Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) offices will be closed Tuesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. In-person appointments cannot be scheduled at UIA’s 12 Local Offices around the state on the holiday and the Customer Service phone line will not be in operation.

Unemployed workers can certify for benefits online Tuesday using the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM), however, certification by phone will not be available since offices will be closed. To claim benefits, unemployed workers must report once every two weeks that they are jobless and meet the eligibility requirements for benefits.

Due to Independence Day, there may be a slight delay before unemployment benefits are deposited into claimant bank accounts or loaded onto debit cards.

Bi-weekly certification is just one of many services available to users through their MiWAM account. Claimants can also access account information, review payment history, update contact information and more. MiWAM is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Claimants may login or sign up for an online account at Michigan.gov/UIA.

In April, UIA Director Julia Dale announced a replacement of the decade-old MiWAM computer system used by workers to apply for benefits and employers to pay unemployment insurance taxes. The Deloitte UFACTS system will provide a totally new experience that will be easy to use, speed claims processing, and build on the agency’s aggressive anti-fraud tactics. The Deloitte system will provide UIA with significant programming flexibility for system updates in response to quickly changing economic conditions and unemployment rates. It is expected to be fully operational in two years.

The new computer system is a cornerstone of Director Dale’s transformation of the UIA into a national model for fast, fair, and fraud-free service. Director Dale was appointed in October 2021, the agency’s 11th director in as many years. Under her leadership the UIA has:

• Created the UIA Modernization Workgroup, consisting of labor, business and jobless advocates to advise the UIA on significant improvements in how it can better serve Michigan workers and employers. 
• Appointed a Legal Advisor and created a Legal and Compliance Bureau that will capitalize on collaborative anti-fraud practices and increase UIA program integrity.
• Collaborated with the Attorney General’s office as well as local, state and federal law enforcement to bring bad actors to justice and combat fraud at the agency. To date, 115 individuals have been charged in connection with unemployment benefits fraud and 46 have entered pleas or been found guilty.
• Identified initiatives and processes that would ease access to jobless benefits for workers in underserved communities under a $6.8 million equity grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL).

• Secured a more than $2.3 million equitable access and communications grant from the USDOL Tiger Teams initiative to redesign and simplify how UIA engages with employers and develop a help center for accessing agency services.

• Reassigned staff and resources to address the largest categories of claims that are contributing to the agency’s case backlogs.
• Rebuilt to nearly $2.2 billion (and growing) the UI Trust Fund from which weekly benefits are paid to workers.
• Approved more than 76,000 overpayment waivers (with more to come) of state and federal benefits paid out during the global pandemic, waiving more than $555 million.
• Halted overpayment collections on claims filed since March 1, 2020, while the agency addresses pending protests and appeals. More than $13 million has been refunded to workers since May 2022.

• Reviewed correspondence to add a human-centered approach to make letters easier to understand for claimants and employers.

• Revamped the agency’s public website at Michigan.gov/UIA so it is more user-friendly and responsive for those accessing services using cell phones or tablets.
• Implemented new ethics and security clearance policies for employees and contractors.

This Independence Day weekend, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is removing lane restrictions on nearly 60 percent of its road and bridge projects statewide to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers. AAA Michigan estimates more than 1.7 million Michigan residents are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, a new record.
 

Beginning at 3 P.M. Friday, June 30, and continuing until 6 A.M. Wednesday, July 5, 99 out of 175 projects statewide will have lane restrictions removed. While motorists will see suspended operations in most MDOT work zones for the weekend, drivers are advised that equipment and certain traffic configurations may remain in place, like temporary shifts or shoulder closures. 

"Summer traffic means a lot more folks on the road, especially during Fourth of July weekend," said State Transportation Director Brad Wieferich. "Drivers are certainly aware of all the road and bridge work happening across the state, including those projects made possible thanks to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program. We ask all drivers to continue to drive safely through work zones and follow all posted signs for their safety, their family's safety, and for road workers' safety. Slow down, stay alert and avoid distractions in all work zones. Work zone safety is truly a team effort. Everyone deserves to make it home each and every night."

Drivers are also reminded that Michigan recently became the 26th state to establish hands-free driving laws. These new laws take effect June 30. More information is available on the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning website.

MDOT oversees I, M, and US routes and is responsible for nearly 10,000 miles of state highways, which carry more than 50 percent of all traffic and approximately 70 percent of commercial traffic in Michigan. 

The following is a list of work zones that will remain active or have lane restrictions during Independence Day weekend. If necessary, detour routes will be posted at the project location. All closures are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information on MDOT projects, go to the Mi Drive website at www.Michigan.gov/Drive. 

Northern Lower Peninsula

• I-75, Cheboygan County, will have northbound traffic shifted to southbound I-75 with a movable barrier wall. 

• US-23, Alcona County, is closed from Black River Road to F-41 with a detour on local roads. 

• US-31 in Alanson, Emmet County, will have southbound traffic detoured on Milton Road.
   
• US-31 in Manistee, Manistee County, will have one lane open in each direction on the bascule bridge.

For more information, contact MDOT North Region Communications Representative James Lake at 906-250-0993. Follow the North Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_Traverse.

West Michigan

• 109th Avenue, Allegan County, is closed at I-196.
   
• Blue Star Highway, Allegan County, is closed at I-196.
   
• Burton Street in Grand Rapids, Kent County, will be closed over I-96 and detoured via Patterson Avenue, M-11 (28th Street) and Kraft Avenue. 

• I-196, Ottawa County, will have one eastbound lane and two westbound lanes open between Zeeland and Hudsonville. 

• I-196 Business Route (BR) (Byron Road) in Zeeland, Ottawa County, is closed at the I-196 interchange. The westbound I-196 ramp to westbound I-196 BR is open while all other ramps at the interchange are closed. 

• US-31 BR (Seaway Drive) in Muskegon, Muskegon County, will have one lane open in each direction between Hoyt Street and Shettler Road.

For more information, contact MDOT Grand Region Communications Representative John Richard at 616-262-1565. Follow the Grand Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_West.

Southwest Michigan

• I-69, Eaton and Calhoun counties, will have the following restrictions:
  • One lane open in each direction between I-94 and Stine Road.
  • The southbound I-69 ramps to M-78 and eastbound I-94 are closed and detoured.
  • The eastbound I-94 ramp to northbound I-69 is closed and detoured.
  • The Turkeyville Rest Area on southbound I-69 is closed. 

• I-94, Calhoun County, has two lanes open in each direction between Helmer Road and M-96 (Michigan Avenue). 

• I-94, Kalamazoo County, has the westbound ramp to Portage Road closed. Portage Road has one lane open in each direction. 

• US-12, Branch County, has single-lane closures in place with traffic shifts from Willow Lane to West Old Chicago Street in Coldwater, and one lane open over the Coldwater River with a temporary signal. 

• US-31, Berrien County, has one lane open in each direction between US-12 and M-139. 

• US-131, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties, has one lane open in each direction between Schoolcraft and Three Rivers. 

For more information, contact MDOT Southwest Region Communications Representative Nick Schirripa at 269-208-7829. Follow the Southwest Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_Southwest.

Central Michigan and Thumb 

• 3 Mile Road, Bay County, is closed over US-10.
   
• North Road, St. Clair County, is closed at M-136 and detoured via North River Road and North Vincent Road.
   
• I-69, Lapeer County, will have one lane open in each direction from M-24 to Lake George Road with a traffic shift. The eastbound I-69 ramps at M-24, Wilder Road, and Lake Pleasant Road are closed.
   
• I-69, St. Clair County, has lane closures and traffic shifts in place from M-19 to Taylor Road. The westbound ramps at Wales Center Road and Taylor Road are detoured.
   
• I-69 Business Loop (BL) in Port Huron, St. Clair County, has all westbound lanes closed from 24th Street to I-94 BL. Detour: I-94 BL, Lapeer Street, and 24th Street.
   
• M-15 in Atlas Township, Genesee County will have one lane open in each direction with temporary signals between Horton Road and Cathy Drive, and between Hill Road and Maple Avenue.
   
• M-15 in Davison, Genesee County, has one lane open in each direction between Potter Road and Dodge Road.
   
• M-20 in Mt. Pleasant, Isabella County, has one lane open in each direction with a center turn lane from Summerton Road to Mission Road.
   
• M-52, Shiawassee County, is closed at Estey Drain and detoured via Johnston Road, State Road and Juddville Road.
   
• M-57 in Montrose, Genesee County, has one lane open over the Flint River with a temporary traffic signal.
   
• M-65 in Twining, Arenac County, will have a single-lane closure over Big Creek with a temporary traffic signal.
   
• M-90 in Croswell, Sanilac County, is detoured over the Black River via Todd Road, Galbraith Line Road and Wildcat Road.

For more information, contact MDOT Bay Region Communications Representative Jocelyn Garza at 989-245-7117. Follow the Bay Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_Bay.

Southern Michigan 

• The following local streets are closed in Jackson, Jackson County, for railroad work:
  • Mechanic and Jackson streets are closed at the railroad tracks.
  • Detroit Street is closed at Mechanic Street.
  • Van Buren Street is closed at Jackson Street. 

• I-69, Clinton County, has one lane closed in each direction at Peacock Road.
   
• I-75, Monroe County, has the following restrictions:
  • One lane closed in each direction with a traffic shift between Erie and Otter Creek roads.
  • The northbound exit ramp to Otter Creek Road is closed.

• I-94, Jackson County, has the following restrictions:
  • The Dearing Avenue ramp to westbound I-94 is closed and detoured.

*To see a full list of statewide zones, visit www.Michigan.gov/Drive.

A flood warning has been issued by Mecosta County Emergency Management until early Friday morning for portions of central and west-central Michigan. This primarily includes both Newaygo and Mecosta counties.

According to automated rain gauges, some locations have received as much as 3.5 to 4.5 inches of rainfall during Thursday’s storms. Flooding, in the form of slow moving and standing water, is considered to be ongoing and expected for many of the areas within the warning’s zone.

Instructions provided by MCEM is to turn around when encountering flooded roads, as well as monitor relative locations nearby with impacted waterways like streams, rivers, and creeks. Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and request they pass this information to the National Weather Service when you can do so safely.

Friday, June 23

Calls for Service: 17

Car/Deer Accidents: 3

Traffic Accidents: 0

Saturday, June 24

• At 2108 hours, deputies responded to a domestic at a residence in Mecosta TWP. A male subject ended up being arrested on a warrant out of Kent County. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail, until Kent County could pick him up.

Calls for Service: 18

Car/Deer Accidents: 1

Traffic Accidents: 1

Sunday, June 25

Calls for Service: 14

Car/Deer Accidents: 3

Traffic Accidents: 2

As summer is in full force, Scooter’s Coffee has unveiled its first-ever kid-friendly menu that offers fun, flavorful drinks and treats in just the perfect size. Three new 10-ounce drink delights quench kids’ thirst as they embark on their next summer adventure.

• Cotton Candy Lil’ Smiley Smoothie: This magical meld of blue raspberry is blended with Scooter’s Coffee’s ice cream base to create a sweet, berry, cotton-candy flavor. Blended, chilled to perfection, and topped with delicious whipped cream, this instant fave will bring the smiles every time.
• Strawberry Lil’ Smiley Smoothie: Get ready for miles of smiles with this strawberry fruit-and-cream smoothie, made just for kids. Sweet and refreshing, real fruit puree blends beautifully with an ice cream base before being topped with classic whipped cream for a dream of a drink.
• Berry Silly Slush: For a dairy-free delight, an amazing blend of blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and acai berries are churned together with ice and lemonade to create a sweet and slightly tart drink that’s super fresh and fun.
• Mini Sugar Cookies: Deliciously made-from-scratch vanilla Mini Sugar Cookies are complete with rainbow sprinkles. These will crush cookie cravings, in a perfectly sized pair.
• Kid’s Snack Combo: A perfect snack for summer outings and activities, this value combo features any kid’s drink, two Mini Sugar Cookies, plus a secret fun surprise.

“We are excited to offer kids drinks and treats to our new and loyal customers who want to fuel their family with fun, kid-friendly flavors and sizes,” said Scooter’s Coffee Chief Marketing Officer Malorie Maddox. “Scooter’s Coffee takes pride in being a fast, fresh
and family-friendly drive-thru destination every morning, afternoon and evening. Now kids can enjoy our special treats designed just for them.”

Customers who know and love Scooter’s Coffee always receive a Smiley sticker on their drink cup in appreciation of their visit. Each drink from the kid-friendly menu will be served in distinctive Smiley-themed cups that come with shorter straws.

Learn more about Scooter’s Coffee summer offerings at
www.scooterscoffee.com/menu/.

Many people may have noticed the streets of Upton Avenue have been packed recently in downtown Reed City.

With the help of the Social District Recreation and Event Commons, the city is hosting a large event for the community for the last Saturday of every month.

Reed City has hosted two very successful events already this summer. The first, which was back on May 27, was “Stop, Chalk, and Listen,” a street decorating session with a DJ. According to City Manager Rich Saladin, the event was a great start.

“It was a great turnout and the weather was perfect,” Saladin said. “(DJ) Jaycon did a great job with some awesome music selections. We had visitors from out of town including Brighton, Grand Blanc, and Sparta along with quite a few local residents.”

The most recent event was held last Saturday, where the town gathered for a full-fledged cornhole tournament. Hosted by Reed City Athletics, the event doubled the attendance of the first chalk decorating event and included another hired DJ tent on site.

“The weather was pretty hot but it was great to see people out and about socializing and enjoying our downtown area,” Saladin said.

Coming up for the Social District is the "Taylor Swift Experience", a free concert by Michigan based artist Kanin Wren. The event will take place on July 29 at 5 P.M., including another cornhole tournament and an opening by local musician Aaron Rohde preluding the 7:00 P.M. main event. The final summer event will be a large-scale karaoke night on August 26 with more details to be released soon.

All Summer Saturday events are posted on the City of Reed City’s Facebook page along with Art in the Park, Crossroads Picnic Showcase Friday Nights at Rambadt Park, and other upcoming entertainment activities.

Friday, June 16

• 40-2301156 @ 1420 - Michigan Ave/Maple St: 
  • Juvenile complaint child got into an argument with mom and walked away. Located later and returned to mother.
• 40-2301157 @ 1507 - State St/Perry Ave:
  • Suspicious caller believed she was being followed by another vehicle.
• 40-2301159 @ 1841
  • Walk-in suspicious complainant spoke with officers about a rental scam involving her listing. The person who contacted her did not fall for the scam.
• 40-2301161 @ 0036 - Milton Ave/Darwin Ave:
  • Mental subject taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.
• 40-2301162 @ 0049 - 1100 block Fuller Ave:
  • Suspicious caller reported his upstairs neighbor was recording him from outside their slider door.

Saturday, June 17

• 40-2301163 @ 1653 - 100 block Hutchinson St:
  • Clay Cliffs visitor found a male’s clothes and ER band. Male was not located.

Sunday, June 18

• 40-2301164 @ 0608 - Bjornson St/Darwin Ave:
  • Car/Deer accident.
• 40-2301165 @ 0848 - 800 block Water Tower Rd:
  • Roommates were having an animated argument.
• 40-2301166 @ 1633 - 600 block Finley Ae:
  • Male trespassed from the property.
• 40-2301167 @ 2035 - 100 block N. Stewart Ave:
  • Open 911 line, resident advised their phone was acting up.
• 40-2301168 @ 2053 - Perry Ave/Water Tower Rd:
  • Traffic stop led to the driver being issued an appearance ticket for no insurance and expired tag.
• 40-2301169 @ 2216 - 300 block Morrison St:
  • Animal Call-Complainant called because his neighbor kicked the caller’s dog when the dog lunged at him.
• 40-2301170 @ 0106 - 600 block Cherry Ave: 
  • Officer called for a disorderly juvenile.

Monday, June 19

• 40-2301171 @ 1015 - 435 N. Michigan Ave:

  • Found property. Returned to owner.

• 40-2301172 @1412 - 300 block Morrison St:

  • Caller concerned about seeing another resident of the complex at multiple locations. Nothing criminal occurred.

• 40-2301173 @ 1831- 100 block W. Pere Marquette Ave:

  • Threats Complainant receiving unwanted texts. Advised to block the person texting them.

• 40-2301174 @ 2318 - 900 block Henderson St:

  • Civil verbal argument between 5 subjects. Nothing physical, no crime occurred.

• 40-2301176 @ 0008 - 600 block Cherry St:

  • Juvenile ran away after an argument with their parents. Officer found the juvenile on the park bench at the corner of Maple St/ Ives Ave and took them home.

• 40-2301175 @ 0024 - 1400 block Bjornson St:

  • Caller was having a mental health issue.

Tuesday, June 20

• 40-2301178 @1109 - 300 block S. Third Ave:
  • Civil dispute. Sisters arguing over ownership of a vehicle.
• 40-23001179 @1217 - 300 block S. Third Ave:
  • Domestic. Continuation from above led to two subjects being arrested for assault.
• 40-2301180 @1550 - S. Michigan Ave/Locust St:
  • Car/Motorcycle PDA.
• 40-2301181 @1630 - 500 block W. Bridge St:
  • Civil/Warrant Arrest. Called to a reported assault between two brothers. Both advised incident was verbal only and neither had any injuries. One had a warrant and was taken into custody without incident.
• 40-2301182 @ 1908 - Maple St/N Warren Ave:
  • 2 Car PDA.
• 40-2301183 @ 0346 - 435 N Michigan Ave:
  • Intoxicated male came to the department after an argument with his girlfriend and needed a ride home. Officer transported him home.

Wednesday, June 21

• 40-2301185 @ 1052 - 800 block Country Way:

  • Complainant called in reference to a vehicle that has been seen in the parking lot of the complex. Advised to call when the vehicle is in the lot.

• 40-2301186 @ 1102 - Warren Ave/Elm St.

• 40-2301187 @ 1236 - 1200 block Perry Ave:

  • Larceny. Employee advised her cell phone was taken from the store. Unknown suspect.

• 40-2301188 @ 1439 - 200 Blk Rust Ave:

  • PDA.

• 40-2301189 @ 1601 - 1100 block Catherine St:

  • Hospital reported patient left the ER with an IV still in his arm. Contact was made with the patient who advised he was fine.

• 40-2301190 @ 1605 - 300 block S. Michigan Ave:

  • Civil. Male lost control of his temper and was yelling at family members. He calmed down after officer’s arrival.

• 40-2301191 @ 1955 - 400 block W Pine St:

  • Civil Couple arguing about joint property. No crime.

• 40-2301192 @ 2002 - 600 block Bjornson St:

  • Civil.

• 40-2301193 @ 2140 - 700 block S State St:

  • A traffic stop led to the registered owner being issued a citation for allowing uninsured vehicle use.

• 40-23001194 @ 0226 - 1100 block Fuller Ave

  • Mental health vehicle located at the dead end of the road open and unoccupied. The driver was located and requested to go to the hospital. EMS transported.

Thursday, June 22

• 40-2301195 @ 1234 - 1400 block Bjornson St:
  • Suspicious. Caller advised he had ledt his dog in a closed bedroom while he went out for a couple of hours when he returned home the dog was gone. Several items were not disturbed. The dog was located the next day.
• 40-2301196 @ 1256 - 300 block Morrison St:
  • MDOP. Empty apartment was broken into and vandalized.
• 40-2301197 @ 1616 - 1100 block Catherine St:
  • Check wellbeing. Subject was fine.
• 40-2301198 @ 2138 - S State St/Oak St:
  • Traffic stop led to driver being cited for her improper plate and no insurance.
• 40-2301199 @ 2252 - Bridge St/Marion Ave:
  • Traffic stop led to the registered owner being cited for no insurance and allowing the vehicle to be used without insurance.

Friday, June 23

• 40-2301450 @ 1450:
  • Found cell phone turned into office, phone returned to owner.
• 40-2301451 @ 1541 - Linden St/State St:
  • Found property. Cellphone and paperwork found.
• 40-2301203 @ 1808 - 200 block Linden St:
  • Larceny of three plastic flowerpots from side of the building. No surveillance or suspect information. Happened within this last week.

Saturday, June 24

• 40-2301204 @ 0943 - 100 block S. Third Ave:

  • Litering. Juvenile dumped garbage from the cans into the alley. This was captured on video. He was trespassed from the property.

• 40-2301205 @ 1129 1200 block Colburn Ave:

  • Suspicious. An unknown male punched two mailboxes, knocking them askew.

• 40-2301206 @ 1959 - E. Pine St/N. Michigan Ave:

  • Traffic stop led to the driver being cited for no insurance.

• 40-2301207 @ 2303 - Fuller Ave/Division St:

  • Traffic stop led to the driver being arrested for her outstanding warrant.

• 40-2301208 @ 0124 - 500 block W. Bridge St:

  • Officers found a broken window on the west side of the building.

Sunday, June 25

• 40-2301209 @ 1251 - 300 block Fremont St:

  • Grass Fire. Male was cited for open burning. The Fire department was able to extinguish the flames before any structures were damaged.

• 40-2301210 @ 1324 - 400 block Fuller Ave:

  • Civil about child custody.

• 40-2301211 @ 1512 - 1000 block Fuller Ave:

  • Area check for a suspicious female led to contact with a person experiencing a mental health crisis. They were transported to the hospital for an evaluation.

• 40-2301212 @ 2034 - 200 block S. Warren Ave:

  • Suspicious. Complainant wanted to report missing medication.

• 40-2301213 @ 2223 - 1100 block Catherine St:

  • Domestic. Complainant called about her 10-year-old child, gettng physical with her and her other son. Juvenile petition being sent to Prosecutor.

• 40-2301214 @ 2305 - 800 block N. State St:

  • Traffic stop led to the driver being arrested for his outstanding warrant from Newaygo County. The passenger took custody of the vehicle.

Monday, June 26

• 40-2301216 @ 1120 - 500 block W Bridge St:

  • MDOP. Female was issued an appearance citation.

• 40-2301217 @ 1229 - 1100 block Catherine St:

  • Domestic 10-year-old in physical with his mother and others. Calm upon arrival. Petition being forwarded.

• 40-2301218 @ 1335 - 900 block Water Tower Rd:

  • Staff at the office found a kitten in the sump/storm drain behind the building. Cat was turned over to ARC.

• 40-2301221 @ 2024 - 200 block Hutchinson St:

• Civil. Verbal argument, no crime occurred.

• 40-2301222 @ 2005 - 600 block Maple St:

  • Traffic stop led to driver being cited for no insurance. Vehicle impounded by Curries.

• 40-2301223 @ 2327 - N. State St/Williams St:

  • Traffic Stop led to driver being cited for no insurance and no license. Curries towed the vehicle.

• 40-2301224 @ 0327 - S. State St/Knollview Dr:

  • Traffic Stop led to driver being cited for no insurance andunregistered vehicle. The vehicle was towed by Curries.

• 40-2301225 @ 0419 - Milton Ave/Bjornson St:

  • Traffic stop led to a passenger in the vehicle being arrested for an outstanding warrant.

• 40-2301226 @ 0429 - 800 block Country Way:

  • Suspicious. Caller was hearing noises in the apartment. Officers checked and did not find anything.

On Sunday, June 25 at approximately 5:10 P.M., deputies from the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office responded to a two vehicle accident at Northland Dr. and 22 Mile Rd. in Green Twp.

The accident occurred when a 28-year-old male from Big Rapids rear-ended a car driven by a 34-year-old female from Kentwood.

The male was transported to Corewell Hospital in Big Rapids for minor injuries. The female was uninjured.

Deputies were assisted by Mecosta County EMS, City of Big Rapids Fire/Rescue, and Meceola Central Dispatch.

District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) is encouraging residents with sensitive breathing conditions to take precautions based on current air conditions. The Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has issued an air quality alert for the entire state today, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. 

Due to widespread wildfires in Canada, smoke plumes that contain small particles are moving through the atmosphere and our impacting air quality. Currently, air quality in the DHD#10 jurisdiction is rated as “Hazardous for Everyone.” To access and monitor air quality levels on a Fire and Smoke Map, visit https://fire.airnow.gov. 

“We’re asking residents to be vigilant until the air quality conditions improve,” said Kevin Hughes, Health Officer for DHD#10. “Please make sure you’re taking the proper precautions to limit your exposure, especially older adults, children, and people who are pregnant or have lung and heart conditions.” 

Anyone can get sick from exposure to wildfire smoke. DHD#10 is advising its residents to: 

• Stay inside 
  • The best action people can take to protect their health from wildfire smoke is to stay inside with the doors and windows closed using good air filtration (MERV-13 or better) for vents and cooling systems. 

• Use air filters to improve indoor air quality 
  • Whether you have a central air conditioning system or a portable room unit, use high efficiency filters to capture fine particles from smoke. 

Below are color-coded explanations of how AirNow.gov determines the region’s current air quality: 

Very Unhealthy: for Everyone air quality for PM 2.5 index of 201 – 300 

All people should avoid long or intense outdoor activities. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, minority populations, and outdoor workers should avoid all physical outdoor activities. Reschedule outdoor activities or move them indoors. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. For people with asthma, follow your action plan and keep quick relief medicine handy. For people with heart disease, symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your healthcare provider. 

Hazardous for Everyone: air quality for PM 2.5 index of 301 – 500 

All people should avoid all physical activities outdoors. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, minority populations, and outdoor workers should remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. For people with asthma, follow your action plan and keep quick relief medicine handy. For people with heart disease, symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider. 

Lesser levels and their definitions: 

Moderate: air quality for particulate matter (PM) 2.5 Index of 51- 100 

Those who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution should consider making outdoor activities shorter and less intense. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. These are signs to take it easier. For everyone else, it’s a good day to be outside. 

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: air quality for PM 2.5 index of 101 - 150 

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, minority populations, and outdoor workers should make outdoor activities shorter and less intense. It’s okay to be active outdoors but take more breaks. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. For people with asthma, follow your action plan and keep quick relief medicine handy. For people with heart disease, symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider. 

Unhealthy for Everyone: air quality for PM 2.5 index of 151 - 200 

All people should reduce long or intense outdoor activities and take more breaks. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, minority populations, and outdoor workers should avoid long or intense outdoor activities. Consider rescheduling or moving activities indoors. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. For people with asthma, follow your action plan and keep quick relief medicine handy. For people with heart disease, symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider. 

Please visit AirNow.gov for additional information and updates: https://www.airnow.gov/.

Monday, June 19

• Nothing reported.

Tuesday, June 20

• An officer was dispatched to a call about someone possibly cutting a string that affixed a large tarp to a fence. Upon arrival, no one was found in the area.
• An officer was dispatched in regard to two individuals driving recklessly.
• Officers responded to a report of a car alarm going off in a garage. The car did on have an alarm and it is thought to have been a defective horn.

Wednesday, June 21

• An officer took a report from an individual that came into the department to report a run in with a dog at large.
• An officer was notified of items found that the caller believed to be drug paraphernalia and suspicious items which they thought may be other drugs and paraphernalia. All items were taken and tested, with no positive results indicating illegal drugs.
• Officer took a report of juveniles who stated they were chased by a high school aged juvenile. The matter is under investigation.

Thursday, June 22

• Nothing reported.

Friday, June 23

• An officer was dispatched to a location where a man was sitting on the shoulder of the road with his toes on the white line. Upon arrival he was instructed to move his chair out of the roadway and into his yard. He stated he was just enjoying the day and sunshine.
• An officer responded to a call of a possible fraud situation, no evidence to substantiate the claim was found.

Saturday, June 24

• An officer was dispatched to a business regarding an alarm. No issues were found.
• An officer was dispatched to a residence regarding a loud TV.
• An officer responded to a call of an accident where a driver had medical issues, causing the accident. The driver was transported to the Reed City Hospital for treatment.
• An officer assisted the Fire Department with traffic control and scene management in an accident scene.

Sunday, June 25

• An officer was dispatched to a location for a possible assault. The case is still under investigation.
• Officers were dispatched to a complaint of fireworks being set off. The individual agreed to stop and was given a warning.
• An officer responded to a call of a possible domestic assault. After investigating, the incident turned out to be a verbal domestic dispute with no physical altercation. The situation was deescalated and the parties separated.
• An officer was dispatched to a business regarding an alarm. No issues were found.
• Officers were took a report of possible domestic assault. Following an investigation, a 38-year-old man was arrested for Aggravated Domestic Assault, Child Abuse, and Ethnic Intimidation. The matter has been sent to the prosecutor.

At its June meeting, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Board approved its budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year, alongside loans for the acquisition and/or rehabilitation of two developments in the state.

“The funding of these affordable housing projects will support Michiganders by providing accessible, attainable housing and, in turn, increased stability and security statewide,” said Amy Hovey, executive director at MSHDA. “By revitalizing existing units and creating new opportunities, we are not only providing quality homes but also investing in the well-being and prosperity of our communities. These projects, and many more, take us one step closer to building a stronger, more inclusive future for all.”

Beacon Hill, a $35.7 million development in Hillsdale, was approved for a loan totaling $18.2 million to acquire and rehabilitate 198 family and senior units on two sites: Beacon Hill, with 78 family units, and Hillsdale Place, with 120 senior units. Substantial interior and exterior improvements will be made to all units. With these renovations, the development will meet ADA accessibility requirements and 10 units will be fully ADA compliant.

The Board also approved a $1.6 million loan to preserve and refurbish 43 affordable housing units and four market-rate units at the Nisbett Fairman Residences in Big Rapids. Refurbishment and preservation efforts will include roof replacements and replacing unit appliances. The Nisbett and Fairman buildings, both constructed in the 1880s, were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1980s.

Executive Director Hovey also updated the Board on the recently passed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) legislation, which would amend the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act to allow tax revenues captured from a brownfield property to be used for certain housing development projects with approval from MSHDA. The bill is currently awaiting Senate concurrence and Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s signature. 

After over 70 years of operation, Babb Ford will be saying goodbye to Reed City.

The dealership and service center are reportedly closing on July 21, but will continue operation following through Fox Motors. This includes the certified service center and pre-owned vehicle sales.

"This is exciting news," Babb Ford President Bob Horan said. "The Fox Ford Service Center will allow the Reed City community to continue to purchase genuine authorized Ford parts installed by certified factory trained mechanics, which is very important to Babb Ford."

Reed City will become the third location for Fox Motors in Michigan, joining Traverse City and Cadillac.

According to Fox Motors Northern Michigan Division Director Nick Dieleman, most of the Babb Ford staff will be hired to stay at the location.

“We are very excited to be a part of the Reed City community and to continue to service the loyal customer in the market area,” Dieleman said.

The Michigan Public Service Commission last Thursday granted approvals that allow Consumers Energy Co. to pursue more than $120 million in funding through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The Commission approved orders in two cases that allow Consumers to use regulatory accounting methods for grant proposals that require matching funds, but the decisions leave to future orders, in rate cases or other applicable proceedings, the Commission’s judgement on the appropriateness of specific costs for the proposed projects.

Last Thursday's orders, while specific to Consumers, demonstrate by extension the MPSC’s support of Michigan utilities seeking to take advantage of $550 billion available in IIJA funding and the MPSC’s willingness to extend regulatory flexibility needed for utilities to be able to meet federal funding guidelines and timelines.

The Commission:

• Approved Consumers’ application for accounting authority to utilize a regulatory asset or liability for the utility’s Empowering Michigan Communities Through Distributed Energy Resource Optimization project (Case No. U-21402). This project, for which Consumers is seeking a $20,623,059 federal grant, would implement a distributed energy resource (DER) optimization platform that integrates grid-edge intelligence, an enterprise-scale DER management system and demand response management system. The goal is a uniform platform for DER monitoring, management, and dispatch allowing for a smarter and more flexible grid. If the grant is approved in full, Consumers would be required to match the amount of grant funding.

• Similarly approved Consumers’ application for accounting authority to utilize a regulatory asset or liability for the utility’s Sectionalization & Circuit Improvements to Mitigate Outage Impacts for Disadvantaged Communities project (Case No. U-21416). The project is intended to bring in $100,000,000 of federal funding to upgrade aging infrastructure and add system redundancy to mitigate outage impacts from increasingly frequent and severe storms, with the underlying work prioritizing federally designated disadvantaged communities. The project would seek to sectionalize the grid to reduce outage impacts and durations and harden the grid to prevent and minimize the impact of storm-driven outages. If the grant is approved in full, Consumers expects it would spend $100,310,996, slightly exceeding the dollar-for-dollar match requirement.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law earmarks funding for projects including electric generation, grid reliability, clean energy transmission and deployment, electric vehicle infrastructure, energy efficiency, and cybersecurity. The MPSC in August 2022 encouraged the use of regulatory assets and deferred accounting authorization as utilities pursue IIJA funding.

MPSC OKs DTE ELECTRIC CO. SECURITIZATION OF RETIREMENT COSTS OF TRENTON CHANNEL, ST. CLAIR COAL PLANTS TO SAVE CUSTOMERS AT LEAST $51.5 MILLION

The Commission approved DTE Electric Co.’s application for approval to issue securitization bonds for up to $601.6 million in costs associated with the closure of the company’s Trenton Channel and St. Clair coal-fired generation plants, both of which retired early in September 2022 (Case No. U-21338). Securitization is the process through which utilities, after the issuance of financing orders by the MPSC, replace existing debt and equity with lower-cost debt in the form of securitization bonds. This process results in lower costs for ratepayers compared to traditional cost recovery methods, since the securitization bonds have lower interest rates. Securitization is authorized under Public Act 142 of 2000. In this case, the bonds would cover a maximum $594.1 million in unrecovered net book value of the two plants that otherwise would have been recovered through continued operation of the plants, as well up to $7.5 million in qualified costs. The Commission found that DTE’s securitization in this case would save customers at least $51.5 million compared to conventional financing. The MPSC’s issue brief on securitization has more information about this type of bond. The Michigan Department of Attorney General and the Association of Businesses Advocating Tariff Equity intervened in the case. MPSC Staff participated.

MPSC GIVES NOD TO CONSUMERS ENERGY SOLAR POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH SUPERIOR SALES INC. IN WEST MICHIGAN

The Commission approved a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) between Consumers Energy Co. and Superior Sales Inc. for the output of Superior Sales’s 312-kilowatt solar plant in Hudsonville near Grand Rapids (Case No. U-20604). The contract is to run from Sept. 7, 2022, through Sept. 6, 2037, and cost approximately $76,000. Approval of the PPA will not affect rates or increase costs of service to customers.

COMMISSION DIRECTS SAGINAW BAY PIPELINE CO. TO FILE REVISED TRANSPORTATION AGREEMENT WITH DTE GAS CO.

The MPSC today directed Saginaw Bay Pipeline Co. to file a revised 20-year transportation agreement between it and DTE Gas Co. (Case No. U-20993). The Commission found that a transportation rate of $0.0695 per dekatherm (Dth) for firm transportation of 50,000 Dth per day is reasonable but directed Saginaw Bay to modify the agreement to clarify that Article VI, Section 6.2, applies only after the initial 20-year term of the agreement. The Michigan Department of Attorney General intervened in the case. MPSC Staff also participated.

INDIANA MICHIGAN POWER’S POWER SUPPLY COST RECOVERY PLAN APPROVED; COMMISSION WARNS SOME COSTS MAY NOT BE RECOVERABLE

The MPSC today approved Indiana Michigan Power Co.’s power supply cost recovery (PSCR) plan for planning year 2022, with a PSCR factor of 6.23 mils, or $0.0063, per kilowatt hour, and accepted the utility’s five-year forecast (Case No. U-21052). The Commission, however, issued a Section 7 warning that I&M may not be able to recover its full costs under the Ohio Valley Electric Corp.’s inter-company power agreement (ICPA) without demonstrating good faith efforts to minimize the ICPA’s costs, which may include renegotiation of the contract. The Commission also directed I&M to document and make available to MPSC Staff, upon request, the basis for the company’s decision to designate a generating unit as must-run when I&M’s forecast shows doing so will result in excess costs.

COMMISSION GRANTS CONDITIONAL ALTERNATIVE GAS SUPPLIER LICENSE TO INDRA ENERGY

The MPSC today approved a conditional license for PALMco ENERGY MI LLC, doing business as Indra Energy, to operate as an alternative gas supplier of natural gas in Michigan (Case No. U-21398). Indra agreed to conditions that require the company to file a quarterly report to MPSC Staff for six quarters detailing its Michigan operations, including any customer complaints and how they’re resolved; monthly meetings for the company’s first year of operation in Michigan; and making additional customer information available to the MPSC upon request. The conditions were based on an MPSC Staff review that found no open lawsuits or formal complaints against the company in eight other states where it operates, but there were prior lawsuits and formal investigations.

Coming up next Monday, July 3, is the Freedom Fest fireworks show at the Big Rapids fairgrounds and Roben-Hood Airport.

The festivities will begin at 6 P.M., including food trucks, vendors, and a band at the fairgrounds. Big Country 100.9 will be coordinating music for the show, which is slated to begin around dusk.

Big Country Fireworks glasses will be available at sponsored locations; which includes the Mecosta County Chamber of Commerce, Johnson’s Automotive, Isabella Bank, the Mecosta County Visitor’s Bureau, A1 Auto Glass, and the Big Rapids Media offices.

For more local event news, be sure to subscribe to the Big Rapids Daily News at wbrn.com.

A severe thunderstorm and hazardous weather watch is in effect for multiple west Michigan counties this evening and tomorrow by the National Weather Service.

Per the NWS, strong to severe thunderstorms are likely this afternoon from now until 8 P.M. with damaging wind gusts and large hail as a primary concern of safety. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out either.

Scattered thunderstorms are possible on Monday but no severe weather is expected.  

The following counties have been listed in the alert by the National Weather Service:

• Allegan
• Barry
• Benzie
• Calhoun
• Clare
• Clinton
• Crawford
• Eaton
• Gladwin
• Grand Traverse
• Gratiot
• Ingham
• Ionia
• Isabella
• Jackson
• Kalamazoo
• Kalkaska
• Kent
• Lake
• Manistee
• Mason
• Mecosta
• Missaukee
• Montcalm
• Muskegon
• Newaygo
• Oceana
• Osceola
• Ottawa
• Roscommon
• Van Buren
• Wexford

*All information is credited to the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For more, visit weather.org. 

Ferris State University fans and alumni will have an opportunity to potentially win prizes totaling more than $90,000 while helping fuel Bulldog student-athletes as FSU Athletics will hold a special "Building Champions Raffle" during the 2023-24 season.

All proceeds from the state-licensed raffle will go towards the Bulldogs' nutrition and hydration center along with other key student-athlete initiatives. The raffle will impact all 17 FSU varsity programs and the school's 400 or so student-athletes.

Tickets for the progressive draw raffle will be sold throughout the year at various games and events starting with the Bulldogs' annual golf outings this summer. Additionally, tickets can be purchased by calling the FSU Athletics Ticket Office at 231-591-2888.

Each raffle ticket costs only $100 with the potential to win cash, gift cards, electronic devices, electric scooters and more. Additional Bulldog-related prizes are also included such as FSU Football National Championship Rings, a Bulldog varsity letter jacket, a Ferris State hockey jersey and other special prizes.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for Bulldog fans and alumni to help support each and every student-athlete at Ferris State University," said FSU Athletics Director Steve Brockelbank. "There are some outstanding prizes and an excellent opportunity for everyone to be a winner. In the end, the proceeds from this raffle will play a critical role in helping support our nutrition and hydration center that ultimately has a big impact on the performance of our student-athletes each and every game."

The number of prizes given away for the Building Champions Raffle will increase as each level of ticket sales is met. The first prize level of 500 tickets sold will include a total of 50 prizes and a grand prize of $7,000 cash. The potential prizes will increase every 500 tickets sold to a maximum of 2,500 tickets that would include a total of 150 prizes and a grand prize of $30,000 to the winner. Grand prizes are upgraded and will not carry over to the next level of tickets sold.

Tickets for the raffle will be sold while they remain or until the grand draw, which will take place on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. The draw will be streamed live by the Bulldog Sports Network via @ferrisathletics on YouTube.

Below is a complete list of giveaway rules:

- Must bye 18 years of age to be a ticket holder
- Stub drawing raffle - can only win once per ticket
- Tickets are subject to 500 tickets sold - if less than 500 tickets are sold, raffle becomes a one-winner 50/50.
- Winning numbers will be posted at FerrisStateBulldogs.com on Feb. 10, 2024
- Winners have 30 days to claim a prize
- Tickets must be in an individual name (not a business)
- Prizes can be replaced with a greater or equal value prize value
- Prize winners responsible to pick-up prizes or pay shipping expenses 

Michigan License # R69746

On last Thursday just before 2:00 P.M., two groups of teens met up in the area of Fruit Ridge Avenue & 20 Mile Road. While one group of teens were standing outside and another seated inside a vehicle, an argument started over the sale of a vape pen.

Initial information finds a 17-year-old Kent City teen was dragged alongside the vehicle as it left at a high rate of speed. The teen suffered a critical injury and was found by first responders in the roadway. He was rushed to an area hospital where he still remains in critical condition. The vehicle fled the scene, but was later located by investigators. All involved are teens aged 15 to 17-years-old and are known to each other.

After further investigation and interviews, Kent City Sheriff's Office detectives arrested the driver of the vehicle on multiple charges. The driver is a 16-year-old Kent City teen who was lodged earlier on Wednesday at Juvenile Detention. The case will now be reviewed by a juvenile prosecutor.

Monday, June 19

• At 1304 hours, deputies responded to a domestic at a residence in Chippewa TWP. A male subject was arrested and lodged at the Mecosta County Jail for domestic assault.

Calls for Service: 14

Traffic Accidents: 2

Tuesday, June 20

• At around 1640 hours, deputies were involved in a short vehicle pursuit that ended in Osceola County. A male driver was arrested for flee and elude, DWLS, Resist /Obstruct, fugitive warrant. The male driver was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

•  

  At 1918 hours, deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Green TWP. A male subject was arrested on several warrants out of Mecosta County.

Calls for Service: 18

Traffic Accidents: 1

Car/Deer Accidents: 1

Wednesday, June 21

• Nothing reported

Thursday, June 22

Calls for Service: 12

Traffic Accidents: 2

Car/Deer Accidents: 1

Friday, June 23

• Nothing reported.

Under first year head coach J.T. Scarpelli, Big Rapids certainly made some noise this year.

The Cardinals finished the season with a 26-7-1 record, including 18 of those wins coming in CSAA play. Big Rapids stood alone as the conference champions but ultimately fell in the first round of district play to Region 18 semifinalist Gladwin.

“We expect similar results as 2023 in 2024 but with a deeper postseason run,” head coach J.T. Scarpelli said.”

Big Rapids improved their win total by 10 games after a 16-15 season a year ago under coach Sam Daugherty. They also improved their average margin of victories to 3.64 runs as opposed to only 0.87 runs the year before.

The team was led by senior pitcher Ben Knuth, who made his last season in a Cardinal uniform count. Knuth finished with an 11-1 record and an astounding 0.754 ERA, which registers as the second lowest mark in school history and a MHSAA single season ERA record list spot. He also allowed a .149 batting average to opposing hitters.

“(He was) our ace,” Scarpelli said. “We had a chance to win every time he pitched. He was simply incredible all season long.”

Other notable seniors that performed well was Brett Root, who led the team in batting average with a .387 and a .514 on-base percentage. He also brought pivotal speed near the bottom of the order with 14 stolen bags. As the team’s long-tenured starting catcher and team leader, Wil Strickler led the team with 27 RBI’s and finished second with 39 hits. Future Lake Michigan College Redhawk Brody Sleeper provided a “huge bat” for Scarpelli’s squad. He also went 5-1 on the mound while allowing an opposing batting average of .208.

Some key returners next season for Big Rapids include Riley Vennix, who was a first team all-CSAA and all-District honoree. His speed near the top of the order led to 26 stolen bases and had a .470 on-base-percentage.

“(He) had some of the most consistently impressive at bats all season long,” Scarpelli said. “Riley is expected to be a significant contributor next season as well as a leader of the team.”

Mayson McNeilly, who led the team in hits with 39, Isaac Zocco, who paced the field with 41 assists, and Ty Gielczyk, who stood out with a 1.839 earned run average on the mound, are also slated to be key contributors for the next season.

“2024 has the potential to have at least that,” Scarpelli said. “The younger classes have the talent to fill vacancies and excel. These next few years will be fun.”

Ferris State University Athletics will launch a new "Kids Club", for ages 12 and under, starting this fall for the 2023-24 season. There will be a lot of fun and exciting opportunities for youth to experience and be a part of during Ferris State University events!

The "Kids Club" features both a Crimson and a Gold package! With these packages, members will get a Kids Club T-Shirt, Lanyard, E- Birthday Card, Free Tickets to all games (either with our without Hockey and not including playoffs for all sports), exclusive Game Day experiences such as being ball kids for basketball, running out with football team, autographs after games and more. These game experiences will be chosen by Ferris State Athletics.

Additional information on each package can be found at FerrisStateBulldogs.com/KidsClub.

Registration for the Kids Club is available via HomeTown Ticketing at this link - http://www.FerrisStateBulldogs.com/Tickets. Upon registration, additional information will be emailed in the near future in advance of the 2023-24 season.

For additional information on the Kids Club, please reach out to Cedric Frierson via email at: kidsclub@ferris.edu

Today, the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) announced its initial recommendations for the Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) grant program, which will provide $238 million in federal funding through the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund to support the deployment of high-speed internet to approximately 100,000 unserved locations throughout the state. 

“The ROBIN Grant Program will provide much-needed funding support for the development and expansion of broadband infrastructure to underserved Michigan communities,” said Susan Corbin, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). “These grant dollars will help make internet more affordable for thousands of Michiganders, allowing them greater access to critical resources such as remote education, telemedicine, and online networking and job searching tools.” 

Project proposals were submitted through a competitive application process and reviewed by MIHI’s ROBIN Steering Committee, a group of representatives from across state government responsible for guiding the development of administrative procedures for the ROBIN Program, scoring applications, reviewing challenges and making relevant decisions and recommendations on programmatic needs.  

Out of 154 applications submitted by 40 unique applicants, 24 projects submitted by 11 applicants were selected for the initial grant recommendations and would connect nearly 106,000 homes, businesses and institutions throughout the state to high-speed internet access. More than $311 million of matching funds have also been committed by the 11 applicants to support the 24 projects which total $578 million. 

All project proposals were examined and scored on categories including experience, financial wherewithal, long-term viability of the project; readiness to build, operate and maintain the project; economic impact; locations passed; and digital equity and inclusion. Initial grant recommendations were made based on the final application score following review by the ROBIN Steering Committee. 

“MIHI is excited to announce the initial recommendations for the ROBIN Grant Program,” said Eric Frederick, Michigan’s chief connectivity officer. “ROBIN is a critical part of Michigan’s broadband expansion plan to the state’s unserved areas and will provide internet service providers and public-private partnerships the funds to develop the broadband infrastructure.” 

Not all initial grant recommendations are expected to be funded or receive their full funding pending the outcome of a 45-day comment and objection window, where anyone may file a comment or objection to one or more of the recommendations. The comment and objection window will be open from June 16 through July 31, 2023.  

To file a comment or objection and view a list of initial grant awardees, scoring criteria, and proposed grant location maps, visit the MIHI website here. 

All questions can be sent via email to: LEO-MIHighSpeedInternet@michigan.gov. 

The next town hall meeting in Big Rapids will include some special guests in attendance.

This Friday, June 23, members from Congressman John Moolenaar’s office are scheduled to host a meeting with city constituents from 3 P.M. to 4 P.M. at City Hall.

Per the information provided on Moolenaar’s release and meeting information, these various city gatherings are being used to discuss any assistance needed with a federal agency.

Moolenaar’s staff has been to other meeting locations this week, including Evart, Mount Pleasant, and Alma. The group is also scheduled to meet at Cadillac City Hall on Friday from 12:30 P.M. to 1:30 P.M.

Monday, June 12

• Officers were dispatched to a possible scam regarding a deaf man selling sign language cards.

Tuesday, June 13

• An officer responded to Reed City Hospital regarding an irate patient. Upon arrival, the patient was inside and calmer.

Wednesday, June 14

• An officer, while patrolling, observed a dog running loose. The owner was contacted to resecure the dog.
• Officers were dispatched to a car/motorcycle accident. The driver of the car left the scene. The motorcycle operator did suffer significant injury. Following a three-day investigation, officers did locate and arrest a 27-year-old woman for Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Serious Injury.
• An officer responded to a call regarding a possible larceny. After investigating, it turned out to be a civil matter.
• Officers were dispatched to a possible wanted person. Upon investigation, the individual did not have any outstanding warrants.

Thursday, June 15

• An officer responded to a call regarding possible drag racing in town. After investigating, the report was unfounded.
• An officer took a report of possible embezzlement. The case is still under investigation.

Friday, June 16

• An officer conducted a traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of the 43-year-old female driver for an outstanding warrant.
• Officers were dispatched to a possible domestic assault. Prior to officer’s arrival, the female half of the altercation had departed. The incident was unfounded.

Saturday, June 17

• An officer assisted the Osceola County Sheriff Department on a possible suicide attempt. The individual had not yet done self harm and was taken to hospital for treatment.
• An officer responded to a possible road rage incident. The second vehicle could not be located. The case is still under investigation.

Sunday, June 18

• Officers received a complaint of possible Criminal Sexual Conduct. Following the investigation, a 57-year-old man was arrested on six counts of CSC in the 1st Degree. The investigation is still open and additional charges are possible.
• Officers were dispatched to a call of a flooded basement. The caller stated someone had turned her hose on, causing her basement to flood.
• Officers were dispatched to a severely injured deer.
• Officers were dispatched to a possible suicidal individual. Upon contact, it was unfounded.

For racket sports fans, Big Rapids’ own Hemlock Park will soon be a new place to play.

Currently in the city’s recreational renovation projects are new tennis and pickleball courts going into the park as well as by Big Rapids Middle School.

While progress has been slow, city manager Mark Gifford said they are hopeful for completion of the courts within the next few weeks.

“We're going to finalize last year’s phase one project, which is surfacing the tennis courts, pickleball courts and then resurfacing the basketball court,” Gifford said. “That should be done, I hope, by the end of the month.”

According to Gifford, the surfacing was originally put on hold due to inconsistent overnight temperatures for curing the surface on the concrete.

Along with new courts, the city has placed bids towards the replacement of the playscape and construction of splash pads at the park. This part of the project was made possible by two state grants, which were directly in support of the pads. The awarded bids will be announced July 17 by the city commission.

“If all things go right, we’ll get some good bids,” Gifford said. “Then construction would happen (from) the end of summer and through fall.”

Gifford says the progress has “been a journey" but "can’t wait to get the project underway.”

Friday, June 16

• Nothing reported.

Saturday, June 17

• At 2249 hours, deputies responded to a domestic assault complaint, at a residence in Grant TWP. A male subject was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend. Male subject was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 16

Sunday, June 18

Calls for Service: 10

Car/Deer Accidents: 2

Traffic Accidents: 1

Ruth’s Chris Steak House, famous for its unmatched dining experience and steaks served on 500-degree sizzling plates, announced last week its newest location is open for business in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan inside the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort.

The Mt. Pleasant Ruth’s Chris restaurant, located at 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd., brings an unmatched dining experience to the Central Michigan area with its 8,965 square-foot location. The new space features three main dining rooms, a luxurious bar and bar-lounge, patio with ample seating, as well as a private dining room that can accommodate personal and family celebrations, business meetings and more. The space is elegantly appointed and thoughtfully designed to provide a comfortably elegant, warm, and welcoming dining experience for every guest.

“We’ve had the absolute pleasure of serving the Michigan community for many years, and are fortunate to make our one-of-a-kind experience available to even more guests in the area,” said Michael Atkins, general manager for the Mt. Pleasant Ruth’s Chris. “Ruth’s Chris offers guests an exclusive dining experience – whether they’re celebrating a special occasion or enjoying an intimate dinner – no matter the size, we look forward to welcoming guests into our restaurant and showcasing the highest quality food, beverages, and service in a warm and inviting atmosphere.”

With more than 150 restaurants around the globe, Ruth’s Chris has been in business since 1965. As part of the pre-opening celebration for its newest restaurant, Ruth’s Chris hosted a special dinner with community leaders, business owners and Ruth’s Chris executives with 100% of the proceeds from which were donated to Greater Lansing Food Bank.

“The Mt. Pleasant location is our fourth in the Michigan area, representing an exciting expansion in the region that further entrenches us in Michigan’s fine dining scene,” said Cheryl Henry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. “We’re thrilled to continue to serve this community and look forward to more expansion opportunities in the near future.”

At Ruth's Chris, the last bite is just as good as the first. The company’s perfected broiling method and seasoning techniques ensure each cut of USDA Prime beef arrives cooked to perfection and sizzling on a 500-degree plate – just the way Ruth’s Chris founder Ruth Fertel liked it. Representing the highest-quality beef, these cuts are well marbled and hand-selected for thickness and tenderness. Ruth only served her guests the finest, and that’s why Ruth’s Chris serves custom-aged USDA Prime beef.

While Ruth’s Chris’ USDA Prime steaks and their signature sizzle may have put the restaurant on the map, guests can also enjoy fresh seafood, scratch-made side dishes and desserts, craft cocktails and choice wines, all served with the sort of hospitality that would make its namesake proud.

Ruth’s Chris Mt. Pleasant also offers its unbeatable Happy Hour, which includes mouthwatering food and full-size appetizers, hand-crafted cocktails and wine starting at only $9 from 4:00p.m. – 6:00p.m. every Sunday through Friday.

For more information and hours of operation, or to make a reservation, please visit https://ruthschris.com/mt-pleasant or call (989) 422-8222.

College students of all ages across Michigan will have better access to Ferris State University programs and services through enhanced partnerships with community colleges as part of a new statewide hub system.

Students at Ferris’ statewide locations can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees, certificates, teacher certifications – and more – in their backyard. That proximity especially benefits adult learners scheduling classes around home and work responsibilities.

“I am excited about this announcement of our Student Success Hubs because it brings to fruition a goal of mine from the beginning of this presidency: to better organize, better align and put into a different structure the work of Ferris State University,” Ferris President Bill Pink said. “These hubs will not only provide a different level of access for students across the state to attend Ferris State, but will also provide our faculty and academic colleges with a stronger framework for delivery of existing and future offerings. I believe this level of accessibility will provide our population of adult students with a better framework for connecting with our programs, thereby giving them a stronger level of accessibility that will lead to stronger completion opportunities. I look forward to seeing how this will transform lives in a positive way across the state.”

The enhanced hub system will be a resource for eLearning, dual-enrolled and transfer students in addition to the traditional associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

Ferris is embedded on the campuses of more than 20 community college partners. Hubs will now provide students with a streamlined, more well-rounded experience by bringing critical services closer to home.

The hub system focuses on five regions across the state, each with a Student Service Center at a centralized location. Each of the five new hubs will have a director and staff to assist with advising and other student services, such as admissions and financial aid.

“We know our students have varied needs and are at different stages of their lives,” Pink said. “We will meet them where they are. We don’t want distance to be a factor in people having access to a quality Ferris degree that can change their lives. The enhanced Ferris hubs are another example of the university being relevant and responsive to our students and their communities.” 

Pink, previously president of Grand Rapids Community College, said he witnessed firsthand how collaboration between the university and community college partners creates more opportunities for students.

The Northern Michigan center is based in Traverse City; East Michigan is based in Flint; West Michigan is based in Grand Rapids; Southeast Michigan is based in Detroit; and Southwest Michigan is based in Kalamazoo.

Ferris has partnerships with 22 Michigan community colleges. Leaders say the hubs will help traditional and nontraditional community college students will have a more seamless transition and transfer experience, continuing their education.

For more information about Ferris’ Statewide programs and opportunities, visit: https://www.ferris.edu/hubs

Almost 13 months after winning $25,000 from the Consumer’s Energy “Put Your Town on the Map” contest, the Big Rapids skate park project is reportedly getting closer to being built.

According to City Manager Mark Gifford, the development is currently in the last stages of securing funds to begin construction.

“We're in the final piece of the puzzle of putting the funding together,” Gifford said. “We applied to the DNR passport program a few months ago, so we should find out whether or not we get that right around August or September.”

The skate park is slated to be placed at Swede Hill Park near the Muskegon River, in which American Ramp Company is slated to construct the facility. After multiple surveys and community meet ups last year, the city is continuing to push this project towards completion.

“We are committed to (the) project and finding a way to get that built,” Gifford said. “We're excited about that but we are just putting all the funding together.”

For more local news, subscribe to Big Rapids Daily News.com.

Monday, June 12

• Nothing reported.

Tuesday, June 13

• At 2020 hours, deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Aetna TWP. Male subject was arrested on a felony warrant out of Big Rapids. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 15

Traffic Accidents: 1

Car/Deer Accidents: 2

Wednesday, June 14

• At 1205 hours, deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Colfax TWP. Male subject was arrested and lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.
• At 1355 hours, deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Aetna TWP. Male subject was arrested on several warrants out of Montcalm and Ionia County. He was turned over to Montcalm County.

Calls for Service: 18

Car/Deer Accidents: 2

Thursday, June 15

Calls for Service: 12

Friday, June 16

• Nothing reported.

Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) offices will be closed Monday, June 19, 2023, in observance of Juneteenth. In-person appointments cannot be scheduled at UIA’s 12 local offices around the state on the holiday and the customer service phone line will not be in operation.

Unemployed workers can certify for benefits online Monday using their Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) account. However, certification by phone through the Michigan Automated Response Voice Interactive Network (MARVIN) will not be available since offices will be closed. To claim benefits, unemployed workers must report once every two weeks that they are jobless and meet the eligibility requirements for benefits.

Due to the holiday, there may be a slight delay before unemployment benefits are deposited into claimant bank accounts or loaded onto debit cards.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, as the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday is recognized by both the federal and state governments.

Bi-weekly certification is just one of many services available to users through their MiWAM account. Claimants can also access account information, review payment history, update contact information and more. MiWAM is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Claimants may login or sign up for an online account at Michigan.gov/UIA.

UIA has announced a replacement for the decade-old MiWAM computer system used by workers to apply for benefits and employers to pay unemployment insurance taxes. The Deloitte UFACTS system will provide a totally new experience that will be easy to use, speed claims processing, and build on the agency’s aggressive anti-fraud tactics. The new system will provide UIA with significant programming flexibility for system updates in response to quickly changing economic conditions and unemployment rates. It is expected to be fully operational in two years.

A new computer system is a cornerstone of UIA Director Julia Dale’s transformation of the agency into a national model for fast, fair, and fraud-free service. Director Dale was appointed in October 2021, the agency’s 11th director in as many years, and under her leadership the UIA has:

• Created the UIA Modernization Workgroup, consisting of labor, business and jobless advocates to advise the UIA on significant improvements in how it can better serve Michigan workers and employers. 
• Appointed a Legal Advisor and created a Legal and Compliance Bureau that will capitalize on collaborative anti-fraud practices and increase UIA program integrity.
• Collaborated with the Attorney General’s office as well as local, state and federal law enforcement to bring bad actors to justice and combat fraud at the agency. To date, 115 individuals have been charged in connection with unemployment benefits fraud and 46 have entered pleas or been found guilty.
• Identified initiatives and processes that would ease access to jobless benefits for workers in underserved communities under a $6.8 million equity grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL).

• Secured a more than $2.3 million equitable access and communications grant from the USDOL Tiger Teams initiative to redesign and simplify how UIA engages with employers and develop a help center for accessing agency services.

• Reassigned staff and resources to address the largest categories of claims that are contributing to the agency’s case backlogs.
• Rebuilt to nearly $2.2 billion (and growing) the UI Trust Fund from which weekly benefits are paid to workers.
• Approved more than 76,000 overpayment waivers (with more to come) of state and federal benefits paid out during the global pandemic, waiving more than $555 million.
• Halted overpayment collections on claims filed since March 1, 2020, while the agency addresses pending protests and appeals. More than $13 million has been refunded to workers since May 2022.

• Reviewed correspondence to add a human-centered approach to make letters easier to understand for claimants and employers.

• Revamped the agency’s public website at Michigan.gov/UIA so it is more user-friendly and responsive for those accessing services using cell phones or tablets.
• Implemented new ethics and security clearance policies for employees and contractors.

District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) was notified by the Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) that algae blooms were detected on Lake Cadillac in Wexford County. 

EGLE noticed a bloom on the east and north shores of Lake Cadillac on Wednesday afternoon June 14, 2023. The water resources division (WRD) then collected samples on Wednesday afternoon near the boat launch and nearby beach. The results came back positive for microcystin, an algal toxin released by some types of algae in lakes or rivers. Algae blooms can form when there are high nutrient levels within bodies of water along with warm temperatures. Signs will be posted along the lake to notify individuals to avoid contact with the water in that area. 

“Algae blooms look like a green mat right on top of the water that smells bad and has a gelatinous texture to them,” stated Michael Kramer, Environmental Health Director for DHD#10. “The algal toxins that are released can be harmful to aquatic life, pets, and humans, so it is very important to avoid these areas.” 

Below are some steps to take when near waterways: 

• Avoid direct contact with waterways that appear to be scummy or have a green shade to them 
• Do not drink untreated surface water 
• Obey posted signage for public health advisories and/or beach closings 
• Limit or avoid eating fish from algal bloom impacted areas 

Contact with algae blooms can cause minor illness in humans but can be fatal to pets. Therefore, it is also recommended that people keep their pets out of the water that shows any signs of algae blooms. 

People and pets can experience the following symptoms after exposure to algae blooms: 

• Rash, hives, or skin blisters at the contact site 
• Runny eyes and/or nose, sore throat, asthma-like symptoms, or allergic reactions 
• Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, tingly fingers, numbness, dizziness, difficulty breathing, or even death resulting from ingesting contaminated water 

If you think that you or your pet have been exposed to algae blooms, take the following precautions: 

• Immediately remove yourself and/or your pet from the area  
• Take a shower and thoroughly rinse off pets with clean, fresh water if they swam in an area with algae blooms to avoid potential toxic ingestion from licking between paws or affected areas 
• Seek medical treatment for yourself and/or veterinary treatment for your pet as soon as possible if you think you or your pet may have been exposed to or ingested algal toxins 

If you would like to learn more about algae blooms, the Department of Great Lakes and Energy has more information on what algae blooms are, where they are located, and frequently asked questions here: https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/assessment-michigan-waters/harmful-algal-blooms.

In partnership between both high school programs, Reed City cross country and track and field hosted their second annual youth running camp.

The event was held at the Reed City High School track facility inside Alumni Field. Over the three days of activities, about 67 kids between kindergarten and fifth grade came through for various instructional sessions and group games. The final day even included a grand finale water shower thanks to the local Reed City Fire Department.

“It was a little bit cooler weather than last year but the kids were all out here running around and getting exercise,” Head cross country coach Rich Saladin said. “We played a lot of fun games and I think they have a good feeling about cross country and track.”

Within each activity, the school’s high school coaches ran stations with skill building principles that included exciting games to experience with it. Some of these included tag games with course strategy skills, hurdle drills, and overall teamwork.

According to Saladin, the coaches did a great job as well as his own runners helping lead each group through the stations.

“I was most impressed with our runners who became coaches and leaders for groups of kids. They shared their love of running with these little kids and hopefully it continues to grow.”

This year’s event showed an increase of about 10-15 kids from their first camp in 2022. According to Saladin, this event brings a great amount of exposure to the programs but also to the community as a whole.

“We try to keep it low cost," Saladin said. "We only charged 15 bucks for three days and they got a t-shirt and a water bottle. We're not here to make money. We're just here to make sure our youth have an opportunity to learn about the sport.”

For more sports news, be sure to subscribe to the Big Rapids Daily News at wbrn.com.

After a 25-8 regular season and their 18^th straight Highland conference title, Beal City baseball wants more.

The Aggies have won five consecutive games to reach Friday’s state semi-final game against Southwestern Athletic Conference power Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep. This includes defeating Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart 12-1 for a District 109 title, a 10-0 win over Maple City Glen Lake for a Region 27 championship and avenging an early season loss to Fowler with a 11-2 victory in the state quarterfinal game last Saturday.

“My guys are excited for the opportunity to get back to East Lansing and hope we can achieve the ultimate goal and play for a state championship,” Head coach Brad Antcliff said. “(It) just goes to show hard work and dedication to each other is paying off.”

With redemption on their mind from last year’s heartbreaking state championship loss to Riverview Gabriel Richard, the Aggies have had hot bats averaging 10.6 runs per game in their five postseason games played.

They have also only allowed four runs in these contests thanks to stellar pitching, led by junior and Kent State commit Cayden Smith.

When asking Coach Antcliffe on what the team needs to do to bring home a state title, he said they’ve got to follow their game plan.

“To win it all, we need to play Aggie Baseball. Take care of the little things and have a lot of fun.”

First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m. from Drayton McLane Baseball Stadium in East Lansing.

You can watch the game here: 

2023 MHSAA Div 4 Baseball Semifinals #1 Kalamazoo Hackett Cath Prep vs Beal City - 06/16/2023 | Live & On Demand (nfhsnetwork.com)

*Photo provided by Brad Antcliff

Great Lakes Energy (GLE) has appointed Jen Wilson to chief impact officer. Wilson previously served as GLE’s vice president of human resources and loss control. She officially began working in her new role on June 5.

“As GLE navigates the ever-changing landscape of our industry, it’s important that our staff is well-equipped and well-prepared for meeting the many challenges that lie ahead,” Great Lakes Energy President & CEO Shaun Lamp said. “With all the changes our organization and our industry are experiencing, I feel this focus on staff development is one of the most critical aspects to our long-term success.”

Wilson has worked for GLE for 30 years in many roles, including operations, member service, and human resources. She has been a member of the senior leadership team since 2005 and a member of the executive leadership team since 2008. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lake Superior State University. In her new role, Wilson will continue to have executive oversight of human resources, loss control, and organizational development. She will have increased focus on leadership development, coaching and mentoring for the GLE team.

Unlike investor-owned utilities, GLE is a not-for-profit business owned by its consumer-members. All Great Lakes Energy assets – even the poles and wires – are owned by its members. GLE provides electricity to roughly 125,000 rural members in 26 counties along the western side of the lower peninsula. Visit gtlakes.com for more information.

Following a long delay, the installation of Reed City’s new gas station and convenience store has reportedly returned to progress.

According to owner Al Peterson, the process was halted in the gas phase by the state regarding their underground storage tank installation.

“For all ‘UST’ tanks, there is supposed to be a 2000-foot setback or you have to have a variance,” Peterson said. “Well over by Franklin Street, there's a type 1 well and it's the state that handles that water for the city. Since it was less than 2000 feet, (the state) denied the gas.”

After testifying with the head of the Michigan Petroleum Institute and Senate Environmental Committee, Peterson and his team hired an environmental engineer to show there would be no spillage into the roots of the water system. This was good enough to receive the “ok” from the state but then they were forced to wait longer in order to get their financial help back.

Peterson said due to the project’s pause, their funding was briefly “pulled” from the project. This caused a short search for other monetary aid until everything eventually fell into place.  

“We spent a lot of time with Huntington's trying to write in an 'SBA loan'. That was a very, very slow process. Finally, we got the variance probably a month ago and then Lake Osceola (State Bank) came back with the funding.”

So, where is the project now? According to Peterson, the timeline for completion is currently aiming for early next year.

“We have not given up,” Peterson said. “Right now, we're trying to get some mechanical drawings so we can start putting in coolers. The 'UST' tank is scheduled for the end of August and it can take six weeks to build those. It very likely could be (open) next April.”

Monday, June 5

• Missing Person – Officers were dispatched to a missing person. The subject was located at a nearby residence, and requested help getting to the emergency room for an evaluation.

Tuesday, June 6

• Civil – Officers were called to a rental property to document the amount of damage done to the property by the tenant while moving out. A report was forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office for review due to the extent of the damages.
• Assist – Officers were dispatched to assist an Osceola County Sheriff’s Deputy who was following 2 runaways who were refusing to stop. The children were caught and returned to their residence.
• Juvenile Complaint – Officers found 3 young children walking on Main Street unsupervised. A parent was identified and the children were returned to the parent after the Officer had a chance to speak with them. Children’s Protective Services were notified of the incident.
• Larceny – Officers were dispatched to investigate a fraud complaint. The complaint remains open at this time.
• PPDA – Officers were dispatched to a local business to investigate a private property damage accident.
• Runaway – Officers were dispatched a runaway complaint. The child was located and returned to their residence.

Wednesday, June 7

• Check Well Being – Officers were dispatched to check the well-being of a local resident. Contact was made with the subject and no further services were needed.
• Fraud – Officers were dispatched to a possible fraud complaint. The complainant reported someone was attempting to obtain their social security number through a scam.
• Criminal Sexual Conduct – Officers were sent a Law Enforcement Notification from Children’s Protective Services for a criminal sexual conduct complaint. The case remains open at this time.
• Suspended License – Officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. The operator of the vehicle did not have a valid license. The operator was cited for the violation and another subject in the vehicle was allowed to drive it away after it was confirmed they had a valid license.
• No License – Officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. The operator of the vehicle did not have a valid license. The operator was cited for the violation and the vehicle was towed from the scene.

Thursday, June 8

• Civil – Officers were requested to conduct a civil stand by for a dispute between neighbors.

Friday, June 9

• N/A

Saturday, June 10

• N/A

Sunday, June 11

• N/A

District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) highlights the Michigan Women, Infants, and Children (MI-WIC) changes for 2023. The new MI-WIC policy is effective June 1, 2023 and has significant increases. MI-WIC and DHD#10 encourage families to contact their local WIC agency to apply. 

New updated income guidelines for WIC include: 

• Family of 2 - $36,482 annual income, $702 weekly income 
• Family of 3 - $45,991 annual income, $885 weekly income 
• Family of 4 - $55,500 annual income, $1,068 weekly income 
• Family of 5 - $65,009 annual income, $1,251 weekly income 
• Family of 6 - $74, 518 annual income, $1434 weekly income 

(A Pregnant woman is counted as one + the number of Infants expected when determining income eligibility for the Total Economic Unit) 

DHD#10 residents that are pregnant or have had a baby within the last six months, are currently breastfeeding, or are the parent of guardian of a child up to the age of 5, are encouraged to contact their local DHD#10 WIC office. Those numbers can be found here: https://www.dhd10.org/men-women/mw-wic-2/.  

For Class of 1996 alumnus Matt Howlett, Ferris State University has always felt like family, like a home away from home. Now in a position to give back, Howlett couldn’t pass up an opportunity to donate a six-figure high-caliber 3D printer to the College of Engineering Technology, which paves the way for future Ferris alums to graduate a step ahead of the competition from other colleges and universities.

Valued at nearly $130,000, 3DXTech’s Gearbox HT2 Printer System brings the faculty, staff and students of the College of Engineering Technology within arm’s reach of cutting-edge technology that will provide the training graduates need after college.

“We created this 3D printer to answer the question of how to enable the printing of higher-performance materials. Ferris has always been great for my family. I have my son who went here, and he has a family now,” said Howlett, president of 3DXTech, a leading supplier of carbon fiber reinforced 3D printing filaments. “I understand this technology and what it can do for students and really help bring up their level of understanding and education in this technology. When I could, I wanted to make sure I gave back to Ferris, so I donated one of the Gearbox HTG2 3D printers, which is now installed in the Additive Lab. The students now can coalesce around it and learn the technology better.”

Howlett, who has been working with Luke Hedman, an assistant professor in Product Design Engineering Technology who also runs Ferris’ Makerspace area, returned to the National Elastomer Center on campus to showcase the Gearbox HT2 Printer System to Ferris administrators, alumni, faculty, staff and students in the Additive Lab. Howlett didn’t return alone, however. He brought with him alumni working for 3DXTech: his son Brandon Funke, sales manager and a Class of 2019 Plastics Engineering Technology alumnus; Rachel Rogers, a design engineer and a Class of 2020 Product Design Engineering Technology alumna; and Ezra Scott, the product design engineering manager and a Class of 2017 alumnus of the Automotive Engineering Technology program and Patrick Banta, content marketing specialist and a Class of 2018 alumnus of the Marketing program.

Ferris President Bill Pink was enthusiastic about Howlett’s donation benefiting current and future students, his commitment to and belief in Ferris and the ability and potential of Ferris graduates.

“This is a great example of what is being done around our campus, which is calling our alumni back in to not only celebrate them and what they’re doing, but in Matt’s case, we have an alum who is coming back and saying, ‘By the way, here’s what I’m doing now and here’s who I’ve hired and here is who I’ve focused on hiring,’ which is Ferris State graduates. Matt shows us the value of the Ferris State education that goes beyond just walking across the stage, getting a diploma and walking out into the company, to the business, to the industry. Our graduates are doing amazing things.”

Pink also noted the importance of collaboration, the joining of like-minded brands.

“When you have a strong brand like what Matt has at 3DXTech and a strong brand like what we have at Ferris State University, and our College of Engineering Technology, there are some really good things that happen,” he said.

Howlett is excited about the ongoing partnership and how it will help raise the bar and create greater opportunities for well-trained Ferris graduates.

“The Gearbox HT2 Printer System really steps it up,” he said. “This is a six-figure machine with seven-figure capabilities. It enables students to learn how to get their hands around engineering-grade and high-performance materials that companies like SpaceX and Lockheed Martin use every day.”

Part of Pink’s approach is outreach to create and strengthen partnerships across the university.

“We can’t do our work without partnerships. Matt is a graduate, and he’s a partner of this institution. He is partnering with our amazing faculty to provide experiences to students while they’re interns and students here,” the president said.

Howlett sees himself as a Bulldog for Life, having benefited from the Ferris experience inside and outside the classroom.

“Ferris State University provides the foundation to build good families and communities,” he said.

For more information about 3DXTech, College of Engineering Technology academic programs and giving at Ferris, visit the respective websites.

Gotion Inc. will continue to move forward with due diligence on its planned battery component facility that will create more than 2,300 jobs in Green Charter Township after the U.S. Department of Treasury determined that its proposed purchase of multiple parcels of land in Michigan is not a covered real estate transaction and is not a covered transaction under the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended.

“We voluntarily submitted all the needed documents to the U.S. Department of Treasury Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to be transparent and accountable and received the response that it is not a covered transaction,” said Chuck Thelen, vice president of Gotion Inc. – North American Manufacturing.

Gotion Inc.’s proposed battery component facility in Mecosta County will invest more than $2.36 billion into the local region and create more than 2,300 good-paying manufacturing jobs for area families.

Monday, June 5

• An Officer was dispatched to the Post Office for a possible alarm. After investigating, the alarm alert was unfounded.
• An Officer assisted OCSD with a male that was being transported to the hospital for a mental health evaluation and was combative.
• An Officer was asked to make a welfare check on a 74 year old male. After investigating, the male was fine.

Tuesday, June 6

• An Officer issued abatements regarding a lawn and refuse in violation of city ordinance.
• An Officer issued several warnings to homeowners for some large item trash by the side of the road. Items were never picked up on large trash day.
• Officers received a tip that a parent was possibly under the influence while picking up their child from daycare. After investigation the parent was not found to be impaired.
• Officers transported an individual for mental health treatment.

Wednesday, June 7

• An Officer was dispatched to handle a dispute between 2 residents of an AFC home.
• An Officer was dispatched to conduct a welfare check on an 84 year old female. The female turned out to be fine.

Thursday, June 8

• An Officer responded to reports of a dog that was barking persistently, day and night, disturbing their peace.
• Officers received a call of a dirt bike being ridden on city streets. When the officer located the rider and made contact, the officer discovered three other juveniles were smoking marijuana. The rider was given a ride home and a warning. The three juveniles smoking marijuana were issued a citation.

Friday, June 9

• Officers took a report of missing items from a grave site. It is believed to be due to disagreement of family members. The matter is under investigation.
• An Officer transported a 26 year old female to the county jail. She was picked up at Kent County on an outstanding warrant.

Saturday, June 10

• An Officer spotted an ATV in town. The rider was not aware that only ORVs are allowed. He was issued a verbal warning.
• An Officer responded to a call about a suspicious situation. The local dispatch center had received a call from a dispatch center in Florida who took a report of a man being followed and it was believed to be in Reed City. After searching the area, the call was unfounded.
• An Officer responded to a call regarding an open door found leading to the Chamber of Commerce offices. Searched and secured the building and doors.

Sunday, June 10

• N/A

For former Ferris State football players Jordan Jones and Ian Hall, what started as a favor has now turned into a full-fledged business.

The two college roommates and co-founders of “Dock Dawgs” have spent the last two years running a dock and lift installation and removal service for local lake houses around the area. Who was their first client? Their own head coach Tony Annese.

“Coach Annese lives out on Whitefish Lake and every year, we go over to his place to put his dock in and take it out,” Hall said. “Basically, I told him to let us know if you or any of your neighbors need any work and we can do it. From there, we made a flyer and his wife posted it on their Facebook group page. We ended up getting a bunch of calls from his neighbors and it kind of blew up after that.”

Along with dock work, the guys decided to expand their business by adding moving services, painting, and yard cleaning to their array of labor offerings. According to Jones, that decision sparked a large growth in clientele that continues to increase every day from all parts of the state.

“We created a Facebook page and started advertising ourselves on there,” Jones said. “We've been able to reach areas beyond Big Rapids, like Chippewa Lake, Howard City, Indian Lakes, Allendale, and Rockford. We’ve also got a couple of customers in Houghton Lake and Traverse City.”

Last year, the group had 83 different customers throughout the entire year. This year, they have already reached 80 customers through the end of May.

Not only were Hall and Jones serving these customers during the school year, but they also played significant roles on Ferris’ back-to-back National Championship football team. The defensive lineman duo would run their company operations outside of classes, practices, workouts, and even games on the weekends.

“There would be times after game days we'd come back home and have work lined up,” Jones said. “We’d get up at 6 A.M. on a Sunday morning and go take out docks until about 1 or 2 P.M. and then go to football workouts. We would always stay working and it was great also having teammates wanting to come work with us.”

When asking both guys about their vision for the business moving forward, the duo are hoping to purchase property between Cedar Springs and Big Rapids to set up a storage facility and business hub. They also are currently looking to invest in official company trucks for their year-round services.

But what about the bigger picture? What is their company vision? Simple: give back to Ferris football by providing a working opportunity for the players.

“The first year we did it was tough,” Hall said. “But we looked at it as another workout. We get to work in the water and work with our brothers on the team. We crack jokes and we like to have fun with it. There’s not much work where you have the opportunity to do that and we want to keep (that dynamic) within the team.”

For more information on the Dock Dawgs, visit their “Dock Dawgs” Facebook page or email DockDawgsServices@outlook.com.  

Jennifer Shaw, who has raised more than $130 million for higher education scholarships and programs, will work to support Ferris State University Students as the university’s new associate vice president for Advancement.

Kathy Mullins, Ferris vice president for Advancement and Marketing, said Shaw is passionate about creating educational opportunities for students and will be a great addition to the Ferris Foundation team.

“Jennifer will be an excellent advocate for Ferris students and programs and will help generate additional resources for the university,” Mullins said. “There is tremendous energy and excitement around our university. The Ferris Foundation plays an important role in working with our donor community, sharing our stories and helping create more opportunities for students of all ages to get a quality Ferris education.”

Shaw, as Grand Valley State University’s assistant vice president for development, campaigns, college advancement and development services, was a leader in planning and carrying out GVSU’s Laker Effect Comprehensive Campaign, which raised $132 million to support the university and its students, far surpassing its initial $85 million fundraising goal. During her lifetime, she has been a part of raising more than $320 million.

The campaign was deemed the most successful campaign in GVSU history, supported by a record 35,000 donors.

Funds raised during the campaign have doubled the number of scholarships and increased programs, including student services, leadership opportunities and experimental learning. It led to a new program that provided each incoming freshman with a faculty mentor.

Shaw, who starts at Ferris on June 19, had been in the role at GVSU since 2021. She was previously assistant vice president for University Development, Campaigns, Special and Major Gifts, a position she held for nearly 10 years.

Shaw said she is excited about engaging the Ferris community and creating more opportunities for students.

"I look forward to building relationships and establishing rapport within the Advancement team, as well as across campus and with The Ferris Foundation, the Alumni Association board of directors, and our donors,” Shaw said.

“I want to hear their personal Ferris stories, thoughts and ideas. Simultaneously, I will begin analyzing our data to determine and develop strategies to grow our donor pipeline. There are many philanthropic needs at Ferris. Together, we can work to fulfill them and even better serve our students, faculty, staff and alumni.”

Before arriving at GVSU, Shaw held fundraising roles with Spectrum Health and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, where she was development director for Children’s Miracle Network, director of annual giving for Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation, and leadership giving officer.

Shaw was the development manager for the Grand Rapids Symphony and held multiple director posts with the American Heart Association.

Shaw is enthusiastic about the energy she has witnessed from President Bill Pink and Mullins and appreciates the university’s history dating back to its founding by Woodbridge Ferris.

“I was impressed by Ferris’ history as one of opportunity, placing a high value on diversity and inclusion,” she said. “I truly appreciate his philosophy of educating all men, women and children of Michigan and beyond.”

Shaw earned a Bachelor of Arts from Aquinas in Communication Arts in 1993 and a Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from GVSU in 2020. She received a fundraising management certificate from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, The Fundraising School, in 2021. She also received a 2020 CASE Educational Fundraising Award for Overall Improvement on behalf of GVSU Development.

Friday, June 9

• At 2144 hrs, deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Martiny TWP. A male subject was arrested on several warrants.  He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 20

Traffic Accidents: 4

Car/Deer Accidents: 1

Saturday, June 10

Calls for Service: 25

Traffic Accidents: 2

Sunday, June 11

• At 1956 hrs, deputies made an arrest on 192^nd Ave/11 Mile Rd in Mecosta TWP.  A male subject with warrants was located. The male subject then fled on foot. After a short foot pursuit, the male subject was arrested for possession of meth, resist and obstruct, and on warrants. The male subject was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 2231 hrs, deputies made a traffic stop on W Wheatland Ave/Poe St in Wheatland TWP. The traffic stop led to the driver being arrested and lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 14

Traffic Accidents: 1

Car/Deer Accidents: 1

 The back-to-back NCAA Division II National Champion Ferris State University football squad will be honored along with other national championship teams from across the country on Monday (June 12) during a special ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C.

National Championship programs from Division I, II and III were invited to attend the celebration hosted by President Joe Biden. The event will be broadcast online at whitehouse.gov/live and on the White House Facebook page beginning at 11:30 a.mm. (ET).

Along with the live webstream, fans can follow social media coverage throughout the trip on the Bulldogs' twitter page @FerrisFootball or on instragram @ferrisstatefb.

The Bulldogs, who received an invitation from the 46th President of the United States along with First Lady Jill Biden, will send a group of nearly 25 FSU student-athletes, head coach Tony Annese and selected staff, who will depart on Monday morning for Washington, D.C., with the ceremony slated to take place on the South Lawn, weather permitting, as part of a "College Athlete Day" honoring several national championship teams from NCAA Divisions I, II and III.

Student-athletes from across all three NCAA divisions will be at the White House on Monday celebrating College Athlete Day, a milestone event created by the Biden administration to recognize NCAA national champions from the past year.

The NCAA Division II National Champion Ferris State Bulldogs, which claimed a second consecutive national title this past fall, were previously honored back in March by the state of Michigan during a special visit to the State Capital in Lansing.

This past fall, the Bulldogs captured a second consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship, finishing with a 14-1 overall record. Over the past two seasons of action, the Bulldogs own a 28-1 overall record and FSU has reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs eight consecutive years and counting. Ferris State has also reached the NCAA Division II National Semifinals five times in the past six seasons of action and ranks as the country's winningest program over the past eight full seasons in D2 Football. FSU is 55-3 over the last three seasons of on-field action.

The Bulldogs are also the country's preseason #1 team heading into the 2023 campaign according to Lindy's Sports.

On Saturday, June 10, a 29-year-old male from Big Rapids was traveling north on US-131 when he fell asleep at the wheel.

The Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office says the accident occurred around 3:20 p.m. near mile marker 134, when the driver lost control and hit a tree in the median. The male and children in the vehicle were treated on scene for minor injuries.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Meceola Central Dispatch, Mecosta County EMS, and Mecosta County Fire.

Following a dominant 32-4 regular season, the Cardinals rolled to a district championship with two victories over Ludington and Gladwin. Now, Big Rapids faces their toughest battle yet for a chance to reach the Region 9 championship game.

Coming out of District 34, Coach Thompson’s team has been known for their offense. The Cardinals have averaged 11.18 runs per game, one of the highest in Division 2. Big Rapids has also played a tough non-conference schedule, earning a 14-4 record with their only losses coming against the top Division 1 team Macomb Dakota, ranked Division 2 teams Hudsonville Unity Christian and Wayland, and a road loss to 26-win Mt. Pleasant. Big Rapids enters the regional tournament as Division 2’s number 10 team in the MHSAA rankings.

For the opposing Blue Devils, their offense is one of few that has recorded more runs than Big Rapids. Gaylord currently holds an average of 11.89 runs per game this season, almost 0.7 higher than the Cardinals. As Division 2’s top team, Gaylord’s only two losses came to Division’s 1 number 5 ranked Hartland and top ranked Macomb Dakota.

The winner of Saturday’s first semi-final will face the winner of Essexville Garber, a state semi-finalist last year, and Freeland, a team who upset Garber on the road a few weeks ago. Each game will be held on the Lincoln Softball Field at Cadillac High School on Saturday, June 10.

Regional 9 Semi-Final Matchups

#10 Big Rapids (34-4*) vs. #1 Gaylord (34-2*) – Lincoln Softball Field – June 10 @ 10:00 A.M.

Big Rapids: 11.18 runs scored per game; 2.37 runs allowed per game

Gaylord: 11.89 runs scored per game; 0.83 runs allowed per game

HM Freeland (30-10*) vs. #4 Essexville Garber (36-4) – Lincoln Softball Field – June 10 @ 12:00 P.M

Freeland: 9.55 runs scored per game; 3.43 runs allowed per game

Gaylord: 9.58 runs scored per game; 2.08 runs allowed per game

Regional 9 Final Matchup

Semi-Final Winners – Lincoln Softball Field – June 10 @ 2:00 P.M

*-Records acquired via GameChanger App

A bill aimed at reducing drunk driving has passed the Michigan Senate.

Individuals convicted of driving while intoxicated may have a ignition interlock device added to their car. The device is like a handheld car breathalyzer, which would test the driver before starting the vehicle.

Supporters say this device is more effective than license suspensions.

The bill would create the Specialty Court, which would also consider drug treatment court, mental health court and veterans treatment court.

The bills now head to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Coming up on Wednesday, June 28 at Wenger Pavilion in Baldwin, award-winning blues and roots artist Peter Harper and his band Midwest Kind will be performing a free concert as part of the band’s summer tour across the Northeast United States.

The group performed a year ago on Aug. 10 in Baldwin, in which the band saw great success. Harper said he looks forward to performing in a part of Michigan he loves.

“I’ve lived here for 15 years so I regard myself as a Michigander,” Harper said. “It’s always been nice and lush and I just like that part of Michigan. The crowds have been good for us and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t come back.”

Harper, originally from Australia but now based in Detroit, has received a gold record, over 14 international music awards and four different albums in the Billboard Top Ten in the blues and roots category. He has also worked with and supported many internationally known artists, such as John Mayall, Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Little Feat, Buddy Guy, and Robert Cray.

While Harper’s support cast will be the same as last year, he said returning fans will be in for a treat with older, featured songs returning to the lineup.

“It’s funny because my band chooses the music, I just write the songs. They come up to me and say how much they love a song and how we need to do that one again. Then, of course, a few people out there have bought previous CDs and they want to hear some of those songs. I’m going to be doing some stuff off some of my albums going back to 2000s.”

When it comes to music style, Harper and Midwest Kind reaps the benefits of many classical instruments, including the didgeridoo and harmonica. According to Harper, fan feedback alludes to these two instruments as staples in the show.

“The one thing that everyone talks about is the didgeridoo, which is an abnormal instrument,” Harper said. “For people who've never seen it before, they're going to see a very interesting old instrument that goes back about 10,000 years. I'm (also) known for my harmonica playing, so people who know the harmonica are gonna get their belly full of it.”

Harper’s work and more tour information can be found online at www.harper.biz/tours.html.

District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) is reminding everyone to exercise proper precautions to prevent human-tick interaction. 

Areas across Michigan, including Northern Michigan, generally see an increase in tick activity once the weather becomes nicer and people head outdoors to enjoy nature. “Tick-borne diseases, like Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, are on the rise state-wide,” said Michael Kramer, DHD#10 Environmental Health Director.  

To decrease your chances of getting bitten by a tick, take these precautions: 

• Being aware of your surroundings. Most tick encounters happen in shady, moist wooded and grassy areas and fields near wooded areas.  
• Applying EPA-registered insect repellent that contains 20% or more DEET, picaridin, or IR3535, to skin or clothing according to label’s instructions.  
• Wearing clothing that has been treated with permethrin. 
• Walking in the center of trails and avoid walking in areas with tall grass and brush. 
• Conducting a full-body check of yourself and your pets for ticks after spending time outdoors.  
• Drying clothing on high heat for 60 minutes to kill any remaining ticks. 
• Taking a shower as soon as you can after coming indoors. 
• Talking to your vet about tick bite prevention products for your pets.  

Michigan also offers tick identification resources to residents and visitors for free. Physical ticks can be placed in a container and mailed to MDHHS, or photos may be submitted to MDHHS-Bugs@michigan.gov  

For more information about ticks, please visit: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/topics/mitracking/ticks. 

Questions regarding ticks and other vectors should be directed to DHD#10’s Environmental Health Division at 888-217-3904. 

A part of US-131 in Montcalm County was shut down last night following an investigation into a rollover crash involving a tractor trailer and a vehicle. 

It happened just before 9:45pm Wednesday, police responded to the area of southbound US-131 near 22 Mile Rd for the report of a semi tractor-trailer that had overturned just north of the overpass.

The Montcalm County Sheriff's Office says an investigation revealed that a 2018 Kenworth tractor, being driven by a 51-year-old Hulbert man, was traveling south on US-131 approaching the 22 Mile Road overpass.

The tractor was hauling double flatbed trailers loaded with lumber.

The driver failed to negotiate the curve and ran off the roadway to the right as the driver attempted to steer the tractor-trailer back onto the roadway. The tractor-trailer continued off of the roadway and overturned, spilling its load, coming to a rest near the overpass embankment. 

The driver was taken to Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver was believed to have been wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.

The crash remains under investigation.

A $250 million dollar lawsuit has been filed against a Michigan DNR conservation officer who shot a man at a campground in Mecosta County, last month.

The suit was reportedly filed on behalf of Brandon Davis, who claims he was defending himself in a fight with the officer's father when the DNR officer shot him at Merrill-Gorrel Campground.

The suit claims the officer used completely unreasonable force, which caused Davis physical and mental injuries, including losing a kidney.

The DNR officer is on administrative leave while state police investigate.

Monday…5/29
Officer was called to assist with a mental health patient that walked away. The patient returned for treatment.

Tuesday …5/30
An Officer was dispatched to a residence regarding an aggravated domestic assault. The suspect had left prior to the officer’s arrival and could not be located. The matter has been turned over to the prosecutor for charges.

An Officer issued an abatement notice for an inoperable vehicle.

Wednesday …5/31
Officers were dispatched to a residential burglar alarm. The property was checked and the alarm was
unfounded.

An Officer was requested to contact a resident and inform him that his wallet was found in Lake County.

An Officer assisted a truck driver who had experienced brake problems and was blocking the intersection.

An Officer, while patrolling, noticed someone sitting by the Depot, that appeared to look passed out. After approaching the male, he was fine.

An Officer was dispatched to a residence regarding a domestic assault. One half of the incident had departed the city prior to the other calling. The matter has been turned over to the prosecutor for possible charges.

The Department received a call regarding a welfare check on a 24yr old male that was possibly suicidal. He was taken for treatment without any incidents.

Thursday …6/1
An Officer took a report about some stolen property. The individual who had taken the property believed it to be scrap metal and returned the property.

An Officer responded to a call regarding a small child found alone outside at an apartment complex. The parent of the child was located. Police responded to investigate and address the situation. The child was not uninjured.

An Officer was dispatched to a residence for a 911 hangup. Upon arrival, it was discovered that the call wasmade by accident, as the resident was doing some lawn work and had the phone in her pocket.

Friday …6/2
Officers were dispatched to an apartment complex when the caller believed they had seen a meth lab. Upon reviewing the matter, it was determined to be a small homemade wine distillery for personal consumption.

Officers were requested to do a civil standby while the caller picked up property from her ex’s residence.

An Officer responded to reports of a dispute between neighbors regarding their dogs.

Saturday …6/3
An Officer issued an abatement notice for lawn maintenance not meeting the city ordinance.

An Officer assisted OCSD with a vehicle and grass fire caused by a single vehicle rollover accident.

Officers made a traffic stop for an expired plate. Following a short investigation, the driver was issued a misdemeanor appearance citation for driving on a revoked license and a licensed driver was allowed to take over driving. The officer also served a passenger in the vehicle with a personal protection order out of another county that had not yet been served.

Sunday …6/4
While on patrol an officer located 3 juveniles out after curfew. They were taken home where they had to awaken their mother who was unaware they had left and was not pleased when she learned they had.

Officers took a report of a scratch on a vehicle that the owner had not noticed before.

Officers took a report of a possible criminal sexual conduct. It was determined no CSC had taken place but there were possible violations of providing marijuana to a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The matter had been turned over to the prosecutor for review.

Mecosta County Parks will be hosting its 8^th annual Community Open House this weekend.

From Friday through Sunday, June 9th-11th, daily vehicle entrance fees to the all county parks will be waived allowing free day use. Day use visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

County parks participating in the Community Open House include Brower, School Section Lake, Merrill-Gorrel, Paris, and Davis Bridge.

The open house provides an opportunity for county residents and area visitors to take advantage of the many opportunities offered through the park system and is organized in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources Free Fishing Weekend.

Area families are encouraged to enjoy a fun weekend together at one of our several park locations. Wheather participating in the free fishing weekend, boating, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, participating in one of the staffed family programs, or just enjoying the outdoors. 

The weekend also offers the most affordable camping opportunity of the year as campers will not be required to pay additional vehicle fees normally associated with a camping stay. To book your campsite or cabin for the weekend visit the online reservations of the Mecosta County Parks website.

For information about each park's offerings and to keep up with scheduled summer events visit www.MecostaCountyParks.com and like or follow each individual County Park page on Facebook.

The Charles E. Fairman Community Pool in Big Rapids is open for the 2023 Summer!

Community pool officials say they are now taking registrations for swim lessons. The deadline to register is Friday, June 9^th.

Open swim will also be available for residents this week from 5pm to 7:45pm. Next week open swim takes place from 1pm-4:45pm.

Classes will also be offered this year ranging from basic water rescue, handicapped swim, water babies, adult swim and water aerobics.

Fun family nights will also take place every Friday. It's $2.00 per person or you can purchase a pool pass.

Despite a first-round exit in the District 35 playoffs, four Big Rapids players earned all-district honors following a 26-7 finish on the season.

These four players included senior catcher Wil Strickler, senior second baseman Brett Root, senior pitcher Ben Knuth, and junior outfield Riley Vennix.

"There are a number of very strong players in our district, from Gladwin to Bay City John Glenn in particular,” Head coach J.T. Scarpelli said. “That Strickler, Vennix, Root, and Knuth are all able to represent Big Rapids as All-District players is a testament to their work ethic, athleticism, and leadership.”

Behind the plate, Strickler batted .362 on the season, obtained a slugging percentage of .438, and led the team with 27 RBI’s. He also allowed a career low .720 stealing percent to opposing base runners.

Root led the Cardinals with a .514 on base percentage and .400 batting average behind a hot second half of the season.

Leading Big Rapids on the mound, Knuth registered an opposing batting average of .149 and a career low earned run average of 0.754. With more than 60 innings pitched, Knuth's season ERA may qualify for an MHSAA State record.

Vennix, the only player returning next season, obtained a .494 slugging percentage and a team high 25 stolen bases and 28 runs scored.

“I am very proud of these guys,” Scarpelli said. “They have earned this honor."

A Clare man is dead following a motorcycle crash involving a pickup truck Saturday morning.

Isabella County Sheriff Michael Main said in a press release, at 10:52am Saturday, deputies were called to a traffic crash between a motorcycle and a pickup towing a small utility trailer.

While enroute to the scene, officers were informed that the motorcyclist, a 68-year old Clare man was trapped between the pickup and trailer. Upon arrival of first responders, it was determined he had died from the crash.

During the investigation, it was determined that the pickup truck driven by a 22-year old Owosso man was turning left into a driveway, the motorcyclist was traveling the same direction and failed to stop or yield to the vehicle in front of him, the motorcyclist then collided with the pickup.

As a standout on the mound for the Coyotes, Reed City’s Noah Morgan will be continuing his pitching
career as a Jayhawk next season.

The fellow senior announced his commitment during the last week of the regular season according to head coach Eric Grannis.

“(Muskegon Community College) reached out to me and I really like their coach,” Morgan said.

Morgan becomes the third Coyote to commit to a collegiate program, joining Grand Rapids Community College signee Xavier Allen and Central Michigan University signee Max Hammond.

The southpaw finished regular season play with 86 strikeouts in 14 appearances. He also earned a spot on the CSAA All-Conference honorable mention team for his season performance.

“Like halfway through the season, I felt I was doing pretty good earning double digit strikeouts per
game,” Morgan said. “I worked really hard to get stronger and improve my off speed.”

While the Coyotes’ season ended following a district title game loss to Clare this weekend, Morgan said he made many good memories during his high school years. This included a conference championship, regional championship game appearance, and even a top-notch district semifinal performance a year ago.

“I pitched that game and scored the winning run too,” Morgan said. “It was a cool moment.”

Morgan will join the list of former CSAA honorees to play as a Jayhawk, including Big Rapids left-hander Sawyer Meeuwes, Fremont pitcher Drew DeBlake, and Tri-County catcher Nate Lovell. He also plans on studying mechanical engineering as a student.

One person suffered burns following a camper trailer explosion at a campground in Osceola County Sunday morning.

The Evart Fire Department says aeromed was flown to Big Lake Campground after an assessment of the victim who had burns to 25%-35% of their body.

MSP Fire Investigation Unit was contacted and will be investigating the incident.

Following two public hearings last month, the Big Rapids City Commission tonight will be discussing and acting on whether or not to approve the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget for the city.

The budget for next fiscal year is just under $36-million dollars. This resolution requires a 4/5^th vote for approval.

Continuing in general business, city commissioners are expected to approve a resolution that authorizes a grant submission to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for the Train Depot Trailhead Park project. Commissioners are also expected to award a bid for a new LED sign for the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety Building. Finally, the city commission is expected to authorize a Special Land Use Permit for a Communications Tower at 301 N. Bronson Avenue.

The meeting begins at 6:30pm tonight at City Hall. 

The 100 deadliest days for teen drivers have begun.

Triple -A says more than 30 percent of deaths involving teen drivers happen between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Spokesperson Adrienne Woodland say teens spend more time on the roads during odd hours when school wraps up. That leads to dangerous driving like speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, and distracted driving.

Crashes are the leading cause of death for teens ages 16 to 19.