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Van Andel Roast A Huge Success!
Silent Observer's May 4th Fundraiser titled "We Have The Handle On Van Andel" was a fun event and to top it off, Silent Observer was able to raise $35,000! Tony Gates was hilarious as the emcee and we are very appreciative that David let his talented roasters, Henry Emrich, Dan Gaydou and Mike Jandernoa, share funny stories about him. But David, known for his quick wit and keen sense of humor stole the show with his rebuttal and roasted his roasters well-done!
Silent Observer would like to publicly thank the following sponsors of this event for helping us raise the much- needed funds to continue our operations.
Amway
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Coldwell Banker AJS-Schmidt
Peter C. Cook
Davenport University
Douglas & Maria DeVos Foundation
Harvey Automotive
Ralph Hauenstein
David & Carol Van Andel Foundation
Mike & Sue Jandernoa
Van Andel Institute
Varnum
Fifth Third Bank
Foremost Insurance
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
JC Huizenga
Meijer
Peter F. Secchia Family
Spartan Stores
Steelcase
Universal Forest Products
And thank you to David Van Andel, Tony Gates, Henry Emrich, Dan Gaydou and Mike Jandernoa for making this one of our funniest roasts ever! |  | |
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Street Beat
Harvey Automotive Group is providing Silent Observer with a new Cadillac Escalade to use at events and parades. The Hummer Line has gone bye bye so John Leese and the entire Harvey gang generously decided to continue to support Silent Observer's efforts by providing this beautiful SUV for our use. Thank you!
Stop by Silent Observer's booth at the Walker Festival on Saturday, June 19. We'll be there all day and we're even holding a bake sale! We'll have the new Escalade there, a game to play, some handouts for the kids, and we'll be selling raffle tickets where the winners will be drawn on June 28.
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Remember that Funds For Friends Night at The Score? Well, about 100 friends came out that night and because of the great turnout, The Score donated $200 to Silent Observer. Thank you for your support!
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Silent Observer now pays a $50 for information leading police to an underage drinking party. Walker and Grandville Police Departments and Wedgwood Christian Services teamed up to crack down on house parties that can and does result in vandalism, sexual assault, drinking and driving and disturbing the peace. Silent Observer wanted to support their efforts and have already begun taking tips and paying rewards on information received about underage drinking parties.
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Breaking News! On September 2, Forest Hills Central High School will attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records by having the Largest Kazoo Band ever! The record right now is a 3,861 kazoo ensemble. This record breaking feat is sponsored by Silent Observer and will help raise funds for the Fast 50 Program. This attempt will take place during the Forest Hills Central vs. Lowell football game. All Fast 50 High Schools have been asked to participate by trying to break the record at one of their football games. If your school would like to try to break the record and be the Guinness Book of World Records champ, please email info@silentobserver.org. |
Silent Observer
PO Box 230321
Grand Rapids, MI 49523
Tip Line - 616-774-2345
Toll Free - 866-774-2345
TXT: CRIMES (274637) include keyword TIP138 in message
Administration: 616-454-9110
Email: cameronc@grandrapids.org
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Director's Download...
Ashley Dettloff-Hughes |
I've been thinking a lot about our Fast 50 Program lately. We started the Fast 50 Program back in 1998 because we wanted to empower students, giving them an easy way to stand up for themselves and others by allowing them to anonymously provide information that would keep their school safe. Let's face it, if someone stole your child's iPod, cell phone or money out of their locker, you'd want it back...you'd want justice. Fast 50 allows students to call us without giving their name, to right the wrongs of others.
Jake Jerzyk | As much as we try to promote it and ask the schools to promote it, the number of calls has decreased for the last couple years. Some school administrators say it's because the Code of Silence is a very real threat and kids are afraid to call. Others say students are not bringing illegal contraband into the school anymore because of the fear of being Fast 50'd! Regardless, I have been discouraged by the dip in calls and started to wonder if this program is still effective.
But my discouragement turned into elation when I learned that just in the past month, Silent Observer received two tips about potential threats that could have
Jose Perez | devastated two school systems in Kent County. These threats were brought to light because students decided to pick up the phone, take a stand against crime, stand up for themselves and their friends and call Silent Observer. And thank God they did.
 The artwork appearing here are three of five winning Fast 50 Posters. Look for more information and the other two winners in the article at the bottom of the page. |
 FORE!
Silent Observer is gearing up for its annual golf outing sponsored by our friends at Coldwell Banker AJS-Schmidt Realty. This four-person scramble will be Monday, June 28 at Blythefield Country Club. Blythefield is an old, traditional private club that is known for its perfectly groomed course and gorgeous vistas making this golf course a real treat to play. Plus we have been told that the cost per player - $140 - makes this one of the cheapest golf outings around. Included in the price is lunch and heavy appetizers after golf. There are many different sponsorship opportunities available including sponsoring a police team! We will also have a raffle drawing after golf and the top two prizes are: -
1st: 7-night condominium vacation plus $750 - international destinations available
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2nd: 7-night condominium vacation plus $250 - international destinations available
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Plus a variety of valuable prizes will also be given away!
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Busted!
Standing up to right the wrongs of others is a kind and noble trait. Silent Observer provides our citizens a safe and anonymous way to report information about serious crime making it easier to stand up for what is right...for themselves, their family and their community. Below are just a few of the cases solved by Silent Observer tipsters since January.
On November 21, 2008, Abelino Ramos died from being shot on the 600 block of Shamrock. A year and a half later, two suspects were arrested for his death thanks to a tip to Silent Observer.
Two men robbed the Burton Quick Stop and Beijing Kitchen using guns last October. Can you imagine how terrified the clerk must have been? Someone called and identified the suspects, leading police to issue warrants for their arrest. The suspects fled but it didn't take too long before police were able to find them and put them behind bars.
Our tipsters sure give us good information about where people with warrants can be located. Just since January eight people responsible for 18 different crimes have been picked up for outstanding warrants ranging from Destruction of Property, Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Duties, Drunk Driving, Driving with License Suspended, Friend of the Court warrants and others.
If you ever wonder if we're winning the war on drugs, just know that many of our tipsters are disgusted by the drug dealing occurring in their neighborhoods, so they call us. As a result, police have made lots of arrests over the years. But specifically since January, nine people have been arrested for 11 drug- related crimes like Possession with Intent to Deliver both Marijuana and Cocaine, Manufacturing Marijuana and Operating a Meth Lab.
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
Albert Einstein |
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Brittany Bolger | Congratulations Fast 50 Poster Contest Winners!
Silent Observer needed some cool new eye-catching posters explaining the Fast 50 Program. The posters are hung in the 65 middle and high schools that use Fast 50 and it was time to create something fresh. So we contacted the high schools that participate in Fast 50 and offered to hold a poster contest for their students. We knew if we needed something outstanding, our students would be the ones to create it! We received some wonderful entrees but had to narrow the winners down to five. The winners received $100 and a pizza lunch for the classroom of their choice. |
Allante Johnson |
Silent Observer congratulates: Caledonia High School Students Brittany Bolger, Ashley Dettloff-Hughes and Jake Jerzyk and East Kentwood High School students Allante Johnson and Jose Perez.
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