NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LAST 7 DAYS: December 8, 2021

The Peanut Shop

Peanut Shop owner Tammy Melser, whose family has owned the downtown Lansing nuttery since 1960, announced her retirement on Facebook after more than 45 years of working there. She’ll stay on staff through December, then make room for the new owners Adam Seyburn and Aaron Larvick, of Okemos, who said they plan to keep the business running in the same way. The new owners also plan to eventually launch a website for The Peanut Shop for online orders.

Lansing delays one-way street changes

Plans to convert several one-way streets in downtown Lansing to allow for two-way traffic have been pushed into next spring following operational delays tied to utility relocations, late equipment deliveries, staffing shortages and wintry weather on the horizon. The city hasn’t released a new schedule, but officials said some work will have to wait until March. 

Sparrow Health System’s drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in the Frandor Shopping Center tallied over 500 patients last Tuesday amid a fourth wave of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations — nearly double its usual capacity of 300 patients per day, the Lansing State Journal reports. Its hospital has also reached maximum capacity multiple times in recent weeks.

Clinton County businesses grab grant cash

The Board of Commissioners and the Lansing Economic Area Partnership awarded $1.64 million in COVID-19 relief grants to 107 small businesses in Clinton County. About 58% of those who applied received grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000. Notably, about half of the eligible applications received (and the grants awarded) involved local businesses owned by women.

Strike two for Betz recall efforts

Plans to circulate a recall petition against Lansing City Councilman Brandon Betz were shot down — for a second time — by the Ingham County Election Commission following concerns about a “lack of clarity” in the proposed recall language. Liz Abdnour, the attorney who filed the petition, said she plans to appeal the decision to a judge.

County blocks media from bid interviews

Deputy Ingham County Controller Teri Morton rescinded an invitation to City Pulse (and other media outlets) to attend interviews with four nonprofit organizations who applied for more than $250,000 in taxpayer cash to operate the Advance Peace gun intervention program in Lansing. Despite initially allowing the media to attend the interviews last week, Morton said the county decided to block them from public view because of the “very sensitive subjects dealt with by organizations dealing with gun violence prevention” and that “media presence could possibly endanger the proposers and future fellows.” Visit lansingcitypulse.com for more coverage.

Sparrow nurses settle three-year contract

A new three-year contract between Sparrow Health System and its 2,200-member Professional Employee Council was reached, averting the possibility of a strike following months of tense contract negotiations that led to hundreds of nurses picketing outside the hospital last month. The agreement reportedly includes a 20% wage increase for average bedside nurses over the next three years, as well as no increases in staff healthcare premiums or reduction in sick days.

Montgomery Drain project behind schedule

Cost increases and supply chain woes have delayed progress on the multimillion-dollar effort to keep contaminated stormwater out of the Red Cedar River, reports the Lansing State Journal. After more than 10 years of planning and 18 months of construction, county officials are now reportedly struggling to find ways to keep the project afloat with its existing $30 million budget.

Schor finishes gutting retiree healthcare

A resolution introduced to the Lansing City Council by Mayor Andy Schor serves as the final rung of his longstanding plan to eliminate retiree health care benefits for city staff hired after Jan. 1, 2016. The latest plan involves cutting health care for about a dozen of the city’s top department directors — who are reportedly the only remaining staff still able to collect benefits. Schor told FOX 47 News that it was the “final step” in his plan to gut health care and save cash.

First-term Republican Clinton County Prosecutor Tony Spagnuolo announced a new billboard campaign designed to support local cops — including two “highly visible billboards” that picture Spagnuolo and include the tagline “Entering Clinton County: Where we Back the Blue and Take Crime Seriously.” Spagnuolo said he raised $6,000 in private funds to launch the campaign.

Copycat threats follow Oxford shooting

Several area high schools were among dozens statewide to report threats following the shooting at Oxford High School that left four students dead. A complaint about an online threat to “shoot up” Holt Jr. High School was reported to authorities on Thursday evening — later leading to a 13-year-old boy eventually being taken into police custody. Webberville Community Schools closed on Friday while the district investigated “concerning” conversations between students that ultimately didn’t pose any imminent or specific threats to the district. An Owosso Public Schools student was arrested following threats that were allegedly made toward the district. And schools in Vermontville were also closed on Monday following rumors of threats of gun violence.

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