Matt Gard

1 week ago | wzzm13.com | Matt Gard

GREENVILLE, Mich. — Erika Thomas is home for the summer after her freshman year at Central Michigan University. But a break from school doesn't mean she's slowing down. She has a job, she's participating in two different community theater productions, and this week she'll be delivering a speech on the steps of the State Capitol in Lansing, where she'll talk about her father, Erik. "Yes, I'm named after him," she said with a laugh. "He was just one of the sweetest people you could ever meet.

2 weeks ago | wzzm13.com | Matt Gard

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Around 50 people showed up to Pleasant Park on Thursday evening for a free hip-hop yoga class. Instructor Valarie James says the timing of the class couldn't be any better. "On a Thursday evening, I figured, what better way to end off the week than high energy to release some stress. We do have some grounding elements to help us get centered, but the same time we also going to be sweating and move our moving our bodies to the beat into the music," she said.

2 weeks ago | wzzm13.com | Matt Gard

WALKER, Mich. — Wednesday will mark the last day of the school year for Kenowa Hills Public Schools. At Zinser Elementary, you can feel the excitement for summer fun. This school year has been a successful one, not only in the classroom but also on the playground, which saw a major upgrade. Those upgrades were all inspired by a kindergartener named Locklynd Manni. "He's very happy. Very cheerful. He's always in a good mood, honestly.

3 weeks ago | wzzm13.com | Matt Gard

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The East Grand Rapids Pioneers are on top of the high school lacrosse world after defeating the defending state champion Yellow Jackets from Detroit Country Day 15-10 in the Division 2 state championship game on Friday night at the University of Michigan. Gavin Buck was the star of the game for the Pioneers, leading the team in goals. He also added a few assists. "I try my best but I've got to give it to my team.

3 weeks ago | wzzm13.com | Matt Gard

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — You can hear it in the halls at Dickinson Academy. There's a commotion coming from one of the classrooms. If you didn't know better, you'd swear you were listening to the roar of a Pistons crowd at Little Caesar's Arena. But what you're hearing isn't the sound of an NBA game. Rather, it's the sound of STEM Greenhouse students learning math through NBA Math Hoops. "It gets really competitive. It gets loud in that room when it when somebody either loses or wins.