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CEDAR SPRINGS - The Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, formed in 2012 by a small group of local business owners and organization leaders, is ending its run after 14 years of organizing events aimed at revitalizing downtown and giving residents more to do locally.

CEDAR SPRINGS - Members of the Cedar Springs FFA chapter recently attended the Michigan FFA State Convention. Students attended as State FFA Band members, award recipients, Leadership Development Event Contestants and Delegates. Those delegates included Grace Marvin and Hunter Carlson. During the convention, members participated in meetings, activities, and opportunities to connect with other FFA members from across the state while representing Cedar Springs. Two students, Callie Flynn and Kylah Toren qualified for State Contest through the Leadership Development Events. These girls competed in the Demonstration event where they chose to demonstrate how to backyard butcher meat chickens. After weeks of preparation, the pair placed 12th in the state! Flynn reflected on the experience, saying, “We had a lot of preparation. Kylah and I both had backgrounds, were confident, and did well.” Their placement highlights the dedication and effort the students put into preparing for the event. Several Cedar Springs FFA members were also recognized for their achievements during the convention. State Degrees were awarded to Kylah Toren, Callie Flynn, Hunter Hryns, and Shelly Zimmerman. Outstanding Junior Degrees were awarded to Sophia Host, Shane Flanegan, Taya Sedine, Blake Wilcox, Noah Kasten, Via Reed, Hannah Dunleavy, Lelain Jibson, Blake Stump, Logan Sevey and Caden Troupe. These awards recognize members who have demonstrated leadership, commitment, and growth through their involvement in agricultural education and FFA activities. Advisor Myers, who attended the convention with the chapter for the first time this year, shared her excitement about supporting the students and seeing them grow through their FFA experiences. Looking ahead, Cedar Springs FFA members are continuing to prepare for the upcoming Career Development Events (CDE) competitions scheduled for Friday, April 17. Members have been practicing since March 9 to sharpen their skills and prepare for the competitions.

CEDAR SPRINGS — A 33-year-old man has been charged in the death of a 3-year-old girl who was struck by a pickup truck last week at Northland Estates Mobile Home Park, the Kent County Sheriff's Office said. Daniel Richard Bryant was arraigned Monday in the 63rd District Court on two felony charges: reckless driving causing death and second-degree child abuse. The charges stem from the April 3 death of Estella Marie Johnson, 3, in the Cedar Springs mobile home park just north of 16 mile road. According to court records obtained by The Bugle , Bryant was driving home from another residence within Northland Estates when the girl was struck by his truck. In a probable cause affidavit, Bryant told deputies the child liked to run alongside the truck and race him. He said her brother, who was inside the vehicle, yelled for him to stop. Bryant told investigators that was when he found Estella beneath the truck, according to the affidavit. Bryant, who was not the father of Estella, was engaged to her mother. Emergency crews responded and attempted life-saving measures, but the girl died from severe injuries, authorities said. Bryant’s bond was set at $500,000 cash or surety. A preliminary examination is scheduled for April 22 at 9:30 a.m. as the case makes its way through the court.

ALGOMA TOWNSHIP - The Kent County Road Commission will begin construction of a roundabout at the intersection of 10 Mile Road and Pine Island Drive today, with a second roundabout planned for 10 Mile Road and Myers Lake Avenue later this spring.

You start to recognize the feel of certain weekends without needing to look at a calendar, and this weekend, Easter weekend, is one of them. You hear it in passing conversations during the week, and if you're like me, you hear it in the drop-off/pickup line at school just before it breaks for spring. What strikes me every year is not that everyone celebrates the same way, because we all know they do not. But what stands out is that a large part of the community ends up pressing pause on the same day. In a time when most of us move at different speeds, ("hyperdrive" if you're me) and in different directions, that shared pause is needed. We spend a lot of our days focused on our own routines, our own responsibilities, and whatever issue happens to be in front of us at the moment. It can be easy to forget how many of us are living side by side, carrying similar hopes for our families and our town. Easter has a way of bringing that back into view. You get to see people you may not have seen in a while. You're reminded that the person you might disagree with on one topic is also human, maybe a parent, maybe someone's neighbor, and maybe even someone who cares about what happens here. Community is not only built in formal or civic spaces. It doesn't take going to the voting booth at city hall to build community. It can grow through repeated moments like this, when people gather and return to traditions that have shaped this town for generations. Those moments do not solve disagreements, and they don't erase differences, but they do anchor us to one another in a way that daily life sometimes doesn't. At the same time, I believe it's worth asking whether we should wait for holidays to do that. It should not take a special date on the calendar for us to check in with a neighbor, a loved one, or to extend a bit of patience to someone we see every week. These are the days that still bring us together and the hope is that they are not the only ones. If today reminds us of anything, outside of the religious meanings, of course, maybe it's that staying connected is not automatic. It takes intention and small efforts that rarely get any attention but still shape the tone of a town. And for my hometown of Cedar Springs, that is something we can choose any day of the year.

(UPDATED April 4, 2026) CEDAR SPRINGS - A 33-year-old Cedar Springs man is facing criminal charges after 3-year-old Estella Johnson was fatally struck Friday afternoon at Northland Estates Mobile Home Park, according to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. Emergency crews were called to the park shortly after 4 p.m. Friday on a report of a child hit by a pickup truck. Deputies from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, and local fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene. First responders began life-saving efforts, but the child died from severe injuries, authorities said. The Kent County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday that the driver of the pickup truck, who initially told police he was the child’s father was later identified as the fiancé of the child's mother, and was driving recklessly at the time of the crash. Alcohol is also believed to have been a factor. The man was arrested and is currently facing two charges, including one of reckless driving causing death. Authorities said the man is expected to be arraigned early next week. Additional charges may be sought as the investigation continues. The sheriff's office Traffic Safety Unit and Investigative Division is continuing its investigation of the crash.

CEDAR SPRINGS - Found and Forged Market has spent its first year becoming part of the fabric of downtown Cedar Springs, offering a mix of vintage finds, handmade goods, books, records, artwork, and home décor gathered in one welcoming and sprawling space. The store reflects the interests and personality of its owners, while also creating room for vendors and consignors to share their work and build their businesses. For Christian Cantrell, opening the store was the result of years of experience and a decision to build something new. “I had been doing eBay for almost 20 years,” he said. “A few life changes had come up and my wife and I decided that we wanted to take what I was doing to the next level.” That decision led the couple to open an artisan and vintage vendor mall, and Cedar Springs stood out as the right place to do it. “Cedar Springs made the most sense due to the ability to get a prime retail location in a community with a lot of potential,” he said. Inside the store, customers will find home décor, specialty craft items, used vinyl records, used books, artwork, and a wide variety of pieces selected by vendors and consignors. Most of the inventory comes from those vendors, whose eye for vintage, unique, and handcrafted items helps shape the store. The owners also bring in items from estate sales and auctions. Cantrell said the store is rooted in who he and his wife are. “Every store is an extension of who the owner is,” he said. “What makes us different is that it is my wife’s and my personality coming through in the store.” That shows up throughout the shop, from records and books to artwork and even popcorn. “What makes us different is us,” he said. The first year of business has brought important lessons, especially about relationships. “The biggest being how social this business is, and how important making connections with people is,” he said. “From my vendors and consignors to my customers, everyone is important and wants to feel that.” One of the most meaningful parts of the first year has been watching vendors grow. “Seeing people go from just having an idea to running a successful business has been exciting,” he said. “That wasn’t my intention with starting this business, but it has been a great thing to see other people’s success while working toward our own.” Like many business owners, he has also had to learn how to manage time and responsibilities. “The biggest hurdle is finding time to get everything done,” he said. Hiring help in recent months made it easier to organize inventory and focus on other parts of the business. “Realizing that you need help to run this type of business has been the biggest thing I had to work through,” he said. Looking ahead, the owners want Found and Forged Market to continue contributing to Cedar Springs. “I hope that we can be another part of what it takes to bring more prosperity to the community,” he said. The store gives local people a place to sell items they own or create, and it also brings in visitors who may not yet know what Cedar Springs has to offer. For Found and Forged Market, the message to the community is simple. “Come in and meet us, and meet the other resale shops in the area too,” he said. “Cedar Springs has a lot to offer.”

CEDAR SPRINGS — A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded Friday afternoon at Northland Estates Mobile Home Park, where a child was killed after being struck by a pickup truck. Just after 4:00 p.m. on April 3, 2026, deputies with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, as well as Cedar Springs and Solon fire crews were sent to the park following a report of a child hit by a vehicle. First responders arrived quickly and immediately began life-saving efforts, but despite those attempts, the child died from severe injuries sustained in the crash. In the aftermath, investigators with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Unit and Investigative Division remained at the scene to piece together exactly what happened. Kent County Sheriff's Office informed The Bugle that the investigation is still ongoing. The child’s death has left family members and first responders grappling with a devastating loss. A spokesman with the sheriff's office noted that incidents involving children are especially difficult for everyone involved and also acknowledged the work of the deputies, firefighters, EMS personnel, and dispatchers who responded to the scene.

“The stories are everywhere. They’re in the quiet pride of a new business opening on Main Street. They’re in the shared grief when we lose a neighbor. They’re in the laughter that rings out from the corner seat of the diner.” - Light of a Town, 2025. We’re a community who grieves together. It is with deep sadness that we learn of and take note of the passing of Donna Clark. Donna was one of our most devoted and avid readers, and a pillar of the Cedar Springs community. Donna’s life was woven into the heart of our town. As the former Director of the Cedar Springs Library, she poured her energy, creativity, and determination into making it a place where everyone felt welcome. Her tireless advocacy was instrumental in the vision, planning, and eventual building of our current library, leaving the legacy of her belief that Cedar Springs deserved a vibrant, modern space for learning, gathering, and growing together. Donna was a passionate champion of literacy and a steadfast supporter of children’s programs. Generations of local families have memories of story hours, summer reading challenges, and special events that she helped to create and nurture. She understood that when you invest in children and their imaginations, you invest in the future of the whole community. Beyond the walls of the library, she was an unwavering advocate for our schools, local museum, and for community development, always asking how we could do more, reach further, and lift each other up. Donna will be greatly missed by all those whose lives she touched with her conviction and gentle strength. Her legacy lives on in every book opened by a curious child, every gathering in the library she helped build, and every act of kindness inspired by her example of service. To her family, we extend our heartfelt condolences and prayers. May you find comfort in knowing how deeply Donna was loved and how profoundly she shaped Cedar Springs for the better. God speed, Donna, and may God bless and keep your family in this time of loss. - Jake Watson, Publisher, The Cedar Springs Bugle

NELSON TOWNSHIP — What began as a brush fire Sunday afternoon quickly escalated into a structure fire in the 13000 block of Tisdel Avenue, drawing a multi-department response as crews worked to keep the flames from spreading further.

Little League season is back.

Cedar Springs Brewing Company is bringing German tradition and community spirit together today with its 10th annual Starkbierfest, a spring festival centered around strong bock beers, live music and outdoor celebration.