Jett was a dual-purpose dog trained in tracking and narcotics detection. He served with the Wyoming Police Department for approximately six years before retiring in 2021.
Upon his retirement, Jett went on to live the next three years at home with his handler, Officer Adam Sherman.
Jett was a loyal and beloved member of the Wyoming Police family and will be greatly missed.
One person is dead after a house fire early this morning in the 2300 block of Collingwood Avenue SW.
At approximately 4:45 a.m. on April 18, 2024, the Wyoming Fire Department responded to a report of a fully involved structure fire at a residence in the 2300 block of Collingwood Avenue SW.
When firefighters arrived at the residence, they discovered that the fire had already spread through a significant portion of the home. Firefighters began extinguishing the flames while simultaneously searching for anyone that might be inside the home.
After the flames had adequately been controlled, firefighters discovered a body in the upper level of the house. The body has been identified as that of 42-year-old Sarah Martin, the sole resident of the home.
Fire investigation ongoing
At this point the cause of the fire has not been determined. The Wyoming Fire Inspector is working with State Police Fire Investigators to determine the origin point and cause of the fire. Wyoming Police Detectives are conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this fire and will be working with Fire Investigators to determine whether or not foul play is involved.
During this incident, the Wyoming Fire Department received mutual aid from both the Grand Rapids and Grandville Fire Departments. We are grateful for these partnerships and for their assistance.
Anyone with any information regarding this fire is asked to contact Wyoming Police Detectives at 616- 530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
Once upon a time there were two best friends and their names were Maya and Victoria. They were watching a movie and eating rainbow popcorn with extra rainbow butter and rainbow gummies, and then someone spilled a Dragon fruit-drink on the remote, and then the whole house shook.
And then they got sucked into the T.V. Then they got pooped out of the portal, and they landed on a gargantuan marshmallow. Then they got stuck in a marshmallow to their waist, and they had to eat their way out. It took them an hour.
After that, they saw a dogocorn and a unicorn. Then, the dogocorn and unicorn ask Maya and Victoria to help them. They agree to help, but only if there is a way to get home. They said they need to beat the evil turtle.
The only way to destroy it is true love.
They all work together to find a boy turtle. When they do find him, he has an awesome singing voice. His name is Timmy. Then they bring him to the evil turtle’s castle.
Timmy knows she is really pretty, so then they get married. The evil turtle is no longer evil. She is really nice and sweet, and her name is Mia. Then Mia shows them a secret portal.
They go home and live happily ever after.
The End
P.S. Dogo Corn made everything a mess.
Victoria (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Maya (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Maya (left) and Victoria are 4th grade students at AnchorPoint Christian School.
The Two Best Friends was a collaborative effort between Maya and Victoria, and is their first published work.
A quarter of the people landed in the UnderWorld. A quarter of the people landed in GrimGate. The rest landed in E. State.
It all happened at 5:45.
While Josiah and I were playing Fortnite, we got sucked into the game. Josiah and I were shocked. We found ourselves in E. State. We hid in a bush because we were scared. We hid there until 50 people died.
Now there are 25 players left. We defeated five players. Now there are 19 players left. There used to be a gargantuan amount of players. 10 of them died. We destroyed four of them.
Now there are three left, not counting us. The other people destroyed the guy. Now it is a 2v2 and Josiah destroyed one person.
Josiah died to his teammate, and I destroyed him from behind.
Josiah Freeman (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Nathan Simeon (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Nathan Simeon (left) is a 3rd grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School.
Josiah Freeman (right) is a 4th grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School.
Fortnite World was a collaborative effort between Nathan and Josiah, and is their first published work.
“There are more than 117 million Americans age 50 and older – 35% of the total population. I wanted to do a special show to honor and represent that age group,” says Brian B., founder and MC of the SNF. “This is the second year of special performances to recognize specific groups.
(Courtesy, Brian B.)
“In February, we did our special Black History Month show. In March, it was our Women’s History Month and Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids LaughFest performances. The SNF is a melting pot of comedians and audience members – different ages, nationalities, so why not honor all the groups that make up the show?”
The Older Americans Month lineup consists of seven different comedians at least 50 years of age. The show will feature former local radio personality Jojo Girard closing out the show. Also featured will be Detroit area comic Kathy Ryan, comedians from Ohio, and various local talent.
“The Sunday Night Funnies has got a big 2024 going on,” said Brian B.
In addition to the the Older Americans Month show, the following Sunday (May 12) will kick off SNF’s seventh annual Kingpin of Comedy competition.
15 years of SNF
The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. Now in its 15th year, the SNF is a weekly live stand-up comedy performance featuring over 1,200 performances from comics across Michigan and around the country.
The SNF is a free admission show on Sunday nights at 7:30 p.m. during the winter/spring, and at 8:30 p.m. during summer and early fall. All performances take place at Woody’s Pressbox inside The Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Wyoming.
Mrs. Kim Omanchi, AnchorPoint Christian School 3/4 Grade Teacher (Courtesy, Toby Lehnen)
By Toby Lehnen
3rd Grade Youth Contributor
AnchorPoint Christian School
This is Mrs. Omanchi. She is my teacher.
She wakes up and gets ready for work. She eats breakfast. Her breakfast is the homemade granola her mom made her.
Ezra gets up and she asks him what he wants for lunch and lays it out. They get in the car and drive to Potter’s House on the highway and Clyde Park Avenue.
When she gets to school around 7:40 a.m., she writes the morning message and prints the work we are going to do today.
She waits to greet her students at the door and see how we are doing.
Toby Lehnen (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Toby Lehnen is a 3rd grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School. Toby’s news article, Mrs. Omanchi’s Morning, is his first published work.
Led by teacher Mrs. Kim Omanchi, and in collaboration with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, students created unique pieces for publication on WKTV Journal.
The story is about sharks, there is a shark attack. It takes place at sea. It happened on July 12, 1916.
Once upon a time Jaxon and I were reading a book called I Survived Shark Attacks.
It was Feb. 10, 2024 when we were reading the book. We randomly got sucked into the book, and the teacher came and she saw that we weren’t there anymore.
It was July 12,1916. Jaxon and I were in the middle of the sea. Jaxon and I were scared because we thought we were gonna get eaten by a shark.
Afterwards, we saw people running to the sand because of five great white sharks. Two people had gotten eaten, and three people were left. But two sharks got two other people, leaving one person named Nick. He was running towards me and Jaxon.
Jaxon and I were jittery and started running to land, but we saw that he had disappeared. He came out of the water fighting the shark and killed the shark. Running from the other sharks, he made it to land.
Then Jaxon and I disappeared, coming back to school reading Shark Attacks.
The End!!!!
Alan Perez (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Alan Perez is a 3rd grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School. Alan’s short story, Stranded in Sharkland, is his first published work.
Led by teacher Mrs. Kim Omanchi, and in collaboration with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, students created unique pieces for publication on WKTV Journal.
Using 10,000 hand-painted LEGO bricks, artist Aaron Liepman created the seven-foot hummingbird mosaic, Pixels of Life, that now hangs at the Wyoming Branch of Kent District Library (KDL).
The ruby-throated hummingbird is set to a 10-foot backdrop of a giant pink coneflower painted in a pixel style by Ann Arbor Visual Artist Katie Hammond.
Aaron Liepman (left) and Katie Hammond with their creation, Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Liepman entered the piece in ArtPrize 2023 and is happy the piece is now on display for the public.
“Pixels of Life was created to be shared and to be seen,” said Liepman. “I hope that library patrons, young and old, enjoy interacting with it as much as Katie and I enjoyed creating it.”
Art and science…together?
Liepman and Hammond share more than artistic talent – both artists also love science.
A biology professor at Eastern Michigan University, Liepman says he was aware of an artistic side of his personality when he was young.
“I really enjoyed art class, but also went pretty hardcore into science.”
Hammond admitted to always having an interest in science. “I almost majored in biology instead of doing art in undergrad. The combining of science with art is something that I really enjoy.”
When Liepman reached out to Hammond about needing a backdrop for his hummingbird mosaic, Hammond couldn’t resist the opportunity to combine art and science.
“I love hummingbirds,” said Liepman. “They’re the most incredible creatures. So much color. The highlight of summer for me is watching hummingbirds at the feeders and appreciating how beautiful and agile and brilliant they are.”
Aaron Liepman with “Ruby” (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)
Feathers on the neck of the male ruby-throated hummingbird can look either black or ruby red depending on the angle.
“If they turn, they can go from black to the greatest, most brilliant ruby that you’ve ever seen – and it’s immediate,” said Liepman. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Creating a Hummingbird mosaic, however, was not easy.
“It was so incredibly difficult because trying to reduce the color palette of this bird, of this flying jewel, down to a manageable number that I could create in my studio was just an exercise in futility.
“I did my best. This one has more colors than anything I’ve ever made before; it had 70 colors.”
However, Liepman knew his hummingbird was not complete – it needed a backdrop. But he did not have time to build an 8-foot flower out of LEGOs.
“When I was thinking of another way we could get a flower for this bird, I thought of Katie,” said Liepman. “I asked her what she thought of making a giant 10-foot painting. I thought it would be fun to have mixed media.”
A giant painting? No problem!
Liepman gave Hammond free reign over creation of the backdrop.
“Aaron giving me free reign, that’s always exciting, but it’s also intimidating,” said Hammond. “When you have the whole world of possibilities open, you have to think what’s going to look best in the end.”
She brainstormed for weeks before deciding to paint one of the hummingbirds’ favorite foods, the coneflower, in the style of Aaron’s LEGOs.
Hammond also wanted the backdrop to be modular.
“I wanted it to be made up of a lot of different little tiles, or pieces, so that it would mimic and mirror the feel of the Lego piece.”
However, painting a 10×10-foot canvas with squares the size of LEGOs was not feasible in the time allotted. Instead, Hammond chose to magnify the scale and paint much bigger squares.
“I painted all the squares different colors to match a photograph of a pixelated coneflower,” said Hammond. “I thought it was a fun way to relate to LEGOs. I wanted to do something that would connect them stylistically and thematically.”
Click on the slideshow arrows (located on right and left sides of each picture) below to view the complete process of creating the Pixels of Life backdrop (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Every story has a beginning…
Liepman’s fascination with LEGO art began after seeing a LEGO wall mosaic in Chicago.
“I hadn’t seen anything like that before and was fascinated. I had never considered LEGOs as a 2-dimensional art form. I knew I wanted to try to create some art in that medium.”
Liepman decided to start with a small project, but quickly realized his “small” project needed to be quite a bit larger than expected.
“Watchful” (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)
“This is a thing that many people don’t understand about this art form,” said Liepman. “A screen resolution, that’s 72 dots per inch. When you’re thinking about a LEGO brick, a LEGO pixel, you get approximately 3.4. Your smallest details – if you need a single pixel for something – that smallest detail relative to the overall size of your composition means that things are going to get bigger than you think.”
Liepman’s “small project” became 20 inches square – and consisted of 1,024 LEGO pieces.
He also realized that he needed more colors than the LEGO palette offered.
Liepman began to paint LEGOs, experimenting with spray paint, then airbrushing with craft paints. Finally, he settled on artist-grade acrylic paints.
“There were a lot of things I learned by doing that first piece,” said Liepman. “When I stepped away from it though, I was like, wow, look what I made. There were no instructions, and I figured this out myself. I bet I could do more. I bet I could do better.”
Each mosaic taught him a little bit more. “I was making them bigger and more complex, and they were looking better and better. I didn’t get here in a day; it took me a long time.”
Much of Liepman’s time is spent formulating colors.
His first grayscale mosaic, Watchful, is 45 inches square and has 12 levels of gray, black and white. With the increased levels of grayscale, Liepman realized he could make the mosaics appear lifelike.
“When you can step away from the actual piece by about 20 feet, it looks like the feathers are soft, which completely blows my mind because every single piece is a geometric angular thing.”
“TB10” – Tom Brady (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)
Two of Liepman’s pieces have been auctioned at charity events – one being an autographed mosaic of Tom Brady.
“It’s been fun to be able to also give back to the community and to support good causes through my creativity.”
Commissions allow Liepman to afford the materials to continue creating and donate a piece from time to time to a good cause.
“These pieces really need to be seen and appreciated,” said Liepman. “It’s fun for me to have the opportunity to share these artworks with people because they don’t know what to think of them.”
20 years of funky…
Aaron Liepman (left) and Katie Hammond with Pixels of Life at Brush Studio in Grand Rapids (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Hammond says she has been an artist her entire life.
A dancer and visual artist as a child, Hammond then received a bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan art school, followed by a master’s degree in fine arts at the Art Institute of Chicago.
She is now the owner and manager of a communal studio called Ann Arbor Artist Studios.
Hammond describes her painting style as “funky.”
“What I mainly do is acrylic painting on canvas and velvet,” said Hammond. “I like to experiment with a mixed media or non-traditional painting approach, using things like glitter, markers, or more experimental fabrics.
“My painting style is representational but it’s not realistic. It’s stylized and fun and poppy and bright colors and simplified.”
Hammond has completed several commissioned works featuring families and animals, two of her favorite subjects. She also paints murals, completing a large exterior mural in downtown Ann Arbor.
Hammond appreciates the ability to express herself through art – but also the connection it brings.
“From little kids through elderly people…I really enjoy being able to connect with all types of people through my art,” said Hammond. “The most rewarding thing about [art] is being able to see people have a positive experience with your work.”
Hammond says she purposely creates art people can recognize and connect with on some level.
“Powerful” is a depiction of Wonder Woman and can be found at the Grandville Branch of KDL. It was a community project led by Liepman in 2022 (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)
“Anybody can do this; I’m not a genius”
Liepman hopes his artistic journey encourages other people who love art.
“Anybody can do this; I’m not a genius,” said Liepman. “I started with no experience. “I figured out that I could do something, and I kept leveraging the lessons I learned, thinking my way through problems and trying to come up with solutions. Bit by bit I have come up with a process.
“But it didn’t happen right away. It took a lot of practice. I figured out a process, and I’ve refined it over and over. After a while, you get good at stuff if you keep doing it.”
“Revolutionary” (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)“Revolutionary” (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)“Revolutionary” depicts Martin Luther King Jr. and contains 24 levels of grayscale
How to find Pixels of Life
Pixels of Life can be viewed in the teen area of KDL’s Wyoming Branch.
Liepman encourages people to view Pixels of Life from up close and far away so they can appreciate various details.
Share in the wonder of art and science
Aaron Liepman shares his artwork via Brickmaniac.com and Instagram. Liepman is also accepting commissions.
More information and examples of Katie Hammond’s work can be found on her website, Instagram and Facebook. Hammond is available for murals and other commissions.
Once upon time I was playing Fortnite, and I won the game. Suddenly I was invisible.
I went to Target and got a PS6. I set money on the counter which made the manager confused.
I took it home and plugged it in. I played Fortnite for 24 hours. My parents didn’t know because they couldn’t see me.
I took my dad’s credit card, so I could get the new XBOX Series and 10 Nintendo Switches. I charged them and played them for 10 hours, but I got bored. Then I decided to get the PS5. I liked it, however I got bored of that too. So I took a break to get ice cream.
When I came home, I went to sleep. I woke up and played Fortnite for 10 minutes. I got the Dub on Fortnite, but my invisibility ran out. And my parents caught me.
The end.
Joseph Montoya (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Joseph Montoya is a 4th grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School. Joseph’s short story, My Invisible Day Playing Fortnite, is his first published work.
Led by teacher Mrs. Kim Omanchi, and in collaboration with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, students created unique pieces for publication on WKTV Journal.
Suddenly, I am in the Ninja Turtle movie. I see if I can go meet the Turtles, and I become their friend. They show me around. They teach me how to fight. I fight the Krag with them. I have a sword and I can fight the Shredder and fight him with the turtles, and then I ride in the shell razor with the Turtles.
“Man, these buildings are gargantuan.”
Then I had my first fight.
“We went against the Krag. We won. It was easy with the Turtles. And the weapon I was using was a sword. It was cool.”
I was like Leo, but I was not the leader then we went home. It was stinky in the sewers but I had to deal with it.
Then it was time for bed. I slept on the couch, then I said, “That was the best day ever! And I know the Turtles are far-fetched.”
Dahmari Lee (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Dahmari Lee is a 4th grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School. Dahmari’s short story, Stuck in the Movie, is his first published work.
Led by teacher Mrs. Kim Omanchi, and in collaboration with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, students created unique pieces for publication on WKTV Journal.
Once upon a time there were two friends going to a magical theater. Their names were Taylor and Ashley. They’re both 16 years old.
Taylor has waist-length blonde hair and brown eyes. She hopes to be an actress some day. Specifically, on BROADWAY! They both live in New York City!
Ashley has brown, straight, shoulder length hair and blue eyes. She hopes to be a director some day. Specifically, working with Taylor, on BROADWAY! In New York City!
Texting
Ashley! You are packed right?! From Taylor.
Duh! Are you packed Taylor? From Ashley.
I’m packed and you are! Good! From Taylor.
Real Life
Taylor and Ashley were asked to come to “Emelia’s Star Theater” to perform in a movie. Taylor would be cast as Queen Shoreanna of the Shore Fairies. Ashley would be cast as Queen Flamebelle of the Flame Fairies. These two queens were forever enemies but their daughters, Princess Shore and Princess Flame, were best friends. Unfortunately, Shore and Flame were Taylor and Ashley’s younger sisters. Shore is Taylor’s sister Zoe and Flame is Ashley’s sister Hallie, they’re very annoying. Then there was Prince Sand and Prince Fire. Taylor and Ashley’s younger sisters’ twins. The twins were all 13 years old. Sand is Shore’s twin and Fire is Flame’s twin. Sand is Jake, Zoe’s twin and Fire is Kayden, Hallie’s twin. Taylor’s younger twins have blonde hair and blue eyes. Ashley’s younger twins have brown hair and brown eyes.
“Hey Shore! Sand! Get over here!” Taylor yelled from her room.
“Don’t call us Shore and Sand!” they said from their room. Jake and Zoe are particular about names.
“Goodness,” Taylor mumbled.
“We heard that!!!” they yelled.
“Well are you two packed?”
“Yes!”
Meanwhile
“Hallie and Kayden you better be packed!” Ashley yelled.
“Duh, we are!” Hallie and Kayden yelled.
“Jinx!” Kayden said.
“Mm!” Hallie said/mumbled. She said “COOTIES!” not using words though.
The next day Taylor, Ashley, Zoe, Hallie, Jake and Kayden arrived at…
“Emelia’s Star Theater!” Emelia herself said. “Welcome.”
“Thank you,” Ashley said, being polite.
“This is Luke and Matthew, my sons,” Emelia said. They were both 16 with blonde hair and green eyes, twins. “Luke and Matthew, the blonde one is Taylor and the brown hair one is Ashley, the queens. The younger girls are the princesses, the younger boys are the princes. More introductions later!”
“Looks like Ashley and I are the only ones with no twins,” Taylor said. Wow, Luke’s cute! she thought.
“How’d ya know we’re twins?” Luke asked.
“Same pale blonde hair, same emerald green eyes, DUH!” Ashley pointed out. Whoa, Matthew is super cute! She also thought one of the boys was cute.
“True,” Matthew said.
“MWA HAHAHAHA!!!” someone said, “Tis I, Witch Lemon, and the Lime Lovers! I’m casting a curse so no one may exit this so-called ‘star’ theater!”
“WHAT?! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!” they all screamed.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Rozemarijn L. De Graff, Youth Contributor (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Rozemarijn L. De Graff is a 4th grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School. Rozemarijn’s short story, Thrilling Theater Time, is her first published work.
Led by teacher Mrs. Kim Omanchi, and in collaboration with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, students created unique pieces for publication on WKTV Journal.
Teddy is a 4th grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School. Teddy’s poem, I Draw, is his first published work.
Led by teacher Mrs. Kim Omanchi, and in collaboration with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, students created unique pieces for publication on WKTV Journal.
One person is dead after a crash on 54th Street SW over US-131.
At approximately 2:30 p.m. on April 14, police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to 54th Street SW over US-131 on the report of a single-vehicle rollover crash. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
54th Street over US-131 will be closed in both directions while Wyoming Police Accident Investigation and Forensic Science Units investigate this incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
The Scarlet Tanager is one of many beautiful birds migrating back to Michigan in the spring. (Courtesy, pixabay.com)
By Patrick O’Donnell
WKTV Contributor
Patrick O’Donnell started birding at the age of seven in his hometown of Niagara Falls, NY. He has worked as a field biologist in the USA, and guided tours and taught birding courses in Ecuador, Peru and Costa Rica. He resides in Costa Rica where he works with birding tourism and writes about birds at his blog, “Costa Rica Living and Birding,” the Birdzilla website, and other places. He is the author of an ebook, “How to See, Find, and Identify Birds in Costa Rica.”
Spring has arrived in Michigan! Warmer temperatures have arrived on southerly winds and the birds of spring are back. Walk outside, stop to listen, and you’ll hear them.
It started in March, maybe even late February with the bugling of Sandhill Cranes and “kon-ker-ees!” of Red-winged Blackbirds. By April, those and other early spring migrants have become well established on breeding grounds throughout the state.
Sandhill Cranes. (Courtesy, Andy Morffew, pxhere.com)
These birds are the first heralds of spring, avian reminders that more are on their way; millions of birds! That many? Oh yes, and some.
There’s a digital tool called Birdcast that gives an idea of the number of birds flying through Michigan skies. By analyzing data from radar stations, Birdcast estimates numbers of birds in flight, even in real time!
Red-Winged Blackbird. (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
According to Birdcast, on April 8, more than 5.5 million birds migrated over Michigan. That was just one night and since peak migration doesn’t happen until the second week of May, a lot more birds are expected.
Many birds that passed overhead during the first 10 days of April were probably Brown-headed Cowbirds, Common Grackles, Blue Jays, and other common statewide species that migrate in April. Since dozens of other bird species won’t arrive until May, birders often refer to these hardy April songbirds as “early migrants.”
Blue Jay. (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
These species can withstand some cold weather and migrate relatively short distances to the southern United States. Go birding anywhere in Michigan in April and you’ll find them! A shy, rusty-tailed bird hopping under a bush could be a Hermit Thrush on its way to the U.P. That plain bird perched on a low post and wagging its tail is probably an Eastern Phoebe; a common breeding bird throughout Michigan.
Are you hearing high-pitched calls emanating from bushes and trees? Take a close look, you might find tiny, cute Golden-crowned Kinglets. After the next push of warm southerly wings, they’ll be joined by fellow breeding birds of the U.P.; Yellow-rumped Warblers. These beautiful songbirds have black and yellow highlights on gray-blue plumage and a bright yellow rump.
Yellow-rumped Warbler. (Courtesy, pixabay.com)
That particular field mark gave rise to a popular birding nickname for the species. If you go for a morning walk and hear birders saying, “Butterbutt,” don’t be alarmed! They are just admiring Yellow-rumped Warblers.
By late April, those pretty warblers should also be joined by dozens of White-throated Sparrows. These big handsome sparrows breed in most of Michigan as well as further north. Take an April morning walk in a wooded park and you’ll probably hear their sweet whistled song, “O Canada Canada Canada.”
Turkey Vulture. (Courtesy, pixabay.com)
Many raptors migrate to South America for winter
While enjoying the songs of White-throated Sparrows and looking for Butterbutts, handsome Eastern Towhees, and other April migrants, don’t forget to look to the skies. There’s a fair chance you’ll see some migrating raptors that move through and breed in much of Michigan. There will be Turkey Vultures and maybe a hawk or two. Yes, those big birds migrate too; many Turkey Vultures even soar to South America for the winter.
A small hawk making a few quick flaps followed by a glide might be a Sharp-shinned Hawk; a diminutive yet lethal raptor that preys on songbirds. In late April, crow-sized soaring raptors with broad black and white tails are probably Broad-winged Hawks. They are returning from Costa Rica and other tropical wintering grounds.
Other, smaller birds also flow north through Michigan skies. Small birds zipping overhead in elegant flight are probably swallows that move through and breed in every part of the state. At first, thousands of Tree Swallows are on the move. Beautiful aerialists with blue-green upperparts and white underparts, they fly north to breed near lakes and other wetlands. However, in mid and late April, additional swallow species necessitate a closer look.
Plain brown swallows with pale underparts are Northern Rough-winged Swallows. If you see some with a brown breast band, you have found Bank Swallows. Steely blue and peach Barn Swallows zip low over the fields, but what about those big dark swallows? Those are Purple Martins migrating to martin houses throughout the state and further north.
Highest numbers of bird species come back in May
There are a lot of spring migrants in April, but the best birding cake gets served in May; when the highest numbers of bird species come back to Michigan. During the first week of May, it begins with a trickle of warblers and a few other birds quick to reach their breeding grounds.
However, by the second week, the migration dam opens and that initial stream of birds swells into a massive feathered movement flowing north. Thousands, millions of birds migrate through Michigan. Even better, all are in beautiful breeding plumage, many are singing, and lots can show up in backyards and urban parks.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak. (Courtesy, pixabay.com)
It’s a birding bonanza and, for birders, just might be the most wonderful time of the year. As with many places, May birding in Michigan means the return of Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Scarlet Tanagers, Red-eyed Vireos, and other songbirds that breed throughout the state.
Best of all, the warblers come back. Beautiful little birds plumaged in a variety of colors and patterns, most migrate to breeding grounds in the U.P. and further north. However, a few, such as the Chestnut-sided Warbler and the Halloween colored American Redstart, stay to breed in every county.
Other warblers that arrive in May, but then mostly move on to the forests of the U.P. include handsome Magnolia Warblers, tiger-striped Cape May Warblers, and flame-throated Blackburnian Warblers. Keep looking up and your binoculars might also focus on movements that materialize into fancy Northern Parulas and the cocoa and cream of Bay-breasted Warblers.
Blackburnian Warbler. (Courtesy, pixabay.com)
A birder’s dream in May
On the best of May birding days, the birds just don’t stop! Such rare days can truly be the stuff of birding dreams.
Not to leave wetlands out of the birding mix, May is also when shorebirds migrate through Michigan. Visit wetlands and there might be sandpipers foraging in the mud with Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers. Be careful to not disturb them, these amazing migrants are on their way to the Arctic!
The best way to see migrant birds in Michigan is by looking for them in wildlife refuges, parks and other places with natural habitats. However, backyards can work too, especially ones planted with native trees and bushes.
Bird feeder tips: What food attracts what bird?
Put out tray feeders with black sunflower seeds and peanuts to attract Blue Jays and Northern Cardinals. Let some of those seeds spill on the ground and your garden might also be graced with migrant sparrows and towhees.
Northern Cardinal. (Courtesy, pixabay.com)
To attract orioles, put out orange slices and grape jelly. They’ll love those offerings; orioles have a serious sweet tooth! Although most May migrants are insectivores and avoid feeders, mealworms can bring in Eastern Bluebirds, thrushes and maybe some warblers, too.
Install feeders where you can watch them, but, to help birds feel safe, place them within 15 feet of bushes or trees. If you want extra close looks, some feeders have their own little camera.
Whether you use feeders or not, this spring, keep an eye out for birds. Huge numbers of beautiful birds are migrating through our neighborhoods, towns and cities, probably more than we realize.
Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) has partnered with Feeding America Mobile Pantry to host a Mobile Pantry once a month.
*WHS March Mobile Food Pantry will be held Monday, April 29 from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
What to expect
Though the selection of food varies each month, there are always a variety of fresh and frozen items available at the Mobile Pantry.
The Mobile Pantry is drive-thru style, and families are asked to remain in their vehicles for safety.
WHS Mobile Food Pantry Map (Courtesy, WPS)
Cars enter at the main entrance to WHS (1350 Prairie Parkway). Volunteers will direct traffic in the parking lot to help with efficiency.
Once in line, a volunteer will approach each car to record the name, address, number of people in the household, and the reason the food is needed for each family. Once a car has reached the front of the line, volunteers will load a box of food into the trunk.
Resources
To learn more about Feeding America West Michigan and the services they offer, click here.
For the Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry schedule, click here.
WKTV Government Channel 26 is offering live coverage of the upcoming total solar eclipse!
Tune in Monday, April 8 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and see this stunning solar display live from NASA’s view.
Experience this amazing event with us as a total solar eclipse moves across Mexico, the United States and Canada, and see incredible views from various sites along its path.
Coverage of the eclipse courtesy of NASA TV. For more information about the eclipse, go to www.nasa.gov.
One person is in custody following a bank robbery that occurred at the Fifth Third Bank at 2828 Michael Ave SW.
At approximately 9 a.m. on March 22, officers from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the Fifth Third Bank on Michael Avenue on the report of a bank robbery that just occurred.
A suspect entered the business and approached a teller. The suspect demanded money from the teller and implied he had a weapon. An undisclosed amount of cash was obtained by the suspect who then left the bank. As officers were searching the area for the suspect, an officer located a person matching the suspect description on 28th Street SW, between Buchanan Avenue SW and South Division Avenue. The suspect, a 65-year-old male, was taken into custody without incident and lodged at the Kent County Jail. The suspect’s identity is not being released pending arraignment.
In coordination with the FBI, Wyoming Police Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police Detectives at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
The sixth annual JCI South Kent Easter Egg Scramble will take place on the soccer fields of Lamar Park (Courtesy, JCI South Kent)
By JCI South Kent
(Courtesy, JCI South Kent)
JCI South Kent will host the annual Easter Egg Scramble at Lamar Park (2561 Porter St. SW, Wyoming) on March 30.
JCI South Kent is excited to bring this event back for its sixth year. The Easter Bunny will be in attendance and ready for pictures.
To ensure each child comes away with a full Easter basket, more than 10,000 Easter eggs have been readied for the event.
This event will be held on the park soccer fields and is open to children ages 2-11. Registration opens at 10 a.m. and the event begins at 11 a.m.
Kids will need to bring a basket to hold their treats.
NOTE:Volunteers and community sponsors are needed! Email jcisouthkent@gmail.com for more information.
(Courtesy, JCI South Kent)
Personal and leadership development
JCI South Kent is a nonprofit organization dedicated to personal and leadership development through community service for people ages 18 to 40. The organization provides residents of Kentwood, Wyoming and surrounding areas opportunities to grow personally and professionally through volunteer community service.
To find out more information about membership, monthly meetings, projects and volunteer opportunities, visit jcisouthkent.com.
Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) has partnered with Feeding America Mobile Pantry to host a Mobile Pantry once a month.
*WHS March Mobile Food Pantry will be held Monday, March 25 from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
What to expect
Though the selection of food varies each month, there are always a variety of fresh and frozen items available at the Mobile Pantry.
The Mobile Pantry is drive-thru style, and families are asked to remain in their vehicles for safety.
WHS Mobile Food Pantry Map (Courtesy, WPS)
Cars enter at the main entrance to WHS (1350 Prairie Parkway). Volunteers will direct traffic in the parking lot to help with efficiency.
Once in line, a volunteer will approach each car to record the name, address, number of people in the household, and the reason the food is needed for each family. Once a car has reached the front of the line, volunteers will load a box of food into the trunk.
Resources
To learn more about Feeding America West Michigan and the services they offer, click here.
For the Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry schedule, click here.
AnchorPoint Christian School in Wyoming is excited to announce that 4th grade student Dahmari Lee will be moving on to the MYWAY State Championships. Dahmari is AnchorPoint’s first student to move on to the championship round.
“I’m so proud of all the wrestlers this year!” said Coach Ed Harris in supplied material. “Each one has grown in a number of ways whether it is learning new moves, self-confidence, or how to handle adversity.”
Challenges and growth
Dahmari Lee with parents Andreen and John Wierenga (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
For the past two years, Dahmari has wrestled as a novice. The 2024 regional tournament at Grandville High School was his first taste of open wrestling, competing against opponents with two or more years of wrestling experience.
Dahmari enjoys wrestling with his dad at home, so when AnchorPoint’s 5-6th grade teacher Ed Harris formed a school wrestling team, he immediately signed up.
“He’s really into sports, so when they started a wrestling program here he wanted to try it,” John Wierenga, Dahmari’s father, told WKTV. “I told him we probably wouldn’t do any tournaments the first year, just practice. But after three practices, he was ready [to try] a tournament.”
Dahmari said he enjoys working hard and receiving medals (of which he has earned several) at competitions. The young wrestler is looking forward to participating at the State Championships, in part because he will wrestle open.
“Open is a little bit harder because you have to wrestle a couple years ahead of you,” said Dahmari, admitting that he likes the challenge of competing against more experienced wrestlers.
Andreen Wierenga, Dahmari’s mother, said watching her son wrestle is very emotional for her because she doesn’t want him to get hurt.
Despite her nervousness, Andreen supports Dahmari by attending his matches.
Dahmari Lee (right) prepares to scrimmage (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“When he’s winning, I like to cheer him on,” said Andreen. “But when he started to get the hang of it, he said, ‘I don’t like the excitement. You can stay home, and Dad can take me,’” said Andreen.
Andreen attended a recent match with the promise that she would sit quietly and not cheer. When Dahmari won his match, however, Andreen admitted that her emotions ran high.
“He came up and hugged me and said, ‘See? This is why I told you not to come,’” said Andreen with a laugh.
Dahmari’s willingness to accept challenges placed before him has garnered the notice of his coach.
“[Dahmari] is always willing to challenge himself in practice and in competition,” said Harris. “The fact that he placed 4th shows he belongs with those open wrestlers, and will continue to grow as an athlete and a person going forward.”
Iron sharpens iron
Launching AnchorPoint’s K-6 grade wrestling program stemmed from Harris’ own love of the sport.
Teacher and Coach Ed Harris believes in teaching more than just wrestling moves (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Harris began wrestling in high school and quickly fell in love with the sport. A Division 2 Team National Championship win at GVSU was followed by coaching positions at Godfrey Lee Middle School and then Wyoming High School.
When a donor purchased mats for AnchorPoint from Michigan State, the school’s youth wrestling team began.
“I love the sport of wrestling, and with a donor coming forward to help get the mats here, and my sons going to this school [and] with the opportunity to coach them, God’s timing was perfect,” said Harris.
Harris is also excited to incorporate faith into the wrestling program.
“I have always loved Proverbs 27:17: ‘Iron sharpens iron,’ because it is so true in wrestling,” said Harris, adding that a good partner provides refinement, but a bad partner creates stumbling blocks. “It is amazing how much faith and wrestling are connected, and we talk about that in our devotions before every practice.”
Life lessons
Dahmari (left) shows perseverance during a recent scrimmage (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Faith is only one life lesson AnchorPoint’s wrestlers learn through the program.
Strengthening their bodies as well as relationships with their peers as they work together in a competitive setting is also a focus of the program. Giving students a positive outlet for working through emotions, physical stress or anxiety, and learning the art of winning and losing gracefully are also lessons the students will take with them throughout life.
But one of the most important lessons, Harris said, is perseverance – especially through tough times.
“Wrestling is super tough, especially when you first start out,” said Harris, commenting that he was proud of the wrestlers for showing perseverance during a recent scrimmage. “No matter the score, they just kept wrestling and working to improve.
“I hope they transition that thinking to life and that, no matter what is going on in life, you can always find ways to work to make it better.”
Preparation and anticipation
As Dahmari prepares for the State Championships at Wings Event Center Arena on March 22-23, anticipation is high for both student and coach.
“I’m excited to see where wrestling can take Dahmari and all of our students in the future!” said Harris.
The Breslin Center feels like home to the Tri-unity Defenders. The team has played in four consecutive state finals, this time avenging a two-point loss from last season.
“Last year, we played not to lose,” legendary Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler said. “That was one of the emphases I had. We need to play to win the game, not to play afraid that we are going to lose. It seems like it’s the same thing, but it’s not. It’s huge, and you don’t play up to your potential if you focus on the negative.
We made sure this year that we focused on the positive.”
The Defenders (24-5) reached that potential, winning their second Division 4 state title in three seasons in convincing fashion 79-59 over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart Saturday at Michigan State University.
“It was a very emotional game,” Keeler said. “I had to say goodbye to so many young men I truly love and respect. I’m going to miss all of them. I’m going to miss their camaraderie, their unselfishness, and they truly enjoy each other. Those are fun things to have on your team.”
VanKlompenberg and Rosendall will graduate with two state titles
Senior captains Jordan VanKlompenberg and Owen Rosendall were the catalysts for the Defenders. Both play a vital role in the suffocating Tri-unity defense while being the motor for the offense. The seniors end their high school careers winning two state finals in four attempts.
“Jordan and Owen are my two captains; I can not say enough about those two,” Keeler explained. “They have to guard the two best opposing players every game. It was that way again today. They were amazing. I’m really happy with them.”
VanKlompenberg led with 19 points, Rosendall added 14
VanKlompenberg led the Defenders with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Rosendall added 14 points and six rebounds.
“The state title means everything,” Rosendall said. “It’s the all-time goal for everyone’s season. This year was special because it was our last game. It was a bittersweet ending, but I couldn’t be more proud of our team. This team means everything; we treat each other like brothers. Our chemistry on the court is above average compared to other teams; it feels like we know where everyone is on the court all the time.”
Tight first quarter
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart played strong out of the gate and controlled the early portion of the first quarter, leading 8-4 midway through it.
Grady Pieratt led the Saints with 21 points, while Noah Zeien added 14.
“Noah is tough and a very nice player, but his size hurt him against us because we could contest his shots,” Keeler explained.
VanKlompenberg hit a three-point shot with 3:33 left in the first to put Tri-unity up 11-10, and they wouldn’t look back after that.
The NCAA three-point line can confuse the players trying to adjust to the different layout of the Breslin Center court.
“I told them to stand on the line,” said Keeler, whose team was 7-17 from the three-point line. “We did a lot better job taking better shots and knocking them down.”
All five starters in double-digit scoring
The entire starting five for Tri-unity scored double-digit points. Akais Giplaye scored 11 points, followed by Keaton Blanker, a second-straight double-double with 11 points and 12 assists and Wes Kaman added 10 points.
“Good balance; they shared the ball,” Keeler explained. “That’s what I love about it. I don’t think my guys have a selfish bone in their bodies. All they want to do is help the team win.”
The 6-4 Giplaye has been a constant force in the defensive paint for the Defenders. Keeler said Giplaye is made for this defensive scheme.
Akais Giplaye goes up for a shot. (Photo Courtesy Becky Rillema)
“It means a lot coming from Coach Keeler,” Giplaye said. “He’s been winning for a long time. Having a coach who helps us become young men and encourages us to reflect Christ on the court, I’m honored to have him as a coach.
“It takes commitment, determination, dedication, discipline, and hard work. We’ve been through the wars, the ups and downs, but we kept moving forward, and through the end, we won a trophy. It’s a memory that will never be forgotten.”
The Tri-unity Christian boys basketball team used its depth and signature defense to wear down St. Ignace in a back-and-forth matchup in a Division 4 semifinal Thursday at the Breslin Center.
In a game that saw 11 lead change, including multiple ones in the fourth quarter, the Defenders hit late free throws to ice the game, advancing to a fourth-straight Division 4 state championship with a 60-53 win over St. Ignace in East Lansing.
“We are very blessed; it would be a great finish to this year”
“It’s surreal, it’s hard to believe,” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler, whose team has a chance to win two state championships in three years. “We are very blessed. It would be a great finish to this year. These guys have worked so hard and made sacrifices to play tough, nasty defense.”
Two Tri-unity seniors, Jordan VanKlompenberg and Owen Rosendall, will play in their fourth state final game. Both played as freshmen on the 2020-21 Division 4 state runner-up team.
St. Ignace senior Jonny Ingalls continued his torrid pace throughout the 2024 postseason. The future Northern Michigan University Wildcat scored 14 of the Saints’ 16 first-quarter points, and the Saints held a three-point lead after one frame in the semifinal.
Ingalls averaged 30 points in the postseason and ended the final game of his high school career with 31 points, four assists, and two steals.
“He was unbelievable,” Keeler said. “He had a little bit more than what we would have liked. I figured he would have around 20-25 points. He’s a great player.”
Tri-unity was pressing early in the game, making several unforced errors unfamiliar to the disciplined Defenders.
“I was a little disappointed in how we played early on, but sometimes you have to win games like that,” Keeler explained. “We turned the ball over and started the game off trying to hit NBA threes.”
St. Ignace led 26-25 at the half
The score was almost even at the half; St. Ignace was up 26-25 after 16 minutes of play.
After the break, the Defenders’ depth was felt. St. Ignace would only shoot 31.8% from the field for the remainder of the game and a lowly 40% from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
“I thought we played good enough defense to stay in the game,” Keeler said. “I felt that we would eventually turn things around. I told the guys that if we keep pressing the ball down the court and play tough defense, we could wear them down. They didn’t have a lot of depth; they got worn out.”
Keaton Blanker led with 19 points, including 10 free throws and 10 boards
Junior guard Keaton Blanker continued his productive playoff run with a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. Blanker hit 10 of 11 free throws; two of which put the game out of reach with less than 30 seconds remaining.
Keaton Blanker led with 19 points, 10 rebounds. (Photo Courtesy Becky Rillema)
Wes Kaman grabs 14 points, 6 boards
The Defenders have a new hero every game. In the semifinal game, Wes Kaman would take his turn to showcase his offensive skills, scoring 14 points and adding six rebounds.
“That’s what helps make our team so tough; you never know who will step up. They came out the second half with more discipline and knocked down some easier wide-open threes as well,” Keeler said.
Wesley Kaman takes a jumper. (Photo Courtesy Becky Rillema)
Giplaye and Rillema with 13 rebounds
Akais Giplaye and Trey Rillema provided a rock-solid presence in the paint for the Defenders. Giplaye snatched eight boards, while Rillema grabbed five in limited playing time.
“Akais is just a rock for us inside; you are not going to take the ball away from him,” Keeler said. “Trey had five rebounds but didn’t play much in the second half.”
Ingalls cooled off significantly for the Saints in the second half, missing multiple shots from beyond the arc and the free-throw line.
“I thought he got tired,” Keeler explained. “We rotate and have guys rested. I thought we played great defense. We did everything we could to contain him, and he got tired in the second half, and we took advantage of that.
“I told the boys at halftime that a good team will beat one player no matter how good he is, and he got tired. That was the difference in the game. He can shoot; he just didn’t shoot as well in the second half.”
The Defenders play a familiar foe in the finals, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart. The two teams met in early December, Tri-unity won that game 71-41.
“We played them in the third game of the year,” Keeler said. “They don’t have a lot of depth either, so our desire will be to push the ball on them and wear them down. They have three really good guards, and they do a solid job.”
Tri-unity (23-5) will face Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (26-2) in the Division 4 finals at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Breslin Center. The game will be aired live on Bally Sports Detroit.
Chef Sweeney finds meaning in cooking (Courtesy, Sweeney)
Chef Syndy Sweeney of T. Rex & the Rabbit Foods will be at the Wyoming branch of Kent District Library (KDL) on Tuesday, March 26 to share her love of food and cooking with local residents.
For Sweeney, cooking is about more than just food. It’s about connection and comfort.
“For me, food has always been love,” said Sweeney. “My mom started teaching me when I was about four, and food was always something that I did for comfort and for connection.”
Combining books and cherries
At the Baking with Michigan Cherries KDL event, Sweeney will share the many ways to create delicious baked goods using Michigan’s seasonal cherry bounty.
The event is being held in conjunction with KDL’s On the Same Page community-wide reading initiative featuring the novel Tom Lake by best-selling novelist Ann Patchett. Patchett’s novel is centered around Michigan’s Traverse City cherry orchards.
“I read the book and have developed a lecture where we’re going to cover basic baking tips with regular flour and gluten-free flour, and incorporate as many different cherry products as possible,” said Sweeney.
Attendees will learn common-sense tips to successful baking, as well as favorite components, ingredients and baking equipment/utensils.
Sweeney encourages participation and questions during her demonstrations.
“I want people to feel engaged,” said Sweeney. “I want people to feel comfortable touching the dough and smelling the ingredients that I am using in my demonstration.”
Dinosaurs and rabbits
As a personal chef, Sweeney offers catering services for small events, meal prep, and several options for cooking classes through various community programs.
“Where you need a chef, I go,” Sweeney said. “I don’t have a restaurant, and I don’t have a storefront. But I have a lot of equipment, and a car and a cart. And muscles,” Sweeney added with a laugh.
Though Sweeney has been a vegetarian for over thirty years, her parents and her husband eat meat.
“I was always making substitutions,” said Sweeney. “I would make two versions of the same thing but with different proteins.”
(Courtesy, Syndy Sweeney)
T. Rex & the Rabbit Foods is a fitting name for Sweeney’s business due to the chef’s refusal to restrict herself to one practice of cooking. Whether vegetarian, a meat lover, vegan, kosher, gluten-free, halal, or dealing with food allergies, Sweeney is onboard.
“I don’t like when food is politicized,” said Sweeney. “I cook for everybody.”
Though Sweeney loved cooking, she doubted she would be able to make a living as a personal chef. However, Sweeney has been amazed at how her desire to help people connect through food has expanded into the successful business it is today.
“It’s been a lot of work, a lot of talking to people, testing recipes, and just word of mouth and hustling,” said Sweeney. “It’s a lot of fun, and it’s been very challenging and humbling at times.”
Sweeney enjoys the teaching aspect of her job, using her skills to highlight the ways food connects people rather than dividing them. That sense of community is something she strives for in each of her lectures and classes.
Registration and information links for a variety of fun upcoming events!
(Courtesy photo)
For more information about Sweeney’s Baking with Michigan Cherries KDL event, click here.
To register for Sweeney’s Cherries on Top hands-on cooking workshop at Kentwood Parks & Rec, click here.
KDL branches are hosting various events centered around the novel Tom Lake in preparation for author Ann Patchett’s April 24 visit to Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin University. Details for this event can be found here.
Senior Jordan VanKlompenberg led the Defenders with 17 points (all three-pointers ) in the win. (Photo Courtesy Becky Rillema)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
Tri-unity Christian held another defensive clinic in its run to the Breslin Center.
The Defenders allowed seven combined points in the second and third quarters as they advanced to a fifth-consecutive Division 4 state semifinal appearance with a 65-29 victory over St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic on Tuesday night.
The Defenders have turned up the heat defensively since the start of the playoffs, allowing just 38.4 points per game after giving up 43.2 points during the regular season.
“It was amazing, wasn’t it,” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler about his team’s defense. “They are so coachable; they gave their very best. Whatever they do, they give their very best effort.”
VanKlompenberg hot from beyond the arc
Senior guard Jordan VanKlompenberg led the way offensively, connecting on a team-high seven three-point shots, which accounted for all of his team-high 21 points. He also had four assists and four rebounds.
“Jordan also guarded their best player, and he did a phenomenal job defensively holding him to only six points,” Keeler said.
Game closest after one quarter
The first quarter ended with Tri-unity ahead 19-12 and marked the closest the game would be.
“They were fresh,” Keeler said. “We pushed the ball up and tried to make it a running game. They didn’t have a lot of depth, so we wanted to wear them out.”
Tri-unity tightened their defense against the Lakers’ offense, allowing only 17 points over the next three quarters.
Junior Keaton Blanker (4) filled the stat sheet. (Photo Courtesy Becky Rillema)
Sensational junior guard Keaton Blanker again filled the stat sheet for the Defenders, capping off the quarterfinal game with 13 points, seven steals, four assists and four rebounds.
“That’s Keaton; it’s what he does,” Keeler said. “He does it all. He’s a great young man and a great player. I’m excited to see his growth.
“They kept playing a zone, and we tried to get it inside, but they forced it outside, so we had an opportunity to score a lot of points. We also had several offensive rebounds.”
Akais Giplaye (20) goes high for a rebound. (Photo Courtesy Becky Rillema)
Giplaye, Rillema and Mellon control the boards
Tri-unity used its trio of big men to control the boards. Akais Giplaye, Trey Rillema and Joey Mellon brought down six rebounds each.
“Akais is always amazing on the boards,” Keeler said. “He got into foul trouble early and only scored two points; he fits so well into our defense, runs the baseline, and dominates the boards. I’m pleased with the way they play defense. I think the whole team played great defense.”
Tri-unity (22-5) faces St. Ignace (21-6) in the D-4 state semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Breslin Center at MSU for the chance to play for a state championship.
St. Ignace beat Crystal Falls Forest Park 68-51 on Tuesday night. St. Ignace lost in the quarterfinals last season to Traverse City St. Francis.
“They are a good team, and we have to come ready to play, but we are a good team too,” Keeler explained. “I’m confident how we play defense will keep us in games.
“I’m very confident in my team; six of our guys have been here before. I’m excited about the possibilities; we still need to come to play, though.”
Spring officially begins Tuesday, March 19, but signs of new life are already showing at Buck Creek Nature Preserve in Wyoming.
This reporter spent her lunch break wandering the Buck Creek trail and basking in the sun streaming through leafless trees. The air – unseasonably warm for a Michigan March afternoon – stirred bare branches and fallen leaves.
(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Trilling birds and a bubbling creek lent a peaceful ambiance to the preserve. Flowers stretched their stalks and unfurled their petals while bushes flaunted brightly colored buds.
Wyoming residents can enjoy Buck Creek Nature Preserve, as well the other 20+ parks scattered throughout the city, as Michigan begins to bloom!
One suspect is in police custody after Wyoming PD responds to home invasion on Woodlake Road SW (Courtesy photo)
By Wyoming Police Department
One person is in police custody after a home invasion that occurred early morning on March 9.
At approximately 4:45 a.m. on March 9, officers from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the 2600 block of Woodlake Road SW on the report of a home invasion that had just occurred. The resident of the apartment was able to safely exit the residence.
When officers arrived, they located the suspect still inside the victim’s apartment.
The suspect refused the officers’ commands to exit the apartment and barricaded himself inside. The Wyoming Police Tactical Arrest and Confrontation Team and Crisis Negotiators were called in to apprehend the barricaded individual. The suspect was taken into custody several hours later.
Wyoming Police Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident.
The suspect was lodged at Kent County Correctional Facility; their name and charges are being withheld pending arraignment.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
Tri-unity Christian beat Kalamazoo Phoenix 73-37 Thursday to win a Division 4 regional title. Jordan VanKlompenberg led with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals. The Defenders advance to the state quarterfinals vs. St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 at Portage Northern.
Local boxer Junior Rios (right) and his coach Anbrocio Ledesma. Rios is a five-time state champion. (Courtesy, Junior Rios)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
For area boxing fans it’s the best time of year as the action is set to begin in the Michigan Golden Gloves Association state tournament on Saturday, March 9.
Change is taking place this year as the Golden Gloves has a new venue for the third straight year. After taking place at West Catholic High School last year and previously the DeltaPlex, this year’s Golden Gloves championships will take place at the 4 Mile Showplace located at 1025 4 Mile Rd. NW.
While the exact number of boxers is still unknown as many register as walk-ups on the day of the fights, the numbers are trending up for this year.
“We have 60 fighters signed up so far which is a few more than last year,” said Brian Lentz of PK Boxing and the Golden Gloves. “There will probably be quite a few walk-ups as well.”
As usual, WKTV will be televising all five nights of this year’s tournament. Check this WKTV Journal Story to get dates and times.
Familiar faces returning to Golden Gloves
Plenty of familiar names will be returning to the Golden Gloves this year including Junior Rios, a returning state champion, along with returning female state champions Sarah Batenburg of Hudsonville and Zoe Hicks of Lansing.
Female state champions Sarah Batenburg of Hudsonville (right) and Zoe Hicks of Lansing (not pictured). (Courtesy Photo)
For Rios, a five-time state champion, the end goal is winning a national championship. Rios lost a controversial decision in his opening bout at last year’s national Golden Gloves tournament and the loss has him focused on making it back to the national tournament and avenging that disappointment.
“I went to nationals last year and I felt I should’ve won my first fight,” Rios said, “but they took it away from me. I’m still holding a grudge from that. I was planning on turning pro last year, but I wanted a national belt. I decided to come back this year and give it one last shot and then turn pro.”
Rios will compete in the 132-pound open division, one of the largest weight divisions with at least six boxers already registered.
Rios enters this year’s tournament even more focused as he recently dropped a tough fight against Chris Young, a fighter from the Roy Jones Jr. boxing team in Florida.
“He was a pretty good opponent,” Rios said. “I lost that one, but that has made me even more hungry. I can’t wait to step into the ring again and fight even harder. I feel more confident this year and ready to go.”
Lee High School alum Carbajal returns
While Rios is an experienced boxer looking to add to his legacy, the West Michigan Golden Gloves is filled with fighters looking to make a name for themselves. One of those boxers is Michael Carbajal, a Lee High School alumnus who made his boxing debut at last year’s tournament.
Wyoming Lee alum Michael Carbajal made his boxing debut at last year’s tournament. (Courtesy Photo)
“I started training in September of 2022 and my first fight was February of 2023,” Carbajal said. “I will never forget that day. It was February 25, two days after my birthday. I won the fight in the third round and after the fight we went to Chicago to celebrate my birthday.”
Less than two months later, Carbajal had his first Golden Gloves match. While Carbajal lost in his first experience in the Golden Gloves, it taught him plenty and has him hungry to make his mark this year in the 139-pound open division.
“It was my first time in a Golden Gloves tournament,” Carbajal said. “It was something different. I was eliminated on the first day in my first match. It was the worst performance of my boxing career. I had a lot of personal issues I was going through at the time.
“Physically I was there, but mentally I wasn’t. Moving forward it was a big lesson learned. Every time I step into the ring I focus on boxing and not having any of those outside issues.”
Carbajal has picked up plenty of experience since last year’s Golden Gloves with nine wins and three losses, including winning five matches by stoppage while all of his losses have been by decision. Carbajal also has won his first two bouts while competing in the open division.
“I feel like I am in the best shape I’ve ever been in, both physically and mentally,” Carbajal said. “I feel like this is going to be my year.”
Win or lose, Carbajal is sure to be a fan favorite with his aggressive and attacking style that should win fans over.
“I come to put on a show”
“I’m an aggressive fighter,” Carbajal said. “I feel like I’m a fearless fighter and I’m always looking to apply pressure. Some people say I have an entertaining style. Three or four times I won the fighter of the night. A lot of fighters want to keep clean records and try to not get hit. I come to put on a show. The fans want action and power shots and that’s what I want to give them.”
Carbajal grew up a boxing fan watching professional fights with his parents Ranulfo and Andrea.
“My parents loved watching the fights and I would watch with them,” Carbajal said. “We’d get the pay per view and watch Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao. I liked watching all of those fighters.”
These days, his father and brothers, Ranulfo Jr. and Efren, and sister Candi watch his fights in person although his mother would rather wait to hear the results.
“My mother watched my first three fights, but after that she just got really nervous,” Carbajal said. “She just waits for that call or text telling her how I did.”
Carbajal, who played a year of soccer while at Lee High School, got his start in boxing while there.
“Tom DeGennaro and Jim Jenson introduced me to Brian Lentz at PK Boxing,” Carbajal said. “I trained for a year, but never had a fight. I eventually left boxing, but then a couple years ago I took a friend’s son to PK because he wanted to get into karate. I ran into coach Brian and he asked if I wanted to get back into boxing. One thing led to another and I’m back and loving it.”
Carbajal, Rios and all of the other boxers now set their sights on winning West Michigan titles and then going for state titles with the ultimate goal of making it to the national Golden Gloves tournament.
WKTV Golden Gloves Schedule
The opening night of this year’s Golden Gloves takes place Saturday, March 9. Action continues with the West Michigan semifinals on Wednesday, March 13 with the West Michigan finals set for Saturday March 16. The Michigan Golden Gloves state finals also takes place at the 4 Mile Showplace with the state semifinals scheduled for Friday, March 22 and the state finals slated for Saturday, March 23. Bouts begin at 7 p.m. each day of the tournament with the doors opening at 6 p.m.
With the 4 Mile Showplace being a smaller venue, boxing fans are encouraged to purchase tickets as soon as possible before they sell out.
Wyoming PD responded to reports of a shooting on South Division Avenue (Courtesy, Phil Dolby at pxhere.com)
By Wyoming Police Department
UPDATE: One person is in police custody after a shooting at the Admiral gas station.
Wyoming Police have arrested a male suspect, a 20-year-old Wyoming resident, in connection with this shooting; the suspect’s name and charges are being withheld pending arraignment.
The victim, a 36-year-old male resident of Grand Rapids, is an employee of the business; he sustained severe injuries and is in critical condition.
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Original media release
One person is injured after a shooting near the intersection of 32nd Street and South Division Avenue.
At approximately 5:40 p.m. on March 6, police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the Admiral gas station, 3221 South Division Avenue, on the report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they located a victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
The victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.
Suspect information is not being released at this time.
Wyoming Police Detectives and Forensic Services Unit continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police Detectives at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
Check out our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the basketball season featuring many area high school teams in action the week of Feb. 26 through March 1.
Every week, we’ll bring you several 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. We also have the local boys district results and regional matchups and the girls district brackets inside.
The Tri-unity Christian boys basketball team checked off the first box in its quest for a fourth-straight state championship appearance on Friday night by capturing its fifth-straight Division 4 district title against Alliance League foe and host Zion Christian.
The Defenders used a suffocating defense and overbearing offense in a 78-40 win over the Mountaineers.
Tri-unity used a 15-5 first quarter to set the pace for the remainder of the contest.
“I’m so happy about our defense,” said Coach Mark Keeler, who’s won the state championship five times with the Defenders.”
“Zion has improved so much over the years; if we didn’t show up and play hard, it could have been a different story.”
Jordan VanKlompenberg led with 20 points, while Akais Giplaye and Trey Rillema combined for 19 rebounds. (Photo from a previous game courtesy, Becky Rillema)
The Defenders kept the pressure on Zion as the first half ended with a 36-17 lead for Tri-unity.
“If you hold a team to 17 points in the first half, there are not many games you will not win playing that kind of defense,” Keeler said.
Giplaye and Rillema combined for 19 boards
Tri-unity big men Akais Giplaye and Trey Rillema set the defensive tone under the boards as they collected 19 rebounds as a duo.
Rillema finished the game with four points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots, while Giplaye had eight points and 10 rebounds.
“Akais is so amazing; he plays taller than he is.” Keeler explained. “I watch him go against guys 6-8, and he holds his own. He’s such an awesome young man; I think the world of him.
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“This entire team is special. I love this team and how they act out on the court.”
Zion Christian came out of the half with four quick points as the Defenders struggled to gain footing in the third quarter.
“I think we came in with the wrong attitude in the second half,” Keeler said. “I told them they had to change their focus. If they want to keep playing, you must start playing defense. We struggled throughout the third quarter because of it. Fortunately, in the fourth quarter, we reset ourselves and played great defense.”
Defenders kept Zion to seven in fourth
Tri-unity clamped down defensively, allowing only seven fourth-quarter points.
“They played their hearts out and never stopped hustling; I love that about them,” Keeler said. “We just kept after them. I thought we did a great job.”
VanKlompenberg led with 20 points
Tri-unity senior guard Jordan VanKlompenberg led the Defenders with 20 points and added four assists and six rebounds. Lincoln Eerdmans connected on a team-high three buckets from beyond the arc, ending with 13 points. Owen Rosendall added 14 points and four rebounds.
The Defenders find themselves in familiar territory heading into the regional round.
“I told them we have two more trophies to win, a regional and a state,” Keeler said. “It would be a dream come true.
“Every year is new, and you can’t go on what you did last season. You have to go out with a new group of boys and play the best they can. I enjoy watching them play. I’m proud of my guys, their hard work, and their intensity.”
Tri-unity (19-5) advances to the Regional 29 Semifinals against host Fowler (17-7) on Tuesday, March 5 at 7 p.m.
Pine Rest issues warning about fraudulent online ads (Courtesy photo)
People searching online for Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services on their mobile devices are encountering fraudulent third-party organizations instead of the Pine Rest organization.
“Third-party organizations, using carefully crafted language to present themselves as affiliates of Pine Rest, appear near the top of search results and fraudulently claim they can assist individuals with placement in our services,” states a recent Pine Rest press release.
Attorney General Dana Nessel also issued a warning statement that the phone number found online may not actually connect them to Pine Rest.
“This appears to be a cruel scheme targeting those suffering from substance abuse disorder, striking treatment-seeking victims in a moment of courage, when they’ve finally sought professional help,” said Nessel.
Preying on the vulnerable
It is crucial to ensure those seeking help receive the correct care (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Pine Rest is a mental health care service provider for West Michigan. Located on the south side of Grand Rapids, Pine Rest is known for their variety of mental health services.
Susan Langeland, Vice President of Continuum Development and Chief Information Officer for Pine Rest, said the fraudulent ads are taking advantage of very vulnerable people in a moment of crisis.
“When people think about seeking care, they mull it over, it takes them many times to actually pick up that phone to call for treatment,” said Langeland. “So when they do, we want to make sure that we get them connected to the right treatment, not being sent out of state and potentially delaying care this person desperately needs.”
Legitimacy of ads
The fraudulent ads use carefully crafted words to appear like a legitimate health care organization. When someone searching for care calls the number provided, scammers identify themselves as a Pine Rest clinician or hospital admissions for an affiliate organization.
“None of that is true,” said Langeland. “We have our own admissions department right there at Pine Rest campus on the south side of Grand Rapids. They are all employed by Pine Rest. We don’t use brokerage or placement firms.”
Pine Rest does not use brokerage or placement firms (Courtesy photo)
Many patients have been diverted out of state for potential treatment. While the locations given are actual treatment facilities, that does not mean patients are receiving the care they need.
“What we hear back from some of these patients is that they are actual locations,” said Langeland. “But as to what their treatment is, and what that looks like, and how that quality of care is, I can’t speak to any of that. We don’t know anybody at any of the locations that our patients have brought back to us.”
Fraudulent scam impact
Langeland went on to say that Pine Rest has no way of knowing how many people have been impacted by these scams.
“We’re reliant on people to let us know,” Langeland said. “Some people reach out right away and say, ‘That was really weird interaction with you,’ and file a formal complaint. Others just go about their day-to-day, and we don’t know.”
Fear of judgment can stop people from coming forward with their scam experiences (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
The authorities and Attorney General are working with Pine Rest to gather information regarding the scam ads. However, some patients who issued complaints do not want to be part of the investigation due to fear of judgment.
“Unfortunately, we still have stigma,” said Langeland, adding that it is hard for some people to trust that the system is going to take care of the issue, and that there is no stigma attached.
The patients who have agreed to participate in the investigation do so because they don’t want anyone else to fall victim to the scams.
“Their experience was not one that they enjoyed, and they don’t want this to happen to anyone else in a moment when they are trying to seek help,” said Langeland.
How to avoid scam ads
Go directly to a company’s website instead of clicking on a sponsored ad (Courtesy photo)
When people seek substance use care in a moment of crisis, Langeland said, they are using their phones quickly, getting online and searching Pine Rest. “And these sponsored ads would come up that look like Pine Rest.”
In a moment of crisis, that person does not look for details on a sponsored ad to ensure it is legitimate. They simply click on the link that looks like it will lead them to the resources they need.
Pine Rest stresses the importance of going to an organization’s website, making sure you talk to someone from the organization, and being conscious of what information you are giving out over the phone so you are not taken advantage of.
Pine Rest is working with their legal team and law enforcement to figure out options regarding the scams.
Though Pine Rest has no control over sponsored ads, Langeland hopes authorities will find a way to restrict the scammers from claiming to be Pine Rest or affiliated with Pine Rest.
Pine Rest availability
Pine Rest does have openings for people seeking substance use and mental health services.
“When people say we don’t have any availability, that is not actually the case,” said Langeland.
Pine Rest does have availability and is ready to help those seeking care (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Pine Rest resources/contact information
All contact information for Pine Rest services can be found on their website.
Individuals seeking mental health and/or addiction services may also reach Pine Rest by phone:
FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE 24/7: 616-455-5000 or toll-free at 800-678-5500
FOR OUTPATIENT ASSISTANCE (Standard Business Hours): 866-852-4001
The Wyoming Fire Department is investigating a recent structure fire in a large commercial building (Courtesy photo)
By Wyoming Fire Department
Firemen from four departments responded to the scene of the fire (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
At approximately 9:15 p.m. on Feb. 28, the Wyoming Fire Department responded to a structure fire in a large commercial building in the 5200 block of South Division Ave.
The first arriving fire units observed heavy fire and smoke conditions coming from within the building. There were no reported injuries because of the fire.
The Wyoming Fire Department was notified of this fire from a passerby who stopped to call 911. There were reports of two explosions and flames coming from the building.
Given this information, Wyoming Fire requested assistance from neighboring departments including the Grand Rapids Fire Department, Kentwood Fire Department and Cutlerville Fire Department. With this added response, the 35 firefighters on scene were able to contain and extinguish the fire, preventing it from fully spreading to the remainder of the warehouse and front office area.
Fire safety and preparedness
While the cause of the fire is currently under investigation, the Wyoming Fire Department is taking this opportunity to remind the community about the importance of fire safety and preparedness.
Please ensure that fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and fire alarms are regularly inspected and maintained. Keep all fire exits clear of obstructions to allow quick evacuation of a structure if needed.
Take steps to ensure fire safety and preparedness in your home or business (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
The Wyoming Fire Department is committed to promoting fire safety and prevention within our community. By taking proactive measures, we can work together to reduce the risk of fire related incidents.
Wyoming FD is seeking information
This incident is currently being investigated by the Wyoming Fire Marshal’s Office. Anyone with additional information regarding this fire is asked to contact the Wyoming Fire Department Fire Investigator at 616-257-9764.
After winning the Alliance League championship with a perfect 8-0 record, the Lee Legends opened play in the state tournament with a thrilling win against West Catholic. (Courtesy, Wyoming Lee)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
After winning the Alliance League championship with a perfect league record this season, the Lee basketball team opened the state tournament with a thrilling 49-48 win against West Catholic in the Division 2 district semifinal game Wednesday at the West Catholic district.
In a low-scoring, defensive struggle, the Legends persevered at the end to come away with the win that improved their record to 17-5 for the season. Lee now goes on to Friday’s district title game against Grand Rapids Catholic Central as the Legends go after their first district title since 1995.
“It was a great team win,” said Lee Coach Dominic Shannon. “I’m proud of our effort and proud of our energy. It was a tight game to the end. It was a back-and-forth game from the start to the finish. The biggest lead of the game was eight by us early in the game and at halftime we were up by two at 19-17.”
West Catholic came out playing a zone defense and looked to slow down the pace of the game against the Legends.
“They (West Catholic) tried to slow the game down,” Shannon said. “The opportunities that we did have to run we capitalized on. It was a fun game with great energy and I’m happy we were able to pull it out.”
Lee played a rugged non-conference schedule this season that included games against schools like East Kentwood, Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix and Forest Hills Eastern, and that experience proved valuable in the district.
“The reason we played such a tough schedule is for moments like this,” Shannon said. “Our schedule prepared us for a game like this.”
Lee senior Ny’Zhem Marshall led with 17 points and 14 rebounds. (Courtesy, Wyoming Lee)
Marshall led the Legends with 17 points and 14 boards
Ny’Zhem Marshall led Lee with 17 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots. Nate Johnson added 11 points.
“Nate hit one of the biggest shots of the game for us,” Shannon said. “We were down 45-42 in the fourth quarter. Marc Whitfield drove to the basket and the defense collapsed on him. Nate is one of our best three-point shooters and Marc recognized that and kicked the ball out to him on the wing and Nate knocked the shot down to tie the game.”
Conference crown two-straight years
The district win comes after the Legends wrapped up a regular season that saw them win a conference title for the second consecutive year and with a perfect league mark for the second straight season.
“I’m so proud of our boys for capturing back-to-back conference championships for multiple reasons,” Shannon said. “One, the boys made history at Lee with back-to-back conference championships for the first time since 1971 and 1972.”
A key to success for the Legends this year is the way the team prepares for each game.
“The key to capturing our conference was trusting our preparation,” Shannon said. “Even though our conference is untraditional with teams only playing each other once, we were able to get film and have a gameplan based on what was shown on film. There were games when we were off, but we also have a strong bench and at times we were able to insert someone from the bench to provide a boost.
Specifically, I can recall the Wellspring game as we were down heading into the fourth quarter. The coaching staff made an adjustment as a starter was having an uncharacteristically off-game and essentially the adjustment aided with the win.”
Lee also did a solid job of handling the adversity it faced during the season.
“We started the season 0-3 and finished 15-5 overall,” Shannon said, “not to mention we dealt with many injuries this year and we are actually full strength in the postseason.”
On the court, the Legends count on strong defense as a major team strong point.
“A strong component of our team is our ability to defend baseline to baseline, regardless of who’s defending,” Shannon said. “We have great versatility in our defense this year and we really pressure the ball which has led to great success. We like to be able to make guards uncomfortable when starting their offense to disrupt rhythm and timing.”
Lee senior Marc Whitfield leading the Legends this year. (Courtesy, Wyoming Lee)
Marc Whitfield leading the team
Leading the way for the legends this season is Marc Whitfield. The reigning conference player of the year, Whitfield averages 22 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals per game while shooting 40 percent from beyond the three-point arc. Whitfield has five 30-point games this season with a season-high 35 points in the win against Grand River Prep.
Ny’Zhem Marshall all-around production
Ny’Zhem Marshall provides all-around production averaging 11 points, eight rebounds, four blocked shots and two assists per game while shooting 50% from beyond the three-point line. Marshall also recorded five games with seven blocked shots.
Clarence Lewis, who guarded the opposing team’s best player this season, added eight points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals per game and recorded a season-high of six steals in one game. Nathan Johnson averaged nine points and three rebounds per game while shooting 40% from the three-point line. Johnson also scored a season-high 22 points in two games this season.
