What's happening: Memorial Day weekend

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff

Friday, May 24th, 2013, 8:35am

(WZZM)- This weekend, honor our fallen soldiers and have tons of fun while you're at it.

There are parades galore this Memorial Day.

Downtown Grand Rapids will hold its procession at 10 a.m. Monday. The parade will move down Division Avenue, ending at Veterans Memorial Park.

In downtown Muskegon, the annual Memorial Day Parade will not disappoint. This year, the focus is on our World War II veterans, two of whom will be parade grand marshals. Visitors can expect more than 60 marching units, seven local high school bands, as well as hand-made floats all in honor of American soldiers. The parade starts at 9 a.m. at the County Building and ends at Hackley Park.

In Walker, the WZZM 13 crew will join the tribute to soldiers. Marching units will proceed down Lake Michigan Drive, starting at noon.

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Developer of former GM site wants more time for construction

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013, 9:00am

WALKER, Mich.—The Walker City Commission will consider giving a developer more time to begin construction on a former GM disposal site on West River Drive.

In January of 2004, Walker city leaders agreed to a Brownfield development with West River Drive Investments, LLC for building an industrial facility on the property located on 2640 West River Drive. As part of the agreement, the business would have to start construction by December 31, 2008 and finish the project in two years.

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Made in Mich. company prevents summer "brain drain"

Submitted by Peter Ross, Senior Reporter

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013, 10:04am

WALKER, Mich. (WZZM) -- Summer is almost here, the classrooms will empty and children will be free. They'll also be losing a lot of what they learned over the academic year. Some say as much as six weeks in the fall will be spent simply catching students up from where they left off in June.

To address that "brain drain," Carolyn Brown, along with a sister and a friend, created Tri-C Publications. The publications are review-books student spend about two hours with a week. The books focus on math and language arts; each student works on one page per subject, three days a week. Each page takes about 20 minutes.

Brown says her publications are "not designed to teach, it's designed to keep those skills intact over the summer. The thing it does is it builds confidence."

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Kenowa Hills senior prank 'OK' by principal

Submitted by Sarah Barwacz, Reporter-Multi Media Journalist

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 8:36am

KENOWA HILLS, Mich. (WZZM) -- It's one year since Kenowa Hills High School senior 'prank' ended in suspensions for riding bikes to school with the mayor.

You may remember the principal gave an apology for overacting last year. This year, students took a different approach to their senior celebration.

This year you won't see frogs in the hallway or rats in the lunchroom. You saw tents outside the school until the rain came. It may sound like a path to suspension, but students actually got permission from the principal this year.

Students say they decided to work with administrators many months in advance to avoid any problems and there are chaperones. While some were not happy with their 'prank' not being spontaneous, or being much of a prank at all-- most were happy with the outcome.

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Register now for the Color Me Rad 5K race

Submitted by Cheri Mikowski, WZZM Receptionist & Community Blogger

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 2:32pm

Register now for the Color Me Rad 5K race

Get signed up for this fun 5K race, which benefits Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

The Color Me Rad 5k is May 25 at Millennium Park, located at 1415 Maynard Avenue SW in My Town Walker. At 9 a.m., waves of runners will meet their match when the color bombs fly. In the end each runner will have a design all their own.

The registration deadline for the Color Me Rad 5k is May 22. If you'd like to volunteer for the color bomb squad, visit www.colormerad.com . Volunteers must be 16 years or older.

Registered participants can pick up their packets at the big tent on Thursday, May 23 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. or Friday, May 24 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Keeping mosquitoes out of your backyard

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 7:31pm

WALKER, Mich. (WZZM) -- The wet weather this spring has proven to be an ideal environment for bugs, especially mosquitoes.

Over the past week, the biting pests have been out in full force.

What can you do to keep them under control at home? WZZM 13's Sarah Sell talked to Rick Vuyst, our resident Greenthumb for some advice.

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Kroc Center offers pass deal to participants in Mayor's Bike Ride

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 2:53pm

Kroc Center offers pass deal to participants in Mayor's Bike Ride

The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center is teaming up with the city of Grand Rapids to show just how bicycle friendly our area is.

The Kroc Center will offer a buy one, get one pass deal to bicyclists on Tuesday, May 21, as part of the Mayor’s Bike Ride. The annual ride starts at 6:30 p.m. at the entrance to Plaster Creek Trails at the Kroc Center, located on 2500 S. Division Ave.

The 5th annual Mayor’s Bike Ride introduces the average bike rider to Grand Rapids’ bike trail system. Participants can travel 2 miles or 6 miles from the Kroc Center, or choose a 24 mile ride to Millennium Park, led by Alger Bikes. All paricipants are required to wear a properly fitted helmet.

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