Picture this: You’re walking through the woods when you brush up against some tall grass, or maybe you wandered off trail momentarily. You head home, but the next day notice a black speck on your arm.
It’s a tick.
Beyond the gross-out factor, you wonder if it might make you sick. A new mobile app may help figure that out.
Emily Dinh, a medical entomologist with the Department of Health and Human Services, says encounters people are having with ticks are becoming more common.
That’s as the state’s tick population has been on the rise, including numbers of the American dog tick and the blacklegged tick, which can transmit the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
“That blacklegged tick is something that we’re concerned about and seeing a greater distribution throughout the state of Michigan. That is the tick that can transmit Lyme disease,” Dinh said.
In 2021, the state health department reported nearly half of Michigan’s counties had a known risk of Lyme disease for people and animals.
Ticks like shady, moist areas
Ticks are typically found in wooded and brushy areas but can even show up in suburban yards.
“The most important thing to be aware of is where ticks are, so ticks like shady, moist areas in woody, grassy locations,” she said. “Especially in the warmer months of April through September, but sometimes into October as well because ticks can be active when the temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.”
Barry OConnor is a tick expert at the University of Michigan’s Zoology Museum. He cites a rise in temperatures as a possible reason for the increased risk.
“We’ve certainly seen changes in the distribution of several species of ticks moving northward over the years as temperatures have become warmer,” OConnor said.
According to the state, average yearly temperatures have increased two to three degrees in the past two decades.
The Tick App
A group of researchers from universities across the U.S. decided to create a mobile app, called The Tick App. (Courtesy, The Tick App)
Because of growing concerns about the pests, both in Michigan and across the country, a group of researchers from universities across the U.S. decided to create a mobile app, simply called The Tick App.
Michigan State University professor Jean Tsao said the app allows scientists to learn more about where ticks are and what people are doing to keep safe from them. She is in the Department of Fisheries & Wildlife and is part of the group that helped develop the digital portal.
“It’s a mobile health app that is both a research tool as well as an outreach tool,” she said.
When people download it, they’re prompted to fill out a 10-minute survey about potential risk factors.
“We really wanted to understand, if possible, when and where and what kind of activities people are doing to expose themselves to ticks,” Tsao said.
She said users are also able to take a picture of a tick and submit it to the app. The research team is then able to identify it within 24 hours.
“They have a lot of reliable information all collated into one area that can tell you about what a tick is, what the various species of ticks are that you’re likely to contact in the area that you live and what are prevention measures that you can take,” Tsao said.
Tips on avoiding ticks
To avoid ticks, Tsao recommends wearingbug repellent and long clothing outside.
After returning home, a full-body tick check and shower is also ideal.
Tsao said the research team is working to use artificial intelligence to make tick identification faster and more accurate.
She said she hopes that with this advancement, the app may one day be used by health care workers as a diagnostic tool.
Genevieve Fox reports for WKAR Radio in partnership with the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and Capital News Service.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
A customer looks over a flower arrangement from Wyoming-based Periwinkle. (WKTV)
Tomorrow, the City of Wyoming will host its last summer market for the season.
Set to run from 3- 7 p.m. in the parking lot behind Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St., the event will feature food and drink, local artists and vendors, and live music.
“While we’re sad to host our last Summer Market of the series, we’ve been happy to hear positive feedback from vendors, residents and community members,” said Nicole Hofert, the city’s director of planning and economic development. She also added residents should stay tuned for information regarding next year’s Summer Market Series in the City of Wyoming.
The four markets, which were co-hosted by the City of Wyoming and HOM Flats, have been featured in different parts of the city, HOM Flats, Pinery Park, 28th West parking lot and city hall. Friday’s event will be located in the parking lot behind city hall.
The band plays in unison as it marks its way through a staccato, ascending theme while their director guides them down a path, all the while envisioning the pinnacle of auto racing: Formula 1.
The piece titled “F-1” may not move as fast as the race cars, but the feel of the music portrays the sense of anticipation when played by the Cross Creek Charter Academy symphonic band, directed by David Steketee.
Check out the Cross Creek symphonic band performing “F-1” by clicking here.
Commissioned by Steketee for the school’s 25th anniversary, the song begins with the entire band building anticipation for the coming percussion breaks. Trumpets and woodwinds then pair for climbing runs, preparing for the song’s melody. It’s a noble and celebratory piece of music that promotes feelings of pride and security – themes held strongly by the school.
David Steketee directs the Cross Creek symphonic band. (Courtesy, Cross Creek Academy/National Heritage Academies)
“It’s the 25th anniversary, so I wanted to do something that’s unique,” Steketee said. “Commissions are done a lot but they’re expensive, so it’s not done often by any one school, so this is our one and only for a while.”
Composer Randall Standridge was hired to write the piece to fit the instrumentation and ability levels of the seventh/eighth grade symphonic band. The band debuted the piece during a performance in May. The $3,000 cost for the composition was quickly covered with a fundraising effort by school supporters.
“I was excited, our whole administration was excited, the Cross Creek family was excited, it was great,” Steketee said.
Band students experienced challenges because of COVID-19, not being able to play as freely due to most instruments requiring breath to make sounds. Steketee said the song provides a lot of room for his students to play together, which helps with their comfort levels.
“Anytime where they’re playing by themselves, the kids don’t like it so much,” he said. “COVID has really brought our ability level down, so when the music is fast and full instrumentation, it’s much better for their confidence.”
Being able to direct students through the song proved to be a joy for Steketee and being part of something that will live on into Cross Creek’s future adds to the director’s sense of pride.
“I just wanted to do something cool and having our name on the masthead of that piece is pretty rad,” he said. “It’ll be there forever.”
Cross Creek Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Byron Center, serving students in Young 5s through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes 98 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12thgrade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
On Sept. 13, 2022, Kentwood police officers responded to the 4500 block of Bowen Boulevard in the City of Kentwood on the report of a subject shot.
Officers arrived and located a 17-year-old male white a gunshot wound to the lower chest/abdomen area. The victim received medical treatment on scene and was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Numerous shell casings were located on scene and several vehicles/buildings were struck during this incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentwood Police Department Detective Bureau at 616-656-6604. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
Left to right: AP Coordinator Yara Barbosa, Ebise Tarekegn, Kyle Sanders, Luisa Orozco, and Principal Omar Bakri. (Courtesy, Kentwood Public Schools)
Kentwood Public Schools recently announced that four of our East Kentwood High School students earned honors from College Board’s National Recognition Program, helping them stand out in college admissions. Congrats to the following students: Chisom Okogbue, Ebise Tarekegn, Kyle Sanders, and Luisa Orozco. The students were recognized as national awardees in two of the four recognition categories – the National African-American Recognition Program and National Hispanic Recognition Program.
The students earned this recognition by excelling on AP exams and in the classroom. Students who may be eligible: have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams.
Annually the College Board announces recipients of its National Recognition Programs for achievements in school and on College Board assessments. Students are invited to apply during their sophomore or junior years, and are awarded at the beginning of the following school year.
In August, the City of Wyoming straightened the crosswalk on 56th Street and are planning to put in a HAWK beacon signal. (WKTV)
Those traveling east or west on 56th Street between Byron Center and Ivanrest may have noticed something different: the crosswalk for Kent Trails have changed.
In August, the City of Wyoming removed the median from the center of the road and straighten the trail’s crosswalk over 56th Street. With this change, the city also will install a HAWK (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK) beacon signal, which according to the Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology Department, have been proven to be effective in reducing accidents.
“There were numerous accidents at the crosswalk and quite honestly, it was confusing as to who had the right-away,” said Russ Henckel, Wyoming’s assistant director of public works and engineering. Henckel added it was the reason for the change.
Old System Created an Accident Zone
According to Michigan’s Uniform Traffic Code for Cities, Townships and Villages, under R 28.1702 Rule 702, when traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping for a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is on the half of the roadway the driver’s vehicle is traveling. A pedestrian shall not suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and cross when the vehicle is so close that it would be impossible for the driver to yield.
The original crossing designed bent the trail at the intersection so pedestrians would have a clear view of traffic. For insistence, a person traveling north, the trail curved at 56th Street so he could see the cars traveling east and then cross to the median. The median then angled to the west so pedestrians would have a clear view of cars traveling west.
“What was happening is that pedestrians would cross to the median and drivers would see them there and try to quickly slow down or stop resulting in vehicles getting rear ended,” Henckel said.
Henckel noted that there are similar median mid-crosswalks set up at other locations. Wyoming has one on Division Avenue and there is one in Grandville on Wilson Avenue. Those medians have worked well to deter accidents. Henckel said he believes it is partly because those areas are heavy volumes of traffic on five lanes, where the cars are not going to stop forcing pedestrians to be much more alert.
As for the one on 56th Street, the road is only three lanes and currently does not have the traffic volume such as a road like Division Avenue has, Henckel said.
HAWK Signal Follow Traditional Rules of the Road
With the new HAWK beacon signal, it will be clearer to both pedestrians and drivers on who has the right–of-way. (WKTV)
With a HAWK beacon signal, a pedestrian will activate the light by pressing a button. The system then starts its cycle of a flashing yellow, then steady yellow and finally a red to indicate that vehicles need to stop. Similar to an intersection crosswalk, the signal will give pedestrians a walking person to indicate when they can cross, a flashing raised hand with a counter to indicate the crossing time is ending, and a sold raised hand for do not cross.
Henckel said with the signal, it should be clearer to both drivers and pedestrians on who has the right-of-way as the rules for crossing are now the same as those at an intersection crossing. Vehicles must stop when the lights are red and pedestrians should yield and wait for the signal to change to indicate when to cross.
City staff hopes to have the new signal installed by the send of September. The delay has been the contractor who needs to install the poles for the signal, Henckel said, adding that once the poles are placed, it will not take long for the city to install the signal.
Michigan school officials are concerned about children going hungry or accumulating lunch debt after Congress recently ended federal funding for free meals for all students.
With the federal pandemic lunch program discontinued, parents must now fill out paperwork for their student to get a free lunch. (pxhere.com)
“Families are still struggling with the economic downturn during the pandemic,” said Thomas Morgan, a communications consultant for the Michigan Education Association (MEA). “It’s not over, and we need to make sure children are taken care of.”
During the pandemic, Congress passed funding to ensure all students got free meals. That ended in August, although children who would have previously qualified for free or reduced lunches will still be able to get them if their parents fill out paperwork.
Parents must fill out paperwork for free lunches
There have been instances where a parent did not fill out the paperwork, meaning a child could not get the food they need or goes into lunch debt, Morgan said.
Parents have to shift from automatically having access to free meals to having to fill out paperwork to ensure their children get what they need.
“Since paperwork was not needed for the past couple of years, some parents weren’t aware they had to fill it out for their children to qualify, ” said Tom Freitas, the director of food and nutrition services for Traverse City Public Schools. “There have been issues with not having paperwork in on time, which affects the amount of pre-ordering for meals.”
Trying to keep costs reasonable
Traverse City Public Schools are trying to make sure all children who need free or reduced lunches are able to get them, he said.
“We’re doing our best to serve all our children. Right now, our superintendent is focused on getting donations,” Freitas said.
“We’d never take away food from a child, but we do have policies in place to make sure we get the payment required. After a child is $10 in school lunch debt, the parents are contacted,” he said.
This could be a problem for parents who thought that their child was getting free meals and are suddenly confronted with lunch debt.
Other issues impacting the lunch line
Funding isn’t the only issue affecting free school lunches this fall. A shortage of administrators means delays in processing time for paperwork.
Morgan said, “There’s a lot of paperwork that goes into providing free breakfast and lunch. The federal waivers made sure every kid had a meal automatically, meaning the paperwork wasn’t necessary and so this burden was removed for administration.”
Others say the shift might not be too troublesome for schools.
“I don’t believe schools will necessarily have any real difficulty going back to the way free lunches were processed a few years ago,” said Jennifer Smith, the director of government relations for the Michigan School Board Association. “The waivers did make it easier for school administration, but it’s not as if the infrastructure wasn’t already in place.”
Schools could take it upon themselves to continue to provide free meals for all students, as several districts across the state do.
Grand Rapids Public Schools free breakfast and lunch program
Grand Rapids Public Schools have been providing free breakfast and lunches for all students for seven years.
“I think this has been extremely beneficial for our students,” said Jennifer Laninga, the nutrition services supervisor at Grand Rapids Public Schools. “All of the stigma with free or reduced lunches is eliminated. Students who would otherwise avoid using these services for fear of being judged are now on an equal footing with other students.”
According to Laninga, schools with over 60% of students using free lunch services can apply for Community Eligibility Provision, federally funded through the Department of Agriculture.
However, schools are not guaranteed funding unless over 80% of their students are a part of the free lunch program. A more universal approach would streamline the process and make sure all students have access to free and healthy lunches, Laninga said.
Working to get federal funding for free school meals
Congress is reviewing the Child Nutrition Reauthorization, said Alex Rossman, the external affairs director at the Michigan League for Public Policy, and there is a possibility that universal access for free lunches could come back.
However, that isn’t likely in an election year, he said. Additional funding would be hard to achieve.
The MEA’s Morgan agreed.
“I don’t believe it’ll go anywhere. It’s not a big priority, even though it should be,” Morgan said.
“It’s incredibly frustrating, especially when you realize that they’re literally taking food away from the kids who need it most.”
Sarah Atwood is a junior at Michigan State University double majoring in Social Relations & Policy and Journalism. She is interested in writing about how politics affects local communities and making information accessible for everyone. In her free time, she likes boxing, yoga, and spending time with friends, family, and her dog.
Kent County celebrates the opening of its new Parks Department office located at 1700 Butterworth SW. (Courtesy, Kent County Parks Department)
Kent County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today for its new Parks Department office, located at 1700 Butterworth St. SW in Grand Rapids. The new office will provide administrative space for staff and improve public access to Parks operations.
This capital improvement project was approved by the Kent County Board of Commissioners in January of 2020. The $2.68 million facility was funded by the County’s Capital Improvement Program, which was established to reduce the size of debt associated with large capital projects.
“Our county parks are a pillar of our community,” said Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Stan Stek. “The Board of Commissioners is very pleased that we were able to build this new facility without raising taxes or issuing a bond.”
The new facility features more than 7,000 square feet of office space, replacing temporary modular offices constructed in 2002.
“This is an exciting time for the County and has been a long time coming,” said Kent County Administrator Al Vanderberg. “The opening of this facility brings closure to years of hard work and equips our Parks staff with the resources needed to maintain our public spaces for years to come.”
Kent County contracted Progressive AE for Architectural and Engineering Services and JKB Construction as the General Contractor for construction.
The Kent County Parks Department manages over 6,800 acres of land including 42 properties and trails, offering a wide range of recreational opportunities. The new office will be open to the public Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
East Kentwood beat Jenison 16-0 in last week’s WKTV Game of the Week. (WKTV/Nathan Piers)
WKTV is in full swing of football season. Last Friday, our team of writers covered five games, including East Kentwood. Check out the WKTV sports coverage at the WKTVJournal.org
WKTV Game of the Week
Our 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. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.
An odd tradition – sea lamprey pie – linking the Great Lakes to Great Britain’s Royals and is expected to continue with the crowning of King Charles III.
Lampreys are considered an undesirable invasive species in the Great Lakes. They devastate native fish by latching onto them with a sucker-like mouth filled with sharp teeth.
Great Lakes state, provincial and federal governments spend millions of dollars to control them.
But baking them into a pie is a longtime tradition in the United Kingdom.
A popular delicacy
Queen Elizabeth II, who died Sept. 8 after reigning 70 years, was served the eel-like sea lamprey in 2002 to celebrate her Golden Jubilee, or 50th anniversary of being on the throne.
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission made another shipment of the fish taken from the Great Lakes 10 years later in 2012 for the queen’s 60th anniversary, and once again in 2016 for her 90th birthday.
“We capture them and send them over to Gloucester, England, so that they can continue their long tradition,” said Marc Gaden, the deputy executive secretary of the fishery commission, a binational organization founded in 1954 to fight the parasite.
“With the coronation of King Charles III coming up, I can only assume I’m going to be sending a few more over there.”
Sea lamprey are protected in the U.K. because streams there are heavily dammed, and they cannot spawn as much as they do in the Great Lakes, Gaden said.
The lamprey pie is a tradition in the U.K., spanning hundreds of years. Serving it was discontinued except for coronations in 1836, due to its high cost, according to “What’s Cooking America,” a website that documents food history.
The lamprey is baked while coated in syrup, along with some wine and spices. It is then spooned out and served on sliced white bread.
In America, mixed reviews
In 1996, Wisconsin Sea Grant organized a sea lamprey taste test in hopes of spurring a commercial market for the fish instead of simply landfilling those that they trapped.
Taste ratings were high, but the plan fell apart when contaminant tests showed that the Great Lakes lamprey contained mercury levels that were too high to meet European Union standards.
How does it taste?
“Surprisingly good,” Bob Bennet, the owner, and chef of a Duluth restaurant that hosted the event said at the time. “Try selling it without telling people what they are eating. It would be better.”
But don’t ask Gaden.
“I can’t say I’ve tried the lamprey pie,” he said.
The Wyoming Department of Public safety announced last week that suspect Yenly Garcia was found in Mexico and taken into custody.
Wyoming Police Detectives have been investigating the homicide of Mollie Schmidt since Aug. 30, 2022. The murder took place in the 1500 block of 44th Street SW inside an apartment belong to Garcia. On Sept. 2, 2022, the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office authorized an open murder warrant for Garcia associated with the incident.
Earlier this week, Garcia was taken into custody in central Mexico, north of Mexico City. He was arrested through cooperation between Wyoming Police, the United Marshals Service and Mexican authorities. Further details of his arrest are not available a this time. Extradition processes are being exorcized to return Garcia to Michigan to face his changes.
Anyone with further information on this incident is asked to contact the Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or 1-866-774-2345 or to visit www.silentobserver.org
Kentwood investigates shooting
The Kentwood Police Department wants you to keep cool this summer, and one was is to avoid crime and confrontations.
On Sept. 9, 2022, officers of the Kentwood Police Department were dispatched to the area of Kelekent Avenue and 56th Street for a possible shooting that occurred. One subject showed up to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound which is believed to be related to this incident. Three subjects were taken into custody during this investigation for charges related to this investigation and outstanding warrants.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the Kentwood Police Department Detectives Bureau at 616-656-6604 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or 1-866-774-2345 or to visit www.silentobserver.org.
No charges in Burger King incident
Kent CountyProsecutor Chris Becker announced today that he would not be filing charges in the alleged Sept. 4, 2022 assault that occurred at the Wyoming Burger King located at 1313 28th St. SW.
According to a Sept. 4 report from Wyoming Department of Public Safety, a disorderly male customer who was unhappy with his service entered the store and climbed over the counter. He acted aggressively toward staff and assaulted two juvenile employees of the business during the incident before leaving.
Upon further investigation, Becker said that while he finds the suspect’s behavior “abhorrent,” the actions of the Burger King employees was “aggressive and that there is blame on both sides for the incident.
“By no means am I condoning (the person’s) behavior,” Becker said. “This could have been avoided if he would have simply just driven away after not getting the service that he wanted at this Burger King, but he didn’t do so and we have to deal with the facts as they are and there’s just not a basis to file charges for this incident.”
The suspect, who came through the drive thru, was unhappy about the soda coming down the side of his cup. Security footage, which was shown at press conference held last week, shows an employee wiping down a cup and returning it to the suspect who knocks it out of the employee’s hand. It then shows the suspect driving around and coming into the restaurant, jumping the counter, and grabbing a cup. He then went to the soda fountain pour a drink and poured soda on the floor. An employee then threw an ice-coffee at the suspect, who confronted the employee.
From there things escalated with Becker noting that as the suspect left the premises employees pursued him with one appearing to do a flying kick out the door.
Becker said because there was a fight with both sides being aggressive, there’s not enough evidence to charge the suspect with aggravated assault.
The Sailors beat Ottawa Hills 51-12 Friday at East Kentwood’s stadium. (WKTV/Ty Marzean)
By Cris Greer, WKTV Managing Editor
A solid ground game combined with sparkling special teams play kept South Christian undefeated with a 51-12 win over Ottawa Hills Friday at East Kentwood’s stadium.
“Special teams definitely played a big outcome in the game; that was what sparked our scoring,” said South Christian coach Danny Brown, whose team improved to 3-0 overall, 1-0 in the OK Gold. “The special teams made a difference.
“We started the game with a kickoff return by Charlie Schreur, so that was huge.”
A quick score
Schreur ran 70 yards to pay dirt to give the Sailors a 7-0 lead immediately. Schreur scored two TDs in the win.
Soon after, South Christian’s Cam VanSolkema blocked a punt that Ben Mulder recovered in the end zone for a TD.
(Image courtesy of South Christian)
The Sailors tallied 356 yards in total offense as senior Nate Brinks led with 62 yards rushing and two TDs.
Quarterback Jake DeHaan was 12 of 17 for 177 yards passing.
Brown was very happy with his team’s defensive performance.
“Our defense was great; flying to the ball,” he said. “They played well at the line of scrimmage, getting a lot of guys to the ball.”
Ottawa Hills coach Christian Verley said South Christian is solid and technically sound, but his special teams broke down.
“If we don’t give up 25 points on special teams it’s a different game; that is unacceptable,” said Verley, whose team fell to 0-3 overall. “If we can clean up those things it’s really a solid game.”
Ottawa Hills junior quarterback Tyreez Buchanan was 5 for 12 for 36 yards passing and one TD and rushed 12 times for 68 yards. Junior Willie Duke had 36 yards receiving.
Send us your live game photos
We are always looking for great football game photos to post with our WKTV Journal stories on Friday nights. Please email your cool game night football pix to greer@wktv.org
WKTV Game of the Week
Our 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. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.
Kelloggsville quarterback Zach Zerfas threw for 81 yards and a touchdown. (WKTV)
By: Zach Fanko, WKTV Contributing Writer
Belding stayed among the ranks of the unbeaten after its 63-6 win over Kelloggsville Friday.
Injuries taking their toll on Kelloggsville
The Rockets came into Friday dealing with a rash of injuries which prompted the need for inexperienced players to step up. Kelloggsville coach Brandon Branch was proud of the way his team fought despite the adversity stacked against them.
“We had some key guys out tonight and had to have some inexperienced guys step up,” Branch said. “I commend our guys for getting back up and continuing to play hard.”
The Black Knights were very physical, according to Branch.
“If there’s one thing that Belding does, they hit you right in the mouth,” Branch said. “Definitely a learning experience for our players. We have to be able to take those hits and hit right back.”
Quarterback Zach Zerfas was 9 for 15 for 81 yards and a touchdown. Wideout Cam Townsend had three receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown.
Belding (3-0) takes on Grandville Calvin Christian next Friday, while Kelloggsville (0-3) travels to Hopkins.
Send us your live game photos
We are always looking for great football game photos to post with our WKTV Journal stories on Friday nights. Please email your cool game night football pix to greer@wktv.org
WKTV Game of the Week
Our 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. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.
An explosive second quarter helps Hopkins beat Godwin Heights on Friday. (WKTV)
By Cris Greer, WKTV Managing Editor
Nearly everything was decided right before the half as Hopkins outscored Godwin Heights 20-0 in the second quarter to grab a 42-20 OK Silver win on Friday.
“Scoring 20 points in the second quarter was huge for us,” said Hopkins coach Cody Francis, whose Vikings improved to 2-1 overall. “We ran the ball well and did a good job on the offensive line.
“I’m very proud of the kids. Godwin always has great athletes and are well coached. To win 42-20 was huge, and it’s always great to get your first win in conference play.”
Long pick 6 helps Hopkins in second quarter
Senior safety Zander Hitzler had a 94-yard pick 6 run in the middle of that second-quarter scoring spree, giving Hopkins a 14-6 edge.
Godwin Heights coach Brandon Kimble said the second quarter lost the game for the Wolverines.
“For us, we have to execute for four quarters,” said Kimble, whose team fell to 1-2 overall. “That one quarter got us. We made some mental breakdowns and that’s what opened the game up.
“We have to coach the boys up; it’s our responsibility. We’ll get better and keep fighting.”
Quarterback Jamarion Collins leads Wolverines
Senior quarterback Jamarion Collins, who had seven TDs in the first two weeks, had one TD pass against Hopkins.
“We play well when he plays well,” Kimble said. “He ran and threw the ball well for us tonight. He had another great game.”
Godwin Heights senior QB Jamarion Collins had one touchdown pass. (WKTV)
Send us your live game photos
We are always looking for great football game photos to post with our WKTV Journal stories on Friday nights. Please email your cool game night football pix to greer@wktv.org
WKTV Game of the Week
Our 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. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.
Wide receiver Razah Townsend had 45 receiving yards and a touchdown in a 42-0 win over Grand Haven. (WKTV)
By: Zach Fanko, WKTV Contributing Writer
After losing a tight game with Muskegon in Week 1, East Kentwood bounced back with two consecutive wins after an impressive 42-0 victory over Grand Haven on Friday night.
Dominant defense puts clamps on Bucs offense
The Falcons put a stranglehold on Grand Haven’s offensive unit with just 55 total yards allowed. The Buccaneers had just two first downs. East Kentwood coach Tony Kimbrough explained the importance of preventing the big play opportunities.
“It starts with our defensive coordinator, coach [Houston] Glass does a great job of scheming teams,” Kimbrough said. “We watched the film and saw big play after big play. So we went into this game saying we need to eliminate some of those.”
“We were able to contain their quarterback who really is quick and electric, but you’re not going to outrun us side to side.
Bowman enjoying success at new position
Halfback Stellan Bowman saw plenty of green grass in front of him all night, running for 194 yards on just 9 carries and 4 touchdowns. Bowman, who also plays linebacker for the Falcons, made the switch to running back this off season after Kimbrough watched him play rugby last spring.
“I didn’t know he could run like that until I went to a rugby game,” Kimbrough said. “Nobody could tackle him and I went up to him after the game and said you’re playing running back next year.”
Other standouts for East Kentwood on offense included wide receiver Razah Townsend with 45 receiving yards and a touchdown, as well as quarterback Casey Joppie who had 133 yards and a touchdown on 9 of 17 passing.
Homecoming next week for East Kentwood
East Kentwood (2-1, 1-0 OK Red) welcomes Jenison (1-2, 0-1 OK Red) to Falcon Stadium for a homecoming game next Friday. Meanwhile Grand Haven (1-2, 0-1 OK Red) takes on undefeated Rockford (3-0).
Send us your live game photos
We are always looking for great football game photos to post with our WKTV Journal stories on Friday nights. Please email your cool game night football pix to greer@admin
WKTV Game of the Week
Our 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. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.
Godfrey-Lee coach Lamar Marshall said his team’s 66-6 loss to visiting New Buffalo on Friday was filled with mental mistakes and drive killers, but his athletes fought hard until the end.
(Image courtesy of Godfrey-Lee)
“We had some drive killers — stalled in the red zone four times, dropped four touchdown passes, fumbled in the red zone once,” said Marshall, whose Legends dropped to 0-3 this season in 8-player football. “We beat ourselves tonight. We need to clean up the mental errors.
“Making the short tackle kind of killed us tonight. New Buffalo had a really good night rushing.”
Elijah Beckwith, who went down with a hamstring injury in the game, led with nine carries for 76 yards and one touchdown for the Legends. He had the lone score in the second quarter on a 69-yard TD run just before halftime.
No penalties
“We didn’t have one penalty today so that was a plus,” Marshall said. “My boys fought until the end. There was no letdown.
“We encouraged each other and fought hard, but we were a little overmanned today.”
Send us your live game photos
We are always looking for great football game photos to post with our WKTV Journal stories on Friday nights. Please email your cool game night football pix to greer@wktv.org
WKTV Game of the Week
Our 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. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.
The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 17 in the parking lot of the Kent District Library. Pictured is last year’s Food Truck Festival. (Courtesy City of Kentwood)
By WKTV Staff
The City of Kentwood and GR8 Food Trucks have again partnered to host a Food Truck Festival with more than 30 vendors to help the community support small businesses and make the most of the remaining summer season.
The event takes place on Saturday, Sept. 17 in the parking lot of the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. The festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., features 32 food trucks, live music and a beer and wine tent.
The event, which is free admission, features 32 vendors, live music and a beer and wine tent. (Courtesy City of Kentwood)
“We have a day full of delicious food, great music and fun planned for this Food Truck Festival,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director. “We look forward to celebrating the last few days of summer with this community-favorite event.”
There will be a wide variety of sweet and savory food options available for purchase. Participating food trucks include:
“Kentwood’s Food Truck Festival gives residents a unique opportunity to enjoy great food, build community and support local small businesses, all at one event,” said Alan Tomlinson, president of GR8 Food Trucks. “We encourage community members to come join the fun.”
The City of Kentwood and GR8 Food Trucks will host a Food Truck Festival with more than 30 vendors on Saturday, Sept. 17. (Courtesy of City of Kentwood)
The event also features a food drive to support Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry. Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation of canned goods to help restock the pantry shelves. A list of suggested donations and more information about the Little Free Pantry is on our website at kentwood.us/LittleFreePantry
This year’s diamond sponsors are Macatawa Bank and NN Mobile Solutions. Entry to the festival is free. The cost for food and beverages varies by vendor.
From high school coaches and former college players to those looking for exercise and recreation, the Kentwood Adult Beach Volleyball Leagues offer something for everyone.
“We have a large age demographic, from people who are college age all the way to retirees,” Kentwood Site Supervisor Christina Dessauer said.
Four competition-grade beach volleyball courts, unveiled in 2019 and located at the Department of Public Works on Breton Avenue, have allowed the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department to expand its beach volleyball program by offering both recreational and competitive beach volleyball leagues to interested community members.
The Kentwood Parks and Rec Adult Beach Volleyball Leagues have enjoyed a great summer at their competition-grade courts at 5068 Breton Ave. SE. (WKTV)
“The incentive of building the courts at our Department of Public Works was to have more courts available so that we could really expand our program,” said Shelby Henshaw, recreation program coordinator for Kentwood Parks and Recreation. “We are the only facility that I am aware of that has four courts like that.
“The senior population just wants to get outside, they want to exercise, they have participated in our 50-plus fall league before — so they come here as just another way to get exercise. In the competitive leagues, I find that there are high school coaches who are currently playing, former college players — I see it all.”
Henshaw said the beach volleyball courts have allowed Kentwood to expand its program from a maximum of six teams to 12 teams that play doubleheader games each week for a total of 16 games per season.
The Kentwood Parks and Rec Adult Beach Volleyball Leagues enjoying a night of competition at 5068 Breton Ave. SE. (WKTV)
Kentwood currently offers three categories of beach volleyball leagues, ages 18 and above: a 2’s (two players per team) recreational co-ed league, a 4’s (four players per team) recreational co-ed league, and a 4’s co-ed competitive league.
Co-ed is defined by Kentwood Parks and Rec as having one male and one female on the court at all times. Participants form their own leagues, finding the required number of players needed and coming to the first league night with their team already in place.
Each team plays doubleheader games in 45 minutes on league night and is responsible for keeping score, giving scores to the site supervisor, and calling infractions as they occur.
Teams also are responsible for starting their games.
Four competition-grade beach volleyball courts, located at 5068 Breton Ave. SE near the Kentwood Department of Public Works facility, are home to the Kentwood Adult Beach Volleyball Leagues. (WKTV)
“If you don’t start within the first five minutes, you forfeit your first game,” Dessauer said. “If you don’t start within the first 10 minutes you forfeit all of your games, and the other team wins automatically.”
Scores and points do matter, as the season culminates in a tournament where points seed the tournament.
“We run the tournament like a basic volleyball tournament where it is the best two out of three games,” Dessauer added.
The first two games are played to 18 points, the final game to 15, with a stipulation that the winning team wins by two points.
Volleyball leagues run year-round, ensuring that there are always volleyball activities available for interested participants.
Indoor volleyball as well
Indoor leagues are held at Kentwood Activities Center, but they also have partnered with other facilities because Kentwood’s winter leagues are so popular that the number of players has increased beyond what the Activities Center can hold.
“It is a continually growing program,” Henshaw said. “This year especially, I saw a lot of new faces. We offer four different types of leagues, so getting new people, new faces to sign up and join is always a welcome addition.”
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed
Strong hiring trends, lower commodity prices and high demand for automobiles continue to buoy the Michigan economy even as other indicators signal an economic slowdown.
That’s the conclusion of the August purchasing managers survey for the Institute for Supply Management released Sept. 6 by Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business. Brian Long, director of supply management research at GVSU, said this month’s survey serves as yet another mixed bag with respondents from local manufacturers taking business on a day-to-day basis.
“Locally, we certainly have some indications that our economy is beginning to slow, but we do not yet have evidence that we are now or are about to enter a recession,” said Long, who has been conducting the survey of West Michigan businesses for more than 28 years. “However, if our index of new orders continues to slide, we’re going to have to reassess our position.”
Brian Long is a local business forecaster. Credit: GVSU
Some key findings from this months survey include:
The new orders/sales index in August slipped to -5 from -3 in August, indicating a further erosion in sales among those surveyed
The survey’s production index saw a positive swing from +7 to +17, as did the long-term business outlook index, which rose to +28 from +12.
The short-term business outlook index also swung back into positive territory during August, going from -2 in July to +2.
Long said commodity prices for key industrial supplies like copper, some forms of steel, lead, zinc and oil continued dramatic declines, but those decreases typically do not translate into near-term changes in the retail market, where prices remain elevated.
“Industrial deflation does not easily spill over to the consumer market,” Long said. “So the Federal Reserve is still going to have to raise interest rates considerably to control consumer inflation.”
The 13th Annual Civil War Muster takes places this weekend at the Van Raatle Farm in Holland. (pxhere.com)
This weekend, time travel back to 1862 and walk among more than a hundred of Civil War military, cavalry, and civilian re-enactors.
The 13th Annual Van Raalte Farm Civil War Muster will take Saturday and Sunday at the Raalte farm, located at 176 E. St., Holland.
Re-enactors will be setting up camps where they will live, sleep, cook over campfires, play games and relax until the Battle of Antietam. The Battle of Antietam, which originally took place in Sharpsburg, Maryland, was a clash of Union General George McClellan’s Army of the Potomac and Confederate General Robert. E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The re-enacted battle will take place at 2 p.m Saturday and Sunday at the Van Raatle Farm.
Other activities include:
• Springfield, Illinois, actor Fritz Klein, will portraying President Abraham Lincoln
• Discussions from Generals Meade (Union) and Lee, Jackson, and Stuart (Confederate) about the Battle of Antietam
* A presentation by Professor Allen Guelzo, a foremost scholar on Civil War from Princeton University
* A lecture by Frank O’Reilly, a historian with National Park Service at Fredericksburg and Spotslvania National Military Park and Pam Welcome who portrays Harriet Tubman
• Music tom the Volunteer Regimental Band of Holland
• Tours of the Ben Van Raalte 1872 homestead
• An authentic 1860s church services will be at 10 a.m. Sunday
The muster runs from 9 a.m .to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m .Sunday.
The “Chrysanthemums & More!” exhibit will feature a number of displays highlighting fall colors. (Photo by Johnny Quirin)
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park will host the annual fall horticulture exhibition, Chrysanthemums & More!, Sept. 16 – Oct. 30.
A perennial favorite and the largest of its kind in Michigan, this annual fall exhibition spans thousands of blossoms across 158 sprawling acres. Chrysanthemums & More! will surprise and delight, with a focus on abundant autumn plantings arranged in intriguing and uncommon color combinations.
Both artful and natural, the palette of vivid complementary colors and subtle tone-on-tone pairings —bringing awareness to texture and shape—is sure to pique your interest and catch your eye. As you explore the gardens and grounds, indoors and out, take time to enjoy all the rich and striking detail of this year’s exhibition theme: Unexpected Color.
Plentiful plantings in the Grand Entry Garden, Welcome Center, and Gunberg and BISSELL Corridors showcase the chrysanthemum through the artistry of many designers, among them Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park horticulture staff.
In the BISSELL Corridor, a different local floral designer each week will create a singular arrangement highlighting the chrysanthemum as its primary element. Local florists include Hyssop Floral, Horrocks Market, Overgrowth Floral, Kennedy’s Flowers & Gifts, Dahlia Acres Farms, and Eastern Floral.
Of equal note are stunning displays in the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse, Earl & Donnalee Holton Victorian Garden Parlor, and Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, each lush and lovely.
Outdoors, treat your senses with a trek into the crisp fall air. Venture onto the Stuart and Barbara Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden, with its seasonal wetland views, then make your way to the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden and its cornucopia of chrysanthemums, intermingled with nontraditional autumn plantings to form a quilt-like tapestry. Continue to Michigan’s Farm Garden, where the abundant autumn harvest boasts heirloom vegetables, herbs, gourds and larger-than-life pumpkins. This example of a working 1930s family farm occasionally provides some of its more than 40 varieties of produce for our James & Shirley Balk Café.
The Glow Garden will be Sept. 20 and 27 and Oct. 4. (Supplied)
This exhibition is truly a feast for the eyes, displaying the unexpected color combinations of the magnificent mum—and more!
“This year we are exploring the beauty of Unexpected Color,” said Steve LaWarre, Vice President of Horticulture. “We hope that guests will notice the rich palette and striking details of unique and unexpected combinations of color throughout our grounds, inside and out.”
Activities throughout the exhibition, including Tuesdays at the Farm, Glow Garden and Hallowee-Ones, are full of family fun.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) will be part of the 18th annual Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day on Saturday, Sept. 17. The initiative invites museums across the United States to open their doors for free to those who download an official Museum Day ticket.
The annual event allows museums, zoos, and cultural centers from all 50 states to emulate the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C.-based facilities, which offer free admission every day. This year’s event is sponsored by The Quaker Oats Company and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Participants must download free Museum Day tickets to receive free general admission to the GRPM. Museum Day tickets are available for download at Smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present a Museum Day ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues on Sept. 17 only. One ticket is permitted per email address.
Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day goes beyond getting visitors through museum doors across the country—it acts as a springboard to empower and help advance the hopes and ambitions of the public, particularly school-aged children and those in underrepresented communities. It represents a national commitment to access, equity and inclusion. This year’s theme, The American Experience, shines a spotlight on wonderful arts, culture, sciences, innovation, and history exhibits throughout the nation.
On Saturday, Sept. 17, Museum goers to the GRPM can explore three floors of core exhibits focused on history, science, and culture, along with the GRPM’s newest traveling exhibit, A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico, as part of their admission.
Other Michigan museums that will be participating in the Smithsonian Museum Day are Little Traverse Historical Museum in Petoskey; Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven; Midwest Miniatures Museum in Grand Haven; Plymouth Historical Museum in Plymouth; and Rochester Hills Museum in Van Hoosen Farm in Rochester.
A Greece-based snack company has announced its plans to open its first North American manufacturing operation in the City of Kentwood.
The SnackCraft location will be at 4444 52nd St. SE. (Supplied)
Unismack, SA, a developer and manufacturer of high-quality crackers and other snack foods, will open its new location at 4444 52nd Street SE. The U.S. business will operate as SnackCraft, LLC with the website of www.snackcraft.com. The plant will add 185 new jobs and $41.7 million in capital investment over the next five years.
“We are honored SnackCraft has chosen the City of Kentwood as its first location in the United States, bringing well-paying jobs and a significant investment in our community,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “SnackCraft is positioned for success here with an engaged workforce and welcoming community. We are committed to supporting the company’s investment and growth with our solutions-focused team and streamlined development processes.”
Working with the State to Make It Happen
The Right Place worked closely with Unismack to bring this new facility to the Greater Grand Rapids region rather than other out-of-state locations being considered. With the approval of a $1 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is supporting the expansion through the Michigan Strategic Fund. West Michigan Works! and Grand Rapids Community College will also be supporting the project with a $614,000 workforce training package.
“As we looked into another manufacturing location for our company, the Grand Rapids region seemed like an obvious choice,” said Dimitrios Stratakis, Unismack founder & CEO. “There is an abundance of talent and resources here in West Michigan to help us in the next phase of our journey and we’re thankful to the team at The Right Place and their partners at the MEDC for their support.”
The new Grand Rapids facility, led by CEO Joseph Riley, will be a co-packer/contract manufacturer of baked crackers, tortilla chips, single and twin-screw extruded snacks, and pellet snacks such as veggie chips and straws. The facility will include an innovation center to assist customers with research and development of new products to meet changing consumer tastes and demand. SnackCraft will also provide warehousing and some 3PL services for its customers.
“We’re very happy we were able to assist SnackCraft in finding the perfect environment to grow their operations here in the United States,” said Brent Case, vice president of Business Attraction for The Right Place and project lead. “With the amount of talent available and the previous successes of other food and beverage companies in the area, Kentwood has created a desirable location for global companies like SnackCraft to thrive.”
With opponents from both schools pulling out of scheduled games, Grand Rapids Union and Godwin Heights decided to take the field against each other as the Red Hawks emerged with a 48-18 victory on Thursday.
Godwin pulls ahead early, Union’s depth leads to win
The Wolverines had an early lead, and even had an opportunity to lead by multiple scores after a blocked punt. However, Godwin Heights was unable to take advantage.
Lack of depth played a factor, according to Godwin Heights coach Brandon Kimble.
“We knew when we took the game on short notice they had more depth than us,” Kimble said. “We just needed to be more conditioned and execute, and in the beginning we did that.”
Senior quarterback Jamarion Collins added two more touchdowns, after a five touchdown performance a week ago.
Coach Kimble explained the decision to play Union on short notice after their previous opponent dropped the game due to a shortage of players.
“For us, it was more important to make sure we had a game to play,” Kimble said. “Last season we went 5-3, and had a team on our schedule drop down to 8-man and we were unable to reschedule.
“We just didn’t want to put ourselves in that same exact situation.”
Under the old playoff system, a team that won six of nine games or five of eight was guaranteed a playoff spot, but the MHSAA has opted for a points-based playoff model.
Grand Rapids Union (2-0) will face Wyoming next Friday at 7 p.m., while Godwin Heights (1-1) travels to Hopkins for a 7 p.m. contest on Sept. 9.
Send us your live game photos
We are always looking for great football game photos to post with our WKTV Journal stories on Friday nights. Please email your cool game night football pix to greer@wktv.org
WKTV Game of the Week
Our 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. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.
South Christian quarterback Jake DeHaan had another great night, throwing four touchdowns in the first half of the Sailors win over East Grand Rapids. (WKTV)
By Cris Greer, WKTV Managing Editor
Coming off a solid 42-7 opening-season win last week over Grand Rapids Christian, visiting South Christian kept it rolling with a strong 35-6 showing over East Grand Rapids Thursday.
Senior quarterback Jake DeHaan lit it up again with four touchdown passes, all in the first half, to give his team the momentum heading into halftime at 28-6.
He completed 16 of 20 passes for 314 yards and rushed 16 times for 91 yards. Last week, he threw four touchdown passes and ran for two.
Big second quarter for South Christian
South Christian coach Danny Brown said DeHaan helped the Sailors put the game out of reach in the second quarter by tallying 21 points.
“I think from a physical standpoint, we played the game the right way,” said Brown, whose Sailors improved to 2-0. “We were physical and fast. It was just one of those games where everything seemed to be clicking for us.
“The coaches were on fire with play calls and the kids were executing. That makes for a fun night.”
(Image courtesy of South Christian)
South Christian senior Brady Nitz had four catches for 108 yards and two TDs.
“Brady has taken the bull by the horns and has stepped up,” said Brown, whose receiver filled in for injured senior Tanner Buwalda. “The kid’s a hard worker and has earned everything he’s gotten.”
“If Brady’s not catching touchdowns he’s blocking like crazy.”
Brown said his defense was phenomenal.
Ben Mulder led with 5.5 tackles, while Cam Post added five.
Send us your live game photos
We are always looking for great football game photos to post with our WKTV Journal stories on Friday nights. Please email your cool game night football pix to greer@wktv.org
WKTV Game of the Week
Our 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. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.
The Godfrey-Lee Legends at practice in 2021. (WKTV)
By Zach Fanko, WKTV Conributing Writer
Featuring a strong rushing attack and an opportunistic defense, the Mendon Hornets jumped ahead early and never looked back in a 76-12 victory over Godfrey-Lee in 8-player action on Thursday.
Ground and pound for Mendon
Mendon ran it early and often against the Legends to the tune of 444 yards on 31 carries. Hornets running back Jack McCaw was the largest beneficiary with 210 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns.
Mendon coach Robert Kretschman said it all starts up front.
“Being able to control the line of scrimmage was key for us,” Kretschman said. “That’s our M.O., ground and pound and playing solid defense.”
The Hornets completed just one pass on three attempts, an 81-yard touchdown from quarterback Luke Schinker to tight end Gabe Haigh.
Turnovers end promising drives for Lee
Godfrey-Lee had several promising drives early. One of which ended in a touchdown pass for quarterback Anthony Block, making his first start of the season after missing last week’s game due to injury. Three other drives ended in interceptions.
(Image courtesy of Godfrey-Lee)
“We sustained drives in the first half,” Lee coach Lamar Marshall said. “The drive killers got us, those interceptions ended some good looking drives.”
After a strong game last week, running back Elijah Beckwith added 88 yards on the ground including a 50-yard rushing touchdown.
Mendon (1-1) hosts Bridgman on September 9 at 7 p.m., while Godfrey-Lee (0-2) hosts New Buffalo September 9 at 7 p.m.
Send us your live game photos
We are always looking for great football game photos to post with our WKTV Journal stories on Friday nights. Please email your cool game night football pix to greer@wktv.org.
WKTV Game of the Week
Our 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. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.
Ionia senior Ethan Bowen made the most of his first varsity start at quarterback as he threw two touchdowns and ran for two more in the Bulldogs 44-8 win over home team Kelloggsville Thursday.
Bowen, who filled in for the injured Travis Tucker, Jr., had 101 yards in the air and 82 on the ground.
“He’s one of our captains, a wide receiver and the backup quarterback,” said Ionia coach Chad Rhynard, whose team improved to 1-1. “He did a great job and the kids rallied behind him tonight. I was surprised, but not really surprised. He’s a great leader for us and does what we ask of him.
“I think he was pretty excited for the opportunity.”
Rhynard said once they took a 14-0 lead his team settled in offensively.
“I was happy with the way we ground it out,” said Ryhnard, whose Bulldogs led 28-8 at the half. “We want to possess the ball and gain first downs. Overall, not too many complaints for us.”
Receiver Mason Doty scored two touchdowns for 88 yards total.
Kelloggsville coach Brandon Branch said his team came out and played hard all night long.
“Their mentality, aggressiveness and willingness was all there,” said Branch, whose Rockets fell to 0-2. “Early on, our defense held tough. We fumbled on our first possession and our defense stopped them. If we capitalized on the first two drives it could have gone a different way.
“I’m proud of their effort; they played together and they got after it.”
Cam Townsend scored the lone touchdown for Kelloggsville in the first quarter on an 80-yard pass from senior quarterback Zach Zerfas. Townsend led with 113 yards receiving on four catches.
Despite Kelloggsville’s offensive struggles, Zerfas ended up with 188 yards passing. As a junior last year, Zerfas passed for over 2,400 yards and threw 24 touchdowns.
Send us your live game photos
We are always looking for great football game photos to post with our WKTV Journal stories on Friday nights. Please email your cool game night football pix to greer@wktv.org
WKTV Game of the Week
Our 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. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.
Ford International Airport is holding its annual Runway 5K and one-mile fun run on Saturday, Sept. 24. (Courtesy)
By WKTV Staff
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport welcomes runners and walkers to participate in the annual Runway 5K and one-mile fun run on Saturday, Sept. 24.
Registration has already begun for this unique race, which gives walkers and runners the rare opportunity to compete on an actual airport runway. The course will begin north of the economy parking lot, looping onto taxiway Juliet and runway 8L/26R, the Airport’s general aviation runway, before ending back at the parking lot.
Race-day registration
Race-day registration and packet pickup begins at 7 a.m., with the 5K race starting at 9 a.m. The one-mile fun run will begin at 9:05 a.m. Awards for the top three overall males, females and individual age groups will be presented at 10:15 a.m.
Early packet pickup and registration will take place 4-7 p.m. Sept. 23 at The Runnery, located at 5361 Alpine Ave. NW in Comstock Park.
This year’s charity partner is Kids’ Food Basket. This West Michigan nonprofit exists to increase access to healthy food for children and families through its Sack Supper program, community-driven farming, family food provision and educational programming.
“We are delighted to host this community-favorite event,” said Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “This race gives runners and walkers a unique experience, as the course is typically reserved for aircraft only.
“As an organization that values connections, this is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together to support Kids’ Food Basket, which fills a critical need for children across West Michigan.”
Ford International Airport is holding its annual Runway 5K and one-mile fun run on Saturday, Sept. 24. (Courtesy)
Registration for the 5K begins at $44 and $30 for the one-mile fun run. Registration includes a T-shirt, finisher medals for those who complete the 5K or fun run, post-race snacks and beverages, awards for top finishers and free finisher’s photos.
“We are so grateful to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport for hosting the Runway 5K,” said Bridget Clark Whitney, president and founding CEO of Kids’ Food Basket. “What an incredible way to gather our community together to nourish our neighbors. Your support helps to break down barriers to food equity for children and families in West Michigan.
“This school year, we are serving approximately 9,600 evening meals, or Sack Suppers, daily to children in 60 schools across four counties. Thank you for being community champions of this critical work.”
The Ford International Airport’s two commercial aviation runways will still be operational during the race.
The Runway 5K focuses on partnering with local nonprofits that support residents of the greater West Michigan community. In 2021, the event raised nearly $11,000 for charity. This year’s presenting sponsor is The Christman Company. The official nutrition sponsor is Meijer. Gold sponsors include Experience Grand Rapids, Northern Jet Management, Pioneer Construction and Ward Aviation. Silver sponsors include Ice Mountain and Macatawa Bank. Bronze sponsors include FastSigns and The Professional Group.
The race is organized by Trivium Racing and the Ford International Airport Authority.
A piece for the upcoming ArtPrize exhibit featuring the work of Mark Mennin. ((Supplied)
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park will present a selection of works by sculptor Mark Mennin as part of the annual ArtPrize competition and an extended fall exhibition at various locations in and around the new Welcome Center.
ArtPrize runs Thursday, Sept.15, through Sunday, Oct. 2. Mennen’s Embedded installation is the official ArtPrize entry at Meijer Gardens. The extended fall exhibition Mark Mennen: Written in Stone runs Sept. 2 through Nov. 27.
Embedded, the artist’s ArtPrize 2022 entry, comprises three oversized stone beds situated outdoors on the Frey Foundation Plaza leading into the Welcome Center. This trio plays with our perception of hard and soft, heavy and light. As such, these pillowy stone sculptures offer an invitation to test our strength and sense of touch. Several of Mennin’s preferred sculpted forms, like clothing or cushions, upend our expectations of stone’s standard qualities.
Along with the ArtPrize entry, other sculptures by Mennin will be on view in the exhibition Written in Stone. Within the PNC Portico outside of the Welcome Center, a marble colonnade features five recycled columns with carved Elizabethan ruff collars for capitals. The columns came from a 19th-century New York City building that was partly destroyed in the 1930s and buried in a New Jersey landfill. The “found” or repurposed stone in Mennin’s fanciful colonnade literally has history inscribed in its form, along with the record of the stone’s own physical past. Additional sculptures will be featured in the Courtyard Level of the Welcome Center. Most of Mennin’s projects, including his carved beds, enlist reclaimed stone or recycled scrap and slag from various quarries.
Mark Mennin’s “Emperor’s New Clothes” (Supplied)
“Mark Mennin’s Embedded installation perfectly embodies the spirit of ArtPrize. These sculpted stone beds are engaging and thought provoking, and invite us to connect with the physical world,” said Suzanne Ramljak, chief curator at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. “Through his sensual carved forms, he grounds us in primal geology and the histories of both built and natural stone environments. His beds also bring the private acts of pleasure and relaxation out into the public sphere.”
Meijer Gardens is an official ArtPrize venue as part of the 12th annual ArtPrize competition. ArtPrize exhibition areas are free and open to the public during regular Meijer Gardens business hours. All other areas observe regular hours and standard admission fees.
Kent District Library, Schuler Books and two other libraries from across Michigan announce the eleventh annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest, which drew almost 1,200 entries last year.
Michigan writers of all ages are invited to enter, with separate categories for youth, teens and adults. Writers can enter in either English or Spanish. Winning entries will be published and receive cash prizes.
“So many writers have the goal of getting their story published, and Write Michigan gives them that opportunity,” said Katie Zuidema, marketing communications specialist at KDL. “Not only do writers have the chance to win $500, but their story could also be available to the masses in a bookstore and on library shelves across the state.”
Laying Out the Rules
Stories can be submitted at writemichigan.org through Wednesday, Nov.30. Details include a 3,000-word maximum length; $10 entry fee for ages 18 and above, free for 17 and under; current Michigan residents only; all entries must be submitted online.
There will be four cash prizes given in each of the three categories ― Judges’ Choice ($500), Spanish Language ($500), Readers’ Choice ($250) and Judges’ Choice Runner-up ($250). The top ten stories in each category will be reviewed by a panel of judges comprised of published authors, editors, professors and literary agents. A public vote will determine the winners of Readers’ Choice.
Winners will be honored during an awards ceremony in April and their story will be published in an anthology by Chapbook Press. Author Caitlin Horrocks as the Write Michigan keynote author for 2023.
Those who enjoy reading stories are encouraged to sign up to be a volunteer story reviewer at writemichigan.org/volunteer.
Getting Inspired
Traverse Area District Library and Canton Public Library are partners this year and will work to attract writers and volunteers from their part of Michigan.
New this year is a community of writers online through Facebook (facebook.com/WriteMichigan) and Instagram (@write.michigan). Also Kent District Library is offering a programming series geared towards writers and aspiring writers, covering topics like getting published, the art of description and developing strong characters. For more details, including dates, times and locations, visit writemichigan.org/writers-conference.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum’s current exhibit is “Fashion + Nature.” (Supplied)
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) and the John Ball Zoo (JBZ) announced a member reciprocal partnership during the month of September 2022. Members from both organizations will receive free admission at both locations during this time.
Through this partnership, GRPM members can visit the John Ball Zoo and receive free general admission, including access to their KoalaPalooza event over Labor Day weekend and Washed Ashore – Art to Save the Sea exhibit. JBZ members in return can visit the GRPM and receive free general admission to visit their newest exhibit A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico, opening Sept. 3, as well as the GRPM original exhibit, Fashion + Nature.
Exhibits at Both Locations
GRPM tickets can be reserved in advance at grpm.org, and John Ball Zoo tickets can be reserved at jbzoo.org.
‘We’re excited to continue our partnership with the John Ball Zoo to offer this special benefit to our members,” said Kate Kocienski, the GRPM’s Vice President of Marketing & PR. “This partnership allows members to maximize the value of their annual membership, and experience what each organization has to offer, all month long.”
The John Ball Zoo is currently feature The “Washed Ashore” exhibit. (Washed Ashore)
Kocienski noted that both organizations are currently featuring exhibits focused on sustainability, with John Ball Zoo’s captivating Washed Ashore exhibit and the GRPM’s Fashion + Nature exhibit, delivering immersive, eye-opening experiences suitable for all ages.
Opening this weekend at the Grand Rapids Public Museum is “A Celebration of Souls” Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico,” which features photographs and altars, known as offends, to capture a typical Oaxacan Day of the Dead celebration.
For additional details regarding Zoo hours and admission, along with education and conservation programs, visit www.jbzoo.org or call 616-336-4300.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, with its main location in downtown Grand Rapids, MI at 272 Pearl Street, NW. For additional information including hours of operation, admission fees, and exhibit/event listings, please visit www.grpm.org.
Xia Dargo participates in the Kentwood Parks and Rec waterskiing clinic this summer at YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin in Middleville. Funds raised at The Vibe will go toward purchasing new equipment for Kentwood’s many adaptive programs, including waterskiing. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff
Community members are invited to The Vibe, an annual celebration and fundraiser to enhance the City of Kentwood’s adaptive recreation programs, on Thursday, Sept. 8.
This year’s event will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Kent District Library, Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. It will include food and cocktails, live music by the Moonshot Band, a silent auction, adaptive equipment displays and yard games.
Funds raised at The Vibe will go toward purchasing new equipment for Kentwood’s many adaptive programs, including golf. Troy Almli tees off at the Scott Lake Golf & Practice Center this summer during Kentwood’s Adaptive Golf League. (WKTV)
The evening also will feature guest speaker Lee “Coach” Montgomery, a longtime coach and athlete of wheelchair and adaptive sports, who will share more about his experience in both roles.
Montgomery has medaled in the Paralympics, traveled the world and played a range of different sports, including sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis. He won a gold medal for wheelchair basketball in 1990 and in 1993 was recognized as one of the top 10 wheelchair tennis players in the U.S.
His coaching career began in 1988 with Kentwood Parks and Recreation, where he led the junior wheelchair basketball team for several years. He was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Hall of Fame in 2015.
“Coach Lee has long been a champion for adaptive sports and recreation and athletes of all abilities, and we’re excited for him to join us at this year’s event,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director. “We welcome the community to join us to learn more about his story and the value of inclusive recreational opportunities.”
Tickets for the casual-attire event are $40 per person. They can be purchased online at KentwoodVibe.com or by calling 616-656-5270.
Fundraising for adaptive rec programs
Funds raised at this year’s event will go toward purchasing new equipment for Kentwood’s many adaptive programs. These offerings include archery, cycling club, boccia league, bowling, canoeing, downhill skiing, golf league, leisure club, kayaking, rock climbing, track and field clinics, pickleball, wake boarding and waterskiing, along with dances and other social events.
Mark your calendars for The Vibe on Thursday, Sept. 8 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Kent District Library, Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. The giving wall, shown here from last year’s event, presents an opportunity for people to donate towards specific adaptive equipment needed or to sponsor a specific adaptive program/event.
“We have a wide variety of adaptive recreation programs that meet the interests of all individuals – from social opportunities like leisure club to sensational activities like waterskiing,” said Ann Przybysz, Kentwood’s recreation program coordinator. “These programs give individuals an opportunity to connect and experience the benefits that come with recreational activities, including a sense of camaraderie, improved confidence and new skills.”
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department provides Michigan’s most comprehensive adaptive recreation programming in partnership with community partners, including Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan, Hope Network, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and dozens of volunteers.
Programs are open to individuals of all abilities in Kentwood and beyond. To learn about current offerings, visit kentwood.us/adaptive.
Members of the Davenport University esports team, from left, Austin Mikkelsen, Coach Colin Graham, Jessie Barger, Benjamin Pringle and Abraham Hernandez. (WKTV)
By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer
Esports isn’t just exploding in high schools across the country, it also has found a foothold in many colleges as well.
Short for electronic sports, esports can offer students a sense of belonging, college scholarships, and for some, a new path in life.
Davenport University freshman Abraham Hernandez and League of Legends esports player said video games changed his life.
“Kept me off the streets”
“I didn’t grow up in the best neighborhood,” Hernandez said. “It kept me off the streets.”
On a personal level, Hernandez said playing video games with his friends as a teen was “some of the best memories I’ve ever had in my life. The relationships I’ve built off of it, the memories I have — I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Hernandez also sees the value in long-term benefits of esports.
“I enjoy the competitiveness, the drive, the want to get better, knowing how to get better at something — that skill goes way beyond esports. Esports changed my life for the better and I don’t know where I would be without it.”
Like traditional sports, esports teaches soft skills: teamwork, accountability and communication being just a few. Character building, developing discipline, self-esteem and sportsmanship also are advantages of being on an esports team.
Organized competitions in the video game culture experienced a surge in popularity in the late 2000s, with esports becoming a significant factor in the video game industry by 2010.
Michigan experienced their own surge in esports popularity in 2019 — and has seen it gain considerable traction over the last few years in both public and private educational facilities.
Colin Graham, head coach of esports at Davenport University, told WKTV that the college esports program began in 2019 with an arena in the Student Activity Center.
“We started with eight (game) titles. I was tasked with bringing in 20 students my first year. I had five recruited and signed prior to becoming head coach.”
South Christian High School in Byron Center also is new to the esports scene, beginning in the 2020-2021 school year with nine participants. They are not yet competitive, but are willing to continue the program for grades 9-12.
South Christian High School jumped into the esports scene in the 2020-21 school year. (Courtesy)
“We strive to give kids the most opportunities we can as an athletic department within the scope of our school motto which is equipping students to live Christ-centered lives in order to serve God to their greatest potential,” said David Kool, athletic director at South Christian High School. “The main goal is to give our students another platform to have fun and do what they love to do.”
Participants in esports are considered athletes, the same as in traditional sports.
“We have practices, we have scrimmages, we have film review, we have expectations,” explained Graham, who said the inception of esports at Davenport was well-received by traditional athletes at the college, and that the other athletes seem to understand what the esports community is trying to do and accomplish.
Davenport esports athletes Benjamin Pringle and Austin Mikkelsen both enjoy the competitive aspect of esports.
Back-to-back national championships
“I’m a really competitive person,” said Pringle, Davenport sophomore and part of the Counter Strike: Global Offensive team. That competitive spirit won Pringle two back-to-back national championships, but there also is a more personal reason for Pringle’s dedication to the sport.
Davenport University Esports lab. (WKTV)
“I don’t have my parents’ support and I wanted to get away to support myself. So, I was like, I might as well do what makes me happy.”
Austin Mikkelsen, also a Davenport sophomore esports athlete, said, “I enjoyed the part of winning your lane and just beating somebody. You can see you’re better than somebody at it. It gave me a drive for it.”
Like traditional athletes, esports is not for the faint of heart.
“We are a year-round sport,” Graham said. “We compete from September through April. Summers are where they are offered down-time if they would like to take a break, but some of our teams don’t.”
Graham makes it clear that if participants decide to continue through summer, all of the obligations that come with in-season practices and scrimmages carry over to the summer.
Nationally-ranked
Those expectations have produced results. Last year, Davenport University finished in the top eight teams nationally in the game Call of Duty. Their Rainbow Six team is currently ranked on the fringe of the top 10 national teams, and their Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is currently the best in the nation.
Benjamin Pringle (left) and Jessie Barger in the Davenport University Esports Lab. (WKTV)
And esports offers more than championship rings and prizes.
Graham previously worked at schools where sports were the kids’ way of getting to the next level and out of unfavorable circumstances in life.
“My coaching mantra is: Using the esports platform to offer opportunities to students who wouldn’t have them through traditional sports.”
Jessie Barger, a junior at Davenport University and esports athlete, is one of the students who found his home in esports.
Fitting in, building relationships
“When I was younger, I felt like I didn’t fit in to most traditional sports,” Barger said. “I felt like I was more comfortable playing video games.”
Esports offers a level of social interaction some students may not otherwise achieve.
“It’s their way of having social interaction,” Graham said. “They have friends that they know online that they’ve known for years.”
Graham said Davenport’s Call of Duty team owes its success to the fact that the players have all played the game together since the age of 12.
But that’s not all.
College scholarships?
High school esports participants can take advantage of college scholarships as well.
“All students on our roster, aside from maybe one or two, are scholarshipped,” Graham said. “I am very aware of the cost of attending a university. I also believe that you shouldn’t leave college with a mountain of debt if you don’t have to.”
Kool says scholarship opportunities “definitely gives esports more credibility” in the eyes of students and parents since the concept of esports is still new to many of them.
Graham actively recruits for his esports teams, admitting that he is “old-school” in his recruiting, traveling and speaking at schools and meeting with both teachers and students.
“I think it’s really beneficial to the program to make those connections.”
He also feels it is important that each participant fits the overall personality of the group they will be joining.
“We want to make sure that they feel this is a place they can call home, and they can find their people and they have an experience here that is beneficial to them long term.”
Kool also has seen advantages to esports programs, the main benefit being opportunities it gives students to be successful and have fun.
“Their confidence can grow in themselves as a person, and it gives them a sense of belonging,” Kool explained. “Esports is a great program where kids can experience playing these games in a safe and friendly way while building confidence and morale within a school setting.”
Graham believes esports has definite longevity.
“If you look at the history of video games, there has been interest in it since they hit the market. It really caters to a specific kind of person … so it gives participants an opportunity to find people like them and socialize.”
Proof also is in the continued interest among high school and college students.
“This year, we should be pushing about 70 students across nine different titles,” Graham said. And that includes domestic and international students.
Esports “here to stay”
“I don’t think it’s going to go anywhere,” Graham continued. “I think the games that are competed in may come and go, but esports as a whole, I think, is here to stay.”
“Esports in high school isn’t the future. It’s the present,” claims the website of popular esports platform PlayVS.
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed
This past Saturday, the City of Wyoming opened its newest splash pad at Gezon Park. City, county and state officials were on hand for the big event with the water officially being turned on around 10:20 a.m. Area children couldn’t wait for the opportunity to cool off on the warm summer day, spraying each other along with adults standing to the side.
“I think it is great,” said Wyoming resident Chad Coots. “It shows the commitment to improving our community.
“I think often the City of Wyoming is misrepresented in West Michigan. This just proves the commitment to making their community better. I see the turnout here. We have the full support of the public works department, of the police, of the fire department and it just shows how great a community this is.”
The splash pad at Gezon Park is the fifth one within the city and the only one located in the city’s southern area. The other splash pads are located at Jackson Park, Lamar Park, Oriole Park, and Southlawn Park. All of the splash pads will be open through Labor Day weekend.
Robinette’s is home of the Big Apple, which has been on the farm since 1973, nearly 50 years. Many of the apple orchard’s guests take pictures with the iconic, nine-foot apple located in the picnic area.
The corn maze opens sep. 6 and will run through Nov. 6. Maze tickets are $9 per person with children 2 and under free. Hours for the maze are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The 125-acre Robinette’s Apple Haus and Winery was purchased by Edward Robinette in 1911, when he found the farm while he was visiting a friend in Grand Rapids. When he purchased it, the farm was solely a fruit tree farm made of apples, peaches and Cherries.
The farm still maintains these fruit trees, but has started expanding in 1971 with the cider mill, followed by donuts in 1972 and the Apple Haus in 1973. The gift barn came in 1985, and the winery was opened in 2006. Other additions have included pies, lunches, and more added every year.
Robinette’s is now open year round. For hours, activities and more information, visit www.robinettes.com
