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Eaton County

Eaton County

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Eaton County

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That’s what friends are for – kidney donation says it all

Posted by Design | February 12, 2026

Joanne Williams
Editor

(Photo provided – Friends (left) Scott Williams and Schad Sparks now share more than most folks after Shad donated his kidney to Scott.)

Most friends are willing to share lawnmowers or snowblowers when needed. Schad Sparks went a bit further. He donated a kidney.

The recipient? Scott Williams, 51, a father with two children. An average guy.

Sparks, 51, a father with two children. Another average guy.

They shared a circle of friends, and as Williams’ kidney disease progressed, they shared the health journey.

Williams’ wife, Ronda, spoke about the experience. “You know, I had this weird feeling that he (Sparks) was the one,” she said about the match.

The Journey

For the last five years, Scott has been battling kidney disease. It runs in his family, Ronda said. His mother Merrill “Cookie” Williams, died of the disease in August 2022.

“We had a window,” Ronda said, of stopping the disease from progressing while they searched for a kidney. In fact, a change of diet kept Scott from going on dialysis.

Ronda said they were told it would take three to four years to get a kidney from a dead donor through the University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor, where they were receiving treatment. They heard it would only take four months’ wait in Ohio. All along, though, they knew it would be better to get a kidney from a live donor.

So, the search began. as the Williams family shared their journey with friends. Friend Sandy Osborn was eager to spread the word, and when it reached Sparks, he said, “I’ll give my kidney,” 

Surgery and Beyond

So, testing began, “so many tests, so many times to UofM,” Ronda said. 

At Christmas, they got the call – there was a potential live match.

Because of privacy concerns, UofM could not share the donor’s name – but the Williams’ knew. Sparks began planning his life around the procedure. He is a mechanics operator with Delta Township.

The couples met in the parking lot of the Family Fare in Eaton Rapids and drove to UofM together. When Sparks and Scott showed up together, the medical staff was surprised. The pair eventually shared a moment together in pre-op.

The operation was a success. Sparks went home after two days – “He recovered so fast,” Ronda said. 

For the Williams’ family, another journey has begun – one of more than 20 medications a day that cannot be “missed or messed up,” Ronda said. She was so impressed with the care and patience of UofM staff as they helped the couple navigate and be tested on the medications and dietary concerns. 

“The hospital and the pharmacist walked us through it daily. We have a big, red duffle bag full of meds, and each Thursday we meet and go over the process,” Ronda said. 

“Schad is a savior. We owe him so much. We owe him so many cookies,” Ronda said.

Scott Williams is well known for his chocolate chip cookies, which take two to three days to make, Ronda said. When Sparks was asked what Scott could do for him – he asked for cookies.

Spark’s generosity is no surprise to life-long friends Pat and Dan DeLeeuw of Olivet.

“I am not surprised Schad would do something like this,” Pat said. He is a great guy.”

He would help anybody, Dan said. He inherited it, Dan said, from the Nicolaou family, “who would do anything for anybody.” Sparks’ late mother Eleni was a dear friend who worked for almost 30 years with the DeLeeuw’s when they owned Carl V. Reck Jewelers, which now belongs to their son, Matthew.

The Statistics

According to University of Michigan Health, there are more than 2,200 on the waiting list for a kidney transplant in Michigan (as of August 2025). Across the nation, the number is more than 92,000.

Live kidney donors do not have to be related to the recipient. Donors can range from 18 to about 65 years of age. The risk is minimal but not negligible.

This story will continue in a future issue.

Charlotte

Charlotte

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Charlotte

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Saturday morning ‘help others’ event produces more than 330 lunches, aid for the homeless, those in need

Posted by Design | February 9, 2026

Joanne Williams
Editor

(Photo by Joanne Williamd/TCJ: Missy Smith (right) and more than 30 volunteers assembled more than 330 bag lunches for the homeless in the area. The effort brought donations in from as far as Flint.)

 

It all started with a Facebook event post – “Badge’s Pack a Lunch for His Homeless Homies.”

It turned into more than 30 people gathered in the Courthouse Square Museum in Charlotte packing lunches and other essentials for the homeless in Eaton County and Lansing.

Missy Smith, owner and operator of a local hair salon, posted the event, not knowing what the response would be to the January 31 project.

“I hoped we would get a lot of donations, but I didn’t think we’d get this much,” she said. At the end of the day, more than 330 lunches were packed for delivery, as well as coats, hats, hand warmers and other necessities for those without a home. Evelyn Bay donated ham for sandwiches, too, and the Courthouse Square Museum opened the space free for use.

An assembly line built peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, while others assembled paper bags full of other treats, from candy to bottled water. 

Smith, along with her husband William, are no strangers to lending a helping hand. She regularly gathers items at her salon to donate to others, and on February 8, she and others will host a free soup and sandwich luncheon from 1 to 4 p.m. at the American Legion Post 42, 1000 W. Lawrence Ave., in Charlotte.

Carrie Smith (no relation) is another local willing to lend a hand. She learned about children attending Charlotte schools living in cars with their families. She began to gather items to donate to help. “You should see my spare bedroom,” she said. She also keeps an eye on the wooden food pantry on Lansing Road near Beacon Auto Sales. She sometimes brings hot food there, she said. She would be bringing items from the event there that day, too.

Big Badge V has made it his mission to help others. A formidable presence himself, he travels around Lansing to feed the homeless, wherever they are. He spent hours Saturday handing out the donated goods. He does the same thing three or four nights a week after work.

He wrote on Facebook about the Saturday event, “Thanks to a group of incredible people from my hometown that worked together as ONE, these folks got some full bellies last night!”

There are no official shelters in the Charlotte area, and few tolerant warming centers. People such as Missy, Carrie, Badge, and about 40 others noticed and did something, something anthropologist Margaret Mead foresaw: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

———–

Clarification

    In the February 7 edition of The County Journal, inaccurate information was presented in the story “Saturday morning ‘help others’ event.” 

The story said there are no official shelters in the Charlotte area. Siren/Eaton Shelter is the homeless/domestic violence shelter for all of Eaton County and primarily located in Charlotte. The shelter provides emergency housing for homeless families in Eaton County.

The event, which provided food, brought it to unhoused people in Eaton and Ingham counties.

Two services now occupy the 520 Robinson Street address – SIREN/Eaton Shelter and the Eaton Clothing and Furniture Center. Both organizations are accepting donations but do have guidelines. Call SIREN at 517-543-0748 to find out its policies.

Olivet

Olivet

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Olivet

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Olivet native is national collegiate cornhole champion

Posted by Design | February 12, 2026

Joanne Williams
Editor

(Photo provided –  Alex Weaver was recruited to one of only two collegiate cornhole teams in the country, and brought home a national championship for his Adrian College team. Weaver won in the national finals, held January 1 and 2 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.)

Imagine starting the year off as a national champion.

Alex Weaver of Olivet does not have to imagine it – he accomplished it, as individual champion of the College Cornhole National Championship, representing Adrian College.

Weaver, a junior, placed first out of 118 competitors, live on ESPN, as well as coverage on CBS and on The Athletic website.

Being in the spotlight “is not my favorite thing,” said Weaver, 21. But, the event was, especially since his family, mom, stepdad, granddad, and uncle, were there to cheer him on.

What makes Weaver a champion? Coach Maxwell Benedict, who initiated the program at Adrian in 2021, said, “Time, the amount of time he puts into it,” as well as consistency and mental skills. Benedict said the team has a mental coach, and Weaver makes use of the training. 

Weaver, who went through grade and high school in Olivet, played cornhole growing up but it wasn’t until  later, after playing basketball and golf, that he devoted effort to improving his cornhole play.

Three years ago, Weaver said he did not even know collegiate cornhole competition existed. “I started at Trine University,” studying finance, Weaver said, and Benedict recruited him for the second semester. The rest is history.

Adrian College is one of two colleges with dedicated teams, Winthrop University in South Carolina is the other. Adrian was the first in the country with  a school-funded team. The sport was fostered by Killshots Cornhole, a local game supplier. This is Coach Benedict’s first cornhole rodeo – someone forwarded him the job announcement as he pondered a career change.

Weaver said he will “never stop playing” the game. His tip for competing? “Patience,” he said. “Even if you are down, you just play until the game is over.” That’s 21 points in cornhole.

Cornhole has deep roots, first recognized as an outdoor game in 1883 as a combination of horseshoes and square holes. As excitement for the game grew, folks wanted an indoor version, so soft bean bags, actually filled with corn kernels, was born.

Now bean bags come in every design and color, and the wooden, ramped corn hole surfaces come in all types of designs as well. In competition, the equipment is regulated.

The game is known by a variety of names around the county: Bean bag toss, baggo, sacks and dummy board are just a few. It is now part of Special Olympics.

There are leagues and tournaments around the country, established in the early 2000s. The American Cornhole Association is located in Cincinnati, Ohio.

With the winter Olympics now in play, Weaver said there have been rumors that cornhole may be on the schedule in 2032.

Bellevue

Bellevue

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Bellevue

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Ch-ch-changes in Charlotte area businesses, locations just this year

Posted by Design | February 9, 2026

Joanne Williams
Editor

(Photo by Joanne Williams/TCJ: Once Mike’s Automotive, then home to Eaton Clothing and Furniture Center, now a business hub, anchored by Valhalla Value and Liquidations, 135 S. Washington St., Charlotte.)

 

Who cares what Punxsutawney Phil says about winter! Dairy Queen opens Saturday, February 7 in Charlotte.

And there is a lot going on in the surrounding area in terms of small business news.

Dan Riedy retires with a farewell party on February 8 at Riedy’s, 219 S. Cochran. The restaurant closes its doors after 46 years – once with three locations.

B’s Artistic Studio is now in downtown Charlotte at 111 W. Lovett. The move took place just after the holidays. 

Bella Grande clothing and more consignment boutique closes in March after almost two decades of success. Until the doors are locked, there are sales and deals inside 227 S. Cochran. Current owner Angel Fulkerson took over from founder Betsy Smith and has created lasting relationships with customers and consignment providers.

Deadtime Stories: The Sequel, opened in the Courthouse Square Museum in June 2025. Despite being open during festivals and concerts, there was not enough traffic for it to remain. The store closed before the new year, but the original Deadtime Stories flourishes in Lansing.

There is a new director at the Eaton County Humane Society Danielle Constant, who was recently a manager at the Northland Animal Hospital in Rockford.

The former Soldan’s pet supply, recently sold to Feeders Pet Supply, closed at the end of October 2025 in the Charlotte Plaza. A former manager wrote on Facebook that the staff was great, sales were underperforming, costs of brick and mortar were a factor, and other Soldan locations remain open.

Yes, it’s true, the former Reflections store at 129 S. Cochran is now Vikings’ Edge, an axe-throwing venue. Sneak a peek during the Wine Walk on February 12 (tickets required), or wait for the opening, February 27. As the Wood Turns owner John Laupp and neighbor from the Groomery, Capri Brown Dixon, are owners. Six lanes and unique designs are featured.

Richard’s Appliance, a mainstay in Charlotte at 630 W. Lawrence Ave.,  since 1983, is now Morton’s Appliance, offering appliance sales and repairs. Longtime owners Robin and Janice Richards retired and sold the building to Brad and Terri Morton.

The Riverside Café, a grand community spot, has been closed for about a year in Bellevue. Asking price is $300,000 for a spot by the riverside.

The former Bellevue Car Wash is now Steph’s Buff and Wash, and since owners Justin and Stephanie Keiffer took over in November 2025, changes and upgrades have been in progress.

It is hard to believe the transformation of the Windwalker Gallery front on 125 S. Cochran in Charlotte. Once an art, design and musical showplace, the Marketplace Studio Gallery is chocked with an eclectic mix of items from local folks, from herbs to clothing, mugs to jewelry. The back is still set up with a piano and stage and has been used for musical events. The Windwalker Antiques and Underground Gallery was started by the late Richard Turbin and his son, Rick, in 2012 and operated as such until Richard died in 2024. 

Also a part of the Marketplace is The Corner Market and Pantry, moving in from just down the road from its former location at Lovett and Cochran.

Seasonal Inspirations was a charming gift shop and community support for Olivet. Jamie Kita was the owner and operator, as well as one time Olivet Chamber of Commerce president. Ill health has forced her to close her shop.

When one business leaves a building, another moves right in. That’s the prosperity of the WestEnd Hub in Charlotte. Natural Journey to Health moved in with Agape Salon on Lawrence Avenue, leaving space for the newest West End Hub occupant, RK’s Unique Boutique to move right in at 517 W. Lovett. The shop should be up and running soon, says owner Randi-Kay Stine.

And still more moves in the West End, where Valhalla Value and Liquidations, which has done nothing but grown since its beginnings about four years ago, moves to 135 S. Washington, as Eaton Clothing and Furniture moves out and into space on 520 S. Robinson St., next to SIREN/Eaton Shelter.

Valhalla will not be alone in the budling as it is large enough to house multiple businesses, many fostered under Valhalla’s roof.

Vermontville

Vermontville

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Vermontville

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85th Maple Valley Syrup Festival court crowned

Posted by Design | February 12, 2026

Joanne Williams
Editor

(Photo provided-  The 2026 Vermontville Syrup Festival Court (from left): Queen McKenzie Soper, Kiylee Kirby, and Aubree Roth. The court was crowned at  a February 11 ceremony.)

The taps are open. The syrup is running. Good news for the 85th Annual Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival.

Planning is continuous, and parts of the event are set in place weeks before the actual weekend. 

For example, the Maple Syrup Festival queen and her court were crowned just last week. This year’s queen is 16-year-old McKenzie Soper. The Maple Valley High School student wants to be a third-grade teacher and loves to draw, sing, and is a member of the choir. She is the oldest of five children.

Soper writes, “I would say my favorite part about the festival is seeing how many people go. It really brings our community together.”  Organizers have estimated more than 20,000 in festivals past.

Joining Soper are Kiylee Kirby and Aubree Roth.

Kirby, 17, also attends Maple Valley High School, where she participates in volleyball and soccer. Kirby loves to write and take photographs. She wants to major in nursing. Kirby is the middle child of six in her family. Kirby writes, “I enjoy and am thankful for the ones who made this a thing where towns around us come and celebrate and enjoy.”

Sixteen-year-old Roth, also attending Maple Valley, wants to pursue a career in law enforcement. At the high school, she is active in volleyball and basketball and would like to continue basketball in college. She is also a great supporter of 4-H.

Roth writes, “I also enjoy seeing how everyone is out and enjoying themselves (at the festival) and it really shows how close our community is.”

The court has a number of responsibilities, including attending parades to represent Vermontville and experience collecting maple syrup. 

The February 11 crowning event was held at the First Congregational Church in Vermontville and was hosted by the Maple Syrup Festival Corporation and the Vermontville Lions Club.

Last year’s court was also represented by queen Madison Trowbridge, who shared a scrapbook of the year’s activities.

The April 24-26 festival includes activities from parades to pancake breakfasts, entertainment and vendor booths. This year, drones will fill the skies in place of fireworks.

Potterville

Potterville

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Potterville

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Potterville boys seeing growth under ‘new’ coach Kemp

Posted by Design | February 12, 2026

Ben Murphy
Contributing Writer 

(Photo provided – Coach Kyren Kemp is happy to be back in Potterville.)

The head coaching gig for the Potterville boys basketball team has been a bit of a revolving door in recent years. Kyren Kemp is in his first year leading the Vikings, and he is their third different coach in the last three years. 

“That’s going to be tough on any program,” Kemp said. 

The coach is hoping though, that the way he does things can start to make a difference.

“(We have) different expectations and higher standards than most of them were accustomed to,” Kemp said. “We had success early, have been faced with a lot of adversity since then but the light at the end of the tunnel is bright. We’re being transformational instead of transactional in our leadership. It’s heading in the right direction.” 

The Vikings are 4-13 overall this season (as of February. 4). They began the season with three straight wins: 70-67 over Eaton Rapids, 68-59 over Lansing Christian, and 57-45 over Dansville. Since that time, they’ve added one more victory –  when they topped Saranac 69-46 in the middle of January. They’ve run through a tough stretch of games, but Kemp believes his group is still getting to where they need to be. 

“Handling adversity (is key),” he said. “We’ve struggled and lost more than a fair share of games because of it. There’s a mental toughness that we have to display, and we are working every day to get there. (We’re showing them) that nothing is given; if you want something you have to earn it, take it and protect it. To be winners you have to do the things that winners do. It’s a sacrifice that’s not for everybody. Standards must be upheld, no one person, no one coach, no one player is bigger than the program. That’s how we will be successful.”

The coach mentioned a few players that have helped through things in what has been a bit of a transitional year.

“Tooker Harris is amazing kid and great leader,” Kemp said. “He is what I call the ‘puppy’ of the team being only a sophomore. He leads by example and always makes sure guys are in the right spot. Andrew Morales leads the way as our starting point guard, which I’m very transparent in saying is the hardest position to play for me. He has taken his bumps and hard conversations and really matured in that role over the season. Blake Collern is the most unselfish and hardest working player we have. He’s versatile simply because he’s willing to be. He never knows how many minutes he’ll play or what he’ll be asked to do but he is going to do it 100-percent and never complains. These guys are examples of exactly what we want our program to be.”

The coach is hoping that by learning through their adversity this season, they can end the year on a high note.

“We want to finish the season strong while creating a solid foundation. I think a lot of the people on the outside have counted us out, but there’s a lot of belief in this program and a lot of hunger,” Kemp said. “We want to be clicking on all cylinders leading into district play and make our run.”

From there, the coach is banking on building a program that churns out productive teams year after year.

“The future is bright here, but greatness won’t happen overnight,” Kemp said. “You have to go through the dark to appreciate the light. We are building over here, and I am proud of the young men I have here and happy to be back in Potterville.”

Eaton Rapids

Eaton Rapids

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Eaton Rapids

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Eaton Rapids’ old? Yes. Historic? YES!

Posted by Design | January 22, 2026

Deb Malewski
Contributing Writer

(Deb Malewski/FAN: This is the old Daniel Gould Home (1850s) and was the first brick house in Eaton Rapids. It was also the site of the first schoolhouse (1840-53) and was the home of Dr. Charles Stimson.)

 

Last November, representatives from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) walked the streets of downtown Eaton Rapids, taking in the Island City Historic District, an area officially recognized on the National Register of Historic Places in August 2012. Their visit was more than a tour; it was an opportunity to see the town as a layered place where history still quietly shapes daily life.

The Island City Historic District encompasses nearly the entire downtown island, framed by the Grand River and the mill races that once powered its growth. This is the heart of Eaton Rapids, where commerce, industry, institutions, and homes have long converged. Yet the story does not stop at the district’s borders. Surrounding neighborhoods, many just as historic, hold their own narratives; and those stories that deepen the character of the community and remind us that history rarely fits neatly within mapped lines.

Knowing local history helps explain not only how Eaton Rapids came to be, but why it feels the way it does today. It tells us why the Grand River mattered, how streets like Montgomery, Knight, and Hamlin earned their names, and why certain industries and traditions took root here. That knowledge gives shape to identity. When we understand the lives of those who worked, struggled, and built this place before us, the town becomes more than a collection of buildings. It becomes a shared inheritance, and neighbors become part of a larger, connected story.

That story continues in very real ways. Eaton Rapids is home to the great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of its earliest residents. You might pass the descendant of a Civil War soldier on the sidewalk without ever knowing it. George, who waves to passersby downtown, is the great-great-grandson of Albert, who served in the Civil War, just as Mayor Pam Colestock’s ancestor, Charles, did. Many residents can trace their family roots back to the 1800s; some are even connected to the town’s original settlers.

Ken Nicholas, vice president of the Eaton Rapids Area Historical Society and a lifelong resident, sees local history as a foundation, one that helps people understand where they are headed by knowing where they have been. The past, he believes, offers perspective and possibility.

Retired Eaton Rapids Public Schools superintendent Bill DeFrance finds that history is never far from view. He and his wife live in one of the city’s historic homes and appreciate how the past remains woven into everyday life. “It’s fun to walk around and see interesting homes and buildings,” he said. “We love looking at historic houses and the downtown business district, especially with the façade work taking place.”

For Rick Loftus, a recent transplant from New York City, Eaton Rapids offers something increasingly rare: continuity. “It means people sitting in a Main Street coffee shop admiring historical photos on display, then stepping outside to see that the profile of the buildings is much the same today,” he said. “The town is growing, the awnings sometimes change, but respect for our predecessors, those who made Eaton Rapids, is everywhere. Where the past, the present, and the future meet, there is a comfort and a promise that everybody wants and needs.”

Eaton Rapids is more than old.

It is historic—and still very much alive.

Discover your local history at the Miller Farm, 635 State Street; at the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall and Museum, 224 South Main Street; and upstairs at Eaton Rapids City Hall, 200 South Main Street. History of Eaton County in general can be found at Courthouse Square Museum, 100 W. Lawrence Ave., in Charlotte.

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