Students create agricultural graphics
In honor of National Ag Week the 5th grade students from Gateway North Elementary in St. Johns created amazing farm animal graphite drawings.
These special drawings will be displayed by Michigan Farm Bureau, Clinton County Farm Bureau and other agricultural partner businesses.
A thank you goes out to Kelly Parsons for implementing agriculture in your classroom and for guiding your talented students as they produce amazing projects.
Card Shower for Terry Scranton – March 21
Friends and family are holding a Birthday Card Shower to former St. Johns resident Terry Scranton on March 21. Terry graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in 1961, and he has been in poor health of late.
Terry and Linda still have many friends and family members in the St. Johns area, and you can brighten their day by letting them know that you are thinking of them.
Send Birthday greetings to:
Terry Scranton
259 S. Lake ST
Rogers City MI 49779
Celebrate 60 years – Rowlan and LaRene Smith
On April 8, 2016, Rowlan and LaRene (VanEpps) Smith will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.
They met while attending Rodney B. Wilson High School in the mid 1950s. Rowlan and LaRene were joined in matrimony on April 8,1956 at the First Methodist Church in St. Johns.
Their first daughter, Sherolyn Smith, was born a year later; and their second daughter, Kimberly Smith, came along two and one half years after that.
They have one granddaughter, Maesa Smith, whom they have spoiled from day one. The family enjoys movies, traveling, and playing dice and card games. A lot of vacations have been spent, as a family, exploring every state in the U.S.A.
Help their girls recognize and celebrate the day by wishing them many more years of love and happiness.
Health Department conducting phone survey
If you receive a call from someone “on behalf of your local health department,” asking you to take a survey, don’t worry; it’s not a scam.
Randomly selected residents in Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm counties will be asked to participate in a phone survey from Public Sector Consultants, on behalf of the Mid-Michigan District Health Department (MMDHD). The calls began this month and will end in July, 2016.
The purpose of this short, 15 minute Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) is to gather information on human behavior and lifestyle patterns, such as access to healthcare and health insurance, smoking, and exercise. Completing the survey will give MMDHD valuable information on the health and well-being of our residents, help determine strategies to improve health, and assist in securing funding to implement programs.
It’s important to note that the calls will be coming from an out-of-state call center, manned by Survey Sampling International (SSI) employees, and may be identified on a caller ID as “SSI.” The calls will be placed to landlines and cell phones on weekdays and weekends, no later than 9:00 p.m.
The BRFSS was established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a way to collect important health-related information. For many states and communities, the BRFSS is the only available source of timely, accurate data.
Residents with questions regarding the phone survey may contact MMDHD at 989-831-3627.
Students can win a gas card – ends March 21
Any St. Johns High School 9th-12th Grade Student who completes the Ford Driving Skills For Life online Driving Academy and prints the completion certificate can be in a drawing to win a $25 gas card.
To complete the Driving Skills for Life Academy go to: https://www.drivingskillsforlife.com/academy, print off the completion certificate and turn in the certificate during lunch on March 21 during the Strive 4 Safer Drive Simulation Event. The contest ends March 21.
Health department offering shingles vaccine
If you’ve had chickenpox, the shingles virus is quietly lying in wait inside your body, and can make an appearance at any time. While not life-threatening, shingles can be very painful and can lead to some pretty serious complications. Fortunately, you can help keep shingles at bay by getting vaccinated.
Shingles is a sneaky illness. After a bout of chickenpox, the virus goes dormant in the spinal cord and can re-emerge later in life as shingles. Anyone who has had chicken pox is at-risk for getting shingles, but it is most common in those over 50, and the risk increases with age.
Ask anyone who has had shingles and they’ll tell you it’s not a pleasant experience. The first clue that something is wrong is feeling pain, itching, or tingling on one side of the face or body. This is followed by a blister-type rash that scabs over and clears up within two to six weeks. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, chills, fatigue and upset stomach.
The most common complication of shingles is lingering pain, even after the rash is gone. This pain may be severe and debilitating, and lasts a few weeks, or as long as a several months. As people get older, they are more likely to experience lingering pain and it is more likely to be severe. Shingles may also lead to serious complications including loss of vision, neurological problems and skin infections.
Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another, but can spread from a person with active shingles to someone who has never had chickenpox. In such cases, the person exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox, but not shingles.
Chickenpox can be dangerous for those with weak immune systems, newborns or pregnant women, so those with shingles should avoid physical contact with these groups.
If you think you may have shingles, contact your doctor right away. If you are over the age of 60 or have had a previous episode of shingles, you should consider getting vaccinated.
Mid-Michigan District health department (MMDHD) is offering the vaccine to individuals over 60 years old in Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm Counties who do not have insurance, or whose plan does not cover the Zoster vaccine.
People with Medicare Part D should check with their doctor or pharmacy to see if the vaccine is covered. Those with Medicare Part A and/or B can receive the vaccine at the health department, as well as those over 50 with certain insurances. If you are unsure of your coverage, contact your insurance carrier.
If you would like more information or would like to make an appointment, please call the MMDHD branch office nearest you:
Montcalm County: 989-831-5237, option 5 and then option 2
Gratiot County: 989-875-3681, option 5 and then option 2
Clinton County: 989-224-2195, option 5 and then option 2
An administration fee up to $20 may apply and is based on income.
Utility crews working around town
Consumers Energy began replacing some natural gas mains in town and will continue throughout the summer.
Phase 1 includes Railroad Street between Clinton and Lansing, Lansing Street between Railroad and Higham, Higham Street between Clinton and Prospect and Walker Street between Spring and Prospect.
Consumers Energy has notified residents who will be affected by this construction and will be available to answer requests.
Leonard to host April office hours
State Rep. Tom Leonard today encouraged people to join his staff for office hours scheduled during April. Staff members will meet with people at two locations.
Rep. Leonard, R-DeWitt, said he will be unable to attend April office hours because of a scheduling conflict, but staff members will be available for the informal session, which will take place on Friday, April 8, at the following locations:
· In St. Johns at the Big Boy, 1408 S. U.S. 27, from 8 to 9:30 a.m.; and
· In Ithaca at the Hearthstone Oven Bakery and Café, 126 S. Pine River St., from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
No appointment is necessary. Those unable to attend may contact Rep. Leonard by calling 517-373-1778 or toll free at 877-859-8086, via email at TomLeonard@house.mi.gov or through his website at www.RepLeonard.com.
Mark Your Calendar
First Congregational to host Seder – Thursday, March 24
Please join the people of the First Congregational Church in theirSeder family dinner on Maundy Thursday, March 24 at 6 p.m. as we retell the events and meaning through food, talk, and prayer.
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Welcome veterans home – Saturday, April 2
It’s that time again; please invite your favorite veteran.
Come spend an afternoon honoring our veterans. Please join St. Johns American Legion Post 153 in welcoming veterans home on Saturday, April 2 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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Konan Art Exchange Exhibit – month of March
Step into Briggs Public Library in St. Johns during the month of March and you will be surrounded by art
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Watercolor Technique Classes at Gallery – begin Thursday March 31
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Feast and Raffle – March 19
The 2nd annual St Joseph Feast and Raffle Dinner is March 19. For more information check out their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/St.josephfeastandraffle99/
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Annual Spring Wetlands Conservation Banquet – April 15, 2016
The Clinton County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited (DU) will host it’s 35th Annual Wetlands Conservation
banquet on Friday April 15, 2016. The event will once again be held at Smith Hall on the 4-H Fairgrounds in St Johns.