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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

MSU grads place in top 5 in Miss Michigan pageant

Mara Deutch
June 20, 2006

Donning a sparkling tiara and wearing rhinestone-covered jeans imprinted with the name of her hometown, 2006 MSU graduate Michelle Kimball became the third runner-up in the Miss Michigan Scholarship Program on Saturday. Kimball, a Grand Rapids native who graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, is Miss Greater Grand Rapids, a title she won in August 2005 and once before in 2003. "I came across their Web site a few years back, and it was a scholarship pageant, so I thought I'd give it a shot," she said. The Miss Greater Grand Rapids Scholarship Program, which is associated with the Miss America Scholarship Program, gives scholarships to talented young women based on a personal interview, talent, physical fitness and evening gown, said Kathy Dood, producer of Miss Greater Grand Rapids. "The goal is to earn the right to go on to Miss Michigan and then on to Miss America," Dood said.

MICHIGAN

Representing Youth

Mara Deutch
June 20, 2006

Walking through the suburban neighborhood of Troy, 20-year-old MSU student Eric Gregory passed out fliers Saturday on the issues and goals he wants to address if he is elected into the Michigan House of Representatives. As the Democratic candidate in the Aug.

MICHIGAN

City seeks lower speed limits

Justin Kroll
June 19, 2006

The city of East Lansing has filed a motion of reconsideration to the Michigan Supreme Court against the Michigan Department of Transportation, or MDOT, over speed limits on certain streets. The case involves speed limits raised by the department in February 2005 on portions of Grand River Avenue and Saginaw Highway. The limits were raised from 25 mph to 35 mph on areas of Grand River Avenue and 35 mph to 45 mph on Saginaw Highway. In March 2005, the city sued three agencies over the speed limits, and the Ingham County Circuit Court ruled the speed limits should be lowered to 25 mph and 35 mph.

MICHIGAN

Parks get face-lift

Stephanie Pittman
June 16, 2006

The Friends of Ingham County Parks received a donation of about $9,500 that will be used to improve the facilities at parks throughout the county. The donation came from the Capital Region Community Foundation, a charity formed in 1987 that has been funding initiatives to benefit communities in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties. The Friends of Ingham County Parks is a non profit organization whose volunteers help the Ingham County Parks Department in various projects. The parks will use about $3,100 to purchase 16 new wheelchairs to be distributed among Lake Lansing, Hawk Island and Burchfield county parks, said Pat Witte, the Lake Lansing Park manager. "These are the first set of wheelchairs in these parks that will be available for public use," Witte said, adding that they should be available by the end of June or in early July. Nearly $3,300 of the donation will be used to purchase and install shade kites in Hawk Island Park. "There are not a lot of tree canopies in Hawk Island," Witte said.

MICHIGAN

City plans for 12-story building to replace lot

Kris Turner
June 16, 2006

Taking a bite of her Greek salad, Jenny Wein took a moment to peer down Ann Street and soak in the "beauty" of MSU's campus. A 2005 alumna, Wein said one of the things she enjoyed most about MSU was its natural setting. "All of the nature around here makes it wonderful," she said. If plans to construct a 12-story building on the Albert Avenue parking lot are approved by the East Lansing City Council at some point this year, the majesty of campus could be overshadowed, Wein said. The 154-space lot could contain three floors of parking, stores, restaurants and nine stories of high-end rental housing or condominiums. "City Center is one of the bigger reasons I think it will work," said Mike Bailey, the project's potential developer and owner of City Center Partners, LLC.

MICHIGAN

Art gallery walk to be held at public library

Holly Klaft
June 16, 2006

The East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Road, will be holding a gallery walk from July 1-31. The gallery walk will feature oil and acrylic paintings by artist Pat Londy, which were made over 10 years. The walk will take place in the North Foyer Art Gallery of the library and is sponsored by the Friends of the East Lansing Public Library. A reception will be held July 8 from 1:30-4 p.m. For more information, contact art exhibit director Pat Rist at (517) 351-6414.

MICHIGAN

Puppy primping

A four-year university education is not for everyone, especially if fur is your forte. The Michigan School of Canine Cosmetology, 3022 S.

MICHIGAN

Mich. to be added to discount oil program

Stephanie Pittman
June 15, 2006

Lansing — Low-income families throughout the state will be spending less to keep warm this winter, as Michigan will be included in a Venezuelan program that sells heating oil at a 40 percent discount. Heating oil is a petroleum product used primarily in space heaters by about 8.1 million Americans, according to the Energy Information Administration Web site. Venezuelan Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez made the commitment Wednesday during a breakfast reception at the Capitol, kicking off his daylong tour of Lansing and Detroit. "The Heating Oil Assistance Program reflects the commitment of the Venezuelan government to help America — especially poor families — so they can afford heating oil when there is an energy crisis," Alvarez said.

MICHIGAN

AAA to offer glass repair service Friday

Mara Deutch
June 15, 2006

From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday, residents can have stone chips in their windshields fixed, have their Vehicle Identification Number etched on glass surfaces on their cars and/or get a "state-of-the-art" Child ID in the parking lot of the AAA headquarters, 2829 E.

MICHIGAN

Butting heads on helmets

Justin Kroll
June 14, 2006

Personal safety and rising insurance rates have caused some concern with the introduction of a bill that could repeal Michigan's motorcycle helmet law. Michigan law requires riders to wear helmets, but that could be changed by the bill, allowing motorcyclists to choose whether or not to wear a helmet.

MICHIGAN

Pooch playground

Andrea Byl
June 13, 2006

The fastest growing single-purpose park in the nation is — for dogs? Lansing will join the nationwide trend this fall by adding Ingham County's first dog park to the east side of Scott Woods. The 17.5 acre fenced area of Hawk Island County Park features fields, a wooded area and a pond — all designed for dogs and their owners to exercise, socialize and enjoy the outdoors. "The idea is that (dogs and owners) will be able to walk and run without being right next to other people," said Ellen Sullivan, president of Friends of Greater Lansing Dog Parks, or FGLDP, the volunteer group that helped bring the park to Lansing.

MICHIGAN

Nature Center to hold day camp in Okemos

Mara Deutch
June 12, 2006

Third through fifth grade students can participate in crafts and games from June 27-30 or July 25-28 with the Woodland Wizards Day Camp at the Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road in Okemos. The camp costs $60. For more information, call (517) 349-3866.

MICHIGAN

Free-flying smiles

Justin Kroll
June 12, 2006

Mason — Local pilots gave children from around the area the opportunity to experience their first plane ride Saturday on Young Eagles Aviation Day. The event which was held at the Mason Jewett Field Airport, was started in 1992 to promote aviation education among children.

MICHIGAN

Health on the menu

Andrea Byl
June 8, 2006

When Kris Young and state Sen. Samuel "Buzz" Thomas surveyed the choices for a quick, healthy lunch in downtown Lansing, they didn't find many options. The two men, both employed by the state at the time, co-founded Fresh Healthy Food, 111 S.