As the end of winter nears, Woodland Mall invites guests to celebrate the start of spring with its whimsical Mad Hatter Tea Party and springtime bunny photo opportunities.
The Mad Hatter Tea Party will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 18. The Alice in Wonderland-themed event will include special appearances by Alice and the Mad Hatter himself.
There also will be spring-themed crafts, snacks and games until 1 p.m. The event will mark the return of seasonal photo opportunities, available through Saturday, April 8.
(Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
“Our Mad Hatter Tea Party is a fun and interactive twist on the classic Lewis Carroll story with activities that are entertaining for the child in all of us,” said Mikia Ross, interim senior marketing director. “Children can create their own Mad Hatter hat, enjoy tea and cookies and take family portraits as part of the fun.”
Photos with the bunny will be offered in the Macy’s Court from noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. For the last weekend, extended hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. will be offered on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8.
(Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
Beginning March 20, pets can join in for photos from noon to 7 p.m. every Monday through April 3. Feathered and whiskered pets of all kinds are welcome as long as they are kept on a leash or in a carrier at all times. Owners also must sign a release prior to visiting.
Digital photo packages are available with add-ons such as prints and frames. Reservations are encouraged and can be made online. Walk-up visits are permitted when space is available.
More information on the Mad Hatter Tea Party can be found at ShopWoodlandMall.com.
A temporary four-way stop will be in place Thursday, March 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the intersection of 32nd Street SE and Breton Avenue SE while traffic signal maintenance is completed.
Drivers are asked to use caution when driving through the area and to be prepared for delays. If possible, it is recommended to seek an alternate route to avoid possible slowdowns.
For more information or questions, contact the Department of Public Works at 616-554-0817 or ePublicWorks@kentwood.us.
A police car and detective’s vehicle was hit by the suspect’s car as they tried to leave the scene. (Courtesy, Kent County Sheriff’s Office)
The Kent County Sheriff’s Department announced it had arrested seven individuals suspected to be involved in a series of purse snatchings in the Greater Grand Rapids area.
Just after 2 a.m. this morning a Kent County Sheriff sergeant on patrol in the area of 28th Street and 1-96 located a stolen vehicle, a Jeep, that had its to a recent purse snatching in Kent County. The Jeep was later located at a nearby hotel.
As more deputies arrived long with a KCSO detective assigned to the Metro Pattern Crimes Task Force (MPACT), units started to move in on the vehicle. The Jeep attempted to flee the parking space and struck a detective’s vehicle and a police cruiser.
Five people in the Jeep were taken into custody. As the investigation unfolded, two additional people in a hotel room were arrested along with other stolen property located. Stolen purses from recent thefts, a stolen handgun, and stolen merchandise were among some of the items recovered. All seven suspects have been arrested: a 19- and 16-year-old female from Grand Rapids, a 17-year-old and two 16-year-old males from Grand Rapids, an 18-year-old male from Plainfield Township, and a 17-year-old male from Gaines Township.
Sgt. Eric Brunner, the public information officer for the Kent County Sheriff’s, said the department is working with local law enforcement agencies to determine if the group may be related to other purse snatchings adding that the department does believe “they will find that there more involved than just these people.”
Wyoming Department of Public Safety public information officer Lt. Andrew Koeller said he was not certain if these individuals were directly related to any of the purse snatching cases in the Wyoming area. He said Wyoming detectives continue to the Wyoming cases.
The case has been sent to the prosecutor’s officer for review of charges to the stolen care, firearm, and stolen property.
East Kentwood wrestler Corey Mitchell won first place in the OK Red tournament at 215 lbs. earlier this season. (Courtesy, Sara Kohns)
By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributor
East Kentwood wrestler Corey Mitchell shows that strength and sportsmanship go hand in hand.
With 27 pins on the wrestling mat this season, and a record of 36-8, Mitchell is no stranger to showing physical strength. His senior year of high school brought the OK Red Conference and District titles at 215-lbs, as well as state tournament qualification for 2023.
“He has eclipsed even his own expectations,” said EK wrestling Coach Eric Foster.
But Foster said physical strength and skill are only part of what make Mitchell a great team leader.
“We look for hard-working, strong, and dedicated athletes,” Foster. “As a teammate, we are looking for individuals who care for their teammates and support each other to be the best they can.”
Mitchell embodies those characteristics.
“Corey has had moments off the mat where he demonstrated a strong leadership with the team,” Foster said. “He is a loud supporter of each teammate when they are on the mat and has encouraging words for them in times of difficulty.”
Not all about the medals
While Mitchell’s accomplishments are numerous, he doesn’t mention medals or awards when asked about the highlights of his wrestling season. Instead, his attention turns toward relationships with teammates and having friends and family present at meets.
“The highlight of my wrestling career would be the sounds of my friends and family that cheer me on while I wrestle,” Mitchell said. “Even if sometimes I don’t live up to their expectations, I know they respect me as their captain.”
Sara Kohns, Mitchell’s mother, says she sees both the team spirit and the hard work her son puts in on a daily basis.
“I have faith in him that he is going to do great regardless of if he wins or not. Corey has the heart.”
That heart extends to more than just wrestling.
Football also is a big part of Mitchell’s life, and he plans to pursue football in college while majoring in Business. Three colleges have already extended offers to include Mitchell as part of their football team, including Kalamazoo College and Olivet College.
East Kentwood wrestler Corey Mitchell won first place in the OK Red tournament at 215 lbs. earlier this season. (Courtesy, Sara Kohns)
When asked about professional athletic role models, Mitchell admitted, “I don’t really watch any type of sports; I know it’s something that can boost my craft as an athlete. But I like learning upfront.”
The youngest of Kohns’ three sons, Mitchell is described as quiet yet dedicated by both his mother and coach.
“He is quiet, but a great listener and follows directions,” Kohn said. “Corey has taught me so much from watching him wrestle … he is the total package and one awesome son.”
‘Hard-working student athlete’
Foster has a similar view of the athlete.
“Corey is a hard-working student athlete who loves playing football and being part of a team,” Foster said. “He is a dedicated son and quiet soul. Corey lets his actions speak for him in most instances and has excelled throughout.”
Mitchell enjoys working out when he isn’t wrestling or playing football, but he also understands the importance of keeping his grades up, admitting that he does “a lot of homework.”
Kohns says Mitchell’s journey is one she is proud of: “I have loved every minute of watching him grow into the young man he has become!”
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author
Local police are investigating two Saturday incidents at separate hotels, one in Wyoming and the other in Kentwood.
Fight at Hampton Inn
UPDATE: The Wyoming Department of Public Safety Investigative continues to investigate this incident. the facts of this case were presented to the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office. After reviewing thefts of the incident, the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office issued a warrant for Austin Custsinger of Tennessee on the charge of Involuntary Manslaughter. Chutsinger was arraigned at the Wyoming 62A District Court on March 7.
The deceased individual involved in this incident has been identified as 35-year-old Joshua Willow of Pennsylvania.
Detectives have confirmed tight physical altercation occurred between Curtsinger and Willow. During this physical altercation, Willow sustained injuries that provide to be fatal.
Wyoming police officers responded to a fight in progress involving multiple individuals at 12:20 p.m Saturday, March 4.
According to the police report, when officers arrive, they located an unresponsive male in the parking lot. Despite lifesaving efforts, the male was pronounced deceased at the scene. The initial investigation indicates that the deceased became unresponsive during the course of the physical altercation. Other individuals involved in this incident were identified and interviewed by investigators. The circumstances surrounding this incident remain under investigation.
The deceased is a 35-year-old male from out of state. His name has not been released.
Detectives are continuing to investigate this incident. The police report stated that although it is early in the investigation, it is believed all individuals involved in this incident have been located and there is no threat to the public.
Shooting at Delta Hotel
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
UPDATE: The Kentwood Police Department has released the identify of the individual of the shooting death as Jaquarrie Garrett, 22, from Georgia. The medical examiner has ruled his death a homicide with the cause being multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators are still actively working this case. No further information is being released at this time.
The Kentwood Police Department is investigating a shooting that resulted in a homicide.
Officers responded to a call about a shooting at the Delta Hotel, 3333 28th St. SE, Saturday, March 4. Officers located at 22-year-old male that despite Kentwood Police officers and Fire Department personal attempted first-aid along with EMS, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident is currently being investigated with the police report stating that the Kentwood Police Department does not believe there to be any immediate threat to the public at this time.
Community Action Statement
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the respective police departments. Wyoming Police may be reached at 616-530-7300. The Kentwood Police Department Detective Bureau may be reached at 616-656-6604.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or SilentObserver.org
“This award is a reflection that people use and place a high value on the services that they get from Kent District Library,” said Katie Zuidema, marketing communications specialist for KDL.
Money saving opportunities
One of the reasons KDL has surpassed previous engagement numbers is due to patrons realizing they can save hundreds of dollars each year by using free KDL resources instead of purchasing those same resources by other means.
KDL offers a number of programs. KDL Outreach and Programming Specialist Susan Erhardt reads to children. (Courtesy, Kent District Library)
“People are increasingly finding that many of the things they pay hard-earned dollars for are already available at the library—magazines such as Consumer Reports, training from LinkedIn Learning, streaming movie services and more,” said Randy Goble, KDL’s director of engagement, in supplied material. “It adds up to a huge savings.”
In 2022, the average KDL user saved $1,348 by checking out physical and digital items, and digital resource checkouts are more popular than ever.
“Technology is so accessible,” Zuidema said, “and some people’s reading habits changed during the pandemic when libraries were closed for a time.”
Reader usage of digital resources has grown every year, in part to a large collection that serves community members of all ages and interests, and also due to 24/7 access to that collection.
“Where the Crawdads Sing” was the most checked out book from KDL in 2022.
“Digital access continues to be the fastest growing segment of public library resources,” stated KDL’s Executive Director Lance Werner in supplied material. “We’re thrilled to be able to meet people wherever they are, to provide them with books, movies, audiobooks and more.”
Finding popular and current books and resources is also an appealing aspect of KDL.
The highest circulating title KDL readers borrowed in 2022 through KDL’s digital collection was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, topping both ebook and audiobook categories. The book was a 2022 film starring Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Other popular ebook and audiobook titles borrowed were Verity by Colleen Hoover, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, The Maid by Nita Prose, and The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles.
How can patrons experience these resources?
Readers in Kent County just need a valid KDL library card to access digital books from KDL’s OverDrive-powered digital collection—compatible with any major device—and many other physical and digital resources.
“It’s a great time to sign up for a KDL library card,” Zuidema said. “When someone signs up for a library card, they now select their interests from 14 categories, including music, movies and writing. This information helps staff members share what services might be most exciting or useful to the new patron.”
Zuidema noted that KDL branches offer more than just books and movies. PerkPass program has complimentary guest passes to area attractions. Items such as Nintendo Switch game consoles, GoPro Cameras and Wi-Fi hotspots are available through Beyond Books Collection and KDL offers a variety of free programs for all ages.
Programming continues to be a priority in all 20 KDL branches. In 2022, KDL hosted 4,403 online and in-person programs with 181,265 in attendance.
“Our communities are showing up and expressing appreciation for our free, engaging and impactful programs for all ages,” Zuidema said.
What if you don’t have a KDL library card?
Zuidema was adamant that everyone is welcome in all KDL branches.
Attending KDL programs does not require a library card, and guest passes are available for usage of the library’s computers. The KDL Cruiser bikes are also available for checkout without a library card.
Readers with a card from Grand Rapids Public Library and other libraries part of the Lakeland Library Cooperative can place 15 items on hold through KDL, while KDL cardholders can place up to 70 items on hold.
KDL’s digital collection, databases, PerkPasses, and Beyond Books items like hotspots, Switch consoles, iPads, etc. do require a library card.
“KDL exists to further all people,” said Zuidema. “We truly offer something for everyone. No matter what you are looking for within our walls or on our website, we want you to find it. No matter who you are, you are welcome here.”
Connecting with patrons
A resident recently thanked KDL for saving her money by having a recently-released novel. (Courtesy, Kent District Library)
Zuidema said they love hearing from patrons, whether in-person, via email—or by notes left inside returned books.
One KDL librarian found a note thanking them for saving that reader $29 by having a recent Janet Evanovich book on the shelf.
Some items, however, are left accidentally.
“Once a staff member found a $100 bill inside of a returned book and worked diligently to find the owner,” Zuidema said. “I think they will use cheaper bookmarks from now on!”
How to get started
Visit kdl.org/ecard to apply for a KDL library card. Download the Libby app or visit kdl.overdrive.com to get started borrowing ebooks, audiobooks, and more. Visit KDL’s Spring Kaleidoscope page for new programs and offerings, and kdl.org for more information on all KDL services and resources.
East Kentwood’s Jaevym Montgomery (11) and Santana Eubanks (5) look to stop Byron Center’s McKenna Ferguson (23) during Friday’s Division 1 district title game. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
Led by one of the top players in West Michigan, Byron Center put an end to the season for the East Kentwood girls basketball team Friday evening.
Byron Center junior Lillian Zeinstra poured in 33 points and led the Bulldogs to a 69-57 decision over East Kentwood in a Division 1 district championship game at Wyoming High School.
Zeinstra, who is committed to play her college basketball at Butler University, not only gave East Kentwood problems with her scoring skills, but the multi-dimensional guard also played havoc with Kentwood’s pressure defense with her ability to handle the basketball and took advantage of Kentwood’s lack of size on the defensive boards. Making Zeinstra’s effort even more impressive was the fact she overcame an ankle injury in the second quarter.
“I think Lily showed her grit tonight,” said East Kentwood Coach Eric Large. “You could see it when she got banged up. I think one of her greatest assets is her leadership. Her rebounding is also a big asset. We missed a lot of 50-50 shots and she was there to get the rebound. One of our strong points is our defensive pressure and she was also able to take that away from us with the way she handles the ball against our pressure.”
East Kentwood’s Harmonie Belton (1) looks over the Byron Center defense during action in their Division 1 district championship game. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
East Kentwood stayed close in the game’s early going until Byron Center closed out the opening stanza with a 6-2 run to take an 18-13 lead into the second quarter. Zeinstra was at the heart of the run on offense for Byron Center as she scored 13 of the Bulldogs’ 18 first-quarter points.
Byron Center stretched the lead to 24-15 midway through the second quarter before Zeinstra fell to the floor with an ankle injury. After limping off the floor, Zeinstra came back into the game two minutes later and helped Byron Center take a 31-20 lead into halftime.
“Lily is one of our team leaders,” said Byron Center Coach Jen Slot. “She rolled her ankle in the second quarter, but was able to tough it out. She had a really nice game tonight and gave it everything she had. She does whatever it takes to win.”
Falcons cut lead in half
East Kentwood quickly cut the deficit in half in the early moments of the second half. Harmonie Belton came up with back-to-back steals that led to back-to-back three-pointers by Sophia Wozniak, cutting the margin to five points just a minute into the third quarter.
Byron Center, however, quickly regrouped and outscored Kentwood 8-2 to regain a double-digit lead at 39-28. The two teams then traded buckets the remainder of the third quarter with Byron Center up 48-36 going into the final quarter.
With Zeinstra and senior guard McKenna Ferguson handling East Kentwood’s defensive pressure in the final quarter, the Falcons were unable to get the margin under double figures the remainder of the game.
East Kentwood’s Jaevym Montgomery (11) and Tianna Daye (23) prepare to box out Byron Center’s Lillian Zeinstra (10). Zeinstra finished the game with 33 points for Byron Center. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“I think in the second half we came out and matched their intensity,” Large said. “I think we were a little tight in the first half. Our tallest players are 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-7 so we had a tough time matching up with them on the boards. Our kids fought to the end and I was proud of them.”
Makayla Porter led East Kentwood with 16 points and Tianna Daye added 13. Sophia Wozniak scored nine points, followed by Harmonie Belton and Santana Eubanks with six apiece.
East Kentwood closed out the season with a 16-8 overall record and finished third in the O-K Red at 9-5.
Large said girls should ‘hold their heads high’
“I’m not disappointed with the season at all,” Large said. “The girls should hold their heads high. They continued to get better all season. I saw a lot of improvement all throughout the season. The O-K Red is the toughest conference in the state and I’m proud of the way my girls battled the entire way.”
Large also is looking forward to next season.
“We had two seniors on the team, Jaevym Montgomery and Tianna Daye, and both of them were all-conference players,” Large said. “We will miss both of them. We will have five or six juniors returning and Landen Smith is a sophomore who really played well tonight. We will have some good players to build around next season.”
Byron Center improved to 21-3 win the win. The Bulldogs were champions of the O-K White Conference this season with a 14-0 record. Along with 33 points from Zeinstra, the Bulldogs received 13 points from Makenna Crandell and 12 from McKenna Ferguson.
Division 2 District Championship at Kelloggsville:
Grand Rapids Christian defeated South Christian 49-41
South Christian ended the season with a 16-8 record and finished second place in the O-K Gold at 10-4.
Division 3 District Championship at Calvin Christian:
NorthPointe Christian beat Potter’s House 41-24
Potter’s House ended the season with an 18-7 record and won the Alliance League title at 7-0 for the second straight year.
South Christian’s Jake Vermaas (0) and Sam Medendorp (20) try to box out East Kentwood’s Christian Humphrey (35) in the lane. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
It was a showdown of two of the hottest teams in West Michigan Tuesday as OK Gold co-champion South Christian hosted OK Red champion East Kentwood. The matchup also featured two of the premier defensive teams in the area and defense proved to be the difference as South Christian defeated East Kentwood 64-48.
The Sailors entered the game riding a nine-game winning streak while Kentwood came in with seven consecutive wins. Both teams have relied on defense during their winning streaks and defense dictated the course of the game.
South Christian came out and established its defense early as the Sailors held Kentwood to a single bucket by Darryl Thompkins Jr. in the opening quarter. South Christian, meanwhile, put up 13 points during the opening quarter to build a double-digit lead and the Sailors kept the lead in double figures for nearly the remainder of the game.
South Christian’s Sam Medendorp (20), Jake DeHaan (3) and Carson Vis (11) talk strategy as East Kentwood’s Marshaun Flakes (5) looks on. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“I thought our defense was just great early in the game,” said South Christian Coach Taylor Johnson. “We knew that if we wanted to beat Kentwood we would have to have a great defensive effort and that’s what we had. They have some great players. They have three all-conference guards, but our defense was great tonight. We also rebounded the ball well.
“On most of their possessions we held them to one shot and that was just as important for us.”
South Christian continued to play strong defense in the second quarter. The Sailors came close to holding Kentwood to single figures in the quarter as the Falcons put up 11 points during the period. South also built on its lead with some timely buckets on the other end of the floor. Jake Vermaas led the way on offense for the Sailors in the second quarter pumping in seven points to help South build a 28-13 halftime lead.
“It just wasn’t our night tonight,” said East Kentwood Coach Michael Thomas. “We were not able to play our style of play. We did not get any rewards for going to the basket. I thought our guys played hard, but hats off to South Christian, they are a great team.”
East Kentwood chipped away at the South Christian lead during the early stages of the second half. Kentwood opened the second half with an 8-2 run and cut the Sailor lead to 30-21 after a steal and layup by Marshaun Flakes midway through the third quarter. That would prove to be as close as the Falcons would get in the second half as South Christian responded with six consecutive points to build the lead back to 15 points at 36-21. South Christian headed into the fourth quarter up 44-25 as Vermaas closed out the third by hitting a three-point shot at the buzzer.
East Kentwood trims lead in fourth, but Sailors squash the rally
South Christian carried that momentum into the final quarter as the Sailors outscored Kentwood 8-5 to start the quarter and built the lead to 52-30. Kentwood managed to whittle the lead down to 10 points at 54-44 when Flakes scored off a steal with 3:05 remaining. The Sailors, however, squashed any hopes of a late rally by closing out the game on a 10-4 run.
The Sailors, who finished the regular season at 19-3 overall and 13-1 in the conference, were led by Vermaas with 23 points. Jake DeHaan added 21, followed by Carson Vis, 12 and Sam Medendorp, eight.
On to district play
South Christian now turns its focus to the state tournament that begins next week at their district in Plainwell. South has a bye in the first round and faces the winner of Hastings and Grand River Prep in the semifinals next Wednesday.
“I’m proud of these guys,” Johnson said. “They have had a heck of a season. I feel like we are playing our best basketball of the season right now. This team has just gotten better and better as the season has gone on.
“We have to stay humble and play the right way. Our defense is getting better and better. That is our culture and that has got to carry us.”
Flakes led East Kentwood with 14 points, followed by Christian Humphrey and Darryl Thompkins Jr., 11 apiece and Jamell Hatchett added nine.
East Kentwood, which finished the regular season at 16-6 overall, 11-3 in the conference, heads south to Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg for their district next week. The Falcons play the winner of Middleville and Ottawa Hills next Wednesday.
“I think we have some momentum heading into March,” Thomas said. “We have to go to the drawing board and touch up a few things. We have to make sure we don’t come out and start the game the way we did tonight.”
East Kentwood celebrates a win over Hudsonville Friday, which gave the Falcons the OK Red title. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
After his East Kentwood basketball team defeated Hudsonville 61-49 to clinch the OK Red Conference championship Friday, Kentwood coach Mike Thomas said the Falcons have the best high school atmosphere in all of America.
With the way the Falcons ignited the home crowd, few people would doubt him.
Some of the veterans of the East Kentwood sports scene said the Kentwood fieldhouse hasn’t been as loud as it was Friday since the days of Loy Vaught in the mid-1980s. With the conference title on the line, the Falcons gave their fans plenty to cheer about.
Falcons down early
After falling behind 15-3 in the first quarter, the Falcons whipped the crowd into a frenzy as they stormed back at the start of the second quarter to take a 22-18 lead.
As it has all season, defense provided the fuel for the rally. East Kentwood began the second quarter by reeling off 14 unanswered points to turn a 15-6 deficit into a 20-15 lead. Marshaun Flakes, Darryl Thompkins Jr. and Christian Humphrey all came up with key steals to ignite the rally while Humphrey also came up with a big blocked shot.
East Kentwood’s Darryl Thompkins Jr. (No. 2), Christian Humphrey and Marshaun Flakes came up with key steals to ignite a big second quarter rally in the win. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“I think we came out a little flat,” Thomas said. “We switched to a zone defense in the second quarter and I thought that caused them some problems.”
Hudsonville, however, was not about to fold in the battle of the conference co-leaders in a winner-take-all final game of the conference season.
Hudsonville back on top in the third
Hudsonville surged ahead in the third quarter with a run of its own to take a 35-30 lead. Kentwood then closed the third quarter strong to regain a 40-38 edge going into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter saw the Falcons again turn up the heat on defense. East Kentwood held Hudsonville scoreless the first four minutes of the final quarter. During that span the Falcons extended the lead to 47-38.
East Kentwood closed even closer to its first conference title in several seasons when it built the lead to double digits at 53-43 with 1:14 remaining in the game.
Hudsonville made one final run, and in the next 30 seconds cut the Falcon lead to 53-49 after three-point buckets by Griffin Baker and Gibson Heethuis.
The Falcons were not to be denied, however, and closed out the game with an exclamation point by scoring eight unanswered points in the final 47 seconds. The run was capped by back-to-back dunks from Humphrey and Flakes in the final 10 seconds of the game that brought the house down.
‘Best high school basketball atmosphere’
“I’ve coached at a lot of special places, but this is by far the best,” said Thomas, in his first season coaching the Falcons. “I’ve never experienced a crowd like this in high school. I believe we have the best high school basketball atmosphere in all the USA. With the replay screen, our student section. They are like a sixth-man for us.
Marshaun Flakes led East Kentwood with 23 points. Photo from a previous game. (WKTV/ Greg Chrapek)
“We haven’t won a conference title in like seven or eight years and to win it in my first year here is special. I’m new to this community and the community has been so welcoming. I wanted to give them something back, but this is just the beginning.”
Senior Marshaun Flakes led East Kentwood in scoring with 23 points. The win was extra special for Flakes who is one of the seniors on this year’s squad.
“It feels real good,” Flakes said. “I haven’t won anything at all in my four years here. This was one of our goals this year. It was great to see all the fans come out and it feels even greater to get the win.”
Fellow senior Christian Humphrey added 14 points, followed by Darryl Thompkins Jr. with 10.
“We really came together as a team this year,” Hatchett said. “The way we have been winning is with our defense. That is the way we came back tonight. Winning the title feels great.”
With the win, East Kentwood finished the conference season with an 11-3 record and improved to 16-5 overall.
Brayden Szamrej led Hudsonville with 15 points and Mason Dykstra with 14 points. The Eagles finished the league season at 10-4 and fell to 15-6 overall.
Take a look at our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights right now, Friday, February 24!
Every Friday, we’ll bring you some great high school boys and girls basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
Check out these highlights from the Lee boys win over Grand River Prep Tuesday. The Legends sealed their first conference championship in 43 years. (Videographer: WKTV/Alex Bernhardt)
Get an early glimpse of our WKTV Friday Night Highlights show right here! The Legends beat visiting Grand River Prep 89-68 Tuesday to win their first conference crown since 1980.
Be sure to watch the complete FNH show on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 and ATT U-verse Channel 99.
An 89-68 win Tuesday over Grand River Prep gave the Lee boys their first outright conference championship in 43 years … well before Coach Dominic Shannon was born.
“This is special,” Shannon said. “Our first outright conference championship since 1980 — I was born in 1986.”
A huge turnaround
Lee now sits atop the Alliance League at 7-0 and is 17-1 overall. Last year, the Legends were 2-6 in the league and 5-16 overall.
Shannon said he noticed last fall that the team had potential, and “with some grooming, could be good.”
“With a strong start to the season and the togetherness the boys began showing early in the season, our conversation as coaches began to shift to something great and something special,” Shannon explained. “We began the conversation of ‘leaving the mark,’ and now their team will forever be remembered.”
As far as the Legends win over GRP, Shannon talked about his unselfish team that has improved each game.
“We finished the game with 23 assists … we share the ball and enjoy sharing the ball, making it easy to coach,” he said. “Joe Russau and Marc Whitfield receive the majority of the press, rightfully so, but they would tell you just like I know that the team is a team. There have been a few games this year where we have five student-athletes in double figures and that’s a credit to our unselfishness.
Lee’s Ny’Zhem Marshall rushes to the hoop against the Titans. (WKTV/Alex Bernhardt)
“Ny’Zhem Marshall stands at 6-4 and nearly averages a double-double for us. Clarence Lewis is one of the best on-ball defenders in the state — Jr Metcalf is a talented freshman point guard with much potential and Leto Mena, with his willingness to stay ready and provide great energy for the team each night.”
Shannon said the coaches entered the season expecting to continue shifting the culture of the athletic environment at Lee High School.
“Me working in the school district is also having an impact as it’s allowing relationships to grow,” he explained. “By shifting the culture, we set expectations and hold each other accountable; student-athletes and coaching staff. Last year, our team didn’t perform in regards to our record, but I do believe the foundation was laid for the basketball program.
“I really credit my college coaching experience for my preparation of myself and of the coaching staff. We all perform well and it makes my job easy as the head coach. Capturing the outright conference title is huge and will drive us into March as we build towards the Breslin Center. We want to ride this momentum and continue our rebuild of the program.
“We want to be around for a while and plan to be around for a while.”
The mural, “Chickens Don’t Fly Too Much,” was designed and installed by local artist Reb Roberts in 2020 in the Ford International Airport. The 80-foot mural is part of the Airport’s Public Art Program (created in partnership with the Frey Foundation) and is located on the ramp leading up to Concourse A. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is requesting proposals for murals and 2D wall art applications to be displayed in the newly expanded $110 million Concourse A.
Designed by architect Jorge Barrero of HKS, Concourse A will mimic the experience of arriving in West Michigan. Artists should aim to complement West Michigan’s identity from the blues of Lake Michigan and the natural tans of the dunes to the grays and purples of the urban core to the greens of the forests and farmland in between.
“This new modernized concourse was designed to reflect the unique characteristics of our region,” said Tory Richardson, Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority president and CEO. “Our design team was very intentional about creating opportunities within this new space to showcase the diverse talents of our local art community.”
The Concourse A project – part of the Elevate capital expansion program to enhance the Airport’s facilities and infrastructure – is designed to reflect the culture of the region. This $110 million extension will more than double the length and width of the existing concourse to meet the growing passenger demand for air travel.
90,000 square feet of new space
New dining options, amenities, such as an executive lounge, and retail options will be located throughout the 90,000 square feet of new space.
Thanks to support from the Frey Foundation, the Ford International Airport will continue to invest in the local art community through its public art program. Concourse A will feature three art mediums, including custom terrazzo flooring, a suspended art installation and wall art.
Artists interested in submitting proposals for mural and 2D wall art can find more information at flyford.org/elevate/opportunities. Submissions are due March 26, 2023.
Carson Vis led the Sailors with 24 points. (Courtesy, Eric Walstra)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
In their first meeting last month at Grand Rapids Catholic Central, the South Christian boys basketball team had the lead for much of the game, but couldn’t close the deal.
In the rematch at South Christian Tuesday evening, South Christian took the lead early and never looked back as the Sailors handed Catholic Central its first conference loss since 2017 with an 82-54 win.
“It was an unbelievable defensive effort,” South Christian Coach Taylor Johnson said. “Our defense set the tone. We came out and played some tough man-to-man defense the entire game. We also made some shots early and that always helps.”
As they did in January at Catholic, the Sailors jumped out to an early lead. They scored the first five points of the game and led 8-2 in the early going. At the end of the first quarter the Sailors were up 17-12.
“They (South Christian) were a lot more physical and were the tougher team tonight,” Catholic Central Coach TJ Meerman said. “Things were not going our way and our defense was not like it has been.”
Sailors enjoy 10-0 run before halftime
Catholic Central was within three points in the early going in the second quarter when the Sailors began to heat up on the offensive end of the floor and ratcheted things down on the defensive end. Up 25-22, South Christian closed out the first half by outscoring Catholic Central 10-0 to take a 35-22 lead into the locker room.
Senior Sam Medendorp highlighted the run with a dunk that fired up an already pumped-up Sailor home crowd. Medendorp then capped the scoring just before halftime with an offensive rebound and putback that put the Sailors up by 13.
“This win is huge,” Medendorp said. “This is something I’ve wanted my entire high school career. We’ve come so close before. In my sophomore year we lost to them at the buzzer in the district and earlier this year at their place we lost by two after leading most of the game. This time we got on them early and never let up. This feels so good.”
South Christian came out in the second half and continued to keep the pressure on the Cougars both offensively and defensively. South went up 39-24 early in the third. Catholic Central cut the South lead to 47-34 later in the quarter, but the Sailors finished that quarter strong, and took a 55-36 advantage into the fourth.
Carson Vis takes a jumper over the outstretched hands of a Catholic Central defender. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Carson Vis scored 24 for Sailors
South Christian sophomore Carson Vis, who led the Sailors in scoring with 24 points, helped lead the way in the third.
“This feels so good,” Vis said. “We played together as a team and didn’t let up the entire game. We rebounded really well and played some great defense. We knew they had something like a 77 game conference winning streak, but we worked so hard for this. We really wanted it.”
South Christian continued to build the lead in the final quarter as it was determined to not let the Cougars back into the game. South stretched the lead to 61-38 early in the fourth. The Sailors then outscored Catholic 14-6 to close out the game.
“They (Catholic Central) are an unbelievable team,” Johnson said. “They’ve won state championships, so we knew we had to play our best. We just wanted another shot at them after losing that first one. We’ve come so far as a team since the beginning of the season.
“We got out to a slow start with the football team playing for the state championship, but we’ve been coming together since then. We’re playing really well right now and if we stay humble and keep playing for each other we can get even better.”
Along with 24 from Vis, South Christian received 22 points from Jake Vermaas. Jake DeHaan added 14 points followed by Medendorp with 10.
Jake Vermaas, who scored 22 points, looks for an opening. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
With the win, South Christian improved to 12-1 in the OK Gold, 17-3 overall. The Sailors return to action Friday when they host Cedar Springs and then close out the regular season next Tuesday when they host East Kentwood.
Kaden Brown led Catholic Central with 27 points, while Durrel Brooks added 17. The Cougars fell to 12-1 in the Gold, 14-6 overall.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is pleased to announce that four local artists have been selected to install permanent terrazzo floor art designs in the $110 million Concourse A expansion.
Thanks to support from the Frey Foundation, the Ford International Airport will continue to invest in local artists through its public art program. The Concourse A extension – part of Elevate capital expansion program – will feature three art mediums, including custom terrazzo flooring, a suspended art installation and wall art. The four artists selected to feature their terrazzo designs include:
George Eberhardt III
Kim Nguyen
Maureen Nollette
Michael Pfleghaar
“We are thrilled to feature these talented artists, each of whom brings a unique viewpoint of West Michigan, in our newly enhanced and modernized Concourse A,” said Tory Richardson, Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority president and CEO. “With millions of passengers passing through our Airport every year, we are delighted that the diverse talents of our art community will be showcased to all coming to our region.”
Each terrazzo design reflects a different aspect of West Michigan — from the blues of Lake Michigan to the natural tans of the dunes, the grays and purples of the urban core to the greens of the forests and farmland in between. Artists crafted designs to complement the physical context of the local region while also expressing the non-physical perception, diversity and unique identity of the larger West Michigan community.
George Eberhardt III, inspired by aspects of Katsushika Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” referenced Lake Michigan and its water elements in his design that measures a diameter of 15 feet.
George Eberhardt III. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
With a background in program development and curriculum design, Eberhardt focuses on enriching the lives of youth and diverse communities as an artist, muralist and art teacher. A previous ArtPrize® winner, Eberhardt’s mural work can be seen across West Michigan with pieces at Slows BBQ in downtown Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Public Schools, West Grand Neighborhood Organization, Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association, Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, among many others.
Kim Nguyen. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
Kim Nguyen referenced the cities and towns of Grand Rapids and surrounding West Michigan areas while also including representations of Grand Rapids’ agricultural, medical and manufacturing industries in her design. Her installation will pay homage to our community’s former moniker, “Furniture City,” while winding the Grand River and Grand Rapids’ proximity to the shores of Lake Michigan.
“I am overjoyed and feel incredibly honored to be one of the artists helping new residents and future travelers see the beauty of our home through artwork beneath their feet,” Nguyen said. “I have always felt a fondness for airports because they bring me the thrill of travel, and in the case of Ford International Airport, the relieving feeling of being almost home.
“I have a photograph where I am two years old and meeting my three older brothers at Ford International Airport, it is there that I met them and my grandparents for the very first time. Though I was born in Grand Rapids, my family are refugees and immigrants from Vietnam, and I can’t imagine what they felt when they landed here in West Michigan.”
Maureen Nollette. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
Maureen Nollette, inspired by a photograph she took of a Sand Cherry shrub on a roadside beach in Michigan,created designs to showcase the vastness of the Lake Michigan Dunes and the region’s native flora.
Nollette is currently the visiting assistant professor at Grand Valley State University in the department of Visual & Media Arts and was previously a resident artist for the Josef and Anni Alvers Foundation and Ngo Le Korsa Project in Sinthian, Africa, as well as for the Marble House Project in Dorset, Vermont.
Michael Pfleghaar recently completed a collection of plein air paintings which wastranslated into his terrazzo designs to replicate West Michigan’s natural forestry and agriculture.
Michael Pfleghaar. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
Pfleghaar has permanent collections at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Steelcase, Inc., Herman Miller, the State of Michigan and Grand Valley State University. Apple, HBO, CBS, ForeSee, Hayworth and Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts are a few of the organizations that have utilized his illustrative artwork.
The four terrazzo designs will be installed in highly visible locations for direct interaction with passengers. The artists worked closely with contractor, Central Tile and Terrazzo Co., to ensure the terrazzo accurately matches their artistic intent.
The installation of the terrazzo art pieces is expected to be completed by June 2023. For more information about the artists and the capital expansion program, Elevate, visit flyford.org/elevate.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
The Kent County Community Action’s 2023 Walk for Warmth will take place March 4. (Pxhere.com)
On average, households will pay 12.7 percent more for home heating this winter, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (NEADA), which means more people may struggle to pay their heating bills.
With that in mind, the Kent County Community Action will bring back its Walk for Warmth event, designed to raise awareness and funds for heating fuel assistance programs.
“All of the money raised from this event will go straight to people who need help in keeping their utilities on,” said Gustavo Perez, the director of the Kent County Community Action.
The Walk for Warmth is a statewide event with local communities usually hosting the walk in February. The Ottawa County Community Action Agency hosted its event at the beginning of February. The Kent County Walk for Warmth is set for March 4. Participants will meat at 8:30 a.m. at the Kent County Community Action (KCCA) offices, 121 Martin Luther King Jr. St., Suite 110. The walk starts at 9 a.m. and will travel the block around the KCCA offices, which is Martin Luther king Jr. Street to Sheldon Avenue to Sycamore Street to Jefferson Avenue.
According to a recent report from NEADA, the national rate of utility arrearages (the amount of money families are behind on their electric and gas bills) is at about $16.6 billion since the end of the last winter season. About 20.8 million households, that is about one out of six, owed an average of $791. This is up slightly from June 2022 when the total arrearage place stood at about $16.3 billion and the average amount owed was about $783.
Closer to home, Perez said he is still compiling the 2022 numbers however, in 2021, Kent County Community Action helped more than 4,000 houses with gas, electric and water.
The Kent County Community Action provides a number of programs to Kent County residents, one of which is the Utility Assistance Program. Residents do need to qualify for the assistance.
In the past, when people did no qualify, Walk for Warmth funds were used, however; due to the COVID pandemic, KCCA was not able to host the walk for the past two years with the Walk for Warmth fund currently unavailable to assist homeowners.
“What this allows is for raised funds to help close the gap for those who cannot keep the utilities on in their homes,” Perez said.
The goal for this year’s event is to assistant more than 20 households, which means the 2023 Walk for Warmth would need to raise around $10,000.
“We are working with people who are facing shut-off, so we are only helping them get caught up so they can keep the heat on,” Perez said. “We are not paying for a single home’s heat for a year, but only the amount to make sure the heat does not get turned off.”
Take a look at our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights, February 17!
Every Friday, we’ll bring you some great high school boys and girls basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
Lee’s Joe Russau led the Legends with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks in an 83-63 win Friday over Fruitport Calvary Christian. (Courtesy, Lee High School)
Morenas Event Venue is located in Kentwood. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Setting the stage. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Heading down the aisle. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
By D.A. Reed WKTC Contributor
“I’m feeling good,” said Chloe Kimber (soon-to-be Jenne) as she stood in the Morenas Event Venue bridal room waiting for her wedding to begin. “I’m sure I’ll be nervous once I get up there.”
Chloe, however, looked anything but nervous. Smiling and appearing completely at ease, she held her bouquet of flowers loosely as she talked with her mother.
Officiant Zara Northover presides over the wedding of Chloe Kimber and Alexander Jenne. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
High school sweethearts, Chloe and fiancée Alexander Jenne decided to participate in Morenas Mini-Mony Day on Feb. 14 after her mother sent her the link from a news article, leaving the couple only a month to prepare.
Even though Chloe and Alexander planned for a 2024 wedding, Chloe shrugged and said, “Why wait?”
The bride admitted that she didn’t have any specific “wants” for her wedding, so Mini-Mony Day worked well for the couple. When asked where Chloe found her elegant knee-length dress, she laughed and struck a pose as she responded, “Amazon. Same day delivery.”
Chloe and Alexander were the first to get married at Morenas Event Venue, the upscale event space in Kentwood, on Valentine’s Day. Couples were offered a luxury high-end event for only $50.
“We understand that some couples are looking to have a nice wedding but are not in the position to pay the hefty price tag that can entail,” Britney Hoskins, owner of Morenas Event Venue, said in supplied material.
Hoskins launched Mini-Mony Day on Jan. 1, organizing the entire event in just a few weeks.
The idea came to Hoskins while designing a photoshoot. “This is my specialty,” said Hoskins. “I do huge, grandiose setup(s), and then nobody sees it until it’s in a magazine. I thought, this year, what if we leave up our shoot for people to get married on Valentine’s Day? We were already doing something beautiful and decided to let people utilize it to actually get married.”
Britney Hoskins, owner of Morenas (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Hoskins adorned the 5,000 square foot event space with white, gold, and red, including a lavish ceiling installation valued at $10,000. Heavenly Designs supplied lighted signs and balloons, and BD’s Dysfunktional Entertainment provided music.
Officiant Zara Northover drove in from Detroit to marry the five couples who participated in Mini-Mony Day, Charla Dee Photos provided photography services, and BreAna Harris created mini cakes for each couple.
Mini-Mony Day saw five couples joined in marriage, and one proposal, with Hoskins overseeing it all and making sure things ran smoothly and that clients were comfortable.
Within a span of 30 minutes, couples were treated to a wedding ceremony, signing of the marriage license, mini cakes, a first dance, a group family dance, and photographs—all provided by vendors at virtually no cost to the couples.
“The vendors are just as important today (as the couples) because they are giving of their time and energy,” said Hoskins. “They are excited to be here for these couples, and that makes the whole ambiance so different.”
Giving back to the community is important to Hoskins, even though it might not always be easy
For many business owners, giving away free products and services isn’t a viable option. What Hoskins found among this group of vendors was a willingness to give freely.
“No one did the bare minimum,” Hoskins said. “All of us gave our best versions, and that makes it so much more special.”
Chloe Kimber and Alexander Jenne feed each other cake. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
“This is a feel-good (event),” Hoskins continued. “In business, mostly everything is about money. Sometimes we just get to give the feel-good moments, and I’m really excited about that.”
Hoskins’s desire to create memorable events for people shows in her thoughtful design of Morenas Event Venue.
“I’ve done this for eight years,” said Hoskins, “so when I designed Morenas, I genuinely tried to think of all the ‘woes’.”
Private rooms for the bride and groom that are easily accessible all day long were a must-have on Hoskins’s list. “(Often) our brides will disappear from the chaos and take a moment to breathe,” Hoskins said.
Rooms for caterers to store food, a back door for vendors to enter and exit discreetly, a glass bay door, and ample parking were all carefully thought out in the design.
Morenas Event Venue isn’t Hoskins’s first foray into business
Hoskins founded Allure Limousine in 2013 and currently owns a Detroit-based award-winning event planning company called The Top Pic Collective.
Top Pic also encompasses The Luxe Rental Collective, a 7,000 square foot warehouse in Sterling Heights where she rents supplies to other designers and brides who want to DIY. “It’s a designer’s haven,” said Hoskins.
Splitting her time between Grand Rapids and Detroit, Hoskins said that Morenas Mini-Mony Day was special to her because she was there to see it all.
“I don’t always get to see my weddings,” Hoskins said. “It’s actually a rarity. I come and set up before the bride ever sees it and tear down after the bride has left, so a lot of times I never get to meet them. So when I get to stick around to see the weddings, I am emotional.”
Helping others create memorable events is Hoskins’s way of sharing the blessings she has been given in the business world: “Giving back to the community is really important to me.”
For more information on events and inventory rentals at Morenas Event Venue, visit www.morenasgr.com.
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author
More than 58 million birds have been affected by the avian influenza outbreak countrywide, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. (Photo courtesy, pxhere.com)
By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributor
Extraordinary price hikes on eggs over the past year and continuing inflation costs have had consumers and local business owners concerned.
340 Million: Prior to the avian influenza outbreak in 2022, that was the number of laying hens across the United States. 15 million of those hens could be found in Michigan.
Those numbers average one hen for every consumer in the country.
“For every citizen in the United States, there was one laying hen,” said Ernie Birchmeier, Senior Relations Specialist with the Michigan Farm Bureau.
More than 58 million birds affected countrywide
Since the avian influenza outbreak, however, over 58 million birds were affected countrywide, creating a hitch in egg production that resulted in higher prices for one of the country’s main staples.
(Source: USDA Rural Development)
In January of 2022, the average cost of a dozen large Grade A eggs was $1.93. During the past year, consumers were hard pressed to find a dozen of those same eggs for under $5.
“We lost about 45 million laying hens across the country from that influenza outbreak. That has had an impact on the size of the laying flock in the United States and has decreased egg production,” Birchmeier said.
Various strains of avian influenza are an annual occurrence.
“Typically, when you have an avian influenza outbreak, it is spread during the spring and the fall when wild birds migrate back to the north from the south and vice versa in the fall,” Birchmeier said. “When you co-mingle those birds, they bring different sets of diseases and will typically cause an influenza outbreak.”
The number of birds affected by influenza is not normally so high. So why was the bird population hit so hard in 2022?
“In 2022, (avian influenza) lasted all year, during both seasons,” Birchmeier said. “So it’s continued to have an impact.”
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
When will egg prices decrease?
Birchmeier said there have been reports of consumers seeing a softening in egg prices, with many lowering to more normal levels. But he cautions that it will take time to see a significant change.
“It takes time for eggs to be set, then for those eggs to hatch,” said Birchmeier, relaying that birds are typically 5-1/2 months old before they start laying. “It’s going to take time to replenish those flocks.”
(Source: Bureau Labor of Statistics)
Labor, transportation and energy costs add to the price
Consumers are urged to remember that labor, transportation and energy costs also are up and that factors into the cost of food along with the influenza outbreak.
There was a general food inflation of around 20 percent in 2022. Add in the impact of a reduction in egg production, and it influences those prices even more.
Farmers replenishing flocks helps soften prices
“If we can get through spring without any major problems, and farmers can replenish those flocks, we should see a decrease, a softening, of egg prices back down to more normal levels,” Birchmeier said. “It’s just going to take time for supply to catch back up (with demand).”
(WKTV/D.A. Reed)
For many local businesses, eggs are a staple — one needed in abundance.
“It’s hard to be a breakfast place (right now),” said Delanie Haisma, a server at Anna’s House restaurant. “That’s a common thing that we supply.”
But Haisma also said that the post-pandemic general inflation is what has had the biggest impact on their business.
When asked if Anna’s House has increased prices due to rising egg prices, Haisma said, “Since the eggs have gone up, no, but about a month before that happened, we did raise our menu prices by 25 to 75 cents on a couple of items.”
Continuing supply issues also have had a large impact.
“It’s hard to keep stuff in stock, and sometimes we have to go through a third party,” Haisma explained.
Other local restaurants also have had to adjust menu pricing due to general inflation.
Real Food Café recently instituted a three-percent surcharge to all checks to offset fast-rising expenses, including rising employee wages, fuel charges, and the escalating cost of food and other goods.
Even though rising prices have stunned most consumers, Birchmeier urges buyers to consider the true value of a dozen eggs priced at $5. “That’s still a pretty good value when you consider the amount per egg. Forty cents per egg is still a pretty good value compared to a lot of foods.”
Perspective also plays a role in remembering the value of a product: “Five dollars for a dozen eggs versus $5 for that cup of coffee you stood in line and waited for,” Birchmeier said.
Michigan spared major avian flu outbreaks
Birchmeier went on to say that although the entire United States has been impacted by the influenza outbreak, Michigan as a whole has been spared any major outbreaks in our laying flock, and that other areas of the country are paying more for eggs than Michiganders.
“We are very fortunate in this country to have the food supply that we do,” Birchmeier said. “And we have choices. And we have the ability to shop around.”
Birchmeier encourages consumers to shop around for better prices than what they may find at their usual store.
“Very seldom do we ever have to worry about whether or not there is product on the grocery store shelf,” Birchmeier said. “We saw that for the first time in many people’s lives in our country during the pandemic. But our farmers are out there every day to make sure that we have a wholesome and abundant food supply in this country.”
Extra bio security measures in Michigan
Egg-laying facilities have tight bio security measures implemented by farmers that have been in place for many years. Because of these extra steps, Michigan has been spared major outbreaks in our laying flocks.
(WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Controlling traffic flow on and off the farm, regulating the number of visitors to the farm, and making sure trucks are cleaned as they enter and leave the farm, are all steps Michigan farmers have taken to diligently keep diseases from their flocks.
“Our farmers know they need to protect the birds inside those buildings,” Birchmeier said. “For their livelihood, but also to make sure that they are producing a (safe) product for the consumer.”
Conspiracy theories put to rest
With emotions running high and bank accounts running low, Birchmeier warns against incorrect theories about causes for the egg price hike.
“We have to be very careful about everything we read on the internet and social media and make sure that we are getting accurate information rather than potential theories.”
There are other factors as to why chickens may not be laying eggs. In the winter months, it is common for chickens to go into a molt, or molting process, during which it is typical for chickens to stop laying eggs.
Regardless of the reason, Birchmeier said it is important to remember that production and distribution systems are already set and in place no matter how much farmers produce in a year.
“If there is a chink in the armor, or a link in the chain that’s broken, that’s when we run into disruptions,” he explained. “A lot of our consumers don’t understand that because we never have to think about it. (Food) has always been there.”
‘It all comes back to perspective’
“Relative to the rest of the world, we are in a fantastic position here in the United States to have a wholesome, abundant, affordable food supply typically all of the time,” Birchmeier said.
He explained the importance of understanding that farmers are greatly impacted by all this as well.
“We’re feeling the brunt of high labor, high energy costs, as well, across our food production system. But farmers themselves can’t pass those costs on, they have to absorb them, versus other manufacturers and goods and services (that) typically add those costs on and pass them along to the consumer. We see our ups and downs in the agricultural department from an economic standpoint as well.”
Birchmeier strongly encourages consumers to know the facts before jumping to conclusions, and to ask farmers if they have questions.
“We are glad to share our information because we’re all together in this.”
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author
Get an early glimpse of our WKTV Friday Night Highlights show with these exciting clips and interviews from our Tuesday WKTV Game of the Week: Muskegon Catholic Central at Lee boys. The Legends beat visiting MCC 69-58 to stay atop the Alliance League at 5-0, 15-1 overall.
Be sure to watch the complete FNH show on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 and ATT U-verse Channel 99.
Darryl Thompkins Jr. (pictured from an earlier game) and Marshaun Flakes led East Kentwood with 12 points apiece. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
It wasn’t the start the East Kentwood basketball team had in mind when it traveled to Grand Haven Tuesday night, but the ending was exactly what the Falcons were looking for in the matchup of two of the four teams that entered the evening tied atop the OK Red standings.
After trailing 10-0, East Kentwood battled back to claim a 53-47 win on the road and end the night sharing the top spot in the conference with Hudsonville.
“Grand Haven jumped out on us pretty good,” said East Kentwood Coach Mike Thomas. “We came out flat and they took advantage of it.”
East Kentwood weathered the early storm of the Buccaneers and began to right the ship as the first quarter progressed. By the end of the first eight minutes the Falcons managed to whittle the deficit to 17-10.
Treys turn the game for East Kentwood
“We made a few substitutions and we started hitting some shots,” Thomas said. “Christian Humphrey came off the bench and hit 3 three-point shots and Landon Storms hit two more threes. We did a good job of getting back into the game.”
Landon Storms (pictured from a previous game) joins in on the threes. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
East Kentwood continued to wrestle away control of the game during the second quarter. With the offense beginning to cook and the Falcon defense turning up the pressure, East Kentwood tied the game at 21 at the end of the first half.
East Kentwood’s defense was led by senior Marshaun Flakes, who was given the defensive task of slowing down Grand Haven standout Harrison Sorrelle. Sorrelle came into the game with a string of 20-point plus scoring efforts to his credit.
“Marshaun did an unbelievable job of shutting down Sorrelle,” Thomas said. “He is one of the leading scorers in the league and Marshaun held him to eight points. That was a huge part of our success in the second half.”
East Kentwood took over the lead in the game during the third quarter, and heading into the final eight minutes of the game the Falcons were up 35-32.
Grand Haven battled back during the final quarter and cut the lead to two points before the Falcons pulled away at the end.
“Grand Haven is a very, very tough team,” Thomas said. “They are a tough team to put away and we have to tip our hats off to them. We had to hit some timely free throws at the end and come up with some timely defensive stops and steals.”
East Kentwood used a balanced effort on the offensive end of the floor to key the win. The Falcons were led in scoring by Darryl Thompkins Jr. and Flakes who both scored 12 points. Humphrey added 11 points followed by Storms with eight.
Christian Humphrey’s return big
The return to the lineup of Humphrey, a 6-foot-8 senior, provided the Falcons with a big boost in the conference road showdown. Humphrey had missed the previous three weeks with an ankle injury that he suffered against Caledonia.
With the win, East Kentwood improved to 8-3 in the OK Red and 13-5 overall. The win also was the fourth in a row by the Falcons who continue to build momentum as the state tournament draws closer.
Momentum good for state tourney
“It’s perfect timing,” Thomas said. “Our goal is to have everything going by the time we get to March. “We are trying to create momentum going into March. We have a four-game winning streak and we want to keep adding to it and building momentum.
“It’s all about getting ready for March and playing our best basketball in the tournament. The guys are buying in and they believe we can do something special in the tournament.”
Falcons knotted atop Red with Hudsonville
East Kentwood’s win at Grand Haven combined with Hudsonville’s win against Grandville Tuesday evening leaves the Falcons and Hudsonville tied for the top spot in the OK Red with 8-3 conference records. Both teams have two more conference games remaining before they close out the conference season playing each other at East Kentwood on Friday, Feb. 24.
“We play Hudsonville on that final Friday,” Thomas said, “and if we take care of business, it can all come down to that game.”
East Kentwood returns to action Friday when it travels to Caledonia. The Falcons then host West Ottawa next Tuesday with the showdown against Hudsonville scheduled three days later.
Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley (red scarf) takes part in a previous Unity Walk to Honor Martin Luther King Jr. at Woodland Mall. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Woodland Mall will host the second annual Unity Walk to Honor Martin Luther King Jr. with the City of Kentwood and the ninth African American Live Museum with New Hope Baptist Church on Saturday, Feb. 25.
To kick off the day’s events, community members are invited to gather at the food court inside Woodland Mall, 3195 28th St. SE, at 11 a.m. for a walk that will end in front of Von Maur at 11:30 a.m. A ceremony will immediately follow and feature welcoming remarks from Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, a proclamation presented by various community members, live music and refreshments.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to again host our Unity Walk to Honor MLK at Woodland Mall,” Kepley said. “It will be the start to a great day celebrating the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr., as well as other leading African American figures through New Hope Baptist Church’s Live Museum. We welcome community members of all ages to join us.”
More than 25 live performances
The Unity Walk will be followed by the African American Live Museum presented by New Hope Baptist Church. Starting at 1 p.m., community members can witness more than 25 live performances featuring notable African American figures throughout history and in current culture across several areas, including politics, sports, science, arts and entertainment. Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Judge Kentaji Brown Jackson will be among the legends appearing throughout the mall until 5 p.m.
John Davis portraying Carter G Woodson — 2019 Live Museum at Woodland Mall. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
A distinguishing factor of the Live Museum is how the performers, ranging in age from 10 to 66, bring their persona to life by adopting mannerisms of the legendary figures they are portraying while sharing facts and stories from their lives. Visitors can watch and listen to the performances to learn about the figures and enjoy the realistic depictions.
“The African American Live Museum is one of our outreach ministries with the intentionality of relationship building,” said Dr. Cathy Large, drama ministry leader of New Hope Baptist Church. “This is a great opportunity to help educate the community about the historic achievements of Black Americans and to share the wonderful talents of our performers.”
The Live Museum was an annual event for many years at the mall until the pandemic. Mikia Ross, interim senior marketing director for Woodland Mall, says the mall is thrilled for its return, along with the continuation of the Unity Walk.
Quentin Henry Jr portraying Langston Hughes — 2019 Live Museum at Woodland Mall. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
“We are proud to partner with the City of Kentwood and New Hope Baptist Church to offer these impactful events,” Ross said. “Both will give our guests the opportunity to learn through personal connections and interactive experiences.”
Take a look at our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights, February 10!
Every Friday, we’ll bring you some great high school boys and girls basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
Jamell Hatchett covers Grandville’s Tyson Mann. Hatchett and Marshaun Flakes led the Falcons with 19 points each. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
If Friday’s result is any indication, opponents of East Kentwood might thick twice about coming out in a zone defense against the Falcons.
Thanks to some accurate outside shooting and timely drives to the basket, East Kentwood’s offense reached overdrive in the second half as the Falcons defeated Grandville 73-58 in an OK Red showdown of conference frontrunners.
“I thought this was a good game for us,” said East Kentwood Coach Mike Thomas. “Our guys struggle against a zone, but they showed tonight they are starting to figure the zone out. This is the largest amount of points we’ve scored against a zone in a long time.”
The 73 points the Falcons scored Friday was almost double the amount of points they scored a month ago when the Falcons dropped a 48-41 decision to Grandville on the road. The win also crowded things at the top of the OK Red as East Kentwood, Grandville, Grand Haven and Hudsonville are all tied for the top spot in the league with 7-3 conference records.
Huge second half for the Falcons
East Kentwood was especially productive against the Grandville zone defense in the second half. Trailing Grandville 32-27 at halftime, East Kentwood outscored the Bulldogs 46-26 in the second half.
East Kentwood stormed out of the locker room at the start of the second half to outscore Grandville 20-5 and take control of the game. Senior Marshaun Flakes led the charge in the second half as he scored Kentwood’s first seven points of the third quarter.
“This was big,” Flakes said. “The last time we played them (Grandville) we started slow. Tonight, we came out with a lot more energy and intensity. We really brought the energy in the second half.”
East Kentwood brought plenty of defensive energy to the floor in the second half. Steals on the defensive end led to some layups on the offensive end of the floor. Both Flakes and Jaden Bowman came up with big steals in the early going in the third quarter as the Falcons took the lead in the game.
“It’s always our defense that gets us going,” Thomas said. “Our defense has kept us in every game. We also made some defensive adjustments at halftime.”
East Kentwood lights up the treys
On the offensive side of the floor, the Falcons sliced apart the Grandville zone with a combination of accurate shooting from the perimeter and timely drives to the basket. East Kentwood connected on seven three-point shots during the game. Jamell Hatchett led the way from outside as he connected on three, three-point shots while Rasheed Watkins hit a pair of treys.
Balance also was a key for the East Kentwood offense. Hatchett and Flakes led the way for the Falcon offense as they both totaled 19 points. Darryl Thompkins poured in 15 points, while Watkins added 12.
East Kentwood’s Darryl Thompkins, Jr. takes the ball up the court. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
A standout on both ends of the court, Flakes also was instrumental in providing the Falcons with strong leadership, especially coming out in the second half facing a five-point deficit.
“Marshaun was unbelievable tonight,” Thomas said. “He is the leader of our team. I’ve been coaching for a while now and have had some great leaders. Like I told my wife, Marshaun is one of the top leaders I’ve ever had.”
That leadership was evident in the early stages of the fourth quarter when Grandville made an effort to get back into the game. Up 49-43 at the end of the third quarter, Grandville whittled the Kentwood lead to 51-47 before Flakes drained a pair of free throws to stem the tide.
Grandville managed to cut the Falcon lead to 53-49, but a three-point shot by Watkins started a 7-0 Falcon run that built their lead to 60-49 with five minutes left in the game. Grandville managed to cut the Kentwood margin to 60-52, but that was as close as the Bulldogs would get as Kentwood pulled away in the final few minutes of the game.
“This was a big win for us,” Flakes said. “This win will give us some momentum going into March.”
With the win, East Kentwood improved to 11-5 overall. The Falcons return to action Saturday when they travel to Benton Harbor to play Detroit Old Redford in the Wilson Chandler Shootout. The Falcons then travel to Grand Haven on Tuesday to face another team that is part of the logjam at the top of the conference standings before heading to Caledonia on Friday.
Grandville fell to 10-6 overall and 7-3 in the league. The Bulldogs were led in scoring by Tyson Mann who finished with 31 points.
Get an early glimpse of our WKTV Friday Night Highlights show with these exciting clips and interviews from our Tuesday Game of the Week: Mona Shores at Wyoming Boys. The Wolves beat visiting Mona Shores 71-58.
Be sure to watch the complete FNH show on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 and ATT U-verse Channel 99.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
A tragic situation lead local artist Kim Johnson to be a witness to the chaos world of the healthcare workers as they struggled to help those with COVID 19, which in turn has lead to an insightful and personal narrative of what Johnson saw.
“If My Paintings Were on These Walls” will premiere on Feb. 17 on WKTV’s Comcast Channel 25. (WKTV)
Friday, Feb. 17, WKTV will premiere Johnson’s short film “If My Paintings Were on this Wall” at 7 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 or you can live stream it at WKTV.org. The film is a combination of watercolor paintings and an essay by Johnson with video clips, narrated by Grammy Award winner singer, actress and author Debby Boone.
“Having seen Kim’s artwork, I knew that she would do a beautiful job executing this project.” Boone said. “There is real emotion and humanity in these pictures that is quite beautiful and her essay really communicates the sacrifice [many] have been willing to provide for people during such a trying time with the pandemic and the overload in these hospitals.
“You know they are exhausted and their personal lives are maybe falling apart and yet, they still show up with love and compassion for the people they’re trying to serve.”
The story of Kim and Georgia Johnson
Covid 19 turned many people’s lives upside down and local artist Kim Johnson and her mother, Georgia thought that was going to be the case for them.
But a trip to the hospital lead to the discovery that Georgia did not have Covid like everyone thought, but rather metastasized breast cancer, which would take her life in 21 days.
During that time, Kim Johnson spent every waking hour at the hospital and when her mother was getting tested or sleeping, Johnson, with sketchpad in tow, would draw what see was seeing: the nurses looking so tired but kept going, health care workers being yelled and assaulted by frustrated and frightened patients; and those running from one hospital room to another to take care of patient needs.
“At the time, I was a pretty bitter person,” Johnson said. ”I disliked anyone in the healthcare field. I disliked [Georgia’s] doctor because I thought he could have caught it.
“I was pretty nasty and my attitude stunk in the time that she was there and a lot of times I left the room and took my sketchpad with me and God worked on my heart a little bit because one of the first things I saw, or rather heard, was there was a patient screaming. The F-bomb was flying right and left, and the next thing I know this nurse came out and she was balling…she crumbled to the floor in tears and someone came to console her.”
This would be the first of many sketches but after her mothers death, Johnson’s resentment toward anyone in the healthcare, caused her to pack up the drawings along with her art supplies. After selling the family home, she had no intention of having anything to do with art.
Finding compassion and gratitude
Six months later, Johnson began to have a change of heart, developing compassion for the healthcare workers. She rekindled her love for drawing and watercolor painting, and through most of her supplies were in storage, she was able to find a few supplies packed away including the sketchbook she had at the hospital.
One of the 38 paintings by Kim Johnson.
It is from that sketchbook she wrote her essay about her experiences and interactions within those 21 days and painted 38 4×6-inch paintings, all of which is included in the video.
Johnson has long followed and admired four daughters of legendary singer Pat Boone since 1977 when Debby Boone recored the song “You Light Up My Life.” She also was a fam of the 1979 Boone Family Easter Special. Through a meeting on the now defunct My Space, Johnson meet and became friends with Cherry Boone O’Neill, Debby Boone’s sister. It was through that friendship, which eventually migrated to Facebook, that she met Debby Boone, who upon hearing of the project agreed to narrate it.
“Honestly, I never thought that I would ever have the opportunity to meet Debby Boone, let alone work with her on a project I created,” Johnson said. “She narrated something I wrote. I still cannot believe that it is happening. I am beyond honored.”
There will be a private showing of the film at the WKTV Community Media Center in February. In March, there will be a public showing that will be followed by a brief appreciation recognition for healthcare workers in all capacities. The film also will be available on Kim Johnson’s YouTube channel at the end of March.
