Congratulations Class of 2019

Hundreds of students stepped out into a brand new world over the last couple of weeks as they graduated high school and now celebrate what lies ahead. Here in our area, students graduated from Cedar Springs High School, New Beginnings High School, Creative Technologies Academy, Algoma Christian School, and Tri County High School.

To see photos of top honors students in our area and class photos, click here to download

Patsy Kroes, age 67 of Cedar Springs passed away Friday, January 12, 2018 surrounded by her family. She was born March 27, 1950 to Edward and Ada (Hawley) Fisk. She dedicated her life to her family; her children and grandchildren meant everything to her. She worked in Cedar Springs and Sand Lake as a barber and beautician. She loved her job and she had many special relationships with her customers. Patsy is survived by her children Matthew Kroes, Becky (Todd Fifield) Feenstra, and Starr (Craig) Britton; grandchildren, Vennessa and Jordan (Becca) Jensen, Tylor (Emily) Kroes, Sierra Fifield; great-granddaughter, Audrey Kroes; brothers, Ronald (Ila) Fisk, Donald (Dee) Fisk, Marshall (Linda) Fisk, Michael (Carol) Fisk and Bernie Fisk; sisters June (Edward) Ingerson and Susie Veltkamp; many nieces and nephews, special friends, Joan Fink, Cliff Gallop and Norma Parker. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Larry Fisk, brother-in-law Kenny Veltkamp and friend Mary Goller-Kilts. The service was held at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 with Pastor Chuck Smith officiating. Interment Solon Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Algoma Christian School.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

Photo by K. Alvesteffer/R. Lalone

CSHS Valedictorian, Tara Tepin

CTA graduates. Courtesy photo.

Congratulations Class of 2017

Hundreds of students stepped out into a brand new world over the last couple of weeks as they graduated high school and now celebrate what lies ahead. Here in our area, students graduated from Cedar Springs High School, New Beginnings High School, Creative Technologies Academy, Algoma Christian School, and Tri County High School.

To see photos of all the top honors students in our area and class photos, click link to download our keepsake 2017 graduation feature.

Also, Cedar Springs Public Schools has several people retiring this year: Dave Swanson, Larry Reyburn, Cindy Barnard, Mark Schumann, Jerry Gavin, Mike Duffy, Steve Banagis, and Louise Amash. A big thank you to each one of you for your years of service to Cedar Springs kids!

Congratulations Class of 2016

Erwin Duane Empie, 90, celebrates as he receives his diploma at the Cedar Springs High School graduation. Cedar Springs Superintendent Dr. Laura VanDuyn is behind him. Photo by K. Alvesteffer.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This one is a great example of that! It’s so full of emotion. A World War II Veteran finally got his high school diploma last week and this was his reaction!

Erwin Duane Empie, 90, had waited a long time to get his high school diploma. But the wait was over on Thursday, June 2, when he finally received an honorary diploma from Cedar Springs High School—the school he left in the 1940s so he could serve our country during World War II. He only attended through part of his sophomore year, and enlisted in the Navy in 1944, at age 18.

Mr. Empie received his diploma, along with the class of 2016. The ceremony moved many people in the audience, some of whom posted on our Facebook page, congratulating Mr. Empie on his accomplishment.

But it’s not only Mr. Empie celebrating. Hundreds of students stepped out into a brand new world over the last couple of weeks as they graduated high school and now celebrate what lies ahead. Here in our area, students graduated from Cedar Springs High School, New Beginnings High School, Creative Technologies Academy, Cedar Christian Academy, Algoma Christian School, and Tri County High School.

To see photos of all the top honors students in our area and class photos, click link below to download.

Graduation2016.pdf

Rep. Justin Amash and Alyssa Bonk, of Algoma Christian School.

Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) recognized the 2016 service academy appointees and student Congressional Medal of Merit recipients from Michigan’s Third District at the Grand Rapids Art Museum on Saturday, April 30.

“I am honored to recognize these deserving students for their outstanding achievements. I wish them great success in their future endeavors,” said Amash.

Applicants to the service academies require a nomination from an authorized nominating source, which includes members of Congress. To assist with the nominating process, Amash assembled a committee of military and civic leaders who reviewed applications, interviewed potential nominees, and made recommendations.

In addition to the nine service academy appointees recognized, Amash honored 39 students with the Congressional Medal of Merit. The Congressional Medal of Merit recognizes high school seniors who have demonstrated exemplary citizenship and academic excellence. Recipients were nominated by their principals or guidance counselors.

In our coverage area, there were two students recognized as Congressional Medal of Merit recipients: Alyssa Bonk, of Algoma Christian School; and Kyle Ross Spahr, of Cedar Springs High School. Spahr was unable to attend the ceremony.

Juanita L. White, 83 of Cedar Springs, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at Spectrum Health – Butterworth Campus. Nita was born April 29, 1932 in Rockford, Michigan, the daughter of Clarence and Delorese (Corp) Stewart. She was a very sweet and Godly lady who was loved by all. She was very involved in the church and was a great mother and devoted wife who sang with her husband for over 60 years. She was a member of the Cedar Springs Historical Society and enjoyed quilting. Surviving are her husband, D.M. whom she married on June 23, 1950; children, Guy (Diana), Douglas, Kim (Nanci), Debby (Jim) Hatfield, Phil (Linda); 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; sister, Beatrice Long. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Winifred Papa; brother, Kenneth Stewart. The family will receive friends Saturday, October 10 from 11:00 am until time of service at 1:00 pm at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. Pastor Scott Sloan officiating. Interment Courtland Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Algoma Christian School.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

Almost 250 first-graders were at the Kent Theatre Monday and Tuesday to celebrate March is Reading month and their brand new library cards.

The Cedar Springs Public Library launched its 16th Annual First Grade Library Card Roundup last month, in partnership with the Kent District Library, Cedar Trails, Creative Technologies Academy, and Algoma Christian School.

“The program is largely successful due to the classroom visits by Children’s parapros Shannon Vanderhyde, of Cedar Springs Library, and Sara Magnusen, of KDL, and the great cooperation and support by each first grade classroom teacher,” said Cedar Springs Library Director Donna Clark.

First graders and their families were invited to celebrate “March is Reading Month” by getting a library card and thereby gaining access to hundreds of thousands of books and other materials available at the 81 libraries and branch libraries in the 8 counties served by the Lakeland Library Cooperative.

Free movie passes to see “Nut Job” at the Kent Theatre were issued to all 320 first graders, paid for by the Cedar Springs Public Library via a grant from a local Cedar Springs sponsor. Students showing a library card also got a free popcorn to eat during the show, compliments of the Kent Theatre. About 246 came to the movie and almost every single child/family had a library card.

Just before the movie started, local children’s author Amanda Litz hosted a drawing to give away 6 of her books, one of which was just released that afternoon. To find out more about Amanda, her books, her new bookstore located at 25 S. Main, and the events she has planned, go to her website at www.travelerstrunkpublishing.com

The library card program was originated in 1998 by Mike Metzger, a former library board member.

Kent District Library’s Tyrone Township branch, in conjunction with Kent City Elementary, Algoma Christian School, and the Kent City DDA, are proud to announce the winners of this year’s Summer Reading Art Contest. Area students were encouraged to submit art based on the theme of “Reading and Libraries.” While there were a number of great entries, two students were awarded the top honors.
This year’s winning entries were created by Hunter Pitts, a fifth-grader at Algoma Christian School, and Kylie Brown, a third-grader at Kent City Elementary.
“This was a really great, creative opportunity for Kent City Elementary students,” said Sara Goodrich, Kent City Elementary art teacher.
“We think that Hunter and Kylie have done a great job conveying the theme of reading and libraries and have done so in a very creative and colorful way. They are definitely two very talented artists,” added Eric DeHaan, Tyrone Township Branch Manager.
The winning art is currently displayed on banners in front of the Tyrone Township branch library, located at 43 S. Main Street, Kent City.
Both avid readers, Kylie enjoys the American Girl Doll and Rainbow Magic series, and Hunter is currently enjoying the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Congratulations to Kylie and Hunter!

Algoma Christian School  presents The Importance of Being Earnest, this weekend at the Kent Theatre.

Jack (Miles Brillinger) likes to travel to the city to escape his dull country life. So, as not to ruin his (Jack’s) reputation, he calls himself Earnest and claims to be Jack’s irresponible brother. Gwendolen (Angela Counts), despite the wishes of her mother Lady Bracknell (Brittany Morris), has fallen in love with Earnest and intends to marry him. But when Algernon (Wade Harrier) discovers that his friend Earnest is actually Jack, and that Jack has a pretty young ward named Cecily (Sarah Van Hoven) in the country, he decides to take a trip, donning for himself the persona of Earnest, Jack’s irresponisble brother. Cecily, in turn, also falls in love with Earnest. As Jack returns home and Gwendolen drops in unexpectedly, it soon becomes clear that Jack and Algernon may have been a bit too earnest in their courting.

Showtimes are at 7 p.m. Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24. Admission is $6.

Jacob Hoskins, an eighth-grader at Algoma Christian School has been named a semi-finalist in the Michigan Geographic Bee. He is the son of Dan and Laurie Hoskins of Cedar Springs.

Bees were held in schools with fourth through eighth grade students throughout the state to determine each school’s geographic bee winner. School-level winners then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. In each of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, and the U.S. territories, the National Geographic Society invited the students with the top 100 scores to compete at the state level.

The 2011 Michigan Geographic Bee will be held on Friday, April 1 at the Bernhard Center at Western Michigan University.

The state winner will receive $100, the complete National Geographic on DVD, and a trip to Washington DC, where he or she will represent Michigan in the national finals May 24-25. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the Society. The national winner will also travel, all expenses paid (with a parent or guardian) to the Galapagos Islands, where he or she will experience geography first-hand through close encounters with the wildlife and landscape of Galapagos.

For more information visit www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee.