Deb Boerma has been working on cars so long she can usually identify the size of a bolt simply by looking at it. Boerma grew up on a farm and has always loved being outside. Rather than being in the confines of the house, she learned at age 11 to drive a tractor. By age 12, she was handy with tools and could always be found tinkering under the hood of the tractor, taking to heart the advice her stepfather gave her that if she was going to learn to drive, she was also going to learn to fix the vehicles she drove.

The Peterman family has had some dark moments over the past three and a half years, but they never stopped believing they were fighting for the right cause. The Edmore family of five was vindicated Wednesday when a jury found Branden Peterman had not misrepresented himself on a disability insurance policy application — a claim Auto Owners Insurance had alleged.

The Peterman family’s life was forever changed on Dec. 12, 2008. On that day, Branden Peterman, then 34 years old, was crushed by a tree in a logging accident and immediately paralyzed from the waist down. His wife, Carrie, had just given birth to their third child four days earlier.

The Vestaburg high school graduating class of 2102 celebrated Thursday with their family, friends and community. Valedictorians Lauren Bissell, Jared Wing, Samuel McNerney and Elaine Lowery each added their own personality to the valedictory address. Each of them shared memories of times past and each expressed their awareness of how their education and families have prepared them for this moment in their lives.

Three Vestaburg High School graduates — Shelby Recker, Jeremy Keyton and Jason Braman — are entering fields that have become highly technical. They are headed to the University of Northwest Ohio (UNOH) together. Shelby will study diesel technology, while Jason and Jeremy will enter the agricultural equipment technology program.

A patchwork of 13 years of unique and individual memories – ones of personal triumph and lessons learned – unfolded Thursday evening as 48 Montabella High School graduates received their high school diplomas.

The 50-some seniors in Montabella High School’s graduating class of 2012 each have their own unique personality, style and future ahead of them. But six of those seniors have experienced their own personal heartbreak — tragedies no one would wish on any young man or woman.

For members of the McCarthy family, the value of an education is a common bond soon to be shared by mother, son and daughter. They just didn’t expect to watch each other graduate in cap and gown all within a month.

A condemned Home Township mobile home park is one step closer to being cleaned up after a court hearing Tuesday afternoon. Judge Suzanne Hoseth Kreeger granted several motions by Home Township attorney Thomas Wilson. The motions gave Corey Davy and Dorothy Henderline 30 days to clean up Edmore Estates on M-46 just west of Edmore — or else pay township officials to do it for them.

The Montcalm County Business Resource Center (MCBRC) — located in the Home Township Library in Edmore — was created specifically for entrepreneurs who need a place to investigate potential business concepts prior to launching a new business.