Bruiser visits St. Joseph School
At a recent assembly at St. Joseph Catholic School students met Bruiser, is a miniature horse and a service animal. Farm Bureau took him out to share with the kids and teach them about service animals. Pam Fabus for arranged the visit.
Logan honored as Educator of the Year
During National Agriculture week, March 13-19, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) announced the winners of its 2016 Educator of the Year awards. DJ Logan of St. Johns Public Schools was honored as the K-12 Educator of the Year. The award will be formally presented at MFB’s 97th State Annual Meeting in November.
As a 37 year veteran teacher, DJ Logan was an unexpected leader as Gateway North Elementary embarked on a new learning adventure – becoming an agriculture-based Science, Engineering, Technology and Math (STEM) school. Teachers were required to revamp their lessons to incorporate a focus on these concepts, including teaching a minimum of one agriculture lesson per trimester all with little to no additional funding. DJ took this challenge head-on, revamping her tried and true lessons to include STEM-focused agriculture concepts. She sought out partnerships with the county Farm Bureau to learn more about local agriculture, creating programs to bring farmers into classrooms.
“As a city girl herself, it is beyond exciting to see DJ take the lead on this endeavor,” wrote nominator Erin West of Clinton County Farm Bureau. “She’s taken so much of her personal time to attend agricultural meetings to learn and grow her program. She’s learning what agriculture means right along with her students.”
DJ has worked with other teachers to add an agriculture spin to current events such as the school’s field day, adding straw bale crawl, rolling squash through field tile pipes, and egg and spoon races. She attended the 2015 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, bringing back lessons to share across all grade levels in her school. Even creating “Ag News” a newsletter for her colleagues to help distribute lessons, resources and facts to assist in teaching about agriculture at their school.
Superheroes for Children Return – April 30th
On April 30, 2016 Superheroes return to the St. Johns City Park for CASA-The Voice for Clinton County’s Children 3rd Annual Superhero 5K Run, Walk, or Fly!
Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m.; the Kids’ Super Dash begins at 8:30 a.m.; and all Superheroes take off at 9:00 a.m. This family-friendly event for all ages and abilities includes a 5K course of groomed trails and pavement. Event participants are encouraged to dress in Superhero attire.
During registration time enjoy kids’ activities and fun pictures. A DJ will get everyone ready for the race and chip timing will reveal our age-bracket medalists. New this year are free professional race photos and a costume contest. Costume categories include Most Authentic Superhero, Most Creative Superhero, Best Group, and Cutest Superhero.
Online registration is open. Register today as the fee goes up and t-shirt availability may change after April 6th.
For more information or to register, please visit ClintonCountyCASA.org. For event questions, please contact our office at clintoncountycasa@gmail.com or 517-599-7145. Don’t forget your cape!
Verizon awards school supplies
Through the “Culture of Good” project, The Cellular Connection Verizon Wireless Premium Retailer, ten lucky teachers in the St. Johns Public School District each received a “Teachers Rock Pack” filled with school supplies.
We know that every year teachers spend money out of their own pockets to buy more supplies for their classrooms, because school districts just don’t get funded enough by the state. So this is Verizon’s way to help pay that back just a little bit. Here are about $400 worth of school supplies that they won’t have to pay for out of their own pockets.
Thank you to all of our teachers; you all do a great job and Al Nelson says he wishes he could afford to give a box to every teacher because you all deserve it!
Below is a list of all the winners. Congratulations to our 10 winners and all their students.
– East Olive: Brenda Munger and Beth Lepper
– Eureka: Sara Hill and Stacy Somerville
– Gateway: Becky Spangler and Theresa Sopocy
– Oakview: Jennifer Smith and Kelly Nofzinger
– Riley: Kris Ely and Julie Gill
Habitat accepting applications
Habitat for Humanity of Clinton County is accepting applications for affordable housing. If you, or someone you know, is in need of decent, safe, affordable housing, go to the website at www.habitatclinton.org.
Habitat is seeking folks of low-to-moderate income. This is not a hand out; it’s a hand up!
Everyone knows someone who takes care of us or the folks we love; the CNA who cares for Mom, the bagger at the grocer’s who securely bundles our purchases; senior citizens on a fixed income- perhaps a pension or Social Security.
Recipients need not live in Clinton County.
Don’t wait! They are gearing up to build. Go to www.habitatclinton.org. You could change your life, or the life of someone you know!
We build families, lives, and hope. -Jimmy Carter, still building Habitats for Humanity at 91 years young.
Lady Redwing Basketball Highlight Video
Spring Clean-Up scheduled – May 7
The City of St. Johns residential spring clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, May 7, 2016. Please do not place items out at the curb earlier then Saturday, April 30, 2016.
All items must be placed out by the curb by 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Items placed after the contractor has passed through will not be picked up.
This annual event is available to city residents who live in a one to five unit dwelling. Items suitable for pick-up are appliances (doors must be removed from refrigerator or freezer unit), electronics, lawn mowers, hub caps, copper or brass tubing or wire, large toys, bicycles, furniture, scrap metal, lumber (pieces cut in 4 foot lengths and bundled), carpeting (bundled in 6 foot lengths).
The used tire collection is on Monday, May 9, 2016. Households are limited to 8 tires and must be out be by the curb by 7:00 a.m. No large truck or tractor tires will be collected. For further information, please call (989) 224-8944.
Election workers needed
The City of St. Johns is looking for election inspectors.
Registered voters of Clinton County interested in serving as an Election Inspector for the City of St. Johns on election days should fill out an Election Inspector Application at the City Clerk’s Office, 100 East State Street, Suite #1100, St. Johns. It is also available on the City website.
The Clinton County Clerk will be conducting training this summer that is required every two years. If you have questions or would like more information, you may contact the city clerk’s office at 224-8944 extension 223.
The Euchre Tournament Fundraiser for Nathan’s Methodist Relay for Life Team will be held at Lowe United Methodist Church, 5485 W. Lowe Rd. on April 15th from 6:30-10:00 pm.
Please join the people of the First Congregational Church in their Seder family dinner on Maundy Thursday, March 24 at 6 p.m. 
Please be aware that north Lansing Street, between Higham Street and Lewis Street, will be under construction from March 21, 2016 until June 30th, 2016. 
St. Johns Big Boy will host CASA – The Voice for Clinton County’s Children for a Spaghetti Buffet Fundraiser on Wednesday, March 9th from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.. 
Clinton County Michigan Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is urging the public to be very careful this winter if you are working on wood duck boxes on ponds. The ice is not very thick or good good this year.
LAFCU recently announced that Rebekah “Becky” Kilpatrick has joined the credit union as payroll and benefits specialist.