SNF’s Kingpin of Comedy competition enters its final round Oct. 29 with the final nine comedians (Brian B. SNF)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
The original lineup of 91 comedians is now down to nine as the Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy competition enters its final round Sunday, Oct. 29.
“We have a good mix of comedians performing in the finals this year,” says Brian B., MC and founder of the Sunday Night Funnies (SNF). “The Grand Rapids metro area is obviously represented, but we also have a comic from Niles, Michigan, one from Detroit – even one from Canada!
Sunday Night Funnies presents Kingpin of Comedy competition (Courtesy, Brian B. SNF)
The lineup is diverse too. Not only in terms of race, but age-range as well with comedians in their 20s up to sixty years old.”
Along with the nine competing comics, comedian Seth Lee – the 2022 Kingpin of Comedy winner – will close the show while votes are counted.
“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought that the eventual winner deserved a prize package worthy of the title Most Humorous Person In Town,” said Brian B. “The package includes prizes from local businesses including Craig’s Cruisers, LaughFest, Midtown GR, and from the host of the show Spectrum Entertainment Complex.
“The winner will also receive $500 cash, a tricked-out bowling pin trophy and a personalized Kingpin bowling shirt. The total prize package is valued close to $1,000.”
The SNF is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. A weekly live stand-up comedy performance, SNF features a variety of comics from Michigan and across the country.
SNF performances are a free admission shows beginning at 7:30 p.m. and performed at the Spectrum Entertainment Complex, 5656 Clyde Park SW, in Wyoming.
Spooky season is officially upon us. While seasonal pop-up shops or big-brand party stores may seem like the obvious choice for finding the perfect costume, Woodland Mall has options for Halloween looks that feature pieces you’ll wear again and again. Some ideas include:
Barbie and Ken: The blockbuster film held many iconic looks, from all-pink ensembles to cowboy-inspired looks. You can find a full pink outfit featuring quality dresses, jumpsuits, tops and more at many stores throughout Woodland Mall, including Dry Goods and Versona. Altar’d State and Windsor also have glitzy cowboy accessories to help you look the part – and Aldo’s Barbie collection provides the perfect footwear to tie it all together.
To rock the “Kenough” look, check out the many styles at Forever 21 Men, from all-denim gear to a western-inspired getup.
(Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift: We’re in our Tayvis era. If you and your partner are looking for a fun and simple couples costume, this star-studded pairing may be the answer. Swing by Lids or Locker Room by Lids to grab some Kansas City Chiefs apparel for him and recreate Taylor’s gameday look with a simple white tee and red hoodie from Macy’s or Von Maur.
Swing by Lids or Locker Room by Lids to grab some Kansas City Chiefs apparel. (Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
Wednesday Addams. (Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
Wednesday Addams: The perfect little black dress can be found in many stores throughout the mall, from Forever 21 to Francesca’s. Find one you love and pair it with some spooky accessories from Claire’s, Hot Topic or Icing for the perfect Addams Family look. As a bonus, stop by Sephora for some Wednesday-inspired makeup.
Ted Lasso: You can easily recreate the look of the popular TV character with a simple navy sweater and some slacks from J.Crew or a track set from JCPenney. All you need is a mustache and you’ll be ready to hit the field.
Justin and Hailey Bieber: Turn the recent memes of Justin and Hailey’s mismatched event attire into a comical couple’s costume. You can swing by H&M to find a head-turning red dress and a cozy pair of sweats.
Plus many more outfits and accessories for the perfect spooky, super or supernatural ensemble.
Mike Bacon sits with James Smither in the WKTV studio as he talks about his time as a Signal Corps Officer in the Army (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
Veteran Mike Bacon recently stepped into the recording studio with James Smither, Director of the GVSU Veterans History Project, to talk about his experience in the Vietnam war.
After receiving a notice from the draft board that he would soon be drafted into the war, Bacon chose to enlist in the United States Army so he could participate in Officer Candidate School (OCS).
Bacon began basic training in spring of 1966 at Fort Dix in New Jersey, then moving into Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort McClellan in Alabama before being assigned to Mannheim, Germany as a Signal Corps Officer with the 97th Signal Battalion of the 7th Army.
Founded by Major Albert J. Myer in 1860, the U.S. Signal Corps was a small organization with members scattered among the Army’s various posts. With the rise of telecommunications, signaling duties became increasingly complex and integral to military operations.
Today, the Signal Corps consists of approximately 68,000 men and women.
Assigned as a platoon leader of the 97th Signal Battalion, Bacon eventually became Headquarters Company Commander. After two years stationed in Germany, he was discharged at Fort Dix in 1969.
Life as a civilian consisted of various jobs that allowed the military veteran to travel throughout the U.S. Bacon’s travels eventually led him to Michigan where he served at East Kentwood High School as an English teacher until his retirement.
For Bacon, however, retirement does not require sitting still.
Owner of Loon Tracks since 1985, Bacon is still heavily involved in photography, videography, and writing.
In conjunction with WKTV Community Media, Bacon produces “Whittlin’ Time,” a show based around wood carving and related skills. He has also volunteered on countless WKTV productions as camera operator, audio technician, graphics engineer, technical director, director, and helped maintain computers and software in the editing bays.
Bacon said his time in the Signal Corps gave him confidence in himself and his abilities.
One person is dead and three injured after a crash in the 1700 block of Chicago Drive SW.
At approximately 7:20 a.m. on Oct. 23, police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the 1700 block of Chicago Dr. SW on a report of a head-on collision. Upon arrival officers located multiple subjects with injuries. Initial investigation indicates both vehicles were traveling on Chicago Drive, one eastbound and the other westbound.
The eastbound driver, a 43-year-old male from the City of Wyoming, died as a result of injuries sustained from the crash. Three occupants of the westbound vehicle were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
The Wyoming Police Accident Investigation and Forensic Science Units continue to investigate this incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530- 7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
The 2022 edition of the Lee Legends gave up 60 points per game while scoring 17 en route to an 0-9 season.
The 2023 Legends improved on both metrics, scoring 38 ppg and giving up 32.
Lee football coach Lamar Marshall. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
Second-year Coach Lamar Marshall stressed execution and growth from last season’s struggles in the off-season.
“Maturity, experience, and knowing how varsity football operates,” Coach Marshall said. “Every down is meaningful. Executing on all three phases of the game is crucial.”
On Friday night, the Legends secured their first winning season (5-4) since 2006 with a record-setting 62-0 win over Bloomingdale.
The Legends’ defense, led by defensive coordinator Damion Gregory, scored a school-record four touchdowns.
“My hats off to my defensive coordinator, Damion Gregory,” Marshall said. “He did an incredible job with that unit.”
Sophomore wide receiver Aidan Merriweather showed his defensive skills with two interceptions returned for a touchdown and a recovered fumble for a score.
Hybrid linebacker Jaden Potts also took an interception 75 yards for a touchdown.
The Legends set another record in the blowout win.
Quarterback Anthony Blok from an earlier game this season. (Courtesy, Shafi Subhan)
Lee QB Anthony Blok sets passing TD record in a season
Junior quarterback Anthony Blok went 4-for-7 for 154 yards and three passing touchdowns to set a Lee record for most passing touchdowns in a season with 29.
Senior running back Clarence Lewis finished his lone football season with 147 yards from scrimmage and two scores.
“Clarence was huge for us,” Marshall said. “He made plays when we needed him, too. He was a vocal and emotional leader.”
The Legends will lose three graduating seniors: Lewis and defensive standouts Issac Delgado and Kameron Washington.
The 2024 Legends will look to build upon the gains they made this season. Lee will return many key starters, including Blok and Merriweather, among others.
“Aidan set the confidence tone this December with his dedication to the weight room. He got stronger, and it motivated the team to follow suit.
“Without a doubt, he will be the vocal leader next year. Players tend to get behind him, especially when he’s assertive.”
Marshall also anticipates significant growth from freshmen Jaden Sanchez and Ziere Feast.
“I expect Jaden and Ziere to lead us on defense next year,” Marshall said of his young talent.
The Legends are ineligible for the MHSAA 8-Man playoffs due to enrollment limits and will finish the 2023 season with a 5-4 record.
Processed medications will be transported to Kent County’s Waste to Energy Facility and incinerated (Courtesy Photo)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
The City of Wyoming addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue by participating in the semiannual “Drug Take Back Day” event Oct. 28.
DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Days are designed to make communities safer and healthier by providing a way to turn in unneeded medications, removing them from potential harm. This reduces drug addiction, overdoses, overdose deaths, and drug-related violence.
Millions of Americans misuse controlled prescription drugs (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
Drug Take Back Day events are a joint effort between DEA, law enforcement, wastewater treatment facilities and government agencies to provide residents with safe, convenient access to proper medicine disposal.
“Medications collected in West Michigan are transported to Kent County’s Waste to Energy Facility, where they are incinerated,” the City of Wyoming website states.
In 2009, the City of Wyoming Clean Water Plant developed a new initiative called WyMeds designed to reduce the amount of medicinal waste from entering the wastewater system and our environment. The overwhelming success of this program led to its adoption by Kent County in 2010.
Now known as West Michigan Take Back Meds, the program serves the entire Kent County area as well as parts of Muskegon, Ottawa, and Allegan Counties.
Year Round Safe Medication Drop-Off
Drop off your unused medication all year round at one of these SafeMeds drop-off locations:
Wyoming Public Safety (2300 De Hoop Avenue) Takes: Controlled and non-controlled substances Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
CVS Pharmacy (5603 Byron Center SW) Takes: Controlled and non-controlled substances (No syringes, no inhalers) Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Meijer Pharmacy (5500 Clyde Park SW) Takes: Controlled and non-controlled substances (No syringes, no inhalers, no liquids) Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wyoming High School provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience for five foreign exchange students (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
Five foreign exchange students representing four countries embarked on a journey that led them to Wyoming High School.
Alexandra (Italy), Edward (Germany), Daisy (Thailand), Linh and Hieu (Vietnam) have traveled thousands of miles to experience the American way of life.
Though not always easy due to cultural differences, all five students have expressed enjoyment of their time in the United States.
International Exchange Coordinator and Educatius Local Coordinator Sunflower Swan is determined to help the foreign students get the most out of their time in America.
“My job is to help them to achieve that experience of positive outcome,” said Swan.
Swan (left) helps the international students express their experiences, emotions and goals while in the United States (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Swan, raised in Korea, came to America as an exchange student when she was in college. Her experience inspired a passion for helping others find that same joy.
“I want this experience to be fun and engaging. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Swan.
Swan creates that fun environment through various interactive events and activities.
Upon the exchange students’ arrival, Swan hosted a gathering at a local park for the students and their host families. Cookie-eating contests, marshmallow-stuffing contests, and 3-legged races were among the planned activities.
But Swan said the games accomplished far more than just having fun.
“The [3-legged race] is a metaphor that they have to [coexist] in harmony with each other,” said Swan. “Because, to have a successful experience, they can’t do their own thing. You have to tie together.”
Exuberance for life and the American way
Swan’s passion for life was evident during a conversation with Swan and the foreign exchange students.
That conversation involved far more than a question and answer session to see how the students were faring at WHS. Props, signs, face mustaches, picture taking, dancing, and laughter were also part of the mix.
“I don’t do boring stuff,” Swan said as she tossed this reporter a flowered lei with instructions to put it on before she took a picture. “That’s fun, isn’t it? A celebration of life, I call it.”
Alexandra loves trying new things while in America (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Alexandra is also embracing life and several new experiences.
“I am making new friends every day, and I am not afraid to talk to [others],” said Alexandra. “I’m shy, but I’m trying to be more confident.”
Alexandra said she joined the WHS golf team because she had never tried the sport before. “I’m not good,” Alexandra said with a shrug. “But I don’t care.”
WHS English teacher and Alexandra’s host mother, Joslyn O’Dell, said Alexandra fit right into her family.
“As soon as we got the name Alexandra, Drake (O’Dell’s son) looked her up on social media and became friends with her,” said O’Dell. “So before she even got to the U.S. they were interacting. Weeks before she arrived, we had already started that relationship.”
Watching Alexandra seize every new experience has been fun for the O’Dell family.
“Just seeing her try the American school and see how that fits for her has been fun,” said O’Dell. “She’s had a lot of new experiences and she’s enjoyed a lot of them; she wants to experience everything.”
Daisy is also embracing new things, with music festivals, camping and learning a different genre of music among the Thailand native’s recent experiences.
Valuable lessons learned
Some experiences, however, are internal and more personal.
Daisy said that she is naturally shy but is learning to open up to people.
“Here, she has learned that exerting her opinion does not mean she isn’t humble,” said Swan. “[It is] gaining maturity and speaking when you need to speak.”
Hieu (left) and Edward discuss a question asked during the meeting (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Hieu (Vietnam) enjoys playing basketball, is making friends, and is also learning to be more confident.
“I used to be shy to talk to people, but now I am more open,” said Hieu.
Linh said that through the kindness she has seen at WHS, she “learned to be respectful to everyone.”
Edward says being in America has instigated more meaningful conversations with his parents back in Germany.
“I talked to my parents [before], but here I do more,” said Edward.
Making mistakes and overcoming obstacles
Though most of the exchange students’ experiences have been positive, some difficulties have emerged.
Differences in culture such as body language, difficulty level and concept of school classes, and homework are some of the most common obstacles for foreign students.
“Some students don’t do homework because in their culture, homework is optional, it is not part of their grade,” said Swan, adding that some of the students have had to realize homework is required in the U.S.
Edward enjoys the class activities WHS includes in the curriculum (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Daisy said that while she loves the freedom America offers, she struggles with students’ disrespect toward teachers.
Because of Swan’s own experience as an exchange student in college, she understands the hurdles these students face.
“I know what it’s like, adjusting,” said Swan. “Sometimes they are afraid to speak because they don’t want to mispronounce a word.”
But Swan said making mistakes is part of the learning process.
“You have to make mistakes to learn the language and assimilate,” said Swan. “Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Mispronunciation is good. You don’t have to have perfect English to engage in conversation; that’s not reasonable.”
A few of their favorite things…
Increased freedom, friendly teachers and students, learning activities for students, and free food and refills on drinks were some favorite things mentioned by the group. ArtPrize was also a highlight this fall, with all five students exploring exhibits together.
30 countries, 20 years, and public diplomacy
Swan has spent 20 years and traveled to 30 countries while helping students experience other cultures.
“We are training future world leaders,” said Swan, adding that 200 out of 300 world leaders were involved in some kind of student exchange program.
Swan (left) said Linh (right) had very limited English when arriving in America and is a perfect example of how hard work and tenacity help students grow (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“This is called public diplomacy,” Swan said. “It’s one of the greatest, powerful public diplomacy the U.S. can have, having exchange students here, learning American culture, American way of life.”
But for Swan, it is about far more than diplomacy.
“I traveled the world, but I discovered people are all the same,” said Swan. “I am more compassionate as I meet people because they all need to be loved and appreciated.
“We are all the same. We have so much focus on skin or education or status but forget they are human.”
And where Swan goes, fun and new friends follow.
“For me, I live fully,” said Swan. “I want to enjoy it. Life is too short, and I want to celebrate life.
“It’s not easy to do what I do. It’s a lot of problem-solving, but I’m making a difference.”
Education money can’t buy
Swan says learning about new cultures reminds us that we are all human (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Swan encourages families to consider hosting an exchange student, saying it benefits families as well as students.
“In my experience, host family children become much more diverse and stronger,” said Swan. “You are providing education money cannot buy.”
To learn more about local exchange student hosting opportunities, visit Educatius.
In the last game of the COVID-19-shortened season in 2020, the Wyoming Wolves beat the Holland Dutch 34-26.
Since that night in October 2020, the Wolves have won only one game.
Nearly two years later, on a rain-filled and chilly homecoming night, the Wolves again emerged victorious against the Holland Dutch 34-13 on Friday night.
Two plays into the opening drive, the Wolves lost junior quarterback Jay Johnson to an injury.
Wyoming running back Adrian Moore filled in for injured QB Jay Johnson early in the game.
As Johnson was helped off the field, he had a moment of embrace with junior quarterback Adrian Moore, who would take over at quarterback for the Wolves.
Moore would get Wyoming on the board first, scoring on a QB keeper from seven yards out early in the first quarter.
After a long punt by Holland’s Dylan Floes, the Wolves’ senior running back Donavyn Edwards took the first play 64 yards down the sideline to put Wyoming up 13-0.
The second quarter saw two long drives by the home team end in turnovers.
Mauricio Hernandez-Keys helped the defensive effort with an interception in the end zone late in the second quarter.
Wyoming led 13-0 at halftime
Junior running back Jack TerVeen came into Week 8 averaging 125 rushing yards over the last four games.
TerVeen had wide-open running lanes all night long on his way to another 100-yard game and punched the ball past the goal line three times.
Wyoming (1-7) ends the 2023 season at home next Friday hosting the Muskegon Big Reds (6-2).
GR Catholic Central clinched a share of the OK Gold with their win over South Christian. (WKTV/Jake Westbrook)
By Zach Fanko
WKTV Contributor
Host of Friday Night Highlights
On a rainy, windy night, OK Gold rivals Grand Rapids Catholic Central and South Christian collided with at least a share of the conference title on the line. The Cougars avenged last season’s 36-34 loss with a 21-12 victory over the Sailors Friday.
Catholic Central went ahead early on a Kellen Russell-Dixon 2-yard TD run with 8:17 left in the first quarter.
The Sailors returned the favor, as junior QB Carson Vis used his legs on a 34-yard TD scamper. The extra point was blocked as the Cougars clung to a 7-6 lead with 4:57 left in the 1st.
With weather playing a factor, both defenses dug in and held the offenses in check for the remainder of the half.
Russell-Dixon found paydirt once again, this time on a 59-yard run to increase Catholic Central’s lead to 14-6 at the 7:38 mark in the third quarter.
South Christian got back within two points as Vis found the end zone on the ground from a yard out. The ensuing two-point conversion attempt was stopped as the Sailors trailed 14-12 with 1:16 left in the third.
The Cougars all but iced the game on Russell-Dixon’s third TD run of the game with less than 8 minutes remaining to make it a two-possession game. The senior halfback had himself a night totaling 330 rushing yards on 32 carries and 3 TDs.
With the win, Catholic Central (7-1, 6-0 OK Gold) stays unbeaten in the conference and can clinch the outright conference title next week in their season finale at Ottawa Hills.
South Christian (6-2, 5-1 OK Gold) visits Wayland to close its regular season next Friday.
Palermo Pizza owner Janice Vitale is holding a 50th Birthday Fundraiser on Oct. 14 at 735 36th St. SW Wyoming.
The fundraiser will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and consist of a bake sale, pop can drive and a portion (20 percent) of all orders that day will be donated to charity. Cake and refreshments will be served as well.
“Help me celebrate my birthday by doing what I love to do best; service,” Vitale said. “Together we can do more by giving back.
“Drop your pop cans off, maybe purchase some baked goods and have a slice of cake with me. Each year I sponsor a few graduating seniors. I pay for the cost of their caps and gowns, other memorabilia, and their senior all-nighter. I try to sponsor students in the foster care system, but never limited to. I know with your support we can help more students this year.”
“The Best Me Is Drug Free” writing contest is open to all West Michigan 7th-12th grade students (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
Submissions for the writing contest will be accepted until Oct. 23 (Courtesy: pxhere.com)
“The Best Me Is Drug Free” is the theme for the student-led Teen CHARGE program’s writing contest currently underway – and that is still accepting submissions.
Wedgwood Christian Services’ Teen CHARGE program is celebrating Red Ribbon Week (RRW) with a writing contest that focuses on drug abuse awareness and living drug-free lives.
All 7th-12th grade West Michigan students are invited to submit an original written work to the contest. Submissions can be in the form of a poem, story, song, rap, essay or personal narrative that relates to the theme “The Best Me Is Drug Free.”
Submissions can be emailed to teencharge@wedgwood.org, and will be accepted until Oct. 23. Winners will win gift cards and will have the chance to have their piece published on the Teen CHARGE website if they so choose.
“Every year we try to do things to recognize Red Ribbon Week,” said Gina Boscarino, Wedgwood Christian Services Group Specialist. “I wanted to do something they would be excited about, and I have a lot of students who enjoy writing, specifically creative writing.”
Raising awareness, making a difference
Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program (Courtesy: h9images, Freepik.com)
RRW is an annual, nationwide drug abuse awareness campaign that takes place during the last week of October. The campaign began after the death of Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was brutally murdered in 1985 by a Mexican drug cartel.
Camarena was known to say, “I’m only one person but I want to make a difference.”
The RRW celebration was created in 1988 by the National Family Partnership (NFP) to honor and acknowledge Camarena’s sacrifice by recognizing the harmful effects of drugs on our communities and making commitments to live a drug-free lifestyle.
Authentic and true
Boscarino says many of the written RRW submissions received to date have been “very powerful.”
Many students pledge to live drug-free lives during Red Ribbon Week (Courtesy: storyset, Freepik.com)
“Some of them are talking about why they are not going to do [drugs], or why they don’t feel the need to do drugs or alcohol,” said Boscarino. “And the other half is looking at it from the other perspective, showing the dangers of it [and] how a person loses themselves once they become addicted to something.”
“We are looking for [pieces] that are authentic and true,” Boscarino explained, adding that students do not have to have a personal experience with drugs in order to create a powerful and authentic written work.
Though this is the first year having a writing contest for RRW, Boscarino says they will definitely be doing it again.
“I think one of the great things about writing is that it is a confidence builder for a lot of people,” said Boscarino.
Blog submissions always welcome
Teen CHARGE promotes creativity and accepts blog submissions regularly (Courtesy: pxhere.com)
In fact, students interested in writing are encouraged to submit to the Teen CHARGE blog at any time.
“If kids are interested in writing, we are always taking submissions for the blog even if they’re not a specific Teen CHARGE brand representative,” said Boscarino. “We just really want to promote creativity and making healthy decisions.”
To find out more about Wedgwood Christian Services, visit wedgwood.org. To learn more about Teen CHARGE, visit teencharge.org.
The Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) has launched its fall recycling guide to help residents ensure recyclable and hard to dispose of materials don’t end up in a landfill this fall.
The 2023 Fall Recycling Guide is part of the DPW’s efforts to familiarize Kent County residents with items that can be placed in their recycling bins to move toward the goal of reducing landfill waste by 90 percent by 2030. The guide also includes tips for properly recycling or disposing of material that can’t go in a recycling bin, but can still be kept out of a landfill like leaves, pool chemicals and clothing.
“The fall season and fall holidays can bring about a lot of waste, from food containers to costumes to decorations, so it’s important Kent County residents are knowledgeable about what can be recycled and put to better use than sitting in a landfill,” said Micah Herrboldt, waste reduction educator at the DPW. “We’re proud of our community’s commitment to recycling and reducing waste all year-round.”
In the fall, the DPW tends to see items like cider jugs, paper cups and cartons, certain plastics and cardboard boxes end up in the trash when they could be placed in curbside recycling bins and eventually repurposed. Items like soup and broth cartons, rigid plastics and metal cans and tins for pie filling, also can be recycled.
If an item can’t be recycled, there are other options for residents to avoid contributing to the landfill. The DPW offers tips for what to do with Halloween costumes and wigs, sweaters and coats, as well as clothing that’s been outgrown by children.
If a garage clean-out is on your fall to do list, household hazardous waste can be brought to any of the DPW’s SafeChem locations throughout the county for free responsible disposal. Organic waste like branches, leaves and garden plants can be provided through a local waste hauler.
The Kent County Department of Public Works provides municipal solid waste disposal services to ensure the effective removal, storage and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste through various facilities and programs, including Waste-to-Energy, the Recycling and Education Center, North Kent Transfer Station and South Kent Landfill.
A satellite view of Site 36 shows location of the forthcoming 36th Street Marketplace five-acre parcel of land (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
The City of Wyoming is making steady progress with plans regarding the forthcoming local marketplace at Site 36 Industrial Park.
“We’re very excited about it,” said Nicole Hofert, Wyoming’s Director of Community & Economic Development. “I think that we are going to be creating a really nice hub for families. Somewhere where they can feel safe and want to be.”
Formerly a General Motors stamping plant, Site 36 North is directly adjacent to the Godwin High School athletic field (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Site 36 Industrial Park is an 80-acre parcel of land with 75-acres on the south side of 36th Street, and an additional five acres on the north side.
The 36th Street Marketplace will be located on that five-acre parcel.
Formerly a General Motors stamping plant, the 75 acre parcel of Site 36 was sold to commercial real estate investment company Franklin and Partners (FP) with an agreement that FP would help Wyoming develop a community marketplace on the north side.
“What’s also fortunate about this property is that Godwin High School sits just across the street, and their athletic field sits directly adjacent to the site,” said Hofert.
Hofert went on to say that the City has acquired a parking agreement with the school that will benefit both school and marketplace events.
Marketplace planning sneak peek
The marketplace design incorporates a long rectangular building with a flexible layout that will allow for up to 24 vendors.
Farmers markets have become increasingly popular and offer more than just fresh produce (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“You could have a farmers market one day and then maybe an artisan market later in the week that requires a slightly different layout,” said Hofert.
Garage doors on all sides can be raised or lowered as needed, allowing the market to function year-round.
Programmable outdoor space is also included in the design.
A designated food truck parking area will allow food truck and other similar events to proceed even when the market isn’t in operation. A smaller outdoor space on the front of the market will allow for music events and other outdoor activities.
“We’ve had a tremendous team working on it,” said Hofert. “We’ve been very lucky with our internal partners as well as our external partners, and they were very thoughtful in a lot of their recommendations.”
Hofert went on to say that the City did a large amount of market research leading into the planning process. They also traveled to several farmers markets, which led to the rationale for the garage doors.
36th Street Marketplace planning has involved large amounts of research, including on-location visits to similar venues (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
With West Michigan’s variant weather, Hofert said the question was how the City could “bring something to the community that they can ultimately embrace, and is available to them 365 days out of the year and not just a limited 3-month window.”
Conversations with local entrepreneurs provided feedback on what would be helpful for vendors. The City also sought support and feedback from the Division Avenue Business Association.
“Hopefully we’ve designed something that’s reflective of their needs to really maximize the benefit of this,” said Hofert. “There are opportunities to expand beyond just fresh fruit or vegetable offerings, and we really wanted to make sure that we were providing for those opportunities.”
Once the marketplace is built, leadership of design and vendor needs will pass to Krashawn Martin, director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
A family and community hub
The City’s goal is to make the marketplace a venue where people want to spend time and that is accessible from every direction.
Families and other community members will be able to access the marketplace from multiple routes (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
Marketplace planners hope that the south side of Site 36 develops quickly, creating a natural magnet that will draw people to the north side.
“It’s also an area of the community that still has a very tight grid system,” said Hofert. “We have a very walkable neighborhood surrounding it and we are hoping…it becomes part of the neighborhood’s aesthetic.”
The Silver Line runs along Division Avenue, creating broader access for neighborhoods. Site 36 and the Silver Line are only a quarter mile apart, allowing visitors to easily walk to the marketplace.
A reconfigured trail network will bring the non-motorized trail off of Buchanan to Site 36 and also around the site.
“Anyone using the trail is going to have to go through the marketplace,” said Hofert. “You now have families that can bike to the marketplace, get some fresh fruits, vegetables, some artisan goods, maybe a cup of coffee, and then head home.”
Timeline and extra perks
Farmers Market (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“I am hopeful that we will be breaking ground late this year, into early next year,” said Hofert. “We’re finishing up due diligence. We have to complete a Brownfield Work Plan, and then obviously construction will have to begin.”
Hofert is remaining conservative in the City’s expectations on project completion, however, knowing that there are often delays in the current construction industry.
A generous grant will provide an extra marketplace perk once construction is complete.
The City plans to solicit a local artist to place public art that will honor the site for what it is.
Community renewal and healing
Hofert said the loss of the GM stamping plant was significant for Wyoming and greater Grand Rapids families who worked there.
“It was a tremendous loss to the area when that plant left,” said Hofert. “To be able to bring something to the community, that’s for the community and not just a development asset for a private company, is something that we at the City are really excited about.”
Peanut the cat needs a home. (Courtesy, Janet Vormittag)
By Janet Vormittag
WKTV Contributor
Are you considering adding a furry friend to your family? If so, you’re in luck. The BISSELL Pet Foundation is hosting its Fall National “Empty the Shelters” event in 43 Michigan shelters.
Our nation’s animal shelters are in crisis due to increased owner surrenders and stray intakes, spiking post-pandemic euthanasia rates across the country.
Eli the rabbit is available. (Courtesy, Janet Vormittag)
“Our nation’s animal shelters are facing an overcrowding crisis unlike anything we have experienced in more than a decade. The devastating increase in owner surrenders and stray intakes has left tens of thousands of socialized, house-trained, and leash-trained pets desperate to find a home,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation.
From Oct. 1-15, BISSELL Pet Foundation will sponsor reduced adoption fees at more than 345 shelters in 42 states. Adopters can save a life and bring home a spayed/neutered, vaccinated pet available for adoption for $50 or less.
Alize the dog is hoping for a new home. (Courtesy, Humane Society)
Tania Jaczkowski, executive director of the Humane Society of West Michigan, said the humane society is only doing a one day event on Saturday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Close to 50 dogs, 100 cats and a few rabbits will be available and adoption fees will be waived.
Anyone interested in adopting is encouraged to fill out an application online at www.hswestmi.org Adopters can also be pre-approved which will save time on the day of the event.
Alize, a 74-pound hound mix, is hoping to find a new family. Alize loves toys and playing fetch. She also loves affection. She’s only a year and a half old and is a long-termer at the humane society having been there longer than three weeks.
Peanut, a 13-year-old gray cat, is hoping to find a family with a couch where he can spend his golden years. Peanut is sweet, independent and playful. He needs a home without young children. Peanut has an over active thyroid which is controlled by daily medication.
A rabbit who needs a home is 10-year-old Ike. He currently lives in Jaczkowski’s office where he takes up close to half of her floor space. Ike is friendly and will take treats out of your hand.
Jaczkowski said they have participated in more than 20 Empty the Shelter events and have always seen increased adoptions. She added that Bissell has been very supportive of the humane society. “They’re fantastic.” When the humane society needed more space for their cats, the Bissell Pet Foundation paid for a cattery expansion which included several rooms for free-roaming cats.
Jaczkowski said the humane society, like other shelters and rescues, is feeling the crisis of too many pets being surrendered and adoptions being down. Plus, since the Covid pandemic there are more animals with behavioral issues. She feels the reason for the crisis is the economy. “People can’t afford another mouth to feed.”
The humane society also is feeling the pinch of inflation. “We’re purchasing less, but it’s costing us more.”
Jaczkowski hopes the Empty the Shelters event will result in some of the animals at the humane society finding new homes.
“It’s a lot of work, but the exposure it brings to the animals is worth it.”
Wyoming Police are looking for information that will help locate Anthony Scott Adrianse (Courtesy, Wyoming PD)
By Wyoming Police Department
deborah@wktv.org
UPDATE: Anthony Adrianse’s well-being was verified by Wyoming Police Investigators on October 11, 2023, he is no longer considered a missing person.
The Wyoming Police Department is asking for assistance in locating 36-year-old Anthony Scott Adrianse.
Anthony was last seen leaving his residence near Burton Street and Burlingame Avenue SW in the City of Wyoming on Sept. 22, 2023, at approximately 6:30 PM. He left in a Gray 2013 Honda Accord 4-door bearing Michigan registration EJH3217 and has not been heard from or seen since.
Anthony is a white male, approximately 6’ 0” tall and 200 pounds. He has dark brown hair which is long and usually in a ponytail.
Wyoming Police detectives continue to investigate this incident.
Attached are photos of Anthony and a stock image of the vehicle he was last known to be driving.
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.
On a chilly, rain-filled Friday night, the Lee Legends were overpowered by their 8-player league foe from New Buffalo 72-28.
The Legends have used junior quarterback Anthony Blok and senior running back Clarence Lewis to spark their offense, which has averaged 41.3 points per game.
Injuries and inefficient play dampened the Lee offense Friday.
Lee played without star running back Clarence Lewis, who was out with an ankle injury.
“He’s the guy we go to when we need a play,” said Lee Coach Lamar Marshall of his senior running back.
Anthony Blok rushed for 95 yards and two scores
Junior quarterback Anthony Blok completed 33 percent of his passes in the losing effort, but used his ground game to run for 95 yards and two scores. He also threw two passing touchdowns.
Lee quarterback Anthony Blok earlier this season. (Courtesy, Shafi Subhan)
The Bison also held standout sophomore wide receiver Aiden Merriweather to 22 yards on the night.
“We couldn’t sustain drives,” Marshall said. “We didn’t execute well at all.”
The Legends played close in the first half. New Buffalo was up 20-14 at the end of two quarters.
“We committed a few penalties, and then we had to wait out a rain delay,” Marshall explained. “We couldn’t recover.”
Charles Davis was a bright spot for the Legends, finishing the night with 108 yards and a touchdown catch.
Lee receiver Charles Davis. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
“We need to be consistent throughout the week,” Marshall said. “We need to make practice a little more physical next week.”
The Legends (4-3 overall, 1-3 in the Southwest Michigan 8-Man Football League – Blue) look to get back on track next week against host NorthPointe Christian (4-3).
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.
The Lee soccer team has won a second straight Alliance League championship and has been state-ranked in Division 3 this season. (Courtesy, Lee High School Soccer Team)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
The West Michigan area is home to some outstanding soccer programs that have played an elite level of soccer for years. At Lee High School, the Legends soccer team is working hard to add its name to the list of premier soccer teams in the area.
Since entering the Alliance League two years ago, the Legends have elevated their play on the field and have been contending for the league title. Two years ago, the Legends turned in the best record in conference play, but were ineligible for the league title as a first-year team. Last season Lee won the Alliance League title and this year the Legends finished first with a perfect league record of 8-0.
Lee finished the regular season with a record of 11-3-1. The Legends also have been garnering state-wide recognition as they were ranked 12th in Division 3 in the state rankings the last week of September.
Winning a second consecutive league title has been anything but easy for the Legends who graduated some key players from last year’s squad and also have been dealing with adversity this season.
“We have a younger team this year,” said Lee Coach Hugo Cano, in his third year coaching the team. “We have six seniors, but overall, we are a pretty young team. We have also gone through a lot of adversity both on and off the field. We really emphasized to the guys to play hard and stay strong mentally and they definitely show that resiliency and drive this year.
“The team unity is a strong point this year and going through the adversity has brought our players together.”
On the field, the team unity is evident as the Legends have won several close games and play strong defense. During league play this season the Legends have allowed just five goals. A major highlight victory for Lee came on September 21 when it defeated Muskegon Western Michigan Christian, the No. 2 ranked team in the state in Division 4 and a defending state champion, 2-1.
“That was our biggest win so far this season,” Cano said. “We played our most complete game of the season in that win. The team played together and it was an overall great team effort.”
Lee also tested itself against the best in the state in Division 3 when it played Hudsonville Unity Christian in a non-league game. Lee led Unity Christian 1-0 at the half in that game before Unity rallied in the second half to win the game.
The Lee soccer team huddles up with Coach Hugo Cano to talk strategy during a recent match. (Courtesy, Lee High School Soccer Team)
On offense, the Legends rely on a balanced attack. Junior Javier Zamora leads the team in scoring, while fellow junior Aundrey Hernandez is second on the team.
“Aundrey and Javier are our leading scorers but we have different players scoring from different positions,” Cano said. “Our goals are coming from different positions on the field.”
In the midfield, the Legends are paced by senior Alexis Rivera, who also has added a couple of goals and a couple of assists this season.
“Alexis’ soccer IQ, his vision on the field and his ability to read defenses is very crucial for us,” Cano said.
On the backline, the Lee defense is led by senior Carlos Herrera-Santos and senior Kevin Mencho. Sophomore backs Edwin Flores and Brian Herrera also have added to the depth on defense. The Legends also are strong in goal with senior goalkeeper Christian Diaz.
“Christian is a team captain,” Cano said. “He has a great understanding of the game and helps keep us very well organized in the back.”
Legends very deep
Overall, the Legends have a deep team with contributions coming from many players on the squad. Seniors Victor Huitron and Justin Gomez have provided key contributions. Senior Denison Vasquez has been a key multi-role player for the squad. Junior forward Gera Perez has provided strong play at forward. Junior Kevin Meza and sophomore Aaron Perez have added to the strong depth along with Nazareth Maldonado-Martinez, Ruvino Bautista-Perez and Jose Ayala.
The total-team effort will be needed when state tournament play opens as Lee competes at the rugged Covenant Christian Division 3 district. Lee opens district play October 12 against Kentwood Grand River Prep. The district also includes Unity, ranked No. 2 in the state and Godwin Heights, ranked 14th.
Aiming for Top 15 every year
“We’ve had a lot of positives the last three years as a program,” Cano said. “We want to get the program to where we can be a top 15 team in the state in Division 3 every year. We want to be a top contender in the conference and the district every year.
“I also want to thank coach Oliver and Coach Andrew for all the work they do and our Athletic Director Sarge (Andre Sargent) for all the support he gives our program. I also want to give a shout out to Erving#13.”
Check out our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights above, for clips of many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.
WKTV Game of the Week Remaining Schedule
Friday, Oct. 13 (7 p.m.) Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Oct. 20 (7 p.m.) West Ottawa at East Kentwood
Liz Brann-Stegehuis (left) and son Sean Stegehuis (right) continue the operation of Tommy Brann’s (middle) iconic Wyoming restaurant location (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
Tommy Brann opened a restaurant at age 19, becoming the youngest restaurant owner in Michigan. After 52 years of serving the Wyoming community, Brann handed Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille on Division Avenue over to his sister Liz Brann-Stegehuis and nephew Sean Stegehuis.
“A lot of people ask me, ‘Is it bittersweet?’ and it’s not,” said Brann without hesitation. “I would walk around the block and just escape my restaurant. It was to that point where it wasn’t enjoyable anymore for me, and it’s not because anybody did anything wrong. It was just time to move on.”
Continuing the family business
Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille in Wyoming remains open under the ownership of Liz and Sean Stegehuis (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Twelve years Brann’s junior, Stegehuis is no novice to the restaurant business, working at their father’s steakhouse and Brann’s Holland location as a teen.
After taking a break from the business to raise her family, Stegehuis returned to the family business 12 years ago, and has since partnered with another buyer for their Bay City location.
Stegehuis and her son took ownership of Tommy Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille at the beginning of September.
“Sean and I are partners,” said Stegehuis, adding that her son grew up in the business.
“With Brann’s, he is really driven to keep the legacy going,” Stegehuis continued. “We complement each other. He’s the back of the house and he loves the people. You’ll see him out front bussing tables and helping servers, but he also can jump behind that line and cook and hold up the back of the house too.”
Starting ‘em young
After Brann’s mother died when he was 12 years old, John Brann put Brann and his siblings to work. Brann said it was a blessing.
Tommy Brann at his restaurant in a historic photo (Courtesy Photo)
“My dad kept us out of trouble,” said Brann. “I called it John Brann’s Work Release Program because my friends were doing heavy duty drugs, and I wasn’t because I was working.”
Young Tommy Brann didn’t intend to make the family business his life’s work, planning for a career in law enforcement instead. But when the Division Avenue restaurant location became available, Brann took ownership of his own restaurant at age 19.
“[My dad] lent me $30,000,” said Brann. “I paid him back with interest, which is one of the best things he did for me. It made me my own person.”
Hectic days and new goals
Brann clearly remembers serving 97 dinners on his first day in business, July 5, 1971. He also remembers a one-of-a-kind encounter with a customer that day.
Tommy Brann hard at work (Courtesy Historic Photo)
“I remember a customer coming in and buying the whole restaurant a drink – which has never happened since then,” said Brann. “It was just to help me out, get me going.”
Having $5,000-a-month payments and being told by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission that he could no longer sign checks for beer at the restaurant were also memorable moments.
“I was only a 19-year-old kid, I wasn’t supposed to be buying beer,” Brann said with a laugh. “So I had to have my bookkeeper sign the checks for beer.”
Owning a restaurant was not always easy, with a hectic pace and unfavorable hours topping the list.
“You’re working New Year’s Eve, Mother’s Day, Christmas Eve,” said Brann. “I never missed one of those. You’re working when people are enjoying themselves, and then you’re asking other people to work too, so I made sure I was with them working.”
Brann, however, chose to focus on the favorable aspects of the business and his passion for serving.
Tommy Brann with his restaurant family in 2021 (Courtesy, K.D. Norris)
“My dad would always say you meet so many good people as far as customers and employees, and it’s so true,” said Brann.
The retired restaurateur remembers several customers who became friends, especially Robert (Bob) Kibby.
“If I was having a bad day and [Bob] came in at 11:30, he’d make my day good just because of the joking and the comradeship,” said Brann. “That’s what makes this business good.”
Stegehuis agreed. “Tom couldn’t have said it better as far as the people,” said Stegehuis. “That’s the main part for me. They become your friends and family.”
A life of hard work and dedicated service
Brann’s passion for serving his community extended far beyond Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille.
State Rep. Tommy Brann (left) on the set of WKTV Journal’s “In Focus” public affairs show (Courtesy, WKTV)
“The reason I got into politics is because sometimes politicians don’t realize what small businesses go through,” said Brann. “It’s dangerous when a politician doesn’t have that small business experience…and they make rules against small businesses.”
Brann also earned a black belt in karate, was a Michigan Restaurant Association Distinguished Service Award recipient, partnered with a local songwriter to write a song, and published the memoir Mind Your Own Business that shares the ups and downs of running a successful small business.
A new focus for the Brann and Stegehuis families
Having accomplished many of his goals, Brann plans to focus on more personal pursuits, such as spending time with his wife Sue and supporting her work with the National Ski Patrol.
One thing Brann does plan to cross off his “bucket list” is a trip out of the country.
“I want to go to Liverpool because I’m a big Beatles fan, and walk Abbey Road,” said Brann. “That’s definitely a must for me.”
Brann’s Steakhouse is an icon in the City of Wyoming (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Brann has also considered writing about his experiences as a politician.
“One time at the State office, we had to compromise on something to get somebody’s vote,” said Brann. “I came back and wrote “I’m now a politician,” and stapled it on my wall while my staff laughed. So I could share my experience with being a politician, and the give and take of it.”
But relaxing after a lifetime of hard work is something Brann refuses to feel guilty about.
“It is hard for me to sit down, but when I do sit down I feel like I’ve earned it, so I don’t feel guilty about it,” said Brann.
Stegehuis says that, for right now, Brann’s Steakhouse is her focus.
“I am going to have the balance of my family,” said Stegehuis. “But really, this consumes you. You have to make the time [for family] when you’re in the industry, and that’s why Tom’s doing what he’s doing. At this point in my life, this is my focus. Keeping it Tommy Brann’s, carrying on his legacy.”
Stegehuis says she plans to keep the restaurant very similar to what it already is, and that the transition has been smooth. She does intend to bring back the salad bar, but considers that an addition, not a change.
The Brann family legacy
The Brann family business will continue to serve the community (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Brann says that he wants to be remembered for being a hard worker and giving customers a good experience while at his restaurant.
“I was a hard worker, and I would mop my floors…whatever it took,” said Brann.
But the retired restaurateur knows he is not perfect, saying he still remembers a customer complaint about a meal that arrived cold.
“That was probably 30 years ago, and I still remember that,” said Brann. “I just wanted to make sure that when they left here, they had a good experience and we didn’t fail them.”
Stegehuis says she wants the community to know that the reception customers receive at Brann’s is genuine.
“These people that I’ve had for coworkers over the years and the guests that I’ve met, I truly consider them friends and I truly consider them family,” said Stegehuis. “They are very special to me, and that’s what I would like to carry on, and carry on for Tom.”
In a rare, one-of-a kind event, the arm of St. Jude the apostle is coming to the Diocese of Grand Rapids on Monday, Oct. 9, specifically, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Parish.
“I feel very excited about this particular relic coming,” said Michael Tober, director of Religious Education for Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Parish, and a parishioner since 2003. “If my feeling of excitement were a number between 1 to 10 with 10 being the strongest, my feeling would be a 10. This excitement would be similar to what it would feel like just before meeting a family member again after being separated from them for a long time.”
Veneration of the relic begins at 1 p.m. with a mass in honor of St. Jude at 7 p.m, and the visit ends at 10 p.m. The relic will be in the main sanctuary of Sacred Heart, 151 Garfield Ave. SW, Grand Rapids. Parking is limited, so it’s expected that people will park on side streets around the Church.
Sacred Heart is the only Grand Rapids stop
From September 2023 to May 2024, the arm of Saint Jude Thaddeus will be on pilgrimage in the United States, making stops in 100 cities. Sacred Heart is the only Grand Rapids stop. (Source: The Apostle of the Impossible website)
First time leaving Italy
Sponsored by the Tour of the Relics of St. Jude the Apostle, this is the first time the arm has left Italy.
Michael Tober, director of Religious Education at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. (Courtesy, Michael Tober)
“The Vatican does release certain relics from time to time so Christians around the world may venerate them,” Tober said. “However, these are always special occasions and not the norm. This relic has never left Rome, so in that sense given how long it has been there it is rare.”
Known as the Apostle of the Impossible, St. Jude is revered for his unwavering dedication and steadfast faith. Millions have experienced his intercession in times of adversity and need.
How many people is Sacred Heart anticipating?
“Our expectation is somewhere around 5,000 visitors between 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.,” said Tober, who holds a degree in theology from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, as well as a Master Certification in Catechetics in the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
Relics on display at Sacred Heart
Tober said other relics are on display at Sacred Heart throughout the year.
“Sacred Heart has relics of St. John the Apostle, St. Theresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Thomas Aquinas, to name a few,” Tober explained. “They are located in a reliquary in our baptistry. First class relics comprise of either bone, hair, skin or blood of a saint.”
This family-friendly, free event promises an afternoon filled with candy, costumes, face painting, music, bounce houses and more. Local businesses, clubs and organizations will be handing out treats as attendees stroll through the beautiful park.
“The Trick-or-Treat Trail was created to be a fun, safe event for the fall, providing an alternative to traditional Halloween events,” said Krashawn Martin, Director of Wyoming Parks & Recreation. “Trick-or-Treat Trail gives families an opportunity to interact with neighborhood businesses while enjoying all the amenities of Lamar Park and the beauty of the fall season.”
In previous years, the event has welcomed over 65 local businesses and organizations, and more than 6,000 attendees.
Interactive boards provided opportunities for residents to show their priorities for the parks system. (WKTV/Deborah Reed)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
Over 700 respondents have given feedback on the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department’s five-year master plan, and the department is requesting even more input from the community.
Director of Parks and Recreation Krashawn Martin talked to WKTV about the importance of community feedback regarding the future of Wyoming’s parks (Courtesy, WKTV)
“The park master plan is very important for our long-range visioning for the park system,” said Parks & Recreation Director Krashawn Martin. “We have a beautiful parks system already here in Wyoming, but these opportunities really help us to get community input, which is really the driver of everything that we do.”
Together, the City and engineering firm Fleis & VandenBrink are working to ensure every option is heard. Two public input meetings have been held with plans for more public opinion opportunities still coming.
“This process is meant to give everyone a voice,” said Rick Stout, Registered Landscape Architect of engineering and architecture firm Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering. “We want to hear your thoughts.”
“We really pride ourselves and do our best to be community responsive,” said Martin, adding that the input helps the department know how people are passively using the parks system for recreation, and also the things they would like to actively see in the parks system.
Input from the community is encouraged by the Parks and Rec Department (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
The public input sessions provided three interactive boards that parallel the Parks & Rec online survey. The boards listed possible goals, objectives and priority elements.
During the public input sessions, community members were invited to place stickers next to their top three priorities in each section.
“What potential actions in the area of recreation do you see for the City of Wyoming,” Stout asked input session attendees. “What do they really need to focus on?”
There will be a final public hearing and then approval by the Wyoming City Council based on compiled community feedback. Once approved, the plan will be available for a 30-day review period before submission to the DNR.
The ultimate goal, said Stout, is to have a draft plan finished within the next month and start the public review process early.
Landscape architect Rick Stout (right) explains what kinds of feedback will be helpful for the 5-year master plan (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“Ideally, we would like to get this whole process wrapped up in December so we leave ourselves some room on the back end in case something does come up and it gets delayed,” Stout said.
Though a wide range of feedback has already been received from the public, Stout and Martin urge community members to continue involvement in the planning process.
“There will be multiple opportunities to get some more input as the plan gets developed, but in order for us to develop a draft plan and bounce some of these ideas off the recreation advisory committee, we need your feedback,” said Stout. “That’s why we want to reach out to you right now and make sure there is not an opportunity lost.”
Gaining perspective and meeting needs
Fleis & VandenBrink and the Parks & Rec Department have worked to create both broad and specific goals for the Parks plan. This, Stout said, will help them gain a more accurate perspective of what citizens and the general public want.
Aiming for a well-rounded process, the Parks department also plans to talk to youth at local schools since they are primary users of the parks.
Both broad and specific goals are included in the planning survey (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Many trends revealed from the community are fairly universal to all parks and speak to universal accessibility, featuring facilities that appeal to multiple age groups and a variety of activities.
As the City continues to grow, so does the number of people searching for quality recreational facilities.
“The younger generation wants quality of life,” said Stout. “They have high expectations of what their community has to offer for recreation.”
Recreation options can often be a tipping point in deciding whether individuals and families move into a community.
“Communities are known by their assets. Whether it be parks or public spaces or where people have a chance to socially interact, those things are key,” said Stout. “Those really define a community.”
Stout believes the City of Wyoming has made great efforts in defining a sense of place and striving to create those assets.
“I think the next 20 years are going to be really exciting for the City of Wyoming,” said Stout. “It’s a very diverse community, and it really wants to make sure it’s meeting the needs of everyone.”
How to submit feedback
The parks online survey is still available to receive feedback (Courtesy, Wyoming Parks & Recreation Department)
The online survey will continue to be open throughout the planning process and can be found on the City of Wyoming website and social media page.
Martin urges those unable to attend a meeting in person to fill out the online survey.
“We’re just excited to hear from the people,” said Martin. “Not just in this process, but anytime. We are always open to ideas for improvements or recreation programs that our community would like to see in the future.”
Lee quarterback Anthony Blok passed for 310 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for another. (Courtesy, Shafi Subhan)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
In front of a large crowd of alumni and fans, including 65 former homecoming kings and queens, the Lee Legends outscored Eau Claire 38-24 on Saturday afternoon in 8-player football.
Junior quarterback Anthony Blok once again led the explosive Lee offense, throwing for 310 yards and four touchdowns and adding another on the ground. He used his speed to extend multiple drives as well.
The Beavers strike first
Eau Claire opened the game with a score on its first drive to grab a quick 8-0 lead.
“We started off slow,” said Lee Coach Lamar Marshall, whose team improved to 4-2 overall, 1-2 in the Southwest Michigan 8-Man Football League – Blue. “They jumped out ahead of us early in the game.”
On the final play of the first quarter, Blok connected deep with sophomore Aiden Merriweather to get to the one-yard line. The Legends couldn’t capitalize as Blok’s pass was tipped and intercepted in the end zone.
The Legends used multiple defensive stops to stave off the Beavers in the second quarter.
“We were able to hold them until the offense could get going,” Marshall said.
Legends heat up near halftime
Lee’s Clarence Lewis in an earlier game this season. (Courtesy, Diego Jeronimo)
The offense showed signs of life near the end of the first half as Clarence Lewis ripped off big gains and capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown run to tie the game 8-8 going into halftime.
Lewis finished with 94 yards rushing, 85 yards receiving and two scores.
“He’s everything to us,” said Marshall, of his senior running back. “He’s our emotional and vocal leader. The guy we lean on when we need a play.”
Big second half for Lee
The Legends exploded for 30 points in the second half.
Sophomore Aiden Merriweather was the favorite target for Blok on the afternoon, reeling in five catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Charles Davis collected 74 yards and a touchdown.
Strong defensive stand to finish
The Legends needed a defensive stand late in the fourth quarter and stuffed the Beavers on a 4th and 1 with 1:31 left on the clock.
“The 4th and 1 stop was huge for us,” Marshall said. “I felt like we grew up in this game as a coaching staff and a team.”
The Legends travel to New Buffalo (4-2) next Friday.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.
Godwin Heights junior quarterback Keion Beasley showed his arm strength and poise with touchdown passes of 53 and 46 yards. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
In a battle of winless teams, Godwin Heights used several big plays to cruise past Kelloggsville on homecoming night, 52-0, in the WKTV Game of the Week.
Penalties plagued the Rockets all game long, and it began on the opening kickoff as sophomore Nasyre Walker ran it back for a touchdown, but a holding penalty called it off.
The Wolverines would capitalize a few plays later with an interception by Miguel Ocampo, who also returned the opening kickoff of the second half 95 yards for a touchdown.
Senior Jeff Zelaya pounded one in for a seven-yard TD and later added a 28-yard touchdown on another run.
Godwin Heights running back Jeff Zelaya. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
Godwin Heights used tandem running backs to wear down the Rockets’ defense. Zelaya was joined in the backfield by sophomore Kares Harris, who rumbled for over 100 yards in the game.
“We are real tough to stop when we have both of them in the backfield,” said Godwin Coach Brandon Kimble of his running back duo.
Kelloggsville senior quarterback Jeremie Tsoumou was under duress for most of the game, and had one interception returned 85 yards by Godwin’s Patrick Knight.
“He’s out there trying,” said Kelloggsville Coach Brandon Branch. “That happens when you put the ball in the air; sometimes the other team comes up with it. I can’t fault him for trying to make something happen.
“Our mantra is to be undefeated against adversity. When adversity strikes, we keep getting after it. I think we were undefeated against adversity today.”
Godwin Heights junior quarterback Keion Beasley showed his arm strength and poise with touchdown passes of 53 and 46 yards.
“He’s a first-year starter, and he’s been working hard,” Kimble said. “We have missed a lot of key players, so he’s had to grow up fast.”
Kimble emphasized perseverance on his team.
“If you lose your job and you’re a husband and have kids, are you going to stop fighting? Or are you going to keep fighting?”
To cap off homecoming night, newly crowned king Armani Dedrick got into the end zone on a five-yard touchdown run.
Godwin Heights (1-5) travels to OK-Silver leading Belding (5-1) next Friday. Kelloggsville (0-6) hosts Hopkins (1-5).
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.
Check out our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights above, for clips of many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.
WKTV Game of the Week Remaining Schedule
Friday, Oct. 6 (7 p.m.) TK at South Christian (EK Falcon Stadium)
Friday, Oct. 13 (7 p.m.) Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Oct. 20 (7 p.m.) West Ottawa at East Kentwood
“This was prompted by the recognition that our senior community in Wyoming is one that deserves to have attention provided to it, and services delivered right to their doorstep,” said Fitzgerald. “We really looked at what this community needs, and it is more direct services from the state. This is an opportunity for us to begin a tradition of providing these resources directly to the community.”
The Resource Fair included several community organizations that provided information, resources, goodies, and even lunch for attendees. The goal was to not only reach members of the Wyoming Senior Center where the event was held, but also the general community with resources specific to older adults in Wyoming.
“It’s very easy for older adults to slip through the cracks,” said Chad Boprie, WSC Director. “As people hit retirement age, they start to have these needs and they don’t know where to find help. By doing an event like this, [seniors] can get a lot of the resources in one place and be able to tap into those,” said Boprie.
A need for resources and compassion
The Senior Resource Fair is expected to become an annual fall event (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Resident Janet Thompson attended the Resource Fair for that exact reason.
Housing, transportation, and service providers such as plumbers and electricians were among Thompson’s top priorities.
“We want to stay in our homes as long as we can,” said Thompson. “We figured we would hire what we need done, but we don’t know where to go to hire it done.”
Where to get help – and help from providers experienced with the senior community – is not always clear, Thompson continued.
“I thought maybe the [vendors] who come here are used to dealing with seniors…and might be more patient and have more knowledge,” said Thompson.
Providing knowledge and expertise
Senior Real Estate Specialist Patti Grover Gabrielse (left) works to provide seniors with customized and fair expertise (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Senior Real Estate Specialist, Patti Grover Gabrielse, participated as a vendor at the Resource Fair to help provide that experience and knowledge.
“What we do is we focus on the senior adult community,” said Gabrielse. “Of course we want to stay in our homes as long as we can, but when the time comes that we have to sell, I make sure to protect that asset and get the most amount of money for them.”
Gabrielse went on to say that there are real estate agents out there who take advantage of people who don’t know the market.
“It’s a real area of elder abuse,” Gabrielse said. “That money, whether [seniors] are going to go to assisted living or if they are going to go to family and live, every dime matters to them.”
Health and wellness education
Tina Ezell (left) of Urban League of West Michigan chats with a senior resident (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Tia Ezell with Urban League of West Michigan participated in the Resource Fair to provide information on COVID-19 and tobacco reform.
“Today we are here with information about COVID-19,” said Ezell. “We have some resources, masks, sanitizer, and literature on the vaccine and that explains things you can do to help prevent the spread of COVID.”
The Grand Rapids Urban League is also looking to end the sale of all flavored tobacco in the state of Michigan, including menthol flavored tobacco.
“[We are] doing our best to engage and educate the community that we serve about the harms of tobacco smoke, and why there is a need for tobacco reform in the state of Michigan,” Ezell said.
Grand Rapids Urban League also provides resources in regard to health and wellness education, housing resources, employment opportunities, and the Cure Violence program.
“The communities we serve are under-resourced, marginalized, and we are aware that we need to do what we can to inform them and provide whatever resources are available,” said Ezell.
A community that cares
The Wyoming Senior Center offers resources for both physical and mental health (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
The Senior Center works to provide the senior community with care and resources for more than just physical recreation.
“We want to be a hub for recreational services,” said Boprie. “Within that recreation there are so many goals related to not only physical fitness and physical health, but also mental health.”
Boprie went on to say that the WSC staff often sees loneliness and depression in older adults and believes that being active and involved in social programs helps reduce that issue.
“We also offer Meals on Wheels here two days a week, so there is also the nutritional component that we can provide for people as well,” Boprie said.
“We are very fortunate to have a senior center like this in Wyoming,” said Fitzgerald, “where we can have a gathering place to have all these wonderful organizations and people who serve our senior community get right to the source, to the people who need their services most.”
Dedicated to a life of service
A member of Rep. Fitzgerald’s staff sets out complimentary lunches, provided by Meals on Wheels, for attendees (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Serving his first term representing the 83rd House District, Fitzgerald is dedicated to building policy that will solve everyday, real issues that impact West Michigan residents. His commitment to community service stems from his mother and grandmothers who devoted their lives to giving beyond themselves.
“My personal connection with the senior community began when I was a child,” said Fitzgerald. “Starting at the age of three, I delivered Meals on Wheels with my mom. I would go in there and begin to chat with those who we were delivering meals to, and hear how their day was going.
“In my teenage years, I played cards with a number of my church members who were older,” Fitzgerald continued. “Even today, I look to support our senior community in a number of non-profit ways as well.”
This reporter recently caught up to the band at Michigan Veteran Homes in Grand Rapids where they performed songs from their 2023 marching band show, Thriller, for residents and staff.
Student leadership was immediately evident as students unloaded instruments, assembled into sections, and began to warm up – all while the director stepped aside to talk with me about the band.
“We really thrive on a high level of student leadership,” said Shawn Gurk, Director of Bands at Wyoming Public Schools. “They have their responsibilities, they have their roles, and they are the ones who really make it happen.”
Redefining success
Led by directors Gurk and Kayla Cordell, the 70-member band regularly receives Division I ratings at marching, concert, and jazz festivals. But Gurk says those ratings are not what convey the band’s true success.
Drum major Chesson Oliver (second from left) steps in to play percussion during a song (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“We measure success in excellence,” said Gurk. “We do perform competitively, but our goal is to win by performing excellently. If that means we get some awards and trophies, great. But I find, as a band director, the trophies are the ones who show up every day and do the work. And that is my students.”
And those students are stepping into roles of leadership with enthusiasm.
Gurk firmly believes that leadership is not always about having a personality for it or being prone to it.
“Leadership can be taught,” said Gurk. “They might be the shyest person, but get them behind an instrument and all of a sudden there is someone different. We are seeing kids thrive.”
But Gurk continued to say that thriving is not always easy for students because they tend to be hard on themselves. However, he works to help them focus on finding what they are good at and then improving upon those things.
“[It is] a self-acknowledgment of what we are capable of, what we are doing well without being arrogant,” said Gurk. “There is a sense of humility, but it’s humility in driving to make us better.”
Finding connections and community
Chesson Oliver, drum major and a junior at Wyoming High School (WHS), said that band participation is a family tradition, but the kindness she has seen from the directors and students is what kept her going in the program.
“The people are very supportive and kind and great friends, so it’s a great place,” said Oliver.
The Wyoming Wolves Marching Band prepare to perform songs from their marching band show (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Oliver continued to say that there is a definite level of care and community in the band program.
“I don’t know everyone’s name in the band, but I can say ‘hi’ to all of them and we know who each other are without knowing each other personally. We care about each other’s well-being,” said Oliver.
That care and connection are a hallmark of the WHS Band.
“We are a band family,” said Gurk. And like all families, “we go through our ups and downs.”
Isaac Zavala, bari sax player and a senior at WHS, works to ensure that there are more “ups” than “downs.”
Band members fill the veteran homes courtyard with music (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“I try to hype up the band and pick up the energy,” said Zavala with a grin. “They call me the Hype Man. I have a lot of energy every morning, every rehearsal.”
Zavala says he makes it a point at rehearsals to ask how other students are doing.
“I always try to engage and talk to everybody,” said Zavala.
When asked why he feels compelled to make those connections each day, Zavala said his parents always taught him to be kind to others.
“They would always say, if someone feels down, pick them back up and try to give them the energy they need to have a better day,” said Zavala.
Time well-spent
The Wyoming marching band schedule begins the second week of summer to help build that family aspect (through games and bonding activities) and prepare students for the season.
But Gurk is always aware of how much time he asks the students to put into the program.
“We give the kids opportunities to be in sports, to have jobs, to spend time with their families, to rest,” said Gurk.
The directors encourage the students to focus on the time they do have in rehearsal and use it well.
A life-changing impact
A color guard member waits for the drum major to begin (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Symone Gray, color guard captain and WHS senior, enjoys the time she spends with the band.
“The people in band are the people I’m the closest to in the whole school,” said Gray.
Gray admitted that she was in a different place than usual in her life when she joined band.
“A lot of people would probably say that I’m really outgoing, but during my freshman year and beginning of sophomore year, I was very shy and kind of insecure,” said Gray. “The band helped me get to know different kinds of people in all grades, and it really put me out there more.”
Drumline captain and sophomore Rhiley VanDyken joined band in sixth grade because it helped calm her anxiety.
“It’s opposite of what it seems to be, but [drumline] really helped with my anxiety,” said VanDyken. “It was just calming, with beats and melodies of different instruments.”
VanDyken wasn’t sure about joining drumline at first. After meeting some upperclassmen in the section, however, VanDyken thought it would be a place where she could fit in.
“Last year I had the best year of my life,” said VanDyken. “I was in such a bad place before then, but drumline has been one of the biggest things that has helped me through everything.”
Giving back to the community
The veterans home is only one of many community performances from the Wyoming Bands.
Several veterans braved the morning chill to hear the band (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Visits to Vista Springs Nursing Home and Pine Oak Apartments, as well as annual performances at band camp, parades, school concerts and festivals, and local holiday craft shows are some ways the Wyoming Bands look to engage the community.
“Getting out into the community is super important,” said Gurk. “We think about those who society doesn’t necessarily care for, and about getting to older people who may not be visited.
“Music is a gift,” Gurk continued. “It’s not ours to horde, it’s a gift to the community.”
A Thriller of a show
The 2023 Wyoming marching band show is entitled Thriller, though Gurk explained the objective is a spooky narrative, not scary.
Featuring Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue”, the Halloween movie theme, “This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas, “Spooky Scary Skeletons,” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” the Wyoming Wolves Marching Band show can be seen at home football games, the MSBOA Marching Band Festival on Oct. 10, and the Jenison and East Kentwood Invitationals on Oct. 21.
The Wyoming Police Department responded to reports of a shooting that left one Grand Rapids male hospitalized (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
By Wyoming Police Department
deborah@wktv.org
One person is injured after a shooting near the intersection of Marquette Street and Nagel Avenue SW.
At approximately 7:55 p.m. on Sept. 24, 2023, police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the area of Marquette Street and Nagel Avenue SW on the report of a large fight. When officers arrived, they learned that a 24-year-old male Grand Rapids resident sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The male was transported to an area hospital in serious condition.
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.
On an unseasonably hot night, the Union Redhawks used five touchdown runs to pull away from Wyoming to grab a 47-23 win at the WKTV Game of the Week Friday.
Union started the scoring with a 60-yard strike from quarterback Ja’Quari Tyler to Christopher Murphy-Ware on its first drive.
Wyoming answered back with a long drive capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by Jack TerVeen, who missed last week’s game at Zeeland East with an ankle injury.
“He’s a blue-collar guy,” said Wyoming Coach Carlton Brewster of his running back.
Union running back Jesse Phillips led the charge for the Redhawks as he ran in four scores. Tyler ended the night with a pair of touchdown passes.
Wyoming (0-5) looks for its first win of the season as they travel to Mona Shores
Take a look inside at highlights from the Legends game with the Lakers, plus many more local clips. (Videographers: Hayden Passig, Eli Mutula, Jake Westbrook)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
The Lee Legends football team hooked up for a thriller with St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Friday in a contest that came down to the final play. That final play didn’t go Lee’s way, however, as the Lakers came away with a 38-36 victory.
“We had a chance to score from our 50 on fourth and six,” Lee Coach Lamar Marshall said. “They (Our Lady of the Lake) made a great play to stop us before the first down.”
Our Lady of the Lake took the initial lead in the game and managed to stay ahead of Lee the entire game.
“They were ahead the entire game,” Marshall said. “They onside kicked the opening kickoff and recovered it.”
Our Lady of the Lake stayed ahead of the Legends thanks to a big effort from their quarterback.
“Their quarterback was really solid,” Marshall said. “We did everything to stop him. We gang-tackled him and he just kept moving forward. He made plays when they absolutely needed it and ultimately scored the game-winning conversion late in the third quarter.”
Lee solid on offense
Lee stayed close to the Lakers thanks to a strong performance from its offense. The Legends, who entered the game averaging 43.5 points per game, put together a solid offensive effort. The onside kick by Our Lady of the Lake proved to be a big boost of momentum early.
“It’s an extremely disappointing loss,” Marshall said. “We felt like we had a great week of practice. The opening kickoff was huge for them. They were able to gain momentum early.”
Defensively, Lee faced a difficult challenge as the Laker offense came up big.
“I told my guys after the game, we have to put four quarters together,” Marshall said. “We have to get off the field on third down. We have to know the game plan and execute the game plan. All in all, I was happy with how we played.”
With the win, Our Lady of the Lake improved to 2-3 for the season. Lee fell to 3-2 overall after coming into the game off a 42-30 win against Grand Rapids Sacred Heart.
Lee returns to action next week against an Eau Claire team that has a 2-3 record. The Legends are looking to continue the steady improvement they are making this season in what should be a competitive contest.
“This was a learning experience for myself and my team,” Marshall said. “We’re still learning how to win, practice the right way and execute. I will say, we fought until the end. We played extremely hard even though we were down our starting corner (who was out with illness).”
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back!
Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’re bringing you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlighting some top performers and their stats, posting final scores, and giving a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.
As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well.
You don’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!
WKTV Government 26 features NASA programming (Courtesy, NASA)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
On Wednesday, Sept. 27, the Soyuz MS-23 Spacecraft will return to earth carrying NASA Flight Engineer Frank Rubio, Commander Sergey Prokopyev and Flight Engineer Dmitri Petelin, cosmonauts from Roscosmos.
Roscosmos cosmonauts will return home after a year working aboard the International Space Station (Courtesy, NASA)
The trio has spent the last year working aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and are now turning their attention to their trip home. The cosmonauts recently spent time checking out the Sokol launch and entry suits they will wear inside the spacecraft.
Live coverage of the Soyuz MS-23 hatch closing begins at 12 a.m. with the actual closing scheduled for 12:20 a.m. The undocking of the spacecraft from the ISS is scheduled for 3:51 a.m. with coverage starting at 3:30 a.m.
Live coverage continues at 6 a.m. for the deorbit burn and landing near Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. The burn is scheduled for 6:20 a.m. with the landing scheduled to take place at 7:14 a.m.
For more information on NASA TV or the International Space Station, visit www.nasa.gov.
NASA TV can be seen on the WKTV 26 Government Channel on Comcast and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.
Over the years, Lee Middle & High School has grown from the single front wing built in 1923 (Courtesy, Lee High School)
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
The district’s K-10 Godfrey Avenue School grew from two classrooms to 12 between 1894 and 1916, and was still overcrowded with classes meeting in stairwells (Courtesy, LHS and the Godfrey-Lee Parent-Teacher Association)
In November 1923, an excited band of students, led by Principal Francis W. Marsh, left the old Godfrey Avenue School and entered the halls of the new Lee Street School for the first time.
One hundred years later, on Saturday, Sept. 30, the community and alumni will celebrate Lee High School (LHS) with a Centennial Celebration event.
“[Lee High School] has such a rich history and traditions,” said David Britten, Former Superintendent and Alumni Representative. “Even though much of that has changed, I think it’s important that the people who live there, and the people who are involved with the school district, know what some of that is in order to better understand what is going on today and why it is what it is.”
A rich history
As Wyoming’s oldest high school, and the only school still occupying its original 1923 structure, LHS represents the entire district.
Lee High School in 1949, with original front section built in 1923, east wing addition (1925), and west addition (1930) (Courtesy, Lee High School)
“The tradition is more than the 100 years of Lee High School, but the school district itself, dating back to 1857,” said Britten.
Britten went on to say that the primary focus of the celebration is to help the current community learn about the depth of history of the entire area.
“People don’t realize [LHS]’s roots, its history, is really Wyoming’s history,” said Britten.
A member of the Wyoming Historical Commission, Britten is doing what he can to make people citywide more aware of the history and traditions of the city itself.
“I made it a point while I was there (at LHS), and even since I’ve left there, to make that history visible to people, either through Facebook or presentations,” said Britten. “It gives you clarity.”
Traditions – then and now
A full-size gym with regulation court was built in 1952 at the north end of the west wind along Havana Ave and was considered one of the best basketball courts in Wyoming (Courtesy, Lee High School)
As a freshman at LHS in 1969, then serving as middle school principal, conjoined middle and high school principal, and then superintendent of Lee schools until his retirement in 2017, Britten has seen traditions come and go.
“We used to be more social as a school,” remembers Britten. “Back in our day, we had dances after every home game. It didn’t matter if it was football or basketball.”
Britten also remembers another lost tradition – socializing at soda bars.
“You could walk from school over to Chicago Drive or to Burton, and one of the drug stores would have a soda bar,” said Britten. “Now, kids are more alone. Their connection is through their phones or online video gaming, but not so much the kind of social things that we did.”
Britten believes that is why the Centennial Celebration is so important.
“The more a school district or school itself or parents can put together these kinds of celebrations, whether it’s for a 100th anniversary or something else, and bring people together, the better,” said Britten.
What attendees can expect
Centennial Celebration activities will include an all-years alumni reunion, homecoming activities, and an open house to view the progress of the reconstruction, upgrade, and remodeling of Lee Middle & High School.
In 1938, an 11-acre athletic complex was completed on Godfrey Avenue (Courtesy, Lee High School)
The traditional homecoming parade, followed by a varsity soccer match that will begin at 5 p.m., will be held on the preceding Friday.
Saturday activities will commence at Lee Field on Godfrey Avenue at 12 p.m. with the traditional homecoming football game between the Lee Legends and Eau Claire Beavers. State Representative Winnie Brinks, a former member of the Godfrey-Lee staff, will welcome fans to the stadium just prior to kickoff.
The game will include performances by the award-winning Lee High School band and other activities. At half-time, the traditional crowning of the homecoming king and queen will also feature on-field representation by several dozen past Lee High School royalty, extending back to the 1950s.
The Centennial Celebration community open house and alumni reunion will begin at 1 p.m. in the Lee High School gym on Havana Street. Aside from guided tours of the school, a substantial historical display will highlight the history of the Godfrey-Lee community since the first landowners of 1833.
David Britten and Thomas DeGennaro compiled 100 years of memories and history in a book and with all proceeds going to Lee High School (Courtesy, Lee High School)
Three hundred copies of a new 128-page book titled 100 Years at the Lee Street School by David Britten and Thomas DeGennaro will be made available for purchase, with all proceeds supporting Lee High School.
“It became a labor of love over a couple of years,” said Britten about the book. “We think it’s going to be a key part in this celebration.”
Several other activities will be ongoing until the open house/reunion ends at 5 p.m., and attendees will be encouraged to donate to a scholarship fund for Lee students.
Complimentary light refreshments will be available.
“A hundred years only comes once”
Britten urges community members to come out, enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime celebration, and support LHS students by attending the football game, presentations, and performances.
“A hundred years only comes once,” Britten said with a laugh. “I’m not sticking around to plan the 200 year celebration.”
The Wyoming Police Department prepare to educate the community on the dangers of distracted and impaired driving with a new driving simulator (Courtesy, WKTV)
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
A significant increase in traffic violations, crashes, and fatal traffic crashes in Wyoming prompts the Wyoming Police Department to acquire a new driving simulator to educate young drivers.
Through a generous donation made by General Motors, the Wyoming PD recently took possession of a distracted and impaired driving simulator to educate young drivers on the dangers of distracted and impaired driving.
Educating the community
A volunteer tries the simulator under the instruction of a WPD officer (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“The goal of the simulator is to let young drivers – any driver – get into it and see what those dangers are,” said Captain Eric Wiler of the Wyoming Police Department. “At the same time hopefully reducing some of our crashes, reducing our fatal crashes, and making our community more safe.”
Wiler added that the Wyoming PD has made it their goal to reduce the number of crashes they have recently seen.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that approximately 3,000 people die each year in crashes involving distracted drivers, and approximately 11,000 people die each year in alcohol-impaired driving crashes.
Among distracted driving crashes, a higher percentage of drivers between the ages of 15-20 were distracted than those drivers over the age of 21.
A survey conducted by the CDC found that 4 in 10 high school drivers reported that they had texted and/or emailed while driving at least once in the previous 30 days. Another CDC study showed that 5% of high school students surveyed reported that they drove after drinking alcohol within the previous 30 days.
General Motors partnership with Wyoming PD
The idea of a distracted driving simulator is appealing to the Wyoming PD because of the ability to transport it to schools and community events. They also like that it is a way to interact with younger drivers.
General Motors provided an opportunity for volunteers to experience the new simulator at their Grand Rapids operations plant (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“We’ve had a partnership with GM for several years where they give us a generous donation for traffic safety,” said Wiler. “This year, we were trying to think of something that we could interact more with the community, especially young drivers in our community, because distracted driving seems to be focused more around the younger drivers. They just don’t understand a lot of the dangers that are associated with it.
“They can look, touch, feel, have it be more interactive than just a classroom environment,” Wiler continued.
How the simulator works
The driving simulator engages two cell phones – an instructor cell phone and a student cell phone.
“As the student starts the driving simulation, the instructor can send them text messages,” said Wiler.
The messages can be pre-populated or freeform text messages.
There is also a component that allows simulation of impaired driving. Goggles worn by the simulator driver mimic being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The importance of removing distractions
Wyoming City Manager John Shay tries out Wyoming PD’s new distracted and impaired driving simulator (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
With the combination of the simulator and the hands-free law that went into effect June 30th, Wiler hopes people will see “why it’s such an important law, and why it’s so important that we put down our phones, [and] limit the distractions we have in the car.
“There is research that shows that when we are distracted, we don’t see 50% of what’s out in front of us,” Wiler continued. “Even if it’s a cell phone, looking down at your navigation, looking at your radio – anything you’re doing that is distracting is reducing what you are seeing out in front of you, which increases the likelihood of being involved in a crash.”
The Wyoming Police Department will use the driving simulator during school and community events, such as National Night Out, Metro Cruise, Concerts in the Park, and Police in the Parks.
“I am hoping it will have a really strong impact,” said Wiler.
Lee quarterback Anthony Blok accounted for five touchdowns; four in the air and one on the ground. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
The Lee Legends welcomed fans to their first home game of the season with a 42-30 victory over a program-building Sacred Heart team.
Junior quarterback Anthony Blok accounted for five touchdowns. He passed for 253 yards and four touchdowns and added 43 yards and a score on the ground.
“He’s getting guys to understand the offense,” Lee Coach Lamar Marshall said about his QB. “He gets guys in the right position.”
Senior running back Clarence Lewis had touchdown catches of 59 and 48 yards on the night en route to 143 yards from scrimmage.
Big night for Lee’s Charles Davis
The Legends produced two touchdowns from greater than 60 yards, both coming from junior wide receiver Charles Davis.
Davis wrangled in his only catch of the night on a 63-yard strike from Blok. Davis also took the second half kickoff 70 yards for a score.
First varsity game for Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart was participating in its first varsity football game in program history, as they played junior varsity teams the past two weeks in their inaugural season.
Falcons claw back
The Falcons were down 42-6 in their first foray into varsity life, but showed grit and determination to close the deficit to 12 at the final gun.
“We are grateful to have the opportunity to play this great game,” Sacred Heart Coach Joe Hyland said. “Lee was the very first school to agree to play us, and we look forward to building a fantastic competitive relationship with Lee.”
Sacred Heart started the scoring on their first drive of the game. Joseph Hyland threw a downfield bullet to a wide-open Patrick Fickell to make it 6-0.
42 unanswered points
Lee scored 42 unanswered points until the second-half outburst by Sacred Heart to make it 42-30.
Senior defensive lineman Isaac Delgado wreaked havoc on the defensive side of the ball all game long for the Legends, along with Jaden Potts and Jayden Pena.
“We have to do a better job finishing games,” Marshall said. “We have to work on tackling and rallying to the ball.”
The Legends (3-1) host St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake next Friday.
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back!
Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’ll bring you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.
As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well.
You won’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!
