On Wednesday, March 27,  WBCH and Barlow Florist delivered fresh blooming potted tulips to over 400 residents of Carveth Village, Woodlawn Meadows, Clearstream Rehab & Nursing Center,  and Thornapple Manor–Cottages–Harvest Pointe to wish them all Happy Easter.

This is an annual project called “Sharing the Joy of Easter” and is made possible by title sponsors Pat Doezema Realty Group and Gun Lake Casino, as well as over 30 other local businesses that generously sponsor the program which is spearheaded each year by WBCH.

It gladdens the hearts of the residents and their faces ‘light up’ when they receive their own tulip plants that they can enjoy and care for in their rooms,  marking the early Spring and Easter season.  After the plants have stopped blooming, the bulbs can be transplanted outdoors around the nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Sara Edelman with an update on activities and events at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute!

Hastings Birch Fire Department has free Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms for residents in the Hastings District.   The Fire Department welcomes the opportunity to visit facilities to discuss fire safety and awareness.

There is also a new Burn Permit phone number, 269-945-5384 ext. 1. Permits are available Monday thru Friday 7am to 4pm.  If calling outside business hours, please leave a detailed message and your call will be returned during business hours.

Michigan lawmakers introduced a new bill this week that would  rename a section of freeway M-6 after 25 year old Keagan Spencer of Hastings, a tow truck driver who was struck and killed while trying to rescue a dog.

Michigan State Police said a car went out of control near Kraft Avenue, crossed over the road and hit Spencer..  The new bill if passed would rename M-6 to "Keagan Spencer Memorial Highway" between Kalamazoo Avenue and 60th Street.

Michigan State Police Wayland Post troopers are investigating a single vehicle  rollover crash that occurred Tuesday March 5 around 7:00 p.m. on eastbound 134th Ave near 42nd St, in Heath Twp. The driver, identified as a 49-year-old Hamilton man, suffered life-threatening injuries, and was initially taken to Holland Hospital for care. He was later transferred to Grand Rapids Butterworth Hospital where he died.

Police say the driver loss control while traveling east on 134th Ave, ran off the roadway then overturned before colliding into a fence. Evidence at the scene suggested the driver was not wearing his seatbelt and that alcohol is believed to be a factor.

Troopers were assisted at the scene by Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, Hamilton Fire/ Rescue, and Holland AMR Ambulance.

This crash remains open pending further investigation.

The Barry Conservation District was awarded a $196,500 grant to help fight invasive species.

The grant, which will be utilized for the Barry, Calhoun and Kalamazoo Cooperative Invasive Species Management area, is one of 31 similar projects across the state that received a portion of the $3.6 million allocated by the Michigan Invasive Species program according to officials.