An argument that started in an area bar spread to the roadway early Friday morning, February 26, sending two men to the hospital.
According to the Kent County Sheriff Department, there was a verbal argument between a 23-year-old man and a 27-year-old man, both from  Greenville, at about 12:56 a.m. on February 26, at the Harvard Bar, on Harvard Ave.  in Oakfield Township. The argument was broken up by several bystanders, and the 23-year-old took off, walking southbound on Harvard Avenue with two friends, a 21-year-old from Greenville, and a 22-year-old from Gowen.

The 27-year-old then got into a vehicle with two friends and took off southbound on Harvard Avenue. As the vehicle approached the three that were walking, it swerved towards the group. The front passenger opened the door, striking the 21-year-old and knocking him to the ground. The 23-year-old was struck by the front passenger side bumper of the vehicle and also knocked to the ground. The vehicle then fled southbound on Harvard Ave.

The 21-year-old suffered cuts to his right knee and right arm, and was transported privately to Butterworth Hospital. The 23-year-old was knocked unconscious. He was listed as having serious but non-life threatening injuries, and was transported to Butterworth Hospital. The suspect vehicle was described as a dark-colored four-door vehicle.

Oakfield Fire assisted at the scene.

By Judy Reed

Post photo by Judy Reed

The secret is out—WOOD TV8’s Maranda is bringing her park party back to Cedar Springs on June 24! And not only is she bringing it back, the park party will be the kickoff event for Maranda’s summer full of fun!

Maranda will once again rock six parks throughout West Michigan in bigger and better ways than ever before. Working in conjunction with local parks and recreation departments and city officials, Park Parties will go to strategic geographic locations based on financial needs.

“I’m thrilled that we are once again able to offer Park Parties to families in West Michigan. I know many appreciate the fact that it’s a day of free fun with no worries of cost or commitments,” said Maranda.

The first Maranda Park Party here was in 2008. “She has some staple communities that she goes to every year, and some that she rotates to,” explained Amanda Gerhardt, with Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation. “To have her back a second time is a true honor. They had such a great time in 2008 that they wanted to come back again.”

Gerhardt said that a lot of the things they did in 2008 would be the same. It will be held on the Cedar Springs Public School grounds near Cedar View Elementary; there will be free parking at Beach, Cedar Trails and the High School with a shuttle to the party; there will be free lunches, and lots of fun!  Maranda’s staff and the Cedar Springs Area Parks and Rec planning committee will work on finalizing many of the details, such as coordinating with local organizations, getting volunteers to work the party and marketing. More details will be announced about the party this spring.

For the past 16 years, Maranda has hosted free Park Parties around West Michigan. The concept is simple, everyone’s invited and everything is free. In 2009, over 40,000 kids and families attended the Park Parties and enjoyed an afternoon of fun in their own neighborhood.

A Cedar Springs man died Mønday evening when the car he was driving hit a tree..

According to the Kent County Sheriff Department, Craig Schaner, 40, of Solon Township, was northbound on Lincoln Lake Avenue in Grattan Township on Monday evening, March 1, about 6:28 p.m., when his 2009 Chevrolet Impala left the roadway for unknown reasons and hit a tree. The car then burst into flames.

Neighbors reportedly rushed to the scene but couldn’t save the driver. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Schaner was reportedly a vehicle auctioneer. He is survived by two sons, Seth and Garrett Schaner, of Big Rapids.

Pvt. Daniel Mourer, of Nelson Township, graduated basic combat training at Fort Knox on February 4, 2010, with E Company, 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment, 194th Armored Brigade.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics.

Pvt. Mourer is now stationed at Fort Lee, VA to finish AIT training. He is with Whiskey Co., 266th Quartermaster Battalion, 3rd Platoon.
Pvt. Mourer is the son of Dave and Jackie Mourer of Nelson Township, and grandson of Chet and Dorothy Quist, and Helen and the late Walter Mourer.
He is a 2009 graduate of Cedar Springs High School.

First graders at Cedar Springs Public Schools proudly show off envelopes with their new library cards inside.

Last Thursday, February 25, 265 first graders got their library cards in what has become an annual event at Cedar Springs Public Schools.
On hand to pass out the cards was Cedar Springs Public Library Director Donna Clark, Sara Magnuson, parapro at Kent District Library in Sand Lake, and Katie the KDL Mascot.

According to Clark, 243 out of the 265 that got cards either already had their own library cards or got a new card. “That’s 92 percent! How exciting!” remarked Clark.

Of those that got cards, 109 were from the City of Cedar Springs or Solon Township, and 134 were from the service area for KDL.

This young man enjoyed a night at the Kent Theatre as part of the library card drive.

To celebrate, the kids were treated to a free movie at the Kent Theatre Monday and Tuesday evening—Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel. There were 68 first-graders on Monday night, and 74 on Tuesday evening. The Cedar Springs Public Library covered their $3 entry fee, thanks to the generous donation of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Holton, who love to promote education and reading in Cedar Springs.

Mrs. Graf had 21 of her 26 students show up for the movie; Mrs. Holtrop had 17 of her 25 and Mrs. Herman had 16 out of 25. Other teachers were right behind them. “What a great job all of the teachers do each and every year, encouraging their students to get their library card registrations back so their class can come in with 100 percent participation for ‘March is Reading Month,’” said Clark.

The new library cards can be used at any local library.

The Cedar Springs Public Library and Kent District Library both received awards for best library reading programs in the State of Michigan in 2006 by the Michigan Library Association.

The Cedar Springs Community Food Pantry, established in 1985, is still going strong thanks to the generous support of volunteers, local businesses, local churches, community organizations like Cedar Springs Women’s Club and Cedar Springs Rod and Gun Club, and many community members who donate money and food. The U.S. Postal Service in Cedar Springs and the local Boy Scouts also help with food drives.  Last year, 24 volunteers worked an estimated 1,627 hours and served 863 families, including 1,731 adults and 1,075 children. Over $16,000 was spent to purchase food and personal products.

The food pantry is located in Cedar Springs United Methodist Church, 140 S. Main, and is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.  Clients are referred to the pantry through North Kent Service Center and ACSET.  Donations of money, canned food or boxed food items are always welcome!

Michael Benoit

A Rockford man pled guilty last week in the accident that caused his son’s death.

According to Cedar Springs Police Chief Roger Parent, Todd Michael Benoit, 35, was heading northbound on White Creek Avenue in a red jeep, about 10:25 p.m. October 3, and had stopped at the stop sign at 17 Mile before pulling out into the intersection in front of a westbound, full-size Dodge pickup truck. The Jeep was struck in the front passenger’s door. Benoit’s son, Derrick Mitchell Holstege, 19 of Wyoming, was a front seat passenger in the Jeep and died in the crash.

Benoit was arraigned in 63rd District Court on Friday, December 4, on a charge of OWI (Operating while intoxicated), a 15-year felony. He will be sentenced on April 29 in 17th Circuit Court at 2 p.m.

By Judy Reed

Wiring in need of repair may have been the cause of a fire in Algoma Township Monday morning.

Post photos by J. Reed

Algoma Township firefighters were dispatched to 10880 Algoma, just north of 13 Mile, just before 9 a.m. March 1 on a possible electrical fire. Dispatch said the house was filling with smoke. Sparta Township Fire assisted them at the scene.

According to Algoma Fire Chief Steve Johnson, the fire started between the living room and another room, above the garage, and was most likely due to wiring in need of repair. He estimated it caused about $15,000 in damage.

The couple had several animals, which Johnson said made it out safely.

Algoma cleared the scene about 11:12 a.m.

On Monday, March 1, 2010, at approximately 2:30 a.m., the Kent County Sheriff Office responded to three drive-by shootings that appear to be related.

The first occurred in Alpine Township on M37 near 8 Mile Road. The victim, a 39 year old male from Grant, was on his way to work traveling southbound on M37 when his vehicle was passed by a passenger car at a high rate of speed. While being passed, the victim’s car was struck by something. Not knowing what occurred, he pulled to the side of the road and discovered his car had been shot at. The round hit the driver’s side passenger door, traveled through the driver’s headrest and punctured the victim’s coat.  The driver was uninjured.

The second and third incidents took place at the Arbys and Taco Bell on Northland Drive near Plainfield Avenue. The bullets struck the front entry door and windows of the establishments. The businesses were closed at this time but there were employees inside. No one was injured.
Kent County Detectives are asking anyone with information to call the Kent County Sheriff Department Dispatch at 632-6100 option 1 or Silent Observer at 774-2345.

Bobby Jay Fisk

Bobby Jay Fisk, 27, of Howard City, will spend the rest of his life in prison for the murders of Robert and Norma Bean, 66, also of Howard City.

Fisk was convicted of the murders last month, and sentenced last Thursday, February 25. His accomplice, Timothy Stephan, 28, also of Howard City, pled guilty to the murders last April, and also received life in prison.

According to police, Stephan and Fisk, both parolees, entered the Bean residence in the early morning hours of October 6, 2008 and stole their ATM card, a gun, and some Vicodin tablets while the couple slept. When they couldn’t get money out with the ATM card, they returned to the Bean home and kidnapped them at gunpoint and forced into their own vehicle. The suspects then drove the Beans to various locations in Montcalm County in an attempt to obtain money. The suspects eventually drove the Beans to the 14000 block of Beardslee and murdered them.

The men reportedly knew the couple. Stephan lived across the street from them, and the Beans had given Fisk rides to church when he was younger, for youth activities.

According to authorities, Fisk shot Norma Bean in the face, and Stephan shot Robert Bean as he crawled to his wife’s body. Stephan surprised the court when he made his plea last year, by saying he shot both of them. Fisk has maintained he is innocent of the murders. But the jury did not agree.

Fisk received four life sentences: one for kidnapping, one for armed robbery, one for felony murder, and one for premeditated murder, without possibility for parole. He also received 30 to 45 years on three counts of first-degree home invasion, 6 to 10 years for possession of firearms by a felon, two years for felony firearms.

Fisk’s defense attorney, Damian Nunzio, is reportedly appealing his case.