Central Michigan University Athletics, the Mount Pleasant Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Central Michigan Life will host the inaugural CMU/Mount Pleasant Gus Macker Festival on August 28 through August 30.

Along with the traditional Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament, the festival offers activities and events for both college students and families.

The Museum of Cultural and Natural History at Central Michigan University hosted its first tour through Michigan’s natural history yesterday as part of the museum’s July program, “Tour Tuesdays.”

Jena Johnson, a Hastings senior and a museum student staff member, created “Tour Tuesdays” as a 45-to-60 minute program for people of all ages to enjoy during the summer.

The 2009 Michigan Story Festival will receive $15,000 in support from the Michigan Humanities Council.
The funding is part of the Michigan Humanities Council’s “Michigan People, Michigan Places . Our Stories, Our Lives” program, which awarded $151,581 to 12 organizations across the state.

Geography instructor Gloria Siers released her first novel this summer after more than 20 years of writing.

The novel, entitled “Once There Was and Will Never Be Again,” follows a young boy named Peter as he experiences the political turmoil of Eastern Europe during the twentieth century.

All Secretary of State branch offices will be closed Friday for a state-mandated furlough day.

As a means to cut spending, Gov. Jennifer Granholm ordered all state offices to use six furlough days before September 30 to cut spending and eliminate the state’s budget deficit.