Alvah N. Belding Memorial Library makes house calls to patrons, gets creative with community services Having worked at Alvah N. Belding Memorial Library for nearly 45 years, Betty Jenkins knew a number of patrons were going to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic and state-wide shutdowns. “For that whole first month, nobody really knew what was going to happen,” Jenkins told the Daily News. “You start to think about all the patrons who typically come in and wonder how they’re doing.”

Sheridan looks at road abandonment between Sidney Street and Pearl Lake Drive Driving down Sidney Street or Pearl Lake Drive in Sheridan, one likely wouldn’t see much else other than a handful of houses off to the side and a sizable amount of wetland. What one wouldn’t notice without looking at a parcel map, however, is that the wetlands are technically divided up by several “streets,” although no pavement or markings on the land, itself, would indicate so.

Upcoming and pending services for Oct. 1, 2020 Upcoming and pending services for Oct. 1, 2020

Jury convicts Greenville man of 15 sex crimes A Greenville man was convicted of multiple criminal sexual conduct (CSC) charges after a four-day trial last week. Robert Lewis, 36, was charged with eight counts of first-degree CSC, three counts of second-degree CSC, two counts of third-degree CSC and two counts of fourth-degree CSC.

Montcalm County judge denies home invader’s motion A Montcalm County Circuit Court judge denied a Grand Rapids man’s motion to withdraw his plea to breaking and entering into a Montcalm Township home. David Medlij, 35, previously pleaded guilty Aug. 13 to breaking and entering a building with intent and malicious destruction of a building more than $1,000.

Attorney begs for Mental Health Court for Edmore man An Edmore man was sentenced to jail time only despite his attorney’s repeated pleas for Mental Health Court. Alexander Leonard, 29, previously pleaded guilty to assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.

Clarksville man gets prison after hostage situation, police standoff A Clarksville man who assaulted a woman and then held police at bay was sentenced to prison time Sept. 8 in Ionia County Circuit Court. Tim Raymond Nelson, 48, was sentenced to 23 months with credit for 90 days he previously served, on each of the three charges against him. The sentences will be served concurrently. He must also pay $1,034 in costs and fees.

Ionia man pleads not guilty to another meth charge An Ionia man with a lengthy criminal history involving drugs in Ionia and Montcalm counties has pleaded not guilty to a methamphetamine charge in Ionia County Circuit Court. Robert Starkey, 30, appeared for his Sept. 22 arraignment from the Ionia County Jail. He faces one count of delivery/manufacture of meth, a possible 20-year felony.

Montcalm County Board of Commissioners approve budget, hand out pay raises to 4 officials Despite several Montcalm County commissioners voicing their opposition earlier this month against pay increase requests from two department heads, only one commissioner voted against the requests Monday night. Commissioners voted 7-1 to give a $15,000 pay increase each to the Commission on Aging/Veteran Affairs Department director and to the indigent defense administrator.