The Hastings Saxons football team celebrated a homecoming victory Friday night, defeating the Pennfield Panthers 46 to 0.

 

The Hastings High School Homecoming Court was introduced at halftime. The 2024 King is Micah Johnson, and the Queen this year is Jodie Gaskill.

On Thursday evening, September 26, 2024, at approximately 8:00 p.m., a devastating accident occurred at the intersection of Mt. Hope Highway and Cochran Road. The preliminary investigation by the Eaton County Sheriff's Office indicates that a westbound van failed to stop at the posted stop sign, entering the intersection where it was struck by a northbound semi-truck and trailer.

 

The driver of the van and two of her young children from the Lake Odessa area, lost their lives at the scene. A third child was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the semi-truck was also taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

 

The Lake Odessa Fire Department identified those who died as Emily, Amalia and Shiloh Root, family members of a volunteer firefighter.

 

The Eaton County Sheriff's Office Accident Investigation Team is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

 

Eaton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by the Michigan State Police, Grand Ledge Police, Roxand Twp Fire Department, Grand Ledge Fire Department and EMS, Delta Fire Department, Vermontville Fire Department, Benton Twp EMS, and U of M Sparrow Eaton Area EMS.

The Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) was notified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) that three birds in Eaton County have recently tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV), including 2 American Crows and 1 Red-tailed Hawk. Additionally, 1 horse in Eaton County tested positive earlier in the season.

 

There have been 67 animal cases and 19 human cases of WNV in Michigan. However, NO human cases have been detected in the Barry-Eaton district in 2024.

Mosquito-borne diseases, like WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, are spread to humans and animals (like birds and horses) through the bite of an infected mosquito.

 

Symptoms of illness include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. While there are no human vaccines for WNV or EEE, vaccines are available for horses that will protect them from both viruses. Residents with horses or other animals are encouraged to contact a veterinarian for information regarding vaccinations.

The best way to reduce the risk of getting sick with WNV, or EEE, is by preventing mosquito bites. Residents are reminded that mosquitoes remain active until the first hard frost, so it is important to continue taking precautions to prevent mosquito bites.

• Prevent mosquito bites by:
o Using insect repellent when outside.
o Wearing light colored and long-sleeved shirts and pants.
o Treating clothing and outdoor gear with insect repellent.
o Taking steps to control mosquitos in the yard by removing standing water around the home. This can include water in bird baths, children’s wading pools, water bowls for pets, or in any container that can collect water.

Charlton Park will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony this Wednesday, September 18^th at 4:30pm to publicly open the new accessibility improvements that have been made in the historic village this summer.  Funded in large by a Community Challenge Grant, new sidewalks and wooden ramps will allow greater access to buildings to those with disabilities and strollers.

The public is invited to the ribbon cutting, refreshments will be provided.

Before the leaves start to turn and fall, thousands of Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway volunteers will fan out across the state to collect litter along highway roadsides from Saturday, Sept. 21, through Sunday, Sept. 29.

 

This is the third and final scheduled pickup period of the year.

 

Every year, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers regularly collect more than 60,000 bags of trash. The popular program began in Michigan in 1990 and has grown to involve more than 2,900 groups cleaning more than 6,000 miles of highway.

 

Motorists should be on the lookout for those groups as they clean the roadsides beginning Saturday. When working in a highway right of way, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash

Until further notice open burning of brush and yard debris is prohibited in Barry County due to the ongoing extreme dry conditions. Camp and cooking fires are allowed.

Here is 'Nature News' with Sara Edelman to tell you what's happening in September at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute:

 

 

With only .09 in rain so far this September very dry conditions  are showing up throughout much of Michigan including the Hastings Barry County area.

The fire danger is high in  the grassland and wooded areas.

No rain expected in the near future.

 

A Hastings man died after a boat he was in capsized in Ensley Township in Newaygo County

Tuesday night

According to the Sheriffs office, two people were on board when the boat overturned.

A 66 yerar old man experienced a medical emergency and died. Two other people weretreated and released.

 

 

 

We have reached that time of year when you will see low flying helicopers in West Michigan and Barry County.

. Beginning this week, electricity transmissions company ITC Holdings will begin conducting aerial patrols of high-voltage transmission structures and lines throughout the state weather permitting.

Beginning September 18th to the 20th helicopter crews will be inspecting the lines in Allegan, Barry, Branch and Calhoun along with several other West Michigan Counties.

Based in Novi, ITC is the nations largest independent electricity transmission company.  It has about 8,700 circuit miles of transmissiion lines serving most of Michigans lower peninsula.