Our network

Sports & Recreation

My Town: Local Little League team to play for state title Wednesday

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer
Wednesday, July 30th, 2014, 8:00am
My Town: Local Little League team to play for state title Wednesday

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--- Western Little League Minors are following in the footsteps of the league's senior baseball team, with a run for the Little League State Championship title.

The 9/10 division beat South Portage Tuesday night in the state semi-final game, 11-4.  Western remains undefeated in the state tournament (5-0) with an overall record of 12-1.  Western will take on Essexville-Hampton for the state title  at 6 p.m. Wednesday on the Southern Little League’s East Field, located at 2525 Kalamazoo Ave. SE in Grand Rapids.

The 9/10 year old division of the Little League State Tournament began Friday, July 25 with 16 teams.  Detroit Red Wings’ Luke Glendening, who is a former Southern Little League player, helped kick off the competition.

Read More
View Comments | Post a Comment
Share:

My Town: Final rounds of Little League State Tournament unfold in Grand Rapids

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer
Tuesday, July 29th, 2014, 1:02pm
My Town: Final rounds of Little League State Tournament unfold in Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--- Just one West Michigan team remains in the running for the Little League State Tournament  title.

The Western team based out of the Walker/Standale area carries a 5-2 record into Tuesday night’s semi-final game against South Portage.  The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Southern Little League’s East Field, located at 2525 Kalamazoo Ave. SE in Grand Rapids.

The 9/10 year old division of the Little League State Tournament began Friday, July 25 with 16 teams.  Detroit Red Wings’ Luke Glendening, who is a former Southern Little League player, helped kick off the competition.

All games and parking are free to the public. Concessions will be open during all games. For updated scores and information, visit www.southernll.blogspot.com and click on 9/10 Tournament.

Read More
View Comments | Post a Comment
Share:

My Town: Consumers Energy Foundation awards nearly $39K to nonprofits

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer
Tuesday, July 29th, 2014, 10:15am
My Town: Consumers Energy Foundation awards nearly $39K to nonprofits

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Dozens of nonprofit organizations that are close to the hearts of Consumers Energy employees are getting a financial boost.

The Consumers Energy Foundation recently awarded 78 grants worth $38,350 to organizations in Michigan where Consumers employees and retirees volunteer.  Last year, nonprofits in the state received more than $8 million from Consumers Energy and its employees, retirees, foundation and parent company, CMS Energy.  

The 2014 second quarter grant recipients include:

Allegan County

  • $450 to Fennville Public Schools Youth Baseball (Loren Barnes)
  • $550 to Fennville Public Schools Youth Football (Loren Barnes)

Ionia County

  • $550 to Portland Public Schools Wrestling Club (Chad Miller)

Kalamazoo County

Read More
View Comments | Post a Comment
Share:

My Town: WMU engineers create helmet device to detect concussions

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer
Tuesday, July 15th, 2014, 10:20am
My Town: WMU engineers create helmet device to detect concussions

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—In a time when concussions in football continue to make headlines, students at Western Michigan University have created a device to help detect head injuries.

SafeSense is installed in a football helmet to monitor hits to the head.  Student engineers designed the pressure sensor using printed electronics on a flexible organic plastic material that covers the inside of a helmet.  The sensor collects data on when, where and severity of a hit.  The information is then sent to a smartphone.  The helmet’s impact history can then be stored on a cloud-based server.

Read More
View Comments | Post a Comment
Share:

Caught Being Safe program launches statewide

Submitted by Tyler Lecceadone on Monday, June 30th, 11:04 am

Michigan State Police, local law enforcement and Michigan’s Field Neurosciences Institute have teamed up with McDonald’s of Michigan to once again launch “Caught Being Safe,” a statewide bicycle/scooter helmet safety program. Kids wearing helmets and “caught being safe” by participating law enforcement officials will treated to a free ice cream cone or Apple Dippers at McDonald’s. 

According to the Field Neurosciences Institute (of Michigan): “Caught Being Safe! has shown a significant increase in both helmet utilization and public awareness regarding the critical importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. This program has impacted not only children but adults as well.” 

View Comments | Post a Comment
Share:

My Town Kalamazoo: Visit any county park for free June 18

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer
Tuesday, June 17th, 2014, 12:14pm
My Town Kalamazoo: Visit any county park for free June 18

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Celebrate the end of the school year and the start of summer this Wednesday, June 18 with a free visit to any Kalamazoo County park.

The Kalamazoo County Parks & Expo Center is waiving its $5 per vehicle admission to all county parks for the day, to encourage everyone to get outside and explore nature.  The group will also be distributing goody bags at parks, while supplies last.  Visitors can also enter for a chance to win an annual vehicle pass to the parks.

“Many people don’t realize all the opportunities for recreation at the parks right here in Kalamazoo County,” said David Rachowicz, parks director. “This is a great way to kick off the summer and see all that the parks have to offer.”

For more information including park locations, visit www.kalamazoocountyparks.com.

Read More
View Comments | Post a Comment
Share:

My Town: Fish for free June 7 and 8

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer
Saturday, June 7th, 2014, 7:00am
My Town: Fish for free June 7 and 8

MUSKEGON, Mich.— Grab a rod and head out onto the big lake this weekend for Michigan’s Free Fishing Weekend.

On June 7 and 8, the state will be waiving fishing license fees.  Free Fishing Weekend applies to residents and out-of-state visitors on inland and Great Lakes waters for all species of fish.  All fishing regulations still apply.

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, our state offers some of the finest freshwater fishing in the world, with more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, more than 11,000 inland lakes and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams. To find inland lakes in your area, click here.

View Comments | Post a Comment
Share: