For 10 seconds, Cliff Fry thought about calling it quits. On vacation in Florida on Feb. 20, Fry sat heavy in his chair as he watched live security camera video of his golf cart repair business burning to the ground. A fire that started in the back of the facility at 5575 S. Mt. Hope Road, likely from a golf cart battery explosion, consumed the storage facility that Fry and his employees operated out of.

A Montcalm County man is hoping a century-old law will provide him and his wife with financial restitution after a vicious dog attack resulted in the deaths of eight of their sheep. On Monday, the Montcalm County Law Enforcement & Courts Committee considered a request from Kenneth Lund of Sheridan. Lund wrote commissioners a March 22 letter detailing a Nov. 20, 2012, incident in which a flock of 28 sheep owned by Lund’s wife Deb were attacked by two neighborhood dogs. Six ewes were killed by the dogs and two more ewes had to be euthanized due to the severity of their wounds. The remaining sheep were all injured in some form or another.

The Road Commission for Montcalm County works four 10-hour days per week during the summer construction season. The Montcalm County drain commissioner is looking at doing the same in her office.

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.

A program being brought to the area through a collaboration has hopes of inspiring middle-school students to stay engaged in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The Montcalm Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) has worked with the Ionia County Intermediate School District (ICISD) to host a STEM camp for local sixth-graders.

Because of program and budget cuts, the Montcalm Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) Board of Education made the decision to eliminate a staff position. During Wednesday’s meeting, MAISD Superintendent Scott Koenigsknecht told the board that because of the economy, the reduction has to take place.

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.

Spring brings hope and rejuvenation so it is no surprise that many religious observances coincide with springtime renewal and rebirth. This Easter, Carson City United Methodist Church celebrated the resurrection with Pastor Andy Croel inviting those in attendance to live out his new sermon series “Resurrection Ground” by planting trees and beautifying the northwest area of Haradine Park, where the city dumps woodchips.

When students attend Montcalm Community College this fall, they’ll now be doing so at a higher cost than what has been paid in previous years. On Tuesday evening, the MCC Board of Trustees voted unanimously to increase tuition rates at the college by approximately 4 percent, beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, an effort that President Robert Ferrentino says will help keep tuition at the school near the statewide average.

A Comprenew trailer is now available at Montcalm Community College in Sidney for electronic recycling (e-recycling) throughout the month of April. The trailer will be available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. through April 24 and is available to all Montcalm County residents.