Babysitter Charged in Toddler's Death
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FREE but priceless Presorted Standard US Postage Paid Permit No. 81 Cedar Springs, MI The SHOWCASING CEDAR SPRINGS & Reaching around the world ~ www.cedarspringspost.com Vol. XXXIII No. 16 Thursday, April 16,P 2020 Serving NorthernST Kent County and parts of Newaygo and Montcalm Counties INSIDE Babysitter charged Signs of hope THIS ISSUE Man to be in toddler’s death resentenced By Judy Reed A Stanton woman has been arrested and arraigned on charges in the death of a child she was caring for. Just after 5:30 a.m. on March 2, 2020, troopers responded to a residence on W. Stanton Rd. near N. Hillman Rd. in Montcalm NEWS - page 2 County’s Douglass Town- ship and found an unre- History collecting sponsive child, just under initiative the age of two. Lifesaving Vayda Vasquez 3, 2020, the child’s death ony Murder. was ruled a homicide. According to a report on The child, identified as MLive.com, Vayda’s grand- Vayda Vasquez, would’ve mother, Shawnerie Russell, NEWS - page 6 turned 2 last Wednesday, said the girl suffered mas- April 8, which also hap- sive head injuries, as well Kellie Jean Barthel Photo by L. Allen. Senior players pened to be the day her as injuries to her neck and attempts by troopers and babysitter, Kellie Jean back. She also told MLive The old saying goes, Allen in Courtland Town- Montcalm EMS personnel Barthel, 36, was arrested that the suspect’s boyfriend “April showers bring May ship. Nothing like some were unsuccessful and the by Michigan State Police had called 911 around 5:30 flowers” but we’ve seen bright yellow flowers to child was pronounced dead troopers for her murder. a.m. March 2 after finding enough warmish days re- help give you a sunnier dis- on scene. Barthel was arraigned on the girl, but that Barthel cently to bring out quite position and a glimmer of Following an autopsy at Friday, April 10, on charges took the phone and said the a few beautiful buds! The hope that we will soon be a Spectrum Health Hospital of Open Murder, Child child was OK. photo of these daffodils was through this dark period of in Grand Rapids on March Abuse 1st Degree, and Fel- taken at the home of Alice quarantine! Governor extends, expands “Stay SPORTS - page 8 Save energy, plant Home, Stay Safe” executive order trees Governor directs all Michiganders to stay home, stay safe through April 30 LANSING, Mich. – Last and Human Services Chief Thursday, April 9, Gover- Deputy for Health and nor Whitmer signed execu- Chief Medical Execu- tive order 2020-42, extend- tive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. ing her prior “Stay Home, “This aggressive action will Stay Safe” order through help us protect more people the end of April. As with and ease the strain on our the prior order, Executive health care system.” Order 2020-42 limits gath- Executive Order 2020- OUTDOORS - page 9 erings and travel and re- 42 prohibits all businesses quires all workers who are and operations from requir- Protecting your not necessary to sustain or ing workers to leave their financial health protect life to stay home. homes, unless those work- Executive Order 2020- ers are necessary to sustain 42 also imposes more strin- or protect life or to conduct gent limitations on stores to minimum basic operations. reduce foot traffic, slow the Businesses and operations spread of the coronavirus, are to designate the workers and save lives. who meet those criteria, and “Michigan has the must adopt social distanc- third highest number of Governor Whitmer signed executive order 2020-42, extending her prior “Stay Home, Stay Safe” ing practices and other mit- COVID-19 cases in the order through the end of April. igation measures to protect country, and we’re still their part by staying home families and good for our people stay home and stay workers and patrons in the on the upswing. We must and staying safe. That’s economy in the long-run. safe.” performance of that in-per- BUSINESS - page 14 continue to do everything good, but we must keep We can also protect critical “It’s clear that staying son work. we can to slow the spread it up. When we do, we infrastructure workers like home is the most effec- Workers who are neces- and protect our families,” can save lives and shorten doctors, nurses, grocery tive way we can slow the sary to sustain or protect PLUS said Governor Whitmer. the amount of time we’re store employees, and child- spread of COVID-19 in life include those in health CTA - page 11 “Data shows that most working through this crisis, care workers. Now more Michigan,” said Michi- care and public health, law TAX TIME - page 15 Michiganders are doing which will be good for our than ever, it’s crucial that gan Department of Health ORDER - continues on page 7 AND MORE! Page 2 The Cedar Springs POST Thursday, April 16, 2020 Man to be resentenced for fatal crash By Judy Reed Gas prices still A Cedar Springs man that received 10 years in falling prison after he fled a crash 2-1/2 years ago that killed a Sand Lake mother and critically injured her twin 5-year-old boys will be resentenced, according to a recent decision by the Michigan Court of Ap- Douglas James Crystal peals. will be resentenced in the drunk driving death Douglas Crystal, 36, of Meranda Baguss. was sentenced on May 3 in Kent County Circuit that killed Meran- Court to 10 to 15 years in da Baguss, 33, and Meranda Baguss and her twin 5-year-old boys before the 2017 crash. prison for drunk driving three to five years causing death in the crash in prison for drunk driving causing serious injury. a golf outing, fled the scene. On September 15, 2017, He hid from police for about at about 8:23 p.m., Crystal 8 hours before finally being was traveling northbound on arrested. Price 2 weeks ago. Price last week. Ritchie Avenue at about 90 He later pled no contest to The national average price of gasoline has fallen 7.2 cents per mph in his Ford F150 when charges of operating while gallon in the last week, averaging $1.83/g Monday. The nation- he failed to stop at the stop intoxicated causing death; al average is down 42.3 cents per gallon from a month ago and sign at 15 Mile Road and failure to stop at the scene of stands 100.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. slammed into a 2011 Ford an accident causing death; In Cedar Springs on Tuesday, prices were $1.50 per gallon. Fusion traveling westbound and operating while intoxi- Over the weekend in Greenville they were at $1.16. on 15 Mile Rd. The crash cated causing serious injury. Historical gasoline prices in Grand Rapids and the national av- killed the driver of the Ford According to Court of erage going back ten years: Fusion, Meranda Baguss, Appeal Justices Gleicher April 13, 2019: $2.93/g (U.S. Average: $2.83/g) 33, a 2003 graduate of Cedar and Kelly, “The court de- April 13, 2018: $2.82/g (U.S. Average: $2.70/g) Springs High School. Her parted upward from the April 13, 2017: $2.51/g (U.S. Average: $2.41/g) five-year-old twins, Chaunc- recommended minimum April 13, 2016: $2.17/g (U.S. Average: $2.08/g) ey and Tony Anthony III, sentencing guidelines range April 13, 2015: $2.20/g (U.S. Average: $2.39/g) were in the back seat in their of 43 to 86 months to sen- April 13, 2014: $3.67/g (U.S. Average: $3.64/g) car seats, and were critical- tence defendant to a mini- April 13, 2013: $3.50/g (U.S. Average: $3.53/g) ly injured. They were taken mum sentence of 10 years April 13, 2012: $3.76/g (U.S. Average: $3.89/g) to Helen DeVos Children’s (120 months), a departure of April 13, 2011: $3.98/g (U.S. Average: $3.81/g) Hospital in Grand Rapids nearly three years. The trial April 13, 2010: $2.88/g (U.S. Average: $2.84/g) with life-threatening head court neither referenced any Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: injuries. specific sentencing factor Kalamazoo- $1.64/g, down 3.0 cents per gallon from last Crystal, who was report- nor determined that a fac- week’s $1.67/g. edly on his way home from FATAL - continues on page 10 GAS PRICES - continues on page 10 WELCOMES JOHN TYSON with 29 Years Experience Serving West Michigan for over 57 years! 400+ VEHICLES IN STOCK! Email [email protected] | Direct Line 616.447.4588 | Cell Phone - 616.608.2044 JUST TAKE NORTHLAND DR. TO PLAINFIELD! $10 OFF any Oil Change 3839 PLAINFIELD AVE NE NEXT TO MEIJER 3839 PLAINFIELD AVE NE NEXT TO MEIJER One Coupon Per Service. Expires 5/31/2020 616-363-6841 BETTENFORD.COM Thursday, April 16, 2020 The Cedar Springs POST Page 3 WMU-Cooley Innocence Project POST HIGHLIGhts News .................................. pages 1-3,6-7 case to be featured in Netflix series Church Connection ................ pages 4-5 The Innocence Files will be available for streaming beginning April 15 Sports ............................................page 8 LANSING, Michigan – The West- ko’s conviction was overturned and all Outdoors .......................................page 9 ern Michigan University Cooley Law charges were dismissed by Macomb School Innocence Project’s exonera- County prosecutors on June 17, 2013.