Hastings picked up more rain Friday night through early Saturday morning.  1.34 inches was recorded by the Hastings National Weather Service Climatological Station, giving  Hastings June total to date at 6.66 inches, with more rain likely this coming week.  And that could put Hastings well over 7.00 inches for June 2024.

If this is an indication of what coming this winter, we may be doing a lot of shoveling.

Michigan State Police is investigating a single vehicle fatal traffic crash Saturday around 11:30AM. Troopers responded to the area of Ickes & Bird Road in Baltimore Township following a iPhone emergency notification that indicated a possible crash. Once on scene, troopers observed a fully engulfed pickup truck crashed into a tree. One unidentifiable occupant was found deceased inside the vehicle. Their identity will be determined later by a medical examiner. The cause of the crash, along with any contributing factors are unknown at this time. This crash remains open pending further investigation.

Consumers Energy launched a large-scale restoration effort Tuesday as over 410 crews mobilized to the hardest-hit areas of the state after a severe thunderstorm with damaging winds swept across Michigan Tuesday. Crews from Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio and Illinois will also be pitching in to get the power back on safely and as quickly as possible.

 

Several homes and businesses in the City of Hastings and other parts of Barry County lost power. 

 

“The damage created by this storm is widespread and significant,” said Chris Laird, one of Consumers Energy’s Officers in Charge for restoration. “We are moving every resource that we can into place ? including crews from our energy industry peers in the Midwest ? to ensure we can safely turn the lights back on for our customers.”

 

The storm moved across Michigan, causing damage and affecting over 155,000 customers. Most of those were in the Muskegon, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo areas, as well as communities in the northeast Lower Peninsula. The company responded quickly and, as of 4 p.m., has restored power to than 40,000 affected customers.

 

Most customers should get power back by noon Thursday, with all customers in the hardest-hit areas restored by the end of the day Thursday.

The City of Hastings is planning a  road and utility improvements project on Green Street and Market Street for the 2025 construction season. The limits of the project include Green street from Fish Hatchery Park to Broadway Street and Market Street from Green Street to West State Street.

The project will include replacing the aging sanitary sewer system, storm sewer system and Water system on Market Street only. With the water system improvements, water lines on both streets classified as lead will be replaced from the road right of way into the home.  New concrete curb & gutter, new concrete drive approaches, and new asphalt road surface will be placed.  Also planned is to stripe the street with pavement markings to include bike lanes along the shoulders.  As part of the project, a mini roundabout may also be constructed at the Green and Market Intersection to improve traffic flows.

The City of Hastings will hold an informational open house for this project Thursday, June 20th from 6:30 to 8pm at the Leason-Sharpe Hall, 231 S. Broadway in Hastings.  Representatives from the City of Hastings and Moore & Bruggink will be present to review preliminary plans for the project and answer questions

The first local fair of the season is here.  The 2024 Lake Odessa Fair starts Wednesday, June 19^th with the “Spirit of the Olympics” Grand Parade through downtown Lake Odessa at 6, followed by Draft Horse Pulls at the grandstand. Thursday night is Trivia Night and the big annual Dodgeball tournament.  Friday… the SJO Motocross, the Taylor Swift Experience at the Beer Barn, and a Classic Car Cruise!  Saturday the Car Show on Fourth Avenue, Mega Raffle Concert Party and the Truck and Tractor Pulls!  And the Demolition Derby takes place at the grandstand on Sunday.   

 

Chad Henry spoke last week with Rachel Haskins about the fair:

 

 

Get the full fair schedule at:    lakeodessafair.org 

The Barry County Sheriff's Office investigated a two vehilce fatal crash friday June 14th at 11:39 am.  The crash took place on Dowling road west of South M-37 in Baltimore township.

 

The preliminary investigation revealed a line of vehicles was traveling east on Dowling road where the lead vehicle was pulling a trailer and was slowing to turn right into a driveway.  The vehicle behind the trailer, a black Buick, was simultaneously turning left into a gravel pit driveway.

 

The vehicle at the end of the line, a Ford Maverick, attempted to pass all of the slower vehicles and collided with the vehicle turning left. The driver of the Buick, a 60 year old female from Middleville was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

 

The passenger in the Buick, an 84 year old female from  Middleville was taken to the hospital where she later died.

 

The driver of the Ford, a 19 year old Delton female and her passenger were not injuried.

 

 

Strong Thunderstorms Sunday night and early Monday morning knocked out power to  a number of West Michigan residents..

Barry county   1,087

Kalamazoo  19,152

Calhoun  2,868

Eaton 971.

The storms also produced heavy rain.

The Hasrtings Climatological Station recorded  1.57 inches of rain.

In a social media post,  Hastings Mutual Insurance Company announced they have changed their name and will be now be known simply as "Hastings Insurance". They have also adopted a new logo "ushering us into a new era of Hastings Insurance. We are working hard to transition our branding over, and appreciated you patience, while we update all our platforms" the announcement says.

 

Hastings Insurance says their teams and employees are staying the same, along with their dedication to their agents and insureds.

The Annex building at Central Elementary School in Hastings is being demolished. It is one of the 2023 bond projects.  The Annex has not been used for classroom instruction for many years and has been used for storage.  Demolition is projected to be completed by June 24th. 

The Delton Kellogg Public Schools Board of Education is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Jeremy Wright as their next Superintendent of Schools, pending contract negotiations.

Four Candidates were selected to participate in the first round interviews June 3rd. Following these initial interviews, two candidates were chosen to participate in a district visitation and final round interviews Monday June 10th.  The Board carefully considered all written and verbal feedback that was provided to them by the audience members throughout the entire interview process. After deliberation a motion was made and seconded to extend an offer for the position of Superintendent of Delton Kellogg Public Schools to Dr. Jeremy Wright.  The motion was passed with a 6-1 vote.  Dr. Jeremy Wright has served as the High School Principal at Plainwell High School for the past fourteen years.

The Board of Education in conjunction with their consultant with the Michigan Leadership Institute is entering into contract negotiations with Dr. Jeremy Wright.  Once the negotiations are complete the school community will be informed.

Hastings, Thornapple and Yankee Springs fire departments were called to Flexfab in Hastings  at 7:24pm Sunday night.  Smoke was visible from the roof level on the north side of the bulding. Hastings crews  made quick entry into the upper floor to locate the source of the fire.  The fire was was declared under control and extinquished by 8:03pm. The building was turned over to Flexfab Management at 9:16pm.

 

Steve Hester, HR Manager at Flexfab,  advises employees that operations are down as a result of the fire in the building.  Hester said everyone is okay, however they are accessing the damage. Flexfab is canceling all production for 1st and 2nd shift Monday in the Main and East buildings.

 

Employees can find updates on Flexfab's Facebook page or by calling the status line at 269-945-3533.

 

 

 

Barry County Undersheriff Jason Sixberry has been placed on administrative leave from the Sheriff’s Office until further notice, according to Sheriff Dar Leaf, who would not comment on the reason Sixberry was placed on leave. 

 

Sixberry was suspended from his position as boys varsity baseball coach at Hastings High School on May 29^th after some parents expressed concerns with the district apparently centered around Sixberry’s use of social media and texting with students. An investigation by the school system is underway.

 

Hastings Athletic Director Mike Goggins has not commented specifically on the allegations, but said the decision to have Coach Sixberry step down was out of an abundance of caution as the investigation continues to see if there was any inappropriate behavior or illegal activity.   

The Barry County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a motorcycle vs. van fatal traffic crash, which occurred Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of 9 Mile Rd and LaFountaine Dr in Orangeville Twp.

The preliminary investigation revealed a motorcycle was traveling west bound on 9 Mile Rd at a high rate of speed when it collided with a van turning on to 9 Mile Rd from LaFountaine Dr.

The driver, a 34 year old male from Plainwell, was ejected from the motorcycle and was found unresponsive. Despite lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the van, a 72 year old female from Plainwell, was not injured. The passenger of the van, a 52 year old male from Plainwell, had minor injuries that were treated on scene.

Speed is believed to be a factor. The crash remains under investigation.

 

 

80 years ago on June 6, 1944 Allied forces landed in Normandy France to free Europe from Nazi Germany and bring an end to World War Two.

A second suspect, 28 year old Brandon Mousseau, was arraigned Wednesday morning and charged with being a Habitual Offender and Open Murder in connection with the death of 79 year old Jimmy Sykes of Battle Creek. Syke's body was discovered lying in a driveway on East Cloverdale Road in Barry County's Baltimore Township on Wednesday, May 29.  

 

The first suspect was arraigned on  Monday on charges of Open Murder and being a Fourth time Habitual Offender. He is identified as Brady West, 29 years old, of the Battle Creek area.  His preliminary hearing will be at 9am on June 12th. Mousseau's will be a week later on June 19th. Cash or Surety Bond for each suspect was set at  $1-million.

 

Barry County Prosecutor Julie Nakfoor Pratt told WBCH news that the two men knew Sykes, and that Brady West was living with the victim.  They allegedly lured Sykes from his home on the premise of going to dinner, took him to an area near Cloverdale where he was violently bludgeoned and then run over with his own truck.  

 

 

 

The Barry County Sheriff's Office Marine Division says it will continue to patrol the privately owned Orangeville Island, aka 'Party Island' in Gun Lake, in the same manner that they have patrolled the island in the last 12 years. Boaters that are in less than 4 feet of water around the shoreline will be asked to move back to the 4 foot water depth.  Failure to move to the 4 foot water depth could result in a citation for tresspassing or even arrest.

 

The private island has been family owned since 1910.  Boaters are encouraged instead to enjoy the shoreline and beaches around the State Park.

 

There is one more alternative...   the island is listed for sale.  It can apparently be yours for only $1.5 million dollars.

The Delton Kellogg  Superintendent Search has been narrowed to two candidates; Noah Wilson Director of Marshall Academy and Jeremy Wright High School Principal at Plainwell Community Schools.

 

Visitation, Meet and Greets, and Interviews will be conducted Monday, June 10th. 

Both Candidates will visit each school building from 2:15 to 4pm.  The Community Meet & Greet will be held from 5:00pm to 6:00pm   Noah Wilson will be present in the High School Media Center and Jeremy Wright will be in the High School Cafeteria.

 

Interviews with each candidate will be held in the High School Auditorium beginning at 6:15pm with Noah Wilson followed by Jeremy Wright at 7:45pm.

 

Following the Interviews the Delton Kellogg Board of Education will enter deliberations.

 

Kellogg Community College in partnership with the Barry County Community Career Connections will launch their first Career Connections Summer Camps in Barry County, for area high school students in classes of 2024, 2025 & 2026.  This is a free program to support our local youth in developing essential workplace skills.  Program Participants will be introduced to Personal, Social and Professional skills required to be successfull in today's workforce.  The program includes job preparation and search strategies to help enter the workforce.

Students that successfully complete the program will earn an "Employability Endorsement" recognized by the Barry County  Chamber & Economic Developement Alliance and local employers, that will guarantee interviews with local participating employers upon program completion.  This program is provided at no cost to participants Thanks to KCC, Barry County Community Career Connections, Barry Community Foundation & Barry County Chamber & Economic Developement Alliance.

The first session of Career Connections Summer Camp begins June 17th thru June 27th Monday thru Thursday, 12:30pm to 5:30pm at Hastings High School.  Session 2 is July 22nd thru August 1st, Monday thru Thursday 10am to 3pm, at Kellogg Community College Fehsenfeld Center.   Registration is required as seating is limited.  Contact Kellogg Community College Fehsenfeld Center for more information 269-948-9500 or center@kellogg.edu. or zimas@kellogg.edu