One of the things Rachael Vestergaard wanted to do on her return trip home from Afghanistan was to attend a Detroit Red Wings game. The 2007 Central Montcalm graduate got her wish and made the trip on Feb. 8 to see the Red Wings host the Edmonton Oilers. Thanks to Red Wings’ defenseman Ian White, the trip meant so much more.

The villages of Hubbardston and Muir have been awarded tree planting grants by Consumers Energy. Hubbardston received an $800 grant while Muir received a $3,000 grant.

An “Opportunity Fair” will take place Friday at Tri County High School. The event is from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to eighth-grade and high school students and their parents.

It wasn’t the performance the Lakeview Wildcats girls basketball team was hoping for in its final home game of 2012.
The Big Rapids Cardinals jumped to an 18-0 first quarter lead and went on to defeat the Wildcats 59-37 at home on Tuesday night.

Montabella’s girls basketball team has put themselves in the record books. The Mustangs tied a school record for wins in a season when they knocked off the Newaygo Lions 44-36 in the final regular-season game.

Belding Area Schools (BAS) will be welcoming two new school buses next fall. The school board approved a motion during Monday night’s monthly meeting to purchase buses using bond funds. Going through the Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO) Bus Purchasing Program, the board voted to purchase the buses for $80,137 each from Capital City Bus Sales, the lowest of three bids provided to the board.

Ron Farrell has spent almost half a century in education. The longtime Montabella Community Schools administrator recently announced his retirement, which will be effective June 30. He’s worked in the Montabella school district for more than four decades, the same district where he grew up and attended school.

Read The Daily News Funeral Notices for Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012

The Greenville Department of Public Safety will have a new face as its leader starting at the end of March. The Greenville City Council confirmed the appointment of Michael Pousak as the city’s public safety director during its regular scheduled meeting Tuesday night.

With Belding City Council member Roger Wills’ empty seat to his left, Belding Mayor Ron Gunderson read a prepared statement to begin Monday night’s city council meeting announcing the official resignation of Wills from the council. “Yesterday, Mr. Wills tendered his resignation which became effective at this evening’s city council meeting,” Gunderson said. “While I am disappointed with his decision, I respect his wishes. That being said, I would like to officially thank Roger Wills for his 11 years of service on city council. Roger has been a valuable asset to this community and his talent and expertise will be sorely missed. I wish Roger and his wife Nancy all the best.”