AeroMed landed at the nearby Cedar Chase Golf Course on 17 Mile Road to transport a three-year-old with head injuries to DeVos Children’s Hospital Tuesday.
Post photo by L. Allen.

AeroMed landed at the nearby Cedar Chase Golf Course on 17 Mile Road to transport a three-year-old with head injuries to DeVos Children’s Hospital Tuesday.
This red Ford Explorer was carrying three children when it was hit Tuesday by a Ford F150. One of the children was ejected from his car seat and died of his injuries.
Post photo by J. Reed.

A crash in Nelson Township Tuesday morning took the life of a 2-1/2 year-old boy and sent several others to the hospital.

According to Sgt. Eric Rakow, of the Kent County Sheriff Department, a Ford  F150 truck was heading northbound on Myers Lake Avenue about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday morning, June 25, when the driver ran the stop sign at 17 Mile and hit a westbound red Ford Explorer carrying a Cedar Springs mother and her three children.

One of the children, Oscar Zuniga, age 2, was ejected from his car seat and died at the scene. Another child, three-year-old Alex Salgado, was taken to the hospital by AeroMed with serious head injuries. One-year-old Gretta Salgado and the driver, Paula Zuniga, 33, were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. All were from Cedar Springs.

The driver of the F-150, John Heeringa, 65, of Howard City, was being transported by family to be checked out.

Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the accident, which is still under investigation.

The Kent County Sheriff Department was assisted by the Cedar Springs Police Department, Cedar Springs Fire and Rescue, Courtland Fire and Rescue, AeroMed, and Rockford Ambulance.

A bolt of lightning struck a pine tree in the backyard of a home on W. Muskegon Street, near Grant Street, early Tuesday afternoon, sending shards of wood catapulting through the air and into the road in front of the home.

The sound of the strike was heard all over town.

It looked like the tree had exploded. There was debris all over the yard, on the garage, at the neighbor’s home and in the street. Police and DPW arrived within minutes to remove the tree from the roadway.

It’s a good reminder to never take shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm. Instead, get inside a sturdy shelter and wait for the storm to pass.

By Judy Reed

It was 237 years ago that our country’s founding fathers created and signed our Declaration of Independence. And Sand Lake has been throwing a huge party to celebrate that independence for 144 of them.

The 144th annual Sand Lake Fourth of July Celebration will take place this year July 3-7. The theme is “Old Fashioned Small Town Pride.”

There is something for kids and adults alike at the celebration. The town’s Parade of Lights will kick it off Tuesday evening, July 2, with lineup at 8:30 p.m. The midway with carnival rides opens Wednesday, July 3; the grand parade is Thursday, July 4 at 1:30 p.m., with fireworks later that evening at 10:30 p.m.; and Kiddies day is Friday, July 5, complete with a kiddies parade, games and carnival rides. More events take place throughout the week and weekend, including a hot dog eating contest, bed races, music and more.

Click link below to download the schedule.

SandLakeFair.pdf

Army Pvt. David J. Stafford has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, core values and traditions. Additional training included development of basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics, and experiencing use of various weapons and weapons defenses available to the infantry crewman.

After he graduated from basic training he took more training and graduated from Abrams Tank Maintainers and also from Recovery School. He graduated from Abrams as a distinguished honors graduate.

Stafford is the son of Mary and Steve Stafford of Cedar Springs. He is a 2006 graduate of Cedar Springs High School. He will be coming home on leave this week, and then will later be stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado.

Sue and Phil Harrison recently returned from a 3,200 mile round trip to San Antonio, Texas to see their son and his family, and they were good enough to take along a copy of the Post.

“We wanted to find a very unique place to shoot a picture of the Post and it couldn’t have been any better than Luckenbach, Texas, population 3,” explained Sue. “The town’s population soars to thousands when bikers and country and western fans from all over the US come for concerts there. The general store/post office/gift shop/saloon is the oldest building. Luckenbach’s claim to fame is being featured in a song by Waylon Jennings and Willy Nelson, both of whom have held sold out concerts in the dance hall.”

Sue said that although they didn’t see Waylon or Willy, they got to sit on Tumbleweed, the longhorn steer, and have their picture taken as they read the Post. They also got a great shot of Sue, Phil and granddaughter Emma in front of the Luckenbach General Store.

Thanks so much for taking us with you!

Will you be traveling? Take along a copy of the Post and get a photo. Send the photo and some info about it to news@cedarspringspost.com. We will print them as space allows.

Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) announced that he will host town hall meetings in Sparta and Cedar Springs on Monday, July 1, 2013.

“I look forward to answering questions about the issues facing our country and the Third District of Michigan,” said Amash.

The town halls are free and open to the public and the media.

He will be at the Sparta Carnegie Township Library, 80 N. Union St., Sparta from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, July 1.

Amash will then be at Creative Technologies Academy, 350 Pine Street, Cedar Springs, from 6 to 7 p.m. the evening of Monday, July 1.

Howard City Police are asking the public for assistance in locating a snowmobile trailer that was stolen in Reynolds Township last weekend.

A black covered “Bearcat” brand snowmobile trailer containing two snowmobiles and other items of value were taken from the area of Amy School and Gates Road sometime between Friday evening, June 21, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday evening, June 22, 7:30 p.m. The trailer did not have a valid plate on it.

Also taken from the residence was a red Yamaha quad/4-wheeler that was missing fenders.

Both tires on the trailer were said to have been flat on it and suspect(s) would have had to inflate and repair them prior to moving the trailer. The trailer most likely would have been observed by someone leaving from the area.

Anyone who might have observed this trailer in the area in the time frame listed please contact the Howard City Police Department at 231-937-4311.

Cedar Springs Police Chief Roger Parent reported that an investigation that started earlier this spring has resulted in the arrest of a teen on drug charges.

Dustin Lee Roelofs, 17, of Cedar Springs faces felony charges of Delivery and/or Manufacturing of Marihuana and one count of Maintaining a Drug House after Kent County Sheriff Department’s KANET conducted a raid of a home on W. Pine Street in June.

“A combination of tips and surveillance by the Cedar Springs Police Department resulted in us alerting the Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team that it appeared drugs were being sold out of a home on W. Pine Street,” explained Parent. “Over time, enough evidence was obtained for a search warrant.” He said that a small amount of drugs were confiscated, resulting in the charges against Roelofs.

He was arraigned on June 13 with his case being bound over to Kent County Circuit Court. Dustin Roelofs is currently out on bond.

Jason Warfield

A Sparta man has been charged with armed robbery in the hold up of a gas station in Sparta last Saturday night.

According to Sparta Police Chief Andrew Milanowski, police responded to the Admiral Gas station at 206 S. State Street in the Village of Sparta on an armed robbery on Saturday, June 22, at approximately 10:10 p.m.

A white male subject reportedly entered the store with a knife and demanded money and cigarettes from the clerk. The clerk complied and the suspect left with out any further incident. He was last seen leaving the parking lot on a bicycle eastbound on E.

Gardner Street. Police immediately checked the area but couldn’t find the suspect, so they called in a K-9 from the Grand Rapids Police Department. The dog tracked to the door of a house not far from the scene.

Police set up a perimeter around the house and soon determined the house was unoccupied. Milanowski said that witnesses came forward and told them that the suspect left in a vehicle and where he might be. Deputies from the Kent County Sheriff Department who were also assisting responded to this area.

A short time later, while Sparta Officer Krystal Stuart was still at the original residence, the suspect and vehicle arrived back at the residence. He was then taken into custody. The majority of the cigarettes and a large portion of the money believed to be taken in the robbery were recovered.

The suspect, Jason Michael Warfield, 34, of Sparta, was arrested and lodged in the Kent County Jail. He was arraigned Monday, June 24, on one charge of armed robbery, one count of possession of cocaine, and charged as a habitual offender 4^th offense. Bond was set at $260,000 cash or surety. Warfield was on probation for a prior larceny offense that happened last August in Mason County, and a violation of the controlled substance act.

Eight local counties step up enforcement for July 4^th holiday

Motorists wishing to keep their independence this July Fourth holiday need to designate a sober driver as a statewide drunk driving crackdown kicks off July 1, with 156 law enforcement agencies, in 26 counties, participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over crackdown.

In 2012, 342 people died in Michigan as a result of alcohol and/or drug-involved traffic crashes, a 7.2 percent increase from 2011. To help prevent these needless tragedies, law enforcement agencies from local police departments, sheriff offices and Michigan State Police posts across the state will work stepped up drunk driving patrols during this popular summer holiday time period.

The effort runs through July 7 and is paid for with federal funds administered by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).  Grant-funded counties in West Michigan are Allegan, Berrien, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa and Van Buren.

“Don’t let your Fourth of July end in an arrest, said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director.  “Make smart decisions and plan ahead to ensure a safe way home. If you drive drunk, you will be arrested.”

During the 2012 July Fourth holiday period, four people were killed in four traffic crashes. Although none of the crashes were alcohol-related, one crash involved a pedestrian, one motorist was unbelted and a motorcyclist and an ORV rider were not wearing helmets.

In Michigan, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher, although motorists can be arrested at any BAC level if an officer feels they are impaired. Under the state’s high BAC law, motorists face enhanced penalties if a first-time arrest is for a .17 BAC or higher.

Increased drunk driving enforcement is part of Michigan’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan signed by Gov. Rick Snyder in February 2013.

DAVID & ANNETTE TODD

June 26, 1993

Happy 20^th Anniversary!

Mrs. Miriam Zoe Piatt Huntoon, age 83, of Reed City, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, June 21, 2013. She was raised by her grandmother, went back to high school and graduated in 1962. In September of 1962, she started at Grand Rapids Junior College. Her husband died, but Miriam was persistent and continued her education, graduating from MSU in 1965 with honors. She taught at Benham and then Hilltop Schools in the Cedar Springs School District for 23 years. In the summer she finished her Masters Degree. In 1983 she married Emil Huntoon. They lived in Newaygo and then retired to Florida where she taught for 12 years. Each day she would rise early for her devotions and would faithfully study the word. Miriam is survived by her children, Joe (Marilyn) Piatt, Ruth Ann (Ron) LaDuke, Jim (Carol) Piatt, Joque (Denese) Piatt, Jeff (LuAnn) Piatt, Larry (Karen), Max (Loretta), Joyce (Harold), Jane (Jerry), Carolyn (Frank); many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Melody; sister-in-law, Mrs. Ann Jordan. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Joseph Piatt, and Emil Huntoon, and sons, Jerry and Fred. The Service of Praise and Thanksgiving for the gift of everlasting life through Jesus Christ for Mrs. Huntoon was held on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 4151 Wild Turkey Drive, Reed City with Pastor John Dawson officiating. Interment in Oakfield Township Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider First Baptist Church in Reed City. Relatives and friends met with the family at the Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford, on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. and from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday at the church.

Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com