NOISE VIOLATIONS | Summer months lead
Three CMU pitchers drafted by Major League Baseball teams, 4
to shift in location, nature of reports, 3 CM-LIFE.COM
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RESPECTING MOUNT PLEASANT’S RESOURCES, COMMUNITY
Central Michigan Life
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
Police respond to increased problems on Chippewa River erica kearns/photo editor
ken kadwell/staff photographer
17-year-old Mount Pleasant resident Emily Johnston spins a hoop around her shoulders Thursday on Broadway Street during the kick-off of the Max and Emily’s Summer Concert Series. Johnston has been hooping for more than two years and enjoys teaching her trade. Check cm-life.com for coverage of the event.
Mount Pleasant resident Connor Wright and Saginaw resident Ondraya Holton ride the Lil’ Scrambler Sunday at Island Park, 331 N. Main St., during the 27th annual Summer Festival. Turn to page 3 for more coverage of the festival.
Irresponsible tubers held as root of trouble By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
Trespassing, theft, pollution, disorderly conduct and use of controlled substances are all connected to current recreational activities on the Chippewa River. Local law enforcement is concerned people using the river for tubing are not doing so responsibly. The Mount Pleasant Police Department and Isabella County Sheriff ’s Department have both received an elevated number of complaints about people who are using the river inappropriately. Isabella County Sheriff ’s Sgt. Tim Swanson said tubers are consuming large
ken kadwell/staff photographer
a busy weekend
July Board of Trustees meeting will determine CMU’s rate
Le Tour de Mont Pleasant tests bicyclist endurance
By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
By David Oltean | Staff Reporter
Saginaw Valley State, Oakland and Western Michigan universities have avoided a tuition restraint penalty which would result in a further loss in state funding. Each of the state’s 15 public universities lost 15 percent of their state funding from fiscal year 2010-11 for next year. However, if universities raised tuition more than 7.1 percent, they usually would see a penalty, resulting in a further loss of funds. SVSU raised undergraduate tuition rates by 6.9 percent, OU by 7 percent and WMU by 6.66 percent. Eric R. Gilbertson, SVSU President, said the increase
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erica kearns/photo editor
A tour | 2
A parks | 2
Universities avoid big funding slashes with tuition rates
Riders in category Four of the men’s division compete Saturday during the third annual Le Tour de Mont Pleasant on Broadway Street in downtown Mount Pleasant.
fter the first 125 miles of the Tour de Mont Pleasant road race, Jeff Schiller hadn’t once held the lead. As he moved toward the finish line at more than 30 mph, he finally made it to the front of the pack when it counted. Schiller was one of 752 registered bikers who competed in the third annual Le Tour de Mont Pleasant, held on Broadway Street in downtown Mount Pleasant this weekend. Bikers competed in separate categories based on age, gender and skill level, with the fastest and most enduring riders in the men’s pro category.
quantities of alcohol while endangering themselves and others. “Sooner or later, it’s going to result in major injury or death,” Swanson said. She said there have also been problems with tubers discarding empty alcoholic drink containers in the river and on private property, and trespassing and urinating on private property. Some river residents and a golf course bordering the river have noticed dumping of waste and theft of flag poles and lawn chairs. Jeremy Payne, a conservation officer for the Department of Natural Resources, said typically it is not the people who rent tubes, kayaks or canoes from local businesses who are the problem, it
Hundreds gather to listen to The Ragbirds Thursday on Broadway Street during the kickoff of the Max and Emily’s Summer Concert Series.
represents penny-pinching and sacrifice by the university. SVSU has the lowest tuition of the state’s public universities; according to the Saginaw News, undergraduates will pay $7,815 for 30 credit hours, or $260.50 per credit hour in 2011-12. Undergraduates paid $243.60 per credit hour last year. OU now charges $331 per credit hour; WMU charges between $4,381 and $4,840 as a flat rate for 12 to 15 credits. Students enrolled in one to 11 courses are charged $303-334 per credit hour. Freshman and sophomore students see the lower rate. With a 15 percent cut, CMU is set to receive $68 million in state appopriations next year. University President George Ross has said to expect to see a “modest” tuition increase. Tuition rates were already raised 2.5 percent for master’s and doctoral tuition, and a 3 percent increase to ProfEd tuition. A tuition | 2
Animal shelter loses volunteers over summer months HATS looking into new ways to increase rates By Ariel Black Staff Reporter
Students may leave Mount Pleasant in droves over the summer, but the animal companions some abandon stay. The Isabella County Animal Shelter struggles with a low amount of volunteers as the student population decreases in summer months. “We have a fantastic group of volunteers from Central
Michigan University,” said Jill Irving, executive director for the Humane Animal Treatment Society, 1105 S. Isabella Road. “But, we do see a lessening of volunteers during the summer.” Irving said the shelter relies on people coming in to walk dogs and help socialize the cats. This interaction gets the animals used to people, Irving said. The shelter received new 6-by-8-foot housing for the cats, donated by HATS in April 2011. People can actually walk into the cat housing now, she said. While Irving said the shelter does everything it can to
prevent animals from being euthanized, they are not a no-kill shelter because of a partnership with animal control. “It’s our last resort,” she said. “The procedure (to neuter and spay animals), is not high in cost, but people don’t realize how important it is. There are more cats in Isabella County than people.” Despite the large number of animals the shelter takes in, Irving said there is a 90 percent adoption rate, which is fifth in the state of Michigan from 2010 statistics. She credited the success to members of HATS,
who spend time and raise funds to support the animals. Mount Pleasant resident Jen Souva, who has volunteered for four years, said she was apprehensive when she first got involved because of the emotional strain that comes along with caring for the animals. “I always thought it would be so sad,” Souva said. “But then I thought about if I wasn’t there, who else would care for them? I’m glad I did it.” Mount Pleasant resident Ann Dunigan has volunteered A animal shelter | 2
victoria zegler/staff photographer
Mount Pleasant resident Mary Beth Orr and step daughter Victoria Krick play with Gucci, a Brindle Pit Bull mix, after walking dogs Tuesday afternoon at the Isabella County Animal Shelter, 1105 S. Isabella Road.
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