Jason Heeres
WWMT-TV
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VIDEO: Time-lapse of a drive through a snowy Kalamazoo
WWMT-TV Newschannel 3 provides local news, weather forecasts, notices of events and entertainment programming for Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, South Haven, Paw Paw, Portage, Otsego, Texas Township, Oshtemo, Plainwell, Allegan, Holland, Saugatuck, Holland, Wayland, Kentwood, Middleville, Hastings, Marshall, Three Rivers, Sturgis, Constantine, Coldwater, Albion, Wyoming, Hudsonville,… → Read More
WATCH: Snow, wind sweep through West Michigan on Weather Alert Day
WWMT-TV Newschannel 3 provides local news, weather forecasts, notices of events and entertainment programming for Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, South Haven, Paw Paw, Portage, Otsego, Texas Township, Oshtemo, Plainwell, Allegan, Holland, Saugatuck, Holland, Wayland, Kentwood, Middleville, Hastings, Marshall, Three Rivers, Sturgis, Constantine, Coldwater, Albion, Wyoming, Hudsonville,… → Read More
Operation Handshake thanks veterans with a free meal at Ford International Airport
Amid the commotion of flights in and out of Grand Rapids, one local organization met with veterans traveling home for the holidays. The Patriot Guard Riders carried out Operation Handshake at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport on Wednesday. The group thanked veterans and active military members with a salute and a free meal. New in your community:Gilmore Car Museum lights up for Winter… → Read More
Allegan County fair back in full swing for 2021
The Allegan County Fair Kicked off its 2021 season with a lot of laughs. The West Michigan tradition was back after a shorter version in 2020 due to COVID-19. Many booths are on display highlighting area organizations and community groups. (WWMT/Jason Heeres) Comedian Jeff Dunham was in town as the Fair began, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. On Saturday, the rides were in full swing and the animal barns… → Read More
Non-profit gives fostered and adopted kids a chance for fun on Gull Lake
A first time on a boat for some kids can be stressful. By the end of the day they don't want to get out. That was the case for over 50 adopted and foster children on Gull Lake Monday, July 19, 2021. The local Wake the Worldchapter of West Michigan held a day for foster kids and adopted kids to enjoy time out on the water for tubing, surfing and, wakeboarding. → Read More
Galesburg teen receives parade style welcome home from hospital
Lights, sirens and cheering welcomed a Galesburg teen home from his nearly three-month stay in the hospital. Deven Free suffered head injuries from aBB gun accident on April 26, 2021. After over two months in the intensive care unit, Free was finally able to be taken off the ventilator and return home. After leaving Ann Arbor, Free was transported via ambulance to his home in Galesburg. → Read More
New food market headed to downtown Battle Creek
A new development was in the works to bring a food destination back to downtown Battle Creek after Horrocks announceda move to the Lakeview Square Mallin 2019. The Anson building sits empty at the corner of Carlyle Street and Michigan Avenue in downtown Battle Creek Tuesday, May 18, 2021. The nearly 100 year old building will be getting a face lift for a new community cooperative. (WWMT/Jason… → Read More
Kalamazoo Public Schools students get vaccinated at COVID-19 clinic
The 2020-2021 school year took a toll on many families in theKalamazoo Public Schoolsdistrict. While learning from home, many students didn't get peer-to-peer interaction. Remaining fully virtual for 2020/2021 school yearhas many parents upset. KPS gives students summer options to continue learning. Students came one step closer in returning to the classroom Thursday. → Read More
Sky Eye 3 flies over Davis Creek in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek River way
WWMT-TV Newschannel 3 provides local news, weather forecasts, notices of events and entertainment programming for Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, South Haven, Paw Paw, Portage, Otsego, Texas Township, Oshtemo, Plainwell, Allegan, Holland, Saugatuck, Holland, Wayland, Kentwood, Middleville, Hastings, Marshall, Three Rivers, Sturgis, Constantine, Coldwater, Albion, Wyoming, Hudsonville,… → Read More
Construction causes 2021 Kalamazoo Farmers Market to move to a temporary location
Chirping birds and buzzing bees are the sounds of spring, but those would soon give way to the sounds of pounding hammers and grinding saws at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market on Banks Street. However those noises would be far away from the temporary location where the Kalamazoo Farmers Market would be held in 2021, because of site construction. The Farmers market location sits empty Thursday, March… → Read More
Saugatuck School Board approves Trailblazers as new mascot
Name changes have been common for both professionaland on the local high school level. Another West Michigan school added its name to that list. The Saugatuck Trailblazers became the new name for Saugatuck Public Schools mascot. Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, the Saugatuck Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved the name for their mascot based on the recommendations from the mascot… → Read More
Saugatuck schools discuss process of selecting a new mascot
The Saugatuck Public School Board met Feb. 1, 2021, to discuss the top three proposed mascots for the school. First step in changing mascot for local school district. Indians Retired: Saugatuck Public Schools retires Indians as its school mascot, nickname. Out of 240 ideas that were submitted, 90 of them were deemed unique. Then those 90 were finally reduced down to a top three: Lakers. Storm.… → Read More
God's Kitchen delivers 150 pizzas to the needy in Kalamazoo
The winter months are the hardest time on those who don't have a permanent place to live so a West Michigan organization helped those who need a warm meal. Rev. William Stein wanted to mark the 10 year anniversary for God's Kitchen of Michigan, which happened Jan. 20, 2021, by doing what they do best, serving the under-served. Reverend William Stein speaks to an individual at one of the… → Read More
Allegan scout receives national Medal of Merit award for saving friend's life
An Allegan boy received a rare award Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. Friends, family and fellow scouts were in attendance as Benjamin Heeres, a Webelos Cub Scout in Allegan Pack 3026 and the son of a News Channel 3 photojournalist, received the Medal of Merit award at his pack meeting at Jaycee Park in Allegan. The award is granted by theNational Court of Honor of the Boy Scouts of America for… → Read More
Kalamazoo rings in the New Year during a more subdued Party on the Mall
Gone were the fireworks, and the big crowds, but the pandemic-forced transition from a crowded Bronson Park festival to a party on the Kalamazoo Mall brought out some hopeful revelers on New Year's Eve. GALLERY: Kalamazoo's New Year's Eve downtown celebration. For the first time in 35 years, Kalamazoo's New Year's Eve celebration didn't take place in Bronson Park. → Read More
Dozens gather at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo as F-117 Nighthawk 'Shaba' arrives
It's a journey that spanned two and a half years and nearly 2,000 miles, ending in West Michigan on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. The Air Zoo in Kalamazoo was the first non-governmental facility in the country to receive aLockheed F-117 Nighthawk on loan. Reopening with precautions:With thermal cameras, hand sanitizers on deck, Kalamazoo's Air Zoo reopens to the publicThe main fuselage was taken by… → Read More
Kalamazoo residents take a last run in fall before the snow starts biting
The snow in 2020 was off to a slow start, with less than an inch of snow recorded in November 2020, whereas November 2019 saw about a half an inch of the snow accumulation, but this story is for the dogs. Barking and chasing after toys was how many K-9s spent Dec. 1, 2020, at Fairmount Dog park in Kalamazoo. "I’m getting used to it. Snow seems to come a lot later in winter now. We also have had… → Read More
Portage Fire Department dedicates new fire station on Oakland Drive
Portage Fire Station No. 2, was dedicated on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, on the same grounds as it's 46-year-old, smaller, predecessor. Other than space, the new 18,000 square-foot structure on Oakland Drive near West Milham Avenue provides more needs than the old station,including withstanding severe weather, a larger fitness area, and clean rooms. Portage Deputy Fire Chief Stacy French said even… → Read More
Kalamazoo senior living community holds job fair during COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant factor of unemployment in 2020. The slow hiring processes has made it hard for those without jobs to find work and in turn businesses to find help, but one West Michigan senior living community held its first ever outdoor job fair on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. Friendship village hosted a job fair for many of it's open positions Thursday, September 10,… → Read More
Bellevue school district unhappy with ISD decision to move students
Many West Michigan schools are learning how they will operate the 2020-2021 school year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Board members and supporters of the Bellevue Community Schools district were in attendance at the Calhoun Intermediate School District, or ISD, board meeting Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. The ISD board initially was to met indoors, but moved outside to house the group of people… → Read More