Anspach Hall renovation, data center construction on CMU Board of Trustees meeting agenda

Several projects are on the agenda for the Thursday meeting of the Central Michigan University Board of Trustees. Anspach Hall, one of the main student classroom buildings, is up for a $14 million renovation. Trustees will vote on contracting for engineering, construction and start-up costs for the building, which has never been updated. The hall, which opened in 1967, houses the departments of English, history, philosophy, religion, political science, sociology anthropology and social work. The project would update heating and cooling systems and modernize the classrooms. The trustees also will discuss and vote to authorize the planning, design, construction, equipping and furnishing of a new data center. The $5.4 million facility would be housed in the basement of Faust Hall.

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Holiday Combo Baseball Camp: A Day with the Pros

The Central Michigan baseball program will host its annual Holiday Combo Camp on Dec. 17, with a special incentive for campers in attendance. The Chippewa coaching staff is inviting campers to "Spend a Day with the Pros," as current professional baseball players and former CMU stars such as Josh Collmenter, Dan Taylor and Trent Howard will be in attendance to help instruct throughout the day. Collmenter recently finished his rookie season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, placing fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, going 10-10 with a 3.38 earned-run average. Collmenter was vital in helping the D-Backs claim a NL West Division title and earned a win in game three of the National League Division Series over the Milwaukee Brewers.

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CMU, faculty reach tentative agreement on contract

Central Michigan University says it has reached a tentative agreement on a new three-contract for school faculty. The school said in a news release sent late Thursday that the deal with the CMU Faculty Association was reached after a 14-hour negotiating session facilitated by a county judge. Details of the tentative agreement weren't released pending ratification. The CMU Faculty Association has a general membership meeting scheduled for Sunday. It wasn't immediately clear if a vote would be held then. Negotiations began in April. The two sides have held 34 meetings — including six with a state mediator.

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MSU student from Mount Pleasant one of 36 across nation named Marshall Scholar

A Michigan State University senior from Mount Pleasant was one of just 36 students throughout the country named a 2012 Marshall Scholar, a postgraduate scholarship allowing students to study in the United Kingdom. Rebecca Farnum is the 13th Marshall Scholar in MSU history, and also one of just two students in the state of Michigan awarded the honor this year. A member of both James Madison College and Honors College at MSU, Farnum has been engaged in undergraduate research her entire academic career and is currently using mathematic methodology to predict how, and if, people, organizations and governments will work together to improve food and water shortages in the Middle East and North Africa, writes Kristen Parker of MSU News.

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MSP rules inmate’s death due to drug overdose

The Michigan State Police post in Mount Pleasant says it has concluded its investigation into the in-custody death of a Midland man. The Michigan State Police were requested by the Isabella County Sheriff's Department to conduct an investigation into the in-custody death of 35-year-old Bradford Gibson. Gibson passed away at the Isabella County Jail on Sept. 24. The State Police investigation revealed officers from the Mt. Pleasant Department had been dispatched to the Wayside Central, at approximately 1:41 a.m., to respond to difficulties bar personnel were having with Mr. Gibson.

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Dreams come true for Zarin-taj at Soaring Eagle's Water Lily lounge

Here's a holiday treat you won't want to miss, especially if you're a fan of smooth, soulful jazz. A few nights ago, we headed for the Water Lily lounge at Mount Pleasant's Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort to catch Saginaw's own Shirlene "Zarin-taj" Brown. It seems like only yesterday that she called, thrilled, crying, praising God, to say she had made the cut on the resort's entertainment circuit. And Saturday, nearly a year later, we were one of many who couldn't find an open seat in the lounge. Fortunately, with Isabella's restaurant within earshot, we didn't miss a note. Accompanied by Braun Khan and Matt Moresi, Brown poured so much emotion into her Christmas selections, she turned songs we've heard a hundred times already this season into living, breathing prayers.

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Five Chippewas Earn All-MAC Honors

Five members of the Central Michigan football program have been named to the All-Mid-American Conference team by the conference's head coaches. Junior defensive back Jahleel Addae was named to the All-MAC first-team defense, while senior tight end David Blackburn was selected to the second-team offense. Junior offensive lineman Eric Fisher, junior receiver Cody Wilson and freshman receiver Titus Davis all were voted to the third-team offense. Wilson earns his third career All-MAC honor. He was named to the all-conference second team as a receiver and third team as a punt returner in 2010. Addae is a repeat selection to the All-MAC squad after collecting third-team accolades in 2010. Blackburn, Fisher and Davis are first-time All-MAC honorees.

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