For retired nurse Amy Lyons, being a volunteer for Emmanuel Hospice continues her lifelong pursuit of caring for others.
As a patient/family support volunteer, she’s at the bedside of a hospice patient providing comfort and peaceful companionship through the end of their life. Sometimes she talks with patients or reads to them, other times she’s more of a calming presence while she holds their hand or crochets a lap blanket.
“I was always taught the Holy Spirit will tell you what you need to do,” she says. “I can’t necessarily provide physical care as a volunteer, and as a former nurse, it’s hard not to help, but you find other ways to support. I’ll play music, hold their hand – whatever makes them comfortable.”
As she leaves a session with a patient, which normally lasts an hour to 90 minutes, she likes to ask if there’s anything she can bring them next time – something that brings them joy.
“One lady said sunflowers,” Lyons recalls. “Well, it was too early for real sunflowers, so I brought artificial ones. I explained this to her, and she said, ‘why yes, it is too early’ and then proceeded to tell me all about growth of sunflowers.
“I believe every patient always has something to teach you. If nothing else, it’s how to die with grace – all of them have been at peace in the end and that makes me happy.”
Lyons has been with several patients in their final moments in what’s known as “sitting vigil” – being at the bedside during someone’s last days or hours as they’re actively dying.
“I find it so rewarding,” she says. “People often ask how can you do that? And I can’t tell them enough what an honor it is to go and be selected to be with a person until their final breath.”
While most vigils last a few hours, the first patient she sat vigil with lasted nine days. She chose to be there with him for three to four hours a night, and when he passed, “It was a relief for both of us.”
“I thought, ‘he’s comfortable now,’ ” she remembers. “That is all I ever want to see, that you’re comfortable with where you’re heading. I tell patients, ‘no matter what you think or what you’ve done or haven’t done, it’s OK. You don’t have to be afraid.’ And for some, it seems that’s all they needed to hear – that it’s all going to be OK.”
Lyons also is a spiritual director trained by the Dominican Center in Grand Rapids, so she brings a spiritual side to her hospice volunteer work.
Lyons and her husband, who also is a spiritual director, have curated a library full of spiritual texts to better understand other belief systems and to offer readings that will resonate best with each individual patient.
“Figuring out what faith care they would like, and how to honor that is important to me,” she says.
One of her favorite tools for helping patients feel more comfortable and to open up about their life story is a book that contains a series of questions a father would typically answer for his own kids.
“I’ll look in the book and ask something like, ‘What’s your fondest memory of your grandkids?’ or ‘What do you remember about your grandma?’ and that usually gets people talking,” she says. “I’ll share about my life, too. I explain that being a nurse is very physical work, but I can sit and I can talk to them and hold their hand. I can’t care for them the way I used to, but now I can care for their spirits.
“I would never hesitate to volunteer again. If I knew how rewarding it would be, I would have become a hospice volunteer sooner in my life.”
Emmanuel Hospice is always looking for volunteers in the greater Grand Rapids area to provide companionship and support to patients. The nonprofit matches the unique skills and interests of prospective volunteers with the right opportunity, ensuring each volunteer receives a tailored area of assignment. More information can be found at EmmanuelHospice.org/volunteer.
The Kentwood Police Department responded to a personal injury accident at approximately 8:50 a.m. Sept. 12 in the 5100 block of Eastern Ave.
During the initial investigation it was determined that one pedestrian was struck while crossing Eastern Ave., along with a second vehicle immediately after. The pedestrian was treated and transported to a local hospital for serious injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.
Drivers and passengers of both vehicles involved were checked and treated for injuries, one of which was also transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. All the people involved have been cooperating with the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentwood Police Department at 616-698-6580. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or SilentObserver.org.
Leticia Perez (Co-President of the Board for the 55th Annual Fiesta Mexicana, held this weekend at Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids) was our guest on WKTV Soundbites Wednesday.
Be sure to check out the 55th Annual Fiesta Mexicana this weekend at the Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids, featuring everything from awesome music and food, karaoke, kids activities, arts and crafts, a Lowrider Show, and believe it or not, a cash prize soccer tournament.
“Typically, we expect between 25,000 and 30,000 people,” said Leticia Perez, Co-President of the Board for the 55th Annual Fiesta Mexicana, held Sept. 13-15 at Calder Plaza, 250 Monroe Ave. in Grand Rapids.
(Photo Courtesy, Fiesta Mexicana Board)
“This is our big event; planning definitely takes a whole year,” Perez added. “Our Board consists of nine very dedicated people. We do have a lot of volunteers and committee members that help, too.”
Many, many bands will grace the festival, including Los Morros del Norte headlining from 10 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13. Check out the below poster for the entire weekend of bands and special events.
“On Friday we kick things off at noon … and with kids activities throughout the day in the ‘Kids Zone,’ and music from local bands,” Perez said. “We’re expecting a big attendance for the kickoff night.”
(Photo Courtesy, Fiesta Mexicana)
On Saturday the music, dancing, food and Kids Zone continues, along with karaoke from 4 to 5 p.m. and a cash-prize soccer tournament.
“We’re going to have the front of the Calder Plaza right on Ottawa Ave. shut down from Noon to 4 for the soccer tournament,” Perez said. “The kids putting it on are very talented.”
There also will be El Grito De Independencia (The Cry for Independence) from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, commemorating the actual day of Sept. 16 with the raising of the flag.
(Image Courtesy, Fiesta Mexicana)
According to the Mexican Heritage Association’s website, it’s the oldest ethnic festival celebrated in Grand Rapids. “Founded in 1969, a group of Mexican women shared a vision of celebrating their cultural heritage with the wider community. Thanks to her and the countless others who have planted the seeds over the past 52 years, we can now look beyond the struggle to validate the richness of our culture in the mainstream mindset.
“This vision eventually evolved into the modern-day Fiesta Mexicana.”
Perez added, “As an organization, we do other cultural events like Cinco De Mayo, bringing our culture to the community.”
Lowrider Show from Noon to 8 Sunday
Wrapping things up on Sunday, there’ll be more bands, another Kids Zone and a Lowrider Show from noon to 8 p.m.
(Photo Courtesy, Fiesta Mexicana)
“Last year was our first time having the Lowrider Show back; it used to be a staple,” Perez said. “It will be all along Ottawa Ave. with a category for Classic Cars, Fifties Cars, New Lowriders and Muscle cars. It’s going to be a very nice selection.”
Check out the exciting clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the season featuring many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
Just like during basketball season, every week we’ll bring you most of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
As a bonus, we’ll occasionally have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and have them join us in studio for a live interview.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Tuesday! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week covers one matchup per week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
WKTV Truck Game of the Week Sked
Friday, Sept. 20: Wyoming vs. South Christian (at East Kentwood)
Friday, Sept. 27: Hudsonville at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct. 4: Zeeland East vs. South Christian (at Byron Center)
Friday, Oct. 11: Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville
Friday, Oct. 18: Jenison at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct 25: Catholic Central vs. South Christian (at East Grand Rapids)
The City of Kentwood is inviting community members of all ages to The Vibe, an annual celebration and fundraiser to enhance the city’s adaptive recreation programs set for Thursday, Sept. 19.
The backyard party will run from 6 to 9 p.m. in the courtyard of the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. It will be a vibrant night filled with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, live music, a silent auction and adaptive equipment displays.
Check out our WKTV video from last year’s event.
The evening also features guest speaker Jocelyn Dettloff, who will share her journey in learning how to navigate the world on four wheels after experiencing a spinal cord injury at age 26 that left her paralyzed.
While learning how to cope with and embrace her disability, Dettloff discovered a passion for wheelchair tennis and began playing competitively. Her love for being active led her to trying a variety of other sports, including participating in Kentwood Parks and Recreation’s water ski program.
After her injury, Dettloff began a career in fundraising and transformed into a passionate advocate. She then decided to candidly capture and share her experience in a memoir titled “It Rained in the Desert: One Woman’s Story of Spirit and Resilience.”
Jocelyn Dettloff will be the guest speaker at The Vibe. (Photo Courtesy, Jocelyn Dettloff)
“I have known Jocelyn Dettloff for a long time and have worked with her in our adaptive recreation program,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood’s parks and recreation director. “She is someone who doesn’t back down in the face of adversity, and we are looking forward to having her share her unique story of resilience and the ways adaptive recreation has positively impacted her life.”
Community members are encouraged to dress casually for The Vibe. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased online at kentwoodvibe.com or by calling 616-656-5270 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday. The deadline to register for the event is Thursday, Sept. 12.
The Vibe is sponsored by local businesses such as Macatawa Bank, a platinum sponsor, and Bloom Sluggett, PC and Sinclair Recreation, LLC, who are gold sponsors. The silver sponsors are MCSA Group, Inc. and Spark43 Architects, and the bronze sponsors are Metronet and Applied Innovation.
All money raised at this year’s event will help purchase new equipment for Kentwood’s adaptive recreation program. The program includes active sports such as archery, kayaking, rock climbing, downhill skiing and pickleball as well as social opportunities such as leisure club and dances.
Kentwood Adaptive Recreation Program’s waterskiing. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
“We offer a variety of activities to accommodate community member’s interests and abilities,” said Ann Przybysz, recreation program coordinator. “Our program enables individuals to safely participate in activities and learn new skills, challenge themselves and build connections with others.”
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department provides Michigan’s most comprehensive adaptive recreation programming alongside several community partners. The program also is made possible thanks to the help of a strong volunteer network.
Kentwood’s adaptive recreation program is open to individuals of all abilities in Kentwood and beyond. Learn more and sign up for the various offerings at kentwood.us/adaptive.
Kaitlyn Dawson draws flowers to commemorate when a patient dies, one of many ways to create memorials to honor a life. Painting, drawing, photography, even taking a short walk are all physical ways to honor those we love. (Courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)
Each time Kaitlyn Dawson has lost a patient, she takes the time to draw a flower commemorating the time and space the two enjoyed together and to honor a life well-lived. Her bittersweet bouquet includes some 200 flowers to date.
In her role as education manager for Emmanuel Hospice, Dawson believes that taking the time to memorialize and remember someone who dies is a productive way to deal with grief. She shares her sentiments with others who work on behalf of Emmanuel to help patients through their respective transitions.
“It’s adopting a rhythm and a practice that engages the grief and embraces the life someone led,” says Dawson, who worked many years as a social worker. “It doesn’t have to be drawing a flower, though. It can be virtually anything – lighting a candle, saying a prayer, writing in a journal.”
The key, she notes, is to “establish a practice of tangibly acknowledging their place and our own place in this world, and commemorating something – someone – we’ve lost.”
Dawson moves through her drawings and comes upon one of a hydrangea: “Every time I look at this, it makes me think of Carol,” she says. “I remember my time with her. I remember her smile and how loving she was. I remember how she always greeted me with a hug, no matter what the day was like or what was going on.”
Dawson doesn’t spend time ascribing a certain flower to each person. She picks the flowers at random. “It’s more about the practice of doing it. I use pen and pencil and pastels and crayons. I use simple notebook paper. It’s easy and affordable and yet, it matters.”
Dawson majored in art while in college, and initially had planned to specialize in ceramics before pivoting into social work. But she emphasizes that you don’t have to have a special talent to memorialize someone.
“Start with something that is most meaningful to you – music, words, a place. Think about how to share that in a special time and space. How can I create a rhythm or practice that honors that person? Simply putting thoughts down on paper – perhaps by writing a letter they’ll obviously never see – has power.”
Dawson references the picture boards we assemble for the funeral home and laments how after the service “suddenly, they’re gone.” But a lasting memorial or practice is a way to honor that person as often as every day and offers ways to create something that grows and lasts.
Even taking a 10-minute walk while remembering someone is a way to make a difference in a purposeful manner: “The practice of connecting the emotion and feeling to a physical act is what’s important – and in that respect, the sky’s the limit.”
“Grief,” says Dawson, “is an important emotion we need to protect, because it never leaves us and is always evolving. Our lives transform around it. When we honor our grief by paying attention to and holding space for it, we have the opportunity to find new ways to love the ones we’ve lost.”
For more information about Emmanuel Hospice, call 616-719-0919 or visit emmanuelhospice.org
Check out the exciting clips above from our first Friday Night Highlights show of the season featuring many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
Just like during basketball season, every week we’ll bring you most of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
As a bonus, we’ll occasionally have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and have them join us in studio for a live interview.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Tuesday! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week covers one matchup per week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
WKTV Truck Game of the Week Sked
Thursday, Sept. 5: Northview at Wyoming
Friday, Sept. 13: Belding at Kelloggsville
Friday, Sept. 20: Wyoming vs. South Christian (at East Kentwood)
Friday, Sept. 27: Hudsonville at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct. 4: Zeeland East vs. South Christian (at Byron Center)
Friday, Oct. 11: Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville
Friday, Oct. 18: Jenison at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct 25: Catholic Central vs. South Christian (at East Grand Rapids)
Improvement is the name of the game for the Kelloggsville football team this season and after the first game the Rockets are poised to blast off into the winning column.
The Rockets, who return an experienced core of players from last year’s squad, opened the season dropping a 38-22 decision at Grant. Kelloggsville looks to break into the win column this Friday when it hosts Battle Creek Pennfield.
The Rockets fell behind early in the opener at Grant, but came on strong during the second half.
“We fumbled the opening kickoff and at the half we were down 24-0,” Kelloggsville Coach Brandon Branch said. “We rallied back from there and tried to make a game out of it. The kids kept fighting and they made a game out of it in the second half.”
Kelloggsville scored three touchdowns in the second half as it cut into the Grant lead. Cameron Dunbar scored a pair of touchdowns for the Rockets on runs of three and four yards and Danyel White added a nine-yard touchdown run.
“We started out the game like a team that didn’t have a good week of practice,” Branch said. “We had an interesting week of practice with the heat and I think that set us back in the first half. We were stagnant in the first half. I was not pleased with the first half, but then we played a lot better in the second half. We definitely battled them and didn’t give up.”
Kelloggsville was led on offense by Dunbar who is the Rocket quarterback. Dunbar completed 11-of-17 passes for 186 yards with no interceptions and a long pass of 48 yards. Dunbar also rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns.
White finished with 13 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Paul Shannon led the Rockets in receiving with four receptions for 84 yards, while Jaylen Phillips hauled in two passes for 57 yards.
On defense, the Rockets were led by linebackers Terrell Jones and Isaak Kowel and the defensive line rotation of Myrece Moore, Prince Baraka, Joaquin Hill, Elijah McKinney, Zane Hendricks, Alberto Estrada, Andrew Bacon and Gliore Bahome.
The Kelloggsville defensive line prepares to fire off the ball during the season opener at Grant. (Courtesy, chavezphotography, Alex Chavez)
“Our defensive line played pretty physical across the front,” Branch said. “Our linebackers Terrell and Isaak also had pretty good games.”
The Rockets are looking for the strong effort in the second half against Grant to carry over into this week’s game against Pennfield. The game is a rematch of last year’s game in week eight that saw Pennfield win.
“We played them last year and it was tied at the half,” Branch said. “They (Pennfield) pulled away in the second half. They had some big kids last year and a pretty good running back. We expect a tough game, but we are going to line up and play football and be physical.”
Kelloggsville entered the new season with a more experienced roster.
“We have a pretty even split between seniors and juniors,” Branch said. “We have a fairly experienced team and that is nice to have. We have five or six guys who have three years of varsity experience. We also have two or three juniors who have two years of varsity experience.”
Along with experience, this year’s team is more physical on both sides of the football.
“We are a more physical team than in the past,” Branch said. “I want us to be the more physical team when we play on Friday. Our depth is also going to help us out. We have 20 guys who are going to play a lot. I like our depth and physicality and we are also pretty fast across the board. We have above average team speed.”
Offensively, the Rockets look to have a balanced attack with Dunbar at quarterback and a strong group of running backs.
The Kelloggsville offensive line prepares to snap the ball during the opener with Grant. (Courtesy, chavezphotography. Alex Chavez)
“Cameron is an athletic quarterback,” Branch said. “He can pass when he sees the opportunity and he also does a good job of making his reads and finding the open guy.”
On defense, the Rockets are led by their linebackers.
“Terrell is a tough linebacker in the middle that likes to hit and get after it,” Branch said. “Isaak does a good job of setting the edge and likes to get physical.”
Overall, Branch likes the direction the team is headed in.
“We definitely had a much better offseason,” Branch said. “We have a lot of guys who played key roles for us back this year. I like the progress we are making.”
Summer is coming to an end and the City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department is teaming up with its partners for a final summer bash.
This Thursday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Kentwood Parks and Rec is hosting a Back to School Bash in conjunction with the final Kentwood Farmers Market of the season located at 4900 Breton SE.
The event also includes the final concert of the Kentwood Summer Concert Series featuring the Sarena Rae Band.
Sarena Rae Band. (Courtesy, Sarena Rae)
The Back to School Bash includes plenty of activities for students of all grades: a Foam Party, a Bounce House and a petting zoo, along with a number of other games and activities.
There also will be free haircuts and braids provided, free hygiene kits and school supply giveaways. Also, community resource organizations will be on hand, including MSUE (Michigan State University Extension), Catherine’s Health Center, Treetops Collective, Soccer Buddies, the Kent Country Health Department, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and more.
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
The Sarena Rae Band is the highlight of the evening with a 7 p.m. starting time. The band was originally scheduled to perform Aug. 15 as part of the Kentwood Summer Concert Series, but inclement weather postponed it to this Thursday.
“I’m so excited about the concert and performing for the students and their families” Rae said. “I was originally supposed to perform two weeks ago, but the concert was postponed due to the inclement weather. It’s actually a blessing in disguise because I am so excited to play for the Back to School Bash and perform for all the families and kids in Kentwood.”
Rae grew up in Grand Rapids and began to develop an interest in music at an early age.
“My mother sang in the church choir and I would tag along with her,” Rae said. “I actually had my first solo at the church when I was five-years old. I knew then that I wanted to be a performer. I’ve always had a love of music. We always had Motown on in our house, and when I was growing up, I always wanted to be a little Diana Ross.”
(Courtesy, Sarena Rae)
Since then, Rae has grown her musical career. She released her original debut single and music video, “You’re Beautiful,” at age 16. In 2019, she recorded her original EP entitled, “Heaven,” and released her EP in the fall of 2020. Last December, Rae released a new Christmas Album.
The Sarena Rae Band has been busy this summer with concerts across the West Michigan area. Rae and her band bring a soulful evening of original music and a variety of well-known songs that concert goers can sing and dance along to. The Sarena Rae Band also recently released a new original song, “Feel So Fine,” on July 26.
“I would say that my style is a mix of pop and R&B,” Rae said. “It is very Motown-inspired for sure. We are going to be playing my original music and some covers that the kids and their families can dance to. The concert will be a good time for everyone.”
Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair and take in the concert on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Rd. SE.
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
The final Kentwood Farmer’s Market of the season also promises to have a bumper crop of fruits, vegetables and more as the summer harvest is at its peak. Among the vendors that are scheduled to be at the Kentwood Farmer’s Market are Better Place Farm, Big Mitten Coffee, Crème Delights, Daily Indulgence, Golden Tumeric Paste, Grand Rapids Tea Company, Handbreadth Homestead LLC, Irie Kitchen, Latchaw Farms, Loaves and More by Alice, Mandoo (Korean Dumpling), Shalini Farms, Simply Rustic Dough, Sister Bees, Sophrona Teas, Sulugu Shea Butter LLC, Tenneyberry and That Sweet & Nutty Guy.
Food trucks also will be present to satisfy your hunger. Food trucks scheduled to be in attendance include Patty Matters, Tast of Toya’s World, El Jalapeno and Sugary Snowballs.
Close your eyes and imagine the sounds of shoulder pads popping, marching bands playing, stadium announcers calling touchdowns, fans loudly cheering.
Can you smell the hotdogs, pizza and popcorn floating through the air?
Imagine the youngsters playing catch behind the goalposts imitating their favorite player.
Sit tight. Local football games under the bright lights are just about here, which means our in-depth coverage of WKTV Truck Games of the Week, WKTV Journal web stories and our exciting Friday Night Highlights show will all be here shortly as well.
The first game of the season is Thursday, Aug. 29, and we’ll be there! Our WKTV Game of the Week is Sacred Heart at Lee at 7 p.m. Thursday. We also will get highlight clips from Hartland at East Kentwood, Mason County Central at Godwin Heights and Wyoming at Sparta on Thursday. On Friday, South Christian hosts Grand Rapids Christian at East Kentwood.
As always, WKTV plans to bring you another great season of local high school football coverage of your favorite area teams, including East Kentwood, Wyoming, Godwin Heights, Wyoming Lee, Kelloggsville and South Christian. Tri-unity Christian cancelled its season due to a lack of players.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week covers one matchup per week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
WKTV Truck Game of the Week Sked
Thursday, Aug. 29: Sacred Heart at Lee
Thursday, Sept. 5: Northview at Wyoming
Friday, Sept. 13: Belding at Kelloggsville
Friday, Sept. 20: Wyoming vs. South Christian (at East Kentwood)
Friday, Sept. 27: Hudsonville at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct. 4: Zeeland East vs. South Christian (at Byron Center)
Friday, Oct. 11: Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville
Friday, Oct. 18: Jenison at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct 25: Catholic Central vs. South Christian (at East Grand Rapids)
WKTV Friday Night Highlights coming soon!
Just like during basketball season, every week we’ll bring you most of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
As a bonus, we’ll occasionally have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and have them join us in studio for a live interview.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Tuesday! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Journal Website
And don’t miss our large footprint of local high school football on the WKTV Journal website.
Continuing from last season, we’ll have a huge presence with local high school football and boys and girls basketball. Beyond our fantastic Game of the Week Truck coverage, every week our sports staff will post football game stories, features, roundups and final scores and stats on most teams in the Kentwood/Wyoming area on our Journal website. You can plan on our local football coverage! Thanks for tuning in.
Click HERE for your school’s season football schedule.
The slate is wiped clean, and optimism fills the air as a new season begins at Wyoming High School.
The Wolves, who went 1-6 in conference play, exited the OK-Green and formed the new OK-Gold with Forest Hills Central (D-3 state champion last year), Unity Christian and perennial state title contender South Christian, along with Zeeland East and West.
Wyoming finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 1-8 under fourth-year Coach Carlton Brewster. The Ferris State University product will look to get his squad on track for the 2024 campaign.
“It will be a very competitive league with Forest Hills Central and South Christian,” Brewster said. “We have our hands full, but we are looking forward to getting better daily.”
The Wolves return quarterback Jay Johnson and bruising running back Jack Terveen to an offense that averaged 12.4 points per game.
Terveen averaged 6.5 yards per carry and looks to build off of his junior season which was marred by an early injury.
Terveen will be led by his offensive line anchored by senior duo CJ Anderson and Jackson Lamrouex.
Johnson only attempted 17 passes last season as he split time with Antwan Brown Jr., but also will use his legs in the run-first Wolves offense.
“These seniors are the heart of this team,” Brewster explained. “We also have others that are looking to step up.”
Junior Moses Brown looks to form a one-two punch with Terveen in the Wolves backfield. Senior receiver Julian Toscano also will be a key to the offense.
“Our goal is to focus on the everyday grind to get better each day,” Brewster said. “We need to focus on the small things. We’ve been getting better daily.”
Wyoming travels to Sparta for its season opener Thursday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.
At approximately 9:41 p.m. Aug. 22, Kentwood Police Department officers were dispatched to Eastern Ave. and 48th St. for an accident involving a pedestrian and automobile. The pedestrian was pronounced dead upon arrival by medical personnel.
The driver remained on scene and was cooperative with the investigation. No other serious injuries were reported, and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentwood Police Department at 616-656-6580. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or SilentObserver.org.
There is plenty of excitement around the East Kentwood football team as fall practice gets underway as a new chapter begins for the Falcon program.
East Kentwood has a new coach this season with the arrival of Tyrone Spencer, who coached at perennial state powerhouse Detroit Martin Luther King High School the past eight years. During that time, the Crusaders were a staple of the high school playoffs including winning back-to-back state championships in 2021 and 2022.
Spencer and his coaches and players are busy preparing for the upcoming season that begins Aug. 30 when the Falcons host Hartland.
So far, Spencer likes what he sees in this Falcon team that returns several key players.
“I’m excited about the work the guys put in,” Spencer said. “I’m excited about getting back to work and getting after it this year playing in the OK Red. I think it’s going to be fun.”
East Kentwood graduated several key players from last year’s squad that turned in a 3-6 overall record, but a number of talented veterans are back.
Running back Elijah Jones is one of the Falcons the team is happy to have returning. Jones is a 5-foot-11, 193-pound senior who rushed for 1,000 yards last season. A team leader as well as a productive running back, Jones likes the effort he is seeing from his teammates at practice and sees effort as being a strong point of this year’s team.
East Kentwood running back Elijah Jones, 2024. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
“Effort, especially. 100 percent every play,” Jones said. “Making sure we get hard work. Everybody to the ball on defense and offense executing the plays. Just hard work and effort.”
At quarterback, the Falcons have a pair of talented passers in the mix. Senior Drew Burton (6-2, 200) is back after being injured last season, while junior Kayd Coffman (6-2, 180) is a talented transfer from South Christian.
“Quarterback is looking really good,” Spencer said. “We got two really good guys. We got Drew Burton back from injury. He was going to be the starter last year before he got hurt. We also have Kayd Coffman who transferred from South Christian. Both of those guys have been outstanding, really great leaders. We plan on playing both of them and whoever has the hot hand will keep going, but we plan on playing both of those guys.”
Senior Caiden Holt and junior Ahman Edmonds are a pair of players that will log major minutes on both sides of the line at receiver on offense and in the secondary on defense. Holt and Edmonds are veteran receivers that will be a big part of Kentwood’s passing game.
A senior slotback, Holt likes the look of this year’s team.
East Kentwood senior slotback Caiden Holt, 2024. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
“We are definitely looking better than last year,” Holt said. “I feel like especially early, summer season, we’re way more going after it. Trying harder in practice. New offenses, we’re learning them, we’re going quick. We’re getting the defenses down and we are ready for this year.”
Edmonds also is a slotback on offense and lines up at cornerback on defense. Edmonds likes the attitude of the team and how that meshes with their new coach.
“I feel like we are hungry,” Edmonds said. “We got a lot of young dogs coming to work. We have a great coach coming in and helping us all be great.”
East Kentwood slotback/cornerback Ahman Edmonds, 2024. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
One of the strong points of this year’s team looks to be the offensive line where four big, strong and experienced starters return. Junior center Charlie Nichols (5-9, 265) returns to the middle of the line. Senior Nouha Diaite (6-2, 260) is stationed at a tackle, while seniors Andrew Durr (6-2, 300) and Matthias Granderson (6-2, 305) will line up at either tackle or guard.
Several of the Falcons who start on offense will also log major minutes on defense. The Falcon defense also is counting on linebacker Terrence Kabanda, outside linebacker Silas Mitchell (6-2, 195) and sophomore safety Donovon Jones (5-8, 185) to be among the leaders. Kabanda is one of the few returning starters on defense. Mitchell is a talented young player who also is coming back from injury, while Jones is a young player who the Falcons considered moving up to the varsity last season as a freshman.
While the Falcons are young on defense, they have plenty of talented players who are hungry to win.
East Kentwood outside linebacker Silas Mitchell, 2024. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
“The defense is coming around,” Mitchell said. “We’re young, but we have a bunch of studs that are coming up. We’re ready to compete. We’re very hungry. We want to make up for last year.”
Like the offense, the defensive line is shaping up as a strong point for the Falcons. Along with Diaite, Granderson and Durr, the defensive front will be led by senior Syncere Hobson-Washington (6-2, 285), a transfer from Grand Rapids Union who adds more size and strength to the defensive front.
The enthusiasm surrounding the program is evident by the turnout of players for the beginning of practice. The Falcons look to have around 60 players on the varsity team along with 30 on the JV and 45 on the freshman squad.
“We have a strong, cohesive group,” Spencer said. “These guys have been playing together since the seventh grade so I just think them being able to be unified, be together is going to be our strong suit.
The Falcons open the new season on Friday, Aug. 29 when they host Hartland at 7 p.m. Kentwood travels to Byron Center on Sept. 6 and then opens OK Red play on Sept. 13 at Caledonia.
The South Christian football team has been busy the past two Thanksgiving weekends. Two years ago, the Sailors traveled to Ford Field and won the Division 4 state championship and last season they returned to the state finals, but fell just short of the end zone on the final play of the game.
The Sailors and their fans would like nothing less than spending Thanksgiving weekend in Detroit once again. To return to the finals, however, will require a host of young players to step up as the Sailors were hit hard by graduation. A host of seniors are gone from last year’s team that averaged 35.9 points per game and fashioned a 10-4 overall record. Developing new starters is job one for the Sailors as they opened fall camp last week.
While a large group of veterans have moved on, the Sailors do return a pair of key returnees who provide the team with a solid nucleus to build around.
Senior Carson Vis returns as quarterback
One of those returning players happens to be at the all-important quarterback position. Senior Carson Vis (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) is back after a glittering season last fall as a first-year starting quarterback. Vis finished the season passing for 2,972 yards and 34 touchdown passes along with 939 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns on his way to earning all-state honors. Vis saved his best for last as he completed 30-of-44 passes for 441 yards and two touchdown passes in the state championship game while adding 72 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown.
South Christian QB Carson Vis. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
With a year of starting experience at quarterback under his belt and some promising young receivers stepping in, Vis is optimistic about how the offense is looking heading into the new season.
“I feel pretty good,” said Vis, who has committed to Western Michigan University in basketball. “Our offensive line is looking good. We’re strong up front and our receivers are catching the ball. I have a lot of trust in them and they make me look good a lot. We have some junior receivers who had big seasons on the JV and came up in the playoffs, so they kind of know what that playoff run is like so they should be ready. We’ve been practicing in the offseason throwing routes so we should be pretty good.”
Senior Tyler Brinks also is returning for the Sailors. Brinks is a 6-foot-6, 215-pound senior who has committed to Grand Valley State University to continue his career. Brinks will line up at tight end on offense and is a returning outside linebacker on defense.
The Sailors graduated four starters from the offensive line. South will count on senior Camryn Veltman (6-3, 210) to anchor the offensive line as he returns to the center position.
New offensive line, receivers and running backs
Along with finding new starters along the offensive line, the Sailors have to develop a new cast of receivers and running backs. Plenty of candidates are vying for playing time at those positions.
“Nobody that we have at running back got any reps last year,” South Christian coach Danny Brown said. “We have one guy, a senior, who had a few reps in games where he was able to get it. It’s a young group, there’s about three or four of them, and we’re still trying to figure out what’s that right mix. It’s so early to tell where it’s at, we kind of have a plan in place, but we’re going to need somebody to grab it.”
South Christian Football Coach Danny Brown. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
Among the players looking to contribute at running back are juniors Kasjen VanSolkema (5-11, 175), Brady VanNoord (5-11, 160) and Isaac Osterhaven (6-0, 185).
Wide receiver also is a work in progress with senior Bryce Kenyon (6-0, 160) and junior Owen Burgess (6-1, 180) among the receivers to watch for.
Receiver Jake Vermaas will be missed
“It’s going to be different,” Brown said. “Last year we had Vermaas (Jake) who had 98 receptions and he was the guy. This year we are going to spread it out more. We might not have as much experience as years past, but we’ve got some guys who can do some work.”
The Sailor defense also is restocking the starting positions. The secondary will have a new cast of starters as will the defensive line. The Sailors do have some experience to lean on at the linebacking positions.
Along with Brinks, who returns at outside linebacker, the Sailors bring back sophomore Greyson Hunderman (5-11, 185) who started at inside linebacker as a freshman last season. Senior linebacker Rowan DeKam (6-0, 180) also is back at an outside linebacker position.
“Fortunately, we have three of our four backers that we play will return having played meaningful snaps for us,” Brown said. “They are going to have to be good for us. A lot of the stuff that we do requires them to be good so I think we’re hopefully sitting pretty good there.
“Up front, it’s similar to our offensive line. We don’t know who is going to play. We’re shifting guys around and trying to figure that out and hopefully by game one we have a good rotation and we’re ready to rock.”
A tough new league
Not only will returning to Ford Field be a tall task for the young Sailors this season, but getting back to the playoffs will be a challenge in itself as South Christian has a rugged schedule. Making the schedule even more difficult is the fact that they are playing in a new conference this season after the OK Conference realigned at the end of the past school year. South Christian is now playing in the new-look OK Gold Conference that includes defending Division 3 state champion Forest Hills Central, Zeeland West, which reached the Division 3 state semifinals last season and Zeeland East, which went 6-4 last year.
The Sailors also face a rugged non-league slate with games against East Grand Rapids, who went 7-3 last year, West Catholic, 11-1 and reached the regional final last year, and Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 13-1 and won the Division 5 state title last fall.
“It’s a tough league,” Brown said. “That’s not one thing we can control, so whoever they say we have to play in league that’s who we get stuck with. The biggest thing for us is we’re excited about the competition of the teams that we are going to play and I think the other thing that is pretty cool is we are excited about the communities we get to play against.
“I think we are going to have a lot of fans at our games that are passionate, whether it’s South Christian football or whoever our opponent is, and I think that creates a good experience for the high school athlete.”
Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, second from right, cuts the ribbon at the AASBA Office Grand Opening on Aug. 19 at 4140 Division Ave. S. (WKTV, Cris Greer)
By Cris Greer
WKTV Managing Editor
greer@wktv.org
Nearly every board member of the local Asian American Small Business Association has endured suffering and pain well beyond what most humans have felt, but have turned that into success later in life.
For Phillip Nguyen, Founder and General Secretary of the AASBA, he was 15 years old when he crammed into a 25-by-6 wooden boat with 57 others to start a wild, dangerous journey to a new life away from Vietnam.
“We packed them on; that boat was barely an inch over water,” said Nguyen, who has produced a show called “VietSong” at WKTV and is President of Digital Marketing Solutions, LLC.
He was fortunate to survive the very perilous boat trips. Many Vietnamese people risked their lives to escape their war-torn country and seek a better life elsewhere, but did not survive the high seas.
“This isn’t a fiction novel, this is real,” Nguyen explained. “My brother-in-law told me his mother sent him and his two brothers on separate boats every couple of months because she feared if their boat would be lost, they would all die. His brothers never made it; they were completely gone. He was the only one to survive.”
Nguyen and his four other AASBA board members held an Office Grand Opening of their nonprofit organization on Aug. 19 (located at 4140 Division Ave. S.) dedicated to promoting and advocating for Asian American small businesses.
Phillip Nguyen speaks at the AASBA grand opening on Aug. 19. (WKTV, Cris Greer)
Nguyen said he founded AASBA “because we need a reputable national association dedicated to advocate, facilitate and support small businesses of Asian Americans, especially in the growing nail salons and restaurants services that plays such a critical role in our asian American Community today.”
He also noted, according to the Michigan Office for New Americans, that “Asian American-owned businesses contributed $492.4 million in sales and provided jobs to 2,941 employees. Despite this, when we surveyed Asian American small business owners in west Michigan — where over 20 organizations receive millions in federal and state funding to support small businesses — over 97% reported they had never received any assistance.”
“The mission here is that we want a strong community,” Nguyen continued. “And to have a strong community, we want to do everything we can to help the small business owner in whatever way we can. We want to build a very dynamic, very committed, well-run 501C3 nonprofit with a mission to help small business.”
Nguyen said he plans to expand as well.
“The next stop we will open in Florida and then after that we’ll open in every stat,” he said. “Anyone from small business can get help from us. Let’s say tomorrow we have an African American, we have a Mexican American who wants our help. We won’t close the door. Because overall we want to help a strong community. It’s just that we happen to focus on Asian Americans, but anyone who needs our help, if we can do it, we’ll do it.”
Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said it’s important that new business owners aren’t walking down this path alone.
“Any association, especially something that is small business affiliated, there are so many rules and regulations, it’s daunting,” he said at the grand opening. “To have an organization that has others that have gone before you, to be able to help you, to say this is how you do it is paramount, a necessity to be successful especially in this day that we live in.”
Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley speaks at the AASBA grand opening. (WKTV, Cris Greer)
“There are constantly new laws that come out and you’re sort of scratching your head and saying what do we need to do now so that you’re in compliance? The second thing is an advocate. Those who maybe English is not their first language, and they’re trying to pursue the American dream and they need someone to advocate for them. It could be the government, a utility or other service providers … to say this person needs help and how can we help? Relationships help.”
Kepley also said the special part of Kentwood is its diversity.
“East Kentwood High School is the most diverse high school in Michigan and I think ranked third or fourth in the nation representing over 90 different countries and 115 different languages, which is absolutely amazing,” he explained. “The world has come to the City of Kentwood with dreams and visions. The dream of what America can provide because of the freedoms and wanting to start your own business. A lot of them are from Asian countries. To have this here in Kentwood is such a blessing because those students who are now maybe at East Kentwood High School who want to graduate and start their own business, now can come to a place where they can get some help.”
Tommy Brann, who’s running for State Representative in House District 83, talked about his more than 50 years of business experience that could help new small business owners such as in the AASBA.
Tommy Brann, who’s running for State Representative in House District 83, speaks at the AASBA grand opening Aug. 19. (WKTV, Cris Greer)
“I owned this restaurant right across the street called Branns, so I know what small business goes through,” Brann said to the AASBA gathering. “Small business is the backbone of our country. We supply over 68% of the jobs.”
Charlie Quy Ton, Special Advisor to the AASBA, is another successful Asian business owner who survived coming to America at a young age and then significantly prospered down the road.
“I escaped from Vietnam at the age of 14 by myself because my mom didn’t have enough money to get four children on the boat,” said Ton, one of the founders and CEO of Regal Nails with 700 locations across the United States and owner of Alfalfa Nail Supply. “I was a child, but my mom bravely pushed me on the boat and I escaped from Vietnam.
“When I arrived in the United States, I thought it was heaven, but no it wasn’t, it was hell. I lived on the street, finding food for myself.”
Charlie Quy Ton, one of the founders and CEO of Regal Nails with 700 locations across the United States and owner of Alfalfa Nail Supply, speaks at the AASBA grand opening. (WKTV, Cris Greer)
But before long, things started looking up after connecting with family in Louisiana. He later got a degree in chemical engineering from Louisiana State University, but couldn’t find a job, so he decided to pursue business.
“I opened my business and I learned from scratch,” explained Ton, who has 60 employees on the manufacturing side and 25 in his franchise division. “I learned everything by myself.”
“We service over a million beautiful nails per month”
As for his salon businesses throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, he said, “We service over a million beautiful nails per month.”
Quoting legendary NFL Coach Vince Lombardi, Ton said, “Leaders are not born, they’re made.”
Ton went on to say, “And being a leader is not about you, it’s about the people and how we can help them be successful.”
As an advisor to the AASBA, Ton has committed to share insights and expertise with small business owners.
“My vision is that we give back to the community,” he explained. “We try to help facilitate the businesses. People need a leadership program. We want to open their mind to a different level so they can run a better business, which in the end will help the American economy and generate more jobs.”
U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten, from Michigan’s 3rd congressional District, presented the AASBA with a congressional certificate in recognition of their grand opening and dedication to the Asian American entrepreneurs.
U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten, from Michigan’s 3rd congressional District, speaks at the AASBA grand opening. (WKTV, Cris Greer)
“Did you know that out of all the businesses in Michigan, close to 99% are considered small business?,” said Scholten at the grand opening. “A disproportionate number of those businesses are started by first generation Americans who are entrepreneurs, job creators, the fabric of our community.
“When I was elected to Congress, you have a choice of the committees that you want to serve on and I chose to serve on the House Committee on Small Business because I know how important it is to serve our small business community here in West Michigan, which is the fabric of our society.”
For more information on the AASBA or if you want to join, click here asianamericansba.org
The Kentwood Justice Center houses 62-B District Court and the Kentwood Police Department. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff
greer@wktv.org
The preliminary examination for former Michigan State Police Det. Sgt. Brian Keely will take place Monday, Aug. 12, at 1:30 p.m. at the 62-B District Court. The parties are scheduled to appear in person.
Due to capacity restrictions, a limited number of observers will be allowed to attend the preliminary examination. Observers arriving after the capacity has been reached will be provided Zoom instructions and asked to watch virtually from another location. Cell phone use is not allowed in the 62-B District Court lobby.
To observe the preliminary examination, use the Meeting ID: 428 094 0961 on the Zoom mobile app or at Zoom.us. The direct link is available on the 62-B District Court’s website.
Keely faces charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. At the preliminary examination, Judge Amanda Sterkenburg will determine if there is probable cause to bind the matter over to the 17th Circuit Court for trial on the charges. The Court has been made aware of social media campaigns to draw attendance at the preliminary examination.
“Safety, fairness and efficiency are all of great concern at the upcoming proceeding,” Sterkenburg said. “We are taking precautions to ensure the preliminary examination is conducted with respect for all parties and in accordance with the law and court rules.”
Keely’s defense team is currently seeking to have the matter removed to federal court. In July, a federal judge ordered briefs on the issue of removal. Unless there is an order of removal to the federal court, the matter will proceed in state court. Briefs have been filed, but as of today, there has not yet been a decision.
Nearly 100,000 Michigan high school student-athletes are anticipated to begin Fall 2024 practices on Monday, Aug. 12, across nine sports for which the Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors postseason tournaments.
The fall season includes the most played sports for both boys and girls; 35,174 football players and 19,119 girls volleyball players competed during the Fall 2023 season. Teams in those sports will be joined by competitors in girls and boys cross country, Lower Peninsula girls golf, boys soccer, Lower Peninsula girls swimming & diving, Upper Peninsula girls tennis and Lower Peninsula boys tennis in beginning practice next week.
Competition begins Aug. 16 for cross country, golf, soccer and tennis, Aug. 21 for swimming & diving and volleyball, and Aug. 29 for varsity football. Football teams at all levels must have 12 days of preseason practice – over a period of 16 calendar days – before their first game.
In girls volleyball this season, for the first time, the top two teams in each District bracket will be seeded based on Michigan Power Ratings (MPR) that take into account a team’s regular-season success and strength of schedule. Those two seeded teams will be determined the Sunday prior to the final week of the regular season and placed on opposite sides of their District brackets.
Boys soccer also will see a slight change to its seeding this fall, as the entire bracket will be seeded based on MPR, not just the top two teams as in previous seasons.
The 11-Player Football Finals schedule at Ford Field also will have a slightly different lineup and earlier start times. On both Friday, Nov. 29, and Saturday, Nov. 30, the first games of the day will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the final games of both days slated to start at 7 p.m. On Nov. 29, Division 8 at 9:30 a.m. will be followed by Division 4 at 12:30 p.m., Division 6 at 4 p.m. and Division 2 at 7 p.m. to conclude the day. On Nov. 30, Division 7 kicks off at 9:30 a.m., followed by Division 3 at 12:30 p.m., Division 5 at 4 p.m. and Division 1 at 7 p.m. to finish the weekend.
A few more game-action rule changes will be quickly noticeable to participants and spectators.
In football, uniforms now must have clear contrast between the colors of the jersey body and numbers; for example, white numbers with blue outline on a white jersey are no longer allowed. The visiting teams must wear white uniforms, and home teams must wear dark jerseys that clearly contrast with white.
In soccer, the eight-goal differential rule remains but with the addition of a running clock during the first half if the differential reaches eight.
In volleyball, line judges beginning this fall will switch sides of the court between sets.
The 2024 Fall campaign culminates with postseason tournaments beginning with the Upper Peninsula Girls Tennis Finals during the week of Sept. 30 and wrapping up with the 11-Player Football Finals on Nov. 29 and 30.
Below are the unofficial Aug. 6 Primary results for the Kentwood and Wyoming area. For the Aug. 6 Primary and Nov. 5 General Election, WKTV’s We The People program extended an invitation to all local Kentwood and Wyoming candidates. Participating candidate results are listed here.
Kent County Sports and Entertainment Facilities Proposal
YES (65,909 votes, 53.63%) NO (56,976 votes, 46.37%)
Shall Kent County increase the rate at which the excise tax is levied on all persons engaged in the business of providing rooms for lodging purposes to guests staying less than 30 consecutive days under Public Act 263 of 1974 as amended from 5% to 8% of the total charge for accommodations to be used for allowable uses including financing of the acquisition, construction, improvement, enlargement, repair, or maintenance of stadiums, arenas, sports complexes, and aquariums starting January 1, 2025 and terminating on the same day as the county ordinance enacted under Public Act 263 of 1974 as amended.
(Courtesy, Grand Action 2.0)
Kent County Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage
YES (70,313 votes, 59.04%) NO (48,787 votes, 40.96%)
Shall Kent County levy 0.25 of one mill, which equals 25 cents per $1,000 of the taxable value on all real and personal property subject to taxation, for the period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2030, inclusive, for the purpose of planning, evaluating, and providing services to persons through age 5 and their parents for early childhood development, and services to improve quality of childcare and to increase public information regarding available childcare? The amount raised by the levy in the first calendar year is estimated at $8,794,547.
In Kent County there are 31 local authorities that capture and use, for authorized purposes, tax increment revenues from property taxes levied by the County. Such capture could include a portion of this millage levy. The 31 tax increment authorities in Kent County, capturing a portion of this tax levy, include but are not limited to the following:
Ada Township – Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Bowne Township – Downtown Development Authority Byron Township – Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Cascade Charter Township – Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Cedar Springs, City of – Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Grand Rapids, City of – Downtown Development Authority, Monroe North-Tax Increment Finance Authority, Smart Zone Local Development Finance Authority, Corridor Improvement Finance Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Grand Rapids Township – Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Grandville, City of – Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Kent City, Village of – Downtown Development Authority Kentwood, City of – Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Lowell, City of – Downtown Development Authority Rockford, City of – Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Sparta, Village of – Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Walker, City of – Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Wyoming, City of – Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
(Courtesy, First Steps Kent)
State Representative, House District 83 Seat
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Michigan State Legislature. Alongside the Michigan State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the Michigan state government and works alongside the governor of Michigan to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Michigan House of Representatives include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.
John Fitzgerald – Incumbent Candidate, State Representative, House District 83 (4,915 votes, no opposition)
Tommy Brann – Candidate, State Representative, House District 83 (4,835 votes, no opposition)
*Will face each other in the General Election Nov. 5.
Wyoming Council Member At-Large Seat
The Wyoming Mayor and City Council are an active, elected body of government responsible for legislation and policy-making for the City. The Mayor and three at-large Council Members are elected by all voters; three ward Council Members represent and are elected by voters in specific geographical districts. Together, they adopt City ordinances, appoint members to boards and commissions, and approve an annual City budget.
Sheldon DeKryger (3,455 votes, 46.92%), Robert Kilgo (2,665 votes, 36.19%), Rick Pilieci (1,159 votes, 15.74%).
*DeKryger advances to the General Election Nov. 5.
Kent County Board of Commissioners Seat
The Kent County Board of Commissioners is the chief legislative and policy-making body of Kent County Government. Commissioners are elected to 2-year terms from districts that are roughly equal in population. A chair and vice-chair are elected at the first meeting of each new year by the Commissioners. The chair appoints each Commissioner to one of two standing committees: the Finance and Physical Resources Committee or the Legislative and Human Resources Committee.
Sonia Riley (D) – Candidate, Kent County Commissioner District 7 (2,226 votes, no opposition, Advances to General Election Nov. 5)
Chris Herweyer (D) – Candidate, Kent County Commissioner District 8 (2,233 votes, no opposition, Advances to General Election Nov. 5)
Michelle McCloud (D) – Incumbent Candidate, Kent County Commissioner District 13 (2,710 votes, no opposition, Advances to General Election Nov. 5)
Nancy L. Morales (D) – Candidate, Kent County Commissioner District 20 (927 votes, no opposition, Advances to General Election Nov. 5)
Derek Anderson (R) – Candidate, Kent County Commissioner District 20 9 (404 votes, 69.90%), David Lee Boelkes (R) (168 votes, 29.07%). (Anderson advances to the General Election vs. Nancy L. Morales on Nov. 5)
Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds Seat
The Kent County Clerk’s Office has three major functions: to manage County elections; to manage vital County records; and to process and maintain all Circuit Court files. In Kent County, the Clerk is also the Register of Deeds. The Clerk is also the Clerk of the Board of Commissioners, and statutorily serves on numerous County boards and commissions.
Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R) – Incumbent Candidate, Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds (56,374 votes, no opposition, Advances to General Election Nov. 5)
Scott Urbanowski (D) – Candidate, Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds (54,512 votes, no opposition, Advances to General Election Nov. 5 vs. Posthumus Lyons)
Participation in Michigan High School Athletic Association-sponsored sports rose for the third-straight school year in 2023-24 – this time by nearly one percent – and continued to do so despite another 2-percent decrease in school enrollment among the MHSAA’s 754 member high schools.
A total of 270,664 participants were counted across the 28 sports for which the MHSAA sponsors postseason tournaments – a 0.97-percent increase from 2022-23, despite a 1.8-percent decrease in MHSAA member school enrollment. Boys participation rose 1.1 percent to 158,260, despite a 1.8 percent decrease in boys enrollment. Girls participation rose 0.7 percent to 112,377, while girls enrollment dipped 1.9 percent from the previous school year.
Boys total highest since 2018-19 school year at 158,260 participants
MHSAA participation totals count students once for each sport in which they participate, meaning students who are multiple-sport athletes are counted more than once. The boys participation total for 2023-24 was its highest since 2018-19, predating the sharp decrease brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020-21 school year.
Girls golf and lacrosse growing
Only 11 sports saw increases in participation during 2023-24 – compared to 18 sports that reported increases between 2021-22 and 2022-23. However, two sports set participation records this past school year. Girls golf reported 3,936 athletes, an increase of 6.2 percent from the previous year and that sport’s most since 2002-03. Girls lacrosse broke its record set in 2019-20 with 3,245 athletes, up nine-tenths of a percent from the previous year.
Large wrestling increase attributable to another jump in girls participation (39 percent)
Wrestling reported the largest increase in participation for the second-straight school year, this time by 12.8 percent with 11,814 athletes – and the rise again mostly attributable to the rapid growth in girls participation in the sport, which jumped another 39 percent with 1,216 wrestlers this past season. Girls tennis enjoyed the next largest participation jump, increasing 9.1 percent with 8,911 athletes, that sport’s most since 2018-19.
Both girls and boys track & field increased for the third-straight year, girls by 5.2 percent to 17,325 competitors and boys 2.9 percent to 23,888. Boys lacrosse (up 3.9 percent to 5,236 athletes) and boys golf (up 3.3 percent to 7,222) also joined their girls counterparts in those sports in trending upward.
Football remains most-played sport statewide at 35,174 participants
Boys soccer (up 5.1 percent to 13,953 athletes), girls competitive cheer (3.9 percent to 6,172) and football (11 and 8-player combined – 0.5 percent to 35,174) also showed increases. Football remains the most-played sport statewide with more than 11,000 more athletes than the next highest, boys track & field, and the 2023-24 football participation total was that sport’s highest since 2018-19. Boys basketball (20,199 participants), girls volleyball (19,119) and girls track & field ranked third through fifth, respectively, among the state’s most-played sports this past school year.
Although 17 sports saw lower participation in 2023-24 than the previous year, five experienced decreases smaller than the overall 1.8-percent loss in enrollment at member schools – boys ice hockey (-0.03 percent with just one fewer participant than in 2022-23), girls soccer (-0.3 percent), girls volleyball (-0.8 percent), boys tennis (-1.2 percent), boys cross country (-1.3 percent) and girls softball (-1.5 percent). Girls cross country just missed that line with only a 1.9-percent decrease from the previous year.
The participation figures are gathered annually from MHSAA member schools to submit to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for compiling of its national participation survey. Results of Michigan surveys from the 2000-01 school year to present may be viewed on the MHSAA Website – www.mhsaa.com – by clicking on Schools > Administrators > Sports Participation Listing.
Approximately 20 regional businesses will showcase their goods and services during the fifth annual Black-Owned Business Showcase at Woodland Mall Saturday, Aug. 10.
The annual event will feature booths with Black-owned businesses offering baked goods, health and wellness products, jewelry, apparel and more.
A previous Black-Owned Business Showcase. (Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
Participating vendors include:
Uniquely Made Kreations
TLC House Of Beauty
Dulce-T’s
Keys Scented Candles
Unique Hair by Shay
Dr. Diva Accessories
Misha’s Boutique
K’s Kloset LLC
The Shoe Boss
Dessy Delights
Nick Nak Treats
Bessette Designs
GloWorld
Kenyons Creations
Dejure Essentials
Pretty Girl Collection Boutique
Shoppers can browse, sample, buy and connect during the day-long showcase from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Von Maur wing. The event is again presented by Britney Sylvester, owner of Uniquely Made Kreations.
“We’re looking forward to hosting the showcase again and welcoming new vendors to the lineup,” said Marketing Manager Kennedy Vancalbergh. “The Black-Owned Business Showcase is always a popular event that introduces our community to incredible products and services available right here in West Michigan. We’re honored to continue to host this event, which brings great exposure for the vendors.”
PREIT properties across its footprint has hosted activities throughout the year, including art exhibits, documentary screenings and food festivals, as a way to highlight the importance of Black-owned businesses and brands year-round.
Erna Bajgoric gives a shot to Florine G. at the clinic inside the Care Resources day center in Grand Rapids. Participants like Florine can see primary care providers and receive treatment without having to schedule appointments or wait at the doctor’s office as part of the nonprofit’s approach to provide wrap-around care. (Courtesy, Care Resources)
Imagine having a medical need, and instead of enduring a long wait at urgent care or the emergency room, you visit a clinic where you’re seen within minutes. You’re diagnosed and then provided everything from an IV to wound care to lab work to meds and more.
You’re referred, as needed, to a social worker, therapist or any number of other health professionals. And you don’t pay a dime.
It’s not make believe.
You’re inside the clinic at Care Resources, a community-based program for adults 55 and older that promotes healthy, independent living and helps people avoid nursing home placement. It’s available to those who meet the nursing facility level of care established by the state of Michigan.
The clinic, located in Grand Rapids at Care Resources headquarters at 4150 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, boasts a medical team of seven primary providers, as well as a host of nurses, therapists and clinicians who treat participants on site and are equipped to address everything from hangnails to heart issues.
“We have a lot of resources right here at our fingertips,” says Nancy Baker, a registered nurse, clinic and day center manager, “and we’re able to serve them quickly and help them avoid trips to the ER.”
Laura Hall, a nurse practitioner and associate clinic director, notes: “They walk in, fill out a form and they’re seen often immediately by a doctor, a physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner. A lot of our participants are amazed at the level of care – and the continuity of care.”
The Care Resources medical team collaborates closely with social workers, pharmacists, dietitians, transportation workers and others – all on-site – to make sure the participant is getting critical follow-up care as well.
Indeed, the entire Care Resources staff at the Kalamazoo Avenue address is trained to safeguard all its participants, many of whom visit the facility’s day center and spend time there eating, socializing and taking part in organized programs and activities like bingo and group games.
“Our day staff is really good at letting us know if something is changing or something is wrong with one of our participants,” Hall says. “We’re good at recognizing needs.”
At Care Resources, the aim is to “centralize care,” says Hall, although it doesn’t stop there. It includes being purposeful about communicating with participants’ guardians and caregivers as well, spending time on the phone to fill them in or inviting them to attend appointments to serve as a second set of eyes and ears.
Health care is also extended to participants in the comfort of their homes, where they can qualify for physical and occupational therapy, visits from a social worker or nurse, and help with anything from light housework to meal and grocery delivery – anything that eases their burden and helps promote a healthy lifestyle.
The clinic is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A primary care provider is on call evenings, weekends and holidays.
“The responsibility is on us to deliver their care,” Hall says. “And our goal is to always spend quality time with every participant. “So we’re never in a rush. And there’s never a wait.”
For more information about Care Resources, call 616-913-2006 or visit HERE
Consumers Energy is holding its annual National Night Out Kickoff Event from 6:15 to 8 a.m. Tuesday, August 6, at the Consumers Energy Grand Rapids Service Center, 4000 Clay Ave. SW, Grand Rapids.
Everyone is welcome to arrive as early as 6:15 a.m. There will be coffee, donuts and Consumers Energy bucket trucks. Neighborhood associations and other community leaders are welcome to join.
Here’s the Agenda:
6:15 a.m. – Bucket Trucks and Police Cars Set Up On-Site
Kentwood Police Captain Tim Wierenga said National Night Out is one of his favorite days of the year.
“It’s a very positive day,” he said with a smile during an interview at WKTV. “You’re out having good conversations, taking selfies … stopping by a few grills, getting ice cream. It opens up that door for communication and that’s what everything starts from.”
Wierenga and Wyoming Police Sergeant Rory Allen stopped by WKTV Wednesday to talk about the upcoming National Night Out (NNO) on our WKTV Soundbites program. NNO will be held Tuesday, Aug. 6, throughout Kentwood and Wyoming.
According to the NNO website, it’s an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live … and provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
“It’s a positive interaction with meeting the officers, getting to just meet them in a conversational tone,” Allen explained. “They’re not there on official business, not there on a call. This is a great opportunity to just have people meet and talk to the officers on a personal level and talk about what’s going on in their neighborhoods.”
Wierenga agreed
“It all starts with a conversation,” Wierenga echoed. “This allows us to be out there and have those conversations. To get out there and talk and not just see you when you call for that bad day or thing that’s going wrong in your life.”
(Courtesy, Wyoming Police Department)
Allen said they make sure to have an officer stop by every party to build those relationships with the community, because some members may never have had an interaction with the local police department.
“It’s an awesome resource for us,” Allen said. “And our officers have a lot of fun with this. It gets those conversations flowing that really helps us build those relationships.”
Kentwood Police Chief Bryan Litwin stated a similar message
“Members of the Kentwood Police and Fire departments look forward to gathering and connecting with community members of all ages over great food, yard games and other fun activities,” Chief Litwin said. “Through this event, police and fire personnel along with community leaders have meaningful conversations with our residents that ultimately help make our city stronger and safer.”
Kentwood Police Captain Tim Wierenga gives a tour of his car. (Courtesy, Kentwood Police Department)
Millions participate in NNO
In its 41st year, millions of neighbors take part in NNO across the United States via block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts, youth activities, games, visits from police and fire departments, community leaders and McGruff the Crime Dog, and much more.
(Image Courtesy, National Night Out)
Kentwood Public NNO Events:
Kentwood police officers, firefighters and leaders will join residents at multiple gatherings throughout the city offering residents opportunities to explore police cruisers, fire engines and other emergency response vehicles while learning about important safety topics.
Bretwood Centre, 4470 Breton Road SE (5 to 8 p.m.): Community members can enjoy activities, music and a visit from the Aero Med team, Department of Public Works and Kentwood Commissioners Clarkston Morgan, Jessica Ann Tyson and Betsy Artz. There also will be a DJ.
Pentecostals Church, 2627 44th St. SE (6 to 8 p.m.): Appearances by members of the Kentwood Police and Fire Departments and McGruff the Crime Dog.
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Anyone interested in hosting a block party for NNO, please contact Officer Brooke Lowe at 616-656-6564 or by email at loweb@kentwood.us. More information on this event can be found at kentwood.us/NNO.
Wyoming Public NNO Events:
Wyoming police officers and firefighters will join residents at multiple gatherings across the city. Residents will have the opportunity to explore police and fire equipment, including police cruisers, fire trucks, and other emergency response vehicles, as well as learn about a variety of safety topics. Community members can also visit with the Wyoming Police Department K9 team.
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Consumers Energy Kickoff, 4000 Clay Ave. SW, Grand Rapids (7 a.m.):
6:15 a.m. – Bucket Trucks and Police Cars Setup On-Site
6:30 a.m. – Live TV/Radio Promos
7 a.m. – Police Chiefs and Mayors Arrive
7:15 a.m. – Reading of the Joint Proclamation
Celebration Cinema at Rivertown Crossings (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.): Appearances by members of the Wyoming Police Department, plus popcorn and handouts for the kids as well as Wyoming PD motorcycles on display in the mall.
“It’s really fun for me because I get to ride one of the police motorcycles into the mall, which is not something you normally get to do,” Allen said.
Lifeline Community Church, 2929 Rogers Lane Ave. SW, Wyoming (6 to 8 p.m.)
Grace Christian University, 1011 Aldon St. SW, Grand Rapids (5 to 7 p.m.)
Buck Creek Community Church, 3746 Byron Center Ave. SW, Wyoming (5:30 to 8 p.m.)
For more information on Wyoming NNO events, call 616-530-7300 and ask for Sgt. Rory Allen.
The Sounds of Summer Concert Series continues in Byron Center with three August shows starting on Thursday, Aug. 1, with country band Prior Noon at Bicentennial Park at 7 p.m.
(Courtesy, Sounds of Summer)
The FREE community concert also will have food available from Tony’s Tacos.
“Tony has helped us out for a couple of years now,” said Patty Williams of P. Williams Productions. “He’s part of the family now.”
P. Williams Productions, which also includes William’s son Lare, prides themselves on providing an entertaining night of not only music, but rounds of Name That Tune and trivia emceed by Lare.
“I’ve had this group of ladies come to me and say that the music is great, but they really come to see Lare,” Patty said. “He’s very entertaining and also takes care of all the sound engineering.”
Sounds of Summer garners fans from far and wide throughout the state of Michigan and even from other states.
“We had a couple drive seven hours from Paducah, Kentucky, to watch our show at Cutler Park,” Williams said. “We have people come from Mackinac, Charlevoix, South Haven, even Detroit. We have many people that have been coming to shows for many years; they own it and make it feel like it’s theirs.”
90’s cover band Project 90 will perform Aug. 8, and Brena will be the grand finale on Aug. 15 to close out the series.
Brena, West Michigan’s premiere party band, is led by duo Craig Avery and Steffan Copenhaver and closed out the Sounds of Summer series at Cutler Park last month.
(Courtesy, Sounds of Summer)
“Cutler Park had a great-sized crowd, if I had to guess, it was more than 500 people,” Avery said. “We have a completely different setlist planned for Byron Center, so we hope to see many familiar faces there.”
Bring your favorite lawn chair or blanket, sit back, relax, and get ready to be entertained by the Sounds of Summer.
“People enjoy going out on a summer evening bringing their lawn chairs and listening to good music,” Patty Williams said. “There’s excitement from the moment you park your car to the time you get to your seat.”
The stadium will be designed as a multi-purpose, professional, high-performing venue driving economic growth and development in a vital urban district. It will become the home of professional soccer in West Michigan and also serve a broader community asset supporting youth, colleges and amateur clubs, according to the Grand Action 2.0 website. (Image Courtesy, Grand Action 2.0)
Kent County voters will have the opportunity to give the proposed new soccer stadium in downtown Grand Rapids an assist when they head to the polls on August 6.
Among the items on the ballot is a proposal to increase the tax rate for hotel rooms in Kent County. The current hotel tax rate for hotels and motels in Kent County is 5%. The proposal calls for a 3% raise in the hotel tax bringing it up to 8%. Combined with other state and local taxes, this would bring the total tax for a hotel room in Kent County to 18%.
The money raised from the increased hotel tax would be used for part of the construction costs of the proposed new downtown Grand Rapids soccer arena. The increased hotel tax revenue also will be used for improvements, enlargements, repairs and maintenance of existing stadiums, arenas and sports complexes downtown along with construction costs for any new projects including a possible new aquarium.
Stadium hinges on upcoming Aug. 6 vote
Passing the proposal to increase the hotel tax will be crucial in keeping the process of building a new soccer stadium in downtown Grand Rapids going.
“I’m not so sure we will have a soccer stadium and a soccer team coming in if this proposal fails,” said Josh Lunger, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. “Increasing the hotel tax is a big, big component of the funding for the new soccer stadium. This is a key part of it.”
Increasing the hotel tax will have ramifications that not only include the new soccer stadium.
“The new soccer stadium will have a huge impact on the community,” Lunger said. “It will create 100s of new jobs. The soccer stadium will keep the downtown area vibrant and growing. Passing the proposal will give the current generation an opportunity to leave their mark on the community like previous generations had the opportunity with the DeVos Convention Center and the VanAndel Arena.”
Proposed stadium planned near downtown YMCA and former Big Boy
The ball has already starting rolling on the proposed new soccer stadium. In March, the Grand Rapids City Planning Commission approved rezoning land for the stadium. The proposed stadium is planned to be built near Lake Michigan Drive and Winter Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids. This land is near the downtown YMCA and the former Big Boy restaurant.
A special land use request was submitted by Grand Action 2.0. Grand Action 2.0 is creating plans and securing funding for the stadium while the Grand Rapids Kent County Convention/Arena Authority will own and operate the new soccer stadium. Grand Action 2.0 is a not-for-profit economic development organization. Its primary mission is to identify downtown and adjacent neighborhood building and transformational capital-intensive projects, galvanize public opinion and support, leverage public/private investments and formulate and implement funding strategies including securing private sector funding in support of request for primary public sector funding.
$175 million estimated cost
The soccer stadium project is estimated to cost as much as $175 million, with $115 million in public money and a plan to raise $60 million from the private sector.
The stadium will be designed as a multi-purpose, professional, high-performing venue driving economic growth and development in a vital urban district. It will become the home of professional soccer in West Michigan and also serve a broader community asset supporting youth, colleges and amateur clubs.
The stadium will be flanked by an open plaza and space for pre-game gathering and easy entrance flow. It will include multi-levels of tiered seating, including suites, loge boxes, and options at various price points. It will have an open and active concourse that connects guests to the game.
The stadium site is intentionally embedded within a thriving urban network creating multi-season activation and use.
All this progress hinges on Kent County voters giving the okay to increase the hotel tax to provide funding for the project.
A major element that proponents of the hotel tax increase want the public to understand is that this proposal is not a millage.
“Not a millage … Not an increase in property taxes”
“This proposal just increases the hotel tax by 3%,” Lunger said. “It is not a millage. It is not an increase in property taxes. It is a small increase in the current motel/hotel tax paid in Kent County. This will not impact property taxes.”
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) is also looking forward to the proposed 8,500-seat soccer stadium coming to fruition. The WMSC is already working with ASM Global to help formulate a booking policy for the new stadium.
The WMSC already puts on several regional tournaments in sports like soccer, baseball, basketball, softball, lacrosse, ice hockey, field hockey and rugby in the West Michigan area and is looking forward to the opportunity to host events at a new soccer stadium.
“It would be great to add a new facility to the downtown area to hold events at,” said Katy Tigchelaar, Vice President of Operations for the WMSC. “When people come to Grand Rapids who have never been here before they are blown away by what we have to offer. A new soccer stadium would be a great potential venue for us to bid on events to bring to Kent County.”
Don’t miss our WKTV Journal Chili & Cheers fundraiser from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille, 4157 Division Ave. S, Wyoming.
If you enjoy reading the WKTV Journal, help us keep local journalism alive by attending our Chili & Cheers fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille, 4157 Division Ave. S, Wyoming.
Enjoy delicious chili and local microbrews while supporting local journalism, the WKTV Journal, from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 21. Tickets are $20 apiece and will be available Aug. 8. They include unlimited chili from the different vendors plus one beverage ticket. To purchase tickets click HERE.
Our Chili & Cheers fundraiser is a chili cook-off between competing restaurants and individuals – with the best in microbrews from the area as well.
Project 90 to perform from 1-3 p.m.
“Project 90 is West Michigan’s 90’s Rock band – playing all of your favorite hits from the 90’s. Not just your average 90’s cover band, but a tribute to the 90’s. This all-star lineup band brings together combined decades of experience and a dynamic sound and light show to give audiences an unforgettable live event.” Click here for more info on Project 90.
Support the WKTV Journal while having fun
The Chili & Cheers benefit helps support the WKTV Journal, a non-profit community digital newspaper in Wyoming and Kentwood that averages nearly 11,000 views per month. As many people know, countless metro regions are now in a “news desert” where local newspapers with trained journalists have closed their doors or severely cut back. This leaves many people less informed about where they live and what actually affects their daily lives.
From local sports and city events to human-interest stories and diverse cultures
The Journal began publishing daily in 2014 just as the Advance Newspapers were closing their doors. We cover everything from local high school sports in Kentwood and Wyoming to mental health issues, entertainment, human-interest stories and education to police reports, cultural events, the successes and struggles of our communities, and much, much more. We believe this is all vitally important information for one reason: It’s about where we live and who we are.
Have fun and donate to a good cause
Please join us, and support the WKTV Journal at this crucial time. Plus, we’re not just asking for a cash donation, we’re making it fun! Chili & Cheers is a great opportunity to enjoy amazing chili and craft brews, meet neighbors and watch the community come together.
Be a part of the solution to local journalism surviving in an age when trained journalists are simply not there to report on a community and cover local events. Your support makes a real impact in the day-to-day operation and will help keep the lights on at the WKTV Journal. For more info, check out our Chili and Cheers Facebook page.
Dean Transportation is hosting hiring events at two locations in Grand Rapids this Thursday, July 25, for interested applicants to learn about the company’s openings for school bus driver, school bus attendant and service technician positions for routes supporting Grand Rapids Public Schools and the Kent Intermediate School District.
Attendees will learn about Dean’s family-driven culture as well as its comprehensive benefits, paid training and flexible scheduling. For Grand Rapids-area positions, Dean is offering starting wages up to $24 per hour for school bus drivers, $17.50 per hour for school bus attendants and competitive wages for service technicians based on certifications. Dean will hold on-the-spot interviews and make job offers to qualified candidates.
Who should attend: The events are free and open to all interested individuals with or without prior experience.
When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 25
Where:
4155 Trade Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
900 Union Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Important note: Job seekers are encouraged to bring a valid driver’s license.
More information: Call Grand Rapids 44th Street at 616-885-1678, ext. 1688 or Union Ave. at 616-819-3000, for directions or answers to any questions, or visit deanjobs.com.
University of Michigan Health-West invites you for an evening of running, walking, and philanthropy at the Metro Way 5K & YMCA Youth Races on Wednesday, July 31. This family-friendly event will be held at 1980 Metro Court, Wyoming, starting at 6 p.m.
Funds raised through the Metro Way 5K support UM Health-West’s community health and wellness programs, which provide vital services to the community, including free and low-cost health screenings, fitness classes and educational sessions.
“This event exemplifies our commitment to West Michigan,” said Greg Meyer, UM Health-West executive vice president and chief community officer. “The Metro Way 5K reflects our legacy of making a lasting difference in the health of our communities. It’s a celebration of our past and a commitment to our future.”
Participants of all ages and abilities are welcome. The event includes a 5K run/walk and YMCA Youth Races, making it an excellent opportunity for families to engage in a healthy and fun activity together. Your participation will directly contribute to community health and wellness programs, helping patients and their families cope with chronic illness, teaching healthy habits, and promoting safety.
For more event details and registration, visit Metro Way 5K
Metro Way 5K
Fee: $35
Start time: 6:30 p.m.
Check-in & late registration: 5 to 6:25 p.m. (Cost: $40)
YMCA Youth Races
Fee: Free
Start time: 6 to 6:25 p.m.
Registration deadline: 6:05 p.m. July 30
Open to ages 17 and younger
YMCA Youth Races
Fee: $35
Race Day Overview
5 to 6:25 p.m. – Race check-in & late registration at race headquarters
6 p.m. – YMCA Youth Races (warm-up at 5:45 p.m.)
5 to 8 p.m. – Photo opportunity, sponsors and food tent
6:30 p.m. – Metro Way 5K race start
7:15 p.m. – Awards Ceremony
Awards will be presented to the top male and female finishers in both open and masters categories. Age group prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in each group. All registered 5K finishers receive a finisher’s medal.
Allegiant Travel Company today announced eight new nonstop routes to 13 cities around the country. To celebrate, the company is offering one-way fares on the new routes as low as $39.*
The new route to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Michigan includes:
West Palm Beach, Florida via Palm Beach International Airport – beginning Nov. 14, 2024, with one-way fares as low as $69.*
“We’re grateful to our partners at Allegiant Air for their partnership in connecting West Michigan with the world,” said Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “Palm Beach will become Allegiant’s 16th nonstop route from our airport. We hope travelers visiting this vibrant destination will enjoy new cultural attractions, diverse entertainment experiences, and fun for the whole family.”
Allegiant’s full network expansion announced today includes 11 additional cities. For more information on the expansion, click on Allegiant.com.
*About the introductory one-way fares:
Seats and dates are limited and fares are not available on all flights. Flights must be purchased by July 17, 2024, for travel by Feb. 9, 2025. Price displayed includes taxes, carrier charges & government fees. Fare rules, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice. Optional baggage charges and additional restrictions may apply. For more details, optional services and baggage fees, please visit Allegiant.com.
Multi-award winning Nashville band Williamson Branch takes the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at Cutler Park in Cutlerville as part of the Sounds of Summer Concert Series and a stop on their 10-Year Anniversary Tour.
“When it comes to music, there’s a closeness among family members that cannot be overstated,” according to Melody Williamson Keyes, eldest daughter and PR/Social Media manager. “Harmonies are sweeter, rhythms are tighter, and emotions are heightened. For Williamson Branch, music and family have been melding for three generations.”
Based in Nashville, their polished approach to music helped propel their single, Blue Moon Over Texas, to the No. 1 spot on the RMR Bluegrass Chart for seven weeks. They garnered the award for Valley Star Family Vocal Group of the Year and front ‘man,’ Melody Williamson Keyes, was recognized as the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum Vocalist of the Year in 2020.
Nashville band Williamson Branch. (Courtesy, Williamson Branch)
Since their formation 10 years ago, Williamson Branch has appeared on hundreds of stages, including The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Coffee, Country, and Cody Morning Show on WSM, Heartland TV, The Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards, Song of the Mountains TV Show, Bill Gaither’s Fall Homecoming, and Guy Penrod’s Gospel Music Showcase.
Sounds of Summer Cutlerville
Bring a lawn chair or blanket to Sounds of Summer Cutlerville … a FREE community concert series held at Cutler Park Thursday evenings in July.
Here are the remaining July concerts:
July 18 (7 p.m.): Williamson Branch, outstanding family harmonies from the award-winning Nashville band on bluegrass night.
July 25 (7 p.m.):Brena, West Michigan’s premier party band will be the Grand Finale.
Leslie Irwin has been located by police and is safe.
Wyoming Police would like to thank the public for their assistance in locating Leslie. A community member recognized Leslie and alerted police to his location.
Original Post
The Wyoming Police Department is asking for assistance in locating 87-year-old Leslie Irwin.
He was last seen at approximately 2 p.m. July 10 at his residence near 56th St. Southwest and South Division in Wyoming.
Irwin suffers from dementia and left his home on foot in an unknown direction. He has not been heard from or seen since. He is a white male with gray hair and a beard, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 160 pounds, and was last seen wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans, glasses and white/brown shoes.
Wyoming Police continue to search for Irwin. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or 911.
Don Walsh said the support he received from his care team at Emmanuel Hospice to attend ArtPrize and see the exhibit of his daughter, Sara Walsh, has been the highlight of his hospice journey so far. (Courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)
By Emmanuel Hospice
greer@wktv.org
For the better part of 30 years, Don Walsh worked as a friendly sleuth.
That’s what good librarians do, after all. They discover things on behalf of others.
Now, at the age of 84, the tables have turned and it’s Emmanuel Hospice serving him.
And for that, Don is especially grateful and embraces any opportunity to share details about his relationship with the Grand Rapids-based health care provider.
“This particular hospice and its people go out of their way to make it special,” he says. “They believe in what they’re doing, and it’s a privilege for me to tell their story through me.”
Don was born and raised until the age of 14 in Traverse City, and in moving to Grand Rapids, grew to love what he now considers “a great place to be.”
As a youngster, he pedaled newspapers for the Grand Rapids Herald and Press – and before that, the Record-Eagle in TC – and later worked for his father, who owned a dime store in Wyoming called Wyoming Variety.
As a teen, he became interested in collecting things – baseball cards, stamps, coins – and at age 19 actually tried his hand at owning a hobby store, a venture that lasted but four months.
Eventually, he graduated from Aquinas College, and it’s there he met the love of his life, wife Kathie, with whom he raised five children. Don and Kathie live together with a 30-year-old grandson.
Don’s first jobs after college included teaching school in the Detroit area, but he remembers thinking “It was silly to stay there because we both loved Grand Rapids so much,” and they returned to settle in Eastown. He became involved in neighborhood issues to such a degree that he became the first chairperson of the Eastown Community Association. He and Kathie are long-time parishioners at St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
Professionally, he made his biggest mark with the Grand Rapids Public Library, splitting a 30-year career between the main site downtown and the Ottawa Hills branch.
In 2010, Don had heart bypass surgery, and four years later endured a stomach tumor and then prostate cancer. Around 2018, he began experiencing shortness of breath. Nearly two years ago, he was admitted to Emmanuel Hospice after being informed that he likely had less than a year to live.
Don says his time with the Emmanuel team has been “a remarkable season of working together, and there has never been a question of how much they care.”
He’s grateful for the ways in which Emmanuel lifts up Kathie as well as their children and grandchildren, “reassuring them all and helping them through the hard parts.” He particularly appreciated the support that allowed him to attend ArtPrize and see his daughter, Sara’s exhibit, with both comfort and peace of mind.
Emmanuel Hospice relies on an interdisciplinary team, with patients like Don and his family at its center, as it works to enhance the lives of those facing serious, life-limiting illnesses.
The interdisciplinary team brings together the appropriate medical providers, along with a social worker, home health aides, spiritual care counselors, complementary therapy specialists, volunteers, bereavement counselors and others to ensure all needs are met.
Don enjoys regular visits from his Emmanuel care team. His first encounter was with an intake specialist, who helped him understand his options going forward. Then he saw a social worker, who helped him sort through some red tape involving a hospital bill.
He occasionally requests time with a spiritual adviser, who helps him “talk things through about my life, my life after, and anything I want to have a dialogue about.”
Twice a week, an aide visits and, depending on the need, will bathe him, shave him and tend to other affairs of daily living. Once every two weeks, he receives massage therapy, which helps comfort the after-effects of a recent fall he incurred. Weekly, a nurse visits and helps him manage his medications and troubleshoots any new developments.
Receiving care in his home “is so much more than simply receiving services,” he says. “They’re there not only sharing their lives with you, but helping you along a tough journey. I know it’s a business, but that’s not what they ever project. It’s more of a mission.
“People,” says Don, “get the crazy idea that hospice is about dying. But it’s about living. And it’s about taking the time to relax and have someone care for you in such generous ways. This particular hospice goes out of its way to make that special.”
For more about Emmanuel Hospice, call 616-719-0919 or visit emmanuelhospice.org
Diane Gaston knows what it’s like to be part of the so-called “sandwich generation” because she juggled a full-time job along with serving as caregiver to both her own children and her aging mother at the same time.
In her case, she embraced it all as acts of love and wouldn’t have changed a thing.
But for some of the estimated 40 million Americans who are unpaid caregivers to their parents – and sometimes their kids simultaneously – it can exact a toll on their physical and mental health.
There are ways to enlist help, including tapping into the resources of Care Resources, a Grand Rapids-based program for qualifying people 55 and older who want healthy, independent living options without being placed into a nursing home.
It’s open to residents of Kent and parts of Allegan, Barry, Ionia and Ottawa counties who meet state of Michigan nursing facility-level of care and are able to live safely in the community with assistance.
Participants can take advantage of a wide array of services provided at the Care Resources day center, which houses a full-service clinic and pharmacy. Participants can also access services in their homes and through a network of community providers – ultimately easing the burden experienced by adult children serving in that caregiver role.
“Our goal is to keep people out of nursing homes and in their own homes for as long as possible,” says CEO Tracey McKnight, noting 11 interdisciplinary services are made available to all participants – “everything from primary care to rehab services to help with transportation, nutrition, meds and much more.”
Gaston knows this firsthand, as she’s employed by Care Resources as a personal care attendant, specializing in providing showers to participants at the day center at 4150 Kalamazoo Ave. SE.
She and her husband, Tim, have three children, two of whom still live with them in their Grand Rapids home. Their responsibilities increased a few years ago when Diane’s mother, Leola, grew more dependent, with Diane insisting that she not ever enter a nursing facility.
Eventually, Leola moved in with Diane and family. Diane maintains “I got frustrated with her medical condition (diabetes, dementia and kidney failure) but never my mother.”
When Leola, who worked many years in valet laundry at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, would fantasize she was still there and start sorting through her clothing, Diane knew enough to play along: “It was easier to be in her world than trying to take her out of it.”
Even with the challenges, Diane says she now has “treasured memories” of caring for her mother until the very end, taking solace in how she was beside her mother “when she took her last breath.”
Diane’s advice for others who find themselves part of the sandwich generation? “It doesn’t hurt to step away. Separate yourself from time to time and laugh or cry your way through it. If you’re dealing with dementia, realize that person is no longer who they used to be, and you may now have to treat them like a child, but always remember the love.”
If your loved one qualifies for a program like Care Resources, she says, consider the option, because it can reduce the toll exacted on those providing care, which is vital for one’s mental health.
Leola Gaston passed in May 2022. Even now, Diane can still see her, still hear her singing hymns like those she lifted up while a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Grand Rapids. And she can still sense her mother’s presence, just like all those years Leola spent raising Diane and three other children by herself, the result of Leola losing her husband in an automobile accident when she was yet a young wife and mother.
Diane’s mother’s journey was “a lot,” says Diane. But she was never overwhelmed into regretting her decision to care for her. In the end, Leola didn’t call Diane by her given name, but instead “that lady.”
Which was OK with Diane. As long as they were able to be together.
For more about Care Resources, call 616-913-2006, or visit careresources.org
The probable cause conference for former Michigan State Police Det. Sgt. Brian Keely will take place Monday, July 1, and has been stipulated to be conducted virtually by the parties. The proceeding will take place at 1 p.m. at the 62-B District Court in Kentwood.
Due to capacity restrictions, a limited number of observers will be allowed to attend the probable cause conference. Observers arriving after the capacity has been reached will be provided Zoom instructions and asked to watch virtually from another location. Cell phone use is not allowed in the 62-B District Court lobby.
To observe the probable cause conference, use the Meeting ID: 428 094 0961 on the Zoom mobile app or at Zoom.us. The direct link is available on the 62-B District Court’s website.
Keely faces charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. His arraignment on June 5 attracted a significant number of observers, and the 62-B District Court is aware of social media campaigns encouraging public attendance at the probable cause conference. All court hearings are open to the public.
Keely’s preliminary examination is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 12 and will be held in person at 62-B District Court. The in-person capacity restriction will be in place for this proceeding and a Zoom option will be available.
