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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

New traffic light to help with E.L. study

Darrell Hughes
June 7, 2005

Some student and city pedestrians might have noticed a ticking countdown when crossing one East Lansing intersection. The Michigan Department of Transportation, or MDOT, along with MSU's Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering is conducting a survey to see how well pedestrians respond to a traffic light that visibly counts down seconds until the light turns red. The new light, called a Countdown Pedestrian Signal, has been placed at the intersection of M.A.C.

MICHIGAN

St. Johns man rides cross-country for diabetes

To Willie Taylor, everyone has a selfless ability waiting to be revealed, and at age 44, he said he has discovered his own. Taylor will use his endurance biking ability when he embarks on a two-month ride from St.

MICHIGAN

High school students compete for employment

Mara Deutch
June 6, 2005

This summer, some high school students will be finding jobs for the first time. And for students in the East Lansing area, finding employment often means competition with college students. "While (college students) are out getting jobs, we're still in school," said Katie Snider, a 17-year-old East Lansing High School student, who has spent the past two weeks looking for her first summer job. Although the job hunt can be difficult for some, other students say they've had success with retail jobs, which hire at age 16. "I put in my application, and I was called within a day," said Ashley Kelley, a 16-year-old East Lansing High School student who works at Weathervane in the Meridian Mall.

MICHIGAN

Music producer balances studio with family life

Darrell Hughes
June 6, 2005

Gregory Pelloski was a full-time MSU student in his mid-20s, married and starting a family, when he decided he had to prioritize and provide a substantial life for his family. Pelloski is now the owner of Mark of the Beast Productions, 945 Pierce Road in Lansing, a music studio that records for upcoming area musicians. MOTB Productions gave Pelloski, who goes by the hip-hop moniker "The Beast," the opportunity to take care of his family, but there was a trade-off. He knew his education was as important as his family, but Pelloski did not want to give up what he loved - making music.

MICHIGAN

High gas prices encourage alternatives to cars

Nick Pelton
June 6, 2005

As gasoline prices continue to rise, some East Lansing residents have turned to biking instead of driving. East Lansing resident Herb LaCross rode his bike to his job at Sparrow Hospital for the first time Friday, and he plans on continuing to bike to work as long as he can. "I just don't want to spend any more money on transportation," the 58-year-old said. LaCross has always ridden his bike for fun - he rides seven to 10 miles a night with his wife Sally - but he got the idea to ride to work during the national Bike-to-Work Week, which was May 16 to May 20. Although saving money on gas was one of the main reasons LaCross is starting to bike to work, there are many reasons biking is better, he said. "When you're riding a bike, you can see everything around you," he said.

MICHIGAN

Volunteer officers join local police

Kris Turner
June 6, 2005

Gary Rutherford fulfills his childhood dream each time he mounts a motorcycle and helps to police area communities as a volunteer officer in the Ingham County Sheriff's Department. "When I was a little boy, I thought the most impressive thing in the world was to be a motor officer," he said. Rutherford and Kurt Bagner were sworn in as part of the sheriff's department on May 25 and are the first volunteer motorcycle officers to join the county's police force. Both men carry guns and have the power to arrest individuals, despite their volunteer status. "As you get older, you start to appreciate the things around you, and at some point in your life, you want to give back," Rutherford said.

MICHIGAN

E.L. sees decline in summer revenue

Darrell Hughes
June 2, 2005

Several businesses along Grand River Avenue, from clothing shops to restaurants, say they have noticed deep declines in sales compared to last year, and the economy isn't to blame. Some store managers said area businesses are too dependent on students, which causes a dramatic shift in profits when students leave in the spring. "Our biggest customers are students," said Dustin Bosscher, manager of Moosejaw Mountaineering, 555 E.

MICHIGAN

Family Aquatic Center offers families cool fun

Darrell Hughes
June 2, 2005

East Lansing residents who want to chill out on warm days can do so at the Family Aquatic Center starting Friday, despite rumors of its closing. The summer water park, located at 6400 Abbott Road, offers various water slides, such as the drop, tube and youth frog slides.

MICHIGAN

Advocates rally for mental health at Capitol

Lindsey Poisson
May 31, 2005

Lansing - The "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" rally was held Thursday at the Capitol to show legislators and the public issues of funding for mental-health programs and stigmas against the mentally ill in Michigan. A crowd of mental-health advocates and people with mental disabilities gathered on the front lawn and steps of the Capitol chanting "walk a mile in my shoes." The event featured representatives from all 83 counties speaking about the state of mental-health programs in their respective county.

MICHIGAN

John Paul II on way to sainthood

Former Pope John Paul II could soon be a saint since Pope Benedict XVI began the process leading to sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church for his predecessor. The pope's choice to beatify, or make "blessed," John Paul II, who died April 2, waives the standard five-year period before the process begins.

MICHIGAN

Michigan homemade

Nick Pelton
May 31, 2005

Lansing- The first quilt Linda Plyler made was for her sister's doll when she was 9. Now more than 40 years later, Plyler is the proud creator of a quilt depicting every city in Michigan with a ZIP code starting with "488." Each of the 80 cities has a square with a photograph, drawing or design . The quilt was on display at the Michigan Historical Center on Friday. "All the photographs I took myself with the exception of Lake Odessa and Cedar Village," said Plyler, who is a Mason resident. East Lansing's square has a picture of Beaumont Tower. Plyler, who is the postmaster in Shaftsburg, Mich.

MICHIGAN

House approves bill on abortion

The Michigan House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday that could make it mandatory for clinics to offer to perform ultrasounds on women contemplating abortion. However, the bill doesn't require women to view the active ultrasound screen or any images taken. The bill was created in hopes that the women contemplating abortion would be fully educated before the procedure and possibly choose to keep the child, said state Rep.

MICHIGAN

Rally of 600 protests for affirmative action

Mara Deutch
May 26, 2005

Lansing - More than 600 people from all over Michigan, chanted "They say Jim Crow, we say hell no" as they marched toward the Capitol on Wednesday protesting against the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI. Included in the protesters were students such as 15-year-old Anthony Bluford, from Cass Technical High School in Detroit, who said the initiative that might affect affirmative action could take away their future opportunities. "Because of affirmative action, that's going to determine my future because I want to go to college someday," Bluford said. The proposal aims to put a choice on the November 2006 state ballot to prevent public colleges and universities, as well as state government, from hiring or accepting students based on characteristics such as race, sex or ethnicity.

MICHIGAN

Income tax for residents only rumor

Darrell Hughes
May 26, 2005

The East Lansing officials' decision to spend $50,000 for a financial analyst led some to assume that East Lansing's transient residents - such as students - would soon pay city income taxes, but city officials said it's just speculation. East Lansing's City Council agreed to have a third party analyze the way officials handle money and to see if other sources of income are available for the city.