Nearly 40,000 motorcyclists from across the country made their way to Lake County for the 40th annual “blessing of the bikes”. Attendees paid five dollars for the weekend event in Baldwin that benefits area Meals of Wheels programs. Organizers say the event is a way to send off bikers safely for the riding season.

One woman is dead and another in the hospital after a Monday morning accident in Isabella County. Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski says A 2007 Ford Focus driven by Donna Marie Townsend was traveling northbound on N. Leaton Rd. when she ran a stop sign at Pere Marquette Rd. and ran into a 2008 Buick LaCrosse driven by Geraldine Lea Coon. Both vehicles ran off the roadway and ended up in a field. Donna Marie Townsend was taken to Mid-Michigan Medical Center-Clare where she was pronounced dead.

A 65-year old Wexford Co. man who's criminal record spans over 39-years was arrested Wednesday after taking State Police on a foot chase. Police say they were conducting an investigation on the suspect who is a registered sex offender, currently on parole and non-compliant with the sex offender registry act. When troopers arrived to the suspect's last known address in South Branch Township they discovered the man had fled out the back door of the home.

Oops! It turns out that the "Pure Michigan Magazine," published by the state to promote Michigan tourism and other business, is being printed by an out of state company. And a state lawmaker is not happy about it. Tourism officials say there's no qualified company in the state to do the job to specifications. But State Senate democrat John Gleason says he "finds that hard to believe."

Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 140,000 focus compact cars because of a faulty windshield wiper.  Federal Safety Regulators say the seal in the passenger-side wiper wiring is missing, which could lead to the wiper to stop working, increasing the chances for an accident.  Ford says there have not been any reports of crashes or injuries because of the wiper problem.  The recall affects focus vehicles produced from august 2010 through October of last year. (MRN) 

Charges will not be filed against two former Muskegon Heights School officials suspected of stealing from the district. Michigan State Police say there is not enough evidence to charge Sweetie Lars or Cheri Christensen with embezzlement. The women were accused last year of doing business with vendors owned by their husbands. The investigation is one of the reasons state officials may appoint an emergency manager to the district. (MRN) Image by (Salvatore Vuono)

Five people were sent to the hospital after a three vehicle head on collision in Montcalm County tuesday morning. Michigan State Police say the accident happened on South Sheridan Rd. near Holland Lake Rd. in Sidney Twp. at 7:30am. They say a 32-year old female driver was traveling southbound on Sheridan when she struck another car turning left into a private drive driven by a 32-year old woman from Greenville who then was pushed and collided into another 33-year old female from Ionia who was heading northbound with her two kids ages 9 and 12.

The Mecosta County Board of Commission voted unanimously to sign a 5-year contract with the Animal Rescue Coalition of Mecosta County to provide animal shelter services during its meeting Thursday. The contract is for an annual rate of $65,000 and would among other things, allow the shelter to house between 35 dogs and 35 cats at its proposed location location on 220th ave between 18 and 19 mile rd. The contract would require the shelter to be a “no kill”shelter meaning it would not euthanize an animal unless it has no chance of rehabilitation or if the animal is unadoptable.

Crankers Coney Island is opening a brewery expansion to their restaurant in Big Rapids. The brewery will hopefully be open by April 1st. They will have a tasting room in the brewery where you can sample all of the beers and wines they make.