Sarah Leach

Processing eight deaths, particularly involving children, in a single home is a long, heavy road — and local authorities know it.

Authorities have officially ruled the July 24 deaths of eight family members inside a burning Grand Haven Township home as a murder-suicide, confirming that a father shot and killed his wife and six children before taking his own life and setting the residence on fire.

As of Monday, July 27, authorities said they had very few answers to a motive on why Kristopher Karolkiewicz, a 47-year-old father of six, and husband to Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz, 39, shot and killed his family before killing himself July 24.

A 21-year-old Indiana man has been arraigned on multiple felony charges, including assault with intent to murder, following a weekend shooting that injured five teenagers and young adults at the Bass River Recreation Area.

Understanding how a home transforms from a sanctuary into a crime scene requires examining the psychology behind domestic violence, recognizing subtle red flags and equipping parents with the tools to guide children through complex trauma.

When former HR Director Scott Hawkes walked away from Ottawa County with a $40,000 severance deal in June, his personnel file contained no complaints or disciplinary actions, after an ONN FOIA request. Now, proof has emerged that complaints against Hawkes were indeed made before his departure.

Want to know what happened at the most recent Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting, but don't have time to watch? Here are the highlights you missed.

The ruling stems from the prosecution of Cinecca Daquan Madison, who was 19 years old when he allegedly shot two acquaintances in a park in June 2022, resulting in the death of Antory Burrell and severe injuries to Demontae Knight.

The Grand Haven area will remember the lives of the Karolkiewicz family in a memorial service scheduled for later this month.

Here's a list of how candidates made out in the federal, state and local races as well as how countywide and local proposals fared with voters.