By Judy Reed

Family, friends, local officials, and community members all paid tribute to Brown Saturday, when a monument from the “Fallen Heroes Memorial Foundation” was dedicated in his honor at Veterans Park in Cedar Springs.

“It is awesome to witness the community come together to support something that means so much to so many,” said Mayor Charlie Watson, in his introductory speech.

Timmy, as he was affectionately called, is the son of Tim and Cindy Brown of Nelson Township, and brother to Stevie. He grew up in Cedar Springs and played soccer for several years. He graduated from Cedar Springs High School in 2002, and in 2003, joined the Michigan National Guard.

In January 2005, he was activated in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was deployed overseas as a member of Company “B,” 125th Infantry. Timmy was nicknamed “UPS” by his comrades, like the company’s slogan, “What can Brown do for you?”

One of his friends spoke about that at the ceremony and said Timmy lived up to that slogan. “He would go on every mission,” he said.

His friend noted that Timmy mentioned his family often. “He mostly talked about his mom and dad and sister. He loved you guys a lot,” he said.

On November 4, 2005, while engaged in combat operations in Habbaniyah, Iraq, Timmy was killed when a land mine detonated near his humvee.

The news was more than the Brown family could bear. But the family, led by Timmy’s uncle Dan Brown, turned their grief into something good: the creation of Veteran’s Park, in honor of all Veterans.

“Dan Brown took his family’s personal loss and turned it into something great,” remarked Watson.

The land for the park was donated by the city, and the all the work and landscaping was done through donations. The monument for Timmy was paid for separately through donations and fundraising.

John (Skip) Bushart, president of the Fallen Heroes Memorial Foundation, explained that a small amount of soil was taken from the sites all of the other fallen heroes monuments and mixed in with the concrete under Timmy’s monument. A small bit of soil was also taken from his, and it will be mixed with the soil and concrete of future monuments.

And we won’t forget.

Last Friday night the cross country teams from both Cedar Springs High School and Howard City Tri County helped kickoff the high school football game between the two entities in an unusual way. The two teams ran the football 13 miles down the White Pine Trail from Howard City to Cedar Springs, and then got a police escort from there to the back entrance of the stadium. They handed off the football to the captains just prior to the start of the game.

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

This was the scene on Cedar Springs Avenue earlier this week after a motorcycle ran off the road.

According to the Kent County Sheriffs 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 in the crash. The accident is sill under investigation.

Visitation for the family of Mr. Patin will take place today (Thursday) at Bliss-Witters and Pike Funeral Home, and the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 11 a.m. at Mary Queen of Apostles Church in Sand Lake. Please see the obituary on page 5 for complete details.

A Grand Rapids man died in this crash west of Rockford last week.

Rockford Police officers spent hours processing the scene of a Wednesday, August 25 crash that cost Stephen Michael Ostaszewski, 58, of Grand Rapids his life. The collision of a gray Ford F150 into a tree in a residential yard on Summit Avenue west of Rockford at about 1:30 p.m. was so loud that neighbors heard the crash from over a block away. The southbound vehicle first struck a crossing-guard sign before colliding with the tree. It did not appear that Ostaszewski applied his brakes at any time prior to the crash. Rockford’s Sgt. Mike Miller said authorities did not know if a medical condition might have led to the crash.

Rockford Ambulance transported the victim, and officers measured and photographed the scene until about 4 p.m. when River Valley Auto moved the truck. According to the family who live at the house, their teen boys heard the crash and called 9-1-1. The family asked that their address not be published.

Three people were injured Wednesday afternoon in Oakfield Township, when an SUV ran off the road and rolled several times.

Several people were injured in a rollover crash in Oakfield Township Wednesday. Post photo by L. Allen.

According to witnesses, a Ford Explorer was on Wabasis Avenue north of 15 Mile about 1:35 p.m. Wednesday when a Dodge Durango pulled up to the stop sign at the intersection of MacClain and edged up to see. The driver of the Ford Explorer swerved, apparently thinking that the Durango was going to pull out, and lost control and rolled the vehicle.

The rear seat passenger was ejected, and the two front seat passengers were pinned in. All three were sent to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Christians from area churches came together last Sunday, August 29, at Morley Park in Cedar Springs, to do something that’s often difficult for churches to do—they put their denominational differences aside and worshiped as one body.

“The feedback I’ve received from people has been extremely positive,” said Pastor Craig Carter, Pastor at North Kent Community Church, and chair of the Cedar Springs Ministerial Association.  “There were many new people attending, and they told me how neat and exciting it is to see what the Lord is doing in our community.”

Nine area churches participated, and about 500 people attended. All the pastors gathered on the stage and prayed for area churches, families, state, federal and local officials, schools, youth, businesses, ministries, our military and more.

A worship band comprised of members of area worship teams led the praise portion of the service and Pastor Barry Briggs of The Springs gave the morning message based on Jesus’ last orders to his disciples. He noted how much good the church of Jesus Christ could accomplish with everyone working together, and challenged each person there to invite someone to church this fall. “Wouldn’t it be great if our churches were filled?” he asked. “We have an assignment called the Great Commission. We are charged with making disciples despite our theological bent,” he said.

The message appeared to resonate with those in attendance, as many stood to show they had someone they would invite to church this fall.

After the service, there was lunch, games for kids, and a praise and worship concert.

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.”

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.

Susan and David Tagg, of Cedar Springs, would like to announce the birth of their daughter, Keira Kay Tagg, born on July 9, 2010 at Saint Mary’s Hospital. She weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and measured 21 inches long.  Baby Keira is welcomed by big brother Lucas; grandparents Todd and Marnie Swan of Cedar Springs, Margene Tagg of Barlow Lake; and great-grandparent Roseanne Swan of Ada.

Traffic along 16 Mile Road between Northland Drive and White Creek has increased since the closing of Northland Drive for construction. And, according to Solon Township resident Kathy Crandall, so has their speed.

Post photo by J. Reed.

“Traffic is not slowing down for the bike trail,” said Crandall, referring to the White Pine Trail, which crosses 16 Mile Road.

And bicyclists don’t always come to a full stop either, though they are required to.

“Last weekend a little girl was with her family and riding ahead of her father. I heard horns honking and him screaming at her to stop,” she said.

There are yellow signs on 16 Mile alerting motorists they are approaching a bicycle crossing, but they are about 100 yards before you get there. There is nothing immediately marking the trail as you pass in a vehicle, other than white lines on the road.

Crandall asks that both motorists and cyclists pay attention to avoid any injuries. But what she’d really like is a sign at the trail. “This construction is just too much,” she said. “We need to get a caution sign up or something before someone gets killed.”

Construction is not slated to be complete on Northland until October 29.

In 2009, there were 2,027 bicycles in Michigan involved in motor vehicle crashes, with 1,648 injured, and 19 killed.