 From our friends at the Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office: On April 29th, 2023, around 0455 am, the Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a crash near S Spruce Ave at E 96th St in Brooks Township. When deputies arrived on scene, they found that a vehicle heading southbound on Spruce lost control and crashed into the trees. The driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, a 20-year-old man, from Kent City was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation. The Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Newaygo Fire Department, Grant-Ashland Fire Department, Life EMS, Newaygo County Road Commission, Jerry’s Towing, Newaygo County Central Dispatch, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, and Mid Michigan Medical Examiner Group.
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 The Annual Expo put on by the Great Start folks was always a springtime staple for families throughout the community. After a 3 year sabbatical the Expo is coming back and bringing all the fun and freebies the popular event has always provided area families. Here’s the details from our friends at Great Start. We are excited to announce the return of the Great Start Family Expo. This is a wonderful event for families to learn about the plethora of programs and services available to Newaygo County residents. This is always a great time with lots of door prizes, free books, games, crafts for attendees of all ages. And best of all - it is free! The Family Expo will take place on Saturday, May 13th at Fremont High School from 11am – 2pm. The high school offers plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces to accommodate all vendors, as well as great parking for the public. Great Start Collaborative Coordinator Karen Clark: "This is a wonderful opportunity for organizations to share the programs and services they provide to local families in Newaygo County. Each vendor will provide an activity that parents and children can engage in together. While Great Start (overseen by NCRESA) is coordinating the expo, Clark credits the collaborative efforts that went into the event. "We could not put this event together without help from the planning committee including staff from Great Start, Family Information Service Hub, Corewell Health, Camp Newaygo, Fremont Area Community Foundation, and Family Health Care and generous sponsorships from Corewell Health and the Gerber Foundation.” Here is a link to the event. (9) 2023 Family Expo | Facebook
   Newaygo County Register of Deeds receives Presidential Award from UCOA
At its annual Legislative Conference in Lansing, the United County Officers Association of Michigan honored Newaygo County Register of Deeds and Certified County Officer Stewart Sanders as he received the UCOA Presidential Award from incoming President Tuscola Clerk and CCO, Jodi Fetting. Sanders was first elected to the UCOA board as 2nd Vice President in April 2017 and subsequently rose through the ranks to President April 2021 completing his 2-year term April 2023. The United County Officers Association boasts a membership of 191 and is open to all County Elected Officials, Chief Deputies, and Associate Members from across Michigan. The mission of this organization is education which supports all Countywide elected officials. The education component took on a formal curriculum in early 1982 and was organized by the UCOA board at that time in conjunction with Michigan State University and Michigan Association of Counties. A noted expert on County and Township government, MSU professor emeritus Ken Verburg authored the curriculum standards that UCOA uses today. 2 certifications resulted from his work, and they are Certified County Officer (CCO) which mandates 100 hours of contact time resulting from conference attendance and Master Certified County Officer (MCCO) which requires an additional 60 hours of work. Both certifications take years to complete as there are 2 UCOA conferences per year.  Newaygo High School Symphonic Band earns all 1s at State Competition Story and photos by Tara Hefferan Newaygo Bands is one of Newaygo Public Schools most winning programs, when measured by success at state-level competitions. That legacy of excellence continued today, when the Newaygo Symphonic Band earned straight superior ratings (“1s”) at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association’s (MSBOA) State Band & Orchestra Festival at Muskegon Orchard View High School. As Newaygo Symphonic Band Director Mr. Branden Listh explains, “At Band and Orchestra Festival, bands get a chance to show off their performance skills. They get a rating from 1 to 5, with 1 being the highest, and their overall score is calculated by adding up the ratings from each judge. If a band gets a Superior rating, they can move on to the State Band and Orchestra Festival, where they perform for three concert judges and get tips from a festival clinician. If a band gets a rating of 1 or 2, they get certificates and a plaque for their recognition. Any band can perform at the District level, but only a band that receives an overall rating of 1 at the District level can perform at the State level.” The Newaygo Symphonic Band qualified to participate in the state-competition in March, after earning Superior ratings in the District competition.
To prepare for the State Festival, the Band has been focusing on “developing our tone, intonation, and overall musicality. We've also been paying close attention to the technical demands of our pieces, working to achieve precision and accuracy in our playing. Additionally, we've been practicing our sight-reading skills, as that's a crucial part of the Festival's rating. Overall, we felt confident and prepared to go to State Festival today” says Mr. Listh. While Newaygo Bands has a history of earning 1s at Festival, the last time they were there—back in 2018—they earned a 2. After pandemic cancellations and other restrictions, returning to Festival after five years with a Superior rating has a special sweetness. The Band flawlessly performed two pieces today. The first, Into the Storm by Robert W. Smith, is a dramatic and dynamic ode to Mother Nature’s fury. The second, Gadget by Standridge, is a fun romp with percussion sound effects paying homage to the “love of invention and novelty.”
Newaygo’s Bands have been successful, in part, due to the supportive culture nurtured in and out of the classroom. Reflecting on her four years in the band, senior Alexandria Bruwer said that being in the band has meant “having a community and family to rely on and to support you, to be able to grow together, to be together through it all.” Agreeing, senior McKade Hurrle said that band for him has been “about friendship. I love the family community that we’ve built here. From the upper classman to the lower classman, everyone kind of feels like they fit in somewhere.” The sense of belonging and support provides the base for student success. From there, the students rise together through hard work and dedication. Mr. Listh said, “I want people to know that our students have been working incredibly hard to prepare for this year's performances, “including Marching Band and these Festival performances. Our Symphonic Band is composed of talented and dedicated students who are passionate about music, and they've been pushing themselves to achieve their personal bests in rehearsals and performances. I couldn't be prouder of the time and work they pour into this program to make it what it is today.”
How does it feel to earn top ratings in the state competition? Alexandria Bruwer said, “It feels amazing! It feels great to see the physical results of our hard work over the past few months, to see everyone succeed together.” McKade Hurrle added “It feels great to have the stress off my shoulders! It’s nice to see everybody smile!” With this milestone now achieved, the Band is turning its attention to their "Spring into Summer Concert in the Park" to be held Tuesday, May 23rd at 5:30 pm. Mr. Listh invites the community to “come out and listen to some fantastic music in Brooks Park. You will hear our Newaygo's 6th through 8th grade, our High School Symphonic Band, and our Newaygo Jazz Band all perform in one night. We even will have Papa Don's Italian Ice coming out to serve treats to the community during the event. So, even if you don't have a student in the band program, feel free to bring a folding chair and join us for a great night filled with music.”
 After that, preparations will start for the fall Marching Band show. The theme, which was just revealed to students this past week, is “A Pirates Adventure.” Mr. Listh said, “the students are more than excited about the music, props designs, and color guard uniforms we have planned, and they can't wait to show it off to the community in the fall.” We in the community can’t wait either, Mr. Listh. Newaygo Bands is the pride of the town.
 The State Championship White Cloud Quiz Bowl Team was triumphantly escorted into town by the White Cloud Fire & Rescue, White Cloud Police Department, and Life EMS. White Cloud Quiz Bowl Team Captures State Title. National Tourney Awaits. By Stephen Smith On a most auspicious day, heralded by bright sunny rays, cool winds, and set on the stunningly beautiful campus of Michigan State University, the White Cloud Varsity Quiz Bowl Team (9-0) triumphed over the best competition in the great state of Michigan. In the process, the team captured the 2023 Class C/D Michigan High School Quiz Bowl State Championship! In the preliminary rounds, White Cloud decisively dispatched Brown City (315-50), Bridgman (300-105), Carsonville-Port Sanilac (295-115), and Kent City (210-55). For all their success, White Cloud was awarded the top seed for the championship playoff rounds. The White Cloud contingent was a spectacular force to be reckoned with in every match and dominated teams in the playoff rounds by dismantling Carsonville-Port Sanilac (260-70), Kalamazoo Christian (240-105), White Pigeon (275-35), Holton (260-130), and Manchester (240-145). In an incredible performance and unmatched display of academic brilliance, White Cloud absolutely crushed all of their adversaries with a combined score of 2,395-810 and averaged 266 points per game. Most impressively, the Indians routed state runner-up, Kalamazoo Christian, by 135 points and vanquished 3rd-place finisher, Carsonville-Port Sanilac, by 190 points in the playoffs.  From left to right: Coach Emeritus Tony McHattie, Assistant Coach Arnie Baker, Wyatt Karnes, Brian Schaefer, Captain Malachi Graves, Zane Keith, and Coach Stephen Smith The top 17 teams in their finishes were as follows: White Cloud (1st), Kalamazoo Christian (2nd), Carsonville-Port Sanilac (3rd), White Pigeon (4th), Holton (5th), Manchester (6th), Roscommon (7th), Saugatuck (8th tie), Bridgman (8th tie), Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (10th), New Buffalo (10th), Kent City (12th), Alcona (13th tie), Deckerville (13th tie), Sandusky (15th tie), Lawrence (15th tie), and Brown City (17th).  Seniors Malachi Graves and Zane Keith holding State Championship Trophy The undefeated White Cloud State Champions were led in scoring by Brian Schaefer with an astronomical 525 points, earning him 2nd-Team All-State honors once again. Senior Captain Malachi Graves, two-time All-Conference recipient, erupted for an additional 265 points providing consistent leadership and poise, demanding excellence from everyone around him. Conference Honorable Mention Wyatt Karnes excelled in arguably his best outing of the year, scoring 185 points in critical moments of the team’s most contentious matches. Two-time All-Conference Zane Keith contributed another 140 points, a healthy portion, which effectively demonstrated a well-rounded, complete team effort. Furthermore, on an individual basis, White Cloud competitors ranked in the top third of all scoring by players exhibiting, yet again, the extraordinary talent of the team.  Back row from left to right: Assistant Coach Arnie Baker, Brian Schaefer, Captain Malachi Graves, Zane Keith, Liam Povey, Coach Emeritus Tony McHattie, and Coach Stephen Smith. Front row from left to right: Sam Viher, Jarrett Warlick, and Wyatt Karnes. As the 2023 Class C/D State Champion, White Cloud has qualified for the NAQT Small School National Championship Tournament for the 26th time in school history. In addition, this is the 34th occasion that White Cloud has qualified for the state competition, an all-time Class C/D record, continuing the legacy and tradition of the quiz bowl program. Coach Stephen Smith and the team would like to specifically thank coach emeritus Tony McHattie and assistant coaches Allison McPhall, Arnie Baker, and Dallas Dowling. In addition, the team would like to extend their gratitude to all the parents, teachers, administrators, and community members for their continued support of the quiz bowl team. Without you, none of the team’s success would be possible. The national tournament will be held in Chicago on April 28-30, 2023. Stay tuned for more updates.  From left to right: Zane Keith, Captain Malachi Graves, Brian Schaefer, Wyatt Karnes, Jarrett Warlick, Sam Viher, and Liam Povey Individual Scoring Statistics Name: Preliminary Rounds Playoffs Rounds: Brian Schaefer: 210 Pts 52.50 PPG 315 Pts 63 PPG Malachi Graves: 130 Pts 32.50 PPG 135 Pts 27 PPG Wyatt Karnes: 100 Pts 25 PPG 85 Pts 18.09 PPG Zane Keith: 60 Pts 15 PPG 80 Pts 17.02 PPG  From left to right: 2nd Team All-State, Brian Schaefer and Coach Stephen Smith 
Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund Celebrates 20th Anniversary and New Grant Recipients
The Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund is celebrating 20 years of funding programs that protect and enhance the Muskegon River watershed. The fund was established at Fremont Area Community Foundation in 2002 through the generosity of Great Spring Waters of America, Inc., now BlueTriton Brands. In 2018, Ice Mountain renewed its support with a $2 million commitment over the next 20+ years. As an endowed fund of the Community Foundation, this fund is a permanent, ever-growing resource dedicated to improving the overall health of the watershed. “We have been proud to partner with Ice Mountain over the last 20 years to support sustaining the waters of the Muskegon River watershed,” said Shelly Kasprzycki, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “The Muskegon River has always been a critical resource to our communities. Thanks to Ice Mountain’s generosity and the work of partner organizations throughout the watershed, we are striving to ensure that the river and its watershed are protected and enhanced for generations to come.” More than $800,000 has been awarded from the fund to projects focused on conservation, enhancement, and restoration of the watershed. Since 2002, grants have supported erosion control and bank stabilization projects, environmental assessments and studies, clean up and waste collection programs, educational programs for local students and property owners, and more. Grant recipients have included multiple school systems, conservation districts, parks commissions, municipalities, and other organizations doing important work in the watershed. “BlueTriton Brands and Ice Mountain are committed to supporting initiatives to protect and enhance the health and natural beauty of the Muskegon River Watershed, which as Michigan’s largest watershed, is important as an ecologic and economic resource,” said Arlene Anderson-Vincent of the company’s commitment to the IMESF. “We value our longstanding partnership with Fremont Area Community Foundation to fund conservation, community, and environmental group projects across the entire stretch of the watershed.” Anderson-Vincent continued, “In creating the IMESF 20 years ago, our goal was to inspire esprit de corps–a shared passion for the watershed as a resource for present and future generations. Today, we see the impact that many dedicated organizations have made over the years. The fund is accomplishing its mission and we look forward to continuing this work.” This year, grants totaling $56,500 were awarded to five projects, including Mecosta Conservation District’s hazardous waste collection, the Dragon Trail at Hardy Dam, and Central Michigan District Health Department’s scanning of septic and well records. Anderson-Vincent said, “Each year for 20 years now, we have been inspired by the diversity and caliber of projects that groups bring forward – this year being no different.” Mecosta Conservation District Director Brook Baumann said, "Household hazardous waste, if not disposed of properly, can cause severe environmental damage by contaminating ground and surface water. With the support from the Ice Mountain Stewardship Fund and other community partners, we were able to collect over 37,000 pounds of hazardous waste in Mecosta, Osceola and Lake Counties." Grant Public Schools received a grant to create a buffer zone at Sandy Beach with hundreds of new plantings and stone. The buffer zone will increase habitat for pollinators, decrease the amount of stormwater runoff that enters Hardy Dam Pond, and provide a valuable educational opportunity for Grant students. Muskegon River Watershed Assembly received a grant for their Maple River Vision project, a continuation of their ongoing work to restore this abandoned river channel. In addition to raising awareness of the Maple River throughout the community, the project will create a rendering of the restored Maple River Channel for use in outreach, education, and restoration planning programs. “This resource allows MRWA to provide stakeholders in the Maple River area an opportunity to visually experience a compelling, fully restored channel today, and funds a coordinated, innovative storytelling component for multigenerational families in the area,” stated Scott Faulkner, Executive Director for MRWA. Work to complete the 47-mile multi-use Dragon Trail at Hardy Dam is also progressing. Goals of the project are to protect Hardy Pond as a natural resource, enhance recreation opportunities, and add to the region’s tourism economy as visitors access the trail and local businesses. The Dragon Trail system is entirely within the Muskegon River Watershed. Grant applications for the Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund are accepted online each year from June 1 until July 15. Individuals and organizations interested in supporting the health of the watershed are also invited to contribute to the fund at any time. More information on the fund, how to donate, and how to apply for a grant can be found at facommunityfoundation.org/icemountain.
 Dave Lorenz, Vice President, Travel Michigan. Upcoming Seminar helps local businesses prepare for the Summer Tourism season Are you and your staff ready for the upcoming tourism season in Newaygo County? Are you looking for tips on how to give better customer service to the guests when they visit your business? Let us help you be prepared with tips that you will get at this seminar! Join us on Friday, April 28th from 9 am to 11 am in the NCRESA building at 4747 W. 48th Street, Fremont. Get pointers on customer service from Jim Gorsky of Waters Edge Golf Course/The Lakes, Nick Smith, Director of Newaygo County Parks and Recreation will give a presentation on the Newaygo County trail “The Dragon”, and also valuable information on tourism in Michigan from guest speaker Dave Lorenz, Vice President, Travel Michigan. Dave Lorenz serves as Vice President of Travel Michigan, where he is responsible for leading the state’s tourism branding, advertising, and public relations efforts, overseeing the award winning Pure Michigan tourism campaign and coordinating overall statewide tourism initiatives. Mr. Lorenz is Chair of the National Council of State Tourism Directors and serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the U.S. Travel Association. He also serves as Chair of Great Lakes USA, our regional international marketing consortium and Cruise the Great Lakes, our two-nation destination cruise marketing organization. Dave is on the Board of Directors for Michigan Cares for Tourism, Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, MotorCities National Heritage Area, West Michigan Tourism Association, Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Grand Rapids Hotel Advisory Board. Prior to Travel Michigan, Mr. Lorenz was the Manager of Partnerships and Promotions, for Meijer, Inc. He also has 14 years of experience in radio broadcasting in roles varying from announcer and news reporter to numerous management positions. Mr. Lorenz attended Western Michigan University. He lives in Norton Shores with his wife, Roberta. To save your spot at this dynamic seminar contact the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce at [email protected] or call our office (231) 924-0770. Registration for this seminar is free to chamber members. This seminar is brought to you by the Fremont Area, Hesperia Area and River Country Chambers and the Newaygo County Tourism Council.
 Fire danger is high across the Lower Peninsula so that means everyone needs to refrain from burning at the moment and be careful using power equipment.-Photo courtesy of Mich. DNR Fire danger is high across Lower Peninsula; be careful outside
From our friends at the DNR: Warm temperatures, winds and winter buildup of dry grasses and leaves have pushed fire danger to very high levels across the Lower Peninsula. “People need to be careful when doing any outdoor activity that could spark a wildfire,” said Don Klingler, Michigan Department of Natural Resources resource manager for the southern Lower Peninsula. “These fuels can ignite very easily.” Nine out of 10 wildfires are caused by people, and yard debris burning is the top cause of wildfires in Michigan. Burn permits will not be issued for the next few days, Klingler said. It’s always critical to check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit before you start your fire to make sure weather conditions allow for safe burning. In southern Lower Peninsula communities, consult local fire authorities. Fire danger goes up when weather is hot and dry and increases even more when it’s windy. Windborne embers can travel far and fast, turning a small fire into a large one. Lightning strikes are also an issue if stormy weather is predicted. Due to the increased fire danger, the DNR has suspended most prescribed burns over the next few days. Snow is still present in parts of the Upper Peninsula, but people should exercise caution in areas without snow. Safety tips to keep fires under control When you’re working with fire or equipment outdoors, keep in mind that fires can take off very fast and that the remains of a fire smolder for some time. Here are some tips to keep it safe out there:
 Aerial firefighting resources are prepositioned at the Gaylord Airport in response to the recent uptick in wildfires. Warmer temperatures, lower relative humidities and winds have increased the risk of wildfire across the Lower Northern Peninsula prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning today with the potential to reissue the warning daily through Friday. The USDA Forest Service reminds residents to look at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Burn Permit Management System to verify conditions before igniting any yard debris. Photo provided by C. Runyan, USDA Forest Service. Huron-Manistee National Forests responds to an uptick in wildfires across the Northern Lower Peninsula; cautions residents to be vigilant against accidental ignition
Cadillac, MICH., April 12, 2023 - The Huron-Manistee National Forests (HMNFs) has relocated aerial firefighting resources to the Wexford County airport in Cadillac, Michigan in response to the latest uptick in wildfires across the Northern Lower Peninsula. With the National Weather Service announcing Red Flag conditions for today through Friday evening, it is imperative that the public be aware that their activities outside could spark a wildfire. On Tuesday, federal wildland firefighting resources responded to seven fires that burned over 100 acres. Two structures were lost yesterday in the Three Mile wildfire in Lake County. Initial attack resources provided structure protection upon arrival while fours Single Engine Airtankers (SEATs) provided aerial support, assisting ground resources with suppression efforts. Forest Fire Management Officer Kevin Reese stated that a majority of their annual wildfire response is attributed to wildfires caused by debris burning. “With the onset of nice weather, residents are out cleaning up limbs and leaves, and they’re burning their yard litter that has accumulated over the winter,” said Reese. Reese reported that since the first day of Spring this year, the HMNFs have responded to 30 fires for 183 acres. Seven of those fires on Tuesday contributed to 120 acres of the current total. With predicted fire weather expected to be in the 80’s, sunny and windy, that number is likely to increase. The National Weather Service had upgraded their initial fire weather watch on Tuesday to a Red Flag for Wednesday April 12, with the potential for Red Flag conditions to occur daily, through Friday night. A Red Flag means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will occur shortly. A combination of strong winds, lower relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. On Tuesday, the HMNFs sent resources to the Three Mile Fire in Sauble Township Lake County. Initial attack resources immediately requested air support from the aerial firefighting base in Gaylord where the USDA Forest Service has prepositioned four SEATs and a Type 3 Helicopter for wildfire aerial suppression support for the Great Lakes Region. The helicopter was flown to Cadillac today to provide faster response to the west side of the Lower Peninsula . Fuels Officer Brian Stearns said, “Yesterday we noted that there was a lot of wind driven surface burning with a very fast rate of spread. Local winds were blowing leaves across the line with active embers, spreading the fire beyond our control lines.” Stearns noted that this significant spotting of fire across the line demonstrates that conditions are such that larger fires can easily occur through wind driven ignition sources, such as burning leaves and embers from the main fire. “Be careful with any activities that could potentially lead to a wildfire, “ stated Public Information Officer Travis Owens. Owens noted that such activities as recreation and debris burning hold the highest risk for human caused wildfires. “Now would be a good time to mitigate the spread of a fire to your property. Cut your brush smaller and stack it in small piles, maybe even consider chipping instead of burning. Clean your gutters and the valleys and ridges of your roof to prevent a stray ember from a burn pile or wildfire from landing in an area with ignitable material and starting a house fire.” Additional activities around your home would be to compost those leaves just raked up and move the woodpile off the porch to more than 30 feet away from any structure and cover it. Owens noted that before you recreate check your equipment:
“While warming fires and cooking fires are still permitted, it is imperative that all fires be dead out and cold to the touch. “Drown, stir and feel with the back of your hand to see if you have properly extinguished your fire,” Owens explained. He added that you may hear crackling , popping and hissing. “If it is still making sounds and ‘talking’, then your fire is still warm enough to dry out and rekindle, which can potentially lead to a wildfire.” Owens added that keeping a bucket, shovel and even a charged garden hose next to the fire pit is a faster response to the event of an escaped fire. “If you lit it, stay with it. Never leave the fire unattended or supervised by inexperienced persons.” “And always check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Burn Permit Management System online to verify that burn permits are being issued for your location,” reminded Owens. If your location is not issuing permits, it’s the perfect time to home harden and mitigate the potential spread of a wildfire. In the event of a wildfire, call your county 911 to report the incident. Do not fight a growing wildfire by yourself. Instead, allow trained firefighters to assess the risks involved and then proceed with initial attack. Also, please refrain from visiting the fire ground or flying drones in and around the operational area. Heavy equipment and personnel are operating within this area to quickly respond to the spread of wildfire. Noise from operational activities and smoke limit the awareness and visibility of those fire ground personnel increasing the risk of an accident. Drone activity greatly increases these inherent risks to aerial and ground resources engaged in fire suppression activities and can lead to fatal results.  Over 1 million residents to become conviction free
LANSING, April 11, 2023– Today, in accordance with the Clean Slate legislation enacted in 2020, the Michigan State Police are launching a new automatic expungement program, which will search the state’s Criminal Historical Record database system daily for eligible convictions to automatically expunge. It is anticipated that over 1 million residents will receive automatic expungements on this, the first day of the program’s rollout, and 400,000 residents are expected to end the day completely conviction free. Under the program, up to four misdemeanor convictions that were punishable by 93 days or more are automatically expunged after seven years, while all misdemeanors that were punishable by less than 93 days are automatically expunged after seven years. For felonies, up to two convictions may be automatically expunged following 10 years after either the date of the imposition of the sentence, or the completion of any term of imprisonment with Michigan Department of Corrections – whichever occurs later. To be eligible residents cannot have pending charges. For more information on the program’s requirements, go to michigan.gov. To check your public record, go to the Internet Criminal History Access Tool page on michigan.gov. There is a $10 fee.  Nicole Alexander, Our Brother’s Keeper Executive Director Executive Director familiar with the struggles of shelter’s guests
Our Brother’s Keeper (OBK) shelter is open in Big Rapids serving community members from Lake, Mecosta, Newaygo and Osceola counties. The shelter is open 24 hours a day/7 days a week year round and provides temporary housing along with food and assistance in helping individuals without a home secure a home of their own. Staff work with each guest to address their individual needs. The Executive Director Nicole Alexander brings a unique and powerful perspective to her work: She and her children experienced homelessness and overcame it. Reflecting back on the experience, Nicole shared the difficulty and despair that went along with being homeless. “This was a period of time that many would find shameful, embarrassing, and degrading and at the time I must admit that I felt the same way. What a failure I was, what a terrible mother I was, why is this happening to me? Living in a broken pop-up camper with my children was difficult at best. There were many skills that I just didn’t have, I didn’t know how to budget, I didn’t know how to communicate effectively, I had no idea how to navigate life. I was just surviving. Thankfully, I was blessed to have a friend who watched my children while I worked and allowed me to shower at her house every morning.” “23 years later and through many experiences and life lessons, I am here supporting those that are experiencing homelessness. Programming has become a priority at OBK. The thing about sharing these experiences allows us to tailor our programming to meet the needs of each guest and it allows us to see our guests as people and not just group them together like everyone is the same. Homelessness is a state of being without a permanent residence, not an adjective to describe who a person is.” What is especially remarkable about Nicole is that she managed to complete her Master’s degree during this challenging time in her life. Nicole went on to work as the Homeless Program Manager for Mid-Michigan Community Action Agency. She later worked as a Regional Coordinator funded by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency on the Veteran Community Action Team Project coordinating services and programs to assist veterans and their families. Her entire career has been dedicated to serving vulnerable populations. Nicole’s vast personal and professional experience allows her to relate to those who come to the shelter for care and ultimately guidance. “It is incredibly gratifying to help a person who is feeling hopeless, and even worthless, find their voice. Helping people find jobs and a real home is by far the best thing we do at Our Brother’s Keeper.” For information regarding the shelter and its programs, go to www.obkshelter.org or contact the shelter at 231-629-8033  On 4/7/2023 at approximately 3:44PM, deputies from the Newaygo County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to S Warner Ave near W 108th St in Bridgeton Township for a truck versus motorcycle accident. Upon arrival it was determined the driver of the motorcycle Chad Erbes, 48, of Grant had died from his injuries. The driver of the truck was uninjured. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Fremont Fire Department, Life EMS, Grant Police Department, Jerry’s Towing, and Newaygo County Central Dispatch. The accident remains under investigation.  A Bin Store Primer By Ken DeLaat The last time I saw Nicole Crutchfield was when she said goodbye to me after a Summertime Saturday Night ride-along in her Newaygo County Sheriff's Office patrol car. We had just finished an evening of challenging situations that she handled deftly as one could possibly imagine. I was impressed with her people skills and ability to take charge of situations whether diffusing a fight, reuniting a wandering soul with his friends, or arresting a B & E suspect attempting to hide in the shrubbery. Then a few weeks ago, Lifetime Spousal Companion Lil and I were having lunch at the Moondance Cafe (because they create the best veggie panini to be found) and a young woman in a nearby booth waved hello. It took a bit to figure out it was her. A few things had changed. For instance she was no longer blonde, had a new name and a husband to go with it and was Mom to a very cute young man named Jasper who was nestled in a car seat beside her. A short conversation led to the awareness that she and her husband Conner had started a business a few months ago. We agreed to get in touch and maybe do a story on it. “It’s a bin store,” she said. "Ok great,”I replied while thinking to myself, ‘what’s a bin store?’. Fast forward a few weeks and I arrived at JRC Bargain Bins to interview the co-owner of one of Fremont’s newest entrepreneurial arrivals. The location is in the Warner Avenue building that also houses a few other businesses including Terry’s Furniture, just one driveway from Brew Works, an occasional dining stop for LSC Lil and I- particularly when they have Alaska Amber on tap. But I digress. My image wasn’t all wrong. There were certainly bins of goods from cases of Bubly, a cache of shoes and slippers, an aisle of snack size chips of all types, kids games and toys, clothing and various other gatherings piled about. But here’s the interesting part. I discovered it’s shopping with a bit of gamesmanship to it. You see, when they open on Thursday, everything is 10 bucks. Come Friday the same items? 8 bucks. Saturday sinks it to $5 (Yep. Same stuff) then Monday ($3) and by Tuesday ($1) I can imagine it’s likely to look like a mini version of a shopping scene at a Walmart Black Friday event with folks snaring up the specials. It seemed like a situation ripe for questions.  Co Owner Nicole Crutchfield. In the background one can see the area generally occupied by Jasper, the youngest Crutchfield and a very cute influence in her decision to change careers Why a bin store? “Once I left my career job and became a stay at home Mom, Conner and I wanted something to supplement our income. We were kind of dabbling into retail a bit and I decided that a bin store would be the best. “Mostly because I don’t want to price everything,” she added with a bit of a grin. “So now we just toss items into the bin and it's all the same price and the price goes down each day. Wednesdays we close to the public and we fill the bins up. Then Thursday everything starts at 10 dollars.” I pointed out cases of the popular beverage Propel. How much is a case of that? “That case right now retails for 25 dollars. Here it’s ten today. Those chips over there (lunch size) are Frito Lay. There are 40 in a bag and they sell for 22 dollars on Amazon. We are selling them for 10.” How do you get this stuff? “What we do is deal with brokers who handle sending out overstock items from big box stores. It could be a product they have way too much of or maybe items that may be going out of season and they sell them by the truckload. That’s where we come in. We buy a truckload at a time.There are also places that do pallet sales of goods and we pick up a few of those now and then.” Occasionally during our meetup she excused herself to attend to customers. One woman I noticed had walked the length of the store checking out the bins. While not purchasing anything she told Nicole she’d see her later. “She means later this week," she said with a smile. ”Thursday is a big day when we release all the new items and people come in and get a good idea of what they might want to come back for. She and many others come in to see what’s on hand but they wait until Saturday to buy.” Isn’t that a bit of a gamble? “It is, but it’s part of the fun”  Near the counter was a large bin filled with a wide variety of smaller products from beauty products to things one might find in a pharmaceutical department. And while each product was indeed 10 bucks Nikki mentioned the time a shopper had dug through and found a $100+ Apple stylus pencil. That day it was $3. You’ve been open a little over 4 months. Was it a good move? Do you still like it? “It's fun. It's like Christmas when we open the boxes and see what we have. You never know what you’re going to get.” Wait! What? You never know what's coming in? “No. We chose Target for their overstock but when the trucks come in we don’t know what we’re getting until we get it unloaded.” What a concept. The description of this store reminds me of the title of the recent Academy Award winner because there seems to be everything everywhere all at once. Nicole pointed out a children's game in a nearby bin. Earlier I saw a little girl beaming as she walked out with a similar box, her arms barely able to hold the sizable item. “That’s 90 dollars retail. Today it’s ten. Tomorrow it's 8. "When we decided to open the store Conner and I thought this was a way to bless the community by bringing in an option to buy certain items at a much lower price." Pay a visit to JRC Bargain Bins. It’s well worth the effort whether one is a novice to the whole Bin Store concept or a seasoned veteran of such venues. Hours for JRC Bargain Bins: Sunday: Closed Monday: 10am-6pm Tuesday: 10am-2pm Wednesday-: Closed for restocking Thursday: 10am-6pm Friday: 10am-6pm Saturday: 10am-2pm. And when you stop by if you see a tall, older guy with thinning hair and questionable clothing taste checking out the bins it will likely be a Thursday. If he’s buying stuff it’s Saturday. I so love a bargain.  |
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October 2024
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