Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What GRCC’s new presidential contract means for campus and taxpayers

Coming up: I know what you did Last Christmas, a Holiday Sketch Comedy Show. on the Grand Rapids Patch calendar

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Coffee in hand, Grand Rapids? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What GRCC’s new presidential contract means for campus and taxpayers
  • Why a Northview teacher is on leave as Grand Rapids Police investigate
  • Why this Reeds Lake flooding keeps cutting off your daily route

Also on today's calendar: Time Travel Half-Marathon (and 5k/10k) - Grand Rapids and 5 more events.

Find out what's happening in Grand Rapidsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one pirate say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Grand Rapidsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Snow and rain, 2-4", with a high of 36 and low of 27 degrees.
  • Sunday: Morning snow showers; breezy, temps: high: 33, low: 27.
  • Monday: Breezy with clouds and sun, with a high of 38 and low of 32 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Grand Rapids Community College finalizes contract for new president (mlive.com) — Grand Rapids Community College has finalized a contract making Kathryn Rogalski its 12th president, with a March 2, 2026 start date and a $285,000 salary. Trustees detailed her pay, housing stipend, and other benefits, while still declining to explain former president Charles Lepper’s abrupt departure. An interim president will stay on 30 more days to ease the transition.
   

2. Northview teacher placed on administrative leave amid police investigation, district says (fox17online.com) — A Northview Public Schools teacher has been placed on administrative leave after law enforcement alerted the district to an active investigation unrelated to current students or district operations. Families were notified by letter, and Grand Rapids Police say the investigation is pending as officials emphasize student well-being and uninterrupted learning.
   

3. 'No one's going to be getting out of here': Flooding leaves neighbors cut off from busy street (fox17online.com) — Flooding has shut down a busy stretch of Reeds Lake Boulevard at the East Grand Rapids–Grand Rapids Township border, cutting off driveways and a heavily used walking path after heavy rain and snowmelt. Neighbors say this low-lying area near the lake floods repeatedly, and the Kent County Road Commission will monitor conditions through the weekend while drivers detour via the Beltline or Hall Street.
   

4. Foreign-made drone ban may force switch, adaptation to American-made in West Michigan (wzzm13.com) — Grand Rapids-area law enforcement and farm businesses are already shifting from popular Chinese-made DJI drones to American-made models after a new federal ban on future foreign drone models. The Kent County Sheriff’s Office has nearly completed its transition to Skydio drones, while a West Michigan ag company worries higher costs and less competition could slow innovation and safety advances.
   

5. Construction soon to start on 18 single-family, luxury homes near Grand Rapids (mlive.com) — New luxury single-family homes are about to rise in Walker, just northwest of Grand Rapids, with construction on 18 custom houses in the Pheasant Preserve subdivision starting in late January. The project, near Blandford Nature Center, has cleared all city and county approvals and will add sidewalks, new public streets, and tree buffers to serve this fast-growing part of the metro area.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Coyote Sighting.
    On my way home last night around 8:30pm I turned off 3 mile onto ElmRidge . I was driving just past the apartments and on the east side of the road… (Nextdoor NW Blandford)
  • I started Move GR to make it easier to find fun, active things to do around Grand Rapids - events, trails, healthy-ish places to eat, and active date night ideas.
    There’s a lot happening here, but it’s surprisingly hard to find it all in one place. Curious: what’s your favorite way to stay active in GR right… (Nextdoor Beckwith Hills)
  • Cintas posted a job opening for Production Associate - Garment Hanger/Inspector - 2nd Shift - $16+/Hour in Grand Rapids. Apply here.
  • Meijer, Inc. posted a job opening for Dir, Manufacturing Operations in Grand Rapids. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Grand Rapids here.

Ok Grand Rapids! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I sea you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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