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Win a makeover for your school from the Detroit Pistons

Win a makeover for your school from the Detroit Pistons

(Detroit Pistons) – Does your library or gym need a new look?

Here’s your chance to win a makeover in the School Makeover contest from the Detroit Pistons and NBA Live, Learn or Play, presented by Farm Bureau Insurance.

The School Makeover, presented by Farm Bureau Insurance and the Detroit Pistons, is accepting submissions from elementary and middle schools in the state of Michigan, through June 1. Submissions at www.nba.com/pistons/farm-bureau-school-makeover should include at least four images of the school’s library or gymnasium to be considered in the selection process.

“Farm Bureau Insurance agents are involved in their local communities all across the state. Michigan isn’t just a market for us, it is our home,” said Vic Verchereau, Farm Bureau Insurance vice president of Marketing. “We firmly believe in supporting safe and clean learning environments for our youth.

Man rescued from raft near Fifth Third Ballpark

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) - Law enforcement is responding to more cases of people getting stranded on the Grand River.

Saturday afternoon near the Fifth Third Ballpark, multiple jurisdictions had to help rescue a man of a small raft. He was in a flooded neighborhood when the current became stronger than he anticipated.  The man hung on to a tree branch until he could get help.

Plainfield Fire Chief Dave Peterson is urging everyone to stay off the water.

"The water itself has a hazardous property. The other thing is, the river is flowing a lot faster than you think, and so if they get out into the river, that's where there's real danger."

Kent County road closures - Friday evening

Grand Rapids, Mich. (WZZM) -- The Kent County Road Commission has released a road closures caused by flooding.  The details are listed below and are subject to change.

North Kent County:

Northview High School expansion enters next phase

Northview High School expansion enters next phase

A new phase of the expansion project at Northview High School is beginning.

The district is reporting that construction on the athletics facility’s lobby and locker rooms start this month.  So far, crews have laid most of the foundation and walls for the school’s locker area, counseling offices, and language classrooms.  They’ve also laid most of the exterior brick and installed interior walls for the two-story, 18 classroom addition.

District leaders broke ground on the $12 million expansion project in June 2012.  The plans include adding a new pool to the 41-year-old facility. That phase is expected to start in June 2013.

River flooding could soon get much worse

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- Come Thursday, the Muskegon River and Grand River basins could see some of their highest water levels in decades, according to the National Weather Service.

WZZM 13 visited flooded areas across Kent County and found the Grand River at two to three feet above flood stage. Hydrologist Mark Walton says that's moderate flooding.

In two days the area could hit major flood stage.

Liz Koenig has yet to check her Grand Rapids home for flood damage on Tuesday afternoon. The Grand River rose and closed in too fast for her to get her waders. She lives across the river from the Fifth Third Ballpark.

"This is the worst out of the four years I've been here," she said.

Koenig attempted to get her kayak, which was stored under her house, but was unable because the water was already three feet above her foundation.

Update: Kentucky Fried Chicken robbed

UPDATE (4/16/13) -  The Kent County Sheriff's Department has arrested two suspects in connection with the April 6th robbery of the KFC on Plainfield Avenue.

Ronnie Odell Taylor, 44, of Mount Pleasant, is facing charges of Armed Robbery, Conspiracy to Armed Robbery, and three counts involving Felony Weapons Possession.

Leonardo Simmons, 29, of Grand Rapids, is also in custody in connection with the robbery, facing charges of Armed Robbery, Conspiracy to Armed Robbery and Habitual Offender.

Both men are being held on $250,000 bonds.

Investigators say Taylor's wife is a former employee of the restaurant, but she is not believed to have been involved.

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) - Just before midnight Saturday a man entered the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Plainfield, pointed a gun and told employees to get on the floor.

The suspecte then took an undisclosed amount of money and left.