THIS WEEK: GRNow Weekly Preview July 7-13
RAMPAGE WIN AGAIN:Rampage upset Chicago in AFL playoffs
The Grand Rapids Rampage are one win away from playing in their second ArenaBowl.
The Rampage, the sixth seed in the AFL's American Conference, upset the top seeded Chicago Rush 58-41 Sunday at Allstate Arena.
I was at the ArenaBowl when the Rampage won its first championship. They've been a pretty mediocre team this season, but they've peaked at the right time.
Next up is San Jose.
WARNING: No body contact advisory issued for areas along Grand River
Health Departments officials are asking people to avoid body contact with the Grand River from the Wealthy Street Bridge, through Ottawa County, all the way to Lake Michigan after sewage overflow spilled into the river.
Approximately 70 million gallons of sewage made it into the river in several locations, including the Market Avenue retention basin.
They will be testing the water on Monday, July 7th.
LOOKS LIKE LOUNGE DADDY has a new site going, focused on Libertarian politics.
Can't say that I'm a Libertarian party guy, but I certainly have libertarian views on a lot of things.
Go check it out.
IN A JAM? Try the 2008 Valentine's Day Guide for Grand Rapids area Valentines eating and fun.
COLD: I shoveled the end of my driveway this afternoon and then ran down to Meijer to pick up a few things. I guess that I was a bit surprised when the thermometer in my car said it was only 4 degrees out. I knew it was cold, but it didn't really seem that bad.
Meanwhile, Authorities are telling drivers to stay home
Police across three counties in West Michigan are urging motorists to stay off the roads as white-out conditions and icy roads continue Sunday night.
Weather conditions forced the closings of several highways, and police in Kent, Ottawa and Barry counties were asking drivers to stay home if possible.
In Kent County, dispatchers had received reports of about 100 crashes since midnight, dispatcher Melissa Fellows said.
A line of cars make their way along the 4600 block of 28th Street SE during whiteout conditions.
Image from the GR Press.
NICE: Free smoke detector giveaway continues
Red Cross volunteers will go door-to-door on four dates over the next two months to check and, if necessary, install free smoke detectors in Grand Rapids neighborhoods.
Saving Lives At The Sound is a program aimed at putting a smoke detector in every home.
FEBRUARY 16: Senator Carl Levin Speaking on Iraq in Grand Rapids
Michigan Democratic Party Senator Carl Levin is scheduled to speak in Grand Rapids on February 16 on Iraq. His speech, which is titled "One Year After The Surge: Where Do We Stand? Where Do We Go From Here?," will provide attendees with Levin's "latest assessment of the situation in Iraq, the outlook, and the alternatives."
Levin is speaking to the Progressive Women's Alliance at Loosemore Auditorium on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus of Grand Valley State University. 1:00-2:00.
I may have to see if I can't make it to that.
WOW: Michigan woman approaching 111th birthday
Nellie Jones was born in 1897.
Jones, who is to celebrate her 111th birthday on Wednesday, is one of Michigan's oldest residents and is believed to be among the 50 oldest people in the world, The Grand Rapids Press reported Monday.
"What? I'm how old?" Jones, who lives at Heritage Nursing and Rehabilitation Community, asked after being offered birthday greetings. "I'm really getting old."
People are amazing creatures.
UMMM, I'll PASS: Man receives 96 percent APR loan offer
In GR:
The unsecured loans available are relatively small - $1,000 to a maximum of $3,000. But at 96 percent APR, that $3,000 loan with 24 monthly payments of $284.93 comes out to a payback of $6,838.32.
The offer was from an out-of-state lender. Michigan lenders are limited to a maximum APR of about 13% for unsecured loans.
OORAH: Pickpocket whupped by Marine pleads guilty
Jesse Daniel Rae, who was beaten up by a older Marine while he was trying to rob him, plead guilty to assault with intent to rob Wednesday.
Rae tried to rob Bill Barnes, 72, at a convenience store in Alpine Township in early summer. Barnes quickly got the upper hand on Rae, 27, and the incident was caught on surveillance cameras.
Rae will be sentenced January 28 and faces up to 15 years in prison.
SOMETIMES BORING IS GOOD: Criminal elements check out of Wyoming library
By limiting access to MySpace and similar Internet sites, the library has become a safer place. So say police and library officials who note gang tagging, furniture damage and adolescent sexual encounters have declined in recent months.
"We're just not as much fun as we used to be," said Mary Hollinrake, manager of the Wyoming branch of Kent District Library.
After a number of incidents earlier in the year, the library added a security guard and limited access to a number of popular social web sites on a six-month trial basis.
COULD BE COOL: Concerts at Millennium Park?
DIDN'T MANAGE TO GET TO THE GUN SHOW TODAY, but I'll be there tomorrow. More info here, and don't forget the coupon for $1 off admission.
HERE'S THE MSU VS. BOSTON U MATCHUP at College Hockey News. Looks like the Spartans have their work cut out for them.
Puck drops at 8:30 tonight at Van Andel Arena in GR.
BUT HE WON'T PLAY A GAME: New Wing Bertuzzi to practice with Griffins.
In Murdoc's humble opinion, Bertuzzi is a punk.
LAKERS AT FIFTH THIRD BALLPARK for their September 29 home game against Wayne State:
"There are three reasons why we want to do this," said GVSU athletics director Tim Selgo. "No. 1, we want to bring our great Laker football program to Grand Rapids, if you will, and play in Fifth Third Ballpark while giving an opportunity to some folks to watch us play there as opposed to Lubbers Stadium.
"Second, we want to pair up with the Whitecaps, one of the best franchises in all of minor league sports. Together, we know we can put on a first-class event.
"The third reason we want to do this is because part of the proceeds go to the Grand Rapids Public Schools to fund their city-wide student council program, which promotes leadership, development and community awareness."
THIS IS RIDICULOUS: Another teen causes trouble at bus station:
Some Grand Rapids school leaders say they are "at a loss about what to do" after a student was arrested Tuesday at The Rapid bus terminal -- the sixth teenager taken into custody there in two weeks.
Well, "at a loss about what to do" is actually an improvement from when this issue first broke. Back then it was along the lines of "we haven't seen any proof that these are actually students who are causing the trouble".
The front page, above the fold, of yesterday's Grand Rapids Press:
In the article:
Cedar Springs resident Steve Larsen, 43, considers the debate both a waste of time and a disservice to the troops.
Larsen, a former member of the Howell-based 1462nd Transportation Co., returned in February 2005 after 10 months of convoy duty in Iraq. He earned a Purple Heart when he was hit by shrapnel in his leg and groin in July 2004. Larsen retired after more than 21 years with the Guard.
Larsen believes the politicians against the war should have the courage to vote on more than non-binding resolutions. If they oppose the war, they should vote to stop funding it.
"I think this nonbinding resolution is cowardly," Larsen said. "This is sad. So many have put their lives on hold and put their lives on the line only to have certain politicians take advantage of it.
"I never hear anyone say, 'Let's win this thing.'"
Larsen, for one, calls criticism of the war more than irritating. He believes it makes it harder for soldiers to do their jobs.
"It does wear on you after a while. You are sending the right message to our enemy and the wrong message to our soldiers."
Amen.
While I do absolutely believe that it's possible to "support the troops but not the war", I also believe that very few who claim to do so actually support the troops. They simply lack the personal courage to admit that they believe their political beliefs overcome support for anyone or anything that is at odds with how they think things should be.
Remember, 22% of Americans personally hope the strategy in Iraq fails. For it to fail, of course, a lot of US troops will need to die. Many more Iraqi troops, and even more Iraqi civilians, will also have to die. But 22% of America thinks it's worth all those additional Americans and Iraqis dying if it means the failure of the plan.
But, as usual, don't question their patriotism or their support for the troops.
JUST CAUGHT THE RAMPAGE COMMERCIAL in the Super Bowl. I liked it. Very cool.
It would be nice to see bigger crowds at the Rampage games. I've got to think that ticket prices have a lot to do with all the empty seats.
A NEW BEANERS COFFEE SHOP OPENED on Byron Center just north of M-6. The address is 5795 Byron Center Ave. and they have Wi-Fi. FWIW, there's also a new Starbucks across the street, which I have yet to stop at. The Beaners happens to be on the side of the street that's more convenient for me. I love Starbucks, but my guess is that Beaners will get more of my business simply because of the location. As long as the quality and price is good, anyway.
I had never tried Beaners before. The Caramel Marvel is delicious.
Methinks MichiBlogger may have to make post live from the site from time to time.
Scouting principles a guiding light in Ford's life is a guest commentary by Kathy Longcore in the Grand Rapids Press. It notes the Scout Oath, and concludes
At his death the nation is recognizing Ford's spirit of fair play, his bipartisanship, his integrity and his willingness to make tough choices. It seems that he still is serving his country. The eulogies we've heard in three cities have reminded us that "family values" is more than a catchy term to grab votes. President Ford lived those values.
You don't have to have been a Boy Scout to have those values. But it helps.
I JUST CAUGHT THE END OF WOOD-TV's special news coverage of the Gerald Ford funeral. The closing shot? A black and white photo of the President with "Gerald R. Ford 1913-2007".
Errr, I think they meant 1913-2006.
Just back from paying our respects to Gerald R. Ford at the Ford Museum in downtown Grand Rapids. The line, of course, was long. We got in line at about 6:00 PM and left the museum just before 10:30. As we left, it appeared that the line was at least twice as long as it had been when we had joined it, and areas that we breezed through at nearly normal walking pace were at a standstill. Since it took us four and a half hours, I'd guess that folks getting in line now have a good nine hours, or probably even more, to go.
My wife and kids went downtown to watch the motorcade this afternoon. Though we've got no snow, it's not what you'd call 'warm' outside, particularly if you're standing still. Despite the chill, though, the crowd was large. My wife took the photo at right of the President's hearse turning into the Museum property. As you can see, the crowd was deep and hordes of Eagle Scouts lined the way.
Someone gave my wife a glass vase with flowers to place among the notes, banners, flags, and candles that have been accumulating around the museum's sign along Pearl Street, but they were unable to cross the street before they had to leave for a bit. So they stashed the flowers behind some bushes in front of a hotel across the street. More on the flowers later.
All this big media attention in little old Grand Rapids?After another chilly wait outside the museum itself, we got a few seconds in front of Ford's closed casket. My son, in his Boy Scout uniform, gave a smart Scout salute. Then we were on our way.
As we left, we had the opportunity to shake hands with Steve Ford, one of the President's sons. I was a bit surprised to see him there at 10:30 PM greeting folks in a line with no end in sight. As he shook my son's hand Ford mentioned to him how much his father loved Scouting and how he had earned Eagle. That was very kind.
After we left the museum building, I stopped to check out the collection of flowers, flags, signs, University of Michigan hats and banners, candles, and whatnot along Pearl Street. While I looked, my wife and daughter headed across the street to check for the vase they had stashed that afternoon. It was still there, so over it came and it now sits with the rest of the outpouring from the community for all to see. Who gave the vase to my wife? We don't know.
There's a lot of difference in opinion about Ford and his Presidency, particularly over the pardon for Richard Nixon. But I think it's becoming more clear each year that he inherited an almost impossible task and did a fine job of holding things together. That's better than really could have been expected of anyone in that office at that time, and we owe him a lot.
Though not a native Michigander, I'm proud to live in Gerald Ford's old Congressional district and I'm proud of the honor that West Michigan is showing it's most famous legislator and politician. Also, I'm proud of my family for braving the crowd twice today to pay a final bit of respect to a man who did good for America and was a friend to Scouting.
Finally, here's a shot from today of the 9-11 Scout Salute patch that my son earned in 2005 for participating in the all-day salute on the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. These are special Ford Council patches (compare them to the standard patches worn by the Eagle Scouts in the top picture) that can only be worn by those who take part in the sun-up to sun-down salute (in three or five minute intervals) each year. He's earned the patch four years running, but he hasn't got the 2006 patch onto his uniform yet. I had been bugging him to get the new one on, but, as it turns out, waiting was the right thing to do. The 2005 salute was performed outside the Ford Museum, so this patch was earned on this property and has now returned to help say farewell to a great American:
I noted the salute in 2004 with a pic of my son at attention, and now that I look I see that I also posted a pic in 2005, taken outside the Ford Museum on a sunny Sunday morning. Beside him in the 2005 pic is a fellow Scout who is now in the same Boy Scout patrol as my son. (Go DRAGONS!)
Did I mention that I'm proud of my family?
Cross-posted from Murdoc Online.
LOCAL NATIONAL GUARDSMEN RESPONDING TO FORD'S PASSING: a Department of Defense news release:
Like many Michigan National Guardsmen, Army Sgt. Mike Christian was awakened by a midnight phone call informing him of the passing of former President Gerald R. Ford.
Unlike other soldiers and airmen across the state, Christian’s job began almost immediately, for it was the task of his unit to supply the wiring, hardware and computer support to permit the deployment of more than 500 National Guard members to Grand Rapids.
Ford will be buried at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum here Jan. 3.
It's also worth noting this:
A resident of Charlotte, Christian will soon deploy overseas with the 177th Military Police Brigade. “I volunteered,� he said.
He has already deployed to Iraq for 14 months, from October 2004 to November 2005.
Bravo.
THE NEW F-35 LIGHTNING II JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER MADE ITS FIRST FLIGHT ON FRIDAY. 'Why does this matter to Michiganders?', you may ask.
Because Smiths Aerospace
provides systems to the aircraft including the electrical power management system, distributed computing and data management, actuation systems, and components in the propulsion system.
For more details about exactly what the Grand Rapids business contributes to this cutting edge jet fighter, read Smiths Aerospace provides aerospace systems to Lockheed Martin for the F-35 Lightning II.
The F-35 Lightning II:
VERVE PIPE FAN? I'm not, but I'm sure a lot of folks are excited that the band will be playing at The Intersection this Saturday evening.
More info at Going Gonzo.
A GUN AND KNIFE SHOW THIS WEEKEND at the Delta Plex. Info at migunshows.com. $5 gets you in the door. Save $1 with a coupon on the web site. See you there.
THE FORECAST CALLS FOR TEMPERATURES IN THE THIRTIES: GVSU set to roll out cold carpet for Delta St.
Grand Valley's 26-game winning streak is on the line. Tomorrow's winner heads to Alabama for the national championship game.
Think of that. A national championship game where the teams play their way in. Instead of letting voters and computers just pick the finalists. What a concept.
THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS HAS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY'RE GOING WITH CLEARWIRE for city-wide broadband wireless access. I noted last week that the company's WiMAX solution was a front-runner.
I also didn't realize that the city's web page had a Wireless Home Page, but it does:
Probably worth keeping an eye on as the plan moves ahead.
AHH...OLD FRIENDS TO MEET TOMORROW: #1 Lakers To Take On #8 North Dakota In Regional Final. Despite only four games ever between the two schools, this has really turned into a great rivalry.
In its last 20 postseason games, GVSU is 18-2. Two of those wins have come against the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. But so have two of the losses. The only two losses.
Also, here's a very cool page with direct links in to every Division II football team's home page.
HUGE NEWS: GR's wireless Internet pick could cover entire city
This is good and bad. Good, because WiMAX's 802.16 will probably have stronger and wider coverage than standard WiFi 802.11. Bad, because computers equipped for 802.11 (virtually every PC currently set up for wireless) won't "just work" with 802.16. Either "WiMAX-ready" computers or WiMAX cards (neither of which are very available at this time) will be required.
This is a curious choice for Grand Rapids. It seems to be a decision based upon it being 2009 instead of 2007. Planning for the future is great, particularly with technology. But the first few years of the program are almost certainly going to be trouble and complaint filled ones.
Still, I applaud the move by the city. Broadband internet access is turning into a key facet of life, and it is becoming increasingly important for having an informed citizenry.
And I'm hoping that WiMAX means that access will be good in the city of Wyoming from the get-go.
THE CURBSIDE YARD WASTE PICK-UP for the city of Wyoming (Murdoc's stomping ground) is this Saturday, December 2nd. Leaves must be in paper bags and by the street by 6:00 am.
We always seem to miss the announcement or forget to get them out on time.
Continue reading "Wyoming Leaf Pick-up This Saturday" »
HERE ARE PHOTOS OF EAST GRAND RAPIDS' CHAMPIONSHIP WIN over Farmington Hills Harrison by a score of 42-17. Coverage in the GR Press here.
Also, here are pics from Rockford's 38-16 loss to Macomb Dakota. Bummer, but down the road a season-ending loss in the championship game isn't going to seem so bad after all.
GRAND RAPIDS MAYOR George Heartwell is thinking of legally challenging the anti-affirmative action Proposition 2 that passed by a 58-42 margin. Though I don't know off the top of my head what the numbers in Grand Rapids were, that 16-point statewide spread is a pretty large gap to ignore.
UPDATE: A reader kindly emails this to MichiBlogger:
According to
http://www.electionmagic.com/results/mi/K41results/K4100113029.htmThe numbers for Kent County were 141378 vs 93499 or 60-40 which is better than State-wide.
Grand Rapids on the other hand was 29465 vs 34458 or 46-54 with 53% turnout and only 96% of those voting on the Proposition.
Precinct-wise the lowest support was 5%-95% and the highest support was 66%-34%, both in the 1st Ward.
Oddly enough the precinct with the 5-95 only had 28% turnout while the precinct with 66-34 had 73% turnout.
The lowest precinct turnout was 19.5% while the highest was 81%, again both were in the 1st Ward.
I nearly wrote that I suspected Grand Rapids, being in the western part of the state, likely supported the proposition even more strongly than the state as a whole, but I thought better of it. It looks like I was right to think again.
UPDATE 2: Whoa. I totally misread the email. I thought it PASSED 54-46 in GR. It didn't. It FAILED 46-54 as the reader wrote. Call me confused. In Wyoming, where I live, Prop 2 passed handily.
The fact that it didn't in GR obviously makes the move by the city's mayor a plausible one. I was not sure why he'd make that move in the face of such solid support for the prop in his constituency. The answer, of course, is that his constituency doesn't support it at all. The Mayor should feel free to challenge away.
Not that I particularly agree with him.
And many thanks to the reader who sent this in (and then corrected me). Great stuff!
A VIDEO OF A DEER with a pumpkin stuck on its muzzle made the national news lately. The video was shot here in Cascade Township, and dire prediction about the fate of the beast were to be found everywhere. (You can see the video here.)
Somehow I missed the announcement, but the deer is apparently free. Here's a video report on the development.
I'm not really sure why a trapped deer was worthy of all that national coverage, and I'm even less sure about why the announcement that the deer is free wasn't.
In either case, this is great news. Now all the deer has to do is make it through the next few weeks of hunting season.
"I GOT A ROCK" wouldn't have been so bad for poor old Charlie Brown if it was this: Tony Signore came home from trick-or-treating last week with a woman's diamond ring valued between $200 and $300. He thinks it was dropped in by mistake.
Either that, joked his father, Mike, a math teacher at Hudsonville High School, "or he's engaged."
I'VE ADDED A LOCAL GAS PRICE INDICATOR to the sidebar. It comes from Grand Rapids Gas Prices. Also, be sure to check out their county-by-county map of nationwide gas prices. Here's a screen shot:
Click for a better look. At the site, you can get more details on a county level. Very cool.
UPDATE: Cross-posted to Murdoc Online. We'll see what happens to prices after the elections, particularly if they go up. That could lend a bit of credibility to the "Republicans manipulated prices down for the elections" claims we heard last month.
FLEEING VAN FLIPS near my house and I didn't even know it. Quick story in the Press.
THE FIRST NEXT-GENERATION NUCLEAR-POWERED AIRCRAFT CARRIER, referred to as "CVN-21", may be named after Gerald R. Ford:
Virginia Sen. John W. Warner, who is completing his final year as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sponsored an amendment to name the future carrier after the nation's 38th president. The amendment to the annual defense authorization bill won Senate approval on a voice vote.
It seems like a stretch to me, but who knows? The newest carrier in the fleet is the Ronald Reagan, and the next one will be the George H.W. Bush. Personally, I think the ship (which will really be designated CVN 78) should be named America. The previous USS America was sunk last year in weapons tests.
HOME: 126th Armor Battalion
14 members were training the Afghan national army. Well done.
SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS DOWNTOWN at the Festival on Saturday. Saw some good musicians and dancers. Ate some good food. Got a bit of sun. Was a great time and I hope you had a chance to check it out.
My kids added a bit of chalk artwork to the collection. Here's my daughter's offering:
We did have a nice day, and we're already looking forward to next year's Festival.
The advisory panel for the riverfront property is underwhelmed by the three proposals submitted. They used the word "lame". That's rarely encouraging.
EMILY BOWNESS fractured the tip of her thumb, bruised her ribs, and suffered a gash on the back of her head when her SUV rolled 12 times.
"I know accidents happen. It's OK," Bowness said. "I'm not real sure how you could drive away, seeing that happening in your rearview mirror. How do you not stop to see if I was OK or make sure I was alive? But I know accidents happen, and I'm sure that person has their reasons."
THINGS DON'T LOOK GOOD FOR THE GRIFFINS. They're down 3-0 in their playoff series against Milwaukee and they're down 3-1 at the end of the first period in Game 4. They have to come back tonight to force a Game 5 Friday in GR.
UPDATE: They lost 5-4. Season's over.
I discuss the local anti-recruiting protest in more depth at Murdoc Online, with an update.
THE FIRST SCULPTURE in the "Tom Otterness in Grand Rapids" event was unveiled Tuesday in front of the Kent County Courthouse. A total of 35 will be placed in downtown GR, plus another 5 within Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.
For more info and a printable map showing the locations of the 40 sculptures, see this PDF.
THREE DEVELOPERS are on the list for the 16 acres of riverfront property in GR:
UPDATE: A map of the location is here.
MARINE RESERVISTS FROM GRAND RAPIDS will be activated for duty in Iraq:
"We don't look at polls. They want to make their families proud, but they also want to make their community proud, and they want to take the fight to the enemy."
Polls do not seem to reflect the reality on the ground in Iraq. The unit is Company A, 1st Battalion of the 24th Marines.
FRIDAY IS THE DEADLINE
for developers to make themselves known if they are interested in buying 16 acres of city-owned land along the Grand River.
More in the Press.
THE GRIFFINS rallied for three goals in the third period of a Game 7 to beat the Manitoba Moose 5-4 and advance to the next round of the AHL playoffs. Game 1 against the Milwaukee Admirals is Thursday evening at Van Andel.
