http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/Latest News & OpinionenMon, 02 Nov 2009 13:22:23 PSTMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advance http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/noLatest News & Opinionnorthwest_advancehttp://feedburner.google.comhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/bPr5t3xbz04/hoping_for_magic.htmlNorthwest AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 02 Nov 2009 13:22:23 PSTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3865576 ]]>Jeff CunninghamThe duo Reclaim, made up of Wyatt Knapp, of Allendale, and Shari Manshaem, of Dorr, were in Coopersville recently with their photographer to shoot a cover for their upcoming CD, which is due out in the spring. The two...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/11/hoping_for_magic.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/TYKctRlBQIs/conklins_only_store_closes.htmlNorthwest AdvanceJeff Cunningham | Advance NewspapersMon, 02 Nov 2009 13:15:44 PSTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3865538 ]]>Jeff Cunningham The Conklin Store closed after Labor Day and has left people in the community with a long drive for necessities.A truck slowly pulled up to the closed Conklin Store recently. The driver looked at the“Closed” sign in the...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/11/conklins_only_store_closes.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/7POy76CNuuU/walker_launches_new_paperless.htmlNorthwest AdvanceSherry Kuyt | Advance NewspapersMon, 02 Nov 2009 13:13:53 PSTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3865514 ]]>Sherry Kuyt Walker Clerk Sarah Bydalek discusses the e-Poll Book system with precinct worker Sherry Wierzbicki.Voters in the city of Walker may notice a few changes when they visit the polls today.According to Walker Clerk Sarah Bydalek, an electronic poll...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/11/walker_launches_new_paperless.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/dZbewcQ-eY4/grps_amway_team_up_on_school.htmlNorthwest AdvanceChris Hecox | Advance NewspapersMon, 02 Nov 2009 13:08:54 PSTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3865429 ]]>Grand Rapids Public Schools and Amway Corp. are creating a new “center of innovation” within the district.Centers of innovation are specialized schools built around public-private partnerships. “The story of Jay Van Andel, Rich DeVos and Amway Corporation is known worldwide,”...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/11/grps_amway_team_up_on_school.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/1AAu5deQa_Y/tallmadge_may_now_take_action.htmlNorthwest AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 02 Nov 2009 13:01:55 PSTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3865424 ]]>A recently approved ordinance gives Tallmadge Township the power to ensure run-down houses don't become dangerous.The “Dangerous Buildings Ordinance” approved by trustees last month will allow the township to take necessary action, such as boarding up deteriorating structures.According to the...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/11/tallmadge_may_now_take_action.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/l0c00mQm88A/west_randall_will_become_boule.htmlNorthwest AdvanceJeff Cunningham | Advance NewspapersMon, 02 Nov 2009 12:59:46 PSTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3865414 ]]>Coopersville will be getting its own version of a boulevard after the City Council voted last week to upgrade West Randall Street from its current four-lane configuration into a boulevard in the near future. After nearly an hour of sometimes-heated...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/11/west_randall_will_become_boule.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/_FEzZZ5GaMA/apples_to_apples.htmlNorthwest AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 26 Oct 2009 12:12:57 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3824231 ]]>Tom FirmeAvery Miles, 4, left, and Grace Becker, 4, both of Grand Rapids, compare their picks during a recent trip to the Country Basket near Sparta....http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/apples_to_apples.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/qfzIzxBKBs4/walkers_1st_ward_will_see_cont.htmlNorthwest AdvanceSherry Kuyt | Advance NewspapersMon, 26 Oct 2009 12:06:20 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3824180 ]]>One city commission seat is being contested in the Walker election on Nov. 3. Incumbent Al Parent is being challenged by Denise Raap.Walker Mayor Rob VerHeulen and current commissioners Charles Deschaine and Cynthia Stek are unopposed for their positions.Al Parent,...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/walkers_1st_ward_will_see_cont.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/hViVYUDUjb0/coopersville_voters_will_choos.htmlNorthwest AdvanceJeff Cunningham | Advance NewspapersMon, 26 Oct 2009 12:03:18 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3824168 ]]>When residents of Coopersville go to the polls on Nov. 3 to elect a mayor, they will choose between incumbent Kenneth Bush, 64, who has served as the city’s mayor since 1998, and Matthew Walker, 19, who sees running for...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/coopersville_voters_will_choos.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/lf0ncjp3rps/police_report_string_of_auto_b.htmlNorthwest AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 26 Oct 2009 11:35:35 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3824041 ]]>The Kent County Sheriff’s Department is advising people to remove valuable items from their vehicles and lock their car doors after receiving numerous complaints about larcenies from automobiles in Algoma, Sparta and Tyrone townships.The thefts occurred Oct. 15 and 16....http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/police_report_string_of_auto_b.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/iAyjB_O34jY/six_running_for_3_seats_on_coo.htmlNorthwest AdvanceJeff Cunningham | Advance NewspapersMon, 26 Oct 2009 11:21:51 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3823997 ]]>Voters in Coopersville will have six candidates from which to choose next Tuesday to fill three open seats on the Coopersville City Council. But only five names will appear on the official ballet. The seats of incumbents Joel Meintsma, Adrianus...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/six_running_for_3_seats_on_coo.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/1aCu50J1gxw/districts_take_different_appro.htmlNorthwest AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 26 Oct 2009 10:54:30 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3823877 ]]>In response to an absence of several hundred students last week, Sparta Public Schools closed down school buildings on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 22 and 23.Superintendent Kent Swinson said the district decided to close all six school buildings after flu-related...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/districts_take_different_appro.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/ICGtm8u3JCg/tallmadge_to_try_evening_hall.htmlNorthwest AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 26 Oct 2009 10:50:44 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3823852 ]]>Although Tallmadge Township's office at 1451 Leonard St. is open Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., very few residents seem to be stopping by on that day.That's one reason the township will be experimenting with switching office hours over...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/tallmadge_to_try_evening_hall.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/44J5eLnreSc/author_author.htmlNorthwest AdvanceMatthew S. RussellMon, 19 Oct 2009 13:43:23 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3790430 ]]>Tom Firme What’s even better than reading a good book? Getting to meet the person who wrote it. Local author Kevin Kammeraad recently visited Appleview Elementary in Sparta. Here, Kammeraad, introduces Norwood, a character from his Tomato Collection series....http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/author_author.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/EppH5jiBXwY/committee_to_ponder_future_of.htmlNorthwest AdvanceJeff Cunningham | Advance NewspapersMon, 19 Oct 2009 13:41:10 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3790417 ]]>When the Coopersville Community Services Building opened in May of 1937 as Coopersville High School, it was heralded as a great building that was “a school second to none.”Soon it will be a building without a purpose. Come January of...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/committee_to_ponder_future_of.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/Um5Ji7omSRM/woman_dies_in_shooting_on_west.htmlNorthwest AdvanceMatthew S. RussellMon, 19 Oct 2009 13:39:01 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3790402 ]]>A 21-year-old Grand Rapids woman is dead following a shooting on the city’s West Side last week.According to police, Mallory Ashlyn Mathews was killed around 2 a.m. on Oct. 14 near the intersection of Fulton Street and National Avenue SW.Before...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/woman_dies_in_shooting_on_west.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/SFSjR0AThe4/road_project_doesnt_impress_re.htmlNorthwest AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 19 Oct 2009 13:37:49 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3790399 ]]>Ralph Verberg has lived at 12391 24th Ave. in Tallmadge Township since 1991 and his opinion of the Ottawa County Road Commission’s recent rebuilding of the street in front of his house – “It was a huge waste of money.”...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/road_project_doesnt_impress_re.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/_vyavyq_BBM/agricultural_incubator_would_a.htmlNorthwest AdvanceJeff Cunningham | Advance NewspapersMon, 19 Oct 2009 13:36:02 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3790387 ]]>Coopersville could be home to a new Ottawa County Agriculture Incubator if funding can be found to start the program.  The program would help those who are trying to start an agriculture-related company but lack the business expertise, space, or...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/agricultural_incubator_would_a.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/hksrjke6NyY/area_man_to_be_sentenced.htmlNorthwest AdvanceJeff Cunningham | Advance NewspapersMon, 19 Oct 2009 13:34:11 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3790383 ]]>Caleb Rasch, 18, of Coopersville, is expected to be sentenced in 20th Circuit Court in Grand Haven on Nov. 6 in connection with a breaking and entering of a home at 457 Sunset Drive in Coopersville that resulted in thousands...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/area_man_to_be_sentenced.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/XUEm3UDYwEY/area_leaf_collection_programs.htmlNorthwest AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 19 Oct 2009 13:32:42 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3790376 ]]>Variegated leaves are pretty to look at in the fall. But the leaves lose their appeal after they turn an ugly brown, drop to the ground, kill the grass, and blow into rain gutters.While property owners have to do their...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/area_leaf_collection_programs.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northwest_advance/~3/TxU1eG0vpVg/buying_local_could_bring_jobs.htmlNorthwest AdvanceChris Hecox | Advance NewspapersMon, 19 Oct 2009 13:29:48 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northwestadvance/index.ssf//2449.3790362 ]]>Local First has a solution to the bleak economic conditions in West Michigan: buy locally.Elissa Sangalli Hillary, executive director of the nonprofit economic development organization based in Grand Rapids, recently told Grand Rapids city commissioners a small change in the...http://www.mlive.com/northwestadvance/index.ssf/2009/10/buying_local_could_bring_jobs.htmlnonadult