New traffic light to help with E.L. study

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.

McPherson to speak on U.S. panel

Former MSU President M. Peter McPherson will be one of the four national leaders in a roundtable discussion Wednesday morning in Washington to discuss the nation's role in international affairs.

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.

High school students compete for employment

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.

Area group to canoe during next meeting

The Red Cedar Chapter of Wild Ones will host a canoeing trip along the Grand River for its June meeting on Saturday.

Music producer balances studio with family life

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.

U.S. flags lowered for fallen soldiers

Gov. Jennifer Granholm ordered that all U.S. flags in Michigan be lowered to half-staff Tuesday to honor Army Sgt.

High gas prices encourage alternatives to cars

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.

Police briefs 06/06/05

Banjo 'immersion'

Joe Schelkopf and Linda Garrison sat outside McDonel Hall on Thursday with their banjos in hand. While they played, they took turns providing vocals and discussing technique. Schelkopf is from Nebraska and Garrison is from Missouri; they never met each other until the three-day Midwest Banjo Camp, here at MSU. The camp - which was held Friday through Sunday and attracted people of varying ages and skill levels, who play either old-time or bluegrass - provided "48 hours of banjo immersion." "We got people from all over the country," said Ken Perlman, director and instructor for the banjo camp and professional banjo musician.

Volunteer officers join local police

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.

Local center to hold cleanup for residents

East Lansing residents will have the opportunity to participate in the city's Project Pride - a program geared at helping to clean up area yards and homes.

Invention identifies plants, inspires learning

An invention used by the Michigan 4-H Children's Garden is making learning more exciting with the new Personal Science Assistant, or PSA, a device used to study plants and flowers. Similar to a handheld device, the PSA reads plant labels through a radio frequency and shows pictures and information about each plant. When using the device, kids can easily see what a certain plant looks like now, but also what it will look like in the summer, fall and winter. Also by the click of a button, the PSA can show how each plant will function in nature. Aparna Ramchandran, the MSU graduate student who invented the machine, said she wanted to create something different for her master's thesis. "My adviser came up with an idea about the PSA," she said.

Tour your own town, visit little-known sites

Lansing - Summer doesn't officially arrive for another three weeks, but the sun isn't waiting.

E.L. sees decline in summer revenue

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.

Two five-week classes to teach ice skating

East Lansing will host two five-week summer classes to teach area residents how to ice skate. The Learn to Skate Program will operate from June 13 through July 16 and July 18 through August 20 at Suburban Ice, 2810 Hannah Blvd.

MSU to host Lansing labor law conference

An "Emerging Issues in Labor and Employment Law" conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Family Aquatic Center offers families cool fun

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.

Sparrow Hospital employs robot docs

Lansing - Michigan residents have grown used to robots performing simple tasks on automobile assembly lines.

Advocates rally for mental health at Capitol

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.