GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- Republican leaders say they are glad to see State Representative Roy Schmidt join their party for his re-election race in the 76th District, but Michigan and Kent County Democrats say his switch on the filing deadline day is "dishonest" and "desperate."

Schmidt, a long-time moderate Democrat who previously served as a non-partisan Grand Rapids city commissioner, announced his switch to the GOP late Tuesday. In an statement emailed to WZZM 13's Peter Ross, Schmidt said he will still be dedicated to serving Grand Rapids, not partisan politics.

"The simple truth is, extreme Democratic Party bosses like Mark Brewer are unwilling to listen to ideas or accept my positions on issues that matter to me and Grand Rapids," Schmidt said in the statement.

Brewer, who is chairman of the state Democratic Party, issued his own statement on Schmidt's switch late Tuesday, saying the move was a "desperate, craven deed."

Friday, May 18th marks the date for the Awards Ceremony at Kenowa Hills High School.

This is an exciting time for both students and parents alike, to be rewarded for all the hard work that goes along being a good student.

The ceremony will be held in the Performing Arts Center in the High School at 7:45am.

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- If you saw a black column of smoke in the air in northwest Grand Rapids today firefighters say you can blame it on a glorified dumpster fire.

It happened around 5:30 p.m. at Enterprise Iron and Metal near Alpine Ave. and Ann Street.

Viewer David Gray says workers at the yard were pushing a pile of scrap metal when something exploded and caught fire.

Firefighters say the smoke came from the trash mixed in with the metal. The fire was out within 20 minutes..