Dominique Nolff’s killer pleads guilty
Marquay McCoy, the 20-year-old charged in the murder of MSU student Dominique Nolff, pleaded guilty March 6, according to the Lansing State Journal.
The Grand Rapids resident pleaded guilty to second degree murder and armed robbery, which carries a sentence of 32 years to life in prison.
On Jan. 31, 2014, McCoy attempted to rob Nolff and his roommate at gunpoint. He attempted to take medical marijuana and a laptop during a party at Nolff’s Cedar Street apartment.
Roommate and hospitality business junior Corbin Holwerda earlier testified he put McCoy in a “full Nelson” while Nolff repeatedly punched McCoy in the face, according to LSJ.
During the altercation, McCoy managed to fire a .9 mm pistol, hitting both students.
Nolff was shot in the head and the shoulder area and died the following day. Holwerda was shot in the calf.
McCoy’s sentencing is set for April 8.
Michigan lawmakers take the Polar Plunge
In near-15 degree weather, a record 50 legislators and their staff took part in the annual Legislative Polar Plunge on the Capitol lawn to raise money for Special Olympics Michigan on March 5.
Michigan’s Lt. Gov. Brian Calley was the first to take the icy dip.
In past years, the event has raised $120,000 for the cause, and legislators showed up in a variety of creative clothing, including many who made the leap in suits. Rep. Klint Kesto, R-Commerce Township, wore a Superman outfit and Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, represented his district by jumping in dressed in lederhosen and wielding a pint of beer, managing the jump while spilling hardly any beer.
Special Olympics Michigan is a non-profit group whose mission is “to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.” The organization frequently holds polar plunge events around the state to raise money.
The group’s website said 20,797 athletes participate in events, which are held at no charge to athletes or their families.
President and CEO of Special Olympics Michigan Lois Arnold was at the event to personally thank “all of these brave legislators.”
To see a video of the plunge, visit statenews.com/multimedia.
Alternative music station 94.1 becomes country station
Starting Monday at 6 a.m., fans of country music in East Lansing area will have one more radio station acclimated to their tastes.
94.1-FM WVIC, a station that currently plays alternative and rock music, will switch to broadcasting in ‘classic’ country format, featuring prominent artists and music from 1985 to 2000.
The decision was announced by Patrick Pendergast, vice president and general manager for Midwest Communications Inc. in Lansing. Pendergast was hired last spring as the head of the Lansing radio market, including four stations: WJQX, WQTX, WLMI and WVIC.
In addition to the changes at WVIC, 92.9 WLMI “Lansing’s Greatest Hits” radio station has lost its long-time morning host Tim Barron. Barron has launched his own web-based talk show called Tim Barron’s RadioMichigan.com. His final broadcast on WLMI was March 6.
WLMI will be more music-focused now, as opposed to the talk-heavy segments currently spotlighted, but the music programming will remain unchanged.
Many fans have complained about the change in WVIC’s programming by commenting on the station’s Facebook page. The new 94.1 “The Duke” joins two other popular country stations in the area including 100.7 WITL and B-93, broadcasting from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo counties.
Fashion show held
Fashion reigned last Friday evening at Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre as student designers displayed their creative garments for all to see.
This year’s annual Apparel and Textile Design Fashion Show featured 35 student designers, with each showing up to three pieces.
The fashion show was open to all MSU students interested in fashion design, but the admissions process was competitive.
“We go through a jury of judges. We show our work to them and they decide which pieces are suited for the show,” apparel and textile design senior Autumn Hauer said. “There’s probably about a 50 percent acceptance rate.”
