Monday, June 29, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Harpers turns retro to raise money for crime victims council

Ryan Wallace
July 26, 2001

Big hair, leggings and the music of Devo will be back this Friday. The 1980s will be returning to East Lansing, but only for one night. The Crime Victims Advocacy Council is holding a 1980s theme fund-raising event at Harper’s Restaurant & Brewpub, 131 Albert Ave., to help fund the group. “We support and provide services for victims of any crime,” said Heather Boyer, executive director of the council. The organization was founded this past January by victims of crime to help other victims deal with trauma and stress.

MICHIGAN

Drunken driving drops in E.L., Michigan

Shaun Byron
July 25, 2001

Gov. John Engler announced last week fatalities and accidents involving drunken drivers have dropped to the lowest point in eight years.The recent drop in numbers was attributed to Michigan’s repeat offender laws.Under state law, a repeat offender has two or more alcohol-related convictions within seven years, three or more convictions for driving while suspended or revoked in seven years, or three or more alcohol-related convictions within 10 years.Motorists who are repeat offenders face tougher sentencing, license sanctions and are required to attend substance abuse counseling.The numbers dropped from 541 deaths in 1999 to 515 in 2000.

MICHIGAN

Bailey festival features 10 acts

Shaun Byron
July 23, 2001

The audience sat on red and yellow painted wooden box chairs or shag carpeting as Cathy Illman sang bittersweet songs on her guitar.The psychology junior was just one of the acts in the first Bailey Music Festival on Saturday at the Bailey Center, 300 Bailey St.The concert, which included 10 performances, was sponsored by East Lansing Recreation & Arts.Studio art junior Josh Kermiet, who helped coordinate the event, said the idea for the daylong music festival was his.“The idea was to throw together local talent that doesn’t get much exposure,” he said.The Bailey Center, he said, had at one time been a place for people to come and enjoy live bands.

MICHIGAN

Council to discuss new waste program

Shannon Murphy
July 23, 2001

The East Lansing City Council will discuss a voluntary automated solid waste system program at its Tuesday work session. The program would give residents the opportunity to put out a 65-gallon container, instead of bags, that would be picked up by an automatic waste truck. Jean Golden, East Lansing deputy city manager, said the system would save time and prevent injuries, such as back injuries, to employees lifting heavy bags and waste cans. “Right now we have two-person trucks and people have to get out, pick up the trash bags and throw them back in the truck,” she said.

MICHIGAN

Fire scorches E.L. apartment building

Ryan Wallace
July 23, 2001

An East Lansing apartment building suffered heavy damages and 12 occupants were left homeless after an early Saturday morning fire.East Lansing firefighters arrived at Stonehedge Apartments, 1502 South Shore Drive, at 4 a.m.

MICHIGAN

Forum introduces candidates to E.L.

Shannon Murphy
July 18, 2001

Students and residents will have a chance to listen to all of the candidates vying for East Lansing City Council in one place tonight. The Greater Lansing Area League of Women Voters will host a forum for the eight city council candidates at 7 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Council votes to build skate park near Frandor

Shaun Byron
July 18, 2001

LANSING - The council chambers at City Hall were packed with young teens wearing shorts and T-shirts awaiting word Monday night.Clutching skateboards and inline skates, they were there in support of the skate park, which the council voted unanimously to build near the Frandor Shopping Center at Ranney Park in Lansing.“I told the rest of the committee last night I needed to go home and pinch myself,” George Leichtweis, finance chairman for the Lansing Area Skate, Bike & Recreation Foundation, said Tuesday.Leichtweis, who also owns Modern Skate and Surf, 1393 E.

MICHIGAN

Council to give Troppo decision

Shannon Murphy
July 16, 2001

The East Lansing City Council will discuss Tuesday whether to give Troppo a permit to build a second-story addition. The restaurant, 213 Ann St., is asking for a permit to build a second-story addition to the existing restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. At its last meeting June 26, the council decided to wait until this meeting before making a decision, allowing council members to speak with community members and Troppo owner Kris Elliott. The decision came after some council members and community members said they were unsure of whether Troppo was a fine-dining restaurant or a bar. Residents raised concerns that if Troppo was a bar, the increased consumption of alcohol, especially on a rooftop, would be a disturbance to those in surrounding businesses and neighborhoods. Councilmember Beverly Baten is still uncertain of what she or the council will do about the special-use permit application. “I’m definitely listening to the concerns from the community,” she said.

MICHIGAN

High-schoolers preview college

Cavan Moon
July 12, 2001

Many high school students spend their summers dreaming of being in college and out on their own. A few of those students are getting a taste of college life this summer at MSU.The students are members of the Minority Apprenticeship Program, a six-week program run by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

MICHIGAN

E.L. arts commission looks to fill vacancy

Shannon Murphy
July 12, 2001

Art lovers may be able to see their ideas unfold in East Lansing. The East Lansing Arts Commission is looking for someone to fill an opening after a member resigned. The commission is looking for an East Lansing resident who has a background in art and an interest in sculpture. Lori VanOmmeren, the city’s urban designer and staff liaison to the commission, said the new member’s term would go through the end of 2003. She also said the commission is very important to promoting art in the city. “They advise city council on matters pertaining to art programs, review and request support for art programs and administer the public art program,” she said.

MICHIGAN

Michigan pay phone users face price increase this fall

Shannon Murphy
July 12, 2001

With rising tuition, bus fare, housing and pop prices, students now have another price increase to contend with - pay phones. SBC Communication Inc., the parent company of Ameritech, announced it would be raising pay phone prices from 35 cents to 50 cents. Denise Koenig, an Ameritech spokeswoman, said the increase, which will be implemented across Michigan by September, was because of a number of reasons. “The change is due to increased operating costs and decreased usage,” she said.

MICHIGAN

Farmers market celebrates new locale

Shannon Murphy
July 11, 2001

Students and residents won’t have to live on a farm to get fresh produce. The East Lansing Farmer’s Market will allow people to purchase fresh products when it holds its grand opening celebration Thursday. The farmer’s market, which is in its seventh year, will be moving from its location under the Charles Street parking structure to a new location on the corner of Albert Avenue and Charles Street, just east of the Marriott hotel at University Place, 300 M.A.C.

MICHIGAN

Lansing firefighers beat

Cavan Moon
July 11, 2001

Lansing firefighters and police officers have routinely rolled up their sleeves and fought it out during the past two weeks. Despite the bloodshed, both forces seem pleased with the outcome. That’s because the two services were competing to raise blood for the American Red Cross.

MICHIGAN

Company offers renewable energy

Shannon Murphy
July 5, 2001

It’s not easy being green. But G is for green power, and that’s good enough for John Strickler, director of communications for the Lansing Board of Water and Light. The board has a contract with Granger Electric Co. to purchase methane gas from landfills and sell it to customers as renewable energy. Joel Zylstra, president of Granger Electric Co. said as a landfill begins to decompose it emits methane gas, which can be used just like natural gas. “It has significant environmental benefits,” he said.

MICHIGAN

Program turns empty tanks into cash for grillers

Shaun Byron  and  Cavan Moon
July 5, 2001

Gas grills around the state were fired up on Wednesday for the Fourth of July, but where do users go to refill their propane tanks once they’re empty? If the tank doesn’t have an overfill prevention device, or OPD, it may be difficult to find anyone to refill it. New regulations in Michigan will prohibit tanks that lack the prevention device from being filled, beginning April 1, 2002.

MICHIGAN

BATmobile travels across Michigan roadways

Shaun Byron
July 5, 2001

Michigan police departments are using the BATmobile to catch a few jokers on the roads.The Breath Alcohol Testing van, or BATmobile, is a vehicle used in processing drunken drivers by having blood alcohol level testing available on the scene.The van is part of the high-tech equipment police are using in part of the Drive Michigan Safely Task Force campaign, “You Drink & Drive.