The event, hosted by the students of Timothy Otteman’s RPL 430: Planning Recreation Programs and Events class, will raise money for Mount Pleasant Public Schools Education Foundation I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Fund. Otteman is an assistant professor of recreation, parks and leisure services.

The derby will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m Monday at Island Park, 331 N. Main St.

The fund is designed to assist academic products and programs in the district.

“Our assignment was to come up with an idea for an event and execute it. We choose a charity to raise money for,” said Remus junior Krista Voss. “We have a starting budget of zero, and it is a requirement that our event makes a profit.”

Otteman said he hopes the event will help his students gain knowledge for future careers.

“Planning events gives them practical skills to have real-life programming events to draw on to their future career, as well as getting them out of the standard environment of multiple choice tests,” he said.

Several donations have been received from local businesses including Jet’s Pizza, Papa John’s Pizza, Mount Pleasant Ice Arena, Walmart, CMU Bookstore and many more.

“We have a total of 20 prizes,” said Dansville junior Travis Konen. “Two for the first two ducks that pass the finish line and 18 other prizes for ‘lucky duck’ numbers that we are going to select, like in a raffle.”

Konen said one of the reasons he and his classmates chose to do this event is because students can participate without physically attending.

“If they aren’t there we will still race their ducks, and if they win, we will let them know after the event,” Konen said. “It’s hard to get college students to show up at events, so we thought this would be a good way to get people to participate, but not be locked into going.”

Otteman’s students have already been selling rubber ducks all around campus as well as in the Mount Pleasant Public School District.

Tickets can be purchased on Friday at the Mount Pleasant High School varsity football game, 1155 S. Elizabeth St., and from 6 to 6:30 p.m at Island Park the day of the event.

The AIDS Walk took place at 10 a.m. Saturday in Island Park, 331 N. Main St., to spread that message, which extends locally.

“We want to raise awareness that HIV is here, not only in the bigger towns, but right here in our own little community,” said Catrina Weber, a representative for the Central Michigan District Health Department.

The local walk is part of the bigger organization, AIDS Walk Michigan. According to its website, AIDS Walk Michigan is a non-profit organization that began in 1998 to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS and to raise money for local AIDS service organizations in participating Michigan communities. There are seven AIDS Walks in eight cities, all under AIDS Walk Michigan.

About 100 people attended the Central Michigan AIDS Walk, raising $3,872.

Weber said the health department has a lot of programs that help people with HIV.

“I know a lot of people that have HIV and they’re great people,” she said. “They need that extra help monetarily that (is) fundraised and also just knowing that people care about and support them.”

Columbiaville sophomore Alex Middlewood volunteered at the event.

Middlewood said she chose to volunteer because she feels the U.S. needs to be more educated about the disease to come closer to finding a cure.

“People think that HIV/AIDS only effects those in other countries, and that simply isn’t true,” Middlewood said. “(There are) 1.7 million people in the U.S. living with the disease and 21 percent don’t even know they have it.”

Although she said she does not know anyone who has the disease, she said there are 33 million people living with HIV around the world.

“Every minute, five people (in the world) are infected with HIV, and in the U.S. that statistic changes to one person every nine and a half minutes,” she said.

The event will begin at 3 p.m. at Island Park and benefit Community Cancer Services of Isabella County.

The walk for the event will start at 7 p.m. Luminaries will light the pathway as survivors, family, friends and volunteer walk for a cause.

“Into the Light” will also feature a silent auction, music, games, a treasure hunt and food throughout the day.

For more information on volunteering, contact Zora at 773-0346.

For people who wish to form a team to raise money for the event, contact Mary at 289-5374 or Shary at 773-3875.

People interested in purchasing lumanaries to honor cancer survivors or remember people they have lost should contact Shari at 506-0553 or Margaret at 772-0900.

Police responded to the first incident, which involved a vehicle spray-painted orange and green, at 8:02 a.m. at 303 S. Oak St. The second incident was noticed at 8:10 a.m. on the entrance sign to Nelson Park, along with one of the bathroom doors vandalized as well.

“Currently, we do not have a suspect,” Mount Pleasant Police Officer Jeff Browne said. “They didn’t leave any evidence behind.”

Other places colored with spray paint included the pavement in Mill Pond Park, 607 S. Adams St., and required $50 worth of repairs. The pavilion at Island Park, 331 N. Main St., was also $50 to repair damages. A car at 104 Walnut St. was also spray-painted.

“It’s unfortunate because there was quite a bit of damage done,” Browne said. “Not only to vehicles, but to city property and personal property.”

Browne said the green and orange spray paint did not resemble any signs, pictures or patterns.

“The patterns are random, and were meant to be more destructive than anything,” Browne said.

Mount Pleasant’s Parks and Recreation department sponsors Walk Mount Pleasant, a community program aimed at promoting health and wellness at 7 p.m. every Thursday through Aug. 5.

The walking program is open to all participants, many of whom bring friends and family to enjoy the scenery of Mount Pleasant.

Mill Pond Park and River Walk Trail, 607 S. Adams St., Mission Creek Woodland Park, 1458 N. Harris St., and Island Park, 331 N. Main St., are just a few of the walkway destinations.

“You can go at your own pace,” said Kevin Troshak, one of the Parks and Recreation officials in charge of the program. “It’s completely non-competitive. Every Thursday it’s a different park, and it really gives people the chance to do something healthy.”

There are anywhere from 20 to 35 people that participate on a given Thursday. To give people an incentive to come back, they are given a playing card each time they show up.

“It works like poker,” said Theresa Collovecchio of Parks and Recreation. “The more they participate, the better chance they have at getting a good hand, and at the end of the year, we give away a three- or six-month membership to Wellness Central Fitness.”

Mount Pleasant resident Carol Lemmer brings her daughter and friends to walk with her. Lemmer has participated in Walk Mount Pleasant for three years, and won last year’s contest.

“I won a six-month membership, so it’s definitely been a major incentive,” Lemmer said. “But my favorite part is getting exercise in all the different parks with my friends.”

This is the fourth year Parks and Recreation has hosted Walk Mount Pleasant. Those interested in participating can contact Mount Pleasant’s Parks and Recreation department at 779-5331 for more information.

Sure, it is smaller than what many may be used to in comparison to our hometowns. And it’s an adjustment to get to know. But because you’ve chosen CMU, you have chosen Mount Pleasant.

As such, do not trash, both literally and figuratively, a community which is kind enough to welcome you with open arms. You chose Mount Pleasant, it and its residents did not choose you. Because you made that choice, treat the city as your home, because frankly, that’s what it is.

And that’s why the city deserves a bit more respect than many students are willing to give.

Case in point: students who use the use the Chippewa River disrespectfully.

Law enforcement reports students are trespassing, polluting, publicly urinating in and being generally disrespectful to this city’s resources. These acts are absolutely uncalled for and examples of truly selfish behavior.

Good citizenship should be the primary focus of students in the area, especially considering their temporary status in the area simply makes them guests.

Mount Pleasant has a lot to offer; just this past week three events of great magnitude took place, in addition to all of the excellent attractions the city usually has to offer.

Le Tour de Mont Pleasant, the Max and Emily’s concert series and the Mount Pleasant Summer Festival all offered a bit more excitement to a generally sleepy town.

The city is nice enough to allow students to use the river for tubing, the streets for the Max and Emily’s concert series and Le Tour, and Island Park and other public attractions for the Summer Festival and other activities. The least students can do is behave, be respectful and not litter or vandalize public property.

We should hold ourselves to a standard far above public urination and other behaviors unbecoming of CMU students.

This city doesn’t belong to the university and its students, it belongs to those who proudly call Mount Pleasant home. The students in question would do well to end their selfish ways and remember they are part of a community that extends beyond the campus borders.

The event took place at the Health Professions building on campus. More than 100 participates ran in the event that went from the Central Michigan University campus to Deerfield Rd. and back.

The Heath Professions Building is a new location for the Stomp Out MS 5K/10K run and walk, said Midland graduate student Sarah Battjes.

“Usually we do it at Island Park, but we wanted to do it on campus to help raise awareness,” said Battjes.

Money was raised from a spaghetti dinner the day before the event, selling T-shirts, donations from the runners and from sponsorships from local businesses, including Kohls.

“Somewhere between $2500 and $3000 is what we are projected,” Battjes said. “It’s all going to the National MS Society, Michigan Chapter, we aren’t keeping anything.”

Registration began on Saturday, April 9, at 8:30 a.m. at the Health Professionals Building. The race began at 10 a.m. A $20 minimum donation is required to race in the 5K and a $25 donation is required to race in the 10K, but participates were encourage to gather addition pledges as well.

Alma resident Ashley Bader said she was excited to run again. Last year the event was a great experience that was fun and well organized, she said.

“My uncle has MS, which is why I chose to support this charity, it affects me and my family,” Bader said.

This is the third year the Stomp Out MS 5K/10K Run and Walk has raised money towards the cure and prevention of MS. As well as the 5k and 10k run and walk there was also a mile fun run, information booths about MS, and testimonies from individuals who have been diagnosed with the disease.

“My mom has MS, so I thought it was a good cause,” Macomb sophomore Janell Herrick said.

Herrick ran the 5K.

Cathy Zuker , leader of the Isabella County-area Multiple Sclerosis Support Group, said she’s not as concerned with how much the event raises, she’s more excited about the awareness that it generates.

“They have been doing a great job,” Zuker said. “What they’re doing is tremendous in making people aware that MS is out there and their working on a cure.”

Currently there are 400,000 Americans with Multiple Sclerosis, 18,000 in Michigan, and around 100 in Isabella county, Zuker said.

Students, staff and Mount Pleasant residents gathered at the park to participate in the annual CROP Walk. CROP, Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty, is an event that offers participants an option of one-, two- or five-mile walks to combat hunger and poverty.

“The Walk is to help people around the world,” said Charlie Farnum, chairman of the CROP Walk Committee and director of Wesley Church. “Twenty-five percent of the money raised stays here in Mount Pleasant and the rest goes around the world.”

The Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, the Red Cross Food Pantry and the Salvation Army will all receive a portion of the proceeds from the CROP walk, which is sponsored internationally by the Church World Service and locally by many churches in the area.

CROP walks began in the 1960s. Since then, they have spread across the nation, with over 2,000 communities holding the walks annually. This year’s turnout was much larger than in previous years, said Mount Pleasant resident Helen Thomas, registrar of the CROP Walk Committee.

“We were hoping for 200 walkers this year, and with so many students here I think we might have went over it,” she said. “Our goal is to get $25,000.”

As the walkers came in, the amount collected was $14,675, not including online donations, Thomas said.

It was the third time Allison Mazur attended a CROP walk.

“I know it’s cliche, but I really just like helping people,” the Ludington senior said.

Among the walkers were University President George Ross, honorary chairman for the Crop Walk Committee and Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe.

Ross started off the event with a speech praising the walk for its efforts to help stop hunger.

“Thank you for caring,” Ross said. “The work you are doing here today is very important.”

The CMU Leadership Institute was also involved in organizing the walk, helping to organize and set up the event, Farnum said. Mount Pleasant businesses are also big donors for the walk.

“The majority of people who die of hunger, die within walking distance of the food they need,” Farnum said, “Hopefully we can help change that.”

About 85 people spent the morning at Island Park to support and participate in the PACE, promoting active children everywhere, race.

Garria Arnold, clinical supervisor and nurse practitioner for Michigan Spine and Pain, supported the event as a keynote speaker and runner in the 5K.

“My position is to help reduce childhood obesity,” Arnold said. “Because we know that if you’re overweight as a child, it could lead into adulthood and lead to more health problems in the future.”

East Lansing senior Niki Corcoran wasn’t planning on running in the event but the cold made her thinking about changing her mind.

“I’m freezing, so I was actually thinking about running it just to get warm,” Corcoran said, laughing.

Registration began at 8 a.m. and by 9 a.m. the participants were all gathered behind the starting line.

One of the runners, Corey Friedrich, warmed up long before the race started.

“I just got up a little while ago and I needed to get my legs warmed up before the race starts,” the Mount
Pleasant resident said. “It’s a nice way to get some exercise and help charity too.”

Friedrich finished the 5K race with a time of 18 minutes and 37 seconds, the fastest time of the whole event.

Once the adults were done with the 5K, it was the kid’s turn to shine.

Kids participated in their own half-mile Tot Trot, some of them even riding bicycles.

Four-year-old Andrew Cline said his favorite part of running in the race was the last part “because that was when he ran so fast.”

Some of Central Michigan’s track team members, including Coach Dionne Henley and Saginaw senior John Calvert, helped out at the event by directing runners and making sure that none of the participants got lost.

“We try to do a lot of volunteer work in the community,” Henley said. “We were excited to be here.”