Troppo gains approval for second-story addition

Kris Elliott, owner of Troppo, hopes to start construction on the restaurant’s second-story addition as soon as possible.On Tuesday, Troppo, 213 Ann St., was approved for a special-use permit by the East Lansing City Council to build a second-story addition with indoor and outdoor dining.Elliott told the council he would begin construction as soon as he received a building permit and would hopefully be ready to open right after Thanksgiving.The council voted 4-1 to approve the permit.

Council votes to build skate park near Frandor

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.

Police briefs 07/18/01

Forum introduces candidates to E.L.

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.

Activist sentenced to community service

The 1997 MSU graduate accused of assaulting a Philadelphia police lieutenant will not be serving any jail time.Steve Swart was given a misdemeanor and sentenced to community service Monday, said Catyie Abookire, spokeswoman for the Philadelphia district attorney.“During jury selection, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 23 months in jail and immediately paroled with a $146.50 fine,” she said.

Students try life in ROTC

The heat was beating down, the enemies were closing in and the troops had to navigate across a river using only a rope bridge.This wasn’t real combat; it was a simulation used by MSU’s Army ROTC to help students from different organizations define the meaning of teamwork.Forty-five high school students from all over Michigan, decked out in camouflage shirts and dog tags, gathered to take part in the Future Farmers of America Leadership Camp on Monday.The camp consists of high school students who have just been elected as FFA regional officers.“We help stress the importance of teamwork and we also get a chance to give our input,” Capt.

Celebrities assist opening of new lab

MSU students in the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine anticipated the arrival of Out of Sync, Britney Shears and Christina Posterior Angulara on Thursday afternoon at East Fee Hall.Those aren’t typos.

Police briefs 07/16/01

Council to give Troppo decision

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 pay phone users face price increase this fall

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.

Group presents housing option

Students who are looking for an alternative to dorm life or other off-campus options can attend the Student Housing Corporation’s co-operative open house today.

E.L. arts commission looks to fill vacancy

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.

High-schoolers preview college

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.

Police briefs 07/12/01

Two stores to join Meridian Mall this fall

OKEMOS - Shoppers at Meridian Mall will soon be able to read a book before they head to another wing to try rock climbing. The mall, 1982 W.

Police briefs 07/11/01

Advisory team looks at law issue

When Shakespeare wrote, “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers,” in “Henry VI,” he may have been alluding to a dislike for their tactics. Lawyers have been criticized for years for lacking professionalism. This criticism has spurred Lansing’s Cooley Law School to form an advisory group to address the issue of professionalism.

Lansing firefighers beat

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.

Farmers market celebrates new locale

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.

Police briefs 07/09/01