WKTV Host and Managing Editor Cris Greer walks you through this Friday Night Highlights Robotics show from the recent FIRST Robotics Michigan District event at East Kentwood High School.
Our WKTV crew got DAY 2 highlights from the competition of the following local teams: East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics, Wyoming Demons and Godwin Heights Robosnacks, and filmed most of the best-of-three Championship Matches between the BLUE ALLIANCE: Wyoming Demons, Freeland Middle/High and North Branch and the RED ALLIANCE: Livingston Christian Schools, Bridgman and Comstock.
We also interviewed Wyoming Demons’ Coach Amy Oostdyk and senior Jeff Oostdyk, whose team was part of the Blue Alliance that placed second in the tournament.
The City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department will host the annual Limb Loss Awareness 5K on Saturday, April 25, at Veterans Memorial Park, beginning at 9 a.m.
This year’s event is proudly supported by Diamond Sponsor Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics, whose continued partnership helps expand opportunities for individuals of all abilities to participate in recreation and wellness programs.
Now in its eighth year, this inclusive event welcomes participants of all ages and abilities. Featured events include a 5K run/walk and a one-mile children’s fun run. There’s also a new addition to the lineup this year. The Resilience Race is a one-mile out-and-back option held alongside the 5K for participants who are looking to achieve a meaningful goal. All proceeds from the event support Kentwood’s Adaptive Recreation Programs, which serve individuals with disabilities and provide safe, meaningful recreation opportunities year-round.
Kentwood Limb Loss Awareness 5K. (Photo: City of Kentwood: Used with Permission)
Registration information:
Race Registration Fee: $35 per participant until April 24, $40 per participant on Race Day (April 25)
Resilience Race Fee: $20 per participant
Kid Fun Run: $10 per participant. Includes a T-shirt and finisher medal.
Participants in the 5k and the Resilience Race receive a T-shirt, finisher medal and swag bag.
“This event continues to bring our community together in such a meaningful way,” said Tara Holliman, Kentwood’s Adaptive Coordinator. “It’s inspiring to see participants of all ages and abilities show up to support one another, celebrate resilience and be part of something bigger. Events like this highlight the power of inclusion and the impact we can make when we come together.”
Packet pickup will be available at the event. You also can pick up your packet in advance at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, on Thursday, April 23, from noon to 5 p.m. and Friday, April 24, from 8 a.m. to noon. A brief award ceremony will take place following the race around noon. First-place prizes will be awarded to the first male and female amputee and non-amputee finishers, as well as top finishers in each age group.
Among this year’s participants is Nicholas Deblecourt, who will take part in the Limb Loss 5k as his first race since losing his leg last August. Nicholas survived a life-threatening car accident after experiencing a seizure while driving causing the vehicle to crash into a tree and erupt into flames. An army veteran and an off-duty police officer pulled him to safety, saving his life. As a result of severe burn injuries, Nicholas later underwent a foot amputation. His participation in the race stands as a powerful testament to resilience, recovery and determination. This event is particularly meaningful to Nicholas, as he spent time as an intern with Kentwood Parks and Recreation.
Kentwood Limb Loss Awareness 5K. (Photo: City of Kentwood: Used with Permission)
“This event is meaningful for our team because it gives us the opportunity to celebrate people beyond the clinic setting,” said Scott Riddle, vice president of Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics at Mary Free Bed. “Every day, we support individuals with limb loss as they move forward in their lives, and the Limb Loss Awareness 5K allows us to walk beside them in another way. We’re grateful to partner with Kentwood Parks and Recreation on a shared experience that honors resilience and possibility. This event creates a space where people of all abilities feel welcome and supported.”
For more information, including sponsorship opportunities and registration, visit Kentwood.us/LimbLoss5k
The City of Kentwood invites community members to its annual Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 24, at 12 p.m., highlighting the important role trees play in the environment and encouraging tree planting.
Residents of all ages are invited to attend the celebration at Veterans Memorial Park, 355 48th St. SE. The event begins at 12 p.m. with an Arbor Day proclamation reading by Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, followed by a ceremonial tree planting. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.
Community members are encouraged to participate in the event by helping plant trees in the park which includes mulch, stake and tying down the trees and adding an irrigation bag to each.
The City of Kentwood also is celebrating its recognition as a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation. This designation honors the City’s ongoing commitment to planting, maintaining and growing trees to benefit the community.
To earn Tree City USA recognition, a city must meet four core standards, including maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, investing at least $2 per capita in urban forestry, and hosting an Arbor Day observance.
“Our trees are an essential part of what makes our city healthy, beautiful, and a great place to call home,” Mayor Kepley said. “As we celebrate Arbor Day, we’re also proud to once again be recognized as a Tree City USA community, a reflection of our ongoing commitment to investing in our urban forest and protecting it for future generations.”
The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. Its network of more than one million supporters and partners has helped plant more than 500 million trees in forests and communities across more than 60 countries. The Foundation’s Tree City USA program is celebrating its 50th year, highlighting a legacy of building healthier, greener, and more resilient communities through urban forestry.
(Photo: City of Kentwood: Used with Permission)
Free seedlings for Kentwood residents
Kentwood residents can pick up a free tree seedling April 21–24 at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. Seedlings will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, while supplies last. The seedlings available: sugar maples, jack pines, highbush cranberry, white pine, and black elderberry.
Residents can check seedling availability by calling the Parks and Recreation Department at 616-656-5270. Community members also are encouraged to share photos of their planted seedlings on social media using the hashtag #GreeningKentwood.
The Arbor Day Celebration is sponsored by Railtown Brewing Company, which hosts an annual March fundraiser that donates a portion of sales from its Bike Ride Blonde ale to support tree purchases for the event.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Baldwin St. and 42nd Ave. on several reports that came into the Ottawa County Central Dispatch Authority of a bear sighting on the morning of April 17.
Several residents in the Schoolside Dr. residential neighborhood and the Hidden Lake Dr. residential neighborhood reported they observed a bear roaming the neighborhoods. The Sheriff’s Office obtained digital evidence from residents in those neighborhoods confirming a bear on their properties between 6:30 and 7:10 a.m. on Friday, April 17.
The Sheriff’s Office searched the area and did not locate the bear after receiving the reported sightings. The information was forwarded to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Out of an abundance of caution, the Sheriff’s Office also contacted the Hudsonville Public School Systems (HPS) as they have several school buildings in the general area of the bear sighting. As a result, HPS kept students inside the buildings as normal school operations continued.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public that generally bears are not aggressive, but they can be unpredictable, especially if they feel threatened or are protecting food sources or cubs. At this time, there have been no reports of injuries or aggressive behavior. However, the public is urged to remain alert and take appropriate safety measures. Residents are encouraged to avoid approaching the animal. If a bear is observed behaving aggressively or posing an immediate threat, individuals should contact 911.
The name Flowerland has been synonymous with “garden center” and “personalized service” in the greater Grand Rapids area for the past 77 years. The Flowerland reputation and service remains intact, just within two locations instead of its previous three.
On July 3, 2025, Flowerland owners Steve Harkema and sister Sue Jeurink closed the doors of its Wyoming location – the garden center’s place of origin.
“The Wyoming store was a special place because it evolved from there, and there’s a sadness to that,” said Flowerland Project Manager Bev Harkema.
Check out this Cool Slideshow of Flowerland History
Flowerland 1966. (Photo: Flowerland: Used with Permission)
Flowerland 1957. (Photo: Flowerland: Used with Permission)
Flowerland 1967. (Photo: Flowerland: Used with Permission)
Flowerland 1967. (Photo: Flowerland: Used with Permission)
Flowerland Ad in Grand Rapids Press 1957. (Photo: Flowerland: Used with Permission)
This is a view of Clyde Park Avenue looking south towards old Beals Road (28th Street) with the buggy turning in where Fruit Basket Flowerland will be some day. The exact year of this photo is unknown. (Photo: Wyoming Historical Commission: Used with Permission)
1987 Founder’s Day Sale. Current leadership team began working at Flowerland during this time. (Photo: Flowerland: Used with Permission)
1968 28th St. and Clyde Park. (Photo: Flowerland: Used with Permission)
1967 New Flowerland Building. (Photo: Flowerland: Used with Permission)
1957 Flowerland Advertisement. (Photo: Flowerland: Used with Permission)
1942 28th Street and Clyde Park. (Photo: Flowerland: Used with Permission)
Flowerland building April 2026. (WKTV/Deborah Reed)
Flowerland building April 2026. (WKTV/Deborah Reed)
Harkema, along with her husband Steve (CEO) and his sister Sue, joined Flowerland during their teenage years. They served in various roles and now provide essential leadership as the business moves toward its eighth decade of service.
“The other two stores are still there with the same great quality selection,” Harkema said. “The business is still strong, just existing in the two locations instead.”
Humble beginnings
Considered Grand Rapids’ destination garden center since 1949, Flowerland began as a simple fruit stand.
A descendant of Netherland gardeners, Jacob Tuinstra made his living by selling fresh produce door-to-door at nearby homes. The business grew quickly when Tuinstra’s children, Doris and Bob, joined him after returning from service in World War II. Before long, the family was selling plants as well as produce.
They incorporated in 1949 and opened their first store, bearing the name “Market Basket” and then “Your Fruit Basket,” on the northeast corner of Clyde Park and 28th Street, formerly known as the Abram J. Longstreet farm.
Wyoming farmland was quickly replaced with homes and businesses as people moved to areas outside the city of Grand Rapids. The Tuinstra’s garden center grew rapidly in notoriety due to floral shows, extensive Christmas displays, arts and crafts, home decor and patio furniture featured alongside the center’s garden supplies and plants.
To reflect its expanded offerings, the store changed their name to “Fruit Basket Gardens” in 1960.
As the store continued to flourish, out-of-state visitors became a regular occurrence. It is not surprising that construction on a new and larger store began in 1966.
Upon being labeled a “department store-type garden center” in a 1967 Grand Rapids Press article, the store changed its name once again to “Fruit Basket Flowerland” to better encompass the range of offered products.
1967 New Flowerland Building. (Photo: Flowerland: Used with Permission)
Sid Harkema joined the business in 1953 as a part-time sales clerk, then inhabited the role of nursery buyer. He eventually became CEO and Chairman of the Board where his ability to predict future growth led him to acquire property on Alpine Avenue (1973) and 28th Street in Kentwood (1979) well before they became bustling commercial areas.
Flowerland Show on WOOD Radio
Similarly, Rick Vuyst worked part time at the business as a teenager, later becoming CEO. In 1993, Vuyst and Hank Prins created the Flowerland Show on WOOD Radio, where they emphasized plant knowledge and gardening expertise. The award-winning show ran until Rick’s retirement in 2022.
Eventually, “Fruit Basket Flowerland” was shortened to “Flowerland,” but its reputation for customer service and ability to solve customers’ plant problems only continued to increase.
A logistical shift
Harkema says that the closing of the Wyoming store has prompted community members to cite demographics and its location in an older part of town as the reason.
“It’s not like that at all,” Harkema said. “It’s not because of the demographics of the community or anything like that; it’s just simple logistics.”
As the Wyoming location decreased in activity and the Kentwood and Alpine stores gained more business than staff could comfortably manage, Flowerland executives began searching for the reason why.
Flowerland building April 2026. (WKTV/Deborah Reed)
It wasn’t long before they realized customers from Holland, Hudsonville and Byron Center areas favored the larger selections at the Kentwood store located a mere six miles from the Wyoming location.
“When you’re going to buy perennials, you’d rather have 250 varieties, not just 100,” Harkema said.
Unable to justify the labor needed to keep the Wyoming location open while the other two stores were hard-pressed to keep up with increased traffic and demand, Harkema said, “it just makes sense” to close that location and concentrate efforts on the larger stores.
Beating the odds
Area integration of big-box stores have presented another challenge for the independently owned business, but Flowerland continues to thrive. Bev Harkema attributes their long-term success to the personal service, knowledgeable staff and selection of plants and flowers not offered at retail chains.
“Service is a big one because we have knowledgeable sales staff back from the days of the Plant Doctor (Tuinstra) who had his little booth, and now you have a desk at the different departments where people can get information,” Harkema said.
While good information can be found on the internet, Harkema said many people want the West Michigan-relevant product selection and personalized knowledge found with in-person interactions at Flowerland.
“We’ve got long-time people with so much knowledge specific to this area as opposed to trying to weed through the Internet,” Harkema explained. “That’s something that we offer that you can’t get somewhere else.”
Flowerland also is set apart from retail chains because they sell flower varieties that do not make the bestseller list and are hard to find elsewhere.
“Box stores sell the best sellers, that’s just what they do,” Harkema said. “We have varieties that aren’t best sellers. Maybe you only have 12 of them the whole year, but if you want that one, you can find it or you could order it.”
Happy nostalgia
The retention of Flowerland customers and employees throughout generations is a testament to the atmosphere of care cultivated throughout the better part of a century.
“We have a number of long-term employees,” Harkema said. “Everybody who was at the Wyoming store got transferred to the other stores if they wanted to. It’s kind of fun because they’ll see the customers who used to shop at Wyoming come to the other stores, and they still have those connections.”
Nostalgic stories of patrons’ first exposure to gardening with Flowerland and generational visits with family members are one of Harkema’s favorite parts of the business and attests to the positive impact Flowerland has made in the community throughout the years.
Harkema said she hopes the former Wyoming Flowerland property sells to a reputable commercial business that can contribute to the area’s needs.
Continuing to nurture community
Open year-round, Flowerland offers a diverse selection of resources, plants and products for plant lovers. Learn more about Flowerland resources and products here.
As Flowerland owners concentrate efforts on the two remaining larger locations, they are dedicated to continued high-quality shopping experiences for their customers and support for the local community through their Flowerland Perks program. Click here to learn more.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum celebrated the opening of its riverfront expansion on Thursday, April 16, with an event recognizing the partners and public leaders who helped bring the transformative project to life along the Grand River. A public opening celebration date will be announced soon.
The event marked a major milestone in the Museum’s ongoing campus modernization, highlighting expanded public river access, new outdoor learning environments, improved accessibility, and enhanced connections to the growing Grand River Greenway.
“This riverfront is a physical expression of our mission to expand curiosity,” said Dale Robertson, GRPM president and CEO. “Learning doesn’t only happen inside gallery walls, it happens outdoors, at the water’s edge, through discovery, connection, and shared experiences. This space belongs to our entire community.”
Thursday’s program featured remarks from state, county, city, and regional leaders who emphasized the project’s role in education, accessibility, economic vitality, and placemaking.
Speakers included: Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, State Representative CarolGlanville, Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand, City Manager Mark Washington, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. President & CEO Tim Kelly, The Right Place President & CEO Randy Thelen, and Kent County Board Chair Ben Greene.
Partners and public leaders were recognized on April 16 for bringing the Grand Rapids Public Museum Riverfront Expansion to life. (Photo: Grand Rapids Public Museum: Used with Permission)
The riverfront expansion was made possible through a combination of public and private investment, reflecting a broad partnership dedicated to reconnecting people to the Grand River and expanding access to education and recreation.
“At every level from city, county, and state, this project shows what’s possible when wecollaborate around shared values,” Mayor David LaGrand said. “This riverfront space strengthens access to a natural resource that is central to our city’s identity, celebrates our history, and helps set the course for the next chapter of Grand Rapids.”
The new riverfront includes outdoor classroom spaces, hands-on science features, improved walkways and trails, enhanced elevators for accessibility, and new vantage points that invite visitors to engage directly with the river. The space also connects seamlessly with other downtown riverfront investments and the regional Grand River Greenway.
During the event, the Museum recognized the generous donors who supported the Expanding Curiosity campaign, with special acknowledgment of campaign co-chairs Jim Haveman, Julie Westra, and Jim Williams for their leadership.
Grand Rapids Public Museum Riverfront Expansion. (Photo: Grand Rapids Public Museum: Used with Permission)
“The completion of this project reinforces our role as a place where history, science, and culture, and community come together,” Robertson said. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this vision a reality.”
A golden Helicon butterfly from Central and South America. (WKTV/Ruth Thornton)
Ruth Thornton is a WKTV Contributor. She holds master’s degrees in journalism and fisheries and wildlife, both from Michigan State University. Before working as a journalist, she worked in conservation for many years in Michigan, Minnesota and West Virginia. Her work has appeared in many media outlets, including MLive, the Detroit Free Press, Bridge Michigan, Capital News Service and Great Lakes Echo. You can follow her work via her Substack newsletter, Nature Signals, and at ruththornton.com.
Around a quarter million people are once again expected to experience the 31st annual tropical butterfly exhibition at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, escaping the cold and blustery Michigan spring weather for a few hours.
More than 7,000 butterflies from Central and South America, Asia and Africa will delight visitors at Fred and Dorothy Fichter Butterflies are Blooming, the nation’s largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition. It runs from March 1 through April 30 at 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE in Grand Rapids.
The first butterfly exhibit was held the year Frederik Meijer Gardens opened, said Wendy Overbeck Dunham, the director of horticulture.
“The idea was that in Michigan in March and April, we’re past the beauty of winter and we’ve made it to that stage where things aren’t quite warm enough to do stuff outside,” Overbeck Dunham said. ”You can visit the tropics without even leaving West Michigan this way.”
Visitors come from Michigan and beyond
Visitors flock to see the butterflies from Michigan and beyond. “We do see people from all over the United States during this exhibition,” said John VanderHaagen, the director of communications.
Visitors admire emerging butterflies at the observation station. (WKTV/Ruth Thornton)
Visiting from eastern Michigan were Lori and Mike Wuerth from Romeo, who made the trip to see the butterflies.
They said they often watch butterflies and are members of the Detroit Zoo, which also boasts a butterfly house, and have visited butterfly exhibitions in Michigan and in Canada. This exhibition rivals the nicest they had seen, they said.
Every year is different
The types of butterflies differ from year to year.
“Butterflies are farmed just like fruit crops are farmed,” Overbeck Dunham said. “Availability can depend on season, weather. Whether it’s been rainy, whether it’s been unusually cold where they come from, whether it’s been extra dry.”
The bustle starts well before the exhibition’s opening day: butterflies start arriving in mid-February. That’s when the biggest shipments arrive from the farms and the huge tropical conservatory – five stories high and 15,000 square feet in size – starts filling with butterflies, she said.
Popular common morpho butterflies emerge from their chrysalises at the observation station. Their inner wings are a brilliant blue.(WKTV/Ruth Thornton)
On average, each butterfly lives and flies for about two weeks, depending on the species, so additional shipments keep coming until mid-April. “As the exhibit goes, we are still getting almost 1,000 in a week,” Overbeck Dunham said.
“And then by mid-May, there’ll be no more butterflies,” she said.
Every year, the exhibit gets anywhere from 60 to 85 species, ranging from the small Costa Rica clearwing (Greta oto), aptly named for its transparent wings, to the common morpho (Morpho peleides), a strikingly blue visitor favorite from Central and South America and one of the largest butterflies in the world. They also receive a few moth species, for example, the impressive green African moon moth (Argema mimosae) from sub-Saharan Africa.
Amber Nelson and her three girls, aged 8 years old and younger, from the Coopersville area, said the stunning blue common morph butterflies are their favorites.
Nelson said they’ve been coming to the butterfly exhibit for three or four years. “The kids just love the butterflies, their bright colors. And being able to have a nice, slow walk and look at the butterflies until we get hungry,” she said.
Butterflies are emerging throughout the exhibition
Butterflies are shipped not as the beautiful, winged adults, but in an immature stage called ‘chrysalis,’ created when the caterpillar forms a protective casing and transforms into a butterfly through a process known as ‘metamorphosis.’
A popular spot for adults and children alike is the observation station, where the newly arrived chrysalises are pinned on bars to hang, just like they would in their natural homes, until they transform into butterflies.
Great orange tip butterflies emerge at the observation station of the Frederik Meijer Gardens butterfly exhibition. (WKTV/Ruth Thornton)
“When butterflies emerge, what they’ll do is they’ll actually use the chrysalis husk or shell, and they’ll hold onto that with their feet, their bodies,” Overbeck Dunham said. Their abdomens are initially swollen with liquid, and the wings are shriveled and folded.
As the butterflies hang in the observation station, they pump the liquid from their abdomen to the wings, expanding them as they’re preparing for flight.
When staff see that new butterflies are starting to fly around the observation station, they coax any that are ready into a little glass case for release into the larger butterfly exhibit.
“We’ll walk out of here with a full case of butterflies sometimes,” she said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to get pictures of a cluster – or kaleidoscope (of butterflies).”
Birds share the conservatory with the butterflies
Besides insects, visitors can expect to see several birds flying and running around the exhibition.
“We have a tropical bird collection in here from tropics around the world,” Overbeck Dunham explained. That includes finches, canaries and Chinese painted quail.
Some visitors are worried that the birds might eat butterflies, but staff make sure the insects are not in danger. “Our birds are primarily seed eaters, and that is intentional. So that when the butterflies are in here, there isn’t a conflict,” she said.
Overbeck Dunham has been working on the butterfly exhibit for more than 20 years, but it never grows old, she said.
“I get excited by it every year, it’s my favorite time of year,” she said. “If I’m in here and one is in the process (of emerging), I can’t help but stop and take a moment and watch, because it’s still just the coolest thing in the world to me.”
For more information about the exhibition, visit the Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies are Blooming website. Tickets can be purchased online at MeijerGardens.org/tickets or at the entry desk. Multiple special events are featured throughout March and April, some of which require an RSVP.
Cleaning up your house and property? Drop off your unwanted items, scrap metals and more. Best of all? It’s FREE for Wyoming residents!
The event opens to traffic at 8 a.m. Make sure to arrive in line by 1:30 p.m. Though our volunteers enjoy helping the community, we need to end the event and clean up the site.
Saturday, April 18 Opens at 8 a.m. (Must be in line by 1:30 p.m.) Household hazardous waste disposal will not be offered this year. Grand Rapids First 2100 44th Street SW, Wyoming, MI 49519 View the map (pdf)
Help keep everyone safe and moving by entering the right lane of eastbound 44th Street SW to enter the line. Once in line, follow the directions to the northeast entrance off 44th Street SW.
Wyoming Residents – Bring Proof of Residency
Make sure to bring proof of residency with you. We’ll need one of the following items showing your Wyoming address:
Photo ID
Utility or credit card statement within the last 90 days
Bank statement from the last 90 days
Mortgage, lease, or rental agreement
Insurance policy
Federal, state, or local government-issued license
Michigan vehicle registration.
Specialty Items
We cover the entire cost of the disposal apart from a couple of specialty items. We charge a fee for the disposal of these items because of an increased cost on our end:
Whole tires are $12 each
Mattresses or box springs are $22 each
Tube Televisions 27 in. or smaller $20
Tube Televisions 28 in. or larger $40
Cash and Card Accepted.
Items Not Accepted
We are happy to help neighbors with their spring cleaning, but there are some items we don’t accept. Avoid bringing the following items:
Steven Ramirez (right) is joined by his coach as he displays his state title trophy at the Michigan Golden Gloves Championships after defeating Siderio Mitchell. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Titles were on the line Saturday evening at the 2026 Michigan Golden Gloves State Championships that took place before a large and pumped-up crowd at the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center on the campus of Aquinas College.
Boxers from the east side of Michigan (Team East) battled it out with boxers from the west side of Michigan (Team West) for state titles, and for Elite Open division boxers, the opportunity to represent the state of Michigan at the National Golden Gloves tournament that is scheduled for May 11-16 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The Elite Open division provided boxing fans with several top-notch matches highlighted by the 143-pound division final between Steven Ramirez and Siderio Mitchell, teammates at the Michigan Golden Gloves Association St. Mary’s Gym (MGGA) in downtown Grand Rapids.
Ramirez and Mitchell battled it out for the West Michigan title last month with Ramirez coming out ahead in a rugged, three-round battle. The results were very similar this time as the two warriors gave the crowd plenty to cheer about during another three-round slugfest.
Mitchell started strong in the opening round, however, Ramirez pressed on the accelerator in round two and kept up the pressure into round three. That full speed ahead strategy paid off as Ramirez again came out ahead in the end.
“I had to put the pressure on,” Ramirez said. “He was going on the outside moving fast on his feet, but I knew I had to put the pressure on and not let him breathe. I had to make it my fight, my style, or otherwise I was not going to get the win.”
The win resulted in a first-ever state championship for Ramirez and a trip to the big stage at the Golden Gloves National tournament.
Emily Martinez outlasted Sarah Batenburg to win the 132-pound female open title. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Another rematch from the West Michigan finals came about in the 132-pound female Elite Open division. That was where multi-time champion Sarah Batenburg of MGGA squared off against Emily Martinez of Eli J Boxing in Holland.
Batenburg won a decision against Martinez in the West Michigan finals. In the rematch at the state finals, Martinez took the lessons she learned in the first match between the two and made them pay off as she won a close decision for her first-ever state title.
“The last time I fought her it was my first open fight,” Martinez said, “so I kind of came in inexperienced, not really knowing what to expect, jumping from two-minute rounds to three, so I paced myself and I thought too much. I knew this time going in, I’m like, this time you can’t waste time like that, you need to go. It’s like if your exhausted and you can’t breathe at the end, then you can’t breathe, but you need to do whatever or you’re not going to nationals.”
In the 132-pound Elite Open division another MGGA boxer earned his first-ever trip to nationals. Jason Wells had come close twice in the past, but this year he broke through and won a state championship. In one of the top fights of the evening, Wells held off Carter Brown of Flint to earn the trip to nationals.
Jason Wells won the 132-pound open title to earn a trip to nationals. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“This feels really good,” Wells said. “All the hard work paid off. This is great to have a moment like this and I earned it.”
Wells kept the pressure up during the fight and scored points by often going to the body.
“I was just listening to my team,” Wells said. “That’s (body shots) something that I wanted to do better this time. Last match I came up short, so they said touch that body, don’t worry about that head, so I wasn’t worried about that head, I was touching the body and it made the night easier.”
East Kentwood alum James-Tolliver gets title
For amount of punches thrown, the 176-pound Elite Open match between Ontess James-Tolliver of Blue Gym in Grand Rapids and Floyd Santiago of MGGA was one of the best. Both boxers unloaded with punches throughout three rounds of non-stop action. In the end, James-Tolliver had racked up enough points to claim the title. An East Kentwood High School graduate, James-Tolliver is in his second year of boxing after having won the 176-pound Elite Novice division title last year.
In the middle weight classes of the Elite Open division, Evan Jackson of the Kalamazoo Boxing Club won a decision against King Gildersleeve of Flint at 154 pounds. At 165 pounds, Joshua Riley Jr. of Flint outpointed Kyree Wiggins of Flint for the title.
In the upper weights, Maurice Davis of Champsden Boxing in Kalamazoo put on a punishing display of power in his win against Jonathan Jeshurun of Oakland County with the referee stopping the contest in the first round. Davis, a former Olympic Trials boxer, also won his West Michigan title when the referee stopped the bout in the first round.
In Elite Novice action, Strey Hakala of Blues Gym won the title at 165 pounds where his constant pressure against Jesse Garcia-Ramirez paid off with a win by decision. The state title was a first for Hakala who serves in the United State Army.
“I’m extremely grateful,” said Hakala. “I can’t take any of the credit. I give all the credit to my coaches. Dino (Newville), Blues Gym and the Man upstairs. He always comes first. I’m just grateful to be here and get this title.”
Strey Hakala won the title in the 165-pound Elite Novice Division. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Hakala originally got into boxing several years ago at Blues Gym. Newville, his coach, played a huge role in Hakala joining the Army and Hakala wanted to come back and train at Blues Gym for his first experience at a sanctioned boxing tournament.
“I wanted to come back and win it (the title) for the guy who inspired me to join the service,” Hakala said.
A pair of Kalamazoo area boxers won Elite Novice titles for the West team at the finals with Marcos Guzman taking the title at 110 pounds and DeKent Murray winning at 154 pounds.
Team East boxers winning state titles in the Elite Novice division included Jared Argueta (121 pounds), Joshua Wilson (143 pounds) and Ivory Griffin Jr. (198-plus).
Uncontested Novice champions included Luciano Ramirez (132 pounds) of Warriors Quest, Avery Stevens (176 pounds) fighting unattached, Caleb Rivera (187 pounds) of Grand Valley State, Ahmari Jobe (198) of MGGA and Johana Lugo of United Boxing Club in the female 143-pound division.
Uncontested Open champions included Kyree Westerfield of PK Boxing at 110 pounds, Zoe Hicks of Team Glass at 112 pounds in the female division, Gage Stafford of Flint at 121 pounds, Asha Lake of Team Glass at 143 pounds in the female division and Solomon Jagun of Flint at 187 pounds.
Handblown glass ornaments have been helping protect women across the world since 2009, and local businesses can now be a part of that process.
Women At Risk, International (WAR, Int’l) in Wyoming launched their annual Ornament Campaign in March and are now accepting registrations from businesses willing to host an ornament tree.
“Over the years, the Ornament Campaign has helped WAR, Int’l and its partners to rescue, restore and empower hundreds of women and children around the world and here in the U.S.,” said Peggy Driesenga, WAR, Int’l Program Lead.
Women At Risk, International Ornament Campaign. (WKTV/Deborah Reed)
Each ornament is made in Egypt from handblown glass ornaments with 12K gold paint detailing. Participating businesses receive a variety of ornaments, including traditional bells and shapes to all kinds of animals and sea creatures (giraffes, horses, hippos, whales, puffer fish and more). Each ornament runs between 25-$35. Every $300 in sales shelters a woman in an international safehouse for a month.
The Ornament Campaign has raised thousands of dollars for WAR, Int’l programs and partners.
Founded 20 years ago by Rebecca McDonald, WAR, Int’l creates circles of protection and hope around at-risk women and children through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects. WAR, Int’l addresses a variety of areas of risk, but is best known for its fight against human trafficking.
“More than 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year,” said Driesenga, adding that human trafficking happens in every race, gender and socio-economic class throughout the world.
“Here in the U.S., sex trafficking is a $32 billion industry. Women At Risk, International has responded to trafficking situations with women in their later years and babies who were only a few weeks old.”
Women At Risk, International Ornament Campaign. (WKTV/Deborah Reed)
Behind the veil
The Ornament Campaign was specifically established to reach the hearts and lives of Middle Eastern women.
Cultivating relationships with male artisans from 10 glass factories in Egypt has allowed WAR, Int’l to interact with their wives and daughters. Through these connections and business partnerships, WAR, Int’l has been able to design programming specific to these women’s needs. Ornament sales has allowed the nonprofit to now offer educational and medical scholarships as well as sponsor a local safe-house.
More valuable than gold
Alongside the provision of essential programming in the Middle East, WAR, In’l also delivers messages of worth and value to the women.
“Each purchase communicates that they are beautiful, unique and deserve to be treasured and protected—just like the handblown glass ornaments fashioned by their fathers and husbands,” states the WAR, Int’l website.
Women At Risk, International Ornament Campaign. (WKTV/Deborah Reed)
A simple email can save lives
The process to host an ornament tree is simple: send an email and then let WAR, Int’l do the work.
Businesses can sign up to host an ornament tree by emailing ornamentcampaign@warinternational.org or call 616-855-0796. WAR, Int’l will bring the tree or businesses may supply their own.
“We bring the ornaments and will even set it up for them,” Driesenga explained. “We provide the order sheets and everything a business needs to sell the ornaments. We will also restock the business if they need it, and then we come and take down the display at the end of the campaign.”
Ornament Campaign trees are set up in November 2026 and disassembled within the first two weeks of January 2027.
By partnering with WAR, Int’l and allowing business patrons to purchase ornaments immediately off the office displays, light is spread in the lives of at-risk women and children around the world.
Women At Risk, International Ornament Campaign. (WKTV/Deborah Reed)
Ornaments also can be purchased at the WAR Chest Boutique in Wyoming (2790 44th St. SW).
The organization exceeds normal fair trade standards by ensuring artisans work in clean, well-lit factories. They also are paid per piece, averaging three times the minimum wage. More information about Women At Risk, International and the resources and educational programs they offer can be found here.
One person was seriously injured after being struck by a train Monday near the 5800 block of Clay Avenue SW in Wyoming.
At approximately 12:05 p.m., members of the Wyoming Police and Fire Departments responded to the railroad tracks directly east of the 5800 block of Clay Avenue SW on a report of a pedestrian struck by a train. Upon arrival, first responders located an adult male suffering from serious injuries.
Public safety personnel provided medical aid at the scene before the male was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in serious condition. At this time, it is unknown why the male was on the railroad tracks.
Rail traffic in the area was temporarily shut down while the Wyoming Police Department investigated the circumstances surrounding this incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police detectives at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
The Kentwood Public Schools K-12 robotics program boasts 300+ students with 100 more on a waiting list, proving that students are seeking out STEM activities that allow them to participate in more hands-on opportunities.
According to East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics coach and mentor Trista VanderVoord, kids are powerfully drawn to robotics not only because it is a hands-on program, but because there is a goal.
“That model is very attractive to kids because it gives them a deadline, it gives them a thing to work for, and they want to compete and be the best at it,” VanderVoord continued.
Believing that robotics should be available at every level, VanderVoord was instrumental in making the robotics program accessible to all grades at KPS. Four years after being made robotics program coordinator, VanderVoord has built a K-12 program 300+ students strong.
And they are learning more than just robotics.
Wendy Ljungren (left), Red Storm Robotics Founder and FIRST Robotics Competition Director, and Red Storm Coach Trista VanderVoord. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
Challenges and triumph
EK junior and Red Storm Robotics Co-Captain Cadence Geemes knew robotics was the place for her as soon as she walked into the robotics machine room in seventh grade.
“I believe everyone needs something that they can do,” Geemes said. “Robotics, as soon as I walked in I was like, this is what I want to do. This is my thing.”
The mechanical aspect of the team speaks to Geemes the most. Taking an idea drawn on a whiteboard and turning it into a physical object brings Geemes deep satisfaction. And with that satisfaction comes a challenge she meets head-on.
East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics Co-Captain Cadence Geemes. (WKTV/Deborah Reed)
Geemes’ future includes plans to study mechanical engineering at college. However…
“I’m not good at math – which you need to be a mechanical engineer,” Geemes admits. “But I love math because it’s so challenging to me; that’s why I want to continue with it. I love learning.
“Being a mechanical engineer may be hard because I’m not very good at math, but I want to do it because it pushes me further and to try new things.”
Geemes says FIRST Robotics engages her mind, keeps her on her toes and has taught her how to manage tasks due to strict deadlines involving robot programming and upcoming competitions.
Another life skill – and challenge – Geemes has met with determination is that of leadership.
“I’ve learned I’m not always a people person,” Geemes says of being co-captain of Red Storm Robotics. “I also like to take over things. I’ve learned how to step back, let people do the thing, and just watch and oversee them. I’ve learned that it’s okay to delegate tasks and not do everything…and how to communicate with people.”
Despite the challenge of leading, Geemes says she is grateful for the opportunity to do so and the personal growth she has experienced through it.
Trapped…in the best possible way
Leah Bernstein, EK junior and Red Storm Robotics Co-Captain, also has been involved in the robotics program since seventh grade.
East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics Co-Captain Leah Bernstein. (WKTV/Deborah Reed)
When Bernstein agreed to check out a school activities open house with friends, she had no idea it would change her life.
“I’m like, why not – and then I just kind of got trapped here,” Bernstein says with a laugh.
But, Bernstein admits, she is in no hurry to leave.
“Part of it is because this is where I found some of my friends,” Bernstein explained. “But also, FIRST Robotics brings so many opportunities. I have been a part of organizing so many outreach events and gotten so many leadership opportunities.
“I’ve been able to call myself a project manager similar to how those would run a natural company, which you don’t get in other places. This is meant to prepare students as best as it can for STEM careers, STEM jobs and the job market in general.”
While Bernstein has been involved with the mechanical side of the robotics program, leadership is where she thrives. In ninth grade, she stepped into leadership as team captain of the Red Storm Rookies (team 9566). Now, as co-captain of Red Storm Robotics (team 3875), Bernstein makes sure tasks run on time and smoothly while also heavily involved in the marketing side.
“A lot of my work is done with marketing, which is how we present ourselves to the public, how we present ourselves to judges, how we get our finances, all of the outreach we do,” Bernstein said.
With an avid interest in culinary arts and psychology, Bernstein doubts she will pursue a career in mechanical engineering. But she will carry the skills acquired through the robotics program with her.
East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics Team 3875. (WKTV/Deborah Reed)
The ultimate sport for the mind
Red Storm Robotics will be hosting a FIRST Robotics qualifying tournament at EKHS on April 10-11. The competition, sponsored by Dematic, will include 40 teams from 40 schools and features the theme Rebuilt.
The competition is open to the public and free to spectators.
Opening ceremonies for Day 1 begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 10, and on Day 2 at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at East Kentwood High School. The complete agenda and more details on the competition can be found here. Latest results and livestream links can be found here.
The robotics model of FIRST directly emulates a sports model, with district competitions, regional championships and a world championship event.
Under the guidance of volunteer professional mentors, students create a robot from nothing in a short span of two to three months. Students practice skills in design, manufacturing, assembly, programming, marketing and teamwork to get the job done.
VanderVoord encourages all ages to come, watch a match, and walk around the team pit areas while students work on their robots. “You’ll be amazed at what these kids are doing.”
Multiple roles, one goal
One of Bernstein’s primary roles at the competition is an impact interview with the tournament judges where she presents information on the Red Storm Robotics team.
“I work with our judges, presenting our team, presenting the outreach we do, how we’re organized, that kind of thing,” Bernstein said.
Geemes will be on the field as part of the drive team, though she typically prefers to be behind the scenes.
“I prefer staying behind the scenes and supporting the people who want to do their thing,” Geemes admits. “I don’t enjoy being in the spotlight.”
However, Geemes does enjoy seeing the team work together during tournaments.
“Seeing everyone come together is probably my favorite thing at a competition,” Geemes said. “Everyone has an opportunity to show themselves because you have people who are in the pit, you have scouters, you have people who are cheering and all of the marketing team.
“Everyone and everything that you’ve all been working for comes to this one moment.”
Think you’re not smart enough? Think again!
A recurring theme is evident when talking with Red Storm team members and coaches:
Robotics is for everyone.
East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics Team 9566. (WKTV/Deborah Reed)
“Although the idea of robotics seems intimidating and scary and seems like you have to be uber smart to even attempt robotics, it’s actually very accessible,” VanderVoord said.
“It’s something that can be taught,” VanderVoord explained. It’s something you can learn if you have a curious mind and you’re willing to put the time in as a student. You can learn any of the concepts here, and you can really become very good at it. Every student is smart enough for this program.”
Bernstein also urges students to keep an open mind about robotics.
“Anyone can be in the world of FIRST Robotics,” Bernstein said. “You can find whatever you’re interested in; there are worlds of opportunities in robotics. And it prepares you for any job, getting you scholarships, helping you get into colleges, helping you get jobs and preparing you for jobs right after high school.”
Geemes agrees, naming robotics as a great outlet for students to try multiple things.
“There are so many different ways people learn, and not in a school setting,” Geemes explained. “So I think it’s really important to try robotics, to try your different learning styles.”
VanderVoord says robotics fills a gap in educational opportunities because it focuses on the engineering design process and teaches industry skills.
“I don’t know anywhere else in this district where [students] are getting the experience of something that can be their career like this,” VanderVoord said. “This is a problem-solving kid, and there’s a lot less opportunity for that in a school district outside of class.”
Seeing the growth of youth throughout the robotics program is what VanderVoord thrives on.
“You see the kids grow up, grow through it and see their development, and that is addictive. These kids are getting so much out of this, and you know that you’ve impacted their journey, which is fantastic.”
Red Storm Robotics and FIRST Robotics Competition information:
Every team’s goal is to advance to the FIRST in Michigan State Championship on April 16-18 at Saginaw Valley State University. From there, the best teams advance to the World Championship from April 29-May 2 in Houston.
Rockhounds, treasure hunters and families are invited to “come for the rocks, stay for the gold, and leave with memories” at the 49th annual Rock & Mineral Show beginning Thursday, April 9.
Held at Rogers Plaza (972 28th St. SW, Wyoming, and hosted by the Indian Mounds Rock & Mineral Club) this family-friendly event contains three days of hands-on activities, a pop-up food court, free door prizes, and nearly 50 dealers and club artisans. Unearth hours of fun for all ages on Thursday and Friday, April 9-10, from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, April 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
“We are expecting a huge turnout this year in excess of 10,000 people over the 3-day event,” said Chuck Parks, in his first year as the Show’s Chairperson. “I stepped up to take over the show this year with the goal of dramatically expanding the show for our club. This year we are growing from 30 to 50 dealers, adding five hands-on activities, and have a brand new pop-up food court.”
After raising his children, Parks said he began “looking for something to replace sandcastles and the like and discovered a greatly expanded interest in Lake Michigan rocks at first, and then more generally in this whole geological field.”
“My interest in geology has added many rich new dynamics to both my personal and professional life,” explained Parks, who’s co-inventor of a beach rock scoop called the GeoScoop. ” I now travel all over the country on field trips, enjoy a rich community of rock clubs in Michigan and beyond, and have found many additional hobbies and business opportunities within this space. I highly recommend it.”
(Photo: Indian Mounds Rock & Mineral Show: Used with Permission)
Leveling up
This year’s Rock & Mineral Show features expanded venues with hands-on activities such as jewelry classes, gold panning and a pop-up food court. Approximately 50 dealers and club artisans will have a variety of minerals, crystals, micromounts, fossils, beads, polished rocks, equipment, carved stone figures, jewelry, lapidary supplies and more available for purchase.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts through rock and mineral identification, demonstrations and displays. Artisans will demonstrate jewelry making, rock polishing and geode cracking. A Children’s Table will feature mini-collections, grab bags and a fossil dig for younger participants.
One of a kind designs
Local lapidary artist Reaiah True of Reaiah True Designs is dedicated to preserving the lapidary arts through the use of authentic and quality materials. Each piece is handcrafted and one-of-a-kind, with gems encased in 22k gold, sterling silver or copper.
Local artist Reaiah True, of Reaiah True Designs, is dedicated to preserving the lapidary arts through the use of authentic and quality materials. (Photo: Reaiah True Designs: Used with Permission)
True’s expertise and distinctive designs will be available at this year’s Rock & Mineral Show. Interested rockhounds and jewelry-lovers will be able to purchase her unique creations or order a custom design.
“I will have jewelry with solid sterling silver, copper and gold,” said True, adding that she will also have a variety of both cabochons and raw specimens available. “I specialize in turquoise, laramar, opals and a bunch of other gems.”
While True’s expertise and artistry is undeniable, her journey as a lapidary artisan began with an unexpected visit to a rock and mineral shop.
“I actually went into a shop that I thought was for rock climbing gear,” True said. “It happened to be a rock shop with this grandpa who gave me a bunch of information like he knew I was going to be a lapidary artist.”
True began treasure hunting through a three-dollar bin of gems and rocks compiled by the shop owner.
“I found a huge meteorite and big chunks of opal, some [of] really high quality,” True explained.
The artisan is looking forward to the Indian Mounds event for a variety of reasons, but a main reason is the excitement she sees in show attendees.
“Rock shows are so much fun; everyone is in their childlike self,” True said, breaking into a smile of her own. “There are people that are there from all over. There are also a lot of elders that are letting go of a lot of their collections, so it’s a wonderful place to get really high quality for a very affordable price.”
Speaking of affordable…
Treasure hunters won’t want to walk away without purchasing one of True’s $10 mystery boxes. Folded inside intricate origami creations, buyers will find an assortment of rocks and gems often worth more than that $10 price tag.
More importantly, they may find that favorite or coveted rock or gem they have been hunting for.
Dave Lehker demonstrates geode cracking. (Photo: Indian Mounds Rock & Mineral Show: Used with Permission)
About Indian Mounds Rock & Mineral Club
The Indian Mounds Rock & Mineral Club is a non-profit organization celebrating its 61st anniversary. The club’s 100+ members encourage interest in the study of minerals, gems, fossils, rock, the lapidary arts and earth science through monthly meetings, an active Junior Club, field trip opportunities and speakers and specimens to various schools and groups.
A West Michigan CISMA technician pulls invasive yellow floating heart in Kent County, Mich. (Photo Courtesy, Ottawa Conservation District)
Ruth Thornton is a WKTV Contributor. She holds master’s degrees in journalism and fisheries and wildlife, both from Michigan State University. Before working as a journalist, she worked in conservation for many years in Michigan, Minnesota and West Virginia. Her work has appeared in many media outlets, including MLive, the Detroit Free Press, Bridge Michigan, Capital News Service and Great Lakes Echo. You can follow her work via her Substack newsletter, Nature Signals, and at ruththornton.com.
A local program that helps private landowners, municipalities, public agencies and others manage invasive species was recently awarded $77,000 by the state of Michigan.
“If you enjoy the outdoors at all, whether it’s on land or in the water, it’s hard to look around and not see how invasive species are impacting your ability to enjoy the outdoors, but also those industries that Michigan relies on for its economy,” said Joanne Foreman, invasive species communications coordinator for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Ottawa Conservation District received the grant to continue funding the West Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, commonly referred to as ‘CISMA,’ for work in seven counties, including the Grand Rapids and Muskegon areas.
The grant provides core funding for the West Michigan CISMA, which coordinates three ‘strike teams’ in the area – including Allegan, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana and Ottawa counties – and provides support to private and public landowners to control invasives.
Invasive species can result in economic damages
Invasive species are animals, plants and pathogens that don’t naturally occur in an area and harm native vegetation and wildlife. That can result in economic damages.
For example, imported insects and diseases have decimated trees across the landscape.
“We’ve already lost elms. We’ve lost ash trees. We are losing oak trees to oak wilt,” Foreman said. “I think that even people who don’t recognize individual species have noticed changes. Whether you’re out on a lake and you just can’t get out of the weeds with your boat motor, or the fishing has changed.”
The funding decreased by one-third from 2025, when $3.6 million was awarded. West Michigan’s share also went down, from $96,200 last year.
Murielle Garbarino, the West Michigan CISMA coordinator, spends much of her time applying for more funding.
“We have grants from other state, federal and local entities,” Garbarino said. She also coordinates projects with three local strike teams, housed at conservation districts across the area, who implement the field work.
“Anything on the Michigan DNR’s ‘watch list’ is a priority,” she said, referring to the state’s list of species that “pose an immediate or potential threat to Michigan’s economy, environment or human health,” according to the state’s website.
Among them are forest pests such as Asian longhorned beetle that attacks trees, carp that threaten local fisheries, kudzu that overwhelms native vegetation and yellow floating heart that forms dense mats in ponds and lakes. More than 30 species are on the list.
West Michigan CISMA technicians show off bagged invasive plant material to be disposed off. (Photo Courtesy, Ottawa Conservation District)
Many invasives are tough to kill, so it’s often a multi-year effort.
“One thing about invasive species is that they require a lot of follow-up to make sure that they’re actually eradicated,” Garbarino said.
Foreman encourages people who want to make a difference to volunteer.
“If you’re looking for something to do, to get outside the house, get a hold of your CISMA. They have volunteer workdays. They’re always looking for an extra pair of hands,” she said.
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
WKTV Friday Night Highlights Hosts Bill Rohn and Jordan Shimmell (7-time Michigan champion) walk you through exciting highlights and interviews from the West Michigan Finals of the Golden Gloves Championships held March 13, 14 and 15 at Aquinas College.
This WKTV Sports special program features some of the best bouts of the West Michigan Finals and three boxer interviews. You’ll want to watch every second of this show!
COMING SOON: Look for our next FNH Golden Gloves show PART 2 featuring bouts and interviews from the Michigan Championships on April 10 and 11 at Aquinas College!
Although it ended a day sooner than was the goal, the South Christian girls basketball team had plenty to be proud of during the 2025-26 basketball season.
Ranked among the top teams in the state of Michigan in Division 2 throughout the season, the Sailors put together a 27-0 record before falling six points short of eventual state champion Goodrich in the Division 2 state semifinals in what was a matchup of undefeated teams.
While the loss was disappointing, it could not overshadow all the team accomplished during the season.
“It was such a fun journey this season was,” said South Christian Coach Erika Brown. “From November to March, I watched a group of talented girls come together and grow into a very strong unit. They loved each other, fought for each other and held each other accountable. To go undefeated, until our semifinal matchup with Goodrich, was such a hard task to accomplish. It required near excellence day in and day out. This team, led by outstanding senior leaders, was up to the task. I am incredibly proud of this team.”
South Christian accomplished plenty during the season, including winning the rugged OK Gold Conference with a perfect record. Winning the conference title meant the Sailors had to twice turn back Grand Rapids West Catholic, a team that was also ranked in the top 10 in the state all season. South also had to turn back the Falcons in the Division 2 state quarterfinals to earn a spot in the final four.
Along with winning the conference, the Sailors posted some impressive non-conference wins. The highlight win came in the regular-season finale when South defeated Rockford, ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 1, 52-50. South was one of only two teams in the state that defeated Rockford as eventual Division 1 state champion Muskegon stopped the Rams twice. South Christian also earned a win against Division 1 top-20 team DeWitt during the season.
While the wins were impressive, what stuck out the most from the season for Brown was the relationships with the players.
“Being able to walk alongside my players for the past five months was what made this season special to me,” Brown said. “I could say the games that were exciting and close, where we came out victorious, but to be honest, what stuck out the most to me this season and what I will remember the most was team film sessions, locker room devotions and chats as a team, team dinners, the bus rides, the millions of emotions that came with such a high pressure season, and walking away from a long season feeling accomplished.”
Deep and versatile
The Sailors had a deep and versatile team this year. Leading the way for the squad were a quartet of players who earned all-conference honors.
South Christian’s Sophia Prins. (Photo Courtesy, Eric Walstra)
Sophia Prins led on both ends of the floor
Senior point guard Sophia Prins was a major catalyst for the squad. A captain and leader on both ends of the floor, Prins averaged 13.3 points per game with three assists while shooting 30% from three-point range. Prins also added 3.5 rebounds per game and two steals per contest.
South Christian’s Lizzie Wolthuis. (Photo Courtesy, Eric Walstra)
Lizzie Wolthuis a standout as well
Fellow senior Lizzie Wolthuis was also a team captain and another player who was a standout on both ends of the court. Wolthuis, a shooting guard, averaged 11.7 points per game as she had a 44% field-goal percentage and was 36.4 % from the three-point arc.
South Christian’s Meredith Helmus. (Photo Courtesy, Eric Walstra)
Meredith Helmus made 56% from the field
Junior Meredith Helmus saw time at both point guard and shooting guard. Helmus averaged 10 points per game on 56% shooting from the field and dished out 3.5 assists per game.
A defensive standout as well, Helmus pulled down 3.2 rebounds and added two steals per game while routinely guarding the best guard on the opposing team.
Abby Prins made 38.9% from the arc
South Christian’s Abby Prins. (Photo Courtesy, Eric Walstra)
Sophomore Abby Prins gave the team great versatility with her ability to play shooting guard or wing. Prins averaged 11.7 points per game, making 38.9% from three-point range and 77% from the free-throw line. Able to defend guards and post players, Prins also pulled down 4.4 rebounds per game, dished out three assists and added 1.7 steals per game.
Finishing her third year as coach of the Sailors after being an assistant the previous four years, Brown sees the Sailors continuing their success next season despite graduating some key players.
“The future looks bright,” Brown said. “We were young this season. We have big shoes to fill, but I believe the younger girls have learned so much from our senior leaders this season they will be prepared to come back strong. They will continue to grow and develop and I am excited to walk alongside them next season.”
RiverTown Crossings to host family-friendly spring celebrations, interactive events and Easter Bunny photos on March 28. (Photo Courtesy, RiverTown Crossings)
RiverTown Crossings invites the West Michigan community to celebrate spring with a full day of interactive, family‑friendly events on Saturday, March 28.
Guests can enjoy hands-on animal encounters, high‑energy entertainment, community shopping experiences and festive Easter Bunny photos.
“Spring is such a meaningful time for families here in West Michigan, and we’re excited to welcome the community to RiverTown Crossings for a full day of fun,” said Imani Webster, Marketing Manager at RiverTown Crossings. “Whether it’s meeting baby animals, enjoying upbeat entertainment, or connecting with the local businesses that make our region special, we’ve created experiences that bring people together in a genuine way. We’re looking forward to spending the day with our neighbors and helping them make new springtime memories.”
EVENT LINEUP:
Hop Into the Backyard 1 to 3 p.m. Families are invited to enjoy an afternoon of springtime fun with a cozy meet‑and‑greet featuring fluffy bunnies, adorable baby chicks and charming farm‑inspired activities. Perfect for children and families looking to create warm, seasonal memories.
(Photo Courtesy, RiverTown Crossings)
Bunny Bingo Rave 1 to 3 p.m. This high‑energy twist on classic bingo features glowing lights, upbeat music, fun prizes, and a lively atmosphere. Neon attire or bunny‑themed accessories are encouraged. Tickets are $12 per person, with proceeds benefiting D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s and its work supporting children and families across West Michigan.
Spring Expo 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hosted in partnership with the Grandville/Jenison Chamber of Commerce and Rooted in Community Events, the Spring Expo highlights local small businesses, artists and makers. Guests can explore unique goods, meet creators and celebrate the season while supporting local entrepreneurs.
Easter Bunny Photos Reservations required Families can capture a springtime keepsake with the Easter Bunny at RiverTown Crossings. A professionally staged photo set offers a festive environment for children of all ages. Spots are limited, and advance reservations are encouraged.
The Kids & Family Expo is now the be nice. Family Fun Fest, a reimagined experience for families—combining high-energy fun with meaningful moments that support mental health and family well-being. This high-energy day is packed with hands-on fun and a focus on the be nice. action plan—supporting mental health and well-being for the whole family.
The FREE Family Fun Fest takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, at DeVos Place.
Activities include bounce houses, inflatable obstacle courses, school fair games like the fan-favorite cake walk sponsored by Nothing Bundt Cakes, wellness activities, community resources, a pirate ship adventure, art stations, and more! See below for the event schedule.
Check out the new EmpowerED Parent Series: Engaging talks and guided conversations designed just for parents and caregivers. Gain practical tools and real-life strategies to support your child’s mental health and well-being—because empowered parents raise resilient kids. Drop-in learning sessions include:
10:30 a.m. Play & The Brain: A Mental Health Lens Jacqueline Scherer, LMSW, RPT, THE PLAYGROUNDgr
This hands-on, interactive training explores the powerful connection between play and brain development. Participants will discover how nature play stimulates the brain, learn the differences between hypo and hyper play, and gain practical strategies to bring back to their communities. The session also introduces tools to support brain growth and emotional healing, bibliotherapy using children’s books, and engages participants in midbrain and limbic-based play exercises for overall well-being.
Jacqueline Scherer, LMSW, RPT™ is Founder of THE PLAYGROUNDgr, President of the Michigan Association of Play Therapy and Michigan’s 2025 Play Therapist of the Year. She has worked with thousands of children and families over 21 years, been a Foster Parent for 14 years, and is a trauma, attachment, and grief expert in our community. 11:15 a.m. Play & The Brain – Session 2 Jacqueline Scherer, LMSW, RPT, THE PLAYGROUNDgr
Building on Session 1, this interactive session introduces new and practical play tools to enhance brain development and emotional regulation. Participants will explore advanced strategies for facilitating both hypo and hyper play, engage in creative exercises, and leave with actionable ideas to support children’s learning and resilience at home and in community spaces.
12:30 p.m. Raising Resilient Kids – Building Self-Esteem that Lasts Eric Hipple, Former Detroit Lions Quarterback
Eric Hipple, former Detroit Lions quarterback and be nice. Outreach specialist. (Photo Courtesy, be nice.)
In a world full of comparison, pressure, and uncertainty, one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is the ability to bounce back and believe in themselves even when things go wrong. This session explores practical, research-based ways parents can foster authentic self-esteem and resilience in children, guiding them through challenges rather than shielding them.
Eric Hipple is a former NFL quarterback for the Detroit Lions, a mental health advocate, and suicide prevention speaker. Since his son’s death, he has worked with youth, veterans, and professionals, sharing resilience, mental fitness strategies, and promoting daily reflection for well-being.
1:30 p.m. Safe Social Media Leyna Luttrull
This session equips parents with practical tools to keep children safe online. Learn how to set age-appropriate boundaries, use platform safety settings, monitor online activity, and build open communication to encourage responsible digital habits from the start.
Leyna Luttrull is a Human Trafficking Survivor and Educator, Board Member of the Michigan Anti-Trafficking Project, and serves on the Human Trafficking Education in Schools Taskforce. She is a mother of five, a wife, and an advocate for legislative reform, public education, and awareness on sextortion and trafficking.
2:30 p.m. Anxiety Disorders Among Children & Adolescents Christy Buck, be nice.
Christy Buck, be nice. CEO and Founder. (Photo Courtesy, be nice.)
Parents will gain a clearer understanding of common causes of anxiety in early childhood, including developmental phases, school transitions, new social situations, and performance pressures. Families will learn to distinguish typical fears from signs that may require additional support.
Christy Buck has over 38 years in mental health and founded be nice. and be nice. extension. She has reached over 300,000 people with programs on mental health, bullying, and suicide prevention, serves as a certified QPR and Mental Health First Aid instructor, and has received multiple honors for her advocacy.
be nice. podcast (produced at WKTV Community Media)
Check out the be nice. podcast to hear firsthand from voices making a difference in mental health awareness. Be nice. CEO and Founder Christy Buck hosts these podcasts produced by WKTV Community Media, 5261 Clyde Park SW Wyoming, Mich. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN! (WKTV)
Nearly 20 people per minute experience physical violence by an intimate partner in the United States, and one in three women have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. (National Coalition against Domestic Violence)
Leading with cultural sensitivity and awareness, Puertas Abiertas has helped Latina women live healthier lives free of violence since its inception in 2019. Now under new leadership, the nonprofit continues to provide a vital service for the Latinx community by offering resources for those escaping domestic violence and human trafficking situations.
Claudia Annoni stepped into the role of Executive Director at Puertas Abiertas in October 2025, bringing with her over 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience and a passion for providing crucial resources to immigrant families.
Claudia Annoni, Executive Director at Puertas Abiertas. (Image Courtesy, Puertas Abiertas)
“The meaning of Puertas Abiertas is Open Doors,” said Annoni at a recent presentation hosted by the Women’s City Club of Grand Rapids. “Keep in the back of your mind what that means and what that means for participants and our guests because, for so many, doors are closed.
“[We are empowering] families to make healthy choices and live free of violence.”
Opening doors
While Puertas Abiertas focuses on providing services for female victims of abuse, trafficking and discrimination in the Latina community, no one is turned away. Regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, Puertas Abiertas opens its doors to all in need.
With 60+ partnerships with community organizations, the nonprofit offers services such as therapy; support groups; food, clothing and housing assistance; employment and resume building assistance; and a 24/7 Spanish domestic violence hotline.
The nonprofit is currently expanding the programs they offer and recently obtained funding for a new youth program providing coaching for teens on workforce development and emotional health.
“Some of our youth are becoming adults in their home,” Annoni said. “Sometimes their parents are removed from home and the older kids take on the full responsibility. So we support them, give them all kinds of tools that may be helpful for them.”
“We all experience some type of [trauma],” Annoni said. “Some, we were able to handle it in a way that was positive, some others, we probably couldn’t.
“In client-centered care, my reality is not your reality. If I want to help you with what works for me, it may not work for you. That is why the team is guided and trained in person-centered, trauma-informed care. We don’t tell anyone what to do. We guide them, we work with them.”
Dedication vs. Challenges
Current immigration policies have noticeably impacted the nonprofit’s funding and the attendance of those seeking assistance.
“We serve with federal funding,” Annoni explained. “When it comes to federal funding, there is clear language that the only community members we can serve are American citizens.”
Because those seeking assistance are required to provide proof of citizenship, many community members are unable to receive the help they so desperately need, Annoni continued.
“We are very fortunate that there are local community foundations, local family foundations, and a lot of other supporters that see the importance of the work,” Annoni said.
Despite the challenges, Annoni’s dedication to bringing healing and dignity to those around her remains steadfast. When asked why she chooses to do this work, Annoni cited humanity.
“Seeing the suffering of others impacted me. I wouldn’t do anything different because it is my passion.”
Puertas Abiertas en Espanol. (Image Courtesy, Puertas Abiertas)
Help with the mission
Though Annoni has devoted her career to championing trauma-informed and culturally responsive programs addressing mental health, violence prevention and systemic barriers facing the Latinx community, Annoni is fully aware that she cannot do it alone.
“We cannot do this alone,” Annoni said. “I like to open doors to others and to say, be with us, help us to resolve these issues, be part of the change, be part of what we do.”
With a smile, Annoni went on to say, “It’s okay if you don’t speak Spanish; I do. We do it together.”
Information on how you can support/partner with Puertas Abiertas can be found here.
Evening of Hope
An Evening of Hope fundraiser gala will be held at the Kent Country Club on May 20 at 5:30 p.m.
Attendees will enjoy an elegant and inspiring evening that includes:
A welcoming cocktail reception with a complimentary drink included
Dinner and program
Stories of resilience and community impact
Time to connect with fellow supporters and partners
“Yes, it is a fundraiser, but what we want to create is hope,” Annoni said. “Hope for the team that we work with, hope for the community.”
More information and Evening Hope tickets can be found here.
Watch this special episode of WKTV’s Nuestra Gente with host Yeli Romero and Claudia Annoni, Executive Director of Puertas Abiertas: Nuestra Gente con Yeli Romero.
Salina Bishop, President & CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities West Michigan, stands in the new Ronald McDonald House Family Room. (Photo Courtesy, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services)
Ronald McDonald House (RMH) and Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services celebrated completion of the region’s first “Family Room” concept inside a hospital at a special media preview event within Pine Rest’s new Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health.
RMH president and CEO Salina Bishop and Pine Rest president and CEO Mark Eastburg were on hand to discuss how RMH is growing its hospitality concept within health system facilities and how important the amenity is to health systems.
The formal grand opening of the 1,000 SF space will coincide with Pine Rest’s public opening events on Saturday, March 21. The Family Room expects to be operational this Spring.
A different angle of the new Ronald McDonald House Family Room. (Photo Courtesy, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services)
The Family Room serves as an extension of RMH’s services, where families can step away, recharge, and find comfort without returning to the RMH house in Grand Rapids while their child receives care, all at no cost. The Family Room offers a calming environment designed to reduce stress and provide support during an overwhelming time.
This is West Michigan’s first Family Room, and one of only 3 in the state (Detroit and Lansing).
This new space is the result of a meaningful collaboration between Pine Rest and Ronald McDonald House Charities West Michigan.
“Pine Rest provides an incredible service to our community and supports some of the most vulnerable children and families,” said Salina Bishop, President & CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities West Michigan. “We are so grateful to bring our first Ronald McDonald House Family Room to their new Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health. Both of our organizations share the belief that caring for a child means caring for their family. This partnership allows us to do just that, supporting families so every child has the best chance for a positive outcome.”
About the space
Kitchen with complimentary snacks and beverages
Comfortable lounge seating
Quiet room for rest or reflection
Workstations family members with reservable technology, including iPads, noise-cancelling headphones, and chargers.
Children’s play area (books, puzzles, games)
Private restroom with complimentary toiletries
What is the Ronald McDonald House Family Room?
The Ronald McDonald Family Room is an extension of the hospitality our House brings, offering comfort and a place to relax and recharge, directly inside the hospital.
The Family Room fills a critical gap by providing immediate, on-site hospitality, reducing stress, supporting caregiver resilience, and allowing families to be present for their child.
The goal is to give families a peaceful, home-like space steps from their child, so they can focus on being together and supporting their child.
How will it support families at Pine Rest?
Families might find themselves here longer than expected, and because of that, we want to be here for them. Families will have a place to step away for a moment, breathe, and care for themselves without leaving the hospital.
Supporting families is crucial – when parents and siblings are cared for, the children receiving treatment feel it too.
The Family Room helps reduce stress, promote resilience, and keep families close and present during treatment.
Families will have access to food, drinks, activities, and more – at no cost to them.
Grand Opening March 21 for Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health
All are welcome to join us on Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Community Grand Opening of our Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health — a brand new mental health facility created just for children, teens and families.
Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health. (Photo Courtesy, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services)
To celebrate, we’re turning the day into a summer camp–themed party and inviting families to explore our new treehouse-inspired facility, meet our team and experience firsthand how this welcoming space was thoughtfully designed to support children’s mental health and well-being for generations to come.
The day features plenty of family-friendly activities for all ages, including:
🔎 Scavenger Hunt – Collect badges throughout the center and win prizes! 🎈 Face Painting and other Fun Activities 🐾 Meet-and-Greet with Facility Dog Sully & Other Therapy Animals 🎨 Arts & Crafts Station 📸 Photo Booth 🧃 Wellness Kits & Healthy Snacks
LOCATION: Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health (Located on the Pine Rest campus at 300 68th Street, Grand Rapids. Take the main entrance off 68th St and follow signs to Building H.)
The Wyoming Fire Department has named Larry Moore as its new deputy fire chief.
In this role, Moore will oversee daily operations, support strategic initiatives, and continue to foster a culture of professionalism, safety, and service within the Wyoming Fire Department.
“This promotion reflects not only years of dedication and service, but also a deep commitment to leadership and continuous growth,” said Fire Chief Dennis VanTassell. “His experience across multiple departments, combined with his proven leadership here in Wyoming, makes him exceptionally well- suited to serve as our Deputy Fire Chief. I am confident he will continue to play a vital role in advancing our department and serving our community.”
Moore brings nearly three decades of experience in fire service, beginning in 1997 as an on-call firefighter with Alamo Township. In 2005, he began his full-time career with Cascade Township and went on to serve with Kalamazoo Township and the City of Portage before joining the Wyoming Fire Department.
Since joining Wyoming, he has advanced through the ranks, serving as firefighter, equipment operator, and battalion chief.
Moore holds a bachelor’s degree in applied science and a master’s degree in organizational leadership.
With time winding down and its double-digit lead gone, it could’ve been easy for the South Christian girls basketball team to play it safe in a Division 2 state quarterfinal game against Grand Rapids West Catholic.
Instead, the Sailors kept their foot on the pedal and continued shooting open shots from beyond the three-point arc. The aggressive approach worked like a charm on St. Patrick’s Day as the Sailors went on to defeat the green clad Falcons 61-48 Tuesday at Hudsonville Unity Christian High School.
With the win, they head to the Division 2 state semifinals Friday evening at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University, facing Goodrich at 7:30 p.m. in a battle of teams with identical 27-0 records.
South Christian players celebrate after defeating West Catholic in a Division 2 state quarterfinal game at Unity Christian. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Up 51-38 halfway through the fourth quarter, the Sailors were zeroing in on the win when West Catholic made one last run. In less than 30 seconds the Falcons strung together six points to cut the South lead to 51-44 with under four minutes remaining.
At that point, when many basketball teams might decide to back off and play conservatively to protect the lead, the Sailors answered by attacking. Senior Sophia Prins stepped up first and nailed a three to get the margin back to double digits. After a stop on the defensive end, freshman Kinley Regnery then came down the floor and drained another three-ball putting the Sailors up 57-44 with 3:12 left and putting an end to the West Catholic run.
“That is just who we are,” said South Christian Coach Erika Brown. “To ask them to slow down would put us in a weird feel. We just know that’s us and we like to run. We just have to be smart. If it’s not there, first and foremost, we look to then kick it out and run offense. I wasn’t going to stop them. The horses were running today.”
The game was a tight struggle most of the way as the two teams were meeting for the third time this season, with South having won the two regular-season meetings between the state-ranked powerhouses.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Brown said. “First, playing a team three times and second, playing the second-best team in the conference. We knew it was going to be a battle from start to finish. We really talked about staying composed and not getting rattled. We are at the point in the season where discipline matters and we have to rise to the challenge.”
South Christian was up 16-12 at the end of the first quarter and had a slim 18-17 lead late in the first half. The Sailors, however, closed out the first half with a flurry as they went on a 9-2 run in the final minutes to take a 27-19 lead into halftime. A three-point shot from Regnery was a key part of the Sailor run.
Up 33-26 midway through the third quarter, the Sailors went on another major run. South outscored West 12-4 on the run to build a 45-30 lead late in the third.
“I thought we played hard,” West Catholic Coach Derek Paiz said. “We didn’t make enough plays tonight. When you play a team as great as South Christian is there is little margin for error. There was a drought in the second quarter when we didn’t score, they went on a run.
“We went from being down one to being down by eight and that same thing happened in the third quarter. We tried to limit the three-point shot and we didn’t do a good job of that. I don’t know how many they hit, I know it was at least six plus. Credit to South Christian, they are a great team.”
South Christian finished the game hitting seven treys, with Regnery leading the way with three and Lizzie Wolthuis and Sophia Prins adding a pair each.
The win was especially gratifying for the Sailors as South fell to West Catholic in last year’s state quarterfinal game that was also played at Unity Christian.
“I have to give this one to my senior leaders,” Brown said. “The girls that have been on this journey for four years. Being on the varsity as freshman and getting to that point last year. Now this year as seniors, no, they didn’t want this to be the end. They were there, they felt it and there was just a fire lit. The real special thing about this group, the senior leaders that we have, the younger girls respect and really follow them and that’s a really huge part of who we are.”
South Christian’s Abby Prins (15) looks for an opening against West Catholic. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
South Christian was paced by a balanced offensive attack. Sophia Prins led the way with 14 points, while Lexi Vermaas and Regnery added 12 points apiece, Meredith Helmus, nine.
“Normally, you see that kind of talent and depth at a Division 1 school,” Paiz said. “They (South Christian) are very talented. Probably the most talented roster in the whole state. They don’t lose much when they sub one through eight.”
West Catholic, which finished the season with a 20-6 record, was led by sophomore Kenley Slanger with 19 points and junior Alexis Asekomah, 13.
Check out our WKTV video of the Lemery Park Invasive Species Workday conducted by the Kent Conservation District and Friends of Buck Creek on March 7.
The goal of the Workday was to control the infestation of invasive shrubs and trees along the creek to improve wildlife habitat.
Four invasive species were specifically targeted: *Bittersweet (vine) *Honeysuckle (bush) *Buckthorn (shrub) *Multiflora Rose (shrub)
The Kent Conservation District and Friends of Buck Creek held an Invasive Species Workday on March 7 at Lemery Park. (WKTV/Owen Herzenstiel)
The Friends of Buck Creek’s Mission is: “To protect and restore the health of the Buck Creek watershed through community education, hands-on stewardship, monitoring and local advocacy.” For more information on the Friends of Buck Creek, click HERE. Also check out the Kent Conservation District.
Invasive Species Workday on March 7 at Lemery Park. (WKTV/Owen Herzenstiel)
Local boxer Aneudy “Junior” Rios (left) claimed another title at the West Michigan Golden Gloves Finals Sunday, defeating Jason Wells in the 132-pound Elite Open Division. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
It was championship Sunday at the 2026 West Michigan Golden Gloves and there was plenty of non-stop action as West Michigan titles were up for grabs before an enthusiastic crowd at the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center on the campus of Aquinas College.
Three days of rugged boxing came to an end with both the winners and runners-up in each weight class now moving on to the Michigan Golden Gloves State Championships that are scheduled for April 10 and 11 when boxing resumes at the Aquinas College facility.
The fight of the day took place in the 143-pound Elite Open Division which came as no surprise as the Division was similar to a World Cup Soccer group of death. A total of six outstanding boxers were in the 143-pound class and after three days of grueling boxing, Stephen Ramirez, fighting unattached, came out with the win.
Ramirez, who defeated Gohan Estavez Marte of Wyoming’s PK Boxing on Friday and then came back to defeat Michael Guzman on Saturday, squared off against defending champion Siderio Mitchell of Michigan Golden Gloves Association (MGGA) in Sunday’s final. In a bout that featured non-stop action from beginning to the final flurry, Ramirez came away winning a decision.
Siderio Mitchell (left) and Stephen Ramirez size each other up during their 143-pound Elite Open match at the West Michigan Golden Gloves. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“Siderio is a tough guy,” Ramirez said. “He’s fast. I’ve sparred with him so I knew it was going to be tough, but man was it a war. He’s got speed, he’s got power, he’s got everything, but at the end of the day I got the win. I did just enough.”
Going up against a talented boxer like Mitchell, Ramirez knew he had to stick to the game plan of putting on maximum pressure and attacking.
“The strategy was just get in the pocket and throw more punches and it worked,” Ramirez said. “He was feeling the pressure.”
Ramirez won a novice championship in 2024, but this was his first open title at the Golden Gloves.
“I’m very proud of this,” Ramirez said. “This is a big win for me.”
A win made all the more meaningful after going through three grueling fights in three days in a division littered with former state champions.
“As soon as I saw the card at 143, I knew it was going to be tough,” Ramirez said, “but I knew I had it in me. I was sure of myself and with my trainer that we could change up the game plan.”
A former champion reclaimed a title in the 132-pound Elite Open division. That was where Aneudy “Junior” Rios won an action-packed, three-round decision against Jason Wells of MGGA. The match was close throughout as Wells utilized his quickness and counterpunching skills against Rios who sustained a steady offensive barrage throughout the fight.
“This fight for sure was to stay busy and keep up the pressure,” Rios said, “because the fighter I was fighting against is strong and he’s fast. I know him pretty well, but I knew if I stick to the game plan I would definitely take the win.”
Along with dealing with the skilled Wells in the ring, Rios also had to deal with his conditioning as he dropped 20 pounds to get to the weight limit for the division.
“I did enough to win, but I didn’t look as good as I wanted to look,” Rios said, “but I’ll get there. Just having to drop 20 pounds in two weeks takes a lot out of you.”
Making the win even more meaningful for Rios was the fact that it was his first win in a while.
“This feels really great,” Rios said. “I came off of a losing streak. I’ve lost like five straight fights. After losing that many fights that just made me hungrier, so coming into this tournament, I was definitely coming stronger for sure. So it was a great feeling to actually get a W.”
In the female 132-pound Elite Open Division, former champion Sarah Batenburg of MGGA added another trophy to her collection as she claimed a decision against Emily Martinez of the Eli J Boxing Club.
In the upper weights of the Elite Open Division, Evan Jackson of the Kalamazoo Boxing Club won a decision against Kolbe Lewis of TCB Boxing of Muskegon Heights at 154 pounds. At 165 pounds, Joseph McDaye of Kalamazoo Westside Boxing Club turned back Nate Dotson of Lansing Crown Boxing when the referee stopped the contest in the second round. In the 198-pound plus Division Maurice Davis of Champsden Boxing Club earned the win against Jeremiah Crawford of the Muskegon Boxing Club when the referee stopped the contest in the first round.
At 165 pounds, Floyd Santiago of MGGA won by a disqualification. Uncontested Open champions included Kyree Westerfield of PK Boxing at 110 pounds, Zoe Hicks of Team Glass at 112 pounds in the female Division, Asha Lake of Team Glass at 143 pounds in the female Division and Zamyla Thurman-Houston of Team Glass in the 165-pound female Division.
In the opening bouts in the novice divisions, Jose Jimanez-Gonzalez of PK Boxing of Wyoming kicked things off by winning a decision against a familiar foe in Samuel Fryer of MGGA in a bout filled with plenty of action in the 145-pound Junior Novice Division.
“It feels pretty nice,” Jimanez-Gonzalez said. “I feel even better because this is actually a rematch. I had lost to this guy the first time I fought. I was proud that I got the rematch and won it. This is a big accomplishment for me.”
A change in strategy helped Jimanez-Gonzalez earn the win the second time around.
“The first time I fought him it was a rough start,” Jimanez-Gonzalez said. “I didn’t know how he was fighting or anything, but once I got to fight him the first time I looked back, I studied the video and I knew what I needed to do. He fights with a high guard so the body was one of my most important targets in there. I could tell that he was getting hurt cause through each round he was getting slower and slower.”
Jose Jimanez-Gonzalez (right) looks for an opening against Samuel Fryer during action at the West Michigan Golden Gloves Sunday. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
In the Elite Novice Division, Ashton Kamps of the Grand Valley State University Boxing Club came away with a title in his first-ever Golden Gloves competition. Kamps, a Grand Valley student from Coopersville, won the 165-pound title in the Elite Novice Division when he claimed a decision over Strey Hakala of Blues Gym.
Kamps, who has been boxing for three years, improved his record to 6-2 with the win. Competing in the Golden Gloves for the first time, however, was a special milestone in his young boxing career.
“It’s been cool, really cool,” Kamps said. “I fought in other tournaments, but nothing like this. Obviously, everyone knows about the Golden Gloves, it’s been around forever. It means a lot more, when random people ask ‘Are you Golden Gloves’ and I used to say nah, nah, but now I can say yeah, which is cool.”
Ashton Kamps (right) keeps up the pressure against Strey Hakal during action at 165 pounds in the Elite Novice Division. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
A second Grand Valley State University boxer, Caleb Rivera, also brought home a title as he was an uncontested champion at 187 pounds in the Elite Novice Division.
Also winning uncontested championships in the Elite Novice Division were Ahmari Jobe of MGGA at 198 pounds and Johana Lugo of United Boxing Club in the female 143-pound Division.
Boxers from Kalamazoo Boxing claimed a pair of Elite Novice titles. DeKent Murray won the 154-pound title when he edged Troy Taylor of PK Boxing in an action-filled bout from start to finish. In the 198-pound plus Division Nathan Morehouse won a decision against Randy Brock Jr. who was fighting unattached.
Rounding out the Elite Novice champions were Tyrone Harris Jr. of Lansing Crown Boxing who defeated Marcos Guzman of Kalamazoo Westside when the referee stopped the contest in the second round. Luciano Ramirez of Warriors Quest won a decision against Mohannad Barati of MGGA at 132 pounds, while DreAun Ellis of Built on Stone Boxing Club of Battle Creek won a decision against Brennan Bolen of United Boxing Club at 143 pounds in an action-packed matchup.
Local Kentwood dog, Ranger, lives life in “full wag mode” and proved it by recently placing third in the semifinal round of America’s Favorite Pet.
Sponsored by the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), America’s Favorite Pet is a national, voting-based, online fundraising competition benefiting the PAWS non-profit. Kentwood resident Nick Clark entered Ranger, his licensed ESA dog, into the competition knowing his fun-loving and movie-star handsome red Golden Retriever would steal the hearts of voters across Michigan – and the entire nation.
“Ranger should be America’s Favorite Pet because he represents everything people love most about dogs,” Clark states in Ranger’s competition bio. “His heart, loyalty, joy, and an unbreakable bond with humans. With his stunning red Golden Retriever coat and infectious smile, Ranger turns heads, but it’s his soul that truly makes him unforgettable.”
That soul, Clark continues, harbors Ranger’s most meaningful talent – his role as an emotional support animal.
Emotional Support dog Ranger. (Photo Courtesy, Nick Clark)
A source of calm and comfort
Though Ranger is his most recent source of emotional support, Clark has turned to animals for comfort his entire life.
“I’ve had dogs, cats, guinea pigs, you name it,” Clark said. “I’ve been around animals my whole life, and I’ve always just found calm in them.”
That calm and comfort has been a steadying force for Clark over the past 30 years as he struggled to find balance in both his physical and mental health. Diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) at age seven, Clark was prescribed a range of medications in the subsequent years that proved detrimental to his health.
“At seven years old they put me on way too much Adderall, and nobody questioned them,” Clark explained. “I never abused my prescription drugs, but unfortunately they dosed me so high that it was abuse.”
Ranger at a construction site when Clark would take him to work. (Photo Courtesy, Nick Clark)
The medication, Clark said, negatively impacted his life, hindering the development of crucial life skills.
“Since seven years old, I’ve never learned how to grow and adapt in real life,” said Clark. “I always had something masking it, like an ADD med.”
Clark is currently living a life free of medications after finding the courage to reach out for help – and he attributes a large part of his success to Ranger.
“I’m very proud of my recovery, and Ranger has been a big stepping stone in that,” Clark said.
More than just a dog
With gentle intuition, Ranger is able to sense when Clark needs comfort most. Through a variety of small actions (a quiet nudge, a warm lean, or resting his head nearby), Ranger brings peace and reassurance when Clark is battling bouts of anxiety and depression.
“The longer I’m off of these meds, I’m getting a clearer brain, but I still have days where I’m depressed,” said Clark. “I get nightmares too, and I can’t tell you how many times I woke up from night terrors, and he’s there.
“Ranger isn’t just a dog; he’s a source of strength, calm and connection.”
Emotional support dog Ranger. (Photo Courtesy, Nick Clark)
Ranger is a registered ESA service dog and is the second dog Clark has trained as his personal emotional support animal. Though his ability to train dogs was born organically from his lifelong experiences with animals, Clark said he is looking into official training programs that provide licensing so he can help others find the comfort Ranger has given him.
“Dogs have an unspoken bond with humans,” Clark said. “They don’t talk, but they just have that sense of comfort. I’ve always been attached to that, so if I can give back to the community by presenting them with a wonderful dog like Ranger, it puts a smile on my face.”
Happy Birthday, Ranger!
Ranger recently celebrated his third birthday and continues to spread joy and laughter wherever he goes, invade the hearts of those he meets, and live life with infinite energy.
Michael Guzman (right) looks for an opening against Anthony Bridgeforth during their 143-pound Elite Open match at the West Michigan Golden Gloves, 2026. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
The opening night of the 2026 West Michigan Golden Gloves kicked off with a flurry Friday as 12 high-action bouts gave the crowd at the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center on the campus of Aquinas College plenty to get pumped up about.
The first of three days of boxing saw a number of newcomers have breakthrough moments and also featured some familiar names giving the large crowd plenty of the action they came to witness.
The main event of the card came at the end in what were actually three main events in the loaded 143-pound Elite Open division.
In the first of the three 143-pound matches Stephen Ramirez, boxing unattached, squared off against Gohan Estavez Marte of Wyoming’s PK Boxing. In a bout that featured plenty of non-stop action, a bloodied, but game Ramirez claimed a decision in a fight that went the distance.
“He (Estavez Marte) is a hard hitter,” Ramirez said. “I started off working the outside, but that was not working out so I decided to go inside on him. I pressured him on the inside and I think that was what made the difference.”
The action continued at a furious pace in the next 143-pound Elite Open match between veteran Michigan Golden Gloves Association (MGGA) boxer Michael Guzman and Armand Bridgeforth who boxes unattached.
Both boxers came out throwing plenty of punches at a quick pace. Guzman, however, began to gain momentum throughout the match. That momentum paid off in the third round as he continued pushing the pace and racking up shots to the body and the head. Guzman eventually recorded a standing eight count on Bridgeforth as he went on to win a decision.
In another bout at 154 pounds in the Elite Novice Division, DeKent Murray of Kalamazoo Boxing was the winner when the referee stopped the contest in the second round of his bout with Larry Carter of Blue Gym of Grand Rapids.
Guzman’s plan coming in to the match was to wear out his opponent and eventually put away the win.
The final match of the evening was a battle between Michael’s brother Mike Guzman and Michael Carbajal of PK Boxing.
In one of the most competitive bouts of the evening, the Guzman brothers made it a perfect night as Mike defeated Carbajal by a decision.
Mike Guzman (right) squares off against Michael Carbajal (left) during their 143-pound Elite Open match at the West Michigan Golden Gloves 2026. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Both fighters threw plenty of punches throughout the fight and there were no surprises as the two boxers were meeting for the fifth time over the course of their careers.
“I’m 4-1 against him now,” Mike Guzman said. “I knew I had to continue to box him. He is a brawler and I knew that is what he wanted to do so I concentrated on boxing.”
Both Guzman’s, along with Ramirez, had little time to recuperate from their matches as all three boxers competed in Saturday’s semifinals along with defending champion Siderio Mitchell who had the bye.
The evenings action was kicked off by some strong efforts from PK Boxing fighters in the first three bouts on the card. In the first match of the evening, Gino Corona of PK Boxing won in the third round when the referee stopped the 132-pound Junior Novice contest with Jamison Perry of MGGA.
Gino Corona of PK Boxing receives instructions from Golden Gloves referee Buster Mathis Jr. during action at the West Michigan Golden Gloves at Aquinas College, 2026. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Corona, who is 16 years old and a student at Grand Rapids Union High School, was making his competitive boxing debut. After a slow start, Corona gained confidence as the match wore on and eventually had all the momentum in the fight before it was stopped in the third round.
“I felt a lot of adrenaline for sure,” Corona said. “I was really pumped up and I really felt all that adrenaline in the first round. After a while I felt like I loosened up some.”
In the second bout, another high school student, Jose Jimanez-Gonzalez of Grand Rapids University Prep High School, picked up a win.
Jimanez-Gonzalez also had a relatively slow start including a standing eight-count being called on him in the opening round. That standing eight seemed to ignite a fire in Jimanez-Gonzalez who battled back and piled up the punches in the later stages of the bout.
“When I received that standing eight count I said to myself, `I can’t let this happen,’” Jimanez-Gonzalez said. “I had to keep fighting back and countering. It was a tough fight. He backed me up against the wall but I fought back.”
PK Boxing picked up another win in the third bout of the evening when Jourell Constant won a decision against My’Khi Jackson-Sims of TCB Boxing of Muskegon Heights in a 154-pound Junior Novice bout.
Also picking up a win in the Junior Novice division was Gustavo Pedraza of United Boxing Club who won a decision against Carlos Soto-Brooks of Muskegon Boxing Club at 165 pounds.
In the Elite Novice Division, Shadiez Butler of PK Boxing defeated Shaad Smith of TCB Boxing when the referee stopped the contest one minute into round two of the bout at 154 pounds.
Shadiez Butler won his match at 154 pounds in the Elite Novice Division at West Michigan Golden Gloves at Aquinas College, 2026. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Also in the Elite Novice Division were three more bouts. At 132 pounds Luciano Ramirez of Warriors Quest won a decision against Trevor Lewis of Blues Gym. At 143 pounds Brennan Bolen of United Boxing Club won his bout against Patient Byiringiro of Blues Gym when the referee stopped the contest in the second round. At 165 pounds, Strey Hakala of Blues Gym won a decision in a tight battle against Corbin Trickery of United Boxing Club.
Boxing resumed Saturday night with the semifinals and Sunday afternoon with the West Michigan finals.
It may still be basketball season in some corners of Michigan, but it’s always time for boxing and one of the highlights of the local boxing scene, the Golden Gloves state tournament, is set for the opening bell to ring on Friday.
The 94th annual Michigan Golden Gloves Championships runs this Friday, Saturday and Sunday as boxers compete for West Michigan Golden Gloves titles. This year’s tournament will be held for the second consecutive year on the campus of Aquinas College as will the State Championships that will take place at the same location next month. The location on campus, located at 1580 Fulton St. SE, is the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center located at the front of the campus.
While many boxers wait until fight night to register, pre-registration has been taking place and a large group of boxers are expected to take part.
Golden Gloves state champion Siderio Mitchell 2025. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“We are still getting entries coming in,” said Tournament Director Brian Lentz. “We still get 20 to 30 percent of the boxers waiting to enter on the day boxing begins, but the signups are going all right.”
The West Michigan Golden Gloves draws boxers from a wide swath of West Michigan and that is the case once again this year.
“We have entries coming in from all over West Michigan,” Lentz said. “We will have boxers from Lansing, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Niles, Hastings, Edwardsburg, Bangor, Sturgis, Shelby and from all over the Grand Rapids area.”
Mike Guzman. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
A number of familiar faces return to this year’s tournament led by Siderio Mitchell who is a returning state champion.
“Both Guzman brothers, Mike and Michael have registered,” Lentz said. “Zoe Hicks is a past national champion who has entered and will be in the 113-pound female division. Junior Rios has also entered again. These are all past champions who have entered so far.”
Golden Gloves State Champions Jordan Shimmell (left) and Junior Rios co-hosting on WKTV’s Friday Night Highlights Golden Gloves edition last year with Bob Serulla (not pictured). Rios will be competing again this year as well as announcing ringside for WKTV.
Lentz, who runs the PK Boxing gym in Wyoming, has a stable of boxers slated to compete in this year’s tournament.
“I have nine or 10 boxers so far and that’s a pretty good number,” Lentz said. “I think it’s the largest group we’ve had in a single year. We are probably the number two gym in terms of number of boxers at this year’s tournament. MGGA (Michigan Golden Gloves Association) is probably number one as they have a couple more boxers entered than we do. Kalamazoo also has quite a few kids this year so far.”
Lentz and his PK boxers are led by a couple of familiar names and a promising newcomer.
“We have Michael Carbajal and Gohan Estevez-Marte back this year,” Lentz said. “We also have a 110-pounder, Kyrie Westerfield, he’s pretty good. He just turned 18 so this will be his first year.”
Wyoming Lee alum Michael Carbajal. (Courtesy Photo)
The West Michigan Championships draw boxers in from Lansing to the West. The East Michigan Championships will be held at The Real Flint Golf Club in Flint on March 27 and 28 for boxers East of Lansing. The champions and runners-up from the West Michigan and East Michigan Golden Gloves will square for a spot on the Michigan team for the National Golden Gloves tournament. This year’s National Golden Gloves Tournament is scheduled to take place in Tulsa, Oklahoma from May 11 through May 15.
The Golden Gloves is split into different divisions. There is a novice division, for beginning boxers that have had fewer than 10 fights, and an open division for more experienced boxers. There also is a female division.
Along with the big names, the tournament is the birthplace of boxing dreams for young boxers making their first appearances in the ring as several match bouts will take place with young boxers getting their first taste of the ring.
Local boxer Junior Rios in the ring. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
The opening night of this year’s Golden Gloves takes place Friday, March 13. The doors open at 6 p.m. and boxing begins at 7. Action continues Saturday, March 14 with the finals set for Sunday, March 15 at 2 p.m.
The Michigan State Championships are scheduled for Friday and Saturday April 10 and 11 at Aquinas College. Bouts begin at 7 p.m. each day with the doors opening at 6.
Woodland Mall will celebrate the start of spring with the return of its popular bunny photo experience beginning Friday, March 20.
Photos with the bunny will be offered in a spring-themed photo set March 20 through April 4 in the Macy’s court. All mall visitors can have their photo taken with the adorable bunny from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Opening day hours are 3 to 7 p.m.
“This seasonal favorite returns again for all guests to enjoy at Woodland Mall,” Senior Marketing Director Lisa Wolstromer said. “The bunny photo experience is a special way to capture springtime, and we love that families can even include their pets on select days to make those moments even more meaningful.”
Pets can join in for photos 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, March 23 and 30. Feathered and whiskered pets of all kinds are welcome as long as they are kept on a leash or in a carrier at all times. Owners must also sign a release prior to visiting.
Digital photo packages are available with add-ons such as prints and frames. Online reservations are encouraged, and walk-up visits are permitted when space is available.
Behind the scoring of Lizzie Wolthuis and Sophia Prins, with 18 apiece, South Christian grabbed a 67-38 win over host Otsego Wednesday in a Division 2 Regional championship.
The win gave the Sailors a perfect 26-0 record.
Each team had a basket early in the game, but then Otsego missed several layups, allowing South Christian to establish a significant lead with a 9-0 run, bringing the score to 12-2. Otsego’s lone senior, Audrey Lingbeek, responded with a three-pointer to close the quarter.
Seniors Wolthuis and Sophia Prins contributed five points each in the opening period.
The Sailors intensified their interior defense in the second quarter, forcing multiple turnovers and limiting Otsego’s opportunities for second-chance points. This defensive effort translated to increased scoring on offense.
Their defense was so strong the entire game that Otsego never had consecutive baskets without an answer from South in between them.
South Christian’s Avery Lutke had several key blocked shots. (WKTV/Pat Moll)
“We focus on that and have the saying that defense starts the offense and we like to play fast,” South Christian Coach Erika Brown said.
South Christian outscored Otsego 15-11 in the second quarter to take a 27-16 lead into the locker room. Otsego managed just four field goals and five free throws in the half, led by Lingbeek who scored nine points on three treys.
Sophia Prins maintained her strong performance with six additional points, totaling eleven, while sophomore Abby Prins contributed eight points in the quarter, including two three-pointers.
In the second half, South Christian extended its lead to 18 points, 39-21, before encountering foul trouble with players Lexi Vermaas, Meredith Helmus, Abby Prins and Isla Ogle receiving multiple fouls.
“That was surprising to me, and we know that it can happen again, but the team pulled together, overcame it, and learned from it,” Brown said.
Lexi Vermaas gets her hand on a pass from Otsego’s Mya Engbers.(WKTV/Pat Moll)
These fouls sent Otsego to the free-throw line, helping them close the gap to 46-30 after three quarters. Lizzie Wolthuis buried two more three-pointers in the quarter, bringing her point total to 12, while Sophia Prins added three and Abby Prins contributed five, resulting in totals of 14 and 13, respectively. Lingbeek drained her fourth three-pointer for Otsego, finishing with 12 points through three, while Mya Engbers added eight for a total of 10 points.
South Christian’s Wolthuis and Sophia Prins led with 18 apiece
In the final quarter, South Christian further demonstrated its strength, outscoring Otsego 21-8. Wolthuis recorded two additional three-pointers, ending with 18 points, tying Sophia Prins as top scorers. Abby Prins finished with 13 points.
The South Christian girls basketball team holds up its Division 2 Regional trophy. (WKTV/Pat Moll)
Lingbeek led Otsego with 14 points, followed by Engbers with 12.
South Christian next travels to Hudsonville Unity Christian for a D-2 quarterfinal matchup with OK Gold rival Grand Rapids West Catholic, who defeated Grand Rapids Catholic Central 64-31 in regional play. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. The teams met twice in the regular season, with South Christian securing victories both times: 73-62 at home and 50-44 away.
“As you get farther and farther in the tournament, you need to remain focused and disciplined,” Brown said. “You can not let things rattle you as things are not going to go your way all the time. At the end of the game, hopefully we are the last one standing.”
If the Sailors can win three more games, they will be the last ones standing at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center on Saturday, March 21, with a championship trophy in their hands.
Bigger than golf ball sized hail during a storm March 10 in Georgetown Township, Michigan. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
On a Tuesday night that brought heavy rain, hail, thunderstorms and flooding to West Michigan, this WKTV Managing Editor found crazy-sized hail in his yard much larger than golf balls.
Upon hearing what sounded like bricks hitting our roof in Georgetown Township, Mich., I went out into our yard during the storm and almost got knocked out. Super large chunks of hail whizzed past my head and I quickly retreated back into the house to watch from the window instead.
Gigantic hail littered many yards on March 10 in Georgetown Township, Michigan. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
Check out these new and exciting local Girls Basketball MHSAA Playoff clips from our latest Friday Night Highlights show.
Just like football season, every week we’ll bring you much of the local high school basketball home stadium action from your local varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting Friday Night Highlights show.
UPDATE – Initial investigations, including interviews, security footage and personal video recordings, indicate that an altercation occurred outside Dave & Buster’s. During the incident, a 17-year-old male who was later injured is seen holding a firearm and pointing it at several individuals.
A 22-year-old male, who is an employee of Dave & Buster’s, is then observed drawing his own pistol and firing at the 17-year-old male. The 22-year-old male has been interviewed by investigators, released, and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
The 17-year-old male remains in the intensive care unit (ICU) at a local hospital.
Additionally, a 28-year-old male was arrested and lodged at the Kent County Correctional Facility on a charge of Weapons – Carrying Concealed.
On March 3 at approximately 8:34 p.m., the Kentwood Police Department responded to a report of a shooting with injuries at Dave and Busters, 3660 28th St. Upon arrival, officers located a juvenile victim with injuries. First responders rendered aid, and the victim was transported to an area hospital. Shell casings were located on scene. One person of interest was taken into custody on scene. There is no immediate threat to the public at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentwood Police Department at 616-656-6580. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or SilentObserver.org.
Bill Rohn — who served as a trial lawyer for 40 years at the Varnum law firm in Grand Rapids — calls himself a “newspaper junkie.“ Bill edited his high school and college newspapers. He also has covered sports for Midwestern newspapers such as The Grand Rapids Press, The South Bend Tribune, and The Niles Daily Star. He is a co-host of WKTV Friday Night Highlights. Bill holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from GVSU and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Whoever thought that one player can’t single-handedly beat five opponents probably missed the artistry of Northview’s Cam Ryans in Thursday’s regional basketball final against East Kentwood.
Ryans, a 6-4 senior and Mr. Basketball candidate was spectacular, nailing a three-point buzzer-beater to cap a 30-point performance as the Wildcats defeated the Falcons 52-50 before a sellout crowd Thursday at Caledonia.
Spectacular? Absolutely.
Just ask hundreds of Northview fans who stormed the court after Cam’s game winner. The victory sends the winners to a March 10 Division 1 quarterfinal matchup against Rockford.
Scoring only two points in the first half — after which Northview trailed 24-15 — Ryans owned the ball and personally outscored the Falcons 28-26 following intermission.
Ryans completed his masterpiece, grabbing an inbound pass with four seconds remaining, then dribbling twice before sinking a three-pointer from 10 feet beyond the free throw line as time expired.
Spectacular? 30 total points. 28 in the second half. 19 in the fourth quarter. And three steals in a game that Northview never led until a Ryans’ bucket put the winners ahead 49-48 with 28 seconds left. EK responded with a bucket by Andrew Kenyi to recapture the lead with 16 seconds remaining, setting the stage for Ryans’ game ending heroics.
It was a sold out crowd Thursday night at Caledonia as Northview beat East Kentwood 52-50 to win a Division 1 regional title. (WKTV/Bill Rohn)
So what did Northview’s sharpshooter, who has committed to play at Western Michigan University following graduation, think of his performance?
“I couldn’t let my teammates down,” Ryans said. “This is what I practice for and I put in long hours getting ready for that. Every day — day after day — I get ready for that. I dream of it.“
Noting Ryans’ low scoring during the first half, Wildcat Coach Brandoen Guyton evidently knew just what to say during the break.
“I just told him at halftime to go out there in the second half and ‘just be Cam,’ said Guyton in the middle of a celebrating mob following the final buzzer. “I told him to just be who he is. And that’s just what he did.”
Guyton also praised his team’s defense.
“We knew we needed defense to win it, and the kids came through in the second half,” Guyton explained. “Northview clogged the middle of the lane throughout the third and fourth quarters. The Wildcats also produced numerous turnovers, blunting a balanced EK scoring attack that led to Falcon leads of 19-10 after the first quarter, 24-15 at halftime, and 37-31 entering the final eight minutes.
EK’s early success was led by CJ Reynolds, Jeremiah Cook and Jaxon Tabor, whose combined 16 points led the Falcons’ first half effort.
East Kentwood’s Jaxon Tabor stretches for a rebound. (WKTV/Bill Rohn)
Ryans simply took over in the second half. Occasionally dishing off to teammates, he led the winners on a 13-2 scoring run in the middle of the third, cutting EK’s margin to 32-29 with 1:52 to play in the quarter.
East Kentwood hung onto its shrinking lead with solid guard play from CJ Reynolds and two buckets by 6-8 Andrew Kenyi, but Ryans was dominant in the fourth quarter, scoring again and again while also grabbing two steals to cut the Falcon lead to 46-43 with 90 seconds to play.
Northview got help on the scoreboard from Izzy Haitbu, with 10 points, plus five more from Brayden Williams.
East Kentwood, which finished a great season at 22-3, got 13 points from Reynolds, nine from Jeremiah Cook, and eight from Kenyi. The team had only one senior on its roster, so Coach Mike Thomas’ squad may be poised for another outstanding season next year.
The Falcons react to Northview buzzer-beater. (WKTV/Bill Rohn)
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre has announced its Centennial Season, which features eight titles to be produced by one of the oldest and largest community theatres in the nation. The selection of shows was specially curated for the 100th anniversary: a blend of Inaugural Productions gracing the Civic stage for the first time, and an array of Legacy Productions – audience favorites making their triumphant return to the theatre’s historic canon.
Come From Away
The season begins on September 11, 2026, with Come From Away, a musical based on the true story of when the isolated community of Gander, Newfoundland, played host to the world 25 years ago on September 11, 2001. Undaunted by culture clashes and language barriers, the people of Gander cheered the stranded travelers with music, an open bar and the recognition that we’re all part of a global family. An Inaugural Production for Civic or any community theatre in GR, the Tony Award-winning musical will run through September 27, 2026.
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre announces its Centennial Season. (Photo Courtesy, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre)
Dragons Love Tacos
In mid-October, a high-energy family musical returns: What happens when you invite a flock of dragons to a taco party with spicy jalapeño salsa? Find out in this imaginative theatrical adventure based on the popular children’s book Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri. An entire run of “Pick Your Price” public performances allows the community to experience live theatre – maybe for the very first time – with a manageable price point that audience members decide. Performances are October 8 – 18, 2026, with family friendly showtimes at 6 p.m. and weekend matinees at 2 p.m.
Annie!
The holidays will bring a family favorite back to the stage with Annie! With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. With the help of her fellow orphans, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. Civic’s holiday show, a tradition for the West Michigan community for close to 30 years, will run November 20 – December 20, 2026. This Legacy Production was previously staged six times since 1984, including two School of Theatre Arts productions.
A Chorus Line
2027 will kick off with a kick-line! A Chorus Line, also known as the ultimate love letter to living a life in the theatre, will make it’s return after more than twenty years since its last Civic run in 2006. Astunning concept musical capturing the spirit and tension of a Broadway ensemble audition, this brilliantly complex fusion of song, dance and authentic drama is a Pulitzer Prize-winning classic. This Legacy Production was first on stage at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre in 1986. Forty years later, the Centennial Season performances of this “singular sensation” will take place January 15 – 24, 2027.
Dear Evan Hansen
Seventeen-year-old Evan Hansen has felt invisible his entire life. But when a tragedy shocks his community and thrusts him into the center of a rapidly evolving controversy, Evan is given the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to be somebody else. Penned by the songwriters of The Greatest Showman and La La Land, Dear Evan Hansenis a new classic, with a message that has resonated with audiences around the world: “You Will Be Found.” This Inaugural Production for Civic will be the first time a Grand Rapids community theatre produces this Tony Award Best Musical winner; see it on stage from February 19 – March 7, 2027.
Finding Nemo JR.
In the spring, we just keep swimming! Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s School of Theatre Arts programs join together to present Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. This 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo features new music by the award-winning songwriting team of Frozen, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. Civic audiences will be delighted with this Inaugural Production from March 25 – 28, 2027 with family friendly showtimes at 6 p.m. and weekend matinees at 2 p.m.
Our Town
Described by Edward Albee as “the greatest American play ever written,” Our Town presents the small town of Grover’s Corners in three acts: “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage” and “Death and Eternity.” Narrated by a stage manager and performed with minimal props and sets, the play depicts the simple daily lives of the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry, and eventually, die – in one of the most famous scenes in American theatre. This Legacy Production, first produced at Civic in 1940, will return for its fifth iteration on the Civic stage from April 23 – May 2, 2027.
Les Miserables
To close out the Centennial Season, Civic will present an epic tale of passion and redemption in the throes of revolution. Les Misérables is one of the world’s longest running musicals — a true modern classic based on Victor Hugo’s novel and featuring one of the most memorable Tony Award-winning scores of all time. Set in 19th Century France, this modern classic is as groundbreaking today as when it first premiered in London in 1985. Previously seen on the Civic stage in 2014, this Legacy Production will return from June 4 – 20, 2027.
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre announces its Centennial Season. (Photo Courtesy, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre)
Pick Your Price Wednesdays
In addition to these exciting titles, an equally special announcement is the continuation of affordable and accessible theatre with “Pick Your Price Wednesdays.” The amount patrons pay is based on what they are able and willing to give the production, whether that is the cost of a small coffee or the bill for a large dinner. Grand Rapids Civic Theatre continues their efforts with a wide variety of accessible programs and resources, including the recently introduced Spotlight Social Club – a sensory-friendly program for adults, teens, and kids with neurodiversity and/or intellectual or developmental disabilities and their caregivers. Returning programs include special performances for the Deaf and hard of hearing community, pre-show touch tours for the visually impaired, and Relaxed Environment Performances. In addition, the theatre will continue to provide live video feed in the lobby, braille printed and large print programs, alternative seating, and more. A full schedule of accessible programming and resources will be available at grct.org/accessibility.
Stage Door Drinks + Libations will return, offering craft beer, wine, seltzers, and sodas on select nights throughout the season. The bar is offered alongside standard concession selections, and opens one hour before showtime. Centennial Season dates will be released later in 2026 at grct.org/stagedoordrinks.
Ticket packages, freshly reimagined to best serve audience members and how they’d like to experience live theatre, are available now at grct.org with a variety of options. Full Season Pass: This is for the theatre goer that doesn’t want to miss a thing during the Centennial Season: Come From Away, Annie, A Chorus Line, Dear Evan Hansen, Our Town, and Les Mis, along with the two Theatre For Young Audiences shows: Dragons Love Tacos, and Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. MainStage Pass: This offering is designed for folks who are interested in an adult night out! It includes all of the shows in the Full Season Pass without the Theatre For Young Audiences titles. For families with children: The Family Pass is available at price points for adults, students under age 18, and pre-K aged children; it includes admission to Dragons Love Tacos, Disney’s Finding Nemo JR., and the holiday show, Annie.
In addition to the exciting lineup, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre will also present a variety of Special Events to celebrate 100 years, including a free celebratory Block Party on Sunday, September 27, 2026, and an elegant gala at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park on Thursday, May 6. 2027. Details will be forthcoming.
For Centennial Season and Special Event sponsorship opportunities, contact Kimberly Vincent, Director of Development, at k.vincent@grct.org. To make a tax deductible contribution to Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, visit grct.org/donate.
The winning chili and chili dogs at the Puerto Vallarta Chili Cookoff come from Detroit-native Karl Grigg’s Uncle Daddy’s restaurant. The recipe is a product of his grandma. (Photo Courtesy, Patty Williams)
Michigander Karl Grigg’s Detroit-inspired chili took top prize at the 2026 Puerto Vallarta Chili Cookoff, with Uncle Daddy’s comfort street food winning both the “Peoples Choice” and “Best New Restaurant” categories.
His grandma’s recipe brought a taste of the Midwest to Mexico, and the crowd was hooked from the first bite.
“I was a little nervous going into the competition,” said Griggs, who opened Uncle Daddy’s last fall in Puerto Vallarta using Midwestern flavors. “I know they take this very seriously.”
Detroit-native Karl Griggs holding the top prize after winning the Puerto Vallarta Chili Cookoff. (Photo Courtesy, Patty Williams)
Uncle Daddy’s restaurant, named after the owner’s inspiring uncle, brought home the trophy and bragging rights. The winning chili and chili dogs are now a staple on the menu.
WKTV Contributor Patty Williams enjoys some samples at the Puerto Vallarta Chili Cookoff. (Photo Courtesy, Patty Williams)
