Preparations are underway for the annual Rockford Farmers Market which will open on June 2nd.
Kim McKay organizes the market for the city. McKay tells WZZM 13 that she received inquiries asking if the market would open early this year because of the warmer weather, but her answer was...more no.
McKay says one change this year is that daily vendors need to be pre-approved if they want a space at the market. You can call McKay at 866-1537 for more information.
McKay says she has talked to farmers who are concerned about the availability of apples, cherries and peaches this year because of the early growing season and hard freezes, but we will all have to wait to see what the farmers bring to market.
The Rockford Farmers Market will be open Saturdays from 8am to 1pm, from June 2nd through October.
You can find more information at Rockford.mi.us.

ROCKFORD, Michigan (WZZM) - Many parents in the Rockford School District are upset by the district's decision to eliminate the Middle School Spanish Immersion program.

In a letter sent home to parents Tuesday, the district lists off several reasons why it eliminated the program for...more sixth graders. Those reasons include the fact that state funding will be $6,846 per student for the 2012-13 school year. That's less than the district received seven years ago.

Another reason for the cut is the fact that Rockford is moving to all-day kindergarten in 2012-13 because of a state mandate. The all-day kindergarten will cost the district another $1.8 million. Superintendent Shibler says if Rockford did not provide all-day kindergarten, the district could lose $2.4 million in revenue from the state.

You can read more by clicking here, about the elimination of the Spanish Immersion program in middle school as well as the move to all-day

Rockford Superintendent Michael Schibler announced today that the school district is cutting the popular Middle School Spanish Immersion program.
Rockford must spend an additional $1.8 million to comply with the Mi State Legislature to implement all-day kindergarten in the...more fall.
Shibler's statement online reads, in part, "In order to balance next year's budget, the Board of Education is reviewing all district programs and, in the process, has determined offering Spanish Immersion as part of the 6th grade curriculum is no longer economically feasible."
The statement continues, saying the district will provide after-school fee-based classes in Spanish at both East and North Rockford Middle Schools if there is interest.
You can read Shibler's complete statement here.

ROCKFORD, Mich. (WZZM) -- Dave Heyboer thought the highlight of the evening would be his presentation on repairing flat bicycle tires.  Instead, it was an unexpected honor from the state of Michigan.

The Belmont resident was doing his presentation on repairing flats at Wednesday...more night's meeting of the Friends of the White Pine Trail when he received the "Rails to Trails Champion" award from State Representative Peter MacGregor.

Heyboer has worked for years to promote the development of and support for the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail.  The group has secured public and private funding for the trail.

Wednesday's award was a surprise to Heyboer.  He received the honor at the monthly Friends of the White Pine Trail meeting at the Rockford Community Cabin.

CANNON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) -- Kent County deputies are investigating a report from two 14-year-old girls who claim they were approached separately by a man.

The teens told deputies the incidents happened between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Monday, after the girls went their separate...more ways and were walking near Townsend Park near the Village of Cannonsburg.  One of the teenagers was on Ramsdell Avenue NE, while the other was on 6 Mile Road NE.

Investigators say they are looking into this as a case of "suspicious activity."  Deputies say the man allegedly followed the girls and spoke to them, but made no physical contact.

The suspect is described as a white man in his mid-50s, with dark-colored hair with gray roots.  He was unshaven for at least a week, and was not wearing glasses.  His vehicle is described as a "dirt-white" or silver van.  One girl told deputies that it had narrow, longer back up lights below the brake lights.

Anyone with

A suspicious subject attempted contact with two 14 year old females on Monday, May 7, 2012, between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM near the Village of Cannonsburg.  

The contacts occurred at separate locations after the girls went their separate ways and while they were walking near Townsend...more Park; one girl on 6 Mile Road and the other on Ramsdell Avenue.

The suspect is described as a White Male, mid 50s, dark colored hair with gray roots, unshaven for approximately a week, no glasses.  One girl believed he may have a slight southern accent. Unknown clothing.  One girl believed he had brown eyes and a crooked tooth on the side.

The vehicle is described as a dirt-white or silver van.  One girl believed it was a van style; both thought it was larger than a car. One girl said that it had narrow, longer back up lights below the brake lights.

Anyone with any additional information is asked to call the Kent County Sheriff Department at 616-336-3113 or Silent

ROCKFORD, Mich. (WZZM) -- The popular Bostwick Lake Inn held a grand re-opening Tuesday.

After the Bostwick Lake Inn closed several months ago, the Gilmore Collection took over. Both the exterior and interior were completely renovated.

An ice cream/general store was also...more added inside the main entrance, along with additional outdoor lakeside seating.

A kayak launch and beach fire pits will be added later this year.

The Bostwick Lake Inn will be open from Tuesday through Sunday, 4 to 11 p.m. with extended bar hours on Friday and Saturday.

Tee off time for this competitive scramble is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Candlestone Golf & Resort.

The annual golf outing features plenty of competition - and fun - as golfers vie for ownership of the traveling crystal trophy. Highlights feature a Hole-In-One contest for a new truck,...more raffles, games, prizes and great food. This annual event helps support the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Scholarship program.
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GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- Kent County deputies are asking for assistance in finding a missing Cannon Township teenager.

Olivia Drake, 14, was last seen at her home in the 7600 block of Young Ave. NE around 11 p.m. Thursday night.

Investigators say it is likely the girl left home...more on her own accord, but that her actions are out of the ordinary.

Olive Drake is blonde, 5'8" and weighs about 129 lbs.  Her eyes are blue-green.

Anyone with information on Drake's whereabouts is asked to call the Kent County Sheriff's Department at (616) 336-3113, or Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345

In the mid-70's the City of Rockford requested that the Kent County Road Commission (KCRC) take over ownership of Rockford's Division Street segment of 10-Mile Road. The KCRC accepted the offer under the conditions that the City would first bring the road up to County standards and enter into...more a 50/50 cost share agreement for future major reconstruction.

Since the inception of that agreement the KCRC has provided little, other than remedial repairs, to the six-tenths of a mile 3-lane stretch of roadway between Main Street and Wolverine Blvd. (think between Independent Bank and North Rockford Middle School).

Today 10-Mile Rd. is one of the most heavily trafficked east/west roads in northern Kent County. Daily the roadway carries, on average, some 20,000+ vehicles through the very heart of Rockford. Not only is it busy, at times it is one of the bumpiest, bone-jarring, teeth-rattling, shock-absorber busting stretches of road one might ever care (NOT) to traverse!

ROCKFORD, Mich. (WZZM) - Rockford and Forest Hills public schools will begin full-day kindergarten in the 2012-2013 school year.

On Tuesday, Dr. Michael Shibler, Rockford's superintendent, recommended to the school board that the district move to all-day kindergarten. Dan Behm, Forest...more Hills superintendent, says his district also made the decision to switch on Tuesday.

Shibler sent a letter to the kindergarten parents Tuesday morning.  Shibler referenced recent state legislation that requires districts to provide all-day, every day kindergarten in order to receive full state funding.

Shibler recommends that the district implement all-day kindergarten starting in the fall of 2012.  Shible had advocated that all-day kindergarten not be mandated until school funding had improved. 

Previously, Shibler has noted that all-day kindergarten will cost the district $1.8 million, but the funding cut would be $2.4 million if they do not offer

ROCKFORD, Mich. (WZZM) - Wolverine Worldwide and two investment firms are acquiring Collective Brands for $2 billion.

Wolverine will acquire Collective Brands' Performance + Lifestyle Group, which includes Stride Ride, Saucony, Sperry Top-Sider, and Keds brands of shoes.  The two...more investment firms will manage Payless ShoeSource.

Wolverine is based in Rockford and includes brands like Merrell, Hush Puppies, and HYTEST, and is licensee of CAT, Harley-Davidson, and Patagonia footwear.

(WZZM) - Traffic is backing up behind a crash on southbound US-131.

The crash involves a trailer carrying carnival equipment.  The crash is approximately one mile north of the Post Road exit.

We'll have more details if they become available.