KENTWOOD

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A snack company based in Greece has opened a U.S. headquarters in Kentwood and says it plans to create up to 185 jobs over the next two years. SnackCraft, which was founded in 2008 and makes allergen-free crackers, crisps and baked goods, hosted a ceremonial grand opening this week of its plant, 4444 52nd St., featuring officials from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and other local leaders.

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI – A collision between a vehicle and a building left an 18-year-old Spring Lake woman injured Sunday night, Jan. 15, Ottawa County sheriff’s deputies said. Police responded to a 7:42 p.m. report of a crash near the intersection of Cleveland Street and Main Street in Ottawa County’s Crockery Township. Police said the Spring Lake woman was eastbound on Cleveland Street when she suffered a medical emergency, causing her Subaru Legacy to leave the roadway and crash into a building. The collision caused significant damage to the vehicle and building. The Spring Lake woman was transported to a Grand Rapids-area hospital for treatment.

KENTWOOD, MI – Authorities are trying to find a suspect they believe left the scene of a shooting Thursday afternoon, Kentwood police said. Police responded to an 11:56 a.m. report of gunshots fired on Thursday, Jan. 12, in the area of Burgis Avenue and 52nd Street. When officers arrived at the scene, they did not locate a suspect or victim or any damaged property. Police said the suspect fled the scene in a dark-colored Lincoln four-door vehicle. Read more on MLive:Historic, riverfront Grand Rapids building to be renovated for apartments, officesEast Grand Rapids school board member resigns, district seeking applicants to fill seatSee which teams are on the rise in Jan. 12 Grand Rapids boys prep hoops power rankings

KENT COUNTY, MI – Two people died early Monday, Nov. 28, in a house fire in Kentwood. Kentwood firefighters found the victims and pulled them out of the burning structure but they did not survive. The fire was reported around 3:25 a.m. on 48th Street SE near Eastern Avenue. Looman said there is significant damage throughout the house. “The house is pretty well consumed by fire,” the chief said.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A Walker police detective was justified in shooting a man who allegedly pointed a gun at investigators and later rammed patrol cars with a stolen U-Haul, police said. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker determined that the detective was justified in shooting Robert Gallup, 36, of Kentwood, who was treated for an arm injury, authorities said. Related: Driver in stolen U-Haul who rammed several cruisers, and was shot by police, faces 9 feloniesKent County Sheriff’s Department, which investigated the shooting, said Becker determined the shooting to be justified. The Sept. 9 incident began with a confrontation between Gallup and Walker detectives, who were investigating a report of a stolen motorcycle. He is held in the Kent County Correctional Facility on $500,000 bond.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Police are searching for a suspect they believe robbed a 70-year-old Kentwood woman Sunday night while she was loading groceries into her vehicle. The Kentwood woman was loading groceries into her vehicle when a man ran up and took her purse from the shopping cart, police said. Police said the woman was not injured, but the suspects made off in a stolen Kia and later used the woman’s credit cards at area stores. The suspect got into the passenger seat of the awaiting stolen car, police said. Read more on MLive:Man dies in rough Lake Michigan waters during kayak race Up NorthOctober meteor shower could deliver fireballs, extra bright meteorsAbout 80% of Michigan teens do not get adequate sleep, and it’s hurting their health

KENT COUNTY, MI – Police have arrested four additional suspects connected to a shooting that left two injured following a May graduation ceremony at East Kentwood High School. MLive/The Grand Rapids Press is not naming the suspects pending arraignment. The juveniles – two 17-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy – are currently lodged at the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center. The shooting happened May 19 outside East Kentwood High School following a graduation ceremony for Crossroads Alternative High School at the stadium. The ceremony, for 75 students of Crossroads Alternative High School, began at 6 p.m. and lasted 50 minutes.

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- A Kentwood man who police say rammed several police cruisers in a stolen U-Haul -- and was shot by officers -- has been charged with nine felonies. He is held in the Kent County Jail on several outstanding warrants. Police began pursuing the U-Haul and it rammed several cruisers and drove through yards. An Ottawa County sheriff’s deputy fired shots during the pursuit, police said. He was treated at a hospital and later released to the Kent County Jail.

Grand Rapids Christian football fans cheer on the Eagles during Friday night's game against South Christian at East Kentwood High School in Kentwood, Mi., on Aug. 26, 2022. South Christian won, 42-7. (Photo courtesy of Eli Kaminski)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI —Broad Leaf Brewery + Spirits has grown in popularity on the craft beer and spirts scene since launching in Kentwood in 2019. The couple is once again has an idea for new concept with the opening of a second Broad Leaf location on Grand Rapids’ West Side early this fall, according to a press release. The owners say Broad Leaf Westside will follow a similar vibe and theme as the current location, located at 2885 Lake Eastbrook Blvd. Broad Leaf Westside will occupy the space being vacated by The Sovengard, at 443 Bridge St., which served Scandinavian-inspired cuisine. The release said Broad Leaf has recently started distributing its beer throughout Michigan through M-4 Distribution.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Two Republican challengers are facing off in the Aug. 2 primary to represent the party in November for the 13th District on the Kent County Board of Commissioners. The winner will face incumbent Kent County Commissioner Michelle McCloud in the Nov. 8 general election for a county board seat. Kent County’s 13th District covers parts of the city of Kentwood. Nick Prill:After continually sharing my concerns at school board and county commissioner meetings, I realized my voice was not just being ignored, but dismissed all together. Married with two young children, I have joined the county commissioner race with plans to end the corrupt pattern of special interest influence and safeguard citizens’ freedoms so they will never again be imposed upon.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Kentwood police on Wednesday, July 6, arrested a suspect who allegedly shot a woman in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Police responded around 7:10 p.m. to a report of a shooting in the parking lot at 3328 Pheasant Ridge Drive SE, near Breton Road and 32nd Street, and found the shooting victim. The suspect and victim knew each other, police said. Police asked anyone with information to call Kentwood Police Department Detective Bureau at 616-656-6604 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345. Read more:Family of 16-year-old killed in shooting believe he knew assailant from past run-inDetroit officer dies in shooting, armed suspect killed as police return fireWarrants issued against man for fatal Holland shooting

BARRY COUNTY, MI – A man died in a two-car crash Monday morning. An 18-year-old Kentwood man was driving around 9:55 a.m., June 20, on West State Road near Agaming Street in Rutland Township, the Barry County Sheriff’s Office said. The 53-year-old Lowell man driving the Dodge was taken to Butterworth Hospital. The 18-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the crash, and no additional information can be released, police said.

KENT COUNTY, MI - A 94-year-old Kentwood man died after a collision with another vehicle Sunday, June 12. The crash occurred at 9:08 a.m. at the intersection of Shaffer Avenue SE and Pfeiffer Woods Drive SE in Kentwood. Kentwood Police said the 94-year-old motorist was turning left onto northbound onto Shaffer Avenue from Pfeiffer Woods Drive, when he collided with a full-sized SUV traveling southbound on Shaffer. Kentwood fire personnel extricated the victim from his vehicle following the crash, police said. A 43-year-old man from Kentwood, who was driving the SUV, did not seek medical treatment at the scene, police said.

KENT COUNTY, MI – The killing of a Kentwood man during an apparent robbery at an ATM was among a series of violent crimes overnight in Kent County. 10:36 p.m.: Kent County sheriff’s deputies respond to the fatal shooting in Byron Township. 11:35 p.m. An Audi sport-utility vehicle is stolen from the 700 block of South Division Avenue in Grand Rapids. 2:15 a.m. Grand Rapids police spot the stolen Audi and begin pursuit. Two Grand Rapids men – ages 20 and 22 – fled on foot but were captured by police.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Police identified Joseph Wilder, 50, of Kentwood, as the victim of fatal shooting during a suspected robbery at a bank’s ATM in Byron Township. The shooting occurred around 10:30 p.m. near the Huntington National Bank automated-teller machine on South Division Avenue near M-6. Related: Man killed in apparent attempted robbery near ATM in Kent County, police sayA motorist reported hearing a gunshot and called police. Police have worked overnight on the investigation and asked anyone with information to call sheriff’s detectives at 616-632-6125 or Silent Observer anonymously at 616-774-2345. Read more:Pair charged with homicide in shooting deaths of acquaintances, 16 and 19Dozens of road, sidewalk repair projects taking place this year in Grand Rapids‘No, bro, you’re dead,’ woman allegedly told boyfriend before fatal shooting

KENT COUNTY, MI – A Kentwood man was shot and killed late Tuesday, May 24, possibly after an attempted robbery at an ATM, sheriff’s deputies said. A motorist reported hearing a gunshot around 10:30 p.m. on South Division Avenue, south of M-6, in Byron Township. Kent County sheriff’s deputies found a 50-year-old man who was deceased in a pickup truck. Early investigation suggested the man was fatally shot after an attempted holdup at an automated-teller machine, police said. Read more:One person shot and killed near downtown Grand RapidsMab stabbed multiple times near Holland, critically injuredMemorial Day events planned in West Michigan for 2022

People departing a graduation in the Grand Rapids area apparently were armed at the event when they exchanged gunshots with a group in a car, a sheriff said Friday.

Deputies with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office are investigating after a 16-year-old boy and 40-year-old woman were shot in a high school parking lot in Gaines Township just as a graduation ceremony was finishing.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Over the past 23 years, Tony and Tracy Martin have watched as the number of Black people in their Grand Rapids neighborhood has dwindled. William Frey, a demographer at Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization, said the trend among Grand Rapids’ Black population is similar to what’s happening in many U.S. cities. Overall, Grand Rapids’ population climbed to 198,917 in 2020, up 5.8 percent from a decade ago. One longtime Grand Rapids realtor says another factor may be at play in the loss of Black residents. “Southeast Grand Rapids is made up of older housing stock, and it’s made up of older folks,” said Doretha Ardoin, a realtor who has worked in Grand Rapids for 40 years.

Each sandwich is over a quarter pound.”The creators of The Pita House have been serving Middle Eastern cuisine in Grand Rapids since 1995. First, the owners of what would become The Pita House were selling gyros out of Sami’s Party Store in Eastown. Four years later, in 1999, they opened The Pita House across the street from the now defunct party store. Shatara said The Pita House prides itself on its fresh ingredients. When served at The Pita House, employees shave the layers off the rotisserie, and place them in pita bread.

Guichelaar earlier pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the Nov. 16, 2020 death of 32-year-old Amber Guichelaar at their Kentwood home. Amber Guichelaar was the mother of two young children and taught for Kentwood Public Schools. The victim’s mother, Amy DeGraaf, spoke at the sentencing and asked the judge to consider the two young children. Guichelaar spoke briefly. Related: Man charged in pregnant wife’s slaying held on $2 million bond“My wife was a wonderful human being, a wonderful mother, daughter, granddaughter.

Teresa Ann Rosser was sentenced Thursday, March 31 in Kent County Circuit Court on a charge of operating while intoxicated causing death. Kent County sheriff’s deputies said her vehicle crossed the center line and struck a 2005 Dodge Stratus. In a probable cause affidavit, Kent County sheriff’s deputies reported that Rosser’s blood-alcohol content was .267, more than three times the legal driving limit. Kent County Circuit Judge Mark Trusock noted that it was Rosser’s first drunken driving charge and that she has two prior misdemeanors but no felonies. Trusock sentenced Rosser to five to 15 years in prison.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A 13-year-old boy shot and killed late Saturday in Kentwood was an Alger Middle School student. Jamarion McCuller was killed in a shooting that happened just before 8 p.m. in the 3000 block of 29th Street SE. Related: Police identify Kentwood shooting victim as 13-year-oldKentwood police have released few details about the shooting. The school principal described McCuller as “intelligent, full of life, and a kind student who always had a smile on his face. Colton’s letter advises parents about how to spot stress in students who may be struggling emotionally following the death.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Two teenagers tried to carjack a man in a Menards parking lot. A 59-year-old Kentwood man was in the parking lot of Menards, 5555 Clyde Park Ave. SW, in Wyoming around 7:08 p.m., March 14, when two people tried to carjack him, the Wyoming Department of Public Safety said. Two males pointed handguns at the man and physically assaulted him, according to a witness who called 911, police said. Two teenagers tried to take the man’s car keys, but were unsuccessful, police said. The teens were last seen running north from the parking lot with hooded sweatshirts pulled tight around their face and wearing face masks, police said.

KENT COUNTY, MI - A suspect is in custody after a Saturday evening shooting incident that left one person dead in Kentwood, police said. Just before 8 p.m. Saturday, March 12, police responded to a report of a shooting near the 3000 block of 29th Street SE in Kentwood, according to a news release from the Kentwood Police Department. A gunshot victim was pronounced dead at the scene and a suspect was arrested nearby. There is no active threat as of Saturday evening, police said.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The ‘wow’ factor is a common reaction at The Salted Cupcake in Kentwood. When customers step inside the shop, they’ll see items such as The Unicorn, a pink velvet cupcake topped with vanilla buttercream, sprinkles, marshmallow ears and a gold candle. The Salted Cupcake, 2481 32nd St. The shop’s namesake cupcake, the salted cupcake, includes “chocolate cake, peanut butter buttercream, salted caramel, and smoked salt chocolate sauce topped with a dark and white chocolate smoked salt bark,” according to the bakery’s menu. Thompson, a Grand Valley State University graduate, opened The Salted Cupcake about seven years ago.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A Kentwood man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the strangulation death of his pregnant wife. Kentwood police said 32-year-old Amber Guichelaar, a teacher, was killed in the couple’s home on Nov. 16, 2020. Related: Man charged in pregnant wife’s slaying held on $2 million bondAmber Guichelaar was the mother of two young children and taught for Kentwood Public Schools. Police considered the death suspicious before a medical examiner, in an autopsy, “discovered injuries consistent with an assault which occurred just prior to her death,” Kentwood police Detective Timothy Dykgraff wrote in a probable-cause affidavit. Related: West Michigan husband accused in strangulation death of pregnant wife, a teacherRichard Guichelaar is expected to be sentenced April 21 before Kent County Circuit Judge Mark Trusock.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Online retailer Amazon has submitted plans to the city of Kentwood for a brick-and-mortar retail location it plans to open at Woodland Mall. Mary Ann Sabo, a spokesperson for Woodland Mall, declined to comment on Amazon’s plans. While known for it’s online sales, Amazon operates several type of retail stores, including Amazon Fresh, Amazon Books, Amazon 4-Star, Amazon Go, and Amazon Pop Up. The retail store with the most locations is Amazon 4-Star, the company’s website shows. At Amazon 4-Star locations, customers can shop for toys, books, home goods and devices.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Wyoming police identified James Belcher, 53, of Kentwood, as the pedestrian who was struck and killed Monday, Jan. 31, by a semi-tractor trailer. The crash happened around 8 p.m. at 54th Street and South Division Avenue in Wyoming. The victim was walking south across 54th Street, in the crosswalk, when he was struck by the eastbound car hauler, police said. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, police said. Police asked anyone with information to call investigators at 616-530-7300.

In Kentwood, Stephanie Bronkar VanderPloeg is experiencing the same grocery store inflation as many other Michiganders. She said a typical month of grocery shopping for her family of four was $600 — but before she knew it, her monthly grocery bill increased to $800.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A Myanmar restaurant in Kentwood will begin this month selling grab and go meals at Bridge Street Market and two Grand Rapids-area Meijer stores. Amazing Myanmar Asian Cuisine, 3740 28th St. SE, will sell 10 of its most popular menu items at the stores, said owner Min Min Tun, a Burmese refugee who runs the restaurant alongside his wife, Aye Soo.

Kent and Ottawa counties will have new congressional, state House and state Senate districts starting in the 2022 mid-term races. Currently, Kent County is split across two different districts and Ottawa County is lumped into one. There will be 10 state House seats with districts entirely or partially in Kent County and five in Ottawa County. Currently, Kent County is split across seven state House districts and Ottawa County across three. There will be five state Senate seats with districts entirely or partially in Kent County and three in Ottawa County.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A Kentwood man is charged with open murder in the October shooting death of a 30-year-old man. Cordney Dashawn Toliver, 29, already held in the Kent County Correctional Facility on unrelated charges, is accused in the Oct. 22 fatal shooting of DeMarcus Javon Brown. Toliver was arraigned Tuesday, Dec. 21, in Grand Rapids District Court on charges of open murder, felon in possession of a firearm, felony firearms, carrying a concealed weapon and auto theft. He had been jailed since Nov. 29 on unrelated charges of first-degree home invasion, two counts of assault with intent to do bodily harm and two counts of felony firearms, records showed. He is awaiting trial in Kent County Circuit Court on the earlier charges, records show.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A Kentwood police officer was justified in the fatal shooting of a man who stabbed a roommate and threatened police with a large butcher knife, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said. Officer Tyler Smith shot and killed Kim Ropp, 60, on Oct. 24 at 4514 Grantwood Street SE.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids and Kentwood are reopening their leaf and brush drop-off sites after strong winds took down branches and powerlines Saturday. Grand Rapids’s yard waste drop-off site at 2001 Butterworth St. SW will have its hours extended throughout the winter. Kentwood’s drop-off site will reopen for a limited time, from Monday, Dec. 13, through Saturday, Dec. 18. Related: As wind storm blows across Michigan, power outages approach 200,000Both sites are open to their respective residents only. Grand Rapids residents can call 311 or 616-456-3000 to find out more about the site and what is accepted.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A 33-year-old Kentwood man has been charged with murder for the death of a man found shot to death in a car in Alpine Township. Marquis Thomas also is charged with felony firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

KENT COUNTY, MI — The Kent County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a suspect in an Alpine Township homicide, the sheriff’s office reports. On Monday, Dec. 6, the Kent County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Kentwood man in connection to the homicide that was reported on Dec. 1, in Alpine Township, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. Investigators worked the case throughout the weekend, collecting evidence that connected the Kentwood man to the crime, the sheriff’s office said. The case will be reviewed by the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office and the suspect’s name will be released upon arraignment, police said. According to the Kent County Medical Examiner’s Office, Wright suffered a gun shot wound while in his vehicle, and his death was ruled a homicide.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A man died of injuries suffered Wednesday, Nov. 24, in a workplace accident, Kentwood police said. Moses Kur, 37, of Kentwood, was identified as the victim. He was working on a machine at Ventra Grand Rapids, 2929 32nd Street, when he was injured, Kentwood police said. Kentwood police and firefighters responded around 6:25 a.m. to a report of an industrial accident at the plant. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating, police said.

No charges will be filed against an 82-year-old driver who struck and killed a pedestrian in western Michigan.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Kent County’s Asian population jumped 56% over the past decade, but some areas saw bigger increases than others. Kentwood saw its Asian population increase by 90%, reaching 6,119 in 2020, new census data show. Eleven percent of the municipality’s population is now Asian, the biggest percentage in the county.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Kentwood police shot and killed a man who was armed with a knife and had stabbed another person. Police found an active fight inside the residence, with a 60-year-old man armed with a knife. A stabbing victim was hospitalized in stable condition. Another person suffered a minor knife wound and was treated at the scene. Kentwood police have asked Kent County Sheriff’s Department to investigate.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Kentwood schools went on lockdown Thursday, Aug. 26, after a man brandished a handgun in a vehicle then fled on foot when police spotted him. Police arrested the suspect, a man in his 30s, and recovered the gun. Kentwood police responded around 7:10 a.m. to a report of a man with a handgun inside a vehicle near 52nd Street SE and Eastern Avenue. An officer spotted a vehicle that matched the description in the 5300 block of Kellogg Woods Drive SE. When the officer approached, the man fled on foot.

Census 2020 put Kent County’s Hispanic population at 75,228, a 29% jump. Kent County’s Asian population also saw a significant boost. The growth of the Asian population has been good for Kent County’s economy, Morey said. Kent County’s Hispanic population grew in all but one of its municipalities — Spencer Township. Curtis says the strong growth in Wyoming’s Hispanic population has been happening for decades and isn’t a new trend.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A Kentwood police officer has been cleared in the shooting of a man who allegedly pointed an AR-15 pistol at police. A witness told a 911 dispatcher that the man, armed with the AR-15, was in the driveway yelling before she heard a gunshot. A plainclothes detective, in an unmarked car, watched the man and relayed information to dispatchers until Officer Russell Mazarka and a sergeant reached the scene. Police said he pointed it at the officer and sergeant before he was shot. The law does not require the officer to wait for the suspect to fire his gun before using his, Becker said.

KENTWOOD, MI -- A Kentwood police officer shot and injured a man armed with a rifle along Woodshire Place, police said. According to witnesses, the man had fired the long gun at least once while walking on nearby Stauffer Avenue SE. The caller told dispatchers the man was yelling and fired what appeared to be a rifle before walking away. An outside agency, the Kent County Sheriff’s Department, is investigating the shooting to see if proper procedures were followed. A report will be submitted to Kent County prosecutors for review.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids area police are warning about a recent rash of purse snatchings at shopping centers. Wyoming police issue a joint statement with Kentwood and Grand Rapids police, as well as the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. Generally, the thieves have targeted woman older than 50 who have their purse in a shopping cart and are alone. When the targeted woman is looking away or otherwise distracted, the thieves grab the purse and run. Grand Rapids police issued a warning Tuesday, June 29 about several recent purse snatchings in the Grand Rapids area (Wyoming Department of Public Safety)Anyone with information about the vehicle or the purse snatchings can call any of the following police agencies:Wyoming Public Safety – 616-530-7366, Grand Rapids Police – 616-456-3380, Kent County Sheriff – 616-632-6125, Kentwood Police – 616-656-6600, Silent Observer – 616-774-2345.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Police have released the name of a man killed in a homicide Sunday morning. Travon Jeffrey-Jamont Seawood, 21, of Kentwood, was shot and killed around 3:50 a.m. June 20 in the 300 block of Ellsworth Avenue Southwest, Grand Rapids police said. RELATED: One dead, one seriously injured in early morning Grand Rapids shootingAn autopsy by the Kent County Medical Examiner’s Office Monday, June 21, determined the manner of death was homicide, police said. Officers also responded to another crash about a mile and a half away at Bridge Street NW and Scribner Avenue NW. People with video of the incidents can share it via email at GRPDinfo@grcity.us or on the Grand Rapids Police Department’s social media pages.

Terrence Muex of Flint Carman-Ainsworth also broke the all-time state finals record in the 400 meter dash, with a time of 46.52 seconds. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com) Mike Mulholland | MLive.comIan Hanby of Saline throws in the shot put during the 2021 MHSAA Division track and field state finals at East Kentwood High School in Kentwood, on Saturday, June 5, 2021. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com) Mike Mulholland | MLive.comElla Christensen of Northville competes in the 1600 meter run during the 2021 MHSAA Division track and field state finals at East Kentwood High School in Kentwood, on Saturday, June 5, 2021. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com) Mike Mulholland | MLive.comRiley Hough wins of Hartland celebrates as he wins the 3200-meter run during the 2021 MHSAA Division track and field state finals at East Kentwood High School in Kentwood, on Saturday, June 5, 2021. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com) Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

William Morales-Sanchez, 25, is accused in the May 8, 2020, killings of Einar Villarreal, 37, and Nicholas Zepeda, 35. The three were playing cards and drinking when Morales-Sanchez shot the others at a home on Marlette Avenue SE at Paris Estates Mobile Home Park, police said. Morales-Sanchez told investigators that the other men were talking in Spanish when he grabbed a rifle from a card table and pointed it at Villarreal. Morales-Sanchez told police he was only joking with the gun. Morales-Sanchez told police he shot the other victim, too.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A 23-year-old man is headed to prison for strangling his girlfriend to death at her Kentwood home. Fredy Bautista, 23, was sentenced Tuesday, June 1 in Kent County Circuit Court to 16 to 45 years in prison. Deolanda Gancino Galvez, 45, was found dead in her Jennifer Street SE home in Kentwood on Aug. 10. “From minute one after the alcohol wore off he regretted what he had done,” she said. “Obviously, there is no excuse or no justification for killing someone, especially someone that is your girlfriend that you’ve been with for a number of years.

KENT COUNTY, MI – After spending the last few years remodeling the main barn at Equine Assisted Development, workers have to start over after a devastating fire. The main barn at Equine Assisted Development in Kentwood is gutted by fire. While on the way to the scene, Kentwood firefighters saw heavy, black smoke billowing. Kentwood firefighters immediately requested assistance from Grand Rapids firefighters and asked off-duty Kentwood firefighters to respond if available. The main barn at Equine Assisted Development in Kentwood is gutted by fire.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — New data show disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates across Kent County based on both geography and race and ethnicity. ZIP code level COVID-19 vaccination data show wealthier, suburban communities such as Ada, East Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Township have the highest vaccination rates. To see how ZIP codes across Kent County are performing, check out the interactive map below. It shows how many doses of the vaccine have been provided to residents who live in a Kent County ZIP code. ZIP codes do not align with county boundaries, and the county said it omitted a few ZIP codes that touch the northeastern edge of Kent County because the majority of people in those ZIP codes live outside Kent County.

Nine Michigan businesses have been fined for violating COVID-19 safety rules and putting workers at risk, state officials said. “The employer was also cited for an other-than-serious record keeping violation.”Reason for inspection: Employee complaintClick here to view the full citation document. Not training employees on the steps the employees must take to notify the business or operation of any symptoms of COVID-19 or a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 employees on COVID-19. Reason for inspection: COVID-19 Retail State Emphasis ProgramClick here to view the full citation document. River City Reproductions and GraphicsLocation: KentwoodFine amount: $2,100Violations:Lack of a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan.

“I was sure that I wasn’t seeing it right.”The player bought his winning ticket at the Speedway gas station, located at 5173 Broadmoor Avenue Southeast in Kentwood. Players have won more than $69 million playing $2,000,000 Bonus, which launched in June 2019. Each $20 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $20 up to $2 million. More than $4 million in prizes remain, including five $5,000 prizes, and 56 $1,000 prizes. In 2019, Lottery players won more than $1.2 billion playing instant games.

KENTWOOD, Mich. – Two men were killed in a Kentwood mobile home Friday night, according to a report from Grand Rapids based station WOOD-TV. Police were called to the Paris Estates Mobile Home Park after 11 p.m. Friday night. The victims, two men in their 30s, were found fatally shot by officers inside a home on Marlette Avenue. Police have not disclosed the name of the victims. Anyone with information is asked to call the Kentwood Police Department at 616-698-6580.