Grand Rapids Press

mlive.com — SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, MI - When Torrie Burke pulled through the parking lot of Saginaw Township's Wicklow Apartments Friday evening, he spotted flames coming from a parked vehicle. "I was just pulling up to drop one of my friends off and I just seen a fire.

mlive.com — What the heck is skills camp? Good question. The need for a practical answer was this week averted in the Buena Vista School District, where 400 kids would have been used as living lab rats to test it out. It's been 20 years since a Michigan school district shut down early over funding.

mlive.com — PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI - In his listing, Realtor Kevin Yoder calls the house at 5057 Grand River Drive NE "the most interesting house in the world." That may be an overstatement, but the castle-like home overlooking Versluis Lake and the Grand River certainly has an unusual pedigree for the West Michigan real estate market.

mlive.com — GRAND RAPIDS, MI - It's been years in the making and decades more since McKay Tower's vast second floor space was available to public eyes. Building owners and city officials celebrated the grand opening of The Ballroom at McKay underneath dazzling chandeliers and with plenty of appetizers to go around during a private gala Friday, May 17.

mlive.com — KENT COUNTY, MI -- Nathaniel Sweet, on trial this week for skull and rib fractures his former girlfriend's daughter suffered in October, was found guilty Friday of first-degree child abuse. A Kent County jury issued its verdict after about 50 minutes of deliberations late Friday afternoon, May 17.

mlive.com — KENTWOOD, MI -- An audit has shown the city of Kentwood may be out close to $300,000 since 2005 in funds allegedly misappropriated by a former Parks and Recreation Department clerk, Mayor Richard Clanton said.

mlive.com — Brandon said this week that the department explored several avenues to spur student attendance, including additional marketing and the HAIL program. Not only did they not work, turnout continued to fall. There was a 50-percent late arrival rate in the student section last year, and a 25-percent no-show rate.

mlive.com — BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP, MI - Barbara Amon-Weigandt remembers when Buena Vista School District was a model that guests from other countries came to see. That was in the 1960s. Now the tiny district near Saginaw is in financial crisis, laying off teachers and closing classroom doors for two weeks.

mlive.com — RICHLAND, MI -The Gull Lake Community Schools Foundation honored 28 Distinguished Academic Scholars in the Class of 2013 at a recentreception at Gull Lake Country Club. Distinguished Academic Scholars are seniors who have maintained a 3.9 grade point average or higher throughout their entire high school career.

mlive.com — B>KALAMAZOO, MI -- A 15-minute video featuring Tim Bartik, a senior economist for the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo, has gotten more than 151,000 views since it was posted on the TED home page May 6.

mlive.com — DETROIT, MI -- Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam is speaking in Detroit today, pressing African Americans to work together to purchase and revitalize vacant buildings in the city. Farrakhan spoke to Detroit City Council this morning and plans another speech at Fellowship Chapel this evening.

mlive.com — MIDLAND, MI - Dow Chemical will appeal a judgment handed down this week ordering the Midland-based company pay $1.2 billion to plaintiffs in an antitrust case involving price-fixing of chemicals used to make polyurethane foam, according to a company spokesperson.

mlive.com — GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A business venture that is less than one year old and a 30-year-old non-profit agency were among six recipients of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce 2013 EPIC Award announced Wednesday, May 15. The winners were chosen from 17 West Michigan entrepreneurs and non-profit groups nominated for the annual awards.

mlive.com — DETROIT, MI - In March, Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert revealed he had lured Papa Joe's Gourmet Market and Catering to open a location in the First National Building, which Gilbert owns. But that is apparently not the extent of the Birmingham-based grocer's plans for downtown Detroit.

mlive.com — GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Hudsonville Ice Cream will be dropping by for a visit to let us sample of two its Michigan-inspired flavors, Pure Michigan Caramel Apple and Grand Traverse Bay Cherry Fudge. We would like you to join us.