Craig Selected for 2019 MSU Alumni Service Award
Alexis Horton, President of CANR Alumni Association; Dave Wyrick, Faculty Member of MSU Department of Community Sustainability and Michigan FFA Executive Secretary; Bob Craig, President of Craig & Associates Consulting, Inc.; and Dr. Ron Hendricks, MSU Dean of College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Recently Michigan State University selected Bob Craig for the 2019 MSU Alumni Service Award from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Alumni Association. The selection is made from candidates who have demonstrated continuing outstanding volunteer service to MSU, the CANR or meritorious public service on a local, state, national or international level. Candidates must possess the highest standards of integrity and character to positively reflect and enhance the prestige of the CANR.
“I’m extremely honored and humbled to receive this award from MSU,” said Bob Craig.
Craig is the president of Craig & Associates Consulting Inc., a multi-client firm providing Michigan food, agriculture and natural resources companies with economic analysis, market research, product promotion and marketing, management services and feasibility studies, as well as preparing state and federal grant applications.
He served as a Michigan FFA Foundation Board of Directors for six years, including terms as vice president and chair of the events committee. He also served on the CANR Alumni Association Board, the MSU Alumni Association National Board, and the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Tau Alumni Board and as Michigan FFA Alumni Association state chair.
From 1991 to 1995, he was the Michigan Department of Agriculture director of agriculture policy and special projects. In this role, he supervised the Right to Farm Program and worked closely with MSU faculty in the development of numerous GAAMPs (Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices). Mr. Craig was a founding member of the MSU Product Center in 2003. Most recently, he led a successful campaign in cooperation with the Michigan FFA Foundation to make the Agricultural Heritage license plate available to personal, commercial and fleet vehicles.
Antique Carpenter Tools and Quilts at Museum
Fourteen quilts, including two from the 1800s will be on display at the Clinton County Historical Museum through November 17. The Police and Fire Exhibit is ongoing through the Christmas Season and a new acquisition of an antique Carpenter’s Chest with many antique tools can be seen in the Carriage House.
If you have any interest in old things or want to be helpful in preserving such things for future generations, please contact 989-224-2894 or email pgsmuseum@gmail.com.
The Carriage House and General Store will be open as long as weather permits, with the Paine-Gillam-Scott House open through Christmas season, closing after December 18. Also visit the webpage, pgsmuseum.com and Facebook for Paine-Gillam-Scott Museum, St. Johns, Michigan.
The Museum is supported entirely by community donations. Group and individual tours are welcome.
Museum hours are Wednesdays 2-6 p.m. and Sundays 1-4 p.m. Closed on Holiday weekends. The Complex is located at 106 Maple Street, St. Johns, on the West side of the Courthouse.
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The Archives of the Clinton County Historical Society is available to anyone researching families and history of Clinton County and is open at 16101 Brook Rd, Lansing, MI. Hours are Monday and Tuesday 9 to 4, and Thursday 2 to 6. Contact 517.482.5117 x 2, or email ccgensoc@yahoo.com. Membership in the Archives ($20.00) includes a very interesting quarterly Newsletter “Clinton County Trails.”
Need help with leaves?
St. Johns High School students are volunteering their time to rake leaves for residents who are unable to do so.
If you or someone you know is physically challenged and unable to rake their leaves in the city limits, please contact the City of St. Johns at (989) 224-8944, ext. 282 by October 31.
Helping Hands event a great success
The annual Helping Hands Dinner and Raffle, sponsored by the Rotary Club of St. Johns, was held last Saturday evening. Nearly 350 community leaders and residents were expected at Smith Hall at the 4-H Fairgrounds for an evening of fun, food, a chance at $15,000 in cash and prizes and a desire to raise money for local and global charities.
Variety show coming to Wilson Center in December
Homegrown Productions will be performing their annual Christmas variety show on December 6 and 7 at the Wilson Center Auditorium. Mark your calendars!
It is so important to support the arts and to keep them alive to be our voice and outlet for social change and self expression. Theatre brings together such a unique community of artists and allows them to showcase their talents to the world. There is just nothing quite like it; and so naturally, it must live on.
City Newsletter for October
City of St. Johns, Michigan Fall Leaf Collection Program: City residents have the option to either bag or rake their leaves. Each property owner can receive 4 packs (20 bags) of yard waste bags, which can be picked up at City Offices (1st floor, Clinton County Courthouse). The following is the leaf collection schedule starting in November:
o Section 1 (November 4-8)-South of M21 and West of S. Clinton Avenue
o Section 2 (November 11-15)-South of M21 and East of S. Clinton Avenue
o Section 3 (November 18-22)-North of M21 and West of N. Clinton Avenue
o Section 4 (November 25-29)-North of M21 and East of N. Clinton Avenue
If you wish to rake, please rake leaves in a pile in the City right-of-way area in front of your house, between the sidewalk and the curb. If there is no sidewalk in front of your property, please rake leaves 6 inches behind the curb but not further than 6 feet from the curb. Do not rake leaves in the street, as the leaves can be hazardous with traffic and also block storm sewers from draining properly. Anyone raking or otherwise placing leaves, trimmings, and similar type organic plant materials in the public street will be subject to a $50 civil infraction fine.
If you wish to bag your leaves, each property owner can receive 4 packs (20 bags) of yard waste bags, which can be picked up at City Offices (1st floor, Clinton County Courthouse). The bags can be used for leaves and garden vegetation (no dirt). These bags will be picked up by the curb during your normal scheduled leaf collection pick-up. Just a reminder, despite all advanced preparation, equipment can breakdown or weather events can slow or end the program early. Plan to have your leaves raked before your scheduled week.
Early snowfall requires equipment and crews to be redirected to snow removal operations.
o The regular curbside brush pick up is suspended during leaf pick-up.
o Loose leaves and biodegradable yard waste bags can also be taken to the Department of Public Works, 1000 N. US-127 BR. This site is open 24/7. Please use the Kuntz Drive entrance.
Trash and Recycling Services: Recently the City modified how it provides trash and recycling services. The long-established Green Bag system had become problematic with residents reporting issues disposing of bulky items and frequent incidents of animals tearing the bags open. Therefore, the green bags have been replaced with curb carts similar to the carts used for recycling. Recycling service is being changed to every other week (beginning in December) to be in line with what other communities are doing. If you find that your recycle bin is overflowing, the St. Johns Lions Club Recycling Center is available which is located at 605 N. Swegles St., corner of Steel St. and Swegles St., just off of North Business 27. Also to save room in your recycle bin, crush or break boxes down and make sure all other items ARE recyclable.
After Hour Emergencies: For night, weekend and holiday emergencies relating to sewer, water, drainage or streets, please call (989) 224-9192.
Rave Alert-Emergency Communication Network: Visit www.clinton-county.org to sign up to receive emergency information via email, text, landline or cell phone. The Rave Alert system is designed to send out county wide emergency information or geographical information pertaining to a specific area.
Free Compost: Compost from the leaf and yard waste collections is given back to the City residents FREE of charge. Compost is usually available in late fall and is located at the DPW. Watch for public service announcements on availability of the compost.
Burning Permit Info.: The City of St. Johns prohibits leaf and brush burning per ordinance #388. Outdoor burning may aggravate asthma and other respiratory ailments. Residential recreation fires (no leaves or trash) is permitted in the City when properly contained and supervised. Please call the Police Dept. at (989) 224-6721 for questions.
Fire Hydrant Flushing: The City of St. Johns Water Department periodically flushes hydrants to make sure they are operable and also to clean the water mains of rust and sediment that develops over a period of time. During the process, the water could become slightly colored; however, it should clear up shortly after flushing. Flushing of the hydrants is done in the spring and fall. When flushing occurs, it is done between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Please look for postings at www.cityofsaintjohnsmi.com or Facebook for exact dates when hydrant flushing will occur.
Keep Sidewalks and Hydrants Clear: Please keep snow and ice cleared from sidewalks within twelve (12) hours after precipitation ceases during daylight hours. When snow and ice occurs during nighttime hours, it must be cleared by 6:00 p.m. the following day. When clearing your sidewalk or driveway, please do not place the snow or ice in the street or the shoulder of the road. It is against the state statute to deposit snow, ice or slush in the street or on the shoulder of the road. A citation may be issued to individuals violating the code (Motor Vehicle Code P.A. 82 of 1978, 257.677a). Also please keep areas around fire hydrants clear of snow or ice so the fire department can access the hydrant during a fire emergency.
Zoning, Building, Utility and Right-of-Way Permits: Most types of construction such as fences, decks, sheds, etc. require a permit in the City. Residents desiring to connect to City utilities must obtain a utility permit and pay the fee prior to any work commencing. A permit must also be obtained prior to performing any work in the street right-of-way (sidewalk or driveway removal, removal/planting/trimming trees or utility service repairs).
Sidewalk/Driveway Approach Replacement Program: Property owners will be reimbursed $1.75 per square foot for sidewalk replacement and $.70 a square foot for sidewalk sections raised. There is a $200.00 reimbursement for replacing driveway approaches. Reimbursements are given as funds are available. Sidewalk and approach construction must meet City Construction Standards. Inspections are required during demo and completion. Work performed without an inspection will not be eligible for reimbursement. Contact the Public Works Department at (989) 224-8944, ext. 229 for information.
Signage in Right-Of-Way: Signage is prohibited in the area between the sidewalk and curb or where these improvements would be located if constructed. Prohibited signage includes real estate and political signs, employment and service opportunities, garage sale signs, etc. Signage is also prohibited on utility poles, which are located in the right-of-way. Contact City offices to advertise your garage sale on the access channel.
Parking Regulations: No vehicle shall be left on public city streets between 1:00 am-6:00 a.m. of the same day. Parking is prohibited on a sidewalk or between curb and sidewalk. Any vehicle wishing to park overnight in a designated municipal parking lot must obtain a permit at the St. Johns Police Department located at 409 S. Whittemore St., St. Johns. For special circumstances or to receive permission to park, contact the St. Johns Police Department between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at (989) 224-6721. In some instances, permission may be granted to park on the street overnight. After hour emergency parking circumstances call 911 for assistance.
Off-Street Parking Regulations Within A Residential District: Recreational vehicles stored on any City lot or parcel between October 16th-April 30 must be parked on a hard surface (asphalt or concrete). Recreational vehicles must be parked behind the front line of the house. Parking is allowed in the side yard on the grass from May 1st-October 15th. No parking is allowed in the rear of buildings except in garages, driveways leading to garages and other parking spaces approved by special use permit. Motor vehicles shall be allowed to be parked only on a parking area or driveway. The driveway and parking area shall not be located in front of the residential structure.