Easton Township man sentenced to prison for second, third drunken driving charges An Ionia County man who led police from two departments on a high speed chase in May was sentenced to prison Tuesday. Scott Thomas Maag, 48, of Easton Township appeared before Ionia County Circuit Court Judge Ronald Schafer via the Polycom from the Ionia County Jail.

Alleged Portland teen shooter headed to trial after judge quashes motion An Ionia County Circuit Court judge denied a motion Tuesday to suppress a search warrant for the home of an Ionia teenager, as well as any evidence found in the execution of that warrant. Diego Bowerman, who was not present in the courtroom, is one of two men currently charged in the shooting of 18-year-old Kaiden Claflin on Sept. 2, 2019, at Bogue Flats Recreational Area in Portland. Claflin survived the shooting.

Attorney makes local history with virtual swearing in When Alyssa Desgranges was in high school, she knew a career in law or law enforcement could be in her future. Her father, Darrell Desgranges, was an Ionia County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Her grandfather, Glenn Desgranges, also was a sheriff’s deputy and later the chief of police for Lake Odessa.

Sidney Township Board meets in park to vote on sheriff contract, lake sewer rate increase At last month’s Sidney Township Board meeting, a trustee walked out at the start of the meeting due to concerns about other board members and audience members not wearing face masks. This month’s Sidney Township Board meeting was moved outside to a pavilion at Sidney Township Memorial Park and all five township board members remained present; however, the issue of face masks was passionately discussed by the audience and board members alike leading up to the start of the Monday evening’s meeting, and the issue presented itself again once the meeting got underway.

Alumni ask Greenville Public Schools to add anti-racism elements to curriculum Looking back on her days as a student at Greenville Public Schools, Elizabeth VanderLaan can recall an education that helped shape her into a woman capable of earning multiple collegiate degrees. Such a feat was accomplished this past spring, as after earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, she left the Mitten State for the East Coast and received her master degree in social work from Boston College.

Crystal looks at replacing Community Center windows, continues to discuss reopening building for events With the Crystal Township Board having recently opted to keep the Crystal Community Center building, township officials are now looking at the next stages of restoration that comes with such responsibility. Last month, the township board voted 4-1 to keep the Community Center building as it stands. Township officials also approved a separate motion in another 4-1 vote to fix a portion of the building’s roof. Clerk Patty Baker-Marek voted “no” both times.

Vestaburg superintendent, wife recovering from COVID-19 The superintendent of Vestaburg Community Schools and his wife are recovering in quarantine from COVID-19. Vestaburg students started school on Aug. 25, but only via distance learning — the in-person portion of that district’s school year isn’t set to start until sometime in early October.

Upcoming and pending services for Sept. 16, 2020 Upcoming and pending services for Sept. 16, 2020

3 ton limit Upon traveling recently over the Flat River via the Dickerson Lake Road bridge, Clif Dickinson felt a sense of unease. The Montcalm Township Fire Chief was riding in the passenger seat of one of his department’s fire trucks when he said he couldn’t tell what was bouncing up and down — the truck or the bridge.