Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit was thrilled after he found out his team would be playing in a bowl close to home.

Matt, Joey and Joel - who were best friends at Grand Haven High School - planned to join the military together after graduation. Instead, they went their separate ways. A few years later, by mere coincidence, they all moved back to Grand Haven and put their original plan into action.

Kevin Collier, Grand Haven Tribune writer and local resident, has been researching locals who made a living traveling the vaudeville circuit. The Lyman Twins are just one act Collier will be talking about when he presents "Vaudeville and the Tri-Cities,' a look into area residents who made their name in vaudeville from 1895-1933.

Muskegon County and several of its local governments are moving ahead with plans to adopt Internet-based phone service, which advocates say could save as much as $2 million over a decade.

It's tough to top the year in sports the state of Michigan has had in 2011. Next year might be even better. The Detroit Lions, the sports-crazed area's favorite team, have already avoided a losing season and are in position to make the playoffs for the first time since the 1999 season.

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a southwest wind 11 to 14 mph increasing to between 21 and 24 mph. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph.

The award-winning January Series of Calvin College is coming to Grand Haven.