Carl Paepke, 86, of Pierson, died Wednesday. The longtime Montcalm County commissioner did not, in fact, die Saturday, as was previously reported in several rounds of emails throughout Montcalm County. Another Montcalm County commissioner, Ron Baker, was with a cousin of a friend who was with Mr. Paepke’s daughter Saturday. Baker said the friend who was with Mr. Paepke’s daughter texted information to the cousin stating Mr. Paepke had died. And so an unfortunate chain reaction began.

The annual Spring Handbell Festival is being hosted by Grace Notes Handbell Choir of St. Paul Lutheran Church. The concert will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 9844 S. Greenville Road, two miles south of Greenville on M-91.

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.

The Carson City-Crystal Area Schools Youth Leadership Team (whose mission is to serve the community, state, and world through acts of volunteerism and kindness), will be helping to fight the worldwide hunger crisis by organizing a food packaging event called “Project: No Empty Stomachs” as part of Global Youth Service Day. This event will take place at 11:40 a.m. Friday at the Carson City-Crystal High School West Gymnasium.

Montcalm County has lost a legendary, longtime commissioner. Carl Paepke died Wednesday morning at his Pierson home after fighting lung cancer. He was 86 years old.

Read a brief report from recent Maple Township board meetings.

Read The Daily News Funeral Notices for Thursday, April 19, 2012

The Belding Redskins are still trying to build a soccer program. Doing so against some top notch programs is a tough thing to do. On a mild Wednesday evening, the Cedar Springs Red Hawks cruised to a 9-1 O-K Blue victory over the Redskins at Rudness Field.

New regulations created by the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) are creating concerns among residents of the Carson City community. Speaking on behalf of the Carson City corrections officers at Tuesday night’s Carson City Council meeting, former corrections officer and Belding resident Denny Craycraft pleaded with council members to consider drafting a resolution to send to the state against recent budget decisions made by the Michigan Department of Corrections.

A woman and children at a Gowen-area daycare escaped a fire through the basement after the blaze broke through the attic and ground level of the house Tuesday afternoon. Spencer Township Fire Chief Alan Wright said firefighters responded to the fire around 5:20 p.m. at 13225 17 Mile Road.