Dinosaur and Dragon Stroll comes to the DeltaPlex June 4 and 5. (Supplied)
As one of my exchange students said recently, there is a day for about everything. Today, April 18, is National Velociraptor Awareness Day.
We’re not sure why anyone needs to be aware of these creatures since they lived 73 million years ago and mostly lived on Asian continents, but after some research, we discovered that velociraptors have been wrongly depicted in such movies as “Jurassic Park.” So let’s dispel the myths.
According to National Today, velociraptors did not stand seven feet tall, but were 6.5 feet long and about two feet tall from the hips. They also were not scaly or reptilian looking but resembled more of a turkey dinosaur as they has feathers and wings. Still, they were a ferocious predator with sharp teeth and three-inch-long curved claws on its back feet. Paleontologists have deducted that a velociraptors would stab its victim in the gut and then withdraw to a safe distance letting the creature bleed to death.
So while today is the National Velociraptor Awareness Day, you won’t be able to see one (a replica) four about six weeks when the Dino and Dragon Stroll comes to the DeltaPlex on June 4 and 5. In this interactive walk-through experience, guests will see a range of dinosaurs, from velociraptors to T-Rexes, from babies to life-size.
Tickets for the Dino and Drago Stroll are $30 and available by visiting dinostroll.com.
The Wyoming Pride Boxing Club is housed in a nondescript older building barely large enough for a ring, located off the street and in the back of other older buildings in Wyoming’s Porter street neighborhood — you can take a rock and hit the GM Components industrial area.
But on a recent Thursday evening, there were about 20 young boxers of various ages — and various ability to fit into boxing gloves let alone actually know how to use them — with club director Alex Fernandez and head trainer Dominic Marsiglia bouncing around giving instruction here and correction there.
Also at the club that day were three of the four boxers from the club who made the finals of the Western Michigan tournament and will be fighting for the Michigan State Golden Gloves title this weekend; each staying loose, staying sharp and focused on their individual goals.
“It feels great, yes (to have four boxers in the finals),” Fernandez said. “It is rare, to have four fighters going into the state (finals) tournament, three of them were West Michigan champions and they all have a chance to win the title, and three of them are in the Open Division. Any one of them can win a state title, in that Open Division, and move on to the nationals — and get nationally recognized.”
WKTV will continue its coverage of the Golden Gloves Boxing Championships Friday and Saturday, April 21-22, with the state title bouts from The DeltaPlex Arena and Conference Center.
The start tournament has both Open and Novice divisions. The three Wyoming Pride boxers fighting in the Open Division are Aneudy “Junior” Rios in the 123-pound class, Cody Cross in the 178-pound class, and Monclairson “Haiti” Colas in the heavyweight (201 plus pounds).
Justin Pierce will be fighting for a Novice title. (WKTV)
Justin Pierce, the youngest of the four boxers at 18-years old, and with just two fights under his belt, will be fighting in as a novice in the 152-pound class.
For the 20-year-old Rios, the state tournament will be a continuation of a young career that already includes a novice title. For Cross and Colas, it is a chance to regain titles they held but lost.
For Pierce, it is all pretty new — he won both his Western Michigan tournament fights by decision — but he has learned some lessons quickly.
“It was a lot of nerves involved,” Pierce said of his first fight. “However, the nerves, that is always going to be there. That’s what I hear from the more experienced fighters. I don’t think that is ever going to go away, … (but) it was like a few pounds were lifted off my shoulders when I got the first fight out the way. It just made me feel good when I got my hand raised at the end of the bout.”
And what lesson will he carry into he finals?
“Stay relaxed and remain calm,” Pierce said. “Even if you lose one round, remember you still have two more rounds to go, to make up the difference. You don’t win a fight in one round, nor do you loose a fight in one round. A fight is all three rounds. You have to fight hard from round one to round three. That’s what I learned.”
Both Cross, at age 26, and Colas, at 25, have also learned lessons — titles and then lessons. Now they both have the goal of using those experiences to again gain titles.
Cody Cross will be seeking to regain a crown he once held. (WKTV)
Cross fought and won a state title as a novice in 2014 and was a 2015 Open state champion, but last year … “Last year, I fell short,” he said. This year, “I would like to repeat (his state open title), I hope so. Getting it is the goal now. Then from there, I’ll move on to another goal.”
Cross finished second in the Western Michigan tournament and will fight the winner of the Eastern Michigan tournament in this week’s opening round action.
Colas — then nickname “Haiti” comes from a past coworker who could not pronounce his French first name and, somehow, came up with “Young Haiti” — had a walk over in his first Western Michigan tournament fight and then won the title by abandonment (his opponent’s corner stopped the fight), so he will fight the runner-up from the Eastern Michigan side.
Haiti Colas will be going for a heavyweight title. (WKTV)
But he, too, was a 2015 Novice champ but he fell short of an Open title last year, learned some lessons, and also has a little something to prove this year.
“Now I have had more fights and we made adjustments for the (Western Michigan) tournament,” he said. “This year, I am more confident because I lost last year, so I am going to redeem myself.”
WKTV’s coverage will be broadcast on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 with a tape delayed airing of each evening’s bouts the following day: the Friday, April 21, bouts will air Saturday, April 22, at noon; and the Saturday, April 22, bouts will air Sunday, April 23, at 6 p.m.
For complete schedule see michigangoldenglovesboxing.com . For information about The DeltaPlex Arena and Conference Center, 2500 Turner Ave., Grand Rapids, visit deltaplex.com
The 2014 tornado left serve damage in Wyoming’s Ideal Park.
Do you have a plan if you had to leave your home for days – even weeks – due to a disaster? The Kent County Preparedness Collaborative is offering a free fun and educational expo focused on keeping homes and families safe. The event will be held Thursday, April 20, from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at The DeltaPlex, 2500 Turner Ave NW in Walker.
Presentations include hands-on safety activities, the Fire Safety Trailer from the Grand Rapids Fire Department, Walker Fire Department with their ladder truck, American Red Cross presenting Disney’s Pillowcase Project, safety for people with disabilities, a Shelter Simulation, free refreshments, giveaways and much more. WOTV’s Maranda will hold a safety demonstration with Operation Save a Life.
“Kent County has experienced many emergency situations and severe weather over the past few years,” said Kent County Emergency Management Coordinator Jack Stewart. “We saw tornadoes in Grandville, Wyoming and Grand Rapids last year, in Kentwood and Grand Rapids in 2014, and massive flooding in 2013. House fires and accidents are regular occurrences. How you respond in those initial moments and having a plan for what you would do next will make a difference, help you avoid serious injury and recover more quickly from an emergency or disaster.”
The Kent County Preparedness Collaborative is made of the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Kent County/Grand Rapids Emergency Management, Kent County’s Sheriff Department and Health Department, Grand Rapids’ Police and Fire Departments, Walker Fire Department, Kent ISD, Consumers Energy, Operation Save a Life and others.
“We hope that those who attend the event will gain information and learn ideas on how to be more prepared for emergencies and disasters that they may face at home or in their communities,” said Leslie Montgomery-Bean of American Red Cross.
“Operation: Safe and Secure is an ideal way for families to have fun and learn at the same time,” said Karla Black Emergency Preparedness Coordinator of the Kent County Health Department. “Our involvement is just another way we collaborate with the many wonderful community partners who are dedicated to the safety and well-being of our families across the County.”
Michigan Golden Gloves Boxing action will again be covered by the WKTV sports coverage crew. (Supplied by Michigan Golden Gloves Boxing)
WKTV Contributor
WKTV is again in the ring, bringing viewers the excitement of local boxing with our coverage of the Golden Gloves Boxing Championships.
Viewers can catch all the action on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 with a tape delayed airing of each evening’s bouts the following day.
The West Michigan Championships will be held at The DeltaPlex Arena and Conference Center, 2500 Turner Ave., Grand Rapids.
The schedule for WKTV’s West Michigan Championships will have the Saturday, March 18, bouts airing Sunday, March 19, at noon; and the Wednesday, April 5, bouts airing Thursday, April 6, at 8:30 p.m.
The schedule for WKTV’s state championships will have the Saturday, April 8, bouts airing Sunday, April 9, at noon; the Friday, April 21, bouts airing Saturday, April 22, at noon; and the Saturday, April 22, bouts airing Sunday, April 23, at 6 p.m.
The DeltaPlex will host more Golden Gloves boxing events that WKTV will cover. For complete schedule see michigangoldenglovesboxing.com . For information about The DeltaPlex, visit deltaplex.com
The DeltaPlex Arena was decked out this past Monday with spider webs across the bleacher rails and people in costume. And you might have thought it was just a Halloween bash except that the carved pumpkins lining the stage gave a huge hint as to who everyone was expecting – Donald Trump.
This was the 2016 Republican presidential candidate’s second time through Grand Rapids, where he made a stop at the DeltaPlex before heading on to Warren, Michigan.
The 5,000 seats at the DeltaPlex were full with at least another 1,000 people standing in front of the stage. Several supporters carried various Trump/Pence signs, and were dressed in Trump t-shirts, hats, and patriotic wear. The crowd sang and danced to the Halloween theme music awaiting Trump’s arrival, creating a festive mood.
The reasons people came to the event varied. Some were veterans of various branches of the armed service and they came to hear what Trump had to say about national security. Such was the case of Robert Krul, from Sand Lake, a former Marine from the Vietnam War and a Trump supporter. “I think he is on the right track,” said Krul.
A group of Grand Valley college students said they have been following Trump and had attended the September event in Walker. “It’s a party every time,” several members of the group commented. Monday’s rally was their fourth in the last few months. They said “seriously we want to hear what Trump is going to do for Michigan concerning jobs.”
For others, it was a chance to be a part of history and to see Trump in person. Such was the case of Catherine and Catherine (who did not give their last names), both of Battle Creek. The two attended with their children Molly, Madeline, and Matt with the girls commenting, “I think he is a nice guy.”
Trump and his campaign arrived late, being about an hour and twenty minutes behind schedule. Introducing the candidate was legendary Basketball Hall of Fame coach Bobby Knight with Trump taking the stage to roaring applause and the crowd chanting eight more days. Other Republican Party representatives in attendance on stage included U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga , Peter Hookstra, Ronna Romney McDaniel, and Peter Secchia, all of whom stressed the importance of getting out to vote.
Trump started his one hour speech telling the audience “in Eight days, we are going to win Michigan and the White House.”
“I will fight for every last Michigan job,” he said. “We are going to make the State of Michigan the economic envy of the entire world.”
Trump talked about the Ford Motor Company, headquartered in Detroit, and his call for a 35 percent tariff on products from them that relocate production to Mexico. He also addressed many issues that he has been talking about throughout his campaign, national security, Obamacare, building the wall, creating jobs, the Supreme Court, schools of choice and fighting inner city crime.
He praised the FBI director James Comey and made several references about his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and the recently discovered emails. “We need real change and restore honesty to our country,” Trump said.
The Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump did not disappoint his supporters. His speech brought uproar from the audience as he ended with his slogan, “We will make America strong again. We will make America safe again and we will make America great again.”
P. Williams “Patty Williams” has a life time of experience in the entertainment business. On stage at an early age with West Michigan’s first family of bluegrass music, The Williams Family. Patty started P. Williams Productions in 2003. Three Eclipse Awards and Two Telly Awards grace her mantle. Patty enjoys working with professionals, and is always open to new adventures.
The Golden Gloves have a long, outstanding history throughout the country in the sport of boxing. What started in New York in 1927 as an amateur boxing tournament has morphed into The National Golden Gloves, a boxing program with affiliates in all 50 states who focus in training young people for success.
Grand Rapids started their involvement in 1932 under the sponsorship of the Grand Rapids Press and the Furniture City Post of the American Legion to foster competing teams in Grand Rapids. In 2008, Grand Rapids and the Michigan Golden Gloves Association hosted the 2008 National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions.
Back in 1985, the Michigan Golden Gloves Association and WKTV formed a partnership to film the state championship boxing bouts. When the partnership began, the tournament was held at Stadium Arena (now known as the DeltaPlex). When Stadium Arena was no longer suitable, the tournament was moved to the Grand Valley National Guard Armory on 44th street.
2016 marks a return to the DeltaPlex and the 32nd year of WKTV’s coverage of the Golden Gloves Boxing Championship. Catch all the action on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 with a tape delayed airing of each evenings bouts the following day at noon.
West Michigan Championships
Saturday, April 9
Wednesday, April 20 (airing at 8:30pm)
State Championships
Saturday, April 23
Friday, April 29
Saturday, April 30
The Golden Gloves have a long, outstanding history throughout the country in the sport of boxing. What started in New York in 1927 as an amateur boxing tournament has morphed into The National Golden Gloves, a boxing program with 