Range Closed After Stray Bullet Reports To Reopen This Year

GRAND HAVEN TWP. (WWJ/AP) - A gun range in West Michigan that closed in 2011 after reports that stray bullets wounded one person and hit homes about a half-mile away plans to reopen this year.

Although a reopening date hasn't been set, the outdoor range at North Ottawa Rod and Gun Club in Ottawa County's Grand Haven Township plans to add several new safety features, such as building up berms, mounds of earth meant to stop bullets, on the range's east end.

Township officials, however, say they want more details before the range reopens.

The range, located about 30 miles northwest of Grand Rapids, was closed by the club following reports of stray bullets.

Grand Valley State University officers were involved in firearms training when the first shooting report came in. Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that the officers were midway through a training session Sept. 29 when a man drove up, saying his house was hit.

Later, police learned a contractor working in a nearby development was wounded in the arm by a bullet apparently from the range. The range has been out of use since the incident.

Jeremey Wilder, an area resident whose home was damaged months before Sept. 29, said neighbors believe the problem with stray bullets is more widespread.

"We expect the safety recommendations to ensure that no bullets will be capable of leaving the rifle/pistol range and striking people, homes and property," Wilder said.

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