One person is injured after a shooting that occurred in the area of 32nd Street SE and South Division Avenue.
At approximately 10:20 p.m. on Friday, May 10, officers from the Wyoming Police Department responded to the area of 32nd Street SE and South Division Avenue for multiple reports of shots being fired. During the investigation, a male shooting victim was located.
The male, an 18-year-old Wyoming resident, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital for treatment. Suspect information is not available at this time.
Public assistance requested
Wyoming Police Detectives and Forensic Services Unit continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police detectives at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
Wylea Griggs, founder and owner of Quantum Mental Health Wellness Center in Wyoming. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
By Cris Greer
WKTV Managing Editor
greer@wktv.org
There’s no doubt COVID-19 impacted the mental health of many people in the United States. New Wyoming business owner Wylea Griggs said mental health declined throughout the country, and so did hers.
“I started experiencing severe anxiety with panic attacks, and I took a leave of absence from work to focus on my mental health,” said Griggs, owner and founder of Quantum Mental Health Wellness Center, located at 1095 Gezon Pkwy. SW, Wyoming. “I couldn’t take medication due to adverse effects. This is when my mentor introduced me to frequency therapy.
“I immediately bought the technology and started using it daily on myself and then my family.”
Quantum Mental Health Wellness Center was born
“When I was able to stop my panic attacks and manage my anxiety, I knew I needed to help others as I helped myself,” explained Griggs, who opened her new business on Sept. 22, 2023. “That’s when I resigned from my job, opened my practice and joined an amazing group practice as a contractor.”
Quantum Mental Health Wellness Center located at 1095 Gezon Pkwy. SW, Wyoming. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
Helping people through her experience with anxiety and panic attacks
“I started helping women who experienced what I was going through,” Griggs continued. “From there, I decided to open my mental health wellness center and bring cutting edge innovative technology to help women overcome their mental health struggles holistically using frequency therapy.
“I have expanded to not only helping women, but women and families. I also help employers with women’s wellness by offering corporate mental wellness to employers.”
Backing up a bit
After beginning her college studies to become a criminal lawyer, a psychology class changed Wylea Grigg’s path in life.
“Then I had two loves, law and psychology,” said Griggs, who has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and master’s degree in professional counseling from Lindenwood University. “So, I started taking more classes in psychology. I found out I absolutely love researching; I love learning about the brain and body.
“I got my masters degree in counseling because I wanted to help. I love talking to people and helping them.”
After college, Griggs worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor through the state of Michigan, working with students and adults with disabilities to help them find and keep a job.
“I had the opportunity to help them attend college … and offer career counseling,” she explained.
Quantum
Griggs said her Center offers a nurturing space where women and their families can access comprehensive care that combines traditional counseling with cutting-edge innovative technologies like the Theta Chamber, AO Scan and rTMS.
“We’re helping women and families get to the root cause of their mental health struggles.”
Holistic approach
“A lot of individuals are looking for holistic ways to mental health wellness,” Griggs said. “Our goals revolve around providing a comprehensive and holistic approach and empowering women and families to achieve mental well-being.”
Treating with innovative tech
Griggs said her Center addresses a wide range of mental health and neurological challenges using innovative technology. Some of the health challenges include, depression, ADHD, anger, fear, autism, alcohol addiction, stress, panic attacks, weight loss, sexual dysfunction, insomnia and brain fog.
Theta Chamber
“One of our cutting-edge, innovative technologies we offer is the Theta Chamber, a revolutionary tool designed to promote deep relaxation, stress reduction and emotional well-being,” Griggs explained. “The Theta Chamber utilizes advanced audio and visual stimulation techniques to guide individuals into a state of deep relaxation and heightened awareness known as the theta brainwave state. This state is associated with profound relaxation, creativity and enhanced cognitive processing for your subconscious mind.”
Theta Chamber at the Quantum Mental Health Wellness Center. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
rTMS
“Known as Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, rTMS is a groundbreaking non-invasive procedure that has shown remarkable results in treating a range of mental health conditions.”
Griggs said rTMS is used to treat issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD and chronic pain.
rTMS device at Quantum Mental Health Wellness Center. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
AO Scan
According to her website, an AO Scan is an “advanced biofeedback system that utilizes electromagnetic frequency technology to assess the body’s energetic imbalances and provide insights into your overall health and well-being. It operates on the principle that every cell in our body emits a unique electromagnetic frequency, and by analyzing these frequencies, AO Scan can detect subtle imbalances and potential areas of concern.”
For more information on the Quantum Mental Health Wellness Center, click here.
Wyoming parks have shown signs of new growth for several weeks. As the first week of May comes to an end, trees and bushes move from sporting buds to leafing out.
Spring officially began on March 19, 2024, but many tree branches and plant stalks remained bare until recent days.
Trees typically leaf out when days lengthen and nights shorten. This triggers new growth and development. However, there’s no set date for when trees and plants will leaf out and bloom. In the Midwest, it is common for trees to hold off sprouting new leaves until mid-April due to the chance of frost.
Palmer Park was a natural haven of blue sky, sunshine and new green growth as the second week of May began. Several local residents are taking advantage of the park’s walking trails, enjoying the fresh air and warmer temperatures.
The City of Wyoming has several parks for residents to enjoy. A full list can be found here.
Wyoming pitcher Kalani Stowe throwing her 600th strikeout in a win over Comstock Park last week. (Courtesy Marty Marzean)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
Wyoming Wolves record-breaking senior Kalani Stowe caught the eye of Coach Kaitlin Failing when she was still in elementary school.
“We have been working with Kalani since the summer before her fifth-grade year,” Failing said. “She came to our camp and began pitching with us that summer in our open pitching times.”
Stowe became the first softball pitcher in Wyoming history to eclipse the 600-strikeout mark this past Thursday against Comstock Park. Stowe mowed down the Panthers with a 19-K performance, giving up four hits in a complete game as the Wolves scored a 10-2 victory.
Coach Failing admires the work ethic and determination put forth by her senior hurler. Stowe has been a work in progress since walking through the doors as a fifth grader.
“She has excelled on the softball field since we first knew her,” Failing said.
“She didn’t start pitching during the travel ball season until the summer after her 8th grade year. We knew she was going to be good because of her ability to snap the ball and go all out. She just needed the opportunity to pitch in games.”
Stowe made an impact on the varsity roster as a freshman, collecting 156 strikeouts in 89 innings of work in her first season.
“She worked extremely hard to be ready to pitch varsity with very little experience on the mound leading up to her first high school season,” Failing said.
“She came to weekly lessons to work on controlling her movement pitches and increasing her spin rate. What sets her apart is her spin rate and her ability to spin the ball and make it move with her movement pitches. For her, it was learning to control her natural ability to spin the ball and make the ball do what she wanted it to do for each pitch.”
The Wolves took part in the Northview tournament this past weekend, and Stowe added to her impressive record by throwing a five-inning, no-hitter against Spring Lake in a 7-0 win. She also tossed another three innings against Kenowa Hills in the Wolves’ 11-0 victory over the Knights, taking her career mark to 637 strikeouts.
With 14 games remaining on the Wolves’ schedule, the 700 club is well within reach for Stowe, who has committed to play at Grand Rapids Community College.
“It was very exciting to see her surpass this record because of all the hard work she has put in for years to get to this point,” Failing said. “But we are also excited to see how high she can go this season and see if she can make it over 700 as well.”
A .600 batting average and 14 stolen bases as well
Stowe doesn’t only dominate in the pitcher’s circle; she is also Wyoming’s most productive hitter. The switch hitter carries a .600 batting average and has stolen 14 bases on the season.
“She is a great hitter as well and really a great player in any position on the field,” Failing said. “When she isn’t pitching for us, she is usually catching. She is a natural right-hand hitter, but also slaps left-handed. She is extremely fast and can outrun most balls she puts into play from the left side and hits with power from the right side.”
Stowe is not the only four-year varsity player in the Wolves’ lineup.
Wyoming center fielder Maddy Lee. (Courtesy, Wyoming Wolves)
Maddy Lee has been patrolling center field since her freshman year. Lee has a .569 on-base percentage and has worked 21 walks this season.
“She has been our varsity starting center fielder and has been solid out there all four years,” Failing said. “She covers a lot of ground and is a leader on the field for us.”
Junior catcher Kellsie Dieterle also is an important piece of the puzzle for Wyoming. Failing emphasized the need for a strong option at catcher that can allow Stowe more innings in the pitcher’s circle.
“She is a girl that we taught how to catch last season because we knew we needed a catcher for Kalani,” Failing said. “She has performed beyond our expectations back there. She has only allowed three passed balls on the season and thrown out one of the five steal attempts. There are not many teams that even attempt to steal on her.”
Senior shortstop Isabelle Castro is another key player for Wyoming. Castro currently holds a .404 batting average and has committed to play at Muskegon Community College.
“She moved from third base to shortstop for us this season and has done a great job,” Failing said. “She is a big bat in our lineup and is always hitting the ball hard.”
Failing’s Wolves hold an 11-8 record heading into the second half of the season and will look to her seniors to lead the way against a tough upcoming schedule.
“We have a very strong core with a few young players that have stepped up for us this season,” Failing explained. “We are looking to see the growth each player makes and how our team can continue to work together against some tough competition.”
Wyoming travels to Muskegon Reeths-Puffer and Covenant Christian for two doubleheaders this week.
“This is a blatant rip-off of the Funniest Person in Grand Rapids contest that Dr. Grins Comedy Club used to run,” said Brian B. (Brian Borbot), founder and MC of the SNF.
“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought it deserved its own standup comedy competition with the overall winner getting a prize package worthy of the title the Funniest Person in Wyoming!”
The Kingpin of Comedy winner will receive $500 cash as well as prizes from Wyoming businesses Spectrum Entertainment Complex, Craig’s Cruisers, The Listening Room and Gilda’s Club LaughFest. The winner will also receive a Kingpin bowling pin trophy, a personalized Kingpin bowling shirt, and the opportunity to close at the Sunday Night Funnies LaughFest show in 2025.
The total prize package is over $1,000 in value.
Fifteen years of funny
The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. Now in its 15th year, the SNF features weekly live standup comedy performances by a variety of local and national comics.
Admission to the SNF shows at Woody’s Press Box are free. SNF shows take place on Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. during winter and spring, and at 8:30 p.m. during summer and early fall.
“Our lineup this year spans so many musical genres, there is something for everyone to enjoy,” said Mayor Kent Vanderwood. “We are looking forward to bringing quality entertainment to the families in our community and hope to continue developing this series.”
(Courtesy, City of Wyoming)
A musical tradition
Each Tuesday evening will feature a food truck with food and beverages available for purchase. Concertgoers are welcome to bring their own food, however alcohol is not permitted in the park.
“We are excited to continue this tradition for our community,” said Krashawn Martin, Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director. “Concerts in the Park are a highlight of summertime in Wyoming. We hope you will grab your blankets, chairs and friends and join us for some fun in the parks!”
All concerts are free of charge and open to the public. Performances start at 6 p.m. and are held at Lamar Park.
Concert Lineup
Cabildo performs at the 2023 Wyoming Concerts in the Park (Courtesy WKTV)
The 2024 concert schedule includes:
June 18 – Whorled
June 25 – Brena
July 9 – Cabildo
July 16 – Sophia McIntosh
July 23 – LVRS
July 30 – Music That Raised Us
For more performance and musician details, click here.
From left: Lee Ly, Bieu Duong and Phillip Nguyen, standing in front of The Saigon Staircase exhibit at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum in Grand Rapids. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
West Michigan resident Phillip Nguyen was 15 years old when he crammed into a 25-by-6 wooden boat with 57 other “boat people” to start a wild journey to a new life away from Vietnam.
“We packed them on; that boat was barely an inch over water,” said Nguyen, who produces a show called “VietSong” at WKTV and is President of Digital Marketing Solutions LLC.
Nguyen traveled by boat to small Chinese islands and learned English and American culture while in Hong Kong before making his way to the United States two years later.
He was fortunate to survive the very dangerous 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.”
From left: Lee Ly, Bieu Duong and Phil Nguyen at the Saigon Staircase exhibit at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum in Grand Rapids. This year marks the 49th anniversary of The Fall of Saigon. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
The Fall of Saigon, which occurred on April 30, 1975, marked the end of the Vietnam War and a pivotal moment in world history. The event not only signaled the collapse of South Vietnam’s government, but also triggered one of the most significant waves of mass emigration in modern history. This year marks the 49th anniversary of The Fall of Saigon.
On April 28, 1975, U.S. President Gerald R. Ford called for the emergency evacuation of American civilians and military from Saigon. Two days later North Vietnamese forces advanced into Saigon, leading to the collapse of the South Vietnamese government. The sight of helicopters lifting off from the U.S. Embassy in Saigon became an iconic image, symbolizing the end of the war.
According to borgenproject.org, in the aftermath of the fall of Saigon, South Vietnamese feared persecution under the new communist government. This fear led to a mass exodus, with many seeking asylum in other countries. Over 1.5 million South Vietnamese attempted their perilous escape by boat. Drowning, piracy, dehydration and failed vessels that would never make landfall would wipe out an estimated 10 percent of refugees.
According to borgenproject.org, over 1.5 million South Vietnamese attempted their perilous escape by boat. (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Under the cover of night
Before Nguyen fled Vietnam in 1982, he noticed people in his village disappearing overnight.
“I lived in a village … almost every day you wake up a family was gone over night,” Nguyen said. “Every day you wake up you hear neighbors say he’s gone, she’s gone, the family is all gone. It seems like everyone was trying to run to get to a better future.”
Vietnamese emigration to the United States
For Vietnamese who fled in 1975, most were received at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and settled in southern California, according to Michigan State Associate Professor of History Charles Keith. The initial wave of refugees consisted mainly of individuals with ties to the U.S. government, military and other South Vietnamese institutions.
“The conditions of diaspora really differentiated Vietnamese experiences from those of other Asian migrants,” Keith explained. “Vietnamese were the only Asian-Americans who were virtually all war refugees when they came.
“Those who came throughout the 1980s relocated to many parts of the country. But many had a second, internal migration within the U.S. for various reasons: better weather, occupations they were familiar with, and to be part of larger Vietnamese communities, which intensified the size of the community in southern California into the largest Vietnamese community in the U.S.”
Into the jungle
Loan Pham was five years old when the invading North Vietnamese took her hometown of Saigon, forcing her family and many more to the jungles of Vietnam.
“The new government warned people to go live in the jungle,” explained Pham, who’s from Wyoming. “I went to the jungle with my mom and three siblings, we were city people now living in the jungle.”
Pham’s mother was injured by a falling tree while trying to build a shelter for her small family during their months in the jungle. Once they returned to city life they would remain homeless for the next 11 years.
Loan Pham was five years old when she and her family escaped to the jungle when North Vietnam took Saigon. (Photo Courtesy, Loan Pham)
“We had a rough life”
“We had a rough life,” Pham said. “I had to start working at seven years old because my mom was sick. I would work odd jobs. I would sell stuff, people would ask me to do some small jobs. I would give the money to my mom so she could buy rice to feed us.”
Coming to America
Pham found a different way to the United States that most Vietnamese people including Nguyen could not take advantage of. Her father was an American soldier.
In 1983, Pham used her status as an American kid to start the process of emigrating to the United States.
“When I was 13 years old I saw on the TV news … it said if you have American children, you fill out paperwork to get to the United States,” Pham explained. “Five years later, when I was 18, I finally had my papers. I went to the Philippines for eight months to learn English and American culture.
“They taught us the peace sign, the middle finger, and not to ask people their age, all the stuff we might need to get along in the U.S.”
Part of the Saigon Staircase exhibit at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
Part of the Saigon Staircase exhibit at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
Part of the Saigon Staircase exhibit at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
Part of the Saigon Staircase exhibit at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
Part of the Saigon Staircase exhibit at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
Part of the Saigon Staircase exhibit at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
Nguyen came to America via Bethany Christian Services
Also in 1983, Nguyen made his way to Michigan through Bethany Christian Services. Nguyen was orphaned when he was five years old. His father was killed in the war, and his mother died a couple of years later.
“I was under the minors program sponsored by Bethany Christian Services,” Nguyen said. “I lived with my foster parents until I was 18.”
Nguyen had a typical American life of working small jobs and graduating from South Christian High School while living with his foster parents. Nguyen completed his bachelor’s degree at Western Michigan University where he met his wife.
Nguyen gives back; has fostered 17 children
Nguyen and his wife have three adult children and have helped foster 17 others through Bethany Christian Services.
“I owe them one and paid back with 17,” Nguyen proudly said.
His household is still home to five foster children.
“We have three from Afghanistan, one from Guatemala and one from Honduras.”
Upon arrival in the United States, Pham was helped out by the U.S. government, but that assistance would not be long-term, and soon she was looking for work in a foreign country.
“My first job was sewing baby clothes for $2 an hour,” Pham said.
Fortunately for Nguyen and Pham, they were able to avoid harsh racism and persecution that many of their fellow Vietnamese refugees had to endure.
“When I came to Michigan I didn’t see any racism against me, nothing like I saw when I lived in Vietnam,” Pham said. “South Vietnam was racist towards North Vietnam.”
And Nguyen said he was more fortunate than most.
“I’ve seen it happen to other people and I’ve heard horror stories, but me personally have never really felt it,” said Nguyen, who served as the president of the Vietnamese American Community of Grand Rapids Michigan for six years.
(VACGRM) is a non-profit community organization established to serve Vietnamese Americans in the city of Grand Rapids and its surrounding areas with charity and cultural work.
Events include: Remembering the Fall of Saigon, Lunar New Year celebrations and other cultural events throughout the year. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the VACGRM was able to supply food and medicine to those in need in the Vietnamese community in West Michigan.
The fall of Saigon created new beginnings for countless Vietnamese refugees who found hope and a new home in the United States.
Viet Benevolence Foundation
Nyguyn is Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Viet Benevolence Foundation.
“In July 2022, I went to Việtnam to work with the U.S. Consulate Office and with the Vietnamese government in an effort to preserve the former Vietnamese National Cemetery known as Nghia Trang Quan Doi Bien Hoa (now renamed Nghia Trang Nhan Dan) where over 16,000 former South Vietnamese soldiers rest. During this trip I learned that there are thousands and thousands of former South Vietnamese soldiers’ remains that still need help to bring home to their families, especially those who died in re-education camps after 1975.”
To learn more about Nyugen’s Viet Benevolence Foundation, who’s mission is “Healing the past and empowering the future through charitable causes,” check out VIETBENEVOLENCE.ORG
“Attending a high school prom should be a memorable event for all the right reasons,” said John Robben, Regional Director for Western Michigan from American Medical Response. “Talk to your teens and friends before prom night about making responsible choices and keeping their safety, and their peer’s safety, a top priority.”
American Medical Response offers these tips to keep in mind for a fun and safe prom:
Stay sober. Avoid alcohol and drugs, as they can impair your judgement and put you in danger.
Under no circumstances should high school prom attendees drink alcohol. But if you have consumed alcohol, hand your keys to a sober driver so you can get home safely.
Plan ahead. Make transportation arrangements in advance, whether it’s with a designated driver, a ride-sharing service, or another option.
Travel in groups. Stick with friends and avoid walking or driving alone.
Be aware of your surroundings. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious and report any concerning behavior to a trusted adult or authority figure.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the night to avoid dehydration.
Have a backup plan. In case of an emergency, make sure you have important phone numbers readily available.
Don’t let friends drive drunk. If one of your friends has had too much to drink, don’t let them get behind the wheel. Take their keys and help to find them a safe ride home.
American Medical Response is committed to helping the communities it serves stay safe and healthy. We encourage prom attendees to take the Prom Promise to prioritize safety and responsible behavior.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
Residents can safely and anonymously bring expired, used prescriptions or over the counter medications to this free event for proper disposal.
Unused prescription drugs often find their way into the wrong hands, creating dangerous and often tragic situations.
The DEA encourages the public to clean out their medicine cabinets and remove unneeded medications from their homes. This can help prevent medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.
Wyoming pitcher Jack Terveen totaled 11 strikeouts and gave up only one hit in the Wolves’ 6-1 win over Grand Rapids Union. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
Thanks to some solid pitching by Jack Terveen and a balanced hitting attack, a young Wyoming baseball team continued to show progress this season with a 6-1 win over Grand Rapids Union in WKTV’s Tuesday Night Truck Game.
The win was the fourth of the season for the Wolves who faced a difficult schedule to start as they played some of the top teams in West Michigan like Zeeland West and Zeeland East.
Terveen gets 11 strikeouts in one-hitter
Pitching was a big key in the win for the Wolves as Terveen allowed one hit and one run over six innings. Terveen also racked up 11 strikeouts during his six innings of work as he hit his spots and changed speeds to keep the Union hitters off balance. Markis Cadreau came on in relief in the seventh inning to nail down the win for the Wolves as he retired the Red Hawks in order with one strikeout.
Wyoming players converse on the mound during the OK Green Conference win against Grand Rapids Union Tuesday. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
A balanced hitting attack
Offensively, Wyoming enjoyed a balanced attack at the plate. The Wolves pounded out 12 hits in the game with all but one batter in the order recording at least one hit during the game.
Wyoming scored single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. The Wolves then doubled the lead with two runs in the fourth inning and added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth after Union scored its lone run in the top of the sixth.
Elijah Halbower led the Wyoming offense as he collected a pair of hits and drove in a run. Branson Abdella also added two hits and walked while stealing a pair of bases. Jackson Reed had two hits, scored a run, stole a base and had an RBI. Donny Petree Jr. also had a pair of hits, stole a base and drove in a run.
The Wolves also displayed some solid defense in turning a double play and committing no errors during the game.
Wyoming won a pair of games April 20 en route to winning the championship at the King of Wyoming Tournament, defeating Lee 14-3 in the semifinals and stopping Kelloggsville 22-0 in the championship game.
“We have a really young team,” said Wyoming coach Donny Petree Sr. “We lost 13 seniors from last year’s team so we are rebuilding this year. We played really well this past weekend in the King of Wyoming Tournament. We had some good pitching and we hit the ball really well.”
Terveen was one of the Wyoming pitchers who stood out at the tournament as he tossed a three-hitter in one of the wins.
Petree Jr. leads team with a .406 batting average
The Wyoming offense was paced by Donny Petree Jr. The junior infielder collected six hits and drove in four runs during the tournament. Petree Jr. came into the Union game leading the Wolves in hitting with a .406 batting average. Sandwiched between the tournament and the Union game was a strong game against Caledonia where Petree Jr. went three-for-four with three doubles.
Terveen also has been one of Wyoming’s top hitters as he entered the Union game with a .323 batting average.
Petree Jr. and Terveen are both juniors and team leaders for the Wolves, who have been showing progress as the season heads into May. The Wolves also are getting strong contributions from senior shortstop Seth Moore, junior catcher Diego Romero and Halbower in centerfield. Petree Jr., Romero and Halbower also are team captains.
A pair of juniors, first baseman Chase Simon and Reed, left field, are also stepping up this season as is sophomore second baseman De’Avion Miller.
Even more young players contributed in the tournament win. Sophomore Isaac Johnson and freshman Josue Pagon along with Miller and Cadreau, a sophomore, helped with the tournament wins.
“Faced really good teams right out of the gate”
“We won our first game of the season then lost nine in a row,” Petree Sr. said. “We faced Zeeland East and Zeeland West early and they are state-ranked teams. We lost one of those games 5-2 and we played a good game against them. We’ve played well, we’ve just went against some really good teams right out of the gate.”
Petree Sr. is also receiving plenty of help from his coaching staff.
“Our assistant coaches, Chano Buentello, Rob Kogler and Nico Rodriguez are doing a great job,” Petree Sr. said. “We have a young team, but we are getting better all the time.”
Metro Cruise organizers are expecting between 140 to 150 collector cars at this year’s Dust Off set for May 4 at the Wyoming Moose Lodge. (WKTV)
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Contributor
May is calling with its warmer weather which means it’s time to pull the cover off that classic car and head to the City of Wyoming for the first major car event of the season: the Metro Cruise Dust Off.
The annual event, held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Wyoming Moose Lodge, 2630 Burlingame Ave. SW, marks its 10th anniversary this year.
Up to 150 collector cars expected
“It’s a big event,” said Metro Cruise Event Manager Brandon Simmons. “It really has grown over the years. We are expecting about 140 to 150 collector cars.”
To accommodate the growth, last year, the layout of the event was changed to allow for more collector cars, Simmons said, adding that those with cars usually come early to secure their spot. Also the first 100 car owners will be offered a custom Dust Off t-shirt for $15.
The event and lodge is open to the public. The Moose Lodge will offer food and beverages starting at 11 a.m. and will have entertainment in the evening, which also will be open to the public.
The Metro Cruise Dust Off marks its 10th anniversary this year. (WKTV)
A Summer Packed with Metro Cruise Fun
The Dust Off is the first Metro Cruise event of the season with a host of activities planned for the summer.
“This is the kick off of a summer of monthly Metro Cruise activities,” Simmons said. “This year we will be hosting the first-ever Cars ‘n Clubs in June, which is our golf outing/fundraiser event.”
Cars ‘n Clubs Golf Outing
The Cars ’n Clubs Golf Outing is June 22 at Indian Trails Golf Course, located at 2776 Kalamazoo Ave. SE. The event is open to all golfers, with or without a classic car. Cost is $69 for one play, $138 for a two-player group and $250 for a four-player group. Registration deadline is June 20 with discounts for those who reserve before May 1.
There will be a Cruise to the Course before the golf outing. Those interested in the cruise should meet at Rogers Plaza by 7 a.m. for the lineup to drive to the course. Those participating in the cruise will receive donuts and coffee courtesy of Marge’s Donut Den.
Miss Metro Cruise winners and contestants will be at the Dust Off and will be available for pictures. (WKTV)
Miss Metro Cruise Prelims and Car Show
The popular Miss Metro Cruise Prelims and Car Show returns July 13 and will be at the Wyoming Moose Lodge. The field of contestants will be narrowed down to 10 who will compete for the title at the 28th Street Metro Cruise. To sign up for Miss Metro Cruise go to facebook.com/missmetrocruise.
Cascade’s Metro Cruise Warm Up
Aug. 22 is the Cascade’s Metro Cruise Warm Up at the Fowling Warehouse lot, 6797 Cascade Rd.
The 28th Street Metro Cruise takes place Aug. 23 and 24 at Rogers Plaza. (WKTV)
28th Street Metro Cruise Main Event
The Main Event, the 28th Street Metro Cruise, is set for Aug. 23 and 24 at Rogers Plaza in Wyoming. The Rogers Plaza site will feature over 340 show cars along the famous Collector Car Row, food from 24 vendors including 12-plus food trucks, live music from five top West Michigan bands, the Miss Metro Cruise Finale competition, the popular DYNO viewing area, freebies/coupons/drawings from the sponsor vendors, a kids’ coloring area, and much more.
Simmons said the main event site for the Metro Cruise is Rogers Plaza, but that there will be Pit Stop Sites along 28th Street between Grandville and Cascade. The Pit Stop Sites will feature collector car clubs along with food and Metro Cruise merchandise.
For more information on the Metro Cruise Dust Off or any of the upcoming Metro Cruise events and how to register for the 28th Street Metro Cruise, visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.org.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority broke ground Wednesday on its snow removal equipment building, or SRE. The $8.5 million investment will expand the existing Airfield Maintenance facility by over 60,000 square feet to support critical operations and accommodate forecasted passenger growth at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to further enhance operational efficiency while ensuring the safety of our staff, passengers and partners,” said Airport Authority Board Chair Dan Koorndyk. “This transformative expansion will accommodate the Airport’s increasing passenger demand while optimizing space for equipment and operations.”
The SRE building will be managed by the Airport Authority’s Airfield Maintenance team, which is responsible for maintaining more than 45 vehicles and equipment, including specialized snow removal machines designed for the aviation industry. The snowplows are twice the size of those used by county road commissions, measuring up to 26 feet wide and 78 feet long, enabling swift and efficient clearing of runways even in challenging weather conditions.
A rendering of the Snow Removal Equipment building. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
“We continuously strive for excellence in every aspect of our operations, and the groundbreaking of our snow removal equipment building showcases our dedication to providing world-class service to our community,” said Ford International Airport Authority President and CEO Tory Richardson. “The Airport Authority Airfield Maintenance team has been nationally recognized for their expertise in snow removal operations, receiving multiple awards over the years for their efficient and innovative processes.”
During snow events, snow removal operations include seven trucks or more in a conga line formation, swiftly clearing runways when there is three inches of snow or more. The team can plow two miles of runway in under 30 minutes, ensuring minimal disruption to airport operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been a key partner in helping the Airport Authority secure funding to support the project through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The FAA’s Detroit Airport District Office Manager John L. Mayfield Jr. provided remarks at today’s event on the impact of this project.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has given us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build safer and more sustainable airports,” Mayfield said. “Ford International Airport has chosen to modernize their infrastructure by expanding their existing 57,000 square foot snow removal equipment facility by an additional 60,716 square feet.
“The expansion of the building will allow all snow removal equipment to be consolidated in the same area and protect it from the weather to extend its useful life. Snow removal equipment is critical to remove the presence of contaminants such as snow, ice or slush on airfield pavements which causes hazardous conditions that may contribute to airplane incidents and accidents,” Mayfield continued. “Therefore, protecting the airport’s investment in snow removal equipment from the elements allows for a more efficient response to weather events.”
Congresswoman Hillary Scholten has been instrumental in supporting infrastructure improvement projects at the Airport, further contributing to its growth for the benefit of the West Michigan community.
“West Michigan is on the move and our GRR airport is helping people come and go to keep pace with a modern economy,” said Congresswoman Scholten. “As one of the fastest growing small hub airports in the country, GRR has delivered with excellence no matter the weather.
“This brand new and expanded snow removal facility is going to help us update equipment that keeps snow off the ground and planes moving on time. Our snow removal team is the best in the business, and they deserve state of the art facilities to help them do their job, keep passengers and crew safe and everyone on time!”
The project is expected to be completed by this winter season and will support 130 trade jobs. FCC Construction, Inc and MTC will serve as the main contractors, with DLZ and C&S Companies supporting design and construction administration.
Jett was a dual-purpose dog trained in tracking and narcotics detection. He served with the Wyoming Police Department for approximately six years before retiring in 2021.
Upon his retirement, Jett went on to live the next three years at home with his handler, Officer Adam Sherman.
Jett was a loyal and beloved member of the Wyoming Police family and will be greatly missed.
One person is dead after a house fire early this morning in the 2300 block of Collingwood Avenue SW.
At approximately 4:45 a.m. on April 18, 2024, the Wyoming Fire Department responded to a report of a fully involved structure fire at a residence in the 2300 block of Collingwood Avenue SW.
When firefighters arrived at the residence, they discovered that the fire had already spread through a significant portion of the home. Firefighters began extinguishing the flames while simultaneously searching for anyone that might be inside the home.
After the flames had adequately been controlled, firefighters discovered a body in the upper level of the house. The body has been identified as that of 42-year-old Sarah Martin, the sole resident of the home.
Fire investigation ongoing
At this point the cause of the fire has not been determined. The Wyoming Fire Inspector is working with State Police Fire Investigators to determine the origin point and cause of the fire. Wyoming Police Detectives are conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this fire and will be working with Fire Investigators to determine whether or not foul play is involved.
During this incident, the Wyoming Fire Department received mutual aid from both the Grand Rapids and Grandville Fire Departments. We are grateful for these partnerships and for their assistance.
Anyone with any information regarding this fire is asked to contact Wyoming Police Detectives at 616- 530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
Once upon a time there were two best friends and their names were Maya and Victoria. They were watching a movie and eating rainbow popcorn with extra rainbow butter and rainbow gummies, and then someone spilled a Dragon fruit-drink on the remote, and then the whole house shook.
And then they got sucked into the T.V. Then they got pooped out of the portal, and they landed on a gargantuan marshmallow. Then they got stuck in a marshmallow to their waist, and they had to eat their way out. It took them an hour.
After that, they saw a dogocorn and a unicorn. Then, the dogocorn and unicorn ask Maya and Victoria to help them. They agree to help, but only if there is a way to get home. They said they need to beat the evil turtle.
The only way to destroy it is true love.
They all work together to find a boy turtle. When they do find him, he has an awesome singing voice. His name is Timmy. Then they bring him to the evil turtle’s castle.
Timmy knows she is really pretty, so then they get married. The evil turtle is no longer evil. She is really nice and sweet, and her name is Mia. Then Mia shows them a secret portal.
They go home and live happily ever after.
The End
P.S. Dogo Corn made everything a mess.
Victoria (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Maya (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Maya (left) and Victoria are 4th grade students at AnchorPoint Christian School.
The Two Best Friends was a collaborative effort between Maya and Victoria, and is their first published work.
A quarter of the people landed in the UnderWorld. A quarter of the people landed in GrimGate. The rest landed in E. State.
It all happened at 5:45.
While Josiah and I were playing Fortnite, we got sucked into the game. Josiah and I were shocked. We found ourselves in E. State. We hid in a bush because we were scared. We hid there until 50 people died.
Now there are 25 players left. We defeated five players. Now there are 19 players left. There used to be a gargantuan amount of players. 10 of them died. We destroyed four of them.
Now there are three left, not counting us. The other people destroyed the guy. Now it is a 2v2 and Josiah destroyed one person.
Josiah died to his teammate, and I destroyed him from behind.
Josiah Freeman (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Nathan Simeon (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Nathan Simeon (left) is a 3rd grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School.
Josiah Freeman (right) is a 4th grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School.
Fortnite World was a collaborative effort between Nathan and Josiah, and is their first published work.
“There are more than 117 million Americans age 50 and older – 35% of the total population. I wanted to do a special show to honor and represent that age group,” says Brian B., founder and MC of the SNF. “This is the second year of special performances to recognize specific groups.
(Courtesy, Brian B.)
“In February, we did our special Black History Month show. In March, it was our Women’s History Month and Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids LaughFest performances. The SNF is a melting pot of comedians and audience members – different ages, nationalities, so why not honor all the groups that make up the show?”
The Older Americans Month lineup consists of seven different comedians at least 50 years of age. The show will feature former local radio personality Jojo Girard closing out the show. Also featured will be Detroit area comic Kathy Ryan, comedians from Ohio, and various local talent.
“The Sunday Night Funnies has got a big 2024 going on,” said Brian B.
In addition to the the Older Americans Month show, the following Sunday (May 12) will kick off SNF’s seventh annual Kingpin of Comedy competition.
15 years of SNF
The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. Now in its 15th year, the SNF is a weekly live stand-up comedy performance featuring over 1,200 performances from comics across Michigan and around the country.
The SNF is a free admission show on Sunday nights at 7:30 p.m. during the winter/spring, and at 8:30 p.m. during summer and early fall. All performances take place at Woody’s Pressbox inside The Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Wyoming.
Mrs. Kim Omanchi, AnchorPoint Christian School 3/4 Grade Teacher (Courtesy, Toby Lehnen)
By Toby Lehnen
3rd Grade Youth Contributor
AnchorPoint Christian School
This is Mrs. Omanchi. She is my teacher.
She wakes up and gets ready for work. She eats breakfast. Her breakfast is the homemade granola her mom made her.
Ezra gets up and she asks him what he wants for lunch and lays it out. They get in the car and drive to Potter’s House on the highway and Clyde Park Avenue.
When she gets to school around 7:40 a.m., she writes the morning message and prints the work we are going to do today.
She waits to greet her students at the door and see how we are doing.
Toby Lehnen (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Toby Lehnen is a 3rd grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School. Toby’s news article, Mrs. Omanchi’s Morning, is his first published work.
Led by teacher Mrs. Kim Omanchi, and in collaboration with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, students created unique pieces for publication on WKTV Journal.
The story is about sharks, there is a shark attack. It takes place at sea. It happened on July 12, 1916.
Once upon a time Jaxon and I were reading a book called I Survived Shark Attacks.
It was Feb. 10, 2024 when we were reading the book. We randomly got sucked into the book, and the teacher came and she saw that we weren’t there anymore.
It was July 12,1916. Jaxon and I were in the middle of the sea. Jaxon and I were scared because we thought we were gonna get eaten by a shark.
Afterwards, we saw people running to the sand because of five great white sharks. Two people had gotten eaten, and three people were left. But two sharks got two other people, leaving one person named Nick. He was running towards me and Jaxon.
Jaxon and I were jittery and started running to land, but we saw that he had disappeared. He came out of the water fighting the shark and killed the shark. Running from the other sharks, he made it to land.
Then Jaxon and I disappeared, coming back to school reading Shark Attacks.
The End!!!!
Alan Perez (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Alan Perez is a 3rd grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School. Alan’s short story, Stranded in Sharkland, is his first published work.
Led by teacher Mrs. Kim Omanchi, and in collaboration with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, students created unique pieces for publication on WKTV Journal.
Using 10,000 hand-painted LEGO bricks, artist Aaron Liepman created the seven-foot hummingbird mosaic, Pixels of Life, that now hangs at the Wyoming Branch of Kent District Library (KDL).
The ruby-throated hummingbird is set to a 10-foot backdrop of a giant pink coneflower painted in a pixel style by Ann Arbor Visual Artist Katie Hammond.
Aaron Liepman (left) and Katie Hammond with their creation, Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Liepman entered the piece in ArtPrize 2023 and is happy the piece is now on display for the public.
“Pixels of Life was created to be shared and to be seen,” said Liepman. “I hope that library patrons, young and old, enjoy interacting with it as much as Katie and I enjoyed creating it.”
Art and science…together?
Liepman and Hammond share more than artistic talent – both artists also love science.
A biology professor at Eastern Michigan University, Liepman says he was aware of an artistic side of his personality when he was young.
“I really enjoyed art class, but also went pretty hardcore into science.”
Hammond admitted to always having an interest in science. “I almost majored in biology instead of doing art in undergrad. The combining of science with art is something that I really enjoy.”
When Liepman reached out to Hammond about needing a backdrop for his hummingbird mosaic, Hammond couldn’t resist the opportunity to combine art and science.
“I love hummingbirds,” said Liepman. “They’re the most incredible creatures. So much color. The highlight of summer for me is watching hummingbirds at the feeders and appreciating how beautiful and agile and brilliant they are.”
Aaron Liepman with “Ruby” (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)
Feathers on the neck of the male ruby-throated hummingbird can look either black or ruby red depending on the angle.
“If they turn, they can go from black to the greatest, most brilliant ruby that you’ve ever seen – and it’s immediate,” said Liepman. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Creating a Hummingbird mosaic, however, was not easy.
“It was so incredibly difficult because trying to reduce the color palette of this bird, of this flying jewel, down to a manageable number that I could create in my studio was just an exercise in futility.
“I did my best. This one has more colors than anything I’ve ever made before; it had 70 colors.”
However, Liepman knew his hummingbird was not complete – it needed a backdrop. But he did not have time to build an 8-foot flower out of LEGOs.
“When I was thinking of another way we could get a flower for this bird, I thought of Katie,” said Liepman. “I asked her what she thought of making a giant 10-foot painting. I thought it would be fun to have mixed media.”
A giant painting? No problem!
Liepman gave Hammond free reign over creation of the backdrop.
“Aaron giving me free reign, that’s always exciting, but it’s also intimidating,” said Hammond. “When you have the whole world of possibilities open, you have to think what’s going to look best in the end.”
She brainstormed for weeks before deciding to paint one of the hummingbirds’ favorite foods, the coneflower, in the style of Aaron’s LEGOs.
Hammond also wanted the backdrop to be modular.
“I wanted it to be made up of a lot of different little tiles, or pieces, so that it would mimic and mirror the feel of the Lego piece.”
However, painting a 10×10-foot canvas with squares the size of LEGOs was not feasible in the time allotted. Instead, Hammond chose to magnify the scale and paint much bigger squares.
“I painted all the squares different colors to match a photograph of a pixelated coneflower,” said Hammond. “I thought it was a fun way to relate to LEGOs. I wanted to do something that would connect them stylistically and thematically.”
Click on the slideshow arrows (located on right and left sides of each picture) below to view the complete process of creating the Pixels of Life backdrop (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Pixels of Life (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Every story has a beginning…
Liepman’s fascination with LEGO art began after seeing a LEGO wall mosaic in Chicago.
“I hadn’t seen anything like that before and was fascinated. I had never considered LEGOs as a 2-dimensional art form. I knew I wanted to try to create some art in that medium.”
Liepman decided to start with a small project, but quickly realized his “small” project needed to be quite a bit larger than expected.
“Watchful” (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)
“This is a thing that many people don’t understand about this art form,” said Liepman. “A screen resolution, that’s 72 dots per inch. When you’re thinking about a LEGO brick, a LEGO pixel, you get approximately 3.4. Your smallest details – if you need a single pixel for something – that smallest detail relative to the overall size of your composition means that things are going to get bigger than you think.”
Liepman’s “small project” became 20 inches square – and consisted of 1,024 LEGO pieces.
He also realized that he needed more colors than the LEGO palette offered.
Liepman began to paint LEGOs, experimenting with spray paint, then airbrushing with craft paints. Finally, he settled on artist-grade acrylic paints.
“There were a lot of things I learned by doing that first piece,” said Liepman. “When I stepped away from it though, I was like, wow, look what I made. There were no instructions, and I figured this out myself. I bet I could do more. I bet I could do better.”
Each mosaic taught him a little bit more. “I was making them bigger and more complex, and they were looking better and better. I didn’t get here in a day; it took me a long time.”
Much of Liepman’s time is spent formulating colors.
His first grayscale mosaic, Watchful, is 45 inches square and has 12 levels of gray, black and white. With the increased levels of grayscale, Liepman realized he could make the mosaics appear lifelike.
“When you can step away from the actual piece by about 20 feet, it looks like the feathers are soft, which completely blows my mind because every single piece is a geometric angular thing.”
“TB10” – Tom Brady (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)
Two of Liepman’s pieces have been auctioned at charity events – one being an autographed mosaic of Tom Brady.
“It’s been fun to be able to also give back to the community and to support good causes through my creativity.”
Commissions allow Liepman to afford the materials to continue creating and donate a piece from time to time to a good cause.
“These pieces really need to be seen and appreciated,” said Liepman. “It’s fun for me to have the opportunity to share these artworks with people because they don’t know what to think of them.”
20 years of funky…
Aaron Liepman (left) and Katie Hammond with Pixels of Life at Brush Studio in Grand Rapids (Courtesy, Katie Hammond)
Hammond says she has been an artist her entire life.
A dancer and visual artist as a child, Hammond then received a bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan art school, followed by a master’s degree in fine arts at the Art Institute of Chicago.
She is now the owner and manager of a communal studio called Ann Arbor Artist Studios.
Hammond describes her painting style as “funky.”
“What I mainly do is acrylic painting on canvas and velvet,” said Hammond. “I like to experiment with a mixed media or non-traditional painting approach, using things like glitter, markers, or more experimental fabrics.
“My painting style is representational but it’s not realistic. It’s stylized and fun and poppy and bright colors and simplified.”
Hammond has completed several commissioned works featuring families and animals, two of her favorite subjects. She also paints murals, completing a large exterior mural in downtown Ann Arbor.
Hammond appreciates the ability to express herself through art – but also the connection it brings.
“From little kids through elderly people…I really enjoy being able to connect with all types of people through my art,” said Hammond. “The most rewarding thing about [art] is being able to see people have a positive experience with your work.”
Hammond says she purposely creates art people can recognize and connect with on some level.
“Powerful” is a depiction of Wonder Woman and can be found at the Grandville Branch of KDL. It was a community project led by Liepman in 2022 (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)
“Anybody can do this; I’m not a genius”
Liepman hopes his artistic journey encourages other people who love art.
“Anybody can do this; I’m not a genius,” said Liepman. “I started with no experience. “I figured out that I could do something, and I kept leveraging the lessons I learned, thinking my way through problems and trying to come up with solutions. Bit by bit I have come up with a process.
“But it didn’t happen right away. It took a lot of practice. I figured out a process, and I’ve refined it over and over. After a while, you get good at stuff if you keep doing it.”
“Revolutionary” (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)“Revolutionary” (Courtesy, Aaron Liepman)“Revolutionary” depicts Martin Luther King Jr. and contains 24 levels of grayscale
How to find Pixels of Life
Pixels of Life can be viewed in the teen area of KDL’s Wyoming Branch.
Liepman encourages people to view Pixels of Life from up close and far away so they can appreciate various details.
Share in the wonder of art and science
Aaron Liepman shares his artwork via Brickmaniac.com and Instagram. Liepman is also accepting commissions.
More information and examples of Katie Hammond’s work can be found on her website, Instagram and Facebook. Hammond is available for murals and other commissions.
Once upon time I was playing Fortnite, and I won the game. Suddenly I was invisible.
I went to Target and got a PS6. I set money on the counter which made the manager confused.
I took it home and plugged it in. I played Fortnite for 24 hours. My parents didn’t know because they couldn’t see me.
I took my dad’s credit card, so I could get the new XBOX Series and 10 Nintendo Switches. I charged them and played them for 10 hours, but I got bored. Then I decided to get the PS5. I liked it, however I got bored of that too. So I took a break to get ice cream.
When I came home, I went to sleep. I woke up and played Fortnite for 10 minutes. I got the Dub on Fortnite, but my invisibility ran out. And my parents caught me.
The end.
Joseph Montoya (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Joseph Montoya is a 4th grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School. Joseph’s short story, My Invisible Day Playing Fortnite, is his first published work.
Led by teacher Mrs. Kim Omanchi, and in collaboration with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, students created unique pieces for publication on WKTV Journal.
Suddenly, I am in the Ninja Turtle movie. I see if I can go meet the Turtles, and I become their friend. They show me around. They teach me how to fight. I fight the Krag with them. I have a sword and I can fight the Shredder and fight him with the turtles, and then I ride in the shell razor with the Turtles.
“Man, these buildings are gargantuan.”
Then I had my first fight.
“We went against the Krag. We won. It was easy with the Turtles. And the weapon I was using was a sword. It was cool.”
I was like Leo, but I was not the leader then we went home. It was stinky in the sewers but I had to deal with it.
Then it was time for bed. I slept on the couch, then I said, “That was the best day ever! And I know the Turtles are far-fetched.”
Dahmari Lee (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Dahmari Lee is a 4th grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School. Dahmari’s short story, Stuck in the Movie, is his first published work.
Led by teacher Mrs. Kim Omanchi, and in collaboration with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, students created unique pieces for publication on WKTV Journal.
Once upon a time there were two friends going to a magical theater. Their names were Taylor and Ashley. They’re both 16 years old.
Taylor has waist-length blonde hair and brown eyes. She hopes to be an actress some day. Specifically, on BROADWAY! They both live in New York City!
Ashley has brown, straight, shoulder length hair and blue eyes. She hopes to be a director some day. Specifically, working with Taylor, on BROADWAY! In New York City!
Texting
Ashley! You are packed right?! From Taylor.
Duh! Are you packed Taylor? From Ashley.
I’m packed and you are! Good! From Taylor.
Real Life
Taylor and Ashley were asked to come to “Emelia’s Star Theater” to perform in a movie. Taylor would be cast as Queen Shoreanna of the Shore Fairies. Ashley would be cast as Queen Flamebelle of the Flame Fairies. These two queens were forever enemies but their daughters, Princess Shore and Princess Flame, were best friends. Unfortunately, Shore and Flame were Taylor and Ashley’s younger sisters. Shore is Taylor’s sister Zoe and Flame is Ashley’s sister Hallie, they’re very annoying. Then there was Prince Sand and Prince Fire. Taylor and Ashley’s younger sisters’ twins. The twins were all 13 years old. Sand is Shore’s twin and Fire is Flame’s twin. Sand is Jake, Zoe’s twin and Fire is Kayden, Hallie’s twin. Taylor’s younger twins have blonde hair and blue eyes. Ashley’s younger twins have brown hair and brown eyes.
“Hey Shore! Sand! Get over here!” Taylor yelled from her room.
“Don’t call us Shore and Sand!” they said from their room. Jake and Zoe are particular about names.
“Goodness,” Taylor mumbled.
“We heard that!!!” they yelled.
“Well are you two packed?”
“Yes!”
Meanwhile
“Hallie and Kayden you better be packed!” Ashley yelled.
“Duh, we are!” Hallie and Kayden yelled.
“Jinx!” Kayden said.
“Mm!” Hallie said/mumbled. She said “COOTIES!” not using words though.
The next day Taylor, Ashley, Zoe, Hallie, Jake and Kayden arrived at…
“Emelia’s Star Theater!” Emelia herself said. “Welcome.”
“Thank you,” Ashley said, being polite.
“This is Luke and Matthew, my sons,” Emelia said. They were both 16 with blonde hair and green eyes, twins. “Luke and Matthew, the blonde one is Taylor and the brown hair one is Ashley, the queens. The younger girls are the princesses, the younger boys are the princes. More introductions later!”
“Looks like Ashley and I are the only ones with no twins,” Taylor said. Wow, Luke’s cute! she thought.
“How’d ya know we’re twins?” Luke asked.
“Same pale blonde hair, same emerald green eyes, DUH!” Ashley pointed out. Whoa, Matthew is super cute! She also thought one of the boys was cute.
“True,” Matthew said.
“MWA HAHAHAHA!!!” someone said, “Tis I, Witch Lemon, and the Lime Lovers! I’m casting a curse so no one may exit this so-called ‘star’ theater!”
“WHAT?! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!” they all screamed.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Rozemarijn L. De Graff, Youth Contributor (Courtesy, Kim Omanchi)
Rozemarijn L. De Graff is a 4th grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School. Rozemarijn’s short story, Thrilling Theater Time, is her first published work.
Led by teacher Mrs. Kim Omanchi, and in collaboration with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, students created unique pieces for publication on WKTV Journal.
Teddy is a 4th grade student at AnchorPoint Christian School. Teddy’s poem, I Draw, is his first published work.
Led by teacher Mrs. Kim Omanchi, and in collaboration with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, students created unique pieces for publication on WKTV Journal.
One person is dead after a crash on 54th Street SW over US-131.
At approximately 2:30 p.m. on April 14, police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to 54th Street SW over US-131 on the report of a single-vehicle rollover crash. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
54th Street over US-131 will be closed in both directions while Wyoming Police Accident Investigation and Forensic Science Units investigate this incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
The Scarlet Tanager is one of many beautiful birds migrating back to Michigan in the spring. (Courtesy, pixabay.com)
By Patrick O’Donnell
WKTV Contributor
Patrick O’Donnell started birding at the age of seven in his hometown of Niagara Falls, NY. He has worked as a field biologist in the USA, and guided tours and taught birding courses in Ecuador, Peru and Costa Rica. He resides in Costa Rica where he works with birding tourism and writes about birds at his blog, “Costa Rica Living and Birding,” the Birdzilla website, and other places. He is the author of an ebook, “How to See, Find, and Identify Birds in Costa Rica.”
Spring has arrived in Michigan! Warmer temperatures have arrived on southerly winds and the birds of spring are back. Walk outside, stop to listen, and you’ll hear them.
It started in March, maybe even late February with the bugling of Sandhill Cranes and “kon-ker-ees!” of Red-winged Blackbirds. By April, those and other early spring migrants have become well established on breeding grounds throughout the state.
Sandhill Cranes. (Courtesy, Andy Morffew, pxhere.com)
These birds are the first heralds of spring, avian reminders that more are on their way; millions of birds! That many? Oh yes, and some.
There’s a digital tool called Birdcast that gives an idea of the number of birds flying through Michigan skies. By analyzing data from radar stations, Birdcast estimates numbers of birds in flight, even in real time!
Red-Winged Blackbird. (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
According to Birdcast, on April 8, more than 5.5 million birds migrated over Michigan. That was just one night and since peak migration doesn’t happen until the second week of May, a lot more birds are expected.
Many birds that passed overhead during the first 10 days of April were probably Brown-headed Cowbirds, Common Grackles, Blue Jays, and other common statewide species that migrate in April. Since dozens of other bird species won’t arrive until May, birders often refer to these hardy April songbirds as “early migrants.”
Blue Jay. (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
These species can withstand some cold weather and migrate relatively short distances to the southern United States. Go birding anywhere in Michigan in April and you’ll find them! A shy, rusty-tailed bird hopping under a bush could be a Hermit Thrush on its way to the U.P. That plain bird perched on a low post and wagging its tail is probably an Eastern Phoebe; a common breeding bird throughout Michigan.
Are you hearing high-pitched calls emanating from bushes and trees? Take a close look, you might find tiny, cute Golden-crowned Kinglets. After the next push of warm southerly wings, they’ll be joined by fellow breeding birds of the U.P.; Yellow-rumped Warblers. These beautiful songbirds have black and yellow highlights on gray-blue plumage and a bright yellow rump.
Yellow-rumped Warbler. (Courtesy, pixabay.com)
That particular field mark gave rise to a popular birding nickname for the species. If you go for a morning walk and hear birders saying, “Butterbutt,” don’t be alarmed! They are just admiring Yellow-rumped Warblers.
By late April, those pretty warblers should also be joined by dozens of White-throated Sparrows. These big handsome sparrows breed in most of Michigan as well as further north. Take an April morning walk in a wooded park and you’ll probably hear their sweet whistled song, “O Canada Canada Canada.”
Turkey Vulture. (Courtesy, pixabay.com)
Many raptors migrate to South America for winter
While enjoying the songs of White-throated Sparrows and looking for Butterbutts, handsome Eastern Towhees, and other April migrants, don’t forget to look to the skies. There’s a fair chance you’ll see some migrating raptors that move through and breed in much of Michigan. There will be Turkey Vultures and maybe a hawk or two. Yes, those big birds migrate too; many Turkey Vultures even soar to South America for the winter.
A small hawk making a few quick flaps followed by a glide might be a Sharp-shinned Hawk; a diminutive yet lethal raptor that preys on songbirds. In late April, crow-sized soaring raptors with broad black and white tails are probably Broad-winged Hawks. They are returning from Costa Rica and other tropical wintering grounds.
Other, smaller birds also flow north through Michigan skies. Small birds zipping overhead in elegant flight are probably swallows that move through and breed in every part of the state. At first, thousands of Tree Swallows are on the move. Beautiful aerialists with blue-green upperparts and white underparts, they fly north to breed near lakes and other wetlands. However, in mid and late April, additional swallow species necessitate a closer look.
Plain brown swallows with pale underparts are Northern Rough-winged Swallows. If you see some with a brown breast band, you have found Bank Swallows. Steely blue and peach Barn Swallows zip low over the fields, but what about those big dark swallows? Those are Purple Martins migrating to martin houses throughout the state and further north.
Highest numbers of bird species come back in May
There are a lot of spring migrants in April, but the best birding cake gets served in May; when the highest numbers of bird species come back to Michigan. During the first week of May, it begins with a trickle of warblers and a few other birds quick to reach their breeding grounds.
However, by the second week, the migration dam opens and that initial stream of birds swells into a massive feathered movement flowing north. Thousands, millions of birds migrate through Michigan. Even better, all are in beautiful breeding plumage, many are singing, and lots can show up in backyards and urban parks.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak. (Courtesy, pixabay.com)
It’s a birding bonanza and, for birders, just might be the most wonderful time of the year. As with many places, May birding in Michigan means the return of Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Scarlet Tanagers, Red-eyed Vireos, and other songbirds that breed throughout the state.
Best of all, the warblers come back. Beautiful little birds plumaged in a variety of colors and patterns, most migrate to breeding grounds in the U.P. and further north. However, a few, such as the Chestnut-sided Warbler and the Halloween colored American Redstart, stay to breed in every county.
Other warblers that arrive in May, but then mostly move on to the forests of the U.P. include handsome Magnolia Warblers, tiger-striped Cape May Warblers, and flame-throated Blackburnian Warblers. Keep looking up and your binoculars might also focus on movements that materialize into fancy Northern Parulas and the cocoa and cream of Bay-breasted Warblers.
Blackburnian Warbler. (Courtesy, pixabay.com)
A birder’s dream in May
On the best of May birding days, the birds just don’t stop! Such rare days can truly be the stuff of birding dreams.
Not to leave wetlands out of the birding mix, May is also when shorebirds migrate through Michigan. Visit wetlands and there might be sandpipers foraging in the mud with Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers. Be careful to not disturb them, these amazing migrants are on their way to the Arctic!
The best way to see migrant birds in Michigan is by looking for them in wildlife refuges, parks and other places with natural habitats. However, backyards can work too, especially ones planted with native trees and bushes.
Bird feeder tips: What food attracts what bird?
Put out tray feeders with black sunflower seeds and peanuts to attract Blue Jays and Northern Cardinals. Let some of those seeds spill on the ground and your garden might also be graced with migrant sparrows and towhees.
Northern Cardinal. (Courtesy, pixabay.com)
To attract orioles, put out orange slices and grape jelly. They’ll love those offerings; orioles have a serious sweet tooth! Although most May migrants are insectivores and avoid feeders, mealworms can bring in Eastern Bluebirds, thrushes and maybe some warblers, too.
Install feeders where you can watch them, but, to help birds feel safe, place them within 15 feet of bushes or trees. If you want extra close looks, some feeders have their own little camera.
Whether you use feeders or not, this spring, keep an eye out for birds. Huge numbers of beautiful birds are migrating through our neighborhoods, towns and cities, probably more than we realize.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority broke ground Wednesday on its $135 million Terminal Enhancement Project (TEP) representing a significant investment in the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
TEP will expand the west end of the terminal, aiming to increase capacity and incorporate sustainable elements to further optimize operations, minimize the Airport’s environmental footprint and enhance the guest experience. The expansion includes:
A Consolidated Baggage Inspection System (CBIS) on the lower level of the terminal, streamlining the checked luggage process from the airline ticketing counter through screening and onto the aircraft.
An Individual Carrier System (ICS) for baggage handling screening. This will make the Ford International Airport the first small-hub airport in the U.S. to install an ICS.
New ticket counter spaces and the consolidation of all airline ticketing counters to the west end of the terminal.
Expanded baggage claim area with larger carousels to facilitate a more seamless and modernized baggage claim process for arriving passengers.
“The Ford International Airport is experiencing tremendous growth, recently achieving a record-breaking year in 2023 for number of passengers served annually,” said Airport Authority Board Chair Dan Koorndyk. “The Federal Aviation Administration has recognized our Airport as one of the fastest growing in the country, and this investment in our facility will support this continued growth, serving our thriving community for years to come.”
TEP is part of the ELEVATE capital expansion program, which includes more than $600 million in critical infrastructure investments to accommodate passenger growth and air service demands.
Additional projects under the ELEVATE program include:
A federal inspection station (FIS) to support nonstop international commercial passenger flights.
The relocation of the federally owned air traffic control tower to make way for diverse terminal-area developments such as additional tenant hangars and more parking.
Michigan’s first consolidated rental car facility (CONRAC) to provide a dedicated facility for all rental car operations. The project broke ground in 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2025.
The expansion and widening of Concourse A which was completed in Spring 2024. This project added eight new gates, additional concession and retail options, modern amenities and more.
Additional parking capacity to accommodate increased guest traffic.
Ford International Airport Authority President and CEO Tory Richardson. (Courtesy, Ford Airport)
“The Airport has been a cornerstone of West Michigan for more than 60 years,” said Ford International Airport Authority President and CEO Tory Richardson. “We have strategically invested in our facility and campus to ensure we support our region’s economic prosperity and vitality.
“The expansion of our infrastructure is critical to fostering the growth of our vibrant region, ensuring our community has access to essential services through a robust transportation hub that increases opportunities for global connectivity.”
A rendering of the Terminal Enhancement Project. (Courtesy, Ford Airport)
Congresswoman Hillary Scholten has been pivotal in supporting the airport’s growth, securing federal funds to support the construction of TEP.
“Amid this exciting growth, we have to ensure that GRR has the tools to keep up,” said Congresswoman Scholten, who gave remarks via video at today’s groundbreaking. “Adequate airport infrastructure makes all the difference in preventing flight delays, ensuring passenger safety and enhancing the traveler experience. Investments in GRR are investments in West Michigan’s future.”
As a key funding partner for TEP, TSA’s Michigan Federal Security Director Reggie Stephens provided remarks on the enhancements this project will make to the Airport’s safety and security screening operations from curb front to take-off.
“TSA is proud to enjoy a strong partnership with the Gerald R. Ford International Airport,” said Stephens. “The addition of the inline checked baggage screening system ensures that for years to come, GRR passengers will continue to enjoy a comfortable, convenient and safe airport traveling experience.”
Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Stan Stek, who spoke at today’s event, reaffirmed the importance of supporting the Airport’s expansion efforts to ensure the growth of the West Michigan community for generations to come.
“Kent County is not only one of the fastest-growing areas in the State, but also one of the few counties in Michigan experiencing growth in the critical 20- to 30-year-old demographic,” stated Commissioner Stek. “Growth in this demographic tells us that we can anticipate new entrepreneurial initiatives, business expansions and an increased demand for modernized and innovative public services.
“At Kent County our mission is to assure that everyone in this county has access to the best, most efficient and innovative public services in the State, and nothing exemplifies this better than what is being accomplished right here at the Ford International Airport.”
Kent County Commissioners. (Courtesy, Ford Airport)
The project is expected to be completed in 2027. The Christman Company is serving as the construction manager for TEP, while Corgan is the architect of record. VTC is the design team project manager with Fishbeck providing project engineering and Beumer Group serving as the contractor for the baggage handling system.
Construction will take place near the terminal entrance. Guests are encouraged to follow signage for temporary detours around the terminal curb front.
No local taxpayer dollars will be used to finance any of the projects included in the ELEVATE program, which will be paid for with a combination of federal and state grants, municipal bonds issued by the Airport and user fees. For more information about TEP and other ongoing ELEVATE developments, please visit FlyFord.org/ELEVATE.
Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) has partnered with Feeding America Mobile Pantry to host a Mobile Pantry once a month.
*WHS March Mobile Food Pantry will be held Monday, April 29 from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
What to expect
Though the selection of food varies each month, there are always a variety of fresh and frozen items available at the Mobile Pantry.
The Mobile Pantry is drive-thru style, and families are asked to remain in their vehicles for safety.
WHS Mobile Food Pantry Map (Courtesy, WPS)
Cars enter at the main entrance to WHS (1350 Prairie Parkway). Volunteers will direct traffic in the parking lot to help with efficiency.
Once in line, a volunteer will approach each car to record the name, address, number of people in the household, and the reason the food is needed for each family. Once a car has reached the front of the line, volunteers will load a box of food into the trunk.
Resources
To learn more about Feeding America West Michigan and the services they offer, click here.
For the Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry schedule, click here.
When it comes to coping and caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important at times to consider what you don’t say and do.
“People with Alzheimer’s live in a different reality once it advances,” says Paula Lett, social services manager at Care Resources, a Grand Rapids-based program for older adults that promotes healthy, independent living and helps prevent nursing home placement.
“In the beginning, they can be redirected, but as things progress, they’re stuck in a reality they’ve lived previously.”
The result can lead to extreme “agitation,” which can manifest itself in “getting upset, worked up and angry,” notes Ryanne Mondry, social services supervisor at Care Resources.
“That leads to confusion, miscommunication and misunderstandings.”
Stress levels can accelerate for both patients and caregivers. With Alzheimer’s expected to afflict nearly 13 million Americans by 2050 – the number now stands at some 7 million – it’s more important than ever to lean on education and advocacy for a disease that, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, is the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans 65 and older.
There are numerous strategies recommended for caregivers, including what Mondry says are telling “therapeutic white lies” to reduce stress in patients. For example, if a widower asks about seeing his wife, he shouldn’t be told she’s been dead five years, but instead that “she’s going to try to visit tomorrow.”
If they ask about the automobile they haven’t driven in the last year, things are apt to go more smoothly if they’re told “it’s in the shop for some minor repairs.”
Telling harsh truths might seem like the moral thing to do, but doing so can challenge the reality the disease has caused, and lead to traumatic episodes.
“It is generally best to redirect them than trying to make them remember what’s really going on, as that can really escalate things,” Lett says.
Lett and Mondry offer these additional tips for coping:
Ask the patient if they’re hungry, thirsty or tired. They might be unable to recognize basic needs.
Be aware of their blood-sugar levels.
Pay attention to their hygiene needs. Some with Alzheimer’s resist showering. Encourage a calming bath instead.
Try a change of scenery. Bring them into a quiet space. Take them for a walk or a drive. Play some music.
Lett and Mondry agree that caregivers also must understand that patients aren’t intentionally trying to be difficult in moments of increased agitation.
“Their brains have actually changed, and they sometimes become different people,” Lett says.
Mondry adds, “They can become more impulsive, engage in colorful language, and say and do things that are totally out of character.”
Both professionals agree it’s critical for caregivers to take care of themselves, too. Mondry compares it to the instructions given on flights where if the masks drop from above, capable adults need to put theirs on before assisting others.
“It’s easy to become burned out, and that can lead to unintentional neglect toward the person you’re supposed to be caring for,” Lett says. “Go for a walk, get enough sleep or join a support group.”
Mondry and Lett also suggest visiting a place like Care Resources, where there are wraparound support services for adults 55 years and older to give caregivers respite. Several team members have gone through comprehensive dementia care training developed by renowned dementia educator Teepa Snow to achieve a range of Positive Approach to Care® dementia certifications. These certifications allow staff to provide quality direct dementia care to participants, as well as and conduct ongoing dementia care training for other team members.
The organization’s day center at 4150 Kalamazoo Ave. SE invites participants to visit, enjoy a meal and socialize. Individuals may also be eligible for medical care, prescription help, dietary advice, physical and occupational therapy, transportation and much more. For more information, call Care Resources at 616-913-2006 or visit CareResources.org
WKTV Government Channel 26 is offering live coverage of the upcoming total solar eclipse!
Tune in Monday, April 8 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and see this stunning solar display live from NASA’s view.
Experience this amazing event with us as a total solar eclipse moves across Mexico, the United States and Canada, and see incredible views from various sites along its path.
Coverage of the eclipse courtesy of NASA TV. For more information about the eclipse, go to www.nasa.gov.
The Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) has released its annual Spring Recycling Guide. The Guide informs residents on what they can dispose of and recycle as they begin spring cleaning.
(Courtesy, Kent County DPW)
The Spring Recycling Guide shares valuable tips on recycling and properly disposing of waste, including everything from cartons and cans to bulky plastic containers to chemicals and cleaners and propane tanks. Properly disposing of these household items can help Kent County reach its goal to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Multiple options are available for disposal
“So many items that get placed in residents’ trash bins can be disposed of in a better way, and the DPW’s Spring Recycling Guide offers helpful information to help protect our environment,” said Katelyn Kikstra, Waste Reduction Educator at the DPW.
“We encourage residents to use the guide and our online Recycling & Waste directory to help reduce landfill waste.”
(Courtesy, Kent County DPW)
The guide details what can be recycled in Kent County including paper folders and shredded documents, corrugated plastic yard signs, aluminum trays and foil.
If items cannot go in residents’ recycling bins, there are additional options that help avoid items being sent to a landfill. Many household items may not be recyclable but can still be safely disposed of including paints and stains, garden hoses and electronics.
Resources
The DPW also offers a newly updated and user-friendly online directory in which residents can search virtually any item and find out how to dispose of or recycle it.
Building LEGOs as a child jump-started East Kentwood junior Eva Mei into the world of robotics.
“I became interested in robotics and these competitions because I was really into building LEGOs as a kid, and when FIRST LEGO League started at my elementary school I was really interested,” said Mei, a Project Lead on Red Storm Robotics 3875 team. “That eventually led me to joining FIRST Tech Challenge (middle school) and FIRST Robotics Competition (high school).
Eva Mei, project lead on Red Storm Robotics 3875 team. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)
“I have learned how to cooperate as a team and be really communicative with others, as well as learn how to go through the engineering process of brainstorming, prototyping, setting priorities, and building a robot. I find it really cool to belong in a team that I could find a community in.”
Mei will compete with her team this weekend at East Kentwood’s eighth FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics qualifying tournament on Friday and Saturday, March 29 and 30 at the high school (6230 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Kentwood). The competition is free and open to the public.
“We expect 40 teams from across Michigan to compete, and 2,000 people to come to this fun, free, open to the public event,” said Wendy Ljungren, event coordinator of FIRST Robotics Competition and founder of Red Storm Robotics in 2010. “This year’s competition theme is CrescendoSM. Two alliances of three teams each compete against each other to shoot foam rings into an overhead bin or a smaller slot earning the alliance points. At the end of each match, the robots climb onto the stage chain to earn additional points.”
Opening ceremonies for Day 1 begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 29 and on Day 2 at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 30 at East Kentwood High School. The complete agenda and more details on the competition can be found here.
Back in 2015, Ljungren volunteered to start and lead the competition with a game called Recycle Rush. She has been the Red Storm coach from Day 1 up until last year, when Trista Vandervoord took over.
Now a team mentor for Red Storm, Ljungren has been in the aviation business for 40 years, working in high profile roles in engineering for GE Aviation and AiRXOS. After funding was cut at GE, she formed a company called Anzen Unmanned in 2021 with three others.
Photo from a previous FIRST competition. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)
“Get more girls passionate about engineering”
“I got involved in robotics as the leader of GE women in technology group,” Ljungren said. “We wanted to get more girls passionate about engineering, so adopted the FIRST robotics program for not just Kentwood, but all schools in the area. Red Storm has grown to two high school FIRST Robotics Competition teams, eight middle school FIRST Tech Challenge, and 32 elementary FIRST Lego League teams.
“It is very satisfying to see the difference we have made in student’s lives.”
Similar to playing on a sports team?
“FIRST was started to encourage students, and parents, to be as excited about STEM as they are about sports,” Ljungren explained. “Unlike sports, most FIRST students can go professional.”
New head coach and longtime mentor Trista Vandervoord said the robotics model of FIRST directly emulates a sports model, with district competitions, regional championships and a world championship event celebrating the best of the best.
“Under the guidance of volunteer professional mentors, students create a robot from nothing in a short span of two to three months. Students practice skills in design, manufacturing, assembly, programming, marketing and teamwork to get the job done.”
Red Storm Robotics Coach Trista Vandervoord. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)
The FIRST Robotics website states, “Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. We call FIRST Robotics Competition the ultimate Sport for the Mind. High school student participants call it ‘the hardest fun you’ll ever have.’”
Vandervoord began as a volunteer mentor
Unlike Ljungren, Vandervoord had a career non-related to robotics.
“My education was in statistics and psychology, and I worked doing statistical reporting for an insurance company directly out of college until my children were born and I became a full-time at-home parent,” Vandervoord explained. “I started my involvement with Red Storm Robotics eight years ago as a volunteer mentor with my son’s middle school robotics team. I enjoyed it so much that when he moved on to the high school robotics team, I stayed with the middle school program volunteering as mentor, then eventually became program coordinator for that level.
“Two years ago, it became a mission of Red Storm Robotics and Kentwood Public Schools to grow the program across the district, and I proposed the position of Red Storm Robotics Program Coordinator K-12 (the role she’s currently in).
There are over 600 FIRST Robotics Competition
high school teamsin Michigan this year
Photo from a previous FIRST competition. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)
From 75 to 350 members in just two years at EK
When Vandervoord began two years ago, there were 75 students involved across the district. This year, some 350 Kentwood Public School kids participated on a robotics team.
There are 56 Red Storm Robotics East Kentwood high school students participating in the East Kentwood Competition this weekend broken down into team teams:
East Kentwood’s two high school teams: Red Storm Rookies 9566 (left) and Red Storm Robotics 3875. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)
Red Storm Robotics 3875: 10th through 12th grade students who specialize in an aspect of robotics which began 14 years ago. Led by Team Captain Nate, who manages the day-to-day aspects of the project and motivates the team to do its best under the guidance of Coach Alyssa Luna. Project Leads Eva, Ethan and Kailey are all experienced mechanical students who lead the design and building of different functions of the robot (intake, hopper, shooter, climber). Programming Captain Lindsay works with the programming subteam to make sure all programming tasks are completed. Marketing Captains Emma and Zander make sure their subteams complete all award submissions, prepare a presentation for judging, manage all branding and maintain the team’s relationship with their sponsors.
Red Storm Rookies 9566: A new team of 8th and 9th grade students who have just graduated from the middle school robotics program in the fall. They learn all aspects of robotics: design, prototype, build, wire, program and compete. Team Captain Leah works closely with Coach Nick Baribeau to organize the students and manage the workflow of the project.
Leah Bernstein, team captain of Red Storm Rookies
“I became interested after receiving an email from our school in seventh grade that brought many people to introduce our community to our robotics program,” said Leah Bernstein, East Kentwood ninth-grader. “I stayed in robotics through the years because I loved the community, everything I learned from robotics and the amazing experiences and opportunities I got through robotics.”
East Kentwood ninth-grader Leah Bernstein, team captain of Red Storm Rookies. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)
“I have learned many things through Red Storm Robotics like basic programming and building, how to be a part of a team, how to communicate with adults and ask for help better, as team captain I also learned how to lead the team.”
Red Storm generally top 25% in the state
Vandervoord said Red Storm generally finds itself in the top 25% statewide.
“Red Storm students traditionally design, build and program robots that are well-equipped to play the season’s game,” she explained. “We are especially proud of our growing number of female participants; currently 44% of the participants on our high school teams are women.”
Vandervoord said Robotics is an excellent application of STEM skills, and attracts students with an interest in evaluating a problem, proposing solutions, trying the solutions and creating a final product to solve the problem.
“Our well-rounded students are involved in many extra-curriculars, including STEM-related clubs, but we are often delighted by the creative solutions that our artistic/musical students offer.”
College scholarships available as well
As far as college scholarships go, Vandervoord said they are definitely available in Michigan.
“Red Storm alumni have received scholarships to Kettering University, Grand Valley State University and scholarships through FIRST sponsors,” she explained.
East Kentwood senior Nate Moxey, team captain for Red Storm 3875
“I became interested in robotics at one of Red Storm Robotics’ many demos at a club showcase,” Moxey said. “They had a robot much larger than I expected driving around quickly, so it was exciting to watch. Joining the team became very enticing to me, so I signed up shortly after.”
EK senior Nate Moxey, team captain for Red Storm Robotics 3875. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)
“By being on the Red Storm Robotics team, I have learned effective communication and cooperation skills, while also improving my time management. RSR imitates the industry in many key areas, so I feel more than ready to succeed in college and beyond. It is genuinely awesome to belong to Red Storm Robotics because it feels like its own family.”
Vandervoord talked about the growth of the students.
“I love to see the personal growth in each student as they develop STEM skills such as manufacturing, building and programming as well as interpersonal skills like leadership and teamwork,” Vandervoord explained. “I’ve seen students decide a career path because of their involvement with Red Storm Robotics. It is truly a blessing to do something I love.”
Next Round: State Championship at SVSU
Every team’s goal is to advance to the FIRST in Michigan State Championship on April 4-6 at Saginaw Valley State University. From there, the best teams move on to the World Championship from April 17-20 in Houston.
The Red Storm Robotics teams are sponsored locally by Dematic, GE Aerospace, Anzen Unmanned, Trane Technologies, Argosy, DTE Foundation, Members First Mortgage, NDIA Michigan STEM Sponsorship, Savant Automation, and Cascade Engineering.
West Michiganders are getting ready to shake off the winter chill as they head out for their spring break getaways, and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority is ready to serve a record-breaking number of spring break travelers.
The airport is expected to be 16% above its 2023 spring break travel levels, which was a record-breaking year. They are estimating 195,000 passengers from March 27 through April 8. The busiest departure day for passengers is expected to be Thursday, March 28.
“We are thrilled to welcome passengers as they travel to their spring break destinations,” said Ford International Airport Authority President and CEO Tory Richardson. “With our modern facilities, enhanced amenities, and new concession and retail concepts, we hope to provide guests with an unforgettable experience during their journey through the Airport.”
Passenger Appreciation Day March 29
The Airport’s annual Passenger Appreciation Day will be on Friday, March 29. If you would like to capture live music performances and special costume characters, they will be in the terminal from 5 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m.
Top Spring Break Destinations: Orlando, Dallas, Punta Gorda, Tampa and Fort Meyers.
One person is in custody following a bank robbery that occurred at the Fifth Third Bank at 2828 Michael Ave SW.
At approximately 9 a.m. on March 22, officers from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the Fifth Third Bank on Michael Avenue on the report of a bank robbery that just occurred.
A suspect entered the business and approached a teller. The suspect demanded money from the teller and implied he had a weapon. An undisclosed amount of cash was obtained by the suspect who then left the bank. As officers were searching the area for the suspect, an officer located a person matching the suspect description on 28th Street SW, between Buchanan Avenue SW and South Division Avenue. The suspect, a 65-year-old male, was taken into custody without incident and lodged at the Kent County Jail. The suspect’s identity is not being released pending arraignment.
In coordination with the FBI, Wyoming Police Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police Detectives at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
The sixth annual JCI South Kent Easter Egg Scramble will take place on the soccer fields of Lamar Park (Courtesy, JCI South Kent)
By JCI South Kent
(Courtesy, JCI South Kent)
JCI South Kent will host the annual Easter Egg Scramble at Lamar Park (2561 Porter St. SW, Wyoming) on March 30.
JCI South Kent is excited to bring this event back for its sixth year. The Easter Bunny will be in attendance and ready for pictures.
To ensure each child comes away with a full Easter basket, more than 10,000 Easter eggs have been readied for the event.
This event will be held on the park soccer fields and is open to children ages 2-11. Registration opens at 10 a.m. and the event begins at 11 a.m.
Kids will need to bring a basket to hold their treats.
NOTE:Volunteers and community sponsors are needed! Email jcisouthkent@gmail.com for more information.
(Courtesy, JCI South Kent)
Personal and leadership development
JCI South Kent is a nonprofit organization dedicated to personal and leadership development through community service for people ages 18 to 40. The organization provides residents of Kentwood, Wyoming and surrounding areas opportunities to grow personally and professionally through volunteer community service.
To find out more information about membership, monthly meetings, projects and volunteer opportunities, visit jcisouthkent.com.
