Media Advisory – Groundbreaking Friday for MSU Shooting Sports Center
7/16/08
Contact: Ruth Borger
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Communications
517-432-1555, ext. 153,
cell 517-803-7631
or
William Taylor
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
517-353-3048
July 18, 10:30 a.m. at the John and Marnie Demmer Shooting Sports, Education and Training Center
Jolly Road, East Lansing (south side of Jolly, midway between College and Hagadorn Roads) -- Michigan State University
A groundbreaking ceremony will take place Friday, July 18, for the John and Marnie Demmer Shooting Sports, Education and Training Center on the campus of Michigan State University. The $3.5 million, 23,000 square foot, multi-purpose facility will support university academic programs such as law enforcement, NCAA shooting programs and team sports, the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), and hunter safety and 4-H youth programs. It will also house club shooting sports -- including small-bore, air rifle and archery.
The facility is named in honor of John Demmer, founder and chair of the Lansing-based Demmer Corporation, and his late wife, Marnie, both alumni and long-time supporters of MSU who provided principal support for the building.
The center will add capacity to university programs requiring firearm safety and education certifications, including ROTC training and recruitment and the conservation officer specialization and environmental crime certificate offered through the departments of Fisheries and Wildlife, and Criminal Justice. It will also accommodate DNR conservation officer and MSU Police officer certification training as well as state programming and certification in firearm safety for all age groups.
The center will be the second largest indoor shooting facility in the Midwest and the only shooting sports center to offer two indoor ranges and three outdoor archery ranges. The two indoor ranges will accommodate small-bore, air rifle and archery; the outdoor archery park will include beginner, field and competitive ranges. The center will be barrier-free, open year-round and available for public use.
Photo opportunities: John Demmer firing the first shot and Norm Graham, head coach of the MSU archery team releasing a flaming arrow. Speakers will include Fred Poston, MSU vice president for finance and operations; Rebecca Humphries, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; John Demmer and William Taylor, University Distinguished Professor and former chair of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.
#ft#
Click on picture for high resolution photo.