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Heritage Festival

Aug. 3-5: The 31^st annual Montcalm Heritage Festival is August 3-5 from 10 am to 4 pm daily at Montcalm Heritage Village on Montcalm Community College’s Sidney campus. The three day celebration features historical displays, events, refreshments and music for all ages. Visit www.montcalm.edu/heritagefestival for more information. #30

Marshmallow Madness

Aug. 3,7: Think you can create a giant tower using just spaghetti noodles, tape, string and a marshmallow? This will be a team challenge with a prize awarded for the tallest structure.

For teens. Thursday, August 3, 6:30 pm – Spencer Township KDL Branch, 14960 Meddler Ave., Gowen and Monday, August 7, 1:30 pm – Nelson Township/Sand Lake KDL Branch, 88 Eighth St. #30

Family Fun Day at Metron

Aug. 4: Metron of Cedar Springs’ annual Family Fun Day will be held on Friday, August 4^th from 4 to 6 pm at 400 Jeffrey St. NE in Cedar Springs. Bring the entire family for games, food, entertainment, raffles and a balloon release. #30,31p

Community Picnic at Salisbury Park

Aug. 5: The Village of Sand Lake is having a community picnic with free games, food, and fun at Salisbury Park on Saturday, August 5^th from 1 to 3 pm. #30

Summer Gospel Music Blowout

Aug. 5: This benefit to support 2^nd Chance School will be held on Saturday, August 5^th from 3 to 9 pm at 2^nd Chance School, 810 – 17 Mile Rd., Cedar Springs. Music starts at 3 pm and will feature a new group each hour with Old Time Gospel Singers, Wayne Jarvie, Stroll Over Heaven, Northwoods Brothers, Traditional Country and Gospel Singers and North Country Band. There will be food, Chinese raffle, and 50-50 raffles. Come enjoy the music and support 2^nd Chance. For information contact Mike Hubert 231-335-0726 or Harvey Becker 616-460-1318. #30,31b

Register Now For Free Hunter Education

Aug. 8: To register for firearm Hunter Safety Classes  at the Red Flannel Rod & Gun Club, call Jim Pope at 231-834-5545 after 6 pm. Classes at the Club, 7463 18 Mile Rd. Cedar Springs, will be Tuesday, August 8^th, from 6-9 pm,  Thursday, August 10^th from 6-9pm,  Saturday, August 12^th , from 8 am-4 pm. Class size limited to 50 students. #29,30b

Pet Show at KDL

Aug. 8:Your pet is a star! Every critter’s a winner in this unique show designed to put the spotlight on your furry, scaly or feathered friend. All acts must pre-register. 616-784-2007. Tuesday, August 8, at 10:30 am – Nelson Township/Sand Lake KDL Branch, 88 Eighth St. For more information visit www.kdl.org. #30

God’s Kitchen in Cedar Springs

Aug. 8,15,22,29: Join us for dinner every Tuesday. God’s Kitchen – Cedar Springs welcomes families from Northern Kent County and the surrounding area to a Tuesday Evening Meal. No charge – no registration required!  Served from 5:30 – 6:30 pm at the St. John Paul II Parish, 3110 – 17 Mile Rd., Cedar Springs. For more information, call the Church office at 616-696-3904. #30

Michigan parents who have children interested in learning to hunt should consider making enrollment in a hunter education class part of their “back to school” plans. Now is the best time to enroll in a class so that new hunters are ready to hit the woods this fall.

“Right now is the best time to enroll because class opportunities are plentiful,” said Department of Natural Resources hunter education program supervisor Sgt. Tom Wanless. “With summer winding down, the focus is on getting kids ready for school. Parents should plan on enrolling their youth hunters in hunter education now. Waiting until the last minute to enroll sometimes makes it difficult to find an available class.”
Wanless said classes are held year-round, but April, May, August and September are traditionally the times when classes are most available.

“Generally, we like the classroom or online instruction completed by Oct. 1 so instructors are available for a field day for the online or home-study students,” Wanless said.
Michigan has three types of hunter education courses: traditional classroom, home study and online. Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1960, is required to complete the course before buying a Michigan hunting license or taking an out-of-state hunting trip. Exceptions are made for youths under the age of 10 who are hunting under a Mentored Youth Hunting license or hunters older than 10 who are hunting with an apprentice hunting license. Hunters can hunt under the apprentice program for two years before they are required to take hunter education.
The traditional classroom course is a minimum of 10 hours and includes both classroom and field work with an instructor. The fee for the class is $10 or less to cover expenses.

The home-study course features a workbook to complete classwork. A field day is required with the home-study course and must be scheduled with an instructor prior to starting the course.

Michigan also offers three approved online hunter education courses, www.hunter-ed.com/Michigan, www.huntercourse.com, and www.hunteredcourse.com/state/michigan. Students who opt for the online course complete their classwork online and then have a field/skills day with an instructor and take a written exam. The field day must be scheduled with an instructor prior to starting the online course. The online courses have varying fees, but are all priced under $25.
For more information about hunter education or to find a class in your area, go to www.michigan.gov/huntereducation.