It’s time again for the annual Cedar Creek Cleanup/Earth Day Celebration in Cedar Springs.
The 6th Annual Celebration will be held on Saturday, April 27, from10:00 a.m. until noon. The city will give away commemorative t-shirts to the first 50 participants who register for this event. The participants will meet at the Fire Barn at W. Maple and Main on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. to receive their clean-up assignments and shirts. Pizza will be available at noon for all participants.
An e-waste collection trailer, staffed by Cedar Springs Rotarians, will also be available behind City Hall, for anyone wishing to dispose of electronic waste.
Registration forms are available on the City of Cedar Springs website at http://www.cityofcedarsprings.org. Pre-registration is not mandatory to participate in the cleanup. However, it will allow them to assign clean-up locations ahead of time as well as purchase trash bags and pizza.
There is no city/police auction this year. The drug take-back bin will also not be open Saturday.
Please call 696-1330 with any questions.

Katie Weiler in the 3200 meter run.

The girls track team traveled to Chippewa Hills for the Warrior Invite on Saturday April 20. On a cold, windy and at sometimes-snowy day, the team took fourth place in the Big School Division, which was won by Rockford. Taking first place in the big school division for the team was Senior Katie Weiler in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. Sophomore Marissa Oakes placed second in the 100 hurdles and long jump in the big school division. Taking third places in the big school division for the team was senior Abby VanDusen in the long jump and the 3200 meter relay team of Caitlin McClurken, Christina Dean, Allie Veltkamp and Maddie Pekrul.
Also placing for the Red Hawks was:
4th Place: Abby VanDusen Pole vault; 400 Meter Relay team of Marissa Oakes, Taylor Vanlangen, Abby VanDusen, and Olivia Finch.
5th Place: Jeanette Sukstas Discus; Briana Pierson High Jump; Maddie Pekrul 3200 meter run; 800 meter relay team of Taylor Vanlangen, Emily Shaft, Kellie Spahr, and Olivia Finch; 1600 meter relay team of Emily Shaft, Abby VanDusen, Allie Veltkamp and Katie Weiler.
6th Place: Briana Pierson, Pole Vault
7th Place: Kaitlyn Twork, Discus
8th Place: Jeanette Sukstas, Discus

Baby birds, like these geese, will usually continue to be fed by their parents, even if it appears they’ve been left alone. The DNR advises that if you find baby animals in the wild, it’s best to leave them there.

It happens every spring. Someone finds an “abandoned” fawn and takes it upon themselves to “rescue” it. The Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Division staff has a word of advice: Don’t.
“When young fawns are born, they’re not very mobile and don’t appear to have much scent to them so their best defense is to just stay still, on their own, apart from their mother,” explained Brent Rudolph, the deer and elk program leader for the DNR. “Predators can’t track them down by following mom around, so she stays away and the fawns stay alone–that’s their best defense during their first few days of life.”
For the most part, does know exactly where their fawns are. “Sometimes what mom sees as a safe place to stash a fawn is a flower bed at the edge of the house or maybe underneath a deck,” Rudolph said. “So people think ‘That’s a weird place for a fawn—it must be an orphan.’ Generally they’re not orphaned. Through those first few weeks, mom will feed them, clean them, check up on them, and then take off again so she’s not drawing attention to them. So we encourage people to let them be.”
There are times—say, you find a dead doe by the side of the road with a nearby fawn—when fawns have been orphaned. Remember it is illegal to take them into your home. Call a licensed rehabilitator if you feel the need. For a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators, visit www.michigandnr.com/dlr/.
The same advice applies to other animals as well. Though many young animals are adorable as babies, raccoons, for instance, they grow up to be less adorable as adults.
According to DNR wildlife biologist Erin Victory, wild animals do not make good pets and once habituated to humans, they generally do not do well, when returned to the wild. They also pose the possibility of bringing disease or parasites that could affect you or your pets into your home. Raccoons, for example, are not only potentially rabid, but they can carry canine distemper, not to mention round worms, fleas and mange.
“Please resist the urge to try to help seemingly abandoned fawns or other animal babies this spring,” Victory said. “We appreciate the good intentions of those who want to help, but animals are better off left alone than if they are removed from the wild.”
Tari Howard, a licensed rehabilitator in Benton Harbor, said she always tells people who have picked up young animals to check and make sure mom’s not around, especially in the case of fawns. “People say, ‘Well, I’ve already touched it,’ but that generally doesn’t seem to matter. I think it’s a myth.”
Howard said she gets a fair number of baby rabbits and squirrels that come to her “eyes closed and hairless.” It’s a 50-50 proposition as to whether they live, she said.
As for birds, the advice is the same. Remember when you were a kid and someone told you that if you touched a baby bird, its mother would either abandon it or kill it? “Not true,” said Karen Cleveland, the DNR’s all bird biologist. “If it’s completely defenseless and can’t move on its own, the short version is: Stick it back into the nest, if you can. If it’s got little feathers on it and it looks like a bird rather than a ball of fluff, odds are it already tried to fledge from its nest before it was ready to fly. Generally, mom and dad will continue to feed it.” Young birds that appear grounded may be found a good distance from the nest, Cleveland said, because they walk and search for shelter from predators.
“It’s probably not ready to fly but it thinks it is, and then it ends up on the ground, because its feathers can’t get it airborne,” Cleveland said. “Little birds have been coming out of the nest too early since little birds have been around.”
Cleveland said the DNR regularly fields calls from homeowners who have found ducks—mostly mallards—nesting in their shrubs or garden. “The thing to do is enjoy it. Back off. Leave them alone. Keep the dogs and cats and kids away from it,” she said. “They’ll be a very quiet neighbor and if the nest fails on its own—something that happens regularly—just wish her luck on her next attempt. If a nest is unsuccessful she’ll try to find someplace else to nest. And if she’s successful there, she may come back.”
Cleveland reminded folks that it is illegal to take birds, just as it is mammals, into their homes without permits to do so. “There are licensed rehabilitators who can work with them if necessary,” she said. “But it’s better for the bird to be raised by their parents, to learn all they need to know to live in the wild rather than to be raised by a human.”
For more information about specific species or wildlife viewing opportunities, visit www.michigan.gov/wildlife.

Think floods are only a risk for homeowners? Think again. Floods are also a hazard to motorists. Many people die each year while attempting to navigate flooded roads.
Here are a few tips from State Farm to help deal with flooded roadways, and also some ideas on how to handle your vehicle once the waters have receded.
Flooded Roadways
The Federal Alliance For Safe Homes has partnered with the National Weather Service to warn motorists about the dangers of flooded roadways. They recommend the following safety tips:
If you can, simply avoid flooded areas—especially those with rapid water flow. Keep things safe and simple: reschedule your plans if you’re aware of flooding in the area.
If flooding occurs when you’re on the road, stay on high ground. Experts also advise against driving in deep water, especially when the water could be fast-moving or the depth is not known.
If your vehicle stalls, DO NOT attempt to restart it, as your engine may be damaged. Leave it immediately and seek higher ground.
Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly when threatening conditions exist.
After The Deluge
The floodwaters are going down, but your car may have been exposed to the water. Experts say high water can damage vehicles. Here are some tips to help limit the damage to your car after water exposure:
DO NOT start a flooded vehicle until it has received a thorough inspection by a qualified mechanic.
Record the highest level of water exposure on your flooded vehicle.
Contact your agent or insurance company and advise them that your vehicle has been flooded.
The sooner the vehicle can be evaluated and dried out, the less damage the vehicle will sustain. If you don’t have the right training and personal protective equipment (PPE), it’s safer, in most cases, to leave the cleaning up to professionals. Some floodwaters contain raw or untreated sewage and other contaminants that may pose serious health hazards during cleanup. The Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov offers more information on this topic.

(BPT) – Each year, thousands of first-timers will join the millions of seasoned gardeners who already know the satisfaction of picking a perfect tomato at its peak, serving up salads from greens just grown right outside the back door, or harvesting home-grown peppers and specialty herbs never even seen at the grocery store.
Most of us want that home-grown, healthy goodness that veggie and herb gardens provide, but sometimes it’s hard to figure out just where to start. Diligent effort and smart investment can result in less-than-expected results, but starting your own produce plot and reaping its rewards is not out of your reach.
Even a small garden can fill your table with fresh, nutritious food, and help save money, too. In addition to the satisfaction you’ll get from growing your own food, gardening delivers a host of other health benefits, from low-impact exercise to boosting vitamin D levels with the hours you’ll spend in the sunshine.
Whether you start with a few containers on your patio, create a raised bed in a side yard or go big and plant a grand victory garden, gardening can be easy if you start with these six simple steps.
Step 1 – Pick transplants
While every plant starts from a seed, transplants make establishing your garden easier, and help ensure better success. Transplants, like Bonnie Plants which are grown regionally across the country and available at most garden retailers, nationwide, can trim six to eight weeks off growing time, and allow you to skip over the hard part of the growing process when plants are most vulnerable – so they’re more likely to survive and thrive.
Bonnie Plants offers a wide variety of veggies and herbs, available in biodegradable pots, making the selection process easy. Plant what you eat and try some easy-to-grow favorites, like these:
* Easy herbs – The volatile oils that make herbs valuable in cooking also naturally repel many insects and garden pests. Try basils, parsley, rosemary and something new, like grapefruit mint, which tastes as refreshing as it sounds.
* Bell peppers – You’ll find the Bell peppers grown in your own backyard will taste sweeter than those bought from your grocer. Harvest them green or red, when vitamin levels are higher. Bonnie offers the classic “Bonnie Bell,” that’s a productive proven winner.
* Eggplant – Eggplant thrives in hot weather. Try easy grow “Black Beauty” or something different like the white-skinned “Cloud Nine.”
* Lettuce – Go for “leaf” lettuces like “Buttercrunch,” “Red Sails,” or Romaine. They’ll tolerate more heat than head lettuces and if you keep picking the leaves you’ll get multiple harvests.
* Summer squash – Squash are easy-grow too, and very productive. Try zucchini “Black Beauty” or new-for-2013 Golden Scallop Patty Pan Squash. Many gardeners call this the flying saucer squash because of its unique shape. The flavor is delicate and mild, similar to zucchini.
* Tomatoes – These crimson favorites are the most popular backyard vegetable. Choose disease-resistant “Better Boy,” “Bonnie Original” or the extra-easy cherry tomato “Sweet 100.”
Step 2 – Location, location, location
Be sure the spot you choose for your plants gets six to eight hours of sun.You don’t need a lot of space to begin a vegetable garden. If you choose to grow in containers, you don’t even need a yard – a deck, patio or balcony will provide plenty of space. The amount of space you require will depend on what you’re planting and how many plants you intend to cultivate.
Sun-deprived plants won’t bear as much fruit and are more vulnerable to insects and stress.
Step 3- Suitable soil
Success starts with the soil. Most vegetables do well in moist, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter like compost or peat moss. Adding organic material loosens stiff soil, helps retain moisture and nourishes important soil organisms.
Step 4- Feed your food
All edible plants remove some nutrients from the soil, and can quickly exhaust soil without the help of a fertilizer. Since one of the reasons for growing your own vegetables is to control exactly what your family consumes, be sure to use all-natural, safe products like Bonnie Plant Food, which is derived from oilseed extract such as soybean seed extract. Research shows plants are healthier and more vigorous using organically based foods, rather than chemical based options.
Step 5 – Water well
Most vegetables aren’t drought tolerant, so you’ll need to water them regularly. The closer your garden is to a water source, the easier it will be to keep plants hydrated. One inch of water weekly is adequate for most vegetables.
Step 6 – Pest patrol
Let natural predators fight your battles, hand-pick pests or dislodge them with a jet of water. If you spray, do it late in the day when beneficial insects are less active.
You can find plenty of resources to help guide you through the planting process, from websites like www.bonnieplants.com to your local community college’s agricultural extension. Read up, watch videos, take a class and get your hands dirty.

With spring finally upon us, you may be inclined to add some fresh foods into your diet. The season synonymous with change provides a variety of seasonal produce that can recharge your diet, as well as aid in your weight-loss efforts.
Incorporating specific springtime staples into your diet can help keep you fuller and more satisfied while improving your overall health. TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, offers the following tasteful recommendations that work overtime to help benefit your body.
• Sugar snap peas – One cup of these sweet veggies contains only 26 calories. Besides being loaded with flavor and crunch, they also are full of fiber and vitamin K.
• Ginger – According to researchers at Florida’s University of Miami, just a teaspoon of ginger can make you feel full twice as quickly. This is due to the gingerol and zingibain inside ginger that act as powerful appetite suppressants. Ginger is also a great anti-inflammatory.
• Green onions – Also known as spring onions, these have all the flavor of regular onions without the smell. Stanford University researchers have found the high amounts of sulfur in spring onions help your pancreas burn carbs for fuel before they are stored in your body as fat. Add these to recipes for a little flavor and color.
• Eggplant – Eggplant can be incorporated into many recipes as a low-calorie meat replacement or eaten on its own. Baked or grilled, eggplant is a great choice at just 20 calories per cup. Its low sugar content and muscle-strengthening high protein and potassium levels make it a powerhouse of taste and nutrition.
• Button mushrooms – According to UCLA research, the plant protein in button mushrooms slows down carbohydrate absorption in the intestines and helps your body soak up and burn sugars fast, aiding weight-loss efforts. The study has shown that eating one cup a day could accelerate your weight loss by 50 percent.
• Peppermint – Add this fresh and light herb into your diet as often as possible. Studies from Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation have shown that adding one tablespoon of fresh, chopped peppermint to a meal can cause you to feel full on 100 fewer calories. Plus, its lively flavor and smell are perfect for the season!
• Cucumber – A spring and summertime favorite, cucumbers are a guilt-free flavor booster to any salad or a great snack on their own. One cup of cucumber slices equals only 16 calories. They’re water-rich and high in fiber, so they work double to make you feel full and satisfied.
Founded more than 65 years ago, TOPS is the only nonprofit, noncommercial weight-loss organization of its kind. Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. To find a local chapter, view www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.

A standoff south of Cedar Springs ended peacefully Saturday after the suspect turned himself in.

Floyd Frank McCauley

A Courtland Township man arrested earlier this year on shoplifting charges was involved in a standoff with police Saturday after a domestic dispute.

Kent County Sheriff Deputies responded to a home in the 12000 block of Harvest Lane (near Northland and 15 Mile) early Saturday morning, April 13, at about 1 a.m. after a domestic assault. The suspect, Floyd Frank McCauley, 34, had fled in a car before deputies arrived. Police determined that an assault had indeed occurred, and tried to locate the suspect. The victim and her children were moved to a safe location until the suspect could be found.

At around 10 a.m., deputies saw the man’s vehicle back at his residence, and attempted to make contact with him through a loudspeaker but were unsuccessful. There was concern that he may have armed himself with a firearm that was missing. Deputies eventually made contact him through the telephone, and negotiated his surrender. He was then taken into custody without incident. The firearm was found at another location.

Cedar Springs Police assisted the Kent County Sheriff Department at the scene.

McCauley was charged with one count of domestic violence, third offense, and interrupting a 911 call. He was arraigned Monday, April 15, and bond was set at $100,000 cash/surety.

McCauley was previously arrested by Cedar Springs Police in January for retail fraud at White Creek Lumber and Tractor Supply.

Pam Guarisco and her son Cole recently flew out to Tucson, Arizona and took The Post on vacation with them.

“The weather was wonderful, nice and warm,” said Pam.

They sent us a photo of them with The Post at Sabino Canyon. “We took a shuttle up and we walked the 3.7 miles back down,” explained Pam. “We enjoyed the beautiful mountains, and Cole even played in the cold mountain water that was from the melted snow.”

Thank you, Pam and Cole, for taking us with you to Arizona!

If you are going on vacation, take a Post with you, snap a photo, and send it to us with some info. Send to news@cedarspringspost.com.

A medical condition may be the cause of an accident in Howard City Sunday, where a car careened into a house.

Howard City Police Chief Steven DeWitt said that the accident occurred about 3:05 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at E. Edgerton and Hemlock Street. A 68-year-old driver left the roadway while making a turn off of westbound Edgerton to southbound Hemlock. She traveled across a yard, struck and sheared off a tree, then struck the home.

No injuries were reported, but the driver was taken to the hospital for an evaluation.

Plane, patrol vehicle, and motorcycle from the 1930s.

April 14 – 20 as Michigan State Police History Week

This week the Michigan State Police (MSP) is celebrating its 96th anniversary and to honor this milestone, Gov. Rick Snyder has declared April 14 – 20, 2013, as Michigan State Police History Week.

“What started as a small cavalry of men has evolved into a complex, professional law enforcement agency responsible for not only general police investigative services and traffic patrol, but also forensic science services, statewide criminal justice records management and state homeland security and emergency management,” stated Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP.

“This week as we mark our 96th anniversary. It is a time for us to reflect on our rich history and traditions, as well as to recommit to serving the public with excellence, integrity and courtesy—always providing ‘service with a purpose.’”

Checking on the elderly in the 1940s.

The MSP’s roots date back to World War I, when the department began as a temporary, wartime emergency force for the purpose of domestic security.

On April 19, 1917, Gov. Albert Sleeper created the Michigan State Troops Permanent Force, also known as the Michigan State Constabulary. With Col. Roy C. Vandercook as the first commanding officer, this new force consisted of five troops of mounted, dismounted and motorized units.

On March 26, 1919, Public Act 26 reorganized the Constabulary as the permanent, peace-time Michigan State Police. When Michigan adopted a new Constitution in 1963, authorizing up to 20 departments, Public Act 380 of 1965 reorganized the MSP as one of these departments. The Director of the MSP holds the rank of Colonel and is appointed by the Governor.

Today, the MSP is a modern-day, full-service law enforcement agency, with statewide jurisdiction consisting of nearly 2,500 enforcement and civilian members. For more information on the MSP, visit www.michigan.gov/msp.