Thelma Hoggard's bright smile from underneath her soaking wet poncho greeted East Lansing residents as they began their trek to get rid of their trash.Hoggard, an East Lansing resident, was one of the volunteers who braved cold and rainy weather Saturday at the ninth annual Project Pride.
Six-year-old Stefan Lindahl wishes he had the help of a giant robot to save Spartan Village Elementary School from closing."We could make a big giant robot and have the robot pick up Spartan Village and move it, and put up a sign that says 'destroyed' to trick the guy who wants to close it," he said."We could move to where no one could find it."After nearly 50 years of elementary education on MSU's campus, the international school, 1460 Middlevale Road, is set to close its doors next week.
The East Lansing Family Aquatic Center will open its doors on Saturday, weather permitting. In past summers about 800 to 900 residents and guests have splashed around in the 375,000-gallon pool each day, East Lansing recreation coordinator Ken Elwert said. The Aquatic Center, 6400 Abbott Road, is open 11 a.m.
East Lansing is joining up with residents to help clean up the city. The city's recycling program, Project Pride, annually helps residents clear out their homes, garages and yards by setting up drop-off points for donated household items and recyclables. One hundred volunteers will help collect recyclables from 8 a.m.
Groucho glasses in hand, Joe Kavanagh stood before his fellow East Lansing High School students telling them to prepare to enter the history books.Kavanagh and 799 of his fellow students at 509 E.
East Lansing residents might be belted with tickets during the next two weeks if they don't buckle up. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning kicked off its "Buckle Up or Pay Up" campaign on Monday to raise public awareness about wearing safety belts. Extra officers will be placed on the streets in designated zones around the Lansing area to find drivers not wearing safety belts.
With many students leaving East Lansing for the summer, local businesses are forced to find alternative ways to bring in customers.Businesses try to take advantage of big summer events such as the East Lansing Art Festival and the Great Lakes Folk Festival to attract customers.Liz Murphy, manager of Harper's Restaurant & Brewpub, 131 Albert Ave., said she finds creative ways to lure people into the restaurant.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced Thursday the relaunching of Mentor Michigan spearheaded by her husband, the newly appointed chairman for the Michigan Community Service Commission.First gentleman Daniel Mulhern will lead the state agency, which funds, promotes and supports volunteer programs throughout the state.Mulhern will replace former Chairman Russ Mawby, a position Mawby held since 2000.The announcement was made at the Lansing Center, 333 E.
The Legislature has moved one step closer to commemorating the legacy of a man who fought for the rights of migrant farm workers. A bill introduced by state Sen.
Lansing - A tearful Earvin "Magic" Johnson returned to his hometown for the opening of the 11th Magic Johnson HP Inventor Center Thursday at the Black Child & Family Institute, 835 W.
The MSU student hoping to run for an East Lansing City Council seat might have to wait two more years. Caleb Marker, an international relations junior, turned his petition into City Clerk Sharon Reid, Tuesday with 55 signatures but not all signatures were valid, she said. A candidate must turn in an petition with at least 50 valid signatures from registered East Lansing voters. Five of Marker's signatures did not belong to registered voters in East Lansing and two were illegible, bringing Marker's signature total below the mark, Reid said. The clerk's office is working to verify the last two signatures, which must be validated for Marker's name to appear on the ballot. Marker also sits on The State News Board of Directors. If Marker's petition cannot be verified, only the three incumbents will be candidates.
Researchers at MSU and other institutions across the state are working on ways to get more college graduates to come to Michigan. Many Michigan graduates find jobs in the state, but employers are hoping to attract out-of-state graduates as well, researchers have found. "Since 1996, 72 to 76 percent of Michigan grads have stayed in the state," said Phil Gardner, director of research at MSU's Collegiate Employment Research Institute.
Those charged with crimes committed during the March 31 riot will be sent to pretrial May 28 and 30. Ian Bailey, Bala Mucki, Daniel Callton, James Luellen, Kimberly Martin and Miguel Miranda will go to pretrial May 28 and a preliminary exam May 30 before Judge David Jordon. Timothy Ricker and Tony Warren will go to pretrial May 30 and a preliminary exam June 2 before Judge Richard Ball. These students are being charged for crimes committed in the riot which caused more than $40,000 in damage to MSU's campus. University and city officials pursued rioters by formulating a task force offering a $2,500 reward for tips leading to the arrests and convictions of people involved. Joseph Montes
Summer humidity and heat could bring an explosive mosquito population, increasing East Lansing's risk for the West Nile virus, city officials say. "The greater the mosquito population, the higher the concern that more people will get West Nile," said Dave Smith, environmental specialist for East Lansing. The city of East Lansing is implementing a program to monitor and control a large increase of mosquitoes during the summer months. East Lansing, along with many areas throughout the state, are at risk because of standing water and retention ponds which is creating mosquito breeding grounds, Smith said. The city has not had a mosquito control system in place in recent years, but the issue could be crucial this year, Smith said. "We have not done anything up until the point because mosquitoes were nothing more than a nuisance problem - now it is a human health issue," he said. Employees in the East Lansing Department of Public Works are identifying mosquito breeding grounds and placing donut-like cakes of larvicide to keep new mosquito populations down. The cakes, or "dunks," are composed of a natural bacteria found in soil that kills mosquito larvae. "We are trying to get ahead of the situation because there will most likely be cases of West Nile virus, it's just a question of how many and how severe," public service administrator Angela Mabin said. At a work session Tuesday, department officials explained the affects of spraying a higher-toxicity insecticide to combat the mosquitoes. "Targeted spraying would be the last resort," Mabin said.
State Sen. Virg Bernero, D-Lansing said he is "seriously thinking about running" for Lansing mayor. "I am moving closer to a decision, I am leaning toward running," he said.While Bernero has not filed an application with the city yet, he is expected to publicly confirm his decision today.
MSU police Officer Shaun Mills rides his motorcycle with precision around small orange cones on one of the hardest courses a rider can be tested on.Scoring 98 percent on his final exam, Mills has just graduated Police Motorcycle Operator Training, a program run by MSU's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.As program instructor, Doug Wolfe handed Mills his graduation certificate he made mention of Mills high score and stopping ability."Mr. balanced stop," Wolfe said.
Public universities in Michigan might see varying cuts in funding under a budget proposal approved by a higher education subcommittee in the state House on Wednesday.
Even through the scandal of a $13,000 embezzlement, the Listening Ear Crisis Intervention Center will continue its work serving the Greater Lansing community.In early April, the Listening Ear suspected their office manager was using the organization's credit card for personal use.
The deadline to run for East Lansing City Council is quickly approaching, but only two applicants have applied for the three available positions. City Clerk Sharon Reid said while at least eight people have picked up petitions, only two incumbent council members have turned them in.
Citizen's Police Academy to give public chance to learn The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety is now signing up those interested for its Citizen's Police Academy. The next class is scheduled to begin 7 p.m.