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Morning Buzz: 5 things to know for November 16

Posted at 10:42 AM, Nov 16, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-16 10:42:50-05

1. St. Joseph Mercy Health System and Mercy Health here in West Michigan just announced that they're merging to become one big health provider.

The new health system will include 10 hospitals, nine outpatient health centers, a dozen urgent care facilities, and more than 35 specialty centers.

The change takes effects on January 2.

2. A tree lighting spectacular is happening at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum tonight.

There will be thousands of lights outside and inside the museum in downtown Grand Rapids. After the tree is lit, the museum will open its doors for free.

People can enjoy music from the Salvation Army Band and the Caroling Company, plus there'll be hot chocolate, coffee, and cookie.

The festivities start at 7 p.m.

3. Rockford High School's Marching Band will make history as they are the first band from West Michigan to perform  in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.

The 300 band members and their families are heading to New York on Sunday night. They're one of the only seven marching bands performing in the annual parade this year.

The news was actually announced last year, but the parade takes more than a year to plan.

The band, which recently placed first at state finals, is in for a workout with a 12 hour day, going through sound and camera checks. Go Rams!

4. The turkey company Butterball is now offering whole organic birds for the first time ever as well as organic ground turkey.

It's a big change for the company, which calls itself the largest national turkey products company.

Butterball is also planning a low-key roll-out of the organic products, but the exact details aren't clear. Remember, for those planning to cook a turkey this year, call Butterball's Turkey Talk Line.

5. In the movies, outlaws in the old west would brag about how big of a cash bounty was placed on their heads. Who needs reward money, when instead the reward is a year's worth of free fast food?

Chick-Fil-A is offering free food for a year, if someone can solve the mystery of the stolen catering van. The van was stolen from one of its restaurants in the Atlanta area and was found on Wednesday, abandoned after hitting a parked car.

Chick-Fil-A and the police both want to know who took the vehicle, and the reward is a year's worth of free food..