On Monday night, Sep. 28, 2026, deputies from the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office responded to a motorcycle crash on Northbound US-131 near mile marker 136.

A 34-year-old man from Traverse City was traveling northbound on US-131, when he struck a deer crossing the freeway a little before 11:35 p.m. The motorcycle was also occupied by a 45-year-old female passenger from Traverse City. 

Both occupants sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Corewell Health Hospital located in Big Rapids.

Mecosta County Sheriff's Office was assisted by Meceola Central Dispatch, Ferris State University Police, Big Rapids City Fire/Rescue, Mecosta EMS, and Jerry's Towing. 

_{Release information courtesy of Mecosta County Sheriff's Office.}

Ferris State University will launch its first Ferris Career Success Conference and Expo Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, with plans to coordinate the events bi-annually to connect students with rewarding careers.

The career conference brings approximately 400 recruiters from 180 organizations across the country to the Big Rapids campus to recruit students and alumni for internships and full-time employment.

More than a traditional career fair, the three-day event offers an expanded, university-wide career experience for students, alumni, faculty, staff, employees and employers—combining networking, professional development, current workforce topics, employer connections and career resources.

The conference kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 30, with a Launch Party from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the first floor of the David L. Eisler Center.

The free, welcoming reception will feature food, activities, entertainment, giveaways, and casual networking. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and employers are invited to connect before the expo in a relaxed setting.

For students and alumni, it is a chance to meet employers, start career conversations, and build connections before the formal expo begins.

“Whether someone is just beginning to think about a career, looking for an internship or job, preparing for their next career move, or supporting students along the way, there is a place for them in this experience,” said Angela Roman, director of Ferris State’s Career and Professional Success.

Dr. Michele Albright, Employer Relations Liaison and Career Readiness specialist, said the conference reflects how Ferris State is expanding its approach to career development.

Throughout the conference, participants can take advantage of expertise from across Ferris State and throughout the country to explore current workforce topics, trends and opportunities.

Programming includes a Technology Expo, All Majors Expo, employer information sessions, career readiness sessions, graduate school exploration and programming focused on artificial intelligence and recruiting.

The conference concludes Oct. 2 with a Career Tech Panel: AI to Get Hired, and a Future of Work keynote featuring Dr. Tarita Johnson, senior vice president, Talent and Diversity at The Right Place.

Sessions are designed for a variety of audiences, including students, faculty, staff, alumni and employers. Faculty and instructors will also have the opportunity to learn more about using 12twenty in the classroom and ways career resources can support student learning.

A new conference event app will further enhance the experience by helping attendees navigate the schedule, discover sessions and opportunities, and stay connected throughout the event.

The conference also marks the introduction of the new Ferris Career Success Hub, powered by 12twenty.

The career hub gives students and alumni a centralized place to access career resources, explore internships and employment opportunities, connect with employers and prepare for their next steps—extending career support beyond the conference and throughout the year.

The conference is the result of a university-wide planning committee and volunteers representing each Ferris college, most university offices, faculty, staff and students.

Together, they are helping bring the expertise, resources and connections of Ferris and its employer and community partners to one shared experience.

“Ferris has tremendous expertise within our colleges, departments and offices, along with an incredible network of employers and alumni,” Albright said. “This conference allows us to bring those connections together and make them accessible to our entire university community.”

_{Release and photo credit to Ferris State University.}

Monday, Sep. 21

• No arrests reported.

Calls for Service: 10

Traffic Accidents: 1

Tuesday, Sep. 22

• At 3:13 a.m., deputies made a traffic stop in Green Township. The traffic stop resulted in the male driver being arrested on Possession of Methamphetamine and an additional warrant. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 10:48 p.m., deputies made a traffic stop in Big Rapids Township. The traffic stop resulted in the male driver being arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 13

Traffic Accidents: 4

Wednesday, Sep. 23

Calls for Service: 16

Traffic Accidents: 3

Thursday, Sep. 24

• At 6:42 p.m., deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Morton Township. A male subject was arrested on a warrant. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 7:54 p.m., deputies made a traffic stop in Big Rapids Township. The traffic stop resulted in the male driver and female passenger being arrested for Possession of Dangerous Drugs. Both were lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 8

Traffic Accidents: 6

Friday, Sep. 25

• No arrests reported.

Calls for Service: 22

Traffic Accidents: 9

Saturday, Sep. 26

• No arrests reported.

Calls for Service: 11

Traffic Accidents: 2

Sunday, Sep. 27

• No arrests reported.

Calls for Service: 10

Traffic Accidents: 3

Ferris State’s new Jim Crow Museum will house more than 30,000 artifacts, but the building itself helps tell the stories of objects of oppression and how people are working to heal and overcome.

The Jim Crow Museum – the first of its kind – is celebrating the grand opening of the standalone building near the entrance to the Big Rapids campus on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

The museum will be a one-of-a-kind resource that leaders say will be a space for teaching, learning, and meaningful conversations about race that inspire understanding, healing, and positive change.

But museum leaders worked with architects from Neumann/Smith Architecture and Rockford Construction to include elements outside and inside the building to help tell the impactful stories. From the selected colors to the motifs of rivers, mosaics, and veils, these design elements help the museum teach more effectively about the Jim Crow period and its lasting impact.

“Our new museum will teach difficult truths, but also lifts up the stories of those who challenged hate through courage, advocacy and lives marked by resilience and dignity,” said Dr. David Pilgrim, the museum’s founder and Ferris State’s vice president for Diversity, Inclusion, and Strategic Initiatives,

“Our mission is to educate and inspire. The very building itself is a powerful tool to spark discussion and tell the story.”

 The Jim Crow era was a prolonged period of state-sponsored racial segregation and disenfranchisement in the United States, spanning from the late 19th century to the mid-1960s. Named after a derogatory minstrel show character, it enforced systemic white supremacy and treated African Americans as second-class citizens. 

For 30 years, Ferris State has been the home of the Jim Crow Museum. It began in a modest 500-square-foot room in the Starr Building. Since 2012, it has been housed in a larger 3,500-square-foot space in the lower level of the FLITE building.

The new, $22 million, 26,000 square-foot facility will help expand the museum’s ability to serve as an important resource for scholars and draw visitors from around the world. 

The museum’s centerpiece is a 7,500-square-foot exhibit gallery with artifacts and information presented in context, telling the stories of people and the times and times, building on the museum’s themes: Witness, Understand, Heal. 

The facility will also include state-of-the-art displays, interactive artifact explorer screens, a dedicated archive and research component, and increased capacity for school groups, faith communities, civic organizations, law enforcement, policymakers, and others. 

But the storytelling begins with elements of the building’s very design.

The Steel Veil

The steel veil that wraps the museum speaks to the history and mission of the museum. The design is based on W. E. B. Du Bois’ conception of “the veil,” written about in The Souls of Black Folk.

Du Bois was a groundbreaking American sociologist, historian, writer, and civil rights leader who co-founded the NAACP.

For Du Bois, the veil represents the barrier separating Black Americans from white America: a symbol of exclusion, distortion and the reality of being seen through the lens of racism instead of one’s full humanity.

The veil also shaped what Du Bois called “double consciousness,” which is the tension of understanding oneself from both within and through a prejudiced viewpoint. Ultimately, the goal of the museum is to help lift that veil.

Rivers

In the museum’s lobby, the floor tile flows along as if it were a river. This was intentional. The Steel Veil almost flows as a river as well, giving it a dual meaning. Also, the sidewalk that runs along the side of the building bends like a river.

Rivers run deep in African and African American culture. They are connected with spirituality, identity, and lived experiences. Rivers also link Black Americans back to Africa. They are symbols of African heritage. The rivers are also symbols of challenges to overcome. The concept of “many rivers crossed” is evidence of the strength and resiliency of African Americans.

Colors Within the Space

The red depicts various facets of the Jim Crow era, including its presence in society, laws, violence, caricatures and segregated spaces. The Citron yellow depicts the pushback from African Americans, whether individual or collective.

Mosaics

In the reflection space, the ceiling dome is inspired by art from the Harlem Renaissance era artist Aaron Douglas. The dome is pieced together as a mosaic of different shapes and colors. These mosaic representations — echoed in quilts, glass and various other art forms — illustrate how African Americans have crafted beauty and unity in the face of adversity.

_{Release and photo courtesy of Ferris State Unversity.}

The final cut of Andrew Tingley’s documentary about the Ferris State University Marching Band’s return after more than three decades premieres homecoming weekend at the Big Rapids Theater.

Showtimes for “Ferris State Marching Band Documentary” are 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, and 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Tickets are $7.50 at the door, but both presentations have limited seating. The band encourages donations at the screenings.

Tingley, an assistant professor of Television and Digital Media Production in Ferris State’s School of Digital Media, produced and directed the film. He followed the band from its first camp in 2025 through its first season back. The film runs about 40 minutes, and he is cutting a 26-minute and a 36-second version for PBS.

Although not a feature length, the film is full circle for Tingley, who played trombone at Portage Central High School and graduated from Ferris State in 2004.

“I love being a part of things that are bigger than me and feeling like I'm part of the marching band again,” Tingley said.

Starting as an idea from former Provost Bobby Fleischman, the film explores why the band disappeared and how it returned as other colleges cut marching bands and arts programs.

Scott Cohen, a retired professor of music and chair of the Department of Humanities, launched the effort to revive the band, and Ferris State hired Daniel Atwood to lead it. President Bill Pink, who once played bass drum in a marching band, also appears in the film.

Atwood calls the band “the front porch of the university,” where prospective students get a look at what Ferris State offers. Ferris State has no music major, so every member studies something else.

"They're all doing this just because they want to be a part of it," Atwood said.

An earlier cut of the documentary screened at the Festival of the Arts in February. After hearing community feedback, Tingley recorded more interviews over the summer and worked them into the film. His marching experience shaped his camerawork.

"One of the things that I currently teach students is when they're operating a Steadicam, I always say walk like you're in the marching band," Tingley said.

At camp, he marched inside the band’s drill to get his shots and mounted GoPro cameras on instruments. The hardest part, he said, was time: The band rehearsed constantly to bring the music and marching together.

"Get in there and just be a part of the marching band and get the shots that nobody else is going to see sitting in the stands," he said.

Knowing he couldn’t do it alone, Tingley needed a crew and didn’t have to look far to find one. Two students in a senior television and digital media production class helped with shoots, including a band performance at LMCU Ballpark. On football game days, while Tingley taught his remote television production class from the broadcast trailer, students covered the band on the field.

The shoots produced far more B-roll than the film could hold.

"It could easily be an hour, hour and a half full feature documentary," Tingley said. "But I'm just at the point where it needs to be done, and we need to get this story out there."

After the premiere, Tingley plans to submit the film to the National Educational Telecommunications Association, which makes programs available to PBS stations nationwide.

Review and scheduling take eight to 12 weeks, and each station decides whether to air it. Distribution through the association is nonexclusive, so he may also release the film on YouTube, Vimeo or Amazon, or host it on marchingbandfilm.com, where he posts updates.

Atwood hopes to eventually send prospective students a link.

"It could be a huge recruitment tool for us, for sure," he said.

_{Release and photo courtesy of Ferris State University.}

ITC Michigan will host a series of open-house community listening sessions in October on its proposed Copperton Projects, a plan to add about 254 miles of 345-kilovolt transmission lines in central and western Michigan.

The sessions, each scheduled from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. between Oct. 5 and Oct. 22, will let residents review preliminary route options, ask questions and comment on routing, design and construction.

“Our goal is to listen early and often to ensure community feedback plays a meaningful role as the projects move forward,” said Jim Tedder, regional manager for ITC Michigan. “We are in the early stages of route planning, and we invite residents to attend the community listening sessions to learn more, ask questions and share input on the route segment networks.”

ITC, through subsidiary Michigan Electric Transmission Co., plans three double-circuit 345-kV lines centered on the Copperton substation, an upgraded Salt River facility near Coleman in Midland County:

• About 159 miles from the Ludington substation in Mason County to Copperton.
• About 55 miles from the Nelson Road substation in Gratiot County to Copperton.
• About 40 miles from the Tittabawassee substation near Midland to Copperton.

No final routes have been selected.

The work is part of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s Long-Range Transmission Plan Tranche 2.1, a 24-project Midwest portfolio estimated at $21.8 billion and approved by MISO’s board in December 2024. Officials say the lines are intended to improve reliability, resiliency and grid capacity.Listening sessions (noon-7 p.m.)

• Monday, Oct. 5: Doig Conference Center, 1200 Wright Ave., Alma
• Tuesday, Oct. 6: Great Hall Banquet and Convention Center, 5121 Bay City Road, Midland
• Wednesday, Oct. 7: Whitefish Lake Golf Club, 2241 Bass Lake Road, Pierson
• Thursday, Oct. 8: Holiday Inn Conference Center, 5278 E. Pickard St., Mount Pleasant
• Monday, Oct. 12: Doherty Hotel, 604 N. McEwan St., Clare
• Tuesday, Oct. 13: Osceola County Fairgrounds Community Building, 101 Recreation Ave., Evart
• Wednesday, Oct. 14: Idlewild Historic and Cultural Center, 7025 S. Broadway St., Idlewild
• Thursday, Oct. 15: The Peaks Event Center, 11515 Northland Drive, Big Rapids
• Monday, Oct. 19: Hope Hall, 601 N. Evergreen Drive, White Cloud
• Tuesday, Oct. 20: Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts, 4734 S. Campus Court, Fremont
• Wednesday, Oct. 21: Graystone Event Center, 4079 W. U.S. 10, Ludington
• Thursday, Oct. 22: Earl and Linda Peterson MSU Research Station, 5185 N. Oceana Drive, Hart

For more in depth information and details on the Copperton projects, visit here: https://www.mifuturegrid.com/copperton-projects/.

Monday, September 14

• An officer was dispatched to investigate a property damage accident between two vehicles.
• An officer was dispatched to a larceny complaint. The complaint remains open pending further investigation. 
• An officer issued two citations to minors, who were in possession of a vape and alcohol.
• An officer issued a citation to another minor in possession of a vape.
• An officer was dispatched to investigate a property damage accident. 
• An officer was dispatched to a larceny complaint. The complaint remains open pending further investigation.

Tuesday, September 15

• An officer was asked to assist the Osceola County Sheriff's Department with a breaking and entering complaint.
• An officer was dispatched to investigate a harassment complaint between two juveniles.

Wednesday, September 16

• An officer was dispatched to a civil stand by. One subject had a warrant for their arrest and was lodged on the warrant.

Thursday, September 17

• An officer was dispatched to a disturbance at a local business. A subject was arrested and lodged at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Department on multiple charges.

Friday, September 18

• An officer was dispatched for a check well-being on a subject laying in the roadway. The subject was located and transported to Reed City Hospital for further treatment.

Saturday, September 19

• No calls reported.

Sunday, September 20

• No calls reported.

An 18-year-old woman from Grand Haven was taken to the hospital Tuesday afternoon, Sep. 22, after a two-vehicle crash on Perry Avenue in Big Rapids.

According to the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office, a 22-year-old woman from Gowen was traveling east on Perry Avenue through the traffic light at the intersection of 215th Avenue. The 18-year-old driver, who was stopped at a flashing yellow turn signal, then attempted a left turn and struck the 22-year-old woman’s vehicle.

The Grand Haven woman was taken to Corewell Health Big Rapids Hospital with minor injuries. The crash occurred around 3:20 p.m.

Deputies were assisted by Meceola Central Dispatch, the Michigan State Police, Mecosta County EMS and Big Rapids Township Fire and Rescue.

_{Release information courtesy of Mecosta County Sheriff's Office.}

Ferris State University partnered with the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential to kick off a series of regional career and educational exploration opportunities.

The series follows the success of the first MI Kickoff event, which brought more than 1,000 high school students from 40 Michigan high schools to Ford Field in April.

The event, kicked off by Ferris State President Bill Pink, connected high school freshmen and sophomores with higher education, workforce and career opportunities, helping students explore their interests, identify potential pathways and begin building a plan for life after high school.

MiLEAP leaders said bringing students onto college campuses and connecting them with people and programs that can help shape their futures. MiLEAP and its partners are expanding access to these opportunities closer to where students live and learn. 

“Every student deserves the opportunity to see themselves in a future they can imagine and build,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, MiLEAP executive director. “By bringing MI Kickoff to communities across Michigan, we are meeting young men where they are, helping them discover possibilities they may not have considered and connecting them to the people, programs and pathways that can help turn those possibilities into a plan.” 

Students across the state will take part in hands-on career exploration workshops, receive guidance on FAFSA and scholarship applications and connect directly with college and university faculty and staff to build relationships that can help inform future enrollment decisions.

Each event will feature activities showcasing various degree programs leading to high-wage, high-demand careers, including welding, health care, business and engineering. 

“We want young men to have the information and connections they need to make informed decisions about what comes next,” said Jason Wilson, deputy director of MiLEAP’s Office of Strategic Talent Preparation. “These regional events bring those opportunities directly to students and give them a chance to explore college and career pathways before they leave high school.” 

The regional events respond to a need to reach young men earlier and help them see a clear connection between their interests, education and futures.

According to the MI Data Center, about 56% of young men enroll in college within one year of graduating high school, compared with 69% of young women. Women also earn nearly 60% of all degrees and certificates awarded in Michigan. 

At Ferris State, students will experience hands-on activities in various programs including mechatronics, electrical automation engineering technology, music and entertainment business management, plastics and more.   "Most of these students have never set foot on a college campus – that’s the barrier,” said Dr. Kasey Lynn Thompson, dean and professor in the College of Extended Studies at Ferris State University.

“Once a ninth grader has stood in a welding lab or a pharmacy simulation and talked to someone doing that work, higher education stops being an abstraction and starts being an option. MiLEAP's goal for equitable postsecondary access aligned closely with our mission at Ferris State, and that shared understanding is what made an event of this scale possible." 

Connecting more young men with these opportunities supports Michigan’s bipartisan Sixty by 30 goal to increase the percentage of working-age adults with a postsecondary credential to 60% by 2030. 

Release credit to Ferris State University. Photo credit to MiLEAP.

Michigan State Police troopers were dispatched at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, to a home construction site in the 7300 block of Croton Hardy Drive after human remains were located.

Based on the initial investigation, the remains are not believed to be recent, and there is no indication of foul play. The investigation remains ongoing regarding the identity and origin of the remains.

The Western Michigan University Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the remains. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

_{Release information courtesy of Michigan State Police.}

The Buckhorn Creek dam removal and bridge project is complete after about five months of work.

Just north of Paris, Michigan, the creek is now connected to 2.4 miles of cold-water habitat in the Muskegon River. Travelers on the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail can also cross the creek on a 90-foot bridge.

“When we stress-tested the new channel, there were trout and other large fish literally waiting there to swim upstream,” said Paul Haan, executive director of the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly. “It was an incredible sight and a testament to how important it is to restore stream function and connectivity throughout the watershed. The project also creates a new way for people to experience Buckhorn Creek.”

The project cost about $2.2 million and was made possible through collaboration with the Mecosta County Parks Commission, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Friends of the White Pine Trail and others, with significant philanthropic funding from the Meijer, Wege and Walters family foundations.

The Muskegon River Watershed Assembly (MRWA) is inviting the public to a ribbon-cutting from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25. Interested volunteers can also collect stream samples and plant vegetation Saturday, Sept. 26. For more information, visit mrwa.org/events.

_{Photo courtesy of the MRWA.}

Dan Povenmire spent years working to get "Phineas and Ferb" made. On Wednesday, he tells Ferris State University students how he did it.

The co-creator of the Disney series and the voice of Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz headlines "A Conversation with Dan Povenmire: A Masterclass in Creativity, Storytelling and Perseverance" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Williams Auditorium. Admission is free and requires no ticket.

Doors open at 7 p.m. to Ferris State students who show a student ID, then to everyone else. The auditorium seats 1,644.

The show follows stepbrothers Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher during their 104 days of summer vacation. Each day, the boys build massive, incredible inventions or go on wild adventures. Their older sister, Candace, constantly tries to "bust" them by showing their creations to their mom, but her attempts always fail

Perry the Platypus, the family’s pet, is a spy for a secret animal organization. Every day, Perry fights Doofenshmirtz, an incompetent evil scientist. By the end of each episode, Dr. Doofenshmirtz's gadget accidentally destroys or erases all evidence of the boys' project just before mom can see it.

Entertainment Unlimited, the student-led campus programming board, hosts the event. Co-President Cervonte' Plair and Student Engagement Administrator Ben Avery, the board's adviser, will moderate the discussion.

Avery said the board spent a couple of weeks last spring weighing its budget against names students would turn out for.

"Entertainment Unlimited, our campus programming board, was looking for recognizable names that students on campus would get excited about and want to see," Avery said.

Students supplied the questions. Submissions cover the show's creation and its 2025 return, Povenmire's creative process, the animation industry and advice for aspiring creators, alongside lore questions about Doofenshmirtz and favorite episodes. Students can add their own questions until 5 p.m. Sept. 23 through this submission form.

Povenmire built "Phineas and Ferb" with Jeff "Swampy" Marsh for Disney Channel, where it ran four seasons from 2007 to 2015 and won five Emmy Awards.

He earned 10 Emmy nominations across four categories, from songwriting to voice performance, and won outstanding writing in animation in 2010. He returned for a fifth season that premiered in June 2025 and wrapped in January.

He also co-created "Milo Murphy's Law" and created "Hamster & Gretel."

Before that, he storyboarded and directed on "Family Guy," "SpongeBob SquarePants," "The Simpsons," "Rocko's Modern Life" and "Hey Arnold!"

The talk lands in front of an audience already training for that work. The School of Digital Media at Ferris State's Kendall College of Art and Design offers three bachelor's degrees: Digital Animation and Game Design, Digital Media Software Engineering, and Television and Digital Media Production. DAGD students specialize in game development or 3D animation, build a portfolio and complete an internship before they graduate.

The program runs 45 minutes and opens a week of Homecoming events that build to Saturday, Sept. 26, when the Bulldogs host Kentucky Christian University at Top Taggart Field at 3 p.m.

_{Release and photo courtesy of Ferris State University.}

Monday, Sep. 14

• No arrests reported.

Calls for Service: 0

Traffic Accidents: 0

Tuesday, Sep. 15

• At 7:58 p.m., deputies made a traffic stop in Chippewa Township. The traffic stop resulted in a female passenger being arrested on a warrant. She was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 20

Traffic Accidents: 1

Wednesday, Sep. 16

• At 6:04 p.m., deputies made a warrant arrest, at a residence in Morton Township. A female subject was arrested on several warrants. She was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 8:23 p.m., deputies made a traffic stop in Chippewa Township. The traffic stop resulted in a female subject being arrested on a felony warrant. She was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 19

Traffic Accidents: 1

Thursday, Sep. 17

• No arrests reported.

Calls for Service: 0

Traffic Accidents: 0

Friday, Sep. 18

• No arrests reported.

Calls for Service: 10

Traffic Accidents: 5

Saturday, Sep. 19

• At 8:58 p.m., deputies responded to a a one vehicle accident in Mecosta Township. A male subject was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated and Child Abuse. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

• At 10:53 p.m., deputies made a traffic stop in Martiny Township. The male driver was arrested on a warrant. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 9

Traffic Accidents: 4

Sunday, Sep. 20

• No arrests reported.

Calls for Service: 13

Traffic Accidents: 1

The Big Rapids City Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, at City Hall.

A featured item is a proposal from Fleis & VandenBrink for design, permitting and bidding services on the Clay Cliffs Trail project. The work would cover a 0.75-mile segment of trail in the Clay Cliffs Nature Area and is intended to make that stretch ADA-compliant. Planned improvements include accessible benches, wayfinding and educational signs, landscape restoration and two new bridges over Mitchell Creek — one replacing an existing footbridge and another farther south toward the Clay Cliffs area. Commissioners will consider accepting the engineering proposal for no more than $67,500. The city previously accepted a $391,400 Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant for the project.

Commissioners also will consider selling city-owned property at 126 S. DeKrafft Ave. to the Big Rapids Housing Commission for $16,000 after determining the parcel is not needed for a current or future city public purpose.

Other agenda items include:

• Amending the fiscal 2026-27 budget to carry forward unfinished fiscal 2025-26 purchases and projects
• Authorizing upfitting of a 2027 Dodge Ram 3500 for the Department of Public Works and a 2027 Chevrolet Tahoe police cruiser for the Department of Public Safety
• A study session update from Fire Chief Steve Schroeder on the Big Rapids Fire Department

Meetings are open to the public and livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel.

On Friday, Sep. 18, at approximately 8:02 a.m., deputies from the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office responded to a two vehicle crash with injuries at the intersection of 5 Mile Road and 100^th Avenue in Hinton Township.

According to the investigation, the wreck occurred when a 24-year-old woman from Morley disregarded a stop sign and struck an eastbound vehicle, which was driven by a 74-year-old man from Stanwood. The 24-year-old woman had serious injuries and was transported by Aeromed to Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital. The 74-year-old man had minor injuries and was transported to Corewell Health Hospital in Big Rapids.

Deputies were assisted by Morton Township Fire/Rescue, Lakeview Fire/Rescue, Mecosta County EMS, Montcalm County EMS, Aeromed, and Meceola Central Dispatch.

Monday, August 31

• An officer made a traffic stop for an unreadable license plate. A controlled substance was found during the stop. The matter is under investigation.

• An officer took a complaint of public defecation. This case is under investigation.

Tuesday, September 1

• An officer responded to a crash involving a car and bicycle, with only minor injuries and minor damage.

• An officer transported an individual having mental health difficulties to the hospital for evaluation.

• An officer was dispatched for an assaultive teen. The individual was calmed and the victim did not wish to seek charges.

• An officer took a complaint of frequent spam calls. The caller was advised it is not a criminal manner and advised how to block the numbers or download a call filter app.

Wednesday, September 2

• Officers patrolled traffic, followed-up on open cases, and performed security details.

Thursday, September 3

• An officer took a reckless driving complaint. The area was patrolled, but the vehicle was not located at this time.

Friday, September 4

• An officer assisted deputies with stand-by for EMS for safety regarding a domestic assault investigation.

• An officer was called for civil stand-by regarding a couple. They were able to work out their differences and called to say they no longer needed an officer.

• An officer was dispatched for an assault. The victim declined to seek charges and a copy of the report was forwarded to the juvenile suspect’s probation officer.

• An officer was dispatched for a suicidal person. The individual was located and transferred to hospital for mental health treatment.

Saturday, September 5

• An officer was dispatched for a possible domestic. Upon arrival, all parties were separated and there was no physical altercation. No crime was committed.

• An officer issued an observed trespassing violation. A citation was issued for this incident.

• An officer was dispatched for a dementia patient walking away from treatment. The individual was located and returned.

Sunday, September 6

• An officer was called for a family argument. All parties agreed to separate peacefully.

Monday, September 7

• An officer took a complaint of a suspicious person. Interviews were completed and there was no criminal activity found.

• Officers worked on open cases, abatement enforcement, security checks, and road patrol.

Tuesday, September 8

• An officer was dispatched for a two-vehicle accident with property damage. There were no injuries and a report is on file.

• An officer was dispatched for a fraud complaint. The victim was told they won the Publisher's Clearing House award and needed to send gift cards to pay for fees. The suspect is believed to be operating from Jamaica. The suspect was contacted and advised to not call this individual again. The complainant was given information on how to make a report with the federal government, since the activity is outside the United States.

• An officer received an anonymous tip of an individual getting high off inhalants in public. Officers did not witness the act and the individual moved on.

• An officer was requested to stand by while a psychiatric patient was put in a transport vehicle in event the patient became uncooperative. No problems occurred.

• An officer was dispatched for a domestic dispute. Interviews were completed, and evidence gathered. CPS has been notified.

• An officer was dispatched for a threat complaint. Since nothing physical occurred, and mental clarity of the individual was diminished, the individual was transported to RCH for evaluation purposes.

• An officer was called to hospital for a person refusing to leave. The individual was transported by an Osceola County Sheriff's deputy back to their residence.

Wednesday, September 9

• An officer assisted deputies on a missing person investigation. The individual was found safe and reunited with family members.

• An officer took a Criminal Sexual Conduct complaint. Both individuals were interviewed. The suspect was also served a trespassing notice. Charges have been requested.

• An officer requested charges on an individual for Obstructing a Police Officer and Public Intoxication.

Thursday, September 10

• Officer assisted Child Protective Services with interviews regarding possible criminal sexual conduct. The matter was unfounded.

• An officer took a complaint of retail fraud. Evidence was gathered and a statement was given. Positive identification of the suspect is pending.

• An officer took a complaint of trespassing. The complainant chose to not have a trespassing notice served, but will post 'No Trespassing' signs in attempt to resolve the situation first.

Friday, September 11

• An officer was called for a well-being check on an individual. The individual was located and secure.

• An officer performed multiple traffic stops, patrolled the city, completed security checks, and followed up on open cases.

• An officer was dispatched for a well-being check. The individual was located and determined safe and secure at this time. Unfounded.

• An officer performed security standby for a patient transfer at the hospital. No incidents occurred.

Saturday, September 12

• An officer was dispatched to assist Child Protective Services with an investigation of possible criminal sexual conduct and abuse. The matter is unfounded at this time.

Sunday, September 13

• An officer performed a well-being check. The individual was located and had turned their phone off. The complainant was called, and the person was safe & secure.

• An officer was dispatched for a possible runaway. The individual had been at a location in town but was out with friends. The person would be taken home upon their return.

• An officer advised a homeowner of a parking violation. The owner moved the vehicle.

• An officer spoke with a homeowner regarding a nuisance ordinance violation. The owners are out of town, but the situation will be resolved upon their return. Follow-up is pending.

• An officer performed civil standby for a custody exchange.

• An officer took a complaint of verbal threats. Nothing physical had taken place at this time. A report is on file.

A half-lit moon shows more than a full one, and Ferris State University is setting up telescopes on the Robinson Quad Saturday night, Sep. 19, to show why.

International Observe the Moon Night runs free and open to the public from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. on the Big Rapids campus. Visitors of any age can walk up, take a turn at an eyepiece, and ask faculty about the view.

The night's main attraction is the terminator, the boundary dividing the moon's sunlit day side from its night side. Near the first quarter, that line cuts across the face of the moon and turns ordinary terrain dramatic.

"Sunlight strikes the surface at a very low angle along this line, causing crater rims and mountain peaks to cast long, dramatic shadows," said Dinesh Shetty, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy who hosts the event.

Shetty said visitors will pick out individual craters in fine detail along with the maria, the dark volcanic plains that form the familiar pattern on the moon's face. A full moon, lit straight on, flattens all of it.

Groups of 10 also rotate through the Rawlinson Observatory dome for tours across the evening. An elevator reaches the third floor, and a short flight of stairs climbs from there to the dome.

Clouds do not cancel the night. Shetty makes the weather call Saturday afternoon and posts it on the observatory website, and someone stationed on the quad will direct arrivals to Room 102 on the lower level of the Science Building, where the evening becomes an indoor observatory tour.

NASA organizes International Observe the Moon Night each year in September or October, timing it to a moon near the first quarter for exactly the shadows Shetty describes. Observers worldwide have marked the night since 2010, and Ferris State's event appears on NASA's Global Participation Map.

The Rawlinson Observatory runs on a public outreach mission year-round. Its equipment includes a large-aperture reflecting telescope on a computer-controlled equatorial mount, scientific CCD and CMOS cameras for live viewing, and planetarium software that puts the view on an indoor display.

Astrophotography has become a growing focus, and workshops there cover low-light camera settings, polar alignment, stacked imaging, and image processing.

Shetty teaches in the Department of Physical Sciences in Ferris State's College of Arts, Sciences and Education, where faculty cover chemistry, industrial chemistry, physics, physical science, geology and astronomy.

The department awards bachelor's degrees in chemistry, biochemistry and industrial chemistry, plus an associate degree in industrial chemistry technology. Working with the School of Education, it also offers a secondary teaching major in chemistry and teaching minors in chemistry and physics. The college offers more than 100 programs across nine departments.

_{Release and photo courtesy of Ferris State University.}

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, by voice vote.

The legislation would require new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. to include AM radio at no extra charge.

Michigan broadcasters and lawmakers played a prominent role in pushing the bill forward, striking key compromises to protect public safety while addressing the auto industry’s technological concerns.

“Keeping AM radio accessible in vehicles helps ensure drivers can continue to connect with the local broadcasters and stations serving their communities every day,” the Michigan Association of Broadcasters said in a Facebook post. “The MAB applauds this important step forward and remains committed to protecting the future of local radio and the vital role it plays in Michigan communities.”

The bill now moves to the Senate, where a companion measure sponsored by Sens. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is on the legislative calendar with more than 60 bipartisan cosponsors. If the Senate passes it, the bill would go to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

Read more on the bill's status here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/979/all-info.

The city of Big Rapids will host a ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, in Hemlock Park for a fish sculpture.

Located between the Muskegon River and the softball field, the sculpture serves as both a piece of local art and a recycling container for glass and plastic bottles. The project was commissioned by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Big Rapids and fabricated by Ferris State University welding engineering students.

“This fish represents the driving force behind GFWC’s Community Service Programs Arts & Culture, Civic Engagement and Outreach, Education and Libraries, Environment and Health and Wellness,” GFWC member Linda Telfer said. “This is in keeping with our motto of ‘Working for a Better Community.’”

Associate Professor Mark Prosser and students Case Hummel and Jace Burns led construction of the fish.

Representatives from the city of Big Rapids, Mecosta Recycles, GFWC and Ferris State University are expected to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Monday, September 7

• No calls reported.

Tuesday, September 8

• An officer was dispatched to a threats complaint. Upon arrival, the complainant advised that two subjects were acting aggressive towards them while walking by to their vehicle. The complainant advised the subjects got into their vehicle and left will they called 911.
• An officer was dispatched to a larceny complaint. Upon speaking with the subject, they were not sure if the property was missing or stolen but wanted to file a report.
• An officer was dispatched to an area check for a person yelling. The person was found to be okay; just upset with some recent news they received. 
• An officer was dispatched to a civil dispute. The reporting party wanted officers to be aware of a dispute between them and the other party. The reporting party just wanted the dispute documented in case further issues arise that result in law enforcement being called.  
• An officer was dispatched to investigate a retail fraud, not in progress. The initial information was collected and the case remains open pending contact with the suspect. 

Wednesday, September 9

• An officer was dispatched to a fail to pay complaint. The case remains open pending further investigation.

Thursday, September 10

• No calls reported.

Friday, September 11

• An officer was called to a turfing complaint. It appeared as if a vehicle did a U-turn across the caller's and neighbor’s yards. 

Saturday, September 12

• No calls reported.

Sunday, September 13

• No calls reported.