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Flat River at Franklin Street bridge

PHOTO GALLERY: Daily News readers share local flood photos

Here’s a photo gallery of local flood photos shared by readers of The Daily News.

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Classy new commons at Belding High School

BELDING — It’s been a year of adjustments at Belding High School with the construction of a new gymnasium, auditorium, band room and other various additions to the school. But as of last week, the final touches of interior construction were completed with the opening of the new spacious high school cafeteria and commons area. [...]

An estimated $350,096 will be used to reconstruct the student parking lots at Belding High School. The amount is part of a remaining $1,412,313 in unallocated bond funds, part of the $38 million bond project for the district that was approved by voters in 2010. — Daily News/Cory Smith

Belding Area Schools using remaining bond funds for projects

Members of the Belding Area Schools Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to approve spending the remaining funds of a $38 million bond project that was approved by district voters in 2010. According to Belding High School Assistant Principal Leslie Mount, of the $1,412,313.02 that sits in the unallocated contingency fund, approximately $1,234,632,95 will be used for additional projects not previously included in the bond plan.

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Free water testing offered by Montcalm Conservation District

Free nitrate/nitrite water testing will be offered at the Montcalm Conservation District’s spring tree sale on Friday, April 26, at the Road Commission for Montcalm County in Stanton.

Demolition crews are making quick work of the original Gibson buildings and silk mill building located at the corner of Bridge and Main streets in Belding. One third of the original building constructed in 1901 has already been removed from the site, as of this photo taken Wednesday. — Daily News/Cory Smith

Belding man seeks to form committee to rebuild clock tower

Last November, just two weeks before resigning from Belding City Council, Jon Bunce gave an emotional statement at the end of a meeting declaring, “I will fight on to have the clock tower saved.” Five months later, and the Belding clock tower is quickly becoming one of the last remaining structures to remain on the 4-acre site at the corner of Main and Bridge streets. The tower will inevitably come down, there is no stopping that, but Bunce says now that he is no longer on the city council, he will dedicate time and effort to forming an official committee with the interest of collecting money and rebuilding the clock tower at a future date.

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Montcalm County Emergency Services to sell rescue vehicle

Montcalm County Emergency Services is in the process of selling its old Rescue 21 vehicle. According to Emergency Services Deputy Director Eric Smith, two bids were received for the 1999 Ford F350.

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Belding Community Showcase takes on ‘new feel’

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.

David Overholt.

Montcalm County marijuana advocate arrested in Kent County

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.

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Belding woman rescued in house fire succumbs to injuries, dies in hospital

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.

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Montcalm and Ionia counties improve in health rankings

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.