SJPD hosts first tour at their new location
The St. Johns Police hosted the first tour group at their new location this week. They welcome visitors and hope you will come and learn about what our officers do every day.
Big Boy sponsors fundraiser
by Maralyn Fink
On Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. Big Boy of St Johns hosted the Voice For Clinton County’s Children fundraiser. For every meal Big Boy donated 15% of their bill for this worthy cause.
There was a great turnout again this year with many children dressed in superhero dress as well as the large superheroes who visited. Thanks to all who attended.
Health Department says get vaccinated against measles
Southeast Michigan is currently experiencing a measles outbreak with 29 cases in Oakland County and one case in Wayne County. Infected individuals range in age from 1 to 63. While there are currently no cases in Clinton, Gratiot or Montcalm Counties, the Mid-Michigan District Health Department is urging residents to make sure they are up-to-date on their vaccinations to help prevent further spread of the disease.
Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that can have lifelong health complications. Measles is spread by direct person-to-person contact and through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus can live up to two hours in the air where an infected person was present. It is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person will also get the disease unless they are vaccinated or immune. A person is considered immune if they have had the disease, been vaccinated or born before 1957.
Symptoms of measles usually appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and can include:
– High fever
– Cough
– Runny nose
– Red, watery eyes
– Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth
– A red rash that starts on the face and moves down the body
Infected individuals are contagious from four days before the rash appears until four to five days after the rash appears.
Those at highest risk for severe illness and complications from measles include:
– Infants and children younger than 5 years
– Adults 20 years and over
– Pregnant women
– Those with compromised immune systems
Vaccination is the best defense against measles. One dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is approximately 95% effective at preventing measles and two doses are approximately 97% effective. In those rare instances when a vaccinated individual gets the disease, they will experience much milder symptoms and will be much less likely to spread the disease.
The MMR vaccine requires two doses. The first should be given to children between 12 and 15 months of age with a second dose given between ages 4 and 6 years. Infants 6 to 11 months old are recommended to receive a dose of MMR prior to traveling internationally. The vaccine is effective within 72 hours of exposure to prevent illness. You cannot get measles from the vaccine.
The measles vaccine is available at all three branches of the Mid-Michigan District Health Department. Call the branch nearest you to make an appointment:
Clinton County: 989-224-2195
Gratiot County: 989-875-3681
Montcalm County: 989-831-5237
The vaccine is also available at most pharmacies and your doctor’s office.
If you believe you may have been exposed to measles, contact your doctor by phone and limit contact with others until you find out if you are contagious.
Local schools receive safety grants
The Michigan State Police recently awarded $25 million in grants. Last year the State invested a total of $50 million into the Competitive School Safety Grant Program to help improve the safety and security of school buildings through the purchase of technology and equipment and through school building safety assessments.
Schools in the 24th Senate District receiving grants include:
Clinton County RESA — $43,790
St. Johns Public Schools — $13,440
DeWitt Public Schools — $150,666
Ovid-Elsie Area Schools — $257,872
A complete list of recipients is available at www.michigan.gov/cjgrants. Click on the “General Grants School Safety” box.
According to the Michigan State Police, 366 applications were reviewed by a committee that included representatives from the MSP, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools and other school safety professionals.
13th Annual Maple River River Cleanup is April 13
The Friends of the Maple River (FOMR) are planning their 13th Annual Maple River River Cleanup & Logjam Removal Day on Saturday, April 13th. Volunteers are needed to pick trash, old tires, and debris found along the edge of the Maple River; along roads near the river; and at bridges and river access points on the river. The FOMR are also hoping to put 3 or 4 crews on the river to remove obstacles that block river enthusiasts from floating the river in canoes, kayaks, and small boats.
Anyone interested in helping on this environmental conservation project is asked to meet at 9:00 am at the Elsie Dam located on Island Road, one mile west of the Village of Elsie. The trash pickup and log jam work will run from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Work crews will be organized, assignments made, and supplies provided (trash bags and water).
Volunteers should wear the appropriate clothing for the weather conditions, heavy duty footwear or boots, and gloves.
Volunteers wishing to help with log jam, tree, and brush removal will need a jon boat, canoe, or kayak, waders, and a saw or chainsaw. This work will only take place if the river is at normal levels or lower. State law requires a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD) for each person in a water craft for river travel.
The FOMR are hoping to clear a navigation path as far up the Maple River as possible (somewhere between Owosso and Ovid), to where it empties into the Grand River at Muir – only removing enough obstacles to make a path that allows the paddler to stay in their watercraft. We do not want to clear the river, only enough (about 5 ft.) to allow safe passage. Logs, brush, and other natural materials in the river make excellent habitat for wildlife and fish, plus it provides a challenge for paddlers, adding to the enjoyment of the trip. Keeping the river open is a major objective of FOMR and we can use your help. We have been able to open certain sections, but not the entire river. Our club is slowed in this endeavor by lack of enough physically able members to complete the entire task. The invasive Emerald Ash bore is killing Ash trees that continue to fall across the river, and low water in the spring allows us to work, as high water hinders our efforts.
The “first crack” at this project will be at the annual cleanup Saturday, April 13th when they will be sending work crews on and along the river, weather and water level pending. If there is anyone who would like to volunteer to keep a section (between bridges) of the river open during the paddling season (April – October) on their own, or anyone with questions, please contact FOMR member, Jack Nutter at 989-862-5541.
As always, check our website http://www.friendsofthemapleriver.org/ or find them on Facebook at Friends of the Maple River to stay in touch with what FOMR is up to. For more information or to become a member, donor or supporter of FOMR, contact them at: FOMR_info@friendsofthemapleriver.org.
St. Johns Spring Clean-Up coming up May 11
Spring Clean-Up is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2019. Please do not place items out by the curb before Saturday, May 4th but all items must be out by 6:00 am on Saturday, May 11th. Items placed out after the contractors has passed through will not be picked up.
*Refuse is limited to 3 cubic yards (approx. size of a regular pick-up truck box).
Items accepted: Appliances (appliances containing any food will not be picked up. Doors must be removed from refrigerator or freezer unit); Electronics (T.V.’s, VCR’s, computer equipment); Lawn Mowers (must be drained of fuel and oil); Hub Caps; Copper or brass tubing with wire; Large Toys; Bicycles; Furniture (indoor and outdoor); mattresses; Scrap Metal (bed frames, aluminum lawn chairs, file cabinets, etc.); Odd pieces of lumber under 4 foot long (please bundle); Carpeting (bundles less than 6 foot long.
Items not accepted: Household Trash or Recyclables (cans, bottles, etc.); Liquids or Hazardous Waste; Automobile Components; Yard Waste including Stumps; Batteries (lead and alkaline batteries can be recycled); Books, Magazines, or Newspapers (these can be recycled); Construction or Demolition materials from major household repairs; Concrete, Bricks, Stone or Blocks; Dirt or sand piles (any volume); Latex paint (can be dried out by using saw dust or kitty litter and can be placed into your weekly household green bag collection).
*Refuse that is contaminated with any of the above items may be only partially picked up or left behind by Granger.
This event is for City residents only who live in one to four unit dwellings. Property owners of these units pay a refuse fee on their summer taxes. Apartment buildings over four units, commercial/industrial properties and the trailer park are not eligible for the Spring Clean-up. City residents please do not allow non-residents to place refuse in front of your property. City police will be monitoring Non-City resident trash dumping. All violators may be prosecuted and fined $500.