By Joe Boomgaard

COOPERSVILLE — Companies looking for a model of how to maintain a highly skilled workforce might turn to the example set by an unlikely source, at least in West Michigan: a skilled trade union.

When Ryan Bennett, business agent of the West Michigan Plumbers,...more Fitters and Service Trades Local #174 based in Coopersville, hears companies complaining about the struggles of finding talented workers, he said he can’t help but notice that most of those companies don’t take an active role in developing their current and future workforces.

“We’ve kept an eye on the industry and stayed on top of where it’s going and figured out ways to teach our workers,” Bennett told MiBiz.

Through apprenticeship programs and continuous training, licensing and certification offerings, the plumbers union...

...READ MORE

Signups are underway for the Northeast Ottawa (NEO) Forum's Annual Golf Outing, which will take place on Saturday, June 16th.
The NEO Forum helps to provide programming aimed at reducing substance abuse and juvenile delinquency, primarily in Chester, Coopersville, Polkton, Tallmadge and...more Wright. Ottawa County Sheriff's deputies also teach classes in local schools.
Entry fees are $70 per person or $280 per team.  The tournament will be held at Terra Verde Golf Course, 11741 Leonard Road in Nunica.
You can find more information at the City of Coopersville website or by calling Dennis at 616-997-2130 or
Dave at 616-997-2123

MARNE MI ~Mark your Calendars for June 16, 2012 ~ Help "Lori's Voice"  to raise money for special needs children. Come and walk! Bring your friends! 

The walk will take place at St. Mary's in Marne winding through the parking lot to the end of the road. Rain or shine-9:00...more AM-noon.

Registration begins at 8:30 AM-please go to the website to download a registration form and pledge sheet http://www.lorisvoice.org/ Don't miss out on all the fun!! With your $15 registration fee you will receive a custom embroidered T-shirt!! Check out the website to learn more!

OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. (WZZM)- Investigators are trying to determine if a medical problem led to Friday's deadly crash in Ottawa County.

The accident happened on Center Street, north of Sunset Street, in Coopersville shortly after 3:30 p.m.

Deputies say 42-year-old Aaron...more Bouchard was traveling north on Center Street when he drifted across the center line, side-swiping another truck before hitting the front porch of a home.

Bouchard was unresponsive when rescuers arrived. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died.

The other driver was not injured.

Visit http://www.coopersvillefarmmuseum.org for additional information.

Voting took place in Coopersville yesterday where voters approved the renewal of the school millage.

The millage renewal passed 74.7% to 25.3%.

Click here to see additional election results from around West Michigan.

From the Coopersville Area Public Schools Facebook page:
Tuesday May 8 is a school election. On the ballot is a five year renewal of our 18-mil non-homestead property tax. The 18-mil renewal will not increase, nor will it decrease tax rates on your primary homestead, but failure to renew...more it will mean a loss of approximately 1.2 million dollars to our district. Please remember to vote tomorrow!

From: http://www.cityofcoopersville.com/

If you would like an opportunity to voice your opinion regarding signs and signage in the city, click here to take this brief survey.

From YouTube:
On this episode of Inside the Grand Haven Area, we take you to the Coopersville & Marne Railway and talk to Jerry Ricard, General Manager of this great local attraction. From theme trains to excursions and even group outings, the Coopersville & Marne Railway is a not-to-miss in the Grand Haven Area!

Correction on the Meet & Greet session with U.S. Congressman, Bill Huizenga. The date is May 3, THURSDAY 2012 and due to the Congessman's limited availability, he will be at Coopersville Chamber offices from 1:30 to 2:30 PM (one hour - not the previously reported 3:30).

Your...more Coopersville Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to host our U.S. Congressman, Bill Huizenga, at a Meet & Greet in the Chamber offices TOMORROW, THURSDAY, May 3, 2012 from 1:30 to 2:30 PM. This is another opportunity provided by the Chamber in our effort to advocate on behalf of our members, businesses and the local community.

Chamber offices are located upstairs at Coopersville City Hall, 289 Danforth Street, Coopersville, MI 49404. Contact the Chamber office if you have questions or a specific item you would like Rep. Huizenga to be prepared to discuss.

Second District citizens can also reach Rep. Huizenga through his website at huizenga.house.gov/

COOPERSVILLE MI ~ This year, for our very first time, CHS and CMS will be hosting the Michigan Industrial Education Society(MITES) Regional Competition. Instructors and students from schools in our region(Region 9) will be dropping off their student projects on Friday, May 4th from 3:00 - 7:00...more pm. On Saturday, May 5, the projects will be judged in the morning, followed by public viewing from Noon until 2:00 pm.

The projects will be on display in the high school cafeteria and surrounding area. Those projects that finish in the top 4 places for each of the divisions from each region will move on to the state competition the following weekend.

This year, the annual MITES State Convention and Competition is being held at Saginaw Valley State University.

For more information about MITES, please visit their website at http://www.mites.cc/. Towards the bottom of their homepage, there is a link to a slideshow of last year’s convention and competition.

Lansing, MI—The Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) and SET SEG School Insurance Specialists are proud to announce the recipients of the 2012 Education Excellence award. The winning programs represent 15 counties across the state. In the face of complex education challenges and...more limited resources, Coopersville High School kept the focus on student achievement to create an innovative solution to address their needs. "This year’s Education Excellence winners demonstrate that excellence is all around us in our public schools, despite their numerous challenges, financial restraints and unending reforms. This year’s winners clearly know what it takes to positively impact student achievement," said Kathy Hayes, MASB executive director. "Our public schools are stepping up to get the job done."
The Education Excellence awards honor the top three local school district programs in each of eight categories and the top three intermediate school district programs for a total of 27

April 3 - June 30, Coopersville Farm Museum

Ryan Siminske, a self-taught artist who was born and raised in Michigan, specializes in unique watercolor paintings which combine traditional soft, flowing colors with bold, vibrant subjects.

Ryan credits his style to his...more grandmother’s professional oil paintings and from being a French trained professional chef who sought to produce works of art that “lasted longer than dessert.”

Since 2010, Ryan has not only produced many original works, but has also had his work featured in Kalamazoo’s famous Art Hop in 2011.

Ryan’s work can be viewed at his website, www.facebook.com/ryan.artwork.

May's Premier Movie Night at the Coopersville Library will feature "One for the Money" staring Katherine Haigl, Jason O'Mara, and Daniel Sunjata.

The movie will be shown on Tuesday, May, 15th at 6:00 pm. It is rated PG-13 and is approximately 91 minutes long.

Visit http://www.coopersvillelibrary.org/ for additional information.