At approximately 02:09 am Friday morning, Deputies with the Ionia County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to R.B Boyce Elementary School near Ionia for a single vehicle crash.  Upon investigating it was discovered that a 27-year-old Ionia resident, had fallen asleep behind the wheel while driving, left the roadway and collided with the school building.

There were no injuries reported.

Lakewood Public Schools will be closed on Friday, Oct. 29, reportedly after a threat targeting Lakewood High School was received.

Lakewood administration and law enforcement are working to determine whether or not the threat is real, but announced the decision to close the schools on Friday as a safety precaution. No other information was available.

Michigan State Police from the Wayland Post said human remains were discovered in a deeply wooded area in Barry County's Orangeville Township. The discovery was reported early Thursday afternoon by a resident who was walking on his property off South Enzian Road, south of West Guernsey Lake Road.

People are being asked to avoid the area while investigators work to learn the identity of the person and the cause of their death.

MSP said an unnamed person was reported missing in that area on September 4th but cannot confirm whether or not the remains are that of the missing person until completion of an autopsy.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Michigan State Police Wayland Post at 269-792-2213. 

Hastings will have a new department store soon.  TJ Maxx, a national retail chain which sells men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing as well as home fashions and décor, is coming to the former K-Mart building. 

Community Development Director Dan King reported to the Hastings City Council this week that the Downtown Development Authority has approved the project. Interior and exterior remodeling plans were submitted to Professional Code Inspections so that building permits could be issued. 

The store will use a section of the building, between Family Farm & Home and Snap Fitness, that has been vacant since the K-Mart store closed.  No timetable has been announced yet for the opening of the TJ Maxx store.

Barry County residents can trick-or-treat and enjoy lots of family friendly activities this Saturday, October 30^th at Historic Charlton Park Village and Museum from 3 to 6pm during the park's annual “All Hallows Eve” event.

This Sunday, hours for Halloween trick-or-treating in and around Barry County are generally considered to be 5 to 8pm.

In Hastings, traffic on Green Street will be shut down from 4:30 to 8pm as the City Police Department offers youth the opportunity to roam safely on Green Street in their costumes for trick-or-treating and holiday fun. Officers will available for candy checks and to pass out goodies.

Wherever you go, whether trick-or-treating or driving,  you are asked to be especially cautious and look out for children who may be crossing the streets.

At Tuesday's Barry County Commissioner's meeting, a Barry County woman went over her three minutes of public comment time and was asked to stop. She refused, and Board Chair Geiger said the meeting was unruly and adjourned the meeting.

The board of commissioners was also looking to withhold funding from the Barry Eaton District Health Department if the department imposed a mask mandate.  The board's legal counsel said the board has no authority, because Michigan law does not give County Commissioners the power to act against mask and covid-19 vaccine mandates. West Michigan counties recently dropped mask mandates amid confusion around state budget language.

The Barry County Sheriff's Office told WBCH News the human remains located off Cloverdale Road last Tuesday in Maple Grove Township were positively identified as the missing person, Rachel Lynn Hazen.

Hazen had been missing since July of this year.

Undersheriff Jason Sixberry said they will provide additional information as it becomes available.

The Ionia County Sheriff reports a Ford F-150 driven by a teen from the Portland area left the road way on Wednesday and overturned on Charlotte Hwy near Towner Road in Danby Township.

While rolling the vehicle struck a tree and two of the occupants were ejected. The injured occupants were transported by Portland EMS to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing with serious injuries. Speed and alcohol were believed to be a factor. The crash remains under investigation.

Assisting on scene was Portland Fire, Portland EMS, Michigan State
Police and Reed & Hoppes
 

The Barry County Sheriff"s Office responded to a one vehicle serious injury crash on Guernsey lake road near south Norris road in Orangeville township Wednesday night around 10:44 pm.

A Chevy Silverado was traveling east on Guernsey Lake road when it left the road and struck a tree.

A 32 year old female passenger from Nashville was airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition. The driver a 32 year old Delton male was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. No report on his condition.  Names have not yet been released.

The Barry County Sheriff's Office has identified the victim of a motorcycle crash that occured on Saturday October 16.  The driver, Riley James Campbell, 28 of Portage died from his injuries.

The crash happened on nine mile road in Orangeville Township.

The body of a missing Barry County woman was found Tuesday, October 19.

According to Barry County Undersheriff Jason Sixberry, a 2005 Ford Escape, Silver in color, was located in a soybean field in Maple Grove Township with help from a Michigan State Police helicopter.

A sheriff's office K-9 along with two MSP K-9’s located human remains in proximity of the vehicle.  At this time, the incident remains under investigation and the deceased has not been positively identified as of yet. 

The body is believed to be that of 41 year old Rachel Lynn Hazen, who was last seen by a neighbor at her Thornapple Lake Estates residence in Castelton Township on July 21st. She was reported missing five days later by a close friend. Hazen was driving the 2005 Ford Escape, Silver in color with no plate when she went missing. 

The Michigan State Police returned Tuesday to where the body of 17 year old Lane Rosland was found last week north of Hastings. When asked about being back at the scene, they said,  "we have no additional information at this time."

17 year old Patrick Gilmore, who was arrested by the State Police for Rosland's murder, remains in the Barry County Jail with a bond of $750,000. He'll be back in court on Wednesday, October 27th.

A 28 year old Portage man was injured Saturday night when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed  on  9-mile road.

The Barry County Sheriff's Office said the man was traveling east when he lost control and left the road crashing into a tree causing life threatening injuries.

The motorcycle rider was taken to a neaby hospital. No report on his condition was available.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $27.4 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in seven rural Michigan communities including Vermontville and Lake Odessa.

The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage.

The Village of Vermontville will use a $277,000 loan to replace and upgrade nearly two miles of old cast iron water main and construct a 150,000-gallon water tower.

The Lakewood Wastewater Authority will use a $1,275,000 loan to complete the installation of a sewer force main from Pump Station 16 to the wastewater treatment plant.  An additional $4,708,000 loan will be used for sewer system improvements. 

Starting October 18, rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 will be offered three times weekly at the Health Department Barry County Office. This is to address a need for free, rapid testing in Barry County without having to travel to GR or K-zoo. 

This service will be staffed by Michigan National Guard (MING) and will take place on Monday, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30am to 5:30pm; from October 18^th to December 1^st. (service may continue past this date if testing providers are available)

This will be a drive up testing center and is open to anyone who wants a test; no matter the age, residency or if they are symptomatic or not. No insurance necessary, no pre-registration needed. It is a free service and results will be given to the client in 15-30 mins by MING

On Wednesday, October 13, police located the body of 17 year old Lane Roslund. On Thursday the Barry County Prosecutor’s Office charged 17 year old Patrick Hunter Gilmore of Hastings, with Count 1:  Open Murder, a felony life offense and Count II:  Concealing the Death of an Individual, a felony carrying a maximum of 5 years in prison. 

Gilmore was charged as an adult by automatic waiver.  He was arraigned Thursday in Hastings District Court. Bond was set at $750,000 cash or surety. His probable cause conference was set for October 27, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Michael Schipper.

The Michigan State Police (MSP) Wayland Post, as part of their assistance to the Hastings Police Department in a missing person investigation, executed a search warrant on October 13 at an address in Hastings Township. The search warrant was obtained based on new information detectives obtained from a witness.

During the search, human remains were discovered in a shallow grave on the property. Update 10/15/21: The remains have been positively identified as 17-year-old, male, Lane Roslund, who was reported missing to the Hastings Police Department on September 21. An autopsy will take place to determine the manner of death.

Through further investigations, a 17-year-old, male, Hastings’s resident was developed as a suspect and was subsequently arrested on charges of open murder and concealing the death of an individual.

MSP Wayland was assisted by the Hastings Police Department, Barry County Sheriff’s Department, MSP Canine Unit, MSP Missing Persons Unit and the WMED Forensic Pathology Department. This investigation is ongoing and remain open.

UPDATE: 17 year old Lane Rosland was found deceased on Wednesday. The family thanks everyone for their help in searching for Lane. No other Information is available at this time.

Hastings Police have been looking for Lane Rosland who had been missing since Monday September 27th.  He was last seen in Tyden Park on Saturday Sept 11th.

If you have information that will assist the Police call 269 945-5744 or Barry County Central Dispatch at 269 948-4800.

Two State Police fugitive team members shot and killed a suspect Wednesday morning on Lindsey road in Orangeville Township. The suspect has been identified as 40 year old David Schumann of Barry County.

Troopers were tracking the 40 year old male parole absconder and his female passenger in their car around 10-am. When the troopers approached the suspect vehicle, the man produced an edged weapon and then it became a hostage situation.

The fugitive team fired multiple shots, hitting and killing Schumann.

The female passenger was injured in the incident.

Charlton Park officials and the Barry County Sheriff’s Office are asking for assistance with any information about vandalism that took place at Charlton Park on Monday night. According to the park’s facebook page, vandals broke windows and memorial benches, drove through fences, smashed doors, and did many other destructive things. It is believed the vandals were on a white golf cart and departed the Park sometime between 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Damage is estimated to be in the thousands of dollars. Please contact park office by phone, email, or social media if you have any information, or call the Barry County Sheriff’s office.

(photos from Charlton Park FB)

Michigan Avenue will remain open the rest of this week and will possibly be shut down next week for construction at the Old Moose Property.

Work had been sheduled to begin Oct. 11th at the site in Hastings. When work does begin, Michigan Avenue will be closed from Apple Street to the drive-thru exit from Hastings City Hall while water and sewer utilities are installed underground.

The site is the future home of "Lofts at 128",  a four story, 21-unit apartment complex with retail space on the ground floor. Construction on the development is expected to be completed next summer, according to Dan King, Community Development Director for the City of Hastings. 

At Monday night’s City Council meeting, Dale Boulter was officially appointed Chief of Police for the City of Hastings Police Department.  Boulter has served as interim chief since spring of this year when former chief Jeff Pratt retired.  Prior to that, Boulter held other positions within the department.

New City Manager Sarah Moyer-Cale said “During his time as Interim Chief he has demonstrated leadership skills, problem solving ability, communication skills, and a positive outlook among many other positive attributes for a Police Chief. He is knowledgeable, astute, highly respected, and has been a pleasure to work with. It is my conclusion that appointing Interim Chief Boulter to the Police Chief position is to the greatest benefit of the City of Hastings and that his leadership will continue to move the department in the right direction.”

On Sunday around 7:37pm, Deputies from the Ionia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an accident involving two motorcycles that occurred on Belding Rd (M-44) just west of Bartonville Rd in Otisco Township. The initial information stated that a motorcycle had struck a deer. Once deputies arrived on scene, they learned a second motorcycle was involved in the crash as well. One 28 year old male from Belding involved in the crash was transported via Aeromed to Spectrum Butterworth hospital. The driver of the other motorcycle, an 18 year old male from Orleans, was transported via Life Ambulance to Spectrum Butterworth hospital as well. Both involved parties received significant injuries from the crash. This accident remains under investigation.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is advising consumers not to drink cider produced by Bowens Mills in Middleville, MI, due to food safety concerns.   

Bowens Mills was found operating an unlicensed cider processing facility and selling the cider in violation of the Michigan Food Law, P.A. 92 of 2000, as amended. Observations made by MDARD inspectors onsite at Bowens Mills have led to concerns about the safety of the cider. During the investigation, MDARD staff issued a cease and desist order to ensure no additional product leaves the premises. 

Licensing and inspection of cider mills and other food establishments helps assure food safety by identifying potential risks in the handling, processing, bottling, and labeling of food products and ensuring the food establishment takes steps to reduce or eliminate these risks.

All cider products produced by Bowens Mills are covered by this advisory including Apple Cider packaged in one-gallon or half-gallon plastic jugs, under the name “Bowens Mills Fresh Apple Cider” , either labeled as "Pasteurized" or with the warning “Not Pasteurized.”

The advisory says consumers should discard this product and that if you think you or a family member may have become ill from consuming the cider, seek immediate medical attention.

The Barry Eaton District Health Department is holding a COVID Vaccination Clinic at the Barry Expo Center from 10am to 1pm this Saturday, October 9.  All brands will be available and walk-ins are welcome, or you can pre-schedule a time by contacting the health department.

There has been a lot of questions about booster shots and additional doses:

If your first two doses were Pfizer brand, and if you are immunocompromised, you can receive an additional dose at least 28 days after your second dose. Or, you can receive a booster of the Pfizer brand 6 months after your second dose if you are 65 or older, live in a long-term care setting, have and underyling medical condition, or live or work in a high-risk setting.

If your first two doses were Moderna brand and you are immunocompromised, you can receive an additional dose at least 28 days after your second dose. 

If you received one dose of Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) brand, additional doses or booster shots have not yet been authorized.

Nelson Replogle, a former Middleville School teacher, has signed a plea agreement on one charge for attempting to hire a hit man to murder his wife, according to the U.S. District Court in Tennessee.

Replogle was arrested in Tennessee earlier this year when the plot came to light. Replogle was attempting to pay a hitman with Bitcoin crypto currency to kill his wife.