Front Page, Newaygo County News

Hearing on Atwood Murder Case Resumes

The preliminary hearing to determine if Roy Snell Jr. will be tried for the murder of Richard Atwood will resume Wednesday June 3rd from 8:30 am to 4:30pm.
The proceedings can be viewed via Youtube by going to the Newaygo County website:
http://www.countyofnewaygo.com
Once there you can click on ‘Departments’ and then ‘Courts’ which will display Circuit, District and Probate courts. The hearing is being held in District Court with Judge Melissa Dykman presiding.

Secretary of State Branch Offices to Reopen June 1 (By Appointment Only)

“While the offices were closed to the public we conducted more than 3,000 emergency appointments for essential workers and planned and implemented protocols so that we could reopen in a way that ensures the safety of employees and all Michiganders,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “Customers can be confident they’ll be able to conduct their business with us safely and efficiently.”
Beginning the week of June 1, all 131 branch offices in Michigan will be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for appointment only services for transactions including...

Mental Health Awareness: More Than a Month

COVID has taught us many lessons, and allowed us to see both the good in people, and the struggles of living in a judgmental society of social media and misinformation. The truth, which always seemed so simple before, is now evasive and hard to find. Our world, which had already changed over the last 20 years due to the surge of electronic information, was rocked again with COVID. So many changes in such a short period of time. What will our new normal be? Change is hard for many people – and this change has been extremely difficult to comprehend and accept. It will forever change how we...

Suicide Awareness

It can be difficult to determine if someone is serious about committing suicide. For example, people are posting on social media about intentions of committing suicide, which can be for many reasons that may or may not be sincere. However, every threat should be taken seriously and reaching out to professionals who can help is critical to finding answers and keeping everyone safe. It is a myth that asking someone if they are having suicidal thoughts will increase their chances of harming themselves. Asking shows you care and it is one of the most important things we can do when we are concerned about someone, both for them and for ourselves...

Random Bits...Playing Pinball in Dark Rooms

Stepping through the doorway, bowling bag in hand, I found myself in a dark world, save for the mesmerizing light coming from the machines standing side-by-side. Glowing tips of cigarettes cast a soft halo of orange light on the players’ faces who were hanging on grimly to the fronts of the machines. Fingers pounding flippers, jiggling, shoving the machines, swearing, lots of swearing. As my eyes adjusted to the dark and days-old smoke, I drifted to the table closest to me and leaned in.

Follow The Guidelines for Reopening

We strongly encourage all businesses and organizations to follow all guidance and timelines set for our Region. In addition, we encourage consultation with your liability insurance carriers for specific reopening plans developed. Businesses and organizations not adhering to the guidance in place face the risk of fines, revoking of licenses, and additional enforcement actions from the State of Michigan. We do not want to see that occur within our Community.

Pitch North II: A Virtual Sequel

Newaygo County’s first-ever entrepreneurial pitching competition, Pitch North, will be pivoting to a virtual platform on June 24, 2020. Entrepreneurs living in Newaygo, Oceana or Lake Counties will once again have the opportunity to compete for more than $7,000 in cash prizes to cultivate their business or idea.
Entrepreneurship is critical to the success of rural communities. When people start and grow businesses, they contribute to the economic diversity of their area. These unique local businesses become differentiators for their communities. Unfortunately, individuals living in rural areas often...

Anxiety Issues? You’re Not Alone

One of the common stigmas associated with anxiety, or any other mental illness, is that it is somehow less severe or debilitating than a physical illness, because symptoms may not be observable to others. The truth is, anxiety can be every bit as overwhelming as a physical illness. It's also quite common for symptoms of mental health to influence a person’s physical health (and vice versa!). For those who are unfamiliar, anxiety may be subtle and hard to identify at first. It manifests in many ways, presenting differently among different people. It’s possible you’ve experienced it but were unable to identify or name it.

In Need of Help? Michigan 2-1-1

“Michigan 2-1-1 is an easy way to connect with help of all kinds, right in your community. Need help with food, housing, or paying bills? Need support in a family crisis or community disaster? Any time. All the time. Just call, text, or search online and they can get you connected,” says Tara Nelson, Executive Director Newaygo County Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
All the community agencies update and keep the resource experts up to date even during Covid19.
You can contact Michigan 2-1-1 in a variety of ways. Go to the website at mi211.org and enter your location in the search box. This will bring you to a separate page where you can enter more information if you choose to narrow the search. Or you can click on one of the service topics to get detailed information.

COVID-19 Screening? Do It From Home!

Providing the Care and Financial Aid Options

Spectrum Health offers financial aid options to provide people with the care they need, regardless of ability to pay. This support has been a long-standing practice of the health system and will continue throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients can be evaluated for financial assistance at no charge.
Regardless of the procedure or service, Spectrum Health financial counselors offer a wide range of assistance, from helping with price estimates to creating payment plans. Financial counselors can assist patients before they receive services to help address concerns they may have about paying for their care.

SEARCH NEAR NORTH NOW

Photo by Lil DeLaat

Grandkids Provide Aquatic Assistance

In an endearing endeavor to help out grandparents Kevin and Jan Waller with a little weed control cousins Maddox Herin and Jace Pregelli dove in and graciously engaged in some major removal efforts.
Attempts to get them to relocate their work next door...

JOBS

NCRESA Seeks Housekeeper

Hands in the Dirt: Thriving Violets & Native Ferns

Seed potatoes will sprout in a couple of weeks and when they are about a foot tall, build a small hill around the base of the plant. This protects the potatoes growing near the surface. If you don't have garden space, you could plant seed potatoes in a large pot or barrel, making sure there are sufficient holes for water drainage. The potatoes will be pollinated by bumble bees. So growing a few flowers nearby would be helpful to attract them,
Come harvest time, you will be able to dig up about 10 potatoes for each spud you planted..an abundant yield for very small effort.

Taggin' That Train

Click here to eThe other thing the PM does is bring us some of the most interesting and sometimes beautiful boxcar art or if you prefer spray-painted graffiti. I know, I know, but art and vandalism are often in the eyes of the beholder. I am not condoning a destructive criminal act of vandalism. So, before you fire off like a fourth of July bottle rocket there is a continuum here that can be considered. Examples of spray-painted graffiti range from the scary gang symbology, the crude vulgar adolescent scribbling under the local bridge to beautiful expansive urban murals. Yes, there are as many different laws, views, and opinions about spray paint graffiti as there are fleas on a stray dog.dit.