Local nonprofit is determined to bring Christmas to thousands of Kent County children despite the fire at their storage facility (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
A recent fire destroyed over 5,000 of gifts intended for families in need this Christmas. But Santa Claus Girls (SCG) of Kent County is determined to keep Christmas alive for the 8,500 children registered this year.
At 9 p.m. on Nov. 24, multiple agencies responded to a fire at the DeltaPlex Arena in Walker that began in a west wall of the building.
Over 5,000 gifts were damaged by smoke (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
An event center for many years, the Arena closed in summer of 2022, but remained the donation drop-off site for SCG.
Though flames did not reach the area where SCG operates, smoke infiltrated the area for hours, causing damage to thousands of gifts.
SCG Vice President Nancy Ditta said they have not been able to go through the gifts yet, and therefore are not sure if anything is salvageable. SCG will go through their storage area after the first of the year, and will know more then.
Right now, SCG’s focus is on making sure all registered children in need receive a gift in time for Christmas.
A Christmas pivot
“We have 8,500 kids, with 3,500 families, registered to receive gifts,” said Ditta. “We were able to purchase gift cards through Meijer, so we will be delivering gift cards instead of gifts to all of our recipients.”
Santa Claus Girls wants every child to receive a gift on Christmas morning (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
The number of registered children is a decrease from the 13,000 children serviced in 2022 due to an unexpected registration cutoff.
“With the fire, we had to stop registrations early,” said Ditta.
With a delivery date of Dec. 9, monetary donations to help purchase gift cards are needed.
While toys, books, and other physical gifts are accepted, Ditta said monetary donations are best since SCG volunteers are not at the DeltaPlex location to accept donations.
Monetary donations can be made via credit card, PayPal or check. Detailed instructions on how to complete donations can be found on the SCG website.
Children and families in need will receive gift cards personally delivered to their door by one of 300 volunteer drivers on Saturday, Dec. 9.
A century of giving
SCG was founded in 1908 by Arianna VanDoorn of Park Congregational Church.
Sponsored by the late Arthur H. VandenBerg, then editor of the Grand Rapids Herald, VanDoorn collected $85 to provide gifts for 150 children who, due to unfortunate circumstances, would not receive gifts at Christmas.
The goal of SCG is to ensure all children in Kent County receives a gift on Christmas morning. Each child receives one new piece of clothing, one new toy, a new book, and hats and mittens.
(Courtesy photo)
For over a century, SCG has helped thousands of Kent County children between the ages of one and twelve years of age – yet many people don’t know the group exists.
“This is our 115th year, [and] a lot of people aren’t familiar with Santa Claus Girls,” said Ditta, adding that the tragedy of the DeltaPlex fire has made more people aware of SCG and their mission.
How you can give
SCG accepts donations at any time throughout the year. Because every person associated with SCG is a non-paid volunteer, 100% of collected funds go directly to the program.
Left, Mayor Kent Vanderwood and Chief Kim Koster, chat in front of the city’s retired aerial fire truck. Through the millage that was passed Tuesday, the city will be able to purchase a new one. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Wyoming Public Safety Chief Kim Koster admits there is a lot of work ahead for her department — postings, recruiting, and the purchase of a new fire truck — and it’s thanks to the city’s residents who by 64% approved a public safety proposal on Tuesday.
“I’m extremely grateful to our community for their support,” Koster said during a press conference at the city’s Division Avenue Fire Station. “They really looked forward and could see how an increase in personnel would have an impact on community safety.
She added that this is especially true for the fireside as increased personnel will help decrease response times and allow the city to fully staff its Division Avenue fire station, which has never been open on a regular basis.
Voters showed their support
In a vote of 4,987 to 2,803, Wyoming voters approved a 1.5 mill increase that would be dedicated to the public safety department. The millage would raise about $4 million annually allowing the city to maintain 17 public safety positions and add 10 more.
“I believe the key this time around is that we kept the message very simple,” said Mayor Kent Vanderwood, who recited his slogan throughout the campaign. “Ask the residents for only what is needed and for no longer than needed.”
Vanderwood said the city asked for the right amount making it clear it would be dedicated to the public safety department for staffing and the purchase of needed equipment. He also felt putting a time frame of five years on the millage gives residents the control over whether they see the need or not to continue with the millage. Vanderwood added that the five years gives the city time to explore other options for funding.
“I am grateful to the business community who came forward and supported this,” Vanderwood said. In fact many, such as the 36th Street Palermo Pizza, handed informational flyers.
As the vote rolled in on Tuesday, Vanderwood said the tallies came in two groups. The first was the absentee voters, which were around 4,800. Absentee ballots showed 68% in support of the millage.
A total of 7,700 of the city’s approximate 58,000 registered voters cast a vote in Tuesday’s election. This is about 15% of the city’s registered voters, which is on par for the entire county and usually the percentage for a May election.
Remodeling and Recruiting
The press conference was in front of the 1994 aerial fire truck that has been out of commission for about a year and half, Koster said. Through the new bond proposal, the city will purchase a new aerial truck, which she noted is needed as the city has more multi-floor buildings along with allowing firefighters to safely reach the roof of a home during a fire. Since the trucks are made to specifications, it will take about a year for the new truck to arrive.
Through the millage and for the first time in the city’s history, the city’s Division Avenue Fire Station will be fully staffed. This summer it will be renovated and updated. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Koster said postings for six fire positions went out the day after the election and that they will begin recruiting for the four police officer positions. Because it does take time to find the right candidates, Koster said they hope to have some of the positions filled by fall.
Through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the Division Avenue Fire Station will be remodeled which will include five bunk rooms for staff along with other updates. The station was primarily operated by volunteer/paid-on call and does not currently have sleeping quarters. This remodeling is scheduled to take place this summer, Koster said.
“I can only echo what the mayor and Chief Koster have said in that we are grateful to the community and we will follow through on the commitments we have made,” said Interim City Manager John McCarter.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
Residents listen to the presentations on the May 2 millage proposal for a 1.5 mill increase. (WKTV)
On Thursday, the City of Wyoming hosted the first of three public meetings on its May 2 millage proposal that would be dedicated to fund police and fire.
About 35 residents and community and city leaders were at the meeting which took place at the KDL Wyoming branch. The city is seeking a millage rate increase of 1.5 mills for a period of five years. For a $200,000 residential home, which has a taxable value of $100,000, the additional cost would be about $150 annually.
If approved on May 2, the proposal would generate an additional $4 million in revenue each year. The revenue would help fund 14 police officers and 13 firefighters.
Mayor Kent VanderWood, Chief Kim Koster, and Interim City Manager John McCarter discussed the number of factors, such as the 2008 recession, lost in revenue sharing, and the decline of paid-on call volunteer firefighters that have impacted the funding of police and fire. Koster noted the city currently has 1.3 officers for every 1,000 city residents which is below the national average of 2.4. If the millage passed, the city would be at 1.6 officers per 1,000 residents. Koster said the police department has handled 3,583 cases, which have doubled in the past seven to eight years, and that fire has responded to 7,900 calls, which is about 645 calls per firefighter.
McCarter pointed out that the city has not had a millage rate increase since 2010 when the current dedicated millage for public safety was approved. The city’s current millage rate is 11.89 mills. That millage was renewed in 2014 and made permanent in 2018. The city did seek a request to be able to use some of its library funds for park improvements in 2017 and sought an income tax in 2022 for public safety and park improvements, which failed.
Residents asked a variety of questions about the millage, what it will fund and how the additional funding would impact the city. Some of those questions are summarized below with the responses from city officials.
The state of Michigan has a $9 billion surplus, so does it have more money available to fund more firefighters and police officers for the City of Wyoming?
Interim City Manager John McCarter: The City of Wyoming receives funding from property taxes and state shared funding. Within state shared funding, there are two types: constitutional, which is money that always comes to the city and the state cannot touch it; and statuary, which has been cut over the years. Governor Gretchen Whitmer in her budget has a 7% increase on that statuary just for public safety. The amount is about $55,000 with it costing about $130,000 for a fully funded police officer.
We have reached out to the state to see if there is any other money available that we are not aware of and we have been told there is not. We are grateful for what we are receiving and we appreciate that increase but we really can’t rely on the state to get us to that $4 million-level that we are needing.
What about grants?
Interim City Manager John McCarter: The city utilized the United States Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program to hire six officers about a year and half ago. The trouble with grants is that they sunset. The COPS grant steps down. It is 75% the first year, 50% the second year, and then about 25% the third year, and then with that grant you not only have to cover all those costs but you have to retain all those officers one year after the funding is done. So the grant funding is temporary and it always has strings attached.
So we have sought grant funding and we continue to. We have sought out on the fireside as well. We haven’t been successful, but we are still trying.
To clarify on the (COPS) grant that is expiring: if this millage does not get passed, how many officers would the city be at risk losing?
Chief Kim Koster: It would be 10 officers. We have to maintain that staffing for at least two and half years and then that funding would be gone. The grant covers 50% the second year and about 25% the third year for those six officers and there is an additional four that the city is covering.
Mayor Kent VanderWood talks to residents after the meeting. (WKTV)
Interim John McCarter: In our general fund, we carry a fund balance for emergencies and we have a policy minimum, and we can go about two and half more years and support the staff that we have now, assuming that property values come back to earth and do not continue to climb the way they are. So we can support them that long but we have to seek other sources after that.
Mayor Kent VanderWood: When we decided at the council level to accept that grant to hire those additional officers, we knew it would come time that we would have to fund those within our budget and not the COPS grant. It is kind of like when you buy something on a credit card, you know the bill is going to come. So that is kind of what we are facing right now.
So it is 17 public safety officers that are not being funded by the current public safety millage. These are being paid out of our general fund surplus right now. So what this millage will allow us to do is continue to staff at that level plus add 10 more public safety officers.
Are you counting those ones you may no longer have after the grant funding in the millage proposal?
Chief Kim Koster: Yes, so there are 10 current police officers and we would add four through the proposed funding. (For a total of 14 police officers.) On the fireside, it would be 13, seven are already hired and we would hire six additional.
How many total police officers and firefighters does the City of Wyoming have?
Chief Kim Koster discusses why the city needs to increase its police and fire staffing. (WKTV)
Chief Kim Koster: We have 99 sworn police officers, which includes myself, and with the additional four that would make 103. On the fireside, for those in fire suppression, meaning these are firefighters who go out and fight fires and are not assigned to other duties, we have 33 and it would be 39 if we hire the additional six.
So a total of 10 additional public safety officers (and seven firefighters) who are not funded by the current public safety millage who would be part of the 27 officers who would be funded under the proposed millage.
Can you describe what the dedicated traffic enforcement would look like?
We have a crime analyst that was part of the COPS grant. She would be able to identify high intersections for traffic crasheswhere we could deploy some of our community service officers there to run red light violations or radar in other areas where we get complaints. A lot of neighbors complain about speeding traffic. So if we receive many of those complaints around an area, we would respond.
Some of the response times and rates that you mentioned, if this passes and in a year, if we want to see how this is doing, are those response times listed anywhere?
Earlier in the meeting, Koster stated that the response times are 5.16 minutes when the first vehicle arrives on the scene. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the standard is four minutes, which the department hopes to achieve with the additional fire staff funded by the proposed millage.
Chief Kim Koster: We do an annual report so you would get to see it in the annual report which usually comes out at the end of February or March. Note: The report is also available at the city’s website, under the “Public Safety – Police” tab.”
The next meetings are March 27 at 7 p.m. at the Gezon Fire Station, 2300 Gezon Pkwy. SW, and April 27 at 7 p.m. at the Wyoming Police Station, 2300 DeHoop Ave. SW. Koster said both events will be more meet-n-greets with opportunities for the public to talk with police officers and firefighters.
Starting in March, City of Wyoming residents will have the opportunity to attend public informational meetings about the upcoming May millage proposal that would provide funding to support public safety needs including staffing.
In October, the Wyoming City Council approved a ballot proposal for a millage rate increase of 1.5 mills for a period of five years. For a $200,000 residential home which has a taxable value of $100,000, the additional cost would be about $150 annually.
If approved on May 2, the proposal would generate an additional $4 million in revenue each year. The revenue would help fund 14 police officers and 13 fire fighters.
“This would bring us back up to where the staffing was about 20 years ago,” said Chief Kim Koster. “While we have had an increase in population we have not kept up with that growth through our police and fire staffing.”
Various factors have impacted staffing
There are are number of factors that have caused this situation. About 20 years ago, the country faced the 2008 recession with the city reducing staffing across the board which included police and fire. During that period, the city also lost several major employers, such as Studio 28 and the 36th Street GM plant.
Chief Kim Koster (Supplied)
Another factor is the increased training requirements that have made it difficult for paid-on call firefighters to maintain required standards. The city has seen its paid-on-call staff go from 40 to 6. The Wyoming fire department also handles the highest number of calls in the area, around 265 per firefighter. The City of Grand Rapids averages 124 calls per firefighter while the City of Kentwood averages about 110 calls per firefighter. This sometimes means there is no city firefighters available to respond for calls for service with other cities such as Grand Rapids and Kentwood sending people to respond.
The calls for service are not just for fires, but for a variety of safety issues such as tree damage, wires down, vehicle crashes, gas leaks and medical calls.
On the police side, the city has about 1.3 police officers per 1,000 people which is below the national average of 2.4. This does impact response times. Koster also noted due to the volume, complexity and severity of calls for service, officers do not have the time for self-initiated, proactive activities. Just like the fire department, sometimes there are no officers available to respond to calls for service.
Increase staff = enhance crime prevention
The increase in police staff would enhance crime prevention and improve traffic safety, Koster said, adding that it also would result in faster police and fire response times to emergencies in the city.
There is about .36 of a firefighter for every 1,000 Wyoming residents. (Supplied)
The additional fire staffing would reduce the city’s dependence on mutual aid from other municipalities. In 2020, the city had to rely on other departments 140 times because its fire department was on another call. The additional staffing also would allow the city to fully staff its four fire stations 24/7, something that has not happened in a while, Koster said.
The city has seen some of those benefits with the hiring of 10 of the officers needed through the United States Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. Through the funding, which decreases every year over a three-year period, the public safety department was able to add an afternoon community police unit which has helped with safety of residents as well as problems in the neighborhoods and businesses, Koster said.
On the fire side, seven of the 13 firefighters have been hired, which has helped to reduce the city’s reliance — a little — on mutual aid and provide limited staffing to the stations that currently have none, she said.
Opportunity to meet those in the field
If the millage is passed, it would sustain those added positions along with adding four positions to police and six to fire.
According to City of Wyoming Communication Specialist Brianna Peña-Wojtanek, the first meeting, March 9, will be an informational format with Koster, Interim City Manager John McCarter, and Mayor Kent Vanderwood presenting information about the millage proposal and where the city is now for police and fire staffing. The other two meetings, March 27 and April 27, will provide information along with opportunities for residents to meet and talk to city police officers and firefighters.
For more about the millage, visit wyomingmi.gov/millage. At the information website site is a tax calculator for residents to determine how the proposed millage would impact their property taxes.
Using GPS tracking on phones to recover stolen merchandise and vehicles. Pulling trace evidence from the inside of a driver door’s handle to identify a suspect. Risking their lives by entering into the flood waters of Buck Creek to save a civilian. Making sure a vulnerable resident has a safe place to stay at a local hotel.
These were the stories – the ones often not told – that were shared at the annual Wyoming Department of Public Safety Employee Recognition Ceremony last week as the department recognized about 80 officers and civilians for their actions in crime prevention, recovery, and rescue.
Office Brady Heckman was named the 2021 Office of the Year. (WKTV)
“In light of all the events that have taken place over the past few years that have impacted not only our profession but our personal lives, I think it is more important than ever that we celebrate each other,” said Wyoming Department of Public Safety Chief Kim Koster. “It is imperative that we acknowledge all of the accomplishments of our fellow police officers and firefighters. We can not let the stories of our compassionate service and heroic actions go untold. The work we do matters and it does make a difference.”
An officer whose work certainly has made a difference is that of Officer Brady Heckman. A five-year veteran on the force, Heckman received a number of accolades, including a certificate of merit and individual commendation for his work in locating illegally possessed firearms, taking violent criminals off the streets, and his care for victims. For his dedication, Heckman, who is a field training officer, a tackle bike team member, and operator on the tack team, was named the 2021 Officer of the Year, which is chosen by a panel of sworn officers.
“Heckman has earned a reputation as an outstanding police professional with a keen ability for catching criminals and a heart for serving this community,” said Capt. Timothy Pols who with Fire Deputy Chief Dennis Vantassell served as master of ceremonies. “He is valued by co-workers and supervisors alike as a consistent teamplayer. He is an outstanding representative of the law enforcement profession in general and the Wyoming Police Department in particular.”
From his peers, it was noted that Heckman “makes being proactive a priority and sets an example for young officers to do the same,” as well as for his work in locating stolen vehicles, seeking out criminals and making arrests, and volunteering to help new recruits.
Celia Rhodes was named the 2021 Civilian of the Year. (WKTV)
The department’s civilian employees also form a panel to select a civilian of the year, which for 2021 is Celia Rhodes. Rhodes, who has served as a forensic science technician with the department for four and half years, has become an expert in evidence storage and operating the BEAST (Bar Coded Evidence Analysis Statistical Tracking) evidence management system.
“Celia is well known and respected for her upbeat attitude and true passion for helping others in need,” Pols said. “No matter what she is working on, Celia never turns away from aiding someone else, whether it be explaining policy or procedure to a fellow employee or talking to a citizen about their case. She always does so with a smile and genuine care for whomever she is working with.”
Another officer recognized for his investigation work on child sexual abuse was Det. Dan Vlietstra, who received the Chief’s Award of Professional Excellence. For the past two years, Viletstra has been the department’s liaison with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County, where he works with a multidisciplinary team and coordinates the investigation of abuse allegations.
“Through his work, Dan has been able to stop the abuse, identify the perpetrators, hold them accountable, and support the victim and their family on a path of recovery and healing,” Koster said.
Also receiving the Chief’s Award of Professional Excellence were Fire Inspector Brad Dornbos, Lt. Chris Velzen, Equipment Operator (EO) Brandon Travis, and firefighter (FF) Matt Frazee, for their work in recruiting, interviewing and training new firefighters.
Also honored was Mayor Jack Poll, who received the Chief’s Award of Excellence for his dedication to the Public Safety Department during the past 13 years he has served as the city’s mayor. Poll will retire from public service at the end of this year.
“I have lived in Wyoming now for 67 years and I can tell you that I have never gone to bed at night that I was concerned about my safety because we have such stellar leaders in our community,” Poll said.
Police officers receiving the individual commendation award. (WKTV)
Koster said what was presented at the recognition ceremony is only the tip of the iceberg as to what officers and firefighters have done.
“There is not a day that goes by that someone doesn’t tell me a story about a way a police officer or a firefighter has served them in a capacity that amazed them,” Koster said. “There are a lot of stories that officers don’t tell about what police officers do and firefighters who go above and beyond.”
Award Recipients
Life Saving Award
Ofc. Tony Jacob
Ofc. Russ Kamstra
Lt. Chris Velzen
EO Bradley Bennett
EO Brian Ilbrink
EO Tom Marsman
FF Ken Eppink
FF Matt Frazee
FF Jason Hanlon
FF Andrew Johnson
FF Michele Kelly
FF Jesse May
FF Alex Parsons
FF Dan Rettig
FF Jason Richardson
FF Dan Royce
Police officers and community members being recognized during the Wyoming Department of Public Safety Employee Recognition Ceremony. (WKTV)
Currently there are 27 Wyoming firefighters. The department is down by 8 employees from 2000. (WKTV)
In the early morning hours of Jan. 25, the Wyoming Fire Department was called to a house fire on Canal Ave and shortly after, the department received a second call of a fire at the 28th Street Taco Bell.
“Thankfully another shift was on,” said Wyoming Chief Kim Koster. “The Taco Bell fire occurred at 6:30 a.m. Our next shift came on at 7 a.m., so we did have another shift of firefighters who could respond, and they were assisted by other departments.
“But what if we didn’t have that other shift coming on at that time?”
More than likely, a department from a neighboring city, such as Grandville, Grand Rapids, or Kentwood, would have been called. In fact, the City of Wyoming has had to call on those three cities 165 times in 2021 while in the same year providing return assistance 23 times.
The tide needs to turn, Koster said, adding “We need to provide mutual aid in the same manner that we receive it.”
The City of Wyoming is hoping to double its firefighting staffing from 27 to 54 and added 13 police officers and a crime analyst through two proposals on the May 3 ballot. The first proposal would be an income tax of up to 1 percent for city residents and up to .5 percent for non-residents such as commuters who work in the city. In the second proposal, the city is seeking to reduce its property tax by about 58 percent, from around 12 mills to 5. Both proposals must pass to take effect.
The passage would generate about $6 million for the city, of which $5.4 million would be dedicated to the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, which houses the city’s police and fire.
How would the city gain revenue if the property tax would go down? According to City Manager Curtis Holt at the March 24 income tax public information meeting, according to the U.S. Census there are about 34,000 non-Wyoming residents who work in the City of Wyoming who currently contribute zero toward the city roads or services. Through the first proposal, those residents would contribute up to a .5 percent of their income. City staff has estimated the total revenue raised from the income tax would be about $6 million annually with $3.3 million dedicated to the fire department, $2.1 million to the police department, and $600,000 to the parks.
With the additional $3.3 million, the City of Wyoming would be able to hire an additional 27 firefighters. This would add about 9 firefighters per shift and the city would be able to fully staff all four of its fire stations. Currently only two of the stations, Gezon and 36th Street, are fully staffed; however emergency calls are evenly distributed throughout the city, Koster said.
The city received about 7,155 calls in 2021, which is about 265 calls for service per firefighter. With the additional firefighters, calls for service per firefighter would decrease to around 133. In neighboring Kentwood, calls for service per firefighter is about 121. Kentwood has 42 firefighters serving a population of 51,898. The City of Grand Rapids has 195 firefighters serving a population of 201,013 with calls for service per firefighter around 123. Holt pointed out that this shows that Wyoming’s firefighters are answering a lot of calls.
The Wyoming Fire Department answered 7,155 calls in 2021, averaging 265 calls for service per firefighter. (WKTV)
The additional 27 firefighters would allow the city to fully staff all four of its stations, Koster said, adding that in return this would mean faster response times.
“Right now, we have to send our resources to where the calls are,” Koster said during the March 24 informational meeting. “Sometimes we have to send them all away across the city and then a call comes out from where they just came from. So then again, we have to send a unit from this side of the city all the way back. So our response times are higher that way.”
There would be more firefighters on each shift, again increasing response times along with providing enough officers to answer more than one call at a time. More officers not only increases the safety of residents but of the firefighters as well.
“Right now, we don’t have enough firefighters in the City of Wyoming to enter a burning building,” Koster said, adding that the rule is you have to have two out for the two going in a burning structure so the two out can rescue the two in if something happens.
Lastly, the increased staffing would reduce Wyoming’s dependence on mutual aid.
“It won’t eliminate it,” Koster said, adding that there will be times when another city’s department has to be called.
“It would increase the number of firefighters on each shift so when we have those structure fires we can handle them alone or at least leave some of those units available for some of those medical calls,” she said.
To learn more about the two May 3 proposals, visit wyomingmi.gov/FundingFortheFuture. The next informational meeting on the two proposals is April 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety announced today that it was able to make an arrest for the Sept. 17 Destiny Dental fire.
On Sept. 17, around 7:50 a.m., the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the report of suspected arson at Destiny Dental, 1124 28th St. SW. Witnesses stated that a white male, described as in his 30s, stocky build, short dark hair, broke out the front door window and threw a Molotov cocktail inside. t
The fire was extinguished quickly and caused minimal damage to the business. The business was closed at the time of the the incident so there were no injuries.
The Public Safety Department’s arson investigator was able to develop a lead and has received a signed felony warrant from the prosecutor’s office for Third Degree Arson, a 10-year felony, and Habitual Offender — Third Offense in the case, according to a press release by the Department. The suspect is a 30-year-old male from Gowen, Michigan. The suspect’s name is being withheld at this time as he has not been arraigned in the Wyoming 62A District Court. The suspect is currently being held in the Montcalm County Jail on Arson and Stalking charges stemming from an investigation in Montcalm County by the Michigan State Police.
Wyoming Public Safety personnel continue with its investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
Two special luncheons were not only designed to say thank you to the many first responders who helped with a July 15 fire, but also an opportunity for residents of Bayberry Farms Apartments to heal.
“We really wanted to show our appreciation for all that the Wyoming police officers and firefighters did for us,” said Catherine Kooyers, a resident of Bayberry Farms Apartments and one of the organizers of the event that took place earlier this month.
“By being able to say thank you, the residents are able to put closure on what happened and heal from the entire event.”
It was July 15 when a call went out that there was a fire at the Bayberry Farms Apartments, a Wyoming senior-living complex located at 2520 56th St. SW. “Earlier that day, we had just had the fire department here but it turned out to be nothing,” Kooyers said. However, the mid-afternoon fire was much more serious as smoke started to fill the apartment complex. Kooyers, who lives in an apartment that was near where the fire started, ran through the building knocking on doors and trying to get people out.
“Because of the earlier incident, some people didn’t think the second situation was all that serious,” Kooyers said.
Along with tenants, firefighters and police, workers from the nearby businesses came over to help with the evacuation.
“I heard a knock on the door but didn’t pay that much attention to it,” said resident Ellen Vining. “I heard another knock, much harder and decided I needed to answer it.
“There was a young lady telling me that I needed to get out. She was all dressed in blue so I thought she was one of the firefighters.”
Vining later learned that person was a Monelli’s employee who was coming in for her shift when she saw the smoke and came over to help.
“I learned a very valuable lesson that day,” Vining said with a chuckle. “Don’t ignore a knock on the door.”
Because of the organization of the tenants it made it easier for the department to assess who was missing which in turned meant the lost of only a pet, said Wyoming Deputy Chief Brian Bennett. Three people were taken to the hospital to be checked out. Three units suffered the most damage with the entire building having smoke and water damage.
It has taken several months, but most of the residents have been able to move back home and with the fire behind them, the tenants felt now was a good time to show their appreciation to the police officers and firefighters with the special luncheons.
“It is always nice when you are able to come back and visit with those who you were able to help and learn what has happened since the fire,” Bennett said. “A lot of times, we are in and out and we do not get that chance to talk to the residents and see how they are doing afterwards.”
“I am so impressed with all of them,” Vining said. “They all have such compassion which I guess that is why they became firefighters.”
Wyoming Public Safety Department blocks off northbound Byron Center Avenue at 52nd Street.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety continues its investigation into a suspicious fire that happened over the weekend at a dental office on 28th Street.
The Public Safety Department responded around 7:50 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, to a report of a suspected arson at Destiny Dental, 1124 28th St. SW. Witnesses reported a white male in his 30s, stocky build, short dark hair, broke out the front door window and threw a Molotov cocktail inside.
The fire was extinguished quickly and caused minimal damage to the business. There was no structural damage reported. No injuries were reported as the business was closed at the time of the incident.
Witnesses stated that the white male suspect left the scene in a black Pontiac Grand Prix, with an unknown license plate.
Wyoming Department of Public Safety is asking that anyone with information about the incident or that will lead to the identification of the suspect and vehicle contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
