ADA, Mich.—The first stage of Ada Township’s transformation plan is expected to start this summer.

Township Supervisor George Haga says the township is starting to get into the financing aspect of "Envision Ada." He says the plan has been adopted by the Downtown Development Authority, but the township must still go through the master plan process.

The work is expected to begin on Headley Street this summer.  Haga says the township plans to move Headley north and line it with retail buildings.  The old street will be abandoned.

You can find the entire 176 page Envision Ada plan on the township website here.

KENTWOOD, Mich.—There’s a new face on the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Board.

The Kent County Board of Commissioners announced the appointment of Steve Heacock Monday.  The seven-member Airport Board is responsible for the general oversight of Gerald R. Ford Ford International Airport.  Heacock replaces former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, who left the board last December.  His term will run through Dec. 31, 2016.

Heacock has served as chairman of the Convention and Arena Authority, which owns and operates Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place.  He  served on the Kent County Board of Commissioners fir sux years, including two years as the chairman.  Heacock, who is a Grand Rapids resident, is the senior vice president of public affairs for Spectrum Health Systems.  He was also the chief administrative officer, general counsel and board secretary of the Van Andel Institute for six years.

DEWITT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Snowy owls are out in force in Michigan this winter, thanks to a population boom in their Arctic breeding lands.

The Lansing State Journal says area birdwatchers have been sighting the 2-foot-tall raptors.Snowy owl sightings have taken place at Capital Region International Airport in Clinton County's DeWitt Township, Ingham County's Alaiedon Township north of Mason and at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in suburban Grand Rapids. Capital Regional airport Operations Director Lisa Adams says people have spotted the owls with some regularity at the airport over the past two months, including nine times in December.

Snowy owls breed in the Arctic and typically move south in the winter. Experts say the owl's population boom may be because of an abundance of one of their favorite foods, lemmings.