grand ledge independent
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Lansing Communtiy NewspapersTRANSCRIPT
GRAND LEDGE — Thehopes and resolutions of-fered by a number of localleaders reflect a cautiousoptimism for 2011, coupledwith a resolve to workharder to make their com-munity a better and saferplace to live.
“I am feeling quite pos-itive,” said Eaton CountyCommissioner Blake Mul-der (R-Oneida).
“I know we have bot-tomed out. We have beenthrough tough times andweathered it well.”
Mulder said his own A &W Restaurant business hasseen an uptick in sales aftera couple of flat years.
He sees the politicalswings from the last elec-tion as likely to help aneconomic resurgence in thenew year.
“I feel a little morecomfortable in the politicalscene,” he said. “I’m look-ing for some changes thatwill be more businessfriendly”
Grand Ledge School Su-perintendent Steve
Matthews plans to makeone change in style whilecontinuing to work to movethe schools forward.
“I resolve to listen moreand speak less,” he said.
“I resolve to advocatefor the students of theGrand Ledge PublicSchools, and I resolve to fo-
Local leadersresolve for abetter new yearBy ALAN [email protected]
SeeResolve/page11
I’m hoping we cancontinue to avoidlayoffs andprogram cutsthrough 2011.That’s my numberone wish for thecity in the newyear.”
– Kalmin Smith,Grand Ledge
mayor
GRAND LEDGE -Shortly before Christmaswhen many kids may havebeen focused on what toexpect under the tree forthemselves, a trio of chil-dren with Grand Ledgeties were thinking ofsomeone else.
OnWednesday,Dec. 22,AnthonyKreiner, 9,of Eagle, hiscousin Alex-is Kreiner,10, of Ponti-ac, and KyraDennis, 10,a fifth-grad-
er at Beagle, decided tohelp out a young friend,Jacalyn Lambrix-Wilkes, 8.
Jacalyn of Delta Town-ship had recently beenstruck with a recurrenceof cancer.
Surgery and a stay atUniversity of Michigan-Mott Hospital has forcedher to postpone a Make-a-Wish Foundation trip to
Disney World, scheduledfor Jan. 8. She was goingto stay in the castle.
Anthony and Alexisknow Jacalyn because hergrandparents, Randy andJackie Wilkes, live neartheir grandparents inGrand Ledge.
Kyra lives in the Wilkes’
Kids carol in name of palBy BARB [email protected]
Andrew Kreiner, his cousin Alexis Kreiner and neighborhood friend Kyra Dennis in the home of Randy andJackie Wilkes of Grand Ledge after the trio went caroling in the neighborhood to aid their young friend,Jacalyn Wilkes, who is suffering from cancer.
Photo courtesy of Randy Wilkes
JacalynLambrix-Wilkes
See Carol/page 5
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Vol. 161 - No. 1 www.GrandLedgeIndependent.com January 2, 2011
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