The Kentwood Police Department is inviting individuals who are interested in a career in law enforcement to attend its recruitment event on Wednesday, Feb. 15.
The event will take place 6-8 p.m. and include two one-hour sessions at the Kentwood Police Department, 4742 Walma Ave. SE. Similar to the department’s fall event, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about KPD’s sponsored police recruit position and other employment opportunities, connect with current officers, tour the department and more.
The informational sessions will be held at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., beginning with an overview about working for the department. Attendees only need to attend one of the sessions, which will cover the same information. Tours, networking and opportunities to learn more about specialized units at KPD will follow. Refreshments also will be provided.
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
“We’re seeking passionate, community-driven individuals to join our team, especially as a sponsored police recruit,” Police Chief Litwin said. “This position has been an important part of our efforts to recruit students of all backgrounds and to hire individuals who are representative of our diverse community.
“We met a lot of great candidates during our last recruitment event and look forward to connecting with even more people interested in careers in law enforcement this time around.”
Selected recruit applicants receive full scholarship
The event will feature information about all department employment opportunities, with a special focus on the sponsored police recruit position. Selected police recruit applicants will receive a full scholarship from KPD to attend the Grand Valley State University Police Academy or another approved police training program in fall 2023.
No prior law enforcement experience required
In addition to the police academy sponsorship, recruits receive competitive pay throughout the academy, comprehensive health insurance, life insurance, a 9 percent employer retirement plan contribution and continuing education and training. Individuals who successfully complete the academy and other required certifications and training will be sworn in as patrol officers with the Kentwood Police Department. No prior law enforcement experience is necessary to apply for this position.
No registration is required for the event and no prior law enforcement experience is necessary to attend. Attendees should plan to bring something to take notes with.
A photo from a past recruitment event. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Individuals who are interested in working for KPD but cannot attend the event can receive more information by contacting Recruitment Officer Ryan Smith at smithr@kentwood.us.
The City of Kentwood will host its sixth annual Valentine’s Dash 5K at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 to benefit Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry, which provides food and personal care items to community members in need.
The 5K route will include a combination of trails and paved pathways starting and ending at Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.
Participants are encouraged to wear Valentine’s Day-themed costumes. While intended to be a fun run, the race will be chip timed and awards will be given for the fastest runner overall and in each age group.
A photo from a previous Kentwood Valentine’s Dash. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
An awards ceremony will follow in the library’s community room around noon, including Valentine-themed snacks, music and a photo booth.
“It can be difficult to find opportunities to run in the winter, especially races,” said Spencer McKellar, lead recreation program coordinator. “Our Valentine’s Dash provides a fun, festive opportunity to participate in a winter race, whether you’re an avid walker, first-time runner or a seasoned racer. All are welcome to come out and join us.”
Online registration is available until Feb. 10 and includes a long-sleeved shirt and other participant-packet goodies while supplies last. Racers should register by Jan. 26 to guarantee a shirt. Registration is $30 until Jan. 29, $35 from Jan. 30 to Feb. 10 and $40 on the day of the event. Runners who sign up as a couple save $5 each. Participants who bring a nonperishable item or monetary donation for Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry will be entered to win a special door prize.
Kentwood’s first Little Free Pantry opened to the community in 2017 at the Kentwood Activities Center, where it remains available year-round during business hours. The City launched a second pantry at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch in 2021. More information, including a list of suggested donations, is available atkentwood.us/LittleFreePantry.
There also are volunteer opportunities available for this event. Volunteers will help with racer check-in and registration, keep traffic off the race route and hand out water to runners during the race.
After trailing 10-1 to start the game, South Christian clawed back to eventually grab a 44-36 win over visiting Caledonia Tuesday.
At halftime, the game was tied at 21 and knotted at 28 to end the third quarter.
“The game went back and forth with both teams just really digging in on defense and struggling to get much going on offense,” said South Christian Coach Kim Legge, whose team is 10-5 overall, 5-2 in the OK Gold.
Caledonia led 36-35 with 3:30 left in the game and then the momentum was all South Christian.
Ashley Thomasma’s trey turns the game
“Ashley Thomasma hit a big three that put us up two points,” Legge said. “Our defense would hold strong from that point on holding Caledonia scoreless the rest of the way.”
Thomasma led the Sailors with 15 points, followed by Ashley Raredon, 13 points and 11 rebounds and Lizzie Wolthuis, 11.
Caledonia’s Gracie Gortmaker finished the game with 18 of the team’s 36 points.
“It was a great non conference matchup against a crosstown school,” Legge said. “Both teams worked extremely hard to keep the other team out of their rhythm. A lot of the players from both teams know each other so that always makes for a fun matchup.
The Potter’s House Christian girls basketball team won its seventh game in a row with a 52-14 win over Muskegon Orchard View Tuesday.
Coach Jake Hoogstrate said after a slow start to the game, his team got it rolling in the second quarter and “really turned it on in the third.”
“We wanted to pressure aggressively defensively and that finally started to turn into offense as the game went on,” Hoogstrate explained. “We had a season-high 16 assists in the game and really shared the ball well. Ten players scored in the game, also a season high.”
Isabelle Baez led the Pumas in scoring, in limited minutes, with 10 points and Anyieth Nhial added eight points, seven rebounds and three assists. Jordan Clark scored 6 points in her varsity debut, while Serenity Clark and Ivy Andreas each added five points.
The Pumas are now 11-4 overall, 2-0 in the Alliance League.
“This group has been an absolute joy to coach,” Hoogstrate said. “We started the season with a challenging schedule and really learned a lot about who we were and what we were capable of. This team enjoys being around one another and isn’t afraid of a challenge.
“We brought a lot of players back from last year and have some great upperclassmen leading the team. They have bought in and established a great culture for our program. We have a lot of great opportunities ahead of us and we look forward to making the most of them the rest of the way.”
Jakhary Towns shoots a free throw in a win over Tri-unity Christian Tuesday. Towns led the Wolverines with 17 points, all in the first half. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
Timely defense and a balanced offense proved key for Godwin Heights as the Wolverines outlasted visiting Tri-unity Christian 76-62 in a non-league game Tuesday.
Godwin Heights came out playing pressure defense from the opening tip. That defensive pressure not only took its toll on the Tri-unity offense, but it led to layups on the other end of the floor enabling the Wolverines to eventually take control of the game.
Junior guard Jace Reid-Anderson was one of the leaders of the defense as he came up with some key steals to go along with applying solid pressure on the Tri-unity guard.
“I’ve been working on my defense a lot more,” Reid-Anderson said. “What we do on the defensive side of the floor helps us get our offense going.”
Along with his efforts on defense, Reid-Anderson contributed on the offensive side of the floor with 10 points, including a breakaway dunk in the final minutes of the game. The Wolverines, who led 66-58 with 3:27 remaining in the game, ended the game with a flurry as they outscored Tri-unity 10-4 to close it out.
Wolverines playing with ‘high intensity’
“I thought our intensity was very high early in the game,” Godwin Heights Coach Tyler Whittemore said. “Our best offense comes off our defense and I thought at times we did a nice job. I thought we also passed the ball well at times and got some high percentage shots.”
The game was a back and forth contest in the early going with Tri-unity leading 13-12 at the end of the first quarter. The Defenders were up 23-21 midway through the second quarter when Godwin went on a run to take the upper hand. The Wolverines strung together eight straight points to go up 29-23 and never surrendered the lead.
Godwin led 36-31 at halftime and upped the lead to 40-31 early in the second half.
‘Difficult to defend’
“I was disappointed with the way we played defense,” Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler said. “They are a very nice team. They are very quick. We tried to prepare for their quickness, but they were just difficult to defend. They also played some good defense against us.”
Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler talks to his team during a time out. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Godwin Heights led 54-46 at the end of the third quarter. The two teams traded buckets for most of the final quarter before the Wolverines went on the final run to put the game away in the final minutes.
Four players hit double figures for Godwin
Godwin, which had four players score in double figures, was led on offense by senior guard Jakhary Towns, who finished with 17 points, all in the first half.
“I thought we played with some good intensity on defense,” Towns said. “I also thought we did a nice job of moving the ball on offense. This was a big win for us, especially with us getting back into conference play on Friday.”
Senior Damarie Thompson also turned in a strong game for the Wolverines. Along with a strong defensive effort, Thompson scored 15 points.
“Every win is a big win,” Thompson said. “They were state champs last year so this was a big win for us. I thought we played ok, but we could’ve played a little better on the defensive end.”
Godwin also received 14 points from Marcos Rodriguez, eight from Jamarion Collins, six from Rashaad Dorsey and three apiece from Tre’Vonte Buckley and Jaylen Martin.
“I thought our guys off the bench did a really good job,” Whittemore said. “They brought a lot of energy into the game. They also did a good job of playing defense.”
With the win, Godwin Heights improved to 9-3 overall and 6-1 in the OK Blue conference, a half game in back of Calvin Christian. The Wolverines return to action Friday at Comstock Park and then host NorthPointe Christian next Tuesday.
Tri-unity fell to 9-4 overall and are 2-1 in the Alliance League. The Defenders host Grand River Prep on Friday and then host Ravenna next Tuesday.
Roy Fogg led Tri-Unity with 18 points, while Jordan VanKlompenberg had 16. Akais Giplaye also reached double figures with 12 points, followed by Keaton Blanker, six.
Fogg led Tri-unity in rebounding with 10 boards, while Giplaye added eight.
Alyjah Chandler (No. 10) and Quintin Williams (not pictured) scored 23 points apiece in the win. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
Wyoming built a big lead against Zeeland East playing with plenty of fire and intensity, but in the end, it was their ability to stay cool as ice at the free-throw line that put away an 82-78 win in OK Green action Friday evening.
With the Wolves clinging to a three-point lead with 29 seconds remaining in the game, senior Alyjah Chandler drained a pair of free throws to give Wyoming an 80-75 lead. After Zeeland East responded with an old-school, three-point play, Avonte’ Wiggins put the game on ice for Wyoming by dropping two more free throws that hit nothing but net with five seconds remaining in the game.
“I just tried to stay calm in that situation,” said Chandler, who also scored a team-high 23 points. “We had some close games early in the season so I just tried to stay composed and hit those free throws.”
Momentum was on Zeeland’s side late in the game as the Chix battled back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter and tied the game with a pair of free throws of their own with 2:14 remaining in the game.
Adding more momentum to the Zeeland comeback was when Wyoming senior guard Quintin Williams was called for his fifth foul with 2:28 remaining in the game after coming back in a minute earlier. Williams tied Chandler for high-scoring honors for the Wolves with 23 points and his defense also was a big part of Wyoming’s early success.
Wyoming subs come through
While the Wolves lost Williams, their subs off the bench came in and stepped up, stemming the tide of the Zeeland comeback.
“Our bench guys came in and did a nice job,” Wyoming Coach Thom Vander Klay said. “We have a good rotation and those guys really stepped up for us down the stretch.”
Wyoming benefited from a total-team effort right from the opening tip. Playing aggressive defense and pushing the ball on offense, the Wolves dictated the tempo of the game as they took a 17-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Wyoming kept its foot on the gas during the second quarter as the lead grew to 31-18 before Zeeland East charged back at the end of the first half. Relying on its one-two combination of sophomore wing B.J. Walker and junior center Layne Risdon, East cut the Wyoming lead to 36-30 at halftime.
Walker proved to be a steady source of points the entire game for Zeeland as he finished with 33 points, while Risdon scored 19 points as he utilized his height advantage in the paint.
“Every game we try to start with a lot of pressure,” Chandler said. “We try to use our speed to our advantage and I thought we did a pretty good job of that tonight.”
Wyoming continued to utilize its quickness in the third quarter as it quickly built its lead back to double digits. Steals by Williams led to fast-break buckets on the other end of the floor as the Wolves built a 45-32 lead early in the third quarter. The Wolves were up 55-43 midway through the third before East began to chip away at the Wyoming lead and foul trouble began to hamper the Wolves.
“We tried to dictate the pace of the game like we always do,” Vander Klay said. “When we couldn’t that’s when they made their run. Having Quintin in foul trouble really stung us, too. There sophomore, number two, (Walker) took over and he’s a really nice player and their big guy (Risdon) was a load for us to handle, but we stayed calm and hit our free throws at the end.”
Williams also scores 23 for Wyoming
Along with 23 points from Chandler and Williams, the Wolves received 13 points from Wiggins, eight points apiece from Warren Williams and Maxi Morales and seven points from Gage Behrenbrinker.
With the win, Wyoming improved to 4-8 overall, 3-4 in the conference, while Zeeland West fell to 10-4 overall, 5-3 in the league.
Wyoming returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Holland Christian and then travels to Grand Rapids Union next Friday.
Wyoming senior Aaliyah Ratliff poured in a season-best 30 points to help lead the way for the Wyoming girls basketball team as they overcame a slow start to defeat Zeeland East 55-33.
After falling behind 12-2 to start the game, Wyoming went on a 12-0 run to end the first quarter and get back in the game.
“It was a big win for us coming off two tough losses to Muskegon and Zeeland West,” Wyoming Coach Jesse Vasquez said. “To bounce back against a good Zeeland East team gives us a real shot of momentum going into next week.”
The sizzling shooting from Ratliff also provided a big boost of momentum during Friday’s game. Ratliff connected on five three-point shots in a row during a span in the third and fourth quarter that turned the game around.
“She had a couple of 20-point games this season,” Vasquez said. “She averages about 13 points per game, but she shows in practice every day that she has the ability to make tough shots. She got in a rhythm in the third quarter where everything was falling.”
The Wyoming offense also received a boost from Maddie Longoria, who finished with 10 points for the game including a pair of three-point shots.
With the win, Wyoming improved to 8-7 overall, 3-4 in the conference.
“I thought our girls did a real good job of responding to adversity,” Vasquez said. “The girls did a really good job of staying together and staying the course and ended up pulling it out.”
The Wyoming Hall of Fame introduced nine new members in between the girls and boys basketball games against Zeeland East on Friday,
The new members include Pam and Jim Brower, long-time Wyoming Public Schools Boosters who volunteered at multiple athletic events.
K’Brio Kimble, one of the all-time best basketball players at Wyoming Park who finished with 1,252 career points.
Emily Holt Wallace, one of the best all-around athletes to come out of Wyoming, who lettered in five different sports.
Orlando Villarreal, A multi-sport athlete at Wyoming Park who was a standout on some of the best baseball teams in Wyoming Park history.
Whitney Hudson Sharkey, a three-sport athlete who was a two-time, all-state softball player and led the Rogers softball team to the 2005 state championship.
Shawn Veenstra, a three-sport athlete at Wyoming Park who was a member of the 1994 state semifinal basketball team and was one of the best baseball players in school history.
Justin Vasquez, a three-sport athlete who was one of the best swimmers in school history and holds career records in baseball for strikeouts and wins.
Jeff Klomparens, a three-sport athlete at Rogers who stood out in football, wrestling and baseball.
Take a look at our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights, January 27!
Every Friday, we’ll bring you some great high school boys and girls basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
Coming soon, we’ll have coaches and players stop by our studio after their games to chat on the show.
Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, with Dataspeed’s Autonomous Service Vehicle. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, together with Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Seamless Ventures, Southwest Airlines®, Stantec GenerationAV and the West Michigan Aviation Academy, has announced the third round of companies that will receive a total of $171,000 in grant funding through the Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship (FLITE).
One of the first airport-based initiatives in the nation, FLITE provides funding to encourage the design, development and pilot testing of new products and services in a live airport environment. FLITE has completed two rounds of funding and will launch a third round in spring 2023. The five companies that will receive grant funding through this next round include:
Cyberworks Robotics: Retrofitting autonomous navigation technology for OEM products.
Deaf AI: Training machines with artificial intelligence to use sign language to improve the experience of communicating with those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Renu Robotics: Revolutionizing the way aviation facilities conduct vegetation management with autonomous lawnmowers.
Solartonic: Enhancing security resilience with autonomous smart solar-powered lighting and camera systems with reduced operating costs.
UV Angel: Using first-of-its-kind software to reduce bacteria, viruses and molds on frequently touched surfaces and in the air.
“After the successful completion of two rounds of funding, FLITE has proven to be a key asset to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and the state of Michigan’s local entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Ford International Airport Authority. “It has become a leading platform in transforming the aviation industry through the introduction of new technologies that advance our ability to provide a world-class experience to all passengers and guests.”
West Michigan Aviation Academy
A new partnership for FLITE includes the West Michigan Aviation Academy, a tuition-free public charter high school that provides a unique educational opportunity for students to focus on high-growth employment fields in the aviation industry during their high school education.
“The West Michigan Aviation Academy was very excited about the possibility to bring real-world innovation to the classroom with the partnership with FLITE,” said George Pavey, dean of aviation for West Michigan Aviation Academy. “Many of these cutting-edge projects connected with the FLITE program have provided countless opportunities for our students to experience learning beyond the academic setting. To see and experience the future of aviation and engineering further enhances our ability to develop the next generation of industry professionals.”
As Michigan’s lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with a focus on growing the local economy, MEDC provided grant funding to FLITE through the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME).
“For Michigan, innovation is in our DNA. With the announcement of FLITE’s round three of funding, we are positioning the state to be a global leader in high-tech and multi-modal mobility innovation,” said Charlie Tyson, technology activation director with OFME. “Programs like FLITE at the Ford International Airport not only support Michigan-based entrepreneurs, but also global tech companies as they seek to grow here in Michigan.”
Cyberworks Robotics
Based in Ontario, Canada, Cyberworks Robotics is a global leading provider of specialized autonomous self-driving systems for airport wheelchairs, autonomous industrial carpet cleaners, autonomous floor scrubbers and autonomous tow-tuggers. Specifically designed for airport operations, its technology is designed to operate in crowded large-scale environments to safely mitigate labor shortages and reduce operating costs.
WHILL’s autonomous wheelchair showcased at FLITE’s round one Demo Day event. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
“Being based out of Canada, FLITE provides access to test and grow in the U.S. market,” said Vivek Burhanpurkar, CEO of Cyberworks Robotics. “We’re excited about the opportunity to connect with the FLITE partners and advisory committee as resources for our technology and business development.”
Deaf AI
Based in Toronto, Canada, Deaf AI is an artificial intelligence venture that focuses on improving communication for those who use American Sign Language due to hard of hearing or hearing loss. Its technology converts flight and boarding announcements into sign language at airport terminals.
“Throughout my communications with different airport authorities, a few of them referred us to the FLITE program as a starting point after noticing that Deaf AI is an early-stage venture,” said Mehdi Masoumi, founder and CEO of Deaf AI. “The aviation industry has a significant gap in pilot studies and soft landings for innovation, making it difficult for early-stage startups to present their innovations to airport authorities. FLITE singularly built a bridge to address this gap by providing resources for early-stage startups.
“For Deaf AI, FLITE is a window of opportunity to test its innovation and reach out to other airports, including airports on the advisory boards of the FLITE program.”
Renu Robotics
Based in San Antonio, Texas, Renu Robotics the industry leader in autonomous vegetation management systems, was part of FLITE’s second cohort and will be returning for round three to conduct additional pilot testing of their product.
Renu Robotics’ autonomous lawn mower at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
“Round three allows us to further explore the Renubot’s mowing capabilities in areas of the airport where larger mowers cannot easily access, as well as a cost-savings comparison,” said Tim Matus, CEO of Renu Robotics. “We’re also continuing to look into FAA requirements for operating on airport grounds and how those regulations are applicable.”
Solartonic
Based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Solartonic provides off-grid solar-powered smart poles that are safe, resilient and sustainable. Their smart solahub™ platform integrates cloud-controlled devices with framework products for LED lights, CCTV cameras, Wi-Fi networks, IoT sensors and digital signage through remote monitoring and control.
“We are excited to participate in FLITE with the Ford International Airport,” said Harry Giles, co-founder and CEO of Solartonic. “FLITE provides the ideal opportunity for us to demonstrate the value of our solutions to enhance airport perimeter security, passenger experience and airport operations. In partnership with Jacobsen|Daniels, we intend to apply this to airports across the country.”
UV Angel
Based in Grand Haven, Michigan, UV Angel is a leading disinfection technology company that uses UV Light technology, advanced optical engineering and a first-of-its-kind digital software platform, to disinfect surfaces by neutralizing bacteria, viruses and molds.
“We look forward to placing our UV Angel Clean Air™ Technology in the Ford International Airport,” said Tom Byrne, CEO of UV Angel. “The aviation industry has a critical need to protect personnel and travelers, and the FLITE program will provide invaluable insight and feedback to further our mission to make indoor spaces cleaner, safer and healthier for everyone.”
The Ford International Airport has identified six core focus areas for new technology advancements through FLITE:
Automation and Analytics: Improving operational efficiency and optimization of the workforce and other resources through automation and analysis of data.
Safety and Security: Strengthening passenger and worker safety and security throughout the airport campus.
Enhanced Guest Experience: Improving the pre-boarding experience.
Sustainability: Switching fossil fuel vehicles and infrastructure to electric and other decarbonization projects.
Door-to-Door Experience: Improving the experience and efficiency of getting to and from the airport.
Advancing Aviation: Exploring the enabling infrastructure and implications of emerging commercial aviation use cases.
South Christian Coach Kim Legge summed up her team’s 65-64 OT victory over Grand Rapids Catholic Central Tuesday with three words.
“What a game.”
Down by two points in regulation with five seconds remaining, South Christian’s Lily Nitz sank two free throws to tie the game at 56 apiece.
The Cougars, however, weren’t quite ready for overtime.
After the free throws, they inbounded the ball and took it downcourt for a chance to win. Catholic Central made a layup at the buzzer, but it was called off sending the game into overtime.
Off to overtime
“In overtime, both teams went back and forth with scoring,” explained Legge. “With 1:30 on the clock it was once again all tied up at 62. We hit 4-of-8 field goals and they had 2 out of 5, but also had 3-for-6 on free throws.
“We always have a lot of respect for Catholic Central. Going into the game we knew we would have to put together four solid quarters in order to compete. We have been learning from each game we play and seem to build on those experiences. Our team has talked a lot about consistency and composure in the past few weeks and the team really leaned into that last night.”
Legge talked about Catholic Central’s inside/outside game.
“Grace McKinney and Emily VanTimmeren are both extremely talented and have great moves in the paint,” Legge said. “They also have kids that can shoot the ball so we worked a lot on our closeouts in order to be ready for their shooters.”
VanTimmerman led the Cougars with 20 points.
Ashley Raredon had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Sailors. (Courtesy, South Christian)
“We are a team that also has an inside and outside game with Ashley Raredon inside and shooters like Ashley Thomasma and Lizzie Wolthuis to name a few.,” Legge explained. “We shot extremely well in the first quarter connecting on 4-of-5 3-pointers.”
Thomasma led South Christian with 20 points, including six 3-pointers. Her biggest trey of the night came with 1:13 left in overtime from the corner on an assist from Raredon to give the Sailors a three-point lead.
Raredon had 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Sophia Prins added 13 points and six boards.
South Christian’s Jake Vermaas takes the ball downcourt. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Conributor
South Christian had Grand Rapids Catholic Central on the ropes during Tuesday’s OK Gold showdown of state-ranked powers, but the Sailors were unable to land the knockout shot and the host Cougars rallied to pull out a 71-67 win.
First place in the conference was on the line as South Christian sailed into the Catholic Central gym and the two teams gave the packed house what they came to see. South Christian, ranked 13th in the state in Division 2, led for the bulk of the game, but the host Cougars, ranked 18th in the state in Division 2, remained persistent throughout and overcame South down the stretch.
“It’s hard to keep them (Catholic Central) down,” South Christian Coach Taylor Johnson said. “They keep coming and coming. I felt we played with good intensity and our defensive focus was there, but they (Catholic Central) got some big rebounds down the stretch and the ball just didn’t bounce our way at the end.”
A quick start for the Sailors
South Christian jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the game and was up 18-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Carson Vis led South Christian with 31 points. (Courtesy, Eric Walstra)
Sophomore standout Carson Vis was a big part of the Sailor offense in the early going and throughout the game. Scoring from the perimeter and on drives to the basket, Vis led the Sailors with 31 points in the game.
“He’s a special kid,” Johnson said. “He loves the game so much. He is such a special player and he is going to be special here for quite some time.”
Cougars score 11 in a row
Catholic Central reeled off 11 consecutive points to open the second quarter and take a 23-18 lead, but the Sailors righted the ship and regained a 37-32 lead at halftime.
While the Sailor offense was led by Vis, the Catholic Central offense has a pair of standout players that can fill the hoop in a hurry in junior Durral Brooks and senior Kaden Brown. Brown, who will be playing his college ball at Wright State next season, led all scorers with 32 points while Brooks, who has been offered by Michigan State, added 21 points.
Sailors get 10 straight
South Christian went on a 10-0 run early in the third quarter to go up 47-35, but Catholic Central would not go away. The Cougars chipped away at the lead and cut the deficit to 57-50 at the end of the third quarter.
“It was back and forth,” Catholic Central Coach TJ Meerman said. “It was definitely a game of runs by both teams. They are an excellent team and a tough team.”
South was up 61-55 midway through the final quarter when the Cougars mounted a final big push. Catholic Central went on a 13-2 run to go up 68-63 with a minute remaining in the game.
“Our guys pride themselves on toughness,” Meerman said. “They played with a lot of pride down the stretch. There was a timeout when we were down by 10 or 11 and all the guys in the huddle were saying to stay the course. Just stay the course.
“It was a credit to our junior and senior leadership. The guys stayed the course and knew they would pull it out.”
Down to the wire
South continued to battle in the final minute of the game and a three-point shot by Jake Vermaas trimmed the Cougar lead to 68-66 with 47 seconds remaining in the game. Brown split a pair of free throws with 18 seconds remaining to put the Cougars up by two points.
With four seconds remaining in the game, Vis was fouled on a three-point shot. Vis connected on one of the free throws before Catholic Central pulled down a rebound. Brown was subsequently fouled and drained a pair of free throws with 3.7 seconds left to give the Cougars the final three-point margin.
“They went on that third-quarter run and that hurt us,” Johnson said. “I think it was a 15-6 run and we missed some easy shots. We showed that we can compete with anyone. We’ve played a tough schedule and we proved we can compete with anyone.”
Along with 31 points from Vis, South Christian received 19 points from Vermaas, nine points from Jacob DeHaan and four points from Sam Medendorp.
With the loss, South Christian falls to 9-3 overall and 5-1 in the OK Gold. South Christian returns to action Friday at Cedar Springs.
Catholic Central improved to 8-3 overall and 6-0 in the conference. The Cougars return to action Friday at Kenowa Hills.
(TU: Owen Rosendall, Roy Fogg, 12 points apiece; Akais Giplaye, 11 points, 7 rebounds; Keaton Blanker, 11 points, including the last 4 free throws to clinch the game)
Potter’s House Christian 73, West Michigan Aviation 57
The City of Kentwood is inviting local organizations and community members of all abilities to its first-ever Adaptive Recreation Expo on Thursday, Jan. 26.
The free event will take place 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. It is open to all community members and no ticket or pre-registration is required. The event will feature a variety of local programs and resources for people of all abilities and provide opportunities for community members and vendors alike.
During the event, individuals with disabilities and their families can learn more about a variety of local programs and resources, including recreation opportunities and adaptive equipment demonstrations.
Kentwood Parks and Recreation Adaptive Kayaking. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Students and community members interested in adaptive recreation can connect with local agencies and learn about volunteer, internship and employment opportunities.
Vendors will have an opportunity to connect directly with potential new clients and volunteers as well as other organizations.
“Kentwood is incredibly proud to be part of the adaptive recreation community and serve individuals with disabilities through our programs,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director. “Through this event, we hope to build connections and raise awareness about other local resources and programs West Michigan offers for individuals with disabilities and their loved ones.”
Organizations participating in the event include Kentwood Parks and Recreation, Hanger Clinic, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Hunt 2 Heal and many others.
Kentwood Parks and Recreation Adaptive Rock Climbing. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Vendor applications are still being accepted. If your organization is interested in becoming a vendor, contact Ann Przybysz at przybysza@kentwood.us or 616.656.5284.
The event’s gold sponsor is Airway Mobility and Rehab Equipment, and silver sponsors are Creative Mobility Group, Hanger Clinic and Life Beyond Barriers.
Take a look at our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights, January 20!
Every Friday, we’ll bring you an abundance of great local high school boys and girls basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, as well as highlighting some top performers and giving a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
Coming soon, we’ll have coaches and players stop by our studio after their games to chat on the show.
One little run proved to be the difference when long-time rivals Covenant Christian and Tri-unity Christian hooked up in a non-league contest on the Defenders home court Friday.
That mini-run came at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth, and was the difference as Covenant Christian edged Tri-unity 46-35.
“Whenever Covenant Christian and Tri-unity play we always seem to have good games,” Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler said. “It was a close game all the way, but they built a 10-point lead at the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth quarter and that was all it took. It was back and forth the rest of the way.”
Points were in short supply in the early going as both teams came out and played lock-down defense. Covenant Christian led by a bucket, 8-6, at the end of the first quarter. Even less points were put on the scoreboard in the second quarter. Tri-unity outscored Covenant 5-3 during that quarter and the game was tied at 11 at halftime.
“It was a war out there,” Keeler said. “It’s not like we didn’t shoot the ball. When you play against such great defense the shots just don’t fall. There was a lot of great intensity out there especially on defense.”
The shots began to fall a little more frequently in the second half. Covenant outscored Tri-unity 17-13 in the third quarter and led 28-24 at the end of three. Covenant Christian built the lead to 10 early in the final quarter and finished the final stanza outscoring the Defenders 18-11.
A learning experience
“It was a great game and a game we can learn from,” Keeler said. “It especially teaches us to be more consistent on defense. If we played defense like we did in the first half all the way through the game we would’ve been right there. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain that intensity and that is something we need to work on.”
Akais Giplaye led Tri-unity in scoring with 11 points, followed by Jordan VanKlompenberg, seven and Owen Rosendall, six. Roy Fogg led Tri-unity with six rebounds, while Giplaye added five.
Roy Fogg led the Defenders with six boards. (Courtesy, Tri-unity)
Covenant Christian, which improved to 7-5 overall, was paced in scoring by Isaac Kuperus with 10 points, Johnny Kuiper, nine and Logan Holstege, Brett Camminga and Ethan Deemter, eight apiece.
With the loss, Tri-unity fell to 8-2 overall. Both losses came against teams substantially larger as the Defenders fell to Division 1 Muskegon Mona Shores at the Cornerstone Tournament over Christmas break, while Covenant Christian is a large Division 3 school.
Tri-unity continues a rugged stretch of games against larger schools next week. The Defenders travel to Schoolcraft Tuesday to play the defending Division 3 state champions and then host Alliance League rival Potter’s House on Friday and Godwin Heights on Jan. 31.
“We have a tough schedule,” Keeler said. “We are just starting a real tough stretch right now. We are 8-2 with 11 more games and six of them are against some really, really tough teams.”
Strong defense
Tri-unity will face that tough slate of games with a defense that has been strong all season. Through 10 games this season the Defenders are allowing 39.2 points per game with only three opponents managing to reach 50 points or more and no team able to score more than 56 points on the Defenders.
“We’ve had some good wins against some good teams this year,” Keeler said. “The guys have been coming along. Our defense in the second half was not as good as it should’ve been. We’ve improved a lot on defense since the beginning of the season and that is what has helped us go a long way in the past.
“Tonight was a great game and a good experience for our young men. Losing can be a very good avenue to teach players how to improve.”
Kennedie Crawford and Abby Rivera-Sosa combined for 31 points to propel Grand River Prep to its first win of the early season.
The Titans knocked off Lee 50-27 to improve to 1-1 in the Alliance League, 1-3 overall, while Lee dropped to 0-2 in the league, 1-9 overall.
“Abby and Kennedie played very well tonight offensively and defensively,” said Grand River Prep Coach Morgan McMullan, who averaged 10 points per game while at NorthPointe Christian a few years ago. “They really stepped up as my point guards tonight. I’m proud of them.”
Crawford, a sophomore who started as a freshman as well, led with 19 points against Lee, including three treys.
Grand River Prep senior Abby Rivera-Sosa. (Courtesy, Grand River Prep)
“She’s a very quiet leader, but she leads and makes sure she gets her teammates open, and makes sure she’s scoring as well,” McMullan said. “She’s an all around great player.
“Her and Abby have led the way this season in points.”
Rivera-Sosa, a senior, added 12 points against Lee.
“I think we definitely turned the corner,” said McMullan, of getting their first win of the season. “It comes down to who really wants to win … and we’re the team that wanted to win more.
“We’ve been practicing two months with barely playing any games. We had four games that were cancelled in the beginning of the season. We feel like we can only go up from here, honestly.”
McMullan also was impressed with the play of her sophomore center Samantha Mendoza, who scored six points.
“We’ve been working with her a lot to get rebounds and put them back up,” McMullan said. “She worked really hard on the boards tonight.
As far as the Alliance League goes, McMullan said she thinks her Titans should compete really well against the other teams.
Grand Rapids Gold center Lacey James tells people he came out of the womb with a basketball.
While watching the 6-foot-9 Grand Rapids native warm up in preparation for a game, this reporter noticed James move with quiet intensity and focus. His love for the game is obvious in the attention he gave to each movement and handling of the ball.
In speaking with James after warming up, the 26-year-old told WKTV that he doesn’t remember a time when he didn’t love playing basketball.
“My first love was basketball,” James said.
Showing his love for the game at an early age. (Courtesy, Lacey James)
And no wonder — love of the sport was ingrained in his family. James’s mother and each of her siblings all received scholarships to play college basketball.
“I grew up surrounded by it all the time,” James said.
James was only seven years old when he began playing competitively with a travel basketball team.
James said the opportunity to travel to other states, play basketball and meet new people was exciting and fun.
“I saw more than the other kids because I traveled and played in arenas around the country,” James explained.
And he has never stopped playing.
A three-year starter for the Wayland Wildcats, where he averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds per game, James then signed with Rider University’s Broncs in New Jersey. After a year at RU, James transferred to Northern Illinois University where he played for the NIU Huskies until graduating in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. During his final college season, he averaged nine points and 8 rebounds per game.
Lacey James (No. 4) in a game against the Windy City Bulls. (Courtesy, Sam Iannamico/Grand Rapids Gold)
James’s journey has led him to wearing No. 4 for the Grand Rapids Gold, a professional basketball team in the NBA G League affiliated with the Denver Nuggets.
He began the season on the Motor City Cruise roster, then came back to Grand Rapids and spent a few weeks practicing with the Grand Rapids Gold. They signed James to the team, and he made his debut as a Gold player in an away game against the Windy City Bulls.
The Grand Rapids Gold was founded in 2006 as the Anaheim Arsenal, relocating to Springfield, Massachusetts in 2009 as the Springfield Armor. In 2014, the league was renamed the Grand Rapids Drive, subsequently changing to Grand Rapids Gold in 2021.
The expansion team of the NBA Development League (NBA D-League) entered a multi-year partnership with Gatorade and was rebranded the NBA Gatorade League (NBA G League) prior to the 2017-18 season.
Not alone during the journey
But James freely admits that he didn’t get to where he is without the help of the people around him.
The only child of Karie James, Lacey said, “My mom and I are very close. She was there for me always, my number one fan.”
After signing with RU, Karie followed Lacey to New Jersey at his request.
“My mom did move out with me to New Jersey. It was cool, being all the way out on the east coast, to have somebody that close (to me) there. She sacrificed a lot for me.”
But James said he had a lot of people in his support system.
Grand Rapids Gold’s Lacey James dunking the ball. (Courtesy, Sam Iannamico/Grand Rapids Gold)
“I didn’t get here by myself. I had a lot of people that supported me and helped me out along the way.”
James said there were several players in the NBA as well as in his own neighborhood who inspired him, but that, “I never really had somebody that showed me the ropes, showed me what it would be like from elementary school, to middle school, to high school. I never had that.”
But that didn’t stop him.
“I kept trying to inspire and motivate myself every step of the way,” James said. “I just kept pushing myself along the path. I worked hard.”
Even the No. 4 on his jersey has special meaning to James.
“I wear that number because I play for four things,” James said. “God, family, an opportunity to change the world, and making a difference in the world with his platform are what motivates James every day.
James admitted that his favorite player growing up was Lebron James. Lebron’s presence on and off the court was only part of the Los Angeles Lakers player’s appeal. Having the same initials, both being only children, and both being 6-9 helped a young Lacey James relate to the basketball player in a unique way.
A voice in the world
“My goal is definitely to be on an NBA team and to have a long career and do something with my platform, inspire the world with my name, my voice and my resources.”
Lacey James, left, in a game vs. the Windy City Bulls. (Courtesy, Sam Iannamico/Grand Rapids Gold)
Having a chance to play professionally in his hometown during that journey means a lot to James.
“I grew up in Grand Rapids,” said James, “and we don’t have the NBA players like L.A. and New York … I would love to make it to those main teams and be that guy to come back and help those little kids and show them the ropes, show them the way to go.”
James credits God for his many accomplishments.
“God really blessed me … from my body, to my opportunities, to the doors he opened,” James said. “I credit God first because without him, none of this would be possible. I wouldn’t be in this position, I wouldn’t be who I am.”
When time allows, James makes it a point to work with kids on the side and has been to schools to speak with basketball teams and sometimes entire student bodies.
Kids that come to a GR Gold game often want to meet and talk to the players after the game. James tries to make sure he is available if kids are interested in meeting players.
“If they want to listen, or if they want to know something, I’ll do it for sure,” James said.
James, however, does not allow the focus to remain on his accomplishments for long.
“God put me in this position. He blessed me with this, and it’s just the beginning.”
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author
Godwin Heights players, from left, Damarie Thompson, Jace Reid-Anderson and Tre’Vonte Buckley talk over strategy during Friday’s OK Silver game with Calvin Christian. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
Sole possession of first place in the OK Silver was on the line when Godwin Heights visited Calvin Christian Friday night and the long-time rivals added another thrilling chapter to the rivalry with the host Squires holding off Godwin 71-61.
Led by standout senior guard Jakhary Towns, Godwin Heights started fast. The Wolverines jumped out to an 8-1 lead and were up 14-7 before Calvin began to assert its height advantage and pound the ball inside and flex their muscles on the offensive glass.
Senior guard Jakhary Towns led Godwin Heights with 32 points. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
Towns was on fire offensively in the opening quarter as he scored 12 of his game-high 32 points then and assisted on both of Godwin’s other two field goals in that quarter.
“Jakhary is one of the best guards in the state and he showed it again tonight,” said Godwin Heights coach Tyler Whittemore. “He just showed that consistency that he’s had over the past four years.”
Calvin was prepared for Towns and the Squires did the best they could throughout the game to keep him from dominating the game.
“We knew coming in that Jakhary is a great player,” said Calvin Christian coach Matt Veltema. “We knew that we had to at least try and contain him because he is just too good a player to stop.”
With three players standing 6-foot-5 and four players 6-foot-4, Calvin had the size advantage and the Squires used that to their advantage. Calvin pounded the glass on the offensive end and came up with numerous second and third chances on offense. Calvin gained control of the game in the second quarter as the Squires outscored Godwin 16-6 to take a 30-22 lead.
“We always make it a priority to battle hard on the boards,” Veltema said. “We knew we had to do a good job of controlling the boards.”
The Squires also featured a talented senior guard of their own in Jack Agema. Agema’s ball-handling skills were key against Godwin’s pressure defense and his playmaking enabled the Squires to get the ball to their big players down low. Agema also led the Calvin offense with 21 points.
Calvin was up 33-26 at the half and opened up a 38-28 lead early in the third quarter. Godwin, however, battled back each time Calvin made a run. The Wolverines cut the Calvin lead to 42-35 midway through the third quarter and then cut the Squire lead to 47-42 on a bucket by Towns late in the third.
“We play the game for the entire 32 minutes,” Whittemore said. “You never know what is going to happen. The guys gave it their best shot and they never quit.”
Godwin makes fourth-quarter run
Trailing by 11 points early in the fourth quarter, the Wolverines made a strong run midway through the final stanza. Godwin reeled off seven consecutive points, cutting the Calvin lead to 55-51 with 4:09 remaining in the game when Towns drained a pair of free throws. That was as close as the Wolverines would get, however, as Calvin stemmed the tide and outscored Godwin 8-3 in the final minute of the game with all the points coming at the free-throw line.
“It was a battle,” Veltema said. “I know Tyler and he always has a very well-coached team. It is always a battle with his team. It was a fun game, up and down the court, and they (Godwin) never gave up.”
With the win, Calvin Christian improved to 8-1 overall and 3-1 in the OK Silver. Along with 21 points from Agema, the Squires received 16 points from Carson DeHaan and 14 from Matt Elderkin.
Godwin Heights fell to 5-2 overall for the season and 3-1 in the conference. Towns led the way with 32 points, while Damarie Thompson added 15 and Jaylen Martin six.
“I think we are growing every day as a team,” Whittemore said. “I give a lot of credit to the boys for how hard they worked in the off-season. They are performing at a high level right now because of that hard work.”
Godwin Heights returns to action at Belding on Tuesday and then hosts Hopkins Friday.
The Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) announced its new leaders to the ACI-NA Board of Directors, including the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority’s President and CEO Tory Richardson.
“I look forward to serving the aviation industry and its communities in this new position with ACI-NA,” Richardson said. “ACI-NA plays a significant role in bettering airports and aviation services across the U.S., Canada and beyond. I’m thrilled to work alongside fellow ACI-NA board members on new advancements that promote a healthy and thriving industry for years to come.”
ACI-NA is a trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada. They continue to present the unique views and recommendations of airport management to federal, state, provincial and local governments, industry, the media and the general public. These views and recommendations include:
Promoting cooperation with all elements of the commercial civil aviation industry;
Encouraging the exchange of ideas, information and experiences on common airport issues;
Identifying, interpreting and disseminating information to members on current industry trends and practices; and
Creating forums of common interest, building professional relationships and interpreting key airport policy and business issues to members.
“These newly elected leaders of our organization bring broad industry expertise and a deep understanding of the unique challenges we face,” said ACI-NA president and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “With Richardson’s support, ACI-NA remains as committed as ever to our mission to advocate policies and provide services that strengthen the ability of airports to serve their passengers, customers and communities, just as we have for the last 75 years.”
Richardson joined the Ford International Airport Authority in 2019 bringing with him a broad range of leadership and management expertise in the aviation industry. Successful in guiding airports through significant change and boosting regions’ economic vitality, Richardson is leading the Ford International Airport Authority’s capital expansion program, Elevate, among other development efforts.
Richardson will be working alongside several other industry leaders, including Justin Erbacci, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports, Alexis Higgins, CEO of the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust, Myron Keehn, president and CEO of the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority, Ricky Smith, executive director and CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration, Tamara Vrooman, president and CEO of the Vancouver Airport Authority, Patrick Wilson, president of the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, Lesa Seibert, commissioner for the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, and Brian Reed, aviation development director for Burns & McDonnell.
Along with its newly elected Board of Directors, ACI-NA has selected new leaders for the U.S. Policy Council, the Canadian Policy Council and the World Business Partners and Associates Board of Directors. Visit the ACI-NA website for the organization’s full leadership roster.
the Community Transition Services help seniors return to their community and home. (Pxhere.com)
Many of us take the time spent with family during the holiday season as a given. Houses full of laughter, home-cooked meals, family games, stories, and general merriment. The traditions we have may change over the years, but the setting is often the same…home.
However, as we get older, it could become harder to stay living at home. The independence we once had may wane, and, in some cases, older adults could find themselves in a long-term facility setting. For four years, Darlene, 61, was in a facility due to a cancer diagnosis and ongoing health-related issues. For some, a facility is a great fit for their care needs, but Darlene dreamed of returning home, though she never thought it would happen. After small improvements in her health, she stated, “I put my heart and soul into getting well!”
Once she built up her strength, Darlene faced an overwhelming task, how to return to the community while still meeting her care needs. This is where the Community Transition Services (CTS) program through the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan came in. Melissa, the social worker at Darlene’s facility, connected her to the program, which assists those wanting to return to the community by securing housing, setting up groceries and other household goods, and coordinating referrals for in-home services such as MI Choice Waiver, Care Management, and others.
With the help of the CTS program, Darlene is now home for the holidays in HER new apartment near her son and his family! She summed up her experience with the CTS team by saying, “It was a seamless transition! I felt comfortable putting all the loose ends in their hands!” Darlene is now enjoying her first holiday season at home with her family in five years.
The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) serves a nine-county region that includes Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola counties. In addition to the nine counties above, the Community Transitions Services program is also newly available in Oceana, Muskegon, and Ottawa counties. (Please note this is specific to the CTS program only and does not include other AAAWM programs). For someone to qualify for the CTS program, they must:
Reside in a facility
Currently on, or eligible for, Medicaid
Desire to return home or secure other housing (i.e., apartment or assisted living)
Has a barrier to discharging safely from a facility in one of the twelve CTS counties
To learn more and request an assessment, you can call the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at 888-456-5664. As a local contact agency, AAAWM can also meet with those residing in a facility who indicate an interest in learning about community resources. Darlene practices staying in a state of gratitude in her new home near her son and grandchildren, “I’m so thankful for everyone who participated in helping me find a home near family. I remember the day my son came and got me…I cried the whole way! Thank you, everyone!” We are so thrilled that the Community Transition Services program was able to assist Darlene in her transition and that she is home for the holidays!
East Kentwood players Ardrace Morris and Christian Humphrey-Rembert (from left) try boxing out Rockford. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
In a long basketball season, there are certain games that can tip the balance between a good season and a great season.
The East Kentwood boys basketball team experienced just such a game Tuesday at OK Red rival Rockford when it erased a 13-point halftime deficit and defeated Rockford 51-49 on a last-second shot.
Sophomore Jah Hatchett gets winning bucket
Falcon sophomore Jah Hatchett provided the game-winning basket with three seconds remaining in the game as he rebounded an East Kentwood miss and layed it in for the winning points.
The bucket gave Kentwood a win that was special in more than one way. First, the Falcons bounced back in a big way from their first loss of the season the previous Saturday against Birmingham Brother Rice. Second, the Falcons managed to do it on the road in a hostile environment, and third, they erased a 13-point halftime deficit to accomplish the feat.
East Kentwood’s Marshaun Flakes helped turn things around against Rockford. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
“Big Win” says Marshaun Flakes
“This was a big win for us,” said East Kentwood senior Marshaun Flakes, in his third season on varsity. “We haven’t defeated Rockford in a long time. It was also a big win to get after our loss to Brother Rice. It felt good to bounce back.”
Bounce back was what the Falcons needed to do after falling behind by as many as 18 points during the first half. Rockford came out hitting on all cylinders and the Rams led 18-6 at the end of the first quarter. Rockford continued to build on the lead in the second quarter as it feasted on Kentwood turnovers and converted open opportunities.
Big halftime lead for Rockford
At halftime, Rockford went into the locker room with a 30-13 lead, while East Kentwood went back to the drawing board.
The Falcons made some defensive adjustments at halftime and came out in the second half looking like a different team as they picked up the defensive pressure. Using a full-court, trapping press, the Falcons forced Rockford into numerous turnovers and it was Kentwood that turned the turnovers into easy buckets on the offensive end.
“We made a few adjustments to our zone,” said East Kentwood Coach Mike Thomas. “We increased the pressure and started attacking. On offense, once we hit a three our guys really started to feel confident. It was like the light was turned on once they saw that first three fall.”
Marshaun Flakes drained that first three ball of the second half and that trey led to a torrent of points during the third quarter. Down 34-16 in the early minutes of the second half, Kentwood went on a 9-0 run that trimmed the deficit to single digits following a bucket by Jyair Harris.
The Falcons kept applying the pressure on the defensive end producing steals and getting some big blocked shots from 6-foot-9 senior Christian Humphrey-Rembert. Humphrey-Rembert recently joined the team just before Christmas when he transferred back to East Kentwood from La Lumiere prep school in Indiana.
EK grabs the lead by one to end third
Trailing 40-33, East Kentwood finished the third quarter with an 8-0 run and took a 41-40 lead at the end of the quarter on a bucket from Hatchett.
The contest went back and forth during the final quarter with the score tied twice and the lead changing hands four times as both squads played at a slow pace. Kentwood went up 49-47 on a bucket by Flakes with 2:03 remaining before Rockford tied the game with a pair of free throws with 1:36 remaining. After the teams traded turnovers, East Kentwood held the ball for the last 30 seconds of the game before Hatchett put in the final points with three seconds left.
“We are like a new program,” Thomas said. “I’m a new coach and we have some new players and a new system and it’s taken an adjustment period. There were some crazy things happening, but our guys just kept fighting back and never quit. I’m proud of the way the guys kept battling and never quit.”
Hatchett led the Falcons in scoring with 14 points followed by Flakes with 13 and Darryl Thompkins with 10. Harris added six points while Landon Storms added three, Ardrace Morris, two points and Humphrey-Rembert, two points on a highlight-reel dunk during the fourth quarter.
With the win, East Kentwood improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the OK Red. The Falcons return to action Friday at Grandville and then play Detroit Henry Ford on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. at Ottawa Hills High School as part of the Martin Luther King Day Hoops Classic hosted by Ottawa Hills.
After a four-game winning streak, including a “Battle of Wyoming” championship over the holidays, the Wyoming girls basketball team was cooled off by Mona Shores 58-49 Tuesday.
Coach Jesse Vasquez said every time his Wolves cut into the lead, Mona Shores would build it up again.
“In the fourth quarter, Mona had us by 14 points and we cut it down to seven, but couldn’t get over the hump,” said Vasquez, whose team fell to 6-4 overall. “They would make a big 3 to put it back at 10 points.
“We just couldn’t get in a rhythm. They did a real good job defensively against us, and we couldn’t find a bucket when we needed one.”
Last year, Mona Shores finished atop the OK Green at 12-2 and were 19-4 overall.
Wyoming freshman Myah Nabors led in scoring with eight points.
Vasquez said La’Anna Griffin, Shakya Anderson and Meneliza McGee are “some big pieces for us this year.”
Turning things around
Vasquez said recently winning the Potter’s House holiday tournament, the “Battle of Wyoming,” was a cool experience.
“It was a great atmosphere; really loud and great that our girls found a way at the end to win,” said Vasquez, whose Wolves were 4-17 overall last year and have won two more games at this early point in the season.
“I didn’t come in to a bare cupboard; the cupboards are very full,” continued Vasquez, in his first season. “We’re getting them to rely on their teammates, trust one another and they definitely put the work in every practice.
After a tight 33-32 halftime lead, the Tri-unity boys turned it up a notch in the second half to knock off host Western Michigan Christian 78-50 on Tuesday.
“We really let it fly in the second half,” said Defenders Coach Mark Keeler, whose team improved to 6-1 overall. “We stepped it up in the second half and they kind of cooled down a little on their shooting.
“It was a war in the first half. Western Michigan Christian played a good game against us. They shot the ball, really, really well.”
Jordan VanKlompenberg had 12 points and five assists for the Defenders. (Courtesy, Tri-unity)
Senior Roy Fogg led the Defenders with 15 points, followed by Jordan VanKlompenberg, 12 points and five assists; Akais Giplaye, 12 points and 10 rebounds and Keaton Blanker with 11 points and 6 assists.
Fogg (6-foot-3) is a first-year varsity player who played homeschool basketball last year, according to Keeler.
“His mom Becky graduated from Tri-unity in 1996, our first state championship in basketball,” continued Keeler, who’s coached for 36 years. “He’s a very good player and a nice young man. We’re so happy that he’s here.
“We had a very good returning crew this year. Giplaye (junior) was on varsity last year and played in the state finals. We have such good balance that the scoring leaders vary. Owen Rosendall scored 21 points (7 three-pointers) last week against Fruitport Calvary.”
Last year, the Defenders won the D-4 state championship.
“I think we can make another run at the state championship,” Keeler said. “We obviously want to win the conference (Alliance League) again, but it’s not going to be easy this year with three solid teams; Lee, Potter’s House and West Michigan Aviation.”
A two-car crash near 60th St. and Wing Ave. on Thursday in Kentwood has placed a 4-year-old child in critical condition and a 5-year-old in fair condition.
At approximately 8:07 a.m. on Jan. 4, the Kentwood Police Department responded to the crash and located one vehicle occupied by an adult female and two minor children.
One of the minor children was pinned in the vehicle. The Kentwood Fire Department was able to extricate the child from the vehicle and both children were transported to a local hospital.
It does not appear that alcohol or drugs were a factor in this crash. The Kentwood Police Department continues to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police Department Traffic Bureau at 616-656-6561. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or SilentObserver.org.
The City of Kentwood’s Winter Concert Series will return with free concerts at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.
The series features three West Michigan performers on the third Thursday of each month from January through March. Artists will play a range of genres and each concert will feature a food truck outside offering a variety of cuisines for purchase.
“We’re pleased to welcome three great West Michigan artists to perform in this year’s winter concert series,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director. “This series offers an opportunity to stay connected with the community throughout the cold months, enjoying fantastic company and performances.”
The lineup of performers and food trucks is as follows:
The Kevin Brewster Trio will perform a variety of jazz music with an emphasis on hard bop, bebop, contemporary and R&B genres. (Courtesy, Kevin Brewster)
Dylan (pictured below) will present a mix of original music and covers. She’ll perform a variety of folk, pop and rock styles and top 40 hits.
(Courtesy, Melissa Dylan)
Lighting Matches (pictured below) will perform original alternative-rock tunes featuring thought-provoking lyrics and dynamic harmonies.
(Courtesy, Lighting Matches)
The concerts will take place in the library’s Community Room from 6:30-8 p.m. Guests are welcome to bring their own beer, wine or nonalcoholic beverages to enjoy at the show. More information is available at kentwood.us/WinterConcerts.
Shay Gallagher is the City of Kentwood’s new deputy city administrator.
In this role that began on Dec. 27, Gallagher will oversee a variety of City operations with the mayor to support the City’s mission and vision. He will be responsible for providing policy and procedure guidance, strategic planning, program evaluation and communications strategies to ensure City goals and objectives are met and services are provided in an effective and efficient manner.
Gallagher will foster cooperative working relationships with all City staff, the City Commission, intergovernmental and regulatory agencies and community organizations to develop and implement programs that provide high-quality services, support strong neighborhoods and promote a sustainable economy.
He will facilitate implementation of the City’s parks, trails and recreation millage investment plan and lead other special projects. He also will represent the City on multi-jurisdictional committees and boards.
“We are pleased to welcome Shay to the City of Kentwood,” Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “Shay brings a strong background in public administration that will be a great benefit to our team and community. I look forward to his partnership in furthering the City’s efforts to foster a thriving community for all.”
Seven years of municipal leadership experience
Gallagher brings seven years of municipal leadership experience to the position, including most recently as village manager of Sparta. In this role, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of all village services, including police, public works and streets, water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, airport, finance and administration.
As village manager, Gallagher also oversaw a $12 million annual budget with more than 20 full-time employees in six departments and two bargaining units and implemented a comprehensive capital improvement plan.
Gallagher was resourceful in securing grants and other funding for various village projects. He acquired $363,375 in grant funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for revitalization and placemaking. He also assisted in securing an $850,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration and Michigan Department of Transportation Aeronautics for a new airport runway lighting system, among other accomplishments.
Prior to Sparta, Gallagher served as deputy city manager of Coopersville, deputy supervisor of Algoma Township and village manager of Lakeview. In these roles, he assisted with budget preparation and presentation, operational oversight, implementation of board/council vision and policies, leadership to various department directors and staff and management of special projects.
“I’m honored to serve the City of Kentwood as deputy city administrator,” Gallagher said. “I look forward to collaborating with all departments, commissioners and community partners to implement commission and community priorities.
“I hope to hit the ground running with Kentwood’s upcoming parks improvement and placemaking opportunities as well as supporting many other department initiatives citywide.”
Gallagher is active in the Grand Valley Metro Council, International City-County Management Association, Michigan Infrastructure Council, Michigan Municipal Executives and West Michigan Municipal Executives.
He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and government and a master’s degree in public administration from Grand Valley State University.
Wyoming cruised past Godwin Heights in the first ‘Battle of Wyoming’ girls basketball tourney opener on Wednesday.(WKTV)
By Zach Fanko
WKTV Contributor
Wyoming used its size and physicality to overpower Godwin Heights in the opening game of the first ‘Battle of Wyoming’ girls basketball tournament on Wednesday night at Potter’s House High School.
The Wolves secured a 65-45 victory as forward LaAnna Griffin recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Aaliyah Ratliff added 12 points.
Wyoming sophomore Shakya Anderson goes in for a basket. (WKTV)
The frontcourt duo of Griffin and Shakya Anderson were able to establish their presence in the post and provided key baskets according to Wyoming coach Jesse Vasquez.
“Everytime Godwin would make a run we threw the ball into them and they made some good shots,” Vasquez said. “Which allowed us to get into our defensive sets after a make.
“I thought our defensive pressure causing problems and the way we rebounded really turned the game for us.”
Godwin tries to defend against Wyoming’s fast moving LaAnna Griffin (15). (WKTV)
The importance of this win could not be understated for the Wolves (4-3), who have already matched last year’s win total and have the look of a much improved team.
“To come out against Godwin, a school right down the road from us. A lot of the girls know each other.
“And to win a basketball game because of our effort and energy it’s huge for us.”
Battle of Wyoming championship Thursday
Wyoming faces host Potter’s House in the ‘Battle of Wyoming’ championship on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Pumas beat Kelloggsville in the other semifinal game, 58-31.
The City of Kentwood is offering tree and string light recycling services to residents this holiday season at the Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE.
From Dec. 27 through Jan. 31, residents may bring trees between 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The drop-off site is closed Dec. 30 and Jan. 2 for the New Year’s holiday and Jan. 16 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, when City offices will be closed.
Remove all decorations, lights, wires in advance
All decorations, lights, wires and other non-natural materials must be removed from the trees in advance. A drop-off box for recycling string lights is located near the front doors of the Public Works building now through Jan. 31.
Proof of residency required
The tree recycle site is available to Kentwood residents only, and proof of residency is required. The string light and tree recycling services provide residents with a convenient, environmentally friendly way to clean up holiday decor.
“This is a special time of year for many, and cleanup is not often top of mind until the flurry of gatherings and parties passes,” said Chad Griffin, Department of Public Works director. “We’re glad to offer these services to give residents a convenient and environmentally friendly way to dispose of trees and string lights after the holiday season has come to an end.”
For more information about the Department of Public Works and its other seasonal services, visit kentwood.us/DPW.
Communications Director, Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan
Raise your hand if you’re comfortable navigating a conversation about mental health. Now raise your hand if you’re not sure where to start.
At the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, we believe it starts with knowledge, which creates confidence. We empower individuals through our be nice. action plan and programs for schools, businesses, teams and faith organizations.
“This plan works because it’s simple,” said Christy Buck, Founder of be nice. and Executive Director of the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan. “It’s four steps that give you the knowledge to recognize depression, guide you through tough conversations, and empower you with the information and resources you need to start navigating appropriate treatment options. be nice. is simple, powerful and life-saving.”
be nice. program is two-fold
On a macro level, the logo itself is a call to kindness, civility and inclusion. It’s recognizing that how we treat one another has an effect on how a person thinks, acts and feels – their mental health. On a micro level, be nice. is an action plan to equip individuals with the knowledge to recognize, understand, accept and take action when it comes to mental health through four simple steps – to notice, invite, challenge and empower.
1. notice
Begin by noticing what’s good and right about the people around you so you can notice when something is different. The plan starts with the knowledge to recognize, or notice, the signs and symptoms of a mental health concern or illness.
Behavioral
Quitting favorite sport/hobby
Avoiding social interaction
Sudden/unlikely drug or alcohol use
Cry frequently for no reason
Neglect responsibilities, loss of motivation
Can’t sleep or sleep constantly
Physical
Lack of hygiene, personal appearance
Fatigue, lack of energy
Overeating or loss of appetite
Weight loss or gain
Headaches
Unexplained aches or pains
Psychological
Acting out, aggressive, quick to anger
Heightened sadness, guilt, indecisiveness
Lack of emotional responsiveness
Frequent self-criticism
Hopelessness, loneliness
Thoughts of death or suicide
2. invite
When you notice changes lasting two weeks or longer, it’s time to invite yourself to reach out. Many times we notice something is different about the way someone is thinking, acting or feeling, but we don’t address it. Oftentimes, we stay quiet because we don’t want to hurt a person’s feelings, get a negative reaction, or be wrong – with be nice., we keep it simple.
“I’ve noticed ________ and I’m worried about you. Is everything okay? Is there anything I can do to help?” This conversation starter shows that you care and you’re asking from a place of concern. You’re not attacking their actions or character, you’re simply checking in.
3. challenge
The No. 1 reason someone doesn’t speak up when they’re struggling is because of the stigma or shame they feel. They’re worried about how others will perceive them. You can be someone who challenges the stigma surrounding mental health, illness and treatment. You can challenge stigma with your words and empathy! The third step is also about challenging an individual to seek help and utilize resources. Here in West Michigan, we are fortunate to have many local options for help and treatment. We live in a digital age, and there’s a variety of mental health supports available for a wide range of needs.
Nationwide, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline [988] is available 24/7 for anyone struggling with their mental or emotional health who needs a listening ear, immediate coping exercises, or assistance navigating further help.
4. empower
Ultimately, the be nice. action plan is meant to empower individuals with knowledge and resources. The MHF is an organization that educates individuals of all ages and demographics in this life-saving action plan. Having the correct knowledge surrounding mental health gives us the confidence to take action when we notice changes and the empathy to decrease stigma.
Being aware of our protective factors and positive coping mechanisms are great ways to help keep our mental health in check, and further, knowing what resources are available in our schools, teams, workplaces and communities empowers us to be resilient.
988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline)
If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to, call 988 to speak with a professional who can help.
To learn more about each step of the be nice. action plan, visit benice.org.
The West Michigan Aviation boys basketball team made its first trip to Kalamazoo Tuesday night well worth it with a 77-61 win over Kalamazoo Christian.
“We jumped out on them,” said Aviators Coach Austin Riebel, whose team improved to 2-2 overall. “The story in the first half is that we shot really well.”
Riebel’s son Luke scored 20 points before the half and ended up leading his team with 25. A junior and third-year varsity member, Riebel played alongside older brother Joey last year while dad coached. Joey is now playing JV basketball at Spring Arbor University.
Joseph May chipped in 14 points and 12 assists, while Ethan Dyksterhouse added 13 points and 10 boards.
“This was a great rebound win for us after a tough loss to Hopkins last Thursday,” Coach Riebel said. “They really shared the ball well tonight.
“We talked before the game about building our brand of basketball which is three things: physical, fast paced and playing together. They took a huge step in cementing this brand.”
It was the Aviators first time playing the Comets, which was Matt Dyksterhouse’s idea, a Kalamazoo Christian basketball alum and father to Ethan Dyksterhouse.
“It was cool for us to go there and play them,” said Riebel, of the 2-2 Comets.
As far as the Alliance League goes, Riebel said they’ve been very close the past two years, but Tri-unity and Potter’s House are “thorns in our side. We’ve had close battles with them.
“We’re definitely in that mix, but those two teams are very good, and Wyoming Lee is very good this year, too. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Tri-unity won the Alliance League at 8-0, followed by Potter’s House, 7-1 and West Michigan Aviation, 6-2.
Vintage + More is located at 3101 Broadmoor Ave SE. (D.A. Reed, WKTV)
By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributor
Kate Kemperman, granddaughter of New York Yankees baseball player and Grand Rapids native Wally Pipp, recently gained ownership of Vintage + More, LLC in Kentwood.
Though Kate Kemperman’s ownership of Vintage + More is new, Kemperman’s family has deep roots in West Michigan.
Walter Clement Pipp (Wally) was born on February 17, 1893 in Chicago, but at only 2 years old, moved to Grand Rapids with his family in 1895.
Wally Pipp led the American League with 12 home runs in 1916 and nine in 1917 while with the New York Yankees. (Courtesy, Kate Kemperman)
A student at Catholic Central High School, Pipp played baseball for several Grand Rapids leagues because “they didn’t have a baseball team at Catholic Central when my grandfather was there,” Kemperman explained.
Pipp played a few games with the Detroit Tigers in 1913, but his rights were sold to the Yankees in 1915 where Pipp became New York’s starting first baseman.
Pipp led American League in homers for two years
Leading the American League in home runs in 1916 and 1917 (12 and 9, respectively), Pipp was one of the AL’s top power hitters throughout his career, driving in over 100 runs in each of the following years: 1921, 1923 and 1924.
Pipp played in three World Series and helped lead the Yankees to victory against the New York Giants in the 1923 World Series beside Babe Ruth (also Pipp’s roommate and friend), Bob Meusel, Joe Dugan, and Waite Hoyt.
Vintage + More Store owner Kate Kemperman and Wally Pipp’s granddaughter. (D.A. Reed, WKTV)
Though her grandfather passed away in 1965 when Kemperman was three years old, she loved hearing stories about Pipp from her father and other people who knew him.
“My grandpa had a presence to him,” Kemperman said.
15 years in the Major Leagues
After playing 15 years in the Major Leagues, Pipp retired at age 35 with a .281 career batting average, 90 home runs, and 1,004 RBIs.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Catholic Central High School a few years ago – the first person to hold that honor without having played for a Catholic Central team – and is a 1972 inductee into the Grand Rapids Hall of Fame.
Enter Lou Gehrig
During a game in 1925, Yankees legend Lou Gehrig filled in for Pipp who was out of the lineup with a headache. Gehrig would then run a streak of 2,130 consecutive games, a record that would last for 56 years, until Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. broke it. Ripken Jr. still holds the record of 2,632 consecutive games played.
Vintage + More store owner Kate Kemperman talks with a customer. (D.A. Reed, WKTV)
Generational residence
Kemperman was raised in Grand Rapids, following in her grandfather’s footsteps by attending Catholic Central with her five siblings, and chose to raise her own family in the same area, purchasing a house in her childhood neighborhood with her husband Mark where they raised their two daughters.
A vendor at Vintage + More for the past three years, Kemperman took over the store when previous owner Shelley Cappiello retired.
“It was the perfect opportunity because I was kind of thinking about it, and so was Shelley,” Kemperman said.
Offering an eclectic mix of farmhouse style furniture, home decor, jewelry, clothes and more, Vintage + More was exactly what Kemperman was looking for as she began a new phase in life.
After 35 years of owning her own catering business, Katie’s Cuisine, Kemperman said that “I began thinking the last year or so that maybe I want to do something a little different.”
With costs rising due to inflation, “people are looking at recession,” Kemperman explained. “And I thought this would be a great shop for recession. The prices are so good, and people are looking to buy local, buy secondhand, or little things that are handmade.”
Something for everyone, plus a store greeter
Vintage + More customers are often greeted at the door by Natalie, Kemperman’s 15-year-old dachshund. Natalie wanders the store freely and is quite amenable to attention, though she often chooses to stay by Kemperman’s side.
Kate Kemperman’s 15-year-old dachshund, Natalie, often greets customers at Vintage + More. (D.A. Reed, WKTV)
“She’s pretty attached,” Kemperman said about Natalie. “I’ve had her for a long time. She does great here and the customers love her.”
Visitors to Vintage + More also will find a “shop within a shop.” Kate’s Eclectic Fashions, Kemperman’s previous foray into becoming a vendor at the store, is still going strong. Consisting of 27 consigners, the clothing and accessories portion of Vintage + More can be found at the front of the store.
The rest of the shop is comprised of 26 vendors, and Kemperman ensures that each vendor has their own unique style or content to offer.
“We try not to compete with each other,” Kemperman said. “Vendors have their own little niche — which makes shopping all the better.”
Giving back
Though Kemperman lost her husband in 2014 after a short battle with cancer, her future remains in West Michigan as she looks to give back as much as she has received.
Vintage + More offers an eclectic mix of farmhouse style furniture, home decor, jewelry, clothes and much more. (D.A. Reed, WKTV)
As Kemperman takes the reins of Vintage + More, she has already begun serving her community by offering more than just a shopping venue.
Raising money for local causes is high on Kemperman’s to-do list. Snuffle mats for dogs can be found near the front of Vintage + More, with all proceeds going to the Kent County Animal Shelter, and Kemperman is currently looking for another cause to support with the store as well.
All about the people
Kemperman’s favorite part of owning Vintage + More is the people.
“I love hearing stories from the people,” Kemperman said. “I love hearing about why they’re buying something. I love to help them as they look for certain items.”
Special events also are being integrated into the shop’s calendar, offering customers even more opportunities to shop and mingle with other community members. Upcoming events can be found on the Vintage + More Facebook and Instagram social media pages.
“It’s a welcoming store,” Kemperman continued. “There’s always a cup of coffee waiting for you if you want it. The vendors are friendly, and they put their heart into everything they make.”
Vintage + More is currently open to taking a few new vendors for furniture and home goods, and entrepreneurs of all ages are welcome to join the store’s waiting list if space is not immediately available.
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author
