Community members are invited to learn more about a career with the Kentwood Police Department at a recruitment event Wednesday, Oct. 11.
The event will take place at the Kentwood Police Department, 4742 Walma Ave. SE, from 6 to 8 p.m. Individuals who attend will learn more about KPD’s sponsored police recruit position and other employment opportunities, connect with current team members, tour the department and more.
The event will include two one-hour informational sessions held at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. that will provide an overview about working for the department. Attendees only need to attend one of the sessions, which will cover the same information. Tours, networking and opportunities to learn more about specialized units at KPD will follow. Refreshments will be provided.
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
“We’re fortunate to have a department filled with passionate individuals who are committed to serving the Kentwood community,” Police Chief Litwin said. “We’re looking for more community members who have that heart for service and are looking to join a supportive, dynamic police department.”
The event will provide information about a variety of opportunities with KPD, with a special focus on the sponsored police recruit position. Through this unique position, KPD will provide selected applicants a full scholarship to attend the Grand Valley State University Police Academy or another approved police training program in spring 2024. No prior law enforcement experience is required to apply for this position.
Competitive pay, comprehensive health insurance, and more
Sponsored recruits receive competitive pay throughout the academy, comprehensive health insurance, life insurance, a 12% employer contribution to retirement, continuing education and training in addition to the academy sponsorship. Individuals who successfully complete the academy and other required certifications and training will be sworn in as patrol officers with the Kentwood Police Department.
No prior law enforcement experience required
No registration is required for the event and no prior law enforcement experience is necessary to attend.
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Individuals who are interested in working for KPD, but cannot attend the event should contact Recruitment Officer Ryan Smith at smithr@kentwood.us.
The City of Kentwood will once again provide a free leaf and brush drop-off service to residents this fall.
Beginning Saturday, Oct. 14, residents may drop off loose leaves, brush, sticks, tree limbs, logs and grass clippings free of charge at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE. If brought to the site in bags, leaves must be dumped out and bags disposed of in the trash. Bags cannot be left in the leaf pile.
This service is available for Kentwood residents only, and proof of residency is required. Residents can drop off items noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 2. The site will be closed Friday, Nov. 10 in observance of Veterans Day and Nov. 23-24 for Thanksgiving.
The following materials won’t be accepted
trash
paper and plastic bags
dirt
concrete
asphalt
tires
rocks
stones
construction materials
glass
metal
The burning of leaves and brush as well as the accumulation of debris and leaves on a property or in the right-of-way are prohibited in the city of Kentwood. The drop-off service provides residents with a convenient way to keep their yards clear of leaves and debris during the fall.
“Autumn is busy this time of year, especially with additional yard cleanup created by falling leaves,” said Chad Griffin, Department of Public Works director. “We’re proud to provide our community with this valuable service, which helps residents keep their yards clean and helps us keep roadways and storm drains clear to ensure our infrastructure runs efficiently.”
The drop-off site will reopen in the spring after closing for winter in December.
More information about the City of Kentwood’s leaf and brush drop-off service is available at kentwood.us/BrushLeafDropOff.
South Christian’s Carson Vis completed 11-of-13 passes for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He added 28 yards rushing and two touchdown runs. (Courtesy, Louis Murray)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
South Christian continued to roll in the OK Gold Conference as the Sailors defeated Cedar Springs 45-23 to run its conference record to 4-0.
South Christian finished the game with 400 yards total offense. Quarterback Carson Vis was nearly flawless throwing the ball as he completed 11-of-13 passes for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Jake Vermaas caught five passes for 98 yards and a score, while Noah Funk grabbed a pair of passes for 79 yards and a score. Sam Weiss caught two passes for 70 yards.
The Sailors struck early and often in the game as they scored more than 40 points for the third time in four conference games this season. South Christian scored the first points of the game on their opening possession when Vis connected with Funk on a 67-yard touchdown pass. Drew Bruinsma tacked on the point after giving the Sailors an early 7-0 lead.
South doubled the lead later in the opening quarter. This time the Sailors used the ground game to put points on the board as Jackson Haik broke loose for a 52-yard touchdown run. Bruinsma added the extra point for a 14-0 lead.
Cedar Springs got on the board with a 44-yard touchdown run from Dylan LaFontsee cutting the Sailor lead in half at 14-7.
The Sailor offense continued to churn out the points in the second quarter. Bruinsma began the scoring in the second quarter with a 23-yard field goal. Vis then ran for a touchdown from two yards out giving the Sailors a 24-7 lead after Bruinsma tacked on the extra point.
South Christian led 31-15 at halftime
The two teams wrapped up the first half exchanging touchdowns. Cedar Springs scored on a touchdown pass and added a two-point conversion. South Christian quickly answered that score when Jackson Haik returned the ensuing kickoff 93-yards for a touchdown giving South a 31-15 halftime lead.
South Christian’s Jake Vermaas caught five passes for 98 yards and a score, while Noah Funk caught a pair of passes for 79 yards and a score and Sam Weiss grabbed two passes for 70 yards. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
South Christian extended its lead to 38-15 in the third. The Sailor passing game provided the points when Vis hooked up with Vermaas on a 15-yard touchdown pass.
Cedar Springs added a score in the third quarter on a 22-yard touchdown run by Marek Oleneack. The Red Hawks tacked on the two-point conversion to cut the Sailor advantage to 38-23.
South Christian closed out the scoring in the fourth with a two-yard touchdown run by Vis.
On the ground, Haik carried the ball nine times for 94 yards and a touchdown. Vis added 28 yards rushing and two touchdown runs.
The Sailor defense was led by Benjamin Mulder who totaled 10 tackles and one tackle for loss. Luke DeJager added seven tackles, one quarterback sack and a pair of tackles for loss. Mitchell Lindhout and Austin Tiesma both added six tackles, while Tiesma added a sack and tackle for loss.
South Christian returns to action next Friday when it hosts Thornapple Kellogg for the WKTV Game of the Week before traveling to Catholic Central on Friday, Oct. 13 for the conference showdown with the league title possibly on the line.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.
Lee quarterback Anthony Blok passed for 310 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for another. (Courtesy, Shafi Subhan)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
In front of a large crowd of alumni and fans, including 65 former homecoming kings and queens, the Lee Legends outscored Eau Claire 38-24 on Saturday afternoon in 8-player football.
Junior quarterback Anthony Blok once again led the explosive Lee offense, throwing for 310 yards and four touchdowns and adding another on the ground. He used his speed to extend multiple drives as well.
The Beavers strike first
Eau Claire opened the game with a score on its first drive to grab a quick 8-0 lead.
“We started off slow,” said Lee Coach Lamar Marshall, whose team improved to 4-2 overall, 1-2 in the Southwest Michigan 8-Man Football League – Blue. “They jumped out ahead of us early in the game.”
On the final play of the first quarter, Blok connected deep with sophomore Aiden Merriweather to get to the one-yard line. The Legends couldn’t capitalize as Blok’s pass was tipped and intercepted in the end zone.
The Legends used multiple defensive stops to stave off the Beavers in the second quarter.
“We were able to hold them until the offense could get going,” Marshall said.
Legends heat up near halftime
Lee’s Clarence Lewis in an earlier game this season. (Courtesy, Diego Jeronimo)
The offense showed signs of life near the end of the first half as Clarence Lewis ripped off big gains and capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown run to tie the game 8-8 going into halftime.
Lewis finished with 94 yards rushing, 85 yards receiving and two scores.
“He’s everything to us,” said Marshall, of his senior running back. “He’s our emotional and vocal leader. The guy we lean on when we need a play.”
Big second half for Lee
The Legends exploded for 30 points in the second half.
Sophomore Aiden Merriweather was the favorite target for Blok on the afternoon, reeling in five catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Charles Davis collected 74 yards and a touchdown.
Strong defensive stand to finish
The Legends needed a defensive stand late in the fourth quarter and stuffed the Beavers on a 4th and 1 with 1:31 left on the clock.
“The 4th and 1 stop was huge for us,” Marshall said. “I felt like we grew up in this game as a coaching staff and a team.”
The Legends travel to New Buffalo (4-2) next Friday.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.
Godwin Heights junior quarterback Keion Beasley showed his arm strength and poise with touchdown passes of 53 and 46 yards. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
In a battle of winless teams, Godwin Heights used several big plays to cruise past Kelloggsville on homecoming night, 52-0, in the WKTV Game of the Week.
Penalties plagued the Rockets all game long, and it began on the opening kickoff as sophomore Nasyre Walker ran it back for a touchdown, but a holding penalty called it off.
The Wolverines would capitalize a few plays later with an interception by Miguel Ocampo, who also returned the opening kickoff of the second half 95 yards for a touchdown.
Senior Jeff Zelaya pounded one in for a seven-yard TD and later added a 28-yard touchdown on another run.
Godwin Heights running back Jeff Zelaya. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
Godwin Heights used tandem running backs to wear down the Rockets’ defense. Zelaya was joined in the backfield by sophomore Kares Harris, who rumbled for over 100 yards in the game.
“We are real tough to stop when we have both of them in the backfield,” said Godwin Coach Brandon Kimble of his running back duo.
Kelloggsville senior quarterback Jeremie Tsoumou was under duress for most of the game, and had one interception returned 85 yards by Godwin’s Patrick Knight.
“He’s out there trying,” said Kelloggsville Coach Brandon Branch. “That happens when you put the ball in the air; sometimes the other team comes up with it. I can’t fault him for trying to make something happen.
“Our mantra is to be undefeated against adversity. When adversity strikes, we keep getting after it. I think we were undefeated against adversity today.”
Godwin Heights junior quarterback Keion Beasley showed his arm strength and poise with touchdown passes of 53 and 46 yards.
“He’s a first-year starter, and he’s been working hard,” Kimble said. “We have missed a lot of key players, so he’s had to grow up fast.”
Kimble emphasized perseverance on his team.
“If you lose your job and you’re a husband and have kids, are you going to stop fighting? Or are you going to keep fighting?”
To cap off homecoming night, newly crowned king Armani Dedrick got into the end zone on a five-yard touchdown run.
Godwin Heights (1-5) travels to OK-Silver leading Belding (5-1) next Friday. Kelloggsville (0-6) hosts Hopkins (1-5).
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.
Check out our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights above, for clips of many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.
WKTV Game of the Week Remaining Schedule
Friday, Oct. 6 (7 p.m.) TK at South Christian (EK Falcon Stadium)
Friday, Oct. 13 (7 p.m.) Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Oct. 20 (7 p.m.) West Ottawa at East Kentwood
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, together with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Seamless Ventures, Southwest Airlines® and the West Michigan Aviation Academy, has announced the fourth cohort of companies that will receive more than $100,000 in grant funding through the Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship, or FLITE.
One of the first airport-based initiatives in the nation, FLITE provides funding to encourage the design, development and pilot testing of new products and services in a live airport environment. The five companies that will receive grant funding through this next round include:
Dataspeed Inc.: Autonomous research and development for vehicle integrations
DD DANNAR: A mobile power station with a multi-functional, zero-emissions, configurable platform for maintenance and emergency response needs
Numina: Computer vision system that applies a privacy-by-design framework
Signapse: AI technology that automatically translates written text to sign language via video
Volair Technologies Inc.: Flight perception technologies to support aviation operations and expand aerial mobility options
“FLITE continues to be a leading platform for new technologies in the aviation industry, and we’re excited to introduce the fourth cohort of companies testing their innovative solutions,” said Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Ford International Airport Authority. “This program is a collaborative effort with our partners to further enhance the guest experience and pursue advancements in the aviation industry.”
As Michigan’s lead advocate for business development, job awareness, and community development with a focus on growing the local economy, the MEDC provided grant funding to FLITE through the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, or OFME.
Dataspeed Inc. will engage in comprehensive research and exploration to develop an intuitive and highly efficient user interface specifically tailored for an automated airport service vehicle.
Dataspeed Inc. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
DD DANNAR is testing a mobile power station that can be configured for various maintenance tasks and serve as a mobile energy storage asset, capable of distributing power in a variety of ways.
DD DANNAR. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
Numina uses computer vision systems to detect movement in streets, curbs, places and open public space — without collecting personally identifiable information. Numina will deploy sensors at key curb locations around the Gerald R. Ford International Airport to generate automated and continuous multimodal traffic insights to increase cost savings and improve the guest experience.
Signapse utilizes AI technology that automatically translates written text into a sign language video. This technology will be used at the Ford International Airport to deliver real-time departure and disruption messages in American Sign Language for deaf and hard of hearing passengers.
“Having the support of a program like FLITE is invaluable to a start-up like ours,” said Leia Clancy, head of business development at Signapse. “The program enables us to develop a flagship case study for our AI technology, giving us an opportunity to grow our business in Michigan and beyond.”
Volair Technologies Inc. deploys on-aircraft sensor pods to collect in-flight imagery, positional and traffic data through routine flight school operation. This project will provide flight data for advancing aviation safety-enhancing perception systems.
To date, the Ford International Airport Authority has provided support to 19 companies through FLITE, awarding over $500,000 in grant funds across four rounds. The six core focus areas for new technology advancements through FLITE include:
Automation & Analytics: Improving operational efficiency and optimization of workforce and other resources through automation and analysis of data
Electrification & Sustainability: Switching fossil fuel vehicles and infrastructure to electrics and other decarbonization projects
Safety & Security: Strengthening passenger and worker safety and security throughout the airport campus
Door-to-Door & Terminal Guest Experience: Improving the efficiency of getting to and from the airport and improving the pre-boarding experience
Advancing Aviation: Exploring the enabling infrastructure and implications of emerging commercial aviation use cases
TeamAgar, from left, Jeff, Johnny and Becki Agar, were guest speakers at Kentwood’s Adaptive Recreation Programs fundraiser The Vibe on Sept. 14. (Courtesy, DK Photography)
Guest speaker Johnny Agar held everyone’s complete attention when it was his turn to take the mic at The Vibe fundraiser for Kentwood’s Adaptive Recreation Programs.
“On the road of life there are many mountains to climb, valleys to get lost in and rocky roads to forge through,” said Agar to the very attentive audience on Sept. 14. “I see you all as signposts helping others to their own finish line.”
Born with cerebral palsy, and who doctors thought would never walk, Agar continued, “I fail all the time, but to me failure is just part of the process. If I let that stop me, I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed every morning. Together, there’s no stopping what you can do.”
Check out our WKTV video of The Vibe fundraiser. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
Agar and his parents Jeff and Becki delivered many positive, inspirational messages to the audience at The Vibe, Kentwood’s Adaptive Recreation Programs fundraiser at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.
From marathons to motivational speakers … media outlets to TV commercials
Johnny, who uses a wheelchair, and his dad Jeff have competed in more than 200 races in various states, including multiple marathons, half marathons, 25Ks and more than 30 triathlons. They’ve also competed in six Ironman races where Jeff pulled Johnny 2.4 miles in a kayak, rode 112 miles on a custom tandem bike and pushed Johnny in a racing jogger during the marathon portion. In September 2022, TeamAgar completed their first full-distance Ironman in Maryland, where Johnny walked across the finish line.
“Featured on ESPN, NBC Nightly News, CBS Mornings, Today, and other media outlets, TeamAgar delivers a powerful moving message of family, faith and extraordinary courage. Their tenacity and indelible spirit have caught the attention of Olympic swimming great Michael Phelps and the sports apparel company Under Armour — so much so that UA placed them in two commercials: One with Phelps and the other with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.” TeamAgar are also accomplished motivational keynote speakers and authors. (Source, johnnyagar.com)
(Courtesy, TeamAgar)
(Courtesy, TeamAgar)
(Courtesy, TeamAgar)
(Courtesy, TeamAgar)
After the fundraiser, Johnny and his parents shared more with WKTV.
“Does no good to have my failures bring me down”
“I like to take life one step at a time and just stay even-keeled because it doesn’t do me any good to have my failures bring me down,” Johnny explained. “The highs can sometimes look a little different for me having cerebral palsy because to an able-bodied person they may be “miniature wins” — like learning to do an everyday task such as opening a candy wrapper or brushing my teeth by myself – but to me they are huge victories. Most people can do those things without even thinking, but for me it takes a lot of effort and a lot of patience.
“From the day I was very young, my parents never put any limitations on me. My parents have always made sure to go the extra mile for me to make sure I have the best life possible despite my challenges. To watch them in action work so hard to help me fulfill my goals – while setting theirs aside – makes me understand how hard I need to work to let them know how thankful I am for them.”
Becki said when Johnny was born, his premature birth really turned their world upside down.
“He was our first child and as a young couple we never anticipated having any complications with his birth,” she explained. “So, when the doctors told us he had cerebral palsy and would probably never walk or talk, we were pretty jolted. Our reality had to be shifted. However, our faith had taught us to lean on God and not our own understanding. We knew God had a bigger and better plan than we could have ever imagined for Johnny, and we had to trust in that plan.
“One of the greatest things that came out of the news that Johnny had cerebral palsy was that it strengthened our resolve to raise Johnny as a typical child and to love him no matter what he could or couldn’t do. It strengthened our faith because it made us realize that we aren’t as in control as we like to think we are, and it brought our family closer together so we could work on raising this little boy to believe in his possibilities.”
“I am so proud of the man he has become”
“Now when I see Johnny encouraging others, turning his cerebral palsy into a positive rather than a negative, and using it to help encourage others and motivate others, it makes me want to burst with happiness. I am so proud of the man he has become. What a blessing it is to be able to watch your son change the trajectory of people’s lives in a positive way.”
When raising Johnny, they decided to not make any excuses for him.
“We wanted to treat him as if he had no disability,” Jeff explained. “We weren’t in denial as we saw his challenges every day first-hand, so there was no getting away from it. We knew it would be hard for him, but we also knew life was going to be hard for him. I think that mentality helped him to believe in himself and place no limits on himself.
“Johnny has always seen himself doing things that most would have said couldn’t be done given his disability. I am really proud of the fact that he didn’t listen to any of the naysayers and kept focused on his goals.”
Watching him speak to thousands the greatest gift
“Along with that, he keeps a sense of humor and learns to roll with the punches. Now, to watch him speak to thousands of people all over the country, to help encourage them with their challenges, is one of the greatest gifts to watch as his dad.”
Favorite TeamAgar moment?
“One of our favorite moments of all our races was crossing the finish line at Ironman Maryland,” Becki said. “We put so much time and effort into making moments like that happen. With it being our first to finish, it will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley and his wife Susan watching the TeamAgar presentation at The Vibe fundraiser. (Courtesy, DK Photography)
Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said he was amazed with TeamAgar’s presentation and story.
“It’s just an amazing inspirational story that gives you the vision of what can be,” said Kepley, after Johnny and his parents spoke at The Vibe. “They just give that inspiration saying, ‘If we can do it, then you can, too.'”
Kepley had much to say about the Kentwood Adaptive Recreation program as well.
“I think it’s successful because of the people running it,” Kepley said. “They see a vision, they have a passion, and that passion manifests itself in a very special way. The staff takes it personally and that’s why it is special. That’s why it’s an incredible program and has a great reputation because of the staff, their heart, their vision and because of the empowerment that they give people who participate in the program.
“As a city, we take care of Kentwood residents, but the adaptive sports program is one of those things that goes much farther than our city limits. Because all of it is being sponsored by corporations, gifts or the fundraising, we’re able to swing the doors wide open to people wherever they’re coming from … Traverse City, Lansing, (even) Florida.”
The Vibe fundraiser “A big success”
“The event was a big success with 120 guests in attendance,” said Laura Barbrick, marketing and events coordinator for Kentwood Parks and Recreation. “We raised over $7,000 between the silent auction, live auction and giving wall. Thank you to everyone who came out to support our Adaptive Recreation programs.”
Money raised at this year’s event will help purchase new equipment for Kentwood’s many adaptive programs. These offerings include active sports such as archery, kayaking, rock climbing and water skiing as well as more relaxed activities like leisure club and social events.
Kentwood Recreation Program Coordinator Ann Przybysz. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
Kentwood recreation program coordinator Ann Przybysz said the wonderful thing about the adaptive programs is you don’t have to be a Kentwood resident to participate.
“We have people from all over West Michigan that come to participate in our programs,” Przybysz said. “A lot of people have been wanting things to do in their free time; healthy leisure opportunities, making new friends, seeing new places and just having a good time in the community.
“We serve people of all different diagnoses and abilities. We have a lot of individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities like autism, Down syndrome and we also serve people who have physical disabilities as well, maybe a spinal cord injury or spina bifida, people using wheelchairs.”
What’s the most popular program?
“Many of our programs are popular, but one of our big ones recently has definitely been our adaptive bowling program,” Przybysz said. “It’s a really positive social program that we’ve seen grow a lot. Also, our water sports programs are popular … water skiing and kayaking. Our adaptive recreation programs have been going on for 30 years and are very well established with the City of Kentwood.”
The adaptive water sports programs are popular at Kentwood Parks and Recreation. (Courtesy, DK Photography)
The emotional draw for employees
“I love getting to know the participants and their families, and hearing their stories and what lights up their lives,” Przybysz explained. “I love that we get to be a part of that … I love being able to touch peoples lives.”
Katelyn Bush, Kentwood recreation program coordinator, said it has been exciting and an honor to watch it grow, add new sports and buy new equipment.
Katelyn Bush, recreation program coordinator. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
“The people that come to our programs are from age five to well into their eighties; all ages and really all abilities. We have programs designed for all these different needs and it’s really fun to watch them succeed in whatever it is they’re doing.
“I think when you can find something that you’re passionate about and match it to a need in the world, that’s when you’ve truly made it. When you’re having fun doing your job and you’re serving others … that’s really satisfying and fun for me.”
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department provides Michigan’s most comprehensive adaptive recreation programming alongside several community partners, including Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan, Hope Network, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and more. Programs also are made possible thanks to the help of a strong volunteer network.
Programs are open to individuals of all abilities in Kentwood and beyond. Learn more about Kentwood’s adaptive programs and current offerings at kentwood.us/adaptive.
Emmanuel Hospice patient Rita Shaheen with her husband, Dan, on their lunch date. (Courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)
By Emmanuel Hospice
They both grew up in South Dakota, but lived in different towns. When they finally met as students at the University of South Dakota – he was studying business while she was studying education – he remembered her being “so dang popular” that he hesitated asking her out.
That was nearly 50 years ago, when Dan Shaheen never could have predicted all the joy which that engaging college student would give him over a lifetime of mutual sharing and caring. And then the bitter pill to swallow: dementia that enveloped Rita over the last few years, to a point where she has trouble with walking, talking, reading and other daily affairs of living. They eventually moved her into Clark Retirement at Franklin in January 2023 for additional support.
They’d both enjoyed successful careers – Rita as a special education instructor mostly with Forest Hills schools. She retired in 2017 and the medical journey began shortly after that. Dan served as a vice president for Meijer, Inc. until retiring early in 2011, then worked part time several years delivering flowers.
He was skeptical about considering hospice care for Rita until a few months ago, when a doctor asked what he wanted for his wife.
“To keep her comfortable, out of the hospital and receiving the best care possible,” he answered.
In that moment, it was clear: Hospice would serve as a gift.
“How do you want to live?”
They chose Emmanuel Hospice for its overall commitment to patients and their loved ones, caring culture and complementary therapies designed to engage the senses and create unique, joyful experiences for both the patient and their loved ones. The nonprofit always begins with the question, “How do you want to live?” as the starting point for a dialogue that focuses on making every moment matter.
When a counselor gently asked Dan whether there was something special he might like to provide for Rita, he reminisced about their favorite pastimes.
A boat ride around the lake where they still had a cottage came to mind at first, but seemed difficult to achieve since Rita relied largely on a wheelchair and was at risk of another seizure. Similar concerns came with his other ideas.
And so the counselor suggested, “How about a luncheon for two?” and Dan thought it was perfect.
It’s standard protocol at Emmanuel, where granting patient wishes is an important touchstone and part of their culture in answering “How do you want to live your life?”
“We’ll do our best to make things happen”
“As part of that answer, we often hear patients wish for things,” says Bereavement Coordinator Katie Mayberry. “We’ll do our best to make things happen, whether it’s someone still capable of taking a trip or simple things that connect them to their past, their loved ones and their friends.
“We’re grateful when businesses and others in the community step up with donations to help out.”
And so, Emmanuel Hospice reserved the Emily Clark room at the facility Rita had moved into six months ago. Rita wore a pretty dress of blue and white with a dainty collar. She had her hair done and wore a little makeup and “looked like a million bucks,” Dan said.
Before they dined, two musical therapists, Miranda Eden and Ashley Sherwood, from Emmanuel performed songs by John Mayer and Kacey Musgraves.
Rose’s restaurant on Reeds Lake provided their catered lunches. She nibbled on a margherita pizza and Dan enjoyed walleye. Afterward, they feasted on hot fudge sundaes brought in from Jersey Junction.
Dan sat on her left. He worked Rita’s fork for her. He leaned in to wipe her chin, smiled and managed some laughs. He whispered that he loved her, and how he meant it from his own heart and the hearts of their three children, Michael, Kelly and Kaley.
And even though it wasn’t a wish steeped in drama or faraway travel or fireworks, he told her this was enough. Choking back tears, he said it was “just nice being close.”
He held the hand of the girl who nearly got away, but ended up marrying the guy willing to bide his time. Afterward, Dan brought her back to her room and sat with Rita while she peacefully took her usual afternoon nap, leaving that day with a memory that will be remembered and cherished forever.
The City of Kentwood is inviting community members to enjoy glow-themed fun at its Glow in the Park event on Saturday, Oct. 7.
This year’s event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, 355 48th St. SE. It will feature a variety of glow-themed activities, including light-up games, crafts, a dance party, costume contest, fun run/walk, food and more. Attendees are encouraged to wear glow in the dark and brightly colored clothing and accessories.
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
“We’re looking forward to gathering with the community to get our shine on at this special fall event,” said Ann Przybysz, recreation program coordinator. “We have a wide variety of glow-themed activities planned that will ensure a bright and fun night for all.”
The event begins at 7 p.m. with registration followed by the fun run/walk at 7:30. Participants can choose to do either a quarter mile or 1-mile run or walk along a park path that will be lit up with colorful lights and glow sticks. Following the race, community members can enjoy a glow dance party and a costume contest at 8 p.m.
Bounce house, music, light-up playground games and more
Light-up playground games and crafts, a bounce house, music and snacks will be available throughout the event, which will conclude at 9 p.m.
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
General admission for the event is $5 and includes glow supplies. For an additional $15, individuals also can get an event T-shirt that glows in the dark.
Sponsors for the event are Metronet, National Heritage Academies, Sinclair Recreation and Floor & Décor.
On an unseasonably hot night, the Union Redhawks used five touchdown runs to pull away from Wyoming to grab a 47-23 win at the WKTV Game of the Week Friday.
Union started the scoring with a 60-yard strike from quarterback Ja’Quari Tyler to Christopher Murphy-Ware on its first drive.
Wyoming answered back with a long drive capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by Jack TerVeen, who missed last week’s game at Zeeland East with an ankle injury.
“He’s a blue-collar guy,” said Wyoming Coach Carlton Brewster of his running back.
Union running back Jesse Phillips led the charge for the Redhawks as he ran in four scores. Tyler ended the night with a pair of touchdown passes.
Wyoming (0-5) looks for its first win of the season as they travel to Mona Shores
Take a look inside at highlights from the Legends game with the Lakers, plus many more local clips. (Videographers: Hayden Passig, Eli Mutula, Jake Westbrook)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
The Lee Legends football team hooked up for a thriller with St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Friday in a contest that came down to the final play. That final play didn’t go Lee’s way, however, as the Lakers came away with a 38-36 victory.
“We had a chance to score from our 50 on fourth and six,” Lee Coach Lamar Marshall said. “They (Our Lady of the Lake) made a great play to stop us before the first down.”
Our Lady of the Lake took the initial lead in the game and managed to stay ahead of Lee the entire game.
“They were ahead the entire game,” Marshall said. “They onside kicked the opening kickoff and recovered it.”
Our Lady of the Lake stayed ahead of the Legends thanks to a big effort from their quarterback.
“Their quarterback was really solid,” Marshall said. “We did everything to stop him. We gang-tackled him and he just kept moving forward. He made plays when they absolutely needed it and ultimately scored the game-winning conversion late in the third quarter.”
Lee solid on offense
Lee stayed close to the Lakers thanks to a strong performance from its offense. The Legends, who entered the game averaging 43.5 points per game, put together a solid offensive effort. The onside kick by Our Lady of the Lake proved to be a big boost of momentum early.
“It’s an extremely disappointing loss,” Marshall said. “We felt like we had a great week of practice. The opening kickoff was huge for them. They were able to gain momentum early.”
Defensively, Lee faced a difficult challenge as the Laker offense came up big.
“I told my guys after the game, we have to put four quarters together,” Marshall said. “We have to get off the field on third down. We have to know the game plan and execute the game plan. All in all, I was happy with how we played.”
With the win, Our Lady of the Lake improved to 2-3 for the season. Lee fell to 3-2 overall after coming into the game off a 42-30 win against Grand Rapids Sacred Heart.
Lee returns to action next week against an Eau Claire team that has a 2-3 record. The Legends are looking to continue the steady improvement they are making this season in what should be a competitive contest.
“This was a learning experience for myself and my team,” Marshall said. “We’re still learning how to win, practice the right way and execute. I will say, we fought until the end. We played extremely hard even though we were down our starting corner (who was out with illness).”
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back!
Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’re bringing you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlighting some top performers and their stats, posting final scores, and giving a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.
As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well.
You don’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!
Check out our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights above, for clips of many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream.
WKTV Game of the Week Remaining Schedule
Friday, Sept. 29 (7 p.m.) Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights
Friday, Oct. 6 (7 p.m.) TK at South Christian (EK Falcon Stadium)
Friday, Oct. 13 (7 p.m.) Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Oct. 20 (7 p.m.) West Ottawa at East Kentwood
At approximately 11:54 a.m., officers from the Kentwood Police Department, Kent County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police responded to a residence in the 5800 block of Christie Avenue in Kentwood. A caller inside the home stated that a family member fired a shot at him while inside the residence.
One family member was able to exit the home prior to police arrival. The victim and suspect were still inside the home when police units arrived on the scene. Officers surrounded the home and made contact with both persons that were still inside. The suspect surrendered without incident and was arrested. Shortly after, the victim was able to exit the residence. No one was injured during this incident. There is no further threat to the public.
An adult male resident of the home was arrested on an assault charge and was transported to the Kent County Correctional Facility pending charges.
The Kentwood Police Department continues to investigate this incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentwood Police Department Detective Bureau at 616-656-6604. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or SilentObserver.org.
Physical therapist Peter Vander Weide (right) is working with participant Anwar on steps in the extensive rehab gym at Care Resources. (Courtesy, Care Resources)
By Care Resources
It happens in the blink of an eye.
And before you know it, you’re part of the club to which nobody wants to belong: someone who’s suffered a fall.
At Care Resources, physical therapist Steve Vanderkamp knows only too well how quick and dangerous it can be for older adults living in their homes to incur falls, some of which land people in the hospital – or worse.
“It happens more often than people think, or would like,” he says, noting that people 55 years and older especially are more likely to suffer a fall because their capacities are diminishing – vision, reaction time, strength, flexibility and cognition.
Data from multiple sources confirms one in five falls results in a serious injury, and that yearly, some three million older adults visit U.S. emergency rooms to be treated for falls. More than 75% of falls occur at or close to home, but according to Vanderkamp, some of those can be avoided by taking preventive measures.
What follows are considerations he says can make all the difference:
Make the light right. Too many older adults don’t have adequate lighting in place, especially at night, when they’re prone to visit the bathroom. As an inexpensive safety measure, leave a light on, or use on a night light or motion-sensor light. Also, don’t travel dark areas where you might trip on clutter – books, magazines, toys, trash – where a well-placed light might otherwise illuminate.
Clear pathways. Again, rid pathways of clutter. Avoid decorating with throw rugs, which are likely to bunch up and cause a trip. And by all means, don’t lay electrical cords across travel areas. Instead, route cords behind furniture and secure them along walls.
Add safety measures to stairs and steps. Don’t skimp on strong stair railings, wherever you have steps. To differentiate stairs from landings, put some strong, brightly colored tape at those transitions.
Be mindful of beds and baths, too. Consider grab bars in shower and tub areas, and next to toilets. Invest in a bathtub bench that extends over the edge of the tub and onto the adjacent floor, so you can sit and pivot out of the tub. Using a hand-held shower head can make it easier to stay seated while showering. Resort to a non-skid rug to soak up water as you exit the tub or shower.
In the bedroom, keep a lamp handy next to your bed. And even though those satin sheets and sleepwear might feel nice, they can be slippery and contribute to a fall while attempting to stand.
Use walking aids. If you have poor balance, don’t be too proud to use a cane or walker, and keep it handy. “I talk to some people until I’m blue in the face about the need for them to use their walker,” Vanderkamp says. People often resort to risky furniture or “wall walking,” placing their hands there to assist in locomotion.
It’s also a good idea to assess your entire property – what’s risky in the garage or other outbuildings, as well as sidewalks, decks and anywhere else you walk. During winter, take extra precautions to keep walkways clear and dry of ice and snow.
As for ladders and step stools, use with extreme caution. Where you have cupboards, arrange it so items you use most often are between hip level and eye level, reducing your need to bend down or elevate yourself.
Assistance with fall prevention is a service provided by Care Resources as a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, which is funded by Medicare and Medicaid. If you’re worried about you or a loved one falling, call Care Resources at 616-913-2006 or visit CareResources.org to learn more.
Lee quarterback Anthony Blok accounted for five touchdowns; four in the air and one on the ground. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
The Lee Legends welcomed fans to their first home game of the season with a 42-30 victory over a program-building Sacred Heart team.
Junior quarterback Anthony Blok accounted for five touchdowns. He passed for 253 yards and four touchdowns and added 43 yards and a score on the ground.
“He’s getting guys to understand the offense,” Lee Coach Lamar Marshall said about his QB. “He gets guys in the right position.”
Senior running back Clarence Lewis had touchdown catches of 59 and 48 yards on the night en route to 143 yards from scrimmage.
Big night for Lee’s Charles Davis
The Legends produced two touchdowns from greater than 60 yards, both coming from junior wide receiver Charles Davis.
Davis wrangled in his only catch of the night on a 63-yard strike from Blok. Davis also took the second half kickoff 70 yards for a score.
First varsity game for Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart was participating in its first varsity football game in program history, as they played junior varsity teams the past two weeks in their inaugural season.
Falcons claw back
The Falcons were down 42-6 in their first foray into varsity life, but showed grit and determination to close the deficit to 12 at the final gun.
“We are grateful to have the opportunity to play this great game,” Sacred Heart Coach Joe Hyland said. “Lee was the very first school to agree to play us, and we look forward to building a fantastic competitive relationship with Lee.”
Sacred Heart started the scoring on their first drive of the game. Joseph Hyland threw a downfield bullet to a wide-open Patrick Fickell to make it 6-0.
42 unanswered points
Lee scored 42 unanswered points until the second-half outburst by Sacred Heart to make it 42-30.
Senior defensive lineman Isaac Delgado wreaked havoc on the defensive side of the ball all game long for the Legends, along with Jaden Potts and Jayden Pena.
“We have to do a better job finishing games,” Marshall said. “We have to work on tackling and rallying to the ball.”
The Legends (3-1) host St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake next Friday.
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back!
Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’ll bring you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.
As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well.
You won’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!
It was a case of déjà vu all over again, but this time the ball bounced the right way for the South Christian football team in its OK Gold tussle Friday against Forest Hills Eastern as the Sailors came away with a 32-29 victory.
Two weeks ago, the Sailors came up on the wrong end of a Hail Mary pass play at the end of the game when East Grand Rapids tossed a 30-yard touchdown on the final play of the game for the win. In Friday’s game against Forest Hills Eastern, the contest again came down to the last play with Eastern attempting to win the game with a pass. This time, the Sailor secondary knocked the pass down preserving the win.
Final play goes South Christian way this time
“The game came down to another Hail Mary situation,” South Christian Coach Danny Brown said. “Before this year I’ve never coached a game where it came down to a Hail Mary pass at the end and this year, I’ve had two in three weeks. It was with five seconds to go at about the same spot on the field as the East Grand Rapids game. This time we made the play and knocked the ball down.”
The final defensive play put the capper on a game that saw the Sailor defense come up with a number of big plays and the offense continuing to put points on the scoreboard. The game also was a struggle throughout between an Eastern squad that came in with a 3-0 record and a 2-1 Sailor team.
“It was a great high school game between two very good teams,” Brown said. “Both teams played very well and competed hard all game. They (Eastern) were able to control the ball and put together some long drives and that put a strain on our defense.
“We were able to score in a hurry and that also put a strain on our defense. We made a few adjustments at halftime and I think our defense did a great job of executing in the second half.”
Eastern utilized its ground game to control the time of possession in the game. The Hawks also piled up 335 yards on the ground.
Both teams traded touchdowns in a first quarter that ended in a 14-all tie. Eastern scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, while the Sailors countered with a pair of touchdown passes from Carson Vis, who connected with Sam Weiss on a 67-yard touchdown pass for South’s first score. He then tossed a six-yard strike to Jackson Haik for the second Sailor touchdown.
South took a 20-14 lead early in the second quarter when Charlie Schreur broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run. Forest Hills Eastern then countered with a 13-yard touchdown run by Mark Fuehrer to go up 21-20.
Sailors led 26-21 at halftime
South regained the lead later in the second quarter when Vis hooked up with Jake Vermaas for a 67-yard touchdown pass that put the Sailors up 26-21 at halftime.
Forest Hills Eastern mounted another scoring drive in the third quarter. Mark Fuehrer capped the drive for the Hawks with a 13-yard touchdown run. Eastern also tacked on a two-point conversion to take a 29-26 lead.
South scored what proved to be the game-winning points later in the third quarter. That was when Vis capped the scoring drive with a 10-yard touchdown run giving the Sailors a 32-29 lead.
From there, the South Christian defense shut the door to the end zone on the Hawks. Ben Mulder led the defensive charge for South with nine tackles and one assist for the game, while Luke DeJager had five tackles and one assist. Tyler Brinks added a sack and Cam VanSolkema had a tackle for loss.
“Ben Mulder had a great game at inside linebacker for us,” Brown said. “Cam VanSolkema also had a real game on the defensive line. We ended up playing a lot of guys on defense during the game. It was probably the largest rotation of guys on defense since I’ve been here.
“It was a collective effort from our defense. Everybody was getting reps and everybody was making plays.”
South Christian senior Jake Vermaas caught four passes for 106 yards and a score. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
Carson Vis completed 10-of-16 passes for 204 yards and three TDs
Offensively, the Sailors combined the passing of Vis with some big production from the ground game. Vis finished the game completing 10-of-16 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns. Vermaas caught four passes for 106 yards and a score. Vis also completed passes to Tanner Raak, Noah Funk, Haik, Weiss and Schreur as the Sailor passing game shared the wealth.
Schreur led the running game with 105 yards rushing on seven carries, while Vis added 69 yards rushing.
“It was great to see how ecstatic the kids were at the end,” Brown said. “They left it all out on the field. All you can ask is that the kids leave it all out on the field and they did that. I was happy for them to come out with the win.”
With the win, the Sailors improved to 3-1 for the season. They return to action next week when they head to Ottawa Hills for an OK Gold matchup.
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back!
Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’ll bring you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.
As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well.
You won’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!
Check out our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights above, for clips of many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream.
WKTV Game of the Week Truck Schedule
Friday, Sept. 22 (7 p.m.) Union at Wyoming
Friday, Sept. 29 (7 p.m.) Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights
Friday, Oct. 6 (7 p.m.) TK at South Christian (EK Falcon Stadium)
Friday, Oct. 13 (7 p.m.) Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Oct. 20 (7 p.m.) West Ottawa at East Kentwood
Check out our WKTV highlights from host Tri-unity Christian’s 38-22 win over Our Lady of the Lake Catholic in 8-player football Friday.
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back!
Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’ll bring you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.
As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well.
You won’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!
“Sweeney Todd” is a Sondheim Masterpiece. It is a highly challenging project that is haunting, powerful and thrilling. Go see Circle Theatre’s production running now through September 23.
In my opinion, I have never heard some of the most beautiful voices in community theater on one stage. Ever. It is not one to miss.
Let’s set the scene: An infamous tale, “Sweeney Todd,” (played by Cory Schutter) an unjustly exiled barber, returns to nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge (Nate Reynolds) who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, (Emily Diener) a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which he opens a new barber practice with the closest shave in town. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of a special ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up and dying for. The carnage has only just begun!
Sweeney Todd (played by Cory Schutter) and Mrs. Lovett (Emily Diener). (Courtesy, Circle Theatre)
The musical first appeared on Broadway in 1979 and was categorized by Sondheim as a “dark operetta.” That means a huge percentage of the score — probably about 80 percent — and storytelling is sung throughout.
And where does one find the voices in West Michigan to handle this challenging music that needs a very highly skilled cast?
Kudos to directors Carrie McNulty and Scott Patrick Bell for doing just that. There is not one ordinary voice onstage. All are extraordinary. No weak links. Each and every role is gorgeously sung in perfect characterization. The cast members are worthy of being in the Broadway talent pool. Sure, I am gushing, but the range of voices and challenges of the music leads to such a theatrical and glorious treat to experience by an immensely talented cast. A definite treat for the ears.
Cory Schutter: “much variety and intensity … and impeccable singing”
Cory Schutter, taking on the role of Sweeney Todd, does so in a vicious, desperate and intimidating manner. At the same time, he was both vulnerable and volatile. There was much variety and intensity in his performance and he sang impeccably.
A “wow factor” in Emily Diener’s voice
Emily Diener portrays Mrs. Lovett with such delightful charm, charisma and humor. She mastered the craft with her comedic timing. Such a wow factor in her voice with so many challenging songs to portray.
Sweeney Todd’s daughter Johanna, played by Maddie Vanderwell, has an angelic voice. A soprano voice with a beautiful lightness and wonder that perfectly matched her innocence. I was in awe of her talents. She dueted so effectively with young sailor Anthony Hope played by Alex Weiss.
It is very difficult to find a young boy with a soprano range to take on the role of Tobias Ragg. Directors gave the role to Meaghan Gietzen, who proved extremely believable with great depth to portray this important role. Witnessing her descent into madness was chilling.
I appreciated being in an intimate theater setting that Circle Theatre provides on Aquinas College’s campus. Being up close and personal to hear every piece of sung and spoken dialect, experience the lighting design of Catherine Marlett Dreher and see the costume details provided by costume designer Jess Luiz was captivating. The staging of when Todd kills his clients and then sends their bodies directly through a chute into the pie shop’s bakehouse was always done effectively. Perfectly timed out.
Sometimes the actors were blocked to use the aisles of the theater to come onstage and then they got very close to us through inventive direction — making it feel so intimate and intense.
It was a challenge brilliantly handled by cast and crew of the final production of the season. Go see “Sweeney Todd.” For more info: circletheatre.org.
Two of the founders of the Community Cat Crew, J.J. LaBelle (left) with Manchego and Kendi Helmus with Shiner Bock. Both kittens are bottle-babies. (Courtesy Photo)
By Janet Vormittag
WKTV Contributor
One of the goals of the Community Cat Crew is to stop spring from being known as kitten season.
Five women founded the cat rescue and advocacy group in January 2022. The director is Kendi Helmus of Hudsonville, but she doesn’t want to take credit for starting the group.
“I told her if she tackled it I’d be her right-hand woman,” said J.J. LaBelle who lives in Eastown. “We wouldn’t have done it without her. She had the passion and we supported her.”
Other founders include Trish Keyzer and her daughter Syd Keyzer of Grandville and Erin O’Keefe of Jenison.
“We share the workload,” Helmus said. Each woman works with a network of foster homes in her area and works to find homes for the cats and kittens in their care.
“We have kittens in homes from Sparta to Zeeland,” LaBelle said. The group has close to 25 foster homes. The group became a 501(c)3 in April 2023.
Two meanings
Helmus explained that the group’s name has two meanings. First, they’re dealing with community cats — outside cats who have no owners, the community is their home. Second, they want to educate people in the community about the importance of getting the cats spayed/neutered to stop the birth of unwanted litters of kittens.
“Eighty percent of kittens in shelters come from community cats,” Helmus said.
Spring is kitten season
Anyone involved in cat rescue soon learns that spring is when rescues and shelters are overwhelmed with kittens.
“It took years to educate people to fix their personal cats. Our mission is to educate people to fix community cats,” LaBelle said.
Before starting Community Cat Crew, the women volunteered for local rescue groups.
Their focus is TNVR, trap-neuter-vaccine-return. They live-trap outside cats and have them spayed/neutered and vaccinated before returning them to where they were caught. If the cats are friendly they place them in foster homes and find them new homes. If they come across kittens, they’re also placed in foster homes where they can be socialized before being put up for adoption.
Helmus’ passion is trapping cats. She got her start in rescue when as a teenager she found a litter of kittens and snuck them into her bedroom closet. When she showed one to her mother, she learned the kitten had fleas. Her parents soon discovered she had a closet full of flea infested kittens. She was allowed to keep one kitten who she named Gus.
“He was my first rescue kitty,” she said.
With a husband and three children, Helmus’ time is precious. Part of what she does for the group is record keeping.
“I’m a spreadsheet queen,” she said with a laugh.
LaBelle loves to care for bottle babies — newborns who don’t have a mother. “They’re my passion,” she said. She falls in love with each one of them, but knows they’re only with her temporarily. “I’m a huge believer that goodbye is the goal,” she said, but she admits saying goodbye to kittens she raised is bittersweet. “They go and it makes room for new residents.”
LaBelle grew up on a farm and taming feral barn kittens was an ongoing passion. When she was older she spent two years transporting close to 100 cats and kittens from her mother’s farm in the Upper Peninsula to Grand Rapids to get them spayed/neutered and rehomed.
She usually has 12 to 18 fosters plus a dozen or more bottle babies.
“For six months I don’t sleep,” she said.
She works at Schmidt”s Animal Hospital in Walker and can bring the babies to work to care for them.
Funded through adoption fees and fundraising
The group is funded through adoption fees and fundraising. “TNVR is expensive and you’re not getting a return, but it has to be done,” Helmus said.
Members of the group attend various events including farmer’s markets to educate people about the importance of spaying and neutering community cats and to sell craft items to raise funds. This year they’ve partnered with GR8 Food Trucks to staff their beer tent at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids.
One of their needs is volunteers to staff events and to make items they can sell. They also would appreciate monthly donors.
“A small commitment on a monthly basis — something we can count on — makes the work a little easier,” LaBelle said. They also have an Amazon Wish List.
Last year, which is the year the group started, the women TNR’d 93 cats and had 140 adoptions. Their goal was to double those number in 2023. At the end of July they had trapped 93 cats and had close to 180 adoptions.
“We’re moving in the right direction, but we have a long way to go before spring isn’t considered kitten season,” LaBelle said.
For more information or to contact the Community Cat Crew: admin@communitycatcrew.org, www.communitycatcrew.org. You can also follow them on Facebook.
After a long summer break our WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back!
Check out the above video for highlights of all the local high school football games in Kentwood and Wyoming from Friday night. WKTV attended all the local games in our viewing area to get these clips just for you.
We were at Kenowa Hills vs. South Christian (the WKTV Game of the Week), East Kentwood at Hudsonville, Wyoming at Zeeland West, Kelloggsville at Comstock Park, Godwin Heights at Sparta and Lee at Tri-unity.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream.
WKTV Game of the Week Truck Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 31 (7 p.m.) Byron Center at East Kentwood
Friday, Sept. 8 (7 p.m.) Kenowa Hills at South Christian (EK Falcon Stadium)
Friday, Sept. 15 (7 p.m.) Grand Rapids Sacred Heart at Lee
Friday, Sept. 22 (7 p.m.) Union at Wyoming
Friday, Sept. 29 (7 p.m.) Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights
Friday, Oct. 6 (7 p.m.) TK at South Christian (EK Falcon Stadium)
Friday, Oct. 13 (7 p.m.) Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Oct. 20 (7 p.m.) West Ottawa at East Kentwood
The Tri-Unity Defenders forced multiple turnovers and stood stout on a late fourth quarter drive to give Lee their first loss of the season in a 28-24 nail-biter on Friday night.
The Legends got off to an early 18-0 lead before the Defenders put up their first score shortly before halftime.
Lee controlled the Defender’s defense with the run game as Clarence Lewis rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Lewis also caught two balls for 80 yards.
A week after throwing a school-record seven touchdown passes, Legends quarterback Anthony Blok threw for 143 yards and one touchdown and added 77 and a score on the ground.
The key turning points in the game were two costly interceptions by Blok. The first one was caught by Tri-unity’s Zach Tuinstra as he dragged a host of Legends for a couple of yards afterward. Trey Rillema would add the second interception later on.
Tri-unity Coach Tim Heath noted though they came in with an 0-2 record, he has a good football team.
“We believe that we are a good football team,” Heath said. “We played a great Marcellus team and a NorthPointe Christian team that is almost four times our size. We just needed to keep the faith and execute. It was shaky at first, but a great night for our team.”
Quarterback Vergel Heath led the Defenders.
“It really starts with our QB Vergel Heath,” Coach Heath said. “He came out determined towards the end of the second quarter and started to run physically. This sparked us.”
The Defenders also used a fourth-quarter fumble to score what would be the game-winning touchdown. The touchdown drive was led by Defenders backup quarterback Clayton Rowlader as he relieved starter Heath after an injury.
Game ends with Defenders stopping Lee near goal line
The game’s final drive started at the Lee 27-yard line with over six minutes left. The Legends controlled the clock and got to the Defenders 8-yard line with less than a minute remaining to set up the game’s final play. On fourth-and-4, the Legends came up a yard short to end the game.
“Mistakes killed us tonight,” said Lee Coach Lamar Marshall. “Penalties, two interceptions, mental mistakes. Ball security and execution. We had a bad week of practice; a few guys were dinged up. We lost our starting safety Jaden Potts to a concussion.”
Coach Heath: “Hats off to Lee”
“They are greatly improved and played tough,” added Heath, who also coached at Lee from 2008-09. “They were great. We just made plays down the stretch.”
Tri-unity (1-2) hosts St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic next week, while the Legends (2-1) host Grand Rapids Sacred Heart in the WKTV Game of the Week.
The South Christian offense lines up against the Kenowa Hills defense during Friday’s OK Gold season opener. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
A week after suffering a stinging non-conference defeat to East Grand Rapids on the final play of the game, the South Christian Sailors opened OK Gold Conference play in a big way with a 49-28 victory against Kenowa Hills.
South Christian struck fast and struck big against the Knights with a dazzling display of offense. The Sailors wasted little time in shaking off any lingering effects of last Friday’s loss to East as Charlie Schreur returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown giving South a 7-0 lead just seconds into the game.
“I think the big thing was to just move on and get back to work,” South Christian Coach Danny Brown said. “We just had to get back to the basics. We had to focus on the things that we can control and move on from that game. This is a resilient group and they did everything we asked of them this week.”
Tied at 7 early
Although the Sailors grabbed the early lead, the young Kenowa Hills squad came to play and came at South the full 48 minutes. Kenowa tied the game midway through the first quarter when it capitalized on a South Christian turnover deep in Sailor territory to knot it at 7-7.
South quickly regained the lead on the next possession when quarterback Carson Vis hooked up with Jake Vermaas on a 17-yard scoring pass that capped a five-play, 60-yard drive.
Vis to Vermaas clicking
The Vis to Vermaas connection clicked the entire game. Vis, who entered the game completing 77 percent of his passing attempts, turned in another stellar performance as he completed 14-of-19 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns.
Vermaas, who entered the game with 10 receptions for 247 yards this season, added to that total by hauling in eight passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns. Together, the Vis to Vermaas connection has accounted for six touchdown passes through the first three games of the season.
“I think that it helps that they play a lot of sports together,” Brown said. “Whether it’s football or basketball, they compete in different sports together and they have formed a natural quarterback/wide receiver connection.”
While Vermaas has developed into the top target for Vis, the Sailor junior quarterback has plenty of other options to go to. Jackson Haik hauled in three passes for 113 yards against the Knights, while Noah Funk caught two balls for 43 yards and Sam Weiss two receptions for 31.
Sophomore quarterback Kayd Coffman also got in on the action as he completed two of his three passes for 51 yards.
On the ground, Schreur carried the ball six times for 38 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns.
Up 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, South Christian added to its lead with a pair of second quarter touchdowns. Those scores came on 25 and seven-yard touchdown passes from Vis to Vermaas.
South stretched the lead to 35-7 midway through the third quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Scheur.
Kenowa cuts the margin
Kenowa battled back and answered with a pair of touchdowns of its own to cut the margin to 35-21 before Vis hooked up with Haik on an 80-yard touchdown pass giving the Sailors a 42-21 lead. The two teams then traded touchdowns in the final minutes of the game.
Cam VanSolkema leads defense
Defensively, South Christian senior defensive lineman Cam VanSolkema led with three tackles, three assisted tackles and two tackles for a loss.
The South Christian defense huddles up with coaches on the sidelines during Friday’s game against Kenowa Hills. Cam VanSolkema (77) led the Sailors on defense. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“South Christian football is going on its 59th year or so and Cam is the first player to be a four-year varsity starter,” Brown said. “Obviously, he has a ton of experience. He put in a lot of hard work in the off-season. He is a really strong player and has great fundamentals and technique and knows how to play with his hands.”
The Sailors defense also received strong efforts from Tyler Brinks with five tackles, two assists, a sack and one tackle for loss, Ben Mulder, four tackles, four assists and one tackle for loss, Austin Tiesma, three tackles, three assists and one tackle for loss and Vermaas with an interception.
With the win, the Sailors improved to 2-1 for the season, and return to action next week when they head to 3-0 Forest Hills Eastern.
The City of Kentwood is inviting community members of all ages to The Vibe, an annual celebration and fundraiser to enhance the city’s adaptive recreation programs set for Thursday, Sept. 14.
The tropical backyard party will run from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. It will include food, cocktails, live music, a silent auction, adaptive equipment displays and more.
The evening also will feature guest speakers Johnny and Jeff Agar, who compete as TeamAgar. Johnny, who has cerebral palsy, and his father Jeff are a father-son team who compete in endurance races together. Jeff helps Johnny until the last mile when Johnny gets up and walks across the finish line with his walker.
Jeff Agar (far left), son Johnny Agar (middle) and wife/mom Becki. (Courtesy, TeamAgar)
Father-Son team have competed in more than 200 races
Johnny, who uses a wheelchair, and his dad have competed in more than 200 races in various states, including multiple marathons, half marathons, 25Ks and more than 30 triathlons. They’ve also competed in six Ironman races where Jeff pulled Johnny 2.4 miles in a kayak, rode 112 miles on a custom tandem bike and pushed Johnny in a racing jogger during the marathon portion. In September 2022, TeamAgar completed their first full-distance Ironman in Maryland, where Johnny walked across the finish line.
“Johnny Agar and his team have achieved incredible things and serve as an example of the great impact adaptive recreation can have for an individual and a community,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood parks and recreation director. “We are delighted to have Johnny share his story and give community members a chance to learn more about the power of adaptive recreation.”
Community members are encouraged to dress casually for the event. Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased online at kentwoodvibe.com or by calling 616-656-5270 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
Money raised at this year’s event will help purchase new equipment for Kentwood’s many adaptive programs. These offerings include active sports such as archery, kayaking, rock climbing and water skiing as well as more relaxed activities like leisure club and social events.
“The City of Kentwood is pleased to offer a wide range of activities with something for all interests and abilities,” said Ann Przybysz, Kentwood’s recreation program coordinator. “These programs give individuals an opportunity to safely participate in activities in an adapted way, allowing them to build connections, confidence and new skills along the way.”
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department provides Michigan’s most comprehensive adaptive recreation programming alongside several community partners, including Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan, Hope Network, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and more. Programs also are made possible thanks to the help of a strong volunteer network.
Programs are open to individuals of all abilities in Kentwood and beyond. Learn more about Kentwood’s adaptive programs and current offerings at kentwood.us/adaptive.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport has been named a reader’s choice finalist for the best small airport by USA TODAY.
The public is invited to cast one vote per person, per day at 10best.com/awards/. The voting period will be open until Monday, Oct. 2 at 11:59 a.m. The USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlight top-notch attractions and businesses, providing readers with trusted recommendations.
Nominees for the 10Best are chosen by a panel of relevant experts, including editors from USA TODAY and 10Best.com, expert contributors and industry sources. 10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
“Over the last several years, we have invested significantly to improve our guest experience,” Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority President and CEO Tory Richardson said. “From our front-of-house facelift to the expansion of Concourse A, we want to ensure guests flying through the Airport begin their travels in comfort and return home in style.
“Our success is largely based on the tremendous community support we receive, which makes this nomination incredibly meaningful to us. We hope everyone will visit USA TODAY and cast their vote to make the Gerald R. Ford International Airport the best small airport in the country!”
The Airport is undergoing a number of significant investments into its infrastructure, part of Elevate, a $500 million program to accommodate passenger growth and the largest capital expansion initiative for a small hub airport in the country. These investments include:
Concourse A expansion, a $110 million project to accommodate passenger growth. Phase 1 opened to the public on June 16, the concourse added eight new gates, expanded gate space to accommodate larger aircraft and introduced new concession and retail concepts, among other amenities.
Federal inspection station, which will enable the Airport to offer nonstop international commercial passenger flights in the future.
Consolidated rental car facility, a $156 million project that will offer additional transportation accommodations to travelers visiting West Michigan and include an enclosed walkway from the terminal. This project broke ground in May 2023 with an expected completion date in 2025.
Air traffic control tower relocation, with siting efforts completed, this project will now transition to the design phase in 2023.
Additional parking capacity to accommodate increased guest traffic.
Terminal enhancement project, which is a proposed plan to further extend the front of the terminal to add a checked baggage inspection system to streamline the post-ticketcounter journey for baggage, decrease processing time and increase capacity.
In August 2020, WKTV Community Media converted to solar power with 252 solar panels generating enough electricity to power 17 homes. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris
WKTV Contributor
Individual homeowners seeing the advantages of solar energy, both financially and socially, is not new. Often, big industry, and big electric suppliers such as Michigan’s Consumer Energy, are “all in” on solar power and have the large-scale fields to prove it.
But for small to medium businesses looking at their bottomline, and non-profits looking to have their financial resources better spent, turning to solar has to make dollars and sense.
And more and more it is a viable option — financially and socially — for medium sized businesses such as Southwest Michigan’s Lakeshore Die Cast, Inc., Grand Rapids non-profit Hope Network and even WKTV Journal’s Wyoming home at WKTV Community Media.
“Sunrise Over Solar” at Lakeshore Die Cast, Inc.. (Courtesy, Lakeshore Die Cast, Inc.)
Adam Schaller, vice president and day-to-day manager of the Schaller family-owned Lakeshore Die Cast of Baroda, told WKTV that the financial opportunities presented by his business going significantly solar was first and foremost a business decision.
But he and the business — employing 20-30 employees, and producing aluminum and zinc die castings — also are looking to the future as well as the bottomline.
“Sustainability and resilience are important to our company and us,” Schaller said. “As a generational business we think in larger term time scales and if there is some chance we are affecting the climate for future generations we should err on the side of caution and do what we can to leave the world a better place for future generations.”
Lakeshore Die Cast began its effort to go solar in 2019 and now has two solar installations, a 150 Kilowatt (kW) electric power producing array completed in 2020 and a 1.25 megawatt (MW) array completed in 2022.
“The installations take almost zero maintenance, aside from cutting the grass around them which I was doing anyway,” Schaller said. “They work when it’s cloudy and all year long.”
Lakeshore Die Cast’s solar field in Baroda, Mich., from summer 2022. (Courtesy, Lakeshore Die Cast, Inc.)
The amount of energy arrays such as Lakeshore Die Cast’s will generate is “well known,” Schaller said, and the NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) has a calculator (https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/) where businesses can figure out how much a proposed array will generate.
The installer on both of Lakeshore Die Cast’s projects was Harvest Solar in Jackson, Mich.
“They did a great job on both projects with helping me understand and connect with people to figure out how to get projects of the size that I have installed,” Schaller said.
Non-profit organizations seeing solar advantages, too
Hope Network, through its own vision and a $3,655,547 grant from the State of Michigan, also is planning a solar future through its Solar PV and Battery Storage project.
The locally-based charitable non-profit “strives to provide educational, spiritual and healthcare assistance to high-need individuals and communities throughout Michigan,” according to its Jan. 5, 2023 grant application
“Unfortunately, Hope Network doesn’t always have the infrastructure to support their charitable operations,” according to the grant application.
Hope Network’s Lowell location is an approximately 100,000 square-foot campus home to 50 individuals, and the administration is “burdened” with high energy costs and power outages “largely due to their antiquated equipment.” Currently, the campus utilizes 248,800 kWh of energy annually, and all of it is purchased through Consumers Energy.
“This contributes to exorbitant energy costs,” according to the grant application, but the project is expected to “reduce energy costs, uphold energy security, and nearly eliminate carbon emissions.”
In 2022, Hope Network hired Johnson Controls to provide a preliminary study about the financial and environmental impacts of installing solar PV and battery storage. The study reported the potential cost savings to be nearly $790,000 in electric bill savings over 25 years. It would also decrease carbon emissions by 284,057 pounds annually, roughly a 99 percent reduction.
“We will use operational savings to expand community-based programming to serve our area,” according to the grant application. “A dollar that we save through this solar project is a dollar that we will reinvest back into our community through increasing supportive services, continuously improving our infrastructure, and expanding our educational offerings.”
Solar boxes at WKTV at 5261 Clyde Park Ave. SW Wyoming. (WKTV)
WKTV becomes a solar powered facility
WKTV Community Media, its office as well as its broadcast operation, is now a literal solar powered facility with the majority of its energy being supplied by solar. The non-profit has 252 panels on its roof and with the advancement in solar technology, panels are now able to even generate power in full moonlight.
Since its solar installation in September, 2020, WKTV has saved 463,641.59 lbs. in emissions, equivalent to planting 3,503 trees. WKTV is expected to see a return on investment in 10 years.
Solar panels atop the WKTV roof at 5261 Clyde Park Ave. SW Wyoming.(WKTV)
“Since 1974, WKTV has been a leader in our community,” said Tom Norton, WKTV General Manager. “The technological availability of renewable energy is a perfect fit for our organization, and is a great example of our commitment to our community.”
Solar a big part of energy providers’ future
The move to expanded solar power generation and use, on a statewide scale, is led by the state’s largest energy supplier, Consumers Energy, which currently has three large-scale “solar gardens,” one at Western Michigan University, one at Grand Valley State University, and one in Cadillac.
“Consumers Energy is all-in on solar,” Josh Paciorek, Consumers Energy spokesperson, said to WKTV. “We’re adding more clean, renewable, solar-generated electricity for Michigan as part of our Clean Energy Plan. In addition to its environmental benefits, solar is increasingly cost competitive with other fuel sources.”
Consumers Energy currently generates about 4 percent of its energy from solar, Paciorek said. But “as part of our clean energy plan, you’re going to see an aggressive increase of solar generation between now and 2040 … we’re also seeing more and more of an interest in solar from customers.”
The City of Grand Rapids is one customer. The city installed solar at their Water Filtration Plant, and according to Paciorek the reasons were twofold: it made financial sense and it’s part of an effort to power the city with clean energy.
Finding solar financing; finding grants
While Hope Network is starting its solar energy journey through a state grant, Lakeshore Die Cast needed a business partner to go solar. Enter Michigan Saves, which states it is “the nation’s first nonprofit green bank.”
Michigan Saves, based out of Lansing, “is dedicated to making clean energy improvements easier for all Michigan consumers,” Lateshia Parker, Michigan Saves director of marketing and communications, said to WKTV. “Through affordable financing and other incentives, Michigan Saves connects borrowers to a network of skilled contractors for energy efficiency, geothermal and solar installation projects.”
From 2010 through June 2023, Michigan Saves has financed 1,714 solar projects, with 1,681 being residential and 33 commercial, according to Parker.
“Michigan Saves believes an equitable transition to a carbon-free Michigan where everyone has access to the benefits of clean energy and climate-resilient solutions is possible,” Parker said.
The Hope Network’s state grant was part of a $50 million series of low-carbon energy infrastructure enhancement and development grants approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission and announced in June of this year.
Another Grand Rapids area organization receiving a grant was $5 million to Kent County for its Kent County Bioenergy Facility at the Kent County Sustainable Business Park in south Kent County.
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Buy-back rules, battery issues and more
There are two ways individuals, and small businesses and non-profits, can partner with Consumer Energy to turn to solar: the Solar Gardens enrollment program and the Distributed Generation program.
According to Consumer Energy’s Paciorek, customers who enroll in Solar Gardens pay about $10 a month to support solar projects and receive bill credits based on electricity generated by the gardens.
Many residential and business customers, however, use their solar power investments to “sell back” unused energy to Consumers Energy through its Distributed Generation program.
“When customers become part of the Distributed Generation (DG) program, the energy they generate will decrease their need to buy electricity from us, and we will also credit them for any extra energy they produce,” Paciorek said. “It’s good for the planet, and their energy budget, too. I’d note that we recently voluntarily doubled the size of our DG program.”
At Lakeshore Die Cast, which uses Indiana Michigan Power as its electric supplier, Schaller is comfortable with the current buy-and-sell power contract with his power company. But he wished there were better technology to allow him to store generated power as well.
“We operate on a standard tariff agreement with them where we buy inflow power we need and sell back extra power we make at wholesale market pricing,” Schaller said. But “we do not have any battery storage capability at this time. While there have been some large utility batteries installed in other places in the county, there isn’t much in the way of commercial sized battery installations in the market yet.”
On a perfect evening for football, South Christian and East Grand Rapids hooked up for a classic that came down to the final play of the game.
The two long-time area football powerhouses gave fans more than their money’s worth in the contest before East Grand Rapids tallied a touchdown on the final play giving the Pioneers a 23-21 win.
“Obviously, it was not the outcome we wanted to have, but this was a heck of a high school football game,” said South Christian Coach Danny Brown. “You had two very good football teams battle it out to the end. Both teams had guys making plays the entire game. It came down to the final play and East ended up making one more play than we did.”
South Christian quarterback Carson Vis breaks free during Friday’s game. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
The deciding play of the game came on the final snap with two seconds remaining. That was when East Grand Rapids quarterback Carson Thornton dropped back to pass from the South Christian 30-yard line and lofted one to the corner of the goal line where Ian MacKeigan hauled in the ball in front of a pair of defenders and fell into the end zone just inside the pylon.
The touchdown capped off a five-play drive in the final 28 seconds that snatched the game away from the Sailors. East received the kickoff at their own 37-yard line and completed four short passes to move the ball down to South’s 30 and in position to win the game on the final play.
Sailors appeared headed for a win
South Christian appeared to have won the game when they scored a touchdown with 28 seconds left. Sailor quarterback Carson Vis put the Sailors up when he ran in from eight yards out giving South a 21-17 lead. The touchdown capped a thrilling four-play, 59-yard drive that began with just 55 seconds remaining in the game.
The highlight of the drive was a 33-yard pass from Vis to Jake Vermaas that gave the Sailors a first down at the East 17-yard line with 36 seconds remaining. South also needed to drive the ball without the benefit of a timeout as they depleted their timeouts on the previous drive when the Sailor defense forced East into a three-and-out.
South needed its defense to come up with the crucial stand after the East defense came up with a big stop of its own. That was when East defensive back Glenn Green intercepted a tipped pass at the Pioneer 18-yard line to short circuit a South Christian drive with 2:04 remaining in the game.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Brown said. “They could’ve given up, but they didn’t back down. They made that defensive stand and got the ball back for our offense. They stepped up and gave our offense a chance.”
EGR strikes first
East Grand Rapids scored the first points of the game late in the opening quarter when Will Cannon capped a 14-play, 54-yard drive when he kicked a 36-yard field goal.
South Christian countered those points on the ensuing drive. The Sailors drove 80 yards in nine plays for a score coming on a picture-perfect 34-yard pass play from Vis to Vermaas. Nick Logan tacked on the extra point giving the Sailors a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.
Those were the lone points of the first half as both defenses came up with big stops to end drives in the second quarter.
The South Christian defense lines up to defend against East Grand Rapids. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
The third quarter saw both teams score on lengthy touchdown drives. East received the kickoff in the third quarter and embarked on a 12-play, 65-yard drive that involved all running plays. Scott Millman capped the drive, that totaled six minutes and 45 seconds, by running in from six-yards out putting the Pioneers up 10-7.
South responded with a touchdown drive of their own. Starting on their own 22-yard line, the Sailors drove 78 yards in eight plays. Vis capped the drive with a 24-yard touchdown run giving the Sailors a 14-10 lead.
The East offense answered that score on the following possession. Again, relying on their running game, East drove 89 yards in nine plays. Millman again capped the drive as he barged into the end zone from two-yards out putting East up 17-14 with 7:38 remaining in the game after the point after and setting up the game for the dramatic ending.
“We are going to use this game to fuel us,” Brown said. “I told the guys not to let this loss define our season. We have to use this game to find out where we are a little light. East is a very good football team and we are going to have more close games this season.”
South Christian returns to action Friday when it hosts Kenowa Hills in the WKTV Game of the Week during the opening week of OK Gold Conference action.
Last week, Clarence Lewis led the Legends with a big five touchdown game. This week, quarterback Anthony Blok took it to the next level with a school record seven TD passes in a 58-34 win over Calvin Christian in Grandville High School’s stadium.
Lee quarterback Anthony Blok. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
Blok completed 15-of-25 passes for 419 yards in the win.
“He is a strong thrower, and has gotten a lot better this year,” said Lee Coach Lamar Marshall of his second-year captain. “With his throwing ability and his leadership, he has been our vocal leader on the offensive end. He has taken that and run with it.”
After going winless in 2022, the Legends are now on a different path at 2-0.
“They are locked in, they’re excited,” Marshall said. “They have bought into what me and my coaches have been preaching this year. It’s been beautiful.”
Marshall said his team was working on execution all week in practice leading up to the game.
“We were hammering executing all week and we executed great today,” Marshall said. “Offensively, it was one of the best games we’ve had since I’ve been here.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the guys today. They executed flawlessly.”
The teams traded scores in the first half and Lee took a 30-28 lead into halftime.
“In the first half we were back and forth, trading touchdowns, but we took control in the second half.”
Merriweather, Lewis and Davis
Wide receiver Aidan Merriweather scored four touchdowns (8 catches for 196 yards), while Lewis added two rushing and one receiving. Charles Davis had two receiving TDs as well (three catches for 160 yards).
Marshall said Lewis was his “glue guy.”
“He makes us stick together and is always encouraging the guys to be better the next play and forget about the last play. He doesn’t let them dwell on the last play. His senior leadership has been a bright spot.”
“The leadership from the players has been one of the brightest spots that we’ve had this year … keeping the spirits up and not yelling at each other and arguing when someone messes up. It’s a great thing to see the way they are all stepping up.”
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back Sept. 8!
Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’ll bring you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.
As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well.
You won’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!
Check out our WKTV highlights from East Kentwood’s game against Byron Center Thursday night.
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back on Sept. 8!
Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’ll bring you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.
As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well.
You won’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!
Check out our WKTV highlights from Godwin Heights game against Orchard View Thursday night.
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back on Sept. 8!
Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’ll bring you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.
As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well.
You won’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!
Participant Janice smiles as she looks at produce growing in a raised garden bed. As a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, Care Resources utilizes a holistic approach in developing a comprehensive care plan unique to the physical, mental, emotional and social needs of each participant.(Courtesy, Care Resources)
By Care Resources
“If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
So says Garth Falkins, a recreational therapy manager for Care Resources, addressing not only the services Care Resources provides older adults at its Day Center at 4150 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, but also what activities it can help those same participants enjoy in their own homes.
Care Resources is a community-based program for qualifying adults 55 years and older that promotes healthy independent living – physically, socially and emotionally – to help prevent nursing home placement.
“Our ultimate goal,” says Falkins, who’s been in place at Care Resources since 2006, “is to keep people at home and provide health and wellness options to them and their families throughout their lifespan. While they may end up in skilled nursing care, our goal is to keep them out for as long as possible.”
So, what does that look like?
Exercise: A physical or occupational therapist might develop in-home exercise routines for participants to do alongside therapy or restorative programs in the Day Center. These might include stretches and other activities designed to improve flexibility, range of motion, cardiovascular health and handling the daily affairs of living.
Nutrition: Care Resources provides access to dieticians who can provide education on balanced diets and eating habits within their homes. This may include tips on how to purchase and prepare food to improve the nutritional value of meals.
Socialization: Care Resources assesses social needs and abilities within the home in order to make recommendations about out-of-home social opportunities available through the Day Center or other community sources. Technology also can be used to provide in-home activities such as listening to music or audiobooks, playing digital games and more.
“Our interdisciplinary team clinicians go in and assess a person’s need, and we go from there,” Falkins says. “We cover all the disciplines: physicians, therapy, nursing, dieticians, nursing and social work, to name a few.”
That includes communicating with participants by video chat, or setting them up with others who have like interests and are able to connect digitally.
“We want to increase their activity levels, and there is no limit.”
Falkins also notes that health and wellness goals are established early on, during the standard intake process that helps the organization gauge participants’ financials, their living conditions – “anything that helps us create a unique program specifically tailored to their needs” – taking into account beliefs, physical abilities, cognition, emotional needs, medical needs, etc.
“From a social standpoint, we rely on our assessments to build our Day Center calendars and activity programs for when participants visit us, but also look at potential interventions that we can add or put into their home to continue to socialize and enjoy high quality of life,” Falkins says. “This can include arts and crafts, experiences revolving around horticulture, religious activities, movies, music and more.”
Falkins stresses that Care Resources employees work as a team to accomplish this, relying on one another to take note of things a person enjoys, then “work together to create the best plan and programs to meet a person’s needs.”
The result?
“In the end, our participants are experiencing an increased sense of belonging,” Falkins says. “We’re enhancing their mental health as well as their physical health, and improving quality of life for them and for their loved ones.
“We’re bringing healthy alternatives into an environment they know to be comfortable and safe. In doing so, we’re keeping them happy and healthy in their homes, a place all of us want to remain for as long as we possibly can.”
More information about Care Resources is available at CareResources.org.
The City of Kentwood and GR8 Food Trucks are partnering to host the summer’s second Food Truck Festival with more than 30 food trucks, live music and a beer tent for community members to enjoy.
The free-to-attend community event will run 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 in the parking lot of the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard. L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.
“We look forward to inviting the community to gather and experience delicious food and drinks from local vendors and great sounds from local musicians,” said Kentwood Parks and Recreation Director Val Romeo. “Whether you’re looking for a refreshing beverage, remarkable food or upbeat music, we have something for everyone to enjoy.”
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
There will be a wide variety of food options available for purchase. Prices will vary by vendor. Participating food trucks include:
“This event gives our local food trucks a fantastic opportunity to show the community their delightful drinks and delicious dishes,” said Alan Tomlinson, president of GR8 Food Trucks. “We’re looking forward to a day filled of community and cuisine.”
This year’s diamond sponsors are Macatawa Bank and NN Autocam.
There is construction along 52nd Street SE that may impact the route community members take to the event. A detour map is available here and a parking map is available here.
No, basketball season didn’t start three months early, but any fan looking at the final score of South Christian’s football season-opener Friday against Grand Rapids Christian could’ve been forgiven if they thought a basketball game took place.
The two long-time rivals combined for 108 total points, with South Christian scoring a school record 66 points in a 66-42 win over Grand Rapids Christian.
To put it into perspective, South Christian and Ferndale combined for 82 points in last season’s Division 2 basketball state championship game.
South Christian quarterback Carson Vis missed last year’s basketball title game after suffering a pair of broken wrists during the state tournament, but the junior was at full strength on the football field Friday. Vis, making his first varsity start at quarterback, put up some dazzling numbers as he completed 12-of-14 passes for 326 yards and six touchdowns as well as running for 57 yards and a score.
South Christian quarterback Carson Vis. (Courtesy, Eric Walstra)
“Carson was phenomenal,” South Christian coach Danny Brown said. “You couldn’t ask for a better performance for a kid that hadn’t started a varsity game before. I was very happy with the way he played.”
Vis and the Sailors came out hitting on all cylinders. Vis tossed a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes to Jake Vermaas giving the Sailors an early 12-0 lead. Vermaas then increased the lead to 18-0 as he returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter.
“Jake had a great game,” said Brown, whose Sailors won a fourth state championship last year. “He scored our first three touchdowns. He caught touchdown passes on our first two possessions and he returned a punt for a touchdown for our third touchdown. He is an all-world receiver for us.”
Vermaas finished the game with four receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns and also added an interception on defense.
James VanderArk also turned in a big game at receiver for the Sailors. VanderArk caught three passes for 114 yards and two scores. He caught a 21-yard touchdown pass form Vis in the second quarter that upped the South lead to 24-7. VanderArk also hauled in a 66-yard scoring strike late in the third quarter that put the Sailors up 50-21.
“We have a lot of good receivers,” Brown said. “We have a lot of good receivers and that can make it comfortable for our quarterback.”
Austin Tiesma and Tanner Raak also caught touchdown passes for the Sailors. Tiesma caught two passes for 53 yards during the game, while Raak caught one pass for 33 yards.
South Christian wide receiver Jake Vermaas. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
The depth at wide receiver is even more impressive considering Vis was one of South’s top receivers last season. With last year’s starting quarterback Jake DeHaan having graduated last spring, Vis was switched to quarterback, a position that is not unfamiliar for him.
“Carson played quarterback in our youth program and was the quarterback of the freshman team his freshman season,” Brown said. “Last year, Jake DeHaan was a third-year quarterback for us so we moved Carson to wide receiver. Carson was our backup quarterback late last year after our backup quarterback went down with an injury, but he didn’t get many reps at quarterback.”
The wrist breaks during basketball also delayed his transition to quarterback some in the off-season, but the Sailors expected him to be healthy and ready to go once camp started.
“The broken wrists were scary, but the way Carson attacked his rehab was phenomenal,” Brown said. “He was cleared to practice well early before camp. He recovered quickly and it was not a concern. The unique thing about Carson is he competes the year-round. With a lot of quarterbacks, you worry about their first varsity start, but with Carson it’s like another day at the office.”
Vis also showed his ability to provide impact plays with his feet as his seven-yard touchdown run before halftime put the Sailors up 36-14.
The two teams traded touchdowns back and forth during the second half. South Christian’s offense tacked on four touchdowns during the second half, while the Grand Rapids Christian offense also tallied four touchdowns.
South Christian running back Charles Schreur, who rushed for 71 yards, added a touchdown during the second half, while Coleson Fennema also ran in for a touchdown.
“There was a lot of scoring,” Brown said. “Both sides have a lot of explosive players. I thought we started out playing physical on defense and got them in some bad spots. To their (Grand Rapids Christian) credit, they came out with a couple of explosive plays in the second half. They also got into a good rhythm in the second half.
“It’s always good to start the season 1-0. I’m definitely happy for the kids. We played so well on offense and had some defensive lapses. As a head coach, you have to look at the big picture. At the end of the day we are excited to be 1-0.”
South Christian returns to action Friday when it hosts East Grand Rapids at East Kentwood Falcon Stadium.
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