The former Rite Aid building on 17 Mile Road has sat quiet for some time, but if a new proposal moves forward, the vacant storefront could soon see a steady stream of activity again; this time as a car wash.

Cedar Springs made the trip to Battle Creek Friday night to take on the Harper Creek Beavers, hoping to pick up its first win of the early season. The Red Hawks showed grit on both sides of the ball and had several promising drives, but were unable to find the end zone in a 19-0 loss. The Red Hawks were still without quarterback Nick Robinson, who was injured in last week’s game and did not return to action Friday night. In his absence, Cedar Springs continued working to find its footing offensively, with Jakson Bravata stepping in under center and the Hawks leaning heavily on their ground game. Harper Creek opened the game with the ball and quickly moved deep into Cedar Springs territory. The Beavers drove inside the 10-yard line, but the Red Hawks defense made them work for every yard. Spencer Rosenberger came up with a good stop, and Ty Lawson made another key tackle near the goal line to keep Harper Creek out of the end zone temporarily. On fourth-and-goal, Harper Creek was able to punch the ball in for the first touchdown of the night. Cedar Springs answered with a bright spot on special teams, getting into the backfield to block the extra point and keep the score at 6-0. The Red Hawks got their first chance on offense starting at their own 23-yard line. Spencer Schoenborn got things moving with an 8-yard run up the middle, and Kolin Brott later powered forward on third down to move the chains. Deegan Pike also got involved early with a solid carry, but the drive ended on downs near midfield. Cedar Springs’ defense kept the Hawks in the game throughout the first half. After Harper Creek got the ball back, the Hawks forced a punt, though the Beavers were able to pin Cedar Springs at its own 1-yard line. Backed up against the goal line, the Red Hawks did not fold. Pike put together a couple of strong runs to bring the ball out to the 37-yard line, giving Cedar Springs some much-needed breathing room. Bravata followed with a big gain on a keeper, moving the Hawks across midfield and into Harper Creek territory. The drive eventually stalled around the Beavers’ 30-yard line, but it showed the kind of fight Cedar Springs would continue to play with throughout the night. Later in the second quarter, Pike delivered one of the hardest runs of the game, breaking loose for 28 yards while dragging several defenders along with him. The run brought Cedar Springs to the Harper Creek 42-yard line and gave the Hawks another chance to build momentum. A holding call, however, pushed the Hawks behind the chains, and they were forced to punt. Harper Creek delivered the biggest blow of the first half with less than a minute remaining. Facing third-and-10, the Beavers broke free for a 57-yard touchdown run. The extra point made it 13-0 with 54 seconds left before halftime. Cedar Springs tried to answer quickly. Schoenborn picked up a strong gain to move the ball near midfield, but a deep pass by Bravata was intercepted. The Beavers tried to take one more shot before the break, but Ryan Larkin came through with a sack to send the teams into halftime with Harper Creek leading 13-0. The Red Hawks opened the second half with the ball and continued to battle. Schoenborn picked up a first down to keep the opening drive alive, but the Hawks were eventually forced to punt. Harper Creek threatened again in the third quarter, but Cedar Springs’ defense dug in and stopped the Beavers on fourth down, giving the offense another chance. The Hawks put together one of their better drives late in the third quarter, with Schoenborn helping carry the offense into Harper Creek territory. Cedar Springs pushed the ball to the Beavers’ 27-yard line, but on fourth-and-10, a deep pass toward the end zone slipped through the receiver’s hands. Harper Creek put the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter with another rushing touchdown, making it 19-0 with 2:38 remaining. Cedar Springs made one final push into Beavers territory, but another interception late in the fourth ended the drive and sealed the game. The final score did not fully reflect the effort the Red Hawks gave. Cedar Springs had strong individual moments from Pike, Schoenborn, Brott, Lawson, Rosenberger and Larkin, and the defense kept the Hawks within reach for much of the game. With the loss, Cedar Springs falls to 0-2 on the season. The Red Hawks are still working to find their rhythm early in the 2026 campaign, but Friday night showed a team willing to keep fighting, even when the breaks did not go its way.

For generations, printed newspapers helped mark the tempo of daily life. They were picked up from porches, unfolded at breakfast tables, and saved in scrapbooks when a familiar name or photograph appeared in print. That familiar routine is changing again. MLive Media Group announced this week that it will stop printing and delivering its eight Michigan newspapers after Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, moving those publications fully to digital formats. The decision affects The Grand Rapids Press, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Jackson Citizen Patriot and Saginaw News. The publications themselves will continue. MLive has said its reporting will remain available online through its website, digital editions, mobile apps, email newsletters and social media. What is ending is the printed newspaper arriving at homes and newsstands. For communities across Michigan, the announcement marks another significant turn in the ongoing move from traditional print newspapers to digital news delivery. MLive Community President John Hiner described the decision as part of the company’s digital evolution, saying reader habits have moved overwhelmingly online. According to MLive, more than 99 percent of its readers now access its journalism digitally, and digital and online newspaper subscribers surpassed print subscribers this year. The company has also said the move will not result in layoffs among its journalists, though reports noted at least one full-time distribution-side position was affected by the decision. Still, for longtime newspaper readers, the end of print editions for some of Michigan’s most recognizable newspaper names carries some concern. The publications have documented generations of local life, from government decisions and business openings to championship seasons, obituaries, weddings and school events. The Grand Rapids Press, in particular, has long been a familiar name for West Michigan readers. Its move away from print is a reminder of how quickly news habits have changed, even for publications with deep roots. The pressures facing newspapers are not new. Across the industry, print readership has declined while advertising dollars have shifted online. At the same time, the cost of producing and delivering a physical newspaper has continued to rise. Many readers now expect news to be available immediately on phones, computers and tablets. While digital news has clear advantages, most notably that it can be updated quickly, corrected when necessary and shared widely within seconds; those same strengths also point to one of the important reasons print still matters. Printed news has historically served as part of the official record. Once printed, it cannot be quietly changed, rewritten or removed with a few clicks. It sits in homes, libraries, and archives as a fixed record of what was reported at that moment in time. MLive’s decision serves as a reminder of the value of preserving local stories in a form people can hold, save and return to years later. As the newspaper industry continues to evolve, the need for reliable, community-focused journalism remains as important as ever.

Rain may have dampened Red Hawk Stadium on Saturday, but it did little to dampen the spirit of the Cedar Springs community during the Kick It Forward fundraiser. The event featured a charity soccer game between the Kent County Sheriff’s Office and the Red Hawk Alumni soccer team, along with a dunk tank, food, and raffle prizes. By the end of the day, the event raised over $1600 for North Kent Connect. The main event delivered plenty of action on the field, with KCSO and the Red Hawk Alumni trading momentum throughout the match. Both goalies made strong stops early as the game went back and forth through much of the first half. KCSO broke through first when Everardo Magallan scored with just over two minutes left before halftime. The Alumni answered with a push of their own, but the chance was stopped by KCSO's goalie Jerimie Fuller, who was quick to intercept the momentum before a shot could be taken. With only 30 seconds left in the half, Kendall Johnson added another goal for KCSO, sending the deputies into halftime with a 2-0 lead. KCSO kept the momentum going early in the second half, scoring almost immediately to make it 3-0. The Red Hawk Alumni, however, was undeterred. They got on the board with a penalty kick, cutting into the deficit and shifting energy back toward their favor. KCSO answered again, however, scoring with 28 minutes left in the game to extend the lead to 4-1. From there, the Red Hawk Alumni began to rally. The Hawks scored again to stay within reach, and scored another goal off a free kick on the very next drive. With 11:03 left in the game, the Red Hawks completed the comeback and tied the match at 4-4. A penalty kick from Pike then gave the Alumni their first lead of the game at 5-4. KCSO responded by driving the ball deep into Hawks territory and keeping pressure on the defense for nearly three minutes, sending shot after shot toward the goal. But the Alumni held strong and kept the deputies from increasing their lead. In the final minutes of the game, the Alumni scored on two more penalty kicks to extend the lead to the final score of 7-4. While the Red Hawks came away with the victory, the night was won for the community. The game brought together deputies, former and current Red Hawk athletes, families and community members for a lighthearted afternoon that still featured plenty of competitive spirit. "It was fun seeing people come out," said Sgt. Paulson after the game. "It was fun to see so many people donate to the cause," he said. Off the field, school board member Brent Willett donated his time in the dunk tank, giving event-goers a chance to test their aim while helping raise money for a good cause. The event also included raffle prizes, donated by Wesco, KCSO, Red Flannel Coffee Co., and several others, helping support the cause. The Kick It Forward event was organized by Sergeant Paulson and Deputy Puckett of the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, both assigned to Cedar Springs. Their efforts helped create an event that mixed friendly competition with community service. Between the soccer match, dunk tank, raffle prizes and community support, the first Kick It Forward event gave Cedar Springs plenty to cheer about. Organizers hope Saturday’s fundraiser was the beginning of a new annual tradition at Red Hawk Stadium. Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a revised fundraising total. More than $1600 was raised. An earlier version reported the amount as $1040 based on information provided at the conclusion of the event.

The atmosphere at Red Hawk Stadium was tense from the opening kickoff Friday night as Cedar Springs fought hard for every inch of turf in a physical season opener against Zeeland West. On Community Night, the Red Hawks delivered early energy and late fight, but the Dux used a powerful rushing attack and several big plays to pull away for a 46-20 win. Cedar Springs started fast, receiving the opening kickoff and returning the ball to the Zeeland West 48-yard line. The Red Hawks moved quickly behind Spencer Schoenborn, Nick Robinson and Deegan Pike. Schoenborn opened with a short gain, Robinson followed with seven yards, and Pike later broke a 13-yard run to help push Cedar Springs deep into Dux territory. Facing fourth-and-two, Cedar Springs went back to Schoenborn, who powered up the middle for the game’s first touchdown. The two-point conversion was stopped, but the Red Hawks led 6-0 with 9:09 left in the first quarter. Zeeland West’s first drive was met with resistance. Kolin Brott made the first stop of the game, and Cedar Springs held the Dux to a punt after allowing little room on the ground. The physical tone was clear early, with both teams trading hard contact at the line of scrimmage. After Cedar Springs’ next drive stalled, a big Zeeland West punt return flipped the field to the Red Hawk 27-yard line. Two plays later, the Dux scored and converted the two-point try to take an 8-6 lead with 1:49 left in the first quarter. The Red Hawks answered by continuing to fight for field position. Jakson Bravata returned the kickoff to the 37-yard line, and Cedar Springs moved near midfield behind Schoenborn, Robinson and Brott. Schoenborn closed the first quarter with another strong carry, but the Red Hawks trailed 8-6 after one. Early in the second quarter, Cedar Springs pushed into Zeeland West territory again. Pike converted a first down with a run around the left side, moving the ball to the Dux 36-yard line. But the drive stalled after stopped runs and incomplete passes, giving the ball back to Zeeland West on downs. The Dux then settled into their Wing-T style rushing attack, a look similar to Cedar Springs’ own offensive identity. Zeeland West converted a key fourth down with a pass over the top, moving deep into Red Hawk territory. On the next play, the Dux broke a 28-yard touchdown run and added the two-point conversion to extend the lead to 16-6 with 5:28 left in the half. Cedar Springs was forced to punt on its next possession, but the Red Hawk defense kept the game within reach before halftime. Spencer Rosenberger, Deegan Pike, Ryan Larkin, Cody Greenland and Aiden Johnson were among those involved in stops as Zeeland West tried to control the clock. Pike also broke up a pass late in the half and later fielded a punt near the goal line, returning it to the Cedar Springs 32-yard line with 13 seconds remaining. At halftime, Zeeland West led 16-6. The second half opened with a major swing. Zeeland West received the kickoff and broke a 65-yard touchdown run on its first offensive play of the half. The Dux added the two-point conversion to push the lead to 24-6 with 11:42 left in the third quarter. Still, Cedar Springs answered with one of its strongest drives of the night. Schoenborn, Pike and Robinson helped move the ball downfield despite a holding penalty. Robinson broke loose around the right side for a first down, and Schoenborn continued to grind out yards into Zeeland West territory. On fourth down, Schoenborn gained enough to move the chains, and a Zeeland West offsides penalty moved Cedar Springs closer. Robinson then connected on a deep pass, aided by Dux penalties for holding and a personal foul, to help set up first-and-goal at the 4-yard line. Schoenborn pushed the ball near the goal line and later finished the drive with his second touchdown of the night. The two-point conversion was no good, but it would cut the Zeeland West lead to 24-12 with 4:12 left in the third quarter. The momentum did not last long. After Rosenberger made a strong stop on kickoff coverage, Zeeland West broke another long rushing touchdown, this one for more than 50 yards. The two-point try failed, but the Dux led 30-12 with 2:47 left in the third. Cedar Springs suffered another setback on its next possession when Robinson went down after a long run to midfield and had to be assisted off the field. After the game, head coach Gus Kapolka said the extent of the injury was not yet known. “I don’t know,” Kapolka said. “We’ll find out later.” Bravata stepped in at quarterback, but the Red Hawks were unable to extend the drive. Early in the fourth quarter, Zeeland West intercepted a pass intended for Schoenborn, then scored three plays later. With the two-point conversion, the Dux stretched the lead to 38-12. Cedar Springs fumbled the ensuing kickoff return, and Zeeland West recovered at the Red Hawk 39-yard line. The Dux turned that possession into another touchdown, extending the lead to 46-12 with 6:34 left in the game. Even with the game slipping away, the Red Hawks kept battling. Malick Traore helped convert a third down, and Brott followed with another key gain deep into Dux territory. A pass to William Dickinson moved Cedar Springs to the 4-yard line, and Brott finished the drive with a late touchdown. The Red Hawks added the two-point conversion to make it 46-20 with 25 seconds left. Zeeland West took the final kickoff and ran out the clock. After the game, Kapolka took responsibility when asked about Zeeland West’s execution compared to Cedar Springs’ own Wing-T system. “Not good. And that’s on me,” Kapolka said. “As a head coach I’m accountable. We had a year to get ready for this game. We had a year to plan for it, and we did not come out and execute well. But at the end of the day, I’m going to wear it and own it. It starts with me and I have to be better.” Kapolka said his postgame message to the team was brief because the staff needed to review the film. “I didn’t want to say too much because I really want to look at the film to understand where exactly we were deficient and where we were not good,” Kapolka said. “It’s like we talk about in every game, if it’s a win, it’s one, if we lose, it’s one. We’re 0 and 1, not 0 and ten, 0 and eleven. There are obviously things we need to fix to get better.” As the Varsity Hawks still work to shape their identity after last year's team immediately stepped out as a dominant, physical force, Friday's opener showed both the toughness they can build on and the mistakes they will need to correct to get established. The Red Hawks will look to regroup next week when they travel to Battle Creek to take on the Harper Creek Beavers.

Hawks of a feather flew together as the Junior Varsity Red Hawks hit the road taking on the Zeeland West Dux in what can only be described as an explosive defensive performance. Cedar Springs received the opening kickoff but could not get much going on its first drive, as Zeeland West forced an early stop and helped set the tone for a physical, field-position battle. From there, the two teams traded stops, short gains and hard-earned yards throughout a scoreless first half. The first quarter ended tied 0-0, with both defenses controlling the pace. In the second quarter, Cedar Springs put together one of its stronger drives of the half, picking up short gains on the ground. A four-yard run brought up fourth-and-one, but the Hawks powered up the middle for two yards to move the chains. Rey Moerland added a four-yard gain, and an encroachment penalty on Zeeland West moved the Red Hawks into a second-and-one situation near the 47-yard line with 7:44 left in the half. Robinson then completed a pass for a first down, pushing Cedar Springs into Dux territory. The Hawks continued to lean on the run game, moving the ball to the 44-yard line before Zeeland West’s defense tightened up. A run up the middle was stuffed, and Cedar gained only one yard on a run to the right side, bringing up fourth-and-three at the 42 yard line. Robinson looked for Moerland on fourth down, but the pass fell short, giving Zeeland West the ball back with 5:35 left in the second quarter. The Dux answered with a drive of their own, using three rushes to pick up a first down before a completed pass gave Zeeland West its biggest gain of the half, moving the ball deep into Red Hawk territory. Cedar Springs’ defense responded under pressure, and after a Zeeland West holding penalty, the Dux were pushed back. With one second left before halftime, Zeeland West took one last shot at the end zone, but the pass fell incomplete. At halftime, the game remained tied 0-0. The second half began with Cedar Springs kicking off, and Zeeland West starting on offense at its own 30-yard line. But the Red Hawks immediately went back to work defensively, sinking the Dux’s first rushing attempt of the half. Zeeland managed to move the ball for a first down, but Johnston helped lead a series of defensive stops that stalled the drive. A fumble at the snap pushed the Dux back three yards, and Cedar Springs followed by driving the Dux back two more yards to create a third-and-15 situation with 5:40 left in the third quarter. The Dux tried to run up the middle but gained only four yards, bringing up fourth-and-11. On fourth down, Zeeland West attempted a pass, but it was thrown behind the receiver and nearly picked off by the Hawks. Cedar Springs took over on downs at its own 42-yard line with 4:51 left in the third. The Red Hawks’ next drive had its challenges. Cedar gained only two yards, fumbling the ball, but Wyatt Dickinson was there to keep possession. A one-yard run brought up fourth-and-10, and Bryson Streeter kept the ball around the right side but came up just short of the first down. Zeeland West took over again with 3:05 left in the third quarter, but the Red Hawks' defense refused to give ground. Cedar Springs stuffed a rush to the left, allowed just one yard on a run up the middle and nearly came away with an interception. That defensive stand gave the Red Hawks the ball back. With the ball in their possession, they wasted no time. Rey Moerland smashed through the line up the middle from the Cedar Springs 41-yard line and broke free for the game’s first touchdown. After a successful two-point conversion, the Red Hawks led 8-0 with 1:12 left in the third quarter. Number 4 Rey Moerland POWERED his way through the line for a touchdown Zeeland West took over at its own 46-yard line and moved the chains before the third quarter ended, but the fourth quarter belonged to the Cedar Springs defense and they would not relent. The Red Hawks opened the final quarter by stuffing a Zeeland West rush for a two-yard loss. Another rushing attempt went nowhere, bringing up third-and-12. After a Dux timeout with 8:45 left, Zeeland West tried the middle again and gained only two yards. Facing fourth-and-10 with 7:55 remaining, Zeeland West rolled left to pass, but the quarterback was met by a wall of Cedar Springs defenders. The quick throw fell short, giving the Hawks the ball at the 41-yard line. Cedar Springs then faced a setback after a fumble was recovered by Zeeland West at the Red Hawks’ 49-yard line. But the setback was only brief, as once again, the Red Hawks’ defense answered. Zeeland West ran left for one yard, was stopped quickly up the middle and then was met in the backfield on another handoff attempt. On fourth-and-16, the Dux tried to run up the middle but the Hawks sank them before they could fly. Cedar Springs took over at its own 48-yard line with 5:05 left in the game after allowing Zeeland West just one yard on the possession. The Red Hawks’ offense then delivered the closing drive. Robinson handed the ball off for a 12-yard gain, and a facemask penalty on Zeeland West added 15 more yards, giving Cedar Springs a 27-yard swing and a first down at the Dux 25-yard line with 4:55 remaining. A carry around the left side helped set up first-and-goal at the 9-yard line. After another gain of three, Moerland powered his way, spinning out of the grip of four defenders, and in for his second touchdown of the game with 3:06 left. The two-point conversion pass to the right was good, putting Cedar Springs ahead 16-0. On the ensuing kickoff, the Hawks executed an unintentional squib kick that bounced off a Zeeland West player. Pike was there almost immediately to recover the loose ball at the Dux 43-yard line with three minutes left, giving Cedar Springs possession and control of the clock. The Red Hawks ran it again for 18 yards to the 25-yard line, then added another five-yard gain while staying inbounds to keep the clock moving. Facing fourth-and-one with 20 seconds left, Cedar Springs let the final seconds expire to open their season with a hard-fought 16-0 road victory over Zeeland West. Let's Go Red Hawks!

SOLON TOWNSHIP — The Solon Township Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday, Aug. 26, to recommend extending the township’s moratorium on data centers by another six months. The recommendation now moves to the Solon Township Board, which will decide whether to formally approve the extension. The vote comes as township officials continue reviewing possible zoning regulations related to data centers, an issue that has drawn significant public attention and concern in recent months. Residents have raised questions about how a large-scale data center could affect Solon Township’s rural character, groundwater use, electrical demand, wastewater discharge, environmental protections and long-term land use. Public concern intensified earlier this summer after it was reported that the township had entered into a nondisclosure agreement with Venerly, LLC, understood to be a shell company used by Meta in dealings related to potential data center development. At a June 24 public hearing at Frost Creek Church, nearly 400 residents attended to share concerns and urge township officials to strengthen zoning language before any data center application could move forward. In July, the Solon Township Board voted to oppose the future use of nondisclosure agreements by township elected officials. That resolution was introduced by Trustee Willoughby and seconded by Hoskins. In a roll call vote, Hoskins, Willoughby, Ellick and Stout voted in favor, while Anielski cast the lone dissenting vote. The board also voted in July to hire Michael Homier of Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith PC as special counsel to provide additional legal guidance as the township works through zoning and development questions tied to data centers. No formal data center application has been submitted, but the ordinance under consideration is expected to establish the rules for if and how such a project could be developed in Solon Township. The Planning Commission’s unanimous recommendation would give township officials more time to study the issue, review proposed ordinance language and respond to concerns raised by residents. If approved by the Township Board, the extension would continue the pause on data center proposals until February 7, 2027 while the township considers long-term regulations.

The City of Cedar Springs is asking residents to help shape the future of local parks, trails, open spaces and recreation facilities as it updates its 5-Year Parks and Recreation Plan. The city is gathering feedback through an online survey, available at this link here. Responses are due by Friday, September 11, at 5 p.m. The plan is being updated to assess existing parks and recreation facilities and to define goals for future improvements. City officials said community feedback is an important part of the process because the goals and actions identified in the plan are intended to reflect residents’ needs and desires. Some of the questions in the confidential survey asks whether respondents live within the City of Cedar Springs, their age range, who in their household most actively uses parks, trails or open spaces, and how important those amenities are to their household’s quality of life. Residents are encouraged to complete the survey and share their input on current facilities and future recreation priorities before the September 11 deadline. **Editor's Note: The original article included information about the Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation. That article was edited to remove the reference to Parks and Rec to clarity that it is the City of Cedar Springs, not the Cedar Springs Area Parks and Rec, who is updating their plan.

I needed the reminder first, but that isn't how my Saturday started. Sometimes the week pulls my attention into emails, deadlines, decisions, disagreements, and all the other pieces of community life that tend to gather around a desk. After a while, the town can start to feel more like a list of issues than a place full of people. By Saturday, I needed to leave the desk behind for a while. So I walked Main Street. There was no real agenda to it. For once, I wasn’t headed to a meeting, and I wasn’t trying to turn the afternoon into anything too productive. I just needed to be back in the middle of town for a bit, not thinking about it from the perspective of a headline, but moving through it at the pace of the sidewalk. At that pace, it's easier to notice the storefronts you usually pass in a rush as you drive down the road. You have a chance to read the hand-painted writing in the windows and notice a little “Red Flannel Town” sticker on a shop door. You can stop long enough for conversations that were never on your calendar. You can hear what people are working on, what they are worried about, and what they are excited to see happen next. I spent a good part of the day talking with fellow business owners. Not in any official capacity. Just checking in. Listening to what's been happening. It’s easy to forget, sometimes, how much room those conversations can make for collaboration, especially if your only view of town comes through meetings, emails, secondhand complaints, and small-town politics. At one point, I found myself inside a building I have admired for years, realizing there were still parts of it I had never really seen. That probably says something about the way we assume we know a place just because we grew up there. But that's a thought for another day. Cedar Springs still has the ability to surprise me. Maybe that was the reminder I needed. If you care about a place, as I do this town, there will be days when that care really starts to feel like work. There will be arguments, decisions, misunderstandings, and long stretches where the problems get more attention than the people. That's not unique to Cedar Springs. It's just part of community life anywhere. What I took from Saturday was that the town isn't just its points of disagreement. It isn't only process and policy, either. It's the person unlocking a storefront in the morning. It's the business owner trying something new even though the safer choice would have been to leave things alone. It's the old building with more history upstairs than most people will ever see from the sidewalk. And it's the conversation that starts casually and ends with two people realizing they want the same thing, even if they have been coming at it from different angles. That is the part I needed to step back into. Sometimes you just have to move at the pace of the sidewalk, open a door, and have a conversation. Look up at the buildings and let the place surprise you again. I needed that reminder, but I doubt I’m the only one.

It's not quite "stay in your lane," but for commercial truck drivers passing through Cedar Springs, the new rule comes close: stay on the route.

When Sgt. Jon Paulson thinks back on his time serving Cedar Springs, he doesn't point first to arrests, calls for service or statistics. He talks about coffee with business owners, conversations with residents, children at daycare centers, seniors at retirement communities and a cribbage game at The Brook with a resident named Jim. For Paulson, those moments became the foundation of his role as the Kent County Sheriff’s Office sergeant assigned to Cedar Springs. It's a role he shaped around community engagement, visibility and trust. Now, as Paulson prepares to move into a new position within the sheriff’s office, one of the programs he helped create will take center stage August 29, when deputies trade their patrol boots for soccer cleats during the Kick It Forward charity soccer game against Cedar Springs athletes. The event reflects much of what Paulson has worked to build over the past two years: a sheriff’s office presence that feels local, familiar and approachable. Paulson’s relationship with Cedar Springs began long before he became the area sergeant. In 2008, while living in Cedar Springs and working as a civilian dispatcher for the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, he approached then-Cedar Springs Police Chief Roger Parent to ask if there might be a way to get involved in law enforcement, even as a volunteer. That conversation led to a reserve officer position with the Cedar Springs Police Department. He graduated from the police academy in 2010 and was hired full time by the sheriff’s office in 2012. Even after leaving the city police department, Cedar Springs remained part of his story. “When this current position came available, I thought, ‘Man, this would be perfect for me,’” Paulson said. “I was still living in Cedar, and I love Cedar and enjoyed my time as a police officer there. That’s where my roots started.” When Paulson stepped into the Cedar Springs sergeant role about two years ago, he said there was no detailed playbook waiting for him. His predecessor told him to attend council meetings, be present at downtown events and then handed over the keys to his cruiser. That lack of structure gave Paulson room to define the position himself. “It was nice because it was a blank slate for me,” he said. At the time, Paulson wanted to make sure the transition to sheriff’s office policing did not make residents feel disconnected from the officers serving them. His goal was to maintain the feel of a small, local police department while using the resources of the sheriff’s office. That meant getting deputies out of their patrol cars and into the community in everyday settings. Coffee with a Cop became one of the first ways to do that. From there, the outreach grew to regular visits and presentations at places such as The Brook, Village Learning Center and Green Acres. Every other month, Cedar Springs Parks and Recreation also brought participants to the sheriff’s office north substation for presentations and conversations with deputies. The presentations gave residents a chance to learn more about policing, but Paulson said the real value came from the conversations that followed. Eventually, he moved away from prepared topics and simply opened the floor for questions. “It was just fun to sit down with the community and blend right in,” he said. “I felt very welcomed by this community.” Some residents questions were serious. Others gave Paulson and residents a chance to laugh together, including one of the most common: "What is your threshold for pulling over speeders?" Paulson shared with a laugh. He was also intentional about making sure community policing wasn't centered only on him. As sergeant, Paulson works with two day-shift deputies and two night-shift deputies assigned to Cedar Springs, and he includes them in outreach events whenever possible. “It’s not just me with the public,” Paulson said. “It’s me and the deputies who patrol the town.” That visibility, he said, helps residents understand that the deputies serving Cedar Springs are people they can approach, not just names or uniforms they encounter during emergencies. City Manager Darla Falcon said that connection was evident in Paulson’s work with both city events and residents. “Working with Sgt. Paulson was truly a pleasure,” Falcon said. “He quickly grasped the nuances of managing all the city events, showing dedication and insight.” Falcon said Paulson also genuinely connected with the community, “from children at daycare centers to seniors at nursing homes,” and wished him well as he moves forward with the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. While larger programs often drew the most people, some of Paulson’s most meaningful memories came from quieter visits to retirement communities. Residents there taught him how to play cribbage, a game he had never played before. Before long, some were calling to invite him over for a game. “There’s a guy named Jim that I’d go meet with at The Brook,” Paulson said. “If I had free time, I’d go play a couple games of cribbage with him.” Those smaller friendships, he said, are what he will miss most. That is also what he hopes continues after he leaves. As the sheriff’s office interviews candidates to replace him, Paulson said he plans to make sure the next sergeant understands that those monthly connections are now part of the job. “These are the things you do every month now,” Paulson said. “These are the things that are in place, and they are going to expect you to continue to show up for them.” One of the newer outreach efforts is the Kick It Forward charity soccer game, an idea that came from Paulson’s lifelong love of soccer. After a knee injury and surgery forced him away from playing for a time, Paulson eventually returned to the sport near the end of a season. That sparked the idea of organizing a game against the local varsity team and turning it into a fundraiser. The event also fits into an area Paulson would like to see grow. While Cedar Springs has outreach geared toward young children and seniors, he said he would like to see more opportunities for teenagers, families and middle-aged residents. The timing of his career move, Paulson said, feels right. While a community policing position opened about a year ago, Paulson felt there was more to establish in Cedar Springs. Now, he believes the next sergeant will have something solid to build on. “This position showed me there is a whole other side of policing and law enforcement that is very important, and I enjoy it,” Paulson said. When describing Cedar Springs, Paulson said the phrase “tight-knit community” may be common, but in this case, it fits. "Residents pay attention to what is happening and people know each other. The business owners, city leaders and families are invested in the town’s future," Paulson said. And as Cedar Springs continues to grow, Paulson said that shared sense of ownership continues to be important. And as he prepares for his next role, his message to residents is just as straightforward. “I would just say to cherish what you have here in Cedar Springs,” Paulson said. “Recognize the good town that it is. It’s a growing town and a beautiful town. Let’s all work together to keep it that way.” The Kick It Forward soccer match and community event will be a fundraiser, but it also serves as a reflection of the community connection Paulson has built in Cedar Springs. Those connections have grown in coffee shops, council meetings, and in everyday conversations across Cedar Springs. If you happen to see Sgt. Paulson in the coming weeks, take a moment to say hello and wish him well in his next chapter.