The Williamston wastewater treatment plant needs repairs and renovations to keep the plant up to state regulations, city officials said during the January 23 City Council meeting at Williamston City Hall.
Federal Government
Small town food pantries prosper despite impending struggles
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Stockbridge Community Outreach director Gwen Reid shows off some of their current food supply. “We have chicken and beef and tons of pork,” Reid said. “I know. It’s amazing.” Williamston Food Bank director Jill Cutshaw has been seeing increased need for help in her community.
“We had been averaging about 63-64 families,” Cutshaw said.
Business & Economy
How 10 proposals in Ingham County affect taxpayers
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Ingham County residents voted on 10 proposals on Nov. 5, seven of which passed. Topics ranged from housing to the sale of marijuana, and funds for the initiatives that passed will come from property taxes.
Many of these proposals are known as millage proposals. A millage is a tax on property, which can be approved by conducting a popular vote. The amount per $1,000 of taxable property is represented in mills.
For example, a 1 mill tax rate on a home valued at $100,000 would generate $100 in taxes annually from that single property.
East Lansing
Multi-jurisdictional Waterway Project Will Make The Red Cedar River Accessible for Recreation Again
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The Red Cedar River has long been a defining feature of Michigan State University’s campus, but many local residents have overlooked its full recreational potential due to neglect. With the Red Cedar Multi-jurisdictional Waterway Project, that is set to change. The impact could be significant for the entire mid-Michigan community. Currently hampered by log jams, debris, and overgrown vegetation, the river is difficult to navigate, restricting once-common activities like kayaking and fishing. Meridian Township Parks and Recreation Director Courtney Wisinski is leading a multi-agency project to restore 18 miles of the river, making it accessible for recreation again.“East Lansing, MSU, Meridian Township, Williamstown Township, and Williamston have been working together to keep the Red Cedar in an ecologically healthy way.
Government
Teenage Dream Becomes Distinguished Career: Jeff Weiss Appointed Williamston’s Chief of Police
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At the age of 16, Jeff Weiss’s passion for law enforcement was ignited during a ride-along with a Meridian Township officer. Now, after a remarkable 35-year career, that same teenager who once aspired to serve and protect the city he grew up in has been appointed as Williamston’s new Chief of Police.
On Monday, Sept. 11, the Williamston City Council appointed Weiss to fill the position that had been vacant since January. The decision was met with enthusiastic approval.
Williamston Police Department’s transition to Chief Weiss follows a lineage of leaders including Bob Young in 2010 and Jim Wolf in 2021. Young temporarily returned as interim chief before Weiss’s appointment.
Business & Economy
Thrift store Aurora’s Closet is classic with its recycled treasures but original with its community service
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Three drying racks displaying an assortment of bagged toiletries and clothes, also known as, “Aurora’s Closet’s Giving Tree,” is a year-round occurrence. The owner, Janet Stumpf, has been leading the family business for eight years, and when asked who the tree is for, she said, “anyone who needs it.”
Business & Economy
A Groovy Find in Williamston
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In a small town just 11 miles from East Lansing stands a small shop hidden in a strip mall with one word over the door: DONUTS.
Williamston
Williamston leaders discuss state of employment and economy
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Williamston City Hall hosts a space for leaders and community members to meet and address their concerns and solutions.
News
Williamston High School theater wraps up first in-person performances since pandemic
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The Williamston High School theater program performed its rendition of “Singin’ in the Rain” on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the McGoff Performing Arts center. The show, directed by Lindsay Campbell, was the program’s first production since 2019, said Campbell. Madison KortA program from the Saturday performance of “Singin’ in the Rain.” “For me, it was a bit of remembering and relearning how to do all of the bits and pieces of a musical, but for the kids on stage, for most of them, it was their first high school show or first musical, period,” Campbell said. “There was a lot of new learning and a lot of growth right off the bat but it was just a blast from the beginning to the end.
News
Kiwanis Club partners with local cafe for fundraiser
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The Kiwanis Club is hosting a fundraising event on Monday night from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Sunnyside Cafe in Williamston to finance its support of the community. 10% of the proceeds for the night plus gratuities will go toward the club.
“We give them 10% of sales, but we always round it up and there’s always a bucket out for gratuities and they take all of those. I’ve seen them raise like $700,” said Jeanette Ellsworth, owner of the Sunnyside Cafe.
Kiwanis members will serve the food, and Ellsworth said there will be a limited menu full of comfort foods. Ellsworth said she “stole” the idea for the fundraiser from previous towns she had lived in, where local politicians, Boy Scouts, police chiefs and other community figures would become the servers at the restaurant to promote their events. Kiwanis Club president, Teri Nelson, said the fundraiser will be a big help for their organization.
News
Williamston City Council impressed by plans for digital message board
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Williamston residents may see a digital message board behind the McCormick Park sign. The plans for the board, which were discussed on Monday at the City Council meeting, were met with enthusiastic responses from council members.
Earl Wolf, Dr. Adam SpinaProposed location of the digital message board outside of McCormick Park from the informational packet at the meeting. The digital message board committee was represented at the meeting by superintendent Dr. Adam Spina and chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission Earl Wolf, who presented the motion to the council. The sign would allow for public service messages, community events and school district announcements to be better communicated, said Spina. “One of the many things I love about Williamston is that for a community of our size, there are always things going on.