Former SJPD Chief continues good works
This comes to us from 9 and 10 News in Traverse City.
Harbor Springs Elementary Schools are offering small incentives to students who regularly show positive behavior.
It’s all part of both Blackbird and Shay Elementary school’s “Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports” program, and St. Johns native Kyle Knight provided a special reward for some lucky students recently.
The Nordic Pineapple now has a gift shop
Check out these awesome mugs from our friends at The Nordic Pineapple B&B.
The Nordic Pineapple is one of the sponsors of the upcoming Eat Healthy Eat Local Festival 2019 happening downtown St. Johns on Saturday, May 11.
Want one of these sweet mugs for yourself? Stop by The Nordic Pineapple B&B and visit their gift shop, https://www.thenordicpineapple.com/
Child Abuse Connects Us All
by Kelly Schafer, Executive Director, The Voice for Clinton County’s Children
I was recently at large public event, and, like many of you when at community events, I knew many others who were present. What made this a different type of interaction for me was the way in which many present were connected and the majority were not aware of what connected us.
Since The Voice for Clinton County’s Children began serving victims of child abuse and neglect five years ago, we have been embraced by our generous community-a community which is very connected through our work even if the connections remain silent.
Through our agency, my distant yet close connections at this event of around 400 people was somewhat surreal and amazing to experience. Near to me was a kiddo who we served through our CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Program with their adoptive, forever family. I ran into a number of professionals we work with through various systems and partnerships. A member of a service club whose club so generously supports our program shouted out a hello from across the room. A CASA Volunteer was attending with her own family and friends. I spoke with a couple community business members who sponsor our annual Superhero 5K, along with other community members who participate in our Superhero 5K. A member of our volunteer Board of Directors was attending with her daughter and friends. One (at least one that I recognized) young person in the crowd has been to our CAC (Child Advocacy Center) to receive serves due to being abused.
When I paused to consider how something as horrific as child abuse has connected this circle of people-even if those in the circle are not aware of these connections-I continue to be humbled and amazed by our circle.
We will always strongly protect the confidentiality of the children we serve; our donors often do not want to be recognized for their generosity; our volunteers often prefer to donate their time and talents without fanfare; and our professional partners often feel they are just doing their jobs. Yet, we are all connected. No matter our place in the circle we can all surround our very littlest victims of physical abuse, sexual assault, and neglect in a supportive circle. We can all do our part, whatever that looks like, to support victims and assist along their healing journey.
The Voice for Clinton County’s Children is lifted everyday by the generous circle of our community who has supported our work over the last five years and well into a strong future of service. Today and every day we thank you for being our circle. If you would like to learn more about our services, please visit our website VoiceForClintonCountyChildren.org
A Look Back – Welcome Wagon
by Barry Clark Bauer
Leon Brewbaker and Laura Mullaney posing for a promotional photo for the Welcome Wagon program.
Taken in 1974.
St. Peter: 150 years in pictures – Palm Sunday tornado
Sunday, March 28, 1920, dawned bright and beautiful and it was a day of anxiety and anticipation for nine young people who were to be questioned in the Christian Doctrine and confirmed at St. Peter Lutheran Church by Pastor E. H. Heinecke.
The services were concluded and the day spent in joyful family gathering, little realizing our community was soon to be a victim of the forces of nature. By evening the first cyclone (tornado) ever experienced in this area had passed through the community and many of our members suffered great losses.
The homes of William and Lulu Witt, Joseph Diehm, and Horman families were completely destroyed.
Again, we experienced God’s great love and protection as He constantly watches over His flock because despite the great destruction and injuries only one of our members, Mrs. Conrad Horman, lost her life due to the storm.
Note: This is the same storm that destroyed the original St. Johns depot and took the top story off the building where Rehmann’s store now stands.
The face of Clinton Avenue was been changed forever on March 28, 1920 when a tornado tore across the county blowing down 40 or 50 barns. In St. Johns it had ripped a path between the park and the cemetery, taking out the flagpole at the courthouse, smashing windows, taking a third story off the Fowler and Ball Hardware and depositing it neatly into Walker Street, and ridding the town once and for all of the decrepit old Grand Trunk depot at the foot of Oakland Street. From there it continued east, wrecking the Foundry and terrorizing a motorist before it headed off toward Duplain Township. -1999, St. Johns Independent
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – Hairballs in Cats
Most cat owners have dealt with hairballs in cats at one time or another. Vomiting an occasional hairball is normal for most cats. However, if the vomiting is persistent, is frequent or appears to be painful, it may indicate a more serious health issue.
What Causes Cat Hairballs?
All cats groom by licking themselves. The feline tongue is actually barbed so that it functions as a miniature comb that removes loose hair. So as cats lick their fur, they swallow hair.
Normally, the ingested hair passes through the intestinal tract and is passed through the feces. When hair accumulates in the stomach, it forms cat hairballs that are vomited instead.
Cat hairballs are long, cylindrical masses of hair that you can see in the vomit of the affected cat.
Diagnosis of Hairballs in Cats
Diagnosing hairballs in cats starts with seeing the hairball itself. Occasional cat hairballs are normal for most cats and may require not additional diagnostics.
However, if cat hairballs are seen frequently, or if vomiting or coughing occurs without the presence of hairballs, additional diagnostics may be necessary.
Routine blood screens that consist of a complete blood cell count, a blood chemistry profile and perhaps a thyroid screening test may be recommended.
The complete blood cell count looks at the red blood cell and white blood cell counts and morphology. A blood chemistry profile evaluates kidney and liver function and measures serum electrolytes (such as sodium, calcium and phosphorus), blood protein levels and blood glucose (sugar) levels. A total T4 test evaluates thyroid function.
A urinalysis may be collected to further evaluate kidney and lower urinary tract function. Fecal examinations are normally also performed to check for intestinal parasites. Depending on the results of these tests, other diagnostic tests may be recommended.
Abdominal radiographs (X-rays) and/or an abdominal ultrasound may be advisable for a cat who vomits or has frequent or difficult hairballs. This is done to evaluate the health of the stomach, including whether it is able to empty, as well as the health of the intestinal tract.
In some cases, an endoscopic examination of the esophagus or intestinal tract may be in order.
Treatment for Cats With Hairballs
There are a number of cat hairball remedies. Most of them are petroleum-based and essentially attempt to lubricate the hairball, making it easier for your cat to pass it through the intestinal tract as feces. These work for some cats with hairballs.
There are also a number of types of commercial cat food that are marketed to help prevent and/or control hairballs. Most of these diets feature a high volume of fiber and work on the assumption that the fiber helps keep the gastrointestinal tract moving normally. These may work for some cats but are not effective in all cases.
For those cats with frequent hairballs or who have difficulty expelling them, your veterinarian may recommend prescription food additives or prescription digestive support for cats.
If other underlying diseases such as parasites, inflammatory bowel disease or bacterial overgrowth are diagnosed, appropriate treatment should be instituted.
Prevention of Cat Hairballs
Grooming your cat is one of the best things you can do to prevent cat hairballs. Regular brushing and/or combing removes much of your cat’s loose hair before it can be ingested, thus limiting the amount of hair that your cat swallows.
In turn, less hair ingested means fewer cat hairballs being produced.