Doris Vinton’s untitled entry.

The most popular vote getter in the first annual Red Flannel Art Review also took first place in the 2-dimensional juried category.

Doris Vinton’s untitled entry, hosted by B&B Beauty Salon, netted more popular votes than any other entry. Almost 600 votes were cast in the debut event. Winners of the contest were announced at the Craft Beer and Wine Tasting on Saturday, September 21.

Other winners included: first place, 3-Dimensional juried prize Amita Modzelewski, “Geschichte,” hosted by the Amish Warehouse; second place 3-Dimensional juried prize Steve Anderson, “Golumn,” hosted by Probst Floor Coverings; first place 2-dimensional juried prize Doris Vinton, untitled, hosted by B&B Beauty Salon; and second place 2-dimensional juried prize Martha Bobb, “The Old School House and its Memories,” hosted by The Curiosity Shoppe.

Someone is stealing from gravesites in Reynolds Township Cemetery in Howard City, and the police are asking for help from residents to nab the culprits.

According to Howard City Police Chief Steve DeWitt, a family grave plot in the cemetery on Almy Road, in Montcalm County, has been the site of repeated theft. About two weeks ago, the victim reported that someone had stolen two large Rose of Sharon bushes from the family plot. They were well-established rose bushes, about 3.5 to 4-feet tall. The victim replaced these bushes last Sunday with new young rose bushes. It was discovered Wednesday that these were stolen also. Due to footprints in the wet grass, it is believed this happened possibly overnight or early this morning.

“We are asking for your help with this very disrespectful crime,” said Chief DeWitt. “Someone will notice a family member or neighbor planting new rose bushes.”

Another ongoing theft at the cemetery involves War Veteran medallions/flag holders. The Veteran of Foreign Wars post in Howard City reported to police t hat since Memorial Day, someone has stolen 19 large brass flag holders from Veteran’s gravesites. Police believe the medallions were stolen for scrap value.

If you have any information on either of these thefts, please call the Howard City Police at 231-937-4311.

With fall comes apples, cider, hay rides—and horses. Kids and horses were a winning combination at Solon Market this past Saturday as they jockeyed for next in line to ride. Skye, Paint and their caregivers, one of our local businesses, provided hours of entertainment to the children and their parents at no cost. Smiles were in abundance. Look for wagon rides this Saturday with Rich Straub and his pair, Ford and Chevy, a Market favorite. Come enjoy the beautiful countryside at Solon Market, 15185 Algoma Avenue, on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy the ride!

Paige Gebhardt, a 2013 graduate of Cedar Springs High School, recently took the Post along on a trip to England. In the photo, she is standing in front of the famous historic monument of Stonehenge, a ring of standing stones, located in Wiltshire, England. Thanks for taking us with you, Paige!

If you are traveling, take the Post with you and snap a photo. Send it to us, along with some info, and we will publish it as space allows. Send to news@cedarspringspost.com.

Kelly Spahr

Cedar Springs High School Principal Ronald Behrenwald announced  this week that Kellie Spahr has been named a Commended Student in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to this scholastically talented senior.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2014 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2014 competition by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).

“The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”

Girls from the Girl Scout Troop 4282 were awarded Good Citizenship certificates by the Village of Sand Lake on August 30, for being good stewards of Salisbury Park.

According to Judy Howard, Clerk of the Village of Sand Lake, the troop picked up trash that littered the park. Howard presented the certificates to the girls.

Back Row: Jeanice Goltz and Karen Forbes. Middle Row: Jayne Bowman, Sandra Johnson, Anna Truman, Sharon Poole, Nicki Male, and Joyce Hansen. Seated: Pat Marsh, Lila Bowman, Audrey Young, Larry Young, and Margaret Martin. Missing from picture: Nancy Miller.

The Cedar Springs Rockin Red Hats were luncheon guests of Larry and Audrey Young, at the Tower House, 65 E. Muskegon St., for their regular monthly meeting on September 9. The luncheon was a potluck and served on china and silver belonging to hosts Larry and Audrey Young.

After the luncheon, members were given a tour of the historic home by Larry Young. The Youngs have owned the Tower House for 40 years and have furnished it with antiques that have special meaning to the Youngs and to visitors from the community of Cedar Springs.

According to The Cedar Springs Story, by Sue Harrison and Donna DeJonge, the Tower House was built in 1871 by L.W. Styles. Dr. Albert and Lida Tower bought the house in 1920 from the Glidden family, and owned it for 50 years. Dr. Tower was a dentist here in Cedar Springs.

Marcus Dekker

Alyssa Miller

Tyler Barry

An alert neighbor led to the arrest of three suspects for unlawfully entering a home in Howard City last week.

According to Howard City Police Chief Steve DeWitt, an area resident saw an unfamiliar car in the driveway of a vacant home in the 8000 block of Mackinaw Trail, in Reynolds Township, on Thursday, September 19, about 10:44 p.m. The resident noticed flashlights moving around inside and called police.

The Howard City Police arrived and confirmed the presence of subjects in the home. They confronted the suspects, who refused to exit the home until confronted inside by the Police. Montcalm County Sheriff Department and the Lakeview Police Department also assisted at the scene.

The homeowner was contacted and confirmed that no one should be in the home and wished to press charges. All three suspects were arrested and lodged at the Montcalm County Jail. Arrested was Alyssa Miller, age 19 of Rockford; Tyler Barry, age 20 of Howard City; and Marcus Dekker, age 19 of Howard City. They were arraigned in the 64B District Court and charged with Unlawful Entry. A quantity of alcohol was also seized from the under-aged suspects.

A 9-year-old boy was hospitalized Monday after he was hit by truck while riding his bicycle in Tyrone Township.

According to the Kent County Sheriff Department, Kenneth Huizenga, age 9, was riding his bike south on Big John Ct NW, in a private housing development, at about 6:30 p.m. Monday, September 23, when he failed to stop and rode into the path of a westbound truck on Black Hills South Dr. NW. He suffered both head and facial injuries, and was taken to Butterworth Hospital by Rockford Ambulance. He was not wearing a helmet.

The driver of the Dodge Ram pickup, Ricky Roberts, 57, of Tyrone Township, was not injured. Police said that speed and alcohol were not factors in the accident, and that it is still under investigation.

A Wyoming couple has been arrested and charged with larceny of a building on W. Stanton Road, in Sidney Township.

Montcalm County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a larceny from a building on September 20, 2013. A neighbor contacted a relative of the homeowner after seeing a suspicious male and female on the property loading scrap metal into a vehicle. The relative then contacted the property owner and the Sheriff’s Office, who responded to the scene. The man and woman were attempting to leave the scene as Sheriff’s Deputies arrived and apprehended them.

The Deputies were able to determine, through witness interviews, that the couple had taken items from both the exterior and interior of the property. Connie Lynn Whitney, 37, and Gavier Madera Sanchez, 32, were arrested and lodged in the Montcalm County Jail. They were arraigned Wednesday in Montcalm County 64B District Court. Both have been charged with larceny under $200 and are currently out on bond.

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division 

Michael Krumm

Michigan State Police (MSP) Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue is pleased to announce the promotion of Insp. Michael Krumm to captain and commander of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED). As commander of the CVED, Krumm is responsible for providing leadership and administrative oversight of statewide commercial vehicle enforcement operations and special programs for the MSP.

Krumm enlisted with the department in 1995, graduating as a member of the 112th Trooper Recruit School. He has served at the Training Academy and Paw Paw and Jackson posts. Most recently, Krumm served as assistant division commander of the Special Operations Division. During his 18-year career, Krumm has held the ranks of trooper, sergeant, first lieutenant and inspector.

Krumm holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University. In 2009, Krumm graduated from the 239th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

Krumm and his wife, Hilarie, reside in Okemos with their four children.

Law enforcement officers arrested 267 drunk drivers during an end-of-summer drunk driving crackdown Aug. 16-Sept. 2. This includes 45 drivers arrested for a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .17 or higher under Michigan’s High BAC Law.

“Motorists were warned to drive sober or get pulled over, and more than 250 drivers failed to heed that advice,” said Michael L. Prince, Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) director. “Enforcement efforts like this save lives by putting extra officers on the road to stop and arrest impaired drivers and prevent other dangerous driving behaviors.”

A traffic stop made by Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office deputies resulted in the driver being arrested for possession of cocaine, transporting open intoxicants in a motor vehicle and improperly transporting medical marijuana in a motor vehicle. In addition, a passenger was arrested for possession of open intoxicants in a motor vehicle.

Troopers from the Michigan State Police (MSP) Tri-City Post arrested two fugitives during the crackdown, including one who had 16 outstanding arrest warrants.

This year’s crackdown also included seat belt enforcement during which officers issued 4,119 seat belt and child restraint citations. Other enforcement activity included:

2,206 other traffic citations

816 uninsured motorist citations

784 speeding tickets

556 suspended driver license citations

266 fugitives apprehended

74 drug arrests

68 texting citations

43 felony arrests

The crackdown was coordinated by OHSP and paid for with federal traffic safety funds. Law enforcement officers from 155 state, county and local agencies in 26 counties participated in the extra patrols.

Preliminary results from the MSP Criminal Justice Information Center show there were eight traffic fatalities over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Alcohol was a factor in three crashes, one crash involved a bicyclist struck by a car and two other crashes involved unhelmeted motorcyclists. During the 2012 Labor Day holiday weekend, eight people died in traffic crashes and four of those deaths involved alcohol.

This project is part of Michigan’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan signed by Gov. Rick Snyder in February.