A Big Rapids man was taken to the hospital early this morning following a rollover accident in Mecosta County's Mecosta Township.

It happened just before 3am on Park Road, deputies say the 24-year old driver was traveling eastbound on Park Road when he lost control of his vehicle ran off the right side of the road and stuck two parked cars and a utility pole before overturning on the front lawn of a residence.

The Big Rapids man suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

Alcohol is suspected in the crash.

On Monday, the Big Rapids City Commission said yes to "opt in" to bring marijuana businesses to the area.

Back in 2008, Michigan voters approved the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, with the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act following in 2016. 

In November of 2018, recreational marijuana use and establishments were legalized following a statewide vote, making Michigan the 10th state to do so. However, with the approval it also gave cities, townships and villages the option to decide for themselves whether they wanted to allow businesses like retail stores and grow operations to set up shop before the state begins accepting applications on Nov. 1. 

During Monday night's vote, commissioners voted 5-0 to "opt in" and approve an ordinance to allow for medical marijuana and its corresponding ordinance for business applications. Commissioners then voted "No" 4-1 to allow recreational marijuana facilities to operate in Big Rapids. 

Big Rapids City Manager Mark Gifford says interest from those in the marijuana industry about "setting up shop" have already begun. "we have had a tremendous amount of interest about Big Rapids from the industry when it comes to its use, sale, testing, quality control and manufacturing, especially over the last few days." said Gifford.  

Though the ordinances were passed, they will not become effective until they are published by the city. Further information on this can be found at cityofbr.org.

Police in Mecosta County believe alcohol was a factor in a two car accident that occurred Monday evening.

It happened in Morton Township, on 105^th Avenue just north of Buchanan Road.

Deputies say an investigation found an intoxicated driver lost control of his vehicle, and hit a northbound vehicle.

The driver of the northbound vehicle, a 57-year old woman, received minor injuries and was taken to Spectrum Health Big Rapids for treatment.

The intoxicated male driver also resisted arrest and assaulted police officers.

He is getting treatment at the hospital.

Access will be closed to the duChemin Park boat launch at Croton Pond on October 9 and 10 to allow a contractor crew working for Consumers Energy to safely work there.

That work had been scheduled to take place October 3 and 4, but had to be rescheduled due to high flows on the river system.

The duChemin boat launch is near the Croton Dam. Signs will clearly mark that the site is closed while crews use the site to remove a crane and barge that had been utilized to perform work upstream at Hardy Dam.

Two nearby boat launches will remain available at the Croton Township Campground on the east side of Croton Pond. In addition, the closure does not impact the Muskegon River recreational access sites on the downstream side of Croton Dam.

A 19-year old Morley man is recovering following a car accident in Mecosta County, Wednesday.

It happened on 9 Mile Road near 160th Avenue in Austin Township.

The driver of the vehicle was traveling too fast for road conditions, lost control of his vehicle, and rolled it off of the roadway.

The passenger, a 19-year old man from Morley was taken to Spectrum Health for his injuries.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for the Muskegon River near Croton, Newaygo, and Bridgeton in Newaygo County until Saturday afternoon. 

* Heavy rain last night is causing minor flooding on the Muskegon River in Newaygo County. 
The White River is also seeing minor flooding at this time. 
Showers will continue on and off for the rest of the day and night, 
But additional rain is not expected to be nearly as heavy as what has already fallen. 

The following forecast is based on observed and forecast 48 hour precipitation.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Widespread standing water is expected in low lying and flood prone areas. 
Flooding of small streams, urban and poor drainage locations continue to be possible. 
Three USGS Streamgages are used to determine the river levels.  
As of 9:30 am, the Muskegon River near

• USGS Croton Streamgage was at 9.04 feet with flows at 7,190 cubic feet per second. Flood stage is at 9.0 feet.
• USGS Newaygo Streamgage was at 11.41 feet with flows at 6,830 cubic feet per second. Flood stage is at 11.0 feet.
• USGS Bridgeton Streamgage was at 11.16 feet with flows at 4,370 cubic feet per second. Flood stage is at 13.0 feet.  

Based on the current forecast, it is expected to see MINOR FLOODING on the Muskegon River, with river levels cresting on Thursday, October 3, 2019. Reliability of the forecast is based on current and forecasted river, weather and reservoir conditions.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Expect standing water in low lying and flood prone areas.
• Expect MINOR Flooding on the Muskegon River.
• Anticipate the following areas to be impacted by flood waters on the Muskegon River
  • Leisure Land Subdivision in Bridgeton Township
  • Sycamore Flats in Ashland Township
  • 100^th Ave in Ashland Township
  • Old Women’s Bend in Garfield Township
  • Anderson Flat’s in Garfield Township
• Anticipate Public River Access Sites to be closed if the Muskegon River reaches
  • A height of 10.0 Feet at the USGS Croton  River Gage
  • A height of 13.0 Feet at the USGS Newaygo River Gage
  • A height of 15.0 Feet at the USGS Bridgeton River Gage

ROAD CLOSURES
The following roads are currently closed due to flooding:
* 112th St between Dickinson Ave and Fitzgerald Ave in Bridgeton Township 
* Luce Ave between 32nd St & 24th St in Dayton Township
*VanBuren Ave east of Spruce Ave

GET READY – PREPARE TO EVACUATE IF YOU LIVE WITHIN THE AREA IMPACTED! 
This is a rapidly developing situation. Watch for rapidly changing water levels. 
Don’t wait for an evacuation directive if you feel threatened. 
Residents within the areas anticipated to be impacted by flood waters may be directed to evacuate.
 Follow these checklists (if time allows) to give you and your home the best chance of surviving a flood.
Inside the House

• Shut and lock all windows and doors.
• Gather and elevate important documents, belongings, furniture, and other priceless items including pictures, irreplaceable mementos, and other valuables. 
• Check your emergency preparedness kit and store supplies so you can grab them quickly if you need to evacuate. This includes prescription medications.
• Prepare to unplug appliances and turn off your main breaker in your homes electrical box if you need to evacuate.

Outside

• Gather up items from the exterior of the house and bring them inside (patio furniture, children’s toys, door mats, trash cans, grills, etc.).
• Strap down propane tanks.
• Prepare to turn off propane tanks if you need to evacuate.
• Put your Emergency Supply Kit in your vehicle.
• Back your car into the driveway with vehicle loaded and all doors and windows closed. Carry your car keys with you.
• Don’t wait for an evacuation directive if you feel threatened.
• Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave.

 Animals

• Locate your pets and keep them nearby.
• Check your emergency preparedness kit for your pets and store supplies so you can grab them quickly if you need to evacuate.
• If you need to evacuate, take your pets with you.

FLOODING SAFETY

• Turn Around, Don’t Drown! ®
• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
• Do not drive over bridges that are over fast-moving floodwaters. Floodwaters can scour foundation material from around the footings and make the bridge unstable.
• Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
• If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.
• If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

• ONLY CALL 9-1-1 TO REPORT EMERGENCIES!   Emergency operators and phone lines are needed to support this incident, please continue to monitor Nixle for updates or call 2-1-1 (not 9-1-1) for general safety information.
• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE RELEASED!   Continue monitoring your radio, Nixle, and Newaygo ES’s Facebook Page for additional information.
• THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!     

Newaygo County Emergency Services is coordinating with Consumers Energy and the National Weather Service Grand Rapids Office to actively monitor the changing conditions and communicate information out to residences impacted by the rising floodwaters. As the situation changes, additional information will be released by the Newaygo County Emergency Operations Center utilizing Nixle. Please visit http://www.nixle.com/ to register for alerts and view emergency information for where you live.
 

Instructions:

This is a rapidly developing situation. Watch for rapidly changing water levels. Don’t wait for an evacuation directive if you feel threatened. Never try to walk, swim, or drive through swift water. Even 6 inches of fast moving water can knock you off your feet and a depth of 2 feet will float your car. If you come upon flood waters, stop, turn around and go another way.

The Mecosta County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help in solving to cases involving theft.

The first involves a man who was fraudulently using credit cards around businesses in Big Rapids Township during the month of September.

The second case involves a larceny at Habitat for Humanity in Green Twp last thursday just before 1pm. White male driver with a beard, possible camo coat. Suspect vehicle left NB on Northland Dr. 

If you can identify suspects please contact the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office by calling 231.592.0150.

A elderly Reed City man as taken to the hospital Thursday following a car accident in Mecosta County.

It happened in Colfax Township, on  McKinley Rd near 120th Ave.

Deputies say the 78-year old driver was traveling eastbound on McKinley Road when he lost control of his vehicle and ran off the road striking a tree and large rock. 

The driver was taken to Spectrum Hospital in Big Rapids for non life threatening injuries.

Osceola County Deputies have arrested a couple they say are accused of larcenies of utility trailers in Rose Lake and Hartwick Townships from August 21st to September 8^th.

Deputies were able to recover two of the stolen trailers, with one trailer, a black 1995 Assembled 14 ft Trailer, Double axle with black rims, steel rails, and slide out ramps, Michigan registration D399258 still unaccounted for.

Deputies arrested 34-year old Diedre Rose Degood from Tustin and 33-year old Richard James Ehl from Charlotte. They were both charged with 3 counts of Larceny, and 3 counts of Conspiracy to commit Larceny.

Several thousands dollars worth of power equipment and other items were stolen from a home in Aetna Township and police need you help in finding the thief.

Deputies were called to the residence on Sunday morning just after 10:30.

The Sheriff's Office is requesting that anyone with information regarding the matter contact the Mecosta County sheriff's Office at 231-592-0150.

A 19-year old Clare woman is dead following a two vehicle accident in Isabella County.

It happened at the intersection of E. Blue Grass Rd. and S. Isabella Rd in Union Twp. State Police say a 2007 Hyundai Elantra passenger car, driven by a 19-year old Clare woman, was E/B on E. Blue Grass Rd. where it drove into the path of a 2003 Ford F-150 pickup and collided. The F-150 was driven by a 19-year old Mt. Pleasant man.

The 19-year old Clare woman was taken to McLaren Hospital in Mt. Pleasant where she was pronounced dead.

The driver and two adult passengers of the F-150 suffered minor injuries from the crash, which remains under investigation.

State Rep. Michele Hoitenga was joined on Tuesday by Ted Nugent to testify in support of her plan to end the ban on baiting deer and elk in Michigan.

The state’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) issued a ban on baiting or feeding deer and elk in August 2018 amid concerns about the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD). The NRC has since reconsidered the issue but has not lifted the ban.

Hoitenga, of Manton, said she introduced the legislation to stand up for outdoor enthusiasts and local businesses who are hurt by the NRC’s overregulation of hunting activity.

“The NRC’s baiting ban puts unnecessary restrictions on Michigan hunters with little evidence that it will do anything to prevent the spread of disease,” Hoitenga said. “It makes no sense to ban hunters from scattering apples near their tree stands when every day in nature deer graze on the fruit that falls off of apple trees.”

The plan, House Bill 4687, would allow people to engage in baiting during open seasons on deer and elk in Michigan.

“The rule banning feeding and baiting in Michigan is going to chase hunting families out of the sport for absolutely no reason,” Nugent said. “If a disease can be transmitted by nose to nose contact, there is not a damn thing you can do about it. The minute a deer is born they lick, they groom, and they swap spit.”

Last year, hunting and fishing license sales made up 20 percent of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ entire annual budget, equal to $83.5 million. These funds were used to pay for game and fish protection activity carried out by the DNR. According to one recent study, 171,000 jobs are created and supported annually across Michigan by hunting and fishing activity. Hunting generates around $8.9 billion in economic impact, the study said.

House Bill 4687 remains under consideration by the House Government Operations Committee.

September is National Baby Safety Month and Walmart is using the opportunity to collect old car seats starting today.

That means you can trade in the car seat your child has outgrown for a $30 Walmart gift card.

The gift card can be used in store or online to buy items for your baby.

All car seats collected in this program will be recycled through, TerraCycle and each component will be diverted from the landfill.

There's a two car seat trade-in limit per household.

The car seat trade in event goes through September 30 at participating Walmart retail store locations -- and it's not available at the Neighborhood Market locations.

Make sure you go to the customer service desk for help with the car seat trade in.

Here is a list of local Walmart locations participating: 

1. Big Rapids Supercenter

   21400 Perry Ave
   Big Rapids, MI 49307
   231-796-1443

2. Fremont Supercenter

   7083 W 48th St
   Fremont, MI 49412
   231-924-5000

3. Greenville Supercenter

   10772 W Carson City Rd
   Greenville, MI 48838
   616-754-3062

4. Mount Pleasant Supercenter

   4730 Encore Blvd
   Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
   989-772-6300

5. Cadillac Supercenter

   8917 E 34 Rd
   Cadillac, MI 49601
   231-775-8778

6. Whitehall Supercenter

   2755 Holton-whitehall Road
   Whitehall, MI 49461
   231-893-5477

A 21-year-old Midland man has been arrested in connection to the case of a teenage girl who had gone missing in Shepherd.

14-year-old Navaeh Snyder was reported missing last Thursday and was found safe on Saturday.

Police say they learned the suspect was possible going to the family's home and he was arrested there early Sunday morning.

He's facing charges of accosting a child for immoral purposes.

The Wexford County Animal Shelter is currently closed due to canine parvovirus. 

Shelter officials say they will not be able to accept any animals for a minimum of 14 days until the virus is cleared. 

"Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that can produce a life-threatening illness. The virus attacks rapidly dividing cells in a dog's body, most severely affecting the intestinal tract. Parvovirus also attacks the white blood cells, and when young animals are infected, the virus can damage the heart muscle and cause lifelong cardiac problem."

During this time, the animals currently held at the shelter will be monitored by shelter and veterinary staff for signs of the virus. Staff will also clean and sanitize the building to rid the shelter of the virus.

The shelter will advise when it is been cleared to accept animals again.
 

A 29-year old Chicago woman is behind bars on felony charges of prescription drug fraud.

The Montcalm County Sheriff's Office says the suspect, Simone P. Conner went to two pharmacies in the village of Edmore, giving pharmacists a fake name and tried to pay for a fake prescription with cash.

The second pharmacy called 911 and police then arrested her.

Conner is now in jail on $45,000 bond and charged with four felony and four misdemeanor charges.

Big Country 100.9 continues to rack up large streaming audiences for the Big Rapids Football Cardinals

game.

The broadcast of the home Big Rapids Cardinals versus Tri-County Viking game on Friday September 9, 2019 drew 473 listeners who streamed the game. The Big Rapids Radio Network uses proprietary software to record streaming listeners which shows the operating systems in use. 352 listeners used an IOS operating system, 78 listeners used an Android system and 43 listeners listened on their desktops.

Big Rapids Radio Network Operations Director Erik Etchison commented “Our coverage of Big Rapids High School Football goes way beyond the typical local radio high school broadcasts. We have analysts in the booth who played football at Big Rapids High School and Ferris State University. Our weekly Coaches Corner interview with Coach Mike Selzer goes inside each game. Our weekly Cardinal Country podcast (Big Rapids Daily News, Apple podcast, Stitcher, Google Podcast, and Spotify) goes in depth with every Cardinal athletic team. Our downloadable apps make streaming accessible and easy to use on any device. When you listen to our entire weeks coverage of the games it’s great local radio.”

Big Country 100.9 WWBR is Mid Michigan’s most listened to radio station. Streaming listenership has

exploded. Over the last 30 days Big Country 100.9 tallied 3,198 listening sessions online. 1,449 of those

sessions via IOS, 1,056 via Android, 701 via Desktop and 11 using recent smart speaker technology

Amazon Alexa.

Edison Research 2018 estimates that 12% of a radio stations audience is streaming online. The

remaining 88% listen over the air.

The Big Rapids Cardinals travel to Fremont this week to take on the Packers. Big Country 100.9 will have the call starting at 6:45pm on Friday, September 13.

 

A Gowen woman is dead following a two car accident in Montcalm County.

It happened on Johnson Road south of Sidney Road in Montcalm Township.

Deputies say 63-year old Ruby Hardin was traveling southbound on Johnson Road in a 2007 Chrysler Town and County while 18-year old Seth Davis, also from Gowen, was traveling northbound in a 2012 Dodge Charger. Hardin approached a curve in the road, which she failed to negotiate, and crossed the center of the road hitting Davis’ vehicle head-on.

Davis sustained minor injuries and sought his own treatment. Hardin was unconscious at the scene and was transported to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids by Montcalm County Emergency Medical Services where she was pronounced deceased.

Both drivers wore seat belts and speed do not appear to have been a factor.

The crash remains under investigation.

There was a day long standoff in Iowa, but the man accused of assaulting his wife in Montcalm County's Sidney Township recently, Eric Kramer, has been arrested.

Kramer was stopped while driving in Iowa and Kramer pulled out a pistol and pointed it at his head. The highway 370 near the Iowa-Nebraska border was shut down as Iowa State Police negotiated with Kramer to give up the gun.

Troopers used tear gas and Kramer surrendered several hours later.

He's charged with being a fugitive from justice and a felon in possession of a firearm.

One man is dead after he struck a tree with his vehicle in Mecosta County's Deerfield Township.

It happened Wednesday on 125th Ave near Jefferson Rd, police say a 37-year old Greenville man was traveling northbound on 125^th Ave. when he ran off the road and struck a tree.

The Greenville man was ejected from the vehicle.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.