WKTV Government 26 features NASA programming (Courtesy, NASA)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
On Wednesday, Sept. 27, the Soyuz MS-23 Spacecraft will return to earth carrying NASA Flight Engineer Frank Rubio, Commander Sergey Prokopyev and Flight Engineer Dmitri Petelin, cosmonauts from Roscosmos.
Roscosmos cosmonauts will return home after a year working aboard the International Space Station (Courtesy, NASA)
The trio has spent the last year working aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and are now turning their attention to their trip home. The cosmonauts recently spent time checking out the Sokol launch and entry suits they will wear inside the spacecraft.
Live coverage of the Soyuz MS-23 hatch closing begins at 12 a.m. with the actual closing scheduled for 12:20 a.m. The undocking of the spacecraft from the ISS is scheduled for 3:51 a.m. with coverage starting at 3:30 a.m.
Live coverage continues at 6 a.m. for the deorbit burn and landing near Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. The burn is scheduled for 6:20 a.m. with the landing scheduled to take place at 7:14 a.m.
For more information on NASA TV or the International Space Station, visit www.nasa.gov.
NASA TV can be seen on the WKTV 26 Government Channel on Comcast and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.
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.
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
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 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.
What’s Your Story: Write Michigan’s annual short story contest provides a chance for all ages to be published and win money (Courtesy, Kent District Library)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
Michigan writers of all ages are invited to enter the 12th annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest.
Kent District Library is pleased to present this annual contest that drew 1,250 entries in 2022. The Write Michigan contest offers separate categories for youth, teens and adults. Winning entries will be published, and the top writers will receive cash prizes.
“This contest gives writers the opportunity to reach their goal of getting published,” said Katie Zuidema, Marketing Communications Specialist at KDL. “Not only do writers have the chance to win $500, but their story could also be available to the masses on bookstore and library shelves across the state.”
Winners of the Write Michigan contest will be published and earn cash prizes (Courtesy, Kent District Library)
Stories can be submitted at writemichigan.org through Thursday, Nov. 30. Details include a 3,000-word maximum length; $10 entry fee for ages 18 and above, free for 17 and under; current Michigan residents only; all entries must be submitted online.
Three cash prizes will be given in each of the three categories ― Judges’ Choice ($500), Readers’ Choice ($250) and Judges’ Choice Runner-up ($250). The top ten stories in each category will be reviewed by a panel of judges comprised of published authors, editors, professors and literary agents. A public vote will determine the winners of Readers’ Choice.
Gary Schmidt, multiple award-winning author and Michigan resident, will be the keynote speaker at the 2024 Write Michigan awards ceremony in March. Schmidt will also be writing the foreword to the anthology, which is published by Chapbook Press.
“Write Michigan is truly a statewide effort,” says Josh Mosey, one of the organizers of the contest. “Kent District Library couldn’t put on the short story contest without our partners, including Schuler Books, Michigan Learning Channel, Capital Area District Library and Canton Public Library.”
Those who enjoy reading stories are encouraged to sign up to be a volunteer story reviewer at writemichigan.org/volunteer.
Those interested can join an online community of writers through Facebook (facebook.com/WriteMichigan) and Instagram (@write.michigan). Get encouragement, writing tips, challenges and more while you plot out your award-winning short story.
Kent District Library is offering a programming series geared towards writers and aspiring writers, covering topics like getting published, freelance writing, self-editing and creating compelling characters. For more details, including dates, times and locations, visit writemichigan.org/writers-conference.
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.
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!
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.
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back this week!
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!
Rylan and Matthias Granderson handle the left side of the offensive line. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
By Zach Fanko
WKTV Contributor
The opening kickoff of the season didn’t go according to plan for East Kentwood, as Hartland returned it all the way back for a touchdown putting the Falcons in an early 7-0 hole on Thursday.
Definitely not how EK wanted to start their season, but the team remained focused and poised according to East Kentwood Coach Tony Kimbrough.
“I turned to our sideline and told the team it’s just one score,” Kimbrough said. “When something like that happens you have two options, let it bring you down or have it bring us together.
“To our credit we remained poised and confident in the game plan.”
East Kentwood quarterback Casey Joppie. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
Senior QB Casey Joppie, in his third season as the starter, led the Falcons right back down the field to even the game at seven apiece.
EK’s defense was stout throughout, allowing just a field goal the rest of the half as the Falcons enjoyed a 28-10 advantage at halftime. Senior LB/RB Stellan Bowman, who previously committed to the University of Ohio, is expected to have a big year after earning All-State honors a season ago.
“He’s a big part of what we do defensively,” Kimbrough said. “His experience and never-ending motor is a huge asset for us.”
With severe weather effecting most of the state on Thursday, the EK-Hartland matchup was not immune to the storms rolling through Michigan as the game was postponed in the third quarter and later declared final in favor of the Falcons 35-10.
“There was a chance to finish the game, but we came to a mutual decision that it was best to call it a game,” Kimbrough said. “Very pleased with our team’s effort to open the season.”
East Kentwood (1-0) will have a stiffer challenge next week as they host Byron Center (1-0) in WKTV’s Game of the Week on Thursday Aug. 31 at 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs downed Battle Creek Central 55-14 in their opener. Byron Center finished the 2022 season at 7-3 and qualified for the state playoffs.
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back this week!
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!
Utility companies work to restore power to over 374K customers after severe storms sweep through Michigan (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
Widespread damage extends over Michigan after severe storms and suspected tornados tear across the state on Aug. 25.
75-mph winds left 374,000 Michigan utility customers without power on Friday, Aug. 25, from Grand Rapids to the southeast side of the state.
The storm damaged structures, took down trees and power lines, and resulted in closed roads for several hours.
The Grand Rapids National Weather Service reported that officials will be in the field Friday to conduct damage surveys on tornadoes suspected in central Kent County and northeast Ingham County.
Storms took down trees, power lines, and damaged structures (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
Power outages can cause food spoilage, water contamination, disrupt communication and transportation, and prevent use of medical devices. Loss of power can also restrict consumer access to ATMs, banks, grocery stores, and other services.
Here are some safety tips provided by ready.gov in case of power outage:
Check with local officials about heating and cooling locations open near you, and go to a community location with power if heat or cold is extreme.
Keep freezers and refrigerators closed to prevent food spoilage.
Donot use a gas stove or oven to heat your home.
Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges – power may return with momentary surges or spikes that can cause damage.
Have alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or using power-dependent medical devices.
Use a generator, but ONLY outdoors and away from windows.
Generators can be helpful when the power goes out, but it is important to know how to use them safely to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and other hazards.
Generators and fuel should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages.
Install working carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill you, your family and pets.
Keep the generator dry and protected from rain or flooding. Touching a wet generator or devices connected to one can cause electrical shock.
Always connect the generator to appliances with heavy-duty extension cords.
Let the generator cool before refueling. Fuel spilled on hot engine parts can ignite.
15,000+ collector/sports/antique cars, two days, 17 hours, five cities, 13 miles, and hundreds of public and private events will descend upon 28th Street and the surrounding areas on Aug. 25 and 26.
An estimated 200,000 people participate in Metro Cruise related events during this annual two day event.
Since its inception in 2005, Metro Cruise has been a consistent celebration of cars, local business, great food, and family and friends while also continuing the car culture known in the Grand Rapids area.
A new era
Previously owned by the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce, Metro Cruise has recently come under new ownership through a privately owned entity.
Despite the change in proprietorship, Wyoming Police Lt. Andrew Koeller said, “The Wyoming Police and the City of Wyoming are providing the same services we have traditionally provided.”
Rogers Plaza mall parking lot in Wyoming is always a focal point for the 28th Street Metro Cruise. (WKACC)
Wyoming Police Department is staffing Metro Cruise with assistance from the Michigan State Police, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Grandville Police, Walker Police, Kentwood Police, and Wyoming Fire Department.
Eventgoers can expect to see WYPD in marked police vehicles, police motorcycles, on bicycles, and on foot.
“The Wyoming Police Department is committed to providing a safe environment during the event for all to enjoy,” said Koeller.
Take a quick Pit Stop
“We are very excited to announce a feature of Metro Cruise we know you’ll love,” the Metro Cruise website states. “There are now more ways than ever to enjoy your favorite auto event.”
Three Pit Stop sites have been added to Metro Cruise. These sites will be smaller, more specialized, and offer easier access than the Main Event sites at Woodland Mall and Rogers Plaza.
Hosting a minimum of four key features – collector car club(s), food vendor(s), official Metro Cruise merchandise, and an entertainment feature – each Pit Stop site will be open to the public with space for free parking.
Popular events
The Metro Cruise Dust Off kicks off the event series each year (WKTV)
Official event times are 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26. The Official Cruise time down 28th Street at 4 p.m. on Saturday. However, it is not unusual to see classic cars cruising along 28th Street all weekend long.
The Woodland Mall Main Event location will offer several family-friendly activities such as live music, Car Smash, RC Car building and racing, a climbing wall, a scavenger hunt, and much more.
Also featured at the Woodland Mall will be the annual DreamWheels Red Carpet Classic Car Show on Saturday from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This premiere event allows audience members to gather along a 135 foot red carpet as beautiful classic cars are revealed and roll by.
Rogers Plaza is the second Main Event location and will also provide live music, various family-friendly activities, the DYNO area, Miss Metro Cruise Finale competition, and the Wyoming High School Color Guard and Drumline.
Plan your visit
Metro Cruise Information Tents at the Main Event sites will have free, full color, printed programs. A full list of events and times can also be found here.
Gene Billings and daughter Cathe DeLaney, Metro Cruise 2022 (WKTV)
We want see how much fun you had at Metro Cruise!
Submit your photos from wherever you are at Metro Cruise to general@wktv.org by Monday, Aug. 28 for a chance to have them included in WKTV Journal’s photo gallery.
With a blend of talented veterans and promising young players, the East Kentwood football team is primed to contend for the top spot in the OK Red, annually one of the strongest football conferences in the state.
East Kentwood has a deep and experienced squad with plenty of depth along both lines, the backfield and the skill positions. Many of the veterans were part of last year’s squad that turned in a 5-5 overall record and qualified for the state playoffs. All five of Kentwood’s losses came against teams that qualified for the playoffs including two against Rockford and defeats against Caledonia and Muskegon who both reached state championship games last season.
“I think we should be very competitive this season,” said East Kentwood coach Tony Kimbrough. “We have a good returning class of seniors, a good group of juniors and a couple of talented sophomores who will contribute this year. We’re looking pretty good. I think we can be in every game and have the opportunity to win but we will need to stay healthy.”
Senior QB Casey Joppie. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
Offensively, the Falcons welcome back senior quarterback Casey Joppie (6-foot-1, 195 pounds). A three-year varsity player, Joppie has a strong arm and makes good decisions with the ball.
“Casey has started for us the last four years,” Kimbrough said. “He definitely can throw it and put the ball in tight quarters. He makes good decisions with the ball and does not turn it over.”
When Joppie puts the ball in the air he has a talented cast of options to throw to. Shamar White is a returning starter at wide receiver while Kendrick Nou is another senior veteran. Senior standout Stellan Bowman will see action at H-back while senior Jaret Tate and sophomore Aaron Cobb are a pair of talents at tight end.
“We are pretty loaded at the receiver spots,” Kimbrough said. “We also have a host of talented underclassmen who have good size and speed.”
The Falcons also have plenty of options at running back. Seniors Elisee Kanda and Savontes Scott and junior Elijah Jones offer a blend of speed and size running the ball.
Rylan and Matthias Granderson handle the left side of the offensive line.(WKTV/Hayden Passig)
Paving the way for the Falcons is a big and talented group of offensive linemen. Sophomore center Charlie Nichols was brought up to the varsity as a freshman and started the last four games for the Falcons. Nichols has made so much progress that he is a team captain in just his sophomore season. The left side of the line is handled by the Granderson brothers. Senior Rylan Granderson (6-3, 310) lines up at left tackle with junior Matthias Granderson (6-2, 264) stationed at left guard. At right guard, the Falcons have junior Andrew Durr and Kalib Sanders with Justin Negron stepping in at right tackle.
“We have a solid rotation of seven guys up front,” Kimbrough said. “We have some returning players and a host of juniors that will play a role. We can play up to eight guys on the offensive line and that depth is a great thing to have.”
With the depth they have, look for the Falcons to run a balanced offense with the ability to run or throw the ball with equal success to keep opposing defenses off balance.
East Kentwood senior Stellan Bowman, LB. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
On defense, the Falcons have several starters returning. Senior Stellan Bowman (6-1, 220) anchors the defense from his linebacking position. A returning all-state player, Bowman committed to the University of Ohio during the summer. Bowman leads a solid group of linebackers that include Cobb and Nouha Diaite.
Lining up in front of the linebackers is a deep and strong group of defensive linemen. The Falcons plan to rotate six or seven defensive linemen to keep a fresh group on the field. Among the defensive linemen to watch for are nose tackle Mike Zua, junior Devaughtae Greely (6-1, 255), junior Shawn DeLano, Kalib Sanders and Rylan Granderson.
The Falcons also boast plenty of talent in the defensive backfield. Kanda returns at a cornerback position with White lining up at the field cornerback spot. A pair of starters graduated at the safety positions so the Falcons will have some new but talented starters. Juniors Gabe Wolf and James Johnson bring a solid skill set to the field at the safety spots.
“We’re pretty excited about the defensive side of the field,” Kimbrough said.
East Kentwood senior Elisee Kanda, CB. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
The Falcons open the season Thursday when they travel to Hartland. Kentwood then squares off against Byron Center for the first WKTV Game of the Week before beginning conference play in Week Three.
“Our schedule is loaded every year,” Kimbrough said.
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back next week!
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!
The City of Kentwood has announced Heather Visco as its new human resources director.
In this role, Visco will lead the City’s human resources functions and staff, including employee recruitment, team member development and employee and labor relations efforts. She also will oversee the strategic planning, development and administration of employment-related inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility initiatives.
Visco began her new role with the City on Aug. 21 and was confirmed by the City Commission at its Aug. 15 meeting.
“The City of Kentwood is pleased to welcome Heather to our team,” Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “She has extensive experience in human resources management, recruitment and talent strategies which will assist in our goals of making the City of Kentwood a wonderful place to launch and establish careers serving community.”
Visco brings a broad background in private and public sector human resources to the City. Most recently, she was the human resources manager at EBW Electronics in Ottawa County. In this position, she oversaw all day-to-day functions of the HR department, led employee relations and recruitment efforts and managed employee benefits programs and payroll.
She previously held supervisory HR roles with the Van Buren Intermediate and Ottawa Area Intermediate school districts, supporting HR functions including recruitment, contract negotiations, training and onboarding efforts among many others.
“It is an honor to join the City of Kentwood as human resources director,” Visco said. “The City has a strong team of dedicated employees working to make the community a wonderful place to live and work, and I am looking forward to supporting the individuals and organization behind that effort.”
Visco holds a bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University in English education and a graduate certificate in human resources administration from Central Michigan University. She is working toward a master’s degree in law for human resources professionals at Wayne State University with an anticipated graduation in the fall of 2024.
She is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management and serves as a board member and communications director for the Lakeshore Human Resources Management Association.
Visco succeeds Gail Dewey, who has moved into the part-time role of deputy human resources director.
At approximately 5:35 a.m. on August 18, the Kentwood Police Department responded to a residence in the 5200 block of Kalamazoo Avenue on a report that a person had been shot.
Upon arrival, officers located a 29-year-old male subject with apparent gunshot wounds. Kentwood Police and Fire units rendered aid, and the individual was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where he is being treated. No other persons were reported to be injured.
At this time, there are no suspects in custody, but there does not appear to be any further threat to the public. Kentwood Police Detectives continue 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.
The Business Diversity Council is part of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
With a combined 130K residents, Wyoming and Kentwood are the two largest neighboring communities to Grand Rapids, and represent one of the most diverse areas of West Michigan.
Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber’s Business Diversity Council continually works to uncover issues and concerns for those in the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities of Wyoming, Kentwood, and surrounding south Kent County areas.
The Business Diversity Council met Aug. 9 to discuss how to prepare for an international workforce and new American neighbors (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
The Council recently met to discuss how local companies can best receive and support international employees and new American neighbors.
The meeting included presentations of cross-cultural training by Laura Cronin, Director of West Michigan Friendship Center, and Natasha Mueller, Community Engagement Director, that worked to give businesses ideas and tools that would help them navigate language barriers, religious considerations, transportation, cultural differences, and much more.
Also touched on during the meeting was the importance of continuous efforts to understand and learn about those in our communities.
In a supplied statement, Mueller said that she believes “curiosity is key to cultural understanding.”
Mueller has put that belief into action over the years as she worked with leadership from various Latin American countries, the Cuban and Haitian refugee communities at Bethany Christian Services, and now as part of a multicultural team that represents each continent and more than 5 countries.
Cronin’s time teaching in under-resourced neighborhoods and directing international mission work has taught her that “valuing the individual is good for cross-cultural relationships and good for business.”
The Kent County Welcome Plan website states that “Grand Rapids and Kent County are home to everyone who lives here, and it should feel like it too.”
The site went on to say that creating a “welcoming and inclusive environment for new Americans, immigrants, and refugees in Kent County is not only the right thing to do, it also contributes economically to the area’s well-being.”
WKTV was out at South Christian’s football practice last week. Take a look. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
By Zach Fanko
WKTV Contributor
Complacency was the key word that South Christian Coach Danny Brown and several players used during the first week of practice of the 2023 season. Something that this team is aiming to avoid after a perfect season ending in a 28-0 Division 4 state title win over Goodrich, the program’s fourth state championship and first since 2014.
Last year’s team had 22 seniors, including All-State QB Jake DeHaan, WR Seth Ritsma, OL Cam Post, and RB/K Nate Brinks. This year’s team has plenty of seniors as well, including WR/DB Jake Vermaas, who missed the majority of the regular season due to a broken collarbone, but came back during the playoff run. Vermaas capped off the year with a stellar game at Ford Field with over 150 receiving yards and a Pick-6.
Senior WR/DB Jake Vermaas looks to take a new role as a leader. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
Vermaas talked about his new role as a senior leader on this team.
“The biggest difference for me and some of my teammates has been stepping into that leadership role,” Vermaas said. “That has been an adjustment for some guys and it is going well.
“For us we don’t really want to change a whole lot because we were pretty successful last year.”
South Christian poses with the MHSAA Division 4 state championship trophy last year at Ford Field, where they finished a perfect 14-0 season. (WKTV/Zach Fanko)
Three-way competition under center
DeHaan, who committed to the University of Toledo as a walk-on, utilized both his arm and legs on his way to a Division 4 All-State selection. The Sailors have three potential quarterbacks competing for the starting gig with senior Noah Funk (transfer from Grand Rapids Christian), junior Carson Vis (played WR last season), and sophomore Kayd Coffman who started on the JV team as a freshman last year.
“The goal is to get through these first two weeks of camp and then we have a scrimmage, and then hopefully someone has created some separation,” said Brown, whose Sailors were undefeated at 14-0 last season.
“If no one has then we reevaluate, but that is the goal.”
Passing the torch up front
Another senior looking to pick up where last year’s seniors left off is OL/DL Camren VanSolkema, who was an All-Region selection in Division 4 last season. VanSolkema is one of the players up front hoping to fill the void left by current Ferris State lineman Cam Post.
“This is my fourth year on varsity and I’ve always been an underclassmen,” VanSolkema said. “But now I can follow in the older guys’ footsteps and take care of the younger guys.”
South Christian opens the season August 25 on the road against Grand Rapids Christian.
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back next week!
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!
The WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is coming soon, along with our in-depth Journal coverage of the Wyoming and Kentwood area football teams. Our FNH host will walk you through highlights from most of the local games every single Friday night throughout the season and into the playoffs.
By Cris Greer
WKTV Managing Editor
greer@wktv.org
With the first week of high school football practice in the books, games under the lights are just about here. This means our in-depth coverage of WKTV Games of the Week, Journal web stories and our exciting Friday Night Highlights show will all be here shortly as well.
We plan to bring you another great season of local high school football, covering your favorite teams from Wyoming and Kentwood, including East Kentwood, Wyoming, Godwin Heights, Lee, Kelloggsville, South Christian and 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. See GOW sked below.
WKTV Journal Website
Don’t miss our large footprint of local high school football on the WKTV Journal website.
Continuing from last season, we’ll have a huge presence with local high school football. Beyond our fantastic Game of the Week truck coverage, every week our sports staff will post football game stories, features, roundups and final scores and stats on most teams in the Kentwood/Wyoming area on our Journal website.
We plan to give you the stats and highlights in our game stories … explaining the details of how your team marched to victory.
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show coming soon!
Friday Night Highlights will be back soon. 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!
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
A drama that deals with pain, passion, racism, art and pent-up rage is on stage through August 26 at Circle Theatre. It is a powerful story about reclaiming power, black music and culture. A definite must-see production.
It’s 1927, and Ma Rainey, the Mother of the Blues, is recording new sides of old favorites in a run-down Chicago recording studio. She fights to retain control over her music. She knows that she is a valuable commodity in selling records, but feels that the white men only see her as the cash she generates.
CaSaundra Ce’Moune plays Ma Rainey at the Circle Theatre through Aug. 26. (Courtesy, Circle Theatre)
“White folks don’t understand about the blues,” says Ma. “They hear it come out, but they don’t know how it got there. They don’t understand that that’s life’s way of talking.”
Before Ma Rainey (CaSaundra Ce’Moune) enters, her band members: Cutler (Michael P. Travis), Toledo (Deb Perry,) Levee (Noah King-Bates) and Slow Drag (Keon Atkins) tell stories surrounding black culture, music, conflicts and their personal stories. Trumpet player Levee dreams of making his own name in the business hence making the conflict measurable and the tensions apparent throughout.
The recording session is filled with conflict and strife as Ma Rainey wants things done her way. She is an independent African American woman with immense talent. Often referred to as the “Mother of the Blues,” she was a trailblazing African American blues singer and songwriter.
The cast of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” from left: CaSaundra Ce’Moune (Ma Rainey), drummer Michael P. Travis (Cutler), cellist Keon Atkins (Slow Drag), trumpet player Noah King-Bates (Levee) and not shown is piano player Debra Perry (Toledo). (Courtesy, Circle Theatre)
CaSaundra Ce’Moune, or CC as she is known by, plays the role of Ma Rainey brilliantly and with great splendor. She is an explosive, powerful force on stage. Her singing voice makes the audience long for more. I would pay big bucks just to hear her in concert. What an immense talent.
The direction of Will Gearring is majorly responsible for the effectiveness of this drama. He takes the actors through lengthy monologues that reach different levels of intensity. All of the actors are completely at home in their roles and extremely believable thanks to his competent direction and blocking of scenes.
Debra Perry is Toledo the piano player. (Courtesy, Circle Theatre)
Of special note is Debra L. Perry, who takes on the role of piano man Toledo with such talent that I did not know she was a female.
She and Co-Music Director Vanessa Allen also were responsible for training three of the four actors how to play the trumpet, drums and bass. A job very well done.
The 1920’s also are made even more believable thanks to the talents of costume designer Jess Luiz, hair and makeup designer Christina Barrera and properties designer Meaghan Gietzen.
Each character on stage has their special moment. The moments that stood out for me the most were the monologues delivered by Noah King-Bates with his pent-up rage and tragic life stories. His self-destruction at the end of the play was extremely dramatic. Other moments include all of the actors’ believable interactions in their character portrayals.
Attending the play’s pre-opening night was interesting to hear the Intermission discussions.
“These actors cannot possibly be local talent, can they?” one woman questioned. “There is so much talent in West Michigan,” another audience member commented.
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is at Circle Theatre through August 26. You can get your tickets online at circletheatre.org or by calling the box office at 616-456-6656.
Families are getting ready for the start of a new school year (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
Woodland Mall and The Salvation Army in Kent County are helping local students get ready to go back to school with a fun event and food drive 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19.
The event will serve as a fundraiser for The Salvation Army’s emergency food pantry. It will also feature a variety of activities for all ages to enjoy in Woodland Mall’s Macy’s Court.
On a monthly basis, The Salvation Army feeds 550 people, including 145 children, and that number is increasing daily.
“We used to provide people with enough food to last three to five days,” said Victoria Arnold, director of Kent County Social Services. “Due to increased demand, we now provide enough food for six days. And we predict we will need another $10,000 alone to stay at that level, just for the next year.”
An increasing number of families are in need food during the school year (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
Attendees are encouraged to bring shelf-stable food donations to the event or make a monetary donation online to support Salvation Army Kent County Social Services, which provides food pantries, warm meals and sack lunches for community members in need. Personal care items, household products, clothing and baby essentials are also accepted.
“Countless families struggle to access nutritious food, and most affected are children,” said Mikia Ross, interim Senior Marketing Director for Woodland Mall. “To help address this issue, we’re focusing on promoting nutrition for children and families during this year’s back-to-school season and encouraging the community to participate by donating to our charitable partner, Salvation Army. Together, we can help students get the fuel they need to start their academic year out strong!”
Suggested items for donation include:
Canned goods, including meats, fruits and vegetables, with a pop top.
Pasta and pasta sauces.
Ramen noodles.
Macaroni and cheese.
While supporting the nonprofit, event attendees will be able to meet special characters like Princess Tiana and Captain America, enjoy DJ music and games, get their faces painted, make friendship bracelets, view back-to-school fashion displays and get makeover consultations. Those who make a monetary or food donation will also be able to capture memories with a photo booth.
At approximately 6:02 a.m. on August 14, 2023, the Kentwood Police Department responded to the intersection of 54th St. SE and Division Ave. SE for an unknown injury crash involving a vehicle and pedestrian. The pedestrian was treated on-scene by AMR ambulance and Wyoming Fire personnel and was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentwood Police Department at 616-698-6580. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or SilentObserver.org.
Stauffer and Breton intersections along 52nd Street SE will reopen in a limited capacity starting Monday, Aug. 14.
Travelers heading south along Breton and Stauffer avenues will now be able to turn left onto eastbound 52nd Street. However, 52nd Street will be closed to traffic approaching from the south on Stauffer. Eastbound traffic on 52nd Street will now be able to turn left at Stauffer. Westbound traffic on 52nd Street will be required to turn right onto Breton.
Westbound 52nd Street will remain closed from Breton to Kalamazoo Avenue, and drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians will need to follow posted detours using Breton Avenue, 44th Street and Kalamazoo Avenue.
Eastbound traffic on 52nd Street will continue to be maintained, but will be shifted to northern lanes. To prevent backups, left turns for eastbound 52nd Street onto Breton Avenue will be prohibited.
The 52nd Street reconstruction project began in May and includes a new water main on the north side of 52nd Street, new asphalt pavement surface on the roadway and a new traffic signal at the intersection of 52nd Street and Stauffer Avenue. It is expected to be completed by Oct. 3.
Community members who want more information or have questions about these closures are encouraged to contact City Engineer Brad Boomstra at boomstrab@kentwood.us or 616-554-0740.
Ford International Airport broke ground Aug. 9 on its new $14.5 million aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) facility. Construction is expected to be completed by February 2025. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
By WKTV Staff
greer@wktv.org
Gerald R. Ford International Airport broke ground Aug. 9 on its new aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) facility. This $14.5 million project will further enhance passenger safety and aircraft operations.
The 25,000 square foot facility will include larger bays for advanced firefighting vehicles, specialized equipment and expanded training spaces for ARFF personnel. Construction is expected to be completed by February 2025.
“We are grateful to celebrate this momentous occasion as we break ground on this new innovative facility,” said Tory Richardson, President and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “This investment is a testament to the Airport’s commitment to providing world-class safety and security measures to our passengers, partners and community members.”
An artist’s rendering of the Ford International Airport aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) facility. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
This facility will support the Airport Authority’s 19 member ARFF team. Staffed 24/7, the team is specially trained to respond to aviation accidents and incidents, which includes rescuing passengers and crew members, minimizing property damage and salvage operations.
This new center also will be used for training and supporting the Ford International Airport’s mutual aid partners.
“Our team does an excellent job maintaining the highest level of safety, and they look forward to a new building that supports enhanced functionality and efficiency,” said Lisa Carr, Public Safety and Operations Director for the Ford International Airport Authority. “By investing in cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced training for our firefighting teams, we can further prepare for any potential emergencies or incidents that happen at the Airport or surrounding areas.”
No local taxpayer dollars will be used to finance any of the Airport’s projects; the construction of the new facility is funded by a combination of federal and state grants, municipal bonds issued by the Airport and user fees.
The FAA has committed two-thirds of the project funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, specifically from the Airport Improvement Grant program. The involvement of the FAA and Michigan Department of Transportation signifies a strategic investment in the community and further supports the expansion of Airport operational activities.
“The unprecedented funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allows airports like Gerald R. Ford International Airport to make key investments to improve safety and operations,” said Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E., FAA Associate Administrator for Airports. “This new facility will enhance the emergency response capabilities of the firefighting teams to better support travelers of Grand Rapids.”
This facility will be an addition to the recently completed Airport operations center, which consolidated key teams such as operations and communications; and included a new emergency operations center (EOC). By strategically positioning the ARFF facility and operations center together the Airport can increase response times, reduce potential hazards and mitigate risks effectively.
Incumbent Maurice H. Groce and candidate Lily Cheng-Schulting have advanced to the Nov. 7 general election for the Kentwood City Commission At-Large Seat.
Groce recieved 2,046 votes (48.11%), while Cheng-Schulting tallied 1,718 (40.40%). JaWhan A. Jackson (President of UAW Local 330) finished third with 479 votes (11.26%).
If a candidate received 50% of the vote, they would have secured the seat during the primary election. The overall turnout was 10.53% (4,267 votes).
Groce has been involved with the City of Kentwood since 2007, and a City Commissioner At-Large since getting appointed in 2018. (See his WKTV We the People video below.)
He is currently the academy liaison officer for the West Michigan Aviation Academy, and previously served as a vice president and branch manager for Mercantile Bank, and a financial planner for Prudential Financial.
Cheng-Schulting is the co-chair of the Kent County Progressive Caucus, vice chair of the Progressive Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party, and Founder and President of Disability A-TEAM of West Michigan. She’s also a Board Member At Large, Michigan Department of Education’s Special Education Advisory Committee. (See her WKTV We the People video below.)
The winner of this non-partisan Kentwood seat will serve a four-year term as commissioner At-Large.
Adult and nymphal spotted lanternfly on tree-of-heaven in Pennsylvania. (Courtesy, Heather Leach/Michigan State University)
By K.D. Norris
WKTV Contributor
The list of invasive species disrupting West Michigan’s land and water is eerily long, and seemingly a battle ordinary people can only stand by and watch. Whether it’s the garlic mustard weed choking out forest floors and backyards or the spotted lanternfly attacking grape vines and apple crops, the feeling could be: “What can I do?”
Turns out there is a lot that people can do, starting with keeping an eye out for the much-in-the-news spotted lanternfly, reporting sightings to the proper authorities, and doing a bit of back-yard eradication if you find one and are not squeamish about squishing them.
WKTV went to Michigan’s own “invasive” pest experts, Michigan State University’s renown Agriculture Department, for information on the “SLF” and two other invasions impacting local residents and homeowners: the cancerous spread of the garlic mustard plant and the tree-killing appetite of the emerald ash borer.
And in all the cases, the public can play a role in the battle against the invasives.
The City of Kentwood, the Kent County Conservation District, and other local groups are harnessing community action and volunteers to battle garlic mustard though education and sweat equity.
And while MSU and other institutional “best minds” are studying ways to battle the ash borer, local land management companies now have the ability to “inoculate” ash trees to give them a fighting chance against the pest.
Aiding local agriculture by being aware, vengeful
The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive first found in Pennsylvania in 2014 before spreading to New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, as detailed in an MSU article. In 2022, a small breeding population was found in Oakland County, Michigan.
The spotted lanternfly are most often seen in tree-of-heaven (an invasive, fast-growing tree found sporadically throughout Michigan), wild and cultivated grapevines, as well as silver and red maple, black walnut, butternut, birch, willow and sumac. But there is concern about long-term impact on orchard crops such as apples.
“SLF is also considered a significant nuisance pest in residential landscapes in regions where high populations exist,” authors Heather Leach and Julianna Wilson state in the above mentioned March 2023 MSU article. But the presence of the spotted lanternfly in Michigan “poses a significant threat to the Michigan grape industry and we are asking all growers to be on the lookout for this important new pest.”
Help stop the spread
But the MSU article also lays out how the general public can get involved.
The MSU article details how to spot and report SLF sightings, including reporting findings to Eyes in the Field, a website monitored by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, or through Kent County’s local MSU Extension Office.
And if a member of the public is not squeamish, there is another possible action.
“If you see only a few SLF, they are easy to kill by squishing adults or immature stages and scraping to remove egg masses,” the article by Leach and Wilson states.
Likewise, according to the Michigan Invasive Species section of Michigan.gov, in order to help stop the spread of the spotted lanternfly, you must:
Take a picture
Squish it
Report it
Garlic mustard: see ‘em, pull ‘em! Eat ‘em?
The first step in battling garlic mustard is recognizing it, and recognizing when and how to attack it — and knowing where to go to for help and support.
Garlic mustard growing along roadways can be spread by mowing crews. (Rebecca Finneran/Michigan State University)
“A native to Europe, garlic mustard was originally introduced in North America by settlers for its ‘proclaimed’ medicinal properties and use in cooking,” Rebecca Finneran, Michigan State University Extension, writes in the article. “Unfortunately, because of its invasive habit, garlic mustard is rapidly dominating the forest floor, changing woodland habitat for plants and animals alike. Given the chance, it will also invade the home landscape and even take over patches of existing groundcover.”
“It’s a continuing battle and we encourage our park stewards and residents who are confident they can identify the plant to remove it early in the spring before it has a chance to drop its seeds,” said Spencer McKellar, Kentwood Deputy Parks and Recreation Director/Project Manager. “We know it’s a problem at a few locations but this spring we spent time at both the Kentwood Community Garden property (next to Veterans Memorial Park/Kentwood Activities Center) and at Stanaback Park.”
But, he pointed out, this is not a one time fix “but an ongoing and yearly effort that will be needed to keep this particular invasive specie at bay.”
The city, and its effort partner the Kent Conservation District, has held educational workshops and hands-on work parties to help battle not only garlic mustard but the bittersweet vine as well — “This is another one of those troublesome plants that we will have to watch for and note where it’s found for further treatment,” McKellar said.
Mowing not effective
One of the problems with garlic mustard in public places is that mowing often simply cuts them, leaves the roots in place, and can even spread seeds if mowing occurs at the wrong time of the year.
People, though, can battle garlic mustard on their own land and in their own backyard as well, but there are some dos and don’ts.
“Smaller garlic mustard infestations can be controlled with a watchful eye and rigorous hand pulling during spring before other vegetation greens up, with early spring before flowering being ideal,” MSU Extension’s Finneran writes in her article. “The plants are relatively easy to pull, but they are brittle, so be sure you are lifting the entire plant out of the ground and not just breaking off the top.”
Bagging and disposing of pulled plants with municipal waste headed to a landfill or incinerator is allowed in Michigan.
And what is killing my Ash tree?
American ash, or white ash, are local versions of a tree species that have a long cultural history in Europe after likely originating in Africa and Asia Minor, and have been a staple in American woodlands, according to another article published by Michigan State University.
But the invasive emerald ash borer — native to Russia and North eastern Asia, and first discovered in the United States and Michigan in 2002, likely through the import of wood and wooden shipping pallets from those regions — has been spreading and killing local Ash trees in droves for two decades.
The emerald ash borer. (Courtesy, Michigan State University)
There is work being done on ways to help nature control the insects, as happens in its native habitats and as detailed in the MSU article. But the infestation is so new that extensive studies must come before effective remedies are deployed.
The emerald ash borer is “considered the most destructive and costly forest insect to ever invade North America.”
The emerald ash borer (EAB) “is now in 35 states, five Canadian provinces and is considered the most destructive and costly forest insect to ever invade North America,” Deborah McCullough, MSU forest entomology professor, states in the article.
“In the case of EAB, there was very little known about this insect when it was discovered, and in many ways, we started from scratch,” McCullough said. “We needed to learn the life cycle of the insect and develop methods to survey it, control it, and to tell people confidently what they could expect about impacts.”
What is known, however, is that there is a usually effective treatment available from local arborists and landcare companies to inoculate trees with minor infections.
Pressurized trunk infusion to the rescue
“TREE-äge (Emamectin Benzoate) came to the rescue in our fight to save ash trees from the emerald ash borer,” Nick Clement, an arborist with All Season Lawn Care, said to WKTV. “The chemical is delivered via a pressurized trunk infusion. Holes are drilled into the base of the trunk of the tree and self-sealing injection ports are installed. The injection needles are then inserted into the ports and the chemical is pushed into the cambium of the tree.”
Once the tree has been treated, the chemical provides two seasons of residual control in the tree, he added.
For more information
For general information about Michigan’s invasive species, visit michigan.gov/invasives.
For more information on local invasive species and how to get involved with the Kent Conservation District’s efforts, visit here.
Today through September 30, drivers can visit a local Shell station and fill up at the designated fueling pump to support Kids’ Food Basket and South Michigan Food Bank-Kids’ Backpack Program.
Marshall-based Johnny’s Markets, owned by Walters-Dimmick Petroleum, is joining with Shell USA (Shell) on The Giving Pump as part of its Force For Good initiative to drive positive change in local communities by giving back.
A portion of the purchases made by consumers who use the designated pump at 70 Shell stations across Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo will support the charities Kids’ Food Basket and South Michigan Food Bank, along with local schools and hospitals.
The Giving Pump will be specially marked with colorful signage at participating Shell gas stations to inspire consumers to fuel up and support two local food organizations: South Michigan Food Bank and Kids’ Food Basket. It’s easy to participate in the program, and it costs customers nothing extra.
South Michigan Food Bank — currently serving 33,000 meals a day across eight counties — works to eliminate hunger by providing healthy and nutritious food to those in need. This year’s donations from Giving Pump will go toward the nonprofit’s BackPack Program, which sends non-perishable meal packages home with students in low-income households, giving children access to food over the weekends and during school breaks. Each package contains enough food for seven meals.
“Many may not realize it, but folks and food banks alike are under a lot of pressure right now,” said Peter Vogel, CEO of South Michigan Food Bank. “During the pandemic, there were plenty of funds flowing to organizations tackling food insecurity. In the past year, though, many of those resources have dried up while demand — the need for affordable food — in our communities remains elevated. The Giving Pump is coming at the perfect time to help these people, and we are blessed to have Johnny’s Markets’ support.”
Kids’ Food Basket’s mission is to nourish kids to reach their full potential. They work with the community to serve 10,000 nutritious evening meals to kids in four West Michigan counties every weekday. KFB is also home to two farms that not only serve as a classroom for STEM education, but also provide fresh produce directly back to the community.
(Kids’ Food Basket)
“Right now, the reality is that most food banks, like so many of the good people we serve, are trying to do a lot more with way less,” said Ashley Diersch, Vice President of Development at Kids’ Food Basket. “By teaming up with The Giving Pump, it gives everybody an opportunity to make an impact and really shows that everything — whether it’s one penny or a million — makes a difference.”
Johnny’s Markets brand, owned by Walters-Dimmick Petroleum, is home to more than 60 convenience stores and fuel stations across Michigan and Indiana. With the purpose of being a reliable source of goodness in the community, the company supports programs and events that help pave the path for young people to be successful.
(Courtesy, Johnny’s Markets)
“As an established member of the Western Michigan community, we believe we can do more by supporting local children’s organizations so that kids may receive what is needed to help them develop and succeed,” said J.P. Walters, President and CEO of Walters-Dimmick Petroleum. “We chose these charities for The Giving Pump because we want to continue growing our relationships with great organizations who support our communities, and there are no better examples of that than Kids’ Food Basket and South Michigan Food Bank.”
In addition to The Giving Pump, Walters-Dimmick has hosted an annual charity event called the Northern Classic for over 30 years, where 100 percent of the proceeds are donated to improve the lives of many in Western Michigan. In the past decade, the Northern Classic charity event has raised more than $1 million for multiple charities including Kids’ Food Basket, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund.
This year, more than 7,500 Shell stations across the US are participating in this two-month Giving Pump initiative to support 532 local charities. Those looking to find a participating station can visit shell.us/givingpump. Since 2021, Shell wholesalers and retailers donated over $4.6M and supported over 400 children’s charities through The Giving Pump.
To learn more about how you can join South Michigan Food Bank in taking a stand against hunger, visit smfoodbank.org. Visit kidsfoodbasket.org for more on Kids’ Food Basket programs, services and how you can make a difference. Visit shell.us/givingpump to find additional program details, participating sites and content about local charities.
The City of Kentwood’s Farmers Market has some exciting events planned throughout the rest of the summer, including the annual Charcuterie Challenge, Kids Day and more.
In addition to shopping for delicious, fresh produce and local goods at the market, community members of all ages and interests can find something to enjoy during these special events. Kids Day, the Dog Days of Summer, the third annual Charcuterie Challenge and the End of Season Celebration are on deck for the remainder of the market season.
“Our special events make the market a little extra fun for everyone,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director. “Whether you want to play with pups or show off your charcuterie skills, the Kentwood Farmers Market has an event for you.”
Upcoming August and September events at the market include:
National Farmers Market Week celebration Aug. 10 featuring a food demonstration and food samples as well as food trucks: Around Baking Company, Falafel Truck and Kool Breeze.
Kids Day on Aug. 17 featuring a meet and greet with John Ball Park Zoo as well as kids crafts and activities. There will be a bubble machine, face painting, food trucks: Street Frites and Ohana Hawaiian-Ice and more.
Dog Days of Summer on Aug. 24 featuring a variety of dog organizations like Captivated Canine, Paws with a Cause, Dippin’ Dogs and more, along with adoption opportunities through the Humane Society of West Michigan as well as food trucks: Let’z Taco Bout It and Semifreddo.
Charcuterie Challenge on Aug. 31 featuring a food assembly showdown using only Farmers Market ingredients and food trucks: El Jalapeno and Dune Buggy. To enter the contest, fill out the online form at bit.ly/KentwoodCharcuterieChallenge.
End of Season Celebration on Sept. 7 featuring food demos and samples as well as food trucks: Patty Matters and Semifreddo.
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
The Farmers Market runs 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday through Sept. 7 behind City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. It provides a variety of local goods for sale, including fresh produce, baked goods, crafts and more, and features 20-plus local vendors and special activities throughout the season. The market accepts food assistance benefits, including SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks and Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH.
For more information about the Kentwood Farmers Market, including links to become a vendor or volunteer, visit KentwoodFarmersMarket.com.
