Reasons for gratitude not that hard to find

Flint Township/Swartz Creek Advance - Sun Nov 29

For the past few years, I've written my "good news" column late Thanksgiving Eve as the newsroom empties and the hurly-burly dies away.

Kent County taxpayers could end up footing tab for farmland preservation

Flint Township/Swartz Creek Advance - Sun Nov 29

Support remains tenuous for spending taxpayer dollars to preserve Kent County farmland as a panel prepares to take up the proposal again Tuesday.

Grand Rapids area effort offers counsel to prescription users as...

Flint Township/Swartz Creek Advance - Sun Nov 29

Don Lamoreaux says he can hardly pronounce the seven medicines he takes for chronic diseases, let alone understand all their functions, side effects and interactions.

Peter Hoekstra's Capitol steps stunt gets attention

Flint Township/Swartz Creek Advance - Sun Nov 29

Clean it up: U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Holland, picks up a copy of the House health care bill, H.B. 3962, on the steps to the Capitol in Washington.

Alpine Township Planning Commission tables apple facility plans

Flint Township/Swartz Creek Advance - Sat Nov 28

The Planning Commission tabled a request by a Sparta-based apple packing company that plans to open a location at 7777 Venture Ave.

Request to remove 4-way stop in East Grand Rapids draws public response

Flint Township/Swartz Creek Advance - Sat Nov 28

Resident Mark Murray recently asked about taking down a set of stop signs at Sherman Street and Cambridge Drive.

East Grand Rapids holiday tree lighting

MLive.com - Fri Nov 27

Find great deals from these Grand Rapids Press advertisers online: Visit shopping.mlive.com See all of The Grand Rapids Press Special Sections New on MLive.com: choose your local coverage The first time you view the new MLive.com, you'll see the "Statewide" version of the home page.

More needy families seek help from Santa Claus Girls; charity counts on generosity of donors

Flint Township/Swartz Creek Advance - Fri Nov 27

From right, Joan Ottenwess, of Marne; Bill Kubilius, of Grand Rapids; and Pat Berg, of Marne, wrap and organize presents Tuesday at the Santa Claus Girls headquarters on Plainfield Avenue NE.

Reconstructed picture of likely murder victim to be released by Kent County detectives

Flint Township/Swartz Creek Advance - Fri Nov 27

Cold case investigators next week will release a facial reconstruction made from the skull of a woman whose skeletal remains were found in an Ada Township park in 1997.

Police say man schemed with fake gunman to have sex with relative

MLive.com - Thu Nov 26

After Lee Craddock and an adult female relative were held at gunpoint along a rural road, they told police an appalling tale: They were ordered into the woods near Kent City and forced to have sex while their attacker watched.