Pride and prejudice?
The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners typically spend their meetings quizzing department heads about budget requests, paying bills and hearing routine updates from local officials. However, Monday’s meeting featured drag performers in full makeup, finger-snapping (instead of applause), Bible verses being read aloud, exhortations about going to heaven or hell and standing room only on the third floor of the county Administrative Building in downtown Stanton.
Putting the green in Greenville
As the clock steadily turns spring into summer this month, a little bit of green has returned to downtown Greenville in the form of new trees, plants and flowers. During Monday’s meeting of the Greenville Downtown Development Authority, Greenville Assistant City Manager Heather Feazel informed members that the 28 hanging baskets that decorate the downtown district every summer had been installed.
Poppy Girl raises funds for veterans with a smile
From thank-you cards to gift bags, 5-year-old Mila Rumsey of Greenville has been involved in helping her mom find ways to support area veterans. This year, Mila took things a step further as the Poppy Girl for Greenville American Legion Post 101, as she aimed to raise as much as she could to support Greenville-area veterans.
Recent Montabella grad, and former Miss Edmore, crowned Miss Lakeview
Ashlynn Davis had the honor of serving as Miss Edmore in 2023. She loved doing the parades and attending all the festivals and meeting new people. When the opportunity came up to do another pageant, she didn’t want to pass it up.
CM school board honors retirees, OKs new hires
The Central Montcalm Public School Board of Education honored retiring school employees and approved new hires at their most recent meeting on May 19. Board President Bill Simpson Sr., Vice President Brendan Brennan, Secretary Jamie Hansen-Hopkins, Treasurer Lisa Lund and trustees Ron Train and Betty Wakefield were all present while trustee Jim Lingeman was absent, according to meeting minutes taken by Central Montcalm’s Human Resources Specialist Michelle Leak-Rensland.
Egg-cellent expansion
Amid an avian influenza outbreak one year ago, no operation was harder hit in Michigan than Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch. Based in Ionia County’s Saranac, Herbruck’s is Michigan’s largest egg producer and the 10th largest in the U.S., raising nearly 11 million birds in operations across Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
2 men arrested, drugs, gun, ammo seized at Stanton home
The Stanton Police Department arrested two men and seized drugs and related paraphernalia at a city home on June 5. Stanton police officers executed a search warrant in the 200 block of N. New St. Officers located and seized quantities of methamphetamine, prescription pills, cash, digital scales, packaging materials and other drug paraphernalia. A semiautomatic rifle and ammunition were also recovered from the residence.
Greenville man and woman die in motorcycle crash in Oakfield TownshipFree Access
A man and woman from Greenville died in a motorcycle crash in Oakfield Township on Saturday afternoon.
Lakeview Summerfest returns June 19-21
Village Manager Darin Dood says the annual Lakeview Summerfest reminds him of something his grandfather always said, “It’s the same, only different.” “The celebration of our community is the same each year to a degree; however, there are so many new things as well as subtle changes each year,” Dood said.
7 months after election, Greenville resident requests investigation into video
Seven months after the general election, a Greenville resident is requesting that an investigation be performed after alleging that he has video showing “concerns.” However, the city manager says that request is a matter for the state.
Stanton man pleads to first-degree child abuse based on plea offer from Montcalm County Prosecutor’s Office
A Stanton man pleaded no contest on Thursday to first-degree child abuse, which is a felony with a possible maximum sentence of life in prison; however, the Montcalm County Prosecutor’s Office is offering minimum guidelines of three and a half years in exchange for the plea. Thaddeus Christopher Barrett, 23, pleaded no contest to the crime related to an incident on May 22, 2024, in Douglass Township involving an infant who was just a few months old.
Douglass Township treasurer resigns due to relocating
The Douglass Township treasurer is resigning less than one year into her term due to relocating a quarter-mile over the township line into a neighboring township. Becky Sowles was elected treasurer last November over challenger Kristi Cordray, who is now the township supervisor in the wake of Cindy Shick resigning as supervisor in April due to health issues.
Compatible language
The Home Township Board at a special meeting Thursday morning approved amendments to commercial wind and solar ordinances and also created a battery energy storage system ordinance after the township’s Planning Commission held a public hearing the night prior. The only member of the public to attend and comment at Wednesday’s hearing (aside from this reporter) was a field representative for the Michigan Land & Liberty Coalition, which supports utility-scale renewable energy developments.
Ionia creates social district
The Ionia City Council approved the creation of a “Discover Ionia” social district during Wednesday evening's meeting. A social district is a special liquor license that allows a municipality to designate a public outdoor area where people can gather, socialize and drink alcohol.
Greenville schools creates stricter guidelines for cellphone usage
New cellphone guidelines for Greenville middle school and high school students will take phones out of the classrooms beginning next school year. During the May 12 meeting of the Greenville Public Schools Board of Education, members voted unanimously to adopt new secondary education cellphone guidelines that are more restrictive than those implemented in past years.
Playing free
Sutton Schroeder had one goal for himself entering the weekend’s Division 2 boys golf state finals: To play his game freely. And he did.
Taking a step
The Central Montcalm softball team faced their toughest challenge of the season on Saturday, but one they handled with grace and determination. The Hornets (22-14) added another week to their season after an exciting district championship win over Morley Stanwood last Saturday, 9-5.
Central Montcalm baseball’s historic season ends in regional semifinal against WMC
Attracting attention in the postseason tournament is not at all unfamiliar territory for the Central Montcalm baseball team in recent years. The Hornets (27-7) set out to do two things this year at the beginning of the season: win both a conference title and another district title.
Belding’s Alison Rockburn to further basketball career at GRCC
As one of the most decorated players to ever go through the Belding girls basketball program, Alison Rockburn still has a lot of her story left to write. The recent Belding High School graduate has played a vital role in the Black Knights’ success over the last four years, leading them to four straight winning seasons with 15 wins or more.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Sutton SchroederFree Access
Sutton Schroeder of Greenville boys golf is this week’s Daily News Athlete of the Week. Schroeder, a senior, finished third at regionals at The Mines on Wednesday with a 75 to be the only golfer in the area to qualify for the MHSAA Division 2 state finals.
The lucky 13
In a field of some of the best athletes in the state of Michigan, several local track and field athletes made their mark over the weekend. Whether it be a first-time appearance or a closing chapter on a four-year-long career, 13 out of the 37 local qualifying athletes for the varying Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) track and field state finals meets acquired All State honors in at least 21 different events. To obtain the recognition, athletes must place within the top-eight finishers of the finals of their respective events.
GRCC men’s golf coach Forton announces retirement
Grand Rapids Community College men's golf coach John Forton has announced that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2025 season, capping a remarkable 10-year run at the helm of one of the most consistently dominant programs in the region. Forton's leadership has helped shape GRCC into a powerhouse in collegiate golf. Under his guidance, the Raiders recently clinched their 16th consecutive conference championship and 12th MCCAA title — milestones that speak to both sustained excellence and a culture of winning.
Centurions finish 16th at NJCAA DII Men’s Golf Championship
In its first-ever appearance, the Montcalm Community College Centurions men’s golf team finished 16th overall at the National Junior College Athletics Association’s Division II Championship from May 20-23. With 22 teams competing at the tournament, held at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Indiana, the No. 32-ranked and Region XII champion Centurions finished +110 over par during the tournament, beating out conference rival Grand Rapids Community College, which finished 18th (+116). “The whole goal was to get there,” MCC Head Coach Doug Harkema said. “To win regionals to get there was huge for us. To play in that as a first-year...
Men’s tennis league starting in Greenville
The Greenville Area Recreation & Community Center is sponsoring a new tennis league for area men. The league will feature open, drop-in doubles play on Thursday evenings this summer beginning June 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Greenville High School tennis courts. There is no fee for playing, and interested players may register on the GRRCC site at register.greenvillemi.org. Players do not need to commit to every Thursday evening, but are welcome to join in as schedules allow. The drop-in tennis league will continue on Thursday evenings through Aug. 7.
‘We earned this’
Saturday was a true full-circle moment for the Central Montcalm girls 3,200-meter relay team. The first time the quartet ran the event together was when their youngest runner, a sophomore, was in the sixth grade.
‘A sense of completion’
The Central Montcalm baseball and softball teams are not at all strangers when it comes to finding success in the postseason tournament. Since 2020, the two teams share a combined total of two Division 3 district championships and an additional two district finals appearances in softball.
Sports roundup for June 3, 2025
Sports roundup for June 3, 2025
