News

DeWitt community members express displeasure in DeWitt Public Schools mask mandate

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For more than a year, the debate over face coverings in public spaces has been a hot topic. And with vaccinations for younger children only recently approved, the debate is in schools. DeWitt Superintendent Dr. Shanna Spickard began work in July andwas immediately tasked with making one of the hardest decisions superintendents across the country are facing: should staff members and children be required to wear face masks in school? Ultimately, the district decided to go with a tiered approach based on transmission levels in Clinton County. At a high transmission risk, masks are required inside for all students and staff.

Bath

Park Lake Creamery owner using high-tech background to navigate economy

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Sam SklarPark Lake Creamery has been limited to online orders due to short staffing, but planned to reopen Oct. 30. Tucked away on the side of a winding road on the shores of Park Lake in Bath lies a local sweet shop known as the Park Lake Creamery. 

On a sunny 70º October afternoon, the store is typically busy with people from all around the greater Lansing area picking up chocolates for loved ones or enjoying a refreshing ice cream cone after a long day. But the Park Lake Creamery, like many other small businesses, is not immune to the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The store has been forced to offer online orders exclusively due to staffing shortages, but plans to reopen soon with help on the way.

Agriculture

DeWitt Farmers Market closes 2021 season

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Ellie BednarzVendors line North Bridge street for the last DeWitt Farmers Market of 2021. The leaves are changing, the temperature is cooling down, and the DeWitt Farmers Market has officially come to season’s end with trick-or-treating and booths selling products. From 4-7 p.m. Oct. 12, 22 vendors set up their shops on North Bridge Street for the last market of the season. Kids in Halloween costumes went booth to booth getting candy from vendors. 

What is special about this market is the variety of vendors.

DeWitt

DeWitt takes the field for its football team

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The 2020 Division III state champion DeWitt Football team is leading the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue Division. DeWitt is hoping to make it back into the playoffs this year, after an extraordinary finish in 2020.  The DeWitt team is special for its  tight connection to the community. Having local people showing up to support the team is one thing, but the stadium is packed every single home game.

DeWitt

Sports carry DeWitt High School students through pandemic

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As the athletic trainer at DeWitt High School for 10 years, Steve Jenkins saw firsthand how an athletic program can do its part in helping student-athletes play safely and successfully during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This commitment level to COVID-19 guidelines helped DeWitt’s football team win a Division 3 State Championship in 2020, the first in school history. In an effort to control the spread of the virus, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a series of pauses for partial shutdowns throughout the season. Throughout this time, many players remained locked in to what they needed to do to not only play well, but safely.

Arts & Entertainment

Watch Focal Point: Mel Tucker becomes the new football coach, New Hampshire Democratic Primaries, Michigan towns apply for make-overs

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This week on Focal Point, we’re live from a local flower shop to see how people are sharing the love on Valentine’s Day. Over the weekend, the Lansing Women’s Expo celebrated 20 years with more than 300 attendees. The Lansing Pup House celebrates Valentine’s Day with their pets during speed dating for dogs.  In entertainment, the 92nd Oscar’s had a lot of firsts and Justin Bieber returns from a four-year hiatus with a new album. 

This and more on this episode of Focal Point.

News

Mid-Michigan cities apply for HGTV show

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It’s not every day that you get to be on TV, but three mid-Michigan towns, Bath Township, Grand Ledge and Charlotte, applied for the chance to win a town makeover from HGTV. The home renovation channel’s newest show “Home Town Takeover” is a spinoff of a current series “Home Town” that renovates businesses and homes in the hosts’ hometown of Laurel, Mississippi. The network put out a nationwide call for cities with a population under 40,000 and a downtown in need of updating. “This is a great opportunity for Bath,” said communications coordinator Tayler Reeves. “Our goal is to bring in more small businesses that would help this community and that we could help support, and this HGTV show would really help us.”

Agriculture

Giving Tree Farm provides opportunity through its produce

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Following the example set by the Shel Siverstein story “The Giving Tree,” the Giving Tree Farm gives to as many people as its can. The organic farm, which grows produce on seven acres and in eight hoop houses, is among local vendors that sells produce at Allen Farmers Market located in Lansing’s eastside neighborhood.

News

Bath and DeWitt experiencing continued growth

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Much like a flower needs water and sunlight to grow, a city needs certain things to flourish as well. Developing neighborhoods, thriving businesses, and exceptional school districts help the communities of Bath and DeWitt to grow. Both these townships are in periods of growth and development according to their planning and building commissions. Bath’s Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Brian Shorkey said from a project perspective it’s been a slow year, but there are big plans for the township. Building new houses and businesses

There’s been an uptick in housing developments including apartments, duplexes and senior housing.

News

People in Bath march to their own drum

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Laurie Tossava , Jasper Bergen and Daniel Gebes prepare to drum with their different varieties. Photo by Emerson Wigand. To Michele Leonard, all people have a sense of rhythm and the heartbeats are the foundation. This is the mantra she uses to promote the Bath Community Drum Circle. The circle started in September and has happened five times.