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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

'FRESH' choices for less

Lauren Talley
July 31, 2007

Greasy chips and candy bars may be a cheap buy, but some farmer's markets provide low-income families and seniors with healthier alternatives at a lower cost. The Meridian Township Farmer's Market, 5151 Marsh Road, in Okemos, offers Project FRESH, a program that provides $20 coupons redeemable for fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. "It's rewarding to be able to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to several people who might not be able to get them otherwise," said Earl Threadgould, a Mason farmer and vendor at the market. "The second advantage is, by having them get fruits and vegetables Michigan-grown, it helps people get accustomed to having fruits and vegetables, and they improve their eating habits," Threadgould said. Project FRESH began in 1986 and provides eligible families with coupon booklets to be used from until through Oct.

MICHIGAN

Police patrols return to standard mileage

Cash Kruth
July 31, 2007

Expect to see more Michigan State Police troopers patrolling up and down the highway now that the state has lifted mileage restrictions on the troopers. In March, Michigan's Department of Management and Budget, or DMB, forced state police to limit miles driven while on patrol. "Since March, we've reduced patrol by about one million miles." said Shanon Akans, Michigan State Police spokeswoman.

MICHIGAN

Businesses prepare for grand opening

Jennifer Orlando
July 31, 2007

Steve Christodoulides has 25 years of restaurant experience under his belt but never before has he opened up an eatery in East Lansing - until now. Christodoulides said people are anxiously awaiting the opening of his new family-owned and operated restaurant, Spartan Gyros, 565 E.

MICHIGAN

Bikers stop in Lansing

Rachael Zylstra
July 30, 2007

MSU alumnus Ken Blidy joined his Pi Kappa Phi fraternity brothers last year to embark on a 63-day coast-to-coast bicycle tour. It wasn't until he finished the tour when everything came together for him. "It didn't actually hit me until we got to Washington, D.C., and we raised our bikes in the air," he said.

MICHIGAN

New store to cater to college students

Craig Trudell
July 30, 2007

Joe Conrad has catered to the hungry, late-night drunken crowd before. The former MSU student involved in opening the Menna's Joint restaurants is at it again with Conrad's Corner, 228 Abbott Road. Conrad describes his new business, located next to Rick's American Cafe, 224 Abbott Road, as a miniature convenience store. "The store is going to be a glorified concessions stand with more of an emphasis on food," he said.

MICHIGAN

Photo ID required

With a change in the state's voting policy, casting a ballot in Michigan will require more than just a pen - it'll require photo identification. In a 5-2 decision July 18, the Michigan Supreme Court upheld a 1996 law that required voters to present photo ID every time they voted.

MICHIGAN

Theater teaches 'life skills'

Craig Trudell
July 27, 2007

CORRECTION: Caption should read Morgan Pohl. Bright light will fall on munchkins, mice and poppies during the next two weekends. All-of-us Express Children's Theatre presents its annual summer performance, "The Wizard of Oz," on Fridays and Saturdays at Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road. The nonprofit theater, founded by director Evelyn Weymouth, offers theater for children, by children. "I've found that if you honestly, truly, to your core, expect professional behavior from children and believe they're capable of it, you'll get it," Weymouth said. More than 50 cast members, ages 6-18, will perform an hour-long show with all the familiar characters but is based on the famous novel rather than the movie musical. Another crew with nearly 60 members execute behind-the-scenes tasks including lights, sound, props, makeup and costumes.

MICHIGAN

Bicycle tour stops at local museum

Rachael Zylstra
July 27, 2007

At 2 p.m. Sunday, Impression 5 Science Center, 200 Museum Drive, in Lansing, will welcome members of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Members of the fraternity have been on a coast-to-coast bicycle tour this summer to raise funds and public awareness for people with disabilities.

MICHIGAN

Children learn healthy habits

Lauren Talley
July 26, 2007

Rows of colorful, fresh produce decorated picnic tables Wednesday as children selected the best they could buy with $5 of Monopoly money. They arrived to the Meridian Township Farmer's Market, 5151 Marsh Road, in Okemos, in neon-green T-shirts at 1:30 p.m.

MICHIGAN

E.L. Aquatic Center hosts outdoor Summer Splash

Sarah Harbison
July 26, 2007

For many of the visitors to the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center, the Summer Splash event Wednesday was a welcome surprise. Maya Mandujano, 9, Alena Hartsuff, 8, and Nicole Jarwan, 9 - three best friends who came to the water park with their babysitter to enjoy the day - found the Summer Splash event was taking place at the center, 6400 Abbott Road. "If there's a raffle, I would like to do the raffle," Mandujano said.

MICHIGAN

Plan will offer incentives to retain state graduates

Pete Nichols
July 25, 2007

When it comes to their plans after college, some students aren't so sure they'll stay in the Great Lakes State. There's Trinidad Esparzo, who plans on returning to his Texas home after he graduates in two years with his food industry degree. And then there's Kim Stemp, an interdisciplinary studies and heath studies senior, who knows one thing for certain - "I'm going to leave Michigan," she said. These MSU students are part of the state's "brain drain," a term that describes the mass exodus of Michigan college graduates to out-of-state jobs, said Gabe Basso, spokesman for Rep.

MICHIGAN

Horse therapy offers healing power

Craig Trudell
July 25, 2007

Dansville — Joshua Pinkelman's life was hanging by a thread from the moment he was born eight years ago. His parents, Keith and Aimee, helplessly watched as Joshua experienced multiple seizures and went the first 20 minutes of his life without oxygen.

MICHIGAN

Hearing set Sept. 17 for Nettles-Nickerson

Rachael Zylstra
July 24, 2007

A trial-like hearing will take place Sept. 17 in the case of Judge Beverley Nettles-Nickerson, who was suspended from the bench June 6 by the Michigan Supreme Court. Nettles-Nickerson was suspended with pay after a formal complaint was filed by the Judicial Tenure Commission on May 16. The complaint cited 10 counts of improper conduct by the judge, including allegations of fabricating evidence and making false statements.

MICHIGAN

Google to expand search to Mich. data

Brian McVicar
July 24, 2007

State data will become more accessible with a little help from Google. Google Inc. now is working to put 200 online databases from Michigan's Web site on its search engine. The makeover, which is free of charge, should make it easier for people to look up state information, such as road closings and statewide Michigan Education Assesment Program, or MEAP, scores on the search engine. "Our mission is to make as much information available to users as possible," said Katie Watson, a Google spokeswoman. The data is only available on the state's Web site. People often search Google for information on new state programs or what roads aren't open, Watson said. When people can't find it on the search engine, it reflects badly on Google, she said. "A big incentive for us was if this information wasn't available, it was the search engine's fault," Watson said. But when people perform a search on the state's Web site, they're sometimes bogged down with massive numbers of pages, said Kurt Weiss, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Information Technology. For instance, MEAP scores are spread throughout 25,000 pages. But using Google as a search option should eliminate that problem, creating more specific, user-friendly pages, Weiss said.

MICHIGAN

Program 'launches' in Lansing

Rachael Zylstra
July 24, 2007

Summer Schriner knew Old Town, in Lansing, was missing something. So when it came to starting another business in the area, she filled the void when she opened Grace, a women's clothing boutique, 115 W.

MICHIGAN

Potter bring out fanatics

Jennifer Orlando
July 23, 2007

"Expecto Patronum!" yelled the boy with the black, horn-rimmed glasses and familiar scar. With a swoop of his wand, the dementor slowly backed away. No, it wasn't Harry Potter who cast the dementor-repelling spell.