When Duc Nguyen Abrahamson was an infant in 1975 Saigon, her father came home and told his wife, “Pack up the kids. We’re going!”
In the frantic hours that followed, Abrahamson’s mother was trampled in the rush to a waiting escape vessel, nearly drowning her baby daughter in the process. The family made it to the boat, was rescued by Denmark, and eventually resettled in East Michigan beginning the all-too-familiar challenges of refugees; adapting to language, work and culture of a strange new homeland.
Duc Nguyen Abrahamson (From Video))
Abrahamson would be the first in her family to graduate from college, Wayne State University, where she discovered the Asian American Professional Network. It was with this organization, she found that her two worlds of Vietnam and America could come together and she felt “for the first time I was home.”
Today, Abrahamson is the executive director of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce, based in Farmington Hills. Through APACC, Abrahamson works to bring that same feeling of home as she builds relationships with U.S. and Asian companies. APACC is looking to expand with a second office in Grand Rapids.
Edgar Mitchell sets up an Apollo lunar surface experiments package made up of a set of scientific instruments placed at the landing site. (NASA/Alan Shepard)
With all the overpowering noise of the recent presidential election cycle, the good and bad news of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the mixed-reaction to Wonder Woman 1984, it was easy to miss the news that our children’s children may well be visiting a “Moon park”, of sorts, in the future.
In a late December, the office of U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan), announced that The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill introduced by Sen. Peters and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to permanently protect the Apollo landing sites on the moon.
The One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act would enact first-of-its-kind legal protections for the Apollo sites by making NASA’s preservation recommendations a requirement for future activities on the Moon. After passing both the house and senate, it was signed by outgoing President Donald Trump on Dec. 31 and is now law.
Apollo 17 mission commander Eugene A. Cernan makes a short checkout of the Lunar Roving Vehicle during the early part of the first Apollo 17 extravehicular activity at the Taurus-Littrow landing site. This view of the lunar rover prior to loadup was taken by Harrison H. Schmitt, Lunar Module pilot. The mountain in the right background is the east end of South Massif. (NASA/
The legislation directs NASA to require future moon activities to follow its preservation recommendations, and honors the over 400,000 scientists, designers, and researchers who contributed to the Apollo programs, including NASA’s “Hidden Figures” like Katherine Johnson — an African American mathematician who worked at NASA for 35 years and calculated the trajectory of the Apollo 11 flight to the moon as well the trajectories for the spaceflights of astronauts John Glenn and Alan Shepard.
“As a former astronaut in the Apollo program, it is fitting that one of humanities’ greatest collective achievements should be preserved for future generations to learn about and be inspired by,” A.W. “Tony” England, an astronaut during the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs and now a professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, said in supplied material. The act “will honor Apollo’s invaluable legacy of innovation, collaboration, and determination and preserve it for future generations.”
Congressional support for protections
Sen. Peters has long been an advocate for NASA and America’s space technology programs.
“As a child, I watched the achievements of the Apollo missions with excitement about what is possible when we come together with a common goal,” Sen. Peters said in supplied material. “I was proud to author this bipartisan legislation to preserve for all of humanity the incredible achievements of the Apollo astronauts on the Moon.”
Sen. Peters has also led other efforts in Congress to support American space exploration. In September 2020, Peters’ bipartisan bill to strengthen the nation’s ability to predict and mitigate severe space weather events and mitigate their harmful impacts on Earth wa signed by President Trump. In addition, Peters’ bipartisan bill to help authorize and set priorities for NASA and the nation’s space exploration mission was signed into law in 2017.
One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act also had bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“The Apollo landing sites mark one of humanity’s greatest achievements: the first time we were able to do more than look up at the sky, but actually leave our planet and visit another world,” said Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Oklahoma), of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. “The One Small Step Act maintains these historic sites while encouraging the spirit of exploration that got us to the Moon. I’m proud to sponsor this bill to honor our historical achievements, and I look forward to the time when we can return humans to the Moon and continue the mission of discovery and learning that the Apollo astronauts began.”
International support for protections
Sen. Peters and the other bill authors worked closely with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, who negotiated similar provision in the Artemis Accords and expressed his support for protecting the historic lunar sites in a 2019 Senate hearing, just before the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing.
Lunar module pilot James Irwin works at the Lunar Roving Vehicle during the first Apollo 15 lunar surface extravehicular activity at the Hadley-Apennine landing site. The shadow of the Lunar Module “Falcon” is in the foreground. This view is looking northeast, with Mount Hadley in the background. This photograph was taken by mission commander David Scott. (NASA)
According to the NASA website, NASA’s Artemis program has a goal to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024, “heralding in a new era for space exploration and utilization.” While NASA is leading the Artemis program, international partnerships formalized with the Artemis Accords “will play a key role in achieving a sustainable and robust presence on the Moon while preparing to conduct a historic human mission to Mars.
“With numerous countries and private sector players conducting missions and operations in cislunar space, it’s critical to establish a common set of principles to govern the civil exploration and use of outer space,” NASA states.
The Artemis Accords will “describe a shared vision for principles,” grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, to create a safe and transparent environment which facilitates exploration, science, and commercial activities for all of humanity to enjoy.
“As we go forward to the Moon with the Artemis Program, NASA has been clear that we must do so sustainably,” said Bridenstine in supplied material. “As part of the Artemis Accords agreements signed with partner nations, NASA has emphasized that protecting historically significant sites is critical, and I applaud the leaders of this legislation for their commitment to ensuring that future lunar science and exploration is done in a safe and transparent manner.”
The nations that have signed the Artemis Accords include, in alphabetical order, Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Noticeably absent in the initial list of signatories are Israel, Russia, China and India — all with working space programs.
Among the principles of the Artemis Accords are focusing on peaceful exploration, conducting activities in a transparent fashion to avoid confusion and conflicts, rendering assistance to personnel in distress, public release of scientific information, extracting and utilizing space resources in safe and sustainable exploration, planning for the safe disposal of debris.
“Fundamentally, the Artemis Accords will help to avoid conflict in space and on Earth by strengthening mutual understanding and reducing misperceptions,” Mike Gold, NASA acting associate administrator for international and interagency relations, said in supplied material. “Transparency, public registration, deconflicting operations – these are the principles that will preserve peace … The Artemis journey is to the Moon, but the destination of the Accords is a peaceful and prosperous future.”
Yamiche Alcindor, award-winning journalist and White House correspondent for PBS Newshour, will give the keynote address during West Michigan’s commemoration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Yamiche Alcindor (GVSU)
The virtual program on Monday, Jan. 18, will run from 6:30-8 p.m. It is free and open to the public; register online to receive a link to the Zoom webinar. More information about Alcindor is below. The event will also introduce area high school scholarship recipients and include short welcomes from college presidents and community leaders.
Alcindor’s address, “The Legacy of MLK: Purpose, Truth and Justice,” is sponsored by Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College and Davenport University, with key support from Spectrum Health, Consumers Energy, and Warner Norcross and Judd LLP.
On the 35th anniversary of this community event, GVSU President Philomena V. Mantella said she is pleased the higher education partners teamed to bring Alcindor to the community.
“Dr. King’s legacy invites all of us to commit ourselves to fighting systemic racism by supporting the Black community and elevating their voices and experiences of yesterday, today and tomorrow,” Mantella said. “Together, we as a nation have work to do.”
Bill Pink, president of GRCC, said: “Each year we come together as a community to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King. We recognize his achievements, his life and his message. But it is also a time for us to take a hard look at ourselves and our community. We can appreciate how far we have come while still focusing on the long road ahead. The events of 2020 show we have much to do. Our annual celebration can inspire us to do that work together.”
Richard J. Pappas, president of Davenport University, said he is grateful the campus partners honor the legacy of King and are “renewed in our commitment to provide equitable and inclusive experiences across our campuses.”
“Together, we are teaching and shaping tomorrow’s leaders to build each other up, show others compassion, speak out against racism and violence and rally together for what is right,” Pappas said.
Alcindor joined PBS NewsHour in 2018. She began her journalism career at Newsday in New York and several years later was named a political correspondent for NBC and MSNBC. During the 2020 presidential election, Alcindor became a go-to voice in analyzing the nation’s most critical issues.
Alcindor has received the White House Correspondents’ Association Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage and the 2020 National Association of Black Journalists’ Journalist of the Year Award.
More information about Alcindor, the Jan. 18 event and other GVSU events to commemorate King’s life are online at gvsu.edu/mlk.
Wyoming Department of Public Safety is asking anyone with information about a cell phone store robbery that took place today, Jan. 4, to contact the department or Silent Observer.
On Jan. 4, around 10:50 a.m., officers from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety were dispatched to the Verizon Store in the 5800 block of Byron Center Ave. SW on a report of a robbery that just occurred.
The initial investigation indicates that four suspects entered the store after pushing an employee out of the doorway. The suspects obtained an undisclosed amount of phones and fled the store northbound on Byron Center Ave in a blue pick-up truck. No weapons were seen during the robbery and the employee was not injured.
Photo of truck from Verizon store. (Supplied)
The suspects are described as four African American males, possibly teenagers, wearing masks over their faces. The suspect vehicle is described as a cobalt blue Ford F-150 pick-up truck with no license plate and damage on the passenger side with white paint transfer from a previous accident (not related to this robbery).
Prior to the robbery, a station in the same area reported a gas drive off involving a truck matching the description of the vehicle used in the robbery.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
Kent District Library announced that its annual Let It Snow teen and adult reading program kicks off this week.
Adutls and teens, 11 and older, have until March 31 to read a minimum of six books in different categories such as memoirs, modern retellings of classic novels, audiobooks, books to film or books on new worlds. Those who read at least 10 titles will be entered into the Power Reader drawing to win an iPad or a KDL branded winter cap.
“Reading is more important than ever, so our reading program encourages teens and adults to read this winter and earn cool prizes,” said KDL Programming Manager Kip Odell. “KDL librarians created great lists of recommended reading in different genres.”
For example, if you really like audiobooks and want a good laugh, there is a “My Life as a Goddess – A Memoir Through (un)popular Culture” by Branum Guy or Al Roker’s “You Look So Much Better in Person” (True Stories of Absurdity and Success). Perhaps its is a good mystery you seek then try “I Am Still Alive” by Marshall Kate Alice or Charlene Harris’ Aurora Teagarden series made famous from Hallmark, which also fits in the books to film category.
More than 2,200 people completed the Let It Snow 2020 program with organizers hoping to top that number in 2021.
For more information or to sign up, visit kdl.org/snow. Track your reading progress online using Beanstack or complete and turn in a paper form, available as a printable PDF or at any KDL branch.
City of Kentwood City Commisioner Emily Bridson recently visited the WKTV studios for a Facebook Live Zoom discussion with Razel Jones, co-author of “Wounds”. And that discussion is now available on-demand via WKTVlive.org.
The discussion focused on how communities faced with racial and social disparities can rise above their differences, their difficulties, and find a “Common Unity” — the title of the discussion.
Emily Bridson, during a Zoom interview in WKTV’s studios. (WKTV)
“Kentwood’s diversity is one of our many strengths and opportunities as a changing city in the heart of West Michigan,” Bridson said prior to WKTV about the event. “Razel and I will discuss the humanistic-side of our actions and the sometimes unintended impact that results. Listen along as we continue on our anti-racist journey.”
“Community Unity” will air on WKTV Community Media’s cable channels, on WKTV Government Channel 26 on, Wednesday, Jan. 6, at 8:10 p.m., and on Saturday, Jan. 9, at noon. It will also air on WKTV Community Channel 25 on Jan. 13 at noon. Other days and times are also planned.
WKTV programs air on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). Short form WKTV video programs are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos, with long-form videos on-demand at WKTVLive.org under categories such as Government Meetings, Special Events and Sports.
As the Greater Grand Rapids area moves into the new year, the possibilities of many still working and attending school virtually remains high, which is why earlier in December the Kent District Library made the announcement that it has made it mobile wi-fi hotspots available at all of its 22 locations.
KDL mobile hotspots are now available at all of its branches. (Supplied/KDL)
“Previously, they had only been available at seven more real locations,” said Elizabeth Guarino-Kozlowicz, KDL manager of library collections. “We’re hoping to help more patrons in Kent County as we continue to chip away at the digital divide.”
Another change is that patrons can now checkout a wi-fi hotspot for up to four months. In the past, it was for three weeks.
KDL has more than 1,000 hotspots available for checkout. The hotspots are part of the Beyond Books Collection and are available to library cardholders age 18 and older. Demand for the hotspots have been high especially since state guidelines have pushed many families to work and attend school from home. KDL staff estimates that currently about 800 of its hotspots are currently checked with about 200 hotspots having been loaned to Northview Public Schools and Kelloggsville High School.
“With an estimated 37,000 households without broadband Internet access in Kent County, during this time of crisis, it’s important to help as many people as we can,” said Carrie Wilson, director of library services at KDL. “With so many people working and learning from home, the need for Internet access is greater than ever before.”
To check out a hotspot, visit kdl.org and search on the term “hotspot” to place a hold. Hotspots can be picked up and returned at any KDL branch. People who live in the KDL service area and do not have a library card can register for one online at kdl.org/virtual or by calling616-784-2007.
A wi-fi hotspot is a small piece of equipment that will set up a wireless network that allows a houseful of people to connect to the Internet via cellular service.
To say 2020 has been an interesting year, is probably the understatement of the year. This time in 2019, we were getting hints as to what was about to come and coronavirus, or COVID, came like a running back with the ball in his hands and an open field to the end zone.
As we get reading to make that final flip to the new year, and hopefully COVID in the review mirror, we thought we would take a look at some of the top stories of 2020.
It’s all about the pups…Pronto Pups
Who knew that the area’s love for Pronto Pups was so strong? Wyoming’s Andy Bogart and Kentwood’s Matt Morton certainly did and the duo’s effort to bring Pronto Pups to Grand Rapids became the top WKTV Journal story for 2020.
The two partnered up during the spring shutdown to secure a license from the national chain, Pronto Pups, based out of Portland, Oregon, to bring Pronto Pups to locations in and around Kent County. Pronto Pups Grand Rapids, not affiliated with the stand in Grand Haven, offers both traditional Pronto Pups, the battered dipped hot dog on a stick, and ones with a twist such as Breakfast Pups and Pickle Pups. The operation, which has a location at Comstock Park’s Elk Brewing as well as a food truck, is on a winter hiatus with plans to be resume deep frying those dogs in spring of 2021.
Kent County Treasurer Kenneth Parrish (center) announced his retirement as Kent County Treasurer. (WKTV)
Elections, Elections, Elections
Peter MacGregor was elected as the county’s new treasurer in November. (Supplied)
As the national race heated up, we had some local races that piqued everyone’s attention. Of note, was the Kent County treasurer position. With the announcement of Ken Parrish retiring at county treasurer, several people put their names in the ring including State Senator Peter MacGregor, who won his bid in the November election.
Harold Voorhees retired as the Kent County 8th District Commissioner
Dan Burrill was elected as the new Kent County 8th District Commissioner
John Fitzgerald was elected to the Wyoming City Council
The City of Kentwood also saw a big change as its first and only district judge, William G. Kelly, retired from the 62-B District Court with Amanda Sterkenburg winning the seat in the November election.
William G. Kelly retired as Kentwood’s 62-B District judge
Amanda Sterkenburg was elected to the 62-B District Court judge position in November.
Also of interest in 2020 was the voting process as many on the national, state and local level, followed how the state would be handling absentee voting. In 2018, Michigan voters approved an amendment that allowed for anyone to vote absentee. Due to the pandemic, many sought this option for the 2020 election.
The Springrove Variety story, which had been in Wyoming for more than 60 years, closed its doors in June. (WKTV)
The End of an Era
Before the pandemic, Mike Sprenger made the difficult decision to close Wyoming’s Springrove Variety Store. He said dime stores like Springrove had “outlived our niche.” Started in 1958 as the Suburban 5 & 10, Sprenger had owned the store since 2008. It was part of small chain of dime stores he owned that included one in Lowell, which Sprenger closed in August.
Interestingly, many of our readers also turned back to a story we published in January 2019 about Green Stamps, which had a redemption store at Rogers Plaza Mall. The popularity of the story about Green Stamps pushed it into the top five stories of 2020.
The City of Wyoming celebrated the official re-opening of Pinery Park this summer. (WKTV)
Other top stories from Wyoming
Wyoming’s K9 Dutch headed off to retirement. (WKTV)
52nd Street looking West to Division Avenue, with road infrastructure work being done not directly a part of the CityLine Apartments project. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Back to Business…Sort of
Another top story was the announcement of the CityLine Apartments being constructed on Division Avenue near 52nd Street. It is the first Kentwood development project that was approved using the Form Based Code, which was designed by the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood to aid in the redevelopment of the Division Avenue corridor.
Woodland Mall also had a number of exciting events including the opening of Von Maur however, our top story from the the Woodland Mall was its weekend showcase of black-owned businesses.
The Kentwood Public Works Department hosted a parade of trucks in May. (Supplied)
The Wyoming high girls basketball team used a balanced scoring attack, good defense and some clutch free-throw points down the stretch to score a 73-63 win over Wayland Jan. 14, 2020. (WKTV)
The Headlines from Sports
While many things went virtual — such as most of the entertainment offerings — high school sports managed to move it down field until about November when a partial lockdown went into effect.
The snow finally came to Michigan which means the ski season has officially started.
Many of the West Michigan ski slopes opened in mid-December and it may be hard to snag a lift ticket at some due to limited capacity. Also because of COVID guidelines, these resorts have social distancing guidelines to help those suiting up and heading down the slopes.
For most of the West Michigan ski resorts, face coverings will be required in the base area, lift lines, on chairlifts and indoors, except when seated at a table in a restaurant. (when in-dining is allowed again.) Note, there are limits to indoor capacities, so people’s base camp may become their cars to warm up. Some ski resorts have added fire pits and heaters.
Before heading to any ski resort, remember to check the resort’s website or social media page for up-to-date operating information and snow conditions.
Hill action starts at 10 a.m. for most days, but check the resort’s website for specific operating hours. Tubing is not currently open.
The resort is working to assure everyone is having a fun, outdoor experience while staying safe. Staff receives health checks daily and wear a clean mask at all times. Centers for Disease Control guidelines are being followed for cleaning and sanitizing all public surfaces. Doors will be left open as much as possible to allow fresh air and food and drinks will be served from The Sweet Spot and Burgie’s Food Truck.
The luge track, designed by three-time Olympian Frank Masley, is one of only four in the United States. Of course if going 30 mph down a luge track is not your thing, the park also has two acres of natural ice and a skating trail through the trees. There is also cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
Echo Valley
Tubing also is available at a number of the ski resorts.
Echo Valley will be open Saturdays and Sundays in January, February, and March when weather permits. The winter sports park features tobogganing and tubing. There is no age, height, or weight restrictions and tubes and toboggans are provided. The park only accepts cash and it is highly recommended that you call before coming out.
Shanty Creek already been busy with lift tickets sold out through Jan. 2. Of course the resort offers other options such as tubing, snowshoeing and dog sled rides. It is recommended that guests pre-purchase rentals and lift tickets which will provide for contactless interaction with staff.
Started in 1949, Mt. Holiday is a community nonprofit recreation area for skiers and snowboarders in the Traverse City area. Mt. Holiday is scheduled to open this weekend if weather permits. It offers tubing and skiing and its dining, which is carryout for now, is open.
Both the Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain offer day and designated night skiing. Boyne Highlands is open daily, usually form 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The resort also offers tubing, snow-go bikes, biplane adventures, and winter horseback rides. For both, it is highly recommended that guests purchase tickets online as window tickets will be limited.
Crystal Mountain Resort recommends getting your ski pass early and online. (Supplied/Crystal Mountain)
Crystal Mountain also has been busy with most of its lift tickets sold-out through this weekend. Due to how fast passes are selling, Crystal Mountain does recommend that guests purchase tickets early and online as window tickets may not be available the day of.
Gaylord averages about 140 inches of snow and four months of skiing each season, which means there is a good chance the hills at Treetops will be open. The resort also has dog sledding tours along with a host of summer activities.
Kent County, in recent months, has made two unique expenditures as part of its public safety efforts. One, taking a more traditional approach, saw the county spend more than $2 million to equip the Sheriff’s office with state-of-the-art equipment, most notably body cameras. The other, in a distinctively non-traditional approach, has the county funding nearly $500,000 in grants to non-profit community groups to prevent crime from occurring.
During a recent visit to the studio of WKTV Journal In Focus, we talked with Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt and Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young about the two expenditures and why they are important to the community.
Discussion includes the protocol for use of body cameras and vehicle dashboard cameras, and how both can protect law enforcement and the right of the pubic during sometimes tense interactions. Then we get their take on why the prevention of crime, specifically community violence, will take more than just law enforcement officers on the streets, and why the county is allocating funds to its new Community Violence Prevention Grant program.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
There is one holiday event that the officers at the Wyoming Department of Public Safety look forward to — Shop With a Cop — and the officers were not about to let COVID prevent it from happening.
Traditionally, children are partnered with a police officer or firefighter from the department and shop for things that are on their Christmas list. But the recent COVID-19 pandemic put a kink in those plans due to restrictions large gatherings.
So instead, the officers from the department’s community service unit, with lists in hand, headed to the Meijer on Clyde Park Avenue and went shopping for the children.
“We have done this for a numbers of years,” said Connie Searl. “They are a great part of our community and they come in and shop for all the different kids to make sure they too have a great Christmas.”
Officers connected with students over the phone and through email to get their wish lists. With a $3,000 donation from Clyde Park Meijer and $2,500 from the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance, the officers spent several hours shopping for gifts for the children and their families. Lt. Joe Steffes, part of the community service unit, said the department helped about 40 families this year.
There was a wrapping party at the station with about every officer pitching in to help. Officers then delivered the gifts to the children and their families.
Steffes said the officers are thrilled at the opportunity to make the holidays a little brighter for some of the community’s families.
“It’s a great opportunity for kids to connect with police in a fun and exciting way,” Koster said. “Their time is spent shopping, talking and getting to know each other. One of the really cool things that we see every year is that most children want to spend their money on gifts for their family members. I just love that.”
Earlier this month, the City of Wyoming hosted its first live broadcast of the Wyoming Gives Back.
Traditionally, the event is hosted at the Rogers Plaza Mall, but due to COVID restrictions on large gatherings, the event was broadcast live from the WKTV Community Media.
The program features music from Wyoming’s San Juan Diego Academy along with holiday greetings from city staff and council members including newly elected Councilor John Fitzgerald. There is also appearances from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The program was hosted by Mayor Jack Poll and WOOD-TV8’s Michele DeSelms.
Click on the video above to see the entire show, or click here to look at the playlist.
Most Kent County offices and COVID-19 testing sites will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24, and Friday, Dec. 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday. County offices also will be closed on Jan. 1, 2021 in observance of New Year.
A few service exemptions are:
The Kent County Correctional Facility will remain open with regular hours; however, all other services will be closed.
The Department of Public Works disposal facilities will close at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24. The Recycling Center will reopen on Saturday, Dec. 26, for commercial haulers from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additionally, all disposal facilities will close at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31, the Recycling Center will reopen on Saturday, Jan. 2, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for commercial haulers.
County offices are open for business Dec. 28, 29, 30 and 31.
For more information on how to access Kent County departments and offices, visit www.accesskent.com.
Darren Dykhouse, founder and lead investigator of (LSP) Lakeshore Paranormal has appeared on four episodes of Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Paranormal Podcast and was the Grand Rapids Ghost Hunter’s first guest on Cryptic Frequencies, my Blog Talk Radio show. We open every show with a literary reference significant to each guest and so Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” has become LSP’s signature opening.
Dykhouse mostly explores local urban legends and suspected haunted locations in Michigan, but he also investigates private homes and provides smudging and blessings on request. He tediously edits and regularly posts his 10-15 minute video blogs to YouTube where viewers are able to see different haunted sites through the camera lens. On the list are: The Felt Mansion, The Old Allegan County Jail Museum, Joliet Prison, The Old Stimpson Hospital, and these ships rumored to be haunted; the Coast Guard ship USCGC Acacia and the S.S. City of Milwaukee both docked in Manistee, and the USS LST 393 in Muskegon.
Darren Dykhouse of the Lakeshore Paranormal
This list is incomplete as additional videos spotlight haunted trains, woods, piers, many cemeteries, and an Alien connection. Dykhouse is perhaps the king of cemetery sessions with reports from The Old Beaver Dam Cemetery, Nunica, Woodville Lake, the Ada Witch/Finlay Cemetery, Bath Cemetery, and others. Bath being the location of the worst school massacre in U.S. history.
Darren uses a simple approach to investigating the supernatural, asking a minimal number of questions with only one or two investigators. Collaborations have included Robert Walker of Michigander Man, scuba diving specialist Taff Williams, Brandon Hoezee of Kent County Paranormal, Jamie Rae Wonders, myself and others. He currently has been teaming up with Ali’s Vlogs T.V.
Dykhouse likes to keep it basic but does experiment with some modern devices and techniques, using his P-SB11 Spirit Box, proximity pods, Spiritus Whispering and Necrophonic phone apps, and on occasion utilizing the Estes Method. You can find his videos on You Tube and conversations with him on our show G.R.G.H.P.P. episodes 7, 14, 18, & 31 and Cryptic Frequencies’ first episode.
Dykhouse is empathic and like the rest of us he is sometimes haunted by doubts, sorrows, fears, and even loved ones. The ghost of Edgar Allan Poe’s lost love “Lenore” would have us believe, “’Tis the wind and nothing more.”
East Kentwood High School wresting co-head coach Eric Foster visits the set of WKTV Journal Sports Connection. (Falcons’ hockey head coach Phil Sweeney’s interview is later in this story.)
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal Sports Connection, as part of our continuing series of shows focused on different local high schools’ sports departments, we check in with the East Kentwood wrestling and hockey teams — both of which are dealing with pandemic-related restrictions and continued uncertainty.
Visiting the WKTV studios earlier this month were Falcon’s wresting co-head coach Eric Foster, and then hockey head coach Phil Sweeney. We talk with coach Foster and coach Sweeney about how their Falcon coaching staffs and teams are coping with the current pause in high school athletics, and about coaching in these unprecedented times.
But we also look ahead with hope, for lower COVID-19 numbers and the continuation of the current resumption of high school athletics — see a story on fall sports returning here — and we also get a peek from the coaches at their teams’ outlook for the 2020-21 season.
WKTV Journal Sports Connection, with this latest episode hosted by WKTV volunteer Cory Dalton, brings its audience interviews and stories focused on local Wyoming and Kentwood area high schools sports, both on cable television and on our on-demand and YouTube channels. Readers can catch up on all our local sports coverage by visiting wktvjournal.com/sports.
WKTV Journal Sports Connection is available on-demand, along with WKTV coverage of highs school athletic events and other sports, at WKTVlive.com. It also airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule). Individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal Sports Connection are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Access of West Michigan is one of the several food banks in Michigan and Indiana to benefit from SpartanNash and Miller Polury’s recent donation of more that 24,000 pounds of chicken.
Throughout December, SpartanNash and Miller Poultry teamed up to donate 8,000 pounds of chicken to Access of West Michigan and its network of local food pantries – including SECOM, Streams of Hope, St. Al’s and Green Apple; 9,200 pounds of chicken to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan; and 7,000 pounds of chicken to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana.
VG’s Grocery, Family Fare and Martin’s Super Market associates helped with the distribution of the donations.
In total, the 24,200 pounds of chicken will provide 96,800 meals this holiday season.
“We are proud to carry Miller Poultry in our company-owned retail stores throughout the Midwest – and we are excited to once again team up with them to provide food to families in need this holiday season,” said Meredith Gremel, vice president of corporate affairs and communications for SpartanNash and executive director of the SpartanNash Foundation. “As a company that takes food places, SpartanNash and the SpartanNash Foundation are committed to building stronger communities by ensuring families have access to healthy, affordable food.”
SpartanNash owns and operates more than 155 stores in nine states, including 18 Martin’s Super Markets in Indiana and 87 stores in Michigan under the banners of Ada Fresh Market, D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare, Forest Hills Foods, Martin’s Super Markets, VG’s Grocery and ValuLand.
SpartanNash and Miller Poultry have taken part in the annual holiday tradition for more than 10 years, donating nearly 300,000 pounds of chicken to help families in need throughout Michigan and Indiana.
“We are a local, family-owned company, and our culture has always revolved around supporting local family farms, and the communities in which we all live,” said Galen Miller, owner and CEO of Miller Poultry. “2020 has been a tough year for many of us, but through our partnership with SpartanNash, we were able to make these donations happen again this year, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share.”
Each year, SpartanNash donates more than five million pounds of food throughout its company footprint as part of its corporate responsibility initiatives, in addition to providing financial grants to food pantry partners through corporate giving initiatives and the SpartanNash Foundation.
After a state-mandated five-week “pause” in the state high school football playoffs, the South Christian High School Sailors are back on the practice field today and preparing for a regional final game at Edwardsburg on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021.
With action by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) on Dec. 18, announced by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and resulting action by the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) on that same day, football and two other high school fall sports are allowed to resume practice in preparation of finishing their seasons.
David Kool, South Christian athletic director, on the set of WKTV Journal Sports Connection. (WKTV)
“I have had a virtual meeting with the team since the news was announced and they are very excited,” Danny Brown, South Christian head football coach, said to WKTV. “I think excitement might be an understatement. We are also thankful for the opportunity to get closure on our season. These kids have sacrificed a lot to get us to this point and it is awesome they will have the chance to see their season all the way to the end.”
The Sailors (8-1, and 3-0 in the playoffs), have not played since Nov. 13, when they defeated Hamilton in a regional semifinal, and are scheduled to travel to Edwardsburg (8-0) for the regional final.
The MDHSS and Gov. Whitmer in mid-November, responding to COVID-19 pandemic statistical surges, banned in-school education for high schools and, as a result, put football, volleyball and girls swimming and diving teams into hiatus as their fall tournaments were in process.
The November order also put a pause on winter sports practices and competitions, including girls and boys basketball. Last week’s changes of state health department and MHSAA directions does not allow for resumption of basketball and other winter sports at this time.
A key element in resuming winter sports will likely be how the fall sports competitions operate with new pandemic related “rapid testing” protocols.
According to a MHSAA statement on Dec. 18. “teams and individuals still participating in tournament play will be allowed to do so as part of an MDHHS pilot rapid testing program designed to gain insight and collect data on the spread of COVID-19 as the MDHHS plans to provide expanded rapid testing availability to schools in January.”
At this point, the details of that rapid testing protocol are yet to come from the MDHSS and the MHSAA.
David Kool, South Christian athletic director, on the set of WKTV Journal Sports Connection. (WKTV)
“We don’t know the specifics yet of the pilot testing program that is going to be mandatory for our athletes but we look forward to complying with the MHSAA and MDHHS on this,” David Kool, South Christian athletic director said to WKTV. “We realize this is the only thing that gives the kids a chance to finish their season and we are really happy about that.”
The uncertainty is not diminishing the anticipation for the resumption of the Sailor’s state title drive, however.
“We are thrilled that the MHSAA announced the restart of the football playoffs,” Kool said. “Coach Brown, along with the rest of the staff and players, cannot wait to take the field on January 2nd at Edwardsburg. Amidst all of this chaos, this is a special opportunity that these kids will never forget and we are blessed to have another chance at finishing this season.”
And, after waiting more than a month not knowing if they would even get a change to get back on the field, coach Brown says his staff and team are ready for whatever comes.
“The testing part adds a whole new element to the situation but we are willing to do whatever it takes to get to the finish line,” Brown said.
Details of initial MHSAA restart plans
According both MHSAA Dec. 18 statement, football playoffs will begin Saturday, Jan. 2, with regional finals for 11-player teams and semifinals for 8-player teams. The 8-player championship games in both divisions and all 11-player semifinals will be played Saturday, Jan. 9. The football season will conclude with the 11-player finals in all divisions the weekend of Jan. 15-16. All semifinals in both 11 and 8-player will be played at home sites. Sites for championship games will be finalized and announced later.
In addition, the girls volleyball tournament will begin again with quarterfinals on Jan. 5, with semifinals and finals to be played Jan. 7-9 at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek. Also, the girls swimming and diving finals with return with its three Lower Peninsula finals competed during the weekend of Jan. 15-16, with one division at each of three locations.
“All previous safety protocols remain in place, and no spectators will be allowed at the fall tournament events,” according to the MHSAA statement. And “all indoor Winter sports — which are not part of the pilot rapid testing program — remain on pause from the MDHHS until Jan. 16, although girls and boys alpine skiing season — competed outdoors and following safety protocols including all activity must be outdoors — will be allowed to begin practice Monday, Dec. 21.”
The MHSAA Representative Council is expected to meet Tuesday, Dec. 22, to discuss details for the rest of winter sports. And all Spring 2021 sports are expected to begin on time and play complete seasons concluding with their traditional MHSAA tournament dates in May and June.
“I feel awesome,” declared Mary Wisinski, the first person at the Kent County Health Department to receive the Pfizer vaccine.
Distribution of the Pfizer vaccine is underway with the Kent County Health Department administering its first vaccine on Friday, Dec. 18, to Wisinski, the the department’s immunization program supervisor.
“This is an incredible day,” she said. “we’ve been working so hard to battle this virus, and some days, it felt like it got the best of us. This isn’t one of those days. This gives us hope — we’re going to beat this.”
Because Wisinski will lead the health department’s team of immunization nurses in administering the vaccine, she was among the first group deemed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to receive the vaccine.
“Stay Positive, Stay Heroic, Stay Healthy” is what the sticker from the Kent County Health Department says. (Photo courtesy Kent County Health Department)
The Kent County Health Department received 1,950 doses on Dec. 17 and will be administering those doses to individuals in the highest risk groups. which also includes Kent County area medical first responders.
Area Hospitals, such as Metro Health — University of Michigan Health, also began administering doses to its frontline healthcare workers. Metro Health began on Friday.
The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses that are administered 21 days apart. Most agencies, such as the Kent County Health Department, will receive its second does within three weeks.
Vaccines receive support
Both the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last week, received support from seven Catholic bishops in Michigan included Most Rev. David J. Walkowiak, Bishop of Grand Rapids.
The statement, which can be found at the Diocese of Grand Rapids website, states “It is morally permissible to receive the vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna. Neither of these vaccines have used cell lines originated in tissue taken from aborted babies in their deign, development and production. However, both Pfizer and Moderna vaccine did use such a cell line in the confirmatory testing. This connection to the abortion is very remote, however, it is important to keep in mind that there are varying levels of responsibility. Greater moral responsibility lives with the researchers than with those who receive the vaccine.”
The statement goes on that the Congregation for Doctrine of Faith indicates that it is morally permissible to be vaccinated if there are not alternatives and there are serious health risks as in the current COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of a consortium of West Michigan health departments and other health organizations, the Kent County Health Department announced the site VaccinateWestMI.com. The site is designed to provide information about vaccine availability, local distribution plans, safety and efficacy, and will be updated regularly as new information becomes available.
At 6 a.m. today, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health began to vaccinate its employees with the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19.
“This vaccine will provide much-needed protection for our employees , who serve on behalf of our community on the front lines of the pandemic,” said Metro Health – University of Michigan Health President and CEO Dr. Peter Hahn. “This is a breakthrough moment. This is how we start to turn the tide in our long battle with COVID-19.”
One of the first Metro Health staff to be vaccinated, Dr. Gabriel Pedraza, director of critical care at Metro Health, agreed with Hahn.
“I am going to fee a lot more comfortable treating my patients, my COVID patients,” Pedraza. Pedraza said he trusts the Center for Disease Control and knows that the Federal Drug and Food Administration would not have approved something that would put people at risk.
“Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation out there,” Pedraza said. “I have looked at some of the data. I trust the CDC. I trust the FDA. They are not going to release an unsafe vaccine.
A Metro Health – University of Michigan staff person shows her vaccine record. (Supplied)
“This is a big moment for our country and for us and I really highly recommend that we all get vaccinated. I did. I do what I preach and I think it is very important that we all do that. I recommend that everyone can, get vaccinated.”
The Pfizer vaccine was the first to be approved by the FDA on Dec. 11. Shipments of the vaccine, which is made in Kalamazoo, started leaving the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Airport on Monday. The vaccine arrived at Wyoming’s Metro Health – University of Michigan Health on Thursday.
“This generation’s greatest minds have been working tirelessly on vaccines from almost the moment the pandemic began,” he said. “Soon we will have to do our part, by being vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available to each of us.”
Hahn praised the historic scientific effort and rigorous evaluation that made a vaccine available this year.
Metro Health’s initial shipment was 975 doses, with more anticipated on a regular cadence over the weeks to come. Metro Health’s Human Resources team collected input from its own Infection Prevention experts and clinical leaders, along with guidance from the CDC, to develop tiers of vaccine distribution based on risk of exposure and role in daily operations.
“As vaccine supplies grow, we look forward to extending the vaccine’s protection beyond our walls by following the guidance of public health experts,” Hahn said. Hahn and other leaders plan to receive the vaccine as soon as they meet the distribution criteria.
“As an ICU physician and healthcare leader, I will urge everyone to do the same,” he said.
The City of Kentwood Police Department and Lacks Enterprises, Inc., both understand the importance of small businesses, including local eateries, to the community. And that is as true in normal times as it is in this time of COVID-19 dining restrictions.
So the Kentwood police community services team, led by Sgt. Tim Wierenga, had this idea to “showcase” local small business, to not only offer monetary support to eateries — on Dec. 16, Al-Bos and Daniele’s Pizzeria — but to provide a little holiday surprise to customers by paying for their take-out meal.
And Lacks was more than happy to support the cause, with a $1,000 donation to the initial “business showcase” pop-up event, with the money being split $500 each at the two eateries.
im Green, executive director of human resources at Lacks Enterprises, Inc. (WKTV)
“Lacks Enterprises believes you need a lot of different components to make a community a place for people to live and raise their families,” Jim Green, executive director of human resources at Lacks, said to WKTV that night at Daniele’s. “Kentwood is a fantastic community and we think it has all those components. It has excellent law enforcement, you’ve got great schools, you’ve got businesses like Lacks. But the real backbone of this community is the small businesses. Without that you would not have all the other things that make the community what it is today.”
The Kentwood police department and Lacks Enterprises welcome customers at Daniele’s Pizzeria … and a little surprise awaits them. (City of Kentwood)
A representative of both the Kentwood Police Department and Lacks Enterprises, Inc., spread holiday cheer and supported local restaurants at both Al-Bos and Daniele’s Pizzeria on Dec. 16, where unbeknownst to customers coming in for take-out orders at the eateries had their meals paid for.
Al-Bos is located at 2930 Shaffer Ave. SE, and Daniele’s Pizzeria at 1429 60th St. SE, both in Kentwood.
At Daniele’s Pizzeria, a customer got a little more than he ordered — like a free order. (City of Kentwood)
This week’s pop-up event is, hopefully, also just the beginning of what the police department hopes to be “a local business showcase series to support Kentwood businesses and create positive experiences with community members during these difficult times,” according to a supplied statement.
Throughout the local business showcase series, the department will use donations to highlight businesses within Kentwood — both those donating to the restaurants to create similar pop-up events and the local businesses supported by the donations.
“We just wanted to give our small businesses a little support,” Sgt. Wierenga said to WKTV. “What we’d like to see of this is (to continue) showcasing our business community and showcasing the city that we love. We would love for this to develop into something more. … We’d love to have some more show case events.”
Kentwood police Off. Jeff Augustyn was at Al-Bos. (City of Kentwood)
Sgt. Wierenga was at Daniele’s Pizzeria and Off. Jeff Augustyn was at Al-Bos, with representatives of Lacks also at each.
Local businesses interested in participating can call Sgt. Wierenga at 616-656-6561.
The Kent County Health Department announced this week that a consortium of West Michigan health departments, hospitals, healthcare providers, universities and others have launched a website where area residents can find the latest information about the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the Dec. 15 announcement, VaccinateWestMI.com is intended to be the “go to” site for information about vaccine availability, local distribution plans, safety and efficacy, and will be updated regularly as new information becomes available.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, highly effective and will be our best defense against the virus,” Dr. Adam London, director of the Kent County Health Department (KCHD), said in supplied material. “But it won’t be available to everyone immediately. It’s critical for the residents of West Michigan to have access to accurate, timely and consistent information about the vaccine so we can all do our part to slow the spread of the virus. That’s why we joined with partners throughout the region to launch this site.”
The Pfizer vaccine was the first to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use in the U.S. on Dec.11, and other vaccine approvals either have or are expected to follow.
But initial supplies are extremely limited. The first shipments arrived at area hospitals this week, with vaccinations starting with frontline health care workers. Workers and residents of long-term care facilities are also slated to be among the first to receive the vaccine, with other high-risk groups scheduled to follow.
As supplies of the vaccine increase, those at lower risk will qualify, and, according KCHD, “experts project all individuals 16 years and older will qualify to get vaccinated by mid- to late-2021.”
As vaccines become available, healthcare providers will distribute the vaccine according to the plans developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a national independent committee of medical and public health experts, according to the KCHD announcement.
VaccinateWestMI.com will be regularly updated as information becomes available, and visitors to the site can sign up for email updates on the vaccine.
Members of the consortium include: Kent County Health Department, Allegan County Health Department, Barry-Eaton District Health Department, Berrien County Health Department, District Health Department #10, Ionia County Health Department, Mid-Michigan District Health Department, Muskegon County Public Health, Ottawa County Department of Public Health, Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, Spectrum Health, Holland Hospital, Spectrum Health Lakeland, North Ottawa Community Hospital, Michigan Health & Hospital Association, Answer Health, Cherry Health, CVS Pharmacy, Kent County Emergency Medical Services, SpartanNash, We Are For Children, Calvin University, Grand Valley State University and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
This is one of two cars the Wyoming Department of Public Safety is seeking information about. This is a Black BMW 5 Series. (Wyoming Department of Public Safety)
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety continues to investigate the Nov. 27 homicide of Cynthia McCoy, 34 year-old mother of four children. Investigators have identified two vehicles of interest in the investigation and are asking the public for help in identifying the owner’s and/or drivers of these vehicles.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety or Silent Observer.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 27, the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the reports of gunshots fired and a person down on the sidewalk in the 900 block of Burton St. SW.
This is one of two cars the Wyoming Department of Public Safety is seeking information about. This is a Gray Chevy Malibu with Black Rims. (Wyoming Department of Public Safety)
The initial investigation indicates that 34-year-old female was walking on the sidewalk when she was shot. The victim was transported to a local area hospital where she was was pronounced deceased. After shooting the victim, the suspect fled the area on foot. The suspect is described as an unknown race male, 5’10” – 6’2” tall, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt and blue face mask.
Anyone with information on this homicide is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7366 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
During a recent visit to the studio of WKTV Journal In Focus, we talked with Antonio (Tony) Evans, a vocational trainer for Bethany Christian Services of Michigan, about the history of Bethany and some of its West Michigan services — especially its upcoming work funded by a Kent County Community Violence Prevention Grant.
But for Evans, it is clear that his work for Bethany Christian Services is more than simply providing any one service or fulfilling one grant action requirement.
“In order to work for Bethany Christian, in order to work for Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation, it’s not a job, it’s a way of life,” Evans said to WKTV. “You have to be entrenched in it. … Our center is one of those spots where, whatever you need, we are going to help you.”
Bethany Christian Services of Michigan, part of a national group with several West Michigan locations including in Wyoming and Kentwood, has been approved for a Community Violence Prevention grant of nearly $150,000 to, quoting from the group’s application, “take a multi-acton approach at crime prevention by increasing opportunities, information, and activities to those within the south Grand Rapids’ 49507 zip code” — an area that borders both Wyoming and Kentwood.
For more information about Bethany Christian Services, visit bethany.org.
Antonio (Tony) Evans, left, a vocational trainer for Bethany Christian Services of Michigan, recently visited the set of WKTV Journal In Focus and talked with host Ken Norris. (WKTV)
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
There are telling signs of a person who has never had to visit a food pantry.
“People will bring their income statements to show they are in need,” said Family Network of Wyoming Executive Director Karrie Brown. “I even had one woman bring all her family member’s social security cards. I tell people I don’t need to see them. I just need to know they are in need and that they live within Wyoming (the food pantry’s service area.)”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic and statewide shutdown in March, Brown has seen a lot of new people — many who never thought they would need help from a food pantry — come to the Family Network of Wyoming, located off of 44th Street.
“We have had so many people come through our drive thru that we have had cars backing up on to 44th street,” Brown said, adding that the parking lot at Family Network is fairly deep with it being able to accommodate two circle of cars.
Usually averaging about a 1,000 participants a month, the pantry saw some of its largest numbers in April as people waited for unemployment checks. Now that may are still waiting for the next round of stimulus money and the holidays around the corner, numbers are once again on the rise. This August had almost a 40 percent increase in participants over August 2019.
With the increased need, Family Network of Wyoming has been receiving an increase in assistance. Most recently with a partnership with the Wyoming Family Fare located at 2775 Health Dr. SW. Through donations, Family Network is hoping to provide 130 meals to area families. Donations are being received through Dec. 15 and will be used to purchase a holiday meal of turkey or ham plus sides and dessert. To donate, visit www.fntw.org/donate.
Other assistance has come in the form of grant funds from the Wyoming Community Foundation and federal CARES Act dollars distributed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners earlier this year.
The organization was one of two organizations to split a $5,000 grant from the Wyoming Community Foundation with United Church Outreach Ministries (UCOM). The money, Brown said will be used to create a mini shopping experience for those who come to the pantry. That project has been put on hold due to the pandemic. For now, items are pre-boxed and distributed to those waiting in their cars.
Family Network of Wyoming also was one of 112 non-profits to qualify to receive funding for the Kent County Non-Profit Organization COVID-19 Grant Fund. Earlier this year, the Kent County Board of Commissioners allocated $9.5 million federal CARES Act dollars to the grant fund. The funding is intended to assist local local 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) nonprofit health and human service organizations located within Kent County serving individuals and communities that have been directly affected by COVID-19 and continued to provide services throughout the pandemic.
With the pandemic, Family Network of Wyoming, like many area food pantries, have seen an increase in need. (WKTV)
Family Network of Wyoming was part of the first round of recipients receiving $50,000 which Brown said was used for food purchases and personal hygiene products.
“Here I go again talking about the need for toilet paper,” Brown said. Because personal hygiene projects like toilet paper do not expire such as food items, it is difficult for many food pantries to get the items donated.
“This way we were able to purchase the items and were able to give those who came a package of toilet paper along with other hygiene needs,” Brown said. The money also was used to purchase food from Feeding America and from Farm Link, which offers fresh food from local farmers.
The need continues to grow as more and more families feel the trickling effects of the pandemic with businesses trimming costs and/or closing. Brown said about 70 percent of the people who come to Family Network of Wyoming are families with school age children.
Along with that, many school grab and go programs will be closed during the holidays, Brown said, making the partnership with Family Fare even more meaningful as well as a recent partnership with the YMCA, which is distributing lunches for children to local agencies.
Those in need are encouraged to text or call 211, which offers a number of services including help with food insecurities. Also residents, may visit any local food pantry which will help them connect to the right program.
With another Great Lakes winter already upon West Michigan, and the official beginning of the season coming next week on Dec. 21, cold temperatures are already impacting local households.
So, Consumers Energy recently announced 10 safety and savings tips to help Michiganders conquer winter weather.
“Following these simple yet important tips can help ensure Michigan residents remain safe during the heating season and save money on energy bills,” according to the statement.
First, and maybe foremost in some households, help is available for those finding it difficult to pay energy bills. Consumers Energy this fall gave $12 million to help households and small businesses with their energy bills, according to the statement. Contact 2-1-1 to find out what resources within your community are available to help with energy, housing, transportation and other needs.
Energy savings opportunities
Consumers Energy is offering free smart thermostats to households and small businesses to help them reduce costs. Smart thermostats can help customers save 10 percent or more on energy bills, reduce energy waste and help the electric grid by reducing energy use during times when demand for energy is highest, according to the statement.
The free thermostats are available to businesses that Consumers Energy serves. Businesses can see if they qualify at ConsumersEnergy.com/marketplace, where they can also purchase other energy-saving products. Residential customers can see if they qualify by visiting ConsumersEnergyStore.com.
Other cost-saving tips include: change your furnace filter monthly during winter months, especially with pets in the home; seal air leaks around windows and doors coming into your home with weather stripping and caulk; let drapes hang loose but make sure they don’t block heat registers and air-return ducts, and close registers/ducts in unused rooms.
Also, if working/learning from home due to COVID-19, regularly unplug electronic devices when not in use, or use a smart power strip. Devices that continue to draw power when they appear to be turned off can cost up to $200 annually in wasted energy, according to Consumers Energy.
Heating safety advice
Consumers Energy recommends households install an audible UL listed carbon monoxide alarm. Poisonings from this colorless, odorless toxic gas are most prevalent in the winter when furnaces are operational, and doors and windows are shut, according to the statement.
In addition, make sure furnaces are operating efficiently and safely by having them inspected and tuned by a qualified professional annually; keep flammable materials such as clothing and boxes well away from the furnace; keep space heaters away from curtains, furniture, clothing and other flammable materials; and unplug space heaters before leaving the room or going to sleep.
Also, in the category if “strongly recommends,” never use a stovetop or oven or charcoal grill to heat your home; and never use a generator inside a home, basement or garage — keep them outdoors at least 25 feet from the home.
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health is realizing its vision of taking health care to a better place as proven by the recent award of an “A” rating by the Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Grade.
“We are honored to receive an A rating from the esteemed Leapfrog Group,” said Stacie Bommersbach, Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health. “The dedication and commitment of our staff are what led to this achievement.”
For the last 20 years, the Leapfrog Group has given ratings to hospitals for their efforts to take “giant leaps forward in the quality and safety” of health care for the communities they serve. This nonprofit leader reviews more than 2,600 hospitals nationwide for their commitments to patient safety and reducing errors, infections and injuries.
The Hospital Safety Grade is the only independent ratings program that focuses exclusively on how hospitals work to keep their patients safe. Patients and families more than ever turn to the Hospital Safety Grade to make their healthcare decisions. A study by the Altarum Institute found, when given the choice of selecting a hospital based on safety or cost, consumers will choose the safer hospital 97 percent of the time.
“Keeping our patients safe has been a top priority during this pandemic,” said Bommersbach. “This honor demonstrates the tremendous team effort in place at Metro Health to continually improve the care our patients receive.”
Please visit metrohealth.net/covid-19-updates for the most up-to-date information from the CDC and resources to protect yourself and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Kent County Health Department and area hospitals, in a joint statement released today, Dec. 14, continue to urge residents to stay home for the upcoming December holidays. As of Dec. 14, Kent County has surpassed 35,800 total cases with a 14.7 percent positivity rate in the last seven days.
“We are making progress, but need to work together to continue to reduce the positivity rate and to reduce the spread and the strain on our hospitals and health care workers,” Darryl Elmouchi, MD, president of Spectrum Health West Michigan, said in supplied material. “We will continue to move this in the right direction by not traveling or gathering with people outside our immediate family.”
While it may be difficult to miss traditional holiday celebrations, the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) statement stressed “the importance of staying home and avoiding any kind of travel and group gatherings in order to avoid an even more devastating spike after the new year.”
The local “I love you so” holiday advertising campaign, which the health department and hospital partners launched in November, will extend to encompass all holidays through the end of the year.
The message builds on the sentiment, “I love you SO I’m staying home,” acknowledging the desire to be with loved ones over the holidays but also to protect them from the spread of the coronavirus.
Kent County is seeing more than 500 new coronavirus cases each day, according to the statement, and “the volume of cases has put a significant strain on local hospitals and frontline healthcare providers, and it has made it impossible for public health investigators and contact tracers to effectively do their jobs.”
With the contract tracing system under strain, the risk of community spread is increased because some people may not know they need to quarantine.
“Residents helped a lot by celebrating Thanksgiving with only people inside of their immediate households,” Hyung Kim, MD, president of Mercy Health Saint Mary’s said in supplied material. “Since infection rates, hospitalizations and mortality are still high, I hope people will stay strong in the upcoming holidays and avoid gathering with people outside their immediate households. We are far from being in the clear from COVID.”
At an early age, singer/songwriter Netty Bruce Manga, stage name Ney-T, discovered he had a knack for music as he was able to distinguish the different parts of harmony.
From the West African nation of Senegal (bordered by Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Gambia, and Mauritania), Manga recently sat down with Feel Like You Belong host to talk about his home country and his “passion for the rhythms of life.”
Netty Bruce Manga (WKTV)
Manga said that his mother was directing him more to what people call “respected jobs” such as a lawyer or engineer.
“But when I discovered my passion for music, it was a very big discussion,” Manga said during the interview.
Manga continued to head down a different career path until he bought himself his first guitar while in college. It was with that guitar that he discovered just how much music meant to him and that he needed to follow the calling.
Hosting Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Paranormal Podcast and Cryptic Frequencies Blog Talk Radio show has introduced me to the spooky, weird, and strange world that surrounds us here in our Great Lake State. Michigan measures very high on the mysterious meter with Bigfoot, Dogman, and lake monster sightings, significant UFO sightings, haunted ships and lighthouses, roads, cemeteries, libraries, and museums. We profile mysterious people and places, authors and investigating teams and it’s my pleasure to share some supernatural insights, starting with one of our all-time favorite guests, Shetan Noir.
Noir recently joined us for a special WKTV, The Whole Picture Podcast Halloween episode #34 where we discussed urban legends and superstitions. We opened with the poem “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by A.H. Schacknofsky and co-host Brandon Hoezee offered insights into the half-truths and his own family connections to the legend of the headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow.
Guest Shetan Noir dresses as a green mermaid during the Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Paranormal Podcast special Halloween edition. (WKTV)
Co-host Kim Kolean presented evidence of the Allegan County “Melon Heads” with a disturbing photo image of what they might have looked like. The show also featured two of Noir’s books, “Lake Monsters and Odd Creatures of the Great Lakes” and “Mothman and Other Flying Creatures of the Midwest.” She shared an incredibly fascinating story of the Lake Superior Mermaid while dressed in costume as a shimmering green dragon lady.
My first encounter with Noir was during the 2018 Michigan’s Ghost Coast Paranormal Convention in Grand Haven. Noir was one of the featured speakers and during the day she asked to interview our team for her podcast Into the Liminal Abyss. Noir is an author and a journalist who has spent 25 years researching the paranormal in the field of cryptozoology, the search for or study of animals whose existence is disputed or unsubstantiated.
Currently Noir is the lead investigator for the Michigan Chapter of the North American Dogman Project as well as research into Lake Monsters, Mothman, Bigfoot, Nain Rouge. While ghost hunting might have been enough to keep most people busy, Noir found time to author several books. Noir’s amazing research chronicles actual eye witness accounts, historical testimony, real world explanations, hoaxes, fossil evidence, and artistic renditions of what these monsters might have looked like with detailed descriptions. Noir’s extensive research documents evidence of hundreds of people experiencing strange creatures at the same time with very similar descriptions by reputable well respected citizens, police, sea captains and crews, and collectively challenges the true definition of cryptozoology.
For more about Noir and her work, listen to the Grand Rapids Ghost hunters Paranormal Podcast at the WKTV Journal or on Facebook at The Whole Picture Podcasts.
GG Reindeer Farm will be open this Saturday to visit the reindeer.
Visit the Reindeer
Bring the family out this weekend and meet the reindeer at the GG Reindeer Farm, 3754 76th St. SE, Caledonia. Guests can feed apples to the reindeer and take pictures on Santa’s sleigh. It is free to visit but donations are appreciated and all events will be held outside. The reindeer will be taking visitors Saturday, Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The reindeer visits will take place Saturday, Dec. 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again on Friday, Dec. 25, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here for more information.
The Crowds: The New Age will be at The Getty Drive-In this weekend. (DreamWorks)
Go to the Drive-In
It will be Christmas movie overload this weekend at the Getty Drive-In, 920 E. Summit Ave., Muskegon. Saturday will be ‘The Croods: A New Age” / “The Christmas Chronicles 2” and “Die Hard” / “All My Life,” and Sunday will include “Die Hard” / “All My Life,” and “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” / “Elf.” Movie time is 5:30 p.m. with tickets starting at $6.50. Children 5 and under are free.
Area restaurants have come up with creative ways to provide outdoor seating. (Photo by Experience GR)
Eating in a bubble
Oh we are all so tired of eating at home so area restaurants are providing an alternative: creative outdoor dining experiences. These experiences range from enclosed patios to eating in mini-outdoor domes and bubbles. Many of the locations are heated and often require reservations. As one person put it, “when are you going to get a chance to eat out like this in the dead of winter?” So snap up the opportunity and support those local restaurants. For a complete list of outdoor venues, visit Experience GR.
Fun Fact: KFC for Christmas dinner
In America, traditional Christmas dinner can range from turkey to cold cuts, but rarely does it include Kentucky Fried Chicken. However, in Japan KFC is the meal of choice for the holiday. The story is: hoping to establish KFC in the Japanese market, the manager of the first KFC marketed the fried chicken “party barrels” as a substitute to the American Christmas dinner of turkey. In 1974, KFC picked up the campaign and as Christmas became more popular in Japan, KFC became the holiday dinner of choice. Today, it is estimated 3.6 million Japanese families treat themselves to KFC on Christmas and is about five percent of Japan’s KFC’s annual revenue. Japan is third in sales for KFC behind the United States and China.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport has become one of the first airports in the nation to be a COVID-19 testing site.
Through a partnership with TACKL Health, the drive-up, no-appointment-needed site will offer both rapid antigen tests, which provide results in 15 minutes, and molecular PCR tests, which provide results in 24-48 hours. The testing site will initially be open from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Those wishing to be tested do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms or a doctor’s referral.
“As we head deeper into the holiday season, we hope this service will give community members greater peace of mind before traveling or visiting loved ones,” said Stephen Clark, director of business development for the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “With so many test sites in West Michigan overloaded, this new site should help increase testing capabilities, especially for those who might not otherwise qualify.
“The site is open to all in the community, not just those traveling through the Ford Airport. For our passengers, we hope the tests will let them fly more confidently. We look forward to partnering with TACKL to offer this service to the community.”
Airport officials emphasized how the onsite COVID testing will be particularly helpful for business travelers visiting international destinations where the PCR molecular test is required before entry.
“We know our business community is anticipating a return to international travel in the coming year, so having resources at the Airport to make their journey easier will be critical in the coming months,” Clark said. “Armed with test results, travelers will be able to board a flight in West Michigan with the confidence they can meet screening requirements in the country of their final destination.”
Testing will take place in the Airport’s economy lot and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. When guests arrive, they will need to fill out an intake form using a QR code. If they are unable to access the form or need assistance, a technician will be available at the testing site.
TACKL does not accept health insurance so the testing will be out-of-pocket. Cost for the testing will be $75 for the rapid antigen, $125 for the molecular PCR or $160 for both tests.
There will be a changing of the guard at the leadership of the City of Kentwood’s 62-B District Court this month as Amanda Sterkenburg will be sworn into the post and will take over for retiring long-time Judge William G. Kelly on Jan. 1, 2021.
And the public is invited to witness the changeover with two virtual ceremonies.
Judge-elect Sterkenburg’s investiture is set for Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m., with the swearing-in ceremony to be fittingly conducted by Judge Kelly. Members of the community are invited to attend via Zoom (Meeting ID 4280940961) or on the 62-B District Court’s YouTube channel.
Then, on Wednesday, Dec. 30, also at 3 p.m., the public is invited to attend Judge Kelly’s virtual retirement celebration via Zoom (Meeting ID 4280940961) or also on the court’s YouTube channel. The event will include remarks by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack and other distinguished speakers.
Judge Kelly, In Focus, from August 2020. (WKTV)
Kelly has served the Kentwood community as the city’s first and only district court judge since 1979. He was elected in November 1978, following his father, Joseph Kelly, who served as Kentwood’s municipal judge from 1971-79. In 2014, he was re-elected for his seventh and final six-year term. The district court judge leads a team of nearly 25 court personnel.
In August, WKTV Journal In Focus talked with Judge Kelly about his years on the bench and his retirement. See the video here.
“Judge Kelly has been an invaluable asset to Kentwood and the West Michigan area,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “His dedication to our community has been demonstrated by his service on the bench along with his many accomplishments for our court system. We wish Judge Kelly the best as he moves into retirement and we sincerely thank him for his leadership in directing Kentwood’s 62-B District Court for these past 42 years.”
During his tenure, Judge Kelly instituted several programs, including the Sobriety Court and meditation of small claims cases. Kelly also conducted more than 4,000 weddings throughout his time as district court judge.
Additionally, Kelly explored ways technology could better serve the justice system and Kentwood community. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, 62-B District Court quickly adapted and created a virtual court on Zoom with a livestream on its YouTube Channel. Kelly also has worked with the Supreme Court to implement a paperless system throughout the state to begin in the near future.
“I have been fortunate to have had a great law career,” Judge Kelly said in supplied material. “I have loved serving this community for so many years and I am grateful for all the opportunities that have helped me become a better judge. We have a great team at 62-B District Court, and I look forward to seeing the court’s future accomplishments and growth.”
Handing the gavel to the next judge
With the new year, Sterkenburg will lead preside over the 62-B District Court for a six-year term after being elected to the post in November. (To see her WKTV We The People candidate video, visit here.)
The 62-B District Court settles disputes, processes criminal charges and manages legal appeals. Common offenses heard by a district court judge include operating while intoxicated, domestic violence and retail fraud less than $1,000. The court also conducts weddings, maintains legal records and provides resources for community members.
Judge-elect Amanda Sterkenburg (City of Kentwood)
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our community in this capacity,” Sterkenburg said in supplied material. “As 62-B District Court judge, I will remain committed to ensuring well-reasoned sentences, proportionate punishment and fair rulings that reflect the unique circumstances of every matter that comes before me.”
Sterkenburg has represented criminal and civil defendants, landlords, tenants and litigants with many different types of claims throughout her career as an attorney, according to supplied material. Her experience includes successful jury trials on assault, theft and retail fraud offenses. She has more than 90 hours of mediation training and has handled matters in many local circuit and district courts, including the 62-B District Court.
Sterkenburg is active in many local organizations, including the Kentwood Aquatics Club, Glenwood Elementary Parent-Teacher Council, Kentwood Baseball League and Mediation Services of Ottawa and Allegan counties. She and her family attend Kentwood Community Church.
The 62-B District Court judgeship must go to a Kentwood resident.
“We are delighted to welcome Judge-elect Sterkenburg to the 62-B District Court,” Mayor Kepley said. “I have confidence she will follow in Judge Kelly’s footsteps in demonstrating outstanding dedication to justice and service to the Kentwood community.”
Sterkenburg graduated cum laude from Franklin College and Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Drawn to the “diversity and opportunity in Kentwood,” Sterkenburg moved to the city with her two children almost 10 years ago, according to supplied material.
On this holiday episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, we catch up with the Santa Claus Girls, a local non-profit which has been a Christmastime staple in West Michigan for more than 100 years. . . . Until this year.
This holiday season, instead of being bustling preparing thousands of gifts for local children in need, the group and its army of volunteers are quiet due to the pandemic and due to its loss of home facility.
But late last month In Focus caught up with the group for a video report. First we will offer a recent WKTV short video about the Santa Claus Girls, then we talk with Maggie Moerdyke, Interim President of Santa Claus Girls. She tell us about what led to the group’s decision to suspend operations in 2020, and it is not just due to the pandemic.
We will also talk about the current and future needs of the group, as well as their hope for a better 2021.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Ready by Five early childhood support programs are funded by a countywide milage passed in 2018 and provides programs that improve the health, school readiness, and well-being of children under age five. (First Steps Kent)
The goal of the ongoing Ready by Five early childhood support programs, funded by a countywide milage passed in 2018, is to provide “dedicated and sustainable funding for programs that improve the health, school readiness, and well-being of children under age five.”
And a key element of achieving that goal — to “increase their likelihood of success in school and beyond” — is to get parental involvement for the various Ready by Five programs, especially within at-risk families.
So, acting last week on the recommendation of First Steps Kent, the Kent County Board of Commissioners approved allocation of nearly $6 million in Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage funds with the largest among them going to a group working to gain engagement of the parents involved with the Child Welfare System.
The West Michigan Partnership for Children’s Parent Engagement Program — which includes efforts at “engaging, involving and equipping parents involved with the Child Welfare System” — was awarded just over $600,000 for a two-year funding cycle.
In all, $5,775,015 in Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage funds were allocated for 2021. The millage is funded by a .25 mil property tax increase passed in 2018 that was expected to generate about $5.7 million a year from 2019 to 2024.
A Ready by Five kid, preparing for the future. (First Steps Kent)
“Our Board is committed to assuring these funds are distributed equitably throughout the county,” Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt said to WKTV. “The Ready by Five millage was voted on by Kent County residents who confirmed that it is imperative we embrace the diverse needs of our community.”
The review process included action by the Ready by Five Resident Proposal Review Board, which included members of the Board of Commissioners, Phil Skaggs and Monica Sparks, as well as Dr. Juan Olivarez, of First Steps Kent Commission; Sandra Ghoston-Jones, of the Kent County Administrator’s Office; and early childhood expert Joanne Kelty.
Another example of seeking to gain parental involvement in all levels of the Ready by Five effort is that the proposal review board includes four diverse “Parent Representatives” from different parts of Kent County.
“I am honored to serve on the Ready by Five Review Board,” Kent County Commissioner Sparks said to WKTV. “This is a very serious commitment as it will have a measurable and lasting impact on our children and families. We are working very hard to provide equitable resources to ensure the future success of our entire community.”
In total, the Ready by Five Resident Proposal Review Committee reviewed 18 proposals submitted to First Steps Kent for this funding cycle, and recommended funding 12. The latest recommended amounts are in addition to the 27 contracts currently in place with service providers.
In addition to the West Michigan Partnership for Children’s funding of $600,900 ($294,924 in fiscal year 2021 and $305,976 in 2022), another notable allocation was a Fetal Infant Mortality Review project by the Kent County Health Department ($264,005 over two years), and interpretation and translation services contracts with Bethany Christian Services, Hispanic Center of West Michigan and Liaison Linguistics ($210,000, with $70,000 each over two years).
First Steps Kent will receive $396,399.95 for administration of Ready by Five programs in 2021. First Steps Kent is, according to its website, “an independent nonprofit organization that works with parents, service providers, funders, advocates, and other stakeholders to build a comprehensive early childhood system in Kent County.”
For more information on First Steps Kent and Ready by Five, visit firststepskent.org.
Over the weekend, my daughter came home to announce “It’s back.”
“What’s back?” I asked.
“The Christmas tree, or bush, along M-6,” she responded.
If you drive along M-6, between the US-131 interchange onto M-6 and the entrance/exit ramps off of M-6 to Kalamazoo Avenue, there is a good size bush growing in the median of the highway. Sure enough, it has been decorated with red tinsel, a few bulbs, and solar power lights.
Michigan Department of Transportation oversees the care and maintenance of M-6. MDOT staff said they didn’t know anything about the decorated bush but that members of the department noticed it was decorated a few weeks ago. According to my daughter, the bush also was decorated last year as well with the decorations coming down around mid-January.
MDOT staff said the lights worked, however; we drove-by at night and the lights were not workin. Solar power lights can be that way, work one night and not the next.
As to who decorated it, well that probably will remain a mystery as much as the monolith found in Utah, Romina, and now California, but as one MDOT staff said “I admire the trimmer’s holiday spirt and appreciate their enthusiasm.”
