Before Sen. Carl Levin leaves the United States Senate in his final term after more than 30 years of service as the longest-serving senator in Michigan’s history, he’ll be making at least one final local appearance. The Montcalm County Democrats will welcome Levin to the 8th annual Eleanor Roosevelt Dinner on Saturday, along with State House Rep. Brandon Dillon, D-Grand Rapids, to be a featured guest speaker at the fundraising event.

State Rep. Rick Outman, R-Six Lakes, took the ceremonial oath of office Wednesday as a state representative in the Michigan House. Lt. Gov. Brian Calley administered the ceremonial oath in the Capitol in Lansing. Outman is serving his second term and represents the 70th House District, which includes all of Montcalm County and part of Gratiot County.

New faces were in new chairs at Wednesday’s Montcalm County Board of Commissioners annual organizational meeting. Ron Blanding of Greenville, Ron Braman of Vestaburg and Steve DeWitt of Coral are the newest faces on the board, having been elected last year. Patrick Q. Carr of Lakeview was re-appointed by his colleagues as longtime chairman of the board, with Ron Retzloff of Crystal appointed vice chairman.

As Lynn Mason rallied at the state Capitol with fellow protesters earlier this month, she could feel the passion. The Belding woman was one of many to protest what has become commonly known as right-to-work legislation. Contrary to its name, the legislation actually addresses the right for workers to choose whether they want to join a union or pay fees that amount to union dues. The legislation prohibits “closed shops,” where workers have no choice but to join a union or pay those fees. The legislation does not apply to law enforcement employees or firefighters, who are covered under binding arbitration.

After winning an election and surviving a recount, the Eureka Township supervisor is taking a medical leave of absence. At Monday night’s Eureka Township Board meeting, Laura Shears recommended the board name Rodney Roy as interim supervisor and Marty Posekany as interim trustee and the board unanimously approved both recommendations, according to Roy.

More than 60 percent of registered voters in Ionia and Montcalm counties exercised their right to vote Tuesday. Ionia County had 62 percent voter turnout, while Montcalm County had more than 61 percent voter turnout (down just a few percentage points from the 2008 presidential election).

Despite continued crime throughout Montcalm County, voters decided to turn down a proposal in support of local law enforcement millage. A 0.6 millage proposal to generate $971,830 per year for two years for the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office was shot down Tuesday by 11,647 “yes” votes (48 percent) compared to 12,735 “no” votes (52 percent).

AREA PROPOSALS IONIA COUNTY 911 OPERATING SURCHARGE PROPOSAL For the period beginning July 1, 2013 and continuing through the month of June in the year 2021, shall Ionia County be authorized to assess a monthly surcharge of up to Two Dollars and Forty Cents (not to exceed $2.40) on the monthly billings of landline, wireless [...]

SCHOOL BOARD RACES Belding Area Schools-Nonpartisan  (2 positions) Cori Anderson Jennifer Boroff Thomas W. Cameron Robert Insley   CC-Crystal Area Schools-Nonpartisan  (1 position) Diane C. Demenov, Carson City 786 Randy L. Stearns, Riverdale 1,353   Montabella Community Schools-Nonpartisan  (1 position) Bill Burggren, Edmore 857 Don Havlicek, Home Township 438 Scott R. Parks, Remus 879   [...]

IONIA COUNTY Sheriff Dale A. Miller, R Gordy Douglas, D   MONTCALM COUNTY Drain Commissioner Shane Jacobs, D-Howard City 9,466 Sandra Raines, R-Sidney 13,884   Montcalm County Board of Commissioners District 1 Ronald C. Blanding, D-Greenville 1,084 Dale Reyburn, R-Greenville 857   District 5 Ronald Retzloff, R-Crystal 1,341 Jerome M. Duran, D-Edmore 1,049   District [...]