Those looking to shoot off any fireworks that may have gone unused during the Fourth of July holiday may want to think twice before launching that next rocket into the sky in the city of Belding.

At the request of Belding Fire Chief and City Code Official Gregg Moore, members of Belding City Council officially adopted the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code (IMPC) during Tuesday night’s meeting. According to Moore, the code, which has been upgraded since the city instituted the previous maintenance code in 2009, now includes boarding standards for the closing of damaged or vacant structures.

Minor damage was done to a Crystal home this morning after lightening struck a water line. The Crystal Township Fire Department was dispatched to Smith Street near Crystal Lake for a structure fire at 4:37 a.m.

  .

The Fairplain Township Board decided against purchasing property in Fenwick because of the cost of demolishing the existing building. The township board had $10,000 set aside in its foreclosure and clean-up fund to possibly purchase a piece of property before it goes to the Montcalm County public land auction Aug. 6. The idea was to turn the property into a small community park. However, the cost to demolish the existing building would have put the township’s costs closer to $12,000.

The thing about living in any town – no matter the size – is that you get the good with the bad. Of course, we always hope that the good far outweighs the bad. But sometimes it may seem like the reverse. Lately, our area has had its share of strange crime and last weekend Montcalm County Sheriff deputies were particularly busy. They arrested a man after he threatened his family at knifepoint, apparently because he was upset he wouldn’t be able to buy K2/spice anymore. Selling the drug became illegal last Sunday.

It all started with an idea. Hands on Hubbardston began with a conversation about how more could be done to help those fighting cancer. Since then, the group has grown from five people to about 20 people, plus countless volunteers and donors.

Due to construction, Spectrum Health United Hospital’s main entrance will be moved to a new temporary location. The move to the temporary location began today and is due to construction taking place in the current main entrance, registration and lobby areas.

The heat didn’t hinder families coming out to celebrate red, white and blue fun during the Independence Day parade in Crystal. People gathered and sounds from horns and sirens blasted loud noises that echoed throughout the streets of Crystal as the parade moved through town. Excited happy children raced to gather candy from various fire trucks, floats and other vehicles containing riders who were waving and smiling as they took part in the parade to celebrates America’s independence on a hot Wednesday morning.

Read the funeral notices for Thursday, July 5, 2012.