Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) Acting Director Michelle Richard issued the following statement in celebration of the State of Michigan’s fiscal year 2025 budget:

“We are committed to helping Michigan kids and adults succeed on their path to prosperity, and the record and historic education investments in the fiscal year 2025 budget will mean more Michiganders can find child care that meets their needs, make sure their kids can get a high-quality PreK education, and they, or their kids, can earn a skill certificate or degree at no or low cost. From the Community College Guarantee to PreK for All, the budget will have a real impact on Michigan families as we work to make sure everyone can ‘make it in Michigan.’”

The historic investments in education in the fiscal year 2025 budget will mean:

• Community College Guarantee: Michigan high school graduates from the class of 2024 and beyond can earn a skill certificate or degree at their local community college tuition guaranteed.
• PreK for All: Access to free PreK for all Michigan four-year-olds, prioritizing those that need it most, thanks to the $130 million investment in PreK for All and nearly 59,000 slots. This will save families $10,000 a year.
• Child care: Support for Michigan’s nearly 8,000 child care providers, through the $102.4 million investment in operational grants, child care scholarship rate increases, and investments in quality.
• Out-of-School Time: More access to high-quality, affordable before and after school and summer programming for school age kids, through the $75 million investment in grants.

It was about a three-hour drive from the Detroit area to Big Rapids for Wilhelmina Collier to receive her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, graduating Magna Cum Laude – but it was a journey nearly 50 years in the making.

And, in some ways, she’s just getting started.

“I was a 1974 graduate of Cass Technical High School in Detroit and already had some collegiate core credits through Wayne State University, by participating in Upward Bound during the summers,” Collier said. “By 1976, I had a daughter and decided I could not continue my studies. The year after, I joined the Detroit Police Department.”

That was the start of a 30-year career in law enforcement in Detroit, including 15 years as a sergeant.

“I had some jobs after retiring from the police force. One job was at Wayne County Community College,” Collier said. “While working there, I took the courses I needed to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree.”

Having resumed her studies, Collier considered her loved ones’ accomplishments and matched them.

“My daughter spent 21 years with the Detroit Police Department. She earned a bachelor’s degree and is now retired,” Wilhelmina said. “My granddaughter has a bachelor’s degree and is a teacher. I found out about Ferris’ ‘3+1’ degree program available through Wayne County Community College and wanted to get mine, too.”

Collier started with coursework through a Ferris-Statewide Center in Harper Woods. Like a student of any age, Spring 2020 found the COVID-19 pandemic ending face-to-face instruction for a quick conversion to online learning.

“That was a brand-new experience for me. It really called for an adjustment in my studies,” Collier said. “What happened because of the pandemic was the same for everyone, so I did what was necessary to meet my requirements and keep on toward my degree.”

The process continued into 2024. Collier wrapped up her Criminal Justice curriculum online through Ferris State with a 3.89 GPA.

“Julius Moses, my advisor in Detroit, kept after me to finish the degree and said I should think about participating in commencement,” Collier said. “I had friends I have known since we were young who were heading to Ferris for the golden anniversary of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity a week before my ceremony. I called the university and got my name in the commencement program at the last moment. That made me really want to attend. I decided by ‘walking’ in May, I wouldn’t have to travel three hours from the Detroit area for ceremonies this December.”

Coming to Ferris State’s Ewigleben Sports Complex for her ceremony marked Wilhelmina’s first visit to Big Rapids.

“I enjoyed being part of commencement and saw I was not the only ‘seasoned’ person receiving a degree,” Collier said. “Now that I am a Ferris alumna, I am considering some postgraduate study. I believe my law enforcement career and community college experience would make me valuable as an instructor at that level.”

_{Photo credit to Ferris State University.}

On Friday, June 28, 2024, District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) was notified by Ferris State University that they collected bacterial samples from the backwaters of White River, in White Cloud, Newaygo County. Ferris State University reported that two samples showed elevated E. coli levels and will continue to sample until the levels are reduced.

Residents and visitors should be advised of unusually high levels of E. coli bacteria in the backwaters of White River in White Cloud, Newaygo County. When swimming or conducting other water activities during periods of high bacterial levels, the risk of becoming ill from contamination increases. Children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems are the most at risk. Flu-like symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever, and dehydration can occur from exposure to contaminated water. Upper respiratory illnesses, such as ear, nose, and throat infections, may also occur, in addition to skin infections if an open wound is not properly protected.

Ferris State University is continuing to collect samples and results will be reported by Ferris State University and DHD#10 when available. DHD#10 urges residents and visitors to avoid the backwaters of White River in White Cloud, Newaygo County until the samples indicate the E. coli levels have been reduced.

For up-to-date results, please visit EGLE’s BeachGuard site: https://www.egle.state.mi.us/beach/.

Detroit Lions 2024 Training Camp presented by Rocket Mortgage will open at the team's headquarters and training facility in Allen Park for an 18th-straight year beginning with Back Together Weekend on July 27.

Fans must register for free tickets to attend (max four per person). Registration will begin July 16 at www.detroitlions.com/trainingcamp. There will also be three practices exclusive to Lions Loyal Members. Lions Loyal Members will receive an email with separate information on how to claim their tickets through early registration beginning on July 9.                                                                     

Gates will open one hour before the listed practice time. Detroit Lions Training Camp presented by Rocket Mortgage will have activities for all ages including photos with Roary, Detroit Lions Cheerleaders and Lions Legends; ticket and merchandise giveaways; interactive games and activities; as well as free face painting and balloon artists. Local Detroit-area food trucks will be on-site with food and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase.

More information is available and will be regularly updated at www.detroitlions.com/trainingcamp.

State Rep. Tom Kunse on Thursday celebrated the passage of legislation to rename a portion of US 131 near Big Rapids after Sergeant Matthew Webber, an army veteran. Webber passed away in 2006 after an IED attack in Iraq. House Bill 5635 passed the House with unanimous support.

After the accident, Webber survived 5 and a half months in a U.S. Hospital, where staff began calling him “Miracle Matt” because of how long he was able to keep fighting despite injuries.

“We can all stand to learn something from a heroic fighter like Sgt. Webber,” said Kunse, R-Clare. “The man was willing to sacrifice everything on our behalf. His dedication deserves recognition for years to come. This highway naming is a well-deserved honor for an American hero from Northern Michigan.”

Webber, who was from Stanwood, enlisted in the Army National Guard during his junior year of high school. He rose to the rank of Sergeant and assumed the role of squad leader. He signed up for the United States Army in 2000 and served until he passed in 2006. His service was recognized with the Purple Heart and Bronze Star awards. He also was posthumously awarded a degree from Western Michigan University.

The portion of US 131 was specifically chosen to include a section of the interstate that crosses the Muskegon River. Sgt. Webber’s family has a cabin along the river where he enjoyed kayaking.

The bill now moves on to the Senate for further consideration.

Wednesday evening, the Kent County Sheriff's Office arrested five teenagers from the City of Grand Rapids in connection with a stolen vehicle and using stolen credit cards. 

This investigation began when an off-duty detective observed suspicious activity in the Meijer store in Gaines Township. When on-duty detectives and deputies arrived, they located the teenagers in a white passenger car. In attempt to escape, the stolen car rammed detectives' vehicles and the suspects ran away on foot. With the community's help and the assistance of the Kentwood Police Department, deputies were able to locate and arrest all five suspects. The suspect ages ranged from 16 to 20 years old.

The case will be be reviewed by the Kent County Prosecutor's Office.

The first presidential debate of 2024 headlines the airwaves this evening, as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will be debating at 9:00 P.M. from the CNN Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 150-minute program will be aired on NewsRadio WBRN starting at 8:55 P.M. on 107.7 FM. The main 90-minute debate program will be moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bush. A post-debate analysis will be conducted by FOX personalities following the debate’s end at just after 10:30 P.M.

Thursday’s event will also be held with no live audience in the studio, a first since as far back as the 1976 debate between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. There will also be new parameters for the debate, including microphones being muted unless a candidate is directed to speak, no pre-written notes or props, and a coin toss to determine the order of closing statements.

Hot topics of interest will include the state of the economy, immigration policies, and abortion rights. There will also be prompts regarding their track records in their previous terms as president. No official guide has been released by CNN.

As Brianna L. Hernández grieved the loss of her mother, she understood she was not alone in the experience and her thoughts turned to helping others.

Her work to share the experience has earned recognition. Hernández, a 2016 graduate of the Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, was one of five people selected for the prestigious 2024 Emily H. Tremaine Journalism Fellowship for Curators, sponsored by Hyperallergic, a leading voice in contemporary perspectives on art and culture.

Every year, the fellowship offers five curators $5,000 to support their research while developing their journalistic skills.

Hernández, who earned a Master of Fine Arts degree at KCAD, produced a trio of articles and an online exhibition focusing on grief and end-of-life care, two subjects that have become central to her own work since serving as her mother’s caregiver in the final year of her life.

That experience profoundly shifted her work toward a focus on death, and the living who are left behind to cope with loss.

“As she was dying and right after she died, I knew I needed to make work about it for my own healing, but I also knew that my situation was not unique,” Hernández said. “I felt like it was of both artistic and social importance to put that out there in a way that hasn’t been addressed.”

Death remains a taboo subject, and no one feels that more acutely than those grieving a loved one’s passing.

“A lot of grievers feel like there's a time limit on what they're going through,” Hernández said. “For me, it was a way to honor my own experience and to let other people who share that know they’re not alone—there's more to this experience than what the Hallmark cards say.”

As an artist, Hernández is guided by socially engaged practices. Her studio work centers on multi-media installations that explore end-of-life care, grief, and mourning rituals based on lived experience, cultural research, and collaborations with peers including death education workshops.

She also prioritizes leadership and community building outside of the studio to foster opportunity and exposure for others.

She is director of curation and board secretary of Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in Southampton, N.Y., as well as assistant curator at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, M.Y., the board treasurer at Walker’s Point Center for the Arts in Milwaukee, Wis., and a committee member for the Milwaukee-based Gente Chicana/SOYmos Chicanos Arts Fund.

The Hyperallergic fellowship offered Hernández the chance to share her creative practice through writing, and in a much deeper way than is usually possible in a gallery exhibition.

“With a typical exhibition, you have the work and some small labels. In this case, the writing was the primary part, so the research and thinking were highlighted,” she said.

Hernández’s first article for the fellowship, “The Living Legacy of Funerary Arts,” discusses how works such as shrouds, tombs, death masks, and funeral ceremonies preserve key cultural values and knowledge keeping, while reminding the makers of our humanity by caring for the dead.

In addition to art, she illustrates how survivors can use songs, dances, and other rituals to help define their new relationship to the dead in ways that capture the loved one’s personality and honor their wishes.

In “The Importance of Art in a ‘Good Death,’” Hernández examines the role of artists and death doulas in helping people who are dying shape the experience into something that aligns with their values.

To explore this idea, she interviews three other creators who combine those practices about their experiences in the field. She also offers resources for others interested in learning more about death practices.

Finally, in “How Artists Reimagine Our Relationship with Death,” she highlights the work of seven contemporary artists reclaiming end-of-life traditions, including ephemeral installations made to wear away with time and her own floral sculptures replacing grey stone markers with vibrant living flowers, showing multiple ways that people can heal their relationships with death.

In addition to influencing her art, Hernández’s personal experiences navigating loss also led her to a side career as a death doula. Just as a birth doula acts as a calm, guiding force during childbirth, a death doula provides companionship, comfort, and guidance to those facing a terminal illness or death, as well as the loved ones by their side.

As an extension of this work, Hernández also offers themed workshops for people to creatively express their grief or imagine their own end-of-life wishes.

“I’m not just bringing up a bunch of big emotions for people. I like to pair that with different educational resources so that people have something to take away and continue processing,” she explained. “I view it as an opportune entry point into a larger discussion of death through art. There's no right way, there's no wrong way. It's just it's very unique to what your relationship with someone was, and that’s all perfectly valid.”

Additional information about Brianna L. Hernández’s work and death doula training practices is available at briannalhb.com.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Michigan Brandon Fewins today announced $25 million is now available through the Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) Program to help local organizations, cooperatives and Tribes expand affordable, high-speed internet projects in rural communities.

“This funding is available on a nation-wide basis, and I urge qualified Michigan applicants to contact USDA,” Fewins said.  “This is an incredible opportunity to bring high-speed internet into more rural Michigan communities.”

The BTA program provides funding to help communities and organizations receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training that will expand high-speed internet into rural and Tribal communities. This includes providing funding for feasibility studies, network designs, hiring efforts, application development assistance and more.

Under the Technical Assistance Providers category, applicants must propose to deliver broadband technical assistance that will benefit rural communities. Up to $15 million is available. The minimum award is $100,000. The maximum is $1 million. 

Under the Technical Assistance Recipients category, applicants must be the recipients of the broadband technical assistance. Up to $10 million is available. The minimum award is $50,000. The maximum is $500,000.

Applications must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 20, 2024. 

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery subscriber page.

A new Department of Health and Human Services grant will help Ferris State University social work students lower costs and gain in-demand skills for jobs helping state residents.

Michael Berghoef, chair of the Social Work department, said the $167,000 grant allows five Master of Social Work students with advanced standing to each receive $30,000 stipends for their postgraduate intentions.

“As a program that educates psychotherapists and medical and school social workers who go directly into practice to meet the mental health needs of our Michigan communities, we are thrilled, Berghoef said. “These stipends offset the cost of tuition and lower student debt for eligible MSW students. We strive to find as many avenues as possible to financially help our aspiring MSW students. This grant and others like it help tremendously.”

The MDHHS said in return for this support, these students will commit to two years of full-time employment in the behavioral health sector in Michigan after their graduation.

Ten state universities and two private four-year Michigan schools received nearly $5 million through this program. The expectation is for 150 recipients to earn their master’s degrees.

Berghoef said word of the state funding is spreading quickly among master-level students.

“We have had a great deal of interest in this grant,” he said. “We are currently finalizing the application process to narrow down and select those students who will receive the stipend. The work requirement for recipients is not posing any issues, as any behavioral health sector commitment will be for good jobs in their chosen field.”

The program strengthens access to graduate-level degrees and helps keep graduates in Michigan.

“This program is another investment by the state to increase access to behavioral health care for Michigan families,” MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said.  “We are committed to helping families access behavioral health care services when and where they need them.”

Ten state universities and two private four-year Michigan schools received nearly $5 million through this program. The expectation is for 150 recipients to earn their master’s degrees.

Social workers are increasingly in demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of social workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 63,800 openings for social workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

_{Image provided by Ferris State University.}

Monday, June 17

• An officer was dispatched to a location regarding a found bike that turned out to be a stolen bike. The case is still under investigation.

Tuesday, June 18

• An officer issued a citation to an 18-year-old male for riding a minibike on the sidewalk after multiple verbal warnings were given prior to the incident.

• An officer was dispatched to see if he could assist an elderly lady with a leaking pipe until she could get someone there to fix it.

• An officer responded to a call regarding some kids playing basketball outside after dark. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the parent, who said her kids are done for the night. She was advised to be considerate of the noise due to neighbors trying to sleep.

Wednesday, June 19

• While patrolling, an officer found the bench off the Pere Marquette Trail by Patterson Road had been vandalized. Someone had taken a black marker and written "Guilty" on it. The green plastic dedication plaque on the bench had also been broken off.
• An officer responded to a call reporting a possible animal abuse happening. After investigating, the reports were unfounded.
• An officer assisted Osceola Sheriff's Office with an intoxicated male that was kicked off the bus at the local bus stop. It was requested he be removed from one business by the property owners. He moved to another to await a ride from a friend.

Thursday, June 20

• An officer was dispatched to take a report of a potential threat made against a 25-year-old female. After investigating, the case was determined to be a civil matter.

Friday, June 21

• An officer responded to a call regarding issues with traffic in a construction area. After arriving, the officer observed there was gas line work going on. There was sufficient signage that it was a work area and while visibility was not as good as normal, oncoming traffic was still visible.

• An officer conducted a well fare check on a 17-year-old female. She was found fine, and everything was ok.

• Officers received a call regarding unlawful entry into a house and missing money. It was determined to be the next door juvenile neighbor. The matter has been sent to the prosecutor and probate court.

• An officer responded to a call regarding an eviction, which turned out to be a civil matter.

Saturday, June 22

• No incidents reported.

Sunday, June 23

• Officers responded to a complaint of kids engaged in mischief and shenanigans pounding on their neighbor’s door during the night. Officers spoke with the juveniles and they were advised not to return to the property or they would be trespassing.
• An officer was dispatched to investigate with CPS regarding inappropriate actions between two juveniles. The matter is under investigation.

Michiganders can expect slightly lower costs for gasoline, natural gas and diesel fuel and home heating oil this summer, but some customers have seen an increase in electricity costs, the Michigan Public Service Commission’s 2024 Summer Energy Outlook found.

Residential electricity demand is expected to rise this summer, while home demand for natural gas is expected to decline, according to the MPSC’s annual summer energy forecast out today.

Here are projections from the MPSC’s Energy Security Section for energy supply and demand in Michigan for summer 2024.

ELECTRICITY

• If typical weather patterns hold, total electric sales are expected to increase 1% to 98.5 terawatt hours (TWh), up from 97.5 TWh in 2023, driven primarily by a 2.8% increase in residential demand and a 0.8% increase in the industrial sector, with a 0.5% decrease anticipated for the commercial sector. Summer 2023 had 26% fewer cooling degree days than historical averages, indicating a slightly cooler than normal summer.
• Median residential electric rates increased 3.9% for customers of investor-owned utilities between May 2023 and May 2024.

NATURAL GAS

• Natural gas demand in Michigan is expected to rise 7.3% in 2024, fueled by growing demand from the electric generation sector and a projected 5.5% increase in residential demand. Federal forecasts call for an 8.4% warmer summer than historical averages, which would increase demand for electricity generation at the same time utilities increasingly are switching fuel sources at their power plants to natural gas from coal.
• The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects Henry Hub natural gas prices to average $2.27 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) for 2024, a 13.7% decline year over year, and then rise to an average of $3.21/Mcf in 2025.
• Natural gas storage levels in Michigan are projected to be about 576 billion cubic feet at the end of 2024, a 2.8% increase from the previous year.

GASOLINE

• Gasoline sales are expected to decline 1.1% in Michigan in 2024.
• According to AAA Michigan, the average price statewide for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline on June 14, 2024, was $3.57, down from $3.63 a year earlier.
• The EIA projects Midwest regular-grade gasoline prices will average $3.48 per gallon during the April-September driving season, down from $3.54/gallon in 2023. Midwest regular-grade gasoline prices are forecasted to average $3.34/gallon for all of 2024. Unforeseen refinery outages, international political unrest, adverse weather conditions or other disruptions to supply could lead to higher product prices.
• National gasoline inventories are in the lower half of the 5-year range for this time of year. For the week ending June 7, U.S. total gasoline inventories were at 233 million barrels (26 days of supply), up 13 million barrels from the same date in 2023. Midwest inventories were at 48.5 million barrels, about 5.6 million barrels higher than last year.

PETROLEUM

• U.S. crude oil production averaged 12.93 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2023 and is expected to increase to 13.2 million b/d for 2024 and up to 13.73 million b/d in 2025.
• U.S. crude oil stocks are currently 7.4 million barrels lower than a year ago as demand has outpaced supply additions. As of June 7, 2024, the U.S. had 460 million barrels in inventory, an 1.5% decrease from 2023.
• The EIA projects that West Texas Intermediate crude oil will average $83.05/bbl for 2024 and $80.88/bbl in 2025.

DISTILLATE FUELS

• No. 2 heating oil prices ended the 2023-24 heating season at $3.57/gallon, a cent lower than the year before. 
• The EIA expects retail prices for on-highway diesel fuel will average $3.99 per gallon for 2024, down $0.22 from 2023. The EIA projects distillate prices will rise for 2025, with prices estimated to average $4.15 per gallon.
• According to AAA Michigan, the average price of diesel in Michigan was $3.68 per gallon on June 14, 2024, $0.27 per gallon lower than this time last year.
• For the week ending June 7, national inventories of distillate oil were 123 million barrels, about 9.5 million barrels higher year over year. Midwest inventories for the same week totaled 33.6 million barrels, 7.4 million barrels higher than 2023.

Among significant issues impacting the energy landscape in Michigan, the report notes that the state overhauled its energy laws in 2023, impacting requirements for utility long-term integrated resource plans, establishing a clean energy standard, increasing renewable energy and energy waste reduction standards, and granting the MPSC siting authority for eligible utility-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects under certain situations. The Commission has issued multiple orders on implementation of the energy laws.

Resources are available for Michigan families needing help with home energy costs. The MPSC’s one-stop webpage for utility help provides information in financial assistance, payment plans, consumer protections and other options. For information, go to www.michigan/gov/mpsc/gethelp. Those having trouble paying home energy costs also may contact their electric or natural gas utilities for information or contact Michigan 211 by calling 211 or going to www.mi211.org. Michigan 211 is a free, confidential service that connects Michiganders with a broad range of assistance programs and services and other resources, including help with food, housing, transportation and home energy bills.

Energy assistance information also is available through the MPSC’s energy assistance consumer tip sheet. Utility customers also can help reduce their costs by using energy efficiently. The MPSC's consumer tip on beating the heat has suggestions on reducing energy use. The U.S. Department of Energy has additional spring and summer tips for saving energy.

Big Rapids’ newest baseball team, the Post 98AA Rubberducks, took second in the competitive Iron Duke American Legion Tournament in Mount Pleasant last weekend. The tournament is hosted by Post 110 at the Mount Pleasant High School and Sacred Heart baseball fields. The bracket play and finals were played at Central Michigan’s Theunissen Stadium.

Post 110AA, coached by former Big Rapids High School Coach Scott Pieratt, took first overall in the tournament.

The Ducks opened with an 11-7 loss to Post 110AA before ripping off a 10-3 win over Hudson Post 180, a 15-5 win over the Gaylord Baseball Club, a 15-3 win over Post 110A, then an 8-0 shutout of Post 295 Breckenridge. The Final was a rematch with Post 110AA, Scott Pieratt’s team, in which Post 110AA won 8-0.

Big Rapids Post 98AA was lead offensively by Newaygo’s Russell Toth. Toth cranked out eight hits in six games including four doubles. He drew five walks and scored 10 runs. Russell also pitched in the championship surrendering only two earned runs in four innings while striking out three.

Big Rapids’ own Philip Wilber blasted two of the team’s five homers hit over the weekend. Reed City’s Max Hammond and Caleb Somers hit one a piece, and BR’s Ty Gielczyk added an inside the park home run at Theunissen Stadium.

Gielczyk didn’t surrender an earned run in 10 innings pitched. Ty struck out 14, gave up only five hits, and held opponents to a .139 batting average. In the Semi Final he logged a complete game shutout of Post 295 Breckenridge allowing only two hits and striking out 10.

“It was disappointing not to win the whole thing, but these guys tore the cover off the ball all weekend and played tough," said coach J.T. Scarpelli. "Pieratt’s Post 110 is a solid team. They hit the ball and play defense. We’ll get them soon. Overall, it was a great weekend for the guys.”

Scarpelli is also the coach of Big Rapids High School.

“This is one of the best run tournaments in the state. Keith McDonald does a tremendous job putting this on with Post 110. We want to replicate what he has in Big Rapids in future years. We want to host more Legion Baseball for the Big Rapids community.”

The Post 98 Ducks are 6-6 on the summer. They get a rematch with Post 110AA Wednesday at Big Rapids High School. First pitch is at 5:30 P.M. with the Post 98 Honor Guard opening the game.

*Photo credit to Keith McDonald of Post 110AA

Monday, June 17

• Property Damage Accident – Officer responded for report of a two-vehicle accident.

• Disorderly – Officers were dispatched to a disorderly juvenile complaint.

Tuesday, June 18

• Property Damage Accident – Officers were dispatched to investigate a two-vehicle accident.

Wednesday, June 19

• Transport – Officers were dispatched to pick up a subject lodged at another jail who had warrants out of the department.  The subject was transported to and lodged at the Osceola County Jail.

Thursday, June 20

• Warrant Attempt – Officers assisted Big Rapids Department of Public Safety with serving one of their arrest warrants on a subject located at a residence in Evart.

• 911 Hang up – Officers were dispatched to a 911 hang up complaint.  Officers were advised a verbal argument had occurred but was now over.

• Check Wellbeing – Officers were dispatched to check the wellbeing of children at a residence. The children were found to be okay.

Friday, June 21

• Assault – Officers responded to the area to assist Osceola County Sheriff’s Department with an in-progress assault involving a weapon. The subject was located and transported to the local hospital for medical clearance to lodge at the jail.

Saturday, June 22

• Harassment – Officer responded to report of a harassment complaint. Harassment was a prank performed over a mobile device. The person who performed the prank was identified and contacted through his parents.

Sunday, June 23

• Domestic – Officers were dispatched to a disorderly juvenile complaint.
• Animal - Officers were dispatched to an animal complaint.  The case remains open pending further investigation for criminal charges.

On Monday, June 24 at approximately 12:43 P.M., deputies from the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a motorcycle accident involving a deer on 15 Mile Road and 110^th Avenue in Martiny Township.

A 53-year-old male from Rodney struck a deer on his motorcycle and was transported with non life-threatening injuries to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.

Deputies were assisted by Morton Township Fire and Rescue, Mecosta County EMS, and Meceola Central Dispatch.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Lake, Muskegon, and Newaygo County by the National Weather Service as of 5:19 A.M.

A line of storms carrying potential damaging winds in excess of 70 MPH as well as penny size hail is moving to the southeast at approximately 50-70 MPH. Heavy amounts of thunder and lightning are likely. Initial readings are radar indicated.

Affected areas include but are not limited to Baldwin, Croton, Fremont, Grant, Hesperia, Luther, Newaygo, and White Cloud. Please be advised if you live in neighboring counties, as warnings are likely to be issued as the storm moves east. 

Expect considerable tree and structural damage in certain areas. Follow along with the Big Rapids Daily News on Facebook, Instagram, and X for more updates.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed parts of West Michigan in a level two "Slight Risk" from after midnight through Tuesday morning.

Per the SPC, scattered supercellular thunderstorms with potential destructive wind gusts are expected to develop late Monday afternoon into the evening throughout parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin. The systems will be moving Eastward across Lake Michigan during the early morning hours Tuesday. Forecasts expect these systems to hit the west Michigan coast after 3 A.M. 

Areas under the level two classification are Fremont, Grand Rapids, Grant, Holland, Ludington, Muskegon, Newaygo, and western parts of White Cloud. Other surrounding areas such as Baldwin, Big Rapids, Greenville, Howard City, Manistee, Reed City, and Traverse City are listed in a level one "Marginal Risk," as the system is projected to weaken after inital landfall due to questionable instability.

Please be alert to changing weather conditions and associated travel plans. For updates, follow the Big Rapids Daily News on social media as well as listen in for hourly forecasts on WBRN via 1460AM, 96.5 and 107.7 FM, WBRN.com, and the WBRN mobile app. 

Monday, June 17

• At 9:57 A.M., deputies made a warrant arrest in Aetna TWP. A male subject was arrested on a warrant.

• At 8:37 P.M., deputies responded to a one-vehicle accident in Martiny TWP. Additional investigation led to the female driver being  arrested for OWI. She was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 8:41 P.M., deputies made a traffic stop in Aetna TWP. The traffic stop resulted in the male driver being arrested for OWI. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 9:06 P.M., deputies responded to a domestic incident at a residence in Morton TWP. A male subject was arrested for domestic assault on his wife. The wife was arrested for probation violation and a warrant. Both were lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 21

Traffic Accidents: 3

Tuesday, June 18

• At 11:52 P.M., deputies responded to a domestic incident at a residence in Fork TWP. A female subject was arrested for assaulting her boyfriend. She was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 30

Traffic Accidents: 2

Wednesday, June 19

• At 10:09 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Colfax TWP.  A male subject was arrested on a warrant. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 32

Traffic Accidents: 1

Thursday, June 20

• At 12:45 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest in Martiny TWP. A male subject was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and two warrants. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 2:57 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Millbrook TWP. A male subject was arrested on a warrant and absconding from parole. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 10:45 P.M., deputies responded to a domestic incident at a residence in Green TWP. A male subject was arrested for assaulting a female subject. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 27

Traffic Accidents: 1

Friday, June 21

Calls for Service: 31

Traffic Accidents: 3

Saturday, June 22

• At around 6:41 A.M., deputies responded to a one vehicle accident in Big Rapids TWP. Additional investigations led to the female driver being arrested for OWI. She was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 18

Traffic Accidents: 3

Sunday, June 23

• At 9:57 A.M., deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Martiny TWP. A male subject was arrested on a warrant. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 15

Traffic Accidents: 2

Ferris State University men's golf standout McCoy Biagioli, who helped lead the Bulldogs to the NCAA Division II National Championships this past spring, claimed one of Michigan's most prestigious golf honors, winning the 113th annual Michigan Amateur Championship.

The tournament was presented by Carl's Golfland on The Heather Course at The Highlands at Harbor Springs.

By winning the Michigan Amateur Championship, Biagioli also earned a spot with an automatic exemption into the 2024 U.S. Amateur, which will take place Aug. 12-18 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.

A White Lake native, Biagioli topped recent University of Wyoming Graduate Jimmy Dales of Northville by a 3 and 1 count in the championship match. The Bulldog’s name will be added to the historic Staghorn Trophy. He reached the match play portion of the tournament for the first time in his third Michigan Amateur appearance.

The victory capped an impressive week for Biagioli, who survived a match that went 26 holes in the round of 16 on Thursday and then made a dramatic 18-foot putt for the win on hole No. 18 in his 1-up semifinal win over St. Joseph's Matt Zerbel to reach the title round.

Biagioli's round of 16 win came over Ferris State teammate Caleb Bond in a marathon that needed 26 holes to determine a winner.

Ferris State head coach Sam Stark also competed and reached the match play portion of the tournament as one of the 64 competitors as did Bulldog freshman Kole Putnam.

The Michigan State Amateur is the state's most prestigious amateur championship. Sectional qualifying is required for those who do not meet the exemption requirements. The format consisted of 36-holes of stroke play followed by a cut to the low 64 players for match play.

Biagioli was tabbed as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year this past season and was an all-conference selection. Biagioli posted a 72.5 adjusted average over 37 total rounds, ranking among the region's top 25 individual players as a rookie.

The Ferris State freshman placed 13th overall in stroke place at the conference championships and won both of his matches in head-to-head medal match play during the league semifinals and finals as Ferris State captured the school's 22nd all-time league title.

Individually, Biagioli had a runner-up individual finish at the B&R Investments Bulldog Fall Classic hosted by Ferris State and posted six top-10 finishes this year, including a third-place effort at the NCAA D2 Central/Midwest Super Regional Championships.

Biagioli helped lead the Bulldogs to both the GLIAC Championship and a NCAA Division II National Championships appearance. This year's national championships berth represented Ferris State's 17th all-time in program history and first since 2019.

Ferris State's ninth-place team finish was the the program's best since 2017 when the Bulldogs earned runner-up honors in the 2017 NCAA-II Midwest/Central Super Regional in Kearney, Neb., before going on to a national quarterfinal finish. This year also marked the 19th time in the past 21 years in which the Bulldogs had representation in the NCAA Tournament when it has been held. The stretch of NCAA Championship representation in men's golf ranks as one of the best stretches in the country.

In addition to Biagioli winning the Michigan Amateur Championship, Ferris State University men's golf alum Eric Lilleboe also recently claimed the Michigan Open Championship.

_{*Photo credited to Golf Association of Michigan.}

*UPDATE: She has been found and is safe.*

Police are actively searching for 12-year-old runaway Madisun Hoogeveen, who was last seen around 100th Avenue and 4 Mile Road in Lakeview, MI around 7:15 P.M. Saturday night.

Madisun is described as being approximately 5 feet, 6 inches tall with a thin build, long blonde hair, and eyeglasses. Madisun was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black sweatshirt, a blue under shirt, and dark colored rain boots. She may also have a tan backpack, blue water bottle, and pink pencil box. She left her residence on foot in an unknown direction of travel.

If you have seen this juvenile, please contact Michigan State Police Trooper Abbey at (517) 582-1617 or Meceola Central Dispatch at (231) 796-4811.

The following is an editorial written by Rep. Fox of Michigan's 101st District. This includes opinions regarding the integrity of voting and elections.

The 2020 election was called the most secure in US history by officials, but confidence in election integrity has never been lower. Now, headed into November, Michigan promises to produce still more skeptics with upcoming changes to our election laws.

I have heard from many of you about Senate Bills 603 and 604, which would modify the recount process during elections for both candidates and ballot proposals, and voted NO on them, along with every Republican in the House. Overall, the politically motivated bills will diminish the strength of election verification processes in our state and will discourage earnest inquiries into election wrongdoing.

If a candidate loses a close election, but has a reasonable suspicion that fraud was conducted in sufficient numbers to overturn the result, then a recount request would be denied. This also applies to ballot questions like millages and proposals to amend Michigan’s Constitution.

Moreover, the cost to initiate a recount will double per precinct, which consists of up to 5000 voters. This means a recount of Newaygo, Grant, White Cloud and Fremont alone could cost over $1000.  Clearly, this does more than deter frivolous recount requests – it creates unnecessary barriers to issue a reasonable recount.

The Secretary of State made headlines recently for issuing guidance to local election officials during the February presidential primary, specifically by instructing them to assume the validity of signatures submitted online for absent voter ballots, and not check the submissions with existing voter signatures in the QVF – the practice prescribed by the state constitution. The Michigan Court of Claims ruled that the SOS’ guidance was unlawful and upheld election integrity in doing so. This ruling proves that voters have a right to be skeptical about election processes, for even Michigan’s top election official needed help adhering to election law in this case.

Perceptions matter. With less measures of accountability for elections, voters are right to perceive these bills as risky and receive them with skepticism. Earnest attempts to investigate wrongdoing in elections should not be discouraged using steeper fees, and fraud must never be excluded from consideration in starting a recount.

I’m in the business of shining light on crucial issues, not gaslighting you about them.The 2020 election was called the most secure in US history by officials, but confidence in election integrity has never been lower. Now, headed into November, Michigan promises to produce still more skeptics with upcoming changes to our election laws.

I have heard from many of you about Senate Bills 603 and 604, which would modify the recount process during elections for both candidates and ballot proposals, and voted NO on them, along with every Republican in the House. Overall, the politically motivated bills will diminish the strength of election verification processes in our state and will discourage earnest inquiries into election wrongdoing.

If a candidate loses a close election, but has a reasonable suspicion that fraud was conducted in sufficient numbers to overturn the result, then a recount request would be denied. This also applies to ballot questions like millages and proposals to amend Michigan’s Constitution.

Moreover, the cost to initiate a recount will double per precinct, which consists of up to 5000 voters. This means a recount of Newaygo, Grant, White Cloud and Fremont alone could cost over $1000. Clearly, this does more than deter frivolous recount requests – it creates unnecessary barriers to issue a reasonable recount.

The Secretary of State made headlines recently for issuing guidance to local election officials during the February presidential primary, specifically by instructing them to assume the validity of signatures submitted online for absent voter ballots, and not check the submissions with existing voter signatures in the QVF – the practice prescribed by the state constitution. The Michigan Court of Claims ruled that the SOS’ guidance was unlawful and upheld election integrity in doing so. This ruling proves that voters have a right to be skeptical about election processes, for even Michigan’s top election official needed help adhering to election law in this case.

Perceptions matter. With less measures of accountability for elections, voters are right to perceive these bills as risky and receive them with skepticism. Earnest attempts to investigate wrongdoing in elections should not be discouraged using steeper fees, and fraud must never be excluded from consideration in starting a recount.

I’m in the business of shining light on crucial issues, not gaslighting you about them.

On Saturday, June 22 at 1:00 P.M., deputies from the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a UTV crash at a private residence in Mecosta.

The investigation found three minors were riding a UTV, when the driver got off the vehicle and one of the other passengers, sitting in the middle of the UTV, stepped on the gas pedal. This caused the UTV to run into a tree head on. The two minors that were on the UTV were transported to Corewell Health in Big Rapids by EMS for non-life threatening injuries.  

Deputies were assisted by Wheatland Township Fire/Rescue, Mecosta County EMS, and Meceola Central Dispatch.

According to the National Weather Service and the NWS Storm Prediction Center, there is a significant chance of severe weather over the course of Saturday afternoon and evening throughout the state of Michigan.

As of 3:56 A.M. Saturday morning, a flood watch was initiated until 6:00 A.M. Sunday morning in portions of central and west central Michigan, including Clare, Gratiot, Isabella, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Osceola counties. This includes the cities of Alma, Baldwin, Big Rapids, Clare, Fremont, Greenville, Hart, Ludington, Mount Pleasant, Muskegon, and Reed City.

Torrential rainfall is possible with any of the storms that develop, leading to a flooding threat north of M-46. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

The Storm Prediction Center has also placed a level two "slight risk" for central and southern portions of the lower peninsula. Heat indices will rise into the mid 90's this afternoon, creating the possibility of strong to severe thunderstorms with strong wind gusts as the main threat. A tornado risk will also be present mainly between areas as south as Lansing and north as Cadillac.

Please be alert of changing weather conditions and monitor later forecasts and be alert for additional warnings and updates. Tune in to NewsRadio WBRN for up-to-date WeatherEye forecasts on 1460 AM, 96.5 and 107.7 FM, WBRN.com, and the WBRN mobile app.

A comprehensive retrospective exhibition spanning more than 30 years of powerful figurative works by esteemed artist and Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University professor emeritus Boyd Quinn is on view in the KCAD Spark Gallery through July 13.

"Paintings by Boyd Quinn: 1990-2024" showcases Quinn's mastery of figurative painting, highlighting his ability to capture nuanced moods and personal narratives through carefully crafted brushstrokes and mixed media techniques.

The exhibition features 28 paintings that demonstrate the artist's signature style, which combines oil washes, textural elements, and gestural marks to create depth and emotional resonance.

Through his dedication to the craft, Quinn continues to captivate audiences with his evocative figurative paintings, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the complexities of human emotion.

A highlight of the show is a portrait of Quinn painted by KCAD alumna Raime Lee, who studied under the renowned professor. Lee's depiction captures the spirit and lasting impact Quinn has had on generations of students as both a painter and educator.

“He provided some of the best insight and critical conversation about painting, while being the first to admit that he might not be right,” said Lee in a statement for the exhibition. “Although he laced his instruction with effortless humor and quippy anecdotes, he carried a heaviness that comes from witnessing life in its most honest and raw forms.”

Quinn holds a Master of Fine Arts from Eastern Michigan University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Aquinas College. With more than 30 years of teaching experience at KCAD, he has imparted knowledge and made long-term impacts in fine arts programming throughout the years.  

His work has been exhibited nationally, including at the Muskegon Museum of Art and Grand Valley State University. Quinn's accolades include a Michigan Council for the Arts Creative Artist Grant and several Best of Show awards from esteemed institutions like the Muskegon Museum of Art and the Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center.

"Paintings by Boyd Quinn: 1990-2024" runs through July 13 in the KCAD Spark Gallery located at 17 Fountain St. NW. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Visit kcad.edu to learn more.

_{Photo credit to Ferris State University.}

On Friday, June 21 at approximately 9:50 A.M., deputies were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at Northland Drive and 8 Mile Road in Mecosta Township.

A vehicle driven by a 58-year-old female, of Wyoming, did not yield the right a way for the northbound vehicle driven by 61-year-old female from Morley. The 58-year-old female had a 9-year-old female with her at the time. The 58-year-old female was transported to Corewell Health in Big Rapids for non-life threatening injuries. She was the only one injured in the crash.  

Deputies were assisted by Mecosta Twp Rescue and Fire, Mecosta County EMS, Meceola Dispatch, and Currie's Towing.

Three energy sector employers earned honors Tuesday in a ceremony during the Michigan Energy Workforce Development Consortium’s Annual Summit in Grand Rapids, celebrating their leadership roles in expanding the use of Registered Apprenticeships to close equity gaps while building their talent pipelines.

Consumers Energy, DTE Energy and Kappen Tree Service were honored as part of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) Race to Talent with Registered Apprenticeship event in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL).

“These employers are at the forefront of using Registered Apprenticeships to build critical talent pipelines. They stand as examples for other businesses throughout the state,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “Expanding the use of Registered Apprenticeship programs supports our state’s employers and empowers our workforce to thrive in high-demand, high-wage industries – helping us deliver on our mission to close equity gaps, remove barriers, and help people on their pathway to economic prosperity.”

Registered Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career training program in which employers develop and prepare Michigan’s future workforce. Apprentices gain paid work experience, related classroom instruction and a national industry-recognized credential upon program completion.

“By taking a leading role in Registered Apprenticeships, these employers have recognized the critical role this training model plays in sustaining and growing jobs in the critically-important energy sector,” said Stephanie Beckhorn, Director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training. “We are grateful to be able to point to them as models for other employers, regardless of their industry, to see the value of Registered Apprenticeships for their own organizations.”

The Michigan Energy Workforce Development Consortium (MEWDC) is an industry-led partnership of more than 50 representatives of industry, veterans, workforce and education. Its annual summit, titled “All In: Building A Diverse Workforce in the Evolving Energy Industry,” included presentations by national and state energy sector experts on diversity, equity & inclusion and discussions about collaborative efforts to attract a diverse energy talent pipeline.

“Many of our members, including those honored by LEO during the Michigan Energy Workforce Development Consortium Summit, are active in providing life-changing career opportunities to all Michiganders through the use of Registered Apprenticeships,” said MEWDC Director Marcia Black-Watson. “That’s why our annual event served as a perfect platform for us to promote the value this proven training model delivers to our state’s workers and employers.”

Before receiving their awards, representatives of the honored organizations participated in a panel discussion about their experiences and the advantages of Registered Apprenticeships.

“Consumers Energy currently has six USDOL Registered Apprenticeship occupations in our portfolio, and we have found the training model and resultant certifications to be a complete win-win for the company, union, education partners and apprentices,” said Amber Fogarty, Consumers Energy Training Programs Manager.

“The registered apprenticeship programs offer amazing opportunities to prepare the next generation of Michigan’s skilled trades professionals,” said Christopher HooSang, director, DTE Corporate Human Resources. “By pairing our experienced DTE journeyman with new apprentices, we ensure that their extensive knowledge and expertise coupled with the importance of safety and service excellence are transferred to those eager to learn. Beyond those benefits, we also enjoy great success in recruiting local, diverse talent into these programs given the fact that nationally recognized skilled trades credentials offer them ever-growing, in-demand careers.”

“The Journeyman Line Clearance Tree Trimmer Apprenticeship (LCTT) program has been integral to our business,” said Kappen Tree Service Owner/Partner Jason Kappen. “Our line of work is in the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the world, so safety and training are all too familiar with our industry. With this support we've been able to ramp up our training to make sure everyone has the proper knowledge and tools to do their job in the safest and most efficient way possible.

“The State of Michigan's support has helped grow our business with some of the most highly trained LCTT's across the country,” said Kappen. “This has helped us create one of the safest workforces in our industry that are working hard to give all our neighbors safe and reliable electricity.”

Michigan remains steadfast in its efforts to strengthen the Registered Apprenticeship system, collaborating with employers, educational institutions, organized labor partners and community partners to enhance training opportunities and meet the evolving needs of our economy.

Thanks to these efforts, Registered Apprenticeships have expanded across a wide variety of industries into more than 1,200 occupations, including careers in advanced manufacturing, agriculture, construction, education, energy, healthcare, information technology, mobility, and many others.

Registered Apprenticeships are part of LEO’s unique All-Access approach to solving complex workforce problems and improving economic outcomes across the state by addressing structural challenges and removing barriers preventing people and businesses from reaching their full potential.

For more information on Registered Apprenticeship in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/Apprenticeship.

The Kent County Animal Shelter (KCAS) has opened a new 44,000-square-foot fenced outdoor expansion, creating a state-of-the-art dog park for the canines who temporarily call the shelter home.

This enrichment area is located next to the animal shelter on Kent County's Fuller Campus and includes several activity items for the dogs. Some amenities include a raised platform, a vertical ramp, a tire obstacle course, and several old tree stumps with nooks and crannies to hide yummy treats for them to sniff out.

^{Photo of the enclosure from the inside (Provided by the Kent County Animal Shelter).}

In April 2023, the KCAS announced plans to construct a new canine enrichment area, a project made possible by the largest donation in the shelter's 84-year history. The Marie B. Schipper Trust gifted $90,000 to the shelter, with $30,000 allocated to replace the outdated X-ray machine, enabling quicker diagnosis and treatment for injured animals. The remaining $40,000 was directed toward the construction of the natural enclosure, a vital component of our canine enrichment program.

Marie Schipper was a Kent County resident who died on November 28, 2021, at the age of 85. The youngest of seven, she grew up on a farm in Newaygo County and had a passion for animals.

"With this new, natural enclosed area, we can offer some of the best canine enrichment. The animals can feel the dirt on their paws, smell where the squirrels have been, dig in the dirt, and do all the things dogs simply love to do," said Kent County Animal Shelter Director Angela Hollinshead. "These activities reduce a lot of stress that develop from living in a shelter which is why this space is such a benefit! Because of the shelter's commitment to not euthanize healthy adoptable animals, the time dogs spend in our care at the shelter is increasing, creating an even greater need for more robust enrichment opportunities."

The shelter has been fortunate to receive several estate gifts over the years. The KCAS is honored to accept these end-of-life contributions, ensuring that your legacy continues to provide care and support for animals in need. By including KCAS in your estate planning, you can help secure a brighter future for countless pets. To learn more, visit here.

"This was such an incredible donation and we are deeply grateful to be able to give our shelter dogs such a wonderful opportunity," concluded Hollinshead. "Our primary goal is to find these animals loving homes but while they are in our care, we don't want them to simply exist rather we want them to thrive."

To learn more about shelter visit Animal Shelter | Kent County, Michigan (accesskent.com). The KCAS has numerous animals ready for adoption.

_{Photo provided by the Kent County Animal Shelter.}

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Eastern Newaygo County in west central Michigan, Western Mecosta County in central Michigan, Northwestern Montcalm County in central Michigan until 5:00 P.M. EDT.

At 3:58 P.M., a severe thunderstorm was located near Howard City moving north at 20 MPH. Hazards include 60 MPH wind gusts and quarter size hail. Golf-ball size hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include Big Rapids, Howard City, Morley, Canadian Lakes, Croton, Stanwood, Roben-Hood Airport, Rodney, Croton Heights, and Indian Lake.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

WEATHER ALERT: A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Kent, Newaygo, and Montcalm counties as of 3:21 P.M. EDT until 3:45PM EDT by the National Weather Service.

The system was spotted near Rockford moving southeast at 15 MPH. Hazards include 60 MPH wind gusts and quarter size hail. Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Please remain alert for a possible tornado, as they can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado, go at once into the basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

Ferris State University is partnering with BAMF Health and Kent ISD to give 16 rising high school seniors hands-on experience in emerging science fields and college credit.

The inaugural FutureSolve initiative is a six-week program where seniors interested in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics gain real-world exposure to science, engineering, and technology. All students who complete the program receive three course credits to be used at any Michigan college or university.

The program aims to immerse students in real-world experiences and challenges them to use design-thinking principles to solve problems.

Leaders at BAMF Health brainstormed 10 projects for students to work on over the six weeks. This exposes students to an exciting and innovative company in their community and allows them to work within their field of interest to make a real impact. Each day, students spend the first half of the day at BAMF Health and the second half at Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University.

“The power of public-private partnership is alive and well in Grand Rapids, and FutureSolve is a great example,” said Andy McLean, program development manager for BAMF Health. “We know that to continue to change the future of healthcare, students must be exposed to career options now to prepare them for the high-demand jobs of tomorrow.”

The Grand Rapids-based BAMF Health is the world’s first vertically integrated platform for intelligence-based precision medicine. BAMF employs the most advanced theranostic imaging technology to detect and treat cancer and other diseases and conduct advanced clinical trials.

Participating students come from East Kentwood, Grand Rapids Public, and East Grand Rapids school districts. They were either encouraged to enter the program or selected by their school leaders. These students have expressed an interest in STEM topics, desire to learn more, and want to explore career options. Because many of these students must forfeit a summer job to participate, each one is given a stipend in honor of their commitment to education.

During students’ time at KCAD, they will learn more about design-thinking principles and collaborate to solve the business problems proposed by BAMF Health.

"BAMF Health's transformative methodology underscores how design thinking can drive meaningful change across multidisciplinary fields like medicine," said Tara McCrackin, president of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University. "This is a fantastic partnership, and I know it will inspire students to look at new ways to collaborate and develop impactful solutions to challenges."

The Kent Intermediate School District is a regional educational service agency devoted to achievement for all students.  We provide instructional and administrative services to more than 300 schools, 20 public districts, three non-public districts, and many public school academies and non-public schools

“FutureSolve is an exciting opportunity for collaboration between K-12 education, higher education, and local business that will provide high school students with invaluable experience and exposure to the real world of work in a new way,” said Sue Gardner, Kent ISD Assistant Superintendent of Career and Talent Development.

The FutureSolve initiative is also representative of the strategic partnership forged between BAMF Health and Ferris State University in early 2024. Both institutions pledged to support the growing Theranostics field in Michigan by developing the next-generation workforce to live and work in their home state. FutureSolve will be the first of many opportunities to develop and train high school and higher ed students across the state.

Photo provided by Ferris State University.

Congressman John Moolenaar, the Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is leading legislation to ban the Department of Homeland Security from purchasing batteries made by CCP companies.

“American tax dollars should never be used to further the Chinese Communist Party’s hopes to dominate key technologies at our expense. That’s why I am proud to co-lead the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act which would stop the Department of Homeland Security from using American taxpayer dollars to purchase Gotion, CATL, or other Chinese batteries. Our military has already banned these batteries and DHS should do the same,” said Moolenaar.

H.R. 8631 would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from procuring batteries from six companies owned and operated in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and strengthen the American supply chain away from dependence on the CCP. The legislation was passed by the House Homeland Security Committee on June 12. 

Text of the legislation can be found here.

For Philip Wilber, the baseball journey is continuing. This weekend, the standout senior signed his letter of intent to be the newest member of the Vikings.

“When I went down there last week, it was amazing,” Wilber said. “Coach Waddups is awesome. (He) reminds me just like our high school coach. Everybody there was welcoming, and it was just a (good) fit for me.”

Wilber earned first team all-district as well first team all-conference honors this year. He caught over 156 innings this past season, racking up a .980 fielding percentage and a 22% throw-out rate on opposing baserunners. He also batted .322 with a .456 slugging percentage and a .450 on-base percentage. Wilber led the Cardinals with 10 doubles as well finished second in walks (23) and fourth in OPS (.906).

“I’d say last year to this year, I'm much stronger physically,” Wilber said. “Mentally, I know the game better. Last year, I was playing and did good, but this year, I bought into baseball.”

When asked about Wilber’s accomplishments, Big Rapids Head Baseball Coach J.T. Scarpelli said he was a pivotal piece to the Cardinals’ success the past few years.

"Phil has worked incredibly hard these last 3 years and deserves this accolade,” Scarpelli said. “Leadership was instrumental to our success and his abilities won us numerous games over the past couple seasons. Phil is a special player and a special kid. He thrives in competition. He has that 'put your head down and get it done' mentality that will serve him well at the next level as well as in life."

Wilber will play for head coach Tucker Waddups with the Vikings, who finished 9-35 this past season. Waddups also has experience as an associate scout with the Kansas City Royals.

Wilber is also playing this summer for both the Post 98AA Rubberducks and the Big Rapids Lumberjacks baseball teams.

_{Photo credit to Chris Teceno.}

There’s no question that weather across the United States has been a wild rollercoaster ride. Whether its severe hail, extreme winds, or tornado touchdowns, this year has been very active to this point.

According to the National Weather Service’s annual storm report data, Michigan already has 18 unofficial tornado reports this year. Compared to last year, that is only one short of 2023’s 12-month tornado total of 19. There have also been 47 severe hail sightings and 62 severe wind readings through nearly six and a half months.

This begs the question: what is causing this chaotic change? According to Ferris State professor of geography and certified storm spotter, Dr. Jennifer Johnson, this is due to multiple different factors including the position of the jet stream.

“In May of this year, (the jet stream) still had not retreated to its more typical summer location over Canada and was still well established over the United States,” Johnson said. “We had a mix of two important factors: it was already spring with a big temperature contrast and the collision zone between the two air masses was in the right spot in the jet stream to produce storms in Michigan. This pattern was quite persistent and was responsible for a number of the storms we had.”

Another factor, according to Johnson, has been an “usually strong and persistent high-pressure dome over the Gulf of Mexico.” The National Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, has measured the gulf’s surface temperature to be 3-6 degrees higher than its normal average. This change is subsequently affecting the air temperature, raising it to higher marks in the south and creating a more contrasting boundary between the north and south regions. 

“This has given the severe weather season some extra ‘oomph’,” Johnson said. “Not only do we have maximum contrast of air temperature along the frontal boundaries, but this year the warm air is extra warm, making the contrast even greater than usual.”

Based on upcoming conditions and climate models, the National Weather Service is predicting the severe weather season will begin to slow down soon. This will also include a raise in temperatures across the state and Midwest to Northeast region. 

“As Canada continues to warm up with the approach of summer, the contrast in temperature between the two air masses will lessen and it will reduce the chances of severe weather outbreaks,” Johnson said. “Additionally, the jet stream will at some point slow down and migrate northward into Canada, as it does every summer, which will keep the colder air from northern Canada and the Arctic from intruding down into the United States. This generally leads to a decrease in the intensity and frequency of severe weather outbreaks across the U.S., although there are still plenty of them that occur throughout the season.”

You can find up-to-date weather forecasts on BigRapidsDailyNews.com

Two Ferris State University spring sports standouts have earned 2024 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Commissioner's Award recognition for their accomplishments both on the field and in the classroom.

Ferris State senior men's tennis standout Jan Koupil, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, claimed the honor along with Bulldog senior track and field runner Brandon Wirth of Reed City.

The awards are bestowed after the fall, winter, and spring athletic seasons to six female and six male student-athletes of junior, senior, or graduate student status who excel both in the classroom and in competition.

Five Bulldogs earned the Commissioner’s Award this academic year, with Koupil and Wirth joining basketball player Chloe Idoni, volleyball player Leah Bylut, and football player Olalere Oladipo.

Koupil earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average. He was honored as a 2024 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team selection this season. Koupil, who helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2024 GLIAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, also claimed All-GLIAC First Team honors this spring.

He was 17-12 in overall doubles competition during the 2023-24 campaign and went 16-7 in singles action while playing at or near the top of the Ferris State lineup.

Koupil was ranked in the top 12 nationally in doubles play and advanced to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Cup National Small College Championships last fall. The two-time GLIAC Commissioner's Award honoree earned first-team all-conference honors in doubles play and second team mention in singles action this year.

He also claimed GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honors for the fourth year in a row. His performance this campaign helped the Bulldogs reach the NCAA Tournament for the 27th time in school history, including the ninth year in a row.

Koupil earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average and is studying data science and analytics. Wirth is a Sports Communication major and earned a 3.94 GPA.

Wirth wrapped up a standout collegiate career, earning the GLIAC Commissioner's Award for the second time this spring.

As a graduate student this past year, Wirth placed fourth overall in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the GLIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships and ranks among the school's all-time top 10 leaders in the event. He also placed 12th in the mile at the GLIAC Indoor Championships and finished among the top 50 runners at last fall's GLIAC Cross Country Championships.

Additionally, Wirth earned GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team recognition for the fourth year in a row. Along with being a standout collegiate student-athlete, Wirth has also been active on campus and in the community, currently serving on the graduate level as a student in the Ferris State Athletics Department.

The College Sports Communicators Postgraduate Scholarship winner earned two Michigan Association of Broadcasters Awards this spring for his "Behind the Bulldogs" weekly podcast, which was tabbed the state's best.

Since the awards were first presented in 2007, the Bulldogs have now had a total of 87 student-athletes be recognized among the league's best, which ranks among the most of any school in the conference.

Monday, June 10

• Trespass – Officers were dispatched for a trespassing complaint at a local business. The suspect was trespassed from the business.

• Civil – Officers were dispatched for a civil complaint involving property. The incident remains under investigation.

• Juvenile – Officers were dispatched for an adult furnishing tobacco to minors complaint. The incident remains under investigation.

• Suicide – Officers were dispatched for a suicidal subject. 

Tuesday, June 11

• Fail to Pay – Officers were dispatched for a fail to pay. The complaint remains under investigation.
• Animal – Officers were dispatched for an animal complaint involving a dog scratching a person walking down the sidewalk.

Wednesday, June 12

• Runaway – Officer assisted the Osceola County Sheriff’s Department in locating a runaway juvenile. The juvenile was found at a residence within the city and custody was transferred to deputies without incident. 
• Detail – Officers assisted a multi-agency sting operation coordinated by probation and parole agents. Persons of interest were located throughout Osceola County. 

Thursday, June 13

• Suspicious – Officer responded to a possible breaking and entering. Investigation revealed that one of the tenants to the home forced entry to gain access. No further action required.

• Suicide – Officers were dispatched for a possible suicidal subject.

Friday, June 14

• Animal – Officers were dispatched for dogs at large complaint. The dogs were located and returned to their kennel.

• Fail to Pay – Officers were dispatched for a fail to pay at a local business. The incident remains under investigation. 

Saturday, June 15

• Property Damage Accident – Officers dispatched a deer that had been hit by a vehicle.

• Civil – Officers were dispatched for a civil complaint at a local business. An ex-employee asked for assistance retrieving property from their previous employer. The ex-employer was able to retrieve their property without any issues.

• Malicious Destruction of Property – Officers were dispatched for a possible MDOP complaint. After investigating, the complaint it was determined no crime had been committed.

• Threats – Officers responded for a threats complaint between two co-workers at a local business. The suspect took off prior to officer's arrival and no further assistance was requested by the complainant.

Sunday, June 16

• Assist – Officers assisted another agency in making contact with an individual in reference to a death notification. 

On Monday, Jun. 17 at 8:35 A.M., deputies from the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to Northland Drive near 4 Mile Road for a single vehicle crash.

The investigation found that the 18-year-old driver from Morley lost control of his vehicle while rounding the curve and went off of the roadway. The vehicle then struck a large log before overturning.

The driver was transported to the Big Rapids Corewell Health Hospital for minor, non life-threatening injuries. The other two passengers in the vehicle during the crash were uninjured. 

Deputies were assisted by Meceola Central Dispatch, Mecosta County EMS, Morley Fire Department, and Big Rapids Towing.

Notice: Only UTVs are allowed within the city limits. All other ATVs, dirt bikes, and other off road sport vehicles are prohibited. Information and a copy of the city ordinance is available on the city’s website or from city hall.

Monday, June 10

• An officer took a report from a city resident regarding some property damage done to his business.

• Officers received a report of an armed individual threatening people. Upon further investigation, the individual was not armed and it was discovered to be a disagreement between extended family members.

• An officer was dispatched to a domestic disturbance that resulted in the arrest of a 27-year-old female.

• Officers received a noise complaint. The matter was unfounded.

Tuesday, June 11

• Officers received a call from an elderly woman stated she didn’t know where she was. The woman was able to be located. Upon investigation, she was found to be intoxicated and was also transported for a mental health evaluation.

• Officers were dispatched to assist corrections officer after an inmate receiving medical treatment tried to flee on foot.

• Officers served an abatement notice for grass in violation of city ordinance.

• An officer took a report of possible public urination.

• An officer stood by with deputies on a traffic stop for officer safety reasons.

Wednesday, June 12

• An officer took a report of a possible hit and run accident on private property. It was determined the vehicle owners had already exchanged information and that no one had left the scene. There was minor damage to one vehicle and no injuries.

• An officer was flagged down by an elderly man who requested assistance in walking to his apartment. The officer assisted the man safely to his apartment.

• An officer took a report of an attempted break-in to a business. While speaking with the juvenile suspect, other items that had been stolen from a separate business were located. The matter has been turned over to the prosecutor and probate court.

• An officer was dispatched to a disagreement between families. They were advised of the proper court process to follow to get their belongings. Officers arrested a 39-year-old man on two outstanding warrants and lodged him at the Osceola County Jail.

Thursday, June 13

• An officer took a report for attempted larceny after a man came out to find someone looking through his vehicle. The matter is under investigation.

• Officers were dispatched to check the well being of a possibly suicidal man. Upon contact, officer determined the man was not suicidal.

Friday, June 14

• An officer responded to a possible PPO violation. Upon investigation, there was no existing PPO and it is part of a continuing neighbor dispute.

• Officers were dispatched to a runaway complaint. The juvenile was located and it was discovered during the investigation that a CSC had occurred with a young adult. The matter is under further investigation.

• An officer issued a warning for fireworks being used in violation of city ordinance.

• An officer conducted a well-being check on an individual whose family believed was the victim of domestic violence. After contact with the individual, there was no evidence of domestic violence.

Saturday, June 15

• An officer was requested to speak with a juvenile after their parent caught them stealing from a family member.

• Officers were dispatched to a local store for possible credit card fraud. After investigation, the matter was unfounded.

• Officers observed an occupied vehicle in a parking lot of a closed establishment in the early hours of the morning. Upon checking on the situation, all was well.

Sunday, June 16

• An officer assisted an Osceola County Deputy with an unruly intoxicated individual that was under arrest for operating while impaired.

With the weather forecast expected to be hot this week, District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are highlighting helpful tips and tricks to help stay safe this summer as temperatures rise.

“We’re happy to see summer, but we need to remember to be cautious during heat waves,” said DHD#10 Health Officer Kevin Hughes. “Extreme heat can be dangerous when not taking the proper precautions.”

According to MDHHS, groups most at risk for heat-related illness are: pregnant people, older people, children, people with chronic conditions (ex. cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness such as asthma, diabetes), those on certain medications (ex. diuretics, some antipsychotics, some antidepressants, some antihypertensive agents), people who live alone, and those who may be more exposed to heat including: outdoor workers, low-income individuals, unhoused individuals, individuals without air conditioning, and individuals who exercise outside. However, it is important to remember that anyone can suffer from a heat-related illness when participating in strenuous activity in high-humidity, high-heat environments.

DHD#10 encourages the community to safely enjoy the summer and with these tips:

• Know the warning signs and symptoms
  • Heat-related illnesses are preventable
  • Learn the symptoms and what to do if you or a loved one shows signs of having a heat-related illness (https://www.cdc.gov/extreme-heat/signs-symptoms/)
• Keep your cool in hot weather
  • Take measures to stay cool, remain hydrated, and keep informed (https://www.cdc.gov/extreme-heat/prevention/)
  • Watch for high humidity and gauge personal factors that might put you at greater risk of heat-related illness.
• Stay cool indoors
  • In extreme heat, it’s best to stay in an air-conditioned space as much as possible. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to a public place such as a library or shopping center to cool down for a bit
  • Reach out to your local DHD#10 office to find any heat-relief shelters in your area
• Wear sunscreen
  • Sunburn makes it harder for your body to cool down and can also dehydrate you, putting you at greater risk for heat-related illness
  • Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher before going out into the sun and reapply as directed
• Do not leave children or pets in cars
  • Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures regardless of the windows being left open
  • When getting out of the car, be sure to double-check that no infants, children, or pets have been left behind

For more info on ways to stay safe from summer heat, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/heat-health/about-heat-and-your-health.html.

The list of all-state honorees was released Monday morning by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association.

A total of six area athletes were honored with first-team selections. Honorees include the following:

Division 4 All State First Team

• Cayden Smith, pitcher, Beal City
• Josh Wilson, first baseman, Beal City
• Jack Fussman, outfield, Beal City

Division 3 All-State First Team

• Max Hammond, first baseman, Reed City
• Ryan Louch, infielder, Clare
• Austin Humphrey, outfielder, Chippewa Hills

There were no local players that received second-team honors.

For more sports, visit bigrapidsdailynews.com.

Monday, June 10

• At 1:44 P.M., deputies made a traffic stop in Wheatland TWP. The traffic stop resulted in a male passenger being arrested on a warrant.

Calls for Service: 21

Traffic Accidents: 3

Tuesday, June 11

• At 9:51 A.M., deputies made a warrant arrest, at a residence in Morton TWP. A male subject was arrested on a warrant.
• At 2:00 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Big Rapids TWP. A male subject was arrested on a warrant.

Calls for Service: 32

Traffic Accidents: 2

Wednesday, June 12

• At 9:05 A.M., deputies made assisted probation/parole at a residence in Mecosta TWP. A female subject was arrested on several probation violations.

• At 3:00 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Hinton TWP. A male subject was arrested on a warrant.

• At 3:15 P.M., deputies a traffic stop on a vehicle in Deerfield TWP. The traffic stop resulted in a female passenger being arrested on a warrant.

Calls for Service: 47

Traffic Accidents: 3

Thursday, June 13

• At 11:15 A.M., deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Morton TWP. A female subject was arrested on several warrants. She was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 2:05 P.M., deputies made a traffic stop in Big Rapids TWP. The traffic stop resulted in the female driver being arrested on  a warrant. She was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 31

Traffic Accidents: 3

Friday, June 14

• No incidents reported.

Saturday, June 15

• No incidents reported.

Sunday, June 16

Calls for Service: 16

Traffic Accidents: 3

The Big Rapids City Commission meets this evening at City Hall at 6:30 P.M to discuss a full agenda.

General business items include amendments and resolutions of the following items:

• Awarding bid for biosolids removal and disposal.

• Extending contract with Waste Recovery Systems for lining of

  sanitary sewer mains (cured in pipe).

• Awarding bid for raw water improvements for the Water Treatment Plant.

• Accepting the bid for the purchase of the 2024 Capital Improvement
  Bonds for the extension of Runway 9/27 at Roben Hood Airport.

• Approving Mead and Hunt to provide engineering services for Runway 9/27 Extension - Project No. 1113900-241228.01 - Wetland Credits.

• Amending Fiscal Year 2023/2024 general year-end budget amendments.

• Appointing to the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission.

• Ordinance amending the Big Rapids City Code – Replace Director of Public Safety with the words Police Chief.

The meeting will also include a work session holding commissioner candidate interviews.

All city commission meetings are available to the public. For more information, visit cityofbr.org.

The National Weather Service is warning of dangerously hot conditions this week throughout much of central, south central, southwest, and west central Michigan.

High temperatures this week are currently slated to be at or near 90 degrees Fahrenheit with heat index values possibly reaching values of 100 or higher.

This watch is in effect from Monday morning through Friday evening for Oceana, Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella, Montcalm, and Kent counties, including major cities like Mt. Pleasant, Grand Rapids, Alma, and Muskegon.

NWS wants to remind everyone that extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. Be prepared to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Today, Congressman John Moolenaar voted for the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the House of Representatives. This legislation authorizes policies and programs for the Department of Defense in 2025 and includes a 19.5% pay increase for junior enlisted servicemembers.

“The 2025 NDAA is a victory for the American people and our courageous servicemembers. It’s also bad news for the Chinese Communist Party. I’m proud that the House has taken decisive action to enhance the Department of Defense’s ability to identify Chinese companies working on behalf of the Chinese military, prevent future Chinese drones from dominating our air space, and advance American research security, among many other accomplishments. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate on this important legislation that will keep our country safe and make sure the United States is able to deter the mounting threats from Xi Jinping,” said Moolenaar. 

Included in the legislation are provisions to improves benefit for servicemembers and their families. The legislation also deters CCP aggression and works to prevent espionage efforts in our military and research institutions.

Just before 3:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 15, the Kent County Sheriff's Office was called to the 8000 block of Ella Terrace Court NE for a man being in the caller's home.

Preliminary investigations revealed a 24-year-old man from Plainfield Township entered the home and stabbed a 11-year-old girl multiple times. The girl was transported to an area hospital for treatment and the man is in custody.

KCSO detectives are currently investigating the circumstances around this incident.

On Friday, June 14 at approximately 10:01 A.M., deputies from the Mecosta County Sheriff’s office were dispatched to a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Perry Avenue and Waldron Way in Big Rapids Township. 

The investigation revealed that a 17-year-old female from Morley was travelling northbound on 215th Avenue when she pulled in front of a 66-year-old female from Morley, who was traveling southbound on Waldron Way. This caused a head-on collision between the two vehicles. 

One passenger, who was in the 17-year-old female's vehicle, was transported to the Big Rapids Corwell Health Hospital for minor injuries and precautionary measures. 

Deputies were assisted on scene by Mecosta County EMS, Big Rapids Towing, and Meceola Central Dispatch. 

Is there life on other planets? A research project by Ferris State University faculty members and students is taking a closer look at planets outside our own solar system.

The project is one of several that are part of the 13th Summer Student Fellowship program, administered by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

ORSP Director Thomas Dowling said with 14 student fellows taking up these experiential learning opportunities, this summer’s cohort is the largest and most diverse in program history.

Since the program’s inception, nearly 140 students have participated.

“We are pleased by the wide-ranging array of experimentation, study and exploration and the synergy of these mentor-student efforts,” Dowling said.

Research topics include the connection between fashion and architecture, stress management in esports, using game-based learning in health education, and resiliency and resistance skills for LGBTQ+ community college students.

Dinesh Shetty, an assistant professor in Physical Sciences, teaching Physics and Astronomy courses is entering his first summer as a faculty member. Shetty’s student fellow is Francisco Vázquez, a native of Quilpue, Chile slated to graduate in December with a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Technology.

Shetty and Vázquez are studying exoplanets, “Light Curve Analysis of Exoplanet Using Transit Photometry.”

They will explore planets outside the solar system that could be habitable and potentially harbor some life form using the “transit method” to detect a slight dip in light intensity (light curve) when a planet transits in front of its host star.

“That light curve can tell us a lot about a planet orbiting its host star, just like our earth orbiting the sun,” Shetty said. “It can define the size of the planet, its orbit, and its distance from the host star. For life to exist on another planet, it must be orbiting at the right distance from the host star, so the planet’s surface temperature is ideal for water to exist in its liquid form.”

Ferris State is home to Rawlinson Observatory, which houses a six-inch Unitron Model 620 refractor primarily used for public outreach programs.

“To carry out research and in specific exoplanet research, the facility would need a significant upgrade,” Shetty said. “For the summer project, we will use data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Mt. Wison Observatory in Pasadena, California.”

Vázquez is using the fellowship to further his interest in astronomy, which has taken him to observatories and astronomical symposiums in Poland, studies at the Tololo Observatory in Chile, participation in the ALMA Radiotelescope project in Chile, and visits to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

“I founded a registered student organization called Space and Sciences Engineering, dedicated to creating and studying space sciences,” Vázquez said. “Currently, we are working on a robotics project, but one of our greatest challenges is helping rehabilitate the Rawlinson Observatory.”

Gaining first-hand knowledge of the research process is at the heart of this student-faculty work.

“During these activities with this organization, I learned about the opportunity to conduct research related to the search for exoplanets using the light curve method with Dr. Shetty,” Vázquez said. “I will be visiting the Mt. Wilson Observatory in California in late June. Collaborating with experts at such a highly regarded research facility will be exciting, where famous researchers like Albert Einstein have worked.”

Results from all the fellowship projects will be offered at the 2024 Celebration of Student Research and Creative Activities Symposium, set for Friday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the David L. Eisler Center., 805 Campus Drive in Big Rapids.

_{Photo credit to Ferris State University.}

Thursday night, the Kent County Sheriff's Office responded to a fatal accident involving one car in Oakfield Township.

Preliminary investigations revealed a 38-year-old woman from Sand Lake was driving a grey 2003 Hyundai Sonata northbound on Montcalm Avenue just south of 16 Mile Road, when the car lost control, left the roadway, and hit a tree. She sustained minor injuries from the coach. The passenger, a 39-year-old man from Sand Lake, was fatally wounded. Speed was likely a factor in the accident.

This accident is being further investigated by KCSO's Traffic Safety Unit.

Monday, June 3

• Harassment – Officer responded to a report of harassment. Parties were separated and advised to not have contact with one another. A report will be sent to the Prosecutor for review.

• Fail to Pay – Officer responded to a gas station for a fail to pay complaint. The driver returned and paid for the fuel while the report was being filed.

• Fleeing and Eluding – Officer assisted the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Department with a pursuit where the driver fled from the vehicle by foot. Subjects were located and placed into custody without any major incident.

Tuesday, June 4

• Hit and Run – Officer responded to the listed address for report of a hit and run. Officers were able to make contact with the offender and get the appropriate information. A report will be submitted to the prosecutor. 

Wednesday, June 5

• Assist – Evart Police Department received a report from CPS about a possible child abuse case. The venue was established in a different city and the report was TOT another department.
•  Property Damage Accident – Officers were dispatched for a one car accident. The driver of the vehicle lost control and struck a stop sign.
• Civil – Officers were dispatched for a civil complaint between a business and customer. The situation was resolved while Officers were on scene.

Thursday, June 6

• Fail to Pay – Officers were dispatched to a fail to pay complaint.  The complaint remains open at this time.

• Stalking – Officers received a stalking complaint. The complaint remains open at this time.

• Property Damage Accident – Officers were dispatched to investigate a property damage accident.

• Check Wellbeing – Officers were dispatched to a wellbeing check. No additional services were needed.

Friday, June 7

• No incidents reported.

Saturday, June 8

• No incidents reported.

Sunday, June 9

• Personal Injury Accident – Officers assisted the Osceola County Sheriff Department with a vehicle accident that resulted in injuring some of the occupants of the vehicles.

Local high school and middle school development teams will be in action throughout Big Rapids Saturday and Sunday.

This includes a 10U, 12U, and 15/16U tournament at three different facilities.

Here’s the schedule for each tournament:

10U Tournament @ Rotary Baseball Field (June 15 & June 16)

Game 1 - Saturday @ 9:00 A.M. – Big Rapids vs. Bristol Vipers

Game 2 - Saturday @ 11:00 A.M. – Portland vs. Bristol Vipers

Game 3 - Saturday @ 1:00 P.M. – West Michigan Broncos vs. Big Rapids

Game 4 - Saturday @ 3:00 P.M. – Thumb Elite vs. Portland

Game 5 - Saturday @ 5:00 P.M. – West Michigan Broncos vs. Thumb Elite

Game 6 - Sunday @ 9:00 A.M. – 4^th Seed vs. 5^th Seed

Game 7 - Sunday @ 11:00 A.M. – 1^st Seed vs. Winner of Game 6

Game 8 - Sunday @ 1:00 P.M. – 2^nd Seed vs. 3^rd Seed

Game 9 - Sunday @ 3:00 P.M. – Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner (Championship) 

12U Tournament @ Vogel Fields (June 15 & June 16)

Game 1 – Saturday @ 11:00 A.M. – Big Rapids vs. RBA Ribbies (@ Front Field)

Game 2 – Saturday @ 11:00 A.M. – Portage Muskies vs. GR Flames (@ Back Field)

Game 3 – Saturday @ 1:00 P.M. – RBA Ribbies vs. TC 231 Fusion (@ Front Field)

Game 4 – Saturday @ 1:00 P.M. – GR Flames vs. ECBC (@ Back Field)

Game 5 – Saturday @ 3:00 P.M. – Portage Muskies vs. ECBC (@ Front Field)

Game 6 – Saturday @ 3:00 P.M. – TC 231 Fusion vs. Big Rapids (@Back Field)

Game 7 – Sunday @ 10:00 A.M. – Pool A 2^nd Seed vs. Pool B 3^rd Seed (@ Front Field)

Game 8 – Sunday @ 10:00 A.M. – Pool A 3^rd Seed vs. Pool B 2^nd Seed (@ Back Field)

Game 9 – Sunday @ 12:00 P.M. – Pool B 1^st Seed vs. Game 7 Winner (@ Front Field)

Game 10 – Sunday @ 12:00 P.M. – Pool A 1^st Seed vs. Game 8 Winner (@ Back Field)

Game 11 – Sunday @ 2:00 P.M. – Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner (Championship @ Front Field)

16U Tournament @ Big Rapids High School (June 15 & June 16)

Game 1 – Saturday @ 10:00 A.M. - Big Rapids Rubberducks vs. Flames Roberson (@ Varsity Field)

Game 2 – Saturday @ 12:00 P.M. – Big Rapids Bears vs. Latitude Lakers (@ JV Field)

Game 3 – Saturday @ 12:00 P.M. – Thumb Elite vs. Hawks Baseball (@ Varsity Field)

Game 4 – Saturday @ 2:00 P.M. - Flames Roberson vs. Hawks Baseball (@ JV Field)

Game 5 – Saturday @ 2:00 P.M. – Big Rapids Rubberducks vs. West Michigan Warriors (@ Varsity Field)

Game 6 – Saturday @ 4:00 P.M. – Big Rapids Bears vs. Thumb Elite (@ JV Field)

Game 7 – Saturday @ 4:00 P.M. – Latitude Lakers vs. West Michigan Warriors (@ Varsity Field)

Game 8 – Sunday @ 11:00 A.M. – 4^th Seed vs. 5^th Seed (@ Varsity Field)

Game 9 – Sunday @ 11:00 A.M. – 6^th Seed vs. 7^th Seed (@ JV Field)

Game 10 – Sunday @ 1:00 P.M. – 1^st Seed vs. Game 8 Winner (@ Varsity Field)

Game 11 – Sunday @ 1:00 P.M. – 2^nd Seed vs. 3^rd Seed (@ JV Field)

Game 12 – Sunday @ 3:00 P.M. – Game 10 Winner vs. Game 11 Winner (Championship @ Varsity Field)

More details regarding the 12U pools will be added once they are finalized. 

Angel Santillan-Lopez is the first in his family to attend college and said Ferris State University’s nationally respected Welding program will prepare him for an in-demand career.

“I feel like I am making my family proud,” said Santillan-Lopez, who was one of about 190 incoming students and guests taking part in the first 2024 Orientation session on Monday, June 10 at the David L. Eisler Center.

Orientation sessions are offered three days a week, with good availability for new students on Monday, June 17, Tuesday, June 18 and Thursday, June 20. Fall 2024 classes begin Monday, Aug. 28.

Seeing the crowd engage university staff and program organizers was exhilarating but not overwhelming for Santillan-Lopez, a graduate of Walkerville High School in Oceana County. His mother Nancy Lopez joined him after check-in, looking over a resource fair in the Rankin Atrium.

“I made my first college visit to the Ferris campus during my freshman year,” Santillan-Lopez said. “Ferris, for me, has such a big presence. It's so many people compared to the 200 who live in Walkerville. I graduated in a class of 15 students and plan to join friends from home in the residence halls.”

Angel is the first in his family to attend college and has been focused on studying welding since his initial visit to Ferris.

Assistant Director of Admissions/Communications Jason Daday paused during his work welcoming students in the Fine Art Gallery to credit a Walkerville counselor’s efforts for students in her district.

“Ashleigh Droste organizes yearly visits with us. She is a real champion of our university and programs,” Daday said.

Daday added that a recent upswing in response to 2024 orientation sessions encouraged his department.

“These students are receiving financial aid notices and can now begin their onboarding,” he said. “There had been a lag in processing federal paperwork that presented some delays, but those students now know resources are available to them and are making Ferris their higher education choice.”

Assistant Director of Admissions Emily Hicks said students interested in coming to Ferris State for Fall 2024 classes should register as soon as possible.

“Our first week of orientation sessions is full, with more than 190 students and their supporters signed up to attend each day,” Hicks said. “We are also seeing sessions the weeks of July 8 and July 15 filling up.”

According to various forecasts, some showers and thunderstorms are likely to pass through our listening areas throughout Thursday.

Per the National Weather Service, "thunderstorms will be possible this morning and again later this afternoon and evening. The main threats with the storms will be
damaging winds and large hail."

Various systems will begin this morning around 7:00 A.M., bu the significant weather being monitored closely for potential severe storms will begin after 3 P.M. in southern portions of Michigan. NWS' Hazardous Weather Outlook says tornadoes are possible, but most of the significant weather is projected for locations near or south of Grand Rapids, Mt. Pleasant, and Saginaw.

For hourly up-to-date WeatherEye Forecasts, tune at the top of every hour on WBRN via 1460 AM, 107.7 FM, WBRN.com, and on the WBRN mobile app.

Congressman John Moolenaar introduced legislation to rename the Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Cadillac after the late Corporal Duane E. Dewey, a United States Marine veteran, and Michigan native. Dewey received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Dwight Eisenhower for his service in the Korean War.

“Corporal Dewey was extraordinarily brave, and his selfless sacrifice in the Korean War saved lives. Naming the VA clinic in Cadillac will remind others of his heroic actions and inspire more to learn about him and his story. There has been tremendous community support for this renaming and we must never forget the sacrifices made by the men and women who served in the Korean War. I believe the Duane E. Dewey VA Clinic will serve as a lasting reminder of Duane’s service to our nation,” Congressman Moolenaar said.

Moolenaar’s legislation is cosponsored by member of the Michigan Congressional delegation, including Representatives Jack Bergman, Bill Huizenga, Tim Walberg, Debbie Dingell, Dan Kildee, Lisa McClain, John James, Rashida Tlaib, and Shri Thanedar. 

Veterans groups support the legislation as well. The bill is endorsed by the American Legion Department of Michigan, the Michigan Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Michigan. Moolenaar announced the legislation at American Legion Post 94 in Cadillac. 

Eisenhower awarded Dewey the Congressional Medal of Honor on March 12, 1953, for his actions on April 16, 1952. Dewey’s citation can be found below.

_{Photo courtesy of American Legion Post 94.}

Monday, June 3

• An officer conducted a well fare check on a 16-year-old and 13-year-old per parent request. They were both fine and well. No issues.

• An officer assisted an individual that called the department with reports of receiving threating messages. After investigating, the situation was under control. No issues.

Tuesday, June 4

• Officers were contacted regarding a civil matter involving separated spouses and family members trying to evict one spouse. They were directed to civil court if they wished to proceed with eviction.

Wednesday, June 5

• An officer responded to a call regarding someone possibly burning unauthorized materials. After investigation, other than the neighbor’s barbeque, the reports were unfounded.

Thursday, June 6

• Officers transported a 25-year-old male from Wexford County Jail into Osceola County Jail without any incidents.

• Officers responded to a verbal disagreement between teens.

• An officer took reports of a two-vehicle accident that happened at a parking lot. No major damage and no injuries were reported.

• An officer responded to a call regarding a stolen phone. After investigating, the phone was accidentally taken from the counter of a restaurant believing it belonged to a family member.

• Officers ticketed a repeat offender for his dog being at large and defecating on his neighbor's lawn.

Friday, June 7

• An officer investigated a suspicious vehicle parked at the pumps of a gas station for an extended period of time. All was okay.

• Officers responded to take a report regarding a vehicle left abandoned in a parking lot.

• An officer took a report of several juveniles out after curfew.

• An officer served an abatement notice for an in operable vehicle being stored in violation of city ordinance.

• Officers responded to a noise complaint at an apartment complex due to kids playing basketball. There was no violation of the law found.

• An officer was dispatched to a trailer court for a possible prowler outside. It was determined to just be the neighbor.

Saturday, June 8

• An officer contacted the owner of a car alarm going off in the early morning hours. Everything was resolved, no issues.

• Officers picked up a 27-year-old male at the Muskegon County Jail for an outstanding warrant out of Reed City. He was taken to Osceola County Jail with no incidents.

• An officer encountered someone that was in the park after closing hours. They were informed of the park hours and they left.

Sunday, June 9

• An officer took a complaint from a city resident regarding his wife’s boyfriend damaging some property at his house.
• Officers served an abatement notice for grass height being in violation of city ordinance.

During the last City Commission meeting on June 3, an offer was publicized for a development group that had interest in constructing low-income housing on 906 State Street.

According to Mayor Fred Guenther, the offer has been officially retracted by the development group due to comments by citizens at the meeting.

The proposed facility was going hold four buildings with 138 units available. This includes 40 at market rate, 58 at 80% of area income, 34 at 50% of area income, and six at 40% of area income. 

When asked about the committee’s plan, Guenther said the commission will “keep talking to developers” for other opportunities coming up. The property is currently zoned as R3.

Guenther also mentioned that another offer may be awhile, as uncertainty around the Gotion facility is keeping developers from flooding in.

“We had one or two developers a week before the Gotion stuff started,” Guenther said. “Now, we only hear from maybe one a month.”

Comments from residents included questioning the flow of traffic near the factories, aesthetics of the property, and way of life for townspeople.

The next city commission meeting is currently slated for Monday, June 13.

On the links this season, standout performances highlighted many of two teams battling at the top.

Big Rapids edged out Chippewa Hills for the top spot in the regular season standings this year. However, the Warriors edged the Cardinals in CSAA nominations 7-6, followed by Tri-County (2), Lakeview (2), and Grant (1).

Here's a full list of the honorees for first-team selections and honorable mentions in alphabetical order:

First Team Honorees

• Dylan Boerma, Chippewa Hills

• Chase Carlson, Big Rapids

• Cameron Morgan, Chippewa Hills 

• Gabe Schnieder, Big Rapids

• Brandon Slasor, Chippewa Hills

• Zach Steers, Big Rapids

• Ethan Voigt, Big Rapids

• Preston Younge, Big Rapids

• Ari Ziska, Big Rapids

Honorable Mentions

• Marcus Barnes, Chippewa Hills

• Brennan Gabinski, Chippewa Hills

• Andrew Lenon, Tri-County

• Austin Lenon, Tri-County

• Ayden Lutzke, Lakeview

• Tristan Maneke, Chippewa Hills

• Bode McArthur, Chippewa Hills

• Boston Syrjaia, Lakeview

• Blake Wirts, Grant

For more sports, be sure to subscribe to the Big Rapids Daily News at WBRN.com.

The City of Big Rapids is searching for a new commissioner following the resignation of former commissioner Johnathan Eppley.

According to Mayor Fred Guenther, he is looking for someone passionate for Big Rapids. 

"I can't speak for the other commissioners, but I want someone who has dedication and love for the city," Guenther said. "I don't encourage people applying as a 'popularity contest'."

Qualifications for applying are that the candidate is a registered elector in the city, resident of the city for at least a year prior to his or her appointment, not in default to the city, and not serving on another board following appointment. The appointing also cannot be an employee of the city until one year has elapsed following the expiration of the term in which a person is appointed.

If you want to apply, please complete an interest indicator online and submit it to the City Clerk. T interest indicator is due today, June 12, at 4 P.M.

To fill out the interest indicator, visit https://bit.ly/CityCommissionInterestIndicator.

Monday, June 3

• At 2118 hours, deputies were involved in a pursuit in Martiny TWP. Deputies attempted to make a traffic stop on a Black pickup truck on 110^th Ave near 18 Mile Rd. After a short pursuit, the suspect vehicle crashed, while pulling into the driveway of her residence in Fork TWP. The female driver/suspect fled on on foot into the residence. The female suspect fought with, and resisted deputies. The female suspect was tased and arrested. The female suspect was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail for resist and obstruct, possession of methamphetamine, flee and allude, MDOP, and warrants. The female suspect's mother was also arrested for obstruction, after she tried to prevent deputies from arresting her daughter. 

Calls for Service: 25

Traffic Accidents: 2

Tuesday, June 4

Calls for Service: 19

Traffic Accidents: 3

Wednesday, June 5

• At 2:35 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest, at a residence in Morton TWP. A male subject was arrested on a warrant. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 9:48 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest, at a residence in Big Rapids TWP. A male subject was arrested on a warrant. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 15

Traffic Accidents: 2

Thursday, June 6

• At 9:30 A.M., deputies made a warrant arrest in Big Rapids TWP. A female subject was arrested on a warrant. She was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 8:29 P.M., deputies made a traffic stop in Aetna TWP. The traffic stop resulted in the male driver being arrested on a warrant. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 18

Traffic Accidents: 2

Friday, June 7

Calls for Service: 19

Saturday, June 8

• At 2:31 A.M., deputies made a traffic stop in Aetna TWP. The traffic stop resulted in the male driver being arrested for OWI. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 21

Traffic Accidents: 4

Sunday, June 9

• At 2:03 A.M., deputies made a traffic stop in Big Rapids TWP. The traffic stop resulted in the male driver being arrested for OWI. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 14

Traffic Accidents: 2

Ferris State University men's golf standouts Caleb Bond and Nathan Kraynyk have been named to the 2024 Division II PING All-America Team after leading the Bulldogs to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship and a NCAA Division II National Championships appearance.

Bond, a sophomore from Williamston, claimed Division II PING All-America Third Team recognition while junior Kraynyk, from Manitoba, Canada, was an honorable mention All-America selection.

The awards were determined and announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America. Nine golfers were named to the first team with eight others on both the second and third teams along with 24 honorable mention recipients.

The Bulldog duo represented two of the three golfers from a GLIAC member institution named to one of the All-America listings.

Earlier this year, Bond earned All-GLIAC First Team recognition and was also named to the 2024 NCAA Division II PING All-Midwest Region Team. Kraynyk was an all-conference second team choice prior to a strong postseason finish.

Ferris State wrapped up action in late May at the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championships under head coach Sam Stark with a ninth-place overall team finish in Winter Garden, Fla.

Kraynyk finished as the national runner-up, tying for second place overall on the individual leaderboard with a 206 tournament figure at the national championships. He carded a 67 in the final round after shooting a 70 in round one and a 69 in round two. Bond tied for 37th on the leaderboard at the championships with a 216 tournament total.

The Bulldogs earned their trip to the national championships after coming away with a fifth-place team finish at the NCAA D2 Midwest/Central Super Regional Championships that wrapped up on May 11 in Edmond, Okla.

This year's national championships berth represented Ferris State’s 17th all-time in program history and first since 2019.

Ferris State's ninth-place team finish was the program's best since 2017 when the Bulldogs earned runner-up honors in the 2017 NCAA-II Midwest/Central Super Regional in Kearney, Neb., before going on to a national quarterfinal finish.

This year also marked the 19th time in the past 21 years in which the Bulldogs had representation in the NCAA Tournament when it has been held. The stretch of NCAA Championship representation in men's golf ranks as one of the best stretches in the country.

Ferris State also captured its 22nd all-time GLIAC Championship by beating rival Grand Valley State in the league finale on April 14 in Augusta, Mich.

_{Photo and photo elements credit to Ferris State Athletics.}

This year's girls soccer season was a wild ride, leading to another trophy in the case for the Big Rapids Cardinals following a 7-0 conference record and a CSAA tournament title.  

They also led conference teams with eight nominations, followed by Tri-County (6), Newaygo (5), Lakeview (5), Reed City (3), Grant (3), Chippewa Hills (2), Kent City (1).

Here's a full list of the honorees for first-team selections and honorable mentions in alphabetical order:

First Team Honorees

• Ashley Campbell, senior, Tri-County

• Lauren Campbell, junior, Tri-County

• Carly Carlson, junior, Reed City

• Ava Clapp, junior, Big Rapids

• Brynn Courtwright, sophomore, Big Rapids

• Nolana Davis, junior, Grant

• Elise Devries, senior, Big Rapids

• Hadley Fox, senior, Big Rapids

• Alaina Hanson, junior, Reed City

• Athena Harrington, senior, Tri-County

• Tory Hiler, senior, Lakeview

• Kayleigh Knopf, freshman, Big Rapids

• Megan McCauley, senior, Tri-County

• Holli Painter, sophomore, Lakeview

• Ella Palmer, junior, Chippewa Hills

• Kendall Pearson, junior, Lakeview

• Natalie Richardson, senior, Newaygo

• Ella Soules, freshman, Newaygo

• Savannah Thompson, sophomore, Tri-County

• Ella Tucci, senior, Big Rapids

• Molly Willison, junior, Lakeview

• Bella Welch, senior, Grant

• Ava Westin, freshman, Big Rapids

Honorable Mentions

• Maddie Davidson, senior, Lakeview

• Nalaya Fricke, freshman, Big Rapids

• Lydia Howard, sophomore, Kent City

• Lily Krepps, junior, Grant

• Rachel Larsen, sophomore, Newaygo

• Kaylin Smoes, junior, Reed City

• Kailey Vandyke, senior, Tri-County

• Kate Walcutt, junior, Chippewa Hills

For more sports, be sure to subscribe to the Big Rapids Daily News at WBRN.com.

The All-CSAA softball team was released yesterday, highlighting 37 standout players from this past season. 

The Big Rapids Cardinals took home the conference crown this season with a perfect 20-0 record. They also led conference teams with six total selections, followed by Reed City (6), Newaygo (5), Central Montcalm (4), Grant (4), Chippewa Hills (3), Morley Stanwood (3), Kent City (3), White Cloud (2), Lakeview (1), and Tri-County (1).

Here's a full list of the honorees for first-team selections and honorable mentions in alphabetical order:

First Team Honorees

• Pharis Carroll, senior, Big Rapids

• Hayden Cutler, junior, Reed City

• Lily De Los Santos, junior, Grant

• Olivia DeJohn, senior, Newaygo

• Brooke-Lynn Durga, junior, Big Rapids

• Paityn Enos, junior, Reed City

• Addison Goodin, senior, Newaygo

• Reese Gragg, junior, Grant

• Isabell Guy, senior, Reed City

• Morgan Hammond, sophomore, Reed City

• Kate Hardy, junior, Central Montcalm

• Cailynn Hartzell, junior, Kent City

• Laynee Hoffman, sophomore, Kent City

• Gabi Johnston, senior, Central Montcalm

• Sydnee Kirk, senior, Newaygo

• Tanayah Klammer, senior, White Cloud

• Cailin Knoop, senior, Big Rapids

• Matty Kozuch, freshman, Morley Stanwood

• Lylah Larson, sophomore, Kent City

• Amaya Lathrop, sophomore, Newaygo

• Makenna Martin, senior, Morley Stanwood

• Kaitlyn Minikey, senior, Central Montcalm

• Ella Newman, senior, Chippewa Hills

• Zoe Taylor, senior, Big Rapids

• Emma Thompson, junior, Grant

• Marissa Warren, senior, Big Rapids

Honorable Mentions

• Kate Buchner, sophomore, Lakeview

• Kayla Burgess, sophomore, White Cloud

• Ava Childers, junior, Big Rapids

• Chloe Clark, sophomore, Newaygo

• Alyssa Johnson, senior, Central Montcalm

• Alexa Obenauf, junior, Chippewa Hills

• Chloe Oldham, senior, Tri-County

• Saige Ososki, freshman, Morley Stanwood

• Erin Riesenberg, sophomore, Chippewa Hills

• Kenzie Shoemaker, senior, Reed City

• Hannah Stellini, senior, Kent City

For more sports, be sure to subscribe to the Big Rapids Daily News at WBRN.com.

According to an advisory release by the City of Big Rapids, there will be occasional lane closures starting Tuesday, June 11.

There will be intermittent closures on State Street between Cedar Street to the southern city limits until Friday, June 14.

The Department of Public Works will be removing a salt build-up and some sand used in the winter season. In addition, Ferris State University public works will be making adjustments to their irrigation system. 

A National Science Foundation grant will help Ferris State University automotive students gain skills in the rapidly evolving field of vehicles relying on green energy.

Ferris State’s School of Automotive and Heavy Equipment programs will use a $350,000 National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education grant to develop an Associate of Applied Science degree in Sustainable Transportation Service Technology.

Professor Patrick English secured the three-year award, with assistant professor Jeremy Themm as his co-principal investigator. The grant will be used to acquire testing equipment and develop the curriculum for our degree and certificate programs.

“In this country and around the world, automotive fleets are changing to green-based energy and these students will be familiar with and capable to service components related to that technology,” English said. “Our instruction will achieve certification from the Society of Automotive Engineers, so graduates might put their skills to use in the United States and abroad.”

English said beyond the two-year Sustainable Transportation Service curriculum, the department will develop and offer a one-year certificate program to help working technicians build specific maintenance skills related to electric vehicle drivetrains.

English previously secured NSF support for his role as a regional advisor in the NEVTEX NEXT (Northwest Engineering and Vehicle Technology Exchange) to assist electric vehicle training programs at four state-funded schools in Michigan and a technical college in South Carolina.

He said the work on green technology will complement existing programs.

“Students are focused on and interested in building their skills maintaining vehicles with traditional internal combustion systems,” English said. “We know this new technology emphasis will excite the students and faculty in regional educational service centers and other K-12 programs. We hope to bring in enough students for Sustainable Transportation Service to support the program after our grant term ends.”

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Director Thomas Dowling said the Foundation grant awards for electric vehicles support university goals.

 “We are proud to have received this federal funding to further Ferris’ significant, long-standing contributions in workforce development and sustainability,” Dowling said. “Our office is pleased that Dr. English’s efforts will bring the Automotive program the latest in technology and training, both for students and professionals in the field.”

Ferris State’s Automotive program is a top choice for candidates to staff service departments, fleet maintenance operations, and private car care centers, with a similar stature among vehicle and parts manufacturing corporations for the university’s Automotive Engineering Technology graduates.

_{Photo credit to Ferris State University.}

Chuck Thelen of Gotion Inc. will talk with Muskegon River Watershed Assembly executive director Scott Faulkner about environmental issues during the next “Chat with Chuck” town hall meeting on Tuesday, June 18 at 7 p.m. 

Gotion Inc. and the MRWA have worked collaboratively on a variety of important topics since last May. Gotion also has discussed the types of materials that will be used at the plant with MRWA members and sought the group’s opinion during the plant’s overall design process.

“We are pleased to have Scott Faulkner join us for this important discussion and look forward to some engaging questions from area residents,” said Thelen, vice president of Gotion Inc. – North American Manufacturing. “We’ve enjoyed working with the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly for more than a year now, and Scott’s insight during the meeting will be valuable.”

Thelen also will provide meeting participants with an overall update on the proposed battery components facility in Green Charter Township and take any general questions as well.

Residents can access the town hall meeting at this link. The “Chat with Chuck” meetings, which take place on a monthly basis, include project announcements, guests from the local community, subject matter experts from Gotion Inc. and other information.

People who want to participate or view the virtual meeting should use the most updated Microsoft Teams version, and the latest operating system and browser, for optimum use.

When fully operational, Gotion’s battery components facility will employ more than 2,300 people.

The 2024 all-CSAA track and field honoree list was revealed at the conference photo ceremony on Monday.

Conference champion Chippewa Hills had six total selections while Central Montcalm added seven honorees. Both teams were followed by Tri-County (6), White Cloud (5), Lakeview (6), Newaygo (5), Kent City (5), Big Rapids (4), Morley Stanwood (4), Reed City (2), and Grant (1).

Here's a full list of the honorees for first-team, second-team, and honorable mention selections in alphabetical order:

First Team Honorees

• Hannah Abbott, junior, Chippewa Hills

• Sophia Blackwell, junior, Big Rapids

• Nalaya Fricke, freshman, Big Rapids

• Natalie Gibson, junior, Chippewa Hills

• Kylie Hoffman, junior, Central Montcalm

• Grace Hughes, sophomore, Newaygo

• Ruby Hughes, freshman, Newaygo

• Ava Johnson, freshman, Lakeview

• Emma Johnston, sophomore, Reed City

• Addison Korcal, sophomore, Kent City

• Oliviah Malloy, senior, Big Rapids

• Lexi Martin, sophomore, Morley Stanwood

• Miranda McNeil, senior, Morley Stanwood

• Arianna Musso, senior, Lakeview

• Hope Pietrzak, freshman, Newaygo

• Maria Riddering, senior, Newaygo

• Kamryn Salladay, freshman, Lakeview

• Ariana Todd, senior, Chippewa Hills

• Samara Turner, senior, Big Rapids

• Lila Volkers, junior, Kent City

Second Team Honorees

• Morgan Andres, freshman, Newaygo

• Briana Cheatham, sophomore, Tri-County

• Ashley Choponis, junior, Central Montcalm

• Alexis Curry, junior, Central Montcalm

• Celina Eldridge, junior, Central Montcalm

• Andrea Feldpausch, senior, White Cloud

• Sylvia Freeland, senior, Kent City

• Gracie Houtman, senior, Kent City

• Tamya Johnson, junior, Tri-County

• Kensley Langell, freshman, Tri-County

• Isabella Max, senior, Kent City

• Kamryn McArthur, freshman, Chippewa Hills

• Kyla McKeown, senior, Central Montcalm

• Savanna Scarlett, freshman, Lakeview

• Emma Todd, sophomore, Chippewa Hills

• Keira VanTimmeren, junior, Tri-County

• Clara Vollmar, sophomore, Chippewa Hills

• Molly Willison, junior, Lakeview

Honorable Mentions

• Paige Block, senior, Morley Stanwood

• Natalie Briggs, freshman, Tri-County

• Hailee Brown, junior, White Cloud

• Molly Carlson, freshman, Reed City

• Grace Coston, sophomore, Central Montcalm

• Gabriella Dakin, sophomore, White Cloud

• Justice Dixon, freshman, White Cloud

• Mariah Edwards, junior, White Cloud

• Marissa Funk, freshman, Tri-County

• Julie Horning, senior, Grant

• Ruth Jurden, junior, Central Montcalm

• Emma Kosinski, senior, Lakeview

• Belle McQuarrie, sophomore, Morley Stanwood

For more sports, be sure to subscribe to the Big Rapids Daily News at WBRN.com.

Track season has officially come to an end and award season has begun.

On the boys side, it was certainly Reed City's season as the conference and regional champions among area teams. The Coyotes earned 10 all-CSAA representatives, followed by Tri-County (10), White Cloud (9), Big Rapids (8), Kent City (6), Central Montcalm (6), Chippewa Hills (3), Lakeview (2), and Morley Stanwood (2).

Here's a look at the list of the honorees for first-team, second team, and honorable mention selections in alphabetical order:

First Team Honorees

• Xander Antor, sophomore, Tri-County

• Owen Behrenwald, senior, Tri-County

• Lamont Belvin, sophomore, Big Rapids

• Isaac Clementshaw, senior, Reed City

• Jack Deitsch, sophomore, Reed City

• Kaleb Dubowski, senior, Big Rapids

• Garret Foster, junior, Big Rapids

• Jace Heck, senior, Big Rapids

• Andrew Kianus, sophomore, Reed City

• Anthony Kianus, senior, Reed City

• Izaiah Lentz, senior, Reed City

• Samuel Martini, senior, Kent City

• Bailey Nordland, senior, Big Rapids

• Noah Robinson, senior, White Cloud

• August Rohde, junior, Reed City

• Lucas Rosso, senior, Tri-County

• Paul Saladin, sophomore, Reed City

• Lloyd Sebright-Johnson, senior, White Cloud

• Grant Wheaton, junior, Lakeview

Second Team Honorees

• Christian Brown, senior, Kent City

• Jayden Button, sophomore, Tri-County

• Blake Carr, freshman, Kent City

• Graham Coston, senior, Central Montcalm

• Austin Dalman, junior, Big Rapids

• Ayden DeVoogd, sophomore, Kent City

• Kyler Fertig, sophomore, Central Montcalm

• Carson Gorton, senior, Kent City

• Cade Hallman, sophomore, Tri-County

• Gage Hoffman, sophomore, Central Montcalm

• Jamison Johns, sophomore, Central Montcalm

• Caelen Kinally, senior, Big Rapids

• Tracey Laskey, senior, Tri-County

• Jack Malloy, sophomore, Big Rapids

• Bryce Reed, junior, Tri-County

• Jayden Robinson, junior, White Cloud

• Chaden Schafer, sophomore, Central Montcalm

• Nolan Sly, senior, Lakeview

• Ross Snyder, junior, Chippewa Hills

• Mike Stout, senior, Tri-County

• Tyson Vanderlind, junior, Kent City

• Mitchell Walch, Morley Stanwood

Honorable Mentions

• Matthew Brownell, senior, Chippewa Hills

• Kaleb Canning, junior, White Cloud

• Dalton Crawford, junior, White Cloud

• Coleson Cruzan, junior, White Cloud

• Xander Fall, senior, Chippewa Hills

• Carson Foondle, senior, White Cloud

• David Higgs, junior, White Cloud

• Connor Henry, junior, Tri-County

• Wyatt Karnes, junior, White Cloud

• Elijah Lentz, senior, Reed City

• Waylon Lingeman, junior, Central Montcalm

• Noah McKinney, sophomore, Reed City

• Marek Russ, freshman, Tri-County

• Dylan Vining, sophomore, Morley Stanwood

• Preston Wayne, sophomore, Reed City

For more sports, be sure to subscribe to the Big Rapids Daily News at WBRN.com.

The Central State Activities Association officially announced their player selections for the 2024 all-CSAA baseball team on Monday. 

Big Rapids led conference teams with six total selections, followed by Chippewa Hills (5), Grant (5), Central Montcalm (4), Newaygo (4), Reed City (3), White Cloud (3), Morley Stanwood (2), Tri-County (2), Lakeview (2), and Kent City (1). The Cardinals also won the regular season conference title with an 18-2 conference record.

Here's a full list of the honorees for first-team selections and honorable mentions in alphabetical order:

First Team Honorees

• Aaron Amachor, junior, Tri-County

• Aiden Booth, junior, Grant

• Cameron Bracey, junior, Central Montcalm

• Jaxon duChemin, senior, Newaygo

• Rory Fish, sophomore, Grant

• Devin Garbow, junior, Morley Stanwood

• Tyler Geer, senior, Chippewa Hills

• Ty Gielczyk, junior, Big Rapids

• Max Hammond, senior, Reed City

• Spencer Hansen, senior, Reed City

• Austin Humphrey, junior, Chippewa Hills

• Emmett Lingeman, sophomore, Central Montcalm

• Josiah Long, senior, Newaygo

• Landyn McGowen, senior, White Cloud

• Mayson McNielly, senior, Big Rapids

• Oakley Obenauf, senior, Grant

• Gage Saathoff, senior, Chippewa Hills

• Braden Salladay, junior, Lakeview

• Hunter Sellers, senior, Chippewa Hills

• Kevin Strait, senior, White Cloud

• Nick Teceno, senior, Big Rapids

• Russell Toth, junior, Newaygo

• Hayden Train, senior, Central Montcalm

• Austin Tyers, sophomore, Grant

• Philip Wilbur, senior, Big Rapids

• Isaac Zocco, junior, Big Rapids

Honorable Mentions

• Ayden Bunker, junior, Lakeview

• Ryan Darling, senior, Kent City

• Reese Dew, sophomore, Reed City

• Kevin Groendyke, senior, Morley Stanwood

• Asher Johnson, junior, Central Montcalm

• Gage Perkins, junior, Chippewa Hills

• Cole Plotts, junior, Tri-County

• Blake Rider, sophomore, Grant

• Jayson Ruether, senior, White Cloud

• Caiden Schuberg, junior, Big Rapids

• Hunter Yearsovich, junior, Newaygo

For more sports, be sure to subscribe to the Big Rapids Daily News at WBRN.com.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is warning Michigan residents about medetomidine, a new drug identified in overdose deaths.  

Medetomidine is a veterinary tranquilizer, similar to xylazine, that can cause adverse effects including slowed heart rate, low blood pressure and decreases in brain and spinal cord activity. It is not approved for use in people. 

According to data provided by the Swift Toxicology of Opioid Related Mortalities (STORM) project at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, since March, three overdose deaths have identified medetomidine during postmortem toxicology testing. The deaths occurred in Ingham, Berrien and Wayne counties. In addition to medetomidine, testing also identified fentanyl and other potent manufactured drugs. 

MDHHS is particularly concerned about this drug for the following reasons: 

• Medetomidine can cause central nervous system depression and death.
• Like xylazine, medetomidine is not reversed by medications such as naloxone or Narcan.
• Unlike xylazine, testing strips are not yet available to detect this particular drug.

“Medetomidine is considered more potent than xylazine and we want to make sure Michigan residents are aware of this new and dangerous drug showing up in overdose deaths in our state,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “Even though naloxone doesn’t directly reverse the effects of medetomidine or xylazine, these tranquilizers are usually found in combination with opioid drugs like fentanyl, that can be reversed. For this reason, we continue to urge individuals who use drugs and their loved ones to carry naloxone to prevent overdose.” 

MDHHS is urging local substance use disorder organizations, health care providers and harm reduction agencies to take the following actions: 

• Raise awareness and promote harm reduction practices – medetomidine like xylazine may be increasingly found in the illicit drug supply. Layer harm reduction strategies to lessen the risk of overdose: take it slow, use less, carry naloxone, do not use alone, monitor breathing, etc.?
• As with xylazine, give rescue breaths in case of respiratory depression.
  • “To give rescue breaths to adults, make sure the person’s airway is clear; place one hand on the person’s chin, tilt the head back, and pinch the nose closed. Place your mouth over the person’s mouth to make a seal and give two slow breaths. Watch for the person’s chest (but not the stomach) to rise and follow up with one breath every 5 seconds” (What You Should Know About Xylazine | Drug Overdose | CDC Injury Center).
• Distribute naloxone as well as fentanyl and xylazine test strips – Organizations can request free naloxone from MDHHS to increase capacity. Connect individuals with more ways to access naloxone: order online at nextdistro.org/Michigan and have it delivered at no cost; get it at a pharmacy (Naloxone Standing Order, no prescription required); or contact a Syringe Service Program?for naloxone, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, sterile needles, testing for HIV and Hepatitis C and other life-saving resources. ?
• Explore the Substance Use Vulnerability Index on the MDHHS dashboard?to start conversations around gaps and barriers that may exist in your community. ?

MDHHS will continue monitoring STORM and other rapid data sources and will share information as it becomes available. Agencies aware of any medetomidine-involved overdoses or exposures since January 2024 are asked to share this information at MDHHS-MODASurveillance@Michigan.gov. 

“Just do it all.” That could easily be the motto of Heather Truong, who completed a six-month apprenticeship with Nike and embarked on a full-time career with the company, all while taking classes remotely to complete her Graphic Design degree at Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University.

Truong learned about the apprenticeship while working at the Nike outlet store in Byron Center, Mich. and applied in 2021. After making the first cut, she joined 40 of the top applicants at a three-day virtual design showdown, where they were challenged to create four design briefs—Footwear Design, Apparel Design, Graphic Design, and Color Design—focused on creating a mock line of sportswear for tennis great Serena Williams.

Truong went above and beyond that request, creating an overarching theme that united all four of her designs and bringing depth to her work that she credits to her KCAD education.

“Even when these four briefed categories were separated, I wanted to think of ways they could connect with each other,” Truong said. “It was a conditioned practice from my education to look for those overarching connections.”

Suspecting that every other student would do something tennis-related, she chose a different path. Her direction examined what Williams represents as a human being, focusing on her platform for diversity, her status as a woman athlete, and her sense of empowerment.

Tackling the graphics assignment first, Truong turned her attention to Williams’ hands. “Hands are ways humans express themselves,” she said.

Using the subject of hands as a hero of each brief, Truong illustrated a print design that linked each category (footwear, apparel, color, and graphics) made of William’s hands. Each hand, she said, is “unidentifiable, so you can’t tell what race they belong to, or if it’s a man or woman.”

Truong studied photos of Williams’ competitions and drew her hands in different forms, crediting her Design Drawing class at KCAD for honing her skills.

“I base a lot of my design work on the practices we built in that class,” she said. “I’m able to articulate my imagination quickly by hand on paper, which helps immensely for challenges like this.”

Next, she dove into the color category, building a story around diversity.  She analyzed the underlying tints in skin, creating a palette of cool tones, warm tones, and pinks.

“I also pulled a bunch of imagery around what those colors represented. What is Serena beyond tennis? She’s a mother. She’s someone who strives for a diverse world. She has her sisterhood. She has her father, who helped her throughout her journey,” she said.

Through the print design, Truong used the color palette she created as a means to distract the eye from focusing on the race each hand represented.

With her graphic and color direction established, Truong moved on to the footwear design portion of the competition.

“Serena reminds me of a bird--she has these wings. So, you see that in a lot of the design language I used,” she said.

But it was her innovative lacing system, inspired by the slap wristbands of her childhood, that caught the judges’ attention. She designed the laces to snap, roll up, and connect to a magnet, and when the Nike reps saw that idea, they said, ‘Wow, that’s it.’

For the apparel brief, Truong focused on a one-piece suit for Williams, inspired by the catsuit the tennis star wore in the 2018 French Open.

“What Serena wore was very nontraditional and controversial, but also future-forward,” she said. “I wanted the apparel I designed to feel empowering, almost like a superhero costume.”

Truong wanted to sit down and learn everything about Williams before diving into the competition, but said she also wanted to dig more into some inspiration that could help her explore and continue to understand who her identity as an artist.

“As a woman who’s also a minority, I’ve always looked up to Serena Williams,” she said. “She’s a huge tennis star, the queen. But who are we seeing behind that flashiness, and what does she represent?”

Truong’s strong showing in the virtual showdown earned her the opportunity for a six-month footwear design apprenticeship with 10 others where she would learn how to design a collection and create a new line of footwear for the Serena Williams Design Crew Nike Collection.

The first month of the apprenticeship was a design bootcamp at Pensole Academy, now known as Pensole Lewis College in Detroit, led by prominent designer D’Wayne Edwards. There, the students had the opportunity to learn and test their ideas in an environment where it was stimulated to make mistakes and learn quickly.

“I’m a graphic designer, but footwear was a completely different beast,” she said. “It can’t just look nice. People need to wear it and be comfortable in it. It has to be functional first.”

Truong’s team was asked to create five new footwear designs for Williams—uncharted waters for a graphic designer who now had a role as a footwear designer.

“I had to research footwear design and terminology outside of work hours and strengthen my understanding to keep up with the experienced peers,” she said.

During those four months, she often put a lot of pressure on herself. “At the time, I thought, why don’t you know how to do this? I was staying up till 2 a.m. and waking up at 5 a.m. just to keep up. Now I look back and think I should’ve chilled out. I was trying to earn this label of being a hard worker. But I learned that I had to be an efficient worker in a healthy work-and-life balance in order to learn properly.”

The apprenticeship was a time of great personal growth for Truong, pushing her to deconstruct the values she had for herself and create new ones.

“I grew up in a strict household driven by independence, and this program turned that on its head,” she said. “It taught me that I can’t do everything by myself, and I can’t be afraid to make mistakes. I HAD to be able to make mistakes. I HAD to be okay with failing in order to be successful in the end.”

The Serena Williams Design Crew released their collection in February 2023, and Truong took the lead for the design of the Air Max 90 Futura. The Air Max 90 Futura speaks to the emerging diversity of America's future generations and the untapped potential they hold.

Unique stitching details show a human touch with a color palette made of varied skin-tones. The shoe is built of diverse shapes and assorted materials, representing how people’s differences can work together as a whole.

The shoe also features several hidden ‘Easter egg’ details designed to be discovered by the wearer, including a three-layer tab with the messages ‘For the Future Royal’ and ‘Greatness from Within,’ the Serena Williams logo merged with a crown on the heel tab, and a neon green insole designed to represent the inner energy of the upcoming generations ready to change the future.

For the Serena Williams Design Crew fall release, Truong lead the design for the Nike Dunk Low Disrupt x Serena Williams Design Crew. The shoe takes the inner energy of upcoming generations concept and makes it overt, with diverse shapes and assorted materials that are unapologetic and confident, representing the future royalty who will lead boldly and vibrantly.

Williams herself provided feedback at the midpoint and end of the process, and the apprentices were able to meet her when the project was done. But the real highlight for Truong came when she saw the tennis great wearing her design on her Instagram page, and again when the shoes hit the shelves and her friends started buying them for themselves.

Following the apprenticeship, Truong accepted a full-time job as a footwear color designer for Nike’s skateboarding line, Nike SB, and their all-conditions line, Nike ACG.

All the while, the demands of a full-time job in Oregon could not deter Truong from completing her degree at KCAD.

“I was taking two classes per semester after getting my job,” she said. “Everyone at KCAD was supporting me, and everything worked out remotely.” She accepted her diploma on May 4 this year, officially bringing her college experience to a close.

Since her experience with Nike began, other KCAD students have approached Truong and asked her for advice on their future design journeys.

“You have to learn how to show up for yourself,” she said. “You have to figure out how you’re adding to the creative process and how you’re changing the game. You have to have a fear of being average.”

_{Photo provided by Ferris State University.}

Ferris State University is looking ahead to future efforts to serve as a hub for strengthening the West Michigan economy by better understanding the needs of employers and better educating and training the workforce that drives it.

The foundation of this work began at Ferris State’s initial Workforce Development Summit on April 16 in Big Rapids. The summit drew rave reviews from attendees and inspired greater interest in future events.

Kasey Thompson, special assistant to Ferris State President Bill Pink for innovation and entrepreneurship and an associate professor in the College of Business, expressed her enthusiastic support for bringing West Michigan business leaders together to sharpen the focus for strategies that bring innovative leaders and a trained workforce together.

“Ferris State University is investing in helping Michigan’s economy grow through the work that we are doing here in Mecosta County. We are just getting started,” Thompson said. “Ferris State remains excited to continue partnering with community members and business leaders throughout West Michigan to strengthen our economic interests through these critical educational and training opportunities. April 16 was only the beginning.”

Collaboration and open communication are among the central themes of this work relative to past and future summits.

“Ferris State’s Workforce Development Summit exemplified the power of collaboration, which started late 2023,” said Kelly Wawsczyk, the executive director of the Mecosta County Development Corporation. “We invited industries, government agencies, educational institutions and community organizations to address specific workforce needs effectively.”

Wawsczyk added that attendees particularly appreciated breakout sessions and panel discussions. She looks forward to those being components of future summits for more direct engagement in smaller groups.

“By fostering partnerships, summits such as this can create a supportive ecosystem where stakeholders share insights, resources, and best practices,” she said. “This was our focus and we nailed it.”

Emphasizing the importance of a region-wide approach, Rachel Gray, executive director of Hello West Michigan, liked what she experienced as an attendee on April 16. She looks forward to what future summits can do on topics such as housing, recruiting, and credit and non-credit educational and training options.

“The Ferris Workforce Summit was a fantastic opportunity for local companies to learn about free resources available to them as employers,” Gray said. “There is so much noise about ‘talent’ in the marketplace that it can be hard for an HR professional to know where to turn. But the panel of trusted providers at the Workforce Development Summit cut through that noise and gave targeted suggestions local employers can implement right away.”

Echoing Gray’s comments, city of Big Rapids Mayor Fred Guenther knows the impact these discussions can have on a local level. The mayor emphasized that Big Rapids is an eager partner to find new and innovative ways to support the needs of businesses looking locally for a trained workforce.

“The big thing we have to do is to get more of our local businesses to attend these summits to take advantage of the knowledge that Ferris brings to the table in our community,” Guenther said. “The city wants to do anything it can to help promote the businesses in our community. If Ferris can be a plus factor in that effort, we believe this is a win-win for everybody.”

Thompson said Ferris State has faculty with industry experience and expertise necessary to educate and train students and work with business owners to succeed in starting, maintaining, and growing a business.

She said Ferris State is committed to opening access to university resources that can benefit business owners and the West Michigan workforce.

“Communicating directly with business leaders is helping Ferris State identify and overcome the roadblocks impeding economic growth,” she said. “We believe education and training opportunities tailored to the needs of businesses and consumers will take us down a path to greater economic prosperity.”

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has provided $5 million to 12 Michigan universities to provide $30,000 stipends to students seeking to obtain a master’s degree in social work and who commit to working in behavioral health in the state upon graduation.

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) to Master of Social Work (MSW) Program seeks to increase the number of master's degree level social workers in the behavioral health workforce throughout the state. The program provides one-time, $30,000 stipends to bachelor’s level social workers who agree to enter a full-time advanced standing MSW program and provide at least two years of full-time employment in public sector behavioral health in Michigan. 

“This program is another investment by the state to increase access to behavioral health care for Michigan families,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “We are committed to helping families access behavioral health care services when and where they need them. We anticipate up to 150 students will be able to obtain their master’s degree in social work through this program.”

Award amounts were calculated based on average number of students in the advanced standing MSW program, average student loan debt and demographic diversity. The following Michigan universities received funding:

• Andrews University - $208,236
• Eastern Michigan University - $371,976
• Ferris State University - $167,169
• Grand Valley State University - $384,339
• Madonna University - $314,824
• Michigan State University - $498,358
• Northern Michigan University - $90,578
• Oakland University - $409,741
• Saginaw Valley State University - $188,063
• Spring Arbor University - $511,468
• University of Michigan - $853,394
• Wayne State University - $1,001,848

Participating universities will now work to contract eligible students into the program to begin working toward their MSW degree. Students are required to enroll in a full-time advanced standing MSW program. The length of the program can vary from university to university; however, it is generally three semesters, or one year.

For additional information, email Jilliann Betzer at BetzerJ@michigan.gov.

Get ready for an unforgettable experience at LMCU Ballpark this summer with the return of family movies, 'Flix on the Field!'

Originally launched in 2020 as a creative response to the canceled Whitecaps season due to COVID-19, this beloved event is back by popular demand thanks to the partnership between the West Michigan Whitecaps and Family Fare.

Imagine strolling onto the green outfield grass of LMCU Ballpark, setting up your lawn chairs and blanket, and enjoying blockbuster movies on the stadium's giant videoboard. This unique experience has quickly become a cherished tradition for many families.

"When we first brainstormed the idea of showing movies on our centerfield screen, it was an instant hit," said Morrison.

Activities on movie nights include a photo booth for family pictures, coloring station to keep the young ones entertained, event swag and coupons from Family Fare, and product sampling upon exiting the stadium after the movies.

“Creating fun, affordable, memorable family experiences is the core of what the Whitecaps brand is all about,” said Dan Morrison, VP of Sales & Marketing for the West Michigan Whitecaps.

In the summer of 2020, LMCU Ballpark welcomed over 5,000 moviegoers, offering West Michigan’s favorite ballpark snacks, craft beer, popcorn, and movie candy. Building on that success, LMCU Ballpark is excited to bring back these magical movie nights when the Whitecaps are on the road.

“We’re thrilled to reintroduce Flix on the Field and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner than Family Fare who shares the same commitment to bring fun to our community for West Michigan families,” said Morrison.

Ticket prices, which includes admission for both movies shown the corresponding evening, is $9 for adults and $5 for children. A family four-pack can be purchased for $25, which includes two adult tickets and two children tickets. The first 100 family four packs purchased include a refillable popcorn bucket for use at any 2024 Flix on the Field event dates.

"At SpartanNash and Family Fare, we are passionate about engaging with the neighborhoods we serve," said SpartanNash Director of Retail Marketing, Jessica Wong. "We’re excited to be able to contribute to moments for local families and communities to come together in creating lasting memories at the LMCU Ballpark.”

Gates will open one hour and fifteen minutes prior to the start of the first movie. The first movie will start at the scheduled time, with a 15-minute intermission before the start of the second feature movie.

Join in for a fun-filled, family-oriented evening under the stars at LMCU Ballpark. Flix on the Field is the perfect way to make lasting memories with family and friends! See the schedule below for dates and times for each film.

Flix on the Field presented by Family Fare Schedule:

• Thursday, June 27
  • 7:00 p.m. The Sandlot (PG)
  • 9:00 p.m. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (PG-13)
• Friday, July 12
  • 7:00 p.m. The Greatest Showman (PG)
  • 9:00 p.m. Top Gun: Maverick (PG-13)
• Friday, August 2
  • 7:00 p.m. Encanto (PG)
  • 9:00 p.m. Barbie (PG-13)
• Friday, August 30
  • 6:00 p.m. A League of Their Own (PG)
  • 8:30 p.m. Field of Dreams (PG)

LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET

June 4, 2024

Opening Statement: “I feel like I needed to start with, I really need to start with Larry Allen. Larry was a teammate of mine for three years at Dallas. I’m like everybody – thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Anybody that was around Larry will tell you what an unbelievable dude he was, what an unbelievable human being, what an unbelievable teammate. Then his play on the field speaks for itself. He was a rare, rare player. I just can’t believe it. Anyway, I’m really thinking about his family. What an outstanding human being L.A. was. I just wanted to start with that. As it pertains to this week, the vet minicamp, we’re really kind of on the back end of this now. I really want to get three really good days with the veterans here. Then after that, continue to develop the young players. So, this will kind of be it for the vets. We’ll have a red zone day, but really just continue now with our situational football, some of the unscripted stuff. First, second, third, red zone, backed up, some the special teams will be involved a little bit, so just kind of putting it all together here for the last three. We’ve gotten better every week, so we just need to take another step here in the spring. It’s been good for us.”

On why he schedules vet minicamp this week instead of the following week: “To me the thought is, I want to get nine good practices with the vets. I would rather – man they’ve been here working from day one, and let’s get this in. We’ve got this really, call it six, seven-week period, excuse me eight-week period here. To me, they come in, they put the work in, they’ve been here, then we’re good. We can get that work done in those eight weeks and so they don’t need to be here week nine. Now, we can focus on the young guys for one more week without the vets being around. Sometimes you’ll get some questions you wouldn’t have gotten with them, you get a little extra work, and so I just think it’s good for us.”

On if he has three or four practices next week: “Well we have four on the docket, but we’re not going to use all of those.”

On if there is a reason that he is not using the fourth practice next week: “I think that we’ll do an offensive, defensive, a special teams on Tuesday, and then we’re just going to have them work with (Lions Director of Sports Performance) Mike Clark and (Lions Head Strength & Conditioning Josh) Schuler and those guys in the weight room. So, a lot of it is, you can’t do full team. You’re going to cut most of the vets loose then we don’t have enough. But we’ll still get good work, fundamentals, individual, you know it’s still a chance to develop.”

On what his philosophy is for using tight ends and how important that position is to this team: “The more versatile your tight ends are, mentally, but physically. They have to be able to do both. You have to have flexibility physically to line up, be able to block a point, come back on the back side. You have to be able to one-on-one pass a defensive end, you’re going to have to handle the route tree. The more you have flexibility in those positions, between the mental and physically, I just feel like it opens up your offense. It allows you to do so much more than without. That’s the beauty of tight ends, because of the job description. If they can do it, and be good at it, the pass game, the pass protection game, and the run game, to me it gives you so many options it’s hard for a defense to plan for you. And that’s why. That’s why it’s important.”

On what he saw in Lions S Brandon Joseph in his first-year development and what he has to do to earn a roster spot: “Every year, we get to the end of the year and we look at these guys. We say, ‘Alright, who developed, who do we need to keep working with, who’s got room to grown?’ B-Jo is one of those guys who noticeably improved last year. He didn’t get a chance to play in the season necessarily, we had him up for – but to play defensive reps, he’s kind of one of those – boy you wish you could’ve gotten him up though. There was a comfort level by the end of the year like, ‘Man this guy we think could probably go in there and hold his own a little bit.’ So that’s a good sign. There has been noticeable growth from him last year. I would tell you even in this spring he’s improved. He’s a young guy that we like a lot. He puts the work in. He’s smart, he’s crafty. In this defense, if you can understand conceptually what an offense is doing and understand the freedom you have – it doesn’t mean you go rouge, but the freedom you have at the safety position. So, if you’re a crafty, smart guy and you have instincts, you can thrive in the safety position in our defense. You really see him coming along here. There again, we’re not in pads, this is early, but there is growth, we like where he’s at right now.”

On if Lions S Brandon Joseph’s 10 interceptions in college speaks to his intelligence: “Yeah, I think it does. I think it’s intelligence but it’s instincts too. He’s got a knack for, he can kind of play off the quarterback here, he can get a feel for where his help’s at, manipulate the quarterback a little bit. He certainly has that, and now it’s just growth within our system.”

On what Lions Director of Sports Science Jill Costanza does for this team: “She’s got about a thousand hats, let me start there. I can’t give you one thing, I can give you multiple. Not only does she work in sports science, she’s the one who’s giving us all the data post-practice. What we can handle, what we can’t, where we’re at. But also, she works in the weight room. She’s down there when we’re doing cleans, we’re doing warm up, we’re doing dynamics, we’re doing squats, she’s coaching. Those are just a couple of things that she helps us with. She’s versatile. She’s a versatile coach. When you’re able to be a legit strength coach but also work in the sprots science department for us. That was one of (Lions Director of Sports Performance) Mike Clark’s, like visions of her when we were able to – we’re fortunate to have her was just that. Her versatility was going to be big for us. She’s an asset.”

On if Lions CB Amik Robertson’s ability to play anywhere is what attracted the coaching staff to him: “I would say that was part of it. The first thing was his competitiveness. You just said, ‘I don’t care if he’s inside or outside, the guy competes.’ He is a feisty, competitive, challenging corner who has versatility to play in and out. That’s always going to appeal to us. The more flexibility you have in and out is always going to – because you can do more jobs right? It’s easier to get you into the game. But the first thing that pops off the tape is how much he challenges and competes. There was no denying that, so we knew he would fit right in here with us.”

On if Lions OL Giovanni Manu is swimming playing such a technical position: “Yes, he’s swimming. He is swimming. But we expected him to be swimming. We fully expected this to get worse before it ever gets better. He’s trying to find his way. We’re back to the basics of how you get into a stance properly, where your weight goes, when you get out of a stance, where your help is, certainly the scheme, the MIKE, working with others, working with the tight end in this combination, working with the guard, pass and twist – he’s just in the infant stages of here we go. We’re literally working from the ground up, and we knew it was going to be that way. Here’s what we know. The guy has got it in his body, and he’s willing to work. It’ll always be pivotal that we keep his confidence at such a level where he just – ‘Just come back to work, just keep putting in the work, just work on this thing today and get a little bit better today at this.’ I think that’s going to be the trick, and it always is with the developmental-type guy, is that they don’t lose confidence and they begin to question themselves and, ‘I don’t know if I can really do this,’ so we just keep working with him. I anticipate that we’re going to have a guy that when we come into camp, it’s going to take a dip. Then we’re going to start seeing signs of life here. Now when? I don’t know. But it’ll come. You have to break them down then build them back up, and that’s what (Lions Offensive Line Coach) Hank (Fraley)'s doing right now.”

On if he expects Lions OL Giovanni Manu to be ready this year or if this will be a redshirt year for him: “I would love to say, ‘Hey we’re going to get him this year by the middle of the season,’ and that would be great, and that’s always going to be the goal is, how fast can we get one of these guys to where they’re contributing and helping us. But we also knew what we were acquiring. We’re prepared to take this as it comes. Whenever he’s ready, he’s ready, and that’s OK. If that doesn’t mean it’s this year and it’s next year, great. Certainly, we’re trying to push to get him ready now. That’ll always be the goal with these guys.”

On if he feels like they are wide open in figuring out the best way to deploy everyone in the secondary: “Yes. Yes, yes, yes. It’s a great place to be in. It’s a great place to be in. We have so many options right now, so much competitiveness. (Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn) AG and I were talking about it again, (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) and I are talking about it every evening. The talent level, the competitiveness, the versatility. Honestly, we have no idea who our starting lineup’s going to be right now and it’s exciting. It’s so good. Theres no telling who’s going to be outside corners, who’s going to be our nickel, who’s going to be our safeties. This thing is wide open across the board. It’s going to be great to let these guys compete and just go after it and see who goes and is going to be the most reliable guys for us, most dependable. It’s exciting.”

On what he has seen in Lions DL Mathieu Betts: “I would tell you there’s – there again, we’re in pajamas, but there’s more versatility to this guy than I think I even realized. There’s a couple things we’re doing in coverage with him that wasn’t his deal. He just got after the quarterback, period. We’re asking him to do some things kind of at the SAM linebacker position and base to where, yeah, he’s a rush, but he’s also dropping in coverage, he’s matching a little bit. I’ll tell you what, he’s got some pretty good hips for a big man, and he can run. He can run and he’s smart. So, there’s some versatility there. And special teams, yes sir.”

On where Lions WR Antoine Green has shown his growth that gives him confidence: “I think that’s another one of those, like you asked about (Lions S Brandon Joseph) B-Jo. I would say AG was another guy that by the end of the year, we felt improvement. There was a noticeable difference from the time he walked in here to the end of the season, just what he was doing on scout teams for us. He played a little bit at the end of year, but those targets were going other places. But we saw significant growth. We saw speed. We saw speed on the releases. He’s a smart football player, knew the offense. Really having high hopes came in early this camp. He had a little bit of an injury last week, so we didn’t get to really see him. He’ll be back up doing a little bit of individual and stuff, so it’s hard to say. That progress is on hold because we weren’t able to get him out there last week. But certainly, we like the player and there’s enough – let’s see what happens in camp. He’s another guy, let him go compete.”

On if he is looking for guys to go up on a trajectory of engagement and energy at this point in the offseason: “That’s hard to say, the energy level – you have to be careful right, because you turn it up too much, then you can’t be – none of this can be live as we know. That’s what spring – so you have to be careful. That’s the hard thing, you don’t want to coach bad habits into them. You’re constantly telling them to back off, slow down, and that’s the opposite of what we’re trying to do around here so we have to be careful with that. But I do think that the knowledge, the handling the pressure of the situation that we’re in, the mental side of it, the psychological side of it, I think is very important. And that’s where you get the most out of all of this is really from that right now.”

On June 4, 2024, at approximately 1:27 P.M., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Fairfax, Virginia, detectives regarding a boom lift trailer stolen from their jurisdiction. The detectives advised that the trailer had a GPS locator on it and appeared to be located at a residence off Timberwolf Trail in Peacock Township.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies went to the residence and contacted the property owner. The property owner confirmed that he had purchased the trailer online and that he did have it at his residence. The property owner cooperated and turned the trailer over to the Sheriff’s Office.

The trailer will be turned over to the agency in Fairfax, Virginia.

Sheriff Martin urges caution when purchasing vehicles, quads, ORVs, etc., online. Remember, ORVs are required to be titled in Michigan. A sign of a good transaction is that the seller has the title in their possession upon sale. Anything else, and you take your chances.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Lake County 911 Central Dispatch and AA Collision.

It was an eventful year for Big Rapids baseball as the Cardinals finished the year 26-9 and earned their second straight conference title under head coach J.T. Scarpelli.

According to Coach Scarpelli, the team has received five first team all-CSAA selections.

The first selection is pitcher Ty Gielczyk. The junior had a standout campaign on the mound, winning of 8 of 12 starts with a 2.06 earned run average and 81 strikeouts. At the plate, he led the team with 42 hits as well as finished second in slugging percentage (.478), second in RBIs (33), third in batting average (.372) and third in OPS (.911). 

Selection number two is catcher Philip Wilbur, who finished with a .980 fielding percentage and 191 putouts in 33 appearences behind the plate. He led the team with 10 doubles as well finished second in walks (23), fourth in OPS (.906), and fourth in slugging percentage (.456). Wilbur was also named to the all-district team for his performance against Whitehall.

Second basemen Nick Teceno is the third Cardinal selection. Teceno had 26 assists and 46 putouts sharing the middle infield with teammate Isaac Zocco. He finished second on the team with 32 runs, fourth in walks (18), and fifth in hits (29). 

Selection number is in fact shortstop Isaac Zocco. The standout batsman finished with a .360 batting average to go with a .536 on-base percentage and .472 slugging percentage. He also led the team in runs scored (48), walks (28), stolen bases (20), and fielding assists (35).

The fifth and final first-team selection is outfielder Mayson McNeilly. The clean-up man batting an outstanding .404 on the season, finishing with 33 RBI's, six triples, and two home runs. McNeilly also recorded a .907 fielding percentage with 37 putouts. 

First baseman Caiden Schuberg was also chosen as an honorable mention. In addition to his .949 fielding percentage and 69 putouts at first base, Schuberg recorded a .440 slugging percentage at the plate with four triples. 

When asked about the honorees, Scarpelli said this team's success was beyond the awarded six individuals. 

“While it is nice to have six players recognized, we were 18-2 and back to back champions. Clearly we have more than six players that deserve to be on that list. Jonathan Losinski hit almost .375 in conference play and reached base in almost 50 percent of his at bats. Cole Haist was 6-0 pitching and allowed only nine earned runs in 30 innings pitched. I understand these guys are younger, but it doesn’t mean they didn’t deserve the recognition. They worked very hard for their results and should be recognized.”

The full all-conference teams are expected to be announced in the coming days. 

Monday, May 27

• No incidents reported.

Tuesday, May 28

• Assist – Officers were requested to assist the Osceola County Sheriff's Deputies with a domestic violence investigation.

• MDOP – Officers were called to a vacant residence for damage found by the property owner. The investigation currently remains open pending additional follow up.

• Well-Being Check – Officers were requested to conduct a well-being check on a subject. The subject was found to be okay and not in need of any services.

Wednesday, May 29

• Civil Dispute – Officers were dispatched to a civil dispute over residency. All parties were advised to contact the court regarding the eviction process. 

Thursday, May 30

• VCSA – Officers were dispatched to a controlled substance violation complaint.  The suspect was gone prior to the complaint being reported. The investigation currently remains open pending additional follow up.

• Found Property – Officers received property that was located at the splash pad. The owner of the property was notified of the process to claim it. 

• Assist Michigan State Police – Officers were dispatched to assist Michigan State Troopers with a disorderly person complaint.

Friday, May 31

• PDA – Officers were dispatched to investigate a two-vehicle property damage accident.

Saturday, June 1

• Trespass – Offices were dispatched to a trespassing complaint. Officers contacted the subjects, and they were given no trespass notices from the property.

• Well-Being Check – Officers were dispatched to check the well-being of children at a residence. The children were found to be okay. Officers discovered a subject at the residence had a warrant and they were arrested and lodged on the warrant. 

Sunday, June 2

• Assist Osceola County Sheriff – Officers were requested to assist Osceola County Sheriff Deputies with searching for a subject that ran from them during an investigation.

• Disorderly – Officers were dispatched to a local business from an upset patron. 

• Well-Being Check – Officers were dispatched to check on a subject that was sleeping in their vehicle, believed by the caller to be having a medical emergency. Officers contacted the subject who advised they were okay and did not need any additional services. 

According to a release by the Michigan State Police, troopers from the Michigan State Police Mt. Pleasant Post arrested Jeffery James Harvell, age 37, from Big Rapids on Saturday, June 1, 2024, for two counts of Child Sexually Abusive Activity.

Harvell was arraigned Monday, June 3, in the 77th District Court, Mecosta County, on the two counts of Child Sexually Abusive Activity with bond set at $75,000/10% cash surety and must wear a GPS tether.

If convicted, Harvell faces a possibility of not more than 20 years imprisonment for each count and as is with any charge, he is innocent until proven guilty.

Katke Golf Course will be hosting the MHSAA Division 3 Boys State Golf Finals this weekend.

"It serves a few purposes," Head Golf Pro Brian Corwin said via email. "It promotes our community, it promotes our university and most importantly it promotes our golf course."

In response to hosting duties, the course will be closed to the public all day Friday, June 7 as well as until around 2:30 P.M. on Saturday, June 8.

The driving range will be available on Friday morning after 9:30 A.M. until roughly 3 P.M., as teams will be using it again on Friday afternoon. There may be limited spots available after 3 P.M. but there are no guarantees. The range will open again at 9:30 A.M. on Saturday and will remain open as normal.

Please keep in mind that if you are coming out to use the range, parking will be limited in the lots due to an influx team buses and vans for competiting teams. The MHSAA will also be charging for parking, which will be enforced by Big Rapids High School staff at the front entrance of Katke. Members coming to use the range will be waived a parking fee. 

I realize this is a disruption from our normal operation and I appreciate your patience, understanding & cooperation," Corwin said.

For more information or questions, call the clubhouse at 231-591-3765.

For 20 years, a determined Massiel Calderon never took her eyes off the prize – finishing her bachelor’s degree.

Now Calderon is motivated to continue her education, thanks to the doors Ferris State University has opened for her and the Calderon family.

Calderon was all smiles – as she frequently is – and swelled with pride as she shook hands with Ferris State President Bill Pink at commencement. Calderon, who earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of Arts, Sciences and Education, sees Pink as a role model and the opportunities that education can create for her.

“I’m just getting started right now. I plan to keep it up until everyone has to call me ‘Dr. Calderon,’” she said.

The Dominican Republic native said she was raised by strong women – her mom and grandmother – before and after moving to the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City and then the borough of Queens when she was in middle school.

An older and wiser Calderon is now setting her sights on a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and a Doctorate in Community College Leadership – all at Ferris State.

Calderon is a special projects assistant in the Ferris State Hispanic/Latino Cultural Center and a member of Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority Inc. She has benefited from a great family and friend support system on campus. This includes her husband, Rafael, now a junior in the Cybersecurity program. Calderon’s adopted daughter, Mia Calderon, is a Ferris State student and an HLCC office assistant.

The Calderon’s adopted Rafael’s brother, Spencer, to a family that includes their daughter, Arriana and son, Julian. When Rafael’s mom became ill with Mast Cell Leukemia, one attempt at pursuing higher education degrees paused. The couple then became foster parents to Rafael’s siblings, Spencer and Mia Calderon.

“One of the first times it feels like we graduated was when Spencer and Mia had their adoption ceremony,” Calderon said. “We all went together, and they got a teddy bear from the judge. That was like our first family achievement. From then on, we’ve just been achieving things together.”

Calderon said it took two years to become foster parents because of New York’s rigorous regulations.

“And then, in the middle of that, we had Arianna, now 13 years old. Then, we had Julian, who is now 11. Both go to Big Rapids Middle School. I went from being pregnant with one kid to having three kids in three months. That was an adjustment, but it was fine because I’m the oldest of seven. Because of that, it wasn’t that hard for me to adjust. And luckily, Arriana and Julian slept all night.”

Finishing what they started academically remained in Calderon’s plans, with the responsibility of raising a family and transitioning from an old home to a new one.

“My sister was already here in Michigan, and we came for a visit in what felt like the middle of nowhere … surrounded by Amish people,” she said. “We were like, ‘We want to be here.’”

Calderon earned an associate degree in Philosophy from Suffolk County Community College in Selden, N.Y. and just started at Stony Brook University in New York during COVID-19.

“We moved to Michigan right around when the pandemic was ending, and Stony Brook wouldn’t allow me to continue to be an online student,” she said. “We moved here for about a year. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with my education.”

One day, while looking for somewhere to eat, the family found The Rock Café at Ferris State.

“I didn’t know this was Ferris State University,” she said. “I thought we were just going to a diverse place to eat where everyone could pick whatever they wanted to eat. Then, I realized we were on a university campus, only 20 minutes from where we were now living.”

The coincidence was an opportunity too good for the Calderon family to pass up.

“I was like, ‘I’m going to go here,’ she said. “So, in less than two months, I was registered for classes and had my schedule.”

But it got better for Calderon, who found a home in her new Ferris State home.

“Before I started attending classes, I interviewed with the Center and started working as the Promesa Scholar’s Program coordinator,” she said. “As I started working here, I got to know the Center first, and then more and more, I got to know more people in the Ferris community through that work. I got to know so many departments and began feeling part of this community more.”

The pieces started falling into place when the Center underwent a leadership change, and Sonia Trevino became its new director.

“We just immediately clicked. We have the same mindset,” Calderon said.

The renamed Ferris State Hispanic/Latino Cultural Center felt like home in more ways than one.

“Mia graduated from high school and started going to school at Ferris,” Calderon said. “I go to Ferris, Ralphy goes to Ferris and Mia goes here.”

While Calderon is beginning her master’s degree pursuit, her husband is finishing his bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity.

“Arriana is 13, and she thinks she’s going to Ferris because we know so many people on campus, including many students,” Calderon said. “The students like what I like the most about Ferris – that they welcome a family. There are a lot of spaces that don’t really allow kids and the kids are a part of the family. They’re part of the Center. They are part of my experience. Everything I do here, everybody knows the Calderons, and we love meeting people.”

At commencement, Calderon crossed the stage with a big smile, with her parents, kids, and Spencer, her oldest son, waving a Dominican Republic flag in the stands. Her support system is one that she would never trade.

“I became a mom to more kids in part because I wanted to support him and his wishes with his mom,” said Calderon, who also credited her mom and her grandmother, who passed away at 92 years old, as major influences on her. “It has been great. Mia is like my best friend, and it’s giving me a better perspective as a mom, too, because I’m not like a traditional mom. We are all Calderons.

“Ralphie supports me in anything I want to do, and I support him,” she continued. “His education has been more delayed so I could do it. He’s been the predominant breadwinner, and now that I have graduated, Ferris will hire me to work full-time. Now, he’s studying full-time to finish his degree.”

Calderon said she intends to stay at Ferris.

“I’m going to stay at Ferris for the rest of my educational and professional journey,” she said. “I am a Bulldog for life. I really am. Bulldogs stay together.”

The Mecosta County Parks are once again kicking off summer and celebrating the end of the school year with their 9th annual Community Open House Event. 

This Friday through Sunday, Jun. 7 thru Jun. 9, vehicle entrance fees to the Mecosta County Parks will be waived for day use of each park.

The open house provides an opportunity for Mecosta County residents and area visitors to take advantage of the many great recreational opportunities offered through the park system and is
organized in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Free Fishing Weekend. No fishing license is required through the Michigan DNR on Jun. 8 or Jun. 9, though all other fishing and boating regulations still apply.

Area families are encouraged to enjoy a fun weekend together at one of their several park locations. Whether participating in the free fishing weekend, boating, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, participating in one of the staffed family programs, or just enjoying the outdoors, you’re sure to make some lasting memories! Day use visiting hours are from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. County parks participating in the Community Open House include Brower, School Section Lake, Merrill-Gorrel, Paris, and Davis Bridge.

The weekend also offers the most affordable camping opportunity of the year as campers will not be required to pay additional vehicle fees normally associated with a camping stay. To book your campsite or cabin for the weekend visit the online reservations page of the Mecosta County Parks website. For information about each park’s offerings and to keep up with
scheduled summer events visit www.MecostaCountyParks.com and like or follow each individual County Park page on Facebook.

The Mecosta County Parks welcome the community to come out and play this weekend, create your own adventure, and make lasting memories by sampling the wide variety of outdoor
opportunities offered throughout the parks system.

Photo provided by Mecosta County Parks Commission.

The Sheriff’s Office took 679 calls for service for the month of March. The corrections staff booked 93 subjects into the jail between May 1 and May 31.

The average daily inmate population for March was 55 inmates.

911 Hang Ups: 3

Abandoned Vehicles: 18

Alarms: 14

Animal Control: 9

Area Check: 36

Assaults/Sexual Assaults/Threats: 21

Assist to Other Jurisdictions: 10

Attempt to Locate: 1

Breaking & Entering: 8

Check Wellbeing: 23

Civil: 12

Death Notification: 0

Disorderly: 13

DNR Calls: 8

Domestic Assaults: 20

Fail to Pay (Gas Drive Off): 0

Flee & Elude (Pursuits): 2

Follow-Up investigations/Details: 39

Found Property: 4

Fraud: 9

Hit & Run: 2

Juvenile Assaults/Runaways: 34

Larceny: 5

Malicious Destruction of Property: 2

Mental Health Calls: 5

Minors in Possession: 2

Missing Persons: 2

Motorist Assist: 9

Misc. (PPO Vio, Standby, etc.): 65

OWI/OUID: 2

Paper Service: 1

Parking/Traffic Hazard: 2

Personal Injury Accident: 5

Property Damage Accident: 63

Property Check: 0

Retail Fraud: 1

Road Run-Off: 0

Stolen Vehicles: 3

Suspicious Situations: 21

Traffic Stops: 169

Prisoner/Mental Transport: 7

Trespass: 7

Vehicle Inspections: 10

Warrants: 11

Weapon Offenses: 1

At 7:33 A.M. Wednesday morning, a house fire was reported at 218 W Pine Street in Big Rapids near Crossroads Charter Academy.

Big Rapids Township Fire and Rescue responded to the scene at 7:38 A.M. Initial reports stated there were large amounts of black smoke exiting the residence from the attic area.

With the assistance of Reed City Fire and Rescue, Hersey Fire and Rescue, and Colfax Township Fire and Rescue, the fire was officially put out just before 4:00 P.M. Wednesday afternoon. The scene has been cleared and Pine Street has been reopened.

According to Big Rapids Fire Chief Steve Schroeder, all residents and a dog were evacuated safely from the home. There were no reported injuries but the house did sustain significant structure damage from the flames.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation at this time. 

The Mecosta County Sheriff's Office has announced four bridge locations along US-131 will be seeing some road construction this summer in Mecosta and Osceola Counties.

This work will take place from the beginning of June til the end of August. The scope of the work includes structural steel repairs and zone painting.

Northbound and Southbound US-131 traffic will be maintained with shoulder closures, working behind the existing guardrail or temporary concrete barrier.

Please see the following information for each location's construction:

• Both 12 Mile Road bridges between 210th Avenue and 215th Avenue in Mecosta County
  • Will be the first bridge under construction
  • Estimated duration will be eight weeks
  • *Estimated construction period will from June 3 to August 3 

  • Local traffic on 12 Mile Road will be maintained by temporary traffic signals

• Woodward Avenue bridge between N 220th Avenue and S 220th Avenue in Mecosta County
  • Will begin construction following the 12 Mile Road bridge construction completion
  • Estimated duration will be be four weeks
  • *Estimated construction period will from August 4 to August 31

  • Half day lane closure will be required to place temporary concrete barriers on Southbound US-131 at Woodward Avenue

  • Local traffic on Woodward Avenue will be maintained by temporary traffic signals

• 18 Mile Road (Rose Lake Road) bridge between 200th Avenue (Diamond Road) and Pine River School Road in Osceola County
  • Will begin construction following the Woodward Avenue bridge construction completion
  • Estimated duration will be be four weeks
  • *Estimated construction period will from September 1 to September 28

  • Half day lane closures will be required to place temporary concrete barriers on Northbound & Southbound US-131 at 18 Mile Road

  • Local traffic on 18 Mile Road will be maintained by temporary traffic signals

For more information on the projects, visit https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/MiDrive/map?reset=true.

*Construction periods are estimated based on timely project competion and current scheduling. Date range may change due to additional work and weather delays.

A Tigers legend will have his number retired this season, one known for his authenticity, exquisite mustache, and consistency in the win column.

Jim Leyland's number 10 will be retired by the organization on Aug. 3 prior to the opening pitch against the division rival Kansas City Royals. The event will also serve as Leyland's National Baseball Hall of Fame celebration for his induction on Dec. 3, 2023.

"The Skipper" served as a major league manager for 22 seasons, including a six-year stint in Detroit.  Leyland was a three-time Manager of the Year award winner in 1990, 1992, and 2006. He won a total of 1,769 games including the World Series in 1997 with the Pittsburgh Pirates as well as the World Baseball Classic for Team USA in 2017.

The first 15,000 fans at the game on Aug. 3 will receive what is called the "Jim Leyland Starter Pack," which includes a baseball cap, mustache, and sunglasses. 

Ferris State University College of Pharmacy alumna Farah Jalloul begins a new leadership role as the Michigan Pharmacists Association's new chief pharmacy officer, providing opportunities to support people in the profession and patients.

Jalloul, who earned her Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Business Administration from Ferris State, was most recently the MPA's director of professional development and its state pharmacy emergency preparedness coordinator. 

MPA is a Lansing-based professional society serving Michigan’s pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists in all settings of practice. The organization has for more than 130 years provided members with the tools, resources, and support needed to advance the profession of pharmacy and provide quality patient care.

As MPA chief pharmacy officer, Jalloul will seek engagement with the pharmacy schools of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.

"My new role is focused on supporting community pharmacy. We are often the 'first call' when people have healthcare concerns," Jalloul said. "Whether our members practice in an independent pharmacy, chain or health system, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated their importance in distributing therapeutics and vaccines, along with providing advice so the public can be safe and informed."

Jalloul will also direct grant procurement to support association goals and programs, including reinstating the MPA's Executive Fellowship.

"Financial support for pilot studies with a goal of improved community pharmacy practice is part of our mission to assist the growth and success of our membership," Jalloul said. "There are regulatory and legislative aspects related to advancing the cause of pharmacy and I am excited to have a prominent place in that effort at the association."

Farah is a preceptor for Ferris State's College of Pharmacy, where she has returned to speak to students many times, including for a keynote address at the Class of 2026's White Coat ceremony.

MPA leaders believe Jalloul's knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing pharmacy today is a significant component of what suits her well for this leadership role.

 "We are thrilled to announce Farah Jalloul's promotion to chief pharmacy officer," MPA CEO Mark Glasper said. "Her leadership, passion and vision will undoubtedly propel MPA forward as we continue to advocate for the profession of pharmacy and the well-being of patients across Michigan."

In 2023, Jalloul received a Pacesetter Award from the Ferris State Alumni Association for her professional contributions and successes.

Jalloul said she was encouraged by associate professor of Pharmacy Practice Susan DeVuyst-Miller's to approach MPA for the new role.

"Dr. DeVuyst-Miller helped me identify this opportunity for advocacy and public service within the pharmacy field, which was very appealing," Jalloul said. "Ferris' Pharmacy faculty invest in their students, promoting consideration of various career paths. I was also published as a research contributor as a student, one of many great opportunities that enrich my professional efforts and fuel my desire to give back to the program."

(Photo provided by Ferris State University).

Monday, May 27

• Officers took a report regarding someone breaking into and taking of money from a coin operated device. A juvenile suspect has been identified in the matter.

• An officer was dispatched to a possible domestic assault. The matter has been submitted to the prosecutor for review.

• While on patrol, an officer observed a vehicle stopped in the road with the door open. Upon contact with the driver in the yard of a nearby residence, it was discovered the driver thought he had spotted his missing cat and tried to catch it.

• Officers were dispatched after a man observed a juvenile riding his son’s bike that had been stolen. The matter has been sent to the prosecutor for review.

Tuesday, May 28

• Officers took a report of missing medical equipment after the caller received a package and the contents had been replaced with other medals and other items. The matter is under investigation.

• An officer issued four abatement notices for overgrown grass and one for an inoperable vehicle.

• Officers were dispatched to check the well-being of an individual after it was reported the person may have been assaulted. Upon contact the individual was fine.

Wednesday, May 29

• An officer issued a verbal warning regarding a barking dog.
• An officer took a report of a possible fraud after an individual received a letter regarding unclaimed money. Upon investigation, the caller was happy to know that she was entitled to $15 unclaimed.
• Officers arrested a 51-year-old female on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court.

Thursday, May 30

• An officer took a report of possible child abuse after a video was found circulating of a child drinking, what was believed to be, an alcoholic beverage. The matter was investigated, and the child was found to be drinking from a soda bottle.

Friday, May 31

• An officer took a report of a possible prescription fraud. The matter is under investigation.

• An officer took a report of an attempted larceny from a coin operated device by a juvenile.

• An officer took a report of a private property accident. There was minor damage to a fence.

Saturday, June 1

• An officer stood by on a traffic stop with a deputy for officer safety.

• Officers responded to an attempted suicide. The individual was transported to the hospital for mental health treatment.

Sunday, June 2

• No incidents.

At last night’s meeting in City Hall, Big Rapids City Commissioners opened with a study session regarding recent noise complaints involving Federal Screw Works and Jennings Mobile Home Park.

The complaints coincide with the firing of air cannons, a system added by Federal Screw Works to help keep seagulls from defecating on employees’ vehicles as well as damaging filters at the plant.

“The industrial park should be treated differently than the rest of the city,” Federal Screw Works Plant Manager Rick Ulrich said. “We have semis travelling through and loaders with beepers going. We’re not trying to run (the cannons) year-round.”

The industrial works complied with a request to not use the cannons approximately two weeks ago; however, Federal Screw Works recently wrote a letter to the City Commission regarding a request to change the noise ordinances to allow the use of their cannons.

“We’ve worked with Federal Screw over the last year with changing the location of the cannons, the number of cannons, and what direction they shoot.” Community Development Director Michelle Stenger said. 

Nearby property owners, including Jennings Mobile Home Park on Bjornson Street (also known as Big Rapids Mobile Home Court), have since voiced their concerns with the cannon noise disrupting their environment. 

“My wonderful people that live (at the park) don’t deserve to listen to that,” Rose Mary Jennings said at the meeting. “We deserve a peaceful place to live.”

After a review of the ordinance by City Attorney Brad Fowler, the cannon noise follows the current ordinance in place. 

“Federal Screw is in the industrial zoning district which has several sub-sections,” Fowler said. “This limits noises up to a certain decibel level outside of ‘spike’ noises, which are short in duration.

Fowler also found that there is a “catch-all” provision that governs against the usage of noises deemed as annoying, which creates a conflict in the current ordinance.

Solutions to the problem include repealing section 90.17(A) of the ordinance to adjust the decibel levels allowed, adding noise cannons to the list prohibited noises, or adding time or seasonal restrictions for when the cannons can be used. 

The discussion was deemed as a study session and the commission will be looking into the problem further, including talking to other cities that have delt with a similar issue.

The Ferris State University Bulldogs have been selected as the nation's preseason No. 4 NCAA Division II football team by Lindy's Sports in the first preseason national poll heading into the 2024 campaign.

The annual college football national preview magazine picked Ferris State fourth overall entering this fall's slate as the publication recently hit the newsstands across the country.

This year's selection marks the ninth straight year in which Ferris State has been picked as one of the nation's top five preseason squads by at least one source.

Lindy's Sports, which is billed as the nation's leading football authority, highlighted the top 25 teams in the country based on expert opinions and also featured a preseason All-America team.

Overall, the top five teams nationally in the magazine's preseason listing included defending national champion Harding University in the top spot, University of Central Missouri at No. 2, Pittsburg State University at No. 3, the Bulldogs at No. 4 and Valdosta State University at No. 5. The top four choices are all from the highly competitive Super Region Three.

Ferris State was one of only two schools from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference found in the preseason top 25 along with seventh-ranked rival Grand Valley State University. Five of the nation's top 10 preseason squads and nine of the top 25 hailed from Super Region Three.

Lindy's Sports also tabbed Bulldog junior offensive lineman Bryce George to the Preseason All-America First Team and fellow junior offensive lineman Lawrence Hattar to the preseason Second-Team.

The magazine also chose its five biggest games of the year with the Bulldogs featured to play in two of them. Ferris State visits preseason third-ranked Pittsburg State in a season-opening showdown on Aug. 31 and the annual Anchor-Bone Classic between Feris State and GVSU, slated for Oct. 26 in Allendale, is again featured as one of the country's marquee matchups.

The Bulldogs will begin their 115th season of varsity competition this coming fall with their sights set on making a 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Bulldogs have made five national semifinal appearances along with three trips to the national championship game and back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022 during the stretch.

Over the past three seasons of action, the Bulldogs own a 36-4 overall record and Ferris State has reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs nine consecutive years and counting.

Ferris State has also reached the NCAA Division II National Semifinals five times in the past seven seasons of action and ranks as the country's winningest program over the past nine full seasons in DII Football. Ferris State is 63-6 over the last four seasons of on-field action, including back-to-back NCAA DII National Championships in 2021 and 2022.

Ferris State also holds the GLIAC's best mark and the best overall record of all collegiate programs in Michigan at 123-20 (.860) overall since the arrival of Tony Annese as head coach in 2012.

Ferris State opens the 2024 season at Pittsburg State on Aug. 31 with the home opener set for Saturday, Sept. 7, versus Lake Erie College at Top Taggart Field.

(Photo credited to Ferris State University).

Michigan residents are being urged to take precautions against mosquito bites as mosquitos collected in Saginaw County on Wednesday, May 22, have tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Laboratories (MDHHS BOL). These are the first infected mosquitos detected for 2024. 

Residents are reminded that the best way to protect themselves against JCV and other mosquito-borne illnesses, including Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV), is to prevent mosquito bites.

“It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to cause a severe illness,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “We urge Michiganders to take precautions such as using an EPA-registered insect repellent when outdoors, avoiding areas where mosquitos are present if possible and wearing clothing to cover arms and legs to prevent bites.” 

Every summer in Michigan, bites from mosquitos carry the risk of spreading diseases to people and animals. This year’s warm, wet spring has produced a variety of biting mosquitoes. The majority are mosquitos that hatched in early May and are currently active in tracts of woodland habitat. Some of these spring mosquitos are capable of transmitting JCV. JCV sickened six Michiganders in 2021, one in 2022 and four in 2023. Also reported last year were 21 cases of WNV.

JCV is spread to people through bites from infected mosquitos. Most cases occur from late spring through mid-fall. Illness can develop within a few days to two weeks following a bite from an infected mosquito. While most people do not become ill, initial symptoms can include fever, headache and fatigue. In rare cases, it can cause severe disease in the brain and/or spinal cord including encephalitis and meningitis.

While the JCV is found throughout much of the United States, cases have been increasing in the Midwest. This likely reflects increased awareness and testing but may also be due to an increase in the presence of the virus in the environment. This is the fourth year that the MDHHS BOL is offering virus testing of mosquitos collected by local health departments and county mosquito control programs. Testing is offered to improve detection and notification of mosquito-borne viruses.

JCV can be spread by mosquitos that become infected when they feed on deer or other animals that have the virus in their blood. Infected mosquitos spread the virus to other animals or people through bites. Arboviruses, including WNV and EEE, spread when mosquitos contract the virus from biting infected birds then biting a human.

Residents can stay healthy by using simple, effective strategies to protect themselves and their families. The following steps are recommended to avoid mosquito-borne diseases:

• Apply insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET or other EPA-approved products to exposed skin or clothing. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions for use. 
• Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors. Apply insect repellent to clothing to help prevent bites. 
• Maintain window and door screening to help keep mosquitos outside.
• Empty water from mosquito breeding sites around the home, such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires and other water-holding containers where mosquitos can lay eggs.

For more information, visit Michigan.gov/EmergingDiseases.

Monday, May 27

Calls for Service: 25

Tuesday, May 28

• At 7:09 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Martiny TWP. A male subject was arrested on a warrant. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

?Calls for Service: 26

Traffic Accidents: 1

Wednesday, May 29

• At 7:32 A.M., deputies responded to a shots fired complaint in Green TWP. Additional investigation revealed that an intoxicated male subject was upset that his girlfriend was going to  leave the residence. The male subject pulled out a hand gun, and shot several rounds into the front end of her vehicle. He then fled the scene on foot. With assistance from MSP K-9, the male subject was located and and arrested on several charges. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 8:58 A.M., deputies made a traffic stop in Aetna TWP. The traffic stop resulted in the male driver being arrested on several warrants. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

?Calls for Service: 25

Traffic Accidents: 1

Thursday, May 30

?Calls for Service: 20

Traffic Accidents: 2

Friday, May 31

Calls for Service: 17

Traffic Accidents: 1

Saturday, June 1

Calls for Service: 14

Traffic Accidents: 2

Sunday, June 2

Calls for Service: 18

Traffic Accidents: 4

The Detroit Tigers made a bold roster move on Sunday, as the team announced the optioning of 2020 first-overall pick Spencer Torkelson. 

The former Arizona State star has a batting average of .201 this season, including 56 strikeouts in 54 games played. It will be the first time Torkelson suited up for the Mud Hens since 2021.

In response to the move, the Tigers have recalled number six overall prospect and former Braves 2021 sixth round pick Justyn-Henry Malloy. The Georgia Tech product sits as a top ten statistical contributor for doubles (15) and walks (39) amongst all minor league players.

Detroit are currently in fourth place in the AL Central, trailing the Cleveland Guardians by 10 games. The Tigers travel to Texas for a three-game series with the Rangers starting tonight at 8:05 P.M. Catch all the action on NewsRadio WBRN at 1460 AM and 96.5 FM.

On Sunday, June 2 at approximately 7:50 P.M., deputies were dispatched to 30^th Avenue at 15 Mile Road in Sheridan Township for an accident involving a car and a pedestrian.

The investigation found that a 64-year-old male from Remus was riding his bike on 30^th Avenue when a vehicle traveling North tried to pass the bicyclist. The bicyclist tried changing lanes in front of the vehicle causing the vehicle’s bumper to hit the bicyclist back tire. 

The 64-year-old male was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies were assisted on scene by Mecosta County EMS, Fork Fire/Rescue, Meceola Central Dispatch.

Tonight, the Big Rapids City Commission will be meeting at City Hall at 6:30 P.M to discuss a number of items.

General business items include resolutions of bids for the following projects:

• Ratifying approval of Commissioner Eppley’s resignation.

• Supporting the application for MDOT "Shared Streets and Spaces" Grant.

• Authorizing 2024 capital improvement bonds (limited tax general
  obligation).

• Awarding bid for paving of gravel streets.

• Accepting City Manager’s report on emergency purchase of fire
  gear.

• Accepting City Manager’s report on emergency purchase of
  two police cars.

• Ordinance adopting new sanitation rates.

The meeting will also include a study session regarding the monthly financial report of pension liability by city treasurer Carla Staffen and noise ordinance changes by city attorney Brad Fowler.

All city commission meetings are available to the public and recorded on the City of Big Rapids' YouTube page.

On May 31, 2024 around 6:00 PM, Penelope "Penny" Wise left her family home on foot near Morley Park in Cedar Springs.

Penny was last seen wearing a flannel shirt and jeans or shorts. Penny is 5 feet tall, weighs approximately 120 pounds, has blonde hair, and braces. Details on how Penelope went missing were not provided.

(Image of Penelope Wise provided by the Kent County Sheriff's Office).

Please call police if you know her whereabouts so she can be reunited with her family. 

Higher education can continue as leaders in developing a talented workforce in Michigan, but employers can play a huge role in helping students grow their careers in the state, Ferris State President Bill Pink told leaders attending the Mackinac Policy Conference.

Joining Pink were the presidents of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Oakland University on a panel discussing talent and partnerships at the conference organized by the Detroit Regional Chamber that attracts lawmakers, business leaders and journalists from across the state and nation.

The conference’s 2024 theme is “Bridging the Future Together,” inspiring radical collaboration across divides.

Conference speakers and sessions focused on key themes critical to Michigan’s future, including attracting businesses and jobs, improving education outcomes to ensure workforce readiness, strengthening infrastructure, and leading with innovation and equity.

Pink spoke about his role on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Growing Michigan Together Council, co-chairing a higher education workgroup. He said that while some people question the value of higher education, colleges and universities continue to be the best places for students to gain in-demand skills in evolving existing fields while new fields emerge.

“Our institutions continue to do the work in providing a workforce for our state and surrounding states,” Pink said. “At our institution, we always celebrate the fact that 92 percent of our graduates of Ferris State stay in the state of Michigan and make a difference in the state of Michigan.”

He said colleges can highlight the programs they offer and can capture the imagination of younger students making them aware of the types of careers available in the state.

Ferris State, for example, has Michigan’s only College of Optometry and PGA Golf Management Program, nationally recognized programs in emerging fields such as cyber security and esports, and prominent automotive and construction programs.

The university offers more than 250 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, and certificate programs in a wide range of fields, including artificial intelligence, criminal justice, pharmacy, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare careers.

“We’re trying to focus more on working with the companies that are our partners across the state and our K-12 partners to do more to help expose those students to the possibilities,” he said.

Pink said employers have increasing opportunities to engage higher education institutions to ensure students have up-to-date skills to step right into careers. He noted that an added benefit of this engagement is keeping talented students from heading to other states after graduation.

“While they are going to school, we have to have some of those learning opportunities – those internships, those externships, those opportunities where our students already are becoming connected to companies,” he said. “The more we can focus on getting them connected to incredible businesses that we have here in the state prior to graduation to make those connections, the better opportunity we have to keep them here, so they understand what it means to stay in the state of Michigan.”

Pink was on the panel with U of M President Santa J. Ono, Michigan State President Kevin Guskiewicz, and Oakland University President Ora Hirsch Pescoviitz. Michigan Radio Political Director Zoe Clark moderated the discussion.

(Photo credited to Ferris State University & Detroit Regional Chamber).

LIONS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BEN JOHNSON QUOTE SHEET

May 30, 2024

On how not having an offensive player drafted in the first two rounds affects the offense: “The Draft, you just never know when you go into it how it’s going to unfold. There were a number of guys that we certainly felt like we had a vision for that would have fit us nicely. We ended up with a couple of really good defensive players. How that affects us offensively, we already have plans for the guys that we had on the roster. We spend all of the springtime talking about, ‘How can we get them a little bit better?’ Honestly, we started the offseason talking about who we felt like our bell cows were going to be and how we want to help develop and grow them into other roles as well. We’ve got a lot of good, young players on this team, ones that contributed for us last year, and ones that are still learning that maybe not everyone knows about yet. There were some guys on scout team last year that – we don’t draft a guy, maybe that’s an opportunity for them to show what they can do. I think more than anything, it just opens some windows for some guys that are really talented, they just haven’t had their number called yet.”

On what led to his decision to come back to the Lions: “Right after the championship game, we got on the plane, and I was just thinking about something that (Lions Head) Coach (Dan Campbell) had said. 2021 and early part of 2022, he had made this analogy to the team, just about how we were sailing down the ocean and at that moment, we were in the Arctic. We were hitting the icebergs, we had the storms going on, those were dark days. He had the foresight, he had the vision of where we were going and where we were heading. He assured us, ‘Guys, I see it. I see where we are going. The results haven’t been there yet, but the Caribbean is on the horizon. It’s coming up.’ I’m sitting on the plane, I’m thinking back to that. Just the story of my career has been living in that Arctic for a lot of it. That was the second time I had been to the playoffs, the first time I had experienced winning games in the playoffs. I think when it boils down to it, I wanted the sunshine a little bit longer. That’s really what it comes down to for me. I liked the sunshine, I like what we’ve built here. Starting with ownership, the Head Coach, the (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) GM (Brad Holmes), on down. We have a great group of guys in the locker room, and I want to reap the rewards with them a little bit longer.”

On why he valued seeing his goals through with the Lions over pursuing a head coaching job: “There’s a lot of things that go into it. A lot of reasons and dynamics that play a part. Something that really resonates with me is – OK, eight openings this past year. What would you set the over/under in three years for how many still have jobs? I would put the over/under at four and a half. I would say there’s a good chance that five of them are out of jobs in three years. When I look at it from that perspective, if I get the opportunity to go down that road, it’s about how do I get to that second contract? How do I set myself up that the stars need to align? I’m not going to do it just to do it. I love what I’m doing right now. Love it. I love where I’m at, my family loves where we’re at, I love the people that we’re doing it with, and so I’m not willing to go down the other path yet unless I feel really good about how it’s going to unfold.”

On what he is looking for in a head coaching job to make it right for him: “It comes down to – it’s ownership, it’s staff. My vision of how I can make it work with how I know I am, part of me too – I love play calling, and so if I took a head coaching job, I would want to be a play-calling head coach. Well, there’s a limit on how much time there is during a week, and so what’s it going to look like Monday through Sunday in that regard? So, I just want to make sure everything is nailed down. There’s an adjustment period for every person that takes that job. They’re learning on the fly, but I think the more that you have set and feel good about, that gives you the best chance. I was actually talking with someone the other day about this, the longer you’re in the coordinator chair, it does nothing but help you and prepare you more for the next step if it ever comes down the pipe. Personally, I don’t feel like I’m hurting my opportunities or my abilities to be a head coach in the future, and I love what I’m doing right now.”

On how he stays in tune with himself in the middle of all of the rumors about his interview process: “That’s what this League’s about. When you get opportunities to take care of yourself, you have to make sure you keep the big picture in mind, and that’s what I’ve tried to do, what’s right for me and my family. That’s really what it came down to for us.”

On how different the flight home was following the NFC Championship game after his meeting with the Washington Commanders: “It’s crazy. The whole playoff scene is crazy. We’ve already been going 17-plus weeks of four hours of sleep at night, and it adds up over the course of the year. Truthfully, I didn’t really give it any other thought. Once I finally got on the plane, I knew where I was probably leaning, and then it took 36 hours after that to, ‘Hey, this is the direction we’re going to go.’”

On what it was like seeing the negativity from the national media about his interview for the Washington Commanders head coaching job: “There was, in my opinion, some false narratives going on out there, and it started towards the end of last year, before I made the decision to pull out. That comes with the territory – I’m good with that. That’s part of life in the NFL so it doesn’t affect me. I do feel for the people around me. I hate that my family would ever read stuff that’s not necessarily the case, but they handled it really, really well. So, support staff is there, from that regard. I think I sleep well at night knowing what happened, how it happened, why it happened. I’m good there, and the people that are closest to me, they know who I am and what I about so it’s all good.”

On what makes his relationship with Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell different: “Yeah, I mean we’ve got a different relationship because we’ve known each other for so long, but we’re extremely comfortable with each other. I mean, he’s got this way about him, we’ve talked about his leadership capabilities up in front of a room and all that, but he knows when to press, when to demand, and when to – he can still crack a joke and have a good time as well. And there’s that balancing act when you’re in that chair that – he walks that line as well as I’ve ever seen.”

On if he studies the way that Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell talks to the media: “I can’t say I study. I’ve seen some of the press conferences, though, yeah. He’s unique.”

On if he has any doubt that he can be a head coach: “I do not.”

On if he feels that he needs to change anything about how the offense is run in the third quarter upon reflection of how the season went: “I love the football questions. This is great, this is good. I did this a couple of months ago, so I’m spit balling a little bit here, I don’t have the numbers exactly in my head, but I got it, I know what the third quarter says. Overall, third quarter was not good enough for us. I didn’t watch every single snap from that particular quarter. We did go back, we studied the opening drive of the second half, we did do that. There is a significant difference from the first 10 games of the season to the last 10 games of the season and how we were in the opening drive of the second half. We we’re significantly better in the second half of the season, the last 10 games. I want to say, those 10 games, those possessions, we scored five touchdowns, which is – 50 percent of your drives are going for touchdowns? You’re doing something right. So, I understand what’s going on out there. I do think it was something we talked about, we addressed during the season, and we started to see some results as the season went on. So, if you separate it up that way, I think we’re trending in the right direction.”

On what the biggest thing is that he needs to replace with the departure of former Lions WR Josh Reynolds: “That was eye opening during the self-scout period, to be honest with you, was he was an explosive play waiting to happen. A number of his receptions were big plays for us. So, something we’ve talked about with this skill group, those opportunities go elsewhere now, and we need guys to step up and rise to the occasion just like he did. It might be someone that didn’t have as much production last year – say an (Lions WR) Antoine Green or a (Lions WR Donovan) Peoples-Jones or some of the guys that we had on the scout team, that could be the – or it could be some of the other guys – maybe it’s another carry for (Lions RB) David Montgomery or (Lions RB Jahmyr) Gibbs or it’s another target for (Lions TE Sam) LaPorta. It could be – we might have to spread it out that way. So, that’s what we’re trying to find out here this springtime and in training camp is not just who the guys are that we’ll hang our hats on, but also how we distribute those carries and those targets as the season goes.”

On if there are any false narratives he wants to correct about his interview process: “No, I’m good.”

On May 31, 2024 at 12:43 P.M., deputies from the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the village of Mecosta for what was reported to be a domestic violence incident. 

During the investigation, it was learned that a male subject became violent with a female subject and then made threats on law enforcement by means of using a high powered deer rifle.

The house was located was in close proximity to M-20 and the Mecosta Elementary School, so the school was partially evacuated and was placed into a lockdown for the children’s and staff’s safety. Durning this precautionary measure, M-20 was also closed down for a brief time. Deputies eventually entered the house and were not able to locate the subject. Moments later, the subject was located at another residence in Mecosta where he was taken into custody. There is no danger to the public or schools and the offender was arrested. 

At this time, names and specifics locations are being withheld pending the ongoing investigation. Deputies were assisted on scene by the Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State Police, Morton Township Fire / Rescue, Meceola Central Dispatch, and the Mecosta County Sheriff's Posse.

Incoming Ferris State University students will have 12 opportunities in the weeks ahead to have their last-minute questions answered and connect with academic experts and resource specialists.

The 2024 orientation season kicks off on Monday, June 10 with events including a resource fair, opportunities to meet Housing and Residence Life contacts, and get assistance from staff from Admissions and Financial Aid team members.

The expected 1,300 attendees can attend college meetings, have group sessions with orientation leaders, and explore campus on guided tours.

Assistant Director of Admissions Emily Hicks said campus collaboration will help students progress from open house visits and online orientation to an engaging, personalized connection with Ferris State students, faculty, and staff.

“We have the assistance and involvement of essentially every department and Ferris State academic college,” Hicks said. “That level of involvement makes each orientation session a valuable experience for new students and their families.”

Assistant Director of Admissions/Communications Jason Daday stressed the importance of collaboration to ensure an excellent orientation experience for the students and their loved ones.

“We achieve success with in-person orientation thanks to our partners in Academic Affairs, the David L. Eisler Center staff, Dining Services and many other operations,” Daday said. “Their support means this onboarding experience can focus on connections with other new Bulldogs and learning about the great activities and opportunities they will find here.”

Student staff serving as orientation leaders for these sessions include experienced participants and new faces eager to share their joys and perspectives about life on campus.

“Typically, most of our student orientation leaders graduate and begin their careers after assisting with the previous year’s schedule,” Hicks said. “We are glad to have several leaders returning, as each strives to be engaged and make our newest Bulldogs understand how glad we are they chose to join us at Ferris.”

Orientation sessions are offered on a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday schedule. Hicks said the first week, June 10-13, has drawn significant interest.

“Those first two days have filled up. The final orientation sessions, Tuesday, July 16 and Thursday, July 18, are popular choices with our students,” Hicks said. “New student commitments keep growing and orientation programs in mid-June and early July are filling up. We welcome everyone set to start at Ferris this fall to register online for their session. We ask students to dress casually and to be ready to get familiar with our beautiful campus.”

Fall 2024 classes begin at Ferris on Monday, Aug. 26.