Ally Cook named 2021 Ionia County Woman of the Year
Ionia Sentinel-Standard
IONIA A sixth generation Ionian is joining the ranks of women who’ve received one of the highest honors at the Ionia Free Fair.
Ally Cook was named the 2021 Ionia County Woman of the Year during the annual Ladies Day program Friday, July 23, at the Ionia Free Fair.
Cook and her sisters run Cook & Co. Creamery & Confections at 409 W. Main St. in downtown Ionia. The Cook sisters have been serving sweets to the public since August 2019.
Ally Cook is also Ionia County’s District Four commissioner and Ionia city clerk. She told The Sentinel-Standard she was surprised to be nominated and thought the other nominees were “super deserving of the honor.
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Library scavenger hunt provides fun for Ionia County families
Ionia Sentinel-Standard
IONIA Young children and their families can explore Ionia County through a scavenger hunt as part of an educational campaign.
The Ionia County Great Start Collaborative and each of the county’s seven libraries have teamed up to present the Talking is Teaching spring scavenger hunt. It started April 1 and wraps up May 27.
Children ages six years old and younger and their families can visit a library in Ionia County to pick up a sheet for the scavenger hunt, said Holly Blastic, Ionia County Great Start Collaborative family liaison. Children and their families then search for themed window clings at downtown businesses.
IONIA A historic building in downtown Ionia has officially been gifted to the community library.
Mercantile Bank of Michigan donated its former branch at 302 W. Main St. In downtown Ionia to the Ionia Community Library. A formal transfer took place Monday, April 12.
ICL Director Dale Parus described receiving the building as a “game-changer.” ICL will place a proposal on the ballot in the November election asking voters to approve a millage to operate a library in the commercial building. Parus said the building gives ICL “a fighting chance” at winning in November.
“It gives us a big step forward toward making those larger plans,” Parus said. “If we can convince the folks in November that this is a worthy plan and I think it is. the sky’s the limit after that. We’ll be able to be a presence down here. people will be up and down the street.”