From left, Belding Police Chief Dale Nelson, Belding Fire Chief Gregg Moore and Belding Police Officer Marci Cooper, investigate the scene of an accident on M-44 Thursday afternoon when an SUV struck a pedestrian attempting to cross the road. — Daily News/Cory Smith

By Kelli Ameling and Cory Smith

BELDING – A 17-year-old male-Belding cross county student was struck by a SUV on M-44 late Thursday afternoon.

Belding Police Chief Dale Nelson said the runner was heading west on the south side of M-44 and attempted to cross M-44 at Ionia Street.

A female driving a grey GMC Yukon SUV was driving east on M-44 when she struck the runner on the driver side of her vehicle.

“The male was taken by ambulance to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital,” Nelson said.

More information will be released when it becomes available, names are not being released at this time.

Gallery

A firefighter carries a fire hose as a parked car burns in the background at 10325 Stakes Road in Eureka Township Wednesday evening. — Daily News/Cory Smith

By Kelli Ameling and Cory Smith

EUREKA TOWNSHIP – An elderly couple has lost their home as a fire that started in their garage spread through the house and consumed the home in a matter of minutes.

The Greenville Department of Public Safety was dispatched to 10325 Stakes Road in Eureka Township at about 7:45 p.m. tonight after neighbors saw smoke and fire coming from the home and called 911.

The homeowners, 92-year-old Vern and Peggy Wheeler, 80, were rescued from their home just before the fire consumed the house.

“They almost didn’t make it out,” said Greg Ackley, a neighbor to the Wheelers.

For the complete story, check Thursday’s edition of The Daily News or www.thedailynews.cc, later.  

A firefighter sprays water onto a house engulfed in flames at 10325 Stakes Road in Eureka Township Wednesday evening. Daily News/Cory Smith

Emergency crews rush Nick Lober into an AeroMed helicopter at the Greenville Municipal Airport in Greenville Friday evening. — Daily News/Cory Smith

One of the branches that struck Nick Lober’s truck as he was driving northbound on Lincoln Lake Road in Oakfield Township sits pulled to the side of the road after officials cleared the roadway of debri. — Daily News/Kelli Ameling

By Kelli Ameling and Cory Smith

Daily News staff writers

OAKFIELD TOWNSHIP – A 57-year-old man was flown to Grand Rapids with unknown conditions after his vehicle was struck by a branch.

Nick Lober was traveling northbound on Lincoln Lake Road when a tree branch fell onto his black Toyota Tundra.

“A large branch fell from the tree,” Kent County Deputy Ron Kimbrough said. “He took most of the impact through his windshield.”

The accident occurred just before 5 p.m. at 11200 Lincoln Lake Rd., about one-half mile south of 14-Mile Road.

Lober was the lone occupant in the vehicle.

The deputy said Lober suffered head injuries.

“EMS told me it was non-life threatening, but I don’t know the extent of his condition,” Kimbrough said.

A black Toyota Tundra driven by Nick Lober, parked at a car lot at Safety First Wrecker Service in Greenville, was struck by a tree Friday evening as he was driving northbound on Lincoln Lake Road. in Oakfield Township. — Daily News/Cory Smith

An administrator at Spectrum Health Butterworth in Grand Rapids said she was unable to release Lober’s condition at this time.

A witness at the scene said the tree branch fell on the truck, which then came to a halt about 50 feet away from the tree.

Lober was unconscious when authorities arrived, however he was conscious by the time he was loaded into the AeroMed helicopter.

AeroMed attempted to land closer to the scene of the accident, but because of weather conditions, the ambulance carrying Lober met AeroMed at the Greenville Municipal Airport.

“Lincoln Lake was closed from M-57 to Podunk Road,” Kimbrough said.

Because the road was backed up, Kimbrough said a “fender bender” also occurred, but no one was hurt.

Friday’s rainy weather is what Kimbrough believes caused the branch to fall.

Oakfield Township and Grattan Township fire departments assisted on scene along with assistance from the Kent County Road Commission.

Belding Police Department, Michigan State Police, Ionia Sheriff’s Department and the Rockford City Police responded to a bomb threat at the Belding Party Store on Bridge Street in Belding. Daily News/Kelli Ameling

BELDING – An employee called 911 after receiving a bomb threat with specific instructions on how to exit the building at the Belding Party Store.

Police were dispatched at 7:08 p.m. to the store located at 304 N. Bridge, said Belding Police Chief Dale Nelson.

“The employee received a call from an unknown caller,” Nelson said, adding the caller notified the employee of a bomb in the building and demanded  money while giving specific instructions on how to exit the building.

The employee called 911 and evacuated herself and two customers from the building.

A K-9 that specializes in finding bombs was brought in from Rockford to assist police in located a bomb.

Nelson said the K-9 did not locate anything suspicious.

“Anybody that would even think that this would be a good way to threaten anyone – it is not,” Nelson said. “We will be aggressive in our search of the suspect.”

The last time a bomb threat was made in Belding was at the local McDonald restaurant about three or four years ago, Nelson said.

When asked if the Belding community should be worried, Nelson said everyone should be watching and observing what is going on around them and report any suspicious situations.

The Belding Party Store will remain closed for the rest of the night and will resume business as normal Friday.

The investigation is on going and anyone with information should call the Belding Police Department at (616) 794-1900.

Michigan State Police, Ionia County Sheriff’s Department and the Rockford Police Department assisted at the scene.

Three people were injured in a two-car accident Wednesday evening in Eureka Township on M-91 south of Snows Lake Road and north of Greenbriar Estates Mobile Home Park. — Daily News/Cory Smith

Michigan State Police Lakeview Post Trooper Pat Agema investigates the scene of a two-car accident on M-91 Wednesday evening. — Daily News/Cory Smith

EUREKA TOWNSHIP – Three people are in serious condition after a head-on collision on M-91 south of Snows Lake Road and north of the Greenbriar Estates Mobile Home Park Wednesday evening.

“This was a very serious accident with very serious injuries,” said Greenville Department of Public Safety Director Mike Pousak.

The vehicles include a blue Ford F-150 custom pickup truck and a sky-blue Ford Freestar van.

Both drivers where pinned in and had to be extricated from their vehicles.

Two people were taken to Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville while one was transported by Areomed to Grand Rapids from the Greenville Municipal Airport.

According to Michigan State Police Lakeview Post Trooper Pat Agema, the accident appears to have been caused by a “vehicle malfuction.”

A sky-blue Ford Freestar van was traveling south on M-91 south of Greenville when it was struck by an oncoming pickup truck Wednesday evening. Both passengers suffered serious injuries. — Daily News/Cory Smith

“It appears the front left tire of the pickup blew as it was traveling northbound on M-91,” he said. “The vehicle then veered into the southbound lane where it struck the oncoming van head-on.”

Though beer cans were among several items of debri at the scene, Agema said alcohol “was not likely” a factor citing that the cans appeared to be from an older date.

“We won’t know for sure until we investigate further, but at this time it does not appear that alcohol or speeding was a factor in this accident,” Agema said.

All three passengers were wearing seatbelts.

M-91 will be closed for about two or three hours while more investigators are called in.

A blue Ford F-150 custom pickup truck traveling northbound on M-91 south of Greenville struck an oncoming van after the front left tire blew and forced the vehicle into the southbound lane. — Daily News/Cory Smith

According to Agema, the names of the victims in the accident are not being released at this time because of the severity of their injuries.

They will be released once the Michigan State Police Post is able to gather more information.

The Michigan State Police Lakeview Post is handling the scene and received assistance from the Greenville Department of Public Safety, Belding Fire Department, Belding Police Department and Emergency Medical Services.

AeroMed leaves the scene of a two-car accident with a patient on Belding Road west of M-91 Tuesday afternoon. Daily News/Cory Smith

OTISCO TOWNSHIP — Three people were injured and one was transported via AeroMed to a hospital in Grand Rapids after an accident occurred around 3 p.m. today on Belding Road one mile west of M-91.

Emergency crews arrived on scene to find two vehicles, a red Dodge Durango and a blue Chevrolet Silverado, in the southern ditch of Belding Road.

Michigan State Police Trooper Keith Disselkoen speaks with witness on the scene of a two-car accident Tuesday afternoon on Belding Road west of M-91. Daily News/Cory Smith

“We have a two-car personal injury crash,” said Michigan State Police Trooper Keith Disselkoen of the Lakeview Post on scene. “Injuries at this point are serious and we had one gentleman who was airlifted, but I don’t know the extent of the injuries at this time.”

Disselkoen said there were three total passengers involved in the crash.

Shari Taylor, 66, who suffered minor bumps and bruises, said she was in the passenger seat of the Durango while her husband, Paul Taylor, 56, was sitting in the driver’s seat stopped in the eastbound lane waiting to turn into their driveway at 10586 Belding Road when their vehicle was rear-ended from behind.

Both vehicles then skidded into the southern ditch of the road.

“We were just waiting to turn into our home,” Shari Taylor said. “I think we were hit at full speed, but it happened very fast, it’s hard to tell exactly what happened. I’m just glad we are OK.”

Paul Taylor was transported via ambulance to an area hospital and Shari was awaiting a ride to the hospital to visit him.

Officials have not yet released the name of the man who was driving the Silverado and was airlifted from the scene. His condition is currently not known.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

The Belding Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services and Ionia County Sheriff’s Department assisted on scene.

Three people were injured in a two-car accident on Belding Road west of M-91 Tuesday afternoon. Daily News/Cory Smith

Firefighters are battling a fire at this residence on Van Deinse on Greenville’s northeast side. — Daily News/Kelli Ameling

GREENVILLE — Firefighters from Greenville and Belding are currently on the scene at a fully involved house fire in Greenville.

The fire is at a residence at 1016 E. Van Deinse Street near Walnut on the city’s northeast side. Flames were first noticed in the garage before the fire spread to the home.

A Daily News reporter is at the scene of the fire.

For more on this story read Friday’s Daily News or check thedailynews.cc.

Firefights attempt to extinguish a fire at Nelson's Speed Shop in Montcalm Township early Friday Morning. Daily News/Cory Smith

MONTCALM TOWNSHIP – The owners of Nelson’s Speed Shop experienced another devastating fire that destroyed their business.

At about 1:30 a.m. this morning, Montcalm Township Fire Department was dispatched to Nelson’s Speed Shop on M-91 in Montcalm Township for a structure fire.

“When I got here it was 40 percent involved,” said Montcalm Township Fire Department Lt. Ryan Hyde.

The fire started in the back of the business, on the west side of the building, where the warehouse is located, Hyde said.

The steel building was a challenge for firefighters to get water into the complex.

“Trying to get water on the fire was the biggest problem,” Hyde said.

No one from the business was injured, and the business was insured.

Hyde said firefighters had not yet determined the cause of the fire.

The owners of Nelson’s Speed Shop were on the scene of the fire, but did not want to comment at the time.

Water had to be transported to the scene from the City of Greenville by tankers from multiple fire departments.

Hyde said a majority of the tankers were pumping 1,500 gallons of water per minute through each monitor and 1,250 gallons per minute from the truck working on the back section of the building.

Officers closed M-91 at Sidney Road north of the fire scene and at Peck Road, south of the scene. The road remained closed as of 5:15 a.m.

Hyde said the building is a complete loss, but firefighters were working hard to salvage what was left of the outside.

As of 5 a.m., the fire was 90 percent contained.

This is not the first devastating fire for the business and business owners.

Before the current building was constructed, a smaller Nelson’s Speed Shop building was in its place.

On Sept. 17, 2001 at about 1:40 a.m. that building was set on fire.

Richard Crew of Durand and Stewart David Barron were both indicted on one count of arson and one count of conspiracy to commit arson by a federal grand jury in Grand Rapids.

“(Arson) is possible, but it’s still too early to tell,” Hyde said of this morning’s fire.

Hyde said 11 departments responded to the fire including Greenville Department of Public Safety, Day Township, Courtland Township, Lakeview District, Maple Valley Township, Oakfield Township, Stanton Community, Belding and Sheridan Community Fire Departments.

Also on scene was the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office and Advance Life Support.

Black bear in downtown Greenville. Daily News/ Kelli Ameling

The Greenville Department of Public Safety and the Michigan State Police Department are tracking a young black bear in downtown Greenville.

The bear was spotted in a tree by Coffren and Fifth Streets just after 8 p.m. tonight.

It did come down out of the tree and the officers tracked it south.

Officers are asking people to stay inside. They are wanting it to go back into the woods, however if it starts to charge, the officers are required to shoot it.

We will have more information as it becomes available.

Fire fighters responded to a barn fire at 477 Marble Road in Maple Valley Township Friday. Daily News/Cory Smith

MAPLE VALLEY TOWNSHIP–  Six fire departments responded to a fully involved fire at a barn that housed dairy cattle late Friday morning.

The Maple Valley Township Fire Department was called to 477 Marble Road at 11:25 a.m. with a report that the roof of the barn was on fire.

At the time of the fire, there were 35 to 40 cows in the barn, according to owner Dale Rowland.

“They all made it out,” Rowland said.

As Maple Valley firefighters arrived at the scene, they called in assistance from Lakeview, Sand Lake, Spencer Township, Montcalm Township and Oakfield Township fire departments.

Rowland said with the help of friends and family, he was able to get the cattle into a separate barn where heifers and calves were held.

Rowland’s nephew Nick called 911 to report the fire. Rowland said he was only gone about five minutes in the field when he saw the fire.

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“I don’t know what started (the fire),” Rowland said.

Rowland has lived at the residence all his life, running the dairy farm with just a little help.

“Dale does all the milking himself,” said Jeff Dillon Sr., a friend of Rowland. “He did not let anyone else do it.”

Dillon was one of about 20 people who came to help Rowland after they heard the news about his barn.

“When neighbors need help, they all pull together when someone needs it,” Dillon said. “Most of the people here are also farmers.”

Dillon said he was having lunch with a friend who serves on the Spencer Township Fire Department when he found out about the fire. He thought Rowland would need help getting the animals out of the barn so he rushed to the scene as well.

“Most of them were out when we got here,” said Dillon, adding one cow needed to be freed from the barn with axes after getting caught in the barn loft.

Dillon has known Rowland for about 15 years and his son previously worked on the farm and still does occasionally when he is home from school.

“Dale is an every day hard worker,” Dillon said. “He does most of this himself.”

Rowland’s brother, Bruce Rowland, said their father, Lloyd Rowland, bought the property in 1952.

“The barn was standing then,” Bruce Rowland said.

After buying the property, the Rowland family extended the back portion of the barn and later added the stalls for the cattle. Bruce Rowland said Dale Rowland has been handling the dairy cattle for about 20 years.

“It’s terrible,” he said as he watched smoke and flames coming from his brother’s barn. “Neighbors are going to be taking some of the cows until he can figure out what to do.”

Dale Rowland said he does have insurance on the barn, however most of the barn was filled with hay and he is not sure if that will be covered.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.