The Grinch cut  down the Delton Home Town Christmas tree and hauled it to another road and left it there sometime during the night.

The tree all decorated  for the season was growing on the Delton School property near M-43.  When discovered it was destroyed, members of the community planted a new tree in its place and decorated it.

A 72 year old Dowling woman was killed in a two vehicle crash Friday morning on M-37/M-43 Highway (West State Street) near the Hastings city limits.

Police say the woman was turning left out of a driveway to head west on the highway when her car was struck by an eastbound vehicle driven by a 34 year old Hastings woman. The crash occurred in front of the Dollar Tree store.  

The Dowling woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other driver was taken to Corewell Health Pennock Hospital with minor injuries, according to Hastings Police Chief Dale Boulter.

The names of the drivers have not been released. The crash remains under investigation.

M-37/M-43 Highway was shut down for over three hours. Traffic was detoured on Cook Road and Green Streets until the accident scene was cleared.

Hastings DPS crews will resume leaf pickup on Thursday,12-7-23 beginning at W. Madison and S. Washington heading South and East

This morning, Lani Forbes from Barry County United Way joined Chad Henry on the air and gave our listeners another update on our WBCH Stuff Our Station Campaign. Click on link below to listen. 

Delton Kellogg Elementary School at 327 N. Grove Street will celebrate the completion of the School's addition and renovation  Saturday, Dec. 9th at 7:00p.m. with a Ribbon Cutting followed by a tour of the School.

http://events.anr.msu.edu/listeningseries

Whether it’s supporting the dedicated professionals who drive the state’s agriculture economy or empowering children to develop leadership skills, helping others is central to the mission of Michigan State University Extension, the community outreach arm of the university.

The MSU Extension is holding a series of public listening sessions at various locations across the state as part of an ongoing strategic direction process. Through these sessions, the organization hopes to gather input from a diverse group of people to determine where MSU Extension is, what is working well and opportunities for improvement.

This information will be then used to help shape MSU Extension priorities and service for years to come.  Whether you’ve used MSU Extension services or not at all, everyone has a valuable perspective, and is encouraged to attend, youth, parents, all MSU Extension affiliated faculty and staff and curious community members.

The next Listening session is Dec. 18^th in Kalamazoo from 4 to 6:30pm at Delta Hotels by Marriott, 2747 S. 11^th Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009

Register now at:  events.anr.msu.edu/listeningseries

Pre-registration is highly encouraged. Walk-in registration may be limited due to facility capacity.

If you have questions contact Kathy Walicki at walicki@msu.edu  or 231-873-2129 or Marie Garcia at garci434@msu.edu   or 517-353-9464

The Hastings City Council met Monday night,  and one of the items of business was passage of a new Officer Ethics ordinance to allow all public officials to construe and implement ethical standards and guidelines, and require elected and appointed officials’ conduct be above reproach.

City officials shall carefully and conscientiously avoid any conduct that undermines public confidence, guided by the principles of public interest, objective judgment, accountability, democratic leadership, and respectfulness.

Council members heard the first reading of a Workforce Housing PILOT ordinance  to encourage the development or rehabilitation of workforce housing for persons and families whose household income is not greater than 120% of area median income.

Council approved a contract for design engineering for the future Green Street and Market Street improvements project in the amount of $165,500.  The project, expected to take place in 2025, will involve nearly 5,000 feet of street reconstruction including storm drains, sanitary sewer, water main and lead service line replacement on West Green Street and sections of Market Street. The project cost is estimated at $6.365 Million.

Serenity Village of Barry County is a non-profit organization established in 2015. The goal is to develop an alternative homelike environment for terminally ill hospice patients to live out their final days in peace and dignity, surrounded by those they love. Executive Director of Serenity Village, Thomas DeVault, stated that they have raised over $2,000,000 dollars.  Unfortunately, the dramatic rise in interest rates, continued supply chain shortages, and spiraling construction costs have left a shortfall of nearly $1.3 million.  To bridge this difference, they need the help of our amazing and generous community to remain patient, supportive, and willing to contribute. In addition, they have applied for federal government funding through the USDA in hopes of starting the building process. Once they have reached their fundraising goal, construction will begin on a new 7,500-square-foot home for hospice patients, situated quietly on the north edge of Hastings.

The biggest issues they have faced are the ones out of their control. “The forces that have been working against us to this point (supply chain issues, higher borrowing costs for contractors, rampant inflation, interest rate spikes, and labor shortages) are still there and show little sign of fading anytime soon”, says DeVault.  “Everyone in our community wants to see us building, especially those who have been working on this project for over 8 years, but it would be irresponsible for our board to begin construction if there is not a sustainable way to finish it.”

While additional money is being raised and gap funding is being sought, existing donations are being carefully guarded and invested in short-term CD’s.  All operating expenses have been cut back to preserve cash and cash flow.

“I feel with certainty that providing a peaceful home for families to care for each other, to love each other, to spend time with each other in those final days of life, will be immeasurably impactful”, says DeVault.  “We all believe in this project and the benefits it will provide to our community.  We are extremely appreciative that our donor base and community have been wonderfully supportive over the years.  The board and campaign leadership continue to work as hard as we can to make this dream a reality.  But we are asking once again for your consideration to minimize our need for financing by making an additional pledge and/or sharing our story with others so that they may do so this giving season.”  

If you would like to donate or learn more, please visit their website: www.serenitybc.org.  If you would like monthly updates on the progress of Serenity Village, you are encouraged to email DeVault at director@serenitybc.org to sign up for their monthly newsletter, The Village Voice.

As you get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, WBCH's Chad Henry talked this morning with Mary Alice, a Butterball turkey expert from the Butterball turkey hotline about prepping, and the different cooking methods for that Thanksgiving Day Turkey. Click link below to listen. 

A 21 year old woman died in a two vehicle crash Saturday morning in Barry County.

Michigan State Police said the crash happened around 10:30-am at the intersection of 140th avenue and Patterson Road.

Troopers say a 19 year old man driving west on 140th avenue stopped at the stop sign at Patterson and proceeded through.

 However, troopers say the driver did not yield for a car going south on Patterson, which had the right of way.

The 31 year old woman driving on Patterson wasn't able to avoid the 19 year old driver.

The 19 year old's passenger, a 21 year old woman from Caledonia was hurt in the crash and later died in a nearby hospital.

Two boys in Barry County had their dreams come true Tuesday as they finally have a family to call their own.

The Harp family welcomed Averyion, 14 and Cameron, 12, into their family Tuesday in a Barry County Courtroom.

John Berry is bringing his Christmas Tour back to Hastings Friday December 8th at the Hastings Performing Arts Center. WBCH's Chad Henry had the opportunity to talk to John about his upcoming Christmas Tour. Click to listen below.

At the beginning of Monday’s Hastings City Council meeting, Jordan Brehm was sworn in as a Council member to represent the 4^th ward.  Brehm was selected and appointed at a special meeting on November 8^th. He fills the seat that was vacated by the resignation of Jim Carey in late September.

The council held the first reading of a proposed Code of Ethics ordinance that would apply to all elected and appointed city officials. The ordinance is expected to be adopted at the next regular council meeting.

Council approval was given to the conceptual Riverside Cemetery Memorial design and staff will now proceed with an RFP for detailed construction documents associated with Phase I of the design.

The annual Santa Paws pet picture event at Bob King Park was approved for Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Also approved was the annual Relay for Life event in Tyden Park for September 14 & 15, 2024.

Here is how Barry County voters cast their votes on Tuesday:

Bellevue Community Schools operating millage renewel.

Yes  78 votes

 No  52   votes

Martin Public Schools bond proposel

Yes  36 votes

No   20 Votes

Eaton ISD special millage request

No  224 Votes

Yes 175 Votes

Voters in various Barry County precincts are going to the polls Tuesday in the November Consolidated Election to vote on school funding.

Parts of Assyria and Maple Grove townships are voting on an Operating Millage Renewal for Bellevue Community Schools.

Parts of Orangeville Township falls within the Martin School District which have a bond request on the ballot.

Also on Tuesday’s ballot is a special millage request for the Eaton ISD, which covers portions of Assyria, Baltimore, Castleton, Maple Grove,  and Hastings Township.

25 year old Keagan Spencer of Hastings died Saturday afternoon after being hit by a car  on M-6 near Kraft avenue. . According to the Michigan State Police,  Spencer while towing a car stopped to help a dog in the median when a car lost control and went into the median and hit Spencer.

Funeral Service for Keagan Spencer will be held Saturday, Nov.11th at 12:00pm at Thornapple Valley Church-Hastings.   At 9am there will be a procession of tow truck operators in memorial of Keagan's last ride driving through downtown Hastings to Thornapple Valley Church Hastings Campus.

The Department of Natural Resources is opening its new Barry County Shooting Range Nov. 3rd.  The all-accessible shooting range is located  on Chief Noonday Road/M-179 within the Barry State Game area in Rutland Township.   It will offer target shooting for handguns and rifles, as well as sporting clay shooting.  Visitors need to bring their own Targets.

The Range will be open 9am to 5pm October through December and 9am to 7pm April through September. It will be closed winter months.  Temporary closures may be necessary in the future to allow the builders to complete some remaining components.

With the opening of the new range, other informal target shooting areas within the Barry State Game Area will no longer be available for dispersed target shooting.

For more information on the DNR's public shooting ranges in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/ShootingRanges

Starting today, November 1^st the Hastings City Police Department is enforcing the city ordinance ordinance that prohibits on-street parking between the hours of 2am and 6am.

Police Chief Dale Boulter told WBCH his department will be issuing Key to the City Notifications (no fee reminders) for the first week of enforcement so residents can plan for off street parking. Beginning the 8^th of November officers will issue parking citations for any vehicle parked on the street between the hours of 2 am-6 am. 

The purpose of the ordinance is keep streets open for snow plowing during the winter months.

Hastings Department of Public Services will begin fall leaf and yard debris collection Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

They request that you do:

• Pile sticks and branches separately from leaves
• Pile materials in the yard just behind the curb

They request that you do not:

• Pile materials in the street or gutter
• Pile materials so they block a sidewalk
• Pile materials that restrict vision of motorists and pedestrians
• Pile materials after DPS crews have completed cleanup
• Place cement/ brick/ stones/ patio block/ landscape blocks/ landscape timbers
• Place materials generated by commercial contractors
• Place branches larger than 3” in diameter and longer than 4’ in length

The Hastings DDA Streetscape Project is one of 17 West Michigan Revitalization And Placemaking (RAP) projects chosen to receive a share of $6.1M in funding  through The Right Place and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The streetscape project will receive $474,500.

RAP is an incentive program that deployed $100 million in American Rescue Plan funding to address the COVID-19 impacts in Michigan communities.

Eligible applicants were entities working to rehabilitate vacant, underutilized, blighted, and historic structures and the development of permanent infrastructure associated with traditional downtowns, social zones, outdoor dining, and placed-based public spaces.

The Hastings Homecoming Parade steps off tonight at 5:30pm.  Floats lineup behind the high school at 5pm.

The Parade leaves the back  parking lot by the Greenhouse to South Street.

South Street; turn right (East) and go to Church Street.

Church Street;  turn right (North) and go to Clinton Street

Clinton Street;  turn left (West) and go to Young Street.

Young Street;  turn left (South) and head to the stadium. 

Floats park along Young Street Curb.

Pride Bus Tailgate with hot dogs at 6:00pm

During the Hastings City Council meeting Monday night the resignation of 4^th Ward Council Member Jim Cary was officially accepted. In a September 26^th letter, Cary said he was resigning immediately due to health issues.  After accepting the resignation the Council then unanimously approved a Resolution to Censure Cary’s recent actions as a council member. The resolution states that Cary had inappropriately sent unwanted electronic communications to a former relative and had abused his power as councilmember to intimidate and threaten that person.  The resolution went on to say the public censure serves as a reprimand to make clear for the record that the Council in no way condones Cary’s recent actions.

At the September 25th meeting, Council directed the City Attorney and City Manager to draft a Code of Ethics ordinance that would cover all elected and appointed city officials.  A workshop on the proposed ordinance was set for October 23^rd.

The City Council will soon seek applicants for the vacant 4^th Ward Seat, interviews will be held, then on November 7^th Council will appoint one of the applicants to serve the remainder of the current councilmember term.

In other action, the Council approved Hastings Jingle and Mingle for December 1^st through 3^rd.  

A proposal from ‘Playgrounds by Leathers’ not to exceed $52,600 was approved for design services to replace the aging Tangle-Town playground  at Bob King Park.

A Richland woman faces multiple counts of stalking over alleged harassament of Barry County prosecutors.

Rita Williams allegedly sent hundreds of emails and voicemail messages to prosecutors, including the Barry County prosecutor, over the conviction and incarceration of her husband.

When asked to stop contact, Williams continued sending messages on both their work and personal devices.

Fourth ward councilman Jim Cary has resigned from the Hastings City Council.

Cary told WBCH he resigned because of health issues.