Hastings officials sorry about overlooked remains



HASTINGS - The mayor, the fire chief and other public officials in Hastings have sent a letter of apology to a family after firefighters overlooked their relative's remains in a car that burned in a driveway.

The daughter of 62-year-old Paul Bailey Sr. of Barry County's Rutland Township found his remains more than two hours after firefighters extinguished the Aug. 29 blaze and cleared the scene.

Fire officials in Hastings, 25 miles southeast of Grand Rapids, say they never saw the burned body.

Mayor Robert May, City Manager Jeffrey Mansfield, Fire Chief Roger Caris and the other officials signed the letter, which asked the family to accept their condolences and apologies.

They tell The Grand Rapids Press that steps are being taken to make sure nothing like it happens again.