Some West Michigan scrap yards find Cash for Clunkers program to be a pain in the wrecks

GRAND RAPIDS -- Gas-guzzling rust buckets are nothing new for West Michigan's scrap yards but, in just a week, Cash for Clunkers drove the junk car specialists into situations they never before imagined.

"I never saw anything like this," said Mike Ostrander, an account executive with Louis Padnos Iron & Metal Co., the region's biggest metal recycler. "There are a lot of good, working trucks coming in -- even an older Mercedes."

But they all have one thing in common -- they are gas guzzlers, gulping at least a gallon of petrol for every 18 miles

New car dealers show to start Thursday in downtown Kalamazoo

Eight local car dealers will begin displaying new vehicles in downtown Kalamazoo Thursday morning.

The annual New Car Show, sponsored by the Kalamazoo New Car Dealer Association and the Kalamazoo Gazette, runs Thursday through Saturday at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place.

The event is free and open to the public and will feature more than 100 new cars, trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles, the association said in a press release.

"This year will feature a great selection of current nameplates and some models that are completely new to the market," said Charlie Jeffrey, general manager of Harold Zeigler's Kalamazoo dealership and president of the association. "So whether its fuel economy, family, luxury, SUV, crossover or maybe that sports car you always wanted we will have it for you."

Show hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.