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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Students hold clothing drive

Allison Lucy
March 12, 2003

Dewitt - When a Lansing youth group dropped its donation off at the Child and Family Services of Lansing, it immediately decided it wanted to do more. When the members of the Youth Action Committee of the Capital Region Community Foundation brought a money donation to the center, 4287 Five Oaks Drive in Lansing, they noticed the organization had a sparse amount of donated clothing. "I made up a video, posted posters for the schools and got our junior high school involved," said Hillary Pasch, action committee co-chair and a DeWitt High School senior.

MICHIGAN

Gas prices unlikely to raise CATA rates

Brian Charlton
March 12, 2003

Capital Area Transportation Authority officials say though they are keeping watch over rising gas prices, they don't anticipate increased costs for their riders. "We are keeping a close eye on gas prices since it's such a big part of our budget," said Pat Gilbert, CATA director of marketing. Although CATA ridership has been "booming," there has never been a "proven correlation between high gas prices and increased bus riders," Gilbert said. "It's amazing what people will pay to stay in their cars," she said. She said there are no plans to raise prices or change routes in the area. But despite consistent prices, English junior Emily Laskowsky said she is hoping the spring weather will soon bloom in East Lansing, so she can toss aside her car keys and avoid budget-busting gas prices. "I'm definitely looking forward to the warm weather," she said.

MICHIGAN

Roly Poly opens its doors, pulls in student business

Casey Mcnenly
March 12, 2003

Roly Poly, the Georgia-based sandwich shop specializing in rolled sandwiches, opened its doors in East Lansing on Tuesday. Yonni Hanson, the store's general manager, said the grand opening yielded a steady crowd and hopes it is a sign of more to come. "We're excited to see students and faculty," he said.

MICHIGAN

Local business man dies at 58

Elysia A. Smith
March 12, 2003

After more than 25 years of business in East Lansing, Wazoo Records closed on a sad note. Owner James Patrick Lindsey, 58, died Thursday after suffering a heart attack in his home. Rebecca Lindsey-Kennedy, who was once married to Lindsey, said the fate of the music store doesn't look good after the death of its founder. "There is no one to really run it now," she said.

MICHIGAN

Big Boy on 'cursed corner' says farewell

Casey Mcnenly
March 11, 2003

The storefront located at 101 E. Grand River Ave. at the corner of Abbott Road is once again vacant.Movers carried out furniture and equipment from the East Lansing Big Boy on Saturday because the restaurant didn't make enough money.

MICHIGAN

Exhibit offers healing outlet

When faced with an almost overwhelming family ordeal, John Magnan decided to turn pain into art.After his wife, Mary, was diagnosed with an advanced stage of ovarian cancer in April 1999, the professional sculptor and New Bedford, Mass., native began crafting various artistic works to help him cope with her illness."I'm an artist, and this was my way of dealing with the trauma of my wife's fairly severe diagnosis," Magnan said.The pieces eventually became the 15 compositions forming the "Body Image/Body Essence" national art exhibit tour.

MICHIGAN

Program faces expanding community challenges

MSU Extension's Citizen Planner, a six-part program designed to teach interested participants about facing the challenges of a growing community, begins March 19. The program will focus on the basics of planning, reviews of site plans, legalities, best practices and running productive meetings.

MICHIGAN

Council to discuss city parking issues

Brian Charlton
March 11, 2003

East Lansing officials are looking at new marketing tactics and innovative permits to attract motorists to use the city's parking system.With fewer people parking in the system, the city is looking for opportunities to improve customer convenience and efficient usage of the garages.The city council will discuss the parking budget at 6 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Capitol Update

Sarah Frank
March 10, 2003

Legislators look for replacements in case of call to active duty As the threat of war increases, state legislators are working to create a constitutional amendment to ensure a replacement for any legislator called to active military duty. The resolution states the governor would appoint a temporary replacement for the legislator during his or her military obligation. The resolution also states that the replacements must be from the same district and party as the legislators they are replacing.

MICHIGAN

Lansing City Council to honor residents

Benita Mehta
March 10, 2003

Lansing - Three tributes for hard-working members of the Lansing community will take place at the 7 p.m. city council meeting today. The council will honor John and Judith Peakes for their work on stage productions at BoarsHead Theater, 425 S.

MICHIGAN

Zulu baskets set for exhibit this weekend

More than 150 Zulu baskets will go on exhibit and sale today. The baskets will be on display at All Saints Episcopal Church, 800 Abbott Road, today from noon until 9 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m.

MICHIGAN

'U' members discuss MTV greek portrayal

Aaron Foley
February 28, 2003

Sitting among his fraternity brothers watching the debut of MTV's "Fraternity Life," Matthew Castel expressed his disgust at some of the scenes. "That's really disgusting," the electrical engineering junior, a member of Delta Tau Delta, said after a Sigma Chi Omega brother talked about defecating on the top of a toilet instead of inside the bowl on camera. Both "Sorority Life 2" and "Fraternity Life" debuted on MTV on Wednesday night.

MICHIGAN

Activists rejoice after court ruling on protests

Benita Mehta
February 28, 2003

After a Supreme Court ruling earlier this week giving protection to protesters from racketeering and extortion charges, some local protest groups are rejoicing at the decision. The case dealt with anti-abortion demonstrators that were charged with blocking clinic entrances, attacking doctors, patients and clinic staff and destroying equipment.

MICHIGAN

Weight Watchers tries to help curb obesity

Next week, Mid-Michigan will have the opportunity to weigh in and become more healthy. Weight Watchers is working with the American Cancer Society to launch the society's "Great American Weigh-In." Lansing's Weight Watchers center, at 500 N.

MICHIGAN

Students enjoy tour through Capitol

Sarah Frank
February 28, 2003

Lansing - As they walked through the Senate wing of the state Capitol, 25 elementary students gasped in awe at the massive beauty of the building's rotunda. "The rotunda is for us, the constituents," Capitol tour guide Dan Reynolds told the fourth-graders. "It's supposed to make us feel proud - does it make you feel proud?" With mouths open wide, the class stared up through the rotunda's wooden balconies to the high blue ceiling painted with gold stars and answered with a resounding, "yes." The students and teacher Bill Lenyz traveled from Nellie Reed Elementary School in Vernon, about 40 minutes northeast of Lansing, to attend the tour earlier this week. Sixteen capitol tours are led per day, and people have been touring the building since 1979.

MICHIGAN

Leaders offer solutions

Brian Charlton
February 27, 2003

Community leaders say they are looking at long-term solutions rather than quick fixes for the budget troubles in East Lansing Public Schools.Hampered by funding dilemmas, the Board of Education has been left with the duty of putting back together the pieces of the district's long-term puzzle."We can reinvent the schools," said Bill Donohue, secretary of the school board and an MSU communication professor.

MICHIGAN

State leadership celebrates Black History Month with music at Capitol

Joey Guillen
February 27, 2003

Lansing - With a choir swaying right to left behind her, 9-year-old Taylor Fowlkes belted out "Still I Rise" in front of a packed Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday. "I was nervous, then when I got into the middle part, I just got happy," she said. Fowlkes' performance was part of the annual Black History Month Celebration, which included dancing, a jazz performance and an appearance by Gov.

MICHIGAN

Granholm: Tax hike not a possibility

Joey Guillen
February 26, 2003

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has considered a long list of possibilities to solve Michigan's budget problems, but one possibility she will not consider is a tax hike. "The governor has made it very clear in every public briefing that she has no intention of raising taxes," Granholm spokeswoman Elizabeth Boyd said. Next week, Granholm will present a balanced budget proposal to offset next year's $1.7-billion general fund deficit.

MICHIGAN

Consumers spend, invest less

Sarah Frank
February 26, 2003

Consumers may be less confident to spend and invest during "sluggish" economic times due in part to a weak labor market and the looming war in Iraq, according to a recent consumer survey.The Consumer Confidence Index, a survey of consumer expectations and present conditions, fell to the lowest level since October 1993.