Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan, and the largest city in West Michigan. It is located on the Grand River about 30 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 1,005,648, and the combined statistical area of Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland had a population of 1,321,557. Grand Rapids is the county seat of Kent County, Michigan.

A historic furniture-manufacturing center, Grand Rapids is still home to five of the world's leading office furniture companies, and is nicknamed Furniture City. Its more common modern nickname of River City refers to the landmark river for which it was named. The city and surrounding communities are economically diverse, based in the health care, information technology, automotive, aviation, and consumer goods manufacturing industries, among others.

Grand Rapids is the hometown of U.S. President Gerald Ford, who is buried with his wife Betty on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in the city.

Rapids

Rapids are sections of a river where the river bed has a relatively steep gradient, causing an increase in water velocity and turbulence. Rapids are hydrological features between a run (a smoothly flowing part of a stream) and a cascade. Rapids are characterised by the river becoming shallower with some rocks exposed above the flow surface. As flowing water splashes over and around the rocks, air bubbles become mixed in with it and portions of the surface acquire a white colour, forming what is called "whitewater". Rapids occur where the bed material is highly resistant to the erosive power of the stream in comparison with the bed downstream of the rapids. Very young streams flowing across solid rock may be rapids for much of their length.

Rapids are categorized in classes, generally running from I to VI. A Class 5 rapid may be categorized as Class 5.1-5.9. While class I rapids are easy to negotiate and require no maneuvering, class VI rapids pose threat to life with little or no chance for rescue.

Grand

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Scott Erickson

Scott Gavin Erickson (born February 2, 1968) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.

Career

Erickson was born in Long Beach, California, and began his professional career after being selected in the major league draft 4 times. Scott was drafted by the NY Mets in 1986 out of Homestead High School, where he was CCS Junior of the Year; the Houston Astros in 1987 and Toronto Blue Jays in 1988 out of San Jose City College where he was a Junior College 1st Team All American. In 1989 he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 4th round of the amateur draft out of the University of Arizona, where he signed his 1st pro contract. After 27 minor league starts, Erickson rose to the major leagues in his second season of professional baseball from the Class AA Orlando Sun Rays,. He was on a 5-game win streak with a record of 8-3 in the 1st half as an All Star in the Southern League. He finished 1990 with a combined record of 16-7; going 5-0 in September and tying Dave Stewart American League Pitcher of the Month. After posting a record of 12-2 with a 1.39 ERA in the first half of the 1991 season, including being awarded the American League Pitcher of the Month award for May and June, Scott Erickson was the 1st pitcher since 1954 to win 20 games in his first year in the Majors. Erickson won 20 games in the 1991 season and finished second to Roger Clemens in the American League Cy Young Award. During the Minnesota Twins 1991, World Series winning season, Erickson led the majors in wins with a record of 20-8, he was also voted in the Top 10 for American League Most Valuable Player Award. The following season, Erickson started 32 games, going 13-12 with 5 complete games.

Downtown Grand

The Downtown Grand Las Vegas, formerly the Lady Luck Hotel & Casino, is a hotel and casino in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, owned by the CIM Group and operated by Fifth Street Gaming. The Downtown Grand is the centerpiece of Downtown3rd, a new neighborhood and entertainment district under development in downtown Las Vegas.

Set on 6.27 acres (2.54 ha) at 3rd Street and East Ogden Avenue, the Downtown Grand has two hotel towers: to the east, the 18-story Casino Tower built in 1985 with 297 rooms, and to the west, the 25-story Grand Tower with 334 rooms. The East Tower is connected to the ground level casino. The property is served by a four-level parking garage and features several restaurants and entertainment venues along 3rd Street. These popular establishments include Triple George Grill, Sidebar, and Hogs and Heifers Saloon.

History