Flat River Outreach Ministries (FROM) announced plans to build three new buildings next to its property on Main Street “The greater Lowell area is in a housing crisis,” FROM’s Executive Director Wendie Preiss said “The recent growth in our region has been tremendous but has created an imbalance between supply and demand leaving many neighbors in our community underhoused The project is particularly impactful as it will meet immediate needs today while also impacting generations to come." the $3.3 million project in partnership with ICCF Community Homes and Eastbrook Homes will have created 17 apartments for single Michiganders or families of up to four Units are expected to target households with incomes up to 80% of the area medium income and are anticipated to serve more than 400 residents over the next two decades Properties are also expected to have green spaces and on-site parking and rent is expected to be "affordable while still allowing the buildings to be financially sustainable long term." Building Hope is our next step to bring quality affordable and supportive housing to Lowell that fits our community restores hope and strengthens us all," Preiss said Work to create more housing comes as a market study by Baker Tilly showed 43% of Lowell renters are cost-burdened paying more than 30% of their income in housing A survey also found one in three respondents had difficulty paying for housing within the last 12 months “Homelessness often looks different here in Lowell,” Preiss said staying with friends or loved ones – or even living in tents in the woods Families may have to split up or become transient destroys hope and has a crippling impact on the fabric of the community," Preiss said "...Stable housing is a foundational component of a healthy community we have the opportunity to make a difference.” Funding for the project is supported through community gifts as part of FROM's "Building Foundations $2.6 million has been raised through individual donors foundations and companies such as the King Milling Company and the Lowell Area Community Fund Ground is anticipated to be broken on the project in the summer More information about this project can be found online. Editor's Note: This story was modified from its original form to correct a misspelling Huron-Clinton Metroparks is considering what to do with a nearly century-old dam it owns on the Huron River in Flat Rock — including potentially removing it But that's an option that has many in the nearby community not willing to go with the flow The more-than-500-foot Flat Rock Dam was built in the late 1920s by Henry Ford for hydropower generation for his headlamp plant there the following year sold the dam to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Authority for $25,000 The southeast Michigan parks operator acquired the dam to maintain the approximately 250-acre water impoundment behind it and adjoining natural areas for recreational use Generations have since built a life around the impoundment a councilwoman for the city of Rockwood just downriver from Flat Rock and the dam are the first significant barrier to fish traveling upstream from Lake Erie Though a fish ladder was added at the dams in the late 1990 the Michigan Department of Natural Resources still has found that the dams restrict fish passage and limit reproduction for a number of prized sport fish species Options for the damsA letter from the DNR Fisheries Division to the Metroparks Authority shows DNR officials encouraging the removal of the Flat Rock Dam as far back as November 1984 Huron River Watershed Council and the city of Flat Rock successfully submitted for a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Regional Partnership Grant through the congressionally appropriated Great Lakes Restoration Initiative The grant was used to conduct a feasibility study for alternative options for the Flat Rock and Huroc Dams "that would benefit the local community and natural habitats," a report by Public Sector Consultants The draft feasibility study was released in February with a local public meeting then held in March Taking no action on the dams but installing a new fishway.Partially removing the Flat Rock and Huroc dams while maintaining a similar reservoir level a gradual sloping ramp made of rocks allowing fish to pass freely would be added at each dam.Full removal of both dams which would reduce impoundment water levels by about 10 feet and leave the impoundment more like the river segment farther upstream either active or passive restoration of the river bottom lands exposed would be part of the plan.A U.S Fish and Wildlife Service review indicates the potential dam removals would not be expected to cause a significant increase in invasive sport fish-damaging sea lamprey farther up the Huron River spokesman for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Huron-Clinton Metroparks spokeswoman Danielle Mauter emphasized that no alternative has been decided upon "This means that currently there is no proposal to remove the dam," she said "The step we are on is still the feasibility study which is only the very first step in complex projects like these." Residents want to protect lifestyle built around streamAny alternative would still require future study and design phases and would have to comply with permitting requirements from multiple departments and agencies before moving forward But just the listing of the complete removal of the dams as an option has aroused the passions of many in the community. A Facebook group, "Save the Flat Rock Dam," has 1,200 members A corresponding petition drive calling for preserving the dams "Save Flat Rock Dam" signs are showing up on lawns near the impoundment Grzywacz said she took up the movement and petition after "people were just talking about it and not really taking action." Many of her constituents in Rockwood are just as concerned as those in Flat Rock "Removal of those dams changes the lifestyles and quality of life dramatically for those living nearby," she said It's a major concern for all surrounding cities More: Trump emergency order will expedite permitting process for Enbridge Line 5 tunnel More: Sea lamprey control efforts slowed during COVID-19. It let the Great Lakes invaders flourish said she is "firmly opposed to the dam's removal," citing "the significant adverse impacts this decision could have on our residents and the community at large." Shannon Barrett lives on James Avenue in Flat Rock and the river as it is was the crucial part of my decision," she said and we just relax outside with the nature — the swans All of that is going to be impacted if they do the full removal of this dam." Through family living elsewhere in Michigan she has seen dam removals leave behind "a stench wasteland." Great Lakes and Energy inspection of the Flat Rock Dam listed its condition as "fair." Use that grant money to maintain the dam." Community feedback obtained in public meetings in late 2023 and March 6 of this year and public comments submitted through March 17 will be incorporated into the draft feasibility study with further public meetings coming this summer Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com leaving a trail of stiff fish in their wake smallmouth bass were then transferred to measuring trays for their scales to be scraped and tail fins to be clipped and studied the Michigan DNR stepped into the Flat River in Kent County as part of its survey work on the state's streams and inland lakes "If only every day could be a survey day," said fisheries biologist Addie Myers Michigan DNR crews completed 171 surveys across the state typically documenting the abundance of smallmouth bass or trout in various waterways "They're a good indicator species," Myers said about smallmouth bass a team of ten stayed connected — literally in some cases — to a black sled that floated a generator upstream The rig produced an electrical current of around 10 amps and 330 volts strong enough to temporarily incapacitate both fish and humans "That translates to don't touch the water if you're not wearing safety gear," Myers said the current could go through you and it could kill you READ (AND WATCH) MORE: Michigan DNR collects walleye eggs from Muskegon River While some crew members passed electrified probes along the brush-filled banks of the river others waded close behind to net the stunned fish for mid-stream measurement and documentation "This smallmouth here is four inches long," said Myers clipping off its tail fin and placing it in a small folder "We know that we've marked it and we won't be recapturing it Myers says smallmouth bass numbers are "potentially a little higher" this year as compared to the previous year The DNR plans to return to the Flat River next year before taking a three-year break (as part of its planned In addition to these repeated survey sites the DNR also conducts random and discretionary surveys often to address a specific conern such as an environmental disaster or endangered species "I've lived a lot of other places that didn't ahve everything that we have in Michigan," Myers said I think you really realize and can appreciate what you have back home." Follow FOX 17: Facebook - X - Instagram - YouTube Two faith-based nonprofits are working to build 17 apartment units across three new buildings in downtown Lowell Lowell-based Flat River Outreach Ministries and Grand Rapids-based ICCF Community Homes are behind the $3.3 million project slated for vacant land on East Main Street The partners expect to break ground this summer with a goal of tenants moving into the units in summer 2026 “The population that this property is going to serve is the folks who are working and have an income but still can’t afford housing,” said Flat River Outreach Ministries (FROM) Executive Director Wendie Preiss “We’re looking at folks who are working but can’t afford anything here FROM has raised $2.6 million for the project through its “Building Foundations Grand Rapids-based Eastbrook Homes will construct the apartment buildings which are being designed by Norton Shores-based Concept Design Studio Keep up with all things West Michigan business. Sign up for our free newsletters today staying with friends or loved ones — or even living in tents in the woods destroys hope and has a crippling impact on the fabric of the whole community.” The ministry purchased the properties at 512 and 504 E in downtown Lowell in 2016 for $143,000 when they were almost in foreclosure One building on the property was demolished which is where the 17 new apartment units are planned FROM also refurbished a residence on the property that has 10 units that it oversees Refurbishing the former boarding house on the property was “phase one” of the development project “The tenants we have there now are fantastic and we have flowers and gardens there maintained by the current tenants,” Preiss added FROM offers a client services program designed to help people as they navigate financial challenges Preiss said the program has experienced a significant increase in demand with 790 calls or appointments connecting people to resources or financial assistance throughout 2024 The ministry commissioned a market study by Baker Tilly which found 43% of Lowell renters are cost-burdened spending more than 30% of their income on housing a survey of FROM’s clients conducted by DataWise found one in three respondents had difficulty paying for housing in the past 12 months Flat River Outreach Ministries is leading the development of the additional 17 units and has its “finger on the pulse” of the community and local housing needs The organization assists people with housing insecurity through various programs “Home is so important, it’s the foundation for our lives,” ICCF CEO Ryan VerWys said in a statement “We are proud to partner with FROM on this project which will put a roof over the heads of community members in need I think this is going to be a great example of the community coming together to address a critical need.” The apartment units will target households with incomes up to 80% of the area median income The project will have green space to allow room for tenants to garden as well as park on site The plan is for the rent to be affordable while still operating as a long-term Future tenants of the project will be enrolled in FROM’s client services program which is designed to help people as they navigate financial challenges Quail Ridge Golf Club sells for $6.6M to general manager, superintendent Rockwell Republic shuts down after several unprofitable years Applications open for state’s $10M employer-backed housing program Staying current is easy with Crain's Grand Rapids Business news delivered straight to your inbox Click below to see everything we have to offer (KERO) — As set up for one of the biggest weekends of the year in the Kern River Valley took place Mother Nature decided to have a little bit of fun as vendors set up for Whiskey Flat Days in Kernville Just a soggy Thursday in the Kern River Valley your neighborhood reporter in Kernville and as people set up for one of the best weekends of the year up here in Whiskey Flat Days Mother Nature decided to have some fun as well With the Borel Fire burning through parts of the Kern River Valley last year The county set up sandbag stations all over for residents to stock up their own bags if they needed and according to Kern County Fire Public Information Officer Andrew Freeborn stacked resources all over on the off chance that something went awry While the biggest band of already passed over the area as of Thursday evening Freeborn says residents should still be vigilant and stay up to date as rain continues to fall throughout the evening Stay aware of what's going on around you and make sure you're prepared if something does start to get serious that they can get themselves out of harm's way," said Freeborn If something is happening that's going to impact you that's where those notifications will come from - of evacuation warnings and orders." set up for this year's Whiskey Flat Days continued and for Branden Slichter owner of Bakersfield Barbecue the rain didn't bring any worries about people coming out or the events being canceled but made for some interesting setup conditions It looks like it's gonna clear up about noon tomorrow and then Saturday and Sunday "What was it like setting up this morning?" asked 23ABC It was cold and wet for sure," said Slichter Slichter says that all of the proceeds that they get from the weekend will be donated to the Kernville Rodeo And if you're worried about the weekend being potentially canceled we spoke with staff at the Kernville Chamber of Commerce who said they do not expect to see any weather-related impacts to Whiskey Flat Days coming up over the weekend they'll be posting updates to their social media pages — One person is dead after a vehicle crash in Vergennes Township Tuesday night deputies from the Kent County Sheriff's Office responded to a crash on Vergennes Street near Flat River Drive A preliminary investigation indicates that a sedan traveling eastbound on Vergennes Street struck a deer was identified as 36-year-old Suzanna Cooper of Lowell Investigation revealed Cooper was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash — The crash started when the driver hit a deer and lost control on Vergennes St crossing over Flat River Dr before rolling into nearby trees First responders found the 36-year-old Lowell woman was not wearing a seatbelt when the crash happened we want to remind everyone that seatbelts are one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of serious injury in a crash Please take a moment to buckle up every time you drive," The Kent County Sheriff's Office wrote in their release about the crash Follow FOX 17: Facebook - X (formerly Twitter) - Instagram - YouTube KENT COUNTY, Mich. — A teenager died when his pickup truck struck a tree Saturday morning. At about 7 a.m. Saturday, the Kent County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on Flat River Drive near Vergennes Avenue in Vergennes Township. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies discovered that an 18-year-old male from Saranac was driving a 1994 Chevrolet pickup on Flat River Drive when the truck left the roadway and hit a tree. The teen was the only occupant and was killed in the crash. Rockford Ambulance and the Lowell Fire Department assisted at the scene. The accident remains under investigation by the Kent County Sheriff's Office. 2024 6:37 p.m.Average salmon and steelhead counts in the Columbia River Basin over the last decade are still well below officials’ goal of 5 million fish per year just 2.3 million salmon and steelhead made the same journey That’s an improvement from the 1990s when that average fell to 1.3 million fish due to dams A coho salmon makes its way up Cedar Creek on its way to the Sandy fish hatchery in this April 2022 file photo Rick Swart / Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Both are still stark declines from estimates in the mid-1800s. Back then, officials believe between 10-16 million salmon and steelhead returned to the Columbia River Basin annually a fish and wildlife scientist with the Northwest Power and Conservation Council said during the group’s December meeting that part of the uptick is from boosting juvenile fish survival rates “It’s still a really hard journey to move downstream as a baby fish but it is slightly maybe less dangerous than it was in 1986 At least 77% of young fish died before making it to the ocean in 1986 Self said it’s at about 50% due to safer dam infrastructure and sometimes trucking them downstream now wants to focus on increasing salmon and steelhead numbers making their way further upstream – including into Idaho This republished story is part of OPB’s broader effort to ensure that everyone in our region has access to quality journalism that informs, entertains and enriches their lives. To learn more, visit our journalism partnerships page Tags: Salmon, Columbia River Basin, Science & Environment Stand with OPB and protect independent journalism for everyone Listen to the OPB News live stream (opens new window)Streaming Now Building on the game mechanics of the original title (see “Real-Time Co-Op ‘Magic Maze’ Comes to U.S.”) Magic Maze Tower offers a solo or cooperative challenge as the players take on the role of would-be fantasy thieves captured by mall security and cast into the magical prison tower.  In each game they must work together to overcome obstacles across four smaller levels and one larger one trying to make sure that everyone can reach the Exit space and Anthony Moulins (Gardeners, Fairy Lights) and 4 orientation tiles.  It is intended for 1 to 4 players and plays in about 30 minutes.  MSRP is $24.99 This summer, Sit Down! released its fantasy set-collection game Open Season (see “It’s ‘Open Season’ on Adventurers’ Heads”) A Flat Rock man pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to illegally transporting and receiving an explosive device also pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Julie Beck said in a statement The charges stem from a June 2024 explosion at a home in River Rouge that injured two children Marchbanks is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15 He faces up to 10 years in prison for transporting and receiving explosive materials without a license and 15 years in prison for possession of firearms as a felon “The facts of this case show the danger that illegal explosive devices pose to our community," Beck said in a statement this defendant’s actions caused devastating injuries to minor children." said Tuesday his client regrets his actions and a relative was injured in the explosion caused a horrible explosion and a horrible injury to his own granddaughter," Howarth said he will have spent a year of his life in federal custody He will trust the court to impose a sentence that fits the crime." Marchbanks is doing well as can be expected The attorney also said he thinks the plea agreement is a fair one given his client could have been charged under other federal laws with greater consequences "I believe both the defendant and the government have acted in their mutual best interests," Howarth said Authorities alleged Marchbanks purchased an illegal explosive device from an unknown individual off the street and transported it to a River Rouge home He then left the home and the device with two children Investigators said one of the children set off the device The explosion severely injured both kids and damaged the home Officials said they executed a search warrant at Marchbank's home in Flat Rock as part of the investigation and found two firearms Marchbanks was previously convicted of multiple felony offenses and cannot legally possess guns "The allegations in this case represent the most horrific unintended consequences associated with poor choices," James Deir Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol Marchbanks will have several years behind bars to reflect on how his poor decision-making caused serious injuries to a child Illegal fireworks are extremely dangerous and should never be stored inside your home "Steven Marchbanks is a repeat offender prohibited from lawfully possessing a firearm he chose to leave an unsecured M80 caliber explosive device with children in the home In this post-apocalyptic deck-building and dice-crafting game players are fighting to survive in the wasteland that is left after the human race has been annihilated a war has broken out between factions of the humans that are left They will also need to arm their troops with the best tech they can salvage and hope the dice roll in their favor This game can be played in either a cooperative or competitive mode Flat River Group recently released Magic Maze Tower into U.S. retail (see "'Magic Maze Tower' to U.S.") — A teenager is dead after a single car crash in Kent County Saturday morning the Kent County Sheriff's Office responded to Vergennes Township for a report of a crash A preliminary investigation revealed that an 18-year-old man from Saranac was driving a 1994 Chevy pickup truck on Flat River Drive near Vergennes Street when it left the roadway and struck a tree The driver was the only occupant in the accident joined Eric Dahl on the Rock & Review with their new album “God Bless the Radio” Several of the songs have been released as singles but the full album released this month along with Music Videos The Bluegrass and Gospel award winning band has been doubling down on their Country Music songs and teaming up with Larry Steve & Rudy the Gatlin Brothers & Jeannie Sealey FRB singles have scored on Music Row Charts Billboard and CDX and gaining traction on streaming platforms Flat River Band got their early start in music by performing with their family band at Silver Dollar City and Dollywood They also opened for Natalie Maines (of the Chicks) and Alison Kraus "God Bless the Radio" is the Flat River Bands latest album The Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament began in 1945 as the College High Christmas Tournament the Flat River Bears beat the host Preps in the championship game Sixteen teams competed in that first tournament SandersA photo of prep basketball at Houck Field House "Frony" Fronabarger)The Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament began in 1945 as the College High Christmas Tournament The games were played at Houck Field House Admission was 50 cents for adults and 35 cents for students An estimated 1,089 fans attended the opening day's games That day's winners were Cape Central High and College High A total of 2,862 fans attended the four-day event With the college becoming a university in 1972 the name of the tournament was changed as well In 2002 it got a new sponsor and a new name: seMissourian Christmas Basketball Tournament sponsored by the Southeast Missourian newspaper and seMissourian.com news stories referred to it as the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament the tournament has been held at the Show Me Center Attendance figures for the past few years are: 1967: Scott County Central over Notre Dame 1969: Portageville over Scott County Central 1975: Charleston over Scott County Central 1984: Charleston over Scott County Central 1986: Notre Dame over Scott County Central 1989: Charleston over Scott County Central 1990: Scott County Central over Charleston 2008: Scott County Central over Notre Dame 2009: Scott County Central over Cape Central Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom: Blink and you might miss it: A big straw-bale building hugging Highway 299 in the Trinity County wilderness That's why 12 years ago, owners Julia and Don Ellis painted it yellow and put the name Strawhouse Resorts and Cafe in big letters on the side of the building which is perched on the banks of the Trinity River The resort's cafe is a coffee and meal stop staple for North State vacationers driving to and from the Pacific Coast as well as dining for overnight guests at their resort newlyweds and people just wanting peace and quiet even a "Star Trek" captain beams in — more on that below The business' secluded location attracts famous people who want to get away from crowds The cafe and overnite lodging complex is 20 miles west of Weaverville and 63 miles west of Redding She said their favorite repeat guest has been "Star Trek: Enterprise" and "Quantum Leap" television actor Scott Bakula." Said Ellis: "He truly is a genuinely nice guy." The cafe's house dishes include the Trinity — a bagel served with avocado balsamic reduction and lemon pepper ($9) and the hummus veggie — hummus made on site with vegetables pickled on site cucumber and goat cheese and served on ciabatta bread Best sellers are the classic BLT (13$) and the Breakfast Sammy ($7) with baked organic eggs The cafe also serves bagels, sandwiches, pastries and other breakfast and lunch fare ($7-$13) daily with coffee brewed from organically-grown beans that Don Ellis roasts on site, she said. Buy a bag of the cafe's coffee and the couple say they will donate $3 of the proceeds to the Downriver Volunteer Fire Department for a special treat: The cafe’s 12-inch wood-fired pizzas ($19 to $25) Combinations include a smoked tri-tip pizza ($23) with mushrooms artwork and other items crafted in the North State that are sold in the cafe's shop What also makes the cafe special is its outdoor seating space: A 2,000-square-foot patio behind the building that overlooks the Trinity River The area is enclosed in winter and open to the air in summer with trees and a partial roof keeping diners cool in the summer guests will spot a bear strolling on the opposite side of the river The resort's overnight accommodations include four tiny homes The Creekside Cottage and Suncrest House are pet friendly The resort also hosts weddings, receptions and other gatherings. Packages start at $4,000. Go to strawhouseresorts.com for more information Don Ellis had no plans to run a resort and cafe in the Trinity County wilderness The Southern California youth played beach volleyball while nursing dreams of being an oceanographer He wanted to "sail around the world taking underwater photographs,” he said But he opted to go into business and opened a carpet and upholstery cleaning company Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know Trinity County is where I landed and I love it here,” he said Many people thought it “silly” to build a resort in Big Flat located 12 miles away — is a bustling metropolis but “we do get our mail delivered here daily,” said Julia Ellis Don Ellis started construction on the straw bale building in 1998 “I would get the big bad wolf thing quite a bit” from visitors Don Ellis crossed paths with a customer who was also a Trinity County resident born in Southern California We were married here at the resort by the river in September 2009,” Julia Ellis said Strawhouse is a labor of love for the couple “We both have different strengths and weaknesses While the resort does a thriving business now it took about 10 years for Strawhouse “get on the map,” Julia Ellis said Concerned the terracotta color wasn’t getting motorists’ attention the couple painted the building bright yellow in 2012 Julia Ellis said she tells them to take Highway 299 slow down when they see signs for Big Flat and then look for the “big yellow building on the river's side of the highway Our motto is: ‘Big Flat is where it’s at.’” Citizens once again have access to the Flint River at the Flat Shoals bridge nearly three years after a large driveway was constructed across the right of way next to the bridge and a wall of rocks was placed at the water’s edge.Commissioners voted at their May 28 meeting to settle a lawsuit and remove the rocks and culvert that was blocking the path that had been used for generations by boaters and fishermen The rocks and culvert were removed Wednesday June 19.Residents who access the river at the Flat Shoals bridge are asked to clean up after themselves and others Carolyn McKinley of Flint River Water Trail encouraged citizens to dispose of trash properly so as not to pollute the waterway and surrounding properties.“We hope to install signs that not only include requests to keep the waterway and adjacent properties free of trash and debris but also to respect private property by never trespassing and to be mindful of anglers and other river users,” she said Published in Breaking News and News Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a26f6370fcf3cddedee9e3561678695b" );document.getElementById("c6146eff51").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" — Overgrowth crowds the bleachers of Black Field showing a former football stadium that's slowly slipped into disrepair the Board of Education for Greenville Public Schools heard two bid proposals for the historic field looking to turn ownership over to a party who can find it a new operating future both the Flat River Community Library and Bart Brown the library — located across the street from the field — proposed to "lightly update" the property turning the field itself into an amphitheater The venue would be used for library events not able to be accommodated by its other rooms and could also be reserved for other events Nearby, the field's overgrown, gravelly lot could be turned into green space, with the Flat River detailing an "open-ended" vision dependent upon "a significant amount of engagement with our patron base," in its bid packet The bid proposal would not increase local property taxes as Flat River said initial operational costs would "fold seamlessly" into its budget and that its general fund could pay for a "significant amount" of refurbishment "It is our intent to pay homage to the deep and storied history of Black Field." Flat River Community Librar... by WXMI representing local group We Are Greenville said the proposal would "set up a tragedy." the nullification of the labors or thousands of community members over a century and the sacrifice of a living legacy to ambition that must be restrained for the good of all makes no good sense," Brown said to the board Brown proposed converting the field itself into a soccer field and adding a second pitch on the nearby lot he said We Are Greenville planned to restore the field's walls and walkways remove the football goalposts and power up the old scoreboard While Greenville Public Schools told FOX 17 that Brown's bid amount was "unclear," his bid proposal said "We will not be taking taxpayer money by stealth for actions that would never be passed in an election," referring to the library We Are Greenville - Black F... by WXMI Greenville Board of Education President Kire Wierda said in part "Black Field has a long and vibrant history of serving the students and community of Greenville and currently the Greenville Board of Education is seeking an organization with the vision and means to repurpose the property." "The board and school administration has decided that the property is no longer needed but want to ensure that it continues to serve the community in a meaningful and intentional way for the continued benefit of our school community and the overall community for many more years to come." the board will vote on the the future of the field A portion of the proceeds from the song will be donated to NAMI "Basically what happened was the owner of the building had taken the rags and took them to a local laundromat and washed them," said Central Coventry Fire Chief Frank Brown Brown explained that once towels are washed and dried the contaminants -- in Tuesday's case food grade oil -- are brought up to the top of the surface What happens is you end up with a thing called thermal run away," explained Brown Brown said the best way to avoid spontaneous combustion is to replace towels once they've been heavily used she's done this 100 times," Brown said it was the towels were just probably so saturated over the years." The restaurant was closed at the time of the fire Brown said there was minor building and smoke damage The restaurant was closed Wednesday while crews cleaned up the damage It seems like Almost Yesterday that the lead mining area of Southeast Missouri was caught up in a tense situation known as the “Flat River Riot.” From the early decades of the 18th century the lead of St Francois County was of national importance This was especially true when America was at war The greatest demand for lead came in the early 20th century and during World War I when approximately 70% of the national lead supply came from the Missouri “Lead Belt.” Much of the labor for the new American industry came from large numbers of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe  Many of the immigrants were brought in by the mine companies others lured by the promise of a new life in a new land.Many of these alien miners were from countries that America went to war with in April of 1917 thus increasing tension with miners who were U The alien miners were also not subject to the draft and military service as the citizen miners were a fight erupted between American citizen miners and alien miners evolving into a “riot.”  In two days approximately 1,000 to 1,500 of the alien miners were forcibly driven from the area  Units of the Missouri National Guard and the U and remained in place until the end of the war Many of the alien miners were permitted back into the area if they became U Greenville has been through several changes over the years Before it was officially settled by a man named John Green the area was populated by several Native American tribes building a sawmill along the Flat River that attracted more settlers so many people followed him here they had to open up a school for 26 children," said Keith Hudson the President of the Flat River Historical Society What really attracted all these people were the white pine forests nearby "Lumbering was the primary motivation for coming here," said Hudson "We were a rough and tumble lumbering town.” Hudson said they floated 1.8 billion feet of lumber logs down the Flat River the city earned a couple nicknames — 'Potato Capital of the World' and 'Refrigerator Capital of the World." "They called them refrigerators back then even though they were wooden ice boxes," said Hudson Greenville is also the birthplace of Meijer He started out as a barber before building his superstore empire people didn't need to have haircuts," said Hudson There was a ton of competition in the industry but Meijer stores did something others were not doing at the time — accepting credit cards The Flat River Historical Society is located about 100 feet away from where Green built his sawmill They just won two major awards from the Historical Society of Michigan One of those was Local Society of the Year who was named Outstanding Educator of the Year Walter broke the news to FOX 17 that the museum's garden just won the President's Award from the Keep Michigan Beautiful Foundation The historical society is also celebrating its 50th year in existence It'll be hosting an event at the museum at 213 N Franklin Street in Greenville on October 10th at 6:30 p.m Follow FOX 17: Facebook - Twitter - Instagram - YouTube The Flat River Glass property was recently acquired by Phoenix Investors An affiliate of Phoenix Investors (“Phoenix”) announced the acquisition of the approximately 515,913-square-foot industrial building located at 1000 Taylor Ave Construction began on the building in 1976 with additions and updates made as recently as 2018 14-foot overhead drive-in doors; clear heights up to 40 feet; and both wet & dry fire suppression systems Sitting on 41.76 acres with parking for almost 300 automobiles and nine trailers Phoenix is intent on making the property ready for immediate leasing opportunities The property also boasts an active rail spur serviced by Union Pacific Railroad is located only 11 miles from Farmington Regional Airport A new addition to Piramal Glass’ plant in Park Hills was completed in summer 2020 just as the company prepared to lay off more than 150 employees The glass factory closed down complete last March The property was formerly inhabited by PGP Glass USA Inc (“PGP”) and owned by Piramal Glass an Indian company owned by Blackstone Capital Once said to be the city’s largest employer PGP announced its closure in February 2022 and closed its doors in March 2022 “We are very excited to add this industrial facility to our portfolio and attract quality employers to the area,” said Phoenix Investors Chairman and Founder Frank Crivello “The facility can be leased immediately; we are confident we will be able to reinvigorate the area’s economic activity with this valuable acquisition.” Phoenix officials say the acquisition highlights its commitment to investing in the Park Hills community and providing superior commercial real estate options to local businesses as well as avenues for development and growth within the local workforce and economy Phoenix can be contacted at https://phoenixinvestors.com/contact Phoenix Investors touts itself as the leading expert in the acquisition and releasing of former manufacturing facilities in the United States “The revitalization of facilities throughout the continental United States leads to positively transforming communities and restarting the economic engine in the communities we serve,” reads the boilerplate “Our reconstruction and selective deconstruction of facilities provides a green alternative versus the standard demolition and replacement of legacy buildings.” Phoenix’s affiliate companies hold equity interests in a portfolio of industrial properties totaling approximately 65 million square feet spanning 29 states Are you guys going to be hiring I used to work at glass factory Phoenix Investors is a property investment firm They will not be doing any manufacturing in the old Glass Factory as they don’t produce any products They will most likely clean up the property and make it viable for another company to come in and rent the building for manufacturing It is whoever leases the property who will be hiring (WJAR) — A home on Flat River Road in Coventry was blocked off for several hours Thursday while police say they investigated a domestic disturbance Police told NBC 10 News they responded to the home shortly before 2:45 p.m on Thursday for a report of a domestic disturbance Yellow police tape was placed in front of the home with several officers standing outside of the residence Police did not release any further information regarding the incident but NBC 10 News did speak with a man who said his father owns the house and his cousin was living there said his cousin got into a fight with a woman in front of the house and the police were called He said a small fire started in the bathroom prompting Coventry Fire Department to respond Petit said his cousin was taken into custody and the woman was taken to the hospital investigators finally searched the home Thursday night where they could be seen moving through different parts of the home gathering evidence Petit said they were waiting for a search warrant and the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office are investigating the incident NBC 10's Leanna Faulk contributed to this report WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Flat River Group kids' bikes are being recalled because they don't meet several U.S and 16-inch bicycles are equipped with hand brakes but no foot brakes The 20-inch models are not equipped with a chain guard and the pedals do not come with reflectors Federal regulations require bicycles with seat heights that measure at or below 25 inches to be equipped with foot brakes and require a full-coverage chain guard No injuries or incidents have been reported Consumers should contact Flat River Group for a full refund toll free at 833-857-1010, or online at www.Flatrivergroup.com/nextgen-recall/ The NextGen logo is printed across either the toptube or downtube They were sold online at Army & Air Force Exchange Service Tractor Supply and Walmart from October 2020 through November 2022 for between $80 and $135 More information: Flat River Group | CPSC recall page Download the 2019 Industry Directory Read the 2021 Sales Training Guide Flat River Group announced that they have acquired St Louis-based tabletop game publisher Greater Than Games which had been a long-time vendor to Flat River This is Flat River’s first purchase of a board game publisher. Last year, the company acquired wholesaler Optimum Distribution Fulfillment, and in 2019, it acquired consolidator Impressions Game Distribution Services (see “Flat River Acquiring Impressions“).  “We are deeply connected to the board game industry as it is one of our strongest vendor categories,” said Matt Stahlin “Partnering with Greater Than Games is a win-win scenario for both our companies.” Everyone on the Greater than Games team remains in place after the acquisition according to a post on the GTG website.   has partnered with the executive management team at Belding-based Flat River Group LLC to acquire the company will continue to be operated by the management team inventory management and high volume direct-to-consumer drop-shipping Guardian plans to further invest in the company to develop its infrastructure and capabilities The private equity firm Guardian partners with management teams to invest in lower middle market consumer products “We are excited to tap into Guardian’s vast experience in the consumer products and value-added distribution space,” Flat River Group President and co-founder Matt Stahlin said in a statement calling Guardian “the best partner to help us continue to evolve our operational and market strategies.” Flat River Group’s financial adviser was Houston-based Gulfstar Group while Cleveland-based Jones Day acted as legal adviser Guardian was advised on the deal by the law firm Morgan CIBC Bank USA provided senior financing in the acquisition while Centerfield Capital Partners provided additional financing and minority equity A toy and game distributor in the region added new space in Kentwood hired two senior staff members and appointed a board member Matt Stahlin, co-founder and president of Belding-based Flat River Group told the Business Journal last week that his company opened a new 160,000-square-foot distribution center at 3729 Patterson Ave This brings the company’s total warehousing footprint to 480,000 square feet across two locations — one 160,000-square-foot facility in Belding and two separate nonadjacent suites in the Kentwood building that are 160,000 square feet each time-sensitive direct-to-consumer shipments for our large mass retail customers is in very high demand,” Stahlin said coupled with the exploding growth in e-commerce has driven our need for more warehouse space West Michigan is a great place to do business The city of Belding and Ionia County have been very welcoming to us and Kentwood is a wonderful place to operate in The company also hired Roshan Gummattira as CFO and Mike Gornowicz as director of sales – Amazon Gummattira joins Flat River from GulfStar Group, a Houston-based investment bank that advised Flat River on its recent majority recapitalization that closed in December “Roshan has had a lengthy career in investment banking most recently as a managing director at GulfStar Group He has extensive experience in financial planning and he has hit the ground running in his new role with us,” Stahlin said Gummattira holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering and a master’s in electrical engineering from Rice University as well as a Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin along with Flat River’s Executive Vice President Matt Dean who is certified by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals spent four years in supply chain roles at Amazon followed by several years in account management roles at Mattel handling Amazon sales and managing brands including Hot Wheels “I was always impressed with Mike during his time at Amazon and we are very excited to get him on our team,” Stahlin said forecasting and Amazon in general is paying immediate dividends for us.” Gornowicz holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in supply chain management from Grand Valley State University and is based in West Michigan In addition to the hiring of Gummattira and Gornowicz Flat River Group also appointed longtime Hasbro senior executive Jane Ritson-Parsons to its board of directors Ritson-Parsons most recently transformed multiple brand marketing functions into one integrated global organization “We are thrilled to have Jane as an independent director,” Stahlin said “Her deep experience with global brands and licensing will help us continue to rapidly expand our business Jane’s skills and experience are highly complementary to those of our senior management (team) and board of directors.” Ritson-Parsons said she is “honored” to join the team at Flat River Group “at such an exciting time.” “I am super impressed with the level of service and care they deliver to each of their vendors customers and e-commerce partners,” Ritson-Parsons said Flat River is a distributor of niche and mainstream toy and game products and is a full-service provider of warehousing and fulfillment services to a variety of e-commerce retailers in the U.S — A fire in Vergennes Township killed a four-year-old boy and injured several others early Thursday morning according to the Kent County Sheriff's Office Fire crews were on the scene of the house fire on Flat River Drive SE for nearly five hours The sheriff's office said the caller indicated that her boyfriend and a child were still in the house The Lowell Area Fire Chief tells FOX 17 there was heavy fire coming from the front of the house when they got to the scene Firefighters found a 27-year-old man in critical condition due to burns The Kent County Sheriff's Office said the first firefighter who arrived went straight in knowing that the child was still in the house the boy was found deceased and one firefighter suffered minor burns as they retrieved his body Four people total were taken to the hospital from the scene a 27-year-old man is in critical condition a 64-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman were also transported for smoke inhalation but have been released The fire chief said the home provided a unique challenge for crews which is why it took several hours to put out hot spots so we've got a lot of hidden nooks and crannies in the construction We have a lot of overhaul and a lot of work to do on it," said the Lowell Area Fire Department's Fire Chief Shannon Witherell Flat River Drive between Vergennes St SE and Forstrom Drive SE was blocked off by fire crews for several hours Multiple agencies were on the scene along with Lowell Area Fire Department including Ada Michigan State Police and the Kent County Sheriff's Office were also on scene Michigan State Police Fire Investigators are still determining the origin and cause of the fire Toy and game distributor Flat River acquired Impressions in 2018 (see “Flat River Acquiring Impressions”) Ghiozzi has helped to train Flat River’s growing hobby department team and handing off client responsibilities and day-to-day duties originally scheduled for the end of 2022 but delayed until January 31 Flat River Group President Matt Stahlin thanked Ghiozzi for his contributions to the hobby side of Flat River’s business.  "I have learned so much about the hobby game industry from Aldo in the last 12 years,” he said in a statement accompanying the announcement “I'm very grateful for his efforts on behalf of Flat River Group during his tenure with us and I'm proud to call him a friend." I was looking for a home to transition and grow Impressions to the next stage and found that home with Flat River Group,” he said “I will always be grateful to Matt for the opportunities he and his team brought to our long list of clients.” Ghiozzi founded Impressions in 2000 and took over sales and collection for dozens of companies from Wizards Attic in 2002 (see “Wizards Attic Focuses on Fulfillment”) and we wish Aldo and Flat River the best in this new phase Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application passed away in hospice care on Thursday January 4 Don was born to Vernon and Alma LaBrot on June 19 Don was proud of his upbringing in Flat River Louis where he attended Washington University and earned a degree in Engineering Don enlisted in the United States Army Reserves he would proceed to serve 32 years in the USAR given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements After commanding the 244th Engineering Battalion in Colorado he ultimately retired as a Colonel in 2003 Don spent over 30 years working as an industrial engineer for the United States Postal Service helping to design and implement more efficient processes for bulk mail facilities around the country Following his retirement from both the USPS and the USAR Don embarked on a new venture as he founded Centennial Property Services to keep himself busy and motivated Don liked to play golf as often as possible with his friends and family He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends over meals together or just talking Don was an avid reader and “tinkered” constantly working on different projects around the house and for friends and family or simple to complex rebuilds of automobiles he always had the tools and knowledge to get the job done right Carol Ann Lombardi LaBrot and his two sons LaBrot (Genevieve) and his granddaughters Madeline and Emily There will be a ceremony will full military honors on Friday February 2 at 1:30pm MST The ceremony is open to family and friends to attend Attendees will meet at Staging Area C in advance of the 1:30pm ceremony start at 1:15pm and move from there to the ceremony location please consider making a donation in Don's name to a charity of your choice Fort Logan National Cemetery- Staging Area C Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors COVENTRY, R.I (WLNE) – Coventry Police have identified the victim in the fatal car crash on April 18 Coventry police responded to Flat River Road near Gillespie Court to investigate an accident involving two vehicles at 9:07 p.m the drivers of the vehicles were transported to Kent and Rhode Island Hospital “I have worked with Silvio Negri-Clementi for quite some time," said Jules Vautour VP of Business Development and Hobby Distribution at Flat River Group.  "Their commitment to excellence in game development aligns perfectly with our core values.  We look forward to introducing their products to retailers and gamers in North America." Flat River Group will help Pendragon gain a greater presence and visibility in the English language market.  In turn Flat River Group will also get to add Pendragon's catalog of quality games to their distribution portfolio Funforge was previously distributed by Asmodee USA as part of a distribution deal inked back in 2019 (see "Asmodee USA Inks Distribution Deal With Funforge").  Prior to that, the company was exclusive through GTS Distribution (see "Passport Games Goes Exclusive").