Lieutenant Brian Waber has been promoted to Undersheriff for Montcalm County.

As of Tuesday, January 8, residents in Montcalm County have a new Undersheriff.

Lieutenant Brian Waber has been promoted to Undersheriff for the Montcalm County Sheriff Department. He replaces Michael J. Williams, who was voted in as Sheriff.

Waber graduated from Ferris State College in May 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He was hired at the Sheriff’s Office in 1986. He was promoted to rank of road patrol sergeant in 1996 and to Road Patrol Lieutenant in June 2013.

“Brian was pivotal to the development of our current Field Training (FTO) program and was department Field Training Officer for over 20 years,” said Williams. “He has served as the department LEIN TAC and also a MISSION investigator through Michigan Sheriff’s Association. He currently sits on the Central Dispatch Technical Advisory Committee as well as the Montcalm County Drug Disposal Coalition.”

Waber previously worked part time with the Howard City Police Department for over 21 years.
His official duties began on January 8.

Howard City Police Officers are now Montcalm County Sheriff Deputies. Pictured left to right: Former Chief Steve Dewitt; Officers Trent Moeggenberg and Brandon Allen

The Village of Howard City and the County of Montcalm recently approved an agreement that would merge the Howard City Police Department with the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office. This means that the three full time police officers serving Howard City—Former Chief Steve Dewitt, and Officers Trent Moeggenberg and Brandon Allen—became Sheriff Employees March 1, 2014. The agreement also provides for the transfer of two patrol vehicles to the Sheriff’s Office along with some additional police and office equipment.

“This agreement is an excellent example of Government agencies working together to provide the best and most economical way to provide services to the citizens in their community,” Sheriff William Barnwell stated. “All three of the officers are very qualified and have done an excellent job with the Howard City Police Department. I am confident they will continue to do so as they assume their new role as Sheriff Deputies.”

“This agreement will enhance our existing Police activities,” said S. Michael Scott, Howard City Village President. “We have had an excellent Police Department for decades. However, with changes in requirements and administration, it has become increasingly difficult to have our officers on the road as many hours as we would like. This agreement, with the administrative resources that the Sheriff’s Office provides, will allow more proactive Policing. It is always difficult to change but we feel that it is the right time and the change will not only benefit both the citizens of the Village and Township but also the Sheriff’s Department,” said Scott.

The existing police agreement between the Village of Howard City and Reynolds Township for 20 hours of police protection per week will now be handled by the Sheriff’s Office. This means that Howard City will pay the Sheriff’s Office for 5,000 hours of police hours per year and the Township will pay for 1,000 hours for a total of 6,000 patrol hours or three full time Deputies per year.

The Village will pay the county $511,170 over the course of nearly three years. The contract will expire on December 31, 2016, at which time the village may either continue to contract for services or reestablish their own department.  Reynolds Township will pay the county $29,820 through the end of 2014. However, the Township may choose to extend the contract for additional years at the end of their contract.

Citizens in Howard City and Reynolds Township should call 911 for all emergencies. For non-emergency calls or to contact a Sheriff Deputy please call Montcalm County Central Dispatch at 989-831-3500 or the Sheriff’s Office at 989-831-7590.

The Howard City Police Department helped deliver a baby on December 28, at approximately 1:21 p.m.

An ambulance and rescue unit 29 of Howard City were responding to a report of a woman with back pain. Soon after the arrival of the rescue unit, a radio call asking for additional assistance was made because the woman was actually in labor.

Howard City Police and a unit from the Montcalm County Sheriffs Department arrived at the home in the 500 block of Juniper Street and assisted in the delivery a healthy baby girl to the 19-year-old mother.

Both mother and baby were transported to the hospital and are doing fine.

A Big Rapids man lost his life last week while trying to rescue a dog in Reynolds Township.

According to the Michigan State Police Lakeview Post, the incident occurred on Thursday, October 3, about 9:29 p.m. They said that Morris Zerlaut, 63 was attempting to cross M-46, near Edgar Road, to retrieve a dog that had escaped from a nearby home, when he was struck by a westbound vehicle driven by a 27-year-old male. The victim was eventually transported via Aeromed to Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. Upon arrival at the hospital the victim was pronounced dead.

Police said that seatbelts were worn and alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the accident.

The Howard City Police Department and members from the Reynolds Township Fire Department, the Montcalm County EMS, and Rescue all assisted at the scene.

On Tuesday, August 6, the Panhandle National Night Out will join the rest of our country in recognizing and celebrating the relationship enjoyed between communities and law enforcement agencies. This event is an annual occurrence, the 30th since its inception, in which over 37 million people participate and promote awareness of the role law enforcement has in our communities and encourage cooperation from our residents to help prevent crime in our area.
This special event will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm during the regularly scheduled “Music in the Park” in Howard City. The Howard City Police Department and Fire Department, the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the Montcalm County Neighborhood Watch will be present to offer information pertaining to crime prevention, drug awareness, and assistance in creating a safer neighborhood. Free food, door prizes, and great music performed by the Blue Water Ramblers will be provided. Further information will become available as the date of the event gets nearer.
Anyone interested in assisting us with this valuable and worthwhile event or in helping during the evening on Tuesday, August 6th, is encouraged to contact Robert Richards at 231-937-7837 or you can email the Montcalm County Neighborhood Watch at montcalmcountynwatch@yahoo.com and ask to be included.

A rescue unit ran the stop sign at County Line and Kendaville Rd., resulting in the death of two people.

Two drivers have been charged with negligent homicide after the accidents they were involved in resulted in four deaths.
According to the Police Chief Steven DeWitt, of the Howard City Police Department, a two-count warrant for negligent homicide was issued December 1 for Stephanie Bass, 35, of Grandville. She was arrested on December 3.
The arrest stems from an accident on October 4. According to police, Bass was heading southbound, in a Chrysler 300, on W. County Line Road, about 10:55 a.m. Monday, October 4, when she failed to stop at the sign at M-82 and struck an eastbound Ford Ranger. The driver of the Ford Ranger, Mark Spillman, 49, of Comstock Park, and his passenger, Kenneth Sullivan, 55, of Newaygo, both died at the scene. Kenneth`s wife, Shelly Sullivan, 46, of Newaygo was transported to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids with serious injuries.
Bass had non-life-threatening injuries.
A two-count warrant for negligent homicide has also been issued for a driver that was involved in an accident that was related to the first one.
According to police, a Montcalm County Rescue Unit, enroute to the Howard City accident, was traveling north on West County Line Road about 11:13 a.m. October 4, with lights and siren activated, when it broadsided a Chevy Impala traveling east on Kendaville Road. The Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office found that the driver of the rescue unit, Richard Wayne Pierce, 70, ran the stop sign at the intersection, which resulted in the deaths of Max Leroy Young, 71, of Lakeview, and his passenger, Shirley Narloch, 61, also of Lakeview. Young was airlifted by AeroMed to the hospital, but later died of his injuries.
Pierce turned himself into authorities on Tuesday afternoon, December 7, and is free on bond.