When visitors attend this year’s 17th annual Belding Community Showcase, it is guaranteed to take on the feel of a brand new event thanks to a completely remodeled high school facility. This time last year, parking was limited and hallways were crowded, but with construction having finally having wrapped up at Belding High School, visitors to this year’s showcase will be in for an experience not seen in any previous year.

The founder of a now-defunct marijuana club in Montcalm County was arrested Friday on drug charges in Kent County. David Overholt, 55, of Sidney, is charged with delivery or manufacturing narcotics/cocaine less than 50 grams, delivery or manufacturing marijuana and maintaining or frequenting a drug house. He is out of jail on bond.

When Linda Ruble walked out of her front door Sunday morning, she was struck with horror when all she could see was smoke coming from her neighbor’s home across the street.

Both Montcalm and Ionia counties received improved rankings this year through the annual County Health Rankings results, which were recently released. The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation published the annual rankings.

With warmer weather tends to comes more plentiful outdoor activities to enjoy, and disc golfing is no exception. And it will only be a matter of weeks now before residents of Belding and avid disc golfers from across the state will be able to enjoy a new nine-hole course at Lightning Bend Park after members of Belding City Council voted unanimously 5-0 on Tuesday evening to approve the construction of SMASH Park.

The “Take Back the Night” event was held to highlight the fact that April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

A Belding woman who has been accused of committing arson in 2010 was back in court Tuesday in an attempt to prove she is indigent and cannot pay for court expenses and her court-appointed attorney. After testimony from attorneys and two recesses, 8th Judicial Circuit Court Judge David Hoort ruled that Cynthia Stewart-Matzen is not indigent and does not qualify for a court-appointed attorney.

A diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is never good news. The degenerative disease cases movement-related problems such as tremors, stiffness and difficulty walking. And that’s in the early stages. Later, cognitive functions may be effected, followed by dementia. A host of other symptoms accompany the disease, none of them pleasant.

The cause of a Friday morning fire that was being investigated as “suspicious’”has now been ruled arson. State Fire Marshal Trever Slater investigated the scene on Monday and determined the fire was set on purpose, three days after the fire at 1680 W. Boyer Road.

Easter festivities were in full swing this past holiday weekend, especially at local egg hunts such as the annual “Easter Eggstravaganza” event at the Belding Covered Village Mall.