GRCC In the News, 8-14-19

GRCC graduates first Metallica Scholars from its welding program

Aug. 13, 2019; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Krista Steffens says that the heavy metal band Metallica has changed the trajectory of her life.

Steffens, 28, a married mother of two, graduated Monday, Aug. 12, from a Grand Rapids Community College welding program as a Metallica Scholar. She said she has a new, higher paying job with benefits as a welding fabricator.

First Metallica Scholars grads

Aug. 9, 2019; Community College Daily

Edwin Ponce Juarez went to work in a distribution center warehouse after graduating from high school, but he knew there were opportunities for better-paying jobs in the professional trades.

He became a “Metallica Scholar,” gaining in-demand skills through the welding program at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) in Michigan.

GRCC receives national grant initiative to increase registered apprenticeship opportunities, help students gain an education, on-the-job training

Aug. 13, 2019; La Prensa

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, August 6, 2019:  Grand Rapids Community College has been awarded a $140,000 grant to participate in a national effort to expand registered apprenticeship opportunities, helping students gain a quality education in addition to on-the-job training in a rewarding career.

Jets Sign Veteran CB Marcus Cooper, Waive TE Nick Truesdell

Aug. 13, 2019; newyorkjets.com

The Jets have signed seventh-year cornerback Marcus Cooper and waived TE Nick Truesdell.

… The well-traveled Truesdell, who played collegiately at Cincinnati and also attended Grand Rapids Community College, most recently signed with the Jets on Aug. 10. He previously signed with the Jets on Aug. 4 before being released two days later. Truesdell had a couple of stints in the Indoor Football League (IFL) and multiple stops in the Arena Football League (AFL) and had brief stays with the Colts and the Vikings and most recently played with the Salt Lake Stallions in the Alliance for American Football.

Warner’ Rodney Martin honored on distinguished roster of ’16 Over 60’

Aug. 14, 2019; legalnews.com

A model of excellence, Warner Norcross + Judd attorney Rodney D. Martin is well-suited to be in the class of 16 Over 60 honorees.

… Over and above that, Martin’s work on diversity and inclusion has resulted in receiving the Grand Rapids Bar Association President’s Award and, as part of the Rosa Parks Sculpture Committee, the 2012 William Glenn Trailblazer Award, part of the Grand Rapids Community College Giants Awards.

GRCC In the News, 8-12-19

New Provost Named at Grand Rapids Community College

Aug. 9, 2019; ccnewsnow.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Brian Knetl will be Grand Rapids Community College’s next provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs, President Bill Pink announced Thursday, Aug. 8.

Street Talk: Patriotic partners prosper

Aug. 9, 2019; Grand Rapids Business Journal

… On the job

Grand Rapids Community College has been awarded a $140,000 grant to participate in a national effort to expand registered apprenticeship opportunities.

Northview unveils alternative schooling program

Aug. 9, 2019; Grand Rapids Business Journal

Northview Public Schools is launching an alternative high school program to expand career pathways and flexible learning options.

… Some students will spend time at Leslie E. Tassell M-Tech at Grand Rapids Community College. Others will spend their time with companies or other organizations.

Jets Sign TE Nick Truesdell, Waive CB Derrick Jones

Aug. 10, 2019; newyorkjets.com

The Jets have signed tight end Nick Truesdell and waived cornerback Derrick Jones.

The well-traveled Truesdell, who played collegiately at Cincinnati and also attended Grand Rapids Community College, first signed with the Jets Aug. 4 before he was released two days after. He had a couple of stints in the Indoor Football League (IFL) and multiple stops in the Arena Football League (AFL) and had brief stays with the Colts and the Vikings and most recently played with the Salt Lake Stallions in the Alliance for American Football. The 6’5”, 246-pounder combined to catch 127 balls for 1,527 yards with 38 touchdowns in the AFL.

New J-Hawks coach treating Jefferson like a ‘startup’

Aug. 11, 2019; Rockford Register Star (Ill.)

ROCKFORD – In November 1993, Jefferson was finishing up its eighth playoff season in the previous nine years under football coach Joe Blume.

… “I don’t care about the history. (Winning) has to happen sooner or later,” said (Jacob) Arnold, a Plainfield North graduate who played football at Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan and the College of DuPage before finishing up at Rockford University.

GRCC In the News, 8-7-19

GRCC earns grant to grow apprenticeships as part of federal push

Aug. 6, 2019; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College received a three-year, $140,000 grant to grow registered apprenticeships for students and support the local workforce, as part of a federal effort to expand apprenticeships.

Muskegon semi-pro football player is heart and soul, just like in Big Reds days

Aug. 7, 2019; MLive

MUSKEGON, MI – Even though his Muskegon High School football-playing days concluded more than 10 years ago, some things have not changed about Jason Hannett.

… Hannett has emerged as one of the leaders for the Mustangs. After his Big Reds career ended, Hannett played one season at Grand Rapids Community College under Annese. He spent a stint playing semi-pro ball for the Grand Rapids Force. Last year, while living in Texas, he played for the Dallas Bulldogs. His mother moved to Texas when Hannett was in 10th grade, and he went down there for a bit to broaden his horizons.

Construction reminder: Winchester Alley closed all day today

Both Winchester Alley between Lyon and Fountain streets and G1 parking will be closed all day today.

Construction teams will be making the final lifts of steel up to the roof to install the sign transforming the Main Building into Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall.

Construction update: Winchester Alley closed all day Friday

Both Winchester Alley between Lyon and Fountain streets and G1 parking will be closed for the entire day on Friday, May 3.

Construction teams will be making the final lifts of steel up to the roof to install the sign transforming the Main Building into Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall.

Construction notice: Nightly lane closures through Thursday, NB/SB US-131 at I-196

Nightly double lane closures will be in place on northbound US-131 from Franklin Street to I-196, Tuesday-Thursday, April 30-May 3, from 9 p.m.-5 a.m.

The Pearl Street ramp to NB US-131 will be closed during these nights as well.

In addition, there will be nightly double lane closures on southbound US-131 from Ann Street to I-196, Wednesday-Thursday of this week.

Link to MDOT Lane Closure Map can be found on the MiDrive website.

Construction reminder: Winchester Alley closed for sign installation

Winchester Alley between Lyon and Fountain streets will be closed starting TODAY as crews begin installing the sign transforming the Main Building into Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall.

Parking: G1, Cook Hall parking will be closed. Lyon ramp staff parking gates will be opened.

Crews began preparation work Friday, and a crane is being set in place to haul materials to the roof and upper levels of the building. Work is expected to last about a week.

Construction notice: Winchester Alley closed next week

Winchester Alley between Lyon and Fountain streets will be closed starting Monday as crews begin installing the sign transforming Main Building into Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall.

Crews will start preparation work today, and a crane will be set in place on Monday to haul materials to the roof and upper levels of the building. Work is expected to last about a week.

Parking: G1, Cook Hall parking will be closed. Lyon ramp staff parking gates will be opened.

Monroe Ave NW partially closed this week for construction

Beginning TODAY, April 22, Monroe Ave. NW in front of DeVos Place will narrow traffic flow and temporarily close lanes.

The lane closures are expected to last through Friday, April 26.

The temporary lane closures will:

• Shift northbound and southbound traffic on Monroe Avenue to the western two lanes.
• Close the Silver Line station in front of the City and County buildings. A temporary bus stop will be added north near Michigan Street.
• Close the crosswalk to the main entrance of DeVos Place. The next crosswalk to the south will remain open.
• Close the Monroe Avenue entrance to the City and County buildings during active material lifts. During these intermittent closures, visitors may enter the buildings from the Government Center Ramp or the Calder Plaza entrance off Ottawa Avenue NW.

The lane closures – planned for April 22-26 – are necessary for onsite crane mobilization as crews remove the temporary air handling units from the roof of City Hall.

For more information, please visit the City of Grand Rapids website.

Monroe Ave NW partially closed beginning Monday for construction

Beginning Monday, April 22, Monroe Ave. NW in front of DeVos Place will narrow traffic flow and temporarily close lanes.

The lane closures are expected to last through Friday, April 26.

The temporary lane closures will:

• Shift northbound and southbound traffic on Monroe Avenue to the western two lanes.
• Close the Silver Line station in front of the City and County buildings. A temporary bus stop will be added north near Michigan Street.
• Close the crosswalk to the main entrance of DeVos Place. The next crosswalk to the south will remain open.
• Close the Monroe Avenue entrance to the City and County buildings during active material lifts. During these intermittent closures, visitors may enter the buildings from the Government Center Ramp or the Calder Plaza entrance off Ottawa Avenue NW.

The lane closures – planned for April 22-26 – are necessary for onsite crane mobilization as crews remove the temporary air handling units from the roof of City Hall.

For more information, please visit the City of Grand Rapids website.

Monroe Ave NW partially closed next week for construction

Beginning Monday, April 22, Monroe Ave. NW in front of DeVos Place will narrow traffic flow and temporarily close lanes.

The lane closures are expected to last through Friday, April 26.

The temporary lane closures will:

• Shift northbound and southbound traffic on Monroe Avenue to the western two lanes.
• Close the Silver Line station in front of the City and County buildings. A temporary bus stop will be added north near Michigan Street.
• Close the crosswalk to the main entrance of DeVos Place. The next crosswalk to the south will remain open.
• Close the Monroe Avenue entrance to the City and County buildings during active material lifts. During these intermittent closures, visitors may enter the buildings from the Government Center Ramp or the Calder Plaza entrance off Ottawa Avenue NW.

The lane closures – planned for April 22-26 – are necessary for onsite crane mobilization as crews remove the temporary air handling units from the roof of City Hall.

For more information, please visit the City of Grand Rapids website.

Construction reminder: Ionia Ave north of Michigan St closed through July

A new westbound I-196 on-ramp is coming to Division Avenue downtown. Construction on the on-ramp begins Monday and is expected to end in July.

Starting TODAY, April 8, Ionia Avenue north of Michigan Street and the eastbound I-196 on-ramp will be closed. Ionia Avenue through traffic will be detoured to Michigan Street to Monroe Avenue to Mason Street.

Starting in June, Division Avenue will be closed between Michigan Street and the westbound I-196 on-ramp. Northbound Division Avenue traffic will be detoured to Crescent Street to Ionia Avenue to Michigan Street to Monroe Avenue to Mason Street. Southbound Division Avenue traffic will be detoured to Mason Street to Monroe Avenue to Lyon Street.

During the entire project, the pedestrian detour will use Michigan Street, Ottawa Avenue, and Fairbanks Street.

More information is available on the  City of Grand Rapids website.

NEW construction project begins Monday: Ionia Ave north of Michigan St

A new westbound I-196 on-ramp is coming to Division Avenue downtown. Construction on the on-ramp begins Monday and is expected to end in July.

Starting Monday, April 8, Ionia Avenue north of Michigan Street and the eastbound I-196 on-ramp will be closed. Ionia Avenue through traffic will be detoured to Michigan Street to Monroe Avenue to Mason Street.

Starting in June, Division Avenue will be closed between Michigan Street and the westbound I-196 on-ramp. Northbound Division Avenue traffic will be detoured to Crescent Street to Ionia Avenue to Michigan Street to Monroe Avenue to Mason Street. Southbound Division Avenue traffic will be detoured to Mason Street to Monroe Avenue to Lyon Street.

During the entire project, the pedestrian detour will use Michigan Street, Ottawa Avenue, and Fairbanks Street.

More information is available on the  City of Grand Rapids website.

Construction reminder: final day to take Westbound I-196 downtown until August

Starting this Monday, April 1, the Michigan Department of Transportation will begin a construction project to reconstruct and widen Westbound I-196 over the Grand River.

A complete closure of Westbound I-196 from Ottawa Ave to Lane Ave will be in place from April-August.

Westbound I-196 will be closed prior to US-131, so US-131 traffic will be detoured to I-96 as shown on the map above. Ramp closures at the US-131/I-196 interchange in Downtown Grand Rapids will also take place beginning April 1.

Please note: Westbound I-196 will be open to the Ottawa Exit, but all remaining traffic on WB I-196 must exit at Ottawa.

Additionally, Scribner Avenue under I-196 will be closed April 2 – August 31 due to the westbound I-196 bridge construction.  Traffic will be detoured to Broadway Ave NW, as shown on the map below:

Extensive road closures Friday and Saturday near the I-196 interchange

In preparation for the WB I-196 Freeway closure (which will occur Sunday night) there will be many closures at the US-131/I-196 interchange both tomorrow and Saturday. The closures are as follows:

• Double lane closure on NB US-131 from Franklin to I-196: Friday 9 p.m.-Saturday 3 p.m.
• Double lane closure on SB US-131 from Ann Street to I-196: Friday 9 p.m.-Saturday 3 p.m.
• Single lane closure on EB I-196 from Lane Ave to Ottawa Ave: Friday 9 p.m.-Saturday 3 p.m.
• Ramp closure from Pearl to NB US-131: Friday 9 p.m.-Saturday 3 p.m.
• Ramp closure from SB US-131 to EB I-196: Friday 9 p.m.-June 10
• Ramp closure from Ottawa to EB I-196: Saturday midnight-1 a.m.

Check the MiDrive Website for more information.