Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 9

Lansing State Journal 3B Monday Kelly L. Anderson Assistant City Editor 377-1213 E-mail: www.lsj.com March 4, 2002 COMMUNITIES Grant would help prevent disasters What's next I Ingham County Emergency Planning Committee is expected to appoint a subcommittee to update its emergency preparedness plan and establish pri-orities for use of a $300,000 federal grant When: 4 p.m. March 28 Where: Meridian Township Public Safety Building, Nelson Room, 5151 Marsh Road, Okemos The county has two years to raise the money, with a one-year extension possible. The grant is made possible through a Federal Emergency Management Agency program called Project Impact "With this grant we can anticipate what might happen in Ingham County and work to elhninate it as much as possible," said Ingham County sheriffs Sgt. Mike Perez, director of the Ingham County Emergency Planning Committee.

Perez supports a coalition of emergency services providers and private businesses to raise the $100,000. "Ingham County, like all municipalities now, is strapped for cash, but will accept the grant if Ingham County. An initial $30,000 project to train and equip Mason Public Schools personnel as community weather spotters is on hold until a subcommittee makes its recommendations. "Mason lacks daytime volunteer firefighters to serve as bad weather spotters," said Michael Thompson of Joseph Young Associates of Mason. "This grant could fill that need." Stack said her first Project Impact program served a Minnesota community.

The community identified high winds as its greatest hazard and five mobile home parks as the highest priority for preventive action, she said. One part of the grant provided parks with proper home tie-downs, safe $300,000 gift calls for Ingham County to raise $100,000 By Sally Trout Lansing State Journal MASON A $300,000 grant can buy a lot of preventive maintenance for natural disasters, but Ingham County's Emergency Planning Committee must raise matching funds first. The grant money is allocated for natural disaster prevention in Ingham County, but it carries a $100,000 price tag in matching local donations of cash or gifts of labor or materials. we can come up with the needed match," Perez said. In addition to matching the grant, the Emergency Planning Committee will form a subcommittee to update its emergency preparedness plan and establish priorities.

FEMA specialist Christine Stack predicts once the county prioritizes what it wants to accomplish, the matching funds will not be a problem. "Ingham County needs to look at the hazards and risks here and prioritize them, before asking for grant money for specific projects," she said. Perez cites natural hazards such as tornadoes or high winds followed by flooding as the biggest natural disasters facing weather shelters and siren warning systems where needed. She said the best way to deter-rnine priorities is to reach out to residents and let them determine what is most important Contact Sally Trout at 377-1040 orstroutlsj.com. Showcasing accomplishments Projects affect Jackson route Public Safety Boy, 9, injured in snowmobile accident SUNFLELD TWP.

A 9-year-old boy's right leg was crushed Sunday after it became trapped between the wheels and the track of a snowmobile, Eaton County sheriff's officials said. The boy was riding on the back of the Polaris snowmobile while his twin brother drove the vehicle. They towed a woman riding on a snowmobile sled in the 11000 block of West Mt. Hope Highway, sheriff's Sgt Rod Sadler said. The boys rode over a dip.

When the snowmobile bounced, the boy's leg became tangled in the track, Sadler said. His leg was severely injured, Sadler said, but the injury wasn't life-threatening. He was flown by helicopter to Sparrow Hospital. Sheriff's officials aren't releasing his name because he is a minor. Lansing police officer injured in car crash A Lansing police officer was injured after her patrol car slid into a utility pole and a fire hydrant early Sunday in north Lansing, police said.

Slippery roads are to blame for the accident, Lansing police Sgt. David Nosotti said. Officer Kristi Soulliere was driving just before 1:30 a.m. in the 3800 block of North Grand River Avenue when her car crashed. Soulliere was trying to help a Clinton County sheriff's deputy make an arrest, Nosotti said.

She suffered a broken nose, but Sparrow Hospital admitted her to see if she suffered any head injuries, he said. From staff reports Work to improve 1-94, U.S. 127 gets under way today l1 I imJSil II, is detoured onto Interstate 675. Locally, work has begun on Interstate 96 between College Road in Ingham County and Wacousta Road in Clinton County. A recommended alternate is U.S.

127 and Interstate 69. 1-96 will be rebuilt between M-43 (Saginaw Highway) and Lansing Road and bridge repairs and minor road repairs will be done between College and Lansing roads. At least one lane will remain open in each direction. Work between Saginaw Highway and Wacousta Road won't begin until mid-May. Other active work sites listed by AAA Michigan and the Michigan Department of Transportation include: H-96 from U.S.

127 to M-100 in Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties, intermittent single-lane or shoulder closures from 9 a.nt to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays for freeway sign upgrades with occasional 15-minute closures for truss erections between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Interstate 196 from Lane Av- Construction info For complete information on interstate, state and federal road construction projects in Michigan, go to www.auto clubgroup.commichiganautos constructionreport.asp enue to U.S. 131 in Kent County, rehabilitation of six bridges and merge lane construction on the eastbound side, intermittent lane closures through December. U.S. 24 (Telegraph Road) from the Wayne County line to the Ohio state line in Monroe County, sign upgrading, daytime shoulder closures until mid-August U.S. 127 from U.S.

10 north for eight miles in Clare County, road widening, lane closures through June 2003. Tip of the Week: Motorists who need to change or merge lanes on icy or snowy roads should proceed with caution. Merge slowly because sudden movements might cause vehicles to skid. Michigan Department of Transportation. Contact Hugh Leach at 377-1119 or hleachlsj.com.

By Hugh Leach Lansing State Journal Several construction projects are slated to begin today that could affect motorists heading toward Jackson. Guardrails will be improved on Interstate 94 from Elm Road east to Sargent Road. That will result in intermittent daytime shoulder closures through July. Widening of U.S. 127 over the Grand River north of M-50 will cause reduction in lane widths at various times until the project is completed in mid-August Work on both projects will be suspended during race weekends at Michigan International Speedway.

The 1-75 Zilwaukee Bridge over the Saginaw River in Saginaw County is closed for joint replacement work until mid-May. Traffic ROBERT KILLIPSLansing State Journal Heroine: Marie Papciak portrays Sarah Edmonds, a Michigan woman who disguised herself as a man to fight with the Union in the Civil War. Papciak's performances Sunday kicked off Women's History Month at the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame in Lansing. 8 it 1 Opens Closes In Less Thsn 33 Seconds! ft 'w "i Introducing The Revolutionary SunSetter Retractable Awning! If you're tired of having your outdoor enjoyment rained just plain ruined by unpredictable weather. At last there is a solution! One that lets you take control of the weather on your deck or patio! It's the incredible SunSetter8 Retractable Awning! A affordable way to outsmart the weather and start enjoying your deck or patio or shine! The SunSetter is like whole extra outdoor room to your you instant protection from glaring sudden showers! Plus it's incredibly easy to closing effortlessly in less than 30 seconds! So, stop struggling with the start enjoying your deck or patio more! SunSetter unrolhefforfiessly! Si SUYfoMW' sy 1-800-876-8060 Ext.

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