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Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

Rockford native and Ferris State University Plastics Engineering Technology student Cameron Sawicki is the proud recipient of a $2,500 scholarship made available through a collaborative for industrial giant DuPont Tedlar and the Society of Plastic Engineers Foundation.

Sawicki is a senior and said he will graduate this May with a Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology, accentuated by the excellence of resources and faculty in Ferris’ National Elastomer Center.

“Our program is very well rounded, as we work with the latest in injection molding technology in our labs, then learn to apply that knowledge through instruction from faculty with extensive industry experience,” Sawicki said. “I could not have asked for a better arrangement for my education and career intentions.”

Sawicki said Plastics Engineering was a field that came into focus in his high school days.

“I have to admit entering the program was something of a snap decision,” Cameron said. “I am so glad, as my choice of this degree path has exceeded all my expectations.”

The Plastics Engineering Technology curriculum is part of Ferris’ School of Design and Manufacturing in the College of Engineering Technology. Data gathered by the college notes PET graduate placement is near 100 percent. A recent group of graduates received salaries averaging $68,500 a year that were augmented by generous benefit plans and signing bonuses.

“I have received full-time job offers, but am still considering my options at this point,” Sawicki said.

PET program coordinator Tom Van Pernis, an associate professor, is a 2008 alumnus of the program. He said student recruitment requires more prospect education than in years past, owing to social media misinformation about the plastics industry and its active role in environmental stewardship.

“We are helping students understand they can be agents of positive change, by emphasizing sustainability in their service to the industry,” Van Pernis said. “There are many opportunities to work in the creation of industrial and commercial products, at starting salaries of $70,000 and beyond and Ferris graduates are ‘first choice’ candidates in their hiring processes.”

The DuPont Tedlar Scholarship that was awarded to Sawicki is part of a year-long emphasis to support studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Tedlar is a polyvinyl fluoride film that can withstand scuffs, stains, and harsher conditions, with applications ranging from protective clothing to industrial uses. The corporation and the SPE Foundation continue their collaboration in 2024 through targeted educational opportunities for Girl Scouts and students in the vicinity of Tedlar production plants in New York and Ohio.

Van Pernis said Ferris PET students Anthony Audia of Ionia and Ashley Dobbyn of Garden City also received SPE scholarships in the last granting cycle.

New-york , United-states , Garden-city , Ohio , Ionia , Dupont-tedlar , Anthony-audia , Cameron-sawicki , Tom-van-pernis , Ashley-dobbyn , Van-pernis , College-of-engineering-technology

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

The Detroit Lions announced today that they have re-signed K Michael Badgley. Contract terms were not disclosed.

Badgley returns for his third season in Detroit after converting four-of-four field goals (100.0%) and 13-of-15 extra points (86.7%) for 25 points scored in 2023. In the Wild Card Round vs. the Los Angeles Rams, Badgley tied a postseason franchise record by converting a 54-yard field goal.

Originally entering the NFL in 2018 with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent out of Miami (Fla.), Badgley has appeared in games for the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Colts, Chicago Bears and Lions over his six seasons. In 64-career games, he is 98-of-119 on field goal attempts (82.4%) and 168-of-175 on extra point attempts (96.0%) for 462 points scored.

Chicago , Illinois , United-states , Miami , Florida , Tennessee , Los-angeles , California , Michael-badgley , Detroit-lions , Chicago-bears , Wild-card-round

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

Monday, February 12

At 5:10 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest in Big Rapids TWP. A male subject was arrested on a warrant. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 19

Tuesday, February 13

At around 2:30 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Mecosta TWP. A male subject was arrested on a felony warrant. He was lodged the the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 16

Traffic Accidents: 1

Wednesday, February 14

At 08:55 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Fork TWP. A female subject was arrested on a warrant. She was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

At 1:40 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Millbrook TWP. A male subject was arrested on a warrant. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

At 1:45 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest in Big Rapids TWP. A male subject was arrested on a probation violation. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 32

Thursday, February 15

At 02:23 P.M., deputies responded to a domestic assault complaint, at a residence in Morton TWP. A male subject was arrested for domestic assault. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 18

Traffic Accidents: 10

Car/Deer Accidents: 1

Friday, February 16

At 9:24 P.M., deputies made a warrant arrest at a residence in Millbrook TWP. A female subject was arrested on a felony warrant for MDOP. She was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 24

Saturday, February 17

Calls for Service: 15

Car/Deer Accidents: 2

Sunday, February 18

At 02:57 P.M., deputies responded to a domestic in Wheatland TWP. A male subject had assaulted his girlfriend. After resisting officers and being tased, the male subject was arrested for domestic assault and resist /obstruct. He was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail.

Calls for Service: 7

Traffic Accidents: 1

Car/Deer Accidents: 2

Big-rapids , Mecosta-county , Deer-accidents , Radio-station , Ot-adult-contemporary , Dult-contemporary , Ot-ac , C , Op-40 , Ig-rapids , Ichigan

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team will host the Northern Michigan Wildcats this weekend (Feb. 23-24) for the Bulldogs' final regular-season home series of the year at the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

The action gets underway on Friday night at 7:07 p.m. (ET) with Saturday night's finale slated for an early 5:07 p.m. (ET) start.

The opening contest of the weekend series on Friday will be Military Appreciation Night and all veterans along with active military members can purchase a ticket for $5 off the normal price by showing their military ID in person at the FSU Athletics Ticket Office.

The finale on Saturday will be Senior Night with Ferris State slated to honor 11 seniors prior to the contest. Fans are encouraged to arrive early with the senior ceremony slated to start early prior to game time. The Bulldogs will also hold a senior night recognition, which is open to the public, following the game across the hall inside Jim Wink Arena where the Bulldog seniors will be introduced in front of their families and friends.

Along with Senior Night, the Bulldogs will also celebrate Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday. Parking will be free on Saturday for all fans and several giveaways are also planned in conjunction with the evening tilt.

Fans can purchase digital tickets for all Bulldog home hockey games in advance to guarantee a seat by visiting FerrisStateBulldogs.com/Tickets.

The FSU Athletic Ticket Office's normal business hours are Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) with extended hours on Wednesday until 7 p.m. (ET). A complete pricing structure, ticket office hours and additional information is available online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com and can be found by visiting the "tickets" tab. For additional ticket information, please call (231) 591-2888.

The Bulldog Sports Network and flagship radio station Sunny 97.3 FM will carry all of this weekend's action live with online coverage also available at FerrisStateBulldogs.com. Live video coverage will also be provided on a pay-per-view basis via CCHA TV on FloHockey.com.

Michigan , United-states , Ferris-state-university , Athletics-ticket-office , Bulldog-sports-network , Athletic-ticket-office , Northern-michigan-wildcats , Ewigleben-ice , Military-appreciation-night , Senior-night , Ferris-state

Sky TV reports big gain in first-half profit; warns economy, Hollywood strike will hit full-year revenue

Sky TV has reported strong first-half numbers, with a 3 per cent dip in customers to 1.02 million for the six months to December 31 but a 4 per cent rise in...

Hollywood , California , United-states , Forsyth-barr , Sophie-moloney , Sky-box , Sky-pod , Sky-sport-now , Sky , Tv , Reports

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

Makenzi Currie’s focus was clear in her high school days in Big Rapids. Athletics were on the horizon, along with studying nursing. But she didn’t expect to be doing those things at Ferris State University.

“I have lived in Big Rapids my entire life and never expected I would continue my education here,” Currie said. “As an athlete, I had to first decide on a sport to focus on, and I had a passion for softball. The Division I offer, to walk on at the University of Michigan, was my ultimate athletic dream, but it would not accommodate my desire to study nursing.”

Currie made her intentions known and quickly found they could be met by being a Nursing student and Bulldog on the diamond in Big Rapids.

“Everything worked out at Ferris. I got athletic and academic scholarships, which easily turned out to be my best opportunity,” Currie said. “My athletic experience went great, and I got so much support from my coach, Keri Becker. There was never any conflict based on my academics. Things worked out with my schedule really worked very well.”

Currie graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and took her first assignment with the Emergency Room of what was Spectrum-Butterworth Hospital on Grand Rapids’ “Medical Mile.”

“I entered into nursing with the philosophy that anywhere, anytime and anyplace, I am capable of responding,” Currie said. “I believe that is a nurse’s true calling.”

Working for a Level-One Trauma Center had benefits for a young nurse, Currie said.

“This was really the best possible outcome for me, as I received great training and added to my skills as a responder,” Currie said. “That included certificates as a Trauma Nurse-Critical Care, an Emergency Nurse-Pediatric Care and Advanced Care-Life Support.”

Living in Big Rapids and serving in Grand Rapids did not mesh with plans to start a family, so Currie moved from that active service scene to a new chapter in her career.

“I was adding shifts at Spectrum Health-Big Rapids Hospital, as a new mother that really gave me the ability to shorten my commute, work at a comfortable pace and make gains as a professional,” Currie said.

An experience with a patient sparked a move to the Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Cancer Center.

“I had always wanted to work in oncology,” Currie said. “I knew Stuart Hamel, the first person I recall whose passing in 2001 affected me. I didn’t see him as sick, until we knew he had cancer, and he died at the age of 41, before I was even an adolescent. I never forgot that.”

Currie worked with patients being treated at the regional center.

“The hours were great as we were building our family, but it is a difficult job,” Currie said. “It really pulls on your heartstrings, seeing community members coming in for their care.”

The professional journey continued as Currie took a position with Big Rapids Interventional Radiology, another Spectrum Health offering at the hospital.

“It really brought me to recall the pace of emergency room work and all the emphasis that is part of oncology care,” Currie said. “While the hours suited our family’s needs, I found the controlled chaos of interventional radiology really appealing, professionally. Some of the cancer patients I had met at the Wheatlake Center were there to work with us, again.”

Currie’s final full-time job was as the School Nurse for the Big Rapids Public Schools.

“Considering where I was in terms of raising a family, the hours were a small concern, so I did not apply the first time the position was available,” Currie said. “That wait paid off, as the next time it opened, I applied. I was looking forward to the joys of hearing students’ stories.”

She took that job near the end of February 2020, a couple of weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic, and her job went into the virtual realm to serve that campus community.

“I really found that difficult since I was home with my two youngest sons, in a role that was demanding in terms of providing the best possible service to the students,” Currie said. “I stuck with it for a while but decided it was an opportunity best suited for another nurse to assume.”

Currie has found great reward in following her passion in service to those in need, but also has a mind to help future nurses gain from her philosophy and experiences.

“I started the Master of Science in Nursing program a matter of days after one of my sons was born, wanting to become a professor,” Currie said. “I would have enjoyed focusing my passion on helping students learn and grow in nursing. Throughout my experiences in the field, I was always told the Ferris nursing alumnus would be an employer’s choice because we were ‘floor-ready,’ with practical training and encouraged to exercise critical thinking skills. We, as graduates are charged with caring for and thinking outside the box, as you respond to each patient and their needs.”

With four children to raise, Currie is happy at home now, near Big Rapids, but her part-time service as a nurse continued.

“I was doing per diem work for Spectrum, which has now become Corewell Health,” Currie said. “At first, my calls were to Big Rapids, Reed City and Evart patients, but the area of service grew.”

Makenzi said parenting is her top priority at this time.

“My husband and I are of the philosophy that ‘If you want to change the world, it starts in your home,’” Currie said. “The regional nature of my last professional role just didn’t mesh with my obligations to my growing children, so I decided to stay home for now. I left with good graces and will keep an eye on opportunities to use my skills and serve my family. Staying home is a hard job, but the rewards are always there to see and enjoy.”

Big-rapids , Michigan , United-states , Evart , Grand-rapids , Reed-city , Ferris-state-university , Stuart-hamel , Keri-becker , Makenzi-currie , Susanp-wheatlake-regional-cancer-center , Spectrum-health

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

As of Sunday afternoon, the Michigan High School Athletic Association officially released the 2024 boys' basketball postseason brackets for all four divisions.

The first round of district play will begin Monday, Feb. 26 at the assigned school location. District games will be held between Monday, Feb. 26 - Friday, Mar. 1, followed by regional contests from Monday, Mar. 4 through Friday, Mar. 8, and the finals from Tuesday, Mar. 12 through Saturday, Mar. 16.

Here's a look at the area boys' teams and their respective opening game schedules in order of district number assignments and sorted by each division:

Division 1

District 2 Semifinal - Mount Pleasant High School - Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 P.M.

Cadillac (17-2) vs. Bay City Western (9-11) / Midland Dow (6-14) quarterfinal winner

Division 2

District 35 Quarterfinal - Manistee High School - Monday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 P.M.

Big Rapids (14-6) vs. Manistee (10-10)

District 35 Semifinal - Manistee High School - Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 P.M.

Reed City (17-3) vs. Hart (10-10) / Mason County Central (8-12) quarterfinal winner

District 36 Semifinal - Gladwin High School - Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 P.M.

Chippewa Hills (5-15) vs. Clare (13-8)

District 40 Quarterfinal - Alma High School - Monday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 P.M.

Central Montcalm (7-12) vs. Saginaw Swan Valley (7-13)

District 41 Quarterfinal - Fremont High School - Monday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 P.M.

Tri-County (5-15) vs. Newaygo (12-8)

District 41 Quarterfinal - Fremont High School - Monday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 P.M.

Kent City (7-13) vs. Fremont (8-12)

District 41 Semifinal - Fremont High School - Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 P.M.

Grant (13-5) vs. Tri-County (5-15) / Newaygo (12-8) quarterfinal winner

Division 3

District 70 Quarterfinal - Beal City High School - Monday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 P.M.

Evart (4-13) vs. Harrison (3-18)

District 70 Semifinal - Beal City High School - Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 7:00 P.M.

Pine River (14-7) vs. Farwell (0-20) / Beaverton (8-11) quarterfinal winner

District 72 Quarterfinal - Morley Stanwood High School - Monday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 P.M.

Lakeview (5-15) vs. Morley Stanwood (2-17)

District 74 Quarterfinal - Hesperia High School - Monday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 P.M.

Holton (2-18) vs. Shelby (3-16)

District 74 Quarterfinal - Hesperia High School - Monday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 P.M.

Hesperia (8-12) vs. Ravenna (11-9)

District 74 Semifinal - Hesperia High School - Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 7:00 P.M.

White Cloud (16-4) vs. Hesperia (8-12) / Ravenna (11-9) quarterfinal winner

Division 4

District 109 Semifinal - Marion High School - Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 P.M.

Baldwin (16-3) vs. Marion (11-10) / Pentwater (16-5) quarterfinal winner

District 110 Quarterfinal - Walkerville High School - Monday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 P.M.

Big Rapids Crossroads (1-18) vs. Muskegon Catholic Central (4-16)

For more on local tournament coverage, follow along at bigrapidsdailynews.com.

For expanded brackets, visit here: Brackets | Michigan High School Athletic Association (mhsaa.com).

Evart , Michigan , United-states , Beal-city-high-school , Manistee , Bay-city , Hesperia-high-school , Gladwin-high-school , Reed-city , Newaygo , Beaverton , Lakeview

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

Ferris State University is wrapping up a “Gift of Life” campaign that closes on Feb. 29, encouraging as many students as possible to consider registering to become organ and tissue donors, potentially saving lives.

“Career and Professional Success is participating in this year’s Gift of Life Campus Challenge and is encouraging you to sign up to become an organ and tissue donor,” said Okai Strickland, an assistant in Ferris State’s Career and Professional Success office. “The more people who sign up, the more lives get saved. If you are already a donor, that’s OK. You can still top by the table.”

Through the Gift of Life Michigan website, registrants can help Ferris State earn points in a statewide challenge while helping to heal and save lives. Each organ donor can save up to eight lives and each tissue donor can heal an average of 75 people.

As of early morning on Feb. 16, Ferris State ranked second statewide in the number of students registered, with 40, trailing Wayne State University’s 103.

Universities are striving to recruit new donors and sign up the most new donors as a percentage of their student population. Each of the eight donatable organs – two lungs, liver, pancreas, heart, two kidneys, and intestines – can add years to a patient’s life and enhance the quality of life.

The Gift of Life Michigan Campus Challenge encourages friendly but competitive rivalries to continue while supporting a cause that can help save lives. For nearly 20 years, college students statewide have served to inspire 40,000-plus people to put their name on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.

Tissue donors for tendons, skin and bones can help restore mobility for combat veterans, burn victims and individuals with failing joints. Cornea transplants, the most common according to Gift of Life Michigan, an organization founded in 1971, can help restore vision in patients.

Nationally, more than 100,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant.

In addition to direct donor and tissue donor registration, the Gift of Life Campus Challenge also offers volunteer opportunities for Ferris State community members to ask students to sign up at campus tabling events.

In 2023, Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s federally designated organ and tissue donor recovery program, set a record by helping 578 people become organ donors and 1,858 to give the gift of tissue. These efforts saved thousands of lives and healed tens of thousands more.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the campaign can request more information by emailing the Career and Professional Success office or stopping by and visiting us in the David L. Eisler Center.

For more information about Ferris State’s Gift of Life efforts, contact Strickland at (231) 591-2682 or by email at OkaiStrickland@ferris.edu. For more information about Gift of Life Michigan, contact Taneisha Carswell at tcampbell@golm.org.

To register on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry visit golm.org/go/ferris.

Michigan , United-states , Ferris-state-university , Wayne-state-university , Okai-strickland , Taneisha-carswell , Davidl-eisler-center , Professional-success , Life-campus-challenge , Ferris-state , Life-michigan , Life-michigan-campus-challenge

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

On the evening of Feb. 14, a Kent County Sheriff's Office deputy located a stolen vehicle from Waterford Township in the parking lot of the Gaines Township Meijer. A man returned to the vehicle and was detained by deputies.

Through the investigation, it was found that the suspect was responsible for multiple thefts from retail stores in Lansing and Grand Rapids Township. The 26-year-old Detroit man was arrested on charges of possessing a stolen vehicle and additional charges are being sought concerning the additional thefts. It is believed that the thefts totaled upward of $550.00.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate stolen car complaints as it is well known that these vehicles are used in additional crimes throughout West Michigan. If you see something suspicious or notice your license plate stolen, please never hesitate to contact law enforcement.

Grand-rapids , Michigan , United-states , Kent-county , Kent-county-sheriff-office , Kent-county-sheriff , Waterford-township , Gaines-township , Radio-station , Ot-adult-contemporary , Dult-contemporary

Big Rapids Daily News - WYBR-FM Big Rapids, MI Today's Hit Music

The following was a speech given by Mecosta County Sheriff Brian Miller to the MOISD Career Center?.

I was born and raised in Jackson, Michigan. Growing up, my family life was stable and loving. Between my freshman and sophomore years of high school my parents separated, and eventually divorced. At that time, my life, and the person I was changed. Although I didn’t see it at the time, I changed. I had always been a happy-go-lucky kid who was well liked by my classmates and well behaved. No longer having the stability and structure at home, changed me. I became angry, quick to lose my temper, getting in fights at school, which led to getting suspended. I began skipping school, and my grades suffered as a result. I did just enough in school to keep my grades just good enough to play sports. As divorces go, my parents handled it in the most mature way they could, never bringing my brother and I in the middle of the two of their disputes. I was just a lost soul without any kind of direction or goals.

I found myself again after starting college. In the fall of 1990, I started classes at Ferris State University. This is where I feel I really matured. I became a resident advisor in the residence halls. This taught me responsibility, time management, but most importantly, leadership. I would tell anyone who is in college and needs financial assistance in realizing their dream of earning a college degree to do this, become a residential advisor. It was my need for financial assistance that led me to applying for that position and it paid off for me. Being an RA took care of my room and board. I worked in a shop on an assembly line back home during summer break, which helped pay my tuition. I then worked night
security in the dorm, which gave me a little spending money. With all of this, when I graduated from college, I had just over $4,000 in student loans and debt to pay off. Looking back, this is one of the biggest turning points in my life, and where I learned to stand on my own two feet and begin to be the leader I am today. The ball was in my court. It was up to me whether I would be successful or not. So, I learned the study skills and I did the work needed to be academically successful.

Life is all about being on a proverbial roller coaster, both personally and professionally. Sometimes you are at the peak of the ride when things are going well, and other times you feel like you are falling fast, and there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel. We just need to remember there will be better days, and that life is just testing you, preparing you for success. This was never more evident than after graduating from college. The job market was much different in 1995. There was a lot of competition for the few jobs there were in law enforcement at that time. I began working security at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, living with a couple of college buddies. I worked the night shift, and during the day would put out applications and attend interviews for jobs. It got to be fall, and I had not had any offers yet. I vividly remember calling my mom and crying like a baby about the lack of success I was seeing. I continued to work hard, and one day my perseverance paid off. It was in January of 1996, when I was offered a job with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety.

It was there I adopted the warrior mind set. I never allowed myself to be outworked and had a bit of a chip on my shoulder. I wanted to make the most of this opportunity and did not want to take it for granted. It was there where I also developed the three pillars that support me in my life, and the same pillars I attempt to instill in my two sons. These pillars upheld me during my time at Big Rapids and now at the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office. I would like to share these pillars with you today if that is alright with you.

Number one is whatever you choose to do in life, you had better work hard at it. There is no place for doing anything in life at half effort. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you look back and regret the fact you could have done more. Do everything to the best of your ability.

Number two is don’t make excuses. When you make a mistake, take responsibility for it, own it. Everyone makes mistakes. When it happens, get out ahead of it, and learn from it.

Number three is concern yourself with you and not what everyone else is doing. Too often in our world people are worried about what everyone else is doing, when we should be figuring out how to be a better you. The
more time you spend on comparing yourself to everyone else, the less time you spend on self-reflection.

However, be wise, be aware of those other folks around you and what their intentions or agendas might be. Don’t let who you have been in the past hold you back from being the best person and leader you can be. I had been working at the BRDPS for a couple of years, when me and a couple of my high school buddies went to watch our high school football team play in the state playoffs. We ran into a girl we had gone to school with, and she inquired about what I was doing for a career. When I told her a police officer, she turned to her husband and said, “no way should he be a police officer”, referencing the lost and sometimes troubled teenager I had been when we were in school together. I have always remembered this, knowing and being proud of where I have continued to be in my life. I am where I am because of God, the upbringing I had, my wife, Heather and two boys, Cameron and Cooper, and the friends I have surrounded myself with. I have learned to respect who I am, and in turn I respect those around me. This is something else I have made sure to instill in my boys. Be a hero to yourself and continue to chase being the best person you can be.

I worked at the BRDPS for 25 years. During my time there I worked on the road for three years, was on the drug team for a year, worked seven years as our school resource officer and the last 14 there as our detective. The reason I had the success that I had was because of the time and effort I put into each of the positions, and my ability to work with others. You cannot be successful in this world without being able to work together. I always went out of my way to work with other law enforcement officers,
especially those at the BRDPS. Whether it was working alongside them, or providing guidance, in the long run we were all better for it.

It is extremely important to me to give back to the community I am part of. I have always found time to coach youth sports, whether it is rocketing football, middle school basketball, or Little League and travel baseball. It is rewarding to me to see the impact it makes on today’s youth while watching them grow as individuals on and off the court/field/diamond. Coachable youth will be employable young people and adults later in life.

Also important to me through the years, although a little more difficult for me to attend, has been being a part of civil service organizations in our community. They make our communities stronger, more interesting and engaging to all who live and visit here. It gives a person an opportunity to give back and have the satisfaction you are doing something positive in the community he/she lives in. This is especially important for our young people to step up, due to the age of a lot of the members of some of these organizations and the dwindling membership.

In 2020, I made the decision to run for sheriff. During the campaign, on occasion, some of my friends and loved ones would get hurt and be defensive of me when those I was running against or someone in the public would not have so nice things to say about me. My reply to her was always, “let it be.” I knew who I was. I was confident in the job I had done in law enforcement and the way I lived my life and I was not going to apologize for or defend myself to anyone. I didn’t feel the need to do so.

I had never given it any kind of consideration to run for sheriff, being happy to be th

Mecosta-county , Michigan , United-states , Ferris-state-university , Big-rapids , Brian-miller , Coach-miller , Career-center , Big-rapids-department-of-public-safety , Mecosta-county-sheriff-office , Little-league , Mecosta-county-sheriff-brian-miller