An 85-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene of a motorcyle accident Monday afternoon.

According to the Kent County Sheriff Department, a man in a red pickup was traveling southbound on Cedar Springs Avenue, near Egner, in Nelson Township, about 1:20 p.m. Monday, when he saw a motorcycle, coming from the other direction, suddenly veer off the east side of the road, strike a mailbox and land in a ditch. The motorcycle then rolled over on top of the driver.

Both Sand Lake and Cedar Springs Fire and Rescue responded to the scene, and administered CPR, along with Rockford Ambulance personnel until shortly after 2 p.m., when the driver, Joseph Patin, of Nelson Township, was pronounced dead.

Police said that it does not appear  that alcohol, speed, road, or weather conditions was a factor. The accident is sill under investigation.

The medical examiner was called in to determine the cause of death.

This was the scene at a motorcycle accident Monday afternoon on Cedar Springs Avenue near Egner.

Cedar Springs to host neighboring Tri County Friday

UPDATE: Cedar Springs triumphed over Tri County 33-6.

The Cedar Springs Red Hawks could be a smokin’ team this year, and fans are looking forward to a matchup with neighbor and long ago rival, Howard City Tri County on Friday at 7 p.m. at Red Hawk Stadium. The last time the two played was in 1983.

To celebrate the game, the boys and girls cross country teams from both schools will run the ball from Tri County to Cedar Springs via the White Pine Trail. They will get a police escort into the back of the stadium once they hit 17 Mile around 6:30 p.m. They will enter the stadium about 5 minutes before game time. After they are introduced they will present the game ball to the football captains.

Cedar Springs Athletic Supervisor Autumn Mattson came up with the idea. “I know that Belding and Greenville do it, and thought it would be an awesome way to kick off the season, and also to showcase the cross country team,” she explained. Mattson said she spoke with officials at Tri County and they liked the idea also.

Cedar Springs has only played Howard City Tri County twice since Sand Lake and Howard City merged in the early 1960s. They played them in both 1982 and 1983, for the last game of the season, when they were part of the Tri River Conference. Cedar Springs lost 14-0 and 20-15, respectively. Prior to that Cedar Springs faced Howard City in 1954 and 1955, winning 60-0, and 64-0, respectively, when they were part of the Newaygo County conference. They did not face Sand Lake in the 1950s or 1960s, though they did play both Sand Lake and Howard City in earlier years.

Prospects for the Red Hawks look good this year, with 15 returning starters, including top running back James Putnam. They also have a group of JV players that won the OK Blue last year, and now have moved up to varsity.

A memorial will be dedicated Saturday at 1 p.m. in the new Veterans Park to Spc. Timothy Brown, 23, who was killed on Nov. 4, 2005, when a land mine detonated near his humvee during combat operations in Iraq. He is the son of Tim and Cindy Brown, of Nelson Township.

Dan Brown, Tim’s uncle, headed up the initiative to create Veterans Park on city property at the corner of Oak and Main Street as a tribute to all veterans. It was funded with donations and volunteer labor, and includes a sidewalk, trees, benches and three spots for monuments representing different wars. It was dedicated on Memorial Day. Tim Brown’s monument, which was paid for separately, will be the first monument to be placed there. Tim’s monument was paid for through fundraising and the recent golf outing held in his honor.

Donations are still being taken help pay for some improvements to the park, such as a handicapped parking spot. If you’d like to donate, please call City Hall at 696-1330.

SIDNEY– Montcalm Community College’s Director of Financial Aid, Becky Powell, recently was honored by her peers for her commitment to the betterment of financial aid administration during her 37-year career.

Powell, of Cedar Springs, received a State of Michigan Special Tribute, signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm, 70^th District State Representative Mike Huckleberry, 33^rd District State Senator Alan Cropsey and 68^th District State Representative Joan Bauer, during the recent Michigan Financial Aid Association Summer Conference at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Mich.

“Powell’s numerous efforts in student financial aid demonstrate an unwavering commitment to providing educational opportunities to Michigan’s youth,” the tribute stated. “Her example will long be appreciated by all who have come into contact with her.”

Montcalm Community College Director of Financial Aid Becky Powell, center, received a State of Michigan Special Tribute during the Michigan Financial Aid Association Summer Conference from 68th District State Representative Joan Bauer, left, and EduGuide Director of Sales and Development Ron Wilson.

The tribute recognized Powell for her leadership as chairwoman of the association’s early awareness committee. In this role, Powell worked to create Michigan College Goal Sunday to assist students in completing the forms necessary to apply for financial aid. With her assistance, the program has expanded from 10 to 30 sites across the state.

“This acknowledgement was a wonderful gift to me,” Powell said. “I believe that we are all on this Earth for a purpose and that purpose is to make this world a better place for present and future generations. In attempting to fulfill that purpose for my life, my desire has always been to help others. I believe that this recognition gives me hope that I have accomplished a small part of my purpose for being on this Earth.”

“I am humbled and very much appreciate this honor,” she said.

Powell earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Jordan College in 1979, where she also served as Director of Financial Aid from 1973 through 1993 before joining MCC’s team in December 1993. Powell will retire from MCC on Aug. 31.

“Becky has been a consistent source of professionalism and service to our students,” said MCC President Bob Ferrentino. “She is truly a caring helpful person with a genuine interest in students’ welfare, and she has demonstrated that time and again during her 17 years with the college.”

Jarren Harkema, 14, son of Tim and Heather Harkema, of Cedar Springs, took first place this year at the Kent County Youth Fair as a junior champion rabbit showman.

He then had the opportunity to compete in the Kent County 2010 Showman Sweepstakes, which was held on August 14th. The day before he had to go around and learn how to show every single animal in fair, including Dairy Cow, Beef Cow, Swine, Horse, Sheep, Goat, Chicken, Dog and Cavy.

“Jarren thought it was such an honor and a great learning experience to be a part of the sweepstakes where all the top 20 champion students of Kent County competed,” said Heather. “We are so proud of him.”

This was Jarren’s 5th year of being part of 4H Kent County Youth Fair. His group is The Country Cowboys out of Sparta. Jarren’s club leader is Dick Bethel, of Rockford, a retired Ferris University professor.

Jarren also won other awards at Kent County youth fair this year, including Best in Breed for his Polish Rabbit, Best in Show for mechanical/robotics construction and best in show for a stop motion animated film. In previous years, Jarren has taken 3rd and 2nd place in Rabbit Showmanship.

Jarren is a 9th grade homeschooler and is active in many activities, including 4H, science & engineering clubs, First Lego League & Robotics with local and national competitions, Community service projects, Teen Bible Challenge, and active in his church youth group. He enjoys hanging out with his family and friends, and has two brothers, Brennan and Landon.

Mike Cook, of Cedar Springs, found a huge mushroom this week, and he did it without his mushroom-hunting dog, Pugsly.

Cook came across this mushroom on an old oak tree on 17 Mile in Solon Township. He said the oak was probably 100 years old. He identified the mushroom as an oyster mushroom, and estimated that it weighs 50 pounds. But he’s not going to eat it; instead he’s going to dry it out and shellac it, he said.

In years past, the Post featured Cook’s dog, Pugsly, as the dog that hunts mushrooms. Cook would take him along, and when Pugsly would find a mushroom, he’d bark. But sadly, Pugsly died during surgery, and Cook said he’s now training a wiener dog to help him hunt mushrooms.

By Judy Reed

The Cedar Springs Ministerial Association is holding its second annual United—a community of one! at 11 a.m. Sunday, at Morley Park in Cedar Springs.

This outdoor, public worship service will be a joint effort between area churches to worship together, and remember what unites them. Many people turned out for the event last year, and liked it so much they wanted it to become an annual event.

“We weren’t Methodist, or Baptist, or Pentecostal, or Christian Reformed, or any other denomination,” explained one worshiper. “We were just Christians, worshiping as a community, and remembering what we all had in common, rather than what separates us.”

The entire community is welcome to attend this event, which starts at 11 a.m. It will feature contemporary worship, a message, and a free picnic that starts at 12:15 p.m. Attendees will want to bring a lawn chair. In case of inclement weather, it will be held at Cedar Springs High School.

Church receives founding minister’s Bible

The congregation of the Solon Center Wesleyan Church, on Algoma at 19 Mile Rd, received a very special gift last Sunday, August 22, when the great-granddaughter of their very first minister presented Pastor Douglas DiBell with the very Bible used by Rev. Edwin Potter, the church’s founding minister.

Church historian Kathy Mabie had been researching the church’s history, and that of Rev. Potter, when she received a surprise email from Jayne LeClaire, Potter’s great-granddaughter, who lived in New York. She had Rev. Potter’s Bible that she wanted to give to the church, and to Mabie’s surprise, the Bible was a treasure trove of information about the founding of the church. Pasted in the front of the Bible was an article outlining the church history in a letter he wrote to the Michigan conference.

Mabie told the story last Sunday of Rev. Potter’s work and his sudden death, which happened as he was literally in the pulpit one February day in 1884.  On hand last Sunday for the special service was Jayne LeClaire, her son in law, 2 daughters and 3 granddaughters, all from New York, to participate in the occasion.  Not only did they present the Bible, but they also gave as mementos some mother of pearl buttons from the vest Rev. Potter wore on the very day he died.

Those who would like to hear the interesting story of the Solon charge can go the church’s website at soloncenterwesleyanchurch.org, and scroll down and click on “Hear Us Online,” and then click o “Leaving a legacy.”

Patrick Underhill, 46, of Mecosta, died Saturday at Butterworth Hospital after suffering injuries from an industrial accident at a company near Sand Lake last week.

According to Kent County Sheriff Deputy Aaron Brown and Sgt. Thomas Raymond, the man was working on a truck at High Grade Materials, on the corner of Northland Drive and Coan, just south of Sand Lake, when he fell about four or five feet to the ground and injured his head. A witness reportedly heard a pop before he fell, and deputies said the truck may have gotten too close to an overhead power line, but they haven’t confirmed he was electrocuted.

The victim did not have a pulse when first responders from Sand Lake and Cedar Springs first arrived, but once they got a pulse they transported him to Butterworth Hospital by Rockford ambulance in critical condition.

Sgt. Raymond said the incident would be referred to MIOSHA since it was an industrial accident.

The funeral for Underhill was Wednesday, August 25 at Stanwood Free Methodist. Interment in Altona Cemetery, Altona. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given for his children’s educaion. Underhill is survived by his wife, Carol; his mother, Lola Carter; three children, Travis, Holly and Chad; and several other family members.

More than 500 million eggs have been recalled due to more than 1,000 people getting sick from salmonella. And the Michigan Department of Agriculture confirmed Tuesday that some of those eggs have made it to Michigan.

No illnesses from the eggs have been reported here. The Michigan Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that the eggs weren’t sold directly to Michigan customers, but some food distributors sold the eggs to Michigan locations.

“This is a fluid, changing process as the investigation is ongoing. Federal, state, and local investigators follow the chain of evidence to identify the various channels of distribution,” said Don Koivisto, MDA Director. “The best advice I can give is be an informed consumer – ask where eggs are purchased and always cook your eggs well. And, always, the best rule of thumb is when in doubt, throw it out.”

The contaminated eggs have been traced to two Iowa egg producers—Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms. The recalls of eggs began on August 13 and were expanded on August 18 and 20.

Retailers, institutions, and food service facilities, particularly those serving high risk populations, such as nursing homes, senior citizen nutrition programs, schools or hospitals, should contact their suppliers to verify that they have not received recalled product. Firms receiving recalled products should follow disposition instructions from their supplier.

MDA continues to work with state and federal investigators to identify where the recalled eggs were distributed and will be conducting recall effectiveness checks to ensure recalled eggs are being removed from the marketplace.

The eggs were packaged under a variety of names. Visit http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/WhatsNewinFood/ucm223536.htm to see if your eggs are affected.

A Cedar Springs man drowned last week, in a Montcalm County lake.

According to the Michigan State Police Post in Lakeview, they responded to the scene at Winfield Lake at 6:12 p.m. August 19, on a report of a possible drowning. Initial attempts to locate the victim were unsuccessful, and he was later located about 30 feet from shore by the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office dive team. The Howard City Police Department, Alpha 8 and Rescue 29 also assisted at the scene.

The victim was Bruce Parks, 36, from Cedar Springs. Alcohol was believed to have been a factor in the incident, but the autopsy results had not been released at press time.

Parks is survived by his children, Justin Parks, Corey Parks, David Kindle, Eathen Kindle, Thomas Kindle, and Dillon Tinkham; and several other relatives. Memorial services will be held at the Pederson Funeral Home on Thursday, August 26, at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Bruce Wilson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Trufant, known as “Stump Fence Capital, USA,” has many decorative stumps left in their yards from the years when they were used as fences, after loggers cut down the trees, and farmers pulled out the stumps to clear the land for farming. They changed the name of their annual festival from “Stump Fence Festival” to “Trufant Jubilee” several years ago.

Looking for something to do on Labor Day weekend? Check out the Trufant Jubilee, a fun-filled festival in the town of Trufant, about 15 miles northeast of Cedar Springs. They have a Queen Pageant, three parades, fireworks, a beer tent, Bingo tent, Danish Aebliskiver breakfast, Chicken B-B-Q, horseshoe and softball tournaments, Car and Bike show, pancake breakfast, Frog Jumping contest, midway and music. There is something for everyone! For more information, call (616) 984-2555.