Easter Bunny visited despite the weather
by Maralyn Fink
On Saturday I attended the Easter Egg Hunt at the City Park. Despite the cold weather, there was a great turnout for this event. It was divided up in age groups and all were waiting to see the Easter Bunny.
Officer Chad Pierson retires, looks back
Open letter from Officer Chad Pierson – written on April 17, 2022:
It’s Easter Sunday. Today I came into work and put on a uniform for the last time. It will be my last shift patrolling, protecting, and serving the city of St. Johns. The last Holiday and weekend I will spend away from my family. It is bitter sweet.
For nearly 28 years I have been a police officer serving the city I grew up in, a city I love. I have had so many wonderful opportunities in my career. I have met some amazing people and I have gained a second family made up of co-workers past and present. I am truly grateful!
The men and women I have served beside are incredible people who have sacrificed so much to serve this community and I couldn’t be more proud or feel better about leaving it in their hands.
I have been truly blessed to be able to come back home and spend my career here. I am so thankful to so many. My parents who raised me to be the man I am with a passion for loving and serving people. My wife and kids for sacrificing so much to allow me to fulfill the obligations of this career and for the love and support they have given me. My friends, and co-workers who have served beside me through the good and the bad times this job brings with it. The awesome citizens in this community for accepting me in this position and supporting me and the members of my department throughout my career. Lastly, I thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ for leading me here and for guiding and protecting me along this journey.
It has been a true honor and privilege to be a St. Johns police officer! I will miss this job and the people in it. I look forward to the time with my family and friends and the adventures that lie ahead!
God bless you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart,
– Officer Chad Pierson, Retired
Do you have in your collection?
The Clinton County Historical Society Archives is doing a huge project (Chronology of an Address) and is in need of City Dirctories with names and addresses of residents or businesses, for villages and towns in Clinton County to scan. R. L. Polk used to be the main company that would do one every year but there are others also.
These are what they have so far:
St. Johns: 1894, 1921, 1925, 1929, 1930, 1938, 1949, 1957, 1961, 1964, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1991, 2007
They are also looking for older or newer house and business building photos. An address and year would be ideal if included.
If you have something they could use, please contact Julie at petersj@msu.edu or 989-501-0599. Clinton County Historical Society Archives, P.O. Box 174, St. Johns, MI 48879.
Remember When – Joann Martis 2009 recipient of the William Patton Award
Joann and Paul Martis surrounded by members of their family
Joann and her husband Paul have been married for 55 years. They have four children; Paulette, David, Melissa and Christine and four grandchildren; Amanda, Megan, Madison and Mitchell. While her family is the most important thing to her, she is also very dedicated to her church.
She has been an active member of the First Congregational Church in St. Johns for 77 years and is a life member. She is a member of the Linda Scott Division Women’s Fellowship ministry team and an active participant in the Friendly Service ministry team which provides meals after funerals. Each year she chairs their annual Attic Treasure Sale (a huge fundraiser for the church) and is a member of the Chancel Choir. Through the years she has taught Bible School, Nursery School and Sunday School and was even the Administrative Assistant at the church for a time. She is currently on their 150th Anniversary team and is compiling the last 20 years of church history.
Joann has always been involved in her community. She was on the Committee that formed the St. Johns Relay for Life, she was on the original planning committee for the St. Johns Industrial Park, she worked with Bill Richards through CRV, and is currently on the fundraising committee of the Clinton County Senior Center. She has even supported her community and various organizations through her beautiful singing voice. During high school she participated in Minstrel Shows that were fundraisers for the Lions Club and since then she has participated in Clinton Capers and most recently in the Home Companions show for the St. Johns Sesquicentennial.
Joann was the Director of the St. Johns Chamber of Commerce for 11 years from 1982-1993. One of the reasons she was chosen for the position was because of her outgoing personality. Her first few years at the Chamber were rebuilding years. The Chamber had not been very active due in part to low membership. Joann was actually the first Ambassador for the Chamber. That group formed in 1983 with Skip Hughes acting as chairman. The uniform has always been a source of pride for Joann and the Ambassadors and that was very evident at Mr. Hughes’ funeral. Skip’s family hung his red jacket at his funeral because they knew of the pride he took in the group. When Joann spoke at the funeral she put $2 in his pocket to pay for his fine since he was not in proper uniform.
Joann is the individual that developed the idea of having a festival in St. Johns, which turned into the St. Johns Mint Festival. She gathered the needed individuals and with the help of a dedicated committee made it a reality. Those first few years were tough financially – in fact the first festival was funded through “loans” from Chamber members. Joann was the driving force of the Mint Festival – She was great at getting Chamber members and community members involved.
Joann has been an honorary member of the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce and it’s Ambassadors for several years. She has such a passion for her community and this Chamber and recognition of her efforts and support are truly deserved.
Joann talked about her family’s history in St. Johns. Her Parents and Grandparents used to own and operate Baker’s Restaurant at corner of State St. and Clinton Ave. in St. Johns where Hungry Howie’s is now located.
She has a lot of good memories from the restaurant.
A Look Back Again – Remembering Art and Pat Halfmann
Joe Zelenka (center) of 1102 Walker Road, St. Johns, has won a $150 suggestion award from Federal-Mogul Corp. for an idea combining a safety suggestion and a method to eliminate broken tooling. Presenting him his check is General Foreman Art Halfmann, while Zelenka’s foreman Adam Bailey looks on. Zelenka is a press operator and has been with Federal-Mogul here since January 1953.
— May 30, 1968
******
This is another photo from that mid-fifties Federal-Mogul picnic held at the St. Johns City Park. From what I’ve seen in these photos, they must have had a great time. I only know three people in this one. On the left is Dina Silvestri holding on to her son, Veto.
The other person is the guy on the right side of the picture looking down. That’s Wayne Leslie. I worked with him when I first started at Federal-Mogul. They always teased him about the way he ran a wall broach. He made a move with his legs that kind of went like, “Cha-Bop.” It was a rhythm he got into when he ran a broach, and it worked for him.
[Editor’s note: The second woman from the left is Pat Halfmann with her daughter, Shirley.]
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – How to Tell If Your Dog Has Worms
One of the most common concerns that you may face as a dog owner is whether or not your dog has worms. As gross as that thought may be, intestinal worms are pretty common.
Here’s what you need to know about worms in dogs: how to tell if your dog has worms, how dogs get worms, and how to get rid of worms in dogs.
How Do Dogs Get Worms?
Here are some of the most common ways that dogs get worms:
Eating Feces
Transmission of intestinal worms (hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms) commonly occurs when your dog ingests contaminated soil or feces containing eggs or immature worms (larvae) that have been passed from other infected animals in the environment.
Roundworm infections can develop when the ingested eggs hatch and the larvae migrate through the tissues of other organs, often a dog’s lungs and liver, before returning to the small intestine to grow to maturity. Whipworms typically grow to maturity in the upper part of the large intestine.
Getting Them From Their Mother
Pregnant and nursing dogs can transmit hookworm and roundworm larvae to their puppies during pregnancy if the larvae migrate across the placenta. These larvae can also migrate into the mammary glands and be passed to puppies during lactation. Hookworms, like roundworms, will eventually grow to maturity in your dog’s small intestine.
Ingesting Fleas While Grooming
Your dog could be infected with tapeworms while licking herself during grooming, or by chewing at her fur. Fleas transmit tapeworms by ingesting the tapeworm egg packets in the environment before jumping on your dog for a blood meal. Once the flea host has been swallowed and digested, the tapeworm larva is able to attach to the wall of your dog’s intestine and grow to adulthood.
How to Tell If Your Dog Has Worms
Since worm infestations can sometimes show few to no symptoms, keep an eye out for any or all of these changes in your dog’s daily health and appearance:
– Diarrhea, sometimes containing blood or mucus
– Vomiting, which can sometimes contain adult worms
– Weight loss, particularly if your dog has a good appetite
– A bloated belly or generally “unhealthy” appearance
– A dull, dry coat
– Excessive scooting and chewing at their bottom
– Visible segments that look like grains of rice attached to the fur around their bottom or on their tail (or in their feces)
Common Types of Worms and Their Symptoms
Here’s a list of common types of worms in dogs and the specific symptoms you might see for each.
Whipworms
Adult whipworms are smaller than roundworms and may be visible to the naked eye, but they are uncommonly seen as adults in the feces. These worms can cause:
– Chronic weight loss
– Bloody diarrhea and/or a visible mucus coating on the feces when passed
Hookworms
Adult hookworms are usually not visible to the naked eye. Hookworms could cause:
– Bloody diarrhea
– Anemia
– Weakness
– Lethargy
Roundworms
Roundworms are visible to the naked eye (they look like spaghetti) and can be seen in feces or sometimes vomited or coughed up as single worms or in clusters. They can cause:
– Diarrhea
– Weight loss
– Lethargy
– A ”potbellied” appearance
– A dull coat
Tapeworms
Tapeworms can look like grains of rice on your dog’s fur (individual egg packets) or may be visible to the naked eye in longer segments. They can cause:
– Excessive scooting
– Itching
– Chewing at the rear end
Can Humans Get Worms From Dogs?
Humans can also contract hookworm and roundworm infections if they accidentally ingest contaminated soil or feces. Frequent hand washing and wearing shoes and appropriate clothing outdoors can decrease the chance of exposure.
Roundworms
Humans can be exposed through dogs, usually by coming into contact with their contaminated waste. Theoretically, it may be possible to contract roundworms by petting a dog, if the dog had recently rolled outside in the dirt and picked up either contaminated soil or fecal material on their fur.
Roundworm ingestion can sometimes lead to a condition called “visceral larval migrans,” which occurs when the roundworm larvae migrate through the intestinal wall into other internal organs, including the lungs, heart, nervous system and eyes. Roundworm larvae have been identified in several cases of acute blindness and retinal detachment in humans.
Hookworms
People can get hookworms by walking barefoot, although there have been cases of people developing lesions on their back or shoulders after lying on the ground with no shirt on. Any exposure of bare skin to contaminated soil/feces could pose a risk for transmission.
Exposure to soil that is contaminated with hookworm larvae can lead to a skin condition known as “cutaneous larval migrans.” These infections look like red tracks or coiled lesions just below the surface of the skin and can cause a great deal of itchiness as the live larvae migrate through the tissue.
It is rare, but hookworm larvae can also survive in the intestine and grow to adulthood in a human host, which can cause intermittent and recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and cramping.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms can be passed to humans much like they are transmitted in dogs—by ingesting an infected flea. Once the flea is swallowed and absorbed in the digestive tract, the tapeworm larva can attach to the wall of the intestine.
Whipworms
Canine whipworm infections are species-specific and not typically considered a zoonotic threat to humans.
How to Get Rid of Worms in Dogs
Here’s what to do if you suspect that your dog has any type of intestinal parasites.
Call for a Vet Appointment
If you think your dog might have worms, you should schedule an appointment with your regular veterinarian right away.
If left untreated, intestinal parasites can migrate to other organs in your dog’s body, including the heart, lungs, liver, eyes and brain, which could lead to worsening sickness and even death in the most severe cases.
– Collect a Sample of Your Dog’s Stool
Your veterinarian may ask you to bring a fresh sample of your dog’s stool from home, especially if you are seeing worms in their feces or notice dried, rice-like segments in their fur.
You only need a small amount of feces; usually about a teaspoon-size sample will do.
If you cannot collect a fresh sample at home, however, the veterinary staff will collect a sample when you arrive for your dog’s appointment.
If your vet is suspicious of hookworms, roundworms, or whipworms, they will be looking for individual microscopic eggs in the sample.
Tapeworms can be identified microscopically by their egg packets, which are the rice-like segments you might also see attached to your pet’s fur. Occasionally, you may also see an adult worm in the fecal sample, which can be extremely helpful for identification.
Use Deworming Medications Prescribed by Your Vet
Once your veterinarian has had a chance to examine your dog and analyze the fecal sample, they will determine the best type of deworming medications to treat the worms that are present.
Your veterinarian may prescribe an oral or injectable dewormer that will kill the adult and larval worms. They may also recommend starting your dog on monthly topical or oral flea prevention, since tapeworm infections can recur if there are fleas in your dog’s environment.
Oral Dewormers
“Broad spectrum” prescription medications such as Panacur (fenbendazole) and Drontal Plus (pyrantel, praziquantel, fenbendazole) can be used to treat hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, and tapeworm infections, but they must be carefully administered according to your veterinarian’s instructions and may require multiple doses to kill any larvae that may have hatched after the first dose was given.
Oral dewormers do not generally cause severe side effects. If your dog has a large worm burden at the time of treatment, it is possible that an oral dewormer could cause mild diarrhea, vomiting, and a temporary loss of appetite as the worms are paralyzed or killed by the medication and passed from your dog’s system.
Injectable Dewormer
Praziquantel is also available as a one-time injectable treatment for tapeworm infections, which works by paralyzing and dislodging the sucker of the worm from the intestinal wall, allowing the worms to be passed in the feces.
Injectable dewormers may cause a local injection site reaction, including pain, swelling, and local inflammation due to its viscous nature.
Over-the-Counter Remedies
Purchasing over-the-counter or natural remedies for treating intestinal parasites is never recommended. While it may seem like a faster and cheaper alternative to visiting your veterinarian, there is NO guarantee that those products are safe or effective in treating any type of medical condition, and they could actually be harmful to your dog.