After 10 years of showing pigs at the Montcalm County 4-H Fair, recent Lakeview High School graduate Joe Main ended his 4-H career on a very high note. Main, 18, was declared Grand Champion showing pigs for the fifth time after his pig sold for a fair record $14 per pound weighing in at 272 pounds. “It was a lot of hard work and a lot of fun,” he said. “I have a lot of good memories over the 10 years.”

The swine show at the Montcalm County 4-H Fair featured youths and pigs of all shapes and sizes. But Colin Hough and his 282-pound pig, Bob, stole the show Tuesday.

This year’s Lakeview Summerfest, held Friday and Saturday, featured live music, a beer tent, a 5K run, kids games, a parade and dozens of other activities. Summerfest has grown steadily over the past 15 years and now rivals festivals held throughout the area. Though an afternoon thunderstorm diminished the crowds somewhat Saturday afternoon, revelers were back in full force by the time the beer tent got rolling in the early evening.

The halls of Lakeview High School are alive with the sound of music, thanks to a grant from the Fender Music Foundation. The foundation, located in Agoura Hills, Calif., provides guitars and basses to four Michigan school programs each year. Lakeview was chosen to receive one of this year’s grants thanks to the efforts of music teacher Dean Gilbert, who handled the application process early in the school year.

The importance of connections, friends and family was the overriding theme at Lakeview High School’s commencement exercises Sunday afternoon. Ninety-five students comprised this year’s graduating class.

National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week is being observed throughout the United States this week. This year’s theme is “EMS: More Than a Job. A Calling.” The theme sums up how Erik Rood and Kristen Scholten feel about their duties.

The Amble Fire Department responded to a wildfire at 15266 W. Gates Road in Winfield Township around 3:30 p.m. Monday. The fire started in a wooded area behind a home and began to spread into the forest area. The fire burned three to four acres before firefighters were able to extinguish it.

“All gave some — some gave all.” These words, etched deep into the polished wood of the veterans memorial at Lakeview High School, tell the story of the hundreds of young men and women who over the years have left this small, quintessentially American hometown to serve with the U.S. military at locations around the world. Among those who served during wartime, too many never made it home again.

The manufacturing industry is growing in Montcalm County. Government officials toured county factories Friday to see how they can help the factories, as well as keep them here locally.

Every guy relaxes in his own way. Some garden, some jog, bike or fish. Winfield Lake resident Bob Kade shrugs off the stress of his workday with a wrench in his hand. For the past few years, that wrench has been applied to a 2000 Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide motorcycle. On Tuesday, the fruits of Kade’s labor will be on display at newsstands across America, when Motorcycle Bagger magazine features his customized ride on the cover of its May issue.