IONIA, MI — State Representative Gina Johnsen (R-Portland) will join local legislators, county leaders, and veteran advocates on Friday, January 30, 2026, to host the inaugural Voices of Valor Town Hall at Restore Church located at 439 W. Main Street in Ionia. The event will take place from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Admission is free and open to the public, and veterans, service members, and military families are encouraged to attend. and is open to the public.

 

The Voices of Valor Town Hall is designed to bring veteran advocacy directly into the community and ensure that the voices of Ionia County veterans and military families help shape legislative priorities for the 2026 session.

 

The panel will include Senator Rick Outman, Representative Gina Johnsen, Ionia County Commissioners Gordon Kelley and Phil Hesche, and veteran advocate Shane Houghting, a past VFW State Commander. The discussion will be moderated by Lorrena Black, a retired U.S. Army Major and longtime veteran advocate.

 

Too often, veterans are asked to navigate complex systems on their own, said Representative Gina Johnsen. This town hall is about listening, accountability, and making sure our policies reflect the real needs of the men and women who have served our country.

 

The Hastings City Council met Monday night and approved an ordinance for the North Ridge Estates Condominiums Planned Unit Development project to be located along the east side of Calgary Drive and the north side of Briar Hill on the north end of the city.

 

Council approved a letter of support for the Barry County Recycling Grant. The County is applying for a grant through EGLE to fund 2 or 3 cardboard compactors to be placed in various, under-resourced parts of the county. It is anticipated that this will improve the county’s recycling rate and reduce the amount of landfilled materials.

 

A group is trying to establish a pickleball league at Bob King Park and the Council approved allowing temporary signs to the fencing to let people know when the courts will be reserved for league play and how to sign up to join.

 

In other business, the City Council approved $10,200 for a survey and design engineering proposal for a permanent pedestrian island to make it safer to cross Broadway near the entrance to Tyden Park.

 

The City will need to construct an additional water tower to support new development opportunities on the horizon. To identify the best location for the tower and optimize the design, council approved a proposal by Moore and Bruggink to complete a high-pressure district - elevated storage tank study for an amount not to exceed $23,750.

 

The Council also authorized the trade-in of current duty and seized weapons, and purchase of new duty weapons for city officers in the amount of $10, 950.

 

 

If you need a place to warm up you may do so at the following locations or call 211 for information on the nearest warming center near you.

Hastings Public Library M-TH 9am -8pm  Fri. 9am-6pm, Sat. 9am-3pm.  269-945-4263

Delton Public Library, M.W.F 9am-5pm, T & TH 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-1pm 269-623-8040

Dowling Public Library, M-W-F 11am-8pm,TH 11a-7p,Sat 10a-2pm 269-721-3743

Putnam Public Library-Nashville  M-W-F 10a-6pm, T &TH 2-7pm, Sat 10a-1pm 517-852-9723

Yankee Springs Township Fire Dept. 1425 S. Payne Lake Rd. Wayland, 269-795-1650 Thurs. & Fri 8am -4pm

Orangeville Baptist Church, 6921 Marsh Rd., Plainwell, 269-664-4377 Fri & Sun 9a-8p

The Village of Middleville this morning has issued a Boil Water Advisory due to a drop in water pressure.  Because of this, bacterial contamination may have occured in the water system.

Do NOT drink the water without boiling it first.  The Advisory is expected to last up to 72 hours, but will remain in effect until testing confirms the water is safe.  Residents will be notified when the advisory is lifted.

The advisory is precautionary and related to water system upgrades.  Water pressure is being restored and water samples are being collected and tested to make sure the water meets saftety standards.

Questions contact the Village of Middleville Dept. of Public Works at 269-795-3385. For general guidelines, call the US EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Thirty five years ago the call to liberate Kuwait was answered by the brave men and women of Michigan.  While the conflict was swift, the impact on our families and our community remains eternal.  The Office of State Representative Gina Johnson Invite you to A community tribute honoring the 35th Anniversary of Operation Desert Storm Friday, January 16th at 4:00pm at the Ionia Theatre, located at 205 W. Main Street in Ionia.

 

In partnership with MI Prevention Hastings Birch Fire Department is able to install Smoke, CO, and Explosive gas alarms in Hastings residents home for free.

If you would like to have a member of the Hastings Fire Department come to your residence for a home safety inspection and detector install, contact the Hastings Birch Fire Department at 269-945-5384 extension1 to set up an appointment.  Working alarms in your home are vital to keep you and your family safe during an emergency.

The Hastings City Council held its’ first regular meeting of the new year Monday night and heard Mayor David Tossava give his annual address highlighting points of accomplishment in 2025 and looking ahead to projects and plans for 2026.

 

Fourth Ward Council Member Jacquie McLean was unanimously elected Mayor Pro-Tem.

 

Council approved Board and Commission appointments, Rules of Procedure, City Attorney appointments, and meeting dates for 2026.

 

The First Reading was held of an ordinance for the  North Ridge Estates Condominiums Planned Unit Development project to be located along the east side of Calgary Drive and the north side of Briar Hill on the north end of the city.

 

The 17^th annual Barry Roubaix Gravel Road Race was approved for Saturday, April 18^th and a pre-party to be held the evening before. The Barry Roubaix is the largest gravel road bicycle race of its’ kind in the world and is expected to draw over 7,000 race day participants and spectators to Hastings.  

It’s official. Rock The Country is back for 2026!

 

Hastings is one of only eight locations in the US to host the two-day music  festival. This year the dates are August 8&9 at the Barry Expo Center between Hastings and Middleville.

 

In June,2025, Rock the Country drew over 53,000 fans for the inaugural outdoor music event in Barry County. For 2026,  Kid Rock will again be the headliner. Tickets will go on sale Friday, January 16th at 2pm  with a special 'Insider Presale' at 11am  using special code: RTC2026  

 

Information for the festival and camping is now available at  rockthecountry.com

 

There’s something that could be in your home right now that most people never think about...  radon,  a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can build up indoors without any warning signs. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and testing is the only way to know if it is present in the home.

To help residents take that step, the Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) is offering free radon test kits throughout January in recognition of Radon Action Month. Kits are available to Barry and Eaton County residents on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.

Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It can enter homes through small cracks or openings in the foundation and slowly build up over time. Winter is one of the best times to test because homes are usually closed up, which can allow radon levels to rise. Even if a home has been tested before, it should be tested again every two years. 

The test itself takes only a few days to complete. If high levels are found, steps can be taken to reduce radon and lower long-term health risks.

Where to Get a Free Radon Test Kit:
•
BEDHD Hastings Office: 330 W. Woodlawn Ave. Hastings, MI 49058
•
Delton District Library:
330 N Grove St, Delton, MI 49046
•
BEDHD Charlotte Office: 1033 Health Care Dr. Charlotte, MI 48813
•
Eaton Rapids Area District Library: 220 S Main St, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827
•
Delta Twp. Building Department: 7710 W Saginaw Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917
 

With all the recent  home fires, Hastings Fire Chief Mark Jordan asks that residents check their Smoke Detectors. Working Smoke Detectors can help quicken response time. Hastings/Birch fire fighters have responded to five  house fires recently,  quite an increase for a typical winter.   Jordan told WBCH that recent house fires have been caused by a candle being  knocked over, and by heating and electrical issues. Hastings residents can contact their Fire Department if they need smoke detectors and the Fire Department will direct you to programs that provide them for free.

MUSKEGON, MI, Jan. 5, 2026 – Consumers Energy today announced the start of operations for Muskegon Solar, its largest solar project in Michigan.

 

Muskegon Solar sits on 1,900 acres at the Muskegon Resource Recovery Center, generating 250 megawatts of electricity – enough to power about 40,000 homes and businesses. Construction of the solar array created over 200 construction jobs.

 

Muskegon Solar is by far the largest of Consumers Energy’s current solar projects, including three others at Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State University and in Cadillac. Consumers Energy continues to develop solar, wind, natural gas and battery storage in Michigan.

 

Muskegon Solar’s over 550,000 panels are arranged in 5,200 rows that rotate to follow the sun’s path, generating energy from sunrise to sunset.

 

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. 

A structure fire destroyed a home Thursday evening,  January 1st,  but luckily all occupants were able to get out of the house safely.

 

Hastings Fire Chief Mark Jordan told WBCH the emergency call came in at 7:27pm from the home on Coats Grove Road across from Leach Lake between M-43 Highway and Bachman Road.  By the time he arrived at 7:32pm, Jordan said the structure was fully involved with a partial roof collapse. The first engine was at the scene by 7:38pm.

 

Some 25 firefighters helped put out the blaze, with Thornapple, Woodland, Nashville, and Freeport departments aiding Hastings. Central Dispatch and Michigan State Police assisted. The scene was cleared around 1am Friday morning.

 

This was the sixth fire the Hastings-Birch Department has battled in eight days.

 

Chief Jordan said the home is a total loss.  The American Red Cross is assisting the family.