Tag Archives: WKTV Journal: In Focus

New Wyoming city councilor, local medical expert on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus

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WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus is Sheldon DeKryger, the City of Wyoming’s newest city councilor, who talks about his efforts of service to the city was and why becoming a councilor was the right thing for him to do at this time in his life.

 

DeKryger was appointed recently to fill the 1st Ward seat vacated by the resignation of Bill Ver Hulst. The ward covers most of the eastern edge of the city. He is no stranger to the city, or city governance. He and his family have lived in Wyoming for more than 20 years, and he has served on the city’s Construction Board of Appeals for nine years. He studied at Calvin College, and he owns and manages a custom home building company, Sheldon DeKryger Builder.

 

Also on the episode, In Focus is Dr. John Mulder, M.D., a hospice and palliative care physician, and medical director of the Grand Rapids based Holland Home senior health care provider. He is nationally recognized in his field, so much so that earlier this year he testified before a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee as part of discussions on a national crisis focused on opioid pain medications. He is also the director of the Trillium Institute, a Western Michigan group focused on improving the quality of life, all the way through the end of life.

 

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

The episode will debuted on WKTV cable channels on Tuesday, May 29, and will again air on Thursday, May 31, also at 6:30 p.m., and will continue on the same days and times the week of June 4. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

 

Proudly conservative state senate candidate, local author on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus

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WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

Keith St. Clair (WKTV)

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus, new volunteer host Keith St. Clair, an instructor at Grand Rapids Community College, talks conservatism and the state of Michigan state politics with  Bob Genetski, a Republican who is running for the 26th State Senate district seat currently held by Tonya Schuitmaker.

 

Genetski served the Michigan House of Representatives from 2009 through 2014, when he was elected as Allegan County Clerk. He is both a one-time public school teacher and was named one of the Michigan House’s most conservative elected officials.

 

Also on this episode of In Focus today is Kathey Batey, a key volunteer with the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce, a domestic relations mediator, and accomplished author and sought-after speaker, as well as corporate trainer specializing in conflict communication. She talks with In Focus host Ken Norris about her work with the chamber, in the community and a new book she has written.

 

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

The episode will debuted on WKTV cable channels on Tuesday, April 24, and will again air on Thursday, April 25, also at 6:30 p.m., and will continue on the same days and times the week of April 30. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

 

Local expert on Mideast political struggles, Christian veterans group on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus

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WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus is Keith St. Clair, who has been teaching national and international political science at Grand Rapids Community College since 2002 and is frequently asked to discuss Middle East issues.

 

He has travelled extensively throughout the Middle East including a recent trip to Qatar — a small county strategically located between feuding regional powers Saudi Arabia and Iran. He talks with In Focus host Ken Norris about Qatar’s importance to U.S. foreign policy and current military presence in that often-troubled region.

 

Also on the episode, is Steve Prince, the director of Warriors Set Free, which is a veterans support program of Set Free Ministries, a Christian-based ministry run by veterans for veterans.

 

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

The episode debuted on WKTV cable channels on Tuesday, April 10, and will again air on Thursday, April 12, also at 6:30 p.m., and will continue on the same days and times the week of April 16. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

 

Kent County’s new top administrator (and Wolverine), woman’s health advocate on WKTV Journal: In Focus

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WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus is Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt, who has been serving as Interim County Administrator/Controller starting in July 2017 before  being named to the county’s top management position in January.

 

While Britt’s impressive resume includes positions at Steelcase, Inc. and Michigan National Bank before joining the county — and management oversight for the Health Department, the Community Development and Housing Department, and Veterans Services with the county — he also played basketball for the University of Michigan, and was part of the school’s National Championship runner-up in 1976.

 

Given this week’s Wolverine return visit to the Final Four, In Focus host Ken Norris just had to ask Britt about the lessons he learned on the basketball court and how that impacts his management style today.

 

Also on the episode, Christine Mwangi, founder and president of the Grand Rapids based Be A Rose non-profit, which advocates for and educates on women’s health issues. She was born in Kenya, immigrated to American when she was 11, gained a bachelors degree in the United States and a masters in the United Kingdom. Now, while she is now firmly rooted in West Michigan, Be A Rose’s name and inspiration returns, again, to Africa and to Mwangi’s paternal grandmother.

 

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

The episode will debuted on WKTV cable channels on Tuesday, March 27, and will again air on Thursday, March 29, also at 6:30 p.m., and will continue on the same days and times the week of March 19. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.

 

Godfrey-Lee superintendent talks about millage request on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus

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WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus, Kevin Polston, Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, talks with program host Ken Norris about his school district’s upcoming request for public support of an extension of an existing sinking fund millage — an effort to improve safety, security and technology while allowing more general fund dollars to be spend in the classroom.

 

Also on the episode, State Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, a Republican who currently represents the 26th District, which includes the City of Kentwood, talks on a wide-range of topics, including the opioid crisis and her coming effort to become Michigan’s next Attorney General.

 

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

The episode will continue on WKTV cable channels on Tuesday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m., will again air on Thursday, March 8, also at 6:30 p.m. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.

 

Mental health issues — Be Nice program, Network180 funding — on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus

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WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

On this week’s episode of In Focus, host Ken Norris and WKTV Journal drills down into two important mental health issues in Kent County, first with the Be Nice youth mental health program, and then with the director of Network180, the county’s mental health provider and an organization currently cutting services due to state funding issues.

 

Christy Buck, executive director of the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, talks about the foundation’s Be Nice program, an effort to reach into local schools, and to reach local students on a personal level, with the message of how they can become part of the solution to youth suicide.

 

The program Be Nice is based on four elements/actions corresponding to the letters in NICE: Notice, Invite, Challenge and Empower. And, Buck stresses in part of the interview, the challenge part is a two-way challenge.

 

“It is absolutely a two-way challenge, and that sometimes is the sticking point, where, if I don’t challenge that person and empower them” then they will not respond, Buck said. “They need to understand, it is a physical illness. If you want to get better, you have got to take some steps towards that. You cannot force people. But when someone sees that you care enough to notice and invite (discussion), it leads to empowerment.”

 

Also on the program is Scott Gilman of Network180, and he talk about what impact a current funding crisis will have on the people they serve. For WKTV’s latest story on the funding issue, visit here.

 

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

The episode will continue its two week run Today, Thursday, Feb. 1, at 6:30 p.m. and conclude its run Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 6:30 p.m., and Thursday, Feb. 7, also at 6:30 p.m., on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.

 

Migrant Legal Aid program, State Sen. MacGregor on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus

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WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

On the latest episode of In Focus, the Grand Rapids based Migrant Legal Aid organization, specifically director/attorney Teresa Hendricks and attorney Ben O’Hearn, discuss their group’s work to protect migrant workers’ legal rights and to give voice to a sometimes silent portion of our community.

 

Also on the episode, Michigan State Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-28th District, which includes the City of Wyoming) talks with host Ken Norris about his work for efficient funding for the state’s foster care system as well as subjects ranging from the state’s term limits law to his volunteer work for “Volley for Mitchell”, a charity volleyball tournament which has raised more than $100,000 for Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy.

 

 

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

The episode will continue its two week run Tuesday, Jan. 22 , at 6:30 p.m., and will again air on Thursday, also at 6:30 p.m., on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.

State Sen. MacGregor, Migrant Legal Aid program featured on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus

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WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

Michigan State Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-28th District, which includes the City of Wyoming) has a business background, being a former small business owner and having graduated from Michigan State University with a business degree. So one thing he hates is late payment for work performed, a problem often faced by the state’s foster care providers.

 

During a visit to the set of WKTV Journal: In Focus early this month, MacGregor talked with host Ken Norris about his work for efficient funding for the state’s foster care system as well as subjects ranging from the state’s term limits law to his volunteer work for “Volley for Mitchell”, a charity volleyball tournament which has raised more than $100,000 for Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy.

 

Also on the latest episode of In Focus, the Grand Rapids based Migrant Legal Aid organization, specifically director/attorney Teresa Hendricks and attorney Ben O’Hearn, discuss their group’s work to protect migrant workers’ legal rights and to give voice to a sometimes silent portion of our community.

 

The episode will debut Tuesday, Jan. 16 , at 6:30 p.m., and will again air on Thursday, also at 6:30 p.m., and again next week on the same days and times on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.

 

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

Kentwood’s newest commissioner, disability advocate on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus

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WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

What do you do when your running for a seat on the Kentwood City Commission and then your opponent drops out? Tom McKelvey, who in November won the 2nd Ward position, tells WKTV Journal: In Focus host Ken Norris what he did — still get out and meet people, and try to get up to speed on city matters as quickly as possible.

 

Also on the latest episode of In Focus, Madeline Schaab, a project specialist for local non-profit Disability Advocates of Kent County, discusses what her group does to promote accessible and welcoming communities, and what the public can do — including just keeping snow off the sidewalk in front of your house.

 

The episode will debut Tuesday, Dec. 19 , at 6:30 p.m., and will again air on Thursday, and again next week on the same days and times on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.

 

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

Habitat for Humanity and veterans housing on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus

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WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

When someone says Habitat for Humanity, people might think of President Jimmy Carter pounding nails in some far away foreign county, or of volunteers working in low-income urban areas of this country. Habitat for Humanity is that, but it is also so much more — including recent efforts to assist local veterans with their housing.

 

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County executive director Bri McKee visits the set of WKTV Journal: In Focus to talk with program host Ken Norris. (WKTV)

On the latest WKTV Journal: In Focus, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County executive director Bri McKee talks with program host Ken Norris about her program’s religious foundations, its worldwide scope, but also its local neighborhood results.

 

Also on this episode, Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce president Bob O’Callaghan, a regular guest to In Focus, talks about the recent grand opening of 28 West Place — a redevelopment on 28th Street that was the result of a focused public-private partnership — but that is just a highpoint in recent and upcoming chamber activities.

 

The episode will debut Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m., and will again air on Thursday, and again next week on the same days and times on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.

 

For the video of Mr. O’Callaghan’s WKTV visit here.

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

Retirement planning for young workers the hot topic on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus 

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WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus, WKTV’s public affairs show, program host Ken Norris talks with Ethan Anderson, a local financial advisor with a common sense approach to retirement planning. Their discussion focuses on retirement planning for the today’s young working families, and it just begins with why company pensions are almost a thing of the past (and ends with a surprising outlook on the future of Social Security).

 

(WKTV)

“The key word to focus on, when you are talking about that transition (away from pensions), corporations no longer want to be responsible for the income you receive in retirement,” Anderson said. “We have seen the transitions more toward defined contribution plans, where essentially you are looking at things like 401ks, or in the nonprofit world 403b and 457 plans. But the overall theme, amongst all those plans, and most corporate plans today, is that money is being put in with your name on it that you are essentially responsible for investing.”

 

Also on the new program is a discussion with Paul Haan of Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan, a group which works to identify and address environmental health hazards in homes with young children, including lead poisoning.

 

Ethan Anderson talks with WKTV Journal: In Focus host Ken Norris. (WKTV)

The new episode will air twice a week on WKTV channels starting this week and running through Oct. 24. Along with all episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus, the interviews are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.

 

Anderson is a financial advisor with Rehmann, and has spent the last two decades building financial plans and managing investment portfolios for high net worth individuals and charitable organizations.  He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and a life-long Grand Rapids resident.

 

“WKTV Journal: In Focus” will started airing on Tuesday, Sept. 26, and will air on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 6:30 p.m., on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

WKTV Journal: In Focus offers discussion of roadway work zone safety

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Jerry Byrne, deputy managing director of operations for the Kent County Road Commission, on the set of WKTV Journal: In Focus. (WKTV)

WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

On the latest episode of WKTV’s public affairs show,  “WKTV Journal: In Focus”, there is roadwork happening all over the region, and winter not far away, so who better to talk with than the deputy managing director of the Kent County Road Commission as he discusses the public’s role in work zone safety and winter driving safety.

 

 

 

Also on the show Godfrey-Lee Public School superintendent Kevin Polston talks about the opportunities — not challenges — his district offers, including have a large Hispanic student body from households where Spanish my still be the dominate language.

 

The new episode will air twice a week on WKTV channels starting this week and running through Oct. 5. Along with all episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus, the new interviews are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.

 

“Motorists need to be aware, when you see flashing lights, amber or green, that there is a municipal worker working within the road right-of-way,” said Jerry Byrne, deputy managing director of operations for the Kent County Road Commission, in an interview with In Focus host Ken Norris. “You (the public) have to give their undivided attention in work zones … give it 100 percent of your attention for that few minutes.”

 

“WKTV Journal: In Focus” will air on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 6:30 p.m., on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

Visit here for a YouTube video of the Kevin Polston episode available. https://youtu.be/d1OwoltztSI