The act of pawning — offering a loan as collateral for personal property — is one of the oldest professions known to mankind. Dating back to Biblical times, the Mosiac Law was anti-pawnbroking as the law forbade taking interest from a poor borrower.

As Belding resident Steve Hunt watched the numbers climb while he filled his truck with gasoline Wednesday afternoon, he had but one thing to say. “It’s ridiculous!” he exclaimed. “I haven’t seen prices this high before, and I drive every day.”

The Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office is saying farewell to one of its finest. Steve Russell worked his last day on the job Friday and then hung up his hat after 31 years. Sgt. Brian Waber will be promoted to lieutenant to fill Russell’s position.

The Montcalm County Republican Party will be welcoming U.S. Congressman Dave Camp to the Annual Lincoln Day Event, to be held Saturday, June 15. Camp is the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee in Washington D.C. He is the representative for the 4th Congressional District of Michigan, which is headquartered in Midland.

A pole barn and items inside, including several tractors and equipment, were destroyed Tuesday afternoon after the barn was consumed and destroyed by fire.

A Howard City elementary school was vandalized the night of Memorial Day, causing the school to be closed Tuesday. MacNaughton Elementary School at 415 Cedar St. houses about 475 kindergarten through second grade students.

The wait is over and this year’s One Book One County selection has been revealed at a banquet held Thursday afternoon at the Stanley & Blanche Ash Technology and Learning Center. Maureen Burns, who brought the One Book One County program to Greenville nearly a decade ago, spoke to a capacity crowd prior to the unveiling. Burns gave the audience a quick history of the program and explained is goal.

Graduating seniors from Tri County High School have said goodbye to a way of life they’ve come to know well over the past four years. Some will move on to college, others to careers and families; but whatever the destination, Thursday night’s commencement ceremony represented a turning point none of them will forget. The class of 162 seniors marched into the school’s packed-to-the-walls gymnasium to the traditional strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” played by the school band.

The seventh annual Make a Difference Awards was held Wednesday to recognize those who have gone above and beyond in helping students with special needs. About 100 people were in attendance at the Greenville High School Performing Arts Center to show their support for those who were nominated and honored for going beyond what the job description states.

A rainy Wednesday gave way to a clear and pleasant evening, just in time to honor a longtime Montcalm County commissioner and emergency rescue advocate. Montcalm County Emergency Services employees gathered at the Stanton base for a dedication ceremony for the late Carl Paepke, along with Paepke’s two daughters, Priscilla Heimbecker and Jeanne Poulsen, both of Trufant.