Community Corner
🌱 How Ferris students can get free help to quit vaping now
And on the Big Rapids Patch calendar - Every Saturday Fly-in Lunch (KRQB)
Greetings Big Rapids! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️
Hosting an event in Big Rapids? Let Patch get the word out for you. Post it to the Patch calendar.
In today's newsletter:
- How Ferris students can get free help to quit vaping now
- What Big Rapids residents will find inside the new Jim Crow Museum
- Why Big Rapids Township hit pause on massive AI data centers
Also on today's calendar: Ferris State University Automotive Management Student Organization (AMSO)Show and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call a one-legged Big Foot? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Big Rapids. 
- Tuesday: Fog in the a.m.; partly sunny, with a high of 74 and low of 56 degrees.
- Wednesday: A couple of afternoon showers, temps: high: 69, low: 61.
- Thursday: Rain at times, with a high of 67 and low of 43 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Ferris State backs tobacco-free campus plan with programs to help students, employees kick the habit and get healthier (ferris.edu) — Ferris State University in Big Rapids is now fully enforcing a tobacco-free campus, banning smoking, vaping and all nicotine use on university property and in vehicles. To make quitting easier, students and employees can walk into Birkam Health Center for free nicotine patches, gum, lozenges and counseling, plus peer support from pharmacy and nursing students and extra tools like fidgets and flavored toothpicks. 
• New Jim Crow Museum aims to offer understanding of racism (woodtv.com) — Ferris State University is opening its expanded Jim Crow Museum on the Big Rapids campus this Wednesday, offering residents a powerful new space to explore the history and ongoing impact of racism. With 30,000 artifacts and a mission to foster understanding and healing, the $22 million facility significantly elevates Big Rapids' cultural and educational landscape and is funded by state, university, and private support.
• Michigan Communities Move To Rein In Data Centers Before Big Tech Comes Calling (mitechnews.com) — Big Rapids Charter Township has joined a growing list of Michigan communities putting temporary brakes on large data centers while they write their own rules. Local leaders are watching how places like Saginaw and Saline Township handle water use, noise, and who pays for massive power and infrastructure upgrades before any Big Tech project lands in their backyard.
📸 Around Big Rapids
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Big Rapids
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Every Saturday Fly-in Lunch (KRQB) →
Roben - Hood Airport (KRQB), 21325 18 Mile Rd, Big Rapids
11:00 am
Saturday October 3
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Ferris State University Automotive Management Student Organization (AMSO)Show →
Ferris State Automotive Center, 708 Camous Drive, Big Rapids
9:00 am - Tennis (Boys V) - Grand Rapids Christian HS
Big Rapids High School
4:00 pm - Volleyball (Girls F) @ Quad @ Morley
Morley Stanwood High School
5:30 pm - Soccer (Boys V) - Reed City High School
Big Rapids High School
5:30 pm - Boys Varsity Soccer
Big Rapids High School, 21175 15 Mile Rd, Big Rapids
6:00 pm - Volleyball (Girls 7A) @ Kent City Middle School
Kent City Middle School
4:00 pm - Volleyball (Girls 7B) - St Marys School
Big Rapids Middle School
4:00 pm - Girls JV Volleyball @ Kent City High School
Big Rapids High School, 351 N Main St, Kent City
5:00 pm - Volleyball (Girls 8A) @ Kent City Middle School
Kent City Middle School
5:30 pm - Volleyball (Girls JV) @ Tri Match
Kent City High School
5:30 pm - Volleyball (Girls 8B) - St Marys School
Big Rapids Middle School
5:30 pm
Wednesday September 30
Thursday October 1
📣 Big Rapids Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Belle Tire Company posted a job opening for Automotive Retail Assistant Manager in Big Rapids. Apply here.
- Rieth-Riley Construction Company posted a job opening for Replacement Heavy Equipment Operator (2026 Asphalt Paving Season) in Big Rapids. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Big Rapids here.
🗞 Nearby News
Mecosta
- Mecosta Conservation District sets annual meeting, board election for Oct. 23 (theheraldreview.com)
- Mecosta County courthouse open house gives public a look inside local courts (ourmidland.com)
- Big Rapids clears way to sell DeKraft Avenue property to Housing Commission (theheraldreview.com)
Baldwin
- Former local All-Staters perform for Ferris softball (lakecountystar.com)
Newaygo
- Rural West Michigan schools celebrate Priority Pups program (woodtv.com)
Ok Big Rapids! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Hop Squatch! (Thank you Terri R. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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