GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.— Grand Rapids is getting another tribute to the men behind Meijer Stores.

On May 8, the Michigan Historical Commission approved a marker to honor Hendrik and Fred Meijer, who in 1962 became the first grocers to combine two popular retail models—discount department stores and supermarkets—into a single store on 28th Street, called “Thrifty Acres.”  The Meijers then took their model to Holland and Muskegon. 

Meijer now has nearly 200 stores across the Midwest, including Kalamazoo, Walker, Wyoming, Jenison, Rockford, Plainfield Township, Forest Hills, Lowell, Grandville, Kentwood, Grand Haven and Greenville, where Hendrik Meijer opened his very first store in the 1930s.

The new historical marker will be added to more than 1,700 green and gold signs found across the state, that chronicle the people, places and events that make Michigan’s heritage unique and unforgettable.  The historical markers are nominated by spons

WYOMING, Mich.—The Buck Creek Nature Preserve bike path is getting a facelift.

On March 4, city council members awarded a contract to A-1 Asphalt of Wayland to repave the trail.  The $77,000 project will extend the life of the bike path, which connects Buck Creek Nature Preserve to Lemery Park. 

Work is expected to begin this spring and take two weeks to complete, weather permitting.  The bike path will not be open during construction.

The Kentwood Library is temporarily closed, due to a power outage. 

Consumers Energy is reporting 2,523 homes and businesses in  Grand Rapids, Grandville, Wyoming, Walker, Comstock Park and Kentwood are without power. It's unclear when power will be fully restored.

According to a tweet sent Wednesday morning, workers at the Kentwood library hope to reopen later this afternoon when the line is repaired.