JACK & RILEY LESPERANCE

Jack and Riley celebrated their 14^th Anniversary on October 8, 2019.

They are both 80 years old.

Happy Anniversary Jack & Riley!

By Judy Reed

This past Monday, April 3, was the 61^st anniversary of the worst tornado outbreak in western Michigan, which spawned the Hudsonville/Standale tornado, one of the few F5 tornadoes ever in the state. Several other tornadoes occurred that day, including an F4 and an F3.

The Hudsonville/Standale tornado traveled a 48-mile path from Vriesland (just east of Zeeland) to Trufant on April 3, 1956 in just one hour. It was as wide as four football fields at one point, according to meteorologist Bill Steffen. There were 17 deaths and 340 injuries.

It was photographed near Baldwin and 28^th in Hudsonville, from about 2 miles south. The photo shows a large tornado funnel, in contact with the ground, along with the yellow sky and greenish storm clouds that were mentioned by many eyewitnesses.

Do you remember this tornado? Please send us an email at news@cedarspringspost.com, or send us a letter to PO Box 370, Cedar Springs, MI 49319 with what you remember.

JOHN & JOYCE HANSEN

Celebrating our Anniversary. Please join us to celebrate 50 years on Sunday, October 9^th, 2016 from 2 to 5 pm at Cedar Springs United Methodist Church, 140 S. Main St., Cedar Springs, Michigan.

Adds new toolkits to website, sees spike in number of visitors 

LANSING, MI, September 6, 2016 – The Michigan Legal Help Website at http://michiganlegalhelp.org, created to help people handle simple civil legal problems without an attorney, provides information and assistance to individuals representing themselves. Information and accompanying forms about family law, taxes, housing, employment, estates, and more, plus videos and 59 toolkits are among the subject matter available online to help individuals navigate Michigan’s court system.

Between the launch of the site in August 2012 and August 2016, the website has had 8.4 million page views, 2.58 million visitor sessions, and 1.8 million users. In July 2016, visit rates averaged 21,000 per week.

“With the addition of new resources, Michigan Legal Help is providing a helping hand to residents who need assistance with many different legal questions,” said Supreme Court Justice Bridget McCormack. “With this service, Michigan is a national leader in helping all residents access our legal system.”

New resources added to the Website include:

• Food Stamp Calculator Toolkit
• I Wasn’t Paid for My Work: Wage Claims Toolkit
• I Need to Make a Will Toolkit
• Small Estates: Transferring Property When Someone Dies Toolkit
• Two new articles about Child Protective Services: “CPS and Your Family” and “Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry.”

Many existing toolkits have been updated or modified. Forms previously known as “Automated Online Interviews” have been renamed “Do-It-Yourself” tools.

LiveHelp, a chat-based feature where visitors can get assistance navigating the website (but no legal advice), is available weekdays from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. In July 2016 alone, LiveHelp agents conducted 427 chats and replied to 237 after-hours emails. In the first two quarters of 2016, users started 77,851 Michigan interviews, and from these interviews, 38,594 sets of forms were completed—an average of 214 per day.

Information and assistance to individuals is also available through local self-help centers in the following counties: Alcona, Allegan, Calhoun, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Oscoda, and two centers in Wayne. Livingston County will have a new center this fall.

JACK & RILEY LESPERANCE

October 8, 2015

Jack and Riley Lesperance renewed their wedding vows for their 10th wedding anniversary. Officiating was Pastor Kristi Rhodes.

TOM & SHIRLEY SHARPE 

Tom and Shirley (Porter) Sharpe of Cedar Springs will celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary on July 10, 2014.  Tom and Shirley have lived on Algoma Avenue since 1987, when Tom retired from Peerless Cement Company, and the couple moved to the Cedar Springs area from River Rouge.  Their children are:  Sheila and Steve Mencerelli of Pierson, Rodney and Judy Sharpe of Newaygo, Lori and Michael Tichvon of Vicksburg, Patrice and Richard Wesche of Crestview, Florida, and Leisa Mahanic and Scott Knecht of Pierson.  They have 18 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.  A family dinner is planned to celebrate the occasion.

DAVID & ANNETTE TODD

June 26, 1993

Happy 20^th Anniversary!

June 22, 1968

There once was a pair of lions.

A pair proud of their pride of youngsters and their little ones.

The Female lion was a busy gal.

Taking care of all, and keeping everything and everyone in order.

Her day was filled non-stop and seldom time for herself.

However, somehow she managed to get all things done, and

Somehow managed to always keep her appearance wonderful.

She was a foxy lioness. Efficient, Clever, and Beautiful.

She was a great life mate for the Male lion.

The Male Lion was also a proud leader.

Always industrious to take care and provide for the pride as needed.

He enjoyed doing so.

On occasion, the male lion would lay back and ponder.

He would observe all that the lioness would do in a day.

He also would enjoy watching the lioness in her chores.

Sometimes, she would catch him eyeing her sleek and beautiful shape.

He would toss her a wink, as she returned a loving glance with a special “look in her eyes”.

The Male Lion would lie back again.

Chest swollen with happiness, thinking to himself.

I don’t know what I did when I was younger to become so fortunate

And blessed with my life.

What a wonderful family and terrific life partner.

But, I am one very lucky boy!

There was another story of a young couple.

Much the same story as above.

The young man in the story has grown older and is very proud of his family.

And on occasion, he also lays back pondering.

I don’t know what I did when I was younger to become so fortunate

And blessed with my life.

But, I am one very Lucky Lion!

Happy Anniversary Karen,

I Love You.

You have that same smile and that look in your eyes from the day we met.

I Love You.

Your Husband of 45 years (Wow!), and Forever,

Bob

This double tornado was one of 47 tornadoes that occurred on Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965 and affected several states in the Midwest, including Michigan. This particular tornado hit the Midway Trailer park in Indiana, killing 33 people.

April 15-21 is severe weather awareness week

Wednesday (yesterday) was the 47th anniversary of the April 11, 1965 Palm Sunday tornadoes—the second deadliest tornado outbreak in history. There were 47 tornadoes in five states, including 12 tornadoes in Michigan. The F4 that moved through Ottawa County and northern Kent County went for 21 miles, caused 142 injuries, and 5 deaths. Counting all five states, there were 271 fatalities and 1,500 were injured that day.

Following that particular tornado outbreak, the NOAA National Weather Service underwent changes to improve severe weather forecasts and warnings, including establishing the Watch and Warning Program that exists today and the weather spotter program, SKYWARN.

Next week, April 15-21, is severe weather awareness week, and the Michigan Committee for Severe Weather Awareness wants to make sure residents are prepared for possible severe weather, including tornadoes, lighting, flooding, or thunderstorm winds.

According to the National Weather Service, there were four deaths and 31 injuries in Michigan from severe weather in 2011. All of the deaths and injuries resulted from either lightning or thunderstorm winds. Flooding, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes were responsible for about $150 million in damages in 2011, down from the $360 million in damages in 2010.

In 2011, there were 15 tornadoes across the state, which is very close to the average of 16. Fortunately, only four of the 15 tornadoes in 2011 caused significant damage, and six of the 15 tornadoes didn’t cause any damage. It could be argued that prior to the proliferation of cameras over the past couple of decades that those six non-damaging tornadoes may have never been recorded.

Lightning was also an issue. A family was on a tubing outing on the Au Sable River on July 23 when a thunderstorm rapidly developed, and they attempted to exit the river and find shelter. They had just exited the river when three of the individuals were struck by lightning. Two women were pronounced dead at the scene. A man was transported to a hospital in Saginaw in critical condition. He would survive, but require a 10-day hospital stay and considerable physical therapy. The survivor had no recollection of the incident.

What should you do in case of severe weather?

When a thunderstorm warning is issued for your area, get indoors immediately and do not use the telephone or electrical appliances. Keep away from windows. Do not take shelter in sheds or under isolated trees. If you are out boating and swimming, get to land and find a sturdy shelter immediately.

A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted or is indicated on Doppler radar. Go immediately to the basement or a small interior room on the lowest level of a permanent structure. A good rule of thumb is to put as many walls between you and the tornado as possible. Keep away from chimneys and windows. Broken glass and wind-blown projectiles cause more injuries and deaths than collapsed buildings. Protect your head with a pillow, blanket, or mattress. Leave mobile homes and find shelter in a sturdy building.

To prepare for severe weather, the Michigan Committee for Severe Weather Awareness suggests that you:

* Plan ahead. Be sure everyone in your household knows where to go and what to do in case of severe weather. Make plans for those who may have trouble getting to shelter.

* Have emergency supplies on hand, including a battery-operated radio, a flashlight and a fresh supply of batteries.

* Know the shelter locations in public buildings, such as work, schools and shopping centers.

* Make a list of household furnishings and other items.  Take photographs of each room. Store the list and photos in safe place.

* Have an emergency communication plan.  Know how to reach family and friends if you are unable to meet at home.

* Create an emergency plan for your pets.

Click here to find out facts on tornadoes, lightning and flood safety, and tips to prepare a plan to evacuate your pet

Happy 6th Anniversary
Jack & Riley Lesperance
October 8th

Donald and Audrey White

Lifetime Cedar Springs area residents, Donald and Audrey (Brownell) White celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Monday, September 19th, 2011. Their family surprised them with a party in their honor on Saturday, September 24th at the White Creek Country Estates Club House. Don and Audrey’s children are Suzanne and Jennings Johnson of Cedar Springs, Bonnie and Tom Reynolds of Portland, Michigan and Donald C. White of Crystal, Michigan. They have eight grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandsons.