Amber Brown
Edited By: Erin Hillard, Mariah Richards
New online programs beneficial to professionals, students
Two new inventive programs at CMU will help the economy and possibly the world by giving students an edge over competitors.
A graduate certificate in Structural Analysis Program (SAP), and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in value driven organization (VDO) are to be added by the College of Business Administration starting this summer.
The VDO concentration will go into effect beginning in the fall 2008 semester, and is focused on helping students add value to their companies.
These online programs are beneficial to working professionals who are looking to gain knowledge and move up the ranks in their professions.
With more and more classes being offered online, it is believed that these types of beneficial programs will be offered to students as well.
“Online classes are becoming a great thing.” Said Heather Smith, CMU media relations. “Online programs are great for working professionals but they also can give students a leg-up.”
Smith believes that these innovative online programs will soon catch the attention of other colleges within CMU.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Beal City Media Center recieves grant
By Mariah Richards
Edited by: Erin Hillard, John Morelli
Edited by: Erin Hillard, John Morelli
The grant was provided through the Kellogg Youth Fund, a permanently endowed fund of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation. It will be used toward the purchase of print and audio material, both fiction and non-fiction.
“The district is very appreciative,” said Brenda Rau, in a press release on the school’s website. Rau is the director of the media center, which serves grades K- 12.
“I like it whenever our district gets money,” said Diane Recker, mother of two
“I don’t go there too much,” said Caleb Recker, 15. “So it doesn’t really matter to me.”
Other students felt differently.
“The library is very convenient,” said Monica Akin, sophomore at BCHS. “It’s right at school, so I don’t have to go into town or anything. Now there will be more books to choose from.”
Union Township Board looks to form Construction Appeals Board.
By Noah Shepardson
Edited By: Dan Schultz, Alexis Kowaleski
The Union Township Board is looking to add a new administrative board to deal with the growing construction that has been underway in Union Township.
The Construction Appeals Board for the 2008 – 2010 cycle will be formed to answer complaints from contractors and builders alike.
“This is the first Construction Appeals Board we have ever had, and this seems to be a great time to put one together,” Union Township Clerk Margie Henry said.
According to Henry, the board will be in place to allow licensed builders to appeal rulings made by the township building inspector.
“If the building inspector finds something wrong with the building, he will let the contractor know. The contractor can then appeal the decision if he feels that the building inspector is wrong. This board is being formed…because of the large amount of development in Union Township,” Henry said.
Applications are currently being taken for the five openings on the new board. In order to apply for a board position the person must be a Michigan licensed professional in the construction industry and fill out an application which is available at the Union Township Hall located at 2010 South Lincoln Road in Mount Pleasant.
There have been advertisements run on the Mount Pleasant public access channel, in the Home Builders Guide and in the Morning Sun. According to Henry no applications have been submitted at this time. The application period ends March 14.
By Noah Shepardson
Edited By: Dan Schultz, Alexis Kowaleski
The Union Township Board is looking to add a new administrative board to deal with the growing construction that has been underway in Union Township.
The Construction Appeals Board for the 2008 – 2010 cycle will be formed to answer complaints from contractors and builders alike.
“This is the first Construction Appeals Board we have ever had, and this seems to be a great time to put one together,” Union Township Clerk Margie Henry said.
According to Henry, the board will be in place to allow licensed builders to appeal rulings made by the township building inspector.
“If the building inspector finds something wrong with the building, he will let the contractor know. The contractor can then appeal the decision if he feels that the building inspector is wrong. This board is being formed…because of the large amount of development in Union Township,” Henry said.
Applications are currently being taken for the five openings on the new board. In order to apply for a board position the person must be a Michigan licensed professional in the construction industry and fill out an application which is available at the Union Township Hall located at 2010 South Lincoln Road in Mount Pleasant.
There have been advertisements run on the Mount Pleasant public access channel, in the Home Builders Guide and in the Morning Sun. According to Henry no applications have been submitted at this time. The application period ends March 14.
Mount Pleasant taking a bite out of crime
Larcenies, motor vehicle thefts
just a few of the many crime
figures down in
By: Dan Schultz
Edited by: Alexis Kowaleski and Trisha VanKoughnett
According to the Mount Pleasant Department of Public Safety’s 2007 annual report,
Robberies decreased 40 percent, and rapes dropped 20 percent – even the number of calls requiring service from the Mount Pleasant Police Department declined from 10,848 to 10,400 in 2007.
“Of course we like to see them (crime statistics) stay low,” Captain Fred A. Harris said.
Harris, the associate director for the Central Michigan University Police Department, moved his arm up and down to show the hills and valleys of crime rates he has seen in his 29 years as an officer.
Still, many of the crime statistics for 2007 are down. Forgeries plunged nearly 50 percent, from 21 to 10, and larcenies declined from 261 to 234.
“We enjoy seeing low numbers, but we’ll always keep at it,” Harris said. “That doesn’t show the incidents that weren’t reported, though.”
Reports of stolen items, sexual abuse, and other such incidents give the police a decent lead. It is a tool that law enforcement can not stress enough.
“We do beat the drum quite often (about reports),” Harris said. CMU’s police department has brochures and presentations to explain the usefulness of reports in many situations.
CMU’s police department offers an array of services too, from an engraver to imprint some form of identification on a valued item, to “blue-light emergency phones” placed across campus.
“I feel better with those phones around, that’s for sure!” Mary Manoogian said.
Manoogian, a Sterling Heights Senior, has been on campus plenty of times at night. “I have their locations memorized so I know where to walk… and where not to walk late at night.”
CMU campus currently has 26 “blue-light emergency phones,” which are intended to report emergencies or crimes in progress to the police.
“It’s good to know the police are doing their job so well,” Manoogian said. “That makes me feel safer.”
Shepherd Schools get a Facelift
Alexis Kowaleski
Edited by: Trisha Vankoughnett, Dan Schultz
Shepherd Schools are planning to expand their horizons by adding on to the existing schools in the district.
The most important point that Shepherd Schools Superintendent Terry Baker wants to illustrate is that the community will be involved with the building renovations. Any suggestions and decisions will be voted on by the schools community so that their ideas will be heard.
There may however be some concern that the renovations may take a long time but it seems that because of the exact planning, the school board does not want to put too much on their plate.
Though the construction will not start till May, the planning has already begun.
Shepherd High School can look forward to a new football field in addition to their building additions and updates. The additions and updates will take a little over a year with their expected end date of August 2008.
Shepherd Elementary will be getting the largest amount of additions with construction on both the west and east sides of the building. All of the schools new additions are scheduled to last until April of 2010.
Winn Elementary will also be getting a face lift and additions as well. With Winn having the least amount of construction, their finish date is set at August 2008.
Edited by: Trisha Vankoughnett, Dan Schultz
Shepherd Schools are planning to expand their horizons by adding on to the existing schools in the district.
The most important point that Shepherd Schools Superintendent Terry Baker wants to illustrate is that the community will be involved with the building renovations. Any suggestions and decisions will be voted on by the schools community so that their ideas will be heard.
There may however be some concern that the renovations may take a long time but it seems that because of the exact planning, the school board does not want to put too much on their plate.
Though the construction will not start till May, the planning has already begun.
Shepherd High School can look forward to a new football field in addition to their building additions and updates. The additions and updates will take a little over a year with their expected end date of August 2008.
Shepherd Elementary will be getting the largest amount of additions with construction on both the west and east sides of the building. All of the schools new additions are scheduled to last until April of 2010.
Winn Elementary will also be getting a face lift and additions as well. With Winn having the least amount of construction, their finish date is set at August 2008.
Man charged for driving with improper documents
By: Kelly Morse
Edited By: Meredith Mayberry, Sarah Schuch, Amanda Crabtree
A young Mount Pleasant man was found guilty and charged with driving under a suspended license.
In the case of the People vs. Christopher Boss, held at the Isabella County Courthouse Tuesday, Judge Rush found Boss guilty of driving with a suspended Michigan license although he had a valid license from another state.
Monty Davis, Michigan State patrol officer, pulled Davis over around 10 p.m. for careless driving in a parking lot near East Campus Drive on Oct. 27, 2007.
Davis said she saw two men and was not sure whether or not they were drag racing another vehicle.
“I looked over my left shoulder and there appeared to be a vehicle speeding out of the parking lot,” said Davis.
When she pulled him over Davis said Boss told her he was sorry and he was just in a hurry to get home.
Boss then handed over a valid Georgia license to the officer and she proceeded to run it through the system in her patrol car.
According to the computer data base, the license appeared to be suspended in the state of Michigan. Thus, Davis placed Boss under arrest for driving with a suspended license.
Boss’ attorney argued his defendant was not notified of his license suspension in the state of Michigan and that he had meant no harm.
“The person that just blows [a suspended license] off is more dangerous than someone who did not willfully break the law,” said Boss’ attorney. “He truly, honestly did not know.”
Judge Rush then explained how having a driver’s license in Georgia was not enough.
“You may have a valid driver’s license in every other state in the US,” said Judge Rush, “but that still doesn’t mean you have one in Michigan.”
Boss received a fine of $450 for his charge of driving while suspended.
By: Kelly Morse
Edited By: Meredith Mayberry, Sarah Schuch, Amanda Crabtree
A young Mount Pleasant man was found guilty and charged with driving under a suspended license.
In the case of the People vs. Christopher Boss, held at the Isabella County Courthouse Tuesday, Judge Rush found Boss guilty of driving with a suspended Michigan license although he had a valid license from another state.
Monty Davis, Michigan State patrol officer, pulled Davis over around 10 p.m. for careless driving in a parking lot near East Campus Drive on Oct. 27, 2007.
Davis said she saw two men and was not sure whether or not they were drag racing another vehicle.
“I looked over my left shoulder and there appeared to be a vehicle speeding out of the parking lot,” said Davis.
When she pulled him over Davis said Boss told her he was sorry and he was just in a hurry to get home.
Boss then handed over a valid Georgia license to the officer and she proceeded to run it through the system in her patrol car.
According to the computer data base, the license appeared to be suspended in the state of Michigan. Thus, Davis placed Boss under arrest for driving with a suspended license.
Boss’ attorney argued his defendant was not notified of his license suspension in the state of Michigan and that he had meant no harm.
“The person that just blows [a suspended license] off is more dangerous than someone who did not willfully break the law,” said Boss’ attorney. “He truly, honestly did not know.”
Judge Rush then explained how having a driver’s license in Georgia was not enough.
“You may have a valid driver’s license in every other state in the US,” said Judge Rush, “but that still doesn’t mean you have one in Michigan.”
Boss received a fine of $450 for his charge of driving while suspended.
Isabella Road Commission: stagnant budget a problem
by Jason Baird
The Isabella County Road Commission has been struggling with its budget throughout Michigan’s on-again, off-again winter weather.
Getting dumped on by large amounts of snow in short periods of time and massive thawing and refreezing has led the commission to use its entire winter budget.
“We’re just trying to maintain at this point, and we’re failing,” road commission spokesperson Tony Casali said.
The road commission has used and exceeded its $945,000 winter budget. Casali says the total season expenses may reach $1.3 million.
Does this mean the streets are going to be mayhem if we get another heavy snowfall? If the commission is going to continue to maintain the 1,200 miles of roadway it covers, where will it find the funding?
For starters, the commission has begun to use its springtime blacktop maintenance budget.
We’ve already used $50,000 of the blacktop maintenance budget. That figure equates to 20 percent of the spring budget, Casali said.
Cuts are being made to help stretch available money.
Less paved roads are being repaired. Less of the 700 miles of gravel roads are being bladed and scraped. “It’s around $125,000 to repair a single gravel road,” Casali said.
The commission has for the most part eliminated salt use. It switched to a mix of liquid chloride and sand. A 50/50 mix of salt and sand is used on multi-lane, high traffic roads.
“It’s a state issue. The current formula is not appropriate in terms of fixing and maintaining roads,” Casali said.
The commission is looking at buying two new county trucks. The trucks are $170,000 apiece. As a testament of the changing economy, the same truck cost $100,000 in 1998. The commission expects to only be able to afford one of the new trucks.
While prices of steel, equipment and fuel rise, among other integral components of business, the budget remains stagnant.
“I expect a real flat year. We’ve had a 4 percent decrease this year in revenue, that’s $200,000 less than last year,” Casali said.
While there is no clear-cut solution to having limited funding, job-loss seems not to be a consideration.
“The road commission went through layoffs 2 or 3 years ago, reducing the work force by 8 positions,” Casali said
by Jason Baird
The Isabella County Road Commission has been struggling with its budget throughout Michigan’s on-again, off-again winter weather.
Getting dumped on by large amounts of snow in short periods of time and massive thawing and refreezing has led the commission to use its entire winter budget.
“We’re just trying to maintain at this point, and we’re failing,” road commission spokesperson Tony Casali said.
The road commission has used and exceeded its $945,000 winter budget. Casali says the total season expenses may reach $1.3 million.
Does this mean the streets are going to be mayhem if we get another heavy snowfall? If the commission is going to continue to maintain the 1,200 miles of roadway it covers, where will it find the funding?
For starters, the commission has begun to use its springtime blacktop maintenance budget.
We’ve already used $50,000 of the blacktop maintenance budget. That figure equates to 20 percent of the spring budget, Casali said.
Cuts are being made to help stretch available money.
Less paved roads are being repaired. Less of the 700 miles of gravel roads are being bladed and scraped. “It’s around $125,000 to repair a single gravel road,” Casali said.
The commission has for the most part eliminated salt use. It switched to a mix of liquid chloride and sand. A 50/50 mix of salt and sand is used on multi-lane, high traffic roads.
“It’s a state issue. The current formula is not appropriate in terms of fixing and maintaining roads,” Casali said.
The commission is looking at buying two new county trucks. The trucks are $170,000 apiece. As a testament of the changing economy, the same truck cost $100,000 in 1998. The commission expects to only be able to afford one of the new trucks.
While prices of steel, equipment and fuel rise, among other integral components of business, the budget remains stagnant.
“I expect a real flat year. We’ve had a 4 percent decrease this year in revenue, that’s $200,000 less than last year,” Casali said.
While there is no clear-cut solution to having limited funding, job-loss seems not to be a consideration.
“The road commission went through layoffs 2 or 3 years ago, reducing the work force by 8 positions,” Casali said
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