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The Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation (CSAPR) organization has officially returned to its original name, which dates back to 1986. For the past few years, the organization has operated under the name North Kent Community Enrichment; however, confusion with North Kent Community Services prompted the CSAPR Board to reinstate its original name. This transition comes just in time for the organization’s 40th-anniversary celebration in 2026.

As Cedar Springs families gather for the holidays, our community has a special opportunity to give a gift that truly matters: the gift of life. Blood donations help hospital patients spend more holidays with the people they love, including neighbors facing surgery, cancer treatment, traumatic injuries, and chronic conditions. Blood on the shelves today saves lives tomorrow, and every donation helps keep patients strong. Versiti is hosting several local drives this month, making it easy to roll up your sleeve and make a difference: Cedar Springs Community Blood Drive at the Cedar Springs Area Donor Site — Library, Community Room Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sign up: https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11599795 Howard City Blood Drive — Timothy C. Hauenstein–Reynold Community Room, 117 W. Williams St., Howard City Tuesday, December 23, 2025, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All donors receive a $25 e-gift card. Sign up: https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11628142 Cedar Springs Brewery Blood Drive — Cedar Springs Brewery (Bus) Friday, December 27, 2024, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. All donors receive a $25 e-gift card. Sign up: https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11596864 Appointments are encouraged to ensure a smooth experience and to help the blood center plan staffing. Walk-ins are often welcome as capacity allows. First-time and returning donors can schedule online through the links above; guests may register without creating an account. Most healthy adults can donate whole blood roughly every 56 days. The process typically takes about an hour from check-in to post-donation refreshments. Bring a photo ID, eat a nutritious meal beforehand, and stay hydrated. This season, consider adding a blood donation to your holiday traditions. A single donation can help save more than one life. It's an extraordinary impact made possible by ordinary neighbors stepping up for one another.

We are deeply saddened to share that Lexie Coxon, Co-Founder of Creative Technologies Academy, passed away on Saturday, December 6th, surrounded by her loved ones. Our hearts are with the Coxon family during this time, and we honor the legacy Lexie leaves behind. Creative Technologies Academy exists today because of the vision, courage, and unwavering dedication of Lexie Coxon and her husband, Dr. DeWayne Coxon. Without Lexie’s belief in what CTA could become, our school simply would not be here. In the mid-1990s, as the idea of charter schools was just beginning to emerge in Michigan, DeWayne began researching the possibility of creating a new kind of school, one centered on innovation, high expectations, strong relationships, and opportunities for all students. But behind this vision stood Lexie: a steady source of wisdom, encouragement, and conviction. She shaped the values and spirit that would ultimately define CTA. DeWayne, along with his son, Rob Coxon, and his wife, Jodi, wrote the early proposals, first to Grand Valley State University and then to Ferris State University. Lexie supported every step. She championed the mission, helped refine the ideas, and grounded the work in what mattered most: students, families, and community. Her passion for education and her deep commitment to Cedar Springs became the heart of CTA’s identity. In 1998, when FSU agreed to grant a charter on the condition that 120 students enroll, the pressure was immense. Funds were scarce, uncertainty was high, and the future was far from guaranteed. Still, Lexie remained a pillar of strength and belief. Her encouragement kept the team moving forward: purchasing equipment, preparing classrooms, spreading the word, and building something from nothing. When 122 students enrolled and the charter was officially approved, it marked not only the start of a school, but the fulfillment of a dream she had supported with her whole heart. From those anxious early days to the thriving Academy we know today, CTA now serves more than 300 students from up to nineteen districts! Lexie’s influence can be felt in every classroom, every relationship, and every milestone. CTA’s culture of care, excellence, and community connection is rooted in the values she lived out. Lexie and DeWayne were married for 65 years, a partnership defined by faith, service, and deep love for the Cedar Springs community. While DeWayne may have been the visionary of CTA’s founding, Lexie was CTA’s backbone, the quiet strength behind the vision, the champion of its mission, and the keeper of the values that still guide us today. Her legacy lives on in every student who finds their place here, every teacher who pours into their work, and every family that chooses CTA as their home. Without Lexie Coxon, Creative Technologies Academy would not stand where it is today. We are forever grateful for her life, her passion, and her unwavering belief in what CTA could be. May her memory continue to inspire us to CHANGE the WORLD positively!

CEDAR SPRINGS — The Kent County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help as investigators reopen a 2021 child death case connected to Irene Whitehead, the Cedar Springs mother charged earlier this month with the murder of her 2-year-old daughter, Ryleigh. “We are looking for tips into what we believe was the 2021 murder of Leo Whitehead,” Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young announced during a press conference Monday. “Leo was the 2-month-old son of Irene Whitehead, who is now charged with murder for the death of her 2-year-old daughter.” Whitehead, 27, was arraigned on December 1 on charges of first-degree child abuse and first-degree murder in connection with Ryleigh’s death. Following her confession in late November, detectives began reviewing the circumstances of Leo’s death, which until now had been ruled natural. According to Sheriff LaJoye-Young, similarities between Ryleigh’s and Leo’s deaths prompted detectives to reopen the earlier case as a homicide investigation. Court records reveal that during a police interview on November 25, Whitehead admitted to suffocating her daughter, Ryleigh, and signed a statement that read, “I killed them (Ry/Leo),” referring to both of her children. Leo died in the fall of 2021 at just 2 months old. At the time, the Kent County Medical Examiner listed his death as natural, citing “parainfluenza viral-type pneumonia.” That conclusion, the sheriff said, was based partly on statements made by Whitehead during the initial investigation. “Now, with additional information, the emerging pattern and Whitehead’s own statements, the cause of death has been changed to homicide,” LaJoye-Young said. Leo’s body was cremated following the autopsy, meaning a second examination will not be possible. Sheriff LaJoye-Young, who has served in Kent County law enforcement for decades, called the case “one of the most disturbing and deliberate acts” she’s ever encountered. “It does happen that a mother would be responsible for the death of her child,” she said. “But something so deliberate and over time … I’ve never seen anything like it.” Investigators believe Ryleigh’s repeated hospitalizations, once thought to be due to chronic breathing problems, were actually caused by suffocation, allegedly at the hands of her mother. Whitehead was previously the subject of multiple Children’s Protective Services investigations, the sheriff confirmed. However, none of those inquiries found evidence of immediate danger. Additionally, detectives say Whitehead sought treatment for her children at several different hospitals and clinics, which may have made it more difficult to identify a pattern of harm over time. As part of their renewed investigation, authorities are also reviewing Whitehead’s past in Georgia, including possible interactions with law enforcement, medical personnel, and child welfare agencies. Sheriff LaJoye-Young said investigators are "also looking into any possible abuse cases involving the other children,” adding that “there is information we are actively vetting.” Court records show that Whitehead is the mother of four children and filed separate paternity cases for each. Paternity was never established for Leo or Ryleigh, according to court filings. The fathers of her two surviving children have since been granted custody. Authorities are urging anyone with information about Leo’s death, or the family’s history in Michigan or Georgia, to contact the Kent County Sheriff’s Office or Silent Observer. “This has been an incredibly emotional case for investigators and for the community,” LaJoye-Young said. “But our focus now is finding the truth and finding justice for these children.”

CEDAR SPRINGS - The streets of Downtown Cedar Springs were alive with holiday cheer on December 6th as hundreds of residents gathered for annual Christmas activities, including a Santa Parade and the all-day Mingle with Kris Kringle event. The festive evening, which capped a full day of activities, brought families and neighbors together to officially welcome the holiday season.

A persistent commitment in leadership by Dan Brown to honor our hometown veterans first began after his nephew SPC Timothy D. Brown was killed in military action at the age of 22 on November 4, 2005, while serving in Iraq. In 2010 a section of city land running along Cedar Creek and north of Oak Street was discovered by the Brown Family as a potential location to honor Cedar Springs Area heroes who gave their lives in service to our country.

updated from 12/1/25

The holidays: that magical, twinkling, overwhelming stretch between Thanksgiving leftovers and New Year’s confetti. For some, it’s the most wonderful time of the year; for others, it feels more like a marathon wrapped in shiny paper. But whether you count down the days or count down the hours, there are ways to make it through the season without losing your holiday spirit

The Cedar Springs, Kent City, and Pierson communities are mourning the loss of a dear friend. Lance Gates passed away on November 13 at the age of 58 while on a hunting trip in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, leaving behind a legacy that extends far beyond the borders of these three small communities. To those of us who had the privilege of playing under him or calling him a friend, his loss feels deeply personal. Lance was the assistant coach for my rocket football team, the Kent City Eagles when I was a young kid, and he was the kind of man you'd never forget. On the practice field, he often wore a stern look and could be tough as nails; the kind of coach who believed in hard work, discipline, and doing things the right way. But behind that toughness was one of the most caring, passionate, and encouraging men you could ever hope to meet. If you ever played for Coach Gates, you remember his rather high-pitched voice as he would issue his infamous command: “Go to the pole!” Whenever we messed up a play, lost focus, or maybe just looked a little too comfortable, he’d bark those words, pointing toward the lone powerline pole at the end of our practice field. He kept us running, but he also kept us growing, both as players and as people. But for every ounce of toughness, there was an equal, if not greater, measure of genuine care. While you dreaded his command to run to the pole, you lived for his praise, because you knew it was earned and it came straight from the heart. That praise could make you feel invincible. For me, I remember it like it was yesterday, even though it’s been 25 years now. I was a young linebacker, running full steam to make a tackle on the opposing team's running back on an "end-around" play near the sideline. I hit him hard, stopping him short of the first down. The momentum of the play carried us both into the bench on the sideline, taking Coach Gates down with us in a heap of pads, helmets, and Gatorade. For a terrifying second, I thought I was heading "to the pole" for the rest of my life. But Coach jumped up, yanked me to my feet and screamed, "Was that Watson?!" He spun me around, grabbed my facemask, and with his face inches from mine, he yelled, "Watson! Now THAT'S how you tackle! Great job!" A firm slap to my helmet, and I was sent back onto the field. That one simple praise made my 13 year old self feel like I was someone worth believing in. That intensity and passion weren't confined to the gridiron. As the years passed, the coach who once molded boys into football players became a cherished friend. My wife and I would often get together with Lance and his wonderful wife, (and one of our most favorite people) Kim. We’d sit and talk for hours about fishing, hunting, his kids, Darrick and Tiffany whom I had the pleasure of growing up with, about our plans for the future, and, of course, we’d relive the glory days through old football stories. We shared many laughs together during that time. He was enthusiastic, affectionate, and always armed with a word of encouragement. He was the kind of man who would send you away feeling better about yourself than you knew possible. The type to yell your name across a grocery store and chuckle as he said "get over here!"...as I once learned. And that’s the man Lance Gates was. Though we weren't related by blood, he was nothing short of family to me; a bond forged in shared coaching, victory, and mutual respect. He is, and always will be greatly missed. Not everybody is so fortunate to have such a lasting and positive influence in their life. I was one of the lucky ones. The lessons, the stories, and the memories of Coach Gates will forever echo in the halls of my memory, and I know, in the hearts of the countless others whose lives he touched. Thank you, Coach Gates, my friend Lance, for everything.

Betty Ann Lane, 91, of Cedar Springs, MI passed away Monday, November 17, 2025, at her daughter's home in Greenville, MI under the care of Corewell Health Hospice. Betty was born in Grand Rapids, MI on November 24, 1933, the daughter of Walter and Erma (Stibitz) Norton. Betty worked as a Draft Board Clerk and Bank Teller before working and retiring from Amway Corporation. Betty was an avid bowler in her younger days, loved to square dance, tinker in her garden, play cards, and go to the casino. Most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren whether it was attending their recitals or sporting events or spoiling them with treats at much loved sleepovers where sometimes they were subjected to her love of The Lawrence Welk Show. Betty never lost her sharp wit and mind, and sense of humor. She will be missed by her children, Ron (Annabelle) Helms of Las Vegas, Vicki (Chuck) Goss of Greenville, Mike (Lisa) Helms of Greenville, and Karen Corey of Harrisville. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Debbie Ward, Shaun Helms, Sarah Banuelos, Rayna Kikos, Mellisa Cook, Theresa Berkenpas, Elizabeth Helms, Levi Helms, Brooke Helms, Nicole Hart, Christopher Sterling, and Breckin Fidler. She also had 25 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Walt Norton of Cedar Springs as well as many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Pearce (Rocky) Lane, her son Richard Helms, and granddaughter Jillian Fidler as well as her siblings Gertrude Coon, Ray Norton, Jeanette Pike, Olive Jensen, LD Norton, Albert Norton, Geraldine Bates, Juanita Norton, Val Palmer, and John Norton. Per her wishes cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements by K.E. Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.

Rex Arthur Bremmer age 92 passed from death into eternal life with his Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, November 14, 2025 at home with his wife. Rex was born to Morris and Vera May (Porter) Bremmer on September 27, 1933 in Cedar Springs, Michigan Rex was a 1951 graduate of Cedar Springs High School where he was a distinguished athlete. He was extremely intelligent, a deep thinker with an inquisitive mind. An avid reader, he had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He proudly served his country in the United States Army, 12th Engineer Battalion during the Korean War as a clerk typist, with all the qualifications to serve as an attorney in the military court martial proceedings. Rex and his devoted wife Kathy shared many wonderful years together. Their marriage added Kathy’s son Brian and grandson Jeff to Rex’s big family. Rex and Kathy enjoyed working in the woods together at Rex’s cabin in Baldwin, fishing “their” little Loon Lake in the summer and ice fishing in the winter. He was an avid hunter and a crack shot with his 22 rifle. When he could no longer hunt, Brian (Amy) Peterson made sure he “got” a deer. A born leader, respected and trusted by those he worked with and for, Rex was employed by Keeler Brass Company for 31 years then for CBS and Saturn Tire before retiring. Rex grew up in an idyllic family who hunted, camped and fished together. Out of that beginning came a love for all things out-of-doors. One of his greatest joys was the annual fishing trip to Canada for walleye. In the winter snowmobiling was the attraction. Rex is survived by his beloved wife, Kathryn (Marvin) Bremmer; daughter, Tracy (Kim) Nagelhout; sons, Ross (Evie) Bremmer, Brian O. (RayLene) Anderson; grandchildren, Jacqueline, Amber, Janice, Jennifer, Dan, Pamela, Joe, and Jeffery; sixteen great-grandchildren; many beloved nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jack Morris, Arwin (Ed) Edward, Arden (Ardie) Ross; and sister, Joyce A. Empie. Rex was also preceded in death by his children, Pamela, Rex Jr., Theresa (Terri) and their mother, Jacqueline (Gustinis) Bremmer. The family will greet friends 10:00 a.m., Thursday, November 20 at K.E. Pike Funeral Home in Cedar Springs until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. Robyn Coward will be presiding. Interment, Reynolds Township Cemetery. Those wishing to offer expressions of sympathy are encouraged to make a memorial contributions in Rex’s name to the Cedar Springs Historical Society or a local charity of your choice.