Consumers Energy announced the emergency public warning siren systems near its Rogers, Hardy and Croton hydroelectric generating plants on the Muskegon River will be tested on Wednesday, August 28 at approximately 9:30 a.m.

The tests will include a voice message, a 30-second siren and a second voice message. The public does not need to take any action during the tests. 

The siren systems are tested each August and December.

Police believe alcohol was a factor in a two vehicle accident in Mecosta County earlier this morning.

It happened just after 2am in Mecosta Township, according to deputies a 29-year old Haslett man was traveling eastbound on 8 Mile Rd when he ran off the road, struck some trees, and hit an unoccupied parked truck in a parking lot.

The 29-year old man was taken to spectrum health Big Rapids hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

A Reed City man faces up to 20 years in prison after being arraigned on charges connected to making terroristic threats in videos on social media against Ferris State University, local hospitals and a local VA office.

Michigan State Police says they became aware of the videos around 3am on 8/18/19. The Michigan Intelligence Operations Center was immediately engaged in the investigation, and the suspect was quickly identified. 

33-year old Arnold Holmes was charges with three felonies, threatening domestic terrorism, using a computer to commit a felony and using a telephone to commit a felony.

He's currently being held on one million dollars bond in the Osceola County Jail.

With over 30 years of broadcasting Big Rapids High School football, the Big Rapids Radio Network is again excited to broadcast another special cardinals season on its station; Big Country 100.9 FM. 

Play by Play Announcer and BR Alum JT Scarpelli is back this season with new color commentator Jake Daugherty (BR & FSU Alum).

This will be Scarpelli's fifth year in the broadcast booth for the cardinals.

“I'm very excited for this season! Talking with Coach Selzer, there's a ton of opportunity for some younger guys to step up and make an impact. Go Cards! “

“As a Big Rapids High School alum and former Ferris State University Football player I am extremely excited to be in the broadcast booth with JT announcing games for the Cardinals this season on Big Country 100.9 FM.” Daughtery said. “As a former player in high school and in college I hope my knowledge of the game can bring a unique perspective to our listeners for the 2019 season.”

The 2019 varsity football for the cardinals begins at home on Thursday, Aug. 29^th at 7pm against Sheperd.

Owners of more than a half million small cars from Ford will have their warranties extended over a slew of problems related to their six-speed automatic transmission.

The extended warranties will be on 2014 through 2016 Focuses built before Nov. 5, 2015, as well as 2014 and 2015 Fiestas built before Oct. 15, 2014.

The problem is the transmissions can feel like they're slipping going into gear.

There has already been a string of lawsuits and complaints filed.

Two women from Morley are recovering following a car accident in Montcalm County.

It happened at the intersection of Howard City-Edmore and Federal Roads, Reynolds Township.

An investigation revealed that a silver 2012 Chrysler was traveling north on Federal Road when it failed to stop for the traffic light at Howard City-Edmore Road. As the Chrysler entered the intersection, it collided with a white, westbound, Chevrolet truck. The collision caused the truck to lose control and leave the roadway striking a curb, a utility pole, and the control box for the traffic lights.

The two occupants of the Chrysler were not able to get out of the vehicle and had to be extricated.

Both the driver of the Chrysler, a 54 year old woman from Morley, and her passenger an 87-year old woman from Morley, were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the truck, a 48-year old man from Hudsonville and his 19-year old son had minor injuries.

A Mecosta man is dead after drowning in Chippewa Lake, Monday.

Sheriff Deputies say 66-year old Kenneth Allen Roebuck was swimming near the southern portion of the lake when a potential medical issue caused him to go under.

Nearby swimmers saw Roebuck having difficulty and retrieved him from the water, performed CPR but it was unsuccessful and he died at the scene.

Charges have been brought against a 56-year-old Big Rapids man for multiple felonies for distributing child sexually abusive materials.

Attorney General Dana Nessel's charges include 12 felony counts on Jason Edward Straley after a search warrant on his home and seized numerous electronic devices containing thousands of images.

“Our office will prosecute those who prey on Michigan’s children to the fullest extent of the law,” Nessel said. “I am incredibly grateful to the Big Rapids Police Department and the members of the Michigan State Police’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their continued commitment to protecting Michigan children and bringing those who exploit them to justice.”

Straley has been arraigned in Mecosta County District Court with a probable cause hearing set for next Tuesday.

He's being held on one-million dollars bond.

Osceola County has a new Commission on Aging Director but now it's looking for a new Sheriff.

On Tuesday during the County Commissioner's meeting, Justin Halladay stepped down as sheriff and will be the new director of the Commission on Aging starting September 9th.

Halladay, who has spent 24 years with the sheriff's office will be making the job transition at the end of this month.

An Osceola County selection panel will be meeting next week to discuss the vacancy of the Sheriff's position.

An 18-year old Howard City man is dead following a one car accident in Montcalm County on Saturday. 

Police responded to W Lake Montcalm Rd near N Amy School Rd.for a vehicle fire. 

When officers arrived to the scene, they discovered a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee occupied by an 18-year old male and an 18 year old female both from from Howard City.

An initial investigation revealed the SUV traveling west on W Lake Montcalm Rd when it began to drive slightly off the north side of the road. The driver over-corrected, crossed back over the road and ran off the south side where it struck a tree.

Upon coming to a rest, the vehicle caught on fire.

The passenger was able to escape the vehicle and was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

The 18-year old driver, Reece Anthony Nice, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

Mecosta County Sheriff Deputies are looking for a man they say stole more than $1,000 worth of items from a Menards store in Big Rapids.

Deputies say the suspect on two occasions entered the store through the Garden Center and left through Garden Center of the store.

If you know the identity of the suspect please contact, Deputy Jared Christensen of the Sheriff's office at 231-292-0150.

A 58-year old man is recovering after suffering a medical emergency while traveling in Mecosta County.

It happened late Thursday afternoon on 155^th Avenue just south of 8 Mile Road in Austin Township.

Sheriff Deputies say the 58-year old man was traveling north on 155^th Ave. when the medical emergency occurred, the vehicle then left the roadway and went into a yard and driveway  area of a residence where he struck a fence, several vehicles and a power pole.

The driver was transported to a Grand Rapids Hospital by Aeromed for the medical condition and possible injuries.

A Mt. Pleasant man is in custody following a child pornography investigation by Michigan State Police.

Troopers say the suspect, Roy Gerald Forehand II, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of Criminal Sexual Conduct 1 st degree, Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd degree, and for Manufacturing Child Sexually Abusive Material.

Forehand II was arrested on a search warrant at his home.

During that search warrant investigation police discovered several pieces of evidence.

Police in Isabella County say one man is in serious condition while another man with non-life threatening injuries following a plane crash on Littlefield Lake.

It happened Saturday afternoon, the marine division was patrolling when the crash happened.

The sheriff’s office says its owner/pilot Tyrone Finch of Tennessee and his passenger, Patrick Jarman of Deerfield Township, was helped out of the cockpit by people nearby onto a pontoon boat.

Deputies say there were strong wind gusts on the lake at the time of the crash, which could have interfered in takeoff.

The sheriff’s office says they were able to pull the plane ashore before it sank.

The sheriff's office is now working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), who is expected to send an investigator to look at the wreckage on Monday.

A man was sent to the hospital Saturday night following a car accident in Mecosta County.

Deputies say it happened just after 10 pm on Pierce Rd. near 170th Ave.

An investigation found a 54-year old male was traveling eastbound on Pierce road when a series of seizures caused him to leave the road.

EMS transported the male to Spectrum Health Big Rapids for possible life threatening injuries.

WAM 300 riders will travel across Michigan during the three-day WAM 300 tour, which covers 300 miles of Michigan countryside.

On July 25, riders will be transported by bus from the EATON Proving Grounds in Marshall, Mich. to Traverse City. 

Bicyclists will be at Ferris State University on Friday, July 26, as they conclude their first day of 100 miles biking from Traverse City. Riders will start coming in between 2 – 5 p.m.

WAM 300 concludes with a finish-line celebration at EATON Proving Grounds on July 28. 

The tour coincides with the WAM 100, a new one-day, 100-mile, as well as the WAM 50, a one-day, 50-mile ride that start and finish  at EATON Proving Grounds on July 28. Between these two routes, more than 200 riders are expected to participate.

Alcohol is suspected in a rollover accident that occurred earlier this morning in Mecosta County.

It happened just before 2am this morning on Taft Rd near Pretty lake Dr, in Martiny Township.

Deputies say the vehicle was traveling east on Taft when a 24-year old Fenwick man lost control of his vehicle and rolled multiple times. 

The man was taken to Spectrum Health Big Rapids for non life threatening injuries.

 A 28-year old female passenger from Lakeview also received minor injuries and refused treatment. 

If your electricity was off for more than 16 hours because of the recent storms, you may be able to claim a $25 bill credit from Consumers Energy or DTE Energy, according to the Michigan Attorney General.

Utility customers may claim the credit if power remains off for 16 hours or more under "normal conditions" rather than "catastrophic conditions."

According to Nessel, catastrophic conditions are those leading to an official state of emergency, an event that results in the interruption of more than 10 percent of the utility's customers, or if the utility fails to restore power within 120 hours.

The credits are also available if a customer experiences more than seven interruptions in a 12-month period.

To apply for a credit through DTE Energy, visit bit.ly/dtecredit

To apply for a credit through Consumers Energy, visit bit.ly/consumerscredit

One man is in police custody after assaulting a woman in Osceola County.

It happened at a residence in Middlebranch Township on Wednesday.

Michigan State Police say they found the suspect trying to pull the victim from her car and stab her with her keys.

It was later discovered the victim had been attacked by the suspect when she pulled into her driveway and exited her car.

The victim told MSP officers the suspect approached her “grunting loudly and beating his chest with his fist.”

According to troopers, the woman fought off the suspect and ran into her house while he attempted to steal another vehicle. The suspect then reportedly returned with a gas can and poured it on the victim’s home, attempting to light the house on fire.

The suspect then broke into the house through a window and entered the home, where he continued to chase the victim. She said she was able to escape and run back to her car, but the suspect was pulling on her steering wheel while she tried to drive away, causing her to crash into a tree.

Police said the suspect was unable to speak anything but loud grunts, was glaring at anyone who would speak to him and was resistant to the officer’s directions.

The suspect was taken to Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital for medical observations and later lodged at the Osceola County Jail on numerous charges.

One man is dead following a stabbing at home last night in Newaygo County.

It happened in Bridgeton Township at a residence on Green Avenue just south of 124^th Street.

When Michigan State Police arrived to the scene, they found 30-year old Steven Woodrum deceased.

A 26-year old Grant woman was arrested at the scene.

The incident remains under investigation.