For the past few weeks, numerous Kindergarten classes at Cedar Trails did a “Games for Tots” drive and collected over 100 games, which were dropped off here at the Cedar Springs Post this week. The following classes participated: Mrs. Bellamy, Ms. Birdsong, Mrs. Burns, Mrs. Dault, Mrs. Debri, Mrs. Matthew, Mrs. Schipper, and Mrs. Wolfe. Way to go Cedar Trails Kindergartners!  

It’s not too late to drop off your toys! You can still drop them off here at the Post on Friday, December 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We are located at 36 E. Maple Street. Our boxes will be picked up sometime during the day on Monday, December 18. Please bag your toys if possible.

Just wondering what gives the City Manager Christine Burns the right to pick and choose what city ordinances to enforce? The city has an ordinance for shoveling the snow on the sidewalks in town and especially Main Street. When was the last time they wrote a ticket for not shoveling? Red Flannel Day showcases the city and businesses, and when visitors return around the holidays to shop and eat they find snow on some downtown sidewalks, with curbside snow high enough it prevents them from opening the passenger doors. The piles of snow on Main Street are high enough that people who do shovel have no place to put it, as the city waits for spring to melt the snow. Let’s take care of your own house before you worry about someone else. Maybe you could use the American Legion Hall lot for the snow.

Gerald Skelonc, Solon Township

Previous director takes job with Rockford

Pictured (L to R) is Mayor Pro-tem Christine Fahl, former Finance Director Linda Lehman, new Finance Director Karen Mushong, and City Manager Christine Burns.

The City of Cedar Springs said goodbye Monday to Finance Director Linda Lehman, after 10 years of service with the city. The longtime Cedar Springs resident recently took a job as the Finance Director for the City of Rockford.
“It’s been tough coming to terms with Linda leaving,” said Cedar Springs City Manager Christine Burns. “She has been a part of the team for 10-plus years and possesses a great deal of knowledge and understanding of the city’s finances. She’s become a great friend as well. On one hand I’m devastated to lose her, but from a personal standpoint, I’m thrilled for her and her family.”
Lehman is being replaced by Karen Mushong, of Comstock Park. She worked at Plante & Moran, PLLC from 1998-2008 as an audit associate/senior manager, and then at Mosaic Properties, Inc. from August 2008 to August 2011 as controller.
“There is comfort in knowing that Karen is stepping into the job with a very strong financial background and Linda left everything in great condition,” said Burns. She also noted that Mushong is fortunate to have a great support staff working with her to make the transition as easy as possible.
Lehman has offered to help as needed but doesn’t foresee needing to come back too often due to Mushong’s experience with Plante Moran.

The weather was not kind to the 30 people who showed up to for the annual Cedar Creek clean-up in Cedar Springs, Saturday, April 16.
According to City Manager Christine Burns, all the groups that signed up showed up, except one that said they would do some picking up at a later date. It was the least amount of volunteers they have had for the cleanup, but it didn’t dampen her spirits.
“Even in the rain we put a pretty good dent in it,” said Burns, who explained that they had an hour of cleanup before the rain started at 11:15 a.m. “It really stung,” she said.
She noted they had a good showing for the E-waste, with a container that was half full.
Burns noted that all costs associated with the event were defrayed through sponsorships, except the cost of the trash bags. Choice One Bank covered the cost of the t-shirts for volunteers and Independent Bank covered the pizza party afterward.  @Home Computers sponsored the E-waste portion of the cleanup. “We couldn’t do this without all of them,” she said.
Whether this event will return next year is up in the air due to possible budget cuts.

The Kent County Sheriff Department is looking for a man that broke into a home on White Creek Avenue in Solon Township Monday morning and then assaulted an elderly relative who arrived on the scene.
According to Det./Sgt. Marc Burns, a 77-year-old relative of the homeowner arrived at the house in the 17000 block of White Creek Avenue, near 20 Mile Road, about 11 a.m., as the suspect was exiting the home. The suspect attacked the victim, and then fled with several items from the home. The victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
The suspect is described as a black male, 30-35 years old, approximately 6 feet tall, with a large build. The vehicle he used was described as a gray, newer style passenger car.
Anyone with information about this incident or suspect is asked to call the Kent County Sheriff Investigative Division at (616) 632-6125, or Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345.