Good morning, Portage.

The Wings West ice rink in Texas Township will permanently close on September 12th due to a severe failure of its ice plant, so its programs have moved to the Wings Event Center—Old Burdick’s at Wings West will also close on that day and the Event Center will shut down after the 2027—2028 hockey season as plans for a new downtown arena move forward.

The Kalamazoo County board has opted in to new opioid settlement deals that may bring $1.7 million to support local drug treatment programs.

Local activist Gwendolyn Hooker said the funds should help create an alert system to warn drug users when dangerous batches appear—an effort that could prevent more overdoses.

Brock Sperry, a hot air balloon pilot with Michigan Balloon Corporation, flew passengers over I-94 and Eagle Lake in Texas Township after preparing the balloon with fans and a burner.

The smooth flight felt like floating on a cloud and ended with a champagne toast — a long-held tradition.

Fall Fest

10 AM – 2 PM — Celery Flats Historic Area — Free entry — Enjoy autumn festivities with historical demos, crafts, food, and live music.