Grand Rapids Press - Jan. 12, 2014 - Section A by Grand Rapids Press

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014

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EIDSON LEADS HOPE PAST CALVIN

HEARTWELL’S STATE OF THE CITY REPORT

INCHES FROM DISASTER: LAST OF THREE PARTS

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Access to eReplica of paper continues

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DAILY QUOTE

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A snow day doesn’t mean (students) have a day off.” GRANDVILLE PRINCIPAL ON USING TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP STUDENTS INFORMED, EVEN ON WEATHER DAYS. DETAILS, A11

Av e. Pla infi eld

Grand River Monroe Ave.

Ann St.

Leonard St.

WHITEWATER PROJECT Expert weighs in on what effect, if any, the proposed restoration of the rapids on the Grand River will have on future flooding risks, A8

Ç DIVE IN ON MLIVE

See our entire series, including last Sunday’s look at the prospects for another flood, and join the conversation, bit.ly/gr-flood

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Economist: ‘Modest growth’ to continue

(MLive.com years, the federal file) agency has said the Grand Rapids flood-protection system is not high enough, while the city has contended it is. The FEMA agreement — part of a federal pilot project kicking off this year in 16 states — has been in the works for months, even before last year’s deluge threatened downtown. When finished, it will include a new 100-year flood level calculation for downtown. “We’re working well with them, and they’re working well with us,” said Eric DeLong, Grand Rapids deputy city manager. “I think we’re very close.” When those details are finalized, it should end the long-running debate between the city and FEMA about the proper height of the levees. It also should provide some relief to thousands of prop-

Area affected Floodwalls

e. Av

In what even the prosecution concedes is a novel defense, the attorney for the former Catholic Central High School tutor Abigail Simon accused of criminal sexual conduct with a 15-year-old boy said his client should not be on trial because she is the victim of either a rapist or a perjurer. Details, A7

POTENTIAL IMPACT OF MAJOR GRAND RIVER FLOODING IF FLOODWALLS ARE BREACHED

ing ck Sto

Tutor’s attorney presents novel sex case defense

rand Rapids leaders are poised to spend $4.2 million on upgrades and repairs to the city’s floodwall system after engineers spent months analyzing weak points exposed by April’s record-setting flood. At the same time, The Grand Rapids Press/ MLive.com has learned, the city is working with the Federal Emergency Management Robert Agency on a Howell, of compromise the U.S. that would allow Geological accreditation of Survey, the city’s floodmonitors walls without making them sub- the Grand River stantially higher. water That is a major volume change in position in April. for FEMA. For

Alpine Ave.

GRAND RAPIDS

gellison@mlive.com

St.

MUST READS

By Garret Ellison

Bu tte rw ort h

The winter weather roller coaster continues to make delivery of your newspaper a challenge for carriers in many areas. They have dealt with snow, ice, subzero temperatures and, now, rain. If you live in an area where delivery is impossible or delayed, your newspaper can be viewed online via our eReplica edition at mlive.com/ereplica. The eReplica edition normally is accessible only through a paid print subscription, but is temporarily open to all at no charge. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

Wastewater Treatment Plant

Hall St. Sources: FEMA, National Weather Service and Kent County

erty owners who faced an unwelcome increase in flood insurance rates without the federal certification. But it doesn’t change the fact that Grand Rapids is a city built on a flood plain. The question is, will these expensive fixes and federal compromises better protect the people and businesses that

(Edward Riojas/MLive.com)

rely on the floodwalls? Although downtown and the West Side have not seen massive flooding in more than a century, hydrologists say those areas might have gone underwater if the rain had not abated when it did during the April flood. Experts called that weather event a major warning

INDEX

sign — one the city ignores at its own peril. “We’re seeing an increase in frequency in the number of heavy rainfall events, which doesn’t work in our favor when trying to do flood mitigation,” said Mark Walton, a hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids.

FLOODWALL CERTIFICATION Grand Rapids’ system of floodwalls and levees in the downtown area is not certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Without FEMA certification, the agency’s flood maps show large areas of the West Side and parts of downtown within a flood-prone danger zone. Agency maps dictate insurance premiums for millions of households. Because federally backed lenders are required by law to ensure that property in a flood-prone area has insurance, status on a FEMA map can mean the difference between hundreds and thousands or dollars in flood insurance costs.

Walton said those protected by the city’s floodwalls are getting the unfortunate message that they’re safe. “It gives you a false sense of protection and encourages development,” Walton said. “The risk is still there. You’re living in a flood plain.” SEE FLOOD, A9

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City Treasurer Al Mooney announces May 1 retirement mvandebu@mlive.com

After more than 25 years as one of City Commission’s top appointed officials, Al Mooney will retire from his post as treasurer. Grand Rapids plans to post a want ad Wednesday for the job that currently has a pay scale ranging between $88,834 and $112,484. Mooney’s last day is May 1. “I’m most proud of our ability to improve the options for our citizens in terms of payments,” Mooney said. “We brought on credit cards years ago, and now we have e-commerce options, where people can pay a variety of bills online. There’s a continuum that we’re on.” Mooney, 56, came to Grand Rapids as deputy treasurer in 1984 after working four years in the city of Lansing’s finance department. He was a finalist for the Grand Rapids treasurer’s job when there was an opening a couple

CONTACT US Grand Rapids mlive.com/grand-rapids Julie Hoogland Editor jhoogland@mlive.com 616.222.3503 Tanda Gmiter Managing Producer for Breaking news, Public safety, Multimedia tgmiter@mlive.com 616.914.7432 Kate Nagengast Managing Producer for Business, Entertainment, Health knagenga@mlive.com 616.222.3082 Nate Reens Managing Producer for Education, Government, Sports nreens@mlive.com 616.222.3329 Zane McMillin Community Engagement Specialist zmcmilli@mlive.com 616.490.1060 By Department grnews@mlive.com grsports@mlive.com grbusiness@mlive.com grentertainment@mlive.com grphoto@mlive.com Letters grletters@mlive.com Jamie Dionne Director of Sales jdionne@mlive.com 616.780.0118 Obituaries obitads@mlive.com 616.222.5696 Customer Service/Delivery customercare@mlive.com 800.878.1411

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years later. He was appointed to the post in 1988. Mooney said he wants to spend more time traveling and visiting three sons who live out of state. “I’ve worked hard, and I’m anxious to be able to do some other things at a time when the opportunity presents itself,” Mooney said. “It won’t be a sad moment.” Unlike the Grand Rapids police chief, the city treasurer is one of four positions — along with city manager, city attorney and city clerk — filled by City Commission appointment. So, while retiring Police Chief Kevin Belk’s successor will be chosen by City Manager Greg

Sundstrom, City Commission members will choose Mooney’s replacement. The commission last year increased the top end of the treasurer’s pay scale because Mooney almost topped out. He was not given a raise last week, as were Sundstrom and City Attorney Catherine Mish, whose salaries were bumped up $154,211 for Sundstrom and $123,903 for Mish. The commission this year also could solicit applicants for city clerk. Former City Clerk Lauri Parks was put on paid leave in October. The commission named Darlene O’Neal acting city clerk. O’Neal is being paid a $95,043 salary.

OBITUARIES LIST SUNDAY, JAN. 12, 2014 Complete obituaries are on Page B3. For more information, go to mlive.com.

AGIN Alan, 64, of Grand Rapids (Heritage Life Story Funeral Home) BARRETT Helen, 86, of Plainfield Township (Heritage Life Story Funeral Home) BEENEN Thomas, 80, of Grand Rapids (Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries) BETZ Paul, of Mesa, Ariz. (Reyers North Valley Chapel) BOERDER Edward, 59, of Wyoming (Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home) BOONE Elaine, 76, of Kentwood (Stroo Funeral Home) BROUWER Jack, 88, of Grand Rapids (Zaagman Memorial Chapel) BUIS Shirley, 86, of Hudsonville (VanderLaan Funeral Home) BURKE Mildred CHASSEE Joan T., 86, of Wyoming (Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home) COOLIDGE Dorothy, 94, of Grand Rapids (Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Service) CURRY Kay, 60, of Wyoming (Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home) CURTIS Ralph, 72, of Jenison (Heritage Life Story Funeral Home) CUTLER Floyd, 76 (Cook Funeral Home) CZEREW Elizabeth, 93 (Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries) DOYLE Donna, 69, of Brownsburg, Ind. (Conkle Funeral Home) DUBRIDGE Lynn, 78, of Morley (Brigham Funeral Home) EVERTSBERG Verna, 83, of Caledonia (Stroo Funeral Home) FAHL Mildred, 84, od Caledonia (Stegenga Funeral Chapel) FLEEGER Frances, 85, of Grand Rapids (Heritage Life Story Funeral Home) HANSEN Mildred, 82, of Grand Rapids (Stegenga Funeral Chapel) HERRING Carol, 67, of Byron Center (Cook Funeral Home) HOFF Albert H., 93 HOWARTH Allan, 62, of Grand Rapids (Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries) INMAN Peter, 56, of Dorr (KubiakCook Funeral Services) INVERSO Kay, 74, of Wayland (Kubiak Cook Funeral Service) JOSEPH Laurette, 91 (Zaagman Memorial Chapel) KUTCHIN Eleanor, 92, of Grand Rapids (Heritage Life Story Funeral Home) LAVEN Anna Mae, 82, of Hess Lake (Stroo Funeral Home) LINDEMANN Gerd, 90, of Byron Center (Cook Funeral Home) LOVELY Liberty, 95 (Hessel-Cheslek Funeral Home) LUXFORD Gerald, 75, of Grand Rapids (Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries) MARFIA Louise, 90 MARTIN Mildred, 102, formerly of Caledonia (Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home) MCCARTY Mary, 96 (Reyers North Valley Chapel) MCNEIL Geraldine, 85, of Wyoming (Stegenga Funeral Chapel) METZGER Beatrice, 97 (Memorial Alternatives) MIEDEMA David, 63, of Elkhart, Ind. (Waterman Westbrook Clouse Funeral Home) ONDERSMA Fred, 96, of Grandville (Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home) PATTOK Robert, 83 PONIATOWSKI Daniel (Reyers North Valley Chapel)

PREHN Eugene, 88, of McBain (Burkholder Family Funeral Home) PRILL Marcia RADIUS David P., 20, formerly of Grand Rapids READER Maryan, 90 (Zaagaman Memorial Chapel) REAVIS Roland, 87, of Fruitland, Fla. (Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home) RITTENGER Robert, 85, of Lowell (Roth-Gerst Funeral Home) RYSKE Jacquelyn (Zaagman Memorial Chapel) SHEAR Gayle, 91, of Byron Center (Stroo Funeral Home) SINCLAIR Ann Marie, 57 (Girrbach Funeral Home) SNYDER Mary, 89, of Kalamazoo (Langeland Family Funeral Home) SYPNIEWSKI Eleanor, 82, of Grand Rapids (Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries) TANNER Margaret, 91 (Steffan Mitchell Funeral Home) THAYER Ralph, 87, of Grand Rapids (Matcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home) VANDERNOOT Donald, 81, of Grand Rapids (Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries) VANDERSON Peter, 83, of Grand Rapids (Zaagman Memorial Chapel) VANDERZEE Theresa, 99, of Grandville (Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home) WARD Betty WENDELL James, 72, of Traverse City (Jowett Family Funeral Home) WESELA Clarice (Reyers North Valley Chapel) WEST Elaine, 80, of Grand Rapids (Reyers North Valley Chapel) WIERS Daniel Sr., 58, Of Comstock Park (Reyers North Valley Chapel) WILSON Lawrence, 63, of Sparta (Hessel-Cheslek Funeral Home) PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED FRIDAY, JAN. 10, 2014

ELLIS Josephine, 88, of Grand Rapids (Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home) JONES Leonard, 74, of Grand Rapids (Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries) ROSCOE James, of Wyoming (Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home)

Governor declares energy emergency Recent blast of freezing temperatures, snow led to shortage of propane, home heating oil

By Melissa Anders

manders@mlive.com

The recent polar vortex and snowstorms have caused a propane and home heating oil shortage in Michigan, prompting Gov. Rick Snyder to declare an energy emergency Friday. Subzero temperatures increased demand for heating oil and propane used in some furnaces, but heavy snowfall has made it difficult for transporters to deliver

the fuel to homeowners. Drivers have spent more time dealing with equipment failures and hazardous road conditions, causing them to hit their commercial driving limits. Snyder suspended state and federal regulations on the number of hours and consecutive days that drivers can operate commercial vehicles. Regional propane inventories are 33 percent below the five-year average and about 40 percent lower than this time last year, according to Snyder’s order. Some customers have seen restricted fill volumes. The cold weather also increased demand among

those who use natural gas furnaces. Consumers Energy set an hourly record for natural gas delivery from 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesday. The Jacksonbased utility came close to its record for a 24-hour period when customers used 3.14 billion cubic feet of gas between 8 p.m. Monday and 8 p.m. Tuesday. The record of 3.18 billion cubic feet was set in January 1994. Meanwhile, the State Emergency Operations Center in Lansing was deactivated Friday amid improving weather conditions. State officials monitored the weather and remained ready to help local emergency personnel during the five days that the center was active.

R-Walker, as chairman of the board in 2010 following the board’s Legislative and a four-year absence after Human losing to Democrat Brandon Resources Dillon in 2006. Committee, MECOSTA COUNTY Grand Rapids Republican and Shana Dan Koorndyk will serve a Shroll, Woman hospitalized second term as Kent County R-Grand Commission chairman after Rapids, as after car hits tree being re-elected unanimousthe commitly to the post by his fellow tee’s vice A woman was hospitalized Koorndyk commissioners. chairman. Friday after her car struck Commissioners last Jim Saalfeld, R-Grand a tree in Mecosta County, week also elected a fairly Rapids Township, was elect- deputies said. new slate of Republicans ed chairman of the board’s The Lakeview woman was to leadership posts, includFinance and Physical driving eastbound on 5 Mile Road when her vehicle lost ing Michael Wawee Jr., Resources Committee, and Carol Hennessy, D-Grand control and struck a tree west of 165th Avenue about Rapids, was elected the committee’s vice chair5:30 p.m. Friday. The crash woman. scene was north of Morley. LOTTERY Wawee, Shroll and The driver was transportSaalfeld were elected to ed to Spectrum Health Big Results from Saturday: the county board in 2010. Rapids Hospital and treated Midday Daily 3: 923 Koorndyk was re-elected to for minor injuries. Midday Daily 4: 8313 Daily 3: 921 Choose the best when treating your Daily 4: 7454 Fantasy 5: 4, 10, 16, 20, 35 Classic Lotto: 1, 16, 22, 23, 25, 44 Poker Lotto: 9 of Diamonds, 7 of Spades, 3 of Diamonds, 6 of Spades, 2 of Diamonds Keno: 7, 8, 15, 18, 20, 24, 27, 28, 31, 32, 40, 42, 43, 50,51, 55, 57, 62, 66, 69, 71, Over 30 years experience in 79 treating vein related ailments GRAND RAPIDS

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Local GRAND RAPIDS

West Michigan residents deserve a shout-out

t’s time for another shout-out Sunday, to shine a brighter spotlight on people in the news. The Class Act Award goes to the Whitecaps owners and top brass. It was a psychic blow to the baseball club’s leaders and all of West Michigan to see Fifth Third Ballpark go up in flames. The Whitecaps landmark means so much to so many: sweet memories for families, a hometown link to the Detroit Tigers and a vital paycheck to ushers, vendors and scores of others. Eight million fans have cheered on players in that park through 20 years. Our ballpark burning? It seemed impossible such a thing would happen. The Whitecaps leadership team handled the blow with grace, humanity and the trademark “build it, and they will come” optimism that

Baxter told The Grand Rapids Press/ MLive.com reporter Peter Wallner. “There will be better days. Just not Julie today,” Vice President Jim Jarecki said, with a poignancy that resonatHoogland and ed with so many. jhoogland @mlive.com m One of those better days is almost here, as the Detroit Tigers already are finding ways to show West Michigan Whitecaps some love. On made West Michigan fall in love with Jan. 23, star pitcher Max Scherzer the Whitecaps 20 years ago. and 20 other Tigers players and They buoyed the community by brass will be at the Whitecaps discussing concrete plans to rebuild 20th Winter Baseball Banquet, a this year and be ready for spring fundraiser for the YMCA Inner-City ball and a summer all-star game. Youth Baseball and Softball Program Even as they grieved the setback, the and the Detroit Tigers Foundation, Whitecaps leaders treated the comWallner reported. munity like a family that was feeling One of my favorite phrases is, the same. “There’s no great loss without a “It’s a lot more than just a busismall gain.” ness. It’s a community member, and After this disheartening fire, we’re we’ve got a lot of ourselves into this already seeing some gains. with our families,” co-owner Denny The Tough Get Going Award goes

FROM THE EDITOR

to the 50 or more firefighters able to put out a raging ballpark fire in hellish winter conditions. Against difficult odds, they found a way to save much of the park, which was far from a sure thing as the flames climbed higher. I also want to give a special shoutout to The Grand Rapids Press/ MLive.com team that covered the fire and kept the community informed and engaged. An extensive reporting and photography team expertly chronicled this story, with these journalists taking lead roles: Wallner, photographer Cory Morse, reporters John Agar and John Tunison and editors Nate Reens and Tanda Gmiter. And thanks to the community for reading and responding by sharing your Whitecaps memories with us. The Warm Heart Award goes to our readers. You again generously

supported The Grand Rapids Press Santa Claus Girls charity, which has been bringing Christmas gifts to Kent County’s needy children for more than a century. This year, you helped us deliver gifts to 13,024 kids from 5,349 Kent County families. You’ve already donated more than $196,000 toward our $200,000 fundraising goal. You also reached out to fill the holiday wishes of West Michigan veterans in need, reported in the Thanksgiving edition of The Grand Rapids Press. Filled wishes included computers, boots for an Army veteran who wanted to keep warm while filling bird feeders and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital helping a veteran whose leg was amputated after a roadside bombing in Iraq. We all need to look out for each other, West Michigan. Thanks for being there, again.

“Our Grand Rapids is a place of promise. Our Grand Rapids is a field of opportunity, a treasure chest of creativity. Our Grand Rapids is alive.” MAYOR GEORGE HEARTWELL IN HIS STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH

GRAND RAPIDS

Mayor announces partnership with GVSU in State of the City address

Heartwell: Three themes for 2014 By Matt Vande Bunte mvandebu@mlive.com

Mayor George Heartwell opened his annual State of the City speech with a confession: “Sometimes I have to pinch myself to be certain I’m not dreaming. I am the mayor of the most amazing city in America, a leading city in everything from climate preparedness to brewing craft beer.” An hour later, after touching on a host of topics from innovative educational initiatives to city budgets to minority entrepreneurship, he closed his address with a resounding statement that “this is no dream. This is our Grand Rapids!” “Our Grand Rapids is a place of promise. Our Grand Rapids is a field of opportunity, a treasure chest of creativity. Our Grand Rapids is alive. Our Grand Rapids is progressive. Our Grand Rapids is great. “This is our home. It’s no dream. It’s our Grand Rapids!” Heartwell called on Congress to pass immigration reform and urged state lawmakers to authorize more money for roads. He also focused on three broad themes during his speech: TALENT

Heartwell announced a new partnership with Grand Valley State University that will have students researching what Grand Rapids can do to keep college graduates from leaving the area. Ten undergraduate public administration students will be chosen for the one-semester class scheduled for the fall, said Pat Waring, GVSU’s community relations director.

Mayor Heartwell spoke about education, city budgets and minority business, among other topics.

“We want to ensure that, when our college students complete their degrees, they want to stay in Grand Rapids,” Heartwell said. “The end product of that research will be a strategic plan for the city of Grand Rapids to help us better connect with and enhance services to college students.” TRANSFORMATION

Heartwell detailed years of changes at City Hall, including job cuts, wage concessions and transitioning 40 percent of Grand Rapids workers from a definedbenefit pension to a definedcontribution retirement plan. He also highlighted changes in city services that was like “fitting 10 pounds of potatoes into a 5-pound sack — no, let me say that differently: taking 10 pounds of potatoes and paring them down to fit appropriately in the 5-pound sack we have and feeding the same number of people.” The changes — aided by a five-year income tax voters approved in 2010 — eliminated a deficit in the city’s general budget. But the general budget no longer spends

enough on parks, streetlights, storm sewers or streets to sustain those public assets. Heartwell lauded Grand Rapids voters for passing a parks millage in November — and he got loud applause for it. He also urged voters to accept an income tax for streets when it comes to the ballot in May. “It won’t give us everything we need (to get our streets in good condition), but it will provide relief and create real progress until the (Michigan) Legislature decides that it is important to our state to have good highways, roads and streets,” he said. ENVIRONMENT

Heartwell at his 2013 State of the City address announced a federal grant to study the potential for solar panels at the former Butterworth Landfill that closed in the 1970s. He said Saturday the site south of Wealthy Street SW, bordered by I-196 and the Grand River, has promise. Grand Rapids by this summer plans to seek proposals — perhaps involving a publicprivate partnership — for

Mayor George Heartwell, left, gives Bing Goei the “Champion of Diversity” award during his annual State of the City event Saturday morning. (Katy Batdorff/MLive.com)

installation of solar panels, said Haris Alibasic, the city’s director of energy and sustainability. “The feasibility study, preliminary engineering and financing analysis have been completed and preliminary numbers are positive,” Heartwell said. “The potential exists, through development of only 38 acres of the site, or 20 percent of the site — that portion which is optimal for this kind of use — to produce electric power to supply a minimum of 1,070 average-sized homes with

electricity from the sun.” Also during the speech, Heartwell named this year’s “Champion of Diversity” honoree, Bing Goei. The mayor applauded Goei’s passion for inclusion. Introduced by two business owners mentored by him, Goei thanked Heartwell “for being a mayor that truly understands the importance of being a welcoming city,” adding “not many political figures understand the importance of diversity and inclusion and the value that a welcoming city has.”

He also issued a challenge to the crowd: “Let us make a commitment that Grand Rapids will not only be the No. 1 beer city in the nation, but that Grand Rapids will become the Silicon Valley of the Midwest.”

Ç ONLINE

Find the full text of Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell’s State of the City address at mlive.com/ grandrapids

www.grct.org 616.222.6650 SHOW CONTAINS MATURE LANGUAGE

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A4 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

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Education secretary schedules Twitter chat By Monica Scott

mscott2@mlive.com

High school seniors are starting to receive college acceptance letters, but that excitement is somewhat muted by fears of incurring student loan debt. On Monday, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will moderate a special onehour Twitter chat to get feedback from students on how to keep college affordable. That includes students such as Union High School senior Alexis Hall, one of more than 500 Grand Rapids seniors attending a December district conference to prepare for college. The scholarship and financial aid workshops were packed, and students took careful notes. Duncan Many echoed Hall, who said, “I don’t want to be in a lot of debt.” Already accepted to Grand Valley State University, the 17-year-old knows the path to becoming a doctor will be expensive. Besides discussions on keeping college affordable, Duncan wants to know how President Barack Obama’s administration’s college rating system can be useful for students and families. Last year, Duncan’s department was directed to develop a ratings system to identify colleges that provide a good value. Duncan has been gathering feedback for several months. A study released last year by TransUnion, one of the nation’s largest consumer credit rating agencies, revealed student loan balances increased by 75 percent between 2007 and 2012, with the average student loan debt per borrower increasing 30 percent to $23,829. ON T WI T TER

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Organizers of the annual “One Book, One City for Kids” reading initiative selected “Because of Mr. Terupt,” by Rob Buyea, for this winter’s discussion. The reading program, which began in 2009, encourages fourth-graders to read and talk about the same book through March 31. Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation, the program is a collaboration between the Grand Rapids Public Library, Pooh’s Corner, the Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Rapids Community College and Cook Library Center. All fourth-graders in the district will receive a copy of the award-winning book through a $8,175 grant from the library foundation. Also, Buyea will visit five schools in March. The public is invited to two events featuring Buyea: 4-6 p.m. March 10 at Pooh’s Corner, 1886 Breton Road SE; and 1 p.m. March 22 at the Cook Library Center, 1100 Grandville Ave. SW.

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THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / A5

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A6 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

Local GRAND RAPIDS

GRAND HAVEN

Police: Homicide victim had been in same house as man linked to crime By John Tunison

jtunison@mlive.com

Steven Carl Day, a Grand Rapids man found dead along a snowy road in December, had been in the same house as a man linked to his death, police say. Robert McCombs Stewart McCombs, 63, is charged with lying to a peace officer in a violent crime investigation. He is held in the Kent County Jail on a $250,000

bond. A motorist discovered the body of 54-year-old Day in snow along 16 Mile Road NE near Myers Lake Avenue on Dec. 18. McCombs and another man, Roger Jay Musick, 38, were arrested Dec. 20 in connection with the case but released because of insufficient evidence. McCombs was re-arrested Jan. 5 on the fouryear felony. In a probable-cause affidavit to get a warrant against McCombs, a Grand Rapids police detective said McCombs was interviewed Dec. 19 at a house on Wealthy

Ottawa Health Department to open new office By Greg Chandler For MLive.com

Street SE, west of Lake Drive, where he apparently had been staying. In that interview, McCombs claimed he did not know Day and had not seen him. But the detective said police found a witness who put both Day and McComb at a residence about the same time. “And there was evidence found inside the residence which placed the victim, Steven Day, inside,” the detective said for the affidavit. McCombs is scheduled to have a probable cause hearing Tuesday in Grand Rapids District Court.

GRAND RAPIDS

Chili Peppers to join Bruno Mars at Super Bowl The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Bruno Mars will have help from the Red Hot Chili Peppers when he performs at the Super Bowl next month. Mars announced Saturday the Kiedis

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, including lead singer and Grand Rapids native Anthony Kiedis, will join him as part of his halftime show. Super Bowl halftime performers often have collaborators. Last year, Beyonce had Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams from her Destiny’s Child days join her onstage,

and two years ago Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. joined Madonna for her halftime show. Mars was named Billboard’s 2013 artist of the year. His hits include the No. 1 song “When I Was Your Man” and his Grammynominated sophomore album, “Unorthodox Jukebox,” has sold almost 2 million copies.

The Ottawa County Department of Public Health will open its new Grand Haven office next month. The department will open the new office on Feb. 3 at 1207 S. Beechtree St., on the city’s east side, county Deputy Health Officer Donovan Thomas said. “We are moving into a new facility that better matches the services we provide in Grand Haven, while reducing costs,” Thomas said. “The move will also allow us to modernize our clinic and move closer to the city and better serve our residents.” The county Board of

Commissioners last summer approved a lease agreement for the new location at an annual cost of $33,600. The Health Department previously was located in a county-owned facility at 16920 Ferris St. in Grand Haven Township. The county has the Ferris Street site up for sale. Officials said last summer that once the sale is completed, the move to a smaller location will save the county about $100,000 a year. The new Grand Haven site will include family planning, immunizations and travel immunizations, a disposal program where residents can safely dispose syringes for

home use and sample bottles for water testing. Services that will move to the main Health Department location in Holland Township, 12251 James St., include the Maternal and Infant Health Program, children’s special health care services and the hearing and vision screening program, Thomas said. Hours for the new Grand Haven location will be 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 6 p.m. Mondays, and 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. For more information on the new clinic, call 616-392-5266 or log onto miOttawa.org/miHealth.

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GRAND RAPIDS

Alleged teen sex victim is either rapist or liar, tutor’s attorney says bdeiters@mlive.com

The attorney for the former Catholic Central High School tutor Abigail Simon accused of criminal sexual conduct with a 15-year-old boy said his client should not be on trial because she is the victim of either a rapist or a perjurer. In what even the prosecution has to admit is a novel defense, attorney Michael Simon Manley said he will defend his client by using the alleged victim’s testimony to show it was 33-year-old Simon who had sex forced upon her by the 220-pound teen. Manley was in Kent County Circuit Court on Friday, asking Judge Paul Sullivan to dismiss the case, saying his client cannot be blamed for having sex with the 15-yearold who in September testified in Grand Rapids District Court that he forced himself on the woman. Manley told the judge that not only did the teen force her to have sex, he threatened to kill her and anyone she was in a relationship with and also threatened witnesses. “This is the first time I feel like a prosecutor,” the Flintbased attorney said. “I feel like I am representing the rape victim.” Manley said the fact she did not report the alleged assault and there were no signs of physical abuse would not be factors if his client were the victim in a sexual

assault case, and they should not be factors in this case where she stands accused. “Does a rape victim get charged with criminal sexual conduct if the rapist is under the age of consent?” Manley asked. He argued if the teen was lying about forcing himself on the woman, he committed perjury and his testimony is unreliable. Chief Assistant Kent County Prosecutor Christopher Becker said beyond the alleged victim’s testimony, there was other evidence, including provocative photos of Simon intended for the teen. “I’ve never had a case where there is a photo of the victim of a rape dressed in lingerie wrapped around her rapist,” Becker said. Becker said Manley can make his argument to the jury, but it is up to them to decide who they believe. He said a love-struck teen’s decision on what constitutes force is not the law. Sullivan agreed the matter is for a jury to decide and said, even without the testimony of the teen, there is enough evidence to send it to trial. The judge said the jury will have to decide whether they believe all, part or none of what the teen says when he testifies. Sullivan said it is possible to infer from the teen’s probable-cause testimony that he was trying to protect the accused. Simon was a tutor for the teen starting in 2012 and is accused of having a sexual relationship with the student

between Feb. 1 and April 26. She is charged with firstdegree criminal sexual conduct, a potential life offense, and accosting a minor for immoral purposes, a four-year felony. No date has been set yet for a trial, but Manley said he plans to bring forward many witnesses, including experts from Illinois and Rutgers University. He said he also might include as part of his defense the fact that his client is allegedly a victim of previous domestic violence while living near Chicago.

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A8 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

Inches from disaster

This rendering shows how the Sixth Street Dam would be partially removed as part of Grand Rapids Whitewater’s plan to restore the rapids to the Grand River. (River Restoration/ Courtesy)

GRAND RAPIDS

Expert: Rapids restoration project would have little effect on flooding By Jim Harger

jharger@mlive.com

The $27 million plan to remove the downtown dams and restore the rapids to the Grand River will not add to future flooding risks, according to a Colorado engineer who developed the restoration plans for Grand Rapids Whitewater. Grand Rapids Whitewater is working with state and federal regulators to partially remove the Sixth Street Dam, remove all of the low-rise dams in downtown Grand Rapids and restore rocks and shoals to the riverbed down

to Fulton Street. “Our project really focuses on the low river flow, what’s happening around 2,500 (cubic feet per second) of flow,” said Jason Carey, the principal river engineer for River Restoration of Glenwood Springs, Colo. Their plans to remove dams and restore shoals to the downtown riverbed won’t make a difference when the river reaches flood levels, Carey said. Last April’s flood saw flow levels of 36,000 cubic feet per second, he said. A “100-yearflood” would hit flow levels of

50,000 cubic feet per second. Carey, who has studied the Grand River for several years, said he monitored last April’s flooding via the Internet and local photographs. He found nothing to raise concerns about the whitewater project’s impact on flooding risks. “It’s neutral, for the most part,” Carey said. City leaders agree. Eric DeLong, Grand Rapids deputy city manager, said city engineers are working closely with the Grand Rapids Whitewater team, and they believe the plan to

restore the rapids to the river though downtown will “have an overall neutral or positive effect” on flood mitigation efforts, he said. Originally started by a group of kayaking enthusiasts, Grand Rapids Whitewater has expanded to a full-scale restoration effort aimed at naturalizing the river as it falls 18 feet through downtown Grand Rapids. The restoration plan was added to the Urban Waters Federal Partnership in May 2013, putting the project on a fast track for federal regulatory approvals and grants.

Changing the river’s profile

JASON CAREY, OF RIVER RESTORATION IN COLORADO

Rapids Bridge St.

Indian trails

196 Division Ave.

Bridge St. Division Ave.

“Our project really focuses on the low river flow, what’s happening around 2,500 (cubic feet per second) of flow. It’s neutral, for the most part.”

The Grand River’s natural course has been altered through history by man’s intervention. Channels were dug to supply power and aid navigation for the city’s growing industries. As Grand Rapids grew, the same channels were filled in and floodwalls constructed, giving the river the much narrower profile seen today.

Fulton St.

Fulton St. Gr an dR ive r

Chip Richards, left, and Chris Muller pose in front of the Grand River in September 2012. Richards and Muller are the organizers behind Grand Rapids Whitewater, a group that wants to remove dams on the Grand River and restore the rapids that once existed in downtown Grand Rapids. (MLive.com file)

131

N Late 1700s

1836

1873

SOURCE: Grand Rapids Public Library archives

THE FORECAST YOU CAN COUNT ON. FOR THE WEATHER YOU CAN’T. MLive Weather at mlive.com/weather

Today (Edward Riojas/MLive.com)

THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / A9

Inches from disaster Flood

CONTINUED FROM A1 FIXES ON THE HORIZON

Water coming under — not over — the city levees sparked the most problems for downtown buildings during the April 2013 flood. Major buildings such as the Plaza Towers and Forslund Condominiums were emptied for days when floodwaters entered the basements and threatened infrastructure. The flood caused more than $10 million in damage to public and private property countywide. Some of the city’s repair work already is done, such as shoring up the Sixth Street Dam observation deck, which DeLong said was damaged by water last spring. Flap gates that close openings in the floodwall to prevent water backing into the sewer system will be A view of downtown Grand Rapids on Nov. 22 shows part of the city’s floodwall. (MLive.com file) repaired or replaced in 14 locations in Grand Rapids and six in Walker, DeLong zones in Kent County. said. In Grand Rapids, the danEmbankments around ger zones include low-lying the city wastewater plant parts of downtown around — which, if they had failed, Van Andel Arena and the would have inundated the Heartside neighborhood and river with millions of gallons almost all of the city’s lower of sewage — will be raised as West Side — built almost well, he said. That expendientirely within the river’s ture will be in addition to the 100-year flood plain. $4.2 million. Today, the city’s roughly Along with all that, three-mile flood-protection DeLong said the city plans to system stretches from south explore new rules governing of Ann Street to just northprivate drainage piercings east of the city’s wastewater of the floodwalls — covering plant on Market Avenue SW. situations where property The system has been in owners want to make holes place for more than 100 in the walls abutting their years and, by most accounts, property for drainage purhas performed admirably. poses. In 1907, tired of repeated These small openings can flooding, the city started create big problems in times building walls along an old of flooding. riverbank dock line. By 1911, “Just like you have zonthe first levees were built on ing rules on how and where 12-foot concrete bases. More Glenn Welch and Debra-Jean Stephens walk along the Grand River floodwall near Bridge Street you build your buildings, were built in 1927, 1934 and NW in Grand Rapids. we need to adopt rules for 1936. the floodwalls,” DeLong In 1995, the city revisited said, such as “nobody can the levee system and found maps that were last updated and thousands of dollars in Grand Rapids’ floodwalls penetrate the floodwalls about 40 percent of the walls in 1982. flood insurance costs. as providing the necessary without our permission and needed repair because some The FEMA flood mapping “If you’re not in an area protection without forcing approval.” embankments were not high update was troublesome that’s accredited, then you the city to raise them sub“Even a little drain pipe enough to repel a flood that for Grand Rapids. Federal have to pay a lot more for stantially. could be a big deal, particurose more than a foot over officials said the city’s newly your insurance, because Grand Rapids is one of larly if we don’t know about the 100-year flood mark. reconstructed 25-foot floodthere’s nothing to say you’re 25 pilot communities nationit.” Engineers also walls still were 2 feet below out of the flooding danger wide working with FEMA on The repair the height necessary for fed- zone,” said Nyal Deems, a the agency’s new “targeted “It gives you a false discovered work is the concrete eral certification. Varnum Law partner with modeling” approach to flood detailed in walls had Since 1986, federal rules expertise in land use. protection certification. sense of a city engideteriorated, have required 3 feet of “freeIt’s not surprising that Others include Rock Island protection and neering and earthen board” above the 100-year Grand Rapids pushed back County, Ill.; Union County, analysis that embankments flood level — a theoretical against FEMA, Deems said. Ky.; Nueces County, Texas, encourages still is being had eroded in term for the hydrological In 2008, the cost was estiand several parishes along finished, some places. calculation of how high the mated to be about $9 million the Mississippi River delta in development. The Pipes and DeLong said. river has a 1 percent chance to raise the floodwalls by Louisiana. It’s one of drains of rising. another 2 feet. The new approach essenrisk is still there. storm several Grand that feed Without FEMA certifica“It’s not like anybody is tially isolates certain areas River levee into the river tion, the agency’s flood maps just dumping money on of a levee system that can be You’re living in a engineerneeded valves would show large areas of cities nowadays,” he said. certified in sections. ing reports, to keep floodthe West Side and downtown “Where’s the money for DeLong said city and flood plain.” publicly and waters from within a flood-prone danger urban governments to take FEMA engineers are calcuMARK WALTON, HYDROLOGIST privately backing up zone. care of these things?” lating a new 100-year flood FOR THE NATIONAL WEATHER contracted, through the Agency maps dictate level along the levee system SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS in various storm sewers. insurance premiums for mil- NEW CALCULATIONS in Grand Rapids, and the city stages of development. With $13.5 million borlions of households. Because Relations between FEMA might raise the floodwalls Engineering firm Prein & rowed through the Kent federally backed lenders are and Grand Rapids started and embankments by severNewhof is working on one County Drain Commission, required by law to ensure to thaw in 2011, when the al inches in certain locations such hydrology analysis the city started a five-year that property in a flood-prone agency began to study an along the river, based on the related to the Plaza Towers project in 1997 to rebuild the area has insurance, status on alternative approach to levee new number. high-rise, although company walls, install clay embanka FEMA map can mean the certification that would, Downtown, the current representatives and building ments at a foot above the difference between hundreds essentially, acknowledge 100-year-flood level — or owners would not comment 100-year flood level and on the study. construct pumping stations to drain low-lying neighborHIGH ENOUGH? hoods behind them. The city’s floodwalls are The project was comthe last piece of the puzzle in pleted in 2003, the same the ongoing federal mapping year FEMA began an effort process of flooding danger to redraw Kent County flood

Grand Rapids started building floodwalls downtown in 1907, with A floodwall along the Grand River is visible near I-196 in downtown Grand Rapids on Dec. 5. the first levees completed in 1911.

base flood elevation calculated using 1982 FEMA maps — is 24.1 feet, measured at the U.S. Geological Service’s gauge next to the Blue Bridge. That level is variable along the length of the river and acts as a measurement point for the floodwalls. Although the city and FEMA began working together well before last April, lingering tension came into play during the flooding. According to emails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, Mayor George Heartwell delayed a state of emergency declaration on April 20 out of concern about what message it would send to FEMA officials about the city’s floodwalls. According to senior FEMA engineer Ken Hinterlong, the mayor needn’t have worried. “The floodwall, for the most part, held, and the city did a fantastic job in response,” said Hinterlong, who is working with the city on certification. POST FLOOD PINCH?

For certain property owners in the flood plain, the April deluge likely will cause some increase in rates as they renew their insurance policies, regardless of floodwall certification, Deems said. Property owners who received low rates under FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program also are getting hit with premium increases unrelated to the April flood. In October, rate increases mandated under the BiggertWaters Act of 2012 began taking effect, ending a subsidy that kept federal flood insurance premiums artificially low for millions across the country. The act was intended to make the insurance program financially solvent by having rates reflect actual flooding risk. “Folks are going to see an incremental increase in the cost of flood insurance as the program moves forward with current legislation,” said David Schein, insurance coordinator with FEMA. However, the increases are not set in stone. A bipartisan coalition in Congress is pushing back against the Biggert-Waters rate increases with the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which would delay rate increases for several years and force an affordability study. Walton called the BiggertWaters act a “game-changer” attempt to put more teeth into the post-flood “taxpayer bailout cycle” that is forcing many property owners to pay more attention to flooding risk and the true cost of building in a flood plain. “Look at what’s happening with (Hurricane) Sandy; people are still trying to get over that,” Walton said. “The cost is phenomenal, and as a taxpayer, you’re paying for that.”

A10 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

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of a live audience. Show producers and TV handyman Carter Oosterhouse surprised Cech with a playground at the Grand Haven State Park beach in memory of her son, Andy Fox, who drowned in a rip current in 2003. He was 17. Oosterhouse, a Traverse City native, is the founder of Carter’s Kids, which builds playgrounds for children throughout the country once a month to promote youth fitness and self-esteem. The nonprofit organization has built more than 40 playgrounds, including one in

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GVSU clerical workers cut ties with MEA By Brian McVicar

bmcvicar@mlive.com

Clerical workers and support staff at Grand Valley State University have voted to break ties with the Michigan Education Association and form an independent union. On Jan. 3, members of GVSU’s Clerical, Office and Technical Association voted to separate from the MEA and form a union called the Alliance of Professional Support Staff. Coreen Bedford, acting president of the new union, said employees chose to make the change because the cost of being affiliated with the MEA outweighed the benefits. “When you look at the value, where’s our money going?” asked Bedford, whose job at GVSU is assistant to the director for Pew Campus Security. “We’re not getting any decent training, we’re not getting any decent research when it comes to bargaining.” She added: “The third really important thing is the relationship that the employee group has with their employer. It’s a collaborative work environment and it’s a supportive work environment.” When the union was affiliated with the MEA, a member would pay between $583 and $832 per year in union dues, Bedford said. That included dues to the MEA, the National Education Association and the local union. Bedford expects those dues will be “significantly less” now, considering only the local union dues will remain. The MEA provided the GVSU union with assistance in collective bargaining, job training and employee grievances. Bedford said a lack of employee grievances is one reason GVSU’s union didn’t need the services of the MEA. Of the 266 GVSU employees who voted in the union election, 235 supported forming an independent union, 24 supported maintaining an affiliation with the MEA and seven employees supported neither option. Bedford said the change will have little to no impact on the day-to-day operations of the university. “It was a team effort to pull this off, and I’m proud of Grand Valley State University for being such a wonderful (employer),” she said. In addition to the Alliance of Professional Support Staff, GVSU has two other union groups. About 180 custodians, groundskeepers and trade workers are unionized and about 19 campus police officers also belong to a union. The university has about 2,000 employees. GVSU faculty are not unionized.

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THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / A11

Local GRANDVILLE

Teachers use technology to keep students from falling behind Online exams, videos help make up for time otherwise lost because of snow days By Kyle Moroney

kmoroney@mlive.com

A school closure one day before a two-week holiday break did not stop Grandville High School advanced placement U.S. History students from missing a scheduled exam. Teacher Kyle VanderWall anticipated the Dec. 20 closure as forecasts called for freezing rain to cause widespread hazardous conditions and told his students to be ready for an online version of the test. It was the first time VanderWall used an online exam and he was leery of the possibility students would cheat. But he felt it was better to take the test while the information was fresh than take a chance his students would not retain the knowledge after the break. Eighty students, on the final scheduled day of classes last year, logged in to their online accounts set up through the school and took the 40-minute test, VanderWall said. It’s an example of how technology is trumping the weather. VanderWall is among several West Michigan teachers using the Internet to make sure students do not fall behind when they are not in school. In Grandville, high school students are using their newly issued Chromebooks to stay connected to their teachers and keep up on their workload. Students can log in to a Web program called Moodle, a site that provides them with class information and any assignments or tests issued. Teachers also use the site to post videos of recorded classes and tutorials. “It’s a parking lot of information,” VanderWall said. “It’s a one-stop spot for students and parents to find information on their classes.” Grandville students have been using the program for several years and have learned they will be held accountable for any assigned work, whether school is in session or not. Before the

Dec. 20 school closure, many teachers had emailed students the exam-related materials so they could review them during the holiday break, according to Principal Chris VanderSlice. “A snow day doesn’t mean they have a day off,” VanderSlice said. “They know there are expectations, and they’ll have that expectation in college. “When you’re not in class, students are expected to log on (to Moodle). If we don’t make those adjustments, then it’s a wasted day. Just because the weather doesn’t cooperate, doesn’t mean the world stops.” EXAMS UP NEXT

As Grandville High School students head back to school following a holiday break that was days longer than planned due to two cancellations last week, they also will be met with preparation for this week’s end-of-semester exams. So far, VanderSlice said, he does not foresee changing the exam schedule, slated for Wednesday through Friday, but he anticipates some teachers will modify their exams because of information students missed during the recent snow days. Nancy Triezenberg, one of two AP calculus teachers at Grandville High School, often would panic when school closed because of weather. “With AP curriculum, every day counts. There is no down time, ever,” she said. “When we’d come back, we’d be so lost, and there was no way for me to get caught up.” But with Moodle and another program called Remind101, which sends text notifications to students, panic no longer sets in, Triezenberg said. She posted videos on Moodle on Monday and Tuesday to show students how to solve differential equations and provide reviews for the upcoming exam. When students returned to school later, they could focus on troubleshooting the problem areas, she said. “I feel that, with the twoweek break and the added snow days, they’ll come back on track knowing what they know and have questions for

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the exam,” she said. When school closes, she sends a text message to her students, telling them to go into their Moodle account for pending assignments. The texts do not reveal Triezenberg’s cellphone number, or those of the students, she said. “They just know from day one that, if we have a weather day, they’ll receive text messages and will have to go online and get their assignments,” she said. REMIND101 AT EAST HIGH

In East Grand Rapids, high school teachers also use Remind101, as well as Twitter, email and teacher websites to

Cinda Swinsick, of Galesburg, takes a music appreciation exam online in 2005 at Western Michigan University. Some area high schools are using similar technology. (MLive.com file)

communicate with students about canceled or upcoming tests and assignments, according to Principal Jenny Fee. “With a new semester at

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hand, many teachers will push some of their instruction intended for these days into the second semester, making small adjustments over time to accommodate the added

instruction,” she said. Fee will ask teachers to make appropriate adjustments to prepare students for their upcoming exams, but also will advise them not to overwhelm students by squeezing in or requiring additional work above and beyond exam review and preparation. “The two snow/cold days certainly require our teachers to make adjustments to their instruction and lesson plans,” she said. “We have almost 50 teachers in the high school, and each will handle this situation in a manner that meets the unique needs of their classes and students.”

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A12 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

Local

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Kregel Inc. has moved its publishing and warehouse operations to 2450 Oak Industrial Drive NE. The Christian publishing house previously had its headquarters on Wealthy Street SE. (MLive.com file) GRAND RAPIDS

Kregel moves into new headquarters jharger@mlive.com

“We are extremely excited to take advantage of the efficiencies that this new facility will provide — one-level warehousing, more economical order fulfillment and a collaborative office environment are major assets added by this move,” Kregel said. “We will also continue to provide support services for Kregel Parable Christian Stores and Kregel Ministry Resources from this location,” Kregel said. “This move is a significant commitment to the future of our company.” “Having a large, open warehouse and expandable office area is a definite plus,” Kregel Publisher Dennis Hillman said. “We’ve remodeled the offices and warehouse with flexibility in mind. As the industry continues to change in the future, we will be wellpositioned to shape our build-

ing to meet those needs and opportunities.” Founded in 1909 as a used book business in Grand Rapids, Kregel Publications entered the publishing field with its first release in 1949: a reprint of a one-volume Bible commentary. Now in its third generation of family ownership, the publishing house has more than 900 titles in print under various Kregel imprints. It also has 500 titles published by Editorial Portavoz, its Spanish-language division. With 75 employees, Kregel also distributes more than 700 titles for Lion Hudson, a publisher based in Oxford, England. The company also is the North American distributor for Monarch, Lion Fiction and Candle Books, and the North American religious market distributor for Lion and Lion Children’s Books.

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Kregel Inc. announced it has moved its publishing and warehouse operations to 2450 Oak Industrial Drive NE. While the signs outside the 48,500-square-foot building have not yet been changed, Kregel has moved its 42 Grand Rapids-based employees into the new facility, said Jerry Kregel, CFO and executive vice president of publishing. The Christian publishing house moved from 733 Wealthy St. SE, a massive fivestory structure where it had been headquartered for the past 31 years. That building in the East Hills neighborhood was sold in September to Live Wealthy, a developer who plans to convert the building into livework apartments.

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THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / A13

Local GRAND RAPIDS

Employers report increased hiring By Jim Harger

jharger@mlive.com

More than three out of four respondents in a survey of more than 700 Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce members said they hired or added new positions last year. But more than half of those surveyed said they had trouble finding qualified applicants, Maas according to survey results released by the chamber Thursday. As a result, almost twothirds of the employers said they had to “significantly increase” their recruiting efforts last year. “As our region’s economy continues to recover, we are challenged to find talent with new and emerging skill sets,” said Jacob Maas, executive director of the Area Community Services Employment & Training Council (Michigan Works). “Our goal at Michigan Works! is to provide a network of employment and training programs for employers, employees and jobseekers to assist in filling the gaps,” Maas said. “We will continue our

work with employers and the Grand Rapids chamber to identify the specific skill sets needed and to develop training plans to upgrade the skills of the existing talent pool,” Maas said. On other issues, rising health care costs and federal spending once again were the top issues businesses are concerned about, according to the chamber. “Our members continue to be concerned about the impact the rising costs of health care has on their business,” said Andy Johnston, vice president of government and corporate affairs. Other issues mentioned in the survey were health care utilization and prevention, early childhood funding, state and local investment in infrastructure and reducing onerous regulations and taxes. The survey was conducted Dec. 9 through Wednesday, with more than 700 chamber members participating, according to the announcement of the results. Almost half of the responses came from owners and employees of small businesses, and about 30 percent came from employees of large businesses. A summary of the survey can be found at grandrapids. org/government-affairs.

GRAND RAPIDS

Economist expects ‘modest growth’ to continue By Jim Harger

jharger@mlive.com

West Michigan’s manufacturing sector saw “continued modest growth” in December, a trend that should continue throughout this year, according to Brian Long, director of supply chain research for Grand Valley State Long University. Long, who surveys local industrial purchasing managers monthly, said the new orders and production retreated during December because of the holidays.

“Locally, we are moving along fine. Nationally, the report is actually a little stronger,” Long said in his report, issued last month. Just as growth in automotive sales drove much of last year’s manufacturing recovery, Long said he expects similar growth this year until the demand for new cars levels off. “Even if auto sales would flatten at the present level, most firms are now comfortably profitable,” Long said. “In addition, we should not underestimate the improved potential for exporting North American vehicles worldwide, thus increasing overall production within

the industry.” Other local industries, such as aerospace and office furniture, appear to be poised for modest growth, Long said. Meanwhile, unemployment rates across the nation, Michigan and in West Michigan will continue to decline slowly throughout the year, Long said. “The tendency for small businesses to freeze hiring and avoid expansion will keep the unemployment levels much higher than they should be,” he said. “Shortages will continue for trained technicians in many fields. Unemployment for the 18- to 24-year-olds and the unskilled workers will

remain excessively high.” Long said he also expects to see continued growth in home construction as the housing market recovers from the Great Recession. “The shortage of newer homes for sale will continue to fuel more housing starts, especially in West Michigan,” he said. “Because the wave of foreclosures and bankruptcies continues, the housing market recovery for existing homes will remain geographically spotty, even down to the street by street level. This means that pockets of Detroit-style tracts of abandoned houses will plague our older cities and towns.”

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The DEQ noted its tentative jagar@mlive.com approval for the road does not The Michigan League of mean other construction projConservation Voters critiects are being approved. cized the state Department Patty Birkholz, the of Environmental Quality for West Michigan director its plan to approve a paved for Michigan League of road in critical dunes as part Conservation voters, said of Aubrey McClendon’s prothe DEQ’s decision is a result posed development on Lake of legislators’ rollbacks in Michigan. 2012 of the Critical Dunes The DEQ said it would per- Protection Act. mit construction of the road “Michigan’s critical sand once certain conditions are dunes are some of the most met. fragile, vulnerable stretches of The road would be two land in the state,” Birkholz, a miles long and provide access former state legislator, said. to 18 lots. Singapore Dunes “When you pave over LLC, McClendon’s company, the dunes, you cannot get plans to build 17 houses on the them back,” she said. “The lots. The group also has plans Michigan DEQ’s decision for a marina, condominiums opens up Michigan’s shoreline and resort. to irreversible damage.”

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A14 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

Local MUSKEGON

Social justice-oriented preacher to leave West Michigan church By Michelle D. Anderson

manders6@mlive.com

SHAKING THINGS UP

Freeman moved to Muskegon from Tulip City in 2011. That year, he drew public attention for challenging the Holland City Council on its anti-discrimination ordinance by asking officials to expand the policy to protect the housing and employment rights of the LBGT community. Holland city officials voted 5-4 to oppose the city’s Human Relations Commission-issued recommendation in June 2011. Months later, authorities arrested Freeman for trespassing after he refused to leave City Hall following an October 2011 meeting in which he protested city officials’ earlier decision. He was fined $100. National news organizations, including The Huffington Post and National Public Radio, highlighted the incident. Holland’s Human Relations Commission honored Freeman with a Social Justice Award in 2012, recognizing his work with All Spirits. Freeman said he was honored by the distinction and said he would have preferred to see the city reconsider its anti-discrimination policy. Long-time Harbor Unitarian member Bill Wright said he is sorry to see Freeman leave. “I think it’s too bad. We are a very small congregation and it’s very, very difficult for us to offer a good position with any kind of financial stability to it. That’s probably the biggest problem that we have,” Wright said. “We had to dig deep into our pockets to pay him this year.” Wright said the congregation, formerly known as Unitarian Fellowship of Greater Muskegon, has about 70 members. WORKING FOR JUSTICE

Wright, who joined the church in the 1960s, said Freeman is an example of “walking the walk.” “He really is an example of living your beliefs,” Wright said. “That’s what we wanted to see.” Wright said the church also wants its potential new leader to continue to advance what he called its “liberal philosophy.” “That’s really the reason we hired him, even though he wasn’t an Unitarian Universalist minister,” he

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The Rev. Bill Freeman, of Harbor Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Muskegon, speaks outside Holland City Hall in 2011. Freeman announced Wednesday he will leave the church. (MLive.com file)

said. “I feel a personal loss to not have him in the pulpit. I don’t know how well we’re going to recover from it.” The official Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregation website describes the belief system as “a theologically diverse religion in which freedom of belief is welcome.” Although he lacked an Unitarian Universalist background, Freeman said he accepted the job because of the church’s commitment to helping poor residents and other people in need. Months after his highly publicized arrest, the church caused a stir after handing out free condoms to promote safe sex in the community. Throughout his tenure, the preacher has maintained a blog titled “The Freeman File” on the Harbor Unitarian website. In it, he recently discussed same-sex marriage, American unemployment and the pricey and arduous

steps required to become an official Unitarian Universalist minister — a task he recently abandoned. Freeman said he will continue to “work for justice” in the West Michigan area and that will include fighting for gay rights. WHAT’S NEXT

Freeman said he was disappointed Holland voters recently re-elected council members who opposed the 2011 ordinance. Those individuals include Holland Mayor Kurt Dykstra and Council members Brian Burch, Nancy DeBoer, Mike Tretheway and Todd Whiteman. In a 2009 Grand Rapids Press guest column, Freeman said his interest in gay rights began during the controversy surrounding Gerry Crane. The school board criticized and ousted the Byron Center band teacher because of his sexual orientation.

Freeman said he and his wife will continue living in Muskegon, where they own a home. They decided to stay in Muskegon County because of its picturesque landmarks and the friendly people, he said. “I think Muskegon is a town on the way up, and it’s very open to a diverse population,” he said. “Holland is not really diverse — there’s more diversity in the city of Muskegon compared to Holland. There may be minorities there, but you don’t see them a lot, especially in the downtown area of Holland.” And, unlike Holland, Freeman said, Muskegon officials have approved a discrimination policy that includes LGBT residents. City Commissioners unanimously passed the regulation in 2012. “I have enjoyed my time at Harbor Unitarian Universalist,” Freeman said. “I do wish the church well, and I think it will do well.”

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A local preacher and former broadcast personality who made national headlines for challenging a West Michigan municipality on its antidiscrimination policies will end his tenure at a Muskegon church this summer. The Rev. Bill Freeman, of Harbor Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 1296 Montgomery Ave., announced Wednesday he will not renew his contract. Freeman’s tenure will expire Aug. 31, ending what will become his third and final year with the interfaith and social justice-oriented group. “I just thought it was time for a change,” Freeman said when asked about his departure. “Harbor is a Unitarian Universalist congregation. I’m not Unitarian Universalist. I was ordained in the United Church of Christ. It seems to me they would be better off with an Unitarian Universalist minister.” Freeman said he will dedicate the next eight months to determining his next move, which might include concentrating his efforts at All Spirits Church, the Holland congregation he also pastors.

THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / A15