One man died in this home at 7014 Kreuter Road in Cannon Township after it was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Thursday, Dec. 15.

A fire that officials believe may have started in a chimney and spread to an attic claimed one life on Thursday, Dec. 15.

Ten people were asleep in a home at 7014 Kreuter in Cannon Township, when one resident awoke to check on a crying baby about 1:30 a.m. and discovered the home was filled with smoke, reports stated.

Kent County Sheriff’s (KCS) deputies and Cannon Township firefighters responded to the call of the fire, which had become fully involved. They were assisted by firefighters and equipment from Ada, Plainfield and Grattan townships. After arriving, KCS deputies assisted with the victims and traffic control.

The sheriff’s department report said preliminary investigation indicated that there were 10 people sleeping in the home as it was burning. Once the fire was discovered, one occupant entered the home three times, helping others escape. One resident, 91-year-old Clarence Rewa, was unable to escape the fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two adult occupants of the home were transported to Spectrum Hospital by Rockford Ambulance for non-life-threatening injuries. All others were medically assessed by EMS on the scene. The Red Cross and the Kent County Victim Advocate team also assisted in the rescue and care efforts.

by BETH ALTENA

Historians, RACE board members, friends and family joined in recognition of the area’s historically important people in spring of 2011. This year’s inductees were the late Paul Robe and Homer Burch.

Indisputably, the shops and service providers in downtown Rockford are among the best local sources when shopping for the perfect holiday gift. Shoppers can arrange that family photo that really needs to be taken while the kids are still young, pick out new carpeting before the family flies in for the holidays, and certainly find the perfect unique present for loved ones.

There is another option in shopping available downtown that is sure to impress and also leaves a legacy for the future. Recognition Plaza, west of the Rogue River, is paved with bricks engraved with names—family names, business names, the names of individuals. Each brick represents an investment in the Rockford area.

The Rockford Area Community Endowment (RACE) provides financial support for worthy projects in the City of Rockford and the townships of Algoma, Cannon, Courtland and Plainfield and for Rockford Public Schools. One of the organization’s first undertakings was the beautiful Recognition Plaza at the dam, a popular spot for wedding photos and enjoying the beauty of the Rogue River.

The public can become part of Rockford’s history with the purchase of a brick for $100 and have a name engraved as a permanent tribute to a person, company or organization. The bricks are installed throughout recognition plaza and the purchase price goes to RACE’s fund for community projects.

Those with names on the bricks are in good company. Part of the Recognition Plaza is an annual celebration adding names to the pillars in the park of people who have been nominated and chosen for having a significant positive impact on the member communities. Past inductees include the late WWII hero and philanthropist Clarence Blakeslee as well as Edna Haner, daughter of a civil war veteran and the towns first librarian, and Wendell and Donna Briggs.

This year’s ceremony took place in April and included historian Homer Burch and community leader Paul Robe. And as you look toward celebrating the holiday season, consider helping RACE provide grants and gifts for charitable programs and organizations to encourage scientific, literary, recreational, educational and safety projects that add to the positive experience of living in the communities that RACE serves.

Lifetime membership in RACE is also available for just $25.

Brick forms are available at Rockford City Hall as well as the township offices of Algoma, Cannon, Courtland and Plainfield. For more information, call the townships or Rockford City Hall at (616) 866-1537.

Rockford inductee Paul Robe

He shaped the town

by ROGER ALLEN

Published in The Rockford Squire in 1999

Paul Robe made his mark on this town. His unlimited energy helped make Rockford what it is today—a community widely regarded as “a nice place to live.” Life-long resident Clarence Blakeslee says, “I first remember him when I was on the City Council. He was always on every committee we had… always ready with information. He always knew what was going on.” Paul’s death last month leaves a huge gap.

Paul graduated from high school in Bridgeman, Mich., and from MSU in 1935 with a degree in landscape architecture. The limited job market in the ‘30s led to his going to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps in several Michigan camps. He ended up at Camp Wellston as Commander. When WWII came along, Paul served much of his time in Greenland and achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel.

After the war, he went to work with the Veterans Administration. According to his family, he helped veterans find jobs.

He remained a member of the Army Reserves until 1971. Each Wednesday evening, when he put on his uniform, he was teased by his daughters about “going soldiering.”

In 1946 Paul brought his family to Rockford and took a job with the Rockford State Bank (on Main Street) as a teller. Working his way up in the banking business, he joined Union Bank when it bought State Bank. He became branch manager and held that position until he retired in 1974.

Paul’s family had more than 100 acres east of town. They kept dairy cattle, so the work included plenty of milking and shoveling. It also meant fresh whole milk and lots of cream for the family. They churned their own butter. Summers the family never traveled because that was haying season and everybody, including the three girls, Sue, Sally and Jean, helped get the hay in. The girls were active in 4-H as members of the Courtland Cannonballs, and the family camped out in tents at the fairgrounds in Lowell during fair time. Paul came over every evening to be with them.

Paul made every attempt, and almost succeeded, to get Grand Valley State College located east of Rockford. While he missed out with Grand Valley, he did help the City annex the Rockford Plaza area, then the Rum Creek addition, then the area west of the river, then the area east of the river on the north side of town, and finally the Wolverine headquarters property on Courtland Drive.

Paul joined Rockford Rotary in 1952 and was club president in 1968-69. He went on to become District Governor in 1975-76, the Rockford club’s only governor so far. A hardworking member, he always was among the top sellers for the annual fruit sale. He was known to be a reliable taxi service for the exchange students hosted by Rotary. The Robe family themselves hosted a German exchange student, who kept in touch through the years and finally came back last summer to visit.

The Little Red Schoolhouse is in its present location on Division Avenue in large part due to Paul’s interest and work. His daughters remember helping paint it. It wasn’t just the antique schoolhouse he was interested in; he also served on the Rockford School Board the year the Division Avenue high school was built. And when Victor Krause wanted to make a contribution to the new swimming pool at the building, it was Paul and the Rockford Community Foundation that smoothed the way.

Those who knew him say he gave his all to everything he became involved in. And, as Clarence Blakeslee says, Paul was the “…kind of guy you can look in the eye and [know] you’re going to get the truth out of him.” After retirement he spent part of each winter in Texas but returned to Rockford for most of the year. He died in Rockford on January 25, 1999 at the age of 87.

Plainfield Township Inductee Homer Ludwig Burch  

by JOAN BUNN and JACK BOLT

Homer Ludwig Burch was born on December 13, 1899 in Courtland Township in what later became a chicken coop. He graduated from Rockford Union School before going to fight in World War I. In 1929 Homer became Rockford’s village manager and contributed in the effort to organize Rockford into a city in 1935. By 1944 his interest in history resulted in writing about the Grand River and for the next 40-plus years he kept detailed records of the Grand River. After retiring from Haven-Bush Company in 1965, Homer turned his energy toward Rockford’s history.

He gathered a group representing Rockford and the four surrounding townships that became the founders of the Rockford Area Historical Society. In 1968 he published his book “From Sawmill to City” that for many years was used as a textbook in Rockford schools. That same year he led Rockford’s Quasquicentennial Celebration that included a play, parade, restoration of the Pioneer Cemetery, with an Indian ceremony, and the sale of commemorative plates.

In the 1970s, Homer was the driving force behind the establishment of Rockford’s Power House Museum in a building by the dam that once generated electricity for the City of Rockford until 1935.

In December 1984, the Michigan State Senate passed a resolution acknowledging Homer’s many contributions. The Michigan State House followed with a resolution awarded posthumously in December 1985. Homer died at Kent Community Hospital on June 16, 1985.

Fifteen rescue units from Cannon Township, the Kent County Sheriff’s Department and Rockford Ambulance are on the scene after a suicidal man led officers on a day-long manhunt, calling from his cell phone and threatening suicide.

Kent County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Roger Zoppa said a man fleeing authorities but calling on his cell phone threatening to kill himself finally gave away his location. The incident began in Grand Rapids Tuesday, Sept. 6, when the man, estranged from his wife, began the calls.

By tracking his cell phone and following clues the suspect offered, police knew the man had left Grand Rapids and was somewhere in Rockford. Zoppa said the Sheriff’s Department took over the hunt as it became apparent the suspect had left Grand Rapids and fled into the county.

“We were using a K-9 unit, tracking him in heavy woods in the Blakely and 7 Mile area,” Zoppa said. “Obviously the dog didn’t know what he was tracking,” he added, noting that in most tracking cases the K-9 has a starting point with scent to follow.

Zoppa said the suspect gave rescuers clues to his location, such as saying he could see a tin roof, but during the hunt refused to reveal his location.

“Some of the cell phones are very accurate, some not so accurate,” Zoppa said. “Sometimes they can pinpoint it right down, others can only tell you the location is between this tower and that one.”

Zoppa said during the hunt, deputies at times thought they had the location narrowed to a two-mile and one-mile radius. Finally the suspect told the authorities that he was at Cannonsburg Ski Area.

While preparations were being made for the West Michigan Healing Fields less than a quarter mile away, first responders converged on the vehicle of the man, who had injured himself badly. According to Zoppa, as rescue units entered the parking lot off the ski area driveway, the man jumped from his vehicle, ran a short distance, then laid down on the grass.

“He had cut his leg pretty badly,” Zoppa said, and said the injury included severing an artery.

Zoppa said the man’s wife indicated that he had acted in a similar manner in the past. The incident ended shortly after 4 p.m. “It was a desperate attempt looking for attention.”

Cannon Township officials are thrilled they were able to upgrade their fire facilities without asking residents for an increase in taxes. With planning and a positive bidding environment due to the slow economy, they were able to build a substantial addition to the fire station at 6878 Belding Road.

Nugent Builders put up the structure in record time and are pleased to have the public tour the building Saturday, June 25 from 8 to 10 a.m. A free pancake breakfast will be offered. Highlights of the new fire station include:

• over 10,000 square feet of addition/renovated space;

• built for future growth;

• modern apparatus room with 18’9” ceilings;

• tube heating over all bays;

• two-inch quick fill water lines;

• six 14’x14’ overhead doors;

• expanded offices and kitchen space;

• future training areas;

• sleeping quarters;

• fitness center;

• hazmat (hazardous material) shower;

• public restrooms on the east side of the building for trail users.

The duration of the project was August 2010 through spring of 2011. The township took occupancy in January 2011. The project was supervised by Rick Nugent and Jeff Engle of Nugent Builders with Paradigm Design as architect.

A thousand bucks is serious money, and this year’s treasure hunt organizers are serious about giving it away. Three clues a week will be offered instead of the two clues as in past years. Pictured are the Cannon Area Business Association members who organize the treasure hunt in Cannon Township worth $1,000 to the first to find the copper coin. Back row: Jim Blackall of Topp Stopp, Dennis Spitler of Believe, Don Kurylowicz of Cannonsburg Grist Mill, and (front) Carl Stites of Stites Eye Care and Linda Anderson of ChoiceOne Bank.

Hunters scouring Cannon Township for a copper coin that will give them $1,000 in free gasoline can begin looking Tuesday, September 21 when the first three of three clues each week are released. The Cannon Area Business Association (CABA) is again holding the annual treasure hunt in the memory of the township’s namesake cannon, hidden by township fathers after it fatally killed one man who was shooting it off as a prank.

Today the hunt for the “cannon”—in the guise of a copper coin with the image of the cannon on one side—is worth big money, one thousand dollars in free gas to the hunter who first discovers its hiding place.

“I run into people all the time from all over,” said the keeper of the coin’s hiding spot, Carl Stites of Stites Eye Care. “They tell me they love to look for the coin and do it as a family every year.” Stites said the local hunt—it is always within the boundaries of Cannon Township—has expanded its following to quite a distance.

The hunt is in its fifth year and rules remain the same. The coin is located on public property, is not more than four feet off the ground, and must be turned in after being found. Clues are released each Tuesday beginning on September 21, and are available at the shops or websites of the participating businesses. Organizers have divided up the clues so that hunters must visit more than one place to find all three clues. For those who are “armchair hunters,” each Thursday edition of the Squire will have the clues of that week on the front page.

“People are lined up outside the bank in the morning waiting for us to open,” said organizer Linda Anderson of ChoiceOne Bank on Belding Road. She said other participating businesses have the same experience and people sometimes make the mistake of searching the brush and landscaping of the businesses hoping to find the coin.

That’s great fun, and “hunter” sightings are often called in to the Squire so a reporter can run out and interview hunters. However, the coin is never hidden on private property, so searching in the gutter of any of this year’s stores won’t help.

This is the coin to find for gift certificates worth $1,000 in gas.

“It was fun watching people look,” said Don Kurlyowicz, (the “King of Cannonsburg,”) where twice the coin was hidden. One year it was between the posts of the firetruck sign near Honeycreek Inn. Another time it was hidden in the shrubs where a tribute to the Cannon Township Cannon sits. The coin was hidden the first year in Pickerel Park, where Mary Bonnie found it before the first clue was released, earning the reputation as “the clueless treasure hunter.” Another year it was hidden by the entrance to a development at Lake Bella Vista.

“A map of Cannon Township will be useful,” said Stites who refused to give an advanced hint to where he might have hidden the coin. He said his stealthy trip each year to put the coin in its hiding place is always a nervous outing. He watches to see if anyone is looking, and has had to abandon his plans and return another time if he gets worried. When hiding the coin at Bella Vista, he was certain he’d been recognized, but later discovered the homeowner who spooked him was just working in his yard.

“Every year I tell people I’ll give the location away for $1,500,” said Dennis Spitler of Believe. He said no one has taken him up on his offer, which is lucky since only Stites knows the coin’s hiding place.

“I smile and say the best way to find it is to get in your car and have a nice family outing,” Stites stated.

This year participating businesses who will offer at least one of the clues are: ChoiceOne Bank, Cannon Family Dentistry, Rockford Self Storage, S&H Greenhouse, Cannon Township, Bostwick Bakery, Stites Eye Care, Acme Tire and Auto, Euro Autowerks, Lakeside Car Company, Pizzeria Grande, Bostwick Lake Inn, Huntington Banks, Cannonsburg Grist Mill, Topp Stop, Health First Chiropractic, Timbers Inn and Believe.

Volunteers may do one or more of the following activities:

• Put on waders and dig around the creek bottom with a net.

• Remove macro-invertebrates from the net and place them in trays.

• Identify the macro-invertebrates.

• Place the insects in vials.

• Make tabulations on sheets of paper.

• Take photos.

Volunteers are needed to remove macro-invertebrates from nets and place them in trays, among other various tasks, as part of a stream study in Cannon Township.

Volunteers will go out in groups on a specific date in spring and fall of 2011. If you are interested in being a volunteer, you must attend a one-day training session at Cannon Township Center in September (date to be later announced, but will most likely take place on a Saturday).

“Although the stream study dates are a ways off, the September 2010 training is not. The Township would like to start gathering volunteers now,” said Sapkowski.

Macro-invertebrates are animals without backbones that are larger than 1/2 millimeter (the size of a pencil dot). These aquatic animals live on rocks, logs, sediment, debris and aquatic plants. They include crustaceans such as crayfish, mollusks such as clams and snails, aquatic worms and the immature and adult forms of aquatic insects such as stoneflies and mayflies. Collecting and counting macro-invertebrates indicates the health of a stream. More diversity equals a healthier stream. Threats to macro-invertebrates are sedimentation, habitat loss and chemical pollution.

“Cannon Township was recently awarded a $1,000 grant for macro-invertebrate/steam studies through the Michigan Clean Water Corps [MiCorps]. This grant will allow us to organize a large group of volunteers who will go out on Bear Creek to count and observe the macro-invertebrates. Stream studies will help the Township make better decisions regarding the creek and the Bear Creek Watershed,” stated Sapkowski.

If you are interested in being a volunteer for this project, call Kim Sapkowski at (616) 874-6966 or e-mail her at ksapkowski@cannontwp.org.

Editor,

As most of you know there are nine Republican candidates campaigning for the State House in the 73rd District. This is a result of Tom Pearce being term limited.

I am supporting Peter MacGregor for this position because of his nine years with the township government, three years as a trustee and six years as supervisor. I have been privileged to serve with Peter these nine years on the Cannon Township board. Because he has shown great ability and responsibility in local government, I am supporting Peter in the August 3 primary. As supervisor, Peter has always had a genuine concern for the township citizens welfare, keeping a balanced budget and making sound decisions on local issues.

In addition, Peter has other numerous endorsements including Representateve Tom Pearce, Senator Mark Jansen, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Grand Rapids Chamber of Cammerce, PAC and Peter Kruer. I encourage everyone in the 73rd District to vote the candidate with the most practical experience to lead us. Please elect Peter MacGregor on August 3.

Dick Davies
Cannon Township Truste

LaPeer endorses MacGregor for State Representative 

Editor,

The 73rd House District Republican Primary has many fine candidates. There is one person in the race, however, that I believe to be a very exceptional candidate and that I would like to highly recommend to voters: Cannon Township Supervisor Peter MacGregor.

I have worked with Pete for over 15 years in local government service, watching as he progressed from Planning Commissioner, to Township Trustee, to Township Supervisor. In all these positions Pete exhibited strong leadership in the form of listening to our residents, taking care of their needs, and formulating sound government policies based on his ingrained “customer service” orientation. Worthy of mention in this difficult year, Pete took the lead in re-examining our local budget priorities, driving a budget process that achieved balance, and yet reflected vital priorities such as police, fire and roads.

In addition to a strong local government background, Pete has extensive experience as a small business owner, and well understands that essential component of Michigan’s’ economic future. This combination of experience, customer service, hard work and discipline make Peter MacGregor the very best candidate for voters of the 73rd House District to send to Lansing; Please vote for Pete.

James A. LaPeer
Treasurer, Cannon Township

Reader appreciates life ‘the Rockford way’

Dear Editor,

We got our copy of the Rockford Living magazine and, as I was looking through it, I thought to myself how cool it is to live in Rockford. It’s a short walk to downtown from where we live, and there are so many things to see and do in Rockford.

We’ve taken our family pictures by the dam and by the river at Sowerby Park, had picnics and played with our two boxers at Townsend Park and made several trips to Rocky’s for yummy ice cream.

The ice sculptures around town this past winter were so cool to see and, even though you wouldn’t catch me jumping in icy water in the middle of February, the Sweetheart Splash is a great way to bring the community together for a day of fun. The Santa Parade and the carriage rides at Christmastime are one of my favorite things to do.

The Rockford Expo in March is so much fun and Relay for Life is another great way for our community to come together to remember those that have lost their battle with cancer and to celebrate those who have won their battle. Decorating luminaries in honor and memory of my family members is especially meaningful to me.

Summertime is so much fun in Rockford. We go for bike rides and walks on the White Pine Trail, there’s the carnival and fireworks at the Start of Summer Celebration, watching the wildlife in the trails, and of course Rocky’s ice cream. The Harvest Festival is a fun way to say goodbye to summer, there’s always plenty of things to see and do. The lighting ceremony and holiday open houses are such a great way to ring in the holiday season.

It really is true… “Something is always happening in Rockford.” What a great place to live!

Brad Bussing
Rockford resident

Reader hopes schools will explain teacher cuts / playground expansions

Dear Editor,

Rockford Public Schools recently announced that they spent over $1.7 million renovating elementary school playgrounds. All buildings received rubberized turf so that kids would not have to play in wood chips. School leaders said that some equipment is 15 years old.

I recently drove past my elementary school that is located in a neighboring county. Although it has been almost 30 years since I attended, the playground is virtually unchanged: same swing sets, same monkey bars, same slides—all on old-fashioned dirt.

In 2008, voters approved a bond that gave the district the okay to upgrade the playground equipment, add 20 new athletic fields, relocate tennis courts, upgrade the football field to synthetic turf, purchase new lockers, etc. I know we have a very large district, but 20 new athletic fields, in addition to the existing fields, seems a little excessive—especially when we closed the middle school pool that area seniors used for aqua-therapy.

When Rockford recently asked for a millage renewal, residents were told it would be “catastrophic” if the millage failed. Superintendent Shibler said it would be “nearly impossible to assimilate such a cut in the district.”

I understand that school funding is complex. Districts cannot just take money set aside for athletic fields and use it to cover salaries for teachers. However, voters are consistently hearing messages about the peril of our schools. We hear worst case scenarios about diminished quality of education, and then we see 20 new athletic fields.

Let me be clear: I am very proud of the Rockford school district. Our students continuously score high on tests and exceed national averages. Rockford teachers are amazing.

I don’t want school leadership to lose credibility among voters. You may need to educate voters as to why some teachers may be out while rubberized turf is going in. When the economy is down and money is tight, everyone counts pennies. Show Rockford residents that you are counting pennies too.

Julie C. Spahn
Rockford resident