The Thornapple Arts Council’s 22nd annual  Jazz Fest  returns to downtown Hastings this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, bringing performances by student groups from around the state, combos, and adult groups to explore downtown businesses and to participate in the 158 performances across fifteen venues that are part of this years schedule.

With the exception of the Friday night headliner, every Jazz Fest performance is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served including the Thornapple Jazz Orchestra, Thursday evening at 7:30 at First Presbyterian Church.

Each year, the TAC Jazz Fest offers a special presentation focused on jazz history and diversity. This year, jazz duo Edye Evans Hyde and Michael Hyde present “Echoes of Harlem: Black Composers and the Great American Songbook”.  That performance take place at the Hastings High School Performing Arts Center at 7:30pm on Friday and tickets are still available.

Lane closures and a traffic shift for bridge work are scheduled for April 22 (Wednesday) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on M-43 (Broadway Street) over the Thornapple River. 

Hastings DPS crew will resume spring cleanup Tuesday, April 21st beginning at S. Church St and W. Walnut St.,  heading south and west.

In response to significant impacts from ongoing severe weather and flooding, and in anticipation of severe weather the remainder of the week, Barry County Emergency Management, along with 28 other counties, have declared a Local State of Emergency to support ongoing response and recovery efforts across the State of Michigan.

Primary areas of impact in Barry County include flooded areas along Thornapple River and Lake area, significant road damage throughout the County from heavy rain fall and an EF 1 tornado that impacted Prairieville, Hickory Corners, Johnstown and Assyria Townships.

Barry County is currently under a Flood Warning again, affecting the Thornapple River and Lake area. The flood level is anticipated to be similar to last week and forecasted to crest at level of 8.9 feet on Saturday April 18th.

The ongoing weather has caused widespread damage including downed trees and power lines, flooding, road closures, and structural damage. Emergency responders and Road Commission crews are actively working to assess damage, restore essential services, and ensure public safety.

Residents are urged to:
- Avoid unnecessary travel in affected areas.
- Stay clear of downed power lines and report hazards to local authorities.
- Follow guidance from local officials and monitor trusted information sources.
- Contact 211 if they have any immediate needs.

Declaring a local state of emergency allows Barry County to:
- Mobilize additional local resources
- Request assistance from regional and state partners
- Expedite emergency response and recovery operations

Damage Reporting:
Ongoing storm damage can be reported using the following link provided by the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division for statewide use by residents for reporting damage following disasters. This information will be shared with Local Emergency Managers to assist with emergency response and recovery efforts: Self-Reporting Survey.

Protecting the health and safety of Barry County residents remains our top priority. Barry County Emergency Management will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. For the latest information, visit www.Facebook.com/BarryCountyEMD.

On Thursday, April 9th at 3:17pm Hastings Fire Department was dispatched to a report of deck on the backside of a single-family home that had caught on fire with heavy flames spreading through the structure. All occupants were reported out of the house when the Hastings Fire Department crew members arrived, and they quickly deployed hose lines to bring the fire under control; both with exterior and interior suppression efforts.

Subsequent Hastings units and Mutal Aid partners from Thornapple Township Emergency Services arrived and the fire was extinguished.  Fire crews remained on scene until 7pm in the evening performing overhaul operations, extinguishing hot spots, assisting residents with removing salvageable personal items and securing the home.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

On April 8th, 2026, the American Red Cross (ARC) conducted preliminary damage assessments in the Thornapple River Area in response to flooding. Based on their findings, in addition to Local Emergency Management assessments, the ARC is setting up an Assistance Center at Historic Charlton Park active April 10th-April 12th.

A minor flood warning was issued on Saturday, April 4, for the Thornapple River above Hastings. Flood conditions worsened over the following days, reaching moderate flood levels in the early morning hours of April 7. Water levels have since begun to recede, and the flood warning is expected to expire on Saturday, April 10.

The most impacted areas include residents at the end of Cogswell, Bridgepark, Superior and Howards Pointe which remain impacted as of April 9th. Approximately 125 residential structures have been affected. The number of displaced individuals is currently unknown due to the seasonal nature of many homes in these areas.

Assistance Center Information:
- Historic Charlton Park at South Charlton Park Rd. and Mission Dr
- Friday April 10 - Sunday April 12th 11 AM – 5 PM
- Resources available include cases of bottled water, pre-packaged clean up kits, snacks, and comfort kits that include basic necessities.

What affected community members should know:

Flooding can contaminate private wells with bacteria (germs), chemicals, dirt, and debris, making the water unsafe. Any well that has been flooded, or may have been impacted by floodwater, should be considered unsafe to use.  

Residents are advised to avoid drinking well water until floodwaters have fully receded and it is recommended that water be tested and confirmed safe. Bottled water is available through Barry County United Way thanks to their Fresh Food Initiative partnership with the South West Michigan Food Bank.

Bacteria well test kits are available at the Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) Hastings Office (330 W. Woodlawn Ave., Hastings, MI 49058):
- $28 (Gun Lake Bacti)
- $16 (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Bacti)

For more information about the Assistance Center, call 211. For more information about flooding, health, and well testing contact the Barry-Eaton District Health Department at 517-543-2430.

Information regarding flood safety can be found at www.Ready.gov/floods.
Protecting the health and safety of Barry County residents remains our top priority. Updates will be shared as appropriate on Barry County Emergency Management Department on Facebook.

The Barry County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a two-vehicle serious injury traffic crash, which occurred Thursday afternoon on S M-66 Hwy and Tasker Rd, in Assyria Twp.

The preliminary investigation revealed a Toyota Camry was driving northbound at a high rate of speed, and a GMC Acadia was traveling southbound. The GMC Acadia turned east onto Tasker Rd into the path of the Toyota Camry. The vehicles collided and multiple occupants were ejected from the Acadia.

One of the occupants of the GMC, a 19-year-old male from Coldwater, was airlifted to the hospital with life threatening injuries.

Three other occupants of the GMC were transported to the hospital for their injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

Volunteers will fan out across the southern part of the state beginning Saturday to give the state highway roadsides their annual spring cleaning as Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) groups pick up litter from April 11 to 19.

Volunteers pick up litter three times each year. Statewide, there will be a summer pickup from July 11 to 19 and a fall pickup from Sept. 19 to 27.

"Our Adopt-A-Highway volunteers show their dedication to their communities each year by keeping the roadsides clean," said State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich. "These groups make a huge difference every year. Please help them stay safe while they’re out there. Please be alert for the volunteers and drive cautiously during the pickup periods."

As of last year, about 2,600 groups have adopted more than 6,000 miles of state highway through the program. An estimated 19,000 participants collected almost 40,000 bags of trash from the roadsides during the three annual pickup periods in 2025.

Sections of highway around the state are still available for adoption. A new interactive map on the AAH website shows what stretches of road are available. Groups are asked to adopt a section for at least two years. AAH signs bearing a group's name are posted along the stretch of adopted highway. There is no fee to participate.

AAH groups wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations when working within a highway right of way. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash. Volunteers include members of various civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members must be at least 12 years old, and each group must number at least three people.

On Wednesday at 4:25PM the Barry County Sheriff’s Office responded to Head Lake in Hope Township where Monty Minshall, a 63 year old male was fishing from his flat bottom boat.  Deputies arrived on scene located the capsized boat and Minshall floating near the boat.  With the assistance of a lake resident’s paddle boat Deputies were able to pull him to shore. Minshall was pronounced dead at the scene.

This week  WBCH Radio and Barlow Florist of Hastings delivered blooming potted tulips to nearly 420 residents of Carveth Village in Middleville, Woodlawn Meadows, Clearstream Nursing & Rehab Center in Hastings, and Thornapple Manor.  The Easter flowers were made possible through the generosity of 30 area businesses.

Each resident of the four facilities received their own tulips to enjoy for Easter and spring.  At Thornapple Manor, the largest of the locations, local 4-H youth volunteered to help distribute the flowers to residents' rooms at their campus which includes the Manor, Harvest Point, and The Cottages.

Thanks to all our community minded sponsors for Sharing the Joy of Easter!

The Hastings Department of Public Works will begin the annual Spring cleanup starting Monday, April 6.
 

For curbside cleanup, city residents should pile sticks and branches separately from leaves, weeds, and other small compostable materials.  Pile materials in the yard just behind the curb.  Don't pile materials in the street or gutter, or block the sidewalk.

In Middleville,  yard waste collection will take place on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month starting April 13.  Grass, leaves, and other yard waste must be placed curbside in paper yard bags.  There will also be brush and tree limb pickup on the 4th Monday each month through October.

The Village of Nashville’s spring cleanup will be on each Monday in April.  Please place brush, weeds, leaves and normal yard waste curbside, and limit the amount put out each Monday to one truckload to allow the DPW crew time to get to all residents in one day.