ALLENDALE, MI (WHTC) - Grand Valley State University officials are warning female students to be on their guard after a reported sexual assault on campus on Monday. The victim was attacked outside of the Robinson Living Center, with no suspect description disclosed and no arrests made. Last month, another woman was assaulted at her off-campus apartment, with no arrests in that incident either.
HURON TWP., MI (WHTC) - Authorities near Flat Rock say that someone claiming to be Christal Lee Parrish has been posting on social media outlets recently, but haven’t confirmed if it was the 22-year-old Holland woman who has been missing since September 29th. Her Facebook account had been deactivated and reactivated, and recent posts claim that Parrish’s cell phone is broken. Various agencies continue to search for her.
HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) - A 12-year-old Holland girl escaped serious injuries when she was struck by a slow-moving vehicle in front of Jefferson Elementary School yesterday morning. The unnamed victim was attempting to cross Van Raalte Avenue at 30th Street and ran out ahead of a crossing guard’s stop sign that would’ve halted traffic. The driver left the scene after checking on the girl’s health.
HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) - The Holland Planning Commission last night gave its blessing to a 56 hundred square-foot expansion of Boatwerks Restaurant. Starting next month, the eatery on the shores of Lake Macatawa off of Van Raalte Avenue will replace an outdoor tent with a permanent banquet and conference area that can seat up to 250 people for larger group gatherings. Boatwerks hopes to open the new space by May.
HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) - The fourth annual “Drive to Survive” statewide teen safe driving conference is today at Holland’s Double Tree Hotel. Two keynote speakers, six breakout sessions, 11 simulations and eight vending tables are planned, focusing on preventing distracted driving and improving motoring safety. This event is ahead of National Teen Drive Safety Week slated for October 19th through the 25th.
ALLENDALE, MI (WHTC) - Two women in their early 20s met by accident at one of Ottawa County’s more dangerous intersections last evening.
According to Sheriffs’ Sergeant Chris Dill, 23-year-old Shannon Hilbrand of Hudsonville had stopped on 68th Avenue for a stop sign where the road ends at Fillmore Street south of Allendale, and was waiting for traffic to clear to turn left when 22-year-old Madelyn Sturm of Fennville approached from the left. Hilbrand pulled out and Strum said afterward she couldn’t avoid broadsiding the turning vehicle. Hilbrand was taken to Mercy St. Mary’s for treatment of a non-life threatening injury; Sturm was treated for a minor aliment at the scene.
Increased traffic has made this intersection more prone to crashes, with some calling for the Ottawa County Road Commission to install a traffic signal there, similar to one placed on Fillmore Street at 42nd Avenue south of the GVSU campus. The crash remains under investigation.
WEST OLIVE, MI (WHTC) - Ottawa County government is taking out some money for employee pensions. However, it’s not because those at the Fillmore Street complex need the cash. Commissioners on a 9-2 vote yesterday approved the issuing of 29 million dollars in 15-year bonds to handle unfunded liabilities, most notably those pensions that are technically “underfunded” at 80 percent, but as County Administrator Al Vanderberg explained in a recent appearance on WHTC's "Talk of the Town" program, this won’t cost taxpayers a dime. Ottawa County is one of the few in Michigan to have a Triple-A credit rating from two New York agencies.
HOLLAND TWP., MI (WHTC) - A three-vehicle pileup on Holland’s North Side before dawn this morning hospitalized two of the drivers involved.
According to Ottawa County Sheriff’s Sergeant Christie Wendt, 69-year-old Elizabeth Lee of Holland was eastbound on James Street and had stopped for the flashing red light over US-31. She proceeded ahead and into the path of a southbound vehicle, driven by David Larkin, and the collision caused Larkin’s vehicle to spin to its left and into the path of an adjacent vehicle, driven by Brenda Diephouse. The 45-year-old Larkin of West Olive had to be extricated by rescue crews, and both he and Diephouse, a 52-year-old Muskegon woman, were taken to Holland Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Lee and a passenger in Larkin’s vehicle were not hurt, and Lee was ticketed for disregarding a traffic light. Southbound US-31 was blocked off for about an hour as a result of the 4:30 AM crash, which remains under investigation.
HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) - The Holland City Council will be handing out accolades during tonight’s biweekly business meeting. Community and Neighborhood Services Director Phil Meyer will be commended in a resolution for 21 years of service to the Tulip City. Council will also honor those behind the Holland in Bloom effort after winning several America in Bloom national beautification awareness awards earlier this month.
UNDATED (WHTC) -- Wings of Mercy founder, Peter VandenBosch has died at the age of 91. VandenBosch, a native Michigander, came out of retirement and in 1990, moved from Florida back to Michigan after hearing a voice in his head, telling him, “there is more to life than this.” A few months after moving back, a friend suggested Peter use his twin engine plane to fly low income people to distant medical centers for needed treatment. In 1991, Wings of Mercy became a reality. Since 1991, almost 7000 missions have helped those in need. A small group of volunteers grew into a respected non-profit with a multi-state area operation. Peter VandenBosch died on Oct. 15th. Arrangements are being made at Yntema Funeral Home in Zeeland.
Story by: Diane E Coston
UNDATED (WHTC) -- An Indiana man is recovering from serious internal injuries at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital this afternoon after running a Stop sign in Allendale this afternoon around 1 P.M. Ottawa County Sheriff’s Dept. Sgt. Chris Dill said the accident involved 21-year-old Ryan McCreary of Bremen, IN, who was seriously injured and 19-year-old Allendale resident, Kyle Gifford who was not injured.
Dill reports that McCreary was pinned in his vehicle for a short time. The accident remains under investigation.
Story by: Diane E Coston
UNDATED (WHTC) -- Ottawa County’s ninth annual Water Quality Forum is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7th and registration is now open. Ottawa County has 25 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, 475-thousand feet of rivers and streams and 36-hundred acres of inland lakes and area experts will discuss ways to safeguard and preserve a valuable resource-water. Outdoor Discovery’s Executive Director Travis Williams says they are on schedule with Project Clarity.
The forum will be held at the Ottawa County Administrative Complex from 8 A.M. until 3:30 P.M. To register and see the complete agenda, visit http://miottawa.org
Story by: Diane E Coston
HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) -- Wednesday night’s Holland City Council meeting was short a few members but there was still lots of praise for retiring Neighborhood and Community Service Director Phil Meyers. City Manager Ryan Cotton started things off by listing Meyer’s attributes.
CouncilmanTodd Whiteman said that Meyers is "ridicuously smart at this palnning thing." Councilman Jay Peters said that Meyers is the man you go to for information "nine times out of ten." Phil Meyers is retiring after 21 years as a Holland city staffer.
Story by; Diane E Coston
HOLLAND (WHTC) - New Holland Brewing Company is going international. The Holland-based brewery has begun sending some of its craft beer across the border into Ontario, Canada. New Holland has already begun sending its The Poet Oatmeal Stout, and it will soon be followed by its Hatter series, and then by Beer Barrel Bourbon at the end of the month. In November, shipments of New Holland's top-selling brand, Dragon's Milk Bourbon Barrel Stout will be hitting shelves throughout the province. As part of the launch, New Holland is teaming up with a restaurant in Toronto with five locations, where a new Hatter beer will be introduced each Monday for four weeks.
ALLENDALE (WHTC) - Federal education officials have added Grand Valley State University to a list of colleges under investigation over their handling of sexual abuse complaints. The Huffington Post reports GVSU is one of 85 colleges around the country facing a federal Title IX investigation over sexual abuse allegations. University officials say they are aware of the complaint and that they are cooperating. They say Grand Valley is in full compliance with Title IX, and that its Division of Inclusion and Equity "works vigilantly to ensure a campus climate free from harassment and discrimination." The University of Michigan and Michigan State University are also being investigated.
ALLENDALE (WHTC) - A 25-year-old Allendale Township man is in a Grand Rapids hospital after being struck by a car near the Grand Valley State University campus. Aidan Dobias was struck about 12:40 this morning as he was walking on 48th Avenue by a car driven by 20-year-old Benjamin Simpson of Kingsley. Ottawa County investigators say Simpson was attempting to turn into a driveway and didn't see Dobias. The vicitm was taken to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
HOLLAND (WHTC) - The city of Holland will spend $14,900 dollars on a study addressing future recreational needs that could be tied to the future of the Civic Center. The City Council Wednesday approved hiring the Holland-based firm G-M-B Architects to conduct the study. Holland City Manager Ryan Cotton says the report will look at alternative sites for recreational programs that are now based at the Civic Center, as well as the possible renovation of Bouws Pool. The report is expected back to City Council in time for its retreat in January.
UNDATED (WHTC) -- A local university is now under investigation by the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Grand Valley State University is one of the three Michigan colleges that are part of the investigation. Michigan State University and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor are the other two. The complaint that started the investigation was filed on Oct. 6th. Title IX, which is a federal anti-discrimination law, dictates how universities and colleges protect students from sexual assault. There was a reported sexual assault on campus this past Monday. The victim was attacked outside of the Robinson Living Center, with no suspect description disclosed and no arrests made. Last month, another woman was assaulted at her off-campus apartment, with no arrests in that incident either.
Story by: Diane E Coston
UNDATED (WHTC) -- The Zeeland man who founded Wings of Mercy, an organization for volunteer pilots to help people in need of transportation for needed medical services. Since 1991, almost 8000 missions have helped those in need. Wings of Mercy flight director Grace Spelde says Vandenbosch had planned for this day.
Peter VandenBosch died on Oct. 15th. Funeral services with military honors are scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 21st. Visitation in the Chapel at Christ Memorial Church is scheduled for Monday, from 3 until 5 P.M. and from 7 until 9 P.M.
Story by: Diane E Coston
HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) -- Hope College’s Homecoming weekend begins on Friday and there are many events set-up by and for the students. Director of student life and Greek life, Ellen Awad, said for the students, there will be hoedown on Friday evening.
Saturday at noon, the Memphis Blues & BBQ gets underway, hosted by President John Knapp and his wife Kelly. It takes place at the newly renovated Phelps Hall dining room and is free and open to the community. On Saturday, there also several sporting events: women’s soccer begins at noon, followed by the football game at 2 P.M. and the men’s soccer match at 7P.M.
Story by; Diane E Coston
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