In 97 years, you do many things and meet many people. Juanita Butler of Lakeview, who turned 97 on Easter Sunday, was honored Tuesday morning at Lakeview Middle School for her help in the Foster Grandparent program at Lakeview Community Schools. Staff and students shared pink lemonade, cake and candy with “Grandma” Butler to celebrate her birthday.

Ionia County Commissioner James Lower has announced his intention to run for Ionia County clerk. Lower, who resides in Ionia, will be running as a Republican. “Working with my colleagues on the board, I have achieved most of the goals I set out to accomplish when I ran for commissioner,” Lower said. “At this time I feel I can do more to improve our county by running for the county clerk position.”

Read The Daily News Funeral Notices for Thursday, April 12, 2012

It is that time of year again for the annual Belding Band Follies at Belding High School (BHS). Come support the Belding band program at 7 p.m. today and Friday in the Belding High School auditorium as the BHS Band performs the annual Band Follies show.

The abused child crying on the other end of the line; the hysterical mother of a baby who has stopped breathing; the wails of the accident victim pinned behind the wheel of her car … all these haunt the waking hours of 9-1-1 emergency operators. They perform what is often a thankless, stressful job, but from April 8-14, these dispatchers are being honored during National Public Safety Telecommunicator Appreciation Week.

More than 50 Montcalm County employees are being required to take five furlough days this year as part of last year’s $1.3 million in countywide budget cuts. Elected officials were exempt from the cuts, as the wages of elected officials cannot be lowered during their term of office.

Kids who eat breakfast and lunch not only are healthier, but they’re also better able to focus and learn. The hard truth is, though, there are more kids than we know who don’t get these basic meals. Our local schools have done a fantastic job in stepping to the plate when it comes to making sure their students are fed — opening up these first two meals of the day for those who might not have enough food at home.

A local attorney is proposing one local judge each serve the 8th Judicial Circuit Court district for Montcalm and Ionia counties. However, Montcalm County commissioners are unimpressed with the idea. Ronald Finegood of Stanton originally submitted his proposal to the Board of Commissioners on March 27. The matter was referred to the Law Enforcement & Courts Committee, which convened Monday.

The only thing hot on Tuesday afternoon in Greenville was the pitching of Alyssa Canterbury and hitting of Nikota Howe. Canterbury threw a no-hitter while Howe smacked two home runs and drove in seven RBIs in Greenville’s 16-0 four-inning win over the Lansing Sexton Big Reds at home.

It wasn’t a pretty win by the Greenville baseball team, but it was a win nonetheless. The Yellow Jackets took advantage of seven Lansing Sexton errors to mercy the Big Reds 15-5 in five innings Tuesday afternoon in a doubleheader shortened to one game because of weather.