Latest news with #WestMichigan-based
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Rental car facility at Ford Airport celebrates construction milestone
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan's first consolidated rental car facility reached a major milestone with a topping-off ceremony Tuesday morning at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport near Grand Rapids. It was too windy to actually lift the beam to top off the Consolidated Rental Car Facility, but the ceremony involving 150 construction workers was held regardless. When the beam is placed, it will mark the structural completion of the second tallest building on the airport's campus. 'Today is a great milestone that we're excited about with the topping out of this project. There's a tremendous amount of effort from all of our team members on this job, not to mention a lot of pride involved in what we do,' Dave Williamson, executive vice president for West Michigan-based concrete contractor Kent Companies, told News 8. Work begins on $156M Ford airport rental car building The $156 million CONRAC is set to open in spring 2026. Once complete, the five-story structure will centralize all rental car operations into a single location, easing traffic congestion and reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 500,000 pounds annually. With construction about 60% done, airport officials say the project has supported more than 800 construction jobs and has generated a $220 million economic impact for the West Michigan region. Turner Construction is managing the project, with Kent Companies providing concrete and structural services. Williamson said his company has devoted 165,000 man-hours to pour some 70,000 yards of concrete for the CONRAC. 'That's enough to fill 22 Olympic-sized pools,' Williamson said. 'There's enough reinforcing in this project to span from Grand Rapids to Albuquerque, just to give you an idea … just laid straight out.' Fly nonstop to these 2 new cities from Ford Airport The goal is to open the CONRAC next spring. The CONRAC is part of ELEVATE, the airport's $600 million investment in transportation infrastructure. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Yahoo
Caledonia man pleads guilty to sexual exploitation
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Caledonia man has pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting minors, according to federal attorneys. Scott Michael Elam, 41, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a Wednesday release from the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Michigan. He could face anywhere from 15 to 90 years in prison, attorneys say. Deputies: Caledonia man offered teens alcohol for sex According to a federal indictment, Elam recorded himself and one minor engaging in sexual acts and also persuaded minors to create pornographic images and send them to him. He was charged in Nov. 2024 with seven counts of sexually exploiting four different minors. Court documents say Elam recorded himself engaging in sexual acts with one of the minors two different times. Attorneys also say he told other victims to take explicit photos and videos and send them to him. He allegedly gave minors alcohol, marijuana, vapes and 'other contraband,' giving discounts for minors who sent sexually explicit videos to him or had sex with him, attorneys say. Caledonia man faces federal sexual exploitation charges 'Mr. Elam's abhorrent criminal acts against minors are utterly indefensible, and such behavior is not acceptable,' wrote Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI in Michigan. 'I am deeply grateful for the relentless dedication and tireless efforts of the men and women of the FBI in Michigan, including the West Michigan-based Child Exploitation Task Force (WEBCHEX), our partners at the Kent County Sheriff's Office, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the successful prosecution in the Western District of Michigan.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
