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My Town Belding: New troubles for Rivertown Bike Week Expo

Submitted by Anonymous on Friday, May 23rd, 8:24 am
My Town Belding: New troubles for Rivertown Bike Week Expo

BELDING, Mich.—A motorcycle event that’s expected to attract tens of thousands of bikers to Belding is running into more troubles.

Mark Mensch of the Rivertown Bike Week Expo told the city council this week the event’s presenting sponsor has withdrawn.  Organizers are now looking for other funding solutions, but are still planning on holding the the Bike Week Expo July 17-19, 2015.

The organizers of the expo are part of the same group that began planning Rivertown Bike Week in Grand Rapids in 2010, but had to repeatedly delay the event because of regulations and a lack of sponsors.  They tried moving it to July 2014 in Belding, but ended up postponing the event again after failing to secure venues and sponsorships in time.

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My Town Belding: City budget approved

Submitted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 22nd, 2:00 pm
My Town Belding: City budget approved

BELDING, Mich.— Belding's new budget is officially ready to take effect July 1.

City council members officially adopted the budget Tuesday night, after opening the floor to the public.  No community members commented on the budget, which is the first budget in nine years that will not tap into the city's general fund to cover expenses, according to City Manager Meg Mullendore.  To see her entire budget breakdown, click here.

The new budget is set to expire June 30, 2015.

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My Town: City budget and Bike Week on the agenda for May 20

Submitted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 20th, 12:04 pm
My Town: City budget and Bike Week on the agenda for May 20

BELDING, Mich.— An organizer of a new motorcycle event coming to Belding is expected to update the city council on his plans Tuesday night.

Rivertown Bike Week organizer Mark Mensch is expected to attend the meeting, which begins at 7 p.m.  Late last year, the city council approved holding the Rivertown Bike Week Expo from July 17, 2015 to July 19, 2015.  The event is expected to attract tens of thousands o bikers to Belding.

The organizers of the expo are part of the same group that began planning Rivertown Bike Week in Grand Rapids in 2010, but had to repeatedly delay the event because of regulations and a lack of sponsors.  They tried moving it to July 2014 in Belding, but ended up postponing the event again after failing to secure venues and sponsorships in time.

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My Town Belding: Drivers detoured as crews replace bridge over Flat River

Submitted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 8th, 1:43 pm
My Town Belding: Drivers detoured as crews replace bridge over Flat River

OTISCO TOWNSHIP, Mich.—  Work is underway on replacing the Long Lake Road Bridge over the Flat River, leading to detours for drivers.

Ionia County highway engineer Paul Spitzley says the project started April 28 and is expected to stretch into mid-September.  Crews are replacing the deteriorating two-lane bridge with a 105-foot span composed of concrete box beams with pre-stressed steel, created in Kalamazoo.  The  new bridge will not have load restrictions, aside from state guidelines.

Spitzley says 80 percent of funding for the $1.1 million project is coming from federal grants.  The State of Michigan is picking up 15 percent of the cost; the rest will be covered by the Ionia County Road Commission and Otisco Township.

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Deputies search for hit and run driver

Submitted by Anonymous on Monday, December 9th, 10:05 am
Deputies search for hit and run driver

GREENVILLE, Mich.—Montcalm County sheriff’s deputies are looking for the driver who hit a pedestrian and didn’t stop.

The incident happened shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6.  Deputies say Devon Lee Hollenbaugh, 20, was walking south on M-66 near Holland Lake Road when a vehicle’s passenger side mirror hit him from behind. 

Hollenbaugh was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.  He’s since been released. 

Based on witness accounts and mirror remnants left at the scene, deputies believe the vehicle may be a 2005 Chevrolet Uplander. Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office at (989) 831-7590 or the Sherriff’s Tip Line at (989) 831-7593. 

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Rivertown Bike Week Expo scaled back for 2015

Submitted by Anonymous on Monday, December 2nd, 1:33 pm
Rivertown Bike Week Expo scaled back for 2015

BELDING, Mich.--- Organizers of a motorcycle event that’s expected to attract tens of thousands of bikers to Belding are scaling back their plans.

The city council recently approved holding Rivertown Bike Week Expo from July 17, 2015 to July 19, 2015.  City Manager Meg Mullendore says organizers hope shortening the event and planning it further out will help them secure sponsorships.

The organizers of the expo are part of the same group that began planning Rivertown Bike Week in Grand Rapids in 2010, but had to repeatedly delay the event because of regulations and a lack of sponsors.  They tried moving it to July 2014 in Belding, but ended up postponing the event again after failing to secure venues and sponsorships in time.

Mullendore says organizers are still hoping to attract 35,000 people downtown, despite shortening the event from five days to two days.  

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New cruiser approved for Belding Police

Submitted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 14th, 7:00 am
New cruiser approved for Belding Police

BELDING, Mich.—  The Belding Police Department is getting a new set of wheels.

The Belding City Council unanimously approved plans to buy a new police cruiser during its regular meeting last week.   City Manager Meg Mullendore says the vehicle will replace a car that’s reaching the end of its life, with approximately 165,000 miles on its engine.

The new cruiser will be the same make as the current police cruiser, but a newer model. The vehicle will come out of the city’s budget, as planned.

The older vehicle will go into inventory for the next city auction, which has not yet been scheduled.

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