United Solar Ovonic is about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. USO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Feb. 14, along with its parent company, Energy Conversion Devices (ECD).

Read The Daily News Funeral Notices for Thursday, March 29, 2012

It was overcast and it was windy. After weeks of beautiful weather, Michigan’s normal spring settled back in on Wednesday for the first Belding Redskins track meet of the season.

Greenville Public Schools (GPS) Board of Education Vice President Norice Rasmussen has earned an Award of Merit from the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB). Rasmussen was honored Monday night during the Montcalm County School Board Association membership meeting She received the award because of her efforts to improve her leadership skills, demonstrating her commitment to student achievement and her own continuous improvement, according to Jennifer Rogers in a press release from MASB. “I was completely surprised,” said Rasmussen of finding out she was receiving the award.

The face of Belding Area Schools appears to have a different look each day that construction continues at the high school and Ellis Elementary School — and even more changes are on the way after various projects have come in “significantly under budget” in recent weeks. According to school board President Tom Humphreys, bids on future projects such as remodeling the middle school building have come in enough under budget that additional projects have now been given the green light for future construction.

Two men were injured after their car crashed into a tree at a high rate of speed this morning. Mecosta County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the accident at 9:05 a.m. on 5 Mile Road near 120th Avenue.

Read The Daily News Funeral Notices for Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Local boards of education are being advised to look at policies regarding technology, relationships and boundaries. During the semi-annual Montcalm County School Board Association (MCSBA) general membership meeting Monday night, the members received a presentation from Derrick R. Fries, an expert witness for United States School Liaison Cases.

Montabella’s softball team found out Morley Stanwood’s softball team may be as good as their state champion volleyball and basketball teams. The Mustangs were mercied twice by the Mohawks 12-1 in five and 17-3 — both in five innings — in the first doubleheader of the season for both teams.

Trying to rebuild a program is a tough thing to do. But Vicky Sawyer is going to attempt just that with Montabella’s softball team. Sawyer debuted as head coach of the Mustangs on Tuesday, losing the first two games of the season to Morley Stanwood at home.