Detroit-based Buddy’s Pizza adds second location in Mid-Michigan 

With its grand opening on April 4, the new Buddy’s Pizza at 2010 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos is looking for more employees. “Hiring is ongoing, and we are still looking for plenty of help,” said General Manager Mike Wensel, who is looking for 30-35 to be  servers, bartenders, bussers, hosts and kitchen staff. Training will begin March 21, but applicants are welcome to apply and join late. Previous restaurant experience is helpful but not required.

Okemos High is a potential litigant in vape lawsuit

Okemos High Schools is considering joining a nationwide litigation against JUUL and other vaping product manufacturers. Over 100 schools in Michigan have joined, claiming these products were marketed to children and therefore, caused damages to schools. 

Lawyers Piotr M. Matusiak, from Thrun Law Firm, and William Shinoff, from Frantz Law Group presented the existing litigation to the Okemos Board of Education on February 28. 

“It’s a litigation against vaping companies that says that they have fraudulently marketed their products to children and in turn has resulted in damages to schools, and so the litigation tries to obtain money for schools in terms of cost they have incurred related to vaping as well as costs for dealing with vaping issues in the future,” said Matusiak. Not only is this problem systemic, but the CDC also refers to it as an “epidemic.” According to the FDA’s 2021 data survey, 11.3% of high school students in the United States use e-cigarettes equating to 2 million youth across the country who are using these highly addictive products. That same survey found that many teenagers who use them have a strong dependence on nicotine.In Michigan, 20.8% of high school students use vaping products. It is even estimated that 213,000 kids who are currently 18 and younger in Michigan will die prematurely from smoking.

MT schools lift mask mandates, MSU public health professor weighs in

Photo by Pam Menegakis on Unsplash

Okemos Public Schools dropped its mask mandates on Feb. 23 and as of this past Wednesday, Haslett Public Schools also lifted the mandate regardless of vaccination status. As K-12 schools start to dropping their mask mandates as COVID-19 cases plummet, some public health experts are concerned about the decision. “We understand that this change may cause relief for some and anxiety for others. Individuals still have the option to wear masks if they so choose,” Haslett Public School Superintendent Steven Cook said in a statement on March 1.

Local vendor fair features COVID-19-friendly services

Source: Aubrey Rademacher/ Shoppers peruse Winter Vendor Market at Meridian Mall. Meridian Mall hosted the Winter Vendor Market, which is an opportunity for local, small businesses to promote their companies and to spread awareness of how their business has changed in response to the pandemic. Products on display included baked goods, mental health tools, nail polish, accessories and more. 6 different vendors exhibited at the market, and the turnout was much higher than years prior due to COVID-19 restrictions. Nail companies

Anne Oswald, an independent stylist  for the company Color Street, is selling a product that is a dry nail polish strip – it’s 100% nail polish that has zero dry time.

MT salon moves, sees uptick in business

Roughly a month after moving to a new location, the staff at one of Meridian Township’s most popular salons is officially acclimated to their fresh space and seeing an unexpected increase in new clients.

Fluid Salon, a staple of the community since it opened in January of 2015, made the move from 2755 E. Grand River Ave. to 5030 Northwind Dr. over the course of nine days, from January 30 to February 7.

Since its reopening on February 8, owner Kimmi Chubb has already noticed a change in business, despite the new location only being a few blocks from the previous one.

MT officials give tips on managing flooded roads

Many roads such as parts of Okemos Road, Ottawa Drive, Hillcrest Avenue and Nakoma Drive were closed in Meridian Township last week due to flooding caused by a mix of snow and rain that hit the area. Because of the hazardous conditions, some drivers needed emergency services. “Over the weekend approximately five cars were towed out of areas as they tried to drive through ice and water over the road,” said Meridian Township Fire Chief Michael Hamel. “One vehicle drove approximately 200 feet into an icy roadway and got stuck.”

With more wild weather expected to cause flooding, law enforcement officials said drivers must take precautions. The best thing people can do while the roads are flooded is to obey the signage, said Captain Rick Grillo of the MT Police Department.

Okemos Public Schools to announce new mascot logo

After years of deliberation, Okemos Public Schools officially has a new mascot, the Wolves, necessitating a an updated logo.

In determining its new logo, the school district is also responsible for replacing the current one across the district.

Superintendent John Hood said the district asked the community to submit new logo designs. The final design will be released at the March 14 board meeting, and it will feature aspects of multiple design concepts.

A small memorial to Ron Styka sits on a chair outside the township board meeting room

Patricia Herring-Jackson appointed as MT supervisor

Sophia KalakailoThe Meridian Township Board appointed Patricia Herring-Jackson to township supervisor at a special meeting on Tuesday. Patricia Herring-Jackson, a Meridian Township trustee, was appointed supervisor at a special meeting on Tuesday after Township Supervisor Ron Styka died unexpectedly last week. 

“I’m excited while being saddened and surprised, but I’ve worked with most of these people at least four years in this capacity so I think this is an opportunity for us to continue how well we work together to accomplish a lot of things,” Herring-Jackson said. 


Township Supervisor Herring-Jackson thanks the board for its support. (By Sophia Kalakailo)

Her appointment opens a second spot on the board of trustees that the township is looking to fill next month. Dan Opsommer left the board earlier this month to be the assistant township manager. Herring-Jackson said she has been in the township for about 35 years.

Detours implemented as construction begins on historic Okemos Road bridges

Those who take Okemos Road southbound on their commute to work or school will have to use a new route starting February 14, courtesy of a full-scale replacement and expansion of the Okemos Road bridges.

Southbound traffic will detour until November, while the northbound lane of will be unchanged throughout the new construction project, according to a notice from the Ingham County Road Department.