The driver of this car was extricated from the vehicle after a crash Tuesday in Solon Township. Post photo by L. Allen.

The Kent County Sheriff Department responded to the scene of an accident about noon, Tuesday, May 6, at the corner of Algoma and Solon Rd.

According to information the Post collected at the scene, a Chevy Silverado heading east on Solon Road stopped at the stop sign at Algoma, and then pulled out in front of a Pontiac Sunfire heading northbound on Algoma and the two collided.

The driver of the Sunfire had to be extricated from the vehicle, and was transported to the hospital. Her injuries were unknown at press time.

This Chevy Silverado pulled out in front of the Pontiac Sunfire. Post photo by L. Allen.

The driver of the truck declined to be transported to the hospital.

Both Solon and Cedar Springs Fire and Rescue responded to the scene.

Above shows smoke rolling out the upstairs slider door during the fire, as firefighters work to extinquish the flames in the basement. Post photo by B. Sanderson

An exhaust fan in a basement bathroom could be responsible for the fire at a Solon home last Saturday, April 26.

According to Belinda Sanderson, who lives at 4499 16 Mile Road, she smelled something funny but couldn’t figure out what it was. Eventually she saw smoke coming out of a pipe in a furnace room, which ran alongside where the exhaust fan was, about 11 p.m.

The family and pets got out safely.

Both Solon and Cedar Springs responded to the scene.

The bathroom ceiling is where the fire is believed to have started.

Solon Fire Chief Jeff Drake said the fire was confined to the bathroom area, and they believe it started from an electrical short in the bathroom vent fan. They did rip down the ceiling in the basement to get at the fire, and used a thermal imaging camera to see if there were hotspots in the walls.

Drake said they estimate the damages at $10,000 to structure and $10,000 to contents. The family is currently staying with relatives.

For those of you looking for some good deals, the Solon Farmers, Crafts and Flea Market will run every Saturday beginning May 5 through harvest, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some tables are available. No charge for vendors with the exception that first time flea market vendors will be charged a refundable $20.00 fee. This fee will be returned following clean-up. Solon Farmers Market is located at 15185 Algoma Ave., Cedar Springs. Call (616) 696-1718 for information.

Three people were sent to the hospital Wednesday morning after a crash in Solon Township.

The accident occurred about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, March 21, at the intersection of 18 Mile and Algoma Avenue.

According to Sgt. Loughlin of the Kent County Sheriff Department, a vehicle driven by a 31-year-old woman, from Wayland, was traveling eastbound on 18 Mile, when she either didn’t stop at the stop sign at Algoma Avenue, or pulled out in front a vehicle traveling southbound on Algoma. The impact sent the two cars rolling into a field at the southeast corner of the intersection. The woman’s car landed on its top, and she was pinned in. The other car, which held a 46-year-old man and his 55-year-old wife, both from Cedar Springs, and a small dog, landed on its side.

Solon Fire and Rescue called Cedar Springs Fire and Rescue for assistance, and they both worked on freeing the passengers. The Wayland woman was sent to Butterworth with serious injuries. The husband and wife were also sent to the hospital, with non-life-threatening injuries. The dog did not want to come out of the car, but firefighters were soon able to coax him out. He appeared shaky, but uninjured.

Cable and phone services were down for several hours last Friday afternoon into early evening, after this logging truck pulled down telecommunication wires at 17 Mile and US131 in Solon Township. Thanks to Zane Rice of Cedar Springs for sending us this photo.

By Judy Reed

Six fire departments worked together Saturday night to put out a fire at a Solon Township business.
The Solon Fire Department got the call at 7:04 p.m. January 21 that Quality Formica, 2396 17 Mile Road, at the southwest corner of 17 Mile and Algoma (across from Huck’s Corners),  was on fire.
According to Solon Fire Chief Joyce VanderMey, the fire started after someone had been doing some soddering on a copper water pipe earlier in the day. She said it was in a back room, close to the ceiling, and fire got into an attic space.
Algoma and Sand Lake Fire Departments were called for their tankers, Kent City was on full assignment, Cedar Springs was called for pump help, and Rockford was called in for their ladder truck.
Vandermey said they cleared the scene about 12:36 a.m. “We did a lot of salvaging and hauling out brand new stuff they had just purchased while we were fighting the fire,” she explained. Two vans and hi-lo were included in that. “We tried to save as much equipment for them as we could.”
The extreme cold and ice on the ground made it harder for firefighters to get around, but no one was injured.
The two-year-old business specializes in sales and installation of Formica countertops for both homeowners and businesses. The owner says he plans to rebuild.

Michael Smith Jr., 15, the son of Mike and Betty Smith, shot this nice 8-point buck with his bow on Nov. 5. He was hunting behind his house in Solon Township. He is a freshman at Cedar Springs High School. Congratulations Michael!

A Solon Township family lost their home Monday when fire ripped through this home in White Creek Country Estates.

Two children managed to escape before a fire consumed their mobile home Monday in White Creek County Estates in Solon Township.

Cedar Springs Public Schools did not have school Monday (it was mid-winter break), and a 14-year-old girl was home with her three-year-old sister when she heard the smoke alarm go off. She said the fire started somewhere in the kitchen.

The call came in just after noon, and Solon Township responded with Cedar Springs Fire Department assisting at the scene. The fire spread quickly through the home of Troy Kaltenberg, located on Chestnut Drive. Kaltenberg was at work at the time.

Post photo by J. Reed.

“I was standing out here just a half hour ago and didn’t see anything,” said a neighbor, Richard Pawson. “Those old trailers go up fast.”

There were no injuries, but the two children were treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation and released.

Solon Fire Chief Joyce Vandermey confirmed that the fire did start in the kitchen near the toaster, but the reason was unknown. Vandermey said they were on the scene until about 5 p.m. investigating the fire, and went back on Tuesday to continue the investigation.

The home is a complete loss, and reportedly was not insured.

According to park owner Russ Eldred, this was only the second fire since he built the park in 1971.

A Solon Township family lost their home today when fire ripped through this home in White Creek Country Estates. Post photo by J. Reed

Two children managed to escape before a fire consumed their mobile home earlier today in White Creek County Estates in Solon Township.

Cedar Springs Public Schools did not have school today, and a 14-year-old girl was home with her three-year-old sister when she heard the smoke alarm go off. She said the fire started somewhere in the kitchen.

The call came in just after noon, and both Solon Township and Cedar Springs Fire Departments responded to the call. The fire spread quickly through the home of Troy Kaltenberg, located on Chestnut Drive. Kaltenberg was at work at the time.

“I was standing out here just a half hour ago and didn’t see anything,” said a neighbor, Richard Pawson. “Those old trailers go up fast.”

The home is a complete loss, and reportedly was not insured.

Photo courtesy of Trina Powell

According to park owner Russ Eldred, this was only the second fire since he built the park in 1971.