Harold L. Potter age 82 of Cedar Springs, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at his home. Harold was born June 2, 1938 in Cedar Springs, MI the son of Merritt and Beulah (Sneathen) Potter. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1956-60. He grew up on a dairy farm and had been a leader with the Boy Scouts. He enjoyed hunting and was a member of the Red Flannel Rod & Gun Club where he taught hunter safety classes. Surviving are his wife, Helen whom he married on August 5, 1961; children, Harold “Les” (Denise) Potter Jr, Eileen (Randy) Driesenga, Emmett (Sonila) Potter, Elizabeth (Jim) Johnson; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; brothers, Donovan (Jane) Potter, Daniel (Alice) Potter; sister, Elsie (Bob) Sly; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Carl Potter. The family greeted friends Tuesday, December 15 at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. The service was held Wednesday 11:00 a.m. at Camp Lake Baptist Church 12150 N. Division, Sparta. Pastor Dennis Tyson officiating. Interment Solon Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Lake Baptist Church.

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

Boy Scouts Ben Barber and Derek Bordeaux volunteered three hours at the Cedar Springs Library to earn their Boy Scout reading badge. Derek’s mom, Rahnda, assisted them in preparing 500 lanyards for the library’s Grand Finale Reading Celebration in Morley Park today, Thursday, August 2, from 1-3 p.m.

Boy Scouts Ben Barber and Derek Bordeaux donated their time at the Cedar Springs Community Library putting magnets on 100 bookends that were donated by a Lakeland Library and freshly painted by Bassett’s Auto to match the library’s new shelving. Way to go!

Boy Scout Troop 222 recently collected hundreds of items for the United Methodist Food pantry. They collected both food donations and money, and Troop leader John Kerr bought more food items with the money they were given.

It is that time again where Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are selling popcorn in our community. You will see boys of all ages trying hard to earn their way to summer camp, which offers a fun and safe environment to learn and grow while developing interests and skills. These boys that are selling, live in our community and take part of everyday events and activities here in Cedar Springs. You may see them cleaning up parks and trails while on a hike, or participating in our Red Flannel parade.  Show your support for our local scouts by visiting a Popcorn booth near you to purchase yummy popcorn or to make a donation.

Boy Scouts of America encourages character building and development centered around good morals, and core values that offers a chance for boys to learn life skills that help them become successful adults and contributing members of society. The local Cub Scout packs focus on these values in all pack activities.

If you are interested in Volunteering for Cub Scouts or signing up you son, kindergarten to fifth grade join us for a Cub Scout sign up night Thursday September 15, at Beach elementary at 6:30pm.

Also Cub Scout Pack 3220 is hosting a Mother/Son Dance at Cedar Springs United Methodist Church, 140 S Main St.  If you would like to join us for a fun activity to learn more about Cub Scouts please join us Saturday September 17^th from 4-7 p.m.The cost is $10 per couple, at the door. This will include a grilled chicken and pasta dinner. We are asking that you RSVP due to limited space. RSVP to email cscubscoutpack3220@gmail.com.

Austin Anderson (center) and friends Jacob Swinehart (left) and Andrew Watts (right) recently completed projects at Bellowood Dog Rescue to help Austin earn his Eagle Scout rank. The fence behind them and Welcome sign were two of the projects. Photo by J. Reed.

By Judy Reed

Austin Anderson loves his rescue dog. So when it came time to pick out a project to help him earn his Eagle Scout rank—the highest rank in Boy Scouts—he was inspired to give back and do something to help a local dog rescue. With some help from his mom, he chose Bellowood Dog Rescue in Cedar Springs.

Because of his generosity and help from his friends, family and local businesses, the Bellowood welcome center has a freshly painted fence, new welcome sign, and 20 specially crafted dog bowls.

“I am so thankful,” said Kim Schreuder, the founder of Bellowood. “The boys did a great job.” She explained that the Welcome Center is a place where people come to meet the dogs they want to adopt, so it’s important that it look nice.

Austin, the son of Dean and Kristine Anderson, will be a senior next year at Cedar Springs High School. He and his friends, sophomore Jacob Swinehart and junior Andrew Watts, paid a visit to Bellowood, and Schreuder showed them around and explained what projects needed to be done. They then chose what they wanted to do.

The boys also designed and made dog bowls to help dogs with megaesophagus.

The dog bowls were made to especially help dogs with megaesophagus—a condition that is an enlargement of the esophagus, a muscular tube connecting the throat to the stomach. Dogs with that condition have a harder time moving food and liquid down to the stomach. According to Pet MD, some breeds, such as wire-haired terriers and miniature schnauzers can be born with it. Other breeds prone to the condition include German shepherds, dachshunds, great Danes, Irish setter, Labrador retriever, pug, and Chinese shar-pei. With the new bowls, they are up high enough that the dogs will be able to swallow their water and food much easier.

The boys created their own dog bone design from scratch, and made 10 large bowls and 10 small ones. “They are much better quality than the plastic ones you can buy in the store,” remarked Schreuder.

The scouts, with some help from parents, also cleaned, scraped, sanded, and painted the front fence, and created a new welcome sign. The materials were either bought at cost, donated, or paid for with gift cards from local businesses.

“I am so very very thankful for all their hard work and what they gave to us,” said Schreuder. “It’s such a blessing! They are great kids.”

Austin said he now needs to turn in his paperwork as the next step toward getting his Eagle Scout rank. His friend Jacob Swinehart previously achieved his Eagle Scout rank with work on the Kent Theatre.

“I’m so happy to be a part of this, and thankful,” said Schreuder. “It’s fantastic. I think it’s special that the boys do things like this—not just for me, but for others in need, too.”

On their last day there, the boys got to play with some of the rescue dogs up for adoption. (See photo). For anyone interested in adopting one of these or another rescue dog, contact Kim Schreuder at xbellowoodx@yahoo.com, or visit their page on www.petfinder.com.

These Boy Scouts cleaned up the White Pine Trail between 16 and 18 Mile Roads, Tuesday evening, June 7. The clean up was done in conjunction with the Cedar Springs Rotary Club.

Thank you for helping keep our trail clean!

Boy Scout Jacob Swinehart recently completed his project, one of the steps needed on the road to becoming an Eagle Scout.

The Cedar Springs community has been blessed with several boys making the community a nicer place to be through their Eagle Scout projects. Jacob Swinehart, son of Scott and Angela Swinehart, is the latest Scout to do just that.

Earning Eagle Scout is the highest rank in Boy Scouts. To become an Eagle Scout, you have to do a service project that benefits the community. Jacob Swinehart’s Eagle Scout project was to replace the existing surface flooring on the stage at the Kent Theatre. With the help of volunteers and the generosity of the community, Jacob’s team completed the main stage and also expanded the finished stage flooring to the back of the stage and into the wings.

As Project Manager, Jacob had to coordinate with a contractor, complete the paperwork, and make presentations to community groups to raise funds. Jacob also had to recruit and schedule volunteers, and organize the project with the theatre. Thanks to great community support of the Kent Theatre and this project, Jacob raised enough money to complete the Main Stage and also replace the flooring of the back stage dressing room and Green Room.

The organizations that were involved with this project include the Rogue River Community Theatre Association, Flat River Community Theatre Association, Red Flannel Committee, Cedar Springs Community Players, and the Cedar Springs Lions Club. Support from donors and volunteers made the project a success. Seventeen volunteers participated overall and worked over 140 hours to complete this renovation.

“We encourage you to attend an event at the Kent Theatre to see the new stage floor,” said Len Allington, spokesperson for the Kent. “Jacob and the Kent Theatre would like to thank everyone who participated in this project.”

Residents gathered at cemeteries and other locales Monday to remember those who died in the service of our country, and all those that have made our freedom possible.

The American Legion Glen Hill Post #287 held services at Elmwood, Solon, and East Nelson Cemeteries and the Cedar Springs Veterans Park. Assisting with the service was the American Legion  Honor Guard, the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, the Sons of the American Legion and the Boy Scouts.

Services were also held in Algoma Township, Sand Lake and Pierson. The Cedar Springs Historical Society held their annual cemetery walk in Elmwood Cemetery on the Sunday before Memorial Day.

Residents gathered at cemeteries and other locales Monday to remember those who died in the service of our country, and all those that have made our freedom possible.

The American Legion Glen Hill Post #287 held services at Elmwood, Solon, and East Nelson Cemeteries and the Cedar Springs Veterans Park. Assisting with the  service was the American Legion  Honor Guard, the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, the Sons of the American Legion and the Boy Scouts.

Services were also held in Algoma Township and Sand Lake. The Cedar Springs Historical Society held their annual cemetery walk in Elmwood Cemetery on the Sunday before Memorial Day.

The Boy Scouts of Troop 222 from Cedar Springs held their annual food drive on Saturday, March 16 at Family Fare. Eleven Scouts collected 570 nonperishable items, including food, hygiene products and laundry supplies. Patrons of Family Fare donated individual items, carts filled with groceries and cash. The scouts learned the value of community service and the value of clipping coupons! The cash that was collected was used to purchase additional needed items with coupons and the “Ten for $10” sale. The generous support from the local community was outstanding and donations were almost tripled from last year’s 200 items. All items were donated to the Cedar Springs Community Food Pantry.  Community members in need or wanting to contribute additional donations can contact the pantry at (616) 696-1140. Thanks to Family Fare, community members and all that continue to support Scouting.

Photo courtesy of Friends of White Pine Trail.

On April 14 and 17, the Cedar Springs Lions Club planted 400 Red and White Pine seedlings along the White Pine Trail between 16 and 18 Mile Roads. This is the area that the Lions Club maintains. A portion of the trees also went to three locations on the school grounds.

Volunteers that helped plant the trees included Cub Scout Troop 3222 and Boy Scout Troop 222. “They did a great job,” said Lions Club member Jerry VanderWal.