Looking to sell this year?

The meeting will be held in the main conference room of the Ottawa County Fillmore Complex, 12220 Fillmore St. #310 in West Olive. It will begin with a short overview of the draft plan, proposed improvements and planning process, followed by an opportunity for people to share feedback and questions with DNR staff.

The DNR uses general management plans to define longrange planning and management strategies that protect the resources of state parks, while addressing recreation and education needs and opportunities. The updated plan will replace the park’s phase 1 general management plan completed in 2012.

The Bass River Recreation Area is located along the Grand River between Grand Rapids and Grand Haven in Ottawa County. The park is popular for mountain biking, boating, hunting, fishing and horseback riding. It features 10 miles of trails and several bodies of water including over 3 miles of river frontage on the Grand and Bass rivers. A portion of the 1,665acre park is managed specifically for wildlife management, and an area adjacent to Riverside Park is managed by Ottawa County through a lease agreement.

Links to the draft plan and an interactive public input survey –open through June 14 – for those who can’t attend the meeting can be found at Michigan.gov/ BassRiver. Comments also can be shared via email with DNR Parks and Recreation Division land specialist Matt Lincoln at LincolnM@Michigan.gov. He also can field questions about the draft park plan and the June 7 meeting. Additional information on the DNR’s general management plan process is available at Michigan. gov/ParkManagementPlans.

Police Blotter

(Continued from page 1) for disregarding a traffic signal and causing the accident.

A single vehicle accident occurred on Washington Avenue east of the Fairview Road intersection at 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday, May 3. Zachary Hutchinson of Grand Rapids was east bound on Washington when he failed to notice that the fog gates had closed the road. Hutchinson struck and broke the crossing arm on the south side of the road. He stated to police that he had an agitated resident from an adult foster care home where he works in the vehicle with him and was taking him to the hospital. Hutchinson was cited for disregarding a traffic signal.

Keep Plants Thriving Despite the Heat of Summer

By Melinda Myers

Last year’s record-high temperatures across much of the country took a toll on gardens and landscapes. Once again, above-normal summer temperatures are in the forecast for many regions of the country. Adjusting how you manage your gardens and landscape can help plants thrive as temperatures rise.

Water plants thoroughly to promote deep drought-tolerant roots that help boost the plants’ pest resistance. Wait until the top few inches of soil are crumbly and moist before watering most plants. Newly planted perennials, trees, and shrubs need more attention and water than drought-tolerant plants or established ones with more robust root systems that are better able to absorb more moisture. During extended dry periods, even drought-tolerant and established plants may need supplemental water.

Water early in the day to reduce water lost to evaporation. Avoid late evening watering that leaves foliage wet at night, increasing the risk of disease.

Apply water directly to the soil above the plant roots using soaker hoses or drip irrigation whenever possible. Water is applied where needed and the slow, steady flow of water is better able to infiltrate the soil and moisten the roots with less runoff.

Check soil moisture daily in container gardens and several times a week for raised beds. Both dry out more quickly than in-ground gardens and need to be watered more often. Save time and water by incorporating Wild Valley Farms’ wool pellets into the growing mixes. This sustainable product is made from wool waste. University research found it reduced watering by up to 25% and increased air space in the soil, promoting healthy plant growth.

Further conserve water by spreading a two- to three-inch layer of shredded leaves, evergreen needles, or shredded bark mulch over the soil in garden beds and around trees and shrubs. Mulching conserves moisture, keeps roots cooler and moist, and suppresses weeds. As the organic mulch decomposes, it adds nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Just pull the mulch away from tree trunks, shrub stems, and the crowns of other plants to avoid rot.

Include plants that are more tolerant of the weather conditions in your area. Those that tolerate both heat and cold extremes will thrive with less care once established.

Incorporate organic matter like compost into the soil. It helps the soil accept and retain water so you will need to water less often. It also adds nutrients to the soil so over time you will need to fertilize less often.

Use a low-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer if your garden plants need a nutrient boost. These types of fertilizers release small amounts of nutrients over an extended period. The low level of nitrogen reduces the risk of damaging heat-stressed plants.

Remove weeds from garden beds and borders as soon as they appear. These “plants out of place” steal water and nutrients from your desirable garden plants. Plus, many harbor insects and diseases that are harmful to your garden plants.

Provide stressed plants with a bit of shade from the hot afternoon sun. Container gardens can be moved to a more suitable spot during heat waves. Add a bit of temporary shade to garden plants that are struggling to survive in the blazing hot sun. A strategically placed chair, lattice, or umbrella may be all that is needed. As temperatures drop, you can move plants back in place and remove the temporary shade. Your garden will greatly benefit from these changes to your summer garden care.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Wild Valley Farms for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is www. MelindaMyers.com.

Group to Expand Access to High-Speed Internet

U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) joined a bipartisan Senate working group to evaluate and strengthen reforms to the Universal Service Fund, which supports access to high-speed internet. The working group will consider the current state of the universal service requirements at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and consider possible reforms to ensure the FCC is able to achieve its mission to promote and preserve universal service across the United States. During a recent Senate Commerce Subcommittee Hearing on the state of the Universal Service Fund, Peters discussed the importance of continued investments in high-speed internet in rural communities.

“The Universal Service Fund helps support high-speed internet in rural and underserved areas across our country, including in Michigan,” said Senator Peters, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. “This bipartisan working group will help us ensure this program is strong for years to come and find solutions to expand access to reliable high-speed internet in our state and across the country.”

The working group is led by Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and John Thune (R-SD), Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, and other members include Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Jerry Moran (R-KS).

Outman Disappointed with Lack of Bipartisan Collaboration

Sen. Rick Outman expressed his disappointment with the onesided, partisan budget process and the lack of consideration for any amendments introduced by Republicans last week during the Senate’s budget negotiations.

“We introduced over 170 amendments to reel back spending in some areas and maintain funding in other areas that have historically been top concerns like roads, school safety and other items,” said Outman, R-Six Lakes. “This budget is very one-sided and leaves out a number of priorities that are important to a large percentage of Michigan residents.”

Outman said many of the amendments were especially important for his district and other rural communities.

“As the minority vice chair of the Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, I was more directly involved in the formulation of that budget and I really was disappointed to see some of the items that were voted down,” Outman said.

The senator pointed to three amendments that he was especially disappointed did not receive support:

• An amendment to fully fund Families Against Narcotics for the upcoming fiscal year, as opposed to the Democratic proposal, which cut funding for the program in half from last year’s budget. FAN is a communitybased organization for individuals seeking recovery, those in recovery or for family members affected by addiction.

• An amendment to restore funding for the McLaren Central Michigan Hospital’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program. Funding for the program was originally included in the governor’s budget recommendations earlier this year but was removed by the Democratcontrolled Senate. Dollars for this program go toward training nurses

Legislators Request Answers on Gotion Deal’s Environmental Concerns

A group of state Senate and House Republican leaders on Thursday, May 18, sent a letter to Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Acting Director Aaron Keatley requesting the agency make public all of the documents detailing the environmental impacts of the Gotion battery plant project near Big Rapids.

“Many important environmental concerns and questions have been raised and gone unanswered as this divisive project bulldozes forward. We feel strongly — especially given the millions of dollars in taxpayerfunded state incentives being thrown at this development — that it is necessary and overdue for EGLE to start providing answers to those questions,” said Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township.

House GOP Bill Secures the Border

By Cong. Bill Huizenga

Make no mistake, the past two years of chaos on our nation’s southern border have had a direct impact on the Lakeshore and Southwest Michigan. Communities across the 4th Congressional District and throughout Michigan have seen first-hand the deadly effect failing to properly secure our border truly has. For this reason, Republicans took direct action last week to regain operational control of our border by passing the Secure the Border Act.

The Secure the Border Act is arguably the strongest border security measure to pass either chamber of Congress in modern history. This legislation helps provide the resources our men and women serving on the border need by setting retention bonuses and hiring no fewer than 22,000 agents. These are not coordinators behind the scenes, but agents out in the field, actively keeping our nation safe. Additionally, by utilizing technology and building physical barriers, this will help provide our border personnel with the resources and tools necessary to uphold law and order, reduce the number of illegal crossings, curb the influx of deadly drugs, and protect unaccompanied children from human trafficking.

who assist sexual assault victims.

This includes conducting private exams to document, collect and process any forensic evidence after an assault as well as followup medical care.

An amendment to increase funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers throughout the state. Children’s Advocacy Centers provide care to children immediately following abuse and serve as a safe haven while children work with specialists to help get past trauma.

“These programs have made a big difference to many Michigan families,” Outman said. “Addiction is something that has grabbed ahold of every part of this state — no community is immune from it. These funds have helped a lot of people turn things around and helped a lot of people who were in serious trouble and had nowhere else to turn.

“I’m particularly bothered by the lack of dedication to people who have been affected by crime and the lack of funding for programs that have proven their importance. The sexual assault examiner program at McLaren is one of the only programs of this kind in the area and the hospital serves a number of surrounding counties with these services and Children’s Advocacy Centers offer a safe place to go after being abused. These are places where law enforcement officials, child protection workers, medical professionals and victim advocates work together to help childhood abuse victims heal and hold offenders accountable.”

The senator said these are agreeable issues and he hopes to see the funding shortfalls addressed as work on the fiscal year 2024 budget continues.

“Supporting these programs sends a message that we’re standing behind people who are in need and giving them a place to turn to for help,” Outman said.

The letter states, “With all of these concerns continuing to grow, especially among the local residents who will be most impacted by the effects and consequences of this project, it is all the more necessary for your department to publicly provide all of the documents detailing the environmental impacts of this project. These documents should detail the daily, massive water withdrawals that will occur from local watersheds, the geotechnical evaluation, and any other reviews or assessments that have been conducted by the local, state, or federal governments.”

Five Candidates File Petitions to Vie for OAISD Board

Five candidates will appear on the ballot for two seats on the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District Board of Education. The deadline for filing petitions for the positions was May 8, 2023.

Candidates for the six-year terms are Mark Eickholt, Grand Haven; Vanessa Wilhelm, Grand Haven; Roger Williams, Grand Haven; Eric Miller, Zeeland; and incumbent Randy Schipper, Holland.

One seat is being vacated by Grand Haven resident John Siemion who is wrapping up six years of dedicated service on the OAISD Board.

The process for electing intermediate school district board members differs from local school district board elections. The eleven local district Boards of Education served by Ottawa Area Intermediate School District appoint a delegate to cast their votes at a special meeting which will take place Monday, June 5, 2023. The successful candidates will assume their new duties on July 1, 2023. No more than two individuals representing

(Continued on page 10)

On May 12th, Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz detailed how out of control the border truly is under the Biden Administration. In one week, 67,759 individuals were encountered illegally trying to enter our nation. At the same time, border patrol estimates that approximately 15,780 individuals evaded authorities and entered our country illegally in one week.

Even more concerning is the fact that last week, an individual on the FBI terror watch list was caught trying to illegally enter our country with a group of people near San Diego. Thankfully, this particular suspect was apprehended; however, we cannot afford to have dangerous individuals illegally entering our country undetected.

Border security is national security and with the passage of the Secure the Border Act, the Republican-led House has delivered a tangible solution to help resolve the crisis along our nation’s southern border.

If you need help navigating a federal agency, please visit Huizenga. House.Gov or call my office in Holland at (616) 251-6741 or in Washington at (202) 225-4401 so we can assist you.

Small Business Laments MI Senate’s Move to Give More Power to Unelected Bureaucrats

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the state and nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, voiced its disappointment and concern over the passage today of Senate Bill 14, a bill to repeal a prohibition on state agencies promulgating rules stricter than those at the federal level without providing a rationale for such action.

“When this legislation was passed in 2018, NFIB worked with the sponsor and other stakeholders to find a compromise that provided for flexibility to address Michigan specific issues that may need more nuanced regulations,” said Amanda Fisher, state director for NFIB Michigan. “The extra steps that need to be taken by the departments under the current Act are not prohibitive but work to ensure that new regulations have been thoroughly vetted.”

Fisher pointed to a U.S. Chamber cost study indicating that federal regulations alone on small businesses (firms that employ fewer than 50 people) averaged $12,000 per employee in 2017 – up from $10,585 in 2010. The amount per employee continues to increase as more state-specific regulations are added.

“Small business does not deny the need for some regulations. But often times, they are duplicative, nonsensical, expensive, and overburdensome without achieving desired outcomes,” continued Fisher. “Unfortunately, Senate Bill 14 takes power from the people’s elected representatives, the Legislature, and gives it to unelected bureaucrats with no transparency or accountability to those citizens they are supposed to be serving.”

Fisher instead urged adoption of SJR C, a joint resolution to change the Michigan Constitution to require all administrative rules to be approved by the Michigan Legislature. “Public policy should be overseen by elected officials, not made by a ‘shadow legislature’ in windowless government offices,” concluded Fisher.

Keep On Doing Good!

By Tonja Taylor

So, let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. --Galatians

6:9, NLT

God is faithful to reward our work, however we give to His Kingdom; prayer, finances, material goods, encouragement, service--He will reward it all. We are the Light in the world, and we are making a difference, no matter how it seems!

Sometimes I have been tempted to stop praying for people, especially after praying for them for years.

The devil whispered things like, “What’s the use? There is no change. Why waste your time and energy?”

However, he--the devil--is the father of lies and can’t tell the truth.

But when we pray, King Jesus prays!

Jesus our LORD is the High Priest of our confession, and when we are born again by believing in what His pure blood accomplished for us on the cross over 2,000--by cleansing us of the huge, horrid guilt of all our sins-then our prayers to the Father go through Him, and He is faithful to represent us to Jehovah!

Hallelujah!

We like to see results. We like things to be accomplished quickly.

Only the LORD knows the heart--and life experiences that have caused the good and bad--of every person, so only He knows why they react as they do.

We have to keep asking Him to help us not to judge people, but to judge Him, the LORD, forever faithful!

(There are times and seasons to life, and I’ve heard at least one well-respected, internationally known preacher say the LORD told him to stop praying for a certain person. However, that is the exception.)

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ

Jesus. --I Thess. 5:16, NLT

The LORD knows every circumstance of our lives, and even when we feel weak, and may not be praying fully in faith, we remember that I John 5:14-15 says that when we pray in His will, we know that He hears us, and that we have what we ask!

It doesn’t say that we have to feel like we’re in faith, and we can’t trust feelings, anyway! It says that “when we pray in His will,” and praying His Word back to Him is an excellent way of praying in

Immanuel Reformed Church

M-89 (500 East Main Street) & Wilson Avenue (57th Street) Post Office Box 434, Fennville, Michigan, 49408

Telephone: 1-616-283-1546

Outdoor Drive-In Worship Service

¼ mile North of Fennville on 58th Street.

May 28, 2023 - Lords Day 22

6:00PM

Special Music: Compagner Family

Guest speaker: Rev. Scott VanOostendoorp

A FREE WILL offering will be taken during the service. Gifts will be used to continue the Outdoor service.

If there is thunder and lightning or a Tornado warning at 5:00pm or it’s been raining ALL day the outdoor service will be cancelled. Telephone: 616.283.1546 or 616.990.5976

All Welcome – Join us as we praise and thank God by worshipping with Him and His creation!

His will! Hallelujah!

We also know that Jesus takes our words in His will to Father God.

But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.

--Hebrews 8:6, NLT

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The God of Abundance

By Jeff Munroe

Read: Matthew 14:13-21

And they all ate and were satisfied. (v. 20)

When it comes to how Christians should relate to their money; I’m uncomfortable with the word stewardship. That may sound surprising, since stewardship is the word Christians use most when talking about money. But I hear stewardship being used to justify stinginess. “I’m just trying to be a good steward” is used as an excuse not to give instead of a reason to give.

That’s why I prefer to focus on generosity. Stewardship often brings with the assumption that one is managing a limited and scare resource. In contrast, generosity begins with the assumption that one is managing an abundant resource. Our God is a God of abundance, not scarcity. The disciples did the math of feeding 5,000 people on two fish and five loaves and felt anxious. Jesus knew there would be twelve baskets left over.

Let me quickly add that I am not proposing some sort of “God want to make you rich” theology. God doesn’t want to make you rich: God wants you to realize how rich you already are. The reality is that the great majority of those reading this devotional are fantastically rich compared with the rest of the world. Rich is a relative term, and I find no biblical justification for those who mangle God’s good news into a promise of personal wealth. You already are blessed beyond measure. Let your giving reflect that reality.

Jeff Munroe is the editor of the Reformed Journal.

This devotional is reprinted by permission from Words of Hope. To receive Words of Hope’s daily meditation, and learn more about their international ministry, please visit woh.org.