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Westbound M-6 reopens

Submitted by Amy Fox, WZZM Executive Producer
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012, 12:24pm

UPDATE 12:00 p.m. (WZZM)- Traffic is moving once again on the South Beltline in Kent County after a serious crash this morning.

Kent County Sheriff's Deputies say around 7 a.m. an SUV hit the back of a westbound semi near Broadmoor. Aero Med transported the driver of the SUV to Spectrum Health.

Westbound M-6 opened around 9:45 a.m.

UPDATE 9:45 a.m. (WZZM)- The Michigan Department of Transportation says all lanes of M-6 are now open.

GAINES TOWNSHIP, Michigan (WZZM)- Emergency crews are responding to a crash at M-6 and East Paris Avenue in Gaines Township.

Westbound M-6 is closed because of the crash. It happened shortly after 7 a.m.

Police radio traffic indicates an AeroMed medical helicopter is taking an injured person from the scene. But, Kent County Dispatchers don't have specific information about injuries.

WZZM 13 News has a crew on the scene and will have more information when it become available.

 

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Emergency drill prepares for chemical threat

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 12:12pm

KENTWOOD (WZZM) -- West Michigan emergency service personnel are once again preparing in the case of a major emergency. This time the training exercise is focusing on chemical spills.

The exercise will be at Lacks Industries on Airlane Drive in Kentwood from 8am until 10:30 Tuesday morning. The Kent County Local Emergency Planning Committee, along with Kentwood Fire Department, Kentwood Police, TriCom HazMat Team, National Weather Service, Kent County Sheriff's Department, Spectrum Health, and other agencies will be conducting the chemical emergency response exercises. Lacks' internal HazMat team will also be helping out in the exercise.

Lacks volunteered use of its facility. Community members will volunteer as victims.  There will be no chemicals used in the exercise.

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Life's work of MayEtta "Mother" Colbert: Caring

Submitted by Phil Dawson, Reporter
Monday, May 14th, 2012, 10:41pm

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WZZM) -- She was a good Samaritan who never judged or turned anyone away, a woman always willing to extend a helping hand.  That's how people who knew MayEtta Colbert, 85, are remembering her.

"Anybody would admire her," says longtime friend Bill Meaders. "She was somebody who cared."

Previous Coverage: Mother killed in fire on Mother's Day

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Kentwood student headed to D.C. for National Spelling Bee

Submitted by Chris Zoladz, Multi-Media Producer, WZZM 13
Monday, May 14th, 2012, 2:46pm
Kentwood student headed to D.C. for National Spelling Bee

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WZZM) - A Kentwood boy is one of 12 students representing Michigan in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Mwangi Wa Maina attends Crestwood Middle School and is in seventh grade.

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Mother killed in fire on Mother's Day

Submitted by Sarah Barwacz, Reporter-Multi Media Journalist
Sunday, May 13th, 2012, 10:19pm

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WZZM) -- May Colbert, 85 years old, fondly called "mother" by those who knew her, couldn't escape a fire in her home. Her son Larry, had dropped her off an hour before it began.

Larry Colbert, May's son says, "It is no pain like this on Mother's Day, and you lose your mother, before you could get to her." 

Family says, Colbert was known for giving back, not just to her family, but to the entire community. 

Colbert says, "Through her strength and power, as the oldest son, I'm going to be strong make my brother's and sister and neices, I'll make sure she lives on through me." 

Neighbors say they heard an explosion, before flames and smoke shot out of the garage. That's when her neighbor tried to rescue Colbert, who was trapped upstairs.

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Update: 85 year old mother dies in house fire

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff
Sunday, May 13th, 2012, 4:56pm

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WZZM) - An 85 year old Kentwood woman died after being trapped in her home as it caught fire.

According to witnesses May Colbert was in the upstairs bedroom. A neighbor tried to rescue her by climbing to the second story window on a ladder, but was overcome by smoke.

The fire started in the garage of the home on the 2100 block Bayhem Road around 2:30 Sunday afternoon then quickly spread to the home.

The woman had just been dropped off by her son after attending church together.

No word yet on what caused the fire but wittnesses say they heard an explosion shortly before the garage caught fire.

 

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Police: Motorcoach thefts by "organized ring"

Submitted by Bob Brenzing, Web Producer
Friday, May 11th, 2012, 9:59pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - Police say whoever is stealing luxury motor homes from West Michigan dealers is smart, skilled -- and, so far, successful.

"We believe they were done by the same group and they knew exactly what they were doing." says Grand Rapids Police Sgt. Stanley Lis of the Combined Auto Theft Team.

In the past few weeks, three motorcoaches have been reported stolen.  The first was taken from Holland Motor Homes and Bus Company on East 16th Street on March 28.  Two more motor homes were taken Tuesday from Midway RV Center on South Division in Kentwood on Tuesday.

"We were all kind of in shock," says Midway sales manager Dave Ballast.  "You kind of go from shock to disappointment to anger.  You are not sure what to feel."

Police say the motorcoach thefts are something they haven't seen happen locally in years.

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