She was a tremendous force

REGION
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010
PAGE A3
AUTOMOTIVE PLASTICS MAKER EXPANDS BUSINESS TO INCLUDE CELL PHONE SHELLS, A8
ADA TO
ZEELAND
WEST MICHIGAN IN BRIEF
‘She was a tremendous force’
MALINDA PRICE SAPP, A LEADER IN MUSIC, CHURCH AND COMMUNITY, DIES OF CANCER
GRAND RAPIDS
Gang member
guilty of murder
A Kent County Circuit Court
jury on Thursday found Mike
Torres-Zuniga guilty of a
2008 murder
following a day
of deliberation.
Authorities say
Torres-Zuniga, a
19-year-old gang
member, and
Jeremy Lopez
beat up, robbed
Mike Torres- and shot 17-yearold Abelino
Zuniga
JeronimoRamos in the early hours
of Nov. 21, 2008. Police say
the pair might have believed
Jeronimo-Ramos was a
member of a rival gang. Two
weeks ago, a Kent County
Circuit Court jury found Lopez,
21, guilty of the same murder,
but prosecutors said Zuniga
pulled the trigger. Lopez is
scheduled to be sentenced
Sept. 23, while Zuniga will be
sentenced Oct. 7. Both face
mandatory life sentences
without parole.
That’s part of the legacy Mrs. Sapp
— a counselor, college instructor,
church administrative pastor and the
GRAND RAPIDS — As MaLinda wife and manager of local pastor and
Price Sapp’s 43rd birthday approached gospel star Marvin Sapp — leaves belast spring, the Grand Rapids native hind following her death Thursday.
turned aside suggestions of a party
Mrs. Sapp succumbed after an
honoring her while she battled colon 18-month battle with cancer, friends
cancer.
and relatives said. She had been deAs was her style, Mrs. Sapp turned clared cancer-free earlier this year.
“This is a great loss,” Sandra Riley,
the approaching milestone into a way
to uplift others, planning a “Women a family spokeswoman, said to several
in the Trenches” event, according to hundred people gathered Thursday
her friend, Janice Hayes.
evening at Lighthouse Full Life Center
“She gave gifts to 43 women who Church.
were going through some kind of
“She was a tremendous force in the
struggle, such as illness or emotional ministry of this church and in our
lives,” added Riley, who is a cousin
(trouble),” Hayes said.
BY TERRY DEBOER
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
COURTESY PHOTO
‘A great loss’: MaLinda Sapp
managed the career of her
husband, gospel musician Marvin
Sapp.
PRESS PHOTO/PAUL L. NEWBY II
A pioneer: U.S. Sen. Debbie
Stabenow became Michigan’s first
female senator in 2000.
Senator:
Women
a voice
of change
No raise for Delabbio
Artist Tanya Vanden Bosch helps install her 3-story
mural “Loop de Loop” on windows at the JW Marriott
atrium Thursday morning. At right, a view from inside
the hotel shows how the painting rises three stories
and blends with the circular designs on the carpet
inside. Below, Scott Bouma, owner of Scott’s Signs,
helps with the installation.
Debbie Stabenow spoke
at Women in Politics series
BY MONICA SCOTT
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
GRAND RAPIDS — U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow said Thursday women
may only represent 17 percent of the
Senate, but the contingent is powerful
and the different perspective has led
to better laws.
“Decisions are better when everybody’s involved and at the table,” said
Stabenow, D-Lansing, who kickedoff the Grand Valley State University
Women’s Center’s Women in Politics series at Cook DeVos Center for
Health Sciences.
Stabenow, who in 2000 became
the first woman from the state to be
elected to the U.S. Senate, told about
40 people how women pushed for
mandating maternity benefits during
congressional health care debate.
She said Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl argued against it and tried to have it
removed.
Stabenow recounted how Kyl said “I
don’t need maternity care,” to which
PRESS PHOTOS/KATY BATDORFF
CASCADE TOWNSHIP
Park dedicated Saturday
The public is invited to attend
a 10 a.m. Saturday dedication
for the 198-acre Cascade
Peace Park near Bolt Drive
and Grand River Avenue SE.
Officials from the Michigan
Department of Natural
Resources and Environment
and the Nature Conservancy
will be on hand to dedicate
the park during a brief
ceremony at one of its two
entrances at 8900 Grand River
Avenue SE. The township
bought the property in 2008
for $3.2 million with the help
of a dedicated millage and
a $1.2 million grant from the
Michigan Department of
Natural Resources Trust Fund.
The rustic park features scenic
views and hiking trails and is
home to several rare species,
including the yellow-billed
cuckoo, Kentucky warbler and
Eastern box turtle.
SEE SAPP, A4
A SPLASH OF COLOR RISES NEXT TO THE RIVER
KENT COUNTY
The Kent County Commission
on Thursday renewed a threeyear contract for County
Administrator Daryl Delabbio.
The contract that runs through
2013 specifies Delabbio will
continue at his current annual
base salary of $153,692 and
receive another $22,000
yearly in a tax deferred
retirement account. The new
contract replaces the existing
three-year deal that expires at
the end of this year. Delabbio,
who started with the county
as assistant administrator in
1995 and has served as its top
administrator since 1998, is
part of the county’s roughly
300-member management
pay plan group for which
the county board last year
rejected pay increases for
2010. The group’s salaries
likely will be set in December
when the county board is
expected to approve its 2011
budget.
of Marvin Sapp, Lighthouse’s founder
and senior pastor.
The impromptu memorial was held
during a previously scheduled prayer
service for Mrs. Sapp.
A similar gathering held last month
involved people around the country
connected by a telephone link.
Speakers on Thursday told of their
grief over the loss of Mrs. Sapp, but
also of thanks and of the hope that her
life instilled for them.
“Our hearts hurt, but our spirits are
rejoicing,” Eric Tolbert said as part of
a lengthy prayer for the church community and Sapp family.
Tolbert is pastor of Lighthouse
SEE STABENOW, A4
‘OPEN WATER’ RESURFACES
Mental patient in court
on open murder charge
LANSING
Flags fly at half-staff
Gov. Jennifer Granholm has
ordered U.S. flags to be
flown at half-staff Saturday in
remembrance of those who
lost their lives in the Sept.
11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Granholm also is encouraging
people in Michigan to observe
a moment of silence Saturday
at 8:46 a.m., the time the first
jetliner crashed into the north
tower at the World Trade
Center in New York. Granholm
said reflections on the ninth
anniversary of the attacks will
help “honor the memories of
the victims and heroes of that
day and keep their loved ones
in our thoughts and prayers.”
Thursday, originally
was arrested July 15
for bringing a knife to
a meeting at the parole
office.
The schizophrenic
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
and bipolar patient, a
convicted bank robber,
WALKER — Authorities expect to was later transferred Jack
arraign Jack Jacqmain today on an to Pine Rest Christian Jacqmain
open murder charge for allegedly Mental Health Serstabbing Mark Moore outside a Motel vices, then to Hope Network’s River
6 in Walker on Aug. 18.
Valley center, where he left treatment
Jacqmain, a parolee who absconded on Aug. 12.
from a mental health treatment facilThe slaying has attracted legislative
ity and was staying at the inn, attacked attention, looking at the lack of overand killed Moore, 31, of Indianapolis, sight that allowed Jacqmain to flee
without the state being notified.
without provocation, police say.
Jacqmain was arrested in Florissant,
Department of Corrections officials
Mo., nearly a week after the slaying. said River Valley never told them
Jacqmain, who had been in the Jacqmain was on the run.
custody of prison officials and was
booked into the Kent County Jail on E-mail: [email protected]
He left treatment facility
before allegedly stabbing man
PRESS PHOTO/CHRIS KNAPE
Betsy DeVos stands near the 2009 ArtPrize grand champion painting
“Open Water no. 24,” which was unveiled Thursday at its new home,
Reserve, a wine bar slated to open Sept. 21 at 201 Monroe Ave. NW. The
bar is a partnership between Dick and Betsy DeVos’ Windquest Group
and Martha’s Vineyard owner Kameel Chamelly. Betsy DeVos said placing
the painting above the bar’s cruvinet (a 102-bottle wine dispensing
system) will keep it on public display.