The FREE but priceless Presorted Standard US Postage Paid Permit No. 81 Cedar Springs, MI SHOWCASING CEDAR SPRINGS & Reaching around theST world ~ www.cedarspringspost.com Vol. XXXIV No. 27 Thursday, July 8, 2021 P Serving Northern Kent County and parts of Newaygo and Montcalm Counties Reward offered in pizza place robbery FourthLast weekend was a great and you gave us someof great July fun one for family, friends, food, photos! We have photos of and lots of fun! We asked camping, swimming, fun at you to post your photos on the Sand Lake celebration, our Facebook page and show and more. Turn to page 7 to us what you did for fun over see even more photos. the Fourth of July holiday, By Judy Reed on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was A $1,000 reward is be- injured during the robbery. ing offered for information The suspect is described leading to the arrest of the as a white male, about 5’9’’, suspect that robbed the Ce- last seen wearing a red ban- dar Springs Hungry How- dana covering his face, a ie’s Pizza at gunpoint last gray hooded sweatshirt, and Saturday night. dark gray sweatpants. According to the Kent If you have any infor- County Sheriff’s Office, the mation about the robbery, armed robbery occurred at please contact the Kent 151 S. Main Street, just be- County Sheriff’s Office at fore 10:49 p.m. July 3. (616) 632-6357 or submit The suspect reportedly a tip through the KCSO entered the business, dis- mobile app. You can also played a gun, and demand- submit an anonymous tip ed cash from employees. to Silent Observer at (616) Photo by Cherri Rose The suspect fled the scene 774-2345. Photo by Kim Latham INSIDE Road closed for drain work THIS ISSUE By Judy Reed Corn more New basketball court than knee high NEWS - page 2 Sparta celebrates SCHEDULE - pages 8-9 Endangered bees Post publisher Lois Allen stands in a cornfield in Courtland Township. Post photo by M. Ford. By Judy Reed he says. “However, what we don’t know is where we OUTDOORS - page 10 This year’s corn crop is received an abundance of Cody’s comeback looking pretty healthy and rain, how much of that crop much higher than “knee- is affected because of pond- high by the fourth of July.” ing of water, which we can’t In the online blog Mich- see because of the growth igan Farmer, Jim Zook, of the plant at this point.” executive director of Mich- He noted that soil condi- Main Street is closed from Cherry to Elm Street. Post photo by J. Reed. igan Corn Growers Associ- tions during planting were Work is progressing on The Cherry Street portion Tuesday, July 6, to start ation and Corn Marketing the best we’ve seen in a the Cedar Springs Drain, of the project is completed, demolition. The official Program of Michigan, said long time, and that with the HEALTH - page 14 and the section of Main including seeding, and is detour is Pine St / Solon to that the recent rains really lack of rain that followed, Street between Cherry and now open to traffic. White Creek Ave. The clos- boosted corn plant growth. roots went deep to find Elm closed this week for Main Street closed be- ing is expected to last a cou- “In most areas, the corn moisture, giving the crop a AND MORE... the next part of the project. tween Cherry and Elm on ple of weeks. plant is looking very well,” CORN - continues on page 13 Page 2 The Cedar Springs POST Thursday, July 8, 2021 Thursday, July 8, 2021 The Cedar Springs POST Page 3 backboard.” Womack said the new basketball court cost the New basketball court at Riggle Park City about $7,836. However, $6836 was from Teens crash into barn with ATV If you haven’t been to Riggle Park on Beech money that was left over from the dog park bud- Two teens were hurt last Saturday when the ATV Street recently, you’ve overlooked a hidden get because the dog park was built entirely by they were riding crashed into a barn. This notice paid for with public donations gem: a new half court basketball court put in by volunteers, and the extra $1000 was taken out of According to the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Cedar Springs. fund balance. the crash occurred on private property on 30th Ave- According to Cedar Springs City Manager “The City is working on a couple of big parks nue, in Sheridan Township, about 11:27 a.m. July Mike Womack, the new 30x50 court replaces projects including pickle ball courts, walking FREE to the public! 3. W e i g h t L o s s & S t o p S m o k i n g H y p n o t h e r a py the old 24x24 court that was removed when paths, the natural playground, redeveloping play Police said two teen boys, a 14-year-old and Health Awareness Clinics An appointment is not th they put in the new dog park. equipment at Riggle Park, safety improvements, Friday, July 16 7:00PM a 13-year-old, both from Fenton, were riding an is providing therapists to ad- necessary. Just sign in and “That old court was very broken up old con- new public bathrooms and either a new large play Fairway Event Center ATV together and crashed into a barn. Neither were minister weight loss and stop immediately receive therapy. crete, and we also wanted to increase the size structure or a splashpad,” said Womack. smoking, and stress relief Health Awareness Clinics 13955 Cascade Rd. wearing helmets, and both were ejected from the of the court so that it could be used for a half- “Finding funding for these projects is always MECOSTA COUNTY group hypnotic therapy. is a non-profit organization. LOWELL ATV. Both sustained significant injuries. th court game instead of just shooting hoops,” ex- the hardest part but we’re also planning on tack- For many people, this ther- They rely on donations to Monday July 19 7:00pm The 13-year-old was transported to Spectrum Health Grand Rapids by EMS. The 14-year- apy reduces 2 to 3 clothing make treatment available. A plained Womack. “We also made sure to spend ling a new recreation plan for the City this year so Comm. Center old was transported to Spectrum Health Grand Rapids by Aeromed. sizes and/or stops smoking. modest $5.00 donation when a little bit extra for the new backboard which that we can organize the future of the City’s parks 900 E. Kent Rd. Deputies were assisted by Mecosta County EMS and Wheatland Fire/Rescue. Funding for this project signing in is appreciated. New half court basketball court at Riggle Park. From City of Cedar Springs Facebook page. is a higher quality material than the previous NEW COURT - continues on page 6 comes from public donations. Support materials available. GREENVILLE The crash still is under investigation. All attendees will be Only one 2 hour session is th hypnotized twice during the needed for desirable results. Tuesday July 20 7:00pm Thought Design Bld. hypnotherapy session. Sign in 20 min. early POST HIGHLIGHTS Kent County selects new administrator 10 East Bridge St. NE News ........................................ pages 1-3 Al Vanderberg to succeed Britt after 17-year tenure in County administration Boater dies on Hess Lake HealthAwarenessClinics.org • (512) 433-6200 ROCKFORD Church Connection ................ pages 4-5 GRAND RAPIDS– After Vanderberg, who currently Global executive search firm Arts & Entertainment ..................page 6 hosting a community forum serves as Ottawa County Ad- Korn Ferry was contracted and and conducting third round in- ministrator, is expected to step kicked off the search process in Voices & Views .............................page 7 terviews at the June 24 Kent into the top Kent County staff January 2021 with subcommit- Sparta Town & Country ........ pages 8-9 County Board of Commis- position later this summer. He tee and community stakehold- sioners meeting, board chair has been the administrator in er meetings and surveys aimed Outdoors .....................................page 10 Mandy Bolter announced that Ottawa County since 2003, at defining key qualifications Bloomin’ Summer ......................page 11 the board of commissioners managing 1,200 employees for the position. Classifieds....................................page 12 selected Al Vanderberg as its who serve a population of “Community engagement choice for Kent County Ad- about 300,000 residents. was a vital component of this Service Professionals ..................page 12 ministrator/Controller. Bolter Current County Adminis- search,” said Dante Villarre- Legal Notices ...............................page 13 will enter immediate contract trator/Controller, Wayman P. al, vice president of business negotiations with Vanderberg Britt, notified the board of his & talent development at the Health & Fitness .........................page 14 with the aim of presenting a fi- intention to retire last October. Grand Rapids Chamber and Hess Lake, in Newaygo County’s Grant Towship. nal contract for board approval He has been with the County member of the search subcom- Al Vandenberg will be the new Kent A Charlotte man who was covered by The Newaygo at the commission meeting on administration for more than mittee. “Hundreds of commu- County Administrator/Controller. out boating Tuesday lost his County Dive Team. July 22. 17 years and has served in the nity leaders from nonprofits, tee consideration on May 14. life on Hess Lake. The Sheriff’s Office was The “This has been an exciting, top spot since January 2018. business, economic develop- The subcommittee selected Newaygo County Dep- assisted by The Michigan thorough and transparent pro- Shortly after Britt’s an- ment, philanthropy, education, five candidates for first round uties and the Newaygo State Police, The Grant cess that culminated with the nouncement, Bolter appointed advocacy, local government interviews at public meet- County Dive Team were Police Department, Mich- www.cedarspringspost.comST selection of a strong, visionary a seven-member executive and healthcare were inter- ings on June 9 and 10; three dispatched at about 3:30 igan DNR, Newaygo Fire 36 E.