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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

City officials may receive pay raises

Brandi Lewandowski
April 17, 2001

LANSING - Lansing officials are slated for a raise in July and then again in mid-2002, unless city council members vote to oppose the increases. If the council doesn’t vote before April 28, Lansing Mayor David Hollister, City Clerk Steve Dougan and Lansing City Council members will see salary increases ranging from 2 percent to 13 percent. Lansing’s Elected Officers Compensation Commission approved the increase in March.

MICHIGAN

Council to discuss location of cellular phone tower

Jamie Gumbrecht
April 17, 2001

Although Amanda Machovsky has owned a cellular phone since she began college four years ago, she never noticed any of East Lansing’s nine cellular phone towers. Toting her brand-new, pale green cellular phone, Machovsky, an elementary education senior, says the communication tool can be a necessity - or an accessory. “The other one I had was attached to my car,” she said.

MICHIGAN

Parks serve tastier foods

Brandi Lewandowski
April 16, 2001

LANSING - Amy Thompson is a huge Lansing Lugnuts fan, but one of her favorite reasons for visiting Oldsmobile Park is the wide array of foods she can fill up on. “It’s usually food you can’t have at your house,” said Thompson, an eighth-grader at Holt Junior High School, while munching on her giant New York Pretzel. And at Oldsmobile Park, 505 E.

MICHIGAN

Police tie flexcuffs to murder

Jeremy W. Steele
April 13, 2001

MASON - After nearly 15 years, a mother’s persistence may have paid off.Muriel Kirby sat with a box of tissues on her lap Thursday while investigators announced they had arrested the man they believe killed her daughter in 1986.David Phillip Draheim was arraigned in 55th District Court on Thursday for the murder of Jeanette Kirby.Kirby, a 36-year-old state employee from Lansing, was found dead in Riverbend Park in Holt on June 12, 1986.

MICHIGAN

State teachers receive new laptop computers

Drew Harmon
April 13, 2001

Several East Lansing teachers gathered Thursday afternoon for something that resembled Christmas coming early - just a little more high-tech than the Christian holiday.As part of a new state program, Michigan teachers are able to sign up to receive new laptops from the state for use in their classrooms and homes.Several East Lansing elementary teachers received their new computers Thursday, along with a training session on how to use them.The teachers all opened their bags at the same time, littering the desk with plastic bags and cardboard.

MICHIGAN

Concealed weapons law opens discussion

Eric Morath
April 13, 2001

New online information concerning Michigan’s concealed weapons law, which goes into effect July 1, has area students and groups debating how the law will impact the state.The law establishes statewide requirements for people who carry concealed weapons.

MICHIGAN

Great Lakes drilling causes concern

Drew Harmon
April 12, 2001

Rising energy concerns in America may have some oil companies hoping to say “yes” to Michigan.But reactions by Michigan residents and environmentalists to a possible increase in drilling in the Great Lakes have been negative, according to a local poll.

MICHIGAN

New hospital will allow animals to be treated at zoo

Brandi Lewandowski
April 12, 2001

These days, when the 9-month-old red panda, Achoo, gets sick, she has to be treated in her exhibit.But once construction of Lansing Potter Park Zoo’s $155,000 animal hospital is completed in August, zoo officials will take Achoo there instead.“This will really help us to take care of our animal collection much better,” zoo Director Gerry Brady said.The animal hospital will be the first on the zoo’s grounds, 1301 S.

MICHIGAN

Ladybugs infest U, Michigan

Shannon Murphy
April 12, 2001

Stephanie Lauer hates ladybugs - the tiny, red, flying beetles that are considered good luck by many.The nursing sophomore said the bugs, correctly dubbed lady beetles, infested her Wonders Hall dorm room last semester.“We had hundreds of them in our room and we could not get rid of them,” she said.

MICHIGAN

Tax cut incites protest

Brandi Lewandowski
April 12, 2001

Students and community leaders met on Wednesday in Lansing to protest President Bush’s proposed tax cuts.Five community leaders, including Michigan State AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney and Flint-based United Auto Workers regional director Cal Rapson, urged the crowd of more than 200 people in Lansing’s Reutter Park to write Congress and to stand together against Bush’s proposal.“Bush’s tax scheme will make millionaires richer, but offer little relief to working families,” Gaffney said.

MICHIGAN

State broadens tourism industry with promotional campaign

Leslie Escobar
April 12, 2001

LANSING - With the slogan “Michigan. Great Lakes. Great Times. Not a great distance,” state tourism officials hope to expand Michigan’s $10 billion annual tourism business. The new campaign, launched this week by Travel Michigan - a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation - is intended to draw more travelers from surrounding states. “It’s a great ad campaign,” said Nancy Cain, a spokesperson for AAA. “And the timing of it is good, because with higher gas prices, people in the Midwest are going to stay in the Midwest.” The campaign features television, newspaper, radio and Internet advertisements that will be shown in Green Bay, Wis., Indianapolis, Chicago and Cleveland.

MICHIGAN

New Oasis to open on Grand River

Shannon Murphy
April 12, 2001

The smell of baked kibbee will be wafting through the air this summer in East Lansing’s downtown.Kibbee, a ground meat spiced with salt, pepper, onions, pine nuts, cinnamon and allspice is one of the items that will be on the menu of Chuck Raad’s newest restaurant, Woody’s Oasis, located at 211 E.

MICHIGAN

Adopt a River program aims to help clean up local waters

Shannon Murphy
April 12, 2001

For the first year, MSU students will partner with Lansing and East Lansing to create awareness about river pollution. The eighth annual Adopt a River Program will take place on April 21 - the day before Earth Day. The program has community members following a river trail along Grand and Red Cedar rivers picking up trash, while flat-bottomed boats pull debris out of the two rivers. “We pull out couches, shopping carts, bikes, a swing set,” said Jennifer Rostar, program director for the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council.

MICHIGAN

City resident to run for council seat

Jamie Gumbrecht
April 11, 2001

Vic Loomis has done his hometown homework.After attending elementary school, middle school, high school and college in East Lansing as well as spending several years in community organizations, Loomis says he’s learned enough about the city to run for a seat on the East Lansing City Council.“It’s a community full of diversities and a community that’s a great place to live, raise a family, go to school, own a business, work and visit,” he said.“I want to be part of the team that continues the momentum that this community has going in all of those areas.”Loomis, 54, who has lived in East Lansing since 1949, is in his eighth year as chairman of the Downtown Development Authority.