Last week’s storm by the cold light of day
by Maralyn Fink for SJ Indy
Our area was hit by a nasty storm. I ventured out and about to see what transpired the next day.
As of this writing, major intersection lights are blinking red. As I can understand, Consumers Energy has been hit hard with all the damage as well as other Departments. Mt. Rest Cemetery was one of the places and a large group of citizens voluntarily met and did a clean up of the grounds.
A huge thank you to all Departments of First Responders and utility workers that were on duty and to the citizens that donated there time in this time of need.
Heavy storm damage reported in St. Johns
On Thursday night, just about the time we were putting the SJ Indy to bed for the week, a sudden storm rammed through St. Johns. Some streets are closed, and power is out in many places. This is just a sample of the destruction.
Hometown Country Music standout stays busy
The last we heard from them the Louis Longoria Band was playing in Plainwell and Port Huron. Most recently they were opening for Nashville’s Buddy Jewell.
Longoria was named to the Michigan Country Hall of Fame in 2022.
Another SJPD officer leaving
We have learned that Officer Traci Sperry is moving on from the City of St. Johns Police Department. This is another huge loss for our community. Thank you for your service and best of luck wherever you end up, Officer Sperry.
Remember when? – Where are Percy Patterson’s license plates?
Clinton County Sheriff Percy Patterson shows old license plates that hang on the wall of the jail building entrance hall. This particular display runs from 1909 to 1940. and he has most of the others in a box ready to be put up. The plates were discovered about a year ago in a box tn the vault of the county treasurer.
Carole Livingston wrote to say, “Alice Murphy found this article in the Clinton County Republican News dated Nov. 4, 1965. She is wanting to know if anyone knows where these plates went to for historical information. Were they still there when the old jail by the courthouse was torn down and was moved to Townsend Road?”
If you have any information please contact us at sjindy@sgmail.com
Letters – Elsie Food Bank says thanks
We want to express our appreciation to the many who stopped by to check out our rhubarb stand and support the Elsie Food Bank. Although the season this year started early, the dry spell slowed things down. Once rain returned, rhubarb was again available.
This year the free will offering donations totaled $585.65. We seen old friends, made new friends, shared recipes, and heard great rhubarb stories and memories.
We appreciate the work of the staff and volunteers of the Elsie Food Bank and their many partners working to reduce food insecurity. The Elsie Fall Festival on October 7 is their annual fundraiser, highlighted with a great auction.
Hope to see you there.
– Greg and Margaret White
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – What To Do If You Find a Stray Cat
courtesy of By Jeannine Berger, DVM, DACVB, DACAW, CAWA
When you see an outdoor cat, it can be difficult to determine if he needs help. Free-roaming cats may be feral (born in the wild), stray/abandoned, lost, or a neighborhood cat that’s allowed outside without human supervision. Some free-living cats are very skilled outdoor survivalists and, if spayed or neutered, can live happy and healthy lives in their respective outdoor environment. But others will need your help to return to safety.
Here’s what to do if you find a cat outside.
Determine if the Cat Is Feral or Friendly
If you find a cat outdoors, the first thing to do is figure out if the cat is feral or friendly. Closely observe the cat to see how he responds to you.
A feral cat is often shy and keeps his distance or hides from people, though he may come closer if food is offered. Sometimes, feral cats will be “ear tipped” (where a small portion of one of their ears is surgically removed in a straight line) if they have been trapped, neutered, and released by a rescue organization.
A friendly cat usually responds positively to humans. They can have a relaxed or happy body language when spoken to, and may even approach you, purr, or meow.
Remember that these are generalizations. While we generally think of cats in human care as friendly and feral cats as fearful or impossible to touch, that’s not always the case. A cat’s behavior toward an unfamiliar person is not always an indication of whether the cat has a home with humans or is free-living. But how an outdoor cat responds to you is a good indicator of what you should do next.
If You Found a Feral Cat
If a cat is not friendly and cannot be approached, don’t try to touch him. If he seems healthy and has an ear tip, leave the cat be—he’s doing just fine.
If he doesn’t have an ear tip, check with your local municipal shelters, SPCAs, cat rescues, or local veterinarians for information on Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in your community. Some organizations offer a volunteer trapping service, others offer rental traps. A TNR program will be able to capture the cat for a spay or neuter surgery, and they may also be able to check for a microchip (just in case).
If it looks like the cat is unhealthy or in pain, contact a local rescue organization about the situation. Signs that a cat is unhealthy can include:
– Debris in the eyes
– A poor body condition score
– Sneezing
– Coughing
– Not eating when food is offered
If You Found a Friendly Cat
Even if a cat seems friendly, do not try to grab him or pick him up. Instead, follow these steps.
1. Check for Identification
If you’ve found a friendly cat who is rubbing on your legs or headbutting you, check to see if he’s wearing a collar with a name tag and pet parent contact information. This is the easiest way for his home to be located. He may also have a microchip—but to find out, he’ll need to be caught and transported to a veterinarian or shelter for a microchip scan.
2. Provide Water and Food
Offer the cat fresh water and, if necessary, food. However, if the cat has a good body condition score (meaning he’s not very skinny), it’s best to not immediately offer him something to eat. The friendly cat may have a home where he is fed the proper amount.
Despite myths that say otherwise, cats should not drink milk, so do not offer any. Giving cats dairy can cause severe diarrhea, stomach upset, and vomiting.
3. Move the Cat to a Safe Space
If you suspect that the cat is someone’s lost pet, find a safe place to move him to. Do not try to pick him up—instead, use a live animal trap, crate, or carrier and lure him in with food. Put him in a calm, quiet space with:
– A hiding spot, such as a covered cat bed or cardboard box
– Food (a variety of dry and wet)
– Water
– Litter box (placed at least 3 feet away from the food)
If you have cats or dogs of your own, do not let your pets interact with the found kitty until you’re certain he’s healthy and free of parasites. You don’t want him to get your own animals sick.
4. Check Local Discussion Boards
Take a picture of the found cat and post it on your social media accounts, local neighborhood message boards, and local pet loss programs. Look for any “missing pet” posts online and posters at your local coffee shops, post offices, or grocery stores.
5. Contact a Vet
As soon as you’re able, have the cat checked for a microchip at a local vet. The vet can also give you information on the cat’s gender, neuter status, age, and breed. This information will help locate the missing cat’s family.
Shelters can also check for a microchip and can be a good resource for helping a lost cat, but do not leave the cat at a shelter. Most cats, especially ferals, become stressed in a shelter environment. Even cats who are friendly in a home can become so anxious in a shelter that they exhibit fearful or aggressive behavior.
Many cats in shelters stop eating and become sick, and they ultimately might not have a positive outcome once they enter a shelter. It’s always better to keep a found cat in a home until the cat’s family can be found. When all efforts fail to find the family (or if it’s assumed the cat doesn’t have one), find him a new home instead.
A good way to do this is through local rehoming websites—for example, the San Francisco Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Home-to-Home program. Your local shelter can provide you resources on rehoming the cat without surrendering him.
How To Keep Cats From Becoming Lost
Losing a cat can be devastating. To keep your cat from becoming lost, only let him outside if he’s supervised, contained to a catio, or on a harness and leash.
Every cat should be microchipped, including indoor-only cats who might escape. You can also fit your cat with a breakaway collar and ID tag, though those can break off.