The Tri County Area Schools community has come together to mourn the death of a Pierson teenager who drowned in a fishing accident in Little Whitefish Lake. Sheriff’s divers recovered the body of Dalton Gustinis at 2 p.m. on Saturday — 38 hours after he disappeared. Montcalm County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Little Whitefish Lake in Pierson Township at about 12:30 a.m. on Friday.

A boy is missing after three teenagers went fishing during the early hours this morning. Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to Little White Fish Lake in Pierson Township regarding a boating accident. The information the deputies have received is three male teenagers launched their 14-foot aluminum boat at the public boat launch. A short time later, the boat began to take on water and capsized.

Montcalm County officials are preparing to cut ties with Recycle World and establish six new unmanned recycling sites throughout the county. Montcalm County currently contracts with Recycle World, based out of a building at M-91 and Sidney Road in Montcalm Township. Recycle World is owned by Kevin Willemstein of Gowen, along with his son. They have four additional employees.

Tri County’s boys basketball team is heading to the district finals, and they can thank Devin Longoria for that. The senior jump-started a stagnant offense and helped the Vikings to a 58-46 win over the Chippewa Hills Warriors Wednesday night in the Class B district tournament at Belding.

Close basketball games usually come down to free throws. Wednesday’s district semifinal between Central Montcalm and Tri County wasn’t any different. In just the final 10 seconds of the game both teams thought they had won the game. Wednesday’s district semifinal between Central Montcalm and Tri County wasn’t any different. In just the final 10 seconds of the game both teams thought they had won the game.

A Howard City woman allegedly on drugs caused multiple car accidents Sunday morning, leaving one man dead and others injured. Montcalm County sheriff’s deputies responded to a three-vehicle crash on Ensley Street south of Walnut Street at 9:23 a.m. After striking the Tahoe, Stapleton’s vehicle continued north and just missed the Dairy Bear ice cream parlor before striking a tree, where the vehicle came to rest.

Multiple fire departments battled a blaze for at least five hours this morning in downtown Pierson. Randy and Denise Granger’s home at 321 Amy School Road just off Federal and Stanton roads was left in shambles after a fire raged through the 22-room old farmhouse.

Because of increased amounts of people driving and using cell phones, a federal law was recently passed requiring commercial motor vehicle drivers to use hands-free devices. The latest action by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to end distracted driving will prohibit commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers from using hand-held cellphones while operating their vehicles, which includes CMV drivers with or without a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Sun and snow made a beautiful contrast Saturday at the third annual Howard City Winterfest. Children from throughout the neighborhood and out of town flocked to property near the Timothy C. Hauenstein Reynolds Township Library for sledding, snow painting and frozen chicken bowling.

A man on parole from prison was arrested after allegedly stealing and damaging a snowmobile and then trying to steal another one in Howard City and Cedar Springs.