News

Situation ends at Belmont schools

Submitted by Bob Brenzing, Web Producer

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 3:32pm

UPDATE (WZZM) - Police have cleared the scene near two Belmont elementary schools.

Deputies were called to a home near the schools about a young man upset at a family member. Deputies did make contact with the man and he is getting assistance. No criminal activity took place.

The schools have gone back to their normal operation.

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) - Elementary school students at two elementary schools in Plainfield Township are being kept indoors while police are investigating a possible threat.

Kent County Sheriff's Deputies were called to an area near Belmont Avenue and Saddle Drive to check on a person who may be suicidal. The person is said to have made various threats.

Belmont Elementary and Assumption School are in the area of police activity. Both schools are in a "shelter in place" mode while the police activities continue.

We'll have more details when they become available.

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Big weekend for Relay for Life events

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 10:56am

(WZZM) - It's another big weekend for Relay for Life with four more communities in West Michigan holding their fund-raisers.

"These events are all about celebrating survivorship remembering those we have lost to cancer and also those who are still struggling with the disease and giving people a chance to fight back against a disease that takes far too much from far too many."' said Eric Voight.

Voight, the associate director for the American Cancer Society says "the 24-hour event symbolizes the journey cancer patients walk through, from the darkness of first being diagnosed to walking into the light of treatment and recovery."

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Wolverine hosts first multi-brand conference

Submitted by Peter Ross, Senior Reporter

Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 6:13pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- Wolverine Worldwide lives up to its name, in fact the Rockford-based shoemaker may be the most global of any West Michigan company. Wolverine products are found in 200 countries under 16 brands.

Sales partners from most of those countries are in Grand Rapids this week, getting a look at the upcoming models from brands including Hush Puppies, CAT, and Merrell. 1,000 visitors are part of the first ever conference to bring the brands together under one roof.

Wolverine has enjoyed three consecutive years of record revenue growth. Sales for its legacy Hush Puppies brand were up 24 percent last year. Sperry, one of the four new brands that Wolverine acquired last year, has recorded sales growth of about 40 percent per year, recently.

Wolverine has also diversified into some clothing and accessories. Christi Cowdin, a company spokesperson said Wolverine customers like to wear the brand head to toe.

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Miracle League breaks ground on ballfield

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 3:13pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) Tony Comden's dream is coming true. "I got to walk my son out on to our field and show him where home plate is going to be and where the fence is going to be. September can't get here fast enough."

September is when Nate Hurwitz Field will be open for baseball at the under-construction Art Van Sports Complex on 10 Mile Road in Plainfield Township. The multi-ballfield facility has space reserved for a Miracle League Field. Groundbreaking on the field was Wednesday afternoon. "It's literally going to be hundreds of kids in West Michigan that are going to be looking forward to playing," says Comden. "Our entire community will be proud that we put this together. I just can't wait."

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Michigan Historical Commission approves tribute to Meijer family

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer

Monday, May 13th, 2013, 2:44pm

Michigan Historical Commission approves tribute to Meijer family

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.— Grand Rapids is getting another tribute to the men behind Meijer Stores.

On May 8, the Michigan Historical Commission approved a marker to honor Hendrik and Fred Meijer, who in 1962 became the first grocers to combine two popular retail models—discount department stores and supermarkets—into a single store on 28th Street, called “Thrifty Acres.” The Meijers then took their model to Holland and Muskegon.

Meijer now has nearly 200 stores across the Midwest, including Kalamazoo, Walker, Wyoming, Jenison, Rockford, Plainfield Township, Forest Hills, Lowell, Grandville, Kentwood, Grand Haven and Greenville, where Hendrik Meijer opened his very first store in the 1930s.

The new historical marker will be added to more than 1,700 green and gold signs found across the state, that chronicle the people, places and events that make Michigan’s heritage unique and unforgettable. The historical markers are nominated by spons

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MSP: Successful first month of helicopter patrols

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff

Friday, May 10th, 2013, 1:14am

ROCKFORD, Mich. (WZZM) - It's been a month since Michigan State Police started helicopter patrols in West Michigan, but troopers are not getting the positive feedback they hoped for from the community.

Troopers are hearing some negative comments, and WZZM is hearing them too. The WZZM 13 Information Center has taken many calls from people complaining about the noise, many saying they don't like how close they are getting to their homes.

F/Lt. Chris McIntire is addressing those concerns: "It's going to become a little more normal for those that don't like it here right now."

The schedule has been tight for Michigan State Police helicopters in their first month in the area. "It's been in the downtown Grand Rapids area so much lately because of the flooding primarily, and it's caused us to fly a lot lower than we normally would fly."

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Michigan State Police name new community service trooper

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013, 12:58pm

Michigan State Police name new community service trooper

ROCKFORD, Mich.—The Rockford area has a new community service trooper.

The Michigan State Police selected Trooper Martin Miller to take over the position. Miller is expected to focus on educating the community on bullying, inappropriate text messages and other emerging trends. He’ll also provide youth mentoring curriculum for schools, evaluate the impact of policing programs on the community, attend community meetings and educate residents on crimes including elder abuse, ID theft and Internet crimes.

Trooper Miller can be reached at (616) 866-4411.

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