CEDAR SPRINGS — Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation (CSAPR) is celebrating 40 years of providing recreation and community enrichment opportunities for residents throughout Cedar Springs and northern Kent County. Established in 1986, the organization brings together schools, local governments, instructors, businesses, and volunteers to offer programs for people of all ages, interests, and abilities. CSAPR’s partnership includes Cedar Springs Public Schools, the City of Cedar Springs, and Nelson, Solon, and Algoma townships. Their continued support helps provide safe places for children to play and opportunities for residents to connect and lead healthier, happier, and more active lives. The organization’s roots date to January 1986, when representatives from Cedar Springs Public Schools (Jim Tackmann, Louise King, and Ivan Opperman), the City of Cedar Springs (Amber Bailey and Rose Powell), Solon Township (John Cornell and John Hart), and Nelson Township (Ellen Lewis and Don Mabie) gathered to establish bylaws, adopt a budget, and develop a recreation master plan. Their work secured governmental approval for CSAPR as a Public Authority. Algoma joined soon after. In December 1986, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources approved the master plan, which identified 10 major projects. Within the first five years, seven projects totaling more than $700,000 were completed. The largest was the development of the Cedar Springs High School and community softball and baseball fields where volunteers transformed an uneven, rocky grass field into quality playing fields still used today. Other projects included improvements to Morley Park and Skinner Field. Today, CSAPR offers activities including yoga, line dancing, painting, open basketball, volleyball and many more. A popular free monthly senior gathering features a guest speaker, light lunch, and bingo. As part of the anniversary, CSAPR has created an informational brochure highlighting its history, accomplishments, current programs, and contact information. Community partners are encouraged to share the brochure through newsletters, websites, and other resident communications. CSAPR recognizes the founding board members, past and present directors, municipal and school representatives, instructors, business sponsors, and volunteers whose contributions have supported four decades of service. Directors were responsible for the operations of the department to include creation and execution of programs, events, classes. They include Scott Templar, Chris Dingman, Sandy Waite (1993- 2001), Katy Austin (2001), Norton Johnson (2001-2006), Amanda Gerhardt (2006-2019) and are currently led by Executive Director Jaime Gunderson and Administrative Assistant Toni Cummings Taylor. The organization looks forward to continued growth and new opportunities to serve the community and would appreciate hearing from you regarding possible activities. The board meets on the first Monday of each month.

Kent Intermediate School District is moving forward with plans to transfer Howard Christensen Nature Center to the Land Conservancy of West Michigan and demolish its buildings, amid scrutiny from former representatives of Lily’s Frog Pad, Tyrone Township officials and members of the public. In an Oct. 20 website update, Kent ISD said declining school use and ongoing costs led to its decision to transfer the property to the conservancy. The district also confirmed that its board had approved a demolition proposal in October, with the structures to be removed in the coming months. The announcement marks another step in a process that has prompted questions about preserving the nature center’s buildings, original intended use, public spending and the opportunity for local involvement in decisions about the site. During public comment at the board’s Oct. 19 meeting, some members of the public criticized the decision-making process, saying representatives of the former nonprofit and the township should have been involved before plans were settled. “When you talk about transparency, it looks like inviting people into the discussion that may be affected by your decisions,” Cindy Patin said. Patin said Lily's Frog Pad, the former nonprofit that operated at the nature center, had operated there for 15 years and had not been included in the decision. The comments also echoed the township’s written request for an opportunity to discuss alternatives. In a written proposal, Lily’s Frog Pad offered to buy and maintain the five buildings at no cost to taxpayers. Patin urged the board to rescind its earlier decision to sell the property and reopen discussions with those affected, particularly Tyrone Township. Kent ISD offered a different account of its decision-making in its Oct. 20 update, saying district leaders and board members had listened to community members, met with stakeholders and considered alternatives before proceeding. The update did not specifically address the speaker’s comments. Tyrone Township has sought a role beyond raising concerns. In a Sept. 17 letter to Kent ISD and the Land Conservancy, the township board proposed purchasing the entire property or smaller parcels containing its buildings. Township officials said their goal was to preserve facilities that have served generations of students and area residents. “We, the elected officials of Tyrone Township, have a commitment to protect the HCNC as a unique and vital part of our history, including the need to preserve the 5 buildings,” the board wrote. The township also questioned whether it had been given an adequate opportunity to explain its proposals. Its letter quoted a Sept. 3 response from the Land Conservancy stating that the conservancy’s board had reviewed the township’s interest and voted Aug. 26 to reaffirm its support for demolition. Township officials followed up with a request for an in-person meeting to discuss alternatives. Subsequent correspondence from a township representative describes a meeting with Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Gorman and other district officials. According to that account, the township’s purchase proposals did not produce an agreement, and district officials pointed to the existing agreement with the conservancy as a constraint on pursuing alternatives. Demolition was listed as a separate action item on the district board’s Oct. 19 agenda, rather than on the board's consent agenda. Supporting recommendation documents put the proposed funding package at $137,942, including demolition, construction management, restoration allowances and contingencies. Kent ISD’s update the following day confirmed approval of a demolition proposal, although the update did not state the approved amount. In explaining the transfer, the district emphasized the property’s long-term protection, saying the move would “preserve it indefinitely.” However, the proposed warranty deed attached to the purchase agreement does not make its educational and recreational use restriction permanent. The deed requires educational and/or recreational use for 10 years from its date. It expressly states that the restriction will then automatically terminate and that the conservancy will hold the property “free and clear of such restrictions.” The proposed warranty deed attached to the purchase agreement states that its educational and/or recreational use restriction automatically expires 10 years from the deed’s date. The expiration provision does not establish that the property will be developed or that all other protections will end. But the proposed deed’s use restriction, standing alone, does not guarantee indefinite preservation. The purchase agreement separately requires conservation purposes and public educational and/or recreational use, without specifying a 10-year limit. For township officials, however, protecting the land and preserving its buildings were goals they hoped to pursue together. Their proposal offered an alternative ownership arrangement, but the district’s latest announcement indicates the transfer and demolition plans are proceeding.

SPARTAN STADIUM, SPARTA — The Cedar Springs crowd brought the noise. The Red Hawks brought the finish. Before the first snap Friday night, the visiting stands were electric as Cedar Springs took the field, already giving a sense that, after everything this season had asked of them, the Red Hawks had one more performance to give their hometown. And. They. Delivered. Cedar Springs powered past Sparta 52-27 to finish the regular season at 4-5, turning takeaways into touchdowns and giving its seniors a victory to carry with them. Along the way, Spencer Schoenborn added a place in the school record book to a memorable final night. Cedar Springs with a fumble recovery For Coach Kapolka, the pride went beyond the scoreboard. “I told the kids I’m proud of them because they never gave in this season. We had a lot of adversity, a lot of things to overcome, a lot of crushing defeats, but they never gave in.” That resolve showed early. Sparta opened with a sustained drive into Cedar Springs territory, but the Red Hawks held their ground. The defense, taking an early stand with Spencer Rosenberger who broke up a huge pass attempt deep into Hawks territory, forced the Spartans to settle for a field goal taking a 3-0 lead. In vintage Hawks fashion, they answered immediately. Deegan Pike powers his way into the end zone Schoenborn attacked the edges, keeping the Spartans on their toes while Deegan Pike powered through the middle, marching the Hawks downfield. Schoenborn finished the drive with a short touchdown run, and Kolin Brott muscled across for the two-point conversion. With 6:30 remaining in the opening quarter, Cedar Springs led 8-3. But the Hawks were just getting started. A recovered Sparta fumble gave Cedar Springs another opportunity well into Sparta's territory, and the offense made it count. Nick Robinson powered his way up for a first-down run, Schoenborn kept the chains moving, and Pike punched through the middle for a touchdown. Pike added the conversion, pushing the lead to 16-3. Then the defense delivered again. Evan Thompson keeps his focus and intercepts Sparta's pass Cody Greenland intercepted a pass to open the second quarter. On the very next play, Robinson found Pike over the top for a 43-yard touchdown and a 22-3 advantage. When Sparta threatened again, it was Evan Thompson who kept his eye on the ball and intercepted a pass near the end zone, returning it to the Cedar Springs 45-yard line. Another takeaway became another scoring drive, capped by Jakson Bravata charging through the middle for a 17-yard touchdown. Robinson connected with Schoenborn in the corner of the end zone for the conversion, and the Hawks led 30-3. Schoenborn scores one of many TDs The unrelenting Hawks kept pressing. After the defense forced a punt, the offense drove back into scoring position. Robinson placed the ball into the veteran hands of Schoenborn who swept around the left side for another touchdown, and Pike’s two-point conversion made it 38-3 with 3:28 left in the half. Sparta managed a touchdown in the closing seconds, but the Red Hawks headed into halftime ahead 38-10, with their traveling crowd having plenty to cheer about. Wasting no time at all after halftime, the Hawks gave those fans more to cheer about immediately. Schoenborn opened the third quarter with consecutive first-down runs, moving Cedar Springs into Spartan territory. After a penalty pushed the Hawks back, Robinson connected with Schoenborn on a 38-yard touchdown pass. Schoenborn then kicked the extra point himself, extending the lead to 45-10. Spencer Schoenborn breaks the Single Season Rushing record. Sparta continued to battle, putting together a scoring drive late in the third quarter. But Cedar Springs kept meeting that effort with its own. Rosenberger trucked his way through offensive ball carriers, Greenland wrapped up runners to limit gains, and the Hawks made the Spartans work for every yard gained until they scored a touchdown on a short pass. A Sparta extra point made the game 45-17. Early in the fourth quarter, Schoenborn reached a milestone that will outlast the final score: Cedar Springs’ single-season rushing record. He also finished the season holding the school’s career rushing record. For the hometown fans who had followed him and his teammates through the season’s highs and lows, it was another reason to stand and cheer. Cedar Springs added its final touchdown early in the fourth, stretching the lead to 52-17. Sparta answered with a 69-yard touchdown pass and later a field goal, but the Hawks had built a margin the Spartans could not overcome. Quarterback Nick Robinson gets set for a game-winning kneel. With less than two minutes remaining, Malick Traore secured the final kickoff. Robinson then took a knee on the final three plays of his high school career, closing out the victory and the season. There would be no winning regular-season record. But there would be a win on this night that was earned together, on the road, in front of a crowd that never stopped believing in its team. Coach Kapolka also looked ahead, identifying a clear starting point for next season. “We need to solidify our coaching staff, first and foremost, and put our guys in positions as coaches to be successful. We were a little discombobulated early in the year, but I think we start from there.” Let's go Red Hawks! That work comes next. Friday belonged to the players who finished, the seniors taking their final snaps and the Cedar Springs faithful who made the trip. The record will say 4-5. The final night said something else about these Red Hawks: They never gave in.

Joan Arlene (LaBan) Covell, 93, of Boyne City, Michigan, passed away on October 4, 2026, at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, Michigan. Joan was born on September 19, 1933, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Ralph and Josephine (Folkertsma) LaBan. She grew up in Rockford, Michigan, where she graduated from Rockford High School and met her future husband, Richard Covell. The two were married in Rockford on September 29, 1951 and shared many wonderful years together. Joan and Richard made their home in Cedar Springs, Michigan, where Joan worked as a secretary for Cedar Springs Public Schools. Later, they moved to Portland, Michigan, where she continued her career with Portland Public Schools until her retirement. Throughout her years working in education, Joan especially enjoyed attending her children’s and grandchildren’s school sporting events and cheering them on. Outside of work, Joan and Richard shared a passion for raising horses and cattle on their family farm and participating in horse shows. Their involvement in the horse community was an important part of their lives, and they were longtime members and board members of the Michigan Association of Western Horse Clubs. Joan had many interests and talents. An accomplished ice skater, she also loved fishing and gardening and continued to enjoy them well into her later years. She treasured time spent with family and friends, whether putting together puzzles, playing cards, or enjoying a favorite board game. Above all, Joan will be remembered for her joyful spirit, boundless energy, and generous heart. She was a loving, caring person who was always willing to give the shirt off her back to help someone in need. Her kindness, warmth, and willingness to give to others touched the lives of many, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Joan is survived by her children, JR (Sheila) Covell, Teri (Kris) Reyburn, and Jim Covell; her grandchildren, Mike (Jennifer) Reyburn, DJ (Cherie) Reyburn, Cayley (Conor) Vanalstine, Mike (Nicky) Krucinski, Clint Covell, Tony (Tasha) Covell, and Jay Covell; and several great-grandchildren; and her great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard Covell; her parents, Ralph and Josephine LaBan; her daughter-in-law, Vicki Covell; her brothers, Jim and Tommy LaBan; and her great-grandchildren Keith and Victoria. Those wishing to make a charitable donation in Joan’s memory are asked to consider Grandvue Medical Care Facility. A family graveside service at Elmwood Cemetery in Cedar Springs, Michigan, will be announced at a later date.

Karla Kay “Yoda” Koschkee Baker, age 78, made her final wildly inappropriate remark, rolled her eyes at the general state of humanity one last time, and departed this life today, October 19, Year 2026. Having outlived many expectations—including several of her own—Karla finally traded in her worn-out earthly frame forget whatever great adventure comes next. Her family suspects she is currently somewhere beyond the stars enjoying buttered corn on the cob, a cinnamon roll (or four), a towering mug of Pepsi packed with too much ice, and either reorganizing a heavenly library or overwatering celestial tomatoes while muttering that nobody else knows how to do things properly. Born in 1948 to Ona LaVonne (Oates) and Carson Alfred Koschkee in Fennimore, Wisconsin, Karla arrived with a sharp wit, a stubborn streak, and absolutely no intention of ever blending quietly into the background. Though her two older brothers, Larry and Bill, might argue otherwise, Karla remained the undisputed favorite child. Family stories still survive about her knocking Larry flat after he read her diary and pushing Bill down the stairs for brutalizing her stuffed animals. Justice, in Karla’s world, was swift, personal, and usually deserved. She grew up in the Midwest where summers were golden, winters were merciless, and children learned resilience whether they wanted to or not. Karla later graduated from Wauwatosa West High School before making her way to Milwaukee, where she briefly married Karl Koletta. That chapter ended quickly, proving Karla had standards after all. Later, while working at Allied Van Lines in Waukegan, Illinois, she met Jack William Baker—a truck driver with charm, persistence, and enough audacity to woo her with stacks of books instead of flowers and candy. Falling for a traveling man meant signing up for a life full of chaos, cross-country adventures, constant moving, improvised solutions, and hearing “we’ll figure it out” far more often than any reasonable person should tolerate. But she loved him anyway. Most days. Together they built a life that was rarely easy, frequently ridiculous, and held together through stubbornness, laughter, resilience, and aggravating one another for sport. Their marriage eventually ended, but the bond between them never completely disappeared. In Jack’s final years, Karla still showed up with favorite foods, commissary money, little comforts, and quiet acts of care. Because beneath all the muttering, sarcasm, scoffing, and exasperation, love remained. Of course, love in their household often looked a lot like psychological warfare. Jack, never one to miss an opportunity for mischief, had a habit of sneaking home early from out-of-state jobs hoping to catch everyone off guard and bask in the confusion he created. One particular occasion, coworkers betrayed him and phoned ahead with a warning. Karla and Shandell immediately got to work. By the time Jack swaggered through the door expecting to surprise everyone, the house had been transformed into evidence of an elaborate secret escape plan: maps spread across tables, fake reservation notes, suspiciously highlighted travel routes, and enough staged chaos to strongly suggest that it did not include him. Jack got magnificently bent out of shape. Karla, meanwhile, could barely contain her delight. The prank was considered one of the family’s finer achievements. Jack preceded her in death in 2015. Karla often said she wished she had spent less time buried in paperwork, obligations, and everyone else’s nonsense and more time reading books and seeing the world. Yet even amid ordinary struggles, she created an extraordinary life. When money was tight—and it often was—Karla could stretch a dollar farther than basic economics should have allowed using equal parts creativity, grit, stubbornness, and what her family lovingly describes as “Midwestern resourcefulness.” While living in Cedar Springs for the past decade, Karla became something of a neighborhood legend affectionately known as “Grumpy Granny Karla.” She had absolutely no patience for rude behavior, bullying, or what was referred to as “feral nonsense.” She never softened an honest opinion whether anyone requested it or not, and neighborhood children quickly learned that if Grumpy Granny caught you being unkind, you were about to receive a blunt life lesson delivered with alarming accuracy. A many a stick were confiscated. Beneath the grumbling exterior was someone who quietly protected underdogs and believed kindness mattered deeply. Her sense of style leaned heavily toward comfort and complete disregard for fashion trends. She preferred holey canvas shoes, soft t-shirts, and clothes suitable for gardening, reading, or disappearing into the yard with a Pepsi mug full of ice. She loved sunshine, chocolate-covered peanuts, Downton Abbey, libraries, and truly good food. She firmly believed burgers should be cooked properly, BLTs required mayonnaise, and vegetables deserved more respect than most people gave them—especially sweet corn, vine-ripened tomatoes, and Brussel sprouts. If Karla had earned a penny for every taco she made over the course of her lifetime, she would have died a billionaire. She was an unapologetic ice cream addict and food purist who considered bad cooking a personal offense. Books accumulated around Karla in dangerous architectural formations. Librarians knew her by name. She devoured novels by the stack, especially well-written romances. She loved stories in every form: sweeping historical dramas, comedies, action-adventures, and science fiction epics. She adored Indiana Jones, laughed hard at good comedy, and had a particular fondness for Guardians of the Galaxy—especially Volumes 1 and 2. Karla’s gardens were beautiful and usually just one step away from overtaking the space entirely, except the year of the chickens. That was the last time she ever suggested to Jack she needed fertilizer. Last summer, she famously bonded with a praying mantis while simultaneously contributed to rotting out the deck posts by watering her beloved plant wonderland. In Karla’s defense, the flowers looked fantastic. Karla considered herself something of an environmentalist and firmly believed very few things should ever be thrown away if they could still be “useful someday.” Old jars, bottles, containers, tins, baskets, and assorted mysterious objects were lovingly repurposed into watering stations, gardening helpers, storage systems, and ambitious future craft projects throughout the house. To outsiders it may have looked chaotic, but to Karla it was possibility waiting patiently for its moment. More importantly than anything else, Karla loved her family with fierce devotion. When her daughter was little, Karla woke an hour early every morning simply to cuddle her awake before school. She made every place home no matter how often life forced them to move. She showed love not through grand speeches, but through sacrifices, practical kindness, shared laughter, remembering favorite foods, and making sure everyone else was okay first. Even as age and illness slowed her body, Karla continued searching for joy wherever she could find it. She traveled when possible, laughed often, gardened when she was able, read endlessly, and treasured the people she loved most. In 2026, she made one final “freedom drive” to Marshall, Michigan, staying at a historic hotel she had dreamed of visiting for years. Karla firmly believed that if you wanted to do something, you should go do it before life decided otherwise. Karla leaves behind a family who loved her deeply and who will forever hear her voice in every sarcastic observation, every practical solution, every garden row, every good book, and every cold Pepsi poured over too much ice on a summer afternoon. She is survived by daughter Shandell Napieralski (Michael VanZyl), step daughters Tracy (Jim Orzula) and Pam (Danny Joe Smith); grandchildren Zoë Napieralski, Genevieve K. VanMalsen (Michael Hyde), Kathryn L. VanMalsen (Landen Hess), and Robert C. VanMalsen II, Sadie Schoenborn Henry, Mark Schoenborn, Samantha Ryfiak Justiniano, Tyler Ryfiak, David Delore, Serena Weedall, and Cody Weedall; and great-grandchildren Jace the Ace, Cal the Pal, and Sam the Man—who she firmly believed should have been named “Jack Jack”, and many more that we hadn’t been granted permission to list. There will be no formal viewing, largely because her family refused to honor her request to be displayed standing upright on the porch, surrounded by plants, with a Pepsi in one hand and a stick in the other “so people could remember me correctly.” Instead, the family invites you to porch sit awhile, drink something cold, tell honest stories, and remember the good. In lieu of flowers, Karla would strongly encourage you to read more books, take the trip, eat the dessert, grow something beautiful, and stop wasting time folding fitted sheets properly. Life is shorter than it looks.

Randy Barton is looking forward to getting to know Cedar Springs, not only in its classrooms, but at school plays and band concerts, and through conversations with the people who call the community home. The Cedar Springs Board of Education selected Barton as the district’s next superintendent following interviews with two finalists. The board authorized contract negotiations ahead of his anticipated January start.

Pumpkins weren’t the only thing worth celebrating Saturday at Pumpkin Palooza. Halloween costumes, live music and a little witchy footwork made for a festive Saturday afternoon as Pumpkin Palooza brought families together at Heart of Cedar Springs Park. Held from 2 to 5 p.m., the free community celebration was presented by the Harvest of Hope Foundation and Green Family & Friends, with a pumpkin giveaway and activities for all ages. Some guests arrived dressed in Halloween costumes, adding to the seasonal spirit as they explored the pumpkin patch, played games and collected prizes. Face painting, free costumes and a costume contest offered more ways to join the fun. Natalie Iris and the Family kept the park filled with live music, and the Red Flannel Witches joined the festivities to “dance and trance” along with the tunes. The Cedar Springs FFA brought animals for a little petting zoo, giving families a chance to visit some four-legged guests, and the Cedar Springs Community Building Development Team also helped make the afternoon special with a scavenger hunt and pumpkin weight-guessing. Free food, cider and donuts gave visitors a chance to enjoy a treat while catching up with friends and neighbors. Between the pumpkins, costumes and dancing witches, Pumpkin Palooza offered a cheerful mix of Halloween fun and hometown hospitality; but more importantly, a chance for the community to celebrate fall together.

Growth, city spending and the importance of listening to residents are central themes for three write-in candidates seeking two seats on the Cedar Springs City Council. With no candidates’ names printed on the ballot for those seats, voters will need to write in their choices in the Nov. 3 election. Renee Race, Brittany Batt and Mark Laws are seeking the positions. The Cedar Springs Bugle reached out to all three candidates about their experience, priorities and vision for Cedar Springs. Their responses describe different approaches to a shared goal: supporting the community while preserving its small-town character. Renee Race: Experience, Responsible Growth and Financial Stability Renee Race points to her service on the Planning Commission, City Council and as the city’s current mayor pro-tem as experience she would bring to another term. In her questionnaire responses, Race said those roles have deepened her understanding of local government while reinforcing the importance of making residents feel heard. She is running to continue contributing to the community and provide experience and consistency on the council. Race identified responsible growth, infrastructure and financial stability as the city’s biggest challenges. Her first-year priorities would include careful spending, maintaining infrastructure and services, planning for development and improving communication with residents. “I want to ask the basic questions: Do we need it? Can we afford it? And does it make sense long-term?” Race said of budgeting decisions. She supports development that accounts for its effects on roads, utilities, services and neighborhoods. “We can grow without losing the small-town character that makes Cedar Springs special,” she said. Race also emphasized that listening does not always lead to a decision everyone supports. When opinions differ, she said council members should consider the perspectives and facts before deciding what best serves the city as a whole. She sees room to improve both communication and long-term planning, particularly in helping residents understand why decisions are made. Brittany Batt: Community Involvement and a Broader Business Mix Brittany Batt said she and her daughter moved to Cedar Springs in 2021. Since then, she has focused on getting to know neighbors, volunteering and putting down roots. Batt is open about having no local government experience. She instead points to her willingness to learn, ask questions and consider different approaches to problems. “I’m a fast learner and a dedicated person to causes that I truly believe in,” she wrote. Greater community involvement is her leading priority. Batt said she wants residents to better understand city decisions and feel more included in shaping them. If elected, she would begin by seeking a clearer understanding of city operations from within the council. Her approach to budgeting would emphasize support for residents and local businesses, creative problem-solving and researching alternatives before committing additional money. She questioned spending focused on a polished image that, in her view, may not reflect Cedar Springs’ identity. Batt also favors a more varied business district and fewer cannabis businesses over time. She said she would like to see the number of licenses reduced as businesses close, rather than continued turnover to new operators, and wants greater attention paid to how businesses contribute to the community. Another concern is the proposed data center in neighboring Solon Township. Batt said residents there deserve support as they work to make their voices heard. On public participation, she wants residents’ comments to help inform council decisions throughout the process. “The City Council role is not to make decisions as an island, we are to represent the city and our residents,” she wrote. Batt said she would remain accessible through Facebook, email and informal conversations, including meeting neighbors for coffee or a walk around town. Mark Laws: Spending Restraint and Small-Town Character Mark Laws describes himself as a retired operations management professional and grandfather who has lived in Cedar Springs for 15 years. According to his responses, he holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from Eastern Michigan University. His career included work with UPS, the armored car industry, a software development company, the Federal Reserve Bank and Huntington National Bank. Locally, Laws said he has served on the Planning Commission and Red Flannel Festival Board. Those roles, he said, gave him experience working alongside the council. Laws entered the race after learning the seats would depend on write-in candidates. Preserving Cedar Springs’ small-town character is a central reason he wants to serve. “I enjoy the character and feel of the small town,” he wrote. “I would not sacrifice that for development.” His first-year priorities include concerns about the proposed data center, keeping spending under budget and work on the city’s master plan. He also identified roads, water and other infrastructure as important issues. Laws acknowledged that he would need to learn more about the city’s finances before discussing specific budget changes. His general preference is for less government spending and avoiding unnecessary expenses. He also wants more comfortable, transparent exchanges between residents and council members. Some people, he said, may feel intimidated attending a meeting or speaking during public comment. Laws believes council members should spend time talking with residents and business owners outside formal meetings, and he said he is willing to share his personal contact information to encourage those conversations. “I can not represent them or do what is best for the community without their input and concerns,” he wrote. Casting a Write-In Vote The candidates offer voters distinct priorities: Race emphasizes experience and continuity; Batt focuses on broader participation and a more varied business community; and Laws stresses spending restraint and preserving Cedar Springs’ character. To cast a write-in vote, voters should enter their chosen candidate’s name in the designated space under the City Council contest and completely fill in the corresponding oval. Voters should follow the ballot’s instructions on the number of candidates they may select.

Get the costumes ready and make room on the porch for a pumpkin. Two upcoming community events will bring fall fun to Cedar Springs, with a pumpkin giveaway at Heart of Cedar Springs Park and Halloween trick-or-treating downtown. Pumpkin Palooza — Oct. 17 This Saturday, the Cedar Springs Community Pumpkin Palooza will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. at Heart of Cedar Springs Park. Presented by the Harvest of Hope Foundation and Green Family & Friends, the event offers free admission and a pumpkin giveaway, along with activities for the whole family. The afternoon’s lineup includes a pumpkin patch, games and prizes, a petting zoo, a scavenger hunt and face painting. Free costumes and a costume contest are also listed among the festivities. Families can enjoy free food, cider and donuts while spending an autumn afternoon with friends and neighbors. Halloween Spooktacular — Oct. 31 The fun continues on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., when the Halloween Spooktacular brings free trunk-or-treating down Main Street, Cedar Springs. The event will stretch along Main Street from Church Street to Maple Street, where families can visit participating businesses, collect treats and show off their Halloween costumes. Families should plan ahead for parking. According to the city’s announcement, no parking will be allowed on Main Street from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Visitors are encouraged to use side streets and other city parking lots. Normal trick-or-treating will take place throughout the the neighborhoods in town as well. Whether picking out a pumpkin or filling a bag full of candy, both events offer families a chance to celebrate the season close to home.

A woman was shot and killed Thursday morning at a home northeast of Sparta, and her adult son was taken into custody a short time later, according to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded shortly after 9 a.m. to a home near Indian Lakes Road and Pine Island Drive, between Sparta and Cedar Springs. Other people inside the home called 911, Sheriff Bryan Muir said. Authorities described the shooting as a domestic incident involving a mother and son. Neither person’s name was immediately released. “It’s a mother-son relationship,” Muir said. “An adult mother is trying to take care of her adult son, doing the best they can.” Investigators tracked a cellphone to help locate the son while deputies and officers searched the surrounding area. Rockford police, Michigan State Police and plainclothes detectives assisted in the search. The son was found near Ritchie Avenue and 14 Mile Road in Courtland Township, roughly 5.5 miles from the home. Muir said he was taken into custody peacefully, without the use of force. The response and search unfolded within about half an hour, according to the sheriff. “The community is safe right now,” Muir said. “The only person we believe that acted is in custody with the sheriff’s office.” Authorities had not determined a motive, and the investigation remained ongoing.

After Monday's Cedar Springs Board of Education meeting, two finalists will return for a second round of interviews as Cedar Springs Public Schools moves closer to choosing its next superintendent. Randy Barton, assistant superintendent at Mason Public Schools, and Ryan Biller, superintendent of Tri County Area Schools, are scheduled to interview Monday, Oct. 19. Mason Superintendent Randy Barton Tri County Superintendent Ryan Biller Community members will also have an opportunity to meet the candidates during a community forum and meet-and-greet reception. The district will announce details in the coming days on its superintendent search website that can be found here.

Dinner at Cedar Springs Brewing Company is helping put local kids one step closer to the stage tonight. The brewery is hosting a Community Giveback night for Synergy Dance Studio, donating 10% of food sales, both dine-in and carryout, to support its upcoming production of The Nutcracker. For owner Dave Ringler, it’s another way to support the town that has supported the brewery for nearly 11 years. The Main Street business opened Nov. 13, 2015, and will mark its 11th anniversary next month. “We’re hosting one of our regular Community Giveback nights tonight,” Ringler said. “We’re supporting our local Synergy Dance Studio who has their holiday production of the Nutcracker coming up.” The proceeds, he explained, will help the studio and local kids put on the production. These nights are a regular part of life at the brewery, not just a special occasion. Ringler said the business generally partners with a local cause once a month, though this month has already brought two opportunities to help. “We have had one last week for the Pumpkin Giveaway, and now tonight we have one for Synergy Dance Studio,” he said. That ongoing commitment is also reflected in the brewery’s stated mission, which includes community fundraising, donations and its Community Give Back program. For neighbors looking for high-quality German cuisine for dinner, or simply picking up something to take home, tonight is offering a simple way to support young dancers while enjoying a meal from a hometown business. Synergy Dance Studio, located at 55 N. Main St. in Cedar Springs, will present The Nutcracker at Sparta High School on Friday, Dec. 11, and Saturday, Dec. 12. Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday. For ticket information, visit Synergy Dance Studio on Facebook or stop by the studio. Nearly 11 years in, the brewery’s giveback nights continue to turn meals on Main Street into support for neighbors; this time, helping local kids bring a holiday tradition to the stage. Stop by the Cedar Springs Brewing Company at 95 N. Main Street right on the corner of Maple Street and help support the business that helps support its hometown. Prost!