I grew up believing small towns were a little bit scripted. Not in a weird “Truman Show” kind of way. More like The “Wonder Years” sort of way. The place where the same faces kept showing up and everything seemed connected in a way that made sense. Even growing up in Cedar Springs, it felt like there were main characters. You know what I mean? The people everyone recognized, whose names came up often enough that you felt like you knew them, even if you didn’t? They were the familiar faces at events, the longtime coaches, business owners, or people who seemed to anchor things without having to tell you that's who they are and what they're doing. It made the town feel like it had a cast. And if there was a cast, it wasn’t a stretch to assume there was some kind of script too. On television, the local diner had character but no health code violations, and the festivals were well attended. The town troublemaker was harmless and only misunderstood in the end, and even the disagreements felt manageable, like they would just resolve themselves before the music swelled and the episode wrapped. I don’t remember consciously thinking that’s how real life would be. But somewhere along the way, I must have absorbed it, because adulthood in a small town feels much different. Unlike in an episode, everyone doesn't just get along. Not here...or anywhere, really. People disagree about money, about growth, about what should be preserved and what should be replaced. Sometimes those disagreements stay online, but sometimes they move into meetings. Oddly enough, sometimes they just linger for a while before something else takes their place entirely. Regardless, life keeps moving around them. That part never really showed up in the television version, though. Everything was always neatly packaged and back to normal before the next episode. For a while, I think I measured real life against that earlier picture in my head. Why isn’t this smoother? Why can’t everyone just settle it and move on? But towns aren’t episodes. Issues don’t resolve themselves in twenty-three minutes with seven minutes of commercials. Conflicts stretch out. Conversations resurface, decisions take longer than anyone expects, buildings age, budgets tighten, and people either reconsider their positions or don't. Sometimes the result of those conflicts are so impactful, they're felt years later, forcing the town to no longer feel the same way it used to. The older I get, the more I think maybe that’s what actually makes a small town work. Not that everyone agrees, but that they continue living alongside one another despite their disagreements. There’s no soundtrack rising in the background when something settles down. No neat ending to signal that everything is tied up. Just another week and another season. Queue the ending credits.

CEDAR SPRINGS — The Cedar Springs varsity girls soccer team heads into this afternoon’s matchup riding a wave of confidence. The Red Hawks, 8-3 on the season and currently sitting third in the River Cities Alliance, are coming off a decisive 7-0 victory over Kenowa Hills. They will face the Rockford Rams at 5:30 p.m. this afternoon. The dominant win against the Knights highlighted the team’s balance on both ends of the field, with a strong offensive showing paired with a shutout performance defensively. As conference play continues, positioning in the River Cities Alliance standings remains important, and tonight’s matchup offers another opportunity for Cedar Springs to strengthen its spot. Beyond the numbers, the Red Hawks represent weeks of preparation, teamwork and commitment from student athletes competing at a high level while balancing school responsibilities. Each match is another chance for the community to show support for the effort being put in behind the scenes. The game is set to kick off at 5:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to come out and cheer on the Red Hawks as they look to build on their momentum and continue climbing in conference play.

SPARTA — A reported black bear sighting just north of the elementary school in the Village of Sparta Friday morning prompted school officials to cancel outdoor recess and limit outdoor activity for the day as a precaution. Sparta Area Schools notified families shortly before 9 a.m. that a probable bear had been seen within the village. In an email to parents, Superintendent Joel Stoner said the district would eliminate all unnecessary outdoor use or activity for students. “This implies only indoor recess, no outdoor instructional activities and access to outdoors will be limited to expedited movement to and from buses and vehicles,” the message stated. “We will evaluate after school activities later today.” The alert came after residents reported seeing what appeared to be a black bear moving through residential areas near downtown. Several locals caught a glimpse of the bear on their home security cameras, and others with photos taken with their smartphones. One resident posted on social media that she nearly struck the animal on State Street around 6 a.m., describing it as a “really scared black bear” running through yards. Photos shared by community members show a dark colored bear moving across lawns and near homes in the early morning hours. According to the National Park Service, black bears will sometimes wander into residential communities in search of food. Once frightened, bears can become unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Wildlife officials stress that avoiding the animal and removing access to food sources is critical, both for public safety and to prevent situations that could ultimately lead to the bear being euthanized. School officials emphasized the decision was made out of an abundance of caution. No injuries were reported, and authorities had not announced any direct encounters between the animal and residents as of late morning. District officials said they will continue monitoring the situation and provide updates to families as needed.

CEDAR SPRINGS — Gas prices in Cedar Springs are inching closer to $5 per gallon after jumping an average of 32 cents statewide, and as much as 82 cents at some stations, in just one day, leaving drivers doing quick math at the pump this week. Courtesy Kristen's Flashback Photography The spike is being driven by a combination of global and regional pressures. Crude oil prices have climbed amid escalating tensions tied to the U.S. Israel war with Iran, with fears that oil shipments could remain restricted through the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump told aides earlier this week to prepare for the possibility of an extended blockade in the strait. Courtesy Kristen's Flashback Photography At the same time, Midwest refinery capacity has tightened. The sudden shutdown of the region’s largest refinery, along with maintenance outages at two others, has reduced supply, pushing prices higher across the region. The price of Brent crude oil, which is viewed as the global benchmark, recently surged past $126 per barrel, the highest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It later cooled and steadied around $114 per barrel as markets reassessed the situation. Michigan drivers have seen high prices before. According to AAA data, the highest recorded statewide average for regular gasoline was $5.22 per gallon on June 11, 2022. For now, Cedar Springs residents are feeling the latest jump in real time. Patrick Gillespie was filling up at the Cedar Springs Speedway when he paused to consider the total climbing on the pump. “It took about $120 to fill my truck now,” Gillespie said. “Getting to work is what costs the most. It affects my weekends now too. I don’t really go anywhere, so I don’t spend as much.” Courtesy Kristen's Flashback Photography Commuters and families alike are adjusting. Some are consolidating errands, while others are rethinking summer road trips. Mark Jensen, a Grand Rapids native stopped at the Meijer gas station off 131 and 17 mile road. He said, if gas prices stay like this, he'll reconsider travel accommodations over summer. "We usually haul our fifth wheel up to Fife Lake every summer, but if gas prices keep on the path they're on, we'll probably be making less trips," he said. "We normally bring the truck each weekend just in case we have to move it, but we'll probably be taking my wife's car now." Industry analysts say there may be some relief ahead. Wholesale gasoline costs steadied after the rapid uptick, suggesting prices could ease, even slightly, in the coming days as refinery capacity gradually comes back online. Still, retailers are expected to move cautiously. After such a sharp increase, stations are unlikely to lower prices too quickly in case markets swing again. For drivers in Cedar Springs, the numbers on the sign remain the focus. Prices have not yet surpassed the record set in 2022, but they are close enough to prompt concern and plenty of conversation across the community.

CEDAR SPRINGS — Demolition of the historic Hilltop building took an early visible step today as crews removed the structure’s windows and replaced the openings with sheathing.

Walk into Perry’s Place LLC at 90 N. Main St. and you will see nearly floor to ceiling jars of herbs and teas, rows of glass containers filled with color and texture, and the unmistakable scent of botanicals hanging in the air. Each shelf invites a curious and closer look. Owned by Perry Hopkins, Perry’s Place has become a destination in downtown Cedar Springs for those seeking loose leaf teas, cut and sifted herbs, essential oils and natural health products. But the story begins long before the jars lined these walls. The journey started in the summer of 2003 as Magic Fingers Therapeutic Body Works. In 2006, the business expanded its therapies and became Kin of Hope Natural Health. Early on, the operation was located on 14 Mile Road, operating out of Panacea Natural Health Foods from 2005 to 2008. By late 2008, the business had moved into the historic Morley Building at 90 N. Main St., where an herbal tea shop called Soul Infusions was already located. When Soul Infusions moved out in November 2010, Perry’s Place LLC was formed as the retail face of the growing enterprise. It has been, as Hopkins describes it, a slow progression of occupying more and more of the building. In 2012, Kin of Hope expanded upstairs into what had been Sleeping Dog Yoga, transforming it into the Kin of Hope Natural Health Dance and Fitness Studio. In 2016, Perry’s Place expanded again into the north suite of the building, more than doubling its retail space. Today, when products are fully stocked, Perry’s Place offers more than 155 varieties of loose leaf tea and 232 varieties of loose leaf herbs, peppercorns, sea salts and seasonings. Shelves are lined with 165 varieties of therapeutic grade essential oils, 91 essential oil blends and 68 roll on oils, alongside locally crafted incense, soaps, lotions, apothecary and aromatherapy accessories, books and seasonal items. Christmas decor, Hopkins notes with a smile, is available all year long. The emphasis on quality and simplicity is evident from the very first step inside the shop. The herbs are sold cut and sifted, loose leaf and free from unnecessary additives. Hopkins explains that once herbs are powdered, as is common in many grocery store products, they begin to lose nutritional value. Loose leaf tea also avoids the plastic and paper found in many commercial tea bags. Suppliers prioritize organic and ecologically harvested products, offering options that are safer and more sustainable. Beyond retail, Kin of Hope Natural Health now offers more than 40 services and therapies, positioning the business as a local leader in aromatherapy, natural health and therapeutic body work. Skincare products, many of them locally made, remain a strong part of the retail mix, along with tools and accessories for at home remedies. The building itself carries its own history. Originally owned by Howard Morley, who donated the land for Morley Park, it is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Cedar Springs. Over the years it has housed the Chamber of Commerce, the Red Flannel Festival and the Parks and Recreation Department. As many locals know, Hopkins has been deeply involved in the community, serving with the Community Action Network, completing a term on City Council, participating on the Planning Commission and acting as chairman of the Downtown Development Authority. Inside Perry’s Place, though, titles and timelines fade into the background. What remains is the experience. “You can get a fresh cup of tea or coffee while having the most eclectic shopping experiences in the area,” Hopkins said. And that may be the best way to describe it. More than a retail store, Perry’s Place is an experience. With a blend of old building charm, botanical knowledge and small town hospitality, all tucked into the heart of downtown Cedar Springs, you're sure to find something you like at Perry's Place.

A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with Jake Watson about some ideas for the Bugle. Many of you may know that I have a passion for teaching others about agriculture, food, and natural resources. Growing up, I always read Ranger Steve’s column in the newspaper. It gave me a reason, as a kid, to pick up the paper, and it helped shape my path toward becoming an Agriculture & Natural Resources educator. I also think back to my second-grade teacher, Karen Mueller, Ranger Steve’s wife, who influenced me and so many others. For those who had Karen, you were an M&M kid, influenced by her love for teaching and M&M's. Her love for natural resources was clear in everything she did in the classroom. Jake and my conversation led to the idea of a small column focused on farming, gardening, agriculture, backyard animals, horticulture, landscaping, and natural resources, though I’m sure that doesn’t cover it all. I’m not sure how long this will last or how often I’ll write, my goal is monthly. One thing I do know is the importance of community and learning from one another. I’ve always told my students: the network of people and the information you learn from them is more valuable than you realize. We all have that “I’ve got a guy for that” and if we don’t, we know someone who does. Networks are built on relationships, and relationships build strong communities. For those who don’t know me, here’s a bit of background. I grew up on a small Hereford cattle and cash crop farm in Rockford. In high school, I joined CSHS FFA without realizing how much it would impact my life. I had the pleasure of having two amazing agriculture teachers, Larry Reyburn (CSHS) and Heather Pratt (KCTC). In college, I chose to pursue my passion for working with youth alongside my love for agriculture and natural resources. I graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Education and later earned my master’s in Agricultural Education. I began my career at Cedar Springs High School and now teach Agriscience for Plants & Animals at Kent Career Technical Center. My wife, our three kids, and I run a small farm stand and have developed a love for gardening, landscaping, and of course, chickens. We enjoy being outdoors and working with the land. I spent five years working with Nutrien Ag Solutions as a crop scout, fertilizer applicator and truck driver. I have also worked as a landscape foreman for over ten years with Spaans Landscape Management and O’Dowd Lawncare & Snowplowing. The network we are each capable of building depends on many things, but the one thing that I know matters the most is building positive relationships with each other, and being constructive with one another. It’s okay to respectfully disagree with someone if you truly mean it. Someone put it to me this way: Plant your own seed and share the results with others, but don’t force it upon them. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned and continue learning alongside you. After all, these are our Rural Roots.

JACKSON, MI – Consumers Energy is mobilizing over 300 crews to start restoring power to homes and businesses affected by high winds that battered Michigan late this afternoon and evening. “This storm has been hard-hitting right from the start, but we prepared and are starting our work to get the lights back on across Michigan,” said Norm Kapala, one of Consumers Energy’s officers in charge for restoration. “We appreciate the patience of our customers, especially as high gusts continue into the morning, and we will make sure to work through the night to help communities to recover.” Consumers Energy started to prepare ahead of the storm, moving personnel and equipment into position. The storm has brought wind gusts above 60 mph in West Michigan and other communities. The storm subsided at 8 p.m. Monday, with continued high winds expected through 5 a.m. Tuesday. Consumers Energy urges people to be careful if they need to travel after dark due to debris and restoration activities. Be alert to crews working along roadsides. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they can go safely past. Consumers Energy customers can check the status of outages at ConsumersEnergy.com/Outage. They can also sign up to get outage alerts and restoration times sent via phone, email or text. Text ‘REG' to 232273 or visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/alerts. Keep these safety tips in mind: Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, and report unguarded downed lines by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Consumers Energy reminds people that falsely calling in downed lines slows down the restoration process for everyone. Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas. Read more guidance on safe generator use here. Consumers Energy will trim or remove trees interfering with electric restoration activities. Once safe to do so, cleanup of debris from tree trimming or removal during a storm emergency is the responsibility of individual property owners. In some cases, the mast that holds the electric service wires to a home or business may have been damaged or torn away. Crews will reconnect the wires to a home, but only a licensed electrician can repair or replace a mast or a cable.

COURTLAND TOWNSHIP — A 39 year old Solon Township man died Monday evening after being struck by a falling tree during a thunderstorm in Courtland Township, according to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies and emergency responders were dispatched shortly after 5 p.m. April 27 to an address near Crinnion Avenue NE and 16 Mile Road NE on a report that a tree had fallen on a person. When first responders arrived, they found the man had been struck by a tree brought down by strong winds moving through the area. Despite immediate life saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary information indicates the man was outside with friends when the storm intensified and multiple trees began to fall nearby. Investigators said the man warned others to move moments before the tree came down, actions that may have prevented additional injuries. The incident remains under investigation by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office.

SAND LAKE — Voters in Nelson Township and the village of Sand Lake will head to the polls May 5 to decide whether to dissolve the village government and whether to approve a fire millage increase, two measures that follow weeks of leadership turnover and debate over fire protection. The disincorporation proposal asks whether incorporation of the Village of Sand Lake should be vacated. The measure requires a two‑thirds majority of yes votes to pass, with ballots from township and village residents combined. Because village residents are electors of Nelson Township, all voters will cast ballots at The Gathering Place, 18 W. Lake St., from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Gathering Place - Sand Lake, MI If approved, the village would dissolve and Nelson Township would take on its governmental responsibilities. It would be the first time in the state’s recorded history that a village has disincorporated, marking a milestone for the state. The ballot questions come after a wave of resignations left the village without a quorum. Village President Mollie Doerr and council members Cherrie Camilleri, Jack Christensen, Kim Latham and Kevin Wright resigned, along with members of the Planning Commission and Finance Director‑Treasurer Tyler Kaiser. Days later, the village appointed five new council members, restoring its ability to conduct business. Former village president Dan Hula was appointed to lead the new council, which also includes Ken Johnson, Justin Van Ettin, Maggie Merritt and Abbey Shirey. Chris Stieg, one of two remaining council members at the time, presided over the transition meeting. During that meeting, the newly seated council unanimously approved a 10‑year agreement with Nelson Township for fire protection services. Under the deal, Nelson Township will assume control of the Sand Lake Fire Department through a contract valued at roughly $500,000 over 10 years, including equipment, trucks and liquid assets. The arrangement equates to about $50,000 per year for fire coverage, with terms to be renegotiated at the end of the contract. The council also approved a $40,000 budget allocation for firefighters, releasing funds that had already been included in the village budget. Nelson Township Supervisor Robyn Britton called the agreement beneficial for the broader community and said it ensures continued fire service in Sand Lake as the township works with neighboring communities to strengthen regional coverage. In a separate but related ballot proposal, Nelson Township voters will consider increasing the fire millage to 1.5 mills, or $1.50 per $1,000 of taxable value, for four years from 2026 through 2029. If approved, the millage is projected to generate $314,343 in its first year to support operations, equipment and facilities for the township fire department. The disincorporation proposal was placed on the ballot after resident Samantha Gore gathered signatures. Gore said while she views the new council’s actions on fire protection as a positive step, she continues to support dissolving the village, citing concerns about past governance and long‑term stability, including debt left over by the previous administration. With a newly appointed council in place and a fire services agreement secured, Sand Lake has regained short‑term operational stability. The May 5 election will determine whether the village continues as an incorporated municipality or transitions fully under township oversight, and how fire protection will be funded in the years ahead.

This week, the school board voted to demolish the Hilltop building. I know you already know, but I had to begin this editorial somehow. I covered the decision and wrote about the costs, the planning and what comes next. But what has stayed with me isn't so much the vote itself as the thought of all the days that building held. One hundred years is a long time for any structure to stand in place. Long enough for generations to pass through it without thinking much about the fact that they were part of a long line. My own grandmother graduated high school at Hilltop, and my parents attended junior high there. So when I say generations, I mean literal generations. It's not hard to imagine the rhythm of life inside those walls. Mornings when kids walked in with brand new backpacks at the start of the school year, nervous but pretending not to be. Afternoons when the final bell sent everyone out the doors in a rush. Random Tuesdays that no one remembers clearly now, but once felt important in the way only childhood days can. If you attended school at Hilltop, you probably don't remember everything. But you may remember fragments, such as a teacher’s voice or how it would get decorated around Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Personally, I remember the way the building seemed enormous when I was young and somehow smaller once I grew. So, that's what strikes me. The days gone by that were held within the building. Not the vote. The vote was, quite honestly, unsurprising despite the lingering sentimentality of it all. But sentimentality comes at a price. And Cedar Springs has never been a community that approves spending easily. Looking back over the past twenty years, school related bond proposals have often struggled unless residents were convinced they were absolutely necessary. In 2007, an operating millage increase failed with 49.15 percent voting yes. In 2011, a sinking fund was rejected at 47.91 percent before passing the following year at just 50.62 percent. Again, in 2019, a construction bond received only 43.64 percent support and failed, only to pass in 2020 with a mere 50.21 percent. Even just this past November, a regional enhancement proposal fell short at 47.42 percent. Courtesy of CSPS Superintendent Scott Smith If that pattern says anything about this town, it's this: Cedar Springs requires convincing and is not quick to approve new spending. Nor does it consist of sentimental voters. When viewed in that light, the decision about Hilltop doesn't feel so sudden anymore. It feels like the end of a conversation that has been circling for decades...and it has. The question of whether it could or should be saved is not new. In 1985, former Bugle founder and publisher Niels Andersen wrote, “Why A New School? Can’t Hill Top [sic] Be Saved?” He went on to argue that the building was sturdy and could stand for another 60 years. Even then, the tension between preservation of sentiment and practicality was present. A building can hold thousands of small, unremarkable days, and those days subtly shape lives. The children who once moved through those hallways are adults now. Some of them have children of their own attending school in other buildings like Beach or Cedar View. And today, those buildings are holding thousands of small, unremarkable days, subtly shaping the lives of those who attend. Hilltop stayed in place while everything changed around it. Now it will change too. When Hilltop eventually comes down, it will leave only a new skyline. Not the memories of the people who passed through it. No, those will remain in conversations, in old photographs, at the invaluable resource of the Cedar Springs Museum which you should all be visiting, and in the simple sentence, “I went to school there.” That’s it. There is no dramatic lesson here. Just the recognition that places matter because of what happened inside them, not because they last forever. Time does not pause while we decide how we feel about it. It keeps moving. Hilltop had a long chapter in Cedar Springs. One might say it finally reached the top of the hill. I’ll resist going any further with that. Regardless, it seems that now is the time to turn the page in the school's and the town's history. Just like they did one hundred years ago.