Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth was sworn into a new term Wednesday afternoon. The event marked the beginning of Wriggelsworth's fifth term as sheriff.
By Jennifer Dodyk Special for The State News Firefighters from the Lansing Fire Department stressed the importance of fire safety and awareness to middle school students at a yearly Christmas tree burning demonstration in Lansing.
The Ingham County prosecutor appointed a new chief assistant prosecutor to fill the vacancy left by Joyce Draganchuk, who was elected to the Circuit Court.
The newly built City Center parking ramp and a more efficient bus system have caused an increased debt in the city's parking system, officials said. Although parking revenues increased from $2.8 million to $3 million between 2003 and 2004, the expenses are more than the city's parking income, said Joe Heffernan of Plante & Moran. East Lansing Assistant Finance Director Connie Larkin said the debt has increased over the last four years because there are more operating expenses for additional parking, including paying for maintenance and staffing the parking lots. "Service costs are the biggest problem," Larkin said. The city overbuilt the newer structures because it was cheaper than building more in the future, but it now owes several million dollars on the lot, she said. "In the past, we were always short parking when we were doing development and we certainly didn't want to end up with that problem," Larkin said. She also said less people are driving downtown due to a more efficient Capital Area Transportation Authority system. The addition of shopping at Eastwood Towne Center in Lansing Township and a lack of downtown business diversity slowed parking usage as well, she said. The parking system also loses money when the city collects for parking tickets because it goes to the courts instead, a system which Larkin said the city is working to change. East Lansing City Councilember Vic Loomis, who is on the city's parking task force, said a substantial expansion of parking on MSU's campus is another reason for a drop in cars downtown, but that all the factors have an impact. "All of them taken into consideration put real pressure onto the revenues of the parking system," Loomis said. Dan O'Connor, East Lansing parking administrator, said his department is looking at different technologies that could attract more downtown parking patrons. O'Connor said central pay stations that accept credit cards and cash are options for replacing meters. "We're trying to accommodate the customers," he said. Larkin said although the credit card system will be an added cost, it is a good service to provide customers and hopefully keep them downtown. Since money is tight, Larkin said the city is also considering privatizing the parking program. "We're going to work as hard as we possibly can to solve these problems and try to not create more," she said. O'Connor said the parking department is hopeful that the improvements will help bring drivers back. "Right now, we're holding our own," he said.
The Michigan economy and the number of residents with a college degree will each gain some needed attention through the formation of a council on Tuesday by Gov.
Despite the fact that thousands of students will leave East Lansing for Christmas vacation in the next week, area business owners say they are not anticipating any change in sales. Instead, other residents can make up for the departure of students, said some owners. "Certainly our customer base shifts," said Dick Rosemont, co-owner of Flat Black & Circular, 541 E.
MSU President M. Peter McPherson will be honored by MSU alumnus Sen. Alan Sanborn, R-Richmond Township, at 10 a.m.
Lions and tigers and bears had better behave. A bill that would allow zookeepers to carry higher-concentration pepper spray to control large animals was introduced in the Michigan Senate in September and is now sitting in the Committee on Judiciary. "This adds a layer of safety on that we'd like to have," said Greg Geise, the director at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek. Geise said it was an important issue because the law does not make a provision for zoos to use the higher-concentration sprays.
The East Lansing City Council will not meet this week in observance of Hanukkah. Council will meet next for a work session on Dec.
The Lansing Fire Department, Flagstar Bank and Lansing Public Schools will sponsor a live Christmas tree burning demonstration on Wednesday. The exhibition is meant to demonstrate the flammability of Christmas trees.
The U.S. Postal Service might raise the price of stamps by about 3 cents in 2006, officials said. A request to the federal government to increase prices will probably come in the spring, said Gerry McKiernan, spokesman for the service.
When Mel Buschman prepared to go overseas during World War II, he put everything he needed into a sack, including his dress uniform. But all Buschman eventually carried was a canteen, a jacket and a raincoat. "We slept 46 days and nights with nothing over our head but a raincoat," he said.
When he heard the plinks of food pellets falling out of the dispenser, the reindeer Dancer nudged his mouth and nose through the metal fence. Four-year-old East Lansing resident Sarah Postema stretched out her hand and Dancer lapped the snack away. "Ooh, it tickles," Sarah said and giggled.
Negotiations between Sparrow Health System and the Michigan Nurses Association concluded Thursday with the ratification of a new contract. The decision ended the possibility of a strike by the association. Representatives from Sparrow released an official statement Friday and declined to comment further. "This contract represents an investment in Sparrow nurses and other professional associates through fair and competitive wages and benefits, while continuing Sparrow's mission of providing quality, compassionate and accessible health care to our community," the statement said. This agreement gives a contract to almost 1,800 health care professionals - which include nurses, pharmacists and physical therapists - who have been working without one since Oct.
Journalist Mitch Albom will be signing copies of his book, "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," at 7:30 p.m.
Angels will be popping up all over town as the East Lansing UAW Non-Supervisory employees begin a campaign to benefit a local shelter and advocacy center. The event, on behalf of Child & Family Services, Capital Area and the Angel House project, offers a pin-up angel card to anyone who makes a donation to the Angel House shelter, 4287 Five Oaks Drive in Lansing.
Local art lovers can view or buy their favorite artists' work at the fourth annual "Art for the Soul" sale in Williamston on Saturday. Ten artists will exhibit and sell their work from 10 a.m.
A bill that would remove restrictions for absentee voting stalled in the Michigan Senate on Wednesday when legislators voted to leave it in a committee. The two-year session is scheduled to end Thursday and bills do not carry over into the new term. The bill, which was introduced by Sen.
Pounding out a rhythmic beat with their heavy boots, 89 men and women marched into the Lansing Center's Main Ballroom as Michigan State Police recruits - and left as troopers. Recruits from the 120th Trooper Recruit School graduation were sworn in and received their trooper badges on Thursday, after about five months of intense training.
Michigan's first female governor will join fellow Democratic governors in assisting her political party's cause. Gov.