Large bouquet of yellow and green flowers
News

Roses are red, violets are blue, Tammy has the flower for you

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One of the many arrangements that Mason Floral offers. From dancer to dance teacher to flower shop owner, Mason Floral owner Tammy Weber always knew she had a skill for the arts. With the only floral shop in Mason, Michigan, she feels responsible for meeting the floral needs of the Mason community. 

Weber was involved in dance and gymnastics throughout her childhood. The passion continued into her adult life when she went to Lansing Community College, taking dance classes along the way. 

Further down the road, Weber had her daughter and enrolled her into Fusion Dance Center in Lansing, Michigan. This dance studio was where Weber could finally put those dance classes to great use. 

“I really hit it off with the owner [Theresa Pitman] and she was great with my oldest daughter,” said Weber.

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Mason schools

‘No more masks’ says Mason Public Schools board

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A Mason Public Schools second grader shares her story of masks in the classroom. From Zoom of Feb. 14 Mason Public Schools board meeting. On a day meant for love, Mason public school parents felt the love after the school board made an important decision regarding the choice of parents and students. On Monday, Feb.

News
Mason schools

Mason schools honor treasurer who resigned after masking vote

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The Mason School Board honored Ra Beebe, who resigned before the school year started, was joined by his wife and two sons. His tenure started back in 2003 where he would go on to serve as treasurer, president, and then back to treasurer. Beebe resigned during the Aug. 23 meeting, just after the board voted 4-3 to require students and staff to wear masks inside school buildings and during the school day. School was scheduled to begin two days later. Beebe had led the opposition to the mandate. After the vote, he said, “Effective at the end of this meeting, I am resigning. I’m just done. The politics and this division in the community is ridiculous, and hopefully somebody can take my seat that can start healing this community.”

Featured in Series

Mason approves park and trail millage

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Approval of a 1-mill, five-year tax increase means Mason can move forward with its parks plan. City Manager Deborah Stuart said projects will be selected from the Parks, Recreation and Non-motorized Plan. The city developed the plan with community engagement and feedback almost two years ago with community input. Stuart said one of the first projects will be replacing the Rayner Park playground.

News

Republican Ryan Kelley brings gubernatorial campaign to Mason

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Mason residents gathering for the Ingham County Executive Committee Meeting Agenda where Ryan Kelley was be the first guest speaker. Michigan’s gubernatorial race is a year away, and a growing number of Republicans are joining the field to run against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. GOP candidate Ryan D. Kelley visited the Fair Offices & Community Building in Mason on Oct. 28. According to Kelley’s Facebook page, the biggest threat Michigan faces right now is vaccine mandates and passports. 

Mason’s Leon Clark, who previously ran for the Michigan House of Representatives for District 67, attended.

News

Mason taskforce hopes to increase DEI awareness in community

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In March 2021, a group of Mason community members banded together in response to the use of the controversial topics policy in the Mason School District. Creating The Equity Taskforce, the group hopes to educate the community about diversity, equity and inclusion topics. 

Katelyne Thomas, a co-founder of The Equity Taskforce, resigned from Mason Public Schools after her proposal to teach Black Lives Matter at Schools curriculum during Black History Month was denied. After her resignation, a small group of community members led by Rhiannon Klein reached out to Thomas, and The Equity Taskforce was born. 

The Taskforce has four executive committee members. Thomas said it has 200-300 members within the community and anywhere from 60 to 100 active members at events. 

“Right now, we’re working a lot on just educating our community and taking a DEI focus on everything,” Thomas said. 

In addition to the executive and general members, the taskforce has two consultants. One, Randy Watkins, is vice president of the Lansing NAACP branch.

Agriculture

Global supply chain glitch pinches locally

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Michael Thibideau, an assistant professor in the Department of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University, says that people’s reaction to buying items like toilet paper have forced grocery stores to try keep up with high demand. With shortages of meat, saltines and other items, stores across the nation have had to redesign how they fulfill orders.