Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/category/news/community-news/clinton-county-news/page/2/)
Community news from Clinton County.
Two men accused of the 2018 slaying of a Hmong-American hunter in Bath Township will stand trial. This comes after a three-day preliminary hearing to determine whether there is probable cause to bind the charges over from the District Court to the Circuit Court to move the case forward to the formal trial.
The violence on Michigan State’s campus on Feb. 13 prompted many in the Lansing community to support Michigan State students. “Spartan Strong” posters, signs in store windows, and thousands upon thousands of flowers brightened the usually dreary mid-February campus. The university’s more than 50,000 students realized that there are hundreds of thousands more who care deeply for them, and wanted to express that in even the smallest of ways.
In the Communication Arts and Sciences building on campus, splashes of color in children’s artwork brightened the halls.
Throughout the hallways of the high school, large black-and-white portraits are hung of students and teachers holding a chalkboard. On the chalkboard, participants wrote an insult they have been called. Profanities were uncensored throughout the building, showcasing the discomfort and hurt that comes with getting bullied. The slurs are to be covered over with positive messages.
Looking Glass Brewery Company held one of many comedy nights on Feb. 4, consisting of five comics.
In the basement of an old church-turned-brewery, Comedy Through the Looking Glass hosted four comics: Jordan Hanson, Louis Michael, Nicole Melnyk, and Dave Wellfare, who created laughs throughout the room with the help of special guest comic Jake Silberman.
If you live in the City of DeWitt, there are 81 names on your ballot for the Nov. 8 election. Eighty are unique.
That’s because Clay Coey, a 13-year DeWitt resident, has a stake in both the City Council and School Board races. Such an occurrence is rare enough that Coey, who has worked in campaigns since the ’90s, had to check if a dual candidacy is legal.
The cast of Newsies performing a number at DeWitt High School
This fall, DeWitt High School students took the stage in their production of Disney’s Newsies.
The cast and crew began rehearsing at the beginning of the school year in August. About 90 people came together to bring the production to life. Stepping into the lead role of Jack Kelly is DHS junior Will Marciniak. “It has been really challenging, it’s a hard role but I’m having a lot of fun with it,” said Marciniak. Playing Jack has brought Marciniak new friendships and helped develop chemistry with his castmates.
Matea KanickiDeanna Barish, Carley King, and Kelsey Droste found success in the community as they collected socks for the needy with their Socktober campaign. DeWitt Gives Back celebrated the month of October differently. The new high school club held Socktober by accepting sock donations to be given to the homeless. The event was announced in a Facebook post.
Club adviser Kelsey Droste established the club over the summer and has had a great turnout in student involvement. Droste said the DeWitt area has a big potential for donation- based causes which, inspired the mission of her club.
The DeWitt school board called a special meeting Oct. 19 to meet a deadline for a grant to help mitigate learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A board subcommittee dedicated to curriculum presented a slideshow and discussed the importance of recovering students’ math and reading scores. On Sept. 15, the Michigan legislature allocated $52 million for local education agencies to help students whose learning was hurt by the pandemic.
The Bridge + Main Market hosted a lively Fall Outdoor Market on Oct. 8, attracting dozens of artists, designers, bakers and jewelers. The market is known to artisans across the state for a few reasons — the uniqueness of each booth, the support for small businesses and the kindness of the community.
Many businesses at the market were relatively new, starting in the early days of the pandemic. For example, Lady Wood Goods owner Nicole Rodgers said the lockdown gave her the time and opportunity to learn a new hobby: woodcutting. She sells handmade decor, kitchenware and more. This is her second year at the fall market, having been invited by a friend and fellow artisan. “Yeah, she told me all about it and how amazing it is here. It’s little, but every vendor is so different. And the community itself is so awesome,” said Rodgers.
Norene BassinChief Bruce Ferguson shows off the trunk of the Chevy Tahoe and the supplies the department brings on patrol. Ever since acquiring a 2022 Ford Explorer Platinum in March, the DeWitt Police Department has seen a multitude of benefits. From a quieter engine to better mileage, Chief Bruce Ferguson says he plans on fully transitioning to an all-hybrid fleet by 2025.
Ferguson said the department’s budget was being sunk into constant maintenance. “The maintenance cost on our other patrol car was out of control,” he said. “We were replacing engines left and right … with engines costing $8,000 a pop, it was adding up fast.” The small, 3.3L hybrid engine of the Explorer Platinum hasn’t required nearly as much maintenance as previous cars.