Woman injured in I-96 motorcycle accident

Submitted by Matt Campbell, Executive Producer

Thursday, August 4th, 2011, 7:27pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- A woman was injured when she lost control of her motorcycle on a Grand Rapids freeway Thursday night.

The accident happened around 7:30 p.m. on eastbound I-96 near the Plainfield Ave. exit.

The woman's bike went into the guard wires in the median of the highway. No other vehicles were believed involved.

Paramedics treated the woman for head injuries, but she was awake and talking to investigators at the scene. She was to be transported to a Grand Rapids hospital.

The accident caused backups on the eastbound side of I-96 between Plainfield and U.S. 131.

The scene was cleared by 8:20 p.m. Thursday.

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Emkens family helps to raise donations for children

Submitted by Sarah Barwacz, Reporter-Multi Media Journalist

Thursday, August 4th, 2011, 4:14pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - The family of a young victim in the July 7 Grand Rapids mass murder is honoring her with a school supply drive.

Marissa Emkens was one of seven people killed during the shootings. She was just ten years old.

Her family is holding a school supply drive in her name. All the school supplies will be donated to North Park Montessori on Cheney Avenue Northeast.

Members of the Emkens family say Marissa was a happy child who loved going to school. All year long, family members say Marissa waited to go school supply shopping and would be happy to see the supplies go to fellow classmates.

The donation locations are:

Tiffany's Pet Spot, 3979 W. River Drive NW, Grand Rapids
Dental Max, Alpine Avenue 6655 Alpine Ave NW # 1, Comstock Park
Flowerland, 3801 Alpine Avenue Northwest Comstock Park, MI

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Memorial for young murder victim grows

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011, 7:48pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- It's been nearly a month since Rodrick Dantzler's deadly rampage in Grand Rapids, which claimed the lives of seven people.

One of those victims was 10-year-old Marissa Emkens. A memorial for Marissa is growing outside North Park School, which she attended. Classmates, neighbors and strangers have stopped to sign their condolences and leave gifts.

North Park School will begin collecting school supplies in Marissa's memory, starting Thursday.

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School Supplies in Memory of Marissa Emkens

Submitted by Mogle, WZZM 13 Special Projects Producer

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011, 8:51am

School Supplies in Memory of Marissa Emkens

An effort is underway to collect school supplies for a North Park School girl killed in last month's mass murder's in Grand Rapids. Family members are currently accepting donations of school supplies in the name of Marissa Emkens, the ten year old girl who's life was tragically taken during the mass murder here in Grand Rapids on Thursday July 7th. . Maryjo Lopez, a family member of Marissa, says that "school supply shopping is one thing that Marissa LOVED to do" and therefore the family has decided to start a collection of supplies to be donated to a local school. The Pet Spot will be collecting these items until August 26th 2011. Please feel free to stop in any day until then and drop your donations into the pink box located right inside the door at 3979 Westriver Dr. Comstock Park MI 49321. More drop-off sites are expected to be announced.

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July 2011 Weather Stats for Grand Rapids

Submitted by George Lessens, Chief Meteorologist, WZZM 13

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011, 12:52am

Grand Rapids

Temperatures in July averaged 77.0°F, 5.6°F above average, and 1.5°F warmer than last year (75.5°F), making it the fifth warmest on record and the warmest since 1936 (77.3°F). Twenty-seven days were warmer than usual while only four were cooler. The highest temperature occurred on July 20 with 97°F, the warmest temperature since July 31, 2007 (97°F). The lowest temperatures occurred on July 7 and 14 with 58°F.

Precipitation was well above average last month with 6.87”, 3.31” more than usual and 2.21” more than last year (4.66”), making it the eighth wettest on record and the wettest since 2006 (6.90”). There were nine days with measurable precipitation, which is exactly average (9).

There was 81.4% of the possible sunshine last month, 6.5% more than usual and 6.6% more than last year (74.8%), making it the seventh sunniest on record and the sunniest since 1990 (86.4%). There were ten clear days – two

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Fish Monger is Back

Submitted by Mogle, WZZM 13 Special Projects Producer

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011, 7:25pm

The Fried Fish store at 2468 Plainfield Ave. NE is back in business under new managment. A & J's Fish Fry opened about three weeks ago and the ocean perch is a house favorite. The owner ran a fish shop a few years ago before becoming a trucker for twelve years and then chaging his mind and getting back into the small business. The former fish shop closed in the spring.

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Celebrate National Night Out with your Creston Neighbors

Submitted by Christopher Morse, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011, 7:06am

Celebrate National Night Out with your Creston Neighbors

Join over 37 million people in more than 15,000 communities as we come together to promote police-community partnerships; crime, drug, and violence prevention; safety; and neighborhood unity. Click Here to see what Creston will be doing!

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