Tyrone Woman Killed in Crash

FREE but priceless Presorted Standard Sand Lake US Postage Paid Permit No. 81 4thpages of July 8-9 Cedar Springs, MI The SHOWCASING CEDAR SPRINGS & Reaching around the world ~ www.cedarspringspost.com Vol. XXXI No. 26 Thursday,P June 28, 2018 STServing Northern Kent County and parts of Newaygo and Montcalm Counties Police investigate embezzlement Relocation of from youth football By Judy Reed Cedar Springs When the Cedar Springs Youth Football League board DrainBy Judy Reed approved met in January and heard what their balance was, they knew something was very wrong. A lot of money was missing— including the $7,000 they had saved over the past two years to be able to buy new jerseys with this season. The board began digging into bank and financial state- ments to try to piece togeth- er what happened. They also began getting invoices and collection calls from their equipment supplier. What The Cedar Springs Youth Football League needs the community’s help to stay afloat after it they found was that they had was discovered funds were embezzled from the group. Photo by April Victorson. $10,000 missing and $6,800 bring justice and answers about the One way you can help is by at- in unpaid invoices. embezzlement of our program to tending a fundraising event they “It was a huge double whammy our football players, families, and are holding on July 14 from 10 a.m. The Kent County Board of De- the Gun Tavern and turn it into a sit for us,” said trustee Amy Gillette. community,” the league said in a to 2 p.m. at Skinner Field. There termination met last Thursday eve- down restaurant. They want to ex- And the only two board mem- letter on page 5. They apologized will be a dunk tank, kids games, ning, June 21, at Cedar Springs High pand it in the back, but are unable bers that had previously had access that it happened, and noted that bake sale, plant sale, can drive, gift School to consider whether a petition to because of the drain. The City is to the money or bank account are they are implementing an embez- basket raffles, spirit wear, and con- to relocate the Cedar Springs Drain facing the same problem with the lot no longer on the board. zlement-proof system going for- cessions. Tickets will be used for was valid. After hearing testimony they want to build the new fire station According to Detective Mike ward. all events, and are two for $1.00. from Kent County Drain Commis- on. The Drain Commission holds an Tanis, with the Kent County Sher- In the meantime, the league They will also be holding some sioner Ken Yonkers, assistant Drain easement wherever the drain pipe is iff’s Office, they received the case could use the community’s help to can drives. From July 8-13, you Commissioner Doug Sporte, other located and won’t allow any develop- on March 16. “We think it was get the season off the ground. Gil- can drop them off at Family Farm public officials and members of the ment. two different people skimming lette said that the registration fees & Home from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. On audience, the three-member board However, the board was quick to the funds,” he said. “Each didn’t should cover what they need to run July 14, drop them off at Skinner voted unanimously that the 80-year- note that they don’t base a decision know the other was doing it.” He the program this year, but grades Field from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On old drain needs to be moved. on economic impact. “It’s based on is working to bring charges against 3-6 will have to wear the old jer- July 15, drop off at Family Farm & The reason is that it runs under sev- health and safety,” they said. the people he believes is involved, seys they were trying to replace. Home, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. eral buildings and lots, and if it col- The engineer for the city will now possibly by the end of this month. She said the most urgent need is Other ways to help include vol- lapsed, it could be a hazard to anyone be looking at the best way to reroute He confirmed the two suspects are the unpaid invoices from 2017 unteering, and personal and corpo- in the building. “When we have drains the drain. Once they know how much no longer on the board, and that the equipment sales ($6,800). They rate sponsorships. that old, we replace them,” said Yon- it will cost, they will then know how members of the current board were also suffered from the vandalism Please call Amy Gillette at 616- kers. “If a drain fails under a building, much the properties in the drainage not involved. that hit Skinner Field earlier this 915-5509 if you’d like to help in the floor will sink.” He spoke about area will be assessed. When that point “We are working closely with the year, but she said Skinner Field any way. a old drain that collapsed last year is reached, they will hold a “day of Kent County Sheriff Department to was going to try to cover that cost. under a Lowe’s parking lot in Grand review” and will explain how they ar- Rapids and created a huge sinkhole. rived at the percentage each property “This is probably one of the hard- owner will pay. “It’s based on the ben- est projects I’ve faced,” remarked efit to your property,” said Yonkers. Tyrone woman Yonkers. “It was a no-win for me. I Several of the people at the meet- could’ve ignored it and waited until ing complained that they didn’t get a someone was hurt. But going on the notice about the meeting and didn’t killed in crash side of safety, I can help them but they know about it until they read it in the A Kent City area woman was Christopher Wirgau, 36, of Ty- have to pay some money. I can’t bring Post a couple of weeks ago. We didn’t killed in a crash early Sunday rone Township. Elizabeth Wir- back a loved one.” get one here at the Post either, and we morning in Alpine Township. gau, 36, Christopher’s wife and Currently the drain runs west along are also in the drainage district. According to the Kent County a passenger in the northbound Beech and north on Grant Street, then We wondered if maybe it was be- Sheriff’s Office, they responded vehicle, sustained fatal injuries west again between Cherry and Elm, cause we have a PO box and cannot to a head-on traffic crash on Fruit as a result of the crash. under some Main Street businesses, get physical mail at our building. Ridge Ave NW near 5 Mile Rd A passenger in the southbound under the parking lot where the old Many others within a few blocks of about 12:06 a.m. June 24. vehicle, Esperanza Rocha, 34, community building stood and west- the post office have the same prob- The investigation showed that of Grand Rapids was transport- ward to Cedar Creek. lem. So we asked Sporte if they had a southbound 2006 Dodge Du- ed by ambulance to Butterworth The relocation of the drain would sent any to PO boxes. He confirmed rango, driven by Thomas Ybar- hospital with possible injuries. affect the following properties: 18-20 that they did not use PO boxes, only ra, 28, of Grand Rapids, struck Alcohol is believed to have N. Main; 23-25 N. Main; 45 Third St.; street addresses. So we then went to a northbound Chevrolet pickup been a factor in the crash, which 141 W. Cherry St., and 145 W. Cherry the Cedar Springs Post office and Elizabeth Wirgau truck towing a trailer driven by is under investigation. St. Once a new drain is in place, the asked if they remembered seeing a old drain will be filled with a sub- large group of letters come through Post travels Operation dry water Pre-road trip checklist stance to keep it from being used any that would’ve been from the Kent longer. County Drain Commissioner, but The assessment for the project will were missing PO #s. They said they affect many of the properties in the did not see anything like that, and if city, especially on the east side. How- they knew whose box it was, they ever, the city will also be assessed a would’ve put it in there. If they didn’t, portion, and other properties in the they would return it. However, Sporte city will help with that tax burden. said that they didn’t receive any letters The problem of the drain running back. So it remains a mystery where under buildings came to light when a the missing letters went. page 2 OUTDOORS - page 7 AUTO LIFE -page 15 business wanted to buy and remodel Page 2 The Cedar Springs Post Thursday, June 28, 2018 Hometown Hero The Post travels to Ohio by ambulance Spc. Scott Stock- The Post went with Phil reef, 24, the son of and Sue Harrison to the Bart and Mary Stock- Chevy Classics State Rep reef of Cedar Springs, Show in Fairborn, Ohio near and brother of Austin Dayton, June 21-24. Over and Will, has returned 80 cars were registered for home for a few weeks the four-day show.

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