Nearly 200 Special Olympians from Montcalm and Ionia counties didn’t let a little wet weather rain on their parade at Friday’s Area 6 Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) Summer Games at Montabella Junior/Senior High School. Activities were moved inside and modified — four square replaced the softball throw, shuffle board replaced bocce ball and plastic horseshoes replaced metal ones.

The wait is over and this year’s One Book One County selection has been revealed at a banquet held Thursday afternoon at the Stanley & Blanche Ash Technology and Learning Center. Maureen Burns, who brought the One Book One County program to Greenville nearly a decade ago, spoke to a capacity crowd prior to the unveiling. Burns gave the audience a quick history of the program and explained is goal.

The seventh annual Make a Difference Awards was held Wednesday to recognize those who have gone above and beyond in helping students with special needs. About 100 people were in attendance at the Greenville High School Performing Arts Center to show their support for those who were nominated and honored for going beyond what the job description states.

Two counties are coming together to develop a student-focused system called Hair on Fire. School districts in Montcalm and Ionia counties are working on the program that focuses on the needs of students.

After the baseball doubleheader between Carson City-Crystal and Montabella, both coaches had something good and something bad to talk about. That’s because each team won one game of the doubleheader Tuesday. The Mustangs won the first game 7-5, while the Eagles took the second game 16-7.

Carson City-Crystal’s track teams showed why they are going to be a perennial contender for the Mid-State Activities Conference (MSAC) title.

By the time you read this, or at least soon afterward, I will be a father for the first time. The arrival of Addyson Lou Bentley will turn my world upside down. And that is a good thing.

Central drops a pair: The Green Hornets were mercied twice by Hesperia in a CSAA doubleheader Tuesday, losing games of 10-0 in six innings and 17-3 in five innings…