The high price of ‘free pets’

January 9, 20203-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Faces, Pets/AnimalsCraigslist, Free pets, Ginny Mikita, Rehoming, Victoria MullenJoanne

There is no foolproof way to suss out the true motivation for potential adopters wanting a free animal.

Pets, as surprise holiday gifts, aren’t always welcome

December 13, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Holidays, How-To's, Pets/AnimalsFree pets, Holiday gifts, Rehoming feeJoanne

This holiday season, be responsible — don’t surprise someone with a new pet.

Red is the color of missing souls: Zapatos Rojos | Red Shoes, an installation by Elina Chauvet at GVSU

October 22, 2019Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming EventsArt, Grand Valley State University, GVSU, Music, Victoria MullenJoanne

The Fall Arts Celebration shines a spotlight on some of the world’s preeminent artists, poets, musicians, dancers, and scholars.

PACT needs 600 volunteers 65+ for Alzheimer’s clinical trial

October 12, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Senior LivingPACT, Victoria MullenJoanne

Solving brain games and puzzles on a computer could reduce the chances of developing dementia.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger: WKTV VOICES visits the Heartside District

October 7, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, VoicesDwelling Place, Heartside, Mel Trotter Ministries, Victoria MullenJoanne

VOICE’s mission is ‘to collect, share and preserve the narratives of people in our community’ — of our lives; of people from all walks of life.

WKTV VOICES guests share diverse global perspectives and memories, enrich the community

September 4, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, Our Cities, Politics, VoicesAngelique Mugabekazi, ArtPrize, Jimmy King, Lana Lie, oral history, Pamela Benjamin, Victoria Mullen, WKTV VOICESJoanne

Oral history—the collection and study of individual histories, experiences, important events or everyday life—is a tradition as old as civilization itself.

Does anybody really know what year it is? (Does anybody really care?)

April 21, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalismchocolate bunnies, Easter, einstein, gregorian calendar, jelly beans, julian calendar, Julius Caesar, phases of the moon, Years of confusionJoanne

There’s always been quite the brouhaha over the relationship between the equinox and Easter.

Keep calm: April is National Stress Awareness Month

April 1, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, HealthJoanne

Stressed about missing this holiday? Don’t be. It’s nationwide, so we’re all in this together. Even Gustave.

Music is the saving grace: A VOICES conversation with Thomas Carpenter

March 4, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, Non-ProfitsDégagé Ministries, Singing, Thomas Carpenter, Victoria MullenJoanne

Music has always been a big part of Thomas Carpenter’s life.

Of faith and freedom: A VOICES conversation with Fr. Peter Vu

February 25, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local FacesCommunism, Fr. Peter Vu, Victoria Mullen, Vietnam WarJoanne

Fr. Peter Vu credits the hardships he experienced in Vietnam with instilling the deeply ingrained values he preaches, including kindness and generosity.

A VOICES conversation with Donna Troost: Life on a farm

February 18, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, VoicesFarm, Milking cowsJoanne

Donna Troost wanted to be a nurse. But she ended up nursing six kids and 50 cows.

Living with Asperger’s: A VOICES conversation with Jimmy King

February 12, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local FacesAsperger'sJoanne

No matter how normal Jimmy King might feel, Asperger’s will always be a part of him.

A matter of survival: A VOICES conversation with Angelique Mugabekazi

February 4, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, VoicesAngelique Mugabekazi, Rwanda genocide, Victoria MullenJoanne

Before the genocide in Rwanda, Angelique Mugabekazi’s family was well off. And then they experienced poverty on a level they hadn’t seen before.

The many faces of Pamela Benjamin: A VOICES conversation

January 28, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, VoicesAll you need is a puppy, Big history, Pamela BenjaminJoanne

Meet Pamela Benjamin, New Zealand native.

WKTV VOICES: A conversation with Bruce and Becca Ling

January 21, 20193-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local FacesBecca Ling, Bruce Ling, grand river, Victoria MullenJoanne

Bruce and Becca Ling sat down with VOICES recently to talk about Bruce’s musical background, his affinity for animals and nature, and their life on the Grand River.

Some of the biggest stories of 2018 for Wyoming and Kentwood

December 28, 20183-bottom, Citizen JournalismBrandon Kimble, crash's landing, Godwin Heights High School, Jack the therapy cat, Wyoming Public SchoolsJoanne

Jack the therapy cat and the widening of 56th street were just some of our top stories for 2018.

Therapy cat’s adoption story beats odds, hits jackpot

November 20, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animalscrash's landing, Jack B. Nimble, Jackpot, Lynn Hopkins, Petco Foundation, Therapy CatJoanne

Only 51 out of more than 10,000 entries received prizes from Petco Foundation. Jack B. Nimble’s story was one of them.

Tell us why: WKTV VOICES invites ArtPrize voters to share their thoughts

September 21, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, VoicesArt, artists, ArtPrize 10, oral history, Vintage Airstream Trailer, Voters Feedback BoothJoanne

Look for the VOICES Airstream trailer on Lyon NW at the corner of Monroe Ave. Our Voters Feedback Booth will be right next to the trailer.

Jack, the therapy cat puts a spark in the spirit

September 20, 20183-bottom, Community Health, Health, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, Senior Livingcrash's landing, Jack the Cat, Lamos, Lynn Hopkins, Susan, Therapy Cat, Vista SpringsJoanne

Jack visits two retirement communities a week and an area hospice when someone requests a visit from a therapy cat.

The alchemy of silver and carbon monoxide? Hint: it’s a riddle

April 2, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Local Faces, Our CitiesCarbon monoxide, Joe Cramer, Silver, Treasure hunt, Wyoming RiddlerJoanne

For more than three decades, the Wyoming Riddler sent folks off on mind-bending treasure hunts. But what was the madness behind the method?

WKTV ‘VOICES’ is back at Marge’s Donut Den this Saturday, Feb. 10

February 5, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Upcoming EventsCommunity History Project, Marge's Donut Den, oral history, WKTV VOICESJoanne

WKTV VOICES has one time slot left, at 2 pm, for its Second Saturdays at Marge’s appearance at Marge’s Donut Den Feb. 10.

Some of the biggest stories of 2017 for Wyoming and Kentwood

December 29, 20173-bottom, Citizen JournalismCit of Wyoming, City of Kentwood, godfrey Lee Public Schools, Irvin Sigler III, Kentwood 50, library millage, Mayor Stephen Kepley, Spring Carnival, Two Guys BreweryJoanne

The 2017 most shared stories show off a commitment to community and willingness to work together to get things done.

‘VOICES: a community history project’ taking reservations for Wyoming Public Library appearance Oct. 23-26

October 17, 20173-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Upcoming Eventsoral history, Victoria Mullen, VOICES, WKTVJoanne

Interviews can be “life reviews,” conducted with people at the end of their careers. Or they can focus on a specific period or a specific event in people’s lives, as with war veterans or survivors of an earthquake, flood or hurricane.

‘VOICES: a community history project’ rolls out red carpet at ArtPrize Nine

October 2, 20173-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local History, Our Cities, Veterans, WKTV Projectsarchives, ArtPrize, oral history, stories, Video recording, VOICESJoanne

Participants tell their stories of hardships and successes, of what shaped them and their families into the kind of people they are today.

Migrant Legal Aid’s 7th Annual Harvest of Justice luncheon honors fair growers and retailers

September 22, 20173-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Food, Local Business, Non-Profits, Politics, VolunteersAnnual Harvest of Justice, Luzmita Mendez de Leon, Migrant Legal Aid, migrants, Teresa Hendricks, U visaJoanne

Migrant Legal Aid provides legal services to migrant farmworkers who face substantial barriers to justice. These willing, hardworking, and economical workers are vital to Michigan’s economy, but a migrant family’s life is far from easy.

‘Retirement’ on the menu for owners of Pal’s Diner

August 18, 20173-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Food, Local BusinessBarry Brown, Pal's Diner, restaurant, Victoria MullenJoanne

After 25 years in the restaurant biz, Barry and Sam Brown are retiring from Pal’s Diner. That presents an opportunity for a new operator to come on board.

Government Matters: Week in review

August 11, 20173-bottom, Citizen Journalism, PoliticsAllison Green, Debbie Stabenow, Gary Peters, Government Matters, Miranda Margowsky, Victoria Mullen, Week in Review, Zade AlsawahJoanne

What have our legislators been up to lately? Find out right here.

Government Matters: Week in review, July 24-28

July 28, 20173-bottom, Citizen Journalism, PoliticsGov. Snyder, Government Matters, Rep. Huizenga, Senator peters, Senator Stabenow, Week in ReviewJoanne

What is going on in our government? Find out here.

Government Matters: Week in review, July 17-21

July 21, 20173-bottom, Citizen JournalismBill Huizenga, Chief James Carmody, Government Matters, Michigna Police Department, Peters, Stabenow, Victoria Mullen, Week in Review, WyomingJoanne

Keep informed and learn what our elected officials are doing on our behalf.

Government Matters: Week of July 10-14

July 14, 20173-bottom, PoliticsGovernment Matters, Huizenga, Stabenow, Victoria MullenJoanne

Small businesses and retirement were on our elected officials’ minds this week.

Government Matters: Week in review, July 3-7

July 10, 20173-bottom, Citizen Journalism, PoliticsGovernment Matters, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Senator Gary Peters, Week in ReviewJoanne

Stay informed and learn what our elected officials are doing on our behalf.

Baby animals are adorable — but leave ’em alone, OK?

July 6, 20173-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Education, Non-Profits, Pets/Animalsanimals, babies, Blandford Nature Center, mammals, Victoria MullenJoanne

People who don’t know how to properly rehabilitate animals will end up with an imprinted baby — and it’s not so cute when it becomes an aggressive adult.