Bishop-elect David John Walkowiak

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop-elect David John Walkowiak (wall-COE-vee-ack), a priest of the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio, to be the 12th bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, which serves 82 parishes and 182,000 Catholics in West Michigan.
The Vatican made the announcement last week. Bishop-elect Walkowiak succeeds Most Reverend Walter A. Hurley, who submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 at age 75, as required by canon law. Bishop Hurley will retire June 18th, the same day Bishop-elect Walkowiak will be ordained to the episcopacy and installed as bishop of Grand Rapids during a Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew.
“I am grateful to Pope Francis for entrusting me with this apostolic office as bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids,” said Bishop-elect Walkowiak. “In accepting this appointment, I renew my trust in the Lord, who asks me to set out again on a new mission. I thank God for providing me with the opportunity to serve this local church, which I pray will be a blessing to its people.”
Bishop-elect Walkowiak grew up in Westlake, Ohio and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland in 1979. His first assignment was to Saint Mary Parish in Lorain, Ohio. After receiving a doctorate in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America, he was assigned to the faculty of Saint Mary Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio  and to the Chancery staff of the Diocese of Cleveland, positions he held from 1986 to 2006. He also served as an associate judge of the appellate tribunal for the Province of Cincinnati. His father John and sisters Sue, Jan, and Carol all reside in Cleveland. He is currently pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Chagrin Falls and will celebrate his 60th birthday the same day he is ordained to the episcopacy.
“Catholics in the Diocese of Grand Rapids are fortunate to have someone with Bishop-elect Walkowiak’s experience to lead the faithful of West Michigan into the future,” Bishop Hurley said of the appointment. “Bishop-elect Walkowiak’s education, service to the Church, and pastoral ministry to the people of the Diocese of Cleveland will be of great benefit in this new role to which he has been called.”
Bishop Hurley will retire after almost eight years as bishop of Grand Rapids. He was appointed bishop of Grand Rapids by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on June 21, 2005 and installed on August 4, 2005.
“I will continue to make Grand Rapids my home and assist our new bishop as needed and help in our parishes and the diocese as called upon to serve,” said Bishop Hurley.
Bishop Hurley will serve as apostolic administrator of the diocese, functioning as bishop, until the June 18th ordination and installation.
The Mass of ordination and installation will be a ticketed event. Details, including media access, will be released in the weeks ahead.

Sand Lake boxer Zach Schmuck lost a close decision last Saturday but will box in the state finals.

Three Sand Lake Boxers competed in the West Michigan Golden Glove Championships last Friday. Howard City’s Jon Hawley started the night out by winning a 5-0 decision in a 235lb Jr. bout against Holland’s Zack Calverley. Hawley began the fight with quick crisp punches in the first round and continued to control the fight with hard power punches throughout the bout, which forced the referee to give Calverley several standing eight counts.
“I felt great even though I had a short notice. I was excited to get back in the ring,” said Hawley.
In the 132lb championship bout, David Lewis defeated Holland’s Isaac Flores by 5-0 decision. Lewis used his superior hand speed to dominate Flores in all three rounds. David knocked Flores off balance on several occasion with his power shots.
“I just want to thank God, my trainer and all my family and friends for their support,” said Lewis.
In the 152lb championship, Rockford’s Zach Schmuck lost a close decision to Grand Rapids’ Rafael Ferreira, after dominating the first round. Schmuck was hit with several hard shots in the second round. In the third round Schmuck was able to recover and use his boxing skills to control the round but Ferreira’s big second round was enough to give him a 5-0 decision win over Schmuck.
Both David Lewis and Zach Schmuck will compete this Friday and Saturday in the State Finals against the top two boxers in their respective weight classes from the East side of the state. The Finals will be contested in Grand Rapids at the 44th street Armory.

Kent County is experiencing the worst flooding in more than a century, and a state of emergency was declared Friday.  They said the flooding crest is still perhaps two days out, and hydrologists are saying the water will not recede below flood stage until the middle of next week. Kent County Board Chairman Dan Koorndyk signed a Declaration for a Local State of Emergency, which will allow the county to receive damage assessment resources from the state, and is the first step for possible Federal Emergency Assistance.

The Kent County Emergency Operations Center – EOC – opened Thursday afternoon. “Our personnel has been in contact with residents, businesses, long-term care facilities, wastewater treatment plant operators, the American Red Cross, National Weather Service and many others as we deal with this unprecedented flooding event,” said Jack Stewart, Kent County Emergency Management Coordinator.

Sheriff Larry Stelma urged people to exercise caution and good judgment. “As the water continues to rise and the wind gusts continue to affect so many of our residents, we need to remind everyone that safety is a critical issue,” Sheriff Stelma said. “We need people to be prepared for the unexpected.”  He provided the following safety tips:

• Do not attempt to drive through roadways covered in water – the road could be washed out or there could be strong currents.
• Avoid floodwaters; water may contain debris, gasoline or raw sewage.
• Softened ground can cause trees to fall, and wind gusts can break tree branches.  Be aware of this in your travels, and exercise caution when around trees.
• If you see a downed power line, do not approach it, call 911.
• Please respect our emergency responders and Public Works crews. Avoid areas that are flooded.  People seeking photographs or those who want to see the damage first-hand may impede emergency personnel trying to respond.

The flooding could also have a significant impact on homeowners with septic systems or well water. “If you have a well head that is submerged in flood waters, do not use water for “potable” use, such as cooking, drinking, brushing your teeth, and bathing,” said Adam London, acting Health Officer of the Kent County Health Department.  “Use only bottled water until further notice.”  Once the water recedes, have the well tested for contamination, before allowing potable use again.  Test bottles are available at the Kent County Health Department. About 400 homes with wells in Kent County could be impacted.

Until the flooding event passes, they ask all residents, regardless of water and sewer type, to use water very conservatively. This means -

Flush the toilet less;

Shower for a shorter time;

Avoid doing laundry, or do larger loads at once;

Avoid the dishwasher – hand-wash dishes instead.

The Kent County Animal Shelter has been assisting those residents living in mandatory evacuation areas with their pets.  The shelter has space for pets to be held for seven days.  They are also working to make sure any livestock in these areas are evacuated and protected.

“We are taking precautions to make sure that protecting life is our top priority,” said Kent County Administrator Daryl Delabbio. “Kent County Emergency Preparedness Agencies have gone through a number exercises that have prepared us for this emergency event.  I appreciate all of their efforts to protect the residents of Kent County.”

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.

Galvin Vilchez

Renee Hunt

Two Rockford High School teens that went missing Monday were arrested in Montcalm County Wednesday.

Galvin Vilchez and Renee Hunt, both 17, skipped their fourth and fifth hour classes Monday, April 15 and disappeared. They had last been seen together on Atlanta Ct near the City of Rockford at 1 p.m. Monday. Both had backpacks and were believed to be on foot. Police had said both were in need of medication and had left it at home.

The Kent County Search and Rescue team was activated to look for them.

The teens were located safe in Howard City Wednesday, and are facing charges of breaking into an unoccupied home. They were lodged in the Montcalm County Jail pending a review of the charges by the Montcalm County Prosecutor’s Office.

Alice Powell is well-known around Cedar Springs, especially as an antique dealer and appraiser. But this Saturday, we will get to see a different side of the 86-year-old resident who is still young at heart—her artistic side.

This Saturday, April 20, from 4-7 p.m., a reception and exhibit for her paintings will be held at The Studio, at 90 N. Main in Cedar Springs. Her friends and neighbors, Claudia Mabie and Denise Beatty, are putting together the show.

“Alice was a well known antique dealer and collector for a number of years, but people may not be aware that she has this talent,” explained Claudia, about why she wanted to put on the show. She said she’s known Alice for 25 years.

Alice lives in Solon Township, and she’s lived in the greater Cedar Springs area since she was five or six years old. She said she’s always liked to paint, even as a child. But she’s only been painting in earnest since the late 1960s. And she said she’s learned from some wonderful teachers, including Prof. Mast, from Michigan State, and Hazel Palmer, right here in Cedar Springs.

Acrylic is the medium she uses to paint with, though at one time she also used oils.

Alice calls her style contemporary—out of the box. She said she developed this new style when her husband of 61 years, Marvin, passed away five years ago. “I call it ‘circles of eternity,’ she explained.

Alice said she paints for herself, and often doesn’t know what she’s going to do when she starts. But she usually likes the way it turns out. “I paint to Bob Dylan,” she remarked. “I’ve always liked Bob Dylan.”

She’s entered her art in several juried shows, and one of them, titled “Oh Pharaoh, you ain’t seen nothing yet” won at a show in Lansing, and will be on display this Saturday. She will have over 30 pieces on display and for sale at the exhibition.

Stop in and see Alice and her work this Saturday. You won’t want to miss it!

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.

By Rob South

In the wake of another deadly day in America with the bombings in Boston, parents are being reminded how such events can emotionally traumatize young children. The images and stories splashed everywhere can have a negative impact on a child’s well-being, said psychologist Korenna Barto, urging parents to reinforce their roles as a “safe haven” and secure base.

“It really just means that you have a person or persons that you know you can always turn to that make you feel safe and valued,” she said, “and help provide an emotional and psychological compass or barometer.” A safe haven and secure base are especially important for children through age 5, she said, adding that the key in providing a secure base for children is consistency.

One way to provide the consistency, Barto said, is with regular scheduling of everything from bedtime to family events. She said that can be as easy as eating dinner together.

“Special moments, where you can even just tune out everything else for just 10 minutes, and focus purely on one child at a time,” she said. “It does wonders for feeding that secure base. I think family dinners are a great example of that.”

A variety of resources for talking with children about tragedy can be found online at attachmentparenting.org.

Flood warnings have been out for the Rogue River in northern Kent County.

The river began rising last week, then fell before it got to flood stage (8 feet).  As of 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening, it was at 7 feet, and is expected to rise to 10.7 feet by Saturday morning.

Steve Horowitz reported that his cottage on the Rogue River is already flooded.