Hometown Happenings articles are a community service for non-profit agencies only. Due to popular demand for placement in this section, we can no longer run all articles. Deadline for articles is Monday at 5 p.m. This is not guaranteed space. Articles will run as space allows. Guaranteed placement is $10, certain restrictions may apply. You now can email your Hometown Happenings to happenings@cedarspringspost.com please include name and phone number for any questions we may have.

Lions Club Pancake Breakfast

Jan. 16: The Cedar Springs Lions Club’s Pancake Breakfast will be held this Saturday on January 16^th from 7 – 11 am at the Cedar Springs United Methodist Church, on the corner of Main and Church. Adults $8 and Family $25. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, juice, coffee. All you can eat. Other planned dates are February 20^th, March 19^th and April 16^th. Proceeds to assist sight conservation. #2

Roast Beef Dinner

Jan. 17: The Rockford American Legion Post 102 on the corner of Northland Dr. and Rockford Park Dr. (330 Rockford Park Dr.), will be hosting a roast beef dinner on Sunday, January 17^th and every 3^rd Sunday of each month. Open to the public. We will be serving roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, coleslaw, rolls, desert, coffee and punch. Reasonably priced at $9 for adults, kids age 4 to 12 for $7 and under 4 years are free. Serving from 11am to 3 pm. See ya there and bring the family! #1,2p

TOPS weight loss support group

Jan. 19: Take off pounds sensibly (TOPS), a non-profit weight loss support group for men and women, meets every Tuesday at the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Sand Lake. Your first visit is free so come check out what TOPS can do to help you reach your weigh loss goals! Weigh-ins 8:15-9am, meeting starts at 9:15am. In case of inclement weather, meetings are cancelled if Tri-County or Cedar Springs schools are closed. Call Barb at 696-8049 for more information. #1

Michigan Blood Drive:

Jan. 19: Michigan Blood Drive: Tuesday, January 19th at the Cedar Springs United Methodist Church, 12:30 pm- 7:00 pm. Make a New Year’s Resolution: Donate every 2 months for 2016. You would have the potential to help 18 people! #2

Community Supported Agriculture

Jan. 19: Learn how you can fill your table with fresh, local, organic produce that’s good for the body and good for the earth. Tuesday, January 19^th at 7 pm at Courtland-Oakfield UMC, 10295 Myers Lake, NE. #2

KDL Lab: Mad Scientist

Jan. 23: Pull on a lob coat and get ready to think like a mad scientist. Create a plush Franken-Beanie creature to take home, create slimy bugs in the Creepy Crawlers Oven and plan your next mad scientist creation with a Franken-creature collage! For ages 6 and older. Saturday, January 23^rd at 10:30 am. Nelson Township/Sand Lake KDL Branch, 88 Eighth St. 616-636-4251. #2

Women’s Day Retreat

Feb. 6: Need to get away from it all? A day away just for women will be held at the beautiful Loon’s Nest Banquet Center at Whitefish Lake on Saturday, February 6th from 9 am – 4 pm. Registration is at 8:30 am. The event called “G.R.O.W. – the Godly Rise of Women” is designed to encourage growth in women’s relationships, not only with God, but with spouses, family and personal friendships as well. Tickets are $35 which includes a delicious lunch, all day snacks and beverages, guest speaker Gail Ramesh the originator or the retreat ministry called Unveiled, and materials for special (hands on) breakout sessions. The day is sponsored by the Women’s Ministry of the Solon Center Wesleyan Church. Tickets can be purchased at online at: https://scwchurch.cloverdonations.com/grow-registration/ or call the church office at 616-696-3229. The Loon’s Nest is located at 2241 Bass Lake Rd., Pierson. All women welcome! #2,3p

By Judy Reed

The Montcalm County Sheriff Department confirmed at a news conference last week that Michael and Kathleen Greene, of Pierson, were stabbed to death in their Whitefish Lake home before it was set on fire October 28.
Police are seeking the help of the public in bringing the killer or killers to justice.
“We remain absolutely committed to solving this crime and are continuing to pursue new leads and reexamine evidence,” said Montcalm Sheriff Bill Barnwell. “We have enlisted the aid of the Michigan State Police, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
The bodies of Michael Thomas Greene, 59, and his wife, Kathleen Marie Greene, 56, were found in the basement of their smoldering residence Thursday evening, October 28, at 3063 Shorecrest Drive, on Big Whitefish Lake, in Pierson Township. The Howard City Fire Department and Montcalm County EMS responded to the scene about 11:18 p.m. on a fire call and reported finding the two bodies inside the house.
Sheriff Barnwell said that cause of death for the couple was multiple stab wounds, and that evidence showed that Michael Greene bravely resisted or fought with his attacker prior to succumbing to his wounds.
The four-bedroom, 20-year-old lakefront home was for sale for $625,000. The couple had spent the days prior to the murders getting ready for sale of their home and the majority of their possessions. “They had been planning on downsizing their lives in order to pursue their new career of grandparenting,” explained Barnwell.
Some eyewitnesses reported a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity of the Greene’s home that night, and police have issued a composite drawing of the suspect. Barnwell said the killer brought a lot of violence to the crime scene, and they expect that he is explosively violent in his personal life as well. There is evidence that he took a large quantity of cash and prescription medication before setting the home on fire and escaping. He may have had to explain a cut or injury to his hands the next day.
Barnwell said there is also evidence that a second person may have been present when the killer entered the Greene’s home. “It is to that other person that we would like to speak,” said Barnwell. “We are offering this second person a chance to come clean and remove this burden and fear from your conscience and mind, remove yourself from harm’s way, and help end the killer’s victimization of others. We understand you may fear your involvement that night could expose you to punishment; your coming forward will go a long way in positively determining your future life. No one should live in fear or danger from this killer. No family should ever have to lose their grandparents at his hands again.”
The police are also asking the public to come forward with any info they have, even if they think it may have been reported already. “It may be the case that someone encountered the killer around the time of the crime and thought his behavior odd or frightening. Someone may have heard an unusual conversation about the murder,” said Barnwell. If you have information, contact Det/Sgt Goerge at (989) 831-7590, ext. 7516 or the Sheriff’s Office tip line at (989) 831-593.
There are rewards for information leading to the arrest and bind over or conviction of the parties involved in the crime. The Michigan Arson Prevention Committee has up to a $5,000  reward for tips to them and may be contacted at 800-44-ARSON (800-442-7766). Silent Observer also offers up to $1,000 and may be contacted at (866) 774-2345, or you can report a crime on their website at silentobserver.org. You can also text Silent Observer a tip. Text “Tip138” plus your message to CRIMES (274637). The keyword TIP138 must appear on the first line of your text message in order to reach Silent Observer.
To see the complete news release from the Montcalm County Sheriff Department, visit http://www.montcalm.org/sheriff.asp and click on “News Releases” under the subheading Sheriff/Undersheriff.

Two men from Cadillac almost drowned Monday when they fell through the ice at Whitefish Lake in Pierson.
According to the Michigan State Police Lakeview Post, troopers responded to the incident at 8 a.m. December 20. David Rush, 48, and Larry Martin, 66, both of Cadillac, were riding on a Polaris 800 Ranger with a cab when it fell through the ice. Montcalm County Rescue were the first on the scene. Police said both men got to shore on their own, and were we but not injured.
The vehicle is submerged in the lake and will be removed by the owner when conditions allow.
If you have any information on this incident, please call the MSP at (989) 352-8444.