Beginning Thursday morning, over 20 businesses in downtown Big Rapids will be offering sales during the Summer Sizzle Sidewalk Sales. Executive Director of the Big Rapids Downtown Business Association Darcy Salinas hopes the event will bring a boost to the local downtown economy while giving shoppers some great deals. During the event part of Michigan Ave will be closed off from Maple Street to Elm Street. The sidewalk sales run through Saturday.

Big Rapids residents stroll for flowers during today's downtown Farmers Market. The market will be open until 2pm

The Big Rapids Department of Public Safety is investigating numerous complaints of buildings and property in the downtown business district, and surrounding area, being vandalized with spray paint over the past two nights. Properties have been spray painted with white, black, blue, and red paints and the markings show a BKC, BIG, Crowns, 270, and CUSH with a crown in some of the grafitti. Anyone with information on these vandalisms is asked to contact the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety at 231-527-0005.