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1 week ago | 
ottawanewsnetwork.org | Sarah Leach
OTTAWA COUNTY — The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is regrouping after its hired search firm dropped out of the process to find the county's next permanent administrator.
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1 week ago | 
ottawanewsnetwork.org | Sarah Leach
On May 23, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order demanding that the J.H. Campbell plant "remain available for operation" — just eight days before the plant was scheduled to shut down, a plan that has been in place since 2021.
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2 weeks ago | 
ottawanewsnetwork.org | Sarah Leach
GRAND RAPIDS — A lawsuit disputing a pair of controversial employee severance agreements approved by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners late last year will continue, without the plaintiff or his attorney having access to closed session minutes that are key to the case. At issue are 11th-hour severance agreements with former interim county administrator Ben Wetmore for $175,000 and his executive aide, Jordan Epperson, for $100,000 plus five months of benefits.
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2 weeks ago | 
ottawanewsnetwork.org | Sarah Leach
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is seeking its next administrator — it's fifth in three years. On Friday, the county released the names of three finalists in the search, but two have since dropped out. On Wednesday, June 11, Board Chair John Teeples said the board would continue with the remaining candidate's interview as planned on Thursday, however, it's possible for the board to go back to a broader list of finalists to consider.
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2 weeks ago | 
ottawanewsnetwork.org | Sarah Leach
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is seeking its next administrator — it's fifth in three years. On Friday, the county released the names of three finalists in the search. The four Ottawa Impact commissioners who remain on the board — Sylvia Rhodea, Allison Miedema, Kendra Wenzel and Moss — attempted to delay the current search process, citing transparency concerns, despite holding only one public search in three of the four administrator hires they oversaw.
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1 month ago | 
ottawanewsnetwork.org | John Sinkevics
Seeded in church music and gospel-fueled environs, Cold Leather Seats’ evolution as a band has clinched them a unique berth amid West Michigan’s music scene. “We like to call our music gospel-Americana. I would describe it as elements Americana, country, folk and rock all blended together through the lens of Christian storytelling,” said guitarist, singer and frontman Alex Svoboda, of Grand Haven.
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1 month ago | 
ottawanewsnetwork.org | John Sinkevics
Patrons and employees alike say there’s absolutely nothing like Silva — a restaurant and “dinnertainment” destination that opened in Grand Rapids earlier this year with a recreation room, indoor bocce ball courts and roaming, circus-like entertainers. Now, that unusual and spacious new hot spot at 975 Ottawa Ave. NW is about to uncork even more grandiose experiences with the debut of a 1,500-capacity music and entertainment venue next door.
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1 month ago | 
ottawanewsnetwork.org | Sarah Leach
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued an emergency order on Friday, May 23 — just eight days before the J.H. Campbell plant in Port Sheldon Township was scheduled to shut down, a plan that has been in place since 2021. The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution on in February urging Consumers Energy to delay the closure of the J.H. Campbell plant, however, it stopped short of filing a lawsuit in April.
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1 month ago | 
ottawanewsnetwork.org | John Sinkevics
Take it from The Accidentals, the Traverse City alt-folk heroes who’ve performed across the globe, sometimes in front of massive audiences. There’s nothing quite like playing outdoors in Michigan in front of their home-state fans — fans from Ann Arbor to Lowell to Boyne City to Grand Rapids. “This year, when we sat down to look at summer schedules, we realized we had six dates we were all free. So we were super intentional with the shows,” said multi-instrumentalist Sav Madigan.
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1 month ago | 
ottawanewsnetwork.org | Sarah Leach
OTTAWA COUNTY — Local, state and national officials are warning that unless Michigan environmental officials can fast-track PFAS regulations to allow for harbor dredging this year, it could end up costing Ottawa County residents millions. The problem arose when the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) implemented a new policy that requires testing for PFAS chemicals in sediment prior to being removed from federal harbors and channels.