East Lansing
Grand Ledge Public Schools, Hayes Middle School, COVID-19, mask mandate

Passions run high over COVID and schools, but debate remains civil

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Across the country, school board meetings have erupted as parents and sometimes students have clashed about COVID vaccinations and masking. Some meetings have turned raucous and personal. School leaders have resigned or been removed. In and around Ingham County, people report that while interest and passions have run high, the climate had been civil. East Lansing Public Schools

Shelley Davis Boyd, president of MacDonald Middle School’s parent council

Boyd said the parents’ council has a very close relationship with the school district’s administration and superintendent. 

“We’re constantly kept in the loop on what’s going on … the reaction has been very positive,” Boyd said.

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Friends of Williamston Parks fundraises to meet a matching grant

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The southern Williamston City limit sits just north of I-96. The small city is home to about 4,000 people. Credit: Isabella Johnson

Friends of Williamston Parks needs to raise $29,000 by October 22, 2021 to receive a matching grant form the Public Spaces Community Places program for their project to build a picnic pavilion at Volunteers Community Park. Credit: Isabella Johnson

The organization

When Williamston locals noticed their parks weren’t getting the attention they needed, the Friends of Williamston Parks organization stepped up to the plate. “There were some budget cuts at the local government level here in Williamston,” said Heather Galecka, the organization’s president. “There really wasn’t a lot of funds for park upkeep and improvement, so the organization was started to fill that gap.”

Friends of Williamston Parks is a non-profit community group made up of volunteers that work to plan, fundraise and implement improvements to parks in the area. 

“We do lots of things,” Galecka said.

Mayor Tammy Gilroy (left) exchanges kind words with City Manager Corey Schmidt as the council accepted his resignation.
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Williamston City Council bids farewell to City Manager Corey Schmidt

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Madison Rose(L-R) City Treasurer Rachel Piner, Police Chief Jim Wolf, Councilmember Daniel Rhines, Councilmember Tommy Pratt, Councilmember Brandon Lanyon, Mayor Tammy Gilroy, Mayor Pro-Tem Noah Belanger, two empty seats for the absent Councilmember Terry Hansen and the Councilmember vacancy, City Manager Corey Schmidt, City Attorney Timothy Perrone and City Clerk Holly Thompson. Williamston City Council returns for a meeting for the first time in a month after the cancellation of the Sept. 13 meeting. This cancellation left the council with a lengthy action items list to review. City Manager Corey Schmidt resigns to focus on family

The Williamston City Council meeting featured a more personal touch as council members were tasked with approving the resignation of City Manager Corey Schmidt.

A cut out of two farmers at the Best Maze Corn Maze. This is featured right outside the Corn Maze.
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21 years later, Best Maze still stumps visitors

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Mark Benjamin has been coming up and creating mazes since he was young, making it a lifelong passion. Benjamin, who owns and has been running Best Maze Corn Maze in Williamston for 21 years, says the enjoyment of building mazes started right in his own yard. 

“When I was a little kid, my parents’ house had a lot of big oak trees, and they would have a lot of leaves in the lawn each year,” said Benjamin. “So I would rake maze paths in their yard and play tag with all of the neighbor kids.”

Brendan BrumanA sign featuring the theme of the Corn Maze this year. Best Maze’s theme is based around Fairy Tales such as Cinderella and Peter Pan

Best Maze is known for very creative maze designs, with Benjamin being the mastermind behind them. 

Best Maze’s design this year is based around Fairy Tales such as Cinderella and Peter Pan, for Benjamin though, there’s one from the past that specifically sticks out in his mind as it even confused him. “We did a Pure Michigan one, that was the only maze that everytime I went through it at dark, it got me all twisted around, the maze designer actually got lost.” said Benjamin.

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Williamston businesses fight to stay afloat

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The past year and a half has been abnormal for small business owners. From financial setbacks, supply and labor shortages, businesses in the City of Williamston are trying to adjust to their new normal, but according to two business owners, sales are picking up. Book Farm LLC owner Liz Goble is no different. Book Farm LLC is a children’s book store and book supplier for schools and libraries located right on Grand River Avenue. “We’ve had a hard time even getting people interested in working here, and we have had several positions open,” Goble said.