Ashlee De Wit
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Ashlee De Wit is a freelance writer and a Lansing native. After starting her career covering high school sports in Iowa, she's excited to be back in her hometown, reporting the stories of her local community — such as the opening of Troost, the informal Lansing pickleball club, a TF South Homecoming game, and Common Ground, Lansing's experiment with healthy race relations.
Rooftop baseball returns April 1
First United Methodist Church hosts community for TF South game against rival TF North
by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill. (March 17, 2019) — First United Methodist Church of Lansing invites TF South baseball fans once again to join them for the kickoff of the annual “rooftop” games when the Rebels...
Roundball Classic championship celebrates community
Organizers Reynolds and Seymour present trophies, checks at Village Board meeting
by Ashlee De Wit and Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (March 2019) – The Coolidge Cougars are the 10th annual Roundball Classic champions, defeating the Heritage Nationals by a score of 39–16 in the final game on Tuesday, February 26.Sally...
Underground Railroad presentation draws a crowd
by Ashlee De WIt
LANSING, IL (February 27, 2018) — It was standing room only in the Lansing Public Library’s community room as more than 100 people gathered for the Underground Railroad presentation at the Lansing Historical Society meeting on February 25.“We’re shocked,” Barb Dust said on behalf of the...
Coolidge claims Roundball Classic championship
Lansing community wins financial and food donations
by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill. (February 27, 2019) - The Coolidge Cougars are the Roundball Classic champions this year, defeating the Heritage Nationals by a score of 39-16 in the final game on Tuesday night.The Lansing community raised more than $5,000 and...
Scenes from the Friday night Roundball Classic games
photos and captions by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill. (February 25, 2019) - The tenth annual Roundball Classic began on Thursday, February 21, with fifth-grade boys basketball teams from Coolidge, Heritage, Lansing Christian, Oak Glen, Reavis, and St. Ann Schools competing. The tournament continued on Friday night and Saturday, and...
The Underground Railroad in our back yards
Local experts to present stories and photos—Monday, February 25, 6:00pm
by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill (February 1, 2019) — In 1843, Caroline Quarlls was a 16-year-old who left Missouri with a bounty on her head. She spent some time in Crete, Illinois, and other local areas before becoming the first...
Sure to be a hit: Winterhoff Park gets music-themed addition
by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill. (January 18, 2019) - If new park equipment is music to your ears, you will love the recent addition to Lansing's Winterhoff Park.A xylophone, drums, and chimes have been installed next to the playground equipment in a feature called “Symphony at Winterhoff Park.”The Lan-Oak...
What does the Lansing Fire Department do?
Understanding Lansingby Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill. (June 29, 2018) - In our latest installment of the Understanding Lansing series, we learn that the Lansing Fire Department does much more than put out fires. In fact, that’s not even their most common task.“About 70-80 percent of our work is the...
Ooo Wee Chicken & Ribs opens in Lansing
Original opening delayed, but owner Avery Hall is ready now
by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill. (June 9, 2018) – Avery Hall started cooking for large groups while working as a maintenance supervisor at St John de la Salle Catholic Academy in Chicago.“I started cooking for Lent at the church,” he...
Troost: now serving comfort food
by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill. (April 25, 2018) – Chef Steven McCarter has joined the staff at Troost, and he brought his grandma’s biscuits and gravy recipe with him.The Lansing coffee shop, which opened about a year ago, recently hired McCarter and expanded its menu of baked goods to...