My name is Spencer DeGroot and I just moved in with my new family, who lives in Cedar Springs. I was rescued off the streets of Beirut, Lebanon, as a puppy, by Animals Lebanon.

After I was healthy enough to fly, I began my journey by flying to Paris, France for my six-hour layover. From there I hopped a plane to London, England, and then it was on to my next stop in Detroit, Michigan, where I waited through the customs of my new homeland. A nice lady from Hearts of Hope Rescue picked me up and I was given to a foster family until I could visit a vet and become healthy enough to be adopted.

Finally, my day arrived on October12—the day I met my new family in Cedar Springs! I also learned that I am quite the celebrity in Kent County, since my picture also appeared in the October issue of “Cats and Dogs” magazine. On Halloween, I even dressed up in my army coat and hit the town (trick or treating of course)!

Nowadays I can be seen playing with my new friends Kai and Cocoa at the local dog park in Rockford on weekends!

See you around town!

Easy ways to get your family and home ready for the festivities

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

(Family Features) From hectic trips to the shopping mall to the costly expenses of gift giving, the holidays can bring about many frustrations. With a little bit of organization you’ll be ready to take on the holidays and enjoy the spirit of the season.

The many expectations of the holidays can make even the most laid-back people a bit stressed out. This year, face the festivities with a few tips to help you keep things in control, giving you extra time to sit back and enjoy this special time with family and friends.

Here are a few tips for a carefree, relaxed holiday:

Organize your spending budget

Holiday expenses can pile up fast, especially if you haven’t set a budget for gifts. Though it may be too late to set aside a monthly allotment for your big shopping bonanza, it’s important to sit down with your family to come up with a number that won’t set your finances back well into the new year.

Stock up on essentials

Avoid the hectic, last-minute rush by ensuring you have plenty of holiday essentials on hand. Some must-have items include holiday cards, stamps, gift wrapping supplies, and, perhaps the most important of items, batteries. Look for long lasting types, such as Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries, which are ideal for pairing with high drain devices like digital cameras, GPS devices and video game controllers. These high performing batteries are the world’s longest lasting AA and AAA batteries in high-tech devices and now hold power for up to 20 years when not in use. For more information, visit www.energizer.com.

Clear some space

With the many gifts you’re soon to receive, getting rid of old, unused clothing and household items is a great idea for clearing out clutter. Figure out what you haven’t used and donate it to charity or someone else who will put it to good use.

Check it twice

After you’ve made a list of all the family and friends you need to buy presents for, look over it again to ensure you haven’t missed anyone or any additional items. For instance, if purchasing popular gifts, like children’s toys and flashlights, be sure to also include a set of batteries, such as Energizer® Max® batteries. These batteries have a shelf life of 10 years. They hold power so you always have it when you need it most.

Compare before you buy

Check online for the best deals on high-end items, such as electronics and jewelry. Though this process may be a little time consuming, it can save you big bucks.

Whether you’re afraid of over-extending your finances or you just need a little direction for clearing the pre-holiday clutter, use this list to help keep your life in order during this busy season.

Mary Lou Fuller, of Solon Township, sent us photos of a double rainbow that appeared after Sunday’s storm behind Cedar Springs Middle School.

The Michigan State Police are reminding people to use caution as clean-up efforts are underway following the fast-moving storm that traveled through the region Sunday leaving power outages, fallen trees and wind damage.

Damage was lighter in our area than in the southern part of the state, although many homes here suffered power outages.

Damage assessments are still being completed, but two fatalities and one serious injury have been confirmed in the state. Of those incidents, a 21-year-old Jackson County man was killed when a tree fell on his car; a 59-year-old Shiawassee County man was killed when he was electrocuted; and a 14-year-old Wayne County boy is in critical condition after being electrocuted.

The National Weather Service has confirmed EF-0 tornadoes in Cass, Otsego and Ingham counties, as well as one that touched down in several locations from Muskegon to Newaygo counties. EF-0 tornadoes are capable of producing winds from 65 to 85 mph.

As of 1:30 p.m. yesterday, more than 235,000 homes were still without power statewide. Personnel from the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) continue to monitor weather conditions and remain in contact with local emergency management personnel to provide assistance as needed.

Clare Armstrong, of Sand Lake, sent us this photo of a swingset blown across her yard.

“During Sunday’s storm, many communities across the state experienced some degree of property damage, downed trees and power outages,” said Capt. Chris A. Kelenske, Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the MSP/EMHSD. “The protection of public health and safety is our primary concern.”

As cleanup continues, it is important for citizens to be aware of the dangers they may face in the aftermath of the storm.  Below are some general safety precautions:

·         Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with downed lines. Report electrical hazards to the police and the utility company.

• Use battery-powered lanterns, if possible, rather than candles to light homes without electrical power. If you use candles, make sure they are in safe holders away from curtains, paper, wood or other flammable items. Never leave a candle burning when you are out of the room.

• Avoid actions that can result in dangerous levels of carbon monoxide:

Do not use a grill indoors.

Do not use an unvented gas or kerosene heater.

Do not use a generator in the house or garage.

Do not use an oven or stove to heat your home.

• Use extreme caution when driving. If traffic signals are out, treat each signal as a stop sign. Come to a complete stop at every intersection and look before you proceed.

• Avoid standing water, flooded roadways and flooded riverbanks. Remember: “Turn around, don’t drown.”

• Be careful when entering any structure that has been damaged.

• Wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves and gloves when handling or walking on or near debris. Be aware of hazards from exposed nails and broken glass.

Anyone needing assistance should contact their local emergency management agency or call 2-1-1.

Personnel with the MSP/EMHSD will continue to monitor the situation and take prudent action should conditions warrant.

“Michigan’s No. 1 threat is severe weather and these storms serve as a reminder of the importance of being prepared, especially as winter approaches,” Kelenske said. “A prepared Michigan is a resilient Michigan, which includes having an emergency plan and basic supply kit in every household.”

For more preparedness tips about what to do before, during and after a storm or power outage, visit www.michigan.gov/beprepared or www.twitter.com/MichEMHS.

Russ Durst recently spent two weeks with his son Doug’s family in the Chattanooga area, but he didn’t need to take the Post with him. Doug has been a regular subscriber since he moved south about four years ago.

“It’s nice to keep up with what’s going on back home in Cedar Springs,” says Doug, who now lives about a half mile from Cedar Springs Road in Cleveland, Tennessee.

A big thanks to Russ and Doug for sharing your trip with us!

If readers are going on vacation, take a copy of the Post with you, snap a photo, and send it to us with some brief information to news@cedarspringspost.com.

Left: Julie Danielson. Right: Robert Munsell

A 30-year-old Ionia man has been sentenced in the death of his former girlfriend, Julie Danielson, 31, of Pierson.

Robert Michael Munsell pled guilty to second degree murder in her death.

Montcalm County Sheriff’s  deputies found the body of Danielson, when they responded to a domestic disturbance on Whitefish Woods Drive in Pierson Township about 3:58 a.m. Saturday morning, November 17, 2012. Munsell had reportedly called it in, saying that he had had an altercation with another man at the home, then left.

Police said his story was inconsistent, and that he was covered with blood. He finally confessed that he went to Danielson’s home and they argued. When she pushed him toward the door to leave, he slapped her and she fell to the floor and went unconscious.

Munsell then said he panicked, went upstairs and got a knife, and then went back downstairs and cut her throat. He said gave her a hug before he left, which explained the blood on him.

Danielson has twin sons, who were not home at the time of the murder.

Munsell was sentenced to a minimum of 37 years and 6 months, and a maximum of 75 years.

Tens of thousands of Navy supporters attend the christening ceremony of the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) at Newport News Shipbuilding. The first in class, Ford-class aircraft carrier, is scheduled to join the fleet in 2016. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Peter D. Lawlor/Released)

By Sen. Carl Levin

Over Veterans Day weekend, I had the honor of giving the keynote speech at the christening ceremony of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier.

We Michiganians are proud to call President Ford one of ours. That’s not just because he held our nation’s highest office, but because of the manner in which he held that office – with a fundamental goodness of heart and generosity of spirit that all of us in public life should try to emulate.

There is perhaps no more visible, more powerful representation of America’s military strength than the towering hull of an aircraft carrier. No other nation makes carriers like America makes them, and the USS Gerald R. Ford will be the most powerful American carrier ever to sail.

Yet for every time this ship will instill doubt in the minds of our adversaries, it will many more times give hope to our friends and the people of the world. It will be welcome support in a time of crisis, and it will bring comfort and aid in times of disaster and grief. And so it is truly fitting that it will bear the name of Gerald R. Ford.

Gerald Ford sought to replace division and doubt with unity and hope. He took office at one of the most tumultuous moments in the history of our democratic system. His task was to calm America’s stormy waters so that we could regain our self-confidence as a nation. George H.W. Bush observed as Vice President Ford prepared to take office as president, “What we need at this juncture in our history is a certain sense of morality and a certain sense of decency.” That’s the perfect description of Gerald Ford. He was the right man for the time.

He knew our true strength, the strength that would carry us through that trying time, wasn’t just in the force of our arms, but what is in our hearts. In a 1975 speech outlining his foreign policy goals, President Ford spoke of the need to build a strong military, but then said, “I would like to talk about another kind of strength, the true source of American power. … I am speaking here of our belief in ourselves and our belief in our nation.”

That is the spirit this great vessel will carry across the oceans. It embodies our military might, and much more: It carries the name of a president who showed us America at its best, an America that strives to bring hope to every corner of the planet and to do so with strength, but without bluster.

Then-Congressman Ford brought a moment of modest humor to the solemn moment he was sworn in as vice president. He told America, “I am a Ford, not a Lincoln.” He showed us that one need not take on extraordinary trappings to accomplish extraordinary things, just as the men and women of this ship, drawn from every part of this land and every segment of our society, ordinary Americans all, will accomplish the extraordinary.

In the decades to come, when the crew of the USS Gerald R. Ford helps defend our nation from danger, when they protect the innocent from harm, when they sail under freedom’s flag bringing hope in times of despair and calm in moments of crisis – at those times, they will exemplify the greatness and goodness, the steadiness and steadfastness of their vessel’s namesake, and of the nation he loved so much and served so well.

Godspeed to the USS Gerald R. Ford and to the men and women who sail her.

Carl Levin is the senior U.S. senator from Michigan and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Eric Payne with a dandy buck.

by Jack Payne

As daylight finally arrived, the sound of crunching leaves were heard. After much anticipation, a nice deer appeared in the firing lane. Quickly the Ruger M-77 was shouldered and the Leopold scope centered behind the deer shoulder.

That quickly and the season was over. Now the next phase of the work begins. What is the best way to get the deer out of the woods? What needs to be done to protect the great taste?

Starting in the field right after the tagging of your deer becomes the critical time to insure a quality meal. Take your time when gutting the deer to avoid punching a hole into the intestines.

A toboggan works well but a deer cart is much better. We hauled ours through a river, into a swamp, over logs and it always worked great. Center the weight towards the front of the cart for the least amount of work.

Once the deer is home or in camp it is important to clean the cavity thoroughly. A hose or a pail of water to wash out the blood and dirt will pay dividends when the deer hits the frying pan.

If the weather is warm then a couple of ice bags stuffed inside of the cavity will quickly cool down and protect the meat.

Skinning the deer and boning it out helps a lot if it’s warm. Skinning a deer only takes maybe fifteen minutes when the hide is still warm. Quartering the deer or better yet, boning it out and placing it on ice in a cooler will preserve the meat until you are ready to process it.

“Care must be taken with the hide and cape if a mount is desired,” said award-winning taxidermist Charlie Walker. After a deer is shot care must be taken with the head.

“Don’t cut the hide short if a shoulder mount is desired,” said Walker. If not sure then leave it for the processor or for the taxidermist.

Don’t drag the head across the dirt because it’s easy to damage the nose, ears and facial hair. Forget the rope tied around the neck when you hang it up. Hang it from the hind legs will preserve the mount and helps bleed the deer out.

You can butcher your own deer or bring it away. Most places charge around $75 bucks and the meat is frozen and ready for the freezer when you pick it up.

Adding marinade to your meat prior to freezing is the best way to ensure that special taste. This is the best reason for cutting up your own deer. Marinade your meat before freezing will enhance the taste like never before.

Vacuum packing your meat really helps on the shelf life. The bags are reusable and this is a fast way to package your meat as compared to the old way of double wrapping the meat.

Sausage and jerky making is really easy but time consuming. We used to do our own but now we bring it away. Some of the local folks do a fantastic job plus you can get half dozen flavors.

Speaking of fresh venison, nothing tastes better than fresh venison in deer camp.

The sweet aroma of onions and the sound of the mushroom gravy sizzling in the frying pan were welcomed by the entire hunting party.

Fresh as in never frozen is the best. Marinade the tenderloins in Italian salad dressing or use one of the commercial products like the Lowery or Mountain Man marinades. Let it sit over night and sprinkle with Lowery seasoning salt and pepper. Slice up a few onions and sauté’ with butter in a frying pan.

Place the tenderloins in the pan with the onions and sear both sides. Turn down the heat, add two cans of mushroom gravy and let simmer. If fresh mushrooms are available, then throw in a handful.

Fresh K-Bobs is another stand-by meal each season. The best meat comes from the hindquarter. Bone off a few pounds and cut into 1-inch cubes. A marinade of soy sauce or a sweat and sour marinade adds zest to the K-Bob.

A venison stir-fry is fast and very simple to make. Back straps or a chunk of the hindquarter will suffice. Cut into 1 inches wide, three or four inch long strips, an estimated half-inch thick.

Keep you deer cool and clean, marinade your meat prior to vacuum packing and use a few spices. Venison will never taste the same.

A Compass Coach food drive on a casino bus run to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan raised 1,100 pounds in food donations and $300.00 in cash.

North Kent Community Services, at 10075 Northland Dr., was the benefactor of this collection. Kathy Clements, the Business Manager at North Kent, was amazed at the generosity of these casino riders, along with Compass Coach donating the trip in exchange for donations.

“So many folks are short on resources this year, it’s a treat to have local businesses step up and help,” said Clements.

Compass Coach also runs a Winter Coat drive Nov. 29, along with Toys for Tots in December.

By Judy Reed

It was exactly a year ago that the City of Cedar Springs asked for submissions from the community for a new logo and tagline that would identify the city. They are going to finally vote tonight (Thursday, November 14) on two options of the same theme.

The logo includes the words Cedar Springs Est. 1871 Cherishing our Heritage, Embracing our Future. (See photo.)

The City decided to replace both the tagline “A great place to live, work, and play” and the City’s Red Flannel logo in August of last year after receiving a letter from the Red Flannel Festival of intent to file suit for copyright infringement. Since then, City Manager Thad Taylor and the Red Flannel Festival Committee have had several meetings to try to work out some type of agreement for the city to use the logo, but have not been able to come to terms.

Anonymous sources (not on city council) have told the Post they think that with two new additions to the Council, there may now be enough votes to approve a licensing agreement with the Festival, where the city picks up the tab for police services.

This year’s invoice to the Festival for police services came in at around $1,895. That doesn’t include 106 hours of services they donated for Red Flannel events. The bill for DPW services was $1,035.28. That included $796.80 for hours worked and $238.48 equipment rental. The total bill for Police and DPW was $2,930.63.

Other important events at tonight’s Council meeting will include the swearing in of the two new council members—Jerry Hall and Dan Clark—and the appointment of the Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem by the Council. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Heather Benson is an award-winning cake decorator. Pictured is one of the cakes she did for President Gerald R. Ford’s birthday celebration at the museum earlier this year.

By Judy Reed

Heather Benson, of Cedar Springs, gets to have her cake and eat it, too. For the third year in a row, the 1996 Cedar Springs graduate has taken one of the top three spots in Meijer’s third annual cake decorating challenge. And for the second year in a row, she’s taken first place, which means she will get to attend the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association conference next summer as a guest of Meijer, and possibly compete, if she is selected by the IDDBA.

“My goal is to be one of the top three in the nation,” said Benson.

Heather Benson took first place at the Meijer third annual cake decorating challenge.

Benson hasn’t always been a cake decorator. She became interested in the art about 10 years ago while working as a baker in a Grand Rapids bakery. “I just watched what they did and practiced at home,” she said.

She began working for Meijer in Rockford about nine years ago, where she has been perfecting her skills. Three years ago, the company had their first competition. The company has 6 regions, and decorators from each region submit three cakes—one open class, one seasonal, and one cupcake cake. Judges rate technical skills, composition, artistic creativity, attention to details and more. One decorator from each region is selected to compete at the corporate offices. Benson has made it to the finals each year.

Benson has also attended the IDDBA conference the last two years. She was excited to be there because one of her favorite TV bakers was there. “When I attended two years ago, that’s where I met Buddy from Cake Boss the first time,” she said. “I almost had a heart attack. He chose me from the audience to volunteer on stage to compete in a speed-decorating contest. I was so excited I was shaking,” she said with a laugh.

So how did the competition turn out? “He won,” she said. She met him again last year, but did not volunteer that time.

If she hasn’t already, Benson will soon be moving to the Knapp Street Meijer Bakery. “I will get to come up with my own designs,” she said.

Benson won’t know until February whether she gets to compete at the IDDBA. “Meijer is working with me on my portfolio,” she explained.

Benson, and her husband, Tom, live here in Cedar Springs, and have been married for 15 years. They got married on Red Flannel Day, 1998. They have two sons, Sean and Seth.