The Wyoming Kentwood Chamber will hold its 43rd Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony Friday, a celebration that will not only honor outstanding businesses and individuals, but also mark a significant rebranding milestone.
This year, the Chamber is unveiling its new name, South Kent Chamber, a change that better reflects the diverse and thriving business community it represents.
“The annual dinner serves as more than just a celebration; it is a platform for fostering community engagement, networking and collaborations among local businesses. Attendees can anticipate an enjoyable evening filled with dinner, a cash bar, and the highlight of the evening,” said Keith Morgan, CEO of South Kent Chamber.
The awards to be presented at the event include:
Distinguished Service Award
Volunteer of the Year Award
Business of the Year Awards (Manufacturing, Retail, Service)
Committee of the Year Award
Attendees will get an exclusive sneak peek into the South Kent Business Journal, a comprehensive business publication designed for the modern professional. It offers exclusive interviews with area leaders, business trends, market insights, and thought-provoking commentary on current business landscapes. This year’s ceremony also will feature the introduction of new incoming board chairs and board members.
Greg Yoder, host of WKTV Friday Night Highlights, prepares for the weekly show (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
The WKTV Friday Night Highlights show features many area high school teams in action during the basketball and football seasons.
Every Friday, we bring you several high school boys and girls sports clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
Every Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV Comcast 25 at 11 p.m. The games will repeat Saturday at 11 a.m.
Each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast 25 at 11 p.m. The games will repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Michigan residents in Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland and Wayne counties with property damage from the Aug. 24-26, 2023 tornadoes, severe storms and flooding may now call or go online to apply for disaster assistance from FEMA.
To start the application process, contact FEMA by going online to disasterassistance.gov, downloading the FEMA app or calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
If you use video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. When calling the FEMA Helpline, multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages).
Federal assistance may include temporary lodging, basic home repairs and other disaster-related expenses.
Have the following information ready when you apply with FEMA:
A current phone number where you can be contacted.
Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying.
Your social security number (or the social security number of a minor child in your household, if you’re applying on their behalf).
A general list of damage and losses.
Banking information if you choose direct deposit.
If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name.
Those who already made repairs or started their recovery should still apply.
FEMA inspectors are trained to recognize damage caused by a disaster even after recovery has started, and they will discuss that damage with you when they come to your home. Be prepared to show repair receipts, photos and any other disaster-related documentation as well.
FEMA offers tips on how to be prepared for the assistance process (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Important reminders after applying:
Keep important steps in mind when navigating your FEMA assistance process after the August severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.
Next, comes a call. Typically, after you apply, you will be contacted by a FEMA inspector to schedule an appointment. Be sure to answer the phone. The inspector’s phone number may be from out of state or show up on caller ID as “unavailable.”
Then, inspection day. The inspection includes looking at disaster-damaged areas of your home and reviewing your records. FEMA inspectors will carry an official photo ID and will never ask for bank information. They will also never ask for money and never require payment in any form.
The inspector will ask to verify the applicant’s name, address, contact information, occupancy, ownership status, household occupants and insurance coverage. Reasonable accommodations, including translation and ASL interpreters, are available to ensure effective communication with survivors.
Don’t forget to fill out and submit your U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan application. After applying for disaster assistance, applicants may be referred to the SBA. There’s no obligation to accept a loan, but you may miss out on the largest source of federal disaster recovery funds if you don’t apply. If you don’t qualify for an SBA disaster loan, you may be referred back to FEMA for other types of grant assistance.
Finally, a decision will be sent to you. You will receive a letter explaining FEMA’s eligibility decision within 10 days after the inspector’s visit. Be sure to read it closely; it may explain additional steps needed to continue with the process. If you are eligible for assistance, you may receive a U.S. Treasury check or direct deposit based on what you selected during your application.
Getting help to those who need it most is FEMA’s priority. Recovery teams will be out soon in the neighborhoods affected by the disaster to provide one-on-one support to individuals. Recovery centers will also be opening for individuals to get additional in-person help.
For even more information about the disaster recovery operation in Michigan, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4757.
Noted author and award-winning mental health speaker Ross Szabo will offer the keynote presentation at Wedgwood Christian Services’ (WCS) annual State of the Child (SOTC) event Feb. 23.
Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids will host the SOTC event from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Youth mental health declared national emergency
SOTC will feature conversations with local teens, presentations and panel discussions from community experts, and breakout sessions addressing the most demanding challenges facing kids today.
Learn how to support and empower our youth at this SOTC event (Courtesy, WCS)
The event’s goal is to educate the community on the realities of the challenges kids and families face and empower people to provide support and seek out services.
“The state of youth mental health has been declared a national emergency, so candid conversations around hard topics, with caring, solutions-minded community members, are crucial to the well-being of West Michigan’s children and our community at large,” said Dr. Daniel Gowdy, WCS President and CEO.
Registration and additional information
Tickets are $75 each. Registration is available on the Wedgwood website: www.wedgwood.org/sotc.
Check out our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the basketball season featuring many area high school teams in action the week of Feb. 12-16.
Every Friday, 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.
WHS Art 3 students recently studied a contemporary artist who uses tape to create large-scale optical illusions. Inspired by this work, students collaborated to create six unique designs that would give a 2D space a 3D appearance.
Students worked in pairs and used two kinds of tape as a creative medium to explore the idea of space.
“It’s good to have them collaborate, it’s good to have them work in a different space and on a different scale,” WHS art teacher Liz Duffield told WKTV. “We use different things, different materials, so they recognize art is not just drawing and painting, that we have a lot more in the art world.”
Painting…with tape?
Tape art emerged in the 1960s as an alternate urban art form that uses only adhesive tape as a medium. The work of tape artists has garnered a great deal of media interest over the last decade.
That interest is partly due to the advantages of “painting” with tape versus aerosol cans.
The tape art installations cover the walls from the floor to the ceiling (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
No longer needing protective measures, such as masks, to guard against dangerous vapors is a convenience as well as a health benefit to tape artists.
Adhesive tapes can be applied quickly and easily to materials such as stone, wood, glass, aluminum and more. The tape can also be removed without leaving residue.
Strange, interesting, unique…all of the above?
“It was an interesting concept,” said Jordan, WHS junior. “I never would have thought of this for an art project, putting tape on walls. That sounds strange; it was abstract.”
Jovanny, WHS senior and Jordan’s collaborative partner on the project, agreed. “It was really fun. We’re always doing painting or drawing, and I think this was a unique experience, using tape and creating art with it.”
Jovanny (left) and Jordan with their tape art installation (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Though both students agreed the 3D project was not the easiest, both enjoyed the challenge of designing and executing the art.
“We just went with the flow, and this is how it turned out,” said Jovanny, gesturing to an image of their art installation on his computer.
Jovanny also enjoyed the collaborative aspect of the project.
“I liked how we collaborated together because usually we don’t collaborate often in this class,” Jovanny said, adding that creating an art piece with another student – and having it turn out well – produced a sense of accomplishment.
Jordan, who typically creates 2D drawings on a much smaller scale, admitted that while she enjoyed the 3D project, she has no plans to repeat it.
“One time is enough,” Jordan said with a laugh.
An opportunity to share and inspire
Collaborative partners Daira and Deborah, both WHS seniors, enjoyed the opportunity to share their art with the entire school.
Daira (left) and Deborah with their 3D tape art creation (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“I liked it because a lot of students can see [it],” said Deborah. “I had three or four students ask me, What class is this? What are you doing this for? I think it catches students’ attention, and that is good if they want to take art.”
Daira said that, though she typically enjoys painting, she had fun working on the tape art.
“I don’t think it was that difficult because you have just straight lines,” said Daira. “The difficult part was making them look even.
“I would want to do something like this again and experience more than just painting. Art is more than just painting and drawing.”
Deborah would also like to try tape art again, but the WHS senior is thinking…bigger. A bigger canvas and a larger audience.
“Somewhere downtown, somewhere where everybody can see it,” said Deborah.
Art as an outlet
That creative expression is what draws both Daira and Deborah to art in general.
Art teacher Liz Duffield periodically walks by and checks to make sure the tape remains secure (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“I like that you can express your creativity,” said Deborah. “Instead of like every other class where you just write and read, in this class you can actually express it more in colors and lines and shapes.”
“Expressing your feelings too,” Daira added. “Art has a lot of feelings and emotions that you can show. If you are not good in English and writing, you can express it in art.”
Allowing students the opportunity for that expression is important to Duffield – though she admits that she never expected to become a teacher.
“I always knew that I loved art and being creative, design and things like that,” said Duffield. “I never actually thought I wanted to be a teacher, and then I started volunteering in a classroom–and I loved it.”
Value in variety
While the medium of watercolors is Duffield’s personal favorite to work in, she believes in the value of all art forms.
“I think it’s really important to expose my students to many different kinds of art,” Duffield said.
Wyoming’s La’Anna Griffin steps to the line against Mona Shores. Griffin and Shakya Anderson led the Wolves with 12 points apiece. (WKTV Tuesday Game of the Week)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
No matter the score or the situation, the Wyoming girls basketball team can never be counted out of a game.
The never-give-up attitude of the Wolves was never more evident than Tuesday when they hosted Mona Shores. Trailing for most of the second half, the Wolves continued to battle and eventually a late flurry propelled Wyoming to a 47-43 win.
“It was just a great team effort,” said Wyoming Coach Jesse Vasquez. “These girls just never quit. They never give up. They play with a lot of grit and toughness. They are hard to count out.”
Mona Shores tried numerous times to pull away from the Wolves in the second half, but could never put Wyoming away. Mona Shores was up 24-20 at halftime and led 34-31 at the end of the third quarter.
Wolves kept battling back
Twice during the fourth quarter the Sailors were up by five points and threatening to pull away, but the Wolves continued to battle back.
Wyoming’s Tamia Gayles prepares to shoot three free throws after getting fouled outside the arc. (WKTV Tuesday Game of the Week)
With less than a minute to go in the game, Mona Shores was up 43-40. The Wolves, however, came up with a big defensive stop and sophomore Tamia Gayles was fouled on a three-point shot on the offensive end of the floor. Gayles connected on the first two free throws, but missed the third attempt. Wyoming senior Ta’tyan Hardiman was there to pick her teammate up as she gathered in the rebound and then converted it for a basket putting the Wolves up 44-43 with 42 seconds remaining.
Wyoming’s Ta’tyana Hardiman gets the rebound off a missed free throw and scores to put the Wolves ahead 44-43 over Mona Shores. (WKTV Tuesday Game of the Week)
The Wyoming defense then came up big again forcing a Mona Shores turnover with 27 seconds remaining in the game. Mona Shores eventually fouled the Wolves and sent Gayles back to the free-throw line with 17 seconds remaining in the game. Gayles then drained both free throws giving the Wolves a three-point lead.
On the ensuing Mona Shores possession, the Sailors were fouled and went to the free-throw line, but missed both shots. Hardiman then split a pair of free throws for Wyoming with five seconds remaining to secure the win.
A total team effort
Like they have all season, Wyoming relied on a total team effort to earn the win. The Wolves had a balanced effort on offense as senior La’Anna Griffin and junior Shakya Anderson led the Wolves with 12 points apiece. Gayles added nine points, followed by sophomore Michaela Moore with seven points, sophomore Myah Nabors, four, and Hardiman, three.
“Sophomore starters relied on a lot”
“We start three sophomores and we rely on them a lot,” Vasquez said. “Michaela Moore, Myah Nabors and Tamia Gayles are young players, but they step up for us each and every night. Like all of our players they keep scrapping and never give up. We also have some great assistant coaches and they do a great job of coaching our players all the way up.”
The Wolves also received a big effort from Anderson. One of several key players who come in and provide big contributions off the bench, Anderson not only scored in double figures in points on offense, but also provided strong rebounding and defense.
“Shakya is a scrappy player,” Vasquez said. “She came off the bench and did a great job for us. We have a pretty deep team. We have a lot of players who can do a number of things for us. Anything can happen with the arsenal of players that we have.”
With the win, Wyoming improved to 14-4 overall and 9-2 in the OK Green Conference. The Wolves are tied for second place in the conference with Zeeland West, two games behind Muskegon who’s in first place at 11-0.
“All the credit goes to the kids,” Vasquez said. “They played very hard. They just kept fighting back. We still have a couple more weeks left and the state tournament left so we have a lot to play for still.”
Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) has partnered with Feeding America Mobile Pantry to host a Mobile Pantry once a month.
*WHS February Mobile Food Pantry will be held Monday, Feb. 26 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.
Check out our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the basketball season featuring many area high school teams in action the week of Feb. 5-9.
Every Friday, 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.
Godwin Heights’ Jacari Jones (0) applies defensive pressure during Tuesday’s game with Comstock Park. Jones and Isaiah Guyton led the Wolverines with 12 points apiece. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
The Godwin Heights boys basketball team may be on the young side this season, but future foes need to be aware that this year’s squad of Wolverines is becoming a nasty team to deal with.
Combining a tenacious defense with an explosive offense, the Wolverines have been on the prowl lately. That was evident Tuesday as Godwin Heights turned back Comstock Park 76-48 to stay in the thick of the chase for the OK Blue Conference title.
The Wolverine defense proved tough to crack right from the opening tip while the offense gained momentum as the game progressed en route to its highest point total of the season. With the win, the Wolverines improved to 7-1 in the conference, a half game behind league-leading Sparta who travels to Godwin next Tuesday for a big conference showdown.
“We took a tough loss to Calvin Christian a couple of weeks ago and the one thing I’m super proud of is the way the guys learned from that loss,” said Godwin Heights Coach Bernard Varnesdeel. “Our team learned what our identity is from that loss. First, we realized that we have to hang our hat on our defensive pressure. We apply pressure both full court and in the half court. We put the pressure on with our defense and push the tempo on offense especially after creating turnovers on defense.”
That was the formula the Wolverines used against Comstock Park. The Wolverines used their strong defensive pressure to take a 12-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Godwin dialed up that pressure in the second quarter as it outscored Comstock Park 26-13 to take a commanding 38-22 halftime lead.
“I feel like we did a lot better job of getting rebounds and I feel we did a good job of passing the ball on offense,” said Godwin Heights junior Jamaan Hastings. “I feel like we are working together better to play as a team and are starting to gel as a team for the March playoffs.”
Teamwork is a major strong point for the Wolverines. Not only do the Wolverines play strong team defense, but they share the ball on offense and have multiple players who can contribute on the offensive end of the floor. Nine different players scored for Godwin during the second-quarter offensive outburst and all 11 Wolverines scored during the game.
Sophomore guard Ka’Res Harris (10) looks for an opening as he moves the ball around the perimeter of the Comstock Park defense. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“We have 11 really, really good basketball players,” Varnesdeel said. “I tell all the guys that they will get the opportunity to get their run.”
Godwin players continued to get plenty of “run” during the second half as the defense continued to force turnovers while the offense capitalized on the offensive end. Godwin extended the lead to 58-35 at the end of the third quarter as it outscored the Panthers 20-13.
“I think we have a really good team,” said Wolverine senior Ben Dolo. “I think we are a super-underrated team. We can play with the top teams in the area and we can’t wait till March to show what we’ve been working on this season.”
Godwin closed out the game strong outscoring the Panthers 18-13 to end with a 28-point win.
“We’ve made a ton of improvement,” Varnesdeel said. “This is a great group. I’m a new coach here and we had a lot of younger, inexperienced players coming into the season. We only had one guy with a lot of experience and we have four sophomores. Those guys have made a lot of progress this season.
“We are learning each and every day and improving. We still have a lot to work on, but we’ve made a ton of progress.”
Godwin’s depth was evident in the scorebook. Jacari Jones and sophomore Isaiah Guyton were the lone Wolverines in double figures with 12 points apiece. Senior Jace Reid-Anderson added nine points, followed by Marcos Rodriguez and Hastings, eight points apiece; Armani Dedrick, six; sophomores Justin Chan, Ka’Res Harris and Dom Sanders, five each; sophomore Lonnie Sanders, four and Dolo, two.
Godwin Heights guard Ben Dolo brings the ball up the floor against Comstock Park. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“Jace is our most experienced player and he is doing a great job of leading our young players,” Varnesdeel said. “Isaiah is a sophomore who is doing a nice job for us. Jacari had a really good game tonight and Ka’Res is our sophomore point guard who is doing a really good job. All 11 of our guys did a nice job and it was a great team win.”
With the win, the Wolverines improved to 10-5 overall. Godwin returns to action Friday at Calvin Christian before returning home for the OK Blue showdown with Sparta next Tuesday.
Award-winning local author Susie Finkbeiner wrote her first novel in secret.
“I would sneak out and go to a coffee shop and write for an hour,” said Finkbeiner. “Nobody knew I was writing a novel. Not even my husband.”
Since that first novel, Finkbeiner has written several more, with awards following close behind.
Two-time winner of the Michigan Notable Book Award, a Christy Award Nominee and Selah Award Finalist, Finkbeiner is making waves in the historical fiction genre.
Stories = Love
The Wyoming author is more thrilled to have the opportunity to be a full-time storyteller than she is by awards.
“My family is very story-centric,” said Finkbeiner. “My dad is also a novelist, and he would always tell us stories. My mom would read to us all the time, and do the voices of the characters.”
One of Finkbeiner’s earliest memories is of her big sister reading a story to her.
“When [my siblings] had to practice reading, my mom would send them to read to me,” said Finkbeiner with a laugh. “My big sister reading a story to me, I felt very loved.
“That is the feeling I associate with that memory. So in my mind, sharing stories equates to sharing love.”
That value of books and stories is something Finkbeiner tries to instill in her own children.
Writing in the margins
Finkbeiner was writing plays for a local church and blogging snippets about life when a friend said she should write a novel.
At first, the idea seemed crazy to Finkbeiner. Then… “That little seed of a thought kept growing.”
Chasing after three young children and being employed didn’t leave a lot of time for writing. That time was carved out in quiet moments at coffee shops and while her children were sleeping.
Finkbeiner’s first novel began in a coffee shop (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“I would write when they were napping, I would write when they went to bed,” said Finkbeiner. “I really wrote in those margins.”
After finishing the first draft, Finkbeiner thought it might have some potential.
“I never knew if it would go anywhere,” said Finkbeiner. “I got a lot of rejections.”
After several of those rejections, Finkbeiner decided to change course for bit.
What did I get myself into…?
Finkbeiner posted on Facebook, committing to writing as many short stories as she was given ideas for during the month of September.
“I thought I would get three or four,” Finkbeiner said. “I got 32.”
With each story 1,500 words or less, the process taught Finkbeiner how to get to the point, characterization, and about working toward a deadline.
“It stretched me,” said Finkbeiner. “They would paint me in a corner and I had to find my way out. I learned so much.”
But Finkbeiner has no plans to repeat that challenge.
“I don’t know if I could ever do it again. Now that I write such long pieces, 1,500 words sounds like a sprint.”
While Finkbeiner was posting 32 stories in 30 days, an editor was paying attention. Shortly after that short story challenge, Finkbeiner received a request for her novel.
The rest, as the saying goes, is history.
History? No, thank you!
While Finkbeiner’s novels are centered around historic events and times, it took some time for her to embrace the genre.
“My first two novels were contemporary because I didn’t think I could write historical fiction,” said Finkbeiner. “It seemed too daunting to me. In my mind, historical fiction was the 1700s, 1800s, the Civil War. I just didn’t want to reach back that far, so I thought [that genre] wouldn’t be for me.”
Another deterrent was that most historical fiction Finkbeiner saw was centered around romance – a genre she was not comfortable writing.
After reading a novel set in the 1930s, however, Finkbeiner realized she could write a Depression Era book.
“It worked,” said Finkbeiner. “And I realized how much I love the research. The 20th Century is fascinating. So much happened in this very condensed amount of time. And the research is a lot easier to access.”
The author especially enjoys talking to people who have lived experience in certain time periods.
“My dad wrote his memoirs of his time in Vietnam for me to use as research,” said Finkbeiner. “[I talked] to my mom about how she straightened her hair. It helps me feel connected to my grandparents and my parents in a way that I don’t know that I could otherwise.
“It makes me feel empathy for them. You grow to understand what they lived through.”
Anything is possible
“The ideas come in different ways every time,” said Finkbeiner. “It’s the most exciting part.”
The All-American, Finbeiner’s latest release, was inspired by two separate books that she read simultaneously.
“One was about [the author’s] father being accused of being a Communist, and the other was about women playing baseball,” said Finkbeiner. “Then I realized that the timelines met up between those two historical events.
“What’s less American than being accused of being a Communist, and what’s more American than baseball? What would happen if I put those two together?”
Written over two years, The All-American is a coming-of-age novel about two sisters in the 1950s. Finkbeiner’s relatable characters create a moving novel that inspires readers to dream big and believe anything is possible.
“I’ve been the recipient twice, which feels like getting struck by lightning twice – in a good way,” said Finkbeiner. “I think that one is so important to me because I love being a Michigander.”
That the recognition came from the Library of Michigan, and knowing she is part of the literary legacy of Michigan, is also meaningful to Finkbeiner.
“The library, throughout my life, it’s been one of those constant presences,” Finkbeiner said. “Sometimes during difficult times in childhood, I would go to the library and grab some books. Being honored by the library that made me who I am, it’s encouragement to keep going.”
Messages & Misconceptions
The misconception of writers not having contact with people is damaging, said Finkbeiner.
“I’m a noisy introvert,” said Finkbeiner. “I love public speaking. My favorite speaking events are at libraries because you get to meet readers. We really need to know who our readers are, because they are who we’re serving.”
Author Susie Finkbeiner on WKTV Journal Soundbites (Courtesy, WKTV)
“My novels aren’t just happy and fluffy,” Finkbeiner continued. “Things happen to the people in them. But through it, I always want the reader to know there is hope, that we are not left to despair. We all suffer, we all struggle, but there’s hope in the people around us, in faith, in the way that we can overcome.”
Any messages in Finkbeiner’s novels come organically, and tend to surprise her.
“That’s the beauty of writing and telling stories. Once it’s out there, it’s not mine anymore. It’s the reader’s. That is another reason why I like to meet readers; they always have insights that I would not have thought of.”
Words of wisdom
“There is a lot of rejection,” Finkbeiner said in advice to other writers. “When those rejections come, don’t quit. Sometimes it means it’s provoking them in a way that makes them uncomfortable. That can be good, because they will think about it later.”
Finkbeiner also gives writers permission to not write every day.
Giving your mind rest is necessary for creativity (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“You’ve got to let your mind rest,” said Finkbeiner. “You’ve got to let it wander. You’ve got to take in other art. Writing every day is not good for us. It’s too much hustle, and I don’t think art comes out of hustle.”
No guilt here!
“To readers, I would say that there is no guilty pleasure in reading,” said Finkbeiner. “Don’t let anyone judge you for it. If you like to read many things, go ahead. That’s what the library is there for. And if you don’t like a book, stop reading it.”
Next up: Joy of writing
Finkbeiner is busy writing a novel that is not currently under contract.
“I don’t have a deadline, so I feel a kind of freedom and space to breathe a little bit,” said Finkbeiner, adding that she is simply enjoying the process of writing right now.
Learn more about Susie Finkbeiner and her novels by clicking here.
The Valentine Dance, formerly called Daddy/Daughter Dance, will be held at the Wyoming Senior Center from 6 – 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10.
This event is for all children and the special adult in their life: a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt/uncle, etc.
A DJ will be pumping out the jams for a fun evening of dancing. Attendees can also enjoy crafts and a free professional photo to capture this special memory.
Pizza will be provided by Jet’s Pizza of Wyoming, and attendees can also enjoy a dessert bar.
Cost per ticket is $10 for residents and $15 for non-residents. Register by Feb. 8 by calling 616-530-3164 or online.
Check out our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the basketball season featuring many area high school teams in action the week of Jan. 30-Feb. 2.
Every Friday, 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.
South Christian’s Jake Vermaas drives the lane against the Catholic Central defense. Vermaas scored 13 points. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
It was round two of the annual rivalry between the South Christian and Grand Rapids Catholic Central boys basketball teams and the second quarter proved to be the difference as the host Cougars downed South 58-46 Friday to take the upper hand in the OK Gold.
Up 14-13 heading into the second quarter, Catholic Central played a near flawless quarter and built a 33-16 halftime advantage as it gained a two-game lead over the Sailors in the conference standings.
The host Cougars outscored South 19-3 during the second quarter, limiting the Sailors to a single three-point bucket by Sam Weiss. Catholic Central was dialed in from three-point range during the second quarter, scoring 12 of their 19 points from beyond the three-point arc. Senior all-stater Durral Brooks, who committed to the University of Michigan, led the way during the second quarter with eight of his game-high 30 points. Brieland Watkins also scored all six of his points during the quarter as he drained a pair of three-point shots.
“It was a super-intense atmosphere at the start,” said Catholic Central Coach TJ Meerman. “South Christian is an incredible team and we knew we would get their best shot. They jumped on us early, but our guys answered and battled back. I’m just really proud of our guys.”
Sailors quickly up 8-1
South Christian started the game in a big way, jumping out to a quick 8-1 lead. The Sailors controlled the boards early and kept the crowd out of the game. Catholic, however, weathered the storm and by the end of the first quarter took a 14-13 lead.
“We got out to a good start and we looked locked in,” said South Christian Coach Taylor Johnson, “then we started to miss some shots. They played faster, harder and with more confidence. We kept battling in the second half and got back in the game, but at the end of the game the better team won.”
Cougars up 33-16 at the half
Leading 33-16 going into the second half, Catholic Central began to milk the clock at times and shorten the game. The Cougars led 41-25 at the end of the third quarter.
South Christian continued to chip away at the deficit and early in the fourth quarter cut the margin to a dozen when Carson Vis connected on a three-point shot. The Sailors cut the mark to as close as 10 points when Vis scored a bucket with 2:07 remaining in the game, but that was as close as they would get.
Cougars’ Brooks led with 30 points, nine boards
Brooks, who led all scorers with 30 points, scored 16 of those points in the final quarter. Brooks also hauled down nine rebounds.
Catholic Central sophomore Jordan McCoy added 16 points, while Jack Bowen pulled down nine rebounds.
Catholic Central enjoyed a solid shooting night as they connected on six-of-19 three-point shots, were 50% on two-point shots and 78% from the free-throw line.
Carson Vis led Sailors with 14 points
South Christian was paced in scoring by Vis with 14 points and Jake Vermaas, 13. Davis Kemper added seven points, Sam Weiss, six.
“We are disappointed, but we will learn from this,” Johnson said. “We will grow from this. They tried to take Carson away, but he did hit some shots and crashed the boards and we did some good things out there.”
South Christian’s David Kemper puts up a shot during Friday’s game at Catholic Central. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
With the win, Catholic Central improved to 10-3 overall and 8-0 in the conference.
“I think in a game where two opponents know each other so well it comes down to togetherness, hustle and heart,” Johnson said. “We got after it in the second half, but it was just not enough. It was too little, too late.”
South Christian fell to 11-5 overall and 6-2 in the conference. The Sailors return to action Tuesday when they travel to Forest Hills Eastern and then return home on Friday when they host Cedar Springs.
A community celebration was held Jan. 31 to commemorate the milestone. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
By Ford International Airport
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport announced that it surpassed previous passenger traffic records in 2023.
In 2023, the Airport served a total of 3,794,915 passengers — a 6% increase from its record-breaking figures in 2019. Notably, October 2023 marked the single busiest month in Airport history with 349,987 passengers.
“We are truly grateful to the West Michigan community for their support in helping us achieve this remarkable milestone,” said Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “The Ford International Airport has experienced tremendous growth, thanks to the dedication of our team and partners in continuously providing world-class service to our guests.”
A community celebration was held January 31 to commemorate the milestone
To celebrate this achievement, the Airport hosted various festivities throughout the terminal on Jan. 31, including live music, free swag, a visit from the West Michigan Therapy Dogs and more.
Part of the celebration included a visit from the West Michigan Therapy Dogs. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
Ranked as one of the fastest-growing airports in the U.S. by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Ford International Airport is currently undergoing a $600 million capital expansion program known as ELEVATE. This initiative, which represents the largest of its kind for an airport of its size in the country, includes six projects aimed at supporting passenger growth and the overall economic health of the region.
As part of the ELEVATE program, the Airport plans to complete Phase 2 of the Concourse A expansion project this year, which focused on renovating the pre-existing concourse to match the new addition that opened in 2023. Additionally, the Airport will break ground on its Terminal Enhancement Project, extending baggage claim and ticketing spaces while adding a checked baggage inspection system.
For more information about Ford International Airport’s plans for continued growth, visit FlyFord.org/ELEVATE.
Joey Mellon (24) had a career night with 19 points, including a tip-in to give the Defenders a late lead. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
Tri-unity and Schoolcraft rekindled their rivalry from a year ago in a game that saw 13 lead changes and ended with a buzzer-beater tip-in by Schoolcraft, securing a 62-61 victory on Tuesday night’s WKTV Truck game.
“We knew it was going to be down to the wire,” said veteran Coach Mark Keeler, whose team moves to 10-3 on the season. “It was last year when we beat them at their place. Nobody got a huge lead. It was quite the game.”
The first quarter ended at 10-apiece as Tri-unity junior guard Keaton Blanker scored seven. Blanker finished the game with 16 points, including four three-pointers, and 10 assists.
“Keaton was amazing; I’d say that was a pretty good game from a point guard,” Keeler said.
Keaton Blanker scored seven of his 16 points in the first quarter. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Defenders up 30-25 at halftime
The first half saw seven lead changes; Tri-unity led 30-25 at the end of 16 minutes.
Schoolcraft controlled the third quarter, outscoring the Defenders 20-10. Eagles senior guard Shane Rykse scored 11 of their third quarter points and ended with a game-high 28 points.
“I was happy we held him to that,” Keeler exclaimed. “He’s unbelievable. He was last year as well.”
Junior forward Tucker Walther added 15 points and two blocks for Schoolcraft.
“We knew those two guys would carry the load, and they did,” Keeler said.
Joey Mellon led Defenders with 19 points
Tri-unity junior big man Joey Mellon had a career night as he tallied 19 points, including a tip-in to give the Defenders a late lead.
“They had us outsized,” Keeler explained. “We were one big man short, Akais (Giplaye) was out with an ankle injury. We knew Joey had to step up, and he did. He’s only a junior, so I’m excited for him.”
Tri-Unity senior leader Jordan VanKlompenberg was held to just nine points as Schoolcraft focused their defense on him.
“They were really keying on Jordan; we thought it would be a lower-scoring game.”
Tri-unity led by one with 10.8 seconds left
The Defenders took a one-point lead with 10.8 seconds left on the clock. Tri-unity had two fouls to give and, in the process, ate up a valuable six seconds.
With 4.4 seconds remaining, the Eagles in-bounded the ball to a double-covered Rykse, who put it up toward the basket, where it was caught and tipped in by senior Jaden VanderWiere as time expired.
“You have to give it to Schoolcraft; they didn’t back down, we didn’t back down, and it was a war to the end,” Keeler said.
The Defenders (10-3 overall) play Lee (7-4) Friday night. The Legends won last year’s game 62-59.
“We need to contain (Marc) Whitfield, he will get his points, but we don’t want him to score layups. We want to make him work for it,” Keeler said.
Wyoming’s La’Anna Griffin steps to the stripe. She had a team-high 11 rebounds. (WKTV/Ty Marzean)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
First place in the OK Green was on the line in front of an electric crowd Friday night as Wyoming hosted the Muskegon Big Reds. Both teams were undefeated in the conference coming into the game.
The Big Reds edged Wyoming in a 32-31 slugfest to take the top spot in the middle stage of the season.
The battle between the top two teams in the conference had a wild ending, including two technical fouls by Muskegon to allow Wyoming to set up a would-be game winner.
“I’ve never been a part of an ending like that; very crazy,” said second-year Wyoming Coach Jesse Vasquez.
Wyoming sophomore Tamia Gayles looks for an opening. (WKTV/Ty Marzean)
The first quarter ended at a 5-5 deadlock, with all of Wyoming’s points scored by sophomore guard Tamia Gayles, who finished with a team-high seven points.
Muskegon missed multiple three-point shots in the second quarter, which Wyoming senior forward La’Anna Griffin was able to gobble up off the board en route to an 11-rebound game. Griffin also added two points with 30 seconds left in the quarter to make it a 10-8 game.
Big Reds up 13-8 at halftime
Muskegon sophomore guard Mariah Sain hit a dagger from beyond the arc with one second left to make the halftime score 13-8 in favor of the Big Reds. Sain finished with a game-high 17 points.
Muskegon kept the defensive pressure on the Wolves, allowing only eight points in the third quarter, four of which came from late Wyoming free throws by Shakya Anderson and Myah Nabors to cut it to seven. Both Nabors and Anderson finished with five points.
Wolves grab 32 boards
“We have a deep bench,” said Vasquez, whose team collected 32 rebounds. “We look to stay fresh with the pressure defense we like to show.”
Sain and Nabors exchanged three-point buckets to start an exciting final frame.
Big Reds led by 10 in the fourth
Muskegon sophomore guard Camiyah Bonner put the Big Reds up by 10 with 4:31 remaining with a three-pointer.
Vasquez called a timeout to regroup his squad and the Wolves responded. The Wyoming defense gave up one point the rest of the way.
“The heart from these young ladies is unbelievable,” Vasquez said. “We didn’t have the best offensive showing, but the fact they never quit and just kept going forward shows you the heart they have.”
Hardiman cuts lead to five
Wolves senior Ta’tyana Hardiman hit a pivotal layup to close the gap to five, and that is when the game got interesting.
Muskegon committed two technical fouls in the final minute to give Wyoming four free shots. The first set of two attempts went down easy for sophomore Michaela Moore.
Griffin board and bucket cuts lead to one
With 22.2 seconds remaining, Griffin rebounded a Nabors miss and put it back for the score to cut Muskegon’s lead to one.
On the ensuing inbound came the next set of technical shots hampered with confusion. Muskegon’s Bonner was fouled and committed a technical foul on the same play. Moore attempted the first of two shots and missed, but the officials came together to correct the order, and Muskegon needed to shoot their free throws first, waiving off the Moore miss. Muskegon made one of the two attempts.
Moore then regrouped at the charity stripe to hit one of the two shots that made it 32-31 Muskegon.
Next, the Big Reds botched an inbound pass with 1.3 seconds to set up a final shot for Wyoming.
The Wyoming inbound pass put it in the hands of Gayles, who threw up a prayer that missed and sealed the Muskegon victory.
“We don’t stop till the end of the game and tonight was the definition of that,” Vasquez explained. “I am beyond proud of how we competed till the end.”
The Wolves have enjoyed an excellent season this year at 11-3. Last year they finished 12-11.
“The work the core group put in this summer and fall … they just keep growing closer together,” Vasquez said. “They are everything this program stands for. They play hard, smart and together. This group of ladies are a team, and they come together each and every day.”
Wyoming welcomes Zeeland West (8-4) and Zeeland East (3-10) their next two games (Feb. 2 and 6) to begin the second half of the OK Green schedule.
Firefighters quickly contained the fire, preventing damage to the entire structure (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
By Wyoming Fire Department
(Courtesy photo)
At approximately 7:00 a.m. on Jan. 25, the Wyoming Fire Department responded to a residential house fire in the 3500 block of Bluebird Avenue SW.
The first arriving fire units observed smoke coming from the home and they made entry. Firefighters quickly contained and extinguished the fire preventing it from fully spreading to the remainder of the structure.
Everyone was able to safely evacuate the home and there were no reported injuries to persons or pets.
The Wyoming Fire Department was notified of this fire emergency through the quick actions of homeowners who called 911. The Wyoming Fire Department received mutual aid from the Grandville Fire Department.
Safety reimnders
Residents are reminded to prioritize fire safety measures by ensuring your home is equipped with smoke detectors, have a fire escape plan, and avoid leaving cooking or burning candles unattended. Also, avoid overloading electrical outlets and regularly check and maintain your home heating system.
Anyone with additional information regarding this fire is asked to contact the Wyoming Fire Marshal’s Office at 616-257-9764.
“The Sunday Night Funnies has always been a diverse show,” said MC and SNF Founder Brian B. (Brian Borbot). “When putting together the lineup each week, I try to have a good mix of comedians-be it race, gender, or age-range. I think our audience appreciates that.
“I wanted to celebrate the contribution Black comedians have brought to the show through the years.”
The special show features six comics: Brianna Blackburn, a local favorite who has been part of several LaughFest shows; Sunday Night Funnies’ Kingpin of Comedy competition finalists JT Motley, Marcus Cusic and Silas Haley; Dionte Allen from Ohio; and Michael Chandler, a relative newcomer to the local scene.
Brianna Blackburn (Courtesy, Brian B.)
Michael Chandler (Courtesy, Brian B.)
Dionte Allen (Courtesy, Brian B.)
Silas Haley (Courtesy, Brian B.)
Marcus Cusic (Courtesy, Brian B.)
JT Motley (Courtesy, Brian B.)
But wait – there’s more!
“The Sunday Night Funnies has got a big 2024 planned,” said Brian B. “In addition to the Black History Month show, March 3 will feature a special all-women comedian show in honor of Women’s History Month.”
The following Sunday, March 10 is the SNF’s LaughFest show. Sunday, May 5 will be a celebration of Older American Month featuring comics ages 50 and up. Then begins the sixth annual Kingpin of Comedy competition.
About the SNF
The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B.
A weekly live stand-up comedy performance featuring a variety of comics from Michigan and around the country, the SNF is a free admission show that starts at 7:30 p.m. and is performed at the Spectrum Entertainment Complex.
Check out our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the basketball season featuring many area high school teams in action.
Every Friday, 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.
Opening tipoff of Wyoming and Mona Shores Wednesday. (WKTV/Ty Marzean)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
In a game postponed due to bad weather Tuesday, Mona Shores grabbed their second OK Green win in a row with a 75-53 victory over host Wyoming on Wednesday night.
Wyoming’s Gage Behrenbrinker won the opening tipoff, but the Sailors quickly picked the pocket and converted a three-point shot before 10 seconds left the clock.
The rest of the first quarter was a back-and-forth matchup, with Mona Shores on top 17-11 after one quarter.
“When I think early in the game, we had missed layups and free throws,” said Wyoming veteran Coach Thom Vander Klay, whose team fell to 4-7 overall. “We went 1-6 from the line in the first quarter, and those are wasted opportunities,”
“The shots just didn’t hit”
Mona Shores (8-3 overall) enjoyed a 17-point lead at the half on the back of an off-shooting night for the Wolves. Wyoming shot 6-29 from three-point range on the night.
“It’s frustrating for everybody; we have some guys that have worked pretty hard on knocking shots down,” Vander Klay explained. “I thought our spacing was good. I thought we made good decisions with the ball and made easy passes; the shots just didn’t hit.”
The Wolves tried to claw their way back in the third quarter as they outscored Mona Shores 25-23 to get within striking distance.
“We cut it down to 13 points in the third, but then they would come back and answer,” Vander Klay said. “We couldn’t chop it down.”
The Sailors took advantage of the missed opportunities by the Wolves and created points on the other end.
“Part of that is Mona Shores’ defense, and they took advantage and finished those shots off in the paint. They had a lot of good looks.”
Mona Shores scored a quick four points early in the fourth and coasted to the final score and 22-point victory.
“That’s when it set in, if we didn’t start lighting it up, we were done, and we didn’t light it up,” said Vander Klay of the quick points by the Sailors.
Mona Shores finished the game with four players in double digits, led by junior forward Jonathan Pittman with 16 points.
Wyoming senior Avonte’ Wiggins led all scorers with 18 points. (Photo from a previous game.)
Wiggins led all scorers with 18
Wyoming senior guard Avonte’ Wiggins led all scorers with 18 points and cleaned up six rebounds.
“He was trying to do what we were telling him,” said Vander Klay of his leader. “He was trying to take it inside. He had eight free throws in the third quarter, and that helped us some. Mona Shores had to start playing some defense.”
“Donny plays so hard; he’s a menace on defense,” Vander Klay said. “He’s pretty banged up right now; he came out from football and hasn’t really recovered from all the nicks and bruises and twists and pulls.”
Wyoming’s Donavyn Edwards shoots a three. (WKTV/Ty Marzean)
Food insecurity impacts over 261,000 people in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula alone. Wyoming High School (WHS) has teamed up with Feeding America West Michigan to provide free nourishing food for those in need.
There are a variety of reasons food insecurity exists, and anyone can experience a period of that insecurity and need.
“We are seeing the need for food amongst our families increase,” said Joy Pratt, Wyoming School Community Coordinator. “This past fall, we were able to feed 110-120 families monthly, but sadly, had to turn families away as we ran out of food.”
Working together to eradicate hunger
Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) has partnered with Feeding America Mobile Pantry for several years, rotating locations between elementary school buildings.
For the last few months, WHS has become a consistent host site, and will continue to host the Mobile Pantry once a month.
*WHS January Mobile Food Pantry will be held Monday, Jan. 22 from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
WPS is working to help meet a basic need in the community (FeedWM)
“Moving the Mobile Food Pantry to the high school has allowed us to serve more families, cause less disruption to neighborhood traffic, as well as sort and package food inside the building versus outside in the elements,” said Pratt.
With some families financially stretched to the breaking point, picking up 40-50 lbs. of food for free has a far-reaching impact. WPS has seen that impact firsthand.
“What we know to be true is that if we want our kids to learn, their basic needs have to be met first,” said Pratt. “Kids who are worried about not having enough food at home typically don’t learn as well as kids who don’t have that worry.
If something as simple as WPS/WHS hosting a monthly Mobile Food Pantry can alleviate that worry, even a little bit, it’s a no-brainer.”
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. Some examples include: yogurt, cheese, milk, almonds, grapes, bananas, potatoes, rice, beans, macaroni, baked goods, apples, onions, carrots, ham, bread, bagels, cereal, granola, strawberries, and cream cheese.
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.
Make an impact – volunteer!
Just a few hours of time can make a substantial impact (FeedWM)
Community volunteers are always welcome and can sign up for January and February Mobile Pantries using the following links: January 2024 / February 2024
“Just giving three hours a month of their time has a significant impact on 170 families in their community,” said Pratt. “When you consider the time you give, and weigh it against the impact you make, volunteering to help at the Mobile Food Pantry is a worthwhile endeavor.
“If we all give a little, we can make big things happen.”
Resources – learn more!
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.
Due to the winter storm warning and cancellation of all local basketball games on Friday, our WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is taking a break as well.
Our WKTV crew was out getting highlights Tuesday night and we will include those in next Friday’s show! If you haven’t already, please take a look at last week’s FNH show above (Jan. 5).
Every single Friday, unless there’s a winter storm, 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.
Kent District Library (KDL) is inviting the community to share in a week-long celebration honoring MLK and the Civil Rights Movement.
Honoring the Life and Legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: A Weeklong Celebration will take place Jan. 15-19 at local KDL branches. Programs for all ages will feature powerful reflections and action that supported the legacy of MLK.
“We chose to do the week-long celebration because [we] wanted it to be a variety of programs that patrons could enjoy,” said KDL Volunteer Event Coordinator Debra Schultz. “We didn’t want to just tie it into one day.”
Selma: heart-wrenching and eye-opening
As part of the celebration, the Wyoming Branch will host a special viewing of the movie Selma on Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 5:30-7:45 p.m.
(Courtesy, KDL)
“We wanted something that would touch a whole family and be an educational piece – but also an entertaining piece – and so we chose the movieSelma,” said Schultz. “It’s a great movie about representation of the need to understand each other, and to find equality in what we do.”
Taking place in Selma, AL, the movie speaks to the fight that Martin Luther King and his followers went through while striving to be treated equally.
“[King] was really looking for voting rights back in the 60s when this took place,” said Schultz. “African American people just wanted the right to vote…and they did it in a peaceful march.
(Courtesy, KDL)
“But even though their intentions were peaceful, there was still violence because the governor of the town did not want them to come to his town.”
Many people who supported the rights of African Americans to vote traveled to Selma from across the United States to march with MLK.
“They wanted to be there to say, ‘We stand with you.’” said Schultz. “It’s powerful because I don’t think we realize [that] the ordinary person didn’t know what was going on. A lot of them did not realize that African Americans didn’t have the right to vote, so this was an eye-opener for them.
“It was also dangerous for them because the people they were fighting against were also fighting against anyone who agreed with [MLK]. Some white people that went down for the march did end up getting harassed and violated.”
Schultz continued, “This movie is very moving and dramatic, heart-wrenching, and an eye-opener.”
Original artwork available for viewing
“Road Towards Equality” painting by Paul Collins (Courtesy, KDL)
KDL has also procured the loan of an original piece of art from a local Grand Rapids artist for the MLK celebration.
Artist Paul Collins has agreed to have his original painting titled “Road Towards Equality” hanging at several of the branches to honor MLK. It will remain on exhibit through February in honor of Black History Month.
“The reason that [Collins] chose to have it displayed in the library is because he thinks the library atmosphere is the right type of place to have this picture,” said Schultz. “Everyone has the ability to go in and see it because we are open to all, and it’s free to walk into a library.
“He likes the idea that anyone who walks in will have that opportunity to see it – and hopefully ask questions and learn from it. Learn what our heritage is, learn what our freedom is, learn about the men and the women that made changes to help our freedom.”
(Courtesy, KDL)
“Road Towards Equality” can be seen at the Kentwood branch for the first two in January. Alongside the painting will be a postcard with a description of the artwork that patrons will be able to take home with them.
From Kentwood, the painting will be on exhibit at the KDL Caledonia Branch from Jan. 29 – Feb. 2. The Walker location will display the piece the following week, followed by a week at the Sand Lake location, and then at the Rockford branch for the last week in February.
MLK celebration events
Though usually closed on Martin Luther King Day, KDL decided to stay open on Jan. 15 in order to provide a wider impact with carefully curated events.
“We wanted to make sure that there were eventful and educational programs going on that would tie into Martin Luther King and his legacy,” said Schultz. “We worked with Darius Quinn from Quinn Consulting to come up with a good schedule of events that would touch on the heart of what Martin Luther King stood for, and why it’s important that we still carry that on today.”
Other MLK events include a presentation by Randal Jelks, author of Letters to Martin, Jan. 15; a presentation by author, podcaster and retired Calvin professor Dr. Michelle Lloyd-Paige, Jan. 16; “Fear Must Not Be Our Future” presentation by Pastor Joe Jones, Jan. 18; and a Letters to Martin book discussion Jan. 19.
Each KDL branch will have a display of passive craft projects for children and families. The crafts include a silhouette of MLK that can be decorated with paint, markers, crayons. Various MLK quotes that had an impact on society will be available to cut out and adhere to the silhouette.
A small booklet will also be available for children at certain KDL locations. The booklet focuses on who MLK was, why his speech of “I have a dream” is important, and how children can live that out today.
A selection of books that represent Martin Luther King, his beliefs and what he was fighting for at that time, as well as books with similar messages relevant to current times will be available at all KDL branches for visitors to read and enjoy.
Our mission
“Our mission is Ideas, Information, and Excitement,” said Schultz about KDL, “and I feel like we have the ability to help people become more aware of our history and what we can do to become more united as a nation.”
*KDL thanks Darius Quinn for his extensive work and help on the MLK celebration, as well as Kendra McNeil, owner of bookstore We Are Lit, who provided copies of Letters to Martin for the library locations.
State Representative John Fitzgerald sat down with WKTV Journal Soundbites to recap “an exciting year in the legislature” and deliver a direct message to his constituents in District 83.
“I am a representative for this community, of this community, and I’m a conduit for information both from Wyoming, southwest Grand Rapids, and Byron Township to Lansing, but also the other way,” said Rep. Fitzgerald.
Bringing transparency to local legislature
Driven by a “listen first” mentality, Fitzgerald is also committed to transparency. And that means keeping his constituents “in the know” about legislative happenings that affect their communities.
One of the bills passed and signed into law under Fitzgerald’s guidance made the Affordable Care Act state law. This ensures that if federal law requirements to receive health insurance were ever preempted or withdrawn, quality healthcare would still be available to Michigan residents.
Fitzgerald’s bill was specifically aimed toward extending dependent care, allowing dependents to remain on their primary caregivers’ insurance until age 26.
“We also passed significant energy law reform that is going to put us on a track to 100% clean energy by 2040,” said Fitzgerald. “This legislation is going to really put us as the leader in the Midwest when it comes to clean energy.”
Included in the bill is language specifying a Kent County incinerator facility shutdown by 2040 due to health concerns surrounding that facility.
Looking ahead
Fitzgerald said he is currently working on increasing transparency and ease of understanding to the public via the Open Meetings Act.
Rep. Fitzgerald aims to increase transparency in legislature (Courtesy, WKTV)
“If you’ve ever seen the Open Meetings Act language, it can be kind of gray,” Fitzgerald said. “We don’t want gray. We want to make sure that there is adherence to the Open Meetings Act.”
Supporting families via family leave under the Affordable Care Act is also on Fitzgerald’s agenda.
“As somebody who has a young child in daycare, it’s a very expensive cost to Michigan families, and we want to make sure that we’re creating that environment to support [them],” said Fitzgerald. “My mission is that Michigan could be the best place to raise a family in the country.”
Education
With seven school districts in the City of Wyoming alone, and several more compiling District 83, education is also on Fitzgerald’s mind.
A new budget is a milestone for local schools (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
With so many public school districts with varying needs, a budget was passed in 2023 that Fitzgerald said is a milestone for the City of Wyoming and southwest Grand Rapids.
“One of those things that we passed [is] free school lunch and breakfast for all public schools,” said Fitzgerald, adding that they have already seen great implementation by local school districts.
Tax relief
Thousands of seniors, Fitzgerald said, are receiving an average of $1,000 back due to a pension tax return repeal and retirement tax repeal.
On the flip side, working families are receiving a tax credit.
“There were 8,400 (District 83) households who qualified for that last year,” said Fitzgerald. “We are now putting more money back in those 8,400 households.”
“Show me the money” – Tax dollars coming home
“We brought home almost $70 million into services and infrastructure and goods that are going to impact [and] amplify the lives of Wyoming residents,” said Fitzgerald.
“When polled,” Fitzgerald said, “Wyoming residents say, We want a place to call home, that we can identify as: that is Wyoming. We don’t have that.
“But the City has taken this on to say, we’re going to build a downtown multi-use walkable area, and we’re going to do that on 28th Street.”
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
$35 million is allocated to the Grand Rapids Fire Department to build a new station and training center on South Division Avenue.
“That is helping to support services that actually directly impact southwest GR and Wyoming,” said Fitzgerald. “When we need mutual aid, they’re coming into Wyoming as well.”
$5 million will help Special Olympics Michigan to continue their services and renovation of the former South Christian High School.
“It’s going to be the world’s largest Special Olympics training facility, right here in Kent County,” said Fitzgerald. “We want to make sure that those athletes are getting exactly what they need to help cut down on health disparities, to help cut down on mental health challenges.”
And finally, $4 million will help Godfrey Lee schools with a much-needed roof renovation.
“That is real money that went to Lansing, or went to Washington, and is coming home now to enrich the lives of Wyoming residents. That’s exciting, and that doesn’t happen without your input coming to me,” said Fitzgerald.
Serving at home: “I want to hear from you.”
Rep. Fitzgerald spoke with community members during a recent Wyoming Senior Resource Fair (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Being attuned to his duties in Lansing is important, Fitzgerald said. But he believes connecting to his community is equally essential.
“My duty is to the people here at home,” said Fitzgerald.
Offering opportunities for communication is a top priority for Fitzgerald.
“I hope that any and all of you join me when we have office hours on the second and fourth Mondays at Wyoming City Hall, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. I’m there, I want to hear from you, it’s an open door,” said Fitzgerald in a direct message to the community.
“Please come and engage, because you are what drives me. Your interests, your concerns, help to drive the work that we’ve discussed here today, and more.”
Recharging with family time
When asked what he does to recharge so he can continue his work in the legislature, Fitzgerald replied: “Right now, it is playing with my daughter.”
Fitzgerald went on to say that his perspective has changed since becoming a parent.
“Your priorities change, your mindset changes, you’re more empathetic, you’re more understanding of other people’s situations as well,” said Fitzgerald. “Really being with my daughter charges me up. Hearing her laugh now, and seeing her start to walk, that’s just incredible to me.
“So quite frankly, it’s quality family time that has really kind of helped to recharge me to go to those long days in Lansing, to make that commute day in and day out.”
A conduit and facilitator for residents
Fitzgerald urges residents to contact him with questions and concerns.
Rep. Fitzgerald wants to hear from residents (Courtesy, WKTV)
“I am your representative…a conduit for you to Lansing, and for the information in Lansing to come home to you. That’s what we do best, connecting people with local resources, state resources, or even federal resources, to make sure that your life is enriched and your government is providing you with what you need,” said Fitzgerald.
“We have a lot to be proud of, we have a lot to look forward to. I think that the future is very bright here in Michigan.”
Check out our latest WKTV Friday Night Highlights show (Jan. 5) of the basketball season featuring many area high school teams in action.
Every Friday, 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.
Jordan VanKlompenberg (pictured) and Owen Rosendall scored 11 points apiece in the win. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema from a previous game)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
The holiday break couldn’t stop the Tri-unity Christian boys from staying on a roll as they scored early and often in a 71-16 blowout over Potterville on Thursday.
“We were rip-roaring and ready to go,” said long-time Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler, whose team improved to 7-1 overall.
The Defenders proved that readiness as they raced to a 31-5 lead after the first quarter and 48-10 at the half.
Senior captains Owen Rosendall and Jordan VanKlompenberg both had 11 points in the rout, but their defense stole the show.
Owen Rosendall in a previous game. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
“They led the way; you are not going to find two better defensive players than those two,” Keeler said. ” I feel sorry for anyone that Owen guards because they are not going to have a fun night. Jordan gets stuck with the bigger kids, and he just does amazing.”
The Defenders are holding their opponents to only 35 points per game in the early portion of the 2023-2024 season while averaging 62 points on offense.
“They played really solid defense, and that’s always been a trademark at Tri-unity.”
Senior big man Akais Giplaye added four rebounds in the winning effort.
Giplaye, Rosendall, VanKlompenberg and Wes Kaman form a solid senior base full of state championship experience.
“Those four are an amazing nucleus and are tough as nails,” Keeler explained.
Even in the lopsided victory, Keeler was impressed with how his team played unselfish basketball.
“I was so proud that they still shared the ball and didn’t worry about their own points or shots,” Keeler continued. “They are all so coachable and playing like men, not little boys. We also got to play a lot of guys quite a bit that don’t usually get as much playing time and give them experience.”
Tri-unity Christian team all smiles during a previous game. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Ranked No. 1 in Division 4, Tri-unity has played a strong schedule as they anticipate their future Alliance League games.
“The Alliance League is strong,” Keeler said. “Lee is going to be tough; Potter’s House is also a good game. You are not going to go through this league unscathed.”
Junior Keaton Blanker led the Defenders on the scoreboard with 12 points, while fellow junior Joey Mellon added 10.
The Defenders (7-1) travel to Lansing Catholic (1-5) on Saturday afternoon.
As 2023 drew to a close this last weekend, Wyoming first responders provided aid at three separate and emergency incidents.
Fatal accident leaves one dead
Wyoming Police Department investigate a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
One person is dead after a crash in the 2100 block of Clyde Park Avenue.
At approximately 7:55 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2023, police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the 2100 block of Clyde Park Avenue on a report of a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, a 53-year-old male resident of the Grand Rapids area, died at the scene. Initial investigation indicates the pedestrian was standing in the roadway when he was struck by a vehicle traveling southbound on Clyde Park Avenue. The driver remained at the scene to speak with investigators.
At this time, alcohol does not appear to have been a factor in this incident.
The Wyoming Police Accident Investigation and Forensic Science Units continue to investigate this crash. 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.
Structure fire
At approximately 5:45 am on Dec. 29, 2023, the Wyoming Fire Department responded to a structure fire at a duplex located in the 2900 block of Burlingame Avenue SW.
No injuries resulted from the garage fire (Supplied)
The first arriving fire units observed significant fire coming from the garage. The responding units were able to contain and extinguish the fire, working quickly so that the impact to the living spaces of the home was limited to minimal smoke and fire damage. There were no reported injuries to people or pets.
Tenants affected by this fire are currently receiving assistance from the Red Cross for temporary shelter, food, and other essential services while necessary repairs are made.
The Wyoming Fire Department commends the quick thinking and proactive response of a neighbor who reported the fire. Their alertness played a crucial role in enabling a swift and effective response. We would also like to thank the Grandville Fire Department along with the Georgetown Township Fire Department for their assistance on this fire.
This fire incident is currently being investigated by the Wyoming Fire Marshal’s Office. Anyone with additional information regarding is asked to contact the Wyoming Fire Department Fire Investigator at 616-257-9764.
Walmart shooting leaves two injured
Two are injured after a shooting inside Walmart store.
At approximately 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2023, police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to Walmart (355 54th Street SW) on multiple reports of a shooting that occurred inside the business.
Wyoming Police Department responded swiftly to reports of multiple gunshots at Walmart store (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV Staff)
Officers located a female victim suffering from a gunshot wound inside the store. The female was treated at the scene and transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
While investigating this incident, a male suffering from a gunshot wound arrived at an area hospital; this individual was found to be related to this incident. The suspect was armed with a handgun and described as an individual wearing a black parka-style coat with fur around the collar of the hood, a red sweatshirt, and dark pants.
A second person was seen with the suspect during this incident, this individual was wearing a black sweatshirt with white lettering across the chest, a black mask, and light-colored pants. Walmart was evacuated and will be closed for business while police investigate this incident.
It should be noted that this appeared to be a targeted attack toward the male; additionally, the female was found to be an innocent bystander struck by gunfire. Currently, there are no suspects related to this incident in police custody.
The Wyoming Police Investigative Division and Forensic Science Unit continue to 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.
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools is proud to announce that they will be purchasing Bloom Credit Union’s Wyoming building. The district closed on the deal on Dec. 15.
The Wyoming location of Bloom Credit Union, located on 1414 Burton St. SW, is right next door to Godfrey-Lee’s Administration Building, separated only by a fence.
Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Schools Arnetta Thompson and Bloom CEO Joe Heintskill in front of Bloom Credit Union (Courtesy, Godfrey-Lee Schools)
Bloom Credit Union is relocating their administrative offices and bank branch to other locations in Wyoming and Grand Rapids. Godfrey-Lee was able to benefit from the move by partnering and purchasing the current building. They hope to create a new administration building with potential for a conference and community center.
Bloom Credit Union has always been a community partner of the district. For years, Bloom has shared their parking lot with Godfrey-Lee due to lack of space at the Administration building, and has consistently provided in-kind donations for students.
Lee High School recently celebrated 100 years in the district and launched a fundraising campaign for a new scoreboard at their athletic complex. Bloom received the campaign postcard in the mail and committed to donating the funds for the scoreboard.
Bloom Credit Union will soon be relocating their administrative offices to a larger space in Grand Rapids. Their 1414 Burton St. SW branch will continue to operate from the same location until they open another nearby branch at a later date.
Check out our first WKTV Friday Night Highlights show of the basketball season featuring many area high school teams in action.
Every Friday, 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.
A fourth-quarter run proved to be the difference as the East Grand Rapids boys basketball team turned back Wyoming 67-52 in a non-league game at Wyoming in our WKTV Friday Game of the Week.
The setback prevented Wyoming from breaking into the win column this season. The Wolves started the new season facing a strong string of opponents. Wyoming fell to Unity Christian and Coopersville in the first two contests and then dropped a five-point decision to Grand Rapids Christian in a game the Wolves led heading into the final minute.
Tied 32-all at the half with EGR
The game with East was much closer than the final score. Wyoming led 14-12 at the end of the first quarter and the contest was tied 32-32 at halftime.
East Grand Rapids pulled ahead of the host Wolves in the third quarter and headed into the final stanza with a 48-41 lead. Wyoming tied the game in the final quarter before East pulled away late with the bulk of its points coming at the free-throw line in the final minutes.
“It was a fairly close game, but we had to put them on the free-throw line at the end,” said Wyoming Coach Thom VanderKlay. “Defensively we broke down quite a bit in the second half. Our field-goal percentage was also not very good. The shots we took were decent and we did get 15 offensive rebounds so we had some second chances, but we just could not put the ball in the basket.”
Wyoming finished the game shooting 27% from the field and also had 16 turnovers. The Wolves did a solid job on the boards with 37 rebounds while the defense created seven turnovers.
Wyoming junior Avonte’ Wiggins from last year. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Avonte’ Wiggins led Wyoming in scoring with 22 points and Brayden Williams added 10. Wiggins also led the Wolves with eight rebounds.
Shooting woes have been the main drawback for the Wolves this season.
“Coming into the season I expected us to be a pretty good shooting team,” VanderKlay said. “We can spread the floor and do a pretty good job of running the floor. On defense we work hard and can run pretty well and can create a fast pace.”
The Wolves also have more experience this season with several players returning from last year including a trio of returning starters.
Wyoming returns three senior starters in Warren Williams, Donavyn Edwards and Gage Behrenbrinker. Rounding out the starting lineup are freshman Brayden Williams and Wiggins, a junior.
Wyoming also is a deep team this season with 12 players on the roster who are all capable of contributing.
Wyoming also returns seniors Maxi Morales, Buster Cross and Chris Jackson along with senior Brendan Nesbary, who is new to the team. Rounding out the squad are juniors Zy Debose, Tarren Calvert and Duane Droughn.
“We have some good depth this season,” VanderKlay said “Any of the guys on our roster can step in and play well. All 12 of them can play.”
That depth will come in handy during the long 22-game season especially when OK Green Conference play begins. As usual, the league will be solid from top to bottom.
“Zeeland West, Reeths-Puffer and Muskegon are all very good teams,” VanderKlay said. “Mona Shores also looks much improved. I also think we can be in the mix. We’ve had our moments this season, we just have to be more consistent.”
Wyoming girls basketball Coach Jesse Vasquez talks to his team during a timeout. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
It may have been the third game of the season for the Wyoming girls basketball team, but the performance the Wolves put on looked more like a team in mid-season form.
Blending a potent offense with a stingy defense, the Wolves claimed a 61-17 win against visiting Comstock Park Tuesday.
With a host of talented players back from last year’s squad that finished with a winning record along with some promising newcomers, the Wolves started strong and finished even stronger against the visiting Panthers.
Leading 13-8 at the end of the first quarter, Wyoming began to ramp up the offense and lock down even tighter on the defensive end of the floor during the second quarter. Wyoming opened the second quarter going on a 16-3 run to take a 29-11 lead midway through the quarter. Their swarming defense forced Comstock Park into numerous turnovers during the run while the offense was in overdrive.
The Wolves began to heat up from beyond the three-point arc and whatever outside shots were missed were converted into putbacks on offensive rebounds as the Wolves, led by La’Anna Griffin and Michaela Moore, controlled the offensive boards.
Wyoming’s La’Anna Griffin (15) goes around a Comstock Park defender during Tuesday’s game. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Wyoming closed out the first half playing even stingier defense as it held Comstock Park scoreless the remainder of the half while building the lead to 35-11 by halftime.
“All week we’ve been talking about doing the little things,” said Wyoming coach Jesse Vasquez. “About out-working and out-rebounding teams. We have a lot of great shooters on our team and if we dominate the glass and get the loose balls our offense can take over games.”
That was exactly the formula the Wolves used to take the game over against Comstock Park. Wyoming kept the pressure up during the second half. The Wolves outscored the Panthers 14-6 during the third quarter to increase the lead to 49-17.
The fourth quarter was even more impressive as the Wyoming defense held Comstock Park scoreless while scoring 12 points on the offensive end of the floor.
Wyoming guard Myah Nabors (13) sets up the offense during Tuesday’s game against Comstock Park.(WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Wyoming dictated the pace of play during the game. The Wolves also used every player available during the game as they were substituting like a hockey team rolling out fresh lines. That total-team effort was obvious by looking at the scorebook. A total of 10 Wolves scored with four Wyoming players reaching double figures.
Tamia Gayles led with 15 points
Sophomore Tamia Gayles led the Wolves in scoring with 15 points, while seniors Griffin and Madileena Longoria and sophomore Myah Nabors scored 10 each. Moore, a sophomore, added eight points followed by juniors Shakya Anderson and Ly’Nia King and sophomore Arianna Bennitt with two points apiece.
“We’re a pretty deep team,” Vasquez said. “As deep as we are it’s pretty easy to play at the pace we do. Having two or three fresh bodies to always rotate in makes my job easier.”
Having a strong core of veterans also helps. Wyoming lost just two seniors from last year’s squad. Along with the veteran players returning, the Wolves moved up three sophomores to the varsity along with fellow sophomore Nabors who saw extensive playing time last season as a freshman.
“We have some returning players like Myah Nabors, La’Anna Griffin, Madileena Longoria and Shakya Anderson,” Vasquez said. “Add in the sophomores like Michaela Moore and Tamia Gayles. I really like our guard play. We have three really good guards in Tamia, Myah and Michaela and two solid post players.”
With the win, Wyoming improved to 2-1 for the season. Wyoming opened the season in a big way by scheduling the toughest competition it could find in defending Division 1 state champion Rockford. While the Wolves fell 69-23, the game provided the team with the toughest test available. Wyoming rebounded from that game to defeat Grand Rapids Christian 52-36.
“We wanted to toughen our schedule up,” Vasquez said. “We want to play the tough teams and get to that level. One game does not define a season.”
The rugged non-league schedule also prepares the Wolves for what will be a competitive OK-Green Conference season.
“Our conference is pretty deep,” Vasquez said. “Muskegon is right up there. Reeths-Puffer and Zeeland West are going to be up there and you can’t count out Mona Shores. If we do the things we talk about we will be right up there too.”
The Lee Legends wrapped up last season with their first conference championship in 43 years, but were knocked out of the MHSAA playoffs in the first round by crosstown rival Godwin Heights 83-80 in overtime.
“It was a hostile environment at Godwin,” said Coach Dominic Shannon, in his third year at Lee.
That hostile road environment led Shannon to beef up the Legends’ non-conference schedule for the 2023-2024 season.
“Being in the Alliance League gives us some flexibility with our non-conference schedule,” said Shannon, whose Legends won the league last year with an 8-0 record and finished 19-2 overall. “We only play conference teams once, so that allows us to schedule more non-conference games. I talked with our athletic director, and he supported the effort.”
The Legends have already faced off against Marshall and Forest Hills Eastern before their 80-48 loss Friday to host East Kentwood.
Marshall won the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference championship and their district championship before losing in the regional finals.
Forest Hills Eastern ended last year with a 17-7 record and finished 8-6 in an OK Gold conference bullied by state powerhouses South Christian and Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
East Kentwood OK Red champs last year
East Kentwood won the OK Red with an 11-3 record, one of the premier conferences in Michigan, and finished 18-7 overall last year.
“I’m an EK guy,” Shannon said. “So it was nice to step into that gym again.”
The Falcons scored early and kept the pressure on for an 80-48 victory over Lee.
“They made some buckets early, and our guys started to get discouraged,” Shannon said. “I stand by the decision to schedule these non-conference games in hostile environments; it will help us grow.”
The Legends missed the presence of their only senior last year, Joe Russau, who’s now playing at Muskegon Community College.
“Russau was a force for us in the middle getting rebounds,” Shannon explained.
The Legends were outrebounded 32-20 against East Kentwood.
Reigning Alliance League Player of the Year Marc Whitfield paced Lee with 16 points.
Lee’s Marc Whitfield last season.
Ny’Zhem Marshall led the team with 11 boards and three blocks, while senior Clarence Lewis added 11 points.
The 0-3 Legends welcome Kalamazoo Phoenix for their home opener on Thursday, Dec. 14, while East Kentwood travels to Saginaw on Saturday, Dec. 16 for its next game.
Quick response times helped minimize damage in Wyoming apartment fire (Courtesy, WKTV)
By Wyoming Fire Department
At approximately 2 a.m., the Wyoming Fire Department responded to a structure fire at a 36-unit apartment building in the 2200 block of Michael Ave S.W.
The first arriving fire units observed smoke coming from within one of the units. The responding units were able to contain and extinguish the fire, preventing it from fully spreading to the remainder of the apartment building. There were no reported injuries to people or pets.
The Wyoming Fire Department was notified of this fire by an observant tenant who smelled smoke. The tenant’s quick call to 911 allowed the fire department to respond quickly and minimize damage.
Displaced resident support
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Twelve units were affected by this fire. Those residents are currently receiving support from the Property Management Company and the Red Cross for temporary shelter, food, and other essential services while necessary repairs are made.
The Wyoming Fire Department wishes to thank our Red Cross partners who quickly arrived on scene and assisted with the needs of the displaced residents. We appreciate their commitment to the community as they provide crucial support to those affected by fires.
The fire is currently under investigation. Anyone with additional information regarding this incident are asked to contact the Wyoming Fire Department Fire Investigator at 616-257-9764.
