Eastern Europe conflict reaches beyond borders

A Michigan State University professor says the war in Ukraine is a fresh chapter in a 250-year-old story that Russia is using to justify its invasion. Michigan State University Associate Professor Matthew Pauly said the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has a complicated history, going back to 1774 when Ukraine was initially part of the Russian empire. “Ukrainians have been in a long war,” Pauly said. “This is not the beginning of the war in 2022, this is merely an escalation.”

Pauly, a historian of Ukraine, Eastern Europe and Russia, said Russian President Vladimir Putin believes Ukraine is not separate from Russia and that Ukrainians and Russians are the same people. “Ukrainians of all different ethnicities, of all different linguistic persuasions are taking to arms to defend their homeland, and the choice for them is quite simple, really,” Pauly said. 

“Do you have an independent state in which democracy, as imperfect as it is, is allowed to exist and you have the right to freedom of the press, the right to all of these key things that we assume to be integral to our democratic experience?

Delta Crossings brings stores, people, traffic

The second phase of the Delta Crossings project is almost completed. Construction began in November 2019. The project brought T.J. Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Sierra, Bob’s Discount Furniture, Texas Roadhouse and BJ’s Wholesale Club to the community in the past few months. At Home, a home décor store, and Olive Garden are set to join the community in the early fall. The next phase includes a 369-unit multifamily residential area.

Restaurants take over Delta Township

Delta Township held its second annual Restaurant week this month. The goal is to help local businesses in the community. Around 81 restaurants participated in the event this year. Restaurant week took place from March 14-21, with each day representing a different type of dining option. They included Middle Eastern, Mexican, BBQ/steakhouse, Asian, Seafood, Italian, fast-food and breakfast dining.  Residents could also receive special discounts from restaurants for mentioning restaurant week.

Delta engineer recaps 2021 projects and looks to future

Delta Township Engineer Ernest West gave a briefing on the projects that the township engineers have accomplished through 2021. West gave his presentation at the Delta Township Board of Trustees’ monthly meeting on Feb. 21. The year was filled with a wide range of projects including sewage, water, non-motorized projects, roads, sidewalks and private development. West said, “2021 for our department was a very busy year …  primarily driven by utility projects and private development.”

He explained that it could have been even busier, but the engineers had a hard time with bidding on certain projects, which led to some projects being delayed, like new baseball diamonds in Mount Hope Park and new sidewalk construction.

Exterior of big-box store

New warehouse club part of $200 million project in Delta Township

Delta Township just welcomed BJ’s Wholesale Club to the community as part of the new $200 million land project at I-96 Highway and West Saginaw Highway. Phase one of the Delta Crossing project opened in September 2021 and includes Texas Roadhouse, Sierra, Hobby Lobby, T.J. Maxx, and Bob’s Discount Furniture. BJ’s Wholesale Club was a part of phase two and recently had its grand opening on Jan. 28.

Stores’ stocks and profits rise and fall with the weather

Grocery stores and markets around Lansing are dealing with this week’s snowstorm and working around the clock to meet community members’ demands. 

Stores saw a surge of customers on Tuesday evening preparing for the snow. Todd Couzzien works in the meat department at Fresh Thyme Market in East Lansing and said people slammed the store early. Once the storm hit, traffic at the store slowed dramatically. Todd said that some of the most bought items at the store included meat and chicken. Other stores experienced the same type of traffic.