Most Interesting and Influential 2006

LANSING, MI — One year has past since our last “Most Interesting and Influential” edition.  Again, I do understand that people will ask how individuals were chosen and what dictated the order.  This year we decided to make it easier and print in the order received.  None of the individuals chosen from last year are in this year’s edition.  There were other individuals that were asked and either declined or did not get their information to us in a timely manner. 
    There was one individual who was taken off of our list because he had changed so much and we no longer feel that he is worthy of being on our list. 
    It has been an interesting year.  I did consider all of the individuals who were sent to me as well and I thank you for responding to my requests.  Next year you will see a mixture I am sure.  I received a lot of reader assistance but next year I would like more. We had several individuals who saw  a previous article on Mr. Willard Walker in an earlier edition. One person told us how he changed his life and how many hundreds of children’s lives he touched being a coach.  What we have written here would never be able to compare how interesting and/or influential these individuals have been in people’s lives. But we tried to do the best we could.
     Sharon Peters is an ardent supporter of the poetry movement in this area and has been instrumental at a few of our poetry events.
    Dr. Joan Jackson Johnson is a human miracle for many of Lansing’s homeless.  For years, she has given up her time to feed the homeless on the weekends.
   Judge Kraus and Supt. Samuel Duncan have innovative approaches in combating domestic violence issues.
   Enjoy and the choice of whether someone is interesting or influential is up to you.