the dedicated levy will cost the average residential property owner in Gaines $203.55 per year. It will generate about $2.2 million dollars in revenue, or about 43% of the revenue in the Public Safety Fund. ITie town­ ship’s general fund will contribute the rest of the revenue. Gaines trustees voted 5-1 at their Sept. Smeelingtolifttheannual special assessment levy to the maximum 1.5 mills. That is up from the 1.25 mills that was assessed for fiscal year 2024. It covers police, fire and rescue services. The township board voted in 2021 to establish the township-wide Special Assessment District for 15 years, with the board directed to vote each year on how much the levy will be. The maxi­ mum allowable amount is 1.5 mills. The township board meeting was held in the South Christian High School auditorium in October 2021 to take a vole on the new special assess­ ment, The trustees held the meeting there because there had been overflow crowds at prior board meetings, with many residents speaking out against the assessment. It doesn’t seem that long ago that we met at South Christian and we ap­ proved this,” trustee Dan Fryling said at the Sept. 8 board meeting. “We were asked a question from the audience (in 2021), ‘Is this going to be an automatic increase every year? And we all said absolutely not. This is not going to hap­ pen. Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe every year since then we’ve raised (the levy). I’m uncomfortable with that.” Lemke recalled the 2021 meeting, as well. And she noted that the town­ ship board could have placed a public safety millage request on an election ballot, rather than the board approving the special assessment levy without a public vote. “But that was something we had to do: raise money to keep up with our public safety costs, both our fire de­ partment and our sheriff department,” she said. The original special assessment levy for public safety was set at 0.6 mills for fiscal year 2021. The following year, the township board boosted the annual rate to 0.75 mills. In 2023, trustees lifted the levy to 1.0 mills. It was raised to 1.25 mills in 2024, and generated about $1.6 million for public safety. “(Residents) were concerned we would raise it to the 1.5 (maximum) right away and not look back. Which we did not. We did do it in increments over time,” Lemke said. She added that inflation has increased the cost of public safety in recent years and noted that Gaines Township still has one of the lowest millage rates in Kent County. A township resident, Andy Wyn­ garden, addressed the board about rapid residential development during a public hearing at Monday’s meeting, “This township has really let go on the reins of development, and this problem is somewhat self-induced,” he said, referring to the approval of many large apartment and condominiums , A*' 1 4 1« fi ( ’ * ... nA .K. “A I •V 4. A s.* r ■ * • .^*r * I f- X ■■ i. i J 4 t i The Gaines Township Board discusses an increase to the township-wide special assessment levy for public safety services at its Sept. 8 meeting .1 ‘ ■ -iri. M v> I e >* isf ’At’’*' I- Photo by James Gemmell Si** I”?"' ! t». 1 4f Heritage Day organizers ready for a big crowd this Saturday • I ';T r» I and create lasting memories with friends and neighbors,” Clark said. The market wil I run throughout the day, the car show and kids’ and fam­ ily activities. Food trucks and local eateries will also be open throughout Heritage Day. From 10 a.m, to noon on Saturday, some of Disney’s most famous stars will be present for Heritage Day festivities. Cinderella, Belle, Captain America and Spider-Man will all make guest appearances. Live music will ring out on the main stage in downtown Middleville from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The ever-popular rubber ducky race leaves port at 3 p.m. on Saturday. From 3 to 6 p.m. this Saturday, attendees can support the fire depart­ ment at its annual turkey dinner. More information on Heritage Day, search “Middleville Heritage Days 2025” on Facebook. KTE r k* J -iP * : f i' I 4» Irr4 4 Organizers say die 2025 Heritage Day in downtown Middleville is ex­ pected to be a crowd-pleasing event this Saturday, Sept. 13. Festivities ki ck off at 10 a.m. and run unti 16 p.m. Organizers are hoping the com­ munity will come and enjoy all that Heritage Day has to offer. “This is my first year coordinat­ ing Heritage Day as the community development coordinator for the Village of Middleville,” Kassandra Clark said. “I’ve worked closely with our volunteers, board and com­ munity partners to carry the tradition forward.” Heritage Day is an annual celebra­ tion of downtown Middleville’s his­ tory, people and spirit. There will be activities for all ages—from live music to the mar­ ket, car show, and family-fnendly entertainment. “It’s a wonderful chance to support local businesses, enjoy great food. h r: » * < ia|S£* J, ' WIP'., J"* ■^"5^ t *s f . . I -» J • T *♦ ! 4 yi I irI r 1 i !I A ffllWOD PEODKTS ! 5 I 7 mn i^y 1 I <4 b A> I J J •r f 4 J I 1 i j Jt -» 4 i J I J i i I tasciertioBW I ) s J b!teiWns»8iiy ! % Wnjto 5 ‘+* 4 » J I 1 I a 1 1 I r See GAINES on 6 - - 'Miltaliiilte; r •*. A A L '•M ( 9. MBiu .«>-. •. M—Ml I* THE SUN AND NEWS I I 4 I I » ■ V ► 1 CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 I Editor: Molly Macleod ..M mmacleod@mihomepaper.com bbremer@mihomepaper.com I t Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com r . Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sports: Brett Bremer 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com ^^1 PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. < please recycleJhis^newspaper Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved • Printed in the U.S. All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N. M-43 Hwy.. Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. FSttfcK. Jifil t. y PUBLISHED BY <I 1 i I \ I I 4 MWls «' ?* » -1 5 ♦ 9 f! r‘ • * ’/ Mb »*• 31 :J >i1 I* I I i i. <5 Id r H T fci t rI k • / •A r I 4 I I 1! 1 r >1 6 51 *>> fl’ *1' t « I I I I J 4 K I « « f �Saturday. September 13, 2025 1 wayiana man aies in Gaines Township’s Prairie Wolf Park ivsW t. t «llb I I i 1 ss I f. James Gemmell Contributing Writer > I •*!*, t 1 5 • AI J/ *♦ r'v An 81-year-old man died in Gaines Township’s Prairie WolfPark on Monday, Sept. 8. The Kent County SherifTs Office said it happened around 1:20 p.m. Township Manager Rod Weersing announced at Mon day night’s Gaines Township Board of Trustees meeting that some passersby had noticed the man lying on the lawn in the park, which is adjacent to the township hall on Kalamazoo Avenue, just south of 84th Street. People walking through saw a man lying on the grass. It sounds like he kind of looked like he was sleep- 1 X 1 - '-I: J f * .• r > k J V / Kiia ■ I I y. di' •. I ♦ » » ,I I II ^.» f Jr t I > '-V ' ♦. •’CI . f! Z. ; > • < ' *v A I ii>x. < r^L k ‘w 1 1©^ *4 *• t A I I 4 I J a ♦ * » * t i 4 i' Ji. 4 .H II >1 k. 1J •> W2 Hl J \?,J .. ..*J 4( *41 r t I '?» • * '•3 f ' r? GD WOOD PRODUCTS ailunijj •k. > . •i'. SAW MILL OFFICE 517-254*4463 u.3i « t- ’:4.A Ji ^^^sotsifr fsuJioiia ' n1 • f I * S Mu, ~ U'l'Wtfe * I •• \ • t r IJ i * « • ••® I* 4*' L* » f u* f ■■ T'* Nelsons Nelson Schmucker 1700 N, Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 .•I ?‘l I V 1 1 4^ •» *' 9 I > ' •'•' ' )U ppor/ 4 ' >S/Udcnis Caledonia Education Association president Melissa VanGessel stands outside Caledonia Community Schools' administration building on Thursday, Sept. 4, with her handmade sign in support of the union. UNION Continued from Page 1 Without a new contract in place, CCS has reportedly been unable to publish a complete calendar for the 2025-26 school year. However, CCS will continue to publish an updated, partial calendar as details on events become available. .-js.: S .a •J’ September 27th | 9:00 am-3:00 pm I I Digital TV Antennas * Towers * StarLink Installs * Wireless Data Links * Cellular Enhancement Systems > Barry Expo Center % i Vendor Space Still Available Call 269-788-8203 BBQ Food Truck & Hourly Door Prizes 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam saH *\ ' 517.646.0439 * Lansing 269.967.8241 * Battle Creek/K-zoo 517.740.1533 * Jackson/Ann Arbor antennamen.cu8tomerQgmail.com www.theantennamen.cpm www.cellslgnalproa.com special Guest Denny McLain r s A-'i Bsat B Hastings Sports Card & Pokemon Show SPRAY FOAM,LLC 1 t ' . 4t *tr Corner of Alden Nash - M-50 & 84th St. South of Alto .* *v ««■* « i- rj f * Closed-Cell Foam Insulation ♦ Blown-In Attic Insulation I -<•* '■ m •r Bowne Center United Methodist Church Roy Mast. 517-652-9119 2501 N. Ionia Rd., Vermontville MM <■ < ■ ■■ J ✓* HMi> <r - oofa.’?k*.<-,£ « . TOI r Saturday, September 13th _______ 5:00 - 7:00 pm Closed or Open Cell or Blown-In Fiberglass Conscientious Timber Harvester Wanting to Buy Standing Timber ' * •> • nansT beef e PORK DINNER st iNSUUjy SPRAY FOAM W Family Owned & Operated ( * ♦ The Sept. 8 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary's report. There are now two fish in the fishbowl. Area TOPS Advocate Diane Dallas-Strang was our guest speaker this week. Her message was titled "Embrace Your Worth." Self-esteem is how worthy we feel about ourselves. High selfesteem will lead to self-confidence. Be your best friend. Turn kindness inside. You are free and independent of the good or bad opinion of others. Give yourself a positive mantra. It is a way to ground yourself, support yourself and make you feel positive. Self-care is important. Set goals for personal growth. Continue to try until we get it right. We are trapped if we feel we are unfixable. We hold the key to the present. Chapter members continued the contest by filling in one dot for each one-tenth of a pound lost. Maryellen lost the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-90880J6, or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. The first meeting is free. GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM I < TOPS 546 r ■' • " ■ :3 *4* MIDDLEVILLE ing. They tried to wake him. Ended up doing CPR,” Weers­ ing said. An off-duty paramedic showed up and continued with the cardiopulmonary re­ suscitation. The KCSO rescue team arrived moments later. They did CPR. By the time the (township) fire department arrived, they had stopped,” Weersing said. “Fire (rescue) ran tests on him, but there was no electrical impulse. So, he was declared dead.” The man’s name had not been released at the time of publication. The KCSO said he was from Wayland. It said foul play was not suspected, but they were waiting for autopsy results to come back. 3 4. « t I 4 I a-il « *Buifding-to-building, CELLW A SIG PROS Point-to-Point WiFi Extensions * High definition outdoor cameras to monitor your property . ***'*R''. d I ■t I 4 I 1 1 1 1 I I 11 N I I» It iJ f II n I •I 1 4 I I 4 s A r I F I J I \ ) 1 L* �^4 I 4 Saturday, September 13, 2025 LOFTS Continued from Page 1 We’re very open to exploring other ways to integrate this project with other village amenities, whether it be a walking path or anything else along the riverside to help attract people down­ town,” he said. “We’re excited and ready to mobilize on that.” “We feel we’ve got a lot of positive momentum here in Barry County with the project that we now have active in downtown Hastings. We feel like we’ve just been through ±e first half THE SUN AND NEWS of the season, and we hope to move forward here in your community on a similar project with a lot of the same characteristics,” Taylor said. Developers will present a preliminary site plan to the council in the coming weeks. “We look forward to continuing to work closely with all of you and Middleville to create a successful and hopefiilly a project that will be a catalyst for other developments in the area,” Taylor said. — Contributing writer Jayson Bussa contributed to this story. www.sunandnews.com s HTj •> > CHURCH Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM www.alaskabaptist.org 68th Street SE, Caledonia I A •< ’ p: z I y •• • c i-" I L an. W r f b « •’F* II X* > / /■ ' * •u*' < ■•" #• If t J •4 -sr; ■ A e^' r:^ V ♦ I * ( f I « * 5 «■ J J • 1 I J I I </ r A. ( J I » i I a *■< ' R 5..- , H .> Fit I 1 > 4* 4 «>« f I This vacant riverfront lot, located at 36 State Street in Middleville, could soon be home to a 42-unit multi-family housing development after the Middleville Village Council approved a purchase agreement with Grand Rapids-based developers CopperRock Construction last month. Photo by Molly Macleod f Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am worship service, in person or online, % ^9 >i». ■ftliMM <: I ti p. I kt 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend Rev. Robert Mayo, Interim Pastor 616-891-8669 . t'Y T ««^ t .• ifJ" *■ I I Oi .-W* I I * Of «[r-' I r II I h I V .' r; I I •r tf 1 Visit us online at. mihomepaper.com i i^lr i s#k • I • *ir J i tiV 'sH; I « « * W» ’SM FIRST BAPTIST Good Shepherd Lutheran Church -fr. 10:30 AM Middleville o HOLY FAMILY ^CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship............ . . . 9:30 a.m. Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. (269) 795-2391 AAPEACE >4 * w CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:16 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street Middleville, Ml I www.tvcweb.com Yankee Springs Bible Church .'.^A THORNAPPLE VALLEY t « I *'.> - s > Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool jS Cb I? ±!^ •• iT 1 NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES V T -c; I ftS5 * L '•tf' ,• 4 .• .1 ««v t 1 1 Bb 'A A;ri***« ps a .A i:- .-r’ L il a i ,11 I J' .« « "Shining Forth God's Light .f 7T» 9 AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE I JI Monday at 4 p.m. * • »• B. BATTLE CREEK 'J! tn » ‘i SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m. THE HASTINGS 1 I I «t I Tuesday at Noon I t V .5 sorteR*’ iI Ttrr JU BANNER A I MiieCiT 1 e 1 S(fe3!.4 J J&A 7/1 'F- in ?iiET fl* .M. Si ** I «T THE ,«,1V 1 » 1 - REMINDER ‘3 .« Wednesday at Noon s.. v* «»'9L NEWS w -^rr. rj t' « 111 ;\c< .7i 523-4 l&'.vt>i.'- I i%: HIM I— II ‘-T r?- Ir 1 ,4. ■ •-■ I 1 Wednesday at Noon II— - — ^te:* Group mihomepaper.com **i* f t rco * -- ■* v'\ 1 i n ■t. ■ Si IB 1^ James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankeespringsbiblcchurch.org < ' * 5' ' 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. ’ w:<r >i'‘ s’* >* It 12^ » .1 1 THE SUN AND I Sunday Morning Worship Community Group Me I' 8900 DufJy Road Middleville, MI 49333 ..r* < 1 Sunday Service if >♦ f I • V at 9:00 am < < 111 cornerstonechurch Join us for our traditional yet casual 4 .-A. »i^< •«- .4 I fcVi VI« . '••rr ' rl r. ---^ -:*^-*j***^~-* b£: K ■7 A , > Jr ..I*'' * « i F”" V i' 250 Vine Street .A V *. I > ALASKA BAPTIST < •• *« »>r LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church r; A I * 1-4 i $ -J* •* tr* - 4 t ^4 • A , f is < .E “?s t I —-•" VTt — n t I I 4 �1 "-H ' WZC' r Saturday. September 13. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS AWA. sunafxk>ews com 5 5 »II a * feniit J 0 1 Foundation members outline goals forTK schools 1 > f 1 I k 3 8 ft WHtll - J X t ft w < * . -aft,ft * TT A. 1 J ' . ft i ■ < ft . e 9 '^fr M*' I !\ r « J t M/'V ' ♦viB. » « •- < 4 *5 u * I "ftfr.1^ 9 J > • A iiA * A I •J., « F *4l' Z * K I kl' 4 I V xw>h H.' R >« •• 2 k r*. 1>- WI.1 V .. r* •* f A M.V 2^ *; i 4 t I i t; r »r ’ 1 t f I UBCi fii* M i •i J . : » V -le. I ri t 4>V/ A «. .Ar Aft t ”»5QfiOlBCl£ kli' «« :'^4‘f >1 ) b ll I I 9 I ( •i f ’•'Ila i « teIsjSipK ^*44(4 1 I .. ' - a;. . I ) u I .'.4 •ft.i.d I J I wsdaydt'7:' I 1 I iJI^ J 1 I; .7'1 I Ml I 4 ( .1' w J/ * . r s-ff X W A « 1 iA * >44 jri I e5 i i I J ‘‘f' itJU'tlflK ; I 1I J t 1 I u ( lirtw i« A A the grants. “Because the activities that we suf> porl are typically above and beyond the normal scope of classroom cur­ riculum they provide fantastic oppor­ tunities for the kids in our district." To help raise funds for TK Schools, the TAEF’s will host its newest fundraiser, a euchre night, on Nov. 8. Thal will be followed by a trivia night in the w inter. And, next summer, a pickleball tournament at Gun Lake is expected to draw in a large crow d. To learn more about the TAEF, persons may visit online at barryef. org/community-engagement/ community-partnerships/geographicaffiliates/taef/. In other business from Monday's meeting, the TK board members unanimously agreed to the selection of Board President Derrick Brock to be the ofTicial voting delegate at the annual Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) Delegate Assembly on Thursday, Oct. 23, in Traverse City. Brock will join other delegates from across the state in deciding MASB’s position on a wide variety of issues affecting education. The school board also unanimously approved the purchase of up to two used buses from Holland Bus Company, not to exceed $123,943. Individuals may listen to a record­ ing of the full Sept. 8 meeting by clicking on a link on the district web­ site, tkschools.org. VIEVS7 DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOWPLOW ING. Lol Clearing, Forestry. Mulching. Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. «» HANDYMAN SERVICES OFFERED Mise, repairs, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Esti­ mates. 269-243-0468. CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS. Siding. Decks. Roofing, etc. Licensed. 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 TREE SERVICE BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and while oak trees. Will buy single walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-8187793. EMPLOYMENT SEASONAL HARVEST POSITIONS - $17/hr. We are hiring 30-40 reliable team members for harvest season. Work beginning September 15 through December 31. Must be 21 or older to apply. Positions are part-time with flexible scheduling—ideal for anyone seeking extra income along­ side a full-time job. No prior experi­ ence required; training provided. Work involves hands-on harvest and postharvest processing in a fast-paced but supportive team environment. Contact us at: wholesale ©greencoventures.net or 269-758-3078. WANTED WANTED TO BUY; Standing Timber. Conscientious timber harvester. Saw Mill Office- 517-254-4463. Family owned and operated. GARAGE SALES BIG GARAGE SALE at 3515 W Ml79 Hwy. Hastings. Saturday. Sep­ tember 13th, 10am-3pm. Horse tack, saddles, girths, bridles, etc. Books, small furniture, appliances. 9mm am­ munition, and lots of misc. NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALESeptember 12th, 9am-4pm. Septem­ ber 13th, 9am-3pm. 733 Terry Lane & 863 Terry Lane, Hastings. OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE at Whitneyville Self Storage, 6940 Whitneyville Rd., Alto. Newly Remod­ eled, 800 square feel office space. By appointments only. Please call (616)299-6222. PETS FOR SALE: AKC STANDARD POODLE puppies. Ready now! Vetchecked. 5 females, 2 males. Asking $1,200 each. Call 616-550-6309, please leave a message. . flsW’*- Your local agent insures your Group Proud to be 1 BUSINESS SERVICES GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEE- All aspects of golf course maintenance, including trim­ ming. mowing, tree removal, and bunker work. Please see Evan and apply in person at Saskatoon Golf Club 9038 92nd St.. Alto. Ml. To set up an appointment call 616-570-5597 or apply online at saskatoongolf.com. YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTION Busintiiss FARM BUREAU INSURANCE / .. . Z" / ' * X i LIGHT TRUCK PARTS z isaNin<mxm*«ttTm«vw«sm<n{n«4Xtt ; Z' FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT i' 4J 269-381-2300 ^4 ‘'i-Ilk. f The Thomapple Area Enrichment Foundation is continuing its efforts to support Fhomapple Kellogg stu­ dents and its students. And several TAEF members attended the Thomapple Kellogg Schools Board of Education meet­ ing on Monday, Sept. 8, to carry' that message and outline the foundation’s goals for the future. “We are for the graduates and TK alumni as they go through their four years,” said Robin Walters, one of a half-dozen TAEF members at Monday’s meeting. According to Wallers, 47 scholar ships were awarded during recent Honors Night ceremonies, totaling over $59,000. “We’re really proud of that, Walters added. “We are helping our kids be successful in their next steps. But more than that, we like to focus on the actual classrooms here and the students that are at TK.” The TAEF was reportedly estab­ lished in 1992. And, with over three decades in the rearview mirror, the foundation continues to grow. “We have over 60 funds and assets that are at $3.1 million,” Walters said. “I’ve only been involved for three years. I have nothing to do with any of that but we’re really proud of the work that we do to support the Middleville area, our communities and also our schools. While at Monday’s meeting, Walters outlined the contributions from TAEF that focus on supporting the local school district, impacting about 3,000 students. That’s nice to know.” Walters said. We typically gift around $14,000 a year to the classrooms. Last year between classrooms and other programniing, we gave $22,000. And, the TAEF will be offering additional grants through Oct. 1. We are encouraging staff to apply for those,” Wallers added. I think we do have some coming in. I'hey’re doing a good job. We give major kudos to the educators who apply for «a» * > ■*j’ Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer Classifieds r I •? u » .1 I < 4 1 (« I I II I L 1 • 1 0 t h a H I 4 « A f A T J 4ft « * T ♦ » I T'• ft Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-8827 iparks@fbinsmi.coni Farm8uredulnsurdnce.com USED PARTS USED TIRES MRU LAKE STKAIAMAZOO $ >?• J* • >» X f' VP J �i « Saturday, September 13, 2025 6 w ♦ THE SUN AND NEWS 4 WWW sunandnews com I I fTll GAINES Continued from Page 2 complexes in recent years. “It’s happening and it’s happening very, very fast. Faster than what you can fund it,” he told the trustees. Trustee Rob De Ward said that Byron Township’s decision in July 2023 to end the 73-ycar partnership it had with Gaines Township in mutually operating the Cutlerville Fire Department also has contributed to the increased costs. Byron decided to launch its own fire department in Cutlerville due to rising calls for service there, as well. Tbat fire station is opening this month along US-131 north of 68th Street. Ific end of the partnership with By­ ron Township prompted Gaines trust­ ees to establish a new Gaines Charter Township Fire Department in January 2024 consisting of the fire station on 68th Street near Division Avenue and the Dutton fire station east of Ham mond Avenue. “We shared the costs, but now we’re not only paying full costs for that fire department, we’re also reimbursing * Byron for some of the building costs/’ Deward said. He was referring to Gaines Town­ ship’s decision to buy out Byron’s $940,000 equity share in the fire bam on 68th Street west of Di vision Avenue. Township staff said Gaines began mak­ ing 20-perccnt annual payments on that amount in July 2024. It will be paid off in 2029. Gaines Township also is paying the $ 1.7 million cost for a new platform fire truck from Pierce Manufacturing Inc. that Township Manager Rod Weersing said is due to arrive in Gaines in early November. Before the partnership ended, Byron Township was going to pay half of the cost for the 100-foot aerial ladder truck. It will be stationed in Dutton when it arrives. “So, there have been some pretty significant costs that have occurred in the last year that nobody could’ve anticipated,” DeWard said. “I know (residents) wanted public safety. We’re doing our best to try to provide that by hiring additional sheriff’s deputies.” The Dutton Fire Department went to a 24/7 staffing model in January 2024 after Gaines trustees approved fund­ ing for the addition of five full-time firefighters. Ific township has seen the number of police, fire and rescue calls skyrocket in recent years. The U.S. Census shows Gaines has Kent County’s fastest-growing population and Byron is the second-fastest grow­ ing township. Fryling said the number of calls to fight fires in Gaines will decrease now that Byron has its own fire department operating in Cutlerville. And he said it might be a good idea to wait a year to see how the changes impact Gaines’ expenses But Terpstra disagreed. “I tend to be much more proactive about it,” he said. “We can make changes again a year from now, but I don't want to be uncovered. And I believe we are. We’ve got some catch­ ing up to do.” Fryling cast the only no vole on the board’s motion to approve the special assessment levy rate of 1.5 mills. In other action, the township board voted 6-0 to approve an operating millage ofO.8012 mills forfiscal 2025. "A,, I > IXie to a provision in the 1978 Headlec Amendment to the Michigan Constitu tion, it is being rolled back from this past year’s rate of 0.8048 mills. It re­ quires millage rates to be scaled back if the lax base of a local government increases more than the rate of inflation. The Gaines Township Board also set a public hearing for the proposed 2026 fiscal year budget. It will be held during the board’s next meeting on Oct. 13. The township's tentative general fund budget is $7.91 million. “There are no major additions to the budget this year,” Weersing said. “There are a few changes. A proposed higher amount for road resurfacing. We’re starting to save money for future fire apparatus.” 9 I I X' ia» •.<x I 6 J r V »• f 41 “t- 4 4 ir s I I , t ’ a I f ■ •' w* s '1/ #■ * J J C^v 4 * 5 « { e? J j V , 1 ■ i ► * * ft va!”' r ♦ 4l f r^-W «r' •1 « k * t ' 4*1 V .^5 <* < ^4- V a' •t ' 11^ ...e* 4* 4» * b- ,. >' . I s'? He added that $500,000 will be transferred from the general fund bal­ ance to the township’s capital fund for future purchases. The township board may approve funding for the hiring of some additional firefighters, as well. i-* J r r !i^ .• k. I H-i '14* (.a** V I * if ' M tn ?■!! t •.J I i 'l I a*. r bl I f I i A r • Everything made from scratch • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar 1 • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods 1 t f 1 cornerstonechurch $ S«N « I 41 X r X > 4 W41 f your 1 fife A little it su/eeter « « * 5 4 • «>' ik r I > r M J I? F. 1 % mT" 5 ! §ugar \ 1 Mommas j .;l x> « * ft A I KBPY & CAFC One Church • Three Locations 4 I I I Caledonia I Grand Rapids | Wyoming I I '■"eSiSliW? W*- dw HO ri k si - 4 W X i IJ tea I ■ K* *r I IT I we’re casual, come as vou are. * AT X 1 1 ♦’ 1 'V W*- 1 1 Join Us In Person or Online! i. 'n 1 I A iln ’•» Ifl / V «» *• V I f I I I I I I I I ( .JB 3uy 0*ie ^i>ecialty Coffee rihk Get tke Zt^d free must present coupon. 2nd item must be of equal or lesser value, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 10/18/25 Sunday &, Monday: Ctofed, Twsduif-FridMf: £eiturd»y: 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA / 616-275-1017 / SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM Scan the code or visit cornerstonemi.org to find locations and service times. > QIC. bilMWto 1 'i;. ( ililWI »«ie �J 4 1 ( I 1 ft f I r f 2 % I 3 'm;Xs '__ j Gaines Twp. officials express excitement about upcoming festival 3 • *n b." - J < t -1 'kt e* I 5 I M r * tx, 'T ■ 4 •c&X’. a. Il8 rL'/i I ‘ ft r •A I * » ■ A 'i*' t* **tK S B ■« I 9 I ‘'SCA »• > ' I 4 ‘^«ai f JaJ i 1 I I < Aft I fr ff. < r « . A.. * ‘‘St*'' ’ T'Xi I I t * ft ■ '» '4u > 9 I •MtV < • 1'^ < f w»-. - J / V J ■ ■ bbibimA t An inaugural community event this month, dubbed the “Taste of Gaines, is set to showcase restaurants and other businesses in Gaines Charter Township. The Gaines Chamber of Commerce is co-hosting the new event on Friday, Sept. 26, in conjunction with the town­ ship and the Kent County SherifTs Office. Taste of Gaines is set for 5-8 p.m. on the lawn and field adjacent to the township hall on Kalamazoo Avenue. At the Sept. 8 township board of trustees meeting, April Moayyer, chamber vice president and chair­ person for the Taste of Gaines, said the event will be free for the public to attend. “It is coming together very nicely," Moayyer said. “We’re very excited. “We have such a variety of busi­ nesses participating." Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra credited Moayyer with carry- a k I MAiMM — t Si fT r I f <9r Hfij sjIsT ly/ J » - I I J I ft Aft t 4_... WORKS!. t < I f lft« 4 Take the next step to a better paying job! Qroiip Friday, October 3'^'’ J, awlwii : M 4 A • !' * 9 f ( 17 DINNER INCLUDES: f y.' V s- •fl I f >** 1 3 f ! , A * * <4* ' 4r J A 0 1 «« I *0 ( w 1^^ '*r Trade Ad|ustm«nt AMlstance « PLUS: Ask us if you qualify 9.. X for Trade Assistance Act Mb* nr >. •sffltWw! i I> t > benefits! f I t ar */ 1 x“ifT: 9 I’ --K-rr'•*> T • • * .. w 1 ■ « TV t 5i SI t • iflW® 4 • w* 1 iBItaMJbftiMV V f-sr r t ii- < t' ? j I . -Ji L.^ *w t % Call! 800-285-W0RK {961b) or visit westmiworks.org/job-seekers/ ■ ' '■ r i . fl I WBM facebook To Go Prc-Ordcrs can be called in. Nighthawkfoodcatering.com 6950 WHITNEYVILLE RD. ALTO • 868-6336 V 41 Cabbage Roll Kielbasa Kapusta Red Potatoes Pierogies Rye Bread 1“ w — •strr-*’ ,r □■'I c 4 4 I i 1 i ft fl T b' r il I B ft \ I J 4 I 95 I k JHU I on/y Dinner begins at 4:00pm until sold out A SS^ V Learn about free; • Computer skills training • Career coaching • Job search services I 11- . mmacleod@mihomepaper.com THE SUN ANO NEWS Polish Dinner r 1 I . Send your student achievements or personal milestones to k;: 1 ft r- n CELEBRATE SUCCESS! i NIGHTHAWK SfiILLE & BAR ^^CHIGAN .■{ ? ■> T. towiiship hall. That free, family event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and w ill include vendor booths, food and bake sale, and manv * other activities. Current and ex-township superxisors will be serx'ing hot dogs. Planning Commission chairperson Connie Giarmo recentlv said she thinks the new Taste of Gaines event w ill be a great addition. 1 am always in favor of supporting our local businesses and encouraging our residents to do the same," Giarmo said. “And I’m excited. I think we are moving forward as a tow nship, and this is just one more indication that we are." < ■t i of up to SI 0,000 in township funds to cover upfront expenses, such as tents, tables, hot air balloons, marketing, vendor support and logistics. Township trustees said they were hoping to recapture the funding via sponsorship fees. And, the township's general fund will be used to cover any expenses not fully covered by the sponsorship fees. Beer and wine will be sold al the inaugural Taste of Gaines event. “So, we’ll have the beer tent,” Moayyer said. “There’s inflatables for the kids, hot air balloon rides, vendors offering tasting samples, as well as selling full-price menu items." She added that the Kent County SherifTs Office tactical team and truck will be on site, and the township fire department and Kent County Road Commission will have vehicles on display. The township also will be promot­ ing the Gaines Fall Heritage Festival set for Saturday, Oct. 11, outside the ing much ofthe w orkload in organizing the festival. “We would not be doing Taste of Gaines w ithout April, and there is a good committee working," he said. “It’s shaping up to be an excellent new activity for our residents. A lot of exciting participants," added Toxxnship Treasurer Laurie Lemke. “A lot of activities are going to be available. Hot air balloons, inflalables for the kids, music, dancing, a DJ, as well as great foods from all over Gaines Township and beyond." The festival will feature businesses that are either located in the township or are members of the local chamber. Organizers stated there will be restau­ rants with vendor tents set up, allow­ ing festival-goers to walk around and sample food items. There will also be various community giveaways and other activities. The township board unanimously approved the Taste of Gaines event in July and authorized the expenditure James Gemmell Contributing Writer ■* k s ■ii 7 A Sr r Saturday, September 13. 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS sunarxtnews com , •b ■ WWW �4 —JI 4F i K Saturday. Septomtxrr 13. 2025 8 ( z THE SUN AND NEWS Av. A s J ria nd n€»ws com . 1 ,5 J ^5 Sporting News V *1 9^ I V '‘if t -. J ! J •Y ' c. » •> * t A I > i '*c «• M r -=^ w I Scots finally get to race in their own pool ■ 4< - J J '.i 0* l!> I J I. I I f' »* xiin . > ■ K I X I ♦» K <A I «»I •1^ < >. ■J <* ..^ 1^ "WVtB • • Caledonia senior Sophie Gaylord swims the breaststroke leg of the 200-yard individual medley against Forest Hills Central Sept. 4. Gaylord set a new team record in the race during the first ever home swim meet for the Scots at the new Cal Community YMCA pool. Photos by Brett Bremer Correction: in the coming weeks. TK plans to honor the 1965 state championship team Sept. 26 on what would be head coach Bob White’s 99th birthday. White was bom Sept. 26, 1926. There was an error in last week’s Gridiron section story about Thor­ napple Kellogg’s plans to honor the 1965 and 1975 varsity football teams THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN ROOFING • local trusted roofing company with ns» YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A4 rating with * L-r zS •;X*~y TT. I V ■* M t * 4 *>> » » f 269-962-4036 a BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU A 6‘ CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE L.J INSPECnON VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor There have been splash-ins. ribbon cuttings and practices. IxHs and lots of practices. But finally there is competition to go along with all that. The Caledonia varsity girls' swim­ ming and diving team hosted the first-ever varsity meet in the new Cal Community YMCA pool Thursday. Every winning time was a pool record, but Caledonia senior all-staler Sophie Gaylord set a new program re­ cord in the 200-yard individual medley too with a winning time of 2 minutes 13.43 seconds. Gaylord also teamed with junior Mya VanderZwaag, sophomore Amelia Mc­ Cann and freshman Caitlyn Morris to win the first-ever varsity event in the pool, the 200-yard medley relay, in 1:54.91. The co-op team has been rebranded as the Caledonia team, but still includes student-athletes from Lowell and South Christian. “It’s perfect timing, I mean I’m so happy we have a home pool and we get to do senior night here,” Gaylord said. “It’s awesome.” “Everything was a little slower. We had some technical difficulties with that volume, but honestly, it ran as smooth as I thought it was gonna go. I mean, it was a little slower, but honestly, I think everyone did really good for the first home meet ever.” Forest Hills Central managed the first team victory in the pool outscoring the Fighting Scots by seven points, 96-89. It was a spread that had Caledonia head coach Amber Pearson more encour­ aged than disappointed. Caledonia swept the relay races. Senior Aliya Van Hofwegen, Vander­ Zwaag, senior Lena Gesing and fresh­ man Kailey Hall won the 200-yard 1 '.J 5 freestyle relav in I 46.04 Van Hntwe 5 gen. Moms, McC ann and (ia\ lord u on the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:49.31 Gaylord was about a second and a half behind the Rangers' leader as she dove for the water to start the anchor leg of the 4(K) free relay and w ound up in the lead at the end by nearly two and a half seconds. Van Hofwegen VanderZwaag, Mc­ Cann and Gaylord all had top eight fin­ ishes with theCLS team in relay races at the MHSA A Lower Peninsula Division 1 Swimming and Diving Finals last No­ vember in Holland. Gaylord was sixth at those finals in the 50-yard freestyle and also qualified for the meet in the lOO-yard butterfly, “I’ve been doing that race (the 200yard IM) for pretty much all the years that I have been swimming club and swimming during the high school sea­ son,” Gaylord said. “1 really wanted to get the team record and I really wanted to get the state cut in the first meet, but I know I can go faster. Hopefully, I'll be doing that more often too. I really enjoy it.” In varsity competition, she is still working towards her club best time in the race of about a 2:08. It’s a mark she doesn’t anticipate having too much trouble reaching once the team breaks out the racing suits and gets its taper in at the end of the season. Gaylord has been doing more strength training in the offseason and is really trying to get her teammates fired up at meets - which helps boost her own speed in races. But she isn’t just working on her speed this fall. She said she has been working on her leadership skills as a captain for the second season in a row. “I think this year has been literally the most positive year I have ever swam on Caledonia,” she said. “Everyone is 9 rmU « I I JS • t’r 4' Jjllilii4 L . «I8** u •e /J* ( < it V 'll• » '. .U‘' c •^4 W I ) Z f r •« 9• • i • 4 Jl* rV’.A ►| u 4 *, I >• M': ; '4 »■ II?; *L » ■ s * s t:u*’ X I rt&^' i 4 Y ♦«> A k - ijr ' b ►• I I Mi<- 1.1^ X .’ { i., z* “ UJ-k' " <rt5 . .'AI' 0n^' »<' n X I 1 1 .bgi* I 1 k« 1 >4»4i 1 » > , r* 1. M«.W* .i I 1 ■ilV .1 DflCftidGt \ 1 A' >* a »A n « A' - I I /4 1& t I t. «.IA . rrert xnrw A * ' ft«r< 4 9^ r <♦ \ A *•* ^1] * tWB, IM r I 1 !. * <4 • « ;>■ r > jrjn I r A-- M* ’*i i U e •• < Di '4jn l,n i,'iT«^ »5it I I > I f 4^ r 1| fk/ I J t» I I I A » •1 » I r • ^7 I'ZM ■n e ri’ I iB i r t b f mRs 1 I r *' •» I'W iiHlblI T fifl tr « « 1 I » J 5 I iji ■^.0^ th : \ !< . • 4 I •'iX 1 I See POOL on 10 CT, ’t t . ^<1 A ’ll *. ':• A '8 p ' A l' I t. ' t V t 4i >z 4 < } 1 I I > I » i < I I I L M t; (- f «f * /I r 4 1 I * J A s t « • >* r 1.1 4 bfafc. J > F/ 4 �I I ) 1 4 'J A I i *• f ‘3 ft* Trojans chase Scots again at annual Coach B Invitational I I » I I t Brett Bremer .. I f I A. X 7- I 7 B I i ♦ •in- I H I 1 .jr . J . T- I ♦x FfV.' I . >p I k r ry(< •/< / ii *; - I b I •* iCf;!. ■ 1 r h ift I r < >. t 1^: •4 :t ,4 I I r 1 I f f'-f ti V. i J X I 8J ’f) STV Kfe 1 • - < I f r t tl ;v/ t * t 1 r\-^ 'JJ ?^c -^J.. J wu' m JG i I 5fq- J; i 1* £ % Mt bftttivT", Si* TBBlL’ . 4 *4 4 *4 ■ >* 7- . c Uj JX 1f J ■ t- 1 X< -! • X- r J ■ •O 1^ < ■:'’' 'U birri; ji> a r 4 5 ( -• •A 11 A . lO, U iWiU • ■ C' 4« I 5 1 l;_;i?afc. I ' fti’ Bjnor^ i t - 4 *J 1 ;'r-n ’’’Ifc i p ^thssrt^ I-. I j iU- W-t' 1 ie 1 r J I i > IftJk. h I . I A :•> I ;l’r |f^ - ‘^A / J I ' 4 f . ilTJRii.i... 1 r • . T» j I "-'■'•vnl t «r ►A i A I D r tf A/’4*4 7Z' f tmKaoiicijO wiisji 7 f 'Of A? it I W ■L ...L , ' :*! ‘■waiWR^ . 22.x* 2^-.. -ni •S, '. “* « I ’ •• ' « Sports Editor Together again. For the third time in four races to start the season, the Caledonia and Thor­ napple Kellogg varsity cross country teams competed against each other on Monday. This time they took on the course near Murphy’s Point at Gun Lake in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area for the Trojans’ annual Coach B Invitational in honor of former head coach Tammy Benjamin. The Caledonia boys ran to a cham­ pionship finish and the Caledonia girls were second. As in the two previous contests, the Scots were out in front of the TK teams. The Thomapple Kellogg girls were third and the boys fourth in the Thomapple Division races Monday. The Caledonia boys won 30 points ahead of the Grand Rapids Track Club 43, West Michigan Aviation Academy 76, Thomapple Kellogg 122 and Wayland 122. Caledonia had the two fastest runners and three of the five guys who fin­ ished the race in less than 17 minutes. Caledonia senior Noah Johnston won the race in 16 minutes 21.07 seconds and sophomore Bennett Snapper was second in 16:32.88. West Michigan Aviation senior Asher Jager was third in 16:39.72. The top 25 in both the Thomapple Division and Kellogg Division con­ tests earned medals. There were ten Caledonia guys among that group. Sophomore Bentley Nichols set his PR at 16:47.71 to place fourth. Senior Eli Velting was fifth in 17:24.51. Freshman £±^ I .Svn I I I ♦I AI ♦ • •» w . k • f • ft i» I B. • • • V'W - IW* . *» •1 GUN LAKE COMMUNITY CHURCH 12200 W M-179 HWY, Wayland, Ml I ► I r r I I ^e»-’ I 4«1 I k ^lomra ? 1 I i ■ f J I V ...^ V i: Z2 ?V I- » < k I I I I 1 MK r w i k:< I I ! k- 1 ? 4 % A 4W -5X. - ■e •s '1^ ’k F «» w* 9 r ’1 < J ; > c - 7991 I 1 AZ •A • 707 f v 4 r C if 1 > Craft ► Vendors Wanted ««M >41 •X Contact Elaine for an application elainehhelgren @ gmail.com (616) 795-5142 . '.4 www.gunlakechurci » I V. J •c 5p •f ' '/.J * X M' I >• >*» *• • A e r r r W' 3s £ * t c 4 4 («4 V <•« * v*- - *» r *4 J. Caledonia sophomore Charlie Bont picks up the pace as she nears the finish at Thornapple Kellogg's Coach B Invitational at Gun Lake in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area Monday. Photos by Brett Bremer s’Ch V\ » k: s V 4 S' & >' ' ,4 • « 4',' 9-'^' i Thornapple Kellogg senior Madison Kietzman races by the three-mile mark during the Coach B Invitational at Gun Lake Monday. :y. FV ♦ J V •<^ • ■I •* S *\ . >R «■ r**. 1 K . s' f * '.• K 4 v< £ 1* •1 ffiSmYCOyHTYEVENTS^>V.Z * 5,5 7^ yv<*4 0 SEPTEMBER « w 13 T ■W “ QAK 9AM - 2PM < t =■ A R R y * t I COMMOffi k b MIDDLEVILLE fl HERITAGE DAYS ■k J <■» ■ L r > € ‘V L « by taking part in area festivals. Stop by and share your small town dreams! 4’ > «a> *<^ Celebrating our 3 □‘^anniversary b 0^ i ft.' » A I I• •l bjkMVlGlF ■i a ft '...ft ft *’ .-jas-:: 4 • W I b «4Pt , • f I t f A < *»• • f X*-.T '.■fc w' i-, V i iw « r I; Isaac Dinh was 15th in 17:44.05. Kaden Van Ryn 16th and Sean Thompson in 17th rounded out the top seven for the Scots. Luke Smith, Jake Potgeter and Grand Feldpausch also earned medals. The CHS team had 14 guys hit the finish line before TK’s number one. The Thomapple Kellogg boys were led by freshman Owen Bremer who was 31 st overall. He had a time of 18:39.26. Junior teammate Grady Galaviz was about two seconds behind Bremer with a 32nd-place time of 18:41.35. He beat his previous course record by more than half a minute and was more than a minute faster that he was at the Coach B Invite as a sophomore last fall. TK also had freshman Parker Robi­ nett 48th in 20:17.51, freshman Jerin Donker 49th in 20:28.59 and senior Alexander Frizzell 52nd in 21:01.22. Grand Rapids Track Club junior Gianna Chaignot won the Thomapple Division girls’ race in 19:05.20. West Michigan Aviation junior AhnaWoltjer was second in 19:58.78. Caledonia ju­ nior Akaela Daman continued working towards that 20-minute mark placing third with a personal record time of 20:01.84. Daman and the Scots were second to the Track Club team with the Per­ egrines scoring 25 points. Caledonia had 64 ahead of TK 88, West Michigan Aviation 94 and Wayland 106. The Scots got PRs from a couple of sophomore medalists. Charlie Bont placed 13th in 21:31.81 and Tiona Sakala was 15th in 21:40.11. Senior Hannah Bennett was not too far behind that duo placing 16th in 21:47.38. See TROJANS on 10 ? I i I 9 ’W- 1 J ■*J.- tlMRKK' Saturday, September 13, 2025 4 t r THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I u *e ■ L t * •“ y.i: ^r �I i 4 A. I 10 Saturday, September 13, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 1 r 1 I »* V 'i i \ f M 8 i 655 < 0 / > A A « > i r I L. .r. 4 Fighting Scot freshman Isaac Dinh races to a 15th-place finish at Thornapple Kellogg’s Coach B Invitational in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area Monday. Dinh was one of ten medalists for the Caledonia boys' team which took the championship in the Thornapple Division for larger schools at the meet. The Caledonia girls’ team also had Abigail Tava 21 st in 22:37.54 and Ken­ dall Van Ryn 25th in 22:45.46. Elsie Clarin closed out the Scots’ top seven with a 29th-place finish. The TK girls’ team had four runners earn medals for finishing in the top 25 and all seven scorers had times that would have been tops among the Kel­ logg Division runners. Junior Peyton Hardy paced the TK pack as she has throughout the fall. She was tenth in 21:21.77, her fastest time of the season and a new course record for her too. The other TK medalists included junior Alaina McCrumb 18th in 22:21.73, sophomore Amya Gater 19th in 22:30.28 and junior Carmen Reynolds 22nd in 22:39.92. Senior Madison Kietzman was TK’s number five in 22:47.31. Brielle Miller placed 27th and Breanna Schut 30th to round out TK’s seven scorers. It & * V- . { I ■h 1 V I 7i#^' 4^ I 4 i’ «t ■■ 0 I Brett Bremer Sports Editor Ilie Trojans didn’t have to suffer heartbreak two weeks in a row. Hamilton scored a touchdown in the final moments to pull within one point of the visiting Thomapple Kellogg varsity football team Fri­ day. The Trojans lost by one on a field goal as time expired in the season opener against Hastings in week one, and the Hawkeyes linedup for a two-point conversion trying to put TK down by one at the end of week two. TTie TK defense held, and the Trojans came away with a 28-27 victory. A couple of turnovers early in the second half helped Hamilton wipe out what had been at 14-7 TK lead. The Trojans trailed 21-14 before their defense really started to lock down on the Hawkeyes in the sec­ ond half. TK took a 22-21 lead late in the third quarter. With about two minutes to go in the game, TK quarterback Micah Dock found space around the left side for a nine-yard touchdown run that extended a TK lead from one to seven. Zach Edlridge, Debo Rob­ inson and Lucas Ploeg cleared out most of the right side of the Ham­ ilton defense, and Dock dodged a tackle at the six and headed into the end zone. TK was set to go to Wayland Friday, Sept. 12. The Trojans open OK Black Conference play against Ottawa Hills at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids Sept. 19. A4 *|LI •' I »* 4 ’ 14 ■ T* ' «« • x ’’ I < JZ .V' V 1-^ I i X t*. f. •i i3>' V* t I - -'fi . 'V t »4f t*- T 1 y A < J*' . f 9 4A >1 **■« » 1 k ' r, I 5^ 'fi . I' c.-V'>V \ k' ii’ V'' » k ■,'..Tie I 5** H ( iM « ' tf k ♦* J < P' • rf LLr» I J k 'I- «4fl i ' ' ;#iX® •1 • 1 r 1 y d ♦ ■ fr* s r.> '1 tlia»5‘’^ ’I * tfli ..». V 4 n Jt 0« •* J * 1 ' I , r.': lii I . -r CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meeting Minutes The minutes for the August 20, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on September 3, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave., and on the website at www.caledoniatownship.org. > > • $ Caledonia Community Schools will be posting RFP for rJ 9 t 4 I '«b ■■ https://wwwxalschools.org/bond/ .1 1*^ TK holds on for one-point win as Hamilton two-point try fails I ill* POOL Continued from Page 8 All RFP information will befound on the district website: / H' j 8 .st “CalPlex Site Improvements” i• > r Continued from Page 9 4 t f* www.sunandnews.com J y V J TROJANS < 1 e 1 > Caledonia junior diver Lily Smith spins above the water in the pike position during her team's dual with Forest Hills Central at the Cal Community YMCA Thursday, Sept. 4. just hyping each other up. Nobody is sitting on their phones. Everyone is be­ ing excited for each other, comforting to each other and wanting everyone to do their best.” “This year I’m really taking charge of the attitude on pool deck at all times,” Gaylord added, “whether it’s in the locker room, whether it’s talking about other swimmers, other people’s races. Whether it’s just hyping each other up. Even if you had a bad race, it’s being there for that person and not just saying, ‘you’ll do better next time. ’ It’s comfort­ ing them and actually caring about what they’re doing. And also staying moti­ vated at practice. A lot of times the girls can, including myself, can get a little off track doing the yardage and stuff. So helping everyone get their yardage done, even though I don’t wanna do it either is really important and just being that role model for them as a senior.” The Scots have been pushing hard enough that they had personal bests throughout the day, in swimming and diving events, whether those were in top finishes or not. The 1 OO-yard breaststroke was one of the top events for the Scots in the end with VanderZwaag winning in 1:12.42 and sophomore teammate Nora DeHaan the runner-up. Vander­ Zwaag had a runner-up time of 25.46 in the 50-yard freestyle. Van Hofwegen placed third in the 1 OO-yard freestyle in 58.57 seconds. Morris had a personal best time of 1:07.50 to place third in the 1 OO-yard butterfly and she placed third with a personal best of 1:07.45 in the 1 OO-yard backstroke. In the 500-yard freestyle, the Scot^ had McCann second, Klein third and Madelyn Foerch fourth with both set­ ting new personal best times. Caledonia’s top diver on the day was Cici Fanco who turned in a score of 113.60 to place third, just ahead of teammate Lily Smith. The Caledonia/Lowell/South Chris­ tian boys’ program held a few prac­ tices in the pool in the lead-up to the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Boys’ Swimming and Diving Finals last March. It wasn’t quite ready in time for the guys to host the the pool’s inaugural meet though. V <• f i A I v4(V I’ .... ' V #1 ’<**■ "I b l( : 4ts»'« v» r ‘ A* • >< * . ■ t t ' K I I 4 >> s 4 I if % A* * \,U«ir0i5 * . i'j'i i 4 L. . y/f: * J .-A' ) '4 I ;«k t * w ' ■ I »T\fM . 1* iSiSlimuM Fit sScR®(W!lfaKl?i^& i , IT , ,, I *r ' . k «>'*> *1- 1 ! I J I J I » '!«,V •r m3 fc I'r - ■ M’ll’m. 1' J r. " . I r?*u5i I ' i Itu. ■» (I » I • •• ■* tw ..1 ». • ^JL'j VJ iwiM. * Ti 7 X.. < • • r » !JB n X w 5 M « r** •ri ’ '•rwrf3 3 T I 1 1 I >. ,i.4» i<, P I * fi» r’ « i: I» ;I ’•x t « 4 I •A ■ n i’* • • I *. ■. v n 4^ b 1 I M J r I fl I t, I i gJ ( t k > .i * �% 4b- 152 4k . ' A. ♦ V c ♦ >r www.sunandnews.com THE SUN AND NEWS Saturday, September 13, 2025 11 ♦ I ♦ ft ] I 1, ’n* Trojans tally some early PR's at first conference Jamboree I d JI I Brett Bremer * J.- W Sports Editor ■) * ' M;,-, 1 1 4 I h »I , 1- •*n I -1, * ✓ 1 ' I? '•j I 4 T j • ■Jl I 4 < 11 J t. r I Cm lU. I > i * i' s r J •Tr -» 9 f i I * J. k "^■41 ! H.. $ s I. k .'J t. 4 s t l>.: ' f; • 1 Ti J b I I I —I I' e. I t\ *A ...... 1* L i. ’ / <C t ( r t i / W' f 4 J 5w I '’’to •J 1 •r-. » *4 w- » .4 II bh It was an early speed test for the Trojans Thursday at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids. The OK Gold Conference opened its 2025 varsity cross country season with a race on what is regularly one of the Grand Rapids area’s fastest paths. A group of six Thomapple Kellogg guys and four girls set personal records on the course along the Grand River on the north side of downtown Grand Rapids. The South Christian girls and boys took victories at the first confer­ ence jamboree of the season. The TK girls were second to the Sailors and the TK boys were fourth in the day’s team standings. The South Christian girls were dominant with senior Chloe Rinzema leading the way in 20 minutes 30.22 seconds, freshman Lily VanEyk second in 20:31.25 and sophomore Tiffany DeMaagd third in 20:32.10. South Christian had the first four girls’ across ±e finish line and the team’s top seven all placed among the top ten. Wayland sophomore Abree VanDenBrink and freshman Madison Bumhoffer were the only girls inside the top eight not on the South Chris­ tian team. They were fifth and sixth respectively. Junior Peyton Hardy led the TK girls with a time of 21:29.13 that had her in 12th overall. Senior Madison Kietzman had her fastest race of the fall so far to place 13th in 21:44.14. Sophomore Amya Gater was one of those Trojans setting a PR Thursday. She placed 14th in 21:52.01. TK junior Alaina McCrumb was 16th overall in 21:54.04 and junior Carmen Reynolds placed 22nd in 22:11.43. Both girls had their best time of the season. South Christian won the girls’ meet with just 17 points. TK was second with 66 points ahead of Wayland 82, West Caftiolic 103,Northview 1 lOand Grand Rapids Union 179. TK fi-eshman Owen Bremer dropped his PR for the third time in three races to start his varsity running career. He placed 13th overall in 18:23.06. Trojan junior Grady Galaviz im­ proved his PR to 18:38.10 to place 17th. The Trojan team also got a PR from freshman Parker Robinett who was 215th in 19:38.76 and sophomore Wyatt Richardson who was 26th in 19:39.29. Rounding out the top five for TK was sophomore Garrett Holzhausen 29th in 19:47.11. There was a bit more diversity in teams among the top runners in the boys’ race. South Christian junior ben Verlin led his team to the win with a winning time of 16:41.21. Northview senior Rhys Holmes dropped his PR to 16:44.23 to place, second. South Christian senior Thad VanderLaan was third in 16:53.46. They were the only three guys to hit the finish line in less than 17 minutes. The Sailors won with 34 points ahead of Northview 37, Union 93, Thomapple Kellogg 109, Wayland 136, Wyoming 156 and West Catholic 171. The Trojan teams run at the Sparta Invitational Saturday, Sept. 13. The OK Gold Conference gets together again Sept. 24 at Wayland. I k * kl i iBl !> I '• W-' « * 9 c Li < i 14 . i; fe- t J F r Only Jenison faster than Scots at first OK Green races i I *• Sfc'' Brett Bremer 9 I rj s V . — — ■ 3 t ' • 7* I T , Sports Editor f I ' 1 4 ' . b r » rit jfii rod’S V I V ,,, ft J r j <1 % , IA f t i I II 1 k r r * • Jv a. k >.. & 9 ) 1 I C" 1 •1 ' Jfl 1 Uli J' ■ V VViW .jn 4 if'U uoS > »• 1 I w ♦ 9 ♦ I i rr •> t t f I 1 I 'A' » *♦ t *I i; V7 I ft I R ■' r- I •> C-< I 5 • »• ^jl..1 J r’- -ffc ' Vi to J-Vi ( < r ri 9 t > ! i f -r- 1 I J a } «* k I Ju- 'T r. • V* *-4 *1 1. c- I k ijr r ri F• < 1 4 ;z k r r' i- il I/! I; li '•I 4 J 1 . I TA 1 'W 4 I I 1 * I r : ■ CliT^V V V-'-:- B 4 I 1 I nr?j r ‘•-f I 1 ) ■ I ' , i I I f I I I I '.mi!?: »I X f I I iV I a -'U tn ■-•'-e .. Jt- ^V I J t I A 1 ■ < 1 I I .Jt .T I a * 1 t*)'. I Xi '' I . * ) A .1 Jenison beat out both the Caledonia varsity boys’ and girls’ cross country teams for the top spot at the first OK Green Conference jamboree of the season Thursday, Sept. 4, hosted by Mona Shores at Rycenga Park. The Jenison girls were dominant finishing the day with just 17 points thanks part to having the first four girls across the finish line. The Jenison boys beat out the Cale­ donia team by just three points 30-33 at the top of the standings. It was all Scots and Wildcats in the t3j5 ten. Caledonia had the first three guys across the finish line at the park in Spring Lake and then the next seven guys in were all Jenison runners. Fight­ ing Scot senior Noah Johnston was the day’s individual champion with a time of 16 minutes 33.47 seconds. The Caledonia team had sophomore Bennett Snapper second in 16:39.10 and sophomore Bentley Nichols third in 16:50.68. The leader of the Jenison pack was sophomore Chase Sherman who came in at 16:58.42. The top five for Caledonia also in­ cluded senior Eli Velting 1.2th overall in 17:35.14 and senior Kaden VanRyn 17th in 17:48.30. The Scots’ scoring group was filled out by senior Luke Smith (18th) and sophomore Jake Potgeter (19th). The fastest guy not from one of the top two teams was Byron Center ju­ nior Eric Pierce who set a new PR of 17:32.65 to place 11th. Byron Center was third in the boys’ meet with 83 points ahead of Mona Shores 114, Reeths-Puffer 152 and Muskegon 171. The first four girls across the finish line were Jenison runners, a group led by junior Paige McMeans’ time of 19:06.20. Sophomore teammate Madeline Aleisa was the runner-up in 19:51.29. Caledonia junior Akaela Daman was the first girl from another team to finish. She placed fifth in 20:30.95. Jenison had 17 points to lead the field. Caledonia was second with 61 points ahead of Byron Center 64, Mona Shores 103 and Reeths-Puffer 150. Fighting Scot sophomore Charlie Bontwas 12th with a time of 21:50.86 and fellow sophomore Tiona Sakala was 13th in 22:00.70. Junior Anna VanderWal was right behind in 14th with a time of 22:05.28. The CHS team had senior Hannah Bennett as its number five placing 17th overall in 22:20.34. Freslman Kendall VanRyn was sixth for the Scots with a 21st- place finish overall powered by a new PR of 22:28.01. Scot sophomore Elise Clarin (23rd) finished out the top seven for the Scots. 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. BODY SHOP COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your irusRcI Body Shop -for over 32 years 1 ♦ I 1 I i I ‘’f I i -I J II1 1 I J I 1. I ' 4 ’I I » 1 M » J J 1 k •ft 4 t h I 1 f / 1 J I \ I 1 �12 Saturday, September 13, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS I www.sunandnews.com .mF Fighting Scots face some of state’s top teams early on ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor 4 .'’I I* I I < 4F 4 f 2 >• * 9^ I / The Fighting Scots put themselves through the paces at their own home quad Thursday, Sept. 4. Caledonia was 0-3 for the day in close contests with three of the state’s top teams. The Caledonia girls were bested 2521, 25-21 by a Forest Hills Northern team ranked number two in the state in Division 1. They fell 25-16,23-25,26-24 to a Grand Haven team ranked eighth in the state in D1. The Scots were also nar­ rowly bested by Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 25-23,25-17, a team among the honorable mention ranks in Division 2. Junior Aubrey Reynolds led the Cale­ donia attack on the day with 30 kills. She also added 24 digs, two blocks and two aces. Junior libero Aveiy Seif had 30 digs in the three matches and two aces. Junior Kayleigh Miersen added 25 digs and two aces. Sophomore Lydia Bell chipped in 21 digs. Fighting Scot setter Reese Stafford, a junior, had 65 assists to go with two blocks and six aces. 4 J. I .V A' Sf •l mA 4^ I ♦ * w t 4 « L > *• » Caledonia setter Reese Stafford puts a pass up during her team’s contest with Grand Rapids Catholic Central at the Scots’ own home quad Thursday, Sept. 4. Photos by Perry Hardin Scot senior Kyla Charles chipped in 12 kills and six blocks. The Scots followed that up with an appearance at the Rockford Rumble Saturday, Sept. 6. The Scots avenged the loss to Forest Hills Norther there outscoring the Hus­ kies 14-25,26-254,15-12 and also took down Traverse City West 25-14, 25-23. Mattawan and East Grand Rapids both scored two-set wins over the Scots on the day. Reynolds had 36 kills in those four matches with 23 digs, two aces and eight blocks. Seif had a team-high 35 digs. Miersen chipped in 21 digs and a team-leading eight aces. Stalford had 73 assists and four blocks. At the net, Charles had 12 kills and six blocks and Bell hit 20 kills and had 16 blocks. The Scots were set to face a tough test to open the OK Green Conference season at Byron Center Thursday, Sept. 11. They will host their annual Makayla Kohn Memorial Invitational today, Sept. 13, and then return to conference action with a match at home against Mona Shores Thursday, Sept. 18. 1 4 J J I a il t. * I I I * *< 1/ 4! J -p* 9' I . * 1 I I j I i I J Al I I J 1 jr J -4-jt r y* I,' I -5 ftra.'' patw* 2 i /\U y.'' J tX. -I. f 1 I r kt- •- ** - I 1 .X w. I r J A 11^ 4 4 9 f 4n ( . I/. 'F «r t t V 1* >'' I i r < > b’ The Fighting Scots’ Kayla Charles gets a kill from the left side of the net during her team’s contest with Grand Rapids Catholic Central Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Caledonia Quad. < 2./ 1*' I KV >. 4*- I• .. 1' V r1 .r r ii h'. ^L .F7 I 4a«*V* * - «w« ram HBI* M Jib X.' . \ ^£11 fl r ■' "ifr 1 I ♦ t 9(^ 5^ «• . i« 'i 1 *r ■i» I ■ •t ■^1 }NE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS 4. J* I*. I r Fighting Scots head south Scots head south toTK for win over Reeths-Puffer football Brett Bremer Sports Editor 4 A ♦ Residential & Commercial Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers < V «p> T A > s. I 12 I &' X* Wl- I; A * r i f w ’t DeWeerd (i DEWEERDHTG.COM « n .K « HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. r •Bsb & >* ft » ( . . 'MHi > Since 195.4 269-792-2234 3rT I I ' A* 1 r k I( $ >. ACCREOITEO BUSINESS > With renovations at “The Ralph” still not complete and crowd headed southeast to cheer on the Reeths-Puffer Rockets, the Caledonia varsity football team had to make a late move to play a home game inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville Friday. It didn’t seem to hurt the Scots’ per­ formance on the scoreboard any. Caledonia improved to 2-0 on the season with a 56-21 win over the “visit­ ing” Rockets. Quarterback Bryce Backus was 9-of-12 passing fori05 yards and four touchdowns, and Andrew Hanna and Conlan Schultz both tossed touchdown passes too. The Scots had nine differ­ ent offensive ballcarriers and had five different guys catch passes. Aaron Collins and Lincoln Senti led the Fighting Scot receiving corps. Collins had four catches for 49 yards and two touchdowns. Senti had three catches for 46 yards and two scores. Ben Geerdes and Tyden Schuch also had TD receptions. The Fighting Scots led the bailgame 42-7 at the half. Backus had eight rushes for 96 yards, and four Scots surpassed the 40-yard mark. Ryne Wysocki had ten carries for 78 yards. Capree Thomas rushed eight times for 42 yards and Jeremiah Pittman had two carries for 40 yards and a score. Chase Whisler chipped in a touchdown run too. Colton Sheely led the Fighting Scot defense with five total tackles including one for a loss. Cam Beach had a sack. As a team, the Scots had seven tackles for loss and limited the Rocket rushing attack to just 26 yards. Caledonia was scheduled to open the OK Red Conference season in Hudson­ ville Friday, Sept. 12. The Scots have plans to host Grandville Sept. 19. rs I Si‘ I*. ir I I 9 1 «i « ft «• r y ( ”1 I £ J I rafen tti? > Hi'1^ ^o^ddoum J r'»’ •" » . r I > ■ J > jBtitifl^' 44: 1G 4 ' n-5t''» < w ifcSSEi .1 t I . .1 1 t » . 4W J ' ’.t> wr7 !! ■ \ I : . 1 'V* J I I . 1.. i 1^ V ;/^ to' 9 4F I I 1 I tertf f V *n 11 1 :!T I' I > I av JJ» r le^n ir. * 4 ■ r_ •<»<' ..lil I .1 'I *Ji rp. » > « .'I i I— 'fr.'^h9tW3 It I r-- ■ 4 \X I & “r J'l I S5SiiX££’ J : «««WM w < ..^ I 1 * *rZ. VrC J il 1 rt 1= > J .I IT fKissa . n* ) r nr . dit f i > Af J «• r ■ ■ 'gCI j'X 1‘ t ■>. I, iiV’ t I X -I ■id; « I I I i 1 I *' V J �I ♦ I u V 1 s a' ♦ I I 1, 6 J r I 13 Saturday, September 13, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ♦ i tuo2 rtpin e j t ir I ♦ B, .':orfrto • ■F* 5 ’^1 I t ■i'-l.s. Z' II K ♦ I ' ■L' n1 * J: yibffA'Z •T t T .--14 I ) r A' 4 I •'"J f e. % Wl V •> *. ■f'* ' ai4S V ’■^cr I I < .1 i{ f. i »> 4 A • r' Li iai' • T I I Ik T r iUk .4' I « L t I ( f. I h! *r?TW-. f ir J i • « • Ik* ty ■ LtM f •• . > • 4 I I J f I'. JI a* 'I •f Ifc. SI «» *1 I 75*'.* ipu'. ”^r r u* 4' I s > I: J’ '^2 south t li^ A I i .j.. f 1 I Ij > f . s ■—T <•- I’h ' I i T ''ll / ill J I I r t I I W -. r-IRS® ^>-7 GJ j. u. J * ' r?'' J ■'Mi < ►r y ■r.< d J J 1 atffi ! (*, i I I hl 95 f t I r > J f' r < 4. i I I I f r t * •> J ll I r t I 7 • ..-.T H .* 9 J i 1 \■ )f t. r f -i 'lx I fi I 1 ( I -*•'**• I r ‘ ■ rOrf.5 t f t . nv I r» X"* (irwttns^A esrA 3!Si-KS;; ■ I e ft -.rj I i **•?'* . ] u.» i .V » '.^•f e't rs -tir: < Ji I • I I J. I . I I I ! I i t i' •' 3 ■' 7-^ tf fI .r fI . ♦' 4 I • Tt ■ I ------ --- ... 4 I I HI t i ll I J 1 f ‘1H drills with them that I think I have helped their lives quite a bit. I’m excited for them. They’re playing nice tennis. It’s really nice tennis to watch on singles and doubles. So it’s a lot of fun for me.” Over the past few weeks, the Trojans have non-conference wins over Lowell, Hamilton and they took a 5-3 win over Otsego last Thursday, Sept. 4, The team also had a runner-up finish at a quad in Holland late last month. In the dual with Otsego last week, TK got wins from Wilkinson and Parker Sylvestre at the top two singles spots and a victory from Gielincki at number four. Gielincla pulled out a siq)er tiebreaker for the win, South proves tough, but TK’s tennis growth continues Brett Bremer ^91 4 r -Z ICfiU ♦ Sports Editor The Trojans pushed the Sailors to three sets in three of the four singles matches at South Christian High School Monday, but South Christian took two ofthose bouts and won seven flights overall. The South Christian varsity boys’ tennis team, ranked fifth in the state in Division 3, scored a 7-1 win over the visiting Trojans. Thom^le Kellogg’s one victory came thanks to senior first singles player Franklin Wilkinson who took a 6-2,4-6,6-3 victory over South Christian sophomore Joe Maas. Sailorsenior Ben Vos bestedTKfiTeshman second singles player Parker Sylvestre 3-6, . At fourth singles, Sailor freshman 6-1, Zac Lummen outscored TK senior Mark Gielincki 7-6(4), 5-7,6-2. The South Christian guys won all four doubles matches in straight sets, not allowing the Trojans more than two games in any of the contests. Those were good tests for Wilkinson and Parker Sylvestre. Wilkinson is in his first season at first singles for TK. “[Wilkinson] played a lot this summer. He is a part ofthe core group ofguys we played a lot with,” TK head coach Philipe Sylvestre said. “You never know how a student, or a young athlete, is going to respond to a change. You don’t know. But do I think that Frank is accumulating the tools to deal with the situation he is in physically, mentally, tactically, strategically, I think he is.” Wilkinson and Parker Sylvestre have played plenty of points against each other over the past few summers despite the age difference. They’re both following in the footsteps 2025 TK grad KJ Nichols who spent the past three seasons at first singles for the Trojans. Wilkinson spent last fall at third singles. It is obviously the first season ofvar­ sity tennis for Parker, coach Sylvestre’s son. “I think that having had KJ first and Frank mixed in there and ±e boys allowing [Parker] to participate with them in his own growth and his own pathway, I think it’s really helped him,” coach Sylvestre said. “He’s gotten to see a lot of ±e competitive side from them. He got to play a lot ofpoints with them. He got to be pushed around a lot at one point. Still gets pushed around from time to time. So ±ey’ b^n veiy veiy kind to him in terms of mentorship and acceptance ... and that goes for everybody. Our mentality in our program is that eveiyl•TOly has got to help everybody. Parker should have a little debt of gratitude to Frank and KJ, since he graduated obviously. It has really helped Parker a ton.” TK knew that the Sailors would be more than a tall order to contend with in ±e OK Gold Conference coming into the season. While it was a tough day for the TK doubles teams Monda, coach Sylvestre said earlier this season that it has been a fun watching the doubles teams settle in and be hungry to learn more. That in turn pushed him to pick up the intensity in practice. count on every! iy, but it’s almost like ±e have a nice balance between singles and doubles in terms oflike how they decide to take action to play,” coach Sylvestre said. “The gitys are containing the greed of wanting to win the point too fast and they’re being a little more calculated andpatient. But we’ve also incorporated a lot of doubles . >< 1* r* <* * t and sophomore Max Lepper played a long match at third singles where he ultimately fell in a super tiebreaker. On the doubles’ side, TK got a super tie­ breaker win from the number two team of sophomore Graham Eden andjunior Gideon Scott Junior Aiden Riffel and senior Luke Archer won at third doubles against the Bull­ dogs. The top TK doubles team of juniors Layne Schilthroat and Samuel Teachout fell in a super tiebreaker after splitting sets. Schilthroat and Teachout are the only regular returning doubles players for TKtliis fall. Coach Sylvestre said he likes how that pair has been so coachable this fall, willing to experiment, lead and follow. » .i V r SAVE THE DATE CRAFT BEER AND WINE FEST Daily News - View Newspaper Group is hosting > M ss:.- f, IP#* > 1 1 i b V 4 1 Saturday, October 11,2025 z 9sr^ 3 v r 2-7 PM, TIVOLI SQUARE, DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE * L »' **> 4. ^7 ♦X* V * free food vNEMOS'C <» 7 The event i3enefits . Rotary Club of Greenville J L • • •v • • • t 9 f .1^. •A e 1 Vr• r •x *. bottles, BREW^I^^ *dt * ^ZW4 .J • * LVs 14 > £ ♦ i ADVANCE TICKETS: .. :> VIP ADMISSION $50 Includes one hour early entry, exclusive food and drink pairing experience. Hops & Grapes 101 with local brewer, commemorative Bottles Brews & News Oktoberfest lanyard, souvenir glass, five drink sample tickets and food ’ WSPAPER GROUP'S CRAFT BEER AND Wl /♦ Oktoberfest 2025 I < GENERAL ADMISSION $30 L Includes souvenir glass, five drink sample tickets and food 3 SPONSORED BY: 1^ 2 1 'H ISABELLA BANK Local. Crowing. Slaving. <>> COMMERCIAL BANK WINTER INSURANCE AGENCY SiMPLI.FI Additional tasting tickets wilt be avatlabfe for purchase at event for $1 each.-^^ HlillK FURNITURFRNOaRF.UflNCE //mmismmX ! A&E Agency 'il>/J3svS{%i( 5Ga-o Z □ □ EVENT HOSTED BY: DAILY NEWS Or<H4> EVENT BENEFITS; Rotary Club of Greenville, Ml Sponsorships available. Contact Amber Rood at arood@thedallynews.cc or at 616-548-8257 > □ Scan QR code or visit thedailynews.cc/ Oktoberfest for ticke �r » V' 14 ♦ ♦ ♦ • > Saturday, September 13, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia fifth doubles team also got off to a strong start. Junior Sam Newell and sophomore Drew DeVries pushed the Bulldog team of junior Shane Johnson and sophomore Zach Zupin to a 6-4 score in set number one before the Bulldogs settled in for a 6-0 win in set number two. “I think we competed better,” Cale­ donia head coach Scott Bont said of his team as a whole, “Really, what I told them is we just have to compete hard every point. The score card t^es care of itself. Just play hard every point re­ gardless of what the score is. I thought we did that today. “I don’t know what all the games were, but we were definitely competi­ tive more, especially in the first sets of all the matches. Several games were goings several deuces long. We didn’t win all of them, but we were a lot more competitive.” Rather than comparing themselves to what their scorecards look like against one of the top teams in the state, Bont There could have been no tougher way to start the OK Green Conference season than what the Fighting Scots faced Wednesday. Byron Center, the team ranked third in the state in Division 2 coming into the week, took an 8-0 win over the Caledonia varsity boys’ tennis team. It was the second meeting of the season between the two squads, as the Scots’ annual Dobber Wenger Invitational was played on the Bulldogs’ home courts last month. The Caledonia guys have progressed over that time, but so have the Bulldogs The top improvement on the scorecards for the Fighting Scots came from the fourth doubles team of juniors Isaac Judd and Charlie Scott which took a few games in each set against the Bulldog duo ofjunior Zeke Sandholm and freshman Brody Slot. The Byron Center team took a 6-2, 6-3 win in the end. □ ’•K -» 3k ISr I •I • 1 1 r*a [ L_ □ ■ Scan our QR code to find your perfect invitation! r Hi- A »>' •t n.. « l> * H » t » 4^* a 4r f <t •• ’I • a«B» F<«><• «9 ——<BIJI > Ar s 4 w ; 1 “'u ri Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. PRINTING BY A www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylanepnnting.com , 4 -vv 4I• Highly-ranked Bulldogs tough first league test for Scots <■ r J’ ir ■ .T I 1I r I T k i F % * « J * 9 I* * Ff z I I ' 4. A * V »* i • ' L 4 If ■ ;S' f. ♦ ► • i * * / ar . •t •A' iBW - A- -T- • r ' « 4 •* ♦ . >• ♦ • •• • ■f - A % . 41 -’ V «r > f k V . .s « * r if* ■It: I t Yj $ J V: «.d . ‘ T » . *1. i a I . i » '1^ A 7 A I r > * *•« * V'''•a ' *3 u i t s* #'''** /■;Cl 4 •a < 4 .r X < A * z 1 -TP A. 1 f if- . Ji ' 9-' I. * f i.:- S'.•a-. ^ '■^ii^-^iit^ c i ^eVwwmwr. bl I -^‘Or^ ■■mF 1 4 •It •■■> • I tier* 1w V «F « *1« • I . f .i & I r 1 1T h I .M ^1 I 4 f .riS«M •4 I Caledonia junior Charlie Scott knocks down aforehand volley during his fourth doubles match with teammate Isaac Judd against Byron Center Wednesday afternoon at Caledonia High School. Photos by Brett Bremer has tried to compare things to the team’s performance a year ago. The Scots have finished better at most of the tournaments they have participated in this fall than they did in 2024. The singles line-up has three players back, although shuffled around some. Senior Colin Martin at fourth singles was the only Caledonia singles player to win some games Wednesday. He was bested by Bulldog senior Cole Krauss 6-3, 6-0. The Scots’ top three singles players, senior Hudsen Derengowski at number one, junior Quinn Stanley at number two and Garrett Pales at number three all were downed 6-0, 6-0. The Scots’ top three doubles teams all took a game or two in set number one against the Bulldogs, but then were shut out in the second set of their matches. Bulldog junior first singles player Terrence He, who played second singles a year ago, moved his record to 7-5 on the season with his second vic­ tory of the season over Derengowski. The Scots’ number one player worked to move up in the line-up from third singles a year ago, and is now working it means the “Every school has one really good player, no matter who it is. It is never going to be a free match,” Derengowski said. He was coming back from an illness, so he wasn’t quite at full strength for his rematch with He - not that the result would have looked much different in the end. He has been seeing improve­ ments in his game throughout the early part of the season though. Overall, I am hitting harder. My game is faster, because my body and mindset and thinking are adapting to the faster play at the higher level,” Derengowski said. Bont said he has seen Derengowski becoming much more consistent than he was a year ago. The Scots tied for first at the tour­ nament hosted by Portage Northern Saturday, Sept 6. Dexter and the Scots both closed the day with 16 points. Por­ tage Northern was third with 12 points ahead ofWayland 11, Buchanan 10 and Kalamazoo Central 7. Caledonia won two matches at every flight. Derengowski was 2-1 there includ­ ing 10-8 win in a super tiebreaker after sets with Buchanan’s ♦ •i! s 3^^ * is I f u J I ■k •* ** i r 1 LI r* r B si ' u I iV* *>’ ^/'t9lP^3tT0T(<!pl3ni 1' ,t I ‘‘tri* »I Ft '' I * i 'T:<wfaa VT *■ ' L2_ ir ? S Sil’S 1« “ JU A r J f 4eW'- 1 J* 1 s •n’a \ ,ua p 4s fa I^i Bdff EJOO tfS’ fnafis i; I 1 Vchw foiasl ■kfaum baiooi t)V€fl fmqa Igpfeds noad j?Bri stl toodauoiilJ Dmsaeiri fl fi^uodJ noaB98 ori ; 1 K liigfltiufi ran I ,!1b’ i, ClSlFl bfiX te no Oj tfSUBoad .nieai Imeb r I .—^v*‘ te '/elq 'I *ieg iiav> i V « '• !' I 9 i I r i Ut* n£fh in2' I . - xwrii^? ■-t '•-lOR' :» I 4 *•* « ,r I f r 1 feSSiSS r> < . A '■o^il ; T ■ iKa»K* t -I'JZ ri J J' I r !T u . lOl ft i! »i^. T'. I I I r I it ii *4 t 1 « I )£i r • .1 w J ■ t .'iM • 1 ♦T t J ••stgawM 'Os! W • 1 1 4 BUUW IB BA< < 1 . Y . f I i i 8? e -A- ,1 •iu. Vf ■■ :‘'rr I : >4. I i(t» « « * * �I 4 ♦ ♦ T: ■ THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Saturday. September 13. 2025 15 ♦ r J I off If. 1 oMZt g wub b aoi jdrnsi T|. <» 1 r I am^al w* » fl HOJ nr/ Pt } I I i ■rDIW i*. I i 1 tI II*.. i t- ’S I > EtOl J ' " 1 I I II t I 4 t f ^4 I % ■’5*f I < . '»/J > I V II J 14m. . I t. j tl. I 1 I « * ♦ nrii;. T^^tf * I 1 k 1 w , ►>' ‘J ' *' Li' I ’ i •■'w I a r> I IV 1 I I » I < 4 * (., ft. t’ t'-’! J 1 / I I 40* Ji J I I H * i. Mr -•.llu. —»» - A*' '• * ' 4 || 4 » H hrrM;i . 1 •in« - lA 1?'. , A t ’• *?sMs ' b fe 11 V V »*t*« A I .’ »'W* 1 •MW ««». , '« *' f ♦ * w* • K Draw w a ' bijjidafflDtw ■ a f’l u iMIltaic-' it . 1 j.ai 1 1 iifeisdiffe * j 1 • { w 1 i V ti ‘r ». ’ i . -hl » f. ■o I I I » 1 />> •t n/-* >• . !r? I u u- 7 Em* t4« ■ • ff f s I ; ■ U 0 J ?y/* I 11^1 • 4 ef’» 5 i 4B W ;ol < r I • ii? 5 , ■ i' i. I •J..W a*.- The Trojans were fourth at home at Yankee Springs Golf Course and fifth at Orchard Hills Golf Course as the OK Gold Conference squeezed in tw o conference jambo­ rees Wednesday. South Christian won both outings shooting a 179 in the afternoon al Yankee Springs for the win. West Catholic was second at that one hosted by the Thomapple Kel­ logg varsity girls’ golf team with a score of 189 ahead of Northview 192, Thomapple Kello^ 199, Wayland Union 238 and Grand Rapids Union NTS. Junior Vivian Hansson led TK with a 44 and that score pul her fifth in the jamboree’s individual standings. Junior Jordan Price shot a 48, junior Sydney Martin a 53 and freshman Emily Coe added a 54. South Christian senior Anna Marcusse was the individual medalist with a 39 on the red nine. Marcusse, junior teammate Kate­ lyn Alles and West Catholic senior Sarah Chen each shot a 40 to lead the league in the morning at Orchard Hills. Ihc Sailors took the learn vic lory with a score of 163 ahead of Northview 176, West Catholic 176, Wayland 201, lliomapple Kellogg 205 and Union NTS. Price led TK there with a 47. Marlin shot a 51, Hansson a 53 and Coe a 54. The Caledonia varsity girls’ golf team placed ninth at the 16-team East Vs. West Showdown at Muskegon Country Club Monday. Fighting Scot senior Codie O’Krangley shot her way to an eighth-place finish in­ dividually with a score of 85 strokes. A birdie on the 420-yard, par-5 number 13 helped her to a 42 on the back nine after a 43 on the front. Our company is growing, don’t miss your opportunity. WE ARE View Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST covering the Marshall area. Responsibilities include: Advertising sales, Account management, Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts. Attend networking events Continued from previous page ttii'.SC U I Brett Bremer Sports Editor and an 81 from senior Hollv * Lawrence. Tlie Scots were also in action last Fri­ day, Sept. 5, finishing second to Lowell al Kenowa Hills' Russ Johnson Invitational at Gracewil Countrs' Club. Tlie Red Arrows won the 13-team tournament witli a score of 332 and the Scots shot a 351. O'Krangley was tlie da\'s runner-up w ith a 75. Stout shot an 89 for the Scots, Walbeck a 90 and junior Lauren Scheid scored a 97. Forest Hills Northern was third in tine day's team standings w ith a score of 365 ahead of West Catliolic 366 and Forest Hills Eastern 371 in the top five. I w' I Scots in the middle of the pack at East Vs. West Showdown The CHS team got a 101 from junior Emily Walbeck, a 104 from senior Halle Stout and senior Ella Bums shot a 100. BjTon Center, one of the Scots' OK Green Conference rivals, won the day's event with a team score of 342. Dexter w as second at 355 ahead of Lowell 365, Mercy 366, Hudsonville 372, Ann Arbor Skyline 375, Spring Lake 388, Mason 395, Caledonia 399 and Big Rapids 412 in the top ten. Dexter senior Aveiy' Manning shot a 77 to take individual medalist honors. Mercy junior Megan Guerrera shot a 78 and Bvron Center w as led to its team vic* tor>' by an 80 from junior Izzy Tawoda Av •h -f. I * H r > 1 I i Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor k < TK golfers do better at home during twojamboree day J 1 top player. Martin at fourth singles, junior Quinn Stanley at second singles, senior Gar­ rett Eales at third singles were all 2-1 on the day loo. Sophomores Quinn Cook and Coo­ per Sowerby at first doubles were 2-1 on the day for the Scots.The second doubles team of senior Isaac Robotham and Russell Grandon went 2-1. Junior Charlie Scott and freshman Caleb Har­ rison went 2-1 at third doubles. Judd and junior Shane Johnson went 2-1 at fourth doubles. AO-VISOR & CHRONICLE Group mihomepaper.com ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer's Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Lake Orion Review Clarkston News The Citizen The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner Buyer's Guide and News Ad-Visor & Chronicle Battle Creek Shopper News The Sun and News The Reminder St. Clair Area View Send resume to: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com 269-945-9554 • a a r-e r s"h 1J ■i I 1 ( 1 I i t iI I I 11« p > I f 1 V I ’li IA a 11 • I I 4 ft k I i s ft I I 1 i \ f ♦ �/ 1 1 I / ♦ I 1 4 t 7 t :5 1 I i Saturday, September 13, 2025 16 rr .-c- 4 T %*• I T •. ♦ > n4 * 4" K? www,sunandnews.com i 5 J E-f«* THE SUN AND NEWS VZ*wWi niO3.ewMbnsfH J2. WWW t lA* 1 4^ ------ - < ukb' «r. -r Z >•> ? K ♦ l« *. - -SRpr*'- :t M -X’ > T ««.' >9 ♦ > . 4 1^ . .SC •* o* 4« bfl **/ < c ! 4'^ T’ 4- .A I. 5 't I ■±* ♦ < s 4 f >1 1^ ■ —-r * t « V I ^5’ I I V i.i> . .< • >• 1 \ 7 ** zir . 4 is ♦ >•• • 4 ••••jS. f, I > •M : • •rs^ • r r j fc z it '•T A‘ • A’** .J y ft < I K &•__ I 'b I z **• '»’ fl -fli; •v ( r A Tt 1^ «» ■ u s £ y V V A 1 » A * > d V f .«I f >• < A -i-.- t.^ s •A •V ♦ < > I JI ir J 4 -a ‘ij '• ■ T "4 r- k k n I v’ K t *1 r I .T- V '* w x .. ec“ 1 ♦ f V f •> 1^4 1 c . > 4 k. !il^^ 4 2 6 f* < * 7it 1 *1 •JI *•< 4^ ---- I •*• *1 *5 l•.4• ♦ / 4 J « i lC.7 •fc." r X A* X •„ Ml . K' { I V • ■ * I t IF. W ‘ r= > -V t BL X • ..■ 5r' 5 b Il ■. V "I 4' X. » «> ( J 1 1 «s .V 7' Local Medicare advice is now in Barry County! n jiA <«■> ’S. **K 1’* V -. t aiMWt w 1 n T 1 r- J' « WX'W 'T. -i A > irih 1 t fl t A (4 * *« I .. . X'., Imm ' ’X ; $J Medicare r (f^ *' .' M F< 4" •« 6* ». r^Z, 'C * ’la^' a € t { f I •> 11 4 * for open enrollment October 15^'^ - December 7^^ ^ ■. - ( z* f’riv ri 4’ > jai X tf ,v ?r -S. .Il .1 * f'- ► *• -c 99 rT’ A ^>.*rW,4 ♦> M* 1t < I • ’lit'?' *Kr- fix 1 I » 3 f 1 ts- « I* 1 I i Schedule your appointment today as time slots will fill up fast. p c I » .5- A' .1 i I k .b f*V.l : n : ■ 1 > F=.k * J. 1 r : .'i IS*-' I X l« K I f'.' A >* . *tr5 < ( 4 ( 'f f ■ X ... ' .b. 4 •— .? J! . i? 4 f. .J 4 < *' A -rt“ S ►- ■ *.•* X "1 . A» »' J now booking appointments 4 gs J 1 li T tf TU 5^^ 4 r/ l^c T A A c fl k/ *4 D. ■I ■ > .4 269.213.3232 josh@trumbleagency.com www.barrycountymedicare.com 128 S. Jefferson St. Hastings, MI 49058 K *r S’* Iri' Josh Lamphere k . * F; Medicare Specialist > 'XMS K-j*r ieilfaibsq^ jiBoibsi^ 'ItJ »r t.v Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or I-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. < aKuh 03 b»Jir ^S^^bwoilqo moy.lo IL « ( r I r ♦ » T* . 5 .4 1 •* B � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-09-20.pdf 62fff6caa3225ccc2237f2b20ce84437 PDF Text Text I I •l k II ♦ ? I f»ff • r I k f k # A A -• • -r 4 4.’. T • X #7 ONE STEP AT A TIME: PAGE STUDENTS HONOR FALLEN 9/11 HEROES ! I J j 1 T '------- £r.. ;£ • *♦ 1.^ f AND NEWS the SUN 1 Ycur Hometown Ne wspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas .w • V ■ PAGE 3 ¥ Sc .Ott .>r .jov Tiicr* itemniaOiaSB istnW eniludiite w W" A ^1* • .V <•1 rt toil {IfitnikM nEiJgnrD JgaH s® iKfWoT ■BrnrO 83tBB0 nr zooba / 'lagiarrr gnibnaq b boonuonnf* ?-£n [l bnn Tuniiqbzibblunf .lOlnaoJnsm 9 'a -lol 2bnfj2 riaiflw f If • t mmun f bn A f ,83orn38 lc3igoloria-<gqo'ttf3tfe«W T'R ‘o A TKMfAMII g&-dts‘i£qo J 33i>i£r ori) oono JzoJI sni'i XL -rado:^ bifiz J8o5I 9ni‘l ,3ae3i3i zwsn £ uni saffigaini Ifw .yiGJ to muurriJno'j llu't j [a Kt lognm KtriJ to rtesrl oriJ jA tflrmfil bnn na'ibnrf'J oi terrtiinifn -iCI biB2 ''.7)iHummo3 uk (I jgoM sni'l to 033 bns tnabiasiq /1383b nBStriaiM JasW nr asilunBH j iflsd lEiofVKffad Ytriurp-rigiil .ylsmit ti gPU ARH fftrw gninioL yd fana ,3tbo ( Toirux I oaubai of laftesol jhow neo 33I2S3 Jr ajlfini bfiB .gsionsbffts ate Jan yarf J eaarnaE ariJ oJ aailinifil fKpno'j zabrvoiq 3i biaa ZHIARfl n ofl'jvaqmuan saornaz avk O'J ,8^t^rn8298?x lc3i2Ol(xloYeq bnc lanobiquoao ^ni r riaaaq^ •J V ir'4 I I c ra I I £ M:» »« 1 r »• 94 5 !< i « I 1 I I f I I r L .EiEYlrnn fofvfifbrf boflciq^inB wIk E£d I I' a ■ Jc mblrri' ^ntqiofi o) bateoibob nas r» *4 PVil A>ia 1 □iM 1(1 biE»' ,3vnrit zsilimBl bn£ :gi all .3gG'.il'jT2W3fiarilni JHoW I i?<r"«>-o J briii tetgolorioyzqoTUsn oHe igjfl 3nr3 gninioV' .ZMlARfl 3ri t ri' m .n- >izgim Isdt sunitnoo ol KrtPRitni gaEb-blTOWii^lo Jroq .□2rrt3qx9iBoinitobn6 •• » Is u L »* r . 4 > j £ Lt ic 0 JI Ito ZMIAHH aifl' kfsB I xEu) ni .id nssTgisvH [AHH nsqo niernsi EDOM » Ui TIbJc EJi 2YB2 CnUOWEU I ii»'U 1 tfW SlBTOdBl ibhd'' d EmETgoiq loni J£»2 n .20331 bne OH3M @38 UESiOEiurvr (CHfllES flUM^raacfl bOB<»9«^ I I I s 4 hl > beu»i( 13391 '*8836 eieeuAiye' mt s .1 I bVID J < j i n'8' bOSiVGE If I bU2X210 4 J . » ■( . .1 r^~" r 91^ w Pine Rest to integrate BRAINS center as part of merger • "231 5 . JC. A « J ■’;i^’ •; i ^ly ‘ * / i mrta A I f .’t. 9*>i<~** * > X T’ Ml 49058 Hastings t y •J' SV - James Gemmell Contributing Writer 7 .^i:^ * Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Gaines Charter Township has announced a pending merger with a multidisciplinary assessment and treat­ ment center. BRAINS, which stands for Behavioral Resources And Institute for Neuropsychological Services, will operate as “BRAINS, A Service of Pine Rest” once the merger takes effect October 27. In a news release. Pine Rest said the merger will integrate BRAINS into Pine Rest’s full continuum of care. At ±e heart of this merger is a shared commitment to children and families in our community,” said Dr. Mark Eastburg, president and CEO of Pine Rest. “Families in West Michigan deserve timely, high-quality behavioral health care, and by joining wi± BRAINS, we can work together to reduce barriers, ereate efficiencies, and make it easier for families to get ±e services they need.” BRAINS said it provides comprehen sive services such as neuropsychological and psychological assessments, counsel­ ing, occupational ±erapy, speech thera­ py and applied behavior analysis. “Our team at BRAINS has always been dedicated to helping children and families thrive,” said Dr. Michael Wolff, in the news release. He is a neuropsychologist and co-owner of BRAINS. “Joining Pine Rest allows us to continue that mission with the sup­ port of their world-class infrastructure and clinical expertise.” The BRAINS office at 3292 N. Evergreen Dr. NE in Grand Rapids will remain open. BRAINS woaa says its staff will col ­ UHMOlSnO ivixNaaisau laborate with Pine Rest ’ s $SMU39 seee> -euiAueuo programs for children OWxoflOd 8CC#J!UU9d and teens. That includes • 09 See MERGER on 4 ts ■ •*. :? : 7 aSL-*. < -1 'unnvI t .1 4 I 1 A uwiw - ^4 ■ UNITE << » s. < k t u k a « w r 'W, “a9 L ttM G»k • «v ? I 1 A A k t 5 / I I SI? F- / U n A I J •\A I* e I -1^ ✓ • 'd ' » r 1 e I I ; Il ^9Hk I t / I 1 I -f— > ►s t k 44 ‘eiiiAueejo aivd aovisod s n QiS 18H<t wwvv.stiiv:nd iews.com SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2025 NO. 38 in I r 9- '* :< VOL. 147 iD9lni oJ teafl anifl islnaa ZHIAflfl 19019rn a Y n •I I •* 3 ... ( \* A.> .> y 1 ’v- I L-» T M • t z ' / f 4' .•pv < < .i_ 5T I z- TKHS Student Council members attended the Barry County United Way Day of Caring opening event at the Barry County fairgrounds. Courtesy photos TKS students, families play important role in annual ‘Day of Caring’ Thomapple Kellogg High School Student Council members united for a morning of work at Barry County’s YMCA Camp ManitouLin, playing an important role in last ITiursday’s kick-off of the annual Barry County United Way campaign. The United Way annual cam­ paign started with a kick-off event on Sept. 11 at the Barry County fairgrounds, where volunteers gathered and were reminded how important their work is to the com­ munity. The TKHS marching band per­ formed several selections, with stu­ dent council members among the 603 volunteers who registered for work on projects. Middle school teacher Damon Cove and his wife, Madie, spoke as this year’s United Way campaign chairpersons. Among the band’s selections was a somber trumpet solo of “Taps” in memory and honor of all those who died in the 9-11 attacks 24 years ago. Later, they would send the volunteers off with a spirited play­ ing of the TKS fight song. Student council members were divided into groups at the camp. Some worked in the laundry, camp store and kitchen, while others worked painting and doing other jobs outside. “I’m just so glad we can give back to the community and the people who have given so much to all of us,” said TKHS senior Oliver Lietz, as he folded and sorted tow­ els at the camp laundry. “It’s one way we can pay it forward.” Brooklyn Hammer helped take inventory in the camp store. “I think it’s just good to do this,” Hammer said. “A lot of TK kids come here to camp and it’s just a good way to give back.” Several students were assigned to staining fences and other wooden structures outside, including stu­ dent council co-presidents Frank Wilkinson and McKenna Hoebeke. “This means a lot to me to be able to help out and help the com­ munity,” said Wilkinson. Hoebeke attended the camp when she was younger. See CARING on 6 �. ■ ft I ' 2 Sr'iturda/, f' hr 9 I ' ! f THE SUN AND NEWS f A • r .) «|'A • i X Organizers anticipate a big turnout for annual Fall Heritage Festival James Gemmell I*-'* .... -.lA % Hrr- H 11 f - * * ' < « -F I Contributing Writer (raines Historical Society president Shirley Bruursema expects steady crowds for the fall HcTilagc Festival outside the fiaines Charter Township I fall on Saturday. Oct. 11. fhe annual event, slated for 9 a.m. to 3 pm. on Oct II. celebrates the agricultural and horticultural history of the township that was formed in 1846. One of (he new aspects of the heri­ tage festival this year will involve a historical re-cnactmcn( organized by Jerry Berg of ( omstock Park, the owner and curator ofthe Fishing Museum & ( uhural Center. He has done reenact­ ments at previous festivals, including a historical fishing and Civil War-style encampments. One of them that l*m thrilled to be able to get is the Revolutionary War soldiers’cncampment," Bruursema said at the township board meeting Sept. 8. “As some of you know, next year is the 25()th anniversary of our country and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.” l or the first time, the heritage festival will offer pony rides for children. I think that’s going to be a big thrill. Baiurscma added. Mary’s ( ounlry Critters will be pro­ viding the horses. Owner Mary Tegcthoff brings a petting zoo every year from her 50-acrc farm in Wayland Township. “Another big thrill will be the (town­ ship) supervisors, past and present, grilling the hotdogs,” she said. Among those planning to participate are current lownship Supervisor Bob Terpstra, and past supervisors Rob DeWard and Don Hilton. “Thanks for saying that,” Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra said. I was going to say that. You're all going to be there.” Bruursema added there will be coun­ try music and hayrides through the adii jacent Prainc Wolf Park which derived its name from the wolves that used to roam in the park when the first settlers arrived in 1837. Rich McConnell of (laines 1 own­ ship drives a tractor that pulls the ha> wagon throuj^ the park. Before he died a couple years ago, I righton I ownship farmer David Steeby drove the 1 S-fixMlong wfxxlen trail down a trail into the wtxxls ofthe park. A.s of mid-Seplember, Bruursema said 16 vemdors had already been lined up for the festival. ThcTC will be cider and doughnuts for sale, and Bruursema plan.s to bring some of her homemade bread, as always. “There are a couple of people who arc going Io bring some baked goods, she said. Doug's Ciood I ime F’ig Roasting & BBQ Shack out of Shelbyville will be at the festival again this year. And, the Gaines branch of the Kent District IJbrary will have kids’ games and activities. But Bruursema mentioned that more vendors are needed and said persons interested in being a vendor or a vol­ unteer may contact her by calling 616698-8464. At press (ime, the Kent County SherifTs Office was still deciding whether some of its Mounted Unit stallions will be available for the Heritage Festival. The township fire department always participates in the festivities, and brings fire trucks when they are available. Longtime Dutton firefighter Daniel Kamp usually brings some of his vin­ tage trucks. ITie historical society gets partial fi­ nancial assistance from the township to help pay for some ofthe set-up costs and for the entertainment acts. Doug Smith of Hastings will again be performing live country music in the late morning, with Mick Bruursema playing in the afternoon. ? .fs. A*I V s 1 r - 4’ ii^ V .1$ I i r »» kp. . A -"f 1V»' - -** rU A banner outside the Gaines Charter Township Hall promotes the annual Fall Heritage Festival, slated for 9 a m to 3 p.m. outside the Gaines Charter Township Hall on Saturday. Oct 11 Photo by James Gemmell I / 1 I <L±V • it V I >'t Ml 1'4 .\' f Bruursema added the 68-page softcovered booklet “William J. Hardy & His Family,” on the history of the town­ ship will for sale at the historical so­ ciety table. Ilie booklet documents the Hardy family coming to the area in the 1840s and how William Hardy became •A the first black official in Michigan w hen he was elected the township supers isor in 1872. Bruursema said Byron Center 1 elevision (BC TV) w ill record the festival for airing on Comcast cable channel 25 in BjTon and Gaines townships. I < u ,'X t J *■" J A f !>' 1 z. V I _ .•W> • * i r • . •I 1 .1^3 Qii i * u I. J I -»• « ♦ t < ■ • • ^1 I* I .4** •* * ' ' ■ , V' I >4 4 J I . Il I Yankee Springs lYvp. Board approves water study, debates public comment changes Yankee Springs Township resi­ dents could see water system im­ provements in the coming years after a water study was green lighted by the township board. Among several topics discussed throughout the Sept. 11 Yankee Springs Township Board ofTrustees meeting, trustees approved a $33,000 proposal by Peerless Inc. Water Systems of Kalamazoo to conduct a pilot study aimed at improving water system capacity and arsenic compli­ ance. Board members expressed op­ timism that the project could expand capacity without overburdening t 1 1 1 i I >* M . I 1 I * I®*;- l<i£^ I ■51 ' tot J • V • I i taxpayers. During public comment last week, residents expressed concerns over the township's administrative fee and general fund balance, as well as a push to reinstate two public com­ ment periods per meeting. While the board voted to move the existing comment time earlier in the agenda, a motion to add a second period failed. In other business last week, finan­ cial reports highlighted large August expenses tied to park construction, insurance, and walking path repairs. See STUDY on 9 I V 4r 6 . ■ I < ** ■ v I i I J r jw t r IV *1 1• A 1 rir-r ^^’i 4 • r II 4 I WJ 1 I . J Aa 0 w. ’iJT'*' >• 9 ? rr ' » f 11 V •'.-ri'; V if A 4 V •• M K* V i JFF?’’ % ’ ■ 1 1 V > •c nv A THE SUN AND NEWS CONTACT US The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com Editor: Molly Macleod f i < J t Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sports: Brett Bremer < Advertising Manager; Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper com j i f PRINTED ON 100^ RECYCLED PAPER Please recycle this newspaper I i1 I • PbfeiSiii / * II I PUBLISHED BY I mmacleod^mihomepaper com bbremer@mihomepaper.com ? Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media, LLC AH Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising in The Sun and News 5S subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card Of advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N M-43 Hwy.. Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptarx^e of the advertiser s order. I t 1 ) I t 1 V ■ ttsi I V “ t > r k > 1 i % i > ♦ t I l• » i r s i. t 1 1 J t I t i I L' .A .Jj * 1 1 �I b ft I i .rr I * J t 1 gggii'j I' < * : Ir lOH ;’obv<yu r 7 I :>TTf.»xxr}; E -HEOI 9 I ' 't ' •} '•• > % . T • 1 .’■iifJlU I I i I I »i i I » * I * I 4 w* I 1 L'. t I • I J - 'J. . \ • t I r J i I A J t .. t *>• * t’ rS •4 1 X i 1 • I I ••*X 'J J ’ h^i t I . I I r 9^/S .'M ' ■' - 1 « * V Iff.. « d A « .' I 1 3 A jr . <> 4 .’'trifid 1. * I V -fCj tobt ♦T / » t »' !flH f' f I ' I ■. i • e r 1 I *1 (• I' 1 ■,•*"23 Im Ke 843. s f I . I .*» I1 I i . • *45 *--t - Y Tl i i; A ■ / I ITja I' i■ I •V L n (- * 1 4. 11 i r< J % 4^? iTw *. *•»'. * t 1 •.T r ‘W;? • i'. % i • I 1 lictn ♦ A 0 I; I ; r- 1 l:!,' I t % }hltStYH4 I I u Page Elementary School fifth-grader Madilyn Gemzer wore a photo of New York City firefighter Mark Whitford taped on her shirt as she climbed up and down the stairs in Thomapple Kellogg School’s Bob White Stadium on Thurs­ day, Sept. 11. Classmate Jackson Kietzman carried a backpack loaded with books and his water bottle to simulate the air packs and hoses firefighters carried up the stairs when they tried to rescue people trapped in the upper floors of the World Trade Center’s twin towers. They weren’t alone. Many of the Page Elementary fourthand fifth-grade classes took part in the stair climb challenge last Thursday in honor of the 413 first responders who died on Sept. 11,2001. Their goal was to walk up and down as many steps in the stadium as possible in about 30 minutes. Many carried the photo of a fallen firefighter with them and a few also carried their backpacks. Teacher Nikki Witt started the chal­ lenge last year while teaching the fourth grade. It was a way of helping students understand how first responders have a difficult and dangerous job, but they do whatever they need to do to help others. This year, Witt is teaching fifth grade and has many of her same students from a year ago. TTiose students said they had an even greater appreciation this year for what the challenge meant. “1 just kept thinking about being one of those firefighters and I was trying to get up those steps to help people,” said Kietzman. “We did this because of 9-11,” said Apollo Horstman. “We wanted to repre sent the people who passed away when the planes crashed into the buildings.” Gehrig Skiba said he was just trying to push himself to keep moving up and «* 4 ( r down all along the length of the bleach­ ers and back again. A picture of New Yori< firefighter Leon Smith Jr. was taped on his shirt. “It gave me motivation,” he said. “They wouldn’t stop and I wasn’t going to either.” His classmate Horstman quickly agreed. If the firefighters didn’t stop then I wasn’t going to stop,” Horstman added. Sarah VanEnk said it was a tough challenge and was glad one of the Page teachers printed off pictures of all the firefighters who died on 9/11. “It gave us motivation,” she said. Witt told her students that 343 fire­ fighters lost their lives on 9/11 as they rushed into the buildings and climbed the stairs to rescue others. Additionally, 60 police officers died, as well as 10 EMS workers, for a total of 413 firstresponders who died while trying to help others. TTie challenge was to take as many stair steps as possible - with many reaching their goal of 413 steps - one for each fallen hero. Devynn Baylock couldn’t remember exactly how many stairs she climbed, but she knows she thought about the firefighters a lot while she was taking the challenge. “They had to walk up all those steps just to try and help some­ body else,” Baylock said. “I know the firefighters were fighting to try to help people just like us and tried their best to get everyone down to safety.” “Each step we took today was to re­ member those people who died trying to help others,” added Colston Scott. Deacon Rocco admitted it was hard, but a challenge he was ready for today. “I just wanted to keep going to repre­ sent all those people who died,” Rocco said. “I’m glad I did it.” I e -J 1 I 4 4 it; VW I VJ f .1 * vQv I > I * » •Al irtf. " I I r 2^ A •s'! vf X ♦III'- . ..w F II »' r ** 4 , I, ft* « 4 » III I i *« W*»*- Page Elementary students walked up and down the stairs at Bob White Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 11, as they learned about what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, and honored the fallen firefighters and first responders. Courtesy photo Kalvin Rosario’s backpack filled with books got pretty heavy and he stopped to take breaks “but I didn’t quit,” he said. Students were joined throughout the day by teachers, grandparents, parents and even some firefighters who also car- ried backpacks or wore full firefighting gear. By the time students were finished, few remembered exactly how many stairs they took. But they said they will never forget why they were taking every Thornapple Kellogg Schools Step. • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar • Everything made from scratch ▲ p 1 1 w y J 4 9 §ugar Momma’s 1 your tire A fittfe it su/eeter I II I BAKERY & CAFE At • r * *• ♦> few n y. 1 . X, 'A ( PROJECTS FOR FALL SEWING • Tote Bag, Potholders, Hair Ties, Quilts, Aprons, Pillow Cases, Pillows i ■y* ^^esus 9oves I ; su - I •I I 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 I 'Y' 41 - WR . T. -•*^1 4 r F I I I I I I I I I « *w . k 5«y 11*10 Cookies, ' UtaSr' i X Get To/o Fpeei must present coupon, 2nd item must be of equal or lesser value, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 11/1/25 OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm ' Station <.. a Clossdt ' I* i ♦ 4 ♦ 4, ”■ 7MK-6p^, Saturday: 8My~2fm 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA / 616-275-1017 / SU6ARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM J V " p*«'’ • * ✓ MM A tel'l » •s. v. fTHST" ' C/ronerv I, - 1 1? QUESTIONS: ASK US... ;.i i \ r I « .* - Gift Certificates Available- t * p? W* V 3 ONE STEP AT A TIME: Page students honor fallen 9/11 heroes £ avio -nrUrism^t i ■> Saturday, September 20, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com /.•ya’IPej-;- i I . i I’ I i A ,1 I ‘* u f 4 » !i r <i t 4 ih •5 t I f J i i* I I \ �I < i •? / A 4 if 1 U I i Saturday, Septerriber 20, 2025 4 » «* Fl THE SUN AND NEWS Obituaries 1 •' David Fredrick Oom David Fredrick Oom, age 53, of Caledonia, Ml, passed away on September 9, 2025, after a brief but severe illness Born and raised in Hastings. Ml. Dave excelled in many sports, especially tennis After attending Ferns State University, he built a career as a professional tennis instructor, teaching at exclusive clubs including the Congressional Country Club in Washingfon, DC, as well as in North Carolina. Florida, and Michigan In 1998, Dave married the love of his life, Sarah, and together they raised Iheir children, Andrew and Elle Later, he became a realtor with Greenridge Realty, earning the prestigious President's Award and other professional recognitions Above all, Dave was devoted to his family He was endlessly proud of Andrew and Elle, «L WWW s tmandnews 0001 and could jdways be found tuwwrfing them, and his niecet and nephews at school and sporUng events Dave also adored bis dogs. North and Dune Dave loved compelition and continued to play QOlf picktebaH, and fantasy football with lifelong friends A fan of the Tigers. Lions, and University of Michigan teams, his passion tor sports was matched only by his warmth and humor. He lit up every room, had a gift for making others feel valued, and was regarded by many as one of their very best friends 1^“' ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Join us for our traditional yet casual Sarvloa Timoa Sunday at 9:50 AM S 6:00 PM www«la»k»b»ptf Bt.org 72AO 68th Stroot 8E. Catoefonie FIRST BAPTIST worship service, in person or online, 14n» 250 Vine Street 908 W Main Street, Middleville (Mitsouri SyntxJ) Sund;iy Worship 1, UvpstreArn facf^lxxyk com/f<rs(baptistmiddlf>vill<* FBCMIDDLEVILLE NET 5215 M37 - 269 795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am 9:50 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst h tt p://goods h cph e rdl cm s. goog] epages .com CJjurch. (269) 795-2391 MApeace CHURCH 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9;30am & 11 {K)am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com HOLY FAMILY ’ a/CATHOLIC CHURCH 't Sundays at 8:00, 9:50, and 11:00 AM 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 pcacechurch.ee rAt-'^Aw t*.— >9^ 'J J '^A J I*/ V 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:(K) p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m Considering becoming Catholic? Call or sec our website for information. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 Io 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 OITicc 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 stpaukaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 «< I I .K p V .,4 . I I 4 I I »I ;} I I J . T* s. ; I p f ■W V Ik •‘Ai ,z.-: 9 b> ir * < t-- 5 1 >* UI 0’- tf I » •A I I _ t I ♦ .* I* r* 1 . I / Ar 4y r V I 7- k .31* i'l -*5 ii’ >' .1 4 IT ,v « < »J »** 4** I (Si® A ’I } * i M*' MERGER X . *4 * • iYi. I i n ’I ea e Fi I ■» Continued from Page 1 ‘J Ik »* r» ,*• i ■t. 4i >« I k r> .'*4 J MlVl ffiX'* ' • tM V I • a♦ t « * 4 • I . * J *' 1 -* ■f tf*. 7 < n I • r U I• • i. .•5 zHt *■ StfiCj®*''".' t ifii ' fe • * I ’Vh ;L/U s TJPS5« 2 JjX J r.I‘ w* «« f <r V-* m : '5 ' Xau J * F * k V t> ) f I I V0:5j * •»' 1 ua' I s **r r • ’ll i.'<l I i f I tltee**!****^ 1 ’y!iW Your local agent insures your 6.' |i / the $98 million Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health that is scheduled to open on the Pine Rest campus in Cutlerville in spring 2026. Pine Rest is one of the largest free­ standing psychiatric and behavioral health hospitals in the country. “Healthcare is increasingly complex, and partnerships like this are essential for sustaining and growing critical services,” E^astburg said. “By bringing BRAINS into Pine Rest we're ensur­ ing that resources are better aligned, duplication is reduced, and families experience a more accessible path to the care they need.” L» 4 * ij«r7«r,e-ra55 tWilfas’ f I <1^ •caSa!P(® . 4 I ClTOpS -;te J Si «r *1. * •i- '.caTiW ' ■» ?*• t ' 1 i ■f • ' ' I .• 1 •4“ ' i.- t z .1 I I Shining Forth God'g Lig^t « I Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... it •s .A. ■ PEACECHURCH.ee l^ad Pastor; Pastor Ryan Kimmel Middleville Location - 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 616-891-8669 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Middleville ih " Join us in person or online fc Sundays «:3O A Ham at 9:0(1 am Sunday Service 10:30 AM « I cornerstonechurch Rev. Robert Mayo» Interim Pastor « r a/' Caledonia Vine Street Church remembered by his wife Sarah his children. Andrew and EHe (fiance Abel Boetsmaf his parents. Bernie and Sue: his in-laws. Jim (Peg| Beall and Bev Plagenhoef his sister, Laura (Tom) Middaugh, his brother. Wayne (Kate) Oom. his brother-in-law. I Bill (Lisa) Beall, his nieces and nephews. Nick Beall. Alex (Sam) Shick Josh and Rachel Oom. Lydia (Daniel) Tsuber. Leah. Elisabeth, and Jonathan Middaugh. grandnephew. Simon Shick He will also be deeply missed by his uncles, aunts, cousins, and countless friends whose lives he touched To know Dave was to love him. and his memory will live on in the countless lives he touched. Memorial services to celebrate Dave's life were held Thursday. Sept 18, 2025 at Ada Bible Church Kentwood Campus. 2045 68th St SE. Caledonia, with Pastor Ben Vaught officiating. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial contributions to Buddy Up for Life. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com. A ii'L 0«ve Is towngty LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY f" If* l^fl 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. t 1 ♦ IS . > TftTiTi\ BVBlAiJ thi9VBMC£‘ 1 I Si^ 4<4>ier4irer^6^key :"c • Xii * V V i: * ' J J * t -S. 'txt ra IJi^. ■ * .2. / • ♦ nr^ I r ••s I l_ < flj k l««Be •» ww* “• « 1 A V'C **> �Saturday, September 20, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 5 4 A '".J •-> * . e I ( A s I L > > ) I L^. Dave Dykstra • A • A L* •9 . r 1 1 ;,,r- ■J r? J • * J. :1 I . b f I %. .(I « r 5 I } ■ ' r r T* I e i Ik t « M* *1 1 I Hu 1 ♦ TF (•;?«! '.-3 I tV k. 1 'SlbHi. rb"// Bill I < ■1 A : IF! h's* V I 1 s J i I A.K ■‘ r f •Rlfg W..: -^IY: r : u A I iH . ..! I •1 0 itet 08£ ■ V fu' 9V£Q J % w I IT: i 4 1 1 / ' >v '. J I * ri I *> > “I ■■•'f *I ‘ 1 ; i 'J Tn*se*5W^ -• iT( Ot- . A V ii'j * ?• ’(ri' i c r t. I » I •• 1 ar 0 f j't • t I I7 'I -n K; "*’44 i ♦ u f T J i i I , . > •J I h:) ?*''/“■) 'tv J eJ ’ I . t . nil ► ^'i’ : » • r * w Ij 1 T . ' A fr r I r"ii“ HCJl if'; ff;o-- * I ■ rV t > i S 'i^SFOfl^k H ;?9ii L. (n:n ..^‘t 1 j;. -- - ! t «• Im t<i J I ■I I V A-* : / IA J T* r 1 - '^^''3 !. 4 4 .‘I -»< II j e k J fr’. f j I i I I* V H. A 7. MIDDLEVILLE I I. . f _ > * * « J TOPS 546 3^ * / I _8i« —I I I I. tp .! Pt I » « J’ r - T -I » .- » I fi - » I. 1.,—- 1 . I V , sI BUlavi nbni>i ' JI u ( 1 I V I r'- I 1 f f C ■ VKW’ I 1 r< I JG Hi ’ J rA/ ■ A I ! ft Tserl J . np V if I •f 01 Tif i 1 ; v • H f F "5 4 I I ► v:‘_x Wi J I ' a 'L 'n’l The Sept. 15 meeting opened with roll call and the Secretary's report. There are still two fish in the fishbowl. Virginia's program came from the Sept/Oct TOPS magazine titled Kindness: The Great Connector.” Do you have good self-pity parties? Sometimes when we can’t see any clear way to rise out of a deep depressive mood, we have a self-pity party. But if you look at the total picture of any situation, you may find some nuggets of hope. How many times did you hear from a friend, saw a meme that made you laugh, had someone hold the door open for you or any other interaction? These are acts of kindness that many of us have but don’t realize how important they really are. Kindness gives as much as we receive when we give it. Sometimes the hardest person to be kind to is ourselves. II tmod I the arms of his Savior and reunited with his loved ones who passed before him. Dave is survived by his wife, Barb Dykstra; son, Robert (Susan) Dykstra of Middleville; daughters, JoAnne Wright and Cheryl (Greg) Lydy, both of Middleville; 11 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; brother, Russell (Donna) Dykstra of Middleville; sisters, Laura Adams of California and Carolyn (Jim) Buer of Caledonia; sisters- in-law. Linda Dykstra of Middleville and Sheila Dykstra of Freeport, and several nieces and nephews. Dave was preceded in death by his parents; son, Daniel D. Dykstra Jr.; brothers, Henry Dykstra and Paul Dykstra; son-in-law. Jay Wright. Dave’s family received friends on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at the BeelerGores Funeral Home where his funeral service was conducted on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Pastor Dan Beyer of Gun Lake Community Church officiated. Burial took place at Mt. Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the “Dan Dykstra Jr. Memorial Scholarship”. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or to leave a condolence message for Dave’s family. * I A Being gentle with ourselves is when kindness starts. Self-love and goodness grows and replenishes us. Ways to practice kindness can include: sending a text just because, smiling, giving a compliment, sitting and listening to someone and forgiving yourself. Kindness will win. Chapter members continued the contest by filling in one dot for each one-tenth of a pound lost. Sue won the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Arjyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-3183545. The first meeting is free. s. K I . United Methodist Church, 111 Church St., Middleville, with Pastor Ron Worley officiating. A private family committal service will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery with full military honors by American Legion Post 45 and the Marine Corps Funeral Honors team. Ivan’s family expresses special thanks to the staff at Carveth Village and Interim Hospice for the loving care they provided. Merriorial contributions may be made to Interim Hospice, 1971 East Beltline Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, Ml 49525. Arrangements made by Stroo Funeral Home, 1095 68th St. SE, Grand Rapids. I Classifieds BUSINESS SERVICES DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOWPLOW ING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. tB P 1 ♦ ••A ♦ 9 3 tn rj^ui Q It is with great sadness that we announce the passing cf Dave Dykstra on September 12, 2025 at the age of 85 as a result of an automobile accident. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. Dave had a strong faith, love for his family and passion for the community he was a part of. He lived in the Middleville area most of his life with his ' * loving wife Barb of 67 years. They raised four children together. Dave began dairy farming in 1970. He then started Dan Valley Excavating in 1985. Dave also served on the Barry County Road Commission for 24 years. He was also voted as a Home Town Hero. The entire community benefited from his generosity by the desire to help those around him. The examples of love, kindness and generosity are too many to mention. Dave’s love and faithfulness to his Lord and Savior was the most important thing in his life, followed by the love for his family and friends. His employees became family to him. A stranger on the street was a friend to Dave. He impacted countless lives through his unwavering commitment of showing love and kindness to whomever he encountered. His family is at peace knowing that he is in Ivan J. Ploeg, age 88, of Middleville, Ml went to be with his Lord on Friday, k September 12, 2025. He is • J now reunited with his loving wife of 61 years, Gladys, who preceded him to Heaven in December 2024. God, Family, and Country if were important to Ivan. He / was a longtime member of Middleville United Methodist Church. He had an unwavering devotion to his wife, children, and grandchildren, and provided for them as a dedicated Steelcase employee for many years. Ivan proudly drove his vintage 1959 Corvette in many local parades and enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S., spending many winters in Florida with Gladys and their friends. Ivan honorably served his country as a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret Ploeg. Ivan will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by his family, including — W ♦ »I his daughters, Debra (Mark) Drenten, Carla (Chad) VanHaitsma; his grandchildren, Levi VanHaitsma, Kyle VanHaitsma, and Jessie Drenten; his sister. Hah Lynema; his brother, Jim Ploeg; as well as several nieces, nephews, and I cousins. I The funeral service will be I held at 11 a.m. on Friday, I Sept. 19, at Middleville ar ■ •T t Obituaries I I 4 Ivan J. Ploeg HANDYMAN SERVICES OFFERED. Mise, repairs, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Esti­ mates. 269-243-0468. CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 EMPLOYMENT BARN HELP WANTED Must have experience with horses. Full and part time positions available with competi­ tive pay. Please call 269-207-4218 or email at zlpowell@yahoo.com if interested. SEASONAL HARVEST POSITIONS - $17/hr. We are hiring 30—40 reliable team members for harvest season. Work beginning September 15 through December 31. Must be 21 or older to apply. Positions are part-time with flexible scheduling—ideal for anyone seeking extra income along­ side a full-time job. No prior experi­ ence required; training provided. Work involves hands-on harvest and post­ harvest processing in a fast-paced but supportive team environment. Contact us at: wholesale @greencoventures.net or 269-758-3078. WANTEO WANTED TO BUY: Standing Timber. Conscientious timber harvester. Saw Mill Office- 517-254-4463. Family owned and operated. PETS FOR SALE: AKC STANDARD POODLE puppies. Ready now! Vetchecked. 5 females, 2 males. Asking $1,200 each. Call 616-550-6309, please leave a message. . !i ^rr 4 Li I •J ! i j i I I I 1 i • i i '.'1 I i 'Ll H I I 4 it r I I J A J A fl 5 \ I I 1 �1^ i Saturday. September 20 2025 6 THE SUN AND NEWS wwwjfunandnews ccxn Thornapple Township swears in new clerk !i r * * .V i I . A f: I i r J * < J r !• *' i w<‘ . *' C»~i A * « 9 < - ■ w fl * ’ I J t -» > >> i i ** ■ ** : ,^9 i IW J I % 1^'* *1 X a I i I <] .nV I . // K. •***< i » <• S. ik RlBfl X { f I • •' - < I 1 ■" to « < r /i I .■ <« ..' fT ■ —• .» ZiC" A ♦I yj F -L-J’ I i i iF. >1 ' M' 1•) /s ’MT' J V* -n I < r ■ a > 4* r^j J I r TKHS Student Council members Oliver Leitz and Avery Hagemann work iri the laundry room at Camp Manitou-Lin .k y •*.’ »•'» » W^'A I 1^ ♦ ►1 rX •• -fiT Vl; 5 V *.•< h; V t -1^' t' r I r4 CARING a * Continued from Page 1 Thornapple Township appointed a new clerk at its Monday, Sept 8 meeting Here. Thornapple Township Supervisor Eric Schaefer (left) swears in the township's new clerk, Kathy Medenblik Courtesy photo i It was super fun for me," she added. “So now. I’m glad I can come back and help out. I hope it will help other kids have a great experience at camp too." Hoebeke said hearing the speakers at the kick-off event in the morning made her realize that sometimes you never know how much the help you give means to others. Avery Hagemann said she also attended camp at Manitou-Linn when she was younger. I think it's good that I can come back now and help the camp so other kids can come here like I did. It was a lot of fun," Hagemann said. "I think giving back is important. added Exley Roon, as she also helped take inventory of the camp store. “It just makes me feel good to be able to help.” Barry County United Way’s annual campaign goal is to raise $850,000. “Barry County is a special place where people are willing to help each other, lending them support through tough times. I truly feel blessed to have this communin' surrounding us.” said Damon Cove. “Growing up, my mom always said Coves can do hard things if we do them together. It wasn’t just a nice thing, it was a challenge. It • A !•?*’ • *’.J .7? •s » K • WE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS 4b .-J Residential & Commercial -Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps -Water Heaters -Humidifiers L: » s • -SX iM * M .•t i A ■*. I A I—r» r J « 'rit jSmT t 4* <:•. I ac' * VI’ rv*4 1 I • fi I fl I fl 1 7. fliR4 A DeWeerd <68)■^^1*98' HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. OBWEEBimTC.COM A 269-792>22>4 S4«<^fM5 A*1X 9 - meansj*e don'teput when things get L* I I j hard and ue don't tn to do it alone. niat’s what ttxlay's about. he said. Madie Cove provided encourage­ ment to all the volunteers. “Ixt’s go out today w ith full hearts, strong hands and a shared purpose, she said. “Remind the countyV what it looks like when people come together. “Toda^ is more than just a day of caring. It's a glimpse at what's pos siblc every day when we live out (he motto - United is the Way." United Wav director Lani Forbes reminded every one that every' dol­ lar donated to the United Way is valued and can make a difTerence and that every dollar raised is used for services and programs in Barry County - programs such as Meals on Wheels for senior citizens, the Barry County 4-H program which is the third largest in the state, YMCA camps and programs, heating assis­ tance, back-to-school backpacks students, Christmas presents for kids, and many more. TKHS students agreed volunteer­ ing and being part of the United Wb;^Day of Caring was a rooming well spent and valuable life lessons learned. Sometimes we don't think how we could help.” said Hoebdee. ‘‘But it's really eas\ and you never know how' even one little thing can help V F nc« 4 I I J , I I r.'At » V > A % 'i!** »* I ^7 iM J» ■A* . I* U> ■ K* ' *• I 1 4 i t « « r .J I .MticK**** t 9« I xS * - A «« 0 ^■:i\ J I V.' \ .T' f »\ • rll>* I (• V / I• 11 p I,' ’ 11 * 9• -,w ns’’? 1 i' jar- hl V ' >* 1 !J3 1 * j rt I */ II I X.»t \ J <« I 4 . V.*y a«f*.***y t*> r »* > 1,' te'u* I ‘5 iv' w * 4 * ?p!!5y f t V.’* A'. I it •<* I 1 j5)((y (It«t ';3L\ ■ ’J k; i /ittM****' „ .jew™-'"™ 4 • I I T it 1 < .• 4 wtK^’S J. i.' 4' 1 I »■> 4 I isfif I u * / * « Zi'--4 E I (tilJtlsi I I r jBEgir*" * J I >•■■• r * I 4 :rc’<'!»l .... 4 .A r 4 •• A i i »( •, * I «««* J , I 4 r , ", « ■i I * ♦ »< wL I ult <«* I I :1 U,' k: 11 1 I J r 1 / r I r' 1 T ■u by S-W(i»4 • p. I TV * I A .' I ♦ i P’ .V < t 11 tsi r I 1 l»* AV u** J ri* 44 someone so much. — Tiionuippie kidiogf^ Sc^foois itll •9^ *•. 'Xi’ * 't 5 '•* « ■*’5 kW^ 1I 4 I, ( 1 » I I I f ♦ 9 f M . f ir I «I 11 1 1 I < 4 4 ' �'I ’5 4 4'l h if z- s ? r J > > I* f T' J r li... I 1 >• r '-t Saturday, September 20, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS wvwv.sunandnews.com 7 ( I »- J w 4 I I i 1 i uu t I 9 ■ x1 i . f I I * INCREASE: School welcomes new principal at Middleville campus A ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH \r .i 1 s V, 1 A4 ’ ' J 1* I f JII.W I Vlf // ▲. , $ —u V aUl'T rw I ) I t- aw I 7Ujnl8 w i 01 jinalo t i i . 4>; : 031 nc ■ rt i // SiU’t Oli ; '-H! b > rr^7' ;79.i 01 o3‘ 3 . : F! oiwwq;^ f 1 I £ TOi 'rO I I* I b ho^n t’O", I 1 07 J er I .not s ov .< r » u I* I n I "''W ~. b' i f. ( f f '' J t I 1 i f 1 t s I I ? ■ ■ i f » ‘' : ii t ^9 ■‘M f ixi '-H I '( I ■ 'I I .• J I xL-j - ft J 9' n J • ■' i J h' " ' ' ’ J J J ’ f ,.i 'as'ii1'w''stiii0i» ! * , h. I f 1 ?'V I } I AJ T' I 1■ rI I I 'r I dts T 1 -i g ■ '-A^7;1b • r » ba J 5 foR ft.- . » t «■ < * k J t » 1 — a I I I ’ll * •1 J a* 3 A v«- - .■it... *JI« i.».i 9 «« * J ft" I «i r I 2^’^ I K f ' • y J I »I 1 4. •r I f i! I 1 4 ■JJu I r -Mf. *r / ’ • ( I i I ( M 4 H I J . 4 & . s 41^ X I *<.1 i 1 > H -d I I I 4L“ > f ftj * I J4 * *1 M _ _ it- J < «' I I •k ' I i 1 I • * J.; i > I u 1 » V A . ■!?'£ f I / «l T" i' P I I t v« •f f ■ . J ® ■' J i ■ - X, *4* * a.1 1- 1 4 i I J I 7 k I 4 f ii*.-' itAUaj s > • ■ Il 9 Cr / »» I Nelson’s ♦ . . . ..s . . ... s. ♦. . . f. 517-983-0954 ( 1? cellW SIG GD WOOD PRODUCTS W.* f,< st INSUUZ/ « 4- ♦ SPRAY FOAM • w*. < > 4ft 1 I * > •b V*/, t < I - * / ’ Family Owned & Operated t IP* 4 A. •> SAW MILL OFFICE 517-254-4463 4 A !. Juiyi'l 4^^ tr * ‘ a ■ .? * ' * J I J pen, when it will happen, and At my insurance agency, we have a policy we adhere how long it will take. But we r to strictly. We refuse for our don’t have a complete agree­ clients to have expectations of ment yet, because for it to be the level ofservice they are go­ complete, both parties have to ing to receive. Why? Because agree. And so, you respond, expectations are fiizzy. Great! 2 p.m, works for me, Imagine for a second that and two hours is not a prob­ Zach Santmier you need a tree cut down at lem. Thanks for completely your house. The tree is leaning towards taking care of the tree being gone!” your home and a storm is scheduled to Just like that, an agreement has been roll in tomorrow afternoon. Because of made. How much more confident are my astounding track record wi± trees, you with this agreement than you would you ask me if I’d do the honors and cut be with the first fuzzy expectation? down the tree for you. I tell you, “I’d be There’s significantly more clarity, right? happy to come over and will be there What does this have to do with your shortly to take care of the tree.” There personal finances? Everything! If you are a lot of expectations in this state­ are going to start taking your money ment. There is no specificity. Shortly is seriously in your household, there needs a generic term. It could mean an hour to be clear agreements made between or it could mean two weeks. Taking you, your spouse and even your kids. If care of your tree could mean that I just there are expectations that we are going ratchet strap it to another tree, that I fall to “start working on our money,” the it to the ground or that I cut it up and likelihood of success is slim to none. haul it away. There is no commitment You must be in agreement on what from me or from you on the execution steps you are going to take to start get ­ of this statement. You’re left wondering ting your personal finances in order. exactly when I’ll come and what I’ll do Be specific on what you are going to when I get there. My expectation and where you ’ re going to save or do your expectation could be dramatically where you ’ re going to increase your different and we won’t know until it’s income and make an agreement with too late. Because expectations are fuzzy, your spouse that is clear. they cause anxiety in their lack ofclarity. When you begin to live in agree At our office and in my life, I do not ments vs expectations, your chances of live in expectations which are fuzzy and success will dramatically increase and unclear. I live in agreements. An agree­ your anxiety of what is coming will ment is a rock-solid expectation. There evaporate because you and your spouse aren’t undefined parameters that could are on the same page and headed in the potentially provide an out. An agreement same direction. is clear and both parties are on the same Zach Santmier is the owner of page. For an agreement to be made, both Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author you and the other person must agree to of the per­ the specific details of said agreement. n In our example of me cutting down sonal finan­ a tree, here’s what an agreement would cial course, look like: “I’ll be over at 2 p.m. and will Increase. He cut down your tree and make sure that it focuses on is cleared out, not leaving a stick behind. helpingfam­ It should take me about two hours to ilies escape Closed or Open Cell complete the project. Does that work paycheckfor you?” This statement is specific. You to-paycheck or Blown-In Fiberglass know that I’ll be over at 2 p.m. You also living so they know that I’ll not only fall your tree to can freely Roy Mast* 517-652-9119 the ground, but I’ll make sure that your pursue their 2501 N. Ionia Rd., Vermontville yard is put back as I found it. You have idealfuture. extreme clarity on what is going to hap•d fx.fl J Agreements vs. expectations tion,” added Brandon Strong, Barry There’s a new face, or at least a County Christian Education Asfamiliar face in a new role, at the sociation executive director. DM Barry County Christian School’s Middleville campus, with school officials recently welcoming Stacy Palmer as the school’s new principal. YOU ’ RE NOT JUST According to a Sept. 11 state­ ment by school officials. Palmer OUR READERS. first joined BCCS as a part-time art You ’ re our friends, our family, teacher and quickly felt called to a our neighbors...and our future. larger role. “I knew I wanted to be more in­ Group volved this school year,” Palmer said. Your Community Connection “Little did we know the call God was placing on my heart, as well as my family’s, would lead * Closed-Cell Foam Insulation us here.” * Blown-In Attic Insulation As principal, Palm­ er’s vision is to foster a unified, faith-driven community. “Our goal is to equip SPRAY FOAM,LLC our students to live a life worthy of God’s Nelson Schmucker calling for them,” she 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte. Ml 48813 said. Palmer brings near­ Start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam ly 20 years of leader­ ship experience and a deep commitment to her family and church. 517.646.0439 * Lansing 269.967.8241 * Battle Creek/K-zoo She and her husband, 517.740,1533 * Jackson/Ann Arbor Matthew Palmer, who antennanien.customer@gmail.com was recently appoint­ www.theantennamen.com www.celisignalpro8.com ed lead pastor at Mc­ Callum United Breth­ Digital TV Antennas * Towers * StarLink Installs * ren Church, are proud Wireless Data Links * Cellular Enhancement Systems parents of three boys. * Building-to-building, “We’re pleased to Point-to-Point WiFi Extensions welcome Stacy to our Al I * High definition outdoor cameras team and what she to monitor your property brings to the organiza- < I . I i 1 1 r Ml* 1 j □ Conscientious Timber Harvester Wanting to Buy Standing Timber 1 �Saturday, September 20, 2025 8 rX THE SUN AND NEWS i I WWW. sunandnews .com •r Sporting News i I I* n r I '.t i I V': 1 fJ I gi * r t I f s X ♦ *•.< I, * t Fastest TK guys improve PRs at Sparta Invite Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor I^iking to get out of the crowd as fast as possible in the combined Gold/Blue Division race at the Sparta Invitational at al Fruit Ridge Hayrides Saturday, Thor­ napple Kellogg freshman Owen Bremer and junior Grady Galaviz pushed things a little early on. They kept going fast through the or­ chard and com fields on their way to new personal record times. Ifiey never really got out of the crowd though as a narrow, short finish area on a wet downslope caused quite a bit ofcongestion and a few collisions and crashes. Bremer skidded down, but not until he had tallied a time of 17 minutes 58.60 sec- onds.GaIavizwasright behind in 18:06.20. They placed 32nd and 33rd respectively in the Blue Divisicm competition. The Trojan boys’ team had five of its top seven, and its top four overall, all set new personal records in the early morning rain . Freshman Parker Robinett finished in 19:^8.29 in 48lh-place and senior Benja­ min Postma was 49th in 19:38.47. Isaac Kaboos also tallied a PR for the TK boys with a 54th-place time of 20:15.14. The top seven for the TK boys had senior Noah Donker 52nd in 20:04.36 and junior Jerin Donker 55th in 20:16.65 too. East Grand Rapids had five PR’s among its first seven finishers, and all those guys finished in the top ten individually to * •a bl V * i •“ W I, .:t •? & Scan our QR code to find your I perfect invitation! i E t k 99^ M L v> » I i t.- w f 4 I fy g» t - ... I B»r •» .W e $ f \ / wk Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. .. w PRINTING BY www.printingbypennylane.com ginacl@pennylaneprinting.com i power the Pioneers to a diampionship. The first six guys across the finish line in the Blue Division were EGR runners. Senior Jonah Workman led the way with an impressive PR of14:58.80. Sophomore teammate Micah Becker was the runnerup in 15:44.46. The Pioneers closed the race withjust 15 points. Forest Hills Northern was second with 56 points ahead ofCedar Springs 75, Greenville 120, Grand Rapids Track Club 129, Thomapple Kellogg 177 and Grand Rapids Union 178. The TK girls team had two new PRs among its top seven. Sophomore Amya Gaterflewtoa 13tfi-placetimeof21.24.79 and sophomore Breanna Schut placed 16th in 21:58.5O. It was a great pack for the TK girls who were third as a team. The top six for the Trojans were all within a minute of each other. Junior Peyton Hardy led the way with a time of 21:00.87. Senior Madison Kietzman was 12th in 21:17.51. They both had new season best times as did junior Carmen Reynolds who was 14th in 21:51.60. The Trojan team also had junior Alaina McCrumb 15th in 21:57.52 and senior Avery Hagemann 29th in23:26.29among its top seven. Forest Hills Northern won the Blue Division girls’ title with 42 points ahead of East Grand Rapids 53, Thomapple Kellogg 63, Grand Rapids Track Club 86, Greenville 101 and Grand Rapids Union 185. Greenville senior Gracelin Martin won the race with a personal record time of 18:21.55. East Grand Rapids junior Adeline Armstrong was the runner-up in 19:12.19 and EGR sophomore Anneliese Passchier set her PR at 19:43.44 to place third. The next four girls across the finish line were FHN Huskies, a quartet led by sophomore Jaclyn Charbauski who clock^ in at 20:06.84. The Thomq^ple Kellogg runners are off now until heading to Wayland Sept 24 for the second OK Gold Conference jamboree of the season. r * * / b 9 f / '/f? r i .J / 11 i rcf f l t t i i ! t i i i f 9 ! I 4 I t f f 9 ,ii. ! f t 9... 9 9 t L 99 9^ - £ 1 i 9 3^ ’I F 9 » I / I 2. < t I ar 9 9'Q.JI I '1:^ I » IF- I* '» if i J 9 « J I I z L I «■ •To­ f k F , ♦ I 9 % b* i y V f i I s 4 1 Tr ««< 4 1 V I 4 r j i r ^.,.r I I « e 1 11 I -* •r e I JI I J Z»r '>i6* *• * .. * Thornapple Kellogg junior Carmen Reynolds looks to the finish line after rounding the final turn at the Sparta Invitational Saturday, Sept. 13. ■•jl ws! 1 ' JIM''® gf Ail>5 J -r; I I -X t-r.T r . > , (iisi '' .‘VI *. I > « * I ' 13c^ t t 9 st f t * ui» • >V * u u' J r V tv >*■ .a '** '1 1 • -• 1^' A V,-J 4 ■ JK^ fiiOBli* .— 5 3* ‘ ‘Sfe a» mv f• u. 'i Wl ■ lipto ccitri 1 i on k fliiR j ; I' stoHeni i®i i I *• r J b* .*a •rr J .Y • I 1 ooiiettidifi »1 IT'* k ( a i:iu ! T z. 1 ^'^C ► k* A gffiliiyt! I Ij I •$ I I •* Thornapple Kellogg seniors Alexander Frizzell and Wyatt Richardson get rolling on the second loop around the Sparta Invitational course in Kent City Saturday, Sept. 13. Photos by Brett Bremer iOSUV i I IhlNmW i V, 4i X 1 '' Tii u I «7 h jH n hr ) 108 - t * X -J \J > i ; T, L 'l f / f I i s* ♦ 11 ■ 1 II !i M M h I ...I I 9 fl r* I I £ i I g € I < / 'W- I I. » z I r>’ !»• f < w '? <r 1^’ r r • f V- •a3 .. I ■ rt' �I ♦ ♦ J ♦ THE SUN AND NEWS vvww.sunandnews.com 1 nbnEnuav wv{ Saturday, September 20, 2025 9 ♦ ♦ CHS challenging itself with state’s top soccer squads IF I VM 2Sf I 1^. •! t r SA Jt F I f I ; ’^1 •r I t 'k-' t. ’ la Si * »l U-... « R B w • «* » > 6 • f ** s? .k. \ S 5 L^. • i t fl AT t »5 I i 1 I ^*1 »- I M I 1 SI wt? rY •> I s * 5 k -ii I *' *< * «*1 * * T*;. I ' *4 1 J 'a* > It '1 I •' A £ If y-' a i ■’ L, ■ oi^tsb ' >gM - r- «. ■'■TCy. .'‘••V -<l > 1 ‘U. b I 3d’ GVDOf I Il "^ifc^ Si - « 1. A '■A « A A 4 Caledonia goalkeeper Nicolas Long deflects a shot from Portage Central’s Max Bailey away from the net during their non-conference match at Scotland Yard Sept. 13. / I «'» ^9* ■"U.* j ' T}.. :< I. n '*« n <Tz » z I'a J »V , ' * w* tv * *r > * * <« «• ^rO***** — •i « • '•^9 . < ri X I •*..1 I a* hf i,.. '-«, f 'I J *II I STUDY Continued from Page 2 1 “\M4 <18 9 ’i* ' I J• I i H' |v t *• fA k I nn n;m 1 i A ••- i£iia F € 'BfC* ’■ ><‘tTri;j4^ rffia?' ^11 I I f r 3<' A J 1 ' ?K 1 K > I I L 4. > 'J t I > ( V 4I I• »? 4 . •• f l> ■ I / 1 4 r J t 9W a J ...-nt in i?’n i ■ I I i MJ I { I I I « X . .. KM foot ^:’5 .• V V, ' .«f ’l' I I 1 1 r* ' I." • I T I "J - h •? I i i - < k I I ’T- a Treasurer Deb Mousseau con firmed $ 131,200 in state funding will go toward the township’s park proj ect. The Thomapple Area Enrich­ ment Foundation (TAEF) also pre­ sented during last week’s meeting, sharing its growth from a $30,000 start-up gift to over $3.1 million in assets supporting scholarships and local programs. Committee updates covered ongoing work on the mining ordinance, a short-term rental approval, and preparations for an open house on the township’s master plan. Fire Chief Dan Miller reported 46 emergency responses conduct­ ed by his department in August. Miller also extended an invitation to the public to tour the fire station and meet local first responders at an open house on Oct. 6, during Fire Prevention Week. The board will meet again at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Yankee Springs Township Hall. — KTE w r I r ‘ FT: ■‘I .- G ^re^W’ ♦ a I > ) I I I I I Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia poured in eight goals in an 8-0 win over Muskegon in OK Green Conference play Thursday, Sept. 11. Scores have been much tougher to come by lately. No surprise given the competition the Fighting Scots have faced of late. The Caledonia varsity boys’ soccer team managed to hold Portage Central, the top ranked team in the state in Division 1, to one goal in a non-conference tilt at Scotland Yard Saturday. The Mustangs’ Gavan Sherman tapped a shot off the cross bar, and the rebound came out softly to Oliver Ruggiere who blasted it into the net for the game’s only goal. That score came about seven and a half minutes into the game. The Mustangs had a number of other solid scoring chances the rest of the night, despite the best efforts of a Caledonia defense led by senior Brecken Byrd in the middle, but more than once Portage Central put a shot high over the crossbar. Portage Central put the ball into the net on a couple of other occasions, but had one goal whistled for an offside penalty and another for a dangerous high kick on the shot. Caledonia had a couple of chances at the other end, but nothing too chal­ lenging for Mustang keeper Gunnar Thorhallsson. Caledonia went into a Thursday night tilt, Sept. 18, against Byron Center with a 2-1-2 OK Green Conference mark. The Fighting Scots played to a 0-0 r * •<> - r I i ■w *» Ji i 11 LI ■4; 1 J ' o t * *** fc Ij V . I qqii 'w* .* **' .Lil — ♦ ’1 ■ I" 1 I T s« * % z 1' ' • .** > 1 I *» » »± . Caledonia senior defender Brecken Byrd (18) fights to get the ball off the feet of Portage Central senior Max Bailey while Caledonia teammate Gage Helinski trails the play during their non-conference match at Scotland Yard Saturday, Sept. 13. Photos by Brett Bremer draw with Hudsonville Tuesday. That contest followed a 0-0 draw against East Kentwood Monday evening. Hudsonville is ranked ninth in the state in Division 1 and Byron Center checks in at number 11. The Byron Center Bulldogs went into the match at Scotland Yard with a perfect 5-0 OK Green record and a 10-2-1 mark overall. The two scoreless ballgames put the Scots at 6-4-4 for the season. ntomiat HEATING AND CXIOLING I MbP^i n -><;3Pi j» .n T 1 •• I* X z* *^3 c .. t » ;Ci> I THE MOST TRUSTED NAftffE IN BOOFING^ ,R **«* ,,V.^ ..*■ < *^.'. _»*- ‘ •S—■». ^."11 • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP 1+ / Other products available: • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A» RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ■b - . «fC' SffvffihjSg «• «ft 4* > 4 •«1 • -» iifew r I 4. 9. 4 fc. < t • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS w- QUALITY ROOFING - I IN THE BUSINESS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM 3 I • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 1154- YEARS • WE WORK WITH AU INSURANCE COMPANYS I SHERRIFP GOSLIN' I •' * * ••A w < ▼ Mjlf’l t. < •«*V -SGEs'* ••• TJ* w. S’ CALL TODAY # FOR YOUR FREE • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more’ I Ilf I {•iii{ntn\ IhiiIi rf\ iffciial'^ - dt •A •v to* w- «P -4^ - 269-962-4036 INSPECnON H.'i ^,‘'.r> VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK 210 East Main Street Caledonia 616-891 �.A A I i f 10 a a a a Saturday, September 20, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE AMENDMENT AND SUMMARY OF THE REGULATORY EFFECT THEREOF PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on September 9, 2025 the Village Council of the Village of Caledonia adopted an ordinance, Ordinance No. 25-11 that amends Section 8.3 and Chapter 18 of the Village Code (the “Ordinance”). The principal provisions of the Ordinance are summarized as follows: Ssytipn I of the Ordinance amends Section 8.3 of the Village Code, which addresses noxious growth and grass maintenance. The following is a summary of the amendments to Section 8.3 of the Village Code (“Sec­ tion 8.3”): 1. Findings and Purpose. Section 1 reflects the findings of the Village Council that it is necessary to the health, safety and welfare of residents of the Village, as well as for the well-being and preservation of value of real and personal property within the Village, to provide for the controlling and removi of noxious growth. 2. Authority. Section 2 provides the statutory authority for the adoption of this Ordinance. 3. Definitions. Section 3 identifies specific plant species that are defined as “noxious growth,” which does not include milkweed, and also includes the definition of the term “curtilage,” as used in Section 8.3. 4. Scope. Section 4 provides the scope of Section 8.3, including non-exempt lands within the Village locat­ ed in any subdivision, condominium or site condominium in which buildings are located on at least 60 percent of the lots or units, lands located within 165 feet of a public or private street, and unplatted lands that are located within the curtilage of any residential dwelling. 5. Exceptions. Section 5 reflects exemptions to the regulations of Section 8.3, including the planting and maintenance of gardens or lawns and weeds growing in flower or vegetable gardens or plots of shrubbery, to the extent the weeds are not the predominant growth in such areas, and publicly owned lands. It also provides that weed and plant growth, other than noxious weeds, that is in excess of 8 inches shall be permitted only on portions of an undeveloped property that lie more than 25 feet from a public sidewalk or public or private street, within fields devoted to growing any small grain crop as long as the weeds are not the predominant growth, and approved open space areas within any subdivision, condominium or site condominium that have been designated as “no-disturb” areas or are required to be maintained as natural ground-cover areas. 6. Required Removal of Noxious Growth. Section 6 provides that noxious growth is prohibited within the Village and is declared to be a nuisance. It also provides that it is unlawful for any owner, occupant, lessee or other responsible person to cause or permit noxious grovrth to be or to remain on non-exempt property within the Village. 7. Excessive Plant Growth. Section 7 provides that exterior areas of properties within the Village must be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 8 inches in height, and also includes a definition of “weeds or plant growth.” It also provides that the owner, occupant, lessee or other person with responsibility for maintaining non-exempt land are required to cut or remove excessive plant growth, and that excessive plant growth is declared to be a nuisance. 8. Abatement of Excessive Plant Growth and Noxious Weeds. Section 8 provides that violations of Sec­ tion 8.3 are a public nuisance and may be abated by injunctive or other equitable relief, and that the imposition of a penalty does not prevent injunctive relief or additional fines as to such a nuisance of up to $1,000.00, the expenses of prosecution, or other remedies provided by law. It also provides that the Village may also enter onto the property and remedy a violation at the owner’s expense and details the procedure for the Village to abate the violation of Section 8.3. 9. Charge to Owner; Imposition of Lien. Section 9 provides that if expenses of abatement are not paid within 30 days after an invoice is sent by the Village, the expense shall become a debt of the property owner and may be imposed as a lien upon the property until paid. It also provides that such lien may be enforced and collected in the same manner as a tax lien, and requires notice of the lien to be mailed to the owner at their last known address. 10. Publication of Notice of Abatement. Section 10 provides that the Village may also publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation during the month of March that weeds and plant growth not cut by June 1 of that year may be cut by the Village and the property owner would be charged for the costs. It also requires the publication to contain the information required to be included in the notice under Section 8.3(4) and that the Village may cut the weeds and plant growth as many times as is necessary and charge such costs to the property owner. 11. Violation and Penalties. Section 11 provides that a violation of Section 8.3 is a municipal civil infrac­ tion, for which the fine shall be $100.00. It also provides that as an additional penalty, the violator shall be responsible for all expenses of prosecution in addition to all o±er costs, damages, expenses and other remedies to the extent permitted by law. It also provides that each day during which a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense. 12. Other Ordinances and Laws. Section 12 provides that the prohibitions and penalties provided in Sec­ tion 8.3 shall be in addition to and not exclusive of other regulations and penalties provided in other applicable Village ordinances or other applicable laws or regulations. 13. Severability. Section 13 provides that if any part of Section 8.3 is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining part is severable and shall continue in full force and effect. Section 2 of the Ordinance amends Chapter 18 of the Village Code, regarding the adoption of the 2000 International Property Maintenance Code (“2000 IPMC”) by reference. Chapter 18 of the Village Code was amended by the addition of a new Section 2(7), which provides that Section 302.4 in the 2000 IPMC regarding weeds and plant growth, as adopted by the Village, was amended to require all premises and exterior property be maintained in compliance with Section 8.3. Section 3 of the Ordinance provides that the Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon this pub­ lication. A complete copy of the Ordinance is on file and may be inspected or purchased al the office of the Village Clerk, Village of Caledonia, 250 S. Maple Street, Caledonia, Michigan, during Village office hours. VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF CALEDONIA www.sunandnews.com Gators work on dropping more time against GRCC VILLAGE OF CALEDONIA COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN Dated: September 17, 2025 i .r I rn ) > 11^ lib J eoncMOilb.* X i Brett Bremer Sports Editor Grand Rapids Gator Mckenna Hawks didn’t swim anything longer than 100-yards at the 2024 OK Conference East Division Championship. Her two individual races at the end of her fresh­ man season were the 100-yard freestyle and the 1 OO-yard backstroke. For her sophomore season, she is working on going further, faster. Hawks set a personal best time of 6 minutes 32.17 seconds to place second in the 500-yard freestyle during the Ga­ tors’ senior night meet against conference foe Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the Grandville High School pool Thursday, Sept. 11. She cut more than 13 seconds off her previous best in the race. “I just kind of like pushed it and did as much as I could, and I worked as hard as I could,” Hawks said. “It’s hard because it’s kind of like a mindset thing,” she added. “You have to have a good mindset and just try your best and swim as hard as you can, and even if you don’t get that time, it’s Hl 1 ■> . I t: i J >* 4 1 I *».• r^: 1 & * « • J 1 1 1I t 9f w 4i s Grand Rapids Gator junior diver Lydia Slagel holds her tuck as she . spins above the water on a dive during her team’s OK Conference East Division meet against. Grand Rapids Catholic Central at Grandville High’School Sept. 11; okay because you have another meet.” Hawks said she has been working on her breathing lately, taking breaths on both sides of her body throughout the race that is 20 lengths of the pool long. It helps her even out her strokes throughout the race. “She is like a kid in a candy store, Gators head coach Jeff Saltzgaber said. “I think she just has so much to to learn from these races, because this is her first go around with these types oflong events. So, to see her drop so much time is just like super affirming. I think once she kind of gets the actual, like internal side of it, like knowing the time and like seeing that she’s ‘okay, I can get that rhythm’ the sky is the limit. It is super exciting.” Saltzgaber said Hawks, a captain this fall, courageously volunteered to take on the event this fall. Hawks got to chase Cougar senior Kate McNamara in the race who is one ofthe conference’s top returning distance swimmers. She was fourth at the confer­ ence meet a year ago in the 500 freestyle and qualified for the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 3 Girls’ Swimming and Diving Finals in the race - among other events. The Catholic Central Cougars had enough talent all around to best the Thor­ napple Kellogg, Hopkins, West Catholic, West Michigan Aviation Academy co-op team known as the Gators by a score of 99-65. The Gators’ own returning state med­ alist, and NISCA All America honoree, Lydia Slagel had a solid day on the diving board. She got her team’s first victory of the night with a score of 240.00. She bested Catholic Central’s top diver, Lucy Cotter, by 40.5 points through their six dives. “That’s an okay day for her. I know her goals and aspirations are to be 250 and above. I know that she is really working to compete not just at meets like this, but against competitors that are not always at meets like this. She is competing against kids that are maybe at a diferent caliber. She knows that. Really, every meet it is really her versus her, and her versus those kids that might be at other meets. She has a great coaching staff, Francesca [Pileci] and coach Todd [Bates] there in Hastings do a wonderful] ob with her. She is determined and hard-working Continued on next page I i; * ♦* » ?nD!10 /i I < { S’-"' - t \ FM k ? " JI I . d licit® <9 rww Ui,■'I •1 Cl s r J ■ V- i ihmISiiot!* f lb zi . tMt i j1 Ioc‘^ ::in • i-luj • r XLi !i - I I I 1 • I * r Hf t • J r fW •r t I 4 A. ■ 7 5 z T rs^ifa* ii.f' ( L ft V » *> f» i* ' s, • ‘ I. ■J- iaf-,, .1 r' b .1 1 a f. --i. ? K IP? i r <.i at r’ V i I. ‘I c > r '. / 5 \ »f* I . w Idif* •I UM 'T • <> 4 .. (f L I t t 4 HflSifl .■^ •k 1! . I • t *r jr» Ja ft '• i .t; f ‘ I j 1X >• e* * 5»' >• 4 T . • s > 7— ( L I t * 2.V .7/ ♦.th ' *• ■ I t .;.4 > I J I fe -n/i# * ■ • JJC *5 »z. 1 1 I 9 ^9 9 ■ AYi s 4 t Ajpl c 3 J* >'* - b 4 ,' w' i M M. r ll - J, t L: * J. J • 5 I I 11 •• r... \ * 3 J , it ♦ T-:1 Sl4> I*-* II Jto h . r1 L y I t ! I I ax* I ii; w — - litE ' -.ji i‘ > •e r < f cr>-- fI r w r.. b ;’ r kL X I -'' Xfir < . w J’^T T It 1*1I I ■ 5’ UP J • rate; 1 r A f r 'JUS " I - J ,1 £ c n )• i i ! i h 1 I f ' K t ’Wo II 9 if:b 'I r* I fe4. r r S' a r Iks* I ra 1 ‘ <sr ■w? �■F w r• ;!■ rw ' . L THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com J Saturday, September 20, 2025 11 ♦ ♦ ♦I : * . MS I ' f VILLAGE OF CALEDONIA COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN s I K— 7-f I * #<' s > 4 NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT AND SUMMARY OF THE REGULATORY EFFECT THEREOF ,'A «(. ■ I V I . .. -V A. * 4 - I : * I ’* ’ A 1 9 . nt r- .1 . •I I I. ■Vtxk.. 1 < • > \ *r*o PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on September 9, 2025 the Village Council of the Village of Caledonia adopted an ordinance, Ordinance No. 25-10 that amends various provisions of the Zoning Ordinance of the Village of Caledonia (the “Zoning Ordinance”) to permit short-term rentals in certain zoning districts within the Village and provide regulations for the same (the “Ordinance”). The principal provisions of the Ordinance are summarized as follows: Section 1 of the Ordinance amends the Zoning Ordinance by the addition of a new Section 3.44 re­ garding short-term rentals within the Village. The following is a summary of the principal provisions of Section 3.44: 1. Purpose and Intent. Section 3.44(a) provides that Section 3.44 is intended to establish reasonable standards for short-term rentals within the Village to minimize the impacts of short-term rentals on neigh­ boring residents and properties and to protect the health, safety and welfare of Village residents, tenants, guests and short-term rental owners by providing guidance for the use of dwelling units for short-term rentals. 2. Definitions. Section 3.44(b) provides relevant definitions for Section 3.44. 3. Applicability. Section 3.44(c) provides that Section 3.44 applies to short-term rentals, as defined in Section 2.2 of the Zoning Ordinance, as amended by the Ordinance, and does not apply to rental of dwell­ ings for a period of 32 days or longer or to bed and breakfast establishments. 4. Zoning Compliance Permit Required. Section 3.44(d) provides that a person shall not rent, own, operate or advertise a short-term rental within the Village without first obtaining a zoning compliance permit from the Village Zoning Administrator. 5. Application and Fee Requirements. Section 3.44(e) provides the application requirements to re­ ceive a zoning compliance permit for a short-term rental, including providing contact information, proof of ownership or authority from the owner to operate a short-term rental, a description of the number of bedrooms and finished floor, an explanation of the applicant’s plan to provide sufficient parking for the short-term rental, certification that the short-term rental will comply with Section 3.44 and other applicable Village ordinances, and other necessary information. It also provides that a zoning compliance permit shall be accompanied by a fee in an amount established by the resolution of the Village Council frOm time to time.X 6. Review and Approval Procedures. Section 3.44(f) provides for the review and approval procedures for a zoning compliance permit application for a short-term rental. 7. Duration of Permit. Section 3.44(g) provides that a zoning compliance permit issued for a short­ term rental is effective for one year or until it is revoked, and provides the reasons that may result in revo­ cation of a zoning compliance permit for a short-term rental. 8. General Requirements. Section 3.44(h) provides general regulatory requirements for short-term rentals, including that short-term rentals are allowed in zoning districts where short-term rentals are listed as a permitted use, requiring compliance with applicable building codes and maintenance requirements and all Village ordinances, and providing standards for the use of areas outside the dwelling unit, the max­ imum number of short-term rentals per parcel or lot, trash, maximum occupancy of a short-term rental, parking, requiring a responsible contact person, and restricting short-term rentals from being used for loud or excessively loud parties or special events that create an unreasonable level of noise or other disturbance. 9. Short-Term Rental Configurations. Section 3.44(i) provides the allowed configurations of short­ term rentals in zoning districts where short-term rentals are permitted, and that all other configurations are permitted. 10. Violation; Zoning Compliance Permit Revocation. Section 3.44(j) provides regulations related to violations of Section 3.44, including that violation of Section 3.44 by any occupant, guest or visitor to a short-term rental is a municipal civil infraction, that owners and operators are responsible for violations by occupants, visitors or guests to a short-term rental, and that a permit may be revoked temporarily or permanently upon a violation. It also provides for the procedure for the Zoning Administrator to revoke a zoning compliance permit for a short-term rental and for appeal of the revocation of the same. Section 2 of the Ordinance amends Section 2.2 of the Zoning Ordinance to amend the definition of a bed and breakfast establishment to clarify that it does not include a short-term rental and to add a definition of a short-term rental as a dwelling unit that is rented to an individual or individuals for any period less than 31 consecutive days, or that is advertised to be rented for any period less than 31 days. Section 3 of the Ordinance amends Section 5.2 of the Zoning Ordinance to add short-term rentals which comply with Section 3.44 as a permitted use within the AG Agricultural-Residential District. Section 4 of the Ordinance amends Section 6.2 of the Zoning Ordinance to add short-term rentals which comply with Section 3.44 as a permitted use within the R-I Low Density Single Family District. Section 5 of the Ordinance amends Section 7.2 of the Zoning Ordinance to add short-term rentals which comply with Section 3.44 as a permitted use within the R-2 Medium Density Single Family District. Section 6 of the Ordinance amends Section 8.2 ofthe Zoning Ordinance to add short-term rentals which comply with Section 3.44 as a permitted use within the R-3 Medium Density Multiple Family District. Section 7 of the Ordinance amends Section 9.2 of the Zoning Ordinance to add short-term rentals which comply with Section 3.44 as a permitted use within the R-4 High Density Multiple Family District. Section 8 of the Ordinance provides that the Ordinance shall become effective seven days after this publication. A complete copy of the Ordinance is on file and may be inspected or purchased at the office of the Village Clerk, Village of Caledonia, 250 S. Maple Street, Caledonia, Michigan, during Village office hours. 1 . 4 * —» :ir k } I. **r* -»r A I I IB. ■a A M k < . 4C X ' ■X &:i *1 4> k « s •k .-M 2?) 6h ii •<, - »ir u ’•u , .J r» *-■**«. r— f 1J T* I J J r r wr I*' ■;i4’. L It w / I I. v> .CTi. (1 •J 't * k I • ,• SI* ’ W « L > '* 5s. U*' J l< •\ *• I I l. f lU *’4* I.... , I r Ci*. \' <■■ . I 1 l’ *4; (lOieiViC « ^ro ( J JI IJ 1 ■• » I rnV 3 *T I ,y I 4 * J *. 1 '1 ‘ W?^: f I J ( 7- n. f t it'iAir l^r^nofTi II -c; : fw 4 1 b t* •“ -k £t, I ( J ^lj I f I. •u ri< n J J I / » . ♦ f r t . fz ' AXUiAjO' M I 1 »iau» 9- I ' .- .1 I *c • J fUMJ Xei 4 I •r I jn 5 iril r ' f » 4 9F«I .43^ ’ UV t nru*i»« fl I I I I I Ik iWw ' » t ! ? 411« IB; ’J it r <1 —y I I I J: .. rmij i ^fthia .ff * a I .<d I ' awilf h 1 I I ;'2i> zi^B^ f*l I * f - 5• I 1 * f f wwaBBaiV: < W| • ._ lit A S’ 4 r ojfc •: S ■It. I I I t . --r r? r.l IT*' ■- I * ! X .-^ I X • .^ V J «?■ F* (•' •r .. 11 r * p f I k I !ri'. ■r”-T . ?SSr-*-¥^ -*a- '' ' -iM; V -*«- 4 100-yard fi-eestyle later. Those two were also a part of the Cougars’ winning team and I know it’ll pay off for her.” ; in the 200-yard fi*eestyle relay, joined by Slagel closed her sophomore season Eden Morrow and Valeria Rodriguez. last fall placing fourth in the diving com­ The Gator team had the top three scor­ petition at the Division 1 state finals with ers in ±e 100-yard backstroke. Kursch a score of more than 375 points which won in 1:37.08 with Scarlett Hilzey qualified her for All America honors. second and Pepper Selph third. She was even better on Tuesday as the At the opening of the evening, the Gators took on Ottawa Hills in a confer­ Gator team of Jenna Robinett, Raak, ence dual in Grand Rapids. The Bengals Hawks and Nydam placed second in took a 105-59 win as a team, but Slagel the 200-yard medley relay with a time improved the team diving record with a of2:24.68, about 12 seconds behind the score of269.20 points. Cougar foursome of Hayley Tovar, Kate The Gators got a second individual McNamara, Rodriguez and Kathleen victory later on in the meet against Ca±olic Central with Mara Raak taking Sullivan ±at won ±e race. the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:22.96 with Sullivan led a sweep of the top four a solid time drop. Teammate Lucy Krug scoring places in the 50-yard fi-eestyle for the runner-up points in that one too. for the Cougars. Braun also won the 100Saltzgaber said Raak, a freshman, has yard butterfly, a race where the Cougars shown a lot of progress so far. had the three fastest finishers. Another freshman, Adelaide Nydam The Gators were back in action at the had a solid time drop in the 100-yard Mason Invite Saturday and they placed freestyle to place fourth, a spot behind eigh± at the nine-team meet. Marshall teammate Leyna Kursch. won the championship wi± 240 points Devon Barnhill, Eloise Nichols, ahead of Mason 236, Coldwater 215, Hawks and Raak teamed up to win the Mount Pleasant 200 and St Johns 172 in first-place points in the400-yard freestyle ±e top five. The Gators closed the day relay with a time of 5:17.20 too for the with 94 points. Slagel had the Gators ’ Gators. lone event win with a score of 237.80 Hawks also improved her personal points in the diving competition. best in the 200-yard individual medley In the dual with Ottawa Hills, the top to place second. She finished in 2:42.52. swims for the Gators included Raak McNamara won that one as well in winning the 100-yard breaststroke in 2:27.95. 1:24.64. Hawks nudged her SOO^ard Cougar speedster Mae Braun won the freestyle time doum to 6:32.'*"• 111 a . 200-yard ffeestvle in 2:04.50 with teammate Kristen McNamara second. Kristen runner-up finish. Kursch had a runnerwinni^l^^iaisi 9^ inlhe up time of 1:26.00 in the baciatroicej* I r a^4*. u I Wu»1^ I Continued from previous page ' I Tb I ■'jv. "-.Uli* ii. *-** •—^..' I* Ir -/ 4 ..■■ Grand Rapids Gators freshman Mara Raak swims to a victory in the 100yard breaststroke during her team’s OK Conference East Division dual with Grand Rapids Catholic Central at Grandville High School Thursday, Sept. 11. Photos by Brett Bremer X J ■tr ■.»> -r 3FSL. I I I a( .W'lBuiL^ 'S I l«- 1%^ ■■■■ ••1 « *w»w^ I %^w I Mr* f ,I ' 'll' i,b' aw ■I •A i ~ Daud: September 17,2025 VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF CALEDONIA ) ■ I I • • • .. f 1 t « s > e :.. .nir?t I ■j H I Ml I 3 ' I 4 I*- J I I I I i 1 J I I. r ■ I ?s J 1 H Ht I h'l I i Ii <1 *1 9 . jI 11 i I I 4 I '1 I \ t t I �/A ..d= 12 ♦ Saturday, September 20, 2025 TK soccer gets win over Wolves in second attempt ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ soccer team improved one OK Gold Conference result this week. The Trojans knocked off Wyo­ ming 3-1 in Middleville Monday. The two teams played to a 0-0 draw in their first meeting of the season in Wyoming. Things didn’t go better for the Trojans the second time around with Wayland however as the Wild­ cats took their second 1 -0 win ofthe season over the TK boys Wednes­ day at Wayland Union High School. TK is now 2-5-1 in the OK Gold Conference this season and 6-6-1 overall. West Catholic will play host to TK Monday and then the Trojans host Northview Wednesday in the week ahead. 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS; Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm THE SUN AND NEWS Scots beat Sailors for second Green tennis win Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity boys’ tennis team scored a 6-3 win over Mona Shores in an OK Green Conference Dual Wednesday. The Sailors won the top two singles flights, and pulled out a three-set vic­ tory at first doubles, and the Fighting Scots won everything else. Garrett Fales at number three singles for the Scots won 6-0,6-1 over Harrison S ischo and Colin Martin at number four outscored Mincah Bement 6-2, 6-2. The Scots had a three-set win oftheir own on the doubles’ side with Caleb Harrison and Derick Prichard outscor­ ing Mona Shores’ Miles O’Brien and Caleb McCumber 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-2. Isaac Robotham and Russell Grandon at second doubles took a 6-1, 7-5 win for the Scots, Isaac Judd and Charlie Scott won 6-1, 6-2 at number four doubles and Zach Zupin and Shane Johnson won at fifth doubles by a score of 6-3, 6-2. Andrew Mills and Brennen Resiter got the first doubles win for the Sail­ ors. Caledonia’s Cooper Sowerby and Quinn Cook won the opening set 6-4 before the Sailors duo rallied for 6-3, 6-3 wins in the final two sets. Reid Hackney at first singles and Marcus Powell at second singles took victories over the Scots’ Hudsen Derengowski and Quinn Stanley. The Scots have another conference dual on the schedule for Wednesday, Sept. 24, at Jenison. Hamilton was set to visit CHS Thursday, Sept. 18. The Scots play host to Portage Northern Monday, Sept. 22. Caledonia is now 2-1 in OK Green Conference duals this fall. They bested Reeths-Puffer last week in conference play. BODY SHOP Complete Collision Repair 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 4931 & Your Lrusfed Body Shop -for over yeoTs 0^ iflu COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the August 26. 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on September 9, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main street and on the website at www.viHaqeofmiddleville.org. I www.sunanclnews.com > ti ■ JI . 4 * , 4 IF i I I |. V I' 4. •-.V r I i ’J I I c I '-* tor u J 4 k r I t USxJB • t ( 1(9 n i I J £ . . ?• •' i • Kl 1 i *A J .’'It** '.-•I'* A II J I ys ' ? J* J I f f I I 1 IF f ^■ 4* I : • a f t r • I l> :)^' • f --fi < if eh f 11 I .J-K’ I Vt r I / 1 1 • • f k I IS - 17 I JJ» I J I I * 4 • ! 1 / t r 1- . f-'; • t 1 I? 1 I*. 1 > I i-r-' / I « I . f - ¥ *'( I <A t»fc 'TV*'’’ tIK, I » 1^ < 1 I ft i J c 1 .. \ ♦ r! :; 't I j.jif S '-/"c:’ * tl «c iS?-', .r* ■ ',-e > I fi .i (1^ ii -±e 1-1 I /A a ft-/1 irti 1 IH IM* f 1 X JU ' w t, » I ijam'* Scots keep chasing Bulldogs on OK Green greens I. ? 1^ Sr It was the second straight contest at Lincoln GolfCourse as it was also home to die conference’s Mid-Season Tournament Thursday, Sept 11. The Bulldogs won the 18-hole event with a score of 341 ahead of Caledonia 361, Jenison 367, Reeths-Puffer 379 and Mona Shores 419. O ’Krangley was fourth individually with a score of 86. Walbeck and Honhart both shot 89 for Caledonia, and Stout added a 97. Reeths-Puffer junior Sophia McCollumn was the day’s individual champ with an 80 and Byron Centerjunior Iz2yTawoda was second with a score of 83. In between the two conference outings, the Scots placed fourth at the 12-team Greenville Invitational at Candlestone Golf and Resort Friday, Sept. 12. Forest Hills Central won the tournament with a score of 326 ahead of Lowell 345, Forest Hills Eastern 370, Caledonia 372 and Greenville 390 in the top five. O ’ Krangley was fourth individually with a 78. Walbeck shot an 88 and Stout a 102. Junior Lauren Scheid and senior Ella Bums both shot 104 for the Scots. w-«rw I J 4 Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Fighting Scots took the runner-up spot at the OK Green Conferencej amboree hosted by Reeths-Puffer at Lincoln Golf Course Monday. Byron Center took the day’s victory with a score of 162 strokes and the Cal^onia varsity girls’ golf team was three strokes back with a 165. Caledonia senior Codie O’Krangley was the day’s individual champion with an even-par 36. She fired birdies on holes two, four, five and nine. Senior Halle Stout placed third overall for the Scots with a 38. She also birdied the 332-yard, par-5 number two. Senior Katie Honhart shot a 44 andjunior Emily Walbeck shot a 47 for the Scots. Byron Center senior Holly Lawrence was the runner-up with a score of 37. Stout was matched by Mona Shores’ Avery Kehra and Byron Center junior Autumn Kartes who both shot 38. The rest of the conference was a bit of a way back. Reeths-Puffer scored a 182, Mona Shores 184 and Jenison 185. F a" blocks. Junior setter Reese Stafford put up 83 assists in the five matches. She also hit four aces. The Scots also got 27 kills from sophomore Lydia Bell, 18 kills Irom senior Kyla Charles and ten kills from junior Kayleigh Miersen. Miersen had nine aces and added 36 digs. Charles had ten blocks and 11 aces. Bell chi in nine blocks. The day was a good bounce back for the Scots after falling in three sets in their OK Green Conference opener, Sept 11, at Byron Center. The Bulldogs took a 25-14,25-22,25-22 win. Reynolds had a team-high 16 kills to go with 11 digs and an ace. Bell had six kills and two blocks. Miersen chi •J in four aces, 13 digs and two assists. Seif had 12 digs and two assists. Staf­ ford closed the night with 26 assists and eight digs. The Scots were set to host Mona Shores for a conference match Thursday, Sept. 18.TheyheadtotheLakewoodInvitational today, Sept 20. Reeths-Puffer visits Caledonia for an OK Green match Sept. 25. .1 in k FHN tops Scots in final at Kohn Memorial Invite Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity volleyball team won its way to a runner-up finish at its annual Makayla Kohn Memorial Invitational Saturday. The Fighting Scots were 4-1 ontheday falling only to the eighth-ranked team in the state in Division 1, ForestHillsNorthem, in the day’s championship match. The Huskies got ±ejump on the Scots early in the final taking a 25-14 win in set one and then earned the championship with a 25-22 victory in set two. Caledoniatookacouple lopsided wins in third sets to stay perfect early in the day. The Scots defeat^ Ionia 18-25,25-18, 15-8 and later Forest Hills Eastern 1925,25-22,15-5. The Scots also earned a 25-12,25-12 win over Portage Central. In the semifinals, the Scots outscored Mattawan 25-22,19-25,16-14. Fighting Scot junior Avery Seif had 52 digs on the day and surpassed 1,000 career digs as a varsity player. Junior Aubrey Reynolds had a team-high 44 kills throu^out the course of the day and added 29 digs, three aces and eight V r I I I ■ R’ t B • i't t-r 'J I 9 .-iLi * . b' .• I, ? t- V .» 1 er ' ■» r- V J M ■ '<■ r 01 !»* •-Ht ir-H ? t i __ V r> J 1 I •• I ( '•, ..MS — f. AJ « K— 1 » 4 ) i '1 isoHtt - /■ 0 uC« r ->' 1101?»tt‘'vi! -ni •V 9 sbo'/nH TEEfaatwr-'jfr- I - • I A i J \ I w 1 1 I 1 I I w* uT-Sjia I 5 < . t *3? "“>< i / • e^tr vi / i >^^ 713 4* SI ? • 1 1 u. ’I i f '» k i; V: t t • ft . JiVlt J Uts. - f" -n* t*o.. J J ! « I « < 1 I L ♦ h- .. I rllj4. .. .. : X. nt 41 a �f 4 1 w ♦ 4I A ♦ IK* :T3?k* '11^ xiaa. 4j 3 1 % t I I 5* 1 s f Vk Brett Bremer Sports Editor 4 'J Thomapple Kellogg upped its OK Gold Conference varsity boys’ tennis re­ cord to 3-1 with 8-0 wins over Wyoming and Grand Rapids Union followed by a 7-1 victory at Wayland Wednesday. The TK boys won ±e six contested matches with the Red Hawks in straight sets Monday in Middleville. The best battle came at number one singles where Trojan senior Franklin A^^lkinson took a 6-2, 6-4 win over Union senior Anish Kulkarni. The rest of the Trojans gave up just one game combined. Freshman Paricer Sylvestre at second singles and senior MaikGielinckiat fourth singles both took 6-0,6-0 wins. Sophomore Max Lepper at third singles won 6-1,6-0 for TK. Union had just two doubles teams to face the Trojans. TK juniors Layne Schilthroat and Samuel Teachout at first doubles took a 6-0, 6-0 win. At second doubles, TK junior Gideon Scott and sophomore Graham Eden won 6-0, 6-0 as well. Scores were similar in last week’s dual with Wyoming. Wilkinson breezed to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Wyoming’s top player on that day though. Sylvestre and Gielincki both won 6-0,6-0 as well. Lep- ft'. I J 4 / 1 t J iA . k I I I t I r 1 T. k *k ’r I 4s . 4 *> I X I I < .j-J; I ■A s iSii; k. I . 1 < Il 1 f -4': /* 1 * Iv ihI I •lA . I a I, «:4 I > iL t i I * i « 1 .. ‘1< 'i-. w > I -*vV « f I •U: tJ IJ C Sj I# h ij;. f .r J -’V'j,;;- i1 4 t I I I f 1 Vi I* (j M.) 7'. , II l> • I <s It f tf . le A 4 ^<11 V’i-’ >-s JI r. 4a* » r Tv I Ii '•2 » •i :'. w w ss^ipL'i- i i u ♦j I / s I X '1 r ’’.n > .•jZU >T k-. 'Catf f pj #? » r ? 1 4 '^3« m i**' I? J r i I 2 I £7 * !. ■ I 49 *r >» * r rj I 9^ 1 I, 1 I I •’ .V«4« I < I . i;. ‘U . • ■.,. Pr -^v •f' r • B-. V •V. \ I >> • S^?'.- • ' I ' 4 I I I J * •l I 1 I 1 LtJ ^1 ‘l 4 I JI f) 1 r I * . f 1 J I I — M 1*^ I 1 s z r I I ft J£ * ? >4 r * ♦ ■v> . * e it < s •/ «»* 1*^4^ FT:2J •V * T 4 9**^ j^Wx*** !? fi(S Al br Wi ■> J- X . . 1 X n>MW9B «4«9I a* ' .**] r-»«»e r* y ! * •A' Thornapple Kellogg freshman second singles player Parker Sylvestre fires a forehand back at his opponent from Grand Rapids Union Monday in Middleville. per fought offWyoming seniorAllan Bar­ rientos for a 6-1,6-4 win at third singles. Schilthroat and Teachout at first doubles and Eden and Scott at second doubles won 6-0, 6-0 as well, and ±e Wolves forfeited the third and fourtli doubles flights to the Trojans. Sylvestre and Lepper pulled out threeset wins to help the Trojans to a sweep of ±e singles matches against Wayland Wednesday Sylvestre outscored Wayland senior Jacob VanDuine 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 at second singles. L>epper rallied to beat Wayland junior Brayden Tomson 4-6, 6-1,6-1. XWlkinson bested Wayland’s top player Chesney Hudson 6-4, 6-2. TK also got a straight-set win from senior Mark Gielincki at fourth singles who downed Grant Dunkle 6-0, 6-1. Wayland pulled out a three-set win at third doubles to avoid the sweep. TK had Schilthroat and Teachout win 6-4, 6-2 at first doubles, Eden and Scott win 6-1, 6-1 at second doubles and senior Alex Eggleston and junior Mark Cui son win 6-4, 6-0 at fourth doubles. The Trojan team was tested over the weekend at the Big R^ids Invitational. The Trojans took a runner-up finish be­ hind the host Cardinals. Big Rapids bested the TK boys 6-2, the Trojans defeated Sparta 6-2, and the TK team also took an 8-0 vyin over a Grant team that competed at just four flights throughout the day. Trojan senior Luke Archer and fi-eshman Joel Archer teamed up at third doubles won the first set of their contest with Wayland senior Asher Hendricks and sophomore Brycen Rookus, but the ^fildcat duo rallied for 6-4, 6-2 wins in the final two sets. Sylvestre at second singles and the fourth doubles team of Eggleston and junior Cuison were both 3-0 on the day. Those were the two flights where TK took wins in the dual with Big Rapids. Sylvestre, Gielincki and all four TK doubles teams scored wins over Sparta. TK got straight set wins from all four singles players in the match with Grant to go along with forfeits at the four doubles flights. The Trojans are set to will travel to Vicksburg for the Bulldogs’ Military Appreciation Tournament Saturday, Sept 20. The Trojans are home again Monday, Sept. 22, for a tough conference dual widi West Catholic and then home Sqpt. 24 to take on Northview. • < •A < > I < « *. > » < ill A !• < - % I j9 4 * « I I a « WMMMWi Or**.' "“'’A- li^Bi *-*<‘»**> « » .1 ®5,_________ > *w » p t- j J Tw? 4- !7 n t 11J TrrTh I't i L J Thornapple Kellogg junior second singles player Gideon Scott slams down an overhead winner during his win with teammate Graham Eden over Grand Rapids Union Monday in Middleville. Photos by Brett Bremer GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM ^MICHIGAN •44 4' r Wi^RKS! t #■ ts> * W "f < 4 Take the next step to a better paying job! '4 :*i 0^^ I X I 1 I « 1* r Learn about free: • A I rF Computer skills training Career coaching Job search services 4 dtr. Kt‘ i< * t r * > ' J( 9 5 'j . e• ► I J* { ( k I I ’ , V'. in it I i f Trade Adjustment Assistance PLUS: Ask us if you qualify for Trade Assistance Act benefits! if H, 1 I < V « X, ■t h r. 4 *A’ « < I •W* <*». "7 « I • .•T y « '■''7 k N* j If - < t I «! > ( 6 s^ ■?«?. I -• Call 1-800-285-WORK (9675) or visit westmiworks.org/job-seekers/ 4. •• V*- t l<7 " ■ :1 > 13 ♦ Trojans Win three straight OK Gold tennis duals t **1 Saturday, September 20, 2025 ♦ J. L f THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com r I f I -«* . .-t *••: ’ �r •.X J'Ab V r } Saturday, September 20 2025 14 0 A THE SUN AND NEWS sunandnpw’-- < J* r' ' •*' c'T’ •-tf * J* .. -a* ' J-' *f r > ♦ SAVE TH E DATE CRAFT BEER AND WINE FEST ► i > 7iI t * - A > . I• ''<r ; if^ r r * / » ? -J i£ ■ n , *1 “k c - t f J < I % r I I A, I r*. b I t I I /•w* K. 1 • 4 iz 2-1 PM, TIVOLI SQUARE, DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE > ' < fre£ f nvet;V^'‘^ 1 k 9^ Saturday, October 11,2025 ke r ’ 1*5' »•' t Daily News - View Newspaper Group is hosting The event benefits W; Rotary Club i of Greenville * I 1 I iRi ■;C • • • • •! • I • 1 t I ; * 1A1I k • aisa^ . I bottles, brp!2JS§ V 4 1 1- \ 1• VIP ADMISSION $50 bh WINTER INSURANCE AGENCY Includes one hour early entry, exclusive food and drink pairing experience, Hops & Grapes 101 with local brewer, commemorative Bottles Brews & News Oktoberfest lanyard, souvenir glass, five drink sample tickets and food Local. Crowing. Slaying. 15 Hisl§ I4 M* c iS J ®i«ad!E»» I GENERAL ADMISSION $30 SIMPLI.FI * ♦X PI I .•'5 Includes souvenir glass, five drink sample tickets b. and food • .Ac b~ ;,n jite * »«< I ISABELLA BANK I if ' « II ■ x‘ * .:iW| ADVANCE TICKETS: SPONSORED BY: v* x I, 2023 { , / w ©ftloberfcst I I 5 1 WSPAPER GROUP'S CRAFT BEER AND WI J n Mlllaiid^ ** Additional tasting tickets will be available for purchase at event for $1 each ) J .wi I I L ‘"Vu \ i A' t'bwia^ i 1 »■ ■ 1 FURNITURrANDTPRUANCE s< r 1 t r i i I <» I 1 BMMBMN «WWB R»« COMMERCIAL BANK EVENT HOSTED BY: DAILY NEWS VIEW~r<^a~« A&£ Agency ■eWMlBHl EVENT BENEFITS: Rotary Club of &eenville. Ml Sponsorships available. Contact Amber Rood at arood@thedailynews.cc or at 616-548-8257 Scan OR code or visit thedailynews.cc/ Oktoberfest for tickets t I ) r I nTkE^ffljj ik-muWsils tf ’■ ■ W'WMto s fc, . ‘ W,W! I ?■ . > I .. ■C'T k •V* 11**'** • ^A’ t s iHn«K VEIL.*. V. <1 « 5 I I I I >I r ( I I II I / t 6 J I^AV * w I2'« 1 V l>SI Av«L I > t*! w I 1^,’J lii’'^ t I * I r’ I • * «ww »• .-• I G-, * « >• IT' �i www.sunandnews.com JVWW 4 ; » . I. Saturday, September 20, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 15 ♦ Moving the football tough for Scots at Hudsonville I I fioi SU ri grmo i 4 ♦ *r* w- LI IIM ■ffi * < I A i 4 ilttff.oteteJ .bt ■-tf W'LH ftOEtilH t r' f 1 : r ! tn 4 I 2; JijSO •J I r r ’<1 ** i ( . ft -'f -H ) ft L Kintjr> r H I < . i 9 t - ♦ . .larf 1 ■JOV spnrttaj ; 8 ■»< •; 'M. It vf t V 1 caifliv-. .• «*■ < J* leh jr ir? nfk . i Jr/n rd . ‘*4t£‘ xjni J- c r i Lu rn V n 4 •• 1 I 1 Kf’ iB ' H! . hVAa /V 5 ' 1 |v wt 13 ff vabrt'jijf liilJDnoiBA , IH ^d: 091 n •. ’‘jO* 1 * I 3 J LX T ft I I f uj tG-ti e. '■^taacx! W4 W I ff I V9 * i ►i is 4* iW-'OW-' ijiriLGil? <hSni!rtJG- ) I EaTHVi- 91^!^ « ■A '*T* ‘^trf r>< . «1 « kl .< «> iCv < iI SHIM f w d J 1 ' 4 1 1 C’Jj*<f’SibinV'i; r /F x» * V f ft-^ J I i I In «? JX iMfii Hyeib Imo f? EldMWiiX ll IS - u* ♦ ( I 5 .VV!: I ;'^nwp 3Q^*:rhu^ « I if s b n (J«- f 1 I 3.^rT^iib ''I r no, iJlalstoF - I"!■ 'rfGffi ■^JWt -r 7jS JdiJitibkkd K OM* » » rUffil {^0O9£k)dM6t i « Trfr''^ 8 Lit I I f MW / WI '?5i I >L 'llll i Ii I t fT*' ft ; I xn 1 I K « JO; f f SJJ *I J to W'’' tI , .Vl { 1 ■ '■ Wto X I ?**•» 1 4 if J I I) flil 1 nrw *501” duow^ ’Ift «• I ‘>70 > 4 ? >Ji n \ nr ( 3♦ ' i 3 rr I 1 1,5 7 I I Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia didn’t have the fire­ power it needed to keep pace with Hudsonville in the OK Red Confer­ ence opener in Hudsonville Friday, Sept. 12. The Eagles handed the Fighting Scots their first defeat of the season by a 38-6 tally. Stepping in at quarterback for the Fighting Scots, sophomore Conlan Schultz was 8-of-18 passing for one touchdown and one interception. Aaron Collins took a pass 96 yards for a touchdown to get the Scots within 14-6 in the second quarter, but Caledonia managed just 57 yards ofoffense the rest ofthe night. Hudsonville bottled up the Fight­ ing Scot rushing attack holding the Scots to 18 yards rushing. The Eagles’ Brady Van Laecke was 5-of-9 passing for 79 yards and also rushed for three touchdowns. He had ten rushes for 59 yards total. Luke Brodnicki was his top re­ ceiving target catching two passes for 73 yards. Tsega Beld hit a 27-yard field goal for the Eagles in the fourth quarter and was a perfect 4-of-4 on extra­ point tries. The Eagles got the first points of the game on a 16-yard run by wide out Brayion Miller. Van Laecke pushed his team’s lead to 14-0 with a one-yard TD run early in the sec­ ond quarter. Collins got behind the Eagle defense to haul in a deep over the middle on a third-and-8 play from way back in the Scots’ own territory for the Scots’ lone touchdown. The Scots had the ball back as the first halfclock ticked under two minutes and moved towards midfield. On the final play of ±e half, Schultz fired a pass up the left side that Zaidan Dyk­ stra picked off for the Eagles and returned 48 yards for a touchdown. The Eagles move to 3-0 on the season with the win. The Fighting Scots were set to be home Friday, Sept. 19, against Grandville and will head to East Defensive TD helps spark TK win at Wayland Union Brett Bremer Sports Editor Through three quarters, the Trojan de­ fense and the Wayland offense scored the same amount of points. ' TlieTliomappleKelloggvarsityfootball team improved to 2-1 overall this season with a 41-14 win at Wayland in the final non-conference bailgame to open the season Friday. Senior defensive lineman Owen Hood scooped up a Wayland fumble and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown to help put TK in front 14-0 in the opening quarter. TK pushed its lead to 28-7 by the half. “We played great team defense all night,” TK head coach Jeff Dock said. Played fast and physical.” He said junior Cam Peter had an es­ pecially great game. Peter finished the evening with three solo tackles and nine assists. Junior quarterback Micah Dock rushed six times for 42 yards and two touchdowns, and was 3-of-4 passing for 62 yards and a TD pass to teammate Elliott Neff. Senior back Debo Robinson had ten rushes for 90 yards and a score, and senior Zach Eldridge busted loose for 73 yards on three carries. As a team, TK finished with 210 yards rushing. Malachi VanEngen opened the scoring for TK with a one-yard TD run and then TK added the defensive score. Micah Dock had a seven-yard TD run in ttie second quarter, and then after Wayland pulled within 21 -7, Micah Dock connected wi± Neff on a 35-yard touchdown pass. Micah Dock scored on a 16-yard run in the third quarter. Robinson found die end zone on a 49-yard run in the fourth quarter. TK kicker Mason Chivis hit his first five extra-point kicks. The Trojan defense also picked off one Wayland pass. Our company is growing, don’t miss your opportunity. WE ARE »*s View Newspaper Group is seeking a MARKETING SPECIALIST f 0 \ Ar. > ! ii i covering the Marshall area. * x-, Responsibilities include: Advertising sales, Account management. Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts. Attend networking events ► 2 H r A « 'L ’Si’" a I sr*** X < ?■ i — ♦ - ^4J** k!* .J*’*- r > V b • s t. I « ♦ t •*w< i 1 V & I “1 4 . .1 r t : i' n- l||H» I < A .1 *>*•>* ft f 4 r *< ; I T” • • •• I > ■^’•1 I • 3 >.-, 3 MSP «4 > 4t' I * Juft#* *J '■I AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE *<'■’**' ■w- Group mihomepaper.com ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer's Guide and News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News Send resume to: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com 269-945-9554 ♦ �Saturday September ?0 2025 16 < ..9 ^9^ T?a?-' .* A- s jor* '■ ♦ >» T ( c » M > 1 '•> W- I z *« H 4 » y HL* I 7 I Li . i 3*' < < ♦ I A •r * La .It-z i I r I < )• r I 4. -St * I W" •‘.J / 9 :.r V •S' t 1! N C 9 J *» “ <* ' < / I . ( / « « s^. •t I RU * . -A a I -J i ’¥ *r M* .^s 1^ 4 0 ./ ’’ii :*■ J t ^ltt9Rr" Local Medicare advice is now in Barry County! 1 J 1 4 fit ir t > 1 r > > - * w* L 1 J .*4 1 > i I, ♦ I J r♦ *9 < 'I I. ft” 'h.- c N f Js •J r < ■ fl i 1 I now booking appointments ■■■■ 3 i1 • < V Medicare a I ♦ ■ 9i' Mb«r r I for open enrollment October 15^^ - December 7^^ •f / B ? }«>. A A cufah: J I n s .<! ■ 4 * •% . fl 1 f?? •» A r g B *1 dXM I I b Schedule your appointment today as time slots will fill up fast. 269.213.3232 josh(^trumbleagency.com www.barrycountymedicare.com 128 S. Jefferson St. Hastings, MI 49058 I r :5 •. h .b ■ • Q r Josh Lamphere k s'ldriqmfiUi f 'V- teiiaissqB 'rraaibsM Medicare Specialist Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or I-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. sosiq '»®o*il o3 'litJn .satiiiqo luoy ■?& > 'fc fc i r •• 1 I * •1 J 4 I I I f i I I g I « Vi • J i ! I ' 1 I I I I I • ( g r •I i; • t o' I rj I 9 b I I 4 < f / 4’ i i i * c J ! � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-09-27.pdf fcb4704e1fcc37e115e8ac5c0741cc19 PDF Text Text <5, I t. A » I JI* >. aK4 r t* MIDDLEVILLE RESIDENT COMMISSIDNS MURAL the sun and news 1 t Kot/f Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas 21, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER NO. 39 L el * >v an A > * k I »♦ «d ¥ .XSp PAGE 2 4 VOL. 147 1 v*> • 2025 www.sunandnews.com » * Caledonia board bi6od BinobslBO approves new contract Ino3 wan zavoiqqB < with teachers’ union ilnu '2i9rt3B8f rifiw •T’l X J I t loUBioozzA noiJcouba ,ycbnoM gni)99fn iBi^g r Bren tnwnOTigf: TB9v-99idJ sfTI' ■ I i 3 s =1 . ! f| ' e* { A ii X. 1 (j :o\®8.^oJ I iBnoilibbE" -r -3/I000I liiw aTsriafiol’ • ICO!; 11C3/ bnoM« sri) nr aaBOToni fiolt J!ni,yni! azBOionr qat?. b zulq ;o\®8.t>o} ( lenoitibbc S * $ 831 uJs^ lo tnuoOTj aril alBilogan ti :(8£-V£0£) 1B9Y biirft 4 S9J Ijiilui^ i>rt; nr aecaioni riA • .1 ;ldC',Od2 ot yreifia J ; qsac^iTfii iBnoiJibbA • G do!(:> Ttnlr; ru6fi90 to'1 noitfiznsq I • ioof ,?,}Ki8Oloriay8q loorioa iJGqu'JX) briG ?.)zi§olotbjBq riaasqa j i jBiaiii Ifiarayfiq bns I sib 3ri I no qsu A • snjEni djle3fl ^')^iT) diJ*! 11 noiludiitnoo larriG ?,i £21-21 JaA OARTMOO 992 - EDDW cnuowEu BEBIDEMUVr > 1 T EOWKV flUwatTNIMBS h08™»(0 J bQuuq 1339”I •(8836 OteeuNfte* Ml bVID i n? boeivGE bUSlSlO t aivd «•. r>!:s;r:^-S -fe''.. a.’s,..'.. ’4 T ' 9'' ♦'*4^ . tBHME *** *1« • ■ - ' ■ ■!■ ’U );S3a ;^T-- •*- Ik u>* 1«M F‘ ? ** I > • TBT TI -1.- » rf'- J I* •L |L-^« V V *T.»^ **& ‘A I sl! I .1 < * ‘^'K' k. * ir al . V ki4i 4'J i z ( a 1 .4* t •**»• *4> •? * >< t *< » 11 ( A \ > » / r «* rv?' . U' > K Z/^ 'X. *: . k 4 & > f ^BfcSKW f >* ♦ ■ /9 •v K I i! M I .1 4 ; 1 m. 4; .e / ,< « r- \ , z 'K > # ^2 ' .•* -• \ 1 f .« •* I r> P* w »v * * > -I & % f t t R, I I * <( t I kV, 4 L^Al i w* V ■ - i. < X *> f- < 1^ > I 4 k > Bl / ?* r JTi ■’ I zI ‘V? L r '9< S* ( ii * *JnHD - ■rj? V Bfaiz >E » f--' •s.’ ••s’ K « V '1 r Many festival-goers enjoyed encounters with superheroes and princesses in downtown Middleville during the annual Heritage Day celebration on Saturday, Sept. 13. Courtesy photos Heritage Day organizers already planning for next year’s celebration Karen Turko-Ebright celebration held Saturday, Sept. 13, was a “big success” and is looking forward to Heritage Day 2026. “Every event has room to grow, and for next year I’d like to focus on even more family-friendly activi ties and ways to showcase our local businesses and, of course, the return of the parade,” said Clark, who Staff Writer I After Heritage Day in Middleville two weeks ago, one village staffer is already marching forward with ideas for next year’s festival. Kassandra Clark, the village’s community development coordi­ nator, said the annual community Wi coordinated the event for the first time. “We had a fantastic turnout and, now that I’ve experienced the flow of the day, I see opportunities to streamline vendor placement and better spread activities throughout downtown.” Clark added she worked closely See CELEBRATION on 5 r« ld£t>» (In TFJCk lAk f I T J I ii (• 1 i ii <fV . b 1 1 , 1 J It'1 ii H I I il HI I < I I * H bi 'I 4 n u i I I •‘1 I •H *h f z \ I I . 1 i««Z >• ** . J* ' > »> > H?,. ,4 2’^ • •‘I* f r t ■ f ♦ > fl • ♦ 4- < k I 4 e OKS5S! 'a-fi a % i R w sJ K ( i» ' <• 4I 5 V f' I •9 '< ♦ I ■* in2* p-LAt:^. J \ ' / Lx 1 1 / * k ;*i '>4 > £ ‘A 3 Lt J rA <.1'J < > " 4 »* ill 1 — > I 4-^B « 3 ,s •I? -I fl « f ■■I MB AM aovisod s n ais isdd — 1 Jfr A I 1 J ^■Pv 1 J.' SSMU33 9C89> IN •WUWUQ OKXOQOd I •\ <• w / I, Twit ,igfri;^nBi aBSSidni- qolg e zulq .at£b OTUlul £ % F* The deal is done. The Caledonia Community Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a new three-year contract with the Caledonia Education Association at a special meeting Monday, Sept, 22. The three-year agreement runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. “We’re pleased to have been able to reach a contract settlement with the teachers’ union,” said Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer. “We have great teachers here in Caledonia. “We know that they will continue to do the great job that they always have been,” he added. “Now, we just look forward to moving forward.” The new contract includes the fol­ lowing details, according to a written . ’statement from CCS officials: • Teachers will receive a 5% base increase in the first year (2025-26), plus a step increase ranging from an additional 1 to 4.8%; • Teachers will receive a 3% base increase in the second year (2026-27), plus a step increase ranging from an additional 1 to 4.8%; • At a future date, the parties will negotiate the amount of salaries in the third year (2027-28); • An increase in the starting teacher salary to $50,261; • Additional increases in the com­ pensation for certain staff such as school psychologists, social workers, speech pathologists and occupational, and physical therapists; • A cap on the dis Noaa uawoisna trict’s health insurance T¥liN3alS3U contribution if Public Act 15-152 is amended eec#)iuijed 8e88^ 1^ 'eiijAuaeuo See CONTRACT on 3 hf IS .Of L .2£0£ /( ••■ijL bi naofJ 'jvcfl o) bozc-^lq oi'^W' riOGQT O £ f fbw JoBTtno lainnoqu*^^ bus^ '\noinu 'aisrioc'^! ‘ '/cd 'AfA' .WfiT!a[9AfJ jhiH sot;4 J .£inobt>U3 ni 0T''3<l 2TOri:^€':>i liJno'j 11 rw y^dt tcdt won>l aW jjVBwlG ysdriGrit doi tBOia sd) ob'' heui w .bsbbc sri ''.rrasd .biBwidt gnf/om ol buswiol : aril eobuionr JauVncw wan arTl ot ocnibioaaB .ziietah gniwolrafriaffto 233 mml tnarrolBtS: (fl «\‘’?. G 'j'/iow r Hw zisriaaoT srit ni 92fi3T>nB 2tttnGq "J. ' w* • ? I I H Ssssa SsSI ' * * I r^ e Staff Writer .trfiob I'l'sb encb^l^'^ 432 vJinunimn? tofaicofi >1™‘ fifciJorninBfui noiJ*JOubJ >y/oTq4i^ dti^fw joswnoj Tw • tj- r SS£ ’ .X Karen Turko-Ebright isJnW Wt.iS — k f jrtphdS-oJhiiT flswX "WX 4 K I I f r t Ir.** �* 7 W' i •*LW •l ^11^ 1 r 1 2 Saturday. September 27, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Mobile SOS office set for stop in Caledonia Caledonia Community Schools officials recently announced that the Michigan Secretary of Slate Mobile Office will be onsite al the new Cal Community Center on Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. According to officials, the mobile office provides senior citizens and others an opportunity to take care of common Secretary of State services without needing to travel to a perma nent branch office. Services available at the mobile of­ fice reportedly will include renewing driver’s licenses and state IDs. updatW • Everything made from scratch ing vehicle registrations, changing addresses and registering to vote. CCS officials stated that several residents have already signed up for the mobile office’s Oct. 7 slop in Caledonia al the community center on Kraft Avenue, though walk-ins will be welcomed as time allows. “This is a great way to bring im­ portant services closer to home,” said Monique Brennan, CCS community education and outreach coordinator. “We hope many of our senior residents will take advantage of this opportu­ nity.” — DM • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods . .ftrr ’••r 'W2 !§)ugar Momma’s J I I 4 .V your 1 a little it su/eetet 1 L*^ •Li I. •< t l_ . ) S.' M 'V- 1. •’*a e, Bk •x X V .“X. A 1 ! I I I I I I I I I « X /•** ^ireakfoLSt Pckstvy / “i 4»K V get A FREE Dnp Coffee z must present coupon, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 11/15/25 ^utytiA^f 8<.Mo>yJa.\f: Ctoeed, TuesdMf-Fi'idA^f: 7My-6f>fn., ^Aturd^y: Se^-Zf^n 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA ! 616-275-1017 / SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM sunandnews.com ■V JSS? I* i I 1 Middleville resident commissions mural • *r < 9 1 9* ’S ’J: ■ Ol * F X z f rr i ► ■/ ' J 1 .1" i ?.< r* w 4 1 5 *A i 5 ***s« ‘"lllBba « .r I I * i * 4 Jfl ♦ : I • •! 4 J > ft '•» 9* iiaa^ I ' • . ’4* .5: ** **♦* Ab**- * * Ik • —- _ • jlf < J ^1 •, a •a W liU'. 4^ I • >> I A 11,.. . J » < This rendering by artist Nick Nortier shows what the finished mural could look like on the side of Middleville resident Regina Bouchard's home. ... 9 J 1 I 1 t ’ I » i r Molly Macleod Editor * BAKERY & CAFE g: 4 7'ravelers heading into Mid­ dleville on W. State Road may soon be welcomed by large wading birds upon approaching the comer of Ir­ ving Road and Main Street. Middleville resident Regina Bouchard is commissioning a mu ral to decorate the exterior wall of her home, facing Irving Road. Nick Nortier, of Grand Rapids-based Old Growth Creative, will be lending his artistic skills to adorn her home with three sandhill cranes — a common natural sight in the area. Having been in this spot, this is our 10th year here, we’ve grown to appreciate it so much. We have the perfect spot that’s overlooking the river right over the valley. We gel tons of wildlife back there that was kind of what gave me the idea. The sandhill crane has been some­ thing that has popped up in my life, even long before I could appreciate it,” said Bouchard. Bouchard said she commissioned the mural as a celebration of her 10-year anniversary of living in y 1 WWW I her home in Middleville. Now that construction on Irving Road is reach­ ing its final stages, Bouchard said the mural, once complete, will help contribute to an informal “grand opening” of the redone road. Bouchard explained that Norlier came out to meet with her in Mid­ dleville in August to prepare for the mural. The two received approval from the village council, but were delayed by the construction on Ir­ ving Road, also beginning around that time. The wait is only making Bouchard more excited for the finished prod­ uct, she said. Once construction wraps up in the coming days and weeks, Norlier will get started on the mural. Though dependent on weather and other fac­ tors, the mural could be finished in the coming weeks. Nortier’s style is marked by bold colors and geometric shapes. Bouchard said she was immediately drawn to his work after seeing him at a Grand Rapids art show in the spring. I ■ ■' f?-: t J ■ / ^*1 i 1 ‘ ? ii X* bilkj : I IttlJP. •• ■ «■ Fv > Ji I k wnor c 9 I 7^ < I t’ I 41 A 3^ I *BK <r" 1 Bl » A lib * life .4 ‘ ’ f • 9 M\ * 11 >4 r"--^ 9. • -J I ‘ I ;?S >auS I ■! h ij 'to f .wO. » r c A _Si IT' * < 1! r s |)“*rS 5 J ir J J *’ * > <v ^94 .I** ’f 4 J i! .* J "S w» • 1 .*•**} tw p-. ... « ailW® {iiiwiilF i r«* 'Mtr M'.' ..-i 3^ J rS k't .-O '• VPI*’ kA I* <4 i'r'« I I I I J -n I ■ jd ■ I >. See MURAL on 8 '•W: ' 'A f kife { -4 «IIB - X 1 i I THE SUN AND NEWS The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 PUBLISHED BY Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihomepaper.com •4 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com ‘.£3 JJ >. . • bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sports: Brett Bremer PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Please recycle this newspaper 1 i 1 Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card dQ or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1361 j N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to . accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. I *1 Rm? 1 i'Sl - -:-'c • -J A t’ I X ;a. 1 . » 1 .i»^ > * 4iiCtss i StllR i 1 I V T a^.-'.. I I % 'L, * *.» I I 1 * F M / I I o’ I » i 1 f ft 1 1 M 13 I I ii' f tl i Ir 1 * 4 I < 3 I » r i r A L I w \ »' ' t' IF’’ 5j £O ; ‘V A CONTACT US 1 4 t �f i I 1 1 ’Vlil «H ii.U' I .1 V ' J Saturday, September 27, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I * 3 I I A' I I CONTRACT ' j most pay we can. We did negotiate without a budget, so these are things that are unnecessary,” he added. “I just want to say that for the record. Our hearts are in the right spot. You need to know that.” According to CCS officials, with the contract approved, a letter was sent out to school families sharing the full school calendar for 2025-26, which is posted on the district web­ site. “After many months of back-andforth at the table, it feels great to say that teachers and the district have reached a fair contract,” CEA president Melissa VanGessel said. “Teachers put so much of their time and energy into students, far beyond the school day, and this agreement lets them stay focused on the class­ room. “Having a settled contract gives stability to families and staff, and that stability builds trust,” VanGessel added. “When teachers are sup­ ported, students thrive, and when stu­ dents thrive, the whole community grows stronger.” Continued from Page 1 i I !» 4 Ik * 7 •r. f I k * •l rV' A •*•**•* .■<J' L i i t" ■ 1* F '*5. Vs • Xs i. •j K I 2..1 ► r-^ L 1 s ’ '■r' / 4 >< .4, jT* •* •J J '4 • 1 Il CT'u ■' •1 I / .t ■ >.t * tf «« I' ♦ ** a T « ►< « * f2 > s -f >■ 9* ' It 'I r t I 1 s r*' f J s * s I ♦r ► V i li .. a - 1 £ 1 I I . •r » *f’ J. : i *4 A . * ; J..K The Caledonia Community Schools Board of Educafion unanimously approved a new three-year contract with the Caledonia Education Association. The three-year agreement runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. Photos I ■». 1. ' A by Karen Turko-Ebright k lot., ‘•ff** fL • •: * s 1 n /.J. V’rt IT i ' J ■i •s X': A ♦. ♦* i r « - -J. 'k 'f . •> V 1/ Mt 1 >■ Sl i ?a*i * •- w k ?1 J ( 4 < 4 «5:! K > «• -WJ j Ibi. I k .'Htv *•__ te. k j rwfi f nrnffl A 1 ‘ -Arf , r 51 ; . I f I f I z* I r *•- t I 1 ' X'' w 1 • t H I I I I I' I •It 1 k "l! ? «w,iia > V L I 1 1 ** ,1 » ' n'i ill, *' |j 1 hiti. w *• - ) r Li -V^ u r I I b I I fl . '•p'. • 1 -’ 4 'I 1 1 I ‘ **-rrva. li 111 > ■'■d J f } 4 F- P!*!! ll! j I 1 r-j?. J*• * •u ^ / 51 •t > 1 f i I ' i '*.* - » c I 1 - VanderVelde to be honored before CHS homecoming game A Caledonia High School graduate will be honored before CHS’s homecoming game next week, re Oct. 3. This year’s Caledonia Educa­ tion Foundation Honored Alumna, Jodi VanderVelde, will be honored Jodi at the CalapalooVanderVelde za event ahead of Caledonia’s homecoming game. VanderVelde graduated with the Class of 1995 from CHS. Her parents are Neil and Linda VanderVelde, and she has three siblings; Marc, Jodi and Chad. KTE 1 I I 1*1 k' ’A > I I I u« If b r I I I s J. / I !♦ = I •I I * ^4- * rI mH r "PT ■ I*. 4KI A1 r It ’ -.1I V. k THE SUN AND NEWS Group n i i ' 'M: \ I Send your student achievements or personal milestones to mmacleod@mihomepaper.com Your local agent insures your 4 ■ and the First Saturday of each month Serving 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Eggs, bacon, sausage links or patties, potatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, milk, OJ, coffee, I * Menu subject to change Adults $13.00 • Children 10 & under $5.00 For more information call the Post at 616-891-1882 Bsa Nin * mi ffs ■ MK THS > WB * an * IBS * «HS FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT I 269-381-2300 fugiuKtACA CoHtpo^ < b 4 1 r I 4^ f/ > f' « A USED nuns f used tides 9MB9IPW ishlakesi < AZOO Coffee Donated by ^jj BIGGBY COFFEE Caledonia Memorial Legion Post 305 4 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 fi F4RM BVttEAV W8URANCE' (269) 795-8827 jparks@fbinsmj.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com Help us support veterans and community functions. LIGHT TRUCK PARTS^ Fs^rm Jason Parks Breakfast Buffet Fundraiser J t f ’ ’ r ' ft C CELEBRATE SUCCESS! •x f. V11 The Caledonia Community Schools Board of Education, including (l-r) board Vice President John Brandow, President Tim Morris and Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer, met during a special board meeting on Monday, Sept. 22. or repealed; • Increase in compensation for mentor teachers; • Addition of paid advisor/coach positions for Science Olympiad, E-Sports, and the Creative Writing Team; • A stipend for elementary music teachers; • Updates incorporating provisions of the new Earned Sick Time Act; • Various other language updates, including provisions governing vacancies, layoff and recall, evalua­ tion, comp time, staff meeting sched uling, and the grievance process. The final agreement will be posted on the district’s website, calschools. org, in the near future. “1 just want to say this has been a very complex negotiation,” Morris said- “The board was dealing with some new and unforeseen items. So many of us have been negotiating as we go in closed session in learning about the process. That was good. I will say there were some things that really took me and some of us on the board by surprise.” Morris also took time to address what he considered misinformation that came about during the negotia­ tion process. ‘"The financial big picture claiming that we have $50 million in reserves - much of it unrestrictive - that is simply not true,” he said. “This does not help with negotiations and there’s also the financial responsibili­ ties that start with fair pay. It’s very misleading at best. 1 can tell you we would rather not have that out there. “We want to give our teachers the I 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, MI LUNCH M-TH 11 AIVI-8 PM; FRI 11 AM-2PM; FRI BUILD A BURGER 4-8 PM �4 Saturday, September 27, 2025 Obituaries 7^^? JI I Judy France Judy France, age 77, of Alto, Ml went to be with her Lord on Thursday, Sept. 18. 2025, She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Kevin; her parents. Jack and Trudy Hekker; brother, Jim Hekker; mother and father-in-law. Merle and Marie France; infant sister, Geraldine Hekker; brother-in-law, Warren VanAllsburg. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Phil France; their children, daughter-in-law, Bethany France (Kevin), Carolyn (France) and Chris Matthysse, Chris and Jenny France; grandchildren, Maddie, Colter, Alek, Sophia, Cooper, Topher, and Lindsey; sister, Jackie and brother, Jerry; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Nancy and Pat Burchardt, Karen and Carl Elliot, began her professional life as an executive secretary before dedicating herself to raising her family as a stay-at-home mother and volunteering for The Parent Aide Program. She offered friendship and support for parents who were struggling and worked specifically with three troubled parents and their children for several years. Judy r, RtiiBjr.G h ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH cornerstonechurch r* Join us for our traditional yet casual Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Ham worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM 250 Vine Street Judy was also a talented cook and baker, known for preparing each person’s favorite dishes with joy and care. Funeral mass will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Sept 26, 2025 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9669 Kraft Ave. SE, Caledonia, with Rev. Michael Cilibraise and Rev. Loc Trinh co-officiating officiating. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Condolences may be sent online at www. mkdfuneralhome.com. Arrangements made by Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 616 E. Main St. SE, Caledonia. • t I ' I * ♦ I I t 3 £ t ' ;4 i** i a ? A' 7^^ '.I Ha •- R Hl it I > iAk t wr. •• 1 • I .. - .C 'IP' »H r fl 9>M A' F- snar .i.ia (RJ A' JKz W»" A' > f .tsflai *J Hl a-‘ Pit: t -4 • -.^ •wr 4. I ^6 f 11 I -.A r I f t & rt- 1 r 1 I . wJ-S'-' nj7 - im > f IRST BAPTIST 1 k Good Shepherd I' Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville 12 I •j Ib^ 7 a;? FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH Nff I .4F* 5 n «* Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location 1664 M-3 7 9:30 am and 11:00 am <*1*1 THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church 7' ‘‘tr- 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 p 4. ■FV "Shining Forth God's Light % MIDDLEVILLE Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool ITiA^ HIM 'XWrti ■« .« 4^ ' c cd .Wd'*’' IT PEACECHURCH.ee 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Sunday Morning Worship Community Group........... < 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankcespringsbiblechurch.org Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com »• I 1 I 4 I e -* I. A' « *♦ - .. . . f* r ’t ► I iSiiSS2; 9^ I ax I I M* ■*#*:*- ’k 1 Warren Richard Jousma, age 93, of Lowell passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. He was preceded in death by his son, Jeff Jousma; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Jousma. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of almost 71 years, Marvel; children, Mike Jousma, Christy and Bob Jastifer, Steve and Brenda Jousma, Tracy and Dwayne York; eight grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; extended family and friends. Warren proudly served in the US Marine Corps in the Korean War. He was an electrician by trade, but his real love was for farming. When he was either driving a car or riding a tractor, he was the happiest. According to his wishes, cremation has taken place. A private burial will be held at Alaska Cemetery at a later date. Condolences may be sent online at www. mkdfuneralhome.com. gijSWRil flSi * I k ,* ar» • a < « 4 4 A * -0 * . t • 1 L p r i«£M ’ .i ... «> » ■«&3SS, ') •I ■ M WWr— U I * XSSSSSS^^^feli ’inuir..v7 k fei’t 1 TO -+JI lmS’y38ff^,fiL—J j 1 R t « JV i kJ U rtnnsibhitobhfiw trisi flirws^ t ( 1 .abfmni : 1 ann* I^8UlA#nP dll l1 I k I n : 96 v’l B •\ : I HRS’7 ry/a ' ) *« * ■» » t hJijr,aynl5’irfifiSI. I MU I I • iF •T I t I I I '(t ■f’ . ♦ ( u ■ Ts-j^ 115 VI ?. I r V ';.^'V‘v^' ’» w*. ♦ l-tj J t VBHl c^viSi r«l .ffi0L-8(r • iifc----- I t t . 14 I' p •* t n < SERVICE TIMES: ( I Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. CHURCH Caledonia Location a Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. <i^PEACE ■ 1 "■ • 1 (269) 795-2391 Church: f tr J 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone; 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville 4 7 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst *• < s^-s?' HOLY FAMILY ^CATHOLIC CHURCH 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship » r«j IVr I >lua Aa X Warren Richard Jousma IHir */ aMIH” cornerstoneml.org/weekend 616-891-8669 . irr.Uw* . I 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Rev. Robert Mayo, Interim Pastor www.alaskabaptist.org 7240 68th Street SE. Caledonia T ■ a«31<.‘s LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ^5^1 ' —■ la �11** • • •u V >4 UK I 1 I » < I, 1 1 I I «<• Classifieds »« Bp.. ■'+ « '«W * i w h. X» •7 •S ** I I I • u A u r (4 - • .J r • 5» I k; • 4 I ’•fl 8 I ( ' I. I » ■ I X I '• ' W*' r s b J I A .1 'W •t •• 1 JI flT3 > •a. t kWOlTOUniii ’Q.- ^•:r; t 'W i WANTED TO BUY: Standing Timber. Consqientious timber harvester. Saw Mill Office- 517-254-4463. Family owned and operated. 11 TREE SERVICE ■1^. ▼« ? DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOWPLOW­ ING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712. CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 5 ’R^^UfcJsQ^J '^ttas fO WANTED CONSTRUCTION . ^5 ^‘4i b IAi M I I t O 1 *1 ’ b. '“*S ! ■’IJ- BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy single walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-8187793. I, h I 1 Ml ??i t Hi •v Mbs. • U V, I »* . * “IVv? . X T ’Ai I d 'C w• 1 7 I i A A > I I >1 r *1 I BARN HELP WANTED Must have experience with horses. Full and part time positions available with competi­ tive pay. Please call 269-207-4218 or email at zlpowell@yahoo.com if interested. * 0' li! -1' EMPLOYMENT r-'C: I Mi* '• 11- X i ft I 9 I / •*i' I le • AAZ.i 1— let AZ7 I * 1 - *nt • .It < n• ■ I I J iUr I b *** 4 1 I .( 1 2 r I— 1 I i 1 1 i I I s > 1 If I CJ fe-.- ’’•iZt:.! I 1 ’W » I <" - f -a I i I M I II •ViFI- h •l 3 Vc i Urfw - -p I <1 I -J SEASONAL HARVEST POSITIONS - $17/hr. We are hiring 30-40 reliable team members for harvest season. Work beginning September 15 through December 31. Must be 21 or older to apply. Positions are part-time with flexible scheduling—ideal for anyone seeking extra income along­ side a full-time job. No prior experi­ ence required: training provided. Work involves hands-on harvest and post­ harvest processing in a fast-paced but supportive team environment. Contact us at: wholesale ©greencoventures.net or 269-758-3078. 15 ESTATE SALE THIS SALE IS HUGE! After gen­ erations of collecting, a prominent local family has decided to sell their parent’s estate. Items from multiple buildings owned by the family have been compiled at the family home­ stead. There will be at least 5 classic cars from the 1920’s-1950’s. Other highlights include an original gas pump with globe, vintage men’s and women’s clothing, cast iron, vintage boxed video game systems and license plates from the 1920’s-1960’s. There are tons and tons and TONS of tools! There are also several pieces of MCM furniture, lots of vintage books and ephemera and records. Other items of note include: new/ unused Calaphon pots and pans, vintage cameras and photo accessories, vintage games, yard art, garden tools, yard equipment and planters. There is so much more that isn’t listed. This is a distinctive sale with lots of antiques and uniques after years of filling multiple buildings. This sale will run Thursday Oct. 2nd - Saturday Oct. 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday almost everything will be 25% off and Saturday almost everything will be 50% off. Numbers for line order will go out beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. Cash, card, Venmo, Cash App and Zelle will be accepted. The address will be pub­ lished on Oct. 1st on estatesales.net We look forward to seeing you at this sale in the urbandale of Battle Creek. Look for the Green and Orange signs! ain- I • !*>• I I I i I t T I I J T' - C 'V I I4 I f D I I I I 3E I 1 < I J I i y r• F GIVE US YOUR SCOOP! If you see news happening, or if you just want us to know about something going on... mmacleod@mihomepaper.com THE SUN AND NEWS • r A t -t . V r I h s ’£ I* Ji’S -‘ 4 > R. *■% ■' 4 ■r ri » > C’® J**' - r*! *J 'K >. i t / .. ri' "J > j < « Middleville hosted its annual Heritage Day festival in the village’s downtown district on Saturday, Sept. 13. GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM (PotiAhMeal • M >•'" * »» Friday, October 3, Noon io 7pm c*v < ri r ! / I I !W t >0F %• /. ••l.' I’ .. c i9 ! wf » i I - Fresh Kielbasa • Kapusia (Sauerkraut) I • GoLumpki (Cabbage Roll) I • Rye Bread / • Pierogies (Potato & Cheese Dumplings) If^- V RAFFLE PRIZES • Pine in or take out /$16 • • Open License issued by the MLCC • for this day permits adult beverage • sales to non-Legion members. 616-891-1882 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, Ml $500 Meijer Gift Card Pit Boss Pellet Grill Blackstone Griddle Neevo Smart Grill w/Air Fryer 2 50" Smart TV's Proceeds donated to Community Rebuilders Homeless Veterans Program J J 4 I t 1 I I i',' i 1 H » « I : I t ( H I ‘1 I Lt r Ik rn hft ft It n I 1» '& I •i n t ) 4. nir I I I ** •» J,r I I *4 : » I r* 1 -1 I I /, I 1^1, ■« V (Or Until Gone) ] I I . IT * Serving Hoon io 7pm Ir 4 Caledonia American Legion #305 ■MMaMmHflBB f t f *>4 .4 with volunteers, the village council and community partners to carry the Heritage Day tradition forward. Annually, the event includes activities for all ages - from live music to the markeL car show, and family-friendly entertainment. The highlights for me were seeing kids light up at seeing their favorite princesses while dressed in their finest ball attire and those dressed in costumes to greet their favorite superheroes, hearing music drift over the crowd at the Riverbank stage, the interaction at the dunk tank with officials getting dunked,” Clark said. “And watch­ ing families and friends gather together downtown. Our local businesses played such a huge role in the day’s success, and seeing residents fill their shops and enjoy their food was very special. “The fire department’s turkey dinner was also a heartwarming moment that really reflected the best of small-town tradition,” she added. :■ I . ■* <y. BUSINESS SERVICES HANDYMAN SERVICES OFFERED. Mise, repairs, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Esti­ mates. 269-243-0468. , Continued from Page 1 '■9^ ■ 4♦ 5 <» CELEBRATION •k 4&. Saturday, September 27, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com \ �.V WIe, •i SaluffJay. Septont>«r 27 2025 6 NCn-IMef Noonday Chapter celebrating trail addition Oct 18 * The Nardi ( ouniry f rail AaanuiaUan{liicf Nramday Chapter u inviting ev­ eryone Io come oeiehrwk; and exptore the newcM additKwitudwtrail IhedMptern hoUing a (xlehral<r> hike akaig (he new (reUiioftrutat IOa,m cmSidurdBy.Ocl. IB Hikers will fTKct N Oic Middkville Vill^ Hall, KM) I Main St^ befewr cmhflrtjng (in (he hike «• I A J lOrOOam - 2:00pm Vv 21«l Annua/// AAA keacn tfic israde There u room (ar (nttr htkcT* to past (hate paang dower The new kegnMnl allaw* taken to avoid £hc hiay roBd walk rocfutrcd vi (he p«M. which rfured (hr hike w«d> heavy. 55 mph tnffic Hdien partiopaiing in Oct |g'* odchralniy hikr can pail al die MidifirMlle Village HalL *h^ hadvTKintk will be a\ailahlc. The gnxf* wvll leave fat and return (ram the hike (mm the vitl^;e hail IhtNie with queatHim are dmoclod to oontad Noruwi tf ZW-SOS-TS J4 or email )»ne • nnriorv a \ ahoo oom. MM FREE A •? a THE SUN ANO NEWS r Ker 40 voiurMecrt h«*c «pen recent weekend* wtwtmg on dw tml'* addi tKjo near MiddleMite Kyan fkmict. an award- waining trad dongner. had out the dcNgn far (he new atreidi erf trad Hikco can now ieavc a heavilytrwclod road to enfoy a mdc-and-e-half at wtKMiati hcMiy. *aid Nt lA-CTncf N<wjnd«> Chapter voiurttocr Jane hkwum. A mixed hanlwcwvl and red pme (uregi fpMa (hevae who tread on (hr new trail Some ohaervam hikers nia> igKM die w itch hazd tree M cvic of the (urns NorUm said hikers ahould be prepared for a few hillA whtch wore benched to Wayland Community Connecting Business and Community • Admission • Parkir^ • Vendor Items • Chair • Kids Vision Testing • Kids ID Kits Massages • AMOREIt MEMTIOCOWNV WAYLAND TRADE SCHOOL - 500 RENO DR, WAYLAND WIN A backyard makeover which will include: a smoker, BtyTown outdoor dining set & accessories. Partnered with g^s^^ atfrioos homm o • I* M Jr TV fc. presentation by Kazam, MagftiBn I I Exhibits Will Include detail A Service • Free Kids Crafts • Check out NEW businesses in our areal • And MUCH MORE! WIN GkH Cards I <^Bwnd0 TO^. a w(nglK-toag M4xxyi CMoup monts every Monday at Irncnin Meadows m Middievilk* Wptj/i in is from 3 30 p m to 3 45 p m loHowod tmmediei^ toy the meeting Press Rw wtwtr tAirzer tor entry The chapter is kxiking lor anyone inioresiod tn a group that suppodw wfHghl-loas fourneys without stwne 4iTi<»nr ^’tfh (fuentittm ifun cali t grginM 269-WM MO^6. or 6/6 31 ♦*» I I. I ,4l 4 . * r' <r t i t . 0H^:aR ijt^' •» I *' u th? J ii* 5 ' t r •» > «5 i I ► c * « Mtl -r > 4 > «nf' ) > fj '■‘^® it®. * >*?5* t L ( t / >■ 1 I f 9 11 »l 4 I * I ur ’’ a *u»*®'** P J 1 ■ ...fl!. Bfoifli* ri (: NEWSPAPER tUn^n fortl The Rrst SOO adults will ADVERTISING DEADLINES * j Jill 15^ , 1 < ,WI, Monday at 4 p.m rV 1 nj;il i * ESS ASSU’ j 1- AD-VltOR & CHRONICLE 1 >ClIlt like Busi-1 J s flllSSST^l^ »i I * liuBtf-1 r . i receive a *Vendor Bingo* ord for a chance to WIN a gift card. BAHLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m I tI 1* t .i I t > r 1 t AlfciN ■* Ij k I . ' Si:. ■' I c® e®3i- I ta, a Tuesday at Noon • I •t-i- BANNER Expo Proudly Hosted By: * 4to CK7N1AK£ CAMhRI -1 Premier Sponsors t •fl J * n I*" ***5^** * - **** ,ll*t ihfhasim?^ APEX dean Energy Bay Pointe • Booth HllaaW Grevenstuk -f Inscmnce Agency • I I gia^ t Platinum Sponsors WMWMaib u •• J' TOPS 546 . r- '■ * i I ) ) a • « ■ t 1 Wayland Area vSt ’fl REMINDER Wednesday at Noon • Pull Potential Chiropractic • Pleis A VandenBrink • • • • GRapids Home Services GreenrSdge Realty HSB Crossbuck Huff Pool A Spa • rrc • Laurels of Sandy Creek www.wayiandchamber.org • • • • • MyTown Ace Hardware - Dorr Paws WIth-A-Cause Renewal by Anderson Salde Homes United Bank the sun ano news Wednesday at Noon > Ih • I I I > 1 * s 1 t t ✓ e / I r li. t s Sponso’'ed By Koval ConnrucNOh 11:30am & l:30|Mn iRrtPRC^ by the J tiQIbn^ Weylasg ‘ ^^ntri 4 It . MIDDLEVILLE The Srpl 22 mseiing openad with n c«S and aeemtary^ fepcxi There are glA two tidh m fhe tfshbowi Sue tfeased everyone lo (he cshofxjiah^ toanana arnorghm tinwl bom fhg Sept / Oct TOPS maoazine f veryrine eryoyed < OBw recxMai w«ee fk’cus^ Out memtoert al to try lo hrve a no QRtf week next wenh Chtv^ rnanibttrt^ (xjnhnijad thtf nnntnai trr tAvig in one dot kx onch □ne Uxdh nf g pound iosfl Lmda won th© Ha-Ha Boa The ’Tvsehog ooded wiRi rrwohmg in <? as the gnjup reoRed Mw TOPS k z t s * I Rtf Chidran's T»fa» Mom* 10 KRs: Courtesy of MkSggon Masons Lach U( ksdudas an inUass Angerprint kR. DNA cogactfon kRs, and waBat Rdormatlon cards. ww Groceries Courtery tjf Busine*»et • Organixatlont/Clubs • t mergency Officiak • Arts A Crafters Market K<awii)i) ■0 .n 4 $ f ♦* M ji' i 3 . lottlonaH aftd oommonNv loodort to screen young chHtfren, prtmary Mhaol aMdiwii, to MontHy tKow M Htk for vlafon Ion i J A r* 3545 The fira m^ettnr^ a frpf 0M» met ChUdrvrvS Vlalon lefttng: Uom paring wMh modicel pro- I' I w I t t ( 4 I ag* If k ♦ A' .7 * * 4 Group I -'-‘Ji r mihofnepaper.com 19 bihpp •a • •** r t ** •I , k ' *.' T L W I I t < ! ( I t I t r, I ' 1.1 « t' ♦ 1 i t f M'1 c I M d 4f f t f i < 4 4 < s �> 7 n r ' : A. .1 11 I 1 f .r' t 4 * I 1 1,7 < ?..K . B' Gun Lake Fall Fest returns Sept. 26-28 >A • • . % I 'I?t ^>4 1 * ' J iz. *< » 1. I 4 1 '» 1; > •1 4 9: Ls - I'fe. *' ’: sbte J •/I (k • J a / f J V I E I •1'1 5 "n tf I I t I « r ? * IB .-X‘ « • 4. I -♦i * I > k i; 5't ‘f-f a I 1 f < t■ I« « 1 s 4'v: b I I I- * J . ' .•w •V,', t Vl 4 <- - i » « * ’ •i ■ f . - ’t ? 1 JI I. . J I . 1 ; Ji ) > ♦ } !Qib ’“M u 1 t 1 1 4 5 i • f I $ ' Wbu. 1 M Ai J • I Ir II XI J I** ) t t K t *s < w; '■TT/ ir_,,. I t I I I I ,“.1 -v** I 1 '*"•*1004. i a 4i I , *•» I « I i > / / f t pf I t .•s 4> I • <•■•: att. fo nnqH0^ • j WPS|^ I 11 IE .w k ? . I k I .P5a» I; • -1 . b . nooHiiliff : J » h* r swG jnirQ 7 • *. 1* ii 1 X I t "*'U» -S' 1 je^f- .• + J. Saturday, September 27, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I -J.'JV?’ J ! Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer Free trolley stops around the lake are back on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the second annual Gun Lake Fall Fest in Yankee Springs. Anyone can hop on a trolley for a ride to a local business or restaurant. A route of where to board a trolley is mapped out on the Gun Lake Tour­ ism website at https://gunlaketourism. com/fall-fest/. Fall Fest events begin Friday, Sept. 26, and conclude Sunday, Sept. 28. The bulk of Fall Fest events are hap­ pening between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27. At 11 a.m. on Saturday, the Gun Lake Tribe will lead an opening ceremony at Chief Noonday Car Park, honoring their heritage and connection to the land. Co-chairs of the Gun Lake Fall Fest, Kenna Graham and Kim Lynch, said there’s plenty to do and see, with many free activities for the whole family. Organizers encourage visitors to sup­ port local businesses and restaurants, plus take advantage of specials and some free family fun. Lynch heads up the Kids Corral, which includes free activities on Saturday at Chief Noonday Car Park in Yankee Springs. Kids can enjoy a petting zoo, face painting, temporary tattoos and bobbing for apples. Plus, there will be elephant ears and the first 150 are free. “We’re having games and prizes and giveaways,” Lynch said. Thanks to sponsorship from a few local businesses, Lynch said fire trucks will be at Chief Noonday Car Park this weekend, giving away apple cider and donuts. '• <4 b. “Gun Lake Fall Fest is about show­ casing all our area has to offer and the I I entire community celebrating the beau­ 111 ty of our area together,” said Graham. 'jr« “With the trolley linking restaurants, shops and activities, you can explore You Fall Fest Trolley Sponsors Gun Lake in a relaxed and fun way while celebrating the season.” Visit the Gun Lake Tourism page M Poinfc at gunlaketourism.com/fall-fest/ for . 1 more information and a complete list sj: k: Hm ^***i^Lakeman of events. rU “Money is tight for a lot of people,” Lynch said. “Families can make memo­ ries and a lot of things are free.” Festival highlights include the painted peninsula sculptures on display at Chief Noonday Car Park. Visitors can place silent auction bids on the sculptures during the day and return Free trolley stops around the lake are back from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, at 5 p.m. for the people’s choice award Sept. 27, at the second annual Gun Lake Fall Fest. Anyone can hop on a announcement and live auction. trolley for a ride to a local business or restaurant. Courtesy photos Along the trolley route, shoppers can enjoy food and drink specials, seasonal menus and pop-up shopping at partici­ pating businesses. Family fun activities are offered at We ’ d love to hear about it! each stop from fall-themed crafts, food mmacleod@mihomepaper.com tastings, painting a free pumpkin, inter­ active demonstrations and live music. THE SUN AND NEWS viEw-rr—... For more information, contact the presi- ___ dent and treasurer of the Gun Lake Busi f Family Owned & Operated ness Asso­ ciation, Deb SAW MILL OFFICE October 4th, 5:00 - 7:00 pm Timmer517-254-4463 man, at 616401-7199 or Bowne Center ConscientiousTimber email deb@ United Methodist Church Harvester Wanting to Buy lessstressinCorner of Alden Nash - M-50 & 84th St. Standing Timber life.com. South of Alto - ■X 9 A: >;ut? rl^Vi t Rrei l A’air •e ’*1 • «KLtAM« ■ft ' «*’xl x_. 4. k-i^l KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? GD WOOD PRODUCTS SWISS STEnK girniER * t f K♦ r<. f : b i ♦ Closed-Cell Foam Insulation ♦ Blown-In Attic Insulation 1 i i B t IE. ST iNSUlxy I I ■< Nelsons 1 *r I I ! J I I I i J « I i K • ^■ ♦ * a>. k T 7 ' Mi Astisyst^’ SPRAY FOAM,LLC I j SPRAY FOAM Closed or Open Cell or Blown-In Fiberglass Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 «•* I I Roy Mast. 517-652-9119 2501 N. Ionia Rd., Vermontville 517-983-0954 IBI*" J Start Saving Today * Use Spray Foam » J. -jkrfr aT •f I -T t 517.646.0439 * Lansing 269.967.8241 * Battle Creek/K-zoo 517.740.1533 * Jackson/Ann Arbor antennamen.cu8tomer@gniall.com www.theantennamen.com www.cell8ignalpro8.com Digital TV Antennas * Towers * StarLink Installs ‘ Wireless Data Links * Cellular Enhancement Systems cellWJk ’ SIG PROS * Building-to-building, Point-to-Point WiFi Extensions * High definition outdoor cameras to monitor your property -j ( k I t I'.' ■ I j! !’ ’ll I ♦ ft I I 1 11 id nt I « Ji 1 ) 1 n I i I s I \ / I k 4 �I •U'V .,<k . ’^5V? • . 7 I I Saturday, September 27, 2025 8 THE SUN AND NEWS ntONTIER BRADFORD WHITE 5K FOR BREAST CANCER HEATING AND COOLING =S>- xO* “— v $ Church to host ‘Blessing of the Animals’ mass Oct. 5 *1 I* $7000’^ BMk < I FURNrCE^fUNE-UP 1 • AIL PROCEEDS OO TO CANCER RESEARCH* I I o L DATE; OCTOBER 25'" , 2025 AT 9AM REGISTRATION FEE: S25(T-SHIRT INCLUDED) *PRICI INCREA8I8 ON OCTO6ER fOTN* SPONSORED BY; outer products available: WOM*»N’S NETW^iRK •RAOFoaa wHifi* ceRtotAT.gir • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! □ SIGN UP The company built by rcfeiidls” TODAY 210 East Main Street Caledonia <«.• •v (•'.■I EVEIT IS IVEI ■ TO TIE VOIIIO " 616-891-8900 V / 1 'f I I I i! I tH r*. I I A Bellevue area church will be host­ ing a very special service to kick off October. Our Lady of Great Oak Catholic Church in Bellevue will celebrate a Blessing of the Animals” mass on Sunday, Oct. 5, at its service at 8:30 a.m. All persons are invited - with or without pels - to the Oct. 5 service. Attendees are asked to bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating, and to bring their animals on leashes or in carriers. The service and blessing will take place outdoors in the tree-lined church yard with Father Harold Potter officiat­ ing. Refreshments will be served after the service. In case of rain, the event will be canceled. The Our Lady of Great Oak Catholic Church is located at 6547 Lacey Road, between North Avenue and M-66. For more information, persons may call 269-758-3116. DM *' •1; 9-^ . «' I 1 I &. T~ • s I * - . -* r' .' it r ^4 r f WWW. sunandnews com f •'t - c J > 1? to i I i9 I i 9 ▼ < K 3 ' 4 )> »■ J Lt'"' I t t' r 40 1 - 5 .> +• I K f k* I ’XV 0 4^ ' •< ’■ir 1 . ♦•1 4’ I ■.^1^ "9 I p V*" I : I t* II % IR ’ I If .w f 9 k • fy. - Our Lady of Great Oak Catholic Church in Bellevue will celebrate a “Blessing of the Animals” mass on Sunday, Oct. 5, at its service at 8:30 a m. Courtesy photo •.^ ■ 1U4I rti? I* ti I 4 I I ' <7 . « - «£ ' -/3(T ZU L 9 k< I T 1 I t 1.' « -.3^“ I x,-i' Ii .1 J* I M t ' 1 • T*‘ <»** . r ir ■ JL ' I i' 200 LAFAYETTE ST, MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 I* ** IB 13: >*v 4^ « X • f'"' 9 I. I A < iHf.' r. v< ttf* I * TB serenity • •v 't' VOLUNTEER Get involved and give back! -1I» / /•. Ywv V K aS K -n < 1 s-.<' i yi- I Ah." ♦M wy . t A Mwsrx £ J H 4 . •♦ z. I « I ii ¥' H I. 1'^ « A9^ -1 < 3S«»« * r. 11 II i! - • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Executive Director is responsible for the overall administration and management of Serenity Village including business operations, patient ' care, human resources. marketing, fundraising and fund development. I 1 f IVe are looking for dedicated and compassionate people to join our team! For complete job descriptions or to apply, scan the QR code or email your resume to director@serenitybc. org J. * < ■5 1 r Ik 4: S • 1 V * WE ARE HIRING! .... *■‘’2 «• t ■ 9 .4 VILLAGE f * I I fl u a 1 CARE COORDINATOR Care Coordinators are the primary members of the Serenity Village team that provide guests with care, comfort, and companionship during their end of life journey. r . I * Mb J 4 • V wr « a M * ‘.I •I 4.* RV - ! v 'I 1 7 ■■ 4 ri 4^^ "< & 3r A** ' ,? ' -y. . > < * «* Ck . MMSrme*?4V4i 4 A sketch by Nick Nortier shows the design for one of the sandhill cranes that will be painted on the side of Middleville resident Regina Bouchard’s home. Courtesy photos I |fflaopr‘HRm®H^5^ > r ira !li:k1i:i 6^ fl I* r '‘'q 1 MURAL £ I' k b Continued from Page 2 V F C ( . Ss 4 I, r L M Serenity Village of Barry County is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) Compassion Home where individuals bring their hospice care team to spend their end-of-life journey in comfort. Guests, surrounded by loved ones, receive compassionate care in a warm, supportive environment that honors dignity and peace. To learn more about Serenity Village of Barry County visit www.serenitybc.org “His art was just so good, and it was using the nature that’s here in Michi­ gan,” Bouchard said. Together, Nortier and Bouchard crafted a vision for her mural in Mid­ dleville. Bouchard said that when driving into Middlevilleffom State Road these days, she looks to her house and where the mural will be, trying to envision what it would look like to passersby. “To me, it’s the perfect spot,” Bouchard said. “I feel like it would be like, ‘Oh, this is a cool little village that I’m coming into. More information about Nortier’s work can be found at oldgrowthcreative.com/. riii [' I r i * II Ou 11 II I. SOSLWniPSf n .'7 tr ’’ 50511)1 nie££Q ' 'oo: li PI I I >7i -I l(fJ>lli l55i !»« I 3 f i 999 I £ •i fwjoi ai(M«m m^blo tB i ( 1 >» HI t A I * • t r < �Saturday, September 27, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 9 3 5 L. L L i I Sporting News I I* h % I i f ( i •i * * r ^1' H II <-s i •» • *■ <1 J F n s * 01.- 1 V * Trojans win big in GR on first night of OK Black play fl { I Il ’ J 'Qi F, i ■ •k « 1. -’TN* •'/ I t / f J 1 fa.. k'. Rapids Friday, Sept 19. “The O-line has been doing a nice job, TK head coach Jeff Docks said. “Jacob Welch, Brody Hammer, Abram Dutcher, Isaac Fleischmann, Adam Lozada and Logan Goggins - they all play really hard. We are undersized, but come off the ball Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Trojans have their first three-game winning streak since 2020. The Thomapple Kelley varsity football team opened OK Black Conference play with a 42-6 win over Ottawa Hills in Grand 1) ■■■ I !)T 5^ s aa fel 135 ® I F « I I I 5* I nr ijL J Aw. K '•I- ‘-a Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ golfteam shot its way to a fourth­ place finish at the OK Gold Confer­ encejamboree hosted by Wyoming at Maple Hill Golf Course Monday. Tbe TK team shot a 190 led by a 45 from junior Vivian Hansson. She had three pars throughout her round. Junior Jordan Price put up a score of 47 strokes and junior teammate Katie Chase added a 48. The number four for the TK team was junior Molly Middleton who scored a 50. South Christian kept its hold on the conference lead by winning with a team score of 155 ahead of West Catholic 170, Northview 187,TK 190 and Wayland 207. South Christian senior Averie Noesen was the day’s individual champ ■ «I < J M'Tk. A ♦I / t 11 I OH . Uh » ( !iiI ( Ft I I s> nfibaoL^aointl ► I I < ibbu^i « . V SI ■4a-' 1*4 ‘^1 r It <-k M > Il orFw rioiatthlM *01‘ ritoiE ' 3) ail J 0100^ miSBluB okl/A i ^ildA^ >* . 1 &>v4 ^S^JG7fi^ 2 I Z " jiiiui moil j Eivr I I r t I II > \'0,'2 bfithwiWjhBB t •• 1x1 .S' I’ Jib f R ' with a one-over-37. West Catholic senior Sarah Chen and South Christian senior Anna Marcusse both shot 38. The Sailor team also got 40s from junior Meredith Helmus and senior Tessa Vugteveen. South Christian hosted the team at ±e Pines Wednesday and took another victory. The Sailors won on their home course with a score of 179 ahead of West Catholic 181, Northview 187, Wayland? 18, Thomapple Kellogg220 and Grand Rapids Union NTS. Hansson shot a 52 to lead TK. Price scored a 58, Chase a 53 and senior Sophia Lahaie added a 57. Northview senior Grace Laflure had the day’s best round shooting a 40. Chen shot a 42, and South Christian junior Katelyn Alles and Northview senior Allison Hale tied with 43s. The OK Gold Conference Champi­ onship will be played Thursday, Oct. 2, at Le Kaufinan Golf Club. TK girls shoot to fourth in jamhoree at Maple Hill I r A i c < I p •h □fl I The Rotary Club of Middleville would like to thank the A THE MOST TRUSTED YNAME IN ROOFING > WV' «r a* * T * < I .» Itv ex-. • s? (SHSSilfe Y^gT W **••• 1 • * 9 ;n I* ?> if'- •< ft +-r s I . Id « IfSJ t I iri J I 1 I X-. ■ I \<’h' A. r 0 iVc <• <B . 1 flB * ■ V .r* I • I' I! 1 <* \ i; 3! f t ♦ I . (a&^j-#;y0a • •U-% X. <■ •*r . gS«» > * w .X k CALL TODAY A > ** .• > .^•k -Jr’ 1- • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115^- YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU w - L-~y-rp. B •w V *5* I FOR YOUR FREE " -A INSPECTION * '/ lid! S®' % • ; 4ft* .J iiV c I i. ■l r f* S’!» ’.J*- 1 11. riB 269-962-4036 2025 Duck Race Sponsors Community West Credit Union • Bob Williams Thornapple Financial Center • Chris Noah, M.D. Thornapple Eyecare • Beeler Gores Funeral Home Custom Impressions Woodworking M -- t ■•‘MP''?V. t.’** « ‘5« (4 |M -V '!■ QUALITY ROOFING ,rf t ■*** . I SHERRIFF OOSLIN' ■» •w •' < sLx-for-sLx on extra-point kicks. TlieTrojans amassed323 yards ofoffense ind the game while limiting tlie Bengals to j ust 42 offensive yards and three first downs. Passing the ball, Micah Dock was 2-ot-2 for 32 yards. Cam Peter, Elliott Neff and Lucas Ploeg had one reception each. Zeke Webster came onandcompletedhis only pass attempt for TK, for 24 yaixJs to Peter. Robinson Maddox VanEngen, Peter and Ploeg each had one tackle for loss for the TK defense. Goggins was in for four tadde as­ sists. Ploeg, Eldridge and Zayne Whitmore had one tackle and three assists each on the defensive side. Blake Bossoibeiger had three assists too. “The good thing is we got a lot of kids quality playing time,” coach Dock said. “Overall, we played well on both sides of the ball.” and get after it That line helped five different guys rush for touchdowns against the Bengals. Debo Robinson led the way for the TK backs with ten rushes for 73 yards and two scores. He scored on a pair of four-yard runs in the second quarter. Malachi VanEngen, Jackson Smith, Micah Dock and Maddox VanEngen each scored once for TK Malachi had six rushes for 58 yards and got the scoring started wifti a 12-yaidTDrun in ftie first quarto*. Smifti iqiped the TK lead with a one-yard TD run in the first The TK lead grew to 35-09 at the half wifti Robin­ son ’s two TD runs and a 13 -yard TD run by ±e quartoback Micah EXx:k in the second. Maddox VanEngen ca •Jlxt1 the scoring wifti a 20-yardTD run in the third quarter. Troj an kicko- Mason Chivis was a perfect a* ' •• • • i 'V • ft, I* I 4 I F 1 b> ■ >; M Ml M M M M Ml MB M IB BB IM « Thank you for making the Duck Race a success! VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK •^: Rotary Middleville ». £2^ t I .■»f* I'll t** I 1 ’ I I a I I * I II *1 I I It « hi ; II I I II ill I 1 k I I A 1 I r \ I f i < �4 r « d A /, 4 I'’ • ♦ 1 F 10 ( Saturday, September 27, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Trojans draw Wildcats, face OK Gold leading Sailors Monday atTKHS Brett Bremer Sports Editor The final week of the OK Gold Con­ ference boys’ soccer season is ahead. The Thornapple Kellogg varsity boys’ soccer team will be home on the turf inside Bob White Stadium to take on South Christian Monday, Sept. 29, and Grand Rapids Union, Oct. 1, in the final two matches of the confer­ ence season. TK is 2-6-2 so far in OK Gold Con­ ference matches after playing North­ view to a 0-0 draw Wednesday evening in Middleville. In the final road tilt of the conference season TK fell 6-1 at West Catholic Monday. The South Christian boys, among the honorable mention ranks in the coaches’ poll in Division 2, can clinch an outright conference title with a win over the Trojans Monday. The Sailors are 9-0-1 in conference play so far this fall. !■ •' 1^ T r I I < r lo"» ’K:? r J k w » •s*i V TK senior Oliver Uetz is bumped off the ball by Northview senior Jackson Dowdle during the first half of their 0-0 draw in Middleville Wednesday evening. Photo by Brett Bremer k" z*** 4. 4 Scan our OR code | to find your perfect invitation! I i \ < < I » I <*• J < • ’sa **^*^*v« »* .’* i* .s.. ■ ■■ ,•« A z .•■ -■ Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. < . r PRINTING BY w www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com , ■ •« .. * A Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity volleyball team got its first OK Green Conference win of the season Thursday, Sept. 18, knocking off visiting Mona Shores in three tight sets 25-22, 25-20, 27-25. Caledonia moved to 1-1 in the confer­ ence with the win. Aubrey Reynolds had a team-high 20 kills for the Scots to go with 13 digs and two blocks. “We did a great job of staying aggres­ sive on offense, and Aubrey Reynolds really stepi^ up for us with 20 kills. She kept swinging with confidence and set the tone for our attack all night,” Caledonia head coach Ashley Brown said. “I m really proud of how mentally tough our team was Even when we got down, we kept grinding, stayed com­ posed, and found a way to finish. This win showed our grit. We had to dig deep and play tough in the big moments, and our team proved they could handle that pressure. We’ve been really focusing on mental toughness in practice, and tonight was proofthat the work is paying off. The way we battled and finished shows the growth this team has made. Junior setter Reese Stafford put up 32 assists to go with 13 digs for Caledonia. Senior Kyla Charles had nine kills and four blocks and sophomore Lydia Bell chipped in five kills and five blocks. Caledonia followed up that perfor­ mance with a 2-2 day at the Lakewood Invitational Saturday. The Fighting Scots beat Big Rapids 2510,25-14 and Petoskey 25-16,25-19. The two losses were a 25-15, 25-19 contest against Grand Rapids Christian and a three-set match with East Grand Rapids which the Pioneers won by the scores of 22-25,25-18,15-10. Reynolds had 41 kills on the day and hit .350. She added four aces, 25 digs and four blocks. Stafford had 81 assists and five aces. Charles contributed 12 kills, three aces, eight digs and three blocks. Bell hit 24 kills and six blocks. The Scots also got 25 digs from junior Avery Seif and junior Kayleigh Miersen added 18 digs, seven aces and seven kills throughout the day. Caledonia was scheduled to be back at it in action in the conference Sept. 25 at home against Reeths-Puffer. Jenison will host the Scots in the conference Oct. 2. 44T5 < Iffl J i W -s t Mft ft 4 CHS spikers win three close sets with Mona Shores ♦1 - ■ i •J'.”' www.sunandnews.com TK and Falcons end in draw after three-set doubles matches Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg var­ sity boys’ tennis team moved its record to 3-1 -1 in OK Gold Con­ ference duals this fall finishing in a 4-4 tie at Grand Rapids West Catholic Monday. TK senior first singles player Franklin Wilkinson hit his way to a 6-0,6-0 win against West Catholic senior Kyle Carpenter, and the TK team pulled out three close doubles matches to earn the tie. The TK first doubles team of juniors Layne Schilthroat and Samuel Teachout scored a threeset win over the Falcons’ Jake Overbeek and Nick Christopher by the scores of 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. TK won in three sets at fourth doubles too with the team of senior Alex Eggleston and junior Mark Cuison coming from behind to best West Catholic sophomores Anthony Maslanka and Gus Bernreuter 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(5). The Trojan team got a point at second doubles too with sopho­ more Graham Eden and junior Gideon Scott outscoring the team of West Catholic senior Alex Devries and sophomore Maksym Zimmerman 6-4, 6-2. The Falcons needed to pull out a three-set win at third doubles to preserve their side of the draw. Sophomores Luke Latchana and Lucas Schultz beat out the TK team of junior Aiden Riffel and senior Luke Archer 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 to pick up that point. The Falcons won the second, third and fourth singles matches in straight sets. TK was slated to close out the season of conference duals against Northview Sept. 24. The OK Gold Conference Champion­ ship Tournament will be hosted by South Christian High School Thursday, Oct. 2. TK heads to Holland for its regional tourna­ ment Oct. 8. ♦ V r y --1 f ! J . WC'f - ■ » f • * z r <■ 11 .♦ f 0 1 z i I I f I» j <4 I Ari « t r I *5^ Jii • h I ' < 4 k * ■ ►1 * .1 • I 6 b■ -J S / w i <5’ >3 I I k >>' - 0» f 4 i ’ •T • *m * * »* «£'» 4 i « f' I f .* I:.’ \ .-tf * r y:< u I 'Fl ‘’J f' » ID I r > T I k I * f' r 'X '• .1^ iff * t .Apr’' I /< I i =- J j; ' a u ♦ ^4 •< :P \ *'.A* . .’tf /* ' .«!•' V f irv' ' .vxr’ 'u.rr?** S’- I I T**' # ♦ '■ 1» > r I , tf .4f. ..J fi y - U-K * 4'’ <• . * . U' f-' il 4 • j ’* J iC .ri i I I ■ ■ '»*'■■■ «> • 4 ? I ’ f * J I . -f I L< 1 * ! I i. i' <i 4 ’’ i iaI j coo *• f ' t j: I d .1 > < 1 J • ‘:''r > f i t • <.« luo J Uwfnt I I 51^; L-irr' jg £|f r ♦ : I t 8i . wnc • fill irbwiiO' ■ F* V t ef 1. 5 • s w has EHJidD^ . /IT jrir j 10 lead 's i. bfiB Isitbl rraliA ir , 5 r G %r *VI' »I f 1 ; J-rtT UBbN^ V t r » .brtcoaa 'jflJ now 8i i ). ■ ;3ob 01 ' gUi^' ooncji'/i noo J » '» 4 n 3 ooiraisB •T ik/z lODfi > 1 ’ :.<ij V» ». \ khdlK,: □ I / • -s. <s 1'^ * Ik ~’JC. M * •-Mi 1 5i kf I* t 4 I a >W* ' • a------ ■'•'MS �I 4 t ft A I , ... • u I t www.sunandnews.com « Saturday, September 27, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS I 11 4 "^1 4 i » a t ■’ 5' k f ’ /.Il Ift s f A K i J *)k A J I I 1 • > J t bi 4 « (4*' ■4? .•-w ‘X.. t tf Tf < ' « ft • X’ . • ir ft «!* !)d' r t I log * ’Mu * , .’<r A •f ft •.‘I k , V< ■U f I f‘. toilI, 4' I 1 -I . t ft -r^sc ' *fri t.. * > ‘HI. . 1 k’ k. •11 I t I 4’> * I * '**1 1 J., I I J I u. •<1<W * ft>« ih c.. . 0 ’■ ) ■’Ufi,; /•. r A ' A ’•'Tu. ; ‘n I J I 1 1 *n-H t. ir I ft : i TI • « f A/ iii: X ' ft I A* V ■4 -b 4 ft. 4 4 r a. < •I A . I ¥■ 1 J JflJ. )>■ Brett Bremer Sports Editor 4 ;7tK 1 r Jenison win pushes Scot tennis record to 2-2 in Green I, r r I! 11 > I 1 i 44 The Caledonia varsity boys’ tennis team had its OK Green Conference record evened at 2-2 Wednesday as it was downed 7-2 at Jenison. The Fighting Scot junior fourth doubles team of Isaac Judd and Charlie Scott pulled out a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win to get the Scots a point on the doubles’ side. Senior Garrett Fales got the Scots’ lone win on the singles’ side taking a 6-0,6-2 win over Jenison senior Collin Lason at third singles. The doubles matches were especially competitive. The second doubles match went three sets as well. Caledonia se­ nior Isaac Robotham and sophomore Russell Grandon took the opening set 6-4 against Jenison’s David Ymker and Grady Smith. Smith and Ymker rallied from there to pull out the second set in a tiebreaker 7-6(2) and then won the third set 6-3. At third doubles, the Jenison team of Elliot Wass and Jack Deveraux bested Caledonia’s Derick Prichard and Caleb Harrison 6-4, 6-4. The Caledonia boys will head back to Jenison Oct. 3 for the OK Green Conference Tournament. The final dual of the regubr season for the Scots is at Grand Haven Mon­ day, Sept. 29. Last Thursday, Sept. 18, Caledonia finished in a 4-4 tie on the road at Hamilton. Fales had the lone singles win for the Scots that day too as he topped the Hawkeyes’ Jackson Klinger 6-4, 6-3. Hamilton pulled out the second doubles match in a super tiebreaker, but the Scots took the other three singles flights. Sophomores Quinn Cook and Cooper Sowerby outscored Hamilton’s first doubles duo 6-4,6-4. Prichard and Harrison scored a 6-0, 6-2 win at third doubles and Judd and Scott teamed up at fourth doubles for a 6-2, 6-0 win. It was Ethan Miedema and Aiden Un ema taking the win for the Hawkeyes WSi?! ft ^ft « i.<-l J « « »i 4 Xi! » 3’A ' • r. < ife fl r. u •• MM *I HI 4* ®0T 1 < Brett Bremer Sports Editor Senior Codie O’Krangley was a part of a three-way tie for second and the Caledonia varsity girls’ golf team was second as a team at the OK Gold ConferenceJ amboree hosted by the Scots at Saskatoon Wednesday. O’Krangley shot a 38 to lead her team. Byron Center took the day’s vic­ tory with a team score of 159 strokes. The Fighting Scots were second with a 171 ahead of Reeths-Puffer 179, Jenison 183 and Mona Shores 199. Senior Katie Honhart shot a 43 for the Fighting Scots to finish tenth individually. The CHS team also S’" WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS 1 V •r’ I I Mb .9 s’ u. Scots shoot second-place score at home jamhoree & I got 45s from senior Ella Bums and freshman Kendall Smith. Reeths-Puffer junior Sophia Mc­ Collum was the day’s individual champion with a two-under-33. She fired birdies on holes three, five and eight. Jenison junior Kylie Coffey and Byron Center senior Holly Lawrence both matched O’Krangley’s 38. By­ ron Center juniors Autumn Kartes and Izzy Tawoda both shot 40s. Jenison will host a nine-hole con­ ference jamboree at The Meadows Sept. 30 and the conference gets to­ gether for its 18-hole championship tournament at Muskegon Country Club Oct. 2. 616-891-0150 'A * ,r. at At fourth singles, Hamilton sophomore Grayden Lubbers bested Scot sopho­ more Zach Zupin 6-4, 6-3. Senior Dylan Loew won the first singles flight for Hamilton by outscor­ ing CHS senior Hudsen Derengowski 6-2, 6-0. —1 •r^'> <* ra • »a at second doubles by the scores of 6-2, 4-6, (10-8) over Caledonia’s Robotham and Grandon. The singles flights were pretty com­ petitive. At second singles, Hawkeye senior James Anderson outscored the Scots’junior Quinn Stanley 7-5, 6-4. )• it 1 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. r I • XV ** 4 • J 1 K' . ■■i . «' J'4 r Residential & Commercial « $ * 1'’ I» ft ’ 1 -J V I I *'• - •MB r ke Bia (Ei’S! ! I • fIt Ji: I iKLiAf-l,:;-.! I ' i i.i't, M f • msidiw '* <**» fr'ixbssfei-''': I *> ft < . Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers w 1 9 >: 4?n2 1 j I* i • 5 1 \ ■•2 .fe - • 1 I MMfe 4* 2 •ft t ► * a % I p ^4 I ■ 12 rft BODY SHOP **•*"'-*■ ** -f ?> *! * felt' F" * -**5 » - 4V' * fS w A > < -'I COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR Ub. •-* i- 1 tr f 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 9 j ft }r. • I t I « f I ■. f * ' * ill I Mt ; » n «* wr 14^ t DeWeerd (68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. XlSlty '' Since njiS DEWEERDHTG.COM .'iJr 269-792-2234 i A • SBTivJ ■A+[l ACCREDITED BUSINESS Your irusfed body Shop -for over 32 years I I I » I. { ^.• I I ! I 1 .•Jt '..j>ul ■r I I i i> I 1 I I I I 5 1 •n I I I •A <4 ih I 1 I t M I •i s ft I 1 z 1 \ I I 4 �if 12 ♦ ♦ > a Saturday, September 27, 2025 1 THE SUN AND NEWS »- K I www.sunandnews.com I ( 4 Grandville shuts down Scots after early touchdown Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia put together a 65-yard touchdown drive the first time it had the ball Friday, Sept. 19, against Grandville. The Bulldog defense dominated the rest of the night. Grandville scored a 28-7 OK Red Conference win over the Caledonia varsity football team at Ralph E. Myers Stadium in Caledonia. That opening TD drive for the Scots was powered by a 47-yard run by Aaron Collins that got the ball inside the Grandville 20-yard-line right away. Following a four-yard TD run by run­ ning back Ryne Wysocki, the Bulldog defense held the Scots to 90 offensive yards the rest of the night. Sophomore quarterback Conlan Schultz got the start and senior Andrew Hanna came on to lead the offense on ik COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the September 9, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on September 23. 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main street and on the website at www.villageofmiddieville.org. IRVING TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS Sept 16, 2025 Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm at 3425 Wing Rd. Hastings, Michigan 49058 Present: Lydy, Stout, Nagel, Buehler Absent; Brummel Agenda approved, as presented Approved Minutes of August 19, 2025 Board Meeting Fire Reports presented Approved Treasurer’s Report Paid bills in the amount of $26,994.64 Reviewed ADA Audit Approved to sign ADA Grant with MAMC Ifor $10,000 Approved request from B.C. Road Commission to trim trees on Engle and Robertson Roads Adjourn 7:23pm. Full minutes are available at I rvingtownship. org or at 3425 Wing Rd, Hastings, Ml 49058. Prepared by Irving Township Deputy Clerk, Shelly Lake. Attested to by Supervisor, Dan Lydy._______ its final couple drives of the night. The two have been sharing snaps a bit since junior starter Bryce Backus was knocked out due to an injury earlier this season. The Bulldogs played much of the night without one of their key offensive pieces, as senior running back Jayden Terry came out of a pile with an injury on Grandville’s first drive of the game. A full wing-T backfield for the Bull­ dogs was still able to keep the chains moving. Braylen Haney led the way. He finished off that opening Bulldog drive with a two-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs pushed their lead to 20-7 by the half. DJ Hardiman had a 29-yard TD run in the final minute of the first quarter, and then the Bulldogs put together an­ other steady drive in the second quarter to take a 20-7 lead on a short TD run by Haney. The Fighting Scots got a fourth down stop on a long Bulldog drive in the third quarter, inside the Caledonia ten-yardline, and the Scot offense with Hanna at the helm was able to push the ball out away from its goal-line. A high shot gun snap, over Hanna, stymied that drive though and the Scots eventually had to punt the ball the other way. Grandville sealed the win with a short drive that ended in a one-yard TD run by Haney in the fourth quarter. The loss drops the Caledonia squad to 0-2 in the OK Red Conference. Caledonia was slated to visit East Kentwood in conference play Sept. 26. Conference foe Grand Haven comes to Caledonia for homecoming Oct. 3. It* * 9^ I I 1 r f 1 4 I T J i t » * i • A ! 9^ ’ J ir/uZ •1 % >• > I A *1 V a ^■1 I 1^^' tfl J r Jf t '-A k 9^. 1 t £j »• F. I f t t( t I 1 « < W*' , ft - i f?c I ***> X A * L. »g A ;< J •iy *«*'l--** =» ** .. *A' 'r ■ i. <^: I •ii CH? 1 n Mllll ' .(I Caledonia sophomore quarterback Conlan Schultz (9) finds some running room on a QB keeper during the third quarter against Grandville at Ralph E. Myers Stadium Friday, Sept. 19. Photos by Perry Hardin i ■ 11.48 k» - ■ ’’./pn-' 4 -fit I I A H*** > * 14: ii0 > 1>M • f . •• <tMV ' J k I ■ ri '"k' f I ♦ 5 / F I s , »• I • jr ^4 * • H I> L I t I tei® 1 ® rr’’ .J?-'*; fi r A I I ’ -I . j..*p *7' X. jfcbsW*? t * •ffc t i •• ^^'' If « p rI 1 /•' f IS . r 1 ib ^Wast I • ( < It <* tl .Kt t ; "■ * Kbi iktsaas*^ B > raktaaro at s Es bK A ** 4 .4 / I r* L ) r «• .- I f *1 k -I .■r WSjma -acEbu*- .2^ * X V ♦ / Meeting Minutes The minutes for the September 3, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on September 17, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave., and on the website at www.caledoniatownship.org. w * A CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES * .0* 1 **» • A .. k r I p...r.i » tA'- » ‘K 1 ^bsH I '-‘-t'sste fCtJBtSklb '. W?. IB *a ri *» 7 .»• • ** 1 >1 •4*.l .4 f Grandville’s DJ Hardiman (33) is stopped in his tracks by Caledonia seniors Brien Martin (76) and Carter Berends (24) on a run during their OK Red Conference bailgame inside Ralph E. Myers Stadium Friday, Sept. 19. *« I. 1 I * ' •.liMb 1 •.OB, 1 K«iBw3:i JifRaV.i ■ *' Tk I — . 4. J • 1 'y-» • ♦ "V-. • ) M •' ni"i .^1 r Vi '!.■> i w �a 4 .‘rl I r. « r X •J A f www.sunandnews.com Saturday, September 27, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS 13 ♦ c± J- - e life • 'C .A* si f!Y1><l i Thompson leap helps CHS boys into OK Green lead 4 Brett Bremer ijPwMiBie Sports Editor < The Fighting Scots welcomed sopho­ more Scan Thompson to the club of guys with a personal record better ±an 17 minutes on Wednesday, and caught Jenison in the OK Green Conference. Thompson ran a personal record time of 16:42.59 at the OK Green jamboree at South Christian High School to break up the Jenison pack and place sixth overall. He was 22nd at the first conference jamboree of the season and beat his previous PR by more than 33 seconds. Jenison beat the Fighting Scots by if J I , A f f i ILI o^T q < X ^ii.i»iini3^ T, 9 2MI 1. eq fe •' ► *-99 4 ■J ) i •J .. ’’t I ' ’1. a b fc-J? fI c;x ) 21- 'r R4 I« j 1 J flic I -1 J :;i; . I * ■ ■ J ni IsmIS J M. Slagel improves her 11-dive team record at Spring Lake Invitationai .a A <^ <•2 F t ipt Brett Bremer •’ -»ti/ k I ■ l'{ •» / A U '.. ’ r . 1 f W 4 f fe. I. • *y. ’ •4 ? ‘•iitllfe,’ I ttth^abibv^ j ( I-.*’ f. Hi llwl ■ Mnio*! OLtoiJj r 'I <*»> 1 to Jo jm azib-iIf < Il 4 i^ I ' 4 #'i' ) I f< I f' I ffw ' : 21 b <4 ir r;- n > admtiv’i i •*. i /J 4. syjtbwttC 8wvi TfC.' . ,i' d T ; : tet b ? t 1 I 1 f rt! 4 I I I iM vA ofigibiil r «F’ * a M J 11 1 53filq eHi>!qoH -U roiJeJivni tv iiD 32TOVJ11T 4 T ! 1 iBSfld ttoioc ?.A£r) ‘ > rt-r -f -i‘i :»kr £?£ HoH I HnolscubUuL£dl , i 1 ♦ v I ri gOIOlIE i: ) lo 51quo- A Mitt r l"'Xl *5 I :?d)TOi fl., I I 9W -eq 1 > iltriHlblaswz dH omt J Q rilrvz oioiJa »ton» 1 ]0Z IC J4i) .ebBC092 I QJi baaalrp*^ . r J f‘ 1 1 I » 4^ ' -n *1 fl - V*! •< I. « I OR three points at the first conference jam­ boree of the season. With most every­ one else running well too, Thompson’s leap was more than enough to boost ±e Caledonia varsity boys’ cross country team to the fi-ont of the pack. The Scots outscored Jenison 25 points to 33 at the top of the standings, and the conference championship will be on the line when the OK Green meets again Oct. 14 for the conference meet at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids. The Caledonia girls are likely to be in a battle with Byron Center for second place in the OK Green at that confer­ ence championship meet next month Sports Editor Her scores keep going up. Grand Rapids Gator diver Lydia Slagel improved her team’s 11-dive record with a score of 432.05 at the Spring Lake Invitational Saturday. She bested her own school record by about 30 points in what was the first 11 -dive meet of the 2025 season. Slagel put up an 11-dive score of 375.20 at the MHSAA Lower Pen­ insula Division 1 Girls’ Swimming and Diving Finals in Holland last No­ vember to place fourth at the finals. Slagel will get to compete again this Saturday at the East Grand Rap­ ids Dive Meet. . The Gator co-op team of Thor­ napple Kellogg, West Catholic, West Michigan Aviation Academy and Hopkins placed fifth at the seven­ team invitational. Traverse City won the meet with 624.5 points ahead of Spring Lake 345, Holt 273, Muskegon Mona Shores 246.5, Grand Rapids Gators 162, Ludington 161 and Manistee 94. A couple of fifth-place finishes were the top performances in the pool for the Gators. Freshman Mara Raak was fifth in the 100-yard breast­ stroke with a time of 1 minute 23.78 seconds. Gator sophomore Mckenna Hawks placed fifth in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:40.43 and fifth in the 500-yard freestyle in 6:24.54. Raak also added an eighth-place time of 1 ;06.56 in the 100-yard fr^style. Senior Jenna Robinett was eighth in the 100-yard butterfly in 1:28.07 and added a ninth-place time of 1:23.15 in the 100-yard backstroke. Gator teams were fifth in both the 200-yard medley relay and the 200yard fi“eestyle relay. Last Thursday, Sept. 18, the Ga­ tors were bested 60-34 in a dual at Fremont. Hawks had a pair of wins in in­ dividual races in the dual. She took the 200-yard individual medley in 2:42,45 and the 500-yard fi’eestyle in 6:29.97. Raak won the 100-yard breast­ stroke in 1:23.56. The Gator team also had the four­ some of Eloise Nichols, Robinett, Hawks and Raak win the 400-yard freestyle relay in 4:48.88. Nichols was the day’s runner-up in the 200-yard fi'eestyle with a time of 2:46.83. Robinett and Nichols went 2-3 in the 100-yard butterfly with Robinett finishing in 1:33.54 and Nichols in 1:46.69. The Gators return to OK Confer­ ence East Division action at Grand Rapids Union Tuesday, Sept. 30. after placing third Wednesday. Sophomore Bennett Snapper ran to a win for the Fighting Scots in the boys’ race at South Christian. He hit the finish line in 16:13.69. Senior Noah Johnston was second in 16:18.58 and sophomore Bentley Nichols placed third in 16:26.43. Those three were the first finishers at the first conference jamboree this fall followedby seven Jenison runners. The seven Jenison runners were next again, but with Thompson breaking up that pack of Wildcats. Junior Ethan Burks ran his PR to lead the Jenison team. He was fourth in 16:27.06. Senior teammate Nolan Wengloikowski was fifth in 16:38.28. Senior Luke Smith improved his PR by a bit and moved up in the standings for the Scots too. He was the team’s number five scorer and placed 13th in 17:17.36. Jake Potgeter placed 18th and Isaac Dinh 21st to round out the Scots’ top seven. Byron Center was third in the day’s boys’standings with 81 points ahead of Mona Shores 113, Reeths-Puffer 155 and Muskegon 170. Jenison took command of the girls’ conference standings by winning again, this time with 19 points. Byron C enter was second with 63 points ahead of Caledonia 68, Mona Shores 106 and Reeths-Puffer 118. Fighting Scot junior Akaela Daman led her tecun with a sixth-place time of 19:58.44. Junior Anna VanderWal was 13th in 21:29.69. Senior Hannah Bennett clocked in 14th in 21:34.82. Sophomore Charlie Bont placed 17th in 21:49.53. Freshman Kendall Van Ryn ran her fastest race yet to place 18th in 21:51.93. Sophomore Elise Clarin ran a PR to place 20th overall and sophomore Abigail Tava was 24th to fill out the Scots’ top seven. Jenison had six of the first eight girls across the finish line. Junior Paige McMeans led that group with a winning time of 18:55.29. Sophomore teammate Madeline Aleisa was sec­ ond in 19:13.10. Byron Center senior Kailey Mann ran a PR of 19:43.82 to place third. The Fighting Scots are back in action today, Sept. 27, at the Otsego Bulldog Classic. ^MfcHIGAN VferWKS! I8> -i1 Take the next step to a better paying job! Learn about free: Computer skills training Career coaching Job search services •V I AV A . A A i •l 4* Trade Adjustment Assistance PLUS: Ask us if you qualify for Trade Assistance Act benefits! 'jfe. 4 Call l-800"285-W0RK (9675) or visit westmiworks.org/job-seekers/ V •3 I i * -..•w ( i I 1 '* (.y^-^RFy-qpjii—>1, ^^Tragy-' •J i t ) I la I y . .V n b i F A A I r i s ft I. \ f I I i I �> I 4 ' 3 4 I Saturday, September 27 2025 14 ♦ ♦ i THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com rnx Trojan X.C. teams inch closer to top of Conference at Wayland Brett Bremer Sports Editor A hilly, twisty course around the Wayland Union school grounds and a few more weeks of training made for a much different OK Gold Conference jamboree the second time around this fall. The Thornapple Kellogg varsity girls’ cross country team inched a few points closer to league-leading South Christian and the TK boys jumped Grand Rapids Union to finish third as a team Wednesday in Wayland. There was a big shuffle up in the order of finish for the TK ladies Wednesday with sophomore Amya Gater leading PUBLIC NOTICE GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS September 2025 The Gaines Charter Township Board held a reg­ ular meeting on Monday, September 08, 2025, and took the following actions. I 1. Reviewed the Consent Agenda. I 2. Approved the Meeting Agenda I 3. Discussed the October 11, 2025 Harvest I Festival I 4. Discussed Public Safety increased costs [due to new developments 5. Held a public hearing on the Public Safety Special Assessment District Assessment Rate 6. Approved the consent agenda 7. Ratified the motion added to the August 11, 2025 Trustee Board meeting that was not published in the August 11, 2025 agenda. 8. Approved the August 11, 2025 meeting minutes as corrected. I 9. Adopted the 2025 operating millage rate of .8012 mil. 10. Approved the Public Safety Special As­ sessment District Assessment Rate of 1.5 mils. 11. Approved the expenditures of the pub­ lished equipment list for the new Platform 65. 12. Approved applying for a Special Events Liquor License for Taste of Gaines. 13. Scheduled a public hearing for October 13, 2025 regarding the 2026 Gaines Charter Township Budget. 14. Adjourned the meeting at 8:21 p.m. complete copy of the minutes of these meet­ ings and any resolutions or ordinances adopted at the meeting are on file and available for review at the Gaines Charter Township office, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Mich­ igan 49316. Ordinances, meeting schedules, meeting minutes, and other Township informa­ tion are also available at www.gainestownship. org. Michael Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk *)8nua.www ( ( I j i 4 w t i t i. I 4 the way. She placed 13th with a time of 22 minutes 25.27 seconds. Junior Payton Hardy, the TK leader through­ out the fall so far, was 14th overall in 22:25.44. Junior Carmen Reynolds was right behind them with a 15th-place time of 22:27.94. South Christian won the jamboree with 21 points. TheTK ladies were second with 65 points, a gap between the Sailors and Trojans that was five points less than at the first conference get-together earlier this month at Riv­ erside Park in Grand Rapids. Wayland’s girls were third with 74 points ahead Northview 114, West Catholic 114, Grand Rapids Union 179 and Wyoming 206. South Christian had nine of the first 12 girls across the finish line in Wayland, and the first three overall. Senior Chloe Rinzema led the Sailors in 20:12.70. The TK girls’ team had Breanna Mb ( f I -41® (f f L I JA- . :fy * X' TTi’ T I 'i A ’^j i f *x y* AT ( 7t 5 r H 1 t r •l 7 Cd S- i! /• f J, F a .1 JI I .,'’r -v «a n 4 M t I * II k f, H k * I ♦V I 1 * ■ ,r* I I; J »3 ■r •» T - »* V .> 'i b TK senior Noah Donker races along the tree line behind Wayland Union Middle School on his way to the finish at the OK Gold Conference jamboree hosted by the Wildcats Wednesday. Photos by Brett Bremer I 1 J r i h 1 > ' r• ■ r •S • 'Wi ■ > i THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP BOARD 200 E MAIN ST. MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 SYNOPSIS OF MEETING MINUTES Monday, September 8, 2025 The meeting was called Ito order at 7:00 p.m. with six members present. Items approved: 1. Printed Agenda approved as presented. 2. Consent Agenda approved as presented. 3. Approved resignation of Cindy Ordway as Township Clerk. 4. Approved appointment of Kathy Medenblik as Township Clerk. 5. Approved reimbursement to Kathy Medenblik for election training. 6. Approved purchase of fit tester. 7. Approved upgrade of UIV. 8. Approved maintenance to Robertson Road by County. Meeting adjourned at 7:46p.m. Prepared by Deputy Clerk Brenda Hess. Approved by Township Supervisor, Eric Schaefer. Copies of the meeting minutes are available upon request from the Township Clerk or by visiting https://thornapple-twp.org/ meeting-minutes/ Office hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Schut 22nd in 23:11.38 and freshman Brielle Miller 23rd in 23:19.58 in its top five. TK junior Alaina McCrumb was right behind in 24th-place and senior Madison Kietzman placed 29th. In the boys ’ meet, the TK boys improved from fourth at the first conference meet-up to third. TK freshman Owen Bremer moved up into the top ten with a tenth-place time of 18:30.45. Trojan junior Grady Galaviz placed 19th in 19:15.60 and freshman Parker Robinett was 25th in 19:55.01. The top five for the TK boys also included sophomore Garrett Holzhausen 30th in 20:11.26 and sophomore Wyatt Rich­ ardson 33rd in 20:16.84. Rounding out the top seven for TK were seniors Benjamin Postma and Noah Donker who were 35th and 36th respectively. South Christian won for the second time in two races on the boys’ side, this time with 29 points. Northview was second with 48 points ahead of Thomapple Kellogg 110, Grand Rap­ ids Union 119, Wayland 133, Wyoming 137 and West Catholic 167. The first two guys across the finish line were Sailors, and South Christian had four of the top ten overall. Sailor junior Ben Verlin won the race in 16:57.65 and senior teammate Thad Vanderbaan was second in 17:19.31. The Trojans are set to be a part of the Otsego Bulldog Classic Saturday, Sept. 27, and then will head to the Portage Invitational Saturday, Oct. 4. > ill! Ill® “ h! i ft r • X. * / , ■f. J ‘J iLaJl i\ . ' I * if- d 'I , I, A ■ uowsS® U«S.a«S' 1 L iL J i V a« b h¥i « K Sr Thornapple Kellogg’s Amya Gater races towards the finish line just a couple strides ahead of teammate Peyton Hardy and Carmen Reynolds at the OK Gold Conference jamboree hosted by Wayland Union High School Wednesday. I } (Hft nknm I I i s atsirenH 1 ■«M Ite t.rp'-t I I 1-, f 1 vic I i * “s' > I' « / ? t> I I 1 I 1 . *. t * « t I .. I J JI It I k I: •"■•^ I - u> vV I 1 X I t I The OK Gold Conference Champi­ onship will be hosted by West Catholic at Riverside Park Oct. 15. i . 1 ‘k I f 1 <1I 1, I r 1 fi t. i r C4 Cl 11 I I '? ll ■ •1 I t k I I % * f i �K WWW 1 www.sunandnews.com 15 Saturday, September 27, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS i to I 4 I -ft I I 4 >c.> •• • I r 1 I A The Fighting Scots' Scots Gage Helinski clears his zone with Byron Center’s Ben Newell (15) breathing down his neck Thursday, Sept 18. Photos by A" < I 7* 1 ’■♦w * 7 F\’V r «s- I Correction: * 9^. I 3 1 The goalkeeper in the photo with the Caledonia varsity boys’ soccer story on page nine of last week’s edition ofthe Sini and News was incorrectly identified. The photo was of Caledo­ nia freshman keeper Ryder Helinski making a save against Portage Cential, Perry Hardin ■ . ♦< I« r 1 « J A:. 1 ,'n: J* I I I* * »A ____ T ? i 4 Our company is growing don’t miss your opportunity. LjM. "-C Z ■il ' j ri • r I —*.i i •:± I fl >• « r K I I I*. J Cl I •i H*— * Caledonia’s Pietro Mamprin pass the ball to the sideline as Byron Center’s Kaleb Smith follows close behind during the second half of their OK Green Conference match Thursday, Sept. 18. r f Wto 1 I. * • •• Ikl'V. 9 •.V 1, J I .1 1 me e R I Al !L*'f • r; w Jw .Wx. I « W 11 14 } .* 3 i * < 9 I X <• to* * « 1 ■L E • r* «• I ' 4 O’ IW» 4 ■ JHT ' ► *♦1 ,? I il-ij h<»^£-L V1 /r- I II < Jii 'X •'! b » I u-**•*■>^1 } A •5 ♦rt ij ) ir -an I I f nX . I » I L I I . aeh^ I A. * n UI Aj• r*r ;» it I it I < 1 I I ’ I I I -.t tz J< rn 1 f »» )(/ J • *• « ■« ; [ 4 I 11. - * I n f -J.U1 ' -7 I. k 1 i . .) i- I I b I '1*1<r 4 'tl'A 36 -WK** I I < , . * I <■ 1 rill I ^fWJ I b r *1 . ! 1 4 J ’A / .o b ,*•«>. r I Scots find the net three times to topple Sailors Brett Bremer Sports Editor *4 I-" WE ARE 'i A ■^ * < '* 9 The Caledonia varsity boys’ soccer team got back on the winning track by outscoring Mona Shores 3-1 in an OK Green Conference match on the road Tuesday. The win moves the Fighting Scots’ record to 7-5-4 overall this season and 3-2-2 in the conference. The goals were the first for the Scots since an 8-0 win over Muskegon Sept. 11. The Scots were winless in their previous four outings before Tuesday night. The Scots were set to visit ReethsPuffer in the OK Green Thursday, Sept. 25, and will close out the conference season with matches at home against Jenison Sept. 30 and at Muskegon Oct. 2. Byron Center improved to 6-0 in conference play, one victory from clinching the outright conference championship, and 11-2-1 overall with a 5-0 victory over the visiting Scots last 9 View Newspaper Group is seeking a ^ip—. MARKETING SPECIALIST I ‘V —r-* covering the Marshall area. Responsibilities include: Advertising sales, Account management, Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts, Attend networking events ♦ V t I B •< 'k X . f Ji. V *11- t 4. ■: f ■ 'li r •H I < i* ■ T '■ * t >* X' » .1 I fc I a I K 'z M4 t V'A' A J « *e fr’ • if - ‘ * <t A * •• 4> 4 AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Group k •w '' ' mihomepaper.com ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer’s Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News ■ Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen ■ The Lowell Ledger ■ The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer's Guide and News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Sun and News ■ The Reminder ■ St. Clair Area View Send resume to: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com 269-945-9554 1 �J R I 1 I I s w ■ « « rk 1 I < Saturday, September 27, 2025 16 THE SUN AND NEWS 4 ’ I* r » v« www.sunandnews.com ’TF<‘x4| r u ♦ i .>s >**• .A < .' *>• ' 4 A L J *•'12^’1 42i?*h V ♦ :■ • ... JIW » 4 '• r y 4 ^<- > 5 A *0% • <> k iW .4*' / TT ^■R V‘ ■ ! 9 A A' ; y J 1 .**4 * •'Ba -fak I » V t- A * ■0 •^ ’.’ll 1 V .11 > '■*. r- J I ~ 'Wa? •« • V k« A ’. >>**T 4b •k I A > mA I * V SWT'- -3=^' •aor- *>*1 . r. < W 4 •|» 4f > «JJ •r J ^■<4 *4 A ' 7>' » !•? A Jr • *. - iT A *0^ •V RpS*^ < > >.^s <4 4*- >j <5^^ s e < 5 >vv ;j ♦ Ml 9* * J ■t t TRUMBLE h 7 I < r !?• •<rf <* I Local Medicare advice is now in Barry County! * A*: QISOtoQWl 4 « n\ won av< Mnu o I I 11 t: J•r T jT^ ft> < ■• »' F* <1 .1? 4 V 1b now booking appointments *9 >-K* 4k* A fcS >■ Medicare * <1 1 a^' V 4 < t .F'« w ,1 3 . K •1 ilae* for open enrollnnent October 15^^ - December 7^^ -w •f’C H ' Tiao^ 4«' ^'ini f • ♦ r r1 A •1 "wwiir. * * w* Schedule your appointment today as time slots will fill up fast. I .••s X a ■ w* ■■ a B B <w uft ztf Si .J ?•' 269.213.3232 josh@trumbleagency.com www.barrycountymedicare.com 128 S. Jefferson St. Hastings, MI 49058 □ ;^b IR Josh Lamphere Medicare Specialist 4^ .. ft Ia > o u a uJ gf > 11 It cE, •c It* O f Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or I-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. * 1 J \ t i i * i t t V ( A 4 4 1 K 4 t * I k 4 t i « 4 * I 4 4 i «. I I < XT" it I I I 1 « I < ( I * I 4 I . I i » ' 4 1 I. t I ’ 1 1 I I 1 V I r I * V" R < '^4 t J I ) V /« 4 t A '1 ti-i 'Af t 1 i I 4 4 f r » I ( 1 n • ‘t. • « 4 . I 1 4 * *» HrW^ X I I > k 4 <• «' u ..J*.. . teiiBioaqS BiBsibsl^ •saoiJqo iwoy ’. fc 4 s'lsriqms. gftelq eaoib t>) iisn r« w^wirr I .‘t T I i a ^Aa 1 f *1 M rI hl } t t < I i 4 I � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-10-04.pdf 98240001898a65dc066b8199371daef1 PDF Text Text » I 1 3HT /i . I I k f sAr.siOV r r* sgnhgZ ssilnBY I ot tnainhBqsO bO Bzuoil nsqo VOL. 147 f f Oil 3dl 3d litVZ 7J3tB8 Olid |SCJ 3ii'l zgniiqk soinfiY IB jiniirttmo'J I6i33qj^ b gniiub EbnoM no .(Ti.rj oi d niofl > gr TOlillVI hbCI lairlD >kpto or yirnummoo odt gni • i ■14 i I f ^4 .. 4‘ I «i .gaiflbliw II »a \ ..•C yJIA i r I i fji cl f *• t . /s 1* t rf 4 • Vt I I tI .'•■A < ><< F ■rr. ? > 1-^’ (k ’ I I If. .1 I ■ *r A ?/? ■ ♦♦ 1 6b : 3(1 wdr ad liiw Yietse eiR iO mt i sgnnqg 80>lneY ©rit lumnioo Isineqa 6 gniiub 8 ol 6 moil EDOW CnUONEH oO .ysbnoM UESlDERlIVr intwv !i nnrteja aiit wawMir y* IUDS eR iltuo8 no MUAJif *338 <6939 lydoioilR .beoR GIMWIIBB’ 1^1 ?v J 4 '■'i' .A I .1 J S I ‘Mi: •i’ ‘5^ aivd n a bO8AVG6 bU£i £1D aovisod s n ais isdd t 1 'I I t I t r 1 I I .1 : I t I I Hi I ii I « 4 k : I « H I .1 0 * ■> n I Fire safety will be the hot topic at the Yankee Springs Fire Department during a special community event from 6 to 8 p.m. on Moaa uawoisno Monday, Oct. 6. The lVllN3aiS3H SSM«03 9e89> in '«iiAUMJo fire station is located OW’OBOd . on South Payne Lake see# wuued 8C88> Road. Photo by Dan Miller 1^ '8||IAU8dJ0 bVID I.i: -W"' t I t >• 1- r< www.sunandnews.com b*’ / di ■s’JL 4 wr 4 >r i •J b ► 0=^ J V a 5 Al. 1 'eet 058 'V i r via ) I I. r- ^27 E AHastini bS >* !=z:: M ■V < 4 A I 7—^ •p s 1 '-•w- . k Fire safety will be the hot topic at Yankee Springs Fire Department during a special community event from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6. Fire Chief Dan Miller is encourag­ ing the community to explore the fire trucks that will be on display, with the evening also featuring cider, coffee, water and donuts. “This will be our first annual Fire Safety/Prevention Week Open House since Yankee Springs Township started its own fire department on March 1,” Miller said. “Kids will be able to tour the fire station and vehicles, plus spray water with a hose from a real fire truck.” The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildfire Division will also have a vehicle on site, with state personnel on hand to talk about wildfires. See HOST on 4 •J l9yS i *1 9 Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer * Ujcst 081b gnifiyra srit fUw oh bne Mtew .■mTIoo .labio tnc 12111 wo od lliw zirlT O 31'3'iW noiJnwoinV{13'tfi2 v7oT e^niiq^ ooiiwY oonig rrncqob -mt frwo zJi bonsJ^ i>| .bifi? ti»liiMM rioxsM 'Jifi ofit iwof of 51djj ad zfliqg 2ulq -galoiriov Join) otB Ibo 1 h moil azorl lanUwqsCI fiBsiriaiM arlT iTfibiiW eooTuosafl IbwIbM no sbiriw /> avBfl o«b; Iliw Of bfififl no larrno^iaq NO. 40 _ I s mt s(i JIrw rerir aioml oiH SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025 Yankee Springs Fire Department to host open house Oct. 6 I ';JU •i-. 1» 4 I Mphd3-flin«T fl9i«)l igfiiW ttSlS li * PAGE 6 .'5 ~ Oi- .OM TV NEWS Your Hometown Newspaioer Serving the Middleville. Caledonia and Gaines Township Areas *I * 4 ' J THE SUN AND 1 SAFETY CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY IN YANKEE SPRINGS J= ■ r « A, '"W* Ar %*rvR. ri* .-V■■< ■ £5^ J wv» < z '* < S.‘< ^9 » 'fct. / ■■ Al- xJ • < ‘Mf r> •'* , IP I an*- >^-^z 9 i f" t •• r r J •'* 9 :> A Gaines Township Planning Commission members discuss a proposed site plan review for an Amazon delivery center at their Sept. 25 meeting. Photo by James Gemmell Gaines Twp. Planning Commission postpones Amazon site plan review James Gemmell Contributing Writer Members of the Gaines Township Planning Commission say Amazon should send one of its executives to the next commission meeting, if they are to consider a site plan review for a proposed delivery station. The planning commission voted 6-0 at its Sept. 25 meeting to post­ pone consideration of the site plan until an Amazon representative is in attendance. The multinational technology company requested the review for a 216,018-square-foot facility with associated parking, access drives and loading spaces for trucks and vans. Amazon refers to it as the “DGX2” site plan concept. The building would be constructed on 68th Street, near Patterson Avenue, and would be used for delivery operations. The location is between the $150 million Amazon Fulfillment Center that opened in 2020 and a sortation center that opened across the street two years ago between 68th Street and M-6. Kyle Schott, director of real estate development for Ryan Companies, provided a brief update to the Planning Commission on the project. Ryan Companies is the developer working on behalf of Amazon. “Madame chair, first of all, let me express my extreme displeasure that the only people here (on behalf of Amazon) are the architect, the engi­ neer and the construction manager,” said planning commission member Tim Haagsma. “Nobody from the applicant’s company. “And that’s typical of what we’ve seen when these things have come in,” he added. “I think somebody from Amazon ought to speak for Amazon.” Gaines Community Development director Dan Wells said he believes an Amazon executive will be on hand to discuss the proposed site plan at the planning commission’s Oct. 23 meeting. “We’ll review it,” he said. “They’ll do some modifications, I imagine. And actually, have someone here from Amazon to answer some of the questions.” One of the concerns raised by some planning commission mem­ bers at the Sept. 25 meeting was about traffic congestion. The site plan indicates Amazon associates will access the delivery building from 68th Street using one existing driveway and three additional drive­ ways on 68th Street. The existing driveway on Patterson also would be used to access the site. Planning Commission vice-chair­ person Ronnie Rober asked Schott See AMAZON on 5 �ilfS h'*r IT-i F 2 4 Saturday, October 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Turnout for inaugural festival surpasses organizers’ expectations Organizers of the inaugural Taste of Gaines festival outside the Gaines Charter Township Hall on Friday, Sept. 26, were hoping for a decent turnout. But the nearly 2,000 visitors who flocked to the event far surpassed their expectations. The sunshine and comfortable temperatures in the 70s did not hurt, either. The festival was co-hosted by the Gaines Chamber of Commerce, town­ ship officials and the Kent County SherifTs Office. “There are a lot ofcars out in the field, lots of people, lots of kids,” said Brad Waayenberg, a member of the Gaines Township Planning Commission. “I was surprised to see all the people. It’s great. “What a nice evening,” he added. “Perfect weather, lots of people, a good atmosphere. I’m glad everyone could come out and enjoy the Taste of Gaines.” The event ran from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday. “People were here well before 5 (p.m.) on the grounds, and I think it’s fantastic showing,” Gaines Township Clerk Michael Brew said. “It’s fantas­ tic for the community and I think the people are enjoying themselves, really enjoying themselves.” Chamber vice president April Moayyer served as chairperson of the event designed to showcase restau­ rants, food trucks and other businesses that are either located in township or are chamber members. The Gaines Township Board of Trustees approved the festival in July and authorized staff to spend up to $10,0000 in township funds to cover upfront expenses, such as tents, tables. a hot air balloon, marketing, vendor support and logistics. Based on the more than 40 vendors who participated, it appears the township easily recap­ tured the funding via sponsorship fees. Beer and wine were also sold at the event, while vendors offered tasting samples plus full-price menu items. There were several inflatables and bounce houses for children to play on, and other kids’ activities. The adults enjoyed the food and drink, a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle. “This is a great turnout, a wonder­ ful event,” said Tim Haagsma, Kent County Road Commission traffic and safety director, who is also a township trustee. “We have perfect weather and it’s great to see all the people from the community here.” Several corporations also helped sponsor the event, including Switch, Amazon, Steelcase, Microsoft, StoneCo, Allen Edwin Homes, and Land & Company Apartments, among others. “We could not be more delighted with Taste of Gaines,” Township Trea­ surer Laurie Lemke said. “Everyone we’ve talked to has been having just a wonderful time. Lots of great food. Great company. Great music. And I haven’t had one yet, but I hear the beer’s pretty good, too.” Gaines chamber executive Barb Nauta said she was “amazed” by the turnout. This community is just awesome,” she said. “Everybody’s out here.” Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra said he had a drone flying overhead at the beginning of the event, taking aerial photographs to determine how many vehicles were there. “I’m absolutely wowed at how many people are here,” he said. “The impact See FESTIVAL on 7 4 I .’■*4 I f' f. 4 * *- 4 'V- Z"- > James Gemmell Contributing Writer ' Fhill'S^ i 4 . c .tn i >» A. J './y. i R I. y A" F z ,\ ft ■ / J'lr k • I ib I > f tl > I r4 •3 1 >ai« k l.«»N I t-ki- '■ L’4 4^ I J A r’* «iAhN * I-’ « 1 t w t 1 I I 'll I I* /i ' A Z A'; V . Si * I* y IM* r f •• * A ..A H • r* x’l .*4 J f I I A 1 I if- r/ ■i 1 ! J I '» « J . ’a People lined up in droves for a chance to take a brief hot-air balloon ride at the inaugural Taste of Gaines on Friday, Sept. 26. Photos by James Gemmell e* I J- I* tll^ V I i X .?•* • { ■'"- 1 f’-l 4 J t I «« ■J 1! - I geaefi'^. II I '*'*1 ur 1 / < * <* > '. -•-‘5 » k pA '•' rS '.x-i < ) (9 fl < IF II A 511 - •I 4 • I * I • r ; ► • its. « »• iiiillieiia®? 5 { > I. •' ‘ « H ■rf • $ t <4 »• iBSserlit^ .J auK say m ! ) «j I « jsr;'lisSXtt The inaugural Taste of Gaines on Friday, Sept. 26, included inflatables for children to play in on the lawn outside the Gaines Township Hall. -*• j. I w V • v.v k 1I tl 4if T ■ HMMI . 3 AA ■»» « •'>* * I ■ T IV 11 ■ THE SUN AND NEWS r -^1 k I The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com Editor: Molly Macleod Group mmacleod@mihomepaper.conn Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com • x.;. PUBLISHED BY CONTACT US PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper 11 1 Copyright 2025 L® 2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. .j,i- >*• 1 U^f w 1 I All advertising in The Suri and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of . tt)e advertiser's order. * k <.'•>>' ' . ll 'intej ) . I I t •t 1. 1-' f -r .w L i '-fWiia ■ I >I-»I ! <f * I 1 ^«w ID « •r» fit' t J4 '■ Mb •l 9 J RJ3 a ip' r ■H '’ r *12 *A J 41 I) t i I ; I t * y IH fi I I I I n ‘t »* u i «i I 1 I J t 4 �J I >' i I J ) »- * • * 1 * J t ■.i1 " www.sunandnews.com Fall Heritage Festival set to highlight township’s agricultural history James Gemmell Contributing Writer * 7 ■' . { f. I J 7u' I f J ■ 3? f■* lit; f Ifci 4 • J t f •> rVo i1 V.S' l 7’' 4 . -- ' zi l»fVTtz4t i^T ► o if£fi Qi >f A k•y I I I 71 IM . 6! .ni.i, AWTMt W ' J' trrr^^wnin yshiff!^ 'J.agfjinll oriJ’^rti not tno 3 Etds iS'J -J ,, ? r { t . j « I ♦ fl X ' » • / 1I J f J ♦x •J’/trb f I *V 5 J *«» I. f&E’^ A (L k '’T" il '•’0 I I f t I o viiaf I 1' ' £ J ■ I Ittll 4 X i 4 aobi’ <noq - rn,; , ^k { •# ‘■■-r I T»v( > ,qn </fwuT Lnx.f nii'i'rrrl tU oili lliv/ I t ?1 I I I k - « “ l’ It 5fi) lazTOJjifl .Ilmi3/(J .) Il'jv/ qjj gniqBflz •t i I i - Jif'tyit’ii I 1 JJ L .bi'/iteal i bhjoj w luff *r bsbbjr«rt^ eSiobmv j I .upilnL ^i j; i 1 1 » rtJ nrritTsdjn^n J!w zIIlot sniog 1 sH to djrnrP jiwnd jrti vuniJOJ ^^nifmol (Jiw ,nooHOt .m.r.Tf Ti'-ih; jri)ntgmY8lq >s\ob owt luodA ir. *? J I I s 1 I -i/ Ui J:: > Ifr «* v: «•. ■ ♦* • . :n- J W. 1 .xt 1 ** a •■ J s.** u fJ I x* r-' Ij I ,1 I I •>-' I I I k ■ I ■¥ , I( I I : J I II I d !h i 11 I I I’ll I i 4 .e n *I 1 1 r I I •i .1 »» >'« T : *• ‘ 1 s f J 1 ' 4JB A.. Ji i - s •> ir .-4X ?r4 4 gsr«_ u: * ♦** Tl •% * > L.. > *!SS •A B. Gaines Historical Society president Shirley Bruursema and treasurer Linda Crumback had a table sent up Sept. 26 outside the township hall for the inaugural 'Taste of Gaines’ festival to promote the upcoming Gaines Fall Heritage Festival on Oct. 11. Photos by James Gemmell A banner outside the Gaines Township promotes Hall the Fall Heritage Festival set to be held there and at the adjacent Prairie Wolf Park on Oct. 11. I >7 Bl * *♦ / ♦ Prailie^ .1 O f wk itage Jval J > FaH « * ■-ftr K nd Safi/rday in October 1 517.646.0439 * Lansing 269.967.6241 * Battle Creek/K-zoo 517.740.1533 * Jackson/Ann Arbor antennamen.customer@gmall.com www.theantennamen.com www.cell8ignalpro8.com pE/MAX THE. 1 RE/MAX OF GRAND RAPIDS Digital TV Antennas * Towers * StarLink Installs * Wireless Data Links * Cellular Enhancement Systems Margaret (Margo) E. Peric CELL /A SIGr * Building-to-building, (ul1 Time REALTORS Offering Sales A Leasing Services Since 2003 Cell: (616) 204-9792 Office: (616)957-0700 Email; margoperic@remax.nel IB tdkSl) PROS ♦ Closed-Cell Foam Insulation * Blown-In Attic Insulation 117 S Jefferson St. Suite B, Hastings 517-983-0954 (Behind Hungry Howies & Mexican Connection) Silt lOnii) - 4pm Start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam * High definition outdoor cameras to monitor your property Family Owned & Operated I *i. *> A Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 Point-to-Point WiFi Extensions GD WOOD PRODUCTS NBlson ’ s SPRAY FOAM,LLC t I t:.- 4 I 3 I j >* 11 e</ - l i'i lOam-Spin 41 j' -wr i . • Vintage Treasures :4 * • Home Decor • Furniture J6 •. - * /J ATHER r’a I I HUNT + have booths or tables set up at the festival. One of the popular vendors returning this year will be Doug’s Good Time Pig Roasting & BBQ Shack out of Shelbyville. Bruursema said anyone interested in being a vendor or a volunteer should phone her at 616-698-8464. Also, Linda Crumback, treasurer for the local historical society treasurer, will have copies of her book, “William J. Hardy & His Family,” about the township’s early history for sale. The book describes how the Hardy family came to the area in the 1840s and how Hardy became the township supervisor in 1872 - the first African American to be elected to office in Michigan. And, Rich McConnell of Gaines Township will provide the hayrides through the adjacent Prairie Wolf Park again this year. Also, Bruursema said festival-goers can expect to see township fire trucks and sheriff’s vehicles on display. Some vintage vehicles will be on site, as well. There will be children’s games and other activities provided by the Gaines Township Branch of the Kent District Library. Bruursema added Byron Center Television ■ will video- I __ record the I festival I ^-yik for airing on Comcast cable channel 25 in Byron and Gaines townships. • 7* ’ s k r * , f I <» yi A Revolutionary War soldiers’ en­ campment, pony rides and barbecue will serve as just a few of the highlights at the annual Fall Heritage Festival in Gaines Charter Township on Saturday, Oct. 11. The festival is held on the lawn at the township hall on Kalamazoo Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Gaines Historical Society president Shirley Bruursema has been organiz­ ing the Heritage Festival in its pres­ ent format since 2011, with the event celebrating the township’s agricultural history and where prairie wolves once roamed the land. She said having the Revolutionary War reenactment will be timely, with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States coming up next year. Jerry Berg, owner and curator of the Fishing Museum & Cultural Center in Comstock Park, does historical reen­ actments at the event each year. The pony rides will be provided by Mary’s Country Critters, based in Wayland Township. Owner Mary Tegethoff will also be bringing a petting zoo to the festival. Overall, Bruursema said plans are shaping up well for the upcoming festival. “But we could always use more vendors,” she added. “The main thing we need is antique tractors. “But other than that, everything else is going really well.” Doug Smith of Hastings will be per­ forming country music on stage from 11 a.m. to noon, with Mick Bruursema playing in the afternoon. About two dozen vendors usually I Saturday, October 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS SAW MILL OFFICE 517-254-4463 Conscientious Timber Harvester Wanting to Buy Standing Timber �r ■ f 4? 9 f * if- f * JO. .J •* - > I II Saturday, October 4, 2025 4 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ✓ A: I « • H* HOST Continued from Page 1 44 Antique fire trucks will be on site,” Miller said. “Firefighters will be available to talk about fire safe­ ty, Great Lakes Energy Company will have an electrical trailer pres­ ent for a demonstration on electri­ cal safety - power lines down, etc. “Representatives from Barry County Central Dispatch will have a booth to talk about emer­ gency 911 and its operations,” he added. The Yankee Springs fire station is located at 1425 S. Payne Lake Road. For more information on the Oct. 6 open house, persons may call 269-795-1650. GO ONLINE TO SONANONEWS.COM ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM g 6:00 PM Rev. Robert Mayo, Interim Pastor www.ala5kabaptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST 250 Vine Street 616-891-8669 4^." Obituaries z* I* * I ,•1 w* i .O-. < ’ V . » 1 April Ludtke April Ludtke, age 48, of Middleville, Ml, passed away on September 10, 2025 at Metro Health after a short illness. April was born in Bryan. Ohio, September 25, 1976. She was an avid gardener, lover of animals, and enjoyed being outdoors. April was a beloved mother, sister, daughter, aunt, partner and will be truly V missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her life partner. Lincoln Ludtke; her three sons, Morgan. Remington, and Seth; her father. Juan Santos; siblings. Jamie, Bonnie, Chris, Jeremy, Shannon, Danielle, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother Myra. Contributions in April’s memory can be made to the animal shelter Focus on Ferals in Byron Center, Autism Society of Kent County or the group of your choice. * 1 • -t’P ' <• I I r s ■ A V ;,!■■■ 1 J ' £ 1 .A .4 .rt A I r ■Uf' 1 • 7 i f i >'|O • » V Of I r > a I I 4 I J V* I 4 < » «^5‘' 4*9 << ♦ I » -*t I t ( .»r* 1 ii '*1 -A T H r .t cornerstonechurch ' 1 I \ #< Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Ham 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend i r < M 'J W' S' I1 ■ :r . r > tt GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM e3^. kU * I• • /* } H?. U‘' at s . t •\ J •s* Sunday Service 10:30 AM Good Shepherd Lutheran Church ex co 4 IN < 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) K'f Sunday Worship........... I •b ^qiMIWiil'^ -*•1^ 'C > n.x /u ...... .................................. Livestream: fa^ebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville . . . 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http:/1goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET- 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 holy family fA?) CATHOLIC CHURCH f THANK YOU I ! ;ta /. I 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses... -.9:00 a.m. & IpOO a.m. CHURCH - ■ £^<2*1911 CHURCH f » Caledonia Location a 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am PEACECHURCH.ee < I • k THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9:30am & 11 ;00am 20 state Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. <& 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. «« Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee ♦ • ♦ • I if r ' <np- W*s DHET A I II,' fn ’4 a r f ? @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 ww'w.stnaulca ledonia.org .. 1^. I. ^1* iRk i ' I e » ®1 - f < iff 1 V r 4 fi I r— 1 Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. (269) 795-2391 e^PEACE 1 1 ' I J « vr t• 1«'ik • 1.: T 4 JOURNEY • J J •-r j ’v n A I • f.** t9 ’ . -n 0 ■■ ’ ’tn * M Middleville III » . I LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church -V t?' Yankee Springs Bible Church 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 r G >«m> •* tr Shining Forth God's Light" Sunday Morning Worship Community Group 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. a • ; I icti *< il^i . J 1 I' i b <4^ H< hl L -as: X ■ rsiTis- : The family of Dave Dykstra who passed on September 12, 2025 wish to thank everyone who kept us in their prayers. For all the donations to the Dan Dykstra Jr. Memorial Scholarship. For the beautiful flowers and cards. And to the special friends and neighbors who provided the luncheon. A special thank you to Dan Beyer for the beautiful service given for Dave. A thank you to Beeler Gores Funeral Home for the wonderful care the gave us. I r 1 01X1 i , I !a;n:J I DC'rfjV .V :u 'int -i Til--it i 111 ! I HK '>• i<U»: 41U L» I » • * «SD.. I i i C i. i ‘.TT.'K \1 . .-5 1 r ■ : .l..r> . <■ 1 I <U: I 4' - t .I V laic Mfb-I * I I 1 • * f- Ih •1 Love, Barb and Family James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankeespringsbiblechurch.org i * 1 Lu /I I I i I f: ULit asH: A t st'k.. A a tl-B ** fl; i ii. --- �X 1 AMAZON A ( •9 Continued from Page 1 -ntno. ’ t. 'M I ' I ‘ J. I 1 . T 1 V I J i I t I '4- r fi 4 % ^1 i! J J J 11* f . . • / i. . J . I / f- i 1; r:. i I r »* 1 I •I J J fu ■ . >« «» ■ • 5 i J * L-ir 9 ' f / i I * JU If ► / t •4’ u.t 49. J ' < ' .Si' / » I i I. r r* * . I n 'Klfl 1 I > I I s 4 I ' r Ui I 1 i r* ■ s ii' rnr ♦ I . I I. • ' I VjV I A-J i u J ’ 4 »» I I I r 5 . V f I I 0 L ■ I □ J i f ? V 9 •t w J ' fl 1 1 ooaE rt I I 1 I 4 I i J * 2 b I IH ♦ i I I I « J • J# J 1 I i •f ■ • a'l. ) i< ,, ]• 9 * I * rM I 1 r t I I f 4 li I ) J I 1 . ..V- I 9 - *■ V I 4 f j 4 . f I < I 1 f J J I I * < I I I * I fi-' n : - ‘ >-1 1 . ) I S ijiH. J * r e 4 I how Amazon would address heavy truck traffic that speeds down 68th Street. “From a traffic and parking perspec­ tive, Amazon’s been taking strides to enforce operational excellence with their drivers,” Schott said. “So, once they leave the facility it becomes a little bit more difficult. “Amazon’s putting in place some level of punitive damages for drivers that do not follow protocol as it relates to traffic patterns, as well as parking rotations and things like that.” Schott added that there will be fewer semi-trucks coming in and out of the distribution center. Each of the vans that leaves the facility will be heading on a route to a specific location in the community “So, because of that you shouldn’t see an influx in one particular direc­ tion,” he said. Rober said she has seen trucks from different companies speeding down 68th Street west of the East Beltline. They’re flying. They’re not just driving, they’re flying,” she said. “Within residential areas,” planning commission secretary Lani Thomas said. “It’s been a problem. Those vehicles can’t stop quickly, if they’re full.” Schott said Amazon’s manager of economic development policy, Kyle DeGiulio, has spoken to Wells in the past about issues. “But I know that, operationally, they have had improvements in put­ ting things in place to hold drivers accountable for their actions,” he said. Haagsma, who is also traffic and safety director for the Kent County Road Commission, said he was under the impression when the 850,000-square foot Amazon fulfill­ ment center opened in 2020 that most of the truck traffic would take M-6 off Broadmoor Avenue. He added traffic studies show that 50 percent of the Amazon truck traf­ fic is heading west and 23% of it gets on M-6. The trucks are also using Kalamazoo Avenue as entrance and exit point, rather than taking strictly Broadmoor Avenue to 68th Street. “And I’m as frustrated as you,” Haagsma told Rober and Thomas. Because we thought most of the traffic - based on a traffic study done whatever years ago - was going to • Everything made from scratch r* « * V-r 1 / /'S*. 1& mJ <♦ ♦l s L 1'1 ’ 5 r It -i your J fife A little it su/eeter I to iw » V I «Y. % 1 I Mom m as DUMPSTER RENTAL SNOW­ PLOWING, Lot Clearing, Forestry, Mulching, Brush Hog, Mowing. Dumpsters-Solutions.com (616)283-9712, HANDYMAN SERVICES OF­ FERED. Mise, repairs, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Estimates. 269-243-0468. CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 EMPLOYMENT SEASONAL HARVEST POSI­ TIONS - $17/hr. We are hiring 30-40 reliable team members for harvest season. Work beginning September 15 through December 31. Must be 21 or older to apply. Positions are part-time with flex­ ible scheduling—ideal for anyone seeking extra income alongside a full-time job. No prior experience required; training provided. Work in­ volves hands-on harvest and postharvest processing in a fast-paced but supportive team environment. Contact us at: wholesale @greencoventures.net or 269-758-3078. \ I WANTED WANTED TO BUY: Standing Timber. Conscientious timber harvest­ er. Saw Mill Office-517-254-4463. Family owned and operated. r‘'t's>ag 'A A 1 Your local agent insures your -- J »Ca K J VT / H^ime 19 A4 r • ■* ««1 ’I BUSINESS SERVICES 1 •» r Classifieds I ) BAKERY & CAFE Sr r r * 15% OfF Your Toto! RiH FARM BUREAV « MSl/RA^CE^ must present coupon, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 11/29/25 I J I \1 Cfosedt Tue^ctoof-J'i'idoaf: Qvik\da\i C^turday: SMK-2ff^ 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA / 616-2754017 / SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM I I i ’ J f I . I I » 1 11 . 1 '•i! ‘ fi. . M I ’ I ( ’I I f I i f I ♦ J I > <» j I - J ! • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar < 'i-i 5 (4 ^5* X I*'” ' The problem is, he answers to higher ups that I have no idea who they are. And when he says, ‘Yeah, let me run that by them,’ it runs up the chain to somebody and the decision is never made.” Gaines Township officials have previously suggested for years that Amazon open the parking lots of the facility south of 68th Street and let them park there. This relates to the overall ecosystem of these three buildings, and the repeated problems have not been addressed,” Wells said. He suggested an Amazon offi­ cial could work with the Planning Commission and revise the site plan to put in a parking lot for the trucks to use that’s visible and accessible off Rapids Drive. TTre Planning Commission voted unanimously to postpone any action on the site plan review until a traffic­ impact study is forwarded to the township by the Kent County Road Commission, and until an Amazon official can attend the next commis­ sion meeting. The motion also recom­ mended that sufficient truck parking be included in the design plan. come more from M-6 and go more to M-6 off Broadmoor.” Gaines Township trustees sup­ ported a traffic study in 2018 for the intersection of Broadmoor Avenue and M-6, sometimes referred to as the “Four Comers” area, because Gaines, Cascade and Caledonia town­ ships, plus the City of Kentwood were impacted. Haagsma said he does not think the vans coming in and out of the proposed distribution center will adversely impact peak period traffic on 68th Street. “I don’t know that there’s anything the township can do from a site plan review level that makes that stay the same,” he said. “Let’s say five years from now (they say), T think we want people to leave here at 7 o’clock in the morning.’ If we dump this kind of traffic out on the road at the regular peak, that’s when there’s an issue.” Planning Commission chairwoman Connie Giarmo said a condition for site plan approval should be that Amazon provide a contact person to keep in touch with township officials. “I have had numerous conversations with Kyle DeGiulio,” Wells said. I ! Saturday, October 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville 9^# (269) 795-8827 jparks@fbinsnii.com FarmBureaufnsurance.com �6 Saturday, October 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com County commissioners eliminate COW meetings this quarter Molly Macleod 1 I * ft i ’* ■ “x *>4. month on a trial basis throughout this quarter. At the end of the 90-day trial period, in January, commissioners will reflect and decide whether to reinstate the COWs or continue with the BOC-only meeting structure. The board unanimously voted in August to adopt the 90-day trial. Some citizens expressed concerns during public comment that elimi­ nating COW meetings could reduce opportunities for constituents to meet with their representatives and have their voices heard. The next BOC meeting is sched­ uled for Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 9 a.m. Meetings are held in the mezzanine at the Barry County Courthouse in Hastings. Editor With the fourth quarter of 2025 officially underway as of Oct. 1, the Barry County Board of Commis­ sioners has entered a trial period in which the board will eliminate its Committee of the Whole meetings. Commissioners voted at the Tues­ day, Aug. 26, regular meeting to eliminate COW meetings in the fourth quarter of2025. Commission­ ers’ business will now be relegated to two meetings a month, instead of two COW meetings and two Board of Commissioners’ meetings. The board will only have two BOC meetings, and no COW meetings, on the second and fourth Tuesdays ofthe ;*--T -Iftr . •«< f I 1*- -■ I } l«. J 7 I fr t < ;ri n rj ME t !H| ^OWSJT^’;. I T rp > L < ) « Cb Ltb Residential & Commercial «s A.. t f 4 •r . K S •H* ■i 12 ....... ..... ’> < ft. 4 *W**»b. * z- « . & 4s:JA 4.*f WWKm b .4^« > -2 DeWeerd <68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. LENNO^ ACCREorreo » .r**.' ' fi»=* miiiii^^y X of f *« kt I I I I I ft < 1 iI I 1^ 1. I ** <r I I. 1 4 As part of its “If we can’t find you, we can’t help you” campaign, Yankee Springs Fire Department officials are asking area residents to install green reflective address signs on their mail­ boxes. Yankee Springs Fire Captain Al Bouma said the reflective address signs are critical in finding residents in an emergency situation, especially for those who live in secluded areas. “It’s kind of a community risk in not having them (reflective signs) there,” Bouma said. “With 53,000 acres of woods in Yankee Springs, it’s not al­ ways easy to find them. “We have a thing called Active 911 that we can open up a navigation and, as long as you have good cell service, that navigation won’t work,” he added. “It gets you close in the area, but some­ times it may send you to the wrong house or may show multiple locations with this address.” The reflective address signs will be available for $25 at the Yankee Springs Fire Department station house starting from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 6 during the 4 ■/ *u>- ^4 n. 1 1 hr\i^ > V u « ■ I 1 r t-J > ■ Ba" 1 « XLi** J t » I - I 4I .» n' t. .'“Ifv i h t * o' ! X J . tsr display table at Chief Noonday Car Park on Saturday during the Gun Lake Fall Fest showcased the Yankee Springs Fire Department’s “If we can’t find you, we can’t help you" campaign. Green reflective address signs were on hand for $25. > 1 f Tr ana 3 ii' I » r UM f» •^1 1 1 ■■ .-^ Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers 4 k (i 6 y I** Safety campaign underway in Yankee Springs, reflective signs grabbing attention WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS I ( 'I J Id b A i •J aJciB' - 4 ‘ 1 ?f A f <1 a»< < I I Staff Writer »' ■•.■ I J i < i« I I f ♦ «ft J Karen Turko-Ebright .1 h’S* I - Wf « 4 I I '* I * *• f«htWL .r^ Visit us online at www.Sunandnews.com t*’'7 E J < i- J i: *I r- t' ♦ *l£« b / 1 . £ <. **«r ’ FE srnh ‘•'Tr f 1 > ft: r7 -3*\ I tseCf fep'IlK * fl 1 I 4 4 I*' I r t i bT i '» I * * b <* S I 2.W^' w a *.fir ** f 4^1> > ? Wi r 1 4 « 2? t w r* r f 9 k t i •' •<■*»*•■‘W w a s^" w «; .•r. 4 .>r‘ .>« «< t -r 4 w f.J: S(f.»* I |b *• - .U' 1^ ci- 2rJ? IP^ 1 'M i: SCkW I ■' /aoc'ii^’S' 4 i ■)► 52 > jsiiaioofeii&sba 1 < I ( A • 1 f fit nVt 5^. V. i J •* «r I •l I ^¥-5 ** kJif ♦f. w. u g ■ As part of a “If we can’t find you, we can't help you” campaign, Yankee Springs Fire Department officials are asking the community to install reflective green address signs on their mailboxes. Photos by Terry Cole ;xi . fti’' I JS * h .I - ’«i - ^^Ulus I I J I b* I I k ' ’1 •**3 . r I t; • J ih K .. Y ’w 1 / J r f ” ii./U •' I . F. i * r 1 • • . f? T I 4 ' 'mm • ; * i *7 I -J. ' b * - 'y* I I Mi*r*'< I . 4 ^‘A <• 1 .>. I J n r * * t ’ �i I a J INCREASE: A ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH VWrW * K I i < I I '^ZT^bn ' 01 ‘7)u»n i: r ■ ’••T U..' r.' i I 1 i i I I I f I 't. w I 1 I ■ 1 I / f I I « I & c t I IT I e t t f< I A *i •H ' ■ I •'. V WiiX t>4 ii v_ r. ^■0 7' I- *. fl I I» ■9! • Qti t I J X J ■■5 Ck I I li • th r 1.1 f S» "Si • 1' 1V TTO3’ w •< t f .■’.V $ . K «ni f I J. H I ” ’i 1 J . I 'Icrri y . H njodp ■ 1 I I J J I I I Jr ’si f I r I 1 , n II hU r I « r r. I fit 'i' T ■I I i f r A r ♦ * V. . |to nw iQ I . ,1* I f I ki J' 4 ^5 f r -it V •ir i P I » I 1 } I I ' J • I r * 4 i rtobr-.Q 2aa?uiT h tawod^ £ J f f r biB> I I f I I ! I ) r'Z'i . ) I BLini ^4 •i ■ 1 *> « If . J '-. I • I s I I- *I I I >t '{ H.U I r I ' - ! I . » t' 1 J r 'U I I I . . ’J 1 j ■4 I o ' I I I T » : ’ r- ( /J » r *wT5m» Ab* r* ' R*«« EX c A » J t r. .J--*... Commitment b* Saturday, October 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I J , I I 1 J Do you want to be finan­ trip to the movies? cially successful? Then you What if you made an need to understand one word agreement that you would above all else: commitment. hit your first income target We live in a day and age within a year and had a level where commitment means of commitment that would very little. Last week, we move a mountain with a discussed the importance of Zach Santmier shovel? If you had that level living in agreements versus ofcommitment, do you think expectations. However, an agreement you’d find a way to increase your value is only as good as the level of commit­ in the marketplace to increase your ment behind it. I can agree to showing income? You better believe it. up for my daughter’s ballet recital, but There is no doubt that hard things if I’m not committed to being there, will come in your path that will work an issue at the office could cause me to derail you from your financial goals. to miss her recital and break her heart. We know^ that as you pursue financial If you’re going to agree to work this stewardship in your life, you’re going system I have been teaching, then you to see roadblocks and attacks pop up must be committed to fulfilling your like never before. The question is, are agreement. you committed to walking in the good My family has adopted a definition works that I believe your Creator has of commitment that one of my busi­ for you? Are you committed to the ex­ ness coaches taught me. Here’s the tent that you will move a mountain with definition: Commitment means mov a little measly shovel if that is required ing a mountain with a shovel if that is to do what you said you would do? required to do what I said I would do. I am convinced that if you will live That’s some serious stuff! Think in agreements around your financial about it. I grew up in the Blue Ridge stewardship and are committed to Mountains. They’re not that big, espe­ fulfilling those agreements you make cially compared to the Rockies or the with one another and yourself, then you Alps. But if I’m committed to holding will have absolute success in pursuing up my end of the agreement, I am all God has for you. These are life saying that if I must, I will get out my principles that, when applied to your shovel and begin moving that moun­ finances and your purpose, will make tain, one shovelful of dirt at a time. I you unstoppable in experiencing the am committing to taking the time that life that is truly life. is necessary. I am committed to put­ Commit today to pursue INCREASE ting in the backbreaking work. I am in your personal finances. Commit so committed to looking ridiculous and heartedly that you can say with confi­ having others laugh at me to fulfill my dence, “I will move a mountain with a end of my agreement. I am committed, shovel if that is required to do what I ifnecessary, to moving a mountain with committed to do.” Your family tree will a shovel if that is required to do what look different if you bring this level of I said I would do. commitment to every aspect of your Imagine that level of commitment life, but specifically, your personal in your life! What if you said that you finances. would stick to your budget, and as the Cheers to your commitment! month is coming to a close and your Zach Santmier is the owner of entertainment category is empty, you Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of planned anight in with your kids. What thepersonalfinancial course, Increase. if you made a fancy type of popcorn He focuses on helpingfamilies escape and planned an evening so special that paycheck-to-paycheck living so they no one even realized you canceled the can freely pursue their idealfuture. t ''U I • \ V* r —— < *w sac X t £ saf^*** NW t- * •• 5’Uf* s People didn’t seem to mind waiting in line for a free hot-air balloon ride during the first-ever Taste of Gaines festival on Friday, Sept. 26. FESTIVAL Continued from Page 2 is already happening. So many people have said to me, ‘This was a great idea. We’ve got to do it again. We’ve never had anything like this. We absolutely love it. “One really good thing that’s 559 NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES going to help our community is people are saying, ‘I didn’t know all ofthose businesses are in Gaines Township,’” he added. “My reac­ tion is I wanted something to hap­ pen to bring people together. Now, we have a base to do this now over and over and over.” 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS; Monday - Friday: 8 AM to 5 PM AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m. THE HASTINGS BANNER Tuesday at Noon BODY SHOP THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon Group mihomepaper.com Complete Collision Repair 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your TrvsTed Body Shop Tor over 32 years 7 �I.. I 8 Saturday, October 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Scots share the load in three-set win over Reeths-Puffer girls www.sunandnews.com inii ‘ ► I I I •t4! Ct .-.-Sc. R » > Brett Bremer Sports Editor It was a good night to try some things right from the start. The Caledonia varsity volleyball team jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first set against visiting Reeths-Puffer in an OK Green Conference dual at Caledonia High School Thursday, Sept. 25, and went on to a 25-19, 25-15, 2515 over the visiting Rockets. Sophomore Quinn Ziegler had a few big kills during that early run for the Scots, Aubrey Reynolds got in some big swings, and then Scots did their best to spread the attack around after that. “We were flexible tonight. We wanted to show that our whole team can contribute and everybody played tonight, and everybody contributed and we came out on top. That is what you want,” Caledonia head coach Ashley Brown said. “We manipulated the roster in a couple of different ways. We’ve been running a 5-1 and we ran a 6-2 tonight just so we could get some more attack­ ers in and to have it in our back pocket in case we ever have to pivot to that in a tournament or in another game. We wanted to be confident in a couple different line-ups in case we ever had to do that.” Junior Reese Stafford has been the Fighting Scots’ lone regular setter much ofthe season It was really just the second time all year that the Scots have put senior Kayla Charles in a position to share those duties with her. “She has been playing middle for us. She is also a setter for us,” Brown said. “She hit right side instead ofmiddle and set when she was in the back row. We ran a 6-2 at one tournament, but that has been pretty much it. Reynolds closed the night with 19 kills, eight digs and three aces. Stafford had 20 assists and Charles put up 19 assists. Charles added six Wils, eight digs and four aces. Sophomore Lydia Bell had six kills 1 • I- T' > I » jv x**; (f • * KL bhi 1 .*W I >!5i I * 4k t^--^ jk • Tit <*’ V *•1 > I ■> I / CALEDONIA FIGHT! 1 "K PB »3 -I--.; 6. i- K A Uto I t I 1 X *** 1b 9 4» * «' 4 I i , -*r ** ^■•‘ .** * 5 .^O «• * 40 -*-m to* -c < jr * *««« «k *^to >A • ** ... A t '0 to • to* i*to* ->4 ■ar*. 2. - '':u. -- ZL. QUALITY ROOFING '' r w '-to ?i'XFrS‘*c{S lU, * to* <““"W ■<r •c * toi w a*' r’ X at"" •* 1 .* >» } ca I- *w XA •k’ 2* ^•1 •to to‘*’r to **ito4* "X toto tto* w Hi ' K *.■» w *« ■ ..'X* >to: 4» I 7. •I vi' J ;;s I ♦ ' -X t 4 A «> k A* 1 CALL z-'. TOW « ft 4 v« * .. 'W " a to f V to* » j ;», r^. 4 T V ’Fc 'M ( 4 T to to -•* reWWB iNsracteoN A ’f. fi I ff l> *m; •» to ?3tW >• > w \NE ' .'««L JB •i»'; to « V to* □ *4 vr • LOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115+ YEARS IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING ! EXTERIOR OPTIONS • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU to .5 to * tototo to «< tor 4 >« to «• w *w»» to* ''W' It i A--? .* « to 40. ' * <*-*** T *•• VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK to»- to V to X 55 •“ *f r • • * r >*•» to * IT to* tok I * * *« to-.,.-. . •JRto’T’. .T -r> ' 3 to 269-962^4036 .*«to »« y.4 . f > "C..A r"* to to toi. .. to to* 'X tot***^* » .X A . «• i f K / ____ 'A' ’r^ 4 Z :' I to r7 stkF to k 1 f * &' 2^ •< €* • ■SHv' to >% a I f r 9 % sx * : 1 .. J fL > / w -M f I ■J n I I k, 2 <« •• ? r:is* I I *8 tw < m I V' i i l’ 1 1 I I ♦I k ■ R t * t s s F HI % • 4 1* 4( 4 r I 1 I •jV co f a Caledonia junior outside hitter Aubrey Reynolds fires an attack during her team’s three-set win over visiting Reeths-Puffer in OK Green Conference action Thursday, Sept. 25. Photos by Brett Bremer 4 f-f *** r > .Hari . ’1ll *Sto-' *' * '* IS??' ’ I '-J* 4 ,J . - Ctosicy' * J ■isrr-i>^ r J* 1^ ;; r « '^. s a <• •/*r I* A . ■ -1 -. .■*5'- 2^4^^ tot.' 4»». .. • tot *.» r** « -"to to ■C-Ta ".,iug\;a^<0iX * * » to "to' to ■k *;.Z SHERRIFF GOSLIN ^toU « z • » to***«r «ij^ to « •to ----- *, TV' * T M rr^«a toto <w •..c. —. w 4 < f w W < lb'--; *«toto 9 f • I r / . u •*w -w* .--< ►' to »' " ■». Sr^'^ . > ♦ ..lib •....^ ♦. • •»"• .< * w *w I ,01. i t ••*<> I Mi ff ’' ♦>.; I 'J II J THEyWQSTT^RUSTER‘NAME IN ROOFING .. l4 * .- for the Scots too. Juniors Avery Seif and Dylan Hilaski had eight digs apiece. Senior Maggie Loomis chipped in two blocks. Junior Kayleigh Miersen chipped in four digs, two kills and two aces. “I think the girls that haven’t played a whole lot, I think they really stepped up tonight,” Brown said. “We put up some good blocks. One of our seniors, Maggie Loomis, she did her job. She went up and put blocks up and had a couple of nice swings. Dylan Hilaski, one of our DSs, she stepped in and was consistent on serve receive and defense. I think it just shows that we have more depth than we have probably had in a few years here at Cal. It was nice to see everyone step up and contribute. Once or twice when the Rockets made a run, the Fighting Scot setters were happy to pump some passes towards their attack leader Reynolds. She had two kills from the left side and another one from the right to help turn a Rocket 6-5 lead to an 8-7 Caledonia lead early in the second set. “It is nice having that option, because she is pretty good at out of system balls, and she has really been working on being a threat in the front row but also the back row,” Brown said. “She has done a really good job stepping up and being that person we can count on when we need to put the ball away.” The Caledonia girls were slated to visit Jenison Oct. 2 and will be home to take on Muskegon Oct. 9. u > r I .K.^3 > ISJO* isliesl^’^ I .4 k* ' *w ni 4i 4' 1 ^IIIIL ? 3 t I .?r a K M- to I / ♦ ’Ite 4|f W 1: < Pu T Smt* 4 fE*!**-..-' i r 5. I »4' • V; • 1 fit. :•*.» 'A — p.-3B 3 t—C—‘ J* .' W ------- U ) * S-ft J >9 u MJ tt >«*• 1 -.J_ I »I “ •e ' ? Wf * T 4 I J a 1 5 J J ’l I f J r 4 > ■ 1 !! ‘ ■• jRf LM VA- -•’V u * ?r 5 4> /ISS -'©ssfc 2’ Caledonia junior Kayleigh Miersen reaches back to pass a ball against ReethsPufferThursday, Sept. 25 at Caledonia High School. F* l» Ba>*55lS ! i nj 1" < L I 4 . i ............ .* -.J. J ♦ 5 ; ■ V 'J» s ^<6* : .'•^' f r ^iloS 1 '» ’K >-**.• . :<t s “*• k ."iW I V ’*^>4 » �♦ ♦ 'ibn. 4 J2AVWV Saturday, October 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 9 ♦ ♦ • 'A •a’ 1 I 1 * Sporting News i •• <1 % ■* 1 i 7’ I .Ik r rw •v> 'WM > . * & J % I I I 4 f I I 1 *y ■■I I, % 1 r ! t 4J ! * ‘ ! / i b •Ir 1 X % .1 :t?r’ rf it * f I 1 If <• I I V •% 1 V I I ■ i 'V * V \ p r I 'i I 1 w * n is !• - JT . r _r c /• >1 t I t I ;r .<r •' J I I •4 * ** 5 ♦ > • *• • i c « J *^1 >.S actf « b:2 { r. < ' 1 d < •>k k . rV i. J* .1 I * » «4^. '? J r* J ’i •R* i 1 • |i 10! I® FMIC I . r A 1 . t u ' I 1 f. I <1 .1 r ft f •kn*. I' 4 <’ : loiX ' J ' 1 I I • I . sJj. ’ . h .,d [ < lUv I « ».4I t r .K 1 1 1 1 J I I ;-'r I • t I I i 1 s i .-••A I <• I I, ) I 1 *1^ .'V •* r 2 > •* I 1 s ^1- ♦ •L •J<^4 J I aswnn:r I b I <» ;■ 1 I p 1 t<». r T— I « M r t -.lor.; T' bw* y.^V* T J* 1 )I I I Peter had 11.5 tackles to lead the TK defense. Smith had eight tackles including 3.5 for a loss. Blake Bossenberger chipped in five tackles. The teams traded punts back and forth to start the second half, before the Cougar field goal finally broke the 0-0 deadlock. Robinson closed the night with 11 rushes for 52 yards for the TK offense. The Trojans were scheduled to visit Northview Friday, Oct. 3, and will host homecoming in Middleville Oct. 10 agains East Grand Rapids. 60 ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM X I *' vw*«a<IVH» <^inT it ' uei«»r h R^' •< Offenses go scoreless as No. 1 Cougars best TK 10-0 4 0 A V I i > .^ . » * ’ * J Thornapple Kellogg senior back Debo Robinson lunges ahead for more yardage on a first half run against Grand Rapids Catholic Central inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville Friday. Photo provided **r-. Vvt 1^ IS ffPS 4 .-T n”. ; 4 C ’r ih't J* y^i ' t,. I ff r ft little over a minute to go in the first half, but a fourth down pass was just knocked out ofthe hands ofits intended target at the last second.. The TK defense came up big time and again throughout the evening. The Cougars followed up that Trojan turn­ over on downs late in the first half with a 77-yard bomb from Cougar quarter­ back Brayden Sweeney to Owen Tietema putting them in position to score in the south end zone before the Trojan marching band took the field. Camden Peter managed to chase down Tietema to prevent a touchdown. Peter was then in on the tackle with teammates Brekin Mcwhinney and Jack Smith a few plays later when they pulled down Sweeney at the three-yard-line as time in the the half ran out. Brett Bremer Sports Editor The outside linebacker watched, swatted, caught and ran. There was still some time left after Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior linebacker Collin Lott stole a Trojan pitch, snagged the ball out ofthe air and rushed 16 yards to the end zone for a touchdown inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville Friday. But in a game that ended up seeing only two scores, suddenly being behind by two scores was a lot. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, the top-ranked team in the state in Division 5, took a 10-0 victory over the Thor­ napple Kellogg varsity football team to improve to 5-0 overall this season and 2-0 in the OK Black Conference.. The Trojans held the No. 1 ranked Cougars without an offensive score, but fell to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the OK Gold with the loss. Catholic Central got a 22-yard field goal with 1:08 to go in the third quarter and then Lott’s defensive touchdown midway through the fourth quarter while shutting out the TK offense. The Trojans had a few opportuni­ ties to put points on the board. Debo Robinson burst through the middle for a couple big runs on the Trojans’ opening drive of the football game, but a TK drive stalled out inside the Cougar 20-yard-line. Catholic Central blocked a 36-yard field goal attempt at the end of that possession. The TK offense also moved the ball inside the Catholic Central ten with a BRADFORD WHITE 5KF0R BREAST CANCER ntomiER HEATING AND CXXILING High Efficiency FURNACE 8 AIR 18 months •300 FINANCING OR no monthly OFF Intorost if paid a in full with equal payments. .p a t t 1 1 i I • AIL PROCEEDS OO TO CANCER RESEARCH* DATE: OCTOBER 25'”, 2025 AT PAM S3' REGISTRATION FEE: $25 (T-SHIRT INCLUDED) ‘PRICE INCREASES ON OCTOBER lOTH* li « ► I >< B I J WOMAN'S NFTWRK other products available: *lHUC L(>B*0«A*i0N • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! J SIGN UP TODAY EVENT is OPEN IB THE PUBLIC 200 LAFAYETTE ST., MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 ( ^rf^^ ^•.4 • i '/ I t ■ '•: dv re/'<eruii> 210 East Main Street Cal e d onia 616-891- 1 ll i i'l I I I J I< I f i J Ul II 1 • I I • 11 I > I I * >4 ft / I & t I \ I *4 Must present this coupon. Expires 11-1-25 j i I V SPONSORED BY: 1 t r i* OUE U:-M X I *4 I •< I rw: I I » It I I I I *^J I Hi F I ! I: f It f 5 < k «< V k III It B k �1 1 j « Saturday, October 4, 2025 10 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com •-*- <>■* <^4^. ' I t ♦ ♦ r WE CONNECT COMMUNITIES ♦ ♦ r .1 l> I I % 11 • ■ J * ri J Let us connect you to your next cust X* I £ <■ as* ii 4 r & A 1 *o 1 > f •l I< ir I' ., ’ • "t^^r fl ’ « N <-. inaLinRi iii^ 4 t. * I < 5. I .•> « * ■"•W *£• >«• ft- 1. I. b * .- ■ / r -f k 11 .^■ «% .fl*“ >* ^•I 1 > k..^ J X* 4 ir- » .< V ,X r* . I IS 41 k ’^• 1? 1 * :'N> 1! ■ 4*> a \ A* -- w- I> t «** * ■‘f -4?- **> «%a. flfl a. h b■w * « ' V ,w I) iXa » li V r’ ,5A **'. :sunt '' 1 iF ,<■ i > SI ( IIIJ . SI* it ^■*'S \. /♦* M-**- '1 > X c - .u 1 r > , 4. a 1 • z i c ,-f fl X'.'ii k 4^ r <73 Jx.iV T** 1 r * • X CK"/ \w r.. » J DdliE^i » s 9 - 2xr ■>; . * X • / F* £ i' * 5w R• ^1* 1* > Ci k5 ^-1*% , ! , -• r')L >*«.■ .«v i g< ■^. f- c^** K * f I •2? *<* le f L >V •• SBy.;zZr<-?r;«^ 4. A*? 11 :* WT3<<^ ®jL 0 f W‘ r- X ■S' f|»*^ k fl* 1 ■4'-.»* • •4 “Vc Aj i aS fleisl^ •w - 9* V I . >'0- ir'’* -.JlIZL .Vv 1 4 V** , M . a»* * ; *T Itl^" ■ 1.(U( ( 1 9 6;><a44 J t I i ^9 f< i z A « A 1 * 1 ■ «• k MM k- J Vv lu A s« t 'iSsit*^ V51 % > I fl ' li.l’iA'' I ) T* * *”' !”“■ =!»■?'-''•?■ A t 5®^?^ fe ■ ss®. i f \' \AI ^S^/^cH)sftaffej^ Group I 1 *iK*l'- 4. fl •4* **•!.* ‘’4 ? r?^ ss<ig^rk^ 1 fl ♦« ’•T w** UA^i i I !^«W t’ ^O?W .> r i ' 1.' -.',»r >• 1 . V* n misw»»* t 7 r.’j "si*' W< « r• > f *k k 'f » iJ**, J J !" IH' *4 1» > I * *4 ' * •I y ’ «> fe'WiPSWE® WMi 1 r I fl . iM /> 1 We reach more than 352,000 homes each week and know how to make the most of your advertising budget. IT- 1: K V "i 4* !*«;> . .. .4 > a J «{t>^ wfc » — 1*'^ xitl t «v; I I .> -»* fll^b J < * .jrb*'4>; a i>«s. «mh « <Lj ». 19 VwrMrn" I- w 'VT' u 4 A 1 sfe sfe rin < * Wk « \ e w« r 41' ® WB«i} I »« f ?. t. 'A & •>- > V (• < I I ( » 1 I f i 1 1 «• I I. *,. I I f h 'i, •«* n I ( >« t I ( r r < I <1 I I'ik I I V 's w Schedule a consultation today Contact Advertising Director Pete Clinton 810-664-0811 • pclinton@mihomepaper.com 1* ;.i' i b h « 1 < f It 4 < i I 1 4 I 1 I r I i I i . r �♦ ♦ I I j Saturday, October 4, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 11 ♦ * 1 Scots win big over Cougars, take Loy Norrix Invitational championship .i I f 1SH.’’* I •1 ..”Ui P<^’ '»t8'K in ft r» Ui t *. ’V-Ah., n Gk ’ •’If * ’J J r r < -4^ J* * - I ■ . « I z 4 . I I •« r 4 I J 4 I i f 1 L ■' .\j: . rt I 1 -io?r j .7) H' / r jaTh "f' if •rz . Ei ziiJ • ‘dot -It J ' 7 Hfl I < i*-. i « I ho « yAibw bis74)02 oil) tt.’l -*«r« i » i cfmuurfjZ bnfV XJ M fit! '4 i? ni l qj/'i^nnin rr bl •no: '"'nl I Y 1 n ' Jij nt II I r 1 b C1J f X QI J—.* ■ - - 1/ jbfiMlu ;iXii " nuurio?’ f bio! v'..^ f I I /r.,t I r 'J < I r I I , -IsV to i rioK C - i J : I Wa » . J • J r i loai> A Br V / I I, 9 ( ' iTTISIi i 4 I, •» I» <J * I dtrw J8on i q SSm^hnr.jJd Op- .wblfn r: fa ierr^O T 'V II '( J--*-- |r I* I 4l' f* n n L ■' r r. : £ tiib { * EJ•t t * m ivj -rr I i b»u'«fcD .ttac 8 afft' ^ijBOb laM, f* « ij * » :uJ ■; J f d ., J. i Y'tt^Lnr 1 1I I J » 4 4 <♦ 4 5-, . 'i. >v I I fr f /i . .. .7 r;; [ I , ■■ ) r ! • • r f ■ I i r- I I; : < I h I r I I f !«< i 1 k J I I e J 7 t 1 ! 1•J H, ». -Tl.tT! p ■ /-!■ fr ? ! ■• I I ‘ /1 I I 1 f I i '< ! S'. ; h- li . 7 - . J •I'd. II _rH »4 .» I : ; t I d ■ 1 I . : j-rjj . t. I Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity girls swim­ ming and diving team scored a 108-75 victory over the Grand Rapids Catholic Central girls in an OK Conference East Division dual Tuesday in Caledonia. . The Fight Scots had the top two teams in the first two relay races of the evening. Lily Klein, Sophie Gaylord, Aliya Van Hofwegen and Caitlyn Mor­ ris opened the evening with a winning time of 1 minute 55.81 seconds in the 200-yard medley relay. Anneka Schuurmans, MyaVanderzwaag, Ame­ lia McCann and Kailey Hall had the runner-up finish in that race. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the Fighting Scots had a photo finish. The team of Madelyn Foerch, Anneka Schuurmans, Evie DeHaan and Gay­ lord won in 1:48.77 and the foursome ofVan Hofwegen, Addison Hoekwater, Nora DeHaan and Chloe Kerkstra was second in 1:48.97. It was a 1-2-3 finish for the Scots in the 100-yard backstroke. Gaylord won in 1:02.15m, Morris improved her personal best with a time of 1:05.82 to place second and DeHaan was third in 1:14.66. Gaylord and McCann went 1-2 in the 200-yard individual medley with the Scots. Gaylord won in 2:14.20 and McCann in 2:25.80. McCann added a winning time of 1:05.22 in the 1 OO-yard butterfly. Vanderzwaag won the 50-yard free­ style in 25.30 seconds and the 1 OO-yard freestyle in 55.72. Schuurmans won the 100-yard breaststroke at the end of the night for the Scots in 1:23.13. The Scots came into the dual on the heels of a championship Saturday at the Kalamazoo Loy Norrix Invitational. Caledonia girls won the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard free­ style relay at the race. Gaylord took the 100-yard freestyle in 52.24 and the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:07.46. Vanderzwagg was the breaststroke runner-up in 1:08.82 and she won the 200-yard individual medley in 2:14.75. Game’s first TD accounts for Scots only points in OK Red loss to the Falcons the Scots to 194 yards of offense, while the Falcon offense rolled to 398 yards including 226 on the ground. Hanna was 4-of-9 passing for the Scots for 74 yards and the one touch­ down and he rushed nine times for 44 yards. Aaron Collins had four rushes for 35 yards. Colton Sheely and Elliot Clark had five tackles apiece to lead the Caledonia defense. The Fighting Scots were set to host Grand Haven for homecoming Friday, Oct. 3, and will be back in action at West Ottawa Oct. 10. East Kentwood moved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the OK Red with the win. Brett Bremer Sports Editor For the third consecutive Friday night, the Caledonia varsity football team was held to one score in an OK Red Conference contest. East Kentwood took a 42-6 victory over the visiting Fighting Scots to drop them to 0-3 in conference play so far this fall. The Scots scored first Friday, with quarterback Andrew Hanna firing a fourth-and-15 pass from the Falcons’ 29-yard-line into the end zone where wide receiver Carter Berends made a leaping grab for the score. That touchdown came midway through the second quarter, and the Falcons rallied to go in front 14-6 before the half and shut out the Scots the rest of the way. East Kentwood took the lead on a nine-yard touchdown run by Bam Nettleman and and extra-point kick from Jayden Garcia, and then pushed its lead to eight points with a 3 5-yard touchdown pass from Kayd Coffman to Ahman Edmonds after forcing a quick Caledonia punt. Corrman fired two touchdown passes to Owen Van der Veen in the second half, former Fighting Scot Dallas Moody scored on a 70-yard run, and Jesse M. Phillips Jr. added a five-yard TD run for the Falcons. The East Kentwood defense held Raak and Hawks both win a couple races in dual with Red Hawks of 249.10 points. The 200-yard individual medley was a solid race for the Gators with Robinett second in 3:06.72 and teammate Lucy Krug third. Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Grand Rapids Union girls just beat out the Grand Rapids Gator varsity girls’ swimming and diving team 97-76 in an OK Con­ ference East Division dual in Grand Rapids Tuesday. The Gators got a couple of vic­ tories from freshman Mara Raak in the meet. She won the 100-yard breast stroke in a personal best time of 1 minute 22.47 seconds and she won the 50-yard freestyle in 29.90 seconds. Sophomore Mckenna Hawks added a personal best time of 1:18.59 in the 100-yard butterfly for victory in that race for the Ga­ tors. She won two individual events too taking the 500-yard freestyle in 6:29.26. Teammate Eloise Nichols was the runner-up in that one with a time of 7:37.61. Scarlett Hilzey, Adelaide Nydam, Jenna Robinett and Raak teamed up to win the 200-yard freestyle relay in 2:18.03, finishing less than a second ahead of the top Union foursome in the race. Trojan junior Lydia Slagel won the diving competition with a score L. I A KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? We'd love to hear about it! mmacleod@mihomepaper.com THE SUN AND NEWS Group k A ly’ ......................... .. .......... . r r & . ix\ j; r I it tft • A ¥ * * 4i i Scan our OR code to find your perfect invitation! 7 1 IL^ZJ '1^ I Im .5 K J ' i • 1 * 1 ' 4 f ' .< A • » t ’ It*- It s I r 4 ■< > "•I * ?s a;. jrl •* . <'{i »•* IW 7 k V < b ( I ___ »-■ A. Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. r PRINTING SY www.printingbypennylane.com ginacl@pennylaneprinting.com i IJ I !|!) I / i .-I ■ II * IB I J I I I r 1 I j \ r f >*> I I» Ob .. '* I J r* I J . r f I I 'll .! I i'. �J 12 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Saturday, October 4, 2025 Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity boys’ soccer team will open the MHSAA Division 1 state tournament with a contest at Wyo­ ming High School Wednesday, Oct. 8. Game time is wet for 6 p.m. between the Fighting Scots and the Wolves. C al edonia was set to finish offthe regu­ lar season at Muskegon Thursday, Oct. 2. The Scots went into that match looking to improve on their 8-6-4 overall record and a 4-3-2 mark in the OK Green Con­ ference. The Muskegon boys were still playing for their first conference victory of die season. Jenison came to Scotland Yard in Caledonia and snapped a two-match Caledonia win streak Tuesday, outscor­ ing the Caledonia boys 3-2. The Scotshad back-to-back 3-1 wins over Mona Shores and Reeths-Puffer on the road last week. I i Cl I J » THE SUN AND NEWS CHS soccer guys open district piay at Wyoming on Wednesday 4 s J www.sunandnews.com ' / i I i : I' Buccaneers shut out Fighting Scots in finai dual of the faU Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity boys’ tennis team gave itself one big test before the start of the postseason taking on former OK Red Conference rival Grand Haven Monday. The host Buccaneers took an 8-0 win over the Fighting Scots. The Scots pushed the scores in a couple of sets and the fourth doubles team of juniors Isaac Judd and Charlie Scott were able to earn a split before falling 10-6 in a super tiebreaker to Grand Haven’s team N S H I 99 of senior Michael Wilgenbiirg and sopho­ more Elliot Lane. The Buccaneers won all four singles flights in straight sets. Senior Karter Schradin outscored the Scots’ Hudsen Derengowski 6-1,6-2 in the first singles match. Fighting Scot senior Garrett Fales pushed to extend his match with Grand Haven senior Pablo Hanania, but Hanania pulled out an 8-6 win in a tiebreaker at the end ofthe second set to finish offTiis victory. The Fighting Scot fifth doubles team of junior Shane Johnson and sophomore Zach Zupin started strong against Buccaneer freshman Dean Favreau and junior Reyer Thomell Timmer, but the Buccaneer duo pulled out the opening set 7-5 andthen went on to a 6-0 win in set number two. Jenison was set to host the OK Green Conference Tournament Friday, Oct 3. The Fighting Scots will head to Holland WestOttawaThursday, Oct. 9, fortheirMHSAALower Peninsula Division 1 Regional. ) • If* « Ii I* Ip s I .JK: 1 . • i I aw/ } I l I A'' ( A . J > 5 J :4‘- i rw* • I ’ I iici ,' i f .4- •1 ' ' t/ •t •' I' • 4 1 T. i en* w<i > i; •d b t .r w'i ' r< >i J- iii • r « 4 -» .rXP’- J f I if ((• k * I , . I.' 9 a 11J I f r I ■P. « * 1-11 I • / i 'j. .?l‘ ' t 4 A r' i n ! I .-j: nr* • >- • I. . I. IT J ml IS 1 Hit 1 di t i ’' . ft f. ' ft .‘ * « -rf-*. 11/ r 1 J *- X : IJ i I f Jf r 1! ? t . UiflRfUvt I COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN STREETLIGHTING SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT THORNAPPLE FARMS PHASE 3 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Township Board of the Charter Township of Gaines. Kent County, Michigan, having received a request to make certain pubic improvements consisting of installation, operation, and maintenance of street lighting within the development of Thornapple Farms Phase III, from the record owner of land, has resolved its intention to proceed on the request and, pursuant to Act 188 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1954, as amended, to make said improvements in the Township. The Township Board has tentatively determined that the cost of said improvements shall be specially assessed against each of the follow­ ing described lot and parcel of land which are benefited by the improvements, and which together comprise the following proposed special assessment district: j412211176005 PART OF NW 1/4 OF SEC COM 866.90 FT N OP 09M 34S W ALONG W SEC LINE & 660.0 FT N 89D 52M 04S E FROM W MA COR TH N OP 09M 34S W 291.15 FT TH N 89D 50M 26S E 162.77 FTTH S 77^:) 36M 32S E 72.12 FTTH N 89D 24M 24S E 226.47 FTTH N 89P 51M 03S E 66.0 FTTH N OP 08M 57S W 70.38 FT TH N 89P 24M 24S E 130.0 FT TO SW COR OF C H DEMING’S APP TH N 89P 24M IOS E ALONG S LINE SP PLAT 663.50 FTTH S 23P 27M 03S W 222.94 FT TH S 250 59M 23S W 66.08 FT TH S 22P 49M 21S W 186,82 FT TH N 52P 40M 50S W 28.32 FT TH S 89P 44M IOS W 836.32 FT TH N OP 09M 34S W 36,25 FTTH S 89P 50M 26S W 10.0 FTTH S OP 09M 34S E 36.27 FT TO N LINE OF LOT 11 THORNAPPLE FARMS NO.1 TH S 89P 44M IOS WALONG SP N LINE 17.0 FTTH S 86P 38M 58S W ALONG N LINE OF SP PLAT 66.10 FT TO N LINE OF LOT 10 OF SD PLAT TH S 89P 50M 26_S WALONG SP N LINE 17.0 FTTH N OP Q9M 34S W 100.79 FTTH N 89P 50M 26S E 100.0 FTTH S OP 09M 34S E 40.82 FT TH N 89P 50M 26S E 10.0 FT TH N OP 09M 34S W 50.82 FT TH S 89P 50M 26S W 120.0 FT TH S OP 09M 34S E 110.79 FT TO N LINE OF LOT 10 THORNAPPLE FARMS NO.1 TH S 89P 50M 26S W ALONG SP N LINE 66.0 FT TO NELY LINE OF SP PLAT TH N 48P 29M 59S W ALONG SD NELY LINE 111.10 FTTO BEG * SEC 11 T5N R11W 10.85 A. SPLIT/COMBINEP ON 03/18/2025 FROM 41-22-11-101-019: TAKE NOTICE, THAT THE Township Board of the Charter Township of Gaines will hold a public hearing on October 13, 2029 at the Township Offices, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue, SE, within the Township to hear and consider any objections to the petitions filed, consider comments and objections to the Special Assessment Roll. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at 616-504-4332 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual, or any other assistance. THORNAPPLE FARMS PHASE III SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT ROLL NO. 1 PARCEL # ADDRESS OWNER 41-22-11-176-005 7094 Pileated Drive MICHIANA LAND DEVELOPMENT LLC Honhart leads Scots at final OK Green girls’ golf jamboree Brett Bremer Sports Editor The OK Green Conference wrapped up its varsity girls’ golfjamborees Mon­ day at the Meadows with Byron Center beating out the Caledonia girls by two strokes for the win. The Bulldogs outscored the Caledonia girls 174 to 176 at the top of the stand­ ings. The league was set to get together at Muskegon Country Club Thursday, Oct. 2, for its postseason 18-hole conference championship tournament. Senior Katie Honhart led ±e Fighting Scots at her final nine-hole conference competition with a score of 41 which had her fourth individually for ±e day. Senior Codie O’Krangley shot a 42 for the Scots, junior Emily Walbeck a 43 and senior Halle Stout a 50. Mona Shores was third in the day’s team standings with a score of 184 ahead of Reeths-Puffer 192 and Jenison 194. Mona Shores junior Avery Nehra shot an even-par-37 on the front nine there on the campus ofGrand Valley StateUniversity to lead the conference. Reeths-Puffer had juniors Olivia Ambler and Sophia McCollum tie for second with 39s. The Scots will be back at Muskegon Country Club Monday fortheir MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’ Golf Regional. * >1' » ' I 'J. J >1 t t fun j 1 rSn«'’Tt IB*’’ 9 . * 1r < » t St a -• I 3* fr.? dtttd) 1 ’ -r -x . V r A*s-1 c• • » *»•* !*♦ V, - - 'w <» * 4^ ' l.,.» «t V .i3aB»IS8«»r= — rnsW I .. J'-i r 1 r « »* • . e*.. I Fl * r C ’ J M .I u r J .J MK®nva{3K V- rVli 4- I I r. >1 A • ■ a •RA'" . *> A fl-l .‘U •V k' j If I• ■: 4 ll d . "■’wwsff!* W!WWha»)wr?TBd'^ r ty» 1 ) TR Ib J ‘ «J • • I T J K 1 4 1 I y ■ f i I I . r; ♦ 1 f M > X — t *• ' ’r. ■ -t I f t » 1 t L 1 b » t ■< I t % I t */ s 4 f t I I ' wy^ s �9 ♦ 1 9 u A K <s. THE SUN AND NEWS WWW. sunandnews. com 4 I Saturday. October 4. 2025 13 X ♦ Bremer bests 26-year-old TK freshman record at Otsego Brett Bremer Sports Editor s V % i X ■I-'. A * I 1 I t. •J-f 4 4 A s i I W • •4 •’J l’ 1 *> i "A * 1 Si. « I* f / I A S • .k 5"- i I’ •• >1 1' I ' '4 I 4 ¥ i ■» MmpIrM It i KB i M* ‘J 4 «ll Mu 4 ’ w... t A **1 V > *'*91 I ■Ua. f « . * I A js ., A I fetyiwio A. J * Ui .k I ♦ J i » I i w •*- ___ » 1 s»fefe’ I I 1 1 ** ♦ I X ■k I I *^*’?'‘**'*1 .. . * SiOfe'.. 1 k ) »K V »t ■( r f •r $»'■ / tiA* I J •’?«rRro i 1 I I i f '■.'II AU kJ I • r: '•• 9 «* s I I J* J V /•I BA I ly .'ll« I ! .teris « I I I *l< A fter more than a quarter ofa century there is a new fastest TK freshman ever. Thomapple Kellogg ninth grader Owen Bremer broke the varsity boys' cross country' team's freshman record by finishing the course at the Otsego Bulldog Invitational in 17 minutes 8.09 seconds Saturday. Bremer beat his previous PR by about 50 seconds and surpassed the former freshman TK record set by Tim Brog at 17:10.6 al the MHSAA Division 2 Stale Finals in 1999. Il's pretty cool/’ Bremer said. I Ie said he only learned that FJrog's record might be something achievable this season a couple weeks ago, and a flat, fast course designed for speed in Otsego, and a race early enough to avoid the hottest part of the day pro vided the perfect opportunity. Although he said after the race that he w ished he'd known just how close he was to that 17-minulc mark before he rounded the final turn to the finish, and maybe the adrenaline of maybe finishing in the 16's would have pushed him even faster. While he is now the fastest TK fresh­ man ever, he was ninth among fresh­ man boys in the Division 2 boys' race Saturday in Otsego and 51st overall while leading the TK boys’ squad. Medals went to the lop 40, and Bremer was a little less than ten seconds behind the last of the medalists. -hinior Pey ton Hardy led theTK girls' team with a 60th-place finish with a season best lime of 20:42.93. Bremer said he didn’t like running the Otsego course as much as the Wayland course Ihe I rojans ran on previously during an OK Ciold Conference jamboree. I lardy was happy to bounce back al Otsego from her Wayland nin, which she was disappointed in. “I was really happy. I ran like a minute and 40 faster than I ran on Wednesday, Hardy said. I had been feeling sick, and I wasn't mentally there enough Wednesday. I did really bad Wednesday * and didn't want to do bad again. I was really upset W^ednesday and wanted to improve. ‘•When I was running I just thought about how I felt after my last race and how' mad I was at myself. I thought 1. r f i/ '■» •\: f V J'.Lt :\rl? 1 4 rd rather feel pain now for 20 minutes than be mad at m\M sei f for another w eek before I can race again. Ihe Trojans’ next race is today. Oct. 4, al the annual Portage Invitational, another lough, crowded meet filled w ith the top teams around. Both Bremer and Hardy being al the front of the TK teams this season, and I lardy said it was really helpful to learn from the example set by 2025 TKHS alumnus Ava Crews who is now run­ ning at Grand Valley State University. I feel like I wouldn't have the confidence to run ahead at practice and stuff like that if Ava wasn't there last year to tell me it was okay to run how I wanted to, and 1 didn't have to Slav with the pack," Hardy said. The TK girls were 1 5ih in a field of 25 full teams Saturday in Division 2 and the TK boys placed 18th. The TK pack wasn't loo far behind Hardy at all in the girls' race. Senior Madison Kietzman ran her fastest race of the season too to place 76lh in 21:06.50. Junior Carmen Reynolds and freshman Brielle Miller both im­ proved their PRs. Reynolds was 89ih in 21:30.82 and Miller 90th in 21:31.30. Sophomore Amya Gater was the I K team’s number five with a IO7ih-placc lime of 22:11.86. Sophomore Karsyn Boersma improved her PR to 23:55,79 to place 143rd. The Trojan boys' team got five new personal records. Sophomore (iarretl I lol zhausen was the team's number two with an 84lh-placc time of 18:09.90. His previous PR came on the Otsego course last fall, and he beat his 2024 time by more than 40 seconds. TK also got personal record nins from freshman Parker Robinett who was 119th atl8;58.80, ticking under 19 minutes for the first lime; senior Benjamin Postma who was 123rd in 19:08.54; and sophomore Wyatt Rich­ ardson who was 136th in 19:27.10. Junior Grady Galaviz placed 110th for the TK team, the squad's third fin­ isher, with a time of 18:39.76 and TK senior Noah Donker clocked in 149th overall with a time of 20:47.48. Otsego senior Emma Hoffman, a two-time state runner-up in Division 2, improved her PR to finish in 16:20.6 on her home course and lead the host ♦ . A . i J I 4 * ■'.J »4 T k i ik »t J * 5 4 .9* 1 LZT < TK sophomore Garrett Holzhausen checks the course winding ahead of him as he runs the Division 2 boys' race Saturday at the annual Otsego Bulldog Invitational. Bulldogs to the girls' championship. Hastings junior Caroline Randall im­ proved her school record PR to 17:39.9 to finish as the runner-up. Hoffman's Bulldogs won the team title with 69 points ahead of Holland Christian 91, Grand Rapids Christian 101, South Christian I 35 and Coopers­ ville 158 in the top five of the 25-team race. Ihe Thomapple Kellogg girls placed 14th with 412 points. Vicksburg junior Caiden Caswell won the D2 boys' race in 15:26.12 to improve his personal record. 3 he next two guys across the finish line were from the Grand Rapids Christian team. Senior Sean Ryan was the runner-up in 15:44.47 and sophomore Ashton Fink improved his PR to place third in 15:49.22 Holland Christian had two guys in the top ten too, and the Maroons won the D2 boys' championship with 73 points. Grand Rapids Christian was third with 91 points ahead of Kalama­ zoo Homeschool 126, Otsego 155 and Three Rivers 195 in the lop five. The Thomapple Kellogg boys were 18th with 473 points. Thornapple Kellogg freshman Owen Bremer runs to a new TK boys' freshman record time of 17:08.86 at the Otsego Bulldog Invitational Saturday Photos by Brett Bremer > •» * t M r 1 « r r. F I. .1 ji; |i t 7 *''L- M' » jUQl .> B. J w 1 r,i 1 T ■ 8 1. r r V c> •tn^ .4m 4 I i **KL&d&.’*s** I A' • f.. I* tl b <tM' •-J i Thornapple Kellogg junior Peyton Hardy hustles to the finish line on her way to a season best time in the Division 2 girls' race at Saturday's Otsego Bulldog Invitational. �f * r i ! Saturday, October 4, 2025 14 THE SUN AND NEWS 4 I www.sunandnews.com CHS boys run their fastest race ever in runner-up Otsego finish ♦ ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Fighting Scots won a state cham­ pionship in 1996. They finished as the Division 1 State Runner-up a couple times in the past half decade. They’ve never been faster than they were Saturday. The Caledonia varsity boys’ cross country team had two guys finish in less than 16 minutes, a third right at 16-flat and there were seven Fighting Scots among the top-40 medal ists in the Division 1 boys’race at the annual Ot­ sego Bulldog Invitational. It all added up to a second-place finish behind a powerhouse Kalamazoo Central squad. The Maroons bested the Scots 55-82 at the top of the standings in the 13team race. Woodhaven Brownstown was third with 97 points ahead of West Ottawa 101 and Battle Creek Lakeview 143 in the top five. That was probably the fastest race in my 23 years of coaching from top to bottom,” Caledonia head coach Ben Thompson said, ‘i mean, we had two 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 guys under 15, one at 16 flat. I mean, we almost had three guys under 16, and then we had nine guys under 17, which we’ve never done before The course, the conditions, everything lined up perfectly today, but just super, super proud of them, super impressed with the times they ran today. They’ve been putting in some great effort. It pays oIT. Tffiat hard work pays off.” Fighting Scot senior Noah Johnston moved into second place all time on the Caledonia boys’ record board with his sixth-place time of 15 minutes 35.82 seconds. He trails only Caledonia All-American Tim Ross who won the Division 2 state championship in 2001. Sophomore Bennett Snapper was one of the only guys not to set a PR for the Scots, but he was just off his recent record pace and was the team’s number two with a time of 15:58.07 in 11th overall. Fellow sophomore Sean Thompson continued his mammoth leap forward in recent days. He placed 13th in 16:00.08 and has shaved more than 75 seconds off his previous PR in Caledonia 7CWNSHIP Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax; 616.891.0430 CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the Charter Township of Caledonia will hold a public hearing on October 20, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Office, 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE, Caledonia, Michigan, on the application of Strike 3 to amend the Valley Point East Industrial Park Planned Unit Development (the “PUD”). The proposed amendment would add indoor recreational use as part of the Light Industrial uses permitted in the development. The amendment allowing this additional use would apply only to parcel: 41223-17-400-054, located at 8184 Broadmoor Ave SE. A copy of the proposed amendment is on file at the Township. All interested persons may attend the public hearing and comment on the requested amend­ ment. Written comments may be submitted to the Township at the above-stated address up to the time of and during the public hearing. Interested persons may contact the Township Offices or consult the Township website at www.caledoniatownship.org up to the time of the meeting for any updates concerning the manner of holding the hearing. Dated: September 24, 2025 I PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA the past week. Sean Thompson has been working through an injury, and is really finally starting to hit his stride. He moved into the top 15 all time on the Caledonia record board with his time in Otsego, joining Johnston and Snapper who were already among that elite group. The Caledonia team had sophomore Bentley Nichols 21 st in 16:20.70, soph­ omore Jake Potgeter 31 st in 16:31.68, freshman Isaac Dinah 32nd in 16:32.72 and senior Luke Smith 41st in 16:41.3. The CHS program also had senior Eli Veiling lead a Caledonia ‘B’team with a medal winning time of 16:26.08 that put him in 26th. A ninth CHS guy, junior Grant Feldpausch running for the ‘B’ team also broke the 17-minute mark. “Kalamazoo Central is in our region, and they beat us still even as good as we ran they beat us by 15 or 20 points,” coach Thompson said. “We still have some work to do. They’re really good. We knew that coming in. Really good!” Kalamazoo Central senior Andrew Wright set his personal record with a winning time of 15:00.24 in the boys’ race. Loy Norrix senior Jackson Lam was the runner-up with a PR of 15:08.83. The Caledonia girls were fast Sat­ urday too. The seven Fighting Scots turned in five new personal records and every one had her best time of the season. Junior Akaela Daman led the way for the CHS girls with a 16-place time of 18:40.70 that moves her into 13th place all-time in the Caledonia record book on the girls side. Junior Anna VanderWal earned a medal too plac­ ing 36th in 19:57.74. Daman cut more than 50 seconds off her previous PR and VanderWal dropped more than a minute and a half. The Caledonia girls’ team also had senior Hannah Bennett 45th in 20:15.20, sophomore Charlie Bont 50th in 20:29.88 and sophomore Elise Clarin 56th in 20:47.44 in the top five. The seven scores for the Scots also included freshman Kendall Van Ryn’s 64th-place time of 21:18.14 and junior Madison Thompson’s 79th-place time of22:15.59. Ann Arbor Pioneer won the girls’ DI race with 26 points ahead of West I 9 J 1 i + '-1^ * A I I A r r r Ig w W I A 4 I 9 t f. I I ( s • I I i ** if* *4 •4 « 1-^-4'. 9 i I I A fll ■ ■ i' i *** .4 r 1 J* ft X I I 4^ I Ml 1 Caledonia sophomore Sean Thompson sprints to the finish line for a time of 16 minutes 00.08 seconds at the end of the Division 1 boys’ race Saturday during the annual Otsego Bulldog Invitational. Photos by Brett Bremer t-j , r* “ 1 J « « f i I? V t * I* e $ 1 k r r**- » % f - r 4* t’’ Ml 1 I 4’' 5 I I 1 M ♦ 10 S' s s lb I’.f » bi A* **• M f J V f-z i6< w ' 1 II I' I* I ' t;- < 4 i9i * * .«K50C-’- - ;slAk c «•* » I < »v 'X . * A pi t 'It I W i. t * 3 4 0 5 * 4^' I /■ ¥ V p vn J S \A.«. r b i ' 4 s nt us SI fl •V: b« <* (15 I I ■ Caledonia senior Eli Veiling, running for a ‘B’ squad of Fighting Scots in the Division 1 boys’ race Saturday at the Otsego Bulldog Invitational, gets by West Ottawa freshman Maxwell Post on their way to the finish line. Veiling was one of nine Caledonia guys to finish the race in less than 17 minutes. See next page Sf fri® I B II 1 0 lin mt ' k — :*v 1 I f J isi-nsn th r i'W J? ■li, I tk. Vi* 1,4’ L T •*» X ) .r » rr JM •*1 »* i J i t I I I I f I * I i. (V^fc 'I' - . I iij A*- I i i p » I k M it II' 4 I • ^{4 Ji t'v-Ai. r I 5‘ I' V i r * I> I I if t a . * t • A t k i ¥ I ■ / * C 4 �4 ♦ THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ki.•« r 0 r * • * Saturday, October 4, 2025 15 I ’W I. - '*7 I T » Brett Bremer Sports Editor It was closer this time around, but the Trojans couldn’t hold off the conference champs. The Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ soccer team was downed 3-0 by visiting OK Gold Conference foe South Christian Monday inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville. Grand Rapids Union suffered a loss and a tie last week in conference play, and the Sailors have clinched the 2025 conference championship. The Sailors moved to 10-0-1 with the victory and will close conference play at Union Monday against the secondplace Red Hawks. South Christian bested the Trojans 8-0 in their first meeting this season. The Sailors took a 1-0 lead Monday at TK with a goal by Parker Saladin midway through the first half. Saladin broke behind the Trojan defense on a push up field by the Sailors and got a shot by TK junior keeper Jeremiah Cramer. TK kept the Sailors there throughout the rest of the first half and had one of their best scoring chances late in the first half with sophomore Dylan Wallach just curl­ ing a shot over the crossbar from about 25 yards out. The Trojans put together another good push in the opening minutes of the second half, and a hard shot from senior Peyton Forman was just punched away with one hand by Sailor keeper Nickson Tanui. Midway through the second half the Sailors upped their lead to 2-0 with a goal by senior Nick Hunderman, and then South Christian got a third goal on a header from junior Dylan Morris. Morris got his chance as a free kick from about 35 yard out re­ bounded through the box. lit 2 t k. A 1' *»■ «b ■ iir •> •< 3 <i f I s 9 'i^ J t s •> 1 K ' I 1 •• 28ie I K £08f I t Ai /.ft ) I* .ri .* < J \ 1 Q 4 h. ’i . « t V A' 1. I f I *< s. < !• I r I X V s «* ri ft *t 4 I» '•’ w’ »4 I « . ;i-j < Fighting Scot sophomore Elise Clarin runs to a new personal record time and a 56th-place finish in the Division 1 girls' race Saturday at the annual Otsego Bulldog Invitational. ■'rt '’ti k X » Hl s T. t *^'Crk < S <• I fin tit: i. < 4 II k » f •.!' ■'•W ’ 4 * I < '« -32 '5, ZU ! > r I. Vfi 4 '-A .•l • '. I Continued from previous page I *** hO '■sV x n• A • I s. - >< 9 tf K « f'* * i i < Jfc-' * 1 f I B'i-ijr. I . iitiisdJ I f* J ’ X* , 1 Jrarlfft •"'i. J i 1 X * A , i • ' , 'i ■ Uljaif) I I J I ar * I5 1.1 e * AV fl Iwl . •< 1 ,1 h prtrnmtr^‘ r i .Si- ..'i Ottawa 64, Hudsonville 74, Zeeland East 135 and Woodhaven Brownstown 144. The Fighting Scots were sixth with 203 points and were 16 points better than their OK Green Conference rivals from Byron Center who placed eighth. Ann Arbor Pioneer had four of the first five runners across the finish line, all with new personal records. Sopho­ more Natasza Dudek led the way with a winning time of 16:11.13. Sophomore teammate Sienna Klemmer was the runner-up at 17:12.01. « >1 i « * fl J ires A* ▼ w. I -H I ! k feM •T I I. f ra •K-fl A*"— f r N 1 II i r I YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. t 9 I 1 1 II UI *“ A # I I T * / ”I ^ar I I i t> 1 •a 4 You’re our friends our family, our neighbors and our future. I r , % I rV I J r4^ ur ir A- . r' i1 •* «J A •ft*:-"- VlEv^r * 7 I I .> 1. * I A Group I -•f- . • i 1 r f r I ■ « * *■ « . -1: B/. 4• A" : 4 T »■ •c .*«< nl Thornapple Kellogg senior Inigo Evira Navarro shields the ball away from South Christian’s Dylan Senneker in the midfield during the first half of their OK Gold Conference match inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville Monday. Photos by Brett Bremer NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ®A THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION MM T S9 IBI V^^ISC/ •«MP» « 2^ J The Village of Middleville Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA) meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 5:00 pm has been m MONDAY, October 27,2025, at 7:00 P.M Please be advised the Thomapple Township Plan­ ning Commission will hold a public hearing on October 27,2025, at 7pm or as soon thereafter as possible. The public hearings will take place in the Township Hall, 200 E. Main St, Middleville. The public hearing will address the following: 1.The adoption of an ordinance regulating the use of bubblers or similar devices for the prevention of ice formation on bodies of water within Thomapple Township. Any interested person may attend the public hearings to learn about the extent of the proposed ordinance. may be examined in the Township offices at the address noted above during regular business hours. Monday - Thursday 9am- 4pm Written comments regarding this proposed ordi­ nance may be addressed to: Secretary, Thomapple Township Planning Com­ mission, P.O. Box 459, Middleville, Ml 49333. Sandy Rairigh, Commission Secretary or submit­ CANCELED ted via email to: zoning-administrator@thomapple-twp.org The meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 21,2025 at 5:30 pm. Americans with Disabilities Notice the Township Clerk at 269-795-7202 no less than 72 Posted September 23, 2025 Rhonda Van Polen Village Clerk hours before the hearings. Kathy Medenblik, Thomapple Township Clerk I I f a J 1 I > 1 k'I I'S 11 f in I I 1 k I 1 « I l> k r I ' H ,i I I 4 1 t I s ■» tb ! II I t t I.1 \ f < I t >1 .□ 4 '-i t*. ss ?? ^1 A I s A-* .'A 'I TK closed the OK Gold sea­ son with a record of 2-7-3 The Trojans played Grand Rapids Union to a 2-2 draw Wednesday on senior night in Middleville. TK will go on the road for a non-conference match against Ottawa Hills at Houseman Field Monday, Oct. 6. The state postseason starts for the Trojans when they take on Marshall in an MHSAA Divi­ sion 2 District opener against Marshall Thursday, Oct. 9, in Middleville. k i I I » » Persons with special access needs should contact Your Community Connection tW • -t 5^ ? ♦— J <■ 100 East Main Street ~ Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villageofmiddleville.orq « • ■ X * K copy of the proposed ordinance referenced above I • ♦ TK keeps Sailors closer in second conference contest •. i k ♦ R I I �Saturday, October 4, 2025 16 www.sunandnews.com -Ik* nco.ewwiontnu WrV, :i; A* ♦J Wl ♦ < I ^ec^. ■ ««> 0 I i I . 0 »r * * 9 ♦ *i —* t. 7 ***, *? b r Ft > I •V «>'W. b* V.. T X '4S, « / • • •< N .4 ■' .1 * •• l» V r I Si' /"t 'T'^. . 0*. ft p r • • i ' } *5a X B'b /< a- / s t f J I uJCTu—-'?>cx5 s\r ft T *« « «* X to * k r <•5 ♦♦ > .[ ?. I & ll 1^-ir* Ip itr -f^' , t « •r J • •w h\ 1 * «)e 44 ’A .Ml t •J > I r .AT • *-V.- — TRUMBLE 1 ?♦ • JIv Local Medicare advice is now in Barry County! i 4* •n <* r; 1 r e 1 J; «'.s t 1 1 I a-. F ft.'" W « rr ^Ssk iB p I I ■i.r I 3 !>• & ---to k4 ft s* *11; I A I ri to 8? r 1 now booking appointments iT? ■i > # Medicare 6*^ ■i .t < .«* * % I for open enrollnnent October 15^^ - December 7^^ ( •1 > J ^3^ >• E 1 I X’. b r V r r> ■ f I T e. « V Ub > M >1 n i * 4; ??•> -I ’0 f*V' I f. A. ■ ?* m • ► u.! s f S 1 45 ^a ► 5 ' t f I >>* f r .1^ I i t b<^ i 4 I p R J; ••Vi- ’L z .4] J-’’ I'll Rq « -eat’ a..- r * A 4:. Lt. •i •l Schedule your appointment today as time slots will fill up fast. I .k W< ® *S» «r 52 •x' 4 . ^a**?*'^ •5^a* AT?- • » ‘'i' : ' »< ’.•ft» >, e J r. in 1^ * f; « ‘ >.to. A.1 - ■ ■ ■.* sb^ T- 269.213.3232 josh(S)trumbleagency.com www.barrycountymedicare.com 128 S. Jefferson St. Hastings, MI 49058 I » T :? b I. I B4 J 'iak— st Josh Lamphere J* .f •t . I. 4 f. I Medicare Specialist Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or I-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. i 7 1 +■ M ■i t» r i ifliq Moiii ol bsiri: auoiJqgrtiioY 10 th t I } I i lUi i � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-10-11.pdf 4eab14367d39a144722d177e7491e581 PDF Text Text 4 I 1 ></(*<* T ? / 4 I f t f ( I I r I I J 9 / 1 1 J 1 » > I I I > * t I t r J I I 5 I » \ 1 ’ I I » 'I » I I ► *4 ; 4 1 I « 1 ) 1 i V > I 1 I I \ \ % k I t \ ’. 'I V V \ ’k 'i \ \ i I k V y \ \ '» > 1 i I r \ s \ \ . i \ s \ I I s > I HOMECOMING VICTORY MUCH NEEDED FOR FIGHTING SCOT FOOTBALL I I I J J ] J I J _________ I I i NEWS THE SUN AND A I 5 Your Hometown Newspaper Serving the Middleville, Caledonia and Caines Township Areas s MU s w F H.. fV-i PAGE 10 \*#r .jov J I » j ) istiiW tteia -■-i te noilaufaoUnr rsrl gnhuQ lamori a'fiinobdlfiO Jo J 7 % I f ( [ • I I • c II b J J.’ ) I fl www.sunandnews.com I ■ Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer MoncB-oiiiuT naisH 1 CHS crowns homecoming royalty Caledonia graduate receives special honor during homecoming festivities A ibo L Z .JaO .yjjbhH no smag rm bbft silt zeoiafi nai ofalsV lw3n arit abiani fawoto arit ol w sria 8B cnuibsls UfidJodi fas jBinobSlaD 5£0£ aril aa basin rrmntR faaTOHod a'noitfibnuoH ot to! a aneam biawa arlT" z YJHHJiiHTioa avari 1 aauaoad i^nain a .ablaV labnaV biaa .2^1 Jo aaaD 2H3 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2025 NO. 41 VOL. 147 5Ub6ie BinobalsS iBiasqZ 89Vi9391 imoa9m90 oniiub aaitiviJast < » 4 ✓i E' ** >z ••'• » 4** .Mr. ua > z •X 9 I■ X T « During her introduction at halftime of Caledonia’s varsity homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 3, Jodi Vander Velde ran across the field and waved to the crowd inside the newly renovat­ ed football stadium as she was recog­ nized as the 2025 Caledonia Education Foundation’s honored aliunna. 1/ “The award means a lot to me because I have community support,” said Vander Velde, a member of the CHS Class of 1995. “Everyone is * t ii < 4 t w w f ) j . 4 J f 9 & J. I I ■f 1 caleook 111 \ t y I * F I' i V V 1 u F w ’M 1 9 d i f n \ i * - - J -^1 4 X'li ** n f-.' 9 F i- fsi‘' V K - t Li < ) V? I h i « / > I <9 . <»*J 1^, -e (. J * X •< ■* ' '*V <I T 4 1 « * « 4 7 s «*4 Per I * k g r . **b f. >. ( I f I I • * lA u J: e P:: } < •• s • I ::::: t*;. A'* 1 1' f:'-^* >4kb If > BvA^yi ?! .•rbft. r; i ina 0818 yd aotoin ♦ J 1 *1 p ? * V j' I I •n ;( .( r J f. .1 1 4 I GiOBUAIK® HI *1 n s bOsxvoE •.* H • "-rn iiijii B J n 1^^ 1 L*^ / Jodi Vander Velde, a member of the Caledonia High School Class of 1995, waves to the crowd as she was recognized as the Caledonia Education Foundation’s alumna honored wQoa iQNoisno during halftime of the TVliN3aiS3a SSMH33 8GSe>in ‘BSMiaM) homecoming football (MxoSOd game on Friday, Oct. 3. 8ce#iiiw9d 9C88> *8|||Aueejo *8839 J k ^1 T J"bJ I ( >• t * »; *' V 9 f: ! L V * <• a t / •• • r • « c 1 f R k • 6 _ iii B ,9Dl9V 'TBbnfiV iboL fIgiH fiinobeteO srtJ rcro 9(1} 0} asvBw ,2GGf to ) 9(1} 26 baxingooai aew jo-‘ noifeouba beionoh toow Cfl21QJI»EH nirtl6f1 gniiub BcaoEiunrr •«wwr ti «Kis gnimoosmorl bOWJ*} ibi}^ no omsp w f : i I 1^ I ye =1 h I * "a- A •« z 4 r« A*'* ' 1 % < Seniors Parker Lipsman and Avery Middlemiss (front) react along with their classmates to being named the 2025 Caledonia High School homecoming king and queen during halftime of the Caledonia varsity football team’s contest with Grand Haven inside Ralph E. Myers Stadium in Caledonia Friday, Oct. 3. The Fighting Scots defeated the visiting Buccaneers 28-6 in the football game. Photo by Brett Bremer * * a 4 4^ -1 e • • I t • <A f P i »> / » » s kV- c. k : I 1 ■ t I t .* « " *3 t ». 'i z t f I I 3-r «» Photos by Brett Bremer always so kind to me. “I’ve lived in Caledonia my entire life, and I couldn’t love a community more.” With family and fiiends cheer­ ing her on, Vander Velde received her recognition and shook hands with CHS assistant athletic director Jeremy Palmitier. The ceremony added to the homecoming celebration that also included a 28-6 victory by the Fighting Scots over the visiting Grand Haven Buccaneers. After high school, Vander Velde first attended Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. She then trans­ ferred back closer to home to Grand Valley State University. The Caledonia native fueled her academic travels on a full basketball scholarship at both schools, working her way to a double major in both physical education and psychology. Vander Velde grew up in the busi­ ness community. Her grandparents and parents together purchased the Caledonia Family Tavern in 1972. According to the CEF, Vander Velde’s father was diagnosed with dementia and, when he could no longer run the business, Jodi bought it from her parents, Neil and Linda Vander Velde, in 2012. That meant moving back home to take over ownership and manage the fam­ ily business on East Main Street in Caledonia. See GRADUATE on 3 aivd •l -A aovisod s n aisxsdd :< I. na . ( Ml 3 I 1 : I !U I ht f I I. ' 0 '|3 H 1 r �A * I Saturday, October 11, 2025 2 • THE SUN AND NEWS I 'M < I ?• ( Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer f > With summer temperatures still clinging on at the beginning of the week, many could not ‘■it*. resist the open house at the Yankee Springs Township Fire Department. Fire trucks, safety 1 NGS Z' experts and more took center stage for families « s and friends to learn and explore. I The event kicked off Fire Safety Prevention Week on Oct. 6, with this year’s theme: «• Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion ±> Batteries in Your Home. Fire Chief Dan Miller said the event drew an excellent turnout” of visitors. “The kids had fun,” he said. “Parents r 7^ fl learned a lot on fire safety, especially with Bv * r jf.a lithium batteries.” I Other topics included smoke detectors, power lines and what to do when calling 911. i Lithium-ion batteries fall in the category of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). To learn what is considered HHW and how to properly I li dispose of dangerous products and materials, including lithium-ion batteries, visit barrycounty.org/barrycountyrecycles/index.php. Miller wants every homeowner to ensure fire The Yankee Springs Township Fire Department hosted an safety protocols. open house on Monday, Oct. 6, to celebrate Fire Safety “Fire safety should be every day, not just (in) Prevention Week with the theme, “Charge into Fire Safety; October. Every home should have a smoke Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” Photo by Dan Miller detector in every bedroom, in hallways, living room, basement, on every level of a home,” Miller said. “They should be Your local agent insures your tested monthly; if they ’ re not / 10-year batteries, then the batteries should be replaced £ KaNiis>nHiK*iHn»*«in*sm*iEff$'4Ms c I a -A • *• w * 1p •'JJ ■ % 9. * V 4^ * I « t r % S.rM Lt.t 1 * r*;* 44 I «*• 1 { > « i.i >*■" >• . *. s % V ■ r *s ,.7^ *•* A* .;3r'’5FV- 4r ^>4 >7 r ♦& r ’♦'a ? 4 > 1 .4 if.\ & T 4 M LIGHT TRUCK PARTS Lake Estadie FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT L FARM BVnEAV MSVBAf^CE* r X ** • *k; -• ?* ^■.' ** ->w 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-8827 Jparks^fbinsmi.com FarmBuredulnsurance.com z- USED PARTS USED TIRES 1811 LAKE ST.. KALAMAZOO I ^•1 1 *V ..1^' *■ ' 1 A .1. 1 * I < Ti.* I V ' If 9^ I* * V •M J 1 ar I « .1 k ■ rw A every six months. “New smoke detectors out now are good for 10 years. The outside of the detectors should be vacuumed to keep the dust from collecting on them.” Miller said homeowners should make a plan in case of a fire. “Families should have a safe meeting place outside, w here if there is a fire that every body goes to that meeting place, to make sure every ­ body has made it out of the residence or struc­ ture,” he said. Proper smoke delector placement is crucial for your home's fire safety,” Miller continued. “Should the smoke detector go ofi', make sure everybody is aware of the alann and do not go back inside whatsoever.” Miller said not to forget about carbon mon­ oxide (CO) detectors either, especially with colder weather on the way. Other safety precautions from Miller include: • If you live in a multi-story house, make sure you install CO detectors on every fioor, including the basement and attic. • Do not forget to install CO detectors in every sleeping area and rooms where people spend the most time, such as the living room. • Install as many CO detectors as needed to be safe in your home. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that you can’t perceive without a device. High levels are potentially lethal, and it’s simply not worth risking your and your family’s health and life by not using the right number of CO detectors, Miller said. J IVi* 5:' twr 'rT "JfAlR if MX w 1 .A < 1 i •V 4; f I ■jvif'’ 1 < '■ f TV’- I 1 » k A ..Ml i ^•9 1• V I* • 4 'f J r j? tz r r’- t J ejv 1 r • f 4• L B r*m to •’ *41 I ' JF 4 .J4 1 t jir't 1 > & i* .1 H V• ih*' r .f .*( i/' t*’ I* 4 I V ** ill *'• V if > I* >/ - hr. ■ '« - > . fS^’^ ^w ** ' • 3X4^ 4 ■ ■ nr *♦ IY I ' * r *4 ' fT f r 4 toll . I J.^ -^l£! ' 1 :3t^ 4 aCA;. u ♦ *1 ff 1 1—* M -jr 1b 4 ^l.ncP03 n< > 1 I I f V *Xv ■■ 1 r. I 11 uv V Iwt* tr ■ •' » 9 4 & w w V. . 4 * < Us^ J-. f , c t p. •/* The buck stays here! X WR.T’' > •<* > 4 KL%^ Spend It herB. Kmp R here. -TtfEfalJlJS:'::: ’1 h9 Invest In Your Community, y .r< I A- F*. I » Group I i!«K* >r TTSr > Bf . / .» flBMC ■■ itii — —..**■ ■ 1 u 1 / THE SUN AND NEWS .* Ml 1 w* nr - T.”’ PUBLISHED BY CONTACT US Editor: Molly Macleod Group mmacleod@mihomepaper.com Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept ..1351 N. M-43 Hwy.. Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. | ® I ; 1 'ry««&CB-iya »«», I I i f | I ^^4 < f .4. lr*2 . n. »7 fc. .r A *** 1W1 L.) 4 5 > I » .'^ ( ■k'. I p- -X'm, \' 7 f c? I I 4 t I 4 <1 F I f I I I I J I L ! E «' I mI Jl I <? i J r ! 4 R 9 2 4 t 1 a I I f I i 4 : F- 9 ff i ; HP A-* •» V •A^'I : » 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com K u 44 A The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 •• t « ? •| Jason Parks z 269-381-2300 ' ' I -f: Yankee Springs FD sees good turnout at first annual open house Fy .2.^. www.sunandnews.com S' r 4 i I I I ■itJiHiiir. �■4: J 1 Pair of CHS seniors honored as ‘commended students’ j J I A 1 •I I I K il s t f • FK ?>• ' >7 n,, '•’1, J A 4 t «J J u. <> •r J fl Si 4 . « I , • ;!t8 V 1 4. tsriSq*. V. {jiA p2w’! s * T > s It i Ife • 4. . .1 9 IJ s..* M* » • 1' .•ft J » ’i 2 '■'^H I I . i I 4 « ri; 1. i fl I . I *< I. I ’ r . I 4 I 1 I I** pv: -J ■•I.. •. e t • I I s > V. 1 I I ’ '1 "I ■J I • •*1'4 « '.V (I _ -J w t F-. »■» • I** 1m t ‘'UI'' II rf ‘ ''' 'i* I *fw 1 > G r' I ft I I I .r < I t ( r U k II 9^»r.4 iteli ‘1 bFM.. I.' J % I < t t I M 1 • I ' • IT 4 Ik— t I Ir ' i r ■ f r / t ’ ,l . ri 5 i I p k J 1 I ■ t I -V/ ■tstrr-- fl, r I f < rrt rvJi . f F • 1 I ‘ I I a • 3 4 I I / t I I I I I I I i 1 1 ■ '-Sts!? i I J V-IT5 I I J I _«——***.. I* * I 6 •* r'k’; I ' ** . 4 1 1 - .1^0’ *t » I f 1 k I f ■ I , b y t •' I ) i» > I A . - I<r , I She said she enjoys working with people and making new friends. Her family also purchased the Marathon gas station in Caledonia in 2008, and she has steadily grown the business alongside her twin brother, Marc, and older brother, Chad. I love owning the tavern because it’s been in my family for three generations now - my grandparents, my parents and now myself. Family means a lot to me,” Vander Velde said. “We all have certain job duties we are responsible for. 1 have been so blessed to meet so many people.” Vander Velde receiving the honor from the CEF during a sporting event seemed appropriate, as she was a tal­ ented high school athlete who played basketball, volleyball and softball. Vander Velde was the first fresh­ man to play on the varsity softball team and was named all-conference for all four years of playing softball. She also earned “All-State Dream Second Team” honors in basketball and was chosen as the CHS “Athlete of the Year” as a senior. “My younger years were all athletic accomplishments, which are great,” Vander Velde said. “But, as you age and your community recognizes you. that means so much more. .' » f uUb' I I . i I 1 X h >’71 ») DIXNt'R ■4 FUNDRAISER fl* I ■* PC 1 18 OCTOBER 2025 5:o6-9:OO PM k S" r J BARRY COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT CENTER Sophia Anderson HOSTCD BY- onus 5^ I 1 Ayden Hoisington and encourage them as they con­ tinue their pursuit of academic success.” DM Supporting Barry County families facing childhood . illness for over 18 years. 9 INFO & TICKCTS □ □ (616) 551-6321 facebook com/KyomisGilt KyomJsGift org L □ ifA J ik cornerstonechurch k -J - •V; 4 * 1 X> J ■t- JI, > fI we’re casual, come as vou are. FflT • ■4' 3 / 4* * «; i « 'in r > * J « « r J ir»>> ’J ‘J • . *4 /fl I * I • -* ,1 One Church • Three Locations T > vjfl ft M J .1 A a: Caledonia I Grand Rapids I Wyoming * I *• I I • * 4b IiJjJ t GRADUATE f /1 4 5 { ! t Jodi Vander Velde shakes hands with CHS assistant athletic director Jeremy Palmitier while being recognized as the Caledonia Education Foundation's honored alumna on Friday, Oct. 3. Continued from Page 1 1 4 'Has J I - 4 •« • • »♦♦ • •< 4 J petition for National Merit Scholarship Awards, com­ mended students placed among the top 50,000 stu­ dents who entered the 2026 competition by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstand­ ing potential for academic success, commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accom­ plishments as well as the key role their schools play in their academic devel­ opment is vital to the ad­ vancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recogni­ tion will help broaden their educational opportunities Caledonia Hieh School officials announced on Wednesday, Oct. 9, that students Sophia Ander­ son and Ayden Ptoisington were recently named as commended students"' in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. According to the an­ nouncement, a letter of commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corpo­ ration, which conducts the program, will be presented by CHS’ principal to the two seniors. Anderson and Hois­ ington will reportedly be among the estimated 34,000 commended stu­ dents throughout the nation who are being recognized fortheir academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2026 com- 3 Saturday, October 11,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com fi 7j r. <. 11 ra bA? s* iw 1 I ' kt’ w- VdS Join Us In Person or Online! 1 3 ♦I □> , /1 X g 1 J, .,.*>**• 4 -} ■ gif- Scan the code or visit cornerstonemi.org to find locations and service times, plus ways to watch online! 1 <->*Fr i IW . 6’ -i! Jodi Vander Velde walks off the field at Ralph E. Myers Stadium after the cofli toss for the homecoming clash on Friday, Oct.3. (fficornerstonemi �I 1 ■* ar J Saturday, October 11, 2025 4 Obituaries “t ^4 * r Kary Sue Henning her sisters from a very young age. often doing the talking and decision-making on their behalf. She enjoyed camping with b friends, traveling, and spoiling those around her. Kary had a sweet tone to her speaking voice and was also a beautiful / singer. f'l Kary is survived by her cherished husband. Michael Henning; stepdaughter, Ashley and son-in-law, Andrew Andree; father. Sandy Schondelmayer and Barbara Schondelmayer; father-in-law and motherin-law Alan and Pat Henning; sister Kelly Schondelmayer; sister, Tracy George and r nr. f !lth I hv ‘IT, brother-in-law. Chip George: and sister-in-law and brotherin-law, Nick and Emily Wheeler. She also leaves behind many * nieces and nephews who simply adored her. She was preceded in death by her mother. Carolyn Getty, and her sister. Renee Louise. In keeping with Kary's wishes, there will be no formal service. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. i Her legacy as a devoted wife, r ’ ' L ..A.x* generous and kind spirit, and quick-witted nature will live on forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. *♦< s *> • > ■% Lt had unwavering devotion, and were blissfully inseparable. Kary was born on May 3.1977. and made her home in Middleville. Ml. She loved this town and the people in it. She will be remembered as incredibly generous, funny, and quick-witted. Kary had a gift for taking care of everyone around her, always putting others first and making them feel important. The middle of three girls, she assumed the leadership role of Kary Sue Henning passed away peacefully on September 30, 2025. entering the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her cherished husband, Michael Henning, was holding her hand until her final breath. The love Kary and Michael shared was remarkable—a true love story. Married for 24 years, they equally adored one another, www.sunandnews.com > * * ' V*- iI THE SUN AND NEWS 9 4L \ 1 1 r ( i !i 1 IK )*' 9 11 I I 1 4 •I < •» 3 1-^ ^wrv 1 i %• ’r 1 r * t k- r * k #* I r ... " I * SSS' 5" X * / J d » / s .5' 9^ ■Uif ...f aiT tn 9^ •» -/«p J f <* L K J •44’ I -•* I •»* LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY r dr A J Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Join us for our traditional yet casual <5t KM : .r" • worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Service Timos Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM Rev. Robert Mayo, Interim Pastor www.ala8kabapti5t.org 7240 68Th Street SE, Caledonia IT L 250 Vine Street if FIRST BAPTIST Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville 616-891-8669 Good Shepherd I Lutheran Church Ol. I 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) ■ ■ fl ■ Sunday Worship........... ' . . . 9:30 a.m. <u. Ill P-:' 1 A 4 w ku I Livestream: facebook.com/flrstbaptistmiddlevillo FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH Pastor: Rob Wurst http:/!goodshepherdJcms.googlepages.com Church: (269) 795-2391 cornerstonechurch Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Ham 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend rw HOLY FAMILY Jj^CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m.& 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. tfAPEACE Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. < Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. CHURCH Caledonia Location Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. PEACECHURCH.ee 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, Ml 49333 peacechurch.ee “V - - THORNAPPLE VALLEY jj/r CHURCH < * ir • w- fj. Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville. Ml / www.tvcweb.com V *1. « » « _ ■'f I i L L ft 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 n Ik iiiC^ I . *4 ' V r. K ♦* kV r *R < • * 1 * A ^4.T.Tr /J«s Ci* I -4 < *** I • .. * 1 kb- e-SS '*>1(7 •*1 * 1 fs^*:** J k-* rp* - r.-t > x-* 4 -*' s itffi V"* 0 !'5**S5 *■J 1 h» w I V s ■ I** r I I.' f .Ml k, »r 1 I t f 'I 11 0^ 1 I r <* J »- iM' rttt <’4* . iftK <* ll V »• I I < ,..1 I .1 V* IjJfflW rt|| g t “i •*1' i gjlMSW^ « » »j£l <I • r .V * di U v4' 4 .-•p *. 1 I ..JI * . . * * * 'I 1‘ I 1 w 1 i 1 . - -■■; r h ;v* • . »• a; •4 ♦- V. k •r 4 I -*1^91^ F : ■' : * *........... } I k.. ..4 4K • ■ feltfec 7W ■ •'.'* PTiV Twi*- V Ma e 8Wiecia«s: "iP' * t ** pSiies'lX iW i 1 .s^x * i V?■' -Vv '*-^.10^ 9 ll» ' — Ml a' ** < W' 1 b » t w«... « ftt '.a* p. ife* *• -11. *1 * 9 4 Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... 1 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankeespringsbiblcchurch.org wia ■ 1 OUwa^ IM. ouK tteahla-. Cove, <niom & Ocut, Cli)u&, 2 <(eh>u., &, *s^; J - . X •r. ~ 9 s . ■! I 1*10 r I *I « r f, 9 I ( t i i H >! r 1 I ! I • ^. r i I ( I M I 11' ij I t b b a I A 6 4. r I I i < I t t t I I t.'j', 'T • '■- ft 9 » z I I <6*i«Hc(a Colfiathn f r • I :h '•1.1 .A .A L ft s w* I* ^.4 Vlb« R s 0- The Oct 6 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary's report. There is only one fish in the fishbowl. Virginia gave everyone an instruction sheet so members could all learn about each other The project is called "Open Book." Members will write a short story about their weight loss journeys. The stories will include what worked and what didn't work. Members will tell their stories at next week’s meeting and have a discussion. The Fall Rally will be held in Battle Creek on Saturday Virginia was the best loser for the month of September. Chapter members continued the contest by filling in one dot for each one-tenth of a pound lost. Maryellen lost the Ha-Ha box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for arnyone interested in a group that supports weightioss joun leyo witlxjut .sharr«e. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, orMaryelien. 616-318-3545. The first meeting is free. Yankee Springs Bible Church 1 » >*• 4. . "Shining Forth God's Light" MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: « >ia*i ir 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaukaledonia.org MIDDLEVILLE TOPS 546 ' t* i @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool I • �/ I' THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com . .. -It I t r A < So Classifieds I 1 i I b I V ii >-" I 4 f J* M L X.. • BUSINESS SERVICES it ■Qi if I ^R? i I I ‘■n-s I I HANDYMAN SERVICES OF FERED. Mise, repair's, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Estimates. 269-243-0468. { I CONSTRUCTION *' n 4 X. i .. I f » 1 I •<J fT’J' ■ 1., •Ml * rf^ »■ 11 > -W I I bW*' iy»j t /i£<' -^tirh I I »- 1 */ • * f■3 ■?t; •ic ; f f *» • I ■Ji; ru •> J -L\«. f I r i *r J ?»• .. 1 •• « J CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks. Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 TREE SERVICE BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy sin­ gle walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793. ■' * 1 « > .1- « ■ UIR - J'-' . 526 WANTED BUYING BLACK WALNUTS Paying .130 a pound after hulling. Call 517-276-0347. m •% •■a.. . ! f •i ■ S*'.’ w t.^ I ■. •*> . .< < J ; I • i' V ■■ a II I / % >• / o *x- 3 I ’F4 J > WANTED TO BUY: Standing Tim­ ber. Conscientious timber harvest­ er. Saw Mill Office- 517-254-4463. Family owned and operated. 1? i«c4' 2 J i k J U - - ' —5 • ’41 1 • I, r at j i I 1 •^OL ♦ L' I 507 FOR SALE I ■c 1 I P '4. > ?>» o 1' \I •. I w r > A .u -■ S’. a: t I I I. «. 1 •f-VF’ I "•’J' I tI. I i 4; <• 1 • » f I I te U I > i I -T I I J I I FFV. r 4* f I f F i > 4 H. 4 I t I 1 I YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors...and our future. f I I', Group 1 4 BUILDING BRANDS Sunday, Oct. 5 is a spe­ however, does more than have a better turnout in local elections just benefit their bottom cial occasion, as it marks and are more connected. You know line, it benefits the entire the start of the 85th celebra­ who likes to live in communities like tion of National Newspaper community. Our com­ that? Your team members. Brands that Week. (It’s also my birth­ munity newspapers are exist is news deserts may find it hard day, but I’m afraid you’ll supported in large part by to recruit and retain talent if the com­ ask how old I am, so we’ll advertising dollars, mean­ munity in which talent is asked to live Ml skip that part.) ing, no advertising, fewer doesn ’ t feel connected, has high taxes National Newspaper newspapers. That doesn’t or poor schools. Week is a week-long pro mean community news ­ Emily Caswell Associate your brand with smiles: motion of the newspaper papers are a charity case. While there are times when our com­ industry in the United Brands aren’t handing over munity newspapers have to report on States and Canada. This year’s theme their hard-earned dollars to keep us in bad, sad or what some might consider is: Embracing Local Journalism for a business. I’ll say it again, brands use Brighter Future. slightly boring news, the majority of our newspapers to market their goods From the National Newspaper Week and services, because it works. Their what we deliver our readers delivers website, “In a world increasingly print ads attract and retain custom­ smiles. Students on a special day at shaped by global headlines and social ers, but the impact is bigger than that. school, young community members media noise, reconnecting with local Here is why your brand must support enjoying a fundraising event, local news is vital for civic engagement, local journalism with advertising dol­ artists sharing their works, stories of accountability, and community resil­ lars. Newspapers with local journal­ love, redemption, inspiration and more ience.” ism: grace our pages daily. Our readers Regular readers of our 22 locallyProvide a connection to a trusted get a jolt of joy and on the same page owned, locally-connected com­ source: Placing your marketing mes­ they see your brand and associate you munity newspapers across the state sages in the pages of our community with that feeling. of Michigan know this and already newspapers automatically makes you If you’re ready to embrace local embrace local journalism. Chances are credible with consumers. Just as news­ each of you has a unique reason why papers are held to the highest standard journalism dr expand upon your cur­ rent plan, contact me at ecaswell@ you love and read your local paper. when it comes to truth and accuracy mihomepaper. com. And maybe that reason changes from in our reporting; so is true with the week to week. For some it may be as marketing messages in our newspa­ Emily Caswell is the Brand Manager simple as seeing your fnends or neigh­ pers. As a locally-owned company we for VIEW Group, the branding divi­ bors featured in our papers. Some may have the right to refuse an advertising sion of View Newspaper Group. enjoy following high school sports. partner that isn’t trustwor­ Others want to know about upcoming thy. Do you think social events, concerts, plays, fundraisers media platforms ever turn and more. Parents want to know what away money? I don’t. is happening in their child’s school Bottom line, newspapers and throughout the district. Everyone are trusted. A recent piece wants to stay informed about increases on newspapers.org sites in taxes, water bills, street projects this study: “Actording to and road construction, local elections, the 2024 Trust in Media THERESA on-going developments and new busi­ Study conducted by CAPUTO nesses opening in the community. America’s Newspapers Of course, there’s another reason FRIDAY, and Coda Ventures, local many people read our newspapers newspapers are the most NOVEMBER 14 — the advertisements. Whether you trusted news source in & SATURDAY, are car shopping, need your furnace the country. Readers rank NOVEMBER 15 serviced, looking for the best deal on them highest for transpar­ ground beef for the week or wonder­ ency, ethical standards ing what to do this weekend, the pages and connection to their of our papers are filled with market­ communities quali'90s HITS & XMAS RIFFS WITH EZRA RAY HART ing messages from local and national ties that are critical in an TUESDAY, DECEMBERS businesses and nonprofits that inform environment saturated and reach our readers in a way that no with misinformation and Tickets available now at the FireKeepers Box Office other form of advertising can offer. national polarization.” or FireKeepersCasino.com. The thousands of brands that use our Help in employee TW FIREKEEPERS GET YOUR ON newspapers to advertise know this retention and attraction: CASINO « HOTEL because their print ads deliver results. Studies find that commu­ 1-94 to Exit 104 I 11177 Michigan Avenue 1 Battle Creek, Ml 49014 The money businesses and organiza­ nities with newspapers are Must be 21 or older. Tickets based on availability. Schedule subject to change. tions invest in newspaper advertising, safer, have lower taxes, ? I * NOTHIN’ BUT ▲ GOOD TIME .V I. 1 f I CUT AND SPLIT hardwood available at $60 per face cord as a fundraiser for the Middleville Rotary Club. You are required to pick it up. If you are interested, call Richard Frye at 269-795-5059, and he will provide you the details for pick up. Cash or check (made out to Middleville Rotary) please. II II JI I r ►an |F i i i r r» . h if 240 FIREWOOD i t ’ IT I J.i a ♦ •. 0 < JOHN DEERE 48” mower for parts. Asking $300. Rototiller attachment sold separately. 269945-4527. 5 Why your brand must embrace local journalism through advertising dollars I 31’ • b Saturday, October 11,2025 I I Your Community Connection R BATTLE CREEK -1 �I I 1 Saturday. October 11,2025 6 I THE SUN AND NEWS INCREASE A. ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH A gift for you When I was a young teen, thought they were free fast I went to Disney World for passes because they looked 1 the first time with my entire just like the real ones, but extended family. My older when we picked them up, cousin and 1 were just at the they air said, “Rejected” on age where we could run off one side. on our own and choose which So we swiped, and a real rides we wanted to ride. Zach Santmier fast pass popped out. We We had a little card that showed the ticket to the we could swipe at certain rides that al­ guy at the front of the ride, walked lowed us to get one fast pass. This pass through the empty fast pass line, and allowed us to jump to the front of the then handed our fast pass ticket to line and practically walk right on the another worker who let us on the ride. rollercoaster. We only had so many fast We watched as he just threw the white passes we could get for the entire day, ticket away without even looking at it. so we had to use them wisely. We saw In our teenage boy brains, we both the Buzz Lightyear ride and we decided had the same idea. As soon as the ride to use one of our last two fast passes for was over, we decided to use our last fast the day to jump to the front. As we went pass for Buzz Lightyear. But this time, to the fast pass kiosk, there were a lot we collected some of the “Rejected of little white tickets on the ground. We white tickets that looked identical. At * « >♦ •• • « II X* X • r- •l AT « ♦ ^"9 I k WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS s b the front of the line, we showed the worker our real Fast Pass, but this time, when we went to hand in our ticket to the other worker, we handed him the “Rejected” card. We were both a little nervous of if we’d get caught, but with­ out a second thought, he grabbed our “fake” and threw it away. We had gotten away with it! We sat down on the ride and for the second time, we listened to the departing instructions. “Keep your hands and feet in the cart at all times, aim your blasters at the bad guys and save our planet!” Something like that! After our second ride, what do you think we did? You better believe it! We got some more rejected tickets and tried it again, and again, and again. After about 10 times around on the ride, we had memorized every word in the de­ parting instructions. We would laugh as we recited them together, even putting in the same pauses as the operator. We thought we were getting away with the heist of the century. Friends, as you get ready to launch on the? roller coaster of personal finan­ cial success, I want you to know the instructions forwards and backwards. 1 want you to fully know and under­ stand the systems and principles that I have taught so that you can recite them back to me, even saying them how I say them. You have only learned these principles one time. It took me over a year to write the material, and T ve been teaching this for years. Remember, I don’t want you to have just gained head knowledge, I want you to apply knowl­ edge and digest what you’ve learned. i<?*S5 T I I G X it P' I I I ft* 754 I J *' - ilV 1 JI ik' > i < I j % I , A' •V 4 /f 1 1 » f k X 1 )• V 4 I f I t 4 I I k V 4 ( X < 1. I 1 <1 I* f I* 1 '* /A -n* J/, I .*4 K'. * I-' * I .1^ . . V I M I /I \1! 5 ^1/ ( 1 1 I 1''‘ I I /IP* .4ir* » ... » z * X ( .^1 < 4 e, 4 -44 4 l’■■’ * < I > r V. 9 t j .1 x ■ -<'■ '1 u u i •'U I A ->** -it > k ..•vA . ■.tv •< * f I I • t * .rf: I * I .<1' ■ ■ 't-*' . I’ I** * I r rs k I IF* I-*?’ 4- I , . ( i . • * •*: X Um__ W** I A' t » r>ll, iif I I I li<i % .-J. :r - - 'i H 8® I. ’^1 1 J. I 4 t G J 4 ;v ik al til f (fiFs*-* 4I jvi'iaoa*—■ it?"*' .1 r* A4F V f1 8^ I 4^ j#5.Xn^ ■A i ! 9 1.^ « « J Visit us online at www.Sunandnews.com 4 '' > I ’,y. >« <• : I' ■ J, z:s^' a TTi x_...______ » «rv f G r •• -r •'• X Smiley’s Snowplowing •> 1 ( '■t fXr 4)!^ f-i . - 11 K I 4 i iR Stt^ r / I |i Scheduling Now For Winter f •I t »' >1 ( 'S' * L t ^^moM*** “IP 4 ■» « Rates per season or per push. Payment options available. 4 oi Al ft*. 9 r 4 Call or text: Rick Thorington DeWeerd <6^ 269-792-2234 if * :*•' “W ft DEWEERDHTG.COM I' I I ** ■±‘* • HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. * < MM r, So, here’s my gift: I want to give you access to every article I have written in this column so you can refer back to them again and again: Visit trumbleagency.com/moneytips, where you can read every article we have published and refer back to them again and again. I am also considering an in-person class to help you jump-start your per sonal financial success. If this would be of interest to you, shoot me an email at zach@trumbleagency.com. I’d love to hear from you! Just as we were laughing and recit­ ing the instructions on Buzz Lightyear for what was soon to be the last time, a worker came up to us and pulled out the rejected tickets from the trash can. We had been caught red-handed. They threatened that if we did anything like that again, we’d be kicked out of the park. With our tails between our legs, we unbuckled our seat belts and walked the walk of shame back towards the entrance. This past year, I took my girls to Disney World and introduced them to the Buzz Lightyear ride. As I got on and heard the departure instructions, it was like riding a bike. I could nearly recite them word for word. Zach Santmier is the owner of Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of thepersonalfinancial course, Increase. He focuses on helpingfamilies escape paycheck-to-paycheck living so they can freely pursue their ideal future. I Residential & Commercial Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers www.sunandnews.com A+ |^Kgffig I BBB ACCRBOtTEO (616) 291-3220 rtsmiley@yahoo.com J A I /■ -2> I « 2 >- Middleville, Ml / 40 yrs. experience < '* «!>**. • • r 1 I'f • 4 < t 'J'i • ■ > it I A i I -I �4 s f i ! I 4 V t r V • < V '1 I 4 • 5 • r. ««lk :I t c . S; . « , t EDITORIAL 'Vs I .1 ’WSk"' k . '«W.. Local journalism focus of National Newspaper Week 2025 V I . ‘ k kt < *v . <- I i <‘01 I / i ■Nt< t ?3n k .1 V b'*' “.’‘i f If*, « s (J u. *r- 4 I V i !■ »■ 'h X'i.-' life Tj[-: ! J' I. , '-S’.; 1 <1 ■ •> < . *18*. I ■ ■ ■ ■ *> 't' V* IX 9 1 :I nI V / < I « 1. I > t I 1 fb.. I / •'fv, , I I, *"•' ■ w. a* ■ ■ «k. 4 Hk ‘Q I 71 '.•v>/.;■ ‘S’ I I I V I si' it Ai I f > I ♦ *r GOt ( 1 I vr k »- I » 1 '. f: A * lli 4 A * I t r* 4*. i^. 9 K * «. i 'J I 1 I 4 I « r, J4 r.: f IJ *• 0’ ■ J f I:. ixteht w < I ( 1 4 p. r. rno f i k ■ 1 !r>5 :;h:TA^ I } A‘: <' J Il MXj » f 1 <■ * . r October 5th through the 11 th marks the 85th celebration ofNational News­ paper Week. Since 1940, Newspaper Association Managers, a professional organization of newspaper associa­ tions, has sponsored and supported Na­ tional Newspaper Week, a week-long promotion ofthe newspaper industry in the United States and Canada. The theme, or we might say, the rallying cry, of this year’s celebration is “Embracing Local Journalism for a Better Future.” Local journalism is the heartbeat of informed communities. It brings sto­ ries to light that national outlets often overlook — stories about school board decisions, city council debates, neigh­ borhood events, and local heroes. In a world increasingly shaped by global headlines and social media noise, re­ connecting with local news is vital for civic engagement, accountability and community resilience. 9 :-9 ■ THE SUN AND NEWS Aww.sunandnews.com ' 'in rx ; ■ I J 1 4 * 1 I Why Local Journalism Matters: • Informed Citizens: Local reporting empowers people with the information they need to make decisions in their from voting to ateveryday lives tending town hall meetings. • Accountability; Local journalists often serve as watchdogs, uncovering corruption or negligence that directly impacts their communities. • Community Connection: Local Embracing Local Journalism a Beifjben, FietiMR National Newspaper Week ■■ October 5-11.2025 ■ new s fosters a sense of belonging by highlighting stories that resonate on a personal level. • Economic Development: Thriving local media can support small busi­ nesses through advertising and partner­ ships, strengthening the local economy. • Trust: According to the 2024 Trust in Media Study conducted by Ameri­ ca’s Newspapers and Coda Ventures, local newspapers are the most trusted news source in the country. Readers rank them highest for transparency, ethical standards and connection to qualities that are their communities critical in an environment saturated with misinformation and national po­ larization. organization. Without our coverage of local government, schools, nonprofits. agriculture, businesses and economic development, people in many of those communities would lack the consist­ ent, unbiased and thorough news and information that is most important to their daily lives. Numerous studies have showm that local newspapers, in our watchdog role, hold local government officials accountable to voters and taxpayers while the absence of local newspapers has the opposite effect. Beyond reporting news and informa­ tion, the View team members serve as marketing experts, community boosters and nonprofit champions by serving on multiple boards and committees. View Newspaper Group contributes more than $180,000 annually to local nonprofits, service organizations, chari­ table causes and fundraisers along with providing those groups with hundreds ofthousands ofdol lars more in free pub­ licity. Social media, digital advertising and search engine corporations do not give back to our communities. View Newspaper Group Serves Local Communities: With our 22 locally-owned com­ munity newspapers serving readers and advertisers across 14 Michigan counties, View Newspaper Group was founded and built on local journalism. Today, we deliver more than 350,000 printed newspapers every week into readers' homes in more than 60 cities and villages and dozens of townships. In most of those communities, we are the only professional local news A Call to Action: To build a better ftiture, w e encour­ age your support of local journalism through subscriptions, sharing stories and sharing your point of view in our letters to the editor pages. We encouraue local businesses to commit a portion of their advertising budgets to our local and effective newspapers. We encourage local government and school officials and community leaders to our newsand read! subscribe to papers. Schools, libraries, and civic groups can also play a role in educating the next generation about media literacy and the importance of a free press. Celebrate National Newspaper Week with Us! By embracing local journalism, we're we’re not just preserving the past shaping a more informed, connected, and empowered future. National News­ paper Week is a time to reflect on and reinforce the vital role newspapers play in informing, empowering, and uniting our communities. • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar • Everything made from scratch r* J * Jfi A A* A •T • §ugar Mommas * < your life ol little it svt/eetet .: k,:- Wk'- F/ i .• IS “ 'A BAKERY & CAFE r ^li r » cAlolidMt Seufina s. t s. 4 A r J I } % I s: tZ-L: I fT Tree Ornaments, Skirts, Stockings 9 Toys, Placemats, Tablecloths, Aprons, Potholders and Quilts I 1 I -f' I* ; i I .taUBUtt * Bl H I QUESTIONS: ASK US... J 1 f tf J > 9g J » la'A <t i r »wait jw?. ‘ I I I 1 * b ih •■w. A r 7 > 1. J* * >4. Saturday, October 11,2025 218 E. State St.. Hastings • ■4 I j I n I I 47-' 945-9673 OPEN. Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm Cleaners Pickup ' Staiiou ' - J I I I I I r ( r Quy a Boia/I of Qoup I CkKd ^et o. rii.E6 cookie % Must present coupon, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 11/29/25 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA / 616-275-1017 / SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM 1 1 I ‘J M r H I I * I I < ii if I ■ » 4 I a I ♦ V M 4 9 t I I I ’I I s i 3 ✓ i \ I I * k 7^^turday: SM\-Zp^ 3(. A * J- 'e\« T �E .1 1 Saturday, October 11, 2025 8 THE SUN AND NEWS r www.sunandnews.com I * 4 si*' r Scots swim through another perfect season of conference duals Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity girls’ swimminganddivingteamissomething that Grand Rapids Gators head coach Jeff Saltzgaber would like to see his program grow into in the future. The Caledonia girls finished off their second straight undefeated season of OK Conference East Division duals with a 132-45 victory over the visiting Gators at the Cal Community YMCA Tuesday. The Fighting Scots have gone from a part of the Byron Center co-op team along with South Christian, to hosting meets in their own pool as the lead school in a co-op with South Christian and Lowell that regularly finishes the season with girls on the state medal stand and chases conference championships. The Gators are currently in their second season as a co-op led by Thornapple Kellogg along with Hopkins, West Catholic and West Michigan Aviation Academy ntONTIER HEATING AND COOLING JWjgft sii^r^ncy FURNACE 8 AIR 18 months FINANCING noamnIMy interest if paid infuH ertth equal •300 OR OFF Swimmers. A first step forward to the TK girls, who previously swam with Hastings and DeltonKellogg, has been getting the chance to practice in the pool in Middleville. A little more time in the pool for those Thomapple Kellogg girls and a little less in the car has certainly proven a positive - even if the Gators aren’t ready to outrace the Fighting Scots yet. Caledonia improved to 5-0 while the Gators fell to 0-4 so far this fall in conference duals. All-state swimmer Sophie Gaylord had a strong day, as usual, for the Scots. She won the 50-yard fi-eestyle in 24.25 seconds and the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:10.78 while also swimming as a part of the Scots’ winning 200-yard freestyle relay team. Fellow all-stater Mya Vanderzwaag won two individual events for the Fighting Scots on the day too. She took the 100-yard backstroke in 1:04.44 and the 100-yard butterfly in 1:02.11. Caledonia’s Caitlyn Morris took the 200-yard freestyle in 2:11.51. Nora DeHaan won the 100-yard fi'eestyle in 59.59 - a new personal best for her by almost two seconds. Caledonia closed out the evening with the team of Aubrey Klapmust, Vanderzwaag, Morris and Amelia McCann winning the400-yard fi-eestyle relay in 4:09.76. “We had some very great swims and some very near misses,” Caledonia head coach Amber Pearson said. “Mya popped off in her fly that is an alltime best with us. We rotate the swims, so they swim everything really fi-esh. They hit everything, and that way they have chances to PR and that way I - * Must present this coupon. Expires 11-1-25 BM MB BB Oth&" products BB BM ^B available: • V^ter Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and morel ‘Thz^ Lomixau bmJt b'. lefeiTCiS'’ 210 East Main Street Caledonia 616-891 .'.I ' 1; z- A' } I WP ■ ■ I *1 r-l .......... FULL ROOF KEFLACEMENT Loffer Expires 10/31/25 . I •> estimates. Coupon must be presented at time of estimate. J 1 « 1 I « 9 *• i r -.TM' - * ■J * V' f 4»i' ■9af lotis* VL 4. J * it r k;;l a'^J «•* . I I t! r 4 (? > X /i- % I 1 iJAirr h i t, • *•+ * V* J) a' ..J ••'T I r^’ .*** r J r f .4 ^50 AZ if «n k I < I ^^1 Caledonia’s Mya Vanderzwaag races to a winning time in the 100-yard backstroke during her team’s OK Conference East Division win over the visiting Grand Rapids Gators Tuesday at the Cal Community YMCA. Photos ,r 1 . e* A K I Ml IIMP f .1 L. y« V'f/= 5--'' I I .J* <4 L i ■'■fr? V they’re not beating a dead horse. She doesn’t train that a whole lot. It is not a first-choice swim, but that is a huge drop for her. “Nora had a big one today too, the sub-minute in her 100 free. Missed her MISCA cut by .09, but I think she has dropped like four seconds on that this season.” The Gators had two wins on the day. All-state diver Lydia Slagel had one of those wins putting up a score of238.95 points in the diving competition. She is the returning conference diving champion. “Her diving has just continued to progress throughout the season. She is hitting all her benchmarks. She is Call us today for a FREE INSPECTION! s t IS QiPlSii u* □ adding more dives,” Saltzgaber said. “She is really stepping up to those challenges, and all die while being very kind and humble about her pathway.” A big push in the breaststroke powered Gator sophomore Mckenna Hawks to a win in the 200-yard individual medley early in the meet. After slipping a little behind during the backstroke and butterfly legs of the race. Hawks pushed past Caledonia’s Lena Gesing in the breaststroke leg and then held her off through the 50 yards of fi*eestyle swimming. Hawks trimmed almost two and a half seconds from her personal best in the race with her winning time of 2:38.07. “I was really happy to see Mckenna Hawks step up in such a big way, as a captain as a sophomore. She is just following in the footsteps of her sister, and continuing to raise the bar.” Hawks placed ninth at the conference championship meet a year ago in the breaststroke, but has shifted her focus to the 500-yard freestyle and the 100yard butterfly this fall. ‘T would definitely say that is the secret ingredient in the 200 IM, if you have a really strong breaststroke you • '3 iiu ( 9 «**♦ t by Brett Bremer ] I] 1 lie '<■ I Doesn't apply to previous I'. ■•sr I A - Not to be combined with any other offers. Certain | I 1 • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED restrictions may appiy. Consult with us today!! 3 1 tl }» • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU 1* •4 ! • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS T' A-l ■' ’r *4 QUALITY ROOFING . % 9^ * / »' • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM 1 • V • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS ■I J 1 «». r! r • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON ALL WORKMANSHIP I f L ■ IN THE BUSINESS * 4 WA « • tOCAL TRUSTED ROOFING COMPANY WITH 115+ YEARS U> iT' , • • • THE MOST TRUSTED NAME ’ _ ’ IN ROOFING I 1 ff 1. MVttU^ ' WIl»r: J- s r I I r •< *. 1 r • 1r •p S> r ( > > K / r JJ 4.— ■> 15?^ J I I J—'3-. i__ _'ji 1 ? 144 5 k' ) I * I , 1 f *n. T . Ta’: -«3v •V V ‘ J' .5* tr* $ Jr. r • n I. hU 3' f H •I ts v • •ri T t 1 ■ i Ml. ■ .• E i I <• 5 U ' !• < : '•‘fc I Z.” •i J> I * J_* 8 « 4 •7 •. f * 4 lifiwwewS i1 U i J : i. •■ - i B r I • •• Ji f r I e I J iMi .• * y i" 1 4-^ J Ji’? 'J>‘> ■' . f A s* i ■■* •s? ' ( I V A Bl e ir I Ef-wuBWsr'8W ft nr: i •> 5 • ri f r t r ( p" u ri^ 2 I b&38 « I I b V a ?• f I * ■'' 4 f » } I. I 4 I n- 1; . r« i *346 >1 I > ■ ITI- A *' I , f t Yf€ 1 i ,1 ( '<• i- £rQg.i®fj| .nzi t •cV V • 4. t -J 4 t * ■avUn r 8 n■ fc i, 1 I IfifcSSSSVSJW! %s I * 1 f ■ tJ A IJ * Us fWAKi; sSii' Mi /i A k f‘L'r I* ■ �»k ••tK 'I Ji ♦ ♦ <1^ J » L1 -Ilf » I 2 B a I r - hi ' Brett Bremer Sports Editor I TEi => I :o 5^ « a I 1d 3 . • < fl it " w ■ I njB"* li 1 4 4 » ;■ K J ft ft jp I-: r I< I f J I ► , < . • 1 •'IS iVi X « t k a 4 s ,., It .■b ► V 1 V* vt'in ’ -’W p V, 1 j 4^ ’ t ♦ 4 if) : i ’I r J .1 li t ' J I I r J h- ' ! Y t V. I J ^nr. >« I - I 9 J11.’ r.e- J X« ‘, • t r •s- .’■II*** 1 •5 1*. f V 1 I t J • •3 T. ?'■’ ' f f 4 <-4 « *« I -s { k f 1^4 .h - i t Ii < I e - I. • I I > it I it r»; y 1 I sJ : 4 t « 9 K ”1^ t < ? a- .• s ? •> 5 t I ■f { :km • < e9»«i •i " Tr ' Uq‘5<^*TMnMi 0(1’ bns bisi .J nr ^*^*7 iz>« • w \A I 1 I 1 « wil* I I t I ~ I yli !‘ -nbbrl ■ ' r* I I I I .' I i [ r rI -J < rl’ ? 5**^^ f r I f ■’TETOl 1 T I I T. I * e* A . t"* ■ ' jteTO'JZjlOO^*****••■ LTrH'js'iT I r fwb! n e wI rr 1 A ii£ •f n JI rqqola jrrz . . - winoH . xWil 1 » ‘i I 1 .4 > I I M' ,' I■ I A >< * **• The Thomapple Kellogg varsity football team took a 37-30 overtime victory in OK Black Conference play at North view Friday, Oct. 3, to move to 2-1 in the conference. The Trojans got the ball first in the overtime session, where each offense gets to start a drive from the ten-yardline. Senior back Debo Robinson carried the ball to the six. Junior quarterback Micah Dock took it to the three. Junior back Camden Peter took it the rest of the way to the end zone on third down, and Mason Chivis’ extra­ point kick put TK up by seven. The Trojan defense stopped the Wildcats on their possession, and the Trojans got to celebrate as they head into their homecoming week. In what must feel like a rarity for the Trojans, even when things felt like they were going awry the ball just kept bouncing their way. TK had a couple receivers collide on a fourth down play in Wildcat territory with 1:24 to go in the fourth quarter trailing 30-27. The defense came up huge. The offense got a little help. Northview lost the handle on a reverse and went backwards, and then a botched Northview snap to the punter in the closing minute set TK up at the Wildcat 30-yard-line. With no timeouts left and 3 8 seconds to play, Dock tossed the ball back to senior back Zach Eldridge who lofted a pass towards the end zone that came up short and was intercepted by the Wildcats. The Northview celebration didn’t last long though, as there was a flag for defensive pass interference behind the play to keep the TK offense on the field and move the ball to the 15-yard-line with 30 seconds to go. Eventually, Mason Chivis kicked a 33-yard field goal with six seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 30-30. The Trojans had the last lead of the bailgame, and they had the first lead of the ballgame. Dock scored on a 20-yard run to finish off the opening possession of the bailgame midway through the first quarter. There was no stopping either offense in the first half. Northview led 22-21 at the half. Aaron Johnson answered Dock’s opening score with an eight-yard touchdown run for the Wildcats with a little over a minute to play in that opening quarter. The two teams were tied 7-7 at the start of the second quarter, but that didn’t last long. Malachi VanEngen took a pitch through the left side 39 yards for a TK touchdown 35 seconds into that second quarter. It was back the other way to even the score for the Wildcat offense with seven and a half minutes to play in the first half. The Northview offense broke a 39-yard run of its own to get inside the TK 10, and then Jalen Gant scored on a seven-yard TD rush. Zach Eldridge answered for TK with a 19-yard touchdown run on the next possession. Northview closed out the first half with a two-yard touchdown run by Beau Peterson with four seconds left in the half When the Trojans were flagged for a penalty on the extra-point attempt, the Wildcats went for two and Peterson found the end zone again to put his team in front for the first time. The Trojan defense got the first stop of the game after a more than sixminute drive by the Wildcats to start the second half. On a third-and-goal from the eight-yard-line. Northview had a pass go off the hands of its intended receiver at the goal-line and up into the hands of the Trojans’ Maddox VanEngen for an interception. TK took the lead back with a drive that covered 79 yards in 6 minutes and 23 seconds. It ended on a three-yard touchdown run by Debo Robinson that had TK in front27-22 with 11:13 to play in the game. A two-point conversion try was unsuccessful for TK after a holding penalty took away a successful attempt and backed the Trojan offense away from the goal-line. That lead lasted for about four minutes for TK. Peterson took a hand­ off running left on a fourth-and-two play at the TK 26 and miraculously managed to pinball off one TK tackler behind the line of scrimmage and then still be everyone around the comer not only for a first down but he kept right on going for a touchdown. Collin Gessner ran in the two-point try to boost the Northview lead to 30-27 at the time. Both TK and Northview moved to 4-2 overall this season. The loss dropped the Wildcats to 1 -2 in the OK Black. TK was set to host East Grand Rapids for its homecoming contest Friday, Oct. 10, a battle between two teams in the middle of the mix for one of the 32 playoff spots in Division 3. TK is home for its final three games of the regular season also hosting Holland Christian Oct. 17 and Wyoming Oct. 24. KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? We'd love to hear about it! mmacleod@mihomepaper.com THE SUN AND NEWS VIE^ACn^m^ Oroup •V* 1 4 I9k«, ’'hrl I ! ’’r*, , t ( ( c 9 Chivis field goal forces overtime where TK wins by a touchdown I 1 Saturday, October 11, 2025 ♦ nI V THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 9 ft ■ •a GRAND RAPIDS WATER CDNNECTION MEETING BRADFORD WHITE 5K FOR BREAST CANCER * . ♦ Have questions about the upcoming Grand Rapids water connection? Join us for answers! Representatives from Grand Rapids Water, along with the Township Manager, Engineer, Utilities Coordinator, and Water Operator will be available to provide information and address your questions. *ALL PROCEEDS OO TO CANCER RESEARCH* NATES DATE; OCTOBER 25’”, 2025 AT RAM REGISTRATION FEE; $25(T-SHIRT INCLUDED) ‘PRICE INCREASES ON OCTOBER lOTH* • ♦ • • SPONSORED BY; e ft e • • «• • k • UJLM 4 WOMAN'S NEIWRK MONDAY, OCTOBER 13 4:00 PM 6:00 PM / How much the changeover will affect water user's bills. TH « I 4 '•••Sil • • & 4 BRAorotc wHiri* <o«paNAriOH e CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP 8196 BROADMOOR AVE SE ' CALEDONIA, Ml 49316 SIGN UP TODAY DATES EIPECTATIIIS Project Managers will be there to discuss timelines for phases and changeover. Representatives and experts will be on site EVENT IS OPEN TO TRE PUBLIC 200 LAFAYETTE ST., MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 1616-891-0070 !< J anugent’.'i-co Iodo niatownshtp.org to answer questions related to changeover. co I ed OP 1 oto wn$h । p.orq ♦ �a I ■0- lb Oci r THE SUN AND NEWS A ■• t .. ■V ■ rV Homecoming victory much needed for Fighting Scot football Bren Bremer Sports Edtffx A I play. 80-yard drnc tn st^arl of! bomccftrning night inside Ralph 1 Myers Stadium earned tfu' I ighting Scots al! the p<iirits they needed to sesure their (irsi GK Red ( onfcTcncc victors of the season 1 ridav in C aledonia ( aledonia beat Ihe (irand Haven Buccaneers 28-6 in a battle to sec who c<7uld get their first conference wm first Both teams got off to an 0- ^ start to conference play I hat wa^ a big deal I he last three weeks have been tough for these guy s f hey haven't quit I hey have a lot of fight in these kids, so it was goexJ to see some reward for what they have going on," Caledonia's first-year head coach Whitney Bell said following his first OK Red Gonference win leading the program. Senior running back Ryne Wysocki plowed through the line and stretched the ball out across the goal line for the game's first points six and a half minutes into the contest. The first of four extra-point kicks by junior I andry Mueller had the Scots in front 7-0. If was 21 -6 at the half. Caledonia got p * a j9*ard t<»u iidnwn pas- fr<*m seii i qu»o<-That k Andrew Hanna to junior Aaron ( ollm*^ <»n a middle striven that hfwj^tcxJ the Stot lead to 1441. Wc needed 11 It fell great. Hanna said of the hornetoming w in “We were juM running the hall really well Our O-line was doing amazing. hl<Kked rcallv well, and our reveiven» were catching the hall really g<M>d C aledonis's sophomore quarterback Conlan Schultz scored on a three-yard run with 63 seconds left in the first half to put his team back up two scores after the Buccaneers answered that second Scots* f I) An early season injury to starting quarterback Bryce Backus has Hanna and Schultz trading time at quarterback the past couple weeks. “It is working pretty gtxxl.’* Hanna said. “We help each other out and everything. We encourage each other and all that, split reps, and making sure we're doing what we're supposed to be doing. And having fun with each other." Bell said Hanna and Schultz arc ultimate team players, “ You can sec them every single week, their confidence keeps building, and building, and building," he said. Ihe Scot lead went to lead 28-6 with a two-yard f ; TD run by Wysocki. The I score w as set-up by a fine I catch from junior receiver mw .fi0*B*arMlaKM amr Digital TV Antennas * Towers * Start ink Installs ’ wireless Data Linka * Cellular Enhancement Systems CELLW SIG PR I r ac< I 1 *. I r • pa .. I tol z I f: i 1 I to » I f r . 1 * Hlfb Mlaltioa ovt4oor cmmtu to OMoHor Toor ^ro^orty Lincoln Senti with a a defender in his face, off a throw from Hanna, that moved the ball from the Grand Haven 43 to the two-yard-line. r I « IT I r/ 4 1 I. «< 7 A 1 t , -J'* 1 I 4 4 v’-' I. V -■i' b * M .r» >• / l’ AI A* ""4 A ‘(it xM I sSil' rf le 5 * I >> A •l ■ A D ll .? I* * 1 i.':’ •r *• > Caledonia senior back Ryne Wysexski reaches the ball over the goal-line to put the Fighting Scots in front in the first quarter of their homecoming game against visiting Grand Haven inside Ralph E Myers Stadium in Caledonia Friday, Oct 3 The Fighting Scots took a 28-6 OK Red Conference win over the visiting Buccaneers Photo by Brott Bremer I* * st Uk** If -v ! I • 1 ; ■ -.<' f >* J Tridav. “ fbc plan tonight was just to do what we do. and do if better than they do what they do," CHS senior right tackle l.iam Moore said. We really just wanted to punch it through and beat them in every aspect of the game. “I think the O-line as a w hole played great tonight. I thought the running backs made us look good too. It was a total team effort tonight," Moore added. The Buccaneers moved the ball a bit See next page I • I X The guys in the trenches continued to lead the way for the Scots, creating holes for the hacks to run through, giving Hanna and Schultz plenty of time to try and throw the ball, and on the defensive side doing the dirty work to let the linebackers and guys in the secondary step up and make plays. Caledonia amassed 334 yards of offense and held Grand Haven to 185. Hanna wash-for-8 passing for 11 yards and the one touchdown. Schultz was 3-for-4 for 31 yards. Bell especially liked the way his guys pass blocked 4 I 1 'W”** - ■ -“25^ J-' •0 - 4 « I A .i. ■. -Jtel'“•■ ■■ I I ..«» ? Si « I .I?’* i! ffi Itw ,1 •( i' • l( r-* *» (to t i 1^’ •• r GATHER 9 ’ * JI7S/efferwn Si. Suite B, Hitstinga inti Hungry Hnnu e' Mrxi^ao CoiiMArfiim) • Farmhouse Buffets • Chests of Drawers * Fall scented Candles H -1 ri lOam-Spm Sal I Odin - 4pm 1 I J V I ' I ' 'A i»« • * «« I * w*« Ie** » I k C-JTM '' -t • «a0 4a * ( I TTi:- ( ♦t UNT •w » I «» 1 >17e4a.MM*LMi»lne m M7 tui • BMti CrwakM-ffM 117 740.tm * JachMiWAnn Arter ■nWnninun ctBtomtrQainBtl oom wtnf. com r * Closed-Call Foam Insulation * Blown-tn Attic Insulation GD WOOD PRODUCTS Family Owned & Operated SAW MILL OFFICE 517*254-4463 Conscientious Timber Harvester Wanting to Buy Standing Timber MteairMes. Cjlilsm and • I 1- *' NBlson ’ s SPRAY FOAM,LLC ■!r< ^^W«-.r'»:swOI0WF*' T " f * I I i <^ivl ;c I * w ♦ tr''-''!-*.-' ''iiiOSCffiats:; •IKAb' a a *t . i r I *'A X Nelson 1700 N Angw Rd • Chartotie Ml 48813 ) j 1M-■ 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today - Usa Spray foam I ■» -it X.’ r 44 i I I I I r f I f I i t I i i I H1 MJ t ! <4 ' A H I r t f t t « i �t i 4 I r I A I * *** X I Xi ' I 9 1 '•t V > » 4 I -K THE SUN AND NEWS WWW. SU nandnews. com ... i WOkWl Saturday. October 11. 2025 11 I < t Ite nr t MlJ* » <• r I* Continued from previous page ** % J'. I I I ik I 3 • 1 a 1 * J • I ^4 If I. Ll J * t I) I S k Ml V * I I* Ji I I < -JlpR 5 «k •V Jb MU > - ■ J I Lt* I 1 bM ■" ■bL >Si2 Si-, '*SBi 4 J I :a’1 ’ ' z I •J h/Ti * *■ 2 A h • I -r V V J * I I •4 . < »• smF^4i« 4 e' Ri^ ik A > i ) «£/ J err n* >1 4 I Li- hr) "n 4 I 9 4 1 i’t 1 i « ■5 Grand Rapids Gators freshman Mara Raak cuts through the water on her way to a third-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke during her team’s OK Conference East Division dual against Caledonia at the Cal Community YMCA Tuesday. Raak cut nearly a second from her personal best time in the race. .6 f t I « I -s I f f I w. I % » -4 . xA * /. * f* 'v!i }- * rs 1 I 1 ‘ > 4., ♦ l’ 1 s I« V o ‘ < r L f. I. *1 e fl®,. : t A. n IVI .. I» r» **• t . <1 f’ I I 1 It * ir» * 4 fl I » I I ‘ *«U5I» I • H . P: •f •> r’ I • -if 4 rl I * WWJiMwk « < I I > I! f’ 5 4 J 1? I •I ? I i' » w i r| •*» '4 T lih i-j ■ T M I* ' Al . I J .I I J i f I I I : • w L W ** 'MP J I I >b*lki8Me t ’>1 I * , c i. ** p* *• x. rs H tj ■ 6 f .11 r 9 s J * .. L *v » aJ i. i* . IT 4 • I * ( t 1 • A t I • r". PERFECT Continued from Page 8 certainly did,” Saltzgaber said. “That enabled her to surpass her competition, and to be honest last year that was more of her bread and butter. This year we have another great, strong breaststroker which allows us to diversity in our events - that’s Mara Raak who also did great today.” ITial breaststroke race was one of the most exciting ones of the evening. Gaylord was the clear champion. DeHaan was the clear runner-up in 1:15.08, but there was a great battle for third with Caledonia senior Anneka Schuurmans racing against the Gator freshman Raak. Raak had a great finish to beat out Schuurmans by one hundredth of a second 1:21.58 to 1:12.59. Raak and DeHaan both had a personal best by almost a second in the race. “That was so fun to watch,” Saltzgaber said. “[Raak] has worked on her finish and came in just how she was supposed to.” Raak and Hawks teamed with Jenna Robinett and Eloise Nichols for a runner-up time of 2:19.85 in the 200-yard medley relay to start the meet, finishing behind the Caledonia foursome of Madelyn Foerch, DeHaan, Lena Gesing and Schuurmans that won in 2:04.57. The CHS team of Hawks continues to score well for the Gators all around. She was the runner-up in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of6:27.45. Foerch won that one in 6:15.87. She jumped right back in the pool after that race to anchor the Gators’ 200-yard freestyle relay team to a runner-up time of 2:04.94. She joined with Raak, Robinett and Nichols in that race too. “She just continues to show grit and perseverance, and I am very proud of the work that the team does. Those types of actions really build comrade and culture,” Saltzgaber said. The Gators have one final conference dual against Wayland Thursday, Oct. 16, which they'll score during a tri­ meet with Otsego in Otsego. “It has been really fun to feel the energy of the team this season, Pearson said. “Very similar number wise to what we had last year. We had like five more. But just the way they’re showing up for one another and the way they’re cheering, it’s night and day difference in the best way possible. That is not saying anything bad about last season, but they’re just being such great teammates.” Caledonia and the Gators will be together again Nov. 7-8 for the OK Conference East Division Championship Meet. A location for that meet is still to be determined. A year ago, the conference got together to decide its champion at the CERC in Hastings. Coach Parsons said Ottawa Hills is probably the biggest challenger to a championship when that time rolls around. offensively with junior quarterback Easton Hintz slinging the ball around and firing off the occasional option pitch, but for the most part the Caledonia defense held Grand Haven's offense in check. Hintz had a one-vard TD run with 9:30 to * go in the first half that got his team within 14-6. The five Grand Haven possessions following the Buccaneers' lone touchdown ended in three punts and the ball being turned over on downs twice. Bell liked how is defense w'as able to contain the Buccaneers on the perimeter, in large part by being physical up front. “I thought Lincoln Senti had a really good game coming downhill and tackling well, and Elliott [Clark] and Colton Sheely, 1 thought got oxer the top of things very well. But here is the deal, you can't do all those things if you don't have a very good D-line controlling the O-line, like Brien Martin, Cody Meyers, Brent DeYounc.and our outside backers did a very’ good job of controlling the line of scrinunaue so they couldn't get to the next level." The Fighting Scots are honing each other along the lines throughout the week. “When we're practicing our offense, they give us really good looks. They're always pushing us to be better. We're always pushing them to be better and it showed tonight,” Moore said. Caledonia was scheduled to visit West Ottawa Oct. 10 in OK Red Conference play, and the Scots will be at Rockford Oct. 17. GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. BODY SHOP COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your +rus-becl Body Shop -for over 32 years * MIMA I ««v 1 4 iP»-- 1 I I I i ) 4 IJ ’ I I I I u ‘V » f I , •8 I t s f I \ I �I ( i * I . ! 12 Saturday, October 11,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Wilkinson wraps up undefeated OK Gold first singles seasons Brett Bremer Sports Editor Thomapple Kellogg senior Franklin Wilkinson wrapped up an undefeated conference season as the top player in the OK Gold Conference Thursday. Wilkinson took the first singles championship at the 2025 OK Gold Conference Championship tourna­ ment, played out on the courts in Mid­ dleville and at South Christian High School. Wilkinson pulled out a 7-6(2) win in a tie breaker at the end of the first set against South Christian sophomore Joe Maas and then took set two 6-1 for the title. Maas was the only guy in the conference to win a set against Wilkinson this fall. Wilkinson opened his day with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Wayland senior Chesney Hudson. Maas and his teammates won enough points to take the outright conference championship though. The Trojans were second Friday and second in the final overall conference standings. The Sailors won the tournament with 16 points ahead of TK 13, West Catholic 12, Northview 10, Wayland 9, Grand Rapids Union 2 and Wyoming 1. TK freshman Parker Sylvestre was second at second singles and the sec­ ond doubles team of Graham Eden and Gideon Scott also had a runner-up finish for the Trojans. Mark Gielincki was third at fourth singles, the third doubles team ofAiden Riffel and Luke Archer placed third and the fourth doubles team ofMark Cuison and Alex Egleston was third too. The TK team also had Max Lepper fourth at third singles. The TK first doubles team of jimiors Layne Schilthroat and Sam Teachout had to bow out of the tournament early because of an injury after going 1-1 in their first two matches of the day. Wilkinson ran his season record to 18-5 overall with his two wins. The I • f ••w k A* ^*4^ I I r i NOTICE PUBLIC ACCURACY TEST NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Public Accuracy test for the November 4, 2025 Special Election will be conducted on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gaines Township Community Room, lower level, located at 8555 Kalamazoo Ave SE., Gaines Township, Michigan The Public Accuracy test is conducted to demonstrate that the program and computers that will be used to tabulate the results of the election have been prepared in accordance with law. Michael Brew, Clerk Gaines Charter Township s J'J’ f I I i51 • V r I 4 4 . I I I V\ -•M * I 1 'M? T I SI I i I * nil* I" ( ••jf 9 ft I ♦ • r ib^ I I J A. •4 I • i t f; i n. I z :* •r T. 'I' I 1 a.' ( I / 1 .... 1-*.' ________J, . i| •> 4 . A*. I .4 « 4^ Ir • M« > A*'* r * jW/** ft ■ * p t ' V z-l U’ ** - Thornapple Kellogg seniorfirstsingles player Franklin Wilkinson and head coach Philipe Sylvestre celebrate Wilkinson’s championship at the OK Gold Conference Tournament hosted by South Christian High School Friday. Hcii'aaaK'' to r t -to* I . bb .Z i , • / • 4 ** 1 . z ’Ui I I 11 .4* * ** I I * J " I I run* 4. I Photo provided I I ♦ » c • n r Ci (*■ w GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP I ? > /' Trojan team was slated to take part in the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Regional Tournament in Holland Wednesday, Oct. 8. Sylvestre beat Northview sopho more Micah Wells 6-0, 6-1 and then South Christian senior Ben Vos 6-3, 6-3 to get into the second singles final Friday. It was a battle of Ifeshman for the championship, and West Catholic’s Crew VanBeynen won a marathon match by the scores of 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. Still, it was good progress for Syl­ vestre who had lost to Vos in three sets and fallen to VanBeynen while winning just three games in their regular season match-ups. Sylvestre moved to 20-4 on the season with his run to the finals. The senior Gielincki at fourth singles for TK beat Wayland sopho­ more Spencer Miller 6-4, 6-4 in the match for third at their flight. .. ' *.r Scots get a win at four doubles flights during OK Green tournament ..-atoi to * I' i' 9 - »• »» t I •.^t^ r«5i 10 . „. . I * W^' 'A . Mln I I ’rf • t i <1 n I 1 JC I la Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity boys’ tennis team placed fourth at ^e OK Green Conference Tournament Friday, Oct. 3, in Jenison. Byron Center took the day’s champi­ onship with a score of 16 points ahead of Mona Shores 12, Jenison 10, Caledonia 4 and Reeths-Puffer 3. The Caledonia team got four doubles wins on the day. Caledonia senior Isaac Robotham and sophomore Russell Grandon took a 7-5, 6-0 win over the second doubles team of Gabe Feirick and Landon VanderKooi for the Scots, and finished the day with a 1-1 mark. They lost a tough two-setter 7-6(6), 6-3 to Mona Shores’ Connor Knop and Dylan Lyonnais in their first match. It was as competitive one at third doubles between the Scots and the Sailors at third doubles too. There the Fighting Scot senior duo of Derick Prichard and Caleb Harrison took a 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-4 victory. That Scot team was also 1 -1 with a 6-1, 6-4 loss to ±e number three team from Jenison. Juniors Isaac Judd and Charlie Scott teamed up for athree-set winforthe Scots at fourth doubles too. They outscored Jenison’s Sam Gies and Max Wiltrakis 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 to earn the Scots a point. Byron Center’s fourth doubles duo took a 6-0, 6-0 win over the Scots to close their day. The fifth doubles team for Caledonia was 1-1 as well. Junior Shane Johnson and sophomore Zach Zupin teamed up for a 6-3,7-6(9) win over the No. 5 team from Mona Shores, Dean Carmichael and Harrison Sischo. That Scot team was bested by Jenison in its other match, 6-1,6-0. Mona Shores freshman Reid Hackney won the day’s first singles championship without giving up a game. He downed CHS senior Hudsen Derengowski in the semifinals and then Reeths-Puffer senior Ethan Frang in the championship match at the top flight. i» Z' t •r *—5i I '■< J 9 r Mw> £ ^*^^***^^ f ll I’d? I I'll * j • r I' I I i K * .*4 : iW » I''. . * y I ! i J tL' J, . . b - law- G**; ' f ■:^ I btii/sH I ; I J ■ ■.’f'loq ' <‘ffT !<• I I H -r * -1*. A” ' I t I ! I I’ t fi - b’ i “i I* •• I “ v' f *• . I 'I » I 'l' A* aist ■ TtUI * T it . I J ll f' A .4 I J. I I ■•II*. * . 4'< I I J > KJ-' I. I «« I -♦ r* I J r I . I * • i !■ k i; * IM i 11 to : • r’ -:r\'5:'ru ' .. I 4 11 w f 1 I '-®5e r— 7 7J6. « t ^ 4 / J I ' t It' * r •'. I -1' I J i<r> .3- I .1 4 • 4 1 >. 1 •srUj^ao f> ' ' ' I) 'J-” r.4 ,1 f Vs .. " rr I \ . �L ^0 ! t ' 1 '.'V 4 I I r I I F -i. ■■■ I »w|F I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com •• k X*. ► I ' I • wi Jfis—— State Finals O’Krangley shoots her way to spot in Division I V 13 Saturday, October 11, 2025 Im* I k »laiB 4 i Brett Bremer Sports Editor It was a thrilling final few moments of the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Divi­ sion 1 Girls’ Golf Regional at Mus­ kegon Country Club for senior Codie O’Krangley and the Fighting Scots Monday. O’Krangley finished off a birdie on the par-5 number 13 with a ten-foot putt, that curled around the cup as it dropped in, to close out her round with an 83. She cheered from a little Caledonia gallery as junior teammate Emily Wal­ beck chipped in from the back side of the green on number 13 for a par to finish off her round. Walbeck was 16th individually for the day with a 90. And she watched across hole ten as Grandville senior Lyla Chrisman rolled a tremendous putt for birdie, from the front of a bmtal green sloping from her right to left, to within inches of the cup. Chrisman tapped in forpar, but she needed that birdie putt to fall to force a playoff for the final individual state qualifying spots. O’Krangley qualified for the MH­ SAA L.P. Division 1 Girls’Golf Finals for the first time as an individual. She finished in a three-way tie for fourth individually with Grand Haven sopho­ more Colbie Livingston and Portage Northern senior Brooke Randall. The top three teams and top three individuals not on those teams earned spots in the state finals that will be held at The Meadows on the campus of Grand Valley State University in Allendale Oct. 17-18. O’Krangley. Livingston and Randall were the three individual state qualifiers from the re­ gional. If Chrisman’s birdie putt would have found its mark on ten there would have been a four-person playoff for those three state spots. If number 13 had been O’Krangley’s final varsity hole, it would have been as good as any to finish out on. “I hit a good drive and I think that was because my coach was standing there, and then I hit my four hybrid [just shy and to the right of the green. It was a really gutsy shot, cause if I hit it bad then I was not gonna birdie or par. So, then I had to hit my chip and it was a little short, but then I was like, okay, and I I , » b '.J- r? •7! ♦ *1 i; I ■QR >«% ■T .-4- < ! '.' I I i J ♦J 7 •x 4 111 I I 1 r ^Hfir < ri • : djl 1 tJ^^i n d i 4. 1 ! r' i-nX Tn Ij^ •M t I? E" 7a J : 'l '*•*1 1^4 r » .Kk I ; a — J J ;:'Tr r u. ‘/I r X 4 «' ; ! i-JtyriCt trarv <• / r ’Mf 4 I * I .r^ k ft i t . I i ' I ?- *1 I Ip 1 •T I I I' . r . A , * I •1/ '4i r • ->w a ki >• < 1 *1 • w r I < -5* *4 — 4 * ( r J t. 8 1 i >1 1 Wihiii ■ a M 11 + IHh iR ^lll!| ''»y Ml a .H « a * ' Vl: I. Q 11 « "■ 35;&. f 1 i 1 r? R ? I I »I : ! I 4 I ’I i nt h I 1 f % I I « ** ij 1 b ■■Tf* • I ’•4yin »t 'J I I ,I iT rJc > • •. ■<»' .’X s h!-sn< .J I» I 1 ? • 1 V J, >• IM ^-4 r . 4. ..t 1 • I ’ I «J I I «».rJ iWfi^ I i I i'b*! .I lACf'l ' .1 / ■TfT-’el tf hrttii r>'£SH i'ije - I "yzr ik - no irn; i T I ^n; -j* I I t t K t: I - > t I /.* J r k I 1 I > i «> Iax^ ., r, I I -I j»4 ( iJ.? '^.:- jj' 1 '5t t <-- . ujUG -r• J • . I ■ ■ 1^ unOU J J I . i t**- . t k 1 I I I V 4^ I ( ’-pi • T 1: [ * I T 1 . 1 I i dk) 1I « Ji > k .’T Mb. w •Vi »- -a • y > • .J** I s *'7 1 r z*^xawd A *5 < k. *«b •'-1 / n « ’tmi ...... .... <4 MBr fz- « s z 4^ I I-;’ XiA€^ 'Z K> u X fi > I > 7^ u ■ Caledonia senior Codie O’Krangley watches her tee shot fly on number ten at Muskegon Country Club Monday during the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Regional round. O’Krangley earned a spot as one of three individual state qualifiers from the regional. Photos by Brett Bremer then I felt good about my putt, so I was like, okay, we’e just gonna go for it.” She said her four hyrbrid isn’t the most consistent club in her bag, but she wanted that extra distance - to go for it at the end of her senior season. She also had a par on the par-5 num­ ber nine. That closed out a 40 on the front nine. Byron Center took the regional championship with a team score of 336 strokes. Portage Central was second with a score of 337 and Rockford third at 365. The Caledonia girls were fourth missing qualifying for the state finals as a team, for what would have been the third consecutive season, by seven strokes. The Scots shot a 372. Jenison was fifth at the 15-team regional with a score of 388. The CHS team got a 99 from senior Ella Bums, a 100 from senior Katie Honhart and the team’s fifth score was a 102 from senior Halle Stout. Bums closed out her time as a varsity golfer strong starting her round with a par on number 12 and finishing it with one on number 11. L> A 4 t < •# < 4 I * *1 Portage Central had two girls in the top three. Junior Seneli Amaratunga was the regional champion with a 79 and junior teammate Olivia Griswold was third with an 81. Byron Center junior Autumn Kartes was the runnerup with an 80. O’Krangley was a part of the Fight­ ing Scots’ line-up at the state finals the past two A'cnl as a teai 11. ‘T was telling myself that I really wanted to make states for my senior year by myself, cause I mean, our team’s good, but we didn’t know if we were gonna go to states as a team, because there are other really good teams.” It has been a little different ofa season for O’Krangley, without her big sister Copelin who graduated last spring. Copelin led the Fighting Scot squad for the past four seasons and was third individually at the state finals in 2024. Codie was 19th as a junior at the DI Finals and 39th as a sophomore. Caledonia senior Ella Burns rolls a putt towards the cup on the number ten green at Muskegon Country Club Monday during the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Giris’Golf Regional hosted by Mona Shores. NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS I ' J Monday at 5 p.m. n THE HASTINGS BANNER Tuesday at Noon THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon Group mihomepaper.com if 1 J J J I t » 1 h'I » Ml* I Hl I I X I n Ii J \ > I <■ 4 « 1 2 '('1 I V• d.'o- I »-*•* < y �I* ' 4 14 Saturday. October 11 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS WW * A SU’ fj r ’ MS.Gom I Trojans and Scots do their best to beat the heat, and competitors, in Portage Brett Bremer Sports Editor Hie crowd and the course provided Ihe usual tough competition, but the heat made things a little tougher as the I hornapple Kellogg and Caledonia varsity boys' and girls' cross country teams competed in the annual Portage Invitational Saturday, Get. 4. Personal records overall were few and far between as a hot sun pu.shcd tempera­ tures into the upper 80s as the aftcmrxin Division 2 and Division I races took off. I:ven organizers condensed the day’s event, one of the largest in the stale each fall, in an efforl to put as few studentathletes at risk due to the heat. Varsity teams were al lowed to run ten runners in each race and J V races were canceled in the day's leading up to the race. Glsego sophomore Emma Hoffman blew away the girls’ field in the Divi­ sion 2 race with a winning time of 16 minutes 50.8 seconds. Pinckney junior Jaclyn Ray was second in 18:02.6 and NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP w PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 27,2025, at 7:00 P.M hzirr^ Please be advised the Thomappte Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on October 27, 2025, at 7pm or as soon thereafter as possible. The public hearing will take place in the Township Hall, 200 E. Main St, Middleville. The public hearings will address the following: 1 Special Use 11179 - Applicants Taylor & Alt Cleary are applying for a Special Land Use for a Contractor Yard at 4904 Praine Sunset Lane, Middleville. Ml (parcel 08-14-021-004-02) per Thomappte Township Zoning Ordinance 19.35 Any interested person may attend the public hearings Holland Christian sophomore Avery I ngbers was third in 18:29.6. Ikiffrnan and the Otsego girls beat out kngbers and the Holland Christian girls by nine points for the champion­ ship. The Bulldogs finished with 109 points and Holland (’hristian with 118. Orand Rapids Christian was third with 168 points ahead of South Christian 176, Ixxington 236, Coopersville 239, Pinckney 252, Cadillac 297, Ann Arbor f ather (iabriel Richard 332 and Unity Christian 334 in the top ten. file Thomapple Kellogg girls placed 27th with 715 points. Junior Peyton Hardy led the Thor­ napple Kellogg girls with a 122nd-place timeof22:09.6 fTeshman Brielle Miller ran to the Trojans’ number two spot in 22:19.8 placing 132nd overall and junior Carmen Reynolds was right behind in 134th place with a time of 22:25.2. TK senior Madison Kietzman placed I95lh in 23:26.1 and sophomore Breanna Schut was 213th in 23:51.2. fSasl Grand Rapids won the Division 2 boys’eompetilionwith 117points ahead of Lexington 172, Holland Christian 228, Grand RapidsChristian 262, Parma Western 263, Allendale 326, Pinckney 350, Otsego 354, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard 393 and Forest Hills Eastern 414 in the lop ten. The Thornapple Kellogg boys were 43rd with 1,108 points. Thomapple Kellogg had freshman Owen Bremer lead the way with a 113thplace time of 17:55.7. Sophomore team­ mate Garrett Holzhausen was about a mi nut *'' L’ n / "’mrrl in 18:58.1. 1K H ' r< ■;« Kiibinclt was llnrd for his team with a lime of 19:42.8 . i t I I '. » 1 of • SI96 Broadmoor Ave. SL C'aledonia, Ml 49316 ahead ofjunior Grady Galaviz 293rd in 19:58.5 and senior Benjamin Postma 314th in 20:17.3. East (jrand Rapids was led to its team win with senior Johan Workman .scoring a runner-up time of 15:44.3 Robert Jazwinski 111 won the D2 boys' race in 15:13.3. A group of seven guys finished in less than 16 minutes. East Grand Rapids had a second guy in that group with sophomore Micah Becker sixth in 15:59.1. Division I A talented Ann Arbor Pioneer teams ran to the championships in the Division I boys' and girls’ races. Tlie Pioneer boys finished their race with 99 points thanks in no small part to having two of the race’s three fastest runners. Junior Kamari Ronfeldt won the DI boys’ race in 14:50.4 and senior teammate Beckett Crooks was third in 15:27.1. Grandville junior Caden Livermore was one of the few to run a new personal record time. He placed third in 15:17.7. Midland was second in the girls' standings with 157 points ahead of Northville 164, Kalamazoo Centra I 1 70, Lowell 192, Brighton 207, Jenison 230, Zeeland West 243, Ann Arbor Skyline 247 and Saline 279 in the top ten. Tlie Caledonia bovs were 12th with 309 points just behind the Portage Central team that finished with 293. Senior Noah Johnston led the Scots with a time of 16:25.6 that put him in 24th place. A trio of sophomores were next in for Caledonia. Bennett Snapper was 38th in 16:41.3, Sean Thompson 52nd in i0:55.1 and Bentley Nichoh 89th in 17:28.2. The number five for CalfixjniA TCW'NSHIP c. Phone; 616.891 .(X>70 Fax: 616 891 0430 Monday - Thursday 9am- 4pm PUBLIC NOTICE Charter Township of Caledonia Kent County, Michigan Written comments regarding these applications may be addressed to: Secretary Sandy Rairigh, Thornapple Township Planning Commission, P.O. Box 459, Middleville, Ml 49333, or submitted via email to: zoning-administrator@thomapple-twp.org Americans with Disabilities Notice Persons with special access needs should contact ‘ the Township Clerk at 269795-7202 no less than 72 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Public Accuracy Test for the November 4,2025 Special Election has been scheduled for Monday, October 20,2025 at 9:30 a.m. at the Caledonia Township Hall located at 8196 Broadmoor Ave, Caledonia, Michigan. The Public Accuracy Test is conducted to demonstrate that the computer program used to tabulate the votes cast at the election meet the requirements of the law. hours before the hearings. Kathy Medenblik, Thomapple Township Clerk Joni Henry Clerk, Charter Township of Caledonia * ■■'y » Li* .1 i ■ I I < I I’ Ar ( 1 1 I I $ H• >• A Ji*' < lv» »$ J * to learn about the extent and location of Special Use requests to offer comments to the Planning Commission A copy of the application noted above may be examined in the Township offices at the address noted above during regular business hours. M J— ••3 1 i 1 I *1 'A u A ♦ < tf i A . ft ▼ t f. SV I l’ J !• fkt b i > *J - A’ 'fl f r • 1 V. b». -ft.’' * i ' . ■ ” * ’. k I ,uff' J • . •fl "I r * ■/ ** "( t 1 i u * *< I 1 ♦ » Am « »t» <• i. 1 I •\ 4 I I ’i; \ I • I . V' I I V » f r* t . >♦ ♦ 9^ il^ s .-^^ - J*** • I a r < "Wr" tr 1.1 < i• I « . “>» The Fighting Scots' Bennett Snapper races to a time of 16:41 3 and a 38th-place finish in the Division 1 boys' race at the annual Portage Invitational al Portage West Middle School. Snapper and the Caledonia boys placed 12th in a field of 32 teams on the unseasonably warm Saturday morning, Oct. 4. Photo by Brett Bremer I * lb 1 ’X . I f ■ { J I r s t I 1 I I 0 A k A ‘ 1. t, •, ♦ 1. : 1 i ■ -V r ;rd3sJ^' I** < I I ft i • J /A. . KI • ft < I « ft 4 •r' s ft 13 ♦ the Scots was freshman Isaac Dinh who placed 11 Sth in 17:48.6. The Caledonia girls were led by ju­ niors Akacla Daman and Anna VanderWal. Daman was 71 st in 20:32.0 and VanderWal 88lh in 20:51.0. CHS senior Hanna Bennett placed 149th in 22:19.0 and sophomore teammates Tiona Sakala and Charlie Bont were right behind her. Sakalaplaced 150thin22 IO/’ nnd Boni 152nd in 22:19.4. The Ann Arbor Pioneer girls won with 56 points ahead of Brighton 144, Hud­ sonville 183, Romeo 184, Ann Arbor Skyline 193, Jenison 213, Northville 221, Rockford 238, Portage Central 268 and Okemos 287. Pioneer had two girls in the top four including champion Natasza Dudek who clocked in at 16:44.1, and had four runners finish among the first 13. Sophomore teammate Sienna Klemmer was fourth in 18:06.2. Okemos sophomore Rachel Smith was second in 17:22.5 and Romeo junior Annie Hrabovsky placed third in 17:47.5, L . 1 * 5 'I t > I I « fl i r 1 k 1 . i-l * <« i J ’ - i-'^ • I .. •» * * 1 ■ r- 1^ A ■ I ' B'. ... f »4 * .. 11 r Zt, tn *•' J' I Ib^ ■ « I l- * * t '•I 'r I « 1 I A- ** * * r r\ I -r.r I A '.<l'xkau^ nJ I U • I I* i 75 J * u. it J r 1 < ’ 4 « n s I I J •l»> I i flf'Q.db; t . . • ' f t I V; .' < \ I SV f ' v« I t ft a r I /J (' IfcK • .’ ".s. f \ r •*. I ♦ »> '^i 9. • 4 ' i �I # T " I i *|«S J • It' t. ♦ ♦ r r i ■ i J . I J • X. r i I if I r bi J. •*» i F < I 15 Saturday, October 11, 2025 ♦ WE 1 THE SUN AND NEWS wvvw.sunandnews.com 1 I I 1 < *• ' Second swing at South Christian goes much better for TK ladies ♦ •s> V > < >4 •< ■ J• <'%• X :4 < « : "tor 8^a I 4 1 1 * 'J fI f jtH f » I i 4r •> .. r' A;. 'J I c 4 . ' I .'L, 1 ■T ■‘’3SSJ ' h- J I T 5ff ' X ’ ( b I ', IQ i> ‘ ’i; I f r I < 1 r f I f ■I 9; . i . I >' - ■v I f , I, <•. X ■>*f II' ’*'1? ! '!! ! I A < X * > t X* • 5 • I Nt •I < I r— I I i 4 XJj I, 4 ' ««I 4. r < I j- X . *■ a a ww * A 7 '■ J It* J < ♦ 1^ I . J. < Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity volley­ ball team showed off some progress in its second OK Gold Conference meeting of the season with the South Christian Sailors. The Trojans didn’t get to ten points in their first set against South Christian this fall, and were outscored by double figures 4 in each set at South Christian High School Ib last month. South Christian, tlie eighth ranked team in the state in Division 2, still managed a tliree-set win in Middleville Tliursday, but l-4*' the 'FK ladies made the Sailors work in each set. South Christian won by the scores of2521,25-22,25-16. The win moves the Sailors Z2L to 7-0 in conference matches this season. TK is now 4-4 after adding a three-set win at Grand Rapids Union Tuesday, Oct 7., Thornapple Kellogg sophomore First-year TK head coach Haley Grams setter Abby Hoebeke settles under said she is happy with how competitive a pass during her team’s OK Gold her team has been lately, and she has really Conference match with South Christian started to see her girls coming together as in Middleville Thursday, Oct. 2. a team in recent weeks. The Trojans went four sets with West “Reece has come a long way. She has Catholic Sept. 23 and pulled out a four-set been on varsity since she was a freshman, win at Wayland Sept. 30. and it is amazing to see her flourish, work “It has been an adjustment from last the net, own it and really be a leader on this year to this year,” Grams said, “just getting team, ” Grams said. them to adjust to a new head coach, getting TK had a lead as late as 15-13 insettwo, them to work together and pulling them in but the Sailors went on a little run to score together. They all kind of have tlieir own little crews, but I think we’re finally mesh­ nine of the game’s next 12 points before ing. We’re coming together, which is really finishing off the set. nice. Our last three games have really been It wasn’t until the third set ±at South hard fought, so it is nice to see.” Christian really stretched a lead against the Being in the 20’s and competing with Trojans. The Sailors pushed a 5-5 game [South Christian] is ainazing. I am super - to 20-8. proud of them,” Grams added. “The drive, I think we got a little tired. We all started the hustle it is all there and it is working.” to hang onto our own mistakes, which is She said physically her team is getting something we have really been working better at covering the court, especially on the on this season - just letting our own errors serve receive. It was something they really go and keeping up and moving on for the struggled with in ±e early match-up with South Christian, making running teough team,” Grams said. the offense as a whole almost impossible. TK did put together one last little rally. “Getting those serve receive balls up, we They got to within 24-16 with all kinds of were able to put a hit down, get a set and a contributions including an ace from senior hit,” Grams said Thursday. libero Alexa Eden and anotlier from senior Sophomore setters Abby Hoebeke and Maria Piccione, a block in the middle by Olivia Fischer can certainly have an easier Ritsema and a big kill on the left side from time running the offense and getting balls McKenna Hoebeke. to hitters when those initial passes forward The Trojans were scheduled to beapartof keep them keep the offense in ifiythm. aquadatForestHills Eastern Oct. 9. They’ll Leading that attack were junior Reece host an OK Gold Conference match with Ritsema and senior McKenna Hoebeke, but ±ey weren’t the only ones willing to take Northview Tuesday, Oct. 14, and then be a big swing at the net against the Sailors. home against for a quad Thursday, Oct. 16. r? r* 'S T I } i a t t. I I I n 'i I. « h . 1 > j • */ * I. J' 1 L 1 b 1 k ■ X . / . I f J * t ’•r* I ( i I A • i I I ,• ' SJ >' % J I C I 4 T.J . • MJ. r ri ■N ► f 4 * ■ ft ['■ 1.1 •f r.i w Tr!’>9X,jr¥T*Rjfj J 'r. ' V 1 I J‘ u I '< P -£;j ?r W1 •‘ 1 J ‘’I ''•>'7/ — Z| , n (fe'i ■’ I I rtf’ r$ J 4 I r w. n '.M t '•'••ifI ’ 01 * xl? k • 5? x^ . > OS iR t 4 d» . rrf^ 1.4 a >. T ' • J 1, ^'1 n rr f /!i I a. *•’ I 4i; k ( K, < J • i I -f Xl I j >1 4 h I •> ♦ 4*1 ■"'.VJ r r J J i l<*s h ivL n. I r I. . tc ''I ’u ’’ p’ ' J • I• I t iW J-i I 5"'^ k 1*4 p huF I > • •* 1 - t_ J ) if 1 .Tm»i ? JFBiby.: I ‘.. Xx / « ' I ■ ’ ..L-WUtti* i 1 I I ! -' ! 3>' iU k I A I 1 I , w> V I t I. I .J *« I I t 4r; ' 4 01 W{ ■:3' i .Jf* Sil kJ. T *■ i > ' t 1 1 1 1 i '• p (. 1 I I 1 ^.«14eXMzt I I • 1 r » • * . I I _■ ■ ;r,. >5.} 4 I I »i .> »: : I. u 1 w •1 I •- ( d *!•>.' J ' ’1 ; I I I I V I. I r *I M •SrJ •1 .*. • '.4 y Thornapple Kellogg senior McKenna Hoebeke hits an attack as South Christian sophomore Kendall Kwantes (3) tries to protect her side of the net during their OK Gold Conference match in Middleville Oct. 2. The Sailors kept their conference record perfect with a three-set win. *«• - X k- d Ok* . • *** r .< • ! ««OTn< -- < ( UJi _Ma % VM> Scan our QR code to find your 1-^ -•Sia ♦ A' x, perfect invitation! •t .•l 44 * I, . I . J f J t *• r f 'J? » k 4^ »X I 44 F. •l >s J W ! • • c 4 *A' •'^ A 4 t >* V > a «, f .rw* A. ?X A /T .-B- ' 4* I *1 — 4M4ffi|g ■ y • 4 ■ 4 X* ? ♦ X X . -.H Simply Perfect ’•s’^ W E D D I N G J N VI TAT IONS S’, > • Created just for your big day, we*ve put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style ’S. PRINTING BY •• •< f • • www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com 4 ■ 1. �I J I < J I I 1 i i f r t * 16 Saturday, October 11,2025 THE SUN AND NEWS • / www.sunandnews.com ■V » --'■ II,, e. ( 4 V * '<1 ♦ - - AIWB I * . ♦ . > 4 4 it ? •l > 4 ■*w*’ -»-■ ' - -M' 4 >■ / f r"> / k ■'is? k* " * < a W ! K t *• ■A' •/ S-sy. A• t > e> ■^4 ■-<4»- < ♦ •V •• - ^1. e I :»<■ t 1 < ' A <1 I A. * V >. Wi r *WW* .a^ — s x» . > *TI *4 •V s < * 4 H*£r: .1 .Q ?r T W'- I V V '-. "Sf Bfe * .T ■> . 1 <9:W. ri"4 Local Medicare advice is now in Barry County! 4m* f « A •9 z 11* If r «• > ■r« % & A 'raiL^ . ? ** ^'. . . is*., /■•»•» k A ’n ■■ y V'• • * -s c * V V I f si r Is ’it.'- TRUMBLE I ,1 f •l > { 1 >• SvIVJ ' f. > fla t.I mMWI *■ - « i K ai 1 *V . /* , l. Medicare 1' w » ( « now booking appointments *r i •»• • ? r » ?> '. . V-: : r 1, I- for open enrollment October 15^^ - December '>. i ■rf » «* 4 ( 4 i 4 f **T •k A I a/ K 4 i- « » 1 ! < t r h t,* A*if 5 f r I > 4 I,‘ I ** I ^-2 "^4 y - J ’• V ) lHnfi9T?^ > r •S^-VjS - ?T J** • * F * Ik- h*. 1 > »BP^ I I 3. • 4 nw < k.. Schedule your appointment today as time slots will fill up fast B ■ 1 B Qf^ M ■* ■_.. ■ B < I fs. I X rt ia I I *. - 269.213*3232 josh@trumbleagency.com www.barryc0unt3rmedicare.com 128 S. Jefferson St. Hastings, MI 49058 a O' C ff ] Oi* !? Josh Lamphere Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or I-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. 1 2 i I Medicare Specialist A V 3 P > * > 1. ii < V i teilfiiosqaa" ?• I < k VA' •L aoBiq 9*0^ ^>3 saoitqti ^uoy io 4 � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-10-18.pdf 669f8de232652e603143d5b1ff401c80 PDF Text Text •U-l-Af • I ^1 www.sunandnews.com OV1 « . «* 4 * p A Ob isfItBSW Ioo3 5 gfiligz naqmBb 9l BOBliisH IIbI Cool weather doesn’t dampen spirits at Gaines Fall Heritage Festival I ilBinnisO esniBL i9tnW gnifudfifnoO <•2 «I * <- -1 »• J .^5-a^ . 'X i * • Tt sr M < ^1?' •**^ AI 2;: Xa 9^ • 41 j - J' >1 I k 1 Gray skies and temperatures in the low 50s appeared to keep the crowd size down only slightly at the 14th annual Fall Heritage Festival outside the Gaines Charter Township Hall on Saturday, Oct 11. But it didn’t seem to impact the mood of festival-goers. The vendors, who sold everything from bar­ becue to beads, from homemade bread to arts, crafts and quilts, seemed to be in a cheerful mood. The annual event also included pony rides, a mobile petting zoo and live music. The six-hour festival is held on the second Saturday in October and celebrates the town- • 1 I rD ganiEt) arb abizlDo IsviteaT . 11 joO ,<Etnute8 no IkH J3£3qrni oi ro^QZ fnbifa)(lufl .2T9O§-lB’/rte31 na'/'j blo*i oftw ,2TObn9v aflT Bmamori moft .absod ol aoaod ad 01 banisyg .alliup bns zflB» Jxiom julanr obIb irravo latmnG aff m wil bnu oos gniJteq slidom fajaf f Ei ievilEsf luori-xiE aTT Jaiaa fani: radoloO ni yfibnuteg J T : I I . •k I ✓’ I See FESTIVAL on 5 ,998 - •U Xi .X J<! :i’ M »r I J ' ■?**** j *H 0r u j d* f5ft2 **' 4c K t . — p ’M t;. ■■^:f n k • *a^ f Mx \. • 5^. 4 e > g^pfTRioqm^t bfis aril ot bsTKiqqc tamnrirftf^l arfttoT**® LT w A. 9 ’W A^< . > , >* . .P-J •’4 >• a James Gemmell Contributing Writer I J ■J Mi A > b f-A ■ hw % II K !* ** X « k'Bva t Pi 9(oiq msd AHI >1T •? I M r. A' V > i •* ^4^ w i — I *e .**• 4 .• . • *l ♦ ? * '5- 11 ^' !>' r 1 l1 I IT X 111 I J t tt r J 1 a* -J. w ( . ■ $ 4 •■ *> E ir “frXs^’ *•: 11 < Cl V* **»• t '-^ ■ y hL < r >• V • » * 6? y, «. k I f >X 4 t r > * » > * t sf 1 4 ) ,L > V A Revolutionary War reenactment camp was set up at the Fall Heritage Festival in Gaines Township on Saturday, Oct. 11. The group included (l-r) NickTrzcinski, Jerry Berg, Daylin Woods and Ryland Wellman. Photos by James Gemmell TK FFA barn pro ect still underway after hitting snag nsieJaM letnoH Hunter McLaren Contributing Writer isfitW pnitudhtnoO iqqn Jooipoq med ATI 3111 nivwod §scJl^^ slqqEfnofTr »bnu fim Ei ogB TBsy b yliesn aaEaiotnu anoa oteit gninnin .Esgnsi /I d' lM toabnainnaquZ XT ajo!' ! orij rtu aiebqu ns fasbiv rf i / ai ri , /EbnoM nadmsm Ini-ji f tn'cofi yd bsvoiqqK Jos i)lo i t< - lobainlEnoo ori) to! I l:»uo^ .8Jn3buJ?/AT/I 3fl u ® 'G- » V* I t• J T« I y F* J «« ■’.^It-• 4 ■'? ft II b * I I iul ;jnuifKyidfarflKn3 odJ The FFA bam project approved by Thomapple Kellogg board members nearly a year ago is still underway after running into some unforeseen chal­ lenges. TK Superintendent Rob Pouch provided an update on the project to board members Monday. The $147,000 proj­ ect approved by board members called for the construction of a cold bam for FFA students. Pouch said he attended the groundbreaking for the project in June shortly after he joined the district. “As we went to start building it, we found out that we do not have any permits and we do not have the docu­ ments required to get the Noaa permits, ” Pouch said. uawoisna iviiNaaisau That snag required the SSMU33 gC98k in 'RI|AU»i9 district to “hit the reset 0»€n>8 0d button on the project,” 9E€# «uued 8C88> Pouch said. The board im *9||iAuesjo .( 5^ ) b^riioi ari laftf :Ti tbitip l rtel^ 01 tnw sw” gA /Eli .Ml ol) 3w ifafi too hnuot 3V£j 1 Jon ob yw bnu ?Jjrrrraq wiiupyi 8tt»m '•C gJinr aiganz tofl Jir!" or JotUeib [ ariJ no noDur) n .biaa riauo‘1 * EDDW cneioNEu BRlDEMBVr eCHM^ euuwwr W 10B3£ botxnxti 9 J > 1 ♦7 X •j beuiftf «33e <8838 h OieeuAiRB' mi bViD r n s bosivee b«2i21D 9 c *2 . J It- I I s I met with an attorney during a closed session in August and decided to con­ tinue to move forward with what was approved in the $147,000 project. “Since then, we’ve been working 100 miles per hour to try to get this thing built as soon as possible for our folks,” Pouch said. The district is working on gathering what it needs for the required permits. Licensed drawings were purchased from the architect on the project, and the district is working with contrac­ tor Performance Services to com­ plete electrical drawings for the site. Performance Services is working for the district at a significantly reduced rate. Pouch said, at a flat fee of $5,000 and a lowered hourly rate. Once they’ve acquired the electrical drawings, ±e district will then apply for permits from the state, which could take months to be approved. If all goes See FFA on 3 Troian homecoming royalty crowned ■ :'*« w * < *' k- ) i 1 I # * 1 ■ ♦ J r 'WW 'W I » u / ] > >4*'’ a Seniors Oliver Lietz and Avery Hagemann are crowned the 2025 Thornapple Kellogg High School homecoming king and queen at halftime of the TK varsity football team’s OK Black Conference contest against East Grand Rapids inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville Friday, Oct. 3. The Pioneers toppled the Trojan football team 34-7. Photo by Brett Bremer aivd aovisod s n □xsastid r 4 .r I «* ? f » I I s ‘l • - 4 j rr<>^ •< ' I �♦ tA 4 4 i ilt * « 2 Saturday, Ortober 18. 2025 the SUN ANO NEWS VIEW Oraup * •« Township approves site pian amendment to $120M project James Gemmell Contributing Writer Ihe Gaines Charter lownship Board of frustces unanimously approved, by a 6-0 vote, an amendment to a Planned Unit Development, or PUD, site plan for the $120 million Prairie Wolf Sta­ tion town center at its Oct. 13 meeting. 'fhe approval was necessary to tweak the consent judgment that settled a $4 million lawsuit against the township in 2022. fhe amendment will next be submitted to a court for judicial review. Ifie lawsuit was filed by American Kendall Properties, an Indianapolis­ based company that will build an ap­ proximately $120 million town center on 84th Street, east of Kalamazoo Av­ enue and just east of the township hall. The township board voted 5-4 in February 2022 against the proposed PUD. However, the developer argued it should be allowed to move forward with the project under guidelines stated within the township’s zoning ordinance at the time. A Kent County Circuit Court judge agreed and set the conditions under which the development could be built. Those included the lawsuit being Your local agent insures your F4frw BVRtM MSVBANCr Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-6827 dropped in exchange for the township agreeing to allow the Prairie Wolf proj­ ect to proceed. rhe development will feature a vil­ lage center concept, including a retail and mixed-use residential center on an 82-acre site of former farmland, across the street from Cornerstone Church. The project will also feature apartments, townhomes and single-family housing. In addition, plans call for commercial, office and retail buildings, one senior living building with 110 living units, and two future commercial lots. One ofthe reasons the township board voted against the Prairie Wolf Station project in 2022 was that it would be built on agricultural land, which township officials have been trying to preserve from 84th Street southward to the Al­ legan County line. The impact of such a large develop­ ment in a somewhat rural area, including increased traffic and how it would affect local schools, were among other con­ cerns expressed, not only by township officials, but large crowds of residents who spoke out against the development at public meetings. A construction team began preparing the site this past spring by compacting the soil and starting to construct a wa­ termain along 84th Street. But AKP Gaines Township LLC., a subsidiary of American Kendall, re­ quested the township board allow it to amend the site plan for the PUD. Gaines Community Development Director Dan Wells said the primary reasons for the site plan amendment are changes to the layout prompted by some requirements being imposed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy. Those pertain to wetland preservation, engineering for iparksOfbinsmi.com FarmBureaulnsurance.coffl wwvt. sunandnews com ./• T» •'f 4 V>'. j t % r 1 L MB-' 9 I !■' 9 f a 4 i 4 t' . Or® 4I 'V' >* t’ > ,^1 r ' L * ii^**«*-*i* 9 V •4 t A* •WErL* 4 / 1, I CS'- f > 1 I >, 4 ' 3s*'' I . M . *• •?■*> I X J' 41 A $500 check was presented to the Yankee Springs Fire Department from the Southern Spoon fundraiser breakfast on Sept. 23, which helped raise funds for the department’s “If we can't find you, we can't help you" initiative. The check presentation included (from left) Kenna Graham, Dan Miller, Al Bouma and Robin Hinckley. Courtesy photo » ? .441 Fire department receives support from fundraiser bt*r . a ft Mr* - 'f ■* I * ’ * *1 Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer A breakfast fundraiser on Sept. 23 helped raise money to support the Yankee Springs Fire Department’s “If we can’t find you, we can’t help you” initiative, with the department officials recently being presented with a check by organizers to help residents to install reflective green address signs. Southern Spoon was able to present a $500 check to YSFD officials as a result of the fundraiser, which also helped to kick off Gun Lake Fall Fest 2025 held the following weekend. The funds will help provide green reflective fire code address signs to families in need, particularly those who may be physically unable to install or unable to purchase the signs. For those who can afford the signs, they are available at the fire depart­ ment for $25. According to YSFD officials, the reflective signs are essential for help­ ing first-responders locate homes quickly during emergencies, improv­ ing response times and potentially saving lives. We love our Yankee Springs Fire Department, and over coffee one morning we learned about this impor­ tant initiative,” said Kenna Graham, owner of Southern Spoon. “As a part of the community, we thought, ‘How can we help?’ “We decided cooking breakfast for the community and raising money would be a good start,” Graham added. “Gun Lake’s Fall Fest was a great op­ portunity. We are community strong.” Graham added that a generous do­ nation from Superior Foods allowed everyone to enjoy a high-quality, homestyle breakfast while supporting a life-saving cause, with tickets for the breakfast sold for $ 15 per person. We also put out a fireman’s boot and encouraged cash donations,” Graham said. “Then, we had the ladies from St. Vincent De Paul host a bake sale at Southern Spoon and they spl it proceeds from that with the fire department.” For more information or to purchase an address sign, persons may contact the YSFD by calling 269-795-1650. •■ * 5#* «v « •WtK i. 4* " ,A mmacleod@mihomepaper com Sports: Brett Bremer 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com ^9 PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Please recycle this newspaper 13^ ). •• SO)**. •. < r J I a-A • F 1 ■ lefei**’ 4 * ' ‘*5*^ ■ »*- 9"^ 'V! » Sgtg¥^ .4-‘'' I’ * >’ «r* >* •1 I •Vi II i: J3. . •• >' * & »« I - •*' >• i "il** tr<je i -a ' J' 4 * > • / < n J I & I, V. ►J. U .4 Uan* > JTI It 'MWiluVh Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising in The Sun and News Is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept., 1351 N. M'43 Hwy., Hastings. Mt 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser's order. *** n ______ __ i's«i'!aaiE.w?j^gj(1» A »■ Ir .•A *>■% t I ,I t*; s «»9t» fl -* * 9. iiPMnu » I Ii tt i ( 1. I ’ 1 i r ' ( r 11 (I *i r I r. J f. Ji 1 i < I t < t: I t f 3f -«*• S it-:' t PUBLISHED BY * »* * mi THE SUN AND NEWS Jf' ^■5* si : ' Editor: Molly Macleod I i • « > The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1 «■' t I See PROJECT on 6 CONTACT US ; >* RW^I. e** T I �I i f 4 wenbfBWiuc i I I 1 Ik a i 'f.. .. 9 t' J f 1 I aj: V-mj- 1 T S ♦ » ( . r * I : * . f > hl I I? i I I .I n I I ! " '1 ‘ 5 % JiTna V x'-aW • I I t r?r r '51 V* t I ••Ts jt ’•l- I I CJ A EL VL . ‘-r 1 P . w oik; . 4 I * I A J ia39Ti JnatB'ai .* r»" '■■ E Ik V. ' *» JIM J (i 1 I ft* 1 ■ } www.sunandnews.com THE SUN AND NEWS VIEW.,,.... Group BCUW allocation applications available The Barry Coiinty United Way allo­ cations applications are now available for the 2026-27 funding year. Agencies applying for fiinding must be a health and human service charita­ ble organization 501 (c)3 as determined by the Internal Revenue Service or be a 501(c) incorporated entity in the State of Michigan. The not-for-profit agency must have a record of providing services to Barry County residents in one of the four funding areas, including: helping youth achieve their full potential, sup­ porting families to achieve well-being and success, assisting senior adults find support and maintain independence, and addressing urgent and emerging needs in Barry County. Agencies have the opportunity to apply for available funding through the allocations process that begins with filling out the application. Submissions Members of the Thornapple Kellogg FFA chapter toss the first shovels full of dirt out of the ground at the site of their future barn set to be built on Bender Road in July. The barn project is on hold while the district gathers required permits for the construction. are due before 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4, and are available online at bcunitedway.org/our-documents or at the BCUW office on South Broadway in Hastings. “The goal for this year’s campaign of $850,000 is based on what agencies have said they need to continue to pro­ vide programming in our community,” stated Courtney Collison, allocations chairperson. If interested in participating in the Barry County United Way campaign, contact the BCUWby calling269-9454010 or contributions can be accepted online at bcunitedway.org/donate. According to BCUW officials, 100% of contributions are distributed throughout the local community thanks to the Florence Tyden-Groos Admin­ istrative Endowment Fund held by the Barry Community Foundation that DM covers all administrative costs. Yankee Springs Twp. Board discusses public comment, local projects and community updates < 3OL 1. 2/ -I” s?^ . ic I HtO? I ■ JI >1 fl ir UE ihi i J ZJOSffWq Mtoet' IW ■7^1 .1 . q ' I of bituMij ‘I jfs; rswrffi < ? I 1 t t ft u H-’* I WiEBBi’jjjif 1 )>;t nieassH .b^ins t B4 4 I •> tt®! J b : i ft I ' '. c** i : W 1 J I* 1 &t «L e_r ___ _ f .K « ? * t !•* I I ?XTi *>ril irahori 0^ b'Efiod od) toiaii I : ► / I 4 I I ?nwoT ?,Y adt ^^1 < [ I J I I I ■.sTJOcnibif?» I I I I .B n: Bimmr .•u .T- f R ire % I I I I I 11 r I I I I j tno: Toe I V ,.r; u) 038? : I * / f. •.s* 3 I T'TK-^iT "F ’• The Yankee Springs Township Board had a packed agenda covering a range of local issues, from financial updates and infrastructure proj ects to community events at the Oct. 9 meeting. Heading off the meeting with his re­ port, YS Fire Chief Dan Miller said his department responded to 15 fire calls and 36 medical responses last month. He recalled this year’s numbers were similar to last year’s. Miller shared that the recent Fire Prevention Week Open House was well attended. He said recent training in search-and-rescue and operating the util­ ity task vehicle (UTV) proved beneficial for a challenging call this month. During public comment, a resident criticized the board’s recent 4—1 decision not to restore the second public comment period, calling the reasons “insufficient” and urging more transparency. He also asked the board to place a proposed resolution on a future agenda directing the YS Township Planning Commission to include protections for residents in the gravel mining ordinance. County Commissioners Marsha Bassett and Catherine Getty updated the board on county matters, including approval of an airport expansion and a presentation from the Barry County Medical Examiner. Gun Lake Improve­ ment Board representative Bill Bryker reported that invasive Eurasian water­ milfoil is being treated in an area south of Bay Pointe. Algae control efforts will resume in the spring in the channels, and Elmwood Beach residents may manually remove native weeds under Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) guidelines. The board unanimously approved the September financial statements and cur­ rent payables totaling nearly $62,000. The planning commission continued work on the mining ordinance and ap­ proved two new short-term rentals and an addition to the Sand Bar & Grill. Committee reports included updates on park improvements, recycling up grades, and preparations for die upcom ing Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, at the Veterans Memorial. Dr. Tyler Veneman of Yan­ kee Springs Dental will offer free dental services to veterans on November 14. The clean water committee announced a $75,000 grant to expand water capacity at last week’s meeting, with a pilot study awaiting EGLE approval. The board also discussed ongoing parking issues on Roberts Road near Bassett Lake. After reviewing a letter from resident Susan Siragusa, the board decided to take no action while the matter is under court review. KTE $ -A" J 1 V 4 T 4 i $ 1? B 1 to plan, Pouch said construction should be on track to commence late 2025 or early 2026, with a targeted completion date of July 2026. Pouch said that although there has been community discussion about adding to the project outside of its origi things like bathrooms, nal scope interior counters, plumbing, paved ±ose items can’t be added parking without going to bid with the rest of the $147,000 project. This could deter community donations for those items, as the bid process requires more strin­ gent requirements for applicants. “We’re just not there yet, but we’re just not there yet,” Pouch said. “Thankfully we have a community that may help us get there someday.” He also reminded board members that the project is only intended to be used for extracurricular activities, such as FFA student work. Were the bam to be treated like a classroom, it would likely require over $ 1 million to make the building adhere to safety, security and accessibility standards. “Hopefully this helps provide answers to any questions the board may be getting,” Pouch said. “I think there’s some folks in our community who, rightfully so, expected a bam to be built and kids in it by now. Unfortunately, along the way a few steps were missed.” • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar • Everything made from scratch 1I s •Ir * ir, ■ ■jT* .X Continued from Page 1 ’*<8 * X FFA J 3 f '' V File photo by Brett Bremer . A ! Saturday, October 18, 2025 • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods ▲ I KT 1 .1 I •* » 4 your ’ fife a fittfe it su/eetet > .A, IM §agar Momma’s BAKERY & CAFE V I «• 5* kt k'' 1U < >» w ▼ ▼ r ■*' X? 1 3uy Ttvff Cookies, Get Tive Fi^ee/ lk>27. « must present coupon, free items must be of equal or lesser value, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 11/29/25 1* k I I I I I 1 I I 4 Sc Closed ToesdMf-FHdoi/: Coturda^: 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA / 616^275-1017 / SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM * I 4 i �• f Saturday. October 18. 2025 4 t • LSUN - r V1KW NEVirS LObituarie^^^ f, f Grau* A'ww.gunancint-A-, ,oom tmportarKe ot laughter His role as a father was the one he \-4f cherished most and his legacy will live on through the lessons he taught and the mefnones they shared He was a beacon of strength and comfort to his family, including his loving mother. Barb Pullen; his supportive brother, Jamie Bardwell; his caring sister, Amanda (Will) Meachum and family; dear stepbrother. Scott (Tammy) Pullen and family; and his playful nephews. Sea Bass and Carter Jason's presence will be profoundly missed r • 1 Jason R. Bardwell Jason R Bardwell, a chertshed father, son. brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on the 9th of October. 2025, at his home in Middleville, Ml. Born on December 5.1975, in Hastings. Ml, Jason was the son of James E. Bardwell and Barbara J. Holtrust A proud graduate of Thornapple-Kellogg High School, Jason's athletic prowess shone brightly on the football field, where he left an indelible mark with his dedication and teamwork His love for sports was only matched by his passion for the outdoors. especially fishing, where he found tranquility and joy in the simplicity of nature Jason's world revolved around his children. Jaxon and Emmi Bardwell, whom he loved with all his heart. He instilled in them the values of kindness, perseverance, and the 4 14' LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Caledonia Vine Street Church cornerstonechurch -n FIRST BAPTIST Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville i by his many close family members and friends, who found in him a loyal and * compassionate companion Jason was oreoeded In death by his father. James r ».■ Elbert Bardwell; his step­ father. Charlie Pullen; and his brother. Jesse Bardwell Their reunion is a comforting thought to those Jason left ? behind, as they envision them together once again The void left by Jason's passing is immeasurable, yet the warmth of his spirit will continue Io light the lives of those who had the pleasure ot knowing him. His laughter, his kindness, and his unwavering friendship will be deeply missed by everyone whose life he touched Jason's celebration of life service will be held on Sunday. Oct. 26 from noon to 2 p m. at the Bradford-White UAW Hall. Middleville Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Jason’s family. >s ■f ft .7 4^ Fk 4r t f 250 Vine Street ) f Llvejitrearn; facebook.com/flrsthaptistmlddleviile FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET- 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9:30ani & 11 ;00am 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com a « r r •k r r I 4. L Wt: *V; 1 k I i K S' <11 ,¥ -ir Ui . f J Mi BB ' J .af’ ' .4 e % MIDDLEVILLE co co I nur - .1 oiictnroi cj. wcukr iid Good Shepherd ‘ Lutheran Church HOLY FAMILY r>®CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycalcdonia.org 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Rob Wurst http://good$hepherdlcms.googlepages.com Church: (269) 795-2391 Saturday Evening Mass. .... 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or sec our website for information. 1! JOURNEY J'C * » ■ r I. /i X- > 1 t I 1 A .4 t 1 nt. J I I t i . t 'J r A Un’. • riS »rt. 4 ' 'W fti/n r* ‘J5P', e^PEACE 1 ,Sf. .1^ Tavi CHURCH i PEACtCHURCH.ee Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor; Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee • * A *A '->4 « Vi s. 4 '••'W Sunday Worship; 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, Ml 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonit.org Yankee Springs Bible Church «« r i Ik' i w * * . i X, ♦r 9^ I ^4 'A A' i:iL- 4 ft 3 . ’ ’W I r. > • f 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, Ml 49333 Shining Forth God's Light Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankecspringsbiblcchurch.org I I •4 r I -.,VL ■' I !>>(<• A I y... •> ♦ JA ■1 1 If 0^1* 4* TOPS 546 The Oct. 13 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary's report There is only one fish in the fishbowl. Everyone talked about the Fall Rally they attended on Saturday in Battle Creek. A Michigan advocate. Becky Malerba. brought attendees back in time tn her presentation titled. “Let's Go Back." Let’s go back to when food choices were a lot belter and we ate healthier. It was a nostalgic talk all enjoyed. TOPS Advocate Diane Dallas-Strang's presentation was M titled “Cruising Down the Road of Life. She talked about how we need to take care of ourselves and how we perceive ourselves. Then, attendees all had a discussion on what has worked for them in the past and what didn’t work at all. They discussed which organizations or diets have been good or bad choices for each of them. Chapter members continued the contest by filling in one dot for each one­ tenth of a pound lost. Linda lost the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight­ toss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia. 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. Thefirst meeting isfree. -J-V > f 616-891-8669 r 1 / r f e I 2 I Rev. Robert Mayo, Interim Pastor Sunday Worship •- w v. * worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am 11 III tT»r I 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) 4.^ 'I •1 Service Timet Sunday et 9 30 AM ft 6:00 PM www.eiatkabeptitt.org 72hO 68th Street 5£, Caledonia <: ■ « > I Join us for our traditional yet casual i > *4^ h 4 .M* ■ I I J *' flT. F‘ 1 <* ................ u 9* rr 1« J n -A’, aiu^ ! ic«s»- f 1 k 4 »l iU- J' .> * I •k > 1 I * I kI TX 'U t-' r ,' .v AriSS® i ; c. *1 • Il Wi*; I ^r* 1 I ,'a • r i r;'O , 1 •. *- I I I •• \ •• ft* I i: I rj*A *>• t rsiSrt I 4b J I 4 A 1' f 1 4 I iP'iY, * 1 ft, .. .J r\ I 5 1 A t L 1’ ✓ • I 5 J 1 ftfLtCflOd I * n i V'l* & cl::-;. . s J L I . ’-Ik < M « .A 1 f • I ur t » ft •< . < * e f -.'ss. s » 44" «l» 4G A ; "XI ../;V * I UTt r: -T ,■ I d.> .. [. * < 1 I « *R. T 7. mi p t -<• u J 1 I * rte '-«<v I r ( I I I» »'? i L-C i;a / » }<'? tw V I ♦» *. (k > r _■______ I % ----- 'W * e. l1 Li 1. ■< I -*» ... J *1 ../*k J» I II * J< M I*. » < Ik G « f I » I 0-, A f �4 4 I \ 40^ , jj-7 . , \ k ■ —■-■ -r J ■ • >4 I s X * 5: I ■ k ' 1 I * *<* 1 ■» »i 'HSUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com . ".•4^ jJ »>IJhg - - • T*l 4. i 4 I V. V Al 4 e ,* ,4 >- J «4 .y_ ■ 1^ • V « k I I- •* t s, « ftl « *4 r*8i J s <• ,V»: JiZ *. » ♦» I • Sr S » »i » I*** V <♦*' '4i i ivT-n -t k V j * 1'7' i. I X* ■•<! I _1 ftLih •' I* ( I A ’■ ’V ■v 9b, 7 .X im ii 4 tit •1^ z f ♦ s Mini horses were among the animals participating in the annual Fall Heritage Festival on Oct. 11. J 1 z Continued from Page 1 < > »* •% iix; I r k i l-\ • •.; * i , r fl . ? I } ’ '"11 : 1 Li r ' Kh! s. •» w */ I rx : L-l }i J' » » * Ui s # •’lie •a ilL I. I .T> I' 7^ ; r 'if '* li 'H /C* ► '< i jf * '1 “W I ll 1 I $ »C„' ( 1, 11^ k I M 'iij /tUMj I. »- * >J * «rf 4 I! 1 1 I T I I a •*1 U' l?r^ I il '4 / c* 9^ -rtf:? c p ■»1, I r ’ '^rU?- J t <( «l z 1 . ' ¥ I 3 p k1 r*! ' n?®5: ' I f ’“t “ .A ‘rJTT*^ K *W a£ I ZJTJl» » Ml '•*4 \ .. « I Or I 11 i / I o • 7 IT 1 *'A’. .♦ ’j I . '» iS', LI I"'- J <1 •• . ** * r 4 ’r TV •• • ,T w A. y •4 I i jlkieJnrHUlu. I 'J ' * r 4 ^fiii € 4/ ft ixiUa ■> t >4 B z • PJU ft I '% ?- • t [ *VMI1 ’ • I , n.. < »’«»-'• t’* :'j3te4rsrj'j': 1 < I I r '. J : V I I T #<f5«lW 2 c '-c:^ rf- 'Silflii -1/ f * < Tv •1 I I u * r u* ! . ** •I if.< J ■ I I Y I 4 : ‘ .A- I Oi Lj ‘ I T y 4 IV f 4 1 I .1 ! be. 1 id I - • 4 w<‘ . H ' I ( I ■' 1 Ik I 4 ! I A ' I >V• i KJJ . I I II I t « I •1 I ! t 1 fl ' ll I I I I I i ■7 a I ' M I'; I I I I I II fl ■I 'I .J il ! III ship’s agricultural and farming heritage, and is organized by the Gaines Historical Society. The festival has been canceled a couple times since it was launched in 2011 due to inclement weather. And, while Saturday’s weather was not ideal, it didn’t rain and was only a tad chilly. “The long-range forecast was for it to be sunny and 70 degrees,” Bruursema said while at the event. “(But) I don’t see 99 ±e sun. Many people stopped by the GHS’ tent manned by Sheryl Ackerman and Linda Crumback. “The heritage festival celebrates all of the products that are made by the farm­ ing community here,” Ackerman said. “And we also display some of the farm animals and tractor pulls, and things like that. We’ve had a good run out here for several years, except when it rains.” Crumback said interacting with the community is a highlight for her. “People come up here and you start talking,” she said. “Or you meet cousins like Sheiyl did just a little while ago. It’s just fun to talk to the people of Gaines or whoever comes and visits us.” Former Gaines Township Supervisor Don Hilton, former supervisor Rob DeWaard - now a township trustee and current township supervisor Bob Terpstra added to the festivities by grill­ ing hot dogs and bratwursts. “We’ve had quite a few people in and out today,” Hilton said “We’re handing out brats and hot dogs here and chips, and people can leave a donation if they want to. If not, they’re free.” Township Manager Rod Weersing expressed his excitement over the fes­ tival while stopping in at the hot dog stand. I ■Vl ft z 1 1 J FF: J k f I 't •v j i I HANDYMAN SERVICES OF­ FERED. Mise, repairs, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Estimates. 269-243-0468. 1 1 1 FESTIVAL I 9 BUSINESS SERVICES V 4 k wn e itot > $ 'ta.. The Mary's Country Critters mobile petting zoo was a big hit with the children at 14th annual Fall Heritage Festival held at the Gaines Township Hall on Saturday, Oct. 11. i * 9i 1 s • <# * 44 *« V J I 5^ '*.^z t ’* r •-• .w I » Pyfl /• 7^' I •t 2? ■»- 4*» . •I tk ?■ *’4 «€•* WZ5 « \ f r L.-< i 5 V *4.- fc.L i I 5k I 4/ :i -* IS * I I • 1 4 (A K-! - iM J I • • KkV -.‘r <- i L. I *. . ’WZX V Tf" ■ 4* • t Z J Classifieds r• ■ . <1 I I f 4 5 y I ■ . A Saturday, October 18, 2025 Group , * % K. ^5^ . dM* VIEWm»^ ’I' r X CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 I WANTED * %■ f I fl I c < 3 0*1 I CONSTRUCTION BUYING BLACK WALNUTS Paying .130a pound after hulling. Call 517-276-0347. 1 I* .-t I 4AMI9' >* X < 'i ] NEED OLD UPRIGHT Piano moved out! You move and haul, willing to pay a reasonable fee. (269)601-0116 7 I r I Fj -« * *»- * •r^'^SStSSaA^ V K:z. K ? ti TheThornappleWindBandwill present its fall concert, “Joy,” on Sunday, Oct. 19, at3 p.m. at the Hastings Performing Arts Center in Hastings. Courtesy photo WANTED TO BUY: Standing Timber. Conscientious timber harvest­ er. Saw Mill Office-517-254-4463. Family owned and operated. Thornapple Wind Band presents fall concert Oct. 19 The Thomapple Wind Band will present its fall concert, “Joy,” on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 3 p.m. at the Hastings Performing Arts Center in Hastings. Admission is free and all are wel­ come to attend. According to band officials, the program is set to feature a wide-rang­ ing collection of works that reflect themes of celebration, peace and the human spirit, and promises to engage and inspire listeners of all ages. First organized in 1995, the “Great turnout,” he said. “Pretty decent weather. Glad to see lots of vendors out and lots of the community residents.” Terpstra also said he was pleased with the turn out. “People are stopping by to meet the supervisors, and they’re asking ques­ tions about the future of Gaines, which is exactly why I’m here,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to have all these people here today,” DeWaard added. “And working with our fellow supervisors. It’s been enjoyable.” Jerry Berg of Comstock Park, who Thomapple Wind Band is a com­ munity-based organization with ±e stated mission of bringing wind band music to the Barry County area while giving adults ±e opportunity to com­ bine their musical talents with others. The Hastings Performing Arts Center is located at 520 W. South St. in Hastings. For more information, visit the band’s Facebook group, “Thomapple Wind Band,” at facebook.com/ Z)A/ groups/243150282418580. FIREWOOD CUT AND SPLIT hardwood available at $60 per face cord as a fundraiser for the Middleville Rotary Club. You are required to pick it up. If you are interested, call Richard Frye at 269-795-5059, and he will provide you the details for pick up. Cash or check (made out to Middleville Rotary) please. FIREPLACE WOOD FOR SALE; Comes by the Rick, Cord, or truckload. Complete Landscaping available also! (269)818-7722 provides historical reenactments, had a Revolutionary War camp set up on the township grounds. He and three others were dressed up in period uniforms from that period, “I love reenacting, 1 love living his­ tory,” Berg said. “I believe it’s one of the biggest tools for education of our time.” The group also performed firing demonstrations as members of tlie 8th Massachusetts Regiment, a Continental Army infantry unit frat served during the Revolutionary War. “It’s fun at this festival,” said Shirley t LOST AND FOUND LOST! Ring of multiple keys lost on Oct. 14th, somewhere between 84th St. and Patterson, going south on Patterson and west on 68th St to Leisure Creek Dr. SE. 616-915-8301. Lowell of Byron Center, a vendor who has attended ±e festival the past four years. “There’s all kinds of things to do and 1 love selling my stuff, my crafts.” Also participating in the festival were members of the Gaines Charter Township Fire Department and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, among others. �4 i r f B L K. r r t .JsT* T I 6 Saturday, October 18, 2025 the SUH AND MEWS VIEW-.^ I I f Group TK senior earns National Merit Scholarship honor Thomapple Kellogg High School senior Thomas Poll was recently named as a National Merit Scholarship “Commended Student.” According to an announcement by TKHS officials, commended students are recognized for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the PSAT qualifying test. Poll, the son of Stacey and Larry Poll, reportedly has yet to decide where he will attend college but hopes to study some form of engi­ neering. Upon hearing the news of the honor, the senior said he was sur­ prised and honored by the award. In addition to his academics, Poll is a member of the varsity baseball and the Science Olympiad teams. Poll also serves as a TK represen­ tative on the Barry County Youth Advisory Committee, and reportedly enjoys drawing, hanging out with X J r 4 •i Max Kendall, Kendall Property Group LLC chairman, addressed the members of the Gaines Township Board of Trustees during their meeting Monday, Oct. 13. Photo by James Gemmell PROJECT Continued from Page 2 Thornapple Kellogg High School senior Thomas Poll (left) was recently named as a National Merit Scholarship “Commended Student.” Courtesy photo friends and playing video games. — DM WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS I ri f t > 2 Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers I * ) 4 e* L>' « < if i 72 y JVO > L' »> T 7^ % r I I I DeWeerd (68) ATiMC & iBi AIR AID rnMniTinMiKin HEATING CONDITIONING. iMir INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 1 Sinet- 19SS f r.'W I •• t Residential & Commercial www.sunandnews.com LENNOX « > ACCREDITED BUSINESS C utilities and right-of-way easements for roads, as well as planning for senior housing that will be part of the project. There is also protected wetland along Gull Prairie Drive. “We had a requirement that the build­ ings along Gull Prairie Drive be set five feet from the property line to the pave­ ment,” Wells said. “And the fact that MDEGLE determined that that was a wetland to be preserved basically blew that out of the water.” Also, officials with the Leo Brown Group, an Indianapolis-based devel­ oper that is partnering in the project, said more space than was designated in the northern section of the site was needed for the senior living facility and requested to build it on a larger lot just south of Gull Prairie Drive. “So, they needed to flip down to the south, which actually makes a lot more sense from a planning perspective,” Wells said, “Because now you’ve got the senior housing living area adjacent to the properties to the south of this project, which creates a better buffer than if it was retail-commercial cars coming and going.” Under the revised plan, all the retail and commercial development will be moved closer to the 84th Street/Kalamazoo Avenue intersection. Until the judge approves the amend­ ment to the consent judgment, construc­ tion of the senior housing cannot begin. However, work on other parts of the development that are not being changed, such as the townhomes, may proceed. The portion of the project that East­ brook Homes will be building to the east will remain the same. That entails apartment buildings and single-family housing. The township board also voted 6-0 to approve an interim construction agreement for early start construction of Prairie Wolf Station. Last year, the board removed the early-starts provi­ sion in the township code of ordinances that allowed for construction to begin on multi-family buildings before the infrastructure was installed. The way that section was written for early starts didn’t really give the town ship any protection in case a project went belly up and didn’t get completed,” Wells said. Township officials reportedly had no way to recoup expenses to complete a project or tear it down, if that were to occur, and removed the early-starts provision last year. But American Kendall requested this past spring that the provision be reinstat­ ed so it could get work underway before this coming winter. The township board di d reinstate early starts but amended the ordinance to protect the township from financial liability, if a company were to walk away from a project. “This will allow them to pour foun­ dations before winter hits, so that the slabs are intact,” Wells said. “And they are able to install the utilities to go xindemeath those slabs prior to having the roads and all the water and sewer facili­ ties finished, inspected and ready to go.” Max Kendall, Kendall Property Group LLC chairman, told the Gaines trustees that his company has posted a $1 million letter of credit. Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra asked Kendall if allowing the early start allows his company to get going on the project as soon as he hoped. “We would’ve liked to have been go­ ing six months ago,” Kendall replied. “We’re just trying to get ahead of winter here. As Dan said, if we can get a few slabs in we can do vertical (construction) during the winter and not miss a three- or four-month period there.” As for how Prairie Wolf Station will affect Gaines Township longterm, Wells said he does not think it will have a negative financial impact. “It’s a huge investment, especially with the apartments and the senior hous­ ing,” he said. “It will generate a lot of tax revenue for the township.” However, Wells also aclmowledged that some of that will be offset by the increased demand for police, fire ^d rescue services the project might create. * I I r-' I If i 1* I 1 . i. f * J k -SA” r r* V A ' ‘J . I ► < ) i 1*1 i. kj’f^ I JilP a t” raf ru ■, •f.-Lwi.''ja i-K I » Ui a.. I .1'1 z *1.: l^* ' I J I > i ,■ a5' .V :ri > .1^ •» u‘ 7 ' I < J ! • L/ » > 5r i f ' J • 1 , 4 f 1 ;-*K' r t - u 4 , .f J c 4J V . .P ■‘H • XI . f AT' r J. T I ■ P- 1 • Ktip I *5^ I ,I r I 1 m'® 1 J . L Jr ^4(m ' -e.d 4 Ii I ( 1 ( h > r H J. I r r O’ 1 I t >if? .SiU*f! i J j 4 ■ .. I ' : r1 . -T. I fl!*** . A -.A ' t 1 iI • i , i i. in. » u I I • X I ■ IT I < '' fi X*! J 7/ I. *1 sv^. .. I r I— . ■ ---------- yi I I< V* I r f *■' •' f. I _ ■ .Zil' '! ' 1 • r.: I i T y 1 -r J 1 I . u. •> I I r jr^3t^ *4 snisO 2 V MiflBC .’yj' i,'. t O' It ifir* ** * 'JiU 1 I I firn !«S15£iaJS-w»r i t■ O^Zb^ *» 8 isasews i ftstRsa lOilftJc 3 JlG I no n u’j^Qo j) Isamo/fX) ^oH fh£22iniionbnfi*J3iafw^ rS ' sAI aiBWEa 1 'I '9^ hncmi > viHEwrl/ lA : !-fl(>! (jRBfiwe r--3M U « { H I ![ ,J :'M :?3M < _L 5 V/’odi LinURrZ't : r 1 12 r ’8©tlBn!T )X ! -iQffry^'nr <-su(ta ri? :•. ' -MTUi^ r >4 r^l •t ' JS w* J r4 s'* i )/ f' [j ^2 ■P » A' r- i J �4 I( If 1 It' *; i -I t »* J www.sunandnews.com THE SUN AND NEWS (view Saturday, October 18, 2025 < 7 .’p A > • -4 I i i 1 4. r t. I I I I ''hri I’ 4 '*ik:w T-L- l-”». I • I J 4 » ?s A ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH I 4. • >I > •< • 4 = zI . i"U * » > J i X • • • r • '•S I kfod I ft. *531. I II/ V *1 ' z I ' Nl Juli f >» I I .J * * ( vy»Ai^ «r I » ft « -XI i ’•A' 0/ r ’. 1-^- « I 5^- J V 1 J. * «u «« <’ ^5 1 I • A' 1 L n •. « .TV' 'A •I - I •'^li U: * A ( I y ■'1. ■». ’ <1 **0 « » '• ,1 i. t I 'I « ’ r>4r... t * .r ■'*'1 >1 •n ‘4^ >* If ‘ 4 I ft ’fx * i s* 4 J ■5 •' I' ■*i f 1? lu I e -•’r ~*<!hpAin A' jll 1 >1 I? ir,,. r -IJ-‘/'.r MF/tJ I 1 A*. l^«> •' I Lc ■ r ( j, { <>wJ- '■ ■*' li ’a.. 1 J (I r t f t K . 1 r. ? « t V <1 Zl i v^ T rw 3 «TP;ft?ii f > I J r ’’’X O' I b> ' T ‘ -u a I.. n 3T '-■•irstaijt; I ’ t i .w ’f I!•• f <■ J ...'....'JU ..... • d Ji r ’r' * 'J >• ** • 1 ■ i -'r ' .,1. . J ) -* • A'HtJ I- Xib t I 4 r I i I iI ' 1I ? * / H 1/ ■ f rjj*'. - K* fi/'M * i 1 - « 1 INCREASE i»- ■ I Don’t rely on ‘experts’ you need to answer. You When it comes to your don't need to be an expert, 1 personal finances, you should but you do need to know why never solely rely on so-called I T you have what you have. “experts.” Medicare/Health Insur­ In life, we wear a lot ofhats, ance: Does your Medicare don’t we? Between kids (or plan cover 100% of your grandkids), activities, church medical expenses or does it Zach Santmier obligations, work and taking just cover 80% or somecare of ourselves, there are where in between? Are you using the a lot of things we are responsible for pharmacy that maximizes your savings managing. on prescriptions, and do you have the Often, when it comes to our personal right prescription plan that pays for finances, we just want a “guy” for that. your particular prescriptions? Why are Whether it is for our retirement ac­ you with the company you are with? counts, insurance or savings, people What advantages do they offer over often rely on “experts” to manage and their competitors? protect their hard-earned assets. Your life is your life. Financial pro­ But in doing this, many people are fessionals should be there to provide taken advantage of and make deci­ advice and information. However, sions without fully understanding the as you receive that information, you consequences. should never feel forced into blindly When it comes to your money, no following them. They should be a body knows your situation like you do. teacher who educates instead of a dicta­ With my team at Trumble, we have a tor who tells you what to do. motto we live by: Our clients are smart As the last two lines in the poem people and can make good decisions “Invictus” says, “I am the master of my when given good information. It is then fate; I am the captain of my soul.” Seek our sole responsibility to give good professional advice, but remember, you information so our clients can make are standing at the steering wheel of an informed decision. your life and the financial decisions you What financial decisions have you make should steer you in the direction delegated to other people? you wish to go Retirement: Do you know where Zach Santmier is the owner of your money is invested in your retire­ Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of ment account? Do you know why it is the personalfinancial course, Increase. invested that way? Is it structured in the He focuses on helpingfamilies escape best way to maximize tax savings and paycheck-to-paycheck living so they increase your return on investment? can freely pursue their ideal future. These are not questions for your finan­ cial planner. They are questions for you that you personally need to ■ be able to answer. rE/MAx Insurance: How much coverage do you have on ♦I 11 your house? Is it enough to build your home back if it were to bum down? What are your deductibles? Are OF GRAND RAPIDS they high enough to maxi­ Margaret (Margo) E. Peric mize savings and low FuflnrrwRKHrORl enough to be able to afford Cell; (616) 204 9792 Office: (616)957-0700 Q if you need to pay them? Emad: margoperk^remax.net Again, these are questions 4S A* RE/MAX ''' T. * Nonprofit receives matching funds to strengthen mission allows us to secure longOfficials with Spiritual tenn stability for tire min­ Care Consultants of West istry' and continue serving Michigan, a faith-based those w'ho are hurling across nonprofit dedicated to heal­ Michigan and beyond.” ing hearts and restoring SCC partners with local lives, recently announced churches, schools, medical that it has received a professionals and busi­ $250,000matching fund for Pastor Gale nesses to bring spiritual and its endowment at the Barry' Kragt emotional care to people Community Foundation. from all walks of life. According to the anTo donate and financially assist nouncement, every dollar donated will SCC’s mission, persons may mail be matched up to $250,000 and double checks to the Barry Community Foun­ the impact ofeach gift, ensuring SCC’s dation, 231 S. Broadway St., Hastings, ministry continues to touch lives for MI 49058. Checks may be made out generations to come. to Barry Community Foundation, with This matching fund is a tremendous Fund #165 - Spiritual Care Consulblessing,” said Pastor Gale Kragt, SCC DM tants in the memo line. executive director and co-founder. “It GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM Edwardjones’ Job change? Whether retiring or changing jobs, you’ll want to know your retirement account options. I bid , 51(7" v/i V « *. I < AM U90l H, >•1- V f • Leave it in your former employer’s 401(k) plan, if allowed by the plan. • Move it to your new employer’s 401(k) plan, if you’ve changed employers and your new employer plan allows for it. • Roll the account over to an individual retirement account (IRA). • Cash It out, which is subject to potential tax consequences. We can talk through your financial goals and find the option that works best for you. Casey J VanEngen Financial Advisor ■>> Offering Saiet ft LaaUng SarvkM Since 2003 I* * There are four potential options for your 401(k) when leaving an employer: 7 Tl ** > edwardjones.com I Member SIPC L I I 6617 Crossings Dr. Se Suite 103 Grand Rapids, Ml 49508 616-281-9026 IRT-1948M-A AECSPAO 'fr’oo^? •a J A ■^i • * 1 V I » * 1 « I I *l'. I I9 I 1 4 I If hl I r M > n4 * I ft t I n ■k 4 I s h t r I I \ t I I « �k’b’b'* t I I 8 I Saturday. October 18, 2025 “ the SUN AND NEWS ) VHW-^ ............. WWW. fix’!? 1 sunandoews oom I f 1 I i £ L Ij)’’ » I I i Sporting News / t } 1 j 1 J i { t 4 I f* f ' i » « K* ( Kietzman becomes third leader for TK girls in three conference races Brett Bremer Sports Editor TTierc were a lot of highs and lows for both lliomapple Kellogg varsity cross country teams this fall in the OK Gold Conference. But the Trojans put a couple pretty good packs together on the flat, fast course at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids Wednesday at the OK Gold Conference Championship Meet. Junior Peyton Hardy and senior Madison Kietzman finished off runs to all-conference honors by leading the Trojan team. Amya Gater, Brielle Miller and Carmen Reynolds from the TK girls* team and Grady Galaviz and Owen Bremer from the TK boys’ team were honored as honorable mention all­ conference runners at the conclusion of the meet too. Kietzman made it three different leaders in the three conference races for the TK girls. She hit the finish line 11th Wednesday with a time of 21 minutes 40.12 seconds. Hardy was right behind her in 12th place with a time of 21:41.26. The freshman Miller and juniors Reynolds and Breanna Schut were right behind the two leaders for the TK ladies. Miller placed 14th in 21:51.21, Reynolds 16th in 22:00.52 and Schut 17th in 22:05.80. Senior Avery Hagemann ran her fast­ est race of the season to finish as the TK girls’ number five and sophomore Karsyn Boersma was the TK team’s seventh runner. They were 28th and 31st overall respectively. Both TK teams were running Wednesday without the student-athlete who lead them at the previous confer­ encejamboree. Gator was out with an injury and Bremer was out sick. That didn’t change the placement in the standings much for the TK ladies, who still finished second, but it was a big hit for the TK boys who finished the day in fi fth-place but had the chance to maybe finish as high as third at full­ strength. The South Christian teams won girls’ and boys’ championships in the confer­ ence this fall. The Sailor girls finished the cham­ pionship meet with 19 points ahead of TK 70, Wayland 74, West Catholic 95, Northview 103, Grand Rapids Union 187 and Wyoming 197. South Christian had three girls in the top ten including the three fastest run ners. Senior Chloe Rinzema won the race in 18:52.47 with freshman Lily VanEyk the runner-up in 18:53.78 a new PR for her. The Sailors won the boys’ meet with 28 points ahead ofNorthview 38, Way land 115, Grand Rapids Union 116, Thomapple Kellogg 141, Wyoming 147 and West Catholic 156. North view’s Rhys Holmes and South Christian’s Thad VanderLaan, a pair of seniors, both set new personal record times while leading the pack. Holmes won the race in 16:17.80 and VanderLaan checked in at 16:22.60. The top 15 in the race included seven Northview runners and six South Christian runners. The only two from another team were Wayland’s Mason Fein (fifth) and Ethan Manning (sev­ enth). Junior Grady Galaviz had a strong race to place 19th in 18:17.54 for TK. ‘I’m happy for Grady to finally have a competitive race where he looked confident coming all the way through even with a mile to go, and was happy with his performance,” TK boys’ coach Josh Reynolds said. “That is hopefully a good uplift going into regionals and then Barry County over at Lakewood ... We had a really good workout last Thursday and we talked about just that confidence. We moved some of our PR times up a little bit to try and build some confidence and do some mental work on what this race was going to be.” r* ■' »« 1 1 I i B' - I* toft'Ai < * 1 i I It f .1 I j li 1 .-JI J t'' 1 Tr t 4a '1 9 / ins if**' r* I®, < I t • 17 * * r-(ji >• 4 w i ■- ■ Wtfli •<» W-- 1 ._w -Ti W ,1 F«r |9 1 r '1 A It (; a: . i !»** A .r ; ,-.p I :■ E** Ia 9 >u- ' X % •• * 1. f 'f / W' ' t > ■A t ♦ J 1 K r fl iNm I I»l Thornapple Kellogg freshman Brielle Miller races along the first mile of the course at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids Wednesday during the OK Gold Conference Championship. Miller had a 14th-place finish. «« , f j f f ‘’-A ,. . t i i I *n : » jUJitfR' J I I I inuncms^ A pair of TK sophomores set new personal records. Wyatt Richardson came in 30th with a time of 19:14.46. Pender Workman was 34th in 19:46.11. Sophomore Garrett Holzhausen See next page I •■rtW’-’ Mi J; Iff I I iS. 4 J J| Alb A liJl J t k- JI —3 r ' J •« • 1. IT W THE MOST TRUSTED NAME , * ^9^-^ trusted roofing company with hm years s - IN IKI IN THE BUSINESS w HAR,VESWKTY S' * SHERRIFF GOSLIN' 'A I your Dress bi favorite coshrne, Tncic or Treat indoors down ttie oniy Trof V. M-179 \*aylan(l LOTS OF CAbJDyi «Er CHILI, HOIDOGC !• « * •• *> * I 'fl ’I ' J «r I <41 , -r* f u J1 ’W- ' •» t <Z<»‘)) 7!)S-r)»3 KB •'ti 1 I « I fl ■ --J. • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS >* >'IW(U *• I.r 9 • * '4 L’P-fUM V 'iww.afc-*7 ’ i^-aai!42, •■■■J ■? '■ • A+ RATING WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU » e; * ■' * . ¥. • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED : -a in I * T •J ? .l-t,' • WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANYS > 2 . 4ft • FRIENDLY, HONEST & EXPERIENCED TEAM OUAUTY ROOFING OUM LAKI COMMUNITY CHURCH qunlaket Ihik li.oiq • lOYEARSERVICEGUARANTfEON AU WORKMANSHIP » Er.i(l^.vrb( totwISftoiirS-jpm ; ) ■3^ ' i W: I w Off FULL ROOF , REPLACEMENT l^pffer Expires 10/31/25 Not to be combined wtih vry Other alters Certain A restrictions may apply. I Consult with us to(^!! I Doesn't apply (d previous । ’imustbe presented at time Of estimate » Call us today for a FREE r«». V •» • «* INSPECTION! 269-962-4036 VISIT US ONLINE: SHERRIFFGOSLfN.COM/BATTLECREEK < st bhli ISO xhS "< M ''' r 'A ? S 1 Sts \>W^ q *4.f ,, s 1 « •*c- 2 9 -W • SB 11^ �4 f p 5 t s R Be i s < 1 A '!*!.< I ♦ \ 4 V t ’W \ .5nooj3W90bnBnoe.t9ww t A 'i/ ’ **<401 \ S’ •4 t <• F A f 11 v t 4(w > u « < j r I <<•/ % '•hi *^6 > <%. *74 I• I;k •♦iL' i -. r. f ♦z ® I r• : Hl Mf’ 4 •• i : *b 7 •” *; « ’*•» »b •^1- r I *<> , tf I ^^3 »o. * *Cr • Neil... 9" • < X Vi -< ) 1 J 9i Hi I til. u *4 -J. i ~ n *’111 OU % r-' *> 'i J 11 >* >» r■ ^•e / I 1 « I 4 1?>. 4 ’T < I ^fl ' 4 Hr n r».u’ I c Ki' Tn &oi^ b <>4a^ * V / •w ^w. 1 JI*'* M ** * •>*> 1 «« c ■' wnRi b >* • • ’ir •• '<< v4-' ••♦•y f^f:- crhuu.t 1 ! h » I %{ f4|l s ^•4 *a M 1 .- * Il 4 f (■wfK ‘T.I 1♦ I f 1 i I •aw I> 9 >'« 1 5 r* I H JB' S’. #r M' 4Pi«4 * I 'r w ** ATS' »J Ah I • •rtf* > f »e ■* I 41* I a « fc Thornapple Kellogg junior Grady Galaviz gets out in front of the crowd during the start of the OK Gold Conference Championship race at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids Wednesday. Galaviz earned honorable mention all-conference for the second year in a row with his performance. Photos by Brett Bremer BRADFORD WHITE SK FOR BREAST CANCER I ONE WEEK ONLY! 10%-50% OFF • ALL PROCEEDS 00 TO CANCER RESEARCH* DATE: OCTOBER 25 A »,,Ji H s 4' \I1 zi'n. (reg $550) «•••••• 3/4 CTw. (reg $700) other products available: 616-891 k* 1 I A 2025 AT RAM $1,090 1 CTW. (reg $1,000) 1 11/2 CTW. (reg $1,450) $1,500 ...2 CTW. (reg $2,000) SPONSORED BY: WOMAN'S NETWWK • BAGF^se «Mit| CO«reiAT»Oa SWIERENGA JEWELERS SIGN UP TODAY 210 Cast Main Street Caledonia SHIM'' "'z REGISTRATION FEE: $25{T-8HIRT tNCLUDCO) ‘FRICK INCRIA8K8 ON OCTO6IR 10TH* Ihc t,oniiKin\ built b\ tefetuils ' j BIG SAVINGS ON SPECTACULARLY BEAUTIFUL LAB-CREATED DIAMOND EARRINGS $525 I p OCTOBER 27™ - NOVEMBER R • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! I I 4 $750 li 1 tavKHMiLkLi^ s*> k *. Must present this coupon. Expires 11-1-25 . ■ K r < il < U( kiWh v: i ‘ I i< .3^'F.n fW lie ■* I I fi«0 i t d I I > l£& < >2 I f .*. «•«» V *"». i - $415 ;i '•RA’ SwierengA fg tfL k FURNACE 6 AIR 18 months *300 FINANCING OR no monthly OFF interest If paid I I J Hl.- In full with equal ■ payments. if G< r <* <11 < X High EfNdency I tyfto 'b * r* L f k k• 11 FRONTIER HEATING AND COOLING IP A , •* ‘ <i ft". . V I L < :4 .1 ••• I » .3. ! I > > < ?*k a W *• 11^ -< placed 29th in 18:57.95, senior Benja­ min Postma was 31st in 19:17.26 and freshman Parker Robinett was 32nd in 19:23.31. “They were super confident about keeping their group together,” coach Reynolds said, “which is what we have been working on all season. Really try­ ing to make that cohesion be through­ out the whole race so it wasn’tjust three individuals or four individuals racing. It really was where they were having those conversations out on the course in terms of what their strategies were and what they wanted to do.” TK’s number seven for the day was senior Noah Donker who finished 39th. Coach Reynolds also said he was pretty pleased with his JV runners. Senior Alex Frizzell, freshman Magnus Galaviz and junior Michael Mullin all set new personal record times. TK also got a PR from sophomore Harper Phil­ lips in the JV girls’ race. The Trojans return to action Satur­ day, Oct. 25, at their MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Regional hosted by South Christian. X I V I M-ia yf nint i| •teni J' f-t' •e 9 ♦ Continued from previous page 9 'Srr Saturday, October 18, 2025 ♦ me toevn^ncO . I VIEW.4..^,. g»>.„ -- --- ■- w— • — • __ «4 V THE SUN AND MEWS www.sunandnews.cx>fn ♦ 9369 CHERRY VALLEY SE CALEDONIA, MI 49316 616-891-5750 EVtIT IS OFEI 10 TRE pmuc •II S wierengaJ ewelers .com 200 LAFAYETTE ST., MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 » .9 9 » i i $ i I « .k J________________________________ I I J I• ! I I I I f M ‘P I r ’U 1 « A I I 1 *1 H >k s I \ 1 �I I IT r I"* ' Saturday, October 18, 2025 10 the SUN AND NEWS VIEW I www.sunandnews.com Group I ibev i J. , ' i I CHS boys beat out Jenison for their first titie in the OK Green ”^3 A 4'. Brett Bremer Sports Editor A son was fourth in 16:16.09, while deal­ ing with an injury Thompson missed Caledonia had 11 different guys fin­ the first conference match-up, and his ish among its top seven scorers at the addition was the big difference in the three OK Green Conference meet-ups final two conference get-togethers, but this fall. it took some other strong performances Having the two fastest runners in the for the Scots’ to pull out a 26-29 win conference and a lot of depth added over the Wildcats in downtown Grand up to the first OK Green Conference Rapids. championship for the Fighting Scot Senior Eli Velting came up big for varsity boys’ cross country team. the Scots with a ninth-place time of Caledonia beat out runner-up Jenison 16:34.99. He was a part of a Caledonia by three points to win the OK Green ‘B’ squad a week and a half earlier at Conference Championship meet at the Portage Invitational after being a Riverside Park in Grand Rapids Tues­ regular varsity contributor throughout day afternoon. Caledonia senior Noah the first half of the season. Johnston was the day’s individual Velting said running at the front of champion with a time of 15 minutes that ‘B’ team pack helped him have 52.34 seconds and sophomore team­ a stress free race in Portage, he was mate Ethan Snapper improved his PR able to be fi'ee and run, and it turned to 15:54.37 to place second. out good. Jenison won the first conference “It kind of helped me be confident jamboree ofthe season, but the Fighting with this,” he added after the confer­ Scots bounced back to win the second ence championship run. meeting and Tuesday’s race was the “He’s been having kind of an off ultimate tiebreaker. season and, you know, he just he re­ The top ten on the day was made up ally found it today and it was what we entirely of runners from the two sides. needed,” Caledonia head coach Ben Jenison was led by sophomore Chase Thompson said. “Honestly, he passed Sherman who had a personal record at least two, ifnot three people, coming time of 16:04.32 to place third. down the home stretch and when you Caledonia sophomore Sean Thompwin by three that’s that’s the difference right there. 517.646.0439 * Lansing From where I was with 269.967.8241 * Battle Creek/K-zoo about a quarter mile to go, 517.740.1 S33 * Jackson/Ann Arbor a 1 antennam6n.cu8tomer@gmail.coin he passed three people.” www.theante nn ame n. com The Scots also had soph­ wvirw.cell8ignalpro8.com omore Bentley Nichols Digital TV Antennas * Towers * StarLink Installs place tenth in 16:39.57. Wireless Data Links * Cellular Enhancement Systems The team’s six and seven runners this time around *Building-to-buildlng, Point-to-Point WiFi Extensions were senior Valin Bar­ CELLW I rett and sophomore Cole High definition outdoor cameras SIG Mckenna who both ran to monitor your property PROS new personal record times. * n\ * > 4*z HUNT + GATH ER GD WOOD PRODUCTS * Farmhouse Buffets Chests of Drawers * Fall scented Candles > rA I 'J >e >A •> Family Owned 8c Operated * i t - ■>. J •to »^'^*** ■> '■ ■r SAW MILL OFFICE 517-254-4463 > •»" X’** j V V Wed - Fri lOani-Spin 117 S Jefferson St Suite B, Hastings ! Sat 10am - 4pm I (Behind Hungry H<twies & Mexican Connectian) .•A- i art- Conscientious Timber ■ 5 I a« y- I » r -X I I « • «» I k 1 4 > * 1 * * a ■4 * I k 1 » j * ♦ z A 7 k z I I .f I * * * 1 I .P r ; V /| j| * •it 0J *■ i I T I I 81 * c? i-; *" ■J-*.' I 5 .»** I Caledonia senior Noah Johnston (right) and Bennett Snapper race side by side a mile from the finish line at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids Tuesday during the OK Green Conference Championship. Johnston and Bennett finished 1-2 in the race, both hitting the finish line in less than 16 minutes, to lead the Caledonia team to its first championship in the OK Green. ♦ f B • I f*’ b FW t :3 r< r I -- . • A (.ifw 94 I 5 I M < ■J. •p» ” I <’4 T '"7*3 - • i. > ■s 1 Kir" fli If II. I »V A I y K* a' I _ ’ I iiS 1 A r- ■ geijp'm' 01 I MS U/ 1211) Mi di ...J ♦. r* • »« . Photos by Brett Bremer anA' S I <95 A ra q'iterr '/^ t r.T F . (iw j' - • if «^.l ./ r L 4 ' 5?' : J L A 1 1 *■ I .-II' gional at Portage West Middle School Saturday, Oct. 25. The top three teams and top 15 individuals automatically qualify for the Nov. 1 state finals, and a minimum of seven runners not from those three state qualifying teams ad­ vance to the finals from each region too. No one was catching the Jenison girls in their championship run Tuesday. The Wildcats won with a near-perfect 16-point score. Byron Center was sec­ ond as a team with 58 points ahead of See next page % * A Barrett was 19th in 17:12.87 and Mck­ enna 20th in 17:12.98. Those two were new to the top seven for the Scots in the conference this season. “We did great, we all did great. I am really proud of them,” Velting said. “At practice we’re very good at run­ ning together and pushing each other so we’re all better,” he added. “In a race, we all run together as a team and we motivate each other throughout the race. It’s a team sport for sure.” Jake Potgeter and Luke Smith are other guys who have stepped up and filled those last few scoring places for the Scots throughout this season, and coach Thompson said that is really the strength of this team. “The beauty of our team is we have a lot of guys in that, like five, six, seven through 12 spot, and you’ probably see in the results that it is just kind of always moving around. It’s nice that it is not like one guy, like if you don’t do it today we’re in trouble. So we have got a bunch of guys to kind of shoulder the load together.” Jenison’s top four behind Sherman placed fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth. Jenison beat out the Scots for the con­ ference championship in 2024. The fastest guy from another school was Byron Center sophomore Zachary Newman who placed 11th in 16:42.06. Byron Center was third in the boys’ meet with 87 points ahead of Mona Shores 104, Reeths-Puffer 153 and Muskegon 176, Now the challenge for coach Thomp­ son is sorting through those six, seven, eight nine 12 runners to decipher which seven give the team the best chance of running to a state finals ap­ pearance. Caledonia heads to its MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Re­ r 4* I f J I I A A A i 1 ZT------ = f" * «OS«« ♦ • Ute . ■to ■i . - ..t . s , - • '-y; * J >.1. I S I - I .. ’'I J'f < rt ft i;.-f\ r • __ . »r 1-- > 1 1 I 4 I n 1 h * 7 I Citate^ ff] 1 > 4 ' . i ■ I .T, >i*> 1 Wrs If e I?; I I L 3 I ' 1 J J ► b I V HiS? i^siCib r*.-" 1l' t. lb I f I IS s «'• . J, • ♦* Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 *. e I I •.......... '^*.1 SPRAY FOAM,LLC * » •p> 1 Nelsons ***** • iMT I >' t 1 t£ A [ I * Closed-Cell Foam Insulation * Blown-In Attic Insulation J ■ iM' k’ ' 1 Stmi I xnblt I *«H >w 2 4 �f ) 1 i A *s ■ ■ s 4 4 .t 7 4 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ■ 4 CHS senior Martin wins his way into tennis regional semifinals 4 * e I ■ 4 F i 1 kl. •J I Brett Bremer J » <*> ; I Wj r I »* * f: f I T •4 t r * ( 9^ » 7 V j. >> kt’* r 1 & r i •>* ' «' t h *1^ C-’1 K r I r L < I r X > .X « IB? > t -»• r K > k 2! X. .X K 4' * 1 . I 1 > V I ’ ♦ • ' iV?- 54,'te I l> I *• > 4 1 I fl kf r t' «• */ frjb A. , 7 * » 1 ' I «.x > * I .b sht u' *(i c t I I i H • JC Ij , ■*W 4 * f<? <w ' < Caledonia sophomore Sean Thompson rounds the final turn before a sprint to the finish during the OK Green Conference Championship at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids Tuesday. Caledonia junior Anna VanderWal runs to a tenth-place finish at the OK Green Conference Championship at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids Tuesday. Continued from previous page got those figured out prior to starting racing this fall and she has taken off from there. VanderWal was 14th at the first conference race, 13th at the second and jumped into that all-conference position at the championship, despite being annoyed by a shoe that came untied early in the race. She was happy to continue running her style of race in which she waves at many of the fans cheering her on. “It actually keeps me alive,” Vander­ Wal said. “When I can’t talk, my head is just thinking about how my body hurts. Sophomore Tiona Sakala was the lone Scot among the scoring group that set a PR. She was 18th overall in 21:18.01. The Scots had freshman Kendall Van Ryn 19th in 21:18.71 and sophomore Charlie Bont 21 st in 21:38.04. The top seven for Caledonia also included a 22nd-place finish from sophomore Elise Clarin and a 26thplace finish from freshman Addisyn Gerken. J ' I 1 1 L 'J’s .* I Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity boys’ tennis team finished in a tie for eightli-place with four points at its MHS AA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Regional hosted by West Ottawa Oct, 9. The host Panthers and Rockford Rams dominated the tournament, w ith the Panthers outscoring the Rams 2524 at the top of the standings. Caledonia got four wins on die day. Fighting Scot senior fourth singles player Colin Martin won his way into the semifinals before falling in atough match with East Kentwood freshman Parker Van Houten. VanHouten took a 6-4, 7-6 win and went on to finish as the flight runner-up. Martin was 2-1 on the day. He opened play with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Kalamazoo Central senior Ryan VanAvery and then scored a 7-5, 6-1 win over Grandville junior Nolan Sheriden, Junior second singles player Quinn Stanley for die Scots outscored Grand Rapids Union junior lohan Sanchez 6-1,6-0 in dieir opening roiuid match before he ran into East Kentwood's Simon Wolters, the flight’s top-seeded player, in the quarterfinals. Caledonia’s other point came thanks to the first doubles team of sophomores Quinn Cook and Cooper Sowerby. They knocked off Loy Norrix seniors Dylan Duquay andJaxon Grubaugh 6-1,2-6, (11-9) in the open­ ing round. The top seeded team from Rockford bested die CHS duo in the quarterfinals. Rockford teams won die top three doubles flights. West Ottawa took the win at fourth doubles. Those two schools met in a all four doubles finals. Rockford also had first singles and third singles championships. West Ottawa won at fourth singles. til * 14 ■ *• ’ ’ Pl •*• f ■* A i^» Sui < 'J^• I **» i “ t ??"•*** 1 . ■ * ***5*,,. I * » . A HI ■ *.!• . y •* ’Ml ! t’ * <u »« “J « i ‘«t ♦ "yjh < VI , I’rr <^ 5L r r r t‘i ** 41 ‘ U / > ♦< 4 I I ' > « H. r^i fjMMl ****► a ’ < 3^ *. - I fa its! U Xi 1 i • A ^SkljoHitS' 4 J K ! . 1 4 4 I 51111 .1 fl >!;. ! «f9*!S . u I t 0Wi—» I r\ nf I :L ’ 4 I I f < I 'tSwt(ilibl5.fe : . 4 • */ ■** '^ ^ * I . ( > * I 4 I I* w « » 4- * I t 4 I f * ..J -J-'"'’ V l/i k k H f • E i; ♦ ■ t l:?5J ! wnr 1 I ■'/vid gw 4k .W* ' / I I Caledonia 75, Reeths-Puffer 121 and Mona Shores 122. Jenison had six runners among the first eight across the finish line, and the first four overall. Junior Paige McMeans won the race in 18:29.42 and sophomore teammate Madeline Aleisa set her PR at 18:51.44 to place second. The top 11 in both the boys’ and girls’ race earned all-conference honors. The Caledonia boys’ team had five among that group and the Caledonia girls’ team had seven. Caledonia junior Akaela Daman helped break up that Wildcat pack at the front of the girls’ race a little with a seventh-place time of 19:38.90. Fellow Scot junior Anna VanderWal was tenth in 20:12.55. “1 think it’s quite the experience,” Daman said of leading this Caledonia girls’ group throughout the season. “It’s pretty fun. She came into the season thinking she might be the second fastest Fight­ ing Scot. She had some breathing issues over the previous year, but said 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday; 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. BODY SHOP 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your irusfed Body Shop -for over 32 years ♦ e ih- * < 11 4 ? *» Saturday, October 18. 2025 Group 1 I I VIEW -< ..^1'i*'! ;1 ■ t u i 11 I• J H I II ■it I I J . Ill u I h .1 •A a i s ► \ �I 8 » 1 I I A f I »• X J 1 I 12 ♦ ♦ Saturday, October 18. 2025 the SUN AND NEWS VIEW Group www.sunandnews.com I" I Marshall fends off Tfojans in Middleville for one-goal, district win Brett Bremer Sports Editor Marshall snuck a free kick over the Trojan keeper early in the second half, added an insurance goal, and then fought off TK’s final charge Thursday, Oct. 6. The RedHawks scored a 2-1 victory in the MHSAA Division 2 District opener over the Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ soccer team inside Bob White Stadium in Middleville. In a physical game, played mostly between the boxes TK finally put some extended pressure on the Red­ Hawk net with about eight minutes to play. The Trojans shot the ball back and forth across the RedHawk goal, eventually slipping a shot under the Marshall goalkeeper. As the ball rolled across the goalmouth, TK junior Milo McCormick slid in between a pair of RedHawk defenders to knock the ball across the goal-line. The Trojans kept the pressure on for much of the final few minutes, but NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m. THE HASTINGS BANNER Tuesday at Noon THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon THE SUN and NEWS Wednesday at Noon - Group mihomepaper.com couldn’t find an equalizer. The two teams were knotted 0-0 at the half. Sophomore defender Trenton Walkiewicz scored the game’s opening goal six minutes into the second half. With a dozen or so Trojans and RedHawks lined up along the top of the penalty area, Walkiewicz fired a ball from al­ most 50 yards out over everyone, including TK keeper Jeremiah Cramer who was out off his line, into the back of the net. The Trojans’ best chance to knot the score actually would up turning into Marshall’s second goal. A Trojan comer kick led to a TK throw-in deep in RedHawk territory. The throw bounded off a Marshall de­ fender in the box right to senior Bowen Dykstra who had one touch with his left foot from just above the penalty spot fly just wide of the right post. Marshall’s restart bounded around at midfield for a moment, but then the RedHawks rolled a pass ahead with sophomore midfielder Myles Olson charging hard at the TK net. He raced by the last TK defenders and then knocked a shot by Cramer andjust inside the left post for a two-goal lead. TK had one other big flurry late that didn’t result in a goal. Senior Inigo Evira Navarro chipped a ball across the RedHawk penalty area with a couple guys crashing on the far side including seniors Bowen Dykstra and Nathan Shoemaker. The Marshall keeper got a touch on the ball, and then Dykstra got a touch that headed towards the feet of Shoemaker before a RedHawk defender crashed through and knocked the ball from the left side of the goalie box went just wide of the post. 1 4 ll I • Ir -> • t < •* « • 9 tl:r I k J I .At*.' y .A I mu 'Jr. \ I 7. ’?* t 4 .m .44« a li.'’ »* ■'ll i 1 J 5 !i W F. ^4' —pj > A 15 Jut!r»i^ I* iJi* jif' V. r. * ■ I* .6 ► i tI r I A if . *t ; I .r 1 zfc X r* r * b r 1 ■- \ I 4 I C '1^ X* 1 1 4 w ;J jk < k* I ir^ x t 4 ■• rc T* .fl > V'*' 1*5:. v-' B ... ? >• ^1 ■ y ir 9u. V* pX. ••• r. * r>r I'-<4 I I'; If I r» et'^ k b .£U F » 1. V ili: ? F" ‘V I L♦ J r tai?’ ?p *> ■ *-'1 <* ’4 I'., » •• .* 9 * ** 't Thornapple Kellogg senior Diego Rodas beats Marshall’s Ty Winchell to a ball in the midfield during the second half of their MHSAA Division 2 District opener in Middleville Oct. 9. Marshall advanced in the state tournament with a 2-1 win over the Trojans. Photos by Brett Bremer 1 I 4 r k I Stop cleaning-out your gutters this season AN ADOrTrONAL 15% OFF +10% Discount For Seniors * MIHtary LeafFilter* Get a FREE full gutter inspection and estimate: 1-866-495-1709 Pro.™:285 »See l^epresenuiw br M Maamy deuilL Tramooondl oOer ndudn 15% df plus an adiMiml 10% off tor vrtem and/or mon. Hoobigdion tsoruit *»Bd tor 1 year. ISobled to Creda apfraM CW tor MA AA 3669209B. A2 MX 344027, CA 103S79S, G HKJ671S20. H CaC0S467& lA C127230. ID CCe-S16O4 LA 559S44. MA VM<7, MO MHtCl 11225. W 2&23Q017X 2621)0318. 2€ 328.26;'W 329. 2623003D. 262300331 MH wniSM. MT 226192. M> 47304. N€ 6014S‘2XS014S-2XHj13VKim390CLNM4QB693.IM6990.NnM91l4.H'U229. 08218294 PA 179643.069383. iUGC413$4. IN 10981. U1 10783658*6501. VA 2705169445. WA t£AFFNW822)Z. WL4K6912. KNOW SOMETHING INTERESTING? 9 THE SUN AND NEWS VW M < ,I l4 JI *•4 1 - - I Mil"*"®* 4 M ni » lellR \r.4 a <* •r. 1 « < r :t rr t M -IE!* «w Pisr if Irar it** J 4 1 . 1 .* 9 ' A UQ » > ■ 1 r»*f’*^’** 1 , S T J/ ♦ *1 -I bOwifcW f » M » »*** * - I 56S' I Miiiiii !Kt (manat'KkMt Z 1 r,’ 1 te» «« \L 15-^^ 4- ■ ’ jMKa 5^ I k <t ri - 'fl V ♦ TiMMW tt I iagi? I I .^>aa» * 4 t-* ’ ’ < 5r. ' 'jsfd iUEkM I 1 We’d love to hear about iti Email mmacleod@mihomepaper.com *%r I ' > The Trojans’ ensuing comer kick led to a looping shot from just inside the 18 that flew over the goal. The RedHawks advanced to face Harper Creek in the district semifinals Monday, where the Beavers scored a 2-1 overtime victory. Plainwell bested rival Otsego and then Wayland in its first two district matches to reach the final. The Plainwell Trojans defeated those Harper Creek boys 2-0 in the district final Wednesday, Oct. 15, in Plainwell. TK ends its season with a 6-10-3 overall record. ■fe I rv.' ' I _l I X EXPIRES: lf/30/2025 j I r r < Thornapple Kellogg senior defender Nathan Shoemaker heads the ball away from the penalty area in his end during the Trojans’ district contest with Marshall in Middleville Oct. 9. i I I 11 ■j. ^br T I1 44 r Wa®} X2 Aa I ’ ‘1 I •»' Ik -T 1I ^•r *4 I %. I ♦ UI I I -'■ c^t^TCU1 '1 "&ib^ '^niaioi t • k -» a u ;J > .'J r. ■». ’ j-r'.'. �j I I f I f I I ♦ J i ♦ www.sunandnews.com VO£X » s - Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor '1 Bl ■ 'W ‘/J T' ■ fl j ** , *«: 4 . jifXi: ■h . g^obiii/H 7J nr^/ fl v><f^ ‘ rfi^l r Ml < -J. « -fe f' ■I The Caledonia varsity volleyball team is 3-3 in the OK Green Confer­ ence after falling in four sets to visiting Byron Center Tuesday. The Bulldogs took a 25-16, 26-21, 24-26, 25-17 win over the Fighting Scots. Junior Aubrey Reynolds had 18 kills as well as 20 digs and three blocks in the loss for the Scots. Junior Avery Seif had 20 digs too. Junior Kayleigh Meirsen added 12 digs and two blocks. Senior Kyla Charles andjunior Reese Stafford shared setting duties. Charles had 15 assists as well as seven kills, seven blocks and 15 digs. Stafford finished with 17 assists. Last Thursday, the Fighting Scots got their third conference win by knock­ ing off Muskegon 25-7, 25-14, 25-7 j*3} ' ?: I % 1 o: w IL.W E fU. < If ).U 1 r bobbin ■r I fis^ HI'H 'i ni! J JI I f r TI hfW biddJ .ytJwurr fz&J (JQ b ) f 1 SUN and NEWS VIEW e rV I i in Caledonia, The Scots took care a third of their points at the service line with 25 aces. Briseno had five and Charles and senior Maggie Loomis had four aces each. A group of six other Fighting Scots had two aces each. Caledonia had seven different girls with a kill. Reynolds led the way with nine and junior Kayla Briseno had four. Charles and Stafford had nine assists each. The Caledonia girls were in action Saturday going 2-1 with a victory over Roscommon and losses against Detroit Country Day and Dexter at the Beasts of the East Tournament. Caledonia was set to visit Mona Shores Oct. 16. The Scots return to conference action at Reeths-Puffer Oct. 21 and home against Jenison Oct. 23. 13 Saturday, October 18. 2025 Group ♦ Scot record evens in OK Green with loss to Byron Center girls . seol 9 THE ^l.si *1 (“ti r .-3 I ■>•<—*’ ry^TTr^’’ .. ji'Mi.i ' * » p 1 fl «i- r’ ••« *___ “I * ***' ■ -I* -'U , < •% •> * ' Wiv > ■ r— f r i L k 4. L fl.^ •» r J . ,J Caledonia's Lydia Bell (10) and Quinn Ziegler (8) combine to block a Lady Reds’ attack Thursday, Oct. 9. during their OK Green Conference match at Caledonia High School. Caledonia’s Maggie Loomis (11) serves the ball during the matchup with Muskegon Thursday, Oct. 9, at Caledonia High School. Photos by Perry Hardin fl • ’6- ----------------------------------------------- f J 4 4 *« a r ? 1.?' iff ■ d '•■ f ! *> .. Panthers and Scots go back and forth until West Ottawa wins in O.T. W*- F r-' /?*•>* f Sift V < » </. ^9 r w <9 . Brett Bremer Sports Editor I bl'jil F i ) r jUO i jti’’ ' fin' « J rC I Z* I . > 4 < oirujl 4 ' wruupp 4 -./iQiase jb i | ij *» • A I ? J 1»S " I* /nl «* A' I” rfS' fl ■ ■ ’ « U I > J J I V J i »? u f I J j -:r>. fs I bs&al" f . t' fl I I ■' j j ! 1 4 I 1 «• () 1 • LMbfh^ I I I l'”' il Iji I .I A -.fihTO i mu mill Ru 9bi I •t rg'ijl i&k fl fl I I .•>>1 i ^lob dbi 1 i »S r**t1Er ibnalai) I a fl iii t ♦ I 1 * . ! I / fl * 'I I I - ; AJ I I 'fl •* West Ottawa answered a Caledonia field goal in overtime with a four-yard touchdown run by CJ Traylor on its of­ fensive possession to score a 33-30 OK Red Conference win over the Fighting Scots in Holland Friday, Oct. 10. Junior Bryce Backus returned at quarterback for the Fighting Scots and threw for 175 yards including a 50-yard touchdown pass that got the Fighting Scots on the scoreboard for the first time. West Ottawa had a 14-0 lead in the second quarter before that long Scots’ touchdown. Ryne Wysocki snagged a screen pass in the right flat and dodged the last couple tacklers who had a chance at him around the 35-yard line. The left side of the Scots’ offensive line, Kylen Spencer and Luke Kowatch, got the job done still taking care of Panther defenders 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. The score remained 14-6 at the half. The Panthers got a 15-yard TD pass from Abel Anaya to Ron Ferguson in the first quarter and a four-yard TD run from Caleb Montgomery in the second to build their lead. Montgom­ ery bumped the West Ottawa lead to 21-6 with a ten-yard TD run in the third quarter. He closed the game with 17 rushes for 123 yards and the two scores. Caledonia made plays in every phase of the game to stay in the bailgame. The Scots lost a fumble at their own 11 -yard-1 ine after the Panthers went up 14-0, but junior defensive back Aaron Collins intercepted an overthrow pass at the goal-line by the Panthers to keep it a two-score game. The ensuing drive ended in the Scots’ lone first-half touchdown. Caledonia also got a 33-yard inter­ ception return for a touchdown from junior safety Ben Geerdes in the third quarter to make it a 21-13 bailgame. The Scots were within 21 -19 by the end of the third quarter. Caledonia kicker Landry Mueller followed up the Geerdes TD by recovering his own rolling onside kick. The Scots drove right down the field for a one-yard TD run by Backus, but a two-point attempt to tie the game was no good and the Panthers led by two. An interception by the Scots’ Carter Berends just before the end of the third helped the Scots go in front. Caledonia moved over the short field, from the Panther 39, and took the lead early in the fourth quarter at 27-21 thanks to a one-yard TD run by Wysocki. This time Wysocki dodged a couple Panther tackles to rush in the two-point try to make it a six-point lead. West Ottawa scored in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by Jeremiah Edwards-Tate before the fourth quarter was over to tie the game at 27-27. The Scots’ special teams came up huge again to help earn overtime. Scot senior Cody Myers forced his way through the line to block the extra-point kick by the Panthers. Each offense gets a chance from its ten-yard-line to score in four plays in high school overtime. The Fighting Scots. Wysocki picked up six yards on first down, but Backus was pulled down behind the line on second down and a third down pass fell incomplete. Mueller booted a 28-yard field goal to give the Scots a momentary 30-27 lead. Wysocki closed the game with 22 rushes for 121 yards and a touchdown. A couple of rushes got the Panthers to the five-yard-line on their overtime possession, then on third down CJ Traylor came from right to left on an end around and swept around the left side just reaching the goal-line for the game-winning score. GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meeting Minutes The minutes for the September 17, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting and the October 6, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Special Meeting that were approved on October 15, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave., and on the website at www.caledoniatownship.org. J •J 4 MdKf El ). I I f' iV I I I ■ 11 I 4 u •M I fl ii I I . I fl t M 4 s h I \ * >’ ■* I A I £j « �(x 4 U •O’ e'-' 14 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 1 Saturday, October 18, 2025 the SUN AND news Wyoming wins shootout with Scots in do-or-die district opener Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Fighting Scots bookended their season with shoot outs against the Wyoming Wolves. The Caledonia varsity boys’ soc­ cer team won in August at Scotland Yard. The Wolves won in Wyoming in October. The Scots would have preferred to win the latter. Wyoming took a 1 -0 win by outscor­ ing Caledonia 6-5 in a shootout that lasted seven shooters long Wednes­ day, Oct. 8, in the opening round of the MHSAA Division 1 Boys’ Soccer Tournament. The Wolves earned a spot in the dis­ trict semifinals with the win. Rockford bested Wyoming 2-1 Monday in the semifinals Monday. East Kentwood then knocked off Rockford 2-1 in a shootout to win the district champion­ ship Wednesday. Noah Kaplan, Owen Mancuso, Rocco Calabrese and Noah Moberly I; W k^AS4aflU:.< I il ! converted their shots from the penalty spot as a part of the Scots’ first five in the shoot out at Wyoming. Caledonia had a 2-1 lead in the shootout after the Wolves missed their second attempt. The Scots missed their fourth shot and the two teams went to additional shooters tied 4-4. Gage Helinski made his PK to keep things tied at 5-5 for the Scots. Wyo­ ming hit its seven attempt in the PKs and the Scots’ seventh try flew wide of the goal to clinch the win for the Wolves. Caledonia head coach Luke Dishnow said his guys had spent time in practice working on their penalty kicks for just such a situation. “We were prepared. It is just what happens, ya know,” Dishnow said. Junior Nicolas Long returned from an ankle injury to play goal in the shootout taking over for freshman keeper Ryder Helinski. Helinski handled the keeper duties for the CHS varsity through the final few matches 100 East Main Street Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villageofmiddleville.org PUBLIC HEARING The Village of Middleville Planning Commission will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 7:00 pm, or as soon thereafter as possible, in the Council Chambers at the Middleville Village Hall at 100 East Main Street. The purpose of the PUBLIC HEARING is to receive public comment and consider an application for Special Land Use Pennit on property located at 4695 N M-37 (parcel #41-022-135-00). The Special Land Use Application seeks Planning Commission approval for a Special Use Permit in accordance with Section 78-323 of the Village of Middleville Code of Ordinances, which allows day care centers as a special use in the C-2 General Commercial District. The applicant is requesting approval to establish a day care center on the above-described property. The public is invited to attend this open meeting and to offer comments. Alternatively, to participate in the meeting by providing written comment, you may email your comment to the Director of Com­ munity and Economic Development at powersd@villageofiniddlcville.org. or drop them off in per­ son to Middleville Village Hall. Written comments received prior to 4:00 pm on November 6, 2025 will be distributed to Planning Commission members and it will be noted that such comments were received prior to the meeting. A copy of the Special Land Use application is available for public inspection at Middleville Village Hall at the address indicated above during normal business hours (Monday thru Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to noon). Persons with special needs who wish to attend should contact the Village Clerk no less than 3 days prior to the meeting. The Village Cleric can be contacted by phone at the number indicated above or by email at rvanpolcnf@villagcofiniddleville.org. during normal business hours (Monday thru Thurs­ day 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to noon). Posted 10/15/2025 Rhonda Van Polen, Village Clerk A VIEWL^Group of the regular season, and he shut out the Wolves through regulation and the 20 minutes of overtime in the district opener. “[Ryder] made some good saves. He did a good job. We went to Nic for the penalty shootout because he is just a bigger, taller goalie, and he did great in a shootout earlier in the season,” Dishnow said. “He wasn’t ready for the field, but we knew he could do a good job in the shoot out. He had his fingers on multiple shots. He was right there. I still trust my gut in playing Ryder in the game flow. He made great saves. He did a great job. He kept it 0-0. I thought Nic did a good job in the PK shootout, he just couldn’t quite get any of the saves.” The CHS head coach said he felt like his team controlled possession and had www.sunandnews.com ' a • J I MV' the better chances in the first half of the contest, but the Wolves picked things up in the second half. The Scots end the season with a 9-74 overall record, and the Fighting Scot head coach thought his team tended to play to the level of its competition this season - which was great in contests with squads like top-ranked Portage Central and the OK Green champs from Byron Center. A late comeback from Mona Shores spoiling the Scots’ senior night was a tough one late in the year. “I think our whole team worked hard, cared for each other, was very positive,” Dishnow said. “Anybody stepped up and had chances to do things in the games. No one’s yelling at each other in the field. We just had good team chemistry I can hang my hat on. I proud of the way they worked hard all year and battled in all our games.” \• 1 t i * T 4 f lA < - » 1 I I ! •zi- Al'Its, I s 1 i i I * ■* ’ » il* *. I t I f I A . . r: ■.' > I A. I J I 1. 9 * ' J 1 ri t -4 » way fl > • 9 1 IM ..Ilf 4. •f •. t * 4 / t T t 1 I J *> V - Freshman second singles player Parker Sylvestre won his way into the semifinals and Thomapple Kellogg got opening round victories at five other flights at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 3 Regional in Holland Wednesday, Oct. 8. The Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ tennis team finished in tie for fourth at the regional tournament. Sylvestre was the third seed at sec­ ond singles. He opened his day with a quarterfinal win over Zeeland East junior Daniel Steenwyk by the scores of 6-1, 6-3. Second-seededConner VanDrunnen from East Grand Rap­ ids bested Sylvestre 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinal round. TK first singles player Franklin Wilkinson, the2025 OK Gold Confer­ ence champion, saw his senior season end with a tough loss to fourth-seeded Floyd Webb from Holland at their flight. Webb pulled out a 6-4,7-5 win over Wilkinson. Trojan sophomore Max Lepper at third singles and senior Mark Gielincki at fourth singles both won opening round matches in straight sets aa t I >«</• i. 11 I I 9 Il -4^1 f I# I •■< I N '• I .4 . ■- , rJ4 X' rtS I > 4 4 n.' L' ! >•[ A .Ut 4 4 I r-»”” aas^ e* >□ ,• I r ' • •/*** r i. •-■ -itf: I J .t 4 f' Brett Bremer Sports Editor ttnirijt i'i"'. .'I 4 ■w TK tennis gets wins at six flights at Division 3 regional tournament Ifesco *• ?!* before falling to seeded players in the quarterfinals. TK had the same results at first, second and third doubles. Juniors Samuel Teachout and Layne Schilthroat pulled out a 7-6(5), 6-0 win over Holland’s top doubles team before falling to the first-seeded duo at their , flight from Holland Christian. At second doubles, TK sophomore Graham Eden and Gideon Scott scored an opening round win over Wayland. At third doubles, TK junior Aiden Riffel and senior Luke Archer scored a close 6-4,7-5 victory over a team from Hamilton. Holland Christian won the regional championship with 28 points. South Christian was second with 17 ahead of Unity Christian 15, East Grand Rap­ ids 15, Zeeland East 11, Thomapple Kellogg 7, Grand Rapids Christian 7, Otsego 3, Hamilton 2, Holland 2 and Wayland 2. First singles was the only flight that the Holland Christian boys did not win. East Grand Rapids’Andrew Ow ings took three-straight set victories to take the first singles title. He defeated Unity Christian’s Edmundo Berain Saucedo 7-5, 6-3 in the champion­ ship round. The top four teams all qualified for the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Divi­ sion 3 Boys’ Tennis Finals that will be held at the Midland Tennis Center Oct. 24-25. r 1 » ' s T t/ > 4 ' r r! I b 11c ' on I 4* w» r !M’' >*1 & 91 ’r> Ot H * H #• •r k augAif ♦ I T ti J JI ■>« T HI'll "«• * f -"Tf/ I TIB * 4 I ? s s ,1 I >. ( 0 1.. V ► I 4 ■r I , M 1 K- I J «a a T 1 <, I ««< I 1 ► : y/' ( J % H /• f t r Vj 'AV ni r I V rd* ' J.'b - ♦ I ibs 7 1 f • ®: “ I V ♦ rr 1 ( 1 >. i)nj 1 1B®.X ,5 . '■/ fefllBl , I 10 d* ^iS‘ IV •V kft sK iV * •• . I -..yi.fj ‘ 'u 5^ * ’ ; -X. -I r> I f I I 4 V ’ «L I • • s-'4 4 A • *s •Tii.3rK10 i 5^ >«.> :>V (>t ' £ » .bfB^ Sa ____ __ e .1 r I T iiMBnab' s'- ( I '«* ■ 15 t 1. I 1 I, r hlk^J84 .<S4 �I ♦ I i * THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I I VIEW 15 Saturday, October 18, 2025 Group ♦ I I Poor first half hinders TK in homecoming game against EGR I I 1 I Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Trojans at times this fall have been good, they’ve been great, they’ve had heartbreak and heroics. For the first time this season the they just weren’t good enough for an extended period of time. East Grand Rapids took a 24-0 lead over the Thomapple Kellogg varsity football team on homecoming night in­ side Bob White stadium in Middleville Friday, Oct. 10, and went on to a 34-7 win over the Trojans. “Our kids came back in the second half and fought like crazy. They played hard,” TK head coach Jeff Dock said. “I don’t know what the outcome is, but if we play the two halves like that second half and good things happen but we sure as heck can’t do what we did in the first half. We laid an egg.” The Trojans started the bailgame receiving the opening kick-off, but Mb Hi. ■ I ■-1 .\ > 1 > . I ft f I f * •U r 4 X fj i * I ' '14 tl. 1 . s I I I T I I 1 ft 1^. J ► ! • J I I 'J < I i» I t w "tl I * . k '' l/J'. ‘ tJ ' t ••’I . H » >1 r I <» ’ ft t X< ♦ J U J I i b I > *X *»«* ) A i •fO 1 i. 1 , -•t i I 4 J**!™ « r « ft It }*3 * '. I idi. i % L ,■ I ”*4/. < i -0 % k« X Ztl I. K Il ‘/-,4 ■ ■* > r. 1 > { .1 t HOmi.. J i ■ I A ft. ’ ’‘>.12 >1 L iT l«8* .W/ J L J fr «», w lx* S PRIDE CLAS: I TRADITION ‘Sl! 1 5 Sii k ‘ I R MS ■ ^^7;! 1 ■ *• 4 I ft *1 >7 > ' - * 1 44-wr * i I i < * I* zH * w , •'-1* ., i’jr ^■iav. . • 4 'W ► I 11 * V, . 1 >»■ *1-1 * I i M « I L “ ‘ «J4 1 <r * > /;•* n-' rM r rA* * ' I ■J. ' J 1 4 I ♦H 4 ;■ e * e «-;rii.i:’ ■ ■■ V > I it •✓ -J♦• hA-*«- I. . r‘''> r*- - =* 41 A7 ..iTK . •*> ’■•r I ‘2 M * •I« f -e^ « 8^Ckmi i T><‘ I I a C3MWi T . 1 * *-v K 1 y s 4 *1 M >.’ w I ’•Zi II * \ ‘If .V •4 .4*. s J ■■32 9 f t -_ > 4- :«6: w I 9^-.^ ■T i . f - r“i ' ■•X , I' r *•*•* •* I 3 ’•y* 1 «a* 'i - r.1^ U '*■ r I I >-*v f L. Lr’Jr.' i ,-Wf f ft r" r> r'<' p i I I b ■ r ! I* h I i. I ■;■, )' l. < . J I Ti„( I I i r ' « six • C.' r ** M u» I .f*WK!?S f VL ♦ I 1 ) I t I I Ji a^r didn’t get their first, first down of the football game until the second play of the second quarter. It was the Trojan of­ fense’s only first down of the first half. East Grand Rapids meanwhile scored on each ofitsfourfirst halfpossessions. Pioneer senior quarterback Josh Mc­ Cune completed a pass to senior wide receiver Dylan Buck in the left flat and he raced for a 22-yard touchdown on EGR’s first drive. McCune scored on a six-yard run on the Pioneers’ second possession. Senior wide receiver Tyler Blake had a six-yard TD run. Pioneer junior kicker Will Klein was perfect on his first three extra-point kicks and then drilled a 21-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. Thomapple Kellogg mostly righted the ship in the second half putting two steady offensive drives together right away while the defense forced a turn­ over on downs and a punt. Senior back Debo Robinson scored on a 30-yard run at the end of the Trojans’ first drive of the second half to get TK within 24-7 after kicker Mason Chivis’ extra-point. The Trojans’ second drive of the second half started at their own threeyard-line, and made it all the way to the Pioneer 12-yard-line. A 3 8 yard pass up the left side from quarterback Micah Dock to senior Zach Eldridge was the big gainer on the drive. Things stalled inside the Pioneer 20, and on a fourthand-one play from the EGR 12, the Trojans lost a fumble. The ball on the ground didn’t just end the drive though. Blake, a defensive back on that side of the ball for the Pioneers, scooped the ball off the turf and raced 89 yards for ‘ a touchdown. A Pioneer interception on the first play following their kick-off and an­ other EGR field goal effectively put the game away. TK head coach Jeff Dock said there weren’t any major adjustments offen sively to move the football better in the second half. “We just played,” Dock said. “We did not have a great first half. We didn’t do anything fundamentally. We didn’t run our offense. They are good. Their defense is really good, don’t get me wrong, but we did not execute our offense. “It was fundamentals, like week one stuff.” I *— ' ft % J s ij - > 'I k J I « I I u i Trojan seniors Jake Welch Jr. (50) and Preston Gummo (65) are at the front of the line as the Thornapple Kellogg varsity football team enters Bob White Stadium in Middleville Friday, Oct. 10, for its homecoming contest against OK Black Conference foe East Grand Rapids. A 1 r -r-H X w - ♦ > ♦ ■.. 4 I * x’’ 1 'aitt z X “•^V. SX.W * ♦ ‘x» e.v''i S' "2 V fW* ..■ i • • < J r “' Trojan junior ballcarrier Camden Peter (left) tries to fight off East Grand Rapids junior defensive back Vinnie Hecker during the second half of the Pioneers’ 34-7 win over the Trojans in Middleville Oct. 10. Photos by Brett Bremer move on,” Dock said. The Trojans were set to host Holland Christian Friday, Oct. 10, and will close out the 2025 regular season at home Oct. 17 taking on Wyoming. EGR improves to 5-2 overall this season and 3-1 in the OK Black Con­ ference with the win. TK is now 4-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play. ‘T guess better now than down the road. We’ve got to learn from it and ar I W* 3f= « A J 1 - 4 VSC^ < M A 1 r <14 J ▼ .1 1 4 Scan our OR code r r*- to find your I perfect invitation! £ f .,1 .»* BES'4^ R. w"'- *^1 I. >* 1 K ' 9 ■1 1 » r 4 1 •t f «« 1*4 i Its 4*’• •• > *’ 4 ' •e. 1 14^ ft r * * e ft> X J A r»v. * > * * < A 4 * *. Cs 5# iBlOt Seo w- \ z ) Simply Perfect WEDDI NG I N VITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. z PRINTING BY •- www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com ♦ �16 Saturday, October 18. 2025 J J I K-' 3> u4: .• a a **< 4 •kF* t r T 9 a a .p: raa■ 4 . b*. «J 1? *T^ • r> ♦> • \ a* * lu.* e 5’ k W' . * TT ’•<: L f 1 aR w _*3 s JL I t <u a I • . .-i > J <_ 4 £ *1 • is*’ t X iv.'^iWjayn* .«! c •* X** ** * a** t'A * ■1 >- .. f I J k * .¥ 4 •<4 :,F “As"* i l» I *OT / w > f i’ V 1 r **» JfcZ± R » -*< 51 Ib^ ; < - — RUMBLE .'jo^ ENROLLING NOW FOR 2026 PLANS a c r •Ml' s i.>> f «. V i :^h /jy ; v.?W K. I 1 15 h =r '2 *?= r« s f /5* r rr h K a» : f .> c -I* t 1 « ?< •M • < •f •ia 4 M - 4 * f • • ■^5 •' J* Open enrollment runs from October 15^^ - December 7^^ '>u i 'i ** Book your appointment today! { J f Medicare 73 ^..r. » I t X : fk* I I *> 7^. r. a* .J I '.d • 'A'Tr'-*. I J 1 ) in •'il I Schedule your appointment today as time slots are filling fast! 269.213.3232 josh@trumbleagency.com www.barrycountymedicare.com 128 S. Jefferson St. Hastings, MI 49058 1 V v» > 2 Josh Lamphere <:• c. 3<18fiQ > k leiluiosqB aifisibsM Medicare Specialist aofiicf modi Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. ^saoitgv -tiJOT u. I UKS VWb**-v* *r<t » h i.•A » 1 i I t I I > • � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-10-25.pdf 08dc35b934f7b2dca2b56e258a82611a PDF Text Text i Of* ^^1 s NEWS THE SUN AND s * s. VIEW SLAGEL AND GAYLORD SCORE VICTORIES AMONG STATE’S BEST AT MISCA MEET Group MU ; PAGE 16 •r**. VOL. 147 www.sunandnews.com SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025 NO. 43 « r*« W OU 2M00 S3 Lie OOMS J 6. I 1 I f I ri' r “ i I 4 1 «a- •* - K t '« « '•4 J *w E O-’— f; ■ b t V * i 4 I t •■ 2^^ -1^ ... f r 1 ei I I t i4 P»" • .55r> i * l\ CS3 7 I F « A I Z r^ 5 V. 3 > B A A * Sr Fj. ( V ,1 J *j !► » r •• t <j 9 *« i z 1 S’ * r fi •s* 9^ ' I < q r, ■ yJiM t I HM t t ’^C* Wk* yr 4 ITU .. XK 1 fl 1 IL 1 JI ssr? T!T •* •V. < J s; Sj * •< .^^1 <A--- \ •s. r ,» ! * K Around 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, more than 50 hikers gathered behind the Middleville Village Hall to hike down Main Street and up to Mt. Hope Cemetery, where a new one-mile section of the North Country Trail in Middleville enters into forested village property. Photo by Amy Seymour •< sbiul&B no .m.Bor bnuoiA 003 olim-eno wsn b owrlw J L 11 4«U I.?— ill s. iI £ K -^' f I VV « : y^' • J 7 t. * K T1 I ’ •l loitcidslsO ) gid ewBib Celebration hike in Middleville draws big crowd *1 JI . e » Mphd3-oMT iWitX latiiW ttBtS Karen Turko-Ebright J Staff Writer qfiriri ycbnookTlwri^ srO ? 133 ItBil riJnuoD rinoH oril iwon to notwx gnol-dlrm fi ) ,Xcb-iute^ no IiBit toJoinla tn ’Tniinuo J ziaxrsBgTO ritiw Jnwa «1J te zToirri 02 wirlt te;liow aisslnuioV J Erd) qij rwqo Of y<sb >(iow ritwoT^'TSonu □Efwb rigi/oirll < s .1 ■ TZ > .,di .furngnoJ oha . L F* aw /:■. ) i; 51 n r c(iimil-i liflWwsnsfIT jidb, jfiBwbfiOT'to slim z luiar i^bl .nn.B 01 bnirorA ‘ 1! bl I Im-jrilBjj ZToiiri sfl) sflivoIbbiM Cl I H satHiV %• >1 tp bnu pyjijki aiiM rrwob r k i i 1\J ,; I r ?rli n^fiv/ . mtomoDsqoH J 3Jn J aoxiifi 'juld yd bo)h£fn S botzorol iisTi sdT .Y)T3 JBiT’ B dsuoiriJ cnqaJsrhqno iCiliv .b£oH snsiD JO T3H orn X J I * la 1 11 • !<. > EDDM enuowEB BiaiDCWJVf aMMCki «uMNirraiaes bOi">«C n 1 bBuanft330 <8938 OIMUMRC- Ml bVID 0 3 boeivee f I I I aovisod s n —.E.jlLsasad bBaitxa.j.. * ■ I n (VI I J The Chief Noonday Chapter of the North Country Trail celebrated a mile-long section of newly con­ structed trail on Saturday, Oct. 18, with organizers counting more than 50 hikers at the event. “Volunteers worked three loqg work days to open up this trail' through dense undergrowth,” said Eric Longman, the CNC president. “The new trail eliminates about a mile of roadwalk along Crane Road.” Around 10 a.m. last Saturday, the hikers gathered behind the Middleville Village Halt to hike down Main Street and up to Mt. Hope Cemetery, where the trail marked by blue blazes enters into forested village prop­ wooa erty. The trail stretched uawoisno TviiNaoisaa through a mature forest ssMini 9cwr in OKniQOd on private property to 8CC# WUiioj Crane Road. 8£88> IM eiiiAuaaJO The NCT cuts through aivd r 1 .X 1 k I I I I 1 I 1 ^■1 I .'i ■ ,1 1 I 1 Middleville State Game Area and eventually up into the Upper Peninsula, before the 4,900-mile pathway ends in North Dakota. “Middleville is a great supporter of the NCT, being a trail town,” said Former CNC president Jane Norton, now chairperson of the commit­ tee that planned last week’s hike. “Hikers from Middleville and Barry County were there to support the new trail. The hike was 4.6 miles out and back from the village hall.” A ribbon-cutting was held at the newly installed gate at Mt. Hope Cemetery, where local leaders made a series of brief comments, includ­ ing speeches by Village Manager Craig Stolsonburg, North Country Trail Association representative Kate Lemon, Barry County Commissioner Catherine Getty and Nate Beard, the village’s interim Department of Public Works supervisor. “The safety of getting the trail offSee HIKE on 3 CHS equestrian team brings home state titles I . ♦ ^b>aj 4«b4( te 4: *I 1 l^UI •S Statechampionship I % VI *> » ♦ ^4 ▼k I r wttscen **■«» H U u /p 1■ Lw r »A. t «« t .tr ' K'3 A> rMLOIFJA.S ITAM ■■ ri ii^S^Sw ! C.Al KDONlAi^f w 4"^ Ml /.riwwR ' 4 J rw .4.^ w« u *• - • . * 9 k iW* 9 s *«* The Caledonia High School equestrian team celebrated not one, but two state championships Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Midland County Fairgrounds. The Fighting Scots won Division A and Division E titles at the 2025 Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association State Championships. The program has now won seven state championships since notching its first in 2002 with the previous five coming in Division A. Team members this fall include (front row, from left) Loralei DeHoek, Sophie Edmondson, Nina Stiver, Sadie Barnes, Sophie Burnis, Layla Bouwens, Maci Nichols, Hailey Bouwens, (back) Maddie Lockwood, Matt DeHoek, Bryn Malocu, Grace Rabbit, Amelia Hodges, head coach Kim Fredericks and Ella Fredericks. See more on page 14. Courtesy photo �2 I Saturday, October 25. 2025 View sunandneuts Gaines Twp. set to finalize ’26 budget tI www.sunandnGws.com t Contributing Writer Ilie Gaines Charter Township Board will likely vote at its Nov. 10 meeting on a final budget plan for fiscal year 2026. The township’s tentative general budget is$7.91 million. In comparison, the Michigan Legislature recently ap proved an approximately $81 billion state budget in early October. "‘With the latest revision, the town­ ship will be losing around $137,000 in constitutional revenue sharing,” staled Township Manager Rod Weers­ ing. “That hits the general fund budget from what was originally projected for 2026.” Michigan townships will lose about $63 million, or 6.3%, in constitutional revenue sharing for FY 2026. That is because the new state budget will re­ move the state sales tax from gasoline beginning Jan. I, 2026. Townships will lose revenue from the 6% tax on gasoline. However, the state has implemented several mechanisms to partially com­ pensate for the loss of constitutional revenue sharing. Lawmakers enacted a new 24% wholesale tax on marijuana * > .'HWESTRAKTY X f 3i?fr()ni 5“7pm / LOTS OF CANDV.i FREE CHILI, HOTDOGS, -K Dress in your > ■favorife costume. L Trick or Treat indoors 4 down the f oj ujy i A ^B**^**; » • * • •• • V * OUN LAKI COMMUNITY CHURCH *>* «v 12200 w. M-i/0 inv\. >vayi<in(i (2(>0) 70S-JOO { qiinlaket Ihik li.oiq 4, 4 f .J ' « 9 4 » < that’s projected to generate about $420 million in annual revenue that will go to improve roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Also, a new public safety grant pro­ gram provides funding for townships to use for public safety operational and capital expenditures. Weersing said the new public safety revenue should add about $81,000 to the township budget. Though, the over­ all net revenue-sharing loss from origi­ nal projections will be about $56,000. If the current projections hold up, he added Gaines Township's numbers could actually surpass the 2025 ap­ proved budget for revenue sharing by around $33,000. While working to finalize budget plans, township officials are expect­ ing the arrival of a new $1.7 million platform fire truck from Wisconsin­ based Pierce Manufacturing in early November. Also, Weersing said a project to in­ stall a ground-mounted water-storage tank along Patterson Avenue, about half a mile south of 68th Street, is set to go out for bids. Some officials have estimated it will cost more than $5 million to build the tank and install the I'* (F «' it James Gemmell ejbf 'I*"- i 11 r t X I I I ✓ { ( » 1 «eiM <e 3-* '■# « & *» <> >* k 'ir‘ * I - »r u ' * IT % K r I f 1 ii I V f f 1 r 9380 - DIVISION a J • Vu * I 5 5t«’^ > •• » ^'1 IT M ! t I A view of the ground-mounted water tank on Division Avenue, south of 92nd Street, in Byron Township, that is used by Byron and Gaines townships. Photo .«»< ctf*. S*! J r * t f. , A> v*; ■V • V I ' I • B I; 'A I 1/t I !f i 9 I system might cost more than $20 mil­ lion. “We have a water tank that we have to build,” Gaines Township Trustee Tim Haagsma said at the board’s Oct. 13 meeting. “That project is going to be minor in price compared to the second water connection that is desperately needed and is the next thing that the Sewer and Water Committee engineer is working on. “Tve said this before, that that’s go­ ing to be significant in cost,” he added. “We need to have the money available to do that. Once we do that, that (water and sewer) fund may be lower than I think we would like.” Officials are also having to look at addressing aging infrastructure, with more than 214 miles of underground water mains in Byron and Gaines townships, “We have infrastructure that’s in the ground that’s older than 50 years, and See BUDGET on 8 t h »; * 1 'T' e 4 by James Gemmell connecting pipelines. TTe water tank will have a capacity of 2-milIion gallons and will be paid through Gaines Township’s water fttnd, while the cost of the 40-foot-wide tank will be evenly split between Byron and Gaines townships. They received a notification from the City of Wyoming in the summer of 2024 that the Byron-Gaines Utility Authority (BGUA) must increase its water-storage capacity. The BGUA is jointly run by both townships and operates the water and sewer systems for both municipalities. Gaines has only one connection to the Wyoming water system and there has been a long-running concern among some township officials about a potential break in that connection at some point in time. That could leave a large portion of the township without a public water supply. Officials have also stated a second connection with the Wyoming water f • > b •t ' I I' '5-’ I *1 \ f . I* « mFiC I l‘' >» ) <«1 3 * ...t? my lit I I J .. ,r- a ff ♦/< •• V r l» nt ATI 1 I* S£^ J Vf M 1 •^1 ri --5 9 a A ■t?k *Kk.’ ’''ii': M > ■'<3- OT idJ 3 * J ? *1 1^’. 'BP! 'j (J I xJf c k I V> .4 M Jb... r 1 Ts iW- I f S . r * ' I I I < fMU: I I . . .u. w '■na t bc-*: aB.« i1^ jMn I •h / B Editor: Molly Macleod I .1 I Group mmacleod@mihomepaper.com Sports: Brett Bremer 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com bbremer@mihomepaper.com Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher I i 1 f J Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com i PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper » Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the .U.S. AH advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N. M-43 Hwy.. Hastings. MI 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser's order. ( ’ I \ I I .1 i X Mb...' 1 ■«W"H I• 1. r : .M ff iV I « k I B M 1 I f •V . J >'*'9 M. ■■A.&-.L -L-* I *9 {'I ‘ • i : iJ^>T WjJ aJ » J5>1 0 1st f i f ISl t k THE SUN AND NEWS The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 *. J '•»b ». PUBLISHED BY io J ‘ f'T' « I CONTACT US w My '•f I .^r i i I 1 I j * s VI ' HtiU KVftC 4^: t rT’i :RS f -^r r .b �4 www.sunandnews.com i 4 X , ... .■ --- ---------------------------- --------------- L 1 if jX J ' I O) I f. ■J i ! . i J e iv I f il' rrrqu I > :ni boUBJ2fn /bbiv/ iiqnorfJ to bno !I 'I' J .• ,w 'iJfign u?* oiaxL J ''.oioiJoylil ii // 1: go.- ’ ■'ol ba. ig cbn^j jJO qifiifKViiik Ui I I ■< . noif Y ft •» h - Vi’s •’ *4 -\ » J • * w I *>ru J'. ru - » I '1J Si *1' * *h' * I _I ^':r» >-4, . I t r- t r h ■Ji J V* n3n- r » X ‘Jx. '• 1 » ‘•w . f Vii.- , rti, I. \: .<d p •/t'. Ilk .-J ,I k. ■ M R << ! >,. J 4 >«• in I <4 I J * n t •< I * . ' • *1 t r t? »' • I •J H <1K !■' S 1- L I " ' FJJ 1... 4 f ’ I t I 1 ►' I ‘7^ 3tk I I IH. \ , I »» ' arf h7 I •*? 4 km I 4 f t . I * • I ’ i ’•*>4 A .1 1 aH /I 111 I 1 ♦ I 1 •«* i I • I ■ i... 4.1:’ I* ? R(t J • w « . I. f ■ <■ '1 ifl > Itk i -J I. 1 yji I n f u. j* 4 iN'*J V J i i ^•1 I a <** uniT f I 1 U ' f -t*'. r- • ft 4 • •. : , I James Gemmell Contributing Writer Nearly every municipality in Michi­ gan will have to replace its voting equipment sooner than later, as the optical scan voting machines that were widely installed in 2017 approach the endoftheirprojected 10-yearlifespans. So right now, the (state) Bureau of Elections in Lansing is going through and looking at what equipment they will be endorsing,” Gaines Charter Township Clerk Michael Brew said. “They’re going through tests of elec­ tion equipment. They’re putting it through rigorous testing, making sure that it accomplishes what they want to accomplish - its accuracy, all the rest of that stuff.” Many vendors of voting equipment are seeking the endorsement of the Bureau of Elections. The state has already started secur­ ing new equipment, which comes with advanced data encryption. And state officials say they’re expecting new contracts for voting systems to be finalized soon. Several municipalities already are asking the state to help fund the up­ grades. Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus Lyons said it is not certain when the state Bureau of Elections will begin the next round of election-equipment purchasing. But to be ready, our messages to the cities and townships since 2017 have been to encourage the saving of dol­ lars for the next purchase, as it is not anticipated that federal dollars will be available,” she said. The recently approved state 2026 budget reportedly allocates $28.6 mil lion for election administration and services. That includes $9.6 million to strengthen election security, with equipment upgrades and cybersecurity testing included in that funding. In September, the U.S. Election As­ sistance Commission announced that it had awarded $15 million in federal funding to states for election adminis­ tration and security. The grant money includes a 20% match that states must make available within two years after it is disbursed. Michigan was awarded $272,272 with a required match amount of $54,545. On Oct. 9, the Toronto-based election vendor Dominion Voting Systems was sold to Liberty Vote, based in St. Louis, Mo. Dominion’s election equipment was used in 27 states last year. Municipalities throughout Kent County have used Dominion Voting Systems equipment since the fall of 2017. Michigan voters still marked paper ballots, and the Dominion ma­ chines tabulated them electronically. That produced a paper trail for manual recounts and audits. “The current voting equipment used in Kent County was purchased and implemented in 2017 on a 10-year contract,” Posthumus Lyons said. “While the current contract is coming up on its 10th year, our equipment is not at the end of its lifespan. The certifica­ tion remains valid, and all equipment is well-maintained and tested for accu­ racy prior to each election,” she added. Two I questions will appear on the Nov. 4 general election ballot in Gaines Township. One is for a 10-year renewal of a regional enhancement millage of 0.9 mills in the Kent Intermediate School District. The other is a new $110 million bond proposal in the Byron Center Public Schools. HIKE The CNC, with 533 members, is responsible for 120 miles of the NCT as it travels through Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Barry counties. Monthly hikes are open to anyone and monthly workdays that help maintain the quality of the trail are done most months. More information may be found online at the NCTA website, north­ country trai 1 .org/. Continued from Page 1 I 11 I I I I < I I UOHO; ’ I J .• I .I / I I V r 44 < I * I i I?!' 1 I I ■ w4Al i / ’ Wt * } d » h w VOTE VOTE If See ELECTION on 6 The Nov. 4 general election is fast approaching. Photo by James Gemmell Mb < • ”I 1 Brew said he is not anticipating a big voter turnout for the off-year election. Just like in May, it probably will be a slower election,” he said. ‘‘We’re noticing that the absentee ballots are very, very slow in coming in. But it may be that, nearer to the date of the election we’ll get a big influx of ab­ sentee ballots.” n t MMOiUllMffmi )CS UtSUfHGIW sr. • MlPiXMll M K)}) ocimce dL -> l-^lI k 1^1 Ml* g w- Cl 9:3^, i ,z(); I ( I J I I road was a big win for all hikers,” Norton said. “This message was heard from all the speakers.” Longman added the new section of trail “opens up a great opportunity for Middleville” to attract more hikers to local restaurants, shops and area busi­ nesses in the downtown area. « Wto IB 11 JSr V I -^1 -cl e 1 7?-’ i*^E <r • 9^^ *►. er- z ** Mr- OCTOBER 3 rJ 6-8PM . is V.'- Free INDODR Trick er Treating fbcmiddleville.REt k/ .0 f ft ■-*' H—* I s-gMix Fil ■ cT V cntw. • ft 1^-' h «• p. r I k •r •• * The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. “If you happen to arrive right at 8 p.m., you’ll still be able to stand in line and vote. But anybody after 8 o’clock, we have to cut it off,” Brew said. Absentee ballots can be turned in until 8 p.m. that evening. “At that point, we have to lock the drop boxes and they would no longer be accepted,” Brew said. I ••n ft I vIBli 3 1 A MEI npmmv I Saturday, October 25, 2025 Group I I _ a SUN AND NEWS Officials prepare for election, voting equipment changes > li«Mn T':,rWr’gr Jiunr ///zo THE FIRST 5215 N M-37 Hwy. BAPTIST Middleville �Saturday, October 25, 2025 4 the sun and news i VKW Group www.sunarxlnews.com -f 12ci * Obituaries Thomas David Fischer Thomas David Fischer, born January 6, 1945, passed away peacefully on October 18. 2025 at the age of 81. Tom was born in Holland, Ml. grew up in Caledonia and later retired with his wife Carolyn in Northport. Thomas was preceded in death by his wife Carolyn in February 2024. They were married for 58 years. Tom is survived by his son, Vincent (Michelle) Fischer; daughter, Lisa (Steve) Kent; grandchildren, Brady (Christina) Fischer, Hailey (Jeff) VanDuyn, Hillary (Rick) Blain, Austin (Laura) Fischer, Andrew (Lauren) Kent; great grandchildren, Olivia, Kenzie, Mia, Wesley, Cason, Kingsley, Kartor, Letty, Boston, Woodrow and baby Fischer expected in February. Tom is survived by his sisters, Judy VanderKolk and Connie Lynch, brothers and sisters-in-iaw. and many nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his parents. Warren and Thea Fischer; grandson. Trent; sister, Kathy (Tom) Tolan and brother, David (Melissa) Fischer, Tom was an excavator for many years in Caledonia and surrounding areas; he owned a lawn and garden store by Gun Lake and later raised buffalo. which he truly enjoyed. Tom loved animals and the outdoors. Tom brought his family and friends on many adventures with his business ventures and * i LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH cornerstonechurch Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM 12kQ 68th Street SE. Caledonia 250 Vine Street ll 616-891-8669 k Good Shepherd I Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM k (« Pastor: Rob Wurst 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass. 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com 4 J Lives!ream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY ri HOLY FAMILY 3/CATHOLIC CHURCH 9:30 a.m. . 1^ •w- 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship if Ill 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend Rev. Robert Mayo, Interim Pastor www.alaskabaptl8t.org K4'S Ar' ■ Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Service Times Middleville CHURCH Caledonia Location w 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:16 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location as 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9:30am & 11:0(^m 20 state Street. Middleville. Ml t www creative, fun-loving mind. Tom and Carolyn touched many people with their compassion and their willingness to help others. Tom enjoyed entertaining friends, dancing and mostly being with his family. Tom helped create so many great memories that his family and friends will cherish forever. Tom was a wonderful example of hard work, unconditional love, resilience, responsibility, integrity, true love and kindness. Tom wrote his own story right until the end! The family would like to thank the people who worked at Woodlawn Meadows where Tom was a resident for the last several months of his life. They took wonderful care of him and showed great compassion towards him, along with Interim Home Care and Hospice who lovingly cared for him when he needed it most, A private family graveside service will take place on October 27. 2025. J I rtlS Church: Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for infonnation. (269) 795-2391 GAPEACE CHURCH Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. LT V: • PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, Ml 49333 peacechurch.ee @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 u'WM.stpaulcaledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church 8900 Road A I I i .•1^ I E ; 1 4 AI 1 ! ■r ' ■ i j ( I 4 I?-/’’ I ::r CO' I.' T. I -A’’ . .« o 'l ..ft. !»• V T I AI 9 I' > 41 « 2 A 4 i*r I I J I , .1/’ 4 '' "T* 'IS--' 1 t I * f f»> ; 'A ■ I .(I* * v»WR , ( M AAfi r ~ 4 'V I 4 •r* 4 ..rjr' .H ,1 .r I IV I ft fl I 1 «»* b' • ■ I* I c {& ? 1^ J* />*« i > - :1 • I A I 4 J w 'I* «« «»■ '•rrM J ,1* ' vi. fSF>i^ 4 5i« t t « R* 1 / LI 4 a ; vyif] O u:;AT*q dO j^9W n M.); •* ? • 1* c ^rlv:.A * a * I ; '> • a*-*- r i t 1 w* >• I ^4 J J « — - BS’t, I 4 I I I i1 J I T J , / t • X 'll The Oct. 20 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary's report. There are now two fish in the fishtoowt. Perimenopause is the beginning of the end of a women's reproductive years and comes with a lot of hormonal changes. During that time, women notice shifts in mood, sleep and weight. Muscle mass lessens with age. \A<hich slows metabolism. Less energy to function occurs. Unless we do strength training or physical activity, we \MII gain weight. Once estrogen lessens, \A4iere fat is stored changes. We tend to accumulate it around the waist instead of the hips or thighs, >Azhich in turn is linked to higher insulin, type 2 diabetes or heart disease. To manage weight during this time, keep moving. Even a little helps. Eat to feel good and fuel the body. Focus on sleep and stress. Ask for help \A4ien symptoms become overwhelming. Menopause is not the end of anything— just a new beginning. Chapter members continued the contest by filling in one dot for each one-tenth of a pound lost. Virginia lost the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, 4 1 1, w MIDDLEVILLE TOPS 546 ..AJ I ■n" Join us for our traditional yet casual FIRST BAPTIST A 4 4 I ' 1 ms t A. ■; •fc'J * Jrtao ■V K.,.. 5^ tm e t » I I ' *•. r J«. J J V •<« €. > •• n ' J t .JIf n ! 1 ./•I r T •'I d«b / , I »>*<< I 3i > P 4 > i -Wil? fie^ 1? 'A- f r <r* t ■ •WWfilF';'''' t- a 1 l!^ I fr I I' L! V L . 1 I mtN ^1. fj <1 1 ■'■■I r �i www.sunandnews.com If. ue THE SUN and news VIEW-^ Group Saturday, October 25, 2025 5 I J f k ¥5“ % f. cr a/* 4 Ih^ .1 Classifieds If I r J ■ 4^ Caledonia High School singers selected by the MSVMA Regional Honors Choir s Wk * k...., ■ k?b 4 * ’WK r J 9 * 1 . % % I IT > ft ft.; L< I w Sk * t Ik > < . J I • t ST •r.- . < Bftb. * 9 J. BUYING BLACK WALNUTS - Paying .130 a pound after hulling. Call 517276-0347. I I CONSTRUCTION; POLE BARNS, Siding. Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 I t j ’.Mi HANDYMAN SERVICES OFFERED, Mise, repairs, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Esti mates. 269-243-0468. CONSTRUCTION { : ' I BUSINESS SERVICES WANTED ■; !'■ I *•< 'J I I •» i «• •* £ » ■ NM I ’ T3J :i>wn 'M<91SO I > PAINTING -i •M PAINTING: LET 30 YEARS experi­ ence care for your home! Interior and exterior. Booking for winter and next summer. Licensed and insured. Locally family owned and operated. Call for free estimate. Phil Johnson Painting (269)953-7877 * I t t ,. ,. I •* •U'lt I t i ■r •s. . % r f ft • HL. > ■ s s I i L . TREE SERVICE f •' 9w 1 b. U5 tC5f> . 1 T! T I ft ft. -in M'. f BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy single walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-8187793. ■ <i >i4 ) 1* 'i a : . l! » vt » ■Ci H ~. *a»fc4,’' T?J.s < •'I it h I f I to'' •« A*ft* FLYING CLUB - Lowell Flying Club is now accepting new members. For additional information: speerstra gmail.com lA J * * w MISCELLANEOUS I J 1 Iu ft • * *< nkJ.‘ I nu < u. r r J ’H T J Jr U' it MJ L ( I he 13T • t' ■ - «!oe J; ’rr? < J \\ I I c 4* •4 I ;?7 R- NEED OLD UPRIGHT Piano moved out! You move and haul, willing to pay a reasonable fee. (269)601-0116 WANTED TO BUY: Standing Timber. Conscientious timber harvester. Saw Mill Office- 517-254-4463. Family owned and operated. FIREWOOD CUT AND SPLIT hardwood available at $60 per face cord as a fundraiser for the Middleville Rotary Club. You are required to pick it up. If you are interested, call Richard Frye at 269795-5059, and he will provide you the details for pick up. Cash or check (made out to Middleville Rotary) please. \ V r V fl T I SV Congratulations are being given to 18 singers from the Caledonia High School choir program for being selected to the Michigan School Vocal Music Association Regional Honors Choir. These students auditioned and were chosen to perform with the top singers from area schools and will have the opportunity to audition for the state honors choir in December. The singers, pictured here, include (front row, from left) Ella Rigley, Lydia Shoesmith, Kat Jaquish, Alma Cortes Dias, Lilliana Klein, Charlie Scott, Addison Cook, Alister Brew, (back row) Sophie Steenwyk, Benji Rewa, Allison Malone, Caleb Parlin, Savannah Robinson, Zahara Muriithi and Malachi Hanson. Honored vocalists not pictured include Kylee Zimmerer, Derick Prichard and Parker Diemer. Courtesy photo it • Everything made from scratch FIREPLACE WOOD FOR SALE: Comes by the Rick, Cord, or truck­ load. Complete Landscaping available also! (269)818-7722 • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods A. w: . -» r-« * T* 4, > > f - F" ■ » 1 A S'* * i f 1 i -J^nCUr*. AUCTIONS 1l p POLICE AUCTrON-VIN # 1GNKRGKD3HJ342696. Monday, October 27th at 9am at Tires 2000 Middleville. "iMkkiha your life A little it su^eetet I I ;> f z ! t •"k ■'■ ■ j* *• I ( A J. ' 9 frv i 4' <• j r4'T.¥/igf!f-3 ft * 7 f 4^ 4 4 I J ' < J M Gift Certificates Availablel? Crod ^joves ')(ouf 1? * ' I W >J 4 I I __ JBM ! rSiwiMil r •v I 5 .i BAKERY & CAFE hS’ ! -z ri 4* # r.. .u OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5;30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm I I i . I* < 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 ,4... , i».' ,."v_ - .w V « .Xe ? X f* a^» » I I I I I I I I I I b ouy A ^AKelbvick, Get A FRGG cookie. f I » I R 4 . R ( ' 1 •'! I II I -I I I I •H iJ 'M ’,1 »>• ■Iu s 4 I I I \ r I I I h r I JN 9 1 4 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA / 6162751017 / SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM k* LI ’!« y* Closed» Tuesdajy-f-tiday: 7Ai^-6(>fK, C^f^rdAy: I >1 I I K. s I •i •x • 1:^ I I I 4 .- ..QI ; 5 must present coupon, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 11/29/25 i I • A ^Cleaners ckitp ffc.. W *> <a) cigar Mommas ( QUESTIONS: ASK US... F M • Flannel in 45” & 108” K • Sweet Cecily and « sa Bluebirds Nest by Moda® 4 ■» »H I ( 1 * Nt 4u j * ■* « *-*w ..f >* < L i «'— ► r I MARLIN 336CS Lever 35 Remington JM stamped $950. Remington 700, .308 cal, SPS heavy barrel 4.5x14 Burris Scope, $950. Shells for both. Both in excellent condition. 616-4857692. t * w J GUNS i r �* z^; r 6 Saturday. October 25, 2025 I 7 « 'r> Serenity Village nears completion, welcomes new board member M GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM <3 H GD WOOD PRODUCTS Family Owned & Operated SAW MILL OFFICE 517-254-4463 Conscientious Timber Harvester Wanting to Buy Standing Timber • Closed-Cell Foam Insulation • Blown-In Attic Insulation Nelson’s SPRAY FOAM,LLC Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte. Ml 48813 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today - Ltaa Spray Foam 9 ./ t- .. I t s * JpJ^..,tiAgr * * ill I® f t ••' 1 I J I I r I 3 V.: 1 I «J J •r s -* iap4 Serenjty Village, an end-ot-lile care lacility, announced recently that its location •n Barry County is nearing completion Last month, tkie facility opened its doors to the public for an open house File photo f' s> .* A' 5rt!S. it r 4 4 I * •* nt! Ji**'!^**' f^> |S0 4 V a*- * .-.iE^r\-.’ «*• 3^* J 1^ jmII I-'. Supper club hosting free sourdough workshop, plant-based dinner Nov. 2 1 P all has am ved, and a local club is offering locals an opportunity to learn how to bake homemade bread perfect for pairing with soups and other warm meals. The Hastings Healthy Living Sup­ per Club is hosting a free workshop at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2, that will teach attendees the ins and outs of baking sourdough bread. llie free workshop, which will also provide plant-based dinner for attendees, w ill be held at the Hastings Seventh-day Adventist Church. Attendees can expect to watch a demonstration by guest instructor Kasey McFarland, an expert sourdough baker McFarland will walk partici­ pants through how to make the perfect loaf while they enjoy a meal featuring vegetarian soups and > y warm sourdough bread. Participants can brow sc sourdough starter, bread and other gcxidies available for purchase. Fhc workshop and dinner are free to attend; gocxlwill donations will be accepted. Ilie dinner and workshop will be at the Hast­ ings Seventh-day Adventist C hurch, located at 904 I crry Lane, off Star School Road, in Ha.sfings. Tliosc interested in the workshop arc asked to register by Thursday, Oct. 30. to reserve a dinner plate. Organizers say spots arc filling up quickly. Participants can reserve their scats by calling or texting 269-804-9959or emailing Hhcalthylivingsupperclubfegmai 1 .com MM * “.A *•''' ■' ’ ••l r« 0 ♦ I «* 'W ! ’ A I <1 I .kt 5* * t laSs' ;• ■r* > »* t*' M J * wo < *3 sTb»®? 4m 5 If ■’"*1 r * “'««'!* ’Si®**’*’' '‘E I r * .-...la®!®!? ®' . 4»«' AT**' i.3 ►J ELECTION Continued from Page 3 Local voters may request an absentee ballot until 4 p.m. on Nov. 3. “If you haven’t received your ballot, or if you need to spoil your ballot for whatever reason, you can certainly come into the township office and we will replace your ballot,” Brew said. “Or get you a ballot ifyou haven’t received one. Or. ifyou find that you’re 8t7.Mt.043e * Laming 2M.ee7 0341 * Battle Crrnkm-irn 517.740 1333 * JadiaorWAnn Arbor arrtennamon ruBtofnefQpfnall com www.ttwantennamen com www.coRsignalpro* com going to be out of town on election day.” ITicre is no in-person early voting in Gaines Town­ ship for the November election. According to local officials, that is only required for statewide and federal elections and is left up to the discretion of local clerks on whether they would allow early in-person voting. Brew said Gaines Township is not hosting early voting due to the cost considerations. “Wc will have to do early voting next year for the statewide elections and any federal elections.” he added. CEL /a\ I SIG Kos *MI<Hii9-U-lMiN4Na|, R»lirt-ta-Foivt ViR ExtMMiMit * Hifb 4«fiaHioii •■Uoor caiMras to MMdtor yow property lo Kif sola® ® * flto i. It • r. { V-' . « 'a.,.:. ,.. siaieai-sa»=i-' W < « & I f t ip to WM’WHt: I • Farmhouse Buffets • Chests of Drawers * Fall scented Candles J »** 4^ . ■> tVe</ - hi 117 S /effman St. SuHr B, — fcoW bto?iI Y ft f i9 ''7 'f® if te * * M* m . teitekM t ’ - aww *‘'*««* ^ I 1 M Danil i«i| SUB A »L *• Behind ’Hi-- 1W I®il.iJSi 00 1 HUNT + GATHE Digital TV Antennas ’ Towers * StarLink Installs * Wireless Data Links ‘ Cellular Enhancement Systems -t«e S - - ♦- • • 4' ■ ■ X rS J • toie «■ io£L tor ‘ -'“4h I- wS f ■ ■-2& 3 *t .Saf lOam - 4pfn Ife .3r «» 4 J' •fc e L t Jf. I t I » I < t G I t* r*. ■ 4 4 I I y *i' 1 * <: ' V J £n>’ i< 4 ■»** V r 4 K «> J 1^ : J to l^t LT f V 1* M IE is*'!’’ itis .6i >' 999 I / ;rd 4 e r J J I Officials with Serenity Village, an end-of-life care facility, anrurunced that its location in Barry County is nearing completion According to a statement by Serenity Village, the news marks a milestone trrward opening its doors to serve terminally ill residents from Barry (*ounty and surrounding communities. As Serenity Village prepares to welcome its first guests, officials welcomed Fred Jacobs as the new­ est member of the organization’s board of directors. Wc arc thrilled U> have P red Jacolnjoin our board. said Stephanie Fekkes, Serenity Village chairperson. “His insight and dedication to compassionate care align perfectly with our values and vision. With construction nearly complete. Serenity Village is also launching a “Year-End Giving Campaign to help furnish the home, train volunteers and ensure operational readiness. Persons may make, secure contribution online at scrcnilybc.org or via mail to Serenity Village, P.O. Box 414, Hastings, Ml 49058-0414 For more information, individuals may also email director^/ screnitybc.org. DM ' ♦ A. 9 ( ! r 1 I? S 4« 9 <• f I 4 1 t r I t t i 4 4 s di i A I i X t I J 1 i f I < ■A ' V �4 4 V s h I t ' sb " i J • • a -A. I I iiiiMM i*i8 oniW THE SUN and news www.sunandnews.com I' : I Saturday, October 25, 2025 view-... .".P Let go of your ego and brand yourself a team player Building Brands ra '1 7 4 p jf LIGHT TRUCK PARTS BB run > rm m > HE IMS ■ MRS > sm * BK * EMS w5iV IE nw»» t s ’ 1 **♦ * r“ J > i * qiJO’rJ 1 i noie^rni 0 I f I ) -■ M) MITl Wl ' 4 ih’/bnr o J . ) f i I * ,n»;ir««ob * 'n^ •< p r*" s. 1 $ ;I J. s ‘O f At-W . -__ ♦ 1 4 I I • I L . 4 I r f* II U ■ 1.' 1 f ri ‘VI >» J •*? c < T> ; ' 1 "• r I . k ’ll*.' * t * V I W 1 1 ■ I ii 4 t < t I , AIJ<2 l ' t Ip "JPA . r Vij I . I * •a I Ju.: . ? t. • Kr (• > ‘ 1z. h I . * l) 1 ii.5 ■o L w Ml I 1 A II.-. 'I • ■ 4.8 t I > ■■ ’ T »j* : *‘*1 • • f Ai ♦ ’ ■•A'S 1 % mt > I t 4J J •- i f.. II f I 8 I I I 1 i ■’FT f ’TlUi J'P k f > . ♦ ♦ k / • ’ 4^ ar r J IM - I ; * • . -r’r - A.. LU M . i X.:’.k’.a ’ Tin ' I / KJ I /I 1 rr J L->: M' > K 4 < 1 i4 s, I I jRps.'ai J.. * II I ' * t I • s 1 * 1 . .7’ • J event was a huge success, The team at View News­ attendees had tons of fun and paper Group makes it our the nonprofit raised muchmission to give back to needed funds for their mis­ the communities we serve. sion. My faulty wig played We do this in many ways, no role. including sponsorships and I 9 I. I As I worried what to donations, which last year I 4 totaled more than $ 180,000. I wear the following week That is in addition to the I to a speaking engagement thousands of dollars of free I Emily Caswell I thought back to my failed costume. I realized that just and discounted advertising space we offer nonprofits to share as no one cared about that, no one cared their mission, promote an upcoming what I wore to the lunch meeting either. fundraiser and more. View team mem­ They cared about what I was going to bers also give of their time and talent share with them about View Newspaper by serving on area nonprofit boards, Group. In the business world appearances being active members of area service clubs and volunteering where needed (and fashion!) are important to an extent. What’s more important is that throughout the community. Giving back is a huge point of pride you are confident. But there is a big for our organization, so a few years ago difference between being confident and when I was asked by a local nonprofit having a big ego. An article from entrepreneur.com to emcee their annual fundraising event sums up those differences. “... confi­ I was happy to do so. This particular event is fun and loud dence is a requirement: It drives you to and since it’s hosted near Halloween has realize your vision, and gives you the an annual theme to encourage attendees resilience to pick yourself up when you to dress up. Of course, I dress up too. hit a roadblock. It’s having faith in your In past years I’ve been careful to pick abilities and believing in yourself. In something comfortable as I’m on stage contrast, ego is self-interested. It seeks for several hours. This year I did the approval, accolades and validation. It’s same, but my costume idea required a resistant to feedback. In life, ego can be wig. I had never worn a wig and greatly annoying to those around you. In the underestimated how wildly uncomfort­ workplace, it can break your career. able it would be. Plus, the wig would Whereas confidence is fueled by pas­ not stay in place so I was constantly sion and commitment to success, an adjusting it. After a few minutes on egocentric outlook closes your mind stage it was not looking good. As I stood to new solutions and keeps you from there gazing out at more than 200 com­ growing. The article goes on to discuss some munity supporters I thought to myself, it’s a good thing I don’t have a big ego. of the risks an inflated ego can pose to While I wished I could have executed your business, your brand and you as the costume with a bit more talent, in a business leader. Here is my take on truth I don’t really care how I looked a few of the worst offenses. If you let on stage. No one else did either. The your ego rule, you may: I I ♦*’r I 1 J • Stop listening: From the article, “Being egocentric restricts the ability to listen to other points of view and other people’s concerns. Soliciting advice be it friends, partners, from others is the best way investors or mentors to bring fresh ideas and perspectives to your business.” • Prioritize yourself over the busi­ ness: In some cases you may be the business (or least the face of it) so the two are intertwined and that’s a good thing. The article points out that the key is making sure your team members, customers and clients are still a part of the decisions you make. • Take all the credit: If you ever catch me taking sole credit for any success at View Newspaper Group, please stop me. Everything we do in this organization is fueled by our leaders and our hardworking team members. I’ve seen many people in leadership roles say things like “I came up with this campaign ” What? I don’t think so. No one works in a silo. Maybe you developed the campaign language, for example, but who inspired you, who supported you while you took time to brainstorm, who put the campaign in motion through graphic design? There is no “I” in team. • Be lame: If your ego is too big to wear an ill-fitting wig on stage in front of 200 people, you are probably a little lame. Take the work seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously. When is a time you’ve had to set your ego aside to succeed? Email me at ecasM^ell@mihomepapercom. Emily Caswell is the Brand Manager for VIEW Group, the branding division of View Newspaper Group. FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT ► 269-381-2300 5 •> f * e A USED PARTS • V’VtT* ’ USED TIRES • 1811UKE ST.. KAUUHAZOO Your local agent insures your Retirement Ask about our annuities and IRAs FAftM BVREAl/ MSiJBAf^CE* CottpaMf Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-8827 |parks@fbinsmi.co(n FamiBureaulnsiirance.com Breakfast Buffet Fundraiser Help us support veterans and community functions. Saturday, Nov. 1,2025 and the First Saturday of each month Serving 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Eggs, bacon, sausage links or patties, potatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, milk, OJ, coffee. * Menu sul^ecf to change Adults $13.00 • Children 10 & under $5.00 For more information call the Post at 616’391-1882 J M Ji. -*X. jdi^ nnir&B • Hi wu b f. r.'Hl t ri Bl 4*^ V' 1 ffh 11^ • 4 W' I .: S 5 I •r • il rl J* I •J tf I ! 1 t I I i J i 'J J, I if!r< Legal advice offered at no cost to Barry County seniors The Legal Services of South Central Michigan-Battle Creek office will con­ duct in-person interviews for legal advice and possible representation, without charge, to interested Barry County se­ niors next month, k 9 * J i i ■* « <. Those who wish to speak with an attorney should visit the Barry County Commission on Aging, 320 W. Wood­ lawn Ave. in Hastings, between 10 a.m. and noon on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Legal Services of South Central Michigan-Battle Creek office is a non­ profit organization that provides legal assistance, representation and education to low-income people in Calhoun and Branch counties and seniors in Barry, Branch, Calhoun and St. Joseph coun­ ties. The agency seeks, through its board, staff, volunteers and pro bono attorneys, to ensure that its clients are given equal access to the justice system. The ad­ vice and counsel at the senior sites are funded primarily the CareWell Services Southwest through the Michigan Bureau of Aging, Community Living, and Sup­ ports under ±e Older Americans Act of 1965. A/M Coffee Donated by 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, MI LUNCH M-TH 11 AM-8 PM; FRI 11 AM-2PM; FRI BUILD A BURGER 4-8 PM «K » 1 *• ( » «r J • ?K» * IS I i ' k I I I 1 I I }•: 11 4 jI I I ‘ '!» ('■« t Si i Hi 114 II u • • I \ I 1 i s 1 J I \ p I COFFEE Caledonia Memorial Legion Post 305 ufc * BIGGBY �> s A "atorday Octob* 25. 202S 44 BUDGET Hunters help feed those in need with record donations Mithtiean Oepwtmcnt of N»tu MT ral RrMiuric* program (xmnectmg dorxirs. wild game proccMort arid chaniKr* (o help feed ihtwc in need repcirtcdly priKCBsed 1pouiKb (if donated vmiion dunna fiscal year 2025. wbith ended Sept 10 That etfuaie* (o more thwi 56f».(MfO servings of venison and sets a new annual record for the program. whKh allows huntent to »hare (heir huvext by donat mg deer at part it i pwit i ng proceaxor, and help* distribute vcmison donation* acroM Michigaa as I very year it seems like more hunters cbfKisc to drmate their har­ vest to the program, which helps feed even more of our neighbors across the state,* said Uunters I eed Wi ing Michigan program specialist Joe Prevgrovc **1 frequently receive calls and letta> fnwn the local food pmtnes thanking the program for providing much needed protein to •a (heir cominunitien I he auccesB of what r resgrove calto “Midi an ama/mg progTi^.1 t ■a p Io dunate their harvtn^. the ukIivkSu ab who donate money tow ard pro cesung expenses, the lurdworking. dedicated procMsors. and the f ood Bank ( ouncil of Michigan wid (he i ceding America food diMnhution I networlc. Since 2(107, the pro|eram has pro V idcd more than 1 miilKm serv tngs of protein-nch venison to those in need. Ihc IJNK urges outdotx rocre- | ationists. when purchasing their licenaca or permits, to consider add­ ing a mrmetary donation to Hunters f eeding Michigan. Your confribufinn coven pro- cessing costs, turning dcmMed deer into meals.* Presgrove said. **A do- services as Wc*ve got $28 million m case they bust a pipe,* she said. nation of just $3 provides a venison as meal for over (our Michiganders. However, those reserve funds can only be spent on water and sewer. Just as the $2.3 million in building department reserves is dedicated in the township budget strictly for building. for more information about the program, visit Michigan.gov/ DM I lunlersEeedtngMichigan we need u» iruV r kuj c that wc have the money (avaiUMcir Kaagsma said Treawuror Imtw l emkc tuAod it w impcmible to knm when there might be aruMher mR)(w pipe br^ tn (>ame* lowruhip 7 h<nx It no w aj to predict it,“ die haul **We just have to respcwid when «• ft higipens as If yevu want to see a cMastrophic cost of a sewer project look « the North Kent Sewer Authority w hen they had to align miles of ppe because the bottom was all gone." I laagsma added, referring to a June 2(124 water main break that caused damage to about 200 homes. Bi^. I emke said the township has sa large rexervet" for waler and xewer feS’i WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS b 616-891-0150 a BUSINESS HOURS Monday - Friday; 0 am to 5 pm 1 •* a Residential & Commercial -Gas Furnaces -Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers * Av f Sr *4 r a IS* 1 t t K- BODY SHOP Um yc«r. I *# would fed better wndi us pnonnziixj some of these thmgs and say tr^ * Vealt Ies'* go for rt” added township clerk Michael ikew But the differmt that the etale has come ap w tih thc«r cakulatKim on whM the> *rr gomg to X. ¥ li r i ;i J J *«> I« f a 4 t * gne us m revenue sturmg scares me Brew said that (tames Townvh^ eventualh will also have to pay «u share of the cost when Kent C ount\4^ decides to purchase updated voting a f I equipment, possibly within a couple of vears as This IS SI60.000 that's going to cxwne Ota of the towmship/* he said •• W'e know that that 's coming Parks and trails are yd mother is­ sue for local officials, with lowmship Su^verv isor Bob 1 erpstra mak ing them a pnonty since tak ing office ruuu4y a y«r ago. And Parks and Jrails Ownmittee chairwoman Dana Ixhmann has been k I / < I ri ■ W-' A J: 4 Ls II I .c i premising the township hoard to approve funding for park projects. as I just don't know at this point where could realidically say, ‘Yeah, (herc’i going (o be money available for all of these things, or some of these things,* Brew' said (liven the budget uncertainty. Terpstra said he does not know which parts of the parks and traik initiatives to pursue. Weersing said there has been discussion about hiring a consultant to do a study on what is feasible. “He (would) give us some g(x>d, vi­ able ideas on the park, the landscape and w hat would fit well w here,* l>cmkc said. Trustee Rob DeWard said the board should find out w hat residents are actu * ally willing to pay for park improve menu by putting a millage request on the ballot. as If they want it, let’s find out through a millage,* he said, “lei them vote for it. lyCt them tell us how bad ihev as want it. ..'--'idl ”3 iitei J i •f *« t a S ’ ” *&**■ J < ' &' I ** 4 ( 4 1 i 2^’5 *• ;,s S5*?' . 4^ . •S 1 iiii. a i I «. - MU i >7?’^ •- wgnfiegsofssxeTeT ^s Complete Collision Repair YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. fOKShfiewsar.raie <4 S' ^’wsMed, ai IC 2K, Ymi're our friends, our famify, our neighbors. ..and mfr future. I 2» W Mdut truiWd body Shop for OYfr 32 yfart a ■>' 9{ I ■ Ja??- Yow ComnHMrtty CoMtactiiM ** i •f i Is I f I < 4 f ' Is' < I 1 ( i/ 11 4 b f 9 1 i 9 ( 9 1 t A A i I » ■ c t II ' * *1. kJFTATt Ji W 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 f I TT'- f T HEATING A AIR CONDITIONING, INC. 269-792-Z234 ■» ¥ 4 J£NN^ DEWEERDHTC.COM s ■T*i “'V Une* th«i the rewnar ahani^ WM <hc ume this vest » ’'nrn rage 8 lar)^ci> (hie Io the bunten wtw dxKiae as If t �i’ 4 I > www.sunandnews.com I I 4 7’11% SiW * fl 1*1 t I SEN. ALBERT: Despite positive steps, Michi gan’s state budget re­ mains unsustainable "I 4 h t *„ 11*," ’Hi I ■> 9 /’I* I I ’ "i i • u I ■J > ■ 'U. • 1 1 1 ( V »i. "*» nt', 'lb i « 4’ '11 ’ .. Mt , ■</ 4 i «b ■5s i I 1 *k I ) . 1 ■ir : 1 I s i 1-, k S ■ 'G j. G. ’• I f "'i, Ui r * sk tv t • ** J V ■ • ?C.! ■ i1 i : '■••du' ' ■ I Cl4 X( ■•ns. I •wi 1 4 k Vf • i( ' G' rk. ‘I «€> * I 9 m#V; t I I I' L. «Tea -< •• I k * I; •F . I ' k'. J I I r J 5 *. I njnu ., MisaL •• t I 1 k I I' .> *\ui iiaii' . i I’*; V I r 1 w< • 1 k* 1 ■. ' ihi'^ I I I ■ X. -’J '■ J k . *.:l^ 't ** w I If ;* I, ; fehife 'lack.... ) I J T* nail *1 I t t ri 4 «w n T T t ■ ••‘rj «u 4 s t * •Al Um ; r I Sv h M C.i'n I ? ',lsh »A I it X ■ : *4 »1 I . I J’. ti 1 J wr I i iJiA. Ir ir 3 i iflt'yii I 1 ) . *i«r i ; I E <*- I I™ J.•• ** I 1 s *s *• ' c nai' t)t P ■.X'. . ht-j ♦ I: r « M-tik k ( inLrrai •♦♦ • 1 ( I » I I hidl' , 'I I ; i I I t •iSiS I I ‘; 1 c I I r i r:sy< II E p $ i Uboiu..,.^ J ’t f J . .„j "-(TFi’®'' f I t I JWn'i! f *-«*♦’* ' - J ortflfi1. I i 1 ivep t « •1 I L r s- Sen. Thomas Albert It took much longer than it should have, but Michigan finally adopted a new state budget shortly after the new fiscal year began Oct. 1. There are some positives in this new budget, and I am thankful that it was adopted in a way that avoided disruption in state services. But I voted against the State Senator budget plan be­ Thomas Albert cause, overall, it is unsustainable moving forward. This structural problem began when Michigan Democrats burned through a $9 billion state budget surplus a few needlessly expanding years ago the size of state government instead of investing in infrastructure, saving money or lowering taxes. Despite Republicans’ best efforts to rein in spending, the newly approved budget relies too heavily on new taxes and tax shifts. Legislative lead­ ers already acknowledge that annual budgets in the coming years will likely be hundreds of millions of dollars short. or which would require more cuts worse, more taxes and fees — to remain balanced as required by state law. The additional investment in Michigan roads outlined in this budget — ramping up to $1.9 billion annually — is desperately needed, but it relies too heavily on tax increases and missed opportunities to capitalize on recent tax changes at the federal level. Ultimately, these costs will be passed along to Michiganders through higher prices or lost jobs. The budget deal separates or “de­ couples” Michigan from some recent changes in federal tax law, costing state businesses an estimated ^40 million more than they would otherwise have paid in the new fiscal year. Worse, it makes Michigan less competitive mov­ ing forward. Why would businesses cre­ ate new jobs here when there will be a significant tax advantage in neighboring states? A new wholesale tax on marijuana products is expected to cost business­ es and taxpayers roughly $420 million, although I highly doubt it will rise that much. The marijuana industry is already suing in an effort to block its implemen. ■ t ’ ► ’ • ' * I ' « tation. r e “qi'. ■'I L. / THE SUN AND NEWS VIEW The budget deal would allow the De­ partment of Health and Human Services to restructure an assessment on health insurance providers that raises about $650 million a year. This cost is primarily passed along to Michiganders through higher insurance premiums, and a state agency should not have that kind of authority. As part of the roads deal, local govern­ ments will miss out on an estimated $63 million in constitutional revenue sharing that helps communities pay for police, fire and other services. This reduction hits rural townships particularly hard. While I support investments in Michigan schools, this budget spends money in the same ways we always have — which is unlikely to produce better re­ sults. Michigan ranks below the national average in achievement test scores despite spending more per student than most states. This plan does not address glaring issues with chronic absenteeism and only gives lip service to cellphone distractions in schools. Would it be better to spend $200 mil­ lion on the governor’s plan to add ac­ countability and resources for failing schools or to give one-time bonuses to educators regardless of student per­ formance? Students would have been better served by leaving compensation solely to local bargaining and focusing our attention on failing schools. Unfortu­ nately, the governor’s targeted improve­ ment plan will have to wait. I also disagree with the decision to shift an additional $400 million from the K-12 School Aid Fund to universities, which again is part of funding shifts to free up money for road repairs. House Republicans deserve credit for some significant achievements as they negotiated with a Democratic-led Sen­ ate and a Democratic governor. I ap­ plaud the decision not to renew funding for the Strategic Outreach and Attrac­ tion Reserve Fund, a failed economic development program I have sought to eliminate for the past few years. New transparency requirements ul­ timately will help reduce spending on pet projects and hopefully screen out some of the undeserving recipients. The budget plan also takes a step toward reining in the size of state government by eliminating 2,000 “ghost employee” positions that, for the most part, have remained unfilled. It is difficult to craft a state budget that everyone will be happy with when po­ litical power is divided. But we cannot continue down the unsustainable path of raising taxes and making life more expensive for Michiganders. State Sen. Thomas Albert represents the 18th District, which includes Barry County and portions of Allegan, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Kent and Ionia counties. ■ Saturday, October 25, 2025 Group 4 9 SwierengA L OCTOBER 27™ - NOVEMBER ONE WEEK ONLY! 10%-50% OFF I I • BIG SAVINGS ON SPECTACULARLY BEAUTIFUL LAB-CREATED DIAMOND EARRINGS a $415 y 1 CTW. (reg $550) $525 3/4 CTW. (reg $700) $750 1 CTW. (reg $1,000) J I« $1,090 • • i • 1 1 V2 CTW. (REG $1,450) $1,500 ...2 CTW. (reg $2,000) ir fc SWIERENGA JEWELERS 9369 CHERRY VALLEY SE CALEDONIA, MI 49316 616-891-5750 SwierengaJewelers.com t �r’ ( 10 J SaiiMS^r.C LiBlb*’ ► >*• 1 jiic 1^ .'i < I r.^ I w f • • if'' ^Bb'. 'Wfc- V s r$ak I II rx*j k V- .A_A st "*«ri4 i. 1 rj< 9 e ' **■ i. nr 9 .i*; . I J *% i > r I i r a f r M « // 'I »■ AA 9.a e a < / f- i b r !>' 4 t r ft i> • . ¥ ' I S* i' < 4i -a*' i s 1 t' ■ im—r t •IJ?r <■*>» < i J 7^ ?* • • r> Youth Advisory Courx>) studer^s gathered tn costume dowrtown Saturday, soticiiing donahorw for the Barry County Humane Society Photo by Hunter McLanm Thornapple Kellogg students Katie Scobey. Chloe Yates and Meghan Skidmore raise furxJs for the Barry County Humane Society during the YAC Roof Sit on Saturday k <%- 1 11^ # «i)i lr V- ' J ’* a I ♦ • YAC Roof Sit raises $2,500 for Barry County Humane Society r* -it 9^' tl*” Slfll ^4 Hantor McLarvn Contributino Writer of Itarry County students created by the Barry Community Foundation in 1996. YAC members meet to discun com­ munity needs throughout the county, running fundraisers and tackling com­ munity service projects. YAC members also approve tens of thousands of dol- The Youth Advisory Council suc­ cessfully raised nearly $2,500 for the s l> any County Humane Society during its annual “roof sit*" Saturday. fhe YAC isa board made up entirely ntONTiat I Vh arveth Village * Ian tn grant funding to various Barry County organizations every year. This year, students chose the Barry County Humane Society because of a large and unexpected intake of cats at the shelter this year. The costs will help cover costs ftom spaying/neuter- HEATING AND COOLING <U \1i<h1li'viH« MSB MB High Efficiency nniMCE a ua HIRING NOW Carveth Village Assisted Living is seeking dedicated and professionally minded individuals to join our caregiver team. Full-time and part-time hours are available. Apply in person at 690 W Main Street, Middleville, MI 49333. 18 moffvths •300 FINANCING OR ta^rA ata, jtaaN 690 W Main Stiwl MIddIrvitU, Ml 49553 ! OFF ne asentMy iwtarsst N peM In Ml wtth essM IRByFBewSa* s rii ing. food and medicine. Although the fundraiser has been called a roof sit since ite inception, YAC students have never actually sat on a roof. For a time, they did sit on scaffolding, although that was discontinued due to safety aix) liability reasons. Now students gather downtown to raise awareness, collect donations from passersby and go door-to-door. Helton Kellogg sophomore Alyce Donley said she joined YAC after attending last year’s roof sit. The group is always accepting new members, and Donley encourages anyone interested to look them up on social media and talk to their school advisors about joining. “I came to this last year and became a part of YAC,” Donley said. “It’s a very ftin time and you can make a lot of friends here. <! < «■> ^i. 4 * u I 4 .>• tf * i r 1 fl rt I V / 4 *« - F ->1 1 rw*' f 1 bi Wu- a^taa ♦ .,I 11 a i ■' I t 1 II KJ ’» » 1 c 1 J > < 111 I I 5 P I I t I 71 j^isnsa u ( I I IN THE BUSINESS • 10 YEAR SERVICE GUARANTEE ON AU WORKMANSHIP * .•#K • WE WORK WITH All INSURANCE COMRANYS SHKRRIPF OO8LIH *« • FRIENDLY, HONEST A EXPERIENCED HAM • WIDE RANGE OF ROOFING / EXTERIOR OPTIONS • A4 rating with better business BUREAU I FULL ROOF REPLACEMENT - b You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors and our future. Must present thmMP coupon Expirets 11 «M 1 -25 M. MB BM MB M Othar producta avallabla: • FULLY LICENSED, BONDED A INSURED QIIAI IT V HiMJl ie«. ■iWOff YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR REAOERS. • lOCAl TRUSnO ROOFING COMPANY WITH 1154 Yf AR$ THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN ROOFING AM to bB cembtntb «*> any abtarotlan. Ctotoih taabKbana taa^ a^pbi I CbnMi t«4h (A todta*^ | Dotaf^ at^ to abHrnaaaa. Cu^nn fnual ba (aaaaaaad at bnta goffer Expires 10/31/25 aaara^ *-s c A 5' Call us today tor a r free IMPCCnONI^^ 260-902-4036 VISIT US ONLINE SHERRIFFGOSLIN COM/BATTLECREEK • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats andmorsf fhe 210 Cast Main Street Caledonia ! * F) ’ • ba VIEW-.^ Group n Yoor Community Connection ••4»r*,WF «... 1b at.9' >w» *We» ■ I f t I. t fT 1 T( 1; 11 d M I M A » f I 9 1 f 9 I i I 4 a A < A « ! : k 5 ' 6 ' 1 *• » f a > a T • a • fnttll hy ti ftnttf' 616-891-8900 KMSK { i i �I s y » I 1 ♦ ♦ * www.sunandnews.com Y FT Ik -I J, I *1 * • e < s Trojans to finish the day as the top team. Sparta’s win over the host Trojans was by the scores of 2624, 26-24. TK beat the Tri-Unity Christian girls 25-12, 25-17. The Trojans closed the day with a 2516, 25-14 win over the visiting Saxons. In that match with the Spartans, the TK ladies had late leads that they just couldn’t quite close out. TK had two shots at set point in the opening set before the Spar­ tans took the win. TK had a fivepoint lead at 19-14 in set number two, but the Spartans fought back to lead 20-19 and then finished off the victory. Sparta bested the Hastings Saxons 25-17, 25-19 in their match-up, and then the Spartans completed their 3-0 day with a 25-21, 25-*18 win over Tri-Unity Christia Brett Bremer Sports Editor .. ' M »lqrjEmC«r ©ft. IBfisi '(c'+r.liw '(t- » : / wrdi J. »?; t ilk'* bsuil ^rm ’>♦, .. *,>l « ' < 1 y , % e 1 4 I, * t fUf. s •» ■ I I •R •R?G A J vj»l . r. ’ g J 9^ •* tali' f ‘T H v,;4, J. T 'ki. i‘j- I •/ , r t ‘“h u. > ■St ft ’ 9 4 t, t. *0, lU I I 1 Min M '<. < •>** ’ M ba. ’ 'M w < r . . I t IM ryf 1 f J >r *. iiiV.T^' . 4 V The Thomapple Kellogg var sity volleyball team evened its OK Gold Conference record at 5-5 with a three-set win at Wyo­ ming Tuesday evening. The Trojans won by the scores of 25-17, 25-23, 25-17. TK closes the conference sea­ son in the week ahead with home matches against West Catholic Monday,and against Wayland Wednesday, Oct. 29. TK also had a home quad on the schedule for Thursday, Oct. 23. That was the second Thurs­ day in a row the Trojans filled the high school gymnasium with volleyball. Sparta swept through its three opponents at the Thornapple Kellogg Quad in Middleville Thursday, Oct. 16, pulling out two tough sets against the host 1 < A 9 1 4 I I I J I t I ’ > I z< i .-.9 • i >«■» «» I ' 1W !■» kJ..- ■ ‘4 If* ■«* I — •- "15 ^V’ ! «r > ii . >' l«M __ «. ZILS*^- > •w E E * "5^ -y ir> : Thornapple Kellogg junior Maddy Eitel steps over to pass a ball against Sparta Thursday, Oct. 16, in front of senior teammate Alexa Eden during a quad hosted by the Trojans in Middleville. Photos by Brett Bremer Sf r 1 / LEDONI 1 '.'to* ■ J € k r 1 > 1 « -r- I »> 13 < VV I* 11 •?, »t I br- —q . * '■l.u 4 fl, * ,, , b It. X V N ? SHOW -• ’I» r 1 'r , -I ?** * 1:4 ... ■H 9, s l< X-TJk ; '(I* J iai-' 1 -*o M ^k’ o 1 .-ri- .J 1I ) I « f Free Admission . f . lU f J I I if *I H 1[ II I r I ij i 1 n JUl » T k NOVEMBER 1, 2025 10AM - 3PM DUNCAN LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL / »A* •I i ) »? 9757 DUNCAN LAKE AVE, CALEDONIA, Ml l&». -■. 5 For more info visit www.inspiremenow.org or call 616-891-8117 < < » r .v5 •* t 9. f i J ) •» b !l f I I 1 1 I 11 I fl 11 ■ .4 i I' I I i l1 i I I I w I 14 < I f I * fil 1 - • iS ■l’ 1 I 4 I • ■i 1 A s h A I. \ f I I t ■■ I Thornapple Kellogg junior Reece Ritsema (11) flips an attack over the net during her team’s match against Sparta at the quad hosted by the Trojans in Middleville Thursday, Oct. 16. !• I ‘I A.,\ .., "7- I T ’T 9 » h 'i ■ &« » ? A J -f-? t1 •.I* Ss*^-‘ 11 ♦ ♦ ♦ TK girls even conference record at Wyoming, get two wins at quad . i vr Saturday, October 25, 2025 Group «■» -n—- » I THE SUN AND NEWS I �'A -I 1 A < r 1 1 w i v r i Saturday, October 25, 2025 ♦ ♦ ♦ the sun and news 1 VIEW-<w. r Group Thomapple Kellogg has as many as five regular season wins for the first time since 2018 thanks to a 22-21 win over visiting Holland Christian in OK Black Confer­ ence play Friday, Oct. 16, in Middleville. The Maroons had a 21 -10 lead with 5 .'41 to play in the third quarter, but TK rallied to get into the end zone two more times the rest of the way while shutting out the Maroon offense. Quarterback Micah Dock had a oneyard touchdown run with 18 seconds to go in the third quarter to get TK within 21 -16. The TK defense forced a three-and-out and the Trojan offense headed right back for the end zone across the first half of the fourth quarter. Zach Eldridge had one big conversion on a third-down run and another on a 25-yard pass from Dock that kept the chains moving. Debo Robinson plowed into the end zone on a 25-yard run with 6:10 to go to put TK up 22-21. A two-point pass fell incomplete, leaving the TroJ ans ’ susceptible to a Maroon game- winning field goal attempt That chance never materialized for the Maroons. They got close though. Holland Christian moved the ball for a first-and-ten at the TK 24-yard-line, but with a minute and a half to go Brekin Mcwhinney and Preston Gummo teamed up to sack Ma­ roon quarterback Will Grant. On the next play, second-and-16, TK defensive back Camden Peter intercepted a pass up the Maroon sideline to effectively seal the TK win. It was the second straight season the Trojans and Maroons have played a one-point bailgame that came down to the closing seconds. The Maroons took a one-point win in Holland a year ago. TK bounced back to win its final two games of 2024, and the Trojans moved their record 5-3 overall this season and 3-2 in tiie OK Black Conference. TK was slated to host Wyoming for the regular season finale on Friday, Oct. 24, and the Trojans will leam their MHSAA postseason fate on Sunday evening. TK went into ±e ballgame with Wyoming FAMILY GIVING TEAM r Collaboration is a Winning Approach to Teaching Philanthropy »- fr « HOMk af THS CHAMPIONS Each year the Tagg Family sits 5 around the kitchen table to discuss which non-profit • A ; programs to financially support, using their BCF Donor Advised I Fund. The children can ask j questions, play to their I strengths, and each has the Nathanl'' opportunity to choose where to Becky, Dawson, Hudson, direct a portion of the family ’ s Tyson Tagg ? n I discretionary gifts. Becky and Nathan’s goal is to teach their kids selflessness and instill the spirit of giving by blessing others. “God tells us to give generously and to do so without a grudging heart," explains Nathan, “and this experience provides a way to make giving a part of their lives as they grow into young adults and future community leaders. 1 I > ** 1 r I ***? I I 4 f« K r. 'i; f n If you want to learn more about VIABI PP creating a family fund, call Bonnie IMRIOViNO Gettys or Annie Halle at 269-945-0526, UVESI to ensure your gifts support your NITVFQUMBATiON rHElARRYCOM WWW.&ARRYCF.ORG family's hopes and dreams. I k - I 1, www.sunandnews.com 9 * 1 I B TK overcomes double digit deficit for one-point win in Black finale Brett Bremer Sports Editor »w ui £ * 0*^ T-' I i: r I « il V i 1 % a « fl ♦ 4 1 -• t. i I I 7^ 12 .3* I J a \ k 5 R- V* { 3. ♦ I [ •w* i « i < I L T Jt P ... J .3; yi* •r' I I J * u ..r. ■ i •a. I r I 1? r * M* * 4 >9 17 f- T t I Ml 1-' 1 h '■ t-" C; ■ . *r-' J 1 ♦7 4 -’f 1 t 1 -I w 3' trCW I fir ✓ Thornapple Kellogg’s Lucas Ploeg is greeted by head coach Jeff Dock as he hustles off the field during the Trojans’ 22-21 win over visiting Holland Christian Friday, Oct. 17. Photos provided <a I J • < t. ..4"- t ik> . I', ■"III*’' TT-l ''T-5k?iU .fT* 1 25± in playoff points among the Divi­ sion 3 teams in the state of Michigan. The top 32 in each of ±e MHSAA’s eight 11 -player football divisions qualify for the state postseason which begins the weekend of Oct. 31. Thomapple Kellogg led Holland Chris­ tian 7-0 last after scoring on its first posses­ sion ofthe bailgame. Abig pass from Dock to Eldridge put TK into Cougar territory, but a flag for an illegal block kept the play from being atouchdown. On the next snap. Dock lofted a 29-yard touchdown pass to Elliott Neffin the right side ofthe end zone. Mason Chivis hit the extra-point kick. The Maroons evened the score at 7-7 with two minutes to go in the first half. They startedapossessionjustbeyondmidfield after an interception. Wide receiver Simon Grotenhuis made a juggling catch in the back of the end zone on third-andgoal from the four on a pass from Grant for the touchdown, and the extra-point kick was good. A quick two-minute drive got TK as far as the Maroon seven-yard-line before the half, and Chivis booted a 27-yardfield goal to put TK in front 10-7 at the half. The Maroon charge injhe second half started when TK fumbled on the third snap of the second half. Holland Christian re­ covered at the Trojan 29-yard-line. On the very next play, Grant scrambled 29 yards to the end zone. The extra-point was good to put Holland Christian in fi'ont 14-7 two minutes into the second half. * -II’ T V J ! < • V. I 1 1 1 I *^1 lai t V 1 •p^ w 1 i .a I T‘ < k* 9 <• a 4 « ar-* 4h' 1 'h k w PSkIJ .w h * lUIL u J r.Tjj J t 4 «k^ Mik* r* V ’ '^ i •a 4»* » » l’^ T* •*» s Bp, < 3 r I 2* SiAlIl{OS2 . Mi J !feiswfeE^:$3" 1 I1 I s •• b r« i I Thornapple Kellogg senior receiver Zach Eldridge runs under a pass during the Trojans’ one-point win over visiting Holland Christian Oct. 17. k.,> .^ - ■ ' ( I < J* ♦-* till KiaM5>A'» * f »' •f »■ t I f i ^OHWi s •"’/Q 4 kt •ini i I I I iMf si J K I kSk The TK offense turned the ball over on downs at the Maroon 39 a couple minutes later, and Holland Christian added to its lead with 5:41 to go in the third quarter as Grant and Grotenhuis hooked up again. A pump fake by Grant and an out-and-up from Grotenhuis had the Maroon wideout open behind the TK defense for a 31 -yard touchdown reception. An extra-point <> * made it-2'1-10. < « I17Tr/o i: 1^. r I 4 • 1 I I 'late k ®5!0 ^sHatapL n j; 4 f I I k ' i I > t)< f % r i K ♦ { Ik-JA,' a s <^H-n)aa. r .'I !■ f ., I I 11 fl t *11 f •J �-M .I ♦ V 4* ‘ ♦ I 4* ! I B I I »w w f I * f A 1 V U-- t * I : 7. CIb 1 • f 1 ai 4 •V ♦ S I iff n I F ** 4 ■w « “As I w MT; > r -e - I B*. f ... •L * 11 *• w I 1 * J*— v ■ • -4 '•V7“ iS . • -* M J 13 ♦ lEuC..' -J" 4 If Saturday. October 25. 2025 SUN ^NCNEWS I VKW.^OraaO WWW survarxlnews com * .4 VW Rr •i Caledonia senior Codie O’Krangley shoots her tee shot from high above the green on number 17 at The Meadows in Allendale Friday, Oct. 10, during day one of the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls' Golf Finals. She shot a two-day score of 89-79-168 to place 25th in her third finals appearance. Photos by Brett Bremer O’Krangley comes roaring back on day two of D1 Golf Finals three on the par-3 numlx'r 13 and a five on the par-5 number 14. She followed up that nin of pars with her first birdie of the dav, a three on the 323-yard, par-4 number 15.O’Krangley added p;irs on 16 and 17 Ix'fore a double­ bogie on the par-four number 18, the toughest hole on the course. O’Krangley bounced kick for a par on the 418-yard. par-5 number one and then finished off her round w ith a birdie on the 343-yard, par-4 number two. She closed the day with 11 pars and two birdies. lliat stood in contrast to five pars and one birdie, on the par-4, number five during Friday's opening round. Plymouth senior Annie Flavin won the individual slate lille with a score of 71-77-148. Even the state runner-up, Macomb Dakota junior Marissa Monleilh, didn't shool as well as O’Krangley did Saturday. Monteith closed her week­ end with a 71-81-152. 11 was a tight pack in the lop ten, filled with three Northville girls. Northville See GOLF on 19 Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor It was a heck of a second dav* for Caledonia senior Codie O’Krangley as she closed out her time as a Fight­ ing Scot \arsity golfer at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls'Golf Finals over the weekend. Only seven girls shot belter than O’Krangley's 79 on day two of the DI State Finals at The Meadows, on the campus of Grand Valley State Universitv, in Allendale Saturday. An 89-79-168 over the course of the two-day, 36-hole tournament, had O’Krangley in 25th place overall. She was 19th at the DI Finals as a junior and 39th at the end of her sopho­ more season. The 168 is the lowest total score in her three Finals appearances. It was an especially stellar final ten varsity' holes for the Fighting Scots senior. She was seven over through her first eight holes during Saturday's round and then w as even for the final ten holes of the tournament. She shot four on the par-4 11th and 12th holes. She had a * .• —* 4^ t- I f-* f 'll IA I . *) 100 East Main Street Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villageofmiddleville.org » •r Ff . - v < . 1 • fli. * r b3 > 6196 Broadmoor Ava SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 Phone ei6 691 0070 Fax 616 8910430 CXlxixjNiA TCWFNSHIP I _d Jf K 1 f. *s I I II ( ( .r I . r I. I 4 w r 5 * * « » f I tit L-^ I : aI w« ...«^ I iI [ V • 1 ■ T'I [ r’ * 1 oM <> . I t ; T; Please be advised that a portion of the Paul Henry Thomapple Trail (south of Main Street) will be closed from Friday, October 31,2025 through Monday, December 1, 2025, reopening on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 The southern portion of the Paul Henry Thomapple Trail that is within the Village limits (the first one-half mile), including the first two bridges and the Mill Pond, will remain open, as well as the northern portion. NO HUNTING IS ALLOWED IN THESE AREAS w iS~ I 4 tlJ 9^ « k/ I I I e* ' 1< •b i r mW*'" ' c \* • f I I k 4-^ I Jt' ’ < { t ' i I'! NOTICE Charter Township of Caledonia Kent County, Michigan CALEDONIA CHARTER TOWNSHIP REGISTERED VOTERS ONLY PRECINCT 1 POLLING LOCATION CHANGE NOTICE *•*« t I nl PUBLIC The remaining southern portion of the trail, from the Village limits to Irving Road, crosses private property and is closed to the public during the November hunting season. Posted October 22, 2025 Rhonda Van Polen, Village Clerk NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Precinct 1 (Village) polling location has CHANGED for the upcoming Kent ISO Special Election to be held on November 4, 2025 in the Charter Township of Caledonia, Kent County, Michigan For this election ONLY, Precinct 1 registered voters will vote at Caledonia Christian Reformed Church Located at 9957 Cherry Valley Avenue SE Ave, Caledonia Ml 49316 (lower level) Ibis chaofle is for the November 4, 2025 Special Election ONLY. Precinct 1 voters will return to their prior polling location for all future elections. Questions? Please contact: Charter Township of Caledonia Clerk’s Office 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE Caledonia Ml, 49316 616-891-0070, ext. 215 4 . . J- i *• ’ I, 114 '■ «•> •: i I I J I I t I I » 'I ■ .*» I u H % I H I « 4 I s A i \ 1 4 �a j;* ) > I I 14 I Saturday, October 25, 2025 *P ^Vmi Mr* VIEW. the SUN AND NEWS ■I • ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor There have been a lot of recent sea­ sons where the Caledonia team is just a powerhouse. This wasn’t one of those from the start. The Fighting Scots grew into cham­ pions in the fall of 2025. The Caledonia High School eques­ trian team won Michigan Interscholas­ tic Horsemanship Association (MIHA) Division A and Division E champion­ ships the weekend of Oct. 9*12 at the Midland County Fairgrounds. The Division A title, in a competition of the state’s largest teams, came down to the final event with the Caledonia girls pulling out a 322 to 319.5 win over the reserve champs from Hudsonville. “It was down to the last minute,” Caledonia head coach Kim Frederick said. “We didn’t know if we were win­ ning or not until they announced our names. The last two classes Sunday morning was what pushed us up,” Frederick said. “Really it came down ♦ Group ■r www.sunandnews.com 4 f) r !• Fighting Scots add sixth and seventh MIHA state championships ♦ I ■ iwii i'll ’W I to the judges Sunday morning, who they liked better I guess.” “We were very thrown back,” she added, “because we didn’t real ly know. I mean I did my math in my head and I was hoping, but at two and a half points, I could have thought wrong. When they said it we were first in awe for a second, and then everybody just hugged each other. It was super sweet to see the team come together and be excited for each other. There were a lot of tears. A lot of excitement and happi­ ness. Coming into it a lot of the team members thought maybe we would get third place. We got first. It was won­ derful. They just didn’t expect it. It is tough competition all around. It’s just very special and means a lot.” She said it had been about five years since the Scots went into a season less certain of their ability to finish at the top of the state finals. The two state championships make it seven in the history of the Caledonia pro^am. The Fighting Scots won three straight Division A championships in • . J J a'-i I t 1 TATE . "KM MM I 1.' fF**^’* .tX' (rtr Ai *-■ 'J 'Sl V . ♦ I iX 4 IZ t ^JT 'V t X’ r? S’ kUHH ‘ A- i 7.4> -k r I A 4 * MM -*.,4 J I F MM «■»•«» p. - a 1 iwraNr-.,-" ’’io** e« I { I i ♦ < . f‘J I , 1^- «»* I V 51* b ir* » » I 9 V. > b I •t f I Aai A ‘SI V I J. X 05 a' ift I’’- > ( '^11^ ■ 5** .-•r* I » J* t «*•. •***' W< ’>1!■ ■ ?’^<L ((S'*’" MT 1^ I 9^ -^■*k 30 4 f I' ■JI ;4 > 'V .dl •r4'5'. 1 r** .*t< « S',? 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 i «r X Caledonia TCWNSHIP Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 J* 4 . . >*w -•* I t c /* w ^.1 S ±:x: •1 • I V I > -•’t. r< <T.'^ 4* f.. IV t w /> ’ • *** r .= .V' ■ b^si •' *** > SB'?** 1 i *u 1 > A • t. iteai w •X t < ,««»***■ w w* » s •*- Ila *’ S?! CALEDONIA CHARTER TOWNSHIP REGISTERED VOTERS ONLY 1 p i A < ,'h n I , t *1 .k •r b?;,: :*! >•'* “F'/i 4|«>> >» f M ♦w ' . < ( i'-J Cll» r J y Charter Township of Caledonia Kent County, Michigan »»* .u * 3^ NOTICE .^'1. « Mi £7 PUBLIC b 2^ I I 4' I. 4 •w. 4 V^*'?5 \'j^ ■t PRECINCT 6 POLLING LOCATION CHANGE NOTICE jfc ' n. k 4*? » fr*..” ** *• ;4t f •A; This change is for the November 4, 2025 Special Election ONLY. Precinct 6 voters will return to their prior polling location for all future elections. Questions? Please contact; Charter Township of Caledonia Clerk’s Office 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE Caledonia Ml, 49316 616-891-0070, ext. 215 £Si*2 T « 1 I* 9 • « I * i,^MK3S Caledonia’s Loralei DeHoek, joined by assistant Carly Vanderroest, is the Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association’s first Division E state champion. She took two first place finishes in all eight classes she competed in at the Midland County Fairgrounds Oct. 16-19. Photo provided Un^M . . J—II ml n ii 'ft"' - i' I.-* v> . £^- t ' V Gb^M ! SsI toi Lss '?? “ r I t 2020,2021 and2022 and finished as the reserve state champions in Division A in each of ±e past two seasons. This year, the Fighting Scots were ±e reserve champions (second place) at both their district and regional com Ml petitions. “This team was quite special, be­ cause it is a new and up and coming team with a lot of younger riders and only three seniors. We didn’t expect to win this year,” coach Frederick said. That senior trio this season included Sophie Bumis, Grace Rabbit and Nina Stiver. “They were our captains this year, and they were wonderful at it. They really took heart of keeping the team together, keeping the spirit high even I « ¥^’5*= V aW b uX f? J’r lb . 4 < *< r# .» t f 1 «- r • . See next page • t ( •ri e * s « « • * 0 * £ I £ I b ? j firn. 71 k i I / ■5 J e'X.'. ** V t I ’.J * ’J w ***^ IO. \ t I I. -., • :;k r.^ I ,w i •> I b A .1 5 wtrl i»nwuM r «lh * 3 I5 \ '. \ k*'» 1l 1 e t V‘ h • f » i 9 t> tow-’ I < 11 •--J h « Tonai f . I »M ¥ * « J Kr r For this election ONLY, Precinct 6 registered voters will vote at Alaska Baptist Church Located at 7240 68*^ Street, Caledonia Ml 49316 4 •' A* • ';■***-: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Precinct 6 polling location has CHANGED for the upcoming Kent ISD Special Election to be held on November 4, 2025 in the Charter Township of Caledonia, Kent County, Michigan 'X.. fl 5 Tf'^-^iO-Tt j^E*' ^■»r T- I I i I '*t« f > �MBs,, V « V <• M —!,.* I X wI V 1 A i ♦ ’•W * * ; -w -- t ■ I■ I t ■rtlnOG flD0^r I * 9 Continued from previous page - • * yri9<» i • 4r- f mAf! * «y < J. X f f 1 '.jwnitMu ! iftgrHcpoM ‘3^ 4 « I A '7b ; ; • < i T • ■ I if . I it -f s. ' rUOlb I I**. u I' aerir vJ'zbilltMiit ft *. ' Xu. I f '♦ 'jfrEnoFt t 'J p t A i > t r fr. Iliix n to 9(^^9010^ «Ui aoaiorl ’of < MX I 1 1.11 ob 01 wf; f! J ■ f I ' JdrdoTri .madi lb * If J OJ Vi»n .noiJilwj fl bnuoi/; '. ■> Ir / ' Mil ttr// l7^ibnt> f WMJ I I 1 J fe r U 8 14 b ^5 gnt a •4 bn/> ? 1 1 V * ‘I k I V J: 5 n^’O'j N te4l|dl?(nT, I 4 MU d > ■ .->2 i ■ Wwiftr rit 1( rib xl r ’1 I I ♦ ,- f!Bt . Jf niW t a-! (C . « tfl.. bl'I »J<ii€*8fP . 9 i f ? J / i ni ' b.82tb ri iiMfx i i > ■ oodq hw 11L 1 . 4 liS Oi f J- T -1 ’4 ;1 39rno7vd Jail ) ■bi fe' * ■ , 4^ * * < w MB t ■ ;...S iiAH n i«* itS' ■ e ^•iijiis Krl I J r 1 * < • I t 1 ( t CBElVK/«<»' M KTa^i ie* * I *• 1 T* 1 « I' I 1 i ‘ X I ■ -•Tirwfaiop®®?- •1 r 116 ■« C.k 1 h Tk. ■ Sf t■ .d* k >x ■ f• THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com l||||VTryW X '**^1 ♦ » Ik when we weren’t doing well at the beginning of the year, and doing some things other than just going to practices and meets. They did a really goodjob of keeping the team spirit alive, but they also brought in points too.” Bullock Creek was third in the Divi­ sion A competition at the finals with 269,5 points ahead of Edwardsburg 257, Wayland, 242, Howell 201, New Boston Huron 128 and South Lyon 127. That Wayland team beat out the Cale­ donia girls for the District 19 Division A championship this fall at the Barry County Fairgrounds, and bested the Fighting Scots at regionals too. “We were still learning,” Frederick said of some early season struggles. “Our horses and riders were learning how to do it, just because for a lot of them, probably half the team, it was new to them. And, it was tough com­ petition. The competition was really tough around the area.” She said it was exciting going neck and neck with Hudsonville at the finals. The top scoring classes for the Fight­ ing Scots were the Saddle Seat Pattern and Saddle Seat Equitation contests. They got 76 points in those two classes alone with 41 coming from the Saddle Seat Pattern competition on the final day of the finals. The Saddle Seat Pat­ tern and the Two-Man Relay were the two Sunday events. The Scots had one rider place first and second in the Saddle Seat Pattern class, another place first and fourth, and a third place sixth. “We do the same exact pattern the whole entire season, so it is a pattern that becomes one of the ones that we have perfected throughout the season. The riders that we slot in who do the best at it were really good. It is their main discipline usually.” Bryn Malocu, Layla Bouwens and Macy Nichols tai 1 ied those points for the Scots in the Saddle Seat Pattern class. The team tacked on nine more points in the Two-Man Relay class with the teams of Rabbitt and Bumis, Sophie Edmondson and Amelia Hodges, and Nichols and Sadie Barnes competing. “A lot of those teams, running speed was new to them too,” coach Fredrick said. “So we were also teaching horse and rider, and a couple of the riders how to do speed and it was something I i r I that they were learning as well. It was a very positive thing. We ended up doing really well on our hand-offs in the relay race. It is hard how to teach a non-speed horse what to do, and to have it all go well in a quick amount of time so you can beat people.” The Scots finished strong, but they also got off to a good start to the finals. “1 was very excited by the Western Reigning class and our showmanship, because we tend to not do very well the first day, and we did very good,” coach Frederick said. “All of our patterns went great. The judges appreciated the way we did our patterns and place as well. The girls flawlessly worked on their flying knee chances for their Western Riding class. They got those down pat, so that gave us some extra bonus points.” PUBLIC NOTICE GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS October 202S The Gaines Charter Township Board held a regular meeting on Monday, October 13, 2025, and took the following actions. 1. Reviewed the Consent Agenda 2. Approved the Meeting Agenda 3. Heard a report from Joe Whalen, Reach the For­ gotten Jail Ministry, on recent intervention training conducted for 21 staff and volunteers with opioid settlement funds 4. Discussed the management of Township Reserve funds 5. Held a Public Hearing on the proposed 2026 Operating Budget 6. Held a Public Hearing on the special assessment street light district for Thornapple Farms Phase III 7. Approved the consent agenda 8. Discussed a Zoning Text Amendment for Elec­ tronic Changeable Messaging Signs 9. Approved Thornapple Farms Phase III final plat 10. Approved the first amendment to the consent judgment for Prairie Wolf Station 11. Approved an interim construction agreement allowing Prairie Wolf Station early starts 12. Approved the new platform truck additional expenditures 13. Approved the replacement of a thermal imaging camera 14. Approved the extension of the METRO Act contract 15. Approved two utility bill relief requests 16. Discussed a proposed ordinance to amend the existing Water and Sewer Ordinance (No. 493) 17. Approved the Water and Sewer agreement for Townline Elementary 18. Discussed long range budget priorities 19. Adjourned the meeting at 9:01 p.m. A complete copy of the minutes of these meetings and any resolutions or ordinances adopted at the meeting are on file and available for review at the Gaines Charter Township office, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Michigan 49316. Ordinances, meeting schedules, meeting minutes, and other Township information are also available at www. gainestownship.org. Michael Brew Gaines Charter Township Clerk Saturday, October 25. 2025 VIEW-Group This was the first season of Division E championship competition. In Febru­ ary, the Ml HA approved the creation of Division E for riders w ith disabilities. Loralei DeHoek chose to compete in Division E this fall and beat out her competitor from Walled Lake Central 160-83 at the state finals. “She worked really hard,” coach Frederick said. “She was much happier this year. She was comfortable doing it. She nailed her patterns. Her and her new horse have become really good together.” Coach Frederick said that many of her girls showing and competing all year round really keep the program strong even in a season like this when the team took a big hit Irom last spring's graduations. NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m. THE HASTINGS BANNER Tuesday at Noon THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR REAOERS. THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon You're our friends, our family, our neighbors.. .and our future. Group mihomepaper.com Group Your Community Connection Cai^oniA 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Phone; 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 TOWNSHIP . 4’ * PUB IC NOTICE Charter Township of Caledonia Kent County, Michigan CALEDONIA CHARTER TOWNSHIP REGISTERED VOTERS ONLY PRECINCT 4 POLLING LOCATION CHANGE NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Precinct 4 polling location has CHANGED for the upcoming Kent ISD Special Election to be held on November 4, 2025 in the Charter Township of Caledonia, Kent County, Michigan For this election ONLY, Precinct 4 registered voters will vote at Lakeside Community Church Located at 6201 Whitneyville Avenue, Alto Ml 49302 This change is for the November 4, 2025 Special Election ONLY. Precinct 4 voters will return to their prior polling location for all future elections. Questions? Please contact: Charter Township of Caledonia Clerk’s Office 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE Caledonia Ml, 49316 616-891-0070, ext. 215 * i t J t I I I I I i! I 11 I! M Ml I* ii 15 I » 1 « I 4 S \ « «k ♦ e �5’>; — I A t 7 I i. 16 Saturday, October 25, 2025 the sun and news I VIEW«^ Group 9 ♦ ♦ www.sunandnews.com MISCA Meet. Kalamazoo Central senior Kiya Bowman, another state medalist from Division 1 a year ago, was second with a score of 387.80 points and Delton KelloggZHastings sophomore Aubrey Yarger, the MHSAA L.P. Division 2 diving state champion from 2024, was third with a score of 374.65 points. Gaylord swam to a winning time of 52.12 seconds in the 100-yard free­ style, an event with 71 competitors who all finished the race in less than a minute. Lake Orion senior Briana Hernandez was the runner-up in 52.91. In the 50-yard freestyle, Gaylord turned in a personal best time of 23.60 seconds. She was about half a sec­ ond behind Holland Christian junior Camryn Siegers who was the champ in 23.01. Gaylord was three tenths of a second faster Saturday in the 50 freestyle than she was when she placed sixth at the D1 State Finals last fall. Her time in the 100-yard freestyle was six hundredths ofa second faster than her former team- 1 rT rasM 4 I I CANCELED The meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 7:00 pm. \ Posted October 8, 2025 Rhonda Van Polen Village Clerk 1 wuriML S5KK-^" The Village of Middleville Downtown Development Authority (DDA) meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 5:30 pm has been The meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 5:30 pm. ' '7, / t ' ( \ r I*; 1 I ’■J » ■L'..' A* 1 •I'■-'f s ■ A twr" >• t .•isr'K' J r »I k r f^' » # ^ms> ♦• K J r .4 ’ 9 > I ■r L-:' I*. J . r ( **«» I -4 B.* V , i k B L'** cKn 4 m1 r * ft fts >> ) t I « B M M 4» 44 »■ »s • 9 O «• V « ttotofi^ ♦• IM ^»wr I- fc' •* '■'% *.>’ ■ ^4Ki ft NOK t J * au-. • i - * t 3 •z t ▼ % »— I;* r MM w u > 43^' ■'t 9 Wk J pill 1 Lit '9 s. r J t ? J . I f 4^ ▼ ▼ 'X.t ** I 'I <■ Ui « re: i' - - -* I 4 r .•A^ I *L./ fF «r .to®*** -t* » * i*zr r > * 7k^ .. ' IIJ Ijfr, I*** * * ■miSm I 'I 4 . 9 V' 3Jl« I/** r. 4 $e. to i'-^ •1. •" * •4 H!_ ^^« *«^^^^**** S .•i> «* I < W * * ' 9 -.»•• -• > '> * Ml" to • 5w ♦ > - .■.v> r-- <• 4*1?^ is * * Grand Rapids Gators junior Lydia Slagel celebrates her championship in the diving competition at the MISCA Meet in Holland over the weekend with diving coach Todd Bates. Photos provided mate Bella Trieb swam at the state finals last year to place fifth in that race. Caledonia had a good contingent competing Saturday, and Gaylord was also apart oftwo top-five relay finishes. The Fighting Scots had the team of Gaylord, Mya Vanderzwaag, Aliya Van Hofwegen and Caitlyn Morris finish second in the 200-yard medley relay at the start of the meet. They turned in a time of 1 minute 48.82 seconds to beat out Northville by five hundredths of a second for second place. Jenison raced to victory in that one with a time 100 East Main Street - Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villageofmiddleville.org CANCELED -.1 I t • »' •<<-^'< »^’4 ^.kj . .....flW''' wr » V’" f •.**: i «»** The Village oi Middleville Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 7:00 pm has been Posted October 8, 2025 Rhonda Van Polen Village Clerk 5 I 100 East Main Street ~ Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villageofmiddleville.org Ik ' w I Slagel and Gaylord score victories among state’s best at MISCA Meet Brett Bremer Sports Editor The only girl s to surpass the400-point mark at the state finals in 2024 were the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 and Division 3 state champions. Grand Rapids Gators’junior Lydia Slagel put herself on that level Friday, Oct. 17, at the MISCA Meet at the Hol­ land Community Aquatic Center. Tak­ ing on 32 ofthe state’s best high school divers, Slagel took the championship in the diving event with a new personal and team record score of406.25 points in an 11-dive competition. It was an outstanding weekend for the area girls in Holland as the Caledonia girls performed well in the pool Satur­ day too. Fighting Scot senior Sophie Gaylord won the 100-yard freestyle and finished as the runner-up in the 50-yard freestyle. Slagel was fourth at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’ Swimming and Diving Finals as a ju­ nior in 2024. She was the only girls to score more than 400 points at the 2025 1 I r f ik COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The minutes ofthe September23, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on October 14, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main Street and on the website at fmi www.viil ville.org. li of 1:45.91. The Fighting Scots had a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay with the team of Vanderzwaag, Kailey Hall, Amelia McCann and Gaylord clocking in at 1:39.22. The Caledonia team of Van Hofwe­ gen, McCann, Hall and Morris placed 21 st in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:49.01. Vanderzwaag placed 12th in that 1 OO-yard freestyle race with a time of 54.85 and she was tenth in the 100yard breaststroke in 1:08.16. A junior, she placed 13th at the state finals in the 50-yard fi-eestyle last season as a sophomore and was 26th in the prelim’s for the 100-yard breaststroke. Her time in the 100-yard breaststroke Saturday was more than a second and a halffaster than she swam in that race at the state finals last year. Caledonia had four girls in that 100yard freestyle competition. Morris was 25th in 55.64 and Van Hofwegen placed 55th in 57.41. See next page •« «< «• «• !4 rI rt > -r b ■ uh 11 4 .♦ JU- J j I 4 1 r I ’ VS*«- ■ 9f <«*»>•** G 4. •H r ■’ 1 •*' 1 I 'jm •» '*' *»* •A ----- ' - ■ 4 I * a * K , M Jt'-V?'’* J I: L ?» 1 r W 1 t; X OMW^TOr TOST 0^ X f ■.^ i T 4' -001 'jfb tK fiJflsl t K 2B nO2B98 iafii '9hl39& as I ! mlsiq sriJ ni riidS eBvrl 11**? J 3mil laH. 'jioi!zJ2B3Td b i 5 t I I I ► I t' yetnuJaK s 191» vatelz/ I ;■ ZBaid L : -f ' i«I . r \' »l oorisiaMB ! Ff I weinoM .aobtoqaa#^ I ( XiM. J « . t Ip -n^urr*/. I ■ I I t 4 Bl - • �•■ ■ * e ’W ♦ ♦ r PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE 1 * X .5 • VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP THORNAPPLE-KELLOGG SCHOOLS THORNAPPLE AREA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION (TAPRC) ♦ •** ?> 4 % * i* * * 4 t a.' ,• . S P 5 :» f t 9 • t 4 4r < - r » "Wb 4 t J < Q $> ' I V I » * i ■r > * k< a 4 I'y t J *^1 r V * It 9 »< 4. J J rjg The Thornapple Area Parks and Recreation Commission (TAPRC) has complet­ ed the process of updating its Five-Year Parks and Recreation Plan and will publish the draft Plan for public review. The Parks and Recreation Plan will be available at the following locations for at least 30 days and until the final public hearing on the plan: www.thornapple-twp.org, Thornapple Township Offices, 200 East Main Street www.villageofmiddleville.org, Middleville Village Offices, 100 East Main Street www.tkschools.org/, Thornapple Kellogg Administrative Offices, 10051 Green Lake Road k FiJ- . ?? » I '■ i J k I V (. I h ■%. > 4 I B • t * 4 y ic r f 1 Ml, t:t . T ■* 1 * ^1 k i?: I • k. rJ < k 4’) If Hi, (i /> I I «>Htt i . i ’'4J K j- I ‘ ■J •-J 1 luv; ■ , «■ . n ’ -n . , ‘0 to jlr W-'X^ ( V-: 9 * <JI •1;. . I . r •’riPik/- I Ift ■ J ’ . 1 r •t •*- J rvd'n r I * hodb t 4 I . I) * I 4»*4 1 ’J > 4 IT n r* s> <• ,n } I. I Morris added a 37th-place time of 25.59 in the 50-yard freestyle. Hall was 11th in the 50-yard freestyle in 25.78. McCann raced in the 200-yard free­ style and placed 25th in 2:00.62, and added a 53rd-place time of 1:03.93 in the 100-yard butterfly. She was a state qualifier as a freshman last year in the 200-yard freestyle. Lily Klein placed 45th in the 100yard backstroke in 1:04.36. The Caledonia team is a co-op with Lowell and South Christian girls. The Grand Rapids Gators are a co-op team w *<lf < i *• «-w« . Continued from previous page I > )■ * r> 1 4 J The Caledonia group is all smiles during the annual MISCA Meet at the Holland Aquatic Center Saturday. Senior Sophie Gaylord, (back, second from left) won the 100-yard freestyle and placed second in the 50-yard freestyle. The Caledonia team had two relay teams place among the top five and a number of other outstanding individual performances. J 91 IT )■ '•x 4 '*'5rTo o ( s r . 'jJ • *> "»< • I tc: I»UiVw, Ww I - • . i towlifeit 1 . I ';;U- X «S. I The Parks and Recreation Plan is intended to help guide improvements to rec­ reation facilities in the community. The process to develop the Plan included community input elements. Now that a draft of the Plan has been completed, the TAPRC Board is offering a public comment review period to give residents and stakeholders an opportunity to review and comment on the Plan prior to adoption. 1 t;. «- 7 » ; -wt' I ‘ • ' ;B|!!<I1I To provide written comments on the draft Recreation Plan, please mail com­ ments to TAPRC, P.O. Box 459, Middleville, Ml 49333. headed by Thomapple Kellogg which also includes student-athletes from West Michigan Aviation Academy, Hopkins and West Catholic. Slagel was the lone representatives for the Gators at the annual late-season gathering of the top varsity girls’ from across the state in Holland. Diving regionals this season are set for Nov. 13. Slagel is working to com­ pete in the MHSAA Division 1 Diving Regional in Hudsonville. Caledonia and the Grand Rapids Ga­ tors will be a part of the part of the OK Conference East Division Champion­ ships the weekend of Nov. 7-8. Each entity will be considering the adoption of the Five-Year Parks and Recre­ ation Plan at the public hearing. Public hearings on the draft Plan are scheduled as follows: Thornapple Township, December 8, 2025 @ 7pm, 200 E. Main St, Middleville Ml TK School Board, December 8, 2025 @ 7pm, TK Early Childhood Center, 3316 Bender Rd., Middleville, Ml Village of Middleville, December 16, 2025 @ 7pm, 100 E. Main St, Middleville, Ml TAPRC Board Meeting, December, 17, 2025 @ 6pm, 200 E. Main St, Mid­ dleville, Ml The draft Plan is available and may be examined by the general public at the location and websites noted above and at the public hearings. All interested persons are invited to submit their comments in person or in writing at or before the public hearings. 11 tiTwxm L 4 » ..vt.ifttjndKv'jJif '‘i^BilieiiH isdlltib f f . Ji I'- /^enfspapof Group I I The TAPRC will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed material being considered at the hearing, to individuals with disabilities upon seven (7) days' notice to the TAPRC Chair. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the TAPRC Chair at the address or telephone num­ ber listed below. \ »»5iiasRitiis I i < I ______ I j.iJ; I W^BS^ I .- .it- d if L iKiSRita® i Proud to be 1 I < I* YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTION u?Ik 4 a f r a- •M'” P.O. Box 459 Middleville, Ml 49333 (269) 795-7202 E 1 V I « M mihomepaper.com I & v r.. i ii ’I I /* • - ’f r >' • V • w* • • • t • ^ * -' • « / J ' r* t V te*'5£ ■ « k^ i tH'k w I t w �i Saturday, October 25, 2025 18 ♦ the SUM 8196 Broadmoor Ave. Sh Caledonia. Ml 49316 ♦ AND MEWS Brett Bremer Sports Editor ♦ ♦ PUBLIC HEARING ON BUDGET FOR 2026 FISCAL YEAR PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Township Board of the Charter Township of Caledonia will hold a public hearing on November 5th, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., at the Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 Broad­ moor Avenue SE, Caledonia, Michigan, to hear and consider comments regarding the proposed Township budget for the January 1,2026 through December 31,2026 fiscal year. A copy of the proposed budget is available for public inspection at the Caledonia Township Office, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE, Caledonia, Michigan, during Township business hours. The property tax millage rate($) proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. All interested persons may attend the public hearing on November 5, 2025, and be heard with respect to the proposed budget and the proposed property tax millage rate(s). This notice is given pursuant to Act 43 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1963 (Second Extra Session), as amended. wr * >• F □ 9{ (. ML' .3W— • « ..>• I ■< I e: a € kir : www.sunandnews.com I Rockford fights off visiting Scots in OK Red Conference showdown Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax: 616,891.0430 CA1££X)NIA TOWNSHIP A VIEW-^g™up I s<i^ Rockford improved to 6-2 overall this season with a 34-10 win over the 3-5 Caledonia varsity football team in Rockford Friday, Oct. 17. The Rams built a 17-0 lead in the first half before a 58-yard touchdown pass from the Fighting Scots’Andrew Hanna to Aaron Collins got their team on the scoreboard. Rockford extended its lead to 24-7 at the half and led 34-7 at the start of the fourth quarter. Capree Thomas scored on a one-yard run in the final minute of the ballgame for the Fighting Scots. The Rams rushed for 192 yards on the evening with senior quarterback Brayden Daniels carrying the ball 17 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Daniels was also 1 l-of-22 passing for 126 yards. He was intercepted once by the Scots’ Carter Berends. Fighting Scot senior quarterback An­ drew Hannah was 9-of-22 passing for 114 yards. He was intercepted twice by the Rams. Collins had three receptions for 61 yards. Tyden Schuch added three recep­ tions for 39 yards. SeniorColtonSheely wason 15 tackles for the Fighting Scots and Lincoln Senti had eight tackles. *4^ aS e«n nwcnswortt 4 Daniels scored the game’s first points on a 19-yard touchdown run four min­ utes into the bailgame. Ram defender Caden Leddy soon took a third-and-15 pass out of the hands of Hanna while pressuring him in the backfield to set up a second Ram touchdown. This time senior quarterback Luke Ahem scored on a two-yard run. The teams traded punts rom there until Ram kicker Dawson Hoekert hit a 31yard field goal to go in front 17-0. Berends picked offa deep shot from the Rams with a little less than two minutes to play in the first half, setting his team up with a chance to score before the intermission. Two snaps later, Hanna hit Collins behind the Ram defense for a touchdown. Landry Mueller was 2-for-2 on extra-point kicl^ for the Scots in the bailgame. Rockford managed to quickly go the other way for one more score before the half though. Daniels had a big scramble into Caledonia territory. He scrambled again for a seven-yard score with three seconds to go in the first half. Hayden Peoples scored on a seven­ yard run for the Rams in the third quarter, and Hoekert booted a 27-yard field goal to finish the scoring for the Rams. The Fighting Scots were set to close the 2025 season at home against Jenison Friday, Oct. 25. %• i I -IWrjMJOt IT 4.* I 1. I9 9 t fl I M ff VW* XA fl f fl I W f I Vvzw V i.« 4 J I ««/•% SL:-^ < '•e. « J t I .ii* < P J TBU.iai I ■ J-.' & i' ■ 41.01 J rati 0 -hr I r- .A T 4 f ',4ij » k I ir/ cefbun] hs 1 ft ! jasof* rr; 3 * • t I* I r » I I s .d « r. I. ' * r^LlwMfi :n^fad I IF. ri* li.J « ■’ r' rx S; I I .JlT. f J-. -• - P •J Z I 1' c 'r?Z ntMi f1’ J 4 • 'I .-kc;;''.., f;?/ 7j; .1 4 Vf)!; * «■ Jl r -. >• L 1^. ♦ 1 d V irtas*'- i- frffltr.iisjK 4 I 3 i- >*• J I I I V I I .'’0 > Jnt i I. I * 1 r. L - -* ^1 I * x.v )• a L arn’b : V ^Td 11 i I * * IP w > * 'as. ‘4f fa» *r.- u«r t 1 & c I■ «>* L I I I Scots get pair of OK Green Conference volleyball wins in Muskegon J g mnyiii I - a ' ' . d Uh/ J >■ * H!O‘ •s > b <4 { • ' < ' < L ? V I J < & .f* •v h -a1: A • #' A / Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. PRINTING BY www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity volleyball team upped its OK Green Conference record to 5-3 with wins over Mona Shores and Reeths-Puffer. The Caledonia girls knocked off the Sailors in five sets in Muskegon Thurs­ day, Oct. 16 and then headed back to Muskegon for a three-set win over the Rockets Tuesday. The Scots won by the scores of 25-13, 25-15,25-11 at Reeths-Puffer this week. Aubrey Reynolds had a team-high 13 kills against ^e Rockets. Quinn Zeigler and Lydia Bell chipped in six kills each. Zeigler also had a team-leading three blocks. Kayleigh Miersen fired eight aces for the Scots from the service line. Miersen also added 14 digs. Avery Seif led the Scots with 17 digs. Kyla Charles had eight digs and Reynolds finished with seven. Reese Stafford put up 13 assists and Charles had 11. The Caledonia girls won by the scores of 23-25, 25-21, 25-27, 25-16, 15-13 at Mona Shores Oct. 16. Reynolds had 17 kills, Charles 14 and Bell ten. Charles had ten total blocks and Kayla Briseno chipped in six. Seif led the Scots in digs with 26 and Reynolds had 25. Charles and Miersen had ten digs each. Stafford put up 30 assists and Charles 21 in the win over the Sailors. The Fighting Scots were slated to host Jenison Oct. 23 and will close out the OK Green season Tuesday, Oct. 28, at Muskegon. The Fighting Scots head to Lowell for a quad Oct. 30 to close out . the regular season *'• * ( I s at ll(.fJj((j5Ci Vy w t * St f t’ I J I X I I i' « UI I. 3 I I * >' a r f 1 ,Xj ; I J ! I f t \ !8 * 1 to a I ir L •It I SulJ jiinia . , n4a*.'> t.wUi- I H . ' -inI m Li J 4 yo 1*v.. o Ji-; A ..- •.•i «Ar LjF*! k I I* I > r I r I t r I J J .j: • • r. Ml IO'-'* ' l'' <3 r:az« r' ' i V .* ‘ ? if 1 1 Jft .* * .-?rj nr. A'»«*£iO rI 1 hkkk *»• y ^tT'rA; 4 vy r a 1 •/ '“S * 'a J C* .V «< H .**4K ' I • I' 4 ,r ' • <■• « I ..I I /I t k r i t 4 I i'. -r^r X JA ? k. < < t A < , .n» �♦ A ♦ *1 ♦ THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com VIEW, Saturday, October 25, 2025 Group ♦ 19 ♦ «*' :?c GOLF V 1 4*. .7 t f I-; ; Ti_. 1 i < *> <K' L..'R < I I •T ; * •>s' ?>«*Ji’S e. rt 9’57: ( ■‘'‘ ^^SS.' E J I I I LA I / 5> e—1^•» K> r J < •« 7 r;s t« M* * I i' liu;x Fji ,4 .s S*!’» ■ X *,rt. Ji-: :t ■ > -i' • > J d vS-., « Il. R I 4 - % r't^' 1-^ / 4^ 3 Ti -A- ' i IwW J ♦< i % eTai’. ♦y w 1* b I '**1, »*&2r L & '.BbM 1 I u I t:iw i‘ ,1 4 I# 1 > .' < I s f & rrEii idttiittbaZSS Caledonia senior Codie O’Krangley awaits a turn to putt on the number 15 green during day one of the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’ Golf Finals Oct. 17 at The Meadows in Allendale. •Virl .» 1 p tA. r < I I V. BM"** I > • 4^ V-. «' 1 • 7 *1, s n « Continued from Page 13 mA. *2; J? ' - ♦ won the team state championship with scores of 322-321-643. T^e Northville girls had the best score during each day of the competition. They were ten strokes ahead of the field after day one and extended their their lead on day two. Macomb Dakota finished as the state runner-up with a score of333-339-672 Dakota passed Okemos on day two to move into second place. The Okemos girls were third with scores of332-342674 and Rochester Adams placed fourth in the field of 18 teams with scores of 333-348-681. White Lake Lakeland was fifth in the team standings with a two-day score of 700 ahead of Portage Central 702, Grand Blanc 703, Byron Center 705, Clarkston 709 and Brighton 722 in the top ten. Northville was led by junior Naaz Gill who was fourth individually with scores of 77-77-154. Northville also had sophomores McKenzie Stevens and Cam Baker tie for seventh with overall totals of 15 8. There were two other girls tied for seventh to fill out the top ten. s. . tr L ft E PVM*^ -** k /' / 1^ X. J 4 v\> 4 1 ■■w O- L 4 \ ♦ ■■ XaJ K n< 5 ? 'A... k V. X X 1 -f-* * . t 1 &«- % % . X X K . *** wI. ■• fc % ^/4 •'?. * M V V 1 4 7« < h Caledonia senior Codie O’Krangley (right) and head coach Veronica Van Wagoner go over strategy from off the side of the fairway on number 15 during day one of the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’ Golf Finals Oct. 10 at The Meadows on the campus of Grand Valley State University in Allendale. «* i ■ A ki Ml r -•-i 4'' Sitk V ''ife \ •4 I u <9 1 J 1 ? h C^ Isii WE CONNECT COMMUNITIES I I 1 I I a > <.l.t e. ^4* »*.-4 ce '’’'ItelKjii I ■I I- 4 A.,y I rI i -\ fei'^Qifc I te J I 4 I V •». * J \ '.'J I J»E ' .?— r » bs£ I r JHisaiis < it 4SS a I r r- wiW ♦ I *12** *»* W Let us connect you to your next customer! A; *7j_ 4 *1 '..n i “) . • .X B * 5 t J I V f ' > »T «J] «> A •A’l "I *-7^ D < V 1 s ;’'j r »I M . •• 11 \ Wk - ’ 4.^ Group * -^9*7 a t !’i(:7;j]llt A. ,• A 1 A 1 s > 1f >_ •I is 't If :?ibc BS'i&T li jlrtSCt • 9 '■• i We reach more than 352,000 homes each week and know how to make the most of your advertising budget? # * J e*. 5h'-: r « I •p ■ & *. * • 11 •' ’’Wl I ■iSi I ) tr 4 « 9^ I •4< ..n r *♦* • I e .4 I 4 i’- V. 14 -1 — Schedule a consultation today Contact Advertising Director Pete Clinton 810-664-0811 • pclinton@mihomepaper.com i u.. •' Rj r b« .. a. rvT •i L: X v»' J* I /* F IWITT lu ^£.- «'* .TV < * 4 it t w7* t I I > J T -:jj< , t' [^. I •l •1 77'4 X» hJ .r it ■ 7i 7 2. : ■’Ji L 4 1 1% * '.^ >♦ i -*• ’f. V I 4^ ir t ’IM :i I > t 41 ! '1 I < .»» I I i H I I I 11 I Ir I I 1 i< J I I * 4 I . I « r 15 .» u ‘A 1 I i Q 5 1 \ s •J 1 f \ 4 I f i r 4*'**^^ r« . 4_4fe_* ■ K V v • r r< i ► F*¥'« ** •• •j’r tf �L $ 4 I t « ■ I 20 SaturtJay. October 25. 2025 f. -V wwwMnandrwwt oom '5- ir L s, / r* t f f V it * Xi.. * ? G^ 9 ^JPW’ • 4 9* k 5 . • ri' ?• * *>>u K » 9 9 < 9 9 f 19 ^'7-' > I 4 y I A* 9 *« *rz .t «Xi t ■ I i *9 / s«^: .'r»* ?< 4 «K Ku WR 4^ LI I 4^ 1 * 4 u' 4 ’W V r . > ^ .. «4^s ,4 i !M' A •I r?;' « * .L*9 1 t J J b' 4 4.'. Jr * J t «* «U I 'JlOr jl 4 ( "J» xir ~ :.z i-' .• mfr I ■ 5.^ V wWI f7^^" '. .jk > w ENROLLING NOW FOR 2026 PLANS .*• . .<w • TRUMBLE *r” ^Q\/\ QWJ « I I t Medicare t'-*; 'Jfeu i C-4L «5 H I h Jr I : I'. •' r I II e < >• Book your appointment today! 1 5. J*" * ■ ! 41 ’■ t ■ a L r^. i' ?> 1 Open enrollment runs from October 15^ - December 7^^ «> k. /f * *1 ■ t: *a M - . 4 4I-. / < •« 4 r 4 Schedule your appointment today as time slots are filling fast! T J i it t 269.213.3232 josh^trumbleagency.com www.barrycountymedicare.com 128 S. Jefferson St. Hastings, MI 49058 A, A I dnedarnsJ Josh Lamphere Medicare Specialist teiliiiawrB aiosilwM coakf ••oiij rtr bettoi Disclaimer: Ws do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-8OO-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. % * *- * *• • • - Mwilqo-nKnfio ibi f It IX A ^l.. ■ j ( t 9 4 1 I 9 r ■ •• >■ 1 ill < « 4 I r t. h * 1 s < r < r >» f 4 f � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-11-08.pdf e592c6562991de5a23b6e898e6f2a785 PDF Text Text A SALUTE TO OUR VETERANS z f. 4 viEVvr J I r OH T#r -lOV I I i 1 ilE.* : f, •1 il aril JG IIb)^ JTKxnrftcri n no naJ .VBbnoM «J iTiotfK) W£l ,33tomm nirfriv/ 38 rigifI ariJ briB .aiia no bfir/iTOJ iariabtrta Jqa>l riairlw JoooJoiq noHEr/ fans Jnarrevoni yswUEri i r. 1 1 I iBia fbuo4 'itJlcfi 9flJ fWviD*' •Vlf« >a o) vfrilea bnc vbqmoTq bataB I I ziabloriaalfiJa iln fitw slEotnurn rRncqariEtr' ad ot ftdfte ne nl uX)H 2X1 aril to ziadtnam tcril il I 1* » '•:> 'i .4 • I A '4' ‘ H I /• H O23fJ biea ir-rJioria a otnr )uq asw loofioa ft b9tfi§b8avni'SfiJ3 loorba bnK afilq-nf-TOlbfla arfl fans aldifama B ^nilB§iJ8avni IliJz art: 3^/ JjQbbs iialfiJa -. H juo'l oi gnitncKwA ¥ I i I « >1 Bi K t yJV'rtnoqrp nr; 2b as'no? 11 Classes at Thomapple Kellogg High School got off to a rough start Monday morning, Nov. 3, with a threat resulting in a “shelter-in-place” order. Though, the threat was later determined to be “not credible,” according to officials with the Barry County Sheriffs Office. According to a message by Thomapple Kellogg Schools Superintendent Rob Pouch, a student reported a threat writ­ ten on a bathroom stall at the high school at about 10:30 a.m. Monday. “Within minutes, law enforcement was contacted and arrived on site, and the high school entered a shelter-in-place protocol, which kept students in classrooms and limited hallway movement and visitors from entering the building,” Pouch stated. “Given the nature of the incident, our team acted promptly and safely to secure the building and com­ municate with all stakeholders.” In an effort to be “transparent as possible,” Pouch added that members of the TKS Board of Education and parents were notified once basic details related to the situation were confirmed. After an initial investigation by TKS and law enforcement officials, the shelter-in-place order was lifted at about noon. “A student saw the threat and reported it to die school administration,” said BCSO Undersheriff Kevin Erb. “The school was put into a shelter-in-place while law enforcement and school staff investigated the threat. It was deemed not credible and the shelter-in-place was lifted. “We are still investigating, along with the school,” Erb added. According to Pouch’s statement, the incident on Monday serves as an opportunity for families to talk with students > r fl ?• 4 I w A f •1 11 e >.T I r Ji >*** fc, 1 kJ* • «4wW I k i:' I f innsmcdl ts f ! L-nelterta I qei tnebuta s fetp mcoirlfEd jfnemeoiotne T ed of feeirlf 3}n9bij}2 EDOM cneioNEu BEaiDEMXIVr hOF3>>»0 bBLUUKf *3391 I <8338 ei©euA<lf8‘ kit bVID i n'2 bosivee 1 * jl 1 ■x. Trojans win their Publi finals ? ♦J * >:&^''iK' '> > » I 1 4 1 ♦/ 1 r £i. 11 ' * .'jkfiiwjo Joff ori OJ banirrrtateb 3f) ?.T1naf2 TJnuoJ 'fnea aril f I yrJ 3538283111B 0) snilntwoA ■ .riaurfl rioH »iabnaJnnaqi/2 J •Js... Staff Writer akjqfimof n 89Z2eI3 1 ycbnoM Jtej?; rigno i n •ttbio "03Blq-nj-Tari9ri^“ n ni p<r'’Caii^ www.sunandnews.com Dennis Mansfield I i9tnW ftsfS JiKlob □laod otfKJ bsQiton stw Jxsrmftnoo noilBgriawni IfiiJtnr nc laftA rj 33Bkf-n(-Tatl3ria oU .alBiotfto « .«> inn ifWifU all wsa Jnabttfa A" -DM r SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2025 NO. 45 Officials deem threat at TK Schools ‘not credible’ / t btsifznfiM tinnsQ _r. I « nssb zlsiaiffO ) ton' BloorlaZ 3 VOL. 147 Group Special section included with this edition > T Students at Thornapple Kellogg High School sheltered in place Monday morning after Noas usNOisna a student reported a threat written on a iviiNaaisau bathroom stall inside the high school. Law enforcement officials later determined the 9CC# liodsd 8€d8> threat to be “not credible.” File photo 1^ ‘8||!AU8dJ0 SSMU33 8CT8> IW 'BIKAUMiO ore xofl Od aivd aovisod s n \ 63 n ‘i* < f 1 Sp I TRO"^^^ s J ^Sl.- CW « J 3f— 4 I •T(fc-* I I < V ■ r Wl^ L._ I J » >1 *«• 1 « ♦ * ^rc f 4^ A w *'■ I ■ k 1 •».«. -^aa . ■f*‘ Thornapple Kellogg junior lineman Brody Hammer heads to greet Hastings senior Trapper Reigler following the Trojans’ 28-20 win over the Saxons in the MHSAA Division 3 District Semifinals inside Baum Stadium at Johnson Field in Hastings Friday, Oct. 31. TK was set to travel to Lowell Friday, Nov. 7, for its first district finals appearance since 2020. Photo by Brett Bremer about “the seriousness of making or writing threats, even as a joke or in fiustration.” Please know that the district takes every report of a threat seriously, with the safety of our students and staff as our top priority,” the superintendent stated. Pouch also warned about incorrect information that was posted, reporting that the situation at the high school occurred around 7:30 a.m. on Monday. He stated, “This information is inaccurate and refers to a completely separate incident” in downtown Middleville and was “unrelated to the school.” In his message, Pouch also thanked the district’s administrative team, staff, students and their families, as well as law enforcement, for their “calm coopera­ tion” and “continued support.” The incident at TKHS comes less than a week after staff and students at Lakewood Public Schools were told to stay home on Wednesday, Oct. 29, after the local school district closed its buildings in response to an alleged threat made late Tuesday night, Oct. 28. In a statement posted on X, MSP officials reported they were advised that a Snapchat video was circulat­ ing involving a 40-year-old male from Holt and his 17-year-old son from Sunfield. The video allegedly depicted a weapon and included statements suggest­ ing the student might take the weapon to school and cause harm to faculty. MSP officials added that a search warrant was obtained and executed at the residence Wednesday morning, resulting in the seizure of weapons and elec­ tronic devices. A report on the incident was set to be submitted to the Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office for review, MSP officials stated. And, while the subjects were not taken into custody, they were reportedly cooperating with the investigation. �4 J Saturday, November 8, 2025 2 the SUN AND NEWS TK grad awarded $100K Presidential Scholarship to EMU Middleville resident Rylee Seguin has been selected as a 2025 Presidential Scholar at Eastern Michigan University, an honor awarded to only 20 incoming students each year. The scholarship, valued at up to $100,000, covers full tuition, room, board and fees Rylee for a four-year period. In Seguin’s sophomore year at I'homapple Kellogg High School, she served on the student council and began taking dual enrollment classes at Davenport University. She also earned the AP Scholar Award and the College momwt HEATING AND COOLING High Efficiency FURNACE 6 AIR •800 •200 OFF ' 0% FOR 18 MONTHS I I I with equal payments on purchsso of a furnace IO Now through 11-15-26 I ! r ia il I 2 /) I of furnaoo and aZe FINANCING I I OR purchase > A 4’ 1 V<: •* i ♦ I xJI «k* , Must present this coupon. Expires 11-30-25 . other products available: • Water Heaters • Heal Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and morel 4• 4 f rhe company built b\ referrals fi 210 East Main Street Caledonia 616-891- ► ft I 1 t II I* VIEW 1 r www.sunandnews.com Group ff Z* ' >»Xt > HIM i Board’s Rural and SmallTown Recognition Award. A two-year member of the National Honor Society, she volunteered with blood drives, tutoring programs, and at her former martial arts school. As a senior, she dual-enrolled at Grand Rapids Community Seguin College, earning Presidential List honors for both semesters. She graduated in the top ten of her class. “I put in a lot of work to get here, and with the opportunities and connections that will come from this scholarship. I’d do it all again without question,” said Seguin. “My family and I are beyond ^teful, as we never saw a scholarship like this as a possibility. This gratitude keeps me motivated to give back to the Eastern community.” Looking ahead, Seguin is studying to become a high school science teacher through EMU’s College of Education, with the hope of sparking joy and curios ifto ity in her future students. Eastern Michigan University represen­ tatives said they are proud to announce Seguin as a participant in the 2025 Presi­ dential Scholars class. Seguin joins a dis­ tinguished class of20 incoming first-year students who have been chosen for the honor. Collectively, the cohort represents exceptional academic achievement, with an average ACT score of 28, SAT score of 1280, and a 4.11 GPA. As a secondary education major, Se­ guin said EMU is the ideal place for her to further her studies. “Sometimes, when I walk around campus, I have to pause as I remember the huge gift I was given,” she said. “Al­ though this is my first semester at Eastern, I already know this program will set me up for success. As someone navigating my freshman year, I appreciate having a strong community of people who want to see me prosper.” Eastern Michigan University * t ..■i' T 1 1 .1 / 1 w » A' 4>j ft* V* * I ft 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, .Ml 49058 Phone; 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com !• (•) ■ % A ? tI. 4b ■ I * >■ ** r ’f »- I «* - W.- ! >4 2 * ■ I I csilverman@mihomepaper.com PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper [ I r J r V s t I 4 •» / ^t'.i 91 Grand Rapids artist Nick Nortier begins painting a mural commissioned by Middleville resident Regina Bouchard this week. The mural, which should be completed in the coming weeks, will depict three sandhill cranes across the side of Bouchard’s home. Passersby will get a good view of the mural, once finished, when driving into Middleville from W. State Road. According to Bouchard, Nortier used a VR headset this week to help outline the mural. Photo by Regina Bouchard ' 4’ 1 ft 1*^ •V- . -.J* ( ■T . ti" tr»*' b'- ) t .. A - 1 • II 4 ' V < 1^. lic ss h !• 5JL * -I ,!l IF” Af JI 'i I. fl <• *•' >v> - ft bis AOI -I.... . » U «»» fr-** Voters approve Kent ISD millage Area voters passed a 10-year regional enhancement millage for schools in the Kent Intermediate School District that will reportedly provide funding for technological upgrades, improve­ ment in academic and career readiness programs and a reduction in class sizes, along with addressing other needs within impacted school districts, ac­ cording to initial results from Tuesday’s election, Nov. 4. Thomapple Kellogg Schools and Caledonia Community Schools are among the list of Kent County schools that will benefit from the millage in­ crease. Kent County voters approved the bal­ lot proposal by a margin of64,402 “yes” votes and 37,612 “no” votes, according to the Kent County Clerk’s office. The ballot measure approved by voters Tuesday renews the regional en­ hancementmillage settoexpire in 2026. According to the ballot measure, the millage will levy 0.9 mills that will gen­ erate a revenue of$3 5.6 million in 2027. The Kent County Board of Canvass­ ers are set to certify election results on Nov. 18, according to the Kent County Clerk’s office. Jl»» I ’ iHm S IK if 1 / M’ I V ff iqt J ^clotty/1( bif *1 I H .jjs-rk' ' s ♦ * S'lid'"'' .-a «*4 S 1 yr’-'u- i rO: I W r «#.*•** ^332 'X■rn : ■'1 11 • ♦ t •f •• • r 1 1 11 ** * f. iisftxn V«** r « « r !•< r ■ifb'G •: • KO >1 '•JI* .1 r .'^1 4 |pr^ I: ffC t r-r :■ ’l;ATK'«; r* f’ r/’.^ R •ft t I1. I '7K 1 I 1 I '"j llBiJ . < ’H 4 1 -Ju 7 'J g 3i» bl • T All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N, M-43 Hwy.. Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. ft™'fate iV .• mvMM ? hJ.' I S' "i’*' U I I > • a. a'a ' V V * i A IRiS I s 1 } II liMI ) ! < It* s * » I ;> k I >. 1... » I' t i,ft I I f f t 1 L i 1 f / i ! 4 I I r ft M ill 25 I *T r. > I .4 Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. t I 5I ft .:. ■' k -ifiii*-'- ■ i tl » - ij tnorf' M 1 r-5**. b .J a »• Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer “* I ‘ sfft' IV Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman 1? r K J > 1 1 ‘fc •ft* 9^* .z H* 'A *1 in.. J le -'%£& 'll' /• /________ V Group bbremer@mihomepaper.com ^*4 • 1 1' JJJ Sports: Brett Bremer I* ■t i ' 4 ,^4 PUBLISHED BY , rnmacleod@mihomepaper.com t. 4 I I I k 4. I * I I .. r 51 THE SUN AND NEWS Editor: Molly Macleod M s I The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 ✓ ' 5 4* So 1 CONTACT US .V J Mural underway in Middleville r t;* I rf ' I i • I ff- I t X * A ff f ? I I �4 3 < .-U . 1 / h -i 1 H «i I 1 THE SUN and news www.sunandnews.com 3 Saturday, November 8, 2025 Group 1 Planning Commission gives final OK for Dutton Center’s second phase I A r !W^8 s»r I r I / jU Contributing Writer (UHl ill? jT I t 4 nr 13ti James Gemmell I r• I '. * • .» / J I ; .JjHC; .J f J ” ’ •' *- h ((fl I .G ' ' I r / •. I > i > r i Ay U 1 i . r). r. J j-. J Ai-., i 2.7/ I I ITi—1 V * . <ih iflnor ■><'1 1' 1 -III '' L ' ^c! 7in I I A < I '^XwJ) k I >t 4 * ■w. I >< r> tT4 X J I * I I ri ! ♦*e<f btfke '•«.L • «.> I 7 k. jr:^U';T Jib i; •. 5j I r J I r ( I i t,.,; I Er I -r-' I I • Jl’ ,, ‘’’’iiiy IIIM I -.•»■; * < •J . 1 r 1 ! u k I J 1_ r k .1 SSii .J J ‘ •. f 1 ■ •’ • I O’-^' 'ilk'! «*>■ < 1 f I JIU I J • Cm f I I » I I M ■•►fl A. ?• iMl'l r<7 , •• *'•*. Z’ 1 .’•te’d. ‘ I * MM A ifi •vV 7 h -' I I ► -r tarte”.- r ’ 1* I r<"»Xka* f I I f I I 1h ' I I» ■j‘. .. eu I -dn e * hAb.« ''T'-TAaR* 4 L sss^ferr A f ' X f! I r. I 1 1 A( 1 ir. n V * A* r *v sA t I ^AH { * ( . K'. '?55; » 4 I L<r'’ 1 jXi < » lU I X ' <» 2*1 *T 3 1 z I , k — tv r I UA I *e I3C I I >5 X ♦» J * 3Kr I 1 * a '-r\ 1 b i 4AV 4 Ii » I I b 1 •: ►J V < <* I U . AMVtV Xa 1 4»» XCi ■s b - 0 u> i k > • e-L’ _-- __ _ This aerial view shows the boundaries of where Dutton Center will be built on 68th Street at Hanna Lake Avenue. Source: gainestownship.org r edwardjones.com/findyourrich I Member SIPC •x r : TP 5 a <* 1 I • ■ 1 M' Al 1 ii I I I I k >- 1 "A X Si *** A A s t'k I I I Jt' '•■s. J < X ind ..■« t < "l*- /\ conceptual rendering for a home in the Dutton Center subdivision. Source: gainestownship.org I I iJ* w I A* Edwardjones ’T* • A ?• >^A ,4a I ■m < ' — r"*** *«K<« T r* lb 9^'? * / you ric iXw • ■ - ■ "I :iBr I f Your financial strategy should support a life you love. Because the key to being rich is knowing what counts. Contact me today. Casey J VanEngen Hulsi 'gleaners . Pickup 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 f OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm Station Financial Advisor 6617 Crossings Dr. SE Suite 103 Grand Rapids, Ml 49508 616-281-9026 EJB-16762A-A-E-AD-1 ©2025 EDWARD D. JONES CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. AECSPAD 26821172 I ! I 1 1 I 1 I i I I !I k I J I I i »! n !'* > «4 11 J II II «i 'll J I iii I II I ih 'f‘ I ) 1 Ik -ft 1 I 1 i I I. I I I ) k I ..f V t >7. *W«U » 4W»Vi» TA 4 r •/ Sw' Ur* 4 * j I i > 4 f t t I r k £4 i ai m K Z 1\ A* 1 4d \ h- 3s r;^ > 4 5^ i 1 7 I n> t ld.l J I < Ci ^^9 I !1 ! \ Mh * 1-^ • -^1 . <» I ..rJ t I if tjffi Z' • » > n'41 - ^4 w - -a^ «* A. * a Yv >- t t «. ’ V" r** 1 9^ 57 MS4 k AtoSkvT■d "s- sTipa.' t I QUESTIONS: ASK US... r k r «•» ' .•-1^ I '( Tray for our O/ation 1 I * .U ■* J w* * > I ! .\ I «• I - i 7^ Sale ends November 30th i « r ’ < 4. (excludes sale items) I •:k s • w • •" • .. t %* Annual November Sale o o Off Fabrics X' [ :4 •■ * A i 1 1 V im a 1 » ♦ M« L0‘V; 1 1 V I k ; I k rr— " k c 68 TH f J i l^b I I w^wiwMaai« s X* Jk-x 11 I /I I * -•'^ yr feh J I » 4 V I f * I - r I r • I *• r -J 1 I I .V J* 'thW ‘ I « « I7 Officials with Michiana, a subsidiary of Allen Edwin Homes, are now set to kick off construction of the second phase of the Dutton Center mixed-use project. At its Oct. 23 meeting, the Gaines Township Planning Commission voted, 6-0, on the final approval for a nearly 30-acre condominium plan on 68th Street, near the intersection with Hanna Lake Avenue, in Dutton. One commissioner was absent. The project plan includes 51 single­ family lots in the southern section of the development, including a mix of ranch, two-story and bi-level homes, as well as infrastructure for utilities, stormwater drainage and roads. Chris Kohane, project manager with Allen Edwin Homes, reminded com­ missioners that the second phase was approved in December 2024 as a plat, but that company officials later decided to convert it to a site condominium. Preliminary approval was then ob­ tained in June. We’ve gone through all the approvals with the township engineer and the (Byron-Gaines Utility Authority),” Kohane said. “We have our approvals from the road commission, the drain commission, all our (Michigan Depart­ ment of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy) permits for water and sewer, and wetland impact.” In July, commissioners unanimously approved the final site plan for the first phase ofthe 233 -unit mixed-use Dutton Center, as part of a five-phase project that will also include some commercial development. The first phase included 37 rental townhomes in the northeast section of the parcel, plus two neigh­ borhood commercial buildings and some single-family detached homes. “I’m excited to see this one start to get going,” Gaines Community De­ velopment manager Dan Wells said. The roadways here will connect down to Thomapple Farms (subdivision) to the south. So, this is a critical piece for them to get that second point of connection to be able to start building down to Thomapple Farms.” The interconnected public roadway network between Dutton and Hanna Lake avenues will provide a second emergency access point off Dutton Avenue. Allen Edwin Homes has been build­ ing houses for the first two phases of the Thomapple Farms subdivision off Hanna Lake Avenue, between 68th and 76th streets. But Wells said construe tion won’t be completed for at least a few months yet. The final three phases of the Dut­ ton Center project call for a blend of commercial development and more multi-family housing units laid out in a way to create a type of village center. \ i �♦ I s Saturday. November 8, 2025 4 the SUN AND NEWS VIEW • ■ ■-■I.: r www.sunandnews.com Group ..... . Obituaries < k • 9' Stephen Clarence Garrett Stephen Clarence Garrett, age 88, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2025. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose warmth, humor, and steadfast love will be deeply missed by ail who knew him. Born on December 21, 1936, Stephen lived a life filled with family, kindness, and a deep commitment to education. He shared a beautiful life with his beloved wife, Deanna Belle Garrett, and together they built a home grounded in love and laughter. Stephen earned his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and went on to complete his Master of Education at Central Michigan University. His career in education began in Hastings, where he Started his teaching journey. He went on to serve as principal in the Columbia School District, later becomingassistant superintendent and then superintendent in Coleman, DeWitt, and Middleville. Throughout his decades-long career, Stephen was dedicated to making a difference in the lives of students, staff, and his community. He truly loved what he did and believed in the power of education to change lives. Stephen was also deeply involved in his •:* ALASKA BAPTIST f f”’ s2 '‘v CHURCH A Caledonia Vine Street Church Join us for our traditional yet casual I, •i worship service, in person or online, Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM cornerstonechurch Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am at 9:00 am Rev. Robert Mayo, Interim Pastor www.aleskabaptist.org 66th Street SE, Caledonia 250 Vine Street J 616-891-8669 ,ri' I r . 1 *« 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 1 I d LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY 9 4. community through the Lions Club and Rotary Club, where he continued his lifelong mission of service. Even after retirement, he was never done sharing his talents—always finding ways to lend a helping hand, offer guidance, or bring joy Su to those around him. He is lovingly remembered by his children, Stephen “Gregory” (Brenda) Garrett. Laura (James) Demorest; his grandchildren. Sarah. Molly. Gregory, and Emily; and his great-grandchildren, Ayla. Chloe. Olive, Alex, Violet. Josephine. Hayden, Dawson, and Emma: his sibling, Merita Kyler. Each of them carries a piece of his generous spirit and gentle heart. Stephen will be remembered for his steady wisdom, quiet strength, and the joy he found in family gatherings and the simple pleasures of everyday life. A celebration of Stephen’s life was held at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home in Middleville on Wednesday, Nov. 5. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Carveth Village, in honor of his giving nature and love for helping others. He will forever remain in our hearts. Please visit www.beelergores-funeral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Stephen’s family. •k' ¥ 7 I I » } r f I I -I/*.u ■.■011 3’ I < i 9 r 1 i I » ♦ ,9 * J r r X*; ► V -tW* . -’f 4 I tC I* ' I r -Yi«’ 4 t i u 4 ■ i> ! 4 J 7 i 4P u: <1 > 31 - % ■ . .. £ I Li< I * c- 4 .r I. T f I t4*c« <• I * Az ■ i . n.’-’ I • ** 4| d » .A.1' V, Ttn « 9■ •t n 5 9 « f •n .J ( z. < > * xj •* * Jf *_ir R t K • I ii>: 4* J k r . *1 L ’ ' fl* 1 . * 7* I !<}• ^3** t J ri Wi TTl I ' OP'"'' I •k It u ..f' .J' r I <tf . di ' 4; ; ‘y 11 i ■r J T ‘ I i Vi ( V FIRST BAPTIST Middleville Sunday Service ot co 10:30 AM . X! - 4 J 4 > 42 •S' SV Ill 4 t 5 t r* f' e *e ■ ' .'Ik. ' . 4 1 -y- JI ~^I Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville | FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 2^^-795-912^ CHURCH Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. •f •*> JOURNEY 9 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdJcms.googlepages.com Church: (269) 795-2391 <APEACE Considering becoming Ca±olic? Cail or see our website for information. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. M., ( PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 8:00,9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 - Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaiedonia.org THORNAPPLE VALLEY Yankee Springs Bible Church CHURCH 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 ?SS3 s 7.^ r .*r «L w NEWSPAPER silt®' DEADLINES i •*»* .^' 1 it v * • Ir 4 ADVERTISING 7 t gw*' r'» 14 < "Shining Forth God's Light Sunday Morning Worship Community Group........... James L. Collison, 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Pastor www.yankcespringsbiblechurch.org M 4K V .... < Bfc * \ f4 t - »* * ' 9 . V VV*’’ AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p,m. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS * • r** «> -I I ■: :•-■ js (ini ! kVa ’• •' ' 6#; .1 «• nti r* It ■* ( t« ■ r..^ if:' t I i ■ 91* • ■T4 daw* I >/ A** G y * V t ' ■ Monday at 5 p.m. , .i rX.» I r V u. . * BANNER w * * * 1 J < ♦ f' * * If 1 flisa i,x 4 Tuesday at Noon ■ THE Wednesday at Noon iMi: 1 4 I J 9 V nI f Wednesday at Noon NEWS « I REMINDER THE SUN AND R. •i «r THE HASTINGS ^iii^ iHginCji SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9:30ani & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville. Ml / www,tvcweb.com i •fl 1SS Saturday Evening Mass... .. 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE / J I 1 H * r » w t MHFWHI 1 I f . J .'i 1 I 14 < R& Group mihomepaper.conn rl I I wn i) liMEIEWr il 9 n ♦♦ If -C4 1 J I I ! it I t r Trr ' T I J 1 i ( 1 MIMBII I I I ■ II * "M’’- ■U I •ST'* V h 4 I 1' ♦ I I I ( I t t I < r •k 1 *•, I i I J i I L i z < �1 r 4 1 1 ♦ A . . rfl.. ) r Hr SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com ) I Saturday, November 8, 2025 VIEW.-^^croup 5 f t I I I t. r % I > i i J ’ X I 1 w. '* J J. I ■ % Freemans celebrate 50th years! kr I 't 1 7 ♦ s s » A / .A I 4 •-n-; IK f pniu * fits I -‘*6 11 •’Ui... ■ f'i" I s 1 !♦ f 4 ft . ’ I I or % f is i ’y .'•s 1 f Xz> k t 1 n ./I . 4. A ' t-Hmev ‘'a; 91quc k ■’r ■ • ! 1 * k r »•* M .L.’/ ■* 4 L ■‘'u 19) i •* • V ' 3 4 " ’ar V.J•« r K . r I .u-- « --5(^5 . •.o ’TC V PifsM * J’ f nira ) * ?1 13^: l' b'' I ► « I 9 T ■ 3 ‘ V * I >k ■« ir X 'Fl , ; 1 i mt: ' ** J '*1» 1 v t •. I I ( 1 4 4 I I 3 1b. I I • 'i:i |'’'D fT ! J I 1 I• I I J I T I I I tf/i bl q , 1 I I 1 ."'A .MJ 'J » V I. ' r< i • :iLi -'1 r .1 !I ,^£92 L > ^7 n I I I I f»5r ■L( ' ► f V I ' -J^^l i. I V<r 3. IS iilsiuls •9 ( 9 r 1 I 2 'i 'W^ A .xacj A ' J ** ' JUlftJIk’ ------- — i :* 3k . Classifieds TOPS 546 i i f L.jS 1 ♦ 1 J FA * MIDDLEVILLE I s I 1 1 I ■t r ) J L Mark and Barb Freeman will joyfully celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on November 8th, 2025. The couple was married United Caledonia at on Church Methodist November Sth, 1975 and have shared five wonderful decades of love, laughter, and memories together. Mark and Barb are proud parents of four children. Benjamin, Joel Erin (Christine) Freeman, Katie Furtwangler, (Brandon) and Mindy (Ryan) Wilson and loving grandparents to 11 grandchildren. will Freemans The celebrate their Golden Anniversary with a family trip to Hawaii in Spring 2026. Friends and family are invited to celebrate with them by sharing cards, memories, and well wishes. Mark Congratulations, and Barb, on 50 wonderful years together! The Nov. 4 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There are now two fish in the fishbowl. One fish jumped out. After last week’s meeting on meal cards, the group decided to order a set for everyone. Members spent the meeting putting each set together. Next week, members will continue the discussion on how to use the cards. Chapter members continued the contest by filling in one dot for each one-tenth of a pound lost. Maryellen lost the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. BUSINESS SERVICES FIREWOOD HANDYMAN SERVICES OFFERED. Mise, repairs, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Esti­ mates. 269-243-0468. FIREPLACE WOOD FOR SALE: Comes by the Rick, Cord, or truck­ load. Complete Landscaping available also! (269)818-7722 CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS. Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years, Tom Beard (269)838-5937 HK DESIGN INTERIORS: Interior painting, Wallpapering, Seasonal/ Holiday decorating, Room layout & Design. Local, Experienced. FaceBook @ HK Designs Interior Stylist. Contact today for information or estimates. 616.403.7949 PAINTING PAINTING: LET 30 YEARS experi­ ence care for your home! Interior and exterior. Booking for winter and next summer. Licensed and insured. Locally family owned and operated. Call for free estimate. Phil Johnson Painting (269)953-7877 Blood drive set for Nov. 11 Versiti-Blood Center of Michigan is partnering with local churches to host a blood drive at Holy Family Catholic Parish on Kraft Avenue in Cale­ donia on Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 1 to 6:30 p.m. According to organizers, the goal for the upcom­ ing blook drive is 55 pints. The blood drive is open to the public and anyone 17 or older is eligible to donate blood. Persons 16 years of age are also eligible to donate with parental permission. If interested in donating blood, persons may sign up online at versiti.org/ccc or call chairperson Char Mello at 616-901-2803. Persons interested in donating blood are encour­ aged to make an appointment is preferred, though DM walk-ins are welcome as schedule allows. AUCTIONS THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS at Caledonia A-1 Affordable Stor­ age will be sold at ON-LINE Public Auction to the highest bidder via M37 Auction.com whose business address is 9790 Cherry Valley Ave SE, Caledonia Ml 49316. ON-LINE auction to take place as follows: PreBidding/Viewing begins November 6 and auction close date of November 11,2025 for this auction in order to satisfy storage liens outstanding as of sale date. Items are pertaining to the following units and are all miscella­ neous general household & garage type items: Melinda Litts - Jacobson #62 and Heather Brubacker #114a. INTERIOR DESIGN Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-9088036, or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. Thefirst meeting is free. SEASONED HARDWOOD. $70 per face cord. Cash and Carry. Delivery extra. 269-945-7624. TRAILERS TREE SERVICE VEHICLE HAULING TRAILER 16’ droptail. Call 269-953-8274 for details. * lUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy single walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-8187793. EMPLOYMENT .* < WANTED WANTED TO BUY: Standing Timber. Conscientious timber harvester. Saw Mill Office- 517-254-4463. Family owned and operated. BARN HELP WANTED Must have experience with horses. Full and part time positions available with competi­ tive pay. Please call 269-207-4218 or email at zlpowell@yahoo.com if Interested. I I i • ’11 9 I W ’ m I i 1 1 4 •• 4 r It J I i i I J *• ■- VI •5.%9 . #1 i ,. 4 i‘ 7' Closed-Cell Foam Insulation ♦ Blown-In Attic Insulation 1 I I 1 ■ I 1 k Ii t 1'^ 1 K. I i !/ 1 a ' SPRAY FOAM,LLC Nelson Schmucker 1700 N, Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 517-983-0954 4. t f Nelsons Start Saving Today s Use Spray Foam 4 > J.'JW < • 517.646.0439* Lansing 269.967.8241 * Battle Creek/K-zoo 517.740.1533 * Jackson/Ann Arbor antennamen.customer@gmall.com www.theantennamen.com wvyw.celtsignaipros.com Cz nc ± i a a r I A ■a J Family Owned & Operated A if Digital TV Antennas * Towers * StarLink Installs Wireless Data Links * Cellular Enhancement Systems CELL SIGt (0) A PROS * I I I ! 'I I ;i I f t : ill I n I4 1 I I I 1 I; I '! 'll M ' t I SAW MILL OFFICE 517-254-4463 *Building-to-building, Conscientious Timber Harvester Wanting to Buy Standing Timber Point-to-Point WiFi Extensions ★ High definition outdoor cameras to monitor your property I r T t 1 -------- GD WOOD PRODUCTS �6 Saturday, November 8, 2025 the SUM AND MEWS I VIEW.Group INCREASE A ROAD AAAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH Your favorite financial topic r We are on an eight-step path you don’t have to potentially as we systematically fill up our take a larger financial loss. financial fuel tanks. Just as Yes, my definition of insurance I there are eight marks on your is taking a financial loss but fuel gauge for a full tank, there let me explain. are eight marks on your finan­ If someone’s house were to cial fuel gauge that indicate if burn down, do you think that you are financially healthy. most people would be able to Here’s where we have been: Zach Santmier afford to rebuild their house Step 1 - Balanced Budget; again with cash? Probably Step 2 - Give 10 Percent; Step 3 - New not, right? There were a bunch of boat Zero in Checking; and, today, we are owners in England who were having a beginning Step 4 - Adequate Insurance. similar problem. This is a true story. They Today, I'm going to discuss the subject were in a gentleman named Lloyd's cof­ you have probably been most excited fee shop, and they were sharing their about. Yes, you guessed it. I'm talking woes of losing ships and not being able about insurance! Oh, come on! Who to replace them after they sunk to the doesn't like a good lesson on deductibles bottom of the sea. They realized, as they and coverage limits? I'm obviously kidwere sitting there, that only a couple of ding. Insurance what a snooze fest! them would have this problem in a given But I promise to make it fun, and I promise year and the rest would get off scot-free to give you some good information that I — until it was their turn, at which point believe will fill in the gaps of your financial they would need to pay the piper. A light foundation that you’re working hard to lay. bulb went off, and someone suggested Here's my definition of insurance: tak­ that instead of being sunk by their lost ing a small financial loss now, so that later. ship figuratively and literally, they should www.sunandnews.com pull their money together and all agree to take a small financial loss each year so that when their year came and their ship sank, they wouldn't have to take a mas­ sive financial loss. Lloyd's coffee shop became Lloyd's of London, which is now one of the oldest insurance companies in the world. We now call these small financial losses premiums, and the same principle applies. Some people can afford to not have insurance. Those people are called "independently wealthy," and have so much money that their house burning down is no more than an accounting er­ ror. But for the rest of us, we can’t afford to not have insurance. Like the sailors, we can afford a small, consistent loss spread out over years and years, but we can’t afford the blow that a one-time catastrophe could cause us. This principle of insurance is extremely important. If you can afford the potential blow, then it’s not necessary to purchase insurance for that risk. For instance, I was in the self-checkout line not too long ago at a store which I won't disclose. As I scanned my item, an item that cost around $50, I was asked if I would like to purchase insurance protection for this item by clicking a simple button. First, not only will this item be covered on any homeowners policy or renters policy as personal property, but second, it was $50! I didn't need to purchase the protecU • Everything made from scratch tion because I can absorb the potential risk. The worst thing that could happen is I could lose $50. In this case, you can see how me being able to absorb the potential loss negates the need for insurance. But let's think about the other side of the coin. Unfortunately, I have to witness very tragic events in my insurance agency as people call us when things go bad. A couple years into my career, I received a call from a mother who had recently pur­ chased insurance through our agency. She was crying on the phone, not be­ cause her or her family were hurt, but because her daughter had accidentally hit a motorcyclist. It was dusk, she was turning left and didn't see the oncom­ ing gentleman on his motorcycle. The motorcyclist was killed instantly. And the mother was calling me as her daughter could hardly speak from what had just happened. In the months that followed, our client was sued and understandably so. The settlement was over $1,000,000 Next week, with your new understand- ' ing of insurance, I will begin helping you make good choices on what insurance to purchase and how to best purchase it. Zach Santmier is the owner of Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of the personal financial course, Increase. He focuses on helping families escape paycheck-to-paycheck living so they can freely pursue their ideal future. • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods •k t’ -I :> A ' :• • f t MiiBm I I I i A I 1 Cf t' ri Lff TT 1 I "W r ' ft . I f r-’m. 4 F 4 f V t *' I rJ I! V* I LI r 14 .• - i Liij r 4 r f I r J 1 1 i 'sTf jt I A M 5' • J I r •> •CV-' 1 >1 I 1 ft* Is '9 ■r t 1•J..L i » ^3'fih=!vy J. 10 < u a ts +. t;I ft ■> i ru A* ft I K I wrbtxx)^ 1 T» * :'4 S 1 . -. 6 ' rt^t I * ft t ' t •; r .J I J r I . i'«^r 1 i.ms" A 1 ’''•51m 4. K -I I I I- 'ii * 4 9 if $ < * « * ll^ Sr: w V VS'**'' * % u* * ■^1 iW*’ •f. — I vxA I I r LA* 4 . •I ♦ * J;; I. J & * A.‘u .ar ip' -■. > - -*5 1 4. J > I ru II ‘ A 1 I » I Jb < * **.* ’I V 11 f * <■ -V I- 'V V I . * < > ■^• •• .kV « k 7 .f-s »9 TO v; iC ** -- •h:—V. J * • • I I XI V •«x I .zau. KNOW JESUS -& MAKE HIKKNOWN M" 1^ 5 3 < ft 1 V «< AljAy L'A ' ft' I, >3W«’ <* H K I « 4 vv'r r PLACE rOUR THANKSGIVING ORDER BY NOV. 15 GET 10% OFF! > ♦ 4? X AL ■ -^■ ta n MUST PRESENT COUPON, CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS. EXPIRES 11/15/25 i_ .• I. cornerstonechurch 5»T. wi4 m* rJSlOfOUr ^sS »* «»%'• < *<♦ a; t f % BAKT'Pf A C Arc HELPING PEOPLE '1- NOW TAKING Suj^ar Momma’s Thanksgiving r ORDERS I .9 cornerstonemi.org : ft Qu^Jayf BcMoiyJ&sf: Saturday: 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA ! 616-275-1017 ! SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM £i n ■9 ilSP «. a J) * Ii 4 Lr . • i A?-' n �I I f f 7 I 1 *, tj 2 A 4 r ? v t. <• u, a LB I % 1 Group SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2025 H J I, TT’^l « *>t 1 4 ; i» 1- < X 1 '>?*. * *4 'V 1 t ti YI •% > « ■->, 4 J 'i c V«B^ 1^ <) w> •r I. '■Ik .'‘5 < % < Ui. THANKS BRAVE I 1 7 L 4 V , 1 . •> ’. A*. ’.* /♦ > k i ♦ ? 4* V ! I r s *** 4'. r 'h >4 > I A' S?• ' 4 A % «r>?^ K X k t V I A fli** A i A C' ' ^’S MH * r ! A J J *» I 9 jt> > A ’• 4 w ► fr 4 ti 1 *> 'J> t A % •• I *» <4. ’ I V ’ '^^•f ( 4^ * ( ie ► J • A jVh t ! E» *»' f eV* I '**^ •> UR VETERANS SALUTE T !»' I r 5 5 I 'rtd?? 4 I 4 iU 1 * I V ) :*2>£ t 'I I r< ' ■• w «•* > t r s. J r *? =, F r’TT ►* t i'i f ' ! /' I L:ys < C' W -• ^*5'. <« «u *.v T•> • « t z « I > •J t 3 I * •R » 9 . > . ' t K ■ ’ ’ !■■ ; IF r f V T I” TJJ 25* 1* ’tEr' I I rsSWii^J u I. Sv .1 c i; £ J I •P y ' * L i i-*- . 11 1. J Ji r » VrTFRANS ★ DAY « 4 I \ i f •r 0 » 9 4 *• £ f 5, » hif ;» 5 A A < NOVEMBER 11 Happy Veterans Day 1 I. 1 « . To all of our troops and veterans, > < » ."j ■1!^' I .....................................................—-»•« o • • *< ( (? X 1. Q «. 9 0 < F i J' « iS-r' _ l< « * > V flan* - - »• e K» » I « S a» K - >« ' !• t A 4 4 A ♦ « « 1 » « 'S ^<5 L-* OB ft t F 4 • I •• * « ■: "11 « t .•. -■. -rw .ah3 • I* 0* tf ?♦ : I h >Mi »kMN* ‘ Al I Wl b ? M t<VI I ' • it and thank you for your service! Your courage, commitment and sacrifice fill us with admiration and gratitude. • J I z A t •c >** A *'* •l < ? L’ •l > 'Z» £ 7* C 1 v?*. *. •• ‘l ‘’9’ I AjUI 110 V I e 1 iH^B ^9 J 1■ *♦ ’• ’ V > I ***■■■■■■*< .. ■— - ->• - 1 H kt «>«*«'SMMmHMR' *!■ — I > I ; I * Vr« H «• a I ■5 i II i I ( ► k a !’• U I 4 I » J :l tk I 1 f s t 1 I 1 \ ■ a* �I Saturday, November 8, 2025 8 the sun and news 9 view Group SALUTE TO VETERANS TKH8 invites community to V^erans Day assembly •* I «b «E A Guests should arrive early to check in and be seated prior to the event starling. The event gives students and com­ munity members a chance to honor local veterans who have served in any branch of the military at any time. Event organizers say it serves as a valuable lesson to students about what Veterans Day is all about and why it is recognized each year. A local veteran will be a guest speaker and TKHS students will par­ ticipate in honoring and remembering veterans through readings and essays. The high school honors choir and band will perform. Veterans are encouraged to provide a photo for a si ideshow that is shown dur­ ing the assembly. Veterans who have shared photos in previous years need not resubmit a photo. Those who have not yet submitted a photo can email Mindy Wert at mwert@tkschools.org or call 269-795-5441 with questions. The program will be followed by a luncheon provided by TK Schools for veterans and their guests. Thornappie Kellogg Schools 4 w 1 Z^W ^b .e* :)^U' 'r F-J ^4 V itf I * MS I *w «» I Veterans salute the flag at last year's Thornapple Kellogg High School community Veterans Day program. Courtesy photo Beginning at 10 a.m. on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11, Thomapple Kellogg High School will open its doors to the community and all local veterans to the annual Veterans Day assembly in the large gymnasium. Veterans, families and friends can enter the athletic lobby and park in the south parking lot off Bender Road. I I iMik fe/ I I •. r CMJPWa I . I VETtUNBlmeaSP' t I » I f JJ OS-; '1 4 1 fj k 4J V li. 17 « f <• ■ X e 1 • L * 1 > Ml J *< f < Veterans stand at the Caledonia Veterans Memorial Wall inside Caledonia High School near the fine arts entrance. A* Americans across the country will pause to remember veterans and thank them for their bravery, cour­ age, service and sacrifice next week. Veterans Day is right around the cor­ ner on Tuesday, Nov. 11, and several local tributes will happen throughout the week. One school wants you to remember veterans every day. That’s why a Veterans Memorial Wall is displayed at the fine arts entrance at Caledonia High School. Anyone can add the name of some­ one who has served in the military ir' 4^' 'Ji‘ b .•tl 1 ,z!r ■ - '’ i . »/ k ‘t II 5 ' 9 •I . ** I z v,;-* I L- I s /h*’' stifi!. l.*f I 11 TjW*" Courtesy photo *9 .1. *’l Veterans’ legacies live on at Cal Veterans Memorial Wall Staff Writer * •I J Karen Turko-Ebright . I 9 *< ■r' p If All “^4 I « r > tl r ( ; ..I* ' .4 t' I 1^ --iT, - 4 I I V' « 1 « t V nr". • i< i t u t 4 A A >• - * with Caledonia ties to the wall. The digital wall displays the names of local veterans and adds information to the Veterans Memorial database. Locals can submit names to the wall through a form found at calschools. org/community/veterans/. Veterans honored will be forever commemorated both on the memorial wall and in the digital database. The Veterans Memorial Wall at CHS was established through a col­ laborative effort spearheaded by Bro­ dy Woodwyk, a member of the Class of 2024, whose goal was to create a lasting tribute to those who served. 41’ V V k mJ’ ■ ,4. M 1 .V- i'- i' z' H. > > fe — / . b' y. J a' ► JiSf^ i^: i « I * ■ I I * « 1 V- k «* z 1 J^fS9 I h •r' I >* / k w ri *4. > -..t ' 1. f V .s K rd, 4 : s» 4 > a J .Id J »* iJt 11- .-*.z s./' l4 JI I 1 I I <•15’ -• rs> . b..- *46^’ * II » if >. •i c rrt btudbl ’ J rrkn^—i—b I 16 I V A**"' i ^’5- w r M, BBQ Cookout I fuox< 7 » 4«_1 A ! Kh t f -7 ■ ■B I F*' u J « w Active Duty fe aoHtot^- -Veterans hl h.fl « » J « % I 4^ ll*K. for your service to our nation VETERANS AY. BRADFORD WHITE f r f. I ■'5 -» a V e J * jl il •>r, * *1 -i f I ijU 5 < Ik J i. gB i I 4 ■^er f 4 X’ \ lit Servite DnW Stales cte »•u J <1» V f? b r J •* iX J . «c i e J t A A •> 'b ,, { ★ ★\ I W < ' ♦* i I 1 R.XV^ * I T» < fl «’i \T< A V ’*•’ i *1- X A f i ________ A 4r - . * 4 V A * * ★ \ 4 A u * ’4 I lb w 4 < UAW Local 1002 308 Washington St Middleville, Mi 49333 1I November 11th 5 am - 9:30 pm mqCl1^-fT«^ K B p 4 »• « V V I 11 I I. I I r 11 r I . J J I { I < 4 r 4. I I T Vi ! I / . f i t I r li < I M * if I' I ii I 9 I <( II f:« »• t h r I i < » t I I J r- 4 1 I I i V .• « J I 1- > IlUbi L ( f I ■ \ FREEDOM ISN’T FREE I '.Xt .-.J ■■ b J 1 II I ■■ rUlSSiamvoM P I ‘?ri‘ • ••?! • s f .:' a .r..i :^ �(l. * "WSv 4 Si i ♦ 4 ( I I SALUTE TO VETERANS ■* t I H, I i I ♦ I 4 15 9 9 James Gemmell Contributing Writer #> * -4 I t' 4 3^5 >,* r* ’•M As part ofthe third annual “Operation Green Light” initiative, Kent County Veterans Services has been handing out green light bulbs to help “light the county green. This year’s endeavor began on Nov. 4, and it will run through Veterans Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Kent County Veterans Services states on its website that lighting up in green is a “visible way for residents, businesses and government organizations to say, ‘We see you. We thank you. Veterans Services had 2,000 green bulbs to pass out. Dan Zar, the agency’s community outreach specialist, said that is the most bulbs the agency has ever given out. And they were going quickly at the Veterans Services office on Fuller Av­ enue and at the various Kent District Library branches, as well as the Grand Rapids Public Library branches. The light bulbs are available during open I ► I »< f l' "'’li ‘/•j J 1 55 i •</ * ♦4 f I t f I • 1 t « ♦ : A '"I 4J •IT/. ‘ * ''K' < / i t ■*5(3 f • ►I 1 I J, C l-J 1 t -’ ?■ .r i K I, ‘ ♦ 4> %■ . . L 5 * 5 55 I * I r '' a I n k' f I I., I ’N n. !i k f 1 f.’' f 4 J 1 I I1 / I < I f J • .' ff > * •. V. ).. I 3^'4 f' J I * f r Is 9 Saturday, November 8, 2025 „,> Group ♦ ‘Operation Green Light’ helps highlight veterans, veterans services A ■' ♦ ' VIEW the sun and news 4 \hu £ yA '•wi. li Boa sttI b 'jidl hours of operation, but Zar said indi­ viduals should make sure there are still some available before heading there. Veterans Services officials encour­ age residents and businesses to swap out their outdoor lights for green bulbs to show support for military veterans. So, it’s been really, really nice,” Zar said. “It’s a very simple mission. Op­ eration Green Light is a chance for you to show support for military veterans.” The operation also allows KCVS of­ ficials an opportunity to draw attention to the services it provides for veterans in the county. “We hear every day from veterans that are overwhelmed by the amount of paperwork (required),” Zar said, referring to applications for things like service-connected disability or VA non-service-connected pensions. “And so, we are kind of their easy button. And we’re a free service, so they come in, they bring their paperwork, and we kind of follow them from the start of filing the claim to the end,” he added. The week-long Operation Green Light observation will culminate with the United Veterans Council of Kent County’s annual Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11 in downtown Grand Rap­ ids. The parade will step off at 6 p.m. from the comer of Ottawa Avenue and Lyon Street. “There will be a ton of different fire trucks and police cars,” Zar said. “Our office will have a car in the parade. And we’ll be handing out candy and merchandise about our office.” The parade will proceed south along Monroe Avenue, before turning left onto Fulton Street and heading east to Veterans Memorial Park for a cer­ emony of remembrance. “And it’s just so nice to see the streets lined, and all for veterans,” Zar said. “So, come on down, meet us there. We’ll be looking out for all the people who we expect to attend.” Honoring All Who Served DEM/NG'Sg/// /lUTO ColUi'tON 2493 W. State Rd., Hastings 269-945-2922 •V «CysisS; . ..X «A. y *'« . s r’ ■. . ■ ' e Ar 5' 4 '.V <4 ' I A? V t I ' /:,Su I V I - J.*; • f. . b fl r & t •lkt'’ii! ? t ► .j * > * ★ * ★. V . I ^1 w > I • aA >' ■ i I MKD would like to recognize and thank the Service and Sacrifice of United States Veterans I ri I ★ • ::i • -Ml ■■ I k I *1 w ? k ★ I F < I i ★ -A ij __ A- [ 1 ★ 1 I? I > ■f :<• f ** I I w. r < I I I 1 t ■ p 4 4 It d» 1 1 r r A .31 V? f I 1 Matthysse I Kuiper | DeGraaf •K I 1 if'"' r I r’^ r F/ i' -vs. r? ) i ! I k ! I ♦ ( I t i < 'i 1' J i i;ii u 1 I hl I I I’ri» U I J! '» I I 1 n 11 I 'b I A a t A I \ I i 4 I I > ) 1 �/J I t t 10 S ?0?S SatunJary VKW »S¥yS r »■ ■ I........ .. ' •"■W t f SALUTE TO VrrtRAHS ★ I .'^IMM***-* k9 "* 4 ■ I » f k -W" f I r J I 9 » r > ■ --^^4 js’W/.' I r Hometown Heroes i' .J &-ft a. 1.., /'^ 3^“' * ' -..4 IK 4 < *1 < K < I 'K • f 1^ F A r i* 4| J X » * z * •« 4 w* I .^.tfii i e-' I 3f •» p H * •u > 1 r ^9 r -=^r' . i gi 10% OFF V ' *i>*' ■s: Ss!.^ ai«g !^i*'‘5 >{' jeNN - JI* ■I this Veterans Day, Nov. 11, for verified Hometown Heroes y / ‘■X 1 f •’ A r < I « if a l<l > o 4 .'a? E > j^Z Ui.A *4d 1 I« '■.' ?'■.'» >'» /f I i I .r I « I I *? Veterans, military family members and first responders, get verified today for savings and special benefits. % .1^ rr« r 2iw I li A, iHSSbSS . ...1 I> *1 o «J9 > * jslfciiiiefaii^®* I < s?< . liw® I' «K<a« aiaKasfectekwoiW** ilKiik’i'' iieSj!eJJ«rt!«tsEb SesHOlflS: i»,i: T1 1^ I y £ □ 1 U:.e « > A K^ • > "v •i; •I 1 Ik 9ry ^SsUve S I I I i 1 . > MniW I i <fc • n <' I fe I - / •*lb __ r A W.l I rfl > *4« *»kbtaiR I' tof f I IJ TRACTOR jsc SP SUPPLY C9 g »E?S11M»«* I * ■'. ' * <** i ? * I i r F ■ sr- HO * ;scfta«;«c t « * I < A F - V .. f 1 ’’aTj^ *®S5®iOii[ i» { sense T rector < ^La 1 * Illi I ;i f I s .- vt V ' -4 '' J >*, nBUl < I <> U • ^5' V I I •, I < 4 P# I ♦ ' « r l.i1 I f M i.' II i, i 1 I « ( / 4 I i t g < ? 3 I vr III R II I �4 ♦ 3 ‘ '■ I4 2 f. F 1 t www.sunandnews.com THE SUN AND NEIATS Saturday, November 8, 2025 Group 11 A * TK holds late lead this time, knocks off Saxons a 8 • i V ‘Mill i»l8tt9l8 t]^i^noq2 *r H, igtkL. H' ■I ; f ■ ■ • J • I ' r kaiH boi J a > . 7<Jn- -ifjno fe - ttbuUv J "> » JU. gdi'A i I ifili uEflOl. a £ norn ■0 f n i ^.t' ■' W> f- y I fcl' ' i&»r<bT I ! Jru; e itjjf L' Jj' •'. I I J• i ■jqEmoi Ui - : >h i M .isH $ i>>i ”>^1 : / e r 4 Uri-u/' r I f * 7W/ I J e H rti » i TO’^Q . ;-!( nJ: I If , •« a • A 5 t XV K r I I ?/■•!( :u, ’ fll; ! t ilf ba I 5' r I IB ) ;!Errf^.V /T’ "''Tl 1 4 *1 Jr ., J i 1 4 Ti»xn i >z4 t r 4 I 1 1 s *X lifV/ ak.kii.') zfjf/ I .■nfpfTfrf i liw A i O> / ! unoc» I ! . t ^4 I 2 J I? invq 1* 8?<rbo' '3 4 •K I 4 }■ r H 4 .J 'lUioni If iO92; 1 »i ? r r it fe - ■: ) f 1x1 ’ ) tf t! =)rfr f £ni j ,■ ub j ’jq*) 1 tjHf I :h '!* i . I llwf •1 w qij- i I -U i t X'-OV J ■01 j'» f « / J’1^1 ?ix I k J ' »■ 'Ji ^*sG inl)“ I 4 ‘J £■ .‘iW’ 1 .-■rr IM. u qnp I ' qol^ /viM 1 b • Ia 1 I HSCJ i I * .' .r ' 1 I I XIl t I I I ‘ftps lint, fw * q ' ' uni ■' H 1 He ■^<$4 •3. 1Y 1 i ,'yl 1 -> 7 k I s ut: e Z a I 1 I f r >X I k •> f 4 iSuu. I 'Ol T >1 * • i * ' >W.b£W niiof wri lu < ' C.H ‘ wo >1 J ' r L Ji i/. ■ -r; ?v/ ' <J<1 I r- ’ I ^.^510 1 t t I f I * ■/? ♦ I r I *•4 •■’<’7 ' i. urh n t 116J //1 (< i- 4 i viirr jJr EmO ■ "•’I* ! '(.*1 Brett Bremer Sports Editor Thomapple Kellogg junior lineman Brody Hammer rushed to the end of the handshake line for some extra hugs grab­ bing Hastings’ Trapper Reigler, Mason Tossava and others. With shoulderpads still wrapped injer­ seys on the turf and the Baum Stadium at Johnson Field stands clearing out, Hast­ ings’ Jonah Hamp got a quick embrace from Thomapple Kellogg sophomore Zeke Webster. TTere are 13 miles of road between Thomapple Kellogg High School in Middleville and Hastings High School, and for the second time during the 2025 varsity football season there was just one score between the two teams in the end. Thomapple Kellogg (7-3) avenged a twopoint August loss to the Saxons (7-3) in Middleville by scoring a 28-20 victory in Hastings in ±e MHSAA Division 3 District Semifinals Friday, Oct. 31. Thomapple Kellogg senior fullback Debo Robinson and Hastings senior mnning back Cardale Winebrenner took a second for a photo with each other. They’d just spent two hours knocking the snot out ofeverybody that got in their way - including each other. Thomapple Kellogg senior center Jake Welch Jr. said there wasn’t too much difference between the Trojans’ early season match-up with the Saxons and Friday night’s playoff opener. Hastings took a two-point win in the regular season opener in Middleville on a last-second field goal. “Our defense was a big part of this,” Welch said. “We were able to get a couple stops. Last time, I don’t know if we stopped them. Maybe we stopped them once. We didn’t have any mistakes. We didn’t have that fumble on the goal-line. So, it was amazing. Even though we turnover the ball [on downs in the fourth quarter], our defense goes out and gets an interception and we get to celebrate, and we’re playing Lowell! I’m excited.” The Trojans were set to visit Lowell (8-2) Friday, Nov."7, to play for a dis­ trict championship as the Red Arrows knocked off Coldwater 49-14 in the district’s other semifinal contest Oct. 31. It’s always a chess match,” Thornappie Kellogg head coach Jeff Dock said, “They did a great job of adjusting, then trying to find what is working. Then it turns into a slugfest. Just like coach Murphy said last time. It is great for both communities, a super physical football game. They’re going to feel it. We’re going to feel it. It just so happens we came out on top this time. Super ecstatic for our kids, our community, everyone. It is awesome. Robinson had two-yard ana 14-yard touchdown runs in the first quarter in Hastings as the Trojans built a 14-0 lead, TK never trailed. Winebrenner eventually scored on a 13-yard run and then followed up with a two-point conversion run to get the Saxons within 20-14 of the Trojans 13 seconds before halftime. Hastings tied the bailgame on a 71 -yard touchdown run by Hamp 53 seconds into the second half. Trojan senior Zach Eldridge scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown on a seven-yard run with 4:17 to go in the third quarter. He took a pitch out to the right, made sure he got the first down and then weaved through traffic to the end zone. A Robinson two-point run provided the final points of the game. Pressure ifom the Trojans’ defensive front in a couple of rare passing situa­ tions for the Saxons helped TK hold that eight-point lead for the final 16 minutes. TK junior Logan Goggins came through the 1 ine to rej ect a Tossava pass attempt on a fourth-and-7 from the TK 22-yard-line early in the fourth. The Saxon defense finally stopped a TK drive that lasted more than six minutes by stuffing a run at the Hastings 23-yard-line with 4:21 to go. Just like in the first match-up in Mid­ dleville, Hastings headed towards the TK end zone as the clock was ticking down. The Saxons moved the ball from their See HOLDS on 12 / / 11 - ./ J ■ • T 269-381-2300 1811 LAKE St KALAMAZOO I 4 P* ac •ar 1 V F’J 4^ J 4B z >1^ i. X Yw % '4-:r. I* •k; .JF** SA I V * r F I a. SMvrnHi V I Thornapple Kellogg defenders Elliott Neff (left) and Debo Robinson (30) work to bring down Hastings running baok Cardale Winebrenner as teammates close in to help during the Trojans’ 28-20 win over the Saxons in the MHSAA Division 3 District Semifinal inside Baum Stadium at Johnson Field in Hastings Friday, Oct. 31. Photos by Brett Bremer 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. BODY SHOP 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 ♦ > *^7-. COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR K * -■y- «» * «!• .X. i- '* USED PARTS f USED TIRES f 9 > LIGHT TRUCK PARTS < USES NUTS • WK 9PS • IHTSIR* VMS* OTS 4X4S J rau SERVICE & YOU PUll IT I r Your ■fri's-bed body 5hop -for ov^er 32 years I .i ! »• * k. r >« J I I rt p 0 i I I I i I'.' I ‘e I b‘i I I I } I H 1 11 i IL I 1 I A J A I ’4 I i I 4 \ I I I ( 1 J �/ ■ A XI ? I 1 > 1 I I 12 Saturday, November 8, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS HOLDS Continued from Page 11 » ► ’/** - t • _ _ !•>*«* -J MS* * * • *4^ 1 k* < Thornapple Kellogg junior defensive lineman Logan Goggins lets out a yell after batting down a Saxon pass for a fourth down stop during the fourth quarter of the MHSAA Division 3 District Semifinal at Hastings High School Friday, Oct. 31. 4 own 23 quickly to midfield, converted on a fourth-and-two run by Tyler Frazer to the TK 40, responded to a TK defensive time-out by coming out in the shotgun formation instead of the Wing-T and getting a 12-yard pass for a first down from Tossava to Frazer. Hastings had the ball first-and-ten atthe TK 28-yard-line with 59 seconds to go. A fumble in the backfield forced the Saxons to use their final time out though; a second down pass missed its mark; and then Tossava rolled left on third-and-12 from the TK 30. With rushers coming his way he fired a pass down field that was intercepted by Thomapple Kellogg’s Camden Peter. Hamp, the intended receiver on the play, hauled down Peter with the help ofFrazer and then laid on the turf an extra beat Momen­ tarily, Robinson hustled over to grab his left arm and Frazer grabbed his right, and they helped him to his feet. Trojan junior quarterback Micah Dock only needed to kneel down once in the vic­ tory formation to erase the rest of the clock. Robinson was the workhorse for the Trojan offense, behind a stellar effort from the TK offensive line. He rushed 17 times for 138 yards and the two touchdowns. I •s ? R » Scan our QR code r . s.---- 4m A r 4 ( *-4 •• ( < « I »* 1^* "T/ Coach Dock said there isn’t anything easier about facing the Saxons’ Wing-T attack for the second time in a season, even if his guys did learn a little some­ thing from the first match-up. “They’re really good over there. They run their offense well. They’ve got a great coaching staff. They find the holes. They find what to do, and it stresses us big time.” Quarterback Micah Dock was 2-for-3 passing for 30 yard for TK. He was inter­ cepted once, by Hamp, on the final play of the first half. Tossava closed the game for Hastings 4-of-8 passing for 68 yards. They’re a good football team. We knew it,” Murphy said. “They had a couple nice outside plays that gave us trouble in the first half, and we seemed to shut that down, but you shut down one thing and they go to another thing. They had nice combinations coming back in the second half and we had a hard time stopping them, and they did really, really well on defense.” They were being very disciplined, and staying home and doing what they had to do,” he added. “They kept a couple guys on the fullback and made it hard to run our inside trap. They stayed outside when we were running the fullback inside, and they stayed disciplined and stayed home. That does make it more challenging.” Peter led the TK defense with nine tackles. Hammer had eight tackles and Lucas Ploeg had six. Elliot Neff, Jack Smith, AJ Dutcher and Preston Gummo had five tackles apiece. Tyce Richardson led Hastings in tackles with six. Frazer and Spencer Wilkins had five tackles each and Reigler added four. Frazer missed some time throughout the night with an injury, another hit to an al­ ready thin stable of varsity regulars for '90s HITS & XMAS RIFFS the Saxons. A lot of MARK MCGRATH, KEVIN GRIFFIN & EMERSON HART LIVE varsity football teams TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9 are beat up around the JEFFERSON STARSHIP • RUNAWAY AGAIN TOUR state come November, MONDAY, DECEMBER 29 and Hastings was no exception. The Saxons AARON LEWIS AND THE STATELINERS 2026 AMERICAN TOUR were without starting SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 • TICKETS ON SALE NOVEMBER 8 running back Trevin Tickets available now at the FireKeepers Box Office Russell, starting cen or FireKeepersCasino.com. ter Seth Arnold and stand-out cornerback FIREKEEPERS GET YOUR VlSW ON CASINO•HOTEL Jack Webb. Russell 1-94 to Exit 104 I 11177 Michigan Avenue I Battle Creek, Ml 49014 and Arnold were both Must be 21 or older. Tickets based on availability. Schedule subject to change. two-way starters. “Our offensive line did a nice hob. The kid is special,” coach Dock said. “He runs incredibly hard. It’s hard for one guy to bring him down, and he is consistently breaking tackles.” Coach Murphy said his team certainly won’t miss facing him next season. TK also got a couple big bursts from Malachi VanEngen who closed the night with seven rushes for 122 yards and a touchdown. He scored on a 74-yard run in the second quarter to answer the Saxons’ first touchdown. Eldridgeclosedthenight with six caries for 48 yards for TK. Tonight was an everyone night Debo did amazing. All of our A backs did amazing,” Welch said, “Zach and Malachi they were great. Our wide re­ ceivers didn’t get thrown the ball much, but we didn’t need to. They did their job blocking. Ourquarterbackmade his reads correctly. It was a great night all around. “The offensive line was on fire the entire night. Everything was going right. Everything. It means the quarterbacks reads are easier, the ball carriers can run better. Everything is good when the Oline blocks.” It was a similar effort on the other side. Winebrenner had a team-high 21 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown. Hamp had 16 carries for 170 yards and hit a couple big ones. Hamp tallied the Saxons’ first points on a 51-yard touchdown run a minute and a half into the second quarter that pulled his team within 14-6. .y .. 1 ■'X- ' 4 7: >' Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. kki 4 I Juod ' ’411 T ' f,' i * tv- B i uikULv t; -IlbfH l»< J J ri ’ I T ( f I r a.'' ' >'T- I f ’ dfll i rsB ,4 1- I r. g I IK I 1 ' Tt ! I I I 4 I I I f I 1 1 I j 4 I 4 ' I < I I • ♦ I) iH** d i 1 t I r J I ^nf' A » ♦I «• I * Z?aBQ aJiiteoK * :v < 1 p J C- I nr r J ■ T? •4 r ■ I / I r miM , <t*l w' * -is:’'' rj , I - 1 R*? I ■' 5 J rl I X 11 f r Id 4 . I . 3 1 f- 4>'r V « • f I • I ’’ u L.J pjfll if * I lu”’'' 4 • Sjtil L J ' t Si J,.. W>g“» ;urT^.ijub <r ’ ‘ FT I f 4 i-' ifl’ • n j 'I « t* '4.' 0551 ) -< fr ? t 5 ♦> k if * 3Kfi I ij. r ■J T r fl * K , ! ^2.' $9i 1 V*. J. • ’ i I kt ■' _j»ia. • ♦ I bi-' « aJ PT* '□; i i I Wl 'tew I w-— i I "■ri Ik r 1 <7 J »I * K M < _ ?f*TV v.v’ 3 L i. I \ I " I < * ft* • •3I V » k <• 5 > 1I A.J U' *•* I I I' fK rt*^" /■'T ?»8 I* ? : h I 4 s I 1 I fj ' i. '. i A Jiife 1 •* iiu: r • I f I I r I I I •i I A 1 r 1 (4 * w. >• www.sunandnews.com & sB . < M.. * e"’, KOTHIK’ BUT A GOOD TIME to find your perfect invitation! « Group I •h r • T I i t -1^ T 11 nr J I kk t T t X: -TT ’ 1# ♦ *■ ac 1 I S.P ifiT.fiQU-,3O»5 **•'•*’ if fc v^i.. 11 J 3 i =|fi^ . ..4.-3 o !• . t < < r; J 91 M < PRINTING BY www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com •*< s *4’ in •ATTLC *1. OB* 1l ’a- •; i?. A tf w* k. I ) 1 * 4 l*> A .1' CHECK 65'-^^ L j 1 •*» ! tl I { i I F I .1 I -J �a f 4 4 1 > J <» IT 4 t •W* *• t ■A^ I I ? i■>v k W '. ' 1 *1*41 t I * VIEW THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com 4 Reynolds record 38 kills power Scots into D1 District Finals • » - J «» ') ' j». % . I « r r r .• JI 24 i 'i' u $ } *> - 9 Sports Editor * 4 » • ’’r, I ;4 I I l» L M J 4 r? J *ry •» « » ' ' ?1 1 s - ”< >« t1 •> *? « V fill 4I I > i u Cfc/ #* W; I J t. I I U ?K. to < 4 ITl. *>?-> L w « '1R, « yffi. ’L-. J JI <• .=*Tjf . \ • *• F: • ) 4 f ’TB- 4 .11 •i •.1 «», ‘hi ./Ta ‘^o ( ' • "R * 1 ) t . ‘ .4' M I ' f K/. h bj. • •■u r' *•4 / ‘'‘*J p'* ' r Kalamazoo Central knocks off TK ladies in DI District Quarterfinal '■« Caledonia junior outside hitter Aubrey Reynolds set a school record with 38 kills, surpassed 1,000 varsity kills and more importantly the Fighting Scots won three sets. The Caledonia varsity girls’ vol­ leyball team bested Gull Lake in five sets in the MHSAA Division 1 District Semifinals at Plainwell High School Wednesday, and the Scots were set to face Plainwell in the district final Nov. 6 back in Plainwell. The two teams were back and forth all evening wit the Scots winning in the end by the scores of 15-25, 25-16, 23-25,25-13, 15-9 Reynolds had 18 digs and three blocks to go with her record-setting kill total. She earns a spot in the MHSAA record book with the 38 kills. Only 30 /* , I *< ■/Ift. (I T k X, •I i. « Hh *• ■ ir I I ,?*• • ■> -< a ■ »x. ■ '' V I 4?' ' k Bdif' I j A 1 r •h W I z ? # I'asb, « *X. t't *4 I a' ’A? • -v I'll ll * * I fr I z; ■* Caledonia junior Reese Stafford (6) sets the ball at the net during the fifth game of her team’s MHSAA Division 1 District Semifinal against Gull Lake at Plainwell High School Wednesday. H-TTriui-titn t-j . < ^.- iR ’ :r; I ► ' ( I '3: X.’-'KI 1 ^Wbiact^i ' n 0 6::u * 1 •a ' I i ii"jvn j; [. ff DI' ••'.I ’*4 *\ * J WiV ‘-«»»b . 4 lii i(.. ** * f • <W« ' 1 I I 1 Caledonia Community Schools f will be posting an RFP for I i. li * J*.. I I i IB rI 1 ■"’ ■ B , 1 fl • i. * I l ’ '* I I teiinrtn 3] -.Ji ir'.'. a ► • *'•’1 ” * ’r « Services” I < K 'r Mr. tfiiiCCd Sill —k ) < #12 AUBREY REYNOLDS L k1 LfULLt I? /* 1,000 CAREER * KILLS f i. t > I -* •i; I' V ■ i 1 . > 9 * } r ,,a . J M Caledonia junior Aubrey Reynolds (12) is celebrated for getting her 1000th varsity kill following her team’s five-set win over Gull Lake in the MHSAA Division 1 District Semifinal at Plainwell High School Wednesday. times has that total ever been surpassed in a single match. Senior setter Kyla Charles had two kills, 23 assists and four blocks for the Scots. Junior Kayleigh Miersen had five kills, 12 digs and two aces. Junior libero Avery Seif chipped in 18 digs and an ace. Junior setter Reese Stafford finished with 17 assists and four aces. The winner of Thursday’s district final will head to Portage Northern fora Division 1 Regional Tournament in the week ahead. The regional semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 11, and the regional final Thursday, Nov. 13. tl^ < 1 t 4^ 0 /i I ; I *J Thornapple Kellogg sophomore Nadia Piccione (6) and junior Reece Ritsema (11) go up to try and block an attack from Kalamazoo Central senior outside hitter Savannah Henley during their MHSAA Division 1 District opener at Plainwell High School Monday, Nov. 3. The Maroon Giants took a 25-13,25-16,25-19 win over the Trojans. Photo by Brett Bremer IVE 'RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOL/NG NEEDS f —‘■•f u Tt Residential & Commercial FARM BUREAU INSURANCE’ I ■ 1 f if \ V V https://www.calschools.org/bond/ I ■ *4% :l'1 fI 4 rI r I ; 1 I I k I I JI Li I I Ii T Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-8827 jparks@fbinsmi.com FarmBureautnsurance.com « r s r Your local agent insures your j C/opsJ » w I I found on the district website: !iii< i ■! I I■ Co^aafMaa^ « 9 B . .* ir RFP information will be »: ♦ ♦* f * fc- i4ij t^nt * “Lawn and Landscape 7'.' . £ iv''e2 1 1 "'I 1 /• I I iir * I b 11 .. I ^^4 1^: L.^ I «**•«. 'J. I r r N* z Mi > *1 I. t Photos by Perry Hardin « 1 4 1 13 4 Brett Bremer • Saturday, November 8, 2025 Group >♦ & < -Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers » ^l M .mAm tt I >» »r z .•a DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 k iilri 72: .xHr ♦f *-**'^**A n >r 1 if 4; < v** J C?P, T h f *4^. ft '■‘’^wcrx. •3’'/**V » r • . •• w DeWeerd f68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. L V Since 1955 r LENNOX J ily,'}) . A+ BBB^ fC- ACCREOiTED BUSINESS �1 I 1 14 Saturday, November 8, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS Group f Z. ' V www.sunandnews.com I >4 — I A ♦ ♦ ♦ Johnston leads trio of Scots in the 15’s at D1 Finals Brett Bremer Sports Editor With about a mile and a half to go Caledonia senior Noah Johnston started working his way forward. A mile into the race in a crowd of 251 boys in the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Cross Country Finals at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn Saturday, Nov. 1, Johnston was in 67th place. But he liked his pace. “I got out, I think 1 was in like the top 60 at the mile, but I came through at 5:02.1 knew that was the pace I needed so I wasn’t too concerned with how far back I was,’’Johnston said. “I think at about a mile and a half I saw that there was a group ahead and they were starting to drop people, so I was like ‘I need to catch that group.’ And I caught that group and just hung on. That was the group that ended up getting all-state.” By the time mile number two was done he was in 29th place. The top 30 in each race at the MHSAA Cross Country Finals earn all-state medals. By the end of mile three he was in Bl'I f '/•e. < 'J 28th place. And in the end he earned an all-state medal, in his first appear­ ance in the state finals, by placing 26th. Johnston hit the finish line in 15 minutes 37.60 seconds. The last of the 30 state medalists clocked in with a blistering pace of 15:46.20. It is a blessing. I was hoping to get it. I was pretty sure I could. I went out and raced it, and I did it. I got all-state. I am really proud of myself and my team,” Johnston said. Johnston just missed qualifying for the state finals as a junior, and said he matured this season. He said the strategy he used at the state finals, of not getting out too fast and knowing he’d have energy to push later in a race, was something he really focused on as a senior. Caledonia varsity boys’ coach Ben Thompson said he thought the chances ofJohnston earning amedal at MIS were extremely high heading into the meet. “He has just been so consistent just race after race after race,” Thompson said. “He has had amazing workouts the last couple of weeks. You could just see that he was ready physically and mentally. He is always right even keel, which is just what you want. He was ranked right around 30 coming in, and I was just like ‘you just need to run the way you’ve been running all year and you’ll be fine.’ “We didn’t even have too many talks about it this week. It was just like you’re going to run well and you’re going to get it. To run 15:37 was incredible. Super happy for him. That was one of the goals coming here today was to have him walk out all-state because of all the work he has done.” Caledonia had three guys finish in less than 16 minutes, but Johnston was the only one to finish on the medal stand. The other two set new personal records though, and will get two more shots at those medals. Caledonia sophomores Bennett Snapper and Sean Thompson placed 46th and 47th respectively. Snapper improved his PR to 15:54.20 and Thompson pushed his down to 15:55.50. Fighting Scot head coach Ben See next page f- . Atilicf/eVifjCt :l 1 100 East Main Street Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villaqeofmicldleville.org ISO LiJ i; I } ■ li : !• S I* i. I A<>A 1 J >• ■. '. - ■ — The Village of Middleville 1$ seeking a qualified applicant as VILLAGE COUNCIL TRUSTEE Members of the Village Council review meeting packets prior to each meeting to consider and act on special events, ordinances, and infrastructure projects; set tax millage rates and approve the annual budget; and any other business that comes before the Council. Members are also appointed to a committee or board to serve as a liaison between the Council and that committee/board. The Council operates under the Michigan General Law Village Act of 1895. A member of the Village Council should become familiar with these laws. Attendance at the Michigan Municipal League’s training and conferences is encouraged and paid for by the Village. The term of office will begin upon approval and swearing-in of the member and run until November 20, 2026. All Village Council members must reside within the Village limits and be a registered voter. For more information regarding the open Village Council seat, please contact Village Manager Craig Stolsonburg at 269-795-3385 or stolsonburgc@villageofmiddleville.org Qualifying applicants should submit a completed Application for Boards and Commissions and a letter of interest to: Village of Middleville Kevin Smith, Village President 100 E Main Street - PO Box 69 Middleville, Ml 49333 Applications will be accepted until November 14, 2025. An application can be be found on the Village of Middleville website at https://www.villageofmiddleville.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Application-for-Boards-andCommissions-updated-2025.pdf or can be picked up at the Middleville Village Hall during our normal business hours. Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Posted October 29, 2025 Rhonda Van Polen, Village Clerk ‘f f ■ 1 ^‘4 «« ■» ■I I t I r / J I » I t fc.. I I I 1 f * c 1 « 4 I > J. I I J 1 J r 5 5 s t 4 f 1 I j r J ♦L*’’ * I k> J p. t 5^ r - .r<'' f, Caledonia senior Noah Johnston races through the crowd a mile and a half into the Division 1 boys’ race during the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finals at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn Saturday, Nov. 1. Johnston ran a time of 15 minutes 37.60 seconds to earn an all-state medal with a 26th-place finish. Photos by Brett Bremer >4 ^■1 -i B •SJF’ JtaSfr juoirt e Volf.. A oftf c.-.* J I I /r\ XXKa » I % .MH »M««i feftOJ Ilf f I •• ^'ncEnsino^-.^ n>c >t J' 1 A » I* )VI .yg -' -1 9lUf¥l 11 «7 » It- OtOD F iSK^^ * III R f* IX*. Mt [■aS r J-.-" * gl» : fc’ 1 if t f •V 4 4 r ** 1 !W® PUBLIC HEARING The Village of Middleville Council will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 7:00 pm, or as soon thereafter as possible, in the Council Chambers at the Middleville Village Hall at 100 East Main Street. r Iri ,rx?' I' 100 East Main Street Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villaqeofmiddleviHe.org I i . I s J?1 & ' r. f t^« fl x.’X’-- I f 4 4> « The purpose of the PUBLIC HEARING is to receive public comment on the proposed 2026 Fiscal Year Budget and Water/Sewer Rates. I ft e . I r* & THE PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE RATE PROPOSED TO BE LEVIED TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND WATER AND SEWER RATES WILL BE A SUBJECT OF THIS HEARING. ; 3aji KOT a3TA) USS S>^-^-4^ V WlMlHIlUte 3 .in 1, # I __ « toi. v <;» 1 The public is invited to attend this open meeting and to offer comments. Alternatively, to participate in the meeting by providing written comment, you may email your comment to the Village Clerk at rvanpolen@villageofmiddleville.org, or drop them off in person to Middleville Village Hall. Written comments received prior to 4:00 pm on November 25, 2025 will be distributed to Council members and it will be noted that such comments were received prior to the meeting. -r 1 I 1 ti II HHtHf I J 1 L *;>t «v I t tote * »■----- r ), ; Ui75!’ ' JIMto •• •’ ; nt * a , '”£-*^^>100;’:;.' ■■ ! • <4 JE fl !r ■ The proposed budget will be available for public inspection at Middleville Village Hall at the address indicated above during normal business hours (Monday thru Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to noon), and on the Village website beginning November 20, 2025. L . .' »WE t olfiiii ■* k»ir p r i Persons with special needs who wish to attend should contact the Village Clerk no less than 3 days ’prior to the meeting. The Village Clerk can be contacted by phone at the number indicated above or by email at rvanpolen@villageofmiddleville.org, during normal business hours (Monday thru Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to noon). Posted 10/30/2025 Rhonda Van Polen Villaee Clerk .. J -i ' I I ! I 11 * u ‘l r C r. ► ■ .Zw / a*”. u ■* . ujXa. t :'j � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-11-15.pdf f04b6c8f83d942a2b53c3ba08956449a PDF Text Text :_s5 h:* f A k.W * .f * i, t 4 « . ', 'f NEWS THE SUN AND ..•Z, IJIIBI >' VIEW 5 /■ FIGHTING SCOTS ARE UNDEFEATED CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS AGAIN ■■ * ' • .*■ V «9 > w* -4 -X .. I < ;£_«s ■?■’ • ■NB 7 •*.•• • ■ Group PAGE 12 1. *■»* •k > *Y .A-*: ■ :> -^afey^r 4 • * i - > ’> i • 1 / ? www.sunanHnew« *“om SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025 NO. 46 VOL. 147 1 Ia I • I 9 iBUlf Mural complete at Middleville resident’s home j 1 kJ i I k I I I i?* JiP^ I I ■»- I =<: 4 I r A I rj V !7 6J 7s •r. •• 9 •l I *w f « IB V J >u >* I ? 1 7 A :iI •S'? j X w * *» *1- jT. -• ,1 ’v^-r^ «» V IgA.. \. e X t<l 'X ^•J- (. I • w’ X/ •* *** r? < 'A & '*• >K -JF^^ < ..k ». t n: « \ * I. 1 VW" --AT 1 T I f: <*5 ■ / • ’^i. I ■* a < r r \ 1 I «5N» la %.k I ■ ^f < < s' I 1 I f %to .XS « f k I s k \ ^«l ^So* ta I *■ sX* V 0 •r < n > /.4 kJ 7^ 1 •*- / i ’ * « q t i*' ••A rvT At* (.( • 1: .k. • r• 1 « • t > 3S n *• 7 IS t « . t A * 4:: ’ *yj* ’ » 4 1 '5' I t *25 .tn I r? k' S?*' 1^ mi sWZ X /. 1 i’% k \ ** < I I jIh ■ ’>•» % ' V •^W I r. .i I 4\ it. : Hu f •*» I I •:> !^ W* tf I -- I imm ~—^—— Illi- T 1 siMotnipnibsertaievna ibiD .etelqmoo ai smorl J2B9 edt 220136 trlgilf ni 36q teeng Hiw yertt ,wol/l I j j (> .•^w'. -t'vy: > R Drivers heading into Middleville on W. State Road might look twice when passing Irving Road now that the mural on the side of resident Regina Bouchard’s home is complete. Grand Rapids artist Nick Nortier of Old Growth Creative (pictured) was commissioned for the piece, which depicts two sandhill cranes in flight across the east side of the home overlooking the Thornapple River valley. Bouchard said sandhill cranes are a common sight in her backyard. Now, they will greet passersby as they enter Middleville. More information about Nortier and his art can be found at oldgrowthcreative.com. Courtesy photo 1 H k / I K .qwT esnisG I Hemnifla zsmsl J I tob^sJoYl 9*iiH isnoilfiH sriT H'to friurnmim n efansfCttnooQi a.! ‘Slit rioBo Tol no sd aia r( 2i qirf?.rr vol istnsrO asnifiO bicbnBla ledl gnbosm IE’ I q nr rwoT asniBDorfT 1 "Dip YBbnoMno I-dfastov e- ' 11 ej 4I 5 I ' qffiOTVO) 9sno£toJE >, I 7 '! I I d f * bb S' J llw Jax) ofti bnB jgbud zlitea oilduq d£0£ qc fifiiq afij ,wonld§W' |ii ;,n 3rnh-ik/t EDOM bfiJ ^ilfvrahij'J cneioNEH UEaiDENUVr bo>l Ts^fwM I I zri vol 3fit Tol ZTattigftaift 5 liw iarir^ arfT .nohtBta kJ * I' k I . I < r> ; I jefasonli juS ecHMes ./ ¥ n nsQ w ,bfioi :lK>bfi}2 h^G PtMWVrMHCS i>O»n>«0 ' f ( I I ‘i < ( I I* 4 Hl ■A b«wif»338 <9938 CieeuAgi©' hI bVID James Gemmell Contributing Writer TStiiW enitudhtnoO ) Gaines Twp. trustees approve hiring of fuii-time firefighters in Cutierviiie A I t hr I J 7^7 •l 9i ■■■■^^ .I' The National Fire Protection Association recommends a minimum of four firefighters be on duty for each fire station shift, and Gaines Charter Township is getting closer to meeting that standard. The Gaines Township Board of Trustees voted 6-1 on Monday night, Nov. 10, to authorize township staff to hire three full-time firefighters for the township’s Culterille fire station. The hirings will begin in early 2026 and the cost will be added to the fisc^ year 2026 public safety budget. “Right now, ±e plan is to place ±ose new full-time firefighters at the Naaa Cutlerville station,” Township U3N01Sn3 TvuNiaisau Manager Rod Weersing said. “But, if needs change down the eec# i!uo©d road, we can move them to the eceet 'eniAuaeJO Dutton station.” aivd SSMU33 9Gm IN 'aWAumO OtCMoaod Trustees said the three firefighters will be additions to each of the three shifts that the township currently has at the Cutlerville sta­ tion, officially known as Gaines Fire Station No. 1. Weersing said the firefighters at Station No. 1 operate on a 48/96 work schedule, working two consecutive 24-hour shifts followed by 96 hours off. The cycle repeats after the four days off. "The township’s Fire Advisory and Personnel committees had recommended the township board approve adding ±e additional full-time firefighters. “If you go into a structure fire, you want to do the life-saving efforts,” Trustee Rob DeWard said. “But you also want to put the fire out, and you can’t do that with the num­ ber of people we have provided. So, you end up waiting for paid on-calls or mutual aid (to See APPROVE on 5 < K r \ .. •< r* .•> • I* a' V - •* b ^*w. 4L 4» HH a. I .■?» .»■ >• I f /a- -’W*’ I! n1 Iff S-!»tT « 11 Jt u < *) i •1 11 1 I 4 V St, -X'. *A Si t 1- JI .V I < Lfi: ‘ JiKl v> K « 0 c <<* w * J r«, . V I** •f ‘J ■- * ■ 1 1?•*’ IS u'*3 St > SAX * *X •Kk* jJS en >« f 1‘ 4 7 t 1 4 •rTTXFId ’S * >' f» '*s.^ d « £B .“>v Gaines Township’s new platform fire truck will arrive from Pierce Manufacturing in Wisconsin this month. Photo courtesy of Gaines Township t 11 Iw I I > I ■ 1 9 * I 1: Hi t f ,1 'p ^1 I* r aovxsod s n OIS ISUd n 3 bO8iVG£ bueiaiD ■Ch** I ♦ •• .-a I �T l I 4 X' > 0. 1* ? to honor veterans > f < 9 x» rI ■i£' t a ♦ fl < e I c: aiM * T 1 > i J V4 s I i I »y **1 -e A. 4 > 'A* I- « •A . »/ M •M 1 t />♦. 1 S ;A * 4^ 9 < *c ? ■if. >• IT t Hundreds gather in Yankee Spring J < ' *•» J’ 4^^ X -V • < i X inftt i mt f 1 if I ' *wir» *«* •»>* >, sf<,i :?* * ’ 5 9^ H ! vHi< BWW^v VHBEHHk . t c ../t T I IF* ■— L I j»>*i5^‘"’’£ 19**^ Irwurwh^ i ‘ i^iWMr ** '^9f i *i2»* Mm a i .amr tMg t*« MMfMt aaagi ^T^"» fw law »w» ter V »ai fteaa»aMr<' aM MW* tewMiad wrte a Qtek aCMtea < I m!K* an .* I fWN* Pae SA * H l^"^ tn^' * UCk w-fM H. te« IfaeiwBI ih|k tetead aSwiawNi ttarrva tearm and <te<aa BaiS. |ila> J MM < falwai te9 taatk anicnaS m» famwtelte < «atn <'«■» aai •» « «» I Sk* M'l—wii > < ai^ WWB tMRpA^ ’w <fM» a tn ■ k . . Aik* ■ 4 •6B0 ** 60 ONI ME TO SUN ANONEWS COM Township awards contract for water tank along Patterson Avenue Hl CenMMag Wmai ( «awv^>(«Mn *4 • : waawF MA bIm ' ^«» Bwar «n t »MMa T<»aHaM«^ w. vmaMBaai M ke «*t>*4rwd H <!«. If. ?«:’» T«mWvr Manage* Mali SearMny Vkst iscH MBMl iMsarM fsv a I B »» ♦ f Ppgriii i WN^ f« ««ncvwtgm wMn * '' fMMieawf liHllNibnB FtHrmI 11 < Amt 40 Imii |rMn4 (• > »■» wteh Mraat Irmnatep tUH Mwd ter Mi. ^.^an I I rnk tf tvWMmi < I Ar* A I nrrg’w mu«i Hn»me »bi r^ Imisb Parte <WHBrMtt«nn pOTM kM4«r Cbc nni^ i caai hr*^«n (waam Tfwmdwy trwMrr* «<aaad 74 I IflarWHi JW* -.. ^^.sw i ■ kM Vm- ' ? ■ Waaai smuh ii< te- —a*IQ. u. «wv4 te cnwAt^ w* 3 e. aMM* ***QMkf Wi kmr«(i!F » «: ... ai ■fii^ P* kc ( tester* tel ter H h WHttmn Tte ma a >8 te rwate ifilM tewi J f**-nat and (•Maa* imYMtern, wtetk ! ll a1 r■ * !•>* •J III ^aw** j^ii^aioiiBiajtiiitdsaSfft' prafMM ad Ite tetl «*ii te tetei teMaadb ^gV Cirmr- WMassa i A r r J *< 4 V- ♦ IT * te^* WiWkfc*®" ’ s» si tettnaaf latd ter < taair* lanaadHfi TAMH !► V t> Aalhnnh, nteck maMum ter * Mt and arwar ti amm lint teak tewnah^w "WMapr |r; i l&£l iMwaH cfarair *r B»wb 4«aaaa« ( *m> Tlir Vwiniteya ttomMliMi^ eagtHKUi. Ml i»nutii «t Vnt^tnan K«rtMK f A* I 1 » f- •fck Wl <«Qlll'- I f 1 f . »“ • ll ■ * t • • 4^ rP* atfU. ' w--*—4*^.. • He' w k a iS t far 1^ if* 9li V I I * t9 SUN A^£ NEWS . , ’ . / HMv BaBi atoiaNa R. 1»1 H WXSHary RM»na •BQOaBWM aRaw ROUaMBD** COtrtacjuB * M Ann ana Haw* iaf-Hgr*T«=’r c. ^9^---<^i a ''■*> -’ < 'iiigy^F '■ '•. , e» w*' .• •• F—'W* *• Bi lb *w tr t aFamj* •w t» ii ■" MIR e^tp” kr-w Mi»4« . : Raaaa « a* u a Mitti I: : pavva i i Rb BH* HF - •-«»«« F ae *w« «Frw*« te^WN Ps«g ’L^.jft 0R|0tgu^' W 4lH0f Haawrs^. «*: i <waaMW WaF* w V > «r ' ^aiM* 4^-'I. , » «0inCks aa» r IK' -•« ’ 4* . • we I** 'U, . '««*SipSi)» T Il ■iaiauiaaani..<aBir rj« m*- - ->« Hkiavrat «& IMV fat •wa^^^varsF 'Wbsr {< •» aS twhawna > m <jb r4 -“ fcf*^. '« w* a, ttiJBisii w J J -*• '*te’. ' 9^- .*<’» V I 1 I I 1 I *^Patt(ib ! ’>:A X! SH^.;'' I 4 1 4 r 4 f I 4 I 4 « i I 4 t f �THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I VIGroup Saturday, November 15, 2025 3 I i Caledonia High School sophomores selected for state leadership conference * II t I *V • . TMj w«r-- • •> • I. I* ♦ V t r T' ?r 1 I I w- 1 I I I I •*V. I I I IbMIB 9 '9 I ■*5=S I .4 ( r? ■p a 1 4%: -rJ MB »>lb > ♦a * ; -1 X* «w X XT ► I I I ‘S I* ♦> ’■i?.« s rfe- 4. w 1 ♦ f* % Ks 3 : h f > I J V • I J t*; b I • X •3 « .. I P % • 4^ 1 T » * n[ 4 I f Ik I ^1 B •,•1 I I < i|N 3 r. 1 - < 4^1 M- ' X % 4 .»»> X > ■ e VZ* I J •> 1 • J* 4 /v'. i * ;i • r. ♦,___ 1 f t t - I 4 r > T t n 3 r jtoi' i f I *1 . • f I I I'r- Pv- .A. Ten sophomores at Caledonia High School have been selected to attend the Michigan Youth Leadership Con­ ference (MYLead). The GFWC-Caledonia Women’s Club, in collaboration with Caledonia High School and gen­ erous community sponsors, is funding the students’ trip. } ’ A M V I • I F-’’ •.r 1 I ■fj J •'•w Ju It L* - ft?*J U H u’ U 'I •* * * ■ < ' . *• $ u 'V I I I - f / I v l( sc Pictured here are Caledonia High School’s 2025 MYLead nominees with representatives from local sponsors Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy, Highpoint Community Bank and the Caledonia Women’s Clut?. viqei .< • I — 4 i i 4 This year’s honorees will spend three days this spring connecting with peers from across Michigan to develop lead­ ership skills, gain new perspectives, and bring back ideas to strengthen their school and community, according to school officials. Students selected to at­ tend the conference include Nick Amo- Ten Caledonia High School sophomores will attend the Michigan Youth Leadership (MYLead) conference this spring. The selected sophomores include (from left) Zack Zupin, Gavin Grysen, Stella Barnwell, Isabella Palmitier, Tiona Sakala, Shrimathi Kumar, Brinley Lyzenga, Isabelle Horning, Nick Amorose and Owen Marshall. Courtesy photos rose, Stella Barnwell, Gavin Grysen, Isabelle Homing, Brinley Lyzenga, Owen Marshall, Isabella Palmitier, Tiona Sakala, Shrimathi Kumar and Zack Zupin. The students and their families were recently honored at a brunch celebration, where last year’s MYLead participants shared insights from their See LEADERSHIP on 7 R • f v,;l V • « 4 ■U . •* A 'I g f James Gemmell Contributing Writer n'Co^i J: d'- ■ fl ( L ? f . h r r 1 1 * ► c. ' A I • ♦ •t 10' |fe= 01 . •5^ 1 .4 r-' iTi l-l I S] j' o The Kent County SherifTs Office has identified the teenager who died in a traffic crash in Gaines Township on Nov. 6 as Alexander Rodriguez. The fatal accident occurred just be­ fore 7 a.m. last Thursday. According to sherilTs office officials, Rodriguez was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries and later died that day. KCSO Sgt. Scott Dietrich said the 19-year-old, who reportedly lived close to the scene ofthe accident, was driving the dirt bike on 68th Street when he apparently ran a red light and slammed into the side of a cement truck on East Paris Avenue. Dietrich added the dirt bike was not considered to be street legal, in that the bike allegedly did not have the proper lights and other required safety equipment. • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar • Everything made from scratch Teen dies after colliding with truck in Gaines Twp. I •u r ' ^‘ii A -^1 ♦ A** > : ., I I I 4 f 1 t WT* >9 A I k r w It' «:?cs a3NiM I s :a ? < i your fife A fittfe it sv/eetet (§)Ugar Momma’s BAKERY & CAFE J I 'I . ai-iiwi I JI - * -K k? -w- S’* i- 40* I ■*“ i A . 1::^ X 4 *< • * >: I * I h 1) 1 ; ns* ju.o ! p I Craft & Vendor Show Come out and SPONSORED BY Santa is Coming! support your local TK Softba 11 We've added a I crafters and vendors 1 I I i your local athletes. this year: Santa Claus Saturday, November 22nd 9:00am to 2:00pm will be joining us from 11:00 AM to ( (*• I 'J I 1 £ I . V; while supporting magical new touch i^A l»9 1 Bahe Sale Free Admission I f 1:00 PM! Bring the Thornapple-Kellogg High School 3885 Bender Rd, Middleville, Ml 49333 little ones to tell Santa their wishes (ENTER THRU ATHLETIC ENTRANCE) and get creative with a holiday craft. ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE - TK SOFTBALL PROGRAM I T: 'W 6. r I I I I I I I I I I *W A I 3tty Tivo Cookies, Get Tioo Qui^doi:^ &, Mc^^dckif: Tuecda^f-FH^Aif: Saturdck.y: 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA / 616-275>1017 ! SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM •A.’v. t { I I i I k ",1 t ( , I I I If * I J ii . s' 'I 4 J L I r 'll I 1 I J t f * 1 Jl J ri It I ) 4 J / 1 'it s J \ I I I I I I J I< I 'V ' I. 4 ' 11 must present coupon, free items must be of equal or lesser value, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 11/30/25 ... f II II �it lj Saturday, November 15, 2025 4 the SUN AND news view www.sunandnews.com Group t . .* I !• J' •I Cal Schools receives communications awards Caledonia Caledonia Community Schools (CCS) recently announced that it has earned multiple awards from the Michigan School Public Relations Association (MSPRA) in recogni­ tion of outstanding achievement in school communications. The district received three Awards of Excellence and one Award of Merit. District rep­ resentatives say the awards highlight the district’s continued commitment to transparent, engaging and creative storytelling that reflects the heart of the community. CCS received an Excellence Award in the Social Media Campaign cat egory for its May 6 operating millage renewal campaign, which effectively informed and engaged voters. The campaign was recognized for its clar­ ity, consistency and community col­ laboration across all digital platforms. An Excellence Award was also pre­ sented in the Newsletter category for “The Cal Communicator: Sharing Our Stoiy,” the district’s community news- letter that showcases student success, Staff excellence, and district updates. The publication was recognized for its dedication to connecting with families and residents through meaningful and accessible storytelling. The district earned a third Excellence Award in the Photo category for Branded Purple and Gold, a striking visual representation of Caledonia pride. Tlie award-winning image cap­ tures tlie vibrant spirit and unity of the Fighting Scots community. LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY i >5** 'Y Caledonia Vine Street Church < < ► i. ALASKA BAPTIST 'cSt CHURCH Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM i r www.ata8kabaptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia 1 FIRST BAPTIST Sunday Service 10:30 AM Rev. Robert Mayo, Interim Pastor 250 Vine Street 616-891-8669 k Good Shepherd Lutheran Church co Middleville 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) Sunday Worship t Ill Pastor: Rob Wurst gMjJL 5 * http://goodshepherdlcnis.googlepages.coni t Livestream: facebook.com/firstbaptistmiddleville Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 CHURCH JOURNEY (269) 795-2391 <1^PEACE CHURCH Caledonia Location - PEACECHURCH.ee 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am J 9:30 a.m. THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH < f I k- 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend HOLY FAMILY J/CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org I 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 * 4 1 "Shining Forth God's Light" Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... ;:a±aL^ Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Ham Yankee Springs Bible Church MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: cornerstonechurch ... 10:00 a.m. ... 11:00 a.m. James L. CoUisan, Pastor 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com CCS was also recognized with a Merit Award in the Marketing Materials category for “Destination Caledonia: Where People Make the Difference," a campaign that celebrates the district's identity’ and emphasizes Caledonia as a destination for excel­ lence in education, community and culture. “These honors reflect the care and creativity our team puls into every projecL" said Dirk Weeldreyer, super­ intendent of CCS. “Eveiy story, cam­ paign, and image represents the incred­ ible people who make Caledonia what it is, a community where people truly make the difference.” The MSPRA awards recognize exemplary work in school commu­ nication and public relations across Michigan, celebrating efforts that foster understanding, trust, and engagement between schools and their communities. Representatives from CCS extended their gratitude to MSPRA for this recognition and to its staff, students and families for their ongoing support and partnership in sharing the district’s story. Caledonia Community Schools s ! •w* s<r> <2 1 , H .-ft &< 1 I I r ... i < . 4 11> t <- ft « 4 4 4 ft ft 4 4 t « I » I .T J .4 I 'A I • * ’ k 4 ■> i' > • I i t s i « 3e- ;T h- '* '» ► ir " ir LuL I • r • J I* J t / • *1 L* Ct * r r I • ■ TL'^ J ■ te < T'', , IIH «n • — t" r^w« ,K (* Bnr f. (F'" bl . 1 *.-F'** •• Y lii"*: LxX4-: .. f I • n • < • ♦ i < K< ? • •r t r )' t ' ..z* \ • 1. •M 0 » .4* I T‘ I >1 Ir I rl I I luYUfi* / > t MIDDLEVILLE t i I r , 1 *-1. .I TOPS 546 vy ' 't 4 -<-l f ■ ........ "V The Nov. 10 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There is only one fish in the fishbowl. After putting their meal cards in order, members spent their meeting time combining the “Our Day One” book and the meal cards. They each looked at meal plans they can work with. Chapter members continued the contest by filling in one dot for each one-tenth of a pound lost. Linda lost the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Mary^ellen, 616-318- • •/f 1 * I /Il uz i I 1 I £&>• ' • ri« I 4 C k ** Wlte" i » ■W" . k I I< "i/ir'--' t iKitini X' ” .......r I ■ f * WJ i iiab:/' • *. W ) x. t 4^ — I /^F /4 L .1 >>JV ' i ”2 T'MW'! eft^ ’ rj’s f I1 to 5* 1 .TrirrtUH’ . 'a >U)J. b •w Y --b J f' r . J ‘’s? r Uto I . 4 1 u 1 'i’llieiRg ■ -- "V--’ I .U-ft >s« i. ?• ,a f I f ,. ‘3 f rn i ’•'"►rki -i'... I ani| bii \4 limia* _. k«k ■ "» A •** « 4 • > «» I?’- A C J' ♦> > I5>' 4 » I . AVVi: ' nw �theSUNandNEWS www.sunandnews.com f 1 •c L 1 i Ji 1 APPROVE I I r z « \ > I Continued from Page 1 I A ; i I r* • { J 4. J f ) ■ I 1 4^r T ' *) il I. 1 1 r • • •> f. / 9 •X I (. < V 1 t l1 f I I I I 1 X • . *1 I r«J J J' ''I T ' r 1 ri^ , X. « •• • r 4 I 1 I i ;1V ♦ s; ‘to I * •V' sI i *k, ) -fsw I ♦ J I I '‘*1 i * *1 ‘ * t < I •Jb. . J 'tv., A ‘*1.’^ quipi vi" S »i"k t. 1 1 ; I f I V. e 4 t I I. I. iTf ’tr: '*lw nt . . •• ( •v \t\;), ’ •<3 Ji H k ’Om k - f ’ ♦ * a ? I y VfllM 1 1 * • • )• f J J ' •4 I I • 1 11 v.r * I f 99 ■ I J •. T - t * { 3 J I? «•» - 4 , A r - 1 f c t I : 7- * i T ’C‘l / I r f J tf t \ I - i 4 * - * ■. 4 s; *w| 1 $ •i;'C 'tte: jp amve). The Byron Township Board of Trustees voted in July 2023 to end its 73-year partnership with Gaines Township in mutually running the Cutlerville Fire Department. At that time, Byron Township officials decided to build their own fire station in Cutlerville in response to the growing number of fire calls in Byron Township. The split between the townships took effect last year. Gaines Township trust­ ees changed the name of the Cutlerville Fire Department to the Gaines Charter Township Fire Department. Township staff reported the number of calls for service in Cutlerville declined slightly this fall after Byron Township launched its new $2.4 million fire station on Clay Avenue on Sept. 22. I have no doubt ±at we’ll reach that point where the call volume’s going to go back up again,” Trustee Kathy VanderStel said. “But right now, the volume dropped a fair amount. “We knew that the number was going to go down for a short while, because we aren’t serving Byron anymore,” added DeWard. “But nonetheless, it’s an ideal situation to get us fully staffed so we’re not sending firefighters into a hazard­ ous situation.” Trustee Dan Fryling was the only board member to vote against the hirings. Personally, I ±ink we should wait until next year when we have a full year of numbers and facts and figures from Byron (Township),” Fryling said. “Although I think it’s ridiculous what Byron did (in abruptly sever­ ing the partnership with Gaines Township), the one thing it does do, is it puts mutual aid - another station - within a half-mile of our station,” he added. “I would run with what we have and see what those stats are a year from now.” Weersing was asked why it was important that the township board approve the hiring of three frilltime firefighters now rather than waiting a year. “The real reason for moving it 44 1 • Ma I* r 4 ..,/u I b 1 r t .1* iW b J: ' »■* I * If 1 • » i « J *>.« < *. 1 r A f c K I II t 2 Ckj I U LU I I f f •« * *• I I I i 4 I 'I f <. I ■ I I 1 - -f 9^ I I J 1 I I L. I r- 1 I I r I I I ? I k 1 r P r rtf* - ». I.I ► * ; Jfjj? * r I ill W .4 IN 4<? to J ' I ia"* . iUl i ■ I I 1 * 4n«- (' .. I . * * Ii ahead at this time was safety for our residents, safety for our fire­ fighters,” he replied. The State of Michigan’s budget for 2026 reportedly offers munici­ palities new public safety grants. That includes $8 million in one­ time funding for the purchase of fire equipment. Township Clerk Michael Brew asked at the board meeting whether Gaines will pursue the grants. “It looks like we would be can­ didates (in applying) for those par­ ticular grants,” he said. Weersing added there is $81,000 in new revenue sharing funds from the state in the township’s public safety budget, but it is earmarked for the policing side of public safety. “It does help the overall budgef because that’s money that we don’t have to put toward the fire side,” Weersing said. Brew said the township should pursue potential grants. With the uncertainty in our revenue sharing and the way that (lawmakers) re-did the state budget ... I would encourage us to go after whatever money we can go after,” Brew added. “Because there are so many questions that they didn’t answer by doing it at the very, very last minute at the state level.” Before Byron Township decided to end its partnership in mutually running the Cutlerville station, the township had agreed to split the $1.7 million cost for a new plat­ form fire truck. Weersing said Gaines Township ended up having to pay the full cost for the new 100-foot aerial fire truck, which will be delivered this month from Appleton, Wisconsin­ based Pierce Manufacturing. The new fire truck will replace the old Gaines fire truck that has been in service for more than two decades. “The current (one) is ready to be taken out of service,” Weersing said. “You hit the point where (aging trucks) just become a money pit. And every time you take them out, something different is breaking. “So, this is a long-term invest ment in a new piece of equipment that will better serve the residents of the township.” (4 Saturday, November 15, 2025 viewGroup < Classifieds s 1 ^*7^ - < 4 ’fc., BUSINESS SERVICES • I I Veterans were honored during Thornapple Kellogg High School’s Veterans Day progrann on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Courtesy photo TKHS, community honor HANDYMAN SERVICES OF­ FERED. Mise, repairs, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Estimates. 269-243-0468. CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 PAINTING veterans at annual program For 15 years, Thomapple Kellogg High School has invited the public to attend a school and community Veterans Day pro­ gram. It was started largely by the efforts of John Loflus and later Charlie Pullen. Even though neither of those two men is with us anymore, the pride and tradition of the and it is a Veterans Day event remain program they would almost certainly contin­ ue to be proud of today, say school officials. TKHS held its annual Veterans Day pro­ gram on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Students play a significant role throughout the event. The high school band and honors choir performances leave the filled gymnasi­ um quiet with respect and honor. When the solo bugler played “Taps,” the gym report­ edly became so quiet one could literally hear all to honor those who have a pin drop served. Several students shared readings and poems about Veterans Day and its meaning. TKHS sophomore Leigha Jones started off by welcoming everyone to the event and thanking the veterans for attending. Sophomore Kayla Price gave the student address on what Veterans Day means to her. Her grandfather, Lance Flierman, sat among the honored veterans, but didn’t know Kayla was giving a speech. Afterward, the two embraced. “Veterans Day is very personal to me, because through Veterans Day, I remember how grateful I am for my grandpa and how, even though he doesn’t see it all the time, he helps me be brave and courageous.. .When I think about him, I always know I have someone there supporting me and cheer­ ing me on, just like how he and his buddies were there for each other in the Air Force,” said Price. It’s easy to get caught up in our daily routines See HONOR on 7 ' PAINTING: LET 30 YEARS experi­ ence care for your home! Interior and exterior. Booking for winter and next summer. Licensed and insured. Locally family owned and operated. Call for free estimate. Phil Johnson Painting (269)953-7877 WANTED WANTED TO BUY: Standing Tim­ ber. Conscientious timber harvest­ er. Saw Mill Office-517-254-4463. Family owned and operated. TRAILERS VEHICLE HAULING TRAILER 16’ droptail. Call 269-953-8274 for details. EMPLOYMENT BARN HELP WANTED Must have experience with horses. Full and part time positions available with competitive pay. Please call 269207-4218 or email at zlpowell yahoo.com if interested. PETS BALL PYTHONS FOR SALE. Looking for good homes. Pric­ ing may vary by morph. Banana, Pastel Leopard, GHI Mojave, Wild Type, and more. 616-821-6600. FIREWOOD SEASONED HARDWOOD. $70 per face cord. Cash and Carry. Delivery extra. 269-945-7624. HOMES FOR RENT 2 BEDROOM, RANCH house, full basement, garage. $2200 mo. plus utilities. 616-893-5463 ■I 1 ji^bM I r ♦ I 4 9 1 0 I ( 1 4 I I. I Ii .1 ft I * b I i H I I I ! I s i I I I I I f ----- 1. 44 >4, >’ • i' L I uii I» X r • >< < >* A< 4 II i I 5 \ �•I « t 6 Saturday November 15, 2025 1 « I SUN < •L •■r» Serenity Village welcomes! new executive director Serenity Village Compas­ sion Home, a nonprofit orga­ nization dedicated to provid­ ing end-of-life care, recently announced tiw appointment of (ireg H(M>son as its new executive director. According Io a prepared statement on his appointment. Greg I hwisonbringsadistinguished career in nonprofit leadership and human services. IhMison's background reportedly aligns perfcclly with Sc rviiily Village's mission of caring for guests al the end of their lives with compassion, respect, and dignity. We are honored to welcome (ireg Io Serenity Village." said Stephanie fekkes, chairperson of ihc group's board of directors. “His deep under­ standing of human service organiza­ tions and his compassionate leadership style will help guide us as we prepare to open our doors and begin serving fiunilies in our community," Under I looson's leadership, officials with Serenity Village look forward to opening at the beginning of the new year a homc-hke setting for guests in their fi nalday s. The organization's mission is to ensure that no one in the community faces the end of lite alone or without compassionate Hcxjson * f I r« I« <*Upp(Wl. b4 I am deeply humbled to join Serenity Village al such an impKtant moment.’ said Hooson. “ Ihis home represents die heart of w hat community care should be surrounding each guest and their loved ones with comfort, respect and compassion. I'm honored to help bring that vision to life." Serenity Village will soon announce oppirtunilics for community involve menl, volunteer support, and partner­ ships as it prepares to welcome its first guests. I-or more information about Seren ity Village Compassion Home, visit online at sercnitybc.org or visit the Serenity Village page on Eacebook. ~ DA/ WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS Residential & CommerciaT TANK Continued from Page 2 had recommended appros al of the project in a letter to Weersing. Please note that Preload I I ( has constructed the Iwo existing concrete ground storage tanks that are currently a part of the By ron-f iaines waler sy s­ tem," Ciritter w rote. One of Ihe ground-mounted water tanks is located on f,astern Avenue, near 92nd Street in (laines lownship. and the other on Division Avenue south of 92nd Street in Byron lownship. There also is an elevated water lower on 6f>th Street west of Wing Avenue. Combined, lownship records indicate they hold a total capacity of 4 million gallons of waler. (iaines lownship obtains and pur­ chases its municipal water supply from the City of Wyoming, lownship stafi said they received a notice from the city last year that Ihe BGUA must increase its water storage capacity due to growing demand in Kent County’s two fastest-growing townships. After Monday's meeting, Weersing 616-891-0150 4 Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm I Ir . * f * .s^ s i»f' >3 Jt Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps -Water Heaters -Humidifiers X' * * fj^ : *I *-Vsi L **• t 4^ •e » Complete Collision Repair DeWeerd (68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM I i. f.cA i • v^- w T» a f9.K 269>792<2234 ( ft « I r NNOX A* I ACCRCOrrcD BUSINESS F u ir’Tl lA said the tou nship has been considering adding more capacitx for several years One reason is so thal the municipal waler pumps will not ha\c to run constantly during peak demand times Ilies' VC been suggesting it as sonicthing lhc\ WAMild like to sec happen, because of that strain on Ihe pumps to move the waler into the system." Weersing said So. b\ adding extra storage it gives us the ability once wc fill the tank lo let it run off gravity and give the pumps a break. Il will be long-tenn better for the infrastructure." Ihe area of the township where the water lank will be built reportedly is rapidly growing in population, plus commercial and industrial growth. Hie w ater storage tank will be ItKatcd just south of the Amazon fulfillment Center. M icrosofi purchased a '116-acre site last year on Patterson Avenue al 76th Street for future development Switch Inc. runs a major data center at its nearby pyramid building site on East Paris Avenue. Cireat I akes ( ocaCola operates a distribution center on Rapids Drive, and Silieonature and Old Dominion f reight Shipping have facilities on 68th Street. Prior Io receiving bids, the township engineer and some Gaines township staff members figured the project would be a lot more cxpiensivc. “Jeff Gritler’s estimate for this proj ect was $5 million two years ago," Weersing said. “So, he figured they would probably come in (with bids) between $6 million and $7 million. When they opened at $4.6 million, Jeff was delighted." Trustee Rob De Ward asked Weersing if Wyoming is comfortable with the water tank project planned for Pat­ terson Avenue. “Yes, they were good with it," Weers­ ing said. “They were glad to see it keep moving down the road. They will be really happy when it’s done. 1 hey're happy to see progress." Township officials have also dis­ cussed recently the potential of adding a second connection point to the City of Wyoming’s water system in the fu­ ture. Some of the existing underground water and sewer pipes were installed in the early 1970s. They have expressed concern about the aging infrastructure and the potential crisis that could oc­ cur if the township’s only water con­ nection to Wyoming were to break al » sorne point. ■G 1 i ft « 1 « I t « < « 4 V « ft 1 V I 1 ft « 1 iJ 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 your trusted body Shop for over 32 years 1 I-;J* - t f * 4* rz i ■^1 J I f .f: • « I I 111 * 4 x‘ I 4. 4* V 1 J V 9 t iT' 1 >11'• I’J * > i; I r.'S ■ ( ► fi f ,*• A I i e-' ✓ ftl fi I./, A ■n4’ u I {5'^ I I A a 4 fi i' I J A 4 A •y * A I » I • » If < » 4| 1 *•.A I 4 p ifi fi >■.'1 '.yi-w /’•’Ur*- * 9 X J r/ r ► . •A J tilrt I• ff*>C IIW* Md i (e; r V' J *1 r-* ♦ • •'l> *• V * 4* ^3 3 I >• . V '3^ 8^-3 -i fi • r'rJ 41 *.^.1 1 •'^<C . A' A *1 f • nraa r* *« •• . • *fri A. ./•acaflfOPi J V . 7 l.i* ^•»*-*^**T*'^ I 4 ‘ f *' r V ............ * '•I* ► 0 «4.>s 1. ^0 ’4 4 fi w * V t W .N ri U'« •r;:- i kI AA f u I ip ’ u< •*» I 4 1 ( W •* ' *I a rTaB****^ X ju> T .» 1 -i ’ ■ i .J;' : .14-1 1 «HIF I r I f 4 *«• IT '-' ■ I* % , t V ♦ - £ I t - •♦ *w * '♦ A •i‘i UUy t ft, ► 4 • I J VJMS «t{ s s . ib ' TT • r- * * tfc *• * r I « 'ft . * ' ^4 t ’’^®®Eas; 1I t *^48^. U&flt k > ' IA ■'’"‘■Wfil aI I fr iC5“ r >iAft t b I I ! fiI I I J fi i ; . I 1; r I J * i r M• . I it I <I I I I r K I t ’t. /> 4'’ A s I II V . I I t t f * BUSINESS HOURS: A I , I» ' i I* J i , • '’C,', > I 1 f I . '4' '. I ■» ’ I .) it 11 ft 1 I fi I s I fi tf 9 I I 1 �( www.sunandnews.com I * ) THE SUN and news f I f J INCREASE A ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH I I 1 t J 4 i I r I I Il -'k. 'v -Mb. ■’ibk- "fe.. j stop the leak! J I • I I I I i J I % I •' I I them up and truly spend less Money isn’t the destination— than you make, try these three it’s the fuel that powers your proven strategies: journey. We all have places we 1. The Buddy System want to go in life, but getting I Accountability changes there requires a full tank. And if E everything. Find someone—a you’ve ever looked at your “fi­ I X friend, mentor, or spouse— nancial gas gauge” and seen it who will hold you to your goals. hovering near empty, you know My wife is my built-in account­ how stressful that can be. Zach Santmier ability partner. Before making For years, I lived paycheck to an impulse buy, I run it by her. Whatever paycheck, constantly running on fumes. you have a leak in your budget, have a I was always trying to move forward, but buddy who can be a buffer between you my lack of financial structure kept me and an empty bank account. stranded. That’s when I decided to follow 2. The 24-Hour Pause a simple system built around eight finan­ Impulse spending is the enemy of cial markers—each one a checkpoint progress. Online shopping, especially toward a full tank of peace and purpose. on Amazon, makes it too easy. Before The first and most foundational mark­ you hit “Buy Now,” wait 24 hours. Let er? Spend less than you make. the emotional impulse fade and revisit Simple. But not always easy. We all the decision with a clear head. You’ll be know the math: if you spend more than surprised how often you decide you don’t you earn, you’ll end up empty. Yet most really need that item after all. people struggle to live this out. Budgeting 3. Use Cash sounds good in theory, but how many If you really struggle to stop spending, of us actually stick to it? Too often, it be­ go old school. Use cash. It’s inconve­ comes a source of frustration or conflict nient—and that’s exactly the point. When instead of a path to freedom. you physically hand over bills, you feel When my wife and I started budgeting, the weight of the transaction. That friction I was excited about it—-she wasn’t. Not helps curb impulse buys and reinforces because she didn’t care, but because mindful spending. sitting down to talk numbers while a baby To reach financial freedom, you must cried in the background wasn’t her idea first stop the leaks. Spend less than you of fun. Overtime, we learned that it wasn’t make, get a buddy, practice the 24-hour about building the perfect budget—it was pause, and if needed, put cash between about finding and fixing the leaks. you and your purchases. Do this, and Find your leaks! Most expenses—^your you’ll be well on your way to a full financial mortgage, utilities, gas—don’t change tank—ready to go wherever your journey much month to month. The real problem leads. is the little leaks: Zach Santmier is the owner of Trumble Eating out more than you realize. Agency, Inc. and the author of the person­ Quick gas station snacks that add up. al financial course, Increase. He focuses Gift-giving that comes from the heart on helping families escape paycheck-tobut drains the wallet! paycheck living so they can freely pursue These leaks are subtle, but they sabo­ their ideal future. tage your financial progress. To patch $ I. % J I 4 I *4 1 f I . fu I 1 $ I IJ I I ’'1 I 7 I f i 'fit ♦ 3 1 . % f . -r?E( -f I . * 1 1 I "..I s ' I . it" * 1 u d • * ( J . -^7 , , a H! ' 4 c 1 i ■ill. I ■'fSi'. -Tf'f. '1? H » Ti ’‘Av i I •s 1 . 4>i. • 'V I 4 Ch v.i I, .. irj H Or. • 'A'H 7’^ k I ♦ » . 1 •dibiv I T| 1.1 ( ' u. 0» 4 I 1 1 f ••X ? > I ♦ ♦ • r * I K -‘••I iu I* 1 fl. re I I ‘4’ T I 4An ) '“‘A 1 *2I>¥ * •• iZ -'MSI ?.i 1 A 1 T I r>» * M •♦•A 'f or d* . i I '’A Md f I ■'•Ale1 I ’ / t 1 I -J? ) * fl J i 1 s < V' i * I I I I & .’I '•I pA Cai. 1 « X J I ••' b «. .J 1 ‘*-*^*,*‘;*-. 4, Cii.n ( * tJtj iVfc it U- V» ^-*4* Hlui ’ I » I » I J *»««k t* .nJ J© ir 1 I I • *13 ' i it Itffe- i H 71. 'i I iw e 'J; 'I ’ S' I U;- ■ SI : ■ f? i ’. r I 1 . J y *1 * . « r *1 L ) be ih^TSQ k Continued from Page 3 J I I H r t It irq I I I I «.•* ? !' >r , .llilH*****' V * * i J . I 4 * I I I ') .H 41 >ow V t I 1 1 I s LEADERSHIP _J I » r \ 1 I • own conference experience and the impact it had on their personal growth and leadership journey. Last year’s MYLead participants in­ cluded Alister Brew, Allison Dryburgh, Vivian Fink, Gabriella Henney, Braden Hofstee, Ty Kimbrell, Mackenzie Krentz, Madison Lockwood, Gretchen VanderEide and Meghan Venhuizen. “We are deeply grateful to our local sponsors for investing in Caledonia’s future leaders and helping provide this transformative opportunity,” school officials stated in a press release. “We look forward to seeing how these stu­ dents use what they learn at MYLead to continue making a difference in our community.” Caledonia CommurtzYv Schools Saturday, November 15, 2025 viewGroup cover many shifts. He also told of his HONOR father and partner in the trenches takin Continued from Page 5 a direct hit; his partner was killed. He described how, as a soldier, his and forget how much has been given father would crawl through the night, to make our lives possible. That is getting close to Gennan troops and why it’s important to take a moment trying to capture them. His father was and appreciate what we have and wounded twice while in service. Once, thank those who made it possible. a sniper shot him. Most of us know someone who has “He felt something hit his back.. .he served, whether it’s a family mem­ took his backpack oft' and here’s this ber, a friend, or even just a neighbor. hole and a slug in a container of rations And Veterans Day is a reminder to in his backpack. He did get shot by a not just sniper in the shoulder area and had to show them that gratitude, today, but every day. Let them see walk back to the front lines for medical how much we really do appreciate treatment.” them and value them as heroes who Rendon said his father was at the have given us fi-eedom, safety and Rhine River when Hitler surrendered. opportunities we take for granted.” “They went on to Munich, and Dad’s Flierman said after the program outfit liberated Dachau (a German con­ that he was impressed by his grand­ centration camp.) He wasn’t in on the daughter’s words. first advance, but he was there.” “There’s no better benefit I get Rendon said of his own experience as a veteran than having you as that when he graduated from TK in my granddaughter,” he said as he 1969, he was ready for Vietnam and hugged her after the ceremony. figured he would get called. “There was The guest speaker was TK gradu­ a 1S college deferment, so I started col­ ate Bruce Rendon, Class of 1969. lege at Ferris State. Well, that deferment He addressed the students and went away and I went 1A and I thought, community members on behalf of well, now I’m going. Then they came his father, Rigoberto Rendon, who up with the lottery. They said tiiey served in World War II. would get to 200.1 drew 209 and they High School Principal Tony got to 203.” Petersen introduced Rendon. “While “For whatever reason, I wasn’t called Bruce is not a veteran, he too has to duty, but here’s how I look at it for served his country by being a myself,” he said. “I did serve my state member of the Michigan House of and my country by becoming a state Representatives, where he passed representative and serving the public in several bills, including one that pro­ the house and successfully getting 22 hibits disorderly conduct at a military different acts passed, including House funeral. His father, Rigoberto, was Bill 4284, which states that you cannot his inspiration for his work ethic, disrupt a military funeral.” his approach to government and his Rendon said he was proud of his commitment to family and his quest father and of all the veterans who have to make the world a better place.” served or are still serving. Rendon was honored to be invited TK students offered several readings back to TK to speak at the assembly about Veterans Day including Aubree and hoped he could hold it together Stevens reading “The MIA POW while he spoke about Veterans Day Table” and Abigail Hoebeke read­ and his own father. “Veterans Day - ing “They Did Their Share.” Exley the 11th hour of the 11th day of the Roon read “Thank a Veteran,” and 11th month - 1918 Armistice Day Gabriel Van read “The Best on Earth: A that ended World War 1.” Veteran’s Day Tribute.” Rendon said his father grew up in The high school choir sang “We Texas and one day, just before he Honor You” and “Unsung Hero.” The turned 19, he received a letter in the band performed “The Star-Spangled mail calling him to service. Before Banner, ” “Torch of Liberty,” and “US long, he found himself on a freighter Armed Forces Salute.” headed to North Afnca to join in Veterans were recognized individually World War II. as they stood or waved to the crowd and Rendon related the stories he then accepted a standing ovation after heard from his father about being the final names were read. They were in the trenches and taking two-hour then welcomed to a luncheon served shifts with a partner. His partner got. . by high school students Thornapple sick one night' so Rendon had to......... Kellogg Schools......... a e • • « .J I I n I n ri ( t f I I I na II* V {n t I 'h I.l I a 1 u / -if fI it I I J I » I I 7 \ «»'<* ' « �-Wil ► 15 Saturday, November 15, 2025 8 the SUN AND NEWS VIEW«>^oro<H, www.sunandnews.com r' w t Sporting News r i I V -wr F* . '4 1 ■if i I II & r* A I » Record runner total, high-mileage at fourth annual Cal Crusher 4 i<» I I Brett Bremer 5K or they run two miles at our [school] races, I think he did 40 miles yesterday and today. They really just amaze them­ selves and go as far as they can go, and it’s just kind of a social thing.” TTiis was the fourth year of the Cal Crusher. The course was headquartered at the Caledonia Community Green Park Pavilion and traversed the trails and sidewalks from there around Em­ mons Lake, across the Caledonia Com­ munity Schools campuses, around the library and back to the park. All monies raised by the event are donated to charity each fall, and Bravata said that typically totals between $3,000 and $4,00 a year. This year funds are going to benefit research into Type 1 Sport Editor It was the biggest Cal Crusher yet. A group of 125 runners took part and the top performer set a new record for mileage at the 3O-hour endurance race spanning Nov. 1-2 in downtown Caledonia. “It’s a 30-hour endurance run,” event founder Becky Bravata said. “People can come and the goal is just to run as many loops as you can. I’s about a five-mile loop, 4.8. We have kids from elementary. I coach middle school cross country and middle school track, so we get a lot of my athletes. You’ll see a lot of kids here. And I’m always amazed. I have a boy here that, I mean they run a . .-if ■ I IL f i • -* Nr i I •l. .< 4 S= % s T* •A Scan our QR code to find your perfect invitation! ■u I — ! I IL I J 1* 4 4 < < I t - /• ' . * b tf- r? t r •* 4 . > < * > ; < r J J <4v* •• «r w^******^* ar *2k « i 9^ '^C 4^ ' cj ■ ;^— \ / r ♦•♦ < I I * •< * * jii «**• »• Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. PRINTING BY www.printingbypennylane.com I en .com u lacfr'? ' diabetes. Runners can come and go as they please throughout the event, which be­ gan on Saturday morning and concluded Sunday about noon of that weekend. A poster board and a marker awaited run­ ners at the pavilion for check off each loop completed, along with a table of snacks and a couple propane heaters that helped keep Bravata warm throughout the night at the check-in station. Bravata did a 100-mile run herself about five years ago, and then got into a challenge where the race organizer was looking for everyone to run a 50K, a 50-mile, a lOOK and a 100-mile race. She got to the 100-mile portion and was starting to think about the cost and time involved in entering and traveling to a 100-mile race. She didn’t want to run the 100 miles alone. She gathered members of a local running group and others from the community, found volunteers to work aid stations as she could, and the event has taken off. “It’s just us doing something we love to do. It is great for people to get out here and meet new people and encourage each other Bravata said. “Everybody kept saying we love that there are so many kids here this year.” That was due in part to the fact that most of the high school and middle school cross country runners were done with their season. The event has typically been a little earlier in the fall - when it’s not so chilly through the night. The only local school runners still going at that point were the Caledonia varsity boys who were running in the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Cross Country Finals at Michigan In­ ternational Speedway in Brooklyn the afternoon of Nov. 1. The 2025 Cal Crusher top mileage runner knows a little something about international racing. Scott Whisler has completed a marathon in each of the 50 continents. He went 115 miles over the course of the weekend, a new Cal Crusher record even if he didn’t quite reach his goal of finishing 125 miles. It is still the furthest he has ever run. Erika Burgess, Krista Greaves, Ra­ chel Everett and Adelyn Fienstra were the top female performers. They each covered 62 miles. Runners come and go as they please on the course. There is typically a cel­ ebration about 10 p.m. the first evening of the race. Some folks choose to run over night. Some swing through for a few laps Saturday and another couple Sunday morning. Whisler’s previous best on the course was 105 miles. He has taken part in all four Cal Crusher events, and thi s was the third time he has surpassed 100 miles at the event. It was a pace of a mile every nine and a half minutes for Whisler for about the first 50 miles. By the end, he figures he was closer to a 20-minute mile pace. “I didn’t know what I was doing when I first started doing this,” Whisler said of long-distance events. “I swore off running for a while, and then I had a buddy who wanted to try to qualify for Boston, and we ran several races trying to qualify in several states. Then we thought, hey it’d be kind of cool to try and do one in every state. So, that was kind of the goal. I just finished that about a year and a half ago, I got all of them. I started playing with continents now. I’ve got three continents and all 50 states.” He ticked off Europe with a marathon in Berlin, Germany, and competed in Brisbane, Australia too. “This is pretty cool that she started doing this,” Whisler said. “Each year it’s a different fundraiser and it’s always good to support something other than just running for no reason.” This year’s event did have an extra­ hour, making it a 31 -hour event because 4 • i* Z b nv ■u*' 1 -dfe* .41^ S*'‘ i &0 "TT :.ri![ t 109 1 I * B9n9'iun>tO ii' - j •IflR S»n ’4 un?* J 4 1 J .5 I I 1 e I • b * g SH| I 1^ ■ . .,i.»xcrrtli^T^ ttitrnr. I I I lx I / I / « X ■« ) tr / z 1 IH .(6 ,u L 1 JSr ••m* 4 , I Atfoat) if' ' ‘ J« > Jar esd ZT'- < I 0 f i L ’ (Onn-i iin^L -b wa 9 *1 I : ■• I ‘ I t •aS’p' I V%..;.. ! t ' K 1 K •W I .•< .1 4 ,5„l jfa T ISA J f ; 9f idW ^cifUgt, ji I'" 0)4., W4’ boB ;a &9J «F f i 4 4 * k Ll o4--fa <)}’bWi'3« 4 . 4 «l I r- V •t* ! *^^£9 11l33Vd2 Iffil kiav^^ . iV'sWteibdimt ’ riws-flis R I ? 1 * Is lolulcgl /)^ Wi b I I ? 1. Xf ■ . t«i! tn 'fk^Mb L affranliTO< liirbrB .r J I II a''’ . *. nTrbs'Km e AuwaqiMF t j: t .w .11 bajoqmoj bn-.-f .. J. !' i tonya 3ite ifldJ loooM «rti I I I 1B9V <* .bl8E 19fei i. t ^vfiw<6E')tbns»2iBibi•}lt> r usrt) T3d>0 ^fuiteraoa It ' .noaBSi orrt b «k 1 6 I I J I L -Bitra f s;- t ' r- WEriittb W/k ^-K. ; J. ' *> Wb ■■ OST ttJ. >H. ri �1 1 4- ♦ ♦ ■ L*?-' •^7 I c. k 5t^ 4 I?. THE SUN AND NEWS VIEW.Group Saturday, November 15, 2025 9 Fighting Scots fight back from 2-0 down for district title V f e www.sunandnews.com 1 i r i^JB2 ■f I f I91fe TJi^a A, ft Brett Bremer Sport Editor A district trophy seemed a long way off after two sets and close to 50 points of set number three at Plainwell Thursday, Nov. 6. Plainwell won the first set. A pair of set-point opportunities got away from the Fightings Scots at the end of set number two - another Trojan victory. Plainwell served for match-point twice near the end of set number three. That trophy wasn’t out of reach until ±e final point ±ough, and eventually the Caledonia varsity volleyball team t 1 js I ■‘ijj If.' h.'' n* * *.M I* SV'’’ i■‘ f i ■. I ’■-A It 1 >v«' O »» V VtL. • ( 4 I t 4 1 J. »• I « ^3** • U. « ‘Oi < ( ' *•< « a h?‘ u r t*;! 1 1 > r ► » -riz r hoisted its first district championship trophy since 2018 with a three-set rally for a 3-2 win over the host Trojans in the MHSAA Division 1 District Finals. It was the second five-set win ofthe district tournament for the Fighting Scots who beat Gull Lake in five in the semifinals a day earlier. Caledonia eventually bested Plainwell in the district final by the scores of 14-25, 25-27, 27-25, 25-13, 15-13. “I couldn’t be more proud of this group,” Caledonia head coach Ashley Brown said. “To come back from being I »' a 4k. 4t I ; r.i **«»• /j f ;r I i - «* 4 I 4 - H WlBRi . '• ■■«i • « I f f J ^4 ‘ > ^TW» ' ■< I JI KF! k I t •2 1 » -V- ’'4^ J 0 r t I WHR' > , f k^Wa«» 4 '^1' - » * ffZ f < **17. i 1 .»• k 'T* 4 • k. 4 1 4 •>» .1* k * I L A •A * ■** •fete.,. I * K, 4 < It< 4 •I < I I s* I ?* Bl f HiL’*bK H% fi *< I'l :• u •■ Caledonia senior Kyla Charles (left) and Plainwell senior Autumn Gravelyn duel above the net during their MHSAA Division 1 District Final at Plainwell High School Thursday, Nov. 6. I •V:. 4 1 ” ■ t ! 3 ?» «? • M ► .I I > I ■ \ •> > » •^1.? •. V f? *>^ ^.^1 «■ ••n «A I 4 * '«, 4 < «* < « I •** -i' .rr ’ **'^i*** *» *1_ r ai dr 7-^ f .□ t r w * 4 < JI b I II A bU Im 1 ( .1. »I *4 4.Ez wr ■« 9 '”*• X to r / » pr r f M? t ..^^***-*-' ^F* ibk ' k k WS!.. « V « Jt s., I 1 > c « I 5> I 1 ■t I »> ’t 4 A . (c* *. I fl UH • s K ^.ss^aHW f s J •* * A ■ L I I \ , < •> . .' a. ? \ * F w *r r I• *• ■■■ V S • A •■A •' *?** if I 1 eisEij^i < ?’.:?3fatir ) J .IE w si. :k:La^» i IP ( . #1^ 4.** * sr <«•: ® -;ieaa!te I r4 J >• I M JUW f* I « f 11 The Caledonia varsity volleyball team hoists the district championship trophy after a five-set win over host Plainwell in the MHSAA Division 1 District Final . at Plainwell High School Thursday,. Nov. 6................... I niV ■ J V I IIf JC h f^n iiiEiF-fn ■ J ,I tii I Pi i*! I I J J I .f R !'• U down two sets in a district final shows incredible grit, belief and trust in each o±er. They refused to give up and played with so much heart. This win was a true reflection ofour growth as a team. Earlier in the year, we might not have had the poise to battle back like that. But ±is group has matured mentally, and they just kept finding a way. This was such a special win for our program. “It’s been years since Caledonia brought home a district trophy, and to do it ±e way we did—coming from behind and playing fearless volleyball makes it even more memorable.” Its only the third district championship in the history of the Caledonia program, and a nice addition to the OK Green Conference championship the Fighting Scots won in the fall of 2024. Fighting Scot junior outside hitter Au­ brey Reynolds, fresh off a school-record 38 kills including her 1,000th, led the Fighting Scot attack, led the Scots with 22 kills and 22 digs. Sophomore Lydia Bell had 17 kills to go with four blocks. “Aubrey and Lydia were unbelievable in ±at game,” Brown said. “When we needed big swings, they delivered over and over again. Aubrey’s composure and See SCOTS on 10 ntONTOR HEATING AND COOLING High Efficiency FURNACE 6 AIR O%FOR 18 MONTHS FINANCING with equal payments on purchase of a furnace >200 OFF OR purchase of furnace and a/c ___ I Now through 11 -15-25 p >**••-• ■* I i *1»T i H ‘ H ;£J mJ rji J 5.= « h V'lB ,7z r ► i S' . * jb.; I Must present this coupon. Expires 11-30-25j other products available: • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and morel Ihv /uii/i bj {cteridl> ' 210 East Main Street Caledonia 616-891 k*I k I •1> J ♦ ♦ e �K T I 10 Saturday, November 15. 2025 SCOTS ♦ and news the sun view>. “ ♦ Caledonia Community Schools will be posting an RFP for “Lawn and Landscape Services” RFP information will be found on the district website; httpsV/www.calschools.org/bond/ wt. 4 1 ?• w ♦ J» t 9 1. Continued from Page 9 ability to take over a match is incredible, and Lydia came up huge with key kills that completely shifted the momentum. Those two set the tone for our come­ back.” Our comeback didn’t happen without our defense providing us opportunities to set up the offense. Kayleigh [Miersen] made some incredible reads and kept rallies alive, and Avery [Seif] was all over the court — steady, fearless, and making play after play. Our back row gave our hitters a chance to take over.” Seif led the Scots in digs with 23 and Miersen finished with 19 digs to go along with six kills. After the tough set-two loss, the comeback really picked up steam late in set number three, but Caledonia had to fight off two match-points to keep their hopes alive. “During a time out we talked about how this is it,” Brown said. “They have to choose to go play volleyball, and fight for every single touch.” Plainwell led 24-23, getting their the Trojans’ first chance at match-point fol­ lowing a Caledonia timeout. The Scots fought off that match point and then an­ other to get to 25-25 as long rally ended in a kill by Caledonia senior Kayla Charles in the middle. Charles then stepped back to serve and fired an ace to put her team up 26-25. After a Plainwell timeout, a Trojan at­ tack failed to clear the net and the Scots had new life with a 27-25 win. The offense kept rolling from there through setters Reese Stafford and Charles. Charles had a team-high 31 as­ sists to go with ten kills, three aces, three blocks and 12 digs. Staffordhad22 assists and 12 digs in the match. “Their decision-making and compo- I vvww.sunandnews.com Group I I 4^ 9 * ■ » «• * 4 A? i A’ (*►* > ■k.. Ir I I t J 1 4B ‘W <. Ea* F « e A Ji 7 I f r >L I I I I I ' ' rf I 4 I I J .1 F I 4 i F £ <k I I .K k 1 « i -3 A W«w* I •I 7 *z/.. ft.-.s*; ■")? •• ;fo 7/. « t 't . V Sr*',' ' I s t w*£3£gjg^ • /• »* 4* * Caledonia junior libero Avery Seif pass a Plainwell serve as junior teammate Aubrey Reynolds looks on during the MHSAA Division 1 District Final at Plainwell High School Nov. 6. sure under pressure were huge for us,” Brown said. “They kept our hitters in rhythm and spread the ball around so we could stay unpredictable.” Sophomore Quinn Ziegler stepped to the service line to start set four and helped her team serve up a 10-0 lead to start set four. “Throughout the match, we struggled a bit on getting a block up on their big outside hitter and we had lots of block ing errors,” Brown said. “The last play of die fifth set, junior Kayla Briseno blocked their outside to win ±at set, and I couldn’t have been more excited for her w CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meeting Minutes The minutes for the October 15, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on November 5, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave., and on the website at www.caledoniatownship.org. and the team. “We just never gave up and wanted that game so bad.” Briseno closed the match with three blocks. The Caledonia season closed in the MHSAADivision 1 Regional Semifinals at Portage Northern High School Tues­ day, Nov. 11, as the Scots found them­ selves in the same position. This time, the Battle Creek Lakeview Spartans didn’t let the Scots finish off that third-set rally. Lakeview took a 25-9, 25-20, 28-26 win over the Fighting Scots. “They did a great job defensively and really keyed in on Aubrey,” Brown said. “We just struggled to find ways to put the ball away consistently. Our girls competed hard and battled to the end. It just wasn’t our night offensively. Lakev­ iew had a great game plan and executed it well. They were able to slow down Aubrey, and we couldn’t quite get into the rhythm we needed. Still, I’m proud of how our team kept fighting and tried to adjust.” The Scots adjusted after that slow start, and had something of a lead throughout much of set number two. They opened the set with an 8-1 run. Lakeview put together a surge to go from a 13-6 hole to a 15-14 lead, and Caledonia never had the lead again in that second set. The Scots never found the roll they did against Plainwell in set number three to extend their season. “I think mentally our kids were tired, playing two five-set games in the fashion that we did took a toll and we just fell short,” Brown said. Bell and Reynolds tied for the team lead with eight kills each against LakevieSv. Reynolds' Added' 15 digs. Bell had four blocks. Charles had another solid all-around match with five kills, 13 digs and 16 assists. Ziegler stepped up to hit seven kills. The Scots also got ten digs and two aces from Miersen and nine assists from Stafford. Caledonia’s OK Green Conference rivals from Byron Center won the other regional semifinal in Portage Tuesday outscoring Mattawan 28-26, 25-13, 25-20. The Bulldogs and Lakeview Spartans were set to meet for the regional championship Thursday, Nov. 13, back at Portage Northern High School. “We knew going into this season it was going to be a rebuilding year,” Brown said. “We had a tough schedule consis­ tently going up against ranked teams in the state, week after week. From day one, ±is group set big goals and never backed down from a challenge. Winning a dis­ trict championship says so much about their work ethic and belief. I’m incredibly proud to be their coach. “Our seniors (Maggie Loomis and Kyla Charles) led wi± heart and set the tone for what it means to play for Caledo­ nia. They’ve left behind a foundation of leadership andbeliefthat’s going to carry this program forward for years to come. “While it’s never easy losing seniors, it’s exciting to think about most of our team returning for next season. This season was all about growth and grit. We faced adversity, but every time they found a way to respond. That toughness, both on and off the court, is what we will continue building on and come back Stronger next season.”^ « 7:^ . f teUiSJri JMB , J 1 Slwijj ft it ! f > ’'^ * «-< Wr. 4 t f < A * jkAA- - AS 4 i' •'’A *• 1 v » * ! •n' 'A. i fe-. ' V"* The Caledonia varsity volleyball team celebrates its program's first district championship since 2018 after rallying from two sets down to defeat Plainwell in five in the MHSAA Division 1 District Final at Plainwell High School Thursday. Nov. 6. Photos by Perry Hardin 1 ft*’: •* I tt I 1 W*' ”E: I J • ^rJ «• J»I' 4 > X I IP I f. ••1 4 ff c ?1 4 '-Wti 4 *T* . »9{m5ij »» » V * J**' 1 •F 1 4 •« Zl ** . a 4 w ^;r' <. k.1-. ? » r- J A h'r . .iiynpiui * 3h t n i' •, fir <4 ^;x I lb* « I <gzi s: J • i I ttnr* IW r * * r • --U/1^ J.< J •’♦ r'. r -J 1 . >• jD'H 1 >JU . r i? I f - , fi'- A':--*’-’*’ t ViPJ » ?'l ‘- f I wa*. tjy 1 1 14 t - 1- r. F ■•V ?*•' ' .1 Jr *>« 11 L —’ I ;/ - • t * .4 d J 4* . ■ Z 4 t 7 I* r . M •• f * It I !"rTT . n • r*» u • f-ii > ■ » !■ a I ' f’- G r. J," • ‘n k * Jf J *J»'' M .<'"S ' •> ' 1.?+ ' r k - J • •A* A? *2.; Li JU m •I I k' I. 7 f r t • { • r a t'-r/' - >• CT t ■■Jt 4 'z * I 3 -’fr J V ^l/'- - I 1 I s I 4 r • i * * * * < TVl -n <■ 1 • I J 1 • *1 l. 11 < V It 4 A '** ' S * If •« 1 .r'-i,';.; I Z > S 1 .• 1 . r* » A* J JI V 1 JK'^ PV — I I fi f 1 I . \ ITT* • ■ I r.f.. -6w a'. kE. r »' /» r- • )*— . .. Z .1 ' fc* . u s - F>: X ? ■ rn-j r . M'l f-i. * 'J' ^'==55=^;. V „ / .4- ’ I - 'J I , I, T • I .T I I 4 ( rv I I .J t a •J r •> "Vt 6 .1' 5 -; ■f * PT a :4'' 9 v« 4 *1 * I �»• ♦ 1 ♦ I K I ,I 5 • ♦ 4 *4 9 1 11 Saturday, November 15, 2025 Slagel conference diving champ for third time in three tries *II* • iegei •b •4 r VIEW „ ., Group THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com -a I» [ I v 4 * ‘J & 1 J® * 1 « > 9 y"' ■ V* • -'fe X. 4 i 4 * JL * I " * I £ e: •* a .M * < .fc-. ■■■ 2 4 9 * Vi * s t i I V 4 •’**w 1 Fj I 9 F i i. » i J V.' <1 Uz 4 ? 4 > J I •• I *> 4 I 1 A* r i V V if. •X? 3f b. * X » >x t’ A >< » . iP :J? 5' •«? V « J£,i. - A I ir" f? * V ' • V t; If t « X . ■s. t.r^. A * * r| » 1 S % ill •< bX !• ll f' Sv I * s a K I I r i t F. .9^ t * *»* y- ■ A I hZ •’»A r* i fr J * K>*^ ■- 1 1 .V^ e" I ’ .’ ^•1 /< / f *<• • k 5#^ J? > p < s . S' IL J '-4r t I I*’ . .1 4^^ > V, IlL S'ts:. ^,1 «S I r Grand Rapids Gator teammates Jenna Robinett, Eloise Nichols, Mckenna Hawks and Mara Raak look up from the medal stand after a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay to open the OK Conference East Division Championships at the Community Education and Recreation Center in Hastings Saturday, Nov. 8. <t-U ' I- il_;'-. •z*. 'QJ J V ' L I ■'tf •% JI ;!• y* ''id f I ’• A f' •»• dP>- t = jSr i’- u t '■ Brett Bremer Sport Editor >4tnu W ‘f) » Xi.,- f . ' W 4 r Btmj *! 1 V -\1 *^0 >* i- - ► r r Cl! 1^;. » rM‘t *; I ’I •rvn •« I V I , ? 1 *i .• -''’ Hcaj :> 'U't..' • ' - 14. "'■"Tai'Ste . <fnv/ *nn r s J 9 J . > r '^t{ *• i r** s •>tr?Oq -• I n Tj 1 1 I i ♦ vm V tw ^'in;xari» Ir I <rt* lU ^.' iiW-SijUT i , I ItVUKhlV^li I i I t Ji Jif / / i 'J■' ’Iff 1 ' -Z 1 t w k J mm Mj t t t; J I I I • A' > 1 r J I ; r- . »• ' s > ■ry - I J I I * J I I j .,. I; e 4 4 H'l . * f ( s \ I I I f / I I V T *•* I ) J X\ I A I. - . ■// f r I. ' ir s c ■■ ** 9 I * f t r> *r I I I J > ’ • * • «- « «• ■J.r I - < ' I I I J I c A • < • ’■ 1 i * 'rXif' ir' ( I I > I I I II II i t 1 I 1 U .j . i . n I «» ' H ‘1 ‘J Caledonia has not been beaten in its two seasons back in the OK Confer­ ence East Division, and Grand Rapids Gators’ junior Lydia Slagel hasn’t been beaten in three seasons of var­ sity swimming and diving conference championships. Slagel won a conference title for the third time with an overall score of 437.65 points. She beat her nearest competitor by more than 80 points over the course of the 11-dive competition at the Community Education and Rec­ reation Center in Hastings Nov. 7-8. “I think it went really well,” Slagel said. “I am really happy with how it went. I know there were some dives that I could have done better, but we just go back to the drawing board and you learn from your mistakes and you just make them better.” Slagel earned All-America honors as a sophomore after placing fourth at the 2024 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’ Swimming and Div­ ing Finals. She was 22nd at the state finals as a sophomore. In every one of her 11-dive competitions this fall the » ' < « « » . «> « • » \ « Thomapple Kellogg High S.cjippl dent-athlete has scored well enough to earn All-America consideration again. Slagel was really happy with her forward 2-1/2 somersault in the tuck position dive during Friday’s prelim’s and her reverse 1-1/2 somersault in the pike position during Saturday’s finals. Her conference championship scores have climbed over the years. She won the OK Rainbow tier 11 Conference championship as a freshman with a score of 378.70 points. Her point total was up to 393.80 in the renamed OK Conference East Division Champion­ ship last fall as a sophomore. “I have put in the work. I come into practice every day ready to do every­ thing that I can do to get better. I will do everything to get better, and it has paid off,” Slagel said. “Mechanically, I am a lot better... and diving takes a lot of mental strength,” she added. “Before I wasn’t as confi­ dent. Now, I’m a lot more confident because I do three to six of everything per day. I know for a fact that I am going to be able to make the dive.” Divers from around the state were set compete in regional meets Nov. 7. Slagel was slated for the Division l\Regional m Hudsonville. The, DI 3 IW 1 w. »> > '62" < 4 Grand Rapids Gator junior Lydia Slagel comes out of her pike position on an inward dive during the OK Conference East Division Championships at the Community Education and Recreation Center in Hastings Saturday, Nov. 8. Slagel won the conference championship in the diving event for the third year in a row. Photos by Brett Bremer MHSAA L.P. State Finals will be held Nov. 21-22 at Oakland University. The Caledonia varsity girls’ swim­ ming and diving team finished off its second undefeated season in the OK Conference East Division, after mov­ ing over to the former OK Rainbow Conference Tier II form the OK Red, by winning Saturday’s conference championship meet at the Community Education and Recreation Center in Hastings by 61 points over runner-up Ottawa Hills. Caledonia remains a co-op with South Christian and Lowell student­ athletes. The Grand Rapids Gators cow * * * w ■> «• •■ * * *• * > op with Thomapple Kellogg, Hopkins, West Michigan Aviation Academy and West Catholic girls placed fifth on the day as a team, tying Grand Rapids Union for fifth in the final overall con­ ference standings. Caledonia won with an overall score of526 points Saturday ahead of Ottawa Hills 465, Wayland 341, Catholic Cen­ tral 318, Grand Rapids Gators 151 and Grand Rapids Union 126. Gators sophomore Mckenna Hawks was seventh in the 200-yard individual medley with a personal best time of 2 minutes 32.94 seconds. Freshman See CHAMP * *' *.«. A. * A , on 13 • �r A I ftB I I * 12 ♦ Saturday, November 15, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS r www.sunandnews.com Group F I Fighting Scots are undefeated conference champions again 'Mt 4 TA e* Sport Editor I . 4 n Iwo seasons. Two championships. Zero defeats. The Caledonia varsity girls’ swim­ ming and diving team rolled through their second undefeated season in the OK Conference East Division by win­ ning Saturday’s conference champion­ ship meet at the Community Education and Recreation Center in Hastings by 61 points over runner-up Ottawa Hills Saturday. Caledonia senior Sophie Gaylord and Wayland senior Laney Wolf were the top two performers in the confer­ ence for the day with Gaylord a victor in all four events she participated in. Caledonia had five ofthe top ten scorers at the meet and seven all-conference honorees overall - a list that also in­ cluded senior Aliya Van Hofwegen, junior Mya VanderZwaag, sophomore Amelia McCann, freshman Caitlyn Morris, sophomore Lily Klein and freshman Kailey Hall. Fighting Scots were better than 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 41 r ■ •ic V I • ^,1,^ "^4 ♦> ■ -SR a r ry Au v**t 1 * >3 » < r r A *‘1 ^1 • £9 [t' J , 4 ♦ t / • Jk*. <* r * t: *IP • •£ - 4 r ?- I — * w •* .^4Vr *• ■: J w r >1. *.▼ •* • < T I, A ' F 4 1 A** ’P* I i « r t >' 1 I i ’****' •< / i ‘ Mi JI IC. ■■ «» ' w 4 i 4 4r-s-: «r • I ’ k. <e ■J- • 4 AV- • * *'<« r 4 -‘4.- -' , ■ ; * » »■ A 4 .X' .r «« * VX. .A —-.r t .■»A * k 4«w> A A* T*'. «4i» .« L i a It _ Ik I ^.t*5 ’I ■! I • A s ‘f M < ¥ •X ■ I V I •/» i 9 ■ ='.a S' I . ■. — -r* *1 r;; k J -F •V • r 1 |K' : J J® V’ • HF 4 *»— '*^41 ' R . *** K-V t - • .*• f * . - cJ M.. /* r* .. ‘Jf ‘ • >- . • < • ■> w I .-A-."* »~ » • .«F' . il^ I fl fl l.f r >■ fa c .« > J . ’ / <5 * ,* 1 ?■ Ii'^' •*»».* • ■’--r— .-s.: V ? A. =■1"^ “is.*/ .-■Ji '4^ > s f •' I * * ’ I’ Caledonia senior Aliyah Van Hofwegen swims to a runner-up finish in the 100-yard butterfly during the OK Conference East Division Championships at the Community Education and Recreation Center in Hastings Saturday, Nov. 8. 91 « r 1 1 J t h v* jC />r 4M 1 k » > 4j!!Jp“' t * •• 5 / I I > the Division 1 state qualifying time in all three relay races at the confer­ ence championship and Gaylord and VanderZwaag had times good enough Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 Caleix»jiA TOWNSHIP M J 3^ ♦ ♦ • nsBjJKS ♦ Brett Bremer \ «?«!>■ CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA, COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF POSTING OF TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed Caledonia Charter Township Ordinance which would adopt the 2021 edition of the International Fire Code has been posted in the office of the Township Clerk at the Caledonia Charter Township offices, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue, within the Township, for review by the public during Township office hours, and has also been posted on the Township’s website, the address of which is www.caledoniatownship.org. The amending ordinance would adopt the 2021 edition of the International Fire Code as the fire code for the Township, with certain amendments, revisions and changes, including regarding the board of appeals, violations and penalties, stop work orders, automatic sprinkler requirements for existing buildings, and location regulations for flammable and combustible liquids. The amending ordinance would also provide for enforcement of the same and repeal Ordinance No. 00-03 and Ordinance No. 2020-02, which adopted older fire codes by reference. The above stated ordinance was considered by the Caledonia Charter Township Board on first reading at a public meeting of the Township Board held on November 5, 2025 and is expected to be considered on second reading by the Township Board at a public meeting on November 19, 2025. This notice is given in accordance with the Charter Township Act and is authorized by action taken by the Caledonia Charter Township Board. Dated: November 11, 2025 Joni Henry, Township Clerk Caledonia Charter Township ! ''vi >4!F oo* for spots in the DI Finals in individual races too. Caledonia remains a co-op with South Christian and Lowell student­ athletes. The DI MHSAA Lower Peninsula Girls’ Swimming and Div­ ing Finals will be held Nov. 21-22 at Oakland University. Gaylord won the 100-yard backstroke in 57.74 seconds Saturday and the 100-yard butterfly in 57.68 Sat­ urday, defending titles in both events from a year ago in the conference. Van Hofwegen was the 100-yard butterfly runner-up in 1 minute 3.90 seconds. And as far in front as Gaylord was, Van Hofwegen was still more than two sec­ onds ahead of her nearest competitor. The Caledonia girls won two of the three relays. VanderZwaag, Hall, McCann and Gaylord won the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1 minute 39.6 seconds break­ ing a ten-year-old pool and conference record in that race set by Grand Rapids Catholic Central in what was formerly known as the OK Rainbow Conference Tier IL Caledonia made its return to the conference in 2024 after a few seasons competing in the OK Red Conference with the biggest schools in the Grand Rapids area. VanderZwaag, McCann and Gaylord were all also a part of that > 2024 conference win in the race. Gaylord, Van Hofwegen, Vander Zwaag and Morris won the 200-yard medley relay in 1:49.46. Morris took over the spot of2025 program graduate Bella Treib, who is now competing for Bowling Green State University and was a part oftwo ofthe Scots relay wins IX - *T.. in 2024, in that medley relay. VanderZwaag won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:08.60 beating her nearest competitor by more than four and a half seconds. Van Hofwegen, McCann, Hall and Morris had a runner-up time of 3:46.90 in the 400-yard freestyle relay, finish­ ing just behind the Wayland foursome of Sybil Williamson, Kaeli Whip, Stella VanWyk and Wolf who finished in 3:45.93. Wolf was the conference champ in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:11.42 with VanderZwaag the runnerup in that one with a time of 2:15.02. In the 500-yard freestyle, Wolf won in 5:18.66 with McCann second in 5:31.50. Wolf and her Wildcat team­ mates were second to the Fighting Scots in the 200-yard freestyle relay, about three and a half seconds back. Van Hofwegen won the 50-yard free­ style in 25.57, and teammates Morris (25.66) and Hall (25.71) were third and • I* K. ^4iNK ‘U * - J-i^ ■■ '.J«<- c > 1 —.J i.Wll'^: ■ . « h*« I « l« J<«K I A .«f|jl5 •'t 4/ ’• I > * i utK 11 ; J ' I J — •» (f J- 'jcivv ■: r Mj 4 4t»i * » . * 4 •A H** t « » Uf" • I J AI Us-1 j;l 'I * I t " 0 < -W’ .' »•. < 9 * IJ r I ■ urc. If 71' • b>» ;l a V rn -ij • V ■Alt r i B 1 -1.'. I 1 rtt &• 't w **« s I • r* * (• (C:^*** .AiW^Ot I ' 4^ r I V. I ( 1 J. *1 .u r. • * < ’ t<4M r * w t 1 ( • t •r '* 4Alt 7M I • KwA -laL' . J l' J' J • 1 : t • Cfr»?;r »- I ■'8 i J -■rnsMifiDL ** J * S * z A '• *•1 I 1 WOriB UHi ■ '7* ‘ B I I *4 '3 /a y i i 4, ■hiiilki L' ''i I j • I I J I I J i I I ) J- w« I •r 4 3 I Vm- IfsHt 4 J �♦ wvvw.sunandnews.com the sun and news ' VIEW - 13 Saturday, November 15. 2025 Group ♦ 0 S ?r JMi’I* * A J fW * ♦* 1> i^' 1 ♦ )( C? « fl **>• r .--r* >4* I f < i V 4 A / 1^ A £ > > > •5» « t* k"* .V I >*< J I li s ♦ «' 1 1 > •z piftA. . ■ ■% 3=^’ 1b; r *>- ■ W"' 34* <r 1 *• 4 r- w « 4' ■* ' I I I I r. 2** « : ♦s •X I r.. .sT; •» K * MT. 4 ^4 .*1 I y'i J J fr.f 5^^ m/ A 4iV^ • I < 9 ii^2a e( u . 'a K. •Ay Caledonia teammates (clockwise from left) Aliyah VanHofwegen, Sophie Gaylord, Mya VanderZwaag and Caitlyn Morris celebrate their victory in the 200-yard medley relay on the medal stand at the CERC in Hastings during the OK Conference East Division Championships, Photos by Brett Bremer p. a— I I A I '. K- * *V ^<rI 4 J h / '1^ I •• • I J J '• 1' -I ! ‘J fourth in that race. The top four girls were separated by less than a quarter of a second. CHS also had sophomore Ik J'*'-'' • T •J > Chloe Kerkstra seventh in 26.95. That wasn’t the only race the Scots were especially deep and dominant in. CHS had four of the top eight in two Jgii individual races. The Scots had those U’ /nn ' top two in the 100-yard butterfly and also had Kerkstra fifth (1:06.55) and senior Lena Gesing eighth (1:14.61). * McCann had a runner-up time of I 2:00.82 in the 200-yard freestyle chasing Ottawa Hills senior Rowen sw«Ali' ■ Heethuis who had a personal best time of 2:00.04 to win that race. Klein was 5 sixth in that race in 2:07.48. Behind Gaylord in the backstroke. >< the Scots had Klein third in 1:03.27 and & Hall sixth in 1:06,66. Behind VanderZwaag in the breaststroke, the Scots had Nora DeHaan third in 1:16.19 and Anneka Schuurmans fifth in 1:18.91. iW ti? Caledonia freshman Madelyn Foerch placed eighth in the 500 freestyle in 6:15.11, Gesing was eighth in the 200I . * : •! -V. * k . - vi*. . **• .f ♦ 1 I •v . 4 - 1 l;r s I I * X > & * I •m *h > J rt d S'xS I •l I b t 4 ( f, t U I ■—. Wi II.$ u n I^N z b : •* I f. 1 • t r ! f * jr.j ‘t:* t I* .*rA y J* V r 5 1 f **T0 i (151^* ia; It V I I I u . »» U^»4 /• 7 V. ' 1^ :;rr?^ » «K> ♦ O' t '**r'*’ •’ I X. I« aca/jwi*^ * e-' 1 » I.'• M H*0 • I • I _ * -t.. ■ r— < * « 1 I .hi mhs it* 1 A « / wX^A «* i J «« z .4 t.v•l 5 r Invest In Your Community. 1 ;.-’r. The buck stays hare! Spand It hara. Keap It hBra, I ' I • yard individual medley in 2:38.37 and Lily Smith placed eighth in the diving competition with an 11-dive score of 177.80. The Grand Rapids Gators’ Lydia Slagel, a junior, won the conference championship in the diving for the third time with an overall score of 437.65. The Caledonia and Gator divers were set to be a part of the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Diving Regional at Hudsonville Thursday, Nov. 13. The Caledonia girls finished Satur­ day with 526 points ahead of Ottawa Hills 465, Wayland 341, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 318, Grand Rapids Gators 151 and Grand Rapids Union 126. Catholic Central got a championship from senior Mae Braun’s personal best time of 55.27 in the 100-yard freestyle. Morris was the runner-up in that one with a time of 55.83. Braun was also the runner-up to Gaylord in the 100yard backstroke by 81 hundredths of a second. •I'T. * <* bS t I . IsP?*' .1 '**1 Group •i .'-■LjM 'I* • W ‘?g&^ -' » ’•di f u I Lf.'.’ . te- ^’^•N A-** ^■,- •41 Caledonia senior Lena Gesing races through the treestyle leg of the 200-yard individual medley at the OK Conference East Division Championships at the CERC in Hastings Saturday, Nov. 8. CHAMP Continued from Page 11 teammate Mara Raak placed sixth in the 100-yard breaststroke in a personal best time of 1:19.04. Those were the other two top-eight, individual medal-winning perfor­ mances for their team. Gator senior Jenna Robinett, Raak, Hawks and sophomore Eloise Nichols placed fifth in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of2:15.73 and that same foursome was fifth in the 200-yard freestyle relay in 2:00.35. The Gator team of senior Devon Barnhill, sophomore Scarlett Hilzey, freshman Adelaide Nydam and freshman Leyna Kursch was sixth in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The top 16 in each event scored for their team. Robinett and Nich­ ols both finished in the top 16 in the 100-yard butterfly. Robinett was 13th in a personal best time of 1:25.05. Nichols improved her personal best to 1:34.93 to finish 16th. Robinett placed 14th in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 3:06.67. Nichols swam a personal best time of 2:27.32 to place 16th in the 200-yard freestyle. Nydam chipped in a 14th-place time of 33.75 in the 50-yard free­ style. Raak added a personal best swim of 6:47.52 to finish 14th in the 500-yard freestyle. Caledonia girls won two of the three relay races and had four individual championships throughout the course of the 12-event meet. NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p,m. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p,m. THE HASTINGS BANNER Tuesday at Noon THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon THE SUN AND Group mihomepaper.com J I I. ‘I r r tl t 1I w I ri i I I I I I o H’ Lt !« II I* II « I I . I I 4 t } s n i I s 1 NEWS Wednesday at Noon r ■ I ■ r-MHfe * ' >*> ♦ v.- J * »4 r? '-•c . < e’ « A* »*♦ . . / 4 jk <. w �.< J * Saturday, Ncr/ember 15. 2025 14 SUN- NEV^ i VMTW . "'K ..J' 'hl nfliw&com * ji Bfir .<f1 Sluggish start too much forTK to overcome at Lowell Brett Bremer Sport Edrtor I he football was on the ground IfMj often. Penally flags were on the ground loo often. Lowell quarterback Logan DawMfn wasn't on the ground soon enough often enough The Ihornapplc Kellogg varsity football team fell into a 214) hole in the first half, battled back Io within a touchdown a couple of times in the second half and eventually fell to the host Red Arrows 28-21 in the MHSAA Division 3 District final inside Red Ar­ row Memorial Stadium Friday, Nov. 7. Lowell (8-2), a district champion for the first time since 2016, will host Zeeland West in an MHSAA Division 3 Regional Final Nov. 14. 11 wasn't the prettiest of victories, but the Red Arrows will take it, “We didn't execute well. Wc didn’t block the right people. Way t€>o many penalties at crucial times, and then next thing you know wc would shoot '' MM. : k »s k 25^ ourselves in (be foot again/' coach fkKk said. ^You can't beat anyone, let alone playoff football, doing that stuff. I Jnfortunately, we come out and this reminded me very much of the fast (irand Rapids game where wc laid an egg in the first half and wc came out in the second half. Lnfortunalcl>, that’s exactly what we did Wc laid an egg in the first half and then we came out and wc competed our tails off in the second half. “Super proud of them. I bey respond­ ed super well, and they did exactly what I asked and they were awesome in the second half. Friday was an evening where both teams offered up more opportunities to their opponent than they would have liked. I K fumbled away the opening kick­ off and the Trojan offense moved the ball forward just 15 yards in the first half before one final run as the half ended netted a first down. The Lowell punting unit had a pass fall incomplete on a fake attempt in its i^S PUBLIC HEARING the Village of Middleville Council will bold a PUBLIC Hf.AKINti on lucMlay, Octember 16. 2025 at 7:00 pm. or a.< soon thereafter as possible, in the Council Chambers at the Middleville Village Hall al KX) LaM Main Street. The purpose of the PUBLIC HEAKING in Io consider a proposed Amendment No. 2 (“Amendment No. 2*') to the Amended and Restated Tas Increment Financing and Development Plan for the Village of Middleville Oonntossn Development Authority, as amended (the “Amended Plan"), pursuant to the Kecodified Tav Increment Financing Act (Act 57 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 2018. as amended). T he boundaries of the Dountown Development Authority Development Area arc described and shoun in the Amended Plan, which is available for public inspection during regular business hours at the office of the Village Clerk, 100 LasI Main Street. Middleville, Michigan. Amcruimcnl No. 2 to the Amended Plan does not propose or require the relocation of families or individuals from the Development Area. The proposed amendment updates project listings, revises financial protections, and extends the plan duration thniugh December 31,2030. All aspects of the proposed Amendment No. 2 and any other related information that the Village Council deems appropriate are open for discussion at the public bearing. At the bearing, citizens, taxpayers, and property owners may be heard regarding the proposed amendment. Written comments may be submitted to the Village Clerk's office up to the time of the public hearing. Authorized by the Village Council of the Village of Middleville on November 12, 2025. The public is invited to atterxl this open meeting and to offer comments. Alternatively, to participate in the meeting by providing written comment, you may email your comment to the Village Clerk at nanpolentu vtilageofmiddlcvillc.org. or drop them off in person to Middleville Village Hall. Written comments received prior to 4:00 pm on December 16. 2025 will be distributed to Council members and it will be noted that such comments were received prior to the meeting. Persons with special needs who wish to attend should contact the Village Clerk no less than 3 days prior to the meeting. The Village Clerk can be contacted by phone at the number indicated above or by email at rvanpolcn(g)villayeofmiddievilic.ory. during normal business hours (Monday thru Thursday 8:(X) am to 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to noon). It <1 - ■.•V' ■: I s:^-- r ft** r1 La, i •s V - S I Jl •rz ..1^ I t r * (A JK 4 V1 f 1 w 1 A I* I » h\ slL J « ' Ii f J Al ■ lA 1 The Thornapple Kellogg varsity football team lakes a moment together inside Red Arrow Stadium in Lowell after a 28-21 loss to the host Red Arrows in the MHSAA Division 3 District Final Friday, Nov 7 Photos by Brett Bremer I t '♦ ♦ ( I• ,a- t '. 4 but we started playing ball," coach Dock said. “We flew to the bail, and we tackled well, and we played physical. All that stuff was really, really awesome in the second half." TK got within 21-14 thanks to the Red Arrows’ special teams’ mishaps with a four-yard TD run by senior fullback Debo Robinson and a oneyard TD run by junior quarterback Micah Dock. It wasn't the quite the final nail in the Trojans' season, but the Red Ar­ rows were nearly there once they put together a 63-yard touchdown drive that ate up a little over six and a half minutes in the fourth quarter. Dawson notched his third rushing touchdown on a two-yard run with 3:49 to go in the game. Tfie Red Arrows led 28-14. TK got a five-yard Robinson TD run with 2:31 to play in the game to make it a one score game. Of all people, Dawson fell on the loose, on-side kick attempt by TK. The Red Arrow offense then moved the ball just well enough, with the help of a couple flags against the TK defense, to eat up the rest of the clock. The second half, when we came out of the locker room, Micah said, ‘competitive greatness’ right out of the huddle,” TK junior lineman AJ Dutcher See next page I* . J *f.* • ■ :1 own end early in the third quarter, and then a bad snap on the next drive result in a hurried, blocked punt. TK turned the short field into a touchdown both times. TK could have used one more gaff by the Red Arrows, but it never came. Dawson rushed 33 limes for 120 yards, rushed for three touchdowns and threw for one more. It was preferable for the Trojans to have him throwing the ball. He was just 2-of-7 passing for 15 yards. Dawson was shifty in the backfield to find running lanes and avoid defenders, and proved powerful enough to break away or keep moving forward once hands were on him. "They're big, and number two (Daw­ son) is a special player. He is really good," coach Dock said. His touchdown runs were all short ones. An eight-yard TD run and a twoyard TD run in the opening quarter had his team up 14-0. He fired an 11-yard TD pass to Cruc Huisman in the end zone with 12 seconds left in the first half to make it 21-0 at the break. The powerful Lowell line helped the squads other hard-running backs suc­ ceed too. Mitchell Eikey had 12 carries for 63 yards and Marek Pullen had 12 carries for 48 yards. “We made several small adjustments. ► < t - 1 !>’ bi 4 * ^4 9^ ♦ lA i 4 I if t; • I I I I 4 3 f •’^s I I I !>! • *1 V I 1 ■F It i-s 1 F I afe- 4; I i J I b-- « 9^. A i ? I I ■ f V**2 I =1^ & •.</ 1 4S) 1 1 I >9 9 £ 1 1 f >. I •l ♦ 4 I W fS 7L ** F « n ?♦ ! * 1 n*. Ak^te » <• S. arft *\s : I i • tl X » i i«f^ r 1 r w^n e i p ■ I 4 ■ (4 -1 ■■M-.Mb n l■gi .J :: % •l I L i BITiTV*? r^p'" L ■ J. B f I 1 1 I I fl *} ( < ’ J • J ! I o .’I 4 11 I MI , 99 * t 9 t f f 4 B A I t I I « ! J » s ■ 5 f A V * .1 \ >•’d ■ • 9 ‘Ta » I If. - r 'i'LUxi M 44 *1. <-4 J® % I *-1 ' 4 '-it' .. 3 A I’ 'il. ••u t. 4r« 9 ] ( l.w*' 4^ ► pA'u’*- I 4 » a riS ! I S’* - •*. k ■ i •< 100 East Main Street Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villageofmiddleviHe.org Posted 11/13/2025 Rhonda Van Polcn, Village Clerk is I • I �i/a'r ♦ ♦ T I i 4 s www.sunandnews.com > ' 15 Saturday, November 15. 2025 ♦ i % the sun ano news , VIEWGroup Continued from previous page ........... I said. “That is one of our core values and everybody needed to go, and we all knew it. We jumped the gun and we almost had it.” Still, the Trojans close out one of their best seasons in the 1 ifetime of most of their players. TK finishes w ith a 7-4 record. It is just the second lime in the past 15 seasons that the Trojans have won seven games. Dutcher said it was a great group of leaders in this TK senior class. “fhey were perfect all summer,” Dutcher said. “It was just consistency, consistency, consistency. They worked on us. I feel like they built the juniors for next year, to be ready to lead as seniors and lead it all.” The roster included 11 seniors this fall including most of the Trojans’ key ball-carriers. Robinson had a teamhigh 12 rushes for 57 yards in the ball­ game. Malachi VanEngen added four carries for 23 yards and Zach Eldridge had six rushes for 16 yards. VanEngen also had an 11-yard reception. We don’t have very many seniors, but super proud of them. They’re a big reason why we’re here, in regards to 1 io«i zb xi /i'' '* b»' fBlM) '7/^ 'if ittjmiii J bo! r 1 r I FUMitUJliiJ Tiailf z I ■JM 92 * :** ■si j 4 iWnoriJ ., W JU) s'sF^\ f '<J t 1 *•< i • 13j ' i ■ * ■ i u a «e i J f t , ' * I >1 4 I I I > *1 4. I *tx.. f4 i 4 i .n 4 6 / I u.. ’a ■ 1 ♦ . ■ >, 'O I, J.. <-, • 4 * i » t . I 4 ■Ml I t ■' K 4 “hn V 41 ‘iv r-4- u til* I 'I M I 1 X* V 4*- . f •"-;j * I V I ! J t* I . %» I s tJ rv «K i * KM* ’I' < ------- II * ♦ ■■ s > '.11^ A I « I* V" I Thornapple Kellogg junior quarterback Micah Dock fires a pass against Lowell at Red Arrow Stadium Friday. Nov. 7, in the MHSAA Division 3 District Final. some key components, but we have a lot of juniors coming back. I think we have a lot still left in the tank. We'll see how that goes. Any time you can get here and get playoff experience and 44 t ■ ■' ‘.out- ■ *4 *■— 4 Thornapple Kellogg varsity football team members sing the school fight song with their Christmas clad classmates in the Trojan student section following the team’s 28-21 loss to Lowell in the MHSAA Division 3 District Final at Red Arrow Stadium in Lowell Friday, Nov. 7. extra practice, all of that stuff is really good. It is just a matter of carrying over the momentum into the offseason and carrying it over into the fall. “And learning from the mistakes. We’ve got to be way more disciplined.” I, * I n 4 I I I w .2 * ----- Tajolcee Springs Towz&sliip WB “f 4 <i4* 20-i N. BRIGGS ROAO- M1DIILEVIL.I.E. MICHIGAN 49333 269-79.'»-9O91 ! FAX 2<»9-79,S-23O« -'Sis I b'118 ‘l!| YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION NOTICE OF OPEN FORUM SESSION 4 .. »»*.: A: I I 4^ I ' Wb *1 I. »»fe , •M TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS: A 1 s : w- I !i- r . ■ ■' I' ■ ■ =>». .. A i^tll {J sniiiblinlRisi be* I ■'■?«3W5S^ * ••’If V ‘iff PU feM PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: 1 ( jh. I ^jbil / The Planning Commission will be hosting an Open Forum Session to gather community input regarding the Yankee Springs Township Master Plan during their regular monthly meeting on November 20th, 2025 at 7:00 pm at the Yankee Springs Township Hall, 284 N. Briggs Road, Middleville. Community members are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on the future of Yankee Springs Township. OiseiM < 1 J * *1 % A r * ~1 »■ ?♦ i-TS 4 “4 •f r r >* '«r,T«is#S' IkieilAw® •» i ft »* > , <r wr bl * B ► .. I s • i « 9 jffliieSi - T*® V 1 it < ] I 1. r 1 • -at'.' >• • * t J ns K 4 I. *« * * i YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION w • '*) 4 ! 1 4< r V II “5 By: Shana Bush, Chairperson Yankee Springs Township Hall 284 N. Briggs Rd. Middleville, Michigan 49333 (269) 795-9091 * .1 ■Utsfctftirt’ I iI 'A ‘ 1! iU \ > J • ? <* 4 h >A 4> I c . • w I a J WH* 4 » St I T 1 ''n : ii .« 1 f i t- 3 Sse>: y 2^1 Thornapple Kellogg junior Zeke Webster fights to try and bring down Lowell quarterback Logan Dawson in the backfield during the MHSAA Division 3 District Final inside Red Arrow Stadium in Lowell Friday. Nov. 7. 1 e . 1 1 • » I I I I I I I " fBaMIBMiUlHI': r K 1 V 1 i I I f i <1 1 u % 4 U « I 1 z 1 I 4 s h \ �( 1 16 Saturday, November 15, 2025 THE SUN AND NEWS VIEW> Group www.sunandnews.com nou cwwibruOT -K-' :, a a r > •.^• 1 , <>r|J<- •4' • * a »? 6* * J 1 1 r .'T • «* r. •*1! 1 bj ■K < • i ■r w ¥ >>• I i;* J is ‘1 p* •< b e f: 2&:i > 4’ * t ’ L 'T I R •r 1 ■ . Lfc^ - -Wk ▼ II 4 r J ML tr >F 4 fe; -4 I £ ' 1 ' •a 41 j; «Vl < J***• f X < I *1 • V «' n * -•'lA .z 4 II ? r -AS • a r I J J 1 < ' • *w A I ib^ I T «ir^ a I V s , Z' ! * * V »b / f < I f tl. ! , ENROLLING NOW FOR 2026 PLANS I ’WPi* * ^ra g a ■I '.hes^^ UM r I 4 r b » (4 'A:*>*V ^1 : /I -i wir \. 1 i 1 » •Ml - * * «I i * I( ^i****** i i R I L « 'ti « « « -a ► 1 i’ Book your appointment today! *>» * 1 : r. r. Medicare >• 4 r —■ > I r 4 < *«• M. V “'***‘/^ JV ba wijB^ Open enrollnnent runs from October 15^^ - December 7^^ t H / ■r* 1 I f' I. •• I i’ I r V * "5 z< < < leBevF^i t '4a«^ A t c --<iX i 4 I '.J <R ♦ Mb b * ■■ a ■1^" « ■s I Ml s" Rv „ B * . ■ 2 I gh zr > 4 Schedule your appointment today as time slots are filling fast! ■ -r 4*- I ^7 I 1 r CM > > Z 5 Gk O < o! 269.213.3232 josh@trumbleagency.com www.barrycountymedicare.com 128 S. Jefferson St. Hastings^ MI 49058 1; j ibiii k . Josh Lamphere Medicare Specialist < In 4 t J 1^ ■o i > GO ?5 -•I r 4 0) ‘ c •c i ! ■ O-ri IJ reilaioaqS ois^ib&J saBlq^asosIf)a9 h snoiJqo’JUoy 11 Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. d f h J f I I ! I 4 (I ! J I I 4 � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-11-22.pdf 3a4c6137a5b3cb6d20da2e185944cf5b PDF Text Text c i I R I I 4 b I » • \ Aubdj i tate c; 4 viEvsr < XAf .JOV VI- .OH NEWS THE SUN AND 9 5 VOL. 147 fB9V gnirnoaqu tienifflSd 8MMt 4.1 ‘A? istnW pnttudntnoO James Gemmell Contributing Writer Ka • 'h * 4 .y 2 T 4 I r • J X u -4 1 1 I 4 'A <'» J ‘ JI / ■1 - ^5, ■:'A Y 4 5^ • 3 J <il 5« 1-1 I * c>r * IlI* • beiw« «33e waB QL0eUAt|R' Wl bVID .41 \ \ $ V rj c. ' 1^4 • kt . <* Group FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS! r SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2025 NO. 47 Gaines Twp. trustees adopt budget for upcoming year 4 tgpbud t ua \ MX VIEVWU.^ Group IV rriV www.sunandnews.com » nt .qwT aeniBO I qmu j n tn a'oisflT* VI qrria’Wjl "j^gbud 12 MjH" .b<62 faoH JjBwlii gninnslq zi tor OfMOOSZ gnittuq ,o8 kjoM ^mqiupH aJlfiuqqA 'J aiuJu t idi gninnxf*! .fanuH ^niBBOioni bnn Jri'anraoBlqoi y n 000,0S£^ molt gnibnul .tfivy 000.00 lerf Ilfw eboul bnoi srfT noJ bcoJl yjnuoa JnoJI aril bfiot gniob ad lISw ,oZ“ Hob doillim b lo licqai bra: (lizia'jW ",d£0£ ni zhsoilo obobfii Jasburl d£0£ srlT [Jt 3iorn to Tafrnsit soiubsd mat tnaqenu mofl noiliim .aiBOY bsazft lonq It aatfiaiixii ornamTlBlz A sn jt^nsit od Iliw 8d9,8VV2 (^'q^ri^^wo^ oiU □on iri o! bifij' wtB2 otiduq aril f tr'i Z\ .aiari) esznaqxo molt •ntgrai) s idl UI ffiiicqaO aiiH srit o) 'J < ' ' J to bnijH IsJiqiiD ' ‘ Tui Lnui qbii lliw bifiz •’J nnssri oilduq A Jj. '‘fl itsib adl to gni m huod q^li^ffwol £I .loO wo 1 gsfiieD visMi EDDN CnUONEU frnoT(fl moft KFSIDENUVr UXMU.'? RMMarniwg womiq bOWtW k .-.’A 9 woJ «jUfD zanusH arn vltnaw gaalariT to biBotl il Isianay noiliim 8<!l Tlifiari srf jBri) d£0£ 189? bsazfi wl ri-exi! mml qn iBtoJ ^fT T0tJ5;^bijd noiliim k \ dbra K* recb* 1 «f \ 'k » fr \ \ b J n ? boeivGE bb£l 210 aovisod s n 018 ISdd .1 .1 sS 4 I I I s J I M 1 I I t J t 1 t 1 11 i I The Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees recently adopted a nearly $8 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2026 that begins Jan. 1. The total is up from the more than $6.2 million budget for 2025. “There’s a bit of a jump over the 2025 budget,” Township Manager Rod Weersing said. “But some of that is planning ahead. “So, putting $500,000 into the Fire Apparatus Equipment Replacement Fund. Planning for future equipment replacement and increasing the road funding from $250,000 a year to $500,000 a year.” The road funds will be matched by the Kent County Road Commission. “So, we’ll be doing road resurfacing and repair of a million dollars’ worth of roads in 2026,” Weersing added. The 2026 budget includes a fund balance transfer of more than $2.3 million from unspent revenues from prior fiscal years. A staff memo indicates that $778,958 will be transferred from the township’s savings account to the public safety fimd to help offset expenses there. Also, the plan calls for a transfer from the fund balance to the Fire Department Apparatus Capital Fund of $500,000 that staff said will help fund future purchases. A public hearing and second read­ ing of the draft budget was held at the Oct. 13 township board meeting. Gaines Township is no Nooa longer receiving revenue uanoisna from Byron Township, iviiNaoisau SSMU03 eewb in aaiAuMJo after previously having 0Kn>fl0d 8££« split costs of running 8£88> ‘dlliAueejo See BUDGET on 7 aivd : ’■» 9 L w r t ' ■ • U’*> 1 a K r» w 4 .W. •-.» »F J ■ K»'' “ ^Si2 * T *, * L« <-1 T U’ < 4 « « V 9 5 J i > Li I '•l k I Y I «r *» 1 1 A Z- \ e •J »♦ ? { )• L A J J 9 s * « 1. .<• ■ 7. r I. V * 5 1 « < A. •1 1^ * A % < I M 4 % %B « < « . 1 ; 1* *» K > •*w^* k I » 'J t •» 1^^ I / •' r. « 4 Father Michael Cilibraise of Holy Family Catholic Church in Caledonia presided over the dedication and blessing of the new “Baby Memorial Garden” in memory of Mike Kilmartin at St. Mary’s Cemetery on Oct. 24. Photos by Sharon Albaugh Caledonia church dedicates new ‘Baby Memorial Garden’ Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer Recently, John Mancuso, the director of buildings and grounds for the Holy Family Catholic Church in Caledonia, has been on a mission. As the parish’s sexton, Mancuso oversees three cemeteries, including the St. Patrick, St. Joseph and St. Mary’s sites. And for the past year, Mancuso has been working to finish the “Baby Memorial Garden” at the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Cascade Township as a tribute to Mike Kilmartin, who passed away a little over a year ago. The Baby Memorial Garden is a reminder to all to never forget all the children unable to survive infectious diseases in the 1870s and to honor Kilmartin. “This memorial was a lifelong dream of Mike Kilmartin’s, and since his passing this past year, I’ve made it a priority to see it completed — both in memory of all the lost babies and to honor Mike’s vision,” Mancuso said. “His dream was that the babies laid to rest in this cem­ etery, some over a hundred years ago, would finally be recognized and remembered.” A plaque displayed on the fence surrounding the Baby Memorial Garden explains the history of St. Mary’s Cemetery in Cascade Township and why young children are buried in a portion of the cem­ etery. History of the St. Mary’s Cemetery, which is outlined on a plaque at Baby Garden Memorial, reportedly started with Edward Lennon, when his family and rela­ tives came from Ireland to Cascade Township. Lennon reportedly purchased 80 acres from die government land office in Ionia. The names of many of his relatives are easily recogniz­ able — William Annis, Michael Eardley, John Brougham and Thomas Harmon. Many of their sib­ lings and relatives chose to follow these men to the southwestern part of the tovmship. The Irish migrants spoke with a lilting accent, kept to themselves and were Roman Catholic. The Lennon family hosted Mass in their home in the 1840s. In 1857, a log church was built on land donated by Lennon. The log church was replaced in 1881 with a new structure, complete with steeples at the comer of 52nd Street and Kraft Avenue. See DEDICATES on 6 �1 •--J 4 •f ( J * 2 I Saturday. November 22, 2025 i VIEW.,^, Group the SUM AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com I »1 Gaines chamber to host luminary walk, holiday luncheon V' » > Contributing Writer 1 T 1 December promises to be a busy month for the Gaines Chamber of Commerce. Among other events, the local chamber will host its second annual Holiday Luminary Walk from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, al Prairie Wolf Park, located adjacent to the township hall. The inaugural luminary walk proved to be popu­ lar, as dozens of families strolled a 1.5-mile path through the scenic woods. The 450 LED candles that were placed in paper bags shone a light along the route. The bags were weighed down with sand to keep them in place from the parking lot at the park entrance around to the apple orchard. Barb Nauta, GCC executive director, said the luminary walk is a free event designed to spread holiday cheer among the community’s families. As dusk settles, the park will transform into 46 517.646.0439 * Lansing 269.967,8241 * Battle Creek/K-zoo 517.740.1533 * Jackson/Ann Arbor antennamen.cuatomer@gmail.com www.theantennamen.com www.cell8ignalpro8.com J L ten Digital TV Antennas * Towers * StarLink Installs * Wireless Data Links * Cellular Enhancement Systems * Building-to-building, cellW Point-to-Point WiFi Extensions SIG * High definition outdoor cameras PROS to monitor your property ? W«”‘ + tT * > t > 4 I . ( - w A 1 * I V i » 8 fl .••A' I } f f .4 * <' I ft JI 1 0 r •. > 1 r;*. u fl ■”■. W i t2 fl* 9 ■ •I I p* r s * > V 1 J It. {V Santa Claus will make a return appearance to this year’s Holiday Luminary Walk set for 5:30-8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Prairie Wolf Park, located adjacent to the Gaines Township Hall. an illuminated wonderland,” Nauta said. “It will provide a beautiful backdrop for a leisurely stroll. Attendees can look forward to complimentary hot cocoa, delicious candy canes and festive cookies to enjoy as they explore. Not to be outdone, Santa Claus will be on hand for photo opportunities. Additionally, we are delighted to have the South Christian High School Choir performing, adding a wonderful musical ambiance to the event,” Nauta added. 99 44 * Closed-Cell Foam Insulation * Blown-In Attic Insulation Nelson’s SPRAY FOAM,LLC Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 517-983-0954 1 I ',r i; I 1 ft > ■v t ia B I** / j6^' r * 2 ‘ > I K »' 4 I * * 9 1 r . - ' ** GD WOOD PRODUCTS X . y. 4 rz A • • f. n i •> « * k1 T’ I jt r*:* * Conscientious Timber Harvester Wanting to Buy Standing Timber t i '4«- 1? SAW MILL OFFICE 517-254-4463 'A I T*- ► >tS / Ci •I /• .f .IB I 1 a { ♦? ft Family Owned & Operated Si -- -r c . ■ t r I .♦ V -I . I I . 1 r ?' J James Gemmell > • k 3 i >* 1 *_ A 9 i 1 » ri 4 V I lAs**' I A Participants in the inaugural Holiday Luminary Walk, including Gaines Chamber of Commerce executive director Barb Nauta (third from left), warm up with some hot chocolate along the lighted trail in Prairie Wolf Park. Photos by James Gemmell 4 l''filj •«* 4 • < f I r 4 11 I c tw \ fV .. » f 1 •r I f <*• n « 9 * 1"' , ♦ 1 1'' « 1 Jj 'J /•r * r»r ' ■<) J * ■' '. '■juir ? *v.-; I. < . Ji <»* It L' 4 11 }' 1 « I f fr»'. '. } b I 1 * % iH-Bri . ” i ( Ifip « 4.^ I I I I fu t. 'I J .. i-j J V*’* II 9>i * tr 'L tt tiiUMi 'jbio.-T.^^Nb**’** I SffrJ w ir v.^ r t koiL i! turn K> I Start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam ♦* . ♦ zac I: 4 9 ♦ rriAMiMU.^ See LUMINARY on 5 I I 1 f. r r J* E t*- I, p I,. THE SUN AND NEWS The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihomepaper.com < « Jj » JJJJ Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com •f PUBLISHED BY CONTACT US Li/ PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. ,1351 N. M-43 Hwy.. Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. >' gai*- 9 /•S (U!t rJfF’' J nV It The GCC’s poster announcing the luminary walk states, “Bring your family and friends to experience a stroll through a beautifully lighted path, lined with glowing luminaries to celebrate the season.” The chamber also will co-host a holiday luncheon for registered guests from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Postma Center on the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services campus in Cutlerville. “We will have a representative from Pine Rest speaking about how donations help the Pine Rest families,” Nauta said. Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra and GCC representatives will provide remarks at the luncheon. One of the other highlights will be the Pine Rest Giving Tree Silent Auction. Donated gift cards and cash will be collected at the Postma Center to purchase Christmas gifts for Pine Rest residents and patients. Donations also can be made online at pinerest.org/giving-tree. r > J 11 • iS V C '-rz .... . .1 » •’ -U C XT R f > •• * t ..... . 4, s J t' ■ 'f I 5 I i t' » I ( t I r r w i f v y �Saturday. November 22. 2025 Christmas on the Corridor returns Nov. 29 { r ' K •. . . Ij j t ( J. •A Jl Wl The Gun 1-akc Business Association (GLBA> announced recently that the third annual Christmas on the Cor­ ridor event is scheduled to return on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Chief Noonday Car Park in Yankee Springs. f amilies, neighbors and visitors are welcomed to experience a festive eve­ ning filled with lights, local shopping, seasonal activities and the warm spirit that makes the Gun f.akc community shine, say organizers. Festive events include a Christmas market featuring local vendors and holiday gifts, running from 3 to 7 p.m.; family activities from 4 to6 p.m.; live reindeer from Reindeer Ranch, holiday tunes spun by Moon­ light; hot cocoa and coffee; kids’ crafts; photos with Mr. and Mrs. C laus and a live nativity scene and carolers pro­ vided by Orangeville Baptist Church. Organizers invite locals to gather around the Community Christmas Tree al 6 p.m. for its annual lighting ceremony. ••Christmas on the Corridor is a k 9 9 '>‘ . F .1: ■w+lnfl?* *4 .9 ■>/ >9 teiVfl :■ i SI? I V <• A * 9 ] I kV - gj|HX»bw iTXflt « J 3» -w i iwoente e . f ( a t A ' « * *i > '• e A X- .i g^i* ,7auf ibulifi ' ‘11 fiA,. 1 li. '1 I n A. V I I» t ■ IiMV .b J'' „ <4 * « 1 ► H ff s A f k ,i.^r* Ml /» \' »I . W- S*«’i I ■ t i n / r »» jfD r i '6 -A ■'4 I t ’Ml Ml.tv.. *< •w s •t tr4 I* I «J Ji I 1 *r f .V I .V 3 I '-’’.ill celebration of the incredible small­ business community that keeps Gun Lake thriving,’' said Deb Timmerman, GLBA tourism chair. “N^Tien families shop local, dine local and gather here, it strengthens the entire area. This event brings us together in the most joyful way.” A community tradition, Christmas on the Corridor began as a way to highi ight the growing network of businesses along the Yankee Springs corridor and has quickly become one of the area’s most anticipated holiday events. Tim­ merman said. rile Gl BA, in partnership with Chief Noonday Car Park and community business sponsors, continues to expand the experience each year with new activities, partnerships and interactive community features. For more information on Christmas on the Corridor, follow the Gun Lake Business Association on Facebook. Chief Noondav * Car Park is located at 11899 M-179 Hwv. AT£ V f i 4 I • ♦ 9 k s. *. I ■ + » A M I >^4 H H k k » * ♦> J u V J||. I.IJU I I* » r 71 •«< •w l_ -w- A" / M J >• 5e=^ 1 4 w • ^9 ' * e« It- ■jr. k 4 iS* -♦ ♦♦ *s*' I '. w 11 .1 */****^^i 1 p. i « > Santa showed up at Christmas on the Corridor in 2023 and will return again this year File photo '•'■1,1 bi1 •*^4 •idh«aril|onvB.e««hZtlnarQ«frHrli • Everything made from scratch * ■ts' 7*.; tft'. s , .. A.' © • T I i > Ml k 9 I 1 V- • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods e‘:- ’Ty’ •***11,. »• t • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar > ■ 1 V d I > r ^^Sjptnisofj,^ ■ 4^ I 4 * b «< 1I \ .> 4^ .•''a.SVa^ TIT'> I * ' I k tf '« is Sfai Afc b ' «■« 9 ft. r 5 e Hw t ? 4 * 4 I ; ssfctegBster,, I I !-' your J 4/y? A little Zt suueetei' « F s^ar 9a^ r. ST f J 5 !■: . 11 4 ■*» f J ♦1 r ^Mhtealsocajitje:..-. ric 4^' ' >'V z I I Kxiwani Jones r I .9 -.4 S$UNW ) > OS « t 1 Contact me today. '--Srr f> *( •tX' ’ y * **" •k* « u .V zrr CaseyJ VanEngen 1 1* ’• J >( '.—I ' . H- 6617 Crossings Dr. SE Suite 103 Grand Rapids, Ml 49508 616-281-9026 i-- r^ f > y r :< '1 •< * IS » r. » r e C' "Ttr X y IE •s 1 J > I p>- •< 4 * 1 X f "'/r' J f ■T &' X r*- 'k’s :?C J t BAKCPY ft CArE ) 1". 1 I I I I ^teAkfact PAStty Set t^e Z9\d ftee . i A 7^7 must present coupon. 2rttf item must be of equal or lesser value, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 12/6/25 V '<2l'-,’, 9 Financial Advisor *J « si* 9 I >4' # Your financial strategy should support a life you love. Because the key to being rich is knowing what counts. R< a (Sugar Mommas 1 h ^Cfe, •• I i k k Ufr-ta7«2A A‘C~AP>1 e ' - ’.r COWARD CKJCMSS co ALk MGHTS RCS€RVUli htCSPW Sc Ctored, TuecdAjf-FrtjA^: 7A9^-6p^, ^AturdAy: 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA / 616-275 1017 / SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM .'W4i>ta>k ’ i Al ■ ’ «*: .1 J ft I I I i‘:I I t I * in 11 11 'l* M a a a •« I .I 4 i ? s i ft I k \ �I 4 V- Saturday, November 22, 2025 the SUN AND hews Obituaries view www.sunandnews.com Group r ?* z 4 it holding babies, spending time with his family, and traveling. A lifelong sports fan, he especially loved golf and football. John had a great sense of k humor—funny, enthusiastic, and full of life. Though he wasn’t musical himself, he loved music! What he lacked in talent he made up for with enthusiasm, personality and heart. Although he was a picky eater, he loved to cook and everyone loved what he made. His food reflected the same warmth and confidence he exuded. A spiritual man, John also cherished 1 John Dennis Riley John Dennis Riley, age 60. of Middleville, passed away on November 2, 2025. He was born on November 3. 1964, in Trumann, Arkansas, the son of Delbert E. and Gladys Dean (Bettis) Riley. John was a tool and die maker and an automotive engineer by trade—someone who could tell you anything about a vehicle and took pride in understanding how things worked. Intelligent, hardworking, and generous with his knowledge, John was the one people turned to when they had a question or needed a hand. He was a big family man, known for his beautiful smile and his way of making others feel loved and at ease. He was hard not to like. When John loved you, he loved you with his whole heart. He enjoyed LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH Join us for our traditional yet casual worship service, in person or online, at 9:00 am Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM Rev. Robert Mayo, Interim Pastor www.alaskabaptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia 250 Vine Street 616-891-8669 H. I «• < family traditions, especially the annual Thanksgiving trip he helped begin—one that will continue in his memory. John is survived by his ■ wife of 21 years, Pamela (Jacobs) Riley; sons Michael (Jamie) Riley and Kenneth Riley: grandchildren Nolan. I Luke, Jacob, and Lane; sisters Elizabeth (Garry) • fc-’ kStone of Romulus and Debra (Dennis) Seeman of Brighton: stepmother Patricia Riley of Casa Grande. Arizona; and stepbrother Scott Moellenberndt of Scottsdale, Arizona; sister-in-law. Darlene Riley. He was preceded in death by his parents. Delbert and Gladys Riley, son Steven Riley, and brother Delbert Riley Jr. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for John’s family. I I J* f I t * % I » f' rA’‘£/j 41^ * ^<7 •V * • » I •I > ■ t I -F'- .1 t 1 4 • A r• .f'- r FIRST BAPTIST Good Shepherd Lutheran Church c Middleville 908 W, Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) pi Sunday Worship........... . . . 9:30 a.m. X 4 I'p’ it Pastor: Rob Wurst ’’’i. T. •• r ?" MJ j 1 ** Ift. 4( ----------- http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com Livestream: facebook.com/fjrstbaptistmiddleville z . V- .7. • Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET- 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH Caledonia Location ’ ■ • •! ft * I «. IBAPEACE «■ 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH I Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & 11am 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 1 HOLY FAMILY ZCATHOLIC CHURCH I I t t Fi .< t k'' r f .'0*' » ^4 Mi W«' I ■ ** ' 11 . ...r i it > I 1 a k ' ■ ' 4 * • i 1 J *4 * >' *”I ( y ■4^r Dt ...A*' 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone:616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses.......... 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or see our website for information. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stnaulcaledonia.org Middleville, MI 49333 "Shining Forth God's Light" k. ? * •> i ft it 4 •. I > ■, *'*^**^* »< flife'' B *1 r > — V . Ki- ‘ Ik. £i I k r .1* I •<■• • 25^’ -f r.' "w* J f » L 9 bf’ Ik > 'I ««rB « 1 (Hl --f. « k t' 1 J4i*’' ■ T%- X L « '4 *^>B iE/<^ Sunday Morning Worship J Community Group..... 11:00 a.m. Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00am James L. Collison, Pastor 20 State Street. Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com www.yankeespringsbiblechurch.org «, • • . 4 »* Ji i y rr. GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM T* ’ I IB^ 'jr Helen Mae Gorton Helen Mae Gorton, age 94, of Middleville, was called to her heavenly home on Thursday, November 13, 2025. Helen was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She enjoyed spending time with her family. Her husband, Keith, and daughter, Nancy Koning; preceded her in death. She will be deeply missed by her daughters, Jill (Stephen) Zoet, Kristi (Thad) Temple, Paula (Todd) Van Duine; son-in-law, Robert Koning; grandchildren, Lucas (Lana) Zoet, Rachel (Druvis) Gerrits, Mary-Caitlin (Ron) Breckon, Ethan (Marlee) Zoet, Emily Temple, Seth Temple, Justin (Kristi) Koning, Katie (Scott) Nelson, Anna (Kirk) VanderVennen, Tess (Jason) Sears, Gillian (Quinn) Grassmid, Olivia (Austin) Gibson, Micah (Grace) VanDuine, Selah VanDuine, Judah VanDuine; and 25 great grandchildren. Private interment services at Robbins Cemetery will be held at a later date. Contributions in memory of Helen may be made to Thornapple Valley Church of Middleville. ii/ rF • f » 4 r t. . f ni0« . 1 4V i • 9< joetu U. ' r f 0^ - jMft :4tili ft I ?-'t t »» .j.;.'.SBCK V't I I I! f. V <1 U.- i i 4 * Jyr/fi’ 'Tfjc .'.H i Th ,nwi .a)(ii»IO ,Jnaaai Vm I ) L ttfit a ? ’■ :RnfHll6< f SUt . 1. I t! P.-; • '■•'‘•til.'. e3ninii9?i i baivM * b ft*' < 1 n- *1 ' » ’-'•J; uo titl luyij ./yjls) : r I * 1 L » ' \ ‘ ilv;, la'f iqqfii 0^^ LJi4 1 •k Oi 9 9 I ' * (ir'^i.citti a E -> Uu t « .J, I ) s i I a I I J T I t t li f 1 : t I I 5 i * I r M Li h 4’1 •» I •ift ’. t Ik r a I f I, i i i < I L I I I I r r 1 1 i ftk » 5 WU- * I i» t ocFH^eaa <•!',•, -'X f-Ti* 'i HO •J I I iUllW I * Ik / I ■ •M r-oMuiaMM" ft , ,< "M • \ < 11 F 10:00 a.m. A .1 I- SERVICE TIMES: e ♦ * I I I KT . <• • ^)BHW >; f* I 8900 Duffy Road MIDDLEVILLE r •fi' ft Yankee Springs Bible Church ?X.2 » V * T«" , '9 ■ tp ■ I ijI ’ , : cornerstone c h u rc h CHURCH Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., MiddleviUe, Ml 49333 peacechurch.ee * 1 ..vV,.:*. PEACECHURCH.ee 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Middleville Location (269) 795-2391 .f '• ft 11 L1 ?? ft k*“ -^4 CK I' " t id, Sunday Service 10:30 AM » W *A V .1' 1 ia f 1 11 �' < - K J www.sunandnews.com •/ a *- x’ : a MU > * < JF 0... i A.‘ Sharon Ann Kaechele i « > 4 k I t’l/ I 5. 4 I 4 i < t, r>.k 1, I . I f ’ J k I f I I •f!. I *4.1 f?/' '’Ji « iBfi^Sfz^ .b •b.' i Slb'r/ te) I tl t! bj< ♦-Th I * ’OfctLw Jb a I 3 r 'i b IMi s • ; r 11- Mt 'U. if fib- A ar * I 11 1 i I I , .J.I-, -n’r 'r » . • s ■ I ittiw i l9«. 11^1 ■■■■ I ■: I ' *i I * : •• •b'i;' Hi. j r I .’ ki ‘ ’*'‘««l. i 1 . WnBHifci I • ’t: n.ft ’"UrUc j hri • II I i:2 ■ r:- ’SBWf. '»I ■ •****“Hib !l ft >. 1 II c » .n . f. I ; f r 'j r * V*4 1 k *•41 I { < Or ■J A b. I J' \ I I 4K * «» .--s 4k . JI EMPLOYMENT HANDYMAN SERVICES OFFERED. Mise, repairs, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Esti­ mates. 269-243-0468. BARN HELP WANTED Must have experience with horses. Full and part time positions available with competi­ tive pay. Please call 269-207-4218 or email at zlpowell@yahoo.com if interested. CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION; POLE BARNS. Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 TREE SERVICE BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy single walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-8187793. WANTED WANTED TO BUY: Standing Timber. Conscientious timber harvester. Saw Mill Office- 517-254-4463. Family owned and operated. APT. FOR RENT COUNTRY APARTMENT IN MID­ DLEVILLE area. 1 bedroom, 1 bath; extremely private setting. Ideal for single person or retiree. Sorry no pets, no smoking. $800/month and $500 deposit. Includes all utilities. (269)589-9187 HOMES FOR RENT 2 BEDROOM, RANCH house, full basement, garage. $2200 mo. plus utilities. 616-893-5463 PETS lALL PYTHONS FOR SALE. Looking for good homes. Pricing may vary by morph. Banana, Pastel Leopard, GHI Mojave, Wild Type, and more. 616-821-6600. WANTED: Antique Toys Antique Christmas Antique Halloween 517-243-9090 a The buck stays here! X-jU • * • Spend it hare. Keep n kara. Invest In Your Community. ■■III* s J * ■iy Ip A I *rf I X - rt t ♦ t. I I I I f ..: 1.1 . .-SJ .ITS ■ II I I I I • ♦ I I .• aa»r 34 r . .wy r I k’ fc+b... .-t ■ • I * ’ i X I 1 I Ii- ■■ H A. ] ' r • 1 I ■ r ' *. A . I 'll 11 MM I ij; Mft*. « W ?>* • '*W Group ■* J 7 I » i '.I •* I p >■ •k• 4 '■j J. . ••.11 4 . M BUSINESS SERVICES « b I I' husband’s mission work by providing reading materials, demonstrating her belief in Sharon Ann Kaechele, aged the power of education and i-' *85, of Caledonia, Ml. passed faith. away peacefully on November Family was the 14, 2025 in Byron Center, Ml. cornerstone of Sharon’s Born on March 31, 1940, in life. She is survived by her Grand Rapids, Ml, Sharon loving sons, Brian (Joanne) was the daughter of George Kaechele and Mark (Ronda) and Helen (Culp) Martin. Kaechele; her adored Sharon grew up in grandchildren, Alex, Nicholas the Green Lake area and (Reagan), Daniel, Elizabeth, graduated from Thornapple-Kellogg High ■and Luke; her brother, Bruce (Marcia) School in 1958 where she met the love of Martin; her nephew, Kevin Martin; her her life David J. Kaechele. They married brother-in-law, Richard (Pam) Kaechele; and on May 22, 1964 and spent the next 60 her sisters-in-law, Vivian (Jack) Bruin, Mary wonderful years together until his passing Kaechele, and Margaret Smith and many in November 2024. Sharon started working more nieces and nephews. Sharon was as a bank teller in Middleville followed by preceded in death by her parents, George working at Steelcase in cost accounting, and Helen (Culp) Martin, and brother-in-law which led to her husband getting his job John Smith. there as well. However, her main job was a Bird watching with her husband was one home maker/worker providing office work of Sharon’s simple pleasures, along with for the farm, endless homemade meals and the company of her beloved cats. Her life a much-loved filled home for her family. was a tapestry of service, creativity, and A devout Christian, Sharon attended unwavering love for her family and church Leighton Church, where she taught Sunday community. School, sharing her faith and compassion Sharon’s family will receive friends on with the next generation. Sharon also Saturday, November 29, 2025 from 9:30attended Kentwood Community Church, 10:30 AM at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home, where she volunteered countless hours at Middleville, where her funeral service will be conducted at 10:30 AM. Burial will take the church library. Her commitment to her church and community was an inspiration to place immediately following the service at Hooker Cemetery with a 1:00 PM fellowship all who knew her. lunch served to friends and family at Sharon's creative talents shone through Leighton Church, 2nd Street, Caledonia, her exquisite quilting and sewing. Her hands Ml 49316. Memorial contributions to the were rarely still, as she crafted beautiful American Cancer Society or World Gospel pieces that became treasured family Missions will be appreciated. Please visit heirlooms. An excellent baker, Sharon’s www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a kitchen was a hub of warmth and delicious memory or leave a condolence message for aromas, especially during family gatherings. Sharon’s family. A voracious reader, she supported her £ I r A *♦» ' •? I I I 1 s I 4 I ' I r;tXLjA: > 4 I A t I •3 I I ■'bk I 'J w ♦j I fe. ’^6 >. s Classifieds ** 5 1 4 I. Saturday, November 22, 2025 VIEW^Group ' .7 »'■ s V 4 * 71. J >1 « THE SUN and news Obituaries I X I LUMINARY Continued from Page 2 Persons may register to sponsor a silent auction basket. Attendees will bid on the baskets and other items at the holiday luncheon. All proceeds will go to the Pine Rest Giving Tree community families. Donations are being accepted on­ line, as well, at pinerest.org/foundation/giving-tree. . I 7 J® ♦- : t 7 •< T LIGHT TRUCK PARTS * * w: > ( OSEB PUTS-PICK UPS •SHE TONS-VMS* SOTS •KffS’UWS > I FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT 1 269-381-2300 X > Sale ends November 30th 4M ■S-kZ / * USED PARTS USED TIRES i Ai X'' QUESTIONS: ASK US... p .^>***^' ■s 218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-9673 rAteS^rr'k • M w J i OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm '.OBWltik.:?? 1 ! [ a I I I'l K 5 t i' I H I : I I J H 'll I I J 11 I is > tA I II 1 I t 4 z I s I \ II 3 1 5? < 1 I 4 4 New Collections by Moda® '3* Qo7Loves You I 11811 LAKE SI. KALAMAZOO L iiai ovem er aie o o Off Fabrics (excludes sale items) > M. 4 4 Hulst Cleaners Pickim Station A �► t J 6 Saturday, November 22, 2025 the SUN and NEWS VIEW DEDICATES www.sunandnews.com Group • I I I X' Continued from Page 1 HISTORY OF ST. MARY'S CEMETERY I* rt . Parish records described it as ”... a thing of service and beauty . a monument proclaiming far and near the devotion of the Catholic people of Cascade to God and the Holy Mother.” In the 1970s, the church was tom down due to air traffic needs at the Kent County Airport. The babies and children that were buried in this por­ tion of the cemetery were victims of lung fever (pneumonia), scarlet fever and diphtheria in the 1870s. They ranged in age from 4 to 12 years. The memorial garden was dedicated out of respect for the young ones. Kilmartin was a member of the Holy Family Parish for many years. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. Members of the local parish gath­ ered on Oct. 24 to dedicate the Baby Memorial Garden. According to orga­ nizers, donations for the memorial came from the parishioners of Holy Family, Knights of Columbus and Holy Family Council of Catholic Women. Kilmartin served with Roger Campbell in the Knights of Columbus, M 5 4^ Au ■- '*-1 f '‘C* . *1 9 A* 9 I ^vu *■ 1 1 • 11 t V fit ’,js2H5St’.< « 3^ !*• < atlkiKAi:: >1. »' fc. . ■ ■ A statue of a baby angel with wings is placed at the Baby Memorial Garden at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Cascade Township. The Baby Memorial Garden is a reminder to all to never forget all the children unable to survive infectious diseases in the 1870s and to honor Kilmartin. Photo by John Mancuso and together were ushers at the Holy Family church. The two knew each other for 20 years before Kilmartin passed away in October 2024. 4 r Edward Lennon, bls family and relatives came from Ireland to Cascade Township. HO purchased 80 acres from .ho govemmon, land ofTce in ,oni7 Tho nXrof many of his relatives are easily recognizable; William Annis. Michael Eardley Eardley. J . “',““9*’®'"' Thomas Harmon. M.iny of their siblings and relatives chose to follow tho&e mon to soulhwo.tem Cascaclo. The Irish spoke with a lilting y'4 >* V * J • I il I* A! r j' anti were Roman Catholic The Lennon family hosted Mass in their homo in the 1S40's In 1857 a log church was built on (and donated by Edward Lennon By 1881 tho church was named Si. Mary a and was iho spiritual homo for 47 families In 1BR8 the log church was replaced with a new structure, complete with steeples al the corner of 52nd St and Kraft Ave. Parish records described it as .. .a thing of service and beauty...a monument proclaiming far and near the devotion of the Catholic people of Cascade to God M and Uio Holy Mother.** In the 197O's the church was lorn down due to air traffic needs at Die Kent County Airport. The parish ntorgod with others to form Holy Family in Caledonia. The cemetery surrounds the former site of SI. Mary's church 50. too, is on property donated by Edward Lennon. Oramatic change came in the 19G0‘» when Irish and Polish farms were purchased Io make way for the new Kent County Airport. The babies and children that arc buried tn this portion of die cemetery were victims of Lung Fever, Scarlett Fever and Diphtheria In Ihe 1870 s. They ranged in age from four to twelve years. It Is out of respect for these young ones that wo dedicate this memorial to them. t" f • -J: - I I w / i « <» 1’1(i I I F*** K •••J f- {*^ X ac^‘ i/ 1 I1 . IF* •• « t vA t —r .T t * V’ T’.J t 4 1 «>• i^ < ..k« 1 h.,. I The Baby Memorial Garden at St. Mary’s is a reminder to all to never forget all the children unable to survive infectious diseases in the 1870s. A plaque explains the history of St. Mary’s Cemetery. .5 > C>’ HtJ Hins^- H SS: •S'* '•'' t ;.:-V « 1 1 k' 1 t-’? I 1 f < LV. .l1 - < i;jb^ r poured, and we began putting in the posts and rails. The project took sev­ eral work sessions,” he added. “The Knights provided all the labor and most of the material. The Catholic Council of Women from the parish paid for the statues.” V V 1 “The project started before Mike Kilmartin died, he wanted to honor the babies buried in unmarked graves,” Campbell said. “After his funeral, we decided on a layout and started getting materials. “This spring the concrete was •' I i*" u. 4 w r f af ** <z.4 »» « lUfti'l ■ • j I., 1 'U3 « 4 b ,n >» I < t r i <* 4 9 99: ■ ii:* » k- ■ I ; iT.’' ViA .f'' ■ •i 1 I 0«nr 'V* I tv <P ». TeW^ i ( *M ♦ I e V »1 r. I .. -f ' * t 9 t r* •• • WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS Caledonia charter township of Caledonia TOWNSHIP COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the Charter Township of Caledonia will hold a public hearing on December 15, 2025 at 7:00 p.m., at the Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316. The public hearing is to receive comments regarding the application of Michael Brann for a Special Land Use to a drive through window in a strip commercial building at 6675 Broadmoor, Parcel: 41-23-06-451-038. All interested persons may attend the public hearing and comment on the proposed request. Written comments concerning the request may be submitted to the Township office, at the above-stated address, up to the time of the public hearing. Dated: November 17, 2025 fcr* I r 1 rfti. A A I. I — I >• iv^ ‘ pt; I fey-' ' JS* ■• ' 1 11 *M Ikssji^ r t I I . Sr-.1 * ! 4 fl V y/ • i^siawW -s.i k i .' .^1 ••ti •• 11 .1 <BW »> I I *> 1?^ K’<- ItaiiSsiT- '1 I! ■MN r 72 '•as ;9 i 1, 1 /v V ^MpvMyiia g>l MM rn5j) <• 1 A £ 1 I f; 1 :vS£?5 J k if 4’ 'I I - - - a: , I K > jjM I < 11 4" ■•s?Sr w. •A :': II w HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. 269-792-2234 68> Si/KT 195.5 A+ BBS. rV •«>>a t . w M i.n ; J • i ; I; w I 1 1jf * I I i I.< t I I t*• I I L ill I r 4Vi I f I 1 r ’« >« t i i 1 I ‘1 9^ H iU I t1 V X I II h I I I < < I I % » M 1 « i A I. ACCPEOrrED BUSINESS <> f J ENNOXy 1' 14 It 9 S. 25* t I 4- C 1 X DeWeerd DEWEERDHTG.COM 4 6 __ ♦<> .. * ■Lb^W r p J < f 1 J .'J ( & W*- » 3^ •/ 7 i4 -i c' X 'fl*’2 A Gas Furnaces w Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps -Water Heaters Humidifiers f 4 « Residential & Commercial 4 h: / 'I A.’' I •*v- ] PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA I I I J i» r 4 BH« H• -.-k * ■«** ! •VMM �C t* t 4 ?. 5 I I k 1 I \ I I *1 >>\ :x’. SUN ANO NEWS //ww.sunandnews.com V < I 1 4 < J I •MtSf/ rnbTi^ < s 9 4 VIEW Sb f -1^ «r. %. «» - i B I About 43% of Gaines Township's revenue for public safety will come from the annual special assessment levy, which the township board voted in September to increase to 1.5 mills. Sources: oainestownship.org ‘W. f‘- : .J I • > Continued from Page 1 •p^ -iA. •- * ■ Jr I J 1 I* «- F f ?» J $4 '■ I < 4 4 ' r L ’ 1 » I I “<1 I .'.J •Um*. f I J* r. < « k Il i • > '1 4 u ih f < I 1 w X Ri^ ki' M 4 *» '« ■s ■ r <” I / I ' I ' f I > 1 J ? * :H ; I . t s i'< I I ( I I F I ■, ■ ■'Bug t r '* I ‘ ! » i ) wMa H f * Hh t 1 ♦• * I I 51 4 9* I 4 1 ^'qMrTftvFMwil. e /fl<?■?****w it Io j d» r 4 * 11 V f I / iI i’ r I 1 » t. .i i i f r biB< grrn tW i I 1 ? y I 1 '' V t ; r W» ’ • z 1 ■J A / ' <eH i ’♦I I. flhtit i-' f ■ ■ i 3 1 Hunt f 1 rnmt I* I I I > I: («13 I I i (V/ ♦ > : I I t i 'J ’ r e * 1 I a J ( J * A■ 'I L > 4 a fire station in Cutlerville. Byron Township ended its 73-year-old partnership with Gaines Township and launched its own fire station on Clay Avenue in September 2025. Now, Gaines Township is paying the full cost of running its fire sta­ tions in Cutlerville and Dutton. Staff have said the township also is mak­ ing 20% annual payments to Byron Township to buy out that township's $940,000 equity share in the fire bam on 68th Street over five years. In addition, Weersing said that Gaines Township can no longer rely on American Rescue Plan Act funds to offset expenses. The State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund program provided funding to local governments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The spend­ ing deadline is Dec. 31, 2026. But municipalities had to declare by December 2024 how they intended to use their ARPA funds. The township’s federal allocation was nearly $2.9 million, with local officials reporting all of it had been obligated. The loss of this revenue has led to a bigger transfer being proposed from the general fund budget," Weersing said. The township budget for public safety projects a total of more than $5.2 million in revenue in fiscal year 2026. The budget anticipates revenue from the annual township-wide spe­ cial assessment levy for public safety will be more than $2.2 million. There also is a more than $2.9 million transfer from the general fund and $80,885 in state revenue sharing. The budget appropriates just under $940,000 for the building ▼ ■xS.. . 5 F'' 4*^ M. » ■*< • <e & •< i tea** ri A •. t; * T -J •*w* 4^ f, * I • 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. BODY SHOP COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 » FAHM BVHFAV MSVRMCE* (269) 795-8827 Your -trusRd Body Shop -for over 51 years jparki^fblnsnii.com FannBumaulnsurance.cofn ' 3 ' J ! 1 I i 1 1 I 1 I ..1 18 I i n < 11 l4 1 1 < I II a n ^**ie i •-t Members of the Gaines Township Board of Trustees review the fiscal year 2026 budget at their Nov. 10 meeting at the township hall. Photo by James Gemmell H#me 121 E Mam Street Downtown Middleville ' •.» . Your local agent insures your Jason Parks -4i ■ k 5 14 •1 > - li ) i 1i '/1 JI J r BUDGET department, $4.2 million for sewer and nearly $4.1 million for water. Including the general fund and pub­ lic safety, the total appropriations for 2026 will be almost $22.4 mil­ lion and will include $4.4 million in interfund transfers. In other business: The township tmstees voted 7-0 to set a public hearing at their Dec. 8 meeting on a zoning text amendment concerning Electronic Changeable Messaging signs in the Suburban Residential zoning district. Prior to a recent amendment to the township’s zoning ordinance, institutions such as churches and pri­ vate schools could install ECMs by obtaining a special use pennit from the planning commission. Township staff said the amendment was made because a steering com mittee deemed them to be a visual nuisance because of obtrusive light­ ing that impacts drivers and neigh­ bors. But now, the planning commis­ sion is recommending that the signs again be allowed in the SR zoning districts. * A chart shows how much money is being appropriated in the Gaines Township budget for the fiscal year that begins Jan. 1, 2026. The total amount includes about $3.4 million in interfund transfers. - k4 7 Recommended Appropriation $7,966,792 $5,215,300 $939,950 $4,232,195 $4,078,195 $22,431,982 Fund General Public Safety Building Sewer Water Total 1 Projected Revenue } Percent Category 42.77% $2,230,457 SAD Revenue 55.68% $2,903,958 Transfer from General Fund 1.55% $80,885 State Revenue Sharing Total $5,215,300 wI f Saturday. November 22, 2025 - Group e I / s t h 1 \ �I ? « » J «*• « ♦ L ♦ fU •t « r » Bfi., ’♦•irrtey Mw»rriU.r n ** ’ i^UWldniWirS nrim Li; e J I > * w wr^ i*. > •J. SPECIAL SECTION UI r * 9 * » r J « r \ > <$ to s ~ iML. j I •x • ' Ir siof' £ 5 h k ) I i » i ft *’i • .!* 1 K •* k A * 41 & ■ '”4 :«» c T V*LS , :i« t s * w «i' 'i^ r*' < * >44 V Did you know? 10TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BAZAAR 9 to to OCCIMBIR t. 20IS tAM IRM 12200 W M-17* HWY WAYIANO ttoo 9 to to 4 to 9 ' 9 • * to • toa to 9 • B 4 to OUN LAKI COMMUHtTY CHURCH A I bto. - MA < ; k 2024: licyHtadc Xlreme liatik Set t 2023: Ncrf I lite IXmblc Pimch . V ; '« Y* 2022; I I <X > lc<ms Optimus Prime IranKformcTb * Robert Model Scl •« ' I very year ccnam gifts emerge as the “hot" toy s arxi ganws lor children. Ihcse are the presentx kids are eager Io find wrapped up and ready tor them Adults often seramblc to secure these popular items. According to the United Kingdom-hasod retailer Argos, the following are among the most popular items children were asking Santa C laus to deliver over the previous decade : 9^' VS (m 1 • '. 1 1 V * 2021: Hluev I amih H<»mc PlavK*! * ' 2020: Hatc'himals Pixicsf ry ual I Ivers *•> V b > I f : lW w 2019; I urrcal ( ubb\ lk?ar r > ♦ •I V -. w « « > •cfii 201S: I ingcrhngs t ntamed I Rex and Ihno (age F 4» J e^!^‘ il< if*’*.. .r* *•* s SK*®' ■,i y,. 1 4131 I i I* M bl N J A r r r 2017; ( ozmo. UTnic Robirt I p ’to' 'i-- > •- 2016: Hatchimals. Purple I gg « 1 I I. toh Er jS' ». r’ 2015: Harbic Saddle ‘N Ride >* i B .1 A t ? f ( TT >Wi i f. F rt 1 1 SB I L **• •V't’ . 1 ■>ir 1 I r n a •s * > 2 Df to •TmSr** ’T' 3 . t'. > YOUR CHOICi $12^$75“« 1 fefl L * A. ' ;' 'd r <- Ws . i ^Fam tto to bMiMl te» * Sem t 20 FREE books to teachers/educators with ID freshwater cultured pearl pendant I sterling silver pendant with cubit zirconias i I JI& •’ if I -A ' -•.-4: 9 • ..^ .<-v.>r-*- :i>W I* W Saits t3 sss r> ’* ) •> 4*»* ;» * to I s ;■ t,' *■ 9369 Cherry Valley S.E. Caledonia, Ml 49316 616-891-5750 swierengajewelert.com -<s F., ll » Al SyMP:RF\GA 1^ « I 9^^ . w* . 1 i «»*» ; J* 1 SiSl V solitaire cubic zirconia pendant 1^' 1 x Friends of the Library only Pre-Sale Thursday, Dec. 4 3-5pm Membership can be purchased at the door Ml L k SOK . p*tf — ■< * II I ii » a»' Courtesy of the Caledonia Friends of the Libraryl KDL Caledonia Branch 6260 02nd. St. Caledonia Ml 49316 rW^ •W mI F Dec. 5 10am-4 •JI I SAT Pec. 6 10am-2pm I I I I ev^tofcto:* Public Sale CrtiiiR I A '.9' «• < rtWl {R^® P t* . 4 I Y. I rT ■ift' ) CALEDOMIA LIBRARY HOUDAYBOOKSAU! 1 {t M fethetnw , • ^Peoii^v. r* >4 ••■r 1 -,. '* ^'’^*‘ ‘ w* »^w-' A I* •% -I. . 1 Al : a tfrw*, V.* .. 1I t !t ■« t r I 1 ! I ( 0 M. 1 I Y* M •1' I J w 9 f 4 f f I « 4 i t i 9 / t « 4 to . * « •* * V « t i M .**^ t « <■ : t t ' S« ‘ * \ I 'V .*' ‘i- 1 * * �t J iI • r THE SUN AND NEWS I t t www.sunandnews.com a,” 1 I* ♦ J •- t f ♦ Saturday, November 22, 2025 Group 9 J ♦ I I 4 p I I r ( 1 I*. i i I 1 ! ♦ 1 i IV y f* > Sporting News •a ' •jT *1 > . J t > I A «* * •> •••' JL I J I /.«> 9 I ' k ' r- Slagel hopes for even better at state after regional runner-up finish 4 I $ I ! 4 ^1’* 3£2f^' J f: Brett Bremer Sports Editor < ’ . I I / . *> ThOr^ ' 1 !•;lb; ." i- •- ■ 'tv J I isfij ' -It* 4 T Ifin L ) I U • ■ ii A .*i« brn^ f *I -1. J agn ;'a . f 4 ±.- A€i I ( I? & t ..r? IL H lEno? cjq to. «; iU. ? 5. J ' r J' V.} h lr r » i I 'i:,. «» . .t-ap® (J C ffrl* f-J i V. J 41 ca lii (1^. • : f. 4 IJ if r 1. x>ni /xw r A. Sk <4* J » > kU' b/W J| J ♦A JI B K' .} r.v I I 4* Lr 1 b f I J IT/ib f J q# •I /"b5 ' f o r TO£.!^T !lffli;gniH 6 1 ( r ( t' * X' /.'*u . e . I & J feioysw HI( kTJSBsri ii ■ i» iH k t-i ■0" i >u 1 iH I'll"’ «( r z* m02 I ; tf.Hl nu^ hr jJenix • Zino aril £ ?.BW iSi i I I •Ah . I ** : OJEfKirfi cH 9 am‘JM i* . f * 4 I I 4 -I « / * I w a X b 3 • J s’ i s • # !} ; biS I '; i Je ?I iBffi avft yotL bus jj i i I f: 1 *L] ^tBO^ fhaq .W'OTiiA-h 5 SW 3 isgfltt; Jud itKI^ ni i II / 4 I « N 4 I i A «!”■ ' 1 .. •/ 1 I 1 { I There is no doubt that Thomapple Kellogg junior Lydia Slagel will have done everything she could to prepare for her third trip to the state finals. Slagel, diving for the Grand Rapids Gators co-op varsity girls’ swimming and diving team, finished as the runnerup at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Diving Regional hosted by Hudsonville High School Thursday, Nov. 13. The performance earns her a place in the state finals for the third time in three high school seasons. Slagel was a regional champion as a sophomore and placed fourth at the MHSAA L.P. DI Girls’ Swimming and Diving Finals in 2024. A regional runner-up finish in 2025 leaves her wanting more. I was just a little over, a little under on everything,” Slagel said. “I only hit a few dives from my normal. It wasn’t a great day, but I made it and that is what counts.” The top 13 divers from a group of 22 competing in the regional earned spots in the state finals which are being held this weekend, Nov. 20-21, at the Oakland University Aquatic Center in Rochester. The meet was pushed up a day due to some unexpected pool maintenance that will begin following the end of the finals Friday. Slagel said the only thing to do after what she felt was a disappointing re­ gional finish is to “work harder.” “She comes back stronger. Works harder,” Gators’ diving coach Francesca Piled said. “I’ve noticed in my time with divers if they have done a meet where they’re not so happy with the score they come back ±e next day they’re on deck and they work really hard. They’re on fire. That is when you can do new things, and they love that.” There wasn’t really much to be disap­ pointed with in a fourth-place, all-state, All-America performance at the state finals in 2024, but Slagel came away hoping to finish higher on the podium this year. Pileci said it was right after the finals in 2024 that Slagel started to learn dive 3O3B, a reverse dive with 1 1/2 somersaults in the pike position. “She was a little close on a reverse 1 1/2 tuck at the state meet, and a couple of judges scored her down for being a little close,” Pileci said. “So, we came back and said you know what we’re going to take it up a notch and we’re going to come back with a reverse 11/2 pike, which is another .3 D.D. (degree of difficulty), which is a huge up. And, there we are. “She has actually scored extremely well on that dive every single time 7^^ Grand Rapids Gators junior Lydia Slagel (center) smiles among the state qualifiers from the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Diving Regional at Hudsonville High School Thursday, Nov. 13. She is flanked by regional champion Kiya Bowman from Kalamazoo Central (right) and Jenison’s Missy Search Photos by Brett Bremer ' '''. .*iB J? M 4 * b i; » —II"? < «*» « 4 4b* 2 r £. 9 I* I s: r A < \1 'V*' ’ •T’ a? <. •• «4 A. *'4 Grand Rapids Gators junior Lydia Slagel starts to release her pike position in the air on dive 401B during the final round of the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Diving Regional at Hudsonville High School Thursday, Nov. 13. Slagel placed second to qualify for the state finals. she has competed it, from dual meets through 11 -dive meets, the conference meet and regionals. Like [Hastings Community Diving Club head coach] Todd [Bates] says, ‘what happens on the day depends on the day with diving. On the regional day. Pileci said Slagel smoked her 303B and nailed her reverse dive in the pike position too, dive 301B. She did those two dives back to back in rounds eight and nine at the 11 -dive meet. Kalamazoo Central senior Kiya Bow­ man won the regional championship with an overall score of 408.95 points. Slagel finished the evening with 390.80 points. There were six girls over the 300-point mark. Jenison’s Missy Search was third with 345.70 points. The only other girl from the OK Conference East Division, which the Gators’ compete in, to make it through the regional to the DI Finals was Grand Rapids Union’s Taniya Ott who placed 12th with a score of261.65 points. The last ofthe 13 state qualifiers had a score of 261.45. “She dove amazing,” Slagel said of Bowman, who was eighth at the state finals ayear ago. “She hit all ofher dives and I am so proud of her. I talk to her. We do club stuff"together and we always comment on each other’s posts. I love her. She’s so sweet.” Caledonia had diver Lily Smith qualify for the meet and place 22nd. She had a score ofl03.15. It was the top 21 divers that advanced through the prelim’s on into the semifinals. The top 17 after the semifinals competed in the finals for the 13 state spots. There were three L.P. DI Diving Re­ gionals contested across the state with one at Oxford and one at Highland Mil­ ford. Bowman had the highest regional score of any of the D1 divers and Slagel had the third highest score. “We just have to take our time a little bit more on the board, and what we said today was top 13 is all we needed,” Pileci said. “It was just a warm-up for state. So, we’ll go back to the board and keep working.” I4 ft 1 I AJ *: " 1 » J f. ■9^ ' a ' J : f I 1 b 1 f I I 1 •I I 'I / I n I U 1 H f I »» n ! I t ' ( 1 I > 1 'll •1 > r • 1 Tk U I 1 / 1 •i s I \ I I I ♦ �« « * I I 10 Saturday. f SUN T VMTW. NEVrS Sports Editor I he ( aledonia varsity hockey team « a tn-fip wiih l.nwcll and Thomapple Kellogg, was bcMcd for ihe first time this AeaAon on its new home kc al Patterson Icc ( enter Saturday. Ihe Mattawan Wildcats snapped a 2-2 lie with a power play goal with 2:48 to play in ihc third period and then added an empty-neticr for a 4-2 win, I he I ighting Scots arc now 3-1 overall this season after bounc­ ing back with a 6-3 win over Sparta lucsday, Nov. 18. I hc I ighting Scots opened their season with a 4-2 win over the Por­ tage Muskics al Wings Event C enter in Kalamazoo Nov. 7 and then took down Rockford 4-2 in Ihc first OK Conference Rue Division contest of the season Nov. 8 al Patterson Icc Ccnlcr. Patterson is the new home icc for the Caledonia team after years sharing I J Ihc Kcntwxxxl Icc Arena with the I asl Kcntw<H>d I akons Ihc m<nc was fatililalvd to bc^I fit our ICC time needs and facilities for our program,”( alcdonia High ScIkmiI athletic director Phil Miedcma said Wc arc grateful to I aM Kcniuood High School for our partnerships in athletics and wc look forw ard to work­ ing w ith their district in the future.” The l ighting Scots also have a new leader this w inter in head coach Tyler Jaenicke a former (irand Rapids Christian assistant coach and thrccycar assistant captain for Davenport University's Men’s Dll Hockey team. Mattawan never trailed Saturday, t he Wildcats got a goal from Royce Teall off an assist from Benjamin Edington 14 minutes into the contest to lead I -0. The teams then went back and forth in the second period. Caledonia evened the game on a power play goal by Bryce Mitchell 4:53 into the second period. Harmon A lA, w >* * >*«* r t ' ' -—aw. 'W^ J 1 J s 4 i* .. r f I I 11^ ? n -> rf—‘ Mt : I I f - r I I. f I 1i life* I * • .* ■ T :i 4 z > U! r * rr { ■laia* a ? I 11*’ « st. k 1I 5 a* I ! ■ 4 ^■- 4 ::kj ■&k BI t I * Ai PUBLIC HEARING I hc Village of Middleville C ouncil will hold a PI 'Bl U III ARIN(j on 1ucsda>, I^ccmhcr 16. 2025 at 7:(K> pm. or as soon thereafter sa possible, in the Countil Chambers at the Middleville Village Hall at 100 last Main Street I he piirpovc of the Pl'BLK IIEAKING iv Io consider a proposed Amendment No. 2 (•‘Amendmeht No. 2"| Io the Amended and Keslaird Tai Increment Financing and Development Plan for the \ illaxe of Middleville Donntonn Development Aulhorily, ai amended (the **Amended Plan"), pursuant to the Recodified lai Increment F inancing Act ( Act 57 of the Public Acts of Michifian of 201 ai amended). Ihc boundaries of the Dou-ntoun Development Authority Development Area arc described and shown in the Amended Plan, which is available for public inspection during regular business hours al the ofTicc of the Village Clerk, 100 L^tst Main Street. Middleville, Michigan Amendment No. 2 to the Amended Plan does not propose (»r require the relocation of families or individuals from the Development Area. The proposed amendment updates project listings, rev iscs financial proiections, and extends Ihc plan duration through December 31. 2030. All aspects of the pn>poscd Amendment No. 2 and any other related information that the Village Council deems appnipriate are open for discussion at the public hearing. At the hearing, citizens. Lax pavers, and properly owners may be heard regarding the proposed amendment. Written comments mav be submitted to the Village Clerk's olTicc up Io the lime of the public heanng. Authorized by the Village C ouncil of the Village of Middleville on November 12. 2025. The public is invited to attend this open meeting and Io offer comments. Alternatively; to participate in the meeting by providing vvTitlen comment you may email your comment to the Milage Clerk at nanpolenl^ V iHatfeofmiddlcvillc.org. or drop them off in person to Middleville Village Hall. Wrilicn comments received prior to 4:00 pm on IX*ceinhcr 16. 2025 will be distributed Io Council members and il will be noted ihai such comments were received prior to the meclihg’ Persons with special needs who wish to attend should contact the \ illage Clerk no less than 3 days prior to the meeting. The Village Clerk can be contacted by phone at the number indicated above or by email at rvanpolcnl{Lvilljgcofniiddlcvilk‘,org- during normal business hours (Monday thru Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and I riday 8:00 am Io noonf i <A ♦I 3 i t« 100 East Main Street Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villaqeofmiddleville.org Posted 11/13/2025 Rhonda Van Polen. Milage Clerk I I Caledonia hockey co-op skates to a start Brett Bremer .fl! 1 : I H V ••9 «* 1 >* 4 f J hI n I ! ✓ * >V 4 .■« J* t w y*. .,1** Caledonia senior defender Isaiyah Supuk looks to move the puck as Mattawan's Tyler Aubochon closes in during their rxjn-conference contest Saturday. Nov 15, at Patterson Ice Center in Grand Rapids. * ■4 % J r. r I » rI « I . » /i I Esch notched an assist firing a shol in from Ihe point that Mitchell finished off. Gabe Supuk also tallied an assisi on the goal. Esch added an unassisted goal 15:05 into the period. In between, the Wildcats got an unassisted goal from Edington, who also scored the late empty-net goal. Ty Lewandowski scored twice and four other Fighting Scots found the net as they defeated the Sparta Spartans 6-3 al Griff's Icc House at Belknap Park Tuesday in Grand Rapids. Harmon Esch, Eslon Brown. Drew Nichols and Ethan Sova also scored for Caledonia. Nichols had three assists too, get­ ting a helper on each of the Fighting Scots' first three goals. He scored himself with 12:40 into the second period to push Caledonia to a 4-1 lead at that point. Sparta rallied with two goals in the first seven minutes of the third period to get within 4-3. Jameson Meendering and Reid Bennet both scored their first goals of the season for the Spar­ tans w ithin 31 seconds of each other. Lew andowski finally gave the Scots some breathing room with his second goal of the game at the 13:50 mark of the third period, and then Sova finished off the Spartans with an un­ assisted. short handed goal with 1:06 remaining. Gabe Supuk had two assists for the c I I •• }I trrtt •*' y* 'v t -n aw I 5 V 9^ •H 1 ' IIK .X V. _ - X. s I ur ■ »»*■ I X % f« •.' I !•« •& 1^' *f 1 dlenF- 1 1 I t- I "T' . A - I t rj3f* r-J ■• ’i’. * .i >’* •>u V ‘•f « i , Itf h ♦"* Il * I I ;!* ' • r r«i I I (Pt-^ ■ .\ I I r I * w ♦< (ttabefe. tgtfldM raw i'u’MWni* |lR 4 Caledonia senior forward Harmon Esch leads the line of celebration along the Fighting Scot bench after a goal against Mattawan in a non­ conference contest on the team's new home ice at Patterson Ice Center in Grand Rapids Saturday, Nov. 15. Photos by Brett Bremer 3Ed JiSkHtAv. 4- ■ » .3 c r r k l,u I ! 1 Vife l4fa» V I e ' II ifi be - >> / { 1 J . J I lI \ Ss '‘sluiBatete. f I I i I Scots and Evan Moore had one. The Fighting Scots host Forest Hills Central at Patterson Icc Arena. today, Nov. 22, and then are off until a weekend at the Alpena Showcase Nov. 28-29 at Northern Lights Arena. si V .‘H 6 vu I council RE^-i; EMkW. V..' ’ •k i T C V / • «. i fe V »: I T f i • 1^1 *5 I . K ii’v- * h1 r . «« < JI* .♦ IV 1 L ( ' *v. I ■ F s k>!W •* . — » X ?■ i 'y I J « 4t t s ( <! il 1 I IM M k t-. I J 1 i 9 4 4 f ' >•. :• . * �r Y I r ♦ ♦ w www.sunandnews.com t THE SUN AND NEWS VIEW ‘ 11 Saturday, November 22. 2025 - Grocjp t ♦ .i * YMCA Turkey Trot takes off for 17th time Thursday morning f ♦ r .J Vil WB i / t ■> I u \ 2• A 1^ i 1 « * J. 4 <* F 460 / r ' I ' i 158\ ■ 4 » I / T i A r * I ?* I L < ; I— i h b.-? < a i I| it> r fl J • I TW . ' 4 K < K "ii." J (mF lEI A. . 1 r t !h r >’T3tf I I ■ * • AT^ » * * ' I ■' tr; * w>’ . V 4I 4 ‘ 'r.-r ri ■. I :. iftfn r ’ -Up,. isT''' I'" '> : I P: A •m ” lOJ HIV iit/ n !;, • < » r e IE '2I IT ? • ■7 ft 1 K ♦•< 1 ’ •' *>0n» A I A . V V t..n( nsf- ' >r-t * J f Ite .b <1 ♦-4.* *• A *•* •t «• r/ f’l , r W ' I k u ' H^li iJ. ?,l- J J fit?'* - . >r > ¥» -rr, ir 'TH--T-J ' qir » > « ( t9f J r• v ' A .•r -1’ I ■ I t r 9 •9 • p I .i-ii: • I •K r* « • n*Hr.ri*AAb'' I .1; I /* * ■■ I I t i' r I') ff, il A I S * .«T , i‘ / * 1 : ( . »v • rXilSlltte ■ iK;t I t I *r< 'X • sr r I i f f t’WjM 1 I tu r, rtf p <. . Z 1 A ■ > •J Mr J f t« • ' ■ '''' i.i.i . -i r •rwr ■ » A# > I II II i-isr / i I f-.. > u k ' •JS-’’ 7^ »•'» ♦ *1 Ai H ______ I I I > i I j J t I V't -r’' sfM J' 1 '.irfl There will be prizes once again for the best fall-themed runner in the YMCA of Barry County Turkey Trot Thursday, Nov. 27. The 17th annual event takes off from Algonquin Lake. The YMCA of Barry County will host its 17th annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run Thursday, Nov. 27, at Algonquin Lake. The top male and female runners win turkeys from Otto’s Turkey Farm in Middleville as the YMCA invites runners to wobble before they gobble. Race registration can be done online at runsignup.com. Late registration is going on now. The cost is $40 for adults 18-and-up and $30 for youth 17-andunder. Those partaking in late registra­ tion are not guaranteed a race T-shirt. Online registration will end Nov. 25 at 11:59 p.m. Participation in the Fun Run is free, but participants need to register for the event. There will be race-day registration open from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the new YMCA of Barry County building at 2350 Iroquois Trail. Check-in an packet pick-up will be held Nov. 26 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the new YMCA of Barry County building and from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on race day. Both races begin at the comer of Buehler Road and Iroquois Trail. The Fun Run takes off at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K takes off at 8:45 a.m. Both races end on the front lawn of the YMCA Camp Algonquin. Race day parking is available at the si % . cnw^ •li. ♦ >’ t: .I I I .'I s it. I f - * I ’ A. * A* tf 2* Algonquin Lake Community Associa­ tion and at the New Y Building at 2350 Iroquois Trail. Parking attendants will be stationed to offer instructions. There will be no public parking at the YMCA Camp Algonquin. In addition to the champs’ turkeys, there will be a prize and a photo-op for the best dressed runner wearing the most festive fall gear. The race will also once again include a school challenge. The school with the highest percentage of students participation in relation to its enroll­ ment within the school system will be presented with the Turkey Trophy, which can be displayed at the school the following year. The trophy will be awarded and announced the week fol- lowing Thanksgiving. Racers are also encouraged to do­ nate non-perishable food items on race day, with drop-off tables present at both parking locations. The YMCA will donate items to the Barry County United Way. There are also plans once again for hot cocoa, water and giveaways at Camp Algonquin at the end of the event. A total of 476 5K runners completed the race in 2024. Riley Shults took the men’s championship in 16 minutes 2.02 seconds and Katherine Weinbrecht was the women’s champion in 19:32,7. — BB r 7 1 * ■ >1^1 I lak 'W A Scan our QR code to find your M* ? * perfect invitation! » 4 fl I *ar r V 'H' 1 I • • p •» . |« • * • Ft » *»•« * » *• "'W ’* ♦ » ■ t > *• '; 9 > 57 JR •J .'.r ' Sf 11*». / .4au \ • sr :' • •V I 1 Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the October 28, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on November 12, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main Street and on the website at www.villaaeofmiddleville.orq. Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. . &. PRINTiNG BY www.printingbypennylane.com ginacl@pennylaneprinting.com i 4 4 1 3' I I J ( P 11 I E I I ^^Z' I i’ Runners get across the finish line at the end of the 2024 YMCA of Barry County Turkey Trot 5K race. Late registration is going on now for the 2025 even which will be held Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 27, at Algonquin Lake. The event also includes a free 1 Mile Fun Run. Courtesy photos '.I > .1* X I .1 V. 9 Be^ L. s » I >>> i 4 I—- /J * s’ V-: t -± w c * .W r, V —* J i " iik « 7 *• Jt* r » I - f 1 r 1 < : I W ». «8^. 1 • 2k I J I I I S®iKI T *. to**. z % X. * b i t I i -IB** 1 - 2 IQ % ^*** I !• k 1 8 I Mr I < I i *e ’5it F I . I > k J I I > =^'- A 1 J i I I A »* ..1 I i J I !K I 1 'fib •1 ft I n t / s 1 t « \ �I k ■ *.’’7 * 12 Saturday, November 22, 2025 I ’ VIEW ,^ www.sunandnews.com NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ✓ 1 GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP ♦ ♦ the SUN and NEWS *1 ir k « 4 ^^’ji A’ I Applicant: k L 4 ;i V ► I A*. t ^9 r p F*' »fc t i 9 *I A- 'a iJ wr A* T’.“’ ♦ I 'W •A J • ^>W' '4^ I -Ok 1 •*r I 4 fC 3 Ir I WkJ i**.’ \ t" • • •II**' ’ .p i J L ■rf y :■ I ' r 1 > '<4 9* I r _• Tj ■ 4 • X •4. A tr* I 1 Brian DeSmit, Bat Flip LLC NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING c I I 41-22-15-200-029 GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP > 1^1 t 7761 Hanna Lake Avenue, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Date and Time of Hearing: December 10th, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected during regular business hours Monday through Friday, at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices or contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5 PM on December 10th , 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should con­ tact info@gainestownship.org or (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. 4 i * d 9 I -» ? ♦ Parcel Number: * A i 19 ♦ Property Address: *I t -^•i. * n| I ♦ The Gaines Charter Township Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a pub­ lic hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Request for a 52.8-foot dimensional variance to decrease the street side setback for a resi­ dential dwelling from 60 feet to 7.2 feet in the Agricultural/Rural Residential zoning district. I • r. XI T• I >• *<* t f ''V * ' sar^ t 'l'^ *>•. I 189^*• _____II * i * MiM inK 4' r 1 it t . ♦ » ^,5 J ,<511 ^ •v •Z * ) . I*-' <. - I ; . T: \ * x« .V ■ ♦ ft": 5^ ..4MW 4 I. X r • % % I If7^' K N* Caledonia seniors Sophie Gaylord and Aliya Van Hofwegen, pictured at the front of the line headed for the 100-yard butterfly final at the OK Conference East Division Championships, are a part of a group of eight Fighting Scots who were set to compete in the Nov. 21-22 MHSAA L.P. Division 1 State Finals at Oakland University. Photo by Brett Bremer ..Is •• < 1^ t ’ **• ^^Oi'.<11 .1 * l' V~' . «» *‘ I ** . . itJa J I <4 *1* s « (kJk M..*V fi } tfA t W“f“ .•'* 1 i I I A I K>i-^J V*. w ,“ ip r ■■ i pn^P •'.'‘t * ' -n ♦ I n i2 A* f ' 4 * ir ► I k <»vA V f k J The Gaines Charter Township Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a pub­ lic hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Request for a 41.97 square-foot dimensional variance to increase the size of an interior site sign from 8 square feet to 49.97 square feet in the Office Service zoning district. Property Address: Parcel Number: Applicant: 440 72nd Street, Grand Rapids, Ml 49548 41-22-07-376-005 Kim Allard; Allied Signs Inc. Date and Time of Hearing: December 10th, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected during regular business hours Monday through Friday, at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices or contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5 PM on December 10th , 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should con­ tact info@gainestownship.org or (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. Scots sent some of state’s fastest swimmers to D1 Finals Brett Bremer Sports Editor The OK Conference East Division champion Caledonia varsity girls’ swimming and diving team was set for four individual and three relay competitions at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’Swimming and Diving Finals Nov. 20-21 at Oak­ land University in Rochester. Caledonia teams qualified for the state finals in all three relay races, the 200-yard medley relay, the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard free­ style relay. Fighting Scot senior Sophie Gay­ lord was set to compete in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle at the state finals, and junior Mya VanderZwaag was also set to compete in the 50-yard freestyle as well as the 100-yard breaststroke. The rest of the Fighting Scot relay squads included freshmen Caitlyn Morris and Kailey Hall, sophomores Chloe Kerkstra, Lily Klein Amelia Mc­ Cann, and senior Aliya Van Hofwegen. The top 16 in each event at the state finals earn medals. Gaylord and VanderZwaag were both state medal­ ists in the 50-yard freestyle at the 2024 state finals. Gaylord is a two-time state medalist in that event already and has earned seven state medals overall through her first three varsity swim­ ming and diving seasons. Gaylord entered the meet seeded third in the 100-yard freestyle and fourth in the 50 free. VanderZwaag headed to Oakland as a five-time state medalist already, Van Hofwegen has earned three and McCann one state medal prior to this season. The Fighting Scot 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay teams were both ranked among the top eight heading into the finals too. I i { A' i ;« > I *r* 1. fc*- * * r-^- » 4 f' - I lO J. rr5 t k ■ M. o >i J I* I I •«i z * fc n ! [mn ^ISM’ » * -- .•-^1 W J V■ «< fy «^LyvMVr ,> t r . I < I I • hl stoisr"^ i T iiHaiAi— /A. 1 L f • . . . T*- 9 Ikfeir . ' . 1 4 1 ri’ ' *5 W Uiw :‘'t j KWmr . I hr I I '2* iAl4.l:4 t k * *W5.*f* t • *> r* I 4 f I a: I , ! ■a I i I I t ft • • r ’ 1 > I 1. ^U.,«X^ **•» 1.1 w * r I f 2’ ’ b ■!\ f I T Vu^ L «« I.- ( i. J. i 'MMiimiiMi. 1 _ 4: > I' **n: TfWI -9b i w- �i AT \ ■■ V * ■/ JsC B i *• I 4 IW. ♦ f ff: 1 ♦ 5A f 1* 1 11 5 t Jr |i THE SUN www.sunandnews.com and news ! VIEW. 13 Saturday, November 22. 2025 Group J L f »< ♦ A' t ♦ c, k )' • J I f r ■ I k J. s 1« lafftnofrw Yankee Springs Twp. Board honors longtime volunteer, approves budget amendments 9 r* J CHS singers participate in MSVMA Festival A 7'^ J ♦ *•* * ) 1 R - U- 4’ t. a I I h S I .3' i » J •o'/l K k J 7 * <J .tf -1:' I i to* •Mfe- -r-— B „ ■C' r < t k I I I j ■n twrr ITI ?. IO ir fw 1 mrf' i T j I * J lifniJ ,; - r/ < ♦ ’Wn/ai: ■mwfq . 1 ‘'^1 «n «s 1 •w r ■ > « *4. J 11 i ♦ J 4^ V I*. 1 '•< 5 •• ri .n * *• • . I raij , « ** n I v'.Z I k * 4I ri * ,1 ^k^iilKrs ♦ a «' J f > <• ■^*-7 Q •Ml. I I J T 1 < I T i;. \ •T • I r t :t I r I f*Mr> t 4 At 'i- >} '¥ fa tSftl ()?« 4 t/ I I I i ( i t JJ N 1/I r r-j * I > .11 # t- / k. V t ■ liiwwsV i • USlteSii,: ;. k —* • » I I • « k» ’ J it« f> , •!;. nt >) 1 I fi fl • ii;<t f L I ^.l v' to* i. 1I I I 4k. Li .. 1. I bWJf Db 11* .\;\r 4 . 4 » I 4 I • r L.a.kb »• ♦ > i*: z * X. •* I • •■p I 1 an f K 1 •s 1 . I i I : noy V * * 4 Ori I I I « I I. t c t <X ■ lil 9^ ) ' I hi. » I 1 i > * ■» o MialC'T* AjJir >r'A I f «• ‘••.1 v» 1 • /. *>• '»> I I I i .J I * ,) II t r r t » '1 I ”.•.1 I I'b I** It 1 I i« I w to f ■Ml).' '• 'I ^»ab ><r« * 3 4 9 urfT 1 / , ? 74 I 1 'ibei bW nr* I -•-Wr 1 . i taa t ■raii. :«» Ik » / - ■I 7 t ^rx •• w IM I* "S A « !» ♦ The Yankee Springs Township Board observed a moment of silence on Thursday, Nov. 13, before presenting a plaque to the family of Rich Beukema, who served the township for more than 27 years on various boards. Pictured here are (from left) Tim Hopkins, Larry Knowles, Rob Heethuis, Maxine Beukema, Dari Beukema, Dave Van Houten and Deb Mousseau. Courtesy photo I The Yankee Springs Township Board approved several budget amendments, appointed two new planning commission members and honored a long­ time volunteer at its regular meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13. The board observed a moment of silence on Thursday before presenting a plaque to the family of volunteer Rich Beukema, who served the town­ ship for more than 27 years on various boards. His wife, Maxine, thanked members for the recognition. Following the plaque presentation, Treasurer Deb Mousseau reported a projected revenue decrease due to reductions in state sales tax sharing. Because the township park project was delayed into the new fiscal year, the board approved amendments adjust­ ing both revenues and expenditures to $ 1,876,411, using $98,511 from fund balance. During public comment, one resident requested a budget amendment to remove the $ 150,000 alloca­ tion for the township water system. Clerk Tom Hopkins reported a smooth November election during last week’s meeting, with 612 of 3,118 registered voters participating. The township’s annual audit was also completed successfully. TTie planning commission continued working on updates to the mining ordinance on Thursday and will hold a public hearing next month. The fire department reported 21 fire calls and 49 medical responses in October. Chief Dan Miller introduced newly-licensed EMT Nikki Mendez on ITiursday. Mendez will be enrolling in the fire academy in January to work toward being a certified firefighter, as well. Township park facilities have been closed for the season and recycling use continues to increase, say township staff. The board unanimously appointed John Trygier and Nicole Smith to the planning commission on Thursday. It also voted to appeal a recent court deci sion involving a zoning violation on Park Drive, cit­ ingpotential long-term impacts on enforcement. Fol­ lowing up on past requests from township residents, the board voted to reinstate having two public comment sections at each meeting. Members also approved the sale of the township’s retired fire truck for $20,000. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 11 at the Township Hall. Yankee Springs Township » 1 *< J to 1 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 4 The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with seven members present. The Gaines Charter Township Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a pub­ lic hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Request for a 40-foot dimensional variance to decrease the street side setback for an acces­ sory building from 60 feet to 20 feet in the Agricultural/Rural Residential zoning district, Items approved: 1. Printed Agenda approved as presented. 2. Consent Agenda approved as amended. 3. Approved minutes of the Octo­ ber 21,2025 special meeting. 4. Approved use of the Township Hall by the DDA on 12/4/25 & 12/6/25. 5. Approved special assessment for the 2025 Winter Tax Roll. 6. Approved Bubbler Ordinance. 7. Approved creation of an EMT/ FF administrative assistant. 8. Approved Matrix bid. 9. Approved purchase of a brush truck. 10. Approved purchase of com­ mand truck. 9720 Hanna Lake Avenue, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Parcel Number: 41-22-26-320-002 Applicant: Jeremy Boot Date and Time of Hearing: December 10th, 2025, at 7:00 PM Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected during regular business hours Monday through Friday, at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices or contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5 PM on December 10th, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should con­ tact info@gainestownship.org or (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. Meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m. Prepared by Deputy Clerk Brenda Hess. Approved by Township Su­ pervisor, Eric Schaefer. Copies of the meeting minutes are available upon request from the Township Clerk or by visiting https://thornapple-twp.org/meeting-minutes/ Office hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. .J 11 I ■ 11 11 « 1 J I 11 I Ih I I Ik .‘H t 1 THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP BOARD 200 E MAIN ST. MIDDLEVILLE, Ml 49333 SYNOPSIS OF MEETING MINUTES Monday, November 10, 2025 IJ I < I Ten Caledonia High School choir students participated in the Michigan School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA) Musical Theater Solo and Ensemble Festival on Saturday, Nov. 15. The singers performed in eleven different events, receiving nine first division ratings and two second division ratings. Pictured here are (front row, from left) Sophia Price, Nola Pearson, Jordyn Duffy, Emma Kellogg, (back row) Maggie Koopman, Savannah Robinson, Justin Brown, Zahara Muriithi and Cara Price. Not pictured is Kylee Zimmerer. Courtesy photo 1 ' a; i: f • f 5^' GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP Property Address: * 9 I ! L t * I 41 i1 9 »«. t I ,S* ‘J » i i I f > I k \ �Saturday, November 22, 2025 14 ♦ ♦ the SUN AND NEWS VIEW H afa^tfw www.sunandnews.com Group La .> DNR reports Allegan County’s first CWD-positive wild deer Allegan is now the 17th Michigan county where chronic wasting disease has been identified in the wild deer population, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. An emaciated doe reported by residents of Leighton Township recently tested positive for the disease. C WD was confirmed by the Wiscon­ sin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The sample was also sent for a second­ ary confirmation to the U.S. Depart­ ment of Agriculture’s National Vet­ erinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, but results may be delayed due to the federal government shutdown. CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. To date, the disease has not of­ ficially been detected in Barry County, but Eaton to the west, and Kent and Ionia counties to the north have all been affected and now Allegan to the east. CWD has also bee detected in deer from Clinton, Dickinson, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw and Washtenaw counties in Michigan. The declining health ofthis 1.5-yearold doe in Allegan was first noted by private landowners in late summer. In late September, the DNR was contacted and authorized humane euthanasia and collection of the deer. On exam at the DNR’s Wildlife Disease Lab, the deer was noted to be in poor physical condi­ tion with no body fat. “The care that’s demonstrated when people take the time to share their ob­ servations is a critical contribution to our disease-testing efforts,” said Brent Rudolph, DNR deer, elk and moose management specialist. “Public report­ ing ofdeerthat appear unhealthy is very important for identifying CWD that may exist at low levels in previously undetected areas.” CWD is a chronic, slow-developing disease that spreads slowly across the landscape. It has been detected in Kent County, adjacent to Leighton Town­ ship, which is in the northeast comer of Allegan County. Allegan County was under focused CWD surveillance in 2021, when approximately 500 deer were tested, with none testing positive. The DNR has continued to test deerthat appear sick in Allegan County when possible. Hunters can get their deer tested with a free CWD self-sample submission kit from the DNR. Deer that appear emaciated, lethar­ gic, disoriented, lame or unresponsive are good candidates for CWD testing, though these symptoms are character­ istic of deer affected by other maladies or injuries as well. The public is en­ couraged to report sick deer online at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField. To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in people. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Cen­ ters for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that infected animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals. Since chronic wasting disease was first detected in Michigan’s wild deer in 2015, more than 110,000 deer in Michi­ gan have been tested for CWD through * •'V O’ rll Tajolcee Springs Townsliip 284 N. BRIGGS ROAD- MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN 49333 269-795-9091 / FAX 269-795-2388 NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a special public hearing will be held on December 9, 2025, commencing at 6:00 p.m. at the Yankee Springs Township Hall. 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville MI, within the Township, as required under the provisions of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act and the Zoning Ordinance for the Township. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE In addition to participation during a public hearing, members of the public may also provide comments for the ZBA’s consideration by emailing or mailing those comments to the ZBA for receipt prior to the meeting, in care of the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea Goeshea@yankeespringstwp.org). Letters and emails are due 3 days before the meeting date, or by leaving a phone message prior to the meeting with the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea at 269-795-9091. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the item(s) to be considered at said public hearing include, in brief, the following: L ZBA 25-11-05. Parcel ID: 16-030-040-00, 12774 Russell Drive, Wayland Ml 49348. The property is zoned Residential Single Family (RSF). The property owner, Andy Northey / Swan Equity is appealing the decision of the zoning administrator denying a short-term rental permit pursuant to Article XX of the Yankee Springs Township Zoning Ordinance. 2. Such other business as may properly come before the Zoning Board of Appeals. Anyone interested in reviewing the application material may do so at the township hall. All interested persons are invited to be present at the aforesaid time and place, or, if an electronic meeting is held, to participate via the electronic meeting. Yankee Springs Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, to individuals with disabilities at the hearing upon four (7) days’ prior notice to the Township Clerk. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address or telephone number listed below. YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Jake Welch, Chairman Yankee Springs Township Hall 284 N. Briggs Rd. Middleville, Michigan 49333 (269) 795-9091 AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Monday at 4 p.m. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Monday at 5 p.m. THE HASTINGS BANNER Tuesday at Noon THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon IBi ^ACm>Group mihomepaper.com a variety of efforts, including respond­ ing to public reports of sick deer and focused testing of hunter-harvested deer. In total, more than 144,000 wild deer have been tested through DNR surveillance efforts that started in 2002, with 265 CWD-positive deer identi­ fied. In addition, since direct hunter submissions of deer to the MSU lab began in 2020, more than 3,400 submit­ ted samples have yielded 61 additional confirmed positives. After initial intensive testing near areas of the first CWD detections in the state, the DNR began a rotational approach to testing harvested deer in 2021. A group of counties is selected each year, with the eventual aim of testing enough deer in every Michigan county. The goal of this approach is early disease detection, as management has the potential to be most effective when the disease is caught early. This method also provides the DNR with confidence that if the disease does exist in these areas but goes undetected, that it is most likely there at a very low level. The DNR suggests hunters should take precautions when field-dressing or processing deer: wear rubber gloves, minimize contact with the deer’s brain and spinal tissue, and wash hands with soap and warm water after handling any parts of the carcass. Proper disposal of deer carcasses is critical to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease. Deer carcasses and parts should go directly to a landfill or be disposed of through regular bagged trash pickup. Studies show that CWD can survive on the landscape for years, contributing to the spread of disease. Deer harvested from known CWD areas should never be disposed of on the landscape. Beginning in 2025, free self-sample submission kits are now available in all counties outside of the DNR bovine tuberculosis (TB) or CWD surveillance areas. Kits allow hunters to remove lymph nodes and ship them directly to the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at no cost. Hunters can pick up a kit at a local distribution site. If hunters choose not to pick up a kit, testing is available for a fee through direct submission to a cooperating USDA approved diagnostic laboratory. I Si »s XN Mi J i I 1' « c I . * r4 1 r' ' - i'' lir ni ' B ) jW 2 r » f9 I a .J I A I I ■f W ' < »' 5 i' u t *• r JO ri I I I UI ► i •4 f > . I'i* z1 I i I 1 A 1 r 9 »* • 1' • I V 'I isi""; M 4 9 A * r f • • tirv . •u A 1 < 'J •j , ■I > I wT. fit j«ra»"F*4* t?4 £r e'i I IT I I I *' f T. ■I r J-I J »;t 1 an «1 t . r.iO -H" ■ . 1^* I » i *r < R 5 .h '■ 4 e 'fl > 9 f A , ..V H J f fV. I f .in ' I' ■ -C-*. t r/ /» r J- J ... » I 1 A* • bl 64 J 4 5« j I .* n •*» 'IS-s. k I. I «. I * t f 5 f 1 /b 1 ’?«ww >bi *_xL 1 « k« T rur*" r V I 1 . *xsi**<i ■ I T I » f P ’ jajd j < f -Ifl'( ' I * * '1 I s—* ■■ r ''4^^ •rfK’It • ‘J i-'k*..'— J " • <. I I >* J..* f b* .. «« ' ‘ .)ir 9 ■' *1 4 r I. I »’ ■' !." A' r . ■ - ..-A I * I I ‘ r^.-v H'’’ 4 ^P« > t I I < s / -. .. I I 4 I > J 1 I I I r« ’ f 1 I i * »*«-VMM * > I J - * J I 1 I •4 ’ T . e'.i; I »f. 4 p ; . 1 J I . • 4 •> r* C4' ' M . - Hbf. I . . 9 44> A '^JVK f ^•u .. h ? I I ^nz • t •. MJ z L — BB 1, 4 1 i M I : < I I t. I I 1 4 'i I 1 M I (i! M I ‘ >r Uk- ' 7./ , T 1 I ] 1 « A 4 I .>» / 3' ok I . I .1 *1 4 ( I. 4 I * ' I* r I I 4, a j I < ‘X GA �I I■ I * 1 * t f f * i I 9 I 1 ■W1 r «L i » • I • 1 I J.I « • C A • I t I I 4 » » I I » * Of I ♦ ♦ A '‘I*s '•if V« Saturday. November 22. 2025 Group 15 ♦ ♦ INCREASE: II 9 *1 <1. if' 11 1 J V S' i 1 A ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH i I I VIEW j ” ? 9 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com •fc.” TOWNSHIP BOARD TOWNSHIP OF THORN APPLE Barry County, Michigan vowMavY imu Wk, lb t Giving sets the tone 1 t ;• • 5 * i *• I • < I Today, we are going to season differently. They’re 7 t discuss the second financial not scrambling to squeeze health marker on your fuel generosity into what's left. i V gauge. If you’re just joining They’ve already positioned us, here’s a quick recap. giving at the top, and as a re­ Money is fuel. Fuel to get sult, their spending natural ly you where you want, or even falls into more meaningful, feel called to go. Therefore, intentional patterns. Zach Santmier we need a full tank so we can Giving the first 10% also <i«v. M ‘• live confidently and move toward the creates a margin — mentally and emo ­ 'tj life we desire. tionally. Instead ofchasing possessions I'he first mark on your fuel gauge or temporary comforts, you create a is simple. Spend less than you make. •N built-in reminder that the purpose of Illis second step is challenging, and for money is bigger than consumption. I many, counterintuitive. When the first part goes toward others, I Give 10% of your income away. the rest becomes easier to manage be­ <0 *1 What? If the objective of what we cause you’ve already made the hardest, fl ’'*1^ are talking about is to increase our most defining decision of the month. **^01. ? finances, then why would we start by And here’s the beautiful thing: once ' I;.. ‘■’'SK^ bW giving money away? the first 10% is allocated, the remaining Here’s what I believe and have prac­ 90% tends to work better. Budgeting J 'i* fticed my entire adult life. When giving becomes clearer. Overspending be­ becomes the starting point—the first comes less frequent. Priorities become it shifts the entire budget sharper. Giving first removes the fog line item ail t'-. into a healthier, more intentional pos­ from the rest of your financial picture. t , . ’.b '4 So as the holidays approach, giving if' * ture. Suddenly, the remaining 90% has structure. It has purpose. isn’t just a nice gesture it’s a powerI also believe that giving the first ful way to set the tone for your entire 10% isn’t generosity in the traditional budget. It grounds your values, shapes t sense it’s discipline. It’s a habit that your habits, and allows the remaining '--M pulls the heart away from impulse 90% to be spent, saved, and enjoyed ( and toward intentionality. And that with far more clarity and purpose. discipline pays dividends. When you Today, let’s start small, but also I make the decision to give right away, stretch our giving muscles. 1 want you before the month begins, you naturally to take a crisp $ 100 bill out of the bank, become more thoughtful with the rest. and I want you to give it to someone i • - f 1; You ’ re more aware. You plan differ ­ in your life who could use a little ex­ ter W fete ently. You spend with more clarity and tra help. I know we may not have our fewer regrets. money right where we want it today, 'rrttSsirscft''' This becomes especially impactbut if we start increasing by giving, we ful during the holiday season a will very quickly see our hearts change time when excess spending is almost as we focus outwards and on others. expected. People often go into the Happy Season of Giving! X } holidays hoping to feel generous, only Zach Sanfmier is the owner of iiJ k'j to end up feeling stressed, stretched, Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of 7(Ie and financially behind by January 1. the personalfinancial course, Increase. But those who enter the season with a He focuses on helpingfamilies escape disciplined rhythm of giving already paycheck-to-paycheck living so they ‘‘J I tT^ baked into their mindset experience the can freely pursue their ideal future. i 9 V 1 -M'?' * 1. I s *r 4 :i Board member Campbell, supported by Board member Stanton, moved the adoption of the following ordinance; •* T » ^^UHTi ORDINANCE NO. 01-2025 ,''V 4 - *■ k < ♦ •V* 4 t .I ► -V * 1 «R 1 I AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP ZONING ORDINANCE (ORDINANCE 21.42, AS ADDED); TO AMEND ARTICLE XXI PERTAINING TO GENERAL PROVISIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 32.2 PERTAINING TO DEFINITIONS. I THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ORDAINS; -’•v I 4 Section 1. Amendment of Article XXI. Article XXI of the Thornapple Township Zoning Ordinance is hereby amended to add the following Section 21.42, which reads as follows: 4 h i <y t I M *0 C'Vh’l z 1. ! * 1 -n . *4 - •r •7*l« 1» *»I1 11 i U ■ *< ' * Tl eisu w t* 1 p C'! 4 ■ rf < IF I It J •> JI’ rn f J * k «A IL« u f r :-. r ‘<2 I J > i k I ^■, } I Ie * > » !ubblers and Ice Retardant Systems > J '‘J Section 2142 A > (a) Purpose. The use of bubblers or other ice retardant systems interferes with I the safe, convenient, and reasonable use and navigability of bodies of water in the winter. Absent regulations, bubblers and ice retardant systems may be dangerous to people who are present on the ice, including, but not limited to, snowmobilers and operators of ATVs, children playing, pedestrians, cross­ country skiers, and individuals ice fishing. (b) Prohibition. The use of bubblers or other ice retardant systems, as defined herein, shall be expressly prohibited on Duncan Lake and the Thornapple River, unless otherwise required for the maintenance of essential services, public infrastructure, or in the case of an emergency, as determined by the Zoning Administrator. Section 2. Amendment of Section 32.2. Section 32.2 of the Thornapple Township Zoning Ordinance is hereby amended to add the following Section 32.2.17.1, which reads as follows: Section 32.2.17.1 Bubbler or Ice Retardant System Means any machinery, motor, engine, item, equipment, mechanism, pump, compressor or compression system or any structural, mechanical or other system whether automatically or manually operated and which is designed, intended or functions to interrupt, stop or slow down the natural freezing of waterways or to break up any ice surrounding or adjacent to any boat, vessel, pier, dock or seawall as a means of a wet storage system for such boat or vessel, or protection for any dock, structure, pier or seawall, during the winter months. This definition also includes any system or apparatus that uses aerators, forced air, props, a pump, agitation or other motion to weaken or prevent ice within a lake or body of water. a ri i -?■ 1 1 1 I ( ' . 4 J f i tiTS^ ’V III .* VI' *1' u - ' • 'f I* ?' *> .: ■' I Section 4. Repeal. Any existing ordinance or resolution that is inconsistent or conflicts with this Ordinance is hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict or inconsistency. r i 1 I 'r Section 3. Severability and Captions. This Ordinance and the various parts, sections, subsections, sentences, phrases and clauses thereof are hereby declared severable. If any part, section, subsection, sentence, phrase or clause is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Ordinance shall not be affected thereby. The captions included at the beginning of each Section are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of this Ordinance. 1 II 1 1 ri 1,- t 9 ? .> ■:^ > t V9 *±±4 ; .xc?' hr.: (r I. * r“» B » *>• * * I W** 3 Visit us online at www.HastingsBanner.com T ' J ■■ 4 'r T Section 5. Effective Date. This Ordinance is ordered to take effect eight (8) days following publication of adoption in The Sun and News, a newspaper having general circulation in the Township, under the provisions of 2006 Public Act 110, except as may be extended under the provisions of such Act. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Schaefer Medenblik Bouchard Campbell DeMaagd Rairigh Stanton NO: None Declared adopted on: November 10, 2025 - ? ’-It" K I •».-j n I I ■1 I I J 'I I *• I I »1 I I I 1 I 1 (( j1 ! 1 ,) n r lE )a I M ‘A I 1 1 1I I I \ t I I J �I I I I b 1 « I 1 • 1 Saturday, November 22, 2025 16 THE SUN AND NEWS VIEW-.^ o-oup wAvw.su nandnews. com p'*' •f ♦ ' ■r J *«». ■ 4 ♦ I ♦ • I ’SU " r *« ' y i- '■Wk. ' I * ir -■ » A 1^ r L t r t» >{ '•x .4« A'£ Pt » ♦7 ^~V1 -ST » V «! .* 9 4- f f' «3 z w Hr * k* :A t 'J » ♦ >* 1 fWte .ks3»i^ w " V I 1 « a. l^lk I J* .5 «'I •V??* i, 1 > * V •• •' 1 I J • I •* *W. I r «! •Ji *. T?'- 4 9 1 •. J’ > ’’h I'.-.S..IdM u * * I. r^as; 9 a r I 4. I A H? }>.■ L-. TRUMBLE * f I h *•• * \ 4 * J- - 4-. .• t 9^ . ■T» .V •t > f t Medicare Saving Money and Getting Better Coverage One cFient thought she had the “Cadillac” of Medicare plans — until we compared options and found her a plan with better coverage at a lower cost. She even added a hospital indemnity policy and still saved money! three success stories Don’t Believe Everything You Hear on the Phone Another client switched plans after a phone rep promised her “something better.” When we reviewed it together, her original plan had stronger coverage and lower out-of-pocket costs. We helped her get back on the plan that truly fit her needs. Helping a Veteran Get Extra Money Back A veteran we worked with wasn't using his plan much since he gets care through the VA. We helped him find a plan that gives him over $100 back each month through the Part B giveback benefit — while still keeping his VA care. •» ? s s. .«aH i t t I. r 4^' * A •' * . t I I . <> ■I V i' •( I *>3 r P ft 4’ K s. / r I I I i I ■s k .> f .'N 4;el t. / p fl . 9^ •7 ** b >, Schedule your appointment today before open enrollment ends Dec 7! h.5*' •I • «. r• v l£^. J 3 h "-^■ 3t w- V r K if 4 A It 1 v: ♦> *1' I ■ XOr Ml ■ ■ •T-J- s iCK 269.213.3232 josh(®trumbleagency.com www.barrycountymedicare.com 128 S. Jefferson St. Hastings, MI 49058 * •r s'ledqrn&J Josh Lamphere tBilfiiosqS eiBoibsM Medicare Specialist Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or I-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. a I ^Iq dBOih oJ f»Jli •saoilcp Tnoylo d » t «> A > 4 * .* > I I V- fe&V’ <4 .' t /■ I I. t i . Fl I I ii < I < I 'I • I (tl '* i ‘i I hi ti • � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-11-29.pdf 9a6bf523272880a960250285297ae371 PDF Text Text • k a ON THE BOARD BOOSTS SLAGEL ON FINALS SCOREBOARD Group A /ft «■* \ VAF -JDV SA DV! VOL. 147 4 *bw > I PAGES 14-15 t 311 &Utr 9tK>rt A mmo3 gninnBlR nivil winsz aXO iBi*l io1 vtil'3^ floilBlZ TIoW Planning Commission OKs senior living facility for Prairie Wolf Station I ( llemmaP gsmBl istiiW Qniludh^oO f OOO/A fwrit 9iofTt A aiBupa t asm fbrvz laJroo snivil roinaz 3d IJw 23rrili0£t gnr/iif^oig I ' shurrt gnrlwjnqa srit nirow qolsvsb Jiflu honnelq noitof2 I .qirierwol isHfiriC) esnkO D yJnuoD Jno/l bT *2i IfiflT yiqqB Imt asvis jnsmsfaut jnsanoa fasbnsmB /qrrigrrwoJsrit 'to zTsdmsM :fB oJ 0^^ teJov gnoiaeiinfnoD I joKf sril idf nfilq sliz Ifinff sdJ aril Jb gralaam OL .void rieriJ <I •rrnmoj owl .lUH qirienwoT « .JnaedcsTsw S ♦> ehgo norloinJanoQ ^otowoH PJBI J bfiii aw3fV3'r ^§buiQri.t=ia B JI bti i teznoo not aBTMnbnsrnB £l ££0£ fi nioft bsramaia tedJ Al 33qol‘jvai>adt'toftEflsd no ft cAz I > <■« > 1 J 5 ► k I I ^4 i 1 J ft t ui I ( J .f V • I I1 ! ,! d*— I b s I * •*1 ■ 4 • ••»€*•/ ’ft ? r ft V V- I 4 •V « »r > > V a' IF f \ u « •^1 r" h’ r I t I tii i i - t r ♦^1 1^ :* K ft I ■ • * A more than 75,000 square-foot senior living center with medical and group living facilities will be built within the sprawling Prairie Wolf Station planned unit development in Gaines Charter Township. That is, if a Kent County Circuit Court judge gives final approval to an amended consent judgment. Members of the township’s Planning Commissions voted 5-0 to approve the final site plan for the project at their Nov. 20 meeting at the Gaines Township Hall. Two commissioners were absent. However, construction cannot begin until the judge reviews and approves amendments to a consent judgment that stemmed from a 2022 lawsuit filed on behalf of the developer, American I I d. I i e - •» If I I —•s If 1 Tl '"HaieaB -•*T"“** i I t * -.34 i J ’* 4 » Ws. .* «r V.: k T r * *1 k J • “* -i**X -- -S-B <ir , C”* K. «4 ^2 •V .. < J} I v>« •i r3s "w < 4 ■ .a *«*» I’d •• I* . 3*V See LIVING on 5 I I J i t I * I f ’? A I 1 ; . I r 9 ;«r-r-*wwF I r ♦ u.. 5 ( V 1 . 3 /• 7 a n *I 'i « Kids and families can visit with reindeer, sip cocoa and enjoy free activities at MKP Reindeer Night this Thursday, Dec. 4, in Middleville. Courtesy photos * * I 4 : / O MKP Reindeer Night returns Dec. 4 for 10th year > Molly Macleod Editor 4 I JjHjoiq .pnuoYeQ oii3 Il iiime bleviebeH erlt ritiw £:t29up9i ,miit ngissb seniBO edt molt Isvoiqqs (oD pninnsN EDOM CREXONEU ivihoineasiot UEOIDEIUfVr fcCMMK A e-ufut ertf fe puMMorvu oiofi"; .noilslS bfiUJjtf *339 I t, K, 1 B •1h 1 I I I V boeaaaM llammBO 46836 OieeuAi||6‘ yyi bVID 0 2 bosivee bHSl 210 r! ^fl Eric DeYoung, project manager with the Nederveld engineering and design firm, requests a site plan approval from the Gaines Township Planning Commission WQ03 H3W0iSn3 for a senior living center ivixNaaisau SSMU33 at the future Prairie Wolf 9G8e> IN‘tUIAUMJ^ OtC xoflOd Station. Photos by James 8CC# )!UUdd 8£98t ly^ ‘8HIAU99J9 Gemmell Santa’s coming to town and he’s bringing his herd of reindeer, too. The 10th annual MKP Reindeer Night, sponsored and hosted by McKeown Kraii Professional, CPAs, is slated to return to down­ town Middleville this coming Thursday, Dec. 4. Festivities kick off at 5 p.m. on OlVd J » 1 Ct VIJ 993 ’•*v :• F ■ ;♦ 1 James Gemmell Contributing Writer 1 www.sundndnews.com SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2025 NO. 48 0 r Ik ..p._ ♦F H * abvisod s n QlSlS^d t J Thursday, with activities continu­ ing until 8 p.m. Attendees can enjoy visiting with live reindeer, a hot cocoa bar, Christmas cookies, fresh popcorn, gift bags and more on Thursday — all at no cost. Highpoint Community Bank is also joining in the fun this year, providing a food truck with free hot dogs during the event. Ashley Lantinga, MKP’s direc- tor of Culture and Relations and a , longtime organizer for the event, said Reindeer Night’s 10th anniver­ sary is special to her and the other organizers. “I’ve been with our firm for 13 years, and this is a seed that we planted a long time ago - 10 years ago - and it’s definitely a labor of love,” Lantinga said. “Because it’s a lot of legwork.” See REINDEER on 3 �Saturday, November 29, 2025 2 the sun and news www.sunandnews.com Group If'. Live tree donated to Chief Noonday Car Park for annuai celebration Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer A1 i ve 52-foot northern spruce dressed up in close to 20,000 dazzling lights and adorned in an array of Christmas orna­ ments will be on display at the annual “Christmas on the Corridor” set for this Saturday, Nov. 29. The holiday event begins at Chief Noonday Car Park in Yankee Springs at 3 p.m., with the tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Co-owner of Chief Noonday Car Park, Terry Cole, said the live tree was a gift from a local family. “The tree was donated by a family in Gun Lake that planted the tree when WE CONNECT COMMUNITIES Let us connect you to your next customer! they moved here.” Cole said. “The tree grew so big, it became a hazard to the grandchild leaving the driveway. Now all ofthe Gun Lake community can enjoy the beautiful tree and the Christmas season,” he added. The Gun Lake Business Association, in partnership with Chief Noonday Car Park and community business sponsors, reportedly continues to work to expand the experience each year with new activities, partnerships and interactive community features, according to an announcement on the event. ;The start of Winterfest, which is going to be all winter here in Gun Lake, is going to kick off here at Chief Noonday Car Park at Christmas on Corridor,” Cole said. “The team behind this epic community event are so excited to see the involvement the Gun Lake Business Association has put forth and then add the families and locals that seem to enjoy the buzz and positive energy that forms when a community comes together.” For more information about the holiday event, persons may follow the Gun Lake Business Association on Facebook, • • rr^ w. - ? a — r I !• A- • f L J/ •I H '■•tA Qv . VT A >'(■ V r / u«* •» '0C 1 Jj I & f1 f iv J .J r 1 1 s .t1 5^' / !*V* I I I I r X- V z* I* r » ** 1 t 'S'; V. kt I I > ,1.* r 1 « 7 s « f' A * k r ( t «• ■ I (« ► t 4.*•J" A «» 1 f Ar 1 f t •5 A 11 w-« -Jf. r/ 4 i I--' I L* i w \c <4 ) .4 > 7 « t •* 1 t < • k. I 1 •• 1 / 1 ?• f V 1' I r: « ? is -.JI • eEuW' L U 5 •» <r k s > I i i .1 . e«k mm A a»». •I — T ' 'Ji'? T* A <b V'.t 4 f « 1 ■# 1ft > If? * '. 1. I 1 1 I t i;*’. . r-rre ' 4 t: ri J * n.-< I >•* <■» .» *s I I r i •• ) r 0^^ X «. 4 f J » 4 I (r- fl * r ■b 1 *■ 4 ?4 I . .. I rL: W- s®* /“ ' 4 I / 1 I 1 I 1 n J i A . I .I * 4< I I . I, .•:i. J .- 1’W” J I f. <» UM a •r Co-owner of Chief Noonday Car Park Terry Cole (left) and Brad Landman stand by a 52-foot live northern spruce Christmas tree will be lit at this year’s third annual tree-lighting ceremony during “Christmas on the Corridor” on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Chief Noonday Car Park in Yankee Springs.The event begins at 3 p.m. with the tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Photo by Steve LaVoie WH /* yZ*’ eO . '<*. ' 4>' I i f A J Si. .ba4Y : * 'T** rIK ieB*. • >% 1"^ >, ^sp.>***' * J 9 I ftA. 1 ♦ < K /• 4 •’ VI ■* I t, Group .\ We reach more than 352,000 homes each week and know how to make the most of your advertising budget. Schedule a consultation today — Contact Advertising Director Pete Clinton 810-664-0811 • pclinton@mihomepaper.com The antique popcorn wagon is a favorite among Chief Noonday Car Park visitors and will be available at this year’s “Christmas on the Corridor” at Chief Noonday Car Park in Yankee Springs on Saturday, Nov. 29. The event begins at 3 p.m. File photos 1 .’ kie t ‘'•S'* • MP 5# i iltli <£* 1> A.-Jr. '«• W T «» & 4 <«* I J Festive trees decorate the grounds of Chief Noonday Car Park during a previous “Christmas on the Corridor” celebration. This year’s event is set for Saturday, Nov. 2 . C'- (bk- 1 o ,4 » -f • MMBta / •:t V Hl * ? j II I t 1 ; -f S' ' «• A k • ( tr* • / fa 18 > 7 iiJ'. 1 i n 1 The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 ’ 1351 N. IVI-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com «». * Editor: Molly Macleod r ♦ >. t k 1 f ►.• » rnmacleod@mihomepaper.com bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sports: Brett Bremer PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper •\r. J i J rV Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. All advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. ,1351 N. M-43 Hwy.. Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of 1 the advertiser’s order. • 4^ ___ ; 4 4 '.NKi Bi =r - j I I J- II iarus *.-f t I * s I-* r« »t <* s * RBfeK.a', < 3S f -5 Li « I 4' 4' % fc 1-* • *- I !« ri ' f {» I I 46' . f ' : 4 4 i' . f« am w* • I PUBLISHED BY . •' I THE SUN AND NEWS CONTACT US ► I **«v ■'JI n '*'' • 1-* ■fl i St. . ■ A .'* c ’I •w ( ^4. ) I I -«i I I I t »• 11 "5t t i i �t I 9 1 t I «> 4 I1 'I ». J I .riaanjWi THE WWW. SU nandnews. com A REINDEER M Continued from Page 1 i t u < I efr, ' IV 4 % 9 I I * IM r « A I ( ,# W! 4 ir Mff t'f'MiXI *1 w ■ t * * i 9 i ♦ I I r I - «■ ? 1 *, I I I, % 4 ' # t < *» k 7^'*'I •^1 ■ k •f > s ’ f 4 9 7 k .{ 1 fT I ft zrft 7 Oft J f 5*4 < i J c ja*. i 4 *1* JJs (P ni S I •i. I I ♦ f ■ r ■' » r e i. >.b f » (- L V >. I .A . r. •, •Ir^ •ij:' t 1 -• f t •i V J : f f '*< ‘’il I I <l,' n r fJ •^*4 • s 4 L iW»sS[p J I ■ i 101 r ;^1^n •t till . /f I ■< I I jRWi-'Sethi U r* t I to m< > /r-'i'r' I /jrn L I .r T f ’U «k « 4 S K> 4 1 .1i ft J I *« r I > » r ; . k- t r T* $ 1 I I 1 L** ♦ • ■’IfWip-* b-* * t** Btf** • V 5 .Whtlid z.r w i ..M -f **J » 4 V u »• i . ■**« > 1 ( 4 r - ' gn*!n.. Lantinga said the entire MKP crew helps set up for Reindeer Night dur­ ing the day, before helping run the event in the evening. The event has become such a focal point for the MKP staff that the firm even invites its interns, who don't start with the company until Januar>\ to come help out at the event. “This is a great way to gel to know the team, and, in the back end, shows us a little bit about their work ethic,” Lantinga laughed. “So when they come in in January , they’ve already bonded with us.” Every year, MKP helps support ITiomapple Kellogg Classmates Care during Reindeer Night. The Cllassmates Care program is run by students at Thomapple Kellogg Middle School. Classmates Care helps connect students in need with warm winter gear. rhis gives people a safe space and a way to request these things without feeling embarrassed or like they're somebody else’s problem. This is a very comfortable environment,” Lantinga said. Representatives from Classmates Care told Lantinga the group is in need of all kinds of warm, winter clothing, but especially snowpants and winter boots. •t We want to make sure everything is always free al our event, because that’s what it’s about,” Lantinga said. “And the beauty is, we give this big free event, and we say, ‘Hey, if you’ve got these extra things that your kids grew out of them or you grew out of them, drop them off! Come have a great time, but come get them out of your closet we’ll take them.’ And then they’re able to fill those needs, which I know are coming in quite rapidly this year. Lantinga said Reindeer Night is an opportunity for families to enjoy hol­ iday fun without breaking the bank. “Even as a mom, I think about pumpkin patches and those places you can go with your kids for the holidays it’s a fortune. I myself have had years where I go, ‘Listen, we can’t afford to spend $200 at a pumpkin patch. We can’t afford to spend $ 100 to see Santa ■■■Il - • .4 k 491 •* -^. *4ir r, If?. James Gemmell Contributing Writer Area residents w on't have to dri\ e far if thev live in southern Kent County, or northern Allegan or Bany counties, to enjo\ a holiday drive-thru light display. Christmas at Everett's Gardens is . '.’-T Saturday. November 29. 2025 <2roup K • w* « f w, b 9 i «« A I ■ ft« X I I*. *> f: ’-r a '•a*#* > A H« f s< r I * 4 Reindeer Night is something any one can enjoy, regardless of money, Lantinga said. Between Reindeer Night and next weekend's Christmas on the River, slated for Dec. 4 and 6, families have plenty of holiday fun to explore in Middleville. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the Holiday Market between 5 and 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec, 4. More holiday events continue on Saturday, Dec. 6, with the Christmas on the River Parade slated for 6 p.m. that night. More information on MKP Reindeer Night can be found at mkpcpa.com. More infonnation on Middleville’s Christmas on the River can be found at middlevilledda.org/christmas-onthe-river. I .f ♦I,® Reindeer will return to Middleville during MKP Reindeer Night on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. - Fl * s~X t a r J 4 if £ >* r-4^ I V iS L A locomotive with Peanuts cartoon characters aboard is set to be part of the annual Christmas at Everett's Gardens display, which runs through Dec. 27 Photo by James Gemmell ** Lake Estadie F4IIW BtJVMU Iparloafbhwnl.com F4rn1Bureauln5urance.com See LIGHTS on 4 Breakfast Buffet Fundraiser December 13 th Doors open from 8am-2pm Free Admission @ 9 am ($5 for early) Help us support veterans and community functions. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 and the First Saturday of each month | Serving 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Eggs, bacon, sausage links or patties, potatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, milk, OJ, coffee. Contact: 616-840-0731 or patrickvanderkolk6@gmail w/questions Hosted by: Caledonia FFA Alumni Caledonia High School 9050 Kraft Ave Caledonia, Ml 49316 <289) 795-9927 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middlevilte slated to feature tlwusands of lights that have been strung on trees in tlie E\ erett Gardens nursers on 84tli Street across trom Brewer Park. ITie dri\ e-tliai is a half mile lone and only open Fridays and Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. Tlie patliway includes dozens of handmade displays of traditional holiday figures. Snoopy, tlie Grinch and Charlie BrowTi are a few of them," said Kavla VerWoerU marketing manager for Everett's Landscaping. “We have an elf workshop, basically. VerWoerl said tlie displays help define tlie true meaning of Christmas. “We have all of our more Christcentered tliemes, with the Stoiy' of tlie Three Christmas trees, a nativity scene, Pie Twelve Days of Christmas and an Advent calendar,” she said. The annual Christmas at Everett's Farm Toy Show Your local agent insures your Jason Parks * Menu tubject to change Adults $13.00 • Children 10 d- under $5.00 For more infarmation call the Post at 616-891-1882 ir n nBIGGBY Coffee Donated by |Jqqpp Caledonia Memorial Legion Post 305 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, MI LUNCH M-TH 11 AM-8 PM; FRI 11 AM-2PM; FRI BUILD A BURGER 4-6 PM □ i? isa k L i / lean for Mip • 44 < I n i. . < k } 4 i I I i I r I a !5 « I i j > I f< b Ml 14 ,« a '0 I I 4 A u 1 I t 1 Ift s 1 4 \ I 3 Drive-thru holiday display lights up the night at local tree nursey •I a a ViM ' — SUN ano NE¥rS I VIEW �r J I 1 I 4 Saturday, November 29, 2025 i*Xa •^l.' •a’ V VIEW THE SUN AND NEWS a Obituaries Steven Henry Mass Steve is survived by his devoted wife of 35 years, Kendra (Weeks) Mass, and their cherished daughter, Lauren Mass. His mother, Patricia Sullivan, remembers him with love. Steve’s legacy lives on through his siblings. Sue (Terry) Neyens, Tim (Beth) Mass, Marc (Stacy) Mass, Brandon Mass, and stepmother, Cindi Mass as well as his brothers-in-law. Brad (Beth) Weeks, Greg (Janice) Weeks, and Brent Weeks. His many Steven Henry Mass, passed away peacefully on November 16, 2025, in Caledonia, Ml, at the age of 67. Born on August 12, 1958, in Holland, Ml, Steve was a beloved husband, father, son, and brother, whose vibrant spirit and infectious love for life left an indelible mark on all who knew him. i nieces and nephews will hold dear their memories of Uncle Steve’s warmth and generosity. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry Mass; stepfather, Don Sullivan, and brother-in-law, Randy Weeks, and sister-in-law, Brenda Coker. A graduate of Holland High School in 1977, Steve then attend Northern Michigan University before earning his degree from Grand Valley State College in 1986. His professional journey was marked by over a decade of * ALASKA BAPTIST CHURCH * iS Join us in person or online Sundays 9:30 & Ham I worship service, in person or online, Service Times Sunday at 9:30 AM & 6:00 PM ? t at 9:00 am 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 iT - Ed Carpenter, Pastor www.alaskabaptist.org 7240 68th Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST 250 Vine Street Sunday Service 10:30 AM Good Shepherd Lutheran Church oe co Middleville < . V Sunday Worship IB.® 9 Pastor: Rob Wurst http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com B* Livestream: facebook.com/hrstbaptistmiddleville Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY HOLY FAMILY 3jCATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Ave., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org 9:30 a,m. 5 1 ...... 908 W Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) J '■1 cornerstonemi.org/weekend 616-891-8669 (269) 795-2391 Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. •-* «JB CHURCH Caledonia Location - Considering becoming Ca±olic? Call or see our website for information. >4* <i^PEACE CHURCH Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. CflUKfi t Jl r PEACECHURCH.ee % 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 peacechurch.ee Middleville Location 1664 M-3 7 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY liar I CHURCH w r- ■<— I. Ki "V Gardens drive-thru opened Nov. 21 and runs through Dec. 27. During December, it will also be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, except for Dec. 25. Last year on our first weekend. we had a little over 300 cars come through,” VerWoert said. The cost is $ 10 per vehicle for the 1 O-minute trip through the course. “After you drive, pull over to roast s’mores by the crackling fire,” Everett’s posted on a social media site. “And choose the perfect Christmas tree for your family,” 8436 Kraft Ave,, Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpauicaledonia.org Sunday Morning Worship Community Group........... SERVICE TIMES: 20 State Street, Middleville, Ml / www.tvcweb.com f I » tt 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor www.yankeespringsbiblechurch.org Sunday at 9;30am & 11 ;00am I I I 1 e I t » < I t < I . .anncUj:r jtV-^ ■ i ♦A swrtw 2{3nboi«i I beutfitf f vinobhG.G inmnepfG^ I ) i i A. A* A r- >a{jQP I 3 Hl . ‘ 1:: i t • :lQU }!in* • I I r ’ • ifUi” •A I r 1 • uitTG , i• 1 - ivr ) 'U ■/h> XV' r <• ' Vw* I* ’HJ 4 »L K- A ?* z. J • I I : 1 r .•iHUm irit ' VAj -- .^4^' . I .-^n- < rf’ t; nG;r .4,r'';' | r J I' J i' t'jnioe ' nhpifl k ut * ' I* .A"* ■ * Jt VS I J < ' -bftiihpvlln '{uflqtnc'i .... ....... p; -liBG. ** <>'' 18081 '' i bni 9h'W'™ri bnii! ae .innt !. it : r. I I ' wepft .’.' Gm (■ r^’Tkjooq diH*’ injnnoo ui ‘-Ififeuominr.ngi.m kiH . li ux on v.wi, iiBbnp^'i HD Kp «H .nssfllb i ■ i-mt 1 it 3.-L W )(00d K ril L;joe05i f A • ' f K i nflBni326l fJXBrtR । K Gt r* 1'*' tj(l* oto" f- evEtel 6ni82£ I' 4 1't dEiritiJf’ 'iWi ifDl’w (■ J /.. v- ■ «4 1 9T0W( c: tnni ^'iG onr. jiiobeiw I JC SBaairn V! iTOB od Hh iG3P.8lf 9d l!lw elBsiofirt M * 1 ..9 G . ■ t I »' k «8( I * I I r I 4 ( I ongiHsvinos’ lllw ‘ Htiifi G .q X”' molt c g!ObM,amoHM ■wrt r ■ i oil- 1 I J5-’ t . ,, iL- . 1* * '0 I I.--..',. G I * J ... ' J ■ n *. .V * 1 I <fa? t ■’pf ' ®wa!ii3iS>- I r MIDDLEVILLE A I Continued from Page 3 @ St. Paul Lutheran Church <& Preschool "Shining Forth God's Light i LIGHTS 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, Ml 49333 1-.'^ T f J 3i'' 13 iai::,iiuo ftnilitq i 1 •. •»** ' Yankee Springs Bible Ghurch I I c • >«* • Sy e 11 * 1 I I }j I cornerstonechurch Join us for our traditional yet casual I dedicated service in sales at Highland Appliance and MacDonald’s Industrial * Products, where he was not k only a valued employee but t r 3 also a genuine friend to his L. colleagues. Steve’s passions were manifold. A true Detroit sports enthusiast, he never missed a game of his beloved Lions or the University of Michigan Football team. His love for sports was matched only by his love for music, which was a constant source of joy and companionship throughout his life. Steve was the life of the party, always ready to share a laugh, a story, or a perfectly grilled meal with anyone lucky enough to be in his company. His culinary skills were legendary among his circle of friends and family, earning him the title of grill master. A friend to many, Steve was known for his ability to connect with people from all walks of life. His magnanimous nature and capacity for friendship knew no bounds. A history buff at heart, he could often be found engrossed in a book or documentary, always eager to share fascinating tidbits with others. Steve’s passing leaves a void that can never be filled, but his spirit will continue to inspire those who were fortunate to know him. His laughter, wisdom, and unwavering kindness will be sorely missed, but the memories he created will be treasured forever. Steve’s family will receive friends on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 from 5-7 p.m. at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home, Middleville where his celebration of life service will be conducted on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Steve's family.. LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY Caledonia Vine Street Church I www.sunandnews.com Qroup * * r* z I 1 I I A .♦Vr- s 1 JT Ti 'fl rI• T > r r- w 1 X F ■'' J i I G<MiAi»aU- w •.’'ir I ' I 1 << * VtiV » t- '* * -a * I < -.'uai « /j / I Jvi*Z' » J 1- I > «■ • ■ -ALXe* hJ’- ’ A cr* o TO 23 a I I i,-. »a 4- « r G* < �k Ik IB 4 u ■ ft Ji I 1 1 in -'I -T r, I I I THE SUN and news .vwwsunandnews.com LIVING 4 ***■ -f. A' . A I, X. f • Classifieds 4. * V •» s A > J ’ T: It, I J. *^1 4 8 4 i w J i rI *n ■ '*u *** .. ' rk 4I S •b- z I ♦ I \ 1 I 1 4 ,1 < J Xi I I r >tt r 4 Li ' 4. < ' ■^‘K - .' *u ■ < i tj < VI Hi ) . rj J' « a < f 1 I I .*<1 J I r XOOtu- J/’iu tptiarrwd 4^ . I I V‘ I A / tu As. J .k 4r. ’lb « 8 b n ■t ■ ' 1 b "■3. X -4*1 1 ■w k f I . T kA* * 4 1 f n 'if*? ♦h.L? 4 4 I ’ M Rm i , .J 4j> ». $ a8»5 ’ —I • ' . r > ♦ /. I *. I 'h^ I. r“.. a f J I J I ( 1l>ZD • •31? • '< J I > *1 r •!'Z f >b« . f 4 I. *» yj'/ • < - * wM 0 4, Ui• *1 I «» i k * ♦ <*• J • 1^4 I dzi •A '•• A' I'* : ttj r jr I c I r 1 I 9 > t i A ♦r*i r* w I I I i.. i I xr- I t //movi I * f & i 4 I I i‘ ’‘^'1 I I I I Iv k J I M»>-V- r I r-j jrx /. \ >* » k 1 I • • 4 ». >« > I T 4 I I t 9 -I* J i ( I I I p I 11 f • I. I k I L r I {"■ I *• V . J i as?' I I } I . u I * >11 I • r< * I 9 I r*. . L ir i '4*. 3r Ii •««' \ iV Kendall Prop>erties, after the township board of trustees rejected the original proposal for the Prairie Wolf PUD. As part of the consent judgment agreed to by the township and the developer, the Indiana-based company agreed to drop the lawsuit after town ship trustees changed their vote and allowed the project to proceed. The developer later decided, how­ ever, to move the senior living facility from the north side of the property to the south side for spacing reasons. Officials with an American Kendall subsidiary, AKP Gaines Township, requested in September for the town­ ship board to OK an amended site plan. Township board members agreed to that, but the changes require the judge to sign off. A Planning Commission memo indicates the facility would contain 50 independent living units, plus 56 assisted living, and 34 memory care dwelling units, for a total of 140 units. “We’re happy to be proposing a compliant plan,” said Eric DeYoung, a representative with the Grand Rapidsbased Nederveld engineering and design firm, on behalf of the devel­ oper. They’ll have some nursing facilities in there,” added Gaines Community Development director Dan Wells. “It’s for the care of the elderly population.” According to DeYoung, the north­ east portion is going to house a cafe and a second lobby. The building is connected to ±e streetscape, which is one of the key goals of the PUD,” he said. “There are sidewalks to the multi-modal trail. There is an outdoor patio that’s on that northeast comer. Kind of a front-door portion where there’s a covered cano­ py there, as people might do drop-offs or interface with the building.” Wells added the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy is imposing require­ ments for wetland preservation work to be done nearby. “And they would like to do that here because it’s right in front of their facility,” he said. “They don’t want it to just be a mud hole. So, hopefully, we’ll be able to figure something out for that in the long run.” Wells also said the developer wilL have to wait for the judge to approve 4b 44 JL“.> 5 J h i, Continued from Page 1 Saturday, November 29, 2025 Group T» -c,*. I « .A X *1 L*— 4? >♦ « I 5f ir I• BUSINESS SERVICES * ■ T HANDYMAN SERVICES OFFERED. Mise, repairs, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Estimates. 269-243-0468. g-M J - V *' 4/A* • ■ - >' << • I. —-- -- I - U LJ Gaines Township Community Development director Dan Wells (at right) outlines features that will be included in the senior living facility at Prairie Wolf Station during the Nov. 20 meeting of the township’s Planning Commission. S£i O '-^ r It * { r \ PAINTING: LET 30 YEARS experi­ ence care for your home! Interior and exterior. Booking for winter and next summer. Licensed and insured. Locally family owned and operated. Call for free estimate. Phil Johnson Painting (269)953-7877 T I r h , t r k * *v* *—♦’•1^ I - *- 0 r a .4 5M > >h I W ' L I 1 * CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS, Siding, Decks, Roofing, etc. Licensed, 30 Years. Tom Beard (269)838-5937 PAINTING t <• CONSTRUCTION >1 4 X t» STUMP REMOVAL M• ♦ .f NEED STUMP GRINDING? Call 269908-6227. Rooted Outdoor Services. H Mi 4: Ji 9 > I ri '4. fTi It z A ^‘1 i PETS •1 *> c © 4 5 i ® 'v ' r )< I j 1 i f I rJ I I'J 4 -i ;iT<(-- V i > h'i ;> ''5g . p .4 i An overview shows where the senior living building will be situated along Kalamazoo Avenue near the south end of the Prairie Wolf Station mixeduse development. A restaurant-sized caf6 in the upper right wing will serve residents and the public. Source: gainestownship.org the modified consent judgment before the township can issue building permits for the project. Township planners said they do not know when the judge will make a decision on the amended consent agreement. But Wells told Planning Commission members that, based on the architectural design plans he has seen, the senior living center will be a “beautiful addition for the community” and will address the demand for senior housing in Gaines Township. “People want to stay close to their families, and they don’t always have a good option for that in this area,” BALL PYTHONS FOR SALE. Looking for good homes. Pricing may vary by morph. Banana, Pastel Leopard, GHI Mojave, Wild Type, and more. 616-8216600. he said, noting that there is only one other senior living facility in the south end of the toAvnship. “But it is much smaller.” Prairie Wolf Station and the adjacent Prairie Wolf Landing are proposed to become a village center, with the project estimated to cost about $120 million. It will include single-family homes, condominium units, townhomes, apartments and commercial, office and retail build­ ings. Representatives with Eastbrook Homes and its subsidiary. Signature Land Development, said they are planning to build Prairie Wolf Landing - which will include WANTED WANTED: Antique Toys Antique Christmas Antique Halloween 517-243-9090 TRAILERS VEHICLE HAULING TRAILER - 16’ droptail. Call 269-953-8274 for details. single-family dwelling units, detached site condominiums, terrace homes and twostory townhouse buildings - on the east end of the 82-acre property south of 84th Street. The Planning Commission voted in October to recommend township board approval of preliminary plans for the first two phases of the proposed development. Because Prairie Wolf Landing does not have the same owner as Prairie Wolf Station, Wells said it will not be impacted by the consent judgment and work will proceed on the east end of the site. �-Jf. i Saturday, November 29, 2025 6 the SUN AND NEWS I VIEW Group www.sunandnews.com TKS fourth-grader earns recognition as National Math Star Move over “Young Sheldon,” because Page Elementary School fourth-grader Lilly Griswold is on her way. “Math every day,” cheered the 9-yearold Griswold. “I just love math.” And she’s good at it - very good, ac­ cording to school officials. The fourth­ grader is now a member of National Math Stars, a highly selective program designed to identify and nurture excep­ tional mathematical talent throughout the country, according to Thomapple Kellogg Schools officials. Griswold reportedly is one ofonly 100 students in the nation accepted into the program for 2025-26 and one of only three from the state of Michigan. I love using math to solve problems,” Griswold said. “One day on the bus, I decided I wanted to calculate the surface area of my bus, so I came up with equa­ tions to do it and by the time I got to school, I had the answer.” Her mom, Katherine Key Griswold, realized early in Lilly’s development that she was gifted, but it wasn’t until her third-grade math scores came in last spring that she realized her daughter is exceptionally gifted in math. Mr. Hanna told us her math scores blew the roofoffthe test,” said Katherine. So, from there we started looking at 44 44 44 1 * f I t where we could get her into some gifted and talented programs.” The young math star began meeting with district administrators to gather all ofher test scores and find options for her. Griswold’s mom had lots of questions. “Where do we place her and how do we do this?” Katherine said. “She’s re­ ally doing sixth-grade math or higher right now. How do we keep her excited about learning and at the same time still challenging her?” Griswold’s family helped research pro­ -am options to fit her accelerated learn­ ing and found the National Math Stars, a program which looks for students in the 98th and 99th percentile in the country. And she made the cut. Griswold took multiple tests over the summer with math problems well beyond the fourth-grade curriculum. Still, she excelled. Of the 6,384 applications for the pro­ gram, 389 finalists were named and 100 were selected to be the newest members of the National Math Stars program, ac­ cording to TKS officials. Griswold is part of the “Voyager” program within the National Math Stars. It is a 10-year, fully funded program to support and inspire students in their mathematical journeys. Over the 10 years, the program invests more than $100,000 in each star stu­ dent. Members of the pro­ rB/max gram receive personalized academic coaching, access to national-level math pro­ grams, family support, a math mentor and ^ancial support. OF GRAND RAPIDS Griswold gets to choose Margaret (Margo) E. Peric topics of interest to her. Cell: (616) 204-9792 Each semester she will take Office: (616)957-0700 Q b&Sl) Email: margoperic@remax.net advanced math courses she can work on independently J** ■ I A % bI 1 r ____ 4 fi ■ 'A A I I 1 * < % i _. 9^' I *b 1 t V' * ENigr • S'*' r tv .'I I I D—*• J ■ 'Ji I - sz 2 At J, I 1’’ <. t— 4 & > ’’Wi* J v V I '0* ■ • rI T' A ?» I ♦r • • > • d4r»r Lilly Griswold at the National Math Stars Welcome Weekend in Houston, Texas. Courtesy photos II t r • A v> t* * 4r ** tA II J J- i * /’J .-.i i* f ,L - I* tx. t* 1. .1 fy 1 ...... . 3 tr- .r ‘J I t .T- ■ A J 1 \ •r ♦ I "•W > • .. i I M * *.» r r .*• I sr '' .'I H'.* 4 --.’1 ,r in her regular school classroom at Page Elementaiy, as well as additional lessons at home. There’s also support for Griswold to attend summer math camps, competi­ tions and o±er enrichment opportunities. A dedicated family advisor is assigned to assist each family throughout the 10year program with things such as college counseling, career exploration and col­ laboration with partners to advocate for the child’s needs in schools. “We wouldn’t have access to these kinds of experiences without this pro­ gram,” her mom said. “They’re really trying to diversify the opportunities for these students.” Griswold is excited about the program. “I like coding a lot and I like art and the physics behind art,” said the fourth­ grader, who hopes to combine her pas­ sion for art along with her expertise in mathematics. Recently, Griswold attended a wel- Offering Seles & Leasing Services Since 2003 \ ss • '.'i' ■ • 4 Full Time REALTOR* > I r RE/MAX » 4 3 4^ I'.* iU * , 5 . 'rt V • k * Lilly Griswold visiting NASA during the National Math Stars Welcome Weekend in Houston, Texas. .—4 I 0 II rio I 4 I f Aha- z in I ’ V ’’ 4 11 I -.4 ! ILHV ft II u ni 1 t r r I 'Hi > r O’ t'k :i *4 iH Ji il I 1 'n i> .. f a 4 1 r 6^ * > - (.aij ; d ♦ ■ SB'i 1 1 . fnu n fii Kuf ' Ur GD WOOD PRODUCTS Family Owned & Operated 517.646.0439 * Lansing 269.967.8241 * Battle CreeVK-zoo 517.740.1533 * Jackson/Ann Arbor antennamen.customer(ggmail.com www.theantennamen.com www.cellsignalpros.com THEj 1 « < iciH I > >■ SAW MILL OFFICE 517-254-4463 Digital TV Antennas * Towers * StarLink Installs Wireless Data Links * Cellular Enhancement Systems *Building-toobuilding, »1 iT : 4 r 3 0 i: I Conscientious Timber Harvester Wanting to Buy Standing Timber CELLW /^\l SIG pSos Point-to-Point WiFi Extensions * High definition outdoor cameras to monitor your property Start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam J MT i "a I clu’d •A I '. Iz i 4 t r r/ fc .i £ 2^ I I I. ■1 Ls mm k f 1 <1 i •t f .t, I 1 SPRAY FOAM,LLC 517-983-0954 4 US.- K’T ift. Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 1 j i • { M I NElson’s 'S ym I » « *** 4 Jt Closed-Cell Foam Insulation ♦ Blown-In Attic Insulation i. f I f J ? I -3 : : JT J »< 1 l1 4 IQ « 1 f I4 I** ’ H, ■> i .f r J 4 r IJ I' H.'V i come weekend in Texas for the new members of the Math Stars. While there she was able to pick different interests, meet other students and try a host of challenges. One experience she particularly en­ joyed was creating infinite rooms using mirrors to make it appear as if an image never ends. She also loved working with giant yo-yos, understanding the physics behind them and mastering tricks with them. During the event, Griswold also visited NASA space center where she touched moon rocks, ate astronaut ice cream and got to submit questions to former astronaut Ellen Ochoa. Two of Lilly’s See STAR on 8 /<• II '■ •: •zA IIU ■ ’Ai i I i' I r I •1 • r 5’ ..' r 1! ft I t I X '.Y Y..u t ..... . i */ ' V ' X I I Ofc Hr I I * I ►=s ' f TI' > 1* X’ d ri k- X �Irk* \ I I I £ 1 i i T f 1 sfl uBtrti'’ v. • r^rin ft *9 4 .< 181»> t > 9 J i niwi g b i »-. i’ ’ ■ r $ I s I k I I * ■ A i f ill 1 * Ite ' if', ■ / • ' T 49 * • iffh s< . 4 I ' -1'1' I A J rWhw ^1^ Ml. t La. >• 'TTb. * I r-GiBl £ r I f; if k* II r fl! I’!l.« -Hr' •i 1 1 • 5 4 I 09 A t . ■ -‘IsJ b«« sr-j- 4 ■ :f - t Xu *5 ■t r :.. •9 1 ■• I * IJ I Saturday. November 29, 2025 Group 7 ♦ 1 -4 VIEW Davenport nursing students collect winter clothing for those in need : ponf’t sK .* THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com Senior nursing students from the Davenport University’s W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus recently dem­ onstrated leadership and compassion by organizing a winter clothing drive to support the Refugee Education Center. The students collecred over 30 warm coats, as well as hats, gloves and other cold-weather essentials to help families prepare for the winter season. Amanda Alemdar, assistant pro­ fessor with the College of Health Professions, said the initiative met an important community need and also highlighted students’ commitment to service, an integral part of the nursing profession. Their efforts reflect the core values of empathy, advocacy and community engagement that define our program. “We extend our sincere appreciation to our senior nursing students whose hard work and generosity made this drive a success, as well as to everyone who contributed, she added. ‘‘Their 99 / H4 b “This was an initiative that I could get behind because it involved helping out a vulnerable population that may not have the necessities they need, she said. “It was meaningful because it helped me realize what a small dif­ ference I can make in someone’s life. It also allowed me to connect with other individuals who face obstacles that often go unnoticed.” Another nursing student, Anna Bowman, said the clothing drive was a meaningful project for her to be a part of. “It reminded me how fortunate 1 am not to worry about basic necessities like warm clothes for the winter,” said Bowman, “Having that perspective shift and the opportunity to refocus my energy on helping others was truly a joy. The Refugee Education Center does incredible work meeting needs in our community, so being able to contribute to their mission made this OA/ experience so impactful. dedication is making a meaningful difference in the lives of local refugee families.” According to Alemdar, the cloth­ ing drive is an initiative the nursing students have been involved with in the past and, when she proposed the idea recently, the students w'ere im­ mediately on board. Carly Snyder, nursing student, grew up experiencing Michigan winters and knows how important an extra layer of clothing, especially a coat, is. That’s why she was more than happy to be involved in the clothing drive. “I am elated that the efforts of Daven­ port’s Winter 2025 Nursing Cohort will help keep members of our community warm this winter,” said Snyder. “Being able to provide those extra layers for those in need even made my life a little warmer and my smile a little brighter.” Nursing student Alycia DeBoer was equally excited about the clothing drive. PO r.* 4 A 4 ■I K U **■ t -AZ9 at IS. X 1 ^4' 4 $ fc x.'\. * > S I i .41 4 t I J I K Davenport University nursing students show off winter attire recently collected during a clothing drive to support the Fiefugee Education Center. The group included (back row, l-r) Ashley Dietrich, Melissa Maben, Alycia DeBoer, Carly Snyder, Anna Bowman and Adara Grey; as well as (front, l-r) Shannon Pomorski, Lily Mathieu, Nicky Chezickand Alec Sturr. Courtesy photo GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM > I J* I• —■ < ii J i V* > * ■ I WW— ■ 4 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods < I 4 e T pm ■T V 9 . J 'C I ’ • ’ '1 ‘*T....I :iir I AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE r'.; nt. > f! ♦ NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar • Everything made from scratch • Monday at 4 p.m. u BAKERY a CAFE > 4 BATTLE CREEK 3 1 I I r .J li t life A little it sui^eetei' s SHOPPER NEWS « V I* Monday at 5 p.m. 'I I 1 THE HASTINGS ft BANNER -WW« Tuesday at Noon 41 «* «» BODY SHOP /■- REMINDER . f ZT ' Wednesday at Noon c s »- 'Tf^^ f > t I iT i i C“; • f « * s A I* THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon I ( -#*• • •n; =tl• '*v I THE -a--' ^1l\ X*- •> 4 I Melgar Momma’s ) r I I I Complete Collision Repair 3uy Ohs Get tke Zt^d {^ee A r.... 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 must present coupon, 2n(l item must be of equal or lesser value, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 12/6/25 JI 1 Group I mihomepaper.com . fI > IJ Mo^doL\f: Closed, Tuesda.\^-F>'idA\j: Qatardo.^: So.hy-Zf>tn 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA ! 616-275-1017 / SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM Yovr Trus-becl body Shop -for over 32 years t Mk I a. I < I I ( 1 * 1 X I - I I t I •I 0 I i T 1 i \ (k !< I I I H 1.1 h « • tk 1 » I ii I A h s / 1 I. I i \ I J J �I 8 Saturday, November 29, 2025 the sun and news view.>^ Group Sj www.sunandnews.com 5^ f J 4 r 0 I I INCREASE A ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH Ti'ick yourself c Happy Thanksgiving week and I used to have early to you and your family! This in our marriage. We were is. the time of year when we rw finally doing it right we notice how full our homes and were spending less than we tables feel so it’s a great made (most of the time), we week to take a look at how full were tracking our spending our financial tanks feel as well. and were on the same page. If your financial fuel tank is But every single month, there Zach Santmier a little emptier than you’d like was a sense of anxiety as it at this time ofyear, take heart. We have bills started automatically pulling out. been working on the eight marks that, Would the money be there? Would the when achieved in succession, create a electric bill or the mortgage hit before full financial tank. the paycheck? Would we dip under? Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve Would we overdraft? already covered Step 1: Spending Maybe you’ve felt that too. That less than you make and Step 2; Giv­ constant low-grade anxiety ±at hums ing 10%—which properly adjusts our under the surface even when you’re mindset for the remaining 90% of our “doing everything right. budget. And, today, we’re moving to So what did I do? I tried what most Step 3 on the Fuel Gauge: establishing people try. I threw an extra little cushion something I call your “New Zero” in in the checking account. Just a couple your checking account. hundred here, a few hundred there. I still remember the feeling Lauren And here’s the problem I ran into—and X P' maybe you can relate; once that cushion was in there, I forgot it was a cushion. I’d walk through a store, see some­ thing I didn’t plan on buying, and think, “Well I’ve got the money.” And sure enough, before long, the cushion would shrink. Then disappear. And Td be right back to stressing over the timing ofbills. And one day I realized: this isn’t a budgeting issue this is a clarity issue. I needed to know exactly how much money in that account was truly avail­ able—and how much wasn’t. So I tricked myself. I saved up one full month of our liv­ ing expenses—at the time it was about $3,000—and I told myself, “When my checking account hits this number, I’m broke.” That $3,000 became what I called my New Zero. Now, mentally, when I saw that num ber, it didn’t look like money I could spend anymore. It looked like zero. It looked like the bottom of the tank. And once I hit it, the spending stopped. The bank was closed. The extra shirt or snack could wait. Takeout could wait. That New Zero served as a guardrail, and it brought peace into my finances that I had never felt before. Even now, years later, Lauren and I * still have a New Zero. The amount has changed-—our expenses have gone up— but the principle hasn’t. Every couple of months, I review it, round up to the nearest thousand, and adjust if needed. So as we enter this consumeristic season, let’s create a New Zero so you don’t ever see an actual zero in your checking account. How much do you spend on average each month? Remember, it needs to be less than you make! And then round that number up. That number is now your New Zero target. It’s time to establish it and begin saving to fund it. And give yourself the gift of never seeing a real zero in your checking ac­ count again once you have your fully funded New Zero. Your future self—and your stress level—will thank you. To get caught up on past articles, visit trumbleagency.com/increase where a complete library of all of the articles can be found. Zach Santmier is the owner of Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of the personalfinancial course, Increase. He focuses on helping families escape paycheck-to-paycheck living so they can freely pursue their ideal future. •4 j^fiT 91 I *. . ■* .■ J • j fl I I [ I I 1 I J J ■ 4 H iU iV I *>..1 * « t i /J I ..i I » A ■u' > 3' i IV r 11 I J uU } ii '4 J ry/ W 4 t ETt k « k f J'' II »uov f ! 197 jfi ’1 I k I . 1 I . f* i ■i ■A .3 Li >7rf; • » ■ J Hui iuov M I’ I i? rr I \X * i ' i / U/, 1I . , A' J ta p I??’ t: 9 > I 1 rraiij « A H J Jl J 4^ r 9 f fcV' L J ff-a /i jC\ I I I f S Kf >»i h>r»’ eobitif; i.’tc i V .1 I r < J A .. } '. i I I 5* i I * 4 5 *1 s w* * • .r T I I ’I J I a k y-w I* 1 A X* « WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS STAR Continued from Page 6 » Residential & Commercial *E- ft I Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps -Water Heaters Humidifiers 9 ■MB I y % 9 IS •a / •-Ba* 12 * =£== U i r S8W4». c 51^ i;..\, >* >4 f 4 ACCREOITED BUSINESS questions were selected. Ochoa is an American engineer, for­ mer astronaut and was the first Hispanic director of the Johnson Space Center. They also visited the Museum ofNatural Science. “It gave us a look at what opportunities look like for her and how she can continue learning and growing,” Katherine said. “At some point she’s going to outpace some ofher educators and us as parents.” It was an exciting and eye-opening weekend, “I find math all around me all the time,” the fourth-grader said. “I love to self­ teach. I ask myself questions and figure out ways to find the answers, “I especially like getting to know more about coding and I want to find out what kind ofmath I can mix in with art because those are my two favorite things,” she added. Griswold has been aTKS student since kindergarten and she wants to continue her education locally with her classmates, but also in the Math Stars program. She Iv r has two additional math classes per week outside ofschool, a session with her Math Stars mentor and can work independently on math in her TKS classroom. “We’ve really had incredible experi­ ences with all the teachers here at TK,” said Katherine. “I’m incredibly proud of Lilly and truly grateful to her TK teachers for the role they’ve each played in her academic journey. Lilly is where she is because of the teachers who have helped her already. We are one of two schools in the state with a student selected for this program.” Michigan does not require an “Indi­ vidualized Education Program” for gifted and talented students, only for students with learning disabilities. Griswold’s mom hopes this experi­ ence can help spark future conversation about additional ways to help nurture exceptional talent. PES principal Amy Forman added that Griswold is an incredible student. “We are excited to watch her grow and give her the time and space and do whatever we can do to help her along this journey,” Forman said. - Report courtesy of Thornapple Kel^(>SS Schools 1 ‘Si II i s t* 9 E^-^l 1^1'. f it rr J A I J a* -- r’ -jT!' :.iAa : ft > 4- I flW?* I .T^ -■ fe; .1^ r ( (» 9 -^ra. • I :r ” <1 .1 . ; SU f I MM lAA.* * • ril -• «> *• -tjriY'feitj rV I I .s ■'fiT -r p- li . •5 . ib' MM SDjb .’K <h»{ *' ■ Jt ^4 i - ) i i L jdei; n 1 H' .Jfb -e » st^sqa qteri dsnobiu ' ji ' UiS •III bti^n- -TT. T 4 I' $ :r»« • k- ma» .SSJ&i ‘“f’; t * L" ■ .' f 'L I t * * • g t , c .w ... M ;*F t r ••I* X- •« • 4 riij I •<1 4 iW- - At 5-^ Vi 'J ^ub'V •? 11 J I' V • \ �■ r't 1 '.Ik www.sunandnews.com r ^5. WX r • A t w >. 4 1 I ♦> » ts* 1 VIEYS^ « >N{- Saturday November 29, 2025 Group h • K 4 "S 5^. ’ I* T’ f J ■* \ ♦ * s A 't * Jr* ( < J A bl .4 T "^4 r K I ' .'1 . I I 4 • ( << 1 'k K. * Al I . >•1.^ •« - I t i •r t 1 I ■ 4^ 1 I 1 I 'Ik ‘w *5 « .w " a k .1 s Y L ( 4. • 'a Guide ■'r'S t ■ a • * 1 >> k k X I, * I If ;r » s s H ' ?■ t *■ r f Vv. **4I ! 'L J 4 '»• » * J. S ■ --'Mr >1 H > r ■*' ■:£i' A X rt X f 1 R* .4 ‘t. k X Ifr, K V t I '' 1 I « I * # I \. w., k t r ’•A I- h .1 I. . ’f 4> ««/ ■ 1 b « «■» I 4 t r < w 1 I { I I <e s ♦ I I r. u. •\ ♦ **s V L/'t GjUi 1 ir.L I 1* ie IlT' iSi^. iVbjwnT.' . Mr II ■ *^0;^ t U-t-.,:- ■f" ■ 4 t od JR y k -» . •XCt’r ,/u.. '.A., 7 I V I * « ifja f: < f* H fc.» I- 41 ■'O'. Ib •J .> 2 ie3J‘ t '•^»k i A t fi * I \ ‘W ;WWtq«‘ *b ij' *"jiM i -1 I A > I \. **• * *.♦ ) T salit k. f I b>4« lu I 111.' I t V I > > •••* 1 . TAT p- f V’ -MT* J i i I A I 1- * I I I nt 8 I I *4 1 :i L It ■ - 'J'; ’, (• 3!kb!«»'» ; I >^-:r . f'. .‘It ajjjif'maiii' XL 1 F ’< 1. DEVOTED PAN ■* Music fans enjoy expressing their devotion to favorite bands and other musicians. Therefore, artist merchandise can make fitting gifts. Vintage T-shirts, framed album covers, souvenirs from past shows, and any other band-related memorabilia will keep music fans happy. <5* 9 c J’m’C ; s“ i I • < * i x; fO ^"2 V-^: I L People who prioritize the listening experience will enjoy quality audio equipment. High-fidelity headphones i or an upgraded Bluetooth speaker can i enhance daily listening sessions, allowing . individuals to fully immerse themselves in I their favorite tracks. Although digital music is the go-to nowadays, plenty of music lovers are vinyl enthusiasts. For them, a new record player r with modem features, such as Bluetooth connectivity I or record storage, would make an ideal gift. For others, I a subscription to a quality audio streaming service will offer ■ uninterrupted music on demand. 1 w ar 3 « w I I > » r n ufc, » 4 bl THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE I >ni4i A, » «J I 4 uME'•4 f -w i f r z r 4* 6 ’ssl I • •* ' ( ate u\ U i I'jtafi cat,?. I Many music lovers enjoy creating their art. A gift that supports those endeavors will be cherished. Beginners may appreciate entry-level instruments, like a ukulele or a keyboard. Those already playing and creating might appreciate personalized sheet music, new guitar strings and capo, drumsticks, or upgraded software for recording and mixing sound. t -I' 4>«?wvstrro£ Hr i 'f Vl r ^iT-rr V 4 < MUSIC CREATOR 'Jr uunt rG, «ik. i. Sllfe 1 4 * *» Gifts for every music lover 5 t Ki tf- Music provides the soundtrack for people’s lives. Music evokes strong emotions and can inspire and motivate individuals while also helping them calm down and reflect. Finding the right gift for a music lover this holiday season can be a worthwhile endeavor, as the world of music offers an array of gift possibilities. Whether a gift recipient plays an instrument, loves live performances or enjoys singing, there is a gift out there to ; j hit all the right notes. J I 1 1. V’ L’ H’O: Ugj^. ✓> ’ « Vjh i 9 1^ « ‘-M L ib* V I, w STO V V *v <• _ r ’*>' SX'' '« * 4 '4 V w1 . ■ .V V L SPECIAL SECTION A * 9 4 *> . A' It 1 I , I •7 I: w. T • • LIVE MUSIC .J — I S) A live show is many music lovers’ ideal experience. Tickets to a concert, solo vocal night, theater show, or orchestra performance will certainly strike the right chords with music lovers. — Source: Metro Creative Connection <: I4 “5. - I I' itC"' 1^ : ;r^ '* ■ > ' J, F*‘riiii • -W “W!’ HU! Ill I 4 f t « 4 4 I I f » « I I i! / I T I 1 1 I I j 111 ♦ J I I I r \ 4 t I I t I I 4 t I sI ! 'll s 1 J 1 t IJ 1 \ I ’»• .i£ •Ai; ■ �4 I Saturday. November 29, 2025 10 I VIKW..^«*,«„ the SUN AND NEWS t Toy types to ovoid when gifting kids under The holiday season presents plenty of opportunities to spread cheer and bring joy into the lives of others. I hat’s particularly true for parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles of young children. Pew things are more enjoyable come the holiday season than watching a youngster’s eyes light up upon receiving a soughtafter gift. Well-meaning adults and even older kids anxious to give a younger sibling or cousin a coveted gift must remember to keep safety in mind when shopping for especially young children. Certain toys may pose a threat to children age five and under. As holiday shoppers begin to search for gifts for children in that age group, they might want to avoid the following types of toys. •Toys wttti lots of small pieces: Toys with small, detachable pieces can be hazardous to kids age five and under because kids might intentionally or mistakenly put the tiny pieces into their mouths, which increases their risk of choking. Legos are a wildly popular gift come the holiday season, but it’s important that shoppers read the package and purchase a Lego set that’s ageappropriate. According to a recent report from Consumer Product Safety Commission, 9 percent of toy-related injuries in kids age four and younger occurred while the children were playing with building sets. Though building sets provide a host of benefits, not the least of which is the fun children get from playing with them, it’s imperative to purchase ageappropriate sets. •Toys with an electronic component: Toys with electronic components can pose a number of dangers to children five and under. Such products can heat up, potentially causing fc bums. B And wire ■ coverings can fray over time and thus expose children to electrical currents. When shopping for children five and younger, skip toys with an electrical component. -Motorized gifts: Motorized gifts like scooters, cars and non-traditional bicycles also pose a threat to children five and younger. Motorized gifts may .<x 4 9: I f i I r » i reach speeds that kids cannot safely manage, as youngsters' motor skills are not fully developed by age five. Toys with sharp points: Sharp points also pose a threat to children five and younger. Kids can easily suffer lacerations, eye injuries or other issues that pose a threat to their physical safety when playing with toys with sharp points or edges. Toys w ith soft, rounded edges and no points are ideal for children age five and under. • ProjectBe toys: Toys that shoot projectiles pose a danger to children and anyone who happens to be in the room with youngers playing with such items. Eye injuries and bruises are two injuries that can occur when children five and under play with projectiles. The chance to light up a child’s eyes with the perfect gift is part of what makes the holiday season such a special time of year. But it's imperative that shoppers find ageappropriate toys for children. « Minr. { .-1,7* a r^arv- I W 1 1. ^73 •^1 1 Vf'! ’A .da. k t */ 9 J * A <K| 4 f .• 'J' < 'i; « I 1 I I I /J C Ml* Bl R t al t * * h*. ! .' 1* n .1'tl ' kl t L A *5 1 •• r -0 tJ • ,I is . > n.4 tf T -u r j .v I. I I >* i I #4 -rr < « - c } y I f I I 'VJ •1 l.’ kV * ■ >».,»•I t k .A J** I <1 r* !■' ' — Source: Metro Creative Connection A i' > .«<v< V rw I kt 1 I I. 1Z } •> • I 4» u r /k 1 « K >4* « s * osa^ V - < .Ab. ? « I 1 CALEDONIA LIBRARY wut' - ^■ fis T4 1 4 J k I •% A. .. * r** t i * f HOUDAYBOOKSAUI t K> I 1 « asetsfl' iFasKi^'i uiliiEt^s 1 * Mm I 7< - "7^?, * I, 1 9 1 Public Sale TH Dec. 4 5-7pm F Dec. 5 10am-4pm SAT Dec. 6 10am-2pm 1 *< 1 Come one, Come ath « w t Gather and celebrate with family, friends, and neighbors in the heart of Caledonia. 1b 4 i I f / '• V 20 FREE books to teachers/educators with ID '•* • Liblr ' ■» Parade at 6pm Christinas Market Selfies with Santa Kid\ Games Food Food & toiletry coliection for local pantries Courtesy of the Caledonia Friends of the Library! KDL Caledonia Branch 6260 92nd. St. Caledonia Ml 49316 ( t A. A CTalndfmM k u 1 V Friends of the Library only Pre-Sale Thursday, Dec. 4 3-5pm Membership can be purchased at the door A * >• I I ,A S I ' 1 i I ^i/ll LUE 4 ** • ■ its * 1. ■Si 4 I 41 I ’’3 4 LI «/ s I. ' r •1 ** i I « 1 ^MNHm ' I •, I -<♦ ■••* *•■ fc* It ♦ » Saturday, December 6, 2025 Location: Main Street Time: 4pm-8pm MM '* ■ I I M I J \ « L V j 3 z Z / / # <i J J ; Z i I{ / < A I J 9 4 I 3 t 1 t i 2 « > 4’1 • * ' I -* •“& 1,4 A « « I ; t 1 T A I. I L u 1 ‘ I f 1 r f i i I ► • 1- I I i * I M J i:‘ I I 10 6 I f L P I fl 3 I A i ( 1 I / �I I w X I / I. •A { 1 > ♦ ♦ THE 4 SUN AND NEWS VIEW-,»^ Gmup Saturday, November 29, 2025 11 ♦ ♦ » <* Ideal gifts for those who love the outdoors * r I I I •, nA .J t’ I 4 ’’.’tk .* I f1 f mo I 'I > fl I * s < ' I 't. I 1 ‘lb a* I . I <Z , *4 Ja. ' > ;.*K’ ? ''•b t I 'll'' *0'J* « I .Il .1 4 ■ k-' ’TO-k ' iO 1 '•*n.K « ■ I I t-z L r* ■* f K., « < ’ I I » I 9 « 1/ tlvl.'": vth ’ Til- I. l.i. i I I II ! . 4 I •*. < '1 H s i t. 4; "* J f •J 1 '■ . j/tOT- XIs BI ’’i ' *r I• .• »T'! .«*■ '’Ill ' « J ’B. M r ' <? t I J t 4| A I lx '« « 7 I 4 ? dr 14 .1 * <•*' I . a t •?. J tv * t tr' f liu 6^ n rl ti / a si I Biir I ■ f J » a^«56i ! r I Many people find that the great outdoors is the perfect place to spend their days. Activities run the gamut from hunting and fishing to hiking and camping. Plenty of other interests, like birdwatching or mountain biking, also maximize time spent in the outdoors. According to the “Outdoor Participation Trends Report” from the Outdoor Industry Association, gateway activities like hiking, camping and fishing each gained more than two million new participants over the last year. There’s also been a surge in participation in such activities among seniors and youth, contributing to a more multigenerational outdoors experience. There’s also been participation growth among Black and Hispanic Americans, indicating long-term momentum toward equity and inclusion. When it comes to holiday giving, tapping into the interests of outdoor enthusiasts is a great way to offer gifts that will be used and appreciated. Here are some ideas when making holiday shopping lists. • First aid kit: No matter the activity, having an up-to-date and well-stocked first aid kit can be a lifesaver when spending time in the outdoors. The kit should include ?1 A V ) *. * . *5 ■ w' items like splints and bandage wraps for immobilizing ankles or limbs in the event of sprains. • Quality wool socks: Nothing can derail an outdoor adventure faster than wet, cold or blistered feet. Wool socks are a must because they are moisture-wicking, warm and comfortable. * Insulated, waterproof Jacket: A high-quality jacket for outdoor adventures that will be efficient at trapping heat, windproof and water-resistant is a thoughtful gift. Patagonia is a popular brand of outerwear, but retailers like Columbia and REI also merit consideration. just about any outdoor activity. •Trail shoes or sandals: • Headlamp: Visibility is essential Supportive, comfortable and non-slip when enjoying the great outdoors, footwear is a given when enjoying and many activities happen during the great outdoors. Depending on dawn and dusk when light may be the activity, there are plenty of at a premium. A headlamp keeps options from boots to hikers to things hands-free and sheds light trail sandals to consider. on surroundings or up-close tasks, ■ Waist pock: Packing like setting up fishing hooks or field light for short jaunts in the dressing game. wilderness may include Satellite communicator: A stocking a waist pack (also satellite communicator can keep known as a fanny pack) with must-have items. They outdoors enthusiasts safe and at are lightweight, comfortable ease when off the grid. Certain regions have spotty cell coverage, and spacious enough for the and satellite devices will do better essentials without getting at sending out messages or SOS bogged down by a backpack signals should something go awry. or another bag. • Hiking poles: Telescoping • Buff: A buff is a tube of hiking poles are adjustable and lightweight, stretchy material that serves innumerable functions lightweight, and offer extra support in the great outdoors. It can be used and balance when on trails. Outdoor enthusiasts will benefit to shield the neck from the sun or wind, or to absorb sweat or keep hair from gifts tailored to their love of nature, wildlife and adventure. out of the face. A buff can be useful — Source: Metro Creative Connection on a hiking or backpacking trip, or CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP 6th ANNUAL HOLIDAY a-VJ y s rZZ » V *< « 3^ •< I X X 4 ♦• < r I I J I I I I I: J i 10TH ANNUAL .7\ < I ] 1 ' IJ ri I Mk * 1 I I i /k; I J 1 I p <1 'i • • 1 I f. e • • >«' I 1 6un ♦ • • • 3 « 9 • • t* ' i. X tf *• ***> * .•i «■< * «< I % *7 I k I 4 * ii 4 d L GUNI AKECHURCH.ORG 1- fi t -' yr »* I ■■ LAKE COMMUNITY CHURCH I I g t A DECEMBER 6, 2025 9AM-SPM 12200 W. M-179 HWY. WAYLAND I * J CHRISTMAS BAZAAR 1 « .<■ I L. Stiturday, December 13th 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm ♦ •“** PLEASE JOIN US once again for our 6th Annual Holiday Luminary Walk! Come enjoy a walk down the Caledonia Ttail, located near the Community Green Park and the Caledonia Library (9309 Dobber Wenger). The trail will again be lit with over 1000 luminaries. Grab a donut and a cup of hot chocolate at the Pavilion, then visit Santa at the Amphitheater before you start your walk. The Dickens Carolers will again be joining us. We will have a Toys for Tots box if you would like to donate an unwrapped toy. In case of inclement weather, the walk, will be moved to December 14th at the same time Any questions, feel free to contact the Caledonia Township office. 616-891-0070 »IB t 4 4 * b • I i b J ■■rft- V »* 'T 9 ? A > 4 » J I i I I > I I ► I I -k .1 1 < f 'i 1 I k hJ : 1 I 11 I J •1 9 9 n I) I I I ft 1 A i i. I ! T « I I I I t 9 f * 9 » tf-. I I I > r 9 » I t I » \ I I 9 f 9 . -I-* s 7- s 1 I 99919999 •' M t » t • 9 I I t 9 I J I I I , I > > I r I f I I �k 6 F r I s I < * Saturday. November 29, 2025 12 THe SUN ANO NEWS ' View QuUt - Group Thoughtful gifts for seniors bar that attaches into the hood of the car door can be great gifts. I TRAVEL Gins IB . 4* ............................................................. >•. I K z tfiS’ I ....... I j fl •«0<rrr»R' iff ••• •• 4ia4« >* Seniors typically ' have more time to 19tB6 36-37 i r^LX" •• devote to travel I ti 4B lOiOB 36'3 gn»-rco 1 1 lifts 36'37 1 than younger |B;4B J [Hg / HtUCS'CU 11-SO IB:Is S3 *SB 3 adults, and gifts that cater to their J I wanderlust are a I perfect fit Digital J GPS-based devices * that connect to keys <r .* . or luggage can help L'il prevent lost items while traveling. Bri^t luggage that won’t get mixed up at the baggage carousel or ergonomic neck pillows that facilitate napping on a flight also can be appreciated. Those who know destinations the seniors in their lives may want to visit can purchase plane or cruise tickets as a generous gift for someone special. Various categories can provide ample inspiration when shopping for gifts for seniors this holiday season. i iRtaf !0 ’ »■' ll« It I s V, f ■ 9 X X. 1 1 •? 9 1 L y < * i 4 J /♦ ' 0 r. J > I t 9^ •( 1 b ii *fc » 4 ■ r V J A i V — Source: Metro Creative Connection J I A■*, p a b -i• .'.I < Ba * i k i j •n...« I'", ’ 0’4 f Tx? fA r . 11 -8 9 a I f! ♦I TO Iji t i hJ* iolkhrx iqI (ifO I 4 I •X t I I ■BVB .6^ . 10TH ANNUAL I 1. I / J ® .1 K ar MKP REINDEER NIGHT f ft ■' ••W I'';’' • ••■ * i Seniors also may anjreciate gifts that touch the heart A custom recipe cutting board that features a treasured family recipe may become a cherished item. A customized photo calendar that features f^ily members* birthdays and otho- key events also is thoughtful. A photo jewelry I T •••***** 4 Gifts that cater to interests, well­ being and more can be ideal. Active seniors may appreciate a fitness tracker or exercise equipment (yoga mat, light dumbbells, resistance bands) to facilitate fitness goals. Storage solutions for hobbies and craft items also can be fitting. See-through containers to store paints or beads or an organizer for fishing tackle can make seniors’ hobbies even more enjoyable. A roll-up puzzle mat is great for puzzle enthusiasts to protect their work until completion. Although people like to say, “age is just a number,” getting older may come with a few aches and pains and even some limitations. Gifts like seat cushions that correct posture or easy on/off sock helpers can be helpful. Cloud foam slippers or even a grab •F . ........................................................ locket makes a nice gift for a special senior woman. FAMILY Gins * A »lu FITNESS AND FUN COMFORT AND MOBILITY IT <* 1l * *» Gifts from friends and loved ones can make people feel cherished and valued. When these people are the older adults in one’s life, such as parents or grandparents, gifts take on additional meaning because they can warm the hearts of very special people. Finding unique gifts for seniors can be challenging because these individuals have been receiving gifts for many years, and many may already have everything they need. Inspiration is everything when shopping for the ideal gifts for the older adults in one’s life, and the following are some categories that can serve as a springboard for what to get seniors this holiday season. 4• Ji 4 K»**:'w* i . <r ! %• J 1 11 V .•MK' V kA .itoifcbt J I---- I THURSDAY DEC. 4TH 2025 5-8 I’M PuMte f Fdwardh M. MidtlkviUe. Ml 495.B I II I :W ■r *■ •> r ■tii ' .1 ! •* a ■m; 11 ■ J. t • •. »7-; 1 I 1 SbSS": YOUR CHOICE J!?' % .•TTD r $125“® 4 while k b.- ^^UUAVWIU IDUEL VIEV^f UN z-''- W 4 Group ! sterling silver (pendant with cubic zirconias I Proud to be A«-. .4C.fr* r 4. A SwierengA « I ■I L _||||| Asu'Ak' Cherry Valley S.E. Caledonia, Ml 49316 616-891-5750 6wierengajeweler6.com 9369 l< 4.. YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTION ’i/ 1 t IiJsIllEi m Elites 1 freshwater cultured pearl pendant r )«MBdtheX1 »- solitaire cubic zirconia pendant • i: McLxx/wn I Kraai Professional 41 ( I r i.<i6gbiil ii(aXfc5.'Q» ' ii'T . I limes K. mihomepaper.com It li iHttiSi V ti f t « s t f *4 I L r T L h I I I* I ♦ f f ♦ 11 4 h Y*. < « i J ’« { - r i I I I I i «f II h! I li I /I I /» n I I I 9 a 4 I I I » i r 9 I 1 �♦ ♦ 4<> f wwvv-sunanctnQwSrCogn. ' f THE SUN AND NEWS VIEW 3 Saturday, November 29, 2025 Group 13 ♦ t I ♦ 4 * >• «4c^ - < J • a 1 . I I I V I Zz * ■■ .J •Tb- ■ I * Sporting >5s r:«^— A - Ui. - < ««« «« 4v ~^^s*Se T 4 X mkJM • •• MJX- ** :s^ « • . J “ •* •' .' *V* yr • ■ . .. s5AS X ' ^ J. I CHS alumnus, McKenzie, named top GLIAC football player in 2025 » 4? / J i III Mt i IF I WJ ' * I I b 9* tS J Br •»*; t the best players I have ever coached, and he’s just scratched the surface of his true potential. One of my favorite qualities about Mason is he loves to compete at everything.” McKenzie played in three games as a true freshman and then took over as the full-time signal caller for the Cardinals as a red-shirt freshman in 2024. The Cardinals were 6-5 as a team this fhll with a 5-2 GLIAC mark. They won their first four GLIAC ballgames be- I J i L. .• n . — X'” A y r< ) 1 .A '*s ■J ft £ I I ri ✓ I t f ,4: t> ■i-S r I f 1 1^ -i I I- ' s '1^ fore back-to-back losses to Davenport University and Ferris State University. SVSU closed out the 2025 season with a 24-21 win at Michigan Tech Nov. 15 with McKenzie firing a sixyard touchdown pass to Braden Hill with eight seconds to go, at the end of a 75-yard drive, to clinch the win for the Cardinals. He was 30-of-46 passing for 240 yards and three touchdowns in the win. — BB >4;- r ♦ I r .4% I I V ■I f 1 A War 5•w< •, 1 wb: 1 t3 * c i' < t «« I ■r n I U 1 I -ij' ; r I 1 4 LmT'M.') 4 3 7' I :Jf,1 i ib^ I I I 1 4 y t ! ’Oil' •h A 1^ I Ginoo I < VJII Vlfct-HQfiS Ift I u> L'- I «,-nu> - ’orlWj. 1 > Bl « <4 6 It »v ^4 i<-' 1 -*Rwc:^ it ;'L> f > 1 * I I T I I 2i)l’ 3Iinoid'J h' 10 ij T • TJAIili /?■ ';;.X □ j-a *• 1 I ) f ia: ■jJUlS,;'ii I §fll€2£.q rllorf n efaisy gniilzirr r JAIJD sril gfliq I 1* I i 'W f I 1*^9 2fal6X 1 . ..1 i t j/iC’ ni bh ' ® b ^81 { } s ri :>ba I }2ni e tec no?; 1 :<»;> M I I I J. 4. r r J .^Kl •* c X , 9S "S<< »>1 » “ 't.A-'’ M ;^nir(?jrt '^ban I loJzBQffnoH) I 8 J J* >k lb-« f I □ ’^^7W ;«L*rVl 1 * JU. ir I I ww 1 g I % 1 < p IP I L □ 1 SJ.-i'i r- Scan our QR code to find your perfect invitation! II 712 J rushing and Northern Michigan 243 passing/110 rushing). He scored 27 total touchdowns (17 passing/10 rush­ ing), scoring at least one of each in 10 of the 11 games this year. His best performance came in week 10, where he accounted for five ofthe six Cardinal touchdowns in the game (2 passing/3 rushing). McKenzie was one of 16 All-GLI AC selections for the Cardinals this sea­ son and one of four to earn first team honors. “Mason was the most exciting player in the GLIAC this season,” SVSU head coach Ryan Brady said. “It has been incredible how quickly he has developed. I credit Mason’s relentless work ethic and his desire to be elite. He is an outstanding leader, and his teammates thrive off his competitive­ ness and will to win. Mason is one of I *• .1 I A" Y *V., si Saginaw Valley State redshirt-soph­ omore quarterback Mason McKenzie, who guided the Caledonia varsity foot­ ball team to a state runner-up finish as a senior in 2022, has been named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) 2025 conference Player of the Year. It is the second major GLIAC award for McKenzie who was named the 2024 GLIAC Freshman of the Year. McKenzie led the SVSU Cardinals in both passing yards (2,086) and rushing yards (942) this season, top­ ping the GLIAC in total offense with 275.3 yards per game—a mark that ranks 22nd in Division IL He hit the 200-passing-yard mark four times this season and rushed for 100 yards five times, combining the passing and rushing totals twice this season (Northeastern State 243 passing/101 R R. «l r« 3 •M I -r Tm I I Mt V f 1 Tf -Ir 1 'F. ML t' ' I a s r^'T’ 4 V •> » f r '?»(«• r Saginaw Valley State University red-shirt sophomore quarterback Mason McKenzie, a 2023 Caledonia High School graduate, has been named the 2025 GLIAC Football Player of the Year after leading the Cardinals to a 5-2 conference record and leading the conference in total offense. Photo courtesy Saginaw Valley State University I Al*-* I t <* ♦ u '' ’5. X »» K I b4 1 S-TT'^t ge. 1< 7 Visit us online at www.Sunandnews.com 4 t• I ’I ’•SI It* ' * J5*.’ i±;j T,, .e \ r3O -« ;k‘ ............. B Ik 1* • «L I <91 e Wr r I ■ r FJ ♦ LJ ie t i-' k 4 i'W • - S. 4 > SkMKV' u« > \ I •• 1 -------- < 4 * i *>« '.«e4 9^ •>» JU - J \ w 'b ♦ > 4 Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. PRINTING BY www.printingbypennylane.com ginacl@pennylaneprinting.com M 7^ �I fl z I I > 4 : jp I < A t I Saturday, November 29. 2025 14 the sun ano news I view MMMx'Group vrrrwiVTV f www.sunandnews com T I •h 9 4^ ■ % w aM-^ A <4 A 0 Being better on the board boosts Slagel on Finals scoreboard NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Zoning Text Amendment CAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP At a regular meeting of the Gaines Charter Township Board of Trust* •e«, held Monday, November 10, 2025, at 88555 Kalamazoo Ave.. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316, the ard considered a proposed ordinance to amend the ZonIng Ordinance of Gaines Charter Township to limit the allowable hours of electronic changeable message (ECM) signs In Residential zoning districts and to allow ECM signs as special land uses for non*resldential uses In Residential zoning districts. 9 9 The proposed ordinance makes modifications to Chapter 24 Section 24.40 D.4 of the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance: changing “4. Hours. In residential zoning districts. ECM signs shall bo shut off between 11pm and 6am.” To “4. Hours. In residential zoning districts. ECM signs shall be shut off between 10pm and 7am.” Additional changes are proposed for Chapter 24, Section 24.80, Table 24.80, to allow electronic changeable message (ECM) signs as special land uses for non-residen­ tial uses In residential zoning districts, and for Table 24.80 to road In its entirety as follows: TABLE 24 80: PERMANENT SIGNS-REIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS TYPE REQUIREMENTS Freestanding Zoning District Sogn: Ground Alt residential districts Maximum Number Sign for Non- 1 per lot Maximum Size 16 s.f. for bed and breakfasts 32 s.f. for all other uses Residential Uses Maximum Height or Bed and 6 ft. Maximum Setbacks 10 feet from street right-of-way or easement 20 feet from all other property lines Breakfasts Illumination External - for bed and break­ fasts Internal and external (permit­ ted) and ECM (special land use) - ail other non-residential Freestanding Zoning District Sign: Ground All residential districts Maximum Number 1 per entry Sign for Maximum Size 48 s.f. Residential Maximum Height 6 Development Minimum Setbacks 10 ft. from all property lines Entry Point Illumination External Wall Sign: for Zoning District All residential districts - Non-residential Maximum Number _ _■ _ < . - Uses. Bed and Breakfasts, or Major Home Occupations 1 per building Maximum Size 8 s.f. for bed and breakfasts and major home occupations 32 s.f. for all other non-residential uses Illumination External The Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees shall hold a public hearing Monday, December 8, 2025 during their regularly scheduled meeting which commences at 7:00PM, to consider these proposed changes. A true and complete copy of the proposed ordinance is available in the Office of the Clerk at the Gaines Charter Township Hall, located at 8555 Kalamaz :fli»: SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316. Michael A. Brew, Clerk ■TK junior D1 Diving state runner-up 9 Brett Bremer Sports Editor Grand Rapids Gators junior Lydia Slagel went tw o steps up the medal stand Friday, Nov. 21. Slagel finished as the stale runner-up at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division I Girls’ Swimming and Diving Finals hosted by Oakland University in Roch­ ester improving on a fourth place finish from her sophomore season al the finals, Slagel was in third place following Fhursday evening’s prelim’s and semi­ finals, and then with successes on some tougher dives late in the competition she moved up into second place. Kalamazoo Central senior Kiya Bow­ man made sure no one was catching her after she came out of Thursday’s semi­ finals with the lead. She won the state championship with an overall 11-dive score of422.60 points. Slagel closed the meet with a score of 389.80. Both girls were really outstanding right from the start. Slagel had the lead after the first three dives, even with Bowman earning a stellar 50.60 points on her back 1 somersault dive in the pike position in round two. Slagel scored more than 40 points on three of her first four dives of the competition. Slagel performed a strong dive 403C in round four, an inward 1 16 somersault dive in the tuck position, that earned her 41.80 points. Bowman had the same dive in the round and tallied a total score of 44.00 points to move into the lead. Bow­ man led the rest of the competition. She really hit everything,” Slagel said of Bowman, “and she put together a spectacular meet.” “I was really just going for second or third. That is what I came here to do, and I did it,” Slagel added. It was third place for Slagel after the five preliminary dives, and she was still in third at the conclusion of round eight, the end ofthe semifinals. She moved into second with her forward two somersault dive in the pike position in round ten and then held that spot through the end with a strong inward dive in the pike position in round 11 that was judged one of her top dives of the meet. Really, I’m happy with all of them, Slagel said of her state finals dives. “Ev­ erything [was better than at regionals], I put in the work and 1 fixed things, and I ^9 t t fl I « a fl E • 9 9 1 it a 9 9 J > 9 9 F 9 9 9 9 a a 4 -9— w s i I i 5 M 4 t > 4a Jf I % J? e < ■ HE J fl I i r ■ “t P * •JTW ; I Wil a I !«■ ■« t H I 6 k . i t 4 I I I I Y I •A * * fl I f' 1 ;.J -. ■ * I 90 u* *1-. •* 0 J A I ■iw |3)» 1 « E J J I Xlf T & i ll^y, - jaw* L fl I i 4 1 J fl 1 I u Grand Rapids Gators junior Lydia Slagel holds her pike position as she spins over the pool at Oakland University in Rochester during the finals of the diving competition at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls' Swimming and Diving Rnals Friday, Nov. 21. Slagel finished as the state runner-up and is now a two-time state medalist. >• - 9' 9 « I 1 CE OF PUBLIC NEAP jtlM f ) J Ji 4 T r i r J 1 I *•I •’•ft'a i:-. i;-' ’ 1 rri‘ St i r ;T made things work better than what they were.” She said most of that work happened on the board - better approaches and a better mindset. Slagel said she’ll start working on bigger and better things soon in hopes of moving up the medal stand at the state finals again as a senior. There isn’t too much to do, possibly swap some tuck position dives for pike position dives which have a higher degree of difficulty. She plans to be a manger for the boys’ co-op this winter and to spend some time working with those guys. The Grand Rapids Gators girls’ team is a co-op with Thomapple Kellogg, West Michigan Aviation, West Catholic and Hopkins. The boys’ learn, the Grand Rapids Gars, combinesThomapple Kellogg, Hopkins, ; 4 tt flft 4 ♦ t r If T-- Lm M I « ri t * e♦ 44 Gaines Charter Township ^a» 1 «.b BE fl I 4 1 . f ft I I Ir I II r '■funiiaist J r I MrtTwctlieiivt^^ 9 f i tj »P:> i M I > ' MV v I I ♦ ■' A f ► 4 as os Ie? It H Ik :?!***' I » '' '; N U VI* r y-,- f A ». L-**• =■ T * AR* * * I * k , ■ I I : ..i«* -'y w •I K fl » r a ! ». J / .Cf Li < » -A 1 I 'l •< ( •S' J » I fl' **'*:'■ * (< I t fl 1 I fl I 1 1 I J I HI IK I fl I I fl . J r I eflf I i t II I i 4 ? I •¥ �, 'U;,« * I T ft J 4 ft I M B. I THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com At **w {, I 5 1 ft •w E f k 9 I fr» . / 1 ! •H 9^. 4 I t » ? ( «< < > <» * I r I I 1 ■ *; 4ft ft * UM • >■ •s > A r. * 1 * ♦ 5 nk J- < // >■ i > 3 i s-/-- 4 1 I i} 'S«4 - & I • *y O.: r- rjrw .r. '3 P3 t aK 4 -y 3 i ate 1 I I — ft •••J- Ti 71 * 1. 1 fl? A' .A TV'* ’K •I. • i I i - 4^ < ft 4 1 fe- 'S •r e i<; " ____ V e ■ 1 { Al «< .*.11 '«*««**«. I f"” ** v j1 i *■r 3 t... 1 35^" • s U4;If 1 J- •J* _. -' l ^^/.■ ifM srf LA I 15 ft i I M Saturday, November 29, 2025 I r s* r. rc VIEWGroup Tb I ‘ >ry^ / * ft Grand Rapids Gators junior Lydia Slagel celebrates with her all-state certificate and her medal after placing second in the diving competition at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’ Swimming and Diving Finals at Oakland University in Rochester Friday, Nov. 21. Photos by Brett Bremer Unity Christian, West Michigan Aviation Academy and West Catholic. Over the years, Slagel has trained and competed in the Hastings Community Diving Club, and club coach Francesca Pi­ leci has coached the Gators’ divers this fall. She does everything,” Slagel said. “She is the best person. I come into prac­ tice every day and she is just right ±ere ready to go. She is always there saying you’re going to do great, you’ve got ±is. I’ll be there standing behind the board and I’ll look over and I just see her big smile. It just helps me to know that I am okay and all this work we have put in is here to pay off. We’re going to do great. She has always just been there for me. Let me tell you, I have some rough days and she is just like, ‘girl you’re going to be fine,’ and we make it through. She’s my deck mom. I love her like a mom. The top 16 in each event at the state finals earned medals. Slagel was the only diver among the top six scorers who was not a senior. Slagel’s 17 points put the Gator pro­ gram in 24th-place in the overall final team standings. Unsurprisingly, Ann Arbor Pioneer won the MHSAA L.P. Division 1 team championship with 404 points. Jenison was a distant second with 249 points ahead ofNorthville 193, Zeeland 179, Canton 109, Brighton 108, Rockford 89 and Caledonia 79 in the top ten. Pioneer girls won seven of the meet’s 12 events and West Bloomfield senior Elizabeth Eichbrect was an individual stand-out with state championships in the freestyle distance races. She set state finals records in the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle races Thursday and then took state championships in both events Friday. She set the record in the 200 fi'eestyle at 1 minute 45.05 sec­ onds in the prelim’s and then won with a time of 1:45.98. in the 500 freestyle, she set a record in the prelim’s at 4:42.00 and then won the championship in 4:42.89. Pioneer sophomore Tallulah Beg was the only other girl to win two individual events. She took the 100-yai'd breast­ stroke in 1:03.42 and the 200-yard indi­ vidual medley in 2:04.15. Beg was also a part of Pioneer’s winning 200-yard medley relay team. Freshman Kia Alert was a part of the Pioneer 200-yard medley relay and 200yard freestyle relay wins, and she won the 50-yard fi'eestyle in 22.91. Senior team­ mate Katelyn Van Ryn won the 100-yard freestyle in 49.94 and was a part of the 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay wins for the Pioneer squad. M I • -L.:—•- . 11 ..T1 r* T’T ft I •A • 1 I I R —?L£ f I ‘■■I I •••• GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following request: Summary of Request: Request for an amendment to the zoning map to rezone a 40.5-acre parcel from PUD (Steelcase) to Light Industrial.. Property Address: 7147 Patterson Ave SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Parcel Numbers: 41-22-12-100-031 Applicant; Chris Sander; Microsoft Corporation Summary of Request: Request for a special use permit to construct a 4,800 square foot accessory building in the Agricultural/ Rural Residential zoning district. Property Address: 8610 & 8620 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Parcel Numbers: 41-22-21-100-007, 41-22-21-100-009 Applicant: Peter Sherman Date and Time of Hearing: December 18th, 2025, at 7:00 pmm Date and Time of Hearing: December 18th, 2025, at 7:00 pmm Location of Hearing; Location of Hearing: ■< 'ir J i I 4 ft V' «> •i : * ft < Ktp, 1 •ii r •4 ^{TC({4 I A I !i8'-T; I * r-n^TTic rc :'tr 4 at:-: 1i jvr. I 1 •-’ft k 1.^5 "I : • i’*! » I I .b • . « I ) Hr* I » •*! •K [ I I >J < I M* 5i4y hi-;' .' i I I ; ;l V r k i I I «' w » ■wr - * >• \ • • L J i Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49'316 Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship.org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on December 18th, 2025. Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request, contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or dan.wells@gainestownship,org. To be entered into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on December 18th, 2025. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at (616) 698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance. I " />* p I. I / b r ’eaV ?x • ■ * I 4 /... 1 * I I c A 3 . i Ir*. 4 *• 3 I ••■ V *4 I 4 -’ L~. *' . J ■ d i I I J I r H h J I . I : 1 ' 'IJ • I 1: 1 Hl I n . ' I I I 'ii r ! ,'i ' II •0 I J 1I A 0 I \ I 4 I ft �16 « vxjtwrOcjy, Ic jmt>er 29 £ ; 9 •*# * *•♦1 M «-< . ip - SUM NEWS TOWNSHIP BOARD TOWNSHIP OF THORNAPPLE Barry County, Michigan Board member Campbell, supported by Board member Stanton, moved the adoption of the following ordinance; ORDINANCE NO. 01-2025 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP ZONING ORDINANCE (ORDINANCE 2142, AS ADDED); TO AMEND ARTICLE XXI PERTAINING TO GENERAL PROVISIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 32 2 PERTAINING TO DEFINITIONS THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ORDAINS: Section 1. Amendment of Article XXI. Article XXI of the Thornapple Township Zoning Ordinance is hereby amended to add the following Section 21.42, which reads as follows: Section 21.42 Bubblers and ice Retardant Systems (a) Purpose, The use of bubblers or other ice retardant systems interferes with the safe, convenient, and reasonable use and navigability of t Ites of water in the winter. Absent regulations, bubblers and ice retardant systems may be dangerous to people who are present on the ice. including, but not limited to, snowmobilers and operators of ATVs, children playing, pedestrians, cross­ country skiers, and individuals ice fishing. (b) Prohibition. The use of bubblers or other ice retardant systems, as defined herein, shall be expressly prohibited on Duncan Lake and the Thornapple River, unless otherwise required for the maintenance of essential services, public infrastructure, or in the case of an emergency, as determined by the Zoning Administrator. Section 2. Amendment of Section 32.2. Section 32.2 of the Thornapple Township Zoning Ordinance is hereby amended to add the following Section 32.2.17.1, which reads as follows: Section 32.2.17.1 Bubbler or Ice Retardant System Means any machinery, motor, engine, item, equipment, mechanism, pump, compressor or compression system or any structural, mechanical or other system whether automatically or manually operated and which is designed, intended or functions to interrupt, stop or slow down the natural freezing of waterways or to break up any ice surrounding or adjacent to any boat, vessel, pier, dock or seawall as a means of a wet storage system for such boat or vessel, or protection for any dock, structure, pier or seawall, during the winter months. This definition also includes any system or apparatus that uses aerators, forced air, props, a pump, agitation or other motion to weaken or prevent ice within a lake or body of water. Section 3. Severability and Captions, This Ordinance and the various parts, sections, subsections, sentences, phrases and clauses thereof are hereby declared severable. If any part, section, subsection, sentence, phrase or clause is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Ordinance shall not be affected thereby. The captions included at the beginning of each Section are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of this Ordinance. Section 4. Repeal. Any existing ordinance or resolution that is inconsistent or conflicts with this Ordinance is hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict or inconsistency. Section 5. Effective Date. This Ordinance is ordered to take effect eight (8) days following publication of adoption in The Sun and News, a newspaper having general circulation in the Township, under the provisions of 2006 Public Act 110, except as may be extended under the provisions of such Act. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Schaefer Medenblik Bouchard Campbell DeMaagd Rairigh Stanton NO: None Declared adopted on: November 10, 2025 VIEW F' DNR advises waterfowl hunters to safeguard against bird flu outbreak Michigan iX-panment ofSatural Re­ sources ofhcials would like to remind waterfowl hunters to take precautions Io protect themselves and domestic animals from highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. ITiis fall, the Michigan f)epartmenl of Agriculture and Rural I>cvclopment has reported increasing outbreaks of HPAI in commercial and backyard poultry' flocks, including new dclcc tions in counties with popular waterfowl hunting destinations. ITic DNR reports more HPAI detec­ tions in 2025 than were found in 2024; 130 wild birds have tested positive for HPAI in Michigan, with most detcc tions in Canada geese, bald eagles and red-tailed hawks. Wildlife detections and pending cases are posted on the DNR’s HPAI webpage. The disease has been found in every Michigan watershed, indicating that it has occurred throughout the state. HPAI has been detected in surround­ ing states and other parts of the U.S. as well. Hunters traveling out of state are advised to follow all health and safety precautions regardless of where they are hunting. ITiose interested may visit the USDA H5N1 Influenza webpage for more information about national detections and response. Michigan’s earliest waterfowl season opened Sept. 1 and the final season closes Feb. 15. “Make sure to take appropriate precautions when field dressing wild birds. In order to kill the virus, use a food thermometer to ensure that meat is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit,” said Dr. Scott Larsen, DNR wildlife veterinarian. “It’s also important to properly clean and CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meeting Minutes The minutes for the November 5, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on November 19, 2025 are posted at the Township offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave, and on the website at www.caledoniatownship.org. < y- 1 I I .'4 '.4 \ ■ V disinfevl gear and equipment Ixto’c coming into contact with dcuneMic birds." IH I' rt’IV'* i)-' .nc ‘ ■ < 1 VT. I ft I HPAI IS a highly contagious respira­ tors disease that causes sickness and sometimes death in wild birds and mammals. HPAI infections can <Kcur at an\ time of the year, but upticks arc expected during spring and fall water­ fowl migrations. Wild birds can carrs HPAI without appearing sick. Anvone w ho ohsen cs a die-off of six or more wild birds is asked to report it through the DNR I ves in the I leld online tool or a local DNR field office. The risk of HPAI infecting people is low, but the virus can spread through direct contact with infected animals or material. Hunters should alwavs take precautions when handling wild birds to avoid contracting or spreading bird f1u. Those precautions include things like; Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead. Process wild birds in the field. Re­ mains from processed birds should be buried on-site or double-bagged and disposed of w ith household trash. Wear rubber or disposable gloves while handling and cleaning wild birds, and wash hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand cleanser, even if hands are not visibly soiled. Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth when handling wild birds. Do not eat, drink or smoke while handling or cleaning wild birds. Cook all meat to an internal tempera­ ture of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any viruses. Thoroughly clean and disinfect all knives, equipment and surfaces that come into contact with wild birds. If you have close contact with obvi­ ously sick or dead wild birds, or surfaces contaminated by them, monitor for these symptoms for 10 days after your last exposure: Fever with temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit or chills. Fever may not always be present. Sore throat. Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Eye tearing, redness or irritation. Runny or stuffy nose. Muscle or body aches. — BB .. V « 1 » Z i; ► I >1 I t J \ f •« • r '4 » J , 1 • w rr 14* •r >- < • V . 1 1 * > , ,4 I-’’ • » J /• 'sV^ J \ t J, •* >• 4 ' L I « r , 1 i t-* »: V.1 .'«• if . »• 1 I 4 II .4 i ‘’“ill*’ ■»! I 9^ I A* /10 . *1 4 ' 4^ < -jUl t .. * x> h t J 1 >• / MT JU» 9 k 9 1 p# - 1 9* I M P Ml* i*> s. * 4 I I > t i J ■ id conference victory ':ami 1 1 I iij iiii f r i * f; 'f J f • " V r ... - J * K haa CT to «• * I ' ,v i ' I n -.'.'ilUU ............ M S -Mij* 1 1 «ibi '• 1 I I V i MBW I j I I ilk - 1 f 1 r J * I 1 ► « ,|tr I I \i 4 - •r • 1. k Item w I — 9it i ’’■**•**•• t L r.11n V ' \ X ifeMt^ u T, I I "S’eSfes^ rir Um \ I-;;; * M lU ’ll *>• " , 1^ '*‘;S 'z ■( • pfir ['•' L .. r I< * ( vv V *a^HRaM u I r 1 . IB ^**8; er,!- k 1 ' V B t A LsA « •*.w I • *«. s I • \ t I f J I f « a 1 I i 1 t 1 * I I <f ’•*' �♦ ♦ I urn. M M.f * »I • * t'. • THESUNAND news www.sunandnews.com view.. Saturday, November 29. 2025 Group 17 4 I : 1 •fHt 1 f ♦ Gaier and Noble earn accolades in first NCAA action X. *4, J *• w Brett Bremer Sports Editor i . I I i I < I z I t 9 K «v 1 •, « * * I J I '« I I .X k t • I I 4 I s i r ■ .=» J 1 9 “ a J I I •, »■;. J«5< ( VU. Jlj I. .1 } 4_ 9 J A '"M t 71 f ) > 7? f • Ld' X 4 4 S, 4 J. I *1 T, X 'J t < /' Ui*. i r- ' i .; 1 .•. r k 7 ’ J .* J I >» I C"? ,‘5*v>. '/t . ' Uy k •1. V ■ i A fj-S LN . J k AL . U r s:. Cl r <1 ’• 11-. ■. ■■ n • r . r» I taw I J db t ‘ n I.h I e 'f J i .. 1 I I 11 J 1 & ■; '■ t’l Sj'*i ^•a 4^ I jTr ■A I ' .J I • u I * •S' r J 1 4‘ «^'^*«** f r **• yI r •• •'w’ 5 • * ;■ Former Fighting Scot varsity vol leyball teammates had superb freshmen collegiate seasons across the country this fall. Caledonia High School alumni Josie Noble and Cambria Gaier, who helped the Caledonia program to an OK Green Conference Championship in the fall of 2024 as seniors, succeeded slamming kills against their NCAA competition in the fall of 2025 - Gaier at South Alabama and Noble at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Gaier was named the Sun Belt Confer­ ence Freshman ofthe Year at the net for the Jaguars and also earned second team all­ conference accolades. Noble was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team and All-League Second team. Gaier led the Jaguars in kills this fall with 399 whi le tallying an attack percent­ age of .204. She averaged 3.5 kills per set while playing in all 114 sets for her team this season. Gaier also had a team-high 42 aces averaging .37 per set. She also chipped in 149 digs and 47 total blocks. Noble played in all 32 matches for the Milwaukee Panthers. She finished second on the Panther team in kills with 233, averaging 2.26 per set and putting up an attack percentage of .287 which was best among the team’s regular attackers. Noble also had a team-high 118 blocks including 22 solo blocks. She averaged 1.15 blocks a set Noble’s Panthers were 11-21 overall this fall, but had an 11-7 mark in the Horizon League. Their season came to an end with a 3-0 loss to lU Indy in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament last Friday, Nov. 21. She had six kills and four total blocks in the tournament opener at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Ky. She was named Horizon League Player ofthe Week, Nov. 3. Gaier and the Jaguars were 15-14 overall this fall and 9-7 in the Sun Belt Conference. They knocked off Georgia Soutliem in the opening round of the conference tournament last week, but fell 3-2 to James Madison (JMU) in the semifinals of the conference tournament in Foley, Ala. Gaierrecordedher third double-double ofthe season in the loss, leading her team with 20 kills and ten digs. Another former Michigan high school and FarOut Vol­ leyball Club spiker, Maradith O’Gorman who prepped at Lakewood High School, was two blocks shy of a triple double in that match for the Jaguars with 12 kills, 11 digs and eight total blocks. James Madison took the first two sets before 1 A *x i / : r" • ' ■ 4 o i 1 z 4 11 ..^ ,F lb u.,- t I •I 1 vvrSi 4^ 3?® 1 . kyt • w iiuy y I «» IM I e s i ' J> I 1 4 I i » t • iL I ♦ I V) /: ! I f I I ■ 4 1 4 'I <> i t • •’ • ' . .. T 7 w I •: I. 4/ .11 : t I F t / »> f 1 I f K n 1 Mf ;xi I 1 f ) Im «•*» r i 1 r 1 i? 1 f ( r I I I );12 I .“<^1 I I k r- . i, .- I 1 I 4 *( . \ 1 t I 1 ■■■>1 did-' i I J -I 7 I .* J 1^3 I I The Caledonia varsity hockey team ran its record to 4-1 for the season and moved to 2-0 in the OK Conference Rue Division with a shut out of Forest Hills Central Central Saturday, Nov. 22, at Patterson Ice Center. Caledonia scored twice in each ofthe first two periods and bested the visiting Rangers 5-0. Sam Hoag tallied the shut out in net for the Fighting Scots and Ty Lewan­ dowski notched a natural hat trick. Lewandowski upped the Fighting Scot lead to 2-0 with a power play goal 12 minutes and 47 seconds into the first period. He had assists from Gabe Supuk and Camden Quigley V f 1 X i f• •// *' Cambria Gaier was named the Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team in her first season at the University of South Alabama. Josie Noble was named to the Horizon League Volleyball All-Freshman Team and the All-League Second Team in her first season playing for the University of WisconsinMilwaukee. Courtesy photos the Jaguars rallied to even the match. The JMU ladies pulled out a 21-19 win in the fifth set to advance to the confer- ence tournament championship game where they were bested by top-seeded Arkansas State. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Proposed Ordinance to Amend Ordinance No. 493 U GAINES n CHARTER TOWNSHIP At a regular meeting of the Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees, held Monday, November 10, 2025, at 88555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316, the Board considered a proposed ordi­ nance to amend Ordinance No. 493 of the Water & Sewer Ordinance. The proposed ordinance makes modifications to “mandatory con­ nection” requirements for water and sewer in the Township (Sections 1003 and 1008). Owners of an existing building using or requiring Potable Water, which are located 1n the Township and which are currently served by a private water well or private Sewage Disposal Facility, shall not be required to connect to an available Public Water Main, or available Public Sewer, until such time the Kent County Health Department determines the existing system (water and/or sewer) has failed , and it is not possible to repair the system. No other changes are proposed. The Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees shall hold a public hearing Monday, December 8, 2025 during their regularly scheduled meeting which commences at 7:00PM, to consider these pro posed changes. A true and complete copy of the proposed ordinance is available in the Office of the Clerk at the Gaines Charter Township Hall, located at 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316. on the goal. Lewandowski added two more goals in the second period. Rylan Bultema earned his first assist of the season on Lewandowski’s first goal of the second period. Ethan Sova opened the scoring with a goal a little over six minutes in. He found the net with assists from Evan Moore and Harmon Esch. Landen Moore closed out the scoring with an early third-period goal thanks to assists from Sova and Esch. The Fighting Scots were set to be a part of the Alpena Showcase this weekend, Nov. 28 and 29, at Northern Lights Arena. They’ll be back in ac­ tion closer to home Dec. 5 and 6 at the Grand Rapids Showcase Tournament at Patterson. Michael A. Brew, Clerk Gaines Charter Township A * » a T 'A Scots shut out Rangers for second conference victory Brett Bremer Sports Editor < V 4 l:t V’ <1 S 9i*r I |! t- -A F • I • * . tT > 1 , ivsei L f r X r K II -T* t J J t 9 i f » > t I « f I 1 r 1 11 hl I < •a b,! 1 '•I uI 1 9 4 > k * •i s t t r \ I I I �a J ■*5 18 J »/. > M » r r SUN '^NE¥VS VHEW Om* ' A A UI w«i HX ' A T I Fighting Scots top ten at DI Swimming and Diving Finals again Brett Bremer /lies Women's Sw imming and Div ing program next season. “The team has just grow n every single * ft * year/' Ciaylord said. fhe girls arc work ing themselves hardercvcr> single year. ITic dedication and the change in team atmosphere, especially this year I could feel it. Lveryone was just so excited to he here, he racing, to be racing together, and every one wanted the best for each other. So, I think that just gives a really gtxxl feel to the team and helps everyone do their best when every one is supporting each other The fop finish for Gaylord came in the lOO-yard freestyle where she turned in a stellar time of 51.42 sec­ onds to place third. She placed fifth in the 50-yard freestyle in 23.45 seconds putting herself in consideration for All-America honors in that event. Ilie 50-yard freestyle sprint has turned into her favorite individual event. I can't understand," Van I lofwegcn said of Gaylord's speed. She looks so smooth on the water It is so crazy how she goes so fast. I definitely look Sports Edrtof I he ( alcdonia girls spenl their I riday (Nov. 21) going from the slarling block to the waler, lo the medal stand and back again at the Oakland ('niversity Aquatic Center in Rochester. ( alcdonia senior Sophie (iaylord and junior Mya VanderZwaag were both four-fime stale medalists I riday, and they were two of five Iright­ ing Scots who earned stale medals throughout the course of the two-day MHSAA l ower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’ Swimming and Diving I inals, I hat duo was joined in medal-winning relay performances by senior AI iya Van Hofwegen, freshman Caitlyn Morris and freshman Kailey Hall. The Caledonia varsity girls’ swim­ ming and diving team was tenth at the finals a year after finishing as high as eighth. fiaylord upped her state medal count to 11 in three varsity seasons at Caledonia, and she'll be back in the Oakland pool before too long as she has already made plans to join the Griz- 4» ftft HUDSONVILLE FALL 2025 AUCTION Live & Online Bidding Saturday, December 6, at 10:00 am EST Hudsonville Fairgrounds - 5235 40th Ave, Hudsonville, Ml r-OF^ r 4 r IsS I I "4 M<ai» ■ . ■x 9Fi « 4lr* p t .A* Multi Ring auction selling construction equipment, farm equipment and support items. * We start accepting equipment from 8-5 on Monday, December 1. M •• ■“***' 4 We stop taking small items on Thursday, December 4. We will still ac­ cept heavy equipment on Friday. December 5 until 3:00 pm. AUCTION CONTACT: Chuck Ranney - Auction Manager Phone:616-560-0839 Email: chuck@1800lastbid.com leoeMA AuenoNmiNO. LIVE & ONLINE AUCTIONS VIEW ALL ITEMS IN DETAIL AND/OR BID AT MIEDEMAAUCTIONEERING.COM. r 77 ‘ t * -.ii;-'. »•? c Mf V ♦ L. » t I A fr-l I I i » I J * I I i ’ / I ' 4 I I I f I $ I I .1 < <^wl* . "J ■ tz « < w r irt 1 rr T • Si'' .•r, t. •n A «. .ft u f1 * a r * I It s. w ir *1. F f •f J >• u* , i-r,' ft 4i _ » n b J <■ ‘Mi r ’ Z i * M- <«» » 1 1> * < 'J ! 4 •M— 1 f r k r T r •'J > Caledonia senior Sophie Gaylord nears her final turn in the 100-yard treestyle championship final during the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls' Swimming and Diving Finals at Oakland University in Rochester FridHy, Nov. 21. Gaylord placed fifth in the race with a time of 51.42 seconds Photos by 4 •M r t 1 1 4 J I •ft *« ’4 U.*. I »r X I B V * <A lu'j Brett Bremer L 1 w* <K « A4’;ra t I up to her when I try to swim. She is just so smooth and she has such good technique. Gaylord said she especially likes the technical aspects of swimming the 50 free. Without a great start, a great fum, just the right underwaters and breaths there isn't much chance of competing in such a short race. VanderZwaag placed 15th in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.71 and was the last Scot out of the pool witha 16th-placetimeof 1 minute8.32 seconds in the penultimate event of the meet - the 100-yard breaststroke. “It's a great experience here. I just love the environment," VanderZwaag said. “It is such a cool experience to be with all these fast people. It’s like, wow. There are a lot of fast people here who will probably go to the Olympics or something. It’s really fun to be able to make finals and everything." They all agree that the 200-yard medley relay is near the top of their list of favorite events. Gaylord, VanderZwaag, Van Hofwegen and Morris earned a fifth-place time of 1:48.38 in the 200-yard medley relay finals. Caledonia had the team of VanderZwaag, Hall, Morris and Gaylord ninth in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1 ;38.27. I hey won the consolation final of that race. I feel like wc'rc all just realh encouraging of each other. Van Hofwegen said. We're always just h\ ping each other up. and it really helps to make slate something really fun to look forward to and to be motivated to do well in. The I ighting Scot squad also had the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Hall. Van Hofw^egen, Morris and sophomore Amelia McCann place 21 st in the pre­ lim's of their race (3:47.30.) Ann Arbor Pioneer won the team championship with 404 points making it six straight DI state championships in a row. Jenison was a distant second with 249 points. Northville was third in the final team standings w ith 193 points ahead of Zeeland 179, Canton 109, Brighton 108, Saline 107, Rockford 89 and Caledonia 79 in the top ten. Among its top finishes, Jenison was second to Ann Arbor Pioneer in both the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay. Jenison senior Emma Albrecht was a part of those two relay finishes, she won the lOO-yard butterfly in 55.12 2tnd placed fourth in the 50-yard freestyle just ahead of See next page i P’ r A f*A*irv* J 4ft ftft J ' b i! IW’ < I : { . r<ft -s I • k J ? i 'ftW ' b ( 1 A ’L • I - "> :* J ■,'f! F’ I • ■ f : f- •n .rf’ J F * .S '■•"'' ■ 2i t I * I Lt •. I',/, twi ft. riyj I I. ft I • •iF f. '’11 * 1 to' ‘-vri'K ¥d « >4 4 I 1.^ lb I u:' 1 * \ ..ftl . kUrJ:*t .■■ift’ I y \ r / f* /\ft* I 1 fe'/, / r J / J » < 1 A 1 < I f •i » I I 1 ft ' * I • V»4 A,’ 1 f f r* * ) A .• i < '.-1 ^'4 J 'is. “ 1 J ,1 . I ‘ eji ■ 1 f ( -i * f rrR ■ 3rtB> 4 1 I ft ft I « ft t “••• W«.: /: J I 1 J I fc ▼ �M I I 'lUr ♦ f I ii THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com VIEW Saturday, November 29, 2025 Group ♦ 19 ♦ • ♦ <1 r I I I f- I M I I « I •s J ••< x»‘* I > I 1 / 1b ■: •-J* j i <* I I a. 4 •• k .• • ••l • r' t i 9 ■: :■ < • <.• 4 & * I Jllti/ 1 >♦ 9 Fv* .Jill J ] S9lh« 9 4 t 4 U■ ■ < I t I r it *i 3 k r ; ’.If I ■:*r.3 4* £ V * -> 1 fc □V Tl >.! J «»r T5’ '<7 .7 ■ h-. .» J • Continued from previous page I I f re I IJ i‘. '/ J."'i I r u. hf ■■■■' id »f I ' K. ••t I ''>M|.'i r ^^■1/ I* < V?' ■‘/'I ‘tl I i r.’', /‘’V .J J f ■ I. ri >- I i ^.. • '.' n T^i. r 'i .•. t r ki 1< I ■ f™ *■„ I I B>W f • I •* X .1^ - 'A fi T i J r*’ I I 4 ! [ T a *4 r > \f’ t ♦ 9 • f ,»<7 Q 4 ..h I <.» 1^ n> J J z •4^ a I < > lr>» X '*1S '1 rt ..J $ . 4 : J » 4 i. 1 <» f n'f.«5MrzL. 1 c = +? ? HRi ’••••.•nmn I* * .*K V i fJ 0 V ’4 ^*$5 ’ ?’jf J I ( If J 1 .< I C’ IB > J :■'> 'TT' ) I 'a <■?■; JUL - i 1 i’ ’’J • 11 • I I { i4 r 5 □ ti4_ 1 ■>* ^44 a r •lAj/U.'l Ci fe LU □D < /iu ;fik «4 r c ►■n ji-iLnii *fi IC' r- I, <1 ri i’fi •» ' .'^1 — o 30 □ I :■ f •D X3 Bt •jMj-l ’■T.' - 1 J” Jr, iZ ff) 4 «W . Ztl , I CK I 4 uCt 4 ;4 ! r . JtHFi ’•J e ( 'W: hit5, ■ ri !' t >. ^{b'jh .z 7^ T >fi i » r vk I- •-’••Jl'/J!.' Ui ' ( c- — I \.9^ ■ tz’^r *' 4 SiH .’’xn-^. II I ! Gaylord. Gaylord was happy for her club teammate. She had a couple club teammates in those freestyle sprints with Zeeland senior Madison Ensing the runner-up in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100yard freestyle. Albrecht will be joining Gaylord on the Oakland University team next season. Pioneer girls won those two freestyle sprints. Freshman Kia Alert took the 50-yard freestyle in 22.91 and senior Katelyn Van Ryn won the 100-yard freestyle in 49.94. In all, Ann Arbor Pioneer girls won seven of the 12 events. With Gaylord looking forward to junior nationals and then collegiate swimming and Van Hofwegen having competed in her final varsity race Fri­ day, there will need to be new leaders to keep the Caledonia program one of the best in the state. VanderZwaag is looking forward to that responsibility next season, and also welcoming her freshman sister to the team. Gaylord thinks the future looks bright for the Fighting Scots. Amelia McCann, a sophomore this year, she is fiery and she is going to be a leader.,” Gaylord said. “But I also see Caitlyn Morris, she’s a freshman, and she is just super dedicated, super fun. She is a little quiet, but I think she is going to come out of her shell. She definitely showed up this weekend. I am excited to watch them be leaders on the team, but also continue swim. jning well.” * 1 k A* 1 X J ,^aa ' -.-t. 1^: i V niomiER w «« bf f • »**- HEATING AND COOLING ♦ .<• 4 f 4- V , 'T'» i Caledonia’s 200-yard freestyle relay team of (clockwise from bottom left) Caitlyn Morris, Kailey Hall, Sophie Gaylord and Mya VanderZwaag celebrates on the medal stand after a ninth-place finish in the MHSAA L.P. DI Girls’ Swimming and Diving Finals Friday, Nov. 21, at Oakland University in Rochester. s.L '< ' >4^ r 4, * V XT ^^■ ** it' ’•• -A * —A’- High EfHcienqt r W « FURNACE G AIR • M *, a. J.' AiX ■ c > I I I tr 4 V«el I, * -<4 9* k EJK 4 J ’C < WE 1. 9 1 • ■* 1 $300 OFF With purchase of furnace & A/C unit. * v<* ■ r'.i, I 1 J / r S ^4a X ' k S: i 29» ' Caledonia junior Mya VanderZwaag races to a 16th-place finish in the finals of the 100-yard breaststroke Friday, Nov. 21, during the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’ Swimming and Diving Finals at Oakland University in Rochester. Visit us online at mihomepaper.com . Js F <» I u k F « I2 » r - Must present this coupon. Expires 12-31-25 . k MB W MB M Other products available: • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! u The conifyuny hiiih b\ refeiials 210 East Main Street Caledonia k* r L. :k‘ t» IRVING TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS November 18, 2025 Meeting called to order at 6:30pm at 3425 Wing Rd. Hastings, Michigan 49058 Present: Lydy, Stout, Brummel, Nagel, and Buehler Agenda approved as presented Approved October 21,2025 Board Meet­ ing Minutes, as amended Fire Reports and Commissioner Report presented Approved Treasurer’s Report Approved to pay bills in the amount of $5,680.82 Approved to pay election wages in the amount of $2,127.00 Engle Rd, Natural Beauty Designation, Road Commission to hold second public hearing Township Website - issue has been i corrected Wolverine Power Cooperative Ordi­ nance - tabled until November 2025 Board Meeting I Planning & Zoning - discussed bringing lin-house. No action taken. I Election Summary - Nov 4, 2025 elec­ tion held, 18% turnout Upcoming Dates: December 16, 2025 Township Board Meeting at 6:30pm Adjourn 6:54pm Full minutes are available at Irvingtownship.org or at 3425 Wing Rd, Hastings, Ml 49058. Prepared by Irving Township Deputy Clerk, Shelly Lake. Attested to by Supervisor, Dan Lydy. I I I 1 1 i1 .H , I : T :J ’I i r M JI J i J I ' 11 • H 11 I .a <1 r1 I) r I I 4 r '4 I \ I f «) .9 4* w '✓ ? L 1 k ’*:• 1 >411 1 r p i L?i I 4 I f V ■ ’“f I, i 1 J 1 •1 **1 'li 4 « i J 4 ■'^A t . Caledonia senior Aliya Van Hofwegen swims the butterfly leg of the 200-yard medley relay Friday, Nov. 21, during the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls’ Swimming and Diving Finals at Oakland University in Rochester. ( k I A. 4 *.u t ;»4' /1 I* . •, i ** * ' r.'rCL' ’•S' r X- ( 1 •J ifI 1 ‘K.' . M ■ ifcliil ’V' ■ --..X 4 I t w I « 41 / 'U * t > J 4 I • t t 4 t 1 I ♦ 1 J I 4 < I J 1 I ( I �f I * 20 Saturday. November 2025 29. th: sun and Ncvrs ; WWW surWMlncwB oom % ■ » -X. e' ss • •J V 4 I, •& \c 3.'! « » 1^.' r<** i” "e r « r r < A a r ’T >Z '"-fin. .aJr i/^ s♦ J «fp> <9^ - A >* / a i t « I <» n ’i. jT J r r w. & 4 TRUMBLE A W’J I ■ K ]i4 ^^9^ Medicare r’ *1- M > 'vV • MW* ■ 5 i f • 1l fI t* X ♦ *! Saving Money and Getting Better Coverage One chent client thought she had the "Cadillan" “Cadillac" nf of IMedicare plans — until we compared options and found her a plan with better coverage at a lower cost She even added a hospital indemnity policy and still saved money! Don't Believe Everything You Hear on the Phone tcheoi Another client switchetTplans after a phone rep promised her “something better." When we reviewed it together, her original plan had stronger coverage and lower out-of-pocket costs. We helped her get back on the plan that truly fit her needs. Helping a Veteran Get Extra Money Back A veteran we worked with wasn’t using his plan much since he gets care through the \/A. \Ne helped him find a plan that gives him over $100 back each month through the Part B giveback benefit — while still keeping his VA care. i three success stories i th. i 3^ ' ' $ 4 • X- .w- 9 A ( I • * 'L’ f iB* f. " tr . I % f J q Schedule your appointment today before open enrollment ends Dec 7! •W V.5 ’ ’’ . •y •• •* * 1 'r* It A c e * «I tu*. .'•V ll *» > 4'1* h *.' ' *1' • •« . 4 A 6 * * •’T ’V,. 1 A 7 *-TlM 4 • 1 a t iw I * ( « • ■. 269.213.3232 j o sli(a)trumbleagency.com www.barrycountymedicare.com 128 S. Jefferson St. Hastings, MI 49058 .y •* 4 > r Josh Lamphere i * I eneeq iM II 5 Medicare Specialist teiliusx)^ 9Tcaib»l4 T Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or I-800-MEDIC ARE to get information on all of your options. a •S’ I 'I F f t 4. 4 * u £ II » i / *. J. •? '.X I *-^9 IJ i J «4 h I <. i *• ♦ t if <! • t I. h {« eaolil 03 wtl .sooitqo Tuov *01 � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-12-06.pdf e42aa3cb962528eb21f6bc40305c0b9b PDF Text Text i I I 'E OM Tar JOV NO. 49 VOL. 147 u www.sunandnews.com SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2025 ► F > gfinitnoa ftozmalM BtBb bliud of anslq iwT oonifid ni lofnso ' ilMMnaa CMMl i 1 5 •3 *1 II i I A «» J Sj < ( I 1 I I r ■ Microsoft Corp, has confirmed to Gaines Charter Township officials that it intends to build a data center in the town­ ship. That’s according to Gaines Community Development Director Dan Wells. He said some township officials had a brief “meet and greet” discussion in November with some Microsoft execu lives who relayed their desire to build a data center but did not provide any con­ ceptual plans for the project, including its size or location. In October 2024, Microsoft officials announced that the company had pur­ chased 316 acres of industrial land on the northwest comer of the intersection of 76th Street and Patterson Avenue from Steelcase Inc. for $45.3 million. The Right Place economic develop­ ment group hinted at that time that the property might be developed into a major data center at some point “The opportunity ahead with Microsoft fits into our 10-year tech strategy to develop the Greater Grand Rapids region into a leading tech hub in the Midwest,” said Randy Thelen, Right Place president and CEO, in a written statement at the time. See MICROSOFT on 7 1 t SSL ***-— 9 ll' • ;a3i At* L —--- WA » 7 J 1 The northwest corner of Patterson Avenue and 76th Street potentially could serve as the Mooa uawoisno site for a major data IVUNBOISaU center in Gaines Charter OKrasOd Township. Photos by James 8£C# liuued 6C68^ Gemmell tn 'eiiiAueajo QlVd S^tO} wwiiim qirtenwoT tiemmtfP gcse* in (aAUMis b«uu(|t338 <8838 OMUMR' Wt bVID n bO81VO6 bust. 810 I .;3 I • 1 ft I 4 1 J I I } I •>.^1 £>eb Timmerman I >1 ee XftCB- h I .ft * > « E k t «*4» I r •I «FW »,* ' i J » ****** HrtiHMaMHiMr*''* r ■ r >• i ■MM ..ij» V 'T '•'iX 7’ *, V T. ry c& -1. P ‘Tl — r • •■—•■R-a • r BARRY «*> I J t. r s. < ■M. Ik ^... tn COUNTY . >■ I <•4 J A' , A. V R b= 5 ' I—Al‘l -■ '/ ' ^>n •> MW" ofthe tveeh ... A- 9 Or <*1 -V W' -L- ■ 4 *;' ""S J • • 1 *•4 Pt. R *1? ?• •1 J j:V .-J. f. g V t f 1 f < A •*. ■ I J* Gun Lake Business Association (GLBA) President and Treasurer Deb Timmerman encourages friends and neighbors to stop into their hometown businesses, meet the owners, shop and dine. Courtesy photos Area businesses encourage residents to shop iocal this hoiiday season Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer In an effort to support small, locally-owned businesses, area leaders are asking everyone to con­ tinue to shop in their hometowns this holiday season and throughout the year. According to U.S. Small Business Administration data, small busi­ nesses make up over 98% of Michigan’s businesses and employ half of the state’s workers. For every $100 spent at a local busi­ ness, roughly $68 stays in the local economy. Small business owners through­ out the area are gearing up for the holiday season. Once the summer tourism crowd thins out in the Gun Lake area, aovisod s n QIS ISUd i k « W > f rr « \ t f T ■ 1 ■M h i to erlT teetori feeiJo ni6\ boE eunavA ev)’4? bluoo eODN cneuwEH > K)|6m h lol ejfg BBVIDCAUVF A r * <« J a I •*>■' *<1 * A Wt" * I TJ < ' >2 I J C -*■—’ > James Gemmell Contributing Writer I iBftiW gnttwlnftKiO cl bomnftnfw ecri •po'J ftoffxraM fidi Hira^rfio cpriafwiT -wncffJ waiite> odi nr tatn^j Mdi bbri ol afafttini .oufe BHumo;) aamef) or ^nimcxm ^'infl .idhW nfc< I rowiKl msmrpfcwsa bnri Htoorfio qnlBrwor bma dH ni noiaauoHil/ ’ hnti loofft* t^nrf b ram JtoernsiM octkw Arw wlniwoH lilttjrl Of yiiKtil) Tjsd) bmkii oriw sr/if o> vnn sbivnfTj xn bto Mri 'WRoao alfib iirii idl arwlrf kuJtprj .noitGXil n 9xi^ dciafhi jtoeoTDfM ,/^SOL ladoJoO nl bed vnoqrfKxj odJ Jerif boonwonni; rv) bruJ l£r0Kdvii^> emu d F C h98£rb !o nod3o?rainr orir tr> Tsmoj teswrirran lonf nonoilf/I bnc JmtiK rfftfV xil ^1 -qolwob armonoM awf'l dt Wt wml ifirit in bolnifl qorr^ Jrwm m n QJni boqolT/ab od jrf^r vTBqmq Muaq smoe 3f> 'ntrrxi £tsb moiM fbrw boarlf: <Jifttmoqqo arfl o) TOTV-OI -urj otoi zhl brffinr) Wir) orb qobvai) KTwbtM arir nr durl rbst a otni ftasTf -nalorn /bnaM btsa fit fc lfiam5V:i^ fiotJrrv/ n ni .DHJbni; .drrul ^^OaOROIM QQ?. Microsoft confirms plans to build data center in Gaines Twp. - ■ it’s up to locals to support their retail stores, grocery stores and restaurants. Gun L^e Business Association (GLBA) President and Treasurer Deb Timmerman is encouraging residents to stop into their hometown businesses, meet the owners, shop and dine. “When you shop locally, you’re strengthening the very community you live in. Every dollar spent in the Gun Lake area circulates through our small businesses, sup­ porting local families, funding local events, and helping our area continue to grow and thrive,” said Timmerman, who owns Less Stress in Life in Gun Lake. “We’re not a big-box destination and it’s a place where people still know your name^ where owners pour their hearts into what they offer, and where your purchases make a real difference.” Like Timmerman, Tracy Baker, real estate agent and chair of the Hastings Business Connection, and believes in shopping locally she lives by example. “I don’t leave town. I always shop local,” Baker said. “It’s a last there’s resort if I leave town some stuff I cannot get. But if I can get it here, I will get it here first.” Another ally of supporting small businesses is Shannon Richardson, executive director of the Caledonia Chamber of Commerce. “It is vital that our community never forget the importance of our small-town businesses because they are the backbone of our local See LOCAL on 5 > -» �r-I If 11 l: Saturday, December 6, 2025 2 the SUN AND NEWS VIEW k 4 www.sunandnews.com Group .C;,; Twp. Planning Commission approves permit for residential solar array An 8,800-square-foot solar array will be installed on a 15-acre residential site in Caledonia. Gaines Township planning commis­ sioners voted unanimously at their Nov. 20 meeting to approve a special-use permit for the ground-mounted solar setup at 2844 100th Street. That is just west of Hanna Lake Avenue and across the street from two neighbors who com­ mented on the project during a public hearing at the meeting. The property is reportedly zoned agricultural/rural residential. The FRONTIER HEATING AND COOLING ^9 ^9 9 ^9 9B ^9 9 ^9 Mgh Efficiency FURNACE 8 AIR ^300 OFF With purchase of furnace & unit. r f NT* IT/ Tl >r J B k t > I «r Mi H ,11* 9 '4 ' : t : S A• } •** 3 ** I wWUWt - - Must present this coupon. Expires 12-31-25 . 9 99 ^9 9B 91 . li - f z I' 1 James Gemmell Contributing Writer NMI i .J' ^9 ^9 ^9 ^9 Other products svsHsble: • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems' • Thermostats and morel ' fhe company built by ic/cttah 210 Cast Main Street Caledonia 616-891 :v: I I A -M A ■! township zoning ordinance requires the granting of a special use permit for any solar project that exceeds 1,500 square feet. Local builder Dave Van Haitsma of Grandville applied for the permit on behalf of the property owner, the Ron VanderPol Trust. Ron Whitman, who lives across from the site, told the Planning Commission members that he has no objection to the project, though he did ask several questions. Those included whether neighboring residents would be vi­ sually shielded from the solar panel system, whether it would produce a high noise level, and if it could cause a power surge or outage in the area. “Our view of the solar array will be the full east side of it,” he said. “That’s 200 and some feet deep. Anywhere from 10 to 13 feet high. That’s exactly what we’ll be looking at (if there is no visual screening). What I would like to see is if they’re going to (plant) something like pine trees.” Another resident, Jason Prins, who also lives across from the project site, said the landowner should be able to do what he wants with his property. But he mentioned that the trees in the front yard are too sparse to screen the view of the solar array. “But I’d love to see him work with us,” Prins said. “Just make sure we don’t have to look at it. It is an ugly site. Nobody wants to see it. “But it is his property,” he added. “Do what you want. Just work with us. That’s all we ask.” Greg Oliver, business development manager for Spring Lake-based Ag­ athon Solar, attempted to answer the neighbors ’ concerns. He said the rectangular solar imits that convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity don’t produce glare. The township is also requiring that hedges or other greenery be planted to screen the view of the solar array from the roadway. Oliver acknowledged that the solar inverter that converts the direct cur­ rent into alternating current (AC) will produce some noise. But he said it will be muted because the solar inverter is placed inside a structure to provide a barrier. “So, there would be no noise outside of that structure on a large property,” Oliver said. Wells pointed out that the solar proj­ ect would generate power to the house. “There may well be some other elec­ trical connections to other portions of the property,” he said. “We don’t really regulate that imder our ordinance.” Oliver added, “As you go through an interconnection process. Consumers Energy is going to look at the size ofthe system and the electrical infrastructure that is upstream from it. And they will make a determination ifthe transformer, fuses, lines, or anything has to be upgraded to protect against surges.” Because the house is located on the south end ofthe property near a wooded area, the solar array will be installed in the front yard. “As long as it’s screened properly, I think that this placement in the front yard is probably fine,” Wells said. “You probably won’t see it. It’s well done and well landscaped.” After the public hearing. Planning Commission member Tim Haagsma said, if the solar array is screened from the view of neighbors, it should be fine. “The good thing is, where it needs to be screened is on the north side, so we’re not going to be blocking any sun,” he said. Planning Commission chairperson Coimie Giarmo said she was concerned ’ <* I * IP (i ■■I EK i 4?' I •t ^9* 9* .■9k _____ 4 EP9I^ I T 4MI 100 TH bj ■ V :' ' Ar « •» ' 'W 4 * I f 4*’ Lt I 4 ▼« 9 * '* h a J 1 .*1 < fl 1 I* AT 1 > • w Ik V 4 ♦* L »• A I' M- ’ ’4 , r L ‘is T • i 1 1 * I* .y :i4/* 1 J r Of <1 F’> . 4 • 4 r Ri ' • 'll . I « <c4 mF 1 'll ‘5^ f ’r 4-^ s -4 9 iR.A1 1 ■. «'* f* J n UI a” ..lUC ft S-:s This aerial view shows where a large ground-mounted solar array will be installed in the front yard of a home on 100th Street west of Hanna Lake Avenue in Caledonia. SourceL V fi ♦ ? .’■.S’" i/Mf t' *JI 3 ' . '• ' 7 ' » : J • '• -5 er J tOH'' r4 » I J •^» It - ;T > •l • -V/ t gainestownship.org s4^r*9 ♦> <Ul* 4J’ •< ♦ / •* >8 * I b.C .4^ I• A if/ J that the applicant did not provide ,aS more complete landscaping plan for A iV the board to review. She noted that the project covers about 8,800 square feet. “It’s a pretty significant area,” she 1^ said. “So, I want to be fairly clear on < what the landscaping plan is going to 9 look like and what is required here.” “I will volunteer to go out on site and meet with Ron to take a good, close look at it and meet with Dave, and we V.■ 2^’ can take care of the visual aspects on site,” Wells said. “I wish there was more of a visual we could look at and see,” Planning Commission secretary Lani Thomas said. “But I’m comfortable with them working with Dan (Wells) and staff to provide the proper screening.” Wells said the township usually requires a planting plan for an indusSee PERMIT on 3 J tT « J . ('■♦* .1 * I Al A?'* 4 fel I > I 1 J ? n '731 a • ' J II if f I fT '**-.1 I IfBy 4 JfUW/ I : J 4 tiiM no:'£rcJT:^< ts 11. I 1 I , T I ST'.' 9 < JJ’ I■ J l ::i . fi -jifiJ o4 i_ ftn >/} 1,” > ' I a nop ■yiFi- 7 1/26 c S*I . .^J I p I I f r* • r.T > \' I c—.. )□ < 1* u* > 4 f M I >4 4 I >• J i IfV <*. 3 qo^ 1 1 41 5.'tr,=bTE J ' a « . 'WRE' ■Ir < * » V tc; . :c THE SUN AND NEWS A> ' J \ The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com PUBLISHED BY CONTACT US > Editor: Molly Macleod mmacleod@mihorTiepaper.com I V J, tj H < -.13 JJJ t 4 4 Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com ‘fl" •• U, Group Jj PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper ® r i Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. : AH advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. ,1351 N. M-43 Hwy.. Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of -: the advertiser’s order. X -r—' •»tj rk9^B 1 r I I 1 «r Ita H* I �^5i|j '‘’31H www.sunandnews.com HF SUN AND > news . view Saturday, December 6, 2025 - Group 3 •S. ifias PERMIT > Let It Snow’ reading challenge underway at local libraries Continued from Page 2 i I ■so Lin !■ trial or commercial site. “This is a little unusual because this is a residential property,” he said. “We don’t really require it for (agricultural) uses. But this is basically an industrial installation in an ag area. So, it’s kind of a blend of those things.” The Planning Commission voted 5-0 to approve the special use permit for the solar array, but with a couple of conditions. Those require township planning staff to meet with VanHaitsma and the two neighbors to devise a plan for screening the property visual ly. The project applicant also must adhere to all requests from the township engineer and building officials. 1 c ni U 2 *1 <, I n. >fiY pfl ■i I . J ' fliliei'eiii t. r{. I tr; f I* ' : I TK f JB J • •li I f •M i; ^'fi T<^ ••cu K J M' Ti » ( ) 1; t •» n>- il 4 '<0; ''-2< j ?3 *> •i *1; K l *% I f < a* I < . SI- ^u. r* J ri ► I* * 9 I*.. e J 'i ■ A YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. i I If < Ol ? ♦ I • 'Ji ;a-- «v . f t **u* li Im 1 ft I lu. " g Bl. t I • .4 I »! < 'I • li <r« fl You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors...and our future. 9 I*. aitiM '*JU. .» s > Group «tr Mk. »» lAdU V* Your Community Connection lu.- . S.'. Winter is a great time to stay home and cuddle up on the couch with a good book. Locals can sign up for Kent District Library’s (KDL) “Let It Snow” reading challenge online at https://kdl. beanstack.org/reader365. The Caledonia Township and Alto library branches are two local libraries participating in the pro­ gram. Adults and teens 11 and older who read or listen to six books between Dec. I and Feb. 27 will earn a collectible “Let It Snow” mug. If that’s not enough reading, participants can log four more titles for a total of 10 books by Feb. 27 and be automatically entered into a drawing to win a gift card to a local indie bookstore. KDL Programming Specialist Amber Elder said, “Let It Snow is the perfect choose-your-ownreading adventure for adults and 1 rrw r< ■, <L.* >• * t > * > jt ir* : Ik I - , 6 a.*» lAih.’’’* »> 1 ■■ ■ X ‘-v.t ■> < 4 a 4 fl f < r •w* L . ' ■ .fc- ( All I < A I Kd >■ ■ •'f ii •4: Fliffi AM. r. T * w» r ■ 4 - Librarians at the Kent District Library Caledonia Township Branch invite all to come in and see the “Let It Snow” reading challenge display table and check out books for a winter reading adventure. Photo by Ashton VanderPloeg teens. You can reread your favorite books, pick up the next one from your TBR (To Be Read) pile, look at ‘Let It Snow’ displays in your local branch until a book speaks to you or find a book in any of the category suggestions that our adult and teen librarians have provided. It’s a chal­ lenge that will keep you excited for your next book and that will keep you reading all winter long.” Participants can track reading progress online using Beanstack or by completing and turning in a paper form, available at any KDL branch. Stop inside the KDL Alto Branch on 6071 Linfield Ave SE in Alto or call 616-784-2007 to learn more about the “Let It Snow” reading See READING on 5 '■•k. • 1 I I sT X i *^S4«lasii|»5,. : f < HOLLY TROLLEY I '. w {< - A I s4 y.' I fl !*<2 1 f f I J> I Enjoy the Celebrate the Holidays Shopping with the Family I 1 < I ft 1 i I. I t Kii-' • .. t 4.^ 1 •w’ /< I k f . \ I 1 . TJi • ' .1 ;,V.. lit. OATES TiMe I UXATKW 0 V’r MraciWljlt Sat. Nov. 29, 2025 10 am - 3 pm | Delton Revitalize Delton and Scrapaioo Sun. Nov. 30, 2025 6 pm * 8 pm I Hastings I Hastings Jones Solar and Electrical Services Mon, Dec. 1, 2025 6 pm - 8 pm •l Wed. Dec. 3,2025 c 1. 6 pm - 8 pm Hastings McDonalds of Hastings _____ OL Hasting Pharmacy « Ffl. Dec. S, 2025 6 pm - 8 pm Hastings Jingle Mingle Event - WBCH__________ I ** J* s > . your life a. little it su/eetet h 1 s. 1 (• ■> k r Sat. Dec. 6, 2025 ; •*»% i» tjdiwiflwlif 1 I I I. 11 am-3 pm {Hastings Mon. Dec. 8, 2025 6 pm - 8 pm Wed. Dec. 10, 2025 Wi ‘N I I I Hastings Sun. Dec. 7, 2025 Tug. Dec. 9, 2025 . .’.q. 1 pm - 4 pm 6 pm - 8 pm 6 pm - 8 pm Thurs. Dec. 11, 2025___________ 6 pm - 8 pm Fri. Dec. 12. 2025 6 pm - 8 pm Hastings Hastings Delton Hastings r i •* J . . ,M4 -ST-« / I I •jiiG • a 4-. •PT Clearstream Rehab and Nursing Center 4 X ■.t'94 Cf I •Ft . J'’ -L.l. i kt- -o t» fUr * ~ « Hit ' ,K j v.. Lar iiM . I..-. OABA Delton Home Town Christmas Event -Chapple Reality » • T, I : ■ gll ; _), I 1 I DB Designs Sat. Dec. 13, 2025 .1 2 pm - 5pm Delton OABA Delton Home Town Christmas Event -The Delton Market____________________ Sun. Dec. 14, 2025 6 pm - 8 pm Hastings Advantage Plumbing and Drain Mon. Dec. 15, 2025 6 pm * 8 pm Hastings Rehmann________________ ______________ Autism Alliance_________________________ Wed. Dec. 17, 2025 6 pm • 8 pm Hastings Green Street Church____________________ Thurs. Dec. 18, 2025_______ ___ 6 pm - 8 pm Hastings Green Street Church Fri. Dec 19, 2025 6 pm - 8 pm Hastings Highpoint Community Bank Sun. Dec. 21, 2025 6 pm - 8 pm Hastings Commission On Aging Mon. Dec. 22, 202! 6 pm - 8 pm Hastings TriFit_____________________ Tue. Dec. 23, 2025 6.pm - 8 pm Hastings Coleman Agency Wed. Dec. 24, 2025 6 pm - 8 pm Hastings High Point Community Bank / A « '^1 t 'W' i «r^r 1 < >. '■*1' f' ▼ J Don't forget to Thank our Sponsors p I I ^z.00 OlCo. Dcfzei^ Ct^rktinas Cookies 1 L Must present coupon, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 12/20/25 ^Mo^chM): Closed, Toesdaif-J-tridAXf: ^Aturdoy: 8ai^-Z(>^ 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA / 616-275-1017 / SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM I I [ isi 1 EJ •1 I I I ► i j i 1 . i I I i I t I 1» H • ,l th 13 I It .i I « 1 A. V d J. a • s BAKERY & CAFE 2^ -<>Js « Momma’s <.7 i. * e e t Chrlstin Jones Hair Salon Nashville Route 66 Business District______ Tue. Dec. 16, 2025 a Jingle Mingle Event - WBCH__________ t i Nashville Se^ ' 4, _______ ) 8-’’ r Jingle Mingle Event - WBCH * y I 1 y‘-’-zr*-c ■, ( Downtown Development Authority A S i-' Middleville V 4 *A I I 5 pm - 8 pm b Jfl and maybe sing a carole or two! 1*^ Thurs. Dec. 4,2025 L. • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar iN { £ y Decorations HOLLY TROLLEY SCHEDULE 2025 _____________________ SPONSOR_________ .w Holiday I . • Everything made from scratch I �'.f. X; ) . •au 4 4 t. COl !'/*. ««« 10*« 1 to w w- •**toto«am towK fsKapetoler Ami» MTima toA* to ton Obituaries V<»nmr ^9^ M r tm W M to 0 IM m MMtfMW* CMan t IfcllRW 0* tougiMr. rye rt«n| m inrt aat «mi he hnrM m Uaatf iat In wMtot ttM '■aaata^^^ tor iwr* to (Me Hie am borrt • IBU •wmoKiaaH «|9 Hrra 'M» ywOa HrkMWB If It tf «iff«9*) MIVM MW Kaa aiig)l»atataaaHt'^ia^ »*lm >aa-m aiO wHii ■">■ Hw ia"^ O im rymaj •« taaat Iim* e rwemw rrwfii !■ Awm samt «r «e 4* J' Hr ime enrii totaeoe MtoHtoBeM ataaiaitr r ; a^aMuraa «* thwtok uolKani torn M dtor r« toM ««■ aWMto * irw Ml Ml IM Mona «• hK M trim Mb toto rrtol afta aaaiaaaai*a» »aataa taat fat *ta<a ana taatt *9 tta^ IM hit Wto|r MiHI« anuutr wmni toi iVO^^ OMM HanMMna taMM wiamMe hr *nai a Mue tore mt: o Ov wr r ijiprw Aamer wvi( »»na •< at rw irr» (r*«r Mroraa* r «v wr rm fl> h» ah • w. w» torn e* nm AaT aaame toen <Mn aai Ar* yw» 6 one J)'' 5 ? . ’-i*^toFWto •aaa tantnn Oat f^naar^ bm <.>jata« and AK> (^faaaa/f^t rto stantanam rto drMrviddhadM Antoaa (jantaa fm a ;iTJ7| •♦wirreKir ** l«O taMAvB Ml IKMV M Wiaitf to gia ttt ttiat CerMut f tf •* ml CM C4>wln *‘M»«r r toto’OMAI total tor Ato torn cm Ito to MWa% im tRmOi 9^10^ tok MM t9m I .rtV* T Z' a A;" «eil^ LiH^ •MM’' 4 W" cMMUlMh ■IT ir to ol tom tom rnnmw • totor totoi Uto * i» Himm toto 01 tto t P8<^ ^i4l 4 *1* i ->.l ■J* r> I* LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY alaska > Caledonia Vine Street Church I s ( - (4 ( to W M«ii L b rw 5jt *''■ •a:^-4AU. n9- mat CHURCH Caledonlo Locobon * 91S5 Cherry Wiley Ave St 9 18 om and 1) 00 om UtlbM. 'V MidJI, ifw *• *C Mi^ MIddlevlto Locotton • 1664 h<-3Z 9 30 om and 1100 om ri POLY FAMILY j/CATIOUC CIA/RCH 9669 KjM Ave . Caiatama Flmr 6l6f91 9XW « w» Jnif lmiL)TTif4r—f nf Smto^ I t rmrtt Mm <litoaan A lltoajvi (lA ta tn 9^ tom to Mtomm WMltot Wwtoto B W a.«B A II a w g rAac abaa *:4< w mm a w CHURCH ^aadfw MAmnI !• w |lt-4< aw C C tokdto* 9W>.mI IltoAM lead Faafor Pfww Whvi k imiM 6I6IR1 Hilf «to(hmr vykv U. MaMmiir Ml enu praetimnhiA a Si. Paul I utheran Church & Prnchoot KnaB ^’a-t.. < Mrtokwn<, Ml aana new *>MW| tot • Ffr% HmM jMM WI MS «w* ifyWalwMtamawi X THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH MIDOLEVILie •rwvcf nma sm* ft > vm a 11 dm msmskHi MiMMta la wmjmLm wMutoMM* .A *?^^**r* •M I V I 4 y»' A! 1 *»wwL CMmmom MM hr hiMmrto r HMM OP Hew a joa 8hr t» nmmtotot* to I 4 r. ; t < ff tortod Jg9l9^ AAPEACE «♦; ’*I<*'*‘ »' >‘‘'5>'' J e4c S k rti—iidmwt tormog CaMr^ (209) 79$ 2591 *<aclCMyacH *~ f ;s « .-iaA '?5’ - *«• W aJa t b>* K " I tirtf*// a I »rs A4ni M M f toM^nrwe Mt m IW K«4|| URffV rtCMOtMfVIUHIlT.SJlSMJ? : JOURNEY ■MMtta JI A n«m ■--wiifiiiii.M-^Jiit af^ IK I isr mw n^rttr tototolv ^mvvwii^ fattabnaa t «■ comerstone church < Good Shepherd Lutheran Church APTIST hdb hih’villr’ I IWW 250 V)m Street iantat ia^aka Hl *w»* ■,'^ a» 990 aw *t erg w c mton n 4 ■M Bl dMad too rrr hnntf*. i* art rate., w fwracw w onlm W— >to •■ri4Ba e» » — m WWW 1^*0 m** mw < T i <• «•» teW nwr VTM I \-4’ 1 . h S# Yankee Springs Hible ("Hurth imnarwh MiBAhA* iumH WWwvWFV totorimi^ ii4ia <411 .tovtowimvy ijimtoto .... '' (amn L < W>aw* f^taaa :'to QMto Higii tatato to reamto to iB||h M>W tolPBfniflI 17 -aJ mto lai* M* ' •onni «M maoaO m IMh hMbmd nd tow 01 hr lb. JK M1974 hr mmi hr M*rt Jami Mt| KnM imm yny) MhsM m Kat < *A. * stff 4 111 L 1*-^ HaOmr, taa iafataeaa^aaH 8at> ant OeGrm rto hM Hood hr etoreMir HaXhAnnr RmI ant tar MCXtod huaMto MTO wuB *tomBwi tommw mom. Slm^ HmMon Rk* Kmtah rH nm VUy ; 1^*5 <0^ >■ e* *tom toHiMtoPam tom ^Jla < She * iHtoMtf t»r Btoto flMltoto UniMv Om f Mnn. rtoHrM wnon rrWMf Bninv HmMORM Mat ComtK Janaa DoGrow*. HHry DoBcir WyoR rto ImM Mor Malory n hworlMjlan. t/uane and laii Matan Cadi Ui Gadhne) Bowman Mrt OoGroiea« Chtoi OoGfom. i«tor»-«MM fam ant OoW ObGom bnthar-at^ aob HoRman ant tnan^ nwon rto rwphort Bonne in* IMrsd Md) hi* dM inrtot Btoiy Moon rto Cant Hurto th** oomprY vw bomm (xmpBiMon n» trnly ataaaoatet 9» an ant tow Borm norvBd ai CrvM VMm *4 tow compaMon, rto diondy tor totanm Hqmoi proyidM eapaoMr Kata^ Vattngan ant Madron Lltoqusl t orrmion ol Mi «ai tx irld r MtotarM UnNod MtohodM ChuM) on Fndw Ooe 12 2025 r 4 0 m wNh o luntoron Io tolor to low 0l Itowrs oonrdr toe MchoT J Hx Prtawont Rjundohon. toe MidiaevNle UnNod Metoodisi Chuch Food Prdry gi toe Fnmdt or toi Mtodietole Ltwvy /I I , I ,-:S ’£* « 5^gertl«ltSM»"iaa •r*i “4* ^v. ;ip. I I 1 1 ^MVteksto GDI , BOI totoH i a R 4 42 !)c e' **i * f'**; J m*4I f J 1 I .'-i ’Z p 1 X I S!L ConscM^ Harvesttf StJiSiii 1 I a 1 I J > c 1 4 I 1. 4 f I i t. Z' J a 4 i * a t 4/ t a t �■X Y - i I .J k . I J irthv >iw • t K * I* A r» ■ % h. ■ LOCAL 1 ' / i-M I *« /mw sunandnew* » w Contirsjed I'orn Page t *1 K s ■'.s ♦. » 1 fl X » If ecortomy and the toul of ow ider>* Illy," Richardson said- “These busi ncsses arc owned by our neighbors, staffed by local families, and arc deeply inverted in the well-being of ( aiedonia hen rciidenis choose lo support local businesses, their dollars stay within our community - fund­ ing local jobs, supporting youth programs, contnbuiing to municipal taxes, and helping new ideas and entrepreneurs flourish "If we forget our small-town busi­ nesses. we risk losing more than storefronts we lose gathering places, personal connections, and the unique charm that distinguishes ( aiedonia from every other place. About 7 miles south of Caledonia in Middleville is Community fXrvelopment ( oordinator Kass;indra Chirk Slie hopes all will stop by her community and see what local busi nevves have to offer. **Our small businesses are the hackhone of Middleville. They sponsor our community events, donate to local causes, employ residents, and help create the charm and vitality that make people want to live here. Clark said. “Vr hen residents support their hometown businesses, they are helping ensure that our downtown continues lo grow, flourish, and offer meaningful experiences for years to *e come. I.ying almost a half-hour south of Middleville is the quaint town of Ocitnn, displaying a streetscape with a variety of stores and restaurants. The growing town drew in shoppers on Small Business Saturday this past weekend, providing easy travel ccommodations to stores and restaurants by offering trolley service to J 1 I. i A A ’’•^ ]• »l ■ I I > s 1 > S' * I I i t 4 .'4 k i 3s.. ifn■ V 7 r / » / k) s • ( ;i I X * { ■ -t ■ k ■•'A > ' ; I 1. f > I •*i t ^1, »/ ■- .’S?' •M •v w. » S' •> • Si* 9 ha* i s w f •' i in*. r A ib t/M / «n^ ?'2,< s? 7 f ir A > t I % ‘ KI, i . / V' *(‘■^■■4X11 I •V I •’i If -»- fc W»>v' ■ i 1f r. » f .1 .I 4 L MW t* f! 1».J1 iSisirri' js!'!«» i-’UiJu ' ‘♦a s e A I fe:- 1 «I J I a ‘1 X * i (i« cusuxners. Marie Fems and .Ashly Wilson from the RcsilaJize Dehon Project {MJt their heads together to ofler a great Saturday of shopping for Locals in Delton. “They, for one. have a ton of cour­ age lo open a business door in a smaller community without as much foot traffic. That tells me thev lose thetr small to*n.” Fems said. "It is the perfect day once a year to show apprectafton to them. i*m vcr> grateful on many occasiom not to have to drive 30 to 40 minutes into the citv. It's nice to get what I need tn my hometown as often as I can." Ferris added. Organizers from the Revitalize I3elton Community Project hosted the Small Business Saturdav event in Delton in hopes neighbors and friends contini^ lo remember their local businesses thniughout ihe holiand ail year-mund. day season ‘'Shopping at our local businesses IS crucial for the vitality of our town. I hope that every one in our commu­ nities throughout Barry County rec­ ognizes that these small businesses are the ones that contribute generously to our local events, support our athletes, and enhance our school activities, Wilson said. 4 4Sr 4<‘'..' : V M- K*Tr I Classifieds > f ♦ * V ,i • * A. *• 4 c * -.9 ;r^ .er 7^ f M* I PETS CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION: POLE BARNS S«*ng, Decks. Roohr^ etc Licensed. 30 Veers Tom Beard (269)838-5937 PAINTING PAINTING: LET 30 YEARS expert ence care lor your homel Interior and exterior. Booking lor winter and next summer Licensed and insured Locally family owned and operated 2 KITTENS 6 weeks old in need of a family to give them a loving home 1 fluffy black with amber eyes, sweet and playful 1 Calico: playful but shy Neutered and spayed, rabies shots, de-wormed, defiead $15 each, (269)331-7242 Ask for Janet BALL PYTHONS FOR SALE Look­ ing for good homes Pricing may vary by nxirph. Banana. Pastel Leopard. GHI Mo|ave Wild Type, and more 616-82 V6600 SPORTS EQUIPMENT Call for free estimate Phil Johnson Painting (269)953 7877 Various Exercise Weights. 25 cents >und Exercise benches $25 pet each 616-554-3575 TREE SERVICE WANTED BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees Will buy sin­ gle walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793 WANTED: Antique Toys Antique Christmas Antique Halloween 517-243 9090 •• '<(*4*1 ' 5 SaturOav. Decen^>er 6, 2025 ’H SUN - •<? NEWS > VWW READING Continued from Page 3 Colleen K Burke challenge. Patrons can also visit the library’s webpage to sign up for the program. kdl.org/1ocations.^ALT/ Librarians at the KDL Caledonia Township Branch are inviting all to come in and see the “l et It Snow” reading challenge display table and check out books for a winter reading adventure. Stop in the library at 6260 92nd St SE, Caledonia, or call 6l6-784-2(X)7 for more information. A sign-up page for the “Let It Snow” reading challenge is posted at kdl.org/locations('A 17. — ATE Independent Beauty Consultant POBox 101 Dowling. Ml 49050 269 317 2197 ■I oi. MKSparkleQu«enColleen®gmailcom www.MaryKay.com/C6urke2656 7 2 .. Cod First, Famity Second, Career Third f » J. \' * I I iil, «*^««« ' • Ck>aed-Celt Foam Insulation i 1^ i • Blown4n Attic Insulation 4• Kliitif-' i •> > *' NBlson ’ s SPRAY FOAM,Lie r Ita J I te’BSli'" 5 K;Be & 1 ■ Family Owned & Operated ’J b Nelson Schmucker 1700 N Amger Rd • Charlotte Ml 48813 ■ ^'^7 6. 9 % • r.^ , w** 'll i r . • • J I* . p t r 517-983-0954 Start fodty -Spr»y Foam GD WOOD PRODUCTS SITSaasOfLansins M» MTSiai • S«itte Cfeekm.soo *17 740 1913 * Jackaon/Ann M^or anteonamen cuetomereprvNI corn WWW theerSennamen cam WWW caNaienatproa com SAW MILL OFFICE 517*254-4463 Digital TV Antennas * Towers * StarLink Installs * Wireless Data Links * Cellular Enhancement Systems CELL SIGI Conscientious Timber Harvester Wanting to Buy Standing Timber u... * .•*1 4^ ' * -**■ I IPD I ! L I b & t 1 I i f * » i > 9 * i I I I » » i I > i: t I V h * A * k k I i i i I I ___ FolNt-to-Foiflt WiFi EitmtloRs * Hif h diAnttloN ONtdoor cameras PROS to moaltor yoer property ' -v—*< fctr/u 1 We Work All Winter •I - �J L o Saturday, December 6, 2025 6 the SUN AND NEWS • » ' Vi'ew ra ■■X J www.SLJnandnews.com Group > * t. * And the more you use it for small things, the more the monthly rates rise. And here’s the part people don’t real­ ize: Most families go years—sometimes decades—^without filing a claim. So what does that mean? It means most people overpay month after month after month, all for a deductible they rarely, if ever, use. When you raise your deductible to a level you could handle—^without feeling uncomfortable—you immediately lower your monthly premium. And that savings, over the course of a year, two years, five years... becomes real money in your wallet. Money that can go toward filling other parts of your financial tank: paying off debt, building savings, investing, or hitting those goals you’ve been putting off. ’ year alone, my team at Trumble have This helped our clients save over $1,500,000 by adjusting deductibles and simplifying their insurance. Now, here’s the key: I’m not saying choose a deductible that scares you. I’m saying choose the highest deductible that still lets you sleep at night that is under your New Zero which is one month of your expenses. If you have your “New Zero” estab­ lished—^your buffer in your checking ac­ count—this becomes even easier. Think about it: The money you’ve already set aside to protect yourself from life’s bumps is now the same money that could absorb a larger deductible. INCREASE A ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH . Lower your insurance premiums We’ve been walking through cal here in West Michigan, you the eight steps that help you may know that I own Trumble fill up your financial tank and Agency, a local independent finally move toward the dreams insurance agency, and deal that have been put on the back with this subject as my day job. burner for far too long. But today we’re simplifying We’ve covered Step 1: Spend it—because the heart of this . less than you make. step isn’t about becoming an We’ve hit Step 2: Give 103<o. insurance expert. Today I want Zach Santmier And last week, we talked tofocusononeelementthatwill about Step 3; establishing a “New Zero” provide clarity to all of your insurance poliin your checking account. cies: your deductible. A deductible is your And today, it’s time for Step 4: Adequate “self insurance." Instead of transferring Insurance—the protection mark on your 100% of the risk to an insurance company, Financial Fuel Gauge. a deductible is put in place so your risk is Up to this point, you have already been capped at a predetermined dollar amount. making financial strides to lay a solid finan­ So let me give you my philosophy, and it cial foundation. Now, we wanttomake sure might surprise you: Your deductible should that we don’t go backwards. Insurance is a be as high as you can comfortably afford. financial tool to transfer risk onto an insur­ Why? Because insurance is designed ance company so you aren’t flying solo, for the big stuff—not minor inconvenienc­ hoping bad things don’t happen. es. Yet most people settheir deductible low Now, when most people hear “adequate so when it comes to making small claims, it insurance,” they think we’re about to get “feels free.” But as in life, nothing in insur­ buried in fine print, endorsements, exclu­ ance is free. A low deductible means the sions, and all the other stuff no one reads company is taking on all of the risk and until after disaster strikes. And if you’re Iocharging you for it every single month. =5 And let me say this as clearly as I can; Insurance should not be a maintenance plan. This is unpopular for an insurance guy to say, but insurance is not meant for every cracked windshield, every tiny ding, every little something that goes wrong. It’s there to protect your financial life when something big hits—something you couldn't comfortably handle on your own. By choosing a smart deductible, you stop overpaying for the small stuff and start using insurance for the big stuff—exactly how it was designed. This is Step 4 on the Fuel Gauge because true financial health requires protecting your downside. And protection doesn’t mean paying more—it means paying wisely. So this week, take a look at your poli­ cies—auto, home, health, all of them—and ask yourself: “Is my deductible set for convenience, or is it set intentionally to . maximize my savings?" When you fix that, you’re not just check­ ing a box—you're moving one more step toward a full tank. s To get caught up on past articles, i visit trumbleagency.com/increase where a complete library of all of the articles can be found. Zach Santmier is the owner of Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of the personal financial course, Increase. He focuses on helping families escape paycheck-topaycheck living so they can freely pursue their ideal future. MM -' Kf l* V h. f ■ 4 •" lascsr' •i f I I ■ I J- iff ■ ,-CV’ -N"' L mI r' vr •*n* 2. •i#' • /• K - A? X ** ♦ • * J ■ A' 1 F * M J, 4 I <*> i |T"\ u X|| r f 1 I I (T !1‘' M f 1 ■ k.I , * I J t I K ■■ : /• • i. rdf a' • I A* V I I ' * J • ***, /* • »> u' rhg 4 a If** E flO 01 Vb I w. jo I i-a*' 4 I* I I 4 P kx>g i r'^' < 11 >« ■. ■5 < 'k «w r* r' <> . I R £s nRbjmWB ** !p*‘*^;«***‘ 5* Join us at * 'D ■ / * 4. « A V JU v-ir\ •l pre* ! * I, I, ■« * I • 'W I* >77Ta<.»< VJ M ■ ilH.. , * I Ik. * n DF.' J* • Ob.^ I J I 4tf IM .I A-: . »• FIRST BAPTIST 4 ? 1 < J' 4 “11 MIDDLEVILLE b I > mitW I as IVO begin a series on the F c» I'Ms subiii•«*«•** Gospel of John a fsfo n e 1:4 *52? I rlMWllk =4 3IOSIEI»i#0Bk<L starting Dec 7th, Sundays at 10:30am 1 . 111^ > i ? **«b ‘£ J > *• •* f » r< >.w> a»>! f r:*’ s a'nd for .our Christmas concert . 4' k: w 4 < * *A ^4 * .A • ♦ • r • r •“b♦. V t 1 'A'Xi •1 I r I'. » * «4 T I » 1-. • b behold I I I J L V iMit 4 ' w V t 4> bn □ 4r"'ra 84th St. Campus Service Times: KTN G December 23; 7pm | December 24:12pm, 2pm, 4pm Childcare available for infants through young 5’s during all services ■ ■ ■ For more information: cornerstonemi.org/Christmas i ttiftos; d 4 4 f' Sunday Dgc. 14th 2025, at 6:oopm f cornerstonechurch I •’fl » i SBkiigi < ' f. > . . (B 5215 N. M-37H'wy . Middleville MI 49333 I fbcmiddleville.net a A* • > •1 >ft ,1* p b 1 r V J I t4V et f , < •• 4*.. 3. >• J, ex •J”* s 7• Ps •• b • p i- I I 1 to », 'f k . ‘4 - . .3 ?! b I, t 1R •1 1 I •11 Vs •* I ■« •.*-L — .^. • >*” ’ * « I I ?♦ V ta' «* <• I I. 7 J <• .4.< 4 r s ••’ft « I Zee i • “ % . • « • • E • t r 'u » f < J*' » —.«-<- - ■ -- JK?. .J V * 1 <! , » I t-i iwr-N., ■ *» I I 1 I If J4 i { f' I 1 I I 1 t J I i I; A II t H . I ! i < I I' k I I I I i I I I i I fl 1 'I I l: < I f I. I r 1 ji < b ) t I 4 t. ft i r I 4 4 / �I ) ) I * I r THE www.sunandnews.com SUN AND NEWS VIEW J •r ‘J 4 I I r* 4 I I ( MIDDLEVILLE 1 ♦ • I ' 'rf 1 I X TOPS 546 I I D i r i *r '9 1 ( u ■— _ —r I '4 X } 1 I I } t I I I 1 *♦ 4 I I •i' .' J; 4 4 1 I s Continued from Page 1 I. . J r * I 6 < r ( I: . * 4 ' s’, I rV i. VU. J I i - i ' f 11 i I > I I V If’ 7 1 r ) . h 1 f, ’T I 1 I I r* • 5 J f f* 8 • V * f f r% Y)- 1 . * > H 'if 01 'Bfifc- iiw-l' ■ i i IW*S. • jrit 3i0i> iKfiligib'rjw. f ter J bSfjBjg tJeq ijl dofl i02ivTQG|j3S I •w gf 35E oriJ faiea liHEcpoT )t UOT rb ij KlE;?Tfto ftoeoioiM q gfl< ijqrfij?.Rf o I I •fl l1 r xfBT*ha ni f» '.j^nktsm r r nUeqiaT < iaxiE Jon •rtf to bB IikI .316 gfloitrimuEEii f* wfflTi labfiunBlfi fiifarladiliw^ f r T3 /W ,q;rl0riwol3rflnrawv ■ V £ rmiq m wnif itslfj oJ a A"* >« I* j4tKr.-d loif r; iisriJdbtft S’ 1 •w* I j* 1 I 'ss^BneM qrffcrzzo'’" J' SJf± fin grolio ' M bn>: p * t I I t C*’ 4 « Mi V)-' ? J 1 ;4 ys'I Hfv/ >tnir ' rbiriv/ & b(f: 'niftnmmrx) J I JL ' ■ If) I' ■ V;X>n>l : iio’j X i h .jj.l /©ol I I r » 4 to A.> n T t 1 JcHi T.HlG'^nifTo 1/ 1 <tofnr wnr (gnr/fsoo'i) r> I < ’3 lij <jf :ObV3bikigu&:>i i'Z 1 i *4 >ff * ■ .'1 1 r ,1 .1 4 4 T i .J h .pteo_ 'fo[£r r B 71 iawoT fb itoioaftO ' ’ '■' r I. V F- 4 f i ‘irn- ■bi"TG7vr‘ nnxiiit4)21i z silB Ef anirjvA ghe'l pm nohcri ^rir rii' las 4 t Members of the Gaines Township Planning Commission discuss business at their Nov. 20 meeting. That included (l-r) vice chairman Ronnie Rober, secretary Lani Thomas, chairperson Connie Giarmo and Commissioner Talimma Billips. MICROSOFT -.7 V i The Dec. 1 meeting opened with roll call and the Secretary’s report. There are now two fish in the fishbowl. Virginia was the best loser for the month of November. Sue’s program was on “The Macros. Macro is short for macronutrients. They consist of protein, carbs and fats that are needed in large amounts in our daily diet. Micronutrients are vitamins and . minerals needed in smaller amounts. Protein is made up of building blocks called amino acids. They build and repair muscles and bones, reduce appetite, hunger levels and cravings, boost metabolism, increase fat burn, helps in weight management and reduce muscle loss during aging. Protein is found in dairy, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, red meat, beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, nuts and seeds. Carbs are the main source of fuel for physical activity, brain function, organ operation and promoting digestive health. Complex carbs are the fiber found in fruit, veggies, whole grains and legumes. They aid in digestion, regulate sugar, lower bad cholesterol and keep you fuller longer. Starches give you vitamins and minerals. They take longer to break down. Simple carbs break down very fast and cause the sugar spikes and drops. They are found in cookies, chips, pretzels, candy, pastries and sugary beverages. Fat helps absorb vitamins A, D, E 4 I f » 4 * « % ' 1 I 9^. ) Saturday, December 6, 2025 Group 3 to lol Er ialK>'j Of IT .loviB hu liiM oriTlo rifion zoJirn t 1 Y r < I T«S*- I X ^■rv*®?*'V37; ' • ’i: I- 4 I 9 Microsoft officials also announced in the fall of2024 that the company had purchased 274 acres a few miles south of Gaines Township in Allegan County’s Dorr Township, on 144th Avenue between US-131 and 14th Street. Combined with the site in Gaines, Microsoft purchased 590 total acres for future development. But details related to the development of the properties have not been publicly disclosed. “Microsoft is recommending a next step for a public meeting to walk through power distributions for data centers,” stated Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra. Terpstra said the meeting would give Microsoft officials a chance to “dispel in advance the assumptions people are making.” Terpstra did not specify what those assumptions are, but added the meeting will be held at an undetermined large venue in the township, likely in late February. “As to their timing and plans, that is still under a (non-disclosure agreement) and that has not been revealed,” Terpstra said Township Manager Rod Weersing said no meeting date has been set yet. They’re working on an open house, which I think will be beneficial to the community,” he said. “We still don’t know a lot about it, what it’s going to look like, if it’s going to be one building or more than that. We’re anticipating (receiving) more information.” If Microsoft develops a large data center, it potentially will make Gaines Township a major data hub. Officials with Switch Inc. have stated its data center pyramid campus on East Paris Avenue is already one of the larg­ est in the nation east of the Mississippi River. The center is located about four miles north of the Microsoft property. 11 Wells mentioned Consumers Energy has proposed ±e future public meeting to discuss how an energy distribution network might work. He said the meeting would be an informational meeting or a learn­ ing session. “If you have questions about power distribution systems, capacity and that sort of thing,” he said. “So, we’re going to discuss internally when it would be good to have that (meeting). And there will be an invite for planning commission­ ers and board members to ask any questions that they might have.” Allen Bacon, principal exter­ nal engagement manager for Consumers Energy, briefly intro duced himself to members of ±e township’s Planning Commission at their Nov. 20 meeting. Wells said Consumers proposed holding the meeting. While project plans, capital investment and potential employee numbers are yet to be finalized, we will provide updates as information becomes available,” Microsoft offi­ cials stated last year. Microsoft was considering pur­ chasing some additional property earlier this year, about, four blocks north of the industrial land it .bought at Patterson Avenue and 76th Street. But it withdrew a request in March for the township to potentially rezone the undevel­ oped 40.5-acre parcel at 7147 Patterson Ave. The request was to rezone it from a planned unit development, l^ge-scale phased designation to light industrial. and K. It gives us essential fatty acids, makes food taste better, regulates hunger hormones, and keeps us fuller longer. Trans fats have no health benefits. They can increase heart attack risks-and are found in highly processed foods, fried foods and fast foods. Saturated fats are the fatty cuts of meat, cheese, butter, dairy, coconut and palm oils. Limit fat to 10% of your total calories for the day. Unsaturated fats have many benefits and are found in nuts, seeds, and avocados. All three are needed as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Members were told to focus more on ■eating lean protein, fiber rich carbs and healthy fats. Virginia lost the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to-3:45 p.m,, followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-3183545. The first meeting is free. Farm Toy Show December 13 th Doors open from 8am-2pm Free Admission @ 9 am ($5 for early) ft ^6 £9 fe-r Jr J-'.’ UBHT TRUCK PARTS^ USED puns * PICK GPS ■ BNE TONS * VANS - SUV'S • JEEPS * 4X4S / rail SERVICE & YOU PULL IT 269-381-2300 . ♦ ••. . •. .. -Sr ♦ • . ..-z ss . >. . . 'if • •. . • ••.••.. ii: • A '•••♦7 . sr‘ 4 i • ......... . » -SI .. . .-...♦ k •• r Your local agent insures your Liife t ■ Contact: 616-840-0731 or patrickvanderkolk6@gmail w/questions Hosted by: Caledonia FFA Alumni FARM BVKFAU MSiJRANCE* X/ USED PARTS £ s USED TIRES □ *r?; □U kwa*—' 11811IRRE St■» KAUMUdO I Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street .Downtown Middleville « (269) 795-8827 jparks@fbtnsmi.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com □ Scan for Map Caledonia High School 9050 Kraft Ave Caledonia, Ml 49316 �I 8 Saturday, December 6, 2025 VIEWU Gaming remains a wildly popular pastime. According to TechJuiy, more than 3.3 billion people worldwide played video games in 2025, and gaming is a mainstream hobby across all generations. The Entertainment Software Association’s 2025 Facts About the U.S. X^deo Game Industry report ■ ;A' indicates the average player is 26-years-old and female and male gamers are nearly evenly split (47 percent versus 52 percent). Baby Boomers and even older generations also play video games each week and benefit from the mental stimulation and relaxation the hobby offers. Given the popularity of gaming, gifting video games for the holidays can be a smart tactic. The following are some 2025 releases that can be wrapped up as gifts this year. « Donkey Kong Returns HD: Players will blast out of barrels, ride mine carts, stomp enemies, and more in this popular game newly imagined for the Nintendo Switch. Players join Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong on their wild adventures to retrieve their stolen banana horde. * Split Fiction: In this game, a player and partner become Mio and Zoe, two writers who are trapped in a simulation of their own imaginations after a high-tech attempt to steal their creative ideas goes awry. This unlikely duo will need to work together in order to escape with their memories intact from a world filled with dragons, trolls, cyber ninjas, and roboparking attendants. The game is available for PlayStation 5. '4**-^.* '-f 5 i: .< A.Y Quide . A • J »*» •• 9 * .A (I' 4 > «» f t t k'4 V.: “.•i I « .1 * 1 .r9 > , * • .• I /v r. hf' I <»■ t often tap into nostalgia, which is perhaps why gamers were excited to find out that this popular Star Wars game was being remastered for modem consoles. This enables players to enjoy the original experience with only minor updates that include a simpler control scheme. • Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector: This r role-playing game is a sequel to the popular game from 2022. Players control an escaped android with a malfunctioning body, a price on its head and no memory of the past. The goal is to get a ship, find a crew and take on contracts. * Doom: The Dark Ages: This game is a prequel to the popular Doom experience. including Doom and Doom Eternal. It tells an epic story, and players inhabit the boots of the Doom slayer in this medieval and sinister war game. • Elden Ring: Nighlreign: This game is a Standalone adventure within the Elden Ring universe. It’s crafted to offer players a new gaming experience by reimagining the core attributes of play. Players join forces with others to battle the creeping night and become heroes. Video games are popular gift ideas, and 2025 doesn’t disappoint with its newest crop of exciting releases perfect for gamers of all ages. ^■' 4 < 9U > < k t I .u 1 1 i 4 f J 1 f z • b* .1 1 T r '1 • r I r H A' I t I A I i!f 'I' I y » 4 I t!i> A ____ ,3" ** ' I < I )iu< i ’l 8 J J i 1 i IE 1 r • I- * *r 111’ f •* t** < ' 11 I 4- < 4^ 9 I IF ../.I . r. . 4 t /v> -111 I ' g.. .. i 4 2 z J’ I I [ . it I ««*■ ( i •4* ? • i ». If ' t r 4 I ■ r t> / '.r ' ^wESi I'" '*5*C . L* J sn I (f^l k» > *3 «« tM** Proud to be . ' f k .0. 9 ft • > I s » *» X F-^ Get into the true spirit of Christmas. See the Nativity and pet the animals. Cookies and hot chocolate will be provided in the fellowship hall where you can warm up and chat with your neighbors. Bowne Center Historical Society will also host an OPEN HOUSE at the Museum and the one-room Schoolhouse. This wonderful event takes place at the comer of 12051 84th St & Alden Nash Rd. (M-50). X ’4 I Group >• i ?n I ' 'ooaa#' 9!!‘ 3 noi >Yj w V <4X‘ A Did you know? I 1' ill «v« ft Ih : i ■ ’ M’l'’ V I f f .r aj . i 'f I I 9 r tr •J rk f k t Wf 9 9W ^bE^ l lfioga / I ■ | w.i loT ybf.si fjfiB fpj !»2id) sunsa oi ^jfdnM I hateHllt dr 01 gndnrxx); t 4 e fS I fj >N •miiqDql30i<>Bri#gntHk I / 3L£iO guiakfi abeaabEB ^iqa )38 'jIubH QingTJX fl 1 <_' ' ■ . i (tonuq ldi»a arnnS eumnO R ) »' 130 iaik/i'Zl JOdOi sl^ t .ooHW < ll. 1 -*r4< tA rS aS* o: -- RFlff'M’m e ------ ..' J I, -J r < 1 X V**->*- - ■ «> 1 ‘ r ****’ ♦r s U * ***awi«* H* "jlbbfiZTi-^ t i J • . . .I r < f r- jma fcffe a33ti^3'<0i ^2! IK Tin I 1 « r — Source: Metro Creative Connection V ( I Every year certain gifts emerge as ±e “hot” toys and games for children. These are the presents kids are eager to find wrapped up and ready for them. Adults often scramble to secure these popular items. According to the United Kingdom-based retailer Argos, the following are among the most popular items children were asking Santa Claus to deliver over the previous decade. 2024: BeyBlade Xtreme Battle Set 2023: Nerf Elite Double Punch 2022: LEGO Icons Optimus Prime “Transformers” Robot Model Set 2021: Bluey Family Home Playset 2020: Hatchimals Pixies Crystal Flyers 2019: Furreal Cubby Bear 2018: Fingerlings Untamed T-Rex and Dino Cage 2017: Cozmo, White Robot 2016: Hatchimals, Purple Egg 2015: Barbie Saddle ‘N Ride t K vU iB I f I' ■ & Sat., Dec. 13*** • 6 ro 8pm Bowne Center United Methodist Church « kJ « s;.' RefunSngJ \ J :5^ V • < p r 4 1 LIVE J NATIVITY YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTION ..ki4( * •..I > % 4 •• ( X- k >• Z 7 A k — Source: Metro Creative Connection a inf' '1^ 1. 91 s J sr (k mihomepaper.com I ill/.' • star Wars Episode 1; Jedi Power Battles: Video games If I't: J. 1 I'll/. I < V ■ The County Press ■ Lapeer Area View ■ Genesee County View ■ Huron County View ■ Sanilac County News ■ Your Buyer's Guide ■ Jeffersonian ■ Tri-County Times ■ Daily News Tri-County Citizen ■ Oxford Leader ■ Lake Orion Review ■ Clarkston News ■ The Citizen 1 ■ The Lowell Ledger The Hastings Banner ■ Buyer s Guide & News ■ The Sun and News ■ Ad-Visor & Chronicle ■ Battle Creek Shopper News ■ The Reminder ■ St Clair Area View • I Top video gomes for holiday gifting this year r» 1 i the SUN AND NEWS Sr < 4f 1 'V t * i r 1 I r e i I a �c . I . 1 4 < O i I «^. •< A b. out Qttuk' I I 4 b ■ ■ 1 y ‘ B£ / 89> f I o; I x» I 'M t /> ’tniici r 2 .briynf; fno iEiKi t ; . iUj JW A The holiday season is a time of year when shopping takes center stage. While online giants and big box retailers offer an endless array of products with the convenience of low prices, small businesses provide a range of benefits that go far beyond the ease of a mouse click. Shopping local retailers is more than just a transaction, it is crucial for maintaining the economic foundation of local communities. Let’s take a look at the many ways it pays to shop small businesses. Strengthen the local economy: A large percentage of the money spent at small businesses stays in the community. That’s because these businesses often are owned and operated by local residents who are invested in the community themselves. Various studies indicate that for every $100 spent at a small business, roughly $70 stays in the community. Ti. ' .« I f. JI I ,■ -d-'T *■ i. < IO * gj, leoc' 9nn sen tor - r fc" V 3' , “t) noilfM L, T&j ' ir^ zLA < • ■- I 0rt*- ___ A A. u ♦J* r ■zf' ■ * .b ssx ■V.,.v.X ?--b 1 h »>» 'V Si) r h < if ‘ 9 n 7» '^'4. h '“ " 'z . f»r« > s'l . .7 I. I . J- 4« i Y«!v f I y • </l 'i ' ’ "5''*, . *«' 1 ^ ■1!“ I zh- 4 F*» « 'It f’ ! J J k I rtsuoi . .rr .'zJir * I ' ? >0 rQi -C t z n- k? > I Enhanced customer service: Owners and employees of small businesses have a keen interest in keeping customers happy. They often do so by providing superior customer service. Tailoring recommendations, willingness to accommodate special requests, more engaging shopping experience, and being more friendly sets many small businesses apart. Support the community: Small businesses serve the community through the products and services they offer, and many give back in other ways as well. Small, locally owned businesses often sponsor schools, sports teams and charities. This helps foster a sense of belonging in the community. Innovative offerings: Small businesses are not held to corporate policies or franchise restrictions, so they can bring new life to existing ideas and trends. Small businesses can offer customers different options that larger retailers cannot match. Job creation: Small businesses employ a significant percentage of the workforce and frequently provide jobs that might not be available in larger corporate settings. Keeping residents working helps strengthen local communities. There are numerous benefits to shopping at small businesses. Such firms help to establish a more resilient, diverse and bustling local community. sjj. . > i • X-ak^- ♦ I <* < * 1S^ 1 .X > 'to ¥ < -X « i •Ulx:-J ?r t a: JS5 'J ’\r tr^ V *A'' \a. 5 1 J I 6th ANNUAL HOLIDAY I r 4 — Source: Metro Creative Connection & Freepik CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP '4 ' I t p f A X 4 Why supporting local small businesses matters I 1 I I X V J 9 Saturday, December 6, 2025 VlEW«^Group 4 I { the sun and news 4 « <4 > Ax I A 1 r 1 ■ I * L '•’■•SA. e ■ r .1^ 4 a r>'- & >• I « b "Vj t; v Si '^Mc ■*? >■ I h. •1 ■ OSLAfaK-? I )f 4n .4 r‘ 4 fl" .1 I.* z. «* c kSs < fl J k ^^■’«oisai I I I .'I 4 . s* ** * *« ■ .4^ ■. 4 > t I tv A I a. £* V k Wm." ■s •I V I; « • tr ? NT.f 'rL*' r« r rJi I '...’ *a b 5flsw . ! I 94 ■/ jil itt T9i ufigsB I J’ > ;2L ff’vz J VB V jn 9Jt I naioisO ena;!; J 9 ! <? .....«I b I 33AI* insmsl'vu 99ii ,enoiJ39up yii. 0j m 'T I'/ I :1S^ t d a *>\-------- ■ 1 *b A . YOUR CHOICE $ 125®” > white supjHies last $ 75®“ o PLEASE JOIN US once again for our 6th Annual Holiday Luminary Walk! Come enjoy a walk down the Caledonia IVail, located near the Community Green Park and the Caledonia Library (9309 Dobber Wenger). The trail will again be lit with over 1000 luminaries. Grab a donut and a cup of hot chocolate at the Pavilion, then visit Santa at the Amphitheater before you start your walk. The Dickens Carolers will again be joining us. We will have a Toys for Tots box if you would like to donate an unwrapped toy. In case of inclement weather, the walk will be moved to December 14th at the same time. Any questions, feel free to contact the Caledonia Township office. 616-891-0070 I 1 *< 1 r Cl ft *• I I ' ii 1 ? A s J I V 4 . K ,* Saturday, December 13th 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm • to M ’ P *4 4 r I > d •* r 1 1 I ■I 1 •<> t 1 r ? w St f t <■• u r « T*J •* 4 J V > Ct i I 4 •. •i' « <4 1 k I ' ' » •k 9 K I i: ‘ 'i / 7 < P’ < i ■ I V ■Bp a :W 0t '4 s *-1» { sterling silver pendant with cubic zirconias freshwater cultured pearl pendant solitaire cubic zirconia pendant si '.A w L E R 9369 Cherry Valley S.E. Caledonia, Ml 49316 616-891-5750 swierengajewelers.com �Saturday, December 6, 2025 10 THE SUN AND NEWS ! www.su nandnews. com Group 1 I rI J 1 Sporting News I t J I 4 14 1 i 4 r I > Heavyweight comebacks boost Scots over irojans 1 4 I * -I A Brett Bremer Sports Editor points, and led 7-2 at the end ofthe period. “I was just doing what I know best, The Trojan heavyweights started out sticking to the basics,” Spencer said. “I on top on the scoreboard, but the Fighting caught him there. He tried to throw me Scots finished on top on the mat at the end in a headlock. I slipped under it, and my of the three-team meet at Caledonia High coaches coached me up real nice. I kind School Wednesday. ofjust flow. When I get out there on the mat I’m not really 100 percent sure what The Caledonia varsity wrestling team I’m doing. I just flow and resort to what I finished off the first night of the 2025-26 know, all that hard work.” season by scoring a 41-37 win over the Caledonia led the dual 23-15 at the visiting Thomapple Kellogg squad. midway point after opening at 106 pounds. Thomapple Kellogg had a 37-29 Quick pins from TK’s Gabe Gosselin at lead with two bouts to go. Caledo­ 144 pounds and Griffin Grummet at 157 nia 215-pounder Xavier Stewart and pushed the Trojans into the lead, and they 285-pounder Ky Spencer both faced were in front until that final bout. significant point deficits in the first period, Spencer said Stewart really got the but rallied for pins that turned the dual into crowd and their teammates into the match a Fighting Scot victory. with his big win at 215 pounds, and he Spencer clinched the win by pinning was happy to get the chance to cany that TK’sAbram Dutcher 3 minutes and 33 sec momentum through to the win. Stewart, onds into the 285-pound match. Dutcher another sophomore, fell behind TK junior built a 7-0 lead early in the first period, Brody Hammer 6-2 in the opening period. holding Spencer down for four nearfall Hammer had Stewart on his back for three nearfall points. The two came out of the second period tied 8-8, and Stewart managed a take down midway through the third period and pinned Hammer at the 5:03 mark. “Honestly, it was a J* perfect learning situa­ 5 tion where they didn’t I ‘ have to lose to learn. It is exactly what we have JEFFERSON STARSHIP been preach ing to them: RUNAWAY AGAIN TOUR 0-0 after the first period MONDAY, DECEMBER 29 is great,” Caledonia AARON LEWIS AND THE STATELINERS head coach Shawn 2026 AMERICAN TOUR Veitch said in regards SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 14 to his heavyweights. “They are great ath­ LEWIS BLACK FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 letes. Everybody is fresh in the first period. Tickets available now at the FireKeepers Box Office or FireKeepersCasino.com. Ifwe can just beat them up a little bit, tire them GET YOUR v/siiFON FIREKEEPERS CASINO* HOTEL down and then let our athleticism win as the 1-94 to Exit 104 I 11177 Michigan Avenue I Battle Creek, Ml 49014 Must be 21 or older. Tickets based on availability. Schedule subject to change. match goes on. Gosh, * NOTHIN’ BUT A GOOD TIME •• ’7 'i * * RK •• z 4 • J* t ■ F» *• ♦ TW BATTLE CREEK 2 ✓ •u ♦♦ • r • u. * •rl >* f* . . I lir V‘ < ft*- T f «IF a f I r f V •.’q> * f' 4 I -4 ' r. 1 • I I 11 f t' t . .' < Z-<*' 1 M. I -< ' : r U" ( J* •I I /'■‘‘SB"-' u ,1 ■ J*' r .V. »> I I I I I 1. < -a •> •i lumCdK f f X 1 1 s Caledonia sophomore Ky Spencer gives a smile and a flex under the spotlight after pinning Thornapple Kellogg’s Abram Dutcher in the 285-pound bout at the end of their nonconference dual Wednesday at Caledonia High School. The six points from Spencer’s second-period pin clinched a 41 -37 Caledonia victory. Photos by Brett Bremer we dug ourselves some holes didn’t we, but hats off to them. Our whole phrase this year is mental and physical toughness. We will not break mentally, and we are going to break people physically. I was so proud that even llioiigh they got down they didn’t mentally break and stuck to the game plan.” The Scots should be tough at the top this winter as they also have junior Luke Kowatch there to compete at the 215-pound and 285-pound flights with Stewart and Spencer. Kowatch got to compete Wednesday too, taking on the defending Division 1 285-pound state champion, Logan Tollison, from Grand Ledge in the Scots’ opener at what turned into a three-team meet. Tollison pinned Kowatch in the middle of the first period of their match. Grand Ledge was tough all around defeating Thomapple Kellogg 62-16 and then the Scots 42-29. In that backyard dual between Caledonia and the Fighting Scots got pins from Caleb VanLaan at 106 pounds, Escher Reeder at 132,RobertRestauat 144 and Caden Nostrant at 175 pounds as well as at those two heavyweight spots. Caledonia’s other points came thanks to an 18-1 technical fall by Max Schnurstein at 126 pounds. The Scots had to forfeit the 120-pound weight class to TK’s Daniel Nieboer, but coach Veitch said he expects that hole to be filled once guys start settling into their proper weight classes. TK also got pins in the dual from Gar­ rett Grummet at 113 pounds and Jackson Smith at 190. Ethan Strait got a couple of thirdperiod takedowns to finish ofFa20-14 win over the Scots’ Shawn Restau in the 138-pound match. TK’s Blake Bossenberger rode the Scots’ Koleson Reeder through the third period oftheir 165-pound I *1 d •. .9I I 11 I r 1«V 1 r iXl lb n * - 11 ’ A *• f I 'I i ' '’T' I . CflflLIlK rl^ ,‘ L. ' Iwul [fOjTi.. ‘ ’ to^ - 1 rb r.\ / f iu:B v> t » I 1 . > r . r--ijoc fVi 11 Mi I I* . .. J - 4i 1 i ( ’rdoi: sM iJ?j3 rR ♦ 9* r IjtB.t' i . .. .. 1 4 I c ■ I' if .. I J t I, 1 I « ;L Y 4 Hr* ■'! iHDIit <F-5 I : / . .>nB ?L. ' MWiiwmAfer J 4t gx i J ! W«J* Of.JO’jJn I nofternnc k r >■jfc 4 I .V A*" J 1 •: t > •• I t I :X 3 ft . )‘8 /i («iLi T-' kJ * t I r.' 1 ) - •, .•r* ' 1 % , I 4 « I k Ji s * J > t. -. 4 4 I See next page ' J * i * J 4» »•> �1 It- V* t 4b 5: 1 4 I I < 1 I * r V ir * ♦ 4 I I Mb i t ♦ < www.sunandnews.com i THE SUN AND NEWS VIEW Saturday. Decembers, 2025 Group 11 4 4 J II V I Li* S t ■5 *••3^ i I I , •» f f. * “i I. J V M-' V >55 > £ x<. > I *e J* AX I Ih 'i * •Ai ..^ rs 4^ .-t . 4' 1 •* J * x* 1' k’ JhT, :*•. f’ <iK b . ■fe ’i\<- j belfeO' R necf^R « er) bri i.-jsa trthV'!niJb • I r Caledonia’s Robert Restau works to try and pin Grand Ledge’s Vance Abdo during the second period of their 144-pound match Wednesday at Caledonia High School. Grand Ledge finished on top of the evening's try with wins over the host Fighting Scots and the Thornapple Kellogg Trojans. I y< I I i teCl^ni^ Mbedj^rlJ 4r I > r R<y. Art OlUPti » |c> fi I J S:. I i Tobiy^}^'fi ‘ bgrK/J3 Is * t .< • Wn ni ®' liJjti ad) match to hold onto an 8-2 major decision. VanLaan at 106^ Schnurstein at 126 and Robert Restau at 144 had pins for the Scots in the dual with Grand Ledge. Escher Reeder won a 6-0 decision at 132 pounds. Nostrant scored a 9-2 win at 175. In the 157-pound bout with the Comets, Egan Otto scored an 18-2 technical fall for tlie Scots. Coach Veitch said Schnurstein and >1 •f*1 >4 mmI ’I faw > s 4 to h?/ IW r M’*' > *, Continued from previous page a •7 I i I j. Orndtn. t lb « I lu. Izn J2 c?)O l*x» ! I k 'jti rbco' f «to L J Escher Reeder are a couple of guys who he thinks could find a lot ofsuccess and re­ ally help the team once they are able to get down a weight class. They both found a lot ofsuccess with two wins each Wednesday. Veitch also said he was really enthused by Robert Restau’s efforts on the day. “1 had a great talk with him. I have never coached someone as athletic as him. If I can get him to work hard on technique and then bring it out here the sky is the limit for that kid.” r ‘:?S Thornapple Kellogg 113-pounder Garrett Grummet (top) holds down Caledonia's Takluem Sakui during the first period of their bout Wednesday evening at Caledonia High School, cored a pin in the final second of the first period. D) T •h * T I re* 4 *• I. v,, b rT ••• •4 ’?p.k 14 W *Si»i J r r * / I % f:4 • •. □ kJ ti •r r to I . »■ p. 5^ contest witli Grand Ledge, and the Trojan team also got a 16-5 major decision fiom Cam Peter in the 175-pound weight class. Caledonia has plans to compete in a tournament at Greenville today, Dec. 6. Tliomapple Kellogg is spending its Sat urday at tlie Grandville Challenge. They’ 11 be together again next Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Kent County Classic hosted by East Kentwood Higli School. TKisatPlainwell for a quad Wednesday, Dec. 10, and Caledonia plays host to Reed City Wednesday. 616-891-0150 ~ ww . • W »*W .• . < The Scot coach was pretty pleased with the leadership from Nostrant and Ben Moss as well. “I just really liked the team’s sportsman­ ship. Everybody was into it. Everybody was screaming and supporting their guys. It is just great to see,” Spencer said. ‘"We havejust worked so hard these past couple of weeks and it is so great to see it come together and result in that big win that we had right there. Garett Grummet at 113 and Griffin Grummet at 157 scored pins for TK in its ♦> K A —<t-<^ I d'Sur^.KC ivniq m 1 ■J j.jtv’ksC.,*'. ♦ X:; *7:.^ tr V •4 I *A *1? WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. < 5 3*-- ‘ Residential & Commercial % , J’ w . r • '• f Gas Furnaces I -Gas Boilers I -Air Conditioners -Heat Pumps I -Water Heaters I Humidifiers 1 i ■ a. e ' . • 4 V. u. «to»k k ?!l3ciiih'JitSii£U£ w 4 <saS!WK;s«i; to to >' r «, - .*aJ . i b • V ^TfiC * 4*' '-JISS .s iiiijUfisiWwff I ' •• M *• 1.1 u* .4 If n / r .‘/Iff 11 1 p . . *■ A.* « I 1 I * F ■ '3M n r bw bB I r VisJwSfV• * • -.1 w * dfttoA p * A ■ ■ r. ft - r* I |iggg>»-r i « i I ! it- ' r I * « V 9 r i« tl ♦ •A t ) I A i t DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 BODYSHOP Mb* * S .. *1 * 1 % Ble) J ■ :F f, r ¥ COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR '' li D eWeerd (68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. M xA' iite* f r 4 -Tt' <»' I r • f V.’l ,t •*4 »■ t SJnrr I I *.) Ei ;ii niEKH 'h •■in t9SS J A+ 2 ^BBB ACCREDITED BUSINESS 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 i 4 M your +rus-bed Body Shop for over 32 years «a �I J 12 i> I J Saturday. Uftcember 6 ?025 IRRRL Ir*- k- * SUN ME¥VS 100 East Main Street Middleville. Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villageofmicfclleville.org VWW, Speedy Fighting Scots hope to improve on last year’s six wins ■4 ' I <4 I •' i . 1. a-:' • s 1> ■/ Under the general supervision of the Director of Community and Ecorx>mic Developmont, enforces the Village's property maintenance and zoning ordinaries Investigates and enforce municipal codes of the Village. Investigates complaints, prepares notices of violations, and abates code enforcement violations through eitfier voluntary compliance or legal means. Maintains accurate records for all work tasks « siPfF" e CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER . ft ' I !V * I The Village of Middleville Is seeking a qualified applicant as r. tt - . \ I >• 1. *I 11 r f L ‘r • f f I Part-Time Position of approximately 10 hours/week - starting pay ranges from $20 00$22.00/hour > Candidates should meet the following requirements: High school diploma and one year of prior experience in code abatement activ­ ities or law enforcement. 1 4 The Village, at its discretion, may consider an alternative combination of formal education and work experience f if State of Michigan Vehicle Operator’s License. V SHI HE Knowledge and understanding of State and locally adopted building codes and inspection processes. V- r I *£ * I 1 1 Thorough knowledge of the Village’s property maintenance, rental property, and zoning ordinances. J iW Hi i stniB Skill in visually inspecting physical conditions and determining areas requiring more in-depth inspection. Skill In interpreting, applying, and enforcing related codes and ordinances. I « k r Ability to effectively communicate and present ideas and concepts orally and in writing. r Ability to establish effective working relationships and use • L«G»1 judgment. initiative, and resourcefulness when dealing with property owners, the public, other professional contacts, and municipal officials. r* I 4f ( J u 9 Skill In maintaining record-keeping systems and compiling reports. Fighting Scot junior guard Ben Geerdes is one of the leaders for a young Fighting Scots varsity boys' basketball roster this winter. The Scots are off to a 1-0 start after winning at Wyoming Tuesday File photo by Brett Bremer f I i ’ ♦ . 11' Ability to effectively communicate ideas and concepts orally. t’. I • Ability to exercise a high degree of diplomacy in contentious or confrontational situations. Ability to critically assess situations, problem-solve, and work effectively under stress, within deadlines, and with changes in work priorities. Skill in the use of office equipment and technology, Including Microsoft Suite applications and software specific to the department; and the ability to master new technologies. Qualified candidates should submit an application, cover letter, and resume to Village of Middleville Craig Stolsonburg, Village Manager 100 East Main St - PO Box 69 Middleville, Ml 49333 Application can be found on our website at https://www.viHageofmiddleville.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/VOM-EmploymentApplication-fiHable-Q5-2023.pdf or https://www.villageofmiddleville.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/EmploymentApplicatiQn-printable-04 2021-1.pdf Applications accepted until position filled. Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia boys are off to a 1-0 start and they’re looking to keep building the program up in the second year under head coach Nathan Bums. Even with a solid group of returnees it is still a pretty young group overall for the Fighting Scots. There are just two seniors on the roster. The top guys back from the team that went 6-17 a year ago are juniors Ben Geerdes, Bryce Backus and Lincoln Senti. Coach Bums is looking for a few newcomers to play big roles, a group highlighted by junior Aaron Collins, sophomore Connor Bloemers and fresh­ man Luca Galardi. So far in the preseason, coach Bums said he likes his team’s quickness and guard play. We should be able to push the pace more this season,” Bums said. He added that expectations are higher this season. He is looking for improve­ ments statistically that will result in more victories. The first victory came Tuesday as the Scots defeated Wyoming 72-61 in Wyoming. Caledonia was slated for its home opener Friday, Dec. 5, against Kenowa Hills. The Scots go to Rockford Tuesday, Dec. 9, and will be home against Lzowell Dec. 12. The OK Green Conference season starts Jan. 13 when the Scots go to Mona Shores. Muskegon ran through a 10-0 con­ ference season a year ago and had a 19-2 record at the close of the regular season before eventually falling.by two V to Rockford in a district final. The Big Reds are expected to be the class of the conference again. WBI I' i I •* 4 W • • •;> p . f . I• k i ( r 1 i • u- -■1 n A t r u to t *t' ’ ItJTS^ U V‘.u K'i. ?.- ■: ' .Al •*. .. r I I i J *> .i VJI *'^14* I.. • ♦ 1 I« 1 I J s.* I ■s ; f' I ■ » *. I V.ji—1 J**: 'a } r. 1* 11^1 Io ► J- 1^ II I V I • • I I >’ z 9 / < ) �1 I ♦ 1 i ♦ * i THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com cn I VIEW Saturday, December 6, 2025 Group 13 ♦ ♦ ^ras^cn II Troians hope to match last season s success on the hardwood I I 903 J21 i I I hTWoqS fe >7/ me; Z’.*' ■i iziri?r ' 6) If/’ Him . 047 « i ' VJJ3 Tl< ' * edi f 1 •r ♦ -^^l J nf 0 4 I f i^rAb, Xi f J inA AL t nite I i < a < £ 01 Oer ttA-' m I .V 7 / . <J 6 rrftaf) U f<Bra K’ I s fl: 03134 li doro inft’ dieibTiTTr/^'iSfna' ol Ikf ’ •< * >■ ( * < :t-‘a I 4 <i ffoLnjaafrtf I «J ; MXl <TB5 sool‘1 , f , * c/ I adinwJOft’jn JIS' or ^udtbofUdi 4ji|{nhi£U < 4 ♦ M * i 9 9 I 0^1 t a ti^ A. Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ basketball team won 13 games and fin­ ished in a tie for third in the OK Gold Conference a year ago. Head coach Phil Garber is hoping his guys can match that kind of success on the hardwood this winter. TK put forth a stellar defensive effort in its season opener against Plainwell Tuesday, allowing the visiting Trojans just 35 points, but the host TK Trojans managed just 32 points of their own. Coach Garber expects the Trojans’ rotat­ ing array ofdefense powered by its 1 -3-1 zone to be a strength all season, and he’s looking forward to steady improvements on the offensive end. Senior forward Trey Hilton, senior guard Ben Lloyd and senior forward Lu­ cas Ploeg are back to lead the way for the Trojan team this season. Hilton has some skill and fluidity around the basket. Lloyd is a guard capable of putting the ball in the basket from anyw here and running the point. Ploeg is a physical presence on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. Senior Zay Boafo returns as well this season to a guard spot. Garber is happy to welcome Zach El­ dridge back to basketball this winter too after he took a season off last winter. The TK head coach said he expects Eldridge to do all the little things like boxing out, rebounding, and getting after loose balls. The junior group is highlighted by 6-10 center Sam Teachout, as well as guards Andrew Johnson and Brayion Rae. Johnson could turn into one of the team’s top scorers as the season pro­ gresses according to coach Garber, and he thinks Teachout could get there too as his skills in the paint improve and as the TK offense gets used to having him there in the middle. Garber said the Trojans are going to work on getting Teachout the bail in positions where he can’t help but put the ball in the basket. Learning how to earn free throw at- tempts and honing the ability to put the ball in the basket are going to be keys. The TK coach said the big challenge early on isjust building continuity; Asolid group graduated a year ago, and one or two other key pieces aren’t back. Aiming for a third-place finish in the conference again app>ears a realistic goal with Northview and South Christian once again expected to be battling it out at the top ofthe standings as a couple ofthe top teams in West Michigan. The Trojans were set for a non­ conference ballgame with Lakew ood in Middleville Thursday, Dec. 4. TK is set to visit Forest Hills Eastern Dec. 9 and then play host to Forest Hills Central Dec. 11. The Trojans have a few other December contests before the break and then will be a part of the Cornerstone University Showcase Jan. 3, taking on Holt. The OK Gold Conference season starts witfl Northview coming to TK Jan. 6. J I I *' / * t VI 7 -v; I Lucas Ploeg is one of four returning seniors on the TK varsity boys’ basketball roster this fall. The Trojans were 13-11 a year ago and finished third in the OK Gold Conference, marks they are hoping to at least match this winter. File photo by Brett Bremer J k. c 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 > •M 9. .• 'i . Caledonia TCWNSHIP 8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Phone; 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 CaledcmiA TCWNSHIP Phone: 616.891.0070 Fox: 616.891.0430 c ••i 4 J 1 '<? A r I ) ®n j! ^5 * f I M. •*S. ^.' " * ■t- f.’jraflt ...................................... ............................ 'll ( ^li 1 t * I 1 I (*• I r-St < * 7 |C r.* t 4 ' < t .. j I J - BifeallnJWfc ! ' 1*‘ t /1 1 »' t Q •< iMi i* ': Ujfl t • I 1& 3 1 Cr;\ .«r*4 f-r' t '■ .1. I I 1 ' _ )□«!» * ' fesssit-. MlidU Sr.' p r I I I t I I ij •■»—W<iB ■ ■ r > I a*- '.#< * PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 19, 2025, the Township Board of the Charter Township of Caledonia adopted Ordinance No. 25-01. The follow­ ing is a summary of the principal terms of the ordinance: 1.2021 Fire Code. The amending ordinance adopts the 2021 edition of the Interna­ tional Fire Code as the fire code for the Township, with certain amendments, revisions and changes, including regarding the board of appeals, violations and penalties, stop work orders, automatic sprinkler requirements for existing buildings, and location regu­ lations for flammable and combustible liquids. 2. Fire Apparatus Access Roads. The amending ordinance would delete the provision in the 2021 edition of the International Fire Code regarding fire apparatus access roads and provide that if the remaining provisions of Appendix D are inconsistent with the Township’s Zoning Ordinance, the more stringent provisions will apply. 3. Repeal. The amending ordinance also repeals Ordinance No. 00-03 and Ordinance No. 2020-02, which adopted older fire codes by reference. 4. Effective Date. The amending ordinance will be effective upon this publication. A copy of the ordinance may be inspected or purchased at the offices of the Township Clerk, Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE, within the Township, during normal business hours. s ^'1*435)0 ■fiii— CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA, COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE AND SUMMARY OF THE REGULATORY EFFECT THEREOF • J I I 1 i 1' t I -» a I I 11 !P r! ’ll i 1 14 ft 1) I i I 4 4 I I I 1 Dated: December 3, 2025 TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA, COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE AND SUMMARY OF THE REGULATORY EFFECT THEREOF PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 19, 2025, the Township Board of the Charter Township of Caledonia adopted an ordinance to adopt Amendment No. I to the Valley Point Industrial Park Planned Unit Development Ordinance, Ordinance No. 25-03-Z (the “Ordinance”). The following is a summary of the principal terms of the Ordinance: Section 1 of the Ordinance provides the legal description for the lands comprising the Valley Point Industrial I Park Planned Unit Development. Section 2 of the Ordinance provides the legal description for 8184 Broadmoor Avenue SE, which is the subject of the amending ordinance: Parcel No. 41-23-17-400-054 ' PART SE 1/4 COM AT SE COR OF SEC TH N OD 44M 06S W ALONG E SEC LINE 1888.22 FT TH S 73D 56M 49S W 606.02 FT TH S OD 44M 06S E 271.73 FT TH S 74D 05M OOS W 212.18 FT TH N 58D 20M OOS W200.0 FT TO BEG ON THIS DESC - TH WLY 225.50 FT ALONG A 270.75 FT RAD CURVE LT/ LONG CHORD BEARS S 82D 11M 36S W 219.04 FT/TH S 73D 56M 49S W TO CL OF BROADMOOR AVE TH S 27D 40M 56S E ALONG SD CL 264.95 FT TH S 82D 46M 07S E 312.48 FT TO A LINE BEAR­ ING S 9D 20M W FROM BEG TH N 9D 20M E 325.90 FT TO BEG SEC 17 T5N RIOW 2.60 A. Section 3 of the Ordinance amends Section 5 of the original planned unit development ordinance for the Valley Point Industrial Park PUD (the “PUD Ordinance”) to allow 8184 Broadmoor Avenue SE to be used as an indoor sports business. Section 4 of the Ordinance provides that in additions to the terms and contiions of the original PUD Ordi­ nance, all additional terms in conditions in the Township Board resolution approving the final site plan for 8184 Broadmoor Avenue SE must be complied with for the development of 8184 Broadmoor Avenue SE. Section 5 of the Ordinance provides that the original PUD Ordinance is only amended in the respects specifi­ cally stated in the Ordinance, and all other terms and provisions remain in full force and effect. Section 6 of the Ordinance provides that other than an indoor sports business, 8184 Broadmoor Avenue SE may only be used for one of thews allowed in the original PUD Ordinance. Section 7 of the Ordinance provides that it will become effective seven days after this publication, A copy of the ordinance may be inspected or purchased at the offices of the Township Clerk, Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE, within the Township, during normal business hours. Dated: December 3, 2025 TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA M . ‘ I j I I �t -1 t I t 'J I * / f SatuKjay, Dec«:mt>er h 2025 14 Sim OWIMIg NEWTS I I I 4''^- b * t. * « • * tfV Village of Middleville 2026 MEETING SCHEDULE » J 4 z "4 > •< ♦ / V F t. H < I J » A ■!■ < < > i .ifi if ! The MIDDLEVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION meets regularly on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Jan 6 Feb 3 Mar 3 Apr 7 May 5 Jun 2 Jul 7 Aug 5 (Wed) Sep 1 Oct 6 Nov 4 (Wed) Dec 1 The MIDDLEVILLE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY meets regularly on the first Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Jan 6 Feb 3 Mar 3 Apr 7 May 5 Jun 2 Jul 7 Aug 5 (Wed) Sep 1 Oct 6 Nov 4 (Wed) Dec (No meeting) The LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY meets quarterly as indicated at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Jan 15 Apr 16 Aug 20 Oct 15 The ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS meets the third Thursday of January, and as needed, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Jan 15 The WELLHEAD PROTECTION GROUP does not have regularly scheduled meeting dates but meets as business requires in the Village Offices. Notices of all special meetings and meeting changes will be posted at the Village Hall and on the Village Website; www.villageofmiddleville.org. Minutes will be available for public inspection at the Village Office during regular business hours for each of these bodies in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and other applicable law, and on the Village’s website. The public is welcome to attend and participate in any open session of these bodies. The Middleville Village Hall is located at 100 E. Main Street, Middleville, Ml 49333. I / li I*' I 4 ■h L I 4 1 V I L I i i 54 fl .J v • t if * A*. A r' Ik*' J A f ** I f I ••'1 'V ' : 4: »• I Caledonia junior alternate captain Harmon Esch talks things over with a referee during an early season contest at Patterson Ice Center Esch is one of a number of returning upperclassmen on the roster this winter that has new head coach Tyler Jaenicke liking his team's depth. Photo by Brett Bremer I ' i. III" - f jC r 1 I 4 r J New Fighting Scot hockey head coach appreciative of team’s depth Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor It’s a 4-3 start for the Caledonia var­ sity hockey team in the first year with new head coach Tyler Jaenicke. Jaenicke takes over a program that put together an 18-7-1 record a year ago. The new Fighting Scot head coach really likes the group of leaders he has back for the co-op team that also includes student-athletes from Thor­ napple Kellogg and Lowell. Fhat returning group is highlighted by senior forwards Harmon Esch and Ty Lewandowski, junior forwards Ethan Sova and Drew Nichols, junior defender Gabe Supuk and senior goal­ keeper Sam Hoag. Jaenicke said the strong returning group provides great depth for the team this winter, and that depth is spread across the line-up. The program will get a boost this season from the addition of senior forward William Maelum-Micheelsen, an exchange-student from Denmark, sophomore forward Bryce Mitchell, sophomore defender Aiden Eitel and freshman defender Evan Moore. The Fighting Scots are off to a 2-0 start in the OK Conference Rue Divi­ sion so far with wins over Rockford and Forest Hills Central. Coming into the season coach Jaenicke said he expects Byron Center and East Grand Rapids e>-" l’’ I J . w I. x"! r I I • a I « * ♦> ***' • t . I w 1 w to be a couple of the top contenders for a conference crown. He had the Rang­ ers, who his team his squad bested 5-0 Nov. 22 as another one of the expected conference leaders. Caledonia will face the Byron Center and the East Grand Rapids squads in January with East Grand Rapids host­ ing the Scots' Jan. 16 and Byron Center visiting the Scots Jan. 23. Both contests will be at Patterson Ice Center which is the new home ice for the Caledonia program this winter. The Fighting Scots have been very good close to home this season, but had a tough time at the Alpena Showcase last weekend. Chippewa Valley United defeated the Scots 4-1 Nov. 28 and Alpena downed the Scots 6-1 Nov. 29. Landen Moore notched a goal in the Scots’ loss to Chippewa Valley United with assists coming from Sova and Bryce Mitchell. Supuk scored in the contest with Alpena, getting assists from Sova and Jagger Bumes. Sova and Supuk came out of the showcase at Northern Lights Arena tied for the team lead in points with nine each. The Scots are a part ofa Grand Rapids Showcase Tournament this weekend at Patterson Ice Center slated for games Dec. 5 against Salem and Dec. 6 against Big Rapids. Caledonia will be home . Dec. 12 to take on Marysville..^ . 5 ? --.7' u Il, ■- - . r. 1 < > 1 * r I ; .* •J < I . t 1 b-U1,»I NElSr 'V Iv Ibi I 172 k 141 ks f I I •t tf J' T IB y >1 111 * r I »-I \ I.jl •J? j:<'^ I ■ I ■ SIOPPBfBS % I ,r / I t I . .. c '.».v iUiiu'** I IMi * h» » A i W»' j I Il • X. 't. ^• s I I 9 I 1 trCJ - w f! 1 X r 4 kit I t I 9 I).> K.'' *** n.i i " w:. ■ t f I I / f i I i •l. I I II II I, M J. it I ** I « If r : t r I I 4 r 4 r * «» n I 1 • I '• { I At ' I WZi •% 4 •I t V. •f I r 2 « ! .1; f / I » I ! I I i|x* R « .KkX « t I WG BB ■ c 4 { ' * ! I B > h I 4 S'’*'- I V f X Sep 8 & 22 Oct 13 & 27 Nov 10 & 24 Dec 15 (3rd Tue) n* f if L The MIDDLEVILLE VILLAGE COUNCIL meets regularly on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. May 12 & 26 Jun 9 & 23 Jul 14 & 28 Aug 11 & 25 .T s t Jan 13 & 27 Feb 10 & 24 Mar 10 & 24 Apr 14 & 28 •• V 1 • ♦ f ' * �1 i 1 ! f I I I 4 4 \ 4 ■■4 1 THE SUN AND www.sunandnews.com > NEWS VIEW •b * ■ ? Saturday, December 6, 2025 €lTOUp 15 4 J -7* 1 ' 4 tMM .• f, I H A A>' ■rJ tf.fttjliuiliil J r I -b it? cqwi orf -‘OWl /t 'i; ft : J 4 fhTLGl»#’»!^W5 I f zi -■ J ) I 5Se>l ,i>hE|qiS«fc 4 c. ‘"t J ’ x*r »0 < ^iio^ I •.I F 4 X $ I t ■V > 1 ' ? i. * :P’'- Ax I 4 Scoring scarce as Plainwell wins battle of Trojans in Middleville f J :4 II • » 3 *• Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Thomapple Kellogg boys ex­ pect to win some games based on the strength of their defense this season. The offense needs to be a little more successful than it was in the season opener though. The Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ basketball team fell 38-32 to Plainwell in Middleville Tuesday evening. “Our defense is going to be really solid the whole year,” TK head coach Phil Garber said. “That is a tough team. That team went to regionals and lost in regional finals last year. They bring most of their guys back. They are tall, .athletic and very disciplined. To hold them under 40 was good.” Plainwell was on pace for a lot more points early on. The visiting blue and white Trojans shot out to a 7-0 lead through the first two minutes. TK senior forward Trey Hilton put in a free throw 2:10 into the contest for TK’s first point of the season. Plainwell led 21 -12 at the half. A long three from the top of the key by junior Andrew Johnson sparked TK early in the second half. Senior guard Ben Lloyd assisted Hilton in transition for a bucket. Eventually, a put-back by John- son boosted TK to a 26-25 lead about three minutes into the second half. Our 1-3-1 really got us back in that game,” Garber said. ”We came out in that out of halftime and we went on a 7-0 run and really started ramping up.” Plainwell led 31-30 at the end of three quarters and then got a put-back and a TK turnover that led to a bucket to improve its lead to 35-30 early in the fourth quarter. The score sat there through most of the period. A couple free throws by Lloyd had TK within 36-32 with 24.1 seconds to play, but TK couldn’t get any closer. Lloyd finished with a team-high 13 points. Hilton had six and Johnson had six. Junior Brayion Rae chipped in five points. Garber said his team clearly missed senior forward Lucas Ploeg, who suf­ fered an injury during warm-ups. TK was able to make up for some of his effort and physicality on the defensive end, but his experience on the offensive end of the floor was sorely missed. The TK boys were set to be back on their home floor Dec. 4 taking on Lakewood. The Trojans visit Forset Hills Eastern Tuesday, Dec. 9,and then will be home to take on Forest Hills Central Thursday, Dec. IL DNR offering fuel wood permits through the end of the year permits in person; call to confinn business hours and availability. Mail an application to the DNR office that manages the state forest land where you wish to collect fuelwood. A few rules are in place to ensure wood is collected safely and sustainably: Do not drive vehicles offthe road, though you may use a wheelbarrow or handcart to carry wood to your vehicle. Gather wood only from already dead and downed trees; do not remove wood from trees that are dead and still standing. Have your permit with you and fill out the collection log before transporting your wood. Failure to do so could result in a citation. Do not sell or trade firewood. It is for personal use only. Avoid spreading invasive pests and diseases; collect firewood near where it will be used. If you’re collecting wood in the north­ ern Lower Peninsula this year, ice storm debris can be treacherous. Be aware of your surroundings and look for hazards on the ground and overhead when collecting wood. If you are collecting wood during deer season, consider wearing blaze orange for visibility. For more information on fuelwood per­ mits and list of frequently asked questions, visit Michigan.gov/Fuelwood. BB 1 k J <> '*4 i\ ft '4 <r ' ( I "■fll.'ft I ts w ) i :r II * « I I r 4 * > .. I •H < V f'L*l u *J I. I V <I !• i . < » hr. * ■’J *'6.; A *» i ’ft ; /♦ fa©, J 4^.. I ■’ MmUiu *f I I * • 1^:? ;O7Y I J/ ^3i= ;« II 4 I i ■'K 3j, 1^4 ' * * t » •» *4 1-^ f M > 4 I mi t> ’fff'irw i»j4 IteI i r r rr^tabth 3>lLi '511' 4 c iraaifciHolfc i 4 u JI f *• -OR ^4, ' srir:tf ( «4 Aik/'* 1^^—..gs.^ V** Those feeling a budget pinch this fall may consider “shopping” for firewood from dead or downed trees in a state forest in the state according tothe Michigan DNR. Fuelwood permits cost $20 and allow collection of fuel wood for personal use from select state-managed land in the Up­ per Peninsula and northern Lower Penin­ sula. Permit holders may collect up to five standard cords ofwood, a stack measuring 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet. In the 12-county area affected by the severe ice storm in March, the limit is raised to 10 cords. Col­ lected wood must be from already deadand downed trees within 200 feet of the road. There are three ways to get fuelwood permits, which are good through Dec. 31: Buy a permit online at mdnr-elicense. com. Purchase a permit in person at DNR customer service centers in the northern Lower Peninsula or Upper Peninsula. A few forestry field offices also will sell NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING DEADLINES ii^-;,!E ,! -'TX''- r ' • • ■‘’t i ?? - • - ‘ ^0 ajlpl k. X I T **4 COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES * ”4 I •ux > Si i^iK3<r » ..L 4 io s'SlllR i X- ir'oM - \ 1*1 4 w fltf%' '9 . *x 1 Vt I H' 4.1i: I* k * 1 i f Ann- ■, vrTS viTQ 9 j ,ii *r5 t' 'H The minutes of the November 12, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on November 25, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main Street and on the website at www.vill fmi ill ,4. ' « s 4 . Scan our QR code to find your perfect invitation! KM AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE * ’ •>1* ''i.A Monday at 4 p.m. i I 4*> H BATTLE CREEK V SHOPPER NEWS V• • s ;1 I 1 I L X. / k.-4.. ; J I K- > THE REMINDER Wednesday at Noon THE SUN AND NEWS Wednesday at Noon ^<1 r ) «« !•* ^. ■ THE HASTINGS I < 'I 4 4 > BANNER I F •• * Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. f •» PRINTING BY Group mihomepaper.com www.printingbypennylane.com ginacl@pennylaneprinting.com :ti i >U' I I .•<' • ,»• ■ Q*. w I r-i I i) A 4 I I t I if 3 i j I I \ e I k. 1 1 \ i $ Monday at 5 p.m. fft AAA <' Jt % Tuesday at Noon W’ . J <1 4 �I K » A i I r 1 16 Saturday, December 6, 2025 THF SUN AHC NEWS ; VmAL.^ M www.sunandeews cxjm I >■ .w A CHS has eventful early slate with T.C. trip and big arena bailgames f Brett Bremer Sports Editor the Fighting Scots to take on Grandville at VanAndel Arena in Grand Rapids Dec. 27. It*s not until mid-January that the Fi^ing Scots get to start the defense of their 2024-25 OK (jrecn C'onfercrKc Championship. Mona Shores will host the Scots Jan. 13 for the confenmee opener. Overall a year ago, the ?>cots pifl together an 18-6 rccxird and they were 9-1 in the conference. There is talent athleticism, versatil­ ity and a lot of enthusiasm in the group of girls that head coach Todd Bloemers brings back but overcoming injuries will The Fighting Scots are going to do srwnc holiday traveling to open the 2025-26 varsity girls’ basketball season. The Caledonia varsity girls’ ba.sketball team opcn.s the season Tuesday, Dec. 9. al home agaiast Forest Hills Central and thcn will be off to Iravcrsc City Central f(»r ballgames against T raverse City West f>x. 12 and Traverse City Central Doc. 13. The Caledrxiia girls face off against I ,ansing Waverly in the Aquinas College Showcase Dec. 20. There are also plans for be a challenge as the season gets nollir^. A trio of freshmen guards were huge contributors, to say the least last wintcr arxl back for a sophomore season are guards Olivia foster and MylaGomnaker. Emily Stauffer was an honorable mention all-state ballplayer, but she is recovering from an ACL surgery as the season gets underway and she's not the only one. The Scots will also be missing junior guard I>eah Hileman who was capable of bang a strong contributfw for the squad on the floor. treading the group of returnees are • j A 4 <•1 *5 * UI > ff w i i : 1 LOOKING TO JOIN A WINNING TEAM? WE ARE LV; RESPONSIBILITIES: Group ■ Become a part our of locally-owned newspaper group doing good things for the communities we serve! - Help local business owners and managers grow tbeir businesses! - Build relationships by attendino local networkin events I is seeking qualified applicants for an ADVERTISING SALESPERSON HIRING I covering Marshall, Battle Creek, Hastings, Middleville, Caledonia and Lowell I A ¥ »I Si J*, .. * h*’ .T •A* :T 1 \ •M .a 4 r k ? A r I w K •4 4 t I' 5*^ 6 J THL ■ai REMINDER THE LOWELL LEDGER A •i 4A’- ’1 THE HASTINGS 7 BANNER r &».L_ BUYER'S GUIDE AND NEWS BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Send resume to: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.coiTi I I I I w. Senior Baylee DeVries is one of a number of key returnees for the defending OK Green Conference Champions from Caledonia as the 2025-^ varsity girls' basketball season h r 1 I -IG [jn)( £ "4 fm I’i *1^: 4 >Su I fc... tMmiMWMalH jrfl Ui Hwwm ;*3Uibni mnomu thW/ medixA (xm ; i. iwl mcrwlfl f 4« Mto (ttw flinp ziwimr '*rt? I t 11 JJtscHA imH I! famrlrnnt fl' {ToitiM n)<»3 -jwm iittM fWT jtnaat^dtmbl rtlagrr nt nonavnuiarv. 'jixmili tmd v/mH ^'hI 1* t A 'EFJ'! rnwwjqqo ll'n rrenu^ita km inoq^ga sd btm Jjotxm rarbipi =■ .3" t 1^.4 I . V |l jirnBfrdnf)! ■ lotoifeiiJr/Trifcpbl'in 'jhiftn* 4' Kf ) shwjs • N ■ t >WI J tig io vTreBV u “Bit ; '^aKZK J4]is»s ri ztt iioal 1' .tdgiitiBWc; VW iu» / i * r, J-* I. ^cito(4 w dhm i j In /(sb vAnf|fln <*< qi ••• 9 t orb iilMwnue' ’ isdFFftdort^ i^nobomi r •4 < < I J smsgliiKf asanitmo ^ofmolfl 'X» VTtl f; rj<i ilivf > k £ I r .< | r a £ t » L I 4 I 11 9r h • > 41 fl I ' “ '-il gets underway File photo by Brett Bremer senior guard Baylee DeVSWries and senior forward Jolie Kir^. The junior group returning irKludes forwards Kayla Briseno and Addison Veldt. Coach Bloemers had a strong young group on the varsity again with the addition of freshman guard Reese Abbott, sophomore center Mallory Graham, sofrfiomore forwards Brooklyn McLeod and Isabella Palmitier axxl junior guard Maya Terryn. Bloemers really likes the team culture of competitiveness, inclusiveness and focus he and his sirls have I 1 building. He sees the opportunity for dynamic line-ups that feature speed and athleticism or size and strength as needed, and he really likes the overall depth with a lot of girls who can contribute. gtf He is also a big fan of his team’s sense of “collective responsibility.’’ CXir roster has a variety of players who can lead us in scoring, assists, and rebounds on any given night,’’ Bloemers said. Overall he’s really just looking for the group to improve every day and to embrace the process. He said he expects his girls to “surrender the outcome, and focus on attacking the habits that promote team success.” That first conference ballgame against the Sailors will be a key one. Bloemers said he expects Muskegon and Mona Shores to be the two teams providing the toughest challenge to another conference championship. . '^^WETI n 9 t r J. tf t fl i 4’ ( hflH iii5p3te»W )t<ifx/ntdMdf' fl •A ndloaBf4 ogRolindo � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-12-13.pdf a54dfb464b76245ed096410230c7d395 PDF Text Text Group I d32 :0M f^DV I t C r VOL. 147 i I• SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2025 NO. 50 www.sunandnews.com » Gaines Twp. gets new platform truck IP. qwT 8snis3 * [ t mwMBiq wsn i n wort z'tfiflT " looo yaW esouD bsdnozsb jsmesfiflB loilibiiV.R wwM'qiriznwof ,^trTS oin rmot qEriKfr*vot wilo ®ri) bne oH f OS Ml sart9S<n lisrfl fa92U£q if odJ wsiv boB obizino og oJ 9d ,3/nif isn't iMlt idt azolo qu farriwo) aril abieni jbfid §niog r liari) amuaai ol mom bieod 1 J .8 .mQ ,'<£fanoM n ijisv/ naoci bcri eaaianl arlT ml isfabiil knan todi-OOI aril rtOEfufiBM 33131*1 molt 3'zi™ ' aritoMtia ,.8iW .nolalqqA ni effwol noTzfl bnu qrriznwoT uomifiBnu toJov ri3fiQ zbisod J ^il»m Jaioi. £I0£ lodoJoO icril jA Jr gniyurf to Jeoo srit iG bluow Ji gniqofl oiw yariJ .griJnorn Q£ Juodc yH 5ri) oidtadMw UdJ Jufi eD bi>nnule bicofl qirienwoT itov yd ££0£ yiul ni eogjzuil r qid2ionJuq us^y-fV b r-^Jnioj ni qidEfrwoT esnifiO mtiGqdd 3iH oUrrwlJn^^ sril [it t IE bifig godJguTt noiyfl Ml uwo lisdt bliud ot faabaan * r r, Jl II! I H' j. ’I 1 I' ' «l lii 1 k I t 4 9 >1 «J j '1 X d TOii-j(J f>i ‘jIlivralluD ni mam, 4 5111 iol bncm^b gniwoig aril ) jnj>l to ono ni ?H£'j suozai jsn I I n n 103 snrwma-tEQlzfil }oru!’)ni H qrriarwoT noixfl fl n Jcfir iBtiv eiriJ T9drnsJqo2 tjUj ) ni noiJsla gin w©ri ah leu E IE ounovA y^D ?Vdd .noilirm > b ♦> •< J F-~i 3 t 5 •i i^vt;in.;i ' qirl^rrwoT eonbO rjjc J i g j/uEi) bifia gnizwW ){l'i ; E jriE AT -,' I t r OJ to }<oj liu'l aril 11 31 i l imdilftlq aaalfinl noT(H iBbit'K c^iaiD I EOOM nnnoNEu tiE3IOEIUIVr KtIMF.’ eitaownr ni««,« WIOM) z 6~; ' --'^r ':a a ? I 4 b®uw!i 1338 <0938 OiseiMifle' Mi bVID ] I □ 3 bOtiVGG bB£i eiO I Hastings Public Library 227 E State Street Hastings Ml 49Q5§ I V • is X SSWU33 ecm in hiaumio OkCxoQOd See TRUCK on 2 J IB « 4 Hr ' Ife f V •i I f k' ■ r. f ■ * • t 1 f y. 3 ftt 1 3 f. . a n * k t ffy-. I M? p'*> s: X. I 11 u I i * I I 1 •a 1 1 b* / a i * / /J ' *A X * I i I I 2 4 f S ' 1!^ II II 'J- 1.. A - A w < -» *< •I f » » f *i 1 fe » r k > \: I * <> / b. t •<-<* ' ’*. i * uur» * ) ’ I * 4 X • 9. « r.g"r -■i S.V . z I —■ VB < 9 4 ► •V.» I I 1 T ■i I r I r I b s * .anr^ I -X' tv tag" k k I a. a 1 •4. V b I / On Wednesday, Dec. 3, the community gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the reopening of Calvin Hill Memorial Park in Middleville after the completion of major playground upgrades. Pictured at last week’s ribbon cutting are (from left) Dr. Debbie Mulligan, Francie Tobin, Kim Martin, Shannon Maier, Middleville Director of Public Works JD Pennock, Village Council Trustee Robert Bishop, Village Manager Craig Stolsonburg and Dr. Craig Mulligan. Courtesy photos Playground upgrades complete at Calvin Hill Memorial Park The Village of Middleville recently announced the completion of major playground upgrades at Calvin Hill Memorial Park, bring­ ing modem, safe, and engaging play opportunities to local families. The $155,000 project was made possible through a $15,000 dona­ tion from Craig and Debbie Mulligan in honor of Craig’s mother, Rita Mulligan, a longtime school social worker who served children and families in the com­ munity. The Village funded the remaining project cost. The project marks a significant transformation for the park, according to village staff. Aging equip ment—some of which had been in place for nearly 50 years was removed, including original swing sets, stainless steel slides, a teetertotter and the former merry-go round. These features, while nos­ talgic, no longer met modem safety standards. In their place, the Village installed an all-new suite of play­ ground amenities designed to inspire creativity, physical activity and inclusive play. The centerpiece of the project is a treetop play M stmcture featuring multiple climb­ ing elements, slides and imagina­ tive nature-themed play compo­ nents. Additional improvements include modem swing sets with updated safety features, new park benches for families and caregivers and engineered wood fiber surfac­ ing to enhance safety and acces­ sibility. Village Manager Craig Stolsonburg said he appreciates the community’s support. “Calvin Hill Park has been a beloved gathering place for See PLAYGROUND on 6 I s V 11 4 ' k*r- V . Ie*" »,rY • « ? b A» i I l« I •n’ K 3ov±sod s n CIS ISHd I I j ( I ’'I * k r 4 V K* A > J r A “Way cool.” That’s how Tim Haagsma described Gaines Township’s new $1.7 million plat­ form fire tmck. He and the other township frustees paused their meeting for 20 minutes to go outside and view the fire tmck up close for the first time, before going back inside the township board room to resume their meeting Monday, Dec. 8. The tmstees had been waiting for the 100-foot aerial ladder tmck to arrive from Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wis., since the Gaines Township and Byron Township boards each voted unanimously at an October 2022 joint meeting to split the cost of buying it. At that time, they were hoping it would arrive in about 29 months. But that was before the Byron Township Board stunned Gaines tmstees in July 2023 by voting to sever a 73-year partnership with Gaines Township in jointly operating the Cutlerville Fire Department. The Byron tmstees said at that time they needed to build their own fire depart­ ment in Cutlerville to better handle the growing demand for fire and rescue calls in one of Kent County’s fastest-growing communities. Byron Township announced in late September this year that it had opened its new fire station in Cutlerville at 6675 Clay Avenue at a cost of $2.4 million. Gaines Township Manager Rod Weersing said Gaines tmstees decided to go ahead and foot the full cost of the new waaa uawoisna platform fire tmck after 1VI1N3OIS3U '• Byron tmstees opted out. Gaines officials said it 8CC# WUU9d eeesp IM '0IIIAUS0J9 aivd « a V > i •E\ « 4 .J f zz ■ '* ✓ James Gemmell Contributing Writer I HmmisG zwnct i9«tW pniliKlhinoO ___ g \f Z I V > k I �* •I 4 > J !i «<r : -W I U !*■ w t /■ / 4*^ 1 4 > ’f '.•/ <r .-'a A' K c -? .1( r « ««- 'A J » / k 4 i Eighteen members of the Caledonia High School Choir participated in the MSVMA Region A Honors Choir on Saturday, Dec. 5. Schools from all over West Michigan traveled to Caledonia for the event, and more than a dozen CHS Choir students volunteered their time to help run the music festival. In addition, nine students will be advancing to the state level to perform at the Michigan Music Conference in January. Participating CHS students included (back, l-r) Allison Malone*, Benji Rewa*, Ella Rigley, Caleb Parlin, Savannah Robinson. Addison Cook*, Sophie Steenwyk*. Zahara Muriithi* and Malachi Hanson; and (front) Charlie Scott, Lydia Shoesmith*, Lilliana Klein, Alma Cortes Diaz*, Katelyn Jaquish*, Kylee Zimmerer, Alister Brew and Parker Diemer Not pictured; Derick Prichard*. (*) Denotes CHS students who will be advancing to the State Honors Choir Courtesy photo TK BOE approves TAPRC resolution tackles full agenda Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer A number of action items filled the agenda for the Thomapple Kellogg Schools Board of Education at its reg­ ularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Dec. 8. Tliat included a resolution for the Tliomapple Area Parks and Recreation Commission recreation plan, which is up for renewal. Catlierine Getty, TAPRC chairper­ son, said every five years the commission updates the Middleville paries and recreation plan. According to Getty, TAPRC was established in 2000 through a joint arrangement with TKS, The Village of Middleville and Thomqjple Township to help plan for pari< and recreation resources in the Middleville area. The five-year renewal by TAPRC is to update the recreation plan that must be submitted to the State of Michigan to be eligible for grants. Getty added that updating the renew­ al is an opportunity for TAPRC to ensure alignment with what the people in the community want to see done. But, she said the real value of the fiveyear plan is to Thomapple Township, See TAPRC on 7 I, 1 t Gaines trustees stand outside the township’s new aerial ladder on Monday night, Dec. 8. Those township officials getting a closer look include (from left) trustees Kathy VanderStel, Tim Haagsma, Gaines Fire Chief Ken Van Hall, Treasurer Laurie Lemke, Trustee Dan Fryling, Clerk Michael Brew and Supervisor Bob Terpstra Photo by Jsmn Gemmell ■ I-*®* uk* v/l^ s i)‘' > • i.- • . V u I * r M :V • 5^1 ■nI \ #*' t Continued from Page 1 was needed to replace the township’s nearly two-decade-old platform truck. “It’s a great piece of equipment that’s going to serve the township well,” Weersing said. “It’s well thought out, it’s going to be very efficient. The mid-mount setup is going to be more conducive for fire­ fighters.” Township trustees voted last year to dissolve the old Cutlerville Fire Department and launched the new Gaines Charter Township Fire Department on Jan. I of this year. It includes the Cutlerville fire bam on 68th Street near Division Avenue, which is called Fire Station No. I, and the Dutton fire station on 68th Street in Dutton, officially known as Fire Station No. 2. The Gaines Township Board of Trustees voted in November to authorize staff to hire three full-time firefighters for Fire Station No. 1. The aerial platform on the town­ ship’s old truck is mounted in the back of the truck, but Weersing said the platform bucket on the new truck is mounted in the middle. “It keeps the bucket from hang­ ing over the front of the engine," he explained in a post-meeting inter­ view. “It nicely compacts it on the back of the engine. It makes it a lot more stable by being in the middle as opposed to the end." Weersing said the new platform fire truck arrived in the township Friday, a few weeks later than antici­ pated due to some final inspections in Wisconsin. “They wanted to do a software upgrade to the stabilization system that was brand new,” he said. “So, we’ve got the latest software on it, which keeps it from having to go in to have that updated.” “It’s an exciting time for the township,’’ Gaines Supervisor Bob Terpstra said. The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com Editor; Molly Macleod 1 I * mmacleod@mihomepaper.com 4 I Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sports; Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com 4t I I PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Please recycle this newspaper •* .^5 *■' ? k- Copyright 2025 ©2025 Jams Media, LLC AH Rights Reserved Printed In the U S AH advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Oept .1351 N. M-43 Hwy.. Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser's order. * l; I Plill® i * >* *> k / V ..ul J ■t:! J. I Sr -5 7^ 1 I '<C^V * k» '.'.t A -..iH 0iP ♦*1 * t f A » ' L »* I 1. r,. !’»• I 4 3 • ”.r ’^1I liilA • .' '<* '.■tl ! J »I L*- ♦ «• « / t’ I r*>* I jifrkA I < \. V. U » 9 ;Ejl«.£*’7 *ie* , I' ’4.1 ;ii* Hi ii Kmi k I♦ 1 1 I - UX” I A »e -KX f u F A* jiitiSlS; • 'a**'* s > I * *> ^4 XT . » *• J « fstt'-M--.... » .1 111 I I * ■W 1^;' t i 1 A 1 J I £" 'tkitofB ,'taiiin if ‘^CifciiMsIn^ Si 1 : f T .1 .• I a 1 ( 4 i 1 J t t‘- • 1« t J *# -.1 « F .1 J L r I / I 1 I f A I I I 1 i 9 4 r 4 «4«« J 4 J f ^3 4 r * % « n6 , * THE SUN AND NEWS PUBLISHED BY ir- •.'V r> TRUCK I <• ' ’.' *©-• UJI If’”' ■*' « CONTACT US 0- I I I M '-*^ 1^^ cy* �•1 V k I 4 t i •< THE SUN AND www.sunandnews.com I Saturday, December 13, 2025 NEWS I VIEW.-x^Group 3 J Donors give the gift of hope at annual Pine Rest Giving Tree fundraiser Good Mooed Cafe, ” Nitz said. The Pine Rest to support. I want to thank James Gemmell 1 coffee shop is located at 3555 68th Contributing Writer you for that.” m rrasoO 9 ij9frm r'tatt winy, ofiLj-j^^noO jfc 18051 B. ) 1^7 1 t ( y. t nJ2i umon ) I > r i 9 £ ah an ' f w . n dbiU': o" ri^c7 H I I <ti 7- I ai K I c 4 f < T' S J I < • 6 I 4 a X V h I * TJ 'it ■ Z’k i 4 k • A «... * il t w .’'I? J "■'<*95'5. .473=. f, '*»?5 / 4 4 li * • J , WsA • 4 'T’-V ’1, G •u#.. * i; ' V. *J ((, » > I ^i^aisas ■ i. I ' ' I / * & ■ Tk-< 4< fe. ■’■I, V I '■« *n le. z - ' » I k JI ‘ ) rfr J I I I I k V * Wl «J *• I I I ‘I**’ * • *fV • •• I4 » •“ T •U X J rl A> 7..,i. . Imi • •4. 1 • •-•U2 .•> 4 > ? 11 4 *r t >!9« I i 1 I i t KJPV J ■7 - U f; r I •A • • .V fonli t I I I' tc/ p ) Residents at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services will wake up with presents under the tree come Christmas morning. That is thanks to community mem­ bers who are donating gift cards and cash to purchase the gifts through the Pine Rest Giving Tree holiday char­ ity program. On Tuesday, the Gaines Chamber of Coihmerce and Pine Rest hosted their annual Giving Tree luncheon at the Postma Center on the Pine Rest campus in Cutlerville. The business and community leaders who attended it bid on Christmas auction baskets and other items, with the proceeds going to the Pine Rest Giving Tree families. Besides the silent auction, some bidders won candy jars and poinsettias. The chamber’s executive director. Barb Nauta, served as the emcee of the event, which also served as the chamber’s quarterly business lun­ cheon. “We had 22 total donations from area businesses, including baskets, gift cards and monetary contribu­ tions,” she said. The first guest speaker was Pine Rest Foundation executive director Donald Mackenzie. I love this event,” he said. “I’m SO appreciative of Gaines Township and the giving that you do. I mean, it’s called the Giving Tree. Every one of you sitting around these tables is involved with different organiza­ tions; there are different charities that you give to, there’s different philan­ thropy that you’re involved with. I’m honored that each year you choose 66 Nauta said fundraising totals would not be added up until the end of the week, because online donations were still being accepted at pinerest.org/ giving-tree. “It’s been an exciting year of fundraising here at Pine Rest,” MacKenzie said. “In March, we’re going to open up the Pediatric Behavioral Health Center. It’s the first of its kind in the state. Super excited about it. (There will be) 66 It’s going to inpatient bedrooms be a first in our area: a psychiatric urgent care center just for kids.” The 74,000-square-foot building is being constructed at the southeast comer of the Pine Rest campus. Pine Rest intake coordinator Nancy Carter was next to step onto the podium. “Our residents and our patients here are precious people ... and we need your services and your support and help,” she said. “And so, thank you. Thank you because you’re help­ ing us take care of people in their moment of crisis. Or, if they’re liv­ ing here on our campus, you’re help­ ing us support them.” Nauta then gave a brief presenta­ tion. She said the Gaines Chamber added 50 new members this year and is continuing to grow its social­ media presence. The chamber also is expanding its scholarship program. “We were able to distribute 11 community student scholarships this year,” Nauta said. “Because of our successful golf event and all of you.” Nauta then introduced the vice president of Moayyer Real Estate, April Moayyer, and Mike Nitz with ♦ I I 4 2g O 1 i 19 ft.) • I. Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpstra addresses Gaines Chamber of Commerce members at the Pine Rest Giving Tree fundraiser on Tuesday, Dec. 9, in Cutlerville. Photo by James Gemmell ServePro of southeast Grand Rapids. They announced the formation of a morning business networking group called Fire Starters. It will meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. “I’ll be hosting that over at the * A I ^^ih^ your 1 life a. fittfe it su/eetei' ***1!.^ a ^i^>; s 5* <§> cigar Momma’s I •’ V '4 • Lunch • Seasonal baked goods -1 < 'It See GIFT on 5 • Custom cakes • Full espresso bar • Everything made from scratch n 16 •? St. in Dutton. A Fire Starters roundtable will be held on the third Thursday every other month where peers can learn from each other. Moayyer said details will be included in the cham­ ber’s newsletter that will be sent to member businesses. Gaines Township Supervisor Bob Terpsta then took the stage and tossed some gift items into the crowd. He said the inaugural Taste of Gaines event organized by the Chamber and held outside the town­ ship hall on September 26 was an “enormous” success. Township officials estimated it drew more than 2,000 visitors. Terpstra also talked about the new logo brand the township just rolled out. It will be included in township newsletters and other documents. “You’ll see the imbedded ‘G’ in there,” Terpstra said of the logo. “It has a tree. It has a moving line that BAKERY & CAFE z 4 A k’’. 4 :< 6, Ill « Liv-; a J • Christmas Prints • Flannel in 45” & 108” • New Collections by Moda ''Si ,1 i. < . A •w T T * e I I I . Wt L I « 11 < 1 k : ff 1 16' feMI® i? 6* tut .’>• Hulst I] CUanMf r < V Station I •kir f i! J I fr * I b I I :J I I i 5 ’ l,k n « ■a 1 •i hf £&tttrdoy: 203 E. MAIN ST. CALEDONIA / 616-275-1017 / SUGARMOMMASPASTRIES.COM •* •• *4 Must present coupon, cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 12/20/25 Closed Toesd^f-FtriJiMf: 946-9673 OPEN; Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 9 am-3 pm k . -H. « s /zoo Off" A Dozeh Ct^ristfnas Sogoir Cookies ft .9 218 E. State St., Hastings • r >> » V i Msa hiMaiwMkWi I l^ll I? <Pray for Our Qounttyf '3* QUESTIONS: ASK US... •• I 4^ I I s �i I. X « A I L I ’ 1* V 11 4 Saturday. December 13, 2025 Local music students present recital Mu-sic students fnMn the studio of Robert C. < Jster wj II present a recital (m Ibursday, I See. 1K, at 7 p.m. at the f/race I .utheran ( hurch in I lastings. Ric program will feature solo vocal music fiom the mid-17th century through Broadway genres and organ selections from several lime SUN MJ NEWTS perirxE. Singen performing at the IXx, 18 event arc set to includcCaledonia I ligh School wphomore Scan Thompson and junior kydia Shoesmith. Adult performers will fea­ ture Cindy Thelen of l>akc Odessa and Mary Kuhlman of Hastings. Also included will be Woodland homeschooler Debbie Harrison at organist. The recital is open to the public free of charge. DM VIKW W/v'? Legal advice ottered at no cost to Barry County seniors The f jegal Services of South Central Michigan-BatUc Creek office will conduct phone interviews for legal advice and pos­ sible representation, without charge, to inlercsted Barrs County senifjTS next week. Those who wish to speak with an attomes should call 269-224-5LI4Dbetween 9 a.m. and 12:30p.m. txi \S'^nesda\ Rec. 17. 1^1 Services of South Central Michigan-Batt Ie C reek offtce is a nonprofit organizxition that provides legal assistance, rcpresenlalion and education to low-income people in Calhoun and Branch counties and seniors in lian>; Branch Calhoun and St Joseph cmMiUes The agcnc> sedis. through its board, staff. \ nluntccrs and pro bono auomes s. to ensure that itsclientsare gi\ cn equal access to the juMice s> stem. The advice and counsel at the senior sites are hmdod pnmanh the C arrWcII ScrsTCcs Soulhuest through the Michigan Bureau ofAging. Ccwnmunitj IJ\ing,and Supports under (Jk- Older Aincneans Act of 1965. AM/ d 4k 4? /9 F* » I ♦ ( 9 • f j.r* 8 : f i S i' 9 I <1RJ I V*- f n i I ...» ‘I s • i I 1* r.>’ t 1 I • . “8 "■ B I 1 I —WIL »W J 1 MIDDLEVILLE « ■ Il TOPS 546 M A J ,1' The Def; r• I IJ :.ed wnr-' I r. * I* , call and the secretary's report Tin ■now two ttsh jn the FishtXTWl Virginia s program from the ' Vv nar i World" magazine was titled ‘ Slay Sate From Slips and Falls " The NaTionai Safely Council says falls are resporv j for 8 5 million emergency room visits a year Avoid falling by loading up on leafy greens like collard greens. Kale, broccoli and broccoli rabe They are all good sources of calcium Those who ale these veggies had less incidents of falling Calcium maintains nerve and muscle function Another tip is to do the "tiptoe trick "Standing on one's toes 100 times a day substantially improves women's balance and strengthens calf muscles Lower back muscles gel stronger, too. When outside, wear a scarf to keep toasty—it keeps your muscles ready to keep you from falling Wear sneakers while in the house to increase fraction They lower the rick by 56%. To feel calmer during the day. splash cold water on your face when you get up. Il primes the body to bounce back faster. Singing like you're on stage triggers the "feel-good" molecules. They stay circulating, giving you a good mood longer. If on edge, play silly animal antics that make you giggle. Laughing helps lower cortisol by one third and that starts telling your body it's safe Io relax. Your stress hormone production lowers within seconds. Joint pain can get relief by eating salmon. Omega-3 fatty acids block inflammation and aches Standing on an anti-fatigue floor mat decreases discomfort in the back, hips, knees, neck and shoulders. Eating ginger is an anti-inflammatory that improves joint problems—SCX) mg is the recommended amount. Sue lost the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen. 616-318-3545. The first meeting is free. rlH LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY le^alaska ! J' i Cj i J ' Caledonia Vine Street Church < cornerstonechurch worship service, in person or online, Sunday Worship Sorvico at 9-M AH Join us in persori or onfine Sundays 9;3O & 11am at 9:00 am Ed Carpenter, Pastor vwvw.8laskabaptl8t.org 68tb Street SE. Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST 250 Vine Street 616-891-8669 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 AM Middleville 908 W. Main Street, Middleville (Missouri Synod) J Sunday Worship. . III f - % ( Pastor: Roh Wurst http:Z/good$hepherdkms.googtepages.com Uvestream: fncebook.com/firstbaptistmiddlevillp Church: FBCMIDDLEVILLE.NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 JOURNEY CHURCH 9:30 a.m. (269) 795-2391 <APEACE 1675 84th St. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 cornerstonemi.org/weekend rw HOLY FAMILY J/CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Avc., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Saturday Evening Mass 5:(X) p.m. Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic? Call or sec our website for information. * ) < Sunday Wonhip: 8:30 a.m. & II a.m. ! Fellowship 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. CHURCH Sunday School 10 to 10:45 a.m. /• Caledonia Location 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:16 am and 11:00 am PEACECHURCH.ee Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM Lead Pastor: Pastor Ryan Kimmel Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd,, Middleville, Ml 49333 peacechul-ch.ee r. 4 M-.- THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH 4—■ » 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 Shining f^nh God's Light" MIDDLEVILLE Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9:30ani & 11:00am 20 State Street, Middleville. Ml Z iuiViyAiinxi*ib.com 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 nww.stpflulc8ledonia.org Yankee Springs Bible Church ^4 < @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. James L. Collison, Pastor r WWW. yankccspri ngsb i b 1 cch u rch. o rg X*1 /» 11 I 4 4 1 I I .<4(11 i®'"' I i ■M.. Join us for our traditional yet casual I K- «* ' — I s ■ t* r »* k/< Id ' ’ A » j A'* u I 4 V. h t S3 I t ............... If' 1 1 # . I .(1*’’ » I f s 4* MM :. i «* . if I* . le 4 ♦ V k' < la 4k la® ar Gift 1 •r'2J -I 1 i 9 t i. 1 f,A!(PO'5« > f- I .M. 1 *j* K jV ujU I .. hit > r’1 ».» * ' .. fa *> <1 ‘'■3 I 1 •* f4.A» -dlfMir u IR It » • ^4 I V V ?■- R3t^ ft « issal £K»eO « I I* » « A > *> .Ah' *T ' ' iitk iS V -• T* C.4 I i *k I 1 • >i.i J i MfffisiBKn t. ■'.A . ♦ 5 » ■^' w * 1 * ▼> IV 1 I fi I f w r; a I t, % « I '- i « « n »• :h*iL” ’ t • ■ - u. r:. r F K\ t 1 • . I 4 » I I <d « * t 1 t ►I’T I » “ . « IB r fl 4 I i 1 1 I >< f f I ! ! I 1 1I i I, ‘I I . . . 1 �) . Wot' I: I ‘/H -4 "Illi 3 -J.!. . V '‘i.i ' • ■ • i •n. •’lu ' th. (!|P\ du N I. I r s < 1 k1 9 h,. •J f' ’ » « t-.' 1 • .e < •4 ' 1 «* I •> ’nrffc 1 . f'. to* r. I. 'Tila I V< . ‘ 1 I flfid > 11I ' « A Uj • L J d ‘t b ^9 f 5 U- SU), I ► I V. • ’ a JI I 11.?‘ "*1 . 9^ I* ■ 'J » f y I J ’C-. 1 « ■t-* • J r -I - •'is I 1 * ♦ * I -r?r .r ' ti - Jff fl I i .'J 4 iij , « » J- » •& 'u r a w n I. Kci-- i ' A i f ta I E ,[ ) 1 J it. z. I t ’ III I ■ ll> I •9:/ I ! t V. 4 ><1 < A. 0 IK T/ 1 i p*.. 1 *Al’ 1**0 k-. t '*rt rM «T -.•r* J I I * b 1 lA t• I I I J) * - « J. r vwtMVI ^*>55 Mliwe >> t J I* • 1 f I { V- ’ *noni 3’1 'p' I > f rl.l nr 1 Ji I V 1..... i . I S'. -U tir. I I I 1 I I • ?i 1 r• > tw I i t r- e’V 4i. ■ 1 1 1 11-2 i *» •'-J: I I "ri r V fit , I >44 r 1^ I ' ■ J iX ' , ' tn - /♦ I * I I ■ h I I f I I ■’ 1 I t i r • ■ • “» r 1 . —sT". ALL PYTHONS FOR SALE. Looking for good homes. Pric­ ing may vary by morph. Banana, Paste! Leopard, GHI Mojave, Wild Type, and more. 616-821-6600. o» I z t '4 J » 1 I if- r ► U SPORTS EQUIPMENT 9 f Various Exercise Weights, 25 cents per pound. Exercise benches $25 each. 616-554-3575 » It * r- T t iS I. J ! WANTED J A sign welcomes visitors to the second annual Gaines Luminary Walk. Photos by James Gemmell the area of present-day Prairie Wolf Park well into the 1901 century. Some tall candy canes were lit up on the walkway Saturday night leading to a booth where Santa Claus sat with chil­ dren for photo-taking. “It’s very festive,” said Santa Claus, who handed out candy canes and glow sticks. “I love to have the children come and visit me. I think some of the best moments are when the little shy ones come up. They’re hesitant to come all Wolf Station and Prairie Wolf Landing that are irt the prelimi­ nary stages of development on . 84th Street. “They will be building apart­ ments there as part of the first phase,” Wells said, adding that construction of a 100-unit senior housing building was approved last month for development on the site across Kalamazoo Avenue from the township hall. “This is a huge thing for the township. We have very limited senior living facilities,” he said. “And I’ve had a number of our senior citizens coming in asking about when this is going to be ready for them to move in.” Wells added that Jeff Hundley with Colburn Himdley Inc. is handing the business-related leas­ es for the development. I represents the creeks in the town­ ship and the deep roots. So, we will not be ignoring who we are, where we came from.” The tag line accompanying the logo is “Gain More.” “This (coming) year, I want it to mean gain more engagement,” he said. “So, we’re going to get our Facebook (page) going. The (township) website is getting redone. There are ways for us to push out information to you, and we need you to follow us. We’re going to make that happen.” Gaines Community Development Director Dan Wells outlined some of the housing projects that are being built in the township. He mentioned Prairie I . -A. - PETS 4 I J A ■J 4 11'3: *4 X*' Continue(d from Page 3 I MB I f GIFT ;n] X\k AINEF V ; 4^ 1 *> J The smiles on the faces of those who took the scenic stroll through Prairie Wolf Park on Saturday night, Dec. 6, seemed almost as bri^t as the candles that illuminated the one-and-a-half-mile path. The Gaines Chamber of Commerce’s executive director, Barb Nauta, said more than 375 people attended the second annual Luminary Walk in the 45-acre park on Kalamazoo Avenue just south of 84th Street. “We’re so excited that everyone could come out,” Nauta said. “It’s a free event. rhere was more snow on the ground this year than during the inaugural year, when the temperatures were in the upper 30s - and when it was much windier. “We have the beautiful white snow that’s a wonderful backdrop to what we’ve got going on here,” Nauta said. Volunteers said 250 white paper bags weighted down with sand were placed along the trail, each containing an LED candle to light the way through the park. They said they decided they needed a lot fewer than the 450 candles that were placed there last year. According to the Gaines Historical Society, Gull Prairie Wolves roamed / r.4 -T Classifieds 5 5 < > r .'i: Group • s 1 •'A ■ .1 . % « Contributing Writer *1fi I TV James Gemmell I fr* view Gaines Chamber lights the way with Luminary Walk in Prairie Wolf Park I I * THE SUN and news www.sunandnews.com A Saturday, December 13, 2025 l'1 * I Ik WANTED: Antique Toys Antique Christmas Antique Halloween 517-243-9090 rr fI BUSINESS SERVICES A Gaines Chamber of Commerce executive director Barb Nauta. the way up, but with a little convinc­ ing they’ll come up and, at least, grab a candy cane, if not say hello.” The Gaines Chamber got help from township volunteers in stringing lights, shoveling and salting the pathway, and putting up lanterns and decorations. This is the first time we’ve been here,” volunteer Jace George said, standing next to Dave Nauta at the entrance gate to the trail. “I brought a generator and some extension cords so they have power. And then, we’ve been putting up garlands and lights.” Dave Nauta, who is Barb Nauta’s husband, said they received help from volunteers in placing the luminary candles and bags along the trail. He set up some lanterns with candles powered See GAINES on 6 Correction: In the Saturday, Dec. 6 edition of The Sun and News, a photo caption in the article “Microsoft confirms plans to build data center in Gaines Twp.” mistitled Gaines Township Planning Commission vice-chair woman Ronnie Rober. We regret the error. HANDYMAN SERVICES OF­ FERED. Mise, repairs, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Estimates. 269-243-0468 or 269-374-0785. PAINTING PAINTING: LET 30 YEARS experi­ ence care for your home! Interior and exterior. Booking for winter and next summer. Licensed and insured. Locally family owned and operated. Call for free estimate. Phil Johnson Painting (269)953-7877 GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM Your local agent insures your Retirement Ask about our annuities and IRAs FARM BUREAU MSVttA^CE* Jason Parks 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville (269) 795-8827 Jparks@fbinsmi.com FarmBureauinsurance.com » I I r I ‘H fa it u 1 » 1 I I i h t b I / r �I* . * Saturday, December 13, 2025 6 r ( ►* 0^ NEVirS ' vstw. SUN Tfcnw^ vm *-1 .r 4 k -‘;i •b • 14 :E^ 1 .■^3! ’^<■*^8 cotn ■■■i ■ I fC •( 4 / / J’l > ^-7 * 4 » J » I u 4 ' it? <' r / * y V o J < > ' if. B 1 V •< lb 7- * ■ry'r ‘I * - ?a f-’ >•»' 4 b. I "« A f b f' ',1 r ’•’X IM . r s 'i 9 4 **» t rTZ? »JI t 4i^ b •' z.'- < I . _ 4 J »• .■ c . I *4Nv«»a ........... »'>■ if.- ... . II I « <li i Some bright lights adorned many of the trees along the trail inside Prairip Wolf Park, 5^* « w- ........ > to J «x • <96 .r w » V a I- 4^ 5^*’ '' J •i'. .1 «* 1 u •i ] • isA- !• •*9 MI r I -4«“ V I i J*' ■^: r v; f 4 * *'A f 'I?*' ¥ - •r 4e^ S’Ski’ ^■ / / 1 ■ * / r ■1 r- I ! .t i f i . >»« * / 4^ S' » •i ♦ •.•^" -.i T i Aik* w *■> *»*<» ^***‘J»‘^*t < jrJ r•• -*^r• - Santa Claus passed out candy canes and glow sticks at the Luminary Walk in Prairie Wolf Park last Saturday night, Dec. 6. GAINES Continued from Page 5 by electricity along the way. “And I also got two candy canes that light up back in there along the trail, as well as all these luminaries,” Dave Nauta said. The Gaines Chamber hosted the lumina^ walk, but it had plenty of help in making the two-hour event a festive one. Del laan Tile & f loor Covering co­ sponsored it. The chamber’s executive director. Barb Nauta, said the Family 64 616-891-0150 IVE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm Residential & Commercial Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Humidifiers fare store, at 6127 Kalamazoo Avenue, donated 350 cookies. She thanked the Bob Evans restaurant for providing apple pie slices for volunteers and the South Christian Higli School CTioir, which sang holiday carols. ITie performances by the SCHS Choir, led by Holly Baar and Julie, were absolutely awesome,” Naula said. “And we received so many wonderful comments about the event.” J «? 'li Gn a ni^t with temperatures near iJie freezing mark, a Byron Center family said it wxs warming up with hot choco­ late. And also enjoying cookies and cand\* canes. Tlie motlter. Marta, enjoyed tlic can­ dles and liglils. “Very pretty,” she said. “And very' festive.” Nauta gave kudos to CarbonSix Construction. Brent Springviocd and his wife from the local Fann Bureau Insurance office, Margo Pcric from RfV MAX Grand Rapids, and Lori Gaier and her daughter for helping with the setup and for taking photos and videos. Byron Center FV (BCTV) also took video for later playback. “Thank you to Gaines Charter Township for making sure the beauti fill park was plowed and salted,” Nauta said. “And thank you to our wonder­ ful community families for coming out to enjoy this fun event. We are so blessed.” J ) if f r 6 4i . -r * b t w> 1 J' X * 4* 1 V < A^i * / f *e « » r. t' I il u V n . •* 9^ b » f .w ' 9 rt 9 9 •i^>' rf . 'is*? V, isS* I , 1 1 »' I r ici*'' J r . < * , k teSS2 I I iiliSi*; I IVII TB t I *• 4v4 * / ■‘-i* I »► >• J ) k zifes >6 «r 9^' > « f I . .1^ • -!! '• .V * « u " ‘ s •ft > /fr . ■ lUiO t -9^ -T 1, r tt' •» . < I 1 At. - -aH r ■ * < » ■ V. 1 ■ TVTifc'illkVLVW’’'’ MSB «MI J vatei'i ■*1— i r• 9 4^ LUVJi i ^-£ .>« » iS£fc LA I c r . b* • '^. i B a DeWeerd (68j ■ •%'*'. i iE I t Ji tesl^^»<2 I 4 .* « 9 1 i 51*”: »» I j j ’•‘J 5i 269-792-2234 Continued from Page 1 73 ■> DEWEERDHTG.COM PLAYGROUND A 1 4 1 ■■ ’• jt 5 I HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. ( •\ SitK-f 193’^ J ^BBB ACCREOITED BUSINESS Complete Collision Repair 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 your trusbed body Shop -for o\A€r i2 years decades, and these improvements honor that legacy while ensuring the park remains safe and exciting for the next generation,” Stolsonburg said. “We are especially grateful to Craig and Debbie Mulligan for their meaningful contribution in honor of Rita, whose life’s work focused on supporting children.” The new playground is now open to the public, offering an inviting and refreshed space for families to enjoy outdoor recreation. KTE •i t ▼- , « I f t I t I I t t - : : '•U'iia^W33 sKPl^Ufvvne I J I 11 ?S • 4 ■ '^iA5i 1 I 6 A« < Mi t i! ■fi'id •' »{M«r ♦ 1 r’ ** . s - V V 4 I *»• t am »v«., I A 4 ? A. ) ^1 * « •s * a 1 Ml, f*'*: . r .' • « •• -a I I I • »* T« • r I “■*4 I I "■’» f. It I 1 I I J i i 1 i 1. I iI . t ! 1 i t« 1 f< If fl • I h I I I It r i r 1 ♦ 4 s I i �II t I THE SUN and news www.sunandnews.com e 3 ♦I Il INCREASE Ml 4I •■iJ I I f B4 A ROAD AAAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH ■■ i I UNDERSTANDING DEBT: The good and the bad Mia mTSRiiaMU I'j arlt riar/iTf) ' f’ r. *rT€''' #• **» 0! .-<^1 /C';f 4 I « a pile of the dirt that you’re As I broach this emotional removing. As you get about topic, I want to begin by be­ halfway throu^, you realize ing clear. I am neither for nor ±at you’re no longer going to against debt. Debt is amoral, be able to afford the pool, so meaning it is not in and ofitself, you fill the hole back in and categorically moral. Debt can before long, your backyard be a destructive evil. It has tom looks just like it used to. No people down and has caused Zach Santmier hole and everything is back to heartache, divorce and all sorts normal. No harm, no foul, right? of strife. Debt has also built churches, Now imagine the same scenario, but businesses and hospitals that have been this time, instead of putting the dirt used for incredible good. Debt is neither beside ±e hole, you had a dump truck right nor wrong categorically. take ±e dirt away as you filled it. Again, To understand different sorts of debt, halfway through digging the hole, you we must first understand assets. Here’s realized you weren’t going to be able to where we start increasing our Financial afford the pool. But this time, the dirt is IQ so that we can move forward in gone. You have a massive hole in your confidence and not fear when it comes backyard and you don’t have any dirt to to navigating the murky waters of debt. fill it in. You’re stuck. In this scenario, it’s Imagine for a moment you are in your not no harm, no foul. You have a massive backyard and you have a shovel. You hole that is not only an eyesore, but it’s a decide that you’re going to dig a hole liability. Someone could fall in and hurt big enough for a pool. You begin digging themselves. What started as a harmless this hole, and beside the hole, you make I jrj^h / I .-..Z * lazif N -iirwraaatoJ ■'' '3' ,1. I 1! I’fltau-i.. qj ;, 4MF 9 I ’.:^4 i 7 / / f F ’ f ;3u »•» li f7 r JA I Mi.: » ' b ' i r 1 - i ■ '<^*1 1 U ’i t -Xm. ’Chr r I , ’4>./1. t A* ' J ZaiL lb.1 *^R*. . •/rife.: r ) I f I > * * ’’•n in ’>1 A* * • I « 5n;:T -TftT I * J ir •w I :{ I K I t A f 4^ C& -J 4 'tsili I 4- . I 1 I I ' ! JKl '■< « ‘Hwo ' 4 W)iA-. :| '. f ’’is'Qlj-- ■ ■J ■ I I I ■» f r.: ■ $. ' ) 3 1 -K < « If « fi * «K if I. mi I ilL I ,.jjj J 1 K. > , rV I ■ 4 !r>f. 1 *'• 4 TAPRC Continued from Page 2 'M I I i ■ 4 1 I I J » >• ’***>^. t4 k-.,; s * irl ’• 4 19 f 7 n I ; I ri V JF fe’iU 4 % I • < r .k r. bll t ». tir I'H' J U-: \i 1 « ifiM ih I•* w to- : h I’fi • .-r -i M . ' Mam I “ i iiS .•( ;) :f,ri f fi 4 ^4 ‘ * • “• ! |'Z-5«5.U • iXri ■f- »'***T'- 1 7 , I CrA" ‘ ;■ X ■: vo7,in eS* n I 3 •f ftiOSSH 4 t i h-? J < ;■ f i. •1 I •>.. t' I r* ’ J JIS' njfti » ■ I 1 t the Village of Middleville and TKS so that they are eligible to apply for those grants. However, Getty said she is asked why goals are not accomplished in the fiveyear plan. It’s what the state calls it (a five-year plan) but could be a misconception that it’s something we’re supposed to accomplish in five years,” Getty said. “I don’t know many communities, if any, around the state that have the kind of resources to accomplish a five-year rec plan. “Because you put everything in there not knowing exactly what opportuni­ ties you have, but it becomes sort of a guiding light for units of government to strive for,” she added. “If there’s a grant cycle that opens up and aligns well or you score well for a project then it becomes something that the community will go after. According to Getty, grant cycles can change depending on the priorities of tlie Michigan Department of Natural 7 project has become a massive problem. I give you this visual picture because this shows the difference between asset-backed debt and unsecured debt. In the first scenario, the hole you are digging is your mortgage. You are taking a loan out on your home and now have a proverbial hole. But beside the hole is the dirt to fill it in, or the asset that caused the hole in the first place. If, for some reason, you were no longer able to afford that mortgage, you could most often sell the house, your asset, and the hole would be filled in. If the dirt is beside the hole, it’s a lot less risky. In other words, if your asset, in this case your home, is greater than your mortgage, you’ll have no problem filling in the hole or paying off the loan if needed. You’ll be able to sell your asset, pay off your mortgage, and be left with a flat backyard. This is asset-backed debt, or secured debt. In the second scenario, I am talking about unsecured debt. This sort of debt isn’t secured by an asset. In other words, there’s no dirt to fill back in the hole if need be. This is the person who digs a hole with a credit card. They spend money on that fancy vacation or that nice dinner out. Maybe on those extra Christmas presents that someone just “had to buy.” By swiping the card, they are digging a hole. But the dirt is vanishing into thin air. As they look at their credit card balance, they realize that they have a substantial hole in their backyard, but there is no dirt beside the hole to fill it in. This person can’t sell their vacation they already went on or return the meal they already ate. The dirt is gone, and they’re left with a hole that is a liability and a burden. It isn’t going to fill itself, so over the next several years, this person must work to earn more dirt to fill the hole back. This is unsecured debt. Now that we have a better understanding of asset-backed debt versus unsecured debt, I am going to begin walking you through standards around mortgages, cars, credit cards and personal loans next week. These standards will all stem from the principle of the dirt and the hole, so make sure you join us next week as we build off of your increased Financial IQ. Zach Santmier is the owner of Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author ofthe personal financial course, Increase. He focuses on helpingfamilies escape paycheck-to-paycheck living so they can freely pursue their idealfuture. *1 '1 Saturday, December 13, 2025 Group A i j view Resource. Currently, she said ±ere is a “high priority” for trail connections. “So trail connection grant submittals score really high,” she said. “They get extra points, but that does not mean they do not fund things outside of trail connections. In a roll call vote, school board mem­ bers unanimously approved the TAPRC resolution. Though, there’s still one more step before the plan is submitted to the state - TAPRC also has to give its final approval. In other board action, five sealed bids from contractors for electrical work on the new agriculture storage bam were publicly read aloud. The board then voted unanimously to proceed with issuing a ‘"Notice of Intent” to award Kleyn Electric for the Agriculture Storage Bam electrical bid in the amount of $35,650. Another approved action item focused on playground enhancements at the dis­ trict’s Early Childhood Center at a cost of $32,163. The project will be funded using GSRP Start-Up funds. Recordings of the TKS board meet­ ings are available online at tkschools. org/. « > .r < ^1 I 4^ t. .c r s t o h e4 4li I A 'H i-:s t 4 tr t '<C /• V fin ( % » "A.? * •V <<.* » * t *• >•< ; T * Ml 4 9 9 9 <4 / 45 * i .< * % A *V..5 A/ 4 'W Alt** 4A 4 E •I'i k 1*^, >L*\* 4 ./ « « 9 9 84th St. Campus Service Times: December 23: 7pm | December 24: Ppm, 2pm, 4pm Childcare available for infants through young 5’s during all services For more information: cornerstonemi.org/Christmas I 3| cornerstonechurch % ■.r{ « 1 4 j 1 J ( I I t I I t ! ! ( II k I I •I 11 I �Saturday, January 2. 2025 8 'Il 4 ■ ■ 1 la* Let charitable gifts spread joy and benefit more than just recipients Charitable giving increases significantly in the months surrounding the holidays. Approximately one-third of annual giving happens in December, and 10 percent of ail giving occurs in the last three days of the year, according to Charities Aid Foundation America. The surge in donations typically occurs with people’s desire to spread holiday cheer, enjoy tax advantages and help people in the community, says Nonprofit Source. Some people are compelled to donate in the name of another person. Here arc some ideas for charitable holiday gifts that benefit many. DONATE IN SOMEONE’S NAME To honor a loved one who may be living or deceased, or who fought an illness and won, you can donate to a nonprofit in the name of that loved one. Many charities offer printable or physical cards to let the recipient know a donation has been made in his or her name. EL^r • I* W“ «L / 4 <• 1 t > & Ac* r: ] 1 t <4 ’Jr • SUPPORTING ANIMALS A symbolic animal adoption can support conservation efforts around the world. Making a donation to the World Wildlife Fund in someone's name, for example, enables you to get a plushie, certificate and information on the animal the contribution will be helping. FAIR TRADE GIFTS Making a purchase of fair trade items means you’re often buying handmade and ethically sourced goods. These gifts support artisans in developing countries and help fund community 4 I? A GIVING BACK THROUGH GIFTS Certain products purchased feature proceeds that go toward a charitable cause. For example, every' purchase of TOMS® shoes helps fund mental health access and community development, while the body care products from TTiistle Farms are made by women survivors of trafficking, prostitution and addiction. Other products may help feed the hungry or support cancer patients. ■ ■ii in 4* ’ S’^ > 't t projects. Gift recipients can feel pride in ownership of an item that was designed and purchased with the greater good in mind. I i- Kt ’ Jr Ml I 4 J f CHARITY GIFT CARDS Charitable gift cards, like tliose available from TisBest Charity and ChantyChoice, let the gift recipient choose which nonprofit will receive the funds. i<^ /w^$125®®/K«i(/$75'’® while B IS I 4 I • 4 ^ J»* J /’flt 1! I I <6* / w 11*^^ * i- 1 1. I * ’ Ift r ?' * •3 .W iHt **♦ f.' J I T J freshwater cultured pearl pendant I » K b L 5 C I ‘*fr v; I > i i vlH u* 11 Kiir < y 9.^ ». i 1 *• I I ft 1 1 fl*' % 1iU E W E L t I? S > EsiadSttlM A lUiXaib •' » t 4 > A Rf ♦ !' J . 4 -A. "ML, 4 t j w "** *♦ • k •t /* * A t 1 11 » ' ****%■ .H r ' ' 4HK '■ w . -X Jif. k r t;. 13=» 'H ptai' * ‘R’ 'r*"i f ■ i * W^TWJBIU^ « - ‘Kf,.'' , r / t December 21 9:00am & 10:30 am December 24 Candlelight 7:00 pm » kU bl* ' .'-J Christmas Services . r. .Ji;. «•' 9369 Cherry Valley S.E. Caledonia, Ml 49316 616-891-5750 swierengajewelers.com zr I taijfcill I » adlW *1 — Source: Metro Creative Connection ir. ' -’mW* ■■5!(iii»ia*^ *•* ^IbB FdsSh* A,A<r i > Srteren{;A mi I '1 M*- a <w Charitable gifts make a recipient feel special and can make many additional people feel good as well. : fliFlvr { e •■'•A: * ... {i iS ♦ • 1*/*. »\-. I) w* 9 OUM LAKI COMMUNITY CHURCH I sterling silver pendant with cubic zirconias I >. r.\ »• solitaire cubic zirconia pendant W r ♦ SUPPORT SPECIAL BUSINESSES Offer gift cards or take people to dine or shop at businesses that support those with special needs. For example, No Limits Cafe in New Jersey is a full-service restaurant that trains and employs adults with intellectual disabilities. Dining there will help to continue to support these important efforts to give every employee a sense of pride and purpose. i I ' 1 I wMHi I J IW r 1 '5 I I ■ .• 4 I last t *« ( L I XV ft w t < V It hia > fl >• YOUR CHOICB % I b t I B 12200 W. M-179 Hwy.. Wayland, Ml 49348 GunLakeChurch.org I. i"'" M <• “-.A i r B K- r B ** ii J -Hiil I 1 K ‘‘.I f k r •.W'*. { I » f I * 1 A I t 1 4» I I • { E } i: I *• t iI r 4 1 r e t g z 4 k''~ *• ■sa 4/, ’-i r''a*"tR| �’‘IK ♦ A ♦ 1 1 A J . ■ : 11. $1 i? '■ ■ ■ www.sunandnews.com I i 2 ' THE SUN ANO NEWS *• VIEWX' 9 Saturday, December 13, 2025 Group V i ! 13- • V A Sporting News I V I I 4^ w i % V I r • T I r 4k 4 J T. - A •l* K . : r /. » .V r.?' * t I ft I w* I r i » 4, IVojans win handily over Hawks in girls’ hoops opener 4 t. ’K I.’ K. Tw “''I' d u 7r !>1-3 r - \ 1. ^4 n i. i, % K. * I .-r « J I 5 ; u •l ■M If, K J 4 fh f -e '^31- I 'l • <’s J 'Wb A » 4 •k -’tti ‘-if •’ffl '■•t ♦ "5. t *ab ► ’iOr* 'V • I I a« f ■ ^31^ aI ' f I. ^’<1 IK'. i ( ’*fl fj ">U . i U I V- ft * I I u A n <‘r! 1 . 4 ■TtBJxJ., > « 'V// ,*.. * i < 4 I I IM itot* t «|F *•4 t'll * 1 «. ' ■ (-<Ftji i«» 4 I Oi 1 4 ■/ * . qu'b^ ff X Dd. V r’- •• ban ’’ ^4 I k -11 3 t 'r’lidr •*'* wan rvf • --v *»• 4 k f' L' . 1 i 4<-..; f I I ..t) f.l) • < I I . .tn. Cl I y; I 11 n b f I i fit' J i I A **4 »** 1 9J 0 . a I - I t f 1 - ’ ’I !• * t: ,1 f 'I . ♦ 4 M * I t / f If C . i * 7 ' 1 I I • ' . 'h I F <• > 'i» • <** .1^ 4 -^2 >7V4 .-^1. % ' V At . ; rf 4 --i-; ■•St» J >■ ♦♦ l; • 5’ r / t ■ m- # * I I J i gel a little and make the extra pass of­ fensively. Forest Hills Eastern has a roster without a senior, five juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen. Junior Raena Scully led the Hawks with ten points. Freshman Maddie Brown had seven and sophomore Kylie Konwinski finished with six points. Thomapple Kellogg was slated to vis­ it Forest Hills Central Friday, Dec. 12. The OK Gold Conference season starts for the Trojans Dec. 16 at home against Wyoming. The Wolves took two from TK last season as both teams were battling for spots in the middle of the conference standings. It’s a match-up the Trojans are really looking forward to being successful in. tf g 4 *■ \ 4 \ Ml 1 1 Vmi * ^r, 4 Brett Bremer Sports Editor A young Forest Hills Eastern team was not prepared for what the Thor­ napple Kellogg varsity girls’ basketball team had to throw at it in the season opener Tuesday in Middleville. The Trojans took a 62-35 winoverthe visiting Hawks. The TK defense threw so much pres­ sure at the Hawks that even TK head coach Brandi James thought her girls were going a little too hard. But that was really her only complaint. “Everybody played a decent amount, which shows the depth ofour bench. We didn’t have a lag when we went to our bench depth. They were staying right with the starters I think,” James said. “I would love to have a better full-court man. I wasn’t happy with how messy that looked. We just have some clean ing up to do. “They’re a very solid team and they are hungry to play a full-court man. With our depth I want to give that to them ... we need to emphasize getting the steal off the pass rather than off the dribble. We’re hungry to pick a pocket when we need to just make her pick up her dribble and then get the pass for the steal. That is just lessons to be learned. Film will help teach them that.” For the most part, the TK did every­ thing it wants to do this season other than a few early fouls from that eagerness on defense. The Trojans took advantage of their athleticism both defensively and of­ fensively. They created turnovers and found players for open lay-ups ahead in transition. They got the ball to junior Reece Ritsema and senior McKenna Hoebeke in the paint. There were flashes ofbrilliance from freshman guard Kath­ leen Kaboos. Junior point guard Addy Henry handled that spot well enough against the Hawks to give sophomore Taylor Lloyd the opportunity to be the scorer she can be. Henry is coming back from an ACL injury and coach James is ■5.*. ^^^■ H mONTIER BEATING AND CXfOLING f ;U- 1 ^JW»< war 'aer ' kW:^- A 4 .g1W > p *> Thornapple Kellogg junior forward Reece Ritsema goes in for a lay-up as Forest Hills Eastern’s Maddie.Brown gives chase during the first half of their season opener in Middleville Tuesday. Photos by Brett Bremer looking forward to having her as a true point guard once she’s got her basketball rhythm back. Lloyd led all scorers with 18 points. Ritsema finished with 14 points. Kaboos closed the ballgame with nine points and junior Ellie Harmon had eight. Ritsema was her usual dominant self on the glass, and sophomore guard Amya Gater had a great game rebound­ ing the basketball for TK too as well as being a terror at the top of the Trojan press. TK went on a 17-0 run after the teams traded buckets to start, and the Trojans led 17-4 after one quarter. The lead was double figures for the rest of the night. TK led 32-18 at the half. Even with that start, coach James was much more pleased with her team’s performance in the second half. She thought she saw her team starting to High Efficiency FURNACE 8 AIR $300 OFF With purchase of furnace & A/C unit. L ■WllW'»'4 S^' .V * S>'-**&*«*» •• s* I f-r I f ■ 1; I' J ’ F^^i: I I a i f 1 t 0 t i >». CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meeting Minutes The minutes for the November 19, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on December 3, 2025, are posted at the Township Offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave., and on the website at WWW, 1 w A ( ( - Must present this coupon. Expires 12-31-25 , * MM MM ^M M ^M M other products available: • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! I/\- h'jii: ivfeiikils 210 East Main Street Caledonia 616-891-8900 I ( J b J ! I I I 1I I r u T J ri t I J ♦ 1 I» 'H i 'V > I ',1 I .1 ' l.l M n H A i I k ft I h 'tt I 4 b i r 1 I 3 I I » r f I I ♦ / ♦ �» t 1 ‘“brt k* 10 Saturday. Dec^smber 13, 2025 SUN ^r^oNEWS VIKW mi J.“ W t. « » . > !• t . •1 C HAITI 1 K TOWSSHIPOl < Al l IM,MA cot VTV KI M. MH HIGAS Of NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF OKDINANCF AMENDMENT AND SUMMARY OF THE REGULATORY EF F ECT THEREOF Trojans’ Lloyd puts in 27 to beat Lakewood as offenses awaken Brett Bremer I nf Sccfion I of the Ordinance amende the Waler Ordinance by including additional land* in the Caledonia Waler Supply District, which arc commonly and legally devenhed at followi. DWallcrapp Avenue St. (Partcl No. 41-23-07-500-0311) l’ARI OF SWI RI 1/4 (()M 35 44 I T N 00 42M 09S I ALONG W SIX UNI & 941 03 FT N 01) 53M OIS F. ALONG W SIX I INI I ROM SW(OR OF SIX TH N Of) 53M OIS F ALONG W SFXUNI. 2IW.I0 F l III S K9I) (X)M 34S L 335.0 LI III S OI) 53M OIS W 2W) 10 FT Til N It9t) OOM 34S W 335 0 FT TO HIX.’ SIX 7 I5N RIOW2.I5 SPI ITXOMBINI I) ON 11/2KZ2OI7 FROM 4I-23X)7.3OOX)35. 41-23O7-3fK»-«34. 41-23-07-300-036. 2i()^ratKTMzaAycDutit IPartcl No, 41-23XI7-3OO-O11: N 2(M) I T Ot S 400 tT OF W 250 IT OF N 1/2 SWFRL 1/4 • SIX’ 7T5N RIOW 1 15 A 73i0 Patterson Avenue S£ IParccI N « PARI or SW 1/4 COM 35.44 II NOD42M09S E ALONG W SEC LINF A 1221.13 FT NOD53M0ISE ALONG W SIX' I INE FROM SW COR OF SEC TO N (ID 53M OIS t ALONG W' SEC LINE 260,10 FT TON LINE OF S 200 FT OF N 1/2 SW 1/4 TO S 891) OOM 34S E ALONG SD N LINE 335.0 FTTH S OD 53M OIS W 260.10 F l TH N 89D OOM 34S W 335.0 Fl TO BEG* SEC 7 T5N RIOW 2.00 A. SPLIT ON 2/25/2004 FROM 41-23-07.300X119, SPLIT ON 09/24/2008 FROM 41-23-07-300-026. 7528 Patterson Avenue (Parcel No. 41-23-07-3W-044): PARI OF SWI RI, 1/4 COM AT SW COR OF SFX ITt N OD 42M WS E AITTNO W SEC LINE 35 44 FT TO N 01) 53M OIS E AI.ONG SEC LINE 941.03 FT TO S 89D OOM 34S E 335.0 FT TO N OD 53M OIS E 540.20 F I ION LINE OF S 200 FT OF N 1/2 SW 1/4 TO S 89D OOM 34S E ALONG SD N LINE 349.09 FT IH S OD 05M 56S E 150.02 FT TO S 39D 17M 57S E 458.75 FT TH S 37D 46M OIS W' 260.66 FT TO S ODO5M56SE 308.88 FTTOS71D42M I9SE 168.61 FTTHS35DO5M lOSE 193.85 FTTOS84D44M 30S E 120.0 FT TH SLY 50.60 FT ON A 403.0 FT RAD CURVE TO LT /LONG CHORD BEARS S 1 ID 22M 06S E 50.56 FT/ TTI S I4D 57M 54S E 81.52 FT TO SL Y 82.99 FT ON A 297.0 FT RAD CURVE TO RT /IX)N(i CHORD BEARS S 6D 57M 36S E 82.72 FT/ TO S ID 02M 43S W 74.88 FT TO S SEC LINE TH N K8D 57M I 7S W ALONG S SEC LINE 1269.88 FT TO BEG * SEC 7 T5N RIOW 28.37 A SPLIT/ COMBINED ON 03/15/2019 FROM 41-23-07-300-039,41-23-07-300-040. ♦P 1 "A ;5 ■ I I e-- Vli The Trojans were thrilled to gel their first ‘W.' Ilie Vikings were pleased with the effort and improvements. oth teams were just happy to be putting the ball in the basket. The Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ basketball team got its first vic­ tory of the 2025-26 season outscoring visiting Lakewood 67-64 in Middieville Thursday. TK trailed by as many as nine points in the first half, but rallied to gel within 34-33 by the half. That w as already one more point than the Trojans scored in their season opener against Plainwell two nights earlier. Lakewood head coach Jason Solgat was pleased with the point total after his team scored 42 in its season-opener at Belding and averaged between 35 and 40 points per game last season. Thomapple Kellogg senior guard Ben Lloyd attacked the basket and scooped a shot up for a bucket that put TK in front 56-54 45 seconds into the fourth quarter, and the Trojans held a > 4 I • 4l I 1 jr .. • r« ■ I J 't 8730 Cherry Valley Avenue (Parcel No, 41-23-16-351-007): PAR I OF SW 1/4 COM AT SW COR OF SEC Tl IN OD 44M 06S W ALONG W SEC LINE 553.0 FT TH N 89D 36M 03S E 553.0 Fl TH S OD 44M 06S E 553.0 FT TO S SEC LINE TO S 89D 36M 03S W ALONG S SEC LINE 553.0 FT TO BEG* SEC 16 T5N RIOW 7.02 A. Ti: ri Sports Editor Fl Bl IC M)IK I IS IIFRI BY filVI N that on Detcmbcr 3. 2025, the lownAhip Board of the Charier township Caledonia adopted Ordinance Sk3 25-03 (the “f>rdinance'"L which armends the lownwhip'i Water C 'onneaion. 1 and Rate firdinante. » amended (the ‘Waler ^>rdinante“) tummary of the prwi’^km^ nf the ^>rdinan(.e i* »e1 R/rlh below; #• - t I fl A . i! VJ L - J -i 'iA A k u t r t » 4 t < I A « t > i I 9 I 1 I < jl 'I z rtti )i ' « * 3r>3 .A I I** 1,^ I «C' < k' « I fl r — <» ] \ ‘ -4 ii« d5 ,4- • Thornapple Kellogg junior center Sam Teachout reaches over to disrupt a shot attempt by Lakewood senior guard Bradyn Johnson (3) as he’s boxed out by the Viking sophomore forward Bryer Poll (front) during their contest Thursday, Dec. 4, in Middleville. 14^ T I J * s. I ,A I .4 ■ ^1 I . r.Atr I’i •« srot; * -3 > I iV i5 STS* -! I *.Wi ■:.r J .••I ► .’J.) I** 9 T T 1 y. flV »•- rI 6460 84th Street (Parcel No, 41-23-21-101-0011: N 330 FT OF W 404 FT OF NW 1/4 ♦ SEC 21 T5N RIOW 3.06 A. n 8484 Cherry Valiev Avenue (Parcel No, 41-23-21-101-010): S33O Ff OF N 660 FT OF W 333 FT OF NW 1/4 * SEC 21 T5N RIOW 2.52 A. 4M. * Section 2 of the Ordinance amends Appendix I to the Water Ordinance, the map of the Caledonia Water Supply DistricL to include the above-described lands. It also adopts the amended Appendix I, attached as Attachment 1 to the Ordinance, and incorporated in the Ordinance by reference. Section 3 of the Ordinance provides for the severability of the provisions of the Ordinance in the event a portion of the Ordinance is determined to be unenforceable. The paragraph headings in the Ordinance are furnished for convenience and reference only. fl I 9 A .40 I 1 '*1 // * B. t i Section 4 of the Ordinance provides that the Ordinance, or a summary thereof, must be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township following its adoption and that the Ordinance must be recorded in the Ordinance Book of the Township. Section 5 of the Ordinance provides that the Ordinance becomes effective upon this publication. A copy of the Ordinance may be inspected or purchased at the offices of the Township Clerk. Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE; within the Township, during normal business hours. Dated: December 5,2024 TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA Thornapple Kellogg senior guartd Ben Lloyd flips up a shot for two of his game-high 27 points in the Trojans’ home victory over Lakewood Thursday, Dec. 4. Photos by Brett Bremer slim lead the rest of the night. Lloyd made a habit of getting to the rim and led all scorers with 27 points even after picking up three quick fouls in the first five and a half minutes of the game. Being conscious of that foul trouble throughout the night didn’t slow Lloyd down any on the offensive end. “I’d come off screens and it just felt like taking it was the right idea,” Lloyd said. “And all the foul calls, 1 just knew that if 1 took it I’m either getting a foul or making the bucket.” He said his team had a great practice Wednesday and played with more con­ fidence and had better ball-movement Thursday. “We have to do a little better job of either helping off of it or cutting him off,” Lakewood assistant coach Chad Pleiness said. “We already talked about See TROJANS on 12 • I \ « ‘ .uI ‘'f fl Et ( $4 .-JkokW* ’ f *1 ’ ''f’ 4^ I .1 (•’n t ( r f/ 4 I: I- /> 'U ■ t I* i(g(Rt«tKyr?r®: l> r<i f ■t « T* * ■r I 1 I rL:., *-w • WIW ' t ■■ I ' J A •I I 4 1 ■ 1.)^ r • I r F > ; 1 I .C ' ItI •*as»Be >*« I fit I I B- n tW I » 1 4 ; J 4 4 TT’ I «l ',l' > ♦ 1 I ‘J' b ; k. >n I I ’» ■ -2i|74ik«M •flit > t ta .. ♦ • . V: L" « *l« fff •t. . •* UL » 4 I r I I ■ < I t / E t I, 1 f i I I t J 1 I I f 4 J b fl ii ’ > I I t A J A ” X �A t . s.'^S > 4 ♦ ♦ 1 I feHtafU * V n -16 < ,I • ei I «* * r» I i I 'f ^•1 rj C-'J • ♦ u ■ *: *rj.^ I > I , Iflf Bi J • » I I ii V r. A M 1. ) 5 bM J I •. J I .H r zj’ I LU - I I I ► <57? ) I I I . 4 ."r I J 1 ft j;ip J **. t e3 e ' J 15 Ol ? n r»' * T f frj’fn I r '• • • * 7 JCu I n 'W ( i I) JI ; r • V 4 ( t V ft/ -r i '' 'w *• 1 c I. > -If*? ■ « J 9 V r r c I J k •• I ) 9 f r .> , 7 '[• ill I 1 i I t Of/ Igmuxf ^t •. J’f t’ J ‘t I ■I 1 I . LJ» •JU* , xyf/T)7'j .rtro « ^^ufrnn^-X Hi I 01 I n ; 'lor V z?H bnm I 3 e,nnsi;^ r♦ >V j jbh b®ji T JV Si ■! S tor'?; i « a b .tWJI 1 JlM. >4^ I au® .4. t it H’** ' d W i J iiO( . T I I L.;. j. r 3d cr) 6sMI' fI I k r r<. ' 1 '. ".J I ■ J I f i ■: « 1 > I , "J I r ! . TH '4 >iU i^JL* t ). nUftj br ’ f u 4 i k **< a IP J f 'I jo^rrr; ♦ •• A d:5;\ ‘>1 biiii J 1 I 4 X f « < < .r I 4 g k r ' I ^4 ft . a I I ku I f /<. ) I r' I* I» » >! KWf^H . ■- 1b *’u .u' u ■ ,4 ’ > 1 mW® - ' f i I ’ft 11 1 t I It H } I I t i II t I 11 Returnees and talented frosh working to get TK back on top » Ik 9 Saturday, December 13, 2025 ,, Group y ♦ V' « THE SUN AhitJ N£WS' view vvww.sunancfnews.com 1 V♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Trojans want to get back to the state finals this winter. Those competitions to get there don’t come until February. Thomapple Kellogg varsity com­ petitive cheer coach Madelynn Lula said her girls are doing everything they can to be ready by then. Her varsity team has 22 girls this winter with 16 of those cheerleaders returning from the varsity squad last winter that won the OK Gold Conference Championship, but came up short of its goal of getting to the MHSAA Competitive Cheer Fi­ nals. The team lost just one key senior to graduation last spring. The group of 22 includes five fresh­ men and a foreign exchange student, and a couple of the top varsity returnees are shuffling spots to make the team as strong as it can be. Lula said she had the good problem ofhaving seven or eight capable varsity flyers coming into the season. “I don’t need seven. I need four. So, it kind of required some different people to take some different roles, like Peyton Gater. She typically has been a back spot for me, and she is basing this year because I didn’t need a back spot. Kaylee [Clarke] came out of the air and she is basing. I would say for the most part, everybody else is rocking in a fairly similar spot or is someone who is brand new to the varsity team. “[Senior] Sienna Schalk is also a back spot too, and she is typically a base and that happened accidentally,” Lula added. “She walked into practice one day, and I needed a back spot, this was over the summer. She said I’ve never tried before, but I’m willing to try. She became the best back spot on our team by a far cray, which is amazing.” The senior crew with Clarke, Gater and Schalk also includes flyers Mia Hilton and Claira Kovich as well as Kella LeClaire and Keiryn Merrill. Sophomore Tobey DeGroot is a big returning piece for TK too Hilton and Kovich will remain as flyers and will be joined high above the mat in round three by two freshmen flyers including Mia’s sister, freshman Caitryn Hilton. She’ll be a force to be reckoned with according to her coach, and will be a three-round cheerleader. Freshman Izzy Slagel will fill the f fp’*' • 4 z r V * A sets the tone for this year. The TK team went to the state finals in Division 2 in 2023 and 2024. Being stellar in round two could go a long way to TK getting back to the finals. This is the best round two I have coached since 1 have been at TK. This is not just because of talent. I have had the talent before, but the hunger and the fight for every detail. Really, that is what round two is ~ a race to the details. Who is going to fix those .2’s faster than the other team. I think they all get it. They’re all on board and ready to go. That is the difference between talent and technique. Technique wins championships, not talent.” A powerhouse Plainwell team that won regional last year will once again be a part of the Trojans’ district in 2026 as well as a Zeeland West team that went to the state finals last year. “We say in our rounds that last sea­ son’s loss set this year’s tone. That’s the definition of the season for us, literally. Falling just short of going to the state finals. They hadn’t gotten third in our district in many years, and then to not even finish top four at regionals and reach the state finals, break the streak, all of those things were at the time so defeating for these kids who were so capable,just the chemistry last year was off/ It happens during rebuilding years. The chemistry was off. It’s kind ofwhat you do with that moving forward that I t ( I fcs.1. 1.^ Thornapple Kellogg’s Kaylee Clarke (front) and Mia Hilton above their stunt groups during a 2025-26 competition. Now seniors, the two are part of a group of 16 returnees looking to get the Trojan program back to the state finals after coming up just short last season. File photo by Brett Bremer other flyer spot in round three, with Clarke working as a base in her stunt group. Lula said Slagel has improved leaps and bounds over the past six months to earn that spot. “I think this year the fire in their belly is so hot that they don’t care,” Lula said, “if it means learning a new spot, whether it’s in basing or stunting in general, or a new spot in a round. They come back the next day and they know it, because they know that’s what it is going to take to get to the next level this year as opposed to being stopped just short of their goals. They have been receptive to any sort of change whether that be stunting or position or choreography. It has been refreshing this year to have a team that is kind of all on the same page.” TK placed sixth at its MHSAA Divi­ sion 2 Regional in February, finishing 3.6 points behind the last of the four state qualifying teams from the re­ gional. There will be tough competition in chasing a district championship and a state qualifying spot again this winter. YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors... and our future. VIEW Group 8196 Broadmoor Avc. SE Caledonia, MI 49316 CalxdomiA TOWNSHIP Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 ✓ CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA, COUNTY OF KENT, MICIDGAN NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE AND SUMMARY OF THE REGULATORY EFFECT THEREOF PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on December 3, 2025, the Town­ ship Board of the Charter Township of Caledonia adopted Ordinance No. 25-02 (the “Ordinance”) to amend the Township’s Fire Department; Public Safety Ad­ visory Committee Ordinance (the “Fire Department Ordinance”). The following is a summary of the principal terms of the ordinance; Section 1 of Ordinance amends Section 4( c) of the Fire Department Ordi­ nance to provide that three members of the Public Safety Advisory Committee shall be Township Board members, including the Township Supervisor, and the remainder of the members shall be other qualified individuals. Section 2 of Ordinance provides that the Ordinance shall become effective on the day immediately following this publication. A copy of the ordinance may be inspected or purchased at the offices of the Township Clerk, Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue SE, within the Township, during normal business hours. Dated: December 5, 2025 TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA ♦ �12 Saturday, December 13, 2025 GAINES n CHARTER TOWNSHIP TROJANS NOTICE OF POSTING Zoning Text Amendment The ordinance makes modifications to Chapter 24 Section 24.40 D.4 of the Gaines Charter Township Zoning Ordinance: changing "4. Hours. In residential zoning districts. ECM signs shall be shut off between 11pm and 6am.” To “4. Hours. In residential zoning districts, ECM signs shall be shut off between 10pm and Tam.” Additional changes are proposed for Chapter 24, Section 24.80, Table 24.80, to allow electronic changeable message (ECM) signs as special land uses for non-residential uses in residential zoning districts, and for Table 24.80 to read in its entirety as follows: Residential Uses or Bed and Brsakfoste Freestanding Sign: Ground Sign for Residential Development Entry Point Wall Sign: for Non-residentlal Uses, Bed and Breakfosts, or M^or Home Occupations REQUiREMENTS Zoning District Maximum Number Maximum Size Maximum Height Maximum Setbacks Illumination Zoning District Maximum Number Maximum Size Maximum Height Minimum Setbacks Illumination Zoning District Maximum Number Maximum Size Illumination All residential districts____________________ 1 per lot________________________________ 16 s.f. for bed and breakfosts 32 s.f, for all other uses__________________ 6 ft____________________________________ 10 foet from street right-of-way or easement 20 feet from aH other *xr;*^av, tv lines External - for bed and breakfasts Internal and external (permitted) arxl ECM (special land use) - aH other norwesldentlal All residential districts 1 per entry 46 s.f. 6 10 ft from all tv lines External All residential districts____________________ 1 per building 6 s.f. for bed and breakfasts and major home occupations 32 s.f. for all other non-residentlal uses External A true and complete copy of the proposed ordinance is available in the Office of the Clerk at the Gaines Charter Township Hall, located at 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316. Michael A. Brew, Clerk Gaines Charter Township K'lW CofitHjued frfxTi Page 10 At a regular meeting of the Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees, held Monday, December 8, 2025, at 88555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316, the Board adopted an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance of Gaines Charter Township to limit the allowable hours of electronic changeable message (ECM) signs in Residential zoning districts and to allow ECM signs as special land uses for nonresidential uses in Residential zoning districts. TYPE Freestarxllng Sogn: Ground Sign for Non- 4 r ' * J iff**: that a little after Tuesday, and now it is just a little bit better. We'll get there. We haven't played a lol of man either. Wc'vc been a /one team for many years and now we have the athletes, wc have the depth and hopefulh a little more basketball LQ, and we're able to execute that a little bit better. As we get into it. we'll be much better at it." With Lloyd off the court for a bit between the end of the first quarter and the start of the second. Lakewood grew a lead as large as 27-18. A few points from senior forvsard Trey Hilton and a three from Lloyd were part of a quick 10-0 run that got the Trojans back in the bailgame. Lakewood was inhibited a bit by foul trouble loo both amongst its array of bigs and senior guard Ethan Matthews and Braydn Johnson. Senior center Hollis Poll fouled out eventually and junior center Jameson Tichvon finished the night with four fouls. “Lakewood is a lot bigger than we have been in the past,” Solgat said. “Coming into this game we really wanted to pick apart the middle of that lane there. We knew we could, and we started to right away. We would just hit the seams and pick them apart in the middle. You start losing your big presence in that middle there and your game plan changes completely. “Defensively, because of foul trouble we had to jump out of the press. The press was doing great damage there. Your game plan completely changes on the fly and you’re calling audibles. The kids grinded through it. We asked them to show up better than what they did against Belding the other night, and they did what we want. You never want to lose, but you’re happy to see what we just saw.” Lakewood had three guys in double figures. Johnson, a newcomer to the Viking program in his first varsity action, led his team with 12 points. Junior guard Remington Horstman and sophomore center Bryer Poll had 10 points apiece. TK had a lead of as many as nine points in the third quarter, but the Vikings surged to get within 52-50 head ing into the fourth quarter. Sophomore guard Skyler Oberlin hit a three-pointer to get Lakewood within 65-64 with 53 seconds left. Lloyd hit a couple free « La I r I I 4^ IJ I t/% ir 1 f* I< V i k i :I r L fl r I t < I I I 1 Hi* f -J . JI 1 I ___ J ’ 11^ » I L «* i X 1 X "n • » Trojan senior guard Zay Boafo gets by Lakewood guard Remington Horstman to put a shot up during the first half of their nonconference match-up in Middleville Thursday, Dec. 4. i « 9s w 1 I I J > * t**/ . f. ' r 4 ’X ■ <• '> 4 I r t ‘ 'J •J '--r L • 4 4I V throws a few seconds later to bump the TK lead to 67-64, and then the Vikings stayed alive with TK missing four consecutive free throws. Lakewood inbounded the ball with the length of the court to go with 5.6 seconds left. Oberlin got the ball ahead to Matthews in the offensive end, but Matthews slipped down to the floor approaching the three-point line but managed to recover to get a decent shot off that came up just short. “He is fhistrated, and I said, ‘hey the fact that you got off the ground and put up that shot told me you have a lot of grit, because a lot of kids would just fall on the ground and bury their head in the hardwood. The kid got up and fired it.” Senior guard Zay Boafo added 10 points for TK, junior guard Andrew Johnson had 9 and senior forward Trey Hilton finished with 8. Thomapple Kellogg went to For­ est Hills Eastern (1-2) and scored a 61-31 win Tuesday evening and the Trojans are now 2-1. The Trojans were scheduled to host Forest Hills Central Thursday, Dec. 11, and head to White­ hall Friday, Dec. 12. In the week ahead, TK plays host to Wyoming to start the OK Gold Confer­ ence season Tuesday, Dec. 16. The Tro­ jans travel to visit Caledonia Dec.b 18. j * « « <e fl * ri J I » .3? b »> k I V V* r ) 9^ I . asp*^** .J. *»'■ 11 I ? A i r. u 1 'A .r J0 4 I •9 ViSlBB** e I '• I I 't>. fl I A ■'■ w s . , b- — ' V' *** vfe^f I .1 t . 0 W»J r 1 •w V *1 J •lA.-. w*«.| W .* ‘3 ifW , • ; 1 I riooioRiJ*** - 1 1 itfliWvU ♦ A £ 1 I ** 9^ J* nsm .a^ •r i. fl • V > r» II • teh*;?r »t ij rs jcjjii ’ f-T t-k A.- 1 t «l !■ ■1 ‘*1 a a WOMB 1 # ^4 [ ■Ca;^ A « 4 *I '•^■aseww ' ST I f m w f i. __ "a* * ‘ 1 '1 > fe. 1 •d «« ltd "’L J. 1 .'3* , 1 A > iilHi 511' lit >ri I Lms *. ) i A 4 4 » * '....A 1 ' ‘ I I 4 I M «k iX- WiMbet « TJt a 1: t' *•* ’•*3 9 I < I I I i i f s J t t 4 . �♦ ( and news { VIEW THE SUN www.sunandnews.com £ f Saturday, December 13, 2025 Group 13 9 CHS girls looking to continue last season’s success on lanes L* IU_ * 4 i Brett Bremer 16, na •*- • I .. J FPf I 4*' r ■ 'Jm Sports Editor b It. I1 J V 1 J U 4 J * J ;• 3 1 p *• T '■ n .vf-i >^9 ' fkr L * 'X • I 1./ ** >rB { r; tfkt sJ >• ••• I” ♦ .4 I 1 2Jt/ 1 9 J T > I .. t. * r £ ■■d J J 01 »■ I ftj i 4 I I F S « 4 ^*1K *>♦ •l 4 V ^.. .^f i * ch t- fFfj U * 0 • ■ , • r T' I i A * r.-» . I r I --4 V' W' tl 9 t *' ■ r I •*> I 'I '179 I 4'- n .25*..» 'L'U ( 1 X bb>n Qsm) * it id I -^5 J "*»1 »l f J t>zi 11 / S' * I » • . •♦ *»«3i ar . - M . s *■* - - c .’•X T /if; r I ♦ kj . •w «»' 11 * 4 T^niv <« I R ... -'Wh. I J Maiu •» ? w/ Of: ( * »• “s 11 i*te! h. ' ^41. ri£ 1 *’’i J I I 1 rj' • S'.i* ’V'Td j".’ • • il; ;V I 1 ’ • • a i rJ ’ 5 > I n=! J ‘dx ttb' -rt w I I 1 9 r lU * I r ft« < H rj 4 "S •w* c lamite'^^5!^ il rw*«s*. ‘ 1 r 1 J J 9 ( I • I1 V« 2 b n 111, te I* I II j * t I, -i U-i 7 t J e .wn 4 I t-V - ■ «»*«« I I t i 1’ tiatwi* »s reaauaittMi^ •- * ) The Caledonia varsity girls’ bowling team is looking for more big things this winter, and the Caledonia boys are look ing to take a step up during the 2025-26 season. A trio of underclassmen were the top players for the Fighting Scots in the MHSAA Division 1 Regional Singles competition last winter after the team had already won conference and regional team championships. The CHS girls were 13th at the MH­ SAA Division 1 Girls’ Bowling Team Finals and the team’s one state singles qualifier, Addison Luxford rolled to 36th in the qualifying rounds. Luxford is back for her senior season to lead the Caledonia girls along with junior Riley Kalacanic and sophomore Katelyn Light. Those two just missed earning ■ spots in the state singles finals finishing ninth and tenth respectively at regionals. The top seven regional scorers qualified for the finals. Light, Kalacanic and Luxford finished I -2-3 in the OK Green Conference Cham­ pionship. The Fighting Scots will once again be led this winter by head coach Prescott Holbrook and assistant coach Brandon Luxford. - The girls were 9-1 in the OK Green Conference duals a year ago and the boys finished 2-8. tThe top returnee for the Caledonia boys’ team is senior Brady Humbarger who was an all-conference bowler and rolled to seventh at regionals to qualify for the D1 Singles Finals along with Luxford. : Holbrook said there is a trio of seniors to lead the way for the CHS boys this winter, and some newer bowlers that look promising. “I think they will finish the season strong,” he said. “The girls team has three ■sffl! Stig 0 sfim(M ■ < V t. z*» .J a -» I ’**1“ • * — , *»? \ «ilgii E^'illU-"" I > y- .9. « 9 -<1 tfOVl? .J * I7.2 . c*- > ifii' ' I 'I « .1 1 tf I I 1 Im I I 1 * t * r .5 . I ( i t < >>■» ' -is-*! •XU t i. «ltY 1 f1 .ft * rwO f ’1 ' -sS' • A ♦ ** j > « W J V I * i d ‘J 0 * ( j I f I ■ 9f s 4 f S> *> s' V* 4-’ • •b.'. ■f k i returning players with outstand­ ing averages for the area and an incoming freshman that is already posting senior level numbers. In practice the team as a whole is proving to be a powerhouse in the region.” Ifthere is anything the Scots are especially working on in the pre­ season it is their performance in Baker Games, the portion of high school bowling where all five bowlers take turns rolling a frame twice to make up a ten-fi'ame team score. Holbrook said getting better in the Bakers is a priority. Each dual includes two Baker -- ~ , z • / \ a* Members of the Caledonia varsity girls’ bowling team celebrate a good day at Sherman Lanes following the OK Green Conference Preseason Tournament. The Fighting Scots shared last year’s conference championship with the Reeths-Puffer girls. Photo provided Family Owned & Operated SAW MILL OFFICE 517-254-4463 #1^ w* “T “T l-T* J k e Members of the Caledonia varsity girls' bowling team celebrate a good day at Sherman Lanes following the OK Green Conference Preseason Tournament. The Fighting Scots shared last yeaFs conference championship with the Reeths-Puffer girls. Photo provided games and two regular games, and regional team competitions consist of eight Baker games as well as two regular games. The Caledonia teams opened the season at the OK Green Preseason tournament Dec. 5 at Sherman Lanes in Muskegon. Senior Wade Cawson was the top scoring boy in the conference to lead the CHS guys and the Cale­ donia girls had Kalacanic first and Light third. The CHS girls are also looking forward to taking on the defend­ ing Division 1 state champions from Grandville in a dual Dec. 17 at Spectrum Lanes. The OK Green Conference season of duals starts when the Scots host Byron Center Jan. 5. N9 BF/MAx ! RE/MAX OF GRAND RAPIDS Margaret (Margo) E. Peric Full Time RE ALTORM Offering Sales ft Leeslng Services Since 2003 Cell: (616) 204-9792 Office: (616)957-0700 Email: margopeflc@remax.nel 517.646.0439 * Lansing 269.967.8241 * Battle Creek/K-zoo 517.740.1533 * Jackson/Ann Arbor antennamen.cu5tomer@gmail.com www.theantennamen.com www.cen8ignalpro8.com (B * Closed-Cell Foam Insulation « Blown-In Attic Insulation TNE^ i We Work All Winter Digital TV Antennas * Towers * StarLink Installs Wireless Data Links * Cellular Enhancement Systems * NSPRAY bIsdr ’ s FOAM,LLC / 1 - I ■ .*x jjgfi'iufsaB > ! J--. 1' h jgRp’'I.Ml! r * T 4 1 I » GD WOOD PRODUCTS » • !«• 1 I I - <L • J * r 1 I 9 i* i I! > I J :I I 1 J r hI I'.' ♦ I ! I H I J II I I i,-i ’ f.l it «5 Conscientious Timber Harvester Wanting to Buy Standing Timber cellW’ SIG A PROS *Building-to-building^ Point-to-Point WiFi Extensions if High definition outdoor cameras to monitor your property Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 517-983-0954 Start Saving Today ~ Use Spray Foam �14 < a Saturrlay, De*v 'fl / rxff 13 2025 VWW„w-w seconds with a goal by ( Hbom. oft as­ sists from Lewandowski and Camden (?uigley Maclum-Michoelftcn scored the Scots' final goal on a power play with 36 seconds remaining f than Sova and Supuk assisted on that final goal. Big Rapids had a .VI lead on the Scots in the first penod Saturda>, Dec. 6. hut Caledonia rallied for the win shutting out the ( ardinals over the final 42 and a half minutes Maclum-Micheelscn evened the game at 3-3 with a goal off an assist from I ,sch four and a half minutes into the second pcritxl and then had the go-ahead goal on the power play six minutes into the third. Ixwandowski and Quigley assisted on that game­ winning goal. Rylan Bultcma tacked on another power play goal with 9:09 to go in the game with assists from Evan Moore and Nichols. Lewandowski and Sova scored first period goals for the Scots with assists from Maelum-Michcelscn, Sova and Brady Saunders in that opening period. Ihe ( alcdonia varsity h<x;key team took back*U>-back wins on its home ICC during the f rrand Rapids Showcase al Patterson Ice ( enter last weekend. fhe f ighting Scots kncKkcd off Sa­ lem 6-1 f riday evening and then took a 5-3 win over Big Rapids Saturday, ( alcdonia scored the first four goals of the game in the contest with Salem liarmen Esch scored two of those, including a power play goal five and a ha I f m inutes into the second pericxl with assists from Bryce Mitchell and Rylan Bulterna that had Ific Scots up 3-(f I sch and (iabc Supuk scored the two first periexJ goals for Caledonia again.st the Salem Rocks. William MaelumMichcclsen assisted on I’sch’s goal. Ihat 3-0 lead held into the third pe­ riod. Drew Nichols scored with assists frtwn Mitchell and Ty l^ewandowski a minute and a half into the third to make it 4-0 in favor of the Scots. Salem scored midway through the third period. Caledonia answered after about 90 ,uair I f CHS hockey overwhelms Salem, rallies against Big Rapids at showcase Brett Bremer Sport$ Editor •*• I.?; 1 Utts tovt a better k>’ .Jl n-V’ V • - it. I Brail Brwner Sports EOrtor I i I I The ( akxkma ymutv wTCStltr^ team wml V2 ffi five nwtkhc^ and placed third Saturday al the Cirecnx'ilk l>uals. Caikxkma knocked <»ff llddtr^ 45-24. heat PctwAey 41-,V). fell Ui (irecnviUc 17-29. heal Hamilton <i6-15, and fell to Hastmgs 42-32 Ilie two losses came down to the final waght cla&v. md I igbting Scot head coach ShawTi Vntoh was pretty pleased to RCc his team's improvement from a year ago when they were 0-5 as a team at the same tournament. Ihc dual with (ireonville that came down to the match was a big tumamund from a 72-6 kns to the Yellow Jackets a year ago. He said he has his team focusing on physical and mcmal toughness thts scasoa and he was impressed with both from h» guys Satirday, They didn't let opponents' physicality get to thOT mentally, and were always ready to battle back when die whistle bkw. ‘*Ciotta keep that rocking arxJ rolling,” Veitch said. f ighting Scot 126-pounder Max Schnurstcin was 5-0 for the day. Ky Spencer at 285 pcxinds. Caden Nostrant aS 17^ and Pr-jbt'n kt'si.m .tin 44). f Rcha RocxJct. \ n Siew-art arxi LMher Roeder Xavier S*r*jr! ar h' Miawn RcfctAu wTc^icd thmugl i !fu only nnoe for tht Sc^Xs (Vwch Veftch said fx hroi^jn etght mewe guys than die team needed f* r du OTMtahonal lie wished to <<v a couple young guvs tested m varvitv m arxl aho wanted to have a few orivrt newotimcrs just expenenoe .i b,|,' v iH :»tt) tournament I thought the team rcalh Njndnd v^rit and stood together/* Veitch said Ihe only dis<ipointmenl he really had from the dat) » the team accmod a bit WOT down b\ the time rt uas uTcstSnii^ Ha«4ings in the final dual of the da> Ik said that went forhimsciftoo. HeaxiWldl he w^»n3 as exated and yelling as much earlier in the day. “I think hnncjiUy. I was gassed by the end of the fourth dual/* Vertch said. Caledonia is Ret to he a port of the Kent C’ourty Classic Uxlay, lies 13, at l ast Kentwood Hi^ school. Ihe Soots host a tough dual with Jackson Northwest Wednesday, Dec. 17. The Scots close out the pre-holiday schedule w ith a trip to the Northview Invitational Doc. 20. if ¥ T .i** I f A V ■> 6 I < '•r ‘ 4* . ( I • > 4‘' Scan our OR code 10 find your * 4 'I'?' J I 5S a ■ith 3 i ,.♦ * F I L f H 1 *r.«' 1 I rj 4 If*. I• A' t » i rti', ' ' 'i-*r .Tw r- - ■ I ■wr I 4W * ■s"' <1 • wir * rf-. J » b ► 1 *« Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS 4 ? j I 9 f I I t fl r-' { .X " 1 < ri' h 't **<» » 'fc.' S- ■ K. ■ J*' 4 < r> I i J> 'k ■ • » I I * . J «*■ -ft r 4^- ■ ■ 9^. I «4ft 'tarr- -*4 . Ordinance to Amend Ordinance No. 493 t I «a I' J. i < •# A* < ? -a-’' * 1 5 1 : r / 'A-'' •’i " I-’ ,, OS.-WW* M• i.u4«' . * ■ f The ordinance makes modifications to “mandatory connection" requirements for water and sewer in the Township (Sections 1003 and 1008). Owners of an existing building using or requiring Potable Water, which are located in the Township and which are currently served by a private water well or private Sewage Disposal Facility, shall not be required to connect to an available Public Water Main, or available Public Sewer, until such time the Kent County Health Department determines the existing system (water and/or sewer) has failed, and it is not possible to repair the system. No other changes are proposed. < ▼ * ■-C At a regular meeting of the Gaines Charter Township Board of Trustees, held Monday, December 8, 2025, at 88555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316, the Board adopted an ordinance to amend Ordinance No. 493 of the Water & Sewer Ordinance. <A w < v«- 5 ' •’L ■' ■ I •* ' ;• * I periecl invitation' ft > « ft* NOTICE OF POSTING 4 lb* J ft J ^7^ .r. r /• :r GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP I ■ i' ? >* f * * • I i > at» i* I r/ c i ■' J .n-' *03 mMlw* z «! > !• .. ' • w- ■ * t I a ■! '■ ■ — ---- • a ■ IS f a MiwftWftw KI B |K r I ftl t ft U 4 fta » IV I V A • *' . jft 'ta (* .U.i ',■:*. « s# < ftK-rMKto «1 4 J I J ft 1 .1 f ■ I. \ - « / 1 VlMMIv^ n s A A i Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. A true and complete copy of the proposed ordinance is available in the Office of the Clerk at the Gaines Charter Township Hall, located at 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316. ►• 4 !♦ f « f Fl' . ft www.printingbypennylane.com ginad@pennylaneprinting.com Michael A. Brew, Clerk Gaines Charter Township M <» k I i i I i a— t* < 2 11 r * I } f. I I I 1 I t I 9 I t tj I I’ i I i h it < f 4 '• w « .a . « 'W.. i « * l" • • ?* I 1 PRINTING BY •> I It I I ft f t I a ft a I < i 4 a ’■■■ T*;- ■a” —— < ■<WlM �♦ u * ! f **11 fe. 9 I I 1 I « 9 k• > I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I i ■* j (I Wt i- > 1 ♦ c f * W 4 ' ’« ■'A- , I I (• 1 «I 4 I i J7 ♦ I . ** > > -*• i I ■ * n. I ) . /•« '’.i> *o^,s. 11 ’t- - 1 1 -I*, t r '' Wk T J e-w. I 4. I I 7 ,1 ‘Ml*. *<‘0i t1 I " ■1'1 w X J? 9 y I •■•e* I «« •V J. .•a:t f' Tilt'. ’U. •• ’fr» -If 5 sr k'. • 73 I., * Ik L. 1 * « 71 1 I -»a : I »tfk. •4’ to I .'ll fflp! ••WA ' s •a. »i A ■ I I I I I I I IH I I I. I I I I I I u* • J. r 10. I biiC i/ ■>V»a. J ■9ii f««( [! ■yilNu < JV I ’ifto i Ml I d . ’’Jt b I iteezt ^0^ '''■ I •f 1: ' iV I i1 **• I 1 1 ' 9 , t fbit a—k. O' X n w n T r «■ ' 'I B hjK —•laAwijjijy 1 > 4 1,. *1 - ■•Mwifctejijfeiiss,)!] I • Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture and residential uses. • Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and • N/A: Not applicable .*•- . e . ’I ^CLGW •< .. i MCI, n, or MftOt { MROlfi Iter • ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter • ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter • Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. level tMectad 2 *^vv* Smple d 10 10 4.49 Nitrate in drinking water at levels above lOppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advice from your health care provider. Vtobflon >^s/Ne 5 1 2024 4 4 .16 2024 0-0.39 Sodium^ (ppm) N/A TTHM Total Trihalomethane&(ppb) M ij id tli M-ii -r“ !? XjISpliflKi|it^ NO Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits NO ntiSC *** N/A 29.33 0.0156 5.05-28.1 0.00061- 0.156 2024 e* .... I NO acid (HFPO-DA) {m>t) 420 (PFBS) (ppt) NO and aluminum factories (PFHxS) (ppt) Erosion of natural deposits Perfluorohexanolc acid (PFHxA) 51 0.00202 D-.OO2O2 2024 NO Byproduct of drinking water disinfection Chlorine^ (ppm) 4 4 .62 6.03-1.18 2024 NO Water additive used to control microbes Is 0 2021 NO Erosion of natural deposits Combined ndlum (pCIA) 5 oT" Total Coliform TT N/A 2023 N/D H-i.-l di 2024 NO N/A 4.1 04.1 Discharge and waste from Industrial 2024 NO N/A N/D N/D Firefighting foam; discharge and watte 2024 NO 400/X)0 N/A N/D N/D Hrcfighting tom; discharge and waste 2024 NO from Industrial facilities 6 (ppt) N/A N/D Discharge and waste from Industrial N/D NO 2024 facilities; breakdown of precursor compounds Firefighting foam; discharge from electroplating Perfluorooctarte sulfonic add 16 (PFOS) (ppt) N/A N/D N/D 2024 fadlities: discharge and waste NO from industrial facilities Naturally prcserrt in the environment Perfluorooctanoic add (PFOA) (ppt) 6 N/A N/D N/D Discharge and waste from Industrial 2024 NO fodBties; stain-resistant treatments t E. coll In the distribution system See E. coll (positive samples) note’ 0 0 N/A 2024 NO Human and animal fecal waste •I-’. i» 1 Actbr brto TT N/A 0 N/A f.’' Discharge and waste from Industrial facilities Erosion of natural deposits N/A A* Byproduct of drinking water disinfection N/A .387-.735 N/O ^4a___ from Industrial focllities Perfluorononanoic aod (PF NA) 00.77 N/A I ( fadities; stain-resistant treatments (ppt) 2024 'i* iminar* utSiUing the Gen X chemical process Perfluorobutarse sulfonic add Perfiuorohexane sulfonic acid 60 source (positive samples) at 370 r < tL'M. ( I Fecal Indicator - E. coli at the Urf'-**'-’* {!« 4-«| 'Mpil'a**** Tia. 1^1 promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer HAAS Haloacttic AcWs (ppb) Alpha emtnen (pCi/L) —5 t-T—' 60 N/A ----------- Oitf ConUnirrTtn 9Tr7 4*8^ to^r-y'k^T? e > h Hexafiuoropropyiene oxide dimer Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which Fluoride (ppm) I. TVpkM Source of Contamiiurtt 4 0-13-3 We invite public participation in decisions that affect drinking water quality. The Village of Middleville Council's regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm at Village Hall. For more information about your water, or the contents of this report, contact JD Pennock at 269-795-3385 or at www. villageofmiddleville.org. For more information about safe drinking water, visit the U.S. EPA at http://www.epa.gov/safewater. IMonitoring Data for Regulated Contaminants 9 request We will update this report annually and will keep you informed of any problems that may occur throughout the year, as they happen. Copies are available at the Village of Middleville main office located at 100 E. Main St., Middleville, Ml 49333. This report will not be sent to you. • fiCi/i: picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) ’5^ Resutb of momtonct are iwOaM Monitoring and Reporting to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Requirements: The State of Michigan and the U.S. EPA require us to test our water on a regular basis to ensure its safety. We met all the monitoring and reporting requirements for 2024. •JJD: not detectable at testing limit "—I 2023 N/A Our water supply has 72 lead service lines and no service lines of unknown material out of a total of 1299 service lines. If you would like to know more about this report, please contact: JD Pennock, The Village of Middleville, 100 E. Main St., Middleville, Ml 49333. He can also be reached at 269-795-3385 or pennockj@villageofmiddleville.org. This report is also available at www.villageofmiddleville.org. • Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant tn drinking water. 1 >«!( M! iiSil n ■ M™.-WSsolji5JI|!di«! • Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLGl: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. I 7^Kfitiiiji3t!S4I^Di)(kii . • Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDLl: The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. Dato for ftegutated CootvnhoatJ Nitrate (ppm) hI • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCLl: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: xtatn-re^ant treMments Using a filter, certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead, is effective in reducing lead exposures. Follow the instructions provided with the filter to ensure the filter is used properly. Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Boiling water does not remove lead from water. Before using tap water for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula, flush your pipes for several minutes. You can do this by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. If you have a lead service line or galvanized requiring replacement service line, you may need to flush your pipes for at least 5 minutes to flush water from both your home plumbing and the lead service line. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact The Village of Middleville at 269-795-3385 for available resources. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at www.epa.gov/ safewater/lead. • fipt: parts per trillion or nanograms per liter • inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming. s<A Information about lead: Lead can cause serious health effects in people of all ages, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and parts used in service lines and in home plumbing. The Village of Middleville is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes but cannot control the variety of materials used in the plumbing in your home. Because lead levels may vary over time, lead exposure is possible even when your tap sampling results do not detect lead at one point in time. You can help protect yourself and your family by identifying and removing lead materials in your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family's risk. • Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLGl: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. T 20M Unregulated contaminants are those for which the U.S. EPA has not established drinking water standards. Monitoring helps the U.S EPA determine where certain contaminants occur and whether regulation of those contaminants is needed. Terms and abbreviations used below: Sources of drinking water: The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. Our water comes from wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. and waste from iodustwai ooMuma .00*4 KJucA The table below lists all the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the 2024 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done January 1 through December 31,2024. The State allows us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. All the data is representative of the water quality, but some are more than one year old. disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. U.S. EPA/Center for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). Cemmentt Sampkd Oetectetf OcrUuoropMCone nOlonK •oa Water Quality Data Contaminants and their presence in water: Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the U.S. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). Vea< Kanga tcwei Home In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. EPA prescribes regulations that limit the levels of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Federal Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which provide the same protection for public health. * If you would like to know more about this report, please contact: JD Pennock Village of Middleville, 100 E. Main St., Middleville, MI 49333. He can also be reached at 269-7953385, or pennocki@villaeeofmiddteville.ore. More information about this report can 3lsobefoundatwww.villageofmiddleville.org. i I t . 'V, There are no significant sources of contamination included in our water supply. We are making efforts to protect our sources by testing aU our drinking water sources and distribution system along with implementing our well head protection program. • Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife. AwFa<e tlnrefuUtrd Contaminant pro) Your water comes from 4 groundwater wells, each over 78ft deep. Two of which are located near the water storage tower on the west side of town. A third well is located off Irving Rd. near the Village limits. Production well # 6 on Irving Road and production well # 3 on the west side are built to a depth of 78 feet and utilize unconfined sand and gravel aquifers. Production well # 4 on the west side is built to a depth of 352 feet and utilizes the Marshall Sandstone aquifer. Well # 5 is located to the west of Bryanwood Estates Development near the Thornapple River. This well is built to a depth of 197 feet. Based on records reviewed, the susceptibility assigned to the wells at Village of Middleville is Moderate. Refuiatetf Contaminant *44 . kite • Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. This report covers the drinking water quality for the Village of Middleville for the 2024 calendar year. This information is a snapshot of the quality of the water that we provided to you in 2024. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and state standards. * . <» 2024 NO 'i *ur *** MCUS t Tear f Nv'nbei' S'- ia»pNs. nafit 4 1 i Human and animal fecal waste >T,« Lead service lines, corrosion of household I Lead (ppb) > IS 0 3 0-8 2023 0 plumbing including fittings and fixtures; Erosion of natural deposits 1 t I t Mo II I i ' Sodium is not« regulated contaminant. Copper (ppm) 1.3 13 0.1 o-a2 2023 * The chlorine “Level Detected* was calculated using a running annual average. i J I * f. coli MCL violation occurs If; (1) routine and repeat samples are total coliform-positive and either is f. coff-positfve. or (2) the supply fails to take all required repeat samples following C. co/i-positive routine sample, or (3) the supply fails to analyze total coliform-positive repeat sample for f. coH. * Ninety (90) percent of the samples collected were at or below the level reported for our water. a IJ 1 r ' Ii 1 I I I I »»• I I* » J I I I1 I •1 ’ 1 ; I 1 (» ' !1 11 I (A X 4 'ft I i n 14 / i f I 15 Additional Monitoring gas production and mining activities. Water Supply Serial Number: 4360 Vulnerability of sub-popuiations: Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have li undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune systems I 11 > . T Mli Ie. jf ’W > •i J liiU. *»• -T- • Cl r ... Im. r ■»•• Saturday, December 13, 2025 Group 2024 Water Quality Report for Village of Middleville I I I M* NEWS VIEW..^ ♦ ♦ I ’V THE SUN AND www.sunandnews.com I i I 4 0 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits �Saturday, December 13, 2025 16 the sun AMD NEWS VKW www.sunarxlnews.com Turnovers make comeback tough for Scots against Kenowa Hills Brett Bremer Sports Editor Senior Keegan Garvin finished with a team-high 16 points for the Knights. Senior Frank Arnold had 14 points and senior Brody Willick 13. Caledonia went on a 9-0 run to get within 14-13 in the first two and a half minutes of the second quarter, but a couple of late threes by junior George Rauschenburg pushed the Knight lead back up to 28-22 at the half. Kenowa Hills recovered just in time to wipe out every ensuing rally by the Fighting Scots the rest of the way. The Kenowa Hills got out to a double­ digit lead in the first quarter and the Fighting Scots were never able to quite claw all the way back in their home opener Friday, Dec. 5, at Caledonia High School. The Knights scored a 63-54 win over the Caledonia varsity boys’ basketball team, which is now 1-2 overall this season after falling in a tough road contest at Rockford Tuesday. Knight lead got back up to ten in the third quarter. The Scots cut it to five early in the fourth, it swung up to 14 points and then the Scots managed to battle back to within 57-54 with under a minute to play. A couple Caledonia turnovers and a few Kenowa Hills free throws finished things off. Turnovers were a bugaboo for the Fighting Scots throughout the contest. “We razzled early and just didn't have the focus right away," Caledonia LOOKING TO JOIN A WINNING TEAM? ^^1 WE ARE RESPONSIBILITIES: - Become a part of our locally-owned newspaper group doing good things for the communities we serve! - Help local business owners and managers grow their businesses! - Build relationships by attending local networking events! Group is seeking qualified applicants for an HIRING ADVERTISING SALESPERSON covering Marshall, Battle Creek, Hastings, Middleville, Caledonia and Lowell ■*»« X. f K I ? r_ •A' k — X head coach Nate Bums said. “Defen­ sively, we left too much space early when we knew we weren't supposed to. And uncharacteristically not strong with the ball and careless with it early and we couldn't dig out of the hole." Freshman Luca Galardi hit two threes and led the Scots with 16 points. Junior guard Aaron Collins knocked down a couple behind the arc too and had ten points. Sophomore guard Con­ nor Bloemers and junior forward Bryce Backus had six points each. Bums didn’t feel like his team re­ bounded as well as it had in a season opening win at Wyoming either. “I was pleased with the fight. We never gave up,’* he said, “and fought all the way through. We’ve got a young back-court, an inexperienced backcourt, we pick up the dribble a little too early sometimes, and didn’t sec where really we were wanting to go with the ball. It’s the growing pains of a young group." Rockford beat the Scots 84-59 Tues­ day night. The Scots were slated to visit Lowell Friday, Dec. 12. They will be home to face Carrollton Tuesday, Dec. 16 and then home against Thomapple Kellogg Dec. 18. a * I I • « r? f t- «aH .one E F K > - E fwt 1 ABH ./ja IS r Y 4. -5 T c » 4^»' [i « J] ■‘Uri rnluf*- rWK I* J '■’ ^UJI IflWJ -SB K< ‘I*’*"' >''"liiMliftlvNl»i i>NiJ.ilNi'H 1 •' -Wb rtm .1) /TztT Sllll*5>4ihq »• .V’At 1o A K 1 T * J /I » -I J. A F ■ •» n * A I I e J «r" «• i **. ’£• £ A b A h < f •K/. 1 ' 2 k •** •!» a *> 1 3 I, r ■1 J A r *■•**—» — i -I R > • V «l> . o I z •• c A ♦> n J ll * ‘/ji ** 'iM THE REMINDER 4t V « I :r i >* » ‘1 ■fS < Gi•* kI flBk of' L < k, *' ' * I PiI "I OB r—w #• ■? k« c. ur * 4L * J I ll c I I- 3 e f ’ V L. M 9^ THE LOWELL THE HASTINGS LEDGER BAHNER BUYER'S GUIDE AND NEWS THE SUN AND NEVirS - BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Send resume to; Chris Silverman csilverrnan@mihomepaper.com Fighting Scot junior forward Lincoln Senti attacks the basket as Kenowa Hills' Keegan Garvin (right) and Kamden Cimock close in on him during the first half Friday, Dec. 5, at Caledonia High School. Photo by Brett Bremer ? a. i; A- ‘S , T iJ r ( I 4 Q I S' fb i I t Ii i-.> I t t i I i r I f I f 4 I* ♦ <1 I I i h < f 8won9/! brifc (Jrtgn) iwibc) ffwi no ni 93Old >ioom!O ifg.-. jsQ lied taw ' ’ I < JOO?: 11 I i r I I I 4 1''. n,^ fc.z ***^ ffH'itHN lOOrtSS riraH i- � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-12-20.pdf cab12fbb01739a70a0a0ea89dbf5393e PDF Text Text > r 4 X r 4 » v. r* • • 9' • V • I it ' I I V •t KM: 5 • ':>rr * a A* t » i> f 9.. b f■ f ♦ T < I A z 9. 'X * 'i V > 5 k t ff “st**. 3 > > > A* '{ 4 - — 1 I '4 W *# I’ •.'li •y v •S'. Xi- w. .* Jr. b -J - ■ |V ■ I ' .ki » A ’ !r.: < r» 1 THE SUN AND I 0I r •I I I } I < viEVsr f 1 1.1! % NEWS I •:< sS / h k 1 V ) \ Group > ROM iUR FAMILY TO YOURS! .<• w 9■ A on v»f www.sunandnews.com ^r Proposed parking lot at Paul Henry trailhead on hold after village is denied DNR grant I gniiliBq bsBoqorl IliBit ifinsH IubA tE BBlIiv TBflB bloit no tnBie Iwa bsinsb ''4 i -ML . 1^ v. #* ? V A'V * -v T I BWUmn "w 5F^.4^. • K i ■■we-'. KP* •ASH*** •I • ‘i * r t IK A > V t¥ J/r A* AmirtAMNy OMR A. «*•» <Wr 9 * ib Kl a«wm •» TF«WRr«t MctXsry R OVRMbU t - * x:*’ »««« wMM •< ‘ VlWMy A • t] V JlJj *.V i A. r i. 0«MkM A. Me* **•«»« C ' A W< 41 4 V 2010 THORNAPPLE KELLOGG HIGH SCHOOL t 1 3 A proposed parking lot to be con ­ o 9d ot lol gnhlTcq bazoqmq ; structed on the property near the Paul sdJ TBon ynoqorq arfJ no bstomiz , Henry Thomapple Trail trailhead at joatfliBil lisiT 9lqcfEmoriT ’nnaH . Kinsey Avenue and Main Street in 199118 rafiM boB 9urrr/A y9«ni>l Caledonia is on hold after the village r/ aril 1^; biori no zi BinobslfiO . i was not approved for a recent Michigan M HT399T B To'f bavoTqpB lon JS Department of Natural Resources grant. 99fiuo89Jl lu-HJlfiKlo jnsmlTEcpa >1 Some residents opposing the parking lot iBfj aril :^zoqqo zlnabizar 9mo2 I < are breathing a sigh of relief at the news f Jfi iailTt to risi2 fi snidiB^id 9Tt; j of the project’s delay. .y£lfrf)2'Ja5fpTq9ril to Christie Bayus, program manager for ansnri ms^ovi ,bu'<b0 ©bznrD the DNR, said the grants are competi­ lo'j 9TB ansTg adt bisz. .RHQ srit tive and not everyone who applies is ikjqa oflw anrrmvi) Jon bnc svil I awarded a grant. jning bsbiBWB “We received 57 applications request­ anodBMkp?B V& bwioaoi aW ing $7.2 million this year,” Bayus said. r/Bfl '',TB3< zirlt norliim £.V2 gni , Among those 57 applicants was the IV/ gJriBoilqcjB agorit gnomA t Village of Caledonia, who applied for a f^qqn oriw jsinobaUDlo agfiUiV grant to fluid a proposed parking lot that p[>i'icq baeoqoiq u bnul ot Jnsig would be constructed on the property □Tq aril no totofjUanoo ad fainow near the Paul Henry Thomapple Trail alqqBmorrr ymsH lucfl sriJ leon trailhead at Kinsey Avenue and Main bnfi ijunwA Jn bfisriliBiJ - Street. But the village was among 42 lomn aev/ ag&Urv arif lufl .JSQit^ other applicants that did not make the iBfn Joo bib ifidt 2Jn&oilqqB TsriJo .Jeil JmiqkmJ grant recipient list. “The property at Main and Kinsey bnfi nfsM Is yjTsqoTq sifT' is owned by the school district, and Jainaib I«K)ri32 adt yd banwo 8i it would be their decision if they ^oi^i^^fa liariJ od fafa/ow Ji choose to develop ±at property in the vJwroT I JG(1t qolsvsb ot azoorio future,” said Caledonia Village Council sgiliiV BinobalBD bifiz’'^aiuliri President Jennifer Lindsey. “At this tA /3zbni,l Tslinrral tnabi83T9 point, the Village Council will need to 11!( / IijiUJoD 3§dIiV oriJ 4nioq reevaluate the downtown parking situa­ Ti)li£q rrwoJrrwob ^rit sJbuIbvsqi tion and determine how to best meet the 129<1 ot wori aninreJob fane nob needs of the area.” .B91B ^lo eboon Lindsey said that while she has served r.rl J r-! aliriv/ ifiriJ biBg "{azbaiJ on the Caledonia Village Council for Miu< I ) □gElliV fiinobalfiD sill no ±e past eight years, parking has con­ ’.cri snbiTBq .zwy Jrigio Jzjsq sriJ i3ono J B EB baerffi nasd ylirralziz sistently been raised as a concern in the downtown area. But 9TB wotnwob sri) EODN waaa cnnoNEu Hawoisno to sno yino gi JbtIj that is only one of “ sev ­ BEBIOEHJUVr TVUN30IS3U £O1*K' i Jcril "grotoBl Ibt9 eral factors” that led the eew, in 'mruiMJo (KMUMrniflBsy bO^xn Afuenoa o) 3§bU iv village to consider the * • 1 Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer frtplld3-««*iuT flai8)l i9thW HgIS Group £JA«S **?u I . J7. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025 NO. 51 . J- VI EIACm* 4 VOL. 147 t ■y. ■ fj: 9 > > 'irV *«» X SJF.' 9. It /I :i Sv F' •u* t 9 *a*- 9 r y J f frx A C J *> \ 21 * c' * *;iM L .r;VM > Xr ♦ ▲ ft SJ' 't X A aw ♦. •J . .^ - .^ ■ n ? * « .< : c* / *_T ‘S* Q* I * • L ^yr’U’'* /• “ iMrl I TnaT. w Members of the Women’s Giving Circle of Barry County gathered at Thornapple Kellogg High School on Friday. Dec. 12, to hand over a check for $6,500 to TK’s FFA advisor, Alyssa Hamlin. Pictured are (from left) Nancy Goodin, Lyn Briel, Debby McKeown, Hamlin, Kim Norris, Debbie Tomko, Lisa Finkbeiner and Carla Wilson-Neil. Photo by Molly Macleod Women’s Giving Circle benefits TK FFA program 1 L *’ 1 \: ±?J 1 J j I’ J l' v I 1 I 1 ssMuaa orexoaod iMaa 338 1 I .! beuuv *338 <9839 0L6aUAI||6' Mf I i I bVID BEE# lliujed 8E88# '8||iAuaaio m aivd aovisod s n a±s isud n s boSiVGg bHSlSlO I• 35 r •1 I I 1 11 4 I I I f 1 I J • I I I I •'5 11 iii I Ju See DENIED on 3 Molly Macleod Editor Thornapple Kellogg High School’s Future Farmers of America chapter received a finan cial boon last week from a local group of women dedicated to sup­ porting area nonprofits. The Women’s Giving Circle of Barry County is a group of com­ munity members who are interested in learning about and contributing to local nonprofit organizations. Members meet quarterly and, together, vote on one organization to support. All members then write a personal check for $50 (or $30, if under age 30) to that nonprofit. In November, members of the «w circle gathered at First Presbyterian Church in Hastings and voted to support TK’s FFA program this quarter. WGC representatives handed over a check for $6,500 last week. With this quarter’s dona­ tion, the Women’s Giving Circle has contributed $348,500 to Barry County nonprofit organizations since it began in 2013. TK’s FFA program was rechar­ tered in 2022. Today, it is run by TKHS agriculture, food and natural resources teacher Alyssa Hamlin. Hamlin said TK boasted a robust FFA program until 1966, when it shut down for unknown reasons. After a few years of building up the club, it currently maintains 30 to 40 •*rir- active members. Individuals must be members to vote at Women’s Giving Circle meetings; interested women are welcome and encouraged to join at any time. Contact Nancy Goodin at NanGoodin@aol.com for a mem­ bership form and guidelines. The Women’s Giving Circle’s next quarterly meeting will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the Hastings Elks Lodge. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6 p.m. Organizers ask that current and prospective members RSVP to Goodin, NanGoodin@aol.com. Any questions about the organization can be directed to Goodin as well. �* 4 41 I « . ri A 4 T 9 4 4 t * 1 1' .* J K I 2. Saturday, December 20, 2025 the SUN AND NEWS VIEW I www.sunandnews.com GrcMip /O *' i Gaines trustees wrap up loose ends at final board meeting of 2025 James Gemmell V fj Members of the Gaines Township Board of Trustees addressed several housekeeping items in their final township board meeting of the year on Monday, Dec. 8. Among them was a 6-0 vote to approve a zoning ordinance text amendment for electronic changeable message signs. One trustee was absent. ECMs are programmable digital signs with bright lights. They typically have LED lights or red dots. Gaines Township only permits them on freestanding signs, as opposed to wall signs. Earlier this year, trustees raised concerns ntONTIBt BEATING AND COOLING V SB BM HM MB H High Effidency FURNACE 8 AIR ®300 OF I flfli I & I I }> t I I 'X' 1* 4 I I I I I With purchase of furnace & A/C unit. I'at' 1“ '*'■ x. ■ ■ • 1 r t .5 4? i I n k II tt 4 ’St’ 2 Contributing Writer I I Longtime Yankee Springs Township official celebrates retirement J f Bt R 0 - -aa 4 I 1 :frI Must present this coupon. Expires 12-31-25j other proetuete aveUeble: • Water Haaterg • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermestats ana mere! 1 210 Cast Main Street Caledonia 616>891> '^JviTlTl ku A r \r . r ' -ft 1 i ft rt 4 * « I I h’( '.SJ ''•If* I » fttC 1 rr .1 ’ • fr V’ 1 p r •SSS .4 It .#4 ) A V '1 * » A < * riri- Gaines Township trustees approved amendments to the water and sewer ordinance, electronic messaging signs and other year-end housekeeping matters at their Dec. 8 board meeting. Photo by James Gemmell !• Z£TO candle power past ±e property lot line. On another matter, the township trustees voted 6-0 to approve an amendment to the water and sewer or­ dinance. In the past, if a homeowner’s private well or septic system failed, and public water or sewer lines were available to that person’s property, the homeowner would be required to connect to the municipal system. And ±at typically costs thousands of dol­ lars. That was mandated by state health codes to ensure safe drinking water and proper sewage disposal. But Township Manager Rod Weersing said that has changed under the ordinance amendment. “Instead of immediately having to hook up,” he said, ‘they could go to the health department first to give them an option to replace the well or septic. The health department makes that determination.” Property owners will now be able to seek a permit from the Kent County Health Department for a new well or septic system. If ±e permit is granted, property owners will have a choice of whether to connect to the public util­ ity system or install a private well or septic system. In their final meeting of the year, the trustees also voted unanimously to give the township officers a raise. The clerk, treasurer and supervisor each See MEETING on 5 iW f i r- yj 1 If n < t s I 'AT . % I t i about the time the signs would operate, how much glare the light might produce at night near neighbors’ homes, arid a type of display called a flyout. That is where a message appears to slide onto the screen in a motion-based animation that can distract drivers. Midwest Sign Company had re­ quested a zoning text amendment in June to allow the ECM signs in resi­ dential zoning districts for institutional uses by right. But the township’s plan­ ning commission recommended atthat time that the township board reject the request. Instead, commissioners asked the township board to approve a zon­ ing text amendment to allow special use permits for the ECM signs. After a pair of public hearings earlier this fall, the township board approved the amendment to the zon­ ing ordinance at the Dec. 8 meeting. It will only be for institutional uses in residential areas. Essentially, that ap­ plies to churches and private schools. The second public hearing was needed because a recommendation was added to alter the hours in which the ECMs can be operated. Instead of the old ordinance requirement that the ECM signs be shut off between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., the new ordinance language stipulates that they must be shut off in residential zoning districts between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. The sign ordinance also restricts light emissions from an LED sign to ' A .X 11 tT _ >• r I I*.** » Yankee Springs Township Supervisor Rob Heethuis presented Alice Jansma, who is retiring from the township after decades of service, with a plaque at the December board meeting. Courtesy Photo i •* 4 ) « *Ji :»• t!' .sr * » J 1. ’ Ti • t; > 'I r.. .. >-r= ■ (? I 3: 3^’ I ( :V -***. % It C’ I V !»♦ The Yankee Springs Township Board of Trustees recognized the service of long­ time township official Alice Jansma upon her retirement at the Thursday, Dec. 11, regular meeting. Jansma is retiring after decades ofservice to the township. Yankee Springs Township Supervisor Rob Heethuis read a detailed tribute outlining Jansma’s involvement since the 1980s, including service as trust­ ee, treasurer, deputy supervisor and deputy treasurer. Jansma played key roles during the installation ofthe township’s sewer and water systems and was deeply involved in township elections, a commitment shared by multiple generations of her family. “Alice, with her kind, caring and com­ passionate personality, will be sorely missed in the office,” said Yankee Springs Township Zoning Assistant Sandra Marcukaitis. “Her knowledge of the township is irreplaceable, and she will always hold a special place in the hearts ofthe residents.” Following the presentation, Jansma was awarded a plaque, photographs were taken, and the board invited attendees to stay for cake and refreshments after the meeting. — KTE «< 1 - i* rs • . V J - Pj\! rr ®ino 1; > i A- ir TV •w IZ aXU I’ll I 4^ fl 1 0 ran ir 1 J 4 rl 8«^ f.1 > t 9^ ■ H .A f J » » ♦ •A •It. sir 101^ I' 1 r. i t . '1.: j' t & UtUV” 7 1 t • "rttf'* 94 r ,.' J J ».* T ik .n^ S’ .T. J' 1 Sf V- « i .z' «r «> r •«i I h 1-'^ • «tb r** sS«S3a’> 1 I fr. t z »J r - t * I 4 1 , - '*■ M 4 u. « J • k• JIi I < r H' K- I ■ > I 1 <^1 - ■’Ol vfJ?, 1 L ' I > iV 1 I 1 • i I I I 4 SV <» « J I I ri 1 I I THE SUN AND NEWS .... 1 The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone; 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com Editor: Molly Macleod ■ ■mnnacleod@mihomepaper,com isDwwmsij. jjjJiJjJdJcijJj Group Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com PUBLISHED BY 1" V PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper u I k MS MB 1 « t fA M.— .^*..■£5 1 CONTACT US w •s Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media. LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S. AH advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are available from The Sun and News Ad Dept. .1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings. Ml 49058 ( 269-9459554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser's order. I k*. f b vv 1 r I' I I I ■ r t •r 4 h.- . 1 I 4 -•Xi:. T.. -4^ 1 I I ’ 1 11 f: N> - iu.'. I *I* -A f I J I 1< I I 1 4 I Lt I I I 1 K' . -X, - **• T ■WS;•V. £<S ** C ! , *1 . J 4 I �> ■ ¥ H • *• f t > www.sunandnews.com I J t I * « 4 I 1 * I f THE SUM AND MEWS VIEW-. .. OrcMip t Saturday, December 20, 2025 3 I I 4 C^“' 4 DENIED JI V f I , ''Amt Continued from Page 1 9 ( - « 1 r / l-'nr-f’t K •Ifo t < •i i > « f I J 94 f ''<v ' i ( A >•' A 'Sfi, ■»; ( ‘fM, < < Ijr . if rc- I I I ■;-4 i •• !re I . .t .1 1 * . J s 1 I 5 /• 4 1^.”^ Ait, •ST’ */ % 'S »i. r 1 JTli.4 £K ■* c>- , i ’ 1 I X t'i : j % • • V '•-r •‘hpu. ' i-. Aj > . T^tn « ^5 *M u « I « I’lu ' » « ft ) I t 4 4 <> ( I I I « .J 1 4Kfl^. • ]«s O’* raau-i t it I ’ *< .4 Jr Hi •. •«H|. 4 r <1 '"•'’St I W:' iin; t f 7 1 ,■ If I <« w: i * •-’ f?, *•» 4 * , f '5 r ’ll ft u I I / ■ Tv" ll nu •i’ll ‘ art h*j/j r r ! I 9 AsrfJ. '» •x 4 « I • I V 4 9 *-'-X ft < • I »» 'S ■ -» I i I . < I , s’siaitwte;;'' 1 I I ► T ■ ft > Z" 7 A Ik ' .e*f r ! . Hl ft: . I 'FT I 44* .. .*■'! < *-ft — J t 1 t I I 1 f i ft I I J • qo ■h’A” 4 > ' I 5^14 nt I I il>*e « parking lot proposal at the Paul Henry' trailhead at Kinsey Avenue and Main Street. She said before she joined the Caledonia Village Council and before the trail was extended through the village, a streetscape project was completed on Main Street to add side­ walks. “As part of that project, approximate­ ly 20 parking spaces were removed,” Lindsey said. ‘That reduction is what originally prompted the concept of adding replacement spaces.” She said at first, the original proposal for a lot near the trailhead considered 23 replacement parking spaces, but then it was re-engineered multiple times, with the final direction focusing on a smaller concept of roughly 12-15 spaces. “I understand that some residents are unhappy with the idea of adding a parking lot on Main Street,” Lindsey said. “However, this project has the potential to relieve some pressure on businesses by reducing the number of trail users parking directly in front of storefronts. “While we cannot control the growth occurring around our community, we can prepare for it, and additional park­ ing will help accommodate the increas­ ing number of trail users who visit and support our area.” Lindsey received notification on Wednesday, Dec. 10, that the Village of Caledonia was not a recipient of the DNR Passport Grant, which would have helped fund the parking lot. “All applications received are scored using the same criteria and, unfortu­ nately, the Village of Caledonia’s final score was below the fundable range,” Bayus said. “Applicants that are unsuc­ cessful can reapply in the 2026 grant cycle. Applications for the next round of Passport grants are due April 1, 2026. Ilie council has not convened to discuss future plans,” Lindsey said. Ilie Village of Caledonia’s monthly board meetings are recorded and posted two days after the meeting at vimeo.com/caledoniavillage. Mixed opinions about the proposed parking lot can be heard on the recordings. To name a few, three residents liv­ ing adjacent to the trailhead who oppose the proposed parking lot are Jenna Wynsma, Todd Wynsma * **T ikWur / ■ I 2 I I iJ I ft iM I I } ft ft 'p I : i,^u b‘. I ft A A II I i * 4 I •V A s 1 and Sylvia Murphy. They said the> are relieved the village’s proposed parking lot on property' near the Paul Henry Thomapple Trailhead at Kinsey Avenue and Main Street did not receive approval for a 2025 DNR Recreation Passport Grant. The Wynsmas live directly next to the Paul Henry Trailhead. “Along with our neighbor, Sylvia Murphy, we are the residents most directly impacted by the village’s proposed trailhead park­ ing lot,” Jenna Wynsma said. Wynsma voiced concerns of many who attended the public meetings since she, her husband and Murphy started the “Stop the Lot” campaign and initi­ ated a petition drive 10 months ago. This lot would replace green space with asphalt, remove a critical treelined noise and safety buffer, reduce nearby property values, expose resi­ dents to grain elevator dust and intro­ duce safety and noise concerns from a secluded lot adjacent to homes, a bar and a daily student travel route,” Wynsma said. “We initiated the peti­ tion in late February of this year and reached out to nearby residents and resident trail users who shared con­ cerns about the proposed parking lot. On Oct. 13, we submitted our phase two petition containing 658 signatures. To date, the petition has 678 total signatures, comprised of Michigan residents, trail users and visitors,” Wynsma said. Some residents are rallying behind the proposed parking lot. Unlike Wynsma, Stephon “Spike” Baird said in July that he started a peti­ tion for diose in favor of the proposed parking lot at the trailhead. So far, he has collected 300 signatures. For the past two years, Baird has served on the village planning com­ mission. His wife is Lynn Buer-Baird, owner of the Caledonia Hair Co. on Main Street. He said she has owned the business for over 35 years. “We have both been very active in the community, helping with all com­ munity events and trying to keep the heritage of Caledonia alive,” Baird said. “Needless to say, we are very involved and love Caledonia.” Baird said the push for more parking in Caledonia will not soon go away. So having and showing support via signatures, to village council, town­ ship and the school board is positive feedback that they can use along with disapproval in order to decipher what direction to take,” he said. 44 44 I 4 1 < K 9 r s atig-.^-b--rs;aaTr^T XI c According to Jenna Wynsma, most of the area pictured here could have been turned into a parking lot near the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail trailhead at Kinsey Avenue and Main Street. The proposed lot is currently on hold after the Village of Caledonia failed to receive a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Photo by Jenna Wynsma Every time a Michigander buys a $14 passport with their annual license plate renewal, local public parks reap the benefits. On Dec. 9, the DNR announced almost $2 million in recre­ ation grants that will fund 15 Michigan public recreation projects across 11 counties. More information, including the grant recipients, can be found at michi- AG releases report of alleged abuse within GR Diocese Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Monday, Dec. 15, announced the release of a report concerning allegations of sexual abuse and other sexual misconduct that took place in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, includ­ ing alleged incidents by priests serving churches in Lake Odessa and Caledonia. The report was released to acknowledge the reports of abuse from victims and to report the department’s findings. According to an announcement released Monday by the attorney general’s office, the document reportedly is a compilation of excerpts from the information obtained from tip lines, victim interviews, police investigations, open-source media, paper docu­ ments seized from die Diocese of Grand Rapids, and the electronic documents found on the diocesan computers, as well as reports of allegations disclosed by the dio­ cese. The list of priests for which there were allegations of sexual misconSee ABUSE on 6 gan.gov/dnr/about/newsroom/releases/2025/12/09/dnr-approves-recreationgrants-for-local-parl^. The Recreation Passport is a $14 annual pass required for access to 103 state parks and recreation areas, more than 140 state forest campgrounds, Michigan historic sites, hundreds of boating access sites and thousands of miles of trails. One-tenth of the proceeds from the $ 14 Recreation Passport sales are granted to communities across the state for development and improvement of local public recreation facilities, according to the DNR. «■ HAY & FIREWOOD AUCTION 2026 Auction Dates 4 January 10th February 14th _ March 14th April 11th STARTING TIME 11:00 AM Consignments d:00am-10:30am. Schedule to unload large loads. CALL BEFORE AUCTION OAY: (517) 852-4323 OAY OF AUCTION CALL: (517) 983-0845 ferry County Produce Auction 6210 Barryville Rd., Nashville, Ml 49073 ----------------- 517-983-0845------------------ �j Obituaries a I * 4 r / {) 1 < J J i f wilh the /aiuest^hard wort, humii^, and quid Strength He continued helping on the farm for M long as he was able and irved on a portion erf that same beloved land throughout hii We On August 2 1975. he married the love of his life, Salite (Johnson), and together they buitt a home filled with devotion, faith, and unwavering support Paul IS survived by his wife of 50 years. Sallie, his children Jennifer (Scott) Pollmann Caledonia Vine Street Church I I owty ntocOB anc Me iisti praoMtoO icai' t . f J •'' $ rt join u* for our traditional yet casual FIRST BAPTIST Sundays 930 & Ham Kz . - 616-891-8669 Church: FBCMIDDLFVILLE NFT - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 CHURCH 9669 Kraft Avc., Caledonia Phone: 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org (269) 795-2391 Saturday Evening Mass 5:00 p.m Sunday Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a m Considering becoming Catholic’’ Call or see our website for information. « 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11 :CX) am t T Sunday Worvhip: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. eAPEACE CHURCH PEACCCHURCH.ee Sundays at 8:(X), 9:30, and I LOO AM Lead Pastor; Pastor Ryan Kimmel T Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY CHURCH MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9;30am & 11:00am 20 State Street Middleville. Ml / www.tvcweb.tam » b i . * •. I < a 'M 616.891.8119 6950 Cherry Valley Rd., Middleville, MI 49333 ’■'.T a Orf! -JI A • I peacechurch.ee I >; •to-* ar* e. 4' I .V.... 1 Ht*' 11W‘ 3 ciew- 4 * ;■( » r r I B . T > Bincanty. guided by Vto words of Scripture Psalm 127 4-5- -"Like arrows m the hands of a warrior bfessed 15 the num whose quiver is full of them"—wai dur to him. reflecting his pride in his chodren and grandchildren Another dienshed verse, "Se stilt arxJ know that 1 am God." embodied the calm steadiness he earned mto every aspect of his life Above all, Paul's family was the heart of everything he did His life goal was simple and profound; to support, love, and lift up his wrfe and children ,n this, he succeeded beyond measure Relatives and friends met with Paul's family on Wednesday. Dec 10. 2025 at Journey Church in Caledonia where a Celebration of Life service took place M Memorial contributions may be made to Journey Church in Caledonia Please visit www beelergoresfuncral com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Paul's family ' I I 1 to f ■w K 1 »#*■. (. A#IF ' ..-nit-* .14 •toe* - ’r k • r ’ < -■ff. > r vV» V A X. **^to'%**^4 '4> \;i\ 1 I • •< » A i < • ** t ViV X fe 0 ♦*r ; A J M f v-neiHr' r tk J*' J* % A J. .V I A I ♦ erfW i ; J f > f r <1 1» I M t’* tr., i • I > J**; J. y i 4 HflB ' - A 1 .' • *■ r 1 > i 4 I i't r.i F. . B NEWSPAPER T I . .X tk ADVERTISING i *' .wr 1 s DEADLINES I I i - . si / -ftc. V, k5 4 n.. AD>VISOR & CHRONICLE i-litr «• • . iv 4 4f I ’.I ;tl 4 I®®'" n BATTLE CREEK « THE HASTINGS BANNER e I « Tuesday at Noon n ef .K I THE 7 • \L t r REMINDER StK’BSttlMtf Vjrii!^ 1 Wednesday at Noon 1 NEWS ‘ h 4 V THE SUN AND I > » i» % ^mjEi * 5 < ■. Of "Shining Forth God't Light*" ? Sunday Morning Worship Community Group........... I Wednesday at Noon Bfe*A s ' k. y > - V 1' < *» A..: '*»j ft ' to lOOO a.m. 11:00 a.m. jamei L. Collison, Pastor WWW. )"an keesp ri ngsb ibicch u rch. org * 1 r * Group mihomepaper.com ami’ 4- *!iu. r '1 K, . t B ***** ftBBWA w £ ’• '<W I < i t I I a J I $ < ‘,'1 1 !i 4 ( I I I I I Ml i . t &: I S'S I a- I A ♦ s V Monday at 5 p.m. 8900 Duffy Road Middleville, MI 49333 & •-1 u ^artti wllh Sunday School to to 10:45 a.m. Yankee Springs Bible Church iiratoWF r > -pi 2 FS mar^ arti urm 1 Caieoona. He Iwod out n “ -a O hr»n#r* n .IOurr»f\ SHOPPER NEWS 8436 Kraft Avc., Caledonia, Ml 49316 Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-8688 www.stpaulcaledonia.org a * 1 Fellownhip 9:45 Io 10:00 a.m. @ St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool r r«*iep ' Monday at 4 p.m. I Caledonia Location < dtt^ ri HOLY FAMILY J/CATHOLIC CHURCH 9:30 a.m. Pastor: Roh Wurst httptZ/goodahepherdlcms.eoocd epaees.com LIveMream Inc elxtok com/firMh«Tipllstmiddlevillf • ' cornerstonemi.org/weekend 908 W Main Street Middleville (Misiouri Synrxi, Sunday Worship >• 1675 e4th st. SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Middleville JOURNEY Join vs In person or online at 9:00 am Sunday Service 10:30 AM ;n- tot > .1 l-» ,w w Ir 'i'va cornerstonechurch " *U i: 250 Vine Street III I y* » f f 41 worship service, in person or online, Exl Carpenter. Pastor www.ilnkab^ptistorQ 7240 69th Strwt SE. Caledonia * ? t j &y Mb dBughlBr'fn^aw Hcoie Wwrir^ artd grwxJdMighie' f intey Wierfnga man deeply connected to the outdoors. Paul found py in prtmrtfve skitts— crafting arrowheads shaping longtxjws, and spending time on primitive camping tnps, especaity with his daughter He whoteheartedfy supported • -eito • Bunday Worship Borvloo at 9:10 AM I ' t ^!S< LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY tesdidska • * I B.# * — ’WWto . ar* H_id. ^,4 Paul Air>ert Wieringa age 82 o1 MiddteviUe. Ml. went home to be with his Lord on December 4. 2025 Born on June 3. 1943, in Grand Rapids to Edward and Katherine (Sheehan, Wieringa. Paul was a lifelong resident of Middleville and a steadfast steward of his family's heritage Raised on the family farm. Pau, grew up --^'•rF»r I !■ Paul Albert Wieringa wXli If a r fl • J e « s I I J < « i 1 I < 1 �J > t •* > »l * 1 > ' * A r .4 I r '9 hir^ I / 9 f. I A 'I V < V % A- I < \ f t Zl > I I I I » 9t $ I 1 I I I J I Molly Macleod t J 10 iW -n.'4, Editor .'• t Im on* 1 4 b j or»«eJ,' " * c % I >» » oril J i nc TCf ^■5 r • I *< ■’Vi. i •1, .•1 ' ti » J t I I I f • '’"h a -•8 1 i k i > » - * •< ; I F’ 5nii If, .i 1 L( r no ;^colGxrf li *1.4 ' 5 J J . G t , - jbn'i rf .. * I » ii u; f 1 ai’ * J lU- r* { job bns « I X L /ii lioi 7 job (2!? ( i i t o I 1^ GT4 Mie’Ci 8 3ft- I -^7 hCi J ol .« 4 i CjW I J >f; gnrliuh J i£=.-. i '=*nTri i •y 1 R .2^ [ I tl 1 J l<xn5 1^- r/'-i J < : *M I. ' ih tiH •4V. fr 4.’’ i I f r f : f *» I f I 4 t VW‘ •it- - I • - t vr. • ■0 •»* te* ’I MEETING t n 11 t;' 4 . .. I 1 .t I'a** 1 ► I Continued from Page 2 I '4*r //IO3'; '> 'T L AH'!* Ir*. F *- •.. i I u «I ' * * * .j A «• •hA* .4 • '♦ I 4 < . 4 ■I r. 'X" i 40 it J n ^1^.1 4‘ ' 4 1 •*>-s Ui 1 r T ■y * i AT .4 *■ " : . 5 Spiritual Care Consultants is poised to continue helping area residents in the next generation, according to the nonprofit’s executive director. A Christian organization co-founded by Hastings physician Dr. Troy Carl­ son, SCC board chairman, and Pastor Gale Kragt, executive director, SCC assists in balancing an individual’s mind, body, and spirit by providing free consulting sessions with specially trained consultants, along with the organization’s prayer partners. SCC recently announced that it has received a $250,000 matching fund for its endowment at the Barry Community Foundation. According to the announcement, every dollar donated will be matched up to $250,000 and double the impact of each gift, ensuring SCC’s ministry continues to touch lives for generations to come. So far, just over $31,000 has been donated and matched. This matching fund is a tremendous blessing,” said Kragt, SCC’s current executive director and co-founder. “It allows us to secure long-term stability for the ministry and continue serving those who are hurting across Michigan and beyond.” Since 2007, SCC has partnered with local churches, schools, medical professionals and businesses to bring spiritual and emotional care to people from all walks of life. “We’ve done over 15,000 sessions — which is a lot of sessions. And do you know what we charge for the sessions? Zero. It’s no cost because w; i SPifi-^ CON I A.^f5 r ' -J JIJXWI will receive a 4% hike in pay. The clerk and treasurer’s salaries will rise to $96,644 in 2026. For compari­ son, the treasurer and clerk each earned $78,499 in 2022. The supervisor’s salary will rise to $38,578 on Jan. 1,2026. The trustees’ meeting per diem will remain the same at $120 per meeting. Their last pay increase was in 2022, when their compensation rose from $ 110 per meeting to $ 115. In other business, the township board set ARE \NTS 1 BUSINESS SERVICES __ I * II L HANDYMAN SERVICES OF FERED. Mise, repairs, construction services, light plumbing, electrical and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Estimates. 269-243-0468 or 269-374-0785. k. * ur*>i Al a i f y t ►KClZlM M E. r‘K.*vT * a ViT-r / 1 ***■*«»» •• <*h *** )J » • r ♦ PAINTING •X >;• ** 4 ! * 4. ■ l.’W. ** f I V. < 5 I ) J PAINTING: LET 30 YEARS experi­ ence care for your home! Interior and exterior. Booking for winter and next summer. Licensed and insured. Locally famHy owned and operated. Cal! for free estimate. Phil Johnson Painting (269)9537877 c YT f *■» n 4^ ** S t' 4. n^- 31! \ ox |r if t r Spiritual Care Consultants, a Christian nonprofit that assists in balancing individuals’ bodies, minds and spirits through free consulting, is looking to its future after receiving a $250,000 matching fund for its endowment. Here, SCC Executive Director Pastor Gale Kragt holds Kingdom Book Awards he received recently. Photos by Molly Macleod the donors around us see the value of having a service that doesn’t charge,” Kragt said. “And we’ve had an 89% success rate with the hardest of mental health issues.” Kragt and the staff and volunteers at SCC spend a lot of time and energy tracking the successes of the program. In 2022, the nonprofit held 1,805 ses­ sions with Hastings residents. Ofthose, 980 sessions served adults; 825 served Hastings children. From a total of 120 adult clients, 31 % reported at least 50% improvement in depression; 29% reported at least 50% tr r ■co I • I 5 Classifieds I swniEis ; a Saturday, December 20, 2025 Spiritual Care Consultants seeking matching fund donations • •h iq V NEWS I VIEW .; ^ - Group 1 > * ■« a w t THE SUN AND www.sunandnews.com its meeting schedule for 2026 and made committee assignments. The Parks & Trails Committee has been rebranded as the Parks & Trails Open Space Initiatives Committee. The Gaines trustees also approved a comprehensive update to the township employee handbook. Among the many changes pertained to the use of artificial intelligence. “As the use of A.I. grows, this will become an essential part of managing its use by township employees,” Weersing wrote in a Dec. 2 memo to the township trustees. “A section was also added relat­ ing to disciplinary action procedures.” improvement in anxiety; 3 8% reported at least 50% improvement in fear; and 25% reported at least 50% improve­ ment in self-esteem. Children seen at SCC reported similar numbers. So far this year, SCC has held 477 sessions with children and 1,064 with adults. Most SCC clients hail from Barry County. “We’re really set up well. We have an electronic medical record that’s how we store everything. We’re set up well for the future,” he said. Kragt, now 65, is looking forward to the future of SCC. Though he has no plans to retire yet, he is already work­ ing with his successor, SCC Children’s Ministry Director Vera Yenger. TREE SERVICE BUYING WALNUT, HARD maple, and white oak trees. Will buy sin­ gle walnut trees. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. Fetterly Logging 269-818-7793. SPORTS EQUIPMENT Various Exercise Weights, 25 cents per pound. Exercise benches $25 each. 616-554-3575 “I would like to see this organization expand more within Barry County, reach Barry County and the surround­ ing areas even more. I’m not into planiling this in other places,” Kragt said. “We’re going to focus on Barry County. We’re going to focus on our area it’s what we’re going to focus on. Because we don’t just affect Barry See DONATIONS on 8 21 D Your local agent insures your ( ( LIGHT TRUCK PARTSi '1 mN»n>fieKIR<INETIIIS«Vm«SindEEK««HS I FULL SERVICE & YOU PULL IT 2G9-381-2300 ! F «USED PARTS 6 USED TIRES pm UKESL UUIMZOO FARM BVttEAV INSUHANCE' 1 I 1 4 41* M ♦ V V I 121 E. Main Street Downtown Middleville I J r !.I I i" I I J b Iip! T I H * 11 I 0 I A /• I Jason Parks - 1 r r r I ffi 0 (269) 795-8827 jparks@fbinsmi.com FarmBureaulnsurance.com �I 1 I i t J / I fc I \ s 4 7 , % I I I fl I J I* Q Saturday, December 20, 2025 the SUN AND NEWS VIEW Group T Yankee Springs trustees appoint deputy treasurer, tackie packed agenda The Yankee Springs Township Board of Trustees got right to work on a packed agenda Thursday night, Dec. 11, after Supervisor Rob Heethuis called the regular meeting to order at 6 p.m. Among its action items, the board unanimously approved a four-year contract with the Gun Lake Area Sewer Authority and approved a land division at 790 Courtney Drive that complies with state law and town ship zoning ordinances. The board also reaffinned Ryan Craven and Frank Fiala to three-year terms on the Planning Commission and approved the 2026 township meeting schedule. The board unanimously approved ±e appointment of Diane Dykgraaf as deputy treasurer, noting that ±e approval of the appointment was needed for banking records. The November 2025 financial statement and investment report were also reviewed and approved on Thursday. The Planning Commission reported on its Nov. 20 meeting, which included recognition of longtime volunteer Rich Beukema, a pub­ lic forum on the township master plan, continued work on the mining ordinance and review of the annual report and capital improvement plan. A special meeting wi± the township attorney was scheduled for Dec. 12 to continue work on the mining ordi­ nance. The Zoning Board of Appeals reported denying an appeal related to a short-term rental property, citing township rules that revoke short term rental permits when a property changes ownership. Fire Chief Dan Miller said the department responded to nine fire alarms and 24 medical responses in November. He also noted recent training activities and ongoing dis­ cussions about cost recovery pro­ grams for false alarms and power line calls. The Clean« Water Committee reported on Thursday the completion of a pilot study to improve arsenic removal capacity, with a final report coming soon and the expectation of receiving the second half of a grant in January. During the acknowledgment of vis­ itors, Barry County Commissioners Catherine Getty and Marsha Bassett provided an update on recent county actions. They reported the purchase of new software for vital records, human resources and finance depart­ ments, approval of a memorandum of understanding to establish the Thomapple River Trail from Nashville to the 517.646.0439 * Lansing Grand River, and an 269.967,8241 * Battle Creek/K-zoo 517.740.1533 * Jackson/Ann Arbor agreement with United a I antennamen.customer@gmall.com t Way to provide certain www.theantennamen.com www.ceilsignaipros.com veterans’ services. We Work Ah Winter And, during public Digital TV Antennas * Towers * StarLink Installs * comment on Thursday, Wireless Data Links * Cellular Enhancement Systems a township resident *BuHding-to-building, addressed the board, Pdint-to-Point WiFi Extensions emphasizing the A importance of follow­ High definition outdoor cameras ing proper procedures. to monitor your property PROS — KTE cellW’ SIG * i : ►•1 4 p*> K '> » t > « ■ - 4* -*•> < « Ik ■V ■' ** .. * a ar GD WOOD PRODUCTS Family Owned & Operated SAW MILL OFFICE 517-254-4463 Conscientious Timber Harvester Wanting to Buy Standing Timber ABUSE Continued from Page 3 duct against either children or adults since January 1950 for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, which dates back to 1882, was derived from information gleaned from a search warrant that was executed against the Diocese of Grand Rapids in October 2018, as well as from a tipline operated by the attorney general’s office since 2018. There are 51 entries on this list, and of these 51 priests, 38 were ordained or incardinated by the Diocese of Grand Rapids. “Accountability does not end with criminal prosecution,” Nessel said, “Accountability includes transparency, acknowledgement and a commitment to believing in and supporting victims. No matter how much time has passed, survivors deserve to be heard, and by releasing these reports, we hope to honor the courage of victims and ensure their experiences are no longer hidden.” The report contains detailed descrip­ tions of allegations of sexual abuse and other sexual misconduct, includ­ ing grooming and misuse of authority against minors and adults. The possible criminal prosecution of many of these allegations is barred by the statute of limitations, or because the accused priest is deceased, or for other allega­ tions because the conduct did not vio­ late Michigan law or the person who alleged the sexual abuse did not wish to pursue criminal charges. In October 2018, more than 40 Michigan State Police troopers, five officers from different law enforcement agencies and 15 special agents from the Department of Attorney General reportedly executed search warrants at Michigan’s seven dioceses. As a result, law enforcement officials seized 220 boxes of paper documents and more than 3.5 million digital documents. “This Closed-Cell Foam Insulation report is only possi­ * Blown-In Attic Insulation ble through the victims who came forward and the LLC dedicated Nelson Schmucker work of ±e 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 Michigan State Police and mem­ Start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam bers of 40 Nelson’s SPRAY FOAM, 517-983-0954 ft t www.sunandnews.com T Iv* my office as part of the Clergy Abuse Investigation,” Nessel added, “I am incredibly grateful for their commit­ ment on these difficult cases.” As a result of the investigation, the state attorney general’s office reported­ ly issued criminal charges in 11 cases throughout the entire state and secured convictions in nine cases, delivering justice for 38 survivors. None of the cases were related to priests ministering in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. While they did not result in any form of prosecution, the 335-page report includes allegations against at least three priests who served in Lake Odessa and Caledonia. According to the report, Father Louis Baudone faced “substantiated allega­ tions” from the Diocese of Grand Rapids and bishop accountability site. The report states that Baudone, who was ordained in 1959, faced two alle­ gations of abuse in 1981 while serving in Muskegon Heights. The report states that Baudone was also confronted by the parents of an unnamed victim for alleged sexual abuse in 2002 while serving in Lake Odessa. And it details a 2008 complaint gainst the priest for an alleged incident in 1978 at St. Edward’s Church in Lake Odessa. Baudone was reportedly removed from faculties in 2002 before passing away in May 2024. The report names two other priests, Father David Eugene LeBlanc and Father Dennis Alan Wagner, who had served at the Holy Family Parish in Caledonia. LeBlanc, who died in August 2019, was ordained in 1961 by later removed from faculties in Januaiy 2007. According to the report, Wagner was laicized” in April 2004 after being removed from ministry in May 2002. He was originally ord^ed in May 1976. Information related to the investiga­ tion into Michigan’s various dioceses may be shared via the investigation hot­ line at 844-324-3374 or by email. Or, for more information on the attorney general’s clergy abuse investigation or to submit information, visit the depart­ ment’s website at michigan.gov/a^initiatives/catholic-church-clergy-abuse. Victims of sexual abuse and/ or assault in need of additional resources are encouraged to contact 855-VOICES4. Staff'writer Dennis Mansfield con­ tributed to this report. ■ 1'^ . y z I » 1 • r t * - i r • I f J I * * • s I F .r * ( '5f 1^* r 4^ tt- > ■ •9^ « >- 4 IV l/l A ,'V ■r r S'' A ? * 1 41 >. 1 ■f t rs t 4^ I 'Ar I I J I '.£2iF' i, I ir J i f tis^ 1• p t > A** . 1 > -sr : t; .X t ’ •* •4 J \ 1 I 1 J I4 4 U ’: t* if <4 * •< t ' R» < I ran J"’ ■r*. j 1 V - f fG * V feaM. ■ <4^ ■ ■ .. f > z r ” * '«7 jii iJrbf t 4 sf* ♦ ' v-*’* - —•4_A ' 9 ir ra ■ iAJ • V. 0 ■• Jyjno" r »ir^ 4 ( .4* '■A’ n^w 1 3^ V # * J PF r uHi ') (’■ a; » •d Iw 4 * a* . ‘to 4 J » £ 4^' r 1 f I'. i ■iriJIL Ji'.'rf 'PJ^TTr- ‘tfnJW Jr 10/. :.AJ k i ^4 HS? ••• • 112 4« « *** N' :• A I4 iV ’ f i nnQ ■'X' V 4ewr®»B*j ■1 I 11311'.o Eguiai I ■jv boi I •k ’■r.' sixafi « J 4 Bonn! t. IC. I I 1 M Ite : »e«WakW 5r r< i4>U I'. I"' ’ * '*ni» • ■ • \ & r <« 7 I f 'W'VKtlRftn r ? I 1 d u 4' 1 < s 4 3 ;1 ••-s e’^i J W T ! Mrxf * * 11 V 1 s I is �I I M m I r 1/ 8 Saturday. December 20. 2025 HSUN'L^NEIVS DOHATIONS I r r ■ A Continued from Page 5 in wc reach into Grand Rapids, Hol­ land, all around,” he said. Kragt said now is the time to donate to SCC’s endowment. Thanks to the matching donation, donors can have their impact doubled. “It takes care of administrative costs in the budget in other words, it de­ frays expenses, things you need. It just ensures that you continue to operate,” Kragt said. While growing the endowment fund helps ensure SCC remains in Barry County, Kragt said the nonprofit is restricted in its uses for those funds. Kragt said folks are always welcome to donate funds to the nonprofit’s general fund, as well. They can go to spiri tualcareconsultants.com/ to donate or learn more. Kragt encouraged individuals to consider SCC as part of their holiday giving. “(It’s) because of the impact we’re making. It’s all about impact but also, when you give to the endowment, your money stays there. It gives year after year after year after year,” Kragt * k» 5^ * 1 • f u * I » b I • J ^4 t V* • MIDDLEVILLE '»• . t .'f - t U it' TOPS 546 I yr, I b* 11 I’ > 4 f b • The Dec. 15 meeting opened v roll call and the secretary’s report There are now three fish in the Fishbowl Maryellen's program was from Nov/Dec TOPS magazine titled “Feeling SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder" SAD is a clinical depression that comes with changing seasons. It can be in the winter or summer It usually goes away when the season changes. A psychologist says it happens due to genetics, brain chemistry or a biological clock out of phase. Also, a family history of depression, bipolar disorder, or pre-existing mental illness can increase the likelihood of being affected by SAD. Women experience it more than men. The further you are away from the equator, the higher the risk of experiencing SAD. Symptoms are like those of depression; persistent sad or empty mood, feelings of hopelessness, irritability and worthlessness, loss of interest, decreased energy, physical pain, sleeping too much or too little, changing appetites, tack of concentration or thoughts of death or suicide. Treatments include talk therapy (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), light therapy, or anti­ depressant medication. Virginia won the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer tor entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame Anyone with questions may call Virginia, .269-908-8036. or Maryellen. 616-318-3545. The first meeting is free. ■ •» • 1 Spiritual Care Consultants Children's Ministry Director Vera Yenger is poised to take the reins from Pastor Gale Kragt when it comes time for him to retire. Her husband. Nathaniel, is a budding children's author. His book, “Hairy and the Hook," along with illustrated flashcards he made are used in the SCC office. said. Should SCC eventually dissolve, Kragt said the money in its endowment fund would be transferred to another community nonprofit with a similar mission. “The reason I would give is the im­ pact that is made in the community,” Kragt said. “Because we support almost every area of the community z / 5Z . •*' . r 4m i ?>• I f A, I4 I 1—^. F •« •J* DeWeerd <68> HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING. INC. 1955 .W r M. 4 LENNOX A+ 5 BBS ACCREDITED BUSINESS Spiritual Care Consultants Executive Director Pastor Gale Kragt was recently honored by the Kingdom Book Awards for two of his books. — whether it’s churches, businesses, schools you name it, we support it. We’ve been part of crises that have not been announced.” Kragt said a contribution to SCC can help shape one’s legacy long after they are gone. In addition to hosting sessions, raising funds and tracking statistics, Kragt and SCC staff can be found on the airwaves. SCC’s podcast “Healing Begins Podcast” can be found on all major streaming platforms. Kragt’s voice can often be heard on area radio stations, as well. Kragt is no stranger to the written medium, either. His books can be purchased online at spiritualcareconsultants.com. In addition to Kragt’s books, Yenger’s husband, Nathaniel Yenger, wrote a children’s book titled “Hairy and the Hook.” In the more immediate future, SCC staff and volunteers are preparing for the nonprofit’s annual banquet, held at Grace Community Church in Nashville on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Individuals inter­ ested in attending the banquet, which will feature personal testimony from SCC clients, can reach out to Kragt at gale@spiritualcareconsultants.com. To donate and financially assist SCC’s mission, persons may mail checks to the Barry Community Foun­ dation, 231 S. Broadway St., Hastings, MI 49058. Checks may be made out to Barry Community Foundation, with Fund #165- Spiritual Care Consultants in the memo line. r «a»^ < / ‘♦*0’ r AS L 1 * vL' f ,.: .•n * J 1r ' » Ti I*" 9 'HF .V’ I • 1 , fr :S' /J I* • ^ Vl* 1?* * Hl ./Ir f b I k z , I r‘ y II y I tom * ’.** •« k p' - : ■ i <J (■ I r < f • u •Lr’’ * I (* 1 1 1 !»♦ r> > i -'ibwe ^vwwd I - \ ------ • i I r$ 1. »" • /trfl * 4 J * it r tc ^MM 4231 1** A •* * I •(J0’ T-*r* S * *, % i 2^ , r 1 <1 I I «'«?' I I * k* < I t * TJ U « ) * JO b ' I r** :> (• V Vi I 4 A • -i i’*-/ L J r J *r 1 9 v’ <&► .71 :;S I •I ’’-t J' , -h , .^iiS*** rx..; 1 ,-K3^-1 I 9 I ' M to- • fe f ■ ! V •■ .1 1 . / ' J* ■ > > Z--!j ‘ I.- - ■ « I .> / to* ,♦•1 „ 9^ _ i <K F .4; • «* J A' w I p « i: r1 t 'L’z ’ r 9^ I*.. b i J ' ‘ki.' ' ' ' ! -• 9 rr.MXr"; I rr r I . I f I •* i "I I r I Vim kJ'i« 1 1' 4 ■: 9 f t 1 4 Vi I r: V f KT -I ' ■> I-'? b-?? ci^ t* t 4 > VI I ' •".V '>11 1 r' r d * k :.'s i -J 4 i! 9. 1 k »i YOU’RE NOT JUST OUR READERS. ft A * |._ MMH^NKlQItMB* fl '■ s k >? You’re our friends, our family, our neighbors.. .and our future. Your Community Connection f AM*' 5J. Group * t* ’MM -bj MiiKus if 9 Residential & Commercial 269-792-2234 ir *< A WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters -Humidifiers in « ♦ w DEWEERDHTG.COM VIEW f r * f A s J SJI 1 ❖ ,1 V I] M* i» •? V r * <L Z’ •* K - « •••^r. . .. •J* S J ♦ *« « I J �V > I ’X, 1 1 I 9 •I 1 k r I >1 I * 4 1 *I 1 * DR A. S J I I A. ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH I I I 1 s t < I *• Christmas and credit cards «I3 44 WJgfcl M JftBW S’* f• there are no holes in sight. Over the last several weeks, If you’ve already dug a we’ve been walking through redit cards, personal hole what I call the “Financial Fuel loans, consumer debt—it’s time Gauge”—eight practical mark­ to get to work filling it in. Once ers that help you build a strong you have one month ofexpenses financial foundation before you saved, every extra dollar in your chase ±e big dreams on your J budget goes toward paying off heart. Because if your tank is Zach Santmler that consumer debt. empty, it doesn’t matter how This is also the phase where nice the destination is—you’re you must ratchet up'your income. You dug not getting there. the hole. Now it’s time to fill it And here’s We started with Step 1: Spend Less than the secret most people miss: The dirt you You Make, where money stops leaking out need may only be one or two raises away. of your account, and you begin telling your It may be just that one promotion around money where to go instead of it just flying the comer. The real question is—what value the coop. Then we moved to Step Two: Give do you need to create to earn that income? 10%, which sets the tone for the other 90% If you want a side job, great. But your and reminds us that money is a tool, not a first move shouldn ’ t be Uber Eats. Your master. From there we hit Step 3: Your New first move should be to increase the value Zero - a buffer in your checking account so of the hours you already work. Value first. you never see a real zero again. Hours second. Last week, we began discussing Step I ’ ve shared before that I do use a credit 4: Consumer Debt. We realized debt isn’t card — but every expense is planned, bud­ right or wrong in and of itself, but we need geted and paid off in full every mon±. to understand it so that we don’t become burdened by unwise debt. I want you to think back to an image •* we’ve used last week—the hole and the dirt. Every time you use a credit card to buy ->**** something you didn’t plan for, every time •* 7 you use store credit, finance Christmas gifts, or take out a personal loan with no real asset kt' behind it, you’re digging a hole. And the problem isn’t just ±e hole—it’s that there’s no dirt in sight to fill it back in. When I walk through neighborhoods 24th across America, I see yards full ofholes and no piles of dirt anywhere. That’s consumer -3 '<< /* debt. And here’s what makes it exhaust­ ing: Every extra dollar you make just goes toward buying more dirt to fill the hole you V. >!,■ 4180 2nd St. already dug. No progress. No momentum. Brises:'* J-r SI Just fatigue. Caledonia i Consumer debt has robbed our country lighfSncfiurchTdfg' ' of financial prosperity and keeps families trapped in a vicious paycheck-to-paycheck ::v,' Be^ cycle. And while I understand ftiat times w§ can be tight, hear me clearly—you are not captive to your paycheck, but you do need r’ r to spend less than you make. Don’t like it? No problem! You are work­ el * ing on increasing your income. It may take time, yes—but wealth gained bit by bit lasts. Don’t speed up your lifestyle because your * •• neighbor bought a boat before you did. Build slowly. One step at a time. Because OCe when you do, you’ll look back one day and r.Y *v.J realize you’re standing in a mansion—and r * fifiTl orlJ and news THE SUN INCREASE , i K • Kt'r K I * 4 T « ▼* * f ^^hmfOl io » •vi 4 *1 •H. . '«l. ii.- 'SfS.- I f • r f. f * I •J J t r I 1 • > u • < ♦ I* * kS- r ■*1 ^0- I ' '•J; ■' r..: '</ rr •it-*- K ■ •% •t I Jt w ^8 oiasjt<- < 3!} :r TV • t; ' . M r ) 1 H' Tl I >v •♦T • t rK ». J .• i; ■■ 1 I ’ -5, ■ '' < t 'S A y- A W4X f ^ISS f :. ' rr^ • /' I 9 c ♦w •I •3 r i .? .ifH’i * iJ t fe£ f t A Un « I T.-'A ♦« •-> r --LTv ’• "•m J X j I «i, bi*1r r' I j. ''it .jTS?''. ' 4 .JI, * S’ • • • • * *<r ‘A jsT 'HiT /. I - > St.:S,.5 * »♦ t ■ I •X < < 12200 W. M-179 Hwy., Wayland, Ml 49348 6unLakeChurch.org » T' Ik •< r y*a’ • fr •■ Eight choral pieces accompanied by beautiful orchestration, will tell the story of Jesus arrival, and His divine presence among us, providing light in the darkness. and hope and peace to h a weary world. lu* -•xV ... ’ '«« ' WB* w. * Xll X> « -------- ♦ If W4 ' »>• T .r*»> •* > •- Please join us on Sunday, December 21st, at 9:00 am, as the Caledonia Vine Street Church chancel choir presents. Glory to the Newborn King, celebrating the Light of Christmas, by composer Lloyd Larson. 4. < I December 21 9:00am & 10:30 am December 24 Candlelight 7:00 pm i »•< 1--------------- - r«^a'..ss -I* t^9 b Ti >* «v .> ' s? Christmas Services A A '*. -X 4 —I rA * itmas hVe Servlce g • b. ■ • < OUN LAKI COMMUNITY CHURCH I •e w- 4 i i ' •z* »t• • < * r 'W ' J • 9 ’A A *•*% • < • f •* • ri • «iiri*W 6 . . •T fe .•2> ri”* ,1 I > ■■ • -s': .a * . *9 * e. Sr;,-' 1 A *5 < J . E if ft I .*/ . J. . .X n * I I I '«! k3 B 16 . *1 . * 4 1 I 5 i' I e •rT. «*w*^A* lllm^ ‘.i-* r. rjiiiriiirrr--'o wu IM • s . X v^aSta w • i A ^IVaflmwv' <1 »-!<■■ <1 ri)^ ri K5 4 Tr •I t- >« rv 9 ■j~Lr*fc -S ■ " ^5: 4 n I» Z T r *1A I* * A » 5.,^ j: '4,** > > n 'i: •I • I -ar I J ? f ) / .f 8 ? J 3 a 5' * ISA* Nr.. .•3W I J I I wsi^nia.i¥'r^HV „. I I ^4 / V ri % > < -« »'Mllie I RI He- >• •■• r »> ' .X* > jhaoir VriLlHMiM 9^ Vw.>>-; 7 ' 4* j 1 IV'M ‘ ,r iSJ ( t b 1 t R4 AewDorn meeMMfso tht ? 5$ iron I • e>> a* * ri '; rz-:' Um « F » c ri*» } I JT^U' 'V U ^4 « » k - • B « S •! I 1 I ^Tr<.^ Ji J 1 p.. ’/ 9 si ! Mi I I Iw L^e 7i= i 1 f .•Tk ’Jt f r n Ba C' I ? I •-) .. I ij 7- .. r S' T1 S * } s »/.r f r 1 t X r i 4 •• « ' !• X / t .4Bd ■ ;*■ e• rw’. f s r k t f I t a. > •*. ii .- ' L«^. -■ I 'I Li •.w ! I et I 5 ' I I i « I I H J . t;‘ I 1 'il ' D 11 I ri * ri 11 u I II •J •I ( I > I I 250 Vine Street Caledonia, MI 2 I 1> ’ Come worship with us and invite a friend! For unto us a Child is born! Unto us a Son is given! Alleluia! I « V' lu iWi 5^:fV •A JW I’ '■ J *g .4 *.AA >* * ' *9 A » .• lb V V A .A 1*^ V •‘.r* ?’■ 9 digging. Put the shovel down and get cre­ ative this holiday season. Step 3 - have a conversation with your employer and ask ±em how you can add value to the business and how you can get your next raise. As always, if you need to get caught up or learn more about each step, visit trumbleagency.com/increase, where you’ll find a copy ofall ofthese articles along wi± additional resources. Zach Santmier is the o\^ner of Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author ofthe personal financial course, Increase. He focuses on helping families escape paycheck-topaycheck living so they can freely pursue their idealfuture. Emergencies come from savings, not plastic. If you’re currently carrying a balance, I recommend being consumer-debt free for one full year before touching another credit card. You need new habits. And if there’s even a chance you’ll fall back into debt, no travel points in the world are worth digging anotherri hole, Today, there’s three action steps: Step 1 - How much consumer debt do you have? Tally it up and write it down. It’s time to start filling in ±at hole with any leftover money Step 2 - Since it’s Christmas time, don’t dig a bigger hole! Just because you already have a hole doesn’t mean you should keep I ”1 I I X**.A “'“^sriira •9 A**..* t ' Lh f -- V . g - < Saturday, December 20, 2025 VIEW-^^Group IM * I S’ p Sk Z, * 4 < V r’C' f > > i > ' s Ih.-’w • $ t I J S-^i Si 1 I s t 4 Qi T1 • ri www.sunandnews.com I ri i -‘i t k a 'y— 5 •r r li V. 1 > 9 4 I 1 < i/90ricnF.r\ii^ •*’ « 4 rf. f. a �Saturday, December 20, 2025 10 VWW __ ''t SUN -'■I'tD NEWS I i Wishing uou a xl. ■■ I and ’a A 4 J Thank you for entrusting us with your heating and cooling needs! * u. »* ■' a v.-«. *»A ppy * f K 5*4 > 4» t It4 S ■ *■« t i < .■1' r' < X. *7'^ !^ I*; IW I' ;;A’ V, I ’ . » A zz A*; £di>^ » ► w 5j> JI X » 7 t «* Ik r HMB 1 9 i f ■ V f.'I J: f<S .«> » - < ■* •> > * r our customers, t Y ». Thank you to all : i fi .f ■ f « » . *^*^'*M^ i £ « h A We are so thankful to all of our customers! > ’JB kF ’ 9 ^The company built by referrals' g?'. 210 r KT Hatai Staaat, Caladonia »• « A ’ J*’ / I t f ! f* • 1 / 'i* '’ * t. ■ : iMu. t '4; T i < s^,. t t.: V f 1\ . ./ I I * •J 1 T* I V > I J < 3 \. . ri'. < 1 9 * i K r*"*" • AaI * <• HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM 269-792-2234 616-891-8900 f 4* « u , jji "• I- I*' DeWeerd (7d\ L 4* s Christ our Savior is born r 2 L. Y / J I I A * 'S A e4» < I ' ? • < <• t * * V I t J w X • i Z •a »4 t Merry Christmas! nave appy Healthy New Year! i w i V ■» ♦ >* v:* »3 - J r X ( hnstmas^ pc h —' x. --’ <3 I\fcw Y car T r •J V *!•* r > A •iFt i*■ •Z. ■' 'll ■ I * l_ M ^ iff ■>>'. V i ;:;v^' r I i.ipi ■ HEATING AND COOLING MM A* .aaI' ' . ntONTiat if I** •4' .t' 4 >• / IS sunandnews.com -.J''- J' I 1 Oroup k 1 > 11 .Ut \ -13* 'A n 1 4 ‘ ty. I « r <Piom oWiz Caledonia, dVoafond cuut QlUddlcvdfe ^md^ta momHs- 5 $ Caledonia JJffice Middlevill ^Office '0 M ><• *I s «r * • •» «44 * :^!^i ■. A t » «>* R > MTm > (kv I*— f <«* <». r * $. *V 4 *> r .J f* .'X /A' ■X 'V I- Kx V * I «* w 's*y • if -I 1 % i‘- i,. < > 1 ^.2» 3 F 4 ft r. ■».•». >< . i •. 9 > Highpoint * ai* f • iJ’ »s B ' ' Ma^^ar •« t .*5^*1 •* 4 FDIC 1^ K COMMUNITY • *♦ 1 9 1 c ANK u y ;iT’ s’.Tl'i i . < 1 1 / f. ■-< V t V i<5 V, <5 w 4A r &v J ii ■ r > 111 > 1 ► t • ■ . 9I pi I r JI iW>*^ < '7. t: ' Fl fl n. > .♦ r. . rf.(i*«(K"”““ y J *1 <1 .A ”'*1 I • '-• Vx H t 4 ^;- Vv\ t I i a |M Tfl ! I i I 1*^ : s^tsi i ^• I T5• eju: I I t f r '• ,1 ri l^p * tt * a. - <. * * *. 4 J I •I i’ ♦ F <• I t 9 4 , » ' *k' •X «, H ,1.. . * Kt i1 r i I J I Lk M A T r A y . i* r 1 IB 11 L 3 W F >551 I i A' h» ' di Tl’la b♦ -J 1 > -A* I • r kk . 1 1 1^. .. L.ra(. 422:2280 r 41 ii I * >A V • W k - S J i» » 4 I' 1 fr : > *— » I * 9 IF 7 :t 3 ♦ I t a 'rti k h vl / 1' « 'W’df ■ {F M 3 4r > t 'O i.ij’’ Thank you for choosing to place your trust in us over ■ ■ the past year. We are proud to be your community bank and look forward to meeting V.v your financial needs and exceeding your expectations^ in the coming year. Warmest wishes for a wonderful ■ holiday and a healthy, prosperous, Happy New Year! $< \A ■u - I ' i n t^'mm^nitySa nk com s A' 7 > f t' r 1 k 1 « ;^h i g h >.*; •” 'J * T,' » . r t4 ' I I V' i y L i r Thank You! J \\ t J ♦ I r !4' r liUi* F i« kJ •.4 V* JU . »: *21^41 :Jr‘ i ‘WR Pi 4. • « -F,' * * 4' ’. 6 ’X*^| 1^1 . JM R I •. < ■r . > •> r ■i .J «e > ^k.-’ -f r .r dj • WT •i" rr 4 A IL*; 4 :r- t I f �* e « « e IK NEWS , gw >.»•(*»**>{** 4I«. t : •A’ 1 .-7^ ' vf" The Fighting Scots have won four in a row to improve their record to 8-3 overall this w inter. The Caledonia varsity hockey team knocked off OK Conference Rue Divi­ sion foe Grand Rapids Christian 6-() Wednesday at the Eagles Ice Center to stay perfect in the confercrux at 3-0. The I ighting Scot.s arc scheduiftxl to head to Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing toftlay, Dec. 20, to take on state power­ house Brighton in the I lowcll Showcase. i 1 ■i* 1 -.-r: 3w** » riF/> £ u. fvy -3H » r / I//’ I *< I r V w. 1 n. > % St '.c I I < A li Brett Bremer Sports Editor X / I ( X I 1 'l 1 t “?h Tuesday in Middleville. TK had a 23-22 lead at the half. The Wolves pulled in front with a 15-10 third quarter run. The Trojans just couldn't quite claw back in front late in the bailgame. The TK ladies fell to 1-2 with the loss while the Wolves moved their re Ihe frojans circled this one as a litmus test for where they stack up in the OK Ciold Conference. I hey didn't get a victory, but I K head coach Brandi James was pretty pleased with her team's efforts in a 50-45 loss to visiting Wyoming in the first conference ballgame of the season k ft • ^TRANKYOU TK ladies keep pace with wolves, hut can't overtake them I 9 assist from Nichols. Esch made it 2-0 w ith a gcKil off a Sos a assist less than three minutes later. Hie lead swelled to 5-1 before the Vikings got a goiil from Collin 1-innie late in the second peritxl. Son a and 1 anden VKxire scoretl unassisied coals in the first se\ en minutes of the second periixl, w ith Sova's coming on a power play. Esch’s second gvxil was a short-handed go;il xssistetl by Evan Mcxire. z. i I 4* « Captain Harmon Esch scored two goals, and Ty Lew andow ski, Ethan So\ a and Landen Moore each scored once for the Scots, .\ssists came from Sov a, l>rew Nichols and Evan Moore. Sam Hoag earned the w in in net. Caledonia had a 2-0 lead before the Vikings managed a pow er play g<oal w ith ten seconds left in the first peritxl from Luke Thick. Lewandowski notched the opening goal ten minutes into the contest off an . **»* ri ? Brighton is currently ranked third in the state in Division I while the Caledonia squad is sloacd in ninth in Di\ision 2 The Scots return to conference action at Patterson Ice Center Monday. Dec. taking on Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Thal conference w in over OR Chris­ tian came on the heels of a 5-2 w in over Marysville at Patterson Ice Center last Friday; Ox. 12 • The Scots built their lead against Marysville with two goals in the open­ ing period and three more in the second. Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor k. r4 11 Saturday. December 20. 2025 Scots head into showcase showdown with Brighton on win streak I ry. ’ VKW I » for making 2025 a great year. We look forward to serving you in 2026. 4, 4 L^< sxs( KK:hoi i \ V.Hk‘y A\ e SI L tL«jk‘(l< »niii Ml hllki ! 1 » ■B Bl-All I 1 I 6I6-89HX)SO. CMffiONIAKimuimCjCOM OPEN. M thru F 7;30.fr>-5;30, n • SAT 7^30ani-1 ;00prT^ * * $ f See LADIES on 17 H r I VWi IK i t ft ‘•I I* I «UIK n j^ni ■ I r* > “L .Mc/Viu Cft/iistfMM & <AfeM y^iUi h .1 I»s '■ I I 2 s' 'fea e. •4 ft 1 i *1 1 B13 f rAe entire staff at Mike's Pizzeria i. Tavern wants^^\ to wish you and your loved ones a prosperous 2026. Celebrating 17years in business and looking forward to celebrating many more! Thanks for alt your support in 2025! I k t ft 3’* > V f ft I • J ft ft t T < v*ft V .•> ■ wtifflisihbt . a;I ‘4 K 1 t kt -“"I?. t ft ft J 5V ' • r From all of us at Katz Roofing, thank you for your support, trust, and kindness throughout the year. I > r I 1 We are grateful to be part of this community and honored to serve the families and businesses that make Michigan home. ji a IVI...H I I 1 r ! ( J I ■-. .1- I ■ V 8 / afeiwijiA / •* n4 iI hl ~i2 * r TjT J 4* * *< .1 i *• »« I* '““'4" _. Mike & Sue Kline .. (UKxl a yta/b cJhjod. ft >i 1 . V ► VW I- ! . b .V 616-868-7300 • ^5 v »v.piz,zashyniike.vt»in kA* 1 >V.| f I oaUctl at ( ttnipaa ( araer Sfafian, 6<Sth h hUnevville Rd., Alta, MichtMaa I^H t * ‘□Rift a. fl r- ’Ik > -U-t 9 ‘l - M iz- A 1 fl I f r?*#’ h r Itt & II9 •t. II ft I I 1 ft ft .1t * I ft .« 1 1 ft« « I •t I n ft %w vt ftl I ■•' Jf. nWriW <1 ~ IM- 54 I. * a . *= ‘.ta; . L* - J - J lu’iMT «»-w .“ BO-QfW<6 ««|hl||G U^. Celebratintj 65 **years in business V.' < < �« w 4 « • > J I. k k 1 . > J- 1 I r* % * .k' .. Saturday, December 20, 2025 12 THE SUN AND NEWS ‘ www.sunandnews.com Group Young group taking over for Lady Scots skiing AU of us at ♦ ♦ ‘*r ' — II 1 I \ C K HBL J E L The Fighting Scots were really looking forward to their first on snow practices at Crystal Mountain earlier this month. The Caledonia varsity girls’ ski team has some spots open in its scoring group, and figuring out who will best fill those varsity racing spots in ±e slalom and giant slalom events throughout the winter will be something of a process. “Eight skiers gr^uated from our girls’ team last year and we are working to fill several places in our runner in order,” head coach Duane Petrosky said. “We are excited about ±e potential from our returning skiers and from our new ad­ ditions.” The group that is returning for the Fighting Scots includes junior Kylee Zimmer who was an all-conference skier in the Lake Michigan Ski Conference (LMSC) a season ago. The junior trio of Ada Decker, Madison Reynolds and Olivia Vanlaan is back as well. “We have four freshmen this year, that raced with our middle school team, and believe that a few of them will be con- E whII^Uou po^uma^e Im, 2025 (uui on&fv ipu a 6(e6sec( Qleiv (y«cUL 9369 Cherry Valley S.E. Caledonia, MI 49316 'A-tZ’L 891-5750 4 Sports Editor 9 4 9 A Swiereng A e ♦ FJZ ’.1*1 swierengajewelers.com a In the Caledonia D&W Village Center tt [F Brett Bremer ♦ ' s J I > / I r * *W ► ! * >e i I J M ♦- r ,z t €> * - ix-‘ ► li* V a* fl S.;. r- .* Z ' * .'T d ■1.^' Jt J r* * I .4 1 I . .J k < 5 t k 3 L‘- f ^Sr /• 2 1h#*' t/ I ■ -•* » • I If- V* :V * d I. 4 > I > V * i 1H J Mf ■ V. ’•til**’ x TV>- Junior Kylee Zimmerer is the one returning all-conference skier back for the Caledonia varsity girls’ ski team this winter after the program lost eight seniors to graduation last spring. Photo provided I *** « i’'7T ■ -a wki tributors right away,” Petrosky said. “Ellie Radel and Liv Yonker bo± had GS times last winter that will put them in a position to help ±e team and our other freshmen (Emily Hilton and Marin Dentler) have a ton of potential which conld allow them ’ to step up to help ±e team also.” See SKIING on 14 . ' J b ; r & * • lij ^3^^ t* » ?v i i r-' 'ij 4 ;c : £ 4 « t ji j-j* THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE & SUPPORT! / % 4 5 J I ' ? n i k L, Thank you for your patronage in 2025! V - Cli jo boosl fBCO M a. I wrti I rtr :k. I. 4 < »• 9-, fi.'- \ z 1. ‘ I t 1’ t s. I * J I ''<5 V A r < . t.*'**’’ •Xk**•J 4 L ■***i.»< A s -X < I ■■ ■i. f V ** •« * I IS* I? t Nh H . If I forward to serving you in 2026 J e. :r' 20% OFF DISCOUNT ON I FRAMES ! $50 OFF 1 I ■ I I 1 SUNGLASSES □ 1 ‘‘k Afeiai® affM;*/ if* - Uri' ' •IWi', £: ^ ailjffiuEs; Ik e* 1 51 ,i U» M re * k ««KH4*»*a urn* » ♦ K*’-v I ij fli * I J V ?'■ > T 269-213-81081 ThomappleEyeCare.com f: i<T'" V p 4624 N. M-37 Hwy. Ste E, Middleville, Ml Next to Harding's Market sT^ X M I< l/Ki. Sending love through the New Year from our family to yours! ' -"J rf il * ♦ {•> ><* ' 1 I: -■ w 'B fess «T i % i wia . « f B *' <’ 4 > " > 'T . 'k' 1$* * ' " T * M ■ RI •« » a SHERRIFFGOSLIN.COM/BATTLECREEK * ‘— k'Nhw 'T“ 'df • •. < •* ’ ' '3b I I 9 *4l •A > ‘i (269) 962-4036 ISKl - ‘'ji 4b -ThornappletZY ECARE j ♦ A p.fl rl i »iiW ' JaKkSKKi e Offer expires V3V2O26 99^ * »• 9 * * * 9• * . r ( Ij i □ w 9 * QUALITY ROOFING Since 1906 -g J NON RX 1 SHERRIFF GOSUIN' f 55081 1 5a > Ik I < 1 M;- r:t .I ,-l I •• > 5 I < I I 4 ! I �I ♦ i i www.sunandnews.com ! ? V THE SUN AND NEWS VIEW 13 Saturday, December 20, 2025 Group ♦ Great group back as CHS boys try and chase down Glen Lake in LMSC I l*s *1 ll I Brett Bremer Sports Editor 1 to* t# '1 V> B i . .A •♦ '’<>N i>i.i J I - 41 I I J i a i' - f ( * « \ I.:* I f 1 I ’»» f : ( ' 'J ■ ffl' ■.Sri I I4 ! ffp r Hl ): i I : 4 4 1 i . • ?« II I f ♦> ■ J' *v J.., **• L. t f': f f. ’'®is fTib • I 1 • irwi’n ^’1' .i i 1 balT«*«bL « u.'1 ? ■'M f 1 IS WyWitoftb. < **1 I 4 I t [ c I The Fighting Scots closed the 2024-25 season on the slopes with a victory and are hoping to keep up the pace during the 2025-26 season. The Caledonia varsity boys’ ski team has eight returning skiers who were allconference honorees in the Lake Michi gan Ski Conference (LMSC) a season ago. That CHS team last year placed second in the conference, andjust missed qualifying for the state finals as a team with a fourth-place finish at its MHSAA Division 2 Regional meet. “We finished the season last year win­ ning the Caledonia Invitational beating ■ teams that qualified for the state finals and that we had not beat the rest of the season,” Caledonia head coach Duane Petrosky said. “The team is going to try to build on that momentum to improve our finishes at our races this season. We are striving to win the LMSC and place in the top three at regionals, this season. We fell short of bo± last year and think the goals are achievable this season.” This is the Fighting Scots’ third season heading north to compete in the LMSC The eight returning all-conference ski­ ers for the Fighting Scot team are Peter Calhoun, Gavin Dean, James Diegel, Derick Prichard, Aidan Brown, James Prichard, Justin Harper and Jake Potgeter. Coach Petrosky said he is also excited for the addition ofJackson Otto, ajunior with a lot of racing experience already. Derick Prichard, Diegel, Calhoun and Dean are the seniors among that group. Brown, ajunior, had the top conference finish of any of the returnees from a year ago placing fifth in the final conference tally. James Prichard, also a junior, and sophomore Jake Potgeter also both finished top ten in the conference’s indi­ vidual standings. “Our strength is our depth,” Petrosky said. “We believe that we have about ten skiers that could earn all-conference honors this season and these guys are extremely dedicated. Several attended summer camps at Mount Hood and we had eight skiers attend Thanksgiving camps this year, which is the most our team has ever had.” It’s more than just those guys making SB. V *■*-. 1 * * <♦V Ii * I i 1 I •r* » .> % ■ r* 0 it «* r r *« .r -I / " '‘X 3^^. ■; X * J. ■ • • Z* 1 % % I » !■! ■ Si « >1 Junior Aidan Brown is one of ten all-conference skiers back for the Caledonia varsity boys’ ski team this winter. He finished fifth in the Lake Michigan Ski Conference's individual standings as a sophomore. File photo by Brett Bremer a mark and pushing the program to be its best. “We also believe that our senior leadership is a huge asset for this year’s team,” Petrosky said. “We have seven outstanding seniors that all lead in their own way. Four of our seniors have been all-conference, but all seven provide great examples and help lead the team. Although Brennan Donnelly, Max Doll and Rydik Wrubel haven’t received as See CHASE on 16 u iJ.. I11’ha I j 'W lobsk'O ’ > "* t1’ t 2!OOd 07 % ’• ri «« t ismsiB ttsi r ao1ib3 ir^Fj I I. ' >rnofwl£D erfT to *'4 t I t to* * V y-- ' )£d 'fs HIiW 1 >*• 7VC fln CIUVM ♦t 111 r I ; -3< f jn<sl I ■ •r olJWvTmjn&j > tT rA vrozwi;; ,3, 1 itaijflTBSjJI'i'Onffl I u * ! .c9Td Vfibilorl * 'H/' 1 1 I < I s riDJ^ tomn >• !!! I HI ra r i ;i±3 ’J'li i .A I tujll' I 1<^ i .1 r,70r.| k » 1 I A 4 I ci -tn. Hl t .^1 it i r 616-891-0150 J Ji iO<! i 'JE • yCui v uW o>luj .^^lan 7 bfu; ar wultl .□□j’qii ztniof >n-I nlooniJ bl w op nt Fbnnn^oi f il k 1 t 1 I I li .X « 1 H I' I I .1 I Si J I k 11 I I I ll (.1 4 I I 1 4 4 I \ 1. t I I i % . I* ■ Caledonia boys share the load to boost record back over .500 Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Caledonia varsity boys’ bas­ ketball team got off the schneid with back-to-back wins over Lowell and Carrollton to move its record to 3-2 overall this season. The Fighting Scots knocked off vis­ iting Carrollton 68-32 Tuesday night, and they were set to host Thomapple Kellogg Thursday, Dec. 18, for the final bailgame before the start of the holiday break. Junior guard Aaron Collins had a team-high 12 points to go with five rebounds and two assists in the win over Carrollton. A group of 11 different Fighting Scots scored in the ballgame. Jaeger Tidey had eight points, Bryce Backus nine, Luke Witvoet seven and Connor Bloemers and Braydon Nemmers had six points apiece. Lincoln Sent! had a team-high nine rebounds to go with four points, three assists and a steal. Backus chipped in six rebounds and Ben Geerdes had five points and seven rebounds. Luke Witvoet matched Senti’s team-high three assists. In an 82-60 win at Lowell last Friday, Dec. 12, freshman Luca Galardi led the Scots with 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal. He was one of three Scots in double-figures. Collins had 13 points and Nemmers had 11. Witvoet had eight points and Senti eight. Bloemers and Witvoet matched Galardi’s four assists. Nemmers, Backus, Senti and Bloemers had five rebounds each, and Senti had four of the Scots’ 12 steals. Caledonia will be back in action Saturday, Dec. 27, when it heads to Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids to face Grandville. The CHS boys are slated to tip-off at 3 p.m. following a 1 p.m. game between the Caledonia and Grandville girls. t BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. V ~4 £ <. it■ > > AND... . *» lAPPY REW * ■ A YOU R<R A ORE/ THA .' A S- * J/ J ** 4 ^PROMlOUR ^NTlRJi r 1 *» 2^ »■ I I 4 r^*h4 >1 Stf: t r,. ' /*■ « I 1 «• t > < ■ —4” d • 4 r «' r I 4 O’ » BODY SHOP < , I f * «> •1 '■' ■ ^>4. ■. 4A COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR I 5^ A I r 110 Johnson Street SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 your frusRd Body Shop for over 33 years .< �» 0 14 .■ t r ^ay. December 20. 2025 € SUN f I I MEWS VIEW... ,. Trojan senior Bossenberger the top 165-pounder at Kent County Classic 1? i Brett Bremer Sports Editor get into the championship match where he pinned Rockford's Arcs Porter in 1 minute 42 seconds. The TK team also had Ciriffin Grum met at 157 pounds and Jackson Smith al 190 both placed third. Cam Peter at 175, Dylan Pauline at 150 and Gabe Gosselin at 144 each placed sixth. Thornapplc Kellogg senior Blake Bossenberger is 11 -1 on the season after winning the 165-pound championship Saturday at the Kent County Classic hosted by East Kentwood High School. Bossenberger needed less than a minute to pin his first three foes and 4» Thc TK team was sixth overall on the day with 114.5 points at the 2.^-icam tournament. Rockford look the dav's championship with 211.5 points. Byron Center was second with 198. TK followed up that performance by getting its first OK Gold Conference win of the season Wednesday in a set of OK GoldBlack duals at Spring lake The TK team outscored Wyoming 77-0 with wins from Ethan Strait, Gabe Oos sclin. Max Knowles. Gnffin Grummet. Bossenberger. Peter. Smith, Brodv I lammer, Abram Dutcher. Bry son Mcyering. Garrett Grummet. Daniel Shepherd. Diego Rodas and Carson Gibson. - * ‘ •.'I I - b‘- .»I '' f I 1 B ■ X • CELEBRATE SUCCESS! Continued from Page 12 The ski team has two exchange stu­ dents this winter too in Salome Rouhier, from France, and Leonie Floelotto, from Germany. Rouhier comes in with some ski racing experience. Petroskey said he and his coaches are looking forward to seeing those two ski so they can figure out where they will fit into our running order for the season. Overall, he said determination is the backbone of this girls’ squad. “This group really is focused on improvement on both an individual per- Send your student achievements or personal milestones to nimacleod@mihomepaper.com THE SUN AND NEWS vnpMUp^Brwp ri conference past two seasons. Coach Petroskey said he thinks the youngsters in the program are really building a foun­ dation that will get the varsity chasing championships in the coming years. Glen Lake has all its key skiers back from its conference championship team from a year ago, and overtaking that Glen Lake program will never be easy. There are conference races on Wednes­ days throughout January, and the confer­ ence finale is set for Feb. 17. Caledonia's first invitational competi­ tion of the season will be al the CJrand Haven Invitational Jan. 9 at Crystal Mountain. Regionals will be at Caberfae Peaks this season Feb. 9. TUWV r • • •• • ___ I « I diK''' M • I r t b' ■ s S.t** II *• I I r <(£ li I I - ?• 1 • '• >•: V 1 » * X J ► <* • ' :« 4.nr i I I A* *; iv' I f a f if* .ft I I I V - At r* • *• ' I* r* » * Caledonia TCPTheSHIP ' Caledonia TOTNSHIF 1 V** J i. s r if ’/I I I I •• b • * - J CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2026 MEETING SCHEDULE I Broadmoor SE, Caledonia, MI 49316. The public hearing is to receive f I ,1 , I r-\ t "Sf 1 J .1 J I T".' 1 ». i **‘‘'*^ f Regularly scheduled meeting dates of the Charter Township of Caledonia Board of Trustees for 2026 are indicated below. All meetings will be held beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Ave SE, Caledonia, Michigan. to J* ? 1 .> 1 h i '»' 'I A’ I• r t I rT'T!U-' !■» p * ♦ **i > fU I H «. xi »•! f NOTE: Individuals with disabilities may request auxiliary aids and services for the meeting by contacting the Township Clerk at 616.891.0070. Is (»VJ ^-T 4 ii. Ur- Broadmoor, Parcel: 41-23-06-451-038. i C V i fer ' comments regarding the application of Michael Brann for a Special Land Use for a drive through window in a strip commercial building at 6675 1 r I • .^^*1 f-. January 5, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., at the Caledonia Township Hall, 8196 I H' I I PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the Charter Township of Caledonia will hold a public hearing on I • * /* Phone: 616.*91.0070 Fax: 6)6 *91 0430 h F“ ' >• •?! Hl I to * i 8)96 Broadmoor Ave. St Caledonia. Ml 49316 4 i* [ Phone 616.891.0070 Fax: 616.891.0430 * * ■Tia! ^";,v6isa^ 8t96 Broadmoor Ave. SL Caledonia. MI 49316 • * —«I ViSM -fl formance and as a team," Petrosky said. “There are no seniors this year, except exchange students, so my junior class has really jumped in to make sure that everything runs smoothly. All four of my juniors are focused on making this year their best season. “Last year as sophomores, all of our girls really improved. They really dropped their times and began to really grow as racers. The improvement in the course and their dedication in the weight room, and at camps is setting this team up for some exciting racing this season.” The first race of the season is an LMSC contest at Crystal Mountain Jan. 7. The Scots have been second in the three-team ■» T ' * 'to I J I i SKIING Xli Hrs jr > 4i < Si sfe t ' \ 4 a*** I * All interested persons may attend the public hearing and comment on the proposed request. Written comments concerning the request may be submitted to the Township office, at the above-stated address, up to the time of the public hearing. Dated: December 15, 2025 t: ’aaiaetk •A «* «v I Meeting Dates January 7, 2026, January 21, 2026, February 4, 2026, February 18, 2026 March 4, 2026, March 18, 2026, April 1, 2026, April 15, 2026, May 6, 2026, May 20, 2026, June 3, 2026, June 17, 2026, July 15, 2026, August 19, 2026, September 2, 2026, September 16, 2026, October 7, 2026, October 21, 2026, November 18, 2026, December 2, 2026, December 16, 2026 < ?:?? TS ta V L 9 • I • k 4 ,x I ^1 BP Ji ' 1 > • .. >r 9 >«» 41 > A* 'J. A 13m. J 3’0 T IM 9 r & I >s JiKafti I k;' 1 ’ i' ,1 < i I t. I* I •> ’A dr ?* »' -< r i; Ht ' PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE f •v CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA Joni Henry, Clerk * g to '■^ 0 1 •> A I 1 tojj*'r I X. *M M IS. « ;> IMI •A a;* ■ “ * *•/ ^•7 Iwo 1515^ ' w ■ r^- . -to. »* I I ■lit 4 i I » i *, f f I J ‘I * i I f 1 4 i h M * ft I I < 1 i I ! i / 4 I �J » # '•ir!. i - z > ? 1 i ♦ ♦ I *Ai,. THE SUN ANO NEWS www.sunandnews.com I ' VIEW f 15 Saturday, December 20,2025 Group ♦ 1 < Wyoming bests lyojan boys in OK Goid Conference opener > .. - Brett Bremer r, Sports Editor It has been a rough stretch to close i out 2025 for the Thomapple Kellogg varsity boys’ basketball team. The Trojans were downed 85-43 in their OK Gold Conference opener against visiting Wyoming in Mid]j dieville Tuesday, Dec. 16, after backt to-back Josses against Forest Hills : Central and Whitehall to close out last ; week Thursday and Friday. The three defeats dropped TK’s overall record to 2-4 for the season. i| TK had a 7-5 lead in the first quarter 1 against the visiting Wolves Tuesday aftemoon, but the Trojans left the Wolves ' a little too much space early on and an ’ 11-0 run put Wyoming in front 16-7 all J of a sudden. Trojan guard Andrew Johnson pulled i down a defensive rebound and beat f the Wolves to the basket in the other Indirection to finally break the skid, but i much of the night it was the Wolves I getting down the floor first. They led r 29-13 late in the first quarter before TK senior guard Zay Boafo drilled i a double-clutch three while jumping ; across the half-court stripe at the buzzer to cut into that lead a little. i TK was within 11 points early in the ( second quarter, but that was as close : as the Trojans would get the rest of the way. Wyoming got a buzzer-beating long three of its own at the end of the second quarter to go into the half up 53-22. That string of three-consecutive defeats for TK started at home with i a 72-51 loss to visiting Forest Hills i Central (4-1) last Thursday, Dec. 11. A1 ittle surge at the end ofthe first half boosted the Ranger lead to ten points j for the first time, and another run early in the third quarter put the Rangers i comfortably in control. TK had a tough ! time with the Rangers’ combination of ■ the ability to penetrate and to knock ' down outside shots. Ranger freshman guard Kellen Paul feasted on that burying six 3-pointe’rs and finishing with a game-high I 23 points. He hit two back-to-back to bump a nine-point Ranger lead to j 15 points in the first two minutes of j the second half. Junior Will Schepel 4 I s » ; * A ’ . .4, < 4 1j s 'X SI ■'fl.. I i > 1 I4 V ft? V 4 A V i irT <. r% '■'Yl. •i * K ». k. t- t k r** k X <(1 A V t I > 4 I V X f '' ' ‘ Ites st ■ 4 t • Hr •. ' V T.’ ‘if '<5 » ■ •'rwi JJU .J I f 1. ‘4b *> A M '■J.. '" U H * I I, >4 /’X- S«K,^ Air u f n/-. r., iV i r v. 4 4 :th % k.K *1 i 4 W i ? \ f ) •H: t >» ULi / . ■? I J w • w* * f W’' 't I f i - I *’6^'' I ' f z • r;Av '' ■ I J t •I •',‘iia.Tisrt ? t I t Wl ; i I- t t ! ! f'H • • u. f I r t * < k ' .' t>n ■^> 'hl ' i ) I k ',:i rr? 11 i 1:^ S32 *»l ’<</; } « I *** L /4 t ( >:i I i A uniH , , I 1 i ) ff vfi r^:; - , / < i ' r* F*** t ,1 ; f 'J la'j. .1 zFff 1 - iilil ? t . .LfT ui A * t T .. ' ■ 1. I • ! I ! •P’ Tao* - I 5 . < I * ( t f 4. 4 I*, u % < t V ft id. a BEi^^ t •l* r I I ** X* t .<6 * . I 1 ■ 4.‘ lV < r. 4^ / •i J #1* •W’ I r; t. I ( I •1 J , I 4., 4« lb L 1- • I 1 I*. j I **1 'nV •n’rTT'. i 9 A , -e I > I I ■' t I "5- 9 f » » t I :1 f':r J it" T ■< ■ } t I I I I i A .1 I I ^1 . -I i 4 I '1 J J .!» : I » i? 'i’l 4 . .1 H k I I A J t •I 1 I X I 1 ( 1 •> Thornapple Kellogg junior Brayden Lahaie races to the rim ahead of Forest Hills Central freshman guard Kellen Paul during their nonconference ballgame in Middleville Thursday, Dec. 11. r ' Vi 9 ■*? I 4• »>w A IBSeSz: Thornapple Kellogg senior guard Tyler Lloyd flies towards the rim to get a shot up between Forest Hills Central defenders Blake Teliczan (4) and Matt Sexton (back) during the second half of their nonconference contest in Middleville Thursday, Dec. 11. Photos by Brett Bremer hit three 3-pointers and finished with 15 points for the Rangers, and senior forward Matt Sexton closed the night with 16 points. Ben Lloyd led TK’s attack with 20 points. Junior Brayion Rae had ten points and junior Andrew Johnson finished with nine. TK was back at it Friday, Dec. 12, making the trip to Whitehall (2-3) where the Vikings scored a 64-52 win. The Trojans were set to close out the 2025 portion ofthe schedule Thursday, Dec. 18, at Caledonia. They return to action Jan. 3 taking on Holt at the Cor­ nerstone University Holiday Showcase in Grand Rapids. Game time is set for 7 p.m. OK Gold Conference play resumes Jan. 6 when TK plays host to North. view. ---- I >2^ 8196 Broadmoor Avc. SE Caledonia, MI 49316 Caledonia TOttT^SHIP . Phone: 616.891.0070 Fax; 616.891.0430 CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP PLANNING % COMMISSION 2026 SUBMITTAL DEADLINES ***Submittal deadline is by lOam on the day listed. All materials shall be complete and submitted by the deadline, including fee, escrow and plans. Plans shall be folded, collated, and stapled*** Submittal Deadline (by Warn) Proposed Meeting Date December 15 January 5__________________ January 19 (No Meetinq/Holiday) February 2_________________ January 5 February 16________________ January 19 March 2____________________ February 2 March 16__________ ________ February 16 April 6 (No Meetina/Holidav) April 20 March 16 March 30 Aoril 20 May 18____________________ _ May 4 June 1_______ _______________ June 15_____________________ May 18 Julv 6 (No Meetinq/Holidav) Julv 20___________________ ___ June 15 Auqust 3 (No Meetinq/Election) Auqust 17____________________ Julv 20 September 7 (No Meetinq/Holiday) September 21________________ Auqust 17 October 5 September 3 October 19 September 21 November 2 (No Meetinq/Election) November 16_________________ October 19 December 7 November 2 1 I I (Note: The posted schedule is for informational purposes only and does not bind the Planning Commission. Some submittals mav require additional review and public notice.) �Z I I Saturday. December 20. 2025 16 rri^ SUN NEMTS | VIKW ®««p . I, ♦ * * 'T < A ! ■*’9' TK knocks off last season’s top teams to win Kent County title ♦ f' al I* I I I'* Brett Bremer "1 Sports Editor 3 ,1 • f, I — I iwl i E lUI r I J t ■l^-l I AS • « I I ft J V J A 9 :.1 .1 i > *^2 <4 • < c « I The Thornapple Kellogg varsity girls' wrestling team acc epts its trophy after winning the Kent County Championships at East Kentwood High Schooi Saturday. Last year's slate runner-up team from Lowell was second and last year's state champs from Grand Haven were third behind the Trojans. /J .. 4«** । < T Scan our OR code to find your perfect invitation! J F I ( r K* T pl at 3^ . ?*■ • A ■> 4 - ***’ •J In all TK had 14 girls competing al the 32"tcam tournament. Karsvn Boersma, Morgan Boersma, Addison Barringer and Jaycee Teunessen also had victories throughout the course of the day for the Trojans. West Ottawa was fourth on the day with 86.5 points ahead of Fruitport 85, Rockford 81, Forest Hills Eastern 75, Northview 74, Kelloggsville 72 and Forest Hills Central 65 in the top ten. Lowell’s Lana Sheehan won the 115-pound weight class and the Red Arrows had Veronica Tapia win at 105 pounds and Tatianna Castillo al 110. Grand Haven got championships from Daniella Ramirez at 190 pounds and Megan Brower at 130. *!> . •' ■ * *' 4 > w< • 4 . I- 'J r I'4 .-r•r ♦ I* £l .a. *. • •P ^5S 1". ♦ r 4 4 <• r a t X f.. ** I !• »* * i I * I.. I* ■ *• •t r-’T' • f ■-II A ♦ kV* w i J f f f *k < ■r' Ir^ V * •J L f I J1? » F' It >* I ,tn :*J1**“ « 4«l’ < ^4 « 'W' << ji H RIII.I I I i ; "r ■ 1 i* f i I CHASE J M Continued from Page 13 > 6: / \ / Simply Perfect WEDDING INVITATIONS Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. PRINTING SY www.printingbypennyiane.com ginad@pennylanepnnting.com much recognition in the prress, they are outstanding young men and great ex­ amples for Caledonia’s younger skiers.” ^liile he likes his team’s experience level, it’s not quite where some of the other top teams the Scots face throughout the season is at. Glen Lake won the LMSC a year ago and has all of its starters back which will force the Scots to be at their best every time they’re on the hill if they want to jump up into the top spot. “We ski against some of the best teams in the state each winter and our biggest challenge is our experience level compared to some of the other teams,” Petrosky said. “Most of our guys started I ?. racing as seventh graders, while most of our competition began racing at six to seven years old. We are proud of how hard our skiers work to overcome the gap in experience, by the time our kids are juniors it is often hard to tell they started later than the skiers they race against.” The season of racing starts with a LMSC contest Jan. 7 at Crystal Moun­ tain.. Conference races continue on Wednesdays through January with a conference final set for Feb. 17. The first invitational on the slate for the Scots is the Grand Haven Invitational at Crystal Mountain Jan. 9. The Scots will be at Caberfae Peaks for their MHSAA Division 2 Regional this season Feb. 9. dr*' • i r • m: . r ‘W * 4 '» ' T yr* 4 " .*•> 11 w Y V 1 ' r m nitipii I X4-« £di^ II a ctt^ 4 I 4 > 1 * --- U . - -* »* < f j. ’A '*^• . I -n I I’ w *> J «v»u 9r J •% F*. t • j^s -i'JS?,aiB -«>*<! « I ■M ;' V 4 4 tl •»> I -•")«« flVi r* r v.'j: * ' •|T* •w b **■ . -K. <• V . 'a* •r • “V 4 T t t t i, a I J t i i I I: i i 1 ‘I, i 1 i » J v X'l^ww 4^ I M If M IP / «t i I I , i t r I t I < j a « i » ^s;£* Tt 1 t i^al r.- i ' * V* >. M** 1 r» f qualifier as a freshman two years ago. TK's Briclla Dykstra al 115 pounds, Madison Chipman at 100 both placed third, and Amelia Barringer al 115 pounds and Kayla Price at 130 were both fourth. Their team also had Taylor Pena fifth at 170 pounds and Maggie McKeown sixth at 105 pounds. Holderman opened her day with a technical fall and a pin before beating West Ottawa’s Le’Anna Zavala 10-2 in the 170-pound championship match. Alberts pinned all four of her foes. She needed less than a minute for the win in each of the first three rounds. She stuck North Muskegon’s Kelsie Vandervelde 1:31 into the 135-pound final. I' 9 e 4 - Thornapple Kellogg junior Adelaide Holderman is on the medal stand after winning the 170-pound championship at the Kent County Championships hosted by East Kentwood High School Saturday. Photos provided b It 4 V 1 s L ♦ - ’ i» > 4 A r it y» J r * #!? ■S' Cm. f .4 •A-.' > t n s e-’’ 'Fhc I'homapplc Kellogg varsity girls* wrestling team took the championship Saturday at East Kentwo<xl High School in the annual Kent County Champion­ ship beating out the teams that went I -2 at the slate finals last March. TK outscored Ixjwell 161-145.5 al the top of the day's standings. Lowell had three individual champions and TK had two. Nobody matched TK's eight top-six finishes. Grand I laven was third with 143 points. (irand I laven won the MHSA A’s first girls' team championship last March, beating out Lowell by ten points at the top of the standings at Ford Field. The I K team was 11 th at those state finals. The Trojan team got individual cham­ pionships from Adelaide Holderman at 170 pounds and Rylee Alberts at 135 pounds at East Kentwood Saturday. Holderman, who placed fourth at 170 pounds at the MHSAA Individual State Finals a year ago, is the Ione returning state qualifier from last year for the Tro­ jans. Alberts, now a junior, was a state 7 t X. « �♦ ■ TK ladies outcheer Plainwell on new season’s first night I » 1 « Mi .1 ■’ .>« Msi ■ ..tiia. -'1 ?» r I «l * / r L. m I 6^ fiOii 1 A kt. K. ■•J I I ’ : •'mfi KOI ifw i » t >v. t bo IM f 1^ » k I 4 - -.1 r. r w A % > >d f . I J '•■MX*') ’W :i^7dl unc I 9 ) i. • I *■•#» • j,.; .•yjl • T W' b f ♦ <1. ■V I u « I t 4 A' 4 1 » I s. < ■T ■’’LL ij 1 » 4. I I bl*. I I « tl ?' 4 V • tr.’. i * > r f: I r ( 4 KI tT^ 1 1 * 'sy * v; '’ll ir** f. r^. ^»k|, i i. /) N; I I • <■ ’•i. I* * ^1 1 1 j K • ’ X -H J ?* ) f > *• t J. « ' J ““ I M*. ft i. -i -• <• > . »i?, «b I \ e ri )< •5 ' ■ft!!: 4 <« r I I Im r 9 k *n; #J*7a i J 4 1 4 ■’•iW I V I » M‘4. 11 I > I K.. I *rsfc' bftJH '"/■ / r ♦I z. rt^v lUiU'ftr 5 *, — I .: ^T r , •* 1■ k k 7-^. A.-,3£3l*k « * Tf j-ur A I U J ’ rii 1 J r\n < cMste I >4*^ X 1 J * ▼ ( • / I I f •7" I •. * p' ' J I • I r I rocsa ( k ■' ^'- c j I . *''^'’ ■ .ft u -a 1 'I I c. I i i I • 11 I I k J <'* t M r. *1 . t 1 I inmi T • } onr -Hj no I r r L u ?? us/r iA. I I .■ ► I I t i * . W •• <'5 .-w I I I •' I I f I r I ■ I .. I I ) 4 . -— JiffVK-';- - I ; [ I 9H 1 . i I > k •• -a t M >*• .4; i J I J t JI < l! I fl® ' ft »< ) i < *- A k •• I I j I! fl- t I 11 ’ ^3 hr I »» t:?:" . ,J' 1 waC I •ATsI I f1 .« 11 t 1 I 1 I 1*4 IT 4 Ii 1 1 I V J ( I a 'Hi I ill I I J A I I I ■ Brett Bremer Sports Editor Was it perfect? Not quite. Could it have been a better first night of competition for the Thomapple Kel­ logg varsity competitive cheer team? Not really. The host Trojans opened the 202526 season by winning the Competitive Cheer Coaches Association of Michigan Invitational in Middleville Friday. The stands were packed with orange and black with TK middle school and JV teams competing too. The TK ladies took the lead with a reworked round one routine. They stayed right with Plainwell in round two by performing as tough a routine as is possible. In round three, the Trojans returned to a full complement of four stunt groups on the mat, after performing with three a season ago, and blew everyone away to win the day’s championship. TK outscored runner-up Plainwell 734.7 to 721.2 overall at the meet with nine varsity teams. The win was espe­ cially sweet for the TK Trojans being that the Plainwell Trojans placed fifth at the MHSAA Division 2 Competitive Cheer Finals as year ago, scoring as the top team from the west side of the state. Plainwell won district and regional titles on its way to the 2025 Finals, finishing ahead ofthe TK ladies at both those meets last February. “In my opinion in year’s past and with a lot of teams, and I’m sure we’ll do it this year, you go out there and you’re so worried about perfection that you lose sight ofwhy you’re there and why you’re doing it,” TK head coach Madelynn Lula said. “They just had that at the forefi-ont of their mind. I am here because I love what I am doing. I love the people I am doing it with. And I love the people I am doing it for. If we shoot for the stars and land on the moon, great. And that is exactly what they did.” The Trojans are shooting to get back to the state finals after coming up short of that goal last season, and with an experienced team and a solid group of newcomers Lula thought it was time to do something a little different. Rather than getting help from outside the program for round one choreography this season, Lula took on the task herself. “Ijust felt like we were at a place where we were getting bored ofthe style that TK had been doing for a really long time and 1 wanted something new and exciting to ^-' «> A n .■*k I > ,i ) I ‘V ( r-: I• ■kw*. « f > 4 ( 4 \ /. & <>; 9^. M liTTdU y »1J \ r. 7 $ ^s. k J < ft I, ? I iU I 'r 5^ ► f ■L w* X t ? The Thornapple Kellogg varsity competitive cheer team celebrates a victory in the OCCAM Invitational at Thornapple Kellogg High School in Middleville Friday, Dec. 12. Photo provided engage the athletes,” Lula said. “And so when they came off the mat in round one, there was so much ‘did you see everybody’s faces?’ Everybody was shocked. Everybody loved it, and we got a lot of compliments on that, which hopefully will help us stand apart for ±e rest of the year.” She said that a lot of teams either take a “dance” style or a “textbook” style in round one. TK has leaned into ±e textbook approach most of the time, and scored well, but wanted to put a more memorable impression out there this season. ‘‘It was so it was so cool when we walked out ofthe bui Iding we actually got the compliment from somebody saying you ’ re gonna be the choreography people are talking about all year just because it’s different. It’s something different,” Lula said. “We kind of mesh the really unique and creative, innovative with the textbook motions to make our own unique TK style this year.” There was also the added benefit of Lula knowing her cheerleaders so well that she could really hone the choreog­ raphy to their talents rather than trying to squeeze their talents into the chore ography. TK had the top score ofround one with 225.3 points. Plainwell was second at 222.8 and Forest Hills Northern wasn’t far behind with a score of 219.7. Tk and Plainwell pulled away from the «* pack in round two. Plainwell had a round two score of 216.9 and TK put up a score of213.9 - so Plainwell led by half a point entering round three. TK threw back handsprings, back walkovers and back tucks as their big gymnastics skills in round two, and Lula said it was the first time in a couple sea­ sons that her team has performed a round two with a maximum degree ofdifficulty. “Everybody hit, so they knew that even though there were imperfections they did their job and stayed on their feet,” Lula said. The orange and black Trojans secured the win with a round three score of295.5 (which included an eight-point deduc­ tion.) Plainwell had a score of 281.5 (which also included an eight-point deduction in the round.) “Yes it is early in the season. Yes there were mistakes,” Lula said. “We know exactly where we can improve, but to go out there and hit a perfect round three, or our version of perfect in December anyways, this early in the game was huge for their confidence.” Forest Hills Northern was third overall on the day with a score of 678.74. The Huskies had a score of 196.64 in round two and 262.4 in round three. Portage Central was fourth overall with a total of 667 points ahead of Coopersville 639.9, Newaygo 533.94, Dowagiac 477.4, South Haven 450.7 and Portage Northern 328. LADIES Continued from Page 11 cord to 4-0. The Trojans were set to host Caledonia for a nonconference ballgame Thursday, Dec. 18. The Trojans were also bested by five last Friday, Dec. 12, at Forest Hills Central. The Rangers scored a 40-35 win; TK will be a part of the Corner­ stone University Holiday Classic after Christmas. The Trojans face Lowell at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 26 and will take on Kenowa Hills at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 29. OK Gold Conference play re­ sumes for TK after the holiday break at Northview, Jan. 6. COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the November 25, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, that were approved on December 16, 2025, are posted at the Village Hall at 100 E Main street and on the website at www.villaQeofmiddleville.org. ♦ �I I « H t ! .J IT * « s * 1 / X 9 p 4 V r 9 J 5 f lit 4 Saturday. December 20, 2025 18 THE SUN AND NEWS vww» yiyar Qrotip i- ♦ ♦ Tied 0-0 with 2025 state medalist Ayden Ringer, a senior from Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Caledonia sq?homore Max Schnurstein took what he could get to get a 3-0 sudden victory in overtime Saturday. Ringer, who was fifth in Division 3’s 106-pound weight class, shot in on Schnurstein in their 120-pound semifi­ nal match at the Kent County Classic hosted by East Kentwood High School, Schnurstein sprawled, got a cross face in and worked his way around to hook an ankle for a take down that gave him a 3-0 victory. F .1 r z I Schnurstein went on to earn a 4-3 win over Comstock Paris’s Peyton Farrell in the championship match to finish as one ofthree Caledonia champions on the day. He was joined at the top of the medal stand by 285-pounder Ky Spencer and 175-pounder Cayden Nostrant The Caledonia team was fourth over­ all in a field of 24 teams from around Kent County. “I could not be more proud of Max how he is mentally,” Caledonia head coach Shawn Veitch said. “Mentally he has gotten so much stronger in the past year. A big piece I have been talking to him about is where your mind goes your body will follow. You have to mentally do it” ‘*The team went nuts for him too,” Veitch said of the semifinal win. The CHS coadi was pretty pleased with the enthusiasm ofhis team through­ out the day. ‘Sometimes at big individual tourna­ ments you can see th^ drift,” Veitch said. “You’re not with the team as much, it’s all individual, the day is going long. I was so pleased with our team continu­ ity. They stayed together all day. The officials probaBly hated us because they had to keep telling us only two in the comer. Thal to me is a blessing. We’re gelling as a team and wrestling more for our team than ourselves.” la • V* -J, ♦ Brett Bremer Sports Editor in** y J 4 www.sunandnews.com Thrilling late wins for Scots as they take three titles at Kent Co. tourney ♦ .• *r 4 ’ .A <» '“5 ' 9* * y .4 * >* 4 i 1 st. ITWOOD ALCONS r Ik I > ) 9, 4 1 I t Caledonia sophomore Max Schnurstein celebrates his championship in the 120-pound weight class at the Kent County Classic hosted by East Kentwood Saturday, Dec. 13. He was one of three Caledonia champs on the day. Photo provided 4 i w h U f R r f i * J*1 H 9 i J ?■ f ? Pkj * >• t LOOKING TO JOIN A WINNING TEAM? WE ARE HIRING RESPONSIBILITIES: - Become a part of our locally-owned newspaper group doing good things for the communities we serve! - Help local business owners and managers grow their businesses! - Build relationships by attending local networking events! Group is seeking qualified applicants for an ADVERTISING SALESPERSON covering Marshall, Battle Creek, Hastings. Middleville, Caledonia and Lowell 9^ 1 1 c > ... IF ’I * *r Ki 1 »• ► Jb^ 7 J- t 4 IV a ! 1 t 99..: If i • 9 4 .X. s. I ;S • d THE REMINDER I h'- 4 V THE LOWELL THE HASTINGS LEDGER BANNER BUYER'S GUIDE AND NEWS ■ '•r. BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS THE SUN AND NEWS AD-VBOR & CHRONICLE Send resume to: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com • X- There was a lot to cheer about. Nostrant opened with a pin, scored a technical fall against Thomapple Kellogg’s Camden Peter in the quarterfinals, outscored Comstock Park’s Deegan Pike 10-3 in the semi’s and then 1 I out Kent City’s Jackson Carr 12-5 in the cham­ pionship match at 175. Veitch best described Nostrant’s day as “dominant.” “He is just on a different level ri^t now,” Veitch said. Spencer won at 285 pounds by outscoring Rockford’s Alex Stewart 4-3 in the championship match after notching three pins to open the day. That final was about as exciting as Schnurst­ ein’s semifinal win. Veitch gave Spencer some fieedom to choose his position at the start of the second period tied 0-0 with Stewart Spencer chose the top position, where the coach would certainly lean to his wrestler opening that period in the bottom position to get the first point of the match with an escape. Stewart got that escape after about a minute on the bottom. Stalling calls flew both ways through the rest of the second period and the start ofthe third period. Stewart chose the bottom position to start that third period. Eventually a staling call on Stewart tied the match at 1-1 and then another the other way put Stewart back up 2-1. The two went out ofbounds with nine seconds to go and Stewart still up one. Spencer shot in on the restart and then completed a double-leg take down for the win as time ran out. The Scots’ Escher Reeder was the runner-up at 1267 pounds. The Caledonia team also had Xavier Stewart at 215 pounds and Robert Restau at 144 place third. Ben Moss at 150 pounds and Koleson Reeder at 157 both finished fifth at their wei^t class. Veitch said he took very different approaches with Moss and Reeder as they tried to work their way through the consolation bracket after early losses. He said he knew Moss was right on the edge ofmaking great things happen. “Hejust had tofind See next page i « I i f « * Bl 1 ■ .*• J I V,? »• • ITP(?« I ■ J /l. > 1 t ,C ■ ' ' 1 * c s 1 I' r J tmranmt/ r W*. f H {£t‘ ■14 Wit,1«9/‘*-.'.iqpenrt'^ri' *■ ■ Jilftac ■rijww. I J ai I A .X • f I < •* 7. »3*|- vwi| rbfl ‘Z 4itv' V 9 ... . ■>( t * « I* I* r *■» 1R 0 rwfw <!&#:■<)<! 4 i •« r-> oifra.it I WJ r. irniiti . riooiw J-®jqBoe" 'itaodtoiS'* n I •AJV’* * nBOodutfroo' 1 ►iinrb’.wrbod’ f»;'r k t ,yis. r J > tU'‘n "7 rt HMr ■OfW <«***' •# ■■ K J r L .jtstsifei® B NMNI 4 I .• 5 e •T 9 . X * M I f Wi r •! > /II r. ) Hk. * 1 Iv » 6 4 S i * 4j«i r ( t 9 > . ’k X I « c i r • I 4 « ■ ♦ t f 4L ? » t A ' • r' 9vi .. I ' 1 J .••-* »• « > a *5!^1 / JI 1 •*1 trj 5*Mi« T t 4 f , r r u u* I1 11 I I I ) 1t 1 i r* ii a. I I I < i < I J « t I I 11 I I �J wI '•A kK. i'.ft 4 £ 9 4 r < t •' t • r t t ft ft 4 ♦ A \ ♦ fli: ?/vww www.sunandnews.com r THE SUN AND NEWS VIEW Saturday, December 20, 2025 Group 19 ♦ ♦ ♦ r/r Gars race to championship at Wiliiamston Invitational I *4; ’ll n h, rnwm I, n * I. * 4 I 1 * 4 4 i3i£ii1adi I J 1 1 I f A I / ' r: i Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Grand Rapids Gars varsity boys’ swim team took the championship Saturday at the four-team Williamston Invitational. The Gars, made up of student­ athletes from Thomapple Kellogg, West Michigan Aviation Academy, West Catholic , Unity Christian, and Hopkins, won eight events and finished the day with 487 points. I ft , -t:' H nfi’z/z I / '»t, 4 >• J' 9 w < } J J ■> i b,. S*X 'T-?; 1 4 ft.r. i / I b.*. t H V •I • % >• . ‘iu/ U-- I; ^^4 1 t Van added a winning time of 25.20 in the 50-yard butterfly. Denney and Vruggink were third and fourth respectively in the 50-yard freestyle. Send was the runner-up in the 100-yard breaststroke with teammate Nick Schepers fourth in that race. Ethan Magnuson had a third-place score of 126.70 points for the Gars in the diving competition. The Gars closed the meet with the team of Denney, Bliek, De Waal Malefyt and Van taking the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:38.56. Anakin Goeckle teamed with Hayden Goeckle, Carter Send and Sreyas Murmu to win the 200-yard medley relay in 1:59.04. Haiden Vruggink took the 50-yard breaststroke for the Gars in 34.85 sec­ onds with Send third in that one. John De Waal Malefyt won the 100yard freestyle in 51.66 seconds while teammates Ty Denney and Bliek placed third and fourth in the race. De Waal Malefyt won the 100-yard backstroke too in 54.97 wi± Murmu second in 1:05.42. Owosso was second with 428 points ahead of Williamston 292 and Lansing Waverly/Catholic 227 at the meet with some unique events to high school swimming. Gars took the top two spots in the 100-yard individual medley with Ga­ briel Van winning in 59.08 seconds and Anakin Goeckle second in 1 minute 4.11 seconds. There was a 1-2-3 finish for the Gars in the 50-yard backstroke with Caden Bliek winning in 32.77, Oliver Nydam second and Landon Noorman third. 'Uf 4 W’ > •< b u T I UI Caledonia ladies sweep two games during T.C. trip Gin hM '*1 < t. • i U’. ♦ >p t 1 I n I I] T » A w il • . I n;z, Brett Bremer Sports Editor '■■'’’tew * « .1 \ V I 4 - ri t •.- ,T? r i u.-'-»fe' •'^f; ’Jib s I ii,B -.-4 1 * ( '^lik *1 . L b n I, ......... X ’ J X •' I ' 4 i I { I » 4 ' ■% I i.! • •iUG *4 ft I a^ X 0 / •«* 9^ i f i .jfl :LpAt&.'tV ril ' I < idlM A .iU; « -//I mil j.jvbV' > n 4 1 ir /aL.' ■>/ . I f/err?' Jo- IXW nd-. Wp ’te» '< ■ u. < k< 5i » ft « r 4. r.ji .'. ' Sf: = iM. k -4'. >»• 1 ’Ktfj O 1. ♦> » tI 4ft I 3 *» 4 The Caledonia varsity girls’ bas­ ketball team had a successful trip to Traverse City last weekend. The Fighting Scots defeated Traverse City West 62-51 Friday evening and then took a 57-43 win at Traverse City Central Saturday afternoon. The two wins moved the Fighting Scots’ record to 3-0 so far this season. They were set to visit Thornapple Kel­ logg Thursday, Dec. 18. The Scots take on Lansing Waverly Saturday after­ noon, Dec. 20, at Aquinas College with a tip-off slated for 3 p.m. and will be back in action Monday at East Grand Rapids. In the contest with Traverse City Central, the two teams were knotted at 24-24 before Brooklyn McLeod hit a three to snap the tie. TTie Fighting Scots grew their lead to double figures in the fourth. >14?^ & d/oii I WHAT WAS OLD IS NEW AGAIN ’i* 1 t' ‘ ^r. i I 4 »t>^' as rt 11 biBa'T : -. 'I I . r ()■,' ; p eWi?KS[l3!lffililB£E , /, r • •I : r j-|q£ TIJ| Ir X tw«r .m e t ' Tiodt I*'’) srfiog- ,'Tl 'TI 3 wago I s -Uy ’ a X i. iTOTtzf* ♦ if < ii i. Jai, «)' . .fjr iitiX-noec i ' hi gvnb aHt ffow b .wmo x<. ■ i r'* .4^U<?b tnS^rt 5” laarts 8QI rftiw i , r * ' . — »■<' I- *• ■* lb ) .^.£8! fiioobd Hi 8SoU3i8 alqoBDTif F ® .:d^T BwcrB>T > ntL£8£ftiK;2bn£l>8^ "Si e . 'JI I lu «* I f ■bj ,1 I •9 ?!p5Se : : ?,1 V ' *• Ihvs < r J^ME SEE* Il I . zT^ < 1' < r J 3>*V 3 1 I A t r ■ ■ .1 ■ < 1* lA. I I tJ & A I* I > <♦ I ft * « •X " R a ft 1 > I !f J I V I I? h *n 1 4 jj ' ■ ■*» . •• 1 o^ss. . J. * £9 c ) o* K Continued from previous page his rhythm,” said the Caledonia coach. With Reeder, it was a little more aggres­ sive approach. “I told him, you are a junior. You’re no longer just going out tliere to wrestle. We need you to go out there and to win. He responded extremely well,” Veitch said. “He just took it to every kid.” Really, the CHS head coach was pleased wi± all those medalists. Rockford won the day’s team championship with 211.5 points. Byron Center was second with 198 ahead of Kent City 185.5, Caledonia 182.5, Cedar Springs 156.5, Thornapple Kellogg 114.5, Forest Hills Northern 108, Kenowa Hills 97, Nortiiview84andSparta83.5 in the top ten. 1 '^1 1 fl .1 I H I' i I r !l I » II ' ill »I «i • r» ..,*1 V E r i J I X* ■*-? I B t *4 **I Cl n I V Sk * K I• Ift a»* a ** *1 * *4 I* I ft "•' 1 ii •- * .• t c: r A* J V i I g * 1 * *1I ft* *1 V I *4 XI •'^ X g ^'-1 ft. 'I * < •r I ■ < • ’I •, 4 < • ft 5i E r »,yAHy» i:— .U ■ I I r 1 . ..•. « '*• 7-'^ V —«SCe7 >» 4 YOUR TRUSTED* < 1 Ben w/Thunder, Malea, Carole w/Bobo, Norm "■' ♦ ■ 4 i<U. ft 1 XZ J I ■r:=;s:L,sje:; 1 ''Loi'i^t tiN iT I^ k OI lircE^i^i p miu •jn w ’.'Li I I ) I «• L**r 4^ex J ?* I ' —4*. I r I I I **3^ » 1 ■ ■ , ijair. —^'r. •**-I:. I k ^1 •> i i» •A- >- ■ $* / M I i of iG^^koo 1 Barlow Florist fcfc....— A 109 .W STATE S n^ -K----- B^kk fHii-"--— Ik ttfr -*»- Mfe FjLMftttini ii> rt« ■fciitii HASTINGS I 269-9X5-5029 s I, ft ?L ( l! ¥ * r e. * • ft; r I a«fl rft k’ * A i I r I I •« ’J . f* > I M* I • >'* *'-*5'*» .JI » > I <* W If . 4. RENOVATIONS b.*- rI • C" i t ”Whe new KT • «* 4 A iFiu I •I ft * Li y * t It r ftivvj^uuv' -.-.xV*- r M.'4 i . I / "*•» ^^sSitaliiiS^^ I c �5% K' r9 r i Saturday, December 20. 2025 20 the sun ano news t VIEW oM** Omup I WWW. SU nandwws com 'T *# u 1 ♦ I Sp s * ♦ •* I H V l.^*^>'4 > « * < r X i: L» '#r 1^ * \ ♦A s r «. » .. '• -^A- « .X 4.'* 4 (• f to f ** i?r -'■ I X b 9 41 Ik ’=!♦- ^?^-s .* *‘11 t AH I =1.- f Itfe •. .L •>• *r**,rt i < •t < B Jr ?‘-Y 'r X ^-• >4 J 4 . X I •f d*J a f-I ) < k i >cn * A- ^?-v z *k <1 i k 1^ J « M F I I *>, *j t -Jj. < To our loyal readers and advertising partners: Thank you for supporting us and, in turn, your community! We at View Newspaper Group wish you, and all those close to you, a healthy and prosperous New Year! J I. :- '*51 ■ '"f ?ir A itf I R », !*• ^^1 b w » ***>,' 1-. * -. k ■ I ivi ? i .n A 1 > »V I. t I * ’’4 d EE*, p cl w b. Group F ll« < t > •J > i r Y > /> 6r '■' "< u r Your Community Connection" • iT « *4 • rS >! •l * ri • <* y^X f4 tU E. i I*, w’ 1 -’V I * <*' I r.. aa. A I -“3 *^'4 L- ahi r Y 4 '»■ ■^’t u A iH I !*•». ’’PY* fe I Tl I* ^♦1 ^•1 e***. t **Xr "H 1'J >-^A :t= »t E’ "fc / ?' ( '§ood^em! ; I^'XA iW' K '<M< - wr r Leader * Lake Orion Review • Clarkston News t • The Citizen • The Lowell Ledger • The Hastings Banner • Buyer's Guide and News • Ad-Visor & Chronicle • Battle Creek Shopper News • The Sun and News • The Reminder • The St. Clair Area View .<' ..^ 'tCl r • i ' -r: kJ' * W i * 'Ta a> .-.*1 *5»* .t' <a .T if^ Ip A 4 i ' ; k V Ml* I ■ e »' *4 ■*5 .4K V , •I I ♦ I '«~ .1 V - Tt-' . > '*• I ’t * r Si -'■ 4?- J** 15k. e I ^5< "i ♦ t I . 9 ?. 35^ ** CM : rrfA*. i *** fs. •A ? ¥ .A?. o rs z t F *bWCw« ♦I ”‘J3l L*'« ►i I > * • , .?• -.t OE ?>A s ■ ♦ rt ft ’ V VI “« -■r" I* >> % 5 ‘ I :r “O 0) -<'/v . * •4 I .H ■>1 «' '1. •*« r -r^ ■ 9 J* 4/ / ,r- J rA*- < - <,I »r I f^ S' '4 S 1 J: 1 .: V ( 1^ / nisSV, ' "L 3t X it *•'. III'.. 4 r .t I k.j r ?Hi •r AS M I • V . I 6-1-- 'O • I m ‘si !f:s * Tri-County Times • News f 'll <jHi Cheers to a season filled with **w BTir. ? >y*s ♦ >* •* i' >» • The County Press • Lapeer Area View • Genesee County View • Huron County View • Sanilac County News • Your Buyer's Guide I rtSf » B x;f e i .».• %* l> y 5***’Vx '-I !>; > � https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/843/SunandNews_2025-12-27.pdf 74ecf4f55f79cefd527fc4af245bbdda PDF Text Text I L I I I Group 1 23 .OH VAr .JSW VOL. 147 1 Township PC eyes February hearing for Microsoft rezoning request f gays 9^ qirtsnwoT goialM wT.gnli69rt Tesupsi gninoxai L t i ( ttancntO tenisL latiiW gnitudiJtnoO James Gdmmell Contributing Writer > nmassriB no gnriesd aifdoq A flanco o) ftoeoratM woUe bluow I Irw qirimwoT latiaD asnifiD m /fifiUTtfeT tiJnu V f hwo flB nr siqosq 701 orif o»i baoiaGq 00£ luodfilo I niBsI ot 81 .asG r» mooifaiBod nbnimmoJ gninncl*! qirianwoT oi E'ynGqmoa ygolowlMJ sdt oJ J 7 A nomtlBfi Vl^IV te aane e.Of* ilavsb Jinu bannfilq slsaa-oS^l b . .tontBubcu idgil ot fioifff J •fjiarifcloa iButer /roilBool arfT .lalnsD insrnliaiHH / odfHfliD ysmottB tprianwoT T) adt^ntoarn oblo 1te12 orb to iWzrafO^S a* mooi aib I 4 t 6 \ftsl slqoaq 9mo2 tonu omuaai I luodfi e9U8Ei owl log ov'oW tfb Ei ano lEia aflT" iiea moofH • ano'fJsrzH... loA ggniteeM ti od or 2^ <lno ton gnbsom orb 7 1 i; 1 ' .gnWJTKVo leori o) olds sd [2 nBrtr olqooq gran rfffw JmiA o b^ioqJ2or| 8BW gnheori offduq l/ .SJOV ^lOV m^n I noiaeinBnoD grrinnen / J Li •f .(foT ,Y£b2iurrr oiarM arf) no gnnearl aSIduq ! ;tuu8 srlt nt blsrl srf ylaEjBf Iliv/ ornff nsinalitxiG loorioE tGqbiJiw bwonaguf; l.witM da l KJ alEb jinnBari qicfciEd Ji! t 3riJ 3EB3 ni 39E yfsvilBJnaJ .dsTno bslifin f r»vBri9W“ 31 Off 1101 .£ I iO33!J 7 I 0) I B J ’v ff.’; I • 7 1 I J I i I I I il I f. t 4 k 9 J rrLmo"),?ilaW rusQ faifig J ad 11 w tell x32“ .TOtaoiib 4 f t J 1u rijod ni b^eoq rzij Ji avEri 7012 jniBg) aliedaw qidawot sriJ I ifdijq aril gniblal nt yfilah arTT :) 4J / Jid B I rnEflD UawoJ !d toJulai snnEari ^01 teD(i31na) in 993 ) J r i EODW CnZlONEU uraiDEiuntn;irf 1 I 0 ewiMirrfa^<•i; . tSc>4«u bOBO&M I bSULii «39 <18838 GiBSUAflG' m bVID n 2 boaivGE A public hearing on a rezoning request that would allow Microsoft to construct a data center in Gaines Charter Township will have to wait until February. Most of the people in an overflow crowd of about 300 packed into the township hall boardroom on Dec. 18 to leam how the Gaines Township Planning Commission would respond to the technology company’s request to have 40.5 acres at 7147 Patterson Ave. rezoned fiom a laige-scale planned unit development designa­ tion to light industrial. The location is just south of the Amazon Fulfillment Center. Township attorney Cliff Bloom announced at the start of the meeting the crowd exceeded the room’s 250-person capacity and would not resume imtil some people left. “We’ve got two issues about proceeding,” Bloom said. “The first one is the Michigan Open Meetings Act... Everyone who wants to attend the meeting not only to be in the room but be able to hear eveiything.” And, with more people than space, a planned public hearing was postponed on a unanimous voice vote. Planning Commission members tentatively set Thursday, Feb. 12, for the resumption of the public hearing on the Microsoft request It will likely be held in the South Christian High School auditorium to accommodate another anticipated large crowd. A backup hearing date of Feb. 10 was also tentatively set, in case the facility is not available on Feb. 12. “We haven’t nailed a date down on that yet, said Dan Wells, Community Development director. “So, that will be publicly noticed. We’ll have it posted in both The Sun and News, and on ±e township website (gainestownship.org).” The delay in holding die public hearing was a bit of deja vu, considering the Noaa Lowell Charter Township Board UBMOlSnO iviiNBQisau of Trustees postponed a public SSMH33 ecoey in suiAusaio okc xoa od hearing related to a potential data sec# ijuuBd center just 10 days earlier - on 11 31.111; J *3 IJ k n SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2025 NO. 52 i I I 1 I 1 8E98> IN ‘9||iAU3eJ0 GlVd 3©v±sod s n See REZONING on 2 www.sunandnews.com Father saves daughter from Middleville house fire Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer Fr? r ■* ■■r « Fire crews arrived on the scene of a house fire at 128 Ellis St. in the Village of Middleville on Sunday morning, Dec. 21, for a fight that would last several hours. During the blaze, a father saved his young daughter, carrying her out of the house. Fire Chief Bill Richardson from Thomapple Township Emergency Services said the call from central dispatch came in for his crew at 8:36 a.m. “We had 10 firefighters on scene within 10 minutes. I think initial units were on scene in three minutes,” Richardson said. “No fatalities, the house was a total loss. We were able to save the attached garage with two cars in it and the cat.” Richardson added that two ambulances from his department transferred the only two occupants in the house to a nearby hospital. “The father grabbed his five-year-old daughter and pulled her out of the house, Richardson said. “They both came out. He carried her out.” * Eleven family members, including grand­ parents, parents and grandkids lived in the house. But only two were inside the house at the time of the fire. Because of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Richardson could not give the names or health conditions of family mem- I •s . 1 mi - X ■ — 4 L( 4' r ( . ‘tJ’ ?■ / V;' sU e ■ if >£ »* I w 1 I > r I » ^'5 •V if* 1 ' A A r J . n ft c I t:; f A < 9* . I 1 t II p * 19 J » iSs <* I \ ft*.; a » % X s b•b w I B* I k Fire crews battled a blaze for seven hours on Ellis Street in Middleville on Sunday, Dec. 21. The two occupants of the horpe were transported to a nearby hospital, where they are now recovering. The house was a total loss. Courtesy photo bers. He said that the cause of the fire will remain imdetermined. “The house was not safe for oiu- firefighters to go in and do inside firefighting,” Richardson said. “We had See FIRE on 3 □ a ro c/ View Newspaper Group Hastings office relocating ro View Newspaper Group, publish­ ers of The Hostings Banner, The Reminder and The Sun and News, will start the new year with a new office location in Hastings. View Newspaper Group is moving to 1510 N. Broadway in Hastings, a building shared with Broadway Dental. The new office location, approximately a half mile south of the current location at 1351 N. M-43 Hwy., will be open for busi ness starting at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. The phone number will remain the same: 269-945-9554. View Newspaper Group pub­ lishes 22 community newspapers in Michigan, reaching more ±an 350,000 households by U.S. Mail each week. In addition to The Banner, Reminder, and Sun and News in West Michigan, View w - also publishes "Hie Loyvell Ledg^ Buyer's Guide and New^s,, Battle^ “ ' C/ CreekShopperNevvs^ Ad-Visor m "1 and Chronicle in Marshall and 0) c c Daily News based in Greenville. CD For more information, visit mihomepaper.com or contact Vi^ r Newspaper Group Brand Mana c Emily Caswell at ecaswell@ c» 2- Q mihomepaper.com or 810-5138501. MM ■ co �I 5 I I ir 1 r F * t « .-.4 4 / Saturday, December 27, 2025 2 THE SUN AND news view '-z• www.sunandnews.com Group r Santa delivers AEDs to area high schools ■—* k./ lb L IL » url» b * f< s t . ><l •?r- r 4 A 3» *i SAVE A LIFE ■ J.. 44 t i' SPONSOR 'A r 1 r I tN8l/M^CE I —*1 Jordan Mulder Aa u EO uidftr Agency Santa made early stops to Hastings High School and Thornapple Kellogg High School last week as he prepared for the big day Thursday, Dec. 25. Jordan Mulder, owner of J Mulder Agency in Middleville, donned his Santa suit to deliver automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and “Stop the Bleed” kits to the two high schools. Mulder said he was inspired to donate the AEDs and kits through his agency after losing a high school teammate on the court. Courtesy photo REZONING seeking to be rezoned is a separate 40.5acre parcel just north of that location and immediately south of the ?\mazon site. It was purchased last year from Republic National Distributing Co. for $9.7 mil­ lion. Steelcase had sold that property to Republic in 2022. Microsoft also purchased a 274-acre parcel last year in Allegan County’s Dorr Township that is a potential site for data center development “Technically, they could submit a site plan tomorrow for development of that acreage (in Gaines Township),” Wells said, “They really just wanted to rezone this part of it from PUD to light indus­ trial so that all of their zoning was the same across all of their parcels.” Microsoft officials have not announced if the company will submit a site plan in 2026. “We’re not sure exactly when they’ll do that,” Wells said. “They’re saying their timelines are still unknown. “They really need to get the zoning squared away and get all those things Continued from Page 1 Dec. 8 - due to overcapacity. Wells said officials were aware that there might be a space issue at the town­ ship hall, but had to start the Dec. 18 hearing due to stipulations in Michigan’s OMA, with the meeting haying already been publicly posted. Officials said the Februaiy hearing will mark just the second time in township history that a public hearing will not be held at the township hall. The other was on Oct. 11,2021, when a crowd of about 70 people met in the high school audito­ rium to discuss a special assessment levy for public safety services. After the Dec. 18 public hearing was postponed, a 1 O-minute recess was held while most of the crowd filed out. Last year, Microsoft purchased 316 acres in Gaines Township at 76th Street and Patterson Avenue from Steelcase for $45.3 million. However, the property Microsoft is figured out,” he added. “And then, they^’Il start working on this.” Microsoft representatives were in attendance at tiie Planning Commission meeting but left when the hearing was postponed. “T^e public comment (period) for this meeting was not actually required under the Open Meetings Act,” Wells said. But Microsoft did feel it was important. because there had been such a lapse from their last public hearing, to have another public hearing to allow people to come in and voice. “They’ve been very transparent about their process and what they’re doing so far. So, I think that’s been a problem in other (municipalities) where the alternate users were not known. But they’re trying to be very forthright about what they’re doing,” he added. A total of nine data centers, which house IT infrastructure and networking equipment, have been proposed in Kent County. Microsoft officials have said its new data centers are being designed to use closed-loop cooling systems, which will reduce water consumption by recir­ culating water instead of blowing it to evaporate. But several residents at various com­ munity meetings in Kent County in recent weeks have expressed concerns about the potential of more than 8 million gallons of water being used annually by each data center. In a 2024 sustainability report, Microsoft noted that data centers con­ sumed more than 125 million liters of water per year. New technology, how­ ever, will use chip-level cooling systems to deliver precise temperature control without water evaporation. A ground-mounted water tank may supply some water to the data center in the fiiure. In November, Gaines Township trustees awarded a contract for construc­ tion of a $4.6 million water tank near the Microsoft site on Patterson Avenue. Kentucky-based Preload was awarded the contract, the cost of which will be evenly split between Byron and Gaines town­ ships. Township Manager Rod Weersing said Gaines Township’s portion of the bill will be paid through the township’s water fund. Weersing recently said it is uncertain when Preload will begin building the 40-foot-wide water tank, which will hold two million gallons. It is scheduled to be completed by Oct 31, 2027. That water tank will help with capacity and also keep water circulating through the system in that area,” Wells said. “Sometimes, it’s better to have water flow­ ing through it so that it doesn’t become Stagnant So, that will certainly help.” Switch Inc. has said it operates the largest data center east of the Mississippi River on Paris Avenue in Gaines Township, 2.4 miles from the proposed Microsoft data center. During the public comment portion of the Planning Commission meeting, Lowell Township resident Nicole Ronda said a data center had been proposed by an undisclosed developer in thM town­ ship, before the discussion was temporar­ ily suspended. “What is being discussed is going to affect the future for all of us,” she said, “Let Big Tech go someplace else and not take our precious natural resources from our grandchildren.” Wells said the proposed Microsoft data center site is already connected to public utilities, so it would not be pulling groundwater from aquifers for its cooling system. Another non-Gaines Township resident, Andrew Zonca, expressed his concerns to the Planning Commission. “I fear that you believe that you can control Microsoft, and they will tell you everything that you want to hear about the utilities, the electricity, how they’re going to be the best thing for this township,” he said, ‘This is a multi-trillion-dollar corpo­ ration that is owned by billionaire shar^ holders who are hungry for one thing, and one tiling only - profit “They will walk you like dogs across the park and get whatever (they) want, and we’re going to be hopeless to stop them.” , r / 1 1 I 4 » V I f I I f lit I 1 4 4 f « .dF i * t t I J -'V ' V ’'X*d .■■■> I 9 > 44 rw I , I .At I- ' I /d f 9 4^ f •rr' A .^4 , ,r 'J* ¥ . ■ ' .J.r’ 1 ,9 /! » Hr 4> < I. 4 y' T? f» ’’ r3 I fit#' *4 A Fl 'ff f ■ nroo J ’^niOT . M* t J -rOWRKii ,U£ fl« >'5 J ' J3S r : A •r I V r> 4..- 9 ( f J FiTSdt L' > r t-’ - V*: tSi 4 i * s.-. A I • i J )ln5b! I Ja .i > L. id • * I , I ,I * 1 1 * aml5 r. .is.;* I A «**•4 0<*1' i li «. 1 1 1 At , •» *% 4 I > xL<ln(<K' 3 ? LfUfl r »4 -•J 1- U4r / s •ri I b * . . - I \ < F' ifU Jn: aiV»-^bhR^ ( I J. i I JJ ;v I r I IB 11 Jjj J. R. .:iU Ttrso pMi' -H h‘v ‘ if *' IV I MliMnYi' -9 » »1 * • • IV “■VC f( • ' "I u. • • i 4m. * V 7 4 - • •'**“«^* i f qi * * • BBm ■'r» r * HMiVWr* -’J#: I THE SUN AND NEWS The Sun and News Proudly Published Since 1870 1351 N. M-43 Hwy. Hastings, Ml 49058 Phone: 269-945-9554 www.sunandnews.com PUBLISHED BY CONTACT US > Editor: Molly Macleod 1 < Group mmacleod@mihomepaper.com Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Sports: Brett Bremer bbremer@mihomepaper.com Advertising Manager: Chris Silverman csilverman@mihomepaper.com Ail advertising in The Sun and News is subject to the conditions in the applicable rate card or advertising contract, copies of which are ; available from The Sun and NewsAd Dept., 1351 N. M-43 Hwy., Hastings, Ml 49058 ( 269-945- ; 9554). This newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser's order. Our ad takers have " no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an ad constitutes acceptance of the advertiser’s order. PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER. Please recycle this newspaper L t Copyright 2025 2025 Jams Media, LLC All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S, I < > 3 14 X « I I '..'t % - » .i-*' •* 1 i B T■'XLI■- 4 I 4* i J lb I / ? 1 1 k__ • I- r I : t t t 1 « UlU' ... V i I V 1 •I (J « t » J L 1 ! 1 11 I i !i I I I I I i 'I U I ri 11 ;0 11 I J 11 I f % A, 5 r J I t K I' I J I �.I 1 A % *• THE SUN AND vvww.sunandnews.com NEWS VIEW Saturday, December 27, 2025 Group 3 J. . MIDDLEVILLE h'H' •' -“A : «ji >*<<► •* TOPS 546 ft: — •l • r , ■<? W' / •<> Wu' ‘*i-'t 1 ' .nr 'w*« • "-*<’*■• . 4 •Tf .x/ » "■ I I <• ■'^ -w > 1 X I s ’<X- L , a•] ? r I I M i f I , "Iti r 1 U *U. z I is F I I *"1 <■. J ' I %•? I I 4 4 M ■ I < '"i r s '‘M’fcv , I rife ■ I I 1 ■ U !' l ; i * V ; TV : J t.. ••■ », . . '*Tb I Ur •w n->c f Cv*4 r? '<•1 4 t‘ i t 'I •> •s. J V-. I b'.J. s.’ •*1 < I• The Dec. 22 meeting opened with roll call and the secretary’s report. There are now two fish in the Fishbowl. Virginia’s program was from Jan/Feb TOPS magazine titled “Understanding Cortisol." Cortisol is often called the stress hormone and is produced by the adrenal glands. It helps to cope with stress, regulate metabolism, blood sugar, blood pressure, immune function, and the way our body responds illness, emotional strain, and other stressors. Cortisol is controlled by a three-part communication system between the brain and the adrenal glands. The hypothalamus senses when cortisol is needed and sends a hormone signal to the pituitary gland that then goes to the adrenal glands. Cortisol levels rise and fall throughout the day as needed. Problems occur if the levels are too high or too low. Too high can occur from long-term use of steroid medicines or a problem with the pituitary gland. Too little will cause adrenal insufficiency. This is because the gland isn’t producing enough because it is damaged or the brain doesn’t send a message properly. Maryellen lost the Ha-Ha Box. The meeting ended with marching in place as the group recited the TOPS pledge. TOPS, a weight-loss support group, meets every Monday at Lincoln Meadows in Middleville. Weigh-in is from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., followed immediately by the meeting. Press the white buzzer for entry. The chapter is looking for anyone interested in a group that supports weight-loss journeys without shame. Anyone with questions may call Virginia, 269-908-8036, or Maryellen, 616-318-3545. The first meeting is free. fK c< .—iW>* " '•t I ’I's I I FIRE 4 ' ' < Continued from Page 1 Mt ' 6 ► -<0 At Q, . ..••'kfc Ail < I dV h r iy I •w « 4 . .< i • I -4'{| (F J ♦. 1 U- I 1 •0 K«w. Mt 1 J I ♦ ***f<l‘t1 I ( IJ il I I » r 4 f ' ’U.. *» ‘ uX(ii 4 5 jw I < : t < « 3 •Mbr I , 4 < W A» ■u»l fW t V •r • .'p • > *je.i 'I '•l V'; i ' 41^ I • % « * I 4 H’lMX'fltf'fci 1 - ,1 rj I f.. I'. r? .' M * 4Rr«^d A I I I < I I ?‘n£lDM f>dc n 1 bl I • • I / n , I I ■ djr. 1 1 ) I b ■ r'9f i I Zt*v " i i II) I II rx* ..n «4' ? aMr I I 1 i il :i I 1 « ‘4 fl 4 i 1 i'] : I I i; ■1 t <H 'll 1.1 ’ u (I I • 4 .1 to pull it apart with an excavator. We were there for seven hours.” Richardson said the house appeared to be built in the 1900s and added that, when his crew arrived on the scene, the house was not fully engulfed in flames, but, “We had pretty heavy fire conditions on the first floor in the kitchen area. “Our crews were having an incred­ ible time trying to breach the walls to find the fire that was inside the walls,” he said, Several layers of siding and bead board inside the home added to fire­ fighters’ difficulty in accessing the home. “All the walls are shiplap; that’s how all the houses were built back then,” noted Richardson. “It’s basi­ cally a l-by-8-foot board nailed onto the wall and they put lath (little wood furring strips that help hold the plas­ ter in place) on top of that and then they put plaster on top of that. “That was the problem. We could not get to where the fire was because of how much material between us and the fire.” The home had no fire stops in it, allowing the fire to spread quickly, Richardson said. According to Richardson, neighbor­ ing homes experienced no damage «a4 from the blaze. Anyone who wants to donate to the family that lost their home can contact Barry County United Way, he said. All Thomapple Township Credit Union locations have an account set up for anyone who wants to donate to the family. Cash donations and gift cards are acceptable. Anyone with questions on donating to the family can call the United Way at 269-945-4010. Several area fire crews assisted Thomapple Township Emergency Services in fighting the blaze. They included both Wayland and Hastings city fire departments, plus Leighton, Yankee Springs and Caledonia town­ ship fire departments. “Fifty-eight firefighters were on the scene. We normally have 16 to 20 from our department,” Richardson said. “Usually, the other departments only bring three or four, but I think it just happened to be a Sunday and a lot of people were able to be avail­ able. Leighton was the one who brought the most They brought 19.” Richardson said he was happy with his crews’ work. “Crews did an amazing job for the conditions that we had, and it was just a very old house with a lot of sig­ nificant challenges,” Richardson said. Caledonia superintendent receives high marks on evaluation Karen Turko-Ebright Staff Writer Members of the Caledonia Community Schools Board of Education recently gave Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer high marks for his efforts in leading the school district as its top administra­ tor. The board reportedly followed methods outlined by the Michigan Association of School Boards in evaluating Weeldreyer. During his formal evaluation in a closed session at the Dec. 15 board meeting, Weeldreyer was rated “effective” by the board, the highest MASB rating. After approving Weeldreyer’s evaluation, Board Secretary Brittany Barber Garcia sang the superinten­ dent’s praises. “I would provide a slight editorial that I think our board considers our superintendent to be highly effective in his role and appreciates his ser­ vice for the past year,” Garcia said. “Thank you so much for all you do to shepherd this district with a lot of wisdom, a lot of thought and a lot of intention. We are grateful.” Board president Tim Morris also cited the superintendent’s demonstra­ tion of strong governance, effective communication, and solid financial and instructional leadership. “Clear long-term planning and goal alignment would fiirther strengthen the district’s operation and direc­ tion,” Morris stated. “We are pleased with the direction of the district and look forward to continuing to build on the district’s strengths and record of excellence.” GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM 616-891-0150 BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am to 5 pm Breakfast Buffet Fundraiser Help us support veterans and community functions. Saturday, Jan. 3,2026 and the First Saturday of each month Serving 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. BODY SHOP Complete Collision Repair 110 Johnson Street SE Caledonia, Ml 49316 Your iTus-bed body Shop for over 32 years Eggs, bacon, sausage links or patties, potatoes, biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, milk, Of, coffee. * Menu sul^ect to change Adults $13.00 • Children 10 & under $5.00 For more information call die Post at 6I6-891-I882 Coffee Donated by BIGGBY COFFEE Caledonia Memorial Legion Post 305 9548 Cherry Valley, Caledonia, Ml LUNCH M-TH 11 AM-8 PM: FRI 11 AM-2PM: FRI BUILD A BURGER 4-8 PM > �Ki t 4 f/‘ ' % I he? h<+nT« •fc 'ikf. She Obituaries Sharon Lou Milanowski 4 I- r' ( D, I T Caledonia Vine Street Church k |(»in us h»r our iradionnal vrr ca«ial wtir^hip scrvitc. in fx-rsfui or (inline, Sunday Worship Sorvloo at e;SO AM Sharon had a Cahtormsn magnetc pMsontirfy grarious and beautify! m many ways She was an avfd reader and hiker Some of her hobbies included gardening, painting, jewelry design and antique and art shopjnng <(| the market days m AZ L 'a^A****"^* I'xl (xar|>cntcr, Pastor 7240 6Bth Street SE, Caledonia FIRST BAPTIST 2S0 Vine Street Sunday Service 10:30 AM < (I ■I Middleville K.« * I • I 5K9j:Sh^ Join us in person or online Sundays 9:50 & 11am 4 1 FBCMIDDLEVILIE NET - 5215 M37 - 269-795-9726 CHURCH Caledonia Location 1675 e4th St SE Caledonia. Ml 49316 corner&toneml.org/weekend . Good Shepherd ' Lutheran Church HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH 9669 Kraft Avc.. Caledonia Phone; 616-891-9259 *M)8 W. Main Street, Middlcvilk (MiJkUuiri Syrndl www.hnlyfaniilycaledonia.org 9:50 a m Pastor: Rf»h Wurst bn p:/ZgoodAheplicrdlcm^.googlepagct. com LiveMribiftm: f»cft*book.com/rir«tbMptl%tmMdlevlll«» JOURNEY 4 616-H91-Hf>69 Sunday Worship r- * u cornerstonechurch tJiurch (269) 795-2591 Saturday wLveninu Mass....... ......5;(K1 pm. K Sunday Masses 9:(K)a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Considering becoming Catholic'’ Call or sec our website for information Sundftift Hnrfthip: M:5O a.m. & 11 a.m. eAPEACE CHURCH PEACtCMURCM rdhiwship 9:45 IO IO:4MI a m. 4 Sunday S<-h(M»l 10 to 10:45 a.m. CC • wiih ••4 e i •. i-® 3 ft r i i < z } I dehytTorJ ti. l4i at the Law/frr A ‘ i»ii Kesort in CA as w#*ii 8’ , I I t i , »•< 1 X siiV 3 £ft^ t ’ * « > 1 )? '•C' ' -1;: I r Lft' < jub—Wfth so man,' laienttrd I I »v f» people A couple nt hot favorite dances were the West Coa:j:t r 1 ’,vmg and the Wait2 that she enjoyed wrth het husband Stanley Sharon promoted many Polka eventI ’ and charity events Once a year, and her Chets would have a chartty gourmet soup party at her resort m AZ where the proceeds would go to battered women and their children This event continued for many years with success Sharon was preceded in death by her parents. Edwin and Fern Grate of Huntington Beach CA sister. Patricia May Gallaway of OR. brother m-law. Darwin Billings of CA stepson. Michael K Milanowski Sharon will always be loved and missed by her best friend and husband. Stanley E Milanowski her dearest and loving son, Gregor Jennings; grandson. Parker Jennings (Amy); granddaughter. Haley Jennings all of GA sister, Sylvia Billings of CA, step-daughter. Michaele Dailmann. step-son, Mitchell Milanowski of Cascade, sister-in-law Stella Hilaski of VA. as well as her adopted furry Igving cats Sharon is and was greatly loved and will be forever missed by all those who knew her and loved her She was a positive influence on others. The family wishes to thank Sandi fur her compassionate care given to Sharon on her final journey, and to Faith Hospice and their team for the love, care and compassion shown to Sharon till the final curtain closed, Cremation has taken place Iz r I ,■ ( .■it .. ,11:.’ v<r" 7 a f t b 1 I * J to > < j v>-- . A- 4 1 e 'I r I > i » ■ i ft‘' •J k ... *1 t t I r « li ft . < ) I * I * t I i i f'* I.W .V . < k f . r. 9 4 W ) * * I 1 i'’ V .•*r. V 1 1 4 cfM t L I 4 L > , » > 'JW^ «r< < k• iiSi’***' ft <•» ■ »»»••' ** , » « t-- s r t I > «(f» i 1 fCJH®* V u fji S4-* i 9 i i .ak • ’ ebM* «• » ’Z f 9 •< :r Iftki *^' 9 A 4^ ••• • I rw rx I i j 4 BsatiJeas: H I 4 « * ♦1^ * .ut.4 4 I * < ‘I' ft* 'h. r * • I ■: ii ►- » I s taf 4 J 1. 1 1/ -;zr' ••.S "f : H I ( •»F Middleville Location 1664 M-37 9:30 am and 11:00 am THORNAPPLE VALLEY 9CHURCH Sundayi at 8:00, 9:50, and I hUO AM Lead Pastor Pastor Rvan Kininu*! 616«91,ftH9 6950 Cherry X'allcy Rd., Middlcnllc, Ml 49553 pcacechurch.ec fl St. Paul Lutheran Church & Preschool H456 kratl Ave (. ’’cdo<na. Ml 49316 Oflkc 6j<v«9I -K->Xf< • |*rc^ b.-J <M6| JtMI .XGS H HMM.ttpaukaled<inia.nrg Yankee Springs Bible Church S9O0 ih,n^ p...4d Middlrviflc Ml 49553 —I* a V MIDDLEVILLE SERVICE TIMES: Sunday at 9:30am & 11:00Bm 20 State Street MiddlevHle. Ml / www,tvcweb.(x?fn 1 w I Your local agent insures your CM TO I « ID deese r&wwirl i A 'MFonbiftiii C/ops > *. / s • t • < .1. •i’3 1. * 1 IWit., ’ A. IP I < FAWW BtWMI rVAtWAlWCi' i ^1 •• • .Shining f orth Crod t f ight" .aB Sunday Morning Worship Community Group.......... L-. . KHMl a.m. •J . 1 1:00 a.m. famri L. Catlnan. Pattor www.yankeccpnngsbiblechurch.org Jason Parks 121 E Mair^ Street Downtown Middleville >•4 9 (2St) 7WaS27 f |pariiaMinam.eom FaraiBureMfflCuranc* con tf f 1 »- I '■ KtXi * y b t . i »l « i -•A I K*1 i4 r ^5 *4-'. I J L^.1^: *'wwea 1 I1 I I ft 4 I I i; 3 t 1 If 1 f r i I i I I • I > ‘ft 1t ft* t * it y 4 * 9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE 9:15 am and 11:00 am r u iftr'. .*nd was v" 4 muc' and I I . f If A * ! 1 I f ■n d4ifX4n^ t t'l ^onc hr: bunr.' s* r ■/.,,• ri<i and prJ' a" . rtH'’I- , • V." •V f K » ) 1 A<C k-j t zTid hZ JI 9:00 jm wwwalaaWabaptist org ’ p ' LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY r '< .,b* Elizabeth m GrarxS Rapids and at lt*e Amethyst in Pcone * , « X r-.f A Rapids At the age of 50. after attending Aquinas alaska « e'-T ■ I ern (Packard) Grate Sharon graduated from High Schoot *n MurUirmlon Beach. CA and went on to attend Cahfornu State {inrf^ity I ong Beach She worked at Long Beach Police Department, was an airline stewardess for United Airlines based out of O Hare m Chcago, a hygienist, tutor and a private secretary at Bt^ll tn Grand Sharon I ou Milanow* r- age 83. Caledonia Ml passed away peacefully m her sleep at her home on the morning of Frktey, Sept 19, 2025. after courageously fighttng an IB-year battle due to complications of Parkinson s Sharon was born on December 17 1941. ten days after Pearl Harbor, to Edwin and e •:r : o I * a ft i b g I i f i r ft i <£ * tw ..aaM *4dp 8ji^ �www.sunandnews.com J ft I THE SUN and news I 1 i It * INCREASE I ( j r I J i A ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL HEALTH view Saturday. December 27, 2025 Group 5 funds are invested. Your 401 (k) admin­ istrator can show you the full range of options available, and I strongly recommend discussing your risk toler­ ance with them. Remember—this is not about hitting home runs. We’re not trying to pick the BUSINESS SERVICES next winning stock. Those strategies HANDYMAN SERVICES OF­ often come with big downside risk. FERED. Mise, repairs, construction What we’re after is steady, consistent services, light plumbing, electrical returns over time. and roofing. Licensed and insured. Free Estimates. 269-243-0468 or In 2008, Warren Buffett proved this 269-374-0785. point in a famous bet. He wagered one million dollars that simply investing PAINTING in the S&P 500 would outperform PAINTING: LET 30 YEARS experi­ hedge fund managers who could invest ence care for your home! Interior creatively however they wanted. And and exterior. Booking for winter guess what? Buffett won. and next summer. Licensed and The S&P 500 is just the average insured.. Call for free estimate. Phil performance of the top 500 companies Johnson Painting (269)953-7877 in the United States. When people SPORTS EQUIPMENT talk about ‘‘how the market is doing, most of the time, they’re talking about Various Exercise Weights, 25 the S&P 500. History has shown that cents per pound. Exercise benches $25 each. 616-554-3575 for long-term investors with time on their side, this simple approach works remarkably well. But as always—^talk to your advisor or your 401(k) administrator before making changes. Here’s what matters most: Once your consumer debt is gone, it’s time to start building your future. 15% of your income. 25 years. Consistency. Do that—and you’ll 517.646.0439 * Lansing retire comfortably, confi­ 269.967.8241 * Battle Creek/K-zoo dently, and on your own 517.740.1533* Jackson/Ann Arbor . terms. antennamen.customer@gmall.com www.theantennamen.com Zach Santmier is the www.cetlsignaipro8.com Work AH Winter owner of Trumble Agency, Digital TV Antennas * Towers * StarLink Installs Inc, and the author of the Wireless Data Links * Cellular Enhancement Systems personalfinancial course, Increase. He focuses on *Building-to-buil<ling, helping families escape Point-to-Point WiFi Extensions pay check-to-pay check Al I * High definition outdoor cameras living so they can freely to monitor your property pursue their ideal future. >4 IK Classifieds ■ '•iK Looking to the future I r I ' V . X. 1 '(41 9 •I I,. I k f* *• I < JI * J J1 * *•1 it p / i i L t 1 r * ■y' I •1 I That’s the goal. That’s Merry Christmas! This the win. week, we celebrate the birth Now, if you’re listening of Christ, and I pray that you and you’re 50 years old and and your family experience you haven’t started saving his peace and generosity as yet, that “25 years” might you exchange gifts and spend have just made your stomach time eating delicious food. If sink a little. And I get that. If you’re anything like me, you Zach Santmier you don’t want to work until live for the holiday desserts. you’re 15 , then yes—you’re going to so before everyone starts talking about need to increase your contributions. New Year’s, resolutions, enjoy that But—and this matters—you only do cookie or two! that after you’ve filled up your financial Today, we’re going to continue our tank and completed all eight marks on conversation on laying a healthy finan­ the Fuel Gauge. cial foundation as we discuss step 6 out At that point, you sit down with a fi­ of 8 on our fuel gauge. If you’re just nancial advisor, or you run the numbers joining us and are looking for financial yourself, and you figure out how much inspiration, visit trumbleagency.com/ extra needs to go into your retirement increase to catch up and begin your account to get you back on track. The Increase journey. key is this: don’t panic, and don’t skip Step 6 is putting away 15% of our steps. A rushed plan built on a shaky income for retirement. This money foundation usually collapses. is not to be used for creating another stream of income for you right now. Now, if you have 25 years or more, this principle is incredibly solid. Put This money is not to be dipped into when you need a little extra for that away 15% of your take-home pay into special vacation. This money is not a Roth 401(k), stay consistent, and you’ll be amazed at where you land your savings account for a rainy day. This money, this 15% of your take in 25 years. home pay, is for your retirement, the One thing that trips a lot of people years when you are no longer earning up is confusion between the type of an income, or at least not much of one. retirement account and the investments Here’s the main goal, and I want you inside the account. When I say “retire­ to hear this clearly: ment account,” that does not mean If you put 15% of your income away your money has to be locked into some for 25 years, and earn a conservative risky mutual fund or stuck in ultraaverage return of 8%, you will have conservative bonds either. enough money in retirement to live The type of account we recommend off the interest alone—without ever is a Roth 401(k). But inside that ac­ touching the principal. count, you get to choose how those 4 I 7 I i> ) j •4 t 4 It ■ ■ • 'Y I * I < i •f i « b •' i : J 4 i ' I t Y » J/ Its. A 'S 'J- o;-. *A I >1*'^ Elfi (Mil f'xskik I .I'-t 5 '*p!bf ■? J I I• y * I '1 > I I “I it > A •1 =; > ■ I >'V-'-.. I I I ‘•1 i W( nw,; j t kr «• 1*4 L • T7 I * *1. \ 'W i; 1 (I I* - f! I « > • UJ > n I <* V- ** If 'll'- b 1 * =••1: mi't-r,' I - ' 'T? Q|£i I I I I >I . I .' ’ I i ■ i JA ' urf 44.i* • t J cTf .’4’4 * I I r ** * r; Efr I GJ. * m L k. I 9 I 1 : 1 1- ■■ J I s 1 fl 1 3J Mi t - > < ^>8 • -i 9 * r* I { l/j V e I I ( ■; *- J* I! • ».L» 1 ■i I I f i ••x ■■ * k U I!* 4 S- r ■! 1 «i 4 'f*Si' r I * Closed-Cell Foam Insulation * Blown-In Attic Insulation t I Nelson’s tl 1 » A r 1J 9 : I • f'-lp c > LI I, S' ! x: 9 SPRAY FOAM,LLC « I > I II •l g I l"( Nelson Schmucker 1700 N. Ainger Rd. ♦ Charlotte, Ml 48813 I < 7 4 r ■ . xX. « w .4^« U>»«' t ■ . -» 'S A .r* T 11 4 0-' ■ » We * CELlW’ SIG I :i ( 1 Visit us online at mihomepaper.com 4 S17-983-0954 Start Saving Today - Use Spray Foam < rE/MAX » '• * V ' fl 4 *4' A a GD WOOD . PRODUCTS t Family Owned & Operated V 4 RE/MAX ftkt p e.r v» r 9 SAW MILL OFFICE 517-254-4463 Conscientious Timber Harvester Wanting to Buy Standing Timber �I ■cS*' T I Saturday, December 27, 2025 6 the SUN AND NEWS VIEW /r www.sunandnews.com Group •u r Middleville Holiday Lighting Contest winners announced Molly Macleod of driving around seeing lights. It’s fun,” Rick said in a past interview with the Sun and News, Votes were tabulated on the Mid­ dleville Lighting Contest Facebook page. Voters “1 iked” or “loved” their fa­ vorite home. Those “likes” and “loves” were counted as votes for the contest, but any comments that were left were not counted as votes. A map that shows the addresses of all 13 homes was also available on the Facebook page. Prizes from local businesses are awarded to the first, second and third-place vote receivers. This year, Pixel Perfect Video Games, The Nook, Lox Hair Salon and My Sister’s Closet helped sponsor prizes for the winners. “Thank you, everyone who took part and who voted,” Rick wrote in a social media post. “You made your commu­ nity special.” Editor Winners have been announced for the 2025 Middleville Holiday Lighting Contest. TTie holiday tradition, which has been taking place in Middleville for more than a decade, allows for families to decorate and light up their homes for the season while also taking part in the holiday lighting contest. Of the 13 homes that entered this year, three winners were chosen. Lo­ cals cast their votes on Facebook. The first-place winner for this year’s contest is the Jackson home at 450 Oak View Drive in Middleville. The Kruisenga home at 613 Misty Ridge Drive took second place for its decora­ tions and the Watkins home at 959 View Pointe Drive took third place. Vickie Rick has organized the contest since the beginning. This is about the old-fashioned fun jir ,'F 1 f - « f * 'y' » I J 11 'J s . ?h' i' v'ii’ F V k_ 1 I *• •*• M* ♦ 4 !i ; ■J • »«> W t f ’X** M IK**** F 1 . V J J I % I It 1 • r ^CJ>' 9 k f ' « <• The house at 613 Misty Ridge Drive in Middleville took second place in this year’s lighting contest. Av; I L!» T ' i J * ’iP' > kJ •I r f 4 V.» I •9 I** • I • ,z I > «ts«* iO^ -US?* » ft f - 4 •J 1 GO ONLINE TO SUNANDNEWS.COM '^■—JBkaa.jL’T 1 V(? I i I ) !!>; T I 1 £, f « fl .. * f ' ,c ' '%• . 18 9 I L > to r Ik . •» ■'? .* , ■ Iwr 4 4 f T * 4 julUir t 4 < 3* iflssi «* H- < ! Scan our OR code to find your perfect invitation! ak U «ldl < r KM •< r TV * V ^i«T 4 ?r >• '.■S. k-* •A I hili * »z . •,• . •• W. *.• ‘J \4 *7r w* < * isaiin’te• 11 I i^«Kr *> j-as * g I ir‘ 4 i 1 < L »x ,. I I • » <• < < I' •*** -J « ri > 'i T > I k • ’ I I•ax •5 » ' • < » «,»■ > <1^.1, • iJ * '-^pr •* V I I I 1 j r / ’ J IB 19 1 This home at 450 Oak View Drive is this year’s Middleville Holiday Lighting Contest winner. Courtesy photos. *(»*. * 1 ‘”,3 r 2 J ■i’er 4» 1 .. .vi' Vww l>> • I 0 >R 9f Simply Perfect I iW’i».1tiQki( I 2^ WEDDING INVITATIONS I* A* JTF ♦ Jr . 'fl ■ IS IE. «'9»: «*■ r ' W..S >• I 4 e .15 « «SM» w. * ’ FSi-f T t^Kist^iiSBa aetii I Created just for your big day, we've put together sets of stunning wedding invitations to perfectly match your style. 1* * V w ,>Bil i^nW tllTl^B iiM ;wiiC'M t Hl* c i * i 1 M?; ' ■■;wli! 1 A-,' > '* t i.'«:' w I - Un . k w T» 1. < >• V WK” *afcies.T. t/k PRINTING BY www.printingbypennylane.com i ginacl@pennylaneprinting.com ! This home at 959 View Pointe Drive was the third-place winner in Middleville’s * .Ju: ,/«>• V * ___ .—I •Ik Ik 1 \ ' W u*,^k_A ’ 1 •-«* -• ^'j 1 . ^SE.. ilA.J * I 1 I 1 A . J ^>4 T r 5 1 r I * \ A*’ { I I 5'1 ‘I, I • I 1 i F 'I I . I IJ 1.1 I i t I hl «! 1 1 r I ■ b /I 1 i 4 I r I I I I Cj 1 1 ( ’V. I ■PT’ 1 A » ■ * '-VJ. ’ f'?’» * 1 £^:'' * ,»/ ■. K . *8C. A . Ml \ k . I I ,4 J * 4 > 1" >r. •n-1 • J I s Holiday Lighting.Contest. *wE:. ** w It.* w ik «s» W �rs I 4 4 J I . inoitsM Brett Bremer Sports Editor ♦ *1 2^ At.J • .' t Im . t W .•■tc • II 1^:4 I ’ ii - / ■’ .’’•i t J i mu IF) ( arf-/Uwi ?5> Df| fno// wflT Rij teg J •f! F 4 k. t I ^’Ihw rjn^Aq I Ifinoite'/ « •? tl ' j. 4 ' I I 4 V w 7 UJ 6*. jt^il TS/! JTI j id 3ssl v/of B bns lAwlq bbd I •i I I .3odfni>yX' <4 IF e 4 ■Fl MiqA c AJ '.-sn 'Ti' Ar 1 *« d .bosii h' -I* TA 1 I 1 i J ' f Co Or 1 '>rui ^rwii>ni .•n h 11 1 JZ£ ' ; SV/ )(,, I ’ 11 * I I iri -Jr •.r I f t J r mbH rij^uoiriJ jhSii ih* woi vtirtunocgyrn ■ ui"w innqf mnsffaipinw U I J A i ) -I* f ft it 6 X ? O' tj, r J ’ ’ * ■ no fto rei’fltnov/nobyfill fr)G aasl'j Jri^iw blioW .... . f > ' / I i I | I J I I 1 . .1 .iast— ... , i I MJ I I • - -. ^^'1 I I I t f'• wrnrraj^ iirft T^rlico qnujo f toHo a 'jotiaiD bnfi I ,8e92ief/o lb uoa 0) ‘ooj vHeyi ’Ibhw djj^o •i I 1 d I I J f* OBq i thil) y ' iiiiK adj J/, Ogir.l ni feisnoiifiH MenoiqnwrljsdloJni tel Inf2e933ua ££ BAI - ’ W Gr 1 4 I X J I I I II 1 « I ' I , il 1 I {. J t 'll ill •b 1 $ n I 9 I I h I ‘i i i J II I VIEW Saturday, December 27, 2025 Group 7 Nationally ranked NMU will be Hayden’s next wrestling stop a wnsW tteiS 002 THE SUN AND NEWS www.sunandnews.com The last time she had her arm raised in the Fighting Scots’ championship tartan singlet, Caledonia’s Maddie Hayden held three fingers in the air to celebrate her third consecutive MHSAA Individual State Championship. There won’t be a fourth, but there will be plenty of wrestling ahead for the Caledonia senior. Hayden signed her National Letter of Intent Nov. 12 to join the Northern Michigan University (NMU) Women’s Wrestling program next season. She’s working to be at full strength by the time she’s competing in the Wildcats’ green and gold. Hayden had surgery to repair the labrum in her left shoulder after getting in a few last big bouts in September, and she had plans for similar repairs to her right shoulder slated for early December. Both of them happened kind of a while ago. I tore my right one in De­ cember (2024) and then my left one in April (2025), but they were really bothering me,” Maddie said, ‘‘so, I knew that I needed to get them done especially before college. But, I really wanted to go to Fargo this summer and compete in Greece and stuff during the summer.” Last spring it was either hurry to the operating table to get the shoulders fixed for a senior high school season or tough it out through Nationals in Fargo and an opportunity to wrestle overseas. She missed some opportunities to compete on a bigger stage in the summer of2024 due to a concussion, and chose to hold off on surgeries. Hayden won the silver medal in the 75 kg weight class at the 2025 U17 Beach World Championships in Katerini, Greece, in September. “I didn’t know that was a thing until recently,” Hayden said of beach wres­ tling. “It was really cool. I went to Italy earlier this summer too. That was kind of for a camp and a small tournament, and then Greece and Austria. Going overseas, especially this summer, was really cool to see all the other wrestlers around the world.” Hayden placed seventh in the Junior Girls 170-pound weight class in July at the 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in Fargo, ND. She wrestled into the championship quarterfinals - not as successful as her previous runner-up finish in Fargo, but still a result to be pleased with especially while battling . iE!&***a A A d^idas odf^s e '«ir- I •w % 1 It dos r HERM HIGAN 4 V 1 s r k* 4 -<as I s 'Z V' 36 • • s 4 • k— Caledonia senior Maddie Hayden signs her National Letter of Intent to join the Northern Michigan University Women's Wrestling program next season at Caledonia High School Nov. 12, joined by her mother Kelly Hayden (right) and grandfather Bill Fitzpatrick. The NMU Wildcat women are currently ranked tenth in the nation. Photo provided through injuries. First-year NMU Women’s Wrestling Head Coach Adam Wilson was very persistent in pursuing Hayden to be a part of his program, which is opening its fifth season in Marquette this winter. Wilson was previously the director of wrestling and head women’s coach at Albion College and the head assistant wrestling coach at Olivet University. He is also a member of the Michigan USA Wrestling Executive Board, and oversees the state’s top youth national teams. So, he was very familiar with Hayden. He was outstanding compared to all the other coaches that were trying to recruit me, I feel like,” Hayden said. “He put a lot of extra effort in trying to get me on the team. Northern is about seven hours north, and he drove all the way down here to do a home visit. He gave me a really, really good offer. He checked in a lot. He gave me a lot of op­ portunities to come to Marquette a few times. He was very thorough and pas­ sionate about getting me on the team.” “I am actually really excited,” Hayden added ofthe move to the upper peninsu­ la. “I really like the area. I am definitely an outdoorsy type of person. I would rather go do stuff outside in more rural areas than in cities and stuff. I am really excited for the overall areaofMarquette, but also Northern Michigan itself. The campus has a really good vibe to it and <4 the team has a really good atmosphere. I am pretty confident I’ll be pretty set in wrestling and also living there in just my daily life.” She has plans to pursue a degree in nursing, and currently has her sights set on becoming a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist). “I think that [Wilson] identified a few ofthe Team Michigan girls who he real ly thought would be great ^sets in help­ ing to build the team,” said Maddie’s mother, Kelly Hayden. “He is very invested in getting North­ ern’s team name out there better and to really build a great program,” she added. “The whole school is really investing a lot of money and a lot of effort into making their program a top five or top ten program. He has a great vision and he wanted Maddie to be a part of it, and she is going to bring a lot to the team. Not J ust being a good wrestler, but he is look­ ing for girls with the whole package.” The NMU women are currently ranked tenth in the country in the Na­ tional Wrestling Coaches Association coaches poll with four women ranked among the top ten individually at their weight class in the NCAA. NMU has quite a wrestling heritage. NMU is also home to the NMU-National Training Site for Olympic training. “A couple of our women’s Olympic medalists stayed here when they were in high school and they trained,” Mad- die said, “like Helen Maroulis. She has won Olympic Gold (2016) and Bronze (2020 and 2024). There is Adeline Gray. She won Oljmipic Silver (2020). That is an Olympic training center site for wrestling, powerlifting and boxing.” Maroulis was the first U.S. woman to win Olympic Gold in freestyle wrestling. The NMU men are a bit different from wrestlers across the country. They com­ pete in Greco-Roman wrestling rather than the traditional folkstyle competed across the NCAA. The NMU women compete in freestyle wrestling. The folkstyle wrestling that is contested in MHSAA events is not Hayden’s favor­ ite style. She much prefers freestyle competition. The United States is actually the only country that does folkstyle. It is kind of like a wrestling version of American football. We just do it, for some reason,” Hayden said. “I don’t really know. Freestyle and Greco-Roman are where you’re going to see all the big throws. In folkstyle, we can’t slam each other. We can’t throw each other over our heads See WRESTLING on 12 rROJvniR HEATING AND COOLING High EfBdency FURNACE & AIR ^300 OFF With purchase of furnace & A/C unit. 1'7J k, (J » 4 A f r 1 I I I 3 4 1 t1 f- > 4 J » •: .te * * ! 1 F - Must present this coupon. Expires 12-31-25 k teM teai ■■■ al other products available: • Water Heaters • Heat Pumps • Zoning Systems • Thermostats and more! ( i i rhe company built by rejerrals <1 210 East Main Street Caledonia k Uili 616-891 r 4 4 4 �( ► I 4 > 1 5..^ JfW’ 8 8 f -) Ljrday, D f f f Tnber 27 2025 • i-C SUN A newts i VIKW * J . *!<■ OvmiR I r > .1(1l I TK ladies down previously unbeaten Caledonia squad Brett Bremer Sports Edrtor A 13-2 run in the fourth quarter pow cred the Ihomapple Kellogg varsity girls’ basketball team to a 54-51 win over a previously undefeated ( alcdonia team liiursday in Middleville. The l ifting Scots started the fourth quarter with a seven-point lead thanks to some full-court pressure that gave the I rojans fiLs throughout much of the second half. I he I rojan surge in the fourth quarter included three 3-pointers. Sophomore guard laylor Lloyd hit two and assisted on the other. She fired a pass into tlie left comer, in front of the Christmas-themed IK student section, for an assist on a three by junior point guard Addy Henry that got their team within one with just over five minutes to play. The next three was the one that was a bugaboo to Caledonia head coach Todd Bloemers. His team was really good with its transition defense for much of the game and did a good job of keep­ ing a close eye on Lloyd. This time the «» IRVING TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS December 16, 2025 Meeting called to order at 6:30pm at 3425 Wing Rd. Hastings, Michigan 49050 Present; Lydy, Stout, Brummel, Nagel, and Buehler Agenda approved with addition of Freeport Fire Grant Approved November 18, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes, as presented Fire Reports and Commissioner Report presented Approved Treasurer’s Report Approved to pay bills in the amount of $4,039.05 Engle Rd. Natural Beauty Designation removed Skyway Towers tabled until attorney reviews contract Wolverine Power Cooperative Ordinance - tabled until January 2026 Board Meeting Freeport DNA Grant check to township to be signed over to [Freeport Upcoming Dates: January 20. 2026, Township Board Meeting at 6:30pm Adjourn 6;50pm Full minutes are available at lrvingtownship.org or at 3425 Wing Rd, Hastings, Ml 49058. Prepared by Irving Township Clerk. Tessa Stout. Attested to by Supervisor, Dan Lydy. Caledonia defense lost l.lovd in transilinn and left her alone at tlic top of the kc>' for an open three that put TK into the lead at 49-47. A minute later, the Scots lost the Irojans' AIIXJK Gold junior forward Recce Ritsema in the paint and sopho­ more guard Amya (Jaler found her for a bucket prompting a Caledonia timeout. A putback by Ritsema moments later had I K's lead to six pcTints. Caledonia freshman guard Reese Ab­ bott scored four points dow n the stretch to get her team within two, but the Scots' last best chance down the stretch was a three-point try' from the right wing by sophomore guard Brooklyn McLeod that was heavily contested by Henry and missed its mark, "In film, we watched the back side of their press be wide open, so our plan was to pass forward," James said, "but we ended up having to go to a back pass to get the reversal. In the second half, they took that back pass away a lot bet­ ter and they tightened up that trap a lot better, TTien, when we’re throwing those passes into high hands it didn't really HAY & FIREWOOD AUCTION 2026 Auction Dates January 10th February 14th March 14th April 11th STARTING TIME 11:00 AM Consignments d:00am-10:30am. Schedule to unload large loads. CALL BEFORE AUCTION DAY: X %'S 5 i A f ■ 2 4' I I 1 I * 1* >■ c ■iw 3 0*’ FLI,1 y I I F .A ' > : «' X c 4 • a •<**V'* s *« * J r I f V « € *■ ■ f**' I s ft.' I ■». ♦ lit®*' i IB.k =S| TH I I i i" f. I i t' : i I LI <1* r k. A J*. t ■pOfS t' xsdi^ 1 J Thornapple Kellogg junior Ellie Harmon (left) is greeted by senior teammate Tealy Cross as she is introduced before her team's nonconference win over Caledonia in Middleville Thursday. Dec, 18. Photos by Brett Bremer t 0-' * ’i ‘• • 4 ^3 ■fr rt f I t • \ I 4** 4 work. Luckily, we had Addy and Amya [Gater] who were willing to, as the trap was form ing, dribble into it to cut through it. That made a huge difference. That was what we needed to break it. They get caught up when I say, ‘don’t dribble through a press break,’ to mean don’t dribble at all. It is shortened passes with two dribbles, instead of doing it yourself.” Thomapple Kellogg led the ballgame by as many as seven points in the first quarter, but the Scots nudged in front 25-24 at the half and then it was their turn to hold a slim lead for a while. Caledonia extended its advantage to 45-38 by the end of the third quarter. Both teams kind of played that emotional rollercoaster where each went on Si 44 (517) 983-0845 Meeting Minutes 6210 Barryville Rd., Nashville, Ml 49073 ----------------- 517-983-0845----------------- ■Kr 1 DAY OF AUCTION CALL: Fairy County Produce Auction 0 V CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES (517) 852-4323 4 The minutes for the December 3, 2025 Township Board of Trustees Meeting that were approved on December 17, 2025 are posted at the Township offices at 8196 Broadmoor Ave, and on the website at www.caledoniatownship.org. runs, and then they responded, and then unfortunately TK was the team to make the last run," Caledonia head coach Todd Bloemers said. "They caught us in transi­ tion three different times, I think that was an 8-0 run with a couple of threes from Lloyd. We had done such an excellent job of executing our game plan defensively, she is a really nice player and our girls are familiar with her, so to kind of have that breakdown late in the game where we just fell away from our game plan for a two minute stretch that one hurt." Abbott finished with a team-high 19 points, mostly by attacking the basket. McLeod buried a couple threes and finished with ten points for the Scots. Sophomore guard Myla Gortmaker had seven points. Ritsema had a game-high 20 points. Lloyd finished with 14 and freshman Kadileen Kaboos had five points. "We weren’t able to use our speed. They’re long and fast,’’ James said of the Scots. “So, we weren’t able to beat them in transition. When we were actu­ ally getting our offense running, we were getting lay-ups and getting good looks at it. I think Reece could have had a way better game if we were able to feed her the bal 1 in the post, but our spacing wasn ’ t always allowing that to happen.” She did like the way freshman Kaboos I f IT i r . I I t I 1 « i I / > / ( » f I V. •Af* I t 5 f I / i n , ■,v.WS'’ i ff .. ■ i lH jw.Lr J t ■ t 1 I 1 W'i V'l -• t .K f A ii r ♦' * I 4 I r ( 4 r. 4 j '■ i ' * * t. t •< f * I /♦ „* I r : 4 /I I f ? t I in *4, f < '“ti .i 1 mUa ..? L •« fKl i 11 J ir f* A •^1 f J / !• I I I j I ■ B U M * ■ -SR'J ! 1 1 f * as I » i See next page 1 I f f I J t • I H I * • H I n f A r r 4 I < * I « I �4 * V www.sunandnews.com •. . 4 < 1 1 9 f I THE I f I SUN AND NEWS ' Continued from previous page young team, learning about is groupings that really gel performed in the post and and play together and what noted that Ritsema once again offensive styles suit them ±e rebounded like an animal. best. We have had a lot of The TK coach also said she time together, but we're still was pleased with the com­ a little inconsistent in what posure of sophomore guard we’re doing.” Taylor Lloyd who was right­ He was thankful his eirls fully a focus of the Caledonia were going to get the oppor­ defense. tunity' to put the game behind “To be down seven with six them in a hurrw and a half down in the fourth, Tlie Fighting Scots are now' we don’t typically battle back 5-1. They bounced back w ith from that very easily. That’s a a 39-27 win over Lansing mental barrier,” James said, Waverly at the West Michi­ “Once you get over five with gan Hoop Summit hosted by five or so minutes left, it takes Aquinas College Saturday a lot of mental resilience to be and then knocked off East able to fight back. Taylor hit Grand Rapids 50-28 Monday those two huge shots and gave on the road. The Scots are back us momentum.” at it Saturday, Dec. 27, taking TK is now 2-2 overall this on Grandville at 1 p.m. at Van season. Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. We have a young team,” • TK was scheduled to return Bloemers said. “These girls to action at the Cornerstone have just been an absolute University Holiday Classic joy to coach. They are very starts Dec. 26, against Lowell. connected and it makes our The Trojans will be back at job so much fun. One of the Cornerstone Dec. 29 to face things we’re also, with a really Kenowa Hills at 1:30 p.m. *5 iV i c 5 > 1 4^' . f *»■* ♦ 9 JiHn r > r I ‘ I * * f • .ar.iK > i4 L: • f S J t f . I - A »r •I 1 I •• 1'1; * I V. I r •• Vil ^rr f ) I I I I Caledonia sophomore guard Brooklyn McLeod flips up a shot in the paint during her team's nonconference contest at Thornapple Kellogg High School in Middleville Thursday, Dec. 18 Saturday, December 27, 2025 VIEW Ijpiiii UJ Group 9 4 4 outs for some easy baskets and finally capitalized on what was available.” A lot of what was available was space right around the hoop for junior Bryce Backus who closed tlie bailgame with 17 points and 13 rebounds as well as four assists, tliree blocked shots and two steals. “Bryce was able to get looks in tlie middle,” Bums said. “He was wide open all game and he took advaiUaue of it. Most of his points came ris^ht in front of tlie rim off of ball movement.” Caledonia also got seven points from freshman guard Luca Galardi who had three assists too. Junior guard Aaron Collins chipped in five points, five rebounds and five steals. Caledonia will be back in action today, Dec. 27, taking on Grandville at the Van Andel Arena Showcase in Grand Rap­ ids. Game time is set for 3 p.m. TK is now 2-5 overall this season. The Trojans head to the Cornerstone University Holiday Showcase Jan. 3 to take on Holt. Fighting Scots figure out how to score first in slog with visiting TK Brett Bremer Sports Editor Caledonia finally found w ays to turn defense into oftense and get some easy looks at the basket in tlie second halfagainst visiting Thomapple Kellogg Thursday, Dec. 18. The Fighting Scots upped their record to 4-2 overall tliis season, and sent the TK varsity boys’ basketball team into the holidays on a four-game losing streak, with a 41-31 win. Tlie ballgame was tied 1414 at the half. Caledonia head coach Nathan Bums said it was an ugly game. Tliey played zone and we struggled to function in the first half,” Bums said. “We had opportunities but just couldn’t capitalize. He said his team settled in for the second half and made some plays, “got some run 4^ J -‘r:r >" ■ * ' PT ■ I I / I 1 X iiot WE ’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS i I I Tajolcee Sprinss Towixsliip A 284 N. BRIGGS ROAD- MIOUI.EVILLE. MICHIGAN 49333 2C9-795-909I / FAX 269-795-2388 1 V YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE A K «i Sb Ji. IB : * t 1/ ■ > (1 f V’ • 4 ivi Vl.' . , I . I, ”J * 1 I 1 I 4 G J .i1 J’ h 5 I uzij-ri’r/j' ?' 'y; 1 k 'FlkS i i > •( i I I .•'riu.. ii’l r :« ! ' • •-.. L: I 1 r, J' « \ 1.- > » I. u . J .. t. s P I I , / '' V ’ i« I j 3 Jilt » I I if i I - - —' i'J J ((. . H .1 r » n V. $ . jrrd ••'• I I I ! I f * I t I ■111*1 ♦ I II bl H 4 1 < 1 I I I t i.i f I A TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OE THE TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held on January 15, 2026, commencing at 7:00 p.m. at the Yankee Springs Township Hall, 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville MI, within the Township, as required under the provisions of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act and the Zoning Ordinance for the township. PLI'ASE TAKE NOTICE In addition to participation during a public hearing, members of the public may also provide comments for the Planning Commission’s consideration by emailing or mailing thosexomments to the Planning Commission for receipt prior to the meeting, in care of the Township Zoning Administrator, Joe Shea (ioeshea(^tyankcespringstwp.org). Letters and emails are due one week before the hearing date; or by leaving a phone message prior to the meeting with the Township Zoning Administrator. Joe Shea at 269-795-9091. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the iiem(s) to be considered at said public hearing include, in brief, the following: I , SEIJ 25-12-10; Parcel ID: 16-160-003-00, 2236 Parker Drive, Wayland, MI 49348. The property owner Bret Burgess is requesting a separation of his back lot from his lakefront lot that would result in the back lot.(zoned RSF) having an outbuilding without a dwelling, which requires a special use permit pursuant to section 12.7 of the zoning ordinance. 2, Such other business as may properly come before the Planning Commission. Anyone interested in reviewing the application material may do so at the towmship hall. All interested persons are invited to be present at the aforesaid time and place, or, if an electronic meeting is held, to participate via the electronic meeting. Yankee Springs Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, to individuals with dis­ abilities at the hearing upon four (7) days’ priornotice to the Township Clerk. Individuals with disabilities requir­ ing auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address or telephone number listed below. YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION By: Shana Bush, Chairperson Yankee Springs Township Hall 284 N. Briggs Rd. Middleville, Michigan 49333 (269)795-9091 i Residential & Commercial a ■ Gas Furnaces Gas Boilers -Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters -Humidifiers M t » 1 I t «• 4 J A 1 < r? UL ■ J qr ♦ 12 2 t f ‘J. F -I* 1 4 Sr 9* t ': J { V 1 I b 9 >r PKSSt «• 4Ji J & D eWe erd (68) HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING. INC. DEWEERDHTG.COM > t.V.' eta « '« y I, d 269-792-2234 Sfntx t9SS LENNOX A+ i BBB I k ACCREDITEO BUSINESS I I �10 Saturday <z rr.uer 21 2Q25 Thf sun A(kD NEWS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF CALEDONIA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission ot the Village ot Caledonia (the “Vtttage’i wtll Will how noto a a public puDiic hearing nearing on on Thursday. inursoay. January January ?2, 22. 2026 2026 at at 7:00 7 00 p pm m at 9t the the Caledonia Caledonia Village Village Hall, Hall 250 S Maple Street. Caledonia, Michigan 49316. on the application o1 the Wheeler Development Caledonia TH. LLC and Caledonia TH (I. LLC, to amend the approved Cusp Group LLC Planned Unit Development (the "PUD”) (also known as Hanover Townhomes) to amend the Final Development Plan for the PUD and to include additional lands in the PUD The Final Development Plan for the PUD is proposed to be amended to permit the construction of Phase II of the PUD. including the construction of sixty six (66) dwellings, located in nine (9) two-unrt buildings and twelve (12) four unit buildings, together with private streets, public wafer and sewer, open space and various other amenities designated on the revised plan submitted for the PUD The applicant is also pro>pos<ng to amend the Final Development Plan to permit the construction of a clubhouse building forthePub ...____ within the lands included in Phase I of the PUD The proposed amendment would rezone a parcel of land commonly known as 161 Kinsey Street SE, Caledonia, Ml 49316 to the Planned Untt Develop­ ment District The lands that would be rezoned to the Planned Unit Development District are owned by Caledonia TH 11. LLC and located generally at 161 Kinsey Street SE. and are legally described as follows: ' PafcOfi4b2a2ajfli-IUJ one-aua Part of the Southeast one-quarter of Section 29. Town 5 North. Range 10 West. Caledonia Township. Kent County. Michigan, described as COMMENCING at the South one-quarter comer of said Section 29, thence North (X)’16'51" East along the North-South one-quarter line of said section 1637.13 feet (measured as North 00’03'09" East 1637 13 feet); thence North 89’40’20" East 301 0 feel (measured as North 89’26'38" East 301 0 feet) along a line which is 295 72 feet South from (measured parallel with) imeasureo perpendicular perpenotcuiar to to and ana paraiiei wnn, the me ^uth aoum line line of oi Kinsey Mnsey ’s s Plat riat of oi the tne Village viiiaoe of oi Caledonia caie Station to the PLACE OF BEGINNING ol this description; thence North 00*19'40" West 83 22 leet (measured as North 00’33'22" West 83 13 feet); thence North 89’40'20" East 179.75 feet (measured as North 89’26'38" East 180 25 (eet) to a point 463.0 leet South 41’27'20" East (measured as South 41’41'02" East) along the Southwesterly line of Kinsey Street (66 feet wide) from the South line of Johnson Street (66 feet wide); thence South 41’27'20" East along said Westerly line of said street 110 48 feet (measured as South 41’41'02" East 110 48 feet) to a line bearing North 89’40'20" East (measured as North 89’26'38" East) from the place of beginning; thence South 89’40'20" West 252 42 feet (measured as South 89^26'38" West 252 42 feet) to the place of beginning The lands currently included in the PUD are legally described as follows Parcel No. 41-23-29-451-011 Pari of the South one-half of Section 29, Town 5 North, Range 10 West, Village of Caledonia, Kent County, Michigan, described as: COMMENCING at the South one-quarter corner of said Section 29; thence North 90’00'(M)" East 18.85 feet along the South line of the Southeast one-quarter of said Section 29 to the PLACE OF BEGINNING; thence North 90’00'00” East 406.15 feet along said South line; thence North 00’16’52" East 713.00 feet to the North line of the South 713 feet of the Southeast one-quarter of said Section 29; thence North 90’00'00" East 813.61 feet along said North line to a point 100 feet Southwesterly from (measured perpendicular to) the West line of Kinsey Street (60 feet wide); thence North 40’48’40" West 37.56 feet parallel with the Westerly line of said Street; thence North 49’11 '20" East 100.00 feet to the Westerly line of Kinsey Street; thence North 40’48'40 West 290.44 feet along said Westerly line; thence North 89’58’10" West 132.00 feet; thence North 40’48*40" West 65.57 feet parallel with the Westerly line of said Street; thence North 89’43’30” West 26.53 feet; thence South 40’48’40" East 21.23 feet parallel with the Westerly line of said Street; thence North 89’43’30” West 368.07 feet; thence South 46’40'57" West 179.69 feet; thence South 00’01’48" West 108 56 feet; thence South 89’52’43" West 244.19 feet; thence North 00’02’48" East 127.16 feet thence North 89’59’30" West 349.07 feet; thence South 00’18’07" West 657.00 feet to the North line of the South 300 feet of the South one-half of said Section 29; thence South 89’59’30" East 200.00 feet along said North line to the East line of the West 16.85 feet of the Southeast one-quarter of said Section 29; thence South 00*18*07" West 300.00 feet along said East line to the place of beginning. Contains 17.14 acres w Parcel No, 41-23-29-451-010 Part of the South one-halt of Section 29, Town 5 North. Range 10 West, Village of Caledonia, Kent County, Michigan, described as; COMMENCING at the South one-quarter comer of said Section 29; thence North 90’00’(X)" East 18.85 feet along the South line of the Southeast one-quarter of said Section 29 to the East line of the West 18.85 feet of the Southeast one-quarter of said Section 29; thence North 00’18’07" East 300.00 feet along said East line to the North line of the South 300 feet of the South one-half of said Section 29; thence North 89’59'30” West 200.00 feet along said North line; thence North 00’18'07" East 657.00 feet to the PLACE OF BEGINNING; thence North 89’59’30" West 722.94 feet along a line which is 957 feet North of and parallel with the South line of the Southwest one-quarter of said Section 29 to a point 363 feet East from the East line of Duncan Lake Avenue (^ feet wide); thence North 00’14’30" East 363.00 feet parallel with said East line to a point 1320 feet North from the South line of said Section 29; thence South 89’59’30” East 337.98 feet parallel with the South line of the Southwest one-quarter of said Section 29 to the extended East line of Terrace Street (66 feet wide); thence North 00’16'30" West 312.50 feet along said East line; thence North 89’40'20” East 148.50 feet parallel with the South line of Lot 9 of Kennedy’s Addition; thence North 00’16'30" West 1.32 feet to the Southwest corner of Lot 10 of Kennedy’s Addition; thence North 89’40’20" East 983.90 feet to the Westerly line of Kinsey Street at a point 295.7 feet South from the South line of South Street (66 feet wide); thence South 43’01 ’27” East 66.05 feet along the Westerly line of said Street; thence South 49’13’56" West 260.79 feet; thence South 40’48’40" East 270.84 feet parallel with the Westerly line of said Street; thence South 00°26’22" West 154.87 feet; thence North 89M3’30” West 46.87 feet; thence South 46’40’57” West 179.69 feet; thence South 00’01'48 West 108.56 feet; thence South 89*’52’43’’ West 244.19 feet; thence North 00‘*02'48'’ East 127.16 feet; thence North SS’SS'SO” West 349.07 feet to the place of beginning. Contains 20.60 acres n Alt interested persons may attend the public hearing and be heard with regard to the proposed amending ordinance. Written comments may be submitted to the Village office, at the above-stated address, up to and during the time of the public hearing. Dated: December 23. 2025 r •« <• * PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE VILLAGE OF CALEDONIA *• «• I VWW._. JS Jif Scots beat Brighton, battle for draw with Catholic Central in conference Brett Bremer Sports Editor Harmon Esch scored two goals to dig the Fighting Scots out of a two-goal-hole against Grand Rapids Catholic Central Monday at Patterson Ice Center in OK Conference Rue Division play. The Caledonia varsity hockey team salvaged a 2-2 draw to extend its un­ beaten streak to six games. The Scots had won their previous six including a 4-2 win over Brighton at Munn Ice Arena on the campus of Michigan Stale University in East Lan­ sing Saturday, Dec. 20. Caledonia had a 2-0 first period lead get away in that one as Brighton scored twice in the second to lie the game al 2-2. Caledonia responded in the third period with goals by Esch and Ty Lewandowski • -4, IB Vjll t to secure the win. I sch notched the go-ahcad goal 26 seconds into the third penod with assists from Camden Quig­ ley and William Maelum-Micheciscn. I>andon Moore and Quiglc> assisted on Lewandowski's goal that gave the ScoU some breathing room w ith 5:44 to play Bryce Mitchell and Lewandowski scored the two first period goals for the Scots against Brighton. Rylan Bultema and Drew Nichols assisted on Mitchell's goal 52 sectxxls into the game. Moore as­ sisted on Lewandow ski’s goal in the first. Sam Hoag got the victory in net for the Scots. Brighton entered the contest ranked fourth in the state in Division 1 while the Fighting Scots checked in at ninth in the Division 2 rankings. fl ’(WS » i a4 i« ••••.X* 3' A .4 s < ^4 1 <» •1 11 II* 1. / J ' Cl • yx 1.4 iMNi i * > It 3 V.. a > fl!' •Ui * 9 >1 ♦ b I Aits h s I I Mil f’iuiaoj r 1 10' I 1 ■ ■' •ifS-' If: li H J I* bV 4*1 / 9 ®3Sp(f I 0 1 k. I r Caledonia grapplers take down four of five foes at Northview tourney It was a 4-1 day for the Fighting Scots at the Northview Team Tournament Sat­ urday, Dec. 20. The Caledonia varsity wrestling team defeated Allendale 51-23, Northview 56-22, Muskegon 42-38 and East Kent­ wood 54-21. Howell was the only team to down the Fighting Scots, scoring a 47-25 win in the first dual of the day. Caledonia head coach Shawm Veitch said he wasn’t surprised his Scots weren’t at their best in ftiat opener. They hadn’t wrestled in a while after having a Wednesday evening competition canceled due to scheduling issues. “Your rhythm gets thrown off,” Veitch said. “And don’t get me wrong - that’s a good Howell team. But my captains called the team out for their effort and I thought the team really responded well. We kept wrestling better as the day went on and wrestled very tough against Al­ lendale to end the day. Again, my captains did a great job keeping the team into every match and ftilly engaged. “It’s been a strong start to the season with the best yet to come. We haven’t been full strength yet, but we are getting really close to being healthy with everyone at their wei^Tts/’ • r- * *< * Caledonia had 18 different guys cred * ited with at least one victory throughout the day, whether it was out on the mat or a forfeit win. Cayden Nostrant at 175 pounds, Max Schnurstein at 126 and Xavier Stewart at 215 were all 5-0. Caleb VanLaan had four wins and Koleson Reeder, Robert Restau and Ben Moss had three victories apiece. Howell was a perfect 5-0 as a team and the dual with Caledonia was its closest one of the tournament Howell clinched the win with a technical fall from Thomas Preston in the 190-pound bout, 12 matches into the dual. VanLaan at 106 pounds and Schnurstein at 126 had the Fighting Scots off to an okay start leading 12-11 after four flights, but back-to-back pins by Howell at 132 pounds and 138 put the Highlanders in front. In the tightest match of the dual, Moss pulled out a 4-3 win over Howell’s Silas Zack at 144 pounds. The other Caledonia victories in that one were a 13-2 major decision from Nostrant over Lucas McMillin at 175 pounds and a pin by Stewart at 215. The Caledonia team is off now until a trip to Hastings’ annual LH Lamb Tournament Jan. 3. The OK Green Con­ ference season gets fired up with a visit from Reeths-Puffer Jan. 7. - |V« ’•0^ I J* • It t 4 I K t ¥«)' 1 * *11 A I Brett Bremer Sports Editor 4r ■ ’ ■ • c? I j! Is rA,-”' r 4* » < 4*^ ,’(UM«W0Mr * 6 I ( i a; i I !• t! ,iu ■ n r’t “• b » J ) t* I f r' « ^^7 % t M WniW'! tfK- -sr- « T«, «{§ T2* I i* ’VJi > 4 ■vjiilr tp -.4 I r 1 Ch' •JV 1 • I • I .t { MEJc2*- « J- .r 1 r.r r I ' ; '»■'» *ri -ii! i * • Mm* 1 n I. r 4 • b A’ , I i ) ri fjrSi'iJflB* • >( ■ I ■-* .. o I j I wr 1 I i V . 1 1 t I vs f d ( <• i I ♦ • I t I ! 'I ■^i ■■ I t li I • ■ Hl h •T . MI - 5 I iV b 'TH fe»1 nil!! b, 1 ’tBhrr-’I A 11 1 .'A ' . . - I' T , J L t I Tl ». fl t • I I r *’ I A .1 c 1 * 55^ •< »<r A** I I J_ z- -‘‘’iite. 1“ r. ! * \ A .♦i' B • I*. gSft- e / / « A 1 . >■ • ' *.J 1 I I 5 1 ! t I 1 f A I i I I I I I?! . t H I I M I a i I f. a 1 r i •z 4 2 < i Sok » 1 ■Al ’ <i A KJlL t. > « 'W * . •" S' <: t *<*■» �k. 4 A V I J 4 i 4 'I 'J • 1 V ; ^7^ ■‘^<1 a Il w the SUN and NEWS wvvw.sunandnews.com I VIEW Saturday, December 27, 2025 Group V 11 ♦ 4 ’I Alberts leads TK ladies at Plainwell tourney with runner-up finish 1 I . If. r X • ii k I ■' I i T. t. •ie. -.s sr i * El* Brett Bremer Sports Editor Plainwell freshman Evangeline Coutu has been Thomapple Kellogg junior Rylee Alberts kryptonite so far. Alberts ran her record for the season to 11-2 with a runner-up finish in the 135-pound weight class Sunday at Plainwell’s Meer Memorial Girls Tourney. The two losses have come against Coutu, and this time went a little better than the last. Coutu took a 9-2 win in their W.' 135-pound championship match, after having pinned Alberts in the third pe­ riod of their first meeting this month. .. / Alberts pinned her first two foes on the day, Mason County Central’s w * Raelyn Wilson in the quarterfinals and Ana Sofia Vega from Plainwell in the championship round. It was the Thornapple Kellogg ’ s Maggie first loss of the season for Vega in one McKeown (left) tries to escape the of the tournament’s toughest weight grasp of South Haven ’ s Maddie classes. Coutu moved to 10-1 with her ; Moore in their 105-pound semifinal championship. Sunday at the Meert Memorial Girls The Thomapple Kellogg girls were Tourney hosted by Plainwell High sixth in the day’s final team standings. School. Constantine won the championship with 155 points ahead of Otsego 143, Plainwell 140, Harper Creek 100, Price placed sixth with a 3-3 perfor­ Hamilton 98, Thomapple Kellogg 86, mance. She won two matches by pin Three Rivers 77, Gull Lake 69.5, Mat­ and then beat out Portage Central’s tawan 52 and Paw Paw 52 in the top ten. Eliana Janik 9-7 to get into the semi­ Thomapple Kellogg had four girls finals where she was bested 8-1 by finish among the top six at their weight Hamilton’s Anastasia Ruggles. She class and a total of nine girls scored fell to Tessa Bienz from Constantine at least one victory on the day. Bri in her first consolation match and then el la Dykstra was fourth at 115 pounds was pinned by Delton Kellogg’s Olivia improving her record to 10-3 on the Post in the match for fifth. season. Maggie McKeown was fifth The TK girls’ team will be a part of at 105 pounds for TK and Kayla Price Montague’s Lady Mat Cat Invitational sixth at 130 pounds. Sunday, Dec. 28, and then head to Dykstra was 4-2 for the day with both Constantine Jan. 6. of her losses coming against Taylor’s Hope Norris, first in the quarterfinals and then again in the consolation final Caledonia Community for third place. In between those two bouts, Dykstra won two matches by pin Schools and took a forfeit victory. TK’s Price and McKeown both will be posting an RFP for wrestled their way into the champion­ Bond 2023 - Technology ship semifinals at their flight before Hardware and Technology falling and then battling back through Renovations consolation matches for their top six finishes. All RFP information can be McKeown pinned Lawton’s Amoryfound on the district website: men Ptak in the third period of their match for fifth place. She was 2-2 for https://wvvw.calschools.org/bond/ the day. 1^1 .■rf 2* I /■ < I 4 J I h ’ I ;k 1!A '■ «* i ♦ ■4 r, 1 t 'J # • J A If t A A’;:'h AH I' » 'I, 4 4 V J V I •s I fin N5 ♦ J Ij 1 -4> 4. , 1 JJ--. v>4 I •fi / T9 t J *w 4 k I • V I. > t **, r ’9# 1 3 , J n<». ’ rrj 2;im , ■*'b. ri.. • n < B : U' ‘ < I ** Ui -mb f M • * .S • A -'itS.l -' k 51L I r * I J I I i J 4 > I <Ui .» E'er •u (I «> k J j ' * •s r< .. r : ‘« 9 Jf ''nr”"'® . .J L hJL It) 9 id bW • L* I * - t ■df^’ Ie• MI« 4 » '» ••51 1 X 4 •1 I I * I itJ .1) ■ 4 J V• ^.4 .1 I f i*. r i cU*e^*w- ’ ? I 't •W > •/ N.^x 9 »♦ '."'da! <J * •'.’i.MJx,1 k t V - <■ *• A . < fetiafei/ii k . i t .> -•I J f i s f « pn 1-1 • 1 < 4' x«> f 1 { % r• 11 I r«. K 3. I .1 f5i J 1 \ I i 1 I I * r •IO t 1 I I a 1 # * 1’ * I c« T> ' I iL .> • % r** 'jdf M jf . t * i A % * Hj I .. s tk 4.. ■»* > 1 V*t ? I s X ♦< t • 1 i .• > * t .L 'J* "in* 2 '^rfp ./T?IN' t 4 1 I -O III‘( t -V I y'<i' 1.^.' r .<• “C « I * J r.n^. . :>f t I I . *- I k'l u> t I .1 Ula I ! , I rrfl®.?* t' rt -U;s^T p I I r I I i ih <1 II . Thornapple Kellogg 115-pounder Briella Dykstra looks up to her corner as she works to turn Potterville’s Domenica Guzman Payaguaje at Plainwell’s Meert Memorial Girls Tourney Sunday, Dec. 21. Photos by Brett Bremer GO ONLINE TO SUNANONEWS.COM 100 East Main Street Middleville, Ml 49333 269-795-3385 www.villageofmiddleville.org “R VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE COUNTY OF BARRY, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE AND SUMMARY OF THE REGULATORY EFFECTS THEREOF PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Village Council of the Village of Middleville (the “Village”) has adopted Village Ordinance No. 2144 (the “Ordinance”), which adopts Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Tax Increment Financing and Development Plan (the “Amended Plan”) for the Village of Middleville Downtown Development Authority (the “Authority”). The principal provisions of the Ordinance are summarized as follows: Section 1 of the Ordinance adopts Amendment No. 2 to the Amended Plan in accordance with Act 57 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 2018, as amended (“Act 57”) and finds that Amendment No. 2 to the Amended Plan constitutes a public purpose and will be a benefit to the Village and its residents. In accordance with Act 57, Section 2 of the Ordinance makes certain findings with respect to Amendment No. 2 to the Amended Plan including, but not limited to, that Amendment No. 2 to the Amended Plan meets the requirements set forth in Section 217(2) of Act 57; the proposed method of financing the activities, projects and improvements proposed in the Amended Plan is feasible, and the Authority has the ability to arrange the financing; public services will be adequate to service the development area included in Amendment No. 2 to the Amended Plan; and the activities, projects and improvements proposed in Amendment No. 2 to the Amended Plan are reasonable and necessary to carry out the purposes of Act 57. Section 3 of the Ordinance authorizes and directs the Village Clerk to provide to the County Treasurer copies of all information necessary to enable the Village, Township and County Treasurers to transmit tax increment revenues to the Authority in accordance with Section 215 of Act 57. Section 4 of the Ordinance provides for the severability of the Ordinance in the event a portion of the Ordinance is determined to be unenforceable. Section 5 of the Ordinance provides for the publication and effective date of the Ordinance. Village Ordinance No. 2144 will become effective upon its publication or upon the publication of a summary of its provisions in a local newspaper of general circulation in the Village. A copy of the foregoing Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2144 (and the Amended Plan), may be examined or purchased at the Village offices, 100 East Main Street, within the Village, during Village office hours. Dated: December 16, 2025 VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE I �♦ ♦ W 1 1 1 12 Saturday, December 27, 2025 the SUN AND NEWS WRESTLING biggest difference is how much fun she can have performing the throws in freestyle. Fowlerville senior Margaret Buurma became the first girl to win four MHSAA Individual Finals championships last March at Ford Field in Detroit. Maddie won’t get the chance to match that, but she is still a part of the Caledonia High School wrestling program this winter and she was chosen as a team captain. She was on the sideline snapping photos during the Fighting Scots’ first quad of the season with Grand Ledge and Thomapple Kellogg earlier this month. Continued from Page 7 and stuff. It is rewarded in freestyle. You actually get more points for throwing each other on each other’s backs and over our heads and stuff. Suplexes, you’ll see that in freestyle a lot. “We get push-out points. So, if one of the wrestlers pushes the other out ofthat big circle, you get a point for that. There is not as much top and bottom wrestling in freestyle that you see in folkstyle.’’ There are a lot of other small details that are different, but Hayden said the VIEW...... Group www.sunanclnews.com > and working with her teammates as part of the clean-up crew after the spotlight turned off* and the gym lights came back on. “It breaks my heart, but I completely understand and support what she is do­ ing,” Caledonia varsity wrestling coach Shawn Veitch said in the lead-up to the season. “Honestly, what more does she have to prove? She is already a three­ time state champ ... When is the best time for her to have the surgery? It’s now, then in the spring she can get back to that freestyle and go out to Fargo. I know she really wants to be a Fargo All- i i 1 1 t iI ft i 1 t J. t * 4 J 1 WEARE RESPONSIBILITIES; - Become a part of ourlocally-owned newspaper group doing good things for the communities we serve! - Help local business owners and managers grow their businesses! - Build relationships by attending local networking ADVERTISING SALESPERSON HIRING covering Marshall, Battle Creek, Hastings, Middleville, Caledonia and Lowell events! 5 s .** $ 1 * k♦' c4 M t" «J^K. . I 1 r T L > 1 II » > J IH tsM < <F Ji ■'^ OFJ^ P r far **7 .: V. 4.'ti i 7^ A .•I r » ; 1 \ ' •^<4. «» X IF** isiaiakTinaH Ik* V V t I I B I I 9 k IL_ I I II A k k •) k Vd I ■J y.< BUYI AN THE SU fr » Send resume to: Chris Silverman J L-l’J: csilverman@mihoiTiepaper.com r 4 ■ '*-*v . - V f’ r k f Caledonia wrestler Maddie Hayden is interviewed on the turf at Ford Field in Detroit following her third MHSAA Individual Finals Championship at the end of her junior season in March. 2025. File photo by Brett Bremer LOOKING TO JOIN A WINNING TEAM? I I I I e* Group is seeking qualified applicants for an fno3.8W9nbn^ua.www American out there again, and that will take her right into that college season. “Selfishly, it hurts me,” he added with a little bit of a chuckle. “Selfishly, it hurts our program. But it’s never about me. It’s about the kids. She is making the right choice for Maddie, and 1 am so proud of that girl and I just wish her nothing but the best.” Maddie said she is having a hard time not being able to go out and lead by example on the mat for the Scots, but her Caledonia teammates can definitely take a cue from her efforts in the weight room. She got her left arm out ofits sling in mid-November and got to do her first upper body lifting in early December. Prior to that, she started to get a little bored just doing free weights with her right arm and some lower body work which she started about a week after her first surgery in the fall. “Evenjust being able to get back in the gym is the only thing that is keeping me sane right now,” Maddie said the week before her second surgery. “I am lifting as much as possible and doing a ton of physical Aerapy, and just cardio here and there. I don’t like cardio, so don’t do it as much as I prob­ ably should be right now. My training is definitely going to be more intense again after this next surgery. With my first surgery I was just kind of training and eating to get to my next surgery, but with this (second) one I’m going to be training and doing physical therapy to be able to get back on the mat and get that going. It is definitely going to pick up after this surgery.” t'f I ^7 lemeiSJtoia yd otodq ei i < 1 I I ttiw ladj fatiB 3i3± luo n .croasoa 3:331100 jsdj oJnr 3d§h rtliw bobbB sd '^301 gmd ti ,Ylrii ti .yfriaftlsZ’* .oliaurio c to tb JiKjdfi T3V3a e'lr Jafl .niBi^oKi ■ ^nblBm 2( 3ri2 .alxi orir ^uodc ms I fam .oifabfiM idt sotodo 13d rhtw taui} bm liis isdAo I 4 I ( i $ 3 » I I S_> .tasd sritJac smb briBii BT^mved ei atia b(88 s <d hssi boB to og 0} 3i«iB tud >e}032 3fb lot imn od3 no ^b^ffiddbn&oadlB 89! Bind Idsbw arit ra eno%T3d rawit t goda alilo Jnonn&iblnrito^ a laid 13d ob ot log fam ladma vo .isclmenoa <1tb9 ra gmdd vb ainil £ )3g o! faotxBia ode .iBd 13d dJw aidgraw ooit goiob - >how viCO1 i3wd Office fane larinftfi J133WK loods bansje e J I I i I I I ( 9 i i 1 1 LlfilsriJni VT3 CM aril ni doed Jagot aids gnbd t?u’ afngorqsaieiisriJgffldixIfro >b3w odl btse siUieM '\mi 1 .'fragim booo381 fans oidteeoq eb ibmn eb g IH ) 1 bns -Ygsmir laaigYriq to nc r IK ♦ *A ti" . p - z K Q. G OS O IL Ik It s aid fnob I .swAlm swd < • •<knq J 8B fbiHB EB 3 c ofa fnofa grmmu xM* .w» od bb oBcnini okmb od <4 gra >(01 rfliW .'fragFUB Jxsft ^ainiBTl To bail J2u( 28w f rr Jod .fragioa ixsn ol I3si ? *1 > p> Ta b m 13 {4l La ad of goiog ffl'1300 (brnwaal oJ xqfforiJ Isaayriq gfliob hn tag btiB fsm 3tbiro ±»fid ng । (A e >co •o jbicf O3 Yf3ti^3fa £13l #* c •c Q. ’4» -a tt t. .^ . ,.1. nsbyBH eibbsM isttseiw f bleiRbioa tsfiu) srlt notasw© AA3HM biirlt lerf gniwollot ti Is qirtsnoiqmsrtO slsnia la , rtoiaM ni noaseg loinui lertfc 4 _____ ______ I I t I I , I . I k t it * * r S 9 I I I -. I t > b h t » ' � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sun and News Published 2025 Subject The topic of the resource Newspaper.SunandNews Description An account of the resource Sun and News Published 2025. Specific issues may be incomplete or missing. Type The nature or genre of the resource PDF Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newspaper Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource varies within year Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library and View Newspaper Group Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available View Newspaper Group Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). ongoing