Arts & Entertainment
Local dental hygienist sells sweet treats
|
Melissa Svarc is a dental hygienist in Okemos, MI with a little secret; she has her own nut business which includes selling artisan-made cinnamon roasted almonds, pecans, and cashews.
Education
Meridian Township officials react to Okemos High School fake shooter threat
|
Meridian Township manager Frank Walsh said that the first thought that occurred to him after the incident was utter terror and something within his 32-year career that he had never felt before.
Meridian Township
Meridian Township leaders concerned about paramedic service responsibility
|
Meridian Township Manager Frank Walsh discussed paramedic issues for the Meridian Township that could possibly affect the public at the most recent Downtown Development Authority meeting Feb. 6.
Education
Okemos school board moves forward after shooting hoax
|
On Feb. 7, students were released early from Okemos School District after a false shooting report. A week later, the Okemos Board of Education responded to the hoax and began moving forward with safety precautions and communication plans.
News
Okemos greets Halloween with masks for fun, not COVID
|
Okemos families had some pre-Halloween fun at the Okemos Community Church trunk or treat on Oct. 30. This was the first time the event has been held since 2019.
Allie Williams, event organizer, said it has evolved over the years since it began in about 2016, starting as an evening activity before being pushed to the afternoon as more young families with little kids attended.
Focal Point News
Warm Fall Weather Could be Cause for Concern
|
OKEMOS, Mich.- There has been a change in our local weather patterns over the last few years. Temperatures are rising and continuing to stay warmer for longer. According to the National Weather Service, they predict that there is a 40% chance that temperatures will be warmer than normal this fall. While these warmer temperatures may be enjoyable for most, they actually are having an effect on our local ecosystems.
In regards to wildlife, Jeffrey Andresen, the state climatologist for Michigan thinks that we will see wildlife migrating to a more suitable climate over time. However some plants and animals will not have that luxury.
News
Young activists speak out on guns
|
When Madeline Johnson lost her best friend in the shooting that took place at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021, she knew that she wanted to do something to create real change.
“I was near her when it happened,” she said. “It’s obviously been pretty hard for me. I decided that I wanted to take action and change something for her and the other three that we lost, hopefully to stop things like this from happening in the future.”
Johnson, along with other Oxford students, banned together to create No Future Without Today, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. The members’ goal is to educate students and raise awareness about gun violence in schools.
The rise of gun violence across the country has left students feeling afraid for their well-being.
East Lansing
Students take lead against gun violence
|
Zoe Touray knows the reality of how gun violence can alter one’s life because she herself is a survivor.
“I was already a very jumpy person before everything happened,” Touray said. “[Now] any little movement I have to look and see what’s going on.”
As a recent graduate from Oxford High School, Touray has carried the trauma of surviving the Oxford shooting on Nov. 30, 2021. Since then, her parents have encouraged her to speak out and become an activist for victims of gun violence and the movement toward more strict gun legislation.
Following the shooting, Touray was contacted by March for Our Lives, a youth-led nonprofit organization that aims to end gun violence. It is through the Michigan chapter of MFOL that Touray serves as a youth member and frequently speaks about her experience at different events.
“They’re [members of the government] working on giving billions of dollars to schools for mental health resources, they’re working on tighter background checks and waiting periods for the age limit to buy a gun,” said Touray.
News
Buddy’s Pizza eager to open Okemos location
|
They call it a pizza that started a style. And Detroit-style pizza has landed in Okemos. The location at 2010 W. Grand River Ave. marks the 20th location in Michigan. Known for its rectangular cut with a thick crispy crust, it’s no secret that the Detroit-style pizza is a big hit.
Article
MT Fire Chief reflects on lessons learned from COVID-19
|
It’s been a little under four years since Mike Hamel was hired as the Meridian Township fire chief, and despite working in Lansing for 25 years prior to his current position, Hamel is already acclimated to his new environment.