Vikings to host Red Hawks in season opener

The Cedar Springs Red Hawks and the Howard City Tri County Vikings will kick off the 2013 high school football season tonight (Thursday) in a neighboring school rivalry that was renewed four years ago. Prior to that, they had not played each other since 1983.

To celebrate the game, the boys and girls cross country teams from both schools will run the ball from Cedar Springs to Tri County via the White Pine Trail. They will leave Red Hawk Stadium about 4:45 p.m.

The game against Tri County is a non-conference game. Tri County is a member of the Lake 8 Activities Conference, and this is Cedar Springs’ second year in the new OK Bronze Conference.

The Red Hawks have won against Tri County three straight years. Will they do it again this year? Or will Tri County surprise them? Head on out to the game tonight and find out! Game time is 7 p.m. at Tri County.

Next week, the Red Hawks host another longtime rival, the Sparta Spartans, on Friday, September 6, at Red Hawk Stadium at 7 p.m.

By Judy Reed

Hundreds of Christians from the greater Cedar Springs area left denominational differences behind and came together last Sunday, August 25, to worship together as one church.

Young and old rocked out to a praise band made up of members from area churches, and Pastor Kristie Rhodes, from Hillcrest Community Church, gave a message on the need for unity—unity between husbands and wives, unity in the family, and unity in the church.

After the service, attendees were offered a free picnic lunch, and kids had a blast in the bounce houses and played on the playground.

Goodwill was also on hand to take donations.

An accident in Solon Township Sunday night sent two people to the hospital, one with possible life threatening injuries.

According to the Kent County Sheriff Department, Chad Wehler, 22, of Howard City, was driving a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix eastbound on 18 Mile about 10 p.m., when he pulled out in front of another car traveling southbound on Algoma.  The other car, a 2001 GMC Yukon, driven by Kylie Burns, 24, of Howard City, struck Wehler’s vehicle in the driver’s side door. Wehler had to be extricated from the vehicle and was transported to Butterworth Hospital by AeroMed with possible life threatening injuries. Burns was transported to the hospital by Rockford Ambulance.

Both drivers were wearing seatbelts. Police believe alcohol was a factor in the accident.

Two brothers traveled to Kodiak, Alaska this summer and took the Post with them on their adventure.

Tom Larson (Left) of Cedar Springs and Dale Larson (Right) of Sand Lake traveled to Kodiak, Alaska to visit Joe and Deanna Larson formerly of Howard City. Joe is in the Navy and currently stationed in Kodiak.

Thanks for taking us with you!

If any readers are planning a trip, take the Post with you and snap a photo. Then send it to us with some information to news@cedarspringspost.com. We will print as space allows.

Tara Langerak and her mom, Tammy Langerak, of Sand Lake, said they saw the article about who will have the tallest sunflower and decided to send Tara’s in.

Tara’s sunflower measures 9-foot 6-inches. Way to go, Tara!

Send your sunflower photos and some brief info to news@cedarspringspost.com. We will print as space allows.

Pam Conley, of Beech Street, in Cedar Springs, sent us this photo of what they think might be the tallest sunflower in Cedar Springs, at 13 feet 2 inches.

Pictured is Grandpa Bob Medford and Caelun Conley amidst the giant sunflowers. What do you think? Do they have the tallest sunflowers? Or do you? Prove it! Send us a photo with a measurement and we will print them as space allows. Send to news@cedarspsringspost.com.

From the Kent County Health Department

The Cilantro was sold to distributors in Michigan on August 3, 2013. The product was also shipped to retail stores in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The Cilantro, which was distributed through Meijer and Ben B Schwartz and Sons in Michigan the week of August 5-9, could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Cilantro has a Buurma Farms twist-tie on it.

The Kent County Health Department wants consumers to know the symptoms of illness from the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. This comes after a second recall in West Michigan from potentially contaminated produce. This week, Buurma Farms, Inc., recalled fresh cilantro, sold in Meijer Stores in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Heeren Brothers Produce recalled cantaloupe sold in small, independent stores, due to possible listeria contamination.

The health department recommends those who may have eaten either of the recalled items to contact a health care provider if they notice symptoms of illness in the coming weeks, especially those who may already be at high risk for illness. The Listeria bacteria can cause the infection Listeriosis in some people, and can be fatal in high-risk populations. Listeriosis infection has an incubation period that ranges from three days to ten weeks.

Symptoms of Listeriosis include fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea, stomach cramping or vomiting. If you start to notice these symptoms and believe you may have eaten any potentially contaminated produce in these recalls, contact your health care provider immediately. In pregnant women, Listeriosis can cause a variety of health complications for the fetus, including miscarriage and stillbirth. Other symptoms include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Even though Listeriosis is treatable with antibiotics, it has a high death rate among the food-borne infections.

“There have been no complaints of illness received from either the cantaloupe or cilantro recalls this summer,” said Adam London, Administrative Health Officer of Kent County. “Still, it is a concern, as the incubation period is so lengthy. We are especially concerned about people who are vulnerable to illness: newborns, older adults, those with compromised immune systems, and women who are pregnant.”

If you believe you have the produce that has been recalled, you should throw it away immediately.

Here is a link to the FDA recall, which includes a list of stores (mainly Meijer Stores) that have recalled cilantro: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm365422.htm.

More information on Listeriosis can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/.

Jheramyah Fridline

A Pierson teen has been arrested and charges are being sought against another for the break-in at the Pierson Trading Post on August 13.

According to the Montcalm County Sheriff Office, investigators worked with the Michigan State Police and followed up on tips that came in from the community. On Monday, August 26, they arrested Jheramyah Harold Fridline, 17, of Pierson.

He was arraigned the following day on charges of breaking and entering, alcohol possession, and tobacco possession. At press time, Fridline was in custody and held on a $1,000.00 bond.

The second suspect is a 15-year-old Pierson youth. Reports are being forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office requesting charges for the youth through Probate Court.

Investigators found a small amount of property and evidence tying the two teens to the crime. The case remains under investigation.

A black bear that was shot and killed last week is not the same bear that attacked a 12-year-old girl.

The DNA of a wounded bear killed Aug. 18 by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources does not match the DNA of the bear that attacked 12-year-old Abby Wetherell near Cadillac, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced. The bear’s carcass was examined by the DNR Wildlife Disease Laboratory in Lansing, in cooperation with Michigan State University and the Michigan State Police. Tests were conducted for disease, and the bear’s DNA was extracted. The bear DNA was then checked against DNA from fur and saliva lifted from Abby’s clothing and from the scene of the attack. The tests showed that the bear that attacked Abby was a female. The bear that was killed was a male.

The DNR will extend trapping efforts in the area of the attack through the end of the week and will continue to monitor bear activity in that location. The DNR asks the public to report bear sightings in the area of the attack, which is in Wexford County’s Haring Township. Reports can be made to the DNR’s Report All Poaching (RAP) Hotline, 800-292-7800, or the department’s Cadillac Operations Service Center at (231) 775-9727. The black bear is a protected species under Michigan law. The public is reminded not to shoot a bear unless the animal poses an immediate threat.  Bears are a natural part of the landscape within this area and their presence should not be seen as a threat.

The bear tested by the DNR was the result of a complaint received at about 11:30 p.m. Aug. 17 in Wexford County’s Selma Township. Michigan conservation officers arrived on the scene to find that a man had wounded the bear by gunshot on his property because he perceived the bear to be a threat to his life. Conservation officers subsequently tracked the bear and shot the animal at approximately 2:45 a.m. Aug. 18. The bear was not killed because it was suspected of being involved in the Aug. 15 attack on Abby. Once the animal was discovered, however, the bear was tested for a possible relationship to the attack because it was within about 2 miles of the attack location.

Michigan has an estimated black bear population of 8,000 to 10,000 bears with 90 percent of the population in the Upper Peninsula. The DNR reminds the public that black bears are generally fearful of humans and will usually leave if they become aware that people are present. Black bear attacks on humans are highly unusual. Many bear attacks occur because a sow is protecting her cubs. However, there is no evidence that cubs were present at the scene of the attack on Abby.

The DNR reminds those living in an area where bears may be present:

• Travel in small groups and make noise to avoid surprising bears.
• Stand your ground and then slowly back away if you encounter a bear. Do not turn away. Do not show fear and run. Do not play dead.
• Make yourself look bigger and talk to the bear in a stern voice.
• Fight back if actually attacked with anything at hand — a backpack, a stick, bare hands.
• Carry pepper spray, which has been shown to be effective in fending off bear attacks.

For additional information on living with bears, visit the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/bear.

From the American Red Cross

Many people view Labor Day as the end of summer and their last chance to travel, hit the beach, and fire up the grill. The American Red Cross offers safety tips to help everyone have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

“While many people will spend the Labor Day weekend traveling and spending time with family and friends, no one should take a vacation from safety,” said Kelly Hudson, Regional Communications Officer for the American Red Cross of West Michigan. “It’s still important that people work to remain vigilant on the road, at the beach, and at cookouts.”

Tips for Safe Travel 

Carry an emergency supply kit in your trunk.

Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive.

Buckle up and observe speed limits.

Don’t drink and drive.

Tips for Safe Swimming 

Check weather and water conditions beforehand and throughout the day.

Always swim with a buddy in a designated swimming area supervised by a lifeguard.

Provide constant supervision to children in or near the water and always stay within arm’s reach of young children and inexperienced swimmers while they are in the water.

Young children and inexperienced swimmers should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.

Tips for Safe Grilling 

Keep the grill away from the house, tree branches, or anything that could catch fire.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Keep children and pets away from the grill.

Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.

The American Red Cross First Aid App for smart phones and tablets provides users with expert advice on what to do in case of an emergency. This free app is available on the Apple iTunes or Google Play stores and at redcross.org/mobileapps.

For more information on emergency preparedness, go to redcross.org. Additional water safety tips are located at redcross.org/watersafety.

What does a church do when the number of attendees on an average Sunday exceeds their seating capacity? Build a larger facility? Turn people away? The most logical answer for the Solon Center Wesleyan Church is to add an additional worship service. And the addition couldn’t come at a better time.

Like most churches, SCWC experiences a summer slump in attendance, but the leadership at SCWC also knows that with the coming of fall many families return to church attendance after a very busy summer.

“Last spring our attendance average was pushing our maximum seating capacity,” says office administrator Kathy Mabie who keeps the attendance records. “Our children’s ministries were bursting at the seams. We need to do something and soon.”

“I think the reason that we’ve seen the growth in the church is first and foremost the presence of God through the power of the Holy Spirit,” says Pastor Tom Holloway. “We are a church that reaches people where they are. People know that they can come as they are, and be welcomed no matter who they are, how they dress, or what they have experienced. We are a church that seeks to answer the questions that people are asking. We strive to be culturally relevant, and Biblically sound.”

The first Sunday the church will offer two worship services is planned for Sunday, September 8th, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. The change coincides with Back to Church Sunday® the following week on September 15th. Back to church Sunday is a national movement inviting everyone in America back to church.

The church is located at 15671 Algoma Avenue, just north of 19 Mile Road in Cedar Springs. If you are considering returning to church attendance or are looking for a church home, SCWC welcomes you. For more information about the church, please see the website at www.soloncenterwesleyanchurch.org.

Carroll M. “Cowboy Slim” Emmorey, 83 of Cedar Springs, died Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at his home. Mr. Emmorey was born May 23, 1930 in Kent City, MI the son of Otis and Tillie (Dykstra) Emmorey. He was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the U.S. Marines. He sang and played country music and enjoyed hunting and fishing. Surviving are his wife, Beverlie (Remmelts); children, Karen (Bill) Rowland, Mark (Becky) Emmorey, Jim (Lori) Emmorey, Jack (Sheila) Emmorey, Kenda (Roger) Gillette, David (Cindy) Emmorey; 19 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; sister, Joyce Anne (Richard) Castenholz; sister-in-law, Janet Emmorey. He was preceded in death by brothers, Donald, Wayne and Kenneth Emmorey; sister, Ardis Heiss. The family will greet friends Thursday from 6-8 pm at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs where services will be held Friday 11:00 am. Pastor Jim Alblas officiating. Interment Solon Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or Spectrum Health Hospice.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs