What's Up Big Rapids?

What's Up Big Rapids
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Entertainment News
  • Updated Weekly

Locals Chris Jane and Pat Brooks share the latest weekly happenings and events important to Big Rapids, Michigan, and the surrounding areas.

  1. 5d ago

    Careers, Chameleons & Community Connections

    This week we're learning that the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District is a whole lot more than the Career Center. Superintendent Steve Locke and Assistant Superintendent Amanda Kimball join us to talk about everything happening at the MOISD—from career and technical education to special education, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, creative opportunities for students, and the Career Center's upcoming 50th anniversary celebration. We also tackle the old “trades vs. college” debate and why it really doesn't have to be one or the other. Plus, the new Jim Crow Museum opens, High Strung Steel prepares to release an album, Big Rapids gets a bird walk, the theater is working on Screen 3, and a family of bears steals a Honda for popcorn. Apparently. 0:00 – Intro & welcome1:10 – The new Jim Crow Museum opens today!2:10 – Pat's staycation becomes a work-from-home-cation3:05 – High Strung Steel album release party – October 10 🎻4:45 – Thanks to Pastor Ross Scheer5:30 – Featured Creature: Veiled Chameleon 🦎8:30 – Welcome Steve Locke & Amanda Kimball from the MOISD13:00 – The MOISD is much more than the Career Center16:00 – Dolly Parton's Imagination Library & the MOISD's role 📚20:50 – We need more beloved humans. Somebody check on Willie Nelson.22:05 – Career Center 50th Anniversary Open House – October 2026:00 – Technical training vs. university: Why does it have to be either/or?29:00 – Special education, micro-businesses & opportunities through age 2634:00 – Looking for a career change? The MOISD is hiring35:00 – Pork For a Purpose raises another $50,000 for local charity! 👏35:40 – Big Rapids Theater hopes to have Screen 3 ready for the holidays 🎬36:45 – MOTA & WISE team up to Fill the Bus37:00 – Bird walk with ornithologist Joe Lipar 🐦39:00 – Skeleton Skurry supports Angels of Action 🎃39:40 – Homecoming wins for Ferris & Big Rapids!40:40 – Nintendo 64 turns 25: GoldenEye, anyone? 🎮42:50 – Dom's internet: Bears carjack a Honda for popcorn 🐻🍿46:50 – Thanks to our guests & goodbye! #WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#MOISD#SupportLocal#CommunityConnections

  2. 5d ago

    Growth, Groundbreakings & Geckos

    There’s a lot being built around Big Rapids lately—and this week we’re talking about one of the biggest projects underway. Our guest is Pastor Ross Scheer from Res Life Church, where construction has begun on a roughly 30,000-square-foot expansion. Ross talks about what’s driving the church’s growth, why the additional space is needed, plans for a 1,000-seat sanctuary that could host touring artists, and the unusual partnership that helped reshape the church over the last several years. Plus, Pat runs a personal-best 5K, Chris picks up trash, Burlington prepares to open, a semi takes an unexpected trip through the Super 8, Ferris celebrates Homecoming, and Dom introduces us to another robot with absolutely no survival instincts. ⏱️ Timecodes 0:00 – Intro & welcome 1:00 – Who should we have on WUBR next? 1:30 – Groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, Pat's fastest 5K & Chris picks up trash 4:30 – Thanks to Megan Eppley 5:30 – Featured Creature: Crested Gecko 🦎 7:20 – Welcome Pastor Ross Scheer from Res Life Church 10:00 – Does God care who wins football games? Lions fans need answers 🏈 11:00 – What makes Res Life different? 12:20 – Breaking ground on a 30,000-square-foot expansion 13:00 – 1,400–1,500 people on a typical Sunday morning 15:00 – What's behind the growth? 17:00 – Why not every church is right for every person 18:05 – How long has the expansion been in the works? 19:00 – Shoutout to Big Rapids Public Schools 20:00 – A 1,000-seat sanctuary & possibilities for touring artists 🎶 21:15 – Creating more room for youth programs 23:00 – “Church isn't a building you walk into, but a family you belong to.” 24:15 – WUBR is looking for a new intern or partner! 🎙️ 25:00 – An unlikely Texas partnership that changed Res Life 30:00 – “You don't need permission to do good.” 30:30 – When will the addition be finished? 32:30 – Construction means some temporary inconvenience 33:00 – Connecting with Res Life from home 37:00 – Services, small groups & getting connected 39:45 – Ross, Dom & Pat's morning workout crew 💪 42:30 – Thanks, Pastor Ross! 44:30 – Ferris law enforcement students, Special Olympics & the game-ball run 45:50 – A new dog boarding business comes to town 🐕 46:50 – Burlington opening + $5,000 for Brookside Elementary 47:40 – A runaway semi crashes through the Super 8 😳 50:20 – Ferris Marching Band documentary at Big Rapids Theater 🎺 51:40 – Ferris Homecoming weekend! 🐶 52:12 – Jim Crow Museum grand opening next Wednesday 55:00 – Skeleton Scurry, Fall Fest & the Pumpkin Roll 🎃 57:40 – Dom's videos: a pet lion & a robot defeated by a doorstep 59:23 – Happy Autumnal Equinox 🍂 1:00:00 – Outro & goodbye 📣 Hashtags #WhatsUpBigRapids #BigRapidsMI #ResLifeChurch #FerrisState #SupportLocal

  3. Sep 15

    Grants, Getting Around & Good Things Growing

    This week on What’s Up Big Rapids, we're talking about how some of the behind-the-scenes work at City Hall eventually turns into real improvements you can see around town. Our guest is Megan Eppley, grant writer for the City of Big Rapids—and Chris' former co-host from the Live Big Rapids days. Megan explains what a grant writer actually does (after Chris attempts the kindergarten version), how new walking and biking audits could shape future improvements, and how residents can get involved right now. Plus: football, car washes, Chipotle windows, Chalk the Walk, Save the Ponds, the upcoming Jim Crow Museum opening, and Dom finds us two mice boxing in a subway. Journalism. ⏱️ Timecodes 0:00 – Intro & welcome 1:00 – Why Chris still loves working in real estate 🏡 5:27 – Lions football & Pat's happy place 🏈 6:35 – Thanks to Rick Hatkowski & Save the Ponds 7:00 – Featured Creature: Albino Gator Gar 🐟 9:19 – Welcome Megan Eppley from the City of Big Rapids 10:00 – The Live Big Rapids reunion! 11:30 – English + fundraising + Big Rapids = grant writer 12:30 – Chris attempts to explain grant writing like a kindergartner 17:00 – AARP grants & walking/biking audits 🚶🚲 18:00 – What has Chris learned scootering around town? 19:45 – How do walking audits actually work? 23:00 – Spot a bad or missing sidewalk? Here's your chance to speak up 25:00 – How today's feedback could shape future city projects 26:30 – Big Rapids Walking Passport challenge 28:34 – Following city projects & updates 29:30 – Want to participate? Megan will even hook you up with BR swag 30:30 – Thanks, Megan! 30:48 – Former Bulldog Zach Sieler continues making Big Rapids proud 🏈 31:15 – New community fitness programs 33:00 – Tommy's test washes, Chipotle has WINDOWS & Voter Registration Day 🌯 34:21 – Business After Hours at Schuberg's 34:55 – A very busy Saturday: Res Life 5K, Rotary cleanup & Chalk the Walk 36:50 – Recycle Fish dedication at Hemlock Park 🐟 37:40 – Save the Ponds groundbreaking 37:57 – Brothers Blue Jean Ball benefiting OBK 38:45 – Winter boat & RV storage at the fairgrounds 39:14 – Should The Banded Raccoon become a cartoon? 🦝 40:40 – New Jim Crow Museum grand opening 44:15 – A folding iPhone?! 📱 46:50 – Taco Bell Girl, subway mouse boxing & man vs. robot — Dom's internet strikes again 51:25 – Thanks & outro #WhatsUpBigRapids #BigRapidsMI #SupportLocal #CommunityStrong #DowntownBigRapids

  4. Sep 9

    Ponds, Paris & Pigskins

    Labor Day is behind us, football is officially back, and this week we're digging into a piece of local history that goes all the way back to 1881. Our guest is Rick Hatkowski, Chair of the Save The Ponds Committee, who joins us to talk about the past, present and future of the historic Paris Fish Hatchery. We get into the story behind the ponds, those famous red milk cans, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the years of work that have gone into preserving and improving this unique piece of Mecosta County history. Most importantly, the work is becoming reality: the groundbreaking ceremony is Friday, September 18 at 3 PM, followed by activities from 6–9 PM. Plus, Ferris has TWO #1 teams, Tommy's Car Wash is opening, Liberty Tax is coming to town, Sisterfolk closes out the Thursday night concert series, and Pat tries to convince Chris that professional sports have meaning. ⏱️ Timecodes 0:00 – Intro & welcome 1:34 – Labor Day recap: Bulldogs, sickness, Raised on Radio & hundreds of hot dogs 5:50 – Football is BACK! Fantasy report & Chris questions the meaning of professional sports 🏈 8:00 – Want to help WUBR with our weekly reels? We're looking for some help! 8:20 – Featured Creature: Leopard Gecko 🦎 10:25 – Thanks to Pastor Mark Robb & Lisa David 11:05 – Welcome Rick Hatkowski from Save The Ponds 12:00 – The Fish Hatchery story begins in 1881 20:00 – Groundbreaking celebration – September 18 27:30 – What's the story behind the red milk cans? 🥛 30:00 – A romantic afternoon under the Eiffel Tower... in Paris, Michigan 🇫🇷 36:30 – Break ground now, cut ribbon later 38:10 – How you can support Save The Ponds 38:55 – TWO #1 Ferris teams! Volleyball & Football 🐶🏆 41:09 – Liberty Tax is coming to Big Rapids 44:30 – Tommy's Car Wash soft opening 🚗 45:14 – Sisterfolk closes out Thursday nights at Pocket Park 🎶 48:03 – Chad Coon's bare-knuckle fight – September 19 🥊 49:07 – Dom's feel-good internet finds: bears, buckets & football science 52:50 – Western vs. Michigan ends in confusion 🏈 55:40 – Another great week in Big Rapids 56:00 – Outro & goodbye #WhatsUpBigRapids #BigRapidsMI #SaveThePonds #ParisMichigan #SupportLocal

  5. Sep 2

    Hope, Home & Hometown Happenings

    September is here, Ferris students are back, football season is kicking off, and there's plenty happening around Big Rapids. Our main guest this week is Pastor Mark Robb from Connect Church, who shares a remarkably personal story about his own experiences with abuse, homelessness, addiction and incarceration—and how those experiences shaped his desire to help people who are going through some of the hardest moments of their lives. It's ultimately a conversation about something pretty simple: giving people hope. Then Lisa David from Band of Locals joins us to preview this year's Big Rapids Labor Day Festival and everything happening downtown. Plus: the Recycle Fish debate, High Strung Steel at Pocket Park, Cottage Inn reviews, baby dragons, robot videos and somehow a recumbent bicycle gets mistaken for Jimothy. ⏱️ Timecodes 0:00 – Intro & welcome 1:00 – What's everybody saying about the Recycle Fish sculpture? 🐟 2:55 – Hello, September. Take a breath. 3:45 – Welcome back, Ferris students! 🐶 4:25 – Cardinals & Bulldogs football kicks off 🏈 5:18 – Chris wraps up his busiest music month of the year 🥁 7:00 – Chris would like to sell your house. Yes, yours. 🏡 7:47 – Pat's Pork For a Purpose recap 🐖 8:45 – Remembering Jess McCallie ❤️ 10:35 – Featured Creature: Desert Agama baby dragons 🦎 13:45 – Thanks to Dr. David Pilgrim 15:30 – Welcome Pastor Mark Robb from Connect Church 17:20 – How did Mark end up in Big Rapids? 21:30 – Mark shares his story of abuse, homelessness, addiction & incarceration 24:25 – Sometimes giving someone hope can change a life 26:02 – What's happening at Connect Church? 32:30 – How to learn more & get connected 33:25 – Is that Jimothy on the White Pine Trail? 🚲🦝 34:28 – High Strung Steel at Pocket Park + album news 🎻 35:45 – Tony Halchak at Pocket Park Friday 🎶 36:38 – Labor Day weekend at The Banded Raccoon 37:50 – Surprise second guest: Lisa David from Band of Locals 42:55 – Everything you need to know about the Labor Day Festival 45:45 – The official WUBR Cottage Inn review 🍕 48:00 – Robots, weighted pull-ups, Wile E. Coyote & rescued puppies — thanks, Dom 52:45 – Top Gun: Maverick at Roben-Hood Airport ✈️ 53:40 – Thanks to our guests — and 86 episodes of WUBR! 🎉 54:22 – Outro & goodbye #WhatsUpBigRapids #BigRapidsMI #SupportLocal #CommunityStrong #WhatsHappeningBR

  6. Aug 26

    History, Healing & Hot Happenings

    This week we had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. David Pilgrim, founder and director of the Jim Crow Museum at Ferris State University. Dr. Pilgrim takes us back to the beginnings of the museum, explains what Jim Crow actually means, and gives us a look inside the incredible new facility being built right here in Big Rapids. More importantly, we talk about why studying difficult history matters, how we can get better at having uncomfortable conversations, and the role the museum hopes to play for generations to come. As Dr. Pilgrim put it: “The trick is not to stop talking about it, it’s to talk about it better.” Plus, Chris is still on the road with the Michael Allman Band, Pat and Brandi celebrate 16 years, we recap Tie Dye Festival, meet a Spotted Congo Puffer, and run through another packed list of things happening around town. ⏱️ Timecodes 0:00 – Intro & welcome 0:55 – Catching up: After Hours, touring & a busy week 2:00 – Thanks to Paul Griffith & Friends of the White Pine Trail 3:15 – Hand of Giants at Tie Dye Festival 4:12 – Happy 16th anniversary to Pat & Brandi! ❤️ 5:35 – Pork For a Purpose this Saturday 6:05 – Featured Creature: Spotted Congo Puffer 🐡 7:40 – Welcome Dr. David Pilgrim 9:08 – Chris' first experience at the Jim Crow Museum 10:35 – Why is the Jim Crow Museum at Ferris? 12:05 – Creating uncomfortable but important conversations 13:30 – “Witness, understand and heal” 14:28 – A new space dedicated to sharing stories 15:20 – There's never a bad time to learn history 16:45 – Putting Ferris in the national conversation 17:53 – Where did this journey begin for Dr. Pilgrim? 19:48 – What exactly was Jim Crow? 22:36 – The museum's mission as an educational institution 24:25 – The importance of listening to other perspectives 25:29 – “The trick is not to stop talking about it, it's to talk about it better.” 25:55 – The first piece Dr. Pilgrim collected — and why he broke it 27:41 – An antique dealer who changed his perspective 30:06 – Shoutout to the Museum of Sexist Objects 31:18 – How did the new museum become a reality? 33:18 – The museum will begin accepting pieces again 34:42 – The team behind the project 35:37 – Choosing the location and designing the building 37:07 – How to support the museum & what to know before visiting 39:18 – Come with an open mind 40:39 – How exactly do you build a museum? 44:17 – Thank you, Dr. Pilgrim! 44:50 – Peter Jordan at Pocket Park 🎶 45:35 – Balsam Brothers at the Bandshell 45:55 – Free pudding at Whipped & Dipped! 46:40 – Big Dam Bike Ride cancelled 47:00 – Pork For a Purpose – August 29 🐖 47:19 – Big Rapids Labor Day Festival 48:00 – R2 ResRun26 – September 19 49:39 – Skeleton Scurry 5K coming Halloween 🎃 49:55 – What's being built behind Cardinal Stadium? 👀 51:20 – Chalk the Walk – September 19 52:28 – Congrats to WUBR T-shirt winner Skylar Callendar! 53:00 – Brothers Blue Jean Ball – September 19 54:00 – Remembering Dolly Parton & Tim Curry 55:55 – “9 to 5” at the Changing of the Guard 57:00 – Robot Olympics get weird 🤖 58:20 – Outro & goodbye #WhatsUpBigRapids #BigRapidsMI #JimCrowMuseum #FerrisState #SupportLocal

  7. Aug 19

    Trails, Tie-Dye & Transformation

    This week on What’s Up Big Rapids, Chris is back from a run of shows with The Michael Allman Band, school is about to start, and somehow tie-dye season is upon us. Our guest is Paul Griffith from Friends of the White Pine Trail, and this one turned into a really interesting history lesson. We talk about the effort to pave and improve the trail, the restoration of the Depot, the railroad that once ran through Big Rapids, and how the trail continues to affect businesses and development around town. Plus, we finally announce the winner of the WUBR T-shirt design contest, run through a packed end-of-summer calendar, and Pat gives us his extremely important Cottage Inn order. ⏱️ Timecodes 0:00 – Intro & welcome 1:10 – Tie-dye shirts & the upcoming Tie Dye Festival 🌈 2:12 – Chris' shows with Michael Allman 🥁 4:45 – Pat's week 6:00 – Business After Hours at The Banded Raccoon 8:00 – First day of school is almost here! 🎒 8:50 – Shoutout to Pork For a Purpose 9:21 – Featured Creature: The Oranda 🐟 12:34 – Welcome Paul Griffith 12:45 – Paul's background & how he ended up here 16:24 – What is the Casanova? 18:06 – When the Casanova was a bowling alley 🎳 19:35 – Getting involved with Friends of the White Pine Trail 22:00 – The push to pave the trail 25:23 – Let's talk about the Depot 🚂 26:02 – The Depot transformation 27:30 – How the Depot was purchased from the DNR 28:58 – A look at the Depot in 1913 31:22 – Shoutout to Einstein Cycles 🚲 32:40 – Mapping the White Pine Trail 35:53 – Michigan Trails Magazine features the Depot 38:50 – The remonument effort 41:28 – New culvert project 44:19 – Who pays for trail improvements? 46:26 – Appreciating the people who make projects like this happen 47:50 – Thanks to Paul for joining us 50:15 – How to connect with Friends of the White Pine Trail 51:30 – Six new businesses located along the trail 53:58 – Where to learn more 55:27 – The 460-mile Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad 57:15 – WUBR T-shirt contest WINNER: Skylar Calendar! 🎨🏆 1:02:40 – Ferris students are coming back to town 1:03:20 – Burlington & Cottage Inn are hiring 1:03:40 – Pat's Cottage Inn order 🍕 1:05:07 – Planet Fitness closing briefly for new equipment 1:07:36 – Welcome new BRHS Athletic Director Cole Andrews 1:08:10 – The city wants your feedback on future projects 1:09:30 – What should WUBR be talking about? Tell us! 1:11:09 – Lisa Carol at Pocket Park 🎶 1:11:35 – John Hayes at Pocket Park Friday 1:12:30 – Big Dam Bike Ride 🚲 1:13:30 – Pork For a Purpose 🐖 1:13:50 – Big Rapids Labor Day Festival 1:14:50 – Recreating White Chicks with strangers 😂 1:16:04 – Scott Steiner's son brings wrestling to the football field 1:17:03 – Qdoba is back! 🌯 1:19:50 – Outro & goodbye #WhatsUpBigRapids #BigRapidsMI #WhitePineTrail #SupportLocal #ThingsToDo

  8. Aug 12

    Purpose, Pork & Positive Things Happening

    This week on What’s Up Big Rapids, we catch up on everything happening around town, from trivia wins and dream gigs to new businesses finally opening their doors. Our guests are Liz Prescott and Alex Ashley from Pork For a Purpose, who share the incredible story behind one of Mecosta County's favorite community fundraisers. We talk about how it got started, the families it's helped over the years, and why this event continues to bring people together. Plus: Cottage Inn is officially open, Burlington is on the way, Raised on Radio is coming to Pocket Park, and somehow Jimothy the raccoon returns... with a friend. ⏱️ Timecodes 0:00 – Intro & welcome 0:53 – Chris' dream gig playing drums with Michael Olmen 🥁 2:15 – Thanks to Chad Coon for joining us last week 3:46 – Why joining the Chamber is worth considering 🤝 5:30 – Pat's championship trivia team 🏆 7:50 – Featured Creature: Freshwater Stingray 🐠 11:25 – Guest intro: Liz Prescott & Alex Ashley (Pork For a Purpose) 🐖 11:42 – How Pork For a Purpose got started 13:45 – How much has been raised? 14:20 – The families and causes it's helped ❤️ 15:25 – Favorite part of putting on the event 16:45 – What else happens at the pig roast? 17:42 – How to attend and get involved 18:26 – Pork For a Purpose is August 29 19:27 – Volunteer opportunities 20:39 – The moments that make it all worthwhile 21:39 – Liz shares her family's deeply personal connection to the event 23:55 – Returning home to Michigan 24:55 – Pork For a Purpose merchandise 26:47 – Other upcoming events 29:07 – Thanks to Liz and Alex 30:26 – Something new is coming to the east side of town 👀 31:17 – Planet Fitness temporary closure 31:55 – Burlington opening update 🛍️ 32:16 – Cottage Inn is officially open! 🍕 33:24 – Raised on Radio at Pocket Park 🎸 34:34 – Final Bandshell concert of the summer 🎶 34:55 – The Andrews at Pocket Park 35:10 – Tire Recycling Event ♻️ 35:22 – A packed August 15: Baker Auto Carnival, Stanwood Summerfest & Jurassic Park at the airport 🎡🦖 37:27 – Angels of Action Back-to-School Giveaway 🎒 38:18 – Business After Hours at The Banded Raccoon 39:39 – Big Dam Bike Ride 🚴 42:52 – Labor Day Festival preview 🎉 43:57 – Jimothy gets a friend named Johnmothy 🦝 44:41 – Nicolas Cage as John Madden? 🤔 45:50 – Soccer celebration... interrupted 😬 47:50 – Introducing Liz and Alex to Jimothy 😄 48:35 – Pumpkin Spice season is back ☕ 50:00 – Outro & goodbye #WhatsUpBigRapids #BigRapidsMI #SupportLocal #CommunityStrong #PorkForAPurpose

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Locals Chris Jane and Pat Brooks share the latest weekly happenings and events important to Big Rapids, Michigan, and the surrounding areas.

Information

  • Creator
    What's Up Big Rapids
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © What's Up Big Rapids
  • Show Website
    What's Up Big Rapids?