Wyatt Phillips

A 16-year-old Cedar Springs teen was killed and two other teens were injured Thursday morning, August 23, when the car they were riding in ran off the road and hit a tree.

According to Kent County Sheriff Sgt. James Loughrin, the accident occurred about 8:20 a.m. The 16-year-old male driver and two male passengers were headed north on White Creek Avenue, north of Wiersma, when the car veered off the road and hit a tree.

The driver, Wyatt Phillips, 16, of Cedar Springs, was pronounced dead at the scene. The front seat passenger, Johnny Klaasen, 16, of Cedar Springs, suffered a shoulder injury and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. It took over an hour to extricate the back seat passenger, Sean Thompson, 16, of Sparta, who was critically injured with head and leg injuries. Rescue workers had to open up the back of the car to get him out. Sean was awake and talking to officers and rescue personnel as they worked. He was taken to Butterworth by AeroMed, and is still hospitalized with serious injuries.

According to investigating Deputy Jason VanDyke, police believe that excessive speed was the cause of the accident. They do not believe alcohol was involved. All were wearing their seatbelts.

Cedar Springs High School set up a crisis team in the high school media center for students to come in and talk to a counselor. A candlelight vigil was held for Wyatt Phillips at Cedar’s first home football game, Friday, August 24.

Wyatt is the son of Scott and Danielle Phillips of Cedar Springs. Wyatt, a junior this year, was a member of the Cedar Springs High School Varsity Soccer team, and appeared in several theatre productions, including some written by his father, Scott. He was well loved by fellow students, and will be missed.

Wyatt’s memorial service was held Monday, August 27, at Cedar Springs High School. Click here for obituary.

Curt & Lois Phillips

Curt & Lois Phillips of Sand Lake are celebrating their 50th Anniversary. The happy duo were married June 30th 1962 at the United Methodist Church in Cedar Springs.

Mr. & Mrs. Phillips have two children, Tim (Beth) Phillips, Michelle (Jeff) Paepke. Three grandchildren, Kari (Larry) Magoon, Andrew & Nathan Phillips and one great-grandson, Dylan Paepke, all of Sand Lake.
Curt & Lois have always enjoyed traveling & camping with family.
If you would like to congratulate them, you may mail a card to 16051 Sipple Ave., Sand Lake, MI 49343.

Steven Kern as Templeton, Ian Murphy as Wilbur, and Tinsley Nulph as Charlotte.

Reviewed by Tom Noreen

Spiders. I like spiders and I really liked the Cedar Springs High School’s presentation of E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web! Director Justin Harnden should be proud of the superb performance by the cast and crew of this children’s classic. With a cast of 39, and a crew of 13, not counting other student and parent volunteers, Justin did a great job.
Tinsley Nulph portrayed Charlotte with grace and compassion as she wove her web of magic to save Wilbur the pig from the smokehouse. Ian Murphy played Wilbur with relish, as he came to realize the value of friendship and sacrifice. Steven Kern excelled in his role as Templeton the greedy, self-centered and conniving rat. Molly McCarthy and Harrison Brown were spot-on in their performance as the stuttering Goose and Gander as were Dereck Sissell and Holly Lewis as the Sheep and Lamb.
Kristen Valentine (Fern) played her part as Wilbur’s first rescuer well, as did Seth Cosier and Rachel DeLeeuw, who portrayed her parents the Arables. Wyatt Phillips was delightful as her rambunctious younger brother, Avery. Shelby Hubble and Devin Burke had a great time playing Fern’s aunt and uncle, Edith and Homer, while Levi Velting definitely had the flair for his role as Lurvy their farmhand.
Sean Murphy, as the first place winning pig, Uncle, did a fine job of upstaging his older brother! The other members of the cast were wonderful in their roles. These included the story’s narrators Whitney Badge, Silver Gonzales, Corey Willette, and Kayla Ovokaitys, Katie Esakson (Reporter), Espen Haugland (Photographer), Alexis Lucarelli and Courtney Alvesteffer (Spectators), Morgan Bennett and Felicia Jones (Judges), Emilie Petty, Kylie Wells, Aaron Burton, and Claire Willette (Fair-goers), Kendall VanPutten, Sirena Johnson, Dalton VanEss, Taylor Atkins, Monique Wilks, and Kaci Clark (Crowd Members), Sean Herp (Announcer) and Nicole Clark, Briana Brugel, and Brooke Lubben (Little Spiders).
The crew was fantastic in keeping the show moving. Lights and sound were super. A big thanks to Student Directors Olivia Larsen and Autumn Fish, Stage Manager Brandon Jones, Costume Diva Kristie Rice, Sound Techs Kody Hall and Mitch McClees, Light Tech Brett Markosky, Sound FX RJ Moore, and Stagehands Mike Stafford, Jacob Detloff, Megan Brunett, Liz Moore, and Kate Miller.
The set design was fantastic. The large red barn, with its loft for Charlotte, filled the stage. Costumes were very well done.
The cast and crew should be proud of their successful and entertaining show! Thanks to the community and school administration for supporting the arts in Cedar Springs.

Police, family, friends and concerned residents are still searching for a missing 4-month old Ludington girl.

Sean Phillips

Katherine Shelbie Elizabeth Phillips was taken Wednesday afternoon, June 29, by her father, Sean Phillips, 21. Phillips, a non-custodial parent, was picked up a few hours later at his parents’ home, but the baby was nowhere to be found, and he refuses to tell police where she is. He has only said that she is alive.

Police and concerned citizens have turned out to scour the Ludington area. Police found her clothes in an undisclosed area over the weekend.

If you have any information, or think you may have seen the baby, please call 231-843-3425 or 911.

Mitchell J. Phillips

Air Force Airman Mitchell J. Phillips graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
He is the son of Greg and Sue Phillips of 128th St., Sand Lake, Mich.
Phillips graduated in 2010 from Tri County High School, Howard City, Mich.