Good morning, Portage.

Ben Moore, a former Kalamazoo tow truck driver, survived a severe crash on I-24 in Tennessee on Oct.

1 that injured his legs and right hand; he urges drivers to slow down and move over to protect road workers.

Two Michigan tribes completed a 10-day, 130-mile paddle from the Pine Creek Reservation to a gathering near the Pokagon reservation on Oct.

12 — Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The voyage celebrated a long-held tradition and deep cultural ties with a community gathering at Silver Beach in St. Joseph.

Economist Brad Hershbein noted that Michigan’s job market is unpredictable amid a 5% unemployment rate and fewer job seekers, and Pfizer will lay off 150 workers at its Portage factory due to lower product demand while Kroger announced corporate cuts.

Three candidates—Paul Foust, Mary T.

Gustas, and Lucinda M. Stinson—are competing for two open seats on the KVCC Board of Trustees; Portage-area voters will cast ballots in the nonpartisan Nov. 3 election to select trustees for a six-year term.

Kalamazoo-area high school boys soccer playoffs begin today with October 14 quarterfinal games set at several local venues, including matchups in Portage.

Games will continue across divisions through Oct. 22 with winners advancing to regional semifinals on Oct. 27.

Readers can cast multiple votes in a poll to crown the top underclassman boys cross country runner in the Kalamazoo area until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct.

18, with the winner to be announced on Monday; the poll is part of a fall sports series highlighting rising talent.

A poll to name the top underclassman volleyball player in the Kalamazoo area is open until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct.

18. Voters choose from 13 nominees, including Portage Northern's Brinley Welke, with the winner set to be announced on Monday.

Local polls named top junior athletes in the Kalamazoo area; Portage Central's Brady Putnam — a rising quarterback who scored touchdowns in his last five games — led the football vote.

Voters recognized standout players from several sports for the Fall Sports Stars list.