Made In Walker

A 1954 GMC fire engine doesn’t just show up every day, and it definitely doesn’t come with a paper trail that stretches back to the original purchase. We sit down with Ben Willcome, the City of Walker fleet supervisor, to tell the story of Walker Engine 117, one of the city’s earliest fire trucks, in service from 1954 until 1986 and now getting a second life outside the station.

We talk through what “preservation” really means when your goal is to share history with the public. Ben walks us through the barn-find reality, why seized brakes became the biggest challenge, and how he made the call to prioritize safety and long-term serviceability over a museum-only build. The most surprising fix is also the most practical: a donated 2010 school bus provided axles and a modern hydraulic brake system that can be repaired with parts that should stay available for decades.

Then we get into the details restoration fans love, from hunting down a hard-to-find water pump to converting the truck from six volt to twelve volt, swapping in electronic ignition, and making sure this classic starts and runs confidently. We also dig into the artifacts that bring the story to life: historic photos, original titles, spec sheets, pump brochures, and drawings that guide the cosmetic details and prove where this apparatus came from.

Ben’s end goal is simple and big at the same time: bring Engine 117 back to city events, put kids in the seat, and help Walker residents see how the department and the community evolved. Subscribe for more local stories, share this with a history or restoration friend, and leave a review so more people can find the Made in Walker Podcast.
If you have comments about this podcast, or ideas for future episodes, please email us at PODCAST@WALKER.CITY

A river can look perfectly calm from the bank and still put someone underwater in seconds. We sit down with Chief Keith Mankel and Scott Kiernicki to share how Walker, Michigan builds a swift water rescue program designed for the Grand River, local lakes, and the flooding that can hit low-lying areas when storms roll through.

We talk about what changed for the Walker Fire Department and Walker Police Department: moving from waiting on outside agencies to building a more self-sufficient response with a dedicated rescue boat, shared standards, and a joint team that can deploy quickly. You will hear why equipment compatibility matters, what goes into spec’ing a Zodiac rescue boat, and how real training goes far beyond “driving” a boat. Swift water certification, self-rescue skills, and precision maneuvers are all part of getting to a victim through debris, current, and tight river paths without wasting time.

We also get practical about what responders carry and why: life vests, helmets, whistles, lights, knives, ropes, carabiners, webbing, and patient-extraction options for tough recoveries. The conversation does not dodge the hard truth either: some calls become recovery missions, and speed still matters for families waiting on answers.

We end with the simplest takeaway for every paddler, tuber, angler, and ice-season explorer: wear a certified personal flotation device (PFD). If this story makes you think differently about water safety and emergency preparedness, subscribe, share the episode with a neighbor, and leave a review so more people in Walker and beyond can find it.
If you have comments about this podcast, or ideas for future episodes, please email us at PODCAST@WALKER.CITY

A career change can be a fresh start, but it can also be a new way to serve the same neighbors. I’m joined by Mitch Harkema, the City of Walker’s new communications manager, and he brings a perspective you rarely hear in municipal public relations: more than a decade working inside the City of Walker, including years as a Walker police officer and hands-on community engagement work that already had him communicating with residents every day.

We dig into what makes city communications work when trust is the goal. Mitch talks about building real relationships, showing up consistently, and translating city operations into plain language people can actually use. With Walker growing and shifting, that steady approach matters, especially when residents want transparency, quick answers, and fewer surprises from local government.

We also spend time on the proposed public safety millage coming before Walker voters and how the city plans to educate the public. Mitch walks through the outreach plan, including updates on walker.city, dedicated information at walker.city/public-safety-millage, and the City of Walker, Walker Police, and Walker Fire Facebook pages. He explains why in-person conversations still matter, from community events to open house opportunities at all three fire stations and the police department, where people can see facilities firsthand and ask direct questions.

If you care about public safety, local government, and how a city communicates through change, this conversation is for you. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, share this with a neighbor in Walker, and leave a review so more people can find the show.
If you have comments about this podcast, or ideas for future episodes, please email us at PODCAST@WALKER.CITY

You usually meet a police officer or firefighter on one of your worst days. National Night Out in Walker is built around the opposite idea: come out on a good day, bring your kids, meet your neighbors, and talk with first responders in a relaxed setting where questions are welcome and the goal is simple trust. 

We sit down with Officer Tyler Glass from the Walker Police Department and Kylie Lopo from FZ (Feyen Zylstra) to explain how National Night Out works, why it matters for neighborhood safety, and what it looks like when a local business and a city team up to serve the community. We talk about how the event helps residents connect with police, fire, commissioners, and the mayor, and why that “more human” contact can make a difference long before anyone needs to call 911. 

You’ll also get the practical details you need to plan your night: National Night Out is Tuesday, August 4 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at FZ headquarters, 2396 Hillside Drive at the corner of Alpine and Hillside. Expect a free, family-friendly community event with bounce houses, face painting, balloon twisting, kid prizes, and free food. We also cover how Walker has three National Night Out gatherings, including more traditional neighborhood block parties, and how the event has evolved over the years while keeping its core purpose: safer neighborhoods through stronger relationships. 

If you care about community policing, local government access, and practical crime prevention tips, this conversation will point you in the right direction. Subscribe for more stories from Walker, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.
If you have comments about this podcast, or ideas for future episodes, please email us at PODCAST@WALKER.CITY

If you have comments about this podcast, or ideas for future episodes, please email us at PODCAST@WALKER.CITY